Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-24

[existentialist]

Bizarre video here, that i cant find any other version of. Apparently Putin speaking to business leaders (?) yesterday.

He seems apologetic, kind of frightened.

Not at all the same as in previous recent televised addresses.

View attachment 311899

 

[Smokeandsteam]

That's not going to happen quickly (if at all) though, and I suspect if it does it opens a whole new can of worms about the fragmentation of Russia and all the instability that would likely bring. Not many good outcomes for what's going on now that I can see, does feel like things are going to shit most likely, or at least a new era of increased tension in Europe.

Don’t disagree with what you’ve said, but all those processes were moving subterraneanly anyway.

 

[bimble]

The fact that his apologetic squirming speech (trying to explain that he had no choice but to invade) was televised does suggest he's worried that people, not just those powerful men he's shown addressing, are not behind him.

 

[TopCat]

would that be a bad thing for you TopCat?

It would show a complete lack of Brain, if you were Ukrainian then maybe but otherwise no.

 

[frogwoman]

Not all of these are going to be from Russia but 635,000 people have signed an anti war petition Sign the Petition

 

[existentialist]

Well, at least it shows that there are a lot of people in Kyiv who aren't exactly strangers to using Molotov cocktails against armoured vehicles.

People learn fast when they have to...

 

[bimble]

It would show a complete lack of Brain, if you were Ukrainian then maybe but otherwise no.

Glad you've explained this because i'm very concerned with your opinion of my Brain.

 

[Spymaster]

Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kiev and former heavyweight boxing champion, warns of a difficult night ahead. I think I heard on the radio that he is going to fight.

When I first heard Vitaly Klitschko was the mayor of Kiev I thought there must be another one, but no. It is THE Vitaly Klitschko.

I’m hoping we can convince Frank Bruno to stand against Sadiq Khan.

 

[kabbes]

When I first heard Vitaly Klitscho was the mayor of Kiev I thought there must be another one, but no. It is THE Vitaly Klitscho.

I’m hoping we can convince Frank Bruno to stand against Sadiq Khan.

Who looks at Vitaly Klitscho and thinks, “yeah, I think I’ll invade his gaff”?

 

[brogdale]

That's not going to happen quickly (if at all) though, and I suspect if it does it opens a whole new can of worms about the fragmentation of Russia and all the instability that would likely bring. Not many good outcomes for what's going on now that I can see, does feel like things are going to shit most likely, or at least a new era of increased tension in Europe.

Agreed, and it's important not to overlook the depth and degree to which Putin is still capable of directing public opinion through his media.

 

[TopCat]

Glad you've explained this because i'm very concerned with your opinion of my Brain.

did you donate money to the Ukrainian army then?

 

[two sheds]

Bollocks.

Did at first sight look like you were replying to kebabking's post there.

The vid must also make drivers of those things very nervous about invading.

 

[TopCat]

Are any Urbs planning to go and pick up an AK?

 

[cupid_stunt]

They get a former professional comedian as president, a former professional boxer as mayor of Kyiv, and all we get as PM is a bloody useless clown.

 

[Supine]

Are any Urbs planning to go and pick up an AK?

Are you?

 

[frogwoman]

Tucker Carlson leads rightwing charge to blame everyone but Putin

The Fox News host has defended the Russian leader’s invasion of Ukraine, saying ‘Has Putin ever called me a racist?’

www.theguardian.com

“Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him? Has he shipped every middle-class job in my town to Russia?” Carlson said as he then recited a right-wing tip sheet of pet causes.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Are any Urbs planning to go and pick up an AK?

For which side?

 

[Smangus]

Are any Urbs planning to go and pick up an AK?

Absolutely , when England play Wales later, several in fact.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Are any Urbs planning to go and pick up an AK?

Had some muppet on my Facebook saying it was a good idea. Older then me and no military training. Would be more a liability then anything else.

 

[Yossarian]

Tucker Carlson leads rightwing charge to blame everyone but Putin

The Fox News host has defended the Russian leader’s invasion of Ukraine, saying ‘Has Putin ever called me a racist?’

www.theguardian.com

"Vladimir Putin never called me a far-right piece of shit who deserves to die in a fire!"

It's like an incredibly shit version of Muhammad Ali's famous Viet Cong remark.

 

[og ogilby]

Had some muppet on my Facebook saying it was a good idea. Older then me and no military training. Would be more a liability then anything else.

 

[Aladdin]

Russian ambassador to Ireland just got ripped to shreds in an interview on RTE news

The same ambassador who said this on Feb 16th.

"We do not have any plans to invade anybody, least of all Ukraine," Mr Filatov said.

"We do not have any political, economic, military or [any] other reason to do that. The whole idea is insane. If you knew something about the Russian and Ukrainian people you would never ask such a question."

Here's the news clip.

 

[gosub]

Tucker Carlson leads rightwing charge to blame everyone but Putin

The Fox News host has defended the Russian leader’s invasion of Ukraine, saying ‘Has Putin ever called me a racist?’

www.theguardian.com

Jimmy Kimmel pondered what dirt Putin had on Carlson

 

[philosophical]

Zelensky has balls of titanium.

 

[dilute micro]

This is interesting: Lev Gumilev: passion, Putin and power

Excellent read. Putin won't be broken from this. He'll have to be defeated abroad and ruined at home. I hate to imagine that there's so much riding on Ukraine and their soldiers in the field.

 

[rekil]

Where's casually red gone?

You don't want to know. And still shouting about the gays believe it or not.

 

[JimW]

Absolutely , when England play Wales later, several in fact.


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Missed a trick there not brewing it 4.7 ABV

 

[Pickman's model]

This is interesting: Lev Gumilev: passion, Putin and power

Yeh it's interesting I mentioned Charles clover's book black winds white snow (of the same vintage as the article) much earlier in the thread but you clearly missed it. The book talks a lot about dugin too

 

[Doctor Carrot]

You don't want to know. And still shouting about the gays believe it or not.

I wondered where he'd gone too. Probably creaming his y fronts over this.

 

[Kaka Tim]

Although the Russians have a much larger Army - the Ukrainians have modern equipment and they will have prepared for exactly this scenario for years - no doubt with plenty of info and advice from NATO. NATO will also be providing top level intelligence on russian troop movements etc. Also the Ukrainians have are very highly motivated - their country is facing an existential threat - and know that the longer they hold out the worse it gets for Putin - they have a massive incentive to fight like fuck and they are being loudly cheered on by pretty much the entire world.
The Russians troops may well not be highly motivated and have not faced such a determined and well armed opponent in living memory. Putin aside - how much stomach have the Russian military got for a prolonged, hugely costly fight. Sure - if they keep going they will conquer the country - but then they will be facing a prolonged, very well supported - and ultimately unwinnable insurgency.
It may be that the original plan was to sweep in quickly , knock out the Urkanian state and then negotiate a ceasefire on their terms - looks like they might not happen any time soon. This means they will probably start bombing and the shelling the fuck out of Kiev and other cities and the conflict will drag on- with the wolrd screaming for it to halt. Popular opinion does matter - russians have the internet, they have friends and relatives all over the world - not least in Ukraine. Putin's Russia is not North Korea - he does not have the totalitarian power of a Stalin. Are other senior regime members and military really prepared for Russia to become a Pariah state for the sake of Putins vanity/hubris/insantiy?