Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Edge-]

First months of war were a one big Russian Fail Compilation. Like that squad who decided to enter an elevator only to get stuck in it when Ukrainians cut off the power:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/com...tech_store_in/

We could also go back to that time a Russian lad lost a battle with the door to a Techno House.

[Jessicka]

..what if that IS their best.

Probably is, their original best were lost at Kyiv airport.

[Xyonai]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/com...tech_store_in/

We could also go back to that time a Russian lad lost a battle with the door to a Techno House.

A simpler time.

[YUPPIE]

The sexual violence perpetrated by Russians is escalating on the warfront, but surprisingly, it's more on men than women. This is surprising because I thought homophobia was ingrained into Russian culture.

In the context of the full-scale war, sexual violence perpetrated by the Russian military has become commonplace as part of the terror unleashed against Ukrainians living in temporarily occupied territories.

The Russians’ victims include both men and women. Furthermore, the former are increasingly targeted for rape. This is the conclusion made by CNN journalists who travelled to Kyiv to speak with prosecutors and victims of such crimes.

According to Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General, Russian military personnel compel men to expose their own bodies, mutilate their genitals, rape them, and apply electric current to their genitals.

Furthermore, Ukrainian law enforcement personnel documented attempted and actual rapes with batons, a pipe, a bottle, a shovel handle, a stick, and a pen.

Roman Chernenko, a 29-year-old Ukrainian intelligence officer, was held captive for seven months. He was tormented three times every day for four months.

"They laughed when they tortured me … they told me that my mother was being f**ked by Chechens. They took me to be shot twice, they threatened me with rape," the soldier told CNN.

Chernenko was released as part of a prisoner swap in January 2024, although he is still suffering from the trauma. The soldier says that the thoughts of his sweetheart and mother gave him the fortitude to withstand the capture.

According to Ukrainian authorities investigating allegations of sexual abuse in the context of the war, all evidence suggests that this is a purposeful technique, part of Russia's behaviour in Ukraine.

"It’s in every region that was under occupation. Everywhere that Russian troops were located, we’re seeing cases of sexual violence and gender-based violence. The bottom line is that it looks like it is Russian policy," said Anna Sosonska, Prosecutor and Acting Head of the Department for Combating Sexual Violence.

Anna Mykytenko, Head of the Global Rights Compliance (GRC) international legal non-profit organisation, added that survivors of violence claim that the occupiers called such actions "punishment."

"In several villages in the south we heard witnesses and survivors say that the Russian servicemen came in, occupied the village, and then looked specifically for the wives of Ukrainian soldiers, or their mothers or sisters," Mykytenko said.

The Office of the Ukrainian Ombudsman declared that it holds the Russian military, the Ministry of Defence, and the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia responsible for what is happening in prisons where Ukrainian soldiers are detained, tortured, and raped.

Finding the offenders is tough, but possible, the Prosecutor General’s Office asserts. As of the beginning of May, 42 Russian officers were suspected, 19 indictments against 28 persons had been filed, and five people had been found guilty. All trials took place in absentia.

Source

[Corvus]

Pootie has gone all moustache twirling villain now, openly stating they will send long range weapons to groups to use against targets in the West. Of course russia had been doing that already but now they are openly saying it. The problem is that it would have to be non-state actors (ie terrorists) as state actors aren't going to use them, which would make supplying them hard. Plus russia is begging others for ammo and has refused to deliver weapons that others had already paid for.

It is just bluster from a man now wearing bulletproof vests anytime he ventures outside - he wants the west to lose interest and stop supporting Ukraine. Having russian supplied terrorists strike inside the west isn't going to do that.

Meanwhile France has arrested a russian speaker from the occupied Donbas (who has a russian passport) after a bomb making attempt went wrong. Western intel had warned russia was preparing to conduct sabotage inside the west.

[Elder Millennial]

Pootie has gone all moustache twirling villain now, openly stating they will send long range weapons to groups to use against targets in the West. Of course russia had been doing that already but now they are openly saying it. The problem is that it would have to be non-state actors (ie terrorists) as state actors aren't going to use them, which would make supplying them hard. Plus russia is begging others for ammo and has refused to deliver weapons that others had already paid for.

It is just bluster from a man now wearing bulletproof vests anytime he ventures outside - he wants the west to lose interest and stop supporting Ukraine. Having russian supplied terrorists strike inside the west isn't going to do that.

Meanwhile France has arrested a russian speaker from the occupied Donbas (who has a russian passport) after a bomb making attempt went wrong. Western intel had warned russia was preparing to conduct sabotage inside the west.

You can give a couple of dozen mid range cruise missiles to a group like the Houthis and have them fuck with shipping for months.

Those cruise missiles would roughly be the equivalent of what the Russians fire at Ukrainian schools, hospitals and markets every afternoon.

[Edge-]

https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-wo...scow-gx6qlgxtx

Apparently the US has given Ukraine clearance to use US weapons within Russia - just as long as they don't target Moscow.

[Voidism]

https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-wo...scow-gx6qlgxtx

Apparently the US has given Ukraine clearance to use US weapons within Russia - just as long as they don't target Moscow.

Why specifically not Moscow?

[Zaydin]

Why specifically not Moscow?

I can only presume because it would give Russia more to whine about how they are the real victims and are in a war for survival against 'teh ebil West'. And you know Putler would put military targets right next to civilian housing to use them as human shields.

[Iphie]

Why specifically not Moscow?

Probably because that will lead to unpredictable reactions. I mean what would happen if Washington would get bombed? Or any other capital?

[Saradain]

Probably because that will lead to unpredictable reactions. I mean what would happen if Washington would get bombed? Or any other capital?

Attacking a NATO country leads to a simple reaction. Ukraine attacking Moscow, a capital of a nation already in war with them is no different. Red lines? Haha.

Kyiv was bombed already, why should bombing Moscow be any different? Other than perhaps targeting military targets in Moscow, not civilians like russians.

[Iphie]

Attacking a NATO country leads to a simple reaction. Ukraine attacking Moscow, a capital of a nation already in war with them is no different. Red lines? Haha.

Kyiv was bombed already, why should bombing Moscow be any different? Other than perhaps targeting military targets in Moscow, not civilians like russians.

Yeah, well, I know your feelings on the matter, but I'm pretty sure the point is to not set a chain of events in motion that is uuncontrollable.

(Also, let's put NATO aside, what would the US's response be if Washington got bombed? They'd get a little bit upset I imagine.)

[Saradain]

Yeah, well, I know your feelings on the matter, but I'm pretty sure the point is to not set a chain of events in motion that is uuncontrollable.

(Also, let's put NATO aside, what would the US's response be if Washington got bombed? They'd get a little bit upset I imagine.)

Pretty sure Russia would cease to exist as an independent nation. If you do not retaliate after a salvo of rockets at your capital city, when you are not even in war with the assailant, nothing less but a declaration of war would suffice. Unless you want to give Russia the unique perk of being able to be nazis without consequences...

Russia isn't doing shit if Ukraine fires at Moscow. Other than continuing the genocide of ukrainian civilians either way. Doubt Putin would be hiding anywhere in Moscow anyway

[Corvus]

Seems russias efforts to try and intimidate France have backfired, with macron announcing they will send Mirages to Ukraine.

[Iphie]

And that's the point, destruction/assault of Capital results in a BIG response and we all know russia is not very subtle. My other point, which you seem to want to ignore is: No one wants to even roll those dice so they are putting that prohibition in place. (Note that I never said I agreed with the decision.)

[Jessicka]

And that's the point, destruction/assault of Capital results in a BIG response and we all know russia is not very subtle. My other point, which you seem to want to ignore is: No one wants to even roll those dice so they are putting that prohibition in place. (Note that I never said I agreed with the decision.)

What are they going to do? Invade and bomb more? They’re already at capacity.

Really it’s probably just down to the increased risk to civilians if you miss at that range.

[Saradain]

And that's the point, destruction/assault of Capital results in a BIG response and we all know russia is not very subtle. My other point, which you seem to want to ignore is: No one wants to even roll those dice so they are putting that prohibition in place. (Note that I never said I agreed with the decision.)

Then how long until Russia is beaten? Literally to the last mobik, if striking at their military leadership is a no-go? Russia already bombed Kyiv. Did we start something apocalyptic?

[Poopymonster]

Then how long until Russia is beaten? Literally to the last mobik, if striking at their military leadership is a no-go? Russia already bombed Kyiv. Did we start something apocalyptic?

At the risk of sounding like Blyatman or Tweak, I see it this way.
Ukraine held the line, even if Cadia fell. The some countries gave them some shinies with restrictions. Russia blustered.
Ukraine started pushing back, Russian losses increased dramatically. The US gave them shinies with restrictions, some countries loosened their restrictions on shiny usage. Russia blustered.
Ukraine begin destroying Russian forces, reclaiming land, and launching short range salvos into Russia. Some countries kept a few restrictions on their shinies, US is removes some restrictions on shiny usage. Russia blusters.

Each incremental step, in addition to working through the US weaponry and ammo backlog, that results in Russia doing nothing but blustering (and killing their own oligarchs) is a sign that "See, we're not going to end the world in a mushroom cloud, Amazon's Fallout show is not in our future, and the FOG was wrong about this war."

Russia continues to bluster, more equipment reaches Russia, Moscow might become a viable target.
Some of that will depend on how Ukraine plays the game, some depends on some countries assistance, and some depends on the US election this year.

[Saradain]

At the risk of sounding like Blyatman or Tweak, I see it this way.
Ukraine held the line, even if Cadia fell. The some countries gave them some shinies with restrictions. Russia blustered.
Ukraine started pushing back, Russian losses increased dramatically. The US gave them shinies with restrictions, some countries loosened their restrictions on shiny usage. Russia blustered.
Ukraine begin destroying Russian forces, reclaiming land, and launching short range salvos into Russia. Some countries kept a few restrictions on their shinies, US is removes some restrictions on shiny usage. Russia blusters.

Each incremental step, in addition to working through the US weaponry and ammo backlog, that results in Russia doing nothing but blustering (and killing their own oligarchs) is a sign that "See, we're not going to end the world in a mushroom cloud, Amazon's Fallout show is not in our future, and the FOG was wrong about this war."

Russia continues to bluster, more equipment reaches Russia, Moscow might become a viable target.
Some of that will depend on how Ukraine plays the game, some depends on some countries assistance, and some depends on the US election this year.

I am confident enough in the matter of western weapons having ever-decreasing amount of limits to give Russia the way out, but like our finnish ex-president says, a cossack takes what they can. At least to the history books we can say the civilized world gave Russia a chance.

[Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang]

Yeah, well, I know your feelings on the matter, but I'm pretty sure the point is to not set a chain of events in motion that is uuncontrollable.

(Also, let's put NATO aside, what would the US's response be if Washington got bombed? They'd get a little bit upset I imagine.)

Well there was that time where New York was hit as well as the Pentagon. A few thousand died AFAIK, and the US went on to destroy at least two countries, one which had distant ties to the culprits, the other none at all beside ethnoreligious similarities and being already on the To Do list, causing millions of casualties and a still undecided number of ripple conflicts.