Russia’s Grave Miscalculation: Ukrainians Would Collaborate

Russia invaded Ukraine expecting a quick and painless victory. It predicted that the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky would fracture and that leading officials in the largely Russian-speaking eastern region would gladly switch sides.

That has not happened.

In all but a tiny number of villages, Russia failed to flip local politicians to its side.

“Nobody wanted to be part of that thing behind the wall,” said Kostyantyn Usov, a former member of Parliament from Kryvyi Rih, referring to Russia’s isolated, authoritarian system.

Oleksandr Vilkul, a former minister in a previous pro-Russian government in Ukraine, said he refused an early offer to cooperate with the invaders and "be a big person in the new Ukraine."

Missiles striking his hometown made the choice obvious: He would fight back.

“I responded with profanity,” Mr. Vilkul said.

Now he is miltary governor of Kryvyi Rih, leading the defense of the city. Read more

@nytimes