But it probably is the case that Ukraine was stomping Russia for pennies on the dollar earlier in the war.

When the aid was flowing the narrative was that this was a “good investment” which is why they sold you with this “pennies on the dollar” angle.

Put down the slava pipe and have a look at what the cost basis is for western military gear vs Russian stuff. It’s rarely better than 5:1 even for basic stuff like shells and advanced stuff runs at around 10:1. The idea that it was “pennies on the dollar” is crazy shit.

It’s all narrative. It doesn’t have a relationship to facts on the ground. It’s a sales pitch.