Strength and Weakness
There’s a huge scandal going on in Ukraine, right now
Specific details and nature of the scandal do not concern us very much. What I find interesting, is how it highlights the super-robust, ironclad position of the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief, Alexander Syrsky. Time after time, he triumphs over every other opponent and every competitor, relying on the ironclad support of President Zelensky. Again and again, the president chooses him over everyone else.
Why?
Well, I don’t have any secret inside info from the Ukrainian government. But based on my general understanding of how things work under the moon, I think I can make an educated guess.
There are several great things about Syrsky that, in combination, secure his position making him a preferable choice over every other competitor. One element of that combination is the fact that Syrsky is Russian. Born in Russia, raised in Russia, has a family (parents and brother) still living in Russia1.
This may stumble you for a moment. Like, stop, full stop. Ukraine is fighting war against Russia. Russia is the enemy, Russia is the outgroup. The official discourse, the popular discourse is all vehemently anti-Russian. Every bit of association, of link with Russia is being rejected, destroyed.
Should not being Russian be, I don’t know… a bad thing? A disadvantage, or a liability?
(I mean in the context of the contemporary Ukrainian politics)
Well. Depending on how you look at it
