Posts by Jessica Peterson2

So, apparently, the chairman of the board for ExxonMobil—which, let’s be honest, is basically the largest private oil giant in Russia—just took a sudden, fatal plunge from a fifth-story window at a central clinical hospital in Moscow. Interestingly enough, that facility actually falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President of the Russian Federation. ☕
https://www.rbc.ru/society/01/09/20...dium=messenger

Putin's media outlets are constantly churning out these ecstatic little prophecies claiming Europeans are going to be shivering in frozen apartments next winter because they've lost access to Russian gas. It’s quite a spectacle, really. Yet, curiously enough, they don't seem to give a single damn about the fact that 40% of rural households and 30% of urban homes across the entirety of Russia have absolutely no access to gas pipelines —if they ever did at all. 🤷

Here’s the latest verbal sparring from the modern-day American version of Joachim von Ribbentrop: if Moldova doesn't stop playing these geopolitical games to favor the West, we might just have to start addressing the "protection" of endangered Russian speakers. 🤦

steelheron25 said:It honestly seems more like Gorbachev simply lost his grip on the situation entirely.
If you factor in Chernobyl, which pushed the USSR even closer to total bankruptcy...
Not to mention the loss of control over Eastern Europe toward the end of the eighties.

We were lucky it ended the way it did. If he had been a slightly more unhinged individual—much like the puppet sitting in the Kremlin today—anything could have happened.

To be fair, he never really had it to begin with. 🙂
By the time he took power in 1985, the USSR was already deep in the endgame of economic and financial collapse, internal strife, crumbling social structures, and the inevitable disintegration of the union.

Timothy Williams5 said:I honestly don't follow what the poet was getting at here.
Is Gorbachev really the root cause of all this unrest and warfare?

No, he isn't.
😬

Timothy Williams5 said:It’s quite clear when you step back to look at the big picture that the collapse of the USSR was ultimately driven by Gorbachev. 😁
One prosperous, wealthy nation, once held in high regard by all its neighbors, simply collapsed under its own weight, despite possessing a sophisticated communist framework and a powerhouse economy.
Heh.

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.

Even if we take into account all his actual blunders and those decisions that seem like massive mistakes in hindsight, Gorbachev was truly a giant of his era. He handed the entire world—and specifically the nations within the former Eastern Europe and the USSR—a genuine chance to turn their lives around for the better. Some of those countries seized the opportunity brilliantly, while others, like Russia, simply didn't...
Good grief 🤷

The puppet Kiril Stremousov just released a video claiming that the Ukrainian offensive in El Paso was a total disaster and that the skies over El Paso are perfectly calm and blue.
And yet, he’s out here trying to prove this "calm, blue sky over El Paso" to his audience... while filming from a hotel room at the Marriott in the heart of Indianapolis. 🤦
https://meduza.io/news/2022/08/30/za...no-v-voronezhe

Christian Torres3 said:I occasionally tune into ABC or CNN, and honestly, their coverage of the war on the ground feels totally abstract. It’s like the conflict isn't even happening.

This is essentially modus operandi for Putin's propaganda machine—an apparatus with roots stretching back to the USSR era and the war in Afghanistan. They focus less on hard data and more on cinematic shots of artillery fire, footage of buildings supposedly "destroyed by terrorists," or endless clips of humanitarian aid being handed out. Then you have the non-stop cycle of "analysts" providing commentary, paired with hysterical talk shows filled with insults, profanity, and constant vitriol directed at Ukraine, Ukrainians, and, naturally, any perceived "fifth column" or figures like Navalny.

Quincy:

I’m not entirely sure what you’re getting at there, but I suppose that’s one way to start a conversation. Is there actually a point behind that, or are we just testing the waters? As if I haven't heard this before... I’ve been doing some reading on the Holocaust, and this particular passage immediately brought certain discussions on this forum to mind: This article is actually quite excellent; you really ought to give it a read. The article explores the harrowing concept of genocide through a modern lens, specifically examining how historical traumas shape current geopolitical tensions. It’s a heavy read, isn't it? One can't help but wonder if we truly learn from the shadows of the past, or if we are simply destined to watch history repeat its darkest chapters under different names. The piece delves into the systematic destruction of identity and life, drawing parallels that force you to confront uncomfortable truths about power and survival. Is there such a thing as a "forgotten" atrocity, or are they merely waiting for the right moment to resurface in our collective consciousness? It makes you question the resilience of the human spirit when faced with such calculated cruelty. A sobering reflection on how much weight history still carries in today's fractured world.

Well, isn't this just a magnificent... collection of intellectual giants we have here. Truly breathtaking. 🤦

Quincy:

For most people living in Russia, none of this actually seems to register. They’d much rather just look the other way and ignore the humanitarian and moral catastrophe unfolding right in front of them, choosing instead to swallow whatever propaganda the Kremlin feeds them. Why bother facing a grim reality when you can just believe the lies?

For most people living under the Russian regime, those state-run propaganda outlets are the absolute only window into reality. Whether they’re looking for news about life back in the Homeland, what's happening abroad, the situation in Ukraine, or even developments on the Moon or Mars, they rely entirely on that single, curated stream of information. It really makes you wonder: how can anyone form an independent thought when their entire perception of the universe is filtered through a single lens?
Most people out there are essentially zombies—brainwashed, programmed, or just plain stuck in some sorted version of a fever dream. Is it even possible to reach them anymore?
Which black hole of misinformation is being ignored more heavily: the one fueled by Vasya from that Unknown region, or the one peddled by Mansur from that other Unknown area? They sit there glued to their TV screens, which consist of nothing but channels broadcasting straight from Moscow, where they spend twenty-four hours a day being fed the same relentless narrative. They’re told, daily, that Putin was simply acting preemptively to stop a joint NATO and Ukrainian assault on innocent Russian soil. They’re told that Ukrainians are nothing more than drug-addled, Nazi cannibals who slaughtered almost the entire population of the free territories. They’re even told that Ukrainians aren't a real ethnic group at all, and that Ukraine is just some fake concept invented by evil Americans. Is anyone actually listening to this, or are we all just pretending this nonsense doesn't exist?
Some people truly seem to be living in a parallel universe. In their world, truth isn't some objective reality you find through facts or logic; instead, it’s whatever Putin says from Moscow, or perhaps just whatever some local, micro-version of him declares. That’s it, apparently. Is there any other metric for reality in their eyes?
A humanitarian catastrophe? Really? Is that the phrase we’re settling on now? It feels like such a heavy, sweeping label to toss around without much thought. I wonder if anyone actually stops to consider the weight behind those words before they start typing them out. Are we talking about a genuine crisis, or is this just another way to add some dramatic flair to an already complicated conversation?
Where exactly are we talking about?
They honestly think people don't realize what's actually happening in Ukraine. They claim the Russian Army entered just to hand out humanitarian aid and rebuild schools and hospitals—the very ones that were supposedly leveled by the Azov forces along with all the staff, patients, and students inside. It’s quite a narrative, isn't it?
Of course, they’re fully aware that in Russia, the shelves are practically overflowing with vodka, sausages, and cheap Chinese canned goods or various other budget imports from China. It’s a predictable cycle, isn't it? If a shortage ever actually hits the stores, Putin will simply point his finger at those "sanctions" imposed by a supposedly "Russophobic" West, and just like that, the blame is shifted. Problem solved, right? 🤷

Quincy:

I don't think we’re actually dealing with a case of Russian television "zombifying" people. That feels like an oversimplification. To me, the real issue lies in a deliberate choice—a sort of willful blindness and deafness. They aren't just being misled; they are actively filtering out and suppressing any information that might make them uncomfortable. Why is it so much easier to ignore the truth than to face it?

In much of the Russian Federation, the vast majority of the population simply doesn't have access to any information that might be considered inconvenient or uncomfortable enough to ignore. It’s just not there. They don't have it. Is it even possible to ignore what you aren't allowed to see?

Quincy:

As a direct consequence of all this, the Holocaust remains completely unacknowledged by the vast majority of the population in Russia. In their eyes, "fascists" are always someone else—it’s always the Ukrainians, the Americans, or those stereotypical Germans you see in old war movies—never them. Is it really that hard to look in the mirror?

I couldn't agree more.

Quincy:

There's this collective mindset at play where, even if people aren't actively cheering for war, they somehow normalize it until it just becomes part of the daily routine. That’s really where the core issue lies: war crimes stop being viewed as extraordinary atrocities and start being treated as some kind of civilized standard. It’s the signature Russian way of fighting—dirty, bloody, completely indiscriminate, and leaving a trail of bodies in its wake.

I have to agree here. The Russians are deeply statist; their society is built on a foundation of paternalism and a pervasive sense of fatalism.🙂

At this point, Putin’s propaganda machine isn't even trying to hide it; it bears a striking resemblance to that notorious Rwandan outlet BBC. 🙂

It is fundamentally flawed to judge an entire population based solely on what state-run media outlets broadcast under the thumb of an authoritarian regime. It’s blindingly obvious that in such a system, you won't find a single soul who doesn't mirror the warmongering, hateful rhetoric of a lunatic like Putin.
Those who dare to disagree are immediately detained, slapped with fines, or thrown into custody; if they persist in defying Putin's so-called "legislation," they face certain arrest and prison time.
What I find particularly amusing, however, is seeing a certain cohort of "useful idiots" from Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, and elsewhere appearing on these state channels, zealously backing Putin and his aggressive war. But let’s be honest—we all recognize them for what they are: mere mercenaries whose opinions bear absolutely no resemblance to the views held by the actual citizens of those countries.

Timothy Williams5 said:There is an overwhelming amount of evidence suggesting that Russ has made a conscious, deliberate choice to wage this genocidal war against Ukraine.

Take, for instance, this footage of a Russian soldier holding the skull of a Ukrainian soldier, calmly stating his objective is to kill him and anyone else who identifies as Ukrainian. /1
https://twitter.com/den_kazansky/sta...916928/video/1

Then there is this week's address from the Oscar-winning film director Nikita Mihalkov, in which he argues that the Ukrainian language should be completely eradicated within Ukraine. /2
https://twitter.com/sumlenny/status/...raAG0S8u9CVkhw

Consider the interview with the Russian soldier Evgeny Rasskazov (topaz), who openly admits to feeling sexual arousal while killing Ukrainians; he describes experiencing an erection during the act and finds himself dwelling on the suffering their families will endure upon hearing the news. /3
https://twitter.com/sumlenny/status/...raAG0S8u9CVkhw

Back in August 2022, various Russian Telegram channels began circulating an older video featuring a young girl reciting lines from a Stalinist poem by Simonov—lines that explicitly command "kill him," shouting to "kill the fascist" and insisting his mother be the one to weep for him. /4
https://twitter.com/sumlenny/status/...raAG0S8u9CVkhw

The prominent Russian nationalist Yegor Kholmogorov—who was a colleague of Darya Dugina at the far-right Tsargrad TV, an outlet funded by Konstantin Malofeyev—was asked how many Ukrainians must die for Darya; his response on Telegram was blunt: every single Ukrainian must be killed. /5
https://twitter.com/sumlenny/status/...raAG0S8u9CVkhw

Finally, at the beginning of April, the Russian state propaganda agency RIA Novosti published what is essentially a blueprint for total genocide in Ukraine, stating clearly that the Ukrainian elites must be eliminated and the population either forcibly Russified or killed off entirely. /6
https://twitter.com/sumlenny/status/...raAG0S8u9CVkhw

Could you perhaps provide a more or less precise figure for how many of us Russians "willfully" decided to embark on this genocidal war against Ukraine?

Let me reiterate the soldiers are doomed to die anyway (c) The Good Soldier Švejk
Whether it’s with glory or without it...
They’re cursed... simply because they’re fighting in a cursed war... led by nothing but godforsaken monsters... and in the end, they’ll all just end up as fertilizer... every single one of them... 🤷

Arthur Miller7 said:So clearly, the Wagnerites picked up the idea while they were out there, and now they're applying this "new Russian technique" we're all apparently waiting to see on the battlefield.

I’m fully expecting the Russians at the next parade to just march out completely naked, covered in nothing but grease from Wagner's Africa.

The Wagnerites are scouring the prisons—or "holding pens," if you want to use the old Mexican terminology—to recruit convicts across poor Russia, with the regime providing full support to pull in murderers and robbers.
I suspect those Grade-2 vests—you know, the ones meant to stop handguns—are designed specifically for them and their proxies; basically, they're built for the disposable infantry being sent to the front as cannon fodder... they’re going to die anyway, aren't they? ☕

Americans are putting a Russian body armor vest to the test... apparently "bulletproof" 🤦

The explosion over Judah in occupied territory within Ukraine

Putin has decided to set aside roughly $1,000 for every family willing to enroll their kids in these "new Russian schools" being established across occupied territories in Ukraine.

Kate Cook27 said:The Rus Donbas isn't actually authentic 🙂. They’re out there mourning the Rus Donbas—basically abandoned by Mother Russia herself. But hey, I guess Denis Pushilin will step in and handle things. I know how much the families of the fallen actually receive. It’s sad—truly heartbreaking.

The ethnic Russians, as old Aco H. biti would put it ☕.
Indeed, this entire military situation is nothing short of an absolute nightmare
Slava Ukraini to them and all their defenders; may the earth rest lightly upon all the victims

Anthony Hill5 said:Just when I was actually feeling a bit of relief seeing a news update from June 24th, why must you insist on jerking us around like this?

Consider this yet another 🙂

Kate Cook27 said:The "liberated" can still sign up for the military—whether it's the regular army or those local militias—to head to the front lines and defend their motherland. They’re promising a salary of around $22,000—though you won't actually see that cash until 2033. Still, I guess people feel they have to jump on it immediately. Unless, of course, they don't make it back. In that case, their families get a food care package and a makeshift water jug for the kitchen. If they're lucky, maybe they'll even get a Ford. The unlucky ones? Well, they'll end up in a mobile crematorium. Liberation isn't free, after all. These "liberated" folks just need to pick up a few extra flags—besides the American, militia, and old Soviet ones—to complete the look.

That isn't quite right.
Ladas are reserved strictly for the "authentic" Russians. As for the "converted" masses, they receive about five thousand rubles—yes, five—along with some water and canned goods, naturally. ☕
I am being completely serious here.
All over the internet, you can find photos of widows holding five-thousand-ruble notes sent to them by Putin's United Russia party.