I’m ashamed to work for this government
You don't work for them you work for us (thanks). They are just your bad bosses.
I believe that technically civil servants are servants of the Crown, just as Government ministers are (when being ministers not MPs of course).
By any measure, this is very funny…
This is just priceless!!
May have already been pointed out but having read a few reports I wonder if at some point the Russian line will change to:
All male Ukrainians are being called into the army therefore all male Ukrainians are valid millarty targets. Male Ukrainians were using civilians (the rest of their families they live with) as human shields therefore it was hard to to have some civilian deaths.
Or conscripting all Ukrainians into the Russian army and those that don't turn up are shot as deserters.
I do wonder how Farage & the BXP MEPs would have voted had they still been MEPs
Interesting…….
Saw that on Twitter earlier, but I'm staying a bit sceptical until I see it reported in a few more places. Fantastic if true, but not sure that EP wanting it, and member states doing it are the same thing.
EP wanting it, and member states doing it are the same thing.
It puts even more pressure on Germany
realistically though, the German economy would go into immediate recession and it would send gas & petrol prices through the roof in the whole of Europe including the UK, how much would countries be able to stomach? weve had country stopping fuel protests in the UK before over price rises and the Gilet jaunes for example in france- Putin would love to see Macron beaten by his puppet LePenn off the back of something like this
It's at times like this I'm glad I didn't throw the decrepid Woodburner out...
Saw that on Twitter earlier, but I’m staying a bit sceptical until I see it reported in a few more places. Fantastic if true, but not sure that EP wanting it, and member states doing it are the same thing.
Not remotely the same thing. The EU can't force anything like that on its members, it can only happen by agreement, and the EP isn't involved much in the processes whereby member states co-ordinate their policies like what they have been on this issue.
I didnt actually believe that the russians would have been stupid enough to do something like this
https://twitter.com/stompytom/status/1511641119452549122
I read an assessment which debunked the idea that the Russians would be dying of "acute radiation sickness" after their trench digging etc at Chernobyl. Apparently that requires a massive and intense dose of radiation way beyond what they would have encountered. It IS highly likely that they disturbed contaminated soil and breathed in some particles, but this is more likely to lead increased incidences of some cancers in years to come, rather than suddenly dying in the days and weeks ahead of "acute radiation sickness". Still not a very clever thing to do mind!
Edit: Here you go, found it...
https://twitter.com/jrmygrdn/status/1509379039898841095?s=20&t=qJW97XflbEQPT9auSNE_OA
I read an assessment which debunked the idea that the Russians would be dying of “acute radiation sickness” after their trench digging etc at Chernobyl. Apparently that requires a massive and intense dose of radiation way beyond what they would have encountered. It IS highly likely that they disturbed contaminated soil and breathed in some particles, but this is more likely to lead increased incidences of some cancers in years to come, rather than suddenly dying in the days and weeks ahead of “acute radiation sickness”. Still not a very clever thing to do mind!
Yep. An irony of the Chernobyl accident is that wildlife in the exclusion zone is booming. The fallout from the accident was much less deadly for wildlife than having humans around. The same will go for soldiers. Having enemy soldiers around shooting at you would be much more dangerous than the radiation in the soil so digging foxholes would massively improve your short-term chances of surviving. Short-term survival always outweighs long-term concerns. Also, the most dangerous radioactive materials have the shortest half-lives so the area will be much less radioactive than 30 years ago.
Wheres bionerd23 when you need her?
Oh yes, banned, for this...
I think it's perfectly likely troops have been exposed to fuel fragments.
I think it’s perfectly likely troops have been exposed to fuel fragments.
They still kill you more slowly than bullets or artillery shells.
I didnt actually believe that the russians would have been stupid enough to do something like this
Most of the soldiers who did the actual digging had probably not been born when the meltdown happened, as it was completely covered up/not reported in Russia (sure the official Soviet death toll is under 30) they would have no idea of the risks involved, and if told of the risks by Ukrainian personnel at Chernobyl would've no doubt believed it was 'western propaganda'. Russian military command has little interest in protecting the lives of conscripted soldiers if it hampers the chances of achieving their objectives and those who did know the risks wouldn't see it as a problem if it helps the cause
Russia suspended from UN Human Rights Council: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-60991746?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=624f0aeeaea8d714b7409cbd%26How%20countries%20voted%20on%20Russia%27s%20suspension%20from%20UN%20Human%20Rights%20Council%262022-04-07T16%3A09%3A47.470Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:d028e6ea-12b5-495f-9054-213484dcf898&pinned_post_asset_id=624f0aeeaea8d714b7409cbd&pinned_post_type=share
Surprised to see that Hungary voted for the suspension
Is that good? I don't know? Can it push them further down a route. Does it help with something I have no idea
No real effect, but it’s harder to deny stuff when the UN is against you.
pothead
Free MemberMost of the soldiers who did the actual digging had probably not been born when the meltdown happened, as it was completely covered up/not reported in Russia (sure the official Soviet death toll is under 30)
Plus how many young british people know much about Chernobyl? It was 36 years ago, ancient history. How many know it's in Ukraine (since it's always thought of as Russian) How many would know, without being told, if they got dropped out the back of a truck beside the new safe containment that this was the famous melted down reactor? Bearing in mind we've had reports that some of the soldiers aren't even told they're going to Ukraine.
I mean, I know about it because I'm the right age, well educated, and also a disaster porn addict and I played a bunch of Stalker. So I'd not be digging trenches, or going in any dark tunnels where there might be snorks.
So sad. Hopefully some grown ups are trying to negotiate an end to this war but I cant see a realistic settlement acceptable to both sides.
My eldest (18) knows all about Chernobyl thanks to HBO!
Further terrible scenes continue to come out, including 300 dogs that starved trapped in their cages ☹️
Peskov has admitted to ‘significant losses and a huge tragedy’ on the Russian side. Finland will be in NATO within weeks. Still going to plan?
Sounds like the upcoming offensive in the East will be an absolute meatgrinder all round. The worst may well be yet to come I’m afraid…
No real effect, but it’s harder to deny stuff when the UN is against you.
Yeah so it's more a proof that you don't have much support.
It's tricky. I was listening to the live feed on Tuesday for a hour or so and on one level it all seems very important but on another just symbolism because how can you have a club with all the big players in that keeps everyone talking with out it being strangled by compromise?
Sounds like the upcoming offensive in the East will be an absolute meatgrinder all round. The worst may well be yet to come I’m afraid…
This ^^
Putins army is ground down, indiscriminate artillery and terror tactics will be ti the fore
Spent the evening at a concert at my daughters school, billed as a Festival for Peace to raise funds for Ukraine charities. First show the school has put on since Christmas 2019.
Some really powerful readings and video clips, interesting choice of music the kids played - opened and closed with Zombie, and went from Vera Lynn to the Scorpions - but the roof came off when a group from the local Ukranian community did some music and cossack dancing, before singing the Ukranian national anthem.
£3300 raised - won't go far but a really powerful and emotional concert to show support.
I doubt that Chernobyl - a monument to everything that was wrong with Soviet leadership at the time - is well known among Russian infantry, nor that they would be aware that digging in the vicinity is a terrible idea. Not least being that for all they knew, they were still in Belarus on a training mission.
Blame the leadership who told them to dig the trenches, who are more likely to have known the risks but disregarded them.
This makes for harrowing reading in the context of what we've seen unfold in the news.
Jeez, PJMs link is grim but interesting at the same time.
Yeh, that isnt an easy read.
Although its Ukrainian military press, Operator Starsky has some terrifyingly similar scenes hes recorded following the Russian retreat/withdrawal,alcohol bottles strewn about, trenches full of bodies, devastated landscapes. Impossible to know really what happened with 100% certainty beyond very large numbers now dead. How many are Russian, Ukrainian Civilians, or Ukrainian military.
My mind can't help but flashback to the Bosnia, that experience was a a harsh welcome to the realities of the world for a much younger, immature and naive me.
I watched a news report last night and I could smell it. That unique misery has a really distinct odour.
This is what I don't get, not even bothering to pick up the corpses from your own side.
https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/1512327215442186247
https://twitter.com/spittingcat/status/1512332743430000642?s=20&t=aOtqWKhSMHDdq1lettHpzA
https://twitter.com/thenitinsawhney/status/1512107707893010442?s=20&t=TeE7BW3YxATfzDP0bHV6fQ
https://twitter.com/pinkfloyd/status/1512088575633858560?s=20&t=TeE7BW3YxATfzDP0bHV6fQ
https://pinkfloyd.lnk.to/HeyHeyRiseUp
This is what I don’t get, not even bothering to pick up the corpses from your own side.
They can't send them home, that many families getting bodies back would definitely set tongues wagging, I presume its easier to cover up the scale without the bodies.
If they are not to send back to the families for proper funerals then why not just leave them and make them someone else's problem? (I'm assuming that's their logic)
If Russia had agreed to a (real) seize fire to withdraw safely, then they’d have had more options as regards their own dead. I strongly suspect that keeping remaining forces alive while moving them took priority (understandably) over recovering or burying the dead.
If they are not to send back to the families for proper funerals then why not just leave them and make them someone else’s problem? (I’m assuming that’s their logic)
At least burying them instead of just leaving them in a field to rot would seem to me to be what most people would do if guys on their own side got killed.
Corpses spread disease, they could be being used as weapon.
Rocket attacks on a train station full of evacuees. Disgusting.
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61032786
Waiting for the Lavrov spin on this one.
I hope there is a Special Military Team to assist Putin when he emerges from Tamantu in the Urals.
It is well known that refugees are scrambling to get out of the East, and there were photos of that station circulating yesterday showing hundreds of people crammed into it. Absolutely despicable.
Waiting for the Lavrov spin on this one
The Ukrainian Nazis and British did this to them self / fake news. Look there is flag that blows right to left not left to right showing an error in The fake news. Bla bla bla.
Let's see how close I am.
Looks like Russia have denied involvement in the strikes on the railway station.
BBC says;
The country's defence ministry said accusations that Russia had attacked the station were "a provocation" and "absolutely untrue".
