Russia/Ukraine

[HRH Queen Dick I]

We watched Winter on Fire about the 2014 Revolution of Dignity in Kyiv. Those people were so badass that Putin is even more full of hubris than I thought to believe that he could fuck with the Ukrainian people.

[rubytue]

Feb 28, 2022 9:24:01 GMT -5 bears said:

This is a good thread from an Atlantic reporter on economic impacts:

I have a lot of huge concerns with how this will impact global food supplies. Russia and Ukraine export a sizeable amount of the world's calories.

Ukraine is the largest exporter of rye. It’s been pretty darn impossible to find rye flour for months (I started looking in September). 

[omgzombies]

I'm starting to see more reports about the very real possibility of Russia defaulting.

www.reuters.com/markets/europe/russia-extremely-likely-default-debts-if-ukraine-crisis-worsens-iif-2022-02-28/

[carmenere]

"The kind of appeasement talk that Col. MacGregor, who should know better -- when he was in government he was the one who was advising Trump to pull all troops out of Germany. That projection of weakness is what made Putin think he could move into a sovereign country."

(In case anyone needs a clapback to the dipshits trying to blame this on Biden's pullout from Afghanistan.)

[Velar Fricative]

Feb 28, 2022 11:33:30 GMT -5 omgzombies said:

I'm starting to see more reports about the very real possibility of Russia defaulting.

www.reuters.com/markets/europe/russia-extremely-likely-default-debts-if-ukraine-crisis-worsens-iif-2022-02-28/

It's really stunning how quick and coordinated the international response has been. OTOH, I really hope this hurts Putin and his circle but I'm concerned the people left hurt will remain the ordinary Russian citizens who don't deserve this either. It's not like they have the ability to just vote Putin out (see also Belarus and Lukashenko).

[cattledogkisses]

The US has suspended operations at our embassy in Minsk amid reports that Belarus is considering joining the war on Russia's side.

www.cnbc.com/2022/02/28/russia-ukraine-news-us-suspends-operations-at-belarus-embassy-oks-exits-from-moscow.html

[mbcdefg]

Zelenskyy applies for Ukraine to join the 27-nation European Union

[icedcoffee]

On a slightly more lighthearted note.  A Ukrainian farmer steals and tows away a Russian tank and this represents every Ukrainian Dido (grandfather) I have ever met.  

[mbcdefg]

Feb 28, 2022 11:36:59 GMT -5 carmenere said:

"The kind of appeasement talk that Col. MacGregor, who should know better -- when he was in government he was the one who was advising Trump to pull all troops out of Germany. That projection of weakness is what made Putin think he could move into a sovereign country."

(In case anyone needs a clapback to the dipshits trying to blame this on Biden's pullout from Afghanistan.)

It’s really flooring me that Putin’s only friends nowadays seem to be Belarus with his puppet President, and the US right-wing.

[icedcoffee]

Have we talked about Netflix yet?  They will start broadcasting Russian propaganda in Russia tomorrow:  www.politico.eu/article/us-streaming-giant-netflix-set-to-broadcast-putin-propaganda/

Petition here

[carmenere]

Feb 28, 2022 12:10:58 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Feb 28, 2022 11:36:59 GMT -5 carmenere said:

"The kind of appeasement talk that Col. MacGregor, who should know better -- when he was in government he was the one who was advising Trump to pull all troops out of Germany. That projection of weakness is what made Putin think he could move into a sovereign country."

(In case anyone needs a clapback to the dipshits trying to blame this on Biden's pullout from Afghanistan.)

It’s really flooring me that Putin’s only friends nowadays seem to be Belarus with his puppet President, and the US right-wing.

Is it tho? The right went all in for an autocratic, democracy hating, reality distorting, fight picking madman. When Trump praised Putin, they lapped that shit up. Eight years ago it would have stunned me but not anymore. 

[jamaicam]

wanderingback The racism in the press is in full flow currently. 'Civilised' country; people 'like us'; seeing a war in our lifetime; all the rest of it.

There was a group of about 40 Jamaican young people studying medicine in carious cities in Ukraine. Fees are about US$3,500 per year so a lot more affordable than other places. These kids are clearly bright kids, who are super motivated; and come from very poor families. Some got out just before things got bad; and the main group of 24 made it to Poland last night. The group met up in L'viv (some were there already and waited for the others to come before tryign to leave). They had to walk a lot of the journey to the border, with 2 of them getting ill on the way. They never left anyone behind and always took the pace of the weakest. It is a great example of looking after each other. I really hope they are able to get scholarships to other medical schools now after all they have been through.

[krystee]

I will likely delete, PDQ.

I work for a global professional organization with chapters in both of these countries. The Russian chapter reached out and wants to donate any revenue they’d get through us to support Ukraine. I started sobbing when I read their email.

[StrawberryBlondie]

I read this morning that Switzerland broke their neutrality stance for Ukraine.

www.ft.com/content/80c268fa-61d4-42ac-a9f4-310f12678c43

[mrsukyankee]

Feb 28, 2022 12:09:33 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Zelenskyy applies for Ukraine to join the 27-nation European Union

Clearly smarter than my current government or the Brexiteers here.

[icedcoffee]

@

My kid made Fox News at the pro-Ukraine demonstration this weekend. LOL

[Velar Fricative]

Feb 28, 2022 14:53:48 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

@

My kid made Fox News at the pro-Ukraine demonstration this weekend. LOL

Yay for the publicity but...Fox News??? Ugh, lol.

[icedcoffee]

Feb 28, 2022 14:55:15 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Feb 28, 2022 14:53:48 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

@

My kid made Fox News at the pro-Ukraine demonstration this weekend. LOL

Yay for the publicity but...Fox News??? Ugh, lol.

That's what I said when she told me where she works.  Ha.

[mbcdefg]

Ukraine's navy says the 13 soldiers believed to have been killed defending Zmiinyi (Snake) Island on the first day of the Russian invasion are alive.

The border guards were given posthumous honours by the president after they were heard in audio recordings telling a Russian warship to "go to hell".

Russia said at the time that the troops on the island surrendered.
On Monday, the Ukrainian Naval Forces confirmed in a Facebook post that "our brothers-in-arms are alive and well".

www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60554959

[Velar Fricative]

The IIHF has banned Russia and Belarus from international play.

www.tsn.ca/iihf-russia-belarus-international-hockey-1.1764847

If there's one thing beyond money and power that Putin loves, it's hockey. This might put him over the edge.

[Velar Fricative]

I am dying to know if Putin expected alllllllll of this to happen. The dominos just keep falling for him. FFS, even Switzerland isn't acting neutral.

[Velar Fricative]

Feb 28, 2022 15:20:01 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Ukraine's navy says the 13 soldiers believed to have been killed defending Zmiinyi (Snake) Island on the first day of the Russian invasion are alive.

The border guards were given posthumous honours by the president after they were heard in audio recordings telling a Russian warship to "go to hell".

Russia said at the time that the troops on the island surrendered.
On Monday, the Ukrainian Naval Forces confirmed in a Facebook post that "our brothers-in-arms are alive and well".

www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60554959

OMG this is amazing. 

[cattledogkisses]

Feb 28, 2022 15:25:05 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

The IIHF has banned Russia and Belarus from international play.

www.tsn.ca/iihf-russia-belarus-international-hockey-1.1764847

If there's one thing beyond money and power that Putin loves, it's hockey. This might put him over the edge.

I saw that this also finally pushed the IOC to ban Russian (and Belarusian) athletes.

[Velar Fricative]

Feb 28, 2022 15:29:33 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Feb 28, 2022 15:25:05 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

The IIHF has banned Russia and Belarus from international play.

www.tsn.ca/iihf-russia-belarus-international-hockey-1.1764847

If there's one thing beyond money and power that Putin loves, it's hockey. This might put him over the edge.

I saw that this also finally pushed the IOC to ban Russian (and Belarusian) athletes.

Yeah, right *after* the Olympics ended. Convenient. Although the Paralympics begin later this week but I think the IOC's statement made it seem like their athletes would still be allowed to compete under the Not-Russia name because it's happening so soon (not sure of any impacts with Belarus).

[icedcoffee]

Feb 28, 2022 15:20:01 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Ukraine's navy says the 13 soldiers believed to have been killed defending Zmiinyi (Snake) Island on the first day of the Russian invasion are alive.

The border guards were given posthumous honours by the president after they were heard in audio recordings telling a Russian warship to "go to hell".

Russia said at the time that the troops on the island surrendered.
On Monday, the Ukrainian Naval Forces confirmed in a Facebook post that "our brothers-in-arms are alive and well".

www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60554959

Only because I love a good F word (and accurate reporting), they actually told the Russian Warship to "go fuck yourself".

LOL <3

[somersault72]

Feb 27, 2022 14:35:20 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Not surprising, but the media coverage is super racist (insert angry emoji here). More than one journalist has talked about Ukrainians being civilized and Christian unlike Syrians and Afghans.

A tweet showed up in my feed yesterday saying "don't be assholes to your Russian restaurants and businesses here, the 50 year old grandmother selling piroshki didn't invade Ukraine." Uhhhh people who were Muslim living here post 9/11 didn't attack the US but I don't recall a lot of people going around and worrying about their thoughts/feelings/rights/protections.

[cattledogkisses]

If Putin wanted to stop NATO from expanding it seems like that's kind of backfiring. The Finnish parliament is going to meet to discuss NATO membership. www.politico.eu/article/finland-nato-membership-sanna-marin-ukraine-russia/ And Kosovo is requesting accelerated membership to NATO (Russia is one of the countries that does not recognize Kosovo's independence). www.reuters.com/world/europe/kosovo-asks-us-permanent-military-base-speedier-nato-membership-2022-02-27/

[tiramisu]

Feb 28, 2022 15:20:01 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Ukraine's navy says the 13 soldiers believed to have been killed defending Zmiinyi (Snake) Island on the first day of the Russian invasion are alive.

The border guards were given posthumous honours by the president after they were heard in audio recordings telling a Russian warship to "go to hell".

Russia said at the time that the troops on the island surrendered.
On Monday, the Ukrainian Naval Forces confirmed in a Facebook post that "our brothers-in-arms are alive and well".

www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60554959

This made me tear up at my desk. There are so many stories of bravery coming out of Ukraine.

[just]

Feb 28, 2022 15:44:56 GMT -5 somersault72 said:

Feb 27, 2022 14:35:20 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Not surprising, but the media coverage is super racist (insert angry emoji here). More than one journalist has talked about Ukrainians being civilized and Christian unlike Syrians and Afghans.

A tweet showed up in my feed yesterday saying "don't be assholes to your Russian restaurants and businesses here, the 50 year old grandmother selling piroshki didn't invade Ukraine." Uhhhh people who were Muslim living here post 9/11 didn't attack the US but I don't recall a lot of people going around and worrying about their thoughts/feelings/rights/protections.

I saw this and absolutely agree with the sentiment...

but in the same breath was thinking - how young is the tweeter that they chose 50 for the grandmothers age! (yes I know 50 year olds can be grandmothers but as 42 year old, I'm pretend outraged)

[estrellita]

Feb 28, 2022 15:25:56 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I am dying to know if Putin expected alllllllll of this to happen. The dominos just keep falling for him. FFS, even Switzerland isn't acting neutral.

H and I were talking about this. I wonder how he feels about Ukraine trying to join the EU, Switzerland breaking their neutrality, other countries thinking of joining NATO, etc. It makes me laugh until I think about the power he still has and the things he could do.