Day 90: At Least 14 Dead in Luhansk, Donetsk; Ukraine Official Claims Putin Survived Assassination Attempt
The Facts
Ukraine has said Russian attacks in the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk left at least 14 civilians dead and 15 others injured on Tuesday. Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Gaidai says the situation is getting "worse with every hour" as Russian shelling increases.
Meanwhile, Russia has surrounded the city of Severodonetsk in the Luhansk Oblast - where four civilians were reportedly killed on Tues. - on three fronts and is making marginal gains to encircle it, according to military analysts. Gov. Gaidai also reported that 25 Russian tactical groups were attempting to take the city and that shelling had severely increased, making it increasingly difficult for civilians to evacuate.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
After Putin failed to take Kyiv, he's now one month into his campaign to take the Donbas in the hope of salvaging a small victory in this unprovoked war of aggression. The West must not stop supporting Ukraine now, particularly with weaponry.
Establishment-critical narrative
A decisive victory over Russia is not a credible goal. Ukraine will have to negotiate a peace deal that reflects a realistic assessment on the ground, as well as the limits of how much the West is willing to drag itself into this conflict.
