Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #4

[Arkay]

I understand what you’re saying, but end it how?

It seems to me it’s one man against pretty much the rest of the world, apart from some similarly badass dictatorships.

That's a very good question. And my answer is that I don't know. Do we even know why it started??

Sure. Short version:
There’s a man with a grudge. He had a rough childhood and found some power as a KGB agent posted to East Germany. The Berlin Wall fell and he went back to the USSR. Boris Yeltsin appointed him president when Yeltsin stepped down. Then the man won the next election. He felt Yeltsin had been weak to step down and determined he himself would hold onto power in any way he could.

This man, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, has, using assorted devious means, been president or Prime Minister of Russia for 22 years and counting.

This man wants all his toys back. Russia is not enough. He wants the Soviet Union to be reconstituted. He wants to be Czar.

Awhile ago he took Crimea. The democratic world didn’t like it, but nothing of consequence happened to him. So now he’s ready. He concocted outlandish excuses, like all tyrants, to do what he wants wherever and whenever he wants.

In Putin’s mind, Ukraine is his baby. He set out to take candy from this baby. But this baby is fighting back. So now he’s even more angry.

Til now, Navolny has been his biggest thorn in the flesh. But now there’s Zelenskyy. This Zelenskyy has poked the bear, for the whole globe to witness.

Putin is
69 now. He decided the time was now. And he won’t back down. He will say he is liberating Ukraine, even after every Ukrainian is lying dead on the ground.

Tyrants are tyrannical.

JMO and historical fact.

 

[LadyL]

How successive U.S. administrations resisted arming Ukraine

 

[LadyL]

Ukraine says Russia steps up shelling of residential areas

 

[Charlot123]

It is so frustrating. You can't make deals with the devil! I think it's obvious Putin is the devil. He has no scruples, no compassion, and no humane traits. He's not going to stop or backdown regardless of what this is doing to the Ukrainians or his Russian countrymen. We all recognize the bravery and patriotism of the Ukrainians, but I think it's time to end this mass destruction. It seems to me the battle has become one between two men against each other. At this point there won't be a winner. Ukraine is being leveled and people in Russia are being punished with all the withdrawals from them.
It was reported Putin had relocated his family to a nuclear protected area. If this is true, it tells me nuclear attack is still an option for him. Putin is not being held accountable for his war crimes so he continues to do them. He sounds to me like a desperate person who has nothing to lose and will stop at nothing. God, Family, Country....

Well, Putin went to a Soviet school, and in Soviet schools, we were taught physics. It is obvious that bunker or no bunker, life on earth is impossible after a nuclear war. Regardless of the winners. He must understand it.

So maybe, just maybe, Putin’s generals lied to him and said that there was a way to destroy the West without harming Russia. Some lie about “super-weapons”, or such. Would they believe it themselves? Well, for one, they are military people, not nuclear physicists. But first and foremost, Shoigu has been in the corridors of power since 1990, ascended up the ladder, meaning his neck is super-flexible, and he knows what news to bring to his boss.

Shoigu and Gerasimov: Masters of Putin's wars

Sergei Shougu is considered to be the “master of the modernization” of the Russian army. Even considering that Russia inherited most of the Soviet Union institutions (and the Soviet Union used to be called “Upper Volta with the rockets”), Putin had enough petrodollars for modernization, and I assume he gave the funds to his generals. But even this war shows that a lot has been stolen. And then, likely, the trusted men persuaded Putin that he had the best army in the world.

If the time has come to end this war (and I doubt anyone will do it now, but people may be weighing pros and cons), then there’d better be a good plan of handling the postwar situation, long-term, because this new agglomeration will not survive forever, but it might live for a while. And this calls to newer, better politicians, intelligence and diplomats.

 

[LadyL]

Britain pledges $100 million to help keep Ukrainian state running

 

[Turkeytrot]

The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent)

️Hacking group Anonymous interrupts Russian state TV programs with footage of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and an anti-war message.

It claims to have accessed TV channels “Russia 24”, “Channel 1”, “Moscow 24”, & streaming services Wink and Ivi. https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1500631918584467464?s=20&t=jYfKrB_p2SPJV-i7OJ5tEA

 

[LadyL]

NATO could implement measures to isolate Putin now: ANALYSIS

 

[escape2sc]

I watched Winter on Fire last night. It is a documentary about the Maidan Revolution in Ukraine during 2013 and 2014. Students peacefully protest after Ukraine's President did not sign the agreement to join the EU like he promised. Thousands joined the protests. The documentary covers the situation for 9 months. It is a great example of the courage and determination of the Ukrainian citizens fight for freedom. The docu is on Netflix and is free to watch on Youtube

 

[Lilibet]

IMO Every decision these world leaders have to make is like one step on a tightrope over an abyss.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/06/politics/us-officials-action-ukraine/index.html
US officials identify 3 areas where US may take action soon on Ukraine - CNNPolitics

Ban on Russian oil imports
Biden, who is spending the weekend at his home in Delaware, convened a phone call Saturday with top members of his administration to discuss a potential ban on Russian oil imports, Blinken said, a step that has been under consideration at the White House since last last week.
"We are now talking to our European partners and allies to look in a coordinated way at the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil, while making sure that there is a still an appropriate supply of oil on world markets," Blinken said. "That's a very active discussion as we speak."

 

[Charlot123]

How successive U.S. administrations resisted arming Ukraine

Honestly, I think there were few moments that could be used, but one was missed by Obama. It had to do with MH17

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 - Wikipedia

This is exactly the moment Obama had missed. But of course, everyone is still afraid of nukes.

 

[Turkeytrot]

Hope these are okay to share.
My favorite local photographer shared some awesome pictures from Pittsburgh, lit up for Ukraine.

Log into Facebook | Facebook

 

[JerseyGirl]

Update:

A Russian government plane carrying Russian diplomats expelled by the United States has left New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport en route to Moscow, according to Flight Radar24 data.

RSD88 Special Flight Detachment Rossiya Flight Tracking and History 06-Mar-2022 (KJFK-VKO / UUWW) - FlightAware

Will it go up and around Norway, Sweden, and Finland again?

Live updates: Russia invades Ukraine

 

[PommyMommy]

Russia-Ukraine war: Mariupol evacuation halted for second day; Vinnytsia regional airport completely destroyed – live | World news | The Guardian
4h ago 09:24

Zelenskiy: 'We will punish everyone who committed atrocities'
In an address this evening, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, “We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will punish everyone who committed atrocities in this war.”


Shaun Walker on Twitter
Written down like this Zelenskiy’s address tonight reads like a powerful poem.

 

[Tiff23fr]

'A major breaking point': Echoes of the Cold War reverberate in the West's standoff with Russia

The Cold War emerged more gradually than the current crisis, and over time the two sides developed de facto codes of conduct and, eventually, elaborate arms control treaties, according to Sarotte.

But the current standoff represents uncertain territory without mutually accepted “rules of the game,” and a volatile Russian leader ready to flout international norms.

 

[PommyMommy]

Russia-Ukraine war: Mariupol evacuation halted for second day; Vinnytsia regional airport completely destroyed – live | World news | The Guardian
3h ago 09:49

Here are some images from protests against the Russian invasion, from around the globe this weekend.

Santiago:

Demonstrators in Chile Photograph: Alberto Valdés/EPA

Cardiff:

Demonstration in Cardiff, Wales Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

Mexico City:

Demonstrators in Mexico City. Photograph: Gustavo Graf Maldonado/Reuters

Paris:

Demonstration in Paris Photograph: Jerome Gilles/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

New York:

Protest in New York Photograph: Milo Hess/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock

 

[whiterhino]

That's a very good question. And my answer is that I don't know. Do we even know why it started??

Putin claims to see NATO alliances as a threat. Not sure what prompted this particular invasion as this has been going on and off for many years.

Here's my question: Why did Ukraine leave their nuclear plants so vulnerable and open to being attacked? Not to mention water supplies and transportation. Who is in charge of their military strategies? Then we see footage of Russian soldiers who have been held captive and appear to have no idea why they're there on the ground. IMO these soldiers are the "frontline", disposable in Putins eyes. We know this by the "mobile crematorium".

When you compare images of Hitler ranting side by side to Putin, they both have that swollen face and cheek situation going on. ITA with those here who suspect there are some underlying health issues but IMO it's secondary to Putins' motivations. Perhaps his mental/physical health are contributing to his decision making? However, the same could be said of many world leaders. They all drink cognac and smoke cigars together in leather club chairs. Who really knows what's going on?!

 

[whiterhino]

'A major breaking point': Echoes of the Cold War reverberate in the West's standoff with Russia

This has been my fear since the news broke. Makes me wish I was one of those extreme coupon hoarding people. Stockpile whatever you can.

After the protests in India last year, I look at so many things differently. I can't drink a cup of tea or eat a bowl of rice without feeling slightly guilty anymore.

Everything we have, we owe to keeping peace with one another

 

[PommyMommy]

[URL='https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/mar/06/russia-ukraine-war-biden-and-zelenskiy-discuss-more-support-for-ukraine-as-visa-mastercard-pull-out-of-russia-live']Russia-Ukraine war: Mariupol evacuation halted for second day; Vinnytsia regional airport completely destroyed – live | World news | The Guardian[/URL]
3h ago 23:15

Britain to provide $100m to Ukraine through the World Bank
Prime minister Boris Johnson’s office said Britain will provide $100 million to Ukraine (75.6 million pounds) through the World Bank, Reuters reports:

The UK is seeking to keep core state functions running and mitigate financial pressures caused by Russia’s invasion, Johnson’s office said.

Britain has sought a central role in the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by providing defensive military aid, arguing for tougher sanctions again the Kremlin and offering financial support.

Nevertheless, Johnson’s government has faced criticism that its sanctions have been too slow and its refugee programme underwhelming.

The latest round of cash, which is in addition to $290.95 million (220 million pounds) pledged already, could be used to pay public-sector workers in Ukraine or fund pension and social security payments, British authorities said.

The UK is also pushing new legislation on Monday that aims to speed up the sanctions process.

 

[fred&edna]

More than 4,300 people were detained at anti-war protests across Russia as President Vladimir Putin vowed to press ahead with his invasion of Ukraine unless Kyiv surrendered.

 

[Knitty]

How to Support Ukraine on Etsy
If you want to directly contribute to Ukraine citizens,

1. Search “digital files” on Etsy.com.
2. Click the “All Filters” button and scroll down to “Country.”
3. Under “Custom,” enter Ukraine.

The results will include all digital files created and sold by Ukraine-based Etsy sellers. Once you purchase an item, the file will immediately become available for download. The transaction allows Ukrainian sellers to earn money without having to produce anything new during this tough time.

Want to Help the People of Ukraine? How to Support Them Via Etsy

That's just brilliant, thank you!