Why do they wonder how Russia would react to the strikes? You invaded their territory, destroyed their cities and you’re angry they blew something up on your soil?

Russia might use it to escalate war effort or stop peace talks. Tit for tat is not the problem but they do want to stop the fight asap. This isn't going to help de-escalate and Ukrainian forces doesn't have the ability to do so much damage that would make Russia capitulate.

Zelensky's speech to the UN Security Council.

-quite a graphic description of what the Ukrainian president saw in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha.

Putin is definitely a war criminal for ordering his military for the senseless killing and torture of civilians. It's bloody genocide!

https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news...96b9f06e5dc047

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky opened his remarks to the UN Security Council by addressing what he witnessed in Bucha, saying of the Russians who attacked the Kyiv suburb, "there is not a single crime they would not commit there."

Speaking through a translator, Zelensky said:

"The Russian military surge and purposefully killed anyone who served our country. They shot and killed women outside their houses when they just tried to call someone who is alive. They killed entire families, adults and children, and they tried to burn the bodies. I am addressing you on behalf of the people who honor the memory of the deceased every single day and the memory of the civilians who died, they were shot and killed in the back of their head after being tortured. Some of them were shot on the streets."
He said that the Russians killed civilians in Bucha "just for their pleasure."

"They cut off limbs, slashed their throats, women raped and killed in front of their children. Their tongues were pulled out only because the aggressor did not hear what they wanted to hear from them," Zelensky added.

He said these actions are no different than "other terrorists."

If you’ve got the nukes, you can act with absolute impunity. Things never should have gotten to this point, and now there’s no going back.

There’s only one direction to go now

Not sure if anyone here still cares, but this has still been going on all summer, and it looks like it's about to escalate. Russia plans on having a referrendum in the areas of Ukraine that they control. Once the obvious result comes out, they plan on using that to declare annexation which will result in full on war.

There are rumors now that they are talking about full mobilization, which would mean conscription and a full invasion. Up until now, they have considered this a "special military operation". The rumors are due to new laws being introduced that are much stricter on desertion and non compliance. Officially they say they won't mobilize, but will introduce Martial Law in various places.

Here's the area that they control

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FdJYEoDX0AARM5O.jpg

Edit: Here's a thread on the new laws that were passed, and why they say it looks like they intend to mobilize

this is seriously fucked.

somebody needs to take Putin out and put a stop to all this nonsense. if he takes over the whole of Ukraine, then Russia's borders are THAT MUCH CLOSER to NATO. buffer state my ass.

Does anyone think this is part of the US plan to stir shit up to fuck up Europe, sell weapons and keep their global reserve currency status? Since they are now trying to stir shit up with Taiwan. Maybe a distraction from how shit the US is, mid term elections :suspicious:

no

Edit: I mean, I guess some people think that. So, yes?

Russia’s Putin announces partial military mobilization

F*cking idiot is going all in ... heard recent rumours of failed assassination attempts, overthrow, and pressure to end war. But I guess this is his way of exerting his power. Damn, someone on the insider has got to have a clear shot to take him out.

The only real hope there is here, is that the Russian people refuse to accept this and it backfires when they are expected to go to war. It’s hard to tell what’s really going on when it comes to the general support of the invasion from Russian people, but one can hope the citizens are not going to accept being pushed off to war over a giant baby’s ego.

^^ :lawl: you mean when they say make X great again, pretty easy to start a trade war, keep jobs in the country.

No.

We had our friend over last month who had been living in Russia the last 10 years. He lived in Moscow, I asked him generally speaking what was the opinion of the people there about the war. He said everyone he knows does not support it, that said when confronted with punishment for not abiding with conscripts I'm not sure people in general would stand up.

He's been trying to get his wife into Canada for the last 6 months, a Visa process that normally takes 2-3 weeks is obviously slowed, he's frustrated. He's an English teacher and he's still working remotely but all his money is stuck in Russia, he can't get it out. We joked how his wife is living high with all his money that he had saved, continues to earn but can't get out of the Country due to the military action in Ukraine.

Hope so. Been reading reports prior to Putin's announcement of men fleeing the country to avoid conscription.

the cost of this war to russia and the russian people is just insane, and for what? and old mans ego and grudge, that's all.

Isn't that what the whole second Iraq war was all about?

Need to get rid of all the super old men lol

Like King Charles III?

He’s not making decisions but okay haha

^^ isn't trump and biden older:troll::joy:, and how many wars has the US started in the last 100 years:accepted:

This is likely unpopular, but i think NATO and to a large extent, the US, pushed Russia into this wacko ass position.

Remember cuban missile crisis? they were only attempting to put ICBMS in Cuba and the US flipped their shit. How many ICBMs are in turkey and directly pointed at Moscow? i get that everyone needs breathing room, but Putin's batshit crazy antics are the result of this western push thats constantly eating away russia's sphere of influence. Ukraine pivoting towards the west was probably the final straw that broke his ego.

If anyone puts ICBMs in latin america and pointed them towards the US you dont think there will be an outright war? i guarantee the US wont stand for it.

Putin doesnt really have a choice here. defend his outdated world views of the USSR resurgence, or let everything fall into western hands.

Although this Chinese/Indian/Pakistan/Russian alliance bs they are trying to make happen has all the markings of a Orwellian apocalypse. Good thing they all hate each other or else this might blow the fuck up even more.

Sweden, Finland (with lit PM) says hello. It's gonna happen regardless. What you going to do? Invade them as well?

What the hell is the difference between nukes aimed at Russia from Ukraine or Turkey ... about 30 seconds of flying time?

^exactly. I dont think old man putin has thought this out. He's just trying to deal with the situation (that he created) at hand and then see what happens afterwards.