Russian Invasion of Ukraine Megathread

[Corpun]

Dunno, attacking Ukraine looks pretty insane, warmongering and retarted to me. I still fail to understand what he undid the last 2 decades of economic development and made Russia the world's pariah for at least the next two generations for.

A harebrained bid to uncouple Russia from the world's economy and build a better Juche doesn't cut it. And sounds retarded and insane.

I won't deny this recent move is bizarre for someone who calculates like he does and we can sit here and argue what his motives exactly were, but I think we can all agree he didn't expect as much resistance as he got and as much backlash via cancel culture that he did.

On the other hand the speed at which Russia was canceled may become a wake up call to people within nations over how the rules of the world are now, and that they can't trust something like SWIFT not to be weaponized against them for bad behavior. We may see the beginning of the death of global financial institutions here if a lot of nations begin pulling out or setting up emergencies for any possible wars or rebellions they may get involved with.

 

[JosephStalin]

That reminds me, people should really look into any "charities" for the refugees, especially if fucking Bono is involved.

Have donated to Save the Children. Been around a long time, very reputable. I wouldn't donate to anything new, could be ripoffs.

 

[Übertroon]

Deputy Commander of the Russian Black Sea fleet was somehow killed in battle.

Edit: Might have jumped the gun, "dying defending the motherland" could also mean that the officer died in an accident while deployed

 

[The Last Boyscout]

Actually, in contrast to the American variant, Russian exoskeletons are not powered. They are entirely mechanical slavish junk at their best, but they relieve up to 100 kilos from the soldier's burden.Energy storage is a huge issue with exoskeletons. Carrying 50 kilos of batteries on your back is not ideal.

the quest for Stillsuit-like energy transformation efficiency continues. well...that or just Fallout-style Power Armor maybe in the case of 'murica.

 

[mindlessobserver]

They should have spend the money on decent comms. Civilian walkie talkies that anyone can listen into seems stupid. The All bling no basics video linked earlier (at c. 40:30) suggests that much has been absorbed by high cost nuclear and other forces, new wunderwaffen like the SU-57 and T-14, that there are serious 'capability gaps' such that most of the vast spending is not relevant to the overall military operation in Ukraine. Now the more recent use of the Kinzhal or dagger suggests some of this spending has been to use, but a relatively new Ukrainian military and militia focussed solely on defence while the Russian focus is dissipated on nuclear and other high cost service arms evens a lot of the apparent force disparity.

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source

Now it isn't wholly clear how well founded the claims of very low morale are. If there are more conscripts than Russia has admitted (it said the only ones found there shouldn't have there), that element likely starts with no morale of speak of given chronic bullying with the 'grandfather' system where young conscripts face rape and physical assault. If the force is largely professional, it has always happened that some soldiers bug out when faced with intense combat, and fake or inflict injuries despite the certainty that combat medics will detect that without much difficulty. The claims might be exaggerated, and remain uncertain. Captured soldiers saying this and that is an uncertain source.

The all Bling, no Basics theory honestly makes alot of sense. People have banged on for awhile how Russia's military spending dwarfs Ukraines, but what they have actually spent on is just as important as how big it is. Russia's field logistics capabiliy 90 Kilometers from a railhead has been identified as a major flaw in their doctrine. It also one they did not try and address prior to this war. They could get away with it fighting in a permissive environment like Syria, or in tiny countries like Georgia. Against a much larger country like Ukraine, not so much. Part of why they've advanced so far in the south is because they've managed to seize much of the railroads in that region. Though the longer this drags on I expect Ukraine partisans are gonna start playing merry hell with the train lines. That's a lot of track and they only need to break it in a few spots to gum up the works. I would be shocked if they haven't made some effort on that front already.

The talk of "low morale" is probably mostly propaganda, and only relates to the conscript forces who don't want to be there anyway. The talk of ammunition issues on the other hand, I am buying. Especially now that we are getting dozens of videos now of unexploded Russian Dumb bombs being gently carted away by the Ukrainians. They've gone through their dependable munitions and are now resorting to using the expired shit. Also explains why Russia has resorted to using Strategic Level rockets (with the nukes removed) instead of normal missiles and rockets. Using a hypersonic Missile that is designed to deliver a nuclear weapon through an air defense grid to blow up an ammunition dump is a huge misallocation of resources, unless of course they literally had no other weapon available to do it.

 

[Lone MacReady]

I won't deny this recent move is bizarre for someone who calculates like he does and we can sit here and argue what his motives exactly were, but I think we can all agree he didn't expect as much resistance as he got and as much backlash via cancel culture that he did.

On the other hand the speed at which Russia was canceled may become a wake up call to people within nations over how the rules of the world are now, and that they can't trust something like SWIFT not to be weaponized against them for bad behavior. We may see the beginning of the death of global financial institutions here if a lot of nations begin pulling out or setting up emergencies for any possible wars or rebellions they may get involved with.

To understand what Russia is trying to do "economically", look no further than America's debased Rothschild dollar ponzi that was forced on the world post-WWII. America can only pay for its shit with fiat lies backed by their nukes, the dollar is completely worthless and is unbacked by anything post-1971. America has been essentially getting a free ride to export its own debt while fending off collapse.

2008 was the wake up call heart attack though, the system died and was put on "can-kick" life support. Nations like Russia and China (displeased with being America's bagholders for 50 years) have been preparing to free themselves from America's ponzi scheme. Just like the central Bankers, Russia and China have been buying up huge amounts of physical Gold in preparation for something (likely the financial reset we are seeing now). I am not sayng Putin or Xi want control for honorable means, they are not honorable. Nor do I think America is an honorable nation, the past 20 years is solid proof. But the Russians and Chinese DO want free from America's rigged system. Even if they only want a rigged system for themselves, their desire to be free from interfearence from the west is true.

America and its Bankerbergs have been showing the world in real time just how much power they have to manuipulate other nation's economies.

 

[gamer2014]

Would be great if Ukrainians took back some of the occupied land (not crimea/dpr/lpr) in the upcoming weeks. Even if it's just villages and small towns.

 

[Corpun]

The Best of Drunk Boris Yeltsin.
Imagine that there are so many that they can make a Best of...

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Let's play a game I like to call who was a bigger stooge? Yeltsin or Zelensky?

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Fyi - the steel production infrastructure in Mariupol where AZOV got kicked out and is now in Russian hands.

I will give the Soviets one thing, they have a way with factories looking dystopic. Ever see Magnitorosk?

Yeah no wonder Russians picked Putin right after

Putin was Yeltsin's PM actually, and likely forced Yeltsin to resign with US backing and help from the oligarchs who by this point realized Yeltsin was a fucking disaster and wouldn't make it to the end of his second term, so he resigned right before the turn of the millenia and Putin became acting president before the election in 2000.

 

[mindlessobserver]

America and its Bankerbergs have been showing the world in real time just how much power they have to manuipulate other nation's economies.

And we haven't even brought in the really big gun, which would be a naval blockade. It would be absolute simplicity to do it too. I expect that card is being saved in case Putin resorts to using Chemical weapons. Or even nukes.

 

[ColtWalker1847]

I won't deny this recent move is bizarre for someone who calculates like he does and we can sit here and argue what his motives exactly were, but I think we can all agree he didn't expect as much resistance as he got and as much backlash via cancel culture that he did.

On the other hand the speed at which Russia was canceled may become a wake up call to people within nations over how the rules of the world are now, and that they can't trust something like SWIFT not to be weaponized against them for bad behavior. We may see the beginning of the death of global financial institutions here if a lot of nations begin pulling out or setting up emergencies for any possible wars or rebellions they may get involved with.

That was always something that was around. The markets of the west are how fortunes are made and it's use as soft power leverage was always on the table. It's just that we have never seen someone intentionally reject it before. It's always been pariah states like the Norks/Iran/Venezuela/Zimbabwe etc that does it and usually for internal reasons.

 

[LUNEKO]

CNN/CBC/The Guardian journalist Neil Hauer got his door busted down (archive) by Ukrainian spooks. He's in Kharkiv right now so there's still hope that Coach Red Pill will eventually be apprehended.
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>Explained that people are just jumpy right now
I wonder if thats what happened to the journalist and conscripts that where killed in Ukrainian controlled territory
"Yo this dude looks weird and doesn't speak Ukrainian or Russian, better shoot first inspect bodies later"

 

[Narcotics]

Interesting video asking ordinary russians if they think ww3 will happen
(don't read the comments, too much autism)
I recommend this channel by the way, it's an good insight on how common russian citizens think of stuff.

 

[Übertroon]

Putin was Yeltsin's PM actually, and likely forced Yeltsin to resign with US backing and help from the oligarchs who by this point realized Yeltsin was a fucking disaster and wouldn't make it to the end of his second term, so he resigned right before the turn of the millenia and Putin became acting president before the election in 2000.

People forget that Putin was a glowie WEF student. He just likely went rogue.

 

[Corpun]

Church is tomorrow and I just remembered the pastor will probably spend 80% of the sermon talking about how evil Russia is and how the two Methodists in Ukraine and taking people into their churches and feeding them and how we need to pray for an end to the violence and 6 gorillion children being sniped while waiting in breadlines.

CNN/CBC/The Guardian journalist Neil Hauer got his door busted down (archive) by Ukrainian spooks. He's in Kharkiv right now so there's still hope that Coach Red Pill will eventually be apprehended.
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How mentally ill are journalists that they think this is fine? Send these fuckers to China and see if they feel the same way when state security barges into their hotel room every half hour.

 

[JosephStalin]

The US can spend so much money that it can crank out three lemons for every one quality piece of new equipment and still have the money to mass produce the one quality piece

Japan has had a debt to GDP ratio of over 200% for decades and somehow has got away with it, the US is at like 120% right now so it can keep it up for a while yet

One big thing re both countries - their debt is denominated in their own money. You know what that means.

Another thing - much of that debt is to their own people, owners/holders of the respective government's bonds/notes/securities.

It's been said China holds as much as $3 trillion of US government securities. Some fret China will just dump these on the market. Please. China would do so at their own peril. "When you owe the bank a thousand dollars, you have a problem. When you owe the bank a million dollars, they have a problem."

If China dumped those securities on the market, they'd be snapped up, but not necessarily for the price they want.
Pro tip: The US Government has never missed an interest payment on applicable securities.

Another pro tip: The USA, for all our foibles, is seen as far more stable than China, Russia, or India. This is why people all over the world who may not like the United States have no problem at all holding dollars and investing in US Government securities. Even the North Koreans love those greenbacks. This is why the US dollar is the world's major reserve currency. The British pound, the Japanese yen, and maybe the Euro are limited alternatives, but the USA is simply bigger and united, where the EU isn't. Seriously, would YOU want to hold much in the way of Chinese yuan? Indian rupees? This stuff with the Saudis dealing in yuan is no big deal. Whatever, they know who watches over them and helps them fighting in Yemen. And face it, any country who has so many people shitting in the street is no candidate for ANY sort of world economic leadership. All you need to know is that India is run by Indians.

 

[introvertedobserver]

Since the war is going so slowly, let me introduce you to one of the silliest things the Russians are claiming to try to field. Meet SOTNIK. a combat suit Russia claims can stop a .50 BMG, how it's going to stop one without turning the wearers insides into liquid mush the world will never know.
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It's not meant to prevent turning the wearer into liquid mush. It's meant to protect the suit itself so it can just be handed off to the next guy. Shit's expensive.

 

[draggs]

One big thing re both countries - their debt is denominated in their own money. You know what that means.

Another thing - much of that debt is to their own people, owners/holders of the respective government's bonds/notes/securities.

It's been said China holds as much as $3 trillion of US government securities. Some fret China will just dump these on the market. Please. China would do so at their own peril. "When you owe the bank a thousand dollars, you have a problem. When you owe the bank a million dollars, they have a problem."

If China dumped those securities on the market, they'd be snapped up, but not necessarily for the price they want.
Pro tip: The US Government has never missed an interest payment on applicable securities.

Another pro tip: The USA, for all our foibles, is seen as far more stable than China, Russia, or India. This is why people all over the world who may not like the United States have no problem at all holding dollars and investing in US Government securities. Even the North Koreans love those greenbacks. This is why the US dollar is the world's major reserve currency. The British pound, the Japanese yen, and maybe the Euro are limited alternatives, but the USA is simply bigger and united, where the EU isn't. Seriously, would YOU want to hold much in the way of Chinese yuan? Indian rupees? This stuff with the Saudis dealing in yuan is no big deal. Whatever, they know who watches over them and helps them fighting in Yemen. And face it, any country who has so many people shitting in the street is no candidate for ANY sort of world economic leadership. All you need to know is that India is run by Indians.

I'm not sure what it is today but back when the debt was 20 trillion, not 30, 13 of it was owed by the US to the US. It's a neat trick.

China has been gradually selling the US debt it holds since Trump took office 5 years ago, I think it's closer to 1 trillion than 3 now.

 

[Random Internet Person]

Perhaps tiresome for some people. To others, that heart shows concern for Ukraine. Some who see that heart may donate to help refugees.

Maybe that’s the case. But there’s also those whose hearts have turned to stone and unable to voice their solidarity and sympathy with the Russians that have been unpersoned. If anything, I think it’ll just keep things how they are and reinforce current feelings.

 

[SSJGPUAR]

That was always something that was around. The markets of the west are how fortunes are made and it's use as soft power leverage was always on the table. It's just that we have never seen someone intentionally reject it before. It's always been pariah states like the Norks/Iran/Venezuela/Zimbabwe etc that does it and usually for internal reasons.

Is the money really worth it when it's tied to your subservience to prog bullshit? The only people getting rich in that kind of culture are the people that need to be lined up against the wall. I think the average kiwi's reliance on and addiction to internet and video game bullshit blinds them to the reality of how many normies would push that reset button.

 

[JosephStalin]

I'm not sure what it is today but back when the debt was 20 trillion, not 30, 13 of it was owed by the US to the US. It's a neat trick.

China has been gradually selling the US debt it holds since Trump took office 5 years ago, I think it's closer to 1 trillion than 3 now.

Believe you are right on that. Again, they have sold it gradually and am sure they had no problem selling the debt.