Russia - threadbanned users in OP

NYT article suggests pro-Ukrainian group behind the NS pipeline sabotage. Very light on details. Speculates it could be Ukrainians or Russian nationals who operated freely. No details on how they did it, or funding, or much else.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/07/us/politics/nord-stream-pipeline-sabotage-ukraine.html

As long as it's red squirrels?

We like the red ones. Eat the grey fcukers.

lol. Hope it's true.

Infernal Affairs.

Same here, will keep looking and update when/if I find any.

As an aside does grey taste better than red.

Latest update from Tom Clonan in the Journal on the current situation especially the fight for Bakhmut

Also outline of a possible Defence pact with Ukraine:

Some NATO sources have indicated that short of NATO membership, a permanent ‘Defence Pact’ might be negotiated with Ukraine – alongside accelerated membership of the European Union. Some have gone so far as to state that some of these measures might be explored or announced at NATO’s annual summit in July of this year.

100% right, sure who do we think we are ? Us westerners with our fancy houses with running water , electricity and in door toilet facilities ! Losing the run of ourselves we are !

The life of hardship that these "Tough" russians enjoy, never done any of them any harm...yes their average life span is less than ours due to lack luster healthcare facilities and rife untreated disease being common place, poorer sanitary conditions and high rates for alcohol and drug addiction.....but....theyre happy...why....because theyre enduring all this to help their motherland and they see plainly every day that their dear leader is suffering the same as them.

Hi multimillion dollar superyachts, his multiple "Palaces" and his billions in undisclosed wealth and his wrist watches worth 100s of 1000s of dollars are all only for show, to make the west jealous, he is just the same as his dear people deep down.

What a country !

Yes either the US or some combination of the US and British special forces, the motivation being to remove Russia's bargaining power. By blowing it up, Russia can't turn on and off the taps and manipulate certain EU countries.

There was at one point while sanctions were being imposed, Russia flipped the agenda. Rather than the West sanctioning the purchase of Russian oil, Putin managed to flip the narrative in such a way that it seemed to many that Russia was doing the limiting. If we remember, at one stage, Russia would only sell oil in Roubles and was being (on the surface) very picky about who they would sell to. In reality of course they were bluffing and were desperate to sell oil to anyone but they succeeded for a time in hiding this.

The best way to thwart them therefore was to blow up the Russian tap thereby taking away their bargaining chip. This worked and in time the particular EU country started supporting Ukraine in a less lukewarm way and indeed eventually allowed other countries that had bought their tanks to give them to Ukraine. The brilliant thing was that they were able have Russia themselves take the blame for the explosions.

I don't think it in any way served Russia's strategic interests as a country to have the pipeline blown up but I have read it suggested that Putin may have done it to secure his position at the top. Less likely a usurper might take over and use it as a bargaining chip.

Trust you to put a "spin" on it !