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".

@ChimChimeny

mobile.twitter.com/thetimes/status/1499710190253400065

Can anyone explain what this means please? Does it mean that the assassination attempts are being sabotaged from within? Thanks

Sorry, just catching up and someone commented on this earlier

@ChimChimeny

mobile.twitter.com/thetimes/status/1499710190253400065

Can anyone explain what this means please? Does it mean that the assassination attempts are being sabotaged from within? Thanks

Yes apparently by double agents within the FSB.

@CowboyJo this isn’t the trending game on X box !! Probably one of the most absurd comments I have ever read !!

Not sure what research people have done on “joining up” - from what I’ve seen (and sorry, can’t find the link ATM) for combat roles individuals need to be able to provide proof of previous applicable experience because there’s going to be zero to minimal training.

The authorities might also be interested in anybody with paramedic/fire fighting experience….

They certainly don’t want amateurs showing up……

I don’t think it could have been prevented, unless by some very different turn of events (eg NATO membership change) but I do agree with you Yeahthat on not taking NATO into Ukraine.

[quote Sunnierdays]@CowboyJo this isn’t the trending game on X box !! Probably one of the most absurd comments I have ever read !![/quote]
What are you talking about?

@MarshaBradyo

I don’t think it could have been prevented, unless by some very different turn of events (eg NATO membership change) but I do agree with you Yeahthat on not taking NATO into Ukraine.

I get confused about all the posts which insist that NATO was just an excuse, because it isn't as though one reason or another makes what is now happening any more legitimate in most people's eyes? I think the background and reasons need to be understood correctly as it will affect the future.

I doubt this would have happened ifYanukovych was in power, would it? I think that what is behind this is a number of things, a combination of things.

Russia said that the overthrow of Yanukovcyh was illegal/not democratic/manipulated by neo nazis. This was followed by riots in the East, and ultimately the civil war which has been raging for years. The US put military aid into Ukraine at this time worth millions of dollars. Putin raised this with US and felt snubbed at the response I think. A lot of things contributing to the escalation.

Putin has made many speeches over the last few years about problems and every single one has been about issues around the Minsk agreement, and NATO encroaching.

I don't think the US expanded intentionally to annoy Putin, but at the same time the US has dismissed his concerns and Putin saw it as a snub too I think and it is feasible it was this snub rather than the threat itself which continued to sour relations.

Obviously how the US and Russia see these events is completely different.

If you want to hear the Kremlin point of view from the foreign ministry spokesman Maria Zakarovah, this is skynews a few days ago:

Strychnine what entities are they talking about.
How would Switzerland have so many?
Are we talking bank accounts? Houses?

If so is the UK really that's low??

Wow, it must take serious guts to work as a double agent within the FSB.

My husband is actually seriously considering joining, so I'll have a very deep talk with him when he gets home. I am worried sick.

Cowboy is it to just fight rather than as skilled person, just be wary the biggest problem is when a U.K. national gets into trouble and it’s at great cost to U.K. to get them back. It has been an issue in the past, I don’t think that’s on offer here though so it would be at his risk

Ukranians saying that they believe negotiations to be genuine. In other words, crippling sanctions that have decimated the Russian economy, international pariah status, combined with the prospect of an unwinnable war against an insurgency has brought them to the negotiating table I think in the early days it was China and India's influence which made Russia ask for negotiations. I am worried that the increasing sanctions will actually make things more precarious, more desperate and therefore more dangerous, but I might be wrong.

If Putin is convicted of war crimes does that mean he will never be able to leave Russia again? Or only to certain countries? How does it work?

@Tigersonvaseline

Strychnine what entities are they talking about. How would Switzerland have so many? Are we talking bank accounts? Houses?

If so is the UK really that's low??

We have very little trade with Russia compared to the likes of Germany.

Germany does around $45 billion of trade with Russia (or did).

We do a fraction of that.

Red, it's not all about you, you know.

I wasn't actually addressing you.

@CowboyJo I was talking about your comment about starting world war 3, you do understand the meaning of MAD I take it ???

@Tigersonvaseline

Strychnine what entities are they talking about. How would Switzerland have so many? Are we talking bank accounts? Houses?

If so is the UK really that's low??

Also, the Oligarchs, had a lot of their wealth in Swiss bank accounts as the Swiss banks have a turn a blind eye policy when it comes to money laundering and Switzerland was neutral until the invasion.

[quote Sunnierdays]@CowboyJo I was talking about your comment about starting world war 3, you do understand the meaning of MAD I take it ???[/quote]
I don't WANT war. It'd be devastating.

But I can't live with myself if I were a bystander of bullying. As a country, we are strong and always look out for the weak. We had no reason or benefit to starting WW2, but we did...to save Poland's necks from Hitler's barbaric violence.

@aweekoldnow

Some have pointed to AIIB freezing all leading to Russia and Belarus as a sign that China's support might be wavering. If so, it would be an excellent development.

China are the greediest, most power hungry nation of the lot, so if their support is wavering that says a LOT...and also makes them hypocrites.

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/04/russia-oligarchs-business-figures-west-sanction-lists-us-eu-uk-ukraine

@CowboyJoe please read @Yeahthat excellent post again. 🙄

@CowboyJo Hitler didn’t have nuclear weapons!

I don't think it's acceptable to go through with an action of that magnitude simply for the emotional payoff of having taken action, regardless of the results.

I agree, I think there is a difference between doing something and doing anything in order to be seen to be doing something but I do have questions and concerns.

Would NATO have been willing to implement a no fly zone if the nuclear threat hadn't been made? What does this mean for the future, is the whole world to be held to random by a nuclear threat whenever the demands of a madman are not met?

I have no answers or solutions, that's the job of people with far more knowledge and experience than me, but these are not illogical or unreasonable questions. We have no control over who may come to power in more authoritarian regimes so it's seems our peace and economic security will always be at the mercy of despots in possession of nuclear weapons.

Well if nuclear apocalyptic ww3 starts, at least you won't have to live with yourself 🤷🏼‍♀️

@CowboyJo has your husband got any military training at all? If not then please encourage him not to bother, he will only be a burden - this isn't COD.