Bronwyn,

You might also consider comparing paranoid cleptocratic autocracy Russia with post Nazi/commie Germany and post imperialist Japan. Instead of using a controlled media to make their populations as paranoid as Q-anon conspiracy nutters to justify their wanton murder, looting and destruction, peaceful and paranoia free Japan and Germany have four and five times the per capita GDP as Russia and indulge in such pastimes as this:

https://imgur.com/fF50iGh

Pathetic isn't it Bronwyn? I mean, wouldn't it be more character building for Mrs Miagi to tear up an Uncle Sam target with a machine gun like this?

https://nationalinterest.org/sites/default/files/styles/desktop__1260_/public/main_images/0wj6zlzk8zh31.jpg?itok=xLGI_MHd

At least the Russians are maintaining their sense of adventure. I believe the Weber on wheels experience is all the rage for them atm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na4Xp0suT2o

Karaoke kamikaze anyone?

Early Days to make a decisive summation re the outcomes of this war!

Putin thought it would last 2 or 3 days. Now it is almost 40 days with 17,000 dead Russians and 10 billion (that's with a B) dollars of destroyed military equipment on the Russian side!

Meantime, rearmament from the USA, the UK, Europe, NATO, and even Australia is breathing new life into the Ukrainian resistance. Putin is scurrying off to find fighters in Lebanon, Syria and the various STAN republics to bolster his army! Two days ago he declared that 135,000 new troops (mainly conscripts) will enter the war (oops! "special operations!!)... The Ukrainians responded with, "Please bring your own body bags, because you will need them when you go back to where you came from!" Not exactly a sentiment expressed by an army that lost its confidence, eh?

Putin now focuses on the East and South, despite the fact that the Luhansk and Donbas areas were already in his hands prior to the war beginning. He also controlled Crimea to the South - and all he has really achieved is the indiscriminate destruction of civilian life and property! The life of Russians has been changed for at least the next two or three generations particularly as they will be forced to make war reparations to Ukraine for their murderous destruction. in fact, Putin has gambled and lost big time, and my prediction is that he will be "disposed of" in the usual Russian way within the next few months.

However till then, he is still a commander that can launch devastating nuclear and chemical warfare into Ukraine. But then, the "imaginary red-line" would be crossed and I think that you would find the scope of the war broadening towards a swift end. Turning Moscow into glass is not a pleasant thought, but it may occur if this madman is pushed into a nuclear confrontation. Let's hope and PRAY it doesn't come to that!

Taunt, taunt, taunt, taunt - Whack !
That's how wars eventuate !

Bronwyn,

Your level of self-delusion is incredible as the only news source that backs your claims is the highly censored drivel coming from Russia. There is no evidence that the tiny Ukrainian far-right has any influence on the government.

The "west" that you claim is unanimously parroting the Ukrainians is a collection of independent democracies that are happy to slag each other off and most have their own reporters in Ukraine. Similarly, no one takes the Ukrainian claims at face value but does their best to evaluate the situation with satellites etc and their figures of Russian casualties is far lower than Ukrainian claims but far higher than Russia admits.

As for the Russian economy, the vast country with huge mineral wealth has a GDP similar to that of Italy which would put it fourth or fifth in Europe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYCnk83Ckd4

Russian war crimes and atrocities are now being collated for future tribunals. Russia, of course denies all of this, as it continues its internal propaganda, keeping its citizens in ignorance. This, I received from a contact in Ukraine. Please READ and PASS on:

"Russian troops are looting the homes of citizens around Kyiv, taking with them electronics, jewelry, cars, home appliances, coffee makers, clothes, children's toys and other items of value. Two things stand out to me...

(1) how sad must the Russian living conditions be that soldiers have looted things like coffee makers and running shoes...

(2) the Russian army is nothing more than a bunch of low level criminals/ thugs that are well armed.

I have personally seen videos taken by Russian soldiers bragging about taken wedding rings off of civilians they have killed...the SBU has intercepted calls from soldiers to their wives asking for a list of items to loot for their home; things like coffee makers, laptops, phones, and clothes.

I have seen videos taken by Russian soldiers laughing as they left homes they raided carrying out television sets. I personally saw one disturbing video where three Russian soldiers were laughing as they filmed themselves eating the food and drinking the alcohol of the family they just killed inside their own homes...bragging and laughing as the bodies of the homeowners laid in the house, just feet from where the Russian soldiers were eating and getting drunk.

What kind person takes wedding rings off of innocent civilians they killed...?

Who eats and drinks over the bodies they kill...?

What kind of person goes to war to steal coffee makers...?

What kind of mentally sick people are these Russian soldiers? This is widespread and not isolated instances. The Russian mentality is sick and inhumane!

I suppose I had better comment again.
One can take a series of facts about this conflict, and make many different stories out of them.
A bit of 'panel-beating' in the process can help with this.
But which, if any, is the right story?
Only by being there in the thick of things might we know for sure.
So we should listen to reporters 'on the ground', who are likely to see the reality of what is happening.

They see only one facet of course, but we can add their many facets together?
In this way, we can form a logical over-view of the real truth?
In any case, where there is conflict, the first response of others should be to stop that conflict?
Then examine the circumstances in an attempt to resolve difference?

Currently, there appears to be an aggressor (Russia) and an 'aggressed' (Ukraine).
This would make it seem that our support would be for the Ukraine?
We might have a change of mind if there were clear evidence that Russia was justified.
But so far, I see nothing to support that idea.
I see no logical reason for the attack.
I see the opposite.