O/T:- Ukraine [Incorporating 'Congrats to Russia' thread]

[cher1]

Attachment 21555

Tickled me anyway.

That made me properly laugh, cheers Swale

[maddogslater]

Was looking and thought where is it, then the penny dropped 😆😆

[jackal2]

While Putin's crazy attack on the Ukraine has undoubtedly been faltering in military terms, his approval ratings domestically seem to booming, as they did when he invaded Crimea. Obviously from a Western perspective it's easy to presume that this as a symptom of the Russian people being subject to a constant stream of pro-state propaganda and some of the popularity polls being run and manipulated by the Russian state, but I've heard/read a number of apparently impartial and even pro-West commentators acknowledging that Russian public opinion genuinely is quite different from what we might hope, expect or be led to believe. I'm not saying the sanctions approach is wrong, because in truth there's little alternative, but a lot of ordinary Russians feeling the pinch will find it difficult not to believe they're under siege from the West.

[sidders]

While Putin's crazy attack on the Ukraine has undoubtedly been faltering in military terms, his approval ratings domestically seem to booming, as they did when he invaded Crimea. Obviously from a Western perspective it's easy to presume that this as a symptom of the Russian people being subject to a constant stream of pro-state propaganda and some of the popularity polls being run and manipulated by the Russian state, but I've heard/read a number of apparently impartial and even pro-West commentators acknowledging that Russian public opinion genuinely is quite different from what we might hope, expect or be led to believe. I'm not saying the sanctions approach is wrong, because in truth there's little alternative, but a lot of ordinary Russians feeling the pinch will find it difficult not to believe they're under siege from the West.

We know the Russian people are being fed camel**** as far as the facts of the conflict go, so why can't the same be true of the opinion poll ratings they're being fed - which are, of course, state-controlled.
As I have said from the outset, this is social media's chance to show it can serve society well and not just inflict misery. Despite Putin's best efforts, it is possible to get through the firewall.

[i961pie]

While Putin's crazy attack on the Ukraine has undoubtedly been faltering in military terms, his approval ratings domestically seem to booming, as they did when he invaded Crimea. Obviously from a Western perspective it's easy to presume that this as a symptom of the Russian people being subject to a constant stream of pro-state propaganda and some of the popularity polls being run and manipulated by the Russian state, but I've heard/read a number of apparently impartial and even pro-West commentators acknowledging that Russian public opinion genuinely is quite different from what we might hope, expect or be led to believe. I'm not saying the sanctions approach is wrong, because in truth there's little alternative, but a lot of ordinary Russians feeling the pinch will find it difficult not to believe they're under siege from the West.

Of course they believe what they are told it's the only news and information that they hear, but the young Russians are more likely to believe what is really happening.

[keldsyke]

Seems to be ramping up again.

[irishpete]

Seems to be ramping up again.

He is full of hot air. He knows Winter is around the corner & trying to make people in the West panic. They are suffering big losses now the Ukrainians have Western Artillery & know how to use it. They are not as powerful military wise as they like to think they are.

[Notts78]

He is full of hot air. He knows Winter is around the corner & trying to make people in the West panic. They are suffering big loses now the Ukranians have Western Artillery & know how to use it. They are not as powerful military wise as they like to think they are.

Completely agree. Sending over ‘reserves’ to fight a resurgent Ukrainian army is desperate at best by Putin. Doing it on the eve of winter is mind boggling and I can’t see how Russia achieve there objective. They might have the numbers, but not the weapons and will to fight. He can only be hoping to hold ground whilst chipping away at Ukrainians defences. Sadly, a lot of lives will be lost and Putin will use it as further propaganda with a much more sinister end game that could impact the world!

[BigFatPie]

I wish I could see what’s going through Putin’s mind as well as what so many others seem to.

Seems to me that when someone’s choices are reduced to death or glory, they may well choose death.

[nw6pie]

I wish I could see what’s going through Putin’s mind as well as what so many others seem to.

Seems to me that when someone’s choices are reduced to death or glory, they may well choose death.

He must feel pretty humiliated - what was meant to be a three-day campaign and victory parade in Kyiv has turned into a second Afghanistan and a discredited Russian military (the Red-faced Army). Where once he kept the queen and the pope waiting, now the leaders of Turkey and India keep him waiting. He’s reduced to going to rogue states (Iran, North Korea) for arms/drones. And now he’s back to playing the nuclear card, because he doesn’t have an awful lot else.

Kudos to Joe Biden and Antony Blinken, who united the West behind Ukraine, are giving it arms and, no less importantly, made China understand that it shouldn’t aid the Russians.