Private Equity | Ukraine
Mar 16, 2024
In light of recent developments, I’d like to share some wisdom and (unfortunately) first-hand war experience with my European friends.
- We did not prepare in advance and did not build fortifications. Russian agents in Ukrainian government ridiculed everyone who was preparing and were saying that likelihood of war in the heart of Europe is so low that it doesn’t make sense to send a bad signal to investors community. And preparing for war is very bad for the stock market
- I did not have personal gear and a gun, because I always thought that if I ever need one I can get it at every shop. Well, turns out when the war starts you can’t get anything. And it takes time for economy to reposition itself and re-orient on war related goods and services
- I thought that I will be trained in the army. Turns out nobody has time for that during war. And the training that you do get is not useful at all.
- We had an advantage of having tens of thousands battle hardened warriors and veterans, some of whom had been fighting Russia for years. You don’t have that advantage
- Whatever you think the war is like, you’re underestimating it. I’m not talking about sheer brutality of it, but more about other aspects. It will turn out that most of your commanders are incompetent, because they never fought anyone. It will turn out that your soldiers flee from battle, because they are not prepared for what is coming. It will turn out that significant part of your population actually supports Russia and are ready to cooperate with invaders. Turns out it’s hard to convince people to risk their lives for their country. When you run out of volunteers, you need to mobilise people by force. It is not a popular decision, no one wants to make it
- Lots of your politicians are on Russian payroll, but they will not compromise their identity. Instead they will be urging people to “do what is best for Poland, Lithuania, Germany (insert any country here)”. Turns out that “the best” course of action is always not to fight in order to preserve human and economic resources. It is “best” not to help your allies, but keep some of that ammunition you got for yourself. It is “best” not to intervene, because you risk being dragged into a conflict.
I wish you good luck and wish us good luck as well, that’s what we all need now.
P.S: on the picture attached is my ridiculous load out with a weight of 45 kilos, something some of you will carry quite often. Be mindful of your knees and lower back.
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Comment from :
Principled Sales Professional
You are one of the few Ukrainians to publicly admit that Ukraine’s negligence invited Putin’s invasion.
This negligence continues, even today. It’s proven that multiple trenches and minefields are effective in stopping offensives. Yet, Ukraine didn’t prepare such defenses behind Avdiivka.
I understand that Ukraine doesn’t want to mobilize its youth to the front, because youth are the future. But why not mobilize them to dig trenches behind Avdiivka?
Now, it might be too late?
Aerial Mobility CEO | MIT
Excellent post. We must all unite against the imperialist Russia. Europe should have joined the war at its very beginning; we are running against time.
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