What's going on in Ukraine?

[fishfoodie]

I read somewhere yesterday that there are close to 1/2 million mines sown in Ukrainian fields and that there are 2600 mine clearing personnel working on clearance now... and at the current rate it will take over 20 years to complete the task.

What isn't often acknowledged is the environmental impact of war. Russia's crime (in this instance) is a cross generational curse and that is quite deliberate. In a sense then, they have assaulted the entire world.

Following on from Vietnam, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Angola, Iraq et al. I think the Falklands was declared mine free only recently.

In actuality, the larger threat will probably be unexploded ordinance & not mines, from what I've seen the Orcs have liberally distributed cluster munitions all over the fucking place & they're a million kinds of shit

[Dinsdale Piranha]

I read somewhere yesterday that there are close to 1/2 million mines sown in Ukrainian fields and that there are 2600 mine clearing personnel working on clearance now... and at the current rate it will take over 20 years to complete the task.

What isn't often acknowledged is the environmental impact of war. Russia's crime (in this instance) is a cross generational curse and that is quite deliberate. In a sense then, they have assaulted the entire world.

Following on from Vietnam, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Angola, Iraq et al. I think the Falklands was declared mine free only recently.

In actuality, the larger threat will probably be unexploded ordinance & not mines, from what I've seen the Orcs have liberally distributed cluster munitions all over the fucking place & they're a million kinds of shit

I was in Laos some years ago and they were estimating 200+ years to clear all the cluster bombs at the current rate. There are tens of millions of them.

[Guy Smiley]

I read somewhere yesterday that there are close to 1/2 million mines sown in Ukrainian fields and that there are 2600 mine clearing personnel working on clearance now... and at the current rate it will take over 20 years to complete the task.

What isn't often acknowledged is the environmental impact of war. Russia's crime (in this instance) is a cross generational curse and that is quite deliberate. In a sense then, they have assaulted the entire world.

Following on from Vietnam, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Angola, Iraq et al. I think the Falklands was declared mine free only recently.

In actuality, the larger threat will probably be unexploded ordinance & not mines, from what I've seen the Orcs have liberally distributed cluster munitions all over the fucking place & they're a million kinds of shit

I was in Laos some years ago and they were estimating 200+ years to clear all the cluster bombs at the current rate. There are tens of millions of them.

and THAT is what I'm talking about... cross generational harm across the environment. How many subsistence level farmers are maimed and rendered unable to provide for their families as a result of that?

I don't share the same levels of enthusiasm for war that some appear to. I desperately want to see Putin smeared across some pavement though, but there's a long list of cunts I'd add to the list for the crime of warmongering.

today, April 25th, is our big Remembrance Day in NZ and Australia... ANZAC Day. There are the normal outpourings in the name of honouring those who serve but scattered around are personal stories from Vets and they are enlightening. Not many of them hold any sort of noble concept of war and serving. It's a fucking dirty, soul destroying waste of money and time and captures the imagination of so many. We are caught up in it... the military industrial complex rules. It's fucked.

[Hellraiser]

[Hellraiser]

[sockwithaticket]

There are the normal outpourings in the name of honouring those who serve but scattered around are personal stories from Vets and they are enlightening. Not many of them hold any sort of noble concept of war and serving. It's a fucking dirty, soul destroying waste of money and time and captures the imagination of so many. We are caught up in it... the military industrial complex rules. It's fucked.

This was is the first from my lifetime that I can really remember receiving extended coverage. I was in my early teens when Iraq commenced and didn't really pay much attention. The constant stream of images depicting utterly destroyed towns or cities and vehicles really brought home just how wasteful all this is. Everything that's been destroyed required resources to create, some of which are finite, and have a carbon cost attached to their creation. That cost will come again during the decades long rebuild. Then there's the human cost of dealing with the physical and psychological needs of survivors.

It's just all so deeply unnecessary.

[Uncle fester]

It it's very necessary for Ukraine. It's just Russia it's unnecessary for.

[Slick]

It it's very necessary for Ukraine. It's just Russia it's unnecessary for.

Yeah, this. I expect we are all mostly anti war on here, but what the fuck do you do if Russia invades Ukraine? Shout at them?

[tabascoboy]

Putler Youth?

[sockwithaticket]

It it's very necessary for Ukraine. It's just Russia it's unnecessary for.

I'm lamenting the pointless destruction of their country, not decrying their right or need to defend themselves.

[Hellraiser]

[Hellraiser]

[Hellraiser]

[tabascoboy]

[Uncle fester]

It it's very necessary for Ukraine. It's just Russia it's unnecessary for.

I'm lamenting the pointless destruction of their country, not decrying their right or need to defend themselves.

Not meant as a go at you. Apols if it came across that way.

[Hellraiser]

[Hellraiser]

[Hellraiser]

Shmyhal had confirmed German Skynex air defence systems are already operational in Ukraine.

[Hellraiser]

[Hellraiser]

[Hellraiser]

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[Hellraiser]

[Hellraiser]

Interview with Thomas Theiner on Polish TV.

[Hellraiser]

[Hugo]

Following on from Vietnam, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Angola, Iraq et al. I think the Falklands was declared mine free only recently.

In actuality, the larger threat will probably be unexploded ordinance & not mines, from what I've seen the Orcs have liberally distributed cluster munitions all over the fucking place & they're a million kinds of shit

I was in Laos some years ago and they were estimating 200+ years to clear all the cluster bombs at the current rate. There are tens of millions of them.

and THAT is what I'm talking about... cross generational harm across the environment. How many subsistence level farmers are maimed and rendered unable to provide for their families as a result of that?

I don't share the same levels of enthusiasm for war that some appear to. I desperately want to see Putin smeared across some pavement though, but there's a long list of cunts I'd add to the list for the crime of warmongering.

today, April 25th, is our big Remembrance Day in NZ and Australia... ANZAC Day. There are the normal outpourings in the name of honouring those who serve but scattered around are personal stories from Vets and they are enlightening. Not many of them hold any sort of noble concept of war and serving. It's a fucking dirty, soul destroying waste of money and time and captures the imagination of so many. We are caught up in it... the military industrial complex rules. It's fucked.

Good post.

The depressing thing is that in a world which prioritises profits over human life war will always be a thing.

We are a fucked up, cruel species.

[Hugo]

And the really sad thing is the world does not have to be as bad as it is. If we valued human life more than money and power, behaved responsibly toward our fellow man and respected the environment the world could be a much better place.

Unfortunately I think we (as a collective) lack the imagination to bring that about.

[tabascoboy]

[tabascoboy]

Seems that the closer we get to the UA counter-offensive, the more China starts pushing for peace negotiations - hopefully they will understand that this has to be contingent on a Russian withdrawal from all occupied areas first...

[Hellraiser]

A second Irish volunteer has been killed in Ukraine. An Achill Islander who'd previously fought with the Kurds in Syria against ISIS.

[Hellraiser]

[Hellraiser]

[Guy Smiley]

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/16349

As if Ukrainians don’t have enough things to worry about, a new and potentially fatal phenomenon has emerged in the Kharkiv Region – crows carrying landmines.

A number of recent incidents have seen people injured by the explosive devices in populated places not known to have been mined during the conflict and areas previously cleared by ordnance disposal workers.

On April 14, according to the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, a woman recently stepped on a mine in the market in Izyum, severely injuring her leg.

Employees of the Kharkivoblenergo electrical company were checking power lines in Stepne village, Kharkiv region, when a 46-year-old man stepped on a mine. The explosion blew off his foot.

On April 18, it happened near the center of the city Balaklea, Kharkiv region, a stone’s throw from a supermarket. A woman stepped on a PFM-1 anti-personnel mine almost in the city’s center. Diagnosed with a left foot laceration, she was hospitalized in a local medical center.

The incidents have led experts at the local Kharkiv Zoo to speculate that the mines have been moved by crows.

“The situation is completely unexpected. Of course, I’d like to have specifically confirmed observations and evidence. However, it’s quite plausible!” said Dmitry Strelkov, deputy head of the cultural and educational department of the Kharkiv Zoo.

The PFM-1 is an anti-personnel landmine (commonly called a “petal” because it resembles a tree leaf). It detonates when a person steps on the mine. The explosion produces virtually no blast fragments, so people often don’t die but suffer severe leg injuries, with high likelihood of amputation. An international convention – the Ottawa Treaty - prohibits the use of such mines.

Petal mines can appear where they didn’t seem to be before, not only because of birds. According to the State Emergency Service, during mine dispersal by aircraft or other methods, such munitions can get stuck in tree branches, remain on the roofs of houses, etc.

[Hellraiser]

Leopard 1A5 training for Ukrainian tankers has begun under Danish instructors at the Klietz training ground in Saxony-Anhalt.

[fishfoodie]

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/16349

As if Ukrainians don’t have enough things to worry about, a new and potentially fatal phenomenon has emerged in the Kharkiv Region – crows carrying landmines.

A number of recent incidents have seen people injured by the explosive devices in populated places not known to have been mined during the conflict and areas previously cleared by ordnance disposal workers.

On April 14, according to the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, a woman recently stepped on a mine in the market in Izyum, severely injuring her leg.

Employees of the Kharkivoblenergo electrical company were checking power lines in Stepne village, Kharkiv region, when a 46-year-old man stepped on a mine. The explosion blew off his foot.

On April 18, it happened near the center of the city Balaklea, Kharkiv region, a stone’s throw from a supermarket. A woman stepped on a PFM-1 anti-personnel mine almost in the city’s center. Diagnosed with a left foot laceration, she was hospitalized in a local medical center.

The incidents have led experts at the local Kharkiv Zoo to speculate that the mines have been moved by crows.

“The situation is completely unexpected. Of course, I’d like to have specifically confirmed observations and evidence. However, it’s quite plausible!” said Dmitry Strelkov, deputy head of the cultural and educational department of the Kharkiv Zoo.

The PFM-1 is an anti-personnel landmine (commonly called a “petal” because it resembles a tree leaf). It detonates when a person steps on the mine. The explosion produces virtually no blast fragments, so people often don’t die but suffer severe leg injuries, with high likelihood of amputation. An international convention – the Ottawa Treaty - prohibits the use of such mines.

Petal mines can appear where they didn’t seem to be before, not only because of birds. According to the State Emergency Service, during mine dispersal by aircraft or other methods, such munitions can get stuck in tree branches, remain on the roofs of houses, etc.

Yep. Those are the same murderous fuckers that killed hundreds of kids in Afghanistan, because they look like toys.

[Niegs]

Shocked I am!

[Hellraiser]

And to absolutely no one's surprise it turns out Amnesty International are completely full of shit.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/27/us/a ... ussia.html

[Hellraiser]

Interesting interview with the ex-Luftwaffe Lt General who was responsible for integrating East German MiG-29s into the Bundeswehr.

[Hellraiser]

[Hellraiser]

Germany is sending another 8 PzH 2000s to Ukraine.