Vladimir and Yevgenia are two fervently patriotic Russians in their 60s who are consumed these days, in very different ways, by what is happening to the desperate but valiant ordinary people of Ukraine.
Yet it is not at all clear which one the Russian people would really agree with — if they could ever get the true facts about what is really happening in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin derives consummate satisfaction and vindication every time his generals and elite weapons specialists achieve his goal of civilian devastation without leaving their safe sanctuaries 10 or maybe 100 miles from their target — or even without leaving Russia. They simply fire artillery, rockets or missiles that soar over Ukraine for miles, smash homes, apartments, hospitals, schools and shops — and successfully slaughter and maim Ukrainian women, children, infants, elderly and infirm where they were helplessly huddling, hoping only to survive. It is inhuman, but far better than using Russian ground convoys that stall, run out of fuel and food, and end up with demoralized troops deserting or becoming easy prey for determined Ukrainians protecting their homeland.
