As the war in Ukraine has ground on, the world has witnessed a few hundred fighters holed up in a destroyed steel plant in Mariupol fighting against an overwhelming force of thousands of Russian troops trying to take the city. It has been a David vs. Goliath story– a small dedicated force, defending their homeland and willing to take on the full brunt of the Russian Army.
Recently, the last remnants of these fighters, low on food, water and ammunition, finally surrendered to the Russian invaders. In my reading of human history, Mariupol could go down in the history books with Thermopylae–a battle at a mountain pass in Greece where a small force of Greek soldiers, though eventually vanquished, stopped an Army of thousands of invading Persians in 450 B.C. Though the Persians finally prevailed, the Greek soldiers who made their defensive stand at Thermopylae are the ones remembered in history for their courage and commitment.
The Russian propaganda machine will spin things differently and speak of conquering “Nazis” and liberating the city. But, what Putin’s media spin won’t tell you is that during the 2-3 months it took to conquer Mariupol, the West was able to supply Ukraine with enough weapons so that the Ukrainian people could stop a wholesale take-over of their country.
Strategically, the Russian invasion of Ukraine ended up being a tremendous blunder. The rest of the world, after watching apartment buildings being destroyed and innocent people being killed, soon united in near unanimous opposition to the Russian aggression.
One of the objectives of the invasion — to remove Ukraine from being a pro-western, democratic state — also totally failed. Instead, Ukraine is stronger than before and the Russian aggression has so unified the West that even Sweden and Finland (neighbors to the north) are petitioning to join NATO. Now, more nations that border Russia will be unified against its communist/totalitarian system of government. In that respect, Putin’s invasion has totally back-fired on him.
Of course, war is costly and results in unforeseen consequences. There will be a shortage of Russian and Ukrainian wheat this year and people in the middle east will face higher prices and possible hunger. The price of oil has skyrocketed and natural gas has more than doubled in price around the world. And, if you are Russian, your future doesn’t look bright with all of the foreign investment that has been pulled out of the country.
It is sad that Russia has returned to the ways of dictatorship and war. I can still remember the Conference at Chautauqua in 1987 when “glasnost” had begun to open the Soviet Union from years of isolation under communism. Now, by attacking Ukraine, it is taking a step backward in the wrong direction.
It may be an overstatement, but in some ways, Mariupol reminds me a bit of the Alamo in American history. Though the defenders at the Alamo were killed and Mexico won the battle–it would not be the end of Texas. Texas would declare its independence and become part of the United States. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ukrainians today have already coined the words: “Remember Mariupol!”
Hopefully, there are better days ahead for Ukraine and maybe, someday, the Russian people will rise up again and this time succeed in establishing a democracy governed by the rule of law.
Recently, the last remnants of these fighters, low on food, water and ammunition, finally surrendered to the Russian invaders. In my reading of human history, Mariupol could go down in the history books with Thermopylae–a battle at a mountain pass in Greece where a small force of Greek soldiers, though eventually vanquished, stopped an Army of thousands of invading Persians in 450 B.C. Though the Persians finally prevailed, the Greek soldiers who made their defensive stand at Thermopylae are the ones remembered in history for their courage and commitment.
The Russian propaganda machine will spin things differently and speak of conquering “Nazis” and liberating the city. But, what Putin’s media spin won’t tell you is that during the 2-3 months it took to conquer Mariupol, the West was able to supply Ukraine with enough weapons so that the Ukrainian people could stop a wholesale take-over of their country.
Strategically, the Russian invasion of Ukraine ended up being a tremendous blunder. The rest of the world, after watching apartment buildings being destroyed and innocent people being killed, soon united in near unanimous opposition to the Russian aggression.
One of the objectives of the invasion — to remove Ukraine from being a pro-western, democratic state — also totally failed. Instead, Ukraine is stronger than before and the Russian aggression has so unified the West that even Sweden and Finland (neighbors to the north) are petitioning to join NATO. Now, more nations that border Russia will be unified against its communist/totalitarian system of government. In that respect, Putin’s invasion has totally back-fired on him.
Of course, war is costly and results in unforeseen consequences. There will be a shortage of Russian and Ukrainian wheat this year and people in the middle east will face higher prices and possible hunger. The price of oil has skyrocketed and natural gas has more than doubled in price around the world. And, if you are Russian, your future doesn’t look bright with all of the foreign investment that has been pulled out of the country.
It is sad that Russia has returned to the ways of dictatorship and war. I can still remember the Conference at Chautauqua in 1987 when “glasnost” had begun to open the Soviet Union from years of isolation under communism. Now, by attacking Ukraine, it is taking a step backward in the wrong direction.
It may be an overstatement, but in some ways, Mariupol reminds me a bit of the Alamo in American history. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ukrainians today have already coined the words: “Remember Mariupol!”
It may be an overstatement, but in some ways, Mariupol reminds me a bit of the Alamo in American history. Though the defenders at the Alamo were killed and Mexico won the battle–it would not be the end of Texas. Texas would declare its independence and become part of the United States. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ukrainians today have already coined the words: “Remember Mariupol!”
Hopefully, there are better days ahead for Ukraine and maybe, someday, the Russian people will rise up again and this time succeed in establishing a democracy governed by the rule of law.
Rolland Kidder
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