Ukraine War: "20 months of war for a used car."

The Something Awful Forums > Main > General Bullshit > Ukraine War: "20 months of war for a used car."

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(Thread IKs: weg, Toxic Mental)

3D Megadoodoo: Nov 25, 2010

Toxic Mental posted:

How has Orpo been overall wrt helping Ukraine anyways?

He's such a useless poo poo-trouser that at best he's not managed to hinder it out of incompetence.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 13:40

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# ? Jun 4, 2024 04:16

THE BAR: Oct 20, 2011; You know what might look better on your nose?

Thanks for the Marin explanation, guys.

steinrokkan posted:

Marin went to a party once and that's why Finns had to become Nazis

Is all I could think of, but context helps.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 13:59

bad_fmr: Nov 28, 2007

Toxic Mental posted:

How has Orpo been overall wrt helping Ukraine anyways?

Hes a poor waif in his underwear

# ? Jan 29, 2024 14:06

mobby_6kl: Aug 9, 2009; by Fluffdaddy

quote:

Exclusive: Latvian Member of European Parliament is an agent of Russian intelligence, leaked emails confirm

Tatjana Zdanoka MEP has spent decades openly advocating for Moscow from both Riga and Strasbourg. The Insider can today reveal that Zdanoka was working on behalf of the FSB�s Fifth Service, reporting to two different handlers from at least 2004 to 2017.
Content

Tatjana Zdanoka, a Latvian member of the European Parliament, has been a trusted asset of Russian intelligence since at least 2005, The Insider, in collaboration with the news site Delfi Estonia, Latvia�s Re:Baltica investigative journalism center, and Sweden�s Expressen newspaper, can disclose. Leaked emails between Zdanoka and her two known Russian case officers include explicit, detailed reports from Zdanoka to her handlers describing her work as a European legislator, particularly as those official duties relate to fostering pro-Kremlin sentiment in her native Baltic region. Other correspondence involves arranging physical meetings in Moscow or Brussels between Zdanoka and her Russian handler, along with requests for funding from Russian sources to underwrite her political activities in Latvia and the European Parliament. At least once she requested money for organizing a rally to commemorate the Red Army�s victory in World War II.

https://theins.press/en/politics/268694

A bit further down it says in 2014 she went to observe the annexation of Crimea so this should've been pretty obvious. :byetankie:

# ? Jan 29, 2024 15:55

Shaman Tank Spec: Dec 26, 2003; *blep*

Yeah but it's paranoia and racism when people say politicians are on the Russian payroll and Russians are infiltrating our governments and organizations.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 16:49

3D Megadoodoo: Nov 25, 2010

Shaman Tank Spec posted:

Yeah but it's paranoia and racism when people say politicians are on the Russian payroll and Russians are infiltrating our governments and organizations.

I wonder if there are any Chinese police stations in Ukraine.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 16:50

shadow puppet of a: Jan 10, 2007; NO TENGO SCORPIO

I would like money from Russia to commemorate the many Russian airframes that chose to ram-intercept Ukrainian stealth homo-nukes destined for Moscow resulting in their temporary total destruction and aircrews patriotic conversion to fishbloc

# ? Jan 29, 2024 16:54

tiaz: Jul 1, 2004; PICK UP THAT PRESENT.

Zelensky's Zealots

3D Megadoodoo posted:

I wonder if there are any Chinese police stations in Ukraine.

Not advisable to visit the canals at night.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 16:57

Der Kyhe: Jun 25, 2008

Shaman Tank Spec posted:

Yeah but it's paranoia and racism when people say politicians are on the Russian payroll and Russians are infiltrating our governments and organizations.

Similarly like saying "Hamas is funded and gets its gear from Russia and Iran, and is probably compensated very well by Russia for stirring poo poo to cause a shift in media focus and dividing the united western support towards ongoing conflicts" gets one labeled "delusional conspiracy nut".

Der Kyhe fucked around with this message at 17:06 on Jan 29, 2024

# ? Jan 29, 2024 17:04

The Locator: Sep 12, 2004; Out here, everything hurts.

Collateral Damage posted:

Veto powers are always stupid, no exception.

I would say veto powers are fine as long as they can be over-ridden with a large (2/3 or 3/4) majority. That way something objectionable to one member needs to have overwhelming support by the remaining members. Of course you could just make it so that anything that passes with that majority can't be vetoed for the same end result, but without the delay and re-vote.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 17:33

Issaries: Sep 15, 2008; "At the end of the day
We are all human beings
My father once told me that
The world has no borders"

mobby_6kl posted:

https://theins.press/en/politics/268694

A bit further down it says in 2014 she went to observe the annexation of Crimea so this should've been pretty obvious.

There were other hints.
I mean she's Russian, had 20 year career as part of the Communist party of Latvia (Soviet union times)
and literally opposed the independence of the Latvia from the Soviet occupation.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 17:57

The_Franz: Aug 8, 2003

Issaries posted:

There were other hints.
I mean she's Russian, had 20 year career as part of the Communist party of Latvia (Soviet union times)
and literally opposed the independence of the Latvia from the Soviet occupation.

Basically, her "I ❤️ Russia" shirt has raised a lot of questions easily answered by the shirt.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 18:06

beer_war: Mar 10, 2005

https://x.com/olliecarroll/status/1752016775430983683?s=20

Oof.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 18:25

shadow puppet of a: Jan 10, 2007; NO TENGO SCORPIO

Ukraine probably has a counter-intelligence guy paid to loiter in front of every major European luxury yacht builder�s sales office. Big mistake to not go under the wider cover of a European boat show, general.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 18:29

mobby_6kl: Aug 9, 2009; by Fluffdaddy

Whoa that's huge news if true. Don't really have any insider knowledge obviously so impossible to tell if a change was really needed there but hopefully it's for a good reason.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 18:38

steinrokkan: Apr 2, 2011; Soiled Meat

Could be due to fatigue after two years of war. Historically firing and replacing commanders with honor isn't unusual.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 18:41

beer_war: Mar 10, 2005

https://x.com/OzKaterji/status/1752025246087922144?s=20

Welp, nothing to do but wait and see.

beer_war fucked around with this message at 18:46 on Jan 29, 2024

# ? Jan 29, 2024 18:42

Oscar Wilde Bunch: Jun 12, 2012; Grimey Drawer

For perspective the US fired and unfired generals all throughout WW2.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 19:16

bob dobbs is dead: Oct 8, 2017; I love peeps; Nap Ghost

fast, cheap, good, pick two - all serious militaries at war are forced to pick fast and good. the way to get good peeps in a terrible, awful job that nobody knows how to test for in a "we wanna be cheap and good" situation is to go through them and vet them a bit and go through them in a leisurely manner. the way to get those same good peeps in a terrible awful job in the "good and fast" situation is to have too many and fire the fuckups

# ? Jan 29, 2024 19:19

OAquinas: Jan 27, 2008; Biden has sat immobile on the Iron Throne of America. He is the Master of Malarkey by the will of the gods, and master of a million votes by the might of his inexhaustible calamari.

Those responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked, have been sacked.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 19:23

CommieGIR: Aug 22, 2006; The blue glow is a feature, not a bug; Pillbug

OAquinas posted:

Those responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked, have been sacked.

And have been replaced by a pantomime horse.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 19:27

Toxic Mental: Jun 1, 2019

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/27339

He was also covered in Ukrainian POWs, per Russian sources.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 19:29

Jasper Tin Neck: Nov 14, 2008; "Scientifically proven, rich and creamy."

Toxic Mental posted:

How has Orpo been overall wrt helping Ukraine anyways?

There is a pretty broad support for Ukraine across the political spectrum. The only ones in opposition of it are a handful of loony conservative cranks and senile socialists who somehow think they're still simping for the USSR.

The current situation fits the current government's policies quite well really, Kokoomus has wanted to join NATO and be BFFs with Freedomland since at least the 1980s and PS got to close some borders and build a fence.

The latter is on the whole unusually hostile towards Russia for a European far-right party because of irredentist grievances dating back to WWII.

Really, the biggest threat to the Finnish commitment to Ukrainian defense is the current government's hamfisted attempts to use the issue as a bludgeon.
They've antagonised all the industrial unions to the point that they're going on strike, including the heavy industry unions that represent ammo plant workers. The government is trying really hard to paint it as pro-russian sabotage.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 19:37

HonorableTB: Dec 22, 2006

Hey so, nobody's seen Gerasimov in 31 days. Speculation is that he was killed in occupied Crimea during the Storm Shadow strike that Ukraine said was a high value target

https://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/...-okkuperte-krim

# ? Jan 29, 2024 20:10

The_Franz: Aug 8, 2003

HonorableTB posted:

Hey so, nobody's seen Gerasimov in 31 days. Speculation is that he was killed in occupied Crimea during the Storm Shadow strike that Ukraine said was a high value target

https://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/...-okkuperte-krim

If he did die, it's probably not something likely to be publicly confirmed until this is over. A top general getting vaporized well behind the lines is not a good look for Russia.

# ? Jan 29, 2024 20:18

mobby_6kl: Aug 9, 2009; by Fluffdaddy

That's ok, he's finally delivering ammo to Prigozhin now

# ? Jan 29, 2024 20:34

weg: Jun 6, 2006; Reassisted Retrogression

HonorableTB posted:

Hey so, nobody's seen Gerasimov in 31 days. Speculation is that he was killed in occupied Crimea during the Storm Shadow strike that Ukraine said was a high value target

https://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/...-okkuperte-krim

So maybe there was a sacking involving Zaluzhny after all.

It was just remote and aimed at Gerasimov lol

# ? Jan 29, 2024 20:41

Zero VGS: Aug 16, 2002; ASK ME ABOUT HOW HUMAN LIVES THAT MADE VIDEO GAME CONTROLLERS ARE WORTH MORE; Lipstick Apathy

HonorableTB posted:

Hey so, nobody's seen Gerasimov in 31 days. Speculation is that he was killed in occupied Crimea during the Storm Shadow strike that Ukraine said was a high value target

He was last spotted falling out a window shouting Gerasimo!

# ? Jan 29, 2024 20:46

Turrurrurrurrrrrrr: Dec 22, 2018; I hope this is "battle" enough for you, friend.

Zero VGS posted:

He was last spotted falling out a window shouting Gerasimo!

# ? Jan 29, 2024 21:04

HonorableTB: Dec 22, 2006

Zero VGS posted:

He was last spotted falling out a window shouting Gerasimo!

# ? Jan 29, 2024 21:18

GhostofJohnMuir: Aug 14, 2014; anime is not good

honestly killing gerasimov seems like ukraine would be aiding the russian war effort if anything

# ? Jan 29, 2024 21:44

mobby_6kl: Aug 9, 2009; by Fluffdaddy

GhostofJohnMuir posted:

honestly killing gerasimov seems like ukraine would be aiding the russian war effort if anything

Isn't he at least actual an actual military guy, unlike Shoigu? Whose main qualification as far as I can tell is being Poopin's buddy

# ? Jan 29, 2024 21:47

Tsyni: Sep 1, 2004; Lipstick Apathy

I watched a long interview with Zaluzhny where he said the one Russian general he respected was Geronimo, so...

# ? Jan 29, 2024 23:23

spankmeister: Jun 15, 2008

So what you're saying is that Zaluzhniy is fired, because Gerasimov has switched sides? 😱

# ? Jan 29, 2024 23:40

Dwesa: Jul 19, 2016; Maybe I'll go where I can see stars

some good news regarding the blockade of Black Sea trade - Russia is losing the battle for the Black Sea

excerpts from the article:

quote:

The declaration of a shipping corridor in defiance of Russian bombardment was always going to be risky. But for Ukraine, it was a strategic necessity. Before the war, 60% of the country�s trade went through its deep-sea ports, travelling to markets in Africa and the Middle East as it had done for centuries before. Russia�s decision to reimpose a blockade was an act of economic war. So, secretly, Ukraine began developing its own alternative route. It chose the shallowest waters, safe from Russian submarines, and close enough to the coast to be covered by shore artillery.
...
With 6.3m tonnes of goods exported in December, the Odessa region�s three ports�Odessa itself, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny�are now almost back to pre-war volumes.
...
Ukraine had to work hard to establish its own corridor, overturning Russia�s dominance of the Black Sea without a single working warship. According to Dmytro Pletenchuk, a navy spokesman, unlikely success came in three phases. The first breakthrough came in the early weeks of the full-scale war, when Ukraine prevented an amphibious landing. It was a close run thing, but the key moment was halting the Russian westward encirclement of Odessa 100km away at Voznesensk in March 2022. Two months later, Ukraine was able to impose a 100-nautical-mile buffer in the north-western part of the Black Sea after destroying Russia�s Moskva flagship and regaining control of the strategic Snake Island. The third phase, completed over 2023, saw Ukraine push Russian warships entirely from the north-western, central and even south-western parts of the Black Sea.
This final part of the jigsaw was predicated on Ukraine�s maritime forces�the navy, domestic intelligence (SBU), military intelligence (HUR), border guards and army�developing a new arsenal of cruise missiles and naval drones to hunt and sink Russian warships. In total, Ukraine has destroyed at least 22 of the 80 working combat vessels of Russia�s Black Sea fleet, and damaged another 13. These figures would be even greater had Russia had not salvaged a few sunken ships. Now, not even the eastern coast of Crimea is considered safe, and Russia�s most capable ships are sheltering in Novorossiysk, 600km away. �It�s a matter of time before we destroy the Black Sea Fleet in its entirety,� says Mr Pletenchuk.
...
Crucially, Ukraine�s new deterrence capability has also allowed it to make a bet: Russia will not deliberately attack a foreign merchant ship. Not only would an attack invoke international opprobrium, but the threat of escalation now means it would increase insurance premiums right across the Black Sea, including for Russia-bound shipping. The bet has largely worked, with the exception of one Liberian-flagged ship, which was probably struck by accident while docked in Pivdenny port in November 2023. Ukrainian officials believe the dangers to shipping are only acute while a ship is in dock. Russia can and does throw glide bombs from the air in the general direction of the emergency corridor.
...
Oleksiy Sobolev, Ukraine�s deputy economy minister, says the unblocking of the sea is forecast to add at least $3.3bn to exports in 2024, adding useful exchange-rate stability and a predicted 1.23 percentage points to GDP growth.
...
Mr Vaskov admits that the new corridor does not yet have enough air defences, international monitoring and, ideally, international military escorts to make it fully secure. But its functioning at the worst of times had proven a point: shipping can continue even during Russia bombardment. Ships can be found, crews can be found, and captains with conflict experience can be found.

some potentially good news - EU countries agree on plan to transfer profits from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine

quote:

E.U. countries have agreed on a plan by the European Commission to transfer the profits from frozen Russian assets to a special fund which can be used to rebuild Ukraine in the future, reports The Financial Times.

The decision was unanimously adopted at a meeting of E.U. Permanent Representatives and is to be formalized in the coming weeks.

According to the agreement, profits from the investment of frozen assets in the Euroclear depository will be recorded separately and will not be distributed to shareholders. The profits will then be transferred to a special E.U. fund for targeted support to Ukraine. All E.U. countries will have to unanimously agree on the decision to make the transfer.

The draft agreement emphasizes that such a mechanism would be �consistent with treaty obligations, as well as E.U. and international law.�

# ? Jan 30, 2024 00:01

HonorableTB: Dec 22, 2006

Lol it is hard to put into words just how bad those naval losses are. Navies are the most expensive military assets to create and maintain and the lead times on new ship construction are years. A US guided missile destroyer for example takes four years or so to build. Frigates take about two years. An aircraft carrier takes 4-5+ lol. And they're stupid expensive on top of it. Navies are the primary method of force projection great powers have so losing that many ships with the damaged ones on top of that is the worst thing that's happened to Russia this whole war.

# ? Jan 30, 2024 00:50

TrashMammal: Nov 10, 2022

trading their whole fleet for a deep water port. the grift of the magi

# ? Jan 30, 2024 01:01

Coolguye: Jul 6, 2011; Required by his programming!

HonorableTB posted:

Lol it is hard to put into words just how bad those naval losses are. Navies are the most expensive military assets to create and maintain and the lead times on new ship construction are years. A US guided missile destroyer for example takes four years or so to build. Frigates take about two years. An aircraft carrier takes 4-5+ lol. And they're stupid expensive on top of it. Navies are the primary method of force projection great powers have so losing that many ships with the damaged ones on top of that is the worst thing that's happened to Russia this whole war.

the sound bite i give people is "when you hear about tanks, planes, artillery, etc, nobody bothers to report how many were damaged in a fight. they only talk about destroyed. there's a reason why they mention damaged ships with navies."

# ? Jan 30, 2024 01:05

mcvey: Aug 31, 2006; go caps haha

*Washington Capitals #1 Fan On DeviantArt*

Ukraine navy must be just incredible if they can gently caress up Russias so b-*touches earpiece*

# ? Jan 30, 2024 01:10

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# ? Jun 4, 2024 04:16

tango alpha delta: Sep 9, 2011; Ask me about my wealthy lifestyle and passive income! I love bragging about my wealth to my lessers! My opinions are more valid because I have more money than you! Stealing the fruits of the labor of the working class is okay, so long as you don't do it using crypto. More money = better than!

thanks to this thread i've been able to do a deep dive on my Eastern European roots.

Turns out that my last name is spelt wrong and my grandfather is no longer here to explain why.

however my first, middle and last name, now that I know how to spell it correctly, are very, very Polish.

I am very proud of the assistance my relatives are providing to Ukraine.

Now I have to learn how to say gently caress Putin in Polish.

# ? Jan 30, 2024 01:11

The Something Awful Forums > Main > General Bullshit > Ukraine War: "20 months of war for a used car."

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