Russia - threadbanned users in OP

What they all fail to see ( or deliberately ignore) is that Russia itself was the trigger for all the western support. In Feb 2022, this support simply did not exist full stop. A Russian win was a foregone conclusion. Then the fight back began, and as Russian atrocities became known, support grew, until it is what it is today. But according to those Russians interviewed, this was all a pre arranged plot, engineered between NATO and the US. Straight from the Kremlin Factory of lies. Or else, no one wanted to publicly say anything negative about Putins war. and in the present Russian climate, I'd put a lot of faith in that explanation. I mean, not one of them ( that I read) even remotely or vaguely blamed Russia, ignoring completely the laws of cause and effect.

Yes, it was an attempt to buy time for Ukraine. But according to the answers the Russian's in the Medusa questionnaire / poll gave, the trend was that actual cause and effect of the whole story was by-passed in the Kremlin narrative, basically that this situation had evolved many years ago solely due to western Russophobia, and US hegemony etc etc. it came to a head with Ukraine. And therefore, Ukraine does not count, its just the cover the destruction of the Russian Federation by the US, NATO etc. And because of this ( not Ukraine) they are prepared to fight to the death ( that will be seen,,) for the Motherland, Even Putin, the cause of it all, does not get any blame worth talking about. it's all about the big bad west and the evil US. + of course, that den of iniquity, the UK.

They're demonising each other.

Large reports of UAF attacks East and South with Russia claiming to have destroyed the counter offensive.

Whatever is the truth, Russia usually lies, the offensive may have begun in earnest.

That is terrible. They're victims too.

Let's hope so. The only way to end this thing once and for all is for the rotten Russian political system to collapse and that has to happen from within

I'm sure Ukraine will have bad losses at some stage and in some parts of the counter offensive.

But the fact that Russia claims Gerasimov was nearby (as if he was personally leading the show) makes me think this is either extremely exaggerated or else just completely false.

I remember listening to a podcaster discuss their theory of why Irish and English fans behaved so differently when abroad at football tournaments. The Irish fans typically go on a charm offensive with the locals trying to make friends and get everyone having a good time together. In contrast the English stake out some place, cover it in flags, start singing songs about how they won two world wars, behave aggressively and condescendingly to the locals and ultimately end up fighting people. He basically put it down to a colonial mindset. The English were out trying to annex a small part of this foreign land for the duration of their stay, make it their own and do that with violence while proclaiming their greatness.

I suspect the Russians have a bit of that colonial mindset as well when abroad.

Ukraine are definitely counter attacking but I'll believe it's in full flow when we have footage of Bradley's and leopard's in action. I wonder do they want to make a breakthrough using their soviet crap and then push on using the Western weapons.

I'm guessing (and hoping) that the Fog of War will make any determinations impossible for the guts of at least a week. If we don't know, chances are the Russians know about as much...which is perfect for Ukraine's war effort. Keeping the Russians guessing is as valuable as a wall of Abrams tanks, they won't be able to plan, react or control the situation in a meaningful way.

You want them to panic, surrender...or just run home beyond the actual Russian border. I'd love to know what is actually happening now, and hoping that the news is positive. But for the sake of Ukraine maintaining the element of surprise, and keeping the Russians guessing...I can wait for the news.

Thats nonsense to be fair, I think its because most Irish fans arent involved in terrace culture and dont support a team week in week out. So its just an occasion for Irish fans. How would he explain league of Ireland fans in Europe? Shamrock Rovers have had more than their share of dust ups at home and abroad. I remember a few years ago their casuals went searching for Juve's ultras which was fairly ballys. Shamrock aren't alone most clubs in Europe in recent times have some sort of altercations, even my own club Sligo Rovers and Motherwell last year. Most fans from England or the LOI don't get involved in that nonsense but it's easy to get caught up in the mob mentality.

While many soccer nations have their elements of troublemakers I remember the Russians and English standing out for that territorial behaviour during the Euros in France. While English hooligans were at their usual their Russian equivalents actively sought them out for a rumble.