Zico Posted February 27 Posted February 27 My other half has a Russian mate, he lives in Poland now but his mum is in St Petersburg Apparently Facebook, WhatsApp etc are all banned So she uses a VPN to keep in touch with him Even that sounds dodgy and she'll likely be shot in her bed for doing so Quote
tomski Posted February 27 Posted February 27 2 hours ago, Zico said: My other half has a Russian mate, he lives in Poland now but his mum is in St Petersburg Apparently Facebook, WhatsApp etc are all banned So she uses a VPN to keep in touch with him Even that sounds dodgy and she'll likely be shot in her bed for doing so Russia you say……. Quote
Dimron Posted March 1 Posted March 1 This was in last week's Guardian. It's a really interesting account of the build up to the war. For once it appears the US and UK got the intel spot on but Ukraine, France & Germany refused to believe what was about to happen, partly because of the previous Iraq WOMD fiasco and fear of collapsing the Ukrainian economy. https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2026/feb/20/a-war-foretold-cia-mi6-putin-ukraine-plans-russia Quote
Winchester White Posted March 1 Posted March 1 1 minute ago, Dimron said: This was in last week's Guardian. It's a really interesting account of the build up to the war. For once it appears the US and UK got the intel spot on but Ukraine, France & Germany refused to believe what was about to happen, partly because of the previous Iraq WOMD fiasco and fear of collapsing the Ukrainian economy. https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2026/feb/20/a-war-foretold-cia-mi6-putin-ukraine-plans-russia Out intel services are top notch but Iraq WMD was nothing to do with proper intel, it was a mossad/CIA load of bullshit to justify their bullshit. Quote
Dimron Posted March 1 Posted March 1 22 minutes ago, Winchester White said: Out intel services are top notch but Iraq WMD was nothing to do with proper intel, it was a mossad/CIA load of bullshit to justify their bullshit. Unfortunately the Iraqi scenario led to a lot of disbelief during Putin's build up... it is a really fascinating read Quote
Tonge moor green jacket Posted March 1 Posted March 1 2 hours ago, Winchester White said: Out intel services are top notch but Iraq WMD was nothing to do with proper intel, it was a mossad/CIA load of bullshit to justify their bullshit. The weirdest approach that was. Iraq had m, and had used wmd against its own people. He slaughtered many of his own, and others elsewhere. That was justification enough. No need to make stuff up. Quote
Dimron Posted March 18 Posted March 18 The upcoming Hungarian election will be critical to releasing the 90 billion euro pledge to Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia are vetoing, accusing Ukraine of closing down the pipeline supplying them with Russian oil. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crm8rxwyyz8o In addition it appears supplies of missiles from the US will dry up, as will supplies from Iran to Russia. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8r813x66jo Should Zelensky have accepted his territorial losses and agreed to a ceasefire before the US moved on? He is now in danger of being starved of resources. Not heard of either side making big gains although Spring is now here... stalemate? Quote
Popular Post Zico Posted March 18 Popular Post Posted March 18 7 minutes ago, Dimron said: Should Zelensky have accepted his territorial losses and agreed to a ceasefire before the US moved on? no Quote
Dimron Posted March 18 Posted March 18 44 minutes ago, Zico said: no So what happens now? He could be starved of weapons and funding, 60% of Ukraine's budget is already going to their armed forces. War is an expensive business. Russia will see some financial recovery owing to the global oil prices. With the world focus elsewhere, will the war now just fizzle out with the front lines frozen and they just lob whatever drones they have or can afford at each other? Quote
Popular Post Tonge moor green jacket Posted March 18 Popular Post Posted March 18 6 hours ago, Dimron said: The upcoming Hungarian election will be critical to releasing the 90 billion euro pledge to Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia are vetoing, accusing Ukraine of closing down the pipeline supplying them with Russian oil. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crm8rxwyyz8o In addition it appears supplies of missiles from the US will dry up, as will supplies from Iran to Russia. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8r813x66jo Should Zelensky have accepted his territorial losses and agreed to a ceasefire before the US moved on? He is now in danger of being starved of resources. Not heard of either side making big gains although Spring is now here... stalemate? I suggest you follow it more closely- there are plenty of in depth analysts on the internet. Ukraine has made remarkable strides in recent weeks, following Russian exclusion from starlink. They're about to ban Telegram too, more preventing communication between their troops. Internet keeps going off completely in Moscow- they're increasing concerned about a coup. The money being raised by the EU etc has to be spent on equipment made in the region- excluding the US. Trump's not happy about it, but that's tough. He stopped donating stuff, encouraged Europe to do more, and they have done. Ukraine is ripping through Russian air defences which are increasingly allowing drone strikes on infrastructure- manufacturing plant affecting drone and missile production, storage and launching of missiles. Russia has upped missile launches somewhat recently, but recent strikes should curb that. Fire point (FP 7) have developed their own ballistic missile now, and is ready for the testing phase- ie being fired at Russia. They're equivalent to ATACMS but half the price. Ukraine has the advantage of joint equipment production in other European nations. It is also now a world leader in drone development, both offensive and counter drone. No, Ukraine should not have accepted any land offers. Especially considering Putin rejected them himself. Quote
frank_spencer Posted March 18 Posted March 18 7 hours ago, Dimron said: The upcoming Hungarian election will be critical to releasing the 90 billion euro pledge to Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia are vetoing, accusing Ukraine of closing down the pipeline supplying them with Russian oil. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crm8rxwyyz8o In addition it appears supplies of missiles from the US will dry up, as will supplies from Iran to Russia. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8r813x66jo Should Zelensky have accepted his territorial losses and agreed to a ceasefire before the US moved on? He is now in danger of being starved of resources. Not heard of either side making big gains although Spring is now here... stalemate? Hope Hungary gets rid of Orban, he's a prick of the highest order. Admittedly I've made some great Hungarian friends who fled here to escape him. Quote
Dimron Posted March 18 Posted March 18 1 hour ago, frank_spencer said: Hope Hungary gets rid of Orban, he's a prick of the highest order. Admittedly I've made some great Hungarian friends who fled here to escape him. Its all getting messy in Hungary... lots of accusations of electoral interference. Aĺl believable as Orban's continued vetoing of the current 90 bill compromise deal will shape Ukraine's destiny Quote
Dimron Posted March 18 Posted March 18 2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said: I suggest you follow it more closely- there are plenty of in depth analysts on the internet. Ukraine has made remarkable strides in recent weeks, following Russian exclusion from starlink. They're about to ban Telegram too, more preventing communication between their troops. Internet keeps going off completely in Moscow- they're increasing concerned about a coup. The money being raised by the EU etc has to be spent on equipment made in the region- excluding the US. Trump's not happy about it, but that's tough. He stopped donating stuff, encouraged Europe to do more, and they have done. Ukraine is ripping through Russian air defences which are increasingly allowing drone strikes on infrastructure- manufacturing plant affecting drone and missile production, storage and launching of missiles. Russia has upped missile launches somewhat recently, but recent strikes should curb that. Fire point (FP 7) have developed their own ballistic missile now, and is ready for the testing phase- ie being fired at Russia. They're equivalent to ATACMS but half the price. Ukraine has the advantage of joint equipment production in other European nations. It is also now a world leader in drone development, both offensive and counter drone. No, Ukraine should not have accepted any land offers. Especially considering Putin rejected them himself. Everything in the list costs money... and that appears to be running out. Added to that, the MoD might now be taking UK built Octopus-100 drone stocks away from Ukraine to send to the Middle East(?) Quote
Winchester White Posted March 18 Posted March 18 20 minutes ago, Dimron said: Its all getting messy in Hungary... lots of accusations of electoral interference. Aĺl believable as Orban's continued vetoing of the current 90 bill compromise deal will shape Ukraine's destiny You certainly appear to have negative assumptions about anything relating to Ukraine. Quote
Tonge moor green jacket Posted March 18 Posted March 18 Orban will be out of office in three weeks. Unless of course he prevents free elections. Given the mass protest the other day by opposition supporters, it would seem unlikely he will cling on be fair means or foul. If the EU can't come up with an emergency way to circumnavigate Slovakia's idiots, then they truly are a rabble. I trust they will though. Quote
Tonge moor green jacket Posted March 18 Posted March 18 On a separate note, and this could equally fit into the Iran thread, there is a sort of delicious irony happening. We should be helping to get the straights of Hormuz open, as it will benefit us all, and bring oil prices down quicker. At the same time it will reduce Russia's increase in sales value of its oil (that which it can safely get out of course). Nevertheless, Trump's moaning about the rest of NATO is no doubt precisely what the rest of NATO thinks about his attitude towards Ukraine. Additionally, American arms manufacturers have benefited from increased sales, as opposed to donations, at a cost to Europe. As stated above, that has also come back to bite him with many nations now reconsidering their purchases for their own military. Much to the chagrin of the manufacturers. Time for some cool heads: Marc Rutter seems a decent bloke with his head screwed on. Hopefully he can find a way to show Trump the negative impacts of his approach to his own nation, get him to wind his neck in, and simultaneously show the rest the benefits to their own economies of chipping in with escorts for shipping. One things is for sure, China will be looking on with a bit of a smile on its face. Quote
Dimron Posted March 18 Posted March 18 32 minutes ago, Winchester White said: You certainly appear to have negative assumptions about anything relating to Ukraine. And the positives are?.... Quote
Cheese Posted March 18 Posted March 18 Just now, Dimron said: And the positives are?.... Ukraine still exists, and Russia is fucked. Quote
Zico Posted March 19 Posted March 19 14 hours ago, Dimron said: So what happens now? He could be starved of weapons and funding, 60% of Ukraine's budget is already going to their armed forces. War is an expensive business. Russia will see some financial recovery owing to the global oil prices. With the world focus elsewhere, will the war now just fizzle out with the front lines frozen and they just lob whatever drones they have or can afford at each other? Yep Just keep going and don't concede a thing Quote
jayjayoghani Posted March 19 Posted March 19 Hope this fella lives in a ground floor flat https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/18/pro-kremlin-loyalist-turns-on-putin-ilya-remeslo-russia Quote
royal white Posted March 27 Posted March 27 Wow! What a watch that is. Harrowing and very graphic. Quote
Tonge moor green jacket Posted March 28 Posted March 28 Will do. I've seen go-pro stuff from a number of foreign fighters over there. YouTube People donate to them, as they have no income- their videos are de-moneytised, but folk contribute to their pay pal accounts. Horrendous, fascinating, dehumanising, intense camaraderie, and yet humane too. A number killed too, which brings it all home. Quote
Spider Posted March 28 Posted March 28 Starmer has started going after the Russian shadow fleet. That will hurt the Russians, no question. But he’s boring etc. Quote
Clarence Carter Posted March 28 Posted March 28 12 hours ago, royal white said: Wow! What a watch that is. Harrowing and very graphic. He also made '20 Days in Mariupol' before this, that's well worth a watch as well. Quote
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