Russia launches invasion of Ukraine - MASTER THREAD

[billeau2]

Impossible to answer absolutely the question of whether it was coup or not in 2014 - seems to be mostly a matter of semantics. For sure there was much more going on behind the scenes than a simple popular outpouring of opposition... what does seem clear is that forces unknown but probably linked some of the more Europhile / Anti-Russian Ukrainian oligarchs opened fire and on both police and protestors during the Maidan protests which led - predictably - to an extreme police response and the ultimate downfall of Yanukovich.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJhJ6hks0Jg

We also know from the leaked Nuland - Pyatt call that the US seems to have had a major say in deciding which of the various possibilities ended up in charge of Ukraine following the departure of Yanukovich - further that their choice ran specifically counter to the wishes of EU members who probably would have prefered someone more moderate and less corrupt. -. We also know that various European leaders were openly supporting and encouraging the protest movement.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26079957

Yanukovichs reasons for choosing Putin's deal over the EU are also not immediately clear cut... the EU deal would have imposed restrictions on his relationship with Russia and Putin also offered a loan equal to the EUs but possibly on even better terms... further the Ukrainian population particularly that of the Eastern regions where Yanukovich had much of his support was strongly pro- Russian whilst the West of the country and Kiev where the protests were focused were very much in favour of closer integration with Europe... Absolutely Russia was putting pressure on him but then so was the EU and so was the US.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...9BI0DZ20131219

https://thewashingtonstandard.com/do...kraine-abroad/

Basically a fkn mess. I suspect the only thing that was really genuine and united the Ukrainian people was disgust at the ongoing corruption and authoritarianism which sadly continued more or less unabated with the transfer of power.

In short Ukraine is a deeply divided country caught up in a tug of war between rival polical economic and strategic factiors beyond it's borders. For now the immediate problem is quite clear and it's kinda a distraction arguing over the why's and wherefores ... Putin's miliatary war of aggression against the Ukrainian people must be stopped.


свобода для України


Untangling the mess of power plays and bullchit that led to it is a seperate issue. Just so sad that once again the machinations of great powers led to tragedy for those caught in the middle... like it always does.

what is that I hear? the clear sound/look of reason making an appearance. Make way! Make way! Ive just heard the atomic bomb on the Japanese referred to as "noble" I really needed a post like this to restore my faith in humanity.

[Clegg]

Things looking bad for the week ahead, Russia starting to take more and more control.

While Russian troops in the north and east of Ukraine have struggled to seize important targets, including the capital Kyiv, their advance into southern Ukraine appears to be more successful.

Russia sees the south as vital to the success of its invasion, and has been laying siege to several southern cities and captured the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is Europe's largest.

The operation in the south was launched from Crimea, which was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014 and is home to a sizeable Russian military presence.

On Wednesday, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said that Russia has a "sophisticated and healthy architecture" there.


Russian troops are moving into Ukraine from Crimea, spreading east towards Mariupol and west towards Odesa, threatening to cut off Ukraine's maritime access which would inflict huge economic damage on the country.

"Strategically, there are major ports in that region that really allow Putin's forces to strangle any ability for Ukraine to be supplied via sea," Karl Qualls, professor of history and Russia specialist at Dickinson College, told the BBC.

To the east of Crimea, Russian forces are pushing to Mariupol, a city of 450,000 people, which is encircled and coming under heavy shelling. Water and power supplies have been cut off, and residents have told the BBC that they are terrified.

If Mariupol falls, it would give Russia control of one of Ukraine's biggest ports and create a land corridor between Crimea and the Russian-backed regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.

Connecting Crimea with mainland Russia via the rebel-held areas would make it much easier for Russia to move goods and people to and from Crimea. Russia has wanted this since 2014, when the conflict in the east began.

Currently the peninsula is connected to the Russian mainland only via a single bridge, built at great expense after the Russian annexation.

Nuclear power plant seized

North-west of Mariupol, Russia has seized the Zaporizhzhia power plant. In normal times the plant produces around 20% of Ukraine's electricity, so by taking it Russia controls a significant portion of Ukraine's possible power supply.

The Russian military has also occupied the city of Kherson which is located where the Dnieper river meets the Black Sea, a important location for troops to move further into Ukraine.

"We're seeing them exploit the capture of Kherson," Dr Jack Watling from the Royal United Services Institute told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "They're now on the western side of the Dnieper and able to push both further up the river and towards Odesa."

If Russia is able to move further west, to Odesa and beyond, it would not only cut off Ukraine's access to the sea but also surround the country on three sides.

"If they take Odesa, they have a key city to create a strategic arc around Ukraine. With Belarus in the north and Donbas to the east, they've all but encircled the country," Catherine Wanner, professor of history and Russia and Ukraine expert at Penn State University, told the BBC.

[GrandpaBernard]

Things looking bad for the week ahead, Russia starting to take more and more control.

Pro-Russian state Transnistria with a direct border west of Ukraine could get involved

and help take Odessa

thousands of Russian troops have already been spotted in Transnistria

its an unrecognized breakaway state that loves Russia. Doubt they care if the world ostracizes them

[Boxing-1013]

Russia just passed a law that jails anyone who refers to the Russian War in Ukraine as a “war” or an “invasion” for 15 years in prison.

Boxing-1013

This is totally like what they do in the west as well right boxing-1013?

Yes, actually. You were saying? Are you going to man up and have some humility or just double down and move the goalposts?

https://multipolarista.com/2022/03/0...lovakia-czech/

[Boxing-1013]

Someone was just arguing with me that Russians enjoy more freedom than Canadians and Americans. Might have been that guy. He was all over the place with his argument but anyway, I wonder if this makes him see the light finally.

Nope, never claimed that. I said the difference in many cases, wasn't that much. And it isn't. I outlined examples but you're too stupid to think critically. If you support the wrong cause in the West/US/Canada, you are more and more likely to be ostracized and have your rights taken away.

This is obvious to anyone paying even a bit of attention. Every comment you guys post is so stupid and narrow minded lol.

[Boxing-1013]

See the light, probably not. Heavily brainwashed that gentleman is. Possibly a Kremlin stooge, his pro Russia comments have been appalling, truly something you’d see right out of the Russian state TV or from the nut job YouTubers who are so anti US imperialism that they find themselves being pro Russian imperialism.

Lol.

"Everyone who disagrees with me is a Russian stooge" lol

You guys are emblematic of our compromised media and politicians. The difference though - is those people are pushing for this war and pushing all the propaganda because they stand to benefit from it, or seem to think they will.

You guys are just useful idiots lol. Enjoy being dumb Jim, you can't help it really.

[Robbie Barrett]

Yes, actually. You were saying? Are you going to man up and have some humility or just double down and move the goalposts?

https://multipolarista.com/2022/03/0...lovakia-czech/

Many countries have laws about genocide denial, approval etc. They didn't change them for this Russian WAR like the article is trying to make out.

[JimRaynor]

the cornerstone of your country's foreign policy is the Munroe doctrine , no hostiles powers in the western hemisphere , if the Canadians decided they wanted China there , the American government would the same as Russia , they would invade. do you remember the Cuban missile crisis? The Americans wouldn't have it and Putin won't have it either. What do you think will happen when Russia conquers Ukraine, how do you think they are gonna hold it if that's what they want to do?

The difference is Ukraine is not a hostile entity, nor is Europe. Russia is the only one who has invaded 3 different times in the past 15 years on that continent. It’s backward, repressive, and authoritarian, and anyone buying their propaganda about being afraid of NATO rather than seeing their actions for what they are, which is imperial ambition to restore the Soviet Union/Russian Empire, is either a willing idiot or part of the propaganda.

[Robbie Barrett]

Russia has banned facebook. Russia is now north Korea.

[ralex]

Things looking bad for the week ahead, Russia starting to take more and more control.

the media making it sound like Russia was struggling lol.

Ukraine was always going to lose this no matter how much the media was spinning Russia’s problems

and the rest of the world is busy “condemning “ Russia but doing nothing to help Ukraine


words don’t mean a thing to the people of Ukraine. They need help