Russia's War Against Ukraine

[ComradeP]

I'm watching some live streams from various CCTV/traffic camera's, but it seems to be quiet in Kiev, Kharkov and Odessa at the moment.

Of course, the lack of flashes could also be due to Ukraine's AA defences being off-line as well as there being no need for bombing runs at the moment.

The video with the CNN reporter at a military air base near Kiev, with Russian airborne forces meters away, was a bit surrealistic.

[Gusington]

CNN reports that Russians are attempting to seize the Chernobyl facility.

[MengJiao]

CNN reports that Russians are attempting to seize the Chernobyl facility.

  Oksana Markarova confirmed that a Russian platoon from Moscow's 74th Motor Rifles Brigade had surrendered inside Ukraine earlier today.

  AND (imagine the horror), three people were injured by a Ukrainian shell inside Russia.  Clearly, things are getting out of hand when the Ukrainians start shooting back.

  Meanwhile the eye-witness assault on Kiev features the Russians pulling back and a car just driving by supposely in the line of fire from whatever the reporters were sheltering from.

[steve58]

OK, my strategically-challenged head is trying to figure why Putin would want Chernobyl?  Surly he has enough nuclear waste in Russia.  ???  Cracking it open (on purpose or accidently) seems it be as much a threat to Russia and Belarus as to Kiev.  Maybe to contaminate the Kiev Reservoir???

[Jarhead0331]

Since becoming a parent, nothing disturbs me more than the fear and suffering of children. This war, as are all wars, is terrible.

[Uberhaus]

The background radiation isn't that high except in the reactor and surrounding building.  Hopefully, there just trying to maneouvre through, they have good NBC protection.  Maybe they thought no one would expect it.  There is a fear though that explosions will stir up radiation buried in the soil.  I don't think Putin would like Ukraine radioactively contaminated.

As to an earlier post I made, Russia developed hypersonic weapons in 2019, a different country developed them last year.  Sorry, won't post in the middle of the night again.

[Uberhaus]

Since becoming a parent, nothing disturbs me more than the fear and suffering of children. This war, as are all wars, is terrible.

It really does change the perspective.  I believe your child is quite young.  When my son was young,  I was very watchful and even traffic was worrying.  He turns eighteen next month and already has one scholarship offer for university.  I hope this ends very soon for the Ukranians, hopefully with the Russian people rising up against the kleptocracy, and the Russian army supporting the people like in 1991.

[Uberhaus]

From BBC Live  https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60454795

Anti-war protest taking place near Kremlin
More now on anti-war protests taking place in Russia as Joe Biden takes questions from journalists at the White House.

At least 735 people have been arrested at these protests across Russia today, including more than 330 in Moscow, according to OVD-Info, which tracks arrests at opposition rallies.

Footage from Moscow shows large crowds close to the Kremlin.

Some 2,000 people gathered near Pushkin Square in Moscow and up to 1,000 people in the city of St Petersburg, AFP news agency reports.

[Jarhead0331]

Since becoming a parent, nothing disturbs me more than the fear and suffering of children. This war, as are all wars, is terrible.

It really does change the perspective.  I believe your child is quite young.  When my son was young,  I was very watchful and even traffic was worrying.  He turns eighteen next month and already has one scholarship offer for university.  I hope this ends very soon for the Ukranians, hopefully with the Russian people rising up against the kleptocracy, and the Russian army supporting the people like in 1991.

I have two girls. 8 and 2.

[Uberhaus]

They're fortunate in having a protector in you.

[Jarhead0331]

They're fortunate in having a protector in you.

Thank you. In this world we live in, I often times doubt my ability to keep them safe.

[Yskonyn]

Flew back from Cyprus today. Lots of military assets in the air and that's only those we *can* hear on the radio. Imagine whats there that we cannot.

Its crazy whats happening at the moment.

I feel you, Jarhead. The thought has crossed my mind more than once these last few years as well.

[Gusington]

And mine.

[W8taminute]

That video of the low level ATG missile strike in a residential neighborhood just goes to show you that there are some armies/governments that have no pity on who they kill. 

I'll leave it at that.  But tuck that fact into the back of your mind.

[SirAndrewD]

That video of the low level ATG missile strike in a residential neighborhood just goes to show you that there are some armies/governments that have no pity on who they kill. 

I'll leave it at that.  But tuck that fact into the back of your mind.

There's a lot of hatred that goes back a long time that's going to boil over in this war. 

I did a talk on the Holodomor in my Phi Alpha Theta days, as a part of that I really did a deep dive into the really imbalanced relationship Ukrainians have historically had with their Russian/Polish/Lithuanian overlords over the centuries. 

Having a few Ukrainian ex-pat coworkers in Georgia also drove home how important this era in their history was to a lot of their people.  After the Revolution there was a real sense in Western Ukraine of them finally achieving the independence and recognition that they've wanted for a long time as an entity that could stand apart from Russia's shadow.

You could sense in Putin's speech last night that he wants a reckoning for the apparent ungratefulness of the Ukrainians to their traditional "protectors".

An occupation of Ukraine by Russian forces will likely be worse than the war itself.  Nothing here is going to be clean.