Ukraine's Crimean fightback having 'psychological impact' on Russia - BBC News

[TexasTowelie]

Ukrainian strikes on Crimea are having major psychological and operational effects on Moscow's forces, Western officials have told journalists.

Explosions at the Saki airbase on 9 August and other assaults have put more than half of the Black Sea fleet's naval jets out of action, they said.

The fleet has a revered history, but it has suffered a series of humiliations since the invasion began in February.

"This has been 11 days which has seen Crimea destabilized in a way few predicted," says BBC's Ukraine Correspondent James Waterhouse.

Following the most recent attacks this month, scores of Russian holidaymakers were seen fleeing the peninsula, which was previously untouched by fighting.

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. If Russia exits Crimea, how does Putin explain this to the Russian people?

Hopefully, I will be reading about Putin's sudden demise in the world press, soon.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I believe that I read that about 1 million people have evacuated Crimea and are heading back east to

the Russian border. I imagine that has already raised some questions.

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. If I was a typical Russian schmuck in Russian (like I am in the USA), I'd be asking, why did you do

this? Invade Ukraine? You got us Crimea access and a we had a warm weather port with access to the Mediterranean in 2014. Now, we will soon have neither Crimea or Ukraine.