If Russia invades Ukraine (more)...

[cashead]

Russia were allegedly contemplating attacking Japan during the summer of 2021. I guess Vlad's still butthurt over the Russo-Japanese War.

Can't imagine that going too well.

Not sure if the US and Japan have a formal defence agreement, but you can only imagine that such an action would result in even more of a response from the US than he has managed to receive from his Ukraine epic blunder. Also, militarily I'm not sure that Russia could do a great deal to Japan, beyond some naval skirmishing. They would be operating a long way from their supply lines given the amount of forces they would actually need to take and hold ground.

Makes you question even more Putin's sanity.

There is a formal defence agreement, which is the anpo. Some US bases are also residential and in the middle of civilian areas (e.g., the USAF base round the corner from where I grew up in Yokohama, which was housing for USAF personnel and their families), so the Russian tactic of indiscriminate bombing of “military” targets would put them in direct danger.

And the last time Russians and Americans had a skirmish, in Syria a few years ago, it did not go well for the Russians,

[Sandydragon]

Russia were allegedly contemplating attacking Japan during the summer of 2021. I guess Vlad's still butthurt over the Russo-Japanese War.

Can't imagine that going too well.

Not sure if the US and Japan have a formal defence agreement, but you can only imagine that such an action would result in even more of a response from the US than he has managed to receive from his Ukraine epic blunder. Also, militarily I'm not sure that Russia could do a great deal to Japan, beyond some naval skirmishing. They would be operating a long way from their supply lines given the amount of forces they would actually need to take and hold ground.

Makes you question even more Putin's sanity.

There is a formal defence agreement, which is the anpo. Some US bases are also residential and in the middle of civilian areas (e.g., the USAF base round the corner from where I grew up in Yokohama, which was housing for USAF personnel and their families), so the Russian tactic of indiscriminate bombing of “military” targets would put them in direct danger.

And the last time Russians and Americans had a skirmish, in Syria a few years ago, it did not go well for the Russians,

Thanks. I was aware that the US had bases in Japan which would suggest there is a defence treaty, but wasn’t sure. Russia would have to be utterly insane to attack Japan and risk a clash with the US.

[Zhivago]

Photos doing the rounds of Luhansk civilians hanged by Russians for being traitors. I won't share them for obvious reasons, but needless to say, the West really needs to keep sending arms.

First photo: 2 hooded men hanging with sacks on heads with cardboard signs saying in Russian "Traitor of the Luhansk people"
Second photo: 3 hooded men hanging with sacks on heads with cardboard signs saying in Russian "He passed info to enemy. SMERSH."

SMERSH is an acronym for smert' shpionam (death to spies)

[Zhivago]

Just such a messed up country. The fact that such a criminal organisation such as Wagner is supported at the state level, is just obscene.

Some context about my comment:


Some necessary knowledge regarding Russian prison culture:
https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/334535-r ... -explained

[Sandydragon]

Just such a messed up country. The fact that such a criminal organisation such as Wagner is supported at the state level, is just obscene.

Some context about my comment:


Some necessary knowledge regarding Russian prison culture:
https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/334535-r ... -explained

Rape is often used as a means to impose power. The Afghan National Police in the early days after the fall of the Taleban had to be ‘counselled’ about not raping suspects (male or female). Yet homosexuality was very much frowned upon.

[Zhivago]

Russian airbases with strategic bombers Tu-95 were targeted by drones. All the way in Ryazan and Saratov Oblasts. That's a long way. Rumour is that Ukraine has been developing 1000km range 75kg warhead kamikaze drones.

Russia is starting to put its nuclear deterrent at risk for degredation now.

There is a telegram channel that I follow that claims that Putin was told recently by his top leadership that 87% of Russia's nuclear has problems regarding their use. It was also claimed that they informed Putin that soon Ukraine will have (with the help of the 'anglo-saxons') the capability to completely disable the Kerch bridge.

[Banquo]

Bit trivial really, but just shows what an uphill battle it is to ostracise a country

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/63889447

[Zhivago]

[Donny osmond]

Given Russias relationship with the truth he is clearly planning on using nuclear weapons against Ukraine

[Son of Mathonwy]

Given Russias relationship with the truth he is clearly planning on using nuclear weapons against Ukraine

It's just an bluff.

An apocalyptically irresponsible one.

[Zhivago]

Indomitable. Without light and without Russians always better than with light and with Russians. Ignore the warning - it's just people singing at a concert.


https://lyricstranslate.com/en/dumy-thoughts.html-0
http://litopys.org.ua/shevchenko/shev115.htm

[J Dory]

https://www.tortoisemedia.com/listen/londongrad/

"How the Lebedevs partied their way to power" is the headline, but goes on to shine a light on Boris's relationship to Russia, the industry of money laundering, well worth a listen.

[Zhivago]

"Let the war end so that people don't die and suffer. Also, I ask for a chocolate bar and something of your choice, but it's ok if you don't bring anything. P.S. Saint Nicholas be careful, air defense is working" - Nikita.

"Dear St. Nicholas! This year I wanted to ask you to bring me a bike, but I’m not home anymore, so you probably won’t find me. That’s why I’m asking for superpowers for the Ukrainian Armed Forces" - Ihor.

"St. Nicholas! My dad wanted to buy me a new phone, but he died. So I ask you to bring me a new phone if you can" - Anton.

"During the year, I've been a good boy, helping my mom clean the house. I wish you can help Ukrainian Armed Forces, and that my brother comes back alive and well" - Dmytro.

"My father served in the military but died on September 1st. I want to ask you for the most important: that all Ukrainian soldiers live long and win this war. Also, please bring me a night lamp" - Veronika.

etc

[Son of Mathonwy]

"Let the war end so that people don't die and suffer. Also, I ask for a chocolate bar and something of your choice, but it's ok if you don't bring anything. P.S. Saint Nicholas be careful, air defense is working" - Nikita.

"Dear St. Nicholas! This year I wanted to ask you to bring me a bike, but I’m not home anymore, so you probably won’t find me. That’s why I’m asking for superpowers for the Ukrainian Armed Forces" - Ihor.

"St. Nicholas! My dad wanted to buy me a new phone, but he died. So I ask you to bring me a new phone if you can" - Anton.

"During the year, I've been a good boy, helping my mom clean the house. I wish you can help Ukrainian Armed Forces, and that my brother comes back alive and well" - Dmytro.

"My father served in the military but died on September 1st. I want to ask you for the most important: that all Ukrainian soldiers live long and win this war. Also, please bring me a night lamp" - Veronika.

etc

Wars of aggression - as crimes go, second only to genocide. Industrial scale murder.

[cashead]

Grain of salt and all, but apparently Russia have suffered more KIAs in the last 30 days than the entirety of their 9 years invading Afghanistan.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Grain of salt and all, but apparently Russia have suffered more KIAs in the last 30 days than the entirety of their 9 years invading Afghanistan.

That's full-scale war vs fighting a resistance movement.

This should make Russia less likely to try this again. Back to cyberwarfare and invading countries that can't fight back.

[cashead]

On the other hand, you'd expect it would take a hell of a lot longer for the KIA numbers to match what they suffered in a war that went 9 whole-ass years.

[Sandydragon]

On the other hand, you'd expect it would take a hell of a lot longer for the KIA numbers to match what they suffered in a war that went 9 whole-ass years.

Not necessarily. Taking a massive pinch of salt over any casualty numbers, high-intensity warfare will chew through men and equipment far quicker than a counter-insurgency, even against the Mujaheddin at their height. The fighting has been pretty much constant for the last 12 months somewhere, and there is currently a major Russian offensive underway that will be piling up the casualty numbers still further. Whilst vicious, many Russian soldiers would not have seen the Mujaheddin up close and personal in Afghanistan, and many actions were small-scale - a handful of casualties here and there.

[Galfon]

Another hotel related tragic accident
( as with sausages, lean-back often best..)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64101437

[Sandydragon]

Another hotel related tragic accident
( as with sausages, lean-back often best..)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64101437

I love the way the media keeps suggesting these are mysterious incidents. Its fairly clear who is having these anti-Putin Russian dissidents bumoed off.

[Mellsblue]

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/12/27/ge ... opolitics/

[twitchy]

[Son of Mathonwy]

Love it. From the waiting area it looks like the Brexit was going to decimate the UK's population (other than the population of nurses, which would double). Unless it's only foreigners that get ill, of course.

[Sandydragon]

Totally agree, but did you mean to post that in this thread?

[twitchy]

lol .....er no