Invasion of Ukraine by Russia and War

[cibo]

There are lots of reports of howitzers and some of loitering ammo. In sufficient quantities to make a difference? Who knows?

I've heard quite a few reports of significant corruption on the Ukrainian side of things - protective equipment and weapons sent not finding it's way to front line soldiers without payment being made to grease the wheels and so on....

Some Ukrainians here have been sending money back to their male relatives so that they can make the necessary 'contribution' to access equipment...

[Ming]

This guy always seems to me to explain what he sees going on in a rational non sensational way. He points out that he gets flamed when he stops putting out Ukrainian victory info and also for not portraying the great Russian victories. His take is the area under contention is getting smaller at the moment.

Meanwhile undoubtedly the evil Russian army continues to flatten small towns and villages.

https://twitter.com/phillipspobrien/...sDLwd0dxJb0bgQ


I’m going to do some reading into what’s happening in the occupied zone. Things like forced deportations and new Russian passport issues and plans for annexation. Also reports of partisan actions. And no doubt continued atrocities at the hands of the evil Russian army.

It’s quite horrible to see the parallel between what the Russians are told about Ukraine and it’s people not deserving to exist and being lesser than Russia and the Russians and approach of the Nazis in WW2 in this de nazification special military operation. No doubt that plays into horrific behavior by the occupation forces who are probably looking for revenge also.

[injeejay]

I've heard quite a few reports of significant corruption on the Ukrainian side of things - protective equipment and weapons sent not finding it's way to front line soldiers without payment being made to grease the wheels and so on....

Some Ukrainians here have been sending money back to their male relatives so that they can make the necessary 'contribution' to access equipment...

You won’t see it too many places, as it doesn’t fit a simple narrative, but until recently Ukraine was regularly considered amongst the more corrupt countries in the world. US diplomats referred to it as a kleptocracy. In Europe, it was considered 2nd most corrupt, only being pipped to the post by Russia. I believe they were heading in a better direction under current leadership but a culture of corruption does not get undone overnight.

[Ming]

For the most committed, worth translating this Finnish series of tweets to see what is happening on Eastern front in Ukraine. Russia may be close to pinching off the rest of the region but they may consume their best forces in doing so and it doesn’t change the overall situation. Without it, Putin can’t claim victory and move to the defensive.

If he moves to defensive, realpolitik might force the Ukrainians to do a deal to allow food shipments.

https://twitter.com/emilkastehelmi/s...sDLwd0dxJb0bgQ


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hi-rev]

I've heard quite a few reports of significant corruption on the Ukrainian side of things - protective equipment and weapons sent not finding it's way to front line soldiers without payment being made to grease the wheels and so on....

Some Ukrainians here have been sending money back to their male relatives so that they can make the necessary 'contribution' to access equipment...

I've heard quite a few reports of significant corruption on the Ukrainian side of things - protective equipment and weapons sent not finding it's way to front line soldiers without payment being made to grease the wheels and so on....

Some Ukrainians here have been sending money back to their male relatives so that they can make the necessary 'contribution' to access equipment...

Yes, exactly. Its worth mentioning, that until Putin started threatening war, Zelensky was not seen as the good guy at all, as he was allowing the oligarchs to continue their kleptocracy, corruption was rife, and free media was stifled. (Though that is only partly true, as the Ukrainian government was limiting Russian access to media...)
He just happened to be a good actor in crisis situations and a good motivational speaker which is what you need in a crisis.
Like a modern Churchill.

[Ming]

A brilliant ad for whatever brand of crisps this is.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Titan]

For the most committed, worth translating this Finnish series of tweets to see what is happening on Eastern front in Ukraine. Russia may be close to pinching off the rest of the region but they may consume their best forces in doing so and it doesn’t change the overall situation. Without it, Putin can’t claim victory and move to the defensive.

If he moves to defensive, realpolitik might force the Ukrainians to do a deal to allow food shipments.

https://twitter.com/emilkastehelmi/s...sDLwd0dxJb0bgQ


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think this is what Putins next move will be.

He knows his actions are sending food prices soaring so he will only think about lifting the blockades if the sanctions are scaled back for Russia.

[Ming]

On what is reported to be happening in occupied Ukraine (Kherson/Mariupol) -

- Russian telephone access codes now used on fixed lines
- Schools going through summer, Russian curriculum, Ukrainian books being burned (so brainwashing on the way as per evil Russian regime playbook)
- women hiding, and hiding their children
- conscription suspected to be on the way for the hapless denizens of occupied Ukraine, as per LPR and DPR conscripts, who are thrown at the Ukrainian defensive positions

[deltona]

They're really going all in on the propaganda now;

Lavrov says Armenia, Kazakhstan, Central Asian countries have US biolabs

MOSCOW, May 26. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asian countries have US-funded biolabs, and Moscow is discussing this issue with its neighbors both bilaterally and through the CSTO.


He made the statement in an interview with RT Arabic, which was aired on Thursday.


"These laboratories exist in Armenia, Kazakhstan and in the countries of Central Asia," he said. "We are considering these problems with these countries on a bilateral basis and through the CSTO."


"With practically all the CSTO countries and other CIS countries, we have either concluded or are preparing to conclude memorandums of cooperation on biological safety, stipulating for mutual disclosures on how biological programs are developing in each of our countries," Lavrov continued.


"What’s important is transparency that allows us to make sure that these programs do not have a military dimension, as this is prohibited by the Convention [on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons]," the minister said. "These memorandums envisage mutual visits and examinations of the activities of the laboratories."


"In addition, it’s been put in writing that the biological facilities of each of the sides must not be attended by military representatives of any third party," Lavrov said.

From;
https://tass.com/politics/1456537

[-alan-]

Overheard on Radio Nova earlier today..

"The weather looks like it's going to be great for the next couple of days - so be sure to get out there and enjoy it before it all turns back to Putin next week.."

Go Nova

[hi-rev]

The European project is getting a bit... political.

Turkey is trying to block Finland's and Sweden's acceptence into NATO, Hungary, Italy, Germany and others are trying to stop the ban on Russian oil and gas, and Germany in particular is stalling arms deliveries to Ukraine, negating on the "Ringtausch" of delivering tanks to Poland after this country gave its T72s to Ukraine and generally going the way of the appeasement.
The actual ufck.

[Alfaguy]

You can always rely on Turkey to be awkward.

[Titan]

All the while theres a big smirk starting to come across Putins face....as in everything its all about the long game.

[Cold]

Overheard on Radio Nova earlier today..

"The weather looks like it's going to be great for the next couple of days - so be sure to get out there and enjoy it before it all turns back to Putin next week.."

Go Nova

Good description. 10C in June. Ffs. Can we not buy some Russian hydrocarbons and fix this sh1t?

[-alan-]

^ Some of that there 'canned sunshine' should be easy enough to organise if we push El Putino hard enough