Russia Invades

[Zlatan]

It’s terrifying! He knows the only way to stop him is by a World War. What a vile creature he is. Grim day.

the real truth is that the western powers have limited understanding of his state of mind and this is a bloke who can end the planet with a push of a button. We have to tread carefully, but I fear the damage is done by his puppets in the west. Our only real hope is that internal senior figures in the Kremlin do something because they have a conscience, but that is extremely unlikely.

[PeterWilton]

Russian stock market is down 50% from yesterday.

Do they not believe in circuit breakers over there?

[PeterWilton]

the real truth is that the western powers have limited understanding of his state of mind and this is a bloke who can end the planet with a push of a button. We have to tread carefully, but I fear the damage is done by his puppets in the west. Our only real hope is that internal senior figures in the Kremlin do something because they have a conscience, but that is extremely unlikely.

He's had 20-odd years to make sure he's surrounded only by loyalists and sycophants. I think it'd take an uprising to remove him.

[CoolClaret]

Are you saying Russia has a legitimate reason to believe NATO aggression on Russian sovereign territory is likely or even possible under current treaty articles?

No or else I’d have written that.

You know how the Yanks went nuts when Cuba shook hands with the Soviets back in ‘62 ? Yeah similar to that.

[Lancasterclaret]

History teaches us stuff that far too many people prefer to forget

If the sanctions are not absolutely crippling and applied across Russian life then he is going to think he can do what he wants

[PeterWilton]

No or else I’d have written that.

You know how the Yanks went nuts when Cuba shook hands with the Soviets back in ‘62 ? Yeah similar to that.

That's because the US has a second-strike nuclear doctrine and their enemy with their first-strike doctrine tried to put nukes 90 miles off their coast.

That's quite different, don't you agree? NATO isn't a first-strike threat to Russia, and everyone knows it. Including Russia.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

On the plus side, if this ends in nuclear war, at least all those hours playing fall out 4 were not wasted.

Anyone know where I can get some radaway?

Sorry, I'm busy looking for some of the old fashioned metal bottle tops.

[CoolClaret]

That's because the US has a second-strike nuclear doctrine and their enemy with their first-strike doctrine tried to put nukes 90 miles off their coast.

That's quite different, don't you agree? NATO isn't a first-strike threat to Russia, and everyone knows it. Including Russia.

Hmmm. I mean - I ‘don’t know’.

Paranoia and anxieties can grow, especially if advisories are all perpetuating similar messaging…

I think sometimes you’ve gotta remove your self from the perspective of ‘us’ and look at ‘their’ perspective to see a bigger picture.

Good diplomacy comes from understanding and communication.

Again, we don’t really have a leg to stand on as a moral arbiter, we have seriously ruined countless regions in recent history

[Lancasterclaret]

Sorry, I'm busy looking for some of the old fashioned metal bottle tops.

*downloads Fallout 4*

[TsarBomba]

Heavy clashes reported on the outskirts of Kharkiv.

Substantial losses on both sides.

[PeterWilton]

*downloads Fallout 4*

Should we start with Fallout 3?

[TsarBomba]

Attempts from Russian/Belarusian ground units to cut off Western Ukraine from Poland have been repelled.

[Lancasterclaret]

Worth mentioning how big Ukraine is

Its a huge country, and it get progressively more Western the further west you go

I guess it all depends on what the Russian plan is, but I've got this awful feeling that Putin has convinced himself that the Ukraine is full of people just waiting to be part of Greater Russia again and that the West would sit on its hands

I suspect he's in for a real shock

Also notice the shares in Gazprom on the Moscow stock exchange have dropped 50%, which is a sign of Russian investors getting their money out, before the sanctions hit

They know what is coming, even if the President of Russia appears not to

[PeterWilton]

... it get progressively more Western the further west you go ...

[Lancasterclaret]

And this is something we've not seen since 1945 in Europe

Anyone thinking that things go back to normal after this (and again, I fear that includes the Russian President) are living in cloud cuckoo land

Its a direct challenge to the peace and security that has kept Europe free from major wars for 3/4 of a century, which is unprecedented in history

That is the peace and security that we've all lived and worked and prospered under.

That is what is at stake here sadly

[TsarBomba]

The PM to address the nation and Parliament this afternoon.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

https://twitter.com/ASLuhn/status/14967 ... BQUiQ&s=19

This twitter thread is worth reading.
Missile attacks across Ukraine, including the far western end.

[TsarBomba]

https://twitter.com/ASLuhn/status/14967 ... BQUiQ&s=19

This twitter thread is worth reading.
Missile attacks across Ukraine, including the far western end.

OSINT Twitter accounts in overdrive today.

Sometimes difficult to verify authenticity and location.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Screenshot_20220224-094424.png (432.79 KiB) Viewed 2340 times

[Lancasterclaret]

OSINT Twitter accounts in overdrive today.

Sometimes difficult to verify authenticity and location.

Yeah, people are currently sharing a video of Russian paratroopers landing in Ukraine and its actually from a training exercise in 2018

Stick to verified accounts with a history of tweeting accurate info about Ukraine and Russia

[tiger76]

He's been planning this for years and Ukraine won't be the last one, he wants to rebuild/restore the boarders of the former USSR.

Russia has been paying off its debts, so any financial sanctions from the west won't bother them as much.
Countries like China and India will ignore western sanctions, they value Russia as a trading partner.
Russian Oil/Gas is a big stick for them to use when dealing with Europe/EU and they've done well manoeuvring themselves into that position.

Russia were never really dealt with after Crimea, so they basically tested the water and knew what they'd get away with and have now decided to go all in to take Ukraine.

An excellent concise summary GIADJ, and Putin knows full well the west won't put boots on the ground, so therefore the only weapon we have is sanctions, but he's well prepared for those, and Vlad appears to be getting more demented and power crazy by the hour, so heaven knows where he'll stop.

[Terrier]

Can someone in the know explain to me why the suwalki gap seems to be a big worry to people?

[Lancasterclaret]

Can someone in the know explain to me why the suwalki gap seems to be a big worry to people?

Potential invasion corridor, with limited defensive terrain

In the Cold War, it was the Fulda Gap

[Lancasterclaret]

Mark Hughes back in management

If that isn't one of the signs of the apocalypse then I don't know what is

[Billy Balfour]

He's been in power for way too long, over 20 years, and he's gone mad. Putin's speech was basically threatening nuclear war. Surely those in his inner-circle can see what's happening? Let's hope they have the bottle for an Ides of March event.

Now for us here in the UK, we now have to hit them hard, and this means no more talking like ten men while pussyfooting about with a handful of tiny banks and a couple of oligarchs. Johnson came under much criticism from his own MPs for sending out the wrong message, especially when his bluster was one the toughest in the West, but his actions were among the weakest.

[PeterWilton]

Can someone in the know explain to me why the suwalki gap seems to be a big worry to people?

Further to LC's reply, if Russia closed it by annexing land around it it would also isolate Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia from other NATO countries. It would either mean have to go to war with Russia or NATO would collapse because it wouldn't mean anything anymore if we didn't defend Poland/Lithuania against Russia.

[TsarBomba]

Second wave of missile strikes reported.

[RicardoMontalban]

This would never happened if Trump was still POTUS Biden is weak and Putin knows this just like Obama was when the Russians took the Crimea.

Putin is a dictator like Hitler and Stalin before him and will eventually fall on his sword as they all do, he will leave a trail of misery and destruction at home and abroad, before the weak, woke West comes to its senses, regains its pride and fights back.

Absolutely insane comment. Trump has been filmed rambling about his respect and admiration of Putin. Biden may have a weak hand but make no mistake Trump is the most obvious symptom of what causes that.

[TsarBomba]

Russian troops geolocated at the Dnepr, 130km within Ukraine. Kherson front above Crimea reported to have collapsed.

[Rammy1968]

History repeating itself, only one way to deal with a looney like Putin and that means the 3rd World War. Sanctions will galvanise the hatred of the West in Russia as the sanctions on Germany did after the First World War. Very worrying times

[Lancasterclaret]

War in the age of mobile phones and cameras everywhere is far, far, far, far harder to hide as terrible

Russia has been remarkably chilled out about letting pics of Russian equipment on the internet but that has to change when it starts getting blown up

That will hit hard amongst the domestic base I'd have thought

[Billy Balfour]

Absolutely insane comment. Trump has been filmed rambling about his respect and admiration of Putin. Biden may have a weak hand but make no mistake Trump is the most obvious symptom of what causes that.

Yep. Unbelievable that someone can post such a comment while not trolling. Only the other day, Trump praised ‘genius’ Putin for moving troops to eastern Ukraine.

[claretandbluesky]

How there are those on the left defending Russia is incredible.
To think they spout all this anti colonialist stuff but when push comes to shove they go along with it.
Thanks heavens we never got Corbyn

[fatboy47]

Thanks heavens we never got Corbyn

Set to become the go-to debating point for emptyheads across the nation.


You'll vote for whoever the red tops tell you to vote for.

[Dy1geo]

There needs to be strong sanctions against Russia but the U.K. public needs to be told that this won’t be painless to them. There will be an increase in price in Gas, Fuel and basic foodstuffs.

Going forward Western Europe has to lower our dependency on Russian gas. There has to be a debate over whether the push for zero carbon has actually increased our dependency on Russia.

The next fear is if this we get a new thread “China Invades”. The world order will certainly be changed if they invade Taiwan and again as a country we should try and reduce our dependency on Chinese manufacturing.

[PeterWilton]

How there are those on the left defending Russia is incredible.

We certainly have a few complete ******* idiots on the left. We do a good job of not electing them though

[Billy Balfour]

By the way, it's okay saying that Putin has built up large reserves etc. We are entering a new Cold War, but look what happened the last time. The financial strain meant there could only be one winner. The Russian economy is small, even with its oil/gas, and it cannot withstand harsh sanctions along with a protracted arms race.

Also, if we actually hit the oligarchs and their banks hard, no pussyfooting etc, then surely they will have something to say. Putin is one man, the Soviet Union had a fully functioning party apparatus that reached into every aspect of life, yet it imploded near enough overnight. Putin has overplayed his hand here, and not just with the West, but with those who keep him in power. It's only a matter of time.

[PeterWilton]

There needs to be strong sanctions against Russia but the U.K. public needs to be told that this won’t be painless to them. There will be an increase in price in Gas, Fuel and basic foodstuffs.

Going forward Western Europe has to lower our dependency on Russian gas. There has to be a debate over whether the push for zero carbon has actually increased our dependency on Russia.

The next fear is if this we get a new thread “China Invades”. The world order will certainly be changed if they invade Taiwan and again as a country we should try and reduce our dependency on Chinese manufacturing.

There doesn't need to be an increase in fuel cost. We could renationalise it. Then we get to decide for ourselves what the cost to the consumer is rather than greedy corporations.

[Billy Balfour]

We certainly have a few complete ******* idiots on the left. We do a good job of not electing them though

There's plenty on the right too. Just look their support for Putin. Both sides have their usual idiots, but they are a minority. Thankfully, Trump and Corbyn aren't in power.

[CoolClaret]

What’s the plan of action chaps? You’re Boris, what would you do next.

Putin clearly overstepping any semblance of a mark here.

Surely have to issue some sort of ultimatum (nothing nuclear) stating any attempted land grabs past a certain point will be met with resistance?!

I don’t know… thoughts please

[Boss Hogg]

Lies to other works leaders about intentions, annexing territory, propaganda …. Where have we seen this before. The mad dictator has lost all credibility. This was planned a long time ago and you can see why they annexed Crimea. This will take European peace back 40 years. There will be huge masding of NATO forces in Poland and a Cold War type stand off.

[PeterWilton]

There's plenty on the right too. Just look their support for Putin. Both sides have their usual idiots, but they are a minority. Thankfully, Trump and Corbyn aren't in power.

Oh. for sure. and they're pure s**m. They like Putin because they like his policies against non-whites, LGBTQ+ people and his "anti-wokism". I think there are other even more treasonous reasons that some of the more public personalities like him too.

[TsarBomba]

2 Russian helicopters reportedly shot down at Gostomel Airport, which is on the outskirts of Kiev.

[TsarBomba]

Verified reports of what appears to be a large scale airborne operation now under way at Gostomel.

[RVclaret]

What’s the plan of action chaps? You’re Boris, what would you do next.

Putin clearly overstepping any semblance of a mark here.

Surely have to issue some sort of ultimatum (nothing nuclear) stating any attempted land grabs past a certain point will be met with resistance?!

I don’t know… thoughts please

Start disrupting the cosey oligarch culture in London for a start, cancel all 2300 Child student visa's who are in private schools, or at least stop accepting any new ones. Sanctions shouldn't just be financial, but also cultural / social. Many wealthy Russians are cosey with Putin and taking advantage of all of the UK's education, financial services, culture, property, sporting events and clubs, lawyers. Also banks cancel SWIFT access with Russian banks immediately.

[PeterWilton]

What’s the plan of action chaps? You’re Boris, what would you do next.

Putin clearly overstepping any semblance of a mark here.

Surely have to issue some sort of ultimatum (nothing nuclear) stating any attempted land grabs past a certain point will be met with resistance?!

I don’t know… thoughts please

If i'm Boris? I might sanction the 2nd cousins of the three people i sanctioned a few days ago. As long as they don't talk about my Italy trip.

[Dy1geo]

There doesn't need to be an increase in fuel cost. We could renationalise it. Then we get to decide for ourselves what the cost to the consumer is rather than greedy corporations.

Unless you are Energy self sufficient which we are not through various Governments incompetence, the U.K. Govt would still have to pay a higher wholesale price and that would mean we have less money to spend in other areas if we heavily discounted it to the consumer.

Regarding petrol prices taxation makes up the largest portion and if we subsidised this where would we put up taxes to make up the shortfall.

What is your option regarding increased costs of wheat etc

[dougcollins]

We talk about sanctions, but this government won't be in a rush to bite the hand that feeds them.

[Boss Hogg]

Never condone war but ‘understand’ Putin’s concerns regards Ukraine/NATO


I just find it a bit hilarious when the UK/USA are acting like moral arbiters after destabilising countless regions around the globe for the past 70 years or so

Unbelievable comment. What a crock of sh*t. I don’t find anything hilarious about a war and unnecessary bloodshed.

[Lancasterclaret]

The occupation of the Crimea and the stationing of troops in Belarus completely outflanks the best defence the Ukrainians have, which is the River Dnieper

It all depends on whether the main Ukrainian forces are capable of moving from the Donbass back across it before its cut by Russian troops coming from the north and the south

But it all depends on how ready Ukraine was, and how realistic they were about what they could realistically defend

They wouldn't be the first country to try to defend everything and end up defending nothing sadly