The Ukraine Situation

[StringThing]

[StringThing]

https://russian.rt.com/ussr/article/967 ... -situaciya

"Encountering no resistance": the Russian military entered Melitopol


EVIDENCE OF RESISTANCE IN MELITOPOL:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/ ... right_now/

And if you don't believe its Melitopol, here it is on google maps. Look for the building with the red cross.

https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8401166 ... 312!8i6656





Zelensky and Putin have supposedly agreed to negotiations.

https://russian.rt.com/ussr/news/968027 ... peregovory

https://www.facebook.com/sergii.nykyfor ... 3465305529


I hope this conflict ends.

[StringThing]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ch ... 022-02-25/

China says it respects Ukraine's sovereignty and Russia's security concerns

Finally, some news from China on this. Glad to hear they aren't 'teaming up' so to speak.

[StringThing]

I found out about this and its too surreal not to share. Had no idea Zelenskyy was a comedian before he became president.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_of_the_People

Servant of the People is a Ukrainian political satire comedy television series created and produced by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stars as Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko, a high-school history teacher in his thirties who is unexpectedly elected President of Ukraine after a viral video filmed by one of his students shows him making a profane rant against government corruption in his country.

[Loveandpeace]

I found out about this and its too surreal not to share. Had no idea Zelenskyy was a comedian before he became president.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_of_the_People

Servant of the People is a Ukrainian political satire comedy television series created and produced by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stars as Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko, a high-school history teacher in his thirties who is unexpectedly elected President of Ukraine after a viral video filmed by one of his students shows him making a profane rant against government corruption in his country.

WOW!! String... I am kind of shocked you didn't. You are so very clearly politically engaged in all of the right ways including historical precedence. His story is un fucking believable, like an 80s comedy movie with Rodney Dangerfield. I specifically logged on today for your intelligent POV and awesome website referral links that actually have content. Thanks dude/dudette. You rock!!

I would like to hear your 'whats next?" Domestic and a far.

Also, just look at the difference in his 2 faces really closely. I can see his whole face structure is drooped and worried. I know make up does a lot but fuck!! What an absolutely shit position to be in.

[herbalhippie]

I lost the link in the megathread but there was a vdeo posted on Twitter of one of these moving into eastern Ukraine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiqS_k754oQ

this is bad

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ ... c668bfe41f

[StringThing]

It's okay. The Ukrainians have Rambo:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/commen ... _russians/

[StringThing]

I found out about this and its too surreal not to share. Had no idea Zelenskyy was a comedian before he became president.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_of_the_People

Servant of the People is a Ukrainian political satire comedy television series created and produced by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stars as Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko, a high-school history teacher in his thirties who is unexpectedly elected President of Ukraine after a viral video filmed by one of his students shows him making a profane rant against government corruption in his country.

WOW!! String... I am kind of shocked you didn't. You are so very clearly politically engaged in all of the right ways including historical precedence. His story is un fucking believable, like an 80s comedy movie with Rodney Dangerfield. I specifically logged on today for your intelligent POV and awesome website referral links that actually have content. Thanks dude/dudette. You rock!!

I would like to hear your 'whats next?" Domestic and a far.

Also, just look at the difference in his 2 faces really closely. I can see his whole face structure is drooped and worried. I know make up does a lot but fuck!! What an absolutely shit position to be in.

Thank you haha. I really don't know how it slipped my radar.

Truly, I have no idea what's next. I think Putin doesn't have the support to continue this war for long. It's costing 20 billion a day, reportedly.

Most of these soldiers seem young and it appears they do not support this at all. Some were told they'd be welcomed with open arms to come in and kill the 'fascists'. Others were told they wouldn't see combat until they had served xxx number of years, and believed they were on a training exercise. When troops were still building up at the border, some families of Russian soldiers began posting online about how they couldn't contact their loved ones. It seems many of these soldiers had their cellphones taken and were living in a bubble. Many Russian soldiers are probably still cut off from outside news.

I just don't see how Putin can continue this war when his army is so demoralized. These people are brothers and sisters. Part of Russia's propaganda is that they aren't hurting any civilians, which is verifiably false. His people are against him, his government is speaking out, and the oligarchs will soon feel the effects of these sanctions.

Plus the Ukrainians are absolutely fighting like hell. Zelenskyy is better than anyone could have ever dreamed of. He is announcing his location on social media, outside in broad daylight, wearing military gear, probably carrying a gun, traveling to the eastern front, refusing to leave his people, who are just as badass as he is. Some of the videos going around are absolutely legendary and have to be incredibly motivating for Ukrainians.

Even China is pulling back from the situation and claiming to respect Ukrainian sovereignty (while still calling for the halt of NATO expansion, of course)

Also I do want to say: The Russian military is a a lot less advanced than many people believe. If you look at the videos of trucks/tanks that have been abandoned, they're often pretty dilapidated. Many of the younger soldiers have minimal training with guns and were conscripted only a year or two ago when Russia began drafting heavily. It's been known for a while that their military is not the most well equipped (China is a totally different story). They may have some new toys, but the Ukrainians have LOTS of new toys, and considerable support and motivation.

Here are some Ukrainians making fun of an abandoned Russian tank:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/ ... _than_our/

Honestly, my fears about this turning into WW3 have simmered down after seeing how the world has responded to this. I am worried about Putin being unhinged, though. I think he himself is living in an information bubble, and is completely out of touch with his people or what they want. He's now claiming that NATO expansion to Sweden and Finland are unacceptable to him. Sweden does not even share a border with Russia, it's totally ridiculous. What's he going to do, invade Finland too?

I hope I don't live to eat these words, but I think Ukraine will endure. I'm keeping an eye out for statements from Putin, as he's been rather quiet since this started. It appears many of the videos released last week were pre-recorded.

[StringThing]

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/10819525 ... -sanctions

Ukraine President Zelenskyy proposes to meet with Putin as tensions with Russia grow


https://russian.rt.com/ussr/article/968 ... ry-rossiya

Fake diplomacy: why Ukraine refused to negotiate with Russia


This is the most 1984 shit I've ever seen lol.

Zelenskyy has had reports in the news of him trying to arrange a meeting with Putin since before the bombing started, and has yet to get a meeting with Putin, despite meeting with seemingly every other world leader. Here's him calling for a meeting 1 week ago:

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/ukraines- ... countries/

[StringThing]

Holy shit

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukrai ... c89a0384d2

US, EU, UK to sanction Russian central bank, block SWIFT

"U.S. officials said Saturday’s steps were framed to send the ruble into “free fall” and promote soaring inflation in the Russian economy. They noted that previously announced sanctions have already had an impact on Russia, bringing its currency to its lowest level against the dollar in history and giving its stock market the worst week on record."

[StringThing]

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukrai ... d6d38b1ebb

Russia hits Ukraine fuel supplies, airfields in new attacks


I hope Zelenskyy survives this push. They've really encircled Kyiv from what I've read.

[StringThing]

[StringThing]

[herbalhippie]

Comment in a Reddit thread

"I figured Putin expected some pushback but I seriously doubt he expected most of the world to come together, and serve him up a shit sandwich they way they did. He’s experiencing much more blowback than he ever anticipated The US, and allies played this just right. Spoiled his big surprise, anticipated his every move, called out his talking points and spin before he has a chance to float them. Basically pulled the rug right out from under him. He thought the the world was disunited but but he’s given us something to unite for."

[herbalhippie]

Japanese billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani donates ¥1 billion to Ukraine

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/ ... -donation/

[StringThing]

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukrai ... f936725550

Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert, escalating tensions

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told CNN, in reaction to Putin’s decision to put Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert: “This is dangerous rhetoric. This is a behavior which is irresponsible.”

The practical meaning of Putin’s order was not immediately clear. Russia and the United States typically have land- and submarine-based nuclear forces on alert and prepared for combat at all times, but nuclear-capable bombers and other aircraft are not.

If Putin is arming or otherwise raising the nuclear combat readiness of his bombers, or if he is ordering more ballistic missile submarines to sea, then the United States might feel compelled to respond in kind, said Hans Kristensen, a nuclear analyst at the Federation of American Scientists. That would mark a worrisome escalation, he said.

[Loveandpeace]

Thank you String,

I love ALL of the info. These are convos I would love from my fiance, alas, she could give two Borscht farts about politics. Your talking points are even tantalizing her.

and you too Hippie. I will contribute later hopefully.

[herbalhippie]

I see Belarus is joining in with Russia.

[StringThing]

Thank you String,

I love ALL of the info. These are convos I would love from my fiance, alas, she could give two Borscht farts about politics. Your talking points are even tantalizing her.

and you too Hippie. I will contribute later hopefully.

I understand not caring about politics lol. It's exhausting.

I think this situation deserves attention though. This whole mess is unprecedented. It almost seems like Putin wants this war to get bigger, but he's also smart enough to know how intimidating these kinds of statements are, so who knows. I think it's evidence he is desperate, but that doesn't mean he isn't still dangerous.

I'm starting to pack a bugout bag just in case.

[StringThing]

I see Belarus is joining in with Russia.

I was kind of waiting for this tbh. Lukashenko let Putin build up troops at his border, so its no surprise he would send troops too. They are fundamental in the attack on Kyiv. It's a total puppet state.

What really surprised me was that Kazakhstan would not send troops when requested by Russia. They are just as much a puppet state as Belarus, and have even used Russian troops to quell protests within Kazakhstan.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/poli ... ine-report

[StringThing]

Putin's generals as he made this recent nuclear threat.



Can you spot the difference??

[StringThing]

https://gfycat.com/blondthinamericanratsnake

Van with captions "People, wake up!" "This is war" "Putin is a scum!" crashed into the fence at Puhkinskaya square in Moscow and caught fire


This is quite an effective way to get your message in the news.

[StringThing]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/commen ... _owned_by/

For no reason, here are some yachts owned by Russian billionaires and their current locations. Just standard nautical information that everybody should know!

People have suddenly started posting sensitive information out in the open and moderators are not caring about it lol. I have seen email logins leaked, coordinates like this, passwords for gate codes to Russian official buildings like embassies... it's crazy. On Telegram I saw some Netflix passwords posted that were supposedly taken from a Russian military database. Television networks and radio stations in Russia are getting hacked. It's so crazy to see. I followed the Syrian war for a while using basically the same resources I use now, and never saw anything to this extent.

[herbalhippie]

"Seize them and blow them up during Super Bowl halftimes for the next 20 years."

I am so easily amused.

[StringThing]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/commen ... _soldiers/

In Kharkiv, a large group of Russian soldiers surrendered. “We did not want to go to war against Ukraine, we were demoralized, but the command said that if we retreated, we could be shot for not following the order”

[StringThing]

https://russianwarchatter.info/

Russian radio, with a short description of each recording.

[StringThing]

"Seize them and blow them up during Super Bowl halftimes for the next 20 years."

I am so easily amused.

lol I would watch that

I saw a post about whether or not Ukraine should be allowed to join NATO after this and someone was like "I think they deserve U.S. statehood, E.U. membership, free Disneyland tickets for life, a gold statue of their president, or whatever they want. Hell, let's loan them The Statue of Liberty, they seem to deserve it more right now."

They DEFINITELY deserve to meet Mickey Mouse, at the very least.

[StringThing]

[herbalhippie]

I just found out about a year ago that I'm half Ukrainian. Kids got me 23and Me for Mother's Day and a 1st cousin on my father's side contacted me and gave me all the info. So I'm a little emotionally invested in this and it's been a few emotional days.

[StringThing]

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202202/ ... 8925d.html

Xi: Pursuit of human rights remains priority

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has emphasized unswerving adherence to China's path of human rights development, saying that whether human rights are upheld in a country cannot be judged by the criteria of others.

While presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Friday, Xi also said human rights cannot be detached from the context of countries' different social and political conditions, history and cultural traditions. Therefore, the practices of applying double standards or using human rights issues as political tools to interfere in others' internal affairs must be opposed, he added.

China is having such a good time with their propaganda. All they have to do is keep their hands off the situations and play both sides. Condemn the invasion, but open up wheat imports. Expecting more gas imports soon.

[StringThing]

I just found out about a year ago that I'm half Ukrainian. Kids got me 23and Me for Mother's Day and a 1st cousin on my father's side contacted me and gave me all the info. So I'm a little emotionally invested in this and it's been a few emotional days.

Wow, that is crazy. In another timeline, you could be fighting for your country right now.

[herbalhippie]

I just found out about a year ago that I'm half Ukrainian. Kids got me 23and Me for Mother's Day and a 1st cousin on my father's side contacted me and gave me all the info. So I'm a little emotionally invested in this and it's been a few emotional days.

Wow, that is crazy. In another timeline, you could be fighting for your country right now.

I could. I'd be that crazy-ass, pissed off babushka.

[StringThing]

I just found out about a year ago that I'm half Ukrainian. Kids got me 23and Me for Mother's Day and a 1st cousin on my father's side contacted me and gave me all the info. So I'm a little emotionally invested in this and it's been a few emotional days.

Wow, that is crazy. In another timeline, you could be fighting for your country right now.

I could. I'd be that crazy-ass, pissed off babushka.

herbalhippie in another timeline before the war:




herbalhippie in another timeline today:

[StringThing]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzBxFH_hEwA

Leaving Kyiv On A Refugee Train

This footage is from Friday.

I've watched this youtuber for years and have always enjoyed seeing him travel through the old soviet states. But this... wow.

[herbalhippie]

yup

[StringThing]

https://time.com/6152156/russian-ruble-plunges/

Russian Ruble Is Now Worth Less Than 1 U.S. Cent After SWIFT Bank Sanctions

Roughly a 20% loss in purchasing power just in the last month.

[StringThing]

Phone found on a dead Russian soldier

12:23-Losja, why are you not answering for so long, are you sure you are on exercises?

14:16- Mom, I'm no longer in the Crimea, not at the EXERCISE

14:33-And where??? Dad asks if we can send you a package

14:38- What kind of package moms. I'm just upside down now I want (A package, what for? I'm in a bad situation/ LITERAL MEANING- I want to hang myself)

14:47- What are you talking about? What happened?

14:50-Mom I'm in Ukraine. Here we have real war. We are attacking everyone, even civilians. They told us they would meet us with flowers, but they block our forces and Don't let us go further. They call us fascists. Mom it's hard to bear.

[herbalhippie]

Oh that is heartbreaking

I saw something yesterday, iirc it was a Ukrainian officer talking about some captured (or was it surrendered) Russians, how young they were and that they let them call their parents. I cried.

[StringThing]

Oh that is heartbreaking

I saw something yesterday, iirc it was a Ukrainian officer talking about some captured (or was it surrendered) Russians, how young they were and that they let them call their parents. I cried.

It's such a tremendous waste of life. Russia is sending its future off to die, and killing their brothers and sisters while they do it. It appears that this initial wave were the youngest and most inexperienced too... they've started sending out better, newer equipment as well, like T-90's instead of T-72''s and T-80's (which are soviet era). It's just my suspicion, but after watching lots of combat footage, it really does seem they planned it this way... which is so utterly despicable. All for the whims of one man.

The Russian draft is like 1yr of conscripted service in the armed forces too.. if that gives you any idea of how inexperienced some of these people are. I'm sure many signed up for the military on their own, but still, they didn't sign up for this.

[StringThing]

https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/n ... 022-02-28/

Navalny's supporters call for civil disobedience against Ukraine war


What huge balls.