Military Model Scene

Title: War in Ukraine, Vol.2
Author: Tom Cooper, Adrien Fontanellaz, Edwards Crowther & Milos Sipos
Publisher: Helion & Co
ISBN: 978-1-804512-16-6

Number 28 in the Europe @ War series from Helion & Co, covering the Russian Invasion, February 2022. A 76-page soft-cover book.
As is pointed out in the Introduction that starts this book off, this is a much publicised war, in the glare of not only the news but also of worldwide social media. There is lots of speculation, lots of propaganda, and some information kept back by both sides under the secrecy of keeping potential intelligence information away from their respective enemies. This volume takes it on from the bluff of so-called 'exercises' near the Ukrainian border and the actual invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces. They had already occupied the Crimea in 2014 and been able to get away with it. Now they used the excuse of supporting separatist movements in the Eastern regions of Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk. The Russians, guided by President Putin planned for what they thought would be a swift and successful defeat of Ukraine in just a few days. However, as the book explains, despite their easy takeover of Crimea, the Ukrainian military had done much to rebuild their military in the intervening years. We know now that the war has gone on for over a year and this book covers the first month or so of the invasion, when Ukrainian resistance wrecked that initial plan, and stunted the Russian assaults, fighting back and inflicting heavy losses. Among the many photos in the book we see plenty of examples of images of Ukrainian farmers towing away knocked out or abandoned Russian military tanks, AFVs and trucks with their tractors. Add helpful maps, the section of colour artwork profiles showing aircraft, military vehicles and uniforms there is plenty in here to interest the modellers among us. To round things off, the appendices provide tables listing a large number of units and their equipment types which are known to have been involved, for both sides.
It makes for interesting reading, even if additional facts may emerge in years to come. What facts will emerge from among the fiction. A year on from the invasion the war continues, with ever growing support from Western nations, while the core of Ukrainian military equipment remains from the old Soviet era. Losses on both sides, and the destruction of town and cities in the eastern regions that Putin said he was going to support are now destroyed, still continue to grow. The book gives a good account of what happened at the start of the war and will make an interesting reference going forward. In the meantime, we can only wish that the old men leading the Russian nation will finally accept they made a mistake, causing loss and misery as much to their own people as to the people of Ukraine. A pointless war which didn't work, but too stubborn to admit they made a mistake. In the 21st Century you'd think good leaders would have at least learnt to own up to their mistakes, but no. I wonder what the next books in this series will reveal.
Thanks to Helion & Co for our review copy.

Robin