Russia invades Ukraine *** READ RULES IN POST 6 BEFORE POSTING ***

[Reality]

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

This thread is about Ukraine and Russia. We do not need to bring US politics into it.

Also

STOP THE PERSONAL ATTACKS OR YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THIS THREAD!

 

[Montanalo]

A few personal "hot takes":

Probably the most impactful ways the US and NATO can "defend" Ukraine is

Continuing to choke the Russian economy and, more specifically, the oligarchs made rich by Putin AND...

Providing both defensive and offensive weaponery.

Sharing satellite and other intel with Ukraine​

Direct involvement by the US alone or in combination with NATO (and, by direct involvement, I mean troops on the ground and, more to the point, targeting Ruusian assets outside Ukraine) will unite Russians in a way Putin never could.

Putin was applauded, early in his tenure, by most Russians for his attempts to "lift" Russia to a similar global status level as the US. Now, he is generally disliked by all but a few power brokers.

Most Russians are fatalistic by nature and believe that even if Putin is removed, someone similar will replace him.

 

[nate dizzle]

A few personal "hot takes":

Probably the most impactful ways the US and NATO can "defend" Ukraine is

Continuing to choke the Russian economy and, more specifically, the oligarchs made rich by Putin AND...

Providing both defensive and offensive weaponery.

Sharing satellite and other intel with Ukraine​

Direct involvement by the US alone or in combination with NATO (and, by direct involvement, I mean troops on the ground and, more to the point, targeting Ruusian assets outside Ukraine) will unite Russians in a way Putin never could.

Putin was applauded, early in his tenure, by most Russians for his attempts to "lift" Russia to a similar global status level as the US. Now, he is generally disliked by all but a few power brokers.

Most Russians are fatalistic by nature and believe that even if Putin is removed, someone similar will replace him.

Exactly this. Right now his army is confused as to why they are even attacking Ukraine when they have done nothing to invite attack. They have no heart for the fight right now. If troops start coming in from other countries, that will change. The sanctions that are crippling their economy right now are going to have the entire country in full revolt if we keep up the pressure. Look how mad we are here about gas and inflation, then multiply that by a factor of around 10. Putin has slit his own throat, it's just going to take a little patience for him to bleed out.

 

[Montanalo]

Exactly this. Right now his army is confused as to why they are even attacking Ukraine when they have done nothing to invite attack. They have no heart for the fight right now. If troops start coming in from other countries, that will change. The sanctions that are crippling their economy right now are going to have the entire country in full revolt if we keep up the pressure. Look how mad we are here about gas and inflation, then multiply that by a factor of around 10. Putin has slit his own throat, it's just going to take a little patience for him to bleed out.

The rouble has de-valued about 45% in the last few weeks... imagine that kind of inflation in the states; there would be open revolt.

 

[nate dizzle]

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/g...-london-11646227312?reflink=mw_share_facebook


Someone alluded to paying someone to take Putin down from the inside, my guess is they're going to do it for free.

 

[CouchCoach]

A few personal "hot takes":

Probably the most impactful ways the US and NATO can "defend" Ukraine is

Continuing to choke the Russian economy and, more specifically, the oligarchs made rich by Putin AND...

Providing both defensive and offensive weaponery.

Sharing satellite and other intel with Ukraine​

Direct involvement by the US alone or in combination with NATO (and, by direct involvement, I mean troops on the ground and, more to the point, targeting Ruusian assets outside Ukraine) will unite Russians in a way Putin never could.

Putin was applauded, early in his tenure, by most Russians for his attempts to "lift" Russia to a similar global status level as the US. Now, he is generally disliked by all but a few power brokers.

Most Russians are fatalistic by nature and believe that even if Putin is removed, someone similar will replace him.

The Russian people have been living the ‘meet the new boss, same as the old boss” for over 3 generations.

 

[Reality]

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Exactly this. Right now his army is confused as to why they are even attacking Ukraine when they have done nothing to invite attack. They have no heart for the fight right now. If troops start coming in from other countries, that will change. The sanctions that are crippling their economy right now are going to have the entire country in full revolt if we keep up the pressure. Look how mad we are here about gas and inflation, then multiply that by a factor of around 10. Putin has slit his own throat, it's just going to take a little patience for him to bleed out.

Yep.

That last thing that needs to happen is for NATO to suddenly "John Wayne" into Ukraine.

Similar to what happened in Korea which triggered nearly 1,000,000 Chinese to come raining down on the heads of the UN Forces.

And now you have the threat of a nuclear exchange in the mix.

 

[rags747]

No fan of China, but It’s not personal just business.

 

[Roadtrip635]

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Curious how many countries would be ok with sending drones over to use for the Ukraines. Drones could play havoc with some of those russian convoys

 

[Roadtrip635]

 

[Roadtrip635]

Curious how many countries would be ok with sending drones over to use for the Ukraines. Drones could play havoc with some of those russian convoys

The obstacle would be training with different drones, currently they are using Turkish made drones. I saw a report yesterday that more Ukrainians have gone to Turkey for drone training, don't know how long that takes. They are getting more drones from Turkey as well.

 

[Roadtrip635]

 

[Roadtrip635]

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich confirms club is up for sale

Abramovich is under pressure to sell because should the U.K. government sanction him, Chelsea could be seized as an asset. He would be unable to put any funds into the club and any sale would become extremely complicated.

Sources have told ESPN that Abramovich is seeking around £3 billion ($2.24 billion) for the Blues but his ability to negotiate is severely hampered by the timing of his decision, apparently influenced by mounting pressure on the U.K. government to seize the assets of high-value Russian individuals with links to Russia president Vladimir Putin's regime following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Abramovich has always strenuously denied any ties to Putin but Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer publicly called on the government to impose sanctions on the Chelsea owner at Wednesday's session of Prime Minister's Questions.

"He is a person of interest to the Home Office because of his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices," said Starmer. "Last week [U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson] said Abramovich was facing sanctions. He later corrected the record to say he isn't. Well, why on Earth isn't he?"

Abramovich announced his intention to donate profits of any sale -- he bought the club for £140m in 2003 and is owed £1.514bn in loans -- to victims of the Ukraine conflict. "Moreover, I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated," continued Abramovich's statement. "The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/chelsea...ssure-grows-on-owner-roman-abramovich-sources

 

[Roadtrip635]

 

[Roadtrip635]

 

[Roadtrip635]

 

[rags747]

Curious how many countries would be ok with sending drones over to use for the Ukraines. Drones could play havoc with some of those russian convoys

And if any country outside of Ukraine sends drones to attack Russian convoys then Vlad should just stop messing around and send in the tactical nukes to those countries. The usual suspects have already done enough damage.