Russia and Ukraine

[monkeyswrench]

If Ukraine is kicking so much ass, why did the new laws signed by Zalensky cover the exportation of organs? And why is their military now openly drafting all males 18-60?!
Not saying this is some scary, dark, stuff, but it seems like an evil way to cash in on bloodshed.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Ok, a little bit of Ukrainian news. Today is a day to celebrate a Ukrainian Nationalist Hero! He fought for a free and pure Ukraine. He wanted pure Ukraine blood, and only one language...oh, and used the Nazis to help, and admired their tactics.
Today in many cities in the west of Ukraine, there are parades and celebrations, even some torch lit types scheduled for the evening...like another group used to do.

Stepan Bandera, Ukrainian hero. (BTW, his grandson is a pro-Ukraine journalist in Canada...oddly, quite a few moved there after the war.)
Here's a bit of a report on the OUN, the group Bandera was the head of. This is what they honor and praise today. This was taken from wikipedia...not a site that leans pro-Russia by any means.

"Atrocities​

Attacks on Poles during the massacres in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia were marked with extreme sadism and brutality. Rape, torture and mutilation were commonplace. Poles were burned alive, flayed, impaled, crucified, disembowelled, dismembered and beheaded. Women were gang raped and had their breasts sliced off, children were hacked to pieces with axes, babies were impaled on bayonets and pitchforks or bashed against trees.

The atrocities were carried out indiscriminately and without restraint. The victims, regardless of their age or gender, were routinely tortured to death. Norman Davies in No Simple Victory gives a short but shocking description of the massacres:

Villages were torched. Roman Catholic priests were axed or crucified. Churches were burned with all their parishioners. Isolated farms were attacked by gangs carrying pitchforks and kitchen knives. Throats were cut. Pregnant women were bayoneted. Children were cut in two. Men were ambushed in the field and led away. The perpetrators could not determine the province's future. But at least they could determine that it would be a future without Poles.[117]

An OUN order from early 1944 stated:

Liquidate all Polish traces. Destroy all walls in the Catholic Church and other Polish prayer houses. Destroy orchards and trees in the courtyards so that there will be no trace that someone lived there.... Pay attention to the fact that when something remains that is Polish, then the Poles will have pretensions to our land".[118]

UPA commander's order of 6 April 1944 stated: "Fight them [the Poles] unmercifully. No one is to be spared, even in case of mixed marriages".[119]

Timothy Snyder describes the murders: "Ukrainian partisans burned homes, shot or forced back inside those who tried to flee, and used sickles and pitchforks to kill those they captured outside. In some cases, beheaded, crucified, dismembered, or disemboweled bodies were displayed, in order to encourage remaining Poles to flee".[36] A similar account has been presented by Niall Ferguson, who wrote: "Whole villages were wiped out, men beaten to death, women raped and mutilated, babies bayoneted".[120] The Ukrainian historian Yuryi Kirichuk described the conflict as similar to medieval peasant uprisings.[121]

According to the Polish historian Piotr Łossowski, the method used in most of the attacks was the same. At first, local Poles were assured that nothing would happen to them. Then, at dawn, a village was surrounded by armed members of the UPA, behind whom were peasants with axes, knives, hatchets, hammers, pitchforks, shovels, sickles, scythes, hoes and various other farming tools. All of the Poles who were encountered were murdered; most were killed in their homes but sometimes they were herded into churches or barns which were then set on fire. Many Poles were thrown down wells or killed and then buried in shallow mass graves as well. After a massacre, all goods were looted, including clothes, grain and furniture. The final part of an attack was setting fire to the entire village.[122] All vestiges of Polish existence were eradicated, even abandoned Polish settlements were burned to the ground.[39]

Even though it may be an exaggeration to say that the massacres enjoyed the general support of the Ukrainians, it has been suggested that without wide support from local Ukrainians, they would have been impossible.[36] The Ukrainian peasants who took part in the killings created their own groups, the SKV or Samoboronni Kushtchovi Viddily (Самооборонні Кущові Відділи, СКВ). Many of their victims who were perceived as Poles, even despite not knowing the Polish language, were murdered by СКВ along with the others.[123]

The violence reached its peak on 11 July 1943 known to many Poles as “Bloody Sunday” when the UPA carried out attacks on 100 Polish villages in Volhynia burning them to the ground and slaughtering some 8,000 Polish men, women and children including patients and nurses at a hospital. These attacks as well as others could have been stopped at anytime by the Germans who in some cases were stationed in garrisons in or near the villages that were attacked. German soldiers however were given orders not to intervene. In some cases individual German soldiers and officers made deals with the UPA to give weapons and other materials to them in exchange for a share of the loot taken from Poles.

Ukrainians in ethnically-mixed settlements were offered material incentives to join in the slaughter of their neighbors or warned by the UPA's security service (Sluzhba Bezbeky) to flee by night, and all remaining inhabitants were murdered at dawn. Many Ukrainians risked and in some cases lost their lives for trying to shelter or warn Poles.[36][124] Such activities were treated by the UPA as collaboration with the enemy and severely punished.[125] In 2007, the Polish Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) published a document, Kresowa Księga Sprawiedliwych 1939 – 1945. O Ukraińcach ratujących Polaków poddanych eksterminacji przez OUN i UPA ("Borderland's Book of the Righteous. About Ukrainians saving Poles from extermination of OUN and UIA"). The author of the book, IPN's historian Romuald Niedzielko, documented 1341 cases in which Ukrainian civilians helped their Polish neighbours, which caused 384 Ukrainians to be executed by the UPA.[126]

In Polish-Ukrainian families, one common UPA instruction was to kill one's Polish spouse and children born of that marriage. People who refused to carry such an order were often murdered, together with their entire family.[28][127]

According to Ukrainian sources, in October 1943 the Volhynian delegation of the Polish government estimated the number of Polish casualties in Sarny, Kostopol, Równe and Zdołbunów counties to exceed 15,000.[128] Timothy Snyder estimates that in July 1943, the UPA actions resulted in the deaths of at least 40,000 Polish civilians in Volhynia (in March 1944, another 10,000 were killed in Galicia),[129] causing additional 200,000 Poles to flee west before September 1944 and 800,000 afterward.[36][129]"

I'm sure all the Polish people that have any clue about history are very pleased...

 

[spectras only]

Biden doesn't read history, come on man. People of neighbouring countries of Ukraine do, no mistake they don't support Ukraine with open checkbooks like the US is. One thing is for sure, Putin isn't going to give up territories they have. Get ready for another long run in 2023.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Biden doesn't read history, come on man. People of neighbouring countries of Ukraine do, no mistake they don't support Ukraine with open checkbooks like the US is. One thing is for sure, Putin isn't going to give up territories they have. Get ready for another long run in 2023.

That's what seems pretty obvious. All the big money and weaponry is coming from several countries away. The border countries seem to be very uninterested in helping, or even dealing with refugees. Poland in particular, seems in an odd position, being aligned with NATO, and a wonderful history with Ukraine.

 

[Taboma]

Ok, a little bit of Ukrainian news. Today is a day to celebrate a Ukrainian Nationalist Hero! He fought for a free and pure Ukraine. He wanted pure Ukraine blood, and only one language...oh, and used the Nazis to help, and admired their tactics.
Today in many cities in the west of Ukraine, there are parades and celebrations, even some torch lit types scheduled for the evening...like another group used to do.

Stepan Bandera, Ukrainian hero. (BTW, his grandson is a pro-Ukraine journalist in Canada...oddly, quite a few moved there after the war.)
Here's a bit of a report on the OUN, the group Bandera was the head of. This is what they honor and praise today. This was taken from wikipedia...not a site that leans pro-Russia by any means.

"Atrocities​

Attacks on Poles during the massacres in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia were marked with extreme sadism and brutality. Rape, torture and mutilation were commonplace. Poles were burned alive, flayed, impaled, crucified, disembowelled, dismembered and beheaded. Women were gang raped and had their breasts sliced off, children were hacked to pieces with axes, babies were impaled on bayonets and pitchforks or bashed against trees.

The atrocities were carried out indiscriminately and without restraint. The victims, regardless of their age or gender, were routinely tortured to death. Norman Davies in No Simple Victory gives a short but shocking description of the massacres:


An OUN order from early 1944 stated:


UPA commander's order of 6 April 1944 stated: "Fight them [the Poles] unmercifully. No one is to be spared, even in case of mixed marriages".[119]

Timothy Snyder describes the murders: "Ukrainian partisans burned homes, shot or forced back inside those who tried to flee, and used sickles and pitchforks to kill those they captured outside. In some cases, beheaded, crucified, dismembered, or disemboweled bodies were displayed, in order to encourage remaining Poles to flee".[36] A similar account has been presented by Niall Ferguson, who wrote: "Whole villages were wiped out, men beaten to death, women raped and mutilated, babies bayoneted".[120] The Ukrainian historian Yuryi Kirichuk described the conflict as similar to medieval peasant uprisings.[121]

According to the Polish historian Piotr Łossowski, the method used in most of the attacks was the same. At first, local Poles were assured that nothing would happen to them. Then, at dawn, a village was surrounded by armed members of the UPA, behind whom were peasants with axes, knives, hatchets, hammers, pitchforks, shovels, sickles, scythes, hoes and various other farming tools. All of the Poles who were encountered were murdered; most were killed in their homes but sometimes they were herded into churches or barns which were then set on fire. Many Poles were thrown down wells or killed and then buried in shallow mass graves as well. After a massacre, all goods were looted, including clothes, grain and furniture. The final part of an attack was setting fire to the entire village.[122] All vestiges of Polish existence were eradicated, even abandoned Polish settlements were burned to the ground.[39]

Even though it may be an exaggeration to say that the massacres enjoyed the general support of the Ukrainians, it has been suggested that without wide support from local Ukrainians, they would have been impossible.[36] The Ukrainian peasants who took part in the killings created their own groups, the SKV or Samoboronni Kushtchovi Viddily (Самооборонні Кущові Відділи, СКВ). Many of their victims who were perceived as Poles, even despite not knowing the Polish language, were murdered by СКВ along with the others.[123]

The violence reached its peak on 11 July 1943 known to many Poles as “Bloody Sunday” when the UPA carried out attacks on 100 Polish villages in Volhynia burning them to the ground and slaughtering some 8,000 Polish men, women and children including patients and nurses at a hospital. These attacks as well as others could have been stopped at anytime by the Germans who in some cases were stationed in garrisons in or near the villages that were attacked. German soldiers however were given orders not to intervene. In some cases individual German soldiers and officers made deals with the UPA to give weapons and other materials to them in exchange for a share of the loot taken from Poles.

Ukrainians in ethnically-mixed settlements were offered material incentives to join in the slaughter of their neighbors or warned by the UPA's security service (Sluzhba Bezbeky) to flee by night, and all remaining inhabitants were murdered at dawn. Many Ukrainians risked and in some cases lost their lives for trying to shelter or warn Poles.[36][124] Such activities were treated by the UPA as collaboration with the enemy and severely punished.[125] In 2007, the Polish Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) published a document, Kresowa Księga Sprawiedliwych 1939 – 1945. O Ukraińcach ratujących Polaków poddanych eksterminacji przez OUN i UPA ("Borderland's Book of the Righteous. About Ukrainians saving Poles from extermination of OUN and UIA"). The author of the book, IPN's historian Romuald Niedzielko, documented 1341 cases in which Ukrainian civilians helped their Polish neighbours, which caused 384 Ukrainians to be executed by the UPA.[126]

In Polish-Ukrainian families, one common UPA instruction was to kill one's Polish spouse and children born of that marriage. People who refused to carry such an order were often murdered, together with their entire family.[28][127]

According to Ukrainian sources, in October 1943 the Volhynian delegation of the Polish government estimated the number of Polish casualties in Sarny, Kostopol, Równe and Zdołbunów counties to exceed 15,000.[128] Timothy Snyder estimates that in July 1943, the UPA actions resulted in the deaths of at least 40,000 Polish civilians in Volhynia (in March 1944, another 10,000 were killed in Galicia),[129] causing additional 200,000 Poles to flee west before September 1944 and 800,000 afterward.[36][129]"

I'm sure all the Polish people that have any clue about history are very pleased...

If you're interested in the long and complicated history leading up to this ethnic cleansing, and since you quoted Timothy Snyder.
" The Causes of Ukrainian-Polish Ethnic Cleansing 1943 Author(s): Timothy Snyder Source: Past & Present, No. 179 (May, 2003), pp. 197-234 "

http://pscourses.ucsd.edu/ps200b/Snyder%20The%20Causes%20of%20Ukrainian-Polish%20Ethnic%20Cleansing%201943.pdf

 

[monkeyswrench]

If you're interested in the long and complicated history leading up to this ethnic cleansing, and since you quoted Timothy Snyder.
" The Causes of Ukrainian-Polish Ethnic Cleansing 1943 Author(s): Timothy Snyder Source: Past & Present, No. 179 (May, 2003), pp. 197-234 "

http://pscourses.ucsd.edu/ps200b/Snyder%20The%20Causes%20of%20Ukrainian-Polish%20Ethnic%20Cleansing%201943.pdf

That was an interesting 39 page read. Really weird to think of the moving parts leading up to the events. The nationalists wanted to take on both Nazis and Communists. This sounds great, makes sense. They decide it's best to let those two fight it out, as the attrition will weaken them. Also, not a bad plan. Where I tend to disagree with them, is the part where they use their army of nationalists to wipe out Jews, Poles and anyone opposed to them. They did so with Nazi blessing and training. They did so as a move towards creating a country, and those people may choose to join either Germany or Russia after the war. Eliminating competition, before the match.

I find it very interesting that the founder of the UPA (nationalist Ukrainian army) was hired by US intelligence in 1950. I wonder if records exist where he was in communication with the US during the war. The US was openly fighting the Nazis, and not fans of Stalin.

 

[spectras only]

Canada Has a Nazi Monument Problem

A journalist in Edmonton is the most recent Canadian to be charged with vandalizing a Nazi monument. How Canada came to be home to so many monuments dedicated to Ukrainian Nazi collaborators is rooted in some dark chapters in the country’s history.

jacobin.com

Steve Bandera, a journalist and Canadian citizen, has steadfastly maintained for years that his grandfather, and the Ukrainian nationalist movement in general, are innocent of perpetrating war crimes against Jews.

Ukrainian Nazi Schutzmannschaft Battalion 201 with Roman Shukhevych (sitting, second from left), 1942. A monument in Edmonton, Canada, commemorates Shukhevych, who was responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands in genocidal campaigns during the Holocaust era.

Commie Trudeau said we 're getting 500.000 immigrants per year for the next 3 years. Since the background of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland who's maternal grandfather is from Ukraine(who edited a pro-Nazi newspaper) it's guaranteed, we're going to get more than we could handle from Ukraine. Remember what this bitch did to the truckers of Canada. Where are these people go finding jobs to support themselves? When I applied for Canadian immigration entry when I was in a Italian International Refugee Center in Latina Italy, Canada was hand picking entries with diplomas and certificates of education and skills, because of high unemployment at the times .
Took eight months to process to get me accepted, and I was sent to Edmonton. Worked as a technician right away, never relied on EI or welfare. We're going to be over taxed in the future with this run away train driven by liberal politicians destroying this country.

Canadian Support For Ukrainian Nazi Collaborators Goes Beyond Statues

For decades, Canada has underwritten the cultish worship of Ukrainian Nazi collaborator war criminals.

readpassage.com

Moreover, the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM), also founded in 1946, is itself an international organization affiliated with the OUN-B, and teaches young people that being a patriotic Ukrainian means glorifying the OUN-UPA. CYM has partially done so in Canada via ceremonies held in front of memorials and portraits, and Edmonton’s bust of Shukhevych in particular. Outside of Ukraine, only in Canada is CYM so brazen about displaying portraits of its fascist heroes.

Since the vandalism of the Oakville cenotaph, leaders of the UCC and LUC have drafted statements defending the Waffen-SS memorial. The LUC leadership has called the “Nazi War Monument” graffiti a “hate crime,” declaring, “These attacks are designed to destabilize Canadians’ national unity and undercut our government’s opposition to Putin’s Russia and support for Ukraine…”

As such, in both cases of police investigations into the statue vandalism, it was presumably these sort of nationalist Ukrainian Canadians that led officers astray by decrying the incidents as hate crimes, thereby essentially smearing all Ukrainians in Canada.

The Waffen-SS cenotaph in Oakville is a relic of a mostly unknown chapter of Canadian history that needs further excavation. But so too do the Banderites, who are still active in Canada, propagandizing young people and exerting significant political influence acting as the spokespeople of all Ukrainians.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Canada Has a Nazi Monument Problem

A journalist in Edmonton is the most recent Canadian to be charged with vandalizing a Nazi monument. How Canada came to be home to so many monuments dedicated to Ukrainian Nazi collaborators is rooted in some dark chapters in the country’s history.

jacobin.com

Steve Bandera, a journalist and Canadian citizen, has steadfastly maintained for years that his grandfather, and the Ukrainian nationalist movement in general, are innocent of perpetrating war crimes against Jews.

Ukrainian Nazi Schutzmannschaft Battalion 201 with Roman Shukhevych (sitting, second from left), 1942. A monument in Edmonton, Canada, commemorates Shukhevych, who was responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands in genocidal campaigns during the Holocaust era.

Commie Trudeau said we 're getting 500.000 immigrants per year for the next 3 years. Since the background of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland who's maternal grandfather is from Ukraine(who edited a pro-Nazi newspaper) it's guaranteed, we're going to get more than we could handle from Ukraine. Remember what this bitch did to the truckers of Canada. Where are these people go finding jobs to support themselves? When I applied for Canadian immigration entry when I was in a Italian International Refugee Center in Latina Italy, Canada was hand picking entries with diplomas and certificates of education and skills, because of high unemployment at the times .
Took eight months to process to get me accepted, and I was sent to Edmonton. Worked as a technician right away, never relied on EI or welfare. We're going to be over taxed in the future with this run away train driven by liberal politicians destroying this country.

Canadian Support For Ukrainian Nazi Collaborators Goes Beyond Statues

For decades, Canada has underwritten the cultish worship of Ukrainian Nazi collaborator war criminals.

readpassage.com

Moreover, the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM), also founded in 1946, is itself an international organization affiliated with the OUN-B, and teaches young people that being a patriotic Ukrainian means glorifying the OUN-UPA. CYM has partially done so in Canada via ceremonies held in front of memorials and portraits, and Edmonton’s bust of Shukhevych in particular. Outside of Ukraine, only in Canada is CYM so brazen about displaying portraits of its fascist heroes.

Since the vandalism of the Oakville cenotaph, leaders of the UCC and LUC have drafted statements defending the Waffen-SS memorial. The LUC leadership has called the “Nazi War Monument” graffiti a “hate crime,” declaring, “These attacks are designed to destabilize Canadians’ national unity and undercut our government’s opposition to Putin’s Russia and support for Ukraine…”

As such, in both cases of police investigations into the statue vandalism, it was presumably these sort of nationalist Ukrainian Canadians that led officers astray by decrying the incidents as hate crimes, thereby essentially smearing all Ukrainians in Canada.

The Waffen-SS cenotaph in Oakville is a relic of a mostly unknown chapter of Canadian history that needs further excavation. But so too do the Banderites, who are still active in Canada, propagandizing young people and exerting significant political influence acting as the spokespeople of all Ukrainians.

I've seen a lot of videos of the "CYM" related groups in Ukraine, their public school influence and youth groups. If the boys are 16, they are now fair game to join a unit. It's scary stuff, especially when I see my 14 and 16 yo boys at the dinner table. I had no idea such organizations were in operation in Canada.

Honestly, I had no idea Ukrainians had a population as large in North America. I've only met a handful of Ukrainians in my life. Two I used to talk with were from Mariupol...and it's been several years since I've communicated with them

 

[Taboma]

That was an interesting 39 page read. Really weird to think of the moving parts leading up to the events. The nationalists wanted to take on both Nazis and Communists. This sounds great, makes sense. They decide it's best to let those two fight it out, as the attrition will weaken them. Also, not a bad plan. Where I tend to disagree with them, is the part where they use their army of nationalists to wipe out Jews, Poles and anyone opposed to them. They did so with Nazi blessing and training. They did so as a move towards creating a country, and those people may choose to join either Germany or Russia after the war. Eliminating competition, before the match.

I find it very interesting that the founder of the UPA (nationalist Ukrainian army) was hired by US intelligence in 1950. I wonder if records exist where he was in communication with the US during the war. The US was openly fighting the Nazis, and not fans of Stalin.

Interesting that we are living in a country based essentially on the participation in a grand experiment. One where we are supposed to welcome the diversity of the integration of numerous ethnicities and races.

History seems to suggest that various ethnicities and races simply don't play well together. In many countries it's clans with a history of feuding and in North and South America, it was the Indians who's tribes fought and sought to eliminate the other.

To be honest, I rarely enjoy the vast majority of this diversity we're supposed to be accepting, enjoying and welcoming. I get the distinct feeling I'm not alone as this theme gets exchanged daily on these very boards.
The less diverse, the more I'm prone to be accepting of this integration.

Another common theme on these boards seems adamant that if you seek refuge in this country, you shed those things that make you different, you become like what we want and expect, assimilation, basically, sameness, an American, oh the irony.

It's sickening and unsetting to sit here reading accounts describing the horrors that mankind is capable of rendering against those we perceive as being different, real or imagined threats, or simply having different views and opinions.

Some of us have seen what we ourselves are capable of. Not because we necessarily wanted to, but because we were tasked with a job that required it, and we were told we'd be doing it for our country and the good of our fellow man.

Some have done and seen what we'd otherwise swear was impossible, it's not us, it can't be, it's not who I am, you are, or certainly what we want to be.
Some of us have become that 'Thing' we fear the most and then are forced to live later, knowing that 'Thing' is us, another us.

The very thoughts written towards others on this and other social forums intended to humiliate, bully, and demean others simply because they have a different opinion gives a glimpse of this nature.

I had a fellow RDP member, I can only assume due to my age, or possibly because I offered a counterpoint on some subject, demean and blame me because he feels he's now stuck with cleaning up this mess he apparently holds me, a fellow American, responsible for.

I do wish he'd shared some of his grand cleanup plan.

How do you clean up diverse thoughts, opinions and basic ethnic and racial differences ?
How do you achieve the sameness our very nature finds comforting and less threatening, and yet base an entire system on embracing the diversity of difference ?
How do you please all these peoples all of the time ?

You can't, you don't, you do as this country has attempted since it's inception. You seek a possible compromise, you vary the balance of joy, you give to one side, then you give to the other, you strive for balance of fairness for all and still never please everybody and many will grumble and want more.
Many claim to be patriots of this country, and it's ideals, when in truth they've revealed they are really patriots of their own opinions and desires.

Some, hold more extreme thoughts that suggest a cleansing is in order. I admit to not being an innocent to having had that thought a time or three.
But I assure you, that's not really me, it can't be who I am.

And then there's greed.

 

[Smitty7]

Interesting that we are living in a country based essentially on the participation in a grand experiment. One where we are supposed to welcome the diversity of the integration of numerous ethnicities and races.

History seems to suggest that various ethnicities and races simply don't play well together. In many countries it's clans with a history of feuding and in North and South America, it was the Indians who's tribes fought and sought to eliminate the other.

To be honest, I rarely enjoy the vast majority of this diversity we're supposed to be accepting, enjoying and welcoming. I get the distinct feeling I'm not alone as this theme gets exchanged daily on these very boards.
The less diverse, the more I'm prone to be accepting of this integration.

Another common theme on these boards seems adamant that if you seek refuge in this country, you shed those things that make you different, you become like what we want and expect, assimilation, basically, sameness, an American, oh the irony.

It's sickening and unsetting to sit here reading accounts describing the horrors that mankind is capable of rendering against those we perceive as being different, real or imagined threats, or simply having different views and opinions.

Some of us have seen what we ourselves are capable of. Not because we necessarily wanted to, but because we were tasked with a job that required it, and we were told we'd be doing it for our country and the good of our fellow man.

Some have done and seen what we'd otherwise swear was impossible, it's not us, it can't be, it's not who I am, you are, or certainly what we want to be.
Some of us have become that 'Thing' we fear the most and then are forced to live later, knowing that 'Thing' is us, another us.

The very thoughts written towards others on this and other social forums intended to humiliate, bully, and demean others simply because they have a different opinion gives a glimpse of this nature.

I had a fellow RDP member, I can only assume due to my age, or possibly because I offered a counterpoint on some subject, demean and blame me because he feels he's now stuck with cleaning up this mess he apparently holds me, a fellow American, responsible for.

I do wish he'd shared some of his grand cleanup plan.

How do you clean up diverse thoughts, opinions and basic ethnic and racial differences ?
How do you achieve the sameness our very nature finds comforting and less threatening, and yet base an entire system on embracing the diversity of difference ?
How do you please all these peoples all of the time ?

You can't, you don't, you do as this country has attempted since it's inception. You seek a possible compromise, you vary the balance of joy, you give to one side, then you give to the other, you strive for balance of fairness for all and still never please everybody and many will grumble and want more.
Many claim to be patriots of this country, and it's ideals, when in truth they've revealed they are really patriots of their own opinions and desires.

Some, hold more extreme thoughts that suggest a cleansing is in order. I admit to not being an innocent to having had that thought a time or three.
But I assure you, that's not really me, it can't be who I am.

And then there's greed.

I am bad at conveying my thoughts. My comments were not directed at you. They were directed at us. No matter how you look at it these are our kids. This has been in the making for a while. This shit didn't just come out of left field all of a sudden. It was not me or I'm guessing you that taught them this. I noticed them putting these people in place 20 years ago with their open border bullshit. Now they have a toehold they are going for broke and I don't see much pushback. I apoligise if you took offense, that was not my intension. I have no grand plan or answers. I just find myself stuck in the twilight zone and can't find the exit. I can't even control myself let alone tell somebody else what to do. edit - Don't forget if you fart in line and a black person smells it YOU are RACIST.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Interesting that we are living in a country based essentially on the participation in a grand experiment. One where we are supposed to welcome the diversity of the integration of numerous ethnicities and races.

History seems to suggest that various ethnicities and races simply don't play well together. In many countries it's clans with a history of feuding and in North and South America, it was the Indians who's tribes fought and sought to eliminate the other.

To be honest, I rarely enjoy the vast majority of this diversity we're supposed to be accepting, enjoying and welcoming. I get the distinct feeling I'm not alone as this theme gets exchanged daily on these very boards.
The less diverse, the more I'm prone to be accepting of this integration.

Another common theme on these boards seems adamant that if you seek refuge in this country, you shed those things that make you different, you become like what we want and expect, assimilation, basically, sameness, an American, oh the irony.

It's sickening and unsetting to sit here reading accounts describing the horrors that mankind is capable of rendering against those we perceive as being different, real or imagined threats, or simply having different views and opinions.

Some of us have seen what we ourselves are capable of. Not because we necessarily wanted to, but because we were tasked with a job that required it, and we were told we'd be doing it for our country and the good of our fellow man.

Some have done and seen what we'd otherwise swear was impossible, it's not us, it can't be, it's not who I am, you are, or certainly what we want to be.
Some of us have become that 'Thing' we fear the most and then are forced to live later, knowing that 'Thing' is us, another us.

The very thoughts written towards others on this and other social forums intended to humiliate, bully, and demean others simply because they have a different opinion gives a glimpse of this nature.

I had a fellow RDP member, I can only assume due to my age, or possibly because I offered a counterpoint on some subject, demean and blame me because he feels he's now stuck with cleaning up this mess he apparently holds me, a fellow American, responsible for.

I do wish he'd shared some of his grand cleanup plan.

How do you clean up diverse thoughts, opinions and basic ethnic and racial differences ?
How do you achieve the sameness our very nature finds comforting and less threatening, and yet base an entire system on embracing the diversity of difference ?
How do you please all these peoples all of the time ?

You can't, you don't, you do as this country has attempted since it's inception. You seek a possible compromise, you vary the balance of joy, you give to one side, then you give to the other, you strive for balance of fairness for all and still never please everybody and many will grumble and want more.
Many claim to be patriots of this country, and it's ideals, when in truth they've revealed they are really patriots of their own opinions and desires.

Some, hold more extreme thoughts that suggest a cleansing is in order. I admit to not being an innocent to having had that thought a time or three.
But I assure you, that's not really me, it can't be who I am.

And then there's greed.

This is one of my few social viewing posts. It has an amazing reach. You fought a war, a much different one than my age friends have fought. We have a guy who escaped communism in the sixties from Europe, and another who's wife escaped it as a child from Asia. Soldiers, wannabes and never wills, some that care about nothing other than their own interests, some that are confused as to what to worry about or see.
I am of the camp that wants to learn. History always repeats...I can't stop it. By learning causes and effects, I hope to do my best to help my family through it.

It scares the hell out of me as well.

 

[Wedgy]

"War is Hell." Because of it we can talk feely about it. We all stand on the shoulders of great Men, who have built the foundation of the cherished Freedoms we now enjoy, to relish and educate ourselves with the opportunity for lively public debate this modern electronic Colonial Pub full of Inmate's that RPD provides.

20 years after WW2 is when I was a KId, but the scars and echoes of WW2 and Korea were palpable, and visible. I knew that Dad made it back home, and busted his ass for us until he couldn't, and them Mom did the same. So us Kid's had the opportunity for the American Dream. And we did. Mom and Dad used to write such beautiful letters. Dad wrote to redress his government all the time. They don't teach writing in Schools anymore. Or boxing. Or shooting. Or driving. Used to...

That was then, this is now. And now things are F'd up, and decent Folks are pissed. But a F up's not a F up, after you fix it.

 

[Smitty7]

"War is Hell." Because of it we can talk feely about it. We all stand on the shoulders of great Men, who have built the foundation of the cherished Freedoms we now enjoy, to relish and educate ourselves with the opportunity for lively public debate this modern electronic Colonial Pub full of Inmate's that RPD provides.

20 years after WW2 is when I was a KId, but the scars and echoes of WW2 and Korea were palpable, and visible. I knew that Dad made it back home, and busted his ass for us until he couldn't, and them Mom did the same. So us Kid's had the opportunity for the American Dream. And we did. Mom and Dad used to write such beautiful letters. Dad wrote to redress his government all the time. They don't teach writing in Schools anymore. Or boxing. Or shooting. Or driving. Used to...

That was then, this is now. And now things are F'd up, and decent Folks are pissed. But a F up's not a F up, after you fix it.

How ? Our fathers and mothers and distant relatives gave their lives to better things for us and this is how we repay them. Tear down their statutes and erase them. Fuckin hell. Can you imagine the decision making process to kill 100,000 Japanese in 1 second or invade and kill a million. Seems like a simple answer however gruesome the results would be. Also had never been done before so did not even know what results would be. Would like to see the spin they could put on that today. It was either the greatest victory or largest war crime to date. Depends whose telling the story. I hope things work out in our favor. I think we should straighten out our own country before we tell others what to do. Things get out of hand when there is more than 2 people involved. But my opinion is worth exactly nothing. This internet was the greatest information tool we had for learning and somehow within a few short years we have managed to turn it into the biggest shit show on earth. Never underestimate someone's ability to fuck shit up. I am retired and pissed off so don't take it personnel.

 

[monkeyswrench]

So, listening to Glen Beck this morning, and he says that Black Rock is going to have people in Ukraine "helping the Ukraine government to best allocate their funds".
So, no US government oversight of our money...but Black Rock oversight. Beck thinks it's a battle between "national facism" (Russia) and "global facism" (NWO kind of stuff)

In other news:
*US has now come forward and said "of course we're the ones directing the strikes on Russian soil.

*Ukraine's military leader quoted Stepan Bandera on "no victory until the Kremlin" is destroyed....And also says there will be attacks deeper inside of Russia (see above) Pissed off Poland as well as Isreal.

*Apparently, it has also come out that there are westerners fighting on behalf of Russia...we knew Ukraine had some, but now the same is being said of the opposition as well.

On another thread it was mentioned that Russia is fighting an inhumane war, targeting civilian infrastructure. War, on it's own, isn't exactly humane. It's odd how it's pointed out Russia targets civilian infrastructure, but the same thing happens in the eastern part of Ukraine perpetrated by the AFU.
Either way, I think I prefer both hitting substations over shopping centers and hospitals...but it seems that happens too.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Was in the media yesterday that Putin and the Russian military called for a Christmas cease fire. (Russian Orthodox Church celebrate Christmas 1/7, so 1/6 is Christmas Eve) Biden administration made a statement that this was a ploy, a trap and nothing more. The cease fire was set to start at midnight last night.

At exactly midnight, Donetsk was hit with shelling from 155mm howitzers. About a dozen other towns were hit in the Kherson region as well. About 5 hours of shelling.

The "new" Ukrainian Orthodox Church goes by the Gregorian calendar...up until last week, Orthodox churches across Ukraine went by the Julian calendar. So, their orthodox is less orthodox? I've seen religion cause war, but in my lifetime this is the first time I've seen war change religion in the midst.

 

[sprintcvx]

I see there is a thread up in the lounge on natural gas prices in California.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1611369177515970561

 

[Sandlord]

 

[spectras only]

Russia replaced its leader of the army in the Ukraine war with a new guy, Valeriy Gerasimov.
President Vladimir Putin’s defense minister has appointed Russia’s most senior general, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, 67, to lead its war in Ukraine. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/12/who-is-russias-new-ukraine-war-commander-valery-gerasimov
It was the most dramatic in a series of senior command changes since Russia invaded in February.
The official justification stated that the change of leader is necessary because "the scope of the special operation is expanding" and because "there is a need to coordinate the cooperation of the various types of weapons."

Since Ukraine's defense minister recently boasting, Ukraine is practically part of NATO, it doesn't look good for any peaceful solution to be on the table anytime soon. Ukraine is getting more weapons from the West , including Leopard tanks from Poland and US Bradley units.
The conflict has turned into a grinding war of attrition that has killed and wounded tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides, as well as Ukrainian civilians, though there is no end in sight, and both sides are re-arming as fast as they can.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Russia replaced its leader of the army in the Ukraine war with a new guy, Valeriy Gerasimov.
President Vladimir Putin’s defense minister has appointed Russia’s most senior general, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, 67, to lead its war in Ukraine. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/12/who-is-russias-new-ukraine-war-commander-valery-gerasimov
It was the most dramatic in a series of senior command changes since Russia invaded in February.
The official justification stated that the change of leader is necessary because "the scope of the special operation is expanding" and because "there is a need to coordinate the cooperation of the various types of weapons."

Since Ukraine's defense minister recently boasting, Ukraine is practically part of NATO, it doesn't look good for any peaceful solution to be on the table anytime soon. Ukraine is getting more weapons from the West , including Leopard tanks from Poland and US Bradley units.
The conflict has turned into a grinding war of attrition that has killed and wounded tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides, as well as Ukrainian civilians, though there is no end in sight, and both sides are re-arming as fast as they can.

Both sides are saying they're in control of Soladar. Two days ago Russia posted videos and videos of the town, showing retreating groups and flags raised. Videos and pics from the Ukraine side had been showing lots of their wounded, and worse, saying their troops were fighting valiantly. This morning, the Ukrainian defense spokesman said they have had some setbacks, but are still in control. Both sides spewing propaganda, I'm sure the truth is somewhere in between.

As far as rearming, yesterday video came out of some heavy equipment coming off a commercial transport. I'd heard about Bradley's, but there appeared to be Abrams and some MRAP type things. From the port, the equipment is to be taken by rail through Poland to Ukraine.

There are reports from outside sources, and comments made by Ukraine, saying that they have called up units to trench in and defend their northern border. Belarus is to the north, and a supporter of Russia. US and Ukraine have both stated that they think in early February Belarus will attack. For those that don't remember, Biden made a statement as to when Russia would attack. His "estimate" happened to coincide with Ukraine's military ramping up shelling of the civilian areas of Donetske.

Bringing Belarus into this will lead to more deaths, but I don't know if it would change the outcome. As of this point, it is essentially NATO vs Russia. Although Belarus is a Russia ally, they are independent(ish). The typical defense in the media is Belarus was once part of Russia...they never say that Ukraine was once part of Russia though....

 

[Sandlord]

https://www.rt.com/russia/569761-soledar-and-wagner-music/

 

[monkeyswrench]

https://www.rt.com/russia/569761-soledar-and-wagner-music/

That's from RT, puppets of Russia!
Sadly, that's what the western response is. All the other's are puppets of the west, but they don't see that.
Some of the pics and videos coming out are brutal. Not a big fan of war and death. Only more of that to come.

 

[Wedgy]

If Russia was the U.S. and Ukraine was Mexico. Putin would have shut that Southern invasion shit down yesterday. There would be no porous border, the border would be secured, the Cartels would be eliminated, and That would be That. See, Trump's just like Putin. Orange Man Bad. But instead, Joe's skimming off of all parties. War is good Biz...

 

[bonesfab]

If Russia was the U.S. and Ukraine was Mexico. Putin would have shut that Southern invasion shit down yesterday. There would be no porous border, the border would be secured, the Cartels would be eliminated, and That would be That. See, Trump's just like Putin. Orange Man Bad. But instead, Joe's skimming off of all parties. War is good Biz...

Putin/Trump 2024

 

[Danger Dave]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1613761806115246082

 

[Danger Dave]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1614006641644523529

 

[was thatguy]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1613761806115246082

“Almost”???

 

[monkeyswrench]

Lots going on over there in Kiev. Today there was a protest by wives and mothers, wanting to know of their sons and husbands. There was a mass text message sent out to residents, threatening arrest if they showed up to protest. Not many listened.

Some of the videos coming out from Bakmut and Soledar are pretty harsh. Lots of bodies, mostly young men. I would think drafted men with little to no training. Sad, no matter which side.

Internet is either out or very limited in Kiev. Don't know if it's Russian doing, or local to keep videos from the protest from coming out?

 

[Danger Dave]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1614999113480785920

 

[monkeyswrench]

The Ukraine head of the Ministry of Internal affairs, and the State Secretary, were both killed in a helicopter crash. Apparently 18 dead, and it crashed into an elementary school. 2 or 3 kids killed, don't know if 18 is the total number, or just in the helicopter. No word on cause yet. This was near Kiev, and it looked overcast in pics.

Ukraine sent a missile attack into Russia last night (Bolgorod)...Probably our missiles, as I don't think they have anything with that range, nor the targeting abilities.

 

[regor]

 

[Wedgy]

Behold, the Pale Horse. His Rider is Death, and Hell follows with him. And the rich get richer.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Behold, the Pale Horse. His Rider is Death, and Hell follows with him. And the rich get richer.

I have a white mare, she came from the rez, and gunfire doesn't spook her...maybe it's time to saddle up?


In other news: Some sources, on both sides, are wondering if the helicopter was a political hit. The video from December has been posted places, where the Interior guy had stated that the war needs to end, and too many losses had been incurred.
Doesn't sound like he was on the payroll of the war party.

 

[sprintcvx]

I have a white mare, she came from the rez, and gunfire doesn't spook her...maybe it's time to saddle up?


In other news: Some sources, on both sides, are wondering if the helicopter was a political hit. The video from December has been posted places, where the Interior guy had stated that the war needs to end, and too many losses had been incurred.
Doesn't sound like he was on the payroll of the war party.

You hear anything on the selling of arms?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1615732197306269697

 

[monkeyswrench]

There's spin on both sides...don't know who's telling the truth. The other cabinet member that was mentioned had to resign for being honest, and one earlier this week asked to resign after stating that killing Russians just because they are Russian is wrong.

With the war machine, I would wonder if the dead minister was not on the side of the laundering crew and arms sales. For 6 or seven months now, western arms have been sold by Ukraine...like the cargo plane that went down in Greece I believe?

 

[Wedgy]

Our tax dollars in action...

 

[monkeyswrench]

In other related news, this weekend Russia and Belarus kicked of some joint training exercises. Nothing like beautiful, snow covered forests, alive with the sound of artillery fire.

 

[monkeyswrench]

A few points of interest, one or two Davos related:
At Davos, the German defense minister stated that "weapons are the way to peace" in Ukraine. The sentiment was echoed by others. (Odd, seeing as though Germany promised heavy tanks, but now says it will be 2024 before they ship) He wants other countries to take up the slack. (Be looking for the US to ship heavies soon)
In Berlin, Ukrainian refugees had a big protest. They screamed and cried...about needing heavy weapons in Ukraine. (We've seen who organizes these protests)
Some videos online of Russian Orthodox Churches burning near Kiev. Harkens back to another time, another start to another war. This time though, the US isn't worried about it. In fact, they are knowingly turning a blind eye. Priests of the diocese near Kiev have been arrested, and held on charges of treason. Many were arrested on "Epiphany", an Orthodox holiday.

 

[monkeyswrench]

News...Daniel Swift was killed near Bakhmut. Swift was listed as an "active" Navy Seal. On release of this death information, the Navy has stated Swift was AWOL, a deserter. If he was, so be it. If he was there under orders, the Navy shouldn't smear him, and should do everything to bring him back for his family. No matter what, this is not good. Many reports of english speaking mercenaries in that area, how many are American? How many volunteered and how many were deployed.

 

[530RL]

Sen. Lindsey Graham said he's 'tired of the s*** show' and that the US and Germany should send tanks to Ukraine: 'World order is at stake'

"Putin is trying to rewrite the map of Europe by force of arms," Sen. Lindsey Graham said while calling on the US and Germany to send Ukraine tanks.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[monkeyswrench]

Sen. Lindsey Graham said he's 'tired of the s*** show' and that the US and Germany should send tanks to Ukraine: 'World order is at stake'

"Putin is trying to rewrite the map of Europe by force of arms," Sen. Lindsey Graham said while calling on the US and Germany to send Ukraine tanks.

www.businessinsider.com

Well then, the WEF has spoken, and the US will respond

They are sending a massive amount of equipment already. The videos from Ukrainian sources are showing "conscription" troops. There are soldiers in pairs, walking around streets, stores, even bars and apartment buildings, handing out draft notices. Young men as young as 16, given a quick briefing on how to be a soldier, and sent off to the Eastern front. They may have equipment, but they may have a lack of soldiers as well. It's going to get worse before it gets any better.

 

[530RL]

Well then, the WEF has spoken, and the US will respond

They are sending a massive amount of equipment already. The videos from Ukrainian sources are showing "conscription" troops. There are soldiers in pairs, walking around streets, stores, even bars and apartment buildings, handing out draft notices. Young men as young as 16, given a quick briefing on how to be a soldier, and sent off to the Eastern front. They may have equipment, but they may have a lack of soldiers as well. It's going to get worse before it gets any better.

For those of us old enough to remember, fighting communism and totalitarianism is a worthy fight.

But I understand unfortunately that is a view that many no longer believe.

 

[monkeyswrench]

For those of us old enough to remember, fighting communism and totalitarianism is a worthy fight.

But I understand unfortunately that is a view that many no longer believe.

Fighting communism by propping up a fascist country sounds relatively counterproductive. Those pushing this war...not just our leadership, but those abroad...are not exactly friends to the free market system. These are not people pushing for freedom and capitalism. Both sides of the front are fighting for, essentially, a different flavor of communism.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure I know people fighting on both sides of these lines, or at least were living in areas now contested. I worry about them and their families, but now have no available lines of communication (there weren't very many previous really).

I can't say I know who to root for or believe. By the time this all plays out, I don't know how much it will effect those in your age group (no offense intended). Even at 45, the crawl of political change may take some time changing my life. Then again, things happen at a rapid pace these days. The endgame seems to be a NATO conglomerate, which wants to "save the planet" from covid and global warming now, or Russia taking Ukraine...again.

To avoid nukes, I'm all for throwing a bear a bone, but maybe a bit selfish on my part.

 

[spectras only]

For those of us old enough to remember, fighting communism and totalitarianism is a worthy fight.

But I understand unfortunately that is a view that many no longer believe.

Not sure what kind of fight worthy you're talking about here.
My brother [ who was in the air force ] and others from the regular army, joined civilian freedom fighters to fight against the Russian run communist party in Hungary. It didn't end Russian occupation of Hungary for 33 years. Only the the slow chipping away weakening Russia's economy by US backed allies, , brought results during Reagan and Gorbachev, bringing down the Berlin wall to start with.
Maybe you're all for more mayhem, drafting young people to help Ukraine's corrupt leaders to fight Russia.
I think you underestimate Russians all together, this escalation may not end well. I can say, only the old fossils in power who don't care what could happen outside of Ukraine.
The western powers betrayed the agreement not to expand NATO to Ukraine was a big blow to Putin's and his general's ego. Even if somehow. someone take Putin out, it wouldn't be the end of the conflict, IMO.

You do not have to like Russia to see this, and you can detest Vladimir Putin until the cows come home. The fundamental issue remains the same: the Russians view NATO on their border as an act of aggression and a threat to their national security, and we have known this for decades.

 

[spectras only]

Lot of truths in this article by the American Conservative. @530RL. do you agree?

Blame the Deep State for Carnage in Ukraine

The foreign policy establishment knew it was needlessly provoking Russia at every step along the way.

www.theamericanconservative.com

 

[spectras only]

Senior U.S. officials are advising Ukraine to hold off on launching a major offensive against Russian forces until the latest supply of U.S. weaponry is in place and training has been provided, a senior Biden administration official said on January 20.

 

[Sandlord]

For those of us old enough to remember, fighting communism and totalitarianism is a worthy fight.

But I understand unfortunately that is a view that many no longer believe.

What about Nazis?

 

[was thatguy]

Not sure what kind of fight worthy you're talking about here.
My brother [ who was in the air force ] and others from the regular army, joined civilian freedom fighters to fight against the Russian run communist party in Hungary. It didn't end Russian occupation of Hungary for 33 years. Only the the slow chipping away weakening Russia's economy by US backed allies, , brought results during Reagan and Gorbachev, bringing down the Berlin wall to start with.
Maybe you're all for more mayhem, drafting young people to help Ukraine's corrupt leaders to fight Russia.
I think you underestimate Russians all together, this escalation may not end well. I can say, only the old fossils in power who don't care what could happen outside of Ukraine.
The western powers betrayed the agreement not to expand NATO to Ukraine was a big blow to Putin's and his general's ego. Even if somehow. someone take Putin out, it wouldn't be the end of the conflict, IMO.

You do not have to like Russia to see this, and you can detest Vladimir Putin until the cows come home. The fundamental issue remains the same: the Russians view NATO on their border as an act of aggression and a threat to their national security, and we have known this for decades.

I think the Oracle is more concerned about the global money washer being threatened.
The whole communist rhetoric is just his way of attempting to shame others in his straw man MO.
He’d do business with either side of there was a profit to be had.
Sort of telling that he’s in support of removing our money that already doesn’t even exist and pumping it into the laundry machine.

 

[Wedgy]

For those of us old enough to remember, fighting communism and totalitarianism is a worthy fight.

But I understand unfortunately that is a view that many no longer believe.

Yeah, I hear you loud and clear. The U.S. facilitating the recent Communist takeover of Brazil immediately comes to mind.

Also the similarities between Lula, and a Kenyan born U.S. Senator. Both disallowed from Presidential office, by the "Rule of Law."
Suck it GlobalHomos.

 

[Taboma]

News...Daniel Swift was killed near Bakhmut. Swift was listed as an "active" Navy Seal. On release of this death information, the Navy has stated Swift was AWOL, a deserter. If he was, so be it. If he was there under orders, the Navy shouldn't smear him, and should do everything to bring him back for his family. No matter what, this is not good. Many reports of english speaking mercenaries in that area, how many are American? How many volunteered and how many were deployed.

Stripped of his Seal endorsement & Trident in 19', when he was officially listed as a 'Deserter'. Wife divorced him in 18', numerous charges, including like 10 felony domestic abuse charges. Navy doesn't need to smear him, he's done a good enough job of that himself it would seem.

 

[monkeyswrench]

@spectras only , what's horrible is the concept that NATO members have said the Minsk agreement was only signed to buy time to build up Ukraine's military. They had no intentions of following through. This does not seem to be the most honorable of intentions. The Ukraine military was not, as a whole, up to this fight. The west had chosen to back their nationalist units, and really only allow nationalists to join as things progressed. Now, those numbers are down, and they'll take anyone, from any country.

In the meantime, the US is labeling Wagner, the Russian PMC, as an international crime syndicate. I believe trying to sieze or freeze any assets. There may be 50k of their troops in Ukraine right now. Not all of them are Russian. The big news from our media is they "recruited them all from prisons"...and yet the same media fails to mention that Azov did the same. They never mention Azov being Nazis, and also fail to mention Bandera getting a national holiday.

It's also very telling, a year ago you'd only hear Ukrainian troops on video speaking Ukrainian. Russian was a banned language. Now, troops are releasing videos, speaking their minds, in Russian.