Ukraine war mega thread

[Cujo]

Does anyone seriously believe NATO was any threat to Russia?
Nazis? WTF are you smoking?
What evidence of a planned attack on Donbas?
Jesus skidmark, try a little reality, you're going down the rabbit hole.
Just as a matter of interest are you a Qanon supporter?

[Backspin]

Nobody in Europe or NATO wants to invade Russia, why do you think they do?

The US naval station near Odessa was already completed. The UK and US were bundling building other naval bases in the area.

In the near future, it's totally conceivable that Ukraine would attack Crimea to take it back, with NATO backup. The naval assets of the US and UK could easily get involved in that attack. And the whole Western world would support it.

Why did the US to practice bombing runs along the Russian/ukrqine border? Why did the UK send a naval ship into Crimean waters that time?

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Nobody in Europe or NATO wants to invade Russia, why do you think they do?

It is not a question why I think that NATO will invade Russia but Rather , why does Russia thinks they might.
And it is not only the prospect of invasion but the threat a vulnerability presents that forces concessions .
I just finished reading "The accidental President" (Harry S Truman and the four months that changed the world)
Somewhere in that book during the Negotiations between the US, Russia and the UK in Potsdam , somewhere it was mentioned , in the context of Russian "Paranoia" and it's desire for a buffer , that Russia had being invaded on the average about every 35 years (don't quote me on the years I am doing this from memory) .And most of those invasions came from Europe.

If you are interested, I found the following article interesting.
"Russia and the Curse of Geography
Want to understand why Putin does what he does? Look at a map."
Russia and the Curse of Geography, From Ivan the Terrible to Vladimir Putin - The Atlantic

[Backspin]

Does anyone seriously believe NATO was any threat to Russia?
Nazis? WTF are you smoking?
What evidence of a planned attack on Donbas?
Jesus skidmark, try a little reality, you're going down the rabbit hole.
Just as a matter of interest are you a Qanon supporter?

On the contrary. Why the hell does anyone think NATO is not a threat to Russia?

B-52 Bombers Fly Unprecedented Patrol Along Edge Of Russian-Controlled Territory In Ukraine (Updated)

UK vows to send warships through disputed Crimean waters again after confrontation with Russia | Evening Standard

[pickel]

Why the hell does anyone think NATO is not a threat to Russia?

Because they have a perfectly valid and moral reason to do it now, and are choosing not to. It's a defensive alliance.

[Backspin]

Nazis? WTF are you smoking?

You seem to have some assumptions about the world, like that there's no such thing as actual neo Nazis in anywhere let alone Ukraine. And no amount of actual reality presented infront of you can seem to penetrate your mind.

USA Today : Russia's invasion of Ukraine draws attention to extremist regiment

2 days ago, one of the leaders of the Azov Battalion in Berdyansk , fled the city because his forces were losing the war. He left everything behind. Here is what was found in his residence.

Viktor Plotnikov





2 pages from now, Cujo will be like " Nazis huhu wtf. There aint not Nazis" His mind is in this high state of denial mode or something.

[Backspin]

Nazis? WTF are you smoking?

Do you think this is all fake or something ?

[sabang]

THE BATTLE FOR MARIUPOL IS COMING TO AN END AND CIVILIAN TESTIMONIES ON THE CRIMES OF AZOV ARE MULTIPLYING

26/03/2022

As the battle for Mariupol draws to a close and the Russian army and the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) people’s militia have now taken control of most of the city, civilians are evacuating en masse, and stories of the horrors committed by the fighters of the Azov regiment are multiplying.

Thus, on 23 March 2022, we went to Volodarskoye (renamed Nikolskoye by the post-Maidan Ukrainian authorities), where many civilians fleeing western and central Mariupol are sent to be registered and from where they can take buses to Berdiansk, Donetsk or Rostov.

While they wait in the check-in line or on the bus that will take them to their chosen destination, I talk to several of them. All of them confirm that the Azov fighters were evicting Mariupol civilians from their flats and using them as firing points. Worse, they were also setting up near the bomb shelters where women, children and elderly people were to shoot, knowing that they were putting the lives of these civilians in danger!

One woman also told us that the Azov fighters set up near a school to bomb the houses! She and her makeshift neighbor in the bomb shelter described the Azov fighters as real Nazis, explaining that they walked around with swastikas and other Nazi symbols clearly visible on them.

One man also told us how the Azov fighters took all the food that was still being sold to the residents of a neighborhood in Mariupol, leaving them with nothing to eat. He also reported that the families of Azov fighters are in bomb shelters in Mariupol’s metal factories, where they use civilians as slaves, who have to work for them to get some water.

Several of these civilians confirmed that Azov fighters and Ukrainian army soldiers were not letting civilians out of Mariupol, using them as hostages and human shields.

One woman said that Ukrainian soldiers had fired on civilian cars trying to leave Mariupol, a testimony confirmed by another civilian who saw her car being targeted by Ukrainian units as she tried to flee the city, despite the fact that the word “Children” was prominently written on the vehicle. Her daughter was wounded by the gunfire.

Another civilian confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers were even shooting at children, and that they did nothing to help the civilians, who were only able to evacuate thanks to Russian soldiers.

Yesterday, the DPR flag was installed on top of the Mariupol municipal administration, and the head of the Republic, Denis Pushilin, went there with Russian deputies to deliver humanitarian aid, marking the takeover of the city.

According to the latest data, 80% of the city is now under the full control of Russian and DPR forces. The remaining fighters of the Azov Regiment have taken refuge in the USSR-designed bomb shelters in the industrial zones, which offer them a last refuge. Russian forces and the DPR people’s militia are eliminating them in these areas in order to complete the liberation of Mariupol. The battle of Marioupol should therefore be over in a few days, as Denis Pushilin had announced.

At present, more than 82,000 civilians have managed to evacuate Mariupol, and several thousand are fleeing every day, prompting the DPR Ministry of Emergency Situations to set up a heated tent city in Bezymennoye to accommodate the uninterrupted flow of refugees. The cars of civilians who have fled the town now line up in a long queue several kilometers from the entrance to the village.

On a more general level, the Russian army has communicated its new figures of military losses on both sides. The Russian army has announced that it has 1,351 dead soldiers and 3,825 wounded since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine. For its part, the Ukrainian army is said to have 14,000 irremediable losses (soldiers killed), and 16,000 soldiers wounded.

In terms of material losses, out of the 2 416 tanks and other armored vehicles available to the Ukrainian army, 1 587 were destroyed, out of 1 509 artillery and mortar pieces, 636 were destroyed, 163 multiple rocket launchers (out of 535) were destroyed, 112 aircraft (out of 152), 75 helicopters (out of 149), and 35 Bayraktars (out of 36) were also scrapped. In terms of anti-aircraft defense, 148 of the 180 S-300 and Buk systems that Ukraine had were destroyed, as were 117 of the 300 radars.

In the Donbass, the LPR has now liberated 93% of its territory and the DPR 54%. The people’s militias of both republics have also recovered 113 tanks and other armored vehicles previously belonging to the Ukrainian army, as well as 138 Javelin anti-tank rocket launchers and 67 NLAW anti-tank rocket launchers.

The Russian army also finally explained its tactical choice not to attack only in the Donbass to defend the DPR and the LPR. An explanation that is in line with my hypotheses on the reasons for this choice.

“The only way to help the Donetsk and Lugansk republics was to provide them with military assistance. Which Russia did. There were two options.

The first was to limit ourselves to the territory of the DPR and LPR within the administrative boundaries of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, as provided for in the constitutions of the republics. But then we would be faced with a constant resupply of troops involved in the so-called joint forces operation by the Ukrainian authorities.

The second option was therefore chosen, involving action throughout the whole of Ukraine with demilitarization and denazification measures. The course of the operation confirmed the correctness of this decision,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

After the battle of Mariupol, the two major battles to complete the liberation of the Donbass will be Slaviansk and Kramatorsk. And given the large number of Ukrainian soldiers gathered in these two cities, these battles unfortunately look like being potentially as terrible, if not more, than the one in Marioupol.

Christelle Néant

Please Wait... | Cloudflare

[David48atTD]

Snubbs mentioned this earlier, now officially confirmed.

---

U.S. sends 100 killer drones called Switchblades to Ukraine


AeroVironment Switchblade 600 Drone
Courtesy: AeroVironment

Key Points

• The U.S. included 100 killer drones called Switchblades in an arms package to Ukraine.
• Ukraine requested the equipment as it fights off a Russian invasion.
• President Joe Biden approved a massive defense aid package earlier this month.

“We have committed 100 Switchblade tactical unmanned aerial systems to be delivered in the most recent package of presidential drawdown,” Wallander said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee.


‘Kamikaze drones’

There are two variants of the weapon, the Switchblade 300 and the 600.
It was not immediately clear which version the U.S. deployed to Ukraine.

The 300 variant is designed to strike small targets. It can fit in a rucksack, weighs a little over 5 pounds and has a range of 10 miles.

The 600 version of the weapon is designed to destroy tanks and other armored vehicles.
It weighs slightly more than 120 pounds and has a range of more than 40 miles.

U.S. sends 100 killer drones called Switchblades to Ukraine

More on Switchblades ... The Switchblade drones going to Ukraine, explained | Popular Science

[David48atTD]

THE BATTLE FOR MARIUPOL IS COMING TO AN END

GREAT, we can agree on something.

Russia has bombed so much of the City that it is practically destroyed, reduced to rubble and it's life is coming to an end.

[kingwilly]

BTW just because someone tries to make sense of the invasion doesn't make them an apologist for it.

Dont think anyone did assume that. But when Bucky apportions blame on both sides for the invasion then that is being n apologist.

The very simple fact is no one but Putin is responsible for the invasion. The murder of innocents is on him. Maybe it was because of his fears about NATO, a naked land grab, shoring up domestic support, oil, historical dreams of the USSR, clearing out Nazis: all interesting to discuss but No one but Putin is responsible for the invasion and no one but Putin is responsible for prolonging the invasion.

[sabang]

The very simple fact is no one but Putin is responsible for the invasion.

The very simple fact is you are wrong. Nato, the Ukrainian gov't, and Putin could have all prevented this war.

[kingwilly]

The very simple fact is you are wrong. Nato, the Ukrainian gov't, and Putin could have all prevented this war.

NATO and Ukraine did not cause this war, Russia did.

Sorry you are too blinkered to understand/admit that.

[bsnub]

And you think Russia would not notice NATO moving all these armaments through the gap between Belarus and Russia to first get into Lithuania? and from there through Latvia,
From Latvia why they would go to Estonia, and not continue into Russia trough Latvia where the topography is more conducive to an invasion, is beyond me

Of course, Russia would notice, but its reaction would be too slow to stop an invasion. It took months for the Russians to prepare for the invasion of Ukraine, something the US could have done in a few weeks. I would agree that an invasion would be more feasible through Latvia, but I was just playing devil's advocate.

Nobody in Europe or NATO wants to invade Russia, why do you think they do?

I do not at all think that. It would be the end of the world and of course I do not want that. I was just speaking in purely hypthetical terms.

NATO training bases, NATO naval and air bases, Pentagon bio labs, Nazi partisan military units sanctioned by the govt. Evidence that an assault on Donbas was being planned.

You are the biggest moron in the history of TD. You swallow more horseshit than just about any trumpanzee imbecile I have ever seen. Furthermore, you are a gullible useful idiot who regurgitates nonsensical Kremlin fake news.

Red line's crossed. The invasion was 100% justified.

The wars #1 fanboy. Too much of an incel cuck to go to the frontline, though. Pathetic coward.

[bsnub]

The very simple fact is you are wrong. Nato, the Ukrainian gov't, and Putin could have all prevented this war.

Says the blinkered imbecile that bleated on for months until literally foaming at the mouth while claiming that there would be no war. You are just another useful idiot.

[Cujo]

You seem to have some assumptions about the world, like that there's no such thing as actual neo Nazis in anywhere let alone Ukraine. And no amount of actual reality presented infront of you can seem to penetrate your mind.

USA Today : Russia's invasion of Ukraine draws attention to extremist regiment

2 days ago, one of the leaders of the Azov Battalion in Berdyansk , fled the city because his forces were losing the war. He left everything behind. Here is what was found in his residence.

Viktor Plotnikov





2 pages from now, Cujo will be like " Nazis huhu wtf. There aint not Nazis" His mind is in this high state of denial mode or something.

I'm not saying there's no such thing as Nazis you fuckwit. I'm saying what the hell threat do they pose to Russia? A threat to Jews maybe, Black maybe, but Russia's not exactly a diverse progressive liberal society is it. This whole Nazi thing is a strawman, like Trumps 'deep state'. To get the 'tards like you worked up and onside.
" Ooh ooh nazis nazis" without giving it much thought. Nazis would pose a threat Ukraine maybe, what with their president being a jew and all.

[bsnub]

I'm not saying there's no such thing as Nazis you fuckwit.

There are far more Nazis in Russia than in Ukraine.

[sabang]

"Today we face an avoidable crisis between the United States and Russia that was predictable, willfully precipitated, but can easily be resolved by the application of common sense."




I cannot dismiss the suspicion that we are witnessing an elaborate charade, grossly magnified by prominent elements of the American media, to serve a domestic political end


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_F._Matlock_Jr.

After he retired from the Foreign Service in 1991, Matlock reentered the academic world, becoming the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of the Practice of International Diplomacy at Columbia. After five years in that position he moved to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where he was George F. Kennan Professor from 1996 to 2001. Matlock has held visiting appointments at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, at Hamilton College, at the Columbia UniversitySchool of International and Public Affairs and at Mount Holyoke College. He has been awarded honorary doctorates by Greensboro College, Albright College and Connecticut College. Matlock completed his dissertation and received his Ph.D. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at their commencement ceremony on May 22, 2013.^[

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Of course, Russia would notice, but its reaction would be too slow to stop an invasion. It took months for the Russians to prepare for the invasion of Ukraine, something the US could have done in a few weeks. I would agree that an invasion would be more feasible through Latvia, but I was just playing devil's advocate.

The Russians have being preparing for such a contingency for a very long time, how successful they would be is an entirely different story and highly debatable..
But with in the context of this conversation which is " why the Russians didn't invade Latvia and Estonia when they joined NATO, and why they invade Ukraine now? the answer is as I described in previous responses, in addition to all the other variables presented in the video I posted.
Do they fear invasion trough the Baltic countries? sure they do, but it is a situation that they feel they can manage . where an additional and more dangerous front in Ukraine they don't feel that they can,
Imagine while being attacked from the north that they are being flanked from the south or Vice versa,
So
Geographic location,
History
Access to the black sea via Russian inland waterways
Crimea
Water for Crimea
and Finally maintaining Russia's dominance of the gas and oil industries in the area.
These are the reasons as I understand them, why Ukraine and not Latvia and Estonia
and an additional observation.
They were not in a position to invade then ,but they are now. They IMO feel that an exhausted from covid West would be less likely to respond now than they were then.

[Norton]

Today we face an avoidable crisis between the United States and Russia that was predictable, willfully precipitated, but can easily be resolved by the application of common sense.

Ah, common sense in fact is not common at all. Rarer than hen's teeth but none the less a term often used by many as the foundation of an arguement to support their opinion.

[sabang]

Are you seeing much of it in the media narrative now?

[harrybarracuda]

It is not a question why I think that NATO will invade Russia but Rather , why does Russia thinks they might.

It's not Russia, it's Putin, and he doesn't think they might, he thinks it's a great jingoistic fairy tale to sell to a people who are starting to see through his lies.

[bsnub]

These are the reasons as I understand them, why Ukraine and not Latvia and Estonia
and an additional observation.

Putin has descended into madness IMHO, and I think that is the main for this invasion over anything else. He clearly overestimated the capability of his army and has made a mistake with this invasion.

[harrybarracuda]

Well this Putin brown noser seems to be a bit behind the game.

Matlock has been openly critical of the American mass media's coverage of the Ukraine crisis. On Jan 26, 2022 he published an review of Richard Sakwa's article "Whisper it, but Putin has a point in Ukraine" on his personal blog, stating agreement that Russia desires a neutral Ukraine and pushing back against claims that Russia seeks to annex Ukraine

[harrybarracuda]

The Russians have being preparing for such a contingency for a very long time, how successful they would be is an entirely different story and highly debatable..
But with in the context of this conversation which is " why the Russians didn't invade Latvia and Estonia when they joined NATO, and why they invade Ukraine now? the answer is as I described in previous responses, in addition to all the other variables presented in the video I posted.
Do they fear invasion trough the Baltic countries? sure they do, but it is a situation that they feel they can manage . where an additional and more dangerous front in Ukraine they don't feel that they can,
Imagine while being attacked from the north that they are being flanked from the south or Vice versa,
So
Geographic location,
History
Access to the black sea via Russian inland waterways
Crimea
Water for Crimea
and Finally maintaining Russia's dominance of the gas and oil industries in the area.
These are the reasons as I understand them, why Ukraine and not Latvia and Estonia
and an additional observation.
They were not in a position to invade then ,but they are now. They IMO feel that an exhausted from covid West would be less likely to respond now than they were then.

This constant use of the word "they" in the context of Russia is just naiive.

It is HE. One person has Russia by the throat and he is responsible for everything that is happening.