On the final day of a major music festival near Byron Bay, I’ll be chatting to a crowd of hungover adults and chaperoned minors about the invasion of Ukraine.
Splendour in the Grass — like most major events — didn’t go ahead in 2020 and 2021 but has got the go-ahead this year, running from this Thursday to Sunday at the North Byron Parklands in Wooyung. The event will host up to 50,000 people a day across three days of music and four nights of camping. Along with headlining acts, there’s also comedy, yoga, Q+A live, and art installations.
I’ll be there too, sitting on a panel with three others to discuss “War in the Modern Age”, as well as the military technology used in the invasion of Ukraine and the impact this has on the humanitarian crisis.
The panel will be hosted by radio announcer Adam Spencer. It consists of University of Melbourne associate professor Toby Murray, who worked building defence tools for the Australian Defence Force, University of Melbourne cybersecurity professor Dr Suelette Dreyfus, Ukrainian anti-corruption NGO head Oksana Nesterenko appearing via video link from Kyiv, and me, Crikey’s investigative journalist and associate editor who spent three weeks on the borders of Ukraine covering the refugee crisis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s initial plan to take over the capital Kyiv via air attacks quickly failed as Ukraine launched counter-offensives. Russia has been unable to establish air superiority with Ukraine, pushing them into small-scale clashes. While this has worked in Ukraine’s favour — they don’t have anywhere near the military resources of Russia — it’s led to a more protracted, more brutal war targeting urban areas over military bases.
The invasion has transformed into a war of attrition, with each side attempting to wear down the other. It’s just entered its fifth month, and many cities of Ukraine have been completely flattened as Russia continues its relentless bombardment.
It’s a 21st-century war, yet many tactics haven’t changed since this time last century. Frontline fighters have described it as more brutal than the war in Afghanistan, describing the turmoil of trench warfare and ruthlessness of combat-to-combat fighting.
Russia is relying on its huge number of soldiers over its quality of warfare, knowing Ukraine likely can’t keep up with manpower alone. As dictator Joseph Stalin said in World War II, “Quantity has a quality all its own.”
Both sides are using Soviet-era weapons, tanks from both world wars, and tactics from the Viet Cong, with Ukrainians hiding in the woods to covertly attack the Russians. Ukraine has received weaponry donated by NATO and allied forces — though as a Crikey investigation revealed, there are concerns about how this weaponry is being utilised.
Just like in World War II, propaganda is rife. Russians are being fed lines about a neo-Nazi movement Ukrainians want to be saved from, and those Crikey spoke to said they have family in Russia who don’t believe the invasion is real — despite being sent real-time footage of artillery strikes. Ukraine has also waged its own propaganda war, refusing to release data on military casualties and instead hyping up everyday acts of courageousness across multiple languages to help raise funds.
The impact this street warfare, disinformation and protracted fighting is having on Ukrainians is colossal. The humanitarian crisis is deepening. Since February 24 more than 5.8 million refugees have fled Ukraine with millions more displaced internally. Thousands of civilians have been killed with key infrastructure from transport to sanitation devastated across the nation. Many Ukrainians want to return home, but it’s not clear what awaits them when they do.
Across a weekend of revelry, light and music, the Splendour Forum Tent will host a discussion, panels, debates and philosophical talks. For those taking a break from the bass, Murray, Dreyfus, Nesterenko and I will be explaining why this invasion is so unique in its brutality — and why Australia needs to keep up its support for a country under siege.
War in the Modern Age will be held from 1.30pm to 2.45 pm on Sunday, July 24 at the Splendour Forum Tent at the North Byron Parklands, NSW.
Can the author please post a copy of “Putin’s initial plan”? It would be a scoop. And who knew that “hiding in the woods” was a “Viet Cong” tactic?
Maybe Charlie learned it from Robin Hood hiding in the greenwood?
It must be the powerful Ukrainian air force which meant that Russia “has been unable to establish air superiority with Ukraine”.
I’d also like to know what “combat-to-combat fighting” is.
I’m sorry, but this article starts out like just another piece of Western Propaganda.
(1) “Russian President Vladimir Putin’s initial plan to take over the capital Kyiv via air attacks quickly failed as Ukraine launched counter-offensives.”
This particular piece was initially from a UK Defense Analyst and is highly questionable. There are other reports that say that Russia’s early attacks on Kiev were part of a strategy to engage a high number of Ukraine soldiers in defending the capital, whilst the real Russian efforts were in the Donbas region. This is more credible, as Putin’s aims prior to the invasion did not say anything about taking over all of Ukraine, but did mention strongly that he wanted to liberate the Donbas region.
(2) “Just like in World War II, propaganda is rife. Russians are being fed lines about a neo-Nazi movement Ukrainians want to be saved from”
Are you seriously suggesting that the Azov Battalion does not have Neo Nazi links.
Here’s a snippet of info, “In 2016, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch received several credible allegations of abuse and torture by the regiment.”
Liberate. Annexe.
Tomato. Tomato?
Peter
Thanks for taking the flack. I was also surprised as to the statement about air attacks attempting to take over Kiev, I was more akin to the method you outlined which I believe dates back to the Czars. Tie down substantial troops by having a force just sit there and shell. The Ukranians remain in an attempt to ensure the defence of Kiev. ie tie up Ukranian troops in the West (Kiev).
Thus the West and border is a side show. The action is in the East.
There has been mistakes by the Russians. Like the line of tanks on a road. Tanks are not designed for roads and I presume the Commander is probably taking a long holiday in the West now. The susceptibility of the T90s (One of the top two tanks in the World) from vertical downward missiles is a positive because the Russians now know of its weakness. I would presume modifications are being designed or completed at the moment. Remember the Spitfire ended up at Mk26 I think. That means 26 modifications or design changes. So in military terms this deveopment is a positive.
I am not a fan of Putan nor Biden,in fact I believe the whole thing is an absolute act of stupidity with the schoolyard attitude of many by egging it all on.
I just get frustrated with the Western propaganda – It is insulting and I feel like I am being treated like a fool. I imaging I will receive some responses.
Amber you do well with the humane and social issues but not so well with the military tactics and relevant facts.
With almost 20% of the population displaced or refugees, the plight of Ukraine would appear to be more serious than the MSM presents . But then truth is always the first casualty in war.
“Both sides are using … tanks from both world wars…”
It’s almost credible that some WWII tanks might be usable in some way, given how much obsolete military equipment was mothballed in the USSR, but I’ll take some convincing that anyone is sending into battle a tank built, or at least designed, during the 1914-1918 Great War. That said, there are believable accounts of some Russian soldiers being sent into combat with rifles originally approved for the Russian army in 1891.
Very good, Rat. I’m also wondering when the Pro Putin Possie will have their ten cents worth on this article.
…And that should be ‘posse’.
You don’t need any educating by people here, there is a plethora of info on the net.
I have commented on this article in what could be perceived as “Pro Putin”.
However, I am not a fan of Putin or Russia, and certainly not the war by any means. I do think though that people should better inform themselves of recent history over the last 10 years or so in the area, to get a better understanding of why this War is happening.
Lastly, I just think there is way too much reporting in the West that could be seen as blatant propaganda.
Would you tell a Ukrainian soldier that he was wrong to resist and should stop fighting?
No I wouldn’t.
But what I would suggest is that Zelensky should Negotiate a Peace Deal with Russia in Good Faith, before more of his people are killed, and more of his Country’s Infrastructure is destroyed.
Update. My initial comment is stuck “Awaiting Approval”.
Now approved after about 18 hours
Russian soldiers being sent into combat with rifles originally approved for the Russian army in 1891. Link.
All is well, the ‘1891 rifles’ are being replaced with state-of-the-art military gear generously donated by the West to Ukraine and later sold to Russians on the black market…. everyone’s a winner.
What link?
A one sided hate Russia outcome is assured. Pity you don’t have the courage to debate Mary Kostakidis or Tony Kevin on this war and the sustained propaganda from all western media including sadly Crikey.