Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022

[Fika]

“
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on Thursday, Swedish pharmacies have noticed an increase in sales of medicines. Especially iodine preparations, which protect against radioactive substances, have been consumed and are completely sold out at Apotea, writes Sydsvenskan.

Iodine can be taken in conjunction with radioactive releases to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer. The County Administrative Board, for example, distributes iodine tablets to people who live within 12-15 kilometers of a nuclear power plant.

Apotea's CEO Pär Svärdson, tells the newspaper that sales of iodine products increased by 38,000 percent after the Russian invasion.

- Everything sold out at once. Our buyers have contacted the medicine companies to supplement, but everything is over there as well, Pär Svärdson continues.

Sales of prescription drugs also increased by 30 percent compared with last week at Apotea. (TT)”

Rusning efter jodtabletter efter rysk attack – Supernytt – Aftonbladet live

I’m surprised that is happening honestly. I talked to my bf that maybe we should buy some yesterday and it looks like I’m not the only one think that . I thought I was !

 

[sunshineray]

‘It’s not rational’: Putin’s bizarre speech wrecks his once pragmatic image

Looking dead-eyed into the camera on Friday, Vladimir Putin gave one of the most bizarre speeches of his 22 years as Russia’s leader, a directive that managed to sound alarming even in a week when he has ordered tanks into Ukraine and missile strikes on Kyiv.

“Once again I speak to the Ukrainian soldiers,” he said, addressing his enemy. “Do not allow neo-Nazis and Banderites to use your children, your wives and the elderly as a human shield. Take power into your own hands. It seems that it will be easier for us to come to an agreement than with this gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis.”

The speech seemed to be ripped from an alternate reality – or from the second world war, where Putin appears to be spending more of his time as he launches the kind of broad military offensive not seen in Europe for nearly 70 years.

All this week, Putin’s megalomaniacal tendencies have been on display like never before. He has summoned his aides for a surreal national security council that resembled a television reality show and launched tirades about Lenin and decisions made nearly 100 years ago.

(...)

But Putin’s unhinged appearances and apparent drive to war have raised questions of whether he remains a rational leader.

“Despite Crimea and everything else, Putin had always seemed an extremely pragmatic leader to me,” said Tatyana Stanovaya, the founder of R.Politik. “But now when he’s gone in this war against Ukraine, the logic in the decision is all about emotions, it’s not rational.”

Those emotions are deeply rooted in history and the historical injustices suffered by Russia. Dmitry Muratov, the editor of Novaya Gazeta, said he saw Putin as a man with “a historical map in his mind and a plan to use his military to achieve it”.

(...)

What's going on inside Putin's mind? His own words give us a disturbing clue | Michel Eltchaninoff

The Russian president’s dangerous sense of victimhood draws on 20th-century ideas of his country’s frustrated potential

(...)

It is necessary, then, to understand that what is actually happening in Ukraine is the result of a vision of Russia that is deeply embedded in the mind of Putin. In 2008, he punished Georgia for its desire to leave the orbit of the old imperial power. In 2014, he annexed Crimea and prevented Ukraine from joining Nato by starting the Donbas conflict. But that is not enough for him. He wants a confrontation with – and a victory over – a west that he holds responsible for the fall of the Soviet Union, for the weakness of Russia in the 1990s, and for the autonomous tendencies of the old Soviet republics.

(...)

What should we think of this perpetual sense of victimhood that allows the Russian president to artificially create situations in which Russia appears humiliated and insulted? Are these the actions of a rational leader? The answer is both simple and worrying. Putin has developed, over decades, a vision of the world that is paranoid but coherent. According to this vision, Russia has for centuries been the victim of an attempt to contain and dismember it. These attempts must be resisted. The logic of this is based on a belief that Russia’s passionarnost (a “bio-cosmic” inner energy or passionate substance) must not be constrained.

(...)

I read the above and this song by the Young Rascals just pops into my head. Russia's problems, IMO, have always been tied to it's leaders who want to supress and control it's people's mind and hearts. People really do just want to make the choices that affect and effect their lives. It's a no-brainer.

"All the world over, so easy to see
People everywhere just wanna be free
Listen, please listen, that's the way it should be
There's peace in the valley, people got to be free...

Hear the shoutin' from the mountains on out to the sea
No two ways about it, people have to be free
Ask me my opinion, my opinion will be,
It's a natural situation for a man to be free"

 

[Bit of hope]

Navo stuurt meer versterkingen naar oostelijke lidstaten, Rusland bedreigt Finland en Zweden

NATO sends more reinforcements to eastern member states, Russia threatens Finland and Sweden

NATO countries are sending further military reinforcements east in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This was announced by the national leaders of the member states after a virtual meeting on Friday. Meanwhile, Russia threatens Finland and Sweden with "political and military consequences" if they join NATO.

The deployment of additional military resources involves elements of the NATO Response Force, NATO's rapid reaction force, which will be deployed for the first time this week in the context of collective defense.

The special NATO summit was attended by the EU and Finland and Sweden. The presence of those two countries provoked a threat to both countries from a spokeswoman for the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday. Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries. Their accession to NATO could have negative military and political consequences.' What the !!!

 

[sunshineray]

Navo stuurt meer versterkingen naar oostelijke lidstaten, Rusland bedreigt Finland en Zweden

NATO sends more reinforcements to eastern member states, Russia threatens Finland and Sweden

NATO countries are sending further military reinforcements east in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This was announced by the national leaders of the member states after a virtual meeting on Friday. Meanwhile, Russia threatens Finland and Sweden with "political and military consequences" if they join NATO.

The deployment of additional military resources involves elements of the NATO Response Force, NATO's rapid reaction force, which will be deployed for the first time this week in the context of collective defense.

The special NATO summit was attended by the EU and Finland and Sweden. The presence of those two countries provoked a threat to both countries from a spokeswoman for the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday. Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries. Their accession to NATO could have negative military and political consequences.' What the !!!

Exactly...and how ludicrous is it for them to say Sweden and Finland, "should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries"!! That's exactly what Putin and his military morons are doing!!! How can these generals even think being attached to that kind of rhetoric and the actions attached to it can wind up ending well for them? Is there not a free-thinker among them or are they all just bots?

 

[sunshineray]

“
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on Thursday, Swedish pharmacies have noticed an increase in sales of medicines. Especially iodine preparations, which protect against radioactive substances, have been consumed and are completely sold out at Apotea, writes Sydsvenskan.

Iodine can be taken in conjunction with radioactive releases to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer. The County Administrative Board, for example, distributes iodine tablets to people who live within 12-15 kilometers of a nuclear power plant.

Apotea's CEO Pär Svärdson, tells the newspaper that sales of iodine products increased by 38,000 percent after the Russian invasion.

- Everything sold out at once. Our buyers have contacted the medicine companies to supplement, but everything is over there as well, Pär Svärdson continues.

Sales of prescription drugs also increased by 30 percent compared with last week at Apotea. (TT)”

Rusning efter jodtabletter efter rysk attack – Supernytt – Aftonbladet live

I’m surprised that is happening honestly. I talked to my bf that maybe we should buy some yesterday and it looks like I’m not the only one think that . I thought I was !

Right after 911 we brought some of those because the buzz was dirty bombs maybe be next and we're close enough to NYC to have that be a concern. We got ours in the mail...maybe try Amazon? IOSAT was the brand, I think you can still get them online, no prescription necessary.

 

[sunshineray]

Control of the media...they need some Anonymous hackers to start their own broadcasting...of the truth.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ASLuhn/status/1497517448248979457

 

[Bit of hope]

The Netherlands has already 200 soldiers in Lithouwen, joining the NATO troops and are sending 70 more. To me it seems a small contribution, but I'm happy to see things are done. They also are regrouping approx. 1500 military personnel making them prepared. Of course we are a tiny little country.....Russia is 400! times bigger then the Netherlands.

ETA

 

[sunshineray]

5 mins ago...

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Russians to pressure the Kremlin to stop the war in Ukraine immediately. Speaking in his native Russian, rather than his usual addresses in Ukrainian, Zelensky thanked the prominent Russians who have expressed their opposition to the invasion, and said the Kremlin's war would result in thousands of Russian casualties.

Addressing Russian Youtuber Yury Dud, Novaya Gazeta editor and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dmitry Muratov, and singer Valery Meladze, who had criticized the Kremlin, Zelensky said: “your conscience has been heard, and heard loudly.”

"We know that lots of Russians are shocked at the actions of their government. This is the right response."

Russia Attacks Ukraine: As It's Happening - The Moscow Times

 

[GRT]

I was watching RT (Russia Today, an English-language propaganda channel) earlier, on You Tube. It was almost as offensive as OANN, IMNSHO. Anyway, there was one of those crawls at the bottom of the screen that said that Russian media had been banned in Poland and Finland. Sure am glad the U.S. doesn't operate that way.

I think sometimes we fail to understand the world, culture, and norms people in other nations live under. We abhor media-banning and censorship. For them, it's just another day.

For anyone truly interested in the build-up to this war--a whole lot of history is available online from reputable universities, etc. It might be wise to steer clear from any news source that has a bias--either a bias to the right or a bias to the left. MediaBiasFactCheck is a good site for determining whether a source has a bias.

We can all hope and pray this is a short and localized war.

The victims of war don't care about ideology--they grieve lost family members and the destruction of their homes.

I don't know how long this invasion will last--but it has the potential to escalate--so I hope other nations stay out of it.

 

[Bit of hope]

From the Dutch government on their official website
Russische aanval op Oekraïne: ontwikkelingen in en rondom Oekraïne

Some pieces:
Ukraine. On 26 February , the cabinet informed the House of Representatives about the current situation in Ukraine, the Dutch positions, Dutch support for Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia in an EU context. These are a number of important points from the letter to parliament.

The Russian armed forces have bombed targets across Ukraine with missiles and planes, including in cities such as Kharkiv and Odesa and Kyiv's main airport. From Russia, Belarus and Crimea – illegally annexed by Russia – Russian armed forces have embarked on a large-scale military offensive.

This raid is another step in the escalation that began with a major build-up by Russia of troops and equipment on Ukraine's borders.

An uncertain and dangerous time has come for Ukrainians. At the time of the publication of the letter to parliament, an estimated 137 Ukrainian citizens have been killed and 316 injured. Ukrainians en masse are looking for a safe haven, in Ukraine itself, but also abroad.

The cabinet condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. Despite all international calls to de-escalate and opt for diplomacy, Moscow has knowingly opted for a large-scale military intervention. Russia is thus committing a cowardly act of aggression against the Ukrainian people, whom Moscow has consistently claimed to be a brother nation.

It is clear to the cabinet that Russia, and Russia alone, is responsible for this invasion and for the great humanitarian, economic, political and social toll it takes on the Ukrainian population. There is no justification whatsoever for this use of violence.

The cabinet emphasizes that this invasion is the work of the Russian government, not the Russian population. In recent weeks, the Kremlin has also fooled the Russian people into thinking they have no plans to invade Ukraine. The Russian invasion is unacceptable and cannot go unanswered.

The cabinet is also looking at the facilitating role Belarus plays in Russia's aggression. This aid is contrary to international law.

etc.

 

[GRT]

Today is day 3 of that nightmare.
I feel like many of you ..helpless. I haven’t had a good night of sleep since Thursday constantly thinking about poor people of Ukraine. Watching President of Ukraine makes me want to cry I can’t see his face without sobbing. I wish I could do something. I wish someone send them weapons to protect themselves.
As a European I’m so angry more then anything. Putin has been a bully for such long time and now it seems as he completely lost it, not that he ever had it very together in a first place but now seems different somehow . I’m worried about our future in the EU who is going to be next? Is he going to grab countries one by one? At least the ones not part of NATO and Union.
As of now I signed up to organisations helping refugees. I will volunteer when it’s needed. The least I can do for now.

Volunteering to help refugees is a wonderful thing to do! They will need all the help and support they can get.

 

[AliceInPain]

sbm

I think sometimes we fail to understand the world, culture, and norms people in other nations live under. We abhor media-banning and censorship. For them, it's just another day.

No. My grandparents were Russian and my grandfather deserted from the Russian (Soviet) army. I have relatives there.
They "abhor media-banning and censorship" as much as anyone else.
This is not their war.
They can say nothing, and it's not "just another day."

 

[sunshineray]

"We know that there have been numerous anti-war demonstrations in Russia and a host of Russian celebrities and influencers have shown their opposition to the war on their social media accounts.

Now an adviser to the Kremlin - Andrey Kortunov, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) - has told the BBC his advice was that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was not justifiable.

He said many of his colleagues in the foreign ministry were also “very surprised, shocked and even devastated” to see what was happening..."

Ukraine live updates: Kyiv under attack as missile strikes hit capital - BBC News

 

[Mo Thuairim]

France seizes Russian cargo ship in Channel

The French navy has intercepted a cargo ship in the English channel bound for the Russian city of St Petersburg, the BBC has learned.

French officials told the BBC that the ship was intercepted in line with new EU sanctions and say it has been redirected to the northern port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer.

“A 127 meters long Russia cargo ship called the 'Baltic Leader' transporting cars has been intercepted overnight by the French Navy in the Channel and escorted to the Port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer in Northern France," the official said.

"It has been taken to the French port after a request by the French government because it is suspected of belonging to a company targeted by EU sanctions against Moscow. French boarder forces are currently investigating the cargo ship. Crew aboard the 'Baltic Leader' has been cooperating with French authorities.”

The Russian embassy in France is seeking explanations from the French authorities over the seizure, Russia's RIA news agency said.

Ukraine live updates: Kyiv under attack as missile strikes hit capital - BBC News

 

[Tigerlily81]

Navo stuurt meer versterkingen naar oostelijke lidstaten, Rusland bedreigt Finland en Zweden

NATO sends more reinforcements to eastern member states, Russia threatens Finland and Sweden

NATO countries are sending further military reinforcements east in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This was announced by the national leaders of the member states after a virtual meeting on Friday. Meanwhile, Russia threatens Finland and Sweden with "political and military consequences" if they join NATO.

The deployment of additional military resources involves elements of the NATO Response Force, NATO's rapid reaction force, which will be deployed for the first time this week in the context of collective defense.

The special NATO summit was attended by the EU and Finland and Sweden. The presence of those two countries provoked a threat to both countries from a spokeswoman for the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday. Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries. Their accession to NATO could have negative military and political consequences.' What the !!!

NATO should be sending these reinforcements to the Ukraine if they really want to stop all this somehow. This is just my opinion, but I feel like the longer that other world leaders and ours here in the U.S. let those poor people in the Ukraine fight alone it just reinforces Putin's beliefs that Russia is stronger than everyone and deserves to run the show. They can sanction him until the cows come home but he will respect that even less than doing nothing. You only face down a show of power with another equal show of power. Everytime the Ukrainian president goes live online I am just sobbing because nobody is sending real help to him and his people. It's just so wrong!

 

[sunshineray]

This is intrinsically sad and heartening at the same time.

Russia-Ukraine latest news: Zelenskiy says Putin’s plan ‘derailed’; captured Russian soldiers ‘don’t know why they are here’


Russia-Ukraine latest news: Zelenskiy says Putin’s plan ‘derailed’; captured Russian soldiers ‘don’t know why they are here’

 

[AliceInPain]

Whoah, I see even BBC News is quoting a Russian state-owned news agency, and delivers it as facts.

 

[sunshineray]

NATO should be sending these reinforcements to the Ukraine if they really want to stop all this somehow. This is just my opinion, but I feel like the longer that other world leaders and ours here in the U.S. let those poor people in the Ukraine fight alone it just reinforces Putin's beliefs that Russia is stronger than everyone and deserves to run the show. They can sanction him until the cows come home but he will respect that even less than doing nothing. You only face down a show of power with another equal show of power. Everytime the Ukrainian president goes live online I am just sobbing because nobody is sending real help to him and his people. It's just so wrong!

Some NATO countries are sending more aid, military supplies including, US I believe just approved to send another 300+ million in military and humanitarian aid

 

[sunshineray]

Whoah, I see even BBC News is quoting a Russian state-owned news agency, and delivers it as facts.

Most likely just as facts of what nonsense is being feed to the Russian people through their state-run media

 

[Tigerlily81]

Volunteering to help refugees is a wonderful thing to do! They will need all the help and support they can get.

That's so amazingly good of you to do! If everyone did what they could in a crisis then the world would be a much nicer place because of it. Every act of goodness is a positive no matter how big or small. I wish more understood that we are all humans and all in this world together.