After Congress opted not to pass a new aid bill for Ukraine last month, and as members enjoyed their holiday recess, Russia launched its deadliest missile strike against Ukraine. Apartment complexes, residential areas, and other non-military targets were attacked. Dozens were injured, and several civilians were killed.
As the Russian invasion approaches its second anniversary, one-fourth of Ukraine’s population remains displaced. Russia’s brutal war has killed thousands, and several cities, villages, and towns have been destroyed. Meanwhile, Russia has had nearly 400,000 casualties. The Russians have lost tens of billions in military hardware, and the Russian economy has contracted by an estimated 3 percent.
Despite the devastation, Russia continues its war without an apparent end. The Russian Federation has not shown any signs of ending the war. Instead, Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to continue the invasion. In his Dec. 14 press conference, the Russian leader said he would not stop. Putin said he would not rest until Ukraine was demilitarized, and he demanded that Ukraine be prevented from joining Western organizations. Russia will also seek to enhance its disinformation campaigns as it hopes that the international community will tire of the war.
Some Russian propaganda points have already made their way into the mainstream Western media. For example, critics of Ukraine........