Ukraine

[Bayleaf]

Softly, not so softly, Anonymous are causing a bit of a stir ....

"The online hacktivist group Anonymous has claimed responsibility for targeting two Russian companies stealing a trove of their data and leaking it online for the public to download."

https://www.hackread.com/anonymous-hack ... LM-GhJihPg

[Blaze]

An very good article on why the Russians pulled out of Chernobyl recently.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/un ... 022-03-28/
The first troops in had no experience of radio-activity nor did many seem to know anything about the 1986 catastrophe. When the "specialists" arrived, they, like the troops already in place, wore no protective gear and acted as if there was no problem, disturbing the non radio-active soil put on top of contaminated ground by the Ukrainians to protect the air and wildlife.

The Chernobyl exclusion zone is still considered by Ukrainian authorities to be dangerous. Entering the disaster site without permission is a crime under Ukrainian law.

[Hotrodder]

I don't understand why the Russians steamed into the area in the first place. At first I thought they might be there to gather material for dirty bombs to use against Ukraine. Now it appears there was no real reason apart from trying to disrupt the safe management of the site.

[Blaze]

I don't understand why the Russians steamed into the are in the first place.

Given the evident ignorance about Chernobyl, they might well have imagined that they could take over the power station and deprive Kyiv of power. One reactor was destroyed in 1986 and the other 3 were shut down by 2000. It still remains a contaminated and dangerous area which seemingly the Russian troops deployed there were not told about ....
If those working for Putin are afraid to tell him the truth about the state of affairs, you can only imagine how little the average Russian citizen knows. Ignorance is not bliss ...

[Spardo]

Did I read somewhere that the BBC had restarted short wave transmissions, like in the old days of the Soviet Union? Does that allow real news to get through? Otherwise, what would be the point? Or did I dream it?

[Hotrodder]

I just read a clip about a town the Russians had just left. Sheer devastation. Dead locals. Rape. Homes looted for food. Phones taken from civilians, etc. Mass graves full of civilians shot in the head with hands tied.
How long will the West sit by and let it happen? I hope they choke on their popcorn.

edit: You can add beheadings and branding the rape victims with swastikas to the list.

[Blaze]

How long will the West sit by and let it happen?

By "the West", who do you mean exactly ? Here is a link which will explain NATO's position and why NATO countries are not intervening militarily in Ukraine.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_192648.htm
Point 6 may answer your question :

6. Why isn’t NATO sending troops or closing the skies over Ukraine?
NATO’s actions are defensive, designed not to provoke a conflict but to prevent a conflict. The Alliance has a responsibility to ensure that this war does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine, which would be even more devastating and dangerous. Enforcing a no-fly zone would bring NATO forces into direct conflict with Russia. This would significantly escalate the war and lead to more human suffering and destruction for all countries involved.

[niemeyjt]

However, certain nations are dragging their heels sending the necessary arms to the Ukrainians to allow them to defend themselves - and some even have been arming Russia until recently. I rightly criticise BoJo for many things - but I have to say he does seem to be leading the way in providing military help to Ukraine as far as possible.

Putin has done Russia no favours in the long term - he has not only allowed some key Russia weaponry to fall into the West's hands, but he has also demonstrated its inferiority.

[Bayleaf]

Is it true that Macron (or France) have still been selling arms to Russia? There was a line at the bottom of Sky's screen last night - just the one, on loop, saying that Putrid has demanded a meeting with the UN over the provocation of events in Butcha. Any more news on that?

I have just deleted what else I wanted to say, as it's erm, unprintable.

[Richard]

Spardo, you didn't dream it.

The BBC World Service is broadcasting in English for 4 hours a day on 15735Khz and 5875Khz and can be heard in Ukraine and parts of Russia.