Just wait till you see the wings they are making for their tractors. The Russians won't believe their eyes and will make a tear for the nearest border, if they know what's good for them.
Shhhhhhhh....
I've been in Syria too green pilot, for several years, and I've seen it just like you have, and the suffering of the people there. The point is ( in this case, and in Syria ) the Russians don't give a damn. They are intent on murderous needless destruction regardless of the circumstances. Attacking people trying to escape via a pre agreed humanitarian route is proof of that. So next best thing is helping the defenders protect themselves, while Ukrainians themselves request it.
You see the Nationalist Ukrainian Nazis were using them as human shields and are the ones with blood on their hands. The Russian special military operation is their to save them....
I'm sure the Syrians would like to know that the Russians are now shelling the mosque in Mariupol.
Ukrainians are smart people. I've worked with a few in my time. They have very sharp minds and technology is right up their street.
To see them pulling together and innovating in the midst of war is no great surprise.
It's been a tactic for millenia because sadly it tends to work more than it doesn't. We remember Stalingrad for many reasons, but one of them is because unusually it didn't work.
Russia, putin and his mafia have been sanctioned and cut off from most of the rest of the world, but it seems he doesn't care. Yet. It's looking like he's going to seize leased airliners. A side headline, but a worrying look inside the Kremlin mind. If they do that they're out of the agreed worldwide leasing loop for anything and outside international insurance too. That's huge. Way above Western corporations pulling out.
He has to take Kyiv. Even if it's a pile of dust, or Ukraine capitulates at the bargaining table before that. I fear he's too far invested in this horrific misadventure to stop otherwise. The rest of the country is not in play IMHO. He knows he can't take it, never mind hold it. He's reckless, but not stupid. That goes for dragging in NATO or the US. Sabres will be rattled, but will remain in their scabbards. Hopefully. The rest of the country outside of Donbas doesn't really figure. If he gets to keep Donbas, Crimea is his anyway, but looks to have 'cut the head off the snake' in his spin and for his subjects that gives him an out.
But Russia is now fúcked for the foreseeable. Western powers will pivot away from any reliance on them, the Chinese will see a firesale. Him and his mafia minions even with sanctions are richer than Croesus so are insulated, his subjects, particularly his middle class are not. As he ages putin will face more and more infighting. First among his minions and soon aimed at him.
Ukraine will be left wrecked. However the flood of money, many billions, mostly EU into the country will rebuild it and increase the wealth of Ukrainians and the EU. The way the EU has done with other nations including our own. Like the Marshall Plan gave rise to the German economic miracle. Everybody wins but Mother Russia. The little gnome and the mafia who support him have signed her do not resuscitate form. And her heart is failing.
The permanent worry in the background is in her death throes some moron like a sub commander presses the wrong button.
??
That will go down wonderfully in the Arabic world, especially those who have already experienced Russian "protection". I'm just waiting now for some enterprising Imam to declare "JIHAD" on Russia.
I"m sure they are just as honest as Russia.
Any good news at this time is a breath of fresh air.
Are some of the Russian troops flat out at the Vodka to keep warm in the tanks. I know it's a stereotype but some of the decisions they are taking are completely foolish and against their overall goal.
E.g shelling a mosque and driving tanks over cars for the sake of it. Never going to get the people on side with these antics.
They are a mess of an army, a joke.
That’s still happening on that website. I saw a blatant example (ridiculous inconsistency in expression and grammar under a leftist-posting username) just the other week.
Let's hope this is wrong.
Baby was named Veronika I believe it was brought up at the UN yesterday
https://liveuamap.com/
Just on the above, I think there are many who would prefer the invasion and bombing of Ukraine not to be discussed at all. Some here are even making out that Russia should somehow be excused for what they are doing because of "sides"
Thing is we don't need the intervention of NATO for the Russians to subject Ukraine to the wanton destructive power of Russian Artillery. It's already happened.
There are already many there who like your friend the Rose Grower of Damascus, have had their family and businesses destroyed. And sadly it looks like the Russians aren't finished yet.
??? 🤔
Gas will be tougher
He has to make absolutely clear the intention to defend NATO territory.
It's hard to do that and still leave ambiguity over intentions outside of that territory.
Obviously not what Ukranians will want to hear, but it's the right message to prevent escalation.
If this message had been consistent and clear over the past few decades, we might not have ended up here.
I don't know, but I do know that the US is damned when it does get involved and damned when it doesn't. The US government has put itself in this position, but still. Also, the US government has sacrificed a lot of its people and its money policing the world. It's not fair on Americans. That money would be better spent on infrastructure and social programs in the USA (although the military is a 'type' of social welfare program, just a really twisted one).
Time for Europe to get its act together in terms of security and stop relying on/blaming/running to the US for everything. I think Biden has been alright without being inspiring in any way.
Strong reporting again by Orla Guerin. Tough to watch pensioners, one of whom is fighting for Ukraine, breaking down.
Yeah, Orla does a great job. Listen to her a lot on BBC World Service.
Currently reading Londongrad which is about the Oligarchs in London. Their wealth is beyond astronomical. For Abramovich the annual cost of running his yachts, jets and homes is well over £100,000,000…. Literally all of Russias money goes to a handful of people. All that gas/oil money that Europe buys goes straight to putin and the oligarchs.
Something that didn't get much traction yesterday was a Russian drone flew over 3 Nato countries before crashing in a town in Croatia ,some are claiming it was Ukrainian , but why would Ukraine fly a drone through 3 different countries before crashing it
I assumed it was heading in a particular direction and control was lost.
Have they specified their willingness to attack these shipments on NATO turf, or is that being left deliberately ambiguous?
Oil and related products seem to be the bulk of Russian export income
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