The Invasion Has Stalled

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So here we go. Four days in and the third consecutive thread on the conflict in Ukraine. The last two threads are a credit to the members of mumsnet. Who knows where thread four may find our world?

Thank you all.

Thread two : www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4491025-The-Invasion-Continues

@Roundeartheratchriatmas

I’ve a question.

Is there anything at all Russia could do to Ukraine that would result in military action from the rest of the world ?

The only things I can think of is detonating a nuke big enough that neighbouring NATO countries would be in danger from the aftermath of it.

Chernobyl being sent in to a meltdown again causing risk to neighbouring countries from the nuclear fall out.

The only things I can think of are truly unthinkable, and an absolute abomination in modern warfare.

@Roundeartheratchriatmas

I’ve a question.

Is there anything at all Russia could do to Ukraine that would result in military action from the rest of the world ?

No. We don't want escalation to a mutual nuclear war.

However if he uses nuclear weapons against Ukraine I would imagine he will become a target for assassination, from inside or outside of Russia, or both.

No one in their right mind wants a nuclear war, in any country, anywhere.

I suspect there have been things going on behind the scenes that we have yet to learn. These include sophisticated technical support for Ukraine from western defence forces on the ground and the risk of a coup is probably now becoming a realistic prospect in the Kremlin mindset.

The EU have banned all Russian planes from landing or even flying over eu airspace.

I really hope this ends with a Russian coup. Not only for Ukraine but the Russian people deserve better than this.

Couldn’t agree more Corvid.

Looks like foreign volunteers are mustering
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/christopherm51/american-nato-military-veterans-fight-russia-with-ukraine

Thanks for new thread . Let's hope we won't need another one

@CovidCorvid

I really hope this ends with a Russian coup. Not only for Ukraine but the Russian people deserve better than this.

I agree-he can only be removed from within, but how and who - goodness only knows

Is the prospect of a coup even slightly realistic ?

I assume if Russia starts to bleed enough in economic terms people might become very unhappy but it’s still a huge jump to actually take out Putin.

Thank you for the new thread
Putin's days are numbered & he won't be with us by this time next week

Thermobaric weapons would be his weapon of choice if he wants to up the ante of mass destruction on Ukrainian forces or cities. However mad or calculating he may be I don't think he's mad enough to ever go nuclear in this context but then I didn't think he would ever be mad enough to go full-on invasion. What horrendous devilish things have human minds devised.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermobaric_weapon

Thanks for the new thread

Anti war protests in Moscow
twitter.com/ianbremmer/status/1497999692562587650?s=21

@TracyBeakerSoYeah

Thank you for the new thread Putin's days are numbered & he won't be with us by this time next week

I like your optimism

@TracyBeakerSoYeah

Thank you for the new thread Putin's days are numbered & he won't be with us by this time next week

Really? I haven’t read the other threads but this comment really surprised me.

Can you explain please.

Thanks for the new thread.

I just read an article where a Russian propaganda merchant, Vladimir Soloviev, is griping about losing access to his villa on Lake Como. He said:

"I bought it, paid crazy amount of taxes, I did everything. And suddenly someone makes a decision that this journalist is now on the list of sanctions. And right away it affects your real estate. Wait a minute. But you told us that Europe has sacred property rights!'"

In case you missed the point Vladimir, the sanctions will ultimately protect your property rights. You won't have anything if Putin and his philosophies are allowed to continue unbridled. The sooner you and your imperialist friends wake up and smell the coffee the sooner you can get back to a new normal.

Liz Truss has said we need to understand that we are in this for the long haul which leads me to surmise that his grip on power at the top is absolute and any coup is not thought likely.

@NCdBcOuting

Name changed to come here and also say that this thread is a credit to MN. I’m finding it helpful and balanced. Thank you OP and everyone.

I’m a Brit of Russian heritage, needless to say completely appalled and heartbroken watching this unfold. A really compacted set of feelings I can’t even name yet. Like PP, would also be interested in how to help from here, other than donating money (already done) to reputable charities.

Guessing it's similar where you are, but there are people organising big lorry loads of goods for refugees. By us, they're going out on Saturday. There's a list of things they need. The one thing not on it though, was knickers. I know it seems trivial in the face of it but there's something humanising about a clean pair of knickers.

Warning from Tobias Elwood re Truss supporting UK people to fight in Ukraine

We say NO to tasking the NATO alliance - but now endorse UK civilians, with no military training, to go and fight in Ukraine!

Please do NOT go if you have no combat experience.

You may get yourself and others who have to look after you, killed.

Absolutely LOVE the new name op!!!! Well done for keeping us all going

Thank you for the continuation of these excellent threads.

I wonder if use of thermobaric or chemical weapons - surely a war crime - would justify direct intervention by Western/UN forces?

Wow finally caught up after 3 threads.

I've been reading Prisoners of Geography today (great read for the current situation) and watching Russian planes turn back on Flightradar that were due to land in the EU.

Thanks for the thread. Just placemarking.

At the end of the last thread there was some praise of Johnson being ‘ahead of the curve’ wrt Putin’s intentions. Johnson has never displayed a dazzling grasp of foreign affairs so if there are prescient voices in Westminster, it’s probably safe to say his isn't one of them. Instead let’s give credit to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament and their 2020 report on Russia who very likely were the ones to brief him.