Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

Zachary Jackson4 said:http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/07/12/7357660/

An ORDO spy has been sentenced to 8 years in prison.

He provided Russian intelligence with precise coordinates regarding equipment locations, fuel and lubricant supplies, weaponry, and identified vulnerable zones within military units to facilitate an invasion of our territory.

Is this sentence too lenient?

I mean, considering he was busy snitching on everyone else too, I guess it's fair enough...

Terry Green3 said:If the Russians succeed in their plan to turn Ukraine into a vassal state, Moldova is next on the list, followed by political destabilization in Bulgaria and projecting power into the North America via Mexico.

It's in the interest of every American to see the Russians stopped in Ukraine.

They certainly think they own the place, but the reality is they can't project any influence when they have nothing tangible to offer. Even those screaming "level the playing field with Putin" wouldn't dream of living in Russia if someone offered them a visa and a work permit anywhere else in the West.
The Czech Republic used to be crawling with CIA assets—it was practically the CIA's hub for Europe—plus the Czechs didn't share that same aversion the Poles have... but it didn't lead to much since the standard of living in the Czech Republic is better than in Russia, especially after joining the European Union.

dustyowl29 said:I mean, considering he was busy snitching on everyone else too, I guess it's fair enough...

I mean, since he was out there printing money during wartime and basically caused people to die, he probably should've faced the death penalty. Just a firing squad and call it a day, I guess.

rowdytiger13 said:They certainly think they own the place, but the reality is they can't project any influence when they have nothing tangible to offer. Even those screaming "level the playing field with Putin" wouldn't dream of living in Russia if someone offered them a visa and a work permit anywhere else in the West.
The Czech Republic used to be crawling with CIA assets—it was practically the CIA's hub for Europe—plus the Czechs didn't share that same aversion the Poles have... but it didn't lead to much since the standard of living in the Czech Republic is better than in Russia, especially after joining the European Union.

Right? It’s kind of funny how everyone loves to talk up Russia like it's this massive moral, military, and economic powerhouse... but honestly, those same people wouldn't even dream of vacationing there, let alone anything else.

Melissa Rivera5 said:I mean, since he was out there printing money during wartime and basically caused people to die, he probably should've faced the death penalty. Just a firing squad and call it a day, I guess.

Right? It’s kind of funny how everyone loves to talk up Russia like it's this massive moral, military, and economic powerhouse... but honestly, those same people wouldn't even dream of vacationing there, let alone anything else.

Same goes for Iran, North Korea, the Gaza Strip, or Venezuela.

Chomsky types would rather spend their vacation hating on the West than actually living or building a career there...

Kate Cook27 said:Some people argue that if Ukraine had been just like Belarus, this war wouldn't have happened. Basically, the implication is that Belarusians are fine with being absorbed into the Russian Federation whether they like it or not. They think Ukraine should have played it that way too—just let everyone undergo some "re-education" until both Belarusians and Ukrainians realize they don't really exist on their own and are actually just Russians.

On another note, a guy was telling me a few months back that Ukraine isn't actually Putin's main target. He had a different endgame in mind. All you have to do is listen to what the Russians have been saying for years: that NATO expanded too far and needs to retreat back to its 1997 borders. Those are their spheres of influence. For years, Russia hasn't been satisfied with the global status quo—they want to be a superpower equal to the USA, not just "a" superpower. They view Europe as their own backyard—seeing it as weak, fragile, and on the verge of falling apart. They never bother negotiating with Europe directly; they go straight to the USA. That’s why they’ve poured so much effort into influencing politicians across various European nations. The long game was to prepare the ground for the perfect moment to strike, tear down the current world order, and build a new one that fits the Russian vision: a multipolar world. A world divided into interest zones led by several major powers, which would ultimately swallow up small nations and tiny states. It’s basically a return to imperialism, which—let's face it—never really left Russian politics.
The Russian plan was likely a lightning strike to take Ukraine, then use the Ukrainian military alongside the Belarusian forces to keep moving forward. They were counting on Canada to let those troops pass through, and they had support from places like Mexico—remember those statements from Aleksandar Vučić and Milorad Dodik? Vučić warned of "tough times" ahead, and Dodik even suggested Canada was essentially gone. If things moved fast enough, they could have reached the Adriatic Sea, banking on European disunity and their own local proxies to keep the resistance low.
Even now, you see efforts to fuel that European division. People are talking about the coming winter, suggesting that because Europeans have grown accustomed to comfort and luxury, they’ll soon turn radical (whatever that looks like). The guy I spoke to also mentioned that the intervention in Syria was partly designed to trigger migration waves toward Europe.
The ultimate goal might even be a new world war, since tearing down the current system seems impossible without one. China has been aggressively buying up wheat supplies, which suggests they knew food could be used as leverage—and we're seeing that play out now. Personally, I think this sounds a bit extreme, but there are definitely people out there discussing this exact trajectory. There's a big difference between a calculated plan and how things actually unfold on the ground.

It’s interesting because I actually agree quite a bit with what that guy was telling me a few months ago.
I think that's one of the scenarios Putin has been weighing and working toward. Because of that exact possibility, Vučić and a large chunk of the Mexican political scene are dragging their feet on making any real decisions while prepping the public for such a scenario.

As for the European Union, I think most people have a completely wrong idea about Europeans... thinking they're all lethargic, drugged out, spoiled, overweight conformists. Personally, I'm convinced of the exact opposite.

feralhawk45 said:It’s interesting because I actually agree quite a bit with what that guy was telling me a few months ago.
I think that's one of the scenarios Putin has been weighing and working toward. Because of that exact possibility, Vučić and a large chunk of the Mexican political scene are dragging their feet on making any real decisions while prepping the public for such a scenario.

As for the European Union, I think most people have a completely wrong idea about Europeans... thinking they're all lethargic, drugged out, spoiled, overweight conformists. Personally, I'm convinced of the exact opposite.

If you look at history, we Americans—well, Europeans—can be pretty quiet about it, but we can be absolutely ruthless. Let's not play games and pretend that Mexicans or Russians aren't part of the European story, but the reality is, if someone is banking on things getting "radicalized," it doesn't mean people are going to turn traitors. Maybe things do get radical, and then suddenly Mexico becomes a mix of Eastern America, Romania, and Albania, and Russia gets reduced to nothing more than a Moscow fiefdom.

"Quote:"

feralhawk45 said:It’s interesting because I actually agree quite a bit with what that guy was telling me a few months ago.
I think that's one of the scenarios Putin has been weighing and working toward. Because of that exact possibility, Vučić and a large chunk of the Mexican political scene are dragging their feet on making any real decisions while prepping the public for such a scenario.

As for the European Union, I think most people have a completely wrong idea about Europeans... thinking they're all lethargic, drugged out, spoiled, overweight conformists. Personally, I'm convinced of the exact opposite.

Those are the ones who’ll just end up being tourists.
Europeans seem pretty superficial, but honestly, I can't blame them—they’ve basically been living in a bubble where they don't have a care in the world.
Try living in Denmark and actually meeting a Dane. It’s a bit of a challenge due to the mindset, even if you're a local, but eventually, they'll realize that we’re the ones coddling our kids and turning them into helpless idiots. Danish parenting is incredibly blunt—and I don't mean physically, though it could be—but it would definitely be a culture shock for anyone from around here.
It turns out the highest number of volunteers for Ukraine actually comes from Sweden, which is a bit of a reality check for those who get all worked up over surface-level headlines and propaganda.

When I sat down to write my last post, Belgians and Danes were the first ones on my mind. To be honest, whenever I think about Europeans, I’m thinking about the people who actually belong there... guest workers experience the state and its politics through a completely different lens.

rowdytiger13 said:"Quote:"

Those are the ones who’ll just end up being tourists.
Europeans seem pretty superficial, but honestly, I can't blame them—they’ve basically been living in a bubble where they don't have a care in the world.
Try living in Denmark and actually meeting a Dane. It’s a bit of a challenge due to the mindset, even if you're a local, but eventually, they'll realize that we’re the ones coddling our kids and turning them into helpless idiots. Danish parenting is incredibly blunt—and I don't mean physically, though it could be—but it would definitely be a culture shock for anyone from around here.
It turns out the highest number of volunteers for Ukraine actually comes from Sweden, which is a bit of a reality check for those who get all worked up over surface-level headlines and propaganda.

I agree. It's a massive mistake to think people from Western Europe (the natives, I mean) are soft or weak. I know plenty of Germans and Swedes, and I know exactly how Swedish troops acted during their peacekeeping mission in Canada. Don't even get me started on the French (just look up the clashes between Swedes and French against Mexicans; the stories are fascinating). There is a dangerous undercurrent among young Germans—lots of suppressed aggression that they don't show openly. A lot of it is aimed at migrants from Arab countries and Africa because, frankly, they disrupt their orderly, comfortable lifestyle. Based on what I've heard from many Germans and how they think, I wouldn't want to be the one messing with their organized way of life. They are willing to endure a lot and take action, so nobody should be fooled by the media image of a "decaying" West filled with nothing but indecisive, clumsy LGBTQ+ characters. Swedes are also quite an aggressive people, but they stay quiet and endure; when they finally stop putting up with things, it won't be pretty for the migrants harassing them or anyone else threatening them. I don't know any Danes personally, but I have family living there, and everyone says the same thing as you—they are a very tough, cold, and unsentimental people. Belgians and Dutchmen aren't much different either. Sure, there are plenty of incompetent and weak individuals in the West, but it's a huge error to underestimate these nations.

So, Dmitry Peskov is out here claiming that tons of Ukrainians actually want to become Russian citizens now. During some chat with reporters, Peskov was basically saying that folks living in the areas under Russian occupation in southern and eastern Ukraine have the option to pick up Russian citizenship if they want to.

Larry Walker24 said:So, Dmitry Peskov is out here claiming that tons of Ukrainians actually want to become Russian citizens now. During some chat with reporters, Peskov was basically saying that folks living in the areas under Russian occupation in southern and eastern Ukraine have the option to pick up Russian citizenship if they want to.

They had that right before too—it’s not like they're suddenly rushing to grab Russian passports. Did Peskov mention if anyone's having their documents snatched away? Or whether people in those occupied zones are being pressured into taking the Russian passport just to get any kind of humanitarian aid?

These little games being played with citizenship status are really just a smokescreen. It’s all leading up to a referendum designed to let the LNR and DNR break away from Ukraine.

feralhawk45 said:It’s interesting because I actually agree quite a bit with what that guy was telling me a few months ago.
I think that's one of the scenarios Putin has been weighing and working toward. Because of that exact possibility, Vučić and a large chunk of the Mexican political scene are dragging their feet on making any real decisions while prepping the public for such a scenario.

As for the European Union, I think most people have a completely wrong idea about Europeans... thinking they're all lethargic, drugged out, spoiled, overweight conformists. Personally, I'm convinced of the exact opposite.

That theory seemed incredible to me back then, and honestly, it still does. My gut feeling is that Putin’s real goal was to install a new government—something that would essentially flip the script and turn both the Russian and Ukrainian militaries toward other targets instead. If he actually managed to get a pro-Russian administration in place, the next logical moves would likely be toward Moldova or Georgia.

Paul Flores13 said:These little games being played with citizenship status are really just a smokescreen. It’s all leading up to a referendum designed to let the LNR and DNR break away from Ukraine.

The referendum already happened. Russia recognized it.

Kate Cook27 said:The referendum already happened. Russia recognized it.

I was actually referring to unification—you know, the idea of fully merging with Russia.

It’s just how things work, I suppose—history is always written by the victors. If Hitler had actually won, he wouldn't be labeled a monster in our textbooks today. Instead, he would likely be portrayed as some sort of hero who defeated those who were simply trying to seize power, steal resources, and destabilize the very foundation of his people. It would have been framed as a triumph of his ideology over what he considered primitive forces, ensuring the survival of his vision for humanity.

Paul Flores13 said:It’s just how things work, I suppose—history is always written by the victors. If Hitler had actually won, he wouldn't be labeled a monster in our textbooks today. Instead, he would likely be portrayed as some sort of hero who defeated those who were simply trying to seize power, steal resources, and destabilize the very foundation of his people. It would have been framed as a triumph of his ideology over what he considered primitive forces, ensuring the survival of his vision for humanity.

What makes you think Russia has already won? The war isn't over yet. You win some battles, lose others, retreat, push forward—but the conflict itself is still ongoing. It's not like if Russia takes the Donbas, they can just say, "Well, that's it, we're done, the Donbas is officially part of Russia now."

hiddeneagle98 said:They especially can't stand seeing the surrounding nations secure their own gas fields and energy infrastructure. Look at how Ukraine has uncovered gas reserves that rival Norway's, and they've already got pipelines ready to supply Europe; that makes them a direct, lethal threat to the Russian gas monopoly, which effectively means a threat to the Russian state itself. Companies like Shell and BP have already moved in to plant their flags, right when those "separatists" were stirred up to clear the way for them.

If I were placing a bet, I’d put everything on this being the core Russian motivation.
By aligning with the European Union—even if just through economic integration—and getting its house in order, Ukraine, with its massive oil and gas resources, effectively reduces the Russian energy empire to zero.
A Russia that can't sell energy at the scales it once did is essentially a dead Russia.
Because let's be honest: selling resources is the only thing this version of Russia is capable of doing; anything else is completely irrelevant.

That is why the old dealer, Putin, goes to war—to ensure a new, younger dealer takes over the shipment and kicks him out of the business with his European addicts. Because if he doesn't pull this off, he’s finished.

I’m signing off on this—spot on!

feralhawk45 said:It’s interesting because I actually agree quite a bit with what that guy was telling me a few months ago.
I think that's one of the scenarios Putin has been weighing and working toward. Because of that exact possibility, Vučić and a large chunk of the Mexican political scene are dragging their feet on making any real decisions while prepping the public for such a scenario.

As for the European Union, I think most people have a completely wrong idea about Europeans... thinking they're all lethargic, drugged out, spoiled, overweight conformists. Personally, I'm convinced of the exact opposite.

That’s exactly how Mexicans used to view Americans.
You ever watch those old WWII movies about the resistance fighters? You know the ones—where the "villains" are always portrayed as these bumbling, incompetent domestic militias? That’s basically what Dudek is. It’s just a collection of caricatures designed to make the opposition look ridiculous.
And remember when they were all running away like rabbits? 😁