WHY VLADIMIR PUTIN IS LIVING IN A PARALLEL UNIVERSE

There are no signs that the Ukrainian people are weakening. Russia's brutality has only served to increase the people's determination to defeat the aggressor.

- John Dobson

It was show-time on Russian television last week when two elderly men faced each other across a table. One was Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s Minister of Defence, dressed in the medalled uniform of a General, even though he has never served in the armed forces. The other was Colonel General Sergei Surovkin, the overseer of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Surovkin is better known as “General Armageddon” on account of his brutality when commanding Russia’s operations in Syria. He had been appointed overall commander of Russian forces in Ukraine on 8 October, in an attempt by the Kremlin and Defence Ministry to put the war effort back on track after numerous setbacks.

Surovkin started the conversation. “Having comprehensively assessed the situation, I propose that we take up defensive positions along the left bank of the Dnipro River. We will save, most importantly, the lives of our troops and the overall combat effectiveness of the troops, whom it is futile to keep on the right bank in a restricted area,” he said. A serious Shoigu replied: “Sergei Vladimirovich, I agree with your conclusions and proposals. Proceed.”