Will Putin Invade Ukraine?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I guess vodka doesn't tend to enhance common sense.

Hey! I'm not so think as you drunk I am!

[Hydra009]

Sooo...not great news lately.  The Russians have made gains, especially in the southern direction.  But watch the strategic picture and keep your emotions in check.  Remember that just over three years ago, the Russians controlled Kherson, the Moskva was intact, the Russians controlled Snake Island, the Russians controlled Lyman, Russia's strategic bombers were (mostly) intact, the Russians had massive amounts of armored vehicles at the front and not horses and donkeys, and Russian refineries were not on fire.  All things may change.

[Hydra009]

[Cassia]

Gorinich is coming alright.

[Nobody]

The gorinich who stole Christmas? 😇

[Cassia]

The gorinich who stole Christmas? 😇

It's important to realize most of these guys signed up to get paid or to get out of jail to go invade their neighbors.

As of late 2025, Russian officials reported that hundreds of thousands of Russians had signed military contracts in that year alone. Specific numbers have included around 407,200 people signing contracts in 2024 and about 336,000 in 2025.Various sources estimate that Russia has recruited a total of between 120,000 and 180,000 criminal prisoners to fight in Ukraine

[Hydra009]

[Hydra009]

Taneko oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk on fire.  No other details at this time, so we don't yet know if this was Ukraine, Comrade Incompetence, or partisan activity.  Odds are good that it was Ukraine, though, since Ukraine did hit it with a drone back in January and they tend to come back for seconds.

[Cassia]

Taneko oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk on fire.  No other details at this time, so we don't yet know if this was Ukraine, Comrade Incompetence, or partisan activity.  Odds are good that it was Ukraine, though, since Ukraine did hit it with a drone back in January and they tend to come back for seconds.

The oil guys won't complain too much, Putin likes to see if unhappy oligarchs can fly from windows, lest they get any ideas. Xi Jinping is always knocking his oligarchs down as well.