We are all Russologists

(Or we pretend to be, anyway)

With news that Russia will drastically “scale back” their inhumane assault on parts of the sovereign nation of Ukraine, I want to believe that hostilities will end.

But Russia has not operated in good faith throughout this entire debauchery and people who know the country say don’t celebrate this announcement. Ukrainian soldiers and citizens have made sure that Russia can’t win, so what better strategy for Russia but to announce the “next phase” of this “special operation”/murderous rampage, and move off of battlefields on which they haven’t succeeded.

But what do I know about military strategy? From my armchair, Russia’s strategy of bombing Ukraine back to dirt will only leave bombed-out cities and a strafed countryside, and what good is that to Putin?

To the news that Russia is moving forces away from Kyiv and that maybe that movement means something good, Pres. Biden said, “We’ll see.” The advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine warned on Twitter:

This isn’t a cease-fire, Russian officials have assured the world, but in the spirit of looking stupid, I hope that Russia withdraws from Ukraine by April 11, which as the anniversary of the final liberation of prisoners from World War II Nazi concentration camps holds some significance for Russians.

The despot Putin has said that part of his motivation for invading Ukraine was to “de-Nazify” that country, a made-up reason if ever there was one. I hope peace breaks out sooner, but I’m guessing that the despot, who will eventually run out of mercenaries to send to Ukraine, will be forced to declare a made-up victory, and yes, I realize I know jack and this just might be what I want to happen, not what will happen.

Feel free to dream with me in the comments: