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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU? Russia threaten UK

226 replies

mumlearningtorun · 17/08/2026 22:56

Am I being overdramatic about the new breaking news I’ve just seen about Russia threatening UK after use of drones. I’m super scared and have anxiety, can someone somewhat reassure me? Has these headlines happened before??

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
olivepicanto · 19/08/2026 18:45

Crissy81 · 19/08/2026 17:03

To be honest having watched this over decades, Russia repeatedly warned the West about its actions. Washington kept pushing NATO towards Russian borders. Russia said enough. Washington placed a missile defence system that could be engineered to fire an ICBM to reach Moscow in four minutes. Russia said enough. Washington was behind the civil unrest that resulted in them putting a puppet in charge of Ukraine and Russian people in the East of Ukraine under sustained attack. Russia essentially had enough and reacted or it would have no buffer between the Western nations and itself so it invaded. And lets be honest, Russia are not the ones with the history of attacking countries with military might. Of course Russian establishment are not all good and great, but the provocation stretches way back and is rooted in Washington.

I didnt actually worry too much about this until
now. Russia is not in a good way domestically and its losing ground in its war. Now when you start to add that the only reason Ukraine didnt collapse by now was because it was being supported militarily and logistically and financially by the West, thats going to get Russias back up. Yet what has changed is Ukraine attacking Russia deep within its territory.

This changes things significantly.

Russias civil defence program was once amazing to be honest, but I have no idea the state of it now but what I do know is Russia has a doctrine regarding defence that includes the use of tactical nuclear weapons when attacked. Its now being attacked.

Its being attacked by British weapons possibly with support of British logistics and targeting systems. This puts a legitimate crosshair on us, as far as Russia is concerned.

So for the first time in my life yeah I would say its gone from 95% sure nothing will
happen, to 50/50. There are many ways it can attack but we are in poor shape to weather any attack and escalation can be rapid.

We have no business in Ukraine at all. Sanction by all means and trade suspension but the supplying of the level if military hardware that we have done to now attack Russia deep within territory that goes way beyond defensive measures. With Russia starting to be on the backfoot. This isnt looking good, especially when we look at the global picture economically, almost every country hates its government right now and things aren't strong. Global War would be horrific but a global war, resets and we are talking on all sides about absolute psychopaths, which are the ones that push that buttons. They see the rest of us as an expendable resource.

There isnt much we can do unfortunately, there is nowhere to go and unless you have a deep bunker thats self sufficient for several years and well out of sight and there is no knowledge to anyone else but you that it exists, there is zero ability to escape what could happen.

Im hoping, as we all are, nothing will happen - but yes this development is concerning to say the least. We cant do anything now. Just occupy yourselves and enjoy life and carry on and what will be, will be. I just find it hard to understand why anyone would be for our military involvement in this conflict, it has zero to do with us.

Wow

not only is none of this true, it also makes no sense.

totally illogical

russia invaded Ukraine.

by Invading Ukraine, the Russians are encroaching on NATO borders, inching closer.

I can't believe you believe what you have posted. It's too much 🤣

olivepicanto · 19/08/2026 18:47

ticktickticktickBOOM · 19/08/2026 17:37

I do actually think Europe should be doing something to protect Ukraines children. I have no idea why Zelensky appears to be doing nothing about this.

This recent article is quite sobering.

Here's an extract:

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, removals of Ukrainian children became systematic Russian state practice, and significant legislative reforms have allowed the program to be both expanded and simplified. Some children have been separated from their parents during military operations or “filtration,” while others were removed from institutions or sent to camps. Under coercion, some parents consent to the transfer of their children; others can be charged with fabricated crimes and deemed “unfit,” so that Russia can gain custody of the children. Once transferred to Russia, children can be placed in Russian foster families and adoption programs. Russian adoptive parents have the right to legally change the children’s names, patronymics, and date of and place of birth, thus erasing the child’s Ukrainian legal identity and making recovery nearly impossible. Upon being placed into foster care, under guardianship, or adoption, children undergo re-education and Russification. In some cases, children are beaten, abused, confined, and threatened to be sent to psychiatric hospitals for disobedience.

What do you think President Zelensky should do?

juldan · 19/08/2026 19:22

Crissy81 · 19/08/2026 17:03

To be honest having watched this over decades, Russia repeatedly warned the West about its actions. Washington kept pushing NATO towards Russian borders. Russia said enough. Washington placed a missile defence system that could be engineered to fire an ICBM to reach Moscow in four minutes. Russia said enough. Washington was behind the civil unrest that resulted in them putting a puppet in charge of Ukraine and Russian people in the East of Ukraine under sustained attack. Russia essentially had enough and reacted or it would have no buffer between the Western nations and itself so it invaded. And lets be honest, Russia are not the ones with the history of attacking countries with military might. Of course Russian establishment are not all good and great, but the provocation stretches way back and is rooted in Washington.

I didnt actually worry too much about this until
now. Russia is not in a good way domestically and its losing ground in its war. Now when you start to add that the only reason Ukraine didnt collapse by now was because it was being supported militarily and logistically and financially by the West, thats going to get Russias back up. Yet what has changed is Ukraine attacking Russia deep within its territory.

This changes things significantly.

Russias civil defence program was once amazing to be honest, but I have no idea the state of it now but what I do know is Russia has a doctrine regarding defence that includes the use of tactical nuclear weapons when attacked. Its now being attacked.

Its being attacked by British weapons possibly with support of British logistics and targeting systems. This puts a legitimate crosshair on us, as far as Russia is concerned.

So for the first time in my life yeah I would say its gone from 95% sure nothing will
happen, to 50/50. There are many ways it can attack but we are in poor shape to weather any attack and escalation can be rapid.

We have no business in Ukraine at all. Sanction by all means and trade suspension but the supplying of the level if military hardware that we have done to now attack Russia deep within territory that goes way beyond defensive measures. With Russia starting to be on the backfoot. This isnt looking good, especially when we look at the global picture economically, almost every country hates its government right now and things aren't strong. Global War would be horrific but a global war, resets and we are talking on all sides about absolute psychopaths, which are the ones that push that buttons. They see the rest of us as an expendable resource.

There isnt much we can do unfortunately, there is nowhere to go and unless you have a deep bunker thats self sufficient for several years and well out of sight and there is no knowledge to anyone else but you that it exists, there is zero ability to escape what could happen.

Im hoping, as we all are, nothing will happen - but yes this development is concerning to say the least. We cant do anything now. Just occupy yourselves and enjoy life and carry on and what will be, will be. I just find it hard to understand why anyone would be for our military involvement in this conflict, it has zero to do with us.

@Crissy81
Tell me you know nothing about politics and history without telling me you know nothing.
And let’s be honest, Russia are not the ones with the history of attacking countries with military might. “ 🤣🤣🤣

How about centuries of attacking other countries? If you are too lazy to read on this topic, just ask Chat GPT or ask Russia’s neighbours.

Current Russia is a direct successor of USSR. It is not some new innocent democratic country. They had a shot of being a democracy in 1990s but Putin put an end to it. A KGB man using KGB methods home and abroad.

Yes, NATO has been expanding but it has nothing to do with Washington’s ambitions. Each country, which managed to free themselves from the Soviet Block in 1989-1990s, was desperate to join NATO in order to be protected from Russia.
Do you remember what happened in 1990 when Lithuania declared independence? I do. Soviets sent tanks.

And Russia is not entitled to say “ enough” to any independent country which wants to join NATO. Russia does not own Poland, Ukraine, Romania or any other country which used to be a part of the Soviet Block.
The West has made one huge mistake with regards to Ukraine - they made them give up the nuclear weapons. If they hadn’t, we wouldn’t be having this war now.

SadiraOfTyr · 19/08/2026 19:46

I wonder what it will take for Russia to have a collective ‘are we the baddies?’ moment.

juldan · 19/08/2026 20:01

SadiraOfTyr · 19/08/2026 19:46

I wonder what it will take for Russia to have a collective ‘are we the baddies?’ moment.

@SadiraOfTyr
I don’t think it will ever happen. Just like the abusers almost never admit that they are abusive.
Russia has never had a chance to develop as a decent country. Russian citizens have never experienced freedom. They went from the centuries of tsars to Lenin, then Stalin and the lot which followed him. There was a glimmer of hope in the 1990s but even then there were the oligarchs and the mafia. And then came Putin.

Notonthestairs · 19/08/2026 21:10

Oh, I see your angle now.

randomchap · 19/08/2026 21:10

A Facebook reel. A well renowned and respected source of information. 🙄

localnotail · 19/08/2026 21:17

Russia can fuck off. It has a nuclear power, yes, and a dumb brainwashed population prepared to die if not for putin then for money - most of people there are desperately poor. But. That's all there is to it. Nothing else. Nasty backward bullies.

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 19/08/2026 21:23

There are some fantastic pro-Russia posts on this thread. Comedy gold.

I’m guessing they’re from Stop The War activists who are having a break from making placards.

Notonthestairs · 19/08/2026 21:23

randomchap · 19/08/2026 21:10

A Facebook reel. A well renowned and respected source of information. 🙄

Yep. Desperate times.

randomchap · 19/08/2026 21:36

ticktickticktickBOOM · 19/08/2026 21:33

I have no particular reason to question it's authenticity.

They are all at it after all . . .

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/10/how-russia-is-grooming-ukraines-children-to-fight-for-it-i-understood-it-wasnt-just-play

That Facebook reel is by Glenn Diesen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Diesen

Not a reliable source.

In June 2023, Diesen attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). His attendance, travel and accommodation were paid for by the foundation Think Arctic, part of the Putin-backed Roscongress Foundation. At the conference, the University of St. Petersburg launched a new thinktank, GORKI ("The Geopolitical Observatory for Russia's Key Issues"), led by former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) and listing Diesen as one of its twenty "top researchers"

Glenn Diesen - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Diesen

ticktickticktickBOOM · 19/08/2026 21:42

randomchap · 19/08/2026 21:36

That Facebook reel is by Glenn Diesen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Diesen

Not a reliable source.

In June 2023, Diesen attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). His attendance, travel and accommodation were paid for by the foundation Think Arctic, part of the Putin-backed Roscongress Foundation. At the conference, the University of St. Petersburg launched a new thinktank, GORKI ("The Geopolitical Observatory for Russia's Key Issues"), led by former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) and listing Diesen as one of its twenty "top researchers"

Oh ok. I had no idea.

Does anyone know what the translation of the dialogue is though between the child and the military recruiter?

randomchap · 19/08/2026 21:45

ticktickticktickBOOM · 19/08/2026 21:42

Oh ok. I had no idea.

Does anyone know what the translation of the dialogue is though between the child and the military recruiter?

You had no idea, and yet you decided to share that? Do you believe everything you read?

Serious lack of media literacy

Tomikka · 19/08/2026 22:22

ticktickticktickBOOM · 19/08/2026 21:42

Oh ok. I had no idea.

Does anyone know what the translation of the dialogue is though between the child and the military recruiter?

What ever is being said in an altercation between a man and a boy in the street …… in what way would that relate to the Ukrainian president’s thoughts on children that have been taken from occupied Ukraine to Russia ?

olivepicanto · 19/08/2026 23:00

ticktickticktickBOOM · 19/08/2026 21:08

Well nothing I guess. He doesn't seem to even care about the children still in Ukraine:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2204889353622808

That's not an answer.

Why would your weird link prove he doesn't care about the victims of Russian war crimes?

ticktickticktickBOOM · 19/08/2026 23:15

randomchap · 19/08/2026 21:45

You had no idea, and yet you decided to share that? Do you believe everything you read?

Serious lack of media literacy

Can you link to the sources you use for current news on Ukraine to ensure you are not being subject to propaganda or fake news?

Genuine request

ticktickticktickBOOM · 19/08/2026 23:17

olivepicanto · 19/08/2026 23:00

That's not an answer.

Why would your weird link prove he doesn't care about the victims of Russian war crimes?

You asked what I think Zelenski should do about Ukrainian children being stolen and militarized by Russia - I assumed you were angling that there was nothing that could be done.

If you think there is something he could do - what is it?

olivepicanto · 19/08/2026 23:29

ticktickticktickBOOM · 19/08/2026 23:17

You asked what I think Zelenski should do about Ukrainian children being stolen and militarized by Russia - I assumed you were angling that there was nothing that could be done.

If you think there is something he could do - what is it?

Well the whole point is that there is little he can do against Russian war crimes

You're the one criticising him.

Not one word about the aggressors. Funny that

ticktickticktickBOOM · 19/08/2026 23:36

olivepicanto · 19/08/2026 23:29

Well the whole point is that there is little he can do against Russian war crimes

You're the one criticising him.

Not one word about the aggressors. Funny that

What?

How is expressing concern for Ukraines stolen children being militarised by Russia saying 'not one word about the aggressors' ?

edited - and why the 'funny that' remark?

randomchap · 20/08/2026 03:59

ticktickticktickBOOM · 19/08/2026 23:15

Can you link to the sources you use for current news on Ukraine to ensure you are not being subject to propaganda or fake news?

Genuine request

No, because I don't believe it's a genuine request. You're just wanting to say I'm following propaganda.

But if you do want to improve your media literacy, question the source and purpose of the content. Cross reference with other sources, look at the authors, do they have links to the organisations they are reporting on? Before sharing something, check that it is being reported on multiple reliable sites.

EstoyRobandoSuCasa · 20/08/2026 10:53

The idea that any country close to Russia’s western border shouldn’t be allowed any autonomy as this wouldn’t be fair on poor Russia, is an interesting take to say the least.

Unless you’re Russian, of course.

Notonthestairs · 20/08/2026 11:14

EstoyRobandoSuCasa · 20/08/2026 10:53

The idea that any country close to Russia’s western border shouldn’t be allowed any autonomy as this wouldn’t be fair on poor Russia, is an interesting take to say the least.

Unless you’re Russian, of course.

Or MAGA or similarly aligned.

SadiraOfTyr · 20/08/2026 12:28

Tomikka · 19/08/2026 22:22

What ever is being said in an altercation between a man and a boy in the street …… in what way would that relate to the Ukrainian president’s thoughts on children that have been taken from occupied Ukraine to Russia ?

It's being presented (by Kremlin-funded stooges) as an example of "NATO-funded" recruiters pressing children into service. Unbelievably there are people so lacking in critical thinking facilities that they are actually buy this.