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[Politics] Russia invades Ukraine (24/02/2022)













raymondo

Well-known member
Apr 26, 2017
5,686
Wiltshire
There is a theory doing the rounds that Putin thinks Medvedev could be a potential challenger for leadership. So, Medvedev acts and sounds like an even bigger looney than Putin and thereby reducing his threat potential.. no one would vote for him as he's such a nutter. .. Thus keeping himself alive.
Interesting theory, I'm just unsure anyone would put up a serious challenge to Putin at the moment... they would know the outcome would most likely be bad for them.
Perhaps Medvedev is simply taking the Putin rhetoric to the next level, with Putin's approval.
(PS perhaps I'm reading it wrong because it's been a long while since I've seen Medvedev looking sober in public 🤔).
 




Triggaaar

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2005
50,207
Goldstone
There is a theory doing the rounds that Putin thinks Medvedev could be a potential challenger for leadership.

That doesn't make sense. He was president after Putin, and he paved the way for Putin to be a permanent dictator by removing the 8 year presidency limit. He's Putin's great ally.
 


Eric the meek

Fiveways Wilf
NSC Patron
Aug 24, 2020
5,348
It's been a busy couple of weeks 👍
I can barely keep up with the news, let alone post it on here Raymondo !

But here is an interesting take from the New York Times.

Summary - the Russian advance on Avdiivka and the Ukrainians shooting down a greater number of Russian fighter planes are both symptoms of a shift in Russian tactics.

'Moscow’s recent gains in the east have been aided by more aggressive air support on the front lines. But that also has helped Ukraine shoot down enemy planes in the past two weeks.'

 






Igzilla

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2012
1,647
Worthing
Russia has sadly finally managed to destroy the 1st Himar even though they've reported 100s
It's interesting in the video that it shows the HIMARS with nothing in front of it and a vehicle behind it, then the camera cuts to a different viewpoint and there's now a vehicle in front of it as well as behind it...I smell bullshit.
 


raymondo

Well-known member
Apr 26, 2017
5,686
Wiltshire
I can barely keep up with the news, let alone post it on here Raymondo !

But here is an interesting take from the New York Times.

Summary - the Russian advance on Avdiivka and the Ukrainians shooting down a greater number of Russian fighter planes are both symptoms of a shift in Russian tactics.

'Moscow’s recent gains in the east have been aided by more aggressive air support on the front lines. But that also has helped Ukraine shoot down enemy planes in the past two weeks.'

Thank you: an interesting read, with some added details 👍.
 






Sirnormangall

Well-known member
Sep 21, 2017
2,971
The paranoia continues to deepen in Russia.

Now they are threatening to expel journalists, and are accusing western ambassadors of meddling in Russian affairs.

I’m sort of surprised that the bbc reporter the excellent Steve Rosenberg hasn’t been kicked out of Russia yet. His reports are always couched with doubt and cynicism about anything said or done by the Russian regime. Long May it continue
 


raymondo

Well-known member
Apr 26, 2017
5,686
Wiltshire
I’m sort of surprised that the bbc reporter the excellent Steve Rosenberg hasn’t been kicked out of Russia yet. His reports are always couched with doubt and cynicism about anything said or done by the Russian regime. Long May it continue
I think somehow it would be admission of a problem or failing if the 'impartial ' BBC were kicked out. Yes, Rosenberg sailing closer to that line...thank goodness.
 


Eric the meek

Fiveways Wilf
NSC Patron
Aug 24, 2020
5,348
I’m sort of surprised that the bbc reporter the excellent Steve Rosenberg hasn’t been kicked out of Russia yet. His reports are always couched with doubt and cynicism about anything said or done by the Russian regime. Long May it continue
I think Steve Rosenberg and his news team are treading a fine line, and they are doing a good job in exceedingly difficult circumstances.

As you know, they are subject to cynical laws preventing criticism of the Kremlin regime and the Russian military. In doing so, the Kremlin not only seeks to control its own media, but those of foreign countries as well.

This is another manifestation of the strange Russian dystopian mix of control and paranoia, in which dissidents who do not share the utopian vision, are poisoned, jailed or murdered, or if the paranoia is acute, all three.
 






Eric the meek

Fiveways Wilf
NSC Patron
Aug 24, 2020
5,348
I'm not sure what to make of this. While Zelensky would have been the target, a missile came within a few hundred metres of the Greek Prime Minister. The Greece that is a member of NATO.

We have already seen that Russia has lost some 14 planes because Russia put them in more danger on the front line because it was desperate to take out Ukrainian positions and take Avdiivka. British intelligence estimates that in February, Russia suffered an average loss of 983 troops every day; their highest in the war so far.

Russia's actions are becoming increasingly reckless in the run-up to the presidential election.
 


essbee1

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2014
4,153
Had they taken out Greece's PM, then it would have been game over for Russia. An attack on NATO and all that.
 


GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
46,794
Gloucester
I'm not sure what to make of this. While Zelensky would have been the target, a missile came within a few hundred metres of the Greek Prime Minister. The Greece that is a member of NATO.

We have already seen that Russia has lost some 14 planes because Russia put them in more danger on the front line because it was desperate to take out Ukrainian positions and take Avdiivka. British intelligence estimates that in February, Russia suffered an average loss of 983 troops every day; their highest in the war so far.

Russia's actions are becoming increasingly reckless in the run-up to the presidential election.
Presidential election - what's that all about? Vote Putin ................................ or Putin ........................... or don't vote - and wait for a knock on the door in the night?

What the hell are our spooks doing? The Russian spooks are adept at keeping the Russian public misinformed - why can't our spooks spread a few doubts? Maybe they're trying - but they aren't doing very well! :(
 




Eric the meek

Fiveways Wilf
NSC Patron
Aug 24, 2020
5,348
Presidential election - what's that all about? Vote Putin ................................ or Putin ........................... or don't vote - and wait for a knock on the door in the night?

What the hell are our spooks doing? The Russian spooks are adept at keeping the Russian public misinformed - why can't our spooks spread a few doubts? Maybe they're trying - but they aren't doing very well! :(
That was kind of my point.

The decision-making is becoming even more bonkers than usual. Putin has already eliminated all his rivals, including Navalny. When a couple of mavericks appeared coming up on the rails, he invented/invoked rules to prevent them from running. But he still pretends the election isn't false. Who is he trying to convince? Meanwhile, in order to present something as a success (Avdiivka) at the election, he puts umpteen fighter planes at risk of being shot down, and incurs daily losses of nearly 1000 troops.

All of this for an election that he knows he will win by a landslide. Even if he just didn't fancy it, he could cancel it at a moment's notice anyway. But he doesn't.

I suspect, as a student of history, he is - absolutely - shit scared of the Russian people and losing control of them.
 


crookie

Well-known member
Jun 14, 2013
3,312
Back in Sussex
That was kind of my point.

The decision-making is becoming even more bonkers than usual. Putin has already eliminated all his rivals, including Navalny. When a couple of mavericks appeared coming up on the rails, he invented/invoked rules to prevent them from running. But he still pretends the election isn't false. Who is he trying to convince? Meanwhile, in order to present something as a success (Avdiivka) at the election, he puts umpteen fighter planes at risk of being shot down, and incurs daily losses of nearly 1000 troops.

All of this for an election that he knows he will win by a landslide. Even if he just didn't fancy it, he could cancel it at a moment's notice anyway. But he doesn't.

I suspect, as a student of history, he is - absolutely - shit scared of the Russian people and losing control of them.
Indeed, when you have to murder political opponents in prison, arrest people laying flowers and stop anyone for running against you in an election where the result is a foregone conclusion it makes you look the very opposite of a 'strong leader'
 


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