Russia invaded Ukraine, of course, not at all because it lacks land. And not even in order to protect the Russian-speaking residents of Donbass, although this is stated as one of the main goals of the military special operation. Ukraine relied on anti-Russia in search of its self-identity after the collapse of the USSR, a continuous and growing existential threat has emanated and is emanating from Ukraine for Russia. Look at the emblem of the military intelligence of Ukraine - it depicts a sword stuck in a map of Russia. It is not very pleasant to have such an aggressive neighbor at hand, especially when this neighbor declares a plan to join NATO at the level of his constitution. Why this conversation when you ask about the meaning of life? Moreover, it does not matter what your standard of living is, if you do not have sovereignty, if you are not free. Russia has sovereignty, but Germany does not. Germany is occupied by the USA. If you have a better quality of life than in Russia, then you are just a prosperous slave. For Russians, freedom is not an empty phrase and definitely not a bargaining chip to buy access to spotify with it. Think about it at your leisure.

This whole operation is taking place under the sign of an acute shortage of personnel on the part of Russia. Putin refused to call for mobilization (and still refuses) and also refused to carry out mass bombing to minimize civilian casualties. Both of these decisions separately are correct, but taken together at the same time, in my opinion, are a mistake. Let's see how events will develop, Russia does not plan to abandon the originally declared goals of the operation.

Don't be dramatic. According to information from sources close to reliable, about 1,500 soldiers controlled this entire vast territory in the Kharkov region from Russia and the LDNR. Most of which retreated in an organized manner across the Northern Donets River in order to avoid the threat of encirclement.

Ordinary symmetrical measures.

Ukraine for Russia is like a capricious infantile spoiled child. To whom everything was allowed for too long, and in 31 years he grew into a moral freak, who believes that everyone around him owes something simply because. Take a look - it's quite typical.
Now it's time to give the little asshole a good belt on his ass. For his own good, purely for educational purposes. If you have to bomb with FAB-500 high-explosive bombs for this, as in Azovstal or near Kherson - well. It looks like the case is too neglected and the little asshole does not understand other methods.

I see that you are not indifferent to me and I even inspire you to create art that corresponds to the level of your mental development. I have to disappoint you, I'm straight.

Nope, this is a punishment for Ukraine's incessant shelling of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, as a result of which the last reactor was shut down today. Russia was unable to protect the operation of the nuclear power plant and the visit of the IAEA mission did not help either. Now Ukrainians should stock up on patience and gasoline generators, rocket attacks on Ukrainian thermal power plants will be regular.

Glad you're having fun. That you are slipping me some kind of charts, I am telling you about my personal feelings from my own life and the lives of my friends. The 2014 sanctions following the annexation of Crimea were far more painful than the current ones. At that time, the ruble more than doubled against the dollar and almost all goods and services more than doubled in price, including the necessary ones, which cannot simply be abandoned. Now goods and services from the category of essential ones have risen in price by 5-10%, and some have even fallen in price, which is why the sanctions are easily tolerated.

People in Russia don't have to worry that they won't be able to buy food or pay their electricity and heating bills. Do you really think that I should suffer a lot because I can't go to the IMAX cinema or buy a can of Coca-Cola? This made me laugh too.

To answer your question, you just need to look at the map of Russian gas pipelines to Europe. The gas pipe from Russia does not pass through France and Switzerland - that's why they are silent. The North and South of Italy end at the South Stream fork, which is now operating normally, so the industrial north of Italy is suffering from rising gas prices, but in general, Italy also does not protest very loudly (perhaps because Italy has a traditionally mild winter, or perhaps they are afraid that the South Stream will also be blocked if they start to resent). Four (!) gas main pipelines come to Germany from Russia, three of which are now not working (Yamal, Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2). The problem is focused on Germany, because Germany has the largest dependence on gas in general and on Russian pipeline gas in particular in Europe.

Scholz's statements that Germany is ready to turn off Russian gas is pure populism. Without Russian gas, the entire German industry will die as a genre (although of course the Germans will not freeze this winter). The complete abandonment of industry is the price of anti-Russian sanctions for Germany.

I live in Russia, in the Urals (about 2000 km from Moscow). As for the economic situation, I can say the following:
1. Utilities (electricity, gas, heating, etc.) have risen in price by about 5% over the past six months. Gasoline at gas stations has not risen in price. Basic foodstuffs have not risen in price, there was a surge in prices in early spring, then prices rolled back after the strengthening of the ruble.
2. Significantly more expensive cars, a significant drop in sales, friends who wanted to change the car abandoned this idea.
3. Recently, the price of food for Royal Canin cats, which ate my cat and cat (British and Scottish breed), has noticeably increased (by about 50%). Many types of new pet food made in Russia have appeared on the market. I consulted with a familiar veterinarian, she advised a good domestic food, my pets approved of it. In terms of money, food is slightly cheaper than Royal Canin before its sharp rise in price, that is, my budget for keeping animals has not changed.
4. I smoke cigarettes from farm tobacco, I used to buy French paper and filters for cigarettes from Mascotte. Recently, they have also risen sharply in price (by about 50%), I switched to Polish filters and Chinese super-thin paper, at a price they are about three times cheaper than French ones. The quality of the paper is the same, Polish filters are slightly worse than French ones, but not fundamentally.
5. Apple equipment, which is now imported into Russia under the parallel gray import scheme, has risen in price very much. But there are options, for example, a macbook pro on an m1 max chip with a 1TB ssd costs about 800 thousand rubles (about 12 thousand dollars) in Russia, a friend recently bought a new unpacked macbook pro for 250 thousand rubles, which was made for the UK market and imported into Russia through the United Arab Emirates. Laser engraving of a Russian keyboard costs 1,000 rubles.

In general, the economic situation is stable, if some European goods rise in price sharply due to sanctions, there is a quite adequate and budgetary replacement. It looks as if Western manufacturers are losing the Russian market due to their own sanctions, and their place is being taken by domestic or Chinese goods. My opinion is that the Europeans believed too much in the power of the brand.

There are no protest moods in Russia, Putin has a very large credit of trust among the population. There is no systemic opposition in Russia.

Russia has long run out of missiles, probably Ukraine itself is bombing its power plants for some reason.

All economies of the world are divided into developed, developing, Japan and Argentina. The transition from one category to another within the framework of the existing economic paradigm is impossible or extremely difficult.

As I understand it, this is a response to an letter from the Eurometaux industry association (which brings together the 40 largest industrial enterprises in the European Union) asking for help from European industry in the face of a sharp increase in energy prices.

Meanwhile, European ministers have backed down on divisive proposals to cap Russian gas prices. The EU plan calls for governments to strip excess revenues from wind, nuclear and coal-fired power plants, which can currently sell their energy at record gas-driven prices, and use the money to rein in consumer bills. This is the funniest thing I've read this week.

Is that harsh Pakistani sarcasm?

Meanwhile, in Russia there is simply nowhere to store grain, fertilizers and ammonia (judging by Putin's statements yesterday on the food problem).
1. Russia will supply 30 million tons of grain to needy countries by the end of the year.
2. Russia is ready to donate potash fertilizers to developing countries.
3. Russia is ready to supply ammonia in the amount of two million tons to countries in need.

I think that the level of access to education is growing on the planet, and the level of critical thinking, on the contrary, is falling. People in general are becoming more infantile, more suggestible. I am not too hopeful for positive quantitative progress in this regard, but I am sure that evolution has many interesting qualitative leaps up its sleeve for humanity. And perhaps our today's species disadvantages will tomorrow become our evolutionary advantages.

Ukrainian pensioner 'shoots down £74million Russian Su-34 jet with a RIFLE and is awarded a medal for his heroism'

It's time for fucking stories lol.

I spoke about the offensive in the Kherson direction, which, due to the open terrain, was doomed to turn into a senseless meat grinder, which actually happened. In the Izyum direction, the prospects for the Armed Forces of Ukraine are more interesting - there is a wooded terrain, a shallow and easy to cross even ford river, and the same dramatic shortage of personnel in the Russian army, as in general for this special operation. Congratulations, now it really looks like a counteroffensive. Dispelled my boredom, otherwise it turned into beating children.

Perhaps you are right, ordinary people are not responsible for the decisions of their elected politicians. Even in the best democracy there is a gulf between the layman and the ruling elite.

Why is this bad? Let Europeans take to the squares more actively, rallies, protest and storm city halls. Isn't that what European politicians wanted with sanctions, so that the Russians went to rallies and overthrew the Putin regime? If you don't like double standards, you need to be consistent about it.