Ukraine

[Highlander]

Thought it may be a good idea to start a thread on what is going on in Europe. Definitely scary stuff and very concerning about further escalation.  I don't believe a conventional war is possible when the nuclear option is at everyone's fingertips. My wife is from the UK and is freaking out over this.  I know we can't control this but it may be good to have an outlet for us to discuss our concerns.

[princedpw]

Tragic. Unnecessary and unconscionable loss of life, destruction of property, impoverishment if people.

[Dappleganger]

Thought it may be a good idea to start a thread on what is going on in Europe. Definitely scary stuff and very concerning about further escalation.  I don't believe a conventional war is possible when the nuclear option is at everyone's fingertips. My wife is from the UK and is freaking out over this.  I know we can't control this but it may be good to have an outlet for us to discuss our concerns.

Speaking of nukes, Ukraine is the only country to give up their nuclear arsenal.

[Highlander]

They just seized the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, so under Russian Army control.  Anyone have any idea what Putin wants with that?

[Nik]

So I know this may seem minor to some people but the country is Ukraine. Not "The" Ukraine. Referring to it as "the" Ukraine is something Russians do to de-emphasize its status as an independent nation rather than an area or region that belongs to Russia.

https://time.com/12597/the-ukraine-or-ukraine/

[Highlander]

Thanks for the clarification Nik, no offence was intended. 

[Nik]

Thanks for the clarification Nik, no offence was intended.

None taken. It's something I did myself in the past until I was educated by one of my best and oldest friends who's of Ukrainian heritage and still has family there.

[Nik]

Something worth noting is that for all the sanctions being announced they're not really going after Putin's wealth or that of his cronies. These are hundreds of billions of dollars, stolen from the Russian economy, that are used to buy real estate in Western countriees, luxuries and used as political contributions. This would be what would really put the squeeze on Putin but because it also threatens business interests in the west, they're opting instead for sanctions that will make life harder for Russian people.

[L K]

Something worth noting is that for all the sanctions being announced they're not really going after Putin's wealth or that of his cronies. These are hundreds of billions of dollars, stolen from the Russian economy, that are used to buy real estate in Western countriees, luxuries and used as political contributions. This would be what would really put the squeeze on Putin but because it also threatens business interests in the west, they're opting instead for sanctions that will make life harder for Russian people.

This is the way this constantly works. 

Lots of stolen assets are around the globe.  A significant portion of stolen money is in Switzerland and they have continued their claim of being "neutral"

This has really been an awful day.  I had good communication lines with family through the night but haven't been able to stay in touch as the day has gone on. 

[bustaheims]

They just seized the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, so under Russian Army control.  Anyone have any idea what Putin wants with that?

Probably doesn't want to risk technological improvements leading to western government being better able to poke around and discover something that's not supposed to be there. Or, maybe he just wants to pave over the place to hide a major failing of the USSR.

[Highlander]

Something worth noting is that for all the sanctions being announced they're not really going after Putin's wealth or that of his cronies. These are hundreds of billions of dollars, stolen from the Russian economy, that are used to buy real estate in Western countriees, luxuries and used as political contributions. This would be what would really put the squeeze on Putin but because it also threatens business interests in the west, they're opting instead for sanctions that will make life harder for Russian people.

This is the way this constantly works. 

Lots of stolen assets are around the globe.  A significant portion of stolen money is in Switzerland and they have continued their claim of being "neutral"

This has really been an awful day.  I had good communication lines with family through the night but haven't been able to stay in touch as the day has gone on.

I am sorry to hear of your problems communicating with your family. I pray that everything is Ok with them. 

[Rob]

They just seized the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, so under Russian Army control.  Anyone have any idea what Putin wants with that?

Probably doesn't want to risk technological improvements leading to western government being better able to poke around and discover something that's not supposed to be there. Or, maybe he just wants to pave over the place to hide a major failing of the USSR.

They want the Uranium, or to prevent Ukraine from using is to make dirty bombs.  There is "spent" nuclear fuel on site and I know they were building a dry storage facility on site to store spent nuclear fuel from all over Ukraine.  Not sure if it's operational yet but there could be potentialy hundreds upon hundreds of tons of uranium in Chernobyl. 

[LittleHockeyFan]

thank you Nik. You beat me to it :) 

I've gone through and removed all the 'the' from the posts cause, well, as one married to a Ukrainian, it really grates for just the reason Nik mentioned.

[azzurri63]

Putins a twit and after reading what he said if true about what will be done if there is any interference from abroad is deeply concerning. Guys a lunatic. Whether he's all talk or is capable of starting something more worrisome is troubling.

[bustaheims]

Putins a twit and after reading what he said if true about what will be done if there is any interference from abroad is deeply concerning. Guys a lunatic. Whether he's all talk or is capable of starting something more worrisome is troubling.

The idea that he's there to "denazify" a country with a Jewish president is so laughable, it's insulting.