Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-24

[CyberRose]

At least the middle class from Moscow and St Petersburg, the oligarchs' mates, and the state propagandists are being spared...

 

[The39thStep]

It's kind of like how Trump complains that the media is slandering him when it writes down the words he said.

Berlusconi apparently believes his kindly friend Vlad was bamboozled by the wily Russian media.

"Putin was pushed by the Russian population, by his party and by his ministers to invent this special operation," he said.
"The troops were supposed to enter, reach Kyiv in a week, replace the Zelensky government with decent people and a week later come back," Mr Berlusconi added. "Instead they found an unexpected resistance, which was then fed by arms of all kinds from the West."

Perhaps he's after an invite to run Russian media?

 

[Dystopiary]

Resistance in Mykolaiv:

"We, the people of [Russia-occupied] Snihurivka [Mykolaiv region], have gathered to protest against the illegal referendum. Snihurivka has always been Ukraine. We've never wanted to join Russia and we won't."

Myroslava Petsa

 

[The39thStep]

Resistance in Mykolaiv:

"We, the people of [Russia-occupied] Snihurivka [Mykolaiv region], have gathered to protest against the illegal referendum. Snihurivka has always been Ukraine. We've never wanted to join Russia and we won't."

Myroslava Petsa

I saw a translation in which they urged people 'not to come to the referendum' rather than vote against it.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

I'm also not convinced about the Russia is down to a couple of muskets and anyone who can see straight narrative tbh , reminds me too much of the chorus about Putin's health.

The only private recording of Hitler‘s voice shows his surprise at the huge stash of tanks Stalin rolled out.



I’d be shocked if Putin doesn’t have a couple of million AK’s and untold other hardware for an old school land war.

 

[Dystopiary]

I saw a translation in which they urged people 'not to come to the referendum' rather than vote against it.

Who's "they"? (Not being snarky, genuine question. Hard to put that across online sometimes.)

 

[Tanya1982]

I'd be worried about handing myself in tbh. Ukrainian soldiers aren't committing war crimes on any sort of systematic scale but I can't imagine the treatment Russian POWs are getting is exactly a vicar's tea party atm. Still a lot will feel like they have to risk it

No, I'm sure. But I wouldn't want to return to Russia anymore than I'd want to move to North Korea.

 

[The39thStep]

Who's "they"? (Not being snarky, genuine question. Hard to put that across online sometimes.)

Didn't think you were being snarky. The residents of Snihurivka or at least those supporting this statement

 

[Tanya1982]

The trouble with that is that if Ukraine loses, the prison gets 'liberated', or there's a prisoner exchange, you'd likely face a firing squad.

Yes, there is that. I just feel desperately sorry for everyone whose lives have been so pointlessly wasted on this entire misadventure.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Unfortunately not taking part in the rigged referendum just means vlad can say “see we did get 99%” of the vote

 

[Dystopiary]

Didn't think you were being snarky. The residents of Snihurivka or at least those supporting this statement

Thanks. Brave people.

 

[Tanya1982]

Unfortunately not taking part in the rigged referendum just means vlad can say “see we did get 99%” of the vote

But he would anyway. At least this way round gives Ukraine the quite reasonable option of saying every no show was a no thank you.

 

[Dystopiary]

Unfortunately not taking part in the rigged referendum just means vlad can say “see we did get 99%” of the vote

I dunno, as it's going to be rigged anyway, it might be better if it looks very obviously so.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Either way it’s grim, he’s certainly taken advantage of no shows before to claim a mandate and the law of “possession is what you can bully” has protected him and given the legal fig leaf it’s all above board. But as you say he can and will just lie even if everyone rocks up in Ukrainian flags and makes it clear they said no

 

[Tanya1982]

No, I'm sure. But I wouldn't want to return to Russia anymore than I'd want to move to North Korea.

Just to clarify, I was speaking not as myself but from the point of view that if I was a conscripted Russian piece of cannon fodder, I wouldn't want to return. Not being Russian, I personally couldn't 'return' there even if I wanted to.

 

[The39thStep]

Just to clarify, I was speaking not as myself but from the point of view that if I was a conscripted Russian piece of cannon fodder, I wouldn't want to return. Not being Russian, I personally couldn't 'return' there even if I wanted to.

Say in this role play that you had family , children and community in Russia That you have average qualifications , don’t speak another language etc ?

 

[SpookyFrank]

I’d be shocked if Putin doesn’t have a couple of million AK’s and untold other hardware for an old school land war.

I doubt anyone in Russia knows how much stuff they actually have available, what with all the pilfering and embezzlement that seem to form the backbone of the modern Russian economy.

 

[xenon]

But he would anyway. At least this way round gives Ukraine the quite reasonable option of saying every no show was a no thank you.

Heh. That doesn't even work in the democratic west. (Add your own punchline.)


I assume the Russian authorities wil just straight up lie saying it was a 96.3% vote in favour. Even if no one turns up at an actual polling station. Oh voting was available it was online / at community hubs / knocks on the door, due to the damage and threat from the Banderites etc.

 

[Crispy]

I’d be shocked if Putin doesn’t have a couple of million AK’s and untold other hardware for an old school land war.

Even if he does, he still has to get all that stuff into the battle, in the hands of people who know how to use it, who all need feeding and watering. With NATO air/space intelligence, every supply train and depot is known, and HIMARS can reach them. Russia has been losing the war by logistics and will continue to do so.

 

[frogwoman]

After February 24th a lot of people who were against Putin and the war didn't leave because of family and work commitments, lack of funds etc. Now it looks like it might be too late for some of them

 

[Dystopiary]

This Ukrainian guy says his family in Ukraine were forced to vote at gunpoint.
Maksym Eristavi

it seems bizarre for russians cosplaying a “referendum” at gunpoint. but then i remember they did it in 2014 crimea (forcing my aunts to vote, too) and many abroad ate that shit up no questions asked.

 

[Raheem]

This Ukrainian guy says his family in Ukraine were forced to vote at gunpoint.
Maksym Eristavi

Returning officer:

"Given that 'Go fuck yourselves' was not one of the options in the referendum, I hereby declare..."

 

[Nine Bob Note]

The spiv nonce camicia nera Berlusconi backs barbarian Putin regime

I know I've said this before, but it's uncanny

 

[existentialist]

Yes, there is that. I just feel desperately sorry for everyone whose lives have been so pointlessly wasted on this entire misadventure.

That is a thought I also find myself returning to very frequently. It is good to see the victim of Russia's unprovoked aggression fighting back, but the sheer waste of lives, just so Putin can pursue his despotic agenda, is depressing.

 

[Pickman's model]

The only private recording of Hitler‘s voice shows his surprise at the huge stash of tanks Stalin rolled out.



I’d be shocked if Putin doesn’t have a couple of million AK’s and untold other hardware for an old school land war.

If he has these aks it makes it all the more confusing that the russians have handed out auld bolt operated rifles to lots of their cannon fodder

 

[Pickman's model]

I dunno, as it's going to be rigged anyway, it might be better if it looks very obviously so.

The UK does rigged referendums so much better. If putin has one ounce of humour he should call it as 52/48

 

[Ĝasper]

Right, so loads of conscripts are being sent to the frontlines on the Russian side. They are going to have desertion and mutiny problems, aren't they... I remember seeing viral footage of mutinies back in March. More Russians in the Ukrainian International legion.

 

[Crispy]

Yeah that's the barrel being scraped alright
I'd rather have a sharp knife than one of these "guns"

 

[frogwoman]

Not read this later but looks good. I'm very uneasy about the EU response to this

 

[frogwoman]

Europe Must Handle Awkwardness - Holod Magazine

Independent activist Almut Rochowanski about the idea of a visa ban for Russians

holod.media