Russia might be able to slant reality at home but the 'soldiers on the ground' know what's going on...and clearly their heart really isn't in it.
If only the bombers and missile men didn't have their hearts in it and weren't targeting residential buildings, schools and hospitals, etc.... the refugees trying to evacuate Russian encircled cities that are under constant bombardment.
The Russians aren't the only ones slanting reality at home regarding this damned war. I read today that China is doing the same damned thing there with its tightly controlled state media. It is all so heavily censored in favour of Russia and the Chinese public has no idea as to what really is happening in Ukraine. The Chinese public is being force-fed fake news that there is no Russian invasion, no bombing, nobody being killed, just harmless military manouvres.
As a long term Military Man, i feel i need to explain about Artillery and Rockets.
Artillery
Even though we have had this form of warfare for Hundreds of years, it is still , even now not an exact Delivery System. Artillery is cheap to produce and launch, but make no mistake, it is not a Smart weapon. Putin and his Generals can actually make the claim "They Are Not Targeting Civilians" (please do not have a go at me), this is just how it is. Yes we have all seen "Smart Weapons In Action" which can hit a Penny from miles away, but Artillery is not even close to smart weapon Systems. This is why prosecuting Putin and his Generals will be difficult. Cruise Missiles are a different thing completely, and this is how they hit a base just inside the Polish Border in the full understanding it would land were it was meant to and hence a legitimate Target.
Rocket Artillery
The main difference with Rockets is the propulsion system, early made Rockets using older Tech can be just as inaccurate as Artillery, but Modern Rocket Launch Weapon Systems usually have some form of GPS inside making them a lot more accurate. Putin, due to the cost of war, will almost certainly but not exclusively be using Rockets that have not changed much in design since 1969. Do not get me wrong, Putin will have the latest possible tech in Rockets just like the rest of the first world, but as the tech improves so does the cost and to Level Ukrainian Cities on mass like we are seeing right now, plenty of low spec Rockets will be used widely.
Putin and his security council will start and already is using Smart weapon systems in lower numbers at first to make precise strikes, but all modern warfare strategies at first use Artillery and older rocket in such numbers we are seeing in Ukraine now, very cheap to produce on mass and to Deliver, just not accurate.
Once Putin thinks his Army has surrounded all the key cities he has his grubby eyes on, then we will see more of his High Value and Very accurate Weapon Systems brought to bear on said cities as he will want to decide(probably already has decided) which infrastructure he wants to try to keep intact or as much as war allows. Odessa could have already been destroyed as it is a crucial link to the black sea and is important to both sides as shipping in stuff is far more productive than any other means in the long term, but it still stands and that is no mistake on Putin's thinking.
The Ukrainian people will make him fight for every inch of ground, i admire this beyond belief, but make no mistake, due to this he will change plans soon enough and bring Terrible Weapon Systems into the fray.
Zelensky is 100% correct, we will need to stand up and be counted, either that be closing the sky's and coming into direct possible conflict with RF Air Force or bordering countries( it will be the old Russian satellite countries) entering on the side of the Ukrainian Forces, then all our Governments will have to explain, and we will hear the phrase,
"Why Not Yesterday"
Doing my part and No matter what, I Stand With Ukraine.
