Russian Invasion of Ukraine Megathread

[UmQasaan]

In the 30 years of its existence, Ukraine has seen six presidents, and one acting president. Of the six people to hold the office previous to the current president, five relinquished power when they lost the election, and the sixth was technically impeached hence why one of those five people held the office in an "acting" capacity.

As far as most westerners are concerned, that's good enough. Power transfers at elections, or when the legislative body impeaches the leader. No one refusing to give up power despite their term being up. No one pushing the legislature into altering term limits to let them keep running for reelection. For that matter the legislature is made up of multiple political parties with the largest controlling little more than half the seats. All in all, it's more or less functioning as a democracy. Is it without things to criticize? Of course not. But that's not exactly unusual for governments, including democratic ones.

Presidents relinquishing power after numbers are out and certain bodies of legislation changing with multiple parties is certainly a low and hollow bar to set. If you want to go that route, we should start calling Mexico a democratic country with “flaws”. Your gross oversimplification of what constitutes “democratic” is exactly why moronic takes like these are so baffling.

It’s the failure to understand the underlying issues that the appeasing veneer of these democratic processes in countries don’t show. The banning of political parties, attack of journalists, suppressing of television networks would suggest its more than merely “flawed” but actively deceitful.

The Dichotomy with democracy and autocracy are ridiculous. You don’t put Ukraine in the same category as Finland, in the same way you don’t put Mexico in the same category as Canada. Ukraine is not a full or even flawed democracy. Its on a spectrum, and classified as a hybrid regime.

 

[White_N]

In other news,
View attachment 3235509

you can track the ship here

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:713276/zoom:10

Moscow may have drowned, but the spirit of Moscow will make the oil flow

Really I'm not sure why people sneer so much at the washing machine thing

+

Sure it's unbelievable that they'd steal something so bulky. Normally loot is small portable and valuable items.

You answered your own question. Well done.

It is ridiculous to say that there is no looting at all; this is a war and something like this will inevitably happen.

But when the Ukrainian and Western media write that Russian soldiers cannot afford a washing machine and toilet or have never seen them at all and do not know how to use them, the only thing that is appropriate is to laugh about it.

 

[IKOL]

Really I'm not sure why people sneer so much at the washing machine thing.

Farms are not the best place to ask this silly question, darling, but perhaps the Ukrainian official would explain you how Russian soldiers are seeing roads, toilets, baths etc. for the first time, and that because of they invaded the neighbor.

 

[Smity Werbenjagermanjensen]

Not sure if they even had S-300 in the sector, considering that Kiev was bombed with common cruise missiles without much opposition. The whole point of hyper sonic missiles is there ability to change there trajectory mid-flight several times, which would make interception difficult for modern anti-missile systems, which, in a funny way, can be used to bomb anti-missile installations to make way for older and slower missiles.

This really isn't anything revolutionary however, it's the classic example of an arms race, newer anti-missile systems will come up in a couple years tops and counter those brand-new hypersonic missiles, which will cause newer, faster hypersonic missiles to be developed to try and counter those brand new anti-missile systems.

 

[Bananadana]

AP accompanies Zelensky's SBU as they kidnap Ukrainians who speak out against the regime.

Old reporting about the Azovs. The Media is really doing a great job whitewashing these faggots

View attachment 3233385

This really hits differently after reading one of the sources from that french nato guy someone posted earlier.
Its an OSCE PDF with around 70 pages of torture reports about the Ukie gov.
Written Gore. And quite a lot in fact.

Spoiler: A word about the SBU

These people can expect to get tortured by various acts, including but not limited to:
Fake Shooting Squads, real shootings, firing a gun next to their ear, electrocution, waterboarding, rape, brutalizing various bodyparts such as running over someones legs or taking a sledgehammer to them, being sent into live minefields and last but certainly not least having your family threatened by or around during some or all of the above. Few things left out, but please go read it yourself if you can stomach it, its quite educational. All to get fake confessions btw.

Seriously, NEVER EVER GET ARRESTED BY THE UKIE GOV FOR "SUPPORTING RUSSIA". Shoot your way out if necessary. Die in a chase, not in their dungeons.
These people make Guantanamo look like a hotel in comparison if only half of these pages are real.
(all from 2016, way before the war went "hot" , from a pro-western "kosher"source btw. I dont even want to start to imagine what they will do to their victims now.)
Trying to whitewash the SBU alone is some hardcore shit. Like a journo going "yeah we may have waterboarded some sandniggers at gitmo, but fuckem, DEMOCRACY RULEZ! right ?"
This is a camera team following around glowies as they abduct innocent people to torture and people are fine with it. WHAT THE FUCK.

The man they abduct in the beginning even looks like both he and his wife? know whats coming aint some kinda miranda-rights good cop-bad cop bullshit.
Those are not the faces of someone getting a fine for hatespeech. Those are the faces or pure terror.

Casually begging the nato-sponsored glowies to not torture your husband to death for shitposting - #justukrainethings
Filming it like its an episode of COPS:Ukraine Edition. Anti-Cop leftists cheer. - #justdemocraticthings

Fucking surreal to see this on mainstream TV like the guy is totally just "going to the pd for thumbprints or whatever bro"
instead of going to a mexican-drug-cartel-torture level hell for shitposting online.
Also R I P.
People love to see it. A man gets taken to what i assume is a torture dungeon (FOR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS) and people in the comments are like
"stop being karen mc contrarian, this is good bro, traitors = bad".

Spoiler: We did it Youtube

For the first comment. "With respect" my ass.

Also, for the Pro-Ukie guys here, this is why i dont like the Ukrainian government or culture and think Russia is objectively good to put an end to these fellas.

Spoiler: inb4 i end up like the blue shirt guy

We (the west) should have nipped this in the bud instead of just brushing these psychopaths under the rug as useful (because anti-russian) idiots.
Even if you hate Russia (ie if you are butthurt polish man or ukie lol), this is retarded.
There is nothing good about torturing prisoners like a complete animal. Nothing to be gained. No sense or purpose. Just pure evil for the sake of being evil.
This ex-soviet boomer would have been quiet and gotten the message right then and there. Look at their faces. Nothing will be gained from his torture but a fake confession.
The real russian spies/saboteurs are 1000% not working like that poor (horrendously bad opsec practicing) fucker. They are clearly all still posting here too.
The war wont be helped. Its just a few (hundred now lol) traumatized civilians and bad PR. These soldiers should be fighting Russians instead of shitposters.

But the Russians will shoot back eh ? Or the chechens who will just shoot everything without anything special happening.
Nah, lets go to terrorize Pavel the baker with a ruski flag on facebook and his family and play irl jannie trannie in an unused tacticool outfit instead.
Thats surely going to win the war. I tell you, once they get to 800 innocent people abducted, the russian forces will totally crumble. Somehow.
At 1488 arrested "saboteurs", Putin will surely die of a heart attack. The muscovite rus menace will have been entirely wiped out. Totally dude.
Orkraine STRONK No shitposters allowed. SNEED HEIL !!11!1

Although it does make you kinda jelly that you dont get to run an RWDS to fuck up shit with a western TV crew filming a cute little PR clip to whitewash your adventures.
Just a shame they are cowards that dont even go on any adventures. Id love to see a car chase with a real saboteur. A police shootout with military gear.
Some spy action behind enemy lines. Some real heroism. Hell, hand the Azov idiots a go-pro before they go into urban warfare.
Dont film some facebook boomer being abducted to get waterboarded for tactical shitposting. (Although the video evidence for abductions for bullshit reasons is neat i have to admit.)
Thats neither fun nor tacticool at all. Thats what you call a grade A irl-gay-op. Also dead Ukrainian civilians still wont win the war for the Ukraine.

 

[Spicey McHaggis]

Still does not mean that Russia should give this advantage. I don't know how efficient American anti-missile defense systems would be in case of real war, but cost of interceptors would not be a problem for America if preemptive strike policy would be adopted, that's for sure.

From what's been publicly released, current missile defense would be useless against a large scale, high tech missile attack. It's currently geared more toward a smaller scale attack from say North Korea, or protection from a limited nuclear exchange. Personally I suspect that's the truth, because if you actually have a system that could reliably intercept damn near every incoming warhead, you would be damn sure to let the world know. It would make for one hell of a "don't fuck with us", and it would be one of the most impressive technological feats of the last several decades.

 

[White_N]

Russian businesses entered Melitopol. This morning, the opening of the Mera supermarket took place at 48/1 Kirova Street, on the premises of the former ATB store. The opening of the supermarket created a big stir among local residents, whose queue stretched for several tens of meters. Instead of ATB – Measure.

In Melitopol, a supermarket chain has been renamed, and payment for goods in rubles is being introduced. (Now it is possible to pay in rubles and hryvnia). It is also known about the introduction of the Russian ruble into circulation on May 1 in Kakhovka, Kherson region.

In the Ukrainian trench. Panzerfaust 3.

 

[Feline Supremacist]

@Bananadana Who's the orc now?

And for anyone wondering, this is what's in store for us if that former resident of Ukraine is allowed to be the head of the DGB in the USA. Her and that speciously named department should be defunded and canceled immediately.

 

[ShittlerNiggler]

AP accompanies Zelensky's SBU as they kidnap Ukrainians who speak out against the regime.

Old reporting about the Azovs. The Media is really doing a great job whitewashing these faggots

View attachment 3233385

Drop them out of an airplane over russia so they can go to the country they like so much.
Without a parachute of course.

 

[IKOL]

Drop them out of an airplane over russia so they can go to the country they like so much.
Without a parachute of course.

Pro-Ukraine civil supporters, everyone.

Why are you bitches keep proving me right, I swear to God...

 

[Maurice Caine]

Let me know if you guys think this sounds reasonable or realistic or not.

You're lowballing it, just tell us what you actually think. But I know you know that nobody knows the real numbers. And probably won't get to knowing for a while. Shit happens bro.

 

[kuuu]

In accordance with Ukrainian laws, that babushka is literally an exposed criminal for flying a Soviet banner. 5 to 10 years in prison.

 

[White_N]

Footage of the evacuation of 46 civilians from houses nearby to Azovstal

During the day, 25 civilians came out, and at night, another group of civilians (21), taking advantage of the silence regime, left the residential buildings nearby the territory of the Azovstal metallurgical plant.

 

[Regenbogen]

Footage of the evacuation of 46 civilians from houses nearby to Azovstal

During the day, 25 civilians came out, and at night, another group of civilians (21), taking advantage of the silence regime, left the residential buildings nearby the territory of the Azovstal metallurgical plant.

View attachment 3235730

just confirms they were taken hostage

 

[White_N]

just confirms they were taken hostage

Here's another video.
Many people don't like interviews, but what else to post?

---

People who managed to leave the Azovstal plant today said that they left the shelter on their own and did not know about the buses. They went out at their own risk. "We made our way through the destroyed fence."

The woman also said that although the Azov were kind to the children and gave them sweets and chocolates, they also intimidated adults into staying there.

 

[ShittlerNiggler]

Pro-Ukraine civil supporters, everyone.

Why are you bitches keep proving me right, I swear to God...

Not even pro-ukraine, just hate traitors

 

[Regenbogen]

Not even pro-ukraine, just hate traitors

Ukraine was created through treason to the Russian Empire

 

[UVB-76]

Still does not mean that Russia should give this advantage. I don't know how efficient American anti-missile defense systems would be in case of real war, but cost of interceptors would not be a problem for America if preemptive strike policy would be adopted, that's for sure.

I'm not saying Russia should give up any advantage. I'm saying that first strikes are unthinkable. Look, American anti-missile defenses are Good™. The problem is, when it comes to nukes "good" doesn't cut it. The guys in charge estimate that they'd need to launch two interceptors for every warhead to make up for failures. In case of a real war, there would be warheads coming through.
It is definitely a problem for America, because it's completely unsustainable to buy two interceptor vehicles for every Russian warhead plus spares.

Not sure if they even had S-300 in the sector, considering that Kiev was bombed with common cruise missiles without much opposition. The whole point of hyper sonic missiles is there ability to change there trajectory mid-flight several times, which would make interception difficult for modern anti-missile systems, which, in a funny way, can be used to bomb anti-missile installations to make way for older and slower missiles.

Yeah, at hypersonic velocities that's not happening. There's a difference between changing trajectory to spoil a defensive vehicle launch, and actually trying to jink. The G forces and atmospheric heating make jinking near impossible and the hypersonic vehicle could need dozens of miles to make a turn.
I think a lot of people are falling for purposefully misleading propaganda. Atmosphere skimming and large turns make interception of warheads difficult, but in terms of tactical use of missiles inside the atmosphere the hypersonic velocities actually hinder the vehicle's own maneuverability. I think Russia has created a false perception of what hypersonics are actually for to make laymen more impressed.

People of Europe get nervous about whatever their media tell them to get nervous about.

I don't know which media people have been consuming, but in the 2000s I remember that America evil for the wars, and we're really really racist because all our videogames have Arab or Russian villains. Now people are telling me media always fearmongered about Russia. I remember when Obama sassed Romney about him being afraid of Russia and everyone thought that was amazing. Did I live in a parallel universe?

And starting nuclear war over a member state of NATO is better how?

That's the neat part! Russia wouldn't engage a NATO member state precisely because of nuclear war. It's called "deterrence".

It is amusing that you previously stated that Budapest Memorandum is a toothless agreement that forces signatories to act through UN Security Council, in which US and Russia are permanent members with veto powers, yet you still trying to conflate it with unilateral guaranty of independence, which would oblige nations that sign it to come in defense of Ukraine in a defensive war.
And, by your logic, what compels NATO to defend it's members, exactly? It's nothing more than a piece of paper, they can just pack up their bags and leave to avoid a nuclear war if they so choose, couldn't they? Or do they sign a blood pact or something?

An unilateral guarantee of independence doesn't mean much when Putin doesn't want Ukraine to be part of Russia, just elect pro-Russian politicians. A guarantee of independence doesn't mean much when Russia will also guarantee independence to self-proclaimed republics inside Ukrainian territory.
The thing about NATO is that you don't want to test their resolve. If there's a button that gives you a winning lottery ticket but pressing it has a 10% chance of killing you, most people would not press it. Even if the chances of NATO working as intended are slim, the consequences are so serious that no amount of risk is negligible.

 

[Echo_Ender]

That's the thing with this war: Both sides are assholes.

The Russians are assholes for invading a sovereign nation without direct provocation, acting like their invasion is actually doing Ukraine a favor, refusing to even call it a war, and letting their troops loot and murder the populace.

They're sending poorly trained recruits to their deaths with outdated, badly maintained equipment, resorting to indiscriminate artillery bombardments, and turning Chechen jihadis loose on the populace.

The Ukrainians are assholes because their corrupt government has a faction of literally fascist, power-hungry, genocidal Nazis that are torturing and killing anyone who speaks out against them, saying they're traitors.

They're using the invasion to eliminate political opponents (As "Traitors" they arrest and kill), using civilians as human shields for their troops (And broadcasting the civilians' corpses as 'Russian Atrocities' when that gets them killed), and being praised by the whole western world for it.

Both of these groups suck.

On another topic, I think the future of how this war goes is going to 100% hinge on what Russia does on "Victory Day".

It could be anything from Putin unfurling a 'Mission Accomplished' banner and saying they got exactly what they wanted to declaring a general mobilization and escalating the war.

 

[IKOL]

Not even pro-ukraine, just hate traitors

Understandable.