Day 47 Roundup: Kharkiv Faces Heavy Shelling as Ukraine Prepares for Renewed Offensive in East
The Facts
The eastern city of Kharkiv came under heavy shelling on Mon., resulting in several casualties - including the death of one child - according to the mayor. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has said tens of thousands have been killed in Mariupol since the start of the war.
This comes as the Ukrainian president says the country is ready for a renewed offensive in the east, as Russian forces reportedly continue to amass in the Donbas region. A US official said on Mon. that Russia may be looking to "double or treble" its forces there, but that it would take "some considerable time."
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after a fraudulent election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.