The Ukraine Crisis Part 2 . The Battle for the Donbas

Dont ask me how this got here but was in the Russian military



Yes as you can see on the badge a Japanese Toyota Hilux ( I think) pick up truck .Possibly war booty of sorts .

 

1. US security commitments. Finland in particular has, pound-for-pound, a very strong national army with conscription still in use, and their weapons systems are ultra-modern. Especially once they take possession of the F-35 fighter jets they decided to purchase last year. Thanks to conscription, they have some half-a-million soldiers in reserve, who could be called to action on a rather short notice, should russia try something really, really stupid.

So, for the most part, and depending on the size of the threat, the US and the rest of NATO would only need to re-supply the Finnish forces with guns, ammo and energy to keep the fighting going. For the russians, it would be another Ukraine, only much worse, because they'd be going up against an army that is better trained and better armed and equipped, and has spent the past 7 decades preparing themselves just for this particular scenario. And to speak nothing of the fact that for historic and cultural reasons alone, the Finns will not, under any pretext or circumstances, welcome a russian invasion to their territory.

Sweden would, of course provide support with additional men, and their air force and navy, making it very difficult, if not even suicidal, for russia's naval and air forces to operate in the Baltic sea and in Finnish air space. If push comes to shove, Finland could even fully operate its air force from Swedish air bases, making Finland's air defenses that much harder to defeat. Finland and Sweden for the most part are able to secure their own back yards, with only minimal strain to Nato-resources.

2. For the duration of the membership process, Finland and Sweden have been given safety guarantees from the UK, France, USA and Norway and Denmark. Norway and Denmark would help in any case, because they're also part of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (Nordefco), wherein the members of this club would assist any other Notdic state that falls under attack.

3. russia's designs regarding Finland and Sweden. russia did issue threats against Finland in particular around last February, shortly before the attack against Ukraine, stating that if Finland seeks Nato-membership, there would be "severe military, and other consequenses". For years, Finland had, what was referred to as the so called "Nato-option". That is, Finland would seek Nato-membership should things get hairy with russia. The time to cash in that Nato-option came last February, when russia, trough its own actions made it clear that they no longer respect their neighbor's sovereignty. Finland's president Sauli Niinistö then immediately traveled to Washington to meet with the US president Joe Biden, and called vladimir putin's bluff. russia has been very quiet about the matter since then. And especially after their campaign in Ukraine started going so poorly. The russian's bluff has been called and they've realized they can't stop this. Finland and Sweden's membership is happening.

4. Finland launching an attack against russia. This will not happen under any circumstances, and vladimir putin knows this too. It's not in the Finnish cultural mentality to start invasion wars nilly willy like this. Which is why vladimir putin has been safely able to transfer russian troops to Ukraine from rus military bases, such as the Alakurtti air base in Murmansk, close to the Finnish border. putin knows they're safe even when left empty, because he knows the Finns are not gonna make any moves to seize those locations. Reports from Finnish people living close to the rus border are that "they've never heard those places being so silent before". Further proving, that Finland won't threaten the russians in any way.

 

Also, very much thanks to the United States and their senate for ratifying Finland and Sweden's NATO accession so quickly! It was an absolute thing of beauty to see such an almost unanimous decision that unified both parties like so.

 

What happened to Steven Seagal?

I used to love his movies he was one bad mofo, now he's just bad

 

I think it was established a long time ago that he's nothing but a delusional fantasist of a little man, who clearly doesn't live in the real world anymore. He for example pretends to be a Navy SEAL, when he obviously isn't. And he exaggerates his fighting prowess, despite never having fought, let alone won in any legit tournaments, and despite the fact that he got his ass kicked by one of his stunt guys on set in the 90's, when they got tired of his bully mentality, something that he displayed often. He went to russia, because it's among the last places left, where they still put up with his bullshit. A delusional man in a delusional country, so he fits in nicely.

 

and monkeypox .

I think the situation in Ukraine is completely bad. This is unnecessary... How many must die I wonder.

But I think world leaders have too long been obstinate with their values and their views.

We have the internet now - well, not everyone does... But we have a lot more access to education.

Admittedly, I look at all this through "a Western lens". But here is my view, and Russia & Ukraine is no exception.

We have a situation like China. There are human rights concerns that Beijing can alleviate if they choose to with the flip of a switch. The thing prominently featured in my mind is the plight of the Uighurs, who are Muslims in China. Some of you may not know this, but my girlfriend is Muslim; something I treasure about her and try to embrace as a social responsibility as Muslims in California are marginalized and disparaged. My girlfriend lives in Kyrgyzstan, which borders Xianjiang where Muslims are struggling.

But extremism is entirely problematic. Today I read an article about Afghans going back to school. My heart leapt out of my chest! I cannot be more proud... but they also explained that these were men who had fought against the occupation and its alliances. They had killed our guys. that makes it especially hard.

But back to China, there is a more diplomatic way to discourage extremism than internment or re-education. When I think of Hong Kong, I'm reminded of my education in sociology. All of the statistics and the answers to social problems seem to lead more toward Hong Kong and less toward Beijing. But there is a great need for order. There is an astonishing need for tradition. Etiquette. Sometimes we go so fast with our social agendas that we throw caution to the wind. And we lose our cultural identity.

Beijing is protective of the cultural identity of its Chinese people. I reject aggression, but I also understand the dire need to continue in our traditional way.

So, what have we in Ukraine? No mere border disputes... My need for social awareness is served by a bloody war. We can use the bloodshed to steer the course of humanity.

But God... the course of humanity can wait, can't it? One more Christmas? %^*&

I have said this and I know it disheartens anyone living there, but give Donbas to the Russian Federation and establish negotiations for part of Ukraine. They can have their half. Okay.

 

And then in a few months, Putin will want the rest of the Ukraine, so we should just allow him to have that... Then he's going to be looking at some other country... we should just let him have that too...

It seems you don't know how this works.

 

Saki was the ONLY Russian Black Sea fleet airbase. It was home to the 43rd aviation regiment, which lost 80% of equipment in this attack. This attack single-handedly destroyed the entirety of Black Sea fleet aviation.

 

Well... I almost speak Russian. Maybe we can talk to him.

I like Russia, but I do not like violence or aggression. I studied Russia. My girlfriend speaks Russian... And I hear that language. I don't understand its words. And my eyes fill with tears and my heart spills over with joy; even as I line up to fight for what is truth - Ukrainian freedom. The freedom of someone I don't know... The freedom that is the fate, ethos, and destiny of this planet.

That which is universal to my spirit and to the unity of each and every soul given life on this earth. Well, it means something for them to stop and listen. But I don't think they will unless we'll give half of Ukraine.

I want this to end just like any normal person. I want to acknowledge the amount of blood on the ground... But I want it to stop. I would give half of Ukraine to show Russia is deserving just like Africa, Antartica, or any other country, because that's the only thing that will show Russia in its own language on its own terms that yes, Ukraine was yours. But it isn't anymore. You can have Donbas, but we are free, and we're not Russia.

If there is a DMZ between Donbas and the rest of Ukraine miles wide, okay. Let the killing stop!

 

putin won't settle for scraps. In his vision, he always intended to conquer all of Ukraine and annex the lands to russia. He has earlier, in one of his speeches denied Ukraine's right to even exist as an independent, sovereign nation. His plan always was to genocide the Ukrainian people and take all of their land. And now he has failed spectacularly. putin is in a spot where he has no other choice but to win. Anything else, and he's eventually gonna get deposed as a failed leader, like what historically always happens in russia to failed leaders. And in true russian fashion, it won't be pretty for him, it'll be messy. And after putin's gone, russia might even devolve into a civil war, when the different factions (military, national guard and the various security agencies) start squabbling amongst each other about who gets to be the next king shit on their dung heap.

So you see, russia is gonna have some really hard times ahead now. It's unavoidable. They're playing a game of rich man, poor man, and losing. Their economy is tanking hard, whether they'll admit it or not. Their military has suffered massive damage. And with access to American weapons now, Ukraine has started to do better. They have no reason to surrender now, especially since that would mean getting wiped out in a russian retaliation. putin has been humiliated, he wants revenge, he won't let this go. And for both sides, this is a game of survival now. The loser doesn't even get to exist anymore. It's either Ukraine, or putin, one of them has to go.

 

In the meanwhile, there are rumors going on that supposedly North-Korea has offered 100,000 volunteer troops to join forces with russia to fight in Ukraine. Big if true.

North Korea offers Russia ‘100,000 volunteers’ to fight Ukraine, says state TV

 

I havnt ruled that out as being just propaganda.