| Sorry double post (n/t) on 09:56 - Dec 7 with 3052 views | Eireannach_gorm |
[Post edited 7 Dec 2024 9:59]
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| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:25 - Dec 7 with 3001 views | Churchman |
It is horrific. To real human beings. But not to Putin and his henchmen. It’s nothing. Lives are nothing to him. Grains of sand. There is little point in speculating russian losses or lifespan of their cannon fodder. It doesn’t matter to Putin. The attached gives the scale and ambition of Russia:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334454/russian-armed-forces-personnel/
The building up of his armed forces in full knowledge that Ukraine will fold when Trump pulls support means only one thing. Future expansion beyond Ukraine. Why else would you want a military that large?
It’s economy is doing well, sanctions have proven of limited value circumvented by supportive regimes, production of hardware is increasing. It’s all good for the Dictatorship, all bad for his next victims and in the not too distant future those that sit idly by doing less than nothing like the U.K.
You are right. It’s truly obscene, but it’s happening and being largely ignored now by all but those directly threatened. |  | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 09:01 - Dec 20 with 2689 views | redrickstuhaart |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:47 - Dec 6 by Churchman |
Sadly the Russians are the big boys in the room. They are clear on their strategy, what they want and have might on their side. Putin also knows that every time he threatens nuclear, the likes of Starmer, Macron and the German run around in panic.
With political turmoil in US politics and a disinterested future President, Putin can do pretty much as he pleases, sadly. |
Such panic that we continue to support Ukraine, allow strikes in Russia and are likely sending our troops to train Ukranian ones? |  | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:10 - Dec 20 with 2606 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:47 - Dec 6 by Churchman |
Sadly the Russians are the big boys in the room. They are clear on their strategy, what they want and have might on their side. Putin also knows that every time he threatens nuclear, the likes of Starmer, Macron and the German run around in panic.
With political turmoil in US politics and a disinterested future President, Putin can do pretty much as he pleases, sadly. |
I don’t think that’s entirely fair (at least from a US/UK perspective). Every Putin ‘redline’ has been ignored, we’ve escalated first with western tanks, then planes, long range missiles, and expanded the limitations of Ukraine’s deployment of weapons. A more cowardly approach would have seen us back off.
My main criticism would be how slow and reactionary the West have been. We have a huge advantage in scale, capital, manpower, and technology over Russia. We should be giving Ukraine everything they need faster. Poland are on their way to becoming a military powerhouse, they’ll soon have the largest army in Europe (on track to expand to 350k personnel), with the latest as planes and equipment. Worth noting how their economy is also surging with all the investment.
The long game certainly favours the west - Russia is rapidly burning through its sovereign reserves, the economy is overheating from their stimulus to prop it up. Whilst people thought 5pc interest rates were tough here, the Russian central bank has raised it to 21%. Claims that Russia haven’t been heavily economically impacted are ridiculous. | | | |
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| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:12 - Jan 19 with 2304 views | GlasgowBlue |
I see Putin is cutting off energy supplies to Serbia in order to destabilise tensions in the Balkans. If that kicks off again we’re in World War territory. |  |
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| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:35 - Jan 19 with 2262 views | Churchman |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:12 - Jan 19 by GlasgowBlue |
I see Putin is cutting off energy supplies to Serbia in order to destabilise tensions in the Balkans. If that kicks off again we’re in World War territory. |
I doubt it. Trump will look to further his interests elsewhere (Panama, Greenland, Far East) and Putin will have pretty much a free hand in Europe. There might be localised trouble as madman Vlad rebuilds his Eastern Bloc.
However, with America probably out of the picture and almost limitless political weakness in Europe, how it will look all depends just how much Putin and his backers, the Chinese, want.
The world will be divided into three. | | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:37 - Jan 19 with 2255 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:12 - Jan 19 by GlasgowBlue |
I see Putin is cutting off energy supplies to Serbia in order to destabilise tensions in the Balkans. If that kicks off again we’re in World War territory. |
I don’t follow your thinking on that one - Kosovo aside, Serbia is largely a mono- ethnic state (not an artificial nation of inter ethnic tensions like Yugoslavia). There’s no reason to Serbia to attack their neighbours, in fact it’ll likely be counterproductive and see Serbia try to accelerate EU membership.
A desperate attempt to bully one of the few remaining European nations in the Russian sphere of influence. He’s also attempted to undermine Georgian democracy and in Moldova. Again it’s likely to see any remaining sympathy for Russia disappear in those nations.
Quite how people think Russia are going to conduct a wider scale war when they’ve lost half a million casualites to take an area smaller than Iceland (in the one of the poorest nations in Europe) I don’t know. Increased hybrid attacks perhaps (Russian sabotage of underwater infrastructure is increasing, as are Cyber attacks). This is Hitler in his bunker stuff - Russia is looking increasingly isolated in Europe. | | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 19:47 - Jan 19 with 2151 views | bluejacko |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:37 - Jan 19 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
I don’t follow your thinking on that one - Kosovo aside, Serbia is largely a mono- ethnic state (not an artificial nation of inter ethnic tensions like Yugoslavia). There’s no reason to Serbia to attack their neighbours, in fact it’ll likely be counterproductive and see Serbia try to accelerate EU membership.
A desperate attempt to bully one of the few remaining European nations in the Russian sphere of influence. He’s also attempted to undermine Georgian democracy and in Moldova. Again it’s likely to see any remaining sympathy for Russia disappear in those nations.
Quite how people think Russia are going to conduct a wider scale war when they’ve lost half a million casualites to take an area smaller than Iceland (in the one of the poorest nations in Europe) I don’t know. Increased hybrid attacks perhaps (Russian sabotage of underwater infrastructure is increasing, as are Cyber attacks). This is Hitler in his bunker stuff - Russia is looking increasingly isolated in Europe. |
It does beggar belief in some people’s comments about ‘breakthroughs’!
They had a free hit unopposed in the first days of the war to take Kyiv and couldn’t manage it Now they are supposed to be able to advance long distances opposed? It just won’t happen. | | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 12:48 - Jan 23 with 1966 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:10 - Dec 20 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
I don’t think that’s entirely fair (at least from a US/UK perspective). Every Putin ‘redline’ has been ignored, we’ve escalated first with western tanks, then planes, long range missiles, and expanded the limitations of Ukraine’s deployment of weapons. A more cowardly approach would have seen us back off.
My main criticism would be how slow and reactionary the West have been. We have a huge advantage in scale, capital, manpower, and technology over Russia. We should be giving Ukraine everything they need faster. Poland are on their way to becoming a military powerhouse, they’ll soon have the largest army in Europe (on track to expand to 350k personnel), with the latest as planes and equipment. Worth noting how their economy is also surging with all the investment.
The long game certainly favours the west - Russia is rapidly burning through its sovereign reserves, the economy is overheating from their stimulus to prop it up. Whilst people thought 5pc interest rates were tough here, the Russian central bank has raised it to 21%. Claims that Russia haven’t been heavily economically impacted are ridiculous. |
And more evidence the Russian economy is badly faltering:
“Putin frustrated with economic issues, scolds officials at Kremlin meeting, sources say”
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-growing-concerned-by-russias-economy-
“domestic activity has become strained in recent months by labour shortages and high interest rates introduced to tackle inflation, which has accelerated under record military spending.”
It was always nonsense that Russia had not been seriously impacted by Sanctions. | | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 14:36 - Feb 12 with 1571 views | DJR |
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has just addressed the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at a meeting in Brussels, and here is a summary:
“Bloodshed must stop, this war must end,” he insisted (14:42).
He warned that returning to pre-2014 Ukraine borders was “unrealistic,” and “chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering” (14:43).
He said that “the US does not believe that Nato membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement” with Russia.
He ruled out any US deployment to Ukraine or covering peacekeeping forces there with Article 5 Nato guarantees, saying it would be up to European and non-European troops to organise the forces (14:47).
He urged Europeans to “provide the overwhelming share” of aid to Ukraine and level with their citizens “about the threat facing Europe” (14:48).
In a stark warning, he said that “stark strategic realities prevent the US from being primarily focused on the security of Europe” as it looks at “threats to our homeland,” including from China (14:50).
He acknowledged some action taken by European allies, name-checking Sweden and Poland, but said “more must still be done” (14:51).
He insisted that the US remains committed to Nato, but “will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship which encourages dependency” (14:52). |  | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 15:42 - Feb 12 with 1524 views | WeWereZombies |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 14:36 - Feb 12 by DJR |
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has just addressed the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at a meeting in Brussels, and here is a summary:
“Bloodshed must stop, this war must end,” he insisted (14:42).
He warned that returning to pre-2014 Ukraine borders was “unrealistic,” and “chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering” (14:43).
He said that “the US does not believe that Nato membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement” with Russia.
He ruled out any US deployment to Ukraine or covering peacekeeping forces there with Article 5 Nato guarantees, saying it would be up to European and non-European troops to organise the forces (14:47).
He urged Europeans to “provide the overwhelming share” of aid to Ukraine and level with their citizens “about the threat facing Europe” (14:48).
In a stark warning, he said that “stark strategic realities prevent the US from being primarily focused on the security of Europe” as it looks at “threats to our homeland,” including from China (14:50).
He acknowledged some action taken by European allies, name-checking Sweden and Poland, but said “more must still be done” (14:51).
He insisted that the US remains committed to Nato, but “will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship which encourages dependency” (14:52). |
The European Union, United Kingdom and Norway already do shoulder a massive share of aid to Ukraine in the form of hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees. |  |
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| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 16:04 - Feb 12 with 1497 views | DJR |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 15:42 - Feb 12 by WeWereZombies |
The European Union, United Kingdom and Norway already do shoulder a massive share of aid to Ukraine in the form of hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees. |
That's true. They've also taken much more of a hit to their economies than the US has. | | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 16:12 - Feb 12 with 1482 views | bluejacko |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 14:36 - Feb 12 by DJR |
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has just addressed the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at a meeting in Brussels, and here is a summary:
“Bloodshed must stop, this war must end,” he insisted (14:42).
He warned that returning to pre-2014 Ukraine borders was “unrealistic,” and “chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering” (14:43).
He said that “the US does not believe that Nato membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement” with Russia.
He ruled out any US deployment to Ukraine or covering peacekeeping forces there with Article 5 Nato guarantees, saying it would be up to European and non-European troops to organise the forces (14:47).
He urged Europeans to “provide the overwhelming share” of aid to Ukraine and level with their citizens “about the threat facing Europe” (14:48).
In a stark warning, he said that “stark strategic realities prevent the US from being primarily focused on the security of Europe” as it looks at “threats to our homeland,” including from China (14:50).
He acknowledged some action taken by European allies, name-checking Sweden and Poland, but said “more must still be done” (14:51).
He insisted that the US remains committed to Nato, but “will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship which encourages dependency” (14:52). |
All this NATO stuff and yet which is the only country to activate article 5? How many casualties and at what cost to us and the rest of NATO countries did that incur?
Short memories indeed🙄 | | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 08:41 - Feb 18 with 1167 views | Churchman |
Thank you to EIreannach for starting this thread and continuing it throughout this dreadful war. Within it are some interesting views and an ongoing commentary on what will be seen in the future as a seismic event in changing the world’s political and military landscape. | | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 11:56 - Feb 18 with 2712 views | EdwardStone |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 08:41 - Feb 18 by Churchman |
Thank you to EIreannach for starting this thread and continuing it throughout this dreadful war. Within it are some interesting views and an ongoing commentary on what will be seen in the future as a seismic event in changing the world’s political and military landscape. |
This thread has been fascinating and useful
I have also found this resource invaluable
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5275956-ukraine-invasion-part-54?page=5&r
Huge amounts of collated info and some real life info from ex USAF pilot, former Army officers, Ukrainian citizens etc [Post edited 18 Feb 13:21]
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| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 12:54 - Feb 18 with 2655 views | bluejacko |
Lots of info out there instead of reading and listening to MSM ‘defence’ experts🙄 | | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 21:10 - Feb 18 with 2562 views | WeWereZombies |
Interesting medium length read from Jeremy Bowen:
BBC News - Jeremy Bowen: No sign of a quick peace dividend for Trump in Ukraine
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg151j5504o
The end of paragraph just before the first photo about some armoured vehicles flying the red Soviet flag instead of the current Russian flag is interesting, division in the ranks ? And the long retired Soviet officer living in Ukraine who believes that giving into Putin is the worst thing to do. [Post edited 18 Feb 21:22]
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| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 07:40 - Feb 19 with 2453 views | Churchman |
We are now told by MrTrump that the war was stated by Ukraine and that ‘they could have made a deal’. Ok, I fully expect to see Zelenski on trial for his life for causing all those deaths. For causing Russia to have to bombard Ukraine and commit all those massacres.
Alternatively, what would Trump say if Mexico invaded southern US to claim its old land? Would he apologise for causing Mexico to do it?
This is insane. | | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 07:50 - Feb 19 with 2453 views | bluejacko |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 07:40 - Feb 19 by Churchman |
We are now told by MrTrump that the war was stated by Ukraine and that ‘they could have made a deal’. Ok, I fully expect to see Zelenski on trial for his life for causing all those deaths. For causing Russia to have to bombard Ukraine and commit all those massacres.
Alternatively, what would Trump say if Mexico invaded southern US to claim its old land? Would he apologise for causing Mexico to do it?
This is insane. |
I’ve said elsewhere that this will become the narrative,watch the MSM jump all over it and say IF Ukraine started it why should we continue to support them?
As things are going I would really not be surprised if Ukraine says sod this and build there own bomb,scary I know BUT! | | | |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 08:02 - Feb 19 with 2447 views | Herbivore |
| The 'special military operation' continues to reach new lows. on 07:50 - Feb 19 by bluejacko |
I’ve said elsewhere that this will become the narrative,watch the MSM jump all over it and say IF Ukraine started it why should we continue to support them?
As things are going I would really not be surprised if Ukraine says sod this and build there own bomb,scary I know BUT! |
The mainstream media is generally very critical of Trump (in the UK and Europe at least) and call out his bullsh!t. What makes you think they'll push the line that Ukraine started the war when they've been almost universally supportive of Ukraine? I'd be much more worried about the narratives that'll be pushed on X to be honest. |  |
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