"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (3 Viewers)

[Thumpalumpacus]

Still trying to figure out why South Africa keeps abstaining. Pick a side damnit. As far as I am concerned a vote of abstention is equal to a vote against. You are a Russian ally.

I can't remember the English writer who penned the aphorism, "All it takes for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing." It is very apt in the matter of these abstentions.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

This rocket is called 'Putin's nightmare'. Japan wants Russia to know they can access it

During routine military exercises on the island of Hokkaido, Japanese and US forces brought out a very expensive missile with iconic status on the battlefields of Ukraine.

www.abc.net.au

As an aside: LtCol Guerra's last name is the Spanish word for "war". Fitting.

 

[at6]

Cuba for years has been supported by Russia. After the recent hurricane going through Cuba, they asked the U.S. for aid, the first time in decades. I guess there are no Rubles left.

Don't give them anything.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Don't give them anything.

I'd like to think we have bigger hearts than that.

 

[GrauGeist]

Don't give them anything.

The Cuban people are actually really nice, in spite of what they've had to endure under Castro's regime.

Also, Cuba's Little League team almost made it to the World Series finals.
They dominated their bracket, barely losing to Curacao 3 - 1.
Curacao went on to face off against Hawaii in the big game, losing 3 - 13.

 

[SaparotRob]

How different would history be if Fidel was picked up by the Majors.

 

[buffnut453]

The quality of BTR-80 driver training as a synonym for Russian military prowess. Watch to the very end as the APC ploughs over one of the soldiers on parade, and some of the others duck out of the way. Amazingly, the soldier who was hit got up afterwards...maybe he'd had his fill of tile cleaner for the day.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Let's not forget its the government we disagree with, not the people who often suffer at their governments expense.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Most people in the world are just trying to make it through the day, regardless of the leadership.

 

[Wildcat]

The quality of BTR-80 driver training as a synonym for Russian military prowess. Watch to the very end as the APC ploughs over one of the soldiers on parade, and some of the others duck out of the way. Amazingly, the soldier who was hit got up afterwards...maybe he'd had his fill of tile cleaner for the day.

He later went on to drive this in combat...

 

[Admiral Beez]

Let's not forget its the government we disagree with, not the people who often suffer at their governments expense.

Depends on what the people have done at the behest of their government. The Russians torturing and murdering Ukrainian civilians, and firing missiles into Ukrainian schools, homes and hospitals are just ordinary people, with parents, spouses, siblings, the same as the rest of us. But some go ahead with what they're told to do, and then some. I was just following orders no longer flies.

We'll never get Putin to follow Milošević into the Hague. No, he's more likely to end up like Ceaușescu or Pinochet, shot or deposed and dying under house arrest by his own people. But some high ranking Russians of Putin-level culpability will do.

 

[Admiral Beez]

He later went on to drive this in combat...

We can see the mines right there FFS. I appreciate we have an overhead view, but clearly these mines were not buried.

 

[GrauGeist]

Putin claims he's restoring the glorious Russian Empire.
Perhaps he'll end up the same way as the last Emperor, too...

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Depends on what the people have done at the behest of their government. The Russians torturing and murdering Ukrainian civilians, and firing missiles into Ukrainian schools, homes and hospitals are just ordinary people, with parents, spouses, siblings, the same as the rest of us. But some go ahead with what they're told to do, and then some. I was just following orders no longer flies.

We'll never get Putin to follow Milošević into the Hague. No, he's more likely to end up like Ceaușescu or Pinochet, shot or deposed and dying under house arrest by his own people. But some high ranking Russians of Putin-level culpability will do.

Context is everything. We were talking about the ordinary citizens of Cuba.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Terry Glavin: The brutal reality of what's needed to end the Ukraine war — Coffins, with Russian soldiers in them

After the war, the Russian Federation needs to be dissolved and Russia demilitarized

nationalpost.com

 

[MiTasol]

 

[MiTasol]

He later went on to drive this in combat...

He must have thought those were Russian mines that had been "maintained" by Russians so were perfectly safe to drive over

 

[RogerdeLluria]

Notice how China, Cuba and several other "friends of Russia" have moved from "against" to "no comment" (and even several voting in favor) since this all began?

That in itself is a solid indication of Russia's fading support.

Can't speak for the other countries, but China abstention is their way of voting in favor without voting with the US (wich would be politically unacceptable). The message is clear, just not sure if Putin is getting it.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Did some research on Russian fossil fuel earnings, prompted by discussions over at Tanknet.org. Thought this might be informative here too:

In the first 30 days of the war, Russia's fossil fuel exports earned an average of $1130 million per day. This dropped to an average of $702 million a day over September (and $657 million over the first week of October). So, at current figures they're losing an average of about $450-475 million per day in lost exports (down a little more than 40%).

Russian fossil fuel exports to the EU dropped from an average of $713 million per day over the first 30 days of the war to $251 million per day over the past 30 days. For October, it's averaged $234 million. US imports have dropped from $34 million to $2 million and South Korean and UK imports have dropped to similar amounts. Gas imports are (baseline) forecast to be down 45% this year, -55% in 2023, up to -80% by 2025 and potentially totally finished by 2027.

Meanwhile, Chinese imports of Russian fossil fuels averaged $174 million over the past 30 days, compared to $169 million over the first 30 days. Turkish imports have grown from $71 million to $92 million. Indian imports are the biggest gain, going from $15 million to $55 million over the last 30 days.

Some of the overall earnings decline is the swing in prices in global oil & natural gas markets - which peaked in March and then again spiked in June. However, even with the ~20% crude price rally since late September, Russian foreign trade earnings from fossil fuels continued to decline in October.

Given that oil exports are 14% of Russia's GDP and gas exports are about 2%, that's going to sting economically.

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

Spanish and french SAMs on the way to Ukrainia:

Ukraine To Receive HAWK, Aspide Surface-To-Air Missiles From Spain

Along with Spain's air defense donations, France’s Crotale short-range air defense system may also be headed to Ukraine.

www.thedrive.com