the VS damage we see is due to ground impact
Not quite- look at the top section of the VS forward of the rear door. The circumferential "ring" used to join that aft body section to the forward section has clearly failed in tension along a row or two of rivets/bolts used for the join almost half way around. True the bottom part has been bent by ground impact- so it is difficult from just the photo to determine if the lower section ' crumpled ' via compression while the upper part failed in tension.
For a crude comparison - take a pop can- hold it horizontal- push up with your thumbs from the bottom in the center, pulling down on both ends. The lower part fails in compression. Of course the upper part is in tension ( if you scribed it around the top half- it might actually tear the upper half )
Now compare to the aft section photos with part of the vertical stab ..
It takes a lot of force to tear the aft section at the production join - for example a major dive and pull up - or a failure of control surfaces at high speed allowing rudder/elevator to ' flop "