Russian build up along Ukraine

They have sent a lot of hardware to the border, much I think than they have been doing since the war broke out, testing to see what Biden might do? Distracting from something domestic again?

From what I'm reading, it's not a huge move, 2000 men. And an artillery exchange that lasted a day when they usually last an hour. So this seems to be over reported.

blindsider wrote: »

Weather's improving - sun is higher in the sky....campaign season is almost upon us and The Bear is coming out of hibernation!

That gave us all a huge fright, that year they moved on Crimea.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56616778

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On Twitter, GorseFiresCollectif and Andy Scollick seem to be knowledgeable and fairly anti Putin. (=Free press/slightly west-leaning neutral.)

They are both suggesting that the situation in Ukraine is anything but 'minor'......

Russia are promoting the narrative that they will invade Ukraine if the Ukrainians don't turn the water back on to the Crimea.

https://www.rt.com/russia/518514-ukraine-invaded-water-supply/

Psychlops wrote: »

That was spoken about on Twitter, if thats the case just give them the water & be done with it.

And how does that help to eject Russia from their illegal annexation of the Crimean penisula.

The West must back Ukraine unstintingly in its fight for territorial integrity against the rotten corrupt cess pit that is the Russian Federation under Putin.

Putin relies on the reticence of the West to put him on his arse. He should be disabused of that notion.

Psychlops wrote: »

Well if it stops an escalation I am all for it.

It wont.
Russian state sponsored media saying things like "Russians in Ukraine need to be protected" and "there is no Ukraine, just Nazi supporting rats".
There is a bigger game being played here.
Remember in 2000 all of a sudden we were hearing about how the Taliban in Afghanistan were destroying ancient religious shrines, closing schools and forcing women to wear the burkha? Then when the inevitable invasion of A-Stan came, society sayd "fine, nasty people there anyway, I read about them on t'internet".
Remember when Saddam Hussein had Chemical weapons and he was going to launch them at Israel any minute, drawing the Saudis into a global conflict when the Israeli invaded the birthplace of Mohammed (PBUHN). Then we saw the inevitable invasion of iraq and society said "Thats fine, nip it in the bud, better in the long term".
Remember when Saddam Hussein publicly stated the enemy he feared most was a son of saudi Billionaires with close ties to the Saudi Royal family who had become a radicalised Salafist, with a terrorist network that had spread all over the world. And then this Saudi masterminded an attack on New York and Washington DC when some of his saudi followers flew planes into the WTC and the Pentagon. And as a result we were none surprised when the US and other allied states invaded Saudi Arabia to dismantle the regeime that supported him financially militarily and practically?
Oh, right, the last one didn't go the same way, because the message was controlled, because the world still relied on Saudi Oil, and they need to be kept sweet no matter what they do.
So the message is controlled.
That is what russian state media has been doing.
Preparing it's people for an inevitable invasion of Ukranian sovereign territory, as if it was part of the old USSR, stolen from them.
If they get away with Ukraine, they will do the exact same in the Baltic states, and before you know it, their eye will be on finland to secure access to their arctic ports.

Larbre34 wrote: »

Quite right Dohvolle.

The only thing Putin will respond to, is an escalation. He's posturing now, but his equipment is knackered and his supplies cannot sustain a serious engagement.

As soon as he steps foot inside of Ukraine's current eastern border, NATO should lay waste to his forces.

There's enough SIGINT aircraft buzzing the Russian border to give anyone on the ground wearing a headset a nice suntan.
France have also offered Ukraine some Rafales. Light years ahead of most of what the Russian AF have, except the top end kit they keep close to home. Will be interesting to see if France decide to lend some until they make their mind up.

President Zelensky made a direct appeal to the NATO Sec Gen today to fast track his nation's accession process to that organisation. Not to make them a member immediately, but to hasten the steps in the process to demonstrate a clear policy and solidarity with the democratic nations of Europe.

Have to hand it to him, its a good way to see the colour of NATOs money. Either they're serious and they'll back him, or they aren't and NATO is a golf club with a nice members bar in Brussels.

As a side issue, it'll be pretty juicy to see what Hungary does about it, as it will put Viktor Orban at odds with Putin, where he doesn't really want to be. Ditto Poland, albeit to a lesser extent.

Dohvolle wrote: »

The conflict did not stop, it is just moving to the next phase. Word is Putin is unwell, and this may be his big moment to make his name for eternity, before his illness sees him physically decline and withdraw from view, like so many former soviet leaders did before.

Yeah a lot of chat about that the last 6 months. Was it Parkinsons or Alzheimers that was mentioned?

Psychlops wrote: »

Well if it stops an escalation I am all for it.

Peace in our time, yep that works.

By now the West mustn't have many sanctions left in the locker to impose....

Quick guide to Russia-Ukraine military tensions


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56720589



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