Russia on brink of ... NOPE! Russia INVADES Ukraine!

[pmv]

From what I read this particular General was extremely popular and very well known .... nothing I've seen posted here so far convinces me he wasn't set up to be whacked. (obviously this is speculation)

Seems unlikely to me. There's no tradition of the Russian (or, previously, Soviet) army leadership playing an autonomous role in politics, unlike in many other countries, with traditions of military coups. They shut that down very soon after 1917.

British vet of Afghanistan not impressed with Russian troops

Ex-British Army sniper who served in Afghanistan and is now volunteering in Ukraine says the Taliban were better fighters than Russian soldiers, report says

A British veteran who is training fighters in Ukraine told a reporter from The Times of the "complete incompetence" of Russian forces.

www.businessinsider.com

Have they always been over-rated? Or is it just that they've deteriorated massively since the fall of the USSR?

Starting to wonder if it was always an illusion that they'd roll through the Fulda Gap and be at the channel within a couple of days, if NATO didn't retain the option of 'first use' of nuclear weapons. I mean, that was the perception back in the days of the USSR, no? Or is it just the effect of 40 years of decline and decay?

 

[cytg111]

Chemical incoming? Any ideas on what kind of chemistry he would use?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1506043769187143697

 

[Captante]

Chemical incoming? Any ideas on what kind of chemistry he would use?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1506043769187143697

Take your pick.

State declaration: Russia possessed the world’s largest chemical weapons stockpile: approximately 40,000 metric tons of chemical agent, including VX, sarin, soman, mustard, lewisite, mustard-lewisite mixtures, and phosgene.

I would think they'll avoid nerve-agents like VX or sarin because they're so deadly as to be counter-productive but you just never know.


Chemical and Biological Weapons Status at a Glance

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Maybe something they could blame on a leak from the US 'bio-weapons' labs?

 

[Captante]

I'll tell you what VX is..... terrifying.


*** WARNING!! .... The below is potentially disturbing AND NSFW ***

 

[Perknose]

UGH.

 

[Captante]

 

[fskimospy]

Take your pick.

State declaration: Russia possessed the world’s largest chemical weapons stockpile: approximately 40,000 metric tons of chemical agent, including VX, sarin, soman, mustard, lewisite, mustard-lewisite mixtures, and phosgene.

I would think they'll avoid nerve-agents like VX or sarin because they're so deadly as to be counter-productive but you just never know.

Chemical and Biological Weapons Status at a Glance

I think if they will use chemical weapons it will be as stand-off/terror weapons but I think if they are willing to use them they will use nerve agents too. The main issue I suspect would be they can’t use them otherwise because even if they have it (far from a sure thing) moving in chemical protective gear is really cumbersome and they are having enough problems as it is.

I think it would be either in cities they are comfortable with just razing or against Ukrainian troop concentrations in areas Russia isn’t particularly interested in traveling through.

 

[Captante]

I think if they will use chemical weapons it will be as stand-off/terror weapons but I think if they are willing to use them they will use nerve agents too. The main issue I suspect would be they can’t use them otherwise because even if they have it (far from a sure thing) moving in chemical protective gear is really cumbersome and they are having enough problems as it is.

I think it would be either in cities they are comfortable with just razing or against Ukrainian troop concentrations in areas Russia isn’t particularly interested in traveling through.

Unfortunately the properties of sarin gas actually make it ideal for this sort of thing. It does no lasting damage to the environment and breaks down quickly. (I didn't realize that last till I watched the above linked video)

 

[Grey_Beard]

Chemical incoming? Any ideas on what kind of chemistry he would use?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1506043769187143697

Take your pick.

State declaration: Russia possessed the world’s largest chemical weapons stockpile: approximately 40,000 metric tons of chemical agent, including VX, sarin, soman, mustard, lewisite, mustard-lewisite mixtures, and phosgene.

I would think they'll avoid nerve-agents like VX or sarin because they're so deadly as to be counter-productive but you just never know.


Chemical and Biological Weapons Status at a Glance

Looks like we need to start sending 40 million gas masks and respirators.

 

[Captante]

Looks like we need to start sending 40 million gas masks and respirators.

The REALLY "fun" part about stuff like VX is a gas-mask alone won't help.... you almost need the equivalent of a space-suit!

 

[fskimospy]

Unfortunately the properties of sarin gas actually make it ideal for this sort of thing. It does no lasting damage to the environment and breaks down quickly. (I didn't realize that last till I watched the above linked video)

Yeah I hear that, and you raise a good point, although they would still need to be used as stand off or terror weapons because if the readiness of Russian troops in all other areas is any indication they lack the MOPP gear to enter areas where they are being actively employed.

I do worry that as others have said we are entering the most dangerous phase of this war, where Putin sees he probably can’t realize his goals through conventional means.

 

[Grey_Beard]

The REALLY "fun" part about stuff like VX is a gas-mask alone won't help.... you need the equivalent of a space-suit!

I do not think he will do that. That is one step below nuclear weapons and will not be MAD. It will be Russia’s last military action. They will be lower than North Korea in the World rankings. This action should and (I estimate) will bring the wrath of NATO and the entire UN. Even China will go near them after that.

 

[Jaskalas]

Putin is gonna start levelling city blocks any second now, for real real, he is gonna turn Mariupol into ruble and this will turn into a genuine humanitarian crisis times 100.

His men cant do shit on the streets, fuck they cant even operate a vehicle going straight down the road. They're not ready for that urban warfare by a long shot... So he will pull em back and shell the entire region. Hard. Wait for it.

Unlike the United States, Russia has surrounded the city. Whoever remains of the original 400,000 inhabitants will simply be starved out. Without food and water, they will have no choice but to surrender. That is how you take a city. Doesn't have to be done the way we've done it.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

First Carlson, now Putin endorses Logan ....

Logan Praised by Russia as 'Real America's Voice' as Schwarzenegger Shunned

The Russian government and its media allies continue to take note of what's being said in Western media.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

So 10-14K Ukranian soldiers KIA?
That's similar to the estimate of Russian soldiers KIA.

Oh shit, sorry, I misread your question. It might not be entirely inaccurate to gauge Ukrainian losses on parity to Russian losses, but I'm probably wrong on that.

 

[fskimospy]

Unlike the United States, Russia has surrounded the city. Whoever remains of the original 400,000 inhabitants will simply be starved out. Without food and water, they will have no choice but to surrender. That is how you take a city. Doesn't have to be done the way we've done it.

I think if one thing can be taken from this war it’s that Russia is the last place we should be looking for cues as to how to effectively fight a war.

Russia doesn’t have forever to sit there surrounding it, waiting for them to starve.

 

[KMFJD]

if you have an hour this is a well produced show

 

[bguile]

Take your pick.

State declaration: Russia possessed the world’s largest chemical weapons stockpile: approximately 40,000 metric tons of chemical agent, including VX, sarin, soman, mustard, lewisite, mustard-lewisite mixtures, and phosgene.

I would think they'll avoid nerve-agents like VX or sarin because they're so deadly as to be counter-productive but you just never know.


Chemical and Biological Weapons Status at a Glance

I suspect they are floating the suggestion out there more to intimidate Europe at this point (especially Poland and the Baltics), but I do believe if things start going the wrong way for Russia fast then Putin would resort to WMD. Especially if it looks like he would lose Crimea (not sure about the breakaway provinces). He is going to try everything to keep it.

 

[Muse]

The Ukrainian punk band Beton released a version of the Clash's "London Calling" entitled "Kyiv Calling".

The cover, which describes Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion, is called "Kyiv Calling" and calls for global support for Ukraine. "Kyiv calling to the whole world / Come out of neutrality, you boys and girls,"

The song was released with the blessing of the Clash who also linked the Youtube video on its Twitter account.

(434) Beton - Kyiv Calling (official cover version of London Calling by The Clash) - YouTube

'Kyiv Calling:' Ukrainian punk band makes The Clash classic an anti-Russia anthem - CNN

I'm gonna see about playing that on my radio show in a couple days, KALX, Berkeley, 3-6PM.

Edit: I played it at the beginning of my show.

 

[sportage]

This is a typical family in Russia describing the store closures in the mall under the Biden sanctions. I didn't know that Russia had KFC, but regardless... KFC is still open. Interesting to have an actual inside observation. Frankly, things look pretty much as they do here i.e. modern, people out shopping and enjoying life. I guess this is one advantage of living under a dictator.... one need not worry themselves over politics because there are no politics to worry about.
And considering this guys other videos one thing is clear, that Russians pay a lot less for goods, services and energy than Americans pay. I always said that Americans are being gouged on everything from medical to goods, services and energy simply because of the assumption that all Americans are rich and loaded. Praised be capitalism.

Now I know why we over here pay thru the nose for everything, because we look soooo rich in the eyes of the world. We get screwed on goods and services and most of all prescriptions medicine and medical services. Im beginning to believe that capitolism is just an excuse to screw each other as much as we can. And god forbid the congress should step in to do anythinf about it.....

 

[uclaLabrat]

Chemical incoming? Any ideas on what kind of chemistry he would use?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1506043769187143697

almost certainly some sort of organophosphorous nerve agent like novichok. Wonder what else they even have. Mustard agents maybe but not nearly as effective for making places inhospitable for days or weeks. Some of the nerve agents like novichok can persist for quite a while and still present lethal concentrations in the air if I recall.

 

[Captante]

I do not think he will do that. That is one step below nuclear weapons and will not be MAD. It will be Russia’s last military action. They will be lower than North Korea in the World rankings. This action should and (I estimate) will bring the wrath of NATO and the entire UN. Even China will go near them after that.

I sincerely hope you're right.... sadly based on Putin's track-record I'm not so optimistic.

 

[JEDI]

Russia’s Push for Self-Sufficient Economy Fails Before Western Sanctions

Building Fortress Russia was supposed to protect the country from sanctions. It is still highly dependent on imports.

www.wsj.com

Russia spent years trying to build a self-sufficient economy. (since the 2014 invasion of Crimea and the sanctions that followed.)
Building Fortress Russia was supposed to protect the country from sanctions.
It didn't work. they still rely heavily on imports.

Yet Putin went ahead with invading Ukraine.
WTF?!

 

[Captante]

The Horrors of Chemical Warfare | Secrets of War | Timeline

The parts about Iraq certainly didn't pan out but the bulk of the video while dated is pretty scary.