Russia - threadbanned users in OP

This had happened over the last couple of days as far as I can tell. Apparently the town is completely destroyed, nothing left to hold, so a tactical withdrawel. We've seen the Ukrainians do this before.

On the metatopic of the thread...am not a fan of some of the glorification of war & its weapons, or the stuff about the "orcs" (sometimes = All Russians).

I do get it that people are very angry with Russia & Putin however (+ express that in different ways), and badly want to see them defeated here and forced to the peace table by the creation of facts on the ground by Ukraine's military (I do too). That would be for the best for all of us in the end (provided of course Putin doesn't go nuts and reach for one of his nukes if/when that point is reached).

The thread is still far better imo than the period on run up to invasion when it was full of alot of geopolitical Russia-splaining about their "sphere of influence" and "both sides" stuff about actions of Russia and Western countries (esp. USA) over past decades... 

Alot of it (big countries having designated zones, and it being understandable they would resort to aggression to enforce these on smaller neighbours and get their way in the 21st century) didn't strike me as very "Irish" at all. Not a natural way "we" (if I may generalise) would look at the situation given our history.

Even worse were admirers of Putin himself, what a good strong leader he is vs mediocre democratically elected leaders in the Weak Woke West (subtext perhaps, Putin knows how to "deal" with the woke types?). That didn't seem too Irish either. That anyone would seem to want a leader like Putin running their country seemed creepy and very disturbing before the war (esp. if such people can actually vote here) and certifiable now.

Thankfully the posters are quiet, keeping their heads down here, or have been kicked off the thread. Makes it easier to read.

It's all deflection while claiming they don't support Putin - the troll factories are in full swing ahead of tomorrow

The far right are even smaller in Ireland than the Ukraine, where they are near non existent.

If Putin hadn’t invaded in 2014 there would be no Azov for people to moan about. They are very diluted since 2014 as they were taken into the defence forces and expanded. The far right are also tiny in Ukraine. Azov is just used as a tool to moan about and an attempt to justify an unjustifiable position.

Its bigger from what I've seen. Everyone is involved, and especially that dwindling band of survivors when I was there in the 90's. Everyone is proud of their ww2 history, as they should be. There will not be a town or village that will not have their parade. On that day, the old uniform will be taken out of storage and spruced up, all the medals polished, and whatever their day to day life is like, on the day they will come alive again. They will be someone, and relive their former glory. Yes, its a big day and celebration in Russia.

@MeepMeep2021 have you only come in here to rant and rave about the AZOZ battalions defending Ukraine or do you have an actual point.

Seems your not exactly here to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Terrorists. Rashist Terrorists. If rashism wasn't a word before the invasion. It certainly came now.

Militaries changed over the years. But the kremlin army remained in 1945.

Staggering losses. These are the "bare minimum" as they are only those with visual evidence (photo/video)