Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-25

[andysays]

All that stuff about being dedicated to protecting the values of a cultural competition which promotes international exchange and understanding, brings audiences together, celebrates diversity through music and unites Europe on one stage looks a little one-sided given what has apparently happened in recent years

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have overshadowed previous editions of the song contest.

Russia were favourites to win the competition in 2016, until Ukrainian singer Jamala stole a last-minute victory with a song that depicted the deportation of Crimean Tatars by Josef Stalin in 1944 - a horrific chapter the nation's parliament has described as tantamount to genocide.

The lyrics were widely interpreted as a criticism of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Jamala, who is herself a Crimean Tartar, appeared to confirm the link when she told the press: "The main message is to remember and to know this story. When we know, we prevent."
On the path to victory, her song picked up several important votes from former Soviet countries who have traditionally voted for Russia. Eurovision expert John Kennedy O'Connor called the result "a pointed slap in Russia's face".

A year later, Russian contestant Julia Samoylova was blocked from entering Ukraine, which was hosting the competition, because she had reportedly toured Crimea without entering it through the border with the Ukrainian mainland. Russian television station Channel One then announced it would not broadcast the contest or take part.

 

[scalyboy]

Congratulations on passing

Thanks! The novelty still hasn’t worn off yet, so every time I drive anywhere it’s an adventure, but I’m getting more relaxed. And it means I can go to Friern Barnet Retail Park and not be limited by how much DIY or garden products I can carry home on foot, as before.
The M25 is my next challenge

 

[scalyboy]

I don’t like to say it, but I can’t see what the US & UK are on about when they declare that Putin’s plans have gone awry & things aren’t panning out as he’d have liked. It’s only been 1 day and already the Russians are on the outskirts of Kiev FFS.

It took the US around 5 weeks to take Kabul (13/11/2001?) from the start of combat operations on 7 October 2001. Similarly, the 2003 Iraq invasion lasted about a month before Bush fatuously announced ‘mission accomplished’.

I’ll be very happy to be proved wrong, and maybe the Ukrainian army’s strategy is to lure the Russians into the city and house-by-house street fighting, but it does seem premature to claim Putin’s plans are unravelling after just one day

 

[weltweit]

A Vox pop from Russia

three older people - two middle aged men and an elderly woman - are much more supportive of the invasion.
A man in a baseball cap talks about "protecting Russians" in Ukraine. He blames Ukrainians themselves and says that it's "their own fault that they ended up in this situation".
"They have always been problematic, throughout history," he says.

Ukraine conflict: Shock and support on the streets of Moscow

The BBC talks to Russians in Moscow and Rostov to find out what they think of the assault on Ukraine.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[friedaweed]

The M25 is my next challenge

You'd be safer signing up for the Ukrainian reserve.

 

[RileyOBlimey]

Shit’s got real…

 

[bimble]

If this is real (seems real) it’s something I’ve never seen the like of :
Account details at national bank of Ukraine asking people to send money for the army.

Національний банк відкрив спецрахунок для збору коштів на потреби армії (оновлено)

Національний банк України ухвалив рішення відкрити спеціальний рахунок для збору коштів на підтримку Збройних Сил України. Таке рішення ухвалене у зв’язку із введенням воєн...

bank.gov.ua

 

[Shechemite]

If this is real (seems real) it’s something I’ve never seen the like of.

Національний банк відкрив спецрахунок для збору коштів на потреби армії (оновлено)

Національний банк України ухвалив рішення відкрити спеціальний рахунок для збору коштів на підтримку Збройних Сил України. Таке рішення ухвалене у зв’язку із введенням воєн...

bank.gov.ua

Translation? (Eta it’s on the page in an idiot)

 

[hitmouse]

Not saying I 100% agree with this, but this letter from a Kyiv socialist is worth a read:

A letter to the Western Left from Kyiv

The ‘anti-imperialism of idiots’ meant people turned a blind eye to Russia’s actions

www.opendemocracy.net

fwiw, the bit I most disagree with is this:

Imagine for a moment that, in 2003, when the US was preparing for the invasion of Iraq, Russia had behaved like the US has in recent weeks: with threats of escalation.

Now imagine what the Russian Left might have done in that situation, according to the dogma of ‘our main enemy is at home’. Would it have criticised the Russian government for this ‘escalation’, saying that it ‘should not jeopardise inter-imperialist contradictions’? It is obvious to everyone that such behaviour would have been a mistake in that case. Why was this not obvious in the case of the aggression against Ukraine?

I don't think Russia threatening to start WWIII in 2003 would've been a good thing and that should hypothetically have been opposed by Russian lefties, but doing that wouldn't mean that anyone should stop criticising the US/UK invasion. If that had happened in 2003, which it didn't.

 

[friedaweed]

I'd be a bit sceptical about that bank thing.

 

[hash tag]

Where should I be headed tomorrow, Downing St or Bayswater Road. Any preferences anyone?

 

[bimble]

I'd be a bit sceptical about that bank thing.

me too. as said, it seems legit but idk.

Ukraine is crowdfunding to shore up its defense against the Russian military

The Ukraine government, the National Bank of Ukraine and nonprofits have asked for donations to raise funds for the armed forces.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[friedaweed]

Where should I be headed tomorrow, Downing St or Bayswater Road. Any preferences anyone?

Are you looking for a party or a protest?

 

[Raheem]

me too. as said, it seems legit but idk.

Ukraine is crowdfunding to shore up its defense against the Russian military

The Ukraine government, the National Bank of Ukraine and nonprofits have asked for donations to raise funds for the armed forces.

www.businessinsider.com

Thing is who will actually get to spend the money?

 

[Artaxerxes]

Thats a car park mate.

 

[bimble]

Thing is who will actually get to spend the money?

No idea. Just found it a remarkable thing to see, the appeal there for crowdfunding the war on (what looks to be the) national banks website.

 

[Flavour]

Shit’s got real…

this isn't true

 

[Raheem]

this isn't true

Thanks for checking.

 

[cupid_stunt]

this isn't true

Yeah, Russia banned PornHub years ago, still funny.

 

[weltweit]

So, what does Putin want?

 

[friedaweed]

Pretty sure Putin is having a knuckle shuffle without the aid of pornhub

 

[friedaweed]

So, what does Putin want?

To ride his horse topless through Kyiv

 

[Raheem]

To ride his horse topless through Kyiv

Funny name for a horse.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Yeah, Russia banned PornHub years ago, still funny.

No LGBT, no onanism, no wonder Russians drink. Its a wonder they have any fun at all.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Horrendous scenes on ch4 news. Cannot get my head around how quickly this is turning into a slaughter. The Soviets lost 10k + troops in Afghanistan, mebbes another 5k in Chechnya - seems they are into this for a thousand so far. Maybe Intolerable news for the Russian people

 

[Raheem]

Maybe inaccessible news for the Russian people

C4u

 

[elbows]

I don’t like to say it, but I can’t see what the US & UK are on about when they declare that Putin’s plans have gone awry & things aren’t panning out as he’d have liked. It’s only been 1 day and already the Russians are on the outskirts of Kiev FFS.

Again its yet another thing I have to file in the expected war propaganda category, at least until more confirmed facts emerge.

Russia-linked sources came out with the same thing on the internet when Iraq was invaded. They were providing running commentary/analysis that repeatedly made much of the US getting bogged down and featured lots of excited claims about how the timetable had gone wrong.

 

[weltweit]

It seems the Russians have taken control of the Chernobyl region which gives them a more direct route from Belarus to Kiev. There has been a spike (yesterday) in radioactivity in the region of the plant which observers are putting down to heavy military vehicles disturbing the radioactive ground around Chernobyl. There is apparently no evidence that they have damaged the mothballed power plant.

 

[cupid_stunt]

weltweit, bringing us yesterday's news, today.

 

[weltweit]

weltweit, bringing us yesterday's news, today.

Oh, I didn't see that it was already mentioned. Nevermind.