Russia - threadbanned users in OP

The main reason Putin is tolerated or even admired over there is because he drastically improved the standard of living for most Russians especially in his first stint of President.

They are not rich by any stretch of the imagination but compared to Soviet times it's a different world.

People disappearing, or 25 journalists having tragic accidents falling out windows was all tolerated because of the economy, there is many other reasons too, but largely the economy, at the end of the day people are understandably selfish, 'well my life has improved why should I care if that dissident managed to hang himself from a tree with 2 broken legs".

But think about just 10 days ago.

Putin and some of the intelligence thought it was 3 days to topple Kyiv and the soundings from the West were very wishy washy Sanctions.

Well 10 days later and fúcking wheels have been blown off the Soviet fun bus.

Unless Putin has botoxed himself completely retarded he is acutely aware of the peril he is in.

It's why you are seeing a mammoth crack down in Russia.

I said people like you, learn to read what your replying to before going off the deep end. We are in a different world since Putin invaded Ukraine, calling people hysterical because you think were safe is pretty small minded and narcissistic after the last week in my opinion.

There's a difference between knowing what's going on and speaking about it or against it though, especially when you look at how protesters are being treated in Russia and the threat of 15 years in prison for the mere mention of war etc, I think we could be mistaking Russian peoples fear of speaking about what is happening with an ignorance of what is happening.

They are but flights seem to keep popping up in banned airspace ,I would have thought they would have started to intercept flights and force them back to Russian airspace

I wonder if its a case of a leased plane being repatriated OR the leasers were able to get it permission with the hope they can try impound it in Budapest.

Russia would absolutely veto

This is true. There was a lrish woman on the radio who went over to live in Russia age 14 to study ballet. She stayed over there for years. But Yeltsin was president when she first came and she said they never got paid, they were living on next to nothing..she said she used a razor to slice her vegtables to ration as much as she could. Putin came in and three months later everyone was getting paid properly. So you can imagine if you are 40+, in a blue collar job, maybe you've never travelled, basic level.of education, you watch state tv...you are going to view this man as a saviour. And I'm pretty sure those type of people make up a significant percentage of the russian population.

All we can hope is the economy tanking wakes up some of them.

In fairness, that's very easy to say from this side of the world. That is the problem, they have grown up knowing no different. They see someone who has improved the quality of life there. For every one person to speak against him there's probably another 5 to say their nutters. Its not as easy as flick a switch and oh yes we get it now, this mentality is engrained in Russia. I hope they eventually see him for what he is, but I dont think the world has time to just sit and wait for that to happen either.. Its infuriating sitting here at my desk (meant to be working! 🙊) hearing all this going on, minute by minute people being killed and not doing anything.. I am probably the least confrontational person people know (apart from when it comes to bullies) but I really believe at this stage, we (Europe, NATO, The world) need to take on this bully directly. I mean when you strip it all down, it comes down to basic human decency here. how can we sit here and look on at what is happening to Ukraine, that Mr playground bully wants a toy that doesn't belong to him, and we're sitting back saying ah he shouldnt be doing that, but we're not stopping him either!

sorry rant over now.......

Too much anti tank weapons and piss all SAM or anti aircraft weaponry. The place should be covered in drones taking out these missile launch sites.