Ukraine

[Chas.Alpha]

16 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

but we do seem to have strayed from russians invading the ukraine. 

Indeed we have. I have to be careful on this topic, having several Ukrainian friends and a political lean that is not popular with the masses. It is both logical and shameful that absolutely nothing can be done to stop this. Vladimir is well aware of Europe’s reliance on Russian energy products and the U.S. being understandably uninterested in going “Toe to toe with the Ruskies” like Slim Pickens so eloquently put it. Putin has a free hand in the Baltic, until he crosses the NATO line.

[Islandboy]

8 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

yes. i can remember seeing them from kathmandu in the late 80s. extraordinary sight. you were lucky to see across a street in delhi and a few other places. sad to think that it is likely that most off humanity will never have the chance. but we do seem to have strayed from russians invading the ukraine. 

Just catching up on this latest discussion here, have something I really want to share before we move from this depressing subject back to the original depressing subject.

My little sister just shared with me the “almost final” version of a documentary that my BIL’s 18 year old nephew has worked on since he was 14. He’s quite obviously a prodigy in his own right, if nothing else, for being acutely aware of just where earth is heading, and why it’s unlikely society is willing to change course. But he’s an incredible filmmaker as well.

I can’t share the film, as it will be released very soon in it’s final version, but here is the film’s website, it’s called “Eden’s Last Chance”

https://www.universalwildlands.com/about-the-film

I’m a pretty jovial, glass-half-full fellow, but this film left me sitting there stunned by the end. Literally couldn’t move for about 10 minutes, except to wipe a few tears from my eyes.

And as if the challenges aren't immense enough for today’s youth, we now have to watch the unthinkable happening in Ukraine.

[Ken Gargett]

3 minutes ago, Islandboy said:

Just catching up on this latest discussion here, have something I really want to share before we move from this depressing subject back to the original depressing subject.

My little sister just shared with me the “almost final” version of a documentary that my BIL’s 18 year old nephew has worked on since he was 14. He’s quite obviously a prodigy in his own right, if nothing else, for being acutely aware of just where earth is heading, and why it’s unlikely society is willing to change course. But he’s an incredible filmmaker as well.

I can’t share the film, as it will be released very soon in it’s final version, but here is the film’s website, it’s called “Eden’s Last Chance”

https://www.universalwildlands.com/about-the-film

I’m a pretty jovial, glass-half-full fellow, but this film left me sitting there stunned by the end. Literally couldn’t move for about 10 minutes, except to wipe a few tears from my eyes.

And as if the challenges aren't immense enough for today’s youth, we now have to watch the unthinkable happening in Ukraine.

that is brilliant and amazing stuff. hats off to him. the tragedy is that by the time that people like him are in the positions where today's deniers are blocking any real progress, going to be way too late.

we see how someone like greta T has been attacked and ridiculed. whether one agrees with them or not, all they are trying to do is save the planet. there are worse crimes. 

you should give that link its own thread, although it may meet some resistance. 

[DaBoot]

I must say the Ukrainian president is doing a terrific job fighting for his people on the world stage. Really bringing out the TRUE colors of the leaders of the WEST and of NATO. 
 

[tjkoala]

On 2/22/2022 at 7:26 PM, tjkoala said:

I don't think people realize that cutting them off from Adidas track suits is going to severely damage their lifestyle and culture.

And all of you thought I was joking. The ruble is dead and they have no track suits. Who’s laughing now?

[helix]

Now what to wear with the gold chains ?

[Chas.Alpha]

If current reports are accurate, it seems Uncle Vladimir now considers children’s hospitals as a valid military objective...

[El Presidente]

 

UK-listed tobacco firm Imperial Brands halts Russian operations

March 9 (Reuters) - Imperial Brands Plc (IMB.L) has suspended all operations in Russia, following international sanctions against the country in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the maker of Winston cigarettes and Backwoods cigars said on Wednesday.

The London-listed company said it was halting production at its factory in Volgograd and all sales and marketing activities in the country.

"This decision comes amid a highly challenging environment in Russia as a result of international sanctions and consequential severe disruption," Imperial Brands said.

 

The British company, which has already suspended its operations in Ukraine, also said it will be supporting its Russian employees, who continue to be paid while operations are paused.

Russia and Ukraine together represented about 2% of the group's net revenue and 0.5% of adjusted operating profit in full year 2021.

[BEVOSREVENGE]

 

 

[Hemclas]

28 minutes ago, BEVOSREVENGE said:

 

 

That is horrifying

 

[Chas.Alpha]

Wow. 

[riderpride]

57 minutes ago, BEVOSREVENGE said:

 

 

Speechless 

[Kaptain Karl]

I’ve been reading closely on twitter to a number of really good military accounts. The Russians are done for. Horrible logistics, terrible vehicle maintenance, low moral and bad tactics. It’s a stark reminder that training, maintenance, and moral are huge factors in battlefield lethality. The Ukrainians have most likely captured and redeployed more Russian tanks then they have lost. Just an incredible amount of abandoned vehicles so far. At this point the Russians are unable to project power more than 100km into Ukrainian territory. The mud and road conditions are also becoming huge factors. Communication is also terrible for Russian forces, who do not have nearly enough encrypted radios and are having to rely on cellphones and unencrypted radios on the front lines. They’ve taken close to 10% casualties of their forces in Ukraine, which is about 55% of the forces they have available. 
 

Even if the Russians can muster another 200k troops, there are not enough roads to transport them to the frontlines. 
 

I could see some Russian advances getting cut off and surrounded in the next few weeks if this keeps up. Awful for the people of Ukraine, but Russia will lose its ability for offensive warfare on the steppes, and that will be an amazing thing for the world. 

[RichG]

I fear that they will continue to ramp up aerial bombardments in parallel with their ground ineffectiveness. Let’s hope those air defense systems we are shipping over get deployed immediately and effectively.

 

 

[GoodStix]

23 hours ago, Kaptain Karl said:

I’ve been reading closely on twitter to a number of really good military accounts.

Really appreciate the update.  Thanks.

19 hours ago, RichG said:

I fear that they will continue to ramp up aerial bombardments in parallel with their ground ineffectiveness.

Yes.  Horrible.  I also fear the impending artillery encirclement/siege of Kyiv in a murderous effort to force capitulation through mass killing of civilians.

[Webbo]

 

[Chas.Alpha]

1 hour ago, Webbo said:

 

😢

[El Presidente]

Tremendous admiration for the people of Ukraine. 

What remarkable spirit in the face of such suffering.  I wasn't sure such spirit was left in the world.  

Thank you for the lesson. 

[dominattorney]

Not to derail, bur I've been interested in the sanctions that Russian oligarchs are getting blasted with recently. At first its kinda funny watching these overgrown boys getting their luxury toys taken away, but the more I looked the less conclusive the reasoning for these seizures became. Seems to be setting a very odd precedent. Does anyone feel the same way about this or am I just being a weirdo?

[BoliDan]

21 minutes ago, dominattorney said:

Not to derail, bur I've been interested in the sanctions that Russian oligarchs are getting blasted with recently. At first its kinda funny watching these overgrown boys getting their luxury toys taken away, but the more I looked the less conclusive the reasoning for these seizures became. Seems to be setting a very odd precedent. Does anyone feel the same way about this or am I just being a weirdo?

It is a bit weird when looking at it. Taking boats doesn't seem to accomplish anything on the surface, but I think the idea is that they have so much power and are hemogeneous with Putin, military, government and disinformation efforts. If the oligarchs are unhappy, they can effectively stage a coup with their money and influence. 

[El Presidente]

54 minutes ago, dominattorney said:

Not to derail, bur I've been interested in the sanctions that Russian oligarchs are getting blasted with recently. At first its kinda funny watching these overgrown boys getting their luxury toys taken away, but the more I looked the less conclusive the reasoning for these seizures became. Seems to be setting a very odd precedent. Does anyone feel the same way about this or am I just being a weirdo?

It is surprisingly working. 

Putin blasting whinging oligarchs as traitors was something I didn't think I would see. 

[dominattorney]

1 hour ago, El Presidente said:

It is surprisingly working. 

Putin blasting whinging oligarchs as traitors was something I didn't think I would see. 

Not surprising that it's working, to me at least. I'm surprised about the precedent of world governments seizing private assets as retribution for the actions of the government. Clearly the line between government and private citizens is blurred here, but isn't it always when billionaires are involved!

[BrightonCorgi]

So, do assets get returned to the Oligarchs once Russia settles with the Ukraine?

[Enduin]

7 hours ago, dominattorney said:

Not surprising that it's working, to me at least. I'm surprised about the precedent of world governments seizing private assets as retribution for the actions of the government. Clearly the line between government and private citizens is blurred here, but isn't it always when billionaires are involved!

I definitely see what you are saying but this precedent already has its own precedent in the laws allowing law enforcement to seize assets bought with money coming from criminal activity. Oligarchs didn't get rich by being hardworking nice people, so if anything this is more like correcting the worldwide blind eye approach that oligarchs have been enjoying so far. But it is not without risks. The law enforcement seizure of criminal's assets has been abused before...

What I find 100% wrong and much more dangerous is situations where the government seizes private property that was legally purchased because the government changed its mind and decides that such products are now illegal. But that's a whole 'nother can of worms.

[dominattorney]

7 hours ago, Enduin said:

I definitely see what you are saying but this precedent already has its own precedent in the laws allowing law enforcement to seize assets bought with money coming from criminal activity. Oligarchs didn't get rich by being hardworking nice people, so if anything this is more like correcting the worldwide blind eye approach that oligarchs have been enjoying so far. But it is not without risks. The law enforcement seizure of criminal's assets has been abused before...

What I find 100% wrong and much more dangerous is situations where the government seizes private property that was legally purchased because the government changed its mind and decides that such products are now illegal. But that's a whole 'nother can of worms.

Civil forfeiture is one thing, but we are calling this sanctions are we not? We don't like you, so let's see if we can figure out an existing way to take your stuff. When the US at least uses civil forfeiture against a drug lord they don't call it sanctions.