Russia Invades

[elwaclaret]

Blimey. Rouble barely worth half of a penny.

It’s climbed a whopping £0.0001 since I posted it

[Billy Balfour]

Heh.

[elwaclaret]

Frozen stars rally around the little girl who tried to raise Ukrainian spirits by singing in the bomb shelter

https://twitter.com/bbcworld/status/150 ... 61714?s=21

[KRBFC]

Only NATO can stop Putin. No amount of threats and sanctions will stop him carrying out his bloody and obscene objective.

Ukraine should be immediately invited to join NATO. Their ‘urgent application’ should be fast tracked and approved. NATO then can INSTRUCT Putin to call an immediate ceasefire and withdraw his troops from Ukraine within 14 days.

He will be absolutely furious and predict an apocalyptic end to the continent of Europe.

But his bluff will be called and he will back down.

I don't understand why you're so negative about Ukraine's chances here.

[elwaclaret]

China supports a diplomatic solution (I think its a bit late, tbh)

https://twitter.com/reuters/status/1501 ... 26505?s=21

[elwaclaret]

I don't understand why you're so negative about Ukraine's chances here.

Not too often I agree, but China asking for a diplomatic solution, we can assume is a sign that things are not improving for Russia.

[KRBFC]

Not too often I agree, but China asking for a diplomatic solution, we can assume is a sign that things are not improving for Russia.

Ukraine are winning and will win this war imo

[elwaclaret]

No Polish welcome for pro- Putin LEGA leader (retweet by Laura Kuenssberg)

https://twitter.com/antoguerrera/status ... 69159?s=21

[Hipper]

Not putting it on here, but there is at least one video of a Russian supply convoy opening fire without asking questions first on a civilian car

I know it's horrible but it's war and we don't know the full circumstances. For instance are the Ukrainians using cars to carry soldiers and/or weapons?

Say the Russians had ignored the car and continued on it might be that the tanker they were escorting would be destroyed. Could they take that risk?

[Lancasterclaret]

Look, its still early days, and Russia has to win, so it will push really hard

And they won't care about the casualties on either side

The big worry for the Ukrainians will be getting too many troops cut off defending the cities, but at the same time, denying those transport hubs to the enemy has enormous benefit as well

Its a fine balance, and I saw this morning that Ukraine are still managing to get ammo, weapons and equipment into places like Kharki'v (which we are told is surrounded)

If they can keep that up, then I think even a limited Russian success (Kyi'v and the line of the Dneiper) is very optimistic

[elwaclaret]

More signs of the generational split in Russian opinion as mother blocks son’s social media contact because of his anti-war stance
https://twitter.com/reuters/status/1501 ... 08800?s=21

[Lancasterclaret]

I know it's horrible but it's war and we don't know the full circumstances. For instance are the Ukrainians using cars to carry soldiers and/or weapons?

Say the Russians had ignored the car and continued on it might be that the tanker they were escorting would be destroyed. Could they take that risk?

Oh, undoubtedly but its a marked change in their tactics, and there still will be a lot of civilian traffic on the roads trying to flee, so its a big escalation

[elwaclaret]

Hard on the heels of Shells apology for buying ‘cheap’ Russian fuel this weekend, they ban Russian oil.

https://twitter.com/reuters/status/1501 ... 42116?s=21

[Lancasterclaret]

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1501245662947692559

Right, Russian disinformation alert

This is from telegram, and its dated 8th March near Kherson as a destroyed Ukrainian convoy

Now its is a destroyed Ukrainian convoy, but its already been reported and geolocated dating from the 25th Feb

Same is almost certainly happening on the other side, but the various sites trying to do a fair and balanced job of reporting losses are 100% not in existence in Russian sources

[Hipper]

That's already no longer available! Correction. Now it is!!

[elwaclaret]

St Andrews Strategic Studies Professor Phillips P Obrian’s updated running commentary

https://twitter.com/phillipspobrien/sta ... 94405?s=21

[elwaclaret]

NEXTA reporting another downed Russian helicopter… notice the BBC decal is the same as one Moscow claimed was a BBC crew shot down by Ukraine earlier this week ( that got me the promise of a visit from their ‘humanitarian commission’) when I told them they were talking ******** and that they should look at drug awareness - steroids withe regard to Putin’s aggression.

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/150 ... 43330?s=21

[Lowbankclaret]

Look, its still early days, and Russia has to win, so it will push really hard

And they won't care about the casualties on either side

The big worry for the Ukrainians will be getting too many troops cut off defending the cities, but at the same time, denying those transport hubs to the enemy has enormous benefit as well

Its a fine balance, and I saw this morning that Ukraine are still managing to get ammo, weapons and equipment into places like Kharki'v (which we are told is surrounded)

If they can keep that up, then I think even a limited Russian success (Kyi'v and the line of the Dneiper) is very optimistic

Daily mail quoting 16,000 people have travelled to Ukraine to fight, now if half of those are hardened battle troops from around the world. Russia is in for a long hard battle.
It’s also quoting that an airfield near the border is receiving 17 flights a day.
Russia has lost allegedly 6% of its army already thats in Ukraine.
If volunteers keep pouring n at that rate with the guns, anti tank guns etc and Russia keeps taking those loses, there will be only one winner here.

[elwaclaret]

Daily mail quoting 16,000 people have travelled to Ukraine to fight, now if half of those are hardened battle troops from around the world. Russia is in for a long hard battle.
It’s also quoting that an airfield near the border is receiving 17 flights a day.
Russia has lost allegedly 6% of its army already thats in Ukraine.
If volunteers keep pouring n at that rate with the guns, anti tank guns etc and Russia keeps taking those loses, there will be only one winner here.

Yes formed into the ‘International Brigade’ - quite a few Brits, French, American’s and even Iraqis

[elwaclaret]

Chicago’s General Electric suspends it’s Russian operations

https://twitter.com/reuters/status/1501 ... 28353?s=21

[elwaclaret]

ELINT News reporting CIA intelligence range Russian losses currently between 2000-4000

https://twitter.com/elintnews/status/15 ... 09988?s=21

[elwaclaret]

UN falling into Russian line over use of ‘war; and ban members from showing Ukrainian colours.

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/150 ... 18402?s=21

[elwaclaret]

New York Times pulling its staff out of Russia

https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1501 ... 22243?s=21

[elwaclaret]

Latvia Museum of Medicine (facing the Russian Embassy) unfurl their own protest banner

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/150 ... 77474?s=21

[Billy Balfour]

McDonald's closing its restaurants in Russia for the foreseeable future.

[Lancasterclaret]

Confirmation that Poland is transferring all its Mig-29s to the US in return for F-16s, and the M-29s will then be transferred to Ukraine

Assuming they have the pilots to fly them, then this is big

https://twitter.com/yarotrof/status/1501268708521492484

[Vegas Claret]

UN falling into Russian line over use of ‘war; and ban members from showing Ukrainian colours.

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/150 ... 18402?s=21

I'm really not sure what purpose the UN holds anymore

[Vegas Claret]

finally
The "Republic of Poland, after consultations between the President and the Goverment, are ready to deploy – immediately and free of charge – all their MIG-29 jets to the Rammstein Air Base and place them at the disposal of the Government of the USA."

[elwaclaret]

I'm really not sure what purpose the UN holds anymore

Only insomuch as its a place where Diplomats can talk, it is very much a toothless tiger - then again it always has been. When Castro took over in Cuba, Eisenhower blanked him and sent his Deputy (Nixon) - it was the UN (in New York) that provided a platform for Castro to become friendly with Khrushchev. ‘World Peace’ in action.

[elwaclaret]

New York Times with their report of President Zelensky’ meeting with Parliament today.

https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1501 ... 05378?s=21

[Vegas Claret]

not making light of war obviously but this is quite amusing

[dermotdermot]

not making light of war obviously but this is quite amusing

Just how have they been stealing tanks? I must be missing something here.

[elwaclaret]

OTHER NEWS: Iran threatening to retaliate after 2 Iranians were killed in Isreal’s strike at Syria.

https://twitter.com/elintnews/status/15 ... 38944?s=21

[GodIsADeeJay81]

finally
The "Republic of Poland, after consultations between the President and the Goverment, are ready to deploy – immediately and free of charge – all their MIG-29 jets to the Rammstein Air Base and place them at the disposal of the Government of the USA."

That's some smart/clever wording there, meaning they can't be accused by Russia of assisting Ukraine directly.
Not that it would stop Putin trying to invade them, but hey ho.

[dermotdermot]

About time we announce that our nuclear arms are on alert. Might send Putin scurrying into his burrow.

I don’t think that that’s a very good idea.

[Lowbankclaret]

Confirmation that Poland is transferring all its Mig-29s to the US in return for F-16s, and the M-29s will then be transferred to Ukraine

Assuming they have the pilots to fly them, then this is big

https://twitter.com/yarotrof/status/1501268708521492484

I don’t know how many MIGs they have , but that is massive.
Large columns stuck on roads are a sitting duck to air power.

This is huge!

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Just how have they been stealing tanks? I must be missing something here.

Russians are abandoning their tanks, and other vehicles, due to either a lack of fuel or desire to fight..
Ukrainian farmers are trundling around collecting whatever they find.

That's why the Ukrainian government issued the statement that for tax purposes no Ukrainian has to declare their spoils of war

[elwaclaret]

Dr Peter Craddock -Adams answering how many Planes have Poland got…

https://twitter.com/militaryhistori/sta ... 99104?s=21

[elwaclaret]

Craddock - Adams on the Nuclear threat

https://twitter.com/militaryhistori/sta ... 39201?s=21

[elwaclaret]

The Economist looking into where are all the Russian planes?

https://twitter.com/shashj/status/15012 ... 47522?s=21

[ClaretInLeeds]

Caddick-Adams

Sorry for being pedantic, but the guy knows what he’s on about, it’s only polite to use his actual name….

[bobinho]

The MiG move is huge. Massive.

Difficult to see how this is going to end, because one thing is certain, Putin absolutely will NOT climb down. Maybe the Chinese today suggesting that a diplomatic end is preferable may help with finding a solution. That’s a big statement from them.

[elwaclaret]

Caddick-Adams

Sorry for being pedantic, but the guy knows what he’s on about, it’s only polite to use his actual name….

Quite right. Mental slip - and I wholeheartedly apologise: - I’ve been writing about Ocean Colour Scene (and Chris Craddock) recently for an article, that really is my only excuse.

[DCWat]

Russians are abandoning their tanks, and other vehicles, due to either a lack of fuel or desire to fight..
Ukrainian farmers are trundling around collecting whatever they find.

That's why the Ukrainian government issued the statement that for tax purposes no Ukrainian has to declare their spoils of war

There will be a lot of weapons ending up in the wrong hands, when this is all finally over.

[elwaclaret]

There will be a lot of weapons ending up in the wrong hands, when this is all finally over.

Always the case, sadly - last time I visited Norway you could buy Russian weapons for about a tenner.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

There will be a lot of weapons ending up in the wrong hands, when this is all finally over.

If you haven't already, watch the film War Dogs, it's based on this article about the weapons black market.
https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/th ... 76604/amp/

Lord Of War, featuring Nicolas Cage is another loosely based on a true story.

The fall of the Soviet Union led to a ridiculous amount of weapons being readily available for the right price, high ranking soldiers were selling whole regiments worth of weapons, including tanks and helicopters etc.

[bfcjg]

Let's hope diplomats and people of good sense on all sides in positions of power are working to end this madness, there are no winners.

[elwaclaret]

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but the Premier League have suspended their broadcast deal in Russia.

https://twitter.com/bbcnews/status/1501 ... 62918?s=21

[elwaclaret]

‘A Hero of Russia’ (as they call the honour), Chairman of the ‘Club of Heroes’, Alexander Garnaev has resigned in protest at the War.

https://twitter.com/maria_shagina/statu ... 75210?s=21

[bobinho]

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but the Premier League have suspended their broadcast deal in Russia.

https://twitter.com/bbcnews/status/1501 ... 62918?s=21

Not sure that's a great idea tbh. Yeah, i know we want to cut Russia off, but the Kremlin are very, very good at cutting off information to their own people. Showing PL footy with players showing messages of support for Ukraine, Messages of support on the advertising billboards and all the players wearing the Ukraine flag round their shoulders as they come out gets a message directly to the Russian people.