Ukrainian invasion part 13

[Alexandra2001]

Seems to be required.

@wonderfullife123

Agree on desire vs resources. Another resource that Putin does not have is immortality.

He is 69. Not old enough. Plus we already know he is supported by his inner circle who are not much different. The system props them up. Putin is the head of a system that wants to maintain its power.

If he goes, then what? Do we get someone better or someone equally in this mindset?

If you are radicalising the population, they don't immediately deradicalise either. So the temptation will remain to pander to that. This is a population not used to challenging for over a century. They haven't out of fear.

Worth pointing out the deaths of leaders in North Korea certainly have not resulted in a change of mentality.

What does today's court ruling mean in practise? Russia clearly aren't going to accept the ruling and piss off back to whence they came. So what is the point?

I had no idea that Ukraine had its own viral sensation Instagram cat, but they do, he's called Stepan, and he's made it from Kharkiv to Monaco (maybe being an Instagram cat makes you very rich) if anyone is interested.

Olexander Scherba @olex_scherba
Terrifying reports of a heavy #Russian bomb hitting #Mariupol Drama Theater where many people were seeking shelter.

Unverified.

What im seeing is suggestion that it was an officially designated shelter for those made homeless by earlier bombings. Up to 1500 in it, mainly women and children in recent days.

[quote AgnesWestern]@Tuba437 Ah not so positive this time I hope they’re wrong. Thanks for sharing though.[/quote]
I don't know. Drawing up a provision plan that includes ceasefire and withdrawal is pretty significant if they can come to an agreement.

@dibly

I’m sorry if this comes over badly it isn’t intended to, but it just feels to me a bit…inappropriate for us on the uk in safety to be claiming how scared we are. I get that it’s disconcerting with the threat of nuclear etc, but there are many, many leaders internationally working had to make sure things don’t escalate any further. I really think the concern needs to be more directed at Ukraine. Don’t want a debate or to offend anyone

Completely agree with this.

Don't expect it to all be roses when he's gone @RedToothBrush just pointing out this particular individual and his motivations won't be there forever - and he will need to regroup for a period after this debacle to fulfil any expansion goals. 69 isn't old, but Russia life expectancy around 73.

Worth pointing out the deaths of leaders in North Korea certainly have not resulted in a change of mentality.

Different situation. Far smaller land, somewhat kept in check by China and the leaders are bloody awful men, but they don't seem to have Putin's extreme personal interest in spreading conflict.

I've no doubt that Putin's rot will stay for a very long time since it's one of the people he's favoured who will succeed him. But China has a totalitarian state and it's not turned into a massive warmonger despite changes of leader.

You'd have to be really unlucky to get someone as skilful and nasty at the top after Putin dies. Hopefully worst case a military hawk who hopefully won't have a mind like a twisted pretzel. And - the West has had a very strong warning and is going to be strengthening militarily now.

Chin up! you've been a real source of strength here. The world is changing but it will go on.

Ljsbear I agree with most of your points back there except weakened democracy?
It's never looked so strong as it does now.
People were finally given a democratic vote to leave a trading block that was morphing into something else.

To be given a vote on that is the very essence of democracy
Incl Scottish referendum.

Even trumps president shows democracy works! Anyone can be President!

You may not agree or like the results of the votes but its definitely democracy and it's strong and working.

Apparently the mayor and deputy-mayor of Skadovsk, near Kherson, have also been kidnapped by the Russians today.

Thought this analysis on Putin's mindset was good: foreignpolicy.com/2022/03/13/putin-russia-war-ukraine-rhetoric-history/

“Anyone can be president”??? Yes, if by anyone you take the typical meaning of anyone who is a multimillionaire. Of course, the upper crust are the only people that matter anyway.

Britain is defined as a minimal democracy. I don’t know about the US but it looks worse. How are such huge countries (in terms of population) routinely returning people of the same families into power? Democracy implies equality of power - do you think all the people at the bottom of the social hierarchy would actually vote to be there if we had real choice? Would we vote for the vast inequality levels we have now, if we had democracy? Of course the people with power would, as it benefits them. They also select the candidates and the pitifully laughable ‘choices’ we get to ‘choose’ from - and that shows there is no democracy.

There is no such thing as democracy in large populations. It’s very much a twisted word. We don’t even have representative democracy any more. Sheesh, every time I turn the internet off there’s someone else who is wrong on it.

Ukrainian Intelligence claiming that a metallurgy plant in Donetsk is being used to burn the corpses of Russian soldiers.

How good would it be if this is was a NFZ meant?

If only...

Sorry what* not was!

Also...

"Ukraine released Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov, kidnapped by Russian occupiers! It was a special operation, he is safe now, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko said in a statement. "We don't leave our people in danger!" Tymoshenko said!"

twitter.com/nikamelkozerova/status/1504140488756142084?s=21

A bit of good news.

"Biden announces the U.S. will send drones to Ukraine."

twitter.com/kaitlancollins/status/1504142139101483025?s=21

Have thousands of people just been bombed who were sheltering in movie theatre? Around 2000? Someone posted on Facebook

NBC News

NEW: President Biden describes new assistance package to Ukraine:

• 800 anti-aircraft systems
• 9,000 anti-armor systems
• 7,000 small arms
• 20 million rounds of ammunition
• Drones

"I want to be honest with you: This could be a long and difficult battle," Biden says.

Even trumps president shows democracy works! Anyone can be President!

You try becoming president if you're born without millions at your back. It's not a democracy, it's a plutocracy with the choice between two plutocrats.

There's more than enough evidence that the Kremlin has tried to influence British democracy en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_interference_in_the_2016_Brexit_referendum and I simply can't be bothered to hunt up the Russian influence in US politics, there's plenty of evidence.

@HeadPain

Have thousands of people just been bombed who were sheltering in movie theatre? Around 2000? Someone posted on Facebook

BBC is reporting

More now from the besieged port city of Mariupol – the city's deputy mayor has told the BBC that Russian forces have bombed a theatre where hundreds of civilians were sheltering.

Serhiy Orlov said between 1,000 and 1,200 people were in the building. The number of casualties was still unknown, he said. The BBC could not independently verify the information.

No, unfortunately not just anyone can run for US President. You have to be a multimillionaire. Or be someone supported by multimillionaires. That’s a very small pool of highly connected candidates.

www.opensecrets.org/elections-overview/cost-of-election?cycle=2020&display=T&infl=N

Sky reporting the bombing of the theatre and apparently has verified it.

"The city council said the number of casualties was not yet known, but Sky News has verified footage from the attack as showing the Donetsk Regional Drama Theatre"

.

Would US drones = an act of war? Sorry just panicking here.