For example, whereas Ukrainian authorities controlled approximately 60% of Luhansk before the recent Russian invasion, now Russian forces control over 80% of the region. Putin’s army holds Kherson, whatever is left of Mariupol, all the intervening territory, and now not only Luhansk and Donetsk but the entire Donbas Oblast. Nonetheless, Russia now controls significantly more Ukrainian territory than before February 24. While cheering on the scrappy, outmatched Ukrainians, we could also assuage some of our shame at leaving them-to whom we had made promises of protection, “ security guarantees”-to die alone in the snow and the mud. His defiance against the odds gave us someone to root for against a bully. This is why Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed so successfully to the world. It fuels hope for our ordinary selves and allows us to feel we are on the morally superior side. We love a plucky little guy who beats the odds. Ukraine is in far worse shape than commonly believed and needs, and will continue to need, a staggering amount of aid and support to actually win. The difference between expectations and the surprising resilience of Ukraine’s military makes it easy to misinterpret the current situation in Ukraine’s favor. It has been said that, given how massively Ukrainian troops were believed be outmatched early in Russia’s invasion, not losing the war is itself a form of victory for Ukraine.
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