Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-25

[dilute micro]

the russians have no food or fuel, none of their equipment is any good due to "corruption", their leader is mad and isolated and about to be murdered by one of his own and the troops are of very bad quality, demoralised and running away.
so, how come they keep managing to encircle cities and take vital infrastructure like power plants?

Their size and the type of opposition they're met with.

 

[bimble]

So you said, but in that case I genuinely wonder why you did post it.

We have all read stuff about people volunteering like this, so we know it's happening, but why post that link without any proper comment?

Even if you don't mean it to, it is contributing to the idea that this is something that should be encouraged.

i see, maybe that explains this.

I posted it in the same way as people post other bits of relevant news, because it was created today, the website, and seems a pretty interesting part of what is going on, not because i think people should sign up.

 

[cupid_stunt]

the russians have no food or fuel, none of their equipment is any good due to "corruption", their leader is mad and isolated and about to be murdered by one of his own and the troops are of very bad quality, demoralised and running away.
so, how come they keep managing to encircle cities and take vital infrastructure like power plants?

Their main successes seem mostly in the south, smaller cities, probably far fewer Ukrainian forces, and without the problems of the 'mud season', very different in the north, where their main problems are reported on.

 

[FabricLiveBaby!]

Russian presidential aircraft is flying to Washington....

 

[discokermit]

i see, maybe that explains this.
View attachment 312903
I posted it in the same way as people post other bits of relevant news, because it was created today, the website, and seems a pretty interesting part of what is going on, not because i think people should sign up.

its ok, the only people here who are willing to sign up all seem to have ailments that prevent them.
i would go myself but my astigmatism prevents me.

 

[discokermit]

Their main successes seem mostly in the south, smaller cities, probably far fewer Ukrainian forces, and without the problems of the 'mud season', very different in the north, where their main problems are reported on.

maybe the south is their main target.

 

[a_chap]

Russian presidential aircraft is flying to Washington....View attachment 312904

A modern day Rudolf Hess?

 

[two sheds]

its ok, the only people here who are willing to sign up all seem to have ailments that prevent them.
i would go myself but my astigmatism prevents me.

my feet hurt

 

[platinumsage]

the russians have no food or fuel, none of their equipment is any good due to "corruption", their leader is mad and isolated and about to be murdered by one of his own and the troops are of very bad quality, demoralised and running away.
so, how come they keep managing to encircle cities and take vital infrastructure like power plants?

Because they've deployed more than half of their entire land army yet been unable to take any of the major cities located within 50 miles of the border: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Sumy etc. Any reasonable analysis beforehand would have had them marching straight into those places and raising their flag on the civic centres.

 

[RD2003]

its ok, the only people here who are willing to sign up all seem to have ailments that prevent them.
i would go myself but my astigmatism prevents me.

Arthritic big toes here. Otherwise, hold me back somebody! Just hold me back!

 

[Yossarian]

As the The39thStep posted fighting for freedoms weirdly might envolve joining a battalion of neo Nazis alongside other neo Nazis from across Europe.

If there's a "But who are the real fascists?" competition, I think the autocratic, nationalist regime currently bombing the shit out of civilian areas while invading its neighbour wins.

In Spain in 1936, fighting for freedoms would have involved being on the same side as Stalinists, and I can only imagine how many thousands of pages the thread would have extended to if Urban75 had been around at the time.

 

[A380]

A modern day Rudolf Hess?

Sasaferrato your hour may have come...

 

[discokermit]

Because they've deployed more than half of their entire land army yet been unable to take any of the major cities located within 50 miles of the border: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Sumy etc. Any reasonable analysis beforehand would have had them marching straight into those places and raising their flag on the civic centres.

that "reasonable" analysis was wrong then.

 

[Yossarian]

i would go myself but my astigmatism prevents me.

Good call, I think middle-aged men with bad eyesight who can't speak Ukrainian and seem lukewarm at best on the merits of resisting the Russian invasion are probably not the kind of recruits they are looking for.

 

[Louis MacNeice]

its ok, the only people here who are willing to sign up all seem to have ailments that prevent them.
i would go myself but my astigmatism prevents me.

Similar here; if it wasn't for lack of any appropriate language proficiency, military or medical skills and training, local knowledge and current poor health as I approach my 60th birthday, I would be out there like a shot and welcomed with open arms I shouldn't wonder. Oh I'd have to check with Mrs Mac as well but she'd probably be fine.

Cheers - Louis MacNeice

P.s. although I have a nystagmus (look it up) eyesight not an issue as I have two pairs of varifocals from Specsavers

 

[Spymaster]

Unfortunately his rhetoric was always going to get more desperate as the inevitable unfolded in terms of Ukraine not getting the no fly zone its been begging for.

I dont think anybody commented on his desperate rhetoric that I popped in to post about last night, the stuff he said that made dramatic use of the nuclear power station situation yesterday. That too was entirely understandable, desperate, and also contained some absolute bullshit claims that were made for reasons that were not subtle. Presumably he thinks there is a still a chance that if enough people in Europe believe the direct and immediate threat to them from this conflict is immense, more support for Ukraine may be offered. But I dont know how many people really believe that will happen, due to the usual horrible realities of nuclear powers and how high the stakes are on that front, and all the causes that we always expect will be sacrificed in the name of avoiding world war 3.

It is a very sad moment which is awkward for all involved. I feel I should quote his comments as reported by the BBC in full here. I suppose this is a moment that always seemed somehow inevitable despite the various lesser ways that support for Ukraine has been shown. The support that was actually on offer was never going to be enough, leading to a moment which could be used to make various claims, some of which are sadly not new to this conflict. For example the usual story of certain nations being strung along and led to believe that they could hope for more support from their 'new friends' than was ever likely to actually be forthcoming.







I dont know as we really need to discuss which parts of that are obvious bollocks, and I dont really mean that as a criticism of him since its entirely understandable why they feel so let down. I suppose its not impossible that assuming things continue as expected, this sort of rhetoric could even end up being used as the basis of a new stance, one which the authorities in Ukraine could use as part of trying to find a solution with Russia. But it would really be premature bollocks for me to suggest thats whats actually happening or what motivates him to come out with this rhetoric at this moment. I'm getting ahead of myself by even mentioning some of the ways that could morph in future, if he survives long enough and Russia decided to leave some people from the current government in place. And its hard to know how much genuine belief ever they had that they might really get more direct military support, or when exactly all hope on that front will genuinely be exhausted in their minds. Even if they know there is no prospect of that, I suppose they are still going to keep asking for it, trying to shame countries into offering more meaningful support even when its a lost cause.

I've thought this for a couple days now. Zelensky's appeals are, understandably, getting increasingly desperate and the rhetoric is ratcheting-up. I guess a lack of sleep and 10 days under siege will do that; but all this nonsense about blaming NATO for further Ukrainian deaths and insistence that the Baltic states and Poland are next on Vlad’s hit-list isn’t helping. Russia looks about as likely to invade Poland as I am, and he’s asking for more than a no-fly-zone (which itself shouldn’t be done). He’s asking for the NFZ to protect from air and missile attacks. That would mean NATO shooting down Russian aircraft and hitting missile sites on the ground. That can’t possibly be a good idea from a non-escalation perspective.

Ukraine has to do the best it can with the military aid and sanctions provided . Assistance beyond that wil almost certainly lead to far more death and destruction. The realisation that (apart from best wishes, limited military aid, and sanctions) Ukraine is pretty much alone, is understandably making some pro-Ukraine commentators lose it a bit.

What NATO and the EU should now be doing is fortifying the neighbouring states and making it very clear that any further incursions will result in a serious military response.

 

[A380]

Arthritic big toes here. Otherwise, hold me back somebody! Just hold me back!

There is a culture on these boards of cutting people quite a bit of slack, especially when it's apparent a lot of their crayoning is done when they have been drinking. But you have made this thread almost unreadable at times, and have made probably half a dozen interesting contributions in that time.

I've only ever had one poster on ignore, now you are the second. I didn't tell the other one: however I'm writing this in the slim hope that if you read this before you start drinking this afternoon you might reflect that this isn't the appropriate thread for you to either work through your issues or have a laugh on (I can't decide). If it's the former good luck with that.

Not that I'll know unless anyone quotes you.

 

[discokermit]

Good call, I think middle-aged men with bad eyesight who can't speak Ukrainian and seem lukewarm at best on the merits of resisting the Russian invasion are probably not the kind of recruits they are looking for.

ah, but they haven't seen me dance.

 

[IC3D]

Yossarian We could end up with a European fascist Isis after this blows over. Far right populism is part of western politics now. I think is wise to keep an open mind to motives of people going to fight also.

 

[Aladdin]

Ukraine Russia live as Putin agrees ceasefire & gives civilians 5 hours to flee

Tensions continue to rise in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with over a million people having fled the latter due to missiles raining down upon their cities

www.irishmirror.ie

5 hours ceasefire.

"From 10am Moscow time (7am UK time), the Russian side declares a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha," Russian news agencies quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying."

 

[Doctor Carrot]

Flipping crikey, some SKY journalists had a very, very close call here. Scary as fuck. I know journos get a hard time, sometimes justified, but some of them are really sticking their necks on the line to get information out.

CW: they were under accurate fire, no deaths/serious injuries.

Sky News team's harrowing account of their violent ambush in Ukraine this week

On Monday, near Kyiv, chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and his team were attacked. Camera operator Richie Mockler took two rounds to his body armour, Stuart was wounded. Their experience illustrates the scale of the mayhem and violence as Russia's invasion enters a new and deadlier phase.

news.sky.com

I've been holding off saying this because it's a bit hyperbole,. I hope it is hyperbole but I think this is a war of annihilation now or at least as much as Putin can get away with. I say that because what other reason would there be Russian ambush squads like that firing on civilian vehicles?

Of course airstrikes on tower blocks have made me think it but not say it because these things happen in war and I don't think it's always deliberate. Seeing that ambush has changed my mind now.

 

[two sheds]

Good call, I think middle-aged men with bad eyesight who can't speak Ukrainian and seem lukewarm at best on the merits of resisting the Russian invasion are probably not the kind of recruits they are looking for.

well if they can't speak English

 

[bimble]

Yossarian We could end up with a European fascist Isis after this blows over. Far right populism is part of western politics now. I think is wise to keep an open mind to motives of people going to fight also.

Its true, the volunteer international army is another very unpredictable thing, I saw some wild figures yesterday, from Ukrainian tweeters, purporting to be the tens of thousands of foreigners who have already shown up. How many of those are people with many years experience playing videogames.

 

[frogwoman]

Could end up with? There are already organised fash fighting on both sides - and Putin has a huge amount of support on the US alt right, which has the easiest access to weapons.

 

[RD2003]

Similar here; if it wasn't for lack of any appropriate language proficiency, military or medical skills and training, local knowledge and current poor health as I approach my 60th birthday, I would be out there like a shot and welcomed with open arms I shouldn't wonder. Oh I'd have to check with Mrs Mac as well but she'd probably be fine.

Cheers - Louis MacNeice

P.s. although I have a nystagmus (look it up) eyesight not an issue as I have two pairs of varifocals from Specsavers

Liz Truss was gonna go, but somebody pointed out that she was only a cheerleader.

 

[xenon]

So you said, but in that case I genuinely wonder why you did post it.

We have all read stuff about people volunteering like this, so we know it's happening, but why post that link without any proper comment?

Even if you don't mean it to, it is contributing to the idea that this is something that should be encouraged.

Oh give over. It’s another interestyng aspect, as was commented.

 

[Yossarian]

Yossarian We could end up with a European fascist Isis after this blows over. Far right populism is part of western politics now. I think is wise to keep an open mind to motives of people going to fight also.

Yeah, I don't doubt that there will be people with dubious motives flocking to this conflict from all sides - a few of those Azov cunts turned up in Hong Kong during the 2019 protest, they were told to fuck off when their political allegiances became known, but they definitely handed Beijing a propaganda boost.

 

[Cid]

Ukraine Russia live as Putin agrees ceasefire & gives civilians 5 hours to flee

Tensions continue to rise in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with over a million people having fled the latter due to missiles raining down upon their cities

www.irishmirror.ie

5 hours ceasefire.

"From 10am Moscow time (7am UK time), the Russian side declares a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha," Russian news agencies quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying."

Graun was saying local authorities wanted to evacuate around 215,000 people. 5 hours.

 

[frogwoman]

Yeah it's a bit of a stretch to think it's an endorsement.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Yossarian We could end up with a European fascist Isis after this blows over. Far right populism is part of western politics now. I think is wise to keep an open mind to motives of people going to fight also.

Gonna be a fuckton of unaccounted-for weaponary lying around after this is over as well. Just like there was for ISIS to pick up and run with after the Iraq war, and the Taliban last year etc.