Russian President Vladimir Putin is known as an avid fan of judo.
But if instead of specializing in Japanese martial arts he had learned to play chess, he would have become acquainted with the basic principle that is true not only of the game of kings - the threat is stronger than the realization of the threat.
As long as Putin was content with threats, he seemed invincible.
As he approached to realize the threat, the picture began to change.
The working assumption of the Russians was that the Ukrainian state would collapse.
In fact, they have always had a fixed script for imposing authority on neighboring countries.
According to the same old concept, which has been used since Soviet times and has been tried many times, a military invasion was just an introduction to the rule of a puppet government in the occupied territory, whose job it was to complete the work in repression. To bring about an immediate damage to morale, and to neutralize the Ukrainian government. , be ready.
But Ukraine did not break under the first waves of attack.
Contrary to Russian hopes, the Ukrainian army is fighting resolutely on all fronts, inflicting considerable losses on the Russians.
The civilian population exhibits psychic power, and does not succumb to hysteria.
The local media continue to broadcast, instilling in the public confidence and knowledge that the army is fighting and that the enemy will be defeated.
The Ukrainian president did not flee.
On the contrary, he conducts the defense of his country in an admirable manner.
Putin's declaration of war // Photo: Reuters
Zlansky bought his world during the first days of the war.
The image of the comedian who came to the presidency by chance - fell from him.
After the war he would be criticized, of course, for having been able to prepare Ukraine for better fighting, but for now - even his domestic political rivals are uniting the ranks, praising his performance.
Against the background of the weakness of the leaders of the Western powers, Zalansky is portrayed as a true leader.
He did not flee the country (although he had already been offered asylum in the West), did not fold under pressure, confronted his people resolutely and decisively and radiated quiet power.
The fighting in Ukraine is still far from over, but it is already clear that Russian hopes have been dashed.
Even in the territory occupied by them no one greeted them with flowers.
The effort to immediately occupy Kiev, for its centers of control and signs of rule, failed.
Although Russian patrols operate in the suburbs and neighborhoods of the capital, the Ukrainians have so far deprived them of the possibility of causing real damage.
And in the fighting in the border areas, the main lines of defense of the Ukrainians have not been breached.
Even if a large city, or even some large cities, falls to the Russian army, it is not clear what benefit they will derive from it.
A country of 40 million people who want elections in any case cannot be subdued.
In the absence of military achievements, Russian authorities are cracking down on media censorship, concealing casualty numbers and cracking down hard on anti-invasion demonstrations.
Yesterday they banned the use of the word "war" to describe what is happening in Ukraine.
Moscow has not weaned itself from the tradition of "Potemkin villages": if the reality is not handsome - let's hide it, and it's okay.
Only this time, apparently, will not be okay.
Were we wrong?
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