Ukraine – Russia … not more of the last thread

[Alex2507]

it's human nature to take comfort in the soft, warm $hit.

Ready when you are ...

 

[GO-NAD!]

I struggle with this (are people who are being fed nonstop BS still responsible for believing the BS?)

I saw an interview with a Russian woman who said she fully supported Putin. The interviewer asked her about videos showing the bodies of Ukrainian citizens, adn she responded that these were all fake and she only watched state run TV because it was the only thing she believed. In my opinion, people who actively choose to ignore any information that contradicts their beliefs bear some responsibility for their own ignorance.

The twitter feed you posted mentioned cognitive dissonance. From my perspective as an armchair shrink with no training or expertise whatsoever, I suspect that this is a significant factor in a lot of the denial and wilful ignorance. Who wants to believe they are contributing to slaughter of thousands of innocent civilians, that their sons died in an effort to force tyranny on innocents, that they are collectively a country of completely clueless A holes?

There's no doubt that Putin's "strength" is spewing B.S. propaganda. He's been doing it for 20 years and it has had an effect. But there are people in Russia who see though it, so I don't think the willfully ignorant get a free pass. They are, after all, adults with brains (yes, I'm dancing around the issue of free will).

When I say I have some empathy, that does not mean I give them a free pass. They're human beings like the rest of us. Cognitive dissonance lead Germans to swallow Hitler's BS 90-odd years ago. Even today, with so much information available, millions of people (and not just Americans) still believe Trump’s nonsense. So, there is nothing particularly unique about the Russian people. Any society can be conned the same way, given the right/wrong circumstances.

 

[Swerd]

Please keep this thread for discussion of the war in Ukraine.

If it drifts onto other subjects, such a gun laws in the USA, it will become divisive and an open invitation to unwanted trolls.

 

[Mikado463]

it would be great to shove this up Putins back side ......

Putin's bullying backfires as Finland and Sweden edge closer to joining NATO | CNN

By invading Ukraine, Vladimir Putin wanted to bring his neighbor to heel and make the West think twice about expanding alliances towards Russia's borders. But Russia's assault is having the opposite effect on some countries.

www.cnn.com

 

[Mr._Clark]

I'm curious about the new Phoenix Ghost drones the U.S. is reportedly supplying to Ukraine, but I haven't found much information other than it is akin to the switchblade.

>>>The exact capabilities that Phoenix Ghost will offer to Ukraine are being kept under wraps, as Kirby declined to comment. But he did say the drone is “akin” to the Switchblade drone that the U.S. has already delivered to Ukraine.<<<

Pentagon Reveals Secretive New Drone the Air Force is Giving to Ukraine: Phoenix Ghost | Air & Space Forces Magazine

The Pentagon revealed April 21 that the US Air Force has developed a new drone for Ukraine to use against Russia called Phoenix Ghost.

www.airforcemag.com

 

[Mr._Clark]

I'm not sure if this has been confirmed, but Ukraine allegedly has more tanks than Russia right now:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1517165874372825092

 

[haraldo]

At least trying to do something:

1. I have sent a letter to the Prime Minister's office requesting pressure and sanctions towards Norwegian companies that are still in Russia.
2. I have sent a letter directly to the parliamentary group of the "Green Party" to address directly in the Norwegian government ASAP to impose pressure and sanctions towards Norwegian companies that are still in Russia. website: mdg.no
3. I am running a process towards the COO of my parent company, as well as the CEO of my company to make a decision at the next board meeting to withdraw completely from Russia.

One of the backgrounders:
Zelensky’s address to Congress, annotated
All American companies must leave Russia from their market, leave their market immediately because it is flooded with our blood. Ladies and gentlemen, members of Congress, please take the lead if you have companies in your district who finance the Russian military machine leaving business in Russia, you should put pressure. I’m asking to make sure that the Russians do not receive a single penny that they use to destroy people in Ukraine.

 

[SithZedi]

Interesting thread on observations good and bad from statement by Russian DC Minnekaev.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1517464441645846529

 

[SithZedi]

Not a good look for Olaf or Germany for that matter. Agree the Nuclear risk is serious but the rest is rather a step down from his "famous" speech to "reinvest" in their NATO responsibility and rapidly change energy policy. I don't think Germany has over 95 working Leopard II's anyway.

Scholz says top priority is avoiding NATO confrontation with Russia

NATO must avoid a direct military confrontation with Russia that could lead to a third world war, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview with Der Spiegel when asked about Germany's failure to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine.

www.reuters.com

 

[highfigh]

Not a good look for Olaf or Germany for that matter. Agree the Nuclear risk is serious but the rest is rather a step down from his "famous" speech to "reinvest" in their NATO responsibility and rapidly change energy policy. I don't think Germany has over 95 working Leopard II's anyway.

Scholz says top priority is avoiding NATO confrontation with Russia

NATO must avoid a direct military confrontation with Russia that could lead to a third world war, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview with Der Spiegel when asked about Germany's failure to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine.

www.reuters.com

If "NATO must avoid confrontation with Russia", what's the point of NATO?

 

[SithZedi]

If "NATO must avoid confrontation with Russia", what's the point of NATO?

Also, if NATO members do not live up to their financial commitments, why should it fall back to the taxpayers of other nations? If new members come into the organzation, NATO should have firmer treaty language to enforce this.

 

[SithZedi]

An aerial view of a Russian tank graveyard. Pretty soon they will probably tap the old Soviet museums for T-34s.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1517448541806944257

 

[haraldo]

 

[GO-NAD!]

For a regime that had a reputation for being so skillful at mis/disinformation, they've proven themselves to be quite inept lately.

Russians accused of staging French burial of bodies in Mali - ABC News (go.com)

 

[Mr._Clark]

I do not know if this is accurate, but here's a twitter post claiming that Russia's defense ministry stated in a closed door meeting that it lost 13,414 soldiers in Ukraine and another 7,000 are missing. That's a lot, but it seems possible.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1517508742811721729

 

[haraldo]

I do not know if this is accurate, but here's a twitter post claiming that Russia's defense ministry stated in a closed door meeting that it lost 13,414 soldiers in Ukraine and another 7,000 are missing. That's a lot, but it seems possible.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1517508742811721729

these are the latest official numbers from Ukraine side: 20.900 russian soldiers killed.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I'm curious about the new Phoenix Ghost drones the U.S. is reportedly supplying to Ukraine, but I haven't found much information other than it is akin to the switchblade.

>>>The exact capabilities that Phoenix Ghost will offer to Ukraine are being kept under wraps, as Kirby declined to comment. But he did say the drone is “akin” to the Switchblade drone that the U.S. has already delivered to Ukraine.<<<

Pentagon Reveals Secretive New Drone the Air Force is Giving to Ukraine: Phoenix Ghost | Air & Space Forces Magazine

The Pentagon revealed April 21 that the US Air Force has developed a new drone for Ukraine to use against Russia called Phoenix Ghost.

www.airforcemag.com

Wonder why this is made public by the US. One way? 120? Need a 1000 or more.

 

[mtrycrafts]

If "NATO must avoid confrontation with Russia", what's the point of NATO?

Then, might as well just invite Putlin to come on over, we give in to your threats.

 

[Mr._Clark]

This is actually "old" news from a couple weeks ago, but I hadn't heard about it before.

>>>The United States said on Wednesday that it had secretly removed malware from computer networks around the world in recent weeks, a step to pre-empt Russian cyberattacks and send a message to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. . . .

The malware enabled the Russians to create “botnets” — networks of private computers that are infected with malicious software and controlled by the G.R.U., the intelligence arm of the Russian military. But it is unclear what the malware was intended to do, since it could be used for everything from surveillance to destructive attacks.

An American official said on Wednesday that the United States did not want to wait to find out. Armed with secret court orders in the United States and the help of governments around the world, the Justice Department and the F.B.I. disconnected the networks from the G.R.U.’s own controllers.<<<

U.S. Says It Secretly Removed Malware Worldwide, Pre-empting Russian Cyberattacks (Published 2022)

The operation is the latest effort by the Biden administration to thwart actions by Russia by making them public before Moscow can strike.

www.nytimes.com

 

[GO-NAD!]

This is actually "old" news from a couple weeks ago, but I hadn't heard about it before.

>>>The United States said on Wednesday that it had secretly removed malware from computer networks around the world in recent weeks, a step to pre-empt Russian cyberattacks and send a message to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. . . .

The malware enabled the Russians to create “botnets” — networks of private computers that are infected with malicious software and controlled by the G.R.U., the intelligence arm of the Russian military. But it is unclear what the malware was intended to do, since it could be used for everything from surveillance to destructive attacks.

An American official said on Wednesday that the United States did not want to wait to find out. Armed with secret court orders in the United States and the help of governments around the world, the Justice Department and the F.B.I. disconnected the networks from the G.R.U.’s own controllers.<<<

U.S. Says It Secretly Removed Malware Worldwide, Pre-empting Russian Cyberattacks (Published 2022)

The operation is the latest effort by the Biden administration to thwart actions by Russia by making them public before Moscow can strike.

www.nytimes.com

This brings to mind a question that pops into my mind every time I read of some cyber-shenanigans emanating from Russia or China. Why don't we hear more about US measures to combat this stuff? Are they keeping their powder dry for some instance when revealing/unleashing countermeasures is considered justifiable?