[Goose]

Another key difference between this incursion and the prior activities of the freedom of russia militia: Silence from Ukraine. 

During the prior incursions, there was clearly a big propaganda component, with lots of pictures taken and posted on social media. This time? Nothing coming from Ukrainian sources, much more reminiscent of the Kharkiv offensive.

This mission clearly is "different". It isn't "freedom of Russia militia". Actually, IMO there is still a big "propaganda component". Ukraine has long realized that letting the Russian milblogers speculate generates much more FAD among the Russians than anything Ukraine could show or say. In this case, as in others, silence is a weapon. It has the added advantages of 1) maintaining operational security and 2) not placing Ukraine in a situation where defeats or inaccurate, overly optimistic reports will degrade their credibility. The world and Russia know from experience that lots of Ukrainian victories/accomplishments (like the referenced Kharkiv offensive) were accompanied by silence. The silence gives Russians a sinking feeling of "here we go again". It things don't work out so well, Ukraine hasn't lied to anybody.

[Goose]

Another key difference between this incursion and the prior activities of the freedom of russia militia: Silence from Ukraine. 

During the prior incursions, there was clearly a big propaganda component, with lots of pictures taken and posted on social media. This time? Nothing coming from Ukrainian sources, much more reminiscent of the Kharkiv offensive.

This mission clearly is "different". It isn't "freedom of Russia militia". Actually, IMO there is still a big "propaganda component". Ukraine has long realized that letting the Russian milblogers speculate generates much more FAD among the Russians than anything Ukraine could show or say. In this case, as in others, silence is a weapon. It has the added advantages of 1) maintaining operational security and 2) not placing Ukraine in a situation where defeats or inaccurate, overly optimistic reports will degrade their credibility. The world and Russia know from experience that lots of Ukrainian victories/accomplishments (like the referenced Kharkiv offensive) were accompanied by silence. The silence gives Russians a sinking feeling of "here we go again". It things don't work out so well, Ukraine hasn't lied to anybody.