War: Russia vs. Ukraine?

[Vekseid]

An interesting conversation between an oligarch in Dubai and another in Baku (Azerbaijan). Iosef is apparently trying to claim the conversation was AI generated.

[GloomCookie]

Something interesting is the effects the war in Ukraine has had on other nations. Egypt, for example, imports more wheat than anyone else in the world to feed its population, and 85% of those wheat imports come from Russia and Ukraine. The war has disrupted that supply, which means Egypt has to go shopping elsewhere, and may exacerbate and lead to more conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia over water rights in the Nile river.

Video is timestamped to the segment talking about wheat imports but the entire video is about a potential conflict in the near future.

https://youtu.be/5-O8Da5oowo?t=1048

[TheGlyphstone]

Something like that was being discussed the other day around at work - one of the leading European manufacturers in our industry was almost 100% dependent on supply from the Nordstrom pipeline to run their biggest factory in Europe. Now they're looking to relocate their entire facility to the Louisiana area because it's a more reliable supply of gas and hydrocarbons.

[GloomCookie]

I found this video discussing the current status of the war. I thought it would be good to post here.

https://youtu.be/SPX1CieUkFY

[Skyguy]

Oh Lord, Lazerpig... For anyone who's never been exposed before, strap in.

[Beorning]

The Pig!!!! 

[Skyguy]

If you want a drunken swine's opinion on the war:

https://youtu.be/FWIzhP6G7S8

If you want the best damn PowerPoints ever created used in the way PowerPoint was always supposed to be read in a soothing Aussie voice there's Perun:

https://youtu.be/ZUBTyAZg5OA

Cannot recommend both highly enough. Perun releases weekly bangers about defense logistics Lazerpig gives drunken rants like no one's business.

[Skyguy]

Also if you want that sweet sweet 1940's newsreel style pro Ukranian propaganda.

https://youtu.be/2vYuZZ2zXYM

[Beorning]

Straight from Russia's national TV: a former government official cheerfully claims that murdering ambassadors is a lawful form of diplomatic reprisal. And seems to suggest that the Polish ambassador in Russia should be assassinated:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2Ytk8mmISw

[Skyguy]

Russian state propaganda is just unhinged, but you've even got Medeyev tweeting about destroying Poland next. Not even hinting, just saying it.

[TheGlyphstone]

'Next? Has he looked out the window and noticed that they can't even handle the war they're already losing?

[Skyguy]

No comrade, victory is within our grasp. We captured the living room of the house on that street corner on Bahkmut, we just needed to make 300 new Russian widows to do it.

[Beorning]

I'm not terribly worried about the nonsense Medvedev is talking about Russia attacking Poland... At this point, they won't do it (unless they get completely suicidal and decide to nuke everybody). But the tone of Russian propaganda *is* worrying... It shows how bloodthirsty Russia's leadership is. And they keep poisoning the whole Russian society with their bloodlust... This doesn't bode well for the future.

(on a related note: have you guys seen the photos from the recent military parade of *pre-school children* that took place somewhere in Russia? This is... insane. Full-blown fascism)

Anyway, I think that all such bits from Russian propaganda need to be shown in the West. So that we don't forget who we are dealing with. I'm seriously worried that, soon, there will be a leadership change in some countries and the new governments / presidents will be people trying to "normalize" the relations with Russia, pretend that it's not that bad etc...

[Azuresun]

I'm not terribly worried about the nonsense Medvedev is talking about Russia attacking Poland... At this point, they won't do it (unless they get completely suicidal and decide to nuke everybody). But the tone of Russian propaganda *is* worrying... It shows how bloodthirsty Russia's leadership is. And they keep poisoning the whole Russian society with their bloodlust... This doesn't bode well for the future.

I think that a large part of why such bonkers rhetoric is permitted is exactly to appear insane and unhinged. Appear like you're crazy enough to do anything, and hope your opponents back down rather than pick a fight.

Also, it lets Putin present himself, in classic fascist dictator style, as being necessary and the only man who can hold back chaos. "You can't arrest / poison / defenstrate me, or the REALLY crazy ones would be in power."

[Lustful Bride]

A Ukranian drone just hit he Kremlin. Minimal damage done but it still sends a message to Russia right now. Though still some conflicting reports as some people say it was two drones and others say it was only one.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-ukraine-tried-assassinate-putin-drone-attack-kremlin-rcna82608

https://twitter.com/francis_scarr/status/1653734878075142150?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

[Al Terego]

False flag

[Skyguy]

Maybe, but the Russian military's also incompetent enough to let this happen. Besides, what would be the point? They made multiple attempts on Zelensky at the start of the war and have been missiling Kyiv on the reg.

[Lustful Bride]

False flag

Yeah, its starting to look like that. In some of the footage taken at different angles you can just manage to see two people climbing up on a ladder near where a fire was later reported to have started. Even though the drone 'exploded' away from the area.

Maybe, but the Russian military's also incompetent enough to let this happen. Besides, what would be the point? They made multiple attempts on Zelensky at the start of the war and have been missiling Kyiv on the reg.

It's also the oddest kind of False Flag from Russia yet. It only makes Russia look weaker, but I guess they use that to scare the populace of Russia and keep them in line and thinking the drafts are necessary.

[Skyguy]

If so they're about ten months late for this to actually be useful.

[Al Terego]

A pretext for a planned assassination attempt on Zelenski?

[Skyguy]

Another one? I can recall three already in the opening days of the war. Offing Zelensky in the opening stage of the war might have accomplished something but now they'll just make a martyr. This war has galvanized Ukraine and they'll mourn him and get right back to wiping out the Russians.

About the only thing that makes sense to me is that it's for the west. "See, see, they're crazy! Give them ATACMS and other long range munitions and they'll attack us!"

[stormwyrm]

It has all the stink of classic Russian maskirovka. It's well-established Russian military doctrine.

[stormwyrm]

And it seems that some enterprising folks in Finland have come up with a creative samizdat method to circumvent Russian state censorship and propaganda about the war: via online games.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90890229/a-counter-strike-map-is-raising-awareness-of-putins-brutality-to-everyday-russians

[Relikai]

It has all the stink of classic Russian maskirovka. It's well-established Russian military doctrine.

Ironically the Maskirovka we witnessed was the Ukrainian deception before their counterattack last year.

[Al Terego]

Every time I get close to convincing myself that people are basically good and decent, comes something like this proving humans are shit.