• Zelensky’s “Victory Plan” is a psychological defense mechanism against the writing on the wall. In terms of psychology, Zelensky’s “Victory Plan” comes at a time when Ukrainian military bloggers are seeking to prepare the Ukrainian population for effect its military’s withdrawal from Solidovo, Toretsk, and Vuhledar may have on morale.
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• Large numbers of Ukrainian forces from the 72nd and 110th brigades have reportedly surrendered in Vuhledar after leaflets were dropped on their positions stating that “there is only one dirt road leading out which is under fire control of the Russian armed forces.”

• One Ukrainian speaking blogger wrote: “Такий сьогодні ранок у Вугледарі. Ситуація критична, хоча воїни 72 бригади і роблять більше, аніж здатна людина. Найближчими днями ворог захопить Вугледар. І, здається, на вищому рівні не зовсім розуміють, яка там нині оперативна ситуація.
• Chechens, who have stepped up to fill the gap Russia’s own recruits widened with complaints about actually fighting for the Russian army in Kursk, launched a counterattack from western to eastern Kursk that has already resulted in the relief of an encircled group of Russian troops; the counterattack is advancing deep into Ukraine’s defensive lines, creating a large bulge. Planned from the outset to deprive Ukraine of its ground lines of communication for its invasion, the counterattack is now undermining Ukraine’s gamble in Kursk. Although his Major General Apti Alaudinov’s campaign is largely irrelevant for the overall story, narrative, or Schwerpunkt of the war, his campaign design for the Kursk counterattack is one among the many successful Russian ground campaigns. It is not a decisive battle but his victory in Kursk, which is solidified right now by the Akhmat Force’s advances, is, nonetheless, significant. The Russian press, cryptic, roundabout, indirect, as it is, has begun to praise Alaudinov by way of allusion to the 19th century Cossack cavalry warrior, уроженец Чечни, Арцу Чермоев, whose stature Alaudinov’s campaign is expected to eclipse.

• Zelensky, whom the West has belittled consistently, has absolutely nothing to show for his Kursk gamble or the Donbas. Of course, Zelensky may point to the defense of the Vovchansk Aggregate Factory but the Vovchansk Aggregate Factory has already fulfilled its purpose for Russia’s strategy more than twice now. The fact that the Ukrainians have taken the bait for a third dip in the toxic waters of the Vovchansk Aggregate Factory displays the profound naiveté of the Ukraine’s general staff. Not once. Not twice. But thrice the Ukrainian general staff ordered Ukrainians “to sack” an insignificant factory below the Kharkiv heights under Russia’s fire control. They’ve sacked it alright.
• You really have to wonder whether the aim of the Ukraine war is to reclaim Ukraine’s conquered territory or “to burn thousands” of Slavs in a war of annihilation that Ukraine is definitively losing on all of its fronts. Not too long ago the West described Zelensky as a drowning man whom no one should help. Zelensky, however, is somehow transformed now. He beholds the key to the end of the Ukraine war in his “Victory Plan.” At the end of the day, however, Zelensky’s defense mechanism for ‘denial’ as to the psychological effect of Ukraine’s definitive loss on all of its fronts is the essence of the “Victory Plan.”