Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Text of Timothy Snyder's briefing to the United Nation's Security Council called by Russia to discuss "Russiaphobia".

His response to a question by the Russian representitive is (not to put too fine a point on it) fu*king brilliant.

TLDR: It's a load of bollocks and the biggest threat to Russian "culture" is Russia itself.

One tactic that could be used is for Ukraine or the west to engage direct communication with Prigozhin.

That would feed his ego and encourage him further to go against Putin and also may force Putin's hand to initiate whatever plans he has against Prigozhin.

Great piece by Snyder. It should be sent to the dreadful Edward Horgan, another of the Irish Times letter-writing ship of useless fools:

The level of whataboutery is stunning: Horgan mentions Afghanistan, only to condemn the USA and NATO: the root of the problemL the earlier Russian invasion and occupation is of course neglacted. Horgan also refers to Iraq, nover mentioning that Gulf War I was waged e to counter an invasion of a peaceful neighbour - Kuwait. As for Gulf War II, while it was a bad misstake, it did not witness the almost genocidal behaviour of the Russian invaders, and Iraq was never a benign peaceful place under Saddam.

There are lots of people on the Western/Ukrainian side who are asking these questions. If people want to plug their ears and shout "orc propagandist", that is fine.

I'm not plugging my ears, if something seems strange or a little off, there's probably a reason. And low and behold it's all based on a solider giving inaccurate information. Something we've seen before unfortunately.

Kupol isn't an isolated incident. Here's what an intelligence officer fighting in Vuhledar had to say only today.

I hope that I am wrong, and you and most people here are right. I hope the Russians are actually close to exhaustion and that a sweeping counter offensive can liberate a large part of occupied Ukraine this Spring. Unfortunately I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Invoking Godwin a bit, but these "You are all only just pro-Ukraine" bot arguments make me wonder how a 1940's Boards would discuss the antics of Nazi Germany.

When dealing with an obvious totalitarian facist regime like these, I don't feel like there is a possibility to have a debate where both sides can possibly be shown to be "in the right". The facist regime, in the process of trying to erase another nation, can't be defended without simply lying. The Nazis of the past and Russia of today cannot be defended unless your moral compass is broken or entirly missing, and the fact that debates tent to point to Russia being in the wrong isn't becuase of just opinion, but because reality made it that way.

Russia is in the wrong. No amount of counter-opinion (be it real or bot-generated) will change that.

Save this post folks. It shall age well. Regarding the "temper tantrums", they are fortunately part of the usual life-cycle of the low-postcount/ pro-russian keyboard warriors. Observe:

1. Re-register on Boards

2. Underestimate the intelligence and overestimating the gullibility of the good people of the thread by posting the usual diatribe.

3. Frustration sets in due to the reaction to the easily-refuted "facts" and predictions.

4. Frustration leads to temper tantrums.

5. Temper tantrums lead to behaviour unbecoming of a boardsie.

6. The low-postcount comrade is removed.

And the cycle begins. Again and again.

Sad way to spend your Paddy's Day lad.

Spotted this a few minutes ago. A very old, Polish-built and designed trainer aircraft, the T-11, just airborne over Poland. This aircraft was withdrawn from service in 2011. Its most unusual to see one airborne. There are 30 left in roughly flyable condition. With 4 hard points on the wings, a possible aircraft for Ukraine?

In the right hands, it would make a great straffer, rocket platform or light ground-attack. Reminds me of our venerable Fouga Magister back in the day.

Just another day of the muskovytes beating Ukraine to the punch by attacking in the snow and mud:

4 hours lifespan on the Frontline... It's close, but I'd say Beasty works quicker

I have to say that the quality of trolling was much better at the start of the Russian invasion proper. In most instances they were at least attempting to give the illusion of good faith before overstepping and getting squashed with the banhammer.