Ukraine

[Painterdave]

5 hours ago, scotty435 said:

A Vessel spotted at the time of the explosion anyone recognise the occupants?

Has put in got a loo roll next to him 

[910Esprit]

On this occasion, I can't see why Russia would sabotage it.   It means they have lost control of a bargaining chip?

[Bibs]

Gas prices spiked 19% when the news broke. It's another weaponisation of energy against those who are supporting Ukraine. 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Why would anyone else even consider sabotaging it? Only someone as mental as Mad Vlad would think it’s a good idea.

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Wouldn’t it be great if some Special Operation Ukrainians could spoil Vlad’s Annexation Party tomorrow. At least they will know where to find him:

[ramjet]

I am trying to understand what happens once Russia claims that they have annexed the four areas. The ROW does not recognise it as legitimate.

So what happens then? Even if the ROW does not recognise it, Russia has already shown that it does not care what anyone else thinks.

Where to from here?

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

It’s basically a way of extending Russia’s borders and trying to cling on to what they’ve got. So whereas Ukraine has been pretty good in avoiding attacks on real Russian territory, Putin will now claim that further progress East and South by Ukrainian forces would be tantamount to an invasion of Russia itself, with all the sabre-rattling and threats which that entails. He will also include Western arms in his rhetoric: I.e. Western weapons are now being used to attack the Motherland, even though they actually fall on Ukrainian soil. 
 

[ramjet]

Yeah, I understand that. I wonder if that just sees the next escalation by Russia? I never thought I would see something like this in my life that could go bad very quickly and not just bad in a trenches sort of way, but bad globally in days.

I just watched a news snippet from a US station and the reporter was talking about one young guy telling her that he was sad that he has quite possibly taken his last steps in his homeland of Russia. I can understand him being upset about that, but where were all of these people and the demonstrations before Putin started the mobilisation and it hit home that they were now being asked to be involved. Thought it humorous that the officials are telling the new 'army' personnel that they have to buy their own winter gear and their own sleeping bag.

I also found it interesting that in Crimea, he seems to be targeting the Tatar population.

Why wouldn't the mobilised people just wait until they are put at the front lines, take a white shirt, tie it to a stick and surrender? I don't doubt thought that hardline Russian soldiers, if there are any there, may just shoot them anyway.

I seem to remember there was another power that decided that the only people were having around were people like them. Who was that now?

Oh, I remember. It was the Nazis.

[ChrisJ]

1. Conscripts can only serve in Russia - unless war is declared.
2. This is a (very) Special Military Operation, so not a war.
3. Declare these fake referendum areas part of Russia
4. hey presto, the conscripts can be sent there.

These conscripts seem to being sent straight into the front lines with little/no training.

 

 

[ChrisJ]

Huge Fire at Russian Steel Plant Owned by Putin Ally Abramovich—Video (newsweek.com)

ETA: removed image as it was from 2021,

 

[ramjet]

So from what I have read and heard, Putin is going to annex four regions.

I'll just talk about the Donbas as if you look at a map showing who controls what etc, Russia certainly does not control the entire Donbas.

I believe that Putin is going to annex the entire Donbas region. How can he claim to be able to annex a region that he does not control? Yes, I know he makes his own rules up.

I might have a meeting with the wife and we'll sign a decree to annex Russia. That'll learn 'im!

Just playing by the same set of rules I would think?

[ChrisJ]

• they're annexing land they don't control
• they've also invaded land they aren't annexing

[ramjet]

So everyone is saying that what he is doing is illegal by International Law. So?

How is he ever going to be held to account? Soldiers that may have committed was crimes. Let's say that some have been wounded and have returned to Russia. How are they ever going to be held to account?

All the lip service is all well and good and shows solidarity between everyone that isn't Russia, but how does the accountability part happen? If ever?

I wish he would just have a stroke and become a drool dribbling vegetable staring out a window somewhere.

[ramjet]

To add to that. I hope that he stays self-aware internally and spends the rest of his miserable life being mad and unable to do a damn thing about it.

[TdM]

Ukraine have just applied for Nato membership on an expedited timeline.

God knows what will happen there. I'm fairly certain you can't join Nato if you are at war. On the flip side, according to Russia, they aren't at war.

However, under article 5 if Ukraine were attacked *in any way* which is guaranteed in the current situation then Russia would be attacking Nato as whole.

 

Could be that this is a political statement being made of course that Putin is just shooting himself in the foot...

[C8RKH]

@TdM but surely you are forgetting that Ukraine is not at war. It is subject to a special operation, not a war. In fact I don't recall war being declared by either side.

[ChrisJ]

[ramjet]

I was just thinking, what is the succession plan if Putin kicks the bucket?

Everyone else, just pistols at dawn and it's the last man standing?

Does Russia have a vice president?

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

This is great: “70th Birthday Gift for Putin”.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63121649

 

[bogle]

Now that's a great B-day present for Putin.  A lot of thought and love went into it obviously.  Nothing say love like a former tank from your own army, refurbed a tank that's coming for yah!  You might not be able to blow out your candles, but it can certainly take you head clean off!

[Kimbers]

Big Push yesterday and though Ukraine is keeping Shtum, Russia are actually admitting they have been pushed back, which means it must REALLY be bad. 

reports say the Ukranian army massed tanks and forced their way through by sheer numbers.

My biggest issue now is, knowing Putin to be a madman who now has convinced himself those 4 areas are now Russian, I can really see him using a nuke on Kyiv or the Ukrainian army.

You'd like to think that even the mad "yes" men he has around him would shy at that and depose him before someone retaliates, but I'm not sure!

Every time Ukraine wins he must get more frustrated and angry.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63126156

 

[C8RKH]

Castration is apparently a good cure for frustration 😜

[ChrisJ]

 

[Kimbers]

1 hour ago, ChrisJ said:

 

Dammit wanted to see it blow some shit up!

 

[Bibs]

The way the war is going, I'd not be surprised if Ukraine end up with Crimea back too at this rate!