Russia - threadbanned users in OP

They don't need to 'act', in terms of actually doing anything. They just need to give their governments (who are the actors that matter, remember) political cover to keep doing what they are doing. And they are doing just that.

Not many believe that it's easy for the Russian people to overthrow Putin. It's not, and yes, many will die in doing so. But the Russian people, by choosing not to rise up and stay safe, are saying that they prefer the Ukrainians to die instead of them. In a war of the Russians making, not the Ukrainians. Morally, that position cannot be excused or defended.

The time to stop Putin was 15 years ago when it would have been much easier. But the Russian people chose not to do so then, instead entering a Faustian pact with Putin, trading democratic freedoms for economic benefits.

I understand the point of view that someone may fear for the safety of loved ones back in Russia. I have children and I want them to healthy and happy at all times.

But there is the possibility that by silence and inaction today, I could cause them unending pain and grief in the future.

This is the unenviable choice that Russians have to make. Personally, I think the majority of them have made the wrong choice.

Now, if their choices only affected them, I think they're perfectly at liberty to carry on. But when their choices affect others, others have the right to take steps.

It'll be one year to the day in a few short hours.

Maybe we should use this unfortunate anniversary to try and summarise what Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine has 'achieved':

• Near total unity of the Western powers behind Ukraine
• Russia reviled while Zelensky is the most admired man in the world
• The EU has turned into a superpower. 70 years of German military doctrine turned on its head.
• Finland and Sweden are in the process of joining NATO
• Russia frozen out of the world economy
• Russia's main export markets for its oil and gas completely shut off
• Russia's only declared allies are North Korea, Syria, Iran and Eritrea (judged by UN votes)
• Well north of 100,000 Russian soldiers killed
• The Russian army outfought and defeated by a far smaller foe
• The flagship of the Black Sea fleet sunk by a country that doesn't even have a navy
• Russia exposed as a fascist state (Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol and a hundred other towns bear witness)
• Increased repression and thought control at home
• No prospect of conventional victory

Not exactly the most well executed strategy of all time.

But yet we had people on blaming the Ukrainians for the Russian invasion and the slaughter of their population,if only the Ukrainans gave up on land to Putin,if only they got rid of their neo Nazi leader,

But wait he's Jewish....

Ehhhh ehhhh its NATOs fault,it's everyone elses but not the Russians.

BS

Mick Wallace is still banging the 'NATO warmonger' drum.

I wonder exactly how much he gets paid for pretending to be a Socialist anyway.

You clearly have some kind of imagined victim complex on behalf of the 'ordinary Russians'.

You may wish to examine who is actually being murdered, raped and tortured by Russians at this point in time. They're the real victims.

The Chinese have already proved their not afraid to protest and force policy change from atop.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-63855508.amp

In my view, the 'ordinary Russian' is somewhat of an irrelevant factor in this war - they have clearly demonstrated that they are willing to line up behind whatever fresh lunacy their government instigates, up to and including sending their men off to die by the thousand for a lie. They're not going to end the war, they're not going to topple Putin.

Yes, they are repressed and yes they fear their state (with good reason) but they are not going to do anything decisive. So who knows what they think in the privacy of their inner minds, they are irrelevant in terms of stopping the war.

Do you think that they will be able to change Xi Jinping any time soon?

Given Putins military mobilisation plans, I'd say Yes, Russians will need permission to leave. I think I remember hearing / reading that the Kremlin was putting recruiters and FSB people on their external borders. Too many escaped last time.

Not trying to manipulate anything...and my sympathy level for Russians at home and abroad is very low (honest!). I don't agree with that whole "orcs"/dehumaisation thing as applied to all Russians, but I think Russia + Putin-era Russians as a whole bear some collective responsibility + shame for this war analagous to the Nazi-era Germans.

edit: It is a fair point re Iranians in Europe protesting.

I know close family at home living under the regime is something that would give me, anon coward, pause, not when it would come to attending a large protest with 100s of k others but being a key organiser or central figure, sending letters to papers etc.

Unfortunately the anti-Putin forces in Russia and outside in emigrant communities were alot weaker before this war I think than those against the mullahs in Iran. There's little base to build off there now when badly needed.

I would not be certain, but would also think Russia's ability to identity and gather info on any organisers of protests or movements etc. in Europe and possibly go for them directly rather than just their family is probably greater than that of Iran.

The UK is a country with alot of Iranian "ex pats" and seems like it is quite penetrated, and that regime is now able to pose a credible threat directly to these organisers themselves. e.g. below concerning dissident Iranian journalists operating in UK

Watching the 1420 channel on YouTube, I get the impression that at least 60% of the population support Putin and the war. Most opposition comes from young people, particularly in more westernised cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg. But as you say, this supposed 'opposition' is absolutely useless in the context of a country where there are virtually no anti-government street protests, no underground anti-regime movement, no anything. They think it's their lot to go along with everything the dictator says or does.

Spain to send only 6 Leopard 2A4s, of more than 100 they have. They have over 200 newer Leopard 2A6s, of which they are sending none.

Finland are to send just 3 out of their 200 Leopards 2s

Either their stocks of tanks are in much worse condition than previously thought, or they dont really want Ukraine to win