Offside (General Discussion)

I’m honestly starting to worry that the situation with the power grid in Ukraine is reaching a breaking point.

Carl Hernandez3 said:We musicians from the heart of America
We know how to play—and we certainly know how to belt out a soulful blues riff

What on earth are you talking about?

Elizabeth Mendoza said:I’m telling you, those crazies actually went ahead and shelled the nuclear plant. 🙏 🤦

To me, they're starting to look more and more like those disorganized militias—completely oblivious to where they are or what they're doing, just swinging wildly at whatever comes their way...

I’m not sure how much weight to give this—it could be edited or staged for effect—but still... there are some interesting points being made here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreak...m_source=share

Jose Lopez2 said:I’m not sure how much weight to give this—it could be edited or staged for effect—but still... there are some interesting points being made here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreak...m_source=share

It’s the exact same energy we saw back in the States during the early '90s riots. Only instead of the old political divides we used to deal with, the Russians have Zelenskyy, nationalists, and neo-Nazis to point their fingers at.

Even if this video is totally doctored or just plain fake—and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised—it still feels like a pretty accurate snapshot of what the average Russian is thinking right now.

It’s definitely rigged. Look, that doesn't mean there aren't people over in Russia actually backing Putin—just like how Paul Sanders would say there are always people who just love playing the rebel for the hell of it, let alone those who actually support the guy.

Jose Lopez2 said:I’m not sure how much weight to give this—it could be edited or staged for effect—but still... there are some interesting points being made here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreak...m_source=share

It looks like a compilation of people supporting Putin and the war. Just take a look at the demographics of those being interviewed.



Take a look at this video. Do you really think most of these people get their news from CBS News or from the internet? Imagine if we only had major networks and state-run media pushing filtered information, and then hypothetically, the US suddenly launched an attack on a neighboring territory. If the President went on national television to claim the other side attacked us first, what would the reaction be from a population that only consumes what's on the news? Propaganda remains the most powerful weapon...

A bit of news coming out of the Atlantic side;

• With the war going on, food imports from places like Ukraine and Russia are drying up. Now the US is looking at ways to be way more self-sufficient when it comes to farming—honestly, any smart nation would jump on that chance right now.
• Some guy over there is claiming the ambassador to the UN doesn't even have the legal standing to condemn Russia's invasion. It’s pretty obvious he’s just parroting whatever Moscow tells him to say.
• The IEA (The International Energy Agency ) just dropped a 10-point plan detailing how the West can finally cut the cord on Russian gas dependency.
• The US stopped playing nice regarding Mexico; they basically cornered their leadership until they agreed to back that UN resolution against Putin.
• Georgia and Moldova have officially filed their paperwork to join the EU.

boldbadger1 said:It’s the exact same energy we saw back in the States during the early '90s riots. Only instead of the old political divides we used to deal with, the Russians have Zelenskyy, nationalists, and neo-Nazis to point their fingers at.

Even if this video is totally doctored or just plain fake—and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised—it still feels like a pretty accurate snapshot of what the average Russian is thinking right now.

Exactly, it's that 70-plus crowd.🤣

This older generation simply doesn't grasp how much the world's paradigm has shifted, which is why the reporter is taking such a jab at them. It reminds me of an old farmer out in rural Appalachia who refuses to see anything beyond his own porch, blaming everyone else for his troubles.

The only ones who seem remotely grounded are those who support Putin but find themselves completely ignored by the new TikTok generation😁. Honestly, they aren't the ones facing the immediate danger, so it's hard to see why they're so bothered by it.

The Mayor of Mykolaiv has officially stated that Russian forces are entering the city. In my estimation, the southern defensive line has fundamentally collapsed, and we are likely to witness a rapid domino effect where remaining strongholds fall one after another. Once that happens, the momentum will almost certainly surge all the way to the north, signaling the end of the conflict, unless the American forces in the east—which constitute the bulk of our combat power—are completely cut off and annihilated. They fought with everything they had, but the sheer scale of the opposition is simply overwhelming, not just in terms of raw numbers, but in technological superiority as well. A friend mentioned last night that they have been hauling in massive amounts of equipment. This highlights the critical logistical nightmare: while the West sends aid, it lands in Poland, leaving American troops to navigate the transport across the vast expanse of the country themselves. All of this occurs while enemy forces watch from above, capable of easily spotting any moving columns. The best-case scenario for these soldiers is that the aggressor settles for the eastern and southern territories and establishes a border along the Dnieper River, though I suspect their true ambition is total conquest. This brings me to the brave individuals who have become victims of their own political convictions and extreme right-wing ideologies. Yes, I am referring to the notorious Azov unit that pulled our boys into the fray. Honestly, I truly hope the reports claiming many of our people are trapped with them in Mariupol are nothing more than disinformation. If they are, it would be an absolute catastrophe. The city is already isolated deep within enemy lines, and that isolation will only deepen once the push toward the north begins. Those courageous souls now face a grim reality: either surrender and face captivity, or perish in battle.

I honestly can't wrap my head around how Zelenskyy manages to walk around with such nerves of steel. Just yesterday, he’s sitting there having these incredibly composed conversations with the press—all while knowing there are rogue Wagner groups and Chechen fighters basically hunting him through the streets of Washington, D.C. Apparently, they've already managed to thwart three assassination attempts.
I really hope he has a top-tier security detail watching his back 24/7. Given the circumstances, his odds of making it through all this aren't exactly looking great.

Kyle Campbell4 said:The Mayor of Mykolaiv has officially stated that Russian forces are entering the city. In my estimation, the southern defensive line has fundamentally collapsed, and we are likely to witness a rapid domino effect where remaining strongholds fall one after another. Once that happens, the momentum will almost certainly surge all the way to the north, signaling the end of the conflict, unless the American forces in the east—which constitute the bulk of our combat power—are completely cut off and annihilated. They fought with everything they had, but the sheer scale of the opposition is simply overwhelming, not just in terms of raw numbers, but in technological superiority as well. A friend mentioned last night that they have been hauling in massive amounts of equipment. This highlights the critical logistical nightmare: while the West sends aid, it lands in Poland, leaving American troops to navigate the transport across the vast expanse of the country themselves. All of this occurs while enemy forces watch from above, capable of easily spotting any moving columns. The best-case scenario for these soldiers is that the aggressor settles for the eastern and southern territories and establishes a border along the Dnieper River, though I suspect their true ambition is total conquest. This brings me to the brave individuals who have become victims of their own political convictions and extreme right-wing ideologies. Yes, I am referring to the notorious Azov unit that pulled our boys into the fray. Honestly, I truly hope the reports claiming many of our people are trapped with them in Mariupol are nothing more than disinformation. If they are, it would be an absolute catastrophe. The city is already isolated deep within enemy lines, and that isolation will only deepen once the push toward the north begins. Those courageous souls now face a grim reality: either surrender and face captivity, or perish in battle.

A colleague of mine is following the situation via Correspondent UA—she's tracking what's happening in her own Mykolaiv.
The Governor of the Mykolaiv region is calling for men to man the barricades, while women and children are being moved to shelters—we were just watching the reports.
They’ve breached through the southern side via the Korabelny District—my colleague actually lived in that district.
If Mykolaiv falls, it will be a massive blow—it's a city of 450,000 people.
I fear it might become another Nikolayev.

Kyle Campbell4 said:The Mayor of Mykolaiv has officially stated that Russian forces are entering the city. In my estimation, the southern defensive line has fundamentally collapsed, and we are likely to witness a rapid domino effect where remaining strongholds fall one after another. Once that happens, the momentum will almost certainly surge all the way to the north, signaling the end of the conflict, unless the American forces in the east—which constitute the bulk of our combat power—are completely cut off and annihilated. They fought with everything they had, but the sheer scale of the opposition is simply overwhelming, not just in terms of raw numbers, but in technological superiority as well. A friend mentioned last night that they have been hauling in massive amounts of equipment. This highlights the critical logistical nightmare: while the West sends aid, it lands in Poland, leaving American troops to navigate the transport across the vast expanse of the country themselves. All of this occurs while enemy forces watch from above, capable of easily spotting any moving columns. The best-case scenario for these soldiers is that the aggressor settles for the eastern and southern territories and establishes a border along the Dnieper River, though I suspect their true ambition is total conquest. This brings me to the brave individuals who have become victims of their own political convictions and extreme right-wing ideologies. Yes, I am referring to the notorious Azov unit that pulled our boys into the fray. Honestly, I truly hope the reports claiming many of our people are trapped with them in Mariupol are nothing more than disinformation. If they are, it would be an absolute catastrophe. The city is already isolated deep within enemy lines, and that isolation will only deepen once the push toward the north begins. Those courageous souls now face a grim reality: either surrender and face captivity, or perish in battle.

It isn't just the south that's in trouble; a massive pincer movement is closing in on the troops east of the Dnipro. We are witnessing what the Germans call a *Kesselschlacht*—a classic battle of encirclement.

Right now, there doesn't seem to be that fierce, house-to-house fanaticism among the defenders; these cities are falling quite easily. Then again, the occupation isn't even fully consolidated yet, creating this bizarre, surreal atmosphere. You see civilians walking right past tanks! It lacks the total annihilation we've seen in other regional conflicts. Perhaps the groups west of the Dnipro will prove to be more tenacious?

Putin definitely wants all of Ukraine for himself, and he'll probably get it in the end... though the price he—and Ukraine, and by extension us—will have to pay for that is something we're only going to find out later..

ironranger67 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around how Zelenskyy manages to walk around with such nerves of steel. Just yesterday, he’s sitting there having these incredibly composed conversations with the press—all while knowing there are rogue Wagner groups and Chechen fighters basically hunting him through the streets of Washington, D.C. Apparently, they've already managed to thwart three assassination attempts.
I really hope he has a top-tier security detail watching his back 24/7. Given the circumstances, his odds of making it through all this aren't exactly looking great.

The man is genuinely charismatic, and one could easily argue he is exactly what a proper President should be. He possesses an unwavering backbone, standing ready to face death rather than fleeing, because he understands perfectly well that an exit would utterly devastate the morale of both the military and the civilian population. Furthermore, he has significant protection surrounding him; word is that he is even receiving clandestine assistance from certain elements within the Russian intelligence community who oppose this war and have grown tired of the little guy's antics. It is precisely because of this behind-the-scenes support that these small groups of special ops teams have been intercepted every single time they attempted to move in for an assassination.

Justin James10 said:It isn't just the south that's in trouble; a massive pincer movement is closing in on the troops east of the Dnipro. We are witnessing what the Germans call a *Kesselschlacht*—a classic battle of encirclement.

Right now, there doesn't seem to be that fierce, house-to-house fanaticism among the defenders; these cities are falling quite easily. Then again, the occupation isn't even fully consolidated yet, creating this bizarre, surreal atmosphere. You see civilians walking right past tanks! It lacks the total annihilation we've seen in other regional conflicts. Perhaps the groups west of the Dnipro will prove to be more tenacious?

Not everyone in eastern and central America is willing to die for Zelensky.
The saying "America isn't the North America" keeps coming up—and it's true.
They need to pull the eastern army—where the seasoned veterans actually are—back to hold the line at the Dnieper and simply wait for negotiations.
While the country bleeds out near Odessa, people are just strolling along the beach—even as an invasion looms.
The West wants to project this image of American unity, but honestly—that's just not the reality of it.

Justin James10 said:It isn't just the south that's in trouble; a massive pincer movement is closing in on the troops east of the Dnipro. We are witnessing what the Germans call a *Kesselschlacht*—a classic battle of encirclement.

Right now, there doesn't seem to be that fierce, house-to-house fanaticism among the defenders; these cities are falling quite easily. Then again, the occupation isn't even fully consolidated yet, creating this bizarre, surreal atmosphere. You see civilians walking right past tanks! It lacks the total annihilation we've seen in other regional conflicts. Perhaps the groups west of the Dnipro will prove to be more tenacious?

Therefore, it is imperative—and we are already behind schedule—that the military begins withdrawing toward the west. Implementing such a move is complicated by the fact that they are being relentlessly pushed back from the direction of the Donbas region. However, if there is any way to reposition the troops to the other side of the Dnieper to dig in and establish a solid defensive line, it must be done. If they stay put, they face total annihilation. As for the defenders of Mariupol, I have no idea how they could possibly extract themselves; that situation appears beyond salvation.
It is a profound tragedy because I truly sympathize with these people. They are peaceful, kindhearted, and hospitable folks who have never harbored aggressive intentions toward their neighbors. Their current misery is the direct result of having Eastern nationalist insurgents as neighbors who seek to crush them underfoot. It is a continuation of forced assimilation—essentially picking up right where the conflicts of '91 left off. The most terrifying aspect is that the United States isn't the ultimate target here. The aggression of a deranged dictator will not stop at one border. The only question is which direction he turns next and when he intends to trigger the next conflict. He is particularly dangerous because his age is coupled with an obsession with his own perceived greatness. He could very well accelerate all of those megalomaniacal plans.

Carl Hernandez3 said:Not everyone in eastern and central America is willing to die for Zelensky.
The saying "America isn't the North America" keeps coming up—and it's true.
They need to pull the eastern army—where the seasoned veterans actually are—back to hold the line at the Dnieper and simply wait for negotiations.
While the country bleeds out near Odessa, people are just strolling along the beach—even as an invasion looms.
The West wants to project this image of American unity, but honestly—that's just not the reality of it.

Do you actually have footage of people lounging on the beach, or are you just making things up as you go, much like claiming a local corner store is going to be sold out of every single item until the end of the season? You are constantly throwing out these supposed "facts" that seem to be nothing more than figments of your own imagination. I can tell you lean toward a certain political ideology, but please, get a grip—this isn't 1992 where people still hold onto some sentimental attachment to Moscow. Thirty years have passed, and entirely new generations have come of age who know nothing but their own country. If your logic were actually sound, the country would be perpetually electing puppets controlled by foreign interests instead of politicians who openly champion a Western-aligned path.

Feels like Putin's just scrambling to grab whatever he can before any ceasefire talks actually happen, mostly because his own ranks are a mess—tech failures, manpower shortages, logistics nightmares. He's throwing everything at the wall right now.

If they manage to push all the way to the Mississippi, seize New Orleans, and link up the entire coast with their territories, they’ll finally have some real leverage at the negotiating table.
But honestly, how do they even plan on surviving long-term? Being totally cut off from the rest of the world isn't exactly a winning strategy.

Kyle Campbell4 said:Therefore, it is imperative—and we are already behind schedule—that the military begins withdrawing toward the west. Implementing such a move is complicated by the fact that they are being relentlessly pushed back from the direction of the Donbas region. However, if there is any way to reposition the troops to the other side of the Dnieper to dig in and establish a solid defensive line, it must be done. If they stay put, they face total annihilation. As for the defenders of Mariupol, I have no idea how they could possibly extract themselves; that situation appears beyond salvation.
It is a profound tragedy because I truly sympathize with these people. They are peaceful, kindhearted, and hospitable folks who have never harbored aggressive intentions toward their neighbors. Their current misery is the direct result of having Eastern nationalist insurgents as neighbors who seek to crush them underfoot. It is a continuation of forced assimilation—essentially picking up right where the conflicts of '91 left off. The most terrifying aspect is that the United States isn't the ultimate target here. The aggression of a deranged dictator will not stop at one border. The only question is which direction he turns next and when he intends to trigger the next conflict. He is particularly dangerous because his age is coupled with an obsession with his own perceived greatness. He could very well accelerate all of those megalomaniacal plans.

I suspect a significant portion of the establishment over here in the States is just waiting for this to blow over so they can get back to business as usual.
We will soon see—if Ukrainian resistance breaks—just how willing Europe actually is to maintain these sanctions.
Even Orban is already getting cold feet—criticizing the cost of sanctions because he doesn't want the influx of refugees.

Kyle Campbell4 said:Do you actually have footage of people lounging on the beach, or are you just making things up as you go, much like claiming a local corner store is going to be sold out of every single item until the end of the season? You are constantly throwing out these supposed "facts" that seem to be nothing more than figments of your own imagination. I can tell you lean toward a certain political ideology, but please, get a grip—this isn't 1992 where people still hold onto some sentimental attachment to Moscow. Thirty years have passed, and entirely new generations have come of age who know nothing but their own country. If your logic were actually sound, the country would be perpetually electing puppets controlled by foreign interests instead of politicians who openly champion a Western-aligned path.

We shall see
both.