Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Gabriel]

https://www.reddit.com/r/WorldOfWars...assets_seized/

damn, it's getting so bad russia is even siezing the assets of the russian publisher of World of Tanks/Warships roflmao

Please... God... if you exist, let them sieze the assets of Battlestate Games and all personal accounts held by Nikita.

[Nymrohd]

I mean. Most (actual) leftist movements in Europe have at best a supportive stance for Ukrainian refugees and maybe, just maybe, some humanitarian support.

I don't know where you live, but I am not surprised seeing true leftists with all anti-fascist and so on words either supporting Russia or most of the time being passively antagonistic to the conflict.

For example, the most famous Swedish clearly leftist magazine, ETC, ran a story based on anonymous accounts that a charity for Ukraine was corrupt. They basically had nothing, but ran with it anyways. All to mess with the picture of the war being legit in some way. This is one of the better charities btw, buying used cars and remaking them for the military - Blågula bilen. https://www.blagulabilen.se/

European leftism lives on hatred for NATO. They are either neutral or pro-Russia just by inertia, nevermind who might be funding them.

[LeGin v4]

European leftism lives on hatred for NATO. They are either neutral or pro-Russia just by inertia, nevermind who might be funding them.

Pro-Russia Soviet era I can vaguely understand, but not now

[alach]

Can't say I've ever heard of such a thing. Backpacking around Europe to armed on the front lines of the russian military seems like such an astronomical difference.
Find an anti-facist backpacker around Canada and the worst he will become is a junkie begging for change in Victoria, not actively fighting for everything that goes against their principles.

Maybe it's imaginary. Or another spread of misinformation by a certain group of people. That would explain where such a laughable term like Liberal Death Cult originated from? Wow.

[DarkTZeratul]

I can barely believe this story. What has to happen to one to go from an anti-facist, supporter of women's rights, eco-activist to signing up with the Russian MOD. Truely bizzare.

It's the "low effort leftist" track of "America is actually the bad guy > Russia is opposed to America > Therefore, Russia is the good guy."

It's stupid, but I've seen no small number of people follow down that path because it's easier than in engaging in actual critical thinking.

[Corvus]

The guy was reportedly schizophrenic and had gone to russia because he believed tracking devices were put in covid vaccines.

[Elder Millennial]

European leftism lives on hatred for NATO. They are either neutral or pro-Russia just by inertia, nevermind who might be funding them.

Depends on how left.

In general you are right tho, anything left of center left Soc Dems will be either 24/7 on the Kremlin propaganda train, or will do the whole "Yes, Russia bad, but it's NATO's fault anyway, and Ukraine just surrender".

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Pro-Russia Soviet era I can vaguely understand, but not now

Putin's Russia has done a whole lot of work to tap into the old Soviet era ideologies of Western leftists and has financially or indirectly via online propaganda has targeted every far-left group with their propaganda bazooka.

But, for the sake of full clarity, they have done the exact same with the far-right.

The Russians didn't target either end of the political spectrum specifically, they targeted both ends. It's just about undermining stability.

That's why you see the French far-right and far-left agreeing on Russia while disagreeing on everything else.

Same situation in Germany, Spain, Italy, etc etc.

That's why in the UK Brexit was supported actively by the far right and at least tacitly by the far left etc.

[MCMLXXXII]

The only pro Russia over here are the antivax far right loonies.

[PhaelixWW]

Hard to say whether it was Ukraine striking tactically or Russia taking out one of their own in the “lol oops what an accident!” kind of way.

Looks like Russia is blaming Ukraine, at least.

[Edge-]

Looks like Russia is blaming Ukraine, at least.

so...is Russia acknowledging that Ukraine can assassinate senior military officials in the eastern part of Moscow?

Because that's what it sounds like they're doing.

[PhaelixWW]

so...is Russia acknowledging that Ukraine can assassinate senior military officials in the eastern part of Moscow?

Because that's what it sounds like they're doing.

He was not the first.

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Can't wait to see those before/after photos.

And they're out:

[Gorsameth]

Can't say I've ever heard of such a thing. Backpacking around Europe to armed on the front lines of the russian military seems like such an astronomical difference.
Find an anti-facist backpacker around Canada and the worst he will become is a junkie begging for change in Victoria, not actively fighting for everything that goes against their principles.

Maybe it's imaginary. Or another spread of misinformation by a certain group of people. That would explain where such a laughable term like Liberal Death Cult originated from? Wow.

I think the crux lies in the difference between someone who belongs to a certain group because of the beliefs that person has, and someone who belongs to a group because they want to belong to a group.

The latter can easily do 180's on their supposed beliefs if they find a superior group to belong to because the belief isn't what drives them, 'belonging' is.

And fascists/nazi's tend to be pretty good at taking in lost youth and giving them a place to belong where they feel like a part of the group.

[LeGin v4]

Putin's Russia has done a whole lot of work to tap into the old Soviet era ideologies of Western leftists and has financially or indirectly via online propaganda has targeted every far-left group with their propaganda bazooka.

But, for the sake of full clarity, they have done the exact same with the far-right.

The Russians didn't target either end of the political spectrum specifically, they targeted both ends. It's just about undermining stability.

That's why you see the French far-right and far-left agreeing on Russia while disagreeing on everything else.

Same situation in Germany, Spain, Italy, etc etc.

That's why in the UK Brexit was supported actively by the far right and at least tacitly by the far left etc.

Yep, sorry - no, meant I don't *understand* why some on the far left, e.g., in the UK George Galloway, have aligned themselves with Putin. He's taken political and financial power away from the Russian people and concentrated it in the hands of siloviks. He's a bandit capitalist. Any on the left who are so blinded by their hatred of neoliberalism they think they're going to get a better deal under Putin are absolute fools.

[Kaleredar]

Yep, sorry - no, meant I don't *understand* why some on the far left, e.g., in the UK George Galloway, have aligned themselves with Putin. He's taken political and financial power away from the Russian people and concentrated it in the hands of siloviks. He's a bandit capitalist. Any on the left who are so blinded by their hatred of neoliberalism they think they're going to get a better deal under Putin are absolute fools.

And who don’t realize that they’re making themselves useful idiots to Putin and co.

And that’s been all over this Ukraine war, or at least way more than it should. Certain elements saying that “the evil west is keeping the war going and feeding the military industrial complex which is bad because all they want is to get paid, they should want Russia and Ukraine to be at peace and giving Ukraine arms just makes the fight go on longer.”

…Not realizing… or conveniently forgetting… that Russia is the evil invader, here, not “the west” and even if the west is serving its own interests those interests currently align with Ukraine retaining their sovereignty and independence, which Ukraine has determined, on their own, that they want to do.

Somehow criticizing the actual invaders never seems to be at issue with them, just ranting about phantom western boogeyman and how they need to drop everything and oh if Russia just so happens to win then oh well, but at least the western military industrial complex was… stopped? Slowed? Not given money?

And when someone sounds indistinguishable from a Russian troll, it doesn’t really matter whether they’re saying it earnestly or not.

[DarkTZeratul]

Somehow criticizing the actual invaders never seems to be at issue with them, just ranting about phantom western boogeyman and how they need to drop everything and oh if Russia just so happens to win then oh well, but at least the western military industrial complex was… stopped? Slowed? Not given money?

You don't understand, they HAD to invade because of the phantom western boogeyman! They clearly didn't have a choice, which is why Ukraine should just roll over and let Russia do what it wants instead of being allowed to make any decisions for itself.

[Nymrohd]

Yep, sorry - no, meant I don't *understand* why some on the far left, e.g., in the UK George Galloway, have aligned themselves with Putin. He's taken political and financial power away from the Russian people and concentrated it in the hands of siloviks. He's a bandit capitalist. Any on the left who are so blinded by their hatred of neoliberalism they think they're going to get a better deal under Putin are absolute fools.

Because they long defined themselves by their hatred of the US and to an extend NATO. So any argument that starts with "NATO or the US is to blame" is very convincing to them.

[Corvus]

Russia has admitted that North Korean soldiers are involved in the fighting. No big surprise to most but there were some here who were denying it despite the evidence.

[Elder Millennial]

Yep, sorry - no, meant I don't *understand* why some on the far left, e.g., in the UK George Galloway, have aligned themselves with Putin. He's taken political and financial power away from the Russian people and concentrated it in the hands of siloviks. He's a bandit capitalist. Any on the left who are so blinded by their hatred of neoliberalism they think they're going to get a better deal under Putin are absolute fools.

Galloway is specifically bad, or actually good example, because Galloway is a grifter.

His entire modus operandi for continued political relevance is to find some extreme fringe issue, take the most asinine ridiculous position possible, then find an area where he can get elected on that and run there.

Nowadays his number one target audience is Muslim communities who he targets with a mix of leftists social messaging, anti-Israeli hot takes (he doesn't actually give a fuck about Palestine) and "anti-imperialist" stuff where NATO is the empire and thus by default anything anti NATO is good.

He's basically a leftist Farage, and just like Farage, I can tell you with absolutely certainty that Galloway is fully aware of what he is doing.

- - - Updated - - -

Russia has admitted that North Korean soldiers are involved in the fighting. No big surprise to most but there were some here who were denying it despite the evidence.

0. We would never do such a thing.
1. We didn't do it.
2. It was an accident/we weren't directly involved.
3. Some whataboutism.
4. If we would have done, it would be justified by 3.
5. We did it, we meant to do it, they deserved it, Russia stronk, what are you going to do about it? Complain at the UN?

This is the Russian way of going from plausible deniability to going full mask off and going "what's done is done".

And they keep doing it because we kept letting them get away with it for 35 years, hoping that after the next #GreatReset™ they'll finally start behaving like a civilized nation.

[LeGin v4]

Galloway is specifically bad, or actually good example, because Galloway is a grifter.

His entire modus operandi for continued political relevance is to find some extreme fringe issue, take the most asinine ridiculous position possible, then find an area where he can get elected on that and run there.

Nowadays his number one target audience is Muslim communities who he targets with a mix of leftists social messaging, anti-Israeli hot takes (he doesn't actually give a fuck about Palestine) and "anti-imperialist" stuff where NATO is the empire and thus by default anything anti NATO is good.

He's basically a leftist Farage, and just like Farage, I can tell you with absolutely certainty that Galloway is fully aware of what he is doing.

Hmms... but has Galloway always been a grifter? Ok, maybe bad example. Either way: tankies and campies are woefully out of tune if they're onside with Putin. Learning Mandarin would be the obvious option

[diller]

European leftism lives on hatred for NATO. They are either neutral or pro-Russia just by inertia, nevermind who might be funding them.

That is the super minority left wing, the kind that isn't progressive at all basically hard-line communists - at least where I live there aren't many of them and they have zero representation in our parliament even though we have one very left wing party.

The resistance against NATO was always split on the left, there were the people that just favored the Soviets and then there were against American imperialism.