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

[zinfamous]

The situation in Armenia seems really horrific.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1569780259826073601

well, fuck. Sure Erdogan is all too happy to let someone else do the genocide on Armenia, right?

"Wee! They'll stop blaming my country for that very real thing that of course never happened!"

Anyway, not good at all. I only really thought about former protectorates flexing their independence outside of RU mafia rule: Georgia, (well, not Chechnya. they seem lost now), Kazikstan and the other stans...etc.

But I didn't really consider the enemies of former protectorates or just allies doing their own idea of Genocide now that big brother has been busted in the teeth.

This is really, really bad. I wonder if we're going to get some harsh words from NATO or other friends, if possible, that those fucks better chill the fuck out because we aren't about to deal with a re-hash of WW1-like opportunistic horseshit grievances.

 

[RnR_au]

Just on the Armenia and Azernaijan kerfuffle. Seems Azernaijan is more than willing to ship more gas to Europe;

Azerbaijan Says Will Increase Gas Exports To Europe This Year By 30 Percent

Azerbaijan will increase natural-gas exports to Europe this year by 30 percent as the EU seeks to lessen its dependence on Russian energy amid the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine.

www.rferl.org

Putin can't be happy with this.

 

[Jaskalas]

China, our avowed enemy.
Is this not a declaration of war?
Maybe not hot... but certainly a cold one.

“The US and NATO threatened russia at its home door, forcing it into a corner. It’s only natural for russia to fight back to protect its core national interest. China fully understands russia and has assisted russia in various ways. ”

China is formally backing the invasion and Genocide in Europe.

 

[Perknose]

China, our avowed enemy.
Is this not a declaration of war?
Maybe not hot... but certainly a cold one.

“The US and NATO threatened russia at its home door, forcing it into a corner. It’s only natural for russia to fight back to protect its core national interest. China fully understands russia and has assisted russia in various ways. ”

China is formally backing the invasion and Genocide in Europe.

I don't think you understand how diplomacy works. This is a diplomatic statement, put out around Putin and Xi meeting. "China . . . has assisted Russia in various ways." Can you grasp what this statement means . . . and doesn't mean?

 

[Jaskalas]

Given China's treatment of its own population and neighbors, I would not think they oppose Russia's campaign.
The face value of the statement makes sense in the greater context of who China is, what they have done.
What would be different about this?

Suppose you could say... China could do a lot more to harm us. And that is true.
But that is also true on both sides.
China (and company) does not have to endorse Russia's campaign in Europe.
They choose this.

 

[rommelrommel]

Given China's treatment of its own population and neighbors, I would not think they oppose Russia's campaign.
The face value of the statement makes sense in the greater context of who China is, what they have done.
What would be different about this?

Suppose you could say... China could do a lot more to harm us. And that is true.
But that is also true on both sides.
China (and company) does not have to endorse Russia's campaign in Europe.
They choose this.

Their only problem the PRC has with Russia's war is that they have sucked at it and galvanized the western world into fighting against totalitarians. Had they taken Ukraine like they took Crimea Xi would be ecstatic.

 

[K1052]

Ukraine hauling away the armor already…

https://twitter.com/x/status/1569906678245490695

 

[cytg111]

I don't think you understand how diplomacy works. This is a diplomatic statement, put out around Putin and Xi meeting. "China . . . has assisted Russia in various ways." Can you grasp what this statement means . . . and doesn't mean?

We bought some gas and we feel the Taiwan?
Doesnt really matter shit unless Chinese hardware shows up on the front tomorrow.

 

[trenchfoot]

It may be premature to consider, but it did cross my mind that if Crimea is actually repossessed by Ukraine, would it be a good idea to permanently deport all of those Russian sympathizers that helped Russsia seize it. Leaving them in Crimea would only help Putin get it back again and you know he'll try to do it if given the chance. So many variables to ruminate over in this regard....

 

[Atari2600]

It may be premature to consider, but it did cross my mind that if Crimea is actually repossessed by Ukraine, would it be a good idea to permanently deport all of those Russian sympathizers that helped Russsia seize it. Leaving them in Crimea would only help Putin get it back again and you know he'll try to do it if given the chance. So many variables to ruminate over in this regard....

Putin?

Putin wouldn't survive the retaking of Crimea.

When the first inklings of him being "yesterday's man" starts to spread around Moscow - there will be a rush from all to ensure they aren't left behind with "yesterday's man".

To be honest, I'm not sure he'll see out this week.

 

[NTMBK]

It may be premature to consider, but it did cross my mind that if Crimea is actually repossessed by Ukraine, would it be a good idea to permanently deport all of those Russian sympathizers that helped Russsia seize it. Leaving them in Crimea would only help Putin get it back again and you know he'll try to do it if given the chance. So many variables to ruminate over in this regard....

Russia took Crimea so easily because they already had an enormous military base there. I doubt Ukraine will let them have one after this...

 

[Zor Prime]

I'm sure China would prefer an antagonizer in Russia to be around so that China itself doesn't have to play the role of neighborhood boogeyman.

They might not lend troops but I'm sadly confident they'll be happy enough to supply whatever materials are needed and see if we've the balls to sanction them on the whole.

I don't know how the average mindset is in China but it could elevate Xi by throwing up a middle finger to the USA after we just embarrassed him over Taiwan.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[KMFJD]

that's a lot of hardware, Russia continues to be the #1 donor of military equipment to the Ukraine

 

[Bitek]

Few things with China, and it's not so much about Russia itself.

- We've also chosen to align with Taiwan, we didn't have to, but we have our reasons (one of them being democracy) and it does set an adversarial posture.

- Our general strategic pivot to SE Asia is all about China.

- We've continually opposed them economically. Rhetoric, but also tariffs, policies and restrictions.

- China is well positioned to benefit again from our aggression, but restraint on colonialism. Our guns clear, they swoop in and profit. Afghanistan with the minerals and mining, now Russia with energy. It's not a bad strategy.

- Russia is negotiating from a position of extreme weakness. Their hopes of being an equal to China in opposition to NATO is dashed.

 

[Leeea]

China, our avowed enemy.
Is this not a declaration of war?
Maybe not hot... but certainly a cold one.

“The US and NATO threatened russia at its home door, forcing it into a corner. It’s only natural for russia to fight back to protect its core national interest. China fully understands russia and has assisted russia in various ways. ”

China is formally backing the invasion and Genocide in Europe.

Lets give them their cold war.

Diversify our manufacturing out of China and across Asia. China has made plenty of enemies with their constant threats and invasions of their neighbors, we have plenty of willing partners to pick from.

Surround them with heavily armed partners and let China's paranoia run them into the ground just like it did with the USSR.

 

[Zorba]

I'm sure China would prefer an antagonizer in Russia to be around so that China itself doesn't have to play the role of neighborhood boogeyman.

They might not lend troops but I'm sadly confident they'll be happy enough to supply whatever materials are needed and see if we've the balls to sanction them on the whole.

I don't know how the average mindset is in China but it could elevate Xi by throwing up a middle finger to the USA after we just embarrassed him over Taiwan.

I hope I'm wrong.

If China provides material, it'll just give field data on how it actually performs. With a complete lack of competent leadership, trained soldiers, morale, and logistics I doubt it'll turn the tide at all. Russia's original problem was not lack of supplies, it had the massive advantage there and completely squandered it.

 

[K1052]

Zelensky visits Izium.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1569992213685276672

https://twitter.com/x/status/1569995790881558528

 

[cytg111]

I notice some preference for 5.56 in his personal detail.

 

[K1052]

I notice some preference for 5.56 in his personal detail.

I presume they all have received extensive western training so they probably feel most comfortable on the AR platform.

...except for the guy with what appears to be a Bulgarian AKM variant. Which if you are going AK is a fine choice.

 

[K1052]

Well it finally happened.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1570047651231547393

 

[Roger Wilco]

Time to start rolling out the T-55s.

 

[NTMBK]

Well it finally happened.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1570047651231547393

Lol at whoever wrote "Fury" on the barrel. Yes, your tank is almost as old as a Sherman, congratulations.

 

[GoPackGo]

Russia's military equipment looks like junk... I wonder how many of the oligarch deaths are those related to their military industrial complex (or lack there of)

 

[K1052]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1570067353861242881

Extensive defensive fortifications would substantially complicate Russian attempts to take any of this back.

 

[Dave_5k]

Russia's military equipment looks like junk... I wonder how many of the oligarch deaths are those related to their military industrial complex (or lack there of)

Follow the money ~ most of the "accidents" were oil & gas related, which is where the big money is in Russia. Roughly $350 billion/year in oil/gas exports - not even counting domestic sales. Russian weapons exports by comparison are like ~$10 billion/year.