Ukraine

He’s unhinged, illogical, and very dangerous

I think he's unhinged, extremely logical and very dangerous

Definitely

He is like HAL from 2001, and we are stuck with Holly from Red Dwarf but without the IQ.

Timely release of Colin Furze's latest sub terrarium video.

I’m far from sure it would. Coventry, Hamburg, London, Cologne etc didn’t topple governments.

Agreed - from everything I have ever read, it just strengthens the resolve of the general public and I really don't think any Government is going to go to the lengths of what happened in WW2 at places like Hamburg, Dresden, Cologne where 10s of thousands of civilians were killed in area/strategic bombing. The eventual outcome of that sort of act is quite frankly unthinkable.

Ukraine has 245k personnel

and circa 900k reservists. That's 'a lot'!!

So what’s stopping Ukraine firing back at the Russians? Do they have the capabilities to hit back at any of their cities without nato support to do so?

Obviously that would only lead to further pointless loss of life, but on the flip side if there are Russians citizens having to relocate to air raid shelters then I’m sure putin would lose support very very quickly. Is this even a viable option for Ukraine?

Ukraine seem to be taking the moral high ground and playing the long game. At huge cost.

War in the Ukraine is not popular with normal Russians. If their sons start coming home in body bags from Putins pointless war, it will not play well at home, and undermine his regime.

Ukraine attacking Russia and Russian civilians strengthens Putins hand, and Ukraine know the only way to make Putin and his madness end for him to be brought down by his own people.

and circa 900k reservists

Russia has an active force of some 900,000 and around 2m reserve...

So what’s stopping Ukraine firing back at the Russians?

I think they are, aren't they. I know they destroyed some tanks at Kharkiv, and I've seen pictures of captured Russian soldiers and a crashed helicopter. (although I've no idea whether it's Russian or Ukrainian, I think both use the same types). I've seen pictures of Ukrainian transport plans that have been shot as well.

We should make no mistake that once Russia gets control of the infrastructure, any organisation, let alone mobilisation, of Ukranian troops is going to be impossible.

Without comms there's not going to be a lot of meaningful opposition from the Ukrainians, be they regulars, reservists or guerillas.

And don't expect Russia to treat any insurgents mercifully.

I can’t help thinking Ukraine is Putin’s Sudetenland. Poland next?

I've assumed it will be Georgia, as it's another country that he has set up two 'disputed territories' in (South Ossetia and Abkhazia)

So what’s stopping Ukraine firing back at the Russians?

I think they are, aren’t they. I know they destroyed some tanks at Kharkiv, and I’ve seen pictures of captured Russian soldiers and a crashed helicopter. (although I’ve no idea whether it’s Russian or Ukrainian, I think both use the same types). I’ve seen pictures of Ukrainian transport plans that have been shot as well.

I think they mean attacking Russia, rather than Russians in Ukraine.

I think they mean attacking Russia

Oh right, thanks, misunderstood

Stop the bus, I want get off.

Also Moldova - they have one of their puppet enclaves there too. Svalbard has never been mentioned, but their subsea communications cable has had a mishap. It is subject to a historic claim and Barentsberg is a Donbass with polar bears.

Anybody else seriously struggling to concentrate on work with this shit going on?

Putin is a mad c**t.

Anybody else seriously struggling to concentrate on work with this shit going on?

Putin is a mad c**t.

Yeah, my reserves of “oh it’ll be alright in the end” are long gone. I honestly think there’s a decent chance we’ll look back at today as the start of WW3 or at least the second Cold War.

Anybody else seriously struggling to concentrate on work with this shit going on?

No more than the distractions caused by other scary stuff like climate change, pandemic, potential economic collapse etc. The world has been heading for this for quite some time. This is what happens when we allow narcissistic individuals to get too rich and too powerful. If it wasn't Putin it'd be someone else. These billionaire parasites need to be eliminated, either physically or financially, I don't care which.

The world has been heading for this for quite some time.

The situation will continue for a long time.

If it wasn’t Putin it’d be someone else.

CCP will be next for SE Asia as they have already been eyeing that for sometimes. Again they refer to SE Asia as their historical "protectorate" rights.

Yeah, my reserves of “oh it’ll be alright in the end” are long gone. I honestly think there’s a decent chance we’ll look back at today as the start of WW3 or at least the second Cold War.

Indeed. I think what's more worrying at this point is the region rapidly dissolving into what happened in the former Yugoslavia, where they just massacred huge numbers of people. God help all those poor people on the receiving end of this. From the footage online it looks absolutely terrifying

I honestly think there’s a decent chance we’ll look back at today as the start of WW3 or at least the second Cold War.

Those were my exact thoughts this morning listening to Nick Robinson on Radio 4 this morning.

The FYR had a big mix of religious groups that hated each other. That really isn’t the case here.

Heavy fighting around Chernobyl.

"Accidental" huge dirty bomb in the making potentially?

This is what happens when we allow narcissistic individuals to get too rich and too powerful.

Hmmmmm.

Not sure how 'we' (or maybe you?) stop this from happening?

There's a load of people who would complain if 'we' started interfering in a country's internal affairs, or even tried to overthrow a terrible dictator. Remember Iraq and Syria?

Best thing to do is to speak softly and carry a big stick. Which is basically what NATO is - a big stick.

And NATO has given Europe peace for 75 years, like it or not.

Had Ukraine been accepted as a NATO member 20 years ago, just as Putin started on his power trip, there is no chance he would be invading today.

Anybody else seriously struggling to concentrate on work with this shit going on?

Yes, it's all so senseless and saddening.

Is there any talk of sanctions against Belarus? Haven't seen much in the news about them but they have allowed Russia to attack from their borders, seems like it warrants some action?

I also wonder how misled the Russian troops must be, it's hard to imagine them all thinking this is being done for Russia's protection and is a just war. They are probably on the receiving end of more propaganda than the Russian public though.

Anybody else seriously struggling to concentrate on work with this shit going on?

Absolutely. I was only beginning to feel my normal self again this last month or so, as we got through the worst of the pandemic. I worried more for others than myself. And now this. I feel quite ashamed to admit that something happening in another country makes me feel seriously anxious.

There were some female Ukrainian solders talking to the prese only a few days ago.

I dread too think the fate that will befall them if they fall into Russian hands alive. I suspect they know that.

Deeply saddening.

Never thought I would live through "a rise of Hitler" moment in my lifetime.

I feel quite ashamed to admit that something happening in another country makes me feel seriously anxious.

Nothing to feel ashamed about and a feeling shared in much of europe at the moment and by myself.

I feel quite ashamed to admit that something happening in another country makes me feel seriously anxious.

Don't be ashamed mate. It's the most natural reaction with something of this magnitude. The implications are huge for everybody, far beyond the borders of Ukraine. I'd be more concerned if you didn't feel anxious. I know I do

Who took the Kremlin website down?
It’s been out of action for the last 13 mins when I checked on is it down

Cyber attack apparently

Vladimir Putin warns that Moscow's response will be "instant" if anyone tries to take on Russia

This is the scary bit because he %^*&ing means it too.

I don't think this will affect us directly (except rising costs etc) but Christ, I really feel worried for the people of Ukraine. This really is horrible to watch, and brings back memories of the shit show that was the collapse of Yugoslavia.

Hopefully the worlds hackers are having a go at them!!

I don’t think this will affect us directly

Hmmm, don't be so sure. If Nato are backed into a corner whereby they have to lend direct military support, expect China to step up too...

I also wonder how misled the Russian troops must be, it’s hard to imagine them all thinking this is being done for Russia’s protection and is a just war. They are probably on the receiving end of more propaganda than the Russian public though.

Ukranian Ambassador to the US was on Sky News a little while ago making a statement and said that a platoon of Russian troops had surrendered as they didn't realise they were being sent to kill Ukranians. No idea how true that is but that's what she claimed. Also, no idea what those Russian troops could have thought other than they were being sent to invade a country which surely would end up with some killing.

The West should be cyber-attacking them back to the Stone Age

Hmmm, don’t be so sure. If Nato are backed into a corner whereby they have to lend direct military support, expect China to step up too…

Yep, it will only take one small thing to trigger a domino effect that will rapidly be unstoppable, leading to WW3 or another Cold War.

The West should be cyber-attacking them back to the Stone Age

The concern would be they could return the favour plus at what stage does a cyberattack become serious enough to deserve a physical counter attack?

Hopefully the worlds hackers are having a go at them!!

Careful what you wish for, I think Vlad has got some pretty good ones of his own.

Anybody else seriously struggling to concentrate on work with this shit going on?

Putin is a mad c**t.

Yeah, me. I have to say I feel exhausted and stressed today and I can't work out why as I didn't think this would bother me in a direct way like this.

Not sure how ‘we’ (or maybe you?) stop this from happening?

Well we could start by voting in governments who act in the interests of normal people rather than the interests of billionaire oligarchs. Our current government is an excellent example, but this goes back decades. Have we forgotten how Mandelson used to hang out with Putin's mates? The only protection we've ever had against megalomaniac narcissists is the pressure we can put on politicians to stand up to them. Over the past 30 years we - and obviously I'm talking collectively - have completely failed to do that.

Yep, it will only take one small thing to trigger a domino effect that will rapidly be unstoppable, leading to WW3

Christ do you think we could tone down the hyperbole and hysteria? I'm always more than up for a bit of nihilistic fantasising but this is ridiculous.

I feel quite ashamed to admit that something happening in another country makes me feel seriously anxious.

Nothing to be ashamed of.

In the West you have Russia but in SE Asia we have CCP using their influence and flexing their muscles all the time. Ordinary mortal can only cope as the corrupt politicians keep welcoming their "new found" wealth.

I also wonder how misled the Russian troops must be, it’s hard to imagine them all thinking this is being done for Russia’s protection and is a just war.

Think back to WW2 - a great deal of the Wehrmacht didn't believe in Nazism or what Hitler was doing, but they were soldiers and soldiers follow orders. And of course the propaganda plays a big part too – I read that almost 50% of the Russian public agree with what is happening and believe it is due to Nato aggression against Russia.

Just went on RT on TV to look into the abyss.

RT reporting that much of the fighting is against "Neo Nazi" elements. Yeah, sure, sure.

If you want to keep your sanity don't even think of going on RT Twitter feed though.

Is there any talk of sanctions against Belarus?

I seem to recall logging in to Nordea Bank a few weeks ago and there being a message to say no transactions could be made to Belarus