War in Ukraine

A lot of other countries have sustained wars, oppression and political turmoil over the past many decades. Many of their "elite" have been put to death, imprisoned or driven out of the country (usually to the United States). The only people that they have left are the younger, healthier, driven leaders.

Maybe there is a lesson in there somewhere.

 

Aren’t those two paper cups and a string hanging up in the middle towards the back?

May be shadows?

 

Around 300 dead so far in that theater strike

Mariupol theater bombing: 300 killed in Russian strike, says Ukrainian authorities - CNN

 

This hits home. Perhaps the most significant piece of art to me, updated

 

Finland’s Prime Minister is only 36. I wonder what her position is on joining NATO with Russia on their border?

 

Was going to post this in the "stay and fight or flee" thread, but it probably belongs here. Apparently, a number of Russians do not support Putin's war and are voting with their feet.
Fearing conscription, anti-war Russians flock to Uzbekistan
Fearing martial law or conscription, some Russians try to flee abroad
Putin’s war in tatters as thousands of Russians FLEE to escape conscription - ‘not wanted'
I would also add that the number of Russians fleeing the country as well as those who stay and protest the war will almost certainly increase as the bodies of Russian conscripts are returned to the Motherland. In fact, the Russia is apparently refusing to accept the bodies of its soldiers who have lost the lives in Putin's war for fear of the anti-war sentiment that will almost certainly result.
The bodies of Russian soldiers are piling up in Ukraine, as Kremlin conceals true toll of war | CNN

 

Although Finland as well as Sweden for that matter will most likely remain formally neutral my guess is that both countries will significantly upgrade their militaries to deter potential Russian aggression. Keep in mind technically neutral Sweden's Air Force had 400 jet fighters during the Cold War. It currently has 71 fighters with 60 more on order and that was before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

 

Finland's people now strongly back joining NATO, poll says, a massive political shift that would enrage Russia

'Finland will join NATO' - former Finnish PM Alexander Stubb | DW | 24.03.2022

Finland: support for NATO membership reaches historic high

 

See above...also Russia threatened Sweden & Finland over NATO recently & since they're probably viewed more "favorably" than Ukraine at the application stage, I'd see them jumping so that if Russia invades they're protected. Putin had proven the NATO excuse was bull anyway.

 

Long against joining due to a fairly unique history but both Finland and Sweden are reconsidering given recent Russian aggression.

Another true story. Swedes are far more militarily capable than most realize, in large part due to a strong commitment to reserve duty across a much broader swath of the population. Had an arbitration hearing in Europe, I think 15 years ago. Arbitrator was a very prominent and accomplished (and well off) Swedish attorney with the driest sense of humor, that my Belgian co-counsel told me was a Swedish trait. Talking to him more over the week, learned that two weekends a month he was a tank commander drilling on countering an invasion. Told that was common in Sweden, both across class lines and in time commitment. Laudable.

 

Russia could care less about kids. They won't accept...and somehow will spin this into all the kids being future Nazis so it's ok

 

Imagine that...Russian ambassador got it wrong...

 

The guys from Snake Island have been exchanged!

 

In response to the mass forced deportation...I mean voluntary movement of Ukranians into Russia

 

Putin says Russia is being 'cancelled' by West like JK Rowling in bizarre speech

Soooo apparently Putin is saying Russians are being canceled, comparing it to JK Rowling, etc

He also compared Western cancel culture to Nazi Germany.

Separately lawyers had filed suit or something years ago alleging that Dobby the house elf looked like Putin.

In a different article he complained that Hollywood constantly ignores Russia's fight & defeat of Nazi Germany...nevermind the part about their treaty with Hitler.

*facepalm* and folks want to reason with him. Huh?

 

Yeah nothing like trying to play to his base here and in the UK, where he also meddled political process, secretly funding much of the Brexit efforts

 

Another one bites the dust...cnn live

"Ukrainian army says Russian general has been killed in Kherson fighting

From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva in Lviv

The Ukrainian army says its forces have killed Russian Lt. Gen. Yakov Rezantsev during fighting in Chornobaiivka, in the Kherson region in Ukraine’s south.

The army said Rezantsez was commander of the 49th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation.

Russia’s defense ministry has not commented on the Ukrainian claim.

So far, some six Russian generals are believed to have been killed since the start of Russia’s assault on Ukraine, as well as a deputy commander of the Black Sea fleet. "

 

Ending neutrality with authority

"Switzerland adopts further sanctions against Russia

From CNN’s Abby Baggini and Arnaud Siad

Switzerland has adopted further sanctions against Russia in line with the European Union’s latest package of sanctions, the Swiss Federal Council announced on Friday.
....
Switzerland has imposed bans related to the energy and financial sectors, plus dealing with luxury, iron and steel goods, the statement said.

“The export of goods and related services for the Russian energy sector is now prohibited. Also prohibited is the participation in businesses active in the energy sector and the provision of loans or other financial resources to such businesses,” the statement read.
“A ban is introduced on the import of iron and steel goods from Russia, or originating in Russia, as well as a ban on the export of luxury goods and maritime navigation goods to Russia. In the financial sector, transactions with certain state-owned companies and the provision of credit rating services are prohibited,” it also said.

However, the Federal Council noted it had decided to allow “certain exceptions from the financial sanctions for humanitarian purposes,” saying it would “ease” business relationships “necessary for the work of humanitarian organizations.”"

 

When you can't keep hiding dead bodies
...

"Russian defense ministry provides first major military personnel casualty update since March 2

From CNN staff

The Russian military said in a briefing on Friday that 1,351 military personnel had been killed in Ukraine and 3,825 had been wounded, in the first major casualty update since March 2.

US, Ukrainian and NATO estimates put estimates of Russian troop losses much higher. Two senior NATO military officials on Wednesday estimated the number of Russian soldiers killed in action in Ukraine to be between 7,000 and 15,000. Other US officials have put Russian losses in a similar range — between 7,000 and 14,000 Russian soldiers killed — but they have expressed “low confidence” in those estimates.

"Unfortunately, during the special military operation, there have been losses among our comrades," said First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Col. General Sergei Rudskoy, using the official euphemism that refers to the war in Ukraine. "To date, 1,351 servicemen have died, 3,825 have been injured. The state will take the responsibility to support families, raise children up to receive higher education, for full repayment of loans and resolving the housing issue." Rudskoy added that the military had received a "large number of applications from Russian citizens" hoping to enlist and fight in Ukraine."
.....

Yeah I doubt highly that last part LOL