Russian Invasion of Ukraine

[China]

 

[PokerPacker]

10 hours ago, China said:

 

Those mean old Ukrainians are killing innocent Russians.  We must wipe them off the face of the Earth.

[PeterMP]

3 hours ago, PokerPacker said:

Those mean old Ukrainians are killing innocent Russians.  We must wipe them off the face of the Earth.

I think it is pretty common.  I'm pretty sure that if you looked at polling in the US with the invasion of Iraq you'd see the same thing about a year after things started to go badly for the US.

 

People don't want to believe/think that their family members, friends, and loved ones have died for no reason.

[The Sisko]

14 hours ago, China said:

 

It probably won’t change until a crap ton of body bags start coming to Russia’s main cities. As long as it’s mostly poor kids from the hinterlands, they won’t care.  The sanctions also need to be better enforced to help them feel it more.

 

In the meantime, things are about to get much worse for them. I haven’t seen any confirmation of what’s being used, but whether it’s ATACMS or more likely the GLSDB, the UA now has something that gives them longer range. If they force the Russians to move their ammo dumps and other logistical operations further away, it’s going to mean even less artillery for combat operations. That means they’ll be forced to rely more on human wave tactics. Including the current offensive, they’ve probably run through most of their last mobilization and now the UA is starting to receive western armor. It’s not going to be pretty. 

Edited February 27, 2023 by The Sisko

[China]

 

[Gurgeh]

11 hours ago, The Sisko said:

It probably won’t change until a crap ton of body bags start coming to Russia’s main cities. As long as it’s mostly poor kids from the hinterlands, they won’t care.  The sanctions also need to be better enforced to help them feel it more.

 

In the meantime, things are about to get much worse for them. I haven’t seen any confirmation of what’s being used, but whether it’s ATACMS or more likely the GLSDB, the UA now has something that gives them longer range. If they force the Russians to move their ammo dumps and other logistical operations further away, it’s going to mean even less artillery for combat operations. That means they’ll be forced to rely more on human wave tactics. Including the current offensive, they’ve probably run through most of their last mobilization and now the UA is starting to receive western armor. It’s not going to be pretty. 

 

IIRC the US said a couple of weeks ago that they'd be sending GLSDB, while there's rumors the UK may have sent some of it's air launched cruise missiles, with the Poles managing to attach them to Ukrainian Su-24's, similar to the work they did with HARM missiles. Either way the Ukrainians aren't going to tell anyone what they're using.

[China]

Drones fly deep inside Russia; Putin orders border tightened

 

Drones that the Kremlin said were launched by Ukraine flew deep inside Russian territory, including one that got within 100 kilometers (60 miles) of Moscow, signaling breaches in Russian defenses as President Vladimir Putin ordered stepped-up protection at the border.

 

Officials said the drones caused no injuries and did not inflict any significant damage, but the attacks on Monday night and Tuesday morning raised questions about Russian defense capabilities more than a year after the country’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor.

 

Moscow blamed Kyiv for the assaults. Ukrainian officials did not immediately claim responsibility, but they similarly avoided directly acknowledging responsibility for past strikes and sabotage while emphasizing Ukraine’s right to hit any target in Russia.

 

Although Putin did not refer to any specific attacks in a speech in the Russian capital, his comments came hours after the drones targeted several areas in southern and western Russia. Authorities closed the airspace over St. Petersburg in response to what some reports said was a drone.

 

Also Tuesday, several Russian television stations aired a missile attack warning that officials blamed on a hacking attack.

 

Click on the link for the full article

[China]

Russia fines Wikipedia for publishing facts instead of Kremlin war propaganda

 

A Russian court fined the Wikimedia Foundation 2 million rubles (about $27,000) today for failing to delete alleged "misinformation" about the Russian military from Wikipedia, Reuters reported. It's the third fine Russia has issued against the Wikipedia owner since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine a year ago.

 

"Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Russia introduced sweeping new laws restricting what people can report about the conflict, fining or blocking websites that spread information at odds with the Kremlin's official narrative. ... The latest fine was imposed after the authorities accused Wikipedia of 'spreading misinformation' in articles about Russian military units," Wikimedia Russia told Reuters.

 

Wikimedia has consistently fought Russia's attempts at censorship. After receiving a demand to remove content about the invasion of Ukraine on March 1, 2022, Wikimedia said it "will not back down in the face of efforts to censor and intimidate members of our movement."

 

"The information available on Wikipedia is sourced and shared by volunteers who invest time and effort to ensure that the content is fact-based and reliable," Wikimedia said at the time. "Many continue to do so in adverse circumstances: As the invasion continues, Ukrainian volunteers have continued to add content and make edits to Wikipedia, even in face of deep hardship."

 

Russia followed through on its fine threats shortly after the invasion by issuing a penalty of 5 million rubles for so-called "disinformation." Wikimedia appealed the fine in June 2022, saying the "information at issue is fact-based and verified by volunteers who continuously edit and improve articles on the site; its removal would therefore constitute a violation of people's rights to free expression and access to knowledge."

 

Click on the link for the full story

[Switchgear]

A very good (and very long) article about the lead up to the invasion, the response during the invasion, and what has happened since.

 

‘Something Was Badly Wrong’: When Washington Realized Russia Was Actually Invading Ukraine

A first-ever oral history of how top U.S. and Western officials saw the warning signs of a European land war, their frantic attempts to stop it — and the moment Putin actually crossed the border.

 

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/02/24/russia-ukraine-war-oral-history-00083757

[China]

Ukrainian military unit named after Boris Johnson 'is wiped out by Wagner troops', the Russian mercenaries claim

 

A Ukrainian military unit named after Boris Johnson has been wiped out by Russia's Wagner troops in the besieged city of Bakhmut, the mercenary group claimed today.

 

A Wagner commander claimed the 24th Mechanised Brigade was defeated in intense fighting in Bakhmut, as Kremlin forces try to encircle Ukrainian troops there. 

 

Wagner troops posted video online showing a Ukrainian flag and trophies inside a cellar that had been used by Kyiv's forces.

 

On the flag, a message read: 'Boris Johnson's unit. Boris Johnson.'

 

 

A Wagner commander claimed in a video: 'The Johnson unit was holding a large stronghold in the woods [in Bakhmut].'

 

'When they were hit, a flag like this was found,' he said, showing Mr Johnson's name on the material. 

 

Ukraine has not confirmed whether its 24th Mechanised Brigade, which has been fighting in Bakhmut for months, has been defeated. 

 

Click on the link for the full article

[China]

On 2/13/2023 at 2:40 PM, China said:

Russia is draining a massive Ukrainian reservoir, endangering a nuclear plant

 

Russia appears to be draining an enormous reservoir in Ukraine, imperiling drinking water, agricultural production and safety at Europe's largest nuclear plant, according to satellite data obtained by NPR.

 

Since early November 2022, water has been gushing out of the Kakhovka Reservoir, in Southern Ukraine, through sluice gates at a critical hydroelectric power plant controlled by Russian forces. As a result, satellite data shows that the water level at the reservoir has plummeted to its lowest point in three decades. Separate images provided by the commercial companies Planet and Maxar show water pouring through the gates, and shoreline along the giant reservoir emerging as a result of the rapidly falling water levels.

 

At stake is drinking water for hundreds of thousands of residents, irrigation for nearly half-a-million acres of farmland, and the cooling system at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Late last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it was aware of the potential risk posed by dropping water levels at the reservoir.

 

Click on the link for the full article

 

 

[Wildbunny]

23 hours ago, Switchgear said:

A very good (and very long) article about the lead up to the invasion, the response during the invasion, and what has happened since.

 

‘Something Was Badly Wrong’: When Washington Realized Russia Was Actually Invading Ukraine

A first-ever oral history of how top U.S. and Western officials saw the warning signs of a European land war, their frantic attempts to stop it — and the moment Putin actually crossed the border.

 

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/02/24/russia-ukraine-war-oral-history-00083757

Thanks for posting this.

I still haven't finished reading it, but it's really great to read those behind the doors moves and talks in such tough moments.

 

Thanks for posting that, really.

[Riggo-toni]

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/01/world/europe/ukraine-russia-tanks.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20230302&instance_id=86696&nl=from-the-times&regi_id=174527447&segment_id=126724&te=1&user_id=e7de7e282bcffdf4504d80ade80415ea

 

In an Epic Battle of Tanks, Russia Was Routed, Repeating Earlier Mistakes

 

A three-week fight in the town of Vuhledar in southern Ukraine produced what Ukrainian officials say was the biggest tank battle of the war so far, and a stinging setback for the Russians.

 

When it was over, not only had Russia failed to capture Vuhledar, but it also had made the same mistake that cost Moscow hundreds of tanks earlier in the war: advancing columns into ambushes.

Blown up on mines, hit with artillery or obliterated by anti-tank missiles, the charred hulks of Russian armored vehicles now litter farm fields all about Vuhledar, according to Ukrainian military drone footage. Ukraine’s military said Russia had lost at least 130 tanks and armored personnel carriers in the battle. That figure could not be independently verified. Ukraine does not disclose how many weapons it loses.

[Dan T.]

The audience was having none of the BS from this gaslighting terrorist:

 

 

[Cooked Crack]

 

[Dan T.]

On 3/1/2023 at 10:38 AM, Switchgear said:

A very good (and very long) article about the lead up to the invasion, the response during the invasion, and what has happened since.

 

‘Something Was Badly Wrong’: When Washington Realized Russia Was Actually Invading Ukraine

A first-ever oral history of how top U.S. and Western officials saw the warning signs of a European land war, their frantic attempts to stop it — and the moment Putin actually crossed the border.

 

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/02/24/russia-ukraine-war-oral-history-00083757

 

 

That is a great read.  

 

~~~

 

As this horrible war grinds into its second year, I recall a few anecdotes in the early days of the invasion that stand out as symbols of the resolve of the Ukrainian people.

 

- Images of groups of Kyiv residents gathering to build Molotov ****tails in preparation for the Russian invasion of the city.

 

- The Ukrainian woman who confronts a Russian soldier.  "Put these sunflower seeds in your pockets so flowers will grow where you die."

 

 

 

- Ukraine President Vlodomyr Zelensky, in the midst of the initial invasion, is offered U.S. assistance evacuating Kyiv.

   He replies "The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.'  That is one bad-ass quote that heralded his brilliant leadership in galvanizing his people and worldwide support.

[Wildbunny]

6 hours ago, Dan T. said:

He replies "The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.'  That is one bad-ass quote that heralded his brilliant leadership in galvanizing his people and worldwide support.

That one will make the history books. Definately.

[tshile]

On 3/1/2023 at 10:38 AM, Switchgear said:

A very good (and very long) article about the lead up to the invasion, the response during the invasion, and what has happened since.

Took me a few hours to get through it all. And I’m a fast reader usually.  But so worth it. 
 

the writing style was awesome to. Basically like a documentary told by different people adding a few sentences at a time to tell a cohesive story. Felt like something I was watching on the tv. 
 

in all the day to day culture war bull****, it’s like we forget there’s incredibly smart people working incredibly hard on very important things. 
 

I do like the revelation of downgrading intel so it can be relayed to the public for the sake of getting ahead of misinformation. I think there’s something to that and I hope it sets the tone going forward. 
 

the unfortunate part is that it seems pretty likely that we had a chance to stop this in 2014. And we didn’t. Doesn’t seem like we even tried. I think that’ll go down as a very bad look on the Obama administration. 
 

it’s also unfortunate, but entirely predictable, that Lindsey Graham spent his small part of this awesome expose pushing bull**** political talking points. All of which were categorically and easily refuted by the people involved. 
 

the GOP has no shame. And no interest in being responsible for their role in government even in the most dire or crisis. Just political hackery, all the time. 

[Switchgear]

Yeah, Lindsey Graham was annoying. No recognition of the work that went into responding to what happened, getting ahead of the story, rallying the international community. Just negativity.

 

3 hours ago, tshile said:

in all the day to day culture war bull****, it’s like we forget there’s incredibly smart people working incredibly hard on very important things. 
 

I shudder to think what would have happened if Russia had invaded during the Trump years.

[Larry]

36 minutes ago, Switchgear said:

I shudder to think what would have happened if Russia had invaded during the Trump years.

 

I'd be willing to bet (well, not everything I own) that Putin thought Trump was going to cruise to an "incumbent President with a good economy" second term.  And his plan was to do it while a Trump who doesn't have to run for reelection was in the White House.  

[tshile]

Recall trump disrupting nato and the UN

 

i seem to recall him threatening to withdrawal from nato 

[The 12th Commandment]

No question in my mind we would have been on the opposite side of the Ukraine thing if Trump had won.  Actively assisting Russia.

[Wildbunny]

6 hours ago, tshile said:

the unfortunate part is that it seems pretty likely that we had a chance to stop this in 2014. And we didn’t. Doesn’t seem like we even tried. I think that’ll go down as a very bad look on the Obama administration. 

I would say yes and no on this.

 

It's a common theme in the article, that 2022 happened because we let Russia go away with Crimea and a bit more in 2014.

2014 is the beginning of the war in Ukraine no doubt, and I would say the roots of it startsq with the Maidan revolution. But 2014 happened because West didn't move at all when Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 or during the 2 Chechenya wars.

 

We also let them operated freely in Syria, with Obama putting on a red line regarding dirty bombs and chemical weapons to not cross. Which was crossed and Obama turned the head.

So for many years Putin did it his own way and nobody had anything else to say to Putin than bow to him and agree with him. So why should he have stopped here? He's been trying to restore USSR frontiers for Russia since he took over Russia.

 

We can always pinpoit this war due to ourselves turning head in 2014 because we were scared, but the truth is that we've been letting them act freely for 20 years.

 

Sadly, that's he Ukrainian a hefty price for our unwillingness to act years before. Hopefully, we finally woke up. And as one french reporter often says on TV regarding this war: "Democracies are often slow to act and move, but when they do, they are pretty damn effectives".

[Riggo-toni]

 

 

[China]

Russia is inviting the pro-Putin American right to come join them (but BYO toilet)

 

Today's Ukraine update comes to us thanks to community member CyberMindGrrl, who last week highlighted a new Russian program aiming at recruiting 7 million citizens of the United States and Europe as immigrants to Vladimir Putin's Russia.

 

Not just any immigrants, mind you. The Moscow kleptocracy is specifically looking for "ideological immigration" from white European conservative-minded adventurers who are angry that their own countries give too many rights to LGBT+ citizens, who are angry about their nations' continued opposition of Russia, or who are simply angry at the presence of so many ethnic people in their home countries.

 

If you fit that criteria—for example, if you're an avid Tucker Carlson viewer—and don't mind moving to an authoritarian nation where authorities can and will kill or imprison you for speaking out against Putin, his allies, or his underlings, good news. There's a plot of barren Russian land out there just waiting for you to build the compound of your dreams.

 

Via Google Translation:

 

Quote

As an incentive for resettlement to Russia, D. Gusev proposed to provide 10 hectares [25 acres] of land to settlers from the United States and Europe at the end of January, hoping that up to 7 million people could take advantage of this offer.

 

You'll note that the enticement there is 25 acres of what Russia has the most of: land. You'll note that there's no promise that your new plot of land will come with a shelter, or electricity, or an outhouse. We've been seeing more and more of late that highlights the lifestyles of most Russians who live outside the major cities, but conservative Russia-backers may or may not be aware that in modern day Russia, toilets are considered a luxury item.

 

There's a reason that not just toilets, stoves, dishwashers, and washing machines but even the most trivial of home appliances are being looted in bulk from Ukrainian homes "liberated" by Russia and delivered back to the homeland. It's because stealing those things is the only way for the average non-connected Russian to get them.

 

Click on the link for the full article

 

Edited March 6, 2023 by China