Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

Following a request from certain Ukrainian representatives, the President of the ruling party in the Parliament of Georgia hasn't ruled out putting the idea of opening a "Second Front" against Russia—a clear nod to the Western front during World War II—to a national referendum.
Based on what high-ranking Georgian officials are saying, even though Russia currently occupies about 20% of Georgian territory, the ruling coalition seems incredibly hesitant to jump into an armed conflict with Russia. Their reasoning? Apparently, "nearly the entire population of Georgia is tied into trade processes with Russia, one way or another."
https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/ne...ili-referendum
Just a quick reminder for everyone here: Russian media outlets are only permitted to broadcast the official stance of Putin's regime.

Last year, gas imports from Russia sat at 40%, but this year they’ve plummeted to just 9%. It looks like Russia is losing ground on every single front.

You probably won't believe this, but when I accidentally flicked on Russian TV yesterday, I stumbled upon a program where they were playing some song Patriotic war (!) over footage of artillery barrages, rocket strikes, tank columns, infantry rushes, and airstrikes hitting Ukrainian territory. It turns out it's the "unofficial Soviet anthem" from the era of the Patriotic war (World War II)

Patriotic war

Arise, oh massive land,
arise to the fight to the death
against the dark fascist army,
against the accursed horde.

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

We will resist the attackers
of all kinds of fiery ideas,
the aggressors, the kidnappers,
the tormentors of mankind!

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

The black wings must not
fly over the motherland,
nor should the enemy be allowed
to trample her vast fields!

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

To the corrupt fascist scum
we shall put a bullet in the head;
for the enemy of humanity,
we will dig a deep grave!

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

(I grabbed the translation online)

f***ing Putin's lunatics want to convince the world that against Ukraine—who are supposedly the "aggressors, kidnappers, tormentors, and enemies of humanity"—they are actually fighting a "people's war, a patriotic war."🤦

They aren't even better than what you see on American TV

Jessica Peterson2 said:You probably won't believe this, but when I accidentally flicked on Russian TV yesterday, I stumbled upon a program where they were playing some song Patriotic war (!) over footage of artillery barrages, rocket strikes, tank columns, infantry rushes, and airstrikes hitting Ukrainian territory. It turns out it's the "unofficial Soviet anthem" from the era of the Patriotic war (World War II)

Patriotic war

Arise, oh massive land,
arise to the fight to the death
against the dark fascist army,
against the accursed horde.

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

We will resist the attackers
of all kinds of fiery ideas,
the aggressors, the kidnappers,
the tormentors of mankind!

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

The black wings must not
fly over the motherland,
nor should the enemy be allowed
to trample her vast fields!

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

To the corrupt fascist scum
we shall put a bullet in the head;
for the enemy of humanity,
we will dig a deep grave!

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

(I grabbed the translation online)

f***ing Putin's lunatics want to convince the world that against Ukraine—who are supposedly the "aggressors, kidnappers, tormentors, and enemies of humanity"—they are actually fighting a "people's war, a patriotic war."🤦

It’s been like this since the very beginning.

Susan Collins3 said:The footage coming out after the Russian military and their buddies cleared out of Izium is just straight-up apocalyptic. This used to be a city of maybe 50,000 people, but after being under occupation for almost half a year, it’s pretty obvious that neither the Russian collaborators nor the Russians themselves had any intention of actually helping anyone. They didn't lift a finger to make life easier for the locals; everything just stayed as wrecked as it was when they first seized the place. There's this video showing what happened to a local school, and man, seeing the state of it... it’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that we’re living in 2022. Schools completely trashed by human hands, yet they brought in these "teachers" meant to brainwash Ukrainian kids into believing their own fathers and grandfathers were Nazis. I mean, seriously, educators working with children are supposed to have some kind of moral compass, right? I just can't wrap my brain around how any Russian educator could sign up for such monstrous work. You've got ruined buildings, zero electricity, no water, no sewage—just total devastation in people's homes—but instead, they send in these "educators" to tell Ukrainian kids that their language doesn't exist, that their people don't exist, and that their families need "denazification." And honestly, some people are even backing this behavior over here. I guess this is just the new Russian "peace" they're bringing. It feels like a familiar modus operandi from somewhere.

https://twitter.com/dw_russian/statu...u5e7Oli3owLN9w

😢. And they claim they're making precision strikes on military targets. Apparently, every single target qualifies. They're in a tight spot now. I remember seeing a guest on Russian TV once who basically said: Ukrainian children won't have fathers because they'll be killed, they won't have homes because they'll be leveled, and they won't have a country because it will be destroyed. Nobody even blinked at a statement like that. I guess it's hard to react when you act like Ukrainians don't even exist. Anything is better than that kind of "brotherhood."

The DLNR is at war with Ukraine—Russia doesn't have anything to do with this:

http://www.twitter.com/F24Debate/sta...C4qZi9zscrAAAA

Kate Cook27 said:It’s been like this since the very beginning.

Sure, but then again... Rise up. It’s an immense country.Rise up. A fight to the death. That’s news to me. I haven't heard a word about this until now.
Does this look like preparations for mobilization to anyone else? I can't help but feel like we're watching the groundwork being laid for something much larger. 🙄

Jessica Peterson2 said:You probably won't believe this, but when I accidentally flicked on Russian TV yesterday, I stumbled upon a program where they were playing some song Patriotic war (!) over footage of artillery barrages, rocket strikes, tank columns, infantry rushes, and airstrikes hitting Ukrainian territory. It turns out it's the "unofficial Soviet anthem" from the era of the Patriotic war (World War II)

Patriotic war

Arise, oh massive land,
arise to the fight to the death
against the dark fascist army,
against the accursed horde.

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

We will resist the attackers
of all kinds of fiery ideas,
the aggressors, the kidnappers,
the tormentors of mankind!

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

The black wings must not
fly over the motherland,
nor should the enemy be allowed
to trample her vast fields!

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

To the corrupt fascist scum
we shall put a bullet in the head;
for the enemy of humanity,
we will dig a deep grave!

Let noble fury
surge like a wave!
A people's war is being waged,
a patriotic war!

(I grabbed the translation online)

f***ing Putin's lunatics want to convince the world that against Ukraine—who are supposedly the "aggressors, kidnappers, tormentors, and enemies of humanity"—they are actually fighting a "people's war, a patriotic war."🤦

It doesn't necessarily have to be a new invention. It’s one of those staples from the Red Army choir repertoire that was being played on their tours back in the nineties, and likely even earlier than that. It hasn't just been pulled out of some dusty closet after sitting untouched for seventy years, and you don't even have to assume the lyrics are explicitly tied to any specific extremist ideologies.
At the time, it just sounded like standard morale-boosting for people who didn't have anything more intelligent to occupy themselves with.

Russia has been pushing for negotiations with Ukraine right in the middle of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
The Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Olga Stefanishyna, told France 24 that Russian officials have reached out over the last few days seeking talks—a move she views as a calculated attempt to stall Ukraine's rapid momentum on the battlefield. According to Stefanishyna, the US and its allies should expect nothing from the negotiating table until Ukraine has fully met its military objectives.
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows...int-of-the-war

Timothy Williams5 said:Russia has been pushing for negotiations with Ukraine right in the middle of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
The Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Olga Stefanishyna, told France 24 that Russian officials have reached out over the last few days seeking talks—a move she views as a calculated attempt to stall Ukraine's rapid momentum on the battlefield. According to Stefanishyna, the US and its allies should expect nothing from the negotiating table until Ukraine has fully met its military objectives.
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows...int-of-the-war

It feels like just a few days ago, some of those big-shot Russian hawks were claiming there was absolutely zero chance of any negotiations happening anytime soon.
So, which version of the story are we actually supposed to believe now?

US officials claim Russia has funneled over $300 million into foreign election interference since 2014.

“During their review, the IC found that Russia covertly transferred more than $300 million—with plans to secretly funnel at least another hundred million—to foreign political parties, officials, and politicians across more than twenty different countries spanning four continents during this timeframe,” an official told reporters, noting that “Russia likely moved additional funds in cases that simply went undetected.”
...
"The US Intelligence Community is privately briefing select nations regarding Russian clandestine funding specifically targeting their individual political landscapes. We are keeping these briefings confidential due to the sensitive nature of the intelligence and to allow those countries the agency to bolster their own electoral integrity behind closed doors," the official added.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/13/p...nce/index.html

steelheron25 said:It feels like just a few days ago, some of those big-shot Russian hawks were claiming there was absolutely zero chance of any negotiations happening anytime soon.
So, which version of the story are we actually supposed to believe now?

The truth? Honestly, the Ukrainians just kicked their teeth in, so now the Russians are trying to spin it like they’re the ones calling the shots. It's just classic behavior from them, really.

It’s honestly such an epic blunder—and seeing how much equipment and manpower Ukraine is losing really points to the fact that Russia just can't spare enough troops to help out Armenia, even though Armenia actually triggered Article 5 through their NATO alliance

Plus, you have to consider that their own allies aren't exactly itching to send troops into Armenia either

At this rate, in just a few years, Russia is going to find itself boxed back within the borders of the Moscow Oblast

According to Bloomberg, Russian energy revenues plummeted to $11.1 billion in August, marking their lowest point since June 2021. This decline is largely due to Western sanctions and the refusal of European clients to purchase Russian crude, which has effectively forced Russia to offload its oil at significant discounts on Asian markets.

Russian oil and gas revenues, which account for more than a third of the national budget, fell to 671.9 billion rubles ($11.1 billion) last month—the lowest level seen since June 2021, according to data released by the Department of the Treasury on Monday. This represents a nearly 13% drop compared to September. It is also a 3.4% decrease from the previous year, despite the fact that Urals crude prices actually climbed by almost 10%.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...uverify%20wall

...considering how he (Zoran Milanović) was so adamant back in June about how Russia is unbeatable, and how the Russian boot will remain forever planted on the ground it tramples, you just have to laugh at the sight of those same Russian boots frantically kicking up dust as they retreat eastward. It’s like that old saying goes: "run for your lives before your backside gives out."

The democratic world finally figured out how to push back, remembering the one thing Zoran Milanović seemed to forget: when you face Russian tyranny, unity is the only way forward, and victory is an absolute certainty if we stand together. With modern weaponry and top-tier intelligence, the Ukrainians are going to stop this orc horde once and for all. And frankly, that victory is worth whatever it costs. I would deal with shortages, inflation, and freezing radiators any day over living under the thumb of someone who murders political rivals with radioactive polonium.
- ANTE TOMIĆ

Russian forces have dealt significant damage to 252 cultural institutions across the Donetsk Oblast.

According to the local regional government in Donetsk, the Russian military has also leveled 64 cultural sites entirely. The sheer scale of the destruction is extensive, encompassing 115 community centers, 108 libraries, 56 religious buildings, 22 art schools, 13 museums, an additional art academy, and a theater.

https://dn.gov.ua/news/za-chas-povno...252-poshkodili

The Russian-led military alliance is convening to address the renewed clashes erupting along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)—that coalition comprising Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Tajikistan—held an emergency video conference on September 14 following the flare-up of hostilities on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on the 9th and 13th. During the proceedings, Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would take "additional steps" toward "de-escalating the situation," though he remained predictably vague about what those measures might actually entail. This follows a conversation on September 13 between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Putin, during which Pashinyan reportedly requested military assistance from the CSTO.

https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2022/09/14/7367358/

Ursula von der Leyen: "I want the people of the Western North America, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia to understand one thing: you are part of our family. Your future lies within our Union, and our Union simply isn't complete without you." #SOTEU https://twitter.com/RikardJozwiak/st...56488394805249

Ursula von der Leyen: "We're going to bring Ukraine into our free roaming zone." #SOTEU
https://twitter.com/rikardjozwiak/st...48500473057280

The arrival of the liberators (video)
https://twitter.com/olex_scherba/sta...wB42kuv_YjAYHQ