Russian invasion of Ukraine | Fewer tweets, more discussion

[Raoul]

Sure, try to run over a trench with a tank. I have a lot of success myself doing that while I'm playing Enlisted or War Thunder... not.

This could've gone terribly wrong for the Ukrainians in the trench if the whoever was firing towards the Russians mistook the already entrenched Ukrainians for the enemy.

 

[TwoSheds]

This could've gone terribly wrong for the Ukrainians in the trench if the whoever was firing towards the Russians mistook the already entrenched Ukrainians for the enemy.

You'd assume they were on the blower to the artillery/ drone guys and it's not just chance as to where they were firing.

 

[Simbo]

Moscow airport also been hit with multiple drones this morning.

 

[TwoSheds]

Moscow airport also been hit with multiple drones this morning.

Great stuff, hit them where it hurts. Price of fuel will be crazy in Russia if they kept taking these out you'd imagine.

 

[Simbo]

Belgorod campaign continues...

 

[the hea]

 

[Raoul]

I'm baffled as to why the Ukrainians haven't just walked into Transnistria and routed the Russians, who mostly have a police presence there. They could give it back to the Moldovans and eliminate the possibility of a potential western staging point for the Russians to attack Odesa at a later date.

 

[VorZakone]

I'm baffled as to why the Ukrainians haven't just walked into Transnistria and routed the Russians, who mostly have a police presence there. They could give it back to the Moldovans and eliminate the possibility of a potential western staging point for the Russians to attack Odesa at a later date.

I don't think that would fly. Even if Moldova formally asks for it, I'm not sure it's a priority for Ukraine and possibly the West wouldn't accept it either.

 

[Raoul]

I don't think that would fly. Even if Moldova formally asks for it, I'm not sure it's a priority for Ukraine and possibly the West wouldn't accept it either.

The west wouldn't have a say in the matter. The Ukrainians would simply be taking out a potential staging point for an attack on them from an area that doesn't belong to Russia in the first place.

 

[VorZakone]

The west wouldn't have a say in the matter. The Ukrainians would simply be taking out a potential staging point for an attack on them from an area that doesn't belong to Russia in the first place.

Ukraine would have to explain itself to the international community for why they conduct an offensive military operation into Transnistria. I doubt they want that diplomatic heat.

Regardless of Transnistria's legal status, I don't think the Ukrainians are interested in it as long as Russia doesn't stage an attack out of Transnistria.

 

[africanspur]

The west wouldn't have a say in the matter. The Ukrainians would simply be taking out a potential staging point for an attack on them from an area that doesn't belong to Russia in the first place.

This kind of rhetoric makes much more sense in the world where Ukraine is undertaking an independent war effort.

In the world where their war effort is funded in large part by western powers, the west does kind of have a say.

 

[Raoul]

Ukraine would have to explain itself to the international community for why they conduct an offensive military operation into Transnistria. I doubt they want that diplomatic heat.

Regardless of Transnistria's legal status, I don't think the Ukrainians are interested in it as long as Russia doesn't stage an attack out of Transnistria.

Transnistria belongs to Moldova, so unless they object to booting the Russians out and returning their land to Moldovan control, there wouldn't be any explaining to do, especially since Moldova isn't in NATO. Transnistria isn't some benign territory that can't be used against the Ukrainians in the future and removing it from under Putin's thumb would inflict a cost on the Russians.

 

[VorZakone]

Transnistria belongs to Moldova, so unless they object to booting the Russians out and returning their land to Moldovan control, there wouldn't be any explaining to do, especially since Moldova isn't in NATO. Transnistria isn't some benign territory that can't be used against the Ukrainians in the future and removing it from under Putin's thumb would inflict a cost on the Russians.

And when that happens, Ukraine would be well placed to remove the threat from Transnistria. They'd probably see it coming anyway, with support of Western intel agencies.

But as of this moment, my guess is it's just not a priority.

 

[VorZakone]

Helicopters are pretty cool...

 

[RedDevilQuebecois]

Helicopters are pretty cool...

Now that answers what I previously asked about whether or not Ukraine would receive new choppers other than the Mi-8s and Mi-17s from Croatia and the US.

 

[stefan92]

Transnistria belongs to Moldova, so unless they object to booting the Russians out and returning their land to Moldovan control, there wouldn't be any explaining to do, especially since Moldova isn't in NATO. Transnistria isn't some benign territory that can't be used against the Ukrainians in the future and removing it from under Putin's thumb would inflict a cost on the Russians.

Moldova doesn't want war on it's territory, which Transnistria is. And so far Ukraine respected that.

 

[That_Bloke]

I'm baffled as to why the Ukrainians haven't just walked into Transnistria and routed the Russians, who mostly have a police presence there. They could give it back to the Moldovans and eliminate the possibility of a potential western staging point for the Russians to attack Odesa at a later date.

Jesus Christ.

 

[Raoul]

Jesus Christ.

If that's the best you can do then please stay out of this thread.

 

[Raoul]

Moldova doesn't want war on it's territory, which Transnistria is. And so far Ukraine respected that.

That makes more sense. I can imagine the Moldovans don't want to take a chance on the fighting spreading into actual Moldovan territory beyond Transnistria.

 

[That_Bloke]

If that's the best you can do then please stay out of this thread.

I will.

 

[Morty_]

Ukraine has enough on its hand containing Russia in the east, and you want them to spend valuable resources on a different front?

 

[RedDevilQuebecois]

Ukraine has enough on its hand containing Russia in the east, and you want them to spend valuable resources on a different front?

Yeah, it makes no sense to send troops in there.

A few sabotage operations should be more than enough to knock the pro-Russian faction's capabilities out without a fuss. It's not like Russia can move an entire army division in there without drawing attention; Transnistria is isolated by land anyway.

 

[VorZakone]

 

[Enigma_87]

That makes more sense. I can imagine the Moldovans don't want to take a chance on the fighting spreading into actual Moldovan territory beyond Transnistria.

That and no western country will be ok with supplying arms to Ukraine to lead a war outside their boundaries. All countries are supplying arms as defensive mechanism. We already saw far right parties everywhere wanting to drop support. Marching into Moldova or Transnistria will not paint a good outlook.

 

[VorZakone]

Germany charges military officer with spying for Russia

March 19 (Reuters) - German prosecutors have charged an officer in the military procurement agency with attempting to pass secret information to Russian intelligence, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement on Tuesday.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-charges-military-officer-with-spying-russia-2024-03-19/

 

[VorZakone]

 

[ManUtd1999]

An interesting article about Russia since the start of the war. It's long, but I am brining some parts of it in the original language (French) and in English. It's based on an interview wth Denis Volkov, who " heads the only major reliable polling institute in Russia" according the magazine L'Express.fr .

Mais, outre l’effet drapeau, l’élément déterminant est la situation économique, qui est très stable. Au début du conflit, lorsque les sanctions occidentales ont été instaurées, les gens se sont d’abord rués sur les banques pour retirer leur argent. Mais le gouvernement a réussi à calmer la panique et la population a fait marche arrière.

Non seulement l’économie est stable, mais le gouvernement a multiplié les mesures de redistribution aux plus modestes - hausse des retraites, des salaires des fonctionnaires, élargissement des programmes d’aide sociale aux personnes ayant des enfants à charge, ou pour faciliter l’achat d’un appartement.

Autre élément essentiel, les soldats engagés dans "l’opération militaire spéciale" en Ukraine, qui, pour la plupart, sont originaires de petites villes, ont vu leur rémunération augmenter de façon importante - ils peuvent gagner cinq ou six fois plus qu’auparavant. A cela s’ajoute le fait que lorsqu’un soldat est tué, la famille reçoit environ 5 millions de roubles, soit quelque 50 000 euros. Pour les habitants d’une petite ville russe, c’est une somme énorme.

Selon certaines estimations, les revenus de la population n’ont jamais été aussi élevés depuis des décennies. La majorité est donc très positive quant à la situation économique, ce qui aide à maintenir l’optimisme et la confiance envers le gouvernement.

La part de la classe moyenne a augmenté d’environ 5 points de pourcentage en deux ans, alors qu’elle stagnait auparavant. Ces personnes, dont le pouvoir d’achat progresse, sont généralement liées à l’appareil d’Etat et donc loyales envers celui-ci.

"But, apart from the flag effect, the determining element is the economic situation, which is very stable. At the start of the conflict, when Western sanctions were introduced, people first rushed to banks to withdraw their money. But the government managed to calm the panic and the population backed down.

Not only is the economy stable, but the government has increased redistribution measures for those on the lowest incomes - increases in pensions, civil servants' salaries, expansion of social assistance programs for people with dependent children, or to facilitate purchase of an apartment.

Another key element is that soldiers engaged in the "special military operation" in Ukraine, most of whom come from small towns, have seen their pay increase significantly - they can earn five or six times more than before . Added to this is the fact that when a soldier is killed, the family receives around 5 million rubles, or around 50,000 euros. For residents of a small Russian town, this is a huge amount.

According to some estimates, people's incomes have never been higher in decades. The majority is therefore very positive about the economic situation, which helps maintain optimism and confidence in the government.

The share of the middle class has increased by around 5 percentage points in two years, after previously stagnating. These people, whose purchasing power is increasing, are generally linked to the state apparatus and therefore loyal to it."

"Souhaiteriez-vous que Poutine soit réélu lors des prochaines élections ?" en 2021, à peu près 45 % des personnes interrogées répondaient oui, la moitié souhaitant voir apparaître un nouveau visage. Après le début de la guerre, ce score est progressivement grimpé jusqu’à 80 %. Auparavant, dans les groupes de discussion, les gens pouvaient exprimer des doutes à propos de Poutine, aujourd’hui, ils disent qu’il tient le pays et l’empêche d’être vaincu par l’Occident.

" "Would you like Putin to be re-elected in the next election?"... in 2021, around 45% of those surveyed answered yes, with half wanting to see a new face appear. After the start of the war, this score gradually rose to 80%. Previously, in chat groups, people could express doubts about Putin, today they say that he is holding the country and preventing it from being defeated by the West."

 

[Suedesi]

Love your post, this is the best part. So its the West fault for all this not Russia. If West has just let Russia do their thing it would be over in weeks and there would be peace? Or better yet with sending arms the West is prolonging the war, the same war Russians actually want to end I guess.
Its not Russia's fault millions of people are fleeing and there are half a million casulties its the west who dragged blameless Russia into war who just wanted peace and normal life. Poor, old Russia.

I guess if Trump becomes president it all comes true, I hope he'll end all this suffering with a peace deal in which Ukraine will let go of its territory. But ups Putin doesnt really want to talk peace now his army has the initiative. He supposedly wanted that only when things werent so rosy, but most probably it was just a propaganda to portray the West as the real agressor.

It seems to me it makes you excited while you write about the mighty Red Army.

Yes.

 

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

Yes.

Only one aggressor here, and it's not Ukraine or "the west".

 

[That_Bloke]

An interesting article about Russia since the start of the war. It's long, but I am brining some parts of it in the original language (French) and in English. It's based on an interview wth Denis Volkov, who " heads the only major reliable polling institute in Russia" according the magazine L'Express.fr .


"But, apart from the flag effect, the determining element is the economic situation, which is very stable. At the start of the conflict, when Western sanctions were introduced, people first rushed to banks to withdraw their money. But the government managed to calm the panic and the population backed down.

Not only is the economy stable, but the government has increased redistribution measures for those on the lowest incomes - increases in pensions, civil servants' salaries, expansion of social assistance programs for people with dependent children, or to facilitate purchase of an apartment.

Another key element is that soldiers engaged in the "special military operation" in Ukraine, most of whom come from small towns, have seen their pay increase significantly - they can earn five or six times more than before . Added to this is the fact that when a soldier is killed, the family receives around 5 million rubles, or around 50,000 euros. For residents of a small Russian town, this is a huge amount.

According to some estimates, people's incomes have never been higher in decades. The majority is therefore very positive about the economic situation, which helps maintain optimism and confidence in the government.

The share of the middle class has increased by around 5 percentage points in two years, after previously stagnating. These people, whose purchasing power is increasing, are generally linked to the state apparatus and therefore loyal to it."


" "Would you like Putin to be re-elected in the next election?"... in 2021, around 45% of those surveyed answered yes, with half wanting to see a new face appear. After the start of the war, this score gradually rose to 80%. Previously, in chat groups, people could express doubts about Putin, today they say that he is holding the country and preventing it from being defeated by the West."

While having stabilized the domestic situation by essentially bribbing people to keep them from, which was the first and a clever thing to do from his point of view, it can't and won't last. He tapped in Russia's financial reserves and there will be a boomerang effect in the coming years.

Predictable.

 

[Suedesi]

Only one aggressor here, and it's not Ukraine or "the west".

Plenty of evidence - now a mountains worth - that Russia and Ukraine were close to a deal at the start of the war to end it in exchange for Ukraine's neutrality (not entering NATO), but Biden and Boris Johnson blocked it, insisting Zelensky go to war and win.

He went for it and got mauled.

 

[Suedesi]

This is what all the pro-Russia comments always come down to, in the end. From @DT12 to @Suedesi, from Trump to Orbán, it's the same: they're telling everyone to give up on Ukraine and let Russia win. That's all there is to it. Every argument about how wonderful Russia's economy is, all the handwringing about the West and the feigned concern about Ukrainian casualties, each condescending remark amounts to the same thing: Russia should be allowed to win and do as they see fit with Ukraine.

Once Putin turns to the Baltic states, these people will be back with the exact same message.

It's slightly more nuanced, but I wouldn't expect such subtleties to interrupt the flight path of concepts soaring high above your comprehension.

 

[Suedesi]

Oh oh but the West can be trusted right, they've proven to be honest brokers, right!?



Oh of course, NATO pushed Russia into attacking Baltic states by accepthing them into the fold. Their posts sound they're from one person who has 2 accounts.

I remember talking to a friend last year, he's pro Russian as you get, he was saying something like Trump didnt start any wars in the sense it was Biden who actually started the war in Ukraine.

Talk about paranoia - to think that every dissenting view is merely a shadow puppet show, orchestrated by a single individual with a dual digital identity.

 

[Lemoor]

Plenty of evidence - now a mountains worth - that Russia and Ukraine were close to a deal at the start of the war to end it in exchange for Ukraine's neutrality (not entering NATO), but Biden and Boris Johnson blocked it, insisting Zelensky go to war and win.

He went for it and got mauled.

It's always amusing how insane you go, anytime you start talking about specifics.

 

[maniak]

Plenty of evidence - now a mountains worth - that Russia and Ukraine were close to a deal at the start of the war to end it in exchange for Ukraine's neutrality (not entering NATO), but Biden and Boris Johnson blocked it, insisting Zelensky go to war and win.

He went for it and got mauled.

The old "look at what you made me do" domestic abuser justification. Poor putin really had no choice than to invade and kill thousands...

 

[Raoul]

Plenty of evidence - now a mountains worth - that Russia and Ukraine were close to a deal at the start of the war to end it in exchange for Ukraine's neutrality (not entering NATO), but Biden and Boris Johnson blocked it, insisting Zelensky go to war and win.

He went for it and got mauled.

You're leaving out the fact that Putin doesn't get to call the shots on who Ukraine, a sovereign nation, elect to align themselves with. Therefore what you're describing is based on a bad presumption.

 

[Suedesi]

Suedesi and DT12 really sound like those 50-Cent Army (Wumao) trolls who have pushed Chinese propaganda over the last decade. Go figure if they are actually paid 50 cents per hour to write their pro-Kremlin bullshit.

Here's another luminary from grungy Quebec

 

[TwoSheds]

Plenty of evidence - now a mountains worth - that Russia and Ukraine were close to a deal at the start of the war to end it in exchange for Ukraine's neutrality (not entering NATO), but Biden and Boris Johnson blocked it, insisting Zelensky go to war and win.

He went for it and got mauled.

And yet...you haven't provided this evidence.

 

[Suedesi]

You're leaving out the fact that Putin doesn't get to call the shots on who Ukraine, a sovereign nation, elects to align themselves with. Therefore what you're describing is based on a bad presumption.

Au contraire, apparently, the West calls the shots in Ukraine and got it wrong, leaving Ukraine to pay the price.

 

[Raoul]

Au contraire, apparently, the West calls the shots in Ukraine and got it wrong, leaving Ukraine to pay the price.

Nothing in these tweets proves what you previously suggested. The West never called the shots in Ukraine, as its a democratically elected government who call their own shots.