Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Edge-]

Oh the irony. While Europe is going through almost unprecedented warm weather for this time of year, reducing the need and hence cost of gas, russia, and pretty much russia alone is about to get hit by an extreme cold wave. We are talking -30c temperatures.

https://mobile.twitter.com/StarskyUA...83759930499072

-22F for us yanks. Yowza, that's gonna be rough. Looks like the battlezone is gonna get into the lower (higher?) negatives and won't be quite as bad, but still very much sub-freezing.

[Iphie]

-22F for us yanks. Yowza, that's gonna be rough. Looks like the battlezone is gonna get into the lower (higher?) negatives and won't be quite as bad, but still very much sub-freezing.

Given the fact that the russians seem to have given their mobilised CLINGWRAP as shelters -22 F won't be fun nor will -10F or 0F

[Gaidax]

Talking about Iranian Drones.

CNN Exclusive: A single Iranian attack drone found to contain parts from more than a dozen US companies

U.S. Looks at Ways to Further Target Iranian Drone Production, White House Says

They are just getting it via 3rd parties like every other thing they/Russia/NK/whatever get. It does not even have to be via China.

I'm not sure there is effective mechanism to track this even.

[Biglog]

Russia announced a 2-day ceasefire, skeptical but we'll see if it holds up. At the same time in the last week they've been moving more tanks and equipment to Belarus for what everyone believes will be a 2nd push from there, as well as announcing new mass production factories in the East for rockets, drones, and counter-drone equipment mostly licensed from Iran. They added that they plan to manufacture at least 6000 Iranian-designed drones there. So it's definitely a mixed message. It's fairly transparent that Russia would prefer a short break in the combat to regroup and resupply, but that they also have no intention of actually stopping or (voluntarily) withdrawing.

[Lynarii]

They are just getting it via 3rd parties like every other thing they/Russia/NK/whatever get. It does not even have to be via China.

I'm not sure there is effective mechanism to track this even.

The ultimate problem is that it is quicker and easier to set up new shell companies to smuggle goods than it is for authorities to investigate and shut them down. The paper trail doesn't even need to be particularly airtight, it only needs to hold up long enough for them to make a single order of parts and get it moved out of the country. At which point it doesn't even matter if an investigator can prove it's fraudulent, they're already done and gone on to the next one. Probably 90% of the people involved are legitimately innocent and have no idea that they just helped an Iranian smuggling ring.

[diller]

Russia announced a 2-day ceasefire, skeptical but we'll see if it holds up.

It won't because Ukraine will not agree to it, so if Ukraine attacks the Russians will as well.

[Forogil]

And some odd news:

The Danish Queen Margrethe II has withdrawn from her protectorate of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, which is awarded every year to writers and illustrators of children’s books because the president of the prize committee is a Russian who is also promoting "special military operations" propaganda among artists. (The award is handled by Ibby.org that was created after WWII to promote peace by getting children to read; and H.C. Andersen was, of course, the danish author who wrote "The Emperor's New Clothes".)

https://scandasia.com/russian-ibby-c...-as-protector/

[DarkAmbient]

Just seen a propaganda video on Reddit of dead Russian soldiers arranged into a Z by Ukrainian soldiers. Am I right in thinking that desecration of corpses is a war crime? I mean I get it. The Ukrainians are pissed and war is hell. But still. I can imagine that behind the scenes they're being told that supporting that shit makes us look bad.

[Iphie]

Just seen a propaganda video on Reddit of dead Russian soldiers arranged into a Z by Ukrainian soldiers. Am I right in thinking that desecration of corpses is a war crime? I mean I get it. The Ukrainians are pissed and war is hell. But still. I can imagine that behind the scenes they're being told that supporting that shit makes us look bad.

It is, yes, or at least it is very much not done.

[Gorsameth]

Just seen a propaganda video on Reddit of dead Russian soldiers arranged into a Z by Ukrainian soldiers. Am I right in thinking that desecration of corpses is a war crime? I mean I get it. The Ukrainians are pissed and war is hell. But still. I can imagine that behind the scenes they're being told that supporting that shit makes us look bad.

I'd say 99% chance its fake.

- - - Updated - - -

Russia announced a 2-day ceasefire, skeptical but we'll see if it holds up. At the same time in the last week they've been moving more tanks and equipment to Belarus for what everyone believes will be a 2nd push from there, as well as announcing new mass production factories in the East for rockets, drones, and counter-drone equipment mostly licensed from Iran. They added that they plan to manufacture at least 6000 Iranian-designed drones there. So it's definitely a mixed message. It's fairly transparent that Russia would prefer a short break in the combat to regroup and resupply, but that they also have no intention of actually stopping or (voluntarily) withdrawing.

Russia has bombed civilian refugee evacuation corridors. They don't get to claim a moral high ground for an orthodox Christmas peace.

[Ettan]

Obviously its not genuine.
It is a distracting move if anything.
I would expect a new offensive from Belarus shortly, towards kiev (and liviv this time).

[DarkAmbient]

I'd say 99% chance its fake.

You mean it's designed to make Ukraine look bad? I don't know if I'm allowed to link it but you can watch it on the Ukrainian War Video Report subreddit and make up your own mind. Looks real to me. People should remember that just because we're on Ukraine's side doesn't mean they don't do some fucked up shit.

[Gabriel]

Just seen a propaganda video on Reddit of dead Russian soldiers arranged into a Z by Ukrainian soldiers. Am I right in thinking that desecration of corpses is a war crime? I mean I get it. The Ukrainians are pissed and war is hell. But still. I can imagine that behind the scenes they're being told that supporting that shit makes us look bad.

Lmao. Glad to see that people stick to the traditions with ruski invaders.

[Iphie]

Lmao. Glad to see that people stick to the traditions with ruski invaders.

Finns and Ukrainians, brothers forged in russian blood.

And, predictably, Ukraine rejects the ceasefire:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...box=1672942931

[Deus Mortis]

You mean it's designed to make Ukraine look bad? I don't know if I'm allowed to link it but you can watch it on the Ukrainian War Video Report subreddit and make up your own mind. Looks real to me. People should remember that just because we're on Ukraine's side doesn't mean they don't do some fucked up shit.

At first I was thinking that it might of been the older video from the start of the war where you had a bunch of dead bodies placed in a Z and that ended up being fake. However this is in the snow so it most likely is current, so there are chances that it is real. I have been fully behind Ukraine, but I do not like stuff like this. This type of stuff imo undermines the image they are trying to paint. However I do know that it was probably done by only several people out of the 100k+ fighting and I can only imagine what war does to ones psyche.

[jonnysensible]

Just seen a propaganda video on Reddit of dead Russian soldiers arranged into a Z by Ukrainian soldiers. Am I right in thinking that desecration of corpses is a war crime? I mean I get it. The Ukrainians are pissed and war is hell. But still. I can imagine that behind the scenes they're being told that supporting that shit makes us look bad.

cutting off ears for trophies is desecration, laying people out isnt.

[Makabreska]

cutting off ears for trophies is desecration, laying people out isnt.

Deadpool agrees!

[Corvus]

Pootie says he is ready for peace if Ukraine cedes occupied territories. Ukraine also rejected that.

And the US and Germany have announced they are sending the Bradley and Marder IFVs.

[Iphie]

Pootie says he is ready for peace if Ukraine cedes occupied territories. Ukraine also rejected that.

And the US and Germany have announced they are sending the Bradley and Marder IFVs.

Which occupied territories? Only luhansk and Crimea can be said to be, more or less, secured, Kherson, Zaporozhye and Donetsk are quite contested...yet somehow I doubt pooter means that.

[Cynical Asshole]

Well, something is going to buckle, eventually. This is just not sustainable for Russia. It just isn't.

Russia is stuck between rock and a hard place right now. They can't win, but they can't surrender, either. The image of a strong Russia would crumble into dust, and such image is everything for authoritarians.

Pootie is running out of rocks to throw too. According to Ukraine, all of the Iranian suicide drones launched in 2023 have been intercepted by AA systems.