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Home › Society › Politics › War in Ukraine › The start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Part 1)

The start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Part 1)

Started by Matthew Rodriguez9 · · 👁 147 views · 2K replies

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Participants Matthew Rodriguez9William Anderson5Lisa Jackson7Jeremy Peterson4driftingtinkerSam Wright21electrichawk94urbanottervelvetcyclist95Charles Fox10granitebadger24Frank Nguyen37wiredwolf13hollowwalker24gentleharbor3gentlecrane8Bradley Kingbluerider63Grace Bennett6Betty Murphy3William Clark86silentsurfer3hollowdriver13ironranger67 …
Rebecca Lewis7 Rebecca Lewis7 Member
23 messages
joined Feb 2022
#721 ·
rowdytiger13 states:
And here we go again; they are threatening Sweden and Finland with serious political and...military aid One must consider the inevitable consequences. Does one simply consider joining NATO as a casual afterthought?
The geopolitical landscape remains predictably volatile, as current reports suggest that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to strain international diplomatic efforts. It appears that the strategic maneuvers being executed by Putin are designed to test the limits of Western resolve, specifically regarding how much sustained military aid the US and its European allies are truly willing to commit to the cause. While some voices call for immediate escalation, others argue that we are approaching a point of diminishing returns in our current approach. One cannot help but observe the inherent tension between the necessity of supporting Kyiv and the growing fatigue within various political circles in Washington and Brussels. It is a delicate balancing act, though history suggests that such balances are often more fragile than policymakers care to admit.

He has finally reached his zenith. It is the distinct impression that he has become utterly untouchable.


And who, exactly, thinks they have any say in the matter?


The Ukrainians were similarly coaxed by the naive credulity of Bush and Biden, and we can all see exactly where that path has led them.

It appears B@B has retreated into its self-imposed hole, only after the inevitable mess was made.

After an entire decade spent coaxing Ukrainians into dying for the sake of British and American economic and political interests, one can only marvel at the sheer persistence required to maintain such a campaign.

Now I’m sitting here freezing my ass off while they act like they’re doing something useful.

Why on earth isn't B@B stepping up to provide any actual help to the Ukrainians right now?

Because let's be honest, B@B hasn't had even a shred of a real plan since the very beginning.


The strategic objective was quite clear: exploit the youth of Ukraine to ensure they bleed out for the sake of election-driven interests, much like the Afghan casualties were used by the B@B administration.

a B@B will simply sit back, observe the chaos from a comfortable distance, and continue peddling weaponry to every side involved. It was exactly like those instances where arms were funneled to Iran, all while naive, gullible leaders sent Iraqi children charging toward the Iranian border just to satisfy British and US interests.

History repeats itself with relentless precision, yet people seem to possess an almost willful inability to acknowledge the patterns staring them right in the face.

One can only wonder why the self-proclaimed "strongest, most capable, and most morally upright" powers on the planet aren't doing a bit more to assist Ukraine right now.If the B@B crowd hadn't been busy undermining everything through their constant meddling, lack of support, and calculated interference, the Ukrainians wouldn't have had to waste their energy dealing with the Russians in such a disorganized fashion.

And now, this. One truly wonders how many times we are expected to leave these naive, gullible, and frankly useful idiots to wander aimlessly through the digital void, endlessly beating their heads against the wall and wasting breath on nothing but empty rhetoric.

We offer our support, we issue our condemnations... 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

Where exactly is this supposed military aid and weaponry that the US and the UK have been promising, promising, promising, and promising?
Maria Moore Maria Moore Member
15 messages
joined Feb 2022
#722 ·
Quotes from a Canadian journalist's article:
Maybe I was like you—clinging to the hope that we could actually dodge this war. That diplomacy would win out, sparing even more innocent people from the inevitable pain, suffering, humiliation, and pure horror caused by small men with massive armies.
The "analysts" and the rest of us were dead wrong. So, yeah, it looks like hope is gone again. This is just the price of yet another stupid, pointless war started by some petty little guy with a huge, powerful job.
Perhaps I, just like you, imagined there might be a way out on the horizon before Putin decided on war.
...
Since early Thursday morning, an already broken and wounded world has become even more fragile and sinister. The chance that a new Cold War—driven by madness or sheer malice—could boil over into a wider conflict today feels much more real than it did just a few days ago. These are dark times for anyone who actually gives a damn about neighbors far beyond our own local interests and borders. All that heavy, vital work done by good people everywhere to try and restore some semblance of normalcy? It all just washed away in an instant.
...
It was honestly staggering to watch the US President, the UK Prime Minister, and their representatives at the UN condemn Russia for violating supposedly sacred international laws and charters, when US and UK foreign policy has been a textbook display of arrogant contempt for those very same rules for generations. History is littered with countries and peoples who paid—and continue to pay—dearly because US Presidents and British PMs chose brute force and "regime change" over actual diplomacy.
It’s almost funny hearing the US President and the UK Prime Minister preach about defending Ukrainian "territorial integrity," considering how US and British leaders have treated the sovereignty of countless other nations as nothing more than an inconvenience to their imperial ambitions.
The list of examples where US and UK "exceptionalism" left a mark is endless—Vietnam, Cambodia, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, Chile, Venezuela, Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan, and, of course, Iraq, among many others.
End of quote.
Betty Carter3 Betty Carter3 Member
41 messages
joined Feb 2022
#723 ·
People are slamming Vučić for staying silent.

I've been thinking—if I were in his shoes, I’d probably step up to the mic and give one of those overly dramatic speeches he's known for—to express sympathy for both the Russian and Ukrainian sides. I mean, the US could arguably side with Ukraine over the Mexico issue, yet at the same time, align with Russia because the West supports separatism there while ignoring it for Russian-backed regions. It's complicated, I guess.

Then, I'd just invite both parties to come to Mexico City for peace talks.
If that actually worked and they showed up in Mexico City, he'd gain +1000 political points.
Thomas Nelson25 Thomas Nelson25 Regular
582 messages
joined Jan 2021
#724 ·
casualhound42 said:The Russians couldn't care less about how long this war drags on—it's not like they're punching a clock. They’re fully aware the West isn't going to step in.

War duration
Russian military losses
War cost
William Anderson5 William Anderson5 Active Member
219 messages
joined Jan 2013
#725 ·
Olivia Stewart2 said:It appears that Putin's strategy is to utilize war to force Ukraine into some sort of new agreement, perhaps something akin to Minsk III, which would be significantly more favorable to Russia—essentially a "Finlandization" of Ukraine. However, for that to work, he needs a living Zelenskyy; an agreement can only be signed with a democratically elected representative of the Ukrainian people, not with some installed puppet. His plan likely involves encircling Kyiv and other major cities to then organize negotiations. At that point, everyone starts playing their strongest cards. Entering these cities will, by all accounts, trigger intense guerrilla warfare and result in heavy casualties on both sides, though one has to ask who actually benefits from that. Politically, it hurts Putin, as the Russian people may eventually turn against him once they see the mounting number of Russian soldiers returning home in body bags from an unjust war. Zelenskyy emerges as a Ukrainian hero and secures his place in history, yet simultaneously, it remains a Pyrrhic victory, leaving behind nothing but leveled cities and a massive toll of civilian lives.....

I don't see how that actually prevents future Russian aggression. Russia has already proven they aren't worth the trust...

At this point, it's Russia that needs to provide guarantees to the West and Ukraine if they want those sanctions lifted.
Anthony Hill5 Anthony Hill5 Regular
379 messages
joined May 2024
#726 ·
"A golden opportunity to rebuild critical institutions, such as the death penalty" — Medvedev on the suspension of Russian membership in the Council of Europe

It is high time we began constructing a wall around this empire of evil.
loneviper4 loneviper4 Member
17 messages
joined Aug 2020
#727 ·
Betty Carter3 said:People are slamming Vučić for staying silent.

I've been thinking—if I were in his shoes, I’d probably step up to the mic and give one of those overly dramatic speeches he's known for—to express sympathy for both the Russian and Ukrainian sides. I mean, the US could arguably side with Ukraine over the Mexico issue, yet at the same time, align with Russia because the West supports separatism there while ignoring it for Russian-backed regions. It's complicated, I guess.

Then, I'd just invite both parties to come to Mexico City for peace talks.
If that actually worked and they showed up in Mexico City, he'd gain +1000 political points.


It's not the time for bull****; at least let one major world power bypass us for once.☕
boldmarlin15 boldmarlin15 Member
14 messages
joined Feb 2022
#728 ·
casualhound42 said:Watching this clip, it's clear that if a soldier talks back, he's dealt with immediately. This isn't the West, where you can't touch a Russian soldier without some human rights excuse being thrown in your face. Here, the cameraman would be gone just as fast—and nobody's going to bother bringing them to court.

You're watching this wrong.

The point isn't whether the soldier pulls the trigger or not. The point is that the old man has balls. He's lecturing an armed Russian idiot like he's just standing on his porch in front of a convenience store.

Against people like this, the Russians would be better off packing up and leaving... there's nothing left for them to find there.
neonheron9 neonheron9 Active Member
88 messages
joined Sep 2021
#729 ·
A Russian guy in Melitopol actually stood up to the Russian soldiers and basically waved a book at them to tell them they weren't needed there.
Betty Carter3 Betty Carter3 Member
41 messages
joined Feb 2022
#730 ·
A projection of what might actually lead us straight into WW3.
analogbear70 analogbear70 Member
18 messages
joined Mar 2020
#731 ·
It’s just pure tragedy and grief watching this unfold...
I have to admit, I didn't see this coming. Any rational person has to condemn this act of aggression. At the same time, if Ukraine had played their cards differently—if they hadn't fallen for all that Western instigation—we might not be here. There was more than enough time to settle things at the negotiating table. In the end, everyone will be sitting down to talk, I just hope we can reach an agreement with far fewer lives lost first. I find myself agreeing with President Milanović on this one.
Tyler Jones6 Tyler Jones6 Active Member
85 messages
joined Jul 2007
#732 ·
bluerider63 said:Yeah, sure, because Ukraine was such a completely different country before that coup where they ousted the legitimate president during those "national uprisings" fueled by Americans waving dollar bills and giving speeches at the Maidan. Everything changed drastically after that.

That president was considered legitimate only as long as he stuck to his platform—specifically opening up negotiations with the EU and pushing through all those necessary reforms to help Ukraine grow again. It’s a bit like how they used to be more prosperous than Poland, until Poland eventually pulled ahead.

That "legitimate" leader actually tried to shove Ukraine into the so-called Eurasian Union overnight, where essentially nothing would change.

If you're going to bring up the Maidan, I suppose you should at least try to educate yourself on what actually happened there. ☕
Thomas Morales8 Thomas Morales8 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Feb 2022
#733 ·
If anyone actually had any backbone, they’d just come out and say they fully support Russia and Putin 👍

But clearly, nobody does... #cowards
Anthony Hill5 Anthony Hill5 Regular
379 messages
joined May 2024
#734 ·
Douglas Sanchez5 said:I was just chatting with this CIA officer—you know, the one who actually called it and said Putin wouldn't go after Kyiv—and he was just floored. He told me, “I can’t believe it. I truly couldn’t believe it. He’s completely lost his mind.”
https://twitter.com/olliecarroll

It really feels like once again, things were just totally caught off guard. It seems like there wasn't a serious realization about how bad an invasion could actually look, which left everyone scrambling. And because nobody was taking the threat seriously enough, no politician wanted to bite the bullet on making any concessions toward Putin. What an absolute mess! Honestly, it felt like anyone pushing back too hard against something like a second Minsk Agreement was just being seen as way too risky.

The level of unreadiness is wild—like, they don't even have extra food reserves sitting in Kyiv. I saw this comparison earlier where someone compared their situation to how prepared folks were during that conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It's pretty eye-opening.

I suspect they never truly believed Lukashenko would actually get involved in all of this. A massive, monumental mistake.
Tyler Jones6 Tyler Jones6 Active Member
85 messages
joined Jul 2007
#735 ·
Rebecca Lewis7 said:
rowdytiger13 states:
And here we go again; they are threatening Sweden and Finland with serious political and...military aid One must consider the inevitable consequences. Does one simply consider joining NATO as a casual afterthought?
The geopolitical landscape remains predictably volatile, as current reports suggest that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to strain international diplomatic efforts. It appears that the strategic maneuvers being executed by Putin are designed to test the limits of Western resolve, specifically regarding how much sustained military aid the US and its European allies are truly willing to commit to the cause. While some voices call for immediate escalation, others argue that we are approaching a point of diminishing returns in our current approach. One cannot help but observe the inherent tension between the necessity of supporting Kyiv and the growing fatigue within various political circles in Washington and Brussels. It is a delicate balancing act, though history suggests that such balances are often more fragile than policymakers care to admit.

He has finally reached his zenith. It is the distinct impression that he has become utterly untouchable.


And who, exactly, thinks they have any say in the matter?


The Ukrainians were similarly coaxed by the naive credulity of Bush and Biden, and we can all see exactly where that path has led them.

It appears B@B has retreated into its self-imposed hole, only after the inevitable mess was made.

After an entire decade spent coaxing Ukrainians into dying for the sake of British and American economic and political interests, one can only marvel at the sheer persistence required to maintain such a campaign.

Now I’m sitting here freezing my ass off while they act like they’re doing something useful.

Why on earth isn't B@B stepping up to provide any actual help to the Ukrainians right now?

Because let's be honest, B@B hasn't had even a shred of a real plan since the very beginning.


The strategic objective was quite clear: exploit the youth of Ukraine to ensure they bleed out for the sake of election-driven interests, much like the Afghan casualties were used by the B@B administration.

a B@B will simply sit back, observe the chaos from a comfortable distance, and continue peddling weaponry to every side involved. It was exactly like those instances where arms were funneled to Iran, all while naive, gullible leaders sent Iraqi children charging toward the Iranian border just to satisfy British and US interests.

History repeats itself with relentless precision, yet people seem to possess an almost willful inability to acknowledge the patterns staring them right in the face.

One can only wonder why the self-proclaimed "strongest, most capable, and most morally upright" powers on the planet aren't doing a bit more to assist Ukraine right now.If the B@B crowd hadn't been busy undermining everything through their constant meddling, lack of support, and calculated interference, the Ukrainians wouldn't have had to waste their energy dealing with the Russians in such a disorganized fashion.

And now, this. One truly wonders how many times we are expected to leave these naive, gullible, and frankly useful idiots to wander aimlessly through the digital void, endlessly beating their heads against the wall and wasting breath on nothing but empty rhetoric.

We offer our support, we issue our condemnations... 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

Where exactly is this supposed military aid and weaponry that the US and the UK have been promising, promising, promising, and promising?

The military aid is right where those 3,500 Russian soldiers are—somewhere out there, I guess.☕
Nancy Gomez26 Nancy Gomez26 Regular
787 messages
joined Jan 2018
#736 ·
Betty Murphy3 said:Too damn right. It's the same story everywhere—nobody actually wants a war, and in the beginning, most people aren't ready for the reality of it. But sacrifice has a way of shifting things; it builds morale and creates a level of readiness you didn't have before. Once that initial shock wears off, the smoke and the rubble don't scare you anymore—you just start looking for the person responsible. The enemy knows exactly what they've destroyed, but there's a psychological component here that can't be ignored. War psychology is a brutal thing—whoever masters it first usually walks away with the win.

An aggressor rarely feels at home when invading someone else's territory; there is no comfort in occupying land where you aren't wanted. Those watching their childhood homes go up in flames... they have a motivation that no amount of training can replicate.
rowdyraven112 rowdyraven112 Active Member
248 messages
joined Jun 2024
#737 ·
Dragan said:Anyway, I just hope Grandma and Little Red Riding Hood make it out okay, and the wolf gets what's coming to him.
It’s wild how many fans of Putin, Trump (or maybe Erdogan if we were looking at Turkey), and their ilk exist here in the States (probably the same crowd that viewed Marshall as some great, hated dictator). 😢

Look, Josip Broz was a dictator. Period. What are you even talking about? ☕

Truth is, people haven't realized it yet, but we're living under a dictatorship too. Laws aren't passed through actual consensus in Congress; they're pushed through by a bunch of yes-men raising their hands without even reading the damn bills. Let's call it what it is: a democratic dictatorship.
velvetmason14 velvetmason14 Regular
319 messages
joined May 2023
#738 ·
Thomas Morales8 said:Of course I wouldn't... but then don't go making grand speeches about how Ukraine is your second home or how much they've given you. If that's truly the case, then stay and fight for the country you claim to love so much. Don't just tuck your tail and run back to your original home...

Exactly. I worry there’s a lot of performative sentimentality surrounding Ukraine, but very little actual resolve to take decisive action. Unfortunately, for certain things, the window has already closed. It turns out a lot of people were just bluffing, except for the fact that Putin isn't 🤦
Rachel Allen55 Rachel Allen55 Active Member
128 messages
joined Nov 2018
#739 ·
velvetcyclist95 said:g

And while we're at it, why doesn't NATO just start flipping their doctrine whenever they feel like it, just like the Russians do—even when it comes to nukes, regardless of how terrifying that sounds? Because what's the alternative? Just keep folding to Putin?

The truth is, Putin is only as powerful as he is because of this policy of appeasement and non-confrontation from the West, especially coming from Germany and Merkel.


If things actually go nuclear, it's game over for civilization. We'd be looking at dozens of laser-focused suns hitting us, followed by enough dust to block out the light forever. And don't even get me started on the radiation.

That's simply not an option. Both the West and Russia know that. So, we can spend all day debating this here, but my gut tells me Moscow and Washington have already cut a deal.
Ethan Peterson4 Ethan Peterson4 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Feb 2022
#740 ·
What’s the latest from the Kyiv live cam?!? 🤔

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/webca...an-square.html

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