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[Politics] Russia invades Ukraine (24/02/2022)
- Thread starter vegster
- Start date
Weststander
Well-known member
Spare a thought for the recent Russian conscripts already dying, Putin’s murdering two peoples.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-n...d-russian-soldiers-already-returning-coffins/
Coffins containing the bodies of men conscripted by the Kremlin just last month are already being flown back to Russia from Ukraine.
Pro-war Russian bloggers said that the death of conscripts barely three weeks after Vladimir Putin ordered a mobilisation showed just how shambolic the process had been.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-n...d-russian-soldiers-already-returning-coffins/
Coffins containing the bodies of men conscripted by the Kremlin just last month are already being flown back to Russia from Ukraine.
Pro-war Russian bloggers said that the death of conscripts barely three weeks after Vladimir Putin ordered a mobilisation showed just how shambolic the process had been.
They're joining existing units and as "new boys" are given the most dangerous places to defend by the clued-in troops already there.
Always going to be the case sadly. And from a trickle it will very soon turn into a tsunami of coffins returning home.
- Aug 24, 2020
- 7,165
Who knows what goes on in Putin's mind? That's just what I understood from the video.
Besides, after all that has happened, how could Zelensky a) sign up to any negotiated settlement agreed with Putin and b) have any confidence at all that Putin would stick to it anyway?
Yes, I'm just pointing out the stupidity of what he may be offering/hinting at. He's about to break his own law. Who does he think he is, Boris?
He couldn't. Words of peace from Pootin are either a fake gesture as a pathetic attempt to appear as reasonable, or a stalling tactic while they manufacture some weapons and train the mobilised troops. Regardless of any agreements he makes, there will never ever be a time when he won't take as much of Ukraine as he can. Ukraine's only hope of keeping their land (and indeed their identity) is to force Russia out and defend themselves in the future (ideally with the help of allies).
- Aug 24, 2020
- 7,165
Yes, I agree with that.
That isn't to say that we should immediately dismiss all that Putin has to say and tell him to f off. (I know you're not suggesting this).
I would like to think that with some skillful diplomacy, western governments could take advantage of Putin's obvious weakness in that he's losing on the battlefield and seeking to get Ukraine/the west to lay down their weapons. Translated, that means he needs time. There are several overtures in that video, not least the one in which he apparently is offering the whole of the west 'a new deal'. That needs to be carefully examined and understood, while still making inexorable gains on the battlefield. I believe he is offering that deal, because he believes the very existence of Russia is at stake.
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Hove / Παρος
I believe Russia lacks the resources to manufacture any advanced weapons systems - they did have some joy repurposing chips from washing machines, fridges and dishwashers recently. How advanced would a washing machine-powered weapon be, I'm no expert but I imagine they're not great! Sanctions announced a few weeks ago specifically mention those items (https://www.ft.com/content/c4930d44-9db2-40ef-9800-e52a0112aceb)
I'm sure he'll find his ways to get his hands on some microchips though, via some dodgy third party, but it will hopefully greatly reduce their manufacturing capabilities.
He’d end up being rinsed
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Hove / Παρος
Hopefully, with all his assets frozen it could send him into a spin
yes - I work in tech and there has been a big focus on various companies in Russia / connected to Russia from buying products through third party organisations.
Unfortunately it’s nearly impossible to guarantee where stuff goes, but a bunch of companies have admitted they inadvertently ended up selling to sanctioned organisations since 2014 recently
I agree except that I think he believes his existence is at stake, not Russia's.
If possible, I'd like the support for Ukraine to increase, so they can make further gains and put more pressure on Pootin, before he has time to train the new soldiers.
What's all this?
Russia appears to be pausing its military activities and making a diplomatic push.
Does it want to be friends after all?
Has it run out of missiles?
Is it stalling for time to train its new troops?
Whatever the reason, it seems to be making several coordinated attempts at a (Russian style) charm offensive.
First the BBC reports:
'Ukraine war: Putin says no more massive strikes - for now'
Ukraine war: Putin says no more massive strikes - for now
The Russian president says it is not his aim to destroy Ukraine, despite recent heavy bombardments.www.bbc.co.uk
From the Indian Youtube news channel Crux:
'Russia Suddenly Changes Tone On Talks Amid Ukraine War Setbacks| Putin Looking For "Peace" Or More?'
(He appears to be offering? a withdrawal from Kherson, but wants to keep Donbas. Crimea is not on the table).
This is presumably unacceptable to Ukraine, who have repeatedly ruled out negotiations.
See the statement from the Turkish government at 2:08.
I will never ever trust Putin or Lavrov ... they are stalling until delivery of Iranian missiles.
Their bloggers are wrong...it actually shows how efficient the mobilisation process has been: mobilisation papers (preferably to ethnic minorities first) -> transfer to training centres -> training -> uniform and equipment supply -> despatched to battalion -> carefully placed on the dangerous frontline positions by the more senior and experienced colleagues -> killed -> bagged -> flown home. All that in just one month. Russian efficiency, astonishing.
Deportivo Seagull
I should coco
No it doesn’t . What it shows is the movement of untrained and ill equipped canon fodder to the front line which is a disaster. A proper mobalisation would have included at least some basic trading (6 weeks) prior to being sacrificed on the front line.
I know you are right... I was just being a bit sarcastic toward the Russian regime
Thought this was a very good analysis of the threat from Belarus.
tl:dr it's a bluff, Belarus has handed over a load of tanks to Russia and the border between Belarus and Ukraine is mainly impassable marsh and Ukraine have got the only militarily useful routes secured. It would be suicide for Belarussian troops.
tl:dr it's a bluff, Belarus has handed over a load of tanks to Russia and the border between Belarus and Ukraine is mainly impassable marsh and Ukraine have got the only militarily useful routes secured. It would be suicide for Belarussian troops.
Weststander
Well-known member
A military commissar in charge of enlistment for Putin’s chaotic mobilisation campaign, Lt-Col Roman Malyk, 49, has been found dead in suspicious circumstances prompting murder investigation. His body was discovered near the fence of his home in the Primorsky region of Russia.
Putin's subordinates seem to have a low life expectancy.
Putin's subordinates seem to have a low life expectancy.
So there is now a theory that Putin has sent 9000 troops to Belarus so that well connected Russians can arrange for relatives to be posted to these "safe" battalions and stay out of the war.
It wouldn't surprise me, and probably costs a fair few rubles to swing a posting to Belarus.
It wouldn't surprise me, and probably costs a fair few rubles to swing a posting to Belarus.