Russia invades Ukraine

[Technics 1210]

This war will continue for a few years, until, Trump is President again.

The parrots/puppets of MSM can regurgitate the headlines, but they lack insight. Insight? Make no mistake, Putin made his move because Biden is the weakest US president in memory, if not history. We all know it, no point denying bearers of MSM.

Trump 2024 - inshallah!

[bones]

Firstly, the Donbas puppet states have no legal status. Why don’t you ask Lord Haw Haw what happens when you abandon your own citizenship to act under an imaginary flag?

Secondly, do you think even 1% of Russian speaking residents of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions still support Russia now that it has “liberated” them by destroying their houses, businesses, workplaces and property?

As soon as Russia responded to its defeats at Kyiv and Kharkiv by demolishing the Donbas they ensured that what little support they had vanished in an instant. Actual (rather than imaginary) Nazis seem more like liberators than the Russians to the desperate people of Donbas now that the Russians have destroyed their lives.

Some of the stuff you type is so far from reality that I have to question do you watch any non-MSM coverage at all?

Look at the interviews Patrick Lancaster has done with civilians before and after the Russian invasion. You'll find that the majority are very happy to be liberated.

Russia was not defeated in Kyiv or Kharkiv, like many wars in the past armies will often make moves to fix opposing positions in place. Kyiv was exactly that. It was a fixing move that allowed the inferior forces that Russia had to strengthen their positions in the Donbas by getting supply lines in place.

You really don't know much about the military aspect do you?

How many forces do you think it takes to conquer a city the size of Kyiv? I'll give you a clue, it's a lot more than what Russia brought into Ukraine.

[Technics 1210]

So it is confirmed, Russia has halted gas supplies to Finland because Finland refused to pay in Rubles.

This must be a case of Russia not having the balls to shut the gas taps off.

[Gilly]

Most experts believe that Russia have lost between 22,000- 28,000 soldiers in the war in Ukraine.

That is a horrible loss of life.

[Reddy]

Russia announces mass delivery of strategic drones to Russian forces. Shoigu says this is in order to make targeting easier and for units to not have to rely on Russian Air Force to target the Ukrops with precision strikes. Every unit will now be able to do this themselves.

[Gilly]

Russia announces mass delivery of strategic drones to Russian forces. Shoigu says this is in order to make targeting easier and for units to not have to rely on Russian Air Force to target the Ukrops with precision strikes. Every unit will now be able to do this themselves.

Ukraine's use of drones has decimated the Russians. Hundreds of tanks have been lost to drones and many command centers have been hit by drones resulting in a high toll on the commanding officers.

[mazkhan]

So it is confirmed, Russia has halted gas supplies to Finland because Finland refused to pay in Rubles.

This must be a case of Russia not having the balls to shut the gas taps off.

Probably more in response that Finland has joined nato

[Reddy]

"95% of the territory of the Lugansk People's Republic is under the control of the People's Militia, the rest of the territory is currently being liberated"

-Andrey Marochko, representative of the defense department of the LPR

[bones]

Ukraine's use of drones has decimated the Russians. Hundreds of tanks have been lost to drones and many command centers have been hit by drones resulting in a high toll on the commanding officers.

Sounds like you think Ukraine are winning.

[Gilly]

Sounds like you think Ukraine are winning.

I dont think anyone is winning, thousands of people on both sides are dying. Everyone is losing.

[Technics 1210]

Probably more in response that Finland has joined nato

Please stop spreading lies. Finland is NOT a member of NATO, but has applied to become a member of NATO, soon to be vetoed. Show me proof Finland is a member of NATO? Do you have said proof? You see, your comment exemplifies the agenda of MSM - propaganda.

The fact Finland's application to NATO can be vetoed by other NATO members has nothing to do with Russia. Russia has no veto.

The point is Russia has the balls to turn off the gas taps. A smack in the face of MSM and their parroting minions. Why lie Finland is a member of NATO?

Stull laughing at the claim that Russia doesn't have balls.

[bones]

Ruble trading at 61 to the dollar. That’s significantly better that pre-war.

So Russia are winning the military war and the economic war.

[Technics 1210]

Ruble trading at 61 to the dollar. That’s significantly better that pre-war.

So Russia are winning the military war and the economic war.

Indeed. If you notice, not a single pro NATO/MSM has countered the Ruble/USD exchange rate, you know why? Cos MSM have not reported so. The power of sheeple power.

[Junaids]

Ruble trading at 61 to the dollar. That’s significantly better that pre-war.

So Russia are winning the military war and the economic war.

Indeed. If you notice, not a single pro NATO/MSM has countered the Ruble/USD exchange rate, you know why? Cos MSM have not reported so. The power of sheeple power.

The rouble is not floating any more - the Russian government has found an artificial rate by introducing exchange controls, banning the purchase of western currencies and making energy sales denominated in roubles.

So it’s a fake rate. It’s like me saying I’m the world heavyweight boxing champion!

[bones]

and making energy sales denominated in roubles.

So it’s a fake rate.

Why not ask for payment in rubles? The west have stolen/frozen Russian foreign reserves so what other choice was there?

It’s fake? Exchange and business sites would care to state otherwise.

[JaDed]

From an economic sanctions pov for now it seems Russia has easily weathered the storm off.. defense and strategic wise in 5 years if the citizens and entrepreneurs don’t work overtime it will end up disastrous for them once EU weaves off Russian gas.

Interesting times ahead for world order and tech, unfortunately lot of loss of human lives.

[Technics 1210]

The rouble is not floating any more - the Russian government has found an artificial rate by introducing exchange controls, banning the purchase of western currencies and making energy sales denominated in roubles.

So it’s a fake rate. It’s like me saying I’m the world heavyweight boxing champion!

Please stop, the Rubles is floated on the global FX markets.

FX = Forex

Stop spinning yarns. You have been proven wrong already.

[Technics 1210]

When Russian currency is stronger (defeating Western sanctions), the MSM respond is the Ruble is not traded on the International FX market. LIES!

The fear and propaganda is strong.

[Reddy]

The leader of Azov neo-Nazis has been taken from the Azovstal steel plant in a special armored vehicle due to the hatred of Mariupol residents for their numerous atrocities, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said on Friday.


"The so-called ‘commander’ of the Azov Nazis was transferred from the plant in a special armored vehicle because of Mariupol residents’ hatred and desire to execute him for numerous atrocities," he said.

[Reddy]

Head of the LPR: As part of the economic assistance to the Lugansk People's Republic, Russia has decided to build a modern asphalt plant in Lugansk.

Moscow specialists are already engaged in the main work on clearing the territory of the industrial zone. The production of raw materials at the new enterprise is planned to begin by mid-summer.

For the republic, this is an invaluable support, a new life in the construction and repair of roads. Taking into account the expansion of the borders of our state, the restoration of transport routes is becoming even more relevant and in demand. In the liberated territories of the LPR, Ukraine has not repaired tens of kilometers of coverage for decades.

[mazkhan]

Looks like the ukranian resistance is beginning to fall apart now in the donbas the heavy russian firepower is taking its toll

Hopefully they liberate the donbas and then move on odessa and mykoliv

[Reddy]

A lot of pilots died trying to break through to Azovstal - Zelensky

The President of Ukraine acknowledged that the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered significant losses among the flight crew, but could not organize an air corridor with the Azovstal plant in Mariupol

"A very large number of people died - our pilots ... Why? Because there were no air corridors to Azovstal because of Russia's powerful air defense," Zelensky said.

[mazkhan]

This war could have been avoided and s negotiated settlement could have been made

It seems nato and the zelensky and his nazi thugs deliberately sacrificed and destroyed ukraine they deliberately pushed the conflict.

I have a feeling zelensky will be fleeing ukraine like ashraf ghani in the near future .

[Reddy]

EU Gives OK To Pay For Russian Gas In Rubles

Russia has demanded that countries pay for its gas in rubles, although European governments have struggled to find a way to oblige Russia while not running afoul of sanctions. Further complicating matters—until now—was the EU’s lack of clarification on whether such an arrangement would violate the current sanctions.

On Friday, Germany and Italy both told companies that they could open up rubles accounts in order to purchase Russian gas, in line with President Vladimir Putin’s request.

As of last week, 20 companies in the EU had opened accounts at Gazprombank, while another 14 had asked for the necessary paperwork to open up accounts. Germany’s VNG had already opened up an account with Gazprombank.

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-N...In-Rubles.html

[JaDed]

Critics of Putin(including myself) need to accept he was weathered off the sanctions well and Ukraine is falling now.

Irrespective of how much funding goes in, Russia is doing well compared to last week.

Opec has shown they only care about money, the oil prices have done extremely well for Russia , can they survive in long haul can’t tell but they are winning the battle against West for now.

[bones]

Critics of Putin(including myself) need to accept he was weathered off the sanctions well and Ukraine is falling now.

Irrespective of how much funding goes in, Russia is doing well compared to last week.

Opec has shown they only care about money, the oil prices have done extremely well for Russia , can they survive in long haul can’t tell but they are winning the battle against West for now.

Independent journalists have been saying for 2 months. The economic war is the west shooting them selves in feet. It less to with what Russia can do and more to do with what the west can’t do. The European leaders especially are so incredibly reckless and stupid its barely believable. These countries rely heavily upon Russian energy and food and they thought sanctioning Russia was a smart move.

German industry was already suffering from the pandemic situation so how did the leaders think they could cope with Russian gas? There is simply no alternative available for the next few years so learn to live with Russia rather than further push them away.

Europe can’t survive without Russian supplies.

[Robert]

Critics of Putin(including myself) need to accept he was weathered off the sanctions well and Ukraine is falling now.

Irrespective of how much funding goes in, Russia is doing well compared to last week.

Opec has shown they only care about money, the oil prices have done extremely well for Russia , can they survive in long haul can’t tell but they are winning the battle against West for now.

The sanctions were unlikely to affect Putin for a long time. He is the world’s richest man, and his subordinate oligarchs have squirrelled his money away for him. Only the Russian people will suffer.

Sadly this war is about one dying man and his need for Tsarist legacy. A lot of people have died, many more will die and numerous others will live in misery before nature takes its course, the next Russian leader emerges and there is a ceasefire and negotiated settlement.

[mazkhan]

Independent journalists have been saying for 2 months. The economic war is the west shooting them selves in feet. It less to with what Russia can do and more to do with what the west can’t do. The European leaders especially are so incredibly reckless and stupid its barely believable. These countries rely heavily upon Russian energy and food and they thought sanctioning Russia was a smart move.

German industry was already suffering from the pandemic situation so how did the leaders think they could cope with Russian gas? There is simply no alternative available for the next few years so learn to live with Russia rather than further push them away.

Europe can’t survive without Russian supplies.

There is no cheap or readily available alternative than fossil fuels, even for farming you need fossil fuels for intensive production machinery fertilisers etc


This is what the green nutters are failing to tell the people the so called green alternatives are more expensive, can never meet the demand and capacity required that fossil fuels can achieve.

[Robert]

There is no cheap or readily available alternative than fossil fuels, even for farming you need fossil fuels for intensive production machinery fertilisers etc

This is what the green nutters are failing to tell the people the so called green alternatives are more expensive, can never meet the demand and capacity required that fossil fuels can achieve.

It depends where you are and what resources your nation has.

Norway and Sweden have already achieved carbon neutrality, through massive HEP production.

African nations can do the same with PV panel farms.

A nation with a lot of granite can use the “hot rocks” to generate geothermal.

UK is vulnerable to price changes in fossil fuels because it is not very sunny here, tidal power is not yet on line and we only have four nuclear reactors compared to, say, France’s twenty-six. But we are making 25% of our consumed power through renewables such as wind power and this will rise with offshore wind farms.

Despite this, I cut my electricity bill by 45% by installing PV panels.

We also use energy-from-waste: burning non-recyclables to drive turbines.

In the latter half of the 21st century, countries relying on fossil fuel to drive their economies will find themselves impoverished unless they switch to green technologies.

[Technics 1210]

Austria has now agreed to pay in Rubles for Russian oil.

Putin has out-maneuvered the West. Time to accept this fact.

[Technics 1210]

Oil isn't going anywhere. Ironically the USA will never allow oil to be displaced with electricity etc because the petrodollar depends on oil, plus the multi-billion oil companies would go broke. Remember the electric car was invented over 100 years ago.

Plus if every car switched to electric, it will require more energy just to supply the electricity to charge all vehicles.

Oil is here to stay.

[Reddy]

Kalibr missiles destroyed a large batch of weapons and equipment from the United States and Europe, delivered to a group of Ukrainian troops in the Donbass, the Russian Defense Ministry reports.

[Reddy]

Missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed storage facilities with fuel for armored vehicles of Ukrainian nationalists in the Odessa region.

- Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

[Technics 1210]

Germany now approves payment in Rubles for Russian oil.

It is clear the EU is a failed political union, and the cracks are showing. (Subhanallah the UK left the EU)

Love it.

[Reddy]

In order to distract the Ukrainian public from surrendering "Azov", the Kyiv regime continues to lie about the imminent counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the deblockade of the Lisichansk-Severodonetsk agglomeration.

The loss of Severodonetsk and Lysichansk by Kyiv will be regarded by the West as the beginning of the collapse of the Kyiv regime. For Kyiv, in turn, this may threaten a sharp reduction in military and economic assistance.

Now, from the field, they report that the Ukrainian General Staff is preparing Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Zaporozhye and Nikolaev for defense in depth.

They say the mayor of Dnepropetrovsk ordered to build at least four lines of defense around the city. There is no longer the bravado that "the best divisions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will stop the few Russian troops on the Donbass arc, and nothing threatens the Dnieper."

But as things show in practice, the allied forces are systematically driving the "best parts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" into the ground.

Now the Ukrainian units, which are surrounded in the Lisichansk-Severodonetsk agglomeration, understand better than anyone that there is no de-blockade for them and they are simply left to certain death.

[the Great Khan]

Well, that's depressing.

Watching Question Time, I can see obvious Tory plants in the audience, with Fiona Bruce returning to them for extra comments.

I remeber one member of staff commenting on how many eaton educated individuals she had met and that she couldnt understand some of their "slang"..she felt it was way more elite than she expected..the organisation is full of "climbers" who will cut your throat to get ahead..and if youre a minority forget about it..their retention levels are abysmal. I remeber seeing a laady from the black community in visible distress during a BAME meeting..i mean you could tell she was in trouble mentally..

[maverick85]

I'm curious as to Turkey's blocking of Sweden's and Finland's NATO applications.

It appears that Sweden has offended Ankara by supporting Kurdish dissidents and granting them asylum.

Ankara is walking a tightrope - selling large numbers of drones to Ukraine, while also purchasing Russian missile systems, and needs Russian oil and gas to support its tanking economy.

Presumably this move will provide leverage for Erdogan in his complex relationship with Putin.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...db00584feffb0d

Dissidents... Nice soft pedaling there. I'm not too familiar with the background but isn't that similar to pkk and the ira

[the Great Khan]

As I mentioned earlier the Russians will now start to make their push to take the majority of the east and then turn west to the river. They will then take a strategic pause , regroup, sort out their logistics and then head west. Odessa is now one to watch..if they take it in the next 8-13 weeks (if they launch an assault) Ukraine becomes landlocked..it will be very difficult for Zelensky to stay in control then..

[DeadlyVenom]

The sanctions were unlikely to affect Putin for a long time. He is the world’s richest man, and his subordinate oligarchs have squirrelled his money away for him. Only the Russian people will suffer.

Sadly this war is about one dying man and his need for Tsarist legacy. A lot of people have died, many more will die and numerous others will live in misery before nature takes its course, the next Russian leader emerges and there is a ceasefire and negotiated settlement.

We (UK, Europe) must take a lot of the blame.

We hyped up the Ukranians but have kept the Russian war machine alive with energy supply purchases.

Truly shameful.

The Ukranians should realise Europe has abandoned them and negotiate with Vlad.

Vlad similarly has been put into a trap. Using a hell of lot of resources in Ukraine only for NATO to now push into Russia's sphere via Sweden and Finland.

This was is unwinnable for both Russia and Ukraine.

[silentkiller187]

Russia has published a list of 963 Americans who have been "permanently banned" from entering the country in response to US sanctions related to the invasion of Ukraine.

Actor Morgan Freeman, 84, is among the names on the list, apparently as a result of appearing in a video clip in 2017 that accused the Russian government of meddling with American democracy.

Freeman narrated the promotional video for an organisation named The Committee to Investigate Russia, CNN reports.

The video was directed by filmmaker Rob Reiner, best known for movies including The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally, and he has also been added to the Kremlin's list.

Russia's foreign ministry said the people on the list "incite Russophobia".

It said: "We emphasise that the hostile actions taken by Washington, which boomerang against the United States itself, will continue to receive a proper rebuff.

"Russian counter-sanctions are forced and aimed at forcing the ruling American regime... to change its behaviour, recognising new geopolitical realities," it added.

Back in March, President Joe Biden was banned from entering Russia in response to the sanctions imposed against the country after the invasion of Ukraine.

The White House mocked the Russian sanctions by quipping that nobody was planning a holiday to Moscow and suggesting Vladimir Putin's regime had targeted the wrong Joe Biden.

Also put on the 13-name Kremlin "stop list" were Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, CIA chief William Burns, Lloyd Austin, the defence secretary, and Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, along with Hillary Clinton.

The longer list released on Saturday also includes Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and George Soros.

Alongside politicians from the opposite side of the US spectrum, from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Marjorie Taylor Greene, the list also includes several politicians who are dead.

https://news.sky.com/story/morgan-fr...ussia-12618533

[bones]

As I mentioned earlier the Russians will now start to make their push to take the majority of the east and then turn west to the river. They will then take a strategic pause , regroup, sort out their logistics and then head west. Odessa is now one to watch..if they take it in the next 8-13 weeks (if they launch an assault) Ukraine becomes landlocked..it will be very difficult for Zelensky to stay in control then..

I agree with your points but given the size of the country and the aid Ukraine is getting I think the timescales will be extended.

[Robert]

We (UK, Europe) must take a lot of the blame.

We hyped up the Ukranians but have kept the Russian war machine alive with energy supply purchases.

Truly shameful.

The Ukranians should realise Europe has abandoned them and negotiate with Vlad.

Vlad similarly has been put into a trap. Using a hell of lot of resources in Ukraine only for NATO to now push into Russia's sphere via Sweden and Finland.

This was is unwinnable for both Russia and Ukraine.

Don’t know what you mean by “hyped up the Ukrainians” DV.

Broadly speaking there are two paths a nation can take. The first is toward liberal democracy, with institutions which safeguard the rights of individual citizens who have the right to choose their own government. Europe and North America follow this model, which is safeguarded in the strong arms of the NATO alliance.

The other path is toward authoritarianism, where a strongman or one-party state has total control and individual rights are suppressed in re-education camps, detention without trial and even assassination. Russia, Iran, Syria and most notably China follow this path.

Putin openly invaded an EU-leaning and NATO-leaning European fledgling democracy. The West is giving that democracy the tools to defend itself.

He was very clever for twenty years in corroding and compromising those Western institutions and governments from within with oligarch money, interfering in elections with social media propaganda, and financial support for far right Western parties. The son of a KGB agent is in the UK House of Lords, for example. This would never have happened even a decade ago - but we are now ruled by people whose love of money exceeds their love of what actually makes UK a good place - liberal democracy.

Putin’s 2014 annexation of Donbas and Crimea was a masterstroke, achieved through political destabilisation, propaganda and covert invasion by soldiers not wearing insignia; all actions below the threshold which would activate a Western response.

But now, near the end of his life, emboldened by the rapid US retreat from Afghanistan, Putin has overreached. His military has moved openly - which has triggered a response from the West to defend a nation it sees as close to one of its own. Perhaps deluded by dreams of the Russian Empire, of Tsardom - he believed that his troops would be welcomed and regime change would be easy. Like the USA/ UK delusion that removal of one man in Iraq would see a default to democracy. But PutinÂ’s army faces an implacable opponent which simply will not give in, led by a man who has rapidly become an international statesman of skill.

Would I have seized oligarch assets? Yes. Would I have sanctioned the Russian state? No, that will only hurt the people.

Plenty of people on this thread shout for Putin from the sidelines of Western liberalism. They have that right, which is enshrined in democratic institutions. But the sidelines they stand on are, in the end, guarded by NATO soldiers. If they lived in Russia they could not post the same ideas - they would be disappeared off the street. And that’s why the West’s support for Ukraine is IMO good and right.

Liberalism vs authoritarianism. Pick your side. I have.

[Technics 1210]

Dad runs off with Ukrainian refugee 10 days after she arrived to family home.

A man has left his partner and the mum of his two children for a Ukrainian refugee who moved into their home just ten days before the split.

Tony Ganett, 29, left Lorna, 28, after falling for Sofiia Karkadym who had fled the horrors of her home town Lviv at the start of the conflict with Russia.

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news...ee-10-24025508

10 days is all it took for said dad to destroy his family. I bet he spent the government incentive for the taxi fare. Disgusting. On par with a war crime.

[Reddy]

The Russian army broke through the front line near Popasnaya and almost cut off the AFU grouping in Lisichansk and Severodonetsk - military analyst Tom Cooper

Cooper's new report is disappointing for the Kyiv regime due to the difficult situation for the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Popasna, which he called "the most critical". Because there is a critical breakthrough of the front line.

The RF Armed Forces are actively moving forward and have recently gained control over the settlement. Trypillya, Novaya Kamenka and are only 1-2 km from Soledar and Bakhmutsky, which threatens the critical road T1302 - the main supply artery of the fortified area of ​​the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Severodonetsk-Lysichansk. Moreover, the Russians expanded their breakthrough zone by capturing Lipovo and Vasilyevka north of Tripoli and west of Vrubovka. Also n.p. Vyskriva came under the control of the Russian Federation.

"In other words, the Russian troops are advancing north of Popasna, bypassing the Ukrainian forces entrenched in Kamyshevakh, Yekaterinovka and Gorny; they move without pause for respite or regrouping, leaving little time for Ukrainian units to react."

Cooper is also surprised by the carelessness of the Ukrainian command, which is on the defense of the settlement. Ternovoe (a strategically important direction) in the Shakhtyorsky district of the DPR sent only 1 battalion of the defense against the reorganized battalion group of the 200th motorized rifle brigade of Russia. As a result, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were completely defeated, and n.p. came under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.

[the Great Khan]

I agree with your points but given the size of the country and the aid Ukraine is getting I think the timescales will be extended.

Yes true..its a vast nation and I think the Russians underestimated the problems they were going to have. But i feel they now know what needs to be done. Once a large bulk of the Ukrainian armed forces breaks the rest will break up into smaller guerrilla groups..

[the Great Khan]

Don’t know what you mean by “hyped up the Ukrainians” DV.

Broadly speaking there are two paths a nation can take. The first is toward liberal democracy, with institutions which safeguard the rights of individual citizens who have the right to choose their own government. Europe and North America follow this model, which is safeguarded in the strong arms of the NATO alliance.

The other path is toward authoritarianism, where a strongman or one-party state has total control and individual rights are suppressed in re-education camps, detention without trial and even assassination. Russia, Iran, Syria and most notably China follow this path.

Putin openly invaded an EU-leaning and NATO-leaning European fledgling democracy. The West is giving that democracy the tools to defend itself.

He was very clever for twenty years in corroding and compromising those Western institutions and governments from within with oligarch money, interfering in elections with social media propaganda, and financial support for far right Western parties. The son of a KGB agent is in the UK House of Lords, for example. This would never have happened even a decade ago - but we are now ruled by people whose love of money exceeds their love of what actually makes UK a good place - liberal democracy.

Putin’s 2014 annexation of Donbas and Crimea was a masterstroke, achieved through political destabilisation, propaganda and covert invasion by soldiers not wearing insignia; all actions below the threshold which would activate a Western response.

But now, near the end of his life, emboldened by the rapid US retreat from Afghanistan, Putin has overreached. His military has moved openly - which has triggered a response from the West to defend a nation it sees as close to one of its own. Perhaps deluded by dreams of the Russian Empire, of Tsardom - he believed that his troops would be welcomed and regime change would be easy. Like the USA/ UK delusion that removal of one man in Iraq would see a default to democracy. But PutinÂ’s army faces an implacable opponent which simply will not give in, led by a man who has rapidly become an international statesman of skill.

Would I have seized oligarch assets? Yes. Would I have sanctioned the Russian state? No, that will only hurt the people.

Plenty of people on this thread shout for Putin from the sidelines of Western liberalism. They have that right, which is enshrined in democratic institutions. But the sidelines they stand on are, in the end, guarded by NATO soldiers. If they lived in Russia they could not post the same ideas - they would be disappeared off the street. And that’s why the West’s support for Ukraine is IMO good and right.

Liberalism vs authoritarianism. Pick your side. I have.

According to Yanis farouvakis liberalism is always amenable to fascism.

Your black and white either our way or the high way proclamation is rejected by the majority of the world who don't want to be dictated to by colonial powers that pretend they are democratic.

[Technics 1210]

The issue with liberalism is thus, if one doesn't agree with liberal views, then the liberals become fascists by forcing a 'liberal' stance on others, then judging said people.

Putin has exposed the liberal West in terms of MSM, Racism, Politics, Economy, and last but not least, socially.

[Robert]

=the Great Khan;11486091]According to Yanis farouvakis [B]liberalism is always amenable to fascism.

Did he? That makes no sense to me. The two are are polar opposites. I can't think of an example of it ever happening, though the Erdogans, Trumps, Orbans and Johnsons are having a go.

Your black and white either our way or the high way proclamation is rejected by the majority of the world who don't want to be dictated to by colonial powers that pretend they are democratic.

But I haven't said any of that GK. Have I? The world isn't black and white to me. Only fundamentalist religious types believe that. They prefer authoritarianism, which is why so many are Putin fans.

I asserted that individual freedom is more important that authoritarian state power. Liberalism only really took off after WW2, when the colonial era was coming to an end. The West often falls short of its lofty ideals, but at least it holds those ideals in place and attempts to reach them.

The alternative is authoritarianism, which has no such ideals and really is "our way or the high way".

Under which set of values would you choose to live? The freedom to choose your leaders, to confront your accuser in court, the right to life, the right of free movement, the right to marry whom you like, the right to worship or not worship? Or none of those things?

[Junaids]

According to Yanis farouvakis liberalism is always amenable to fascism.
.

The issue with liberalism is thus, if one doesn't agree with liberal views, then the liberals become fascists by forcing a 'liberal' stance on others, then judging said people.

.

This is the absurd level that we have reached.

Posters who admire authoritarians are arguing that “liberals” support Ukrainian “Nazis”.

It’s complete nonsense, akin to arguing that vegetarians eat too many cheeseburgers.

I’m a traditional liberal One Nation Tory - a Conservative who identifies as conservative on the economy and foreign policy and progressive on social policy.

[Technics 1210]

This is the absurd level that we have reached.

Posters who admire authoritarians are arguing that “liberals” support Ukrainian “Nazis”.

It’s complete nonsense, akin to arguing that vegetarians eat too many cheeseburgers.

I’m a traditional liberal One Nation Tory - a Conservative who identifies as conservative on the economy and foreign policy and progressive on social policy.

Absurdity is you claiming the Ruble is not floated when it strengthens, but is floated when it weakens.

Putin has exposed your hypocrisy, desperation, understanding, and bias.

[ElRaja]

We (UK, Europe) must take a lot of the blame.

We hyped up the Ukranians but have kept the Russian war machine alive with energy supply purchases.

Truly shameful.

The Ukranians should realise Europe has abandoned them and negotiate with Vlad.

Vlad similarly has been put into a trap. Using a hell of lot of resources in Ukraine only for NATO to now push into Russia's sphere via Sweden and Finland.

This was is unwinnable for both Russia and Ukraine.

nations are built on stories and narratives, and whilst putin can claim that ukraine is a Bolshevik invention, it may well have been, but the events of the last three months will have forced an indelible impression on ukrains national identity, even those who saw russians as the same people wont, ever again.

the west props ukraine up through billions of dollars in aid, Russia cannot replace that, the west promises the Ukrainian people western liberalism, Russia cant replace that. the most likely acceptable plan would have been independence of the donbas, but now that would seem like a tiny prize for the cost russia has paid.

it would also make no sense to create a small buffer i the south for finland to join nato in the north. russia has played its hand and been exposed, militarily, strategically, politically, and economically the only two cards they have are gas and nukes.

both countries are stuck, i don't see any outcome that both parties could spin as victories.

[Reddy]

the west props ukraine up through billions of dollars in aid, Russia cannot replace that, the west promises the Ukrainian people western liberalism, Russia cant replace that. the most likely acceptable plan would have been independence of the donbas, but now that would seem like a tiny prize for the cost russia has paid.

it would also make no sense to create a small buffer i the south for finland to join nato in the north. russia has played its hand and been exposed, militarily, strategically, politically, and economically the only two cards they have are gas and nukes.

both countries are stuck, i don't see any outcome that both parties could spin as victories.

What?? The Western NATO puppet in Ukraine made it clear during negotiations before the Russian invasion that there will be no compromise. Ukraine will join NATO and the EU and let alone Donbass and LPR, they will also take back Crimea !!

There is a reason why Ukraine never implemented the Minsk agreement, that would have given autonomous power to Russian majority regions and they would have rejected the NATO alliance. So, instead of coming to agreement with DPR and LPR Ukraine used to bomb them, kill them, cut their electricity, cut their water by blocking rivers. Ukraine was supported by West in committing these war crimes after war crimes on their own people.

There is a reason Azov chief was transported in armoured carrier lest he get publically executed by the local public. There is a reason people are peaceful and have restarted life under Russian rule in the liberated parts of Ukraine with Rubles currency, ATM cards, Grocery stores with Russian supplies etc

Russia will get the Russian territories they want and Ukraine will be left as a landlocked country, it will be a clear cut victory for Russia. Of course the western press will spell it as Russian defeat just like they declared the "Azov had completed the mission in Mariupol" instead of the complete surrender it was.

[Junaids]

@Reddy
Everyone knows what the Ukrainians get if they get into bed with Russia.

They get to experience life in the Gaza Strip: locked into unrecognised statelets just like the poverty stricken residents of Transnistria, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. And Crimea.

To be honest, life is almost as bad in provincial parts of Russia too.

Whereas the people of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and western Ukraine already live more prosperous lives in spite of having been fellow USSR citizens.

If Luhansk and Donetsk are annexed to Russia their residents will be trapped in poverty for generations.

Any negotiated settlement with Russia turns Ukraine into a state which can never have the hope of a future like the Baltic states and Poland.

All Putin has to offer Ukrainians is imprisonment and poverty. Forever.

[mazkhan]

@Reddy
Everyone knows what the Ukrainians get if they get into bed with Russia.

They get to experience life in the Gaza Strip: locked into unrecognised statelets just like the poverty stricken residents of Transnistria, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. And Crimea.

To be honest, life is almost as bad in provincial parts of Russia too.

Whereas the people of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and western Ukraine already live more prosperous lives in spite of having been fellow USSR citizens.

If Luhansk and Donetsk are annexed to Russia their residents will be trapped in poverty for generations.

Any negotiated settlement with Russia turns Ukraine into a state which can never have the hope of a future like the Baltic states and Poland.

All Putin has to offer Ukrainians is imprisonment and poverty. Forever.

Yet its disaster that looms over the horizon for the rest of Europe in winter with cost of living and people in poverty because they can't afford gas or food.

Watch in October Nov December how Europe decends into violence and people rioting and looting

[silentkiller187]

The Ukrainian government says it will not agree a ceasefire deal with Russia that involves giving up territory.

The apparent hardening of Ukraine's position comes a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky said the war could only be resolved through diplomacy.

Presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak said concessions would lead to an even larger and bloodier Russian offensive.

His comments come as Russia continues attempts to encircle Ukrainian forces defending Severodonetsk in the east.

In another development, Polish President Andrzej Duda has become the first foreign leader to address the parliament in Kyiv in person.

He received a standing ovation as he declared that only Ukrainians themselves could decide their future.

He added that Poland would do everything it could to help Ukraine join the EU.

However, France's Europe Minister, Clément Beaune, said in a radio interview on Sunday that it would probably take "15 or 20 years" for Ukraine to be accepted as an EU member.

As fighting continued, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in its daily update that Russian forces were trying to break through Ukrainian defences to reach the administrative borders of the country's easternmost Luhansk region.

Luhansk regional governor, Serhiy Haidai, said Russia had attempted to break into Severodonetsk from four separate directions.

Writing on the Telegram messaging app, he said the attempts had been unsuccessful, but shelling of residential areas was continuing.

He added that a bridge connecting the city to nearby Lysychansk had been destroyed.

It was not possible for the BBC to verify the claims independently.

There have been calls in some Western nations for a ceasefire that could involve Russian forces remaining in some of the territory they have occupied in the south and east of Ukraine since Moscow invaded the country on 24 February.

Most recently, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi told his country's Senate on Thursday that a ceasefire "must be achieved as soon as possible".

But Mr Podolyak said that any such moves would backfire.

"The war will not stop. It will just be put on pause for some time," he said. "They'll start a new offensive, even more bloody and large-scale."

The BBC's Joe Inwood in Kyiv says there is currently no middle ground between what the Russians want and what the Ukrainians would accept.

Our correspondent says that while both sides feel they have a fighting chance, negotiations are unlikely.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61542090

[the Great Khan]

Did he? That makes no sense to me. The two are are polar opposites. I can't think of an example of it ever happening, though the Erdogans, Trumps, Orbans and Johnsons are having a go.



But I haven't said any of that GK. Have I? The world isn't black and white to me. Only fundamentalist religious types believe that. They prefer authoritarianism, which is why so many are Putin fans.

I asserted that individual freedom is more important that authoritarian state power. Liberalism only really took off after WW2, when the colonial era was coming to an end. The West often falls short of its lofty ideals, but at least it holds those ideals in place and attempts to reach them.

The alternative is authoritarianism, which has no such ideals and really is "our way or the high way".

Under which set of values would you choose to live? The freedom to choose your leaders, to confront your accuser in court, the right to life, the right of free movement, the right to marry whom you like, the right to worship or not worship? Or none of those things?

I dont believe in liberalism in the way its defined in the west. I believe in islam and the way of our prophet pbuh. This makes me conservative on certain aspects but more socialist on others.

With regards to authoritarianism that depends.. the uk is authoritarian with regards to protests, immigration, and welfare policy. It also has a program called prevent that is authoritarian towards Muslims. But you can vote for who you want until they introduce voter id which will prevent certain people from voting. France is also authoritarian towards Muslims but you can vote there too.

The UK is already quite authoritarian but covers itself with a veneer..same with the US..

For the Yanis statements see his speech to Harvard..he explains what he means..Liberals are natural allies of fascists..according to Yanis..

Finally my criticism does not mean support for Putin..i have no skin in that game and do not believe any country has the right to invade another..

[the Great Khan]

There have been calls in some Western nations for a ceasefire that could involve Russian forces remaining in some of the territory they have occupied in the south and east of Ukraine since Moscow invaded the country on 24 February.

they know whats about to happen thats why..

[the Great Khan]

This is the absurd level that we have reached.

Posters who admire authoritarians are arguing that “liberals” support Ukrainian “Nazis”.

It’s complete nonsense, akin to arguing that vegetarians eat too many cheeseburgers.

I’m a traditional liberal One Nation Tory - a Conservative who identifies as conservative on the economy and foreign policy and progressive on social policy.

Just quoting what a prominent scholar said..

with regards to one nation tory..there is nothing good in a right wing foreign policy or a right wing failed view of economics..

[Robert]

Just quoting what a prominent scholar said..

with regards to one nation tory..there is nothing good in a right wing foreign policy or a right wing failed view of economics..

That doesn’t describe One Nation Toryism, which is about a bootstraps approach to personal responsibility, while maintaining social programmes.

I don’t recall Ted Heath invading any countries either.

[Robert]

I dont believe in liberalism in the way its defined in the west. I believe in islam and the way of our prophet pbuh. This makes me conservative on certain aspects but more socialist on others.

With regards to authoritarianism that depends.. the uk is authoritarian with regards to protests, immigration, and welfare policy. It also has a program called prevent that is authoritarian towards Muslims. But you can vote for who you want until they introduce voter id which will prevent certain people from voting. France is also authoritarian towards Muslims but you can vote there too.

The UK is already quite authoritarian but covers itself with a veneer..same with the US..

For the Yanis statements see his speech to Harvard..he explains what he means..Liberals are natural allies of fascists..according to Yanis..

Finally my criticism does not mean support for Putin..i have no skin in that game and do not believe any country has the right to invade another..

Perhaps he is referring to the wraparound theory - if you go far enough right you end up near the far left. If one goes for enough personal freedom does one end up close to fascism? I would imagine that one would end up with a very few oligarchs running everything, like in Russia. But they are more hard right than fascists.

Liberalism is inimitable to the great leader principle inherent to fascism, and fascists are against the free trade principle inherent to liberalism. Nazi Germany was for autarky, not free trade.

As I said, the Johnsons and Patels are moving UK towards authoritarianism, centralising power away from Parliament to the Executive, removing our rights. elevating nationalism and demonising immigrants and intellectuals. This is all wrong.

Prevent is identifying more far-right white terror suspects than Muslims these days. Remember poor Jo Cox MP. Johnson has used nationalism and xenophobic language like letterboxes, wrapping himself in the flag, which stimulates this sort of dangerous element.

I have my parachute in the form of EU citizenship but I would sooner stand my ground and help turn the wheel back to personal freedom and liberty. Current polls suggest that Johnson’s days as PM are numbered anyway.

[Robert]

What?? The Western NATO puppet in Ukraine made it clear during negotiations before the Russian invasion that there will be no compromise. Ukraine will join NATO and the EU and let alone Donbass and LPR, they will also take back Crimea !!

Good on him then.

In calling Ukrainians puppets, you are denying their agency. Firstly, Zelenskyy was elected in a free and fair election by a huge margin. Secondly, millions of Ukrainians are risking their lives every day to defend their right to live in a democracy.

[Reddy]

Ukrainians are saying they need air defence systems as they’re not able to suppress Russian Air Force in Donbas. Ukrainian bases continue to be hit & Ukraine is sustaining heavy losses on its bases. 17 KIA in a single attack according to Ukrainian troops who escaped out of Zaporizhye shelling. He said bodies are still under being pulled out. (Yesterday)

Critical infrastructure such as bridges & train tracks continue to be destroyed, cutting Ukrainian Army from supplies which includes weapons, food, reinforcements. Ukrainian military commander in chief warns Zelensky that only hours/days remain before thousands of Ukrainian troops are encircled by Russian military and that Zelensky should act now should he want to avoid another Azvostal Scenario.

Many captured Ukrainian troops tell the same story (which we verified over the last 5 days) — they say they’re left behind by their unit commanders without supplies and communication. Ukrainian chain of command offers no support and often just cuts comms with its soldiers who stay behind in the areas of hostilities.

[Reddy]

Zelensky acknowledged heavy losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

According to the President of Ukraine, up to 100 people die every day in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Such a statement came as a shock to Ukrainians, since Ukrainian propaganda always hides losses with all its might.

However, in reality, even this estimate is greatly underestimated. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, daily Ukrainian troops suffer only irretrievable losses from 200 to 500 people, and there are still prisoners, wounded and missing.

[Reddy]

Croatian MEP has publicly proposed the EU to impose sanctions against the US and Saudi Arabia.

“The incredible lie and hypocrisy that sanctions against oil and gas from Russia will help stop the fighting in Ukraine. If we were the ones really fighting for peace, then we should immediately impose sanctions against Saudi Arabia, which has been fomenting war in Yemen for several years. It would also be necessary to impose an embargo on oil and gas from the United States, which took part in more wars than any other European country,” said Mislav Kolakusic

[Reddy]

According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, since yesterday evening, the Russian Armed Forces shot down 3 Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft.

2 attack aircraft were destroyed in the Kherson region, 1 in the Pavlograd region.

Also, serious damage was done to the echelon of the 128th mountain assault brigade, which was transferred from Ivano-Frankivsk to the Left Bank.

[ElRaja]

What?? The Western NATO puppet in Ukraine made it clear during negotiations before the Russian invasion that there will be no compromise. Ukraine will join NATO and the EU and let alone Donbass and LPR, they will also take back Crimea !!

There is a reason why Ukraine never implemented the Minsk agreement, that would have given autonomous power to Russian majority regions and they would have rejected the NATO alliance. So, instead of coming to agreement with DPR and LPR Ukraine used to bomb them, kill them, cut their electricity, cut their water by blocking rivers. Ukraine was supported by West in committing these war crimes after war crimes on their own people.

There is a reason Azov chief was transported in armoured carrier lest he get publically executed by the local public. There is a reason people are peaceful and have restarted life under Russian rule in the liberated parts of Ukraine with Rubles currency, ATM cards, Grocery stores with Russian supplies etc

Russia will get the Russian territories they want and Ukraine will be left as a landlocked country, it will be a clear cut victory for Russia. Of course the western press will spell it as Russian defeat just like they declared the "Azov had completed the mission in Mariupol" instead of the complete surrender it was.

if russia had conquered a contiguous territory to landlock ukraine within 2 weeks, maybe even a month, that may have been spun as a victory, but their is too much geo-strategic fall out now, russia will most likely be in a worse off regardless of how much territory they occupy.

[Robert]

Russian diplomat to the UN quits, calling the war “bl00dy, witless and unnecessary”.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-61546571

[KingKhanWC]

if russia had conquered a contiguous territory to landlock ukraine within 2 weeks, maybe even a month, that may have been spun as a victory, but their is too much geo-strategic fall out now, russia will most likely be in a worse off regardless of how much territory they occupy.

Russia has secured Crimea along with the coastal black sea region which is a huge strategic victory. Remember Turkey is a Nato member just on the other side. Along with the new economic world order, Russia has changed history as we know it. Ukraine will never see those areas again, therefore Russia has won the conflict and now is securing the East.

A real Ukranian PM not a installed Zionist puppet would have made a peace deal by now but the puppet will continue to help destroy Ukranine until his Zionist/Nato masters tell him otherwise.

[Reddy]

In the Kherson region, a dual-currency zone officially began to operate from today, when the ruble and the hryvnia in the region will go simultaneously, until the complete transition of the Kherson region to the ruble zone.

Salaries and pensions in the Kherson region are being paid in rubles from May.

[Reddy]

"We can't do it, we don't have the strength to repel the attack!" - Ukrainians in a panic, the Russian army smashes the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Liman

Canadian journalist Neil Hauer writes about this:

"We will not be able to cope with Russian aviation. There have already been 5 air strikes, the planes were flying directly above us. We do not have enough strength to repel the Russian attack," he quotes policemen who had just returned from Liman.

“I am watching Russian rocket artillery salvoes on Liman from about 10 km. We saw shell explosions hitting Ukrainian positions,” he writes.

[KingKhanWC]

Reports of two Polish battalions in Eastern Ukraine.

The peoples republic of Luhansk is almost liberated. Ukranians were crushed very easily in this region, esp as many refusing to fight for Nato.

[Reddy]

Hundreds of Ukrainian Troops surrender to Russian forces as Russian attack on Liman mounts — the city has been covered in artillery shells from Russian military with Ukrainians withdrawing street by street and taking heavy casualties, surrendering.

[ElRaja]

Russia has secured Crimea along with the coastal black sea region which is a huge strategic victory. Remember Turkey is a Nato member just on the other side. Along with the new economic world order, Russia has changed history as we know it. Ukraine will never see those areas again, therefore Russia has won the conflict and now is securing the East.

A real Ukranian PM not a installed Zionist puppet would have made a peace deal by now but the puppet will continue to help destroy Ukranine until his Zionist/Nato masters tell him otherwise.

putin explicitly stated he wanted nato to pull back from russias borders. should Finland join NATO, the alliance will have an arctic fortress nation on Russia's doorstep and Russia would lose any potential influence over the baltic making any future operations in estonia, latvia, or Lithuania significantly tougher and riskier. all this whilst greatly increasing intelligence costs for Russia relative to NATO.

I believe this is a more significant geostrategic problem than what they achieved so far would have been worth as it completely freezes, excuse the pun, russia's western sphere of influence.

[KingKhanWC]

putin explicitly stated he wanted nato to pull back from russias borders. should Finland join NATO, the alliance will have an arctic fortress nation on Russia's doorstep and Russia would lose any potential influence over the baltic making any future operations in estonia, latvia, or Lithuania significantly tougher and riskier. all this whilst greatly increasing intelligence costs for Russia relative to NATO.

I believe this is a more significant geostrategic problem than what they achieved so far would have been worth as it completely freezes, excuse the pun, russia's western sphere of influence.

Finland is a weak military nation, just like Sweden both will have to spend millions of Euros more to be part of Nato. Check out the history of Finland with the Soviets, they have tried this before and were humiliated. Finland have a new LGTB type feminist leader who is the youngest PM in the world. She was bought up by two 'married' women. Her issue is not security as this will make her people more at risk but she doesnt like the Christian Orthodox Russia which banned gay marriages.

Russia wont be losing sleep over a weak military nations which can be destroyed in mins. It has actually confirmed Russias paranoia over Nato.

[Technics 1210]

58.57 Rubles to 1 USD.

[ElRaja]

Finland is a weak military nation, just like Sweden both will have to spend millions of Euros more to be part of Nato. Check out the history of Finland with the Soviets, they have tried this before and were humiliated.

yes, two little countries, which would barely even count amongst NATOs overall industrial and military capacity, yet together account for more than 50% of Russia's economy.

Finland have a new LGTB type feminist leader who is the youngest PM in the world. She was bought up by two 'married' women. Her issue is not security as this will make her people more at risk but she doesnt like the Christian Orthodox Russia which banned gay marriages.

the motivation is immaterial, we can spin that however we like, I'm only stating that this development would be in direct contravention of what Putin explicitly stated as an objective prior to the operation in Ukraine.

Russia wont be losing sleep over a weak military nations which can be destroyed in mins. It has actually confirmed Russias paranoia over Nato.

interesting way of saying "has achieved exactly what it was hoping to stop"

[KingKhanWC]

yes, two little countries, which would barely even count amongst NATOs overall industrial and military capacity, yet together account for more than 50% of Russia's economy.

This is incorrect. Russia can shift trade as we have seen and besides Finland needs Russia more than vice versa.

the motivation is immaterial, we can spin that however we like, I'm only stating that this development would be in direct contravention of what Putin explicitly stated as an objective prior to the operation in Ukraine.



interesting way of saying "has achieved exactly what it was hoping to stop"

Eastern Ukraine is done, it will never be in the hands of the Nazis again, most are in hell while the rest are locked up slurping Russian Carrot soup.

Do you seriously believe Ukraine is the winner here?

[KingKhanWC]

58.57 Rubles to 1 USD.

I wish had bought Rubles in Feb.

[silentkiller187]

A Russian soldier who admitted murdering an unarmed 62-year-old Ukrainian civilian has been sentenced to life in prison in the first war crimes trial of the conflict.

Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin shot the man through an open car window in the eastern village of Chupakhivka, about 85 miles from Kharkiv.

The tank commander, 21, pleaded guilty at a Kyiv district court to firing shots at the man on 28 February, four days after the Russian invasion.

Shishimarin, who was wearing a blue and grey hooded sweatshirt, watched proceedings silently from a reinforced glass box in the courtroom this morning.

He showed no emotion as the verdict was read out.

'Public dissatisfaction' predicted in Russia after death toll claim - live Ukraine war updates

Ukrainian state prosecutors said the soldier and four other Russian servicemen fired at and stole a car to escape after their column was targeted by Ukrainian forces.

When they arrived in Chupakhivka, about 200 miles east of Kyiv, they saw a man cycling and talking on his phone.

They said Shishimarin was ordered by another serviceman to kill the civilian to prevent him from raising the alarm that Russians were in the village.

Shishimarin killed the man metres from his home, firing an assault rifle several times through the open window of the car at his head.

'I was ordered to shoot'

The Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, posted a video earlier this month of Shishimarin describing how he shot the man.

"I was ordered to shoot. I shot one [round] at him. He falls. And we kept on going," he said.

The soldier's defence lawyer, Viktor Ovsiannikov, told the court that Shishimarin had initially refused to fire the shots, but was given the order twice and so carried out the shooting out of fear for his own safety.

Only one out of three or four rounds had hit the target, he said.

"He was sitting at the window of a car... the car was moving at high speed with a punctured tyre," Mr Ovsiannikov said.

"I personally think that it should not be this young man in the dock, but the senior leadership of the other country that I think is guilty of unleashing this war."

Shishimarin was prosecuted under a section of the Ukrainian criminal code that addresses the laws and customs of war.

The trial has had huge symbolic significance for Ukraine, which has accused Russia of atrocities and brutality against civilians during the war.

It also said it has identified more than 10,000 possible war crimes.

Russia has denied its troops targeted civilians and accused Kyiv of staging the atrocities in an attempt to smear its forces.

The Kremlin has not immediately commented on the verdict of the trial.

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-w...trial-12619520

[Technics 1210]

I wish had bought Rubles in Feb.

Putin has outsmarted the West/NATO. West/NATO cheerleaders were jumping with joy when the Ruble was plummeting, but are now left speechless, because they have been duped into thinking this is a land grab by Russia, its not. West/NATO thought they could pull the same currency depreciation stunt with weaker nation but FAILED.

Not only does Russia have Europe by the crown jewels, but Russia is starting to mint it from the East.

Before all of this Russia was the 10th largest economy in the world, has one of the lowest debt to GDP ratios, 3rd largest producer of oil, untold amounts of natural resources and to think the West/NATO believe Russia is bankrupt.

Putin has played a blinder. Fooled the West/NATO with his troops in Ukraine, got their attention, when all the while he is decimating the Petrodollar, forcing the West with untold increases in energy prices, resulting in Amreeka begging Venezuela and ME to pump more oil and their response was they would sell oil in non USD currencies!

Grandmaster indeed!