Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Not sure I’d call it a white elephant yet and I’m not sure that the Germany and the EU are months away from not needing that cheap gas. Unless the EU abandons the green agenda we will need that cheap gas for decades yet. I don’t think LNG could fully replace that.

The ceremony in Moscow is at 3pm. That’s 1pm here in Ireland. No idea what he will say in his speech but his battle is definitely with his own citizens this time and keeping them onside.

Will be an interesting watch. What broadcaster would posters recommend for watching it? Sky news interpreters aren’t the best.

Deeply depressing. If only there were nuclear bombs that exclusively targeted fanatical, ideologically driven men the world would be 95 percent improved....

Another 20+ civilians fleeing occupied territory killed by the Russians overnight. Sickening.

Very curious to see whether the grotesque Moscow event today passes off without protests or violence. If only someone could get a drone near there....but I imagine the sky are closed off for miles around

This is significant.

Yampil was the final defensive position that prevented Ukraine from cutting the last supply route to Lyman (road coloured in a red line). They should now be in complete control of the road to Zarichne (road coloured in blue).

The race is now on for Russia to withdraw from Lyman before that road is cut.

Surely the Russians in command aren't so stupid that they are going to allow this to happen. Guess we will find out in the next 24-48 hours....

Ukrainian military liberated Yampil in Donetsk region

There's the feeling in the next few hours and days that everything is about to change, or perhaps we'll simply continue on watching this war grind away into next year. It would be interesting to map out Russia's future in the next few years - will it embrace its role as a terrorist state, sanctioning and sponsoring acts of sabotage abroad, spreading disorder and disinformation, or will it assume a new ideology and get its country back on some normal direction of travel. The pessimist in me thinks the former. Considering the current administration is so heavily involved in crimes against humanity, there's really no way I can see any kind of rehabilitation where the West would ever do business with them again. Russia will look east, but from a position of weakness that partners will be keen to exploit...

Conscripts and professional military soldiers could refuse to go to Ukraine, but now after the annexation, when it is Russia by their law, they cannot. Ruskies tried Chechens, Wagners, Syrians, NK's, with no luck. Making annexed part of Ukraine into Russia was the only way to get soldiers to Ukraine.

@Wes M. They can’t be classed as a superpower anymore, that’s for sure.

I really don’t get the Russian psyche at all. Once the iron curtain came down, they were on the path to being a modern and prosperous nation. But they wasn’t happy with that 🫤

Big leaverage removed from Putins in-house opposition

Right now, somewhere near Red Square, Putin is being dressed in ceremonial armour and sword...

Dmitry Medvedev: "Oh Vladimir, you look exquisite !"

Putin: "Call me....Peter"