The invasion is a Week Old...Part 7

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Unbelievable. Thread 6 is almost full, to be found here : www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4495271-The-Invasion-is-ongoing-Part-6?pg=1

Still a fascinating and thoughtful set of documentation of our evolving thoughts, fears, questions, analyses and updates. And still a credit to the eyes, ears and knowledge of those on here.

Pinched from one poster on thread 6 whose name I can't recall:

Latest claims from both sides about casualties
Ukraine's army regularly puts out updates on the damage it says it's inflicting on Russian forces, which continue to press on key cities, particularly in the south.

We should stress that the BBC can't verify this information, but the latest update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces says that approximately 9,000 Russian personnel have been killed or wounded.

It also says Ukrainian forces have destroyed:

217 tanks
90 artillery systems
31 helicopters
30 planes or other aircraft
For its part, Russia yesterday for the first time gave a specific number for casualties it had suffered in Ukraine, saying 498 Russian soldiers had died and nearly 1,600 had been wounded.

It said it had killed 2,870 Ukrainian soldiers and "nationalists".

@Roussette

you have been sent two twitter links

How to seperate misinformation from disinformation

twitter.com/firstdraftnews/status/1498086034394914816

MrsLargeEmbodied

Yes, and I have acknowledged that and thanked for them.

It was clear in the run up to this that Liz Truss didn't have a grasp on the basic geography of the region. Yes, I think she's very clearly out of her depth.

Ben Wallace, on the other hand, is quietly convincing. I think it's a real shame he's not foreign secretary.

Oh and my link about seperating misinformation from disinformation is nothing to do with posts about the nucelear plant!

I have been reading it and found it interesting and thought I would link on here!

I wouldn't put Trump and Putin in the same league (they are both types of arses but it's a broad spectrum). In fact in this particular instance wasn't it Trump that warned Germany that it would be very unwise to rely on Russia for their gas?

It was majorly unwise - what was the German government thinking?

@Tigersonvaseline

Marsha I mean, the posters that even if Liz Truss was the most incredible, diplomatic, incredible politician we have ever had they would still hate her "purely because she's a Tory". Ie worthless comments!!

I guess just because she seems clunky doesn't mean she's not a good politician but her performance say along side blinken was shocking!!

I share your concern I think she doesn’t have the best background. Whereas with Wallace he has direct experience and you can tell

A bit like any meeting if you know well what’s going on based on past experience

Bit worrying tbh but hopefully undue in some way

Being widely reported now: www.reuters.com/markets/europe/top-wrap-1-europes-largest-nuclear-power-plant-fire-after-russian-attack-mayor-2022-03-04/

I’m also struggling to feel any sympathy with Russian soldiers who as a previous poster said, are cutting off water supplies and killing innocent civilians including children, whether they’re conscripted or not.

Any mention of anything nuclear and people immediately lose their heads and begin to catastrophise. I completely get why but it isn't helpful and actually I don't think it reflects the reality. Putin does not want to take Europe out by blowing up a nuclear power plant.

sympathy for*

This isn’t going to go down well with Putin’s elite oligarchs !!
www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-03-03/big-take-russian-oligarchs-are-starting-to-feel-the-sanction-squeeze

@yoolia Not least because Putin can't control the wind, and any fallout is just as likely to blow into Russia!

I genuinely don't buy the family annihilation angle either. Anyone so terrified of covid/assassination that they sit at that comically long table...that man does not want to die.

To everyone saying only Putin and his inner circle condone this invasion... I think you are underestimating the extent to which Russians are brainwashed in an autocratic country where education and media is tightly controlled. The Russians protesting were very brave but they are a minority. Most Russians do believe this invasion had to be carried out before Ukraine joined NATO, which they see as an aggressive anti-Russian organisation.

Can someone please calm me down. I’m on my own with my 3 year old son as my DP had just left for work and my I feel as though my legs are going to give way with fear.
I feel like I’m living in a disaster movie.

Do you think he could have a terminal illness, so does not want to die but could be dying. And the risk of COVID to him could be huge hence the long table?

Deutsche Welle (German public service broadcaster - I think their equivalent of the BBC???) is now reporting that it is blocked in Russia since early this morning.

I follow their English coverage for a different perspective, particularly as it's often faster with breaking news than the BBC.

@Lambkin689

It's wonderful to see how much Poland is doing to help Ukrainians fleeing. They've donated more than any other EU country. All my Polish friends' newsfeeds are overflowing with posts like "Ukrainian piano teacher looking for a job", "room needed for Ukrainian grandma"... I personally know Polish people who have forked thousands out of their own pocket to bring supplies to the border, are taking people to their own home, even though they have their own large families, and are using their cars to shuttle people from the border to their friend's houses where they can stay. Their schools are already teaching classes in Ukrainian and thejr government has been the toughest on sanctions from the beginning. Well done, Poland.

In the meantime, everyone has to beg Germany not to be an absolute jerk.

I agree, they’ve been amazing. In this country too. Its the Poles around here who are the ones arranging collections for Ukrainian refugees and transporting them to the Polish/ Ukrainian border. They were also one of the first countries to ban Russia from entering their airspace etc. I think they’ve been so strong and brave.

After the Second World War there was a lot of bloodshed between Poles and Ukrainians so this has really warmed my heart and given me hope for Europe in the future. After the war Poles that had been living in Ukraine for generations and Ukrainians that had been living in Poland were forced to leave, often brutally.

What's going on are the West expecting an attack on Belarus or Russia or is it a response to the economic sanctions?

Martial law. In simple terms the border closes so you are trapped. That leaves you in a position behind 'enemy lines'. Internment is a real possibility. (Anyone fancy a spell at a siberian internment camp with no outside oversight?). Rumours are also circulating that anyone under 50 - including foreigner would be eligible for conscription. I'm guessing refusal automatically deems you an enemy of the state.

Even without that embassies won't be able to offer help and foreigners are going to struggle to access bank accounts. If you don't have a large stash of dollars hidden somewhere, life could get difficult. And thats if the Russian public stay friendly towards you and dont decide to maybe lynch you.

Anyone sensible should already have left or be in the process of leaving without advice being issued.

Flights are full, its a get in the car and drive like mad scenario for many now. Many wont make it before a border closure if it happens today and they haven't already left...

@nonono1

I’m also struggling to feel any sympathy with Russian soldiers who as a previous poster said, are cutting off water supplies and killing innocent civilians including children, whether they’re conscripted or not.

Yes indeed.

Of course the Russian conscripts who ended in the hands of Ukrainian civilians looked suitably upset and tearful - they probably wondered if when filming had finished if then at best they were about to get a good kicking or at worse……

What people need to ask themselves is what that same Russian conscripts demeanor would have been if he had come across a group of Ukranian civilians having successfully stormed buildings/a built area and perhaps seen a few of his mates killed.

Can someone please calm me down. I’m on my own with my 3 year old son as my DP had just left for work and my I feel as though my legs are going to give way with fear.
I feel like I’m living in a disaster movie.

Get off the Internet. Turn your phone off if need be. Call a friend, have a cup of tea, go for a walk, read stories with your son.

You don't need to be afraid for your life or your son's life and right now beyond donating money you can do nothing to help the people of Ukraine. Nothing.

@Logburning

Can someone please calm me down. I’m on my own with my 3 year old son as my DP had just left for work and my I feel as though my legs are going to give way with fear. I feel like I’m living in a disaster movie.

Turn off the news, shut off your social media including MN and go and do something with your DS. It really works, honestly - I did it at the start of the pandemic and I felt so much better. If the feelings persist you might need to have a chat with your GP. Kindly, your response isn't proportionate, so stop feeding it with 1001 online opinions for now

Just a gentle reminder to everyone to step away from the news for a period each day. As tempting as it is to keep scrolling/refreshing you need time away for your mental health.

stop feeding it with 1001 online opinions

Yes, and please remember that's all they are as well. Opinions. Not a single person on this thread (me included) is party to any insider information and our opinions are not facts.