Ukraine War Watch Thread

[raklian]

[Xyls]

Russian state TV abruptly cuts away mid-sentence from Putin speaking at rally

https://nationalpost.com/news/world/rus ... ed-stadium

Hmm... this reminds me of someone...

Apparently it was due to Putin limping away when he stopped talking at their little nazi rally.

So the rumours of him having major health problems appear to be true? I heard there are rumours he had surgery for cancer...

[Certain Russian user]

By news like this, however, I'm satisfied:

"The Ukrainian side confirmed that 21 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 25 more were injured during a missile attack in the city of Merefa in the Kharkiv region."

If even Ukraine, with their usual "fortunately no losses" stance, had to confirm 21 corpses, then only God knows how much it really was.

Even better shot. Barracks of 79th brigade were demilitarised by Russian missile, at least 80 corpses already recovered, an unknown number still remains under the rubble:

blocked/79134

[Certain Russian user]

The yesterday's viral story: whole Ukrainian family trying to flee from Mariupol was killed by Azov militants and the only survivor was their wounded dog, which fiercely guarded the wrecked car with corpses of his owners. Eventually, the dog was "taken prisoner" and got to the vet. He was nicknamed "Marik" after Mariupol:

blocked/3557

[caltrek]

Russian state TV abruptly cuts away mid-sentence from Putin speaking at rally

...

Apparently it was due to Putin limping away when he stopped talking at their little nazi rally.

So the rumours of him having major health problems appear to be true? I heard there are rumours he had surgery for cancer...

Pretty thin evidence if you ask me. I mean a technician makes an admittedly odd editorial choice (or mistake?) and suddenly everyone is reading all sorts of things into it. On Western TV, at least here in the United States, all sorts of glitches happen all the time. Some even due to some political motivation or an another. Yet, we don't dwell on them excessively. Such glitches confuse more than enlighten.

[caltrek]

Covering War Without Prejudice
by Farrah Hassen
March 16, 2022

https://otherwords.org/covering-war-without-prejudice/

Introduction:

(Other Words) War’s grim reality is recognizable wherever it occurs. We can see it all too clearly in Ukraine — in the destruction of cities, in civilians fleeing their homes, and in the heart-wrenching casualties.

No matter where it happens, war’s tragedy is the same. You wouldn’t always get that sense, however, from the prejudiced way some reporters talk about it.

In an already notorious example, CBS News correspondent Charlie D’Agata mused on air that Ukraine “isn’t a place, with all due respect, like Iraq or Afghanistan, that has seen conflict raging for decades.”

Instead, he said, it’s “relatively civilized, relatively European.”

Public outrage followed, but D’Agata was hardly alone. “These are not obviously refugees looking to get away from areas in the Middle East that are still in a big state of war,” English anchor Peter Dobbie piled on. “They look like any European family that you would live next door to.”

caltrek's comment: I don't think the thrust of this article should lead us into a "what aboutism" sort of argument. The suffering of the Ukrainians appears to be quite genuine, and all due sympathy and support should be forthcoming.

Also, I think this may illustrate something about how Putin may have misjudged the reaction of the West. In many Russian eyes, Ukrainians may at best be second-class citizens that should obviously be subservient to their rightful Russian masters. Yet, to other Europeans and to Americans of European descent, Ukrainians seem more like equals, even to those who do have hierarchical prejudices within their minds. So, it has been easier to relate to and identify with the plight of Ukrainians.

True justice involves equality for all. This equality need not be one of absolute condition, but rather of rights and opportunity. A denial of civil and/or human rights should be seen as a threat to all. Often that is not the case. Perhaps the whole situation in the Ukraine will provide a better opportunity to learn that lesson.

[caltrek]

I just came upon a Latin phrase which I think is highly appropriate to keep in mind for this time and this place: modus vivendi.

It is defined as an "arrangement or agreement allowing conflicting parties to coexist peacefully."

[weatheriscool]

Ukraine's Zelenskiy calls for urgent peace talks and warns of catastrophe in Mariupol
Source: The Guardian

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has called urgently for “meaningful and fair” peace talks over Russia’s invasion amid further attacks, including a claim by Moscow that it had used a hypersonic missile for the first time, hitting a depot in the west of the country.

In a video address early on Saturday, Zelenskiy said: “It’s time to meet. Time to talk. It is time to restore territorial integrity and justice for Ukraine. Otherwise Russia’s losses will be so huge that several generations will not be enough to rebound.”

“The war must end,” he added. “Ukraine’s proposals are on the table.”

Hours later, Russia said it had used a hypersonic weapon for the first time, to destroy an underground military depot in western Ukraine. Hypersonic missiles are fast weapons that can evade detection by missile defence systems.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/ ... n-mariupol

[wjfox]

[Certain Russian user]

Sorry for delayed reply. Found this right now, scrolling through this whole thread in search for funny posts to add into my collection...

PhoenixRU
I hope you are doing fine despite all the sanctions they must be rough.

Thank you, I'm fine. At least not any worse than it was before the war. I'm a common man, after all, and this didn't affect our everyday routine in any meaningful way. No any "panic" and "empty shelves" someone on this forum so happily reposted. In some stores there was indeed a shortage and rush purchases of sugar. Since there is no any REAL deficit, this will eventually settle down, I think. During the first week of March banks were overflooded by clients trying to renegotiate their accounts (the interest rates have skyrocketed). I did this too. And, ironically, the gas prices have decreased (temporarily, of course).

[wjfox]

[wjfox]

By contrast, Russia just bombed a school.

[Certain Russian user]

Thank you, I'm fine. At least not any worse than it was before the war. I'm a common man, after all, and this didn't affect our everyday routine in any meaningful way.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian everyday routine is a bit different. Here are the caught looters and/or "enemy's infiltrators":

blocked/25637

I wonder for how long will such a society withstand, even without any war...

[Yuli Ban]

[Yuli Ban]

[Yuli Ban]

[Yuli Ban]

[Yuli Ban]

[Yuli Ban]

[Yuli Ban]