Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Specialka]

We only really need to worry about France right now, Macron dissolved the parliament following Le Pen's victory and that could throw a HUGE spanner in the works if Front National gets to form a government there.

You could say the same about LFI.

[Kralljin]

Voter turn out was abyssmal though.

Haven't seen a source indicating that turnout was that terrible comparatively.

Especially with the younger folks.

I'm not sure whether that would help, given that far right parties are quite popular among young people in Europe.

I'm not as concerned about voter turnout in the US given women and the minorities know what will happen to them if they don't vote.

I mean, call it hearsay but i've seen muslim minorities and progressive groups not wanting to vote for Biden due to Palestine.
Whether that will actually happen / has any impact remains to be seen, but i cannot help but laugh at the sheer amount of stupidity.

[alach]

I guess it was this that surprised me. Yesterday when I checked late in the afternoon Croatia had just 11% activity.

Voter turnout in the European elections five years ago was 50.66 per cent at European Union level, the highest in the 21st century. It appears that this record will stand, as 39.1 per cent of voters had turned up at EU polling stations by 7 pm.

The Croatian turnout of 15.05 per cent by 16:30 does not keep up, just like five years ago with 29.85 per cent, although at that time it was the best turnout in all four times Croats had the opportunity to vote in the European elections.

Also, five years ago, Croatia was not at the bottom of the polls; the Slovaks (22.74 per cent), Czechs (28.72 per cent) and Slovenes (28.89 per cent) had a lower turnout. Most voters went to the polls in Belgium (88.47 per cent), Denmark (66.08 per cent) and Germany (61.38 per cent).

And while voter turnout is traditionally high in Belgium and Denmark, Germans were more motivated than usual before 2019, with 48.1 per cent of them going to the polls in 2014 and 43.27 per cent in 2009. By 2 p.m., 66 per cent had taken part in these elections.

So I guess it evened out, more or less.

Meanwhile,

$168K for first downed Ukrainian F-16, $5.6K for each next one
A Russian company has put out a hefty bounty for downing any of Ukraine’s anticipated F-16 jets. Sergey Shmotyev, the director of the Ural company Fores, announced a reward of 15 million rubles [$167,7K] for the first F-16 fighter jet taken down and 500,000 rubles [$5,591] for each subsequent jet.

Shmotyev also highlighted that they previously offered rewards for tank destructions—5 million rubles [$55,910] for the first tank and 500,000 rubles [$5,591] for each one after that. He mentioned that over 20 tanks are currently awaiting their reward for being destroyed.

And in 'Well of course they are" news...

Russia coerces African migrants, students to join Ukraine war — European officials
Russia is reportedly coercing thousands of migrants and foreign students, particularly from Africa, to fight in its war against Ukraine in exchange for visa renewals, according to a Bloomberg report.

European officials have assessed that the Kremlin is using tactics similar to those initially employed by the Wagner mercenary group to bolster its military manpower.

The report indicates that Russia has been pressuring African students and young workers to join the military by threatening to deny visa extensions.
In some cases, Moscow has enlisted convicts and detained Africans on work visas, forcing them to choose between deportation or joining the fight.

Some individuals have reportedly managed to bribe officials to avoid military service and remain in the country.

This practice of coercing migrants and students into military service began earlier in the conflict, resulting in high casualty rates for these individuals, who are often sent on perilous missions to protect more highly trained units.

Hey russia defenders, does this sound like the actions of a military that has everything under control?

[Kaleredar]

I guess it was this that surprised me. Yesterday when I checked late in the afternoon Croatia had just 11% activity.



So I guess it evened out, more or less.

Meanwhile,

And in 'Well of course they are" news...


Hey russia defenders, does this sound like the actions of a military that has everything under control?

Where’s that crocodile tears Russian shill who was whining about how “offensive” it was that Ukraine was conscripting its citizens to defend the country?

[Mazza]

I guess it was this that surprised me. Yesterday when I checked late in the afternoon Croatia had just 11% activity.

Voter turnout in the European elections five years ago was 50.66 per cent at European Union level, the highest in the 21st century. It appears that this record will stand, as 39.1 per cent of voters had turned up at EU polling stations by 7 pm.

The Croatian turnout of 15.05 per cent by 16:30 does not keep up, just like five years ago with 29.85 per cent, although at that time it was the best turnout in all four times Croats had the opportunity to vote in the European elections.

Also, five years ago, Croatia was not at the bottom of the polls; the Slovaks (22.74 per cent), Czechs (28.72 per cent) and Slovenes (28.89 per cent) had a lower turnout. Most voters went to the polls in Belgium (88.47 per cent), Denmark (66.08 per cent) and Germany (61.38 per cent).

And while voter turnout is traditionally high in Belgium and Denmark, Germans were more motivated than usual before 2019, with 48.1 per cent of them going to the polls in 2014 and 43.27 per cent in 2009. By 2 p.m., 66 per cent had taken part in these elections.

So I guess it evened out, more or less.

Comparing voter turnout with Belgium is a tad unfair though, as showing up to vote is mandatory here.

[Corvus]

There may have been a second su57 damaged in the attack the other day, which would be 10% of the planes made.

Meanwhile reports say Ukraine hit 1 s400 and 2 s300 batteries in Crimea. Russian sources admit there were attacks with some claiming, as usual, all missiles were shit down with no damage while others admit there were hits and even deaths but low damage.

[Iphie]

US arming Nazi's, ok that's a bit facetious but we all know that's how russia will twist it.

[alach]

Just to make sure it's clear before piggy shows up, the point of the news stories is that they have been proven to not be nazis.

[ghotihook]

US arming Nazi's, ok that's a bit facetious but we all know that's how russia will twist it.

That has to be one of the most spam-filled websites i've ever seen. Here is the arcticle for those not wanting to disable adblock.

June 10 (Reuters) - The Biden administration will lift its ban on allowing a controversial Ukrainian military unit to use U.S. weapons, the Washington Post reported on Monday, citing State Department officials.
The State Department reversed a decade-old prohibition on the Azov Brigade from using American training and weapons after a new analysis found no evidence of human rights violations by the unit, the Post reported.

"After thorough review, Ukraine’s 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade passed Leahy vetting as carried out by the U.S. Department of State,” the State Department said in a statement obtained by the newspaper. The State Department did not immediately reply to a request for comment from Reuters.
The Leahy Law bars U.S. military assistance to foreign units found to have committed such violations.
The Azov Regiment, which has far-right and ultra-nationalist roots, is part of Ukraine's National Guard and evolved out of a battalion that was formed in 2014 and fought against Russian-backed separatists who carved out breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

The regiment is lionized in Ukraine for defending the country against Russia's invasion and in particular the southern city of Mariupol, but they are reviled by Russian President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin.

[Iphie]

That has to be one of the most spam-filled websites i've ever seen. Here is the arcticle for those not wanting to disable adblock.

Reuters? Spam filled? Must be you.

Anyway, seems that Armenia is leaving the CSTO.

Politico on the matter.

YEREVAN, Armenia — Armenia will formally withdraw from its military alliance with Moscow, the country’s prime minister announced Wednesday, as tensions grow with Russia.

Nikol Pashinyan declared in parliament that “we will leave” the Kremlin’s Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and that “we will decide the timing of our exit.”

“It turned out that the members of the alliance are not fulfilling their contractual obligations, but are planning a war against us with Azerbaijan,” he said.

[Benggaul]

Reuters? Spam filled? Must be you.

I get a couple nag screens asking if I want to subscribe, but yeah, not really any "spam". I wouldn't expect that from Reuters.

[Gorsameth]

No point being in a defensive alliance that can't/won't defend you.

The CSTO died the moment Russia had its hands to full to do anything.
Wonder if Armenia will look to China for a defensive pact or NATO.

Trying to leave the Russian sphere of influence has proven to be a dangerous prospect to do alone.

[Kaleredar]

No point being in a defensive alliance that can't/won't defend you.

The CSTO died the moment Russia had its hands to full to do anything.
Wonder if Armenia will look to China for a defensive pact or NATO.

Trying to leave the Russian sphere of influence has proven to be a dangerous prospect to do alone.

Russia doesn’t have the capacity to fight the war they’re in now, let alone starting shit in Armenia.

[Wilian]

Wonder if Armenia will look to China for a defensive pact or NATO.

Turkey is a close friend and "ally" of Azerbaijan and opposes Armenia. They'll never let Armenia join NATO. Turkey's geopolitical goal is to rip Armenia further to create land bridge with Azerbaijan.

[Lanrefni]

Turkey is a close friend and "ally" of Azerbaijan and opposes Armenia. They'll never let Armenia join NATO. Turkey's geopolitical goal is to rip Armenia further to create land bridge with Azerbaijan.

Wrong,their goal is the extermination of all Armenians and the complete seizure of their lands,basically what they are doing to the Kurds in Syria right now.

[Wilian]

Wrong,their goal is the extermination of all Armenians and the complete seizure of their lands,basically what they are doing to the Kurds in Syria right now.

You could say that is what they'd prefer to do, but as it stands they cannot so their primary geopolitical goal is to create a land bridge to Azerbaijan and aid them in that, both openly and covertly.

[Gorsameth]

Russia doesn’t have the capacity to fight the war they’re in now, let alone starting shit in Armenia.

And we all know Russia never harbours a grudge right.

They can do little now, they will do shit in the future.

And yes I forgot Turkey still denies the Armenian genocide.
China it is then.

[Iphie]

That impact's gonna leave a mark

That's a collapse alright.

[Gorsameth]

That impact's gonna leave a mark

That's a collapse alright.

we hadn't yet? what?

[alach]

Wow!

Feelsgoodman