Russia Invades Ukraine. Volume 4

[TheJimi]

BikeBikeBIke said:

This is a bit leftfield, but the Hague is one way Putin can leave power without being dead or ending up in a Russian prison. If he can get himself to the Hague he will die of old age after a safe, comfortable retirement writing his memoirs. That may not appeal to him - I'd grasp it with both hands.

To paraphrase Mhairi Black's recent turn of phrase -

That, as a concept, is fur the burds

I mean, on paper it makes sense, but I'd be willing to bet that Putin would give it approximately zero consideration as a strategy.

Edited by TheJimi on Saturday 18th March 16:37

[BikeBikeBIke]

TheJimi said:

BikeBikeBIke said:

This is a bit leftfield, but the Hague is one way Putin can leave power without being dead or ending up in a Russian prison. If he can get himself to the Hague he will die of old age after a safe, comfortable retirement writing his memoirs. That may not appeal to him - I'd grasp it with both hands.

To paraphrase Mhairi Black's recent turn of phrase -

That, as a concept, is fur the burds

I mean, on paper it makes sense, but I'd be willing to bet that Putin would give it approximately zero consideration as a strategy.

...and if he tried to do it someone from the inner circle would shoot him in the face - if he goes they are Gadaffi.

I still like it.

[BikeBikeBIke]

Wagner seriously threatening Russians:

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/163713083...

You can see why the leadership need to kill them all in battle.

[spookly]

BikeBikeBIke said:

Wagner seriously threatening Russians:

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/163713083...

You can see why the leadership need to kill them all in battle.

Is Nazi the new go to justification in russia. Everyone who is currently doing anything they don't like, including their own countrymen, instant Nazi label.

[RichFN2]

BikeBikeBIke said:

This is a bit leftfield, but the Hague is one way Putin can leave power without being dead or ending up in a Russian prison. If he can get himself to the Hague he will die of old age after a safe, comfortable retirement writing his memoirs. That may not appeal to him - I'd grasp it with both hands.

Edited by BikeBikeBIke on Saturday 18th March 16:22

He is the wealthiest man on the planet, completely power obsessed and is willing to kill 1000's of innocent people in an attempt to force his idea of a new soviet union. He wants to go down in history as a great Russian dictator and if his last chapter of his life is in prison then that will be a humiliating failure.

You could argue he has failed already but he still has full control and power, plus access to all his wealth (within Russia)

I also think he is completely paranoid and being an ex KGB agent knows all about torture methods used to gain information. I'm also not 100% convinced the public would be happy with him being allowed to live in a prison cell.

[Richard-G]

spookly said:

BikeBikeBIke said:

Wagner seriously threatening Russians:

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/163713083...

You can see why the leadership need to kill them all in battle.

Is Nazi the new go to justification in russia. Everyone who is currently doing anything they don't like, including their own countrymen, instant Nazi label.

A poster a week a ago said the same. The word nazi and fighting nazis is popular in Russia at the moment it seems. What do populist a holes do? Repeat a phrase/joke/act that works to get the public riled up. It's working well, but it won't last forever! The word has lost and is losing all its meaning.

[bloomen]

Nazi means something different in the Russian psyche. It's primarily those who want to destroy the Russian/ Soviet way of life.

I doubt the Jewish aspect crosses their mind very often.

[BikeBikeBIke]

bloomen said:

Nazi means something different in the Russian psyche.

That sounds plausible. I'd like to see a definition from a Russian POV.

[Bodo]

In other news, In Mozhaysk, Moscow region, a fifth grader put out the local Eternal Flame with a fire extinguisher - but not in the usual way. Method shown in tweet video

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/16370594259942...

[WindyCommon]

BikeBikeBIke said:

bloomen said:

Nazi means something different in the Russian psyche.

That sounds plausible. I'd like to see a definition from a Russian POV.

Banderite is another apparent trigger-phrase.

Edited by WindyCommon on Sunday 19th March 10:40

[BikeBikeBIke]

BikeBikeBIke said:

bloomen said:

Nazi means something different in the Russian psyche.

That sounds plausible. I'd like to see a definition from a Russian POV.

On reflection I'm not convinced. Why would Putin have to caveat Nazi with "In it's new form." if it meant something different to them?

[myvision]

Russian media reported that Putin arrived in #Mariupol by helicopter. There, he drove around several micro-districts of the city and allegedly talked to the locals.

https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/163734207...

[RichFN2]

BikeBikeBIke said:

BikeBikeBIke said:

bloomen said:

Nazi means something different in the Russian psyche.

That sounds plausible. I'd like to see a definition from a Russian POV.

On reflection I'm not convinced. Why would Putin have to caveat Nazi with "In it's new form." if it meant something different to them?

I suspect the reason Nazi is often used by Russia to describe 'the enemy' is because every Russian knows they were the last army to invade Russia, and on route to Moscow they killed millions in Belarus, Ukraine and southern Russia.

They are taught from a young age that the red army defeated the Nazi's and saved the world. Most towns in the affected areas of Belarus and Russia will have an external flame burning with a memorial to those who lost their lives in WW2.

It's the easiest way to get the brainwashed public to believe Putin is doing the right thing.

[TopTrump]

myvision said:

Russian media reported that Putin arrived in #Mariupol by helicopter. There, he drove around several micro-districts of the city and allegedly talked to the locals.

https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/163734207...

If that was really him, and not a doppelganger, that is pretty ballsy.

[BikeBikeBIke]

TopTrump said:

If that was really him, and not a doppelganger, that is pretty ballsy.

Agree. Or to use a different word: Desperate.

[rigga]

Considering the amount of hiding and staying far away from folk, I suspect it's not him.

[Digga]

rigga said:

Considering the amount of hiding and staying far away from folk, I suspect it's not him.

It’s like the Russians version of whack-a-mole.

[CrutyRammers]

We've become used to huge daily loss claims, but yesterday was a standout from a vehicle perspective. 20 tanks, 25 apcs, 8 artillery pieces...there was either a big depot hit or a very bad day for some attackers.

[Hereward]

CrutyRammers said:

We've become used to huge daily loss claims, but yesterday was a standout from a vehicle perspective. 20 tanks, 25 apcs, 8 artillery pieces...there was either a big depot hit or a very bad day for some attackers.

There's a video on Reddit from yesterday of 10 static Russian tanks being destroyed in one night in Donetsk by drone drops. No idea if true or not.

[spookly]

MYOB said:

rigga said:

Considering the amount of hiding and staying far away from folk, I suspect it's not him.

This.

The photo of "Putin" on the front page of the BBC looks a bit younger and more healthy looking than recent footage of Putin that I've seen.

So I agree. Good chance it isn't Putin.