Russia invading Ukraine (NEWS/UPDATES)

[HellsBells]

Here you go. Prior to this announcement we have a very strict definition of Family member (or you can apply for a Fruit Picking visa).

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Good. It’s the minimum I expect.

Fair play to Tugendhat, he’s a Tory showing some leadership through all this.

 

[Dobblemackem]

It’s all submising at the moment chap. I wouldn’t worry too much as it’s not something we can affect anyway.

Putin can’t be allowed to just manipulate the world like this and some kind of stand has to be taken.

Surely he and everyone around them aren’t going to sacrifice their family, country etc for this power game ?

For a normal bloke who had rational thoughts yeah, I agree. However for Putin he’s clearly never been completely with it, and is seemingly losing the plot more and more the older he gets. It’s a huge worry he has the attitude of going out in a blaze of glory.

Or at least in his eyes.

 

[Pancho]

It’s behind a paywall mate, any chance of an overview?

I'm a subscriber but thought the odd link could be read.

I'll have a look and see if I can summarise.

 

[Bulwell]

Russia just put their interest rates up from 9.5% to 20%

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[HarrogateMackem]

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[errant]

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have the the other two been seen in the last two days?

 

[Harry Angstrom]

He knew that would happen and has spent years preparing for it, Russia is essentially a continent, they bought up mega-tonnes of gold reserves recently, they expected all of this.

They really didn't.

 

[West_Winger]

Here you go. Prior to this announcement we have a very strict definition of Family member (or you can apply for a Fruit Picking visa).

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An adult’s parents don’t qualify as “family” under the definition the government is currently using.

Yet some still say we’re world leading.

 

[Pancho]

It’s behind a paywall mate, any chance of an overview?

Full credit to the

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And his outburst highlighted anew the question, coursing through the American intelligence community, about the state of mind of the Russian leader, a man previously described as pragmatic, calculating and cunning. The former director of national intelligence, James R. Clapper Jr., said in public today what some officials have been saying in private since the Russian leader began accusing Ukraine of genocide and claiming it was developing nuclear weapons of its own.

“I personally think he’s unhinged,” Mr. Clapper said on CNN. “I worry about his acuity and balance.”


Others wonder if Mr. Putin wants to create that impression, to add to Washington’s unease. Similar concerns drove the decision not to have Mr. Biden, in Delaware for the weekend, respond to Mr. Putin’s threats.

It was the second time in a week that Mr. Putin has reminded the world, and Washington, that he has a massive arsenal and might be tempted to use it. But what made the latest nuclear outburst notable was that it was staged for television, as Mr. Putin told his generals that he was acting because of the West’s “aggressive comments” about Ukraine. Russia’s most senior military officer, Valery Gerasimov, sat stone-faced as Mr. Putin issued his directive, leaving some wondering what he was thinking, and how he might respond.
“It was bizarre,” said Graham T. Allison of Harvard University, whose study of the Kennedy administration’s handling of the Cuban missile crisis, “Essence of Decision,” has been read by generations of international relations students — and many of the national security staff surrounding Mr. Biden today. Mr. Putin’s citation of “aggressive comments” as a justification for putting one of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals on alert status seemed both disproportionate and puzzling, he said. “It makes no sense.”

Professor Allison, who worked on the project to decommission thousands of nuclear weapons that once belonged to the Soviet Union, which centered on Ukraine, said the incident is “adding to the worry that Putin’s grasp on reality may be loosening.”

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[Harry Angstrom]

Given your posts on here over the years I’m hoping you’ll go in the first second too, or at least your keyboard melts

Cheers mate. It would be the best way to go.

 

[Baloo]

He knew that would happen and has spent years preparing for it, Russia is essentially a continent, they bought up mega-tonnes of gold reserves recently, they expected all of this.

When you say mega tonnes, how much is that?

Gold is up 1% since last week. Odd that a country who have just made such a shrewd investment would need to double interest rates.

 

[Harry Angstrom]

Why do you think this mate? You seem quite confident this could be the beginning of the end. As someone who’s fairly ignorant to all of this, what makes that your train of thought?

Also what makes you think he would target Newcastle, what could he gain from that?

I said IF the balloon goes up. I'm not expecting it to otherwise I would be out enjoying myself instead of sitting at my desk doing some work and posting on here.

 

[Mercia Blackcat]

Full credit to the

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And his outburst highlighted anew the question, coursing through the American intelligence community, about the state of mind of the Russian leader, a man previously described as pragmatic, calculating and cunning. The former director of national intelligence, James R. Clapper Jr., said in public today what some officials have been saying in private since the Russian leader began accusing Ukraine of genocide and claiming it was developing nuclear weapons of its own.

“I personally think he’s unhinged,” Mr. Clapper said on CNN. “I worry about his acuity and balance.”


Others wonder if Mr. Putin wants to create that impression, to add to Washington’s unease. Similar concerns drove the decision not to have Mr. Biden, in Delaware for the weekend, respond to Mr. Putin’s threats.

It was the second time in a week that Mr. Putin has reminded the world, and Washington, that he has a massive arsenal and might be tempted to use it. But what made the latest nuclear outburst notable was that it was staged for television, as Mr. Putin told his generals that he was acting because of the West’s “aggressive comments” about Ukraine. Russia’s most senior military officer, Valery Gerasimov, sat stone-faced as Mr. Putin issued his directive, leaving some wondering what he was thinking, and how he might respond.
“It was bizarre,” said Graham T. Allison of Harvard University, whose study of the Kennedy administration’s handling of the Cuban missile crisis, “Essence of Decision,” has been read by generations of international relations students — and many of the national security staff surrounding Mr. Biden today. Mr. Putin’s citation of “aggressive comments” as a justification for putting one of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals on alert status seemed both disproportionate and puzzling, he said. “It makes no sense.”

Professor Allison, who worked on the project to decommission thousands of nuclear weapons that once belonged to the Soviet Union, which centered on Ukraine, said the incident is “adding to the worry that Putin’s grasp on reality may be loosening.”

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Valery Gerasimov has since been sacked.

 

[Bulwell]

Looks like we’re being slow in supplying the equipment to Ukraine? Fingers crossed it arrives soon as Zelenakyy is saying the next 24 hours is crucial, mind he’s been saying that since Friday, and they’re doing well.

Every 24 hours is crucial, time is on Ukraine's side. If Russia can't get a decisive win it's fucked, economy tanking and bogged down and taking big losses every day. That situation can't go on for long as he'll be overthrown.

 

[Harry Angstrom]

When you say mega tonnes, how much is that?

Gold is up 1% since last week. Odd that a country who have just made such a shrewd investment would need to double interest rates.

It's like this is some strategic play that is going to plan.

He has royally fucked up. Fucked up his economy, his legacy, millions of people's lives but he had it all planned.

 

[Alcoholic_Author]

They really didn't.

They really have. What is happening now is directly linked to 2014, and it has been going back way longer than that.

Big investment in agricultural tech and resource hoarding, they have a small economy because they deal little (comparatively) in way of export/import.

 

[MonkeyLove]

Every 24 hours is crucial, time is on Ukraine's side. If Russia can't get a decisive win it's fucked, economy tanking and bogged down and taking big losses every day. That situation can't go on for long as he'll be overthrown.

A quick victory is already off the cards. They haven’t degraded the Ukrainian military or morale enough for that. Even a PR win for Putin by rolling his tanks into the central squares of Kyiv, Kharvik etc… is just the start.

 

[Harry Angstrom]

I think Harry was being slightly flippant.

The truth is that no one knows if Putin is simply sabre rattling or is about to go full swivel eyed loon.

It was IF the balloon goes up. I assume it isn't.

 

[shadowplay]

how’s the weather up there in the moral high ground? Christ it’s a war and people are being murdered on both sides. The Chechens are fair game if they’re willing to fight for somebody that in all honesty probably thinks they’re absolute scum. Another Putin puppet sending his men to the slaughter.

The Chechens are the lads who stick gays in concentration camps, fwiw

 

[Traumtor]

When you say mega tonnes, how much is that?

Gold is up 1% since last week. Odd that a country who have just made such a shrewd investment would need to double interest rates.

They also can’t sell any of it for hard currency as they’re blocked from trading in Euros, Dollars and, as of yesterday, Yen. All of their shiny bricks mean nowt in this shite scenario that they’ve brought upon themselves.