Russia - threadbanned users in OP

No, I do not have to take the persecution delusions of a paranoid schizophrenic as justification for their murderous and barbaric behaviour. Have you ever known a paranoid schizophrenic? I have - their partner justifiably saw them as a threat to themselves and their child and gave them the boot. They didn't think it necessary to have any sympathy for their viewpoint.

Stalin engineered the deaths of 7-10 million Ukrainians in order to stamp out Ukrainian nationalism and as punishment for them wanting to eat some of what they had grown instead of allowing every last ear of grain to be sent to feed Russians in Russia because communism didn't work. Putin is just Stalin Mk II in his attitude, actions and motivations regarding Ukraine. Trying to justify your lie by an implication that Russia’s viewpoint is innately superior to everyone else's is sick-making.

Stalin's actions had nothing to do with centuries past invasion routes and neither does Putin's. It's still about Russia wanting all of what Ukraine has; being mostly it's grain. The fuc​kers are even stealing their children, washing machines, ships full of grain, agricultural equipment, Irish owned aircraft, and all you can see is the bullshit official Russian propagandic justifications. This is about a grab for resources, like the invasion of Iraq, not because NATO have been planning and scheming for a Russian invasion since it's formation, likely to happen any century now. The Mongols were easily the worst invaders the Russians have known, I don't see them pulling this nonsense in the far east because they are afraid of an imminent repeat.

The world does not have to kow-tow to the views of a cleptocracy.

Maybe now, due Putins mis -adventurers Russia as we know it will be under a threat to its very existence , but it will come from within. But even before the invasion of Ukraine, who would be even thinking about invading it? After all, it was supposed to be the 2nd strongest military in the world and with the BOMB, no less!!! Nato, the west etc, were all painted a s being a threat ( wrongly ) but Putin needed a reason to justify his illegal invasion plans. And so we have the big bad NATO and the evil EU. Putin has unleashed a whirlwind that will strengthen the EU and NATO beyond what he could ever have imagined in his wildest dreams, ( or worst nightmares ) but will go a long way to destroying Russia's ability wage war on its Neighbour's for generations.

I do agree with you fully. I am not saying their viewpoint is correct, I am pointing out they have a different perspective with its own logic and fallacies.

This looks like the car is utterly destroyed but then looks like only the petrol tank exploded. Only one escapes.

The potential for use of nuclear weapons has to be factored into any conflict with a nuclear power like Russia, it shapes how the conflict is cirrently being fought.

The Russians control Kazakhstan in much the same manner as they do Belarus. There are geographical barriers that limit Chinas movement (Mongolian steppe, desert, mountains and Amur river). For the time being, Russia has a solid alliance with China (who need them for resources), China has being building their belt and road through the old territories of the Soviet Union and diplomatically extending it's influence. In the face of the United States both are "frenemies" and China is some distance from the heartland.

I think it started out as psychological but has since become something real.

Ukrainians are playing a very clever game with social media, twitter, etc. Far better than anything the Russians have done.

Spokesperson of Operation command "South": some units at Kherson frontline negotiating surrendering their weapons

If you're a Russian solider on the northern bank of the Dnieper, outgunned, outmanned, outfought and down to your last ammo\food with no hope of resupply - and you've just seen the debacle in the east...what do you think they will do? Dying for Putin and the glory of Rossiya suddenly doesn't seem quite so compelling.

And while it may come as a surprise to some, ethnic Russians are not popular in the Republics. Quite incredible though it may seem !

The one that says 'quack that, I'm not getting in that death trap' and runs across the road to get far away from it and hides in the bushes - he needs to be hunted down and eliminated before he gets back to Russia and breeds.

You don't have to look past Kasparov for someone you would like to see replace Putin:

"Their heroism is so refreshing at a time of cynicism. I wish them strength. I believe that we all owe them big. I don’t think we could ever compensate them for the sacrifices they’ve made, not just for their country, but for freedom around the world.

As a Russian citizen – though with the longest record of fighting Putin – I still feel responsible for the suffering that the Ukrainians are suffering and caused by Putin’s criminal regime. We will never be able to repay Ukraine for their sacrifices, heroism, and spirit. Ukraine is a beacon to the free world.

What Ukraine has done has reminded all of us that we had values and ideas worth fighting for – and dying for."

Kasparov himself said some kind of senate should replace Putin. End the autocracy. But yes, Kasparov would make a good politician or even president.

I did say Russia and China are "frenemies". The United States is tactically trying to tie up Chinese military resources with Taiwan, lest they be fed into the Ukraine theatre of war.

The problem with a conventional war against an opponent like Russia is both sides run down conventional weapons stocks quickly. This has been a problem for Ukraine and NATO who have raided armouries globally and shipped the weapons to Ukraine. There is limited production capacity to make new weapons. In a direct confrontation, it won't be long before both sides are down to nuclear weapons. If one side makes a breakout over a large geographical area and can run straight into your heartland, and nothing is left, tactical nukes come into play to arrest the advance.

If one side wants to do mass air raids of civilian or production centers like was done in WW II, the response will be nuclear. Aside from its inefficiency Nuclear weapons are one of the reasons this tactic is abandoned. Last time indiscriminate mass bombing from air happened was the Vietnam conflict (Rolling Thunder, Linebacker & Linebacker II).

Since modern wars tend to involve lots of movement, using geographical features to corral an enemies movement makes sense. Ukraine is currently using this to their advantage in the Kherson region by limiting Russian movement across the Dnipro river. Earlier in the Russian campaign the Russians used movement to create cauldrons and hammer the Ukrainian defences with artillery.

theres a lot going on, Im finding it hard to keep you all updated and in the loop, here's some more snippets

Heavy shelling targeting Vuhlesar for 2 days