Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Zaydin]

why hes fine, we play buddy with dictators when it suits us.

the world wont be safe until every dictatorship is killed

Because Egypt gets a billion dollars a year in military aid from the US and nothing is more likely to see it suspended or revoked than Egypt helping fuel Russias genocidal war of conquest in Ukraine.

[Omega10]

Why read Russian propaganda? To get their perspective. A lot of it mirrors US discussions except that it's the heroic Russian attacks vs US / NATO / Ukrainian terrorist attacks instead of vica versa. They go into a lot more detail about military details - lots of Skroe type people.

They are thankful that our production of HIMAR missiles is so low. I read multiple Skroe like articles describing in detail how they work and why they are so effective. THAT they are in awe of.

Their insistence that the US has a shortage of artillery shells has been confirmed by the US Secretary of Defense in Defense One, a US pro-military site from what I can tell.

They concern themselves more with trade relations than Americans do, and in making the switch to being an Asian nation instead of a European one. Sanctions will effectively be permanent as they are replacing their US / European markets with other nations. Making the ruble not rubble is a prime concern.

As has been stated here multiple times, Americans believe that all Russians are subhuman orcs, and need to be punished for their behavior. Russians place the blame for what they consider US atrocities on the US/UK big banks. We bailed them out in 2008 as we view them as the best and brightest and most successful people in the world, while they view them as villains.

There are other interesting differences. This is just what I came up with off the top of my head

[Kaleredar]

As has been stated here multiple times, Americans believe that all Russians are subhuman orcs, and need to be punished for their behavior. Russians place the blame for what they consider US atrocities on the US/UK big banks. We bailed them out in 2008 as we view them as the best and brightest and most successful people in the world, while they view them as villains.

Yeah except only one country is forcing their people to go out and die in a foreign country for that supposition currently, and it ain't the UK/US.

[Azadina]

As has been stated here multiple times, Americans believe that all Russians are subhuman orcs, and need to be punished for their behavior.

"If the shoe fits..." and all. Who's fault is it that RuZZia specifically tailors those fitted shoes for themselves? No one else but RuZZia. They could stop being the largest terrorist state in human history any time they feel like, but never have they shown any willingness to consider being something else.

[jonnysensible]

Why read Russian propaganda? To get their perspective.

if you are saying things like US/NATO forces are attacking i'd suggest taking in a bit less.

[DarkTZeratul]

if you are saying things like US/NATO forces are attacking i'd suggest taking in a bit less.

Yeah, the whole "we're at war with NATO" thing is itself 100% Russian propaganda.

[Veggie50]

My take on it is that these leaks can be ignored. Reading both pro-US and pro-Russia sources leads me to believe that whatever the leaks say, there will be a US directed offensive in a month or so (when the mud dries up enough and forces are in place), and a Russian counter offensive will follow in a few months.

Last year was a Russian offensive that gained about 24% of Ukraine followed by a US counter offensive that took about 4% back. Win for Russia.

Winter was the battle for Soledar and Bakhmut. From a land standpoint, minor gains for Russia. However, well fortified and well defended strongholds were taken (Bakhmut has not yet totally been taken).

Russia is preparing for US/NATO to have between 500 and 2000 tanks, many many Bradley's, full air and artillery support, and well over 100k troops. They are expecting to be attacked on two or even three fronts.

The Russians seem to believe that these types of leaks are meant to get Russia to underestimate the US/NATO forces that will be attacking, and not prepare properly.

You see the events of last year as a win for russia?

[Nymrohd]

Yeah, the whole "we're at war with NATO" thing is itself 100% Russian propaganda.

To play devil's advocate, if China openly supplied Russia with not just ammo but tanks, armed vehicles, training, financial support, would we not say we are at war with China?

[Veggie50]

To play devil's advocate, if China openly supplied Russia with not just ammo but tanks, armed vehicles, training, financial support, would we not say we are at war with China?

It’s a good question, but actually no…

During the cold war people didn’t say the USA was at war with Russia. They were are war with vietnam, north korea, afghanistan… but not with Russia.

Are we in a cold war with Russia now? Hmmm maybe kinda sorta, but it’s still a very cold war then.

[Santti]

To play devil's advocate, if China openly supplied Russia with not just ammo but tanks, armed vehicles, training, financial support, would we not say we are at war with China?

While that would be unfortunate, we wouldn't be at war with China, no. Just like how Russia isn't at war with everyone supplying Ukraine, when we are providing all of that to them and more.

No, just lots of grumbling and sanctions being levied at each other.

[Nymrohd]

It’s a good question, but actually no…

During the cold war people didn’t say the USA was at war with Russia. They were are war with vietnam, north korea, afghanistan… but not with Russia.

Are we in a cold war with Russia now? Hmmm maybe kinda sorta, but it’s still a very cold war then.

The Korean War was absolutely a proxy war, just not with China. And the US did engage in a host of proxy wars with the USSR; a host of them in Central and South America, several in Africa. This absolutely is a proxy war and I don't understand who exactly it helps to say otherwise. NATO did not start it whatever Russia likes to say; they started hostilities; undermining someone else's periphery is not an act of war neither now nor was it during the Cold War proper.

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While that would be unfortunate, we wouldn't be at war with China, no. Just like how Russia isn't at war with everyone supplying Ukraine, when we are providing all of that to them and more.

No, just lots of grumbling and sanctions being levied at each other.

It would very much be a proxy war between Nato and China played in eastern Ukraine at that point.

[Yunru]

So russan goverment is now sending ELECTRONIC DRAFT to people to take them from homes for a cannon fodder.

Once E-DRAFT letter is sent, it is considered by this new Russian law that a draftee received it even if he doesn't see it.

[Saradain]

So russan goverment is now sending ELECTRONIC DRAFT to people to take them from homes for a cannon fodder.

Once E-DRAFT letter is sent, it is considered by this new Russian law that a draftee received it even if he doesn't see it.

I believe they already sent electronic drafts, but the law allowed people legally to avoid them that way - so it is the law that changed.

That doesn't change much though, as I also read Kremlin plans to make life harder for those who refuse or dodge the draft by limiting how they are allowed to leave the country in future etc...

Glory to Soviet Union.

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https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-elect.../32359108.html

The Russian parliament’s lower chamber, the State Duma, has approved in its final reading a bill on electronic military enlistment aimed at making it more difficult for potential draftees to evade duty. According to the bill, the enlistment papers will be sent by both regular mail and electronically. The electronic variant will be considered as delivered to a person seven days after being placed online in an account opened for each person who is eligible for conscription. Many have avoided conscription during Russia's invasion of Ukraine by not picking up mail at their official address.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...scription.html

Vladimir Putin appears to be clamping down on Russian men trying to dodge his invasion of Ukraine by creating a new digital conscription system which would leave them unable to flee abroad.

Under new legislation advanced by Russian lawmakers today, the draftee would be banned from travelling abroad and would have to report to an enlistment office after being called up.

Currently, draft notices have to be delivered in person in Russia, which many Russian men have managed to doge by refusing to pick up the enlistment orders and fleeing the country.

Last year, Putin's order to call up hundreds of thousands of men to boost regular forces in Ukraine kicked off an exodus, with tens of thousands rushing to leave the country.

Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, approved the legislation on second and third readings today, sparking fears more men will be forced to help beef up Putin's regime.

Later in the article...

Those who fail to show up at the enlistment office within the 20 days following receipt of the electronic draft notice will not be able to take out loans, register property or work as individual entrepreneurs.

Probably a lot more sources out there.

[Edge-]

Wow, so basically show up and get sent into the meatgrinder with no training or gear or withdraw from society and live in the underground, basically.

Why does it feel like Russia keeps playing a one-nation game of Russian Roulette where they keep shooting themselves in the head but because they haven't blown their entire skull off they keep playing?

[Vladier]

So russan goverment is now sending ELECTRONIC DRAFT to people to take them from homes for a cannon fodder.

Once E-DRAFT letter is sent, it is considered by this new Russian law that a draftee received it even if he doesn't see it.

Also, a draftee is forbidden from leaving the country until checking at the enlistment office, and getting loans, starting a business, selling and buying property and driving if he doesn't check at the recruitment office within 20 days from the set date.

[fwc577]

Wow, so basically show up and get sent into the meatgrinder with no training or gear or withdraw from society and live in the underground, basically.

Why does it feel like Russia keeps playing a one-nation game of Russian Roulette where they keep shooting themselves in the head but because they haven't blown their entire skull off they keep playing?

Fascism at it's finest:

[Edge-]

Unironically that movie is kinda smarter and better than it seems on its face when you view it more as an in-universe propaganda film. It's still a horrible dogshit adaptation of the source material but like...it kind has some legs beyond being a dumb action movie with boobs, butts, and lots of gore. And a Busey.

[Yunru]

Also, a draftee is forbidden from leaving the country until checking at the enlistment office, and getting loans, starting a business, selling and buying property and driving if he doesn't check at the recruitment office within 20 days from the set date.

Yeah even more people will leave now, but this time using violence to get out of country.

[Elder Millennial]

Unironically that movie is kinda smarter and better than it seems on its face when you view it more as an in-universe propaganda film. It's still a horrible dogshit adaptation of the source material but like...it kind has some legs beyond being a dumb action movie with boobs, butts, and lots of gore. And a Busey.

I think Verhoeven's style of social criticism is so good that as a rule of thumb the very people who it criticizes completely and utterly miss the point.

I actually legitimately think the movie was better than the book because the book was unironically fashy.

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https://apnews.com/article/hungary-m...20in%20Ukraine.

Hungary really belongs outside the EU. If they are so eager to lick Moscow's boot they are welcome to join Belarus, Transnistria and Serbia in the Ruski Mir.

I'm really over the antics of Orban and his Hungarian fascists.

[Poopymonster]

Wow, so basically show up and get sent into the meatgrinder with no training or gear or withdraw from society and live in the underground, basically.

Why does it feel like Russia keeps playing a one-nation game of Russian Roulette where they keep shooting themselves in the head but because they haven't blown their entire skull off they keep playing?

I'm sure their notes will be fantastic.