Posts by Kate Cook27

Jessica Peterson2 said:The Russian governor of Crimea, Aksyonov, is making quite the claim: apparently, there’s no need for referendums in the newly occupied territories of Ukraine. His reasoning? He argues that nobody is going to recognize them anyway—much like how the world refused to recognize the referendum held in Crimea, which he insists was conducted in an entirely honest and legal manner.
🤦

I read somewhere that there might be referendums coming up on November 4th—or maybe they'll get pushed back because of the security situation. It’d be a shame if they did, though—people are honestly itching to join the Russian Federation. There was a link on the previous page regarding this specific date for the referendum, just so we don't have to keep circling back to it.

Apparently

http://www.twitter.com/newkc14/statu...Cwnd2qr78rAAAA

Kadyrov forces allegedly shot mobilized guys from the Department of Natural Resources after they refused to head out toward Kherson 😠.

hollowdriver13 said:🙏🙏🙏

https://twitter.com/DmitryOpines/sta...CzqfzNob0rAAAA

The Russians would probably still be sitting at the negotiating table right now, except they’d just be arguing over how to wrap up the terms that Moscow already decided had to be met. 😵

Does this include demands to "return" everything from Cleveland to Miami back to the motherland?

Anthony Perez9 said:Exactly.

Jeffrey Sachs (United Nations) is one of the people signing this letter, which basically tells the West to stop sending weapons and helping Ukraine, so they can just "negotiate for peace." 👎

🤔. I guess if someone breaks into my house, I shouldn't call the cops—I should just try to "negotiate in peace" with the burglar instead.

gentlerider7 said:Is Kadyrov finally packing his bags?

"The leader of the Chechen Republic of Ramzan Kadyrov dropped a bombshell in a video posted to his Telegram channel, basically calling himself a 'long-timer' among the heads of the various states within the Russian Federation.

He pointed out that he’s been running the show in that region for fifteen years now.

“I guess my time is up before they kick me out. <…> We've actually already started talking about it,” Kadyrov said.

In the video description, he went on to say that he’s "personally realized I've been sitting in this seat for way too long." The Chechen leader also made sure to mention that, in his own opinion, he’s "certainly earned an indefinite and much-needed break."

Not too long ago, Kadyrov was rambling about his dream of visiting the United Kingdom—a dream he says he’s been "nurturing" for quite some time.

https://www-gazeta-ru.translate.goog..._x_tr_pto=wapp

Why the UK, though? Why not somewhere like Yakutsk?

Susan Collins3 said:I guess I should probably start by saying... well, whatever. There isn't much to say, really. Just sitting here thinking about how things always seem to go sideways eventually, you know? It’s like, you think you have a handle on stuff, then boom—total chaos. Anyway, just my two cents, I suppose. Maybe I'm just overthinking it. Who knows?

So, we’re looking at the fallout from someone’s sick obsession with flipping the global order upside down. Look, maybe the current system isn't perfect, but it's lightyears better than what Vladimir Putin is trying to pull off. He wants this corrupt mess run by a tiny clique of elites—basically like that old-school Czarist era where a few guys call all the shots on who lives and dies. It's messed up. He’s basically gutted half of Ukraine and forced over 10 million people to flee their homes. And the body count? It's insane. You've got probably 40,000 to 50,000 young Russian kids dead, maybe 100,000 Russians left disabled... then you look at the Ukrainian side, and it's even worse. Probably 100,000 Ukrainian civilians killed—I mean, some estimates say over 50,000 died just in Mariupol alone. Plus 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers gone, and another 60,000 to 70,000 wounded. I guess you have to ask yourself... was this really worth it? Was this the price he wanted to pay for whatever result he thinks he's getting? One thing is for sure: he just made an enemy out of everyone for the next hundred years. He'll probably go down in history as one of the biggest criminals of the 3rd millennium. And honestly, Europe will survive without Russian gas and oil. That much is certain.

I’d love to see how Canada plays this tomorrow. It’ll be interesting to watch them try to back a system that basically forced them back into line back in '56 when they tried to stick their noses out of their little hole. If Putin’s plan actually works, they're going to find themselves right back in that same spot. But hey, now they’ve got the NATO and EU umbrellas to hide under, so they can act all big and tough with their petty little agendas since they know they've got backup. Honestly, it reminds me of how Hitler had those same kinds of plans that lasted about six years... we'll just have to wait and see how long his "twin brother" lasts with this whole "denazification" scheme for Eastern and Central Europe.

Part one 👍. As for the Canadians, plenty of them actually want Russia as a neighbor—they’re practically cheering for it.

Richard Wilson4 said:Fine, so Russia conquers Ukraine in no time without any outside help.

Now we're looking at Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania—all EU and NATO members.

Russia basically thinks they can get away with anything now.

So, what's the next move?

In that case, Russia would probably demand that NATO pull back to its 1997 borders.
Only one person on this forum actually suggested a better way to handle sanctions—it was a solid idea involving price caps on oil and gas, if I remember correctly. Everyone else seems to think everything happening right now is strictly because of the sanctions on Russia. Personally, I think the sanctions could have been handled differently, but hey, it is what it is.

I think I saw someone mention on this forum that we dealt with gas shortages last year too? Does anyone actually have proof of that? Honestly, Russia would just shut off the taps regardless of any sanctions—it’s their go-to weapon. And how are we supposed to help Ukraine beef up its defenses when Russia uses energy as a direct threat against us? Even without the sanctions, if we keep pushing for stronger defense support, we'd end up in the exact same spot.

rowdytiger13 said:We'll see how it plays out.
Russia has spent years weaving its influence through the European Union. That presence didn't just vanish. If Emmanuel Macron loses to Marine Le Pen, it could trigger a massive political earthquake given how critical France is to the region. They could just as easily pull the rug out from under an unstable Italy, where pro-Russian factions also hold significant sway. Then you have Austria to consider.
This winter is crucial for Russia, especially with the upcoming US Congressional elections looming. If the Democrats lose control of Congress and the Republicans take over—driven by the MAGA crowd—the landscape shifts. Those folks are much more inclined to push for a peace deal, which might mean Ukraine having to surrender some territory.

We'll see—everyone helps as long as it lines up with their own national interests.

dustymarlin10 said:They already have, they just haven't realized it yet.

How exactly?

I think they’ve got the gas valve turned the wrong way.

Denis Pushilin hasn't posted in a while 🙄

http://www.twitter.com/francis_scarr...C9yaH4prorAAAA

They're reclaiming all those Russian cities—some people are already joking that they should just go for Alaska first 🤣. But seriously, what’s the actual end goal here? Are they trying to rebuild the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, or Novorossiya, or is it just about the DPR 🤔?

Gregory Ramos3 said:The inspection crew finally made it:

14:01
The inspectors have arrived

So, even with all the massive hurdles in their way, the IAEA inspection team actually managed to pull through and reach the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. According to the BBC, the plant is currently under Russian occupation, so the IAEA mission had to be escorted there by Russian forces.

The folks over at Energoatom confirmed the news about them arriving.

Really hoping they can get this sorted out soon.

wiredseal7 said:Actually, it looks like Ukraine—not Russia—was the one holding up the delegation for about three hours today. That's what the spokesperson said, and it was reported right here:
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/01/russ...he-donbas.html

“The IAEA mission has been delayed on the Ukrainian-controlled side of the frontline for some three hours,” an IAEA spokesman told NBC News this morning.

“Director General Grossi Has personally negotiated with Ukrainian military authorities to be able to proceed and He remains determined that this important Mission reaches The ZNPP today.”

Maybe they were held up finishing some "special ops" move?

The headline is framed to hide that—blaming "shelling"—while the actual quote is buried deep in the text. And then you see people swallowing it whole, acting like Russia blocked them.
Just a textbook example of media manipulation.😵

Well, looking at it, maybe it's a good thing they were delayed—given that Russia is shelling right around the power plant.

gentlestag15 said:I guess we Americans don't have anyone quite ready to take a dive out a window just yet.
The VP over at Chevron is Jerry Rice

Check this out too—how they tried to force refugees from Mariupol to just become Russians while living in Russia.

😢. Such a heartbreaking story—that little girl is incredibly sharp. I'm just glad they're safe now.

Resurrected said:The level of confusion in this thread is honestly mind-blowing.

Why the surprise? It’s clearly in Russia's best interest to keep everyone at bay right now.

My girlfriend near the area just messaged me—she says Russian jets are circling the power plant and opening fire. Sounds like they're firing from the planes, though they aren't dropping bombs yet. Apparently, there's still a delegation stuck at a checkpoint because the Russians won't let them through. I'm really hoping this gets sorted out fast—someone needs to step up, take control, and get those soldiers and all that gear out of there.

Jesse Sanchez4 said:I’m genuinely conflicted about this Ukrainian Sign my Rocket service (leaving out the link on purpose).

While some aspects might seem acceptable in a vacuum, other parts are nothing short of macabre:

You can commission a video featuring a VOG-17 grenade being dropped via a Mavic 3 drone.
They even let you slap a sticker on the grenade so it's clearly visible mid-air.
The footage captures everything: the custom text and image being mounted to the drone, the takeoff, and finally, the impact on a Russian Soldier.
They basically guarantee that your personalized VOG will find its mark; the operators will keep running the mission until they capture a direct hit on video.

Personally, I think this whole thing is totally unnecessary. It feels a bit like burning books by Russian authors—just pointless. Still, I get it—war changes your perspective. There are probably better ways to face reality without going down this route.

The real disaster seems to be looming, though. We're looking at massive food shortages in the occupied territories. They've actually already started seeing issues there 😢.

Jessica Peterson2 said:It was precisely because of Gorbachev that he went on to trigger all those subsequent conflicts and wars.

Armed conflicts in the Baltic states following their declarations of independence (ethnic Russian uprisings followed by Soviet military intervention).

1989. Uzbekistan within the USSR. Massacres of ethnic Meshetian Turks and their subsequent expulsion.

It’s been constant. Armed clashes in Kyrgyzstan vs. Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan vs. Tajikistan, along with continuous ethnic strife in those regions.

- 1987-... Azerbaijan vs. Armenia. Ethnic cleansing in both countries. The creation of the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, the occupation of parts of Azerbaijan by Armenia, and the ongoing de-occupation efforts regarding the "Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh."

- 1989. Uzbekistan within the USSR. Massacres of ethnic Meshetian Turks and their subsequent expulsion.

- 1989-1992. Moldova vs. the self-proclaimed PNR: Russians, Russian "volunteers," and the Russian military. The creation of the unrecognized PMR.

- 1990. Massacre of Uzbeks in Osh (Kyrgyzstan within the USSR).

- 1990-1997. Civil war in Tajikistan. A ceasefire was eventually signed.

- 1990-1992. Moldova vs. the ethnic Gagauz and "volunteers" from Transnistria. It ended relatively peacefully.

- 1991-1996. Russia vs. Chechnya. The creation of the unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.

- 1992. Armed internal conflict in Ingushetia vs. South Ossetia.

- 1992-2008. Georgia vs. the self-proclaimed Abkhazia: Abkhazians and Russian "volunteers." The creation of the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia.

- 1992-2008. Georgia vs. the self-proclaimed Abkhazia: Abkhazians and Russian "volunteers." The creation of the unrecognized Republic of South Ossetia.

- 1999-2009. Russia vs. Chechnya. Chechnya's return to the Russian Federation, though in reality, the conflict persisted until 2017.

- 2008. Russia vs. Georgia. Russia occupied about 20% of Georgian territory and subsequently recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

- 2014. Russia vs. Ukraine. Occupation and annexation of Crimea by Russia. The creation of the unrecognized LPR and DPR in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

2022-... Russia vs. Ukraine. Still ongoing.

Great post. Honestly, I wasn't even aware of some of these conflicts. It seems like the biggest mistakes made by the West were regarding Moldova and Georgia. I was watching this program recently where a guest was tearing into Europe—basically asking how they could act so shocked when Vladimir Putin launched the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, you have these breakaway states sitting right there in Moldova and Georgia. It’s not even about whether anyone besides Russia recognizes them or not; they exist, they function, and they're a reality on the ground. The issue is that the actual sovereign states don't have control over their own territory. Then you look at Crimea and the DPR—it's the same pattern. The West reacts by calling for a ceasefire, but they never actually solve the underlying problem. You end up with a country in Europe that has lost control over its entire territory, and yet everyone acted completely blindsided on February 24th. I remember someone commenting on this: "I don't get why they're so surprised, considering they've had several breakaway states around for thirty years or more."
Sure, calling everything that’s been happening in Ukraine since 2014 just a "civil war" was a massive mistake—but hey, whatever. It happened.
Look, there was so much confusion back in 2014—everything felt incredibly murky. You had the authorities in Kyiv launching these "anti-terrorist operations," while the folks fighting for the LPR LNR Novorossiya were pushing for goals that weren't exactly clear to everyone. Then you had the Russians claiming they only had volunteers on the ground, yet actual soldiers were showing up complaining that their leave had been canceled—some guys even mentioned having their honeymoon plans completely trashed. It was total chaos. And honestly, the brainwashing was real; I remember later on, those DPR militias weren't even trying to hide the fact that they were shelling occupied areas, yet people just seemed to tune it out entirely.
Whatever the case, they’ve created this massive divide—one that’s become even more obvious since February 24th. I remember back when people were being sorted by whether they were loyal to Moscow or Kyiv. People were being killed for no reason at all. There are huge rifts within families now, too; this whole war has basically turned brother against brother. I actually know brothers who are fighting on opposite sides. How does anyone heal from that? I honestly don't know. If things had just stayed as they were, life would be better for everyone. We'd have some kind of peace, but here we are. In my opinion, the biggest blame lies with the local traitors—specifically those folks in the Donbas holding official positions. They are the ultimate traitors and the ones most to blame.

Andrew Booth29 said:The goal is likely to force some kind of international oversight—you know, getting third-party controllers involved who would then refuse to disconnect the plant from the Ukrainian grid. Since the Russians haven't fully integrated it into their own network yet, they’re stuck carrying the load. It’s probably just technicalities—you can't exactly just leave a massive power plant running without any consumers to take the output, right?

I actually have a contact close to the situation, and they're saying both sides are firing away. It's absolute madness. Honestly, I agree with what was said about why the Ukrainians are shooting. To me, it just seems crazy.

Matthew Young35 said:People are certainly dying in those separatist regions.
But that’s beside the point.

My intention wasn't to defend Russians; I was simply surprised that anyone found the massive civilian death toll shocking.

What exactly do you think happens when a volley of sixty or more missiles rains down on a city? Do you honestly believe civilians walk away unscathed?

I wasn't trying to downplay Russia's responsibility at all.

It doesn't surprise me that civilians are dying—or that so many of them are. What I'm feeling is pure shock and disbelief because there's a chance that one out of every four or five people in my own hometown was killed. It’s not a surprise; it’s just hard to wrap my head around, like I said. Of course I know civilians die—I think we're all pretty aware of that here. I'm just in shock because, like someone else mentioned, there's a possibility that nearly 100,000 people were killed in just a month and a half. It makes me wonder what kind of war this actually is—what kind of attacks, weapons, or fighting could possibly cause that?
My family was in that city, and people I actually knew were killed there, but I still struggle to believe that death toll.
It's not that I don't realize ordinary people are victims of war. Even soldiers are victims—just people who had normal lives once. But that number... it's just hard to process. And in those separatist regions, it isn't just the Russ, or whoever you want to call them.