Who Has the Momentum?
Russia's Winter Offensive Failed
Hi, I’m Joe Lindsley, an American who has for two years now reported from Ukraine 10 minutes a day every single weekday live on Chicago’s WGN Radio. Follow the story of Ukraine here …
WGN RADIO DAILY UKRAINE REPORT
War Day 749: Who Has the Momentum, Ukraine or Russia?
🇺🇦 Every Day Until Victory on Chicago’s WGN Radio with Bob Sirott: Joe Lindsley reports every single weekday 10 minutes from Ukraine 🎙️ Wednesday 13 March 2024
Wendy Snyder, filling in for Bob Sirott on 720 WGN, spoke with Joseph Lindsley, who has been in Ukraine since the start of the war, highlighted recent developments, including "free Russia" incursions into Russia, the downing of a Russian cargo plane, and attacks on Russian oil refineries.
STRONG STORIES
The Real Headline: Russia’s Winter Offensive Failed
Last winter in Ukraine was characterized by severe living conditions resembling the Middle Ages due to widespread lack of heat and hot water.
Elevators had emergency kits as it was common for people to get stuck during power outages. This situation was a result of Russia's failed winter offensive, which is rarely discussed now.
Despite the harsh winter conditions and Russian aggression, Ukrainian resolve remained strong, supported by US aid. Russia's second annual winter offensive has also failed, showcasing Ukraine's resilience and should be highlighted as a significant success story.
UKRAINIAN FREEDOM VOICES
Marijn Markus
Dutch data scientist
⛽ On Ukraine's #strategy of striking russian oil refineries
☝️ Although it will take many more attacks on refineries to create a real gasoline shortage in Russia (and even then, #Belarus has available capacities), it is an effective strategy for many reasons:
1️⃣ A gasoline shortage would be a political nightmare for Putin, because it would be felt and discussed by everyone. Gasoline prices are political, even in Russia. Average Russians are not willing to pay a price for the war.
2️⃣ Refineries are important for the military. Of course the #military will not feel shortages, but refineries are legitimate targets 💥
3️⃣ There are very few civilian casualties. High gas prices make people angry, but nobody will starve, freeze etc. due to the attacks.
4️⃣ Attacks on Russian refineries don't lead to rising oil prices globally, as long as crude exports continue. The effect is felt only in Russia.
5️⃣ The damages can take several months to repair. Sanctions and #drone attacks work hand in hand here, as Western parts are more difficult to obtain 🛠️
6️⃣ #Ukraine has just scratched the surface of what it can do here. Russia will try countermeasures but probably remain vulnerable. There's no way to secure the airspace of an empire as big as Russia's
Note in the Russian case, rationing of gasoline would be more likely than really high prices (the latter are already tightly regulated)
💔 Meanwhile Russia strikes Ukrainian hospitals, homes and schools.
The two are not the same.
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—Neil Steinberg, in the Chicago Sun-Times, on Joe Lindsley’s daily Ukraine reports with Bob Sirott of Chicago’s WGN Radio. We invite you to follow on YouTube.
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ABOUT US: Reporting Every Single Weekday Since Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion
"Joseph Lindsley's reports are enlightening, frightening, heart-wrenchingly and poetically descriptive." —a regular listener to the daily report from Ukraine on Chicago's WGN Radio with Bob Sirott
“I just returned from three months in Ukraine. Not my first time there, and certainly not my last; a powerful experience for me personally, but I must say that JOE’s REPORTING, HIS INSIGHTS, and, OBVIOUSLY, HIS HEART, ARE SPOT-ON.” —Jim, a Telegram follower of Ukrainian Freedom News
American journalist Joe Lindsley, in Ukraine since 2020, leads the Ukrainian Freedom News team of Ukrainians and foreigners on a mission to share real talk and real life in war-time with the world. Every weekday since late February 2022, he has reported live from Ukraine on Chicago’s WGN Radio with host Bob Sirott. You can listen to all episodes at UkrainianFreedomNews.com or via our YouTube channel.
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