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Putin likens himself to Peter the Great; British, Moroccan foreign fighters sentenced death

93 Comments
By BERNAT ARMANGUÉ and YURAS KARMANAU

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93 Comments

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Think a more reasonable comparison would be Hitler, like Hitler who invaded Czechoslovakia under the pretext of defending German speakers. Putin invaded Ukrainian under the pretext of defending Russian speakers. Neither justifiable.

‘The death sentence for defending innocent people does seem excessive, hopefully it’s just propaganda and they will be swapped for captured traitors.

26 ( +40 / -14 )

A death penalty for people surrendering? These authorities are no better than ISIS. Putin could prove he has an ounce of decency here and show his disapproval of it. But he won’t, because he hasn’t.

24 ( +37 / -13 )

Those aren't real mercenaries, they're just idealists playing the mercenary war hero..

Since they want to be mercenaries, they will be judged as such..

Moral of the fable: Don't be so stupid and naive to get into a war that doesn't belong to you..

Putin likens himself to Peter the Great

The decadent and narcissistic western world is too naive to believe that they will be able to stop Putin.

-36 ( +17 / -53 )

When you have 2 delusional leaders,thing can go south real quick,

-7 ( +9 / -16 )

The decadent and narcissistic western world is too naive to believe that they will be able to stop Putin.

stopped Hitler, and Tojo.

19 ( +29 / -10 )

TokyoLiving - which regions/countries would you like to see Putin take over next?

16 ( +27 / -11 )

That they would execute surrendering POWs tells us why the civilized world cannot allow Putin's side to win.

18 ( +28 / -10 )

Tokyolivng,what world,if not world of liberals democracy,maybe living in the feudal world

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Cricky,Lee,U,do you think attacking inside Russia, would help their position on the battlefield,since they find themselves,cannot defend defensive position,and have nothing too lose

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

so then he admits this is all just an 18th century style land grab...

what happened to the Nazi storyline

you know what nevermind

20 ( +27 / -7 )

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to liken himself to conquering monarch Peter the Great and spoke of his country's need to “take back" territory and "defend itself" as the Kremlin's forces continued a grinding war of attrition in eastern Ukraine.

There it is - proof positive that Vlad is certifiably lost his marbles....

Whether its the cancer or just regular dementia, he now thinks he's some great historical figure....

What he is, is a authoritarian despot who launched an unprovoked war on a neighboring country - that has killed and continues to kill thousands of innocent women and children....

A war he has already lost - with his Generals mostly dead, his tanks separated from their turrets, his troops openly mutinying, and his proud flagship named after his capitol rusting below the waves of the Black Sea...

12 ( +25 / -13 )

The decadent and narcissistic western world is too naive to believe that they will be able to stop Putin.

stopped Hitler, and Tojo.

can't wait to see what happens when Putin falls- and fall he will.

14 ( +25 / -11 )

These clowns have been sentenced but do not worry, the sentence will not be carried out. They will be released as a good will gesture after the fighting stops.

-13 ( +7 / -20 )

Because word going around Scandinavia 

Is this the word going around in the neo-Nazi and other alt right circles? If so, please post a link. I try to avoid extreme right media, but will read whatever you send.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

The Western world needs more of the great Anglo-American statesmen like J. V. Stalin and V. M. Molotov with the great Anglo-America generals and marshals such G. K. Zhukov and K. K. Rokossovsky to stop Putin!

Lol Apparently the textbooks where you're from don't teach about lend lease.

There's also the time where powerhouse USSR relied on American grain to stave off famine.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Putin likens himself to Peter the Great...

...and the whole world sees him who he real is:

A massmurdeing insane as...h...le, with an insane killing mob of followers and supporters, who do not hesitate to kill innocent people including women and children, and do even not hesitate to rape young Girls.

But we all know, that Putin and all his followers and supporters will pay a very high price for that.

13 ( +21 / -8 )

Putin has placed a heavy iron grate on the necks of the Russian people in the lands he is plundering.

“Carry this. If you don’t like it, leave.”

’Putin the Grate’

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Hitler used to liken himself to Frederick the Great. Dictators often compare themselves to other great men. It’s probably a sign of insecurity, because the truly great men don’t compare themselves to anybody.

13 ( +20 / -7 )

Putin likens himself to Peter the Great

For a better analogy, Ivan the Terrible is the more suitable Russian historical figure. And Mini-Me.

14 ( +23 / -9 )

Putin likens himself to Peter the Great

And Mini-Me.

That was brilliant!

10 ( +17 / -7 )

Vlad the Impaler

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Vlad Putin Ate My Hamster.

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

The decadent and narcissistic western world is too naive to believe that they will be able to stop Putin.

As a westerner, I do not think Putin can be stopped, he rules a ntion with resources predatory capitalists like him want, so the western elites will not do much to try to deter him for fear of risking not getting some of the resources sunder Russia's soil, a fluke of earth's natural processes which some Russians want to claim they made themselves. Putin is just another predatory elite member of the global establishment, and now with the Peter the Great comparison he has shown he's as nuts as the nuttiest, and he has shown he's ruthless, with no regard for human life or any form of life for that matter. Putin has become a real life comic book evil character, worshipped by the extreme right everywhere. They have long loved their warmongers. And weapons of every sort; bang bang shoot shoot.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

The merceneries were warned long before of the fate that waits them if captured. All they had to do was go home.

Every one demonising Russia yet forgetting the thousands of murders by the west against the peoples of Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Libya, afghanistan, Iraq, Syria etc.

Where was the outrage when the Noble peace prize winner Obama carried out all the drone attacks on the innocent civilians in Afghanistan.

-10 ( +13 / -23 )

I'm sure a deal will be made to trade them for the Russian soldiers tried by the Ukraine.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Is there some kind of checklist that Putin is trying to complete? By this point it is almost as if he way trying to make a cartoon of hymself.

4 ( +15 / -11 )

Proxy,They are being held by Ukrainian in Ukraine,lots of Ukrainain are in a state of denial,that Ukrainain are sellouts and are the reasons ,they find themselves in conflicts,helped by other Ukrainain

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

For all the uneducated here, the definition of mercenary is being well paid for their services. Most of the foreign fighters are volunteers, fighting for the cause, not for money.

there are however, well paid mercenaries fighting for the Russians - the Wagner terrorist group, for starters.

12 ( +21 / -9 )

So the title says "Putin likens himself to Peter the Great" and then the article says "Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to liken himself to conquering monarch Peter the Great". More typical double-speak from AP. Did he, or do you think he did? A lot of objectivity or impartiality? The usual stuff designed to make people think one way.

Aly:

can't wait to see what happens when Putin falls- and fall he will.

The MSM has already toned it down because they know Ukrainian forces are not getting their way, and they never had. But dream on.

Uchosepoorly:

TokyoLiving - which regions/countries would you like to see Putin take over next?

Pointless hypothetical question. No other neighboring country has been killing ethnic Russians on a regular basis since 2014. You think if anyone sympathetic to USA were being killed daily in Mexico, USA wouldn't send in the troops? Gimme a break.

Mr Kipling:

These clowns have been sentenced but do not worry, the sentence will not be carried out. They will be released as a good will gesture after the fighting stops.

I agree. Bargaining chips to do hostage swapping. Those Russian soldiers didn't exactly have a fair trial either. AND they really were soldiers, not some foreign volunteers.

-10 ( +9 / -19 )

Too,lots of these foreign legion are ill trained and ill equipped Google Ukraine Legions Foreign Salary

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Aly:

can't wait to see what happens when Putin falls- and fall he will.

The MSM has already toned it down because they know Ukrainian forces are not getting their way, and they never had. But dream on

MSM actually said at first that Ukraine would fall in days, so I don't know what's the BS about toning it down. No one thought that Ukraine would last this long and they are still fighting back. You want to repeat Putin's propaganda be my guest. But no one is buying it.

10 ( +16 / -6 )

are ukraine soldiers winning already?

just wanted be sure...

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

lots of these foreign legion are ill trained

this is false. Most are experienced professionals.

there are former Special Operations Forces operators, EOD experts, drone operators, and combat medics. Veterans from the best British infantry regiments and US Army combat units have volunteered.

and ill equipped

they are well equipped to a certain extent, but could always do with more & better equipment, such as helmets, & bullet proof vests

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Mercenaries get what mercenaries deserve.

-12 ( +7 / -19 )

Zelensky invited to NATO Summit,the Ukrainian are learning a hard fact of the world, nobody cares about your survival,but you at the end the day,I happen to be born in America,where we expect Russian bombs not to fall from the sky,blaming others for your situation,will fall on deaf ears ,the more you blame others,it will harden their resolve, nobody are gonna strap on a gun and liberate you,but you

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

AND they really were soldiers, not some foreign volunteers.

so how should the Ukrainians deal with captured Wagner group terrorists, or fighters from Chechnya or Syria ?

12 ( +17 / -5 )

Aly:

No one thought that Ukraine would last this long

True, but then again, nobody thought US and Europe would send money, weapons and even men to Ukraine. I would have thought the west needed the money more, but if they want their own citizens to enjoy higher prices, then so be it. Maybe it would help if elensky sold his 34 million dollar villa in Florida and emptied his offshore accounts so his money could be used instead.

-6 ( +11 / -17 )

Pukey - thank you for your prediction. I have you down as "Russia will stop with Ukraine".

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Not defending Putin for the atrocities he has committed but, Ukraine asked for it when they flirted with the idea of making Ukraine a member of NATO. That will put NATO military assets right at the border of Russia. So Russia to defend its national security was instigated to invade Ukraine. It is noteworthy that Ukraine’s President Zelenski was trained and schooled at the Young Global Leaders academy of the World Economic Forum. These globalists thrives in crisis so instead of a diplomatic solution, Ukraine engaged Russia and continues to do so. The effect is rise in oil prices and commodities and shortage of energy and food supply, the crisis that the elites need to acquire more control and power. The agenda is to collapse everything so they can usher in the Great Reset, a new system of economics and global governance that will trample of the sovereignty and freedom of nations and individuals. We are at the cusps of a global fascist government that controls all aspects of life even what we eat and what we can buy.

-13 ( +9 / -22 )

Whatever you think of that war, mercenaries carry that risk. They cannot be prisoners of war.

Oddly, in the 20 years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, the US captured more than 100,000 foreign fighters and executed zero even though "they can't be prisoners of war". The actual truth is that if someone volunteers to fight in a war that is not for their country, as long as they wear the uniform of the country they are fighting for, they cannot be singled out for different treatment than the troops fighting for their home country.

7 ( +15 / -8 )

Avenger,what about Gitmo,some of these captured,were not even classified,but enemy combatant

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Avenger,lots of these Afghan and enemy combatant did die of torture

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

More like Adolf Hitler, from what I see. Or Ivan the Terrible, or Vladmir the Incompetent.

10 ( +18 / -8 )

so how should the Ukrainians deal with captured Wagner group terrorists, or fighters from Chechnya or Syria ?

for starters, not shoot them in the kneecaps like they did with Russian POWs I guess.

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

Peter the Great? Laughable.

More like Little Vlad the Shaky.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

True, but then again, nobody thought US and Europe would send money, weapons and even men to Ukraine.

Nobody thought that Putin would actually invade a soverign country.

I would have thought the west needed the money more, but if they want their own citizens to enjoy higher prices, then so be it.

The west will be fine. Russia is going to be hurting for a long time.

Maybe it would help if elensky sold his 34 million dollar villa in Florida and emptied his offshore accounts so his money could be used instead.

As opposed to Putin who is even richer?

8 ( +14 / -6 )

The first paragraph refers to "pro-Moscow rebels," but as they are fighting against the regime responsible for the violent overthrow of their democratically elected government, surely "resistance fighters" would be a more accurate description, they are not rebelling, in fact they are doing the opposite.

Of course, if it had been Putin instead of Nobel-peace-prize-winner Obama and his sidekick Biden who were responsible for the coup, they would no doubt be referred to as "freedom fighters."

-11 ( +6 / -17 )

Retired US special forces ,were complaining lack of support from the Ukraine, having to buy supplies,and have them shipped to Ukraine,these men have their own support staff,while serving,such as plane,able to survive, behind enemy lines,but spend their own money, because of Ukrainain are cheap,not willing to spend their own money,even when they get a benefit, Christmas is 195 days,hopely they will not be begging Santa

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

Putin is not and never will be a second Peter the Great. He was an inventor and craftsman. He taught himself Dutch. He studied the in coming industrial revolution in Britain. He tried to modernize Russia by demanding all men, except clergy, to shave their beards. But he was not interested in the emerging constitutional republics. Putin started out as the star of Starbucks and McDonalds which he ruined with his war. He is not creative as Peter the Great was.

Stalin also had the Peter complex. A millions of people paid for that obsession with their lives.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

Blast! "AND millions of people paid for that obsession with their lives.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

I happen to know, from pilots that participated, a large amount of mercinaries hired by Russia was about attack a US Marine Artillery unit supporting fighters in Syria, were bombed into oblivion by said pilots on station....not a word of it was ever on tv.

Touche'.

This is just getting started people, you ain't seen nothing yet

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@WA4

Are you talking about this ?

https://www.newsweek.com/total-f-russian-mercenaries-syria-lament-us-strike-killed-dozens-818073

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Not defending Putin for the atrocities he has committed but,

But, it does sound like you’re defending his actions

Ukraine asked for it when they flirted with the idea of making Ukraine a member of NATO. That will put NATO military assets right at the border of Russia. *

what a load of rubbish ! This pathetic excuse has been soundly shot down many times.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

All little men like Putin (170cm) with an inferiority complex whom chance has placed in a position of power are very much prone to fantasize, comparing themselves favorably to antecedent "great men" of history so it should come as no surprise that a non-entity Putin for years has secretly harbored the ambition to go down in history as the successor of Peter (not Catherine) the Great who at a towering 203cm and with a formidable brain and explosive temper would make have made Pooty quake in his 10cm heels had they ever met. With this latest attempt at self-justification for the cruel and callous destruction of the Ukraine Putin is revealing more of the painful psychopathy that comes with the territory of occupying the title of "president" and festers rapidly into megalomania. The foreign fighters sentenced to death is just Putin pushing pawns and will likely be freed later in a prisoner exchange.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

The separatist side argued that the three fighters were “mercenaries” not entitled to the usual protections accorded prisoners of war.

I hope Putin's 20,000 mercenaries from Syria, Libya and parts around are taking note. Get caught, and you're on your own.

And I think an argument could be made that russians fighting on the separatist side in the Donbas are also foreign mercenaries not entitled to the usual protections accorded prisoners of war. What's good for the goose...

Putin could prove he has an ounce of decency here

Yer can't prove what ain't true.

They are being held by Ukrainian in Ukraine

They are being held by Ukrainian separatists (aka traitors to Ukraine) in a part of Ukraine that Mad Vlad in his dementia insists most vehemently is not part of Ukraine. Mind, he also claims that Ukrainians are not Ukrainians but mini-russians and that a russian-speaking jewish president of Ukraine is a nazi attacking russian-speaking Ukrainians for being russian-speaking.

The man (and I use the term loosely) is deranged, psychotic, insane, unhinged.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

TooHey:

I stand corrected...it was still Classified, at the time.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Yrall - learn some history if you want to compare Vlad the Impaler with someone, you can compare him with Zelenskyy - leader of a smaller country invaded by a superpower. Zelenskyy used the Saint Javelin rockets to defend from the invaders, Vlad used something more appropriate for his times, the impalement.

putin has nowhere near the greatness the other two leaders have (had).

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Every one demonising Russia yet forgetting the thousands of murders by the west against the peoples of Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Libya, afghanistan, Iraq, Syria etc.

Yes! And I would add that Putin actually has a much more legit reason for attacking than any of those other examples.

-9 ( +7 / -16 )

WA4TKG

That in fact was an entire battalion of mercenaries. Feburary of 2018. Near Deir al-Zour. "Official" reports are it was only 100. Unofficial reports are about 300.

Either way, it amounts to a small battalion. Wiped. Out. No survivors.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@fighto

You probably think being defeated in ww2 ,surrendering your country and forced to live by a constitution written by foreigners whilst paying for security to host a military occupation that annihilated your fellow citizens as being a great achievement ?

Putin isn't a hunchback dwarf.

-10 ( +5 / -15 )

Putin isn't a hunchback dwarf.

Maybe not.

But he is little. And he does shake a lot.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Raw Beer

Every one demonising Russia yet forgetting the thousands of murders by the west against the peoples of Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Libya, afghanistan, Iraq, Syria etc.

Yes! And I would add that Putin actually has a much more legit reason for attacking than any of those other examples.

Name one!

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Fighto!

Peter the Great? Laughable.

More like Little Vlad the Shaky.

Vlad the bad!

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Interesting how many people who are outraged at the notion that the people fighting for the Kiev regime could be tried for a crime were perfectly fine with the people fighting for Free Donetsk and Free Luhansk being tried for a crime. Even though the first of those cases took an unprecedented liberty with the concept of what constitutes a war crime (literally unprecedented, as in none of the competent courts that have heard war crimes cases ever had a charge for it, a common occurrence in combat, even presented)

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

Think a more reasonable comparison would be Hitler, like Hitler who invaded Czechoslovakia under the pretext of defending German speakers. Putin invaded Ukrainian under the pretext of defending Russian speakers. Neither justifiable.

I will agree that neither is/was justifiable but your comparison has a sever flaw!

There was no armed conflict in the "Sudetenland" ( Czechoslovakia) no self-declared separate state no on going war.

The regions in question in Ukraine have been in conflict since 2014

Over 14,000 had been killed in that ongoing conflict before Russia invaded.

So despite not being justified, the comparison is very different!

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

mz16Today 10:20 am JST

so how should the Ukrainians deal with captured Wagner group terrorists, or fighters from Chechnya or Syria ?

for starters, not shoot them in the kneecaps like they did with Russian POWs I guess.

Actually, The Azov Nazis beat them first, shot them in the knee caps and then shot them in the genitals. They then used their own phones to ring their families and gloat on what they had done. There were videos showing this.

Ukraine Army prisoners are not executed by Russia but treated fairly under the Geneva convention rules, whereas merceneries are not covered by the convention.

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

2020hindsights

Today 03:07 pm JST

Raw Beer

> Every one demonising Russia yet forgetting the thousands of murders by the west against the peoples of Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Libya, afghanistan, Iraq, Syria etc.

> Yes! And I would add that Putin actually has a much more legit reason for attacking than any of those other examples.

> Name one!

Devil's advocate here.

The ongoing Donbas region war with 1.6 million internally displaced, 1 million fleeing Ukraine and over 14,000 killed.

The vast majority ethinc Russians this is based on UN, EU and even Ukraine admits much of it, (Russia claims considerably more dead and more ethnic Russian refugees as one would expect it would).

So yes Raw Beer is technically correct.

Not saying Putin is right, not saying he had the right but if we use the USA system of "protecting America's interest" "and protecting American lives" then using USA's own rules Russia does have a point.

But in my view both are wrong

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

Executing PoW's during war is illegal. Executing spies not in uniform is not. These surrendered fighters were in Ukraine military uniforms, and regardless if foreign or not are legally combatants eligible to the rights of combatants under the Geneva conventions. No doubt that is why they are not in Russian hands, but in the hands of separatists who have not signed the Geneva Conventions.

Putin the Slaughterer has shown there is nothing great about him, he is an unimpressive human being and an insignificant individual determined to make a name for himself in his own nation, no matter how evil it makes him to a majority of the world.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

Not saying Putin is right, not saying he had the right but if we use the USA system of "protecting America's interest" "and protecting American lives" then using USA's own rules Russia does have a point.

The USA does not have a 'system' of protecting English speakers who are not American citizens, so no, Russia does not have a point and neither do you.

If they were Russian citizens within Ukraine you would have a very small point, but they aren't. They are Ukranian citizens. Their ethnicity is not the same as their nationality. Russia does not have the right to seize the land where Russian speakers reside, in the same way that Germany, Italy and France do not have the right to annex Switzerland.

Hope this clears up the confusion you were in.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

More Russian BS. Anyone. mercenary or otherwise, fighting in the uniform of the Ukranian armed forces if captured is a POW and falls under Article 13.

"Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention."

https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/geneva-convention-relative-treatment-prisoners-war#:~:text=Prisoners%20of%20war%20must%20at,breach%20of%20the%20present%20Convention.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

So despite not being justified, the comparison is very different!

No it isn't. Russia funded the separatists in Eastern Ukraine. Before their meddling in the Dombas, Azov Battalion didn't exist.

Russia caused the problems there.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Putin is as great as Josef Stalin, Russian's modt beloved father and hero!

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

Putin is as great as Josef Stalin, Russian's modt beloved father and hero!

Stalin was a failure and a murderer, so it is correct to put Putin in the same category.

Two little men with delusions of grandeur that innocent people die for by the millions in Stalins case and Putin is working hard to ensure his legacy will also be of murdering millions of innocent's.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Nayel,why did Truss encourage Brits to become mercenaries,the British uses mercenaries during the revolutionary war Google British Colonial Revolutionary War Mercenaries Google Liz Truss Encourage British Mercenaries

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Whether you call him Vlad of the Long Table, Mad Vlad, Putler, or Ivan the Terrified, I just want him gone. Permanently. ASAP.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Blah Blah, Blah

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Antiquesaving

2020hindsights

Today 03:07 pm JST

Raw Beer

Every one demonising Russia yet forgetting the thousands of murders by the west against the peoples of Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Libya, afghanistan, Iraq, Syria etc.*

Yes! And I would add that Putin actually has a much more legit reason for attacking than any of those other examples.*

Name one!*

Devil's advocate here.

The ongoing Donbas region war with 1.6 million internally displaced, 1 million fleeing Ukraine and over 14,000 killed.

Not a valid reason. That is because Putin started that conflict in the first place. There would be no people killed or displaced, if Putin hadn't sent in fighters to stir up a civil war in 2014.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Nobody expected the Russian military to be so ill prepared to fight Ukraine.

There were been many flaws due to poor decisions at the top of the Russian command chain. When a soldier crosses a border and has been told he will be welcomed as a liberator, but runs into modern weapons aimed at his vehicle, that shows the level of incompetence in the leaders and their poor intelligence.

The Russian military didn't keep a professional NCO level to ensure new recruits were properly trained. They weren't trained in the way they are expected to fight.

Equipment maintenance logs had been bogus in the Russian military for decades. The military leaders had been taking huge steps to break up long-time command staff in locations with mandatory rotation of commanders and electronic pay for soldiers to prevent the commanders from stealing the cash payments typically paid to military in Russia. But the lack of validation for equipment maintenance has been a systematic issue in Russia for decades. Spend 14 hours overhauling something every 6 months or spend 2 hrs doing a cursory visual check, then fill out the form claiming the overhaul was performed. So much Russian equipment and boats failed due to poor maintenance, poor funding of war-level maintenance and lazy people not being held accountable.

These things can happen anywhere. Other professional military's have had similar issues around the world, so this isn't just Russia. It just happened that nobody in the Russian military expected to actually be at war. They weren't told and didn't prepare. It would have taken them a few years to prepare.

What the Experts Got Wrong (and Right) About Russian Military Power

Ref: https://warontherocks.com/2022/05/what-the-experts-got-wrong-and-right-about-russian-military-power/

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Yes, but even more a great sample for the Peter’s principle.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Ukraine should take it all back, including Crimea, when they can. If Russia threatens nukes, the US and others should say any nuke fired will be met in kind, starting with Moscow. A nuclear attack would go beyond borders, and Russia has no right to claim it would be in defense of the nation. They've been holding those threats over everyone long enough.

Kyo wa heiwa dayo: "You probably think being defeated in ww2 ,surrendering your country and forced to live by a constitution written by foreigners whilst paying for security to host a military occupation that annihilated your fellow citizens as being a great achievement ?"

So don't go attacking foreign nations and slaughtering and raping millions or you get what you asked for. Or go ahead and tell us what such nations would be like had they not lost. You saying they'd be "more great"?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Kyo wa heiwa dayo: "You probably think being defeated in ww2 ,surrendering your country and forced to live by a constitution written by foreigners whilst paying for security to host a military occupation that annihilated your fellow citizens as being a great achievement ?"

Japan seems to be a pretty great place, for the most part. The people have freedom, a govt they've elected, and can choose to modify their Constitution/govt as they like.

The Chinese who helped to win WW2 still exist today. Their ancestors are in the nation of Taiwan, another thriving, democratic, peaceful, country in the region with extremely high standards of living ... besides the bully across the strait.

The Japanese military in WW2 killed millions (3-10M are estimated) of Chinese after invading China. Just say thank you to the US for decisively ending Japans ability to fight and move on. The Japanese military leaders of WW2 killed thousands of Japanese people needlessly, without any attackers ordered to commit suicide and about 2.5M Japanese soldiers in total died. War sucks.

Russia has forgotten that war is bad and their intelligence was wrong about the level of hate Ukrainians have for Russians. It was only that Ukraine didn't want to fight with Russia that they weren't trying very hard to get their land returned. It isn't like Putin would listen to anyone else. Russia thinks nothing of killing 10K people or sacrificing 10K of their own military.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Russia thinks nothing of killing 10K people or sacrificing 10K of their own military.

Protecting the Russian people is Putin’s job. Please remember, no US/NATO in Ukraine, no war. You’re looking in the wrong direction.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Please remember, no US/NATO in Ukraine, no war. You’re looking in the wrong direction.

There are no US / NATO forces in Uktaine.

You're desperately looking for a reason to support Russia, and it's desperately linked to your American politics. This we know.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

There are no US / NATO forces in Uktaine.

You're wrong.

Beginning in 2015, the U.S. invested about $126 million to train more than 23,000 Ukrainians troops at the Yavoriv military base in western Ukraine, Hilbert said.

By January, the role of the Americans had evolved from "hands-on training" to advising on Ukrainian-led strategy and preparing for "large-scale combat operations."

"Incrementally, over time, all of that investment in their capabilities and their forces — I think you can see just how it's paid off," Hilbert said.

This Hilbert is Brigadier Gen. Joseph Hilbert

From Sept, 2021

YAVORIV, Ukraine, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Ukraine began joint military exercises with U.S. and other NATO troops on Monday, at a time when neighbouring Russia and Belarus have been holding large-scale drills that alarmed the West.

There’s so much more the MSM isn’t telling you.

My American politics is “stop the war machine”, controversial, I know.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Putin could prove he has an ounce of decency here

The man is pure evil.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

FizzBit

Russia thinks nothing of killing 10K people or sacrificing 10K of their own military.

Protecting the Russian people is Putin’s job. Please remember, no US/NATO in Ukraine, no war. You’re looking in the wrong direction.

Oh no, there would still be war, Putin wouldn't stop his imperialism. But without US /NATO help, it would look a bit more like France in the early years of WWII.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Oh no, there would still be war, Putin wouldn't stop his imperialism. But without US /NATO help, it would look a bit more like France in the early years of WWII.

Hilarious

Putin is playing miniature golf while the US-EU-UK-NATO are in the PGA, unless theirs a parallel planet only you know about where Russia attacked and occupied Iraq and Afghanistan, and not the US EU UK NATO.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

You're desperately looking for a reason to support Russia,

Again hilarious

Support Russias? Hardly.

Stop the MSM from war lies? I try.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

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