@Zar:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60600487
One news article talking about the support for the war in Russia. It reminds me of posts from Americans who've had their families split apart by Trump's idiocy.I suppose these kind of people exist everywhere, no matter the country. It just takes a madman with power for things to go downhill.
Definitely, the other huge recent example that comes to mind is Brexit.
Anti-war protests in some of the more westernized cities of Russia.
I've heard 3000 people arrested thrown around as an estimate to how many are out on the streets.
Brave people, walking out there even though you could get 15 years in prison
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Nato has "greenlit" that is okay to provide Ukraine with MIGs.
Dunno if that means it is gonna happen, or if Poland is gonna block it
Dunno if that means it is gonna happen, or if Poland is gonna block it
From what I understand, the deal they're trying to hammer out is that any MiGs given to Ukraine by Poland will be replaced with F-16s.
So Ukraine gets fighters that their personnel are trained to operate and have the ability to maintain right now while Poland gets new versions of a really solid fighter/great multirole plane that they already use in exchange for their much older really solid fighter/okayish multirole planes that they're moving away from anyway.
Then the question becomes if they will be allowed to take off from Nato airfields
The hacking group #Anonymous today hacked into the Russian streaming services Wink and Ivi (like Netflix) and live TV channels Russia 24, Channel One, Moscow 24 to broadcast war footage from Ukraine.
Heavy fighting in the capital, Russian forces are attacking 4 different areas.
A Russian whistleblower has described the war as a “total failure” that could be compared only to the collapse of Nazi Germany
A report thought to be by an analyst in the FSB, the successor agency to the KGB, said that the Russian dead could already number 10,000. The Russian defence ministry has acknowledged the deaths of only 498 of its soldiers in Ukraine
The report said the FSB was being blamed for the failure of the invasion but had been given no warning of it and was unprepared to deal with the effects of sanctions.
The whistleblower added that no one knew the true death toll because “we have lost contact with major divisions”
The letter said that Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader and an ally of Putin, was on the verge of outright conflict with the Russians after his “hit squad”, sent to kill President Zelensky, was destroyed by Ukrainian forces
Even if Zelensky were killed, the report said, Russia would have no hope of occupying Ukraine.
“Even with minimum resistance from the Ukrainians we’d need over 500,000 people, not including supply and logistics workers”
The analyst said that the SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence service, was trying to “dig up dirt” to claim that Ukraine had built nuclear weapons, a pretext for a pre-emptive strike
The 2,000-word document was published by Vladimir Osechkin, a Russian human rights activist who runs the anti-corruption website http://Gulagu.net
Christo Grozev, an expert on the Russian security services, said he had shown the letter to two FSB officers, both of whom had had “no doubt it was written by a colleague”
Elsewhere in the letter the author wrote: “Our position is like Germany in 1943-44 — but that’s our starting position”
Well it seems Putin gamble high a lost it all.
Kadyrov is literally the dumbest person in charge of an army alive so i have no doubt he had his men drive down the road straight into annihilation. No need to give away those fundamentally unable to be discreet.
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Russian troops calling out of Ukraine on regular sim cards is the wildest thing i've heard so far. The second general who got killed recently, they apparently called it in on a regular phone with a Ukrainian sim card.
It looks like a Russian Major General got killed by Ukrainian troops:
Someone has suggested that Russian are calling on regular phones because they blew up the 4G tower their own comms were relient on. This is getting to the point where you just throw your hands up and say how can they be this poorly organized.
They took over chernovil, the one indefendible hellhole in Ukraine, instead of ignoring it, nothing since that has been dumber.
Yeah i mean that is absolutely stupid and terrible. But i can't stop shaking my head over the idea that someone says stop the Ukrainians from communicating, dude goes yeah sure and demolishes his own comm link and can't even report back that he's done it. Except by calling on his cell, some poster even suggested that they found the name of who he called on a regular public who called look up website. I just can't come to terms with the idea that the cold war kingdom of evil is this level of incompetent
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For the first time since the attacks began the capitals air defenses have managed to shoot down all incoming missiles. Speculation is if the Russians have run out of the more complex and expensive ammo and are back to using old soviet surplus. No matter the reason this is wonderful
Yesterday Spanish talking heads were talking as if Ukraines defeat was inevitable as thing stand right now, and that has made me feel down ever since, it is hard to do anything else without risking wwIII, and even with these levels of incompetence there is a lot of Russia to beat before this war is over.
https://amp.france24.com/en/europe/20220307-h-r-mcmaster-i-believe-ukraine-can-win-the-war
I mean all of it is educated guesses but a fair amount of "experts" have started to swing more toward Ukraine having a fighting chance
What are the chances this will get really ugly and have nukes involved? The situation is bad as it is (what with Chernobyl and the biggest nuclear power plant having been occupied by Russian forces).
Russia is doing a lot of trying to maintain order and pave an economic way forward for someone supposedly indifferent to/willing to end all life on the planet is my take on those nuke threats.
Many things come into play to "foresee" how it can stop. Like, what country the US would not give away to Russia ?
Because IF it escalates to the WW3 zone. Only the US can stop Russia, unless if every single European citizen goes to war…
Also saying this because there is this a "wild" theory in French historiography about the US "tradition" to stand with one country that they would not give away at "any price". Like South Korea (containment against communism) and Britain (WW2) for instance. But there don't seem to be any known explanations as to why such country is chosen opposed to another. And these countries' place in the US strategy can also change.
So, even if we put this theory aside, the question of which country to defend the most according to the US government (or even France and the UK) is still relevant. Sending troops in NATO countries surrounding Russia and Ukraine is one thing, sending troops that can stop more than 100K (or 200K ? for now at least) of Russian soldiers is another...
The economic sanctions against Russia are nice for now. But I'm not sure that Putin is a "reasonable" man. He is a brain-less Mussolini
Every nation gets the government it deserves.–-- Joseph de Maistre
Nato could literally beat the pants of Russia with one hand behind it's back. It isn't even a comparison, even Putin himself said that Russia could not compare militarily. Outside of nukes Russia has zero percent chance of winning against Nato
That's not even my point though, the question is "what country is the US ready to lose ?". Putin would eventually lose against NATO at full capacity yeah. But as I said, even if Putin tries to invade a NATO country, nothing says the US, France and the UK would go "at full capacity" to try to stop the Russians. Just have a look at the NATO soldiers amassed at the bordering countries. There aren't hundreds of thousands of soldiers in Poland. Macron sent a symbolic 500troops in Romania… and there are like 5.000 GIs in Poland.
NATO is just a military treaty which consists of lots of countries with their own interests.
Could be wrong of course. But Putin doesn't seem to understand anything but strength for now
US has just reaffirmed that it willl defend "every inch" of NATO territory, so what i don't get is where this hypothetical takes off from. The migthier party will give away land it has and can easily hold to the weaker party because of what exactly? Nukes? You nuke a Nato country you get nukes back and we all die. Conventional forces have no chance of taking it against their will. So where is the hand that will force this hypothetical?
There are two northern countries that aren't even part of NATO for instance.
And I haven't even talked about nukes. I don't think that Russia invading an European or NATO country would IMMEDIATELY trigger a nuclear missile from any side… But whatever, maybe it's too much "hypothetical". After all, NATO has never been invaded and we can't know how it's gonna actually play out.
Anyway, you seem to be adamant that Putin will never invade a NATO country because he will lose eventually.
And whatever the Biden administration has said for now concerning the inches of NATO territories also works for Taiwan. The US interests aren't only in Eastern Europe. Putting the "Chinese threat" aside. There is also the fact that the US have elections and you don't know who will be in power there in 2years
Those concerns are legit. It's just a different take on the eventual escalation of the conflict, Putin's personality and how NATO (and its countries strategies) could work.
Just said what I have in mind. I don't think I have anything more to add. Feel free to ignore my message
Every nation gets the government it deserves.–-- Joseph de Maistre
What are the chances this will get really ugly and have nukes involved? The situation is bad as it is (what with Chernobyl and the biggest nuclear power plant having been occupied by Russian forces).
Its never going to come down to nukes because the retaliation from the rest of the world would be immediate and severe.
Yeah, the leader might go insane and think its a good idea, but that's generally where the line will be drawn with everyone obeying the guy. No one is going to nuke first unless they think Russia itself is about to fall… which is the entire reason NATO hasn't gone all out on them.
I do hope there'll be sane people in the room when Putin might inevitably want to reach for the big red button (I know it doesn't work like that, but it's a nice metaphor, isn't it).
Things are bad as they are and I find it hard to concentrate on the news and try to filter out the bullshit. I just don't have the mental energy right now to tackle this topic as thoroughly as it should be tackled. God know I need enough energy dealing with our elections next month and the absolute barrage of anti-LGBTQ propaganda that screams in my face whenever I venture outside.
If it is any comfort Russia has an excellent track record of heroes saying the world doesn't end on my watch when called upon to launch nukes. Even if i doubt a man who sits 3 meters from his collegues for safety has any plans on dying anytime soon.
There are two northern countries that aren't even part of NATO for instance.
And I haven't even talked about nukes. I don't think that Russia invading an European or NATO country would IMMEDIATELY trigger a nuclear missile from any side… But whatever, maybe it's too much "hypothetical". After all, NATO has never been invaded and we can't know how it's gonna actually play out.
Anyway, you seem to be adamant that Putin will never invade a NATO country because he will lose eventually.
And whatever the Biden administration has said for now concerning the inches of NATO territories also works for Taiwan. The US interests aren't only in Eastern Europe. Putting the "Chinese threat" aside. There is also the fact that the US have elections and you don't know who will be in power there in 2years
Those concerns are legit. It's just a different take on the eventual escalation of the conflict, Putin's personality and how NATO (and its countries strategies) could work.
Just said what I have in mind. I don't think I have anything more to add. Feel free to ignore my message
I mean i can enjoy a good what if as much as the next guy. But after the biggest showing of unity in modern time it feels a little like saying maybe the Swiss will ban banks, if that happens it would be bad for their economy huh.
Poland's entire MiG-29 inventory of twenty-eight planes is headed to Ukraine; the US will replace them with F-16s.
Sweet. Go get 'em Ukraine.
And in other news US is maybe banning Russian oil in a day or so. Here's hoping.
Word down here is that UK, Canada and Netherlands are gonna act outside NATO and send mercenaries to Ukraine. If confirmed truth, and in fact exposed, we could jump from the frying pan to the fire.
Word down here is that UK, Canada and Netherlands are gonna act outside NATO and send mercenaries to Ukraine. If confirmed truth, and in fact exposed, we could jump from the frying pan to the fire.
I believe by modern laws, mercenaries aren't actually allowed to fight on the front lines, and only can serve as guards or something.
Not that I think this is true, though. And why the Netherlands of all people would do this?
I mean Russia was just looking to outsource some of their urban warfare to Syrian mercenaries so turnabout is fair play
@Johnny:
Not that I think this is true, though. And why the Netherlands of all people would do this?
From the joint statement we know they sending weapons and supplies.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-on-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-uk-canada-netherlands
Also saying this because there is this a "wild" theory in French historiography about the US "tradition" to stand with one country that they would not give away at "any price". Like South Korea (containment against communism) and Britain (WW2) for instance. But there don't seem to be any known explanations as to why such country is chosen opposed to another. And these countries' place in the US strategy can also change.
That's an odd theory, especially if it bases itself off South Korea when like 20 years later America gave up on South Vietnam…. which uh I would think the French were very aware of for obvious reasons.
I mean Russia was just looking to outsource some of their urban warfare to Syrian mercenaries so turnabout is fair play
The best troops Russia has have spent the past few years being mercenaries in support of Assad in Syria (with smaller operations in Libya and the CAR), which makes them the only Russian soldiers who have actually fought someone who shot back before this.
I've been reading reports regarding the fallout from oil and gas sanctions and seems like putin is trying to play a game of chicken by threatening to cut off gas to europe?
If anything i hope europe realizes the importance of energy independence and seek alternative sources to avoid overreliance (like, ahem, the current shitstorm). Especially germany who seems to have put too much stock on russia gas anyway.
I hope that too. Maybe this is a good (if not the best) incentive to push for renewable sources as well as find better solutions for getting safely rid of the waste from nuclear powerplants.
Until then, we can sit back and enjoy soaring prices unfortunately.
The German strategy of making deep and mutally profitable ties in order to discourage conflict isn't without it's merit. But there are clearly some people who don't define their best interest around prosperity and cooperation.
Word down here is that UK, Canada and Netherlands are gonna act outside NATO and send mercenaries to Ukraine. If confirmed truth, and in fact exposed, we could jump from the frying pan to the fire.
Don't know about other countries, but here in the UK there are apparently a handful of serving British soldiers who have gone AWOL to fight in Ukraine and people are absolutely freaking out about what could happen if Russia captures them. So I just don't see the British Government going the mercenary route, but who knows?
Don't know about other countries, but here in the UK there are apparently a handful of serving British soldiers who have gone AWOL to fight in Ukraine and people are absolutely freaking out about what could happen if Russia captures them. So I just don't see the British Government going the mercenary route, but who knows?
OH God Boris, how much can you fuck things up?! Brexit, Pandemic, losing the russian billionaire money laundry, what else can you screw?!
The German strategy of making deep and mutally profitable ties in order to discourage conflict isn't without it's merit. But there are clearly some people who don't define their best interest around prosperity and cooperation.
Isn’t this the fable of the frog and the scorpion?
@Monkey:
That's an odd theory, especially if it bases itself off South Korea when like 20 years later America gave up on South Vietnam…. which uh I would think the French were very aware of for obvious reasons.
I don't get your point. Why are you talking about Vietnam ? the idea is that the US didn't want to lose Korea "for some reason"
Every nation gets the government it deserves.–-- Joseph de Maistre
An estimate of 5% losses for Russia so far. Still rough seas ahead for Ukrainian people.
Other small updates, US goes back on the jets, claims to not have been consulted. Russia plans to disconnect from the main internet, and bans the exchange of rubles for foreign currency
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Russia also admits that it has been deploying conscripts in Ukraine.
Inside scope of sorts on where Putins mind might be at.
There's reports Putin's army has bombed a maternity hospital. How low can you sink?
I'm not religious, but if there's a hell I hope they've reserved the deepest caverns for Putin and his followers.
So I turn of news from our side that kinda involve the conflict.
Bolsonaro found a way to weaponize the Ukranian-Russian War, he's using the fertilizer deal with Belarus that went down to once again try to legalize mining in native lands; using the argument that there are reserves rich in potassium - none of our K rich lands is in a reserve. The constitutional amendment to to legalize the mining on reserves is being voted today on congress, and it only helps the narco-artisanal mining - yeah that's exactly what you thing - that has close ties with the gov't.
And not to be that guy, since I do condem the lunacy that Putin is doing, but I've already saw a buuuuuunch of photos of ukranian soldiers with nazi heraldry on their uniforms. I'll probably be the guy that warned that in 10 years time Europe will face a rise of domestic right wing/white supremacist terror groups and political parties.
What can I even say when Russia bombs a maternity hospital in Ukraine..?
Fuck Putin and his bullshit?
I'll probably be the guy that warned that in 10 years time Europe will face a rise of domestic right wing/white supremacist terror groups and political parties.
Those already exist and a lot of said movements and organizations are funded by Putin.
Complicating things since 2009.
Those already exist and a lot of said movements and organizations are funded by Putin.
I'm well aware, I'm saying I think will get worse for you guys. Think of conservatives electing not someone incompetent and corrupt - like Boris - but someone incompetent, corrupt, harmful and openly bigoted - like Trump and Bolsonaro.
Think of these movements getting majority or strong plurality in the parliaments and think about they extending their disinformation-propaganda machine even further.
Why do you think it will get worse? Most extremist right-wing political parties I know of have been pretty Putin-friendly in the past, which is actually coming back to bite them right now.
