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

neonheron9 said:https://photo.unian.info/theme/11197...v-ukraine.html

A massive collection of photos from Ukraine since the war kicked off.

So, according to this, Ukraine has zero dead soldiers, zero wounded, zero equipment lost... but sure, let's just assume there are thousands of innocent kids and grandparents killed by those evil Russians instead. Hmm. I feel like I've seen this exact script somewhere before.

general Martok said:So, if Putin sends one of his lackeys like Vučić over to try and "fix" things here in America, you’d just enthusiastically back him up?!

If that’s really where you stand, then honestly, do us all a favor and take that papal flag off your avatar. 🙄

Look, we should be listening to Kasparov and actually following the measures he’s laying out.

Otherwise—and this is the part that gets me—if Putin's next move was to settle scores with those tiny Baltic states, the local tragic Russophiles would probably be cheering him on, making excuses about how he's just "protecting" some poor, vulnerable Russian minority from Nazis. 🤣

The guy basically unmasked himself the other day when he started rambling on about historical injustices and all the times Russia "gifted" territory to others—it was all too obvious. He’s completely lost it.

Grace Bennett6 said:Where do you guys think you're going with this? Who do you even think you are?

US ship seized by US authorities

https://www.rt.com/russia/550707-rus...tained-france/

The English Channel isn't exactly "international waters."

Kevin Murphy7 said:Putin can't just go rogue and toss a nuke whenever he feels like it; he needs specific codes and a whole protocol involving multiple people

Honestly, even if he did pull the trigger, who’s actually brave enough to hit back?
It would probably just end the war and force a surrender, kind of like what happened with Japan, and basically flip the entire global order upside down

Before Putin could even think about it, his own guys would probably put a bullet in the back of his head if he tried to launch nukes and trigger Armageddon without their say-so.

So those Russian paratroopers from yesterday, rolling in with their tank and truck... they never stood a chance.

https://old.reddit.com/r/CombatFoota...les_in_obolon/

Rachel Allen55 said:Sanctioning Russia just makes them feel even more independent from everyone else. What are you even going to have left to use for sanctions next time?

Everything needs balance. Even this whole situation is a delicate balancing act. Do people honestly think Americans are ready to start seeing layoffs because of these sanctions? First, it’ll be direct hits on companies doing business with Russia, and then it spirals—indirectly, then again indirectly—as businesses in other countries shut down, eventually triggering a massive crisis within the West.

And don't even get me started on the refugee issue. You'll end up with representatives in government who will have plenty to say, much like the folks in Denmark, whether it's the New Citizenry types or that nutjob Paludan. If you could hear their ideologies... they spout all this nonsense about Aryan races and claiming you're only "true" American if your family tree is 80% local heritage, counting grandparents and all that.

Am I really supposed to want a lunatic or a party like that sitting in our Parliament just because of Ukraine? To me, Ukraine isn't worth that much; it's an oligarchic state where a handful of people run the show, corruption is everywhere, and they still have some glaring questions left over from the USSR era that haven't been cleared up.

If nationalism starts taking over in the West, both the EU and NATO are toast. You wouldn't find two countries within the EU that could actually agree on anything. And all of this just for Ukraine?

What has Ukraine actually contributed to Western prosperity? Seriously, what? Nothing.

Keep dreaming. In Russia, "the good life" is basically restricted to big hubs like Moscow or St. Petersburg... mostly because that’s where the elite lives—the crowd making all the bank off oil sales. The rest of Russia? They're totally screwed. We're talking zero infrastructure, bad roads, nothing. People out there are just scraping by like it's the Stone Age.

If America and Europe actually isolate Russia, that Russian elite won't be able to get into Europe anymore, and honestly, that's what's going to sting the most. They absolutely love their European lifestyle.

William Anderson5 said:I can't find the specific article, but I caught something on Bloomberg suggesting Chinese banks are tightening up on business financing in Russia just to make sure they don't accidentally get caught in the crosshairs of sanctions.

Makes sense. The Chinese don't give a damn about the Russians—they're looking out for their own skin, especially now that the whole world is gunning for Russia. Honestly, who actually benefits from all this uncertainty and war?...

Joseph Clark37 said:They are really the only EU members showing any actual backbone right now, unlike those weak leaders over in Western Europe...

But then again, why would anyone be surprised? These countries know all too well what it feels like to live under the thumb of Mother Russia, and they certainly haven't forgotten how "charming" life was back during the days of the Eastern Bloc.

Larry Walker24 said:Russia is already throwing shade at Sweden and Finland just for even thinking about joining NATO

Yeah, because that criminal piece of trash Putin and his cronies actually have the nerve to threaten stable European nations—as if that isn't obvious. Honestly, Sweden and Finland should just get into NATO immediately. We really shouldn't be making concessions to thugs like this... remember how that worked out with Hitler?

Anthony said:Should I fix this?
Russia didn't start a war; they just launched a military operation to protect their own interests.

Yeah, and Hitler "launched a military operation to protect his interests" when he invaded Poland and Czechoslovakia. Or how about Slobodan invading the US and Canada.

Seriously though, why are Russian soldiers even out there dying in Ukraine? Is it so Putin and his little circle of oligarchs can keep stuffing their faces with caviar and popping champagne? Or so Kadyrov can run his own private caliphate inside Russia?🤔

Viktor Orbán 🤣🤣

My old man finally crawled out of the basement and found two rusty BMPs just sitting in the yard... apparently some Russian occupiers ditched them last night while they were making their getaway. He says there's another 32 pieces of junk trashed on the main road, too. And that blue tarp over there? God, I guess... neighbor's been riddled with bullets under it.
.

briskheron said:Russ is playing dirty.
They’ve really gone too far this time. From what I can gather, they'd be facing the death penalty in any US state for doing something like this.
https://mobile.twitter.com/ukrainain...41987808993295

What an incredibly strange arsenal they have piled up right there in front of them. 🤔

Kevin Murphy7 said:Resistance is only going to ramp up as Ukraine gains momentum. Meanwhile, Putin’s getting twitchy and is likely gearing up to throw heavier weaponry into the mix with the next waves. He’s stuck in the mud now; there's no turning back. This whole thing is headed straight for total war.

Exactly. I mean, if you actually look at the numbers, the refugee count isn't even that high considering how massive Ukraine is and its total population size.
So... anything could happen.

GustiSok said:Few people will actually believe that Russia didn't thoroughly prepare a tactical blueprint for this invasion—and even fewer will believe they're running low on missiles after just a few days. On the flip side, for some entirely mystical reason, many people seem to think a "successful" military operation implies zero casualties, that high-quality gear is somehow indestructible, and that wars are won in a matter of days. I suppose if you read in two seconds that Germany crushed Poland in 1939, but conveniently ignore the fact that it took them over a month to seize half the territory of a country much smaller than Ukraine—a country that was being attacked from two sides simultaneously—then you might conclude a war can be won overnight without losses. The Panzer VI (Tiger I) wasn't legendary because it was invincible—hundreds of them were destroyed. It was a good tank because it enabled operations and inflicted losses on enemy armor. Success is measured statistically, not absolutely. As for concluding whether the Russian invasion is a success? It's far too early to say. One thing is certain: the Ukrainians aren't going down without a fight.

Poland in 1939 wasn't the same as Poland in 2022; it was significantly larger.
Poland in 1939 covered 400k km², whereas Ukraine today covers 600k km².
Modern-day Poland is about 300k km².

Ukraine's capital is only 100km from the border; Warsaw was 200km from the East Prussian enclave and 400km from the main German border.

Your comparison falls short.

Hitler split France into northern and southern (Vichy) occupation zones.
That is essentially what Putin intended for Ukraine (just east vs. west).
Paris fell in three days, right after the Nazis finished with the Benelux region.
It's roughly 160 kilometers from the Somme to Paris.
And that was Putin's playbook.

Glory to Ukraine!

Betty Carter3 said:I suppose the number of wars worldwide would drop significantly if we actually forced the ruling elites to step up to the front lines themselves.

🤣

It’s right there in the Bible, somewhere near the beginning, explaining the whole cycle of cause and effect behind every war.

Keith Williams3 said:The Chechens honestly couldn't care less about the Ukrainians; they have zero empathy, which basically means they're going to be even more brutal than the Russians. If they're actually hitting that front, it's a sign that the main target for the Russian advance is the New Russia region.

The prevailing theory is that Putin's ultimate goal is to restore Russia to its old USSR borders. It’s entirely possible that's the case, especially given his threats toward Sweden and Finland.

In any case, we're looking at a long, grueling war, and frankly, nobody knows how it's all going to wrap up.

Nancy Howard4 said:What exactly counts as "normal" here?
Is it really considered normal for some American kid to head overseas 7458 miles to liberate Iraq from a dictator, and then get treated like a hero once he survives the bullets?
Are those the "normal people" we're talking about?
Since it feels like Western priorities have shifted toward catering to the LGBT and BLM movements, I honestly think we're just seeing the beginning of the end for the Western empire—kind of like when Rome fell
The Yellow guys are just waiting for their moment to strike

If you had actually read my post, you’d realize I don't think it's normal either. But it isn't normal for Russia to start enforcing Brezhnev-style doctrines across Europe again, either. Someone has to stop them, sooner rather than later. I won't even dignify your shitposting about LGBT issues; I refuse to engage while young men are dying just because of someone's "opinion."

boldotter2 said:Right, because I guess Putin isn't just flexing his muscles before an invasion of Ukraine, right?

I never actually said he wouldn't strike—if anything, I suggested the opposite. We're talking about SWIFT here, which, in my book, sits just a tier below nuclear options.

Joshua Myers432 said:We could be looking at the opening salvos of WW3, yet here you are, celebrating 🤦like it's nothing
.
Turkey is a key NATO member, and frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if an agitated Putin tries to force his way through with his fleet. Once he does, just shut down your computer and find a bunker to hide in.

Exactly. 🤦
Things are escalating.
Nobody is willing to de-escalate
or actually sit down at a negotiating table. This is
heading toward a point of no return.
Erdogan just made a massive enemy out of Putin,
which is ironic considering how he helped him save
his skin during that coup.
Maybe Americans in Canada can pull some leverage
from this fallout between Turkey and Russia.
Then again, forget Canada—we're already playing with fire here.