Ukraine invasion discussion thread - part 10

[cakeorwine]

That filled up quick

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4497950-Ukraine-invasion-discussion-thread-part-9

Mumsnet discussions on “hosting” are usually of a rather different sort. Quite extraordinary where we are now. Out shopping today I heard a group of fifty-something women in an outlet store discussing possible ways to assassinate Putin, before buying a selection of accessories.

The Lavrov statement posted a little while back about “US chemical warfare” in Odessa and Kyiv has scared me a lot. So their next move is to hit both with chemicals and blame the Ukrainians and Americans? This makes me very uneasy.

I noticed earlier lots of aggressively pro Russia posts on LinkedIn, largely from apparently Indian profiles, but I presume Russian. Sounded much like saku on this thread - similar logic and writing style. They’re everywhere aren’t they, hiding in plain sight. I’m reminded of Salisbury.

@dreamingbohemian thank you for an incredibly reassuring earlier post.

Thanks to everyone for the contributions, this is such a well informed and interesting thread - although the topic is so awful.

Thanks @RedToothBrush I suppose if the US is the middle man then it takes the heat off the Poles a little bit.

Scary though, I'm going to watch the Liverpool match to take my mind off it for a bit.

This will be WWIII and I'm terrified.

Tobias Ellwood MP@Tobias_Ellwood·
Well done POLAND stepping up!

Extraordinary bravery. 🇵🇱

RAF to help backfill Polish airspace? 🇬🇧

Let’s get all NATO MIGs heading to Ukraine.

^Eyes on this....

The RAF to backfill Polish airspace might give a few pauses for thought...

@borntobequiet

Mumsnet discussions on “hosting” are usually of a rather different sort. Quite extraordinary where we are now. Out shopping today I heard a group of fifty-something women in an outlet store discussing possible ways to assassinate Putin, before buying a selection of accessories.

Fifty something women had the joy of building a nuclear shelter in the corner of the classroom. Putin should be wary. I got a three day detention for refusing.

@PestorPeston why is it sad? Reading up on everything that's happened in that region since like 2008 I don't understand why anyone would conclude it's sad?

This will be WWIII and I'm terrified.

Helpful contribution.

I can imagine the trial at the Hague. MNetters predicted this excuse for chemical attack. We don't believe you Mr Putin.

Have I missed something about agreement to partition?!

Earlier in the thread, people were asking about the Indian students. The BBC just provided this update

Indian students evacuated from Sumy arrive at Poltava, central Ukraine

Sarah Rainsford
BBC Eastern Europe Correspondent
We just saw a convoy of buses carrying almost 600 Indian students arrive at Poltava station from the northeastern city Sumy - the first successful evacuation via a safe corridor in this conflict.

They are now crammed onto a slow train west; some had to stand all the way down here in the buses, many will now travel for hours more sitting on their cases or squeezed into corridors.

The scenes were chaotic as anxious students ran to the train worried they wouldn't make it on board - and to safety in Lviv.

We spoke to several who described terrifying days living in basements and shelters under Russian shelling with limited food and water.

The local authorities here say they've managed to evacuate some 5,000 people in total today, including many Ukrainian women and children - who travelled separately from the students and are expected in Poltava in the coming hours.

@holliem91

This will be WWIII and I'm terrified.

I still don’t think it’ll come to this. Russia has already lost thousands of soldiers, Putin is already in a vulnerable position due to his own decisions & the sanctions in place. He’s in no position to start a WW3 right now. With Zelensky now saying he has no plans to join NATO I feel this has the potential to come to an agreement very soon. Well I’m Hoping so

[quote triggery]@PestorPeston why is it sad? Reading up on everything that's happened in that region since like 2008 I don't understand why anyone would conclude it's sad? [/quote]
Ukraine was incapable of meeting the requirements at the time and the head of the CIA made it very clear that this was one of Russia's red lines.
Without the empty promise Ukraine could have worked towards entry criteria, without Russia snorting down its neck.

.

Sean Corbett states that the Ukrainians have been able to take down quite sophisticated aircraft. His interview was very informative.

@RedToothBrush

The RAF to backfill Polish airspace might give a few pauses for thought...

Not really a major change.

It’s been public knowledge RAF aircraft (fighters and supporting tankers, plus some other assets) have been in Poland and/or operating in Polish airspace for quite a few weeks now.

Whether there’s an going to be an increase in RAF flying in the area to cover for the loss of Polish MiG-29s I don’t know.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-to-increase-fighter-jet-presence-in-poland-and-romania/

Anyone got the chart for oil?

I have missed a lot!

Re the planes - the US have good intelligence re the state of play. Might be wishful thinking on my part, but the fact that they are pressing their advantage seems to indicate they are confident that Russia cannot respond/make good on its threats.

I think there has been a lot of back and forth about the MIGs because the F-16s proposed to replace them were commissioned by Taiwan. The US is more invested in arming Taiwan than in arming Poland, I think. Is this where the RAF backfill comes in?

Staff at the British Embassy in Ukraine haven't been granted refugee status in the UK.

How fucked up is this country?

@BigHuff

I have missed a lot!

Re the planes - the US have good intelligence re the state of play. Might be wishful thinking on my part, but the fact that they are pressing their advantage seems to indicate they are confident that Russia cannot respond/make good on its threats.

I think there has been a lot of back and forth about the MIGs because the F-16s proposed to replace them were commissioned by Taiwan. The US is more invested in arming Taiwan than in arming Poland, I think. Is this where the RAF backfill comes in?

A US intelligence briefing today said they had not seen any suspicious activity relating to nukes.

I’m feeling really anxious again after reading the latest escalation.

I was feeling a bit calmer today. This has kicked it off again for me just before bed.
Really hoping it isn’t going to lead to a nuclear ww3.

Does anyone have any insight on why Zalenskiy was allowed to address the HoC?

It seems strange to me that he should be allowed to ask something again that has been repeatedly refused, ie the no fly zone - in such a public/powerful form as parliament?

What was the objective?

It does not seem to be wise or considerate to allow that appeal to be broadcast to the world if there is no intention of granting it?

I just saw on facebook that the local bus driver who drove to Ukraine with supplies has got back to Finland with 55 refugees, women and all those dangerous children. And two dads, so I guess some adult men are being allowed to leave despite conscription.

The chemical weapons thing is worrying, Putin does seem to be setting up an excuse for him to use them, just hope he doesn't.

I got a three day detention for refusing.

I once gave someone a three day detention, but it was for not doing A level coursework. He did the coursework in the three days, and got a D, which was more than he deserved.