I would like to say a few words about Shura Burtin’s report from Ukraine. It is two months of conversations on the front and on the home front, in the capital and in the provinces with military men, civilians, deserters, evaders, women, doctors, cab drivers, volunteers, and refugees. Overall, this strong human document demonstrates how tired the whole Ukrainian society is of the biggest armed conflict since World War II on the European continent.
The report is discussed as a phenomenon. In fact, every major war of the twentieth century has such a testimony. Of course, it could only have appeared in neutral Switzerland. In Ukraine or Russia, where considerations of censorship and self-censorship severely restrict the author, it would hardly have come out.
The state of people in Ukraine three years later is an exact correspondence to Svechin’s term of “strategy of exhaustion”. Russia’s military and political leadership has staked on exhausting the enemy in every sense. This year, if we extrapolate the phenomenon described by Burtin, may become decisive.
This means that Moscow will be able to negotiate peace without a break, which the enemy needs so much (if we believe Burtin). Or to bargain a very large concession for a respite. Reading other options does not give birth to other options.
As for the humanistic content of Burtin’s reportage, the most famous war of attrition is World War I. And the most famous book on psychological fatigue and exhaustion is On the Western Front Without Change. Remarque wrote it for that purpose, as it became clear later, so that all its horrors would not be accidentally forgotten.
But they were forgotten in order to return to them again and again. Since the publication of “On the Western Front Without Change” has passed a century without a little. Russia is not rich in monuments to the dead of the First World War.
This report really puts a human face on the conflict. It’s so important to understand the toll it’s taking on ordinary Ukrainians. Thank you for highlighting Burtin’s work.
Burtin’s work is a valuable contribution to our understanding of this conflict. I hope it will influence policymakers and the public to push for a peaceful
It’s crucial that this report was published in a neutral country. It allows for a more honest and unfiltered perspective on the situation. More journalists need to pursue such objective reporting.
The strategy of exhaustion is a cruel one, and it’s heartbreaking to see the impact on Ukrainian society. I hope a peaceful resolution can be found soon.
This analysis is insightful. The point about Russia potentially leveraging Ukraine’s exhaustion for negotiations is something to consider. It’s a difficult and complex situation.
The comparison to ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ is spot on. We must never forget the lessons of history. Burtin’s report is a stark reminder of the cost of war.
Reading this reflection on the war in Ukraine makes me deeply aware of how history seems to echo itself, yet each conflict carves new wounds in human souls 🌍. The idea of a strategy based on exhaustion is haunting—how the weariness of everyday people becomes a battleground in itself. It reminds me that beyond the politics and power plays, there are countless lives woven into a fabric of endurance and hope, even when it feels impossible to hold on. The comparison to World War I feels like a solemn warning but also a call to remember and to never lose sight of the human cost 💔. How often do we forget the past only to find ourselves trapped by the same cycles of suffering? War strips away the facades and shows the rawness of existence—fear, fatigue, resilience, and the quiet courage found in survival. It’s a reminder that peace, no matter how fragile, should always be our pursuit 🌿✨.
If exhaustion had a fan club, this article would be president for life. Reading about the “strategy of exhaustion” makes me wonder if we’re all just in a never-ending group project where nobody wants to do the work but everyone suffers from the consequences. At least Remarque reminded us that the horror keeps repeating itself, like a bad sequel nobody asked for. Here’s hoping the next chapter has a better plot twist! 😅
This piece really captures the deep exhaustion felt by everyone involved in the conflict, both on the front lines and at home. It’s heartbreaking to see how war drains not just physical strength but also the spirit of entire societies 💔🌍. The comparison to historical accounts like On the Western Front Without Change shows how painfully universal and recurring these human experiences are across time. It makes me reflect on the importance of remembering the true cost of war and the urgent need for peace, no matter how difficult the path may be ✌️🙏.
Isn’t it heartbreaking how history keeps looping back on itself, and yet humanity seems incapable of learning from the past? This report shines a harsh light on the true cost of war—not just for soldiers but for every single civilian caught in the nightmare. How much longer can people endure this strategy of exhaustion before it completely breaks them? The parallels with World War I are chilling, and it feels like we’re blindly marching toward a repeat of the same tragedies. When will the world wake up to the human price behind these political games? 😞
This article really highlights how war crushes the spirit of an entire nation, not just its armies 😞. It’s chilling to think that after so much suffering and loss, people might just get used to this endless grinding exhaustion like it’s the new normal 💔. I can’t help but wonder if history is doomed to repeat itself because we never truly learn from the past. When will enough really be enough? 😡🔥