Russia has invaded Ukraine

BREAKING — Turkey has closed its airspace to Russian civilian and military aircraft that transports soldiers to Syria after notifying Moscow: Turkish Foreign Minister via TRT

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Mick

BREAKING — Turkey has closed its airspace to Russian civilian and military aircraft that transports soldiers to Syria after notifying Moscow: Turkish Foreign Minister via TRT

Let’s not forget that Turkey has shot down Russian jets before! Without any retaliation from Russia.

BREAKING: U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to visit Ukraine on April 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky has just announced.

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BREAKING: President Zelenskyy warns that if Russia further destroys our people in Mariupol, if a pseudo-referendum is announced as part of the creation of new pseudo-republics, Ukraine will withdraw from the process of negotiations. - Ukraine Ministry of Defence.

Originally Posted by Mick

BREAKING: President Zelenskyy warns that if Russia further destroys our people in Mariupol, if a pseudo-referendum is announced as part of the creation of new pseudo-republics, Ukraine will withdraw from the process of negotiations. - Ukraine Ministry of Defence.

That seems a bit of a self defeating threat, why would Russia care if they pull out ?

Originally Posted by Paul

That seems a bit of a self defeating threat, why would Russia care if they pull out ?

They will pretend they don’t care, but the reality is that Ukraine is signalling that it knows what Russia’s next steps in the occupied south are likely to be (especially with regard to stunted-up referendums) and that it no longer believes that its best case resolution to the conflict lies in continuing talks. Furthermore, at present, further “peace” talks simply legitimise Russia’s war aims. Ukraine has participated in talks up to this point because it suited them as the victim to be seen to be acting reasonably in pursuit of peace.

Whatever Russia’s public response, privately they should be worried because this signals that Ukraine doesn’t see this ending with Russia in control of the territory it currently occupies. At the very least it might force them to consider trying to consolidate what they currently hold rather than continuing piecemeal advances that are doomed to fail because they simply don’t have enough resources in theatre to achieve their goals.

There is a school of thought that says Russia no longer sees its 9th May Victory Day celebrations as the day to declare operations in Ukraine complete, but rather as an inflection point around which Putin can rally the entire economy and population for an actual, declared war. If that’s the case then it’s likely to be in Ukraine’s interests to start putting serious pressure on Russian-held territory before they are able to ramp up their own resources.

[GrimUpNorth]

Originally Posted by Chris

There is a school of thought that says Russia no longer sees its 9th May Victory Day celebrations as the day to declare operations in Ukraine complete, but rather as an inflection point around which Putin can rally the entire economy and population for an actual, declared war. If that’s the case then it’s likely to be in Ukraine’s interests to start putting serious pressure on Russian-held territory before they are able to ramp up their own resources.

I think the Russians have been careful not to use the word war as that could well give Ukraine the nudge it needs to send a few missiles back Russia's way which I'm sure they're more than capable of doing though not as far as Moscow (sadly), but I'd also be surprised if their are no Ukrainian special forces in Russia just waiting for the order to cause enough chaos to give Putin a bloody nose and make him think about what he's doing.

Originally Posted by GrimUpNorth

I think the Russians have been careful not to use the word war as that could well give Ukraine the nudge it needs to send a few missiles back Russia's way which I'm sure they're more than capable of doing though not as far as Moscow (sadly), but I'd also be surprised if their are no Ukrainian special forces in Russia just waiting for the order to cause enough chaos to give Putin a bloody nose and make him think about what he's doing.

Three strategically important buildings near Moscow mysteriously caught fire yesterday. I’m pretty sure they’re already at it.

[GrimUpNorth]

Originally Posted by Chris

Three strategically important buildings near Moscow mysteriously caught fire yesterday. I’m pretty sure they’re already at it.

Good, the sooner they give Vlad a bloody nose the better.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Chris

There is a school of thought that says Russia no longer sees its 9th May Victory Day celebrations as the day to declare operations in Ukraine complete, but rather as an inflection point around which Putin can rally the entire economy and population for an actual, declared war. If that’s the case then it’s likely to be in Ukraine’s interests to start putting serious pressure on Russian-held territory before they are able to ramp up their own resources.

They have to change track as it is clear they are not likely to achieve even their scaled back ambitions by May 9th.

Fortunately for Putin though, 80% of Russians will swallow any official line given to them.

Originally Posted by Pierre

They have to change track as it is clear they are not likely to achieve even their scaled back ambitions by May 9th.

Fortunately for Putin though, 80% of Russians will swallow any official line given to them.

Are we sure of that.They may do publicly but in private it may be a different situation.

[papa smurf]

Found this heart warming story -i do hope it's true.

Russian soldier has 'millions' in life savings stolen after losing phone in Ukraine
AN INJURED Russian soldier has seen his entire life savings stolen from his bank account after losing his phone in Ukraine.

The contract soldier, called Denis, comes from the Krasnodar region and was on a combat mission in Ukraine, when he got injured and lost his phone. He was transferred back to Russia and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in the Samara Oblast. However, someone in Ukraine later found his phone and used the banking app on it to access his account at the Promsvyaz bank in Russia.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world...vladimir-putin

BREAKING: Foreign Ministry: Ukraine disappointed by Austria opposing Ukraine's EU membership.

According to the ministry's spokesperson, such statements ignore the fact that the vast majority of the EU's founding countries' population supports Ukraine's membership. - Kyiv Independent

[pip08456]

Civillian casualites will be far higher due to Russia targeting civillian area and the number of areas they control and those numbers not being available. Do those casualty numbers include those women raped by Russian forces in liberated areas? I think not.

It is estimated that over 2m were raped in Germany during the Russian assault in WW2. Are they casualties?

If you think Russia thinks the civilised norms of the west are the same you are very much mistaken. There is still a west-east divide purely due to history.