War in Ukraine, by the numbers
By Task Force Footballbat
As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues into its second month, the fog of war has set in and confusion has loomed large. Fortunately, Duffel Blog’s crack team of analysts has put together a quick look at the ongoing conflict, by the numbers, to get you up to speed.
Foreign aid to Ukraine
The U.S. and its NATO Allies have contributed billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine since Russia first waltzed into the country like it owned the place in 2014. Equally important has been the sizable uptick in people who suddenly give a shit eight years later, whose witty banter from afar will certainly lead to success against the brutal aggressor.
U.S. troops in Europe
While the United States has had military personnel continuously stationed in Europe since the Second World War, the past month has seen many more come into postings along NATO’s boundaries. Below are some key details about our servicemen and women helping counter the greatest threat to peace in decades.
Battlefield intelligence
Soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines poised for conflict need to be well-prepared to help the Ukrainians in the fight. Duffel Blog has learned that the military is still ‘sorting out’ a ‘slight shortage’ of the correct maps.
Operational Security
Loose lips sink ships, but they also get tons of likes and can make you an #influencer. Here’s a look at operational security (OPSEC) violations on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter to date for servicemembers near the action in Eastern Europe.
How did we get here?
Within the social media space, it’s important to know how our troops are building their understanding of what it is they are doing near — but not in — the most consequential event for modern democracy in roughly 80 years. A Duffel Blog social media analysis has determined that there are three schools of thought on why the conflict in Ukraine is happening: Russia is at fault; America is at fault, and Other.
America is at fault: Social media warriors have made a clear case that, if only our military’s recruiting ads were more manly, the man who has been combatting democracy around the world and nibbling on his neighbors’ territories for over 20 years would behave himself. Similarly, many scholars in this school of thought insist that the United States and its allies have been weak, but also should have rolled over and given Putin whatever he wanted, which makes total and complete sense. Across the board in this group, the Russian president is seen as smart, cunning, and savvy.
Russia is at fault: This group is comprised of people who formed their perspectives on what is unfolding in Ukraine by observing the objective facts delivered by multiple intelligence agencies and media outlets, as well as assessments from experts in the field. This group overlaps heavily with the people rendering critical aid to Ukraine via social media, where they earn extra points by celebrating the deaths of teenaged Russian conscripts and creepily posting pictures of attractive Ukrainian women to “celebrate” their bravery and/or martyrdom in the face of the Russian onslaught.
Other: Finally, there’s the ‘other’ group, a delightful cocktail of critical reasoning, deep thinking, and rich dialogue. A Duffel Blog analysis found many posts about people’s old emails, the intrepid heroism of the fearless Putin as he dismantles the evil of the New World Order, the dangers of social justice, and arguments that Ukraine, which has a signed agreement with Russia guaranteeing its sovereignty, is not a real country at all. As it should be, this narrative is driving the overall conversation in America, where Vladimir Putin is polling higher than President Biden.
Task Force Football Bat is just saying what you’re thinking. You can be a part of his meteoric rise to #influencerdom by becoming his ninth follower on Twitter @thomas__leonard.