Ukraine (Mod Note & Threadbanned Users in OP)

One particularly and not especially encouraging take on the mindset of the average Russian in the replies to this video of captured Russian servicemen on Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/t7cbkj/another_interview_with_captured_russians_if_this/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

The basic premise of the insightful and lengthy commentary is that, although Putin is the head of the beast, he is surrounded by loyalists and a military/petrochemical industrial complex which have a lot to lose or gain in this conflict.

The entire mindset of the average Russian, whilst undoubtedly influenced and swayed by a totally one-sided propogandist and pro Putin media, is as equally if not moreso influenced or institutionalised by a fear of the West going right back through the cold war and (justifiedly even moreso) by the collective experience of the Great Patriotic war where the invasion from the West caused the deaths of 20 million Russians. Russia has not moved on from this mindset and it has served Putin well to perpetuate this "operation" as a continuation of this struggle against the threat from the West and all its evils (Whilst ironically at the same time embracing all the trappings of Capitalism).

Unfortunately, it would seem that merely overthrowing Putin or beheading the senior military command, who equally benefit from this mindset will still not be enough to convert the average Russian from this albeit outdated, but nonetheless historically justified, fear of the West.

Labels are lazy, true! but essential for war and the simpler the better to convince those on either side typically already convinced and with little to interest in any analysis, any possibility of another side of the story.

Anyone who believes anything at face value and especially claims during a war, you might want to read the story of the late Pat Tillman, ask his fooled suffering parents what they now think.

Those who think this all started out the blue - 2016 A documentary directed by Oliver Stone on Ukraine, and a warning of events that have now transpired. Mainly the investigative work of Robert Parry an American investigative journalist, best known for his role in covering the Iran-Contra affair.

Paddy taxpayer about to be rode good and hard based on Helen McEntees words on Radio 1 News at 1

generous freebies for any amount of Ukies

Before reading this, yes I am very well aware that Western forces engaging Russian forces directly is a very bad thing. But bear with me.

There is a tiny part of me that wonders if Putin would really launch nukes if there were some undercover western troops operating in Ukraine. We could just use the Putin excuse book, "What uniforms, sure you can buy these anywhere, no we're just regular Ukranians, doing regular Ukranian stuff" and "we're holding manoeuvres, what you mean war? According to you guys there is no war" and of course "we know where Putin is and we have 100 nukes aimed at his ass, whatcha gonna do?"

My theory being that Putin would indeed launch nukes if Russia's territory was attacked directly, but what would happen if peacekeeping or undercover units were in Russia's way in Ukraine at any give opportunity, would Putin launch over something he can't directly prove? And if Putin is willing to launch on a whim in any case, then this indicates that this madman needs to be stopped and put in his place.

In short, my bet is that Putin won't launch nukes when we interfere in his illegal war against a soverign country since he has no business being there in the first place. At least if we use the exact same bullsh*t playbook Russia does. Maybe we should throw down the chips and demand to see Putin's hand, because I say he's bluffing. He won't risk WWIII over Ukraine.

Agreed. People don't realise how much of this war is being fought using information and media. Ukrainian propaganda would have you believe that the Ukrainians are routing the demoralised starving Russians with ruthless efficiency and holding the lines in glorious defiance. The Russians would have you believe that everything is going according to plan and the losses are over reported and the delays, just minor inconveniences. Somewhere in the middle is the truth, but we will not know the real story for many years I would say. We need to be very careful speculating based on information as it comes to us. War creates chaos and confusion and we see only a snippet of the real story.

I really think the government need to run a campaign about awareness of consuming this war time propaganda. It can be extremely damaging as we have seen from the truck attack on the Russian Embassy. A normal-ish (for Ireland) man driven to extremes because of the upsetting images from the war. There are ordinary people leaving their wives and kids to take up arms in Ukraine. If they are killed we will never know, if they are captured I dread to think what will happen. If we were a middle eastern country the world would see this as radicalisation.