Kathrine Frich
These expensive barrages accomplish absolutely nothing on the battlefield.
Wars always drain the bank accounts of the countries fighting them. But eventually, the people writing the massive checks start to look around and wonder what exactly they are buying.
That moment of doubt seems to be creeping into the highest levels of power.
Growing doubts
According to a recent report by The Guardian cited by Onet, wealthy Russians are quietly losing faith in their leadership. They see a long conflict with no clear end in sight.
One anonymous Russian businessman spoke directly to the British newspaper about the shifting atmosphere. He described a deepening fear among the wealthy class.
The businessman told The Guardian that something has changed. “This year, there has certainly been a shift in the mood among the elites. There is a growing sense that some kind of catastrophe is approaching,” he said.
A costly misfire
The frustration makes perfect sense. Analysts estimate that Moscow burned through hundreds of millions of dollars in a single night during a recent strike.
It did not go well. A highly advanced Oreshnik ballistic missile completely missed its mark, simply flattening three ordinary garages in a town near Kyiv.
Aviation expert Valery Romanenko told Ukrainian Radio NV that forces likely aimed for a nearby aircraft factory.
“The fact that the majority of the ammunition hit the garages that densely cover this zone is a testament to the accuracy of the Russian missiles,” he said.
Fading threats
Russian officials tried to frame the massive assault as a fresh retaliation. The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that “The cup of patience has run dry” following a Ukrainian strike.
But the threats no longer carry the same weight. Writing on Facebook, Ukrainian commentator Vitaly Portnikov argued that these expensive barrages accomplish absolutely nothing on the battlefield.
He noted that you can only truly terrify a population at the very start of a conflict.
“The people who remained in Ukraine have somehow become accustomed to such terrible attempts,” Portnikov wrote.
Living in a bubble
So why does the Kremlin keep throwing money at the same strategy? The answer might just be bad information.
Sources told The Guardian that the Russian leader is receiving overly optimistic reports from his generals. He reportedly remains fixated on capturing the entire Donetsk region this year.
Meanwhile, the elites are getting nervous. They watch the bills pile up, while the promised victories stay forever out of reach.
Sources: The Guardian, Ukrainian Radio NV, Russian Foreign Ministry, Facebook
