Observer from A Black Sea Port …. with highlights imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi
ONE: “God is with us” …. watch the new Russian Army recruitment video. The clip promotes military service while focusing on religious diversity and national unity.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has released this promotional video designed to encourage citizens to enlist in the military, placing strong emphasis on different ethnicities and religious denominations coming together to face a common enemy.
The 90-second clip released by the ministry on Friday depicts a fierce battle, apparently between Russian and Ukrainian forces. On a sweltering summer day, several Russian soldiers are seen ducking into a trench under artillery fire, with one making the sign of the cross and saying an ‘Our Father’ prayer in front of a small Orthodox icon of St. George – one of the most venerated figures in Christianity, often associated with victory on the battlefield.
The next clip shows a tank crew member reading a Muslim prayer. At the same time, another service member – apparently a Buryat or Yakut sniper – reads a Buddhist mantra with prayer beads beside him. Nestled inside a building in a ruined city, he aims his rifle and fires a single shot.
While also reading an Orthodox prayer, a Russian infantryman, besieged in a house and wearing a silver cross around his neck, throws a grenade at several enemies advancing on him. Then, a Russian armored column is seen rolling through the countryside with a caption reading, “We are [ ]. God is with us” – with the blank space filled with the names of two dozen major ethnic groups – including Ukrainians – that populate Russia.
“We are Russians. God is with us. Prayer is not just words, it is a powerful force. Be with the strong, be with us, join your comrades,” the ministry says, publishing information on how to enlist
TWO: Heavy Casualties on both sides
The Ukrainians are losing 2,000 soldiers a day. Russia is losing 1,000 a day.
Russia has 144 million people. Ukraine has about 25 million, with about 15 million having already fled the country. So do the maths and it is clear Ukraine is a lost cause. A war of attrition does not fair well for Ukraine.
The new Russian recruitment drive suggests Russian losses are high, but not as high as Ukraine. For Russia, with 144 million to draw from, getting new recruits will not be difficult.
Bur the wise thing to do is stop the killing and negotiate but wisdom is not an attribute found in the political and administrative elites.
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