Russia-Ukraine War

[Sovereign01]

Oh my word, President Biden is in Ukraine... More HIMAR ammunition incoming, and potentially longer range stuff (300km) although I'm sure that'll only happen if the guarantee is given it won't be used against targets in Russia.

And thanks for that explanation, mr.WHO, but I pray the casualty levels before capitulation aren't anything like what you're suggesting.

Officially guaranteed, but unofficially is another matter and the USA would look the other way. Even restricting its use to targets in Ukraine it's forcing the Russians to lengthen their supply lines to keep them out of artillery range and increasing their already precarious logistical burden. Longer ranged missiles means reaching even further behind the Russian lines. Hell, even just thinking the Ukrainians have them would be enough to force Russia to lengthen its supply lines still further.

[mr.WHO]

Most Russians don't hear about dead soldiers from Dagestan or Tatarstan. If families in Moscow start grieving for lost ones, those deaths are more visible.

Shouldn't happen anytime soon - as the priviledged aren't to contribute blood to the war as Vladimir Solovyov and others demonstrated in the past months. Their childs are safe & sound living their lives in Russia while taking the occasional trip to the west to have some education or vacation.

It's not that simple - it isn't entire Moscov/Petersburg which is priviledged, not even majority or significant part.
There is a stratification and being at the bottom is as bad as everywhere else, these people already starts to get their draft notice.

In bizzare elite thinking it this could be even a good thing, like some kind of gentrification.
You don't like criminals? off to the frontlines.
You don't like separatist minorities? off to the frontline.
You don't like plebs on your streets? off to the frontline.

It's much more easy to look at Russia through XIX century lenses, than by XXI century.

[chew-ie]

Any thoughts on Putins speech so far?

I had a few guesses what it would be about - but I was all wrong. The last few months weren't good for this guy - he seems to be completely lost in his own lies. ("defender of childs against the LGBTQI thread" german fact finder@german state media).

With everything that is discussed both in his speech and on state TV they just sound like they are out of ideas as no threats came to fruit so far. In fact, they sound rather desperate, making up even more wilder claims about anybody they can get their hands on (Biden, Harris ...). Not even be able to conquer one small town but throwing out idle threads and illusions ("escorting Bidens helicopter over Ukrainian airspace to demonstrate Russian power" russian state TV discussion@russian media monitor). From their body language alone they seem to slowly recognize that they have no chips left. Don't know why they keep airing that stuff. They even officially stated now that there were too many lives lost ...

[mr.WHO]

The best description of Putin speech is a dude in his audience going to sleep.

It's good to compare it with today Biden speech - completely different energy from Biden, audience and crowd.

I guess we'll see #sleepyVlad trending.

[Alan Phipps]

I'd bet the guy in Putin's audience who was asleep on camera is wishing he hadn't done that by now. Consequences ...

[Vertigo 7]

oh, I doubt he has anything to worry about any longer.

[Falcrack]

I'd bet the guy in Putin's audience who was asleep on camera is wishing he hadn't done that by now. Consequences ...

A fresh breeze from an open window will wake him right up.

[Warenwolf]

Any thoughts on Putins speech so far?

Honestly before reading your post I did not pay attention to it. I would have guessed it would be in vein of everyone else is wrong, we are being attacked, russia stronk, etc, etc and I was not entirely wrong (I was reading summary, I am not watching that drivel).

I'd bet the guy in Putin's audience who was asleep on camera is wishing he hadn't done that by now. Consequences ...

A fresh breeze from an open window will wake him right up.

That sort of prejudices is not OK imho. He may fall down the stairs...

[chew-ie]

Any thoughts on Putins speech so far?

Honestly before reading your post I did not pay attention to it.

That pretty much sums it up - he doesn't matter anymore.

[fiksal]

what can he say that we can't guess already

[felter]

Right now, I just can't see this ending anytime soon, I think the war is going to go on for 5 to 10 years and the death toll at the end is going to end up being something like 2 to 5 million, unless something drastically changes, which I just can't see happening.

[combisun]

Right now, I just can't see this ending anytime soon, I think the war is going to go on for 5 to 10 years and the death toll at the end is going to end up being something like 2 to 5 million, unless something drastically changes, which I just can't see happening.

{more propaganda removed}

[fiksal]

4) Absolute misunderstanding by the Western population of the motives and goals of Russia. This is due to the isolation of the Western information from the Russian one. Those information crumbs that break through in the West Infopol, are declared “propaganda” (without any analysis), discredited and removed. Alternative opinion in the West must be blocked (according to those who control the media).
Misunderstanding very often leads to conflict.

You are back!

I'll remind you that there are actual Russians and Russian speaking folks on this forum. There's no information wall - we can see everything that is said in Russia.

It's your castle that is made of paper.

[Gavrushka]

I don't know what is scarier - if Conbisum actually believes what he's saying or whether he doesn't and is just prepared to go ahead and say it anyway.

Putin's speech was broadcast live in the West, as was the celebrations held in the Stadium. - Press here is free, genuinely free.

I guess this thread just needs to stay locked.

[CBJ]

More mindless repetition of the same old propaganda talking points has been removed, but I've left the post because other people have responded to it and it will confuse the flow of the thread otherwise.

[fiksal]

I appreciate our mods taking care of threads and protecting the order. This wouldnt be the forum worth going to otherwise for all these years.

[chew-ie]

Russian tank arrived in Berlin: https://nitter.at/i/status/1628319451937402882
(anti-war art installation)

[mr.WHO]

Aparently tank training is going swiftly and Polish, German and Spanish Leopard 2 are scheduled to be delivered to Ukraine in March.

Edit: Just from a moment ago, according to polish news sources, a few Leo 2 have been already shipped to Ukraine.

Edit2: and we will throw 60 PT-91 to the pile soon as well.

[Falcrack]

I really hope that more Ukrainian tank crews are being trained on these Western tanks than there are tanks confirmed ready to send. That way, if more tanks are pledged, the crews will be ready to go as soon as the tanks can be delivered without having to wait for the training to complete.

[euclid]

Is Moldova/Transnistria next on Putin's list? Seems like the MO is very similar: Ukranian forces prepare to invade and the Russian army prepares to intervene to "help and protect"?

Cheers Euclid