Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Willingly supporting or forced to support? Do you honestly believe for one minute that the majority of Russians want to go and die in Ukraine? There are draconian penalty's for anyone who refuses to go and fight. And even when groups of soldiers actually in Ukraine refused to fight, they were threatened with death, starved and beaten ( and this in wintertime) until they changed their minds. Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending Putin's actions, or Russian's in general, but he's a monster and I don't believe that he has all the support that is claimed.

In my innocence, when I first went to Russia, I thought that everyone who lived there were Russian...But the innocence didn't last long especially after I called a colleague a Russian. In the silence that followed, in which you could hear a pin drop, I was introduced into the intricacies' of Russian Society. First off. never assume that the person you are speaking to is an ethnic Russian. In fact until you know who you are talking to, do not introduce ethnicity at all. And never, ever call some one Russian. Ethnic Russians especially outside Moscow and in the Republics are not popular. While hated might be a shade too strong a word to describe the relationship, its not to far off the mark either. Lets just say that ethnic Russians outside of Moscow will always find themselves having to swim against the tide. If you as an ethnic Russian are taking a case against a local in a republic, best of luck to you, because you will need it, even if you have a watertight case. Russians are not trusted, and as we are seeing now, with good reason. If there's going to be any push back against Putin, my guess is that it will start in the republics'

Bit difficult to negotiate with people that want to exterminate you.

I have never been to Russia but it did occur to me that there would be an element of condecention for the eastern 'Russians' among the real Moscovites.

I am convinced that one of the main reasons that Putin picked Medvedev as his constitutional fluffer back in 2008 was that he was one of the few people around who are actually shorter than him.

Furze, in a society where carrying a white rose, or a blank sheet of paper gets you arrested. A 6 or 7 year old kid mentions to his friends in school that his mum and dad are against the war, the teacher overhears it and reports it to the police. Both parents are arrested, and the child taken into care. You have no idea Furze, the amount of control Putin's mafia has over the population. Sure they have a very good idea of what's happening ( or at least a good % do) and the balance ( mainly older Russians due to pension issues) are 110% behind Putin. Putin's biggest worry is any kind uprising in the population, he's paranoid about it, and has absolutely no qualms about heavily cracking down on even the slightest infringement. Can you imagine.." From next Monday on, you have to work an extra day each week without pay as part of your patriotic duty to protect the Motherland or alternatively, you can report to the local munitions factory for 2 hours each evening after your normal work day ends." Can you imagine just what the state will do to you for any sabotaging the war effort? There was one production manager of a facility making tank part's, and before the annual inventory, he committed suicide ( or more likely was suicided ) You must understand, that there are no protection laws for Russian Citizens, Putin has effectively destroyed the Russian constitution. Maybe now though there's a glimmer of hope with these armed incursions by the freedom party. Hopefully.

D-Day !

Came from a single telegram channel,

Read it this morning and laughed it off , just the day after Poland sent a few C130 full of ammo and equipment for the Moldovan army ,

i found the following to information sources re Russia/USSR /pre USSR as ABSOLUTLY riveting :-

(1) post no 92732 . It last for 18 min and is by Vald Vexler - a UK based Philisopher. I am not saying it is true or false or half true or whatever . You can make up your own mind

(2) A u tube presentation by Martti Kari. A retired Finnish intelligence officer. Lasts a little over an hour.

I am making no judgement on either but they both give at least one side of where Russia has come from and why different categories of Russians - from Putin down- behave as they now do.

They both have helped me to understa

Kursked cracks bridge inviting for an incoming special operation soon.

Engineers about to be charged with treason.

...

I don’t understand what all the discussion is about re the bridge support ‘cracks’ to me it is obvious that they are felt pen marks. All you need to do the marking are a few black felt pens , a ladder and a boat with a tank full of fuel

Well for one thing, I can understand why your typical Russian comes across as very compliant re supporting the special operation , so pro Putin , - in public-keep their heads down, little or no opposition, etc, etc, etc. Making a public statement or doing anything at all that is seen as , in any way, anti establishment is immediately STAMPED OUT.

I have great admiration for those Russians that actually do protest - they immediately put their very lives at risk . And this would include their family members, their friends, etc.

Did he not answer a question wrt the recent drones sightseeing in Moscow?

Amazing how all of a sudden he doesn't need to keep the world's longest table between him and another person.

The numbers are going up