Ukraine Invasion: Part 20

[HappyWinter]

Thanks to everyone for taking part in the thread.

@RedToothBrush

Politics UK *@POLITlCSUK* NEW: Tony Blair says we should begin a bombing campaign against Russia in Ukraine

Not had enough attention in the last couple of weeks, huh Tony?

Eurgh, Tony has done quite enough and should keep his sticky beak out of everything permanently

@TiddyTidTwo

https://twitter.com/grimcultzero/status/1514330866629160962?s=21&t=6ohcOtY8dWXoJvUxS-gOsw

Not sure if this has been posted yet

Not that it was not official!

[quote ShinyHat22]@YorkshireLondonMiss your thoughts about this spreading beyond Ukraine are not cowardly or selfish. They are sensible and reasonable. I feel the same, as it wouldn’t help anyone. It doesn’t stop me being horrified and furious about what is going on.[/quote]
Absolutely agree with this. It's a huge relief to see others of a similar mindset on this thread, tbh.

That it was official, sorry! Typo. I'd heard it but until now it had been unconfirmed

Thank you Blueshoes, a perfectly delightful zelensky cock there.

How powerful is a cruise missile hit (or two of them) likely to be? ship-sinking powerful or merely inconvenient?

@ShinyHat22

I think Zelensky pics of that nature would be very well received 🙂

It’s the only reason I’ve read every post on the last 20 bloody threads 🤣

I've been reading every single post on this thread and haven't posted in a while. Does anyone at all believe that this won't escalate further beyond Ukraine? My Lord, I feel so selfish for worrying so much when I couldn't even begin to imagine being an actual Ukraine citizen or having family there. I've tried stepping away from the news, I'm on anxiety meds and I feel like I just can't help but check the situation every few minutes. I'm worried for my children and I can't seem to shake it. It's all horrific

@toastfiend 🌷. I have followed these threads since Day 1, and even came off MN for a while and closed my account as I could not believe some of the incendiary, ill thought comments being made. I have since rallied, got involved in practically helping Ukraine as much as I am able and feel a lot better for it. Even now though, I still don’t advocate for a No Fly Zone, boots on the ground or any of that.

I hadn't realised how highly Russia rated the UK: we are being consistently mentioned for evil intelligent sneakiness and aggressive desire for dominion. I thought Putin considered the UK as nothing more than a mini floating US puppet. Maybe he believes all of these things. If we are like that then one of our greatest feats is how well hidden it is behind a frontman like Boris Johnson.

He does seem to have a rather impressive respect for us doesn't he?

Perhaps that's why he pumped so much money into Brexit.

Fair do's though, the British military has really been outstanding in its support of Ukraine since 2014 and that has to have been signed off at a high level.

@Ijsbear

Thank you Blueshoes, a perfectly delightful zelensky cock there.

😂😂😂👏👏👏

@katem98

I've been reading every single post on this thread and haven't posted in a while. Does anyone at all believe that this won't escalate further beyond Ukraine? My Lord, I feel so selfish for worrying so much when I couldn't even begin to imagine being an actual Ukraine citizen or having family there. I've tried stepping away from the news, I'm on anxiety meds and I feel like I just can't help but check the situation every few minutes. I'm worried for my children and I can't seem to shake it. It's all horrific

Bless you, I feel the same. It's not easy to live as before. I try to hold on to the hope that there are people who know better than us how to navigate this and those are good people who are doing their best. They are trying to keep it in Ukraine.

@MagicFox You need a free Reuters account once you have read a few articles, it's easy to sign up.

@katem98 I don't know if it will escalate beyond Ukraine, I hope not. Regarding anxiety, have you tried anything like guided meditation or other mind/body practices? I'm not trying to be flippant, I find them very helpful and know lots of other people do too, they can be a positive coping mechanism for any stress. It's better than my other coping mechanism, which is raiding the biscuit tin.

Intelligent sneakiness

@Ijsbear

How powerful is a cruise missile hit (or two of them) likely to be? ship-sinking powerful or merely inconvenient?

A single missile of the type supposedly used in tonight's attack is in theory probably slightly too "lightweight" to sink something like the Moskva outright, but in the right circumstances and with multiple hits anything is possible.

Be interesting to hear more.

@HappyWinter Thanks. I've tried guided meditation, CBT, Sertraline and Propanalol all since Covid hit. I was relatively calm before I had kids, it really is a game changer, eh?

Phillips P. OBrien @PhillipsPOBrien
Biden's transcript of his promise of aid to Ukraine is fascinating. Helicopters listed clearly. Lots of range weapons, APCs. Only thing missing from Zelensky's preferred list was fixed wing aircraft. Considering Polish visit today, maybe those are coming?

The MiGs are SOOO coming. Zelensky's going to get his full shopping list.

Have Zelensky fans found his dancing videos?

e.g.

Thanks notimagain. So if the attack really took place then it could have been damaged but still operational?

What has it actually been doing? I read that it was kinda skulking around keeping out of sight rather than bombarding Odessa

The MiGs are SOOO coming. Zelensky's going to get his full shopping list.

Jubilation 🙏🦃

Mikhail Khodorkovsky (English) @mbk_center
World’s largest shipping company has left Russia.The move represents a full departure from the sanctions-hit country. Maersk has stopped accepting new bookings on all of its services to and from 🇷🇺 and will sell all of its assets in 🇷🇺 following its annual meeting of shareholders

Will the last one out, turn off the lights please?

@RedToothBrush

Jimmy *@JimmySecUK* A list of the equipment the US is providing to Ukraine as part of their $800 million military assistance package.

Of particular note, 18 155mm howitzers, 11 Mi-17 transport helicopters, 200 M113 armoured personnel carriers, 300 Switchblade loitering munitions.

I'm also very interested to see what exactly they mean by "unmanned coastal defence vessels".

What I picked up was the use of the word "unprecedented" when Biden talks about the "systems" that are already on their way to Ukraine (already there?). About 36 hours ago a top US general used similar but not identical terms, but I cannot find that now. Those listed are not 'unprecedented' in my view. This is of course an opportunity for real battleground testing of systems, which is one of the collateral benefits of warfare and one that is actively promoted. I expect to see news in coming days/weeks of new forms of weapons engaged on land or sea that we have only dimly prospectively heard about in the past. These systems do require monitoring in the field (and destruction if they fail) so it will be interesting to hear - if we ever do - how that was executed.

Invasion of Ukraine to push global defence spend above $2.2 trillion by 2026

www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/invasion-of-ukraine-to-push-global-defence-spend

Acceleration of European spending has been building for several years

In dollar terms Europe added the most funding to its armed forces’ budgets this year; USD30.7 billion, although 80% of this increase is accounted for by Germany’s dramatic rise.

While this year’s spike in European growth was brought about in large part in reaction to Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, defence budgets on the continent have been expanding ever-quicker since Russia first began supporting the secession regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and annexed Crimea in 2014.

In the 10 years to 2015 Europe’s defence spend was almost totally static in real terms. In the 10 years that follow it’s on course to have grown at an average annual rate of 3.2%, or just over 45% across the entire period.

As such, defence spending in Europe is expected to reach USD414.2 billion in 2025, from USD373.4 billion in 2022 and USD284.7 billion in 2015.

“While several countries plan to increase the size of their armed forces, and operational costs will also grow to reflect the increased threat level, investment is still the area that will have the easiest time absorbing any defence budgetary increase in the short to medium term” said Ana-Roxana Popescu, Janes lead analyst for European defence budgets. “Defence investment is thus set to reach USD134.6 billion in 2025, from USD86 billion in 2021, a 57% increase.”

Targus: Those listed are not 'unprecedented' in my view. This is of course an opportunity for real battleground testing of systems, which is one of the collateral benefits of warfare and one that is actively promoted. I expect to see news in coming days/weeks of new forms of weapons engaged on land or sea that we have only dimly prospectively heard about in the past. These systems do require monitoring in the field (and destruction if they fail) so it will be interesting to hear - if we ever do - how that was executed.

There may be state of the art weapons coming from the US, I hope. But if they are that advanced, wouldn't only US be trained to operate them? Would US military end up on Ukraine soil?

Sorry, I know nothing about how weapons work.