I think people are being alarmist thinking this will go nuclear. I was a little surprised that Putin made a move that overt versus being more covert about it like he did in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. I think this conflict could have been prevented if NATO was standing on a stronger military position instead of just reacting and if we weren't pushing so hard to have Ukraine join NATO right now. Putin is shrewd and power hungry, but he's also not stupid or suicidal. He doesn't like having a resurgent China on his doorstep either. I think more could have been done to bring him over to our side as a counter to China. All the current situation does is weaken every party involved, reduce our ability to respond when China tries something in Taiwan, and push Russia further into China's camp. Because most people in western society love to fixate on one convenient bad guy and are prone to myopia, this will also take the focus off of China while they keep doing what they do without consequences. I do think Putin underestimated Ukrainian resolve and capabilities, and I'm pretty amazed at the logistical failures that the Russian military is encountering right now. Ashraf Ghani should be watching and taking notes - preferably from a prison cell.

I'm avoiding watching the BS "on the ground" reporting and crap that I see on social media because so much lying and outright propaganda is flying around right now. None of that information is even worth your time because it is probably not true or accurate, and you couldn't do anything with it if you tried. Just pay attention to the major tangible announcements like which industries and companies they are sanctioning, outcomes of peace talks, and major things like that. The rest is all hyperbole, conjecture, fear mongering, propaganda, and political spin.

Full disclosure, I didn't read through everything said in here as it's quite a bit and the majority of responses are long, no disrespect intended to anyone either by not going through it all, so idk if this has been said, and I highly doubt this will pertain to anyone here, if it does I apologize, but I'm like 99.9% sure it won't

But a bothersome (to say the least).trend I've noticed in the past week, is how many people, and groups, and everything are using this conflict to make it about them and w.e message or narrative they're trying to put out there, and it absolutely fucking DISGUSTS me! Like this is about Ukraine and all the shit they're having to deal with right now, nothing else

I also find it insanely disrespectful that less than a week into it people are trying to shift the focus to them and make their point off the back of this, not that it would be ok to do at any point in time, but seriously...LESS THAN A WEEK! Maybe use your group or the narrative you have in a way that helps Ukraine, instead of using Ukraine to help.your narrative, like idk, compassionate and decent people, the selfishness of these people makes stock brokers look subtle and restrained

I live in the US and it's all over social media and just regular media, and idk this has REALLY gotten to me and truly bothered me so MUCH the last few days, and I know I can't do anything about it or change it, which honestly has bothered me even more, and I'm not even an angry person like that, not even slightly, and I've been PISSED over all this, world war 3 is on the verge of breaking out, and all people can do is think how they can use this to their advantage...

Idk I needed to vent this out, I appreciate anyone who.took the time to read all this, especially considering I said in the beginning I didn't read through everything, i just saw this thread tonight and then I started to type this, just didn't hVe the time tonight to read all of it, I intend to once I'm able to though, just hope everyone is OK and as safe as possible

A round of applause for that man. It's Western (American) solipsism and narcissism, greatly exacerbated by social media.

Someone on a platform I use decided to start a "cold shower challenge" to raise awareness of European energy dependency on Russia - apparently we can all fight Russia by not having hot showers anymore to save energy. Basically it was an excuse for him to record a video of himself wet with his top off.

Also quite a few American progressives seem unable to parse what's happening in Ukraine other than through the lens of latter-day identity politics. And a lot of the American right are just using the crisis as an excuse to attack Biden instead of rallying round. I don't want to sound too negative though because I think the general Western response has been fantastic - governments quickly got their act together to impose extremely harsh measures on Russia, and there's been a huge outpouring of solidarity and practical and financial support from ordinary people.

Thank you sir! I'm not a political person, I follow it slightly, which I know I should pay more attention, especially the older I get, but I just can't, especially these days when it seems to always be "us vs them" and if you disagree, fuck you...on like 90% of any issue I'm pretty much in the middle in between both sides on my opinion of it, and the other 10% is just slightly one way as opposed to the other, I mean yes they did act quickly against Russia, but besides that...

I just lose any hope that people will be able to come together for anything any more, I mean I know things are exaggerated on social media and it's not everyone that's like this, but the fact that anyone even is, is just upsetting, like forget about your differences for a bit, and just come together for something, its crazy to me that that's not even a common reaction or thought, like when 9/11 happened, despite the tragedy idk if ppl have been that unified since then, like after that ppl grew more apart since

And one thing that's really bothered me, and no offense if anyone reading this is religious, but the televangelists using this to say "the end times are near" and "Jesus is returning" is some of the most insensitive shit I've ever seen, no offense if you actually believe this, but it is NOT the time to be saying that right now, people are senselessly and needlessly dying and a country is senselessly and needlessly being torn apart, and its basically saying, well don't worry about all that and it's ok because Jesus is coming....again no offense, but no he isn't, wouldn't it be the better thing to use your religion in support of the people who need it instead of making it a means to an end? And full disclosure I'm atheist but this isn't an "attack" against religion because if a group of atheists were going around saying this conflict is a reason to be against religion, I'd think they were assholes too, and they too should stfu, but to use this as any sort of religious narrative to justify these actions is almost the biggest anti-religious thing I can think of, love thy neighbor, peace be with you, I'm ALL FOR that, not the fact that- well peace and love seem to be out the window, but Jesus is coming so its all OK, and again I'm sorry if you're religious and reading this offends you, as I'm genuinely not trying to do that, I just think it's really gross that this is being said during such a tragedy, or at least wait and give it time before it's being said, again not that I feel stuff like that is ok during any period of time, but if that's your belief you have every right to have it, and you should, but the people effected, imo, come first before your beliefs, and that goes for me as well, supporting them and trying to help them is what the most important thing is right now, not any beliefs or sides you're trying to take

Apparently people are booking and paying for airbnbs as a way of getting money to those in Ukraine

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/03/ukraine-airbnbs-booked-in-effort-to-get-money-to-residents-pay-not-stay

I wonder if I can help create an open source map for places that have been hit for medical supplies with blood and other resources


https://mobile.twitter.com/fedorovmykhailo/status/1498392515262746630

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1499472139333746691?s=20&t=DXK3Jin_W64k0GHboagYzg

Sounds like Vladimir Putin is a rich oligarch who doesn't care about socialism or Marxism to reverse extreme wealth inequality. Nevertheless, critical thinking demands I ask for his side. What are the reasons HE states WHY he is invading Ukraine?
I need to know, regardless of how baseless his claims are.
I've heard bits that he just makes up bullshit excuses/reasons,
like "the de-Nazification of Ukraine".

Sure, denazification is good, but how many actual Nazis are in Ukraine?
How much are Russian separatists persecuted by Ukrainian nationalists?
How much are Ukrainian nationalists conscripting people against their will to fight?
How much do the Russian separatists really want to separate from Ukraine AND Russia?
Or, are they hypocrites about being separatists and simply want to join with Russia?
How many Russian separatists are there in Ukraine?

BTW: I have a sister-in-law (my age) who is from Kharkov, Ukraine.
In spite of her supporting antinatalist animal rights veganism like I do,
I do NOT get along with her at all. She is a science-denying moron.
However, I probably side with her pro-Marxist pro-socialist views,
from what I've heard from my brother, though I never discussed them with her.
He tells me that even though she is from Ukraine, she is "culturally Russian".
She and her now deceased father were on the side of cultural Russians
while her mother was on the side of Ukrainian nationalists
and that she has had long telephone/internet fights with her mother about it.
But I do not know the details.

And I have absolutely no idea what she thinks about Putin's invasion.
For all I know, she may hate it and hate him just as much as anyone else here.

Hello, I am a Russian-speaking resident of southeastern Ukraine, and I am ready to swear by anything, even my penis and balls, that there has never been any discrimination against Russians or Russian-speakers here, either by nationalists or anyone else. This is Putin's vile lie and manipulation, and unfortunately many believed him, including, for example, many residents of Crimea. I calmly speak Russian and this does not prevent me from loving my country Ukraine. And many Russian-speaking Ukrainians now hate Putin with a sincere burning rage. Until recently, many of us had a warm and loyal attitude towards Russia and Russians, but this has changed, I think, forever.

The late Russian oppositionist Boris Nemtsov, a former friend of Putin, has long since explained his true motives. He does not recognize the very fact of the existence of Ukrainians, does not recognize our freedom, independence and the right to choose. He is deeply offended by us because we chose the EU and NATO, kicked out Yanukovych and his criminal patrons and henchmen, and want to be friends with Poland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic, and not with barbaric Russia. Of course, this completely destroyed the business interests of Putin and his entourage in relation to Ukraine. For this truth, Boris Nemtsov paid with his life, and thousands and millions of Ukrainians are now paying for their national dignity and the right to choose. Putin continues to come up with new reasons for his aggression, every day new versions appear and are refined, but all this is a lie. The truth is that Putin simply hates Ukrainians, this has long been obvious. It's easy to see that the "protection of the Russians" is a lie, just google "Kharkiv war" and see for yourself what the Russian army did with the most Russian city in Ukraine.

Just a little history. The Ukrainian and Russian nations finally separated from each other about 300-400 years ago. And since then, Russia has not stopped trying to wipe us off the face of the Earth, to enslave and assimilate us. The Turks, Hungarians and Poles tried to do the same, but all this remained in the distant historical past, now these peoples are our allies and friends. Only the Russians, zombified by Putin's propaganda, are still unable to come to terms with the fact that the territory from Kyiv to the Black Sea is no longer Russia, and will never belong to them.

Thank you for that detailed response, U.M. Sure sounds like Vlad Putin makes up
and believes loads of bullshit conspiracy stories. Just as long as this war remains
anti-Putin, anti-Russian-nationalist-extremism
and not anti-Marxist or anti-Socialist or anti-communist or anti-Green or anti-

While my Russian-culture-loving Ukrainian sister-in-law is a total shithead
about physics and virology/vaccines, for all I know she could be on the Ukrainian
side of the war against Putin.

As an electronics engineer by profession, an enthusiast of physics and chemistry (which allows me, for example, to create new substances for my quicksand videos), and in a sense a patriot of my long-suffering, tormented country (although I only recently realized myself as such), I condemn your shithead sister, I'm sorry.

Above all - THANK you for allowing me to ask these questions and respectfully decide for myself which side to take. (Admittedly, I was already on your side, but logic compels me to ask hard questions.)

Nobody knows. That is the bottom line.

Putin might be dying and it's his last USSR fling, he might have gone mad, his ex-wife might have upset him.... nobody knows.

For those hoping someone will assassinate him... not likely. He is embedded with his KGB friends.

Nuclear? NOBODY KNOWS

He is clearly deranged. Clearly not getting real-time 'on the ground' information fed back to him from his minions, just what he wants to hear.

If it suddenly gets hot 'n' windy very quick and my tits dissolve, then nothing little old Rachel can do about it.

Best I can do is fill my panties with rice pudding tonight and watch Dune

Rachel x

I think there are some similarities between Putin and the rise of Hitler. Germany was defeated in World War 1, and the allies imposed crippling reparations on them which damaged the economy.

This gave rise to the Nazis, who promised to restore German power and end unemployment.

The USSR broke up and Communism was ended, but instead of a gradual transition, the West imposed crude American style free market capitalism on the country, this led to massive inequality and led the way to Putin becoming a dictator, and wanting to restore Russian dominance.

Foreign wars are often a distraction, a dictatorial regime in trouble will often use them to divert attention from problems at home, Thatcher, Napoleon and Mussolini all did it.

What's going to happen? I don't know, I just hope the Ukrainian people resist and survive, they have my sympathy and support and I have donated to their relief effort.

I don't have any answers, I'm just a bum who drives a van!

Well Boris is certainly enjoying the media interest reduction at the moment - just when it looked like he was on the edge all his misdemeanours seem forgotten...

Any distraction is a good distraction...!

The Russian Formula One driver Nikita Mazepin has been sacked by Haas with immediate effect. Mazepin's contract has been terminated by the American-owned team following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

His father, the oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, is a part-owner of Haas's title sponsor, Uralkali, and an associate of Vladimir Putin, Russia's president. Haas confirmed its partnership with Uralkali has also been terminated.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/mar/05/russian-driver-nikita-mazepins-f1-contract-terminated-by-haas-team

Ukraine currently leading the Paralympic Games medal table with 3x gold, 3x silver & 1x bronze medals

Vladimir Putin is trolling the world. He is currently the Czar of Trolls.
(I hate trolls. :mad

Well, THIS was absolutely predicted by me.

So why are conservatives all over the world not screaming against refugees from Ukraine flooding across their borders?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgHQknJnuRk
Ukraine War Is Exposing Racial Disparities in Refugee Treatment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXBPKoqnsX0
"Ukrainians Only": Nigerian Student Fleeing War Describes Rampant Racism Against Africans at Border

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N9rjcK4tGE
African Union 'disturbed' by reports of mistreatment of African students in Ukraine FRANCE 24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfhSZV0etsg
Nigeria to rescue Africans facing racial discrimination in Ukraine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUja0J6mMds
Refugees of color face discrimination while fleeing Ukraine

The rice must flow.

This is why I support nuking Putin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtwc8FYvWJA

Just revisited this musical genius.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVEf9NefHAo&list=PLTj1LvOKhcmQafdds8X2iSuZC2knxbisQ&index=3

Are we, "Between the Wars?"

Great tune. And in a similar vein by the same bard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K40KQ5a6KXU

Everything in my life that I love
Could be swept away without warning
Yet the birds still sing and the church bells ring
And the sun came up this morning
Life goes on as it did before
As the country drifts slowly to war

This man is doing remarkable work free bread while the city is being attacked

Please share and donate
https://bit.ly/3unfn9X

Jonathan Przybyl and Angelina Zalutskiy

https://estoetno.com/wp-content/uploads/Ukraine-Go-Fund-Me-Qr-code.pdf