Ukraine invasion by Russia Discussion and it's impact on Singapore and Asia? (compiled)

[singalion]

On 3/7/2022 at 4:27 PM, sgmaven said:

Putin has never been honest with "Humanitarian Corridors". Even if they get set up, and civilians actually get safely evacuated, he will then use that as an excuse to claim that all the rest of the people who have not evacuated from the cities are not civilians and are fair game in his bombardments.

 

Read the news, the Russian soldiers have been shooting at people who tried fleeing from surrounded cities...

 

Putin doesn't allow civilians to move out of the cities.

 

 

The latest is that Putin is cutting off water, electricity and heating to these cities.

 

Quote:

The military also notes the city of Irpin on the western outskirts of Kyiv has been “deprived of light, water and heat for more than three days” adding: “there is no food and water, the occupiers banned the residents from leaving their homes.”

 

[sgmaven]

On 3/7/2022 at 4:35 PM, singalion said:

Read the news, the Russian soldiers have been shooting at people who tried fleeing from surrounded cities...

 

Putin doesn't allow civilians to move out of the cities.

Where have I suggested that Putin played fair? And that his intentions for the Humanitarian Corridors are noble? I have been saying quite the opposite!

 

It is obvious that the Russians are intent on cutting all supply lines to the besieged cities like Kharkiv and Mariupol. That is the very reason why they have struck at the Nuclear Power Plants that supply so much of power in the Ukraine.

[singalion]

On 3/7/2022 at 4:38 PM, sgmaven said:

Where have I suggested that Putin played fair?

 

I never said that or alluded that you did suggest this.

 

Putin just wants the Ukraine to surrender at his conditions and at all of his conditions.

This is already futile.

 

The Israeli PM should have made a detour while flying to Germany after meet with Putin and throw supplies onto Mariupol city... 😉

 

[singalion]

 

On 3/7/2022 at 4:38 PM, sgmaven said:

It is obvious that the Russians are intent on cutting all supply lines to the besieged cities like Kharkiv and Mariupol. That is the very reason why they have struck at the Nuclear Power Plants that supply so much of power in the Ukraine.

 

 

Not only this, the Russians are starting to destroy communication infrastructure to disable the Ukrainians to communicate.

(and maybe also to prevent them from sending videos on the ongoing war atrocities into Russia. )

 

 

7 March 15:27pm

Russia is “probably targeting” Ukraine’s communication infrastructure to reduce access to reliable news sources, Britain’s ministry of defence has said.

A recently published defence intelligence update reads:

 

Russia is probably targeting Ukraine’s communications infrastructure in order to reduce Ukrainian citizens’ access to reliable news and information.

Russia reportedly struck a TV tower in Kharkiv yesterday, suspending broadcasting output. This follows a similar strike on a TV tower in Kyiv on 01 March 2022.

Ukrainian internet access is also highly likely being disrupted as a result of collateral damage from Russian strikes on infrastructure. Over the past week, internet outages have been reported in Mariupol, Sumy, Kyiv and Kharkiv.”

 

 

 

[singalion]

Some development, negotiations are going one level higher to the Foreign Ministers, now with assistance by Turkey.

As to other sources it is scheduled for Thursday in Antalya, Turkey.

 

The meeting between the Delegations scheduled for today will still take place according to news wires.

 

 

 

 

The Guardian: 7 March 2022, 8.28pm (Singapore time)

 

The foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine will meet near the Turkish Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya this week, Turkish foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, said.

 

Çavuşoğlu said on Monday he would take part in the meeting between Russia’s Sergei Lavrov and Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine, which would be in a “trilateral format”.

 

The meeting will take place on the sidelines of an international diplomacy forum, the Reuters news agency reported.

Turkey, which has close ties to both Russia and Ukraine, has sought to place itself as a mediator between the warring sides.

 

Edited March 7, 2022 by singalion

[singalion]

 

The most bizarre news is that Putin during the call from the President of the EU Council, Charles Michel, to Putin, Putin requested the European Union to force Ukraine to observe the human rights in the fight.

 

Waiting for some English media report on this.

[riznoir]

https://news.yahoo.com/singapore-named-russia-list-countries-unfriendly-actions-120308317.html

 

[Guest Steve]

On 3/7/2022 at 1:22 AM, riznoir said:

 

 

Thank you for posting this interesting video.

 

Seldom one sees videos like this that are so full of falsities and fabricated conspiracy theories.  "What the media is HIDING about Ukraine/Russia"  is a favorite title of false information.  It can translate into "We post here what other media is afraid to write because they are against the truth".  

 

To follow their twisted historical data is a waste of time, because there is little hope to find real facts.  Nothing what they say trying to assign blame is objective.  

 

But there is a good, objective data that is available today,  not from decades go: 

 

The vote at the United Nations of a resolution condemning Russia as the aggressor in the conflict came out as follows:  141 nations in favor,  35 abstaining and 5 against it.  So a large majority of nations recognizes that Russia is the evil side in this conflict.  

 

You are not the only one in this forum who smears America, portraying it as the country behind all the ills of the world.  And this is done not only by putting down the factual reports of the international media but by creating falsities of their own.  

 

Like saying that the US has been behind of the move by Putin to invade Ukraine.  And Joe Biden has fooled Putin into playing his game of prevailing over Russia in the world stage.  Your ideologues must have a very poor opinion of Putin as a fool, a sucker who can fall pray to the machinations of a "senile old man like Biden".  

 

The video you posted is rebuked by all the FACTS in the world.  Ukrainians are more united against Russia as ever before, and they see the west European nations and the whole NATO as their friend and protector. We don't hear of Ukrainians bombing Russian cities and killing their civilians,  it is the Russians who bomb Ukrainian cities and kill their civilians.

 

I cannot fully understand how some people think.  You cannot honestly believe the content of this video you posted.  So I'm more inclined to think that you recognize it for what it is,  but perhaps you have a certain agenda of propagating its falsities.

 

OR... MAYBE... you posted it to inform us about all the disinformation and falsities circulating around.  If this is the case,  thanks again!

[Guest Proof in the Putin]

On 3/8/2022 at 7:03 AM, Guest Steve said:

 

 

Seldom one sees videos like this that are so full of falsities and fabricated conspiracy theories.  "What the media is HIDING about Ukraine/Russia" 

America is a trouble maker.   I have sympathy for Russia.

[sgmaven]

The US is not a saint, when it comes to foreign policy. Their track record when it comes to their covert operations to overthrow left-leaning governments in Latin America is appalling. Then again, Putin is no better! He is dreaming of reclaiming the past glory of the USSR. He should just face the facts that Russia does not have the number of people in their country to be able to reverse its decline.

[Guest Steve]

On 3/8/2022 at 6:19 AM, sgmaven said:

The US is not a saint, when it comes to foreign policy. Their track record when it comes to their covert operations to overthrow left-leaning governments in Latin America is appalling. Then again, Putin is no better! He is dreaming of reclaiming the past glory of the USSR. He should just face the facts that Russia does not have the number of people in their country to be able to reverse its decline.

 

Can you envision a superpower able to keep superpower Russia at bay being endowed with the highest morality standards?  Can you recall a single dominant nation of the past who only used the highest moral means to remain dominant?   EVERY country is a mixture of good and bad people. 

 

 

On 3/8/2022 at 5:13 AM, Guest Proof in the Putin said:

America is a trouble maker.   I have sympathy for Russia.

 

Have you tried to emigrate to Russia and join their military forces,  so that you can also be sent to Ukraine to kill their civilians?

[sgmaven]

On 3/9/2022 at 2:57 AM, Guest Steve said:

Can you envision a superpower able to keep superpower Russia at bay being endowed with the highest morality standards?  Can you recall a single dominant nation of the past who only used the highest moral means to remain dominant?   EVERY country is a mixture of good and bad people.

Well, the US lost the moral high ground by using underhanded tactics to overthrow democratically-elected governments in Latin America. It is the same way that Russia is interfering with the stability of sovereign nations like Georgia and the Ukraine. Don't try to justify the need to meet Russian threats with underhanded methods!

 

The Russia of today is partly the doing of the US. Putin was rather open at the start, but was repeatedly excluded by the US and the West.

 

I just pity the Ukrainians and the Georgians, who are caught in the middle.

[Guest Fair & Square]

On 3/9/2022 at 11:06 AM, sgmaven said:

Well, the US lost the moral high ground by using underhanded tactics to overthrow democratically-elected governments in Latin America.

 

I just pity the Ukrainians and the Georgians, who are caught in the middle.

The US also used the same tactic (behind the scene) to overthrow  the democratically elected pro-Russia ukraine. president. Do I pity Ukraine now? No!

[Guest Guest]

This whole Russia-Ukraine war sets me thinking about the situation in Singapore. The Ukrainians has a 11.43% population of immigrants in the country, compared to Singapore's 43.14%.  https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/immigration-by-country  During times of war, even the untrained civilians in Ukraine, such as actors, beauty-pageant winners, were willing to take up arms to fight for their country. 

 

What about Singapore? In times of war, it is bad enough for the foreigners not to take up arms against the enemies, but will Singaporeans even be willing to take up the fight. Even if they do, will they be willing to defend those 43.14% of foreigners and provide them with armed escorts to the airport so that they can take flight? 

 

Yes, people can dislike this question. People will come in and say anti-foreigners sentiments must not be allowed to breed. But like it or not, this is a legitimate food-for-thought question. When a country government has been making the foreigners feel welcome at the expense of the local Singaporeans, even to the extent that the Parliament can spent days after days in Parliament to debate the "merits" of CECA, even to the extent that the government allowed the country's National Day song to be plagiarized by other nationalities and to add salt to the wound, have the country's honor defended by the original Canadian songwriter who was questioned if he plagiarized the Indian songwriter. After all these, why should the local Singaporeans heed the call for help when the time comes? 

 

Yes, they can use the Singapore law to force people to take up arms during times of war. But who will Singaporeans be shooting? 

[singalion]

 

 

The first humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of people was successful yesterday from Sumy to the city of Poltova within Ukraine (and not Russia as initially proposed by Putin).

 

The humanitarian corridors have actually two sides of the coin, if the civilians leave the cities, then Russia can even reinforce the shelling of the cities and increase the bomb types to force the Ukraine military to surrender.

But as so far Putin has shown little restraint to spare civilians casualties...

 

 

The initiative was more due to pressure from India and China as many Indian/Chinese students and  had been trapped in that town. Sumy has 2 or 3 major Technical Universities with cooperations with big Western Corporations and a medical university.

 

For most other cities in particular Mariupol any evacuation was not successful so far.

 

 

 

Evacuation Of Indians Stranded In Sumy  As Humanitarian Corridors Reopen
 

 

 

Thousands of residents from the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy were successfully evacuated after Russia agreed to pause attacks and evacuation corridors opened.

Evacuations began on Tuesday morning, with buses heading towards the city of Poltava, further south and away from the front lines.

 

About 5,000 people and more than 1,000 private vehicles "are already in safety", said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's office.

Civilians, some of whom were foreign students, were among those evacuated

 

Getty Images/Ukrainian PresidencyCopyright: Getty Images/Ukrainian Presidency

Woman and children wait for evacuation buses to arriveImage caption: Woman and children wait for evacuation buses to arrive

 

It was the first successful mass evacuation despite Russia announcing several ceasefires to get people out of cities under bombardment.

A similar attempt for people trapped in Chernihiv failed because Russia kept shelling the exit route, Ukraine claimed.

Sumy's regional governor said the humanitarian corridor would continue working on Wednesday.

The United Nations estimates that more than 2 million people have fled Ukraine since Moscow's invasion on February 24.

 

 

[sgmaven]

On 3/9/2022 at 11:14 AM, Guest Fair & Square said:

The US also used the same tactic (behind the scene) to overthrow  the democratically elected pro-Russia ukraine. president. Do I pity Ukraine now? No!

I do pity the Ukraine. Being played by both sides...

[sg indian here]

While Russian-Ukrainian war is ongoing, let's take a look at the composition of the Ukrainian government:

The core decision-making inner circle of Ukrainian President Zelensky is actually based on his circle of friends when he was an actor.

1. The Chief of Staff of the Presidential Palace, Andre Yemark, is a comedy producer;
2. The head of the Presidential Administration, Andre Bodin, is a lawyer in the entertainment industry;
3. The president's chief policy adviser, Sergey Sheffey, is a comedy writer;
4. Ivan Bakanov, deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Supreme Intelligence Service, is the boss of a comedy film company;
5. Senior adviser to the Ukrainian National Defense Committee, Sergei Sivoko, is also a comedian and is Zelensky's partner in acting.
        
If you just look at their resume, you can't tell whether it is a film and television company or a country's decision-making body or just comedies of error.

        
😖

Edited March 9, 2022 by sg indian here

[Guest Guest]

On 3/9/2022 at 7:33 PM, sg indian here said:

While Russian-Ukrainian war is ongoing, let's take a look at the composition of the Ukrainian government:

The core decision-making inner circle of Ukrainian President Zelensky is actually based on his circle of friends when he was an actor.

1. The Chief of Staff of the Presidential Palace, Andre Yemark, is a comedy producer;
2. The head of the Presidential Administration, Andre Bodin, is a lawyer in the entertainment industry;
3. The president's chief policy adviser, Sergey Sheffey, is a comedy writer;
4. Ivan Bakanov, deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Supreme Intelligence Service, is the boss of a comedy film company;
5. Senior adviser to the Ukrainian National Defense Committee, Sergei Sivoko, is also a comedian and is Zelensky's partner in acting.
        
If you just look at their resume, you can't tell whether it is a film and television company or a country's decision-making body or just comedies of error.

        
😖

 

Whatever their resumes may be, is it even an excuse for Russia to invade the country? On the topic of resumes, what does the resumes of the Singapore Members of Parliament look like to be worth that much salary every year? 

[sg indian here]

On 3/9/2022 at 7:50 PM, Guest Guest said:

 

Whatever their resumes may be, is it even an excuse for Russia to invade the country? On the topic of resumes, what does the resumes of the Singapore Members of Parliament look like to be worth that much salary every year? 

Dear Guest... regarding high  salary ,you check with them are they worth it. 

As for Ukraine..it just a info only .

Do not mix up yr thought 🤔

 

[singalion]

On 3/9/2022 at 7:33 PM, sg indian here said:

While Russian-Ukrainian war is ongoing, let's take a look at the composition of the Ukrainian government:

The core decision-making inner circle of Ukrainian President Zelensky is actually based on his circle of friends when he was an actor.

1. The Chief of Staff of the Presidential Palace, Andre Yemark, is a comedy producer;
2. The head of the Presidential Administration, Andre Bodin, is a lawyer in the entertainment industry;
3. The president's chief policy adviser, Sergey Sheffey, is a comedy writer;
4. Ivan Bakanov, deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Supreme Intelligence Service, is the boss of a comedy film company;
5. Senior adviser to the Ukrainian National Defense Committee, Sergei Sivoko, is also a comedian and is Zelensky's partner in acting.
        
If you just look at their resume, you can't tell whether it is a film and television company or a country's decision-making body or just comedies of error.

        
😖

 

Would say it is probably a matter of trust.

In countries like Ukraine which you can't compare to Western European countries, you need a trusted inner circle.

 

The Yanukovych government up to his fleeing from Ukraine in 2014 was even worse. it had 99 % ministers from Donbas region, Russian decent and corrupt oligarchs.

 

You can't say the same from Zelenskyy.

While corruption is an issue inherited from the past in the Ukraine, there has not been many reports on corruption.

Zelenskyy has some offshore companies which were revealed in the Pandora papers but these were formed long time before he became President. They were set up before 2012 so long before he was elected in 2019.

 

From governance the Ukraine was on a much better way since Petroshenko and now much more with Zelenskyy. 

The Ukraine attracted a lot of Foreign investment and manufacturing from European companies and is now a hub for the aviation, shipping and logistics.

In public governance Ukraine was rated much much better than Russia.

 

On the business ranking Ukraine moved up to 64th rank for 2020.

 

 

 

[sgmaven]

At least Zelensky and the key Ukrainian leaders have opted to stay in the Ukraine, and defend their motherland. In fact, Zelensky's daily social media posts have had the effect of strengthening the will of the average Ukrainian to fight for their country.

 

That is better than the previous President, who fled to Moscow in the dead of night, when the people of the Ukraine rose up against him.

 

 

Watch this documentary by Al Jazeera, on the corruption of the previous Ukrainian government.

[Guest Guest]

On 3/9/2022 at 8:52 PM, sg indian here said:

Dear Guest... regarding high  salary ,you check with them are they worth it. 

As for Ukraine..it just a info only .

Do not mix up yr thought 🤔

 

 

Go ahead and poke fun at the comedians-cum-politicians during peacetime. But this war is not really the best time to throw in red herrings about the Ukraine governance to cause doubts about the country, when Russia is so obviously the perpetrators in this war.

[riznoir]

 

[singalion]

On 3/10/2022 at 2:41 AM, sgmaven said:

At least Zelensky and the key Ukrainian leaders have opted to stay in the Ukraine, and defend their motherland. In fact, Zelensky's daily social media posts have had the effect of strengthening the will of the average Ukrainian to fight for their country. That is better than the previous President, who fled to Moscow in the dead of night, when the people of the Ukraine rose up against him.

 

Watch this documentary by Al Jazeera, on the corruption of the previous Ukrainian government.

 

There is some mix up.

After that Russian orientated President Yanukovych fled Ukraine to Russia in Feb 2014, there was another President in between before Zelensky was elected President in 2019.

the one in between was Petro Poroshenko. He was elected in May 2014 but not re-elected in 2019.

This guy here:

 

 

You can say he was moderate "pro Western" (at least he gave that picture) . He runs various businesses, mainly known for his "chocolate empire" and was a billionaire when elected President.

Before he was elected as President in 2014, he was Foreign Minister under President Yushchenko for 1 year in 2009/2010 and  Minister of Trade under the very Russian leaning Yanukovych in 2012 (for just 9 months). He stepped down in December 2012 due to "rumours" that he used the Ministry to advance his personal business interests in China. In May 2014 he was elected President (term until 2019) but not re-elected with being defeated at only 25% against Zelensky's 73%.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 11, 2022 by singalion
one wrong year.

[sgmaven]

Ukraine war: Large Russian convoy redeploys near Kyiv - satellite images

 

Looks like the Russians are going to advance on Kyiv.

[Steve5380]

On 3/9/2022 at 5:06 AM, sgmaven said:

I do pity the Ukraine. Being played by both sides...

 

Yes,  "being played".

 

This reminds us of WWII,  when the Jews "were played" by both sides.  The Nazis rounded them off and killed them in their gas chambers,  while the Allies gave refuge to those who could escape.

 

And today,  Ukraine has been invaded by Russian troops, who are now killing their civilians,  while the NATO provides weapons to the Ukrainians to defend themselves and impose sanctions to the invading country, and gives refuge to those Ukrainians who want to escape.

 

And how about "both sides"? One notices that there are those who try to put "both sides" on an equal footing.  They may not be thinking strong enough.

 

"Equality" may be true on their military strength, more or less.  On a nuclear war both sides would exterminate each other.  On a conventional war,  NATO has superiority over Russia.

 

"Equality" is false in any other aspect.  Give 100 families the choice to live either in Russia or in America,  and it would be surprising if anyone would choose Russia. 

.

Edited March 11, 2022 by Steve5380

[Guest Don’t Confuse]

On 3/11/2022 at 3:53 PM, Steve5380 said:

Give 100 families the choice to live either in Russia or in America,  and it would be surprising if anyone would choose Russia. 

You have been to Russia recently? You’ve met Russians and their families? You’ve spoken to them? You know what they think? Why would they want to live in the USA where so many live under the poverty line, where blacks and native Americans and a lot of immigrants are discriminated against. I suppose all those Russians you talk about would have guaranteed jobs in the USA? Where would they live? I suppose you’d be happy to have some staying in your home.  I suppose you also think every Russian regards the USA as the land of milk and honey. They don’t!

[Kenichi]

 

I think Steve is not referring to 100 families in Russia but 100 families generically. 

[Guest Don’t Confuse]

On 3/11/2022 at 5:35 PM, Kenichi said:

 

I think Steve is not referring to 100 families in Russia but 100 families generically. 

Thanks for pointing that out. But again I think the premise is misguided. What is a generic family? A dirt poor family somewhere in Africa? A Uighur family in China? An Indian family living on next to nothing? If they had jobs and an income guaranteed in the USA, they probably opt for that country. But anywhere would probably be better for them than their present existence and my guess is they’d choose the country that offered the best conditions for the family. So politics would be very much secondary to things like accommodation, jobs, schooling and so on.

[singalion]

The total Russian Vodka ban for the US is decided!

 

US president Joe Biden has announced the US plans to ban the import of seafood, vodka and diamonds from Russia in retaliation for Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.

Biden said the ban would be part of a move by America to revoke normal trading relations, with Russia, also known as “most favoured nation” status, with a similar move also expected from allies in the Group of Seven (G7) leading nations and the European Union.

Revoking such trading relations will “make it harder for Russia to do business with the United States”, Biden said and noted that the US was “taking the first steps” to ban imports of Russian “seafood, vodka and diamonds”.

Putin is the aggressor and Putin must pay a price.

[singalion]

Russia moves to ban Whatsapp and Instagram

Russia has moved to ban Whatsapp and Instagram, as well as designating Meta an “extremist organisation”.

Prosecutors have asked a Russian court to designate Facebook’s parent organisation Meta Platforms as an “extremist organisation,” Interfax news agency has reported.

[singalion]

Recently released satellite images made available by US space technology firm Maxar Technologies provide a closer look at the unfolding situation on the ground in Ukraine.

The photos reveal a massive convoy of Russian troops that had stalled outside the Ukrainian capital largely dispersed and redeployed out into towns and forests near Kyiv, with artillery pieces moved into firing positions.

One image shows some of Russian military vehicles repositioned along a line of trees near the village of Lubyanka, about 50km north-west of Kyiv.

Several of the redeployments shown in the satellite images appear near Antonov International Airport, which lies between Lubyanka and Kyiv, and suggests that the vehicles have not made any significant progress towards the capital.

The images also show further damage to civilian areas on the outskirts of the capital. Fires were also seen in an industrial area in the city of Chernihiv, while fires at the fuel storage area in Hostomel were also documented, north-west of Kyiv.

 

 

 

What do latest movements of Russian convoy near Kyiv mean?

Peter Beaumont

Analysis from the Guardian’s Peter Beaumont, reporting from Lviv, of the latest movements of the Russian convoy near Kyiv:

With evidence from the latest satellite images from Maxar Technologies that the 40-mile (64-kilometer) Russian convoy that had been approaching the capital Kyiv - including tanks, trucks and artillery – has now been dispersed and redeployed, what does it mean?

In the last few days we’ve seen Russian tanks attempting to move forward towards Brovary from the north east and the redeployment of the 40 mile convoy to the west with Russian forces operating some 60k to the west of Kyiv on the main E40 east west motorway.

The question with the convoy to the north west was whether it was “stalled” as western defence analysts have claimed – suggesting they had expected it to assault Kyiv – or was regrouping to take up positions and besiege the Ukrainian capital.

With armoured units seen in towns near the Antonov airport in Hostomel to north of the cit, and with vehicles moving into forests, with towed howitzers positioned ready to fire, it looks increasingly likely that Russian forces are preparing a siege from both sides of the river Dnieper.

What is not yet clear is whether the Russian ambition is to close the encirclement of Kyiv to the south or leave that exit open.

Still, the immediacy of the threat to Kyiv is still unclear. A US defence official speaking on condition of anonymity said Russian forces moving toward Kyiv had advanced about 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) in the past 24 hours, with some elements as close as 15 kilometers (about 9 miles) from the city.

A more intense bombardment of Kyiv from the armour gathered outside would be in keeping with recent Russian tactics around Mariupol and Kharkiv.

While the Russian military may view a siege as a less risky option, given the effectiveness of the Ukrainian resistance, it is not risk free. Ukrainian use of Turkish supplied combat drones has been effective and Russian positions taken outside the city for shelling would be vulnerable to drones and other attacks.

 

 

Edited March 11, 2022 by singalion

[singalion]

 

 

Putin has approved 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East to fight in Ukraine

With more details of Vladimir Putin’s comments on welcoming volunteers to fight in Ukraine, Reuters reports that the Russian president today approved bringing thousands of fighters from the Middle East to fight against Ukraine.

At a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, defence minister Sergei Shoigu said there were 16,000 volunteers in the Middle East who were ready to come to fight with Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine in the breakaway Donbass region.

 

Putin said:

 

If you see that there are these people who want of their own accord, not for money, to come to help the people living in Donbass, then we need to give them what they want and help them get to the conflict zone.

He also told Shoigu that he approved Javelin and Stinger missles captured by the Russian army in Ukraine being handed to Donbass forces.

 

“As to the delivery of arms, especially Western-made ones which have fallen into the hands of the Russian army - of course I support the possibility of giving these to the military units of the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics,” Putin said.
“Please do this.”

[singalion]

 

 

Russian forces have killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers, says Ukraine's defence minister

Russian forces have killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers, Ukraine’s defence minister said today.

 

“I want this to be heard not only in Kyiv but all over the world,” Oleksii Reznikov said, reports Reuters.

According to the latest figures from the office of the UN high commissioner for human rights, from 4am on 24 February to midnight on 9 March, 549 civilians had been killed and 957 injured.

 

[Guest Guest]

On 3/12/2022 at 1:10 AM, singalion said:

 

 

Russian forces have killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers, says Ukraine's defence minister

Russian forces have killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers, Ukraine’s defence minister said today.

 

“I want this to be heard not only in Kyiv but all over the world,” Oleksii Reznikov said, reports Reuters.

According to the latest figures from the office of the UN high commissioner for human rights, from 4am on 24 February to midnight on 9 March, 549 civilians had been killed and 957 injured.

 

Nonsense! Fake news! Ignore!

[Guest Guest]

They can claim anything they want.  Just another tactic.  

 

You are to ignore such groundless claims

[singalion]

On 3/11/2022 at 10:53 PM, Steve5380 said:

And how about "both sides"? One notices that there are those who try to put "both sides" on an equal footing.  They may not be thinking strong enough.

 

"Equality" may be true on their military strength, more or less.  On a nuclear war both sides would exterminate each other.  On a conventional war,  NATO has superiority over Russia.

 

It comes to a surprise for Russia still struggling to "conquer" at least half of Ukraine by now.

 

What we can see is that Russia's army is not as strong as we all thought. (Which I don't want to complain of).

 

It might be morale of the soldiers.

If the Generals instilled to them they are "brothers" then the mood may be down.

 

If the soldiers were not well prepared for the potential resistance by the Ukraine soldiers then it is something different also.

 

Russia can only resort to attempting in taking the "morale" of the Ukrainian civilians by shelling all those bombs into the residential areas (worse for hospitals, schools, kindergardens... etc).

 

For Mariupol the strategy to me is crystal clear:

The Donbas Russians want to force the city to surrender on their own and swing the white flag.

(No water, no heating, no electricity).

The people are hoping for snow to get some water to drink.

 

The Ukrainian air force must be a bit weak.

Maybe the Ukrainians  should camouflage a Russian military plane and fly supplies over this city. Or Ukraine can hire some Hamas people to dig tunnels into the city...

 

The response from Lawrov on the bombing of the maternity hospital was extreme!

 

 

Sergei Lavrov says Russia 'DIDN'T attack Ukraine', dismisses 'pathetic outcry' over maternity hospital bombing and admits the building WAS deliberately targeted - after peace talks collapse in Turkey

Sergei Lavrov has made the extraordinary claim that Russia 'did not attack Ukraine' and dismissed the 'pathetic outcry' over the Mariupol hospital bombing as peace talks broke down in Turkey today.

 

Speaking after the failed talks, Lavrov said: 'We are not planning to attack other countries. We didn't attack Ukraine, either.'

Lavrov said in reference to the hospital attack: 'It is not the first time we see pathetic outcries concerning the so-called atrocities perpetrated by the Russian military.'

Despite his bizarre claim that Russia is not attacking Ukraine, he then admitted the hospital was deliberately targeted, saying it had been taken over by Ukrainian radicals and all the 'mothers and nurses were chased out of there'.

But Lavrov said: 'A few days ago, at a meeting of the UN Security Council, the Russian delegation presented the facts that this maternity hospital had long been captured by the Azov battalion and other radicals, all women in labor, all nurses, and in general, all the staff were expelled from there. It was the base of the ultra-radical Azov battalion.'

 

 

Here you can see pictures of the "Azov Nazi terrorists" masked as pregnant women  at the hospital:

 

 

 

 

Edited March 11, 2022 by singalion

[Kenichi]

On what grouds do you say that this is fake news. In any case, whether or not civilian casaulties are higher or lower than the number of soldiers killed, the truth of the matter is that lives are being lost, which can all be prevented if the invasion did not take place. 

[Kenichi]

On 3/12/2022 at 1:11 AM, Guest Guest said:

Nonsense! Fake news! Ignore!

On what grouds do you say that this is fake news. In any case, whether or not civilian casaulties are higher or lower than the number of soldiers killed, the truth of the matter is that lives are being lost, which can all be prevented if the invasion of Ukraine did not take place. 

[singalion]

 

Highly unlikely' Russia achieved its pre-invasion objectives - UK intelligence

The UK’s defence ministry has just released its latest intelligence report on the situation in Ukraine this morning, noting it remains “highly unlikely” that Russia achieved its objectives pre-invasion plan objectives.

 

The report reads:

It remains highly unlikely that Russia has successfully achieved the objectives outlined in its pre-invasion plan.

Russian ground forces continue to make limited progress. Logistical issues that have hampered the Russian advance persist, as does strong Ukrainian resistance.

 

Russia is likely seeking to reset and re-posture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days. This will probably include operations against the capital Kyiv.”

 

[singalion]

On 3/12/2022 at 1:10 AM, singalion said:

 

 

Russian forces have killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers, says Ukraine's defence minister

Russian forces have killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers, Ukraine’s defence minister said today.

 

“I want this to be heard not only in Kyiv but all over the world,” Oleksii Reznikov said, reports Reuters.

According to the latest figures from the office of the UN high commissioner for human rights, from 4am on 24 February to midnight on 9 March, 549 civilians had been killed and 957 injured.

 

 

The numbers are from the UN, which are more conservative. Ukraine government just reposted the data from the UN.

Russian invasion has killed at least 549 civilians in Ukraine, 41 of them children, but United Nations believes toll is ‘considerably’ higher

Published Thu, Mar 10 2022

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has killed at least 549 civilians, 41 of whom were children, the United Nations said Thursday, noting the actual death toll is believed to be “considerably higher.”

At least an additional 957 civilians have been injured since the attack began two weeks ago, according to the U.N.’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

 

“Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and missile and airstrikes,” that office said.

 

“OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, especially in government-controlled territory and especially in recent days,” the office said.

 

The report said that getting information from locations where “intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed.” Many reports “are still pending corroboration,” the OHCHR added.

 

“This concerns, for example, the towns of Volnovakha, Mariupol, Izium where there are allegations of hundreds of civilian casualties,” the office said, noting that its report did not include casualty statistics from those areas.

 

The report noted that the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights has said that 61 children have been killed and 100 injured.

 

The U.N. Human Rights Commissioner’s office said its statistics are based on information from “contact persons and partners in places where civilian casualties occurred.”

 

 

 

[singalion]

The Russian ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, has been presenting the Kremlin’s allegations that Ukraine and the US had a plot to spread biological weapons with migratory birds, bats and insects.

 

Nebenzya issued a chilling warning to Eastern Europe that biological agents could spread across Ukraine’s borders:

 

We call upon you to think about a very real biological danger to the people in European countries, which can result from an uncontrolled spread of bio agents from Ukraine. And if there is a such a scenario then all Europe will be covered.

 

The risk of this is very real given the interests of the radical nationalist groups in Ukraine are showing towards the work with dangerous pathogens conducted together with the ministry of defence of the United States.

Russia’s Ambassador to the U.N. Vasily Nebenzya attends the United Nations Security Council meeting on Threats to International Peace and Security, in New York City, U.S. March 11, 2022. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters.

 

 

After Nebenzya spoke, Albania, the US and France voiced alarm that the allegations may be an advance cover story for Russian plans to unleash chemical or biological weapons.

 

US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said:

The intent behind these lies seem clear and it is deeply troubling. We believe Russia could use chemical or biological agents for assassinations as part of a false flag incident or to support tactical military operations.

 

[Steve5380]

On 3/11/2022 at 9:54 AM, Guest Don’t Confuse said:

You have been to Russia recently? You’ve met Russians and their families? You’ve spoken to them? You know what they think? Why would they want to live in the USA where so many live under the poverty line, where blacks and native Americans and a lot of immigrants are discriminated against. I suppose all those Russians you talk about would have guaranteed jobs in the USA? Where would they live? I suppose you’d be happy to have some staying in your home.  I suppose you also think every Russian regards the USA as the land of milk and honey. They don’t!

 

On 3/11/2022 at 10:35 AM, Kenichi said:

 

I think Steve is not referring to 100 families in Russia but 100 families generically. 

 

On 3/11/2022 at 10:48 AM, Guest Don’t Confuse said:

Thanks for pointing that out. But again I think the premise is misguided. What is a generic family? A dirt poor family somewhere in Africa? A Uighur family in China? An Indian family living on next to nothing? If they had jobs and an income guaranteed in the USA, they probably opt for that country. But anywhere would probably be better for them than their present existence and my guess is they’d choose the country that offered the best conditions for the family. So politics would be very much secondary to things like accommodation, jobs, schooling and so on.

 

Thank you for your feedback.  Let's try to make it more simple. 

 

Something you are surely familiar with.  Let's consider 100 common middle class families in Singapore.  Maybe your own family?   From whatever up-to-date news we have about Russia today,  would you prefer moving to Russia over America?

 

There is a fundamental hardship that has descended over Russia.  Something horrible, capable of destroying the core of any family:  all McDonald's in Russia have closed !!

 

This would not affect me or my family. As long as there are still lentils with vegetables and ice cream available. But there is a small detail that could demotivate us:  it starts with 'Pu' and ends with 'tin'.   

 

Meanwhile, in America we have Joe Biden as president.  Since I live there, I have an opportunity to personally experience the political life in the US.   And not only because he was MY president of choice,  I find him to be one of the best presidents I have known since living there.  He is decent, with good moral standards, and he is trying to do the best job he can for his country.  He is not a rocket scientist, but an expert politician.  If being a senior has reduced some of his abilities like sharp memory and energic stride,  he was smart to surround himself with staff that is very competent.  I hope he won't be, but if necessary he will be a good war president.  

.

 

Edited March 11, 2022 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

On 3/11/2022 at 12:27 PM, singalion said:

The Russian ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, has been presenting the Kremlin’s allegations that Ukraine and the US had a plot to spread biological weapons with migratory birds, bats and insects.

 

Nebenzya issued a chilling warning to Eastern Europe that biological agents could spread across Ukraine’s borders:

 

We call upon you to think about a very real biological danger to the people in European countries, which can result from an uncontrolled spread of bio agents from Ukraine. And if there is a such a scenario then all Europe will be covered.

 

The risk of this is very real given the interests of the radical nationalist groups in Ukraine are showing towards the work with dangerous pathogens conducted together with the ministry of defence of the United States.

Russia’s Ambassador to the U.N. Vasily Nebenzya attends the United Nations Security Council meeting on Threats to International Peace and Security, in New York City, U.S. March 11, 2022. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters.

 

 

After Nebenzya spoke, Albania, the US and France voiced alarm that the allegations may be an advance cover story for Russian plans to unleash chemical or biological weapons.

 

US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said:

The intent behind these lies seem clear and it is deeply troubling. We believe Russia could use chemical or biological agents for assassinations as part of a false flag incident or to support tactical military operations.

 

 

Yes, the Russian lies are reaching a new level of evil dementia. 

 

Who could believe that the NATO forces would use chemical and biological weapons in Ukraine???  To exterminate people on their own side?  

 

These weapons are classified as weapons of mass destruction.  Not a good choice for an invading military force, which can have plenty of good masks.  Their effectiveness is in exterminating large groups of civilian population in the places they reside, since innocent civilians may not have adequate protection against them.  

 

And that stupid lying ambassador even said that the biological weapons deployed over Ukraine could cross the border and affect the whole Europe.  NATO is not an organization of suicidal countries.

 

One wonders if in these assemblies at the UN  the attendants could drawn a guy like Nebenzia with shouts of "liar, liar, liar... ".  This would give a good shot for the cameras...  

[Steve5380]

On 3/11/2022 at 11:12 AM, Guest Guest said:

They can claim anything they want.  Just another tactic.  

 

You are to ignore such groundless claims

 

Are their claims more or less groundless than your claim that their claims are groundless?

.

Edited March 12, 2022 by Steve5380

[auscent]

It will strengthen smaller states' grit for self preservatn.

[Guest Hurray!!!!!]

On 3/12/2022 at 4:13 AM, Steve5380 said:

 

Are their claims more or less groundless than your claim that their claims are groundless?

.

Stop deluding yourself further.  Cheimical Weapon or not, Ukraine can NEVER and will NEVER win the War. NATO and Biden can only scream but do nothing.    Russia has already captured most of the vital territories.  

[Guest Hurray!!!!!]

Listen to the statement of this delusional president.

 

[Steve5380]

On 3/11/2022 at 8:18 PM, Guest Hurray!!!!! said:

Stop deluding yourself further.  Cheimical Weapon or not, Ukraine can NEVER and will NEVER win the War. NATO and Biden can only scream but do nothing.    Russia has already captured most of the vital territories.  

 

You must be a great prophet.  I'm glad I have met you here,  and I want to ask you for a favor.  

 

I have an important event coming up on the 4th of April.  Can you please tell me how the weather will be in central Texas on this day?

[Guest real insight]