Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Close to zero, they are held for use in defending the homeland ie. a deterrent to prevent an invasion ever happening. No one is invading Russia or the US or any existing part of NATO.

No, much as we don't where I am now. But there are folks who would see that as such and automatically assume we would be supporting the actions by Russia. It's not a left or right leaning thing. It's a right or wrong thing. And Russia is in the wrong.

That depends on a) how far this escalates and b) how "well" the operation goes for Putin. All in all, I'd say we're at Able Archer '83 levels of probability for a nuclear war. Not willing to give a percentage though.

Able Archer the closest we came to nuclear war in Europe,

More like one in a million

The only spillover I can see in NATO countries is Russia attempting to aggravate any societal divisions and try to get a pro-Russian government in place if possible. But, to be honest, if that were a goer, Russia would already be doing it. There are significant Russian minorities living in the Baltic states, but there doesn't appear to be much interest among those groups to rebel, as has happened in Ukraine.

I'd actually rate the Cuban Missile Crisis higher, as well as the 1983 false missile attack alarm that happened about a month before Able Archer kicked off. In both cases, it was basically one man who prevented a full nuclear strike (Vasili Arkipov during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Stanislav Petrov during the 1983 incident). Able Archer certainly ratcheted up the tensions, but later interviews with Soviet officers, including senior staff officers, seem to indicate that while the exercise was a concern, the reaction wasn't as extreme as more recent pop history accounts may make it seem.

It must be remembered that Ukraine will be no pushover. Their military is huge also,250000 excluding reserves. Add in the hardware that is coming in from various nato countries and maybe putin won't get it all his own way.

To those that were on this thread saying it wouldn't happen, it was NATO's fault, it was the US's fault, it was the west's fault I'd say this. The blood of the innocents that are about to die from the actions of Russia is equally on your hands.

Really odd I'm feeling very emotional all of a sudden , following this through every thread over the last 8 years and everything I hoped would never happen is happening ..

I'm scared for the Ukrainan people

The result of continuous appeasement, we've been here before

The big difference will be air power. The Russian Air Force has a crushing majority in operational fighter and bomber aircraft, with Mig-29s and Su-27s actually being among the oldest in the inventory at this point. Depending on how many squadrons they're willing to deploy, that could make life hell for Ukraine. Granted, the Ukrainian Air Force is no slouch either, but 70 fighters vs. several hundred on the other side will likely make this a very one-sided contest. Again, the big question is how much the Kremlin is willing to deploy for this operation.

Ive been firmly against anyone who has been trying to justify or play down what Russia has been doing on this thread.

But I think that comment is uncalled for.