Russia/Ukraine

Political discussion here. Any reasonable opinion is welcome, but due to the sensitive nature of the topic area, please be nice and respectful to others. No flaming or trolling, please. And please keep political commentary out of the other board areas and confine it to this area. Thanks!
User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 8517
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Nodack »

Finland hit by cyberattack, airspace breach
https://thehill.com/policy/internationa ... ce-breach/
Finland was hit with cyberattacks and an airspace breach on Friday while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was speaking to the Finnish Parliament.

Right before the cyberattacks, Finland announced a Russian aircraft had potentially violated the country’s airspace, Bloomberg reported.
Amid the violation of Finnish airspace and the cyberattacks, Zelensky was speaking to Finland regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“President Zelenskyy gave a historic address to the Parliament today,” the foreign ministry tweeted. “Finland firmly supports Ukraine in its efforts to defend freedom and democracy. #StandWithUkraine.”

Finland has been reconsidering its stance on NATO membership since the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, angering Moscow.
Russia previously threatened Finland and Sweden if they attempted to join the NATO alliance.
“Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries and their accession to NATO can have detrimental consequences and face some military and political consequences,” Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said soon after Russia attacked Ukraine.

User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 8517
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Nodack »

Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine’s civilians
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/over ... civilians/
Ukrainian authorities have accused Russia of carrying out a strike on a train station in eastern Ukraine, an attack that killed dozens of civilians and sparked widespread international condemnation.

Washington’s response: The Biden administration condemned the attack Friday afternoon.
“We are horrified by this latest atrocity, but we can no longer be surprised by the Kremlin’s repugnant disregard for human life,” State Department deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter told reporters.

The Pentagon’s view: The Pentagon, meanwhile, finds Russian claims that it was not involved in the strike “unconvincing.”
“Our assessment is that this was a Russian strike and that they used a short-range ballistic missile to conduct it,” press secretary John Kirby told reporters later Friday. “It is again of a piece of Russian brutality in the prosecution of this war and their carelessness for trying to avoid civilian harm.”

“Russian non-humans do not leave their methods. Not having the strength and courage to confront us on the battlefield, they are cynically destroying the civilian population. This is evil that knows no bounds. And if it is not punished it will never stop,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement, condemning the tragedy in Kramatorsk.

Following news of the train station strike, President Biden confirmed that Slovakia transferred a Soviet-era S-300 air defense system to Ukraine and said that the U.S. would reposition an American Patriot missile system to Slovakia in return.

A handful of House Republicans have been voting against bills aimed at holding Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine, giving Democrats an avenue to accuse the GOP of harboring a faction that is sympathetic to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Who opposed?: The six Republicans who voted “no” were Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Scott Perry (Pa.).

User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 8517
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Nodack »

In Russia you can go to prison for saying anything negative about the government or the war or praising the US. Good thing we live in the US where you can openly criticize our government and even praise our enemies and you are completely free to do so.

Spurred by Putin, Russians Turn on One Another Over the War
https://dnyuz.com/2022/04/09/spurred-by ... r-the-war/
With President Vladimir V. Putin’s direct encouragement, Russians who support the war against Ukraine are starting to turn on the enemy within.

There are reports of students turning in teachers and people telling on their neighbors and even the diners at the next table. In a mall in western Moscow, it was the “no to war” text displayed in a computer repair store and reported by a passer-by that got the store’s owner, Marat Grachev, detained by the police.

In the western region of Kaliningrad, the authorities sent residents text messages urging them to provide phone numbers and email addresses of “provocateurs” in connection with the “special operation” in Ukraine, Russian newspapers reported; they can do so conveniently through a specialized account in the Telegram messaging app. A nationalist political party launched a website urging Russians to report “pests” in the elite.

Mr. Putin set the tone in a speech on March 16, declaring that Russian society needed a “self-purification” in which people would “distinguish true patriots from scum and traitors and simply spit them out like a fly that accidentally flew into their mouths.”

In the western city of Penza, another English teacher, Irina Gen, arrived in class one day and found a giant “Z” scrawled on the chalkboard. The Russian government has been promoting the letter as a symbol of support for the war, after it was seen painted as an identifying marker on Russian military vehicles in Ukraine.

Ms. Gen told her students it looked like half a swastika.

Later, an eighth grader asked her why Russia was being banned from sports competitions in Europe.

“I think that’s the right thing to do,” Ms. Gen responded. “Until Russia starts behaving in a civilized manner, this will continue forever.”

“But we don’t know all the details,” a girl said, referring to the war.

“That’s right, you don’t know anything at all,” Ms. Gen said.

A recording of that exchange appeared on a popular account on Telegram that often posts inside information about criminal cases. The Federal Security Service, a successor agency to the K.G.B., called her in and warned her that her words blaming Russia for the bombing of a maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, last month were “100 percent a criminal case.”

She is now being investigated for causing “grave consequences” under last month’s censorship law, punishable by 10 to 15 years in prison.

User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 8517
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Nodack »

I wonder what Russia thinks about all the Western media sites announcing Russian troop movements on the web. “Hey everyone that might be interested. There is an eight mile long Russian military convoy traveling in this direction on this road with these coordinates. Just thought we would mention it for our readers.”

Satellite images show eight-mile-long Russian convoy in eastern Ukraine
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News ... 649598840/

Large Russian Military Convoy Headed South Toward The Donbas As Putin Redeploys Forces
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-invasion ... 95537.html

Satellite images: Russian military convoy heads south toward Donbas region
https://www.axios.com/photos-russia-con ... 03b8b.html

User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 8517
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Nodack »

Russia hates NATO. Putin thought by attacking Ukraine he could intimidate them and any other countries from joining NATO. His gamble failed. His attack was intimidating. Ukraine wasn’t part of NATO and yet NATO countries have wasted no time in helping Ukraine with anything they can. Now those other non NATO countries want to join NATO to protect themselves from Russia.

Putin is signing up old retired military personnel just like Hitler did when he got desperate. Next we will start to see 15 year old Russian soldiers on the front line?

Putin - Fail

Finland, Sweden Set to Join NATO as Soon as Summer - the Times
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/artic ... -the-times
Reuters) - Russia has made a "massive strategic blunder" as Finland and Sweden look poised to join NATO as early as the summer, The Times reported on Monday, citing officials.

The United States officials said that NATO membership for both Nordic countries was "a topic of conversation and multiple sessions" during talks between the alliance's foreign ministers last week attended by Sweden and Finland, report added.

User avatar
Mori Chu
Posts: 20889
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:05 am

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Mori Chu »

I love seeing new nations want to join NATO. Can Ukraine be next? It seems a little weird that the directors of NATO are slow-rolling the desired membership of Ukraine. I guess they have some specific constraints they still need to meet? As much as Ukraine are "the good guys" in the UKR/RUS conflict, they do still have some corruption and other problems in their political system.

User avatar
Indy
Posts: 19339
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 9:21 pm
Contact:

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Indy »

Mori Chu wrote:
Mon Apr 11, 2022 4:16 pm
I love seeing new nations want to join NATO. Can Ukraine be next? It seems a little weird that the directors of NATO are slow-rolling the desired membership of Ukraine. I guess they have some specific constraints they still need to meet? As much as Ukraine are "the good guys" in the UKR/RUS conflict, they do still have some corruption and other problems in their political system.
Don't we all

User avatar
Flagrant Fowl
Posts: 13786
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 8:04 am
Location: Haeundae, Busan, South Korea

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Flagrant Fowl »

I think it's important to consider how NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe and how it violated agreements after dissolution of The Warsaw Pact is Putin's most valid grievance to invade Ukraine.

I'm not saying that I completely agree with Putin on this, but NATO needs to look itself in the mirror in this instance as well.
Send me a PM if you're interested in joining the phx-suns.net fantasy basketball league.

User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 8517
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Nodack »

From what I have read there was no written agreement between Russia and anyone over NATO’s expansion. The agreement was verbal and they were talking about Germany I thought when they talked about it. Of course Putin doesn’t want Ukraine in NATO. Their whole purpose is to stop Russian aggression. Russia has been very aggressive.

I can see no defense for invading and leveling cities of another country that hasn’t fired a shot at you. It seems attacking Ukraine is really Putin attacking the US deep down. Does Putin have the right to be upset about Ukraine wanting to join NATO? Sure I guess. Upset is one thing. Completely destroying another country and their people out of spite is just plain evil. There is no defense. It’s like your wife wanting a divorce so, you kill her and her family. Sure he had every right to be upset but….

User avatar
Flagrant Fowl
Posts: 13786
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 8:04 am
Location: Haeundae, Busan, South Korea

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Flagrant Fowl »

You're right that there was no written agreement and it could also be argued that since the dissolution of the USSR a written agreement wouldn't be valid today as the Russian Federation is an entirely different entity. But that is the reality Putin has constructed for the Russian people, so there is value in trying to understand their position from a tactical perspective.

The West and the USA in particular did a poor job avoiding the present day situation back in the 1990s when the USSR collapsed. There were too many people who wanted to kick them when they were down. They weren't reformed in the way Japan and Germany were after WWII. None of that validates Putin's actions today, but again, there's value in the historical context.
Send me a PM if you're interested in joining the phx-suns.net fantasy basketball league.

User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 8517
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Nodack »

It seemed like Gorbachev was taking them towards the Democracy side of things and then those wheels came off. Now Putin is in power and he seems to want the old Soviet Union back and has no intentions of giving up his power any time soon. Most of those countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union don’t want to be part of the Soviet Union anymore. They want to be part of NATO. Why is that? Russia and China are making it out as if the US is forcing those countries to join. I have seen no evidence the US is forcing anyone to join NATO. They join of their own free will for protection from Russia.

User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 8517
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Nodack »

There have been a lot of reports of Russia using chemical weapons in Mariupol Ukraine that have surfaced. Of course the propaganda in this war has been over the top and we don’t know if this is true or not yet but, if true could represent a major escalation in the war.

Team Biden scrambles to respond to claims of Russia chemical weapon use
The administration has said Russian chemical weapons use in Ukraine would trigger a ‘proportional’ U.S. response. Its pledge may soon be tested.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/1 ... s-00024709

CHEM ATTACK FEARS Putin accused of using chemical weapons after Ukrainian troops hit by ‘unknown substance’ leaving them unable to breathe
https://www.the-sun.com/news/5103822/pu ... substance/
RUSSIA has been accused of using chemical weapons on Ukrainians in the besieged city of Mariupol in a potential horrific escalation of the war that could see the deployment of British troops.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the UK and other allies were "working urgently" to verify the details of the alleged chemical attack - which could be a red line for the West to send in forces.

Pentagon monitoring reports of possible Russian chemical weapons attack in Mariupol
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/11/pentago ... iupol.html

Did Russia really use chemical weapons in Ukraine? Experts are sceptical
Analysis: Little evidence thus far that civilians in Mariupol had fallen ill because of chemical attack
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/ ... -sceptical

Online
User avatar
In2ition
Posts: 11392
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 1:35 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by In2ition »

"When we all think alike, nobody is thinking" - Walter Lippmann
"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them." ~ Frederick Douglass

User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 8517
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Nodack »

They underestimated the Ukrainians . They won’t make that mistake again.

User avatar
Mori Chu
Posts: 20889
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:05 am

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Mori Chu »

Video of Ukraine sinking that Russian boat.


User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 8517
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Nodack »

So Moldova is going to be taken too? I’m sure Russia has a perfectly good reason they need to be destroyed too. Their leader is a Nazi or something.

Russian General Lets Slip a Secret Plan to Invade Another Country and Seize Ukraine’s Entire Coastline
https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-g ... es&via=rss
The Russian military now says the official plan is to create a land corridor all the way along Ukraine’s coast to Moldova, where another border is under threat.

As Russian troops tighten their grip on the strategic port town of Mariupol, their strategy is finally becoming clear. Russian military commander Rustam Minnekaev now says the second phase of President Vladimir Putin’s “special operation” is focused on establishing a “land corridor” from the Donbas all the way to Moldova, which would cut off the rest of Ukraine from the sea.

User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 8517
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Nodack »

Drones are the future of warfare and the future is now.

Army To Test Its Biggest Interactive Drone Swarm Ever Over Utah
A mix of drones, most launched from aircraft, will swarm enemy positions and soften up the landing zone for a behind enemy lines air assault.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/a ... -over-utah


Image

User avatar
Indy
Posts: 19339
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 9:21 pm
Contact:

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Indy »

Nodack wrote:
Fri Apr 22, 2022 3:06 pm
So Moldova is going to be taken too? I’m sure Russia has a perfectly good reason they need to be destroyed too. Their leader is a Nazi or something.

Russian General Lets Slip a Secret Plan to Invade Another Country and Seize Ukraine’s Entire Coastline
https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-g ... es&via=rss
The Russian military now says the official plan is to create a land corridor all the way along Ukraine’s coast to Moldova, where another border is under threat.

As Russian troops tighten their grip on the strategic port town of Mariupol, their strategy is finally becoming clear. Russian military commander Rustam Minnekaev now says the second phase of President Vladimir Putin’s “special operation” is focused on establishing a “land corridor” from the Donbas all the way to Moldova, which would cut off the rest of Ukraine from the sea.
must be a biolab there. By the way, why haven't we heard any more about biolabs?

User avatar
Indy
Posts: 19339
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 9:21 pm
Contact:

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Indy »

Nodack wrote:
Fri Apr 22, 2022 3:11 pm
Drones are the future of warfare and the future is now.

Army To Test Its Biggest Interactive Drone Swarm Ever Over Utah
A mix of drones, most launched from aircraft, will swarm enemy positions and soften up the landing zone for a behind enemy lines air assault.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/a ... -over-utah


Image
drones are so evil. every time I think of it, it reminds me of A Taste of Armageddon.

User avatar
Mori Chu
Posts: 20889
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:05 am

Re: Russia/Ukraine

Post by Mori Chu »


Post Reply