[Politics] Russia invades Ukraine (24/02/2022)

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Yes, a friend of mine has an apartment in that area and says the same.
Mate of mine currently on hols in Cyprus...lots of Russians there according to him.

So we don't know the full facts.

But if there is a possibility this defector was placed in an area known for their being lots of Russians, where a Russian assassin can plausibly act as a holidaymaker, then be spirited away, we need to know about it.

 

[raymondo]

Enjoy the precise skills of these Ukrainian drone operators :

 

[Eric the meek]

Elon being a good boy for his masters in the Kremlin?

Apparently (according to replies) it's back up. Mass reported complaints against the account brought it down, but not for long.

This was a useful exercise, as it confirms that Yulia Navalnaya has touched a nerve...

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Apparently (according to replies) it's back up. Mass reported complaints against the account brought it down, but not for long.

This was a useful exercise, as it confirms that Yulia Navalnaya has touched a nerve...

OK, but why was it down?

 

[Eric the meek]

OK, but why was it down?

It's only a guess but an avalanche of complaints may have triggered X's internal manipulation and anti-spam systems to suspend the account.

Here is what Sky have to say:

Ukraine war latest: Putin's top general calls US military chief in highly unusual move amid escalation fears

In a highly unusual move, a Russian general called Joe Biden's top military adviser and talked about how to manage escalation concerns between the two countries. Meanwhile, Ukraine's military intelligence reportedly carries out a successful cyberattack on one of Russia's biggest banks.

news.sky.com

 

[raymondo]

It's only a guess but an avalanche of complaints may have triggered X's internal manipulation and anti-spam systems to suspend the account.

Here is what Sky have to say:

Ukraine war latest: Putin's top general calls US military chief in highly unusual move amid escalation fears

In a highly unusual move, a Russian general called Joe Biden's top military adviser and talked about how to manage escalation concerns between the two countries. Meanwhile, Ukraine's military intelligence reportedly carries out a successful cyberattack on one of Russia's biggest banks.

news.sky.com

Yes, that seems most likely.

 

[Eric the meek]

We are talking about fake account syndrome on an epic, state-sponsored, national, industrial scale.

I've never seen anything like it. Nothing remotely like it.

 

[A1X]

 

[raymondo]

Depressing...but thank you for posting. I guessed there'd be something, but those graphs are very telling ... and the British and EU governments will know of course.

 

[Sirnormangall]

Depressing...but thank you for posting. I guessed there'd be something, but those graphs are very telling ... and the British and EU governments will know of course.

Yes, depressing graphs and depressing too that nothing has yet been raised about this in parliament?

 

[raymondo]

Landsbergis is always worth listening to IMO. If you don't have time for all of it (the first few minutes are a bit jokey) then the second half has the serious views from him.

 

[peterward]

Landsbergis is always worth listening to IMO. If you don't have time for all of it (the first few minutes are a bit jokey) then the second half has the serious views from him.

He is brilliant.

Either he or Kaja Kallis who have an acute sense of the Russian threat and the determination to deal with it, should be the next head of NATO and/or EU security commisioner

 

[raymondo]

He is brilliant.

Either he or Kaja Kallis who have an acute sense of the Russian threat and the determination to deal with it, should be the next head of NATO and/or EU security commisioner

I agree 100%. They are at the forefront of straight talking support of Ukraine, and their country has first hand experience of the horrors of Soviet occupation.

 

[Eric the meek]

Moscow aims to "build up a bank of hostages with American passports," and use them “as leverage” in any future negotiations with Russia.

A Russian-American has been arrested in Russia for treason. Her crime - donating $51 to a Ukrainian charity.

February 22, 2024 - Russia-Ukraine news

The Biden administration will impose a fresh slate of sanctions on more than 500 targets on Friday in response to opposition figure Alexey Navalny's death and just one day before the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion.

edition.cnn.com

There's also an interesting piece in the same CNN news digest:

'Former Putin speechwriter says discontent toward Putin in Russian society is on the rise'.

 

[raymondo]

Moscow aims to "build up a bank of hostages with American passports," and use them “as leverage” in any future negotiations with Russia.

A Russian-American has been arrested in Russia for treason. Her crime - donating $51 to a Ukrainian charity.

February 22, 2024 - Russia-Ukraine news

The Biden administration will impose a fresh slate of sanctions on more than 500 targets on Friday in response to opposition figure Alexey Navalny's death and just one day before the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion.

edition.cnn.com

There's also an interesting piece in the same CNN news digest:

'Former Putin speechwriter says discontent toward Putin in Russian society is on the rise'.

To be honest, I don't understand why anyone with a dual passport including US, EU,UK...would even want to visit Russia during this war?
Good to read there that a number of Russian Orthodox Church clerics have an anti war stance.
A much needed reminder too that the activist Kara Murza remains imprisoned... here's hoping he stays alive .

 

[Eric the meek]

To be honest, I don't understand why anyone with a dual passport including US, EU,UK...would even want to visit Russia during this war?
Good to read there that a number of Russian Orthodox Church clerics have an anti war stance.
A much needed reminder too that the activist Kara Murza remains imprisoned... here's hoping he stays alive .

Russia wouldn't have been my first choice for a winter break Raymondo.

For a dual national, you would expect some hassle/questioning, probably surveillance etc, but arrested for treason? Really?

My take, as the CNN article suggests, is that Putin is planning for the future and assembling a collection of hostages as human shields to head off action by the enemy. I read this as a good sign, with him, despite all the public bravado and narrative, actually being on the back foot. Focus on his actions. Definitely not his words.

 

[raymondo]

Russia wouldn't have been my first choice for a winter break Raymondo.

For a dual national, you would expect some hassle/questioning, probably surveillance etc, but arrested for treason? Really?

My take, as the CNN article suggests, is that Putin is planning for the future and assembling a collection of hostages as human shields to head off action by the enemy. I read this as a good sign, with him, despite all the public bravado and narrative, actually being on the back foot. Focus on his actions. Definitely not his words.

Sure, Putin will cover lots of bases just in case he can use them later.
Just better for anyone with a foreign passport/nationality to stay out of Russia ...methinks!

 

[Eric the meek]

Here's an article from an organisation, the provenance of which I'm not sure. But it reaches an extraordinary conclusion (one that I have not heard before) in the very last paragraph. The article is written by Belgian academic Renaud Foucart, Senior Economics Lecturer, Lancaster University.

It's only a 2-3 minute read.

Russia’s economy is now completely driven by the war in Ukraine – it cannot afford to lose, but nor can it afford to win

Western military support for Ukraine is more important than ever.

theconversation.com

 

[timbha]

Here's an article from an organisation, the provenance of which I'm not sure. But it reaches an extraordinary conclusion (one that I have not heard before) in the very last paragraph. The article is written by Belgian academic Renaud Foucart, Senior Economics Lecturer, Lancaster University.

It's only a 2-3 minute read.

Russia’s economy is now completely driven by the war in Ukraine – it cannot afford to lose, but nor can it afford to win

Western military support for Ukraine is more important than ever.

theconversation.com

Thanks. Not sure how worried I should be

 

[papachris]

FSB reportedly ask travelers crossing Estonian border about attitudes towards EU

Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers require travelers crossing the Russia-Estonia border to fill in questionnaires about their attitudes to the war in Ukraine, a source told Mediazona.

news.err.ee

This from our Estonian news yesterday