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

[Jampie]

I am a bit skeptical of the truck bomb idea, for two reasons:

1. TWO spans of the bridge are down, with one still standing in between... which is very difficult to achieve with a single explosion, unless that's the worst built bridge ever (can't rule that out can we)
2. The visible explosion doesn't perfectly line up with the truck in any of the videos I've seen

Still, however it was done, there's no denying that's yet another massive disaster for Russia's war effort. Road both ways looks out (at least for now) and the rail line is out of action too, looks very damaged. There is exactly _one_ other rail line connecting Russia with the entire western theatre of war, and that's already within HIMARS range, and has already been hit in the past.

Supply problems are going to get significantly worse now, and a thrust southward to Melitopol by Ukraine now would be an abject disaster for Russia. They would have no choice but to throw everything at it to stop it.

[drillerpie]

They're heading for an internal putsch at best, civil war, second best or lashing out with no thought for tomorrow at worst. Very unstable situation with no way for Russia to just turn round and go home while Putin is in charge.

Yeah I would agree with that. Putin probably could use the state propaganda machine to invent a fake victory and withdraw, but he has clearly stated his opinion that Ukraine is historically and spiritually Russian land, so that is unlikely to happen.

Having said that he is mean poker player who relies on upping the ante to achieve his goals, even when not holding the best cards.

This has worked extremely well for him in the last decade. But surely now he must realise the ante is being upped against him, he's no longer in control of the game, and he risks losing everything.

[drillerpie]

Yeah it's a strange one. There is a boat visible under the bridge at exactly the time of the blast. It's hard to tell where the blast comes from but yeah it doesn't seem to quite come from the truck.

Also the truck came from the Russian side and was filmed being checked, which makes it even more unusual.

[BigFatPie]

It would just be our luck if there’s nuclear annihilation when we’re top of the league.

[countygump]

It would just be our luck if there’s nuclear annihilation when we’re top of the league.

It could be worse, it could happen on the day we officially win the League.

[BigFatPie]

It could be worse, it could happen on the day we officially win the League.

As long as we were still promoted…

[Elite_Pie]

As long as we were still promoted…

“The Oldest Football League Club in what’s left of the World”.

[drillerpie]

Meanwhile on Russian state TV, a Russian man reminisces about 1980 when Russian speaking Ukrainians with Russian surnames told him they saw Russia as an occupier (fair comment given the forced displacement, forced famine, persecution of Ukrainian cultural figures and so on).

Another man then shows exactly why they are hated so much.

[SwalePie]

Meanwhile on Russian state TV, a Russian man reminisces about 1980 when Russian speaking Ukrainians with Russian surnames told him they saw Russia as an occupier (fair comment given the forced displacement, forced famine, persecution of Ukrainian cultural figures and so on).

Another man then shows exactly why they are hated so much.

I've been following this channel for a while and some of the things they share are staggering.

[drillerpie]

I've been following this channel for a while and some of the things they share are staggering.

Yeah there was the Dean of Politics at Moscow State University a couple of weeks ago saying Ukraine isn't a real nation and it has no right to exist.

There was the military man who said Belarus is actually Russia, and they had a Belarusian guest on so they had to stop him and remind that Belarus is an independent republic (that is until they manage to have an election Lukashenko doesn't rig, then that too will be annexed, no doubt).

Plus many deeply disturbing speakers revelling in the destruction of playgrounds, apartments and civilian infrastructure.