The "Spider's Web" attack

on Russian aircraft was a masterpiece of military planning. It was also a much needed success for the Ukrainians. It may well have given them some hope if the Russians, at least one Russian, can be convinced that this is a war which is not worth fighting.

I am not totally convinced this will be the case. There may still be an aircraft somewhere capable of carrying a nuclear warhead that this one particular Russian would be more than willing to use. He won't care about the loss of a third of his air force if he believes he can still use a nuclear weapon to do the greatest amount of harm possible.

What was so good about the Ukrainian attack was the fact it was done with a minimal loss of life. If there have been any casualties then we have not been informed of them. At most it seems likely that there has been the loss of a very small number of lives. The Ukrainians are to be acknowledged for this if the Russians do not retaliate with a massive attack on civilians.

I have no doubt that this mad man and his henchmen will attempt such an attack if they still have the capacity. This has been humiliating for him. It will have been a much needed boost for their "enemy" and this is the last thing they want. They had been hoping to wear them down into submission and accept their "inevitable" fate of once again being part of the Soviet empire. The plans for "buffer" zones are nothing more than plans to take the country by gradually moving the boundaries of those zones.

Someone cheerfully told me this morning that "this will be the end of the war" but I doubt that. It could even lead to increased issues. The humiliating losses will not lead to success in the peace talks. To give in now will show Russians that their "strong" leader is actually weak. His position depends on remaining "strong" - or at least being seen to be that way.

There will be other high ranking Russians who must be wondering when they too will need to "fall" from high windows. They will wonder when the guns are being loaded to be used against them. There will be a search for those who have assisted the Ukrainians in this matter too because there must have been inside assistance.

The ordinary people on both sides are undoubtedly tired to death of this pointless war. I won't wish death on anyone but perhaps moving some of them to a penal colony in a remote area would help.