Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

McVily said:He’s got a point, though; the Russians fight by their own set of rules, and one of those hallmarks is this habit of spontaneously abandoning territory as a gesture of "goodwill," rather than admitting they're actually losing on the battlefield. ☕

We saw this play out around Kyiv and Kharkiv, and even with Snake Island, except enough time has passed there that I'm not sure if we should be calling it an American success yet or if we're still just waiting to see how Russia reacts... maybe someone dropped the ball along the way. 🤔

Snake Island is a non-issue, much like Kyiv, aside from the fact that Kyiv is the primary metropolitan hub of Ukraine.

As far as I can tell, the Russians haven't backed down from Kharkiv. Once winter sets in, the situation is going to look entirely different. With the heating infrastructure being dismantled, a massive portion of the population in Ukraine is going to be freezing. Kharkiv is in particularly bad shape, considering the Russians have crippled the central heating plant that services a third of its 1.4 million residents.

If you take a look at the map of Ukraine's natural resources, you might start to realize what this conflict is actually about; nobody goes to war over thin air or empty fields. It's always been about the resources, and frankly, territory without them doesn't interest anyone. Seriously, look closely at the resource map. If you truly grasp what you're looking at, it becomes obvious why Russia isn't planning on walking away.☕

Michael Davis9 said:@Jessica Peterson2, I was wondering, how is the media landscape over in Russia actually portraying this Ukrainian offensive near Kupiansk? Is there any actual coverage at all, or are they just completely ignoring it?

The Gazette is reporting that the Ukrainians are basically just throwing lives away for nothing.

"
The head of the Kharkiv regional administration, Vitalij Gančev, claims the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have pulled every single reserve they have into the Kharkiv region. That’s what RIA Novosti is reporting.

According to him, the AFU is taking "colossal" losses.

“The Ukrainian armed forces have pulled all their reserves and now they're just trying to manufacture some kind of victory on the corpses of their own soldiers. They’re suffering massive losses—we're talking thousands,” Gančev said during a broadcast on the Russia 24 channel.

He basically called the Ukrainian military "sacrificial lambs," according to the regional chief.

Ganchev also added that allied forces are working to push the Ukrainian military out of the outskirts of Balakliya.

https://www.gazeta.ru/army/news/2022...o=wapp&updated

Jessica Peterson2 said:About a year and a half ago, I ended up getting detained because I spat in someone's face. I basically leveled the guy after he started openly spitting on the Jews in our neighborhood. I have Tatar roots, but I told him straight up that I'm a Jew and asked what his problem was with my ethnicity. He went on such an aggressive tirade against me that it gave me enough opening to smash his "Great Russian" nose into a bloody mess.
P.S. Right after the scuffle, I had to sprint to a lab to get my blood tested. I wasn't exactly sure if my opponent was playing it safe regarding COVID, AIDS, or even hepatitis. 🤦

That kind of stuff was happening in Donbas from the very beginning. Even today, I don't really get why people push those myths about Jewish suffering—it's not like the Russians or the Soviets are tied to that narrative. Then again, seeing how some people claim Jews want to wipe out Orthodox Christians in Eastern Ukraine to build some new Jewish/Khazar state, I guess it's not surprising.

Andrew Miller102 said:Snake Island is a non-issue, much like Kyiv, aside from the fact that Kyiv is the primary metropolitan hub of Ukraine.

As far as I can tell, the Russians haven't backed down from Kharkiv. Once winter sets in, the situation is going to look entirely different. With the heating infrastructure being dismantled, a massive portion of the population in Ukraine is going to be freezing. Kharkiv is in particularly bad shape, considering the Russians have crippled the central heating plant that services a third of its 1.4 million residents.

If you take a look at the map of Ukraine's natural resources, you might start to realize what this conflict is actually about; nobody goes to war over thin air or empty fields. It's always been about the resources, and frankly, territory without them doesn't interest anyone. Seriously, look closely at the resource map. If you truly grasp what you're looking at, it becomes obvious why Russia isn't planning on walking away.☕

Sure, they showed some goodwill near Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Snake Island...
But it's not just up to the Russians.

Michael Davis9 said:@Jessica Peterson2, I was wondering, how is the media landscape over in Russia actually portraying this Ukrainian offensive near Kupiansk? Is there any actual coverage at all, or are they just completely ignoring it?

Absolutely nothing. Just me and my wife celebrating.

Kate Cook27 said:That kind of stuff was happening in Donbas from the very beginning. Even today, I don't really get why people push those myths about Jewish suffering—it's not like the Russians or the Soviets are tied to that narrative. Then again, seeing how some people claim Jews want to wipe out Orthodox Christians in Eastern Ukraine to build some new Jewish/Khazar state, I guess it's not surprising.

To my mind, Russian Orthodoxy is nothing short of pure fascism, and frankly, it has no business existing on this planet. Quite frankly,
@Kate Cook27 Don't pay too much attention to my posts if my writing style isn't to your liking. However, what you're saying—especially when you're relaying things from personal conversations with female defenders of Ukraine or folks living in the occupied territories—is a bit overblown, wouldn't you say?
Please, do carry on.
And naturally,
Slava Ukraini!

Jessica Peterson2 As I was reading through the thread, I couldn't help but notice what Michael Davis9 had to say about this situation. It really makes you stop and think when you look at the details they provided.
None of that is happening. It’s just going to be my wife and me celebrating together.

😁

No sarcasm intended here, but you all truly seem like die-hard Russian patriots! It’s just a shame that most people don't seem to realize it...

Jessica Peterson2 said:To my mind, Russian Orthodoxy is nothing short of pure fascism, and frankly, it has no business existing on this planet. Quite frankly,
@Kate Cook27 Don't pay too much attention to my posts if my writing style isn't to your liking. However, what you're saying—especially when you're relaying things from personal conversations with female defenders of Ukraine or folks living in the occupied territories—is a bit overblown, wouldn't you say?
Please, do carry on.
And naturally,
Slava Ukraini!

I know it’s cold comfort, but the Russians aren't exactly some unique anomaly here. When Americans were voting to go after Iraq—based on that whole supposed nuclear weapons argument—if I recall correctly, there was only one congresswoman who stood her ground against it. It just goes to show how easily people can be fired up by those "defending the nation" narratives; Goebbels understood that tactic perfectly well a long time ago.

A report from Georgia:

An American court has acquitted a taxi driver who effectively dumped Russian tourists on the side of the road following an argument over Ukrainian music.

A jury in Rustavi has cleared a driver who kicked two Russian tourists out at the Gombor Pass after a dispute broke out inside his cab regarding the Ukrainian music playing on the radio.

The driver’s attorney, Irakli Chomakhashvili, reported the verdict via "Georgia Online."

The driver was originally tasked with transporting the tourists from the airport in Tbilisi to their hotel, but during the trip, the passengers demanded he turn off the Ukrainian songs.

This demand sparked a confrontation. In response, the driver turned the car around, drove up toward the Gombor Pass (22 miles outside of Tbilisi), left the Russians there, and drove away.

The Russians subsequently sued the driver, alleging kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment based on their nationality.
The driver was facing a potential prison sentence of seven to ten years.

However, the jury determined that Bokuchav's actions did not violate Section 3 of Article 143 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (unlawful imprisonment of two or more persons). According to the attorney, the acquittal was a unanimous 12:0 decision.

"The jurors felt that playing a Ukrainian song for Russians and protecting their national interests wasn't a crime! I want to thank everyone! Today, we won against Russian imperialism on behalf of the people," Chomakhashvili wrote.

https://frontnews.eu/en/news/details/40948

gentlerider7 said:The Gazette is reporting that the Ukrainians are basically just throwing lives away for nothing.

"
The head of the Kharkiv regional administration, Vitalij Gančev, claims the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have pulled every single reserve they have into the Kharkiv region. That’s what RIA Novosti is reporting.

According to him, the AFU is taking "colossal" losses.

“The Ukrainian armed forces have pulled all their reserves and now they're just trying to manufacture some kind of victory on the corpses of their own soldiers. They’re suffering massive losses—we're talking thousands,” Gančev said during a broadcast on the Russia 24 channel.

He basically called the Ukrainian military "sacrificial lambs," according to the regional chief.

Ganchev also added that allied forces are working to push the Ukrainian military out of the outskirts of Balakliya.

https://www.gazeta.ru/army/news/2022...o=wapp&updated

It’s like these guys went on a weekend camping trip instead of an occupation of a neighboring country.

Michael Davis9 said:

Jessica Peterson2 As I was reading through the thread, I couldn't help but notice what Michael Davis9 had to say about this situation. It really makes you stop and think when you look at the details they provided.
None of that is happening. It’s just going to be my wife and me celebrating together.

😁

No sarcasm intended here, but you all truly seem like die-hard Russian patriots! It’s just a shame that most people don't seem to realize it...

I know it’s cold comfort, but the Russians aren't exactly some unique anomaly here. When Americans were voting to go after Iraq—based on that whole supposed nuclear weapons argument—if I recall correctly, there was only one congresswoman who stood her ground against it. It just goes to show how easily people can be fired up by those "defending the nation" narratives; Goebbels understood that tactic perfectly well a long time ago.

Actually, 133 voted against it.

So, let me try to wrap this all up. This big leader has basically managed to lose Ukraine for generations to come. He’s turned people who were once close neighbors into bitter enemies, and now look—NATO has expanded to include Sweden and Finland. Meanwhile, his military is falling apart near Kharkiv at such an alarming rate that it's actually stunning. Honestly, watching how fast things are shifting, it could turn into a total disaster for the Russians if they don't pull some divisions out of thin air. It almost feels like he's working as a Western agent

mistyharbor13 said:So, let me try to wrap this all up. This big leader has basically managed to lose Ukraine for generations to come. He’s turned people who were once close neighbors into bitter enemies, and now look—NATO has expanded to include Sweden and Finland. Meanwhile, his military is falling apart near Kharkiv at such an alarming rate that it's actually stunning. Honestly, watching how fast things are shifting, it could turn into a total disaster for the Russians if they don't pull some divisions out of thin air. It almost feels like he's working as a Western agent

And who's out there claiming otherwise?

Chloe Jackson15 said:And who's out there claiming otherwise?

Well, I'm just saying... it seems pretty unlikely to me.

Kate Cook27 said:Are we fighting NATO soldiers, Ukrainians, lab-grown mutants, or those people spreading dark magic...?
Obviously not—Russians and Ukrainians are brothers, part of one single nation. We really need to move past how Ukrainians were treated as subhuman.

If Russians insist that Ukrainians and Russians are the same people, does that mean Russians are actually just Ukrainians?

mistyharbor13 said:So, let me try to wrap this all up. This big leader has basically managed to lose Ukraine for generations to come. He’s turned people who were once close neighbors into bitter enemies, and now look—NATO has expanded to include Sweden and Finland. Meanwhile, his military is falling apart near Kharkiv at such an alarming rate that it's actually stunning. Honestly, watching how fast things are shifting, it could turn into a total disaster for the Russians if they don't pull some divisions out of thin air. It almost feels like he's working as a Western agent

It might be worth considering a peaceful reintegration. We’re ready to offer some help with that process.

James Phillips92 said:If Russians insist that Ukrainians and Russians are the same people, does that mean Russians are actually just Ukrainians?

Didn't Mexican nationalists say almost the exact same thing during those recent wars in the North America, only to end up... losing those conflicts?
Just a thought...
Best,

Timothy Williams5 said:A report from Georgia:

An American court has acquitted a taxi driver who effectively dumped Russian tourists on the side of the road following an argument over Ukrainian music.

A jury in Rustavi has cleared a driver who kicked two Russian tourists out at the Gombor Pass after a dispute broke out inside his cab regarding the Ukrainian music playing on the radio.

The driver’s attorney, Irakli Chomakhashvili, reported the verdict via "Georgia Online."

The driver was originally tasked with transporting the tourists from the airport in Tbilisi to their hotel, but during the trip, the passengers demanded he turn off the Ukrainian songs.

This demand sparked a confrontation. In response, the driver turned the car around, drove up toward the Gombor Pass (22 miles outside of Tbilisi), left the Russians there, and drove away.

The Russians subsequently sued the driver, alleging kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment based on their nationality.
The driver was facing a potential prison sentence of seven to ten years.

However, the jury determined that Bokuchav's actions did not violate Section 3 of Article 143 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (unlawful imprisonment of two or more persons). According to the attorney, the acquittal was a unanimous 12:0 decision.

"The jurors felt that playing a Ukrainian song for Russians and protecting their national interests wasn't a crime! I want to thank everyone! Today, we won against Russian imperialism on behalf of the people," Chomakhashvili wrote.

https://frontnews.eu/en/news/details/40948

It’s become quite the trend lately, isn't it? Everywhere you look, people just can't help themselves from taking shots at the Russians.🤣👍

James Phillips92 said:It might be worth considering a peaceful reintegration. We’re ready to offer some help with that process.

Honestly, I think if we presented him with a structured plan similar to the Z4... that would probably be his smartest play.

View on twitter

So, I'm seeing some talk here claiming the EU has officially suspended issuing Russian visas.

Honestly, it feels a little bit out of left field to me, mostly because I haven't really seen the big news outlets making a massive deal out of it yet.🤔

Residents of Crimea might have caught Volodymyr Zelenskyy on their television screens. The President of Ukraine promised the Kremlinites that the Ukrainian flag and freedom will return to the peninsula once again.
https://military.pravda.ru/news/1746...elenskii_krym/