In fact Putin has made many companies that were having earning in foreign currency buy rubles forcibly or else. This means that if you play with bitcoin or with USD or with EUR in any Russian owned casino or even if you spend your money in any Russian owned company of any short your money will be going to finance Putin's economy of war and kill people.

I cannot help but to add here the instructions to make a white flag out of a Russian Federation flag. Thanks to suchmoon.


Just for Putin's soldiers and officers, please notice that you can cut your flag with anything, you do not really need scissors. I suggest that you use the edge of a rations can, these seem to cut even when you do not want them too and can cut the flag perfectly.

Do not die for Putin. Live to see your family again.

Or another answer: terror tactics or just destroying anything big enough to group people, which, in my view, is the most likely possibility. It has been confirmed that there are a large number of schools across the country that have been destroyed, the "mistake" or the "false flag" options are just not realistic.


A number of Putin's generals have been demoted due to lack of progress, the ones that take over have seen how Ukrainians do not seem to be going anywhere on their own volition, so terror and mass destruction are now on the table.

Re Mariupol, the problem is that Putin's army does not seem to be abided by their own words. From refugees that made it out of Mariupol, the "green paths" are kind of green-grey, meaning that some of the people seeking safe passage have been massacred. And that is civilians fleeing. Killing them is an act of hate, madness and desperation that does not look like the typical coldly calculated and propaganda-covered action by Putin.

There is no comment of any refugee being forcibly retained in Mariupol. As you say, there is a balance between fear of getting killed on the road and fear of dying of the bombs and people make their choices. Some, the elder, the sick,... they do not have a real choice.

The hypothesis of the Ukrainian army or any of it groups threatening civilians is not realistic. They are fighting Putin's army and cannot afford to divert efforts nor have a hostile population under their feet. Also, Putin's army has shown little regard distinguishing between civil or military targets - any tall building is considered a risk and blown.

On Putin's army suffering an significant number of losses, it clearly matches the strategic outlook regardless of destruction tweets and Ukraine's own information war. The war is no longer a blitzkrieg. Putin is facing determined resistance and, while there are undeniable gains and advances from his troops, the price being paid may be just unaffordable politically and economically.

Seems like Putin is winning in territory at the cost of loosing very valuable equipment and even veteran soldiers he may not be able to replace - even less if the country is sent into an economic recession. He cannot risk loosing too many planes, as, in his imaginary world, the NATO can easily use that weakness to attack and gain full air superiority. He cannot afford withdrawing troops from other borders without risking inferiority. The so called reservists that artificially rise the number of Putin's military are not trained, lack leadership and cannot be supplied (they are the definition of cannon fodder).

Despite all this Putin will not (cannot stop). He may "win" in some form the war (territorial concessions), but all indicates that he will loose the peace, and, unfortunately, it will be the Russian people, whose only fault is not being able or not wanting to risk getting rid of this government, the ones that will pay with poverty and ostracism.

FAKE. The reason for the war is not a "genocide" of any short, that is just the usual propaganda you are pouring in all your post. There was an armed conflict sponsored by Russia in the Donbas unrelated to language, race, religion or culture.

The only reason for the war is that Putin wants to have control over what happens in Ukraine to feed his court of oligarchs and cronies by using the same "mafia style" of business model they have successfully implemented in Russia. An this is not just saying, we are talking about many journalists killed, people poisoned with Polonium even abroad, opposition leaders and even anti-war protesters are incarcerated while Putin hides in his bunker and speaks even to his closes circle across a 5 meter table.

What could potentially happen is not a second UN, but a simple expulsion of Putin's Russia from it as it he has show little intention of becoming a peaceful and prosperous estate, but rather chosen war, invasion, aggression and bullying towards his neighbours. What good is to have Putin in the UN if he despises it?

Freedom is not free. French revolution, the fights with the British kings, the Russian revolution, the Chinesse revolution and many other cases did start with people deciding they wanted something else and I am seeing very little of that in Russia, although there is some.

One of the things they could start by doing is selling their tanks and vehicles (to me if possible) and do not die for Putin.

Judging for Putin's usual modus operandi, he will seize the assets, give them to one of his mafia bosses oligarchs to open a local version (McPutin or Vladpple) and get his cut of the business to buy more flats in London, a larger palace or a couple of islands or archipelagos that he fancies.

He can get very creative and quite persuasive when he wants to take someone else's stuff as you can see right now in Ukraine.

I have seen all over the forum "I am not with Russia but...". Firstly, this is not Russia, this is Putin's version of Russia.  Secondly, "feeling uncomfortable" is not a morally or legal valid excuse to attack another country with the intention to change their government.

Now, I do get there is a point on not throwing rocks at a bear, however you cannot let the bear decide what you can or cannot do in your country or else you will never be free to progress, change and evolve as a nation.

On the NATO argument, there is no argument. Putin knows perfectly well that NATO would not accept Ukraine as a member - it is simply too risky. This is all about Putin trying to get a strategic hold on the Black Sea and trying to incorporate Ukraine, a large food producer, into their crony envelope of oligarchs to steal from Ukrainians as he steals the resources of the Russian people.

There is plenty to talk about when you are seeing a crony government, living on crony business, extorting their own countries into making them even richer. And it is that bunch of old men, not only in age but also in mentality and in the way they conceive their relation with other human beings, just the ones that send the young and poor people from the most remote regions of Putin's Russia to die without even telling them what they are doing and without any reasonable argument since their country, their lives, their families nor their culture is being threatened in any ways.

On the oil extraction business, it is certain that the extraction, processing and even transportation has become a very specialised business. Even large companies depend on a selected group of technologists and know-how companies. This is nothing like we nationalise and next day we just open as usual. And on the financial side, it is pretty much the same, it is not only the huge investments required, it is the ability to manage efficiently those fluxes of money without loosing them to corruption, inexperience and inflated supply-chains.

If the military invasion of Ukraine by Putin's army is an example of how things are managed in his government, I can already tell you there is plenty of GDP to be lost.

Ni tan mal la verdad. Yo no veo a nadie comprando el pan con bitcoin ni nada parecido. Lo mínimo tiene que ser un producto de 400 or 500 USD o EUR porque al fin y al cabo hay una comisión que pagar, el pago no es inmediato y tal... Creo que casi un 14% es una buena cifra para haber sido introducido un tanto "por la fuerza" y en una población normal y corriente en cuanto a su interés y formación tecnológica.

Ya veremos que pasa. A mi meter un activo hasta ahora deflacionario como divisa de un país me parece una idea más bien mala. La deflación trae muchísmos problemas.

Si claro. Las guerras en Europa siempre las gana el mismo: USA, aunque esta además la va a ganar también China que va a estrechar lazos con la Rusia de Putin. Lo que está haciendo la UE es asegurarse de que Putin también lo nota y tiene sentido por que está "militarizado por encima de sus posibilidades."

En cuanto a las predicciones de lo que va a pasar con Ukrania, creo que todavía queda mucho por decidir y la marcha de la guerra puede decidir si Ucrania deja de existir como pais libre, si pierde todo el sur y además el Donbas, si pierde sólo el Donbas o si no llega a perder nada.

Quedar dividida por el Dniper... no lo veo. Sería un muro de Berlín a nivel nacional que creo que ni Putin querría visto como les salió el último.


Te compro sólo la última. Una economía moderna basada en la exportación y una industria no especializada no compensa un PIB bajo. Un PIB bajo es un PIB bajo y si tienes un ejército sobredimensionado significa que lo tienes que quitar de algún sitio. Yo solo he visto un Norcoreano gordo y es su lider.

That is true. Western Europe has made the mistake of considering Putin´s Russia a trusted nation that wanted to enter in the world of trade, peace and prosperity instead of going to the cold war, the domination and the cronies sending the young to die in the name of their corrupt business.

In the short term, the EU has only been able to shut Nordstream 2, however this war has changed in full the perception of Putin´s Russia and have no doubt that the long term effects will imply reducing the dependency from Putin´s exports in energy and other commodities and products. Russia is a country with many resources, but is not the only option.

If that image is true, that is not a crack but a f*ing sewer without a tap. I saw today a video in which a woman show in the Red Square a minimal cardboard saying "Two Words", just like that , literally "two words" and ... well, I do not wan to spoil it for you guys so here is it. And this does not look like a fake an I think would be nearly impossible to create.

https://youtu.be/2WHASthLKAQ


There is no single leader in the world with a 75% approval. That is simply no true. I do not doubt he has a good rating anyway, since all the media is controlled.

Just for you:

- He expected the EU to act slowly and indecisively. Surprise.
- He expected insignificant sanctions. Surprise.
- He expected UKR to surrender without any serious fight. Surprise.
- He expected his army to be effective. Surprise.
- He expected NATO to do nothing (e.g. not supply weapons). Surprise.
- He expected people not to "notice" in his dominions (e.g. business as usual). Surprise.

And now there are some people even on the rigidly controlled state media stating that "the special operation" may actually turn into an Afghanistan.

Are you sure you do not see any miscalculation here?

Putin's latest crazy idea is to coerce Western and multinational firms into keeping their business open in his dominions. The message here is "you have to keep your doors open or I will take all your assets and property and also send your executives to jail".

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/03/11/russia-mcdonalds-business-seizures/



This is a very peculiar understanding of business and the rule of law. I wonder that, if this is effectively implemented, will we ever see a western company investing or doing business in Putin's dominions? Will the jobs for the Russian people created by this companies disappear for decades to come?

Agreed, the invasion is not related to nazi-jews-drugs blah blah shit. It may however not be related as much to NATO as it is with the status of Ukraine with the European Union and western Europe.

- Putin is not ambiguous at all, he is invading Ukraine and telling others to fear the same. Facts weight more than words.
- Western countries do not have any military alliance against Putin. NATO is defensive, not specific for Russia but for any other threats.
- If Putin targets any kind of "objective" in NATO soil, the can of worms is open to get retaliation which may end ... who knows where. I hope he is cunning enough to know that.
- Biden's position is not "avoid conflict at all costs". It is about not escalating, but it is not "no matter what", since even the international treaties would force him to intervene or break NATO.



For which I am sure all Ukrainians thank you. You should have taken Putin to your trip.


The consequences of WW3 are unknown, but there may not be many to tell the story if things go wrong. The west has to help you win the war while making sure Putin has a way out other than WMD. To be honest, I do not agree on Zelensky's calling for measures that would throw more countries into the war (e.g. exclusion zone). That opens a can of worms that might destroy Ukraine beyond measure.

There is a solution to this war, the problem is that there is not a quick solution nor a humane solution to it, as I mentioned on several posts when the military aggression begun (other than Putin being removed from power). If you escalate you get a high chance of WMD, if you do nothing Ukraine might loose. The only option is to help the conflict be no longer viable economically or politically for Putin.
A different thing is how safe is going to feel Putin once the war ends. Hate will be strong for generations.



The fact that the West does not look like having psy-ops does not mean these are not actually everywhere, starting by several media outlets. How do you think is possible that a bunch of armed guys stormed the Capitol? You think they were all insane or that they really had a reason to do so?

On regards to the outcome being agreed, I dissent. USA has pressed forward with economy and diplomacy to win the wills of the people of several countries that were previously under the USSR dominance.  And there is no law against it and it is as per the free will of the citizens, it is simply that Putin cannot accept that and has decided to move this onto the military with his war of aggression.

You know the real looser of this war along with the people of Ukraine? The EU. No matter what, any war in Europe has the effect of making the US stronger and that is something Putin should have realised by now.

Congrats! It is the first thing you made up on your own!

Man, I am so elite that I choose to buy tanks and armoured vehicles from any of these. I also offer free copies of "why can't we be friends".


Now seriously, what you propose is ye'old confrontation and sides choosing. There is only one side to be chosen: peace, life and understanding. People who say you have to chose your side and fight someone else's wars just want to manipulate others into aggression.

Oh, I had not thought that anyone would need an escrow to sell his tank to me and certainly I should consider marketing options beyond posting on the forum.

What the heck, I am offering 100 USD and an Uber to the nearest bus or train station. Also, a letter signed with my bitcoin signature stating that this soldier has chosen wisely, sold his vehicle and that I vouch for his lack of willingness to die for Putin.


None of that drives Putin's aggression, you should be asking your troll farm leader for something actually believable.


Excellent! They may not know the universal sign for surrender, so this is helpful. I wonder if I could add my telegram user.

Putin has a large number of soldiers (certainly not even close to 3 million). However there are many reasons why he is not and cannot use them:

a) The difference between a soldier and a cannon fodder is training, supplies and leadership. Putin most likely has 20.000 tons of cannon fodder. Seriously, I did not have Putin's army in high regard, but after what I am seeing published everyday it is even worse. They seem clueless about tactics, speed or any short of organisation.

b) The problem of being a despot is that you need the army to control your territory. Send more troops into Ukraine and you risk massive revolts (just remember how the Bolshevik revolution came from the monstrosities and gigantic leadership mistakes of WW I)  

c) Putin needs to watch his back. China is a friend until it is not. Europe is peaceful until it is not. US would not send troops until they do. Weaken your army too much and you are done.

d) Putin cannot afford to many body-bags coming back home. Russians tend not to question him, but there is a limit to everything and people are starting to have many questions they cannot answer easily.

Do not die for Putin, sell your vehicles, get on a bus a live to see a new Russia some  day.

Again, you are throwing the official propaganda about Putin trying to change an unfit government. This argument is so lame that nobody in the world, including Russia believes.