Ann: Increased Customer Interest in Ultra High-Purity Graphite, page-49

Very difficult to accept any reports as definite and actual truth, after all where and from whom are they coming from ?
There must be numerous photographs from anywhere at anytime which can be used to emphasize points of engagement, destruction etc.
Obviously there would be truth in some of it but at the same time there would be actions happening and not reported at all. At the best I'd say we are probably getting a general idea.
As for Putin it has been known for years it has been his ambition to bring back the Soviet Union and that is what he is attempting to do, no matter what the cost. His concern for his own people is non-existent. To call the Russians 'his people' is a sad comment, but why is he there and why are so many Russian, sons, husbands, fathers trooping off to die for Putin's ambitions, while their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters suffer from the loss of their loved ones ?
It simply seems unnecessary and makes no real sense.