Russian Invasion of Ukraine Megathread

[White_N]

Are the Azovstal guys still in contact with the outside world btw, after the termite bombs?

Termite, though a spectacle, is not very effective for smoking Azov out of bunkers, according to some DPR soldiers, so I think we should expect a new video appeal for evacuation within a week.

 

[UVB-76]

Spoiler: Then there's this(may or may not be true)

https://thesaker.is/empire-of-bioweapon-lies/

The website literally has the ribbon of St. George on the header and calls the war "Operation Z".
I'm gonna take that with an entire salt mine.

Termite, though a spectacle, is not very effective for smoking Azov out of bunkers, according to some DPR soldiers, so I think we should expect a new video appeal for evacuation within a week.

Hold on, so was it thermite or thermobaric?

 

[White_N]

Hold on, so was it thermite or thermobaric?

If we are talking about today's bombardment, then the thermite

 

[East_Clintwood]

The capital will fall in a week

In a week didn't

They never seriously meant to actually take the capital, it totally was just a prank feint bro!

 

[Feline Supremacist]

It's a bit more complicated than "the government doesn't let us drill for it".

On the one hand, there's plenty of drilling the government doesn't allow because it involves either offshore drilling or requires fracking, both of which have a tendency to fuck up the environment as a result of screw ups a lot harder than a regular oil field does. So there are a lot of places the government doesn't allow them without difficult to get permits.

Fracking, while unpopular, was allowed during the Trump administration. As far as environmental issues, it's been confirmed and proven Saudi Arabia was behind the claims fracking was environmentally unsound, which is rich coming from them.

Similarly there's a pipeline or two for the US and Canada where work on them has been blocked by Native American groups who aren't on board with the idea of the pipeline going through their land and it's not really worthwhile to detour around it.

The natives and their supporters screeching about the pipeline were irrelevant. The Enbridge pipeline was being built to replace an older pipeline caused massive layoffs and higher gas prices, as it is used to transport oil and natural gas from Canada.

Alot of the current high gas prices have little to nothing to do with supply. Prices are up because 1) gas companies think they can jack the prices up, blame 'supply issues due to the pandemic/the war in Ukraine' and no one will punish them for it hard enough to make the price gouging not worthwhile, and 2) the futures market for oil is seeing prices driven higher by people speculating that the war will eventually impact supply.

This is false. Drilling and obtaining permits is subject to increasing regulations. The claim about price gouging is a Biden admin claim used to cover for their disastrous policies, which are designed to get people to buy electric cars and green energy bullshit which are conveniently made and supplied by companies in China a bunch of Democrats and RINOS happen to have a large financial interests in.

As for Venezuela, that has more to due with geography. They're a decent sized oil supplier that's closer than the Middle East. With some US companies being willing to buy oil from whoever has the lowest price, that'll obviously sometimes include Venezuela just like it often includes various countries in the Middle East.

California has huge petroleum reserves but its not sweet crude; Mexico too but they drill and refine theirs. Venezuela, an OPEC member, was subjected to much glowie chicanery. The several attempts to run gay ops to overthrow Chavez and Maduro are public knowledge. It too is heavily sanctioned but they're being wooed with the promise of contracts for their oil if they perform the requisite hate ritual against Russia. We'll how successful they are.

 

[CometBop]

Why are you retarded? That makes less than 0 sense. I'm going to assume you're arguing in good faith and you're just retarded because being this dumb to win an internet argument is even more embarrassing.

Let's assume that US politicians are involved, heavily, in corruption in Ukraine. Why the fuck would another country who is more corrupt on an index matter to them if 1)that country(and therefore the money laundering operation) isn't being threatening, 2) they aren't directly involved or implicated in that country. China is probably the most corrupt country on the planet. It wouldn't matter at all since the US politicians aren't directly involved with said corruption(besides gobbling up what ever cum is left from Xi's dick while on all fours).

More to the point regardless of any countries corruption index, that would mean nothing to anyone who isn't involved. The claim is the US politicians are invested in protecting Ukraine due to the personal ties of corruption they gave there. If you want to be a dumbass and ignore the ties feel free but bringing up other countries corruptions as a rebuttal is the dumbest thing I've read today. So congrats!

Spoiler: Then there's this(may or may not be true)

https://thesaker.is/empire-of-bioweapon-lies/

"lets assume US politicians are involved" no lets not, stop doing this. my entire argument is that theres both no evidence and no logic to the statement they are involved in corruption in ukraine as a motivator for defending them.

you are pointing out the US ties to ukraine then saying OH MY GOD IT MUST BE CORRUPTION. im simply saying, no it doesnt.

 

[UVB-76]

If we are talking about today's bombardment, then the thermite

What the fuck was even the point of that? Thermite is actually terrible when you just spread it around.

 

[Feline Supremacist]

"lets assume US politicians are involved" no lets not, stop doing this. my entire argument is that theres both no evidence and no logic to the statement they are involved in corruption in ukraine as a motivator for defending them.

you are pointing out the US ties to ukraine then saying OH MY GOD IT MUST BE CORRUPTION. im simply saying, no it doesnt.

You zoomers have the memory of fruit flies.

U.S. banking records show Hunter Biden’s American-based firm, Rosemont Seneca Partners LLC, received regular transfers into one of its accounts — usually more than $166,000 a month — from Burisma from spring 2014 through fall 2015, during a period when Vice President Biden was the main U.S. official dealing with Ukraine and its tense relations with Russia.

The general prosecutor’s official file for the Burisma probe — shared with me by senior Ukrainian officials — shows prosecutors identified Hunter Biden, business partner Devon Archer and their firm, Rosemont Seneca, as potential recipients of money.

https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/436816-joe-bidens-2020-ukrainian-nightmare-a-closed-probe-is-revived/

The investigation was paused during the election, and shows very little progress since then. If the midterms are bad for the Democrats it will pick up steam.

 

[kuuu]

You zoomers have the memory of fruit flies.

U.S. banking records show Hunter Biden’s American-based firm, Rosemont Seneca Partners LLC, received regular transfers into one of its accounts — usually more than $166,000 a month — from Burisma from spring 2014 through fall 2015, during a period when Vice President Biden was the main U.S. official dealing with Ukraine and its tense relations with Russia.

The general prosecutor’s official file for the Burisma probe — shared with me by senior Ukrainian officials — shows prosecutors identified Hunter Biden, business partner Devon Archer and their firm, Rosemont Seneca, as potential recipients of money.

https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/436816-joe-bidens-2020-ukrainian-nightmare-a-closed-probe-is-revived/

That's business not corruption. You dun geddit, it's different.

 

[DumbDude42]

What the fuck was even the point of that? Thermite is actually terrible when you just spread it around.

yeah thermite is a welding tool, not a weapon. even for IEDs this stuff is near worthless, all it does is slowly melt a hole in whatever thing you place it on. the theoretical best case scenario for it is probably as a sabotage tool where you use it to fuck up the engine block of a parked vehicle when nobody is watching, other than that i don't think there's any useful application for it in a conflict zone

 

[CometBop]

You zoomers have the memory of fruit flies.

U.S. banking records show Hunter Biden’s American-based firm, Rosemont Seneca Partners LLC, received regular transfers into one of its accounts — usually more than $166,000 a month — from Burisma from spring 2014 through fall 2015, during a period when Vice President Biden was the main U.S. official dealing with Ukraine and its tense relations with Russia.

The general prosecutor’s official file for the Burisma probe — shared with me by senior Ukrainian officials — shows prosecutors identified Hunter Biden, business partner Devon Archer and their firm, Rosemont Seneca, as potential recipients of money.

https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/436816-joe-bidens-2020-ukrainian-nightmare-a-closed-probe-is-revived/

The investigation was paused during the election, and shows very little progress since then. If the midterms are bad for the Democrats it will pick up steam.

i feel like it goes without saying that a conflict of interest is not proof of corruption

 

[Feline Supremacist]

i feel like it goes without saying that a conflict of interest is not proof of corruption

Let's have your definition.

Here is the US Government's Code of Ethics for Executive Branch Employees of the United States Government as per Executive Order 12674

1. Public service is a public trust, requiring employees to place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws and ethical principles above private gain.
2. Employees shall not hold financial interests that conflict with the conscientious performance of duty.
3. Employees shall not engage in financial transactions using nonpublic Government information or allow the improper use of such information to further any private interest.
4. An employee shall not, except as permitted ... solicit or accept any gift or other items of monetary value from any person or entity seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee's agency, or whose interests may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee's duties.
5. Employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties.
6. Employees shall not knowingly make unauthorized commitments or promises of any kind purporting to bind the Government.
7. Employees shall not use public office for private gain.
8. Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.
9. Employees shall protect and conserve Federal property and shall not use it for other than authorized activities.
10. Employees shall not engage in outside employment or activities, including seeking or negotiating for employment, that conflict with official Government duties and responsibilities.
11. Employees shall disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to appropriate authorities.
12. Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those—such as Federal, State, or local taxes—that are imposed by law.
13. Employees shall adhere to all laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap.
14. Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or the ethical standards set forth in this part. Whether particular circumstances create an appearance that the law or these standards have been violated shall be determined from the perspective of a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts.

Bush 41 signed this order.

 

[White_N]

What the fuck was even the point of that? Thermite is actually terrible when you just spread it around.

yeah thermite is a welding tool, not a weapon. even for IEDs this stuff is near worthless, all it does is slowly melt a hole in whatever thing you place it on. the theoretical best case scenario for it is probably as a sabotage tool where you use it to fuck up the engine block of a parked vehicle when nobody is watching, other than that i don't think there's any useful application for it in a conflict zone

But it's flashy! And glitters makes soldiers feel like wizards.

It would be funny if they used it to actually celebrate Ukraine's win in Eurovision.

 

[CometBop]

Let's have your definition.

in this case gaining benefits by selling a position of power to influence the outcomes of US matters.

hunter biden being on the board of Burisma does not mean that his father was influencing US matters for his sons favour. Sure its a potential conflict of interest, but its not corruption.
shamelessly grabbing from wikipedia: Republican inquiry finds no evidence of wrongdoing by biden. it seems bidens own enemies literally completed an investigation and found fuck all

 

[Feline Supremacist]

in this case gaining benefits by selling a position of power to influence the outcomes of US matters.

hunter biden being on the board of Burisma does not mean that his father was influencing US matters for his sons favour. Sure its a potential conflict of interest, but its not corruption.
shamelessly grabbing from wikipedia: Republican inquiry finds no evidence of wrongdoing by biden. it seems bidens own enemies literally completed an investigation and found fuck all

See Executive Order 12674, he violated several of the ethics guidelines. Regardless of any inquiry, Congress does not prosecute any violations, the Department of Justice does. He can be prosecuted after he leaves office but I bet he'll claim he's too senile to stand trial.

 

[UVB-76]

Who wants their Belarussy ate?

yeah thermite is a welding tool, not a weapon. even for IEDs this stuff is near worthless, all it does is slowly melt a hole in whatever thing you place it on. the theoretical best case scenario for it is probably as a sabotage tool where you use it to fuck up the engine block of a parked vehicle when nobody is watching, other than that i don't think there's any useful application for it in a conflict zone

One of the most pleasantly accurate uses of thermite in media was Call of Duty 2. The part at Pointe Du Hoc where the objective was to damage German howitzers, the player just shoves the grenade into one of the hand cranks, a bunch of sparks fly out, and presumably the operating mechanism is welded shut and rendered inoperable.
If it was made in 2022, the mission would have the howitzers melt into a puddle of metal.

 

[World in Scarlet]

I think the Russian evidence for the Ukrainian invasion of Snake Island is extremely weak compared the Ukrainian evidence for their air attack on the island.

It took the Russians a couple days to come up with a video that shows some people lying on the ground and some weapons used by Ukraine. That's absurdly little compared to their boasts.

On the other hand this would be at least the second successful attack by Ukraine on the island, both are supported with video and picture evidence that shows pretty much what is claimed.

Considering Russia's track record of lies about just about everything in this conflict, and them offering no evidence for yet another incredible claim (remember the many NATO officers they captured, the biolab bullshit, the great victories that were won in the North and around Kharkov right until they were forced to retreat to avoid being encircled and destroyed, just off the top of my head), I think it's unreasonable to believe the Russian version of this story.


@Givi
Why do you think that the Russians are retreating from the area around Kharkov without putting up much of a fight? Ukrainian sources claim there's heavy fighting with significant losses on both sides, which fits the speed of the movement of the front lines there and the significance of the area (Ukrainian advances are slow, and Russians are pushed out of artillery range of Kharkov while important Russian facilities in Belgorod are coming into range of the Ukrainian army, among other things).
I've seen no evidence either way though.

 

[White_N]

Don't even have to wait a week. Singing from Azovstal and another reminder that Ukraine won Eurovision from Azov.

Political caricatures are cringe but Feline Supremacist mentioned baby formula a few times, so I found it relevant in this particular discussion.

 

[IKOL]

in this case gaining benefits by selling a position of power to influence the outcomes of US matters.

hunter biden being on the board of Burisma does not mean that his father was influencing US matters for his sons favour. Sure its a potential conflict of interest, but its not corruption.
shamelessly grabbing from wikipedia: Republican inquiry finds no evidence of wrongdoing by biden. it seems bidens own enemies literally completed an investigation and found fuck all

how to tell you're glownigger without saying you're a glownigger

 

[Iron Jaguar]

i feel like it goes without saying that a conflict of interest is not proof of corruption

What would you accept as proof?

hunter biden being on the board of Burisma does not mean that his father was influencing US matters for his sons favour.

Well, yeah, because he wasn't doing it for his son's favour. It's very well established that Hunter has long been a proxy for his father's grafting opportunities.