Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Kaleredar]

Russia doesn't have anything deserving to be called an election anyway, it's all an elaborate national ritual of subjecting the populace to taking part in reaffirming their own submission to their ruling class.

Indeed, hence the "dog-and-pony show." And like I said... I don't think Russia's national perception of their invasion of Ukraine would have been negative enough to oust Putin, even if the elections were real. If the population doesn't outright promote it, the rest of them, largely, are content to be apathetic towards it.

So it's good that Ukraine is striking more and more prominently at military infrastructure in Russia. Start making this less of a "one way" war and weigh a bit more heavily on the minds of Russia's citizens.

[Poopymonster]

Russia doesn't have anything deserving to be called an election anyway, it's all an elaborate national ritual of subjecting the populace to taking part in reaffirming their own submission to their ruling class.

Exit poll reporting:
55% of people voted for Putin.
38% of people voted for Putin twice.
7% of people fell out of windows.

[Jessicka]

Exit poll reporting:
55% of people voted for Putin.
38% of people voted for Putin twice.
7% of people fell out of windows.

Those who only voted for Putin once are to be conscripted for the 3 day special military operation.

[Saradain]

Those who only voted for Putin once are to be conscripted for the 3 day special military operation.

It is a 3 day special military operation when your training, deployment and time of death all fits within the span of 3 days. Russia yet has to find a way to utilize the dead in warfare.

[Iphie]

Quite a few stories of Russians throwing Molotov cocktails, paint and ink on ballot boxes. It won't matter but these people do seem to disagree with pootpoot.

[Wilian]

Finnish foreign minister Valtonen has come out saying that deploying NATO troops into Ukraine should not be excluded from decisions on how to aid Ukraine further. Seems like that despite some notable cowardly nay-sayers there are substantial amount of pro-presence countries.

[Kallisto]

Finnish foreign minister Valtonen has come out saying that deploying NATO troops into Ukraine should not be excluded from decisions on how to aid Ukraine further. Seems like that despite some notable cowardly nay-sayers there are substantial amount of pro-presence countries.

Are we forgetting the lessons of the cold war? The fate of humanity is too important to allow nuclear powers to get into a position where a shooting match is likely because the Cold War showed that there is only one actual outcome that will happen.

[Orange Joe]

Because as it stands, does NATO have any nukes committed to it ? I do not think so unless I am mistaken.

https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2...nuclear-en.pdf


Looks like you are mistaken.

[Corvus]

Yet another refinery struck. russia seems incapable of stopping it.

Ukraine can reportedly make 3 of those 1000km drones a day, and 30 of the medium range ones so this campaign isn't ending anytime soon.

[Ulmita]

Yet another refinery struck. russia seems incapable of stopping it.

Ukraine can reportedly make 3 of those 1000km drones a day, and 30 of the medium range ones so this campaign isn't ending anytime soon.

To stop that, they have to shoot down the satellites that those drones use to navigate, which means war with NATO

[Corvus]

Ir seems Ukraine isnt just trying to do random damage to the refineries, which russia might be able to brute force repairs to, but are aiming for the cracking towers, the most expensive and hard to replace part of the whole thing.

I've read a number of people who say they work in the industry that the cracking towers have to be specifically designed for each refinery and they take at least 18 months to make. Probably longer in the current climate.

The campaign does seem to be having some effect as russia has again banned export of petrol, and despite that price have hit a 6 month high. There will be some lag time before the effects really become known.

Even before the attacks, there was no lot of speculation that russia would have to import petrol soon. Kind of embarrassing for a petrostate. No doubt China or India will import cheap oil, refine it, then sell it back to russia at a significant cost increase.

[Kaleredar]

Are we forgetting the lessons of the cold war? The fate of humanity is too important to allow nuclear powers to get into a position where a shooting match is likely because the Cold War showed that there is only one actual outcome that will happen.

Then Russia should really be the bigger man here and stop all of this escalation.

The only reason NATO gives a flying fig about what's going on with Russia is that they attempted a bald-faced invasion of a sovereign country.

[Specialka]

https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2...nuclear-en.pdf


Looks like you are mistaken.

Not really, there are three countries with nuclear weapons in NATO and they keep control over those according to what I could find.

The NPG is mostly consultative and France is not even a part of it.

[Azadina]

Exit poll reporting:
55% of people voted for Putin.
38% of people voted for Putin twice.
7% of people fell out of windows.

Fake news! That only makes 100% voter turnout. You'll be window accidented for reporting anything short of 125%.

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Are we forgetting the lessons of the cold war? The fate of humanity is too important to allow nuclear powers to get into a position where a shooting match is likely because the Cold War showed that there is only one actual outcome that will happen.

No one reasonable believes that nuclear annihilation of RuZZia and the West is the immediate outcome of RuZZia losing a war of aggression outside of it's own territory. Regardless of whether it's Ukraine or NATO that kicks RuZZia back behind it's own borders.

Interesting fantasy though. Are you saying that you would gladly blow up yourself, your house, your neighbors house and the family, over being denied stealing said neighbors backyard, and simply being told to be content with what you own (no loss, no penalty, just denied the parts you attempted to steal)?

PS. By the way, speaking of cold war lessons: Launch orders were already disobeyed at least once by soviet troop, when the threat of US missile launch towards RuZZia wasn't clear enough (because it didn't happen, and was radar problems). Basically, it's evident the troops don't want to blow up everyone for shits and giggles, when something isn't evidently about to blow up their homes.

[Gigantique]

It is a 3 day special military operation when your training, deployment and time of death all fits within the span of 3 days. Russia yet has to find a way to utilize the dead in warfare.

Russia saw the concept of Helldivers and went "Now that's an idea but save on the equipment costs by like, not giving them any"

[Jessicka]

To stop that, they have to shoot down the satellites that those drones use to navigate, which means war with NATO

They’d probably have to switch off GLONASS as well.

[Iphie]

They’d probably have to switch off GLONASS as well.

And Galileo as well. Btw, GLONASS is falling apart all on it's own so they don't need to worry about that ...

[Orange Joe]

Not really, there are three countries with nuclear weapons in NATO and they keep control over those according to what I could find.

The NPG is mostly consultative and France is not even a part of it.

I read that as if NATO agreed to use nukes they would launch a nuke.

[Ulmita]

I don't think that we will use a nuke, even if Russia nukes Ukraine. The reason behind that is that the question then becomes: Is it worth it to lose Paris, Washington, London, for Moscow? Nope, not really. There might be a massive conventional reaponse which might lead to nuking each other but I am pretty sure our leaders understand what's at stake.

Recent hawkish statements from France is just politics imho. He needs to show that he isn't a pushover.

[Saradain]

I don't think that we will use a nuke, even if Russia nukes Ukraine. The reason behind that is that the question then becomes: Is it worth it to lose Paris, Washington, London, for Moscow? Nope, not really. There might be a massive conventional reaponse which might lead to nuking each other but I am pretty sure our leaders understand what's at stake.

Recent hawkish statements from France is just politics imho. He needs to show that he isn't a pushover.

So what you essentially mean: let Russia nuke, if we do the same, we're the bad guys. You utterly forgot that if the civilized world just casually allows a nuclear strike, it's a sign for the entire world that it is alright to do. And if someone does, then intervening or threatening with similar fate will be seen as the evil West acting like a world police again.

Nope. If Russia nukes Ukraine, there will be hell to pay and the Pandora's box will be opened for good. Russia knows this very well. If they nuke, they can be nuked and no one has a right to act holier-than-thou. And any "end of the world" scenario would be entirely and utterly Russia's fault. Not the West's even if they retaliate with same response.

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Besides...you know. If Russia uses a nuclear weapon, its effects would lead to radiation-related harm to Europe that is not a participant in the war. You really think Russia declaring war on Europe (and NATO) means we're gonna play nice? Or that we would just let Russia poison our allies for fun?