World News

[Silverwing]

As of posting this, Ukraine's largest newspaper, which I have been using to gather and share info here, has been taken offline.  We know this is Russia's doing.  They are doing cyber attacks across Ukraine and shutting down news, communication, and government websites.

Here is a photo from about 40 minutes ago of an explosion in Kyiv.  The Russian's are bombarding.



Keep your prayers to the Ukrainian people.  A tough people and I know they will fight strong.  They are fighting not only for themselves, but for the west and free nations, democracy, and to hopefully destroy the ego of a defiant Putin and his generals.

[Rainberry]

Thank you for the different responses.  I've been watching the news the past two hours, with news correspondents in Kyiv and watching and hearing bombs go off.  I watched Ukraine's President's speech and the Ukrainian member in the UN give his remarks to the Russian counterpart of his.  It feels like I am watching history and even though I wasn't alive in WWII, it gives me a sense of dread like maybe how WWII felt to people.   

[Anyponedrawn]

Russia's Putin is being declared a major threat by former Georgian leader (who's country was also invaded by Russia).



 Bombs are going off now all over Kyiv, and Ukraine's president has ordered a national lockdown.   Russia is going all in...
Here is video of Russia firing weapons into Ukraine.  Power grids are now being reported to going out across various parts of Ukraine.



And here are bombs shelling the city of Mariupol. Russia's "peace keeping force" is absolutely wrecking the country right now...


You can hear it with sound here...


What is both maddening and insane, as REAL historical events are happening right now, hop on to any social media or left-wing website and they are only posting fake news stories about Donald Trump, calling him a traitor, or attacked Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson, etc.  They are still purely using false narratives to regurgitate fake news.  To them, they still just want to make Trump and the Republican's look bad and stupid, or make them look like Putin supporters.  They people spewing this fake news are idiots.  Don't they realize REAL news is happening that can effect the whole world, and they are still playing petty politics games?  Of the 20 top posts on Immure for instance, currently 12 are anti-Trump messages and only 3 are actually posting about what is happening in Ukraine.  The social media world is so lost in their little bubble.  They have no idea what reality is.

[MasterXtreme]

Some quick news blurbs...

* Russian tanks are now entering from Belarus.  They have been seen now crossing the border into Ukraine. Video

* People are hiding in bomb shelters/war shelters now.  Air raid sirens have sounded in Kyiv and many major cities. Video

* Shell of a Russian cruise missile in Kyiv, already being photographed by locals.  Russia is assaulting the city. Video

[Soda]

Oh my gosh, it keeps getting worse.   Prayers to all of them.  I hope they fight valiantly for their country. 

[MasterXtreme]

It's going to get worse before it gets better I'm afraid.   

[Silverwing]

Ukraine is being completely attacked on all sides by Russia, from east to west.  Russia flat out lied many times and now the world knows they cannot be trusted for their word.  Kyiv has had many strategic points, including the airport taken over by Russian troops.  Chernobyl has been captured by the Russian's.  There are now reports of people fleeing Ukraine as well as many taking up arms. 

President Vladimir Putin threatened “consequences you have never seen in your history" to any country that tries to interfere. The US and its allies have condemned Russia and are imposing more sanctions at Moscow.

Ukraine Ambassador the United States Oksana Markarova claimed that the Russian 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade surrendered near Chernihiv.  Markarova said that the platoon claimed it did not know they were in Ukraine to "kill Ukrainians." She said President Zelensky remains in Ukraine but would not say what city. When asked if the capital would hold, she paused and said that she remains confident Ukraine will win.

Meanwhile as this goes on, Taiwan is warning China is doing "destabilizing" tactics against the country. China's Xinhua News has reported that Russia was needed to solve the 'Taiwan issue.'  They went on to say that China needs to support Russia so Russia can support China when the time comes... Article

[Anyponedrawn]

Ukrainian UN Council member talking directly to his Russian counterpart.

"There's no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell"

Just prior to the attacks on Ukraine, President Zelensky had this defiant yet chillingly heartbreaking message to Ukraine... and the Russian people.  He starts by speaking Russian directly to citizens of Russia as an appeal.

There are reports that can't be verified yet, but numerous armies around Europe have now been placed on standby to respond to anything at a moments notice.  We are hearing this mostly from Germany.  Still, it cannot be verified.

Putin ordering military action into Ukraine.  Note how he claims the Ukraine has been causing a genocide and he says that he will "De-Nazify" Ukraine.  All completely baseless claims.

[kiku]

I’m speechless and devastated. I have no words, but I’d like to share a comment by Georg Schwarte, the Berlin correspondent of the ARD (German public service broadcaster). I heard it on the radio today.
The translation is by Google translate, but I checked it and did a few little corrections.
...

There is war in Europe. Not a cold, not a virtual war, but a bloody war of aggression. It's Putin's war, that's what the German Chancellor is telling us Germans and the world today.

It's a war against all of us. Against freedom, against democracy, against what we otherwise -- often ridiculed -- call basic values. Since this morning we have been living in a different Europe. As of this morning, it's no longer certain how safe we all are.

People are dying, people are wounded. Europe is bleeding. Our Europe, which Russia under Vladimir Putin is now saying goodbye to, is under threat.
The last war of aggression on our continent started in 1939 on German soil. Since this morning, Putin has been following that infamous fall from grace.

The German Foreign Minister is right: We are stunned, but we are not helpless. Now is the time for Europeans, for the world community and community of values. Decades of politics towards the East in the name of détente -- change through trade and rapprochement -- Putin bombed to rubble and ashes in these minutes.

The supposedly “flawless democrat” Putin has become a flawless war criminal, a dictator who brazenly lied to chancellors and presidents, who has big dreams of territory and influence -- and who contemptuously views the West as spineless and weak. He will be proven wrong.

Chancellor Scholz told Putin, “You are paying a high price for this aggression.” However, we too must now be prepared to pay a high price for the answer to this aggression. The consequences for Germany will also be serious. They should even be in order to implement effective sanctions.

Yes, prices will rise, stocks will fall, deals will collapse, wealth will shrink. But former Foreign Minister Gabriel is also right: Nothing in life is free of cost, including peace -- and that's what it's all about now.
We are talking about a nuclear power Russia. A country that has the right of veto in the United Nations Security Council. A council that was once created to prevent miserable wars like this, world wars.

The fact that this Russia is starting its war of aggression while the Security Council is struggling in New York for peace in Ukraine is just a side note in the history book of Russian mockery of the UN and the world community.
The world must come together

The quick answer: Implement all sanctions that are possible. The medium term: We will have to spend more money on security and deterrence. The long-term: Don't underestimate a dictator again and lazily take our Europe for granted according to the motto: "It'll be fine".

Nothing will go well if the world doesn't pull together now and clearly tells Putin: "You don't make history here. You will soon be history - as a war criminal."

[MasterXtreme]

Thank you for sharing.  We are all living in a time that is similar to how maybe our Grandparents  were raised in during WWII.  A time of conflict in Europe that may very well spread globally unless the world unites against this senseless act of aggression by Europe.  We are going to see senseless bloodshed for absolutely no reason. 

I know many hope Putin will install his puppets in the government and leave, but I don't think he will stop there.  If they can steamroll a massive country like Ukraine, what is stopping from from the Baltic's, Moldova, Romania, etc.  You get the idea.  Putin's ultimate goal as he has said for decades is a Russia who's boundaries match that of the USSR.

As we look at it, there doesn't appear to be any good outcome.  Let's just pretend a moment here that allied forces did decide to engage Russia.  That would of course mean a major war.  But let's say we sat back, did sanctions, and waited.  If/when Russia expanded their military campaign into other parts of Europe, that would also mean that our allied forces would have to fight against them.  It's war no matter what happens.  It's going to be bad, but are we prepared for it?  Is the world prepared for this? 

[RainySunshine]

People all over the world are protesting against Russia's invasion.  Russian embassies all over the world are having protests in front of them. Even in Russia, courageous people are protesting Russia's invasion. So far, Russian police have cracked down on protesters and have arrested more than 1,700 people/ Article.

Ukraine’s defence minister Oleksii Reznikov said the country’s armed forces were “heroically” rebuffing Russia’s deeper invasion into the country, warning that “tomorrow, Russians will learn the price of [Russian president Vladimir] Putin’s madness.”  There are reports that Ukrainian's are holding back Russian forces quite well in key parts of the country. “The Armed Forces, guardsmen, border guards, rescuers, and fighters of other security forces heroically defend themselves. The whole nation is gradually joining the resistance. Thousands of citizens have already joined the Territorial Defense Forces,” he added.

Reznikov said “heavy fighting continues” north of the capital city Kyiv where government troops were pushing back Russian forces from Hostomel airport, as well as in southern and eastern regions where government troops have battled Russian-controlled separatists since Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014. “The enemy (Russia) did not expect such resistance. He was stopped near Kharkiv,” the country’s second-largest city just a few dozen kilometres from Ukraine’s north-eastern border with Russia. “We actively use samples of modern weapons received from partners . . . tomorrow, Russians will learn the price of Putin’s madness,”

Reznikov said before adding, “we will not retreat on our land.”Reznikov’s comments come as Ukrainian officials including Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser at president Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, said government troops had “beat back” Russian forces in a day-long battle over Hostomel airport north of Kyiv. “The Russian landing party was destroyed,” he added. Reznikov urged Ukrainians to brace for “a new wave of attacks, including air strikes” overnight.

[Tüsszent]

We as European's need to stand up against these actions.  The world needs to stand together firmly against this tyrant dictator named Putin.  The Russian people need to stand up as they have in the past to end their government's tyrannical firm grip on the people.  Don't they want a government they don't have to fear? 

This is real now with war drums and bloodshed on our continent now.  We need to be united to show the world doesn't want anything to do with mad-men like Putin who invade their neighbors.

A united China and Russia is not a comfortable prospect for the rest of the world.

[Grapefoot]

The worst thing we can show as a united world against Putin and his generals is that we are afraid.  We cannot be afraid.  We need to be strong. 

Keep your prayers with the people of Ukraine.  They are currently the one's dealing with the worst of it.

[Silverwing]

NEWS FROM OVERNIGHT

* I think it should go without saying that dissent against the government is not acceptable according to the Russian authorities.  It is a great risk to anyone who demonstrates against the Russian government.  That said, throughout the internet social media world, there are Russian's posting their anger towards their government and even more telling is that there are ongoing demonstrations and protests, even in Moscow.  Thousands across the country have been protesting and hundreds were seen and photographed protesting in Moscow.  Russia's police arrested and beat several protestors.  Who knows what other things they will do to these protesters.  Article

Around the world, people are protesting against Russia's invasion.

* Stranger still, the worldwide hacker group, Anonymous, declared war on Russia themselves.  They have stated they will attack Russian websites and do all they can to make Russia pay.  So far, one Russia's state news agencies, Russia Today, had their global news websites taken offline.  Several governmental websites of the Russian Federation have also been taken offline due to DDos attacks.  The group is continuing their cyber attacks on Russian websites and had this to say on their main Twitter account; "#Anonymous is currently involved in operations against the Russian Federation. Our operations are targeting the Russian government. There is an inevitability that the private sector will most likely be affected too."  Article

* In a hair raising moment, France's foreign minister said Russian President Vladimir Putin should understand that NATO also has nuclear weapons when making threats to deploy his arsenal.  Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was speaking with French television network TF1Info when he was asked if Putin's remarks were "tantamount to threatening Russian use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict." He said he believed so.  "Yes, I think that Vladimir Putin must also understand that the Atlantic alliance is a nuclear alliance," he answered during the Thursday TV appearance. "That is all I will say about this."  This comes after Putin spoke from the Kremlin in Moscow where he said Russia would respond with force should other nations try and interfere with its military operations in Ukraine. "Whoever tries to hinder us, and even more so, to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate. And it will lead you to such consequences that you have never encountered in your history," the Russian president said.

* Reports are also coming in that Russian forces are within 20 miles of Kyiv from the north or west.... it is unknown if Russia captured an important air base of Ukraine.  Originally the Russian's captured said air base, but then the Ukrainian forces took it back.  Not sure what has happened over night.  There are also reports conflicting that Russian forces are already in Kyiv as there have been reports of gunfire. 

* Russian disinformation has been posted on several Ukrainian and Russian websites claiming that Pres. Zelensky of Ukraine is ready to give up.  Do not trust these articles as they are fake news. 

* Neutral Switzerland has decided to sanction Russian banks and politicians.  Switzerland is obliged under international law to implement only sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.

[kiku]

@Silverwing , thanks for sharing the articles, especially the one about the large number of Russian citizens who are protesting against their government. (I had heard about it too on the radio, but only briefly.)

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine, and also - I want to emphasize this - with the many, many Russian citizens inside and outside of Russia who are just as appalled as the rest of the world, and who want nothing but peace.