Live Conflict Ukraine-Russia War

[contricusc]

In the end, a select party or groups in the state have the final say on which one is acceptable or not...which makes them just another version of a totalitarian society with a different name. Let's call it totalitarian democracy

You don’t seem to understand how democratic societies work. In democracies, we have a Constitution and we have institutions with different roles and powers. There is not a party or group of people who has the final say. We call it the separation of powers of the state.

In a functioning democracy you have a multitude of parties, and the power rotates between parties or alliances depending on the majority of the people’s choices and preferences. A party never has total control.

While the system is far from perfect and has its flaws, it is vastly superior to totalitarian systems where individuals have very few rights and legal protections and can be imprisoned for simply stating an opinion.

I’ve lived under a dictatorship and under a democratic system, and I can tell you from personal experience, there is no comparison between the two. Democracy is far better and I would never trade it for any form of totalitarianism.

Not much different in Russia where they have parties, but the state has a say on which parties are allowed to exist and preserve the order.

In Russia they have a totalitarian system masquerading as democracy. The elections are not free, the opposition is controlled and imprisoned, and you don’t have a free press.

 

[Relic]

New military aid package for Ukraine from Germany ... The package has been announced as delivered.

- 10 Leopard 1A5 MBTs
- 1 TRML-4D RADAR for IRIS-T
- 16 Vector Reconnaissance Drones
- 4 Heavy Trucks
- 4 Heavy Trailers
- 13.1 million rounds of mixed ammunition.

Note: This is the second batch of 10 Leopard 1A5 tanks to arrive in Ukraine. It appears that they are being refurbished and upgraded in groups of 10, for arrival in Ukraine every 3'ish weeks. In total Ukraine will get at least 165 upgraded Leopard 1A5 MBTs from Germany / Belgium, via this method. They could get a further 100 Leopard 1GR MBTs if Germany can complete a deal with Greece to send them. That would bring the total to around 265 units, enough to equip 3 entire tank brigades with 90 tanks (3 Ukrainian battalions) each.

 

[contricusc]

1) Of course you can. Quite a few former communist states were exactly this way. What you just described with private property falls under the purview of economic leftism. In terms of social ideology, USSR adhered to many traditionalist views. They tried going the "freedom to do anything" approach popular with modern Western leftists and it lasted only a decade before they walked it back. Hell, China is this way although I suppose you could argue whether they are truly economic leftists.

You can’t separate the economic from the social, as they are tied together. If you don’t allow private property and don’t respect individualism, you are not right wing.

As for adhering to the traditionalistic views, this is also not true. In the Soviet Union, women used to work just as men (even in factories), and stay at home wives were not allowed. The traditional gender roles where the men works and provides for the family while the women stay at home and raise the children was not permitted. Children had to get their ideology from the public school system, not from their families. There was nothing traditional about Communism. The ideology was of idolatry towards a Communist leader, not about Christianity.

2) Soviet Union very much had nationalist underpinnings especially after Stalin took over. Russian identity was pushed above all else and Soviet education openly praised several tsars (depending on how "strong" they were and how much they contributed to the ideal of Big Russia). Hell my own country, Azerbaijan, had our history outright rewritten to remove the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic from any records as well as movements aimed at freedom from Russia. Most Azerbaijanis didn't even learn of the ADR's existence until after the USSR's fall. This was all a concerted effort to Russify everyone under the Soviet sphere of influence because it was essentially just Russian imperialism under another name.

Yes, the Soviet Union had an imperialist ideology of Russian nationalism. But Russian nationalism means the eradication of Azeri nationalism, or Georgian nationalism, or Ukrainian nationalism, etc.

If you are a European nationalist, you must understand that Russian nationalism means you have no value, as they don’t respect your nationalism. There is no contradiction between modern European nationalists who just want to defend their national identities and sovereignity, as they don’t want to take others’ territory and erradicate them. Russian nationalism is diffeent, as it is based on imperialism.

 

[blackjack]

New military aid package for Ukraine from Germany ... The package has been announced as delivered.

- 10 Leopard 1A5 MBTs
- 1 TRML-4D RADAR for IRIS-T
- 16 Vector Reconnaissance Drones
- 4 Heavy Trucks
- 4 Heavy Trailers
- 13.1 million rounds of mixed ammunition.

Note: This is the second batch of 10 Leopard 1A5 tanks to arrive in Ukraine. It appears that they are being refurbished and upgraded in groups of 10, for arrival in Ukraine every 3'ish weeks. In total Ukraine will get at least 165 upgraded Leopard 1A5 MBTs from Germany / Belgium, via this method. They could get a further 100 Leopard 1GR MBTs if Germany can complete a deal with Greece to send them. That would bring the total to around 265 units, enough to equip 3 entire tank brigades with 90 tanks (3 Ukrainian battalions) each.

so many equipment packages, it's almost like Ukraine is losing a lot of equipment just to breakthrough the 1st line of defense or something.

 

[blackjack]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1697303467042218032

 

[blackjack]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1697305161775841311

 

[Relic]

so many equipment packages, it's almost like Ukraine is losing a lot of equipment just to breakthrough the 1st line of defense or something.

Ukraine is losing what you would expect to lose on the offensive and is having it backfilled, accordingly, from Western stocks. If you lose 20 IFVs and 20 MBTs in one sector, over a week, they must be replaced in order to keep up the offensive.

 

[Relic]

Interesting article from David Axe at Forbes, who has been doing an excellent job of covering the details of equipment deliveries to Ukraine.

Per Axe, Ukraine's experienced 93rd Brigade has rotated to the rear to train on the use of Swedish CV90 IFVs. Sweden publically donated 50 CV90s to Ukraine, but those vehicles belong to the 21st Brigade as of now. Axe suspects that Sweden may have actually privately donated additional CV90s to Ukraine to upgrade the capabilities of their 93rd Brigade. Keep in mind that Kyiv and Stockholm have entered into an agreement to build CV90s in Ukrainian factories, something that won't start to take place until 2025.

Could Ukraine quietly have 30-50 more CV90s than we know about?

The Swedish CV-90 Might Be Ukraine’s Best Fighting Vehicle. It Seems Another Brigade Is Getting Copies.

The 93rd Mechanized is one of the Ukrainian army’s most experienced brigades—and should make good use of the Swedish CV-90.

www.forbes.com

 

[Gary]

You don’t seem to understand how democratic societies work. In democracies, we have a Constitution and we have institutions with different roles and powers. There is not a party or group of people who has the final say. We call it the separation of powers of the state.

I understand, because I live in one. There's not much difference between democratic societies and other societies, (fascist, Marxist) other than their perceived red line and adopted guide. Democratic societies have their constitution, Fascism has the dear leader, and Communism has Das Kapital as their ultimate guide which everybody must conform with. Anyone who tried to change those guides would either be imprisoned or killed. So yes basically democracy breeds an authoritarian society the same way fascists and communists and all societies.

The slight difference couldn't make up for the overall similarity, in Russia they have the Siloviki, basically a select group of men that dictates what's what, in Europe, they have an even bigger Siloviki called the parliament who decides what's what. Let's say a guy wants to establish a fascist party, These guys and gals (just like the Russian Siloviki) would unite and use the state instruments (police, army and intelligence agency etc) to their whims the same way the Siloviki using FSB, OMON and other state instrument to crush opposition.

Also in the case of Germany and Japan, their constitution are foreign-made, approved, and written. So basically these guys are traitors. But they stay there because the opposition to these people is crushed by the state. The same way the Siloviki of Russia uses FSB to crush dissent to their rule.

German police raid neo-Nazi cells across country

Four arrested after more than 1,000 officers swoop on homes of 50 suspects

www.theguardian.com

Germany bans far-right, pro-Nazi group; Police raid homes

BERLIN (AP) — More than 180 police officers raided homes in three German states early Tuesday after the German government banned a far-right group, the interior ministry said.

apnews.com

Monarchist arrested in Germany

Very authoritarian, but indeed the West knows how to masquerade itself with media and image cosmetics.

 

[Ryder]

Strong oversimplification, there are so much more reasons to hate Russia. We are russofobs, because- how to put it nicely- lovely way of behaving in occupied countries. Endless killing and raping in form of well kept Mongol traditions. Holodomor in Ukraine is another example. So it is much more personal. By the way, it were german landlords, who ruled most of Baltics for 700 years, so rather look there. Ironicly, it took only one year of Russian occupation to fix this hatred- Nazi German soldiers were greeted as liberators in 1940 in Estonia.

Though, I agree it might look like it from the reasonable distance. For me, it is much easier to find common language with russians than indonesians. Not because we hate people coming from other cultures, althoug I take some credits regarding xenofobia. Common nominator in Europe is christianity and Russia belongs to this family.

You are treating as if Russia learnt to kill and rape by the Mongols.

Mongols had their own political system and their own type of warfare.

Russia is a big place they also lived next to Nomads like the Turks and Mongols. They lived with them and also fought them.

Nomadic peoples played a big role in Russian history alongside the Vikings and the Slavs.

Europeans love treating them as some fringe uncivilised Asiatic horde. That Russia can never be civilised because its not Western and European due to the Asians.

I seen some awful racism regarding this conflict. With Blonde and Blue eyed Ukrainians vs the Asian Russians. Its this kind of stupid simplification of history with some people turning it into a racial war.

 

[UkroTurk]

AMRAAM s for Ukraine!

10 ABRAMS MBT are on the way

 

[Mailman]

You are treating as if Russia learnt to kill and rape by the Mongols.

Mongols had their own political system and their own type of warfare.

Russia is a big place they also lived next to Nomads like the Turks and Mongols. They lived with them and also fought them.

Nomadic peoples played a big role in Russian history alongside the Vikings and the Slavs.

Europeans love treating them as some fringe uncivilised Asiatic horde. That Russia can never be civilised because its not Western and European due to the Asians.

I seen some awful racism regarding this conflict. With Blonde and Blue eyed Ukrainians vs the Asian Russians. Its this kind of stupid simplification of history with some people turning it into a racial war.

Interesting. Who taught Russians to be so brutal then? Turks? Vikings? Slavs? Or perhaps this is natural for Russians to behave like animals? Please, go on...

Racism is in your head, man. Naming a criminal as criminal is just honest assessment, not racism. I am talking about unacceptable behavoiur of Russian invaders, origins of which remains unclear but still causing lot of suffering in individual level and hatred. Unnecessary and unjustified evil, triggered by deep dark instincts and ignored by ruling authorities.

And yes, Mongols do carry very negative meaning in this part of world because of the same attitude. Citing: "Historians regard the Mongol devastation as one of the deadliest episodes in history.[4][5] In addition, Mongol expeditions may have spread the bubonic plague across much of Eurasia, helping to spark the Black Death of the 14th century.[6][7][8][a]"

 

[Gary]

Interesting. Who taught Russians to be so brutal then? Turks? Vikings? Slavs? Or perhaps this is natural for Russians to behave like animals? Please, go on...

Racism is in your head, man. Naming a criminal as criminal is just honest assessment, not racism. I am talking about unacceptable behavoiur of Russian invaders, origins of which remains unclear but still causing lot of suffering in individual level and hatred. Unnecessary and unjustified evil, triggered by deep dark instincts and ignored by ruling authorities.

And yes, Mongols do carry very negative meaning in this part of world because of the same attitude. Citing: "Historians regard the Mongol devastation as one of the deadliest episodes in history.[4][5] In addition, Mongol expeditions may have spread the bubonic plague across much of Eurasia, helping to spark the Black Death of the 14th century.[6][7][8][a]"

Maybe because you're not well-versed in history or military history in the first place, or just pretend to be ignorant like the rest of your continent.

Rape
Killing
Mutilation
Torture

Is the bread and butter of any conflicts, if you think what the Russians did in Bucha is horrendous, then wait till you read what happened in Nanjing in 1937 when the Japanese occupied the city.

Or when your American friends entered Baghdad.

And you guys have the audacity to label people barbaric when you and your allies had done the same in the past .
Last time I checked, your Estonia never called the US as criminals, in fact, your goobermint shows a very strong approval in statements and actions.

Should I even mention that your country is part of the occupation force in Iraq? aaaa very peaceful for the Baltics.

Multi-National Force – Iraq - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Imo Bucha is 5/10 in brutality, but reading Western media you have the impression that what Russia did is 11/10, and only Russians did this. LOL

 

[UkroTurk]

Guys please...Russian people have been also suffered from Russian imperialism which is fed by racism.

Left history alone, let's turn back today to the Russian invasion of Ukrainian land.

 

[Mailman]

Again this does not disprove my earlier claim, that your hate towards Russia is solely because at some point in history you were under Russia's thumbs, nothing from your disprove my earlier counter-claim towards contricusc that Russia stands for what the right wingers believe in and its only natural for the right wingers with the exceptiuon of Polish, Ukrainian, Baltics right wingers to support Russia

I have not written so, merely pointing out oversimplification. It is natural thing for humans to do, but it is never so black and white as we like to think- we are just too limited to acknowedge the full picture. Additionally, it is much more complicated in case of Ukraine, kind of a dynamic love and hate type of relationship changing from one to another and going through all the phases in between.

One way to tell if someone is being sincere with their word is, if their complaints are applicable to their friends, you see endless killing and raping is what your American buddies has been doing ever since its inception. yet, not many in the Baltics actually voiced hate towards the Americans because they had never had any experience with American raping and killing.

Whatsaboutism in full glory. Just to say it out loud, raping and killing unarmed civilians in any form by anybody is unacceptable. Are we good?

Last time I check the US is the role model in Europe for human rights and freedom no ? In the end all pointed out that this hate from Ukraine, Poland and the Baltics is just mere dislike of being under Russia at some point in time.

And you happen to know this, because...? Please continue and educate us how Ukraine, Poland and the Baltics feel about Tatars, Gagauz people, Crimean Tatars, Belarusians, Moldovans, Armenians, Bulgarians, Georgians, Hungarians, Polish people, Romanians, Crimean Karaites, Pontic Greeks, Slovaks, Chuvash people, Chechens, Bulgarians in Ukraine, Ukrainian Greeks, Armenians in Ukraine, Bessarabian Bulgarians, Lemkos, Hungarians in Ukraine, Hutsuls, Cossack, Krymchaks, Ruthenians, Volhynians?

The Russians aren't any different from the Americans or anyone out there, they need to expand.

Sadly, I agree and this is something need to be dealt with. Are we good?

+Holodomor is a sad event although many propagandists today painted it as genocide, which the Russians did for fun. it is not genocide...more like mass unintentional manslaughter but not genocide. mass manslaughter has been the norm for much of human history.

Cannot it be both, genocide and manslaughter? I do seriously doubt about unintentinal part here, the famine started because of USSR government decision to take away all the crops badly needed for survival of Ukrainian nation. The deliberate action, results of which was not possible to predict? Come on...

In the end, a select party or groups in the state have the final say on which one is acceptable or not...which makes them just another version of a totalitarian society with a different name. Let's call it totalitarian democracy

Lets validate this claim against definition. There are many, I prefer to use this one: "Totalitarianism is a form of government and a political system that prohibits all opposition parties, outlaws individual and group opposition to the state and its claims, and exercises an extremely high if not complete degree of control and regulation over public and private life. It is regarded as the most extreme and complete form of authoritarianism. In totalitarian states, political power is often held by autocrats, such as dictators (totalitarian dictatorship) and absolute monarchs, who employ all-encompassing campaigns in which propaganda is broadcast by state-controlled mass media in order to control the citizenry."

End of off-topic discussion from my side.

 

[Ryder]

Interesting. Who taught Russians to be so brutal then? Turks? Vikings? Slavs? Or perhaps this is natural for Russians to behave like animals? Please, go on...

Racism is in your head, man. Naming a criminal as criminal is just honest assessment, not racism. I am talking about unacceptable behavoiur of Russian invaders, origins of which remains unclear but still causing lot of suffering in individual level and hatred. Unnecessary and unjustified evil, triggered by deep dark instincts and ignored by ruling authorities.

And yes, Mongols do carry very negative meaning in this part of world because of the same attitude. Citing: "Historians regard the Mongol devastation as one of the deadliest episodes in history.[4][5] In addition, Mongol expeditions may have spread the bubonic plague across much of Eurasia, helping to spark the Black Death of the 14th century.[6][7][8][a]"

Honestly im not a fan of the Russians and never will be. Just dont like how people tie their actions to the Turks or the Mongols.

Nearly everybody in history behaved liked A-holes.

This is geopolitics.

Mongols only have a negative image because they invaded Europe. If the Mongols did not even reach Europe you would not be hearing negativity about their conquests.

Emir Timur killed a certain percentage you dont hear anything about him if not he has quite the positive image in Europe because he defeated the Ottoman Empire.

 

[Ryder]

Maybe because you're not well-versed in history or military history in the first place, or just pretend to be ignorant like the rest of your continent.

Rape
Killing
Mutilation
Torture

Is the bread and butter of any conflicts, if you think what the Russians did in Bucha is horrendous, then wait till you read what happened in Nanjing in 1937 when the Japanese occupied the city.

Or when your American friends entered Baghdad.

And you guys have the audacity to label people barbaric when you and your allies had done the same in the past .
Last time I checked, your Estonia never called the US as criminals, in fact, your goobermint shows a very strong approval in statements and actions.

Should I even mention that your country is part of the occupation force in Iraq? aaaa very peaceful for the Baltics.

Multi-National Force – Iraq - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Imo Bucha is 5/10 in brutality, but reading Western media you have the impression that what Russia did is 11/10, and only Russians did this. LOL

Bro I kid you not Japanese have quite the positive image in Europe and the West in general

While the West constantly cries about the Armenian genocide or the Holocaust its all crickets when it comes to Japanese war crimes.

Because majority of their victims were Asians.

You dont see them beating the bush regarsing the Japanese and their war crimes compared to Russia or the Turks.

 

[Gary]

Bro I kid you not Japanese have quite the positive image in Europe and the West in general

While the West constantly cries about the Armenian genocide or the Holocaust its all crickets when it comes to Japanese war crimes.

Because majority of their victims were Asians.

You dont see them beating the bush regarsing the Japanese and their war crimes compared to Russia or the Turks.

Talking about Mongols, the Japanese are closest to Mongols than Russian, culturally and genetically.

I mean Japanese were used to be classified as Mongoloid race (now they call it oriental, Asiatics).

Yet Japanese are not associated with Mongols because for one, they're now a Western ally and they've adopted many Western principals.

It's one of those hidden racism in the end imo.

 

[Relic]

More news on weapons deliveries for Ukraine...

Britain has delivered 23 Scimitar Mark II AFVs to Ukraine. They have several hundred of these units in storage and are going to modernize them and send them in batches.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1697556627065348532

Australia will donate 160 Slinger anti-drone systems to Ukraine. Slinger features a 30mm cannon with thermal imaging and night sights, designed to engage drones and other airborne assets such as helicopters. The the 30mm cannon is mounted on the back of GMC Denali pickup trucks.

Ukraine to receive 160 Slinger anti-drone systems - Euromaidan Press

The Australian company Electro Optic Systems will transfer 160 Slinger anti-drone systems to the Ukrainian military, according to…

euromaidanpress.com

 

[500]

Before Kharkiv offensive length of the frontline (without dnepro river) was 760 km.
After the retreat from Kherson frontline lengh is about 440 km.

New line will be much easier to defend for both sides. I dont expect any serious changes anymore.

Percent of territories captured by Russia since February 2022. Currently they control 10.9% newly captured territories. In addition 7.2% of Ukraine they captured in 2014-2015 (thus 18.1% total).

As expected, the front virtually not moving since November 2022 Russian withdrawal from Kherson.