Ukraine

[Achtung Englander]

Putin has threatened WW3 if any country from the west interfers.

He is mad enough to do it. He cannot afford lose face, he would rather see the world end than lose this war

If it all goes tits up - it was nice knowing you guys.

[Raid]

People on social media and all over the Internet are so disconnected and salivating at all the war porn but the fact of the matter is that we are witnessing something truly horrifying happening in real time right now.

It's been like this for a decade now. The real military nuts could watch recordings of stuff happening in Syria for the rest of their lives if they wanted. It does tend to crop up on the DCS subreddit from time to time, obviously military aviation-focussed, and while I don't get the impression that many in that community are hungry for it, it doesn't make it any less disturbing. We play a simulator of the machinery involved, and I think that detaches people from the actual horror of the real world consequences of using that machinery. For example the game's F-16C recently received GPS-guided cluster munitions. They're spectacular in the game, one could argue that the technology is impressive, but they are absolutely terrifying weapons in reality. I had to have a good think about all this a couple of years back, but I'm comfortable that the reasons I play it aren't glorifying warfare.

I don't know how much I ought to be worrying about this situation. NATO have announced that their defence plan has been activated and they are sending assets to the region, but Biden has told America that US troops aren't involved. Russia is not exactly known for its care and attention in conflict zones (see the Malaysian passenger aircraft shot down over the region a few years back), and I'm just hoping this doesn't escalate.

[Wrathbone]

There's an early episode of the West Wing where militants shoot down a US helicopter and the president has to approve military targets to strike in response, which he derides as being like a business transaction because the militants knew the response would be proportional and were prepared to take the hit. This feels very much like that situation. Putin knows NATO isn't looking for a war, he knows there will be sanctions and he's prepared to accept them in exchange for him taking Ukraine. It really is just business to him (and to NATO, arguably), which is tragic when you consider all the innocent lives at stake who want no part in it.

[Raid]

Indeed, that's a fantastic episode, and does seem scarily familiar. Boris Johnson apparently spoke to the Ukrainian leader this morning, telling him that the UK stands with him... but I suspect the Ukrainian leader would prefer boots on the ground to sanctions against a handful of banks and three individuals. He's watching his people being killed, we're stopping a few transactions.

[Mantis]

It's unlikely that there will be any direct intended conflict between NATO and Russia over this. Ukraine was done for the moment the troops starting pouring over the border, Putin is willing to pay the price of the sanctions and take the economic hit. NATO and the west are toothless, the only thing that would bring us into direct war is if Russia invaded a NATO state, which even Putin I reckon isn't mad or stupid enough to do because then we would actually have WW3 on our hands.

Now what we're looking at is a very protracted occupation of Ukraine, insurgency and likely retribution terror attacks on Russia and a whole lot of innocent normal people who just want to live their lives will die.

This moment is the biggest shakeup in geopolitics for the first time in decades. The appeasement of these despots from Russia and China needs to end, but they have the west over a barrel thanks to them owning half our politicians.

[Animalmother]

I wonder if we'll see something similar happen in Taiwan in the coming days or weeks.

[arqueturus]

I'm old enough to remember the fear of the early 80's Cold War and rejoiced just like everyone else when the USSR collapsed and Capitalism flourished there but I fear it's lead to a much worse Chimera of Capitalist desire coupled with Communist sensibilities - taking Ukraine is a resources/land grab and nothing more.

I never thought I would live to see a Super Power annex another country in this day and age which I guess is hugely naive.

[Raid]

It's easy to forget that this isn't the first time Russia has invaded Ukraine in recent years; Crimea is still officially recognised as being part of Ukraine, and that's been occupied since 2014. I just don't remember that invasion being quite so obviously illegitimate. I think that's why that Yes Prime Minister clip on the previous page was so prescient. This time the justification was Russia's recognition of breakaway regions inside Ukraine, which everyone in the West believes to have been formed by Russian-controlled dissidents. Either way they're chipping away at the country piece by piece.

[Achtung Englander]

Putin could not live in a modern world that does not need dictators. What better way to stay relevant than to recreate the 80s cold war.

This war is nothing about Russian security and everything about Putin being yet another narcissist piece of shit.

[Animalmother]

Russia, China, Turkey, Belarus and the Philippines are all ruled by dictators, they aren't going out of fashion, very much the contrary I think.

[eny]

The Far Right is 'in fashion' more than ever: the idea that bully boy 'alpha' males and their cuckold mates can do what they like unfettered by human decency, law or compassion is at an eruption point worldwide. There is a tide of venality that requires litigation and consequence, and continues to build whilst justice is waiting. Who is powerful enough and minded to call it to account is the question.

[Hatredsheart]

Fighting near Chernobyl now, with Russian forces apparently trying to seize the region.

https://news.sky.com/story/russia-launc ... r-12550026

[eny]

I'd better finish my UNISG playthrough then....still got 5 labs to search...

"lavii granatu, vrag monolita !"

[Animalmother]

"Whoever would try to stop us and further create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and lead you to such consequences that you have never faced in your history," he said.

"We are ready for any outcome."

He's a fucking lunatic!

[Lenny Solidus]

Putin straight up threatening the use of nuclear arms against anyone who opposes his invasion. Gives perhaps some credence to the rumours he's suffering some severe illness; he must be to be making such drastic unnecessary advances and global threats. Ofc Drumpf and the GoP are spin doctoring it all directly at Biden's feet. Fucking losers.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -flipboard

edit: Well fuck.......the dominoes are falling.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-paci ... 022-02-24/