The Facts
Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelensky has alleged that Russian attacks have turned the city of Bakhmut into "burnt ruins" in a bid to conquer Donetsk. "Bakhmut, Soledar, Maryinka, Kreminna. For a long time, there is no living place left on the land of these areas that have not been damaged by shells and fire," he said in his nightly address on Saturday.
He also claimed that more than 1.5M Ukrainians were without electricity in Odesa after Russian kamikaze drones battered the southern Ukrainian city's electricity generating system.
The Spin
Pro-establishment 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 an election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
Establishment-critical 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.