As the ever-moving chess board was set for this latest contestation of the land, Ukraine was putting military pieces in place.

The arithmetic was grim: A population of 44 million against 160 Russian battalions. Russia had 35,000 troops permanently stationed on the Ukrainian border, and the capacity to swiftly bring another 150,000 into play. If you are in a David versus Goliath scenario, it is wise to pick up enough river stones for your sling, because Goliath is very big.