Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

placidtiger142 said:Maintenance on the ST1 starts tomorrow, which means gas won't be flowing through it for ten whole days. I’m just sitting here wondering if they’ll actually open the pipe once those ten days are up, or if they’re gonna run into some massive headache with the maintenance and "discover" more broken parts just to drag this whole thing out even longer.

The Germans are in a total panic right now. Honestly, I bet we’ll see cars hitting the market for absolute peanuts soon. Tons of them. They'll start dumping them for sale, but good luck finding anyone actually willing to buy...

There is zero chance of that happening.
Before the whole COVID-19 madness kicked off, and even while it was happening, I used to browse CarGurus every once in a while.
Before all that chaos started, there were usually over two million used cars listed on the site, but I checked again just the other day and there's only about 800,000 left.
Second thing—stuff that used to cost around $10,000 is now sitting at $13,000 or $14,000.
A lot of people aren't selling because they have no clue what tomorrow holds or what they'd even replace their current car with—like, buying a new one? They've been waiting over a year for that. So, right in the middle of this supply shortage, prices went up, and if anything happens, there's gonna be even fewer used cars on the market, not more.

Man, if COVID-19 hadn't already sent prices through the roof, we wouldn't be in this mess. Now, when folks move into areas where everyone’s struggling, those extra costs for gas, water, electricity, and rent—which are already up by thousands of dollars—are gonna spike even more. I wouldn't be surprised if cars become a luxury for the ultra-rich.

Most people didn't even buy into the whole COVID-19 thing anyway.

But this? This is different. A ton of people are gonna have to dig deep into their pockets, assuming they even have any cash left, just to cover the massive jumps in living expenses.

It's a nightmare scenario. Imagine getting hit with a $5,000 surcharge and you've got zero savings, while your car is only worth maybe $10,000. The interest on a $5k loan just eats you alive. Honestly, I think a lot of people are gonna be forced to dump their $10k cars immediately just to keep the lights on. And there won't be any real buyers left. It'll just be those bottom-feeding resellers making offers. I know what I'm talking about—their prices are insulting.

You can't even compare this to COVID-19. This crisis is a direct threat to everyone, and it's the real deal.

COVID-19 was mostly just a political shouting match and a huge debate. But this? This is reality hitting you in the face.

Sent from my iPhone 13 using Reddit

ironseal said:And look, I don't know, maybe it really is some kind of distraction. I highly doubt Zelenskyy isn't working in total coordination with the Americans.

That’s exactly how it looks to me.
Publicly broadcasting military strategies? Yeah, right. You really expect me to believe that?

Donna Wells2 said:That’s exactly how it looks to me.
Publicly broadcasting military strategies? Yeah, right. You really expect me to believe that?

The aggressor is just regrouping. My theory? They're setting the stage for a major push toward Slovyansk. So, even if this "announced" offensive in the south turns out to be nothing more than blatant propaganda, it might actually serve as a tactical distraction for their true objective.

lp

Why are you all acting so surprised? It’s like watching a movie where they announce every single plot twist before it even happens. All through this war, we've heard it all: "here comes this move," "this is arriving," "the conflict will last this long," or "spies are about to lose their jobs."

William Anderson5 said:Compared to Putin and his inner circle, Hitler and his associates were nothing more than clowns, with very few exceptions.

I’ve stopped following this war closely because, in my mind, it's already decided. Ukraine could fight like this for another fifty years, but it seems someone convinced Putin that once he turns off the gas in the winter, Bolshevik-style revolutions will just erupt across the West. He’s played his hand, thinking he’s won... It’s just pure delusion.

And then there's Zelenskyy, who basically stepped into politics with zero experience and managed to outmaneuver him completely.

In my opinion, what hurts Putin the most is the realization that Zelenskyy, along with the Ukrainian military, is making strategic moves fueled by massive support from the West.

Best regards,

placidtiger142 said:Man, if COVID-19 hadn't already sent prices through the roof, we wouldn't be in this mess. Now, when folks move into areas where everyone’s struggling, those extra costs for gas, water, electricity, and rent—which are already up by thousands of dollars—are gonna spike even more. I wouldn't be surprised if cars become a luxury for the ultra-rich.

Most people didn't even buy into the whole COVID-19 thing anyway.

But this? This is different. A ton of people are gonna have to dig deep into their pockets, assuming they even have any cash left, just to cover the massive jumps in living expenses.

It's a nightmare scenario. Imagine getting hit with a $5,000 surcharge and you've got zero savings, while your car is only worth maybe $10,000. The interest on a $5k loan just eats you alive. Honestly, I think a lot of people are gonna be forced to dump their $10k cars immediately just to keep the lights on. And there won't be any real buyers left. It'll just be those bottom-feeding resellers making offers. I know what I'm talking about—their prices are insulting.

You can't even compare this to COVID-19. This crisis is a direct threat to everyone, and it's the real deal.

COVID-19 was mostly just a political shouting match and a huge debate. But this? This is reality hitting you in the face.

Sent from my iPhone 13 using Reddit

That’s how things would play out in America.

In Germany, they actually act a bit smarter when it comes to protecting the interests of their citizens.

Bryan Booth82 said:In my opinion, what hurts Putin the most is the realization that Zelenskyy, along with the Ukrainian military, is making strategic moves fueled by massive support from the West.

Best regards,

We can only speculate here—since the real truth will likely stay buried under layers of military secrecy for decades—but let’s be real: every single precise HIMARS strike is primarily the result of American military satellites, AWACS surveillance, and high-level intelligence.
And let's not kid ourselves; there are definitely Ukrainian spies on the ground providing local intel too.

Susan Collins3 said:Zelensky gave the order to liberate the south from occupation

https://liveuamap.com/en/2022/10-jul...uth-of-ukraine

I don't know, maybe I'm crazy, but I'd run a total false flag operation in Kherson. Like, send some special ops in there just to cause pure chaos and panic, while actually hitting Donetsk instead—wherever they least expect it. If you grab Donetsk, the whole Russian playbook just falls apart. Then I could finally start packing my bags to head home. From what I can see, there's a ton of fighting in Kherson and probably around the Zaporizhzhia front too. Since their logistics are pretty trashed right now, maybe something big could actually happen.

Yeah, I'm with you there. I guess it's probably all about shifting the pressure away from the Donbas.

placidtiger142 said:Man, if COVID-19 hadn't already sent prices through the roof, we wouldn't be in this mess. Now, when folks move into areas where everyone’s struggling, those extra costs for gas, water, electricity, and rent—which are already up by thousands of dollars—are gonna spike even more. I wouldn't be surprised if cars become a luxury for the ultra-rich.

Most people didn't even buy into the whole COVID-19 thing anyway.

But this? This is different. A ton of people are gonna have to dig deep into their pockets, assuming they even have any cash left, just to cover the massive jumps in living expenses.

It's a nightmare scenario. Imagine getting hit with a $5,000 surcharge and you've got zero savings, while your car is only worth maybe $10,000. The interest on a $5k loan just eats you alive. Honestly, I think a lot of people are gonna be forced to dump their $10k cars immediately just to keep the lights on. And there won't be any real buyers left. It'll just be those bottom-feeding resellers making offers. I know what I'm talking about—their prices are insulting.

You can't even compare this to COVID-19. This crisis is a direct threat to everyone, and it's the real deal.

COVID-19 was mostly just a political shouting match and a huge debate. But this? This is reality hitting you in the face.

Sent from my iPhone 13 using Reddit

You can't just stomp all over people on a global scale and then try to call it a "debate." What is wrong with you?

And what do you think is actually driving this inflation and supply chain chaos? Is it just the war in Ukraine, or is it because for the last two years, everything was shut down and the government printed a mountain of money?🤦

Donna Wells2 said:We can only speculate here—since the real truth will likely stay buried under layers of military secrecy for decades—but let’s be real: every single precise HIMARS strike is primarily the result of American military satellites, AWACS surveillance, and high-level intelligence.
And let's not kid ourselves; there are definitely Ukrainian spies on the ground providing local intel too.

Spot on. There’s obviously spying going on, but hitting a warehouse with that kind of surgical precision? That's more than just local intel. 🎉

placidtiger142 said:Man, if COVID-19 hadn't already sent prices through the roof, we wouldn't be in this mess. Now, when folks move into areas where everyone’s struggling, those extra costs for gas, water, electricity, and rent—which are already up by thousands of dollars—are gonna spike even more. I wouldn't be surprised if cars become a luxury for the ultra-rich.

Most people didn't even buy into the whole COVID-19 thing anyway.

But this? This is different. A ton of people are gonna have to dig deep into their pockets, assuming they even have any cash left, just to cover the massive jumps in living expenses.

It's a nightmare scenario. Imagine getting hit with a $5,000 surcharge and you've got zero savings, while your car is only worth maybe $10,000. The interest on a $5k loan just eats you alive. Honestly, I think a lot of people are gonna be forced to dump their $10k cars immediately just to keep the lights on. And there won't be any real buyers left. It'll just be those bottom-feeding resellers making offers. I know what I'm talking about—their prices are insulting.

You can't even compare this to COVID-19. This crisis is a direct threat to everyone, and it's the real deal.

COVID-19 was mostly just a political shouting match and a huge debate. But this? This is reality hitting you in the face.

Sent from my iPhone 13 using Reddit

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, half of Germany's economy—and the whole European Union, really—was basically offline for two months. Now, the entire economy is running, and a good chunk of it is geared toward wartime production. That’s just a massive, undeniable difference.

Everything else? We'll get through it. Even the rising oil prices and gas shortages.

I mean, Germans were literally starving ten years after WWII.
And they spent 45 years living with half their country under Soviet occupation, constantly terrified of a conventional or nuclear war.
Even so, they managed to become one of the top economies in the world.

So, compared to all that, one cold winter is nothing. They'll order more coal, turn down the thermostat, and ramp up tank production. And they'll move forward.

That German panic? It's learned. But German discipline? That's built-in. Fatalism and defeatism just don't exist in Germany.

Just watch and learn this coming fall and winter.

The biggest conversation happening in Germany today regarding the war in Ukraine boils down to one thing: whether the Russians will turn the gas back on after ten days.

Scholz actually went out of his way to thank Canada for lifting those sanctions on Russia for a single day, allowing Siemens Canada to ship over the turbines needed to keep the pipelines running...

Terry Green3 said:The biggest conversation happening in Germany today regarding the war in Ukraine boils down to one thing: whether the Russians will turn the gas back on after ten days.

Scholz actually went out of his way to thank Canada for lifting those sanctions on Russia for a single day, allowing Siemens Canada to ship over the turbines needed to keep the pipelines running...

Honestly, let them freeze. They can just sit there with their electric fans and solar panels for all I care.

👍

boldotter2 said:During the COVID-19 lockdowns, half of Germany's economy—and the whole European Union, really—was basically offline for two months. Now, the entire economy is running, and a good chunk of it is geared toward wartime production. That’s just a massive, undeniable difference.

Everything else? We'll get through it. Even the rising oil prices and gas shortages.

I mean, Germans were literally starving ten years after WWII.
And they spent 45 years living with half their country under Soviet occupation, constantly terrified of a conventional or nuclear war.
Even so, they managed to become one of the top economies in the world.

So, compared to all that, one cold winter is nothing. They'll order more coal, turn down the thermostat, and ramp up tank production. And they'll move forward.

That German panic? It's learned. But German discipline? That's built-in. Fatalism and defeatism just don't exist in Germany.

Just watch and learn this coming fall and winter.

👍

I haven't seen much panic in Germany among the Germans. Anyone who thinks Germans are just a spoiled bunch clearly hasn't met them.
Instead of panicking, they're figuring out how to fix the problem. And once they figure it out, the problem is solved.

Terry Green3 said:The biggest conversation happening in Germany today regarding the war in Ukraine boils down to one thing: whether the Russians will turn the gas back on after ten days.

Scholz actually went out of his way to thank Canada for lifting those sanctions on Russia for a single day, allowing Siemens Canada to ship over the turbines needed to keep the pipelines running...

We’re seeing history repeat itself, much like the era of Adolf Hitler. Vladimir Putin is going to shut off that gas regardless of whether they have those turbines or not. In twenty years, people will laugh at Merkelov and Scholz just like they mock Neville Chamberlain today, looking back at these pathetic episodes. And let's not forget that Chamberlain claimed everything he did was "in the interest of his people." Viktor Orbán also thinks he's acting "in the interest of Canada." But what if it turns out that it was actually in Canada's best interest to show greater unity within the European Union? The greatest catastrophes happen when a leader miscalculates which move truly serves their nation and its citizens. History shows us that the biggest mistakes occur when economic interests are prioritized over political ones when they shouldn't be—in the end, the economy suffers far more than it would have if they had engaged in the economic struggle immediately, all while facing a massive political defeat...

William Anderson5 said:We’re seeing history repeat itself, much like the era of Adolf Hitler. Vladimir Putin is going to shut off that gas regardless of whether they have those turbines or not. In twenty years, people will laugh at Merkelov and Scholz just like they mock Neville Chamberlain today, looking back at these pathetic episodes. And let's not forget that Chamberlain claimed everything he did was "in the interest of his people." Viktor Orbán also thinks he's acting "in the interest of Canada." But what if it turns out that it was actually in Canada's best interest to show greater unity within the European Union? The greatest catastrophes happen when a leader miscalculates which move truly serves their nation and its citizens. History shows us that the biggest mistakes occur when economic interests are prioritized over political ones when they shouldn't be—in the end, the economy suffers far more than it would have if they had engaged in the economic struggle immediately, all while facing a massive political defeat...

I am totally with you on this one, I really think Russia is heading toward a major catastrophe in the near future. ☕

William Anderson5 said:We’re seeing history repeat itself, much like the era of Adolf Hitler. Vladimir Putin is going to shut off that gas regardless of whether they have those turbines or not. In twenty years, people will laugh at Merkelov and Scholz just like they mock Neville Chamberlain today, looking back at these pathetic episodes. And let's not forget that Chamberlain claimed everything he did was "in the interest of his people." Viktor Orbán also thinks he's acting "in the interest of Canada." But what if it turns out that it was actually in Canada's best interest to show greater unity within the European Union? The greatest catastrophes happen when a leader miscalculates which move truly serves their nation and its citizens. History shows us that the biggest mistakes occur when economic interests are prioritized over political ones when they shouldn't be—in the end, the economy suffers far more than it would have if they had engaged in the economic struggle immediately, all while facing a massive political defeat...

Viktor Orbán is quite simply a bought man. It's pure corruption at the highest level; a Russian mole inside the European Union. There isn't a shred of genuine concern for Canada here.

boldotter2 said:During the COVID-19 lockdowns, half of Germany's economy—and the whole European Union, really—was basically offline for two months. Now, the entire economy is running, and a good chunk of it is geared toward wartime production. That’s just a massive, undeniable difference.

Everything else? We'll get through it. Even the rising oil prices and gas shortages.

I mean, Germans were literally starving ten years after WWII.
And they spent 45 years living with half their country under Soviet occupation, constantly terrified of a conventional or nuclear war.
Even so, they managed to become one of the top economies in the world.

So, compared to all that, one cold winter is nothing. They'll order more coal, turn down the thermostat, and ramp up tank production. And they'll move forward.

That German panic? It's learned. But German discipline? That's built-in. Fatalism and defeatism just don't exist in Germany.

Just watch and learn this coming fall and winter.

Agreed. Germans are heavy hitters you should never underestimate.

Noah Sanchez2 said:Viktor Orbán is quite simply a bought man. It's pure corruption at the highest level; a Russian mole inside the European Union. There isn't a shred of genuine concern for Canada here.

The problem is most people think he's acting "in Canada's interest." It reminds me of how Americans cheered for Neville Chamberlain when he handed over the Sudetenland to Germany; they thought avoiding a confrontation with Germany was better for the economy and stability in Europe. In the end, it turned out that standing firm would have been what was actually best for the people. It was much easier to deal with Germany in '37 or '38 than it was in '39. And despite all those efforts to dodge the conflict, the war happened anyway. People tend to focus on short-term gains, but politicians are supposed to be looking at the long game and making the right calls, regardless of how unpopular they might be in the moment...