Russian Invasion of Ukraine

[Themis]

Am I the first to say this?

Compare please, the actions of the citizens of Ukrainians to the well trained Afghans who immediately laid down their weapons and welcomed an inferior fighting force.

Any aid we were sending to Afghanistan should be diverted to Ukraine. They deserve it more.

This inferior fighting force has been defeating the worlds super powers for centuries. The Foreign established government in Afghanistan never had the support it needed from the population. Just like the one the soviets propped up in the 80's. Ukraine looks to maybe have that unity that could cause a long-term proxy war that could bring down another regime. It's just sad that the Ukrainian people will have to pay that price in blood.

[Jersey Girl]

I think that Zelenskiy is the person best placed to decide what he needs to do for Ukraine.

Maybe. Maybe him ducking out would totally undermine the effort. If that's the case, I can't but help think that there hadn't been effective planning, such that this wouldn't be the case. I don't think the US offer to bring him to safety was a special favor just for him personally, and not for the greater cause.

At any rate, on the toughness scale, these people are a 9.98.

10.

[Moksha]

Are Trump Republicans eligible to join the Russian army and help fight against freedom-loving Ukraine? Could they bring their pickup trucks with Trump stickers and flags?

[K Graham]

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[Res Ipsa]

Are Trump Republicans eligible to join the Russian army and help fight against freedom-loving Ukraine? Could they bring their pickup trucks with Trump stickers and flags?

I hear that the mighty army of the DC Trucker convoy is diverting to Ukraine even as we speak. I'm sure their F-Biden and Let's Go Brandon Flags will be big hits.

[Jersey Girl]

This is on the CNN website.

5 min ago

US delivered hundreds of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine this week, sources say
From CNN's Kylie Atwood and Zachary Cohen

The US has delivered hundreds of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine for the first time over the last few days, including over 200 on Monday, according to a US official and a congressional source briefed on the matter.

Earlier this year the US gave the green light to Baltic countries including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to send American-made weaponry that they have to Ukraine, including Stingers. But until now the Biden administration had held off on the US providing the Stingers directly to Ukraine, while they have provided other lethal weaponry.

Some members of Congress have been pushing for additional Stinger missiles to be sent to Ukraine for months. The Ukrainians have repeatedly made pleas more weaponry from the US, including anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons.

US Secretary of State Tony Blinken told reporters on Wednesday that at this time Ukraine is still able to receive “vital defensive military equipment” that it needs.

More background: There are different generations of Stingers that the US produces and US officials have been cognizant of not providing the newest model to the Ukrainians in case they fall into the hands of the Russians who could steal the US technology.


There's some rumblings about banned weapons being brought into Ukraine by Russia but I haven't found the full statement yet.

[Jersey Girl]

Oh here is the thing about banned weapons and other types of weaponry. I know I heard or read about this already yesterday. So sort of old news but not really.


57 min ago

UK "gravely concerned" by "reports of use of cluster munitions" by Russia in Ukraine
From CNN's Dan Wright and Sugam Pokharel

Britain on Wednesday said it was “gravely concerned” by “reports of the use of cluster munitions” by Russia during its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The UK, which is also the President of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), said in a statement that it condemns "any use of cluster munitions by any actor, remaining steadfast in our determination to achieve a world entirely free of any use of these weapons."

The convention "was born out of a collective determination to address the humanitarian consequences of these weapons, which have had a devastating impact on civilians in many conflict areas," it added.

The UK called on “all those that continue to use such weapons to cease immediately” and also urged all states that have not yet done so to join the Convention “without delay.”

Earlier on Wednesday, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russia was moving banned weaponry into Ukraine.

"We have seen videos of Russian forces moving exceptionally lethal weaponry into Ukraine, which has no place on the battlefield. That includes cluster munitions and vacuum bombs – which are banned under the Geneva Convention," she said.

[Res Ipsa]

More on the "vacuum bombs" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermobaric_weapon

We used Thermobaric weapons in Vietnam and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, they were called fuel-air explosives or bunker busters.

The article says the Geneva Convention prohibits their use against civilians.

ETA: Or it might be the Convention on Conventional Weapons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conventio ... al_Weapons

[Jersey Girl]

More on the "vacuum bombs" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermobaric_weapon

We used Thermobaric weapons in Vietnam and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, they were called fuel-air explosives or bunker busters.

The article says the Geneva Convention prohibits their use against civilians.

Thanks I will read that. There must be some other name for them because I've never heard of a vacuum bomb.

[Res Ipsa]

More on the "vacuum bombs" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermobaric_weapon

We used Thermobaric weapons in Vietnam and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, they were called fuel-air explosives or bunker busters.

The article says the Geneva Convention prohibits their use against civilians.

Thanks I will read that. There must be some other name for them because I've never heard of a vacuum bomb.

I hadn't either until a couple of days ago.