BBC, guardian, Independent and Co. are not in the business of spreading Kremlin propaganda, and neither am I. The sheer claim undermines any credibility you might have.
You're just another one of these "anything that isn't 100 percent positive is treacherous propaganda aimed at undermining the cause" posters. Exactly the kind of mentality that characterises Russia and other dictatorships. No debate,no dissent,no deviating from the party line.
I'm glad Ukraine is moving in a different direction to that.
It's a large and complex front with many different types of engagement possible. That being said the Ukrainian successes kind of seem like opportunistic pot shots with their limited resources (taking out ships, planes and oil refineries from afar) whereas the Russian successes seem more like them just using their raw numbers to grind out the metres and raise their flag over the smoldering ashes of another ruined hellscape.
I never said Zelensky was an autocrat. The Mayor of Kyiv did. Why do you keep saying I did? If you actually use your eyes you'll say I commended the job Zelensky has done. Have you nothing better to do with your time than just make stuff up?
Strong words from a brave woman
I was wondering also is it that, or a change by the Russians, or just random.
e.g. Could be more risks being taken by the Russians with unleashing the airforce at the front because there's been a higher political decision that now is their moment to push (regardless if it costs them more planes and pilots, on top of everything else).
Extra US-Ukraine military aid is held up, there is political turbulence in the US that could block it for most of the year, Europe's weapons stocks are low and they can't backfill for the US immediately.
At least I have read before that Putin (like previous dictators fighting wars in Europe) likes to take a hand in military decisions lower down the chain.
Taking the Baltics? lol. 10 years ago, maybe. Now there is more NATO soldiers than local population. Its already been taken, but not by ruSSians. And if the idea is the usual Suwalki corridor then that means involving Poland right away.
The S300 is probably viewed as more disposable. Easier to integrate the Slovaks' air defense into NATO if it's western made.
to clarify, what i meant was if he tried to take the baltics it would be high risk, not that russia would successfully take them.
either way the russian military is no fit state to take on nato presently. by the end of the decade there will be 550 F35's in service in europe including 2 full US squadrons based in the uk. then they would have to contend with poland who in 10 years will have - by far - the most powerful military (certainly have the largest and best equipped army) in europe including russia.
Contributor on BBC 5 Live around lunch time ( I think she was Politico, Irish ) .. she said they are "keeping" the body for the moment to make sure the military grade poison is gone from it if tested by others
Translated - "Russian Maxim Kuzminov, who hijacked a helicopter for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Operation Synytsia last year, was found dead in Spain"
Putin did say Russia has no borders or similar recently?
If those are the same amateurs that poisoned Navalniy last time then they are too dumb to erase any traces. And why would they even try since everyone already knows he was killed and whos responsible.
still minus one heli
I'd be the same. While seeing Ukraine's military take out jets and ships is great to see, the slow loss of territory is disheartening.
They need to be supported to the point that they can at least hold the line and try and get some momentum back.
Maybe but the Patriots are far more valuable. They've had all the time in the world to train them for additional units.
Now, how far down the rabbit hole is this one from Republican
I guess we'll see what happens pretty quickly, Russia doesn't have much time to push on beyond Avdiivka before the rasputitsa season starts.
sounds like one of my "friends". I didnt know he was Republican
Had forgotten about rasputitsa / mud season:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rasputitsa
Damn. I remember that guy. He took a big risk and possibly doomed his own family back in Russia and now they ended up getting him anyway. What a shame.
It kinda seems like a level. It's too much:
Saying the quiet part out loud here
Speaking of which, Putin's ministry has proposed changes to the ages for service in the armed forces. Contract soldiers will now serve until they reach 65 yrs, from the present 51 years. Officers to 70 years. Backdated to June 2023. Given the average lifespan for Russian males in 2021 was 62.4 years actual figures, (estimated average is 64.5 years for men) they will spend the rest of their lives at war. The ministry says that this move will mean that another mobilization will not be needed.
another mobilization will not be needed ...
... until after the election perchance?
Update from Yulia Navalnaya:
https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1759612849368846823
Navalny's widow vows to continue his work, blames Putin for his death.
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, promised to continue his work in a YouTube video on Feb. 19. "We know why exactly Putin killed Alexei three days ago. We'll tell you about it soon," she said. The Russian authorities are still refusing to give Navalny's family access to his body. Navalny's spokesperson Kira Yarmysh argued that "Navalny's body is being hidden to conceal the traces of his murder."
Bold part ..
More than likely!! Because the ages selected,65 to 70, are not going to be much use in the trenches, except as body bags. It's strange why they bother. From all quarters we hear that the election is only a sham, it was all decided God only knows how far back and that's that. Yet we have this continuous covering of all the bases, as if there might be a threat to Putin's election?
If they can hit the planes carrying them. I don't think they can hit the bombs once they are released. They have to be guided by radar and UA are trying to take these out.
Maybe it's like the USSR of old and the simplest way for the masses to reject Putin is not to vote for him? IIRC that's how the electorate got around the issue of having one soviet approved candidate to vote for; a large enough middle class bloc angry at mobilisation might crater the vote totals that even Putin couldn't ignore?
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://we.vanillicon.com/v2/e050b53be62f0ae2404c620976170938.svg)
