Online Public Relations Thoughts

Vladimir Putin is claiming victory in the port town of Mariupol while leaving an estimated 1000 Ukrainian fighters holed up in a huge steel plant.  He will starve them out but not before they claim more Russian soldiers' lives.  It's a sad end to a brave and doomed defense of a destroyed city.  For Putin, however, it is propaganda success.  He has something positive to show to his citizens while the war for the Donbas region continues. Russian strategy appears to be a grind of men and material until the opponent is worn down. It is a successful but horrible way to fight.  Were Russian citizens told what is really happening, they would be shocked, but Putin controls the media and says what he wants.  He has positioned his onslaught as a triumph and his people believe him.