Looking more and more like Putin has given the order for Ukraine to be liquidated:

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...source=twitter

A-raping we will go

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...war-in-ukraine

Zelenskyy five weeks ago on the day before the invasion, Zelenskyy yesterday visiting the Bucha mass graves

Yeah that's harsh. Still not going grey though.

I can't believe it has gotten this bad and the world is just doing nothing (other than sanctions) . The world hasn't stood up and said NOT ON MY WATCH.

By this bad, I mean it's gone from a war to straight genocide. There's not even any question of motives or if the invasion is justified in any twisted way any more. It's a human catastrophe.

I mean, I get it - Russia has nukes.

It just makes you consider what would have happened if Germany had gotten nukes ready in time in WWII.

(disclaimer: yes, and that nations are addicted to RU energy is a factor)

The problem with this war is it's exactly what the US and the UN left the door open to with the war in Iraq. Obviously the US has a long history of inappropriate behaviour in sovereign nations. But much of that was at the sub-state level and also some time ago, when everyone was pretty much getting up to that kind of business.

Any time the UN attempts to hold Russia accountable, Russia just needs to start rolling out the atrocities that occurred in Iraq. How many hundreds of thousands of civilians dead?

And with the West's long history of colonialism and racism, any attempts to differentiate can be written off as just another colonial story. When the West does it, it's fine, when it's anyone else, it's the act of monsters.

We've always got a special reason that justifies our acts, the atrocities. Putin is literally trolling the West with the name of his invasion.

This is what happens when you lose moral authority.

Dammit, I was gonna use this meme, but forgot.

Whoa whoa WHAT THE FUCK

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1511664812719235073

I'd trust but verify. Ukraine are 100% crushing it with information warfare. And as old lolspeed says 'who cares about facts'


HOW GOOD ARE FACTS!!??!!

The vehicle exists. Google for "(812) 230 08-75". Looks to be used for livestock.

The question is if it has been brought into Ukraine and if so its purpose

There was talk early on about the Russians bringing in mobile crematoriums to hide troop causalities. But who really knows.

There was a report interviewing a Ukrainian who had stayed in a region with the Russian occupiers, she commented how soldier's stopped her at gunpoint while providing milk for a neighbour. Her report was they asked about her husband, then went and talked on the radio. One soldier says to the other "this isn't her" and they let her go.

Which seems typical of an approach to genocide. Identifying certain civilians for execution, which is easier manage and hide than wholesale murder.

Interview of Petraeus from mid March:

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/15/o...gen/index.html

Germany has satellite image indication of Russian involvement in Bucha killings -security source

Tell me that this doesn't scare the shit out of you.

That thing that we all said "never again" about? Yeah, it's happening again.

Pink Floyd reunite with Andriy Khlyvnyuk (BoomBox) filling in for Syd.

Yeah, that's genocide, with no extra steps.

Public service announcement. If any of you are sent an intriguing link with text inviting you to view A VIDEO THAT WILL SHOCK YOU, please be aware that early this morning a clip started circulating on the shittiest bits of the Internet that appears to be a Russian soldier raping a very small child. Do not click.

Thanks for the heads up. I don't usually click these anyway because they are either
1 - Really lame clickbait shit
2 - Scam/dodgy shit
3 - Would really be shocking and I have no interest in that shit.

.

There are reports the Russian Black Sea fleet flagship, the cruiser Moskva, has been heavily damaged (possibly sunk) by Ukrainian anti-ship missiles. Ouch :eek:

The US are delivering some serious weapon systems to Ukraine. The counter-battery radar systems might at least protect cities Putin can't take from simply being levelled.

Perhaps the Russian warship fucked itself!

Despite a lot of talk of this being evidence of the advanced weapons Ukraine are fielding, I think it's more likely it's an old, inadequately maintained ship finally having the catastrophic failure that more than a few Russian sailors saw coming.

Advanced weapons aren't even necessary. 20 years ago the Millennium Challenge 2002 wargame proved that capital ships are floating coffins. A billion-dollar cruiser or carrier against 999 $20 air or water drones and one $10,000 explosive drone is a win for the drones.

sorry I forgot that the first rule of Millennium Challenge 2002 is that the US Navy has ordered us not to talk about what happened during Millennium Challenge 2002

The fact that Russian talking heads have been threatening retaliation against Kiev on state TV suggests it wasn’t an accident.

The flagship of the Black Sea fleet going down is quite the bloody nose.

https://www.youtube.com/c/Taskandpurpose

Despite being a bit "youtube-y" this guy has been putting out some really interesting content focusing on the military dynamics at play, covers a range of topics to russian military doctrine, specific weapons systems and tactics that have been effective etc etc.

I've heard Russia is threatening Ukraine with war. (Seriously.)

Yeah, a war declaration does seem absurd. It enables them to justify full mobilisation and conscription.

I suppose Putin has a few different options for how to spin the failure of the Special Operation.

I have to wonder if the sinking of the Moscow will galvanise Russian military leaders for the cause against Ukraine, or only increase the doubt they have in the actual competence of their forces.

I'm sure that in Russia there's no mention of a flagship sinking, it will be an innovative new multi-mode naval operation demonstrating above-water / below-water transition capabilities.

That was a good read - ta.

Would be a great opportunity for everyone to say we don't need Putin's carbon shit.

Could also be the ultimate peace talk

Could also be a good time to clap the bastard in irons and try him for war crimes! Yeah I know, but one can dream.

Came across this video from a lifetime ago in Ukraine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnSKSPwKzDE

Skip to 2:10 for the fun bit. Feels real sad tho for some reason.

Playing poker with a Russian last night. He came to NZ 4ish years ago. Community type, manages a local soccer team, goes with his kids to sea scouts, etc.

He says he saw the writing on the wall, figured he better get out. Whether he really saw something or it was a lucky guess, we conceded his timing was impeccable.

He was chip lead when he lost consciousness.

I recently saw images of a T-72 turret lodged in the kitchen and dining room of an 8th floor apartment.

^^ Ahh - I'd heard the term “jack-in-the-box” flaw, and now it makes sense.

But the efficiency and cost-saving of one less crew member!

Think of the rubles we can stea... save for mother Russia!

I dunno - seems like three crew members in both cases?
Looking at the Russian drone construction, seems like more of a general design philosophy issue than a crew issue.

What was that old adage about the space pen vs pencil :)