At the outset of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, strategists were guessing that his primary strategy was to rapidly take Kviv, the capitol, decapitate the government and install a puppet regime.
As we know now, things have not worked out so well for him. Not only have communications from and about President Zelensky been rolling out regularly, but no major cities in the country have been taken.
Kira Rudik, a member of Ukraine’s Congress is another symbol of the defiance displayed by Ukraine. She posted images of herself with a Kalashnikov in a defiant post on Twitter a few days ago.
Today, she posted images of herself and other members of Ukraine’s Congress at work. So much for Putin’s strategy.
#Parliament is working! We gathered as leaders of the factions to vote for the important matters:
– appeal to #EU for Ukraine to join EU on a simplified procedure
– appeal to remove #Russia from UN Security Counsel
– prepping legislation to freeze Russian assets inside Ukraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/zX9NrslbS9— Kira Rudik (@kiraincongress) February 28, 2022
Acts of defiance against Putin and his enablers are occurring around the world.
Here are a few examples:
St. Louis stands with #Ukraine🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/E3WrN7uyQi
— Rep Rasheen Aldridge. Jr (He/Him) (@RepSheenBean) February 28, 2022
Red paint thrown at the Russian Embassy in Ireland. We stand with you, Ukraine. from ukraine
A Ukrainian farmer using his tractor stole A TANK… 😆😆😆 pic.twitter.com/nz15mcyzW5
— Sergei Perfiliev 🇺🇦 (@perfiliev) February 27, 2022
This is Deep 🙏🏻 #SayNoToWar https://t.co/pRpbygPYuL pic.twitter.com/w3SOvmJb21
— Fatima Khan (@afficasm) February 28, 2022
In Spain, a mechanic on a luxury yacht owned by Russian armaments exporter Alexander Mijeev attempted to sink the yacht and was partially successful. He turned himself in to the police, proudly stating that he had done so, and would do it again.
Putin’s invasion is failing on two fronts, the military engagement and on the propaganda front. It has become crystal clear that the two technology realms he is employing, the use of force and the use of disinformation, are failing him. As they should. Both are discredited and unworkable technologies and sooner or later will rebound on their user.
Putin is showing the world, again, that authoritarianism is itself a failed method of government and frankly obsolete. He doesn’t quite get that he is giving the world an object lesson in that obsolescence. He probably still won’t get it even when he’s walked out of the Kremlin in handcuffs, if he comes out alive at all.
The most powerful force in government, everywhere, is the consent of the governed. Zelensky has it. Putin, not so much.
