Russian Invasion of Ukraine

[MatskiMonk]

A couple of interesting rumors are that (1) Putin will undergo cancer surgery in the immediate future. He may be in his final days as president. No idea who may replace him. The other rumor is that Russia will declare war against Ukraine on or around May 9th.

New York Post was the source that cropped up on my news feed..

Putin to undergo cancer surgery, transfer power to ex-FSB chief: report

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to undergo cancer surgery and temporarily hand over power to a hardliner former federal police chief.

nypost.com

Putin will transfer control of Russia’s government to Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Russian federal police’s Security Council, while he is incapacitated during and after the procedure, according to a video from the mysterious Telegram channel “General SVR” on Saturday.

The channel — which is purportedly run by a former Russian Foreign Intelligence Service lieutenant general known by the pseudonym “Viktor Mikhailovich” — reported that Putin has been told by doctors that he must undergo an operation.

...

“I will say that this is the worst option,” the narrator adds. “Patrushev is an outright villain. He is no better than Vladimir Putin. Moreover, he is a more cunning, and I would say, more insidious person than Vladimir Putin. If he comes to power, Russians’ problems will only multiply.”

“Viktor Mikhailovich” ominously hinted that he and his allies “will make certain efforts so this does not happen, and I hope we will succeed.”

 

[TexRex]

rumors

New York Post

Checks out.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Checks out.

Their source as per the article is a Telegram account in Russian... I'm not about to start trying to figure out if it's reliable, but I thought it best to put the story as presented out there, rather than leaving people guessing as to whether Dotini heard it during a transcendental spirit journey, or read it on his news feed.

edit: no disrespect towards Dotini or people that perform transcendental meditation.

 

[Keef]

 

[Dennisch]

That is what you get when you divide all the money that's supposed to go to the country among a couple of money grabbers.

 

[Blitz24]

A couple of interesting rumors are that (1) Putin will undergo cancer surgery in the immediate future. He may be in his final days as president. No idea who may replace him. The other rumor is that Russia will declare war against Ukraine on or around May 9th.

So roughly 10 weeks they fought before declaring war... okay then.

 

[Dotini]

So roughly 10 weeks they fought before declaring war... okay then.

Moving from a "special military operation" to a national declaration of war has very particular implications, both for those inside Russia and for those outside.

 

[Keef]

Moving from a "special military operation" to a national declaration of war has very particular implications, both for those inside Russia and for those outside.

It basically signals their own failure to wrangle a rogue oblast and admits they're trying to conquer sovereign land.

 

[Dotini]

Moving from a "special military operation" to a national declaration of war has very particular implications.

For those inside Russia:
Moving from a "special military operation" to a national declaration of war has enormous practical significance. It means a national state of emergency, a mobilization of the entire population to support the war effort, involuntary conscription, widespread call up of all military reserves, even retirees, and the relocation of troops dedicated as the "home guard" or specifically assigned to border control, or occupying Georgia. Maybe even enlisting allied nations' forces into the battle


For those outside Russia:
Maybe the very most important difference it makes to the outside, is that we are on notice that Russia now regards its national existence to be at stake, to be threatened by Ukraine supported by NATO/EU allies. And also that no weapon in its arsenal will be off limits for defending the survival of the nation. It is a major, major step to the dread of a nuclear World War 3

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Moving from a "special military operation" to a national declaration of war has very particular implications.

For those inside Russia:
Moving from a "special military operation" to a national declaration of war has enormous practical significance. It means a national state of emergency, a mobilization of the entire population to support the war effort, involuntary conscription, widespread call up of all military reserves, even retirees, and the relocation of troops dedicated as the "home guard" or specifically assigned to border control, or occupying Georgia. Maybe even enlisting allied nations' forces into the battle


For those outside Russia:
Maybe the very most important difference it makes to the outside, is that we are on notice that Russia now regards its national existence to be at stake, to be threatened by Ukraine supported by NATO/EU allies. And also that no weapon in its arsenal will be off limits for defending the survival of the nation. It is a major, major step to the dread of a nuclear World War 3

Either that or they will end the war on May 9th.

As much as Putin and the other hypernationalists would love to conquer Ukraine, I'm not sure they are willing to do it at any cost. I'm also not sure the theoretical cost would even be within the means of Russia.

The best way out for literally everyone on Earth is for Russia to declare mission accomplished on May 9th and withdraw.

 

[Darla Starch]

The best way out for literally everyone on Earth is for Russia to declare mission accomplished on May 9th and withdraw.

Whoever suggested giving Vladdy boy a NFT saying he owns Ukraine is now sounding like a genius.

 

[Blitz24]

Either that or they will end the war on May 9th.

As much as Putin and the other hypernationalists would love to conquer Ukraine, I'm not sure they are willing to do it at any cost. I'm also not sure the theoretical cost would even be within the means of Russia.

The best way out for literally everyone on Earth is for Russia to declare mission accomplished on May 9th and withdraw.

So just like Bush in Iraq except worse and more embarrassing.

 

[TexRex]

Whoever suggested giving Vladdy boy a NFT saying he owns Ukraine is now sounding like a genius.

Imagine how mad he would be if someone stole his ape.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

So just like Bush in Iraq except worse and more embarrassing.

Shhhhh

You meant to say like Bush in Iraq except splendid and even more victorious.

 

[Liquid]

The 9th May parade:

МИШН АКОМПЛИШД

(styrofoam tanks waft by in silence)

Spoiler

My attempt at writing the English phrase in Cyrillic. Don't bomb me.

 

[inCloud]

МИШН АКОМПЛИШД

FTFY

The best way out for literally everyone on Earth is for Russia to declare mission accomplished on May 9th and withdraw.

Yeah, but Ukraine would not stop it.

 

[Liquid]

FTFY

Yeah, but Ukraine would not stop it.

I annoy myself with П and Р so much. I know the difference, it's just a muscle memory typo.

 

[Dennisch]

Not only remove him but hang him on a rope on the Red Square for all of Russia to see. And then educate them about all the lies they've been told.

 

[JKgo]

I'll believe it when it happens.

However... If the rumour's been doing rounds so openly that people outside of Russia can discuss it... Doesn't that mean Putin's already aware of it? Meaning, he's already made preparations to protect himself?

A secret operation to remove a dictator should be... secret, no? 🤔

 

[Blitz24]

I'll believe it when it happens.

However... If the rumour's been doing rounds so openly that people outside of Russia can discuss it... Doesn't that mean Putin's already aware of it? Meaning, he's already made preparations to protect himself?

A secret operation to remove a dictator should be... secret, no? 🤔

Shh, don't tell anyone.

 

[inCloud]

 

[TheCracker]

Okay, so here's a theory* for you, based on thoughts i had after seeing/reading about Putin's apparent health issues. Bare with me.

So it is alledged that Putin is possibly one of the world's wealthiest individuals. That wealth certainly doesn't come from his presidential yearly wage, which from Kremlin reports are somewhere between $260k and $120k, it looks to vary year in, year out for some reason.

If Putin wants to really be able to enjoy that wealth - a figure of $200 Billion is reported, when does he get to do that? Even under Russia's largely government controlled media, the lavish billionaire lifestyle led by an ex-president, isn't going to go down well with a population that by world standards is generally quite poor. People are going to question where that wealth came from.

But a supposedly dead president, one who died due to complications following cancer surgery, could slip away, perhaps with some cosmetic surgery, and live out the rest of their life quite comfortably somewhere out of the public eye. Great wealth affords you that luxury.

You can fake bad health much easier then you can mask poor health, especially if your 'ailments' are Parkinsons or the various treatments for cancer.


*I'm happy for it to be called a conspiracy theory if you like, but these are just my own machinations, not part of any wider theories i've come across online.

 

[McLaren]

Okay, so here's a theory* for you, based on thoughts i had after seeing/reading about Putin's apparent health issues. Bare with me.

So it is alledged that Putin is possibly one of the world's wealthiest individuals. That wealth certainly doesn't come from his presidential yearly wage, which from Kremlin reports are somewhere between $260k and $120k, it looks to vary year in, year out for some reason.

If Putin wants to really be able to enjoy that wealth - a figure of $200 Billion is reported, when does he get to do that? Even under Russia's largely government controlled media, the lavish billionaire lifestyle led by an ex-president, isn't going to go down well with a population that by world standards is generally quite poor. People are going to question where that wealth came from.

But a supposedly dead president, one who died due to complications following cancer surgery, could slip away, perhaps with some cosmetic surgery, and live out the rest of their life quite comfortably somewhere out of the public eye. Great wealth affords you that luxury.

You can fake bad health much easier then you can mask poor health, especially if your 'ailments' are Parkinsons or the various treatments for cancer.


*I'm happy for it to be called a conspiracy theory if you like, but these are just my own machinations, not part of any wider theories i've come across online.

I think you're on to something. I also thought earlier Russia might find a way to make a transfer of power less messy than some might want & allow Putin to live the remainder of his years away and out of the spotlight.

 

[Dennisch]

Just wait until the Russians find out about his billion dollar compound at the Black Sea.

 

[RacingGrandpa]

FTFY

Yeah, but Ukraine would not stop it.

They would probably try to re-take Chrimea. They should I think. It was wrongfully annected, with a bogus referendum and bussing in Russians to vote.

 

[inCloud]

They would probably try to re-take Chrimea. They should I think. It was wrongfully annected, with a bogus referendum and bussing in Russians to vote.

First of all, Crimeans dont want to be in Ukraine. Second, Crimea is peninsula with very tight connection with Ukraine which could be hold by small russian forces. Its near impossible to capture without navy. Donbass, on the other hand, could be retaken.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

First of all, Crimeans dont want to be in Ukraine. Second, Crimea is peninsula with very tight connection with Ukraine which could be hold by small russian forces. Its near impossible to capture without navy. Donbass, on the other hand, could be retaken.

I agree. I don't see Crimea being retaken by Ukraine. Russia would do literally everything within their power to prevent loss of territory at this point. The port of Sevastopol is too valuable strategically, and the symbolic loss would be too much to bear. Donbass they may decide isn't worth the effort.

 

[Danoff]

They would probably try to re-take Chrimea. They should I think. It was wrongfully annected, with a bogus referendum and bussing in Russians to vote.

First of all, Crimeans dont want to be in Ukraine. Second, Crimea is peninsula with very tight connection with Ukraine which could be hold by small russian forces. Its near impossible to capture without navy. Donbass, on the other hand, could be retaken.

I agree. I don't see Crimea being retaken by Ukraine. Russia would do literally everything within their power to prevent loss of territory at this point. The port of Sevastopol is too valuable strategically, and the symbolic loss would be too much to bear. Donbass they may decide isn't worth the effort.

It's pretty important to keep the story in mind here. Ukraine currently has the moral high ground and the world's sympathy. That's helped them a ton, and it will continue to do so. They'd trash all of that if they went after territory.

 

[wowbaggerBR]

First of all, Crimeans dont want to be in Ukraine. Second, Crimea is peninsula with very tight connection with Ukraine which could be hold by small russian forces. Its near impossible to capture without navy. Donbass, on the other hand, could be retaken.

I'm not doubting you, I just wonder if there is some evidence for this other than the referendum?

 

[Keef]

when does he get to do that?

He doesn't. These people don't think like us, they don't consider the idea of retiring on a boat with the wife and actually enjoying life. They can't do that, because of their mafia-like or cartel-like lifestyle. These people seek control and power, not money and luxury although they come with the territory, and certainly not happiness. If these leaders attempt to retire they'll likely be dead before they even launch the boat because they are still a risk to the new leaders. We've got our own example right here in the US in Trump - he basically refused to not be the leader, and at the point where he should've gone home a relieved man like every other ex-president he insisted he was still in charge. These are mentally ill people, they're not normal. The only concept they understand is control and that is their only purpose in life.

I think it's very unlikely that Putin has suddenly had an awaking and tossed aside his Soviet brainwashing and decided that he can somehow operate outside that system and finally enjoy freedom. Plus, once he leaves Russia's borders and without the protection from his own government he becomes fair game for who the hell knows wants to get him. If he actually is sick, his biggest concern is probably who or what will get his money. Maybe he'll donate it all to the state.