Russian Invasion of Ukraine

[Milouse]

Apparently, Russian troops ignored the temporary cease-fire, which was agreed to happen today along the evacuation corridor set up for civilians to get out of Mariupol.

It's a demoralization strategy that Russian already used in Syria against civilians. To pretend there is a safe corridor, then shoot. Cruel, but that's the whole point.

Unrelated, but the Israel PM (N. Bennett) arrived in Moscow during (in violation) of sabbath.

 

[Joey D]

Russia calls on EU, NATO to stop arms supplies to Ukraine

Russia's foreign ministry called on European Union and NATO countries on Saturday to "stop pumping weapons" to Ukraine, the Russian RIA news agency said.

www.reuters.com

====

Putin likens Western sanctions to war as Russian assault traps Ukrainian civilians

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Western sanctions were akin to war as his forces pressed their assault on Ukraine on Saturday for a 10th day and the IMF warned the conflict would have a "severe impact" on the global economy.

www.reuters.com

This is concerning though. If Putin believes sanctions are equal to war, then I think it's pretty telling what his next steps are going to be once the Russian economy has sufficiently burnt down. It looks like the US is at least anticipating the next steps a bit because a carrier group just arrived in the North Aegean Sea (USS Harry S Truman). Per an unnamed source, they've positioned themselves there to support Turkey in the event Russian ships try to break through the Turkish Straits and the Strait of Dardanelles while violating the Montreux Convention.

If I was Putin the absolute last thing I'd want is any US carrier group showing up in the region. Even if they're not huge, they can unleash a helluva lot of power in a short amount of time, especially with a barrage of Tomahawks.

US aircraft carrier is in northern Aegean Sea to ensure flight operations if tensions escalate in region

Ukrainian authorities have put plans to evacuate civilians from the Mariupol region on hold, citing Russian violations of an agreed pause in fire. Follow here for live news updates from on the ground in Ukraine.

www.cnn.com

 

[McLaren]

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton says 'Putin was waiting' for Trump to withdraw the United States from NATO in his second term​

"I thought he put his foot over it, but at least he didn't withdraw then," said Bolton, who wrote in his memoir about Trump's consideration of withdrawing from NATO in 2018. "In a second Trump term, I think he may well have withdrawn from NATO. And I think Putin was waiting for that."

Bolton's latest comments come just days after he told Newsmax that Trump "barely knew where Ukraine was," pushing back on a host who said the former president had been "tough on Russia."

"It was hard to have discussions on geostrategic issues when the president's main interest was getting... Rudy Giuliani in to see [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky so they could go find Hillary Clinton's computer server. "

Him & Barr could’ve shared all this ages ago but money was more important to them to hold it and use it to prop up their Tell-All books.

 

[Dotini]

Putin reportedly has said sanctions are akin to a declaration of war. Look for him now to get creative - maybe he'll use cyber attacks to knock out somebody's power grid for a few days. I hope it's not mine. According to a person I know who is a supervisor at Puget Sound Energy, cyber attacks against the important Washington State power grid have been sharply escalating in recent weeks.

Putin says Western sanctions are akin to declaration of war

President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Western sanctions on Russia were akin to a declaration of war and warned that any attempt to impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine would lead to catastrophic consequences for the world.

www.reuters.com

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Him & Barr could’ve shared all this ages ago but money was more important to them to hold it and use it to prop up their Tell-All books.

Need a side gig these days, though I'm not sure which one is which.

 

[Biggles]

Translation from KGB-language ? Just revert meaning and it be fine. Actually, he such a liar, I dont get how anybody still believe him. Russian internet is full of records when he saying something official and then few years doing completely opposite. Like changing of Constitution, balloting for another year, capturing Crimea, changing pension age and other bull****.

Putin & Trump. Same thing. Revert the meaning and it all makes sense. "Make America Great Again" = undermine the Constitution by claiming democratic election was illegitimate & encouraging a riot at the US Capitol. "Tough on Russia" = giddy with praise for Russia's autocratic leader, dismisses advice from his own intelligence agencies, alienates the US from all its allies. It's an upside down world view.

 

[Peppelino]

Bbc P and Israel's Prime in long meeting
Today.. Please, turn on your TV...

** Q : messege from Biden, huh?! **

[ edit : Milouse said that, above.. 7:41 ]

 

[Biggles]

Him & Barr could’ve shared all this ages ago but money was more important to them to hold it and use it to prop up their Tell-All books.

Of course, but not just that, they had prestigious government jobs they didn't 't want to give up - they were working for the guy. Again, same scenario with Putin.

 

[NLxAROSA]

This is concerning though. If Putin believes sanctions are equal to war, then I think it's pretty telling what his next steps are going to be once the Russian economy has sufficiently burnt down.

Putin has shown that unless someone steps up he will just keep on escalating. Conflict is inevitable unless he backs down IMHO. I'm just wondering if all his forces are in the same shape as the ones in Ukraine.

 

[Biggles]

Putin has shown that unless someone steps up he will just keep on escalating. Conflict is inevitable unless he backs down IMHO. I'm just wondering if all his forces are in the same shape as the ones in Ukraine.

I don't see how Putin CAN backdown at this point. He's backed himself into a corner. That's what makes the situation so dangerous.

Russia military might? Well, US policy has been predicated on the Soviet Union/Russia being a formidable military power for decades now - the justification for massive spending by the military, industrial complex in the US. My suspicion is that it's a convenient illusion, both for the Russians & the US. However, there's no question that Russia's nuclear arsenal is real & poses an existential threat.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

He has definitely backed himself into a corner and doubled down. The negotiation talks are basically pointless and nonsensical. Putin just keeps escalating.

We get this:

'They shoot at anyone who tries to leave.' Ukrainians describe terror of living under Russian occupation | CNN

People living in Kherson under Russian occupation describe days of terror confined to their apartments and houses, fearful to go outside for even basic necessities -- their city now a dystopian shell of the home they knew and loved.

www.cnn.com

 

[Peppelino]

Latest..

Polish Mig29 urgently needed for our trained pilots...

Shoulder-Stingers is already on their way.

The no-fly zone needed, my come this way. The beginning of the end-game, has already begun.

So, Nuclear, against this above..

- Do you really believe that ?!

 

[Dotini]

Musings on WWIII - this before Putin declared sanctions akin to declaration of war.

 

[Dennisch]

 

[CEO_da_LB]

Musings on WWIII - this before Putin declared sanctions akin to declaration of war.

The sanctions have already destroyed the Russian economy, and the West is explicity backing Ukraine, delivering advanced weaponry. NATO is playing a very dangerous game here - They are threatening the Russian elite's grip on power (Making it so they don't have anything to lose) and directly involving themselves in the Ukrainian conflict. WWIII and Nuclear war is a possibility.

 

[Peppelino]

Latest..

All major Card vendors seize operation
In / with Russia.. meaning a severe crippled economy on every level.

Nukes on MasterCard. Anyone ?!

 

[CEO_da_LB]

Latest..

All major Card vendors seize operation
In / with Russia.. meaning a severe crippled economy on every level.

Nukes on MasterCard. Anyone ?!

My god, Western leaders can't possibly not realise the implications of their actions. This is very very dangerous.

 

[Dotini]

Following the doctrine of realpolitik means we don't have to worry about WWIII - unless the actors are not rational!

Why the cavalry isn't coming to Ukraine's side | CNN

Marcus Mabry writes that the practice of realpolitik does not consider the morality of allowing a smaller country to be swallowed by a larger one, or a democratic one to be crushed by an authoritarian one. But that is the whole point of realpolitik.

www.cnn.com

 

[toastet]

So Sony suspended Russia from playing GT7. They reviewbombing Metacritic now.

Since they've time not being able to play GT7 they should take their chainsaws and maybe start dividing a long uninvitable table in Moskau to start with and just continue until the situation is back to a state where they will be able to play GT7. Would be my suggestion taking care of the problem which causes problems for me.

 

[mika haka]

Only way to get the russians to overthrow the lunatic.

History has shown you cant ignore psychopaths like putin. Look at how hitler behaved. Putin is worse.

 

[Milouse]

The sanctions have already destroyed the Russian economy, and the West is explicity backing Ukraine, delivering advanced weaponry. NATO is playing a very dangerous game here - They are threatening the Russian elite's grip on power (Making it so they don't have anything to lose) and directly involving themselves in the Ukrainian conflict. WWIII and Nuclear war is a possibility.

My god, Western leaders can't possibly not realise the implications of their actions. This is very very dangerous.

What NATO has to do with this? The countries that are backing Ukraine are both in and out of NATO. NATO is a defense alliance, it doesn't strip its members from their sovereignty. Speaking of which...
Ukraine, as a sovereign country, should be able to ask and get help from any other country's army to operate within its frontier without the consent of the leader of another country*. The no-fly zone over Ukraine refused by its allies is a concession made to Putin: he wouldn't be legitimate to call for extension of war for this. The reason he got that concession is his madness and his nuclear arsenal, not international law of any kind. That how he works: take to the West bit by bit. And again, we gave him a bit.

Regarding Visa and Mastercard, they only block usage of Russian cards in foreign country and vice-versa.

*: a few years ago, Mali officially requested to UN that France sends army to block progression of Isis on the North of the country. A country where Russia sent Wagner to undermine the operation, btw.

 

[Peppelino]

In progress..
Sending my friend in Moscow, a brand spanking new GT7 disc...
in an attempt to save Sony to be Nuked..
Don't laugh, I'm serious.

[ Added : BBC.. among other fashion companies, PRADA seizes operation in Russia.. so no nice Spring fashion on the poor ladies.. ]

 

[Blitz24]

My god, Western leaders can't possibly not realise the implications of their actions. This is very very dangerous.

Apparently you don't understand it either if your solution is to just let Ukrainians die.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

White House weighs 3-way deal to get fighter jets to Ukraine

Poland wants to donate its old MiGs to Ukraine. But there’s a catch — it needs U.S. jets.

www.politico.com

Poland still trying to get jets over, but needs to know if the US can backfill their force.

 

[inCloud]

I'm just wondering if all his forces are in the same shape as the ones in Ukraine.

Most experienced forces in Syria right now. IDK how things going right now, but 11 years ago when I was conscript army was a mess. Some things could be different, but I don't think things are changed dramatically.

Only way to get the russians to overthrow the lunatic.

History has shown you cant ignore psychopaths like putin. Look at how hitler behaved. Putin is worse.

For this to happen, USA should promise some kind of immunity to russian elite(out of jail card and unfreeze of bank accounts). Right now most of them will be treated as criminals.

 

[McLaren]

"Russians are trying to flee Putin chaos; Using data from Google Trends, The Economist has tracked the discontent."

Vladimir putin, so intent on bringing Ukraine under his control, is neglecting the problems facing Russians at home. A survey conducted between February 17th and 21st—that is, in the week before Mr Putin’s invasion—by the Levada Centre, an independent Russian pollster, found that 43% of Russians between the ages of 18 and 24 wanted to leave the country for good. And 44% of those who hoped to emigrate cited the “economic situation” as their motivation.

That situation is likely to get a lot worse. Western sanctions have created an economic storm: rising inflation, a crashing currency, and imports that are expected to dwindle. Many Russians will soon struggle to afford what they need to survive.

Eagerness to leave seems to be mounting. Data from Google Trends, which tracks how often particular words are entered into its search engine, show that Russian-language searches for “political asylum”, “emigration”, “flights” and “visa” all leapt in Russia in the days leading up to the invasion on February 24th. Queries for “flights” increased nine-fold from the week ending February 20th to the week ending February 27th. More Russians are asking Google “how to leave Russia” than have done so in 18 years since such data became public. Searches in the final two weeks of February were 16 times higher than the average weekly search volume from the past five years. Finnish trains from St Petersburg to Helsinki—which typically accommodate far fewer passengers than they have capacity for—have been packed with Russian travellers since February 27th. VR Group, a Finnish train company, told The Economist they plan to double the number of daily trains in order to address the growing demand from Russian passengers.

Since the imposition of stringent economic sanctions by Western countries last weekend, the Russian authorities have been straining to prop up the economy and the rouble, which has sunk to record lows against the dollar. The central bank has doubled interest rates. Russians—who have been queuing to take their money out of the banks—have been banned from leaving the country with more than $10,000 in cash. On March 2nd, Mr Putin’s cabinet offered preferential government mortgages and military deferment to information technology workers at Russian firms. But as the grip of sanctions tightens, such incentives may not be enough to keep more Russians from leaving. ■

Russians are trying to flee Putin’s chaos

Using data from Google Trends, The Economist has tracked the discontent

www.economist.com

 

[inCloud]

Russians are trying to flee Putin chaos; Using data from Google Trends, The Economist has tracked the discontent

Was always like that. "Пора валить" is a thing since 2012. Its panic before the storm, most of us don't have place where they can run.

Actual consequences of sanctions and war will be here in one-two months, its not gonna be fast.

 

[inCloud]

Russian news saying that Ukrainian government developed dirty bomb in Chernobyl and Energograd.

 

[Jimlaad43]

An interesting analysis on Russia's failed logistics

 

[CEO_da_LB]

Apparently you don't understand it either if your solution is to just let Ukrainians die.

If it's Ukraine or the world, my bad, mate. I have every sympathy for their situation, but much more is at stake here. Russia can end the world.