In 2015, U.S. Senator John McCain famously characterized Russia as "a giant gas station masquerading as a real country." This depiction still holds true today---Putin continues to run a kleptocracy, heavily relying on oil and gas for his economic survival.

Echoing the late McCain's sentiments, Ukraine displays remarkable ingenuity in striking Russia's oil pipeline hubs and chemical complexes as distant as Samara and Tatarstan, approximately 620 miles (1,000 km) from the eastern Ukraine frontlines. * The fact that Ukraine has successfully breached Russian air defenses also exposes Putin's Achilles' heel.

Goliath is vulnerable to David's sling and stone. Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may well be keeping Putin up at night.

Author: renqiulan

* The Russian oil refinery is 700 miles away from the Ukrainian border in the CNN video below: