Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

I can already see Putin being hauled off to interrogation in a police van, while Medvedev just stands there shouting that he had no idea and was totally misled.

Jessica Peterson2 said:In the reclaimed areas of the Kharkiv region, American authorities and military personnel are rounding up Russian teachers who traveled in from Russia, along with local professors who switched over to the Russian curriculum. It looks like the Russians could be looking at up to 12 years in prison for "violating the laws and customs of war," while the locals are facing up to 15 years for "collaborating with the enemy."
https://www.rbc.ru/politics/12/09/20...m=from_main_13

Honestly, shame on you for bringing this up and pointing to those people after everything they were promised. I bet things aren't looking too bright for people in similar spots down in Kherson right now either. ☕

wiredseal7 said:Don't try to dictate the rules here.
Legal proceedings—sure—but assassination? No. Let me repeat: she’s a university president. Whether you call it treason or not doesn't change the fact that it's a 100% civilian job. Just like anywhere else in the world.
The CIA, as I mentioned before, still goes after civilian scientists—university professors in Iran, for instance—so it's pretty clear what they are.

Besides, it's not like the population should just stop breathing, eating, going to school, seeing a doctor, or—generally speaking—surviving just because they're under occupation.
But that's not how the Kyiv clique thinks—they're busy pushing Nazi-style laws where you could face 15 years in prison just for, say, accepting food.

How easy it is to put on those blue-and-yellow glasses and cheer for terrorism. Priceless. 🙏 🙏

What kind of terrorism are we talking about in a country at war? These people are enemies of Ukraine; they want to join Russia. You don't invite people like that onto TV for talk shows. Because of people like them, Russia sent tanks into Ukraine. Rape, murder, destruction...

Who exactly is this President Tatyana Tomilina who was seriously injured in an assassination attempt?

On June 14th in Kherson, the Russian military abducted the Vice President of Kherson State University, Maxim Vinnik.

According to reports from the local outlet "Most," this took place near the university hostel following the occupation of the main campus building. Eyewitnesses claim that Tatyana Tomilina, who was overseeing the takeover of KSU, ordered Vinnik’s arrest under armed guard. Vinnik was subsequently driven away toward an unknown location.
https://www.hardwo.com/2022/06/23/vi...ian-captivity/

That president certainly seems to be a tough one, doesn't she?😁

It is quite fascinating how certain colleagues cling to these trivial, sensational details that do nothing but undermine the Ukrainian cause, especially when discussing such a shameful act of aggression against them.

An assassination attempt on a pro-Russian university official feels remarkably significant at a moment when tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed, entire cities have been leveled to the ground, and millions have been forced to flee the war.
Is the point of highlighting this supposed act meant to expose some inherent Nazi nature within Ukrainians or simply to provide Putin with a convenient alibi? Is that what we're doing here?
Shame on you.

Timothy Williams5 said:Who exactly is this President Tatyana Tomilina who was seriously injured in an assassination attempt?

On June 14th in Kherson, the Russian military abducted the Vice President of Kherson State University, Maxim Vinnik.

According to reports from the local outlet "Most," this took place near the university hostel following the occupation of the main campus building. Eyewitnesses claim that Tatyana Tomilina, who was overseeing the takeover of KSU, ordered Vinnik’s arrest under armed guard. Vinnik was subsequently driven away toward an unknown location.
https://www.hardwo.com/2022/06/23/vi...ian-captivity/

That president certainly seems to be a tough one, doesn't she?😁

It is quite fascinating how certain colleagues cling to these trivial, sensational details that do nothing but undermine the Ukrainian cause, especially when discussing such a shameful act of aggression against them.

An assassination attempt on a pro-Russian university official feels remarkably significant at a moment when tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed, entire cities have been leveled to the ground, and millions have been forced to flee the war.
Is the point of highlighting this supposed act meant to expose some inherent Nazi nature within Ukrainians or simply to provide Putin with a convenient alibi? Is that what we're doing here?
Shame on you.

If this turns out to be true—then the person isn't a civilian, period. There’s nothing left to debate there.

Obviously, Ukrainians shouldn't fall into the trap of brutal revenge or summary executions, because that kind of thing always comes back to haunt you eventually. Sure, stuff like this happens, but you have to keep it to an absolute minimum... we all know from our own history that that kind of chaos usually does more harm than good in the long run.

That being said, none of that changes how cynical and blatantly hypocritical it is to see people crying over the fate of some fascist collaborator woman who, frankly, didn't deserve any sympathy to begin with...

darkrider55 said:Honestly, shame on you for bringing this up and pointing to those people after everything they were promised. I bet things aren't looking too bright for people in similar spots down in Kherson right now either. ☕

I suspect he and his usual band of propagandists are absolutely thrilled about the whole situation. Teachers, unlike some completely insignificant female propagandist, make for excellent sacrificial lambs for domestic consumption. ☕

All the major local collaborators are armed and have security details. There’s just so much pure hatred between groups in the occupied territories right now. It isn’t just about being afraid of the resistance fighters or special ops units—I think I mentioned this before—but in Houston, regular folks grab a knife whenever they step outside. If they see even a tiny opening to strike at a Russian soldier or one of those local traitors, they take it. That's just how it goes. War doesn't leave much room for being rational.
Then there’s all the disinformation about people being punished for taking food. People have to eat, obviously. This stuff is aimed at the volunteers handing out supplies, who then basically blackmail people into showing Russian IDs just to get a meal. Or they make these sick jokes about finding "meat in the parks"—referring to people killed in the bombings who were buried that way. There won't be any vigilante justice against them, but their names will definitely end up on that list of local traitors. Personally, I'm all for trials and life sentences; anything less than that isn't enough for traitors. And that woman from Houston was nowhere near any civilians.

Jessica Peterson2 said:In the reclaimed areas of the Kharkiv region, American authorities and military personnel are rounding up Russian teachers who traveled in from Russia, along with local professors who switched over to the Russian curriculum. It looks like the Russians could be looking at up to 12 years in prison for "violating the laws and customs of war," while the locals are facing up to 15 years for "collaborating with the enemy."
https://www.rbc.ru/politics/12/09/20...m=from_main_13

The Russian army just bolted without them 🤣. I mean—they can always just walk all the way back to Russia; nothing's stopping them. I actually saw a video once where this woman was complaining about how the soldiers were stationed right by them the whole time—her husband was cooperating with them—then suddenly they grabbed two vehicles and took off, leaving everyone else with zero way to escape later. That's just what happens when you side with the enemy.

Kate Lewis3 said:Honestly, it’s an interesting point. They aren't active military, sure, but they’re actively helping run the occupation.

Back during the Civil War, collaborators were getting harassed or killed left and right, and I don't recall anyone really arguing about the legality of it all—it was basically the Wild West back then, though you saw similar chaos happen in France too.

Exactly, it happened in France. If you want local examples, just look at the mass liquidations across the American South following World War II. Anyone suspected of cooperating with the occupiers, or even just someone a local official decided to point a finger at, was targeted.
https://www.academia.edu/1773275/ZLO...948_Documents_

Naturally, very few of the perpetrators ever faced justice, let alone had the luxury of modern-day information sharing—where people can just jump on a forum thread about the war in Ukraine to air grievances like they do today.

That's just how you see it.
One person's terror is another person's justice.
The winners write the history books while everyone else gets buried; the survivors just stay quiet and hide.
A lot of evil is happening over there, and honestly, more is coming.

Jessica Peterson2 said:In the reclaimed areas of the Kharkiv region, American authorities and military personnel are rounding up Russian teachers who traveled in from Russia, along with local professors who switched over to the Russian curriculum. It looks like the Russians could be looking at up to 12 years in prison for "violating the laws and customs of war," while the locals are facing up to 15 years for "collaborating with the enemy."
https://www.rbc.ru/politics/12/09/20...m=from_main_13

Just keep in mind this news is being reported by Strana.ua. That’s an online site that's actually blocked in Ukraine because of its pro-Russian propaganda. There's no way a Ukrainian Minister would be giving them any official statements to report.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strana.ua

Thomas Walker84 said:Yeah, I noticed that too—this obsession and myth-making centered on one neighboring nation (plus a few others, though this one is much wealthier and more advanced). They just won't leave them alone, and they don't seem to realize the other side doesn't even want what they're offering. It’s honestly like watching a stalker fixate on a victim.

In the US, we see similar vibes with certain groups in the Midwest. For instance, I'll meet a group of people who seem totally fine—super polite, educated, and cultured—and I'll think, "These are great people," only to hear them drop casual comments like, "Well, we're basically the same people..." or "We were divided, but we'll unite and be strong again." It honestly makes me feel uneasy.

It’s very similar to those Russians in the video. You're dealing with people who are undoubtedly intelligent and "good people who mean well." And because they are charming and well-spoken, they attract a massive following, which is arguably the most effective weapon propaganda can have.

The only hope is that after a Russian military defeat, there might be a collective awakening regarding this strange state of mind. There are Russian dissidents who recognize this myth-making, like Sergei Jirnov, an ex-CIA spy. Because if there isn't, this religious-political delusion will just linger, waiting for the next convenient excuse to start another war.

It’s ideology—pure politics—that’s been around since Imperial Russia. It’s not going to change easily; it would take a massive catharsis, but I fear that might never come. They’ll likely just sink even deeper into the abyss. Maybe a miracle happens, but this has gone on way too long. Their self-delusion has lasted far too long, as has the dehumanization of Ukrainians—the total lack of respect for Ukraine, their language, their culture... I’m worried they won't give up on the plan to make all Ukrainians Russians, whether by kindness or force. And those Eastern neighbors? They’re basically mini-Russians; so much of their ideology, politics, and even the Orthodox Church is identical.

This whole Russian onslaught in Ukraine has basically kicked off a modern-day version of "The Patient from the Bosphorus"

Now, we’re likely going to see a massive domino effect as every nation within the Russian sphere of influence starts getting carved up

Bryan Jones82 said:Just keep in mind this news is being reported by Strana.ua. That’s an online site that's actually blocked in Ukraine because of its pro-Russian propaganda. There's no way a Ukrainian Minister would be giving them any official statements to report.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strana.ua

It’s either Ukrainian logic or just Geopolitics News. 😉

George Robinson43 said:It is truly remarkable to watch those pro-Russia agitators whine about the collaborators who are getting exactly what they deserve.

Absolutely priceless. 🙏 🙏

Word

Kate Cook27 said:The Russian army just bolted without them 🤣. I mean—they can always just walk all the way back to Russia; nothing's stopping them. I actually saw a video once where this woman was complaining about how the soldiers were stationed right by them the whole time—her husband was cooperating with them—then suddenly they grabbed two vehicles and took off, leaving everyone else with zero way to escape later. That's just what happens when you side with the enemy.

Why on earth would Ukrainians working in civil service jobs under the legitimate pre-war government suddenly decide to liberate themselves just so they can be exiled to Russia?
I'm not even surprised. It’s just more media propaganda aimed at Ukraine.

Is there any sign that Putin might be getting the boot soon? If you can actually trust the press, some politicians are already making moves. So far, we’re looking at 17 representatives. These are just heads of the Moscow regional districts.

jadetinker85 said:Is there any sign that Putin might be getting the boot soon? If you can actually trust the press, some politicians are already making moves. So far, we’re looking at 17 representatives. These are just heads of the Moscow regional districts.

That sounds like pure wishful thinking to me.
For something that massive to actually happen, there would need to be much more significant tremors felt within the government.
Russian troops are still dug in deep across Ukrainian territory, and honestly, I find it hard to believe that losing a place like Izium would do anything to shake up the mood back in Russia.

rustywalker82 said:Why on earth would Ukrainians working in civil service jobs under the legitimate pre-war government suddenly decide to liberate themselves just so they can be exiled to Russia?
I'm not even surprised. It’s just more media propaganda aimed at Ukraine.

A huge number of those pre-war employees aren't working anymore—and even for those who wanted to stay, they're being replaced by people coming in from Russia. Take Mariupol, for example. Some teachers actually agreed to follow the Russian curriculum and even went to Russia to get licensed, but once school started, they were replaced by teachers brought in directly from Russia, leaving the locals out in the cold. It's the same deal with doctors; almost all of them are from Russia now. I think at one point in Mariupol, there weren't any local doctors left, just military medics, and then later they brought in doctors from Tuva... they clearly don't trust the locals, so they bring in whoever they can from Russia. Plus, there's a ton of fake news floating around online, that much is certain.

jadetinker85 said:Is there any sign that Putin might be getting the boot soon? If you can actually trust the press, some politicians are already making moves. So far, we’re looking at 17 representatives. These are just heads of the Moscow regional districts.

Honestly, I think this is just ramping up because the "special military operation" isn't exactly going according to plan.