Ukraine - somebody explain to me

[Bo Diddley]

The longer this thing goes on, the more I want to think Ukraine has a chance. Then news reports talk about Mariupol, that has held out so long, being primarily under Russian control at this point and I get feeling like Russia's eventual "win" as far as taking the large cities may be inevitable. I hope the economic sanctions and pressure stays intact and Russia continues to be punished long after if that is the case.

It's hard to say what's going to happen in Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukraine has already been fighting there for years, and have good defensive positions in place. Some analysts see a stalemate. But the Russian way is to throw bodies and firepower at their objectives. I could see Russia gain their objectives slowly over time at great cost. It looks like Mariupol is almost in their control, and the city is pretty much leveled from bombs, missiles and artillery.

[BlueK]

This is awesome.

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So it's been reported that Finland and Sweden were only weeks, not months away from pushing forward with applying for NATO membership. Russia responded by saying it would consider them enemy countries if they do that. What happens if Russia attacks them before they are officially in NATO? I don't think NATO could just let that go.

[Jeff Lebowski]

So it's been reported that Finland and Sweden were only weeks, not months away from pushing forward with applying for NATO membership. Russia responded by saying it would consider them enemy countries if they do that. What happens if Russia attacks them before they are officially in NATO? I don't think NATO could just let that go.

They can't make progress in Ukraine. I highly doubt they open up a second front.

[Bo Diddley]

So it's been reported that Finland and Sweden were only weeks, not months away from pushing forward with applying for NATO membership. Russia responded by saying it would consider them enemy countries if they do that. What happens if Russia attacks them before they are officially in NATO? I don't think NATO could just let that go.

It's only sabre rattling. But no, NATO would not let that go.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Russians have stopped producing tanks due to shortage of critical components they can no longer import. This is going to hit all segments of their military production. Zero chance russia can sustain a broader conflict. Ignore the bluff.

[Bo Diddley]

Mayor of Melitopol who was abducted by Russian soldiers describes his treatment by them.

Fedorov said he had faced "psychological" but not physical torture with up to seven soldiers questioning him "at night”, conducting “about four or five hours” of “hard” interrogations.

"Russian soldiers assumed that they would be welcomed but they were not... and that is why the Russians were very, very angry," he added.

Russians are so out of touch with reality.

[BlueK]

They can't make progress in Ukraine. I highly doubt they open up a second front.

I'm pretty sure it's a bluff, but this appears to have a leader at the top and much of the country not making decisions based on reality right now. If this were the old Soviet power structure Putin would have been deposed already. He's closer right now to making judgments like Saddam Hussein than to the old Soviet way.

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Mayor of Melitopol who was abducted by Russian soldiers describes his treatment by them.



Russians are so out of touch with reality.

Half the world is our of touch with reality.

[BlueK]

Half the world is our of touch with reality.

You mean Trump didn't actually win the election?

[Bo Diddley]

Half the world is our of touch with reality.

That's a fair statement.

[Eddie]

That's a fair statement.

And, unfortunately, the half that is out of touch agrees with this statement too - believing it's everyone except them who is out of touch.

[PaloAltoCougar]

The book I’m finishing up, Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible, provides interesting anecdotes about Putin-era Russia and how scripted the Russian media are. Although it was written over seven years ago, I keep thinking about one section in particular—how at the end of each April and October many thousands of instances of corruption and other law-breaking occur as young men seek to avoid the semiannual call-up process. Even during relatively peaceful times, the Russian system is nearly overwhelmed trying to track down draft dodgers while those in power accept bribes from families seeking to shield their offspring. It will be interesting to see how much worse this will become in a couple of weeks as the prospect of induction into the Russian armed forces is now far more terrifying than ever before. Meanwhile, Putin needs to come up with a victory he can claim before the usual May 9 VE celebration.

I’d love to know what the Pentagon is doing sub rosa to assist Ukraine to make Putin’s desperate moves this month as costly as possible.

[BlueK]

And, unfortunately, the half that is out of touch agrees with this statement too - believing it's everyone except them who is out of touch.

My brother is in a YSA bishopric. He told me that a member of his ward asked him in all seriousness if he really believed there even is a war happening in Ukraine. Holy crap.

[myboynoah]

Yikes if true. Russia is basically a big mafia organization.

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[Bo Diddley]

Yikes if true. Russia is basically a big mafia organization.

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Yeah, we have problems in the US, but when you compare us to other countries--like RUSSIA--we're in pretty good shape.