According to four main factors - Russia is losing the war

Russia is surely lose in Ukraine, according to Feng Yujun, Chinese Russia -relations chief expert.

"The war between Russia and Ukraine has been catastrophic for both countries. One thing is clear, though: the conflict is a post-cold-war watershed that will have a profound, lasting global impact.

With neither side enjoying an overwhelming advantage and their political positions completely at odds, the fighting is unlikely to end soon. "

But now four main factors will influence the course of the war. 

The first is the level of resistance and national unity shown by Ukrainians, which has until now been extraordinary. The second is international support for Ukraine, which, though recently falling short of the country’s expectations, remains broad.

The third factor is the nature of modern warfare, a contest that turns on a combination of industrial might and command, control, communications and intelligence systems. 

One reason Russia has struggled in this war is that it is yet to recover from the dramatic deindustrialisation it suffered after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

And here comes the last final factor: this is information. When it comes to decision-making, Vladimir Putin is trapped in an information cocoon, thanks to his having been in power so long. The Russian president and his national-security team lack access to accurate intelligence. The system they operate lacks an efficient mechanism for correcting errors. Their Ukrainian counterparts are more flexible and effective, wrote Feng Yujun in The Economist.

For the indoctrinated children

A Child´s Skull, 2024, by  Kaj Stenvall.

We know that president Vladimir Putin has often used the Russian Orthodox faith to justify the war in Ukraine. But now the president used a Bible story in a speech about the need to teach the Russian youth about values - appearing via video link to celebrate the opening of children’s centres near Moscow - he began quoting from the Bible.

Putin has ordered the establishment of youth centres across the country in a move redolent of the Soviet-era camps where children were indoctrinated in Communist party values from a young age. 

This substitute Jesus has often used the Russian Orthodox faith to justify the war in Ukraine. Now he compares himself to Jesus in his battle to uphold tradition

President Putin has compared himself to Jesus Christ as he quoted the Bible to explain his divine mission schooling Russia’s youth in special traditional values.

The Russian president has frequently portrayed himself as a stalwart defender of the Christian faith against the Satanic West.

In a revealing insight into how Putin sees his role, the Russian leader spoke in overtly religious terms about the need to shape the worldview of young Russians.

The Times points out that the youth centers intended to indoctrinate children are lagging behind the Soviet era.

Putin's supposed important sacred role as the upholder of the country's values reflects the deification of the tsars before the 1917 revolution.

Well done. Soon we'll see that again.