Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

"Cleaning up the Russian trash on Snake Island"

analogbear5 said:Nihilism makes for pretty lousy international policy. Not everyone on this planet is a sociopath cheering for war and ethnic cleansing from the comfort of their couch.

Look, not everyone is, but honestly, a huge chunk of people act like they are because none of this actually hits them personally—it’s always happening to someone else. Some Americans don't give a damn about what's going on over there, but then gas prices hit record highs here in the States, and suddenly they're all shouting for a war against Russia because they think maybe things might just go back to how they used to be😉

redtinker39 said:If Ukraine had a nuclear bomb war situation, we probably wouldn't even be talking about this, though there'd be plenty of other reasons to worry since they'd have to maintain some sort of decent relationship with Russia, right? But then again, how could Ukraine even manage a nuclear program when they don't have any space to test anything? I mean, look at Russia—they've got all that vast territory in Siberia, Kamchatka, and Novaya Zemlya where there isn't a single living soul around for miles! Meanwhile, Americans, Englishmen, and Frenchmen always have their own colonies to work with, don't they?

Everything Ukraine used to hold was already "tested" a long time ago
Back when everyone was feeling all optimistic about nuclear disarmament in the 90s during the collapse of the USSR, the whole world basically cheered for the idea of sending all that hardware back to Russia just so most of it could be DESTROYED
You really should look at the sheer numbers from back when Ukraine handed those weapons over to the Russians—those figures were absolutely insane
And honestly, the Americans knew perfectly well that those weapons were only safe in the hands of the Russian FSB, mostly because they didn't view those former republics as being "serious" enough to handle them

Jeremy Peterson4 said:Yeah, respond with what exactly? 🤣

The truth is, they've got those targets in Ukraine right in their sights.

What exactly is Vladimir Putin's long-term strategy regarding the territory currently under Russian occupation? He maintains this entire campaign is being conducted solely to protect ethnic Russians living in those regions, yet that argument feels fundamentally hollow. Even if one were to accept his premise, how does one account for the reality on the ground? Ukrainians will undoubtedly continue to strike all occupied areas, just as they have done over the last eight years; however, now the theater of war has expanded so significantly that we are likely to see an even greater number of Russian civilian casualties in the coming years. How can any semblance of stability or functionality exist within an occupied zone when constant shelling remains an inevitable certainty?

Sophia Perez5 said:What exactly is Vladimir Putin's long-term strategy regarding the territory currently under Russian occupation? He maintains this entire campaign is being conducted solely to protect ethnic Russians living in those regions, yet that argument feels fundamentally hollow. Even if one were to accept his premise, how does one account for the reality on the ground? Ukrainians will undoubtedly continue to strike all occupied areas, just as they have done over the last eight years; however, now the theater of war has expanded so significantly that we are likely to see an even greater number of Russian civilian casualties in the coming years. How can any semblance of stability or functionality exist within an occupied zone when constant shelling remains an inevitable certainty?

If you're going to start counting blood cells... weren't Ukrainians dying during those eight years too? Or was it only Russians who were dying?

https://twitter.com/visegrad24/statu...99226772824070

Looks like the Russian propagandists are back at it again, daydreaming about some "three-day operation" where they just swoop in and seize the entire 37 miles length of the Suwalki Gap. 🤦

hollowdriver13 said:https://twitter.com/visegrad24/statu...99226772824070

Looks like the Russian propagandists are back at it again, daydreaming about some "three-day operation" where they just swoop in and seize the entire 37 miles length of the Suwalki Gap. 🤦

🤣
The truth? They don't have the manpower, they don't have the hardware, and they certainly don't have the guts.
If they actually tried anything, they wouldn't even get off the starting line before being absolutely incinerated.

Sophia Perez5 said:What exactly is Vladimir Putin's long-term strategy regarding the territory currently under Russian occupation? He maintains this entire campaign is being conducted solely to protect ethnic Russians living in those regions, yet that argument feels fundamentally hollow. Even if one were to accept his premise, how does one account for the reality on the ground? Ukrainians will undoubtedly continue to strike all occupied areas, just as they have done over the last eight years; however, now the theater of war has expanded so significantly that we are likely to see an even greater number of Russian civilian casualties in the coming years. How can any semblance of stability or functionality exist within an occupied zone when constant shelling remains an inevitable certainty?

Where is the data suggesting Ukrainians were shelling Russians for eight years?
From what I’ve gathered, civilian deaths were actually lower leading up to 2022. I believe it was around 20 in 2021. It would be incredibly foolish for the Ukrainians to act that way.

Did they seriously just chicken out from Lisicianska?

darkdriver said:Did they seriously just chicken out from Lisicianska?

Perhaps the Ukrainians retreated as a gesture of goodwill? Much like those brave souls who target shopping malls?

We could be looking at some serious high-stakes political maneuvering here:

A RESPECTED AMERICAN ANALYST
“Is the West actually prepared to foot the bill for defeating Vladimir Putin? There’s a tragic sort of irony at play here...”

quietmason4 said:Perhaps the Ukrainians retreated as a gesture of goodwill? Much like those brave souls who target shopping malls?

You talking about Kremenchuk?
I don't buy for a second that they hit that by accident.
Look at a map—Kremenchuk is way too far from the front lines.
They either had intel on something specific there, or they completely missed their mark.

Ivan Fedotov, the 25-year-old goaltender playing for CSKA and the national team, was detained in Saint Petersburg this past Friday on suspicion of dodging his military service requirements; he was eventually moved from the bankruptcy commission's offices via an ambulance.

According to reports from the online outlet Fontanka, paramedics transported him away from the scene. It’s worth noting that Fedotov had just recently inked a deal with an American club.
The TV Match correspondent, Anna Andronov, who was right there when the player was taken into custody, noted that about ten individuals in unmarked clothing were waiting for him near the Ice Palace in Saint Petersburg. Two of them were wearing masks, while the others were in plain clothes, though the reporter didn't offer any specific details regarding the official reason for the detention.

https://www.agents.media/ivan-fedotov/

Olaf Scholz told CBS that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has completely shattered any illusions about global progress or the idea that borders wouldn't be forcibly redrawn through territorial grabs and aggression against neighbors.
He noted that Vladimir Putin essentially embodies those old-school leaders who believe a nation's true strength is measured by conquest.
The Chancellor also admitted that this invasion forced Germany to undergo a massive pivot in its long-standing foreign and defense policies.
He conceded that Germany made a huge mistake by not preparing to rapidly diversify its energy sources away from their primary suppliers. He called it a major oversight, adding that all of Europe has learned a hard lesson and won't let it happen again; the goal now is to ensure they can switch to a different distributor at a moment's notice.
He believes we’re heading toward a multipolar world with several power centers, and that the war in Ukraine will only end whenever Vladimir Putin decides it's over.

Anyway, he speaks well enough.

Timothy Williams5 said:Ivan Fedotov, the 25-year-old goaltender playing for CSKA and the national team, was detained in Saint Petersburg this past Friday on suspicion of dodging his military service requirements; he was eventually moved from the bankruptcy commission's offices via an ambulance.

According to reports from the online outlet Fontanka, paramedics transported him away from the scene. It’s worth noting that Fedotov had just recently inked a deal with an American club.
The TV Match correspondent, Anna Andronov, who was right there when the player was taken into custody, noted that about ten individuals in unmarked clothing were waiting for him near the Ice Palace in Saint Petersburg. Two of them were wearing masks, while the others were in plain clothes, though the reporter didn't offer any specific details regarding the official reason for the detention.

https://www.agents.media/ivan-fedotov/

I wonder what the grounds for this bankruptcy filing actually were... Did he make any statements against Putko?

rowdytiger13 said:Olaf Scholz told CBS that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has completely shattered any illusions about global progress or the idea that borders wouldn't be forcibly redrawn through territorial grabs and aggression against neighbors.
He noted that Vladimir Putin essentially embodies those old-school leaders who believe a nation's true strength is measured by conquest.
The Chancellor also admitted that this invasion forced Germany to undergo a massive pivot in its long-standing foreign and defense policies.
He conceded that Germany made a huge mistake by not preparing to rapidly diversify its energy sources away from their primary suppliers. He called it a major oversight, adding that all of Europe has learned a hard lesson and won't let it happen again; the goal now is to ensure they can switch to a different distributor at a moment's notice.
He believes we’re heading toward a multipolar world with several power centers, and that the war in Ukraine will only end whenever Vladimir Putin decides it's over.

Anyway, he speaks well enough.

The issue is he’s mostly just talking, and honestly? He keeps playing right into Putin's hands.

Christian Torres3 said:The issue is he’s mostly just talking, and honestly? He keeps playing right into Putin's hands.

It’s because Germany made a massive blunder by failing to secure any alternative to Russian gas. He actually admits that much. They were incredibly naive to think an invasion in Europe was a thing of the past.

rowdytiger13 said:Olaf Scholz told CBS that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has completely shattered any illusions about global progress or the idea that borders wouldn't be forcibly redrawn through territorial grabs and aggression against neighbors.
He noted that Vladimir Putin essentially embodies those old-school leaders who believe a nation's true strength is measured by conquest.
The Chancellor also admitted that this invasion forced Germany to undergo a massive pivot in its long-standing foreign and defense policies.
He conceded that Germany made a huge mistake by not preparing to rapidly diversify its energy sources away from their primary suppliers. He called it a major oversight, adding that all of Europe has learned a hard lesson and won't let it happen again; the goal now is to ensure they can switch to a different distributor at a moment's notice.
He believes we’re heading toward a multipolar world with several power centers, and that the war in Ukraine will only end whenever Vladimir Putin decides it's over.

Anyway, he speaks well enough.

If there was actually any truth to what Scholz is saying, he’d be discredited for running a chicken coop, let alone Germany....

The reality is Germany lost. Again. Whether they go in with an imperial, nationalist, or liberal setup, they end up losing—and Russia will get a partial win because they're being cut off from German tech for the third time now....

Only this time, I’m not so sure the Anglo-Saxons are going to come out on top. China looks like a much more serious contender for the throne, especially since the West basically handed them Russia on a silver platter along with all that energy and military might. The total degeneration of Western think tanks is obvious, and there's going to be a price to pay for that (and we'll likely be paying part of it)....

And Ukraine? God help them, because nobody else is stepping up when things get desperate, and they're right in the line of fire....☕

rowdytiger13 said:It’s because Germany made a massive blunder by failing to secure any alternative to Russian gas. He actually admits that much. They were incredibly naive to think an invasion in Europe was a thing of the past.

Russia occupied Crimea back in 2014.

Germany pulled the plug on Nordstrea 2 THIS YEAR...

That isn't being naive, man, it's being shady...

The Schwabo crowd would literally whip America over election laws in Canada, all while cutting deals with the Russians just to line their own pockets...