Ukraine Watch...

[PS_RalphW]

EU abandons attempt to ban Russian crude sales after refusal by Hungary.

Is this the first crack in European resolve?

[clv101]

Yeah, of course it's genuine. That photo is years old. I thought it was common knowledge that the Azov Battalion were the real deal, genuine, unreformed Nazis? ...even though this isn't mentioned on the 10 o'clock news!

More broadly, there are elements within eastern Europe, especially in Ukraine that never came to terms with their nazi past like Germany did and where neo-nazi ideas remain an active political force. Putin is not totally wrong to highlight the neo-nazi problem in Ukraine, but of course this offers ZERO justification for launching his war. I just think we'd all benefit from understanding more of the historical context. Sadly, the 'news' shows very little interest in promoting understanding and just focuses on simple, convenient narratives.

Some background:

The SS used the Ukrainian "Galicia" Division for atrocities even they weren't up for:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Waff ... _Galician)

Many of the Ukraine resistance to the Russians post WW2 were Nazis, now regarded as heros by nationalists:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizat ... tionalists

Not Ukraine, but Silvia Foti's "The Nazi's Granddaughter" provides a detailed account of Nazi atrocities beyond Germany:
silviafoti.com

[clv101]

The photo linked to above has been through a filter or two. Here's a more 'original' copy, flags not so bright etc. archived on Twitter Nov 2014:

[PS_RalphW]

At least the guy on the left has the decency to cover his own face.

[Stumuz2]

EU abandons attempt to ban Russian crude sales after refusal by Hungary.

Is this the first crack in European resolve?

The EU response, especially France and Germany has always been luke warm.

Germany not sending Arms even when promised,
https://www.eurointelligence.com
"The latest news is that the last week’s policy U-turn on weapons deliveries is actually not happening. A report in Die Welt, which reads like a Kafka story, suggests that the German government wasn’t able to find the ammunition for the Gepard tanks. When confronted with this information, the chancellery refused to comment. "

France still trying to undermine Nato by arse kissing Putin.

[BritDownUnder]

I am not sure the presence of some neo-Nazi groups in a country is proof of a country being a far right dictatorship. In fact probably quite the opposite as most authoritarian countries would outlaw them. For instance there was a meeting recently of neo-Nazis in a Melbourne restaurant which alarmed some other patrons dining there. Neither is Ukraine unique in providing men for the Waffen SS in WW2. I think there were Scandinavian, Belgian and Bosnian SS divisions and there were probably other non-German divisions as well.

When I was working in Australia a few years ago on a gas production project there was a Pole working there who mentioned a movie called Volhynia about the massacres of Poles by Ukrainians, during WW2, in the region of the same name (sometimes called Volyn or Wolyn). It makes me surprised the Poles are being so friendly to the Ukrainians now. Possibly a case of my enemy's enemy is my friend or letting bygones be bygones. It is interesting to note that as Ukraine is probably not the most democratic country right now, so in 1939 Poland was moving towards dictatorship accompanied by a lot of repression of Ukrainians within its borders, yet the UK and France still declared war on Germany for invading them.

[Vortex2]

The photo linked to above has been through a filter or two.

That photo originally came from https://vk.com/oleg_penya

He is in the photo holding the Nazi flag.

There is another photo of him at home with the flag.

Some have claimed that the Nazi flag is a fake .. but there are so many pictures of the photographer and his group showing their political stance, it seems unlikely.

Later versions of the image floating around seem to have been edited - but the only big edit I noticed (using a forensic tool) was to highlight the NATO flag.

Using the forensic tool on the original doesn't show much - despite others trying to find naughtiness.

The first and original hi-res image:

[Vortex2]

Let's talk bribery ..

The total support for Ukraine for the war is around 20bn Euros.

There are about 200,000 Russian troops in or around Ukraine.

This means that we could have bribed each soldier with 100,000 Euros to go home.

The median Russian monthly salary is 110,000 roubles which is 1,550 euros, so 18,600 euros annually

So that bribe is worth 5+ years of typical Russian income!

I wonder how many would have taken the money!

[adam2]

I think that most would have accepted the bribe. But then Russia would send another lot, who would expect more bribes. Some of the first lot might return under different names to obtain a second bribe.
Shooting them is cheaper. Undermining morale in order that they desert or surrender is even better.

[Vortex2]

Undermining morale

Air dropping 100k Euros worth of booze, choclates, dope etc per soldier could work ..

[adam2]

Unconfirmed reports suggest that a number of russian troops died from drinking looted vodka that had been prepared for looters, it contained methanol. Others reportedly died from drinking brandy that contained Paraquat.

[PS_RalphW]

There are reports of Belarusian elite troops massing on the Ukrainian border. Belarus and Russia report that Russia will provide support for Belarus to improve their missile technology.

We may have a renewed northern front soon

[Vortex2]

We are winning! Ukraine For Ever!

[BritDownUnder]

‘Tis but a scratch on the quantitatively eased Western economies.

[mr brightside]

Unconfirmed reports suggest that a number of russian troops died from drinking looted vodka that had been prepared for looters, it contained methanol. Others reportedly died from drinking brandy that contained Paraquat.

Nowt but a bunch of turps nudgers.