Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

I bet Hereford’s quiet this weekend …

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Lets hope one of them can get the right shot off and save a lot of lives

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Speculation.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

I think America is generally worried he'll hit a NATO country next. Unless one of his own takes him out that nut job is likely to end what's left of his life Nuking the planet.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

A lad at work who's got family in the area says he's heard it's been 'quiet' for the last few weeks, so looks we were better prepared than we were with Kuwait and delaying BA flight 149 to get a team in with minutes to spare.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Latest UK Intel:

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...1&d=1645919573

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Thanks.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Well, if he hits a NATO country, we will have to teach him a lesson he will never forget!

Putin understands only strength. Snowflakes retreat right now.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Spoken like someone who won't be doing any of the fighting, snowflakes retreat right now pffft :rolleyes:

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

This could end up a nuclear war. Even if the UK isn't hit directly, I imagine it will affect us environmentaly and it definitely will hit us financialy, just as we recover from a pandemic and face other issues.

If the UK is hit in retaliation for helping the Ukraine (as Putin has alluded to) then God help us all. Yes, we could drop ours on Russia, but we would still suffer.

After watching War Games, Threads and When the Wind Blows I hope I don't survive the initial hit, especially as the time I have left is suspected to be limited.

During the Cold War the Government had a series of short films called 'Protect and Survive' that would have been broadcast in the run up to a possible nuclear attack, they are available on YouTube if anyone wants to watch them. They look hopelessly out of date and a lot of the information is now regarded as pointless eg if you are outside when the alarm sounds, lie on the ground and take your doors off their hinges to create a shelter in the home if you gave no cellar. I suspect it would take most people more than two minutes to find a screwdriver!

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Such as?

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

You are living in the century of the fruit bat to steal from Terry Pratchett.

https://wiki.lspace.org/Century_of_the_Fruitbat

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Have you ever served, do you have any military training or understanding of the bigger picture ?. Looking at your post i think your understanding comes via call of duty

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

A wild stab in the dark - no, no, probably not…

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Yes, like what?

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Maybe learning the lesson of how a bullet between the eyes feels for the fraction of a second before brain death perhaps

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Trouble is, there has been old footage branded as new, and new footage branded as old.


Take the woman on the front pages of most UK papers the other day, it did happen during the immediate situation, but some Russian papers said it was old footage.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Just been reading about the women in Dnipro making petrol bombs and organising supplies for the hospital. I don't think Vlad saw this level of resistance, if only half the country refuses to capitulate how are the Russian army going to subdue the best part of 20 million people intent on resisting a foreign occupation? The Russians are already being made to fight hard for every inch and I just hope the military hardware arrives in time for Ukraine to use it. The quote from one of the women that summed it all up was "We are not scared here. We are angry!"

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Even Germany has yeilded and suppling hardware.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

I'm currently getting quotes for new double glazing . . .


Should I ask for the glass to be already whitewashed or do it myself?

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Apparently, Germany don't want to be seen to be helping too much as they get a lot of their gas from Russia (and probably the veiled nuclear threat too).

Although we only get about 5% from Russia, the fact that Germany will need more gas from elsewhere will lead to gas (and electric) prices rocketing even more for us and everywhere else.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

That's just changed - the German Chancellor has stated to the Bundestag today https://twitter.com/JeremyCliffe/sta...HeCWoJHWLS1eTw

---------- Post added at 12:53 ---------- Previous post was at 12:49 ----------

Be some helluva whitewash if it can withstand a couple of atmospheres of overpressure from a delivery of instant sunshine...

---------- Post added at 13:02 ---------- Previous post was at 12:53 ----------

https://www.reuters.com/article/ukra...-idUSL4N2V20HA

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

BREAKING: President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian nuclear deterrent forces on alert amid tensions with the West over Ukraine.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Vlad has put, glow in the dark weapons on stand-by.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Worrying, but not unexpected.

Where's this been reported?

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Everywhere, including the FT

https://www.ft.com/content/475838e4-...8-24f14beb4a9e

Google search "Putin nuclear weapons" with results in "past hour" in Search Tools.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Crikey . . . I may need double whitewash plus an Anderson shelter

Alternatively I can max out the credit cards on booze . . . maybe won't have to pay it back ;)

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Did none of Putin’s generals advise him, that Ukraine may fight back?

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Would you if you wanted to keep your head?

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

I wish someone would run into Putin's office and put a bullet into the mad *******'s head.:mad:.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Why am I thinking of this from Blackadder at the moment.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Start digging your shelters. Putin has officially gone full Tonto.

Why does this remind me of WHOOPS APOCALYPSE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV1HP7VHRSg


https://news.sky.com/story/russia-vl...alert-12553278

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

If a nuclear bomb were to be dropped on the Ukraine, are any other countries likely to retaliate by dropping one on Russia?

If they do, innocent people will suffer and it may lead to annihilation of a lot of the world.

If they don't, it's a green light to Putin that he can invade whoever he wants.

From a selfish point of view, would a nuclear bomb targeted at the Ukraine directly affect the UK? I can't seem to find an answer.

Oddly, whilst trying to find out the above early this morning, I went onto YouTube and it recommended a nuclear survival video. I had been searching about the subject, so that would explain it. However, lots of the comments were from people who had all been recommended the video out of the blue at the same time.

I wonder if YouTube were privy to this information before it was released by the media, or if a word had been had in their ear by Government(s) to try and get this information out without trying to alarm people too much.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

The way i look at it is i have no control of what is happening and cannot stop it happening. So why get all worried about it. If it happens it happens :shrug:

If you put the word nuclear in the search it would have recommend based on that

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

It becomes an ever escalating series of 'counter responses' after the first mention of nukes.

Russia goes on alert, other countries respond with the same, Russia ups the anti, other countries respond in the same way . . . suddenly there's lots of twitchy finger on fire buttons . . . and somewhere in the world there's a mad bugger that's smiling and has a glint in his oriental eyes :shocked:

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

The world has changed a lot since the 60s/70s/80s - economies are much more interconnected (which is why the economic sanctions against Russia will be effective).

Nobody in China is going to start anything, as they depend on selling us stuff to keep their economy going.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Stop destroying my fantasy with fact, it's not fair :D

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

A chilling piece in the FT about Putin.

https://www.ft.com/content/c039db89-...f-b41a511496f1

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Love this bit "Putin left the KGB and quickly rose up the ranks as a trusted aide to Russia’s two most important democratic leaders" Democratic my arse

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

It seems that Putin expected Ukraine to surrender quickly and the West's response to be soft and disunited. Instead, Ukraine is giving Russia a lot more problems, costing Russia a lot more and the West has been more united than it has for a long, long time. The sanctions seem to be worse than he thought we could deliver and Germany is going to boost it's armed forces and spend 2% of GDP. NATO is about to get much stronger.

He's backed himself into a corner here. If he fails to get a quick victory he thought he would then surely his position with the Kremlin is in danger and the nuclear threat comes from panic.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

He can order it, didn’t mean it will happen…

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

BREAKING: DEFCON Warning System changes their alert status rising from 4 to 3, meaning state of Air Force readiness is increased above normal.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Oh bugger, Putins actions are obviously being taken seriously then.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Putin has put his nuke guys on high alert. Scary times

https://www.theguardian.com/world/li...ft-system-live

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-60542877

Anxiety kicking in a little I have to admit

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

YouTube have pulled RT from their service. Unconfirmed reports that the EU have banned it too.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/rus...5xRh7kjDaPA0QJ

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Unknown, but unless he picks somewhere his troops are not, his generals a not likely to be very happy.
Every country around him will almost certainly start to prepare for war, as hes obvously not to be trusted to leave them alone.
Also, lets not forget Russia has a large border with China, who are not likely to be too happy to see an unhinged neighbour using nukes.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

EU ban all Russian Jets, including private jets belonging to oligarchs from entering, taking off, flying over and landing anywhere within the EU. They have also banned Russia Today, Sputnik from broadcasting in their territories.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Told ya ;)

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

The apparent scene when he gave order to get nuclear deterrent force ready. He loves his large tables doesn’t he. He’s isolated on the World Stage, as much as he is here.

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...1&d=1645982969

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Looks like a huge coffin . . . sure hope that's not an ominous observation :erm:

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Someone needs to top him, like today

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Apparently due to his ongoing paranoia over covid. Nobody is allowed anywhere near him. Some are saying even Stalin at his most loony was never as isolated as Putin has made himself over the past couple of years.

---------- Post added at 17:38 ---------- Previous post was at 17:37 ----------

Anyone who’s seen WarGames knows this. You ain’t no expert. ;)

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Anyone else getting a twitchy bottom? My anxiety levels are rising with this latest bit of news. Am I being over dramatic or is it really scary?

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Nope. The world needs a reset one way or another, we're just a blip, a second in time if that, I don't think we actually deserve to be here. Nothing you can do about any of it anyway.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Even if he were to order use of nukes - and I’m not convinced even Putin is that far gone - I think it’s unlikely the order would ever leave his office. There are plenty of people around him who know he’s going nuts and they’re not about to sacrifice their lives for it. That might be the point at which they decide to end his though.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Nope. Nothing we can do about it so just get on with life. If it happens it happens, the great unwashed have no control over this

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Yep. If it all breaks loose put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

A couple of days ago, Putin threatened Sweden and Finland.

Sweden’s (normally neutral) response today - it will deliver 5000 anti-armour AT4 rocket launchers, 5000 body armour kits, 5000 helmets, and 135,000 field rations to the Ukrainian armed forces.

And Denmark is now donating 2700 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.

I think Putin has severely misjudged responses to his actions and threats.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

BP to divest its 19.75% stake in Russian oil company Rosneft
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60548382?

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Hey I wash once a month whether I need it or not thank you hahaha

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Indeed if you dig a hole for protection make it 6ft deep by 3ft wide by 7ft long :)

---------- Post added at 18:13 ---------- Previous post was at 18:12 ----------

:LOL::LOL:

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

I have to say those Bayraktari weapons made by Turkey, the Ukrainians are using against the Russian tank columns are badass.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

There’s a lot of rich Russian and oligarchs that are seeing their fortunes dwindle. Expect an attempt on Putin’s life if this isn’t resolved soon.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

They are also using Nlaw and Javalin

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Couple of BREAKING News lines comes out just now:

The White House calls on China to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The FA has announced that England will not play any international fixtures with Russia for the foreseeable future. https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-i...unces-12553645

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

You’ll get inured to it (eventually, maybe… ;) )

In the late 70s/early 80s, I was stationed at RAF Gatow and worked at Teufelsberg (both in West Berlin) - bearing in mind, this was at the height of the Cold War, so most days were like today (waiting for "The Big One to go off). My place of work was the at the highest point of Berlin (120 metres high, the hill was built of rubble from the devastation of Berlin by the Soviets), and we were very visible, and knew we were one of the first targets, to all the GSFG/East German artillery and missile batteries that surrounded West Berlin.

It gets better - our Married Quarter was on Queensway in RAF Gatow (Gatow’s runway was next to the Berlin Wall, which was a couple of tall barbed wire fences with minefields between in that location), and the Station Armoury was next to the airfield; the East German Mechanised Battalion on the other side of the Wall (fence) were closer to the Armoury than we were.

Another one of the perks of being there was regular NBC drills, where we would suit and mask up, and then run about for a couple of hours playing soldiers, and then practice the "all clear" drill - this consisted of testing various test strips to ensure there were no "nasties" still in the air, then, if you were the junior squad member, you got to take your respirator off before everyone else, as the final test.

So, as I said, you get used to it… :(

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Fair play mate

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

On a lighter note … was the design of your base a calculated insult to the Commies? :rofl:

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

The Ukrainian government has announced it is establishing an "international legion" for foreigners wishing to travel to the country to help fight against Russian invaders.

The Foreign Secretary has indicated the UK is not against Britons joining.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

I would go but my passport has expired.....how unlucky

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

https://twitter.com/bbckatyaadler/st...792514051?s=21

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Some one has to stay here to man the big red button;)

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

To be honest i would have gone and helped but at 61 years of age i think i am to old now and to fat to get through the turret hatch.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Gravity would assist getting in - egress may be more problematic…

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Just clicked over to RT to see if it's still on and there was a chap saying Vlad is only preparing for when a deranged US president puts nuclear weapons in Ukraine!

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

One RAF and two USAF tankers doing racetracks at the moment - I would imagine quite a few drones will be getting refuelled (RAF from Akrotiri, USAF from Mildenhall).

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Ban on Russian planes overflying Europe starting to bite…

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...3&d=1645993119

https://twitter.com/flightradar24/st...964438017?s=21

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Seems daft not to take a dividend. This will affect shareholders even more and help Russia by effectively giving them some money.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

On the other hand, being seen to profit from the operations of a company so closely tied to the supply lines of the Russian military is morally indefensible. I wouldn’t worry too much about the profits going to Russians instead; with the sanctions now in place (especially the ones targeted by the US government against Russia’s dollar reserves) they are only ever going to get paid in increasingly worthless roubles anyway.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

All that seized property in London in particular will help us get out of our financial woes. There again it might push Putin to launch an attack on London where his troops aren't present.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

On a lighter, yet very related, note…

The much-lauded President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, was previously a lawyer and a comedy actor - please see attached for one role he played (Ukrainian voice-over for the character).

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Not very likely…

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Richard … it will be so much better for your well-being if you can stop catastrophising. There is no way anyone is going to attack London. The doctrine of nuclear deterrence is the same today as it was throughout more than 40 years of Cold War. If he attacks a nuclear power he will get the same in return. There is no winning in such a scenario - it is entirely self-defeating. Which is the point. (M.A.D. stands for Mutually Assured Destruction, and also indicates the folly of heading down that path).

I know these are disturbing times but it would help you no end if you stay away from rolling news tonight and then talk through your worries face to face with someone you trust tomorrow.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Scary stuff, skip the ads.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojwVnJZxyho

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

They could seize their planes maybe?

In WWII we interned people from the enemy, I wonder if we'll start to intern Russian people who are here, given that this appears to be Putin and not his people?

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

We’re not at war with Russia for the same reason Russia isn’t going to attack London. The nuclear deterrent ensures it. Nobody is getting interned, and for your own peace of mind I really think you need to pull your mind out of this tailspin.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

You're right Chris, my anxiety levels are shooting up too. I usually have Radio 4 on overnight, which goes over to the World Service after it closes down for the night and they have replaced programmes with rolling news like you say.

My thinking was that this would not annoy China, would punish us for helping the Ukraine, not let us benefit from Russian property (there is a lot in London) and it wouldn't kill any of his troops.

He's probably more likely to do it to America though.

I take your point about MAD, but I think we are dealing with someone who has lost his mind.

I'm going to put Radio 4 Extra on before I lose mine! I'll just keep popping in here now and again to keep up to date with any developments.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

My hope is that no matter how mad Putin gets if he were ever to actually give the order his generals would ignore it.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

The planes weren’t over Ukraine or Russia, so no…

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

The BBC reporter covering the nuclear readiness story this afternoon made a point of saying the generals receiving their stage-managed orders from Putin were visibly uncomfortable.

They’re not fools. This isn’t a Cuban missile crisis and the world is nowhere near the brink of nuclear destruction. For them to even contemplate obeying a launch order they would have to believe there was nothing left to lose. Even if Putin in his most fevered delusions comes to think that’s the case, his generals do not. The no-longer-quite-so-wealthy oligarchs surrounding Putin likewise do not. They are not Marxist-Leninist ideologues and they have vastly more to gain by making friends with the West so they can get all their lovely money back.

If Putin gets that far, or, I suspect, if it looks like he’s straying dangerously close to it, someone will see to it that he is taken out of the equation.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Don't generals have to obey orders though, whether they agree with them or not?

Let's hope they ignore protocol in the circumstances!

Like the beginning of the pandemic, I feel like i'm watching a film that i"m a part of. Disassociation I think it's called.

---------- Post added at 21:20 ---------- Previous post was at 21:17 ----------

Are passenger planes any use in dropping bombs? If so, they might seize them for this reason. (asuming they're Russian owned planes)?

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

They’re supposed to. But also, they know the excuse of “only following orders” doesn’t apply to them. When they’re forced to confront the likely consequences of obeying an outrageous order, they may not obey at all. General Dietrich von Choltitz famously ignored a direct order from Hitler to burn Paris and blow up the Eiffel Tower when it became clear the Allies were going to recapture it.

In the absence of an existential threat to Russia, I do not believe the Russian army would knowingly bring nuclear destruction on itself by obeying an order to use nuclear weapons.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

No one has to obey anything. There might be consequences of not obeying, but there are also consequences of obeying. Those people would need to think very carefully which one they choose.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

I wonder how long they can pay their army properly with these sanctions.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

In theory, but at the end of the day, they control the Army/Navy/Airforce, and they wont be in any hurry to get blown to pieces for Putin.
This is (one reason) why coups happen : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._coup_attempts

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

no it won’t

No it won’t

---------- Post added at 22:16 ---------- Previous post was at 22:14 ----------

Take a couple of tamazipan and go to bed.