Russia has invaded Ukraine

I'm wondering why now?Why is Putin throwing his weight around now? What's going on in Russia that he feels the need to push this issue.

[Carth]

Originally Posted by Maggy

I'm wondering why now?Why is Putin throwing his weight around now? What's going on in Russia that he feels the need to push this issue.

I think it's something to do with Ukraine and Nato membership . . or the EU . . or sumfink

Originally Posted by Maggy

I'm wondering why now?Why is Putin throwing his weight around now? What's going on in Russia that he feels the need to push this issue.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/...ew-year-a75842

Surging prices, too, have highlighted a key flaw in the government’s approach of prioritizing stability from international shocks over long-term growth and prosperity — rising public discontent.

High prices are routinely cited by Russians as the number one problem facing the country, and living standards are still down by around 10% compared to 2013. Putin has said the country needs to see real wage increases of at least 2.5% a year.

With inflation above 8% that means significant nominal pay rises across the country

[Blackshep]

Putin has a whole load of domestic issues that aren't going away he's also angering many in the Russian military who are seeing their real budgets cut to pay for his nuclear modernisation program. Politically Nalvany has done a lot of damage and the sloppy response by Putin is concerning his normally stalwart supporter's whom he relies on. Putin is frantically playing the evil west attacking Russia card but it's failing with the majority of Russians wanting domestic issues that impact them daily sorted out.

If he does invade Ukraine he needs a very quick and decisive victory or it will be the final nail in his coffin and that's why material aid to Ukraine is ramping up. If they can blunt initial attack's not only will Putin have damaged his best and favoured front line force's but will expose Russia to harsh diplomatic and economical sanctions that will compound the domestic troubles. Right now it comes down to how desperate he is.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Blackshep

Putin has a whole load of domestic issues that aren't going away he's also angering many in the Russian military who are seeing their real budgets cut to pay for his nuclear modernisation program. Politically Nalvany has done a lot of damage and the sloppy response by Putin is concerning his normally stalwart supporter's whom he relies on. Putin is frantically playing the evil west attacking Russia card but it's failing with the majority of Russians wanting domestic issues that impact them daily sorted out.

If he does invade Ukraine he needs a very quick and decisive victory or it will be the final nail in his coffin and that's why material aid to Ukraine is ramping up. If they can blunt initial attack's not only will Putin have damaged his best and favoured front line force's but will expose Russia to harsh diplomatic and economical sanctions that will compound the domestic troubles. Right now it comes down to how desperate he is.

I'm not sure I buy this, he's pretty much leader for life, I'd suggest an alternative scenario, he knows Ukraine joining the EU or Nato isn't going to happen anytime soon, so he's either exerting his authority over what he considers Russia's sphere of influence, which is a Soviet concept that predates WWII incidentally or he intends rebuilding the empire lost when the Berlin Wall came down. The problem is negotiation, they don't really do it and if they can spot a weakness or a reluctance by any single nato ally to carry out threats they'll exploit that rather than compromise

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60355311

British nationals in Ukraine should leave the country now, the Foreign Office has said.

The government said people should leave now "while commercial means are available" and is advising against travel to the country.

Earlier, President Joe Biden told US citizens to leave amid fears of a Russian invasion.

BREAKING: White House warns Russia could invade Ukraine within the next week.

Originally Posted by Mick

BREAKING: White House warns Russia could invade Ukraine within the next week.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...in-nato-biden/

There is a “distinct possibility” that Russia will invade Ukraine in a “very swift time frame,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Friday, as he urged all Americans in Ukraine to “leave immediately.”


“There will be no opportunity to leave and no prospect of a U.S. military evacuation in the event of a rush invasion,” Sullivan said to reporters in the White House briefing room. An attack, he said, would “likely begin” with aerial bombing and missile strikes, and “no one would be able to count on rail or air or road departures.”


The significant escalation in the U.S. warning came amid reports of new intelligence, and evidence on the ground, over the last several days indicating that Russia is now fully prepared to launch an invasion. Sullivan said that the United States has no final confirmation that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the final decision to attack. But, he said, “we believe he very well may give the final go order. That is a very distinct possibility.”


“It may well happen,” he repeated. “It may well happen soon.”

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by Mick

BREAKING: White House warns Russia could invade Ukraine within the next week.

Jeez oh, that isn't good at all, what kind of response would Russia get from the US/European allies?

Originally Posted by Mad Max

Jeez oh, that isn't good at all, what kind of response would Russia get from the US/European allies?

Other than sanctions ? None.

Originally Posted by Mad Max

Jeez oh, that isn't good at all, what kind of response would Russia get from the US/European allies?

More sanctions I guess. Not much else we can do. We should go after Russian money in London as well though, if they want to be a pariah state then we need to make that stick. They can't continue to push the West like this and then expect to selectively choose to benefit from it as well.

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by Damien

More sanctions I guess. Not much else we can do. We should go after Russian money in London as well though, if they want to be a pariah state then we need to make that stick. They can't continue to push the West like this and then expect to selectively choose to benefit from it as well.

That would be Chelsea knackered then.

LATEST: Countries across the World advises it's own citizens to leave Ukraine immediately. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Jordan, USA, UK have so far publicly urged their citizens to leave while commercial means of travel exist.

Meanwhile - Russia is warned of 'resolute, massive, and united response' if it invades Ukraine as crowds join resistance march.

https://news.sky.com/story/boris-joh...probe-12514080

We really need to make this hurt. The suggestion of cutting them out of the banking system is a good one.

Ex-SIGINT guy I follow with posted this - relevant point being a Virginia Class Fast Attack sub doesn’t get noticed unless it wants to be noticed.

Things are heating up…

https://twitter.com/angry_staffer/st...962174471?s=21