THEY say that history repeats itself.
On this day exactly 80 years ago, on May 15, 1942, The Northern Echo’s main story concerned the Red Army of the Soviet Union attacking the Germans’ “vast network of pillboxes, minefields and obstacles” in the city of Kharkov – or Kharkiv, as it is known today in Ukrainian.
The Echo doesn't mention the word "Ukrainian" in its report, and it is pretty approving of the Russians' action - they were, of course, on our side against Hitler's armies.
However, in 1942, the Russians, led by Stalin, had drastically overestimated their strength as they attacked Kharkiv.
They were slaughtered in their thousands and driven out of the city. Eighty years later, the Russians, led by Putin, have again overestimated their strength and this week have reportedly been driven out of Kharkiv by the Ukrainians at great cost.
Perhaps there are some lessons that some people should learn from history...
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