Why Citizens of Ukraine Take Top Priority for US Payouts
Cannon fodder may cost more than bullets.
Let’s start with a rundown of the current state of affairs within the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) and take note of some recent developments within the Russian Federation (RF).
Ukrainian forces may very soon have no choice but to retreat across the Dnieper River, according to AFU spokespersons themselves. Whether this is an over-dramatization to procure more funding and resources from the West is of course hard to confirm. What can be confirmed is the massive territorial gains Russia has made since the start of the military operation (SMO) since it began in 2022. With this in mind, the planned Russian offensive scheduled to launch some time later this spring may very well push the Ukrainians over the Dnieper, effectively solidifying Russian control over the Eastern part of the country in such a manner that would be difficult if not impossible for the AFU to regain.
There is also the very serious problem of mobilization in Ukraine. According to AFU officers such as Lieutenant Nikolai Melnik (47th Brigade), the AFU is “less than half-staffed.” Mobilization difficulties are nothing new, with various videos of botched and successful attempts at what is essentially kidnapping having been in circulation from the start. The difference in regards to staffing between RF forces and the AFU could hardly be larger—with the difference in population, and perhaps more significantly morale, Russia maintains a significant number of troops simply in reserves.
Despite Western media narratives, which seem to be increasingly disingenuous if that’s even possible the Russian economy is setting records in multiple areas, dairy being just one example. Such successes do have military significance, as the economic success of any nation contributes, rather obviously, leads to the health and morale of the men on the front lines. This is nothing, however, in comparison to the massive developments of Russian military technology. The successful test launch of a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile which occurred only today at the Kapustin Yar test site confirms Russia’s ability and perhaps even likelihood of success with regards to just some of the aims of the military operation.
All of this leads to the reason the Unites States needs to keep Ukrainian citizens as pleased as possible; why the pensions need to be payed on time, and even increased and “stimulus checks” issued. The US government, and the West more broadly, is inextricably involved in the Ukrainian conflict. Whether this is out of genuine concern for Ukrainian sovereignty or pursuits of their own interests, the US has invested significant resources, both financially and through military assistance, in supporting the Ukrainian government's efforts against Russian-backed separatists. The US has also played a major role in imposing economic sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine in order to finance this support. In some ways the US is behaving like an alternate dimension Robin Hood where he steals from the good to give to the bad, as a villain rather than a hero.
If the conflict were to take a turn for the worse and the AFU were to suffer significant losses, this would reflect negatively on the US and its involvement in the region. It would also potentially lead to domestic criticism and pressure to withdraw support for Ukraine. Keeping Ukrainian citizens happy and on the government's side is crucial for maintaining the current level of US involvement and support for Ukraine.
The US also sees Ukraine as an important ally in intelligence operations that are vital to furthering Western geopolitical goals. Assassinations and intelligence gathering are something Ukraine does rather well, as evidenced by the Myrotvorets organization—read more on that here. Moreover, Ukraine is host to part of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) international intelligence-gathering apparatus, known as the US Department of Justice Special Operations Division (SOD).1 It may be worth considering that the US has a distinct interest in the continuation of the international trade of illicit substances for this very reason—it gives them “justification” to interfere in foreign affairs under the guise of stopping the very trade practices they proliferate. It’s not rocket science. It’s simple logic, and it’s extraordinarily transparent.
I wrote this piece in response to a question I hear Americans repeatedly ask ad nauseam, “Why is [our] government giving money to Ukraine?” The answer is a thousandfold but perhaps can be simplified by simply stating to such confused individuals that it is not your government.
-the Shultz Report by M. Shultz
https://www.secretservice.gov/protection/specialoperations