Ukraine Resists

 It’s nearly impossible to focus on the many other issues that normally concern me with the dramatic events in Ukraine taking up all of the oxygen in the global news cycle at the moment.

What is clear at this early stage of the war is that Putin’s expectation of a quick victory by seizing Kyiv and toppling the Ukrainian government has been frustrated by strong resistance by the Ukrainian population.

Putin may also have expected more support or at least obedience from his own population, but Russians have been making their displeasure with the invasion felt in various ways, including ongoing demonstrations.

Based on their initial success in slowing the invading forces, the Ukrainians are now benefitting by new injections of arms and supplies by Western allies, which may prolong the period before Russia succeeds in taking control of the country.

At this point, every day that Ukraine holds out and frustrates Putin’s advance has to be considered a major victory. In the process, the autocratic Russian leader looks less powerful in the eyes of the world, weakening his long-term prospects at holding onto power.

As I have repeatedly asserted, this appears to be the beginning of the end for Putin. It may be an extended period before he falls, but his pretense of invincibility has suffered irreparable damage thanks to the resistance of the Ukrainian people.

TODAY’s NEWS:

1. Fighting intensifies in Kyiv (The Hill)

2. Russian troops zero in on Kyiv as 150,000 Ukrainians flee (AP)

3. Ukrainian Forces Repel Russian Attack on Kyiv (WSJ)

4. Ukrainians Slow Russian Invasion (CNN)

5. Advance on Kyiv slower than planned due to Ukraine's updated equipment (NHK)

6. Putin shunned by world as his hopes of quick victory evaporate (Guardian)

7. Kyiv braced for incoming missile attacks (BBC)

8. Scenes from Kharkiv: Battle wreckage, the boom of artillery, and people sheltering in the subway. (NYT)

9. Ukraine vows to keep fighting as Russia forces close on Kyiv (Reuters)

10. The Overview: Ukrainians resist Russian onslaught as tanks, planes dig deeper toward Kyiv (WP)

11. Smartphone in hand, Ukraine's president takes centre stage in a capital under attack (Reuters)

12. Armed with hammers and pistols, Ukrainians wait at barricades for the Russians (Guardian)

13. A Prayer for Volodymyr Zelensky — History has found the Ukrainian president, and his courage is remarkable to witness. (Atlantic)

14. In a major shift, Germany will send weapons to Ukraine (AP)

15. U.S. stands ready to evacuate Zelensky, Russia’s ‘target No. 1’ (WP)

16. Local media: Russia attacked 40 civilian facilities in Ukraine (NHK)

17. Ukraine Girds for Kyiv Attack Amid Signs of Slowing Russian Advance (NYT)

18. Ukraine: Tens of thousands flee to Poland amid Russian attacks (Al Jazeera)

19. People fleeing Ukraine cross into Romania (NPR)

20. Huge numbers of people are fleeing Ukraine, with a 27-hour long queue of women and children on the Moldovan border (BBC)

21. Russia's Ukraine attack forces Beijing into diplomatic dance (Reuters)

22. People from around Ukraine gather in western border city of Lviv (NHK)

23. Russian Government Websites Suffer Disruptions (WSJ)

24. France will also send Ukraine more weapons (BBC)

25. The UK meanwhile says it and 25 other nations will send more weapons and aid to Ukraine (BBC)

26. Kyiv on edge: As Russian forces press in on the capital, Ukrainians are defiant (WP)

27. Arrests mount as anti-war protests continue in Russia (NHK)

28. On the ground: Long queues of people willing to fight (BBC)

29. At the Polish Border, Tens of Thousands of Ukrainian Refugees — They have been warmly welcomed in a country whose border guards last year beat back mostly Afghan and Middle Eastern migrants with batons. (NYT)

30. Zelenskyy declines US offer to evacuate Kyiv (AP)

31. Western allies to cut some Russian banks out of Swift payments system (Guardian)

32. Russian troops at Kyiv’s gates transform residents into fighters (Financial Times)

33. Netherlands confirms new military support to Ukraine (BBC)

34. Russia says its attacks are not hitting civilians. Scenes in cities tell a different story. (WP)

35. Annexations, a rump state or puppet rulers. Here's what Putin may be planning for Ukraine (CNN)

36. Biden approves $350 million in military aid for Ukraine (Reuters)

37. We Have Never Been Here Before — Putin’s war has ensured the world will never be the same. (Thomas L. Friedman/NYT)

38. Russian airlines cut off from growing swath of European airspace (Financial Times)

39. While some Ukrainians flee, others are rushing back to fight (WP)

40. Half of Russian troops amassed around Ukraine now invading, U.S. says (Politico)

41. Russia pours more troops into Ukraine after meeting heavy resistance (Financial Times)

42. Facebook bans Russian state media from advertising and monetizing content on its platform (Fox News)

43. VIDEO: ‘I’m Ready’: Ukraine’s Civilians Take Up Arms (NYT)

44. From the streets of Russia, protests rise to the war without a cause (Edit Bd/WP)

45. Biden: Putin's invasion creating 'opposite effect' to its intent (Politico)

46. It's safe to unmask in many places, says the CDC. These experts aren't quite ready (NPR)

47. ‘I Don’t Dare Get the Shot’: Virus Ravages Unvaccinated Older Hong Kongers (NYT)

48. New omicron subvariant has new COVID symptoms (Deseret News)

49. Eating disorders among teen girls doubled during pandemic, CDC study shows (Guardian)

50. Backstage drama at Jan. 6 rally for Trump draws interest of House committee (WP)

51. Calls to expel Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene after speech at white nationalist event (Guardian)

52. Fifty Years After Nixon’s Visit, China Tilts Back Toward Russia (WSJ)

53. China says U.S. warship sailing in Taiwan Strait 'provocative' (Reuters)

54. Migration to California has plummeted — from every state. (SFC)

55. Amazon has marketed itself as a climate change leader, but an emissions report obtained by Reveal highlights the pitfalls of relying on voluntary commitments. (CIR)

56. How a little-discussed revision of climate science could help avert doom (WP)

57. 4.4 million galaxies are visible in this new map of the night sky (CBS)

58. Rash-causing moth spreading due to warming, scientists find (AP)

59. Are Virtual Worlds Safe for Children? — It isn’t clear what happens to a child’s mind after spending hours upon hours in made-up worlds. But we may know soon enough. (WSJ)

60. The only fun war was the Peloponnesian War. (The Onion)

TODAY’s LYRICS:

“Photograph”

Song by Ringo Starr

Songwriters: R. Starkey / G. Harrison

Every time I see your face
It reminds me of the places we used to go
All I've got is a photograph
And I realize you're not coming back anymore

I thought I'd make it
The day you went away
But I can't make it
'Til you come home again to stay

I can't get used to living here
While my heart is broke, my tears, I cry for you

I want you here to have and hold
As the years go by and we grow old and gray

Now you're expecting me to live without you
But that's not something that I'm looking forward to

I can't get used to living here
While my heart is broke, my tears, I cry for you
I want you here to have and hold
As the years go by and we grow old and gray

Every time I see your face
It reminds me of the places we used to go
All I've got is a photograph
And I realize you're not coming back anymore

Every time I see your face
It reminds me of the places we used to go

But all I've got is a photograph
And I realize you're not coming back anymore