World Politics

[Tracker]

Russia’s “Elite” 38th Motorized Rifle Brigade entirely destroyed by Ukrainians. With the help of Russia, whose air force could not distinguish between their own troops and the Ukrainians.

 

[Bigblue204]

"Could not distinguish" or couldn't care to?

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

Very interesting article on Ukraine's military modernization from 2014...

 

 

 

[Tracker]

2 hours ago, wanna-b-fanboy said:

Very interesting article on Ukraine's military modernization from 2014...

 

 

 

That Russian forces have been lied to, given poor training and outdated equipment and supplies has probably been the biggest factor in the Ukrainian routing of Russian forces. The Russian forces were told they were liberating Ukraine from neo-Nazi, corrupt and unpopular politicians and would be greeted as heroes. Many soldiers were carrying condoms, which gives an idea of what they were expecting.

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

42 minutes ago, Tracker said:

That Russian forces have been lied to, given poor training and outdated equipment and supplies has probably been the biggest factor in the Ukrainian routing of Russian forces. The Russian forces were told they were liberating Ukraine from neo-Nazi, corrupt and unpopular politicians and would be greeted as heroes. Many soldiers were carrying condoms, which gives an idea of what they were expecting.

Sure.

 

The article was more focused on what the Ukrainian army did to modernize their army and not too much on the failings of the russian army.  Kind of a refreshing take on things.

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

On a positive note:

 

 

[Bigblue204]

2 hours ago, Tracker said:

That Russian forces have been lied to, given poor training and outdated equipment and supplies has probably been the biggest factor in the Ukrainian routing of Russian forces. The Russian forces were told they were liberating Ukraine from neo-Nazi, corrupt and unpopular politicians and would be greeted as heroes. Many soldiers were carrying condoms, which gives an idea of what they were expecting.

I'm not sure they were expecting, what you're implying they were expecting (heros welcome). War always = rape of women. 100% of the time.

[Tracker]

1 minute ago, Bigblue204 said:

I'm not sure they were expecting, what you're implying they were expecting (heros welcome). War always = rape of women. 100% of the time.

Rape is a military tactic of the Russian army, but if they were planning to rape, they would not have brought condoms.

[Bigblue204]

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

Rape is a military tactic of any army, but if they were planning to rape, they would not have brought condoms.

Ftfy.

I'm not sure I agree on the second point you made, but you're probably right.

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

Here we have report a pothole,  report the pothole and it might get taken care of in 30 days.

 

 

In Ukraine you have report a russian position, report the position and it will get taken care of in 30 mins.

 

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

Twitter gold:

 

Spoiler

 

[blue_gold_84]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61066503

Quote

Russia has warned Finland and Sweden against joining Nato, arguing the move would not bring stability to Europe.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that "the alliance remains a tool geared towards confrontation".

It comes as US defence officials said Moscow's invasion of Ukraine has been a "massive strategic blunder" which is likely to bring Nato enlargement.

US officials expect the Nordic neighbours to bid for membership of the alliance, potentially as early as June.

Washington is believed to support the move which would see the Western alliance grow to 32 members. US State Department officials said last week that discussions had taken place between Nato leaders and foreign ministers from Helsinki and Stockholm.

Before it launched its invasion, Russia demanded that the alliance agree to halt any future enlargement, but the war has led to the deployment of more Nato troops on its eastern flank and a rise in public support for Swedish and Finnish membership.

[blue_gold_84]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-moves-heavy-military-equipment-towards-finnish-border/ar-AAW7tbP

Quote

Russian heavy weapons including missile systems have been seen moving towards the border with Finland, hours after Russia warned its northern neighbour against joining NATO.

An unconfirmed video uploaded last night appears to show two Russian coastal defence missile systems moving along a road on the Russian side of the border that leads to Helsinki. 

The missile systems are thought to be the K-300P Bastion-P mobile coastal defence system, designed to take out surface ships up to and including aircraft carrier battle groups. 

The Russian deployment comes as Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said she expects her government 'will end the discussion before midsummer' on whether to apply for NATO membership. 

 

[Tracker]

BREAKING new RU law; leader of RU companies go to jail if they declare bankruptcy / insolvency, since state-owned RU Railways was declared in default of a bond obligation: 

Great news, RU soldiers: it's strictly forbidden to die in Ukraine!! Chances low though ;I

[Tracker]

 

 

                            

[Bigblue204]

What is that page from?

[HardCoreBlue]

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

 

 

                            

No no no, my sources from the research I did is the Ukraine is full of Nazi's Putin wants to rid of to liberate it's people said no sane person currently living on planet earth.

[Tracker]

43 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

What is that page from?

Not sure- it was sent to me.

[Fatty Liver]

5 hours ago, blue_gold_84 said:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-moves-heavy-military-equipment-towards-finnish-border/ar-AAW7tbP

 

Finland has maintained a tenuous relation with Russia throughout their history, the Northern city of Vyborg has changed hands a few times and has been part of Russia since the end of WW2.  Living virtually on their doorstep with the border being less than 200 kms. away from St. Petersburg, I can't see Russia ever allowing NATO that close, or the Finns accepting  the stress and fracture joining NATO would invite.  Finland is better off maintaining their neutrality and preserving their country.  As long as they don't have any NG or petroleum reserves that Russia covets this move should be a bluff, hopefully they will continue to co-exist in peace. 

[blue_gold_84]

1 minute ago, Fatty Liver said:

Finland has maintained a tenuous relation with Russia throughout their history, the Northern city of Vyborg has changed hands a few times and has been part of Russia since the end of WW2.  Living virtually on their doorstep with the border being less than 200 kms. away from St. Petersburg, I can't see Russia ever allowing NATO that close, or the Finns accepting  the stress and fracture joining NATO would invite.  Finland is better off maintaining their neutrality and preserving their country.  As long as they don't have any NG or petroleum reserves that Russia covets this move should be a bluff, hopefully they will continue to co-exist in peace. 

Finland can do whatever the hell it wants, IMO. Russia trying to bully yet another sovereign nation to its best interests is only going to temper said nation's resolve. I think that's only been reinforced now that we've seen what a mess its "special military operation" has been the last seven weeks or so in Ukraine.

There's no neutrality to be had with Russia anymore, at least not without Russia having the upper hand in some way. Is that really neutrality? No.

I'd say the wheels are in motion for both Finland and Sweden becoming NATO members in the very near future. And Putin, despite his incessant lamentations and objections, has nobody to blame but himself for it. Ironic.

[Tracker]

47 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

Finland has maintained a tenuous relation with Russia throughout their history, the Northern city of Vyborg has changed hands a few times and has been part of Russia since the end of WW2.  Living virtually on their doorstep with the border being less than 200 kms. away from St. Petersburg, I can't see Russia ever allowing NATO that close, or the Finns accepting  the stress and fracture joining NATO would invite.  Finland is better off maintaining their neutrality and preserving their country.  As long as they don't have any NG or petroleum reserves that Russia covets this move should be a bluff, hopefully they will continue to co-exist in peace. 

One of the ever- changing reasons for attacking Ukraine that Putin has given is to prevent nuclear weapons from being installed at Russia's border, but Poland abuts Russia and has been NATO for a while. All of this is a sham for Putin to try to restore the Russian empire as a monument to himself. There have been persistent rumours that he has thyroid cancer, which can be treated with palliative measures but not cured.

[Fatty Liver]

12 minutes ago, blue_gold_84 said:

Finland can do whatever the hell it wants, IMO. Russia trying to bully yet another sovereign nation to its best interests is only going to temper said nation's resolve. I think that's only been reinforced now that we've seen what a mess its "special military operation" has been the last seven weeks or so in Ukraine.

There's no neutrality to be had with Russia anymore, at least not without Russia having the upper hand in some way. Is that really neutrality? No.

I'd say the wheels are in motion for both Finland and Sweden becoming NATO members in the very near future. And Putin, despite his incessant lamentations and objections, has nobody to blame but himself for it. Ironic.

That's not really a rational or reasonable stance, Russia is not going away even with the eventual demise of Putin.  As I said Finland and Russia have co-existed in peace since the end of WW2, I can't see the Finns willingly provoking the destruction Russia has wreaked upon Ukraine within their borders. It doesn't matter who wins, what good is having resolve when you're left living in rubble?

[Tracker]

On 2022-04-11 at 11:19 AM, blue_gold_84 said:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61066503

Finland is not all that worried about Russia. Finland spends more on military per capita than anyone else in Europe. One Finnish politician said, "We're not worried about Russian soldiers coming into Finland. We already have thousands here just inside our border, about six feet underground."

[blue_gold_84]

15 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

That's not really a rational or reasonable stance, Russia is not going away even with the eventual demise of Putin.  As I said Finland and Russia have co-existed in peace since the end of WW2, I can't see the Finns willingly provoking the destruction Russia has wreaked upon Ukraine within their borders. It doesn't matter who wins, what good is having resolve when you're left living in rubble?

Finland opting to join NATO can only be deemed a provocation to Russian leadership, its brainwashed populace, and the uninformed.

You fail to explain what's irrational or unreasonable about a sovereign nation's aspirations or doing what's best for its own interests, while then making your own irrational comments. You should go tell the Ukrainians fighting for their country that resolve is worthless and see how that goes. It's easy to make such a remark from relative comfort and safety and I'm sure your tune would be different if you were in their place.

Russia is the way it is because of its leadership, which obviously includes Putin. That group of greedy, delusional narcissists haven't accepted the fact that the USSR failed, the golden age of Russian influence in Eastern Europe is over, and that it collapsed by its own hand. They've been blaming the West ever since, lacking any introspection as to the internal factors that led to the USSR's ultimate demise. They whine about NATO as though it is somehow a threat to Russia's existence. Meanwhile, Russia actually threatens the existence of other nations. That's garbage.

They whipped up false narratives and propaganda for years to unjustly invade a country, destroy its towns and cities, and terrorize and murder its people. After having already done something similar eight years previous, annexing Crimea and spurring conflict in the Donbass Region. It's evident Russia is not interested in peace with anyone unless it's on their terms; that's not diplomacy. You can't ask for peace or neutrality with your neighbours by bullying them and then play the victim when they don't bend to your will, and even less so when you invade them. This is what's wrong with Russia: this fabricated persecution complex created by an old boys club who can't accept reality, so they send impoverished, impressionable young men to do their bidding, many to their deaths, while denying any wrongdoing and skirting accountability. It's such a callous disregard for human decency.

As for Finland, it isn't some feeble country: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/hybrid-underdog-russia-should-be-scared-finlands-military-innovation-191333

Russian forces already appear to have their hands full in Ukraine, to the point they had withdraw and refocus on the eastern regions. That's pretty telling and doesn't bode well with regard to conducting another "military operation" on its border with Finland.

Russia exposed itself on Feb. 24th. And it's not a good look.

[Tracker]

1 hour ago, blue_gold_84 said:

Finland opting to join NATO can only be deemed a provocation to Russian leadership, its brainwashed populace, and the uninformed.

You fail to explain what's irrational or unreasonable about a sovereign nation's aspirations or doing what's best for its own interests, while then making your own irrational comments. You should go tell the Ukrainians fighting for their country that resolve is worthless and see how that goes. It's easy to make such a remark from relative comfort and safety and I'm sure your tune would be different if you were in their place.

Russia is the way it is because of its leadership, which obviously includes Putin. That group of greedy, delusional narcissists haven't accepted the fact that the USSR failed, the golden age of Russian influence in Eastern Europe is over, and that it collapsed by its own hand. They've been blaming the West ever since, lacking any introspection as to the internal factors that led to the USSR's ultimate demise. They whine about NATO as though it is somehow a threat to Russia's existence. Meanwhile, Russia actually threatens the existence of other nations. That's garbage.

They whipped up false narratives and propaganda for years to unjustly invade a country, destroy its towns and cities, and terrorize and murder its people. After having already done something similar eight years previous, annexing Crimea and spurring conflict in the Donbass Region. It's evident Russia is not interested in peace with anyone unless it's on their terms; that's not diplomacy. You can't ask for peace or neutrality with your neighbours by bullying them and then play the victim when they don't bend to your will, and even less so when you invade them. This is what's wrong with Russia: this fabricated persecution complex created by an old boys club who can't accept reality, so they send impoverished, impressionable young men to do their bidding, many to their deaths, while denying any wrongdoing and skirting accountability. It's such a callous disregard for human decency.

As for Finland, it isn't some feeble country: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/hybrid-underdog-russia-should-be-scared-finlands-military-innovation-191333

Russian forces already appear to have their hands full in Ukraine, to the point they had withdraw and refocus on the eastern regions. That's pretty telling and doesn't bode well with regard to conducting another "military operation" on its border with Finland.

Russia exposed itself on Feb. 24th. And it's not a good look.

Reports are coming that Russian troops are not being paid and entire battalions are refusing to engage their targets.