Russia - threadbanned users in OP

156k refugees already in Poland. Massive queques (20 km) on the Ukaranian side as they have some flow problem as some of the board guards were delegated to fight. Polish side simplified procedures to get them in. People from different parts of Poland drive to border crossings to pick up random Ukrainians and take then home, take them to rented accommodation or a shelter. Hotels are offering hundreds of rooms. Some companies are renting houses to get the families of their Ukrainian employees. I know that one large company rented 200 houses.

Ukrainian cavils stopped a tank by gathering on front of it.

Polish volleyball team refused to play in Russia or against Russia/Belarus.

There are votes being gathered in Russia to start impeachment of Putin.

Poland also waived any visa requirements for Indian students caught in the war, so they can escape to a safe place.

I'm not sure what's the situation form the football World Cup qualifiers, but there are voices that Russia should be kicked in and Ireland taken instead :-)

This is not the 20th century, the Germans like the EU and are happy within NATO. This is a recognition that Russia as an actor cannot be trusted anymore.

Wait til Beasty bans him from boards.ie

Some might say Coronation St. is a form of gay porn

A lot of the troops that have been captured seem to be the conscripts or new recruits.

I think for me what it looks like is they sent their greenest men in to do the initial work because they were less valued, and are holding off for the experienced troops. Although special forces/paratroopers are obviously out and about doing work.

I thinks actually word for word what putin said

There's been a spotting of John Delaney frantically trekking across the North Scandanavian woodlands armed only with with a few contacts in Ireland and a slab of cans in an effort broker a game of football with the Russians.

Whilst we are talking about certain politicians being compromised. I think FIFA now have a huge problem. We all know how easily compromised their officials can be. The correct thing to do right now would be to suspend Russia's membership.

If there is no peace agreement, and Russian troops were to simply withdraw, it leaves us with a situation where there could still be an ongoing conflict in Donbas, and Crimea would still be under de facto Russian control. In order for Ukraine to move on, and accede to the EU and/or NATO, it cannot really remain in this state of partial destabilisation.

Crimea, being overwhelmingly Russia in terms of its people, having previous referenda (before 2014) to move away from Ukraine, and it once being part of Russia proper all mean to me that the Russians have a legitimate claim on it. I'm suggesting to just give it to Russia, but to have a proper internationally-observed referendum to settle the question.

Regarding, Putin's people at home, I'd say they're a bit like Trump's people in the USA. Even if they were exposed to countering versions of events, they wouldn't believe them.

So basically the whole aim of Putin's strategy was to weaken NATO instead countries that were wayward members have been reinvigorated and are bolstering their military. The alliance is more United than it has been over the last 30 years.

Even worse he has exposed the Russian military as a paper tiger that's great at bombing civilians and hospitals but useless when it faces up to another proper army.

No sign of any "Wunderwaffen", no real precision munitions most of their kit is USSR era and appears to be badly maintained. No proper logistical support for the frontline troops. None-frontline assets thrown into frontline positions with disastrous consequences.

Whatever losses the Ukrainians have suffered with equipment and vehicle losses has been countered with the amount of abandoned and undamaged vehicles they have captured. This is a complete and utter sh!t show by the Russians.

If it comes and Kyiv falls, like many have said it will not be the end of the war, Ukraine will start fight hard. But if Zelensky dies, and especially dies in battle, can you imagine the motion and anger that is gonna pour out of Ukrainian people. The bloodlust will be immense.

If that happens captured Russian troops won't be given the option to phone home anymore....