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‘I look at my government differently’: losses in Ukraine test Russians’ faith
https://www.theguardian.com- ^ | Tue 17 May 2022 | Andrew Roth and Pjotr Sauer

Posted on 05/18/2022 11:32:59 AM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com

As Russia hides the scale of its losses in Ukraine, more and more information has leaked out, angering of Russian soldier families and discouraging previous supporters of the invasion.

“I look at my government totally different since the war started,” said Tatyana Efremenko, 39, whose son Nikita Efremenko was a conscript on the Moskva missile cruiser when it was sunk. She is still searching for her son. “There are very harsh things I would like to say about our leadership, but maybe best if I don’t because they would put me in prison for it.”

In an extremely rare moment of candor on Russian state TV, defense columnist Mikhail Khodaryonok gave a damning assessment of Russia's war. pic.twitter.com/0mr7WAgSx6 — Francis Scarr (@francis_scarr) May 16, 2022

“No one tells me anything,” said Efremenko, “They asked me to sign a document saying I accept my son died and they want to compensate me for his death. They have sent the same document to parents of all the other missing conscripts, too.”

Efremenko was in a Telegram chat with 80+ family members of those missing. Many have been told not to speak to the press or go public. “They are trying to buy my silence, but it won’t happen,” she said. “I will look for my son until the end."

We have many unanswered questions: why the hell were conscripts there? Why were they fighting? No one has been able to tell me this.”

Ukrainian forces counterattacked reaching the Russian border. Russian soldiers abandoned their allies from the Donbas. Wives of fighters complained their husbands were left behind as Russian soldiers retreated across the border.

Conscripts from Donetsk and Luhansk pictured with light body armor and badly outdated Mosin–Nagant rifles.

“They’re facing tanks and all they had were pistols,” the woman said.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: mosinnagant

1 posted on 05/18/2022 11:32:59 AM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Governments hide the truth. For the truth to come out Russia must bleed more. Any arguments against aiding Ukraine should take into consideration what Russia would do if the US was caught in a jam.


2 posted on 05/18/2022 11:40:25 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: DIRTYSECRET

I believe the Russian people will help their gov’t bleed more


3 posted on 05/18/2022 11:46:12 AM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (et, so p)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

EAXMPLE:
‘They were furious’: the Russian soldiers refusing to fight in Ukraine

Troops are saying no to officers, knowing that punishment is light while Russia is not technically at war

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/12/they-were-furious-the-russian-soldiers-refusing-to-fight-in-ukraine


4 posted on 05/18/2022 11:48:04 AM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (et, so p)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com
It is the guardian, they are far-left, and not to be trusted.

However, they are fairly good at finding fellow leftists and puting their words into print.

5 posted on 05/18/2022 11:50:42 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: DIRTYSECRET
Any arguments against aiding Ukraine should take into consideration what Russia would do if the US was caught in a jam.

Trump was attacked for Russia supposedly giving the Taliban bounties for dead US soldiers. This proved to be totally FALSE. The US was "in a jam" in Afghanistan - what did the Russians do?

Russia gave the US/NATO access to Russian bases in Central Asia for invasion of Afghanistan.

Who is making war on who?

6 posted on 05/18/2022 11:54:20 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com
I look at my government totally different

Welcome to the party pal.

7 posted on 05/18/2022 12:21:16 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: DIRTYSECRET

It’s that “we need to do this because of hypotheticals” nonsense that got the U.S. in a bind when the U.S. placed missiles in Turkey in 1961, leading to missles being placed in Cuba in 1962 in response. Almost a nuke war then.

Arming Ukraine allows a shiny object that Biden desperately needs to take people’s attention off of his domestic policy failures.

Now he’s expanded the shiny objects further by putting boits on the ground in Somopia, and people like you grease the skids for him.

It’s time for America First. Sending money to slush fund Ukraine, Hunters cash cow, last. We need to protect our own borders, Europe can protect Ukraine’s borders. They aren’t 30 trillion in debt and they have plenty of baby formula too.


8 posted on 05/18/2022 12:30:38 PM PDT by Its All Over Except ...
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To: DIRTYSECRET

And our own government lied about this not being a proxy war to bleed Russia and yet WaPo of all places flushed it out.

Do you support Biden wanting us neck deep in this mess using our money we need here?


9 posted on 05/18/2022 12:34:47 PM PDT by Its All Over Except ...
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To: Its All Over Except ...

You are right. I agree. Reagan made them pay for their meddling in Nicaragua and Afghanistan. He probably would have left them alone when it came to Ukraine.

$40-60 billion is a bit too much aid-way too much. I still say it’s right to make Putin pay a big price and make Western Europe think more seriously. They’re lucky we’re out there.


10 posted on 05/18/2022 2:22:30 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: PGR88

The U.S. never used Russian bases. We did use a former Soviet base at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. However, from the moment we moved in, Russia pressured Kyrgyzstan to kick us out. Eventually they gave in and eased us out by tripling the rent, knowing full well we wouldn’t pay.


11 posted on 05/18/2022 3:16:06 PM PDT by drop 50 and fire for effect ("Work relentlessly, accomplish much, remain in the background, and be more than you seem.")
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To: DIRTYSECRET

All I pretty much want is for Europe to grow up, quit sponging off of the U.S. to largely provide their protection, deal with Russia themselves because we’re broke and they need to grow up.


12 posted on 05/18/2022 3:57:26 PM PDT by Its All Over Except ...
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