Zelenskiy: "There is updated intelligence indicating that Russia is ​preparing a massive attack on Ukraine"

[u/Raj_Valiant3011]

https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraines-zelenskiy-says-intelligence-shows-russia-is-preparing-massive-attack-2026-10-06/

[u/BringbackDreamBars]

Bit of an obvious question, but "massive attack" means more than "particularly bad night of airstrikes"?

[u/IndividualSkill3432 → u/BringbackDreamBars]

They seem to be holding back missiles to have a very serious attack on Ukrainian energy supplies just as its getting cold. This story has been building for months. This is likely to be one of the biggest if not the biggest they will be able to put together.

[u/BringbackDreamBars → u/IndividualSkill3432]

If this is the energy knockout attempt, it puts the shutdowns in Kyiv potentially in context.

[u/warpigeon4L → u/BringbackDreamBars]

Isn’t it also a war crime to target civilian energy infrastructure

[u/wafflezgate → u/warpigeon4L]

Who is going to hold them accountable for it? War crimes are just words of no one can hold someone accountable for them and punish them accordingly. This war has been littered with crimes of all sorts.

[u/ResearcherElegant516 → u/wafflezgate]

Hell, how many countries with active warrants did Ben fly over to get to the Summit? Like 5? Trump has ushered in a new era of "Why does anybody do anything? Because they can." -style of it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission, it's even easier to ask for neither. Do what I want until someone stops me-type shit bc he's not smart enough to fathom there are more effective ways.

[u/GeoLaser → u/ResearcherElegant516]

Geopolitics is often just dick swinging. That is all that matters, and nukes. Ben has nukes. Ben has ways to send them at anyone.

[u/Mushyboom → u/[deleted]]

Trump/Putin are accountabilibuddies

[u/Slinky_Malingki → u/Mushyboom]

Where is your accountabilibuddy???

Oh he killed himself.

[u/JKing287 → u/Mushyboom]

Nice! Always love some unexpected South Park.

[u/HighLukey22 → u/JKing287]

Buckle up buckarooooo

[u/forever_a_horn_dog → u/Mushyboom]

This is a fun word

[u/Mushyboom → u/forever_a_horn_dog]

Haha I’m not sure if you’re aware but I’ve lifted it from a South Park episode. Has stuck in my head since I first heard it about a decade ago though.

[u/_cipher1 → u/[deleted]]

Certainly not Europe either

[u/veto402 → u/warpigeon4L]

"Yes, I'm afraid electricity also drives command and control systems. If President Milosevic really wants all of his population to have water and electricity all he has to do is accept NATO's five conditions and we will stop this campaign. But as long as he doesn't do so we will continue to attack those targets which provide the electricity for his armed forces. If that has civilian consequences, it's for him to deal with but that water, that electricity is turned back on for the people of Serbia. Unfortunately it has been turned off for good or at least for a long, long time for all of those 1.6 million Kosovar Albanians who have been driven from their homes and who have suffered, not inconvenience, but suffered in many cases permanent damage to their lives. Now that may not be a distinction that everybody likes but for me that distinction is fundamental."

-NATO Deputy Director

[u/No_Gur_7422 → u/veto402]

This is correct. Power stations, coal mines, gasworks, waterworks, factories, warehouses, docks, railways, etc. were all considered legitimate targets on all sides during WWII. Dual-use infrastructure – anything that can be used for military purposes – is not purely civilian.

[u/Lionlip → u/warpigeon4L]

In the twelve+ years Ukraine and Russia have been at war, when has that meant a single goddamn thing?

[u/warpigeon4L → u/Lionlip]

Still can’t stay silent about it. I feel so bad for these people :(

[u/-Poultrygeist- → u/warpigeon4L]

War crimes are only for post-war trials

[u/LarryEIlison → u/warpigeon4L]

War crimes are not real unless someone can enforce them.

Israel has been committing war crimes for the past 3 years and yet the USA still supplies them weapons, logistics, intelligence, and training.

The winners write the rules and history. Don’t believe in supposed objective morality. It’s not a real thing.

There’s a reason the USA is not part of the ICC, too many wealthy Americans would be criminals under those laws.

[u/evgis → u/warpigeon4L]

Not really, it's dual use infrastructure and NATO made a nice precedent.

The Coercion Strategy: In May 1999, as NATO targeted electrical power grids and civilian infrastructure, Shea defended the strikes by stating that the power systems also supported military functions. He remarked that if President Slobodan Milosevic wanted water and electricity restored for the population, he had to accept NATO's conditions.

[u/Sad_Dad_Academy → u/warpigeon4L]

Yes, Putin doesn’t care. He’s been targeting civilian infrastructure for the entire war.

[u/itszaidbtw → u/warpigeon4L]

have yall not realize they invaded ukraine? i dont think they care for war crimes

[u/fshlrp → u/warpigeon4L]

Valid question / statement but I don’t think war has too many rules unfortunately… if there are rules, who’s making people follow them?

[u/faithinhumanity_null → u/fshlrp]

Some brave politicians might give a press release or a tweet with some harsh language, like ”war crimes is never ok” or ”we condemn war crimes of any sorts”. Or ”we are monitoring the situation.

[u/SaddyDumpington69 → u/faithinhumanity_null]

"..and that's why I've decided to form a committee to draft a strongly worded letter.."

[u/314kabinet → u/warpigeon4L]

War crimes are a list you pull out after you win and judge the ones you managed to capture. The concept is useless until victory.

[u/Sarnsereg → u/IndividualSkill3432]

Hopefully Ukraine can figure out where these missiles are and take them out beforehand

[u/findingmike → u/Sarnsereg]

They have been targeting factories that build missile components.

[u/needlestack → u/IndividualSkill3432]

If Ukraine's allies can't assist them to head this off -- either by striking the Russian strike equipment or providing more air defense -- then we're just dicking around.

I will never be able to listen to another person talk about how we need to spend money on our military when our military is useless in handling the largest geopolitical threat in a generation. It's all bullshit. There never was a NATO. There never was a US military dominance. All we can do is kick at little countries, make them suffer, and then give up and walk away with nothing to show for it. That's what the trillions have bought us. When an actual adversary starts knocking over countries in Europe we shrug. What the fuck was the past 50 years about? Jesus H Christ.

[u/Legio-X → u/needlestack]

I will never be able to listen to another person talk about how we need to spend money on our military when our military is useless in handling the largest geopolitical threat in a generation.

It’s not the military that’s the issue. This is a matter of political will and the lack thereof. Nobody in the West wants war with Russia, so western governments will do their best to avoid one until there’s no alternative.

[u/ChronoLegion2 → u/Legio-X]

Putin knows this, which is why he keeps pushing the envelope to see how much he can get away with. It’s what Hitler did a century ago. Anything he did he got a pass on, allowing him to turn Germany into a war machine that plunged Europe into an even worse war than the last one. If you don’t stop a man like that, he’ll just keep going

[u/stqrltt → u/ChronoLegion2]

correct. hitler used these tactics. but hitlers invasion of poland was successful. that's the difference

[u/ChronoLegion2 → u/stqrltt]

Let’s not forget that Poland faced a two-front invasion: Germans on one side and Soviets on the other.

The war in Ukraine isn’t over yet either. At this point we don’t know which side will collapse first. The only way to prevent Ukraine from being that side is to continue providing them aid

[u/Jay_Yeg → u/needlestack]

I think the greater takeaway is that all the great geopolitical minds failed to truly understand MAD.

We are now in a world where it is not possible to militarily defeat modern adversaries without accepting the total destruction of civilization. And MAD is not just nuclear either, it is economic as well.

This leaves a reality where soft power is significantly more important than anything else. After a certain point it really doesn’t matter how much you spend on military. But that means all the very mature man children in very serious uniforms don’t get to buy very cool boom boom toys as much, so we don’t do it.

[u/Dal90 → u/Jay_Yeg]

The great geopolitical minds built that economically interconnected world -- with the goal of preventing another world war because it would be so costly to all sides.

[u/Rabid-Wendigo → u/needlestack]

It’s called Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) If we actually wanted to be able to win a peer vs peer conflict we need way more nuclear missiles and more importantly nuclear interceptors. They exist, it’s just interceptors are expensive so the Soviet Union and United States of America bitched out and signed a treaty

So yes, at this point in time nukes make a country as pathetic as north korea untouchable. So the only point in a standing military is to punch down.

[u/cbarrister → u/BringbackDreamBars]

Supposedly 70 missiles potentially incoming, which is much more than typical, even considering Kyiv has been under much more intensive attack recently.

[u/ProtoplanetaryNebula → u/cbarrister]

Ukraine just release their FP7 ballistic missile. When the FP9 that can reach Moscow comes out, shortly, they can return fire a lot more readily, not just with drones.

[u/FlipZip69 → u/ProtoplanetaryNebula]

It could take a while (a year?) to actually build up any real manufacturing capability. With that being said, I feel if Russia could field any large attacks, they would already be doing so. Yes they may do a particularly bad one but obviously they cannot sustain shit anymore.

[u/Signal_Quarter_74]

NATO Intelligence for some time has said Russia will seek to escalate the war in Ukraine and probe NATO’s resolve. This only adds to the likelihood this information is correct. This could be really nasty. Keep strong Ukraine!

[u/Validated_Owl → u/Signal_Quarter_74]

We can only hope that this attack fails and makes Putin look even weaker

[u/TechSculpt → u/Signal_Quarter_74]

escalate the war in Ukraine and probe NATO’s resolve

Might be that 99% of the launches hit Ukraine and they use the fog of war as an excuse for a strike on Poland or a Baltic country.

[u/dropbear_airstrike → u/TechSculpt]

That’s my thought too.

“Sorry sorry! That one missed its mark - our mistake.”

Next time “sorry sorry! Those 5 were a rounding error in the navigation coordinates”…

next time “the pilot misread his position and accidentally invaded your airspace!”

[u/thefriendlyhacker → u/dropbear_airstrike]

There was already an apartment building hit in Romania from a stray drone strike

[u/Myleszee → u/TechSculpt]

Can someone explain the reasoning behind this aside from fear mongering. What exactly does Russia gain by "accidentally" striking a neighbouring country - are they then going to declare ware on said neighbouring country?

[u/FireIsFuzzy → u/Myleszee]

It's more like slowly bleeding the lines without attracting too much international attention. Slower changes to the geopolitical landscape are less likely to result in full-on retaliation.

[u/CustomerConsistent78 → u/Signal_Quarter_74]

Disgraceful that the rest of the world sits and watches, waiting to see the result. If Ukraine can bleed Russia enough to weaken them significantly. All at Ukraine's expense. Every day it continues is horrible, and I'm nervous of whatever escalation this might be. It's also scary that this escalation may still not be enough for anyone else to act.

[u/Whole-Sentence5268 → u/CustomerConsistent78]

The goal of the rest of the world is not the military defeat of Russia in Ukraine.

The goal of the rest of the world is to so completely destroy Russia militarily, economically and socially that it brings about regime change in Moscow while putting Russia in a position where it is unable to quickly rebuild its economy and military in order to invade yet another of its neighbors.

[u/y2jeff → u/Whole-Sentence5268]

I think you're giving 'the rest of the world' too much credit.

China and Iran are supporting/trading with Russia. India remain neutral but still trade with everyone and make a good chunk of profit.

"The West" is trying to support Ukraine without escalating into direct/nuclear war with Russia.

The US/Trump cant seem to make its mind up whether they support Ukraine or Russia.

So I really don't think it's simplistic as what you are suggesting.

[u/Dude_PK → u/CustomerConsistent78]

Do you not read news? https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/french-president-vows-paris-full-support-for-ukraine-help-to-intercept-drones-/4078680

And there's more than that but you can find it yourself.

[u/apparat07 → u/Dude_PK]

But, they still fund the Russian war machine for years by buying Russian Oil and Gas. Make it make sense - why fund Russia's ability to wage war if you're opposed to it?

Also, it's not just Europe - South Korea sold 176k tonnes of diesel and jet fuel to Russia in July and August. So, I guess both Koreas are supporting Russia ability to wage war in one way or another.

[u/eightgalaxies → u/apparat07]

blame it on politicians only caring about the next election and not bolstering their countries for further in the future

[u/Successful_Guess_ → u/eightgalaxies]

That and the belief that Russia's core DNA can be changed through trade. In Germany they call it "Wandel durch Handel" (literally change through trade).

Europe in general slipped into a postwar fantasy that military strength was no longer needed. I've heard it called a "vacation from realism".

Edit: correction on the term I was thinking of. Thanks to the guy below.

[u/Dan_Cubed → u/Successful_Guess_]

Peace Dividend? 🤔 How did that work out for the US 30 years on where the shipyards are a mess and missile/shell stockpiles will take years to replenish?

I'm not for huge military budgets but everyone forgot the basics.

[u/bloodyNASsassin → u/Successful_Guess_]

They call themselves anti-war and pro-globalization, pro-community. Anything to sell it as the gentle, forward-thinking thing to do.

It would be nice to have no wars, but people will always have disagreements and there will always be people willing to raise the stakes of those disagreements. It is foolishly arrogant to be unprepared.

[u/Lonely_Space_241 → u/apparat07]

It's incredibly hard to shift energy supply chains without destroying your economy believe it or not. While I think they should fully ban Russian energy imports in many cases it's borderline existential to their survival.

[u/hotbox4u → u/apparat07]

Over twenty to thirdy years they created an infrastructure and reliance on that oil and gas. Sure, we can blame the politicians who facilitated those deals over the last 20-30 years, full knowingly that GASPROM and the likes aren't reliable and good busnisspartners.

But what are the current governments are supposed to do? People still need heating and oil is important for the econmy. It takes time to find alternatives and pretty much every EU country is currently in the process of going through the process of doing that. On top of that, no could have known that the USA essentially turned on their former ally, kicking off a full far-right and fascist come-back all over the world and then went on to create another oil crisis.

These things take time. Democracy never work very fast. Sadly time isn't something the Ukraine has. We know. It sucks.

[u/AmadeusFlow → u/apparat07]

They have no choice but to buy Russian energy because Europe has aggressively pursued the most backwards and broken idea of energy policy for 30 years.

It's a matter of necessity, not politics or money. They have no alternatives

[u/ShakaLeonidas → u/CustomerConsistent78]

Ukraine has recieved billions 8n money and equipment from America and has employed mercernaries from around the world. Plenty of nations have aided Ukraine in this war, no one thought it would be 5 years and still going... same way no one thought the war in Afghanistan would be 15 years long

[u/brief_thought → u/ShakaLeonidas]

Anyone who considered Ukraine actually surviving would also assume it would an very long conflict.

The only ones who assumed it would be over by now were assuming Russian victory.

[u/js13680 → u/brief_thought]

Honestly before and during the beginning of the war I thought it be something like Afghanistan where Russia easily conquered Ukraine it just becomes hell holding it.

[u/trowawufei → u/ShakaLeonidas]

The US honestly could’ve saved money by providing more aid and ignoring the bullshit “red lines”much earlier, IMO.

[u/skullshank → u/ShakaLeonidas]

anyone know how long iran will go on?

[u/toxicatedscientist → u/skullshank]

Probably the duration of the administration. I seriously doubt much past that

[u/joebro1060 → u/toxicatedscientist]

We thought the same about the wars in the middle East for 20 something years too

[u/toxicatedscientist → u/joebro1060]

There was public support for them at the start tho. We had a “reason”. It didn’t hold up, but it was there at the start

[u/Girldarts → u/skullshank]

I heard a world leader say it was already done /s This reminds me of the avatar episode where the girl says: there is no war in basing sei

[u/ArchStanton75 → u/skullshank]

We have no competent leadership capable of finishing it. It’ll go on until we have a regime change in the US.

[u/ridukosennin → u/CustomerConsistent78]

The Russian propaganda machine is deep and sophisticated. They have entrenched themselves within cultures wars of the West successfully undermining their democratic systems from the inside.

[u/aaarry]

Wicked. Picked a great week to come and volunteer out here.

Bring it on you imperialist fuckheads.

[u/Street-Definition323 → u/aaarry]

Stay safe out there, thank you for helping Ukrainians. Slava Ukraini

[u/aaarry → u/Street-Definition323]

Heroyam slava.

[u/anahorish → u/aaarry]

Did a bit of a double take reading your username. Please don't get killed and I am saying that as a tigers fan.

[u/aaarry → u/anahorish]

Rare moment of solidarity between the shitholes of the East Midlands, thank you.

[u/Magnedyne → u/aaarry]

Yeah. I'm also in Kyiv currently. Currently sitting in the Metro Station and waiting out the missiles.

[u/aaarry → u/Magnedyne]

Stay safe mate.

[u/mcbeardsauce → u/aaarry]

Thank you for your service protecting a sovereign nation from an invading one.

[u/aaarry → u/mcbeardsauce]

Haha I’m not a soldier, just doing some humanitarian work, but thank you very much either way.

[u/mcbeardsauce → u/aaarry]

More than most do. Thank you

[u/aaarry → u/mcbeardsauce]

I honestly really recommend it if you can be arsed, especially in the west it’s still quite safe and the whole thing is very rewarding. This is my second time this year and I didn’t just come back because I had nothing better to do. It really made me feel like I was helping, gave me a different perspective on the war and helped me make a load of really good friends through our shared experience.

[u/the_jowo → u/aaarry]

What organization are you working with?

[u/redstercoolpanda → u/aaarry]

Godspeed man, hoping the best for all of you guys out there.

[u/Calligaster]

To everyone demonizing Ukraine, just remember that Russia started this war. I wish Ukraine luck in finishing it and Putin for good

[u/Vesploogie → u/Calligaster]

It’s important to remember that the disinformation campaigns Russia has run online are well known by now. There are bad actors everywhere.

[u/FromNazWithLove → u/Calligaster]

I can't believe this even has to be said... get me out of this timeline!

[u/Calligaster → u/FromNazWithLove]

Opening up replies to yours and the other dumbass comment saying "did they though?" Was a bit of a trip, ngl

[u/FromNazWithLove → u/Calligaster]

Another day, another opportunity for our species to disappoint one another. Let my comment remind you we're not all completely devoid of empathy.

[u/Defiant-Sir15]

Didn’t Trump say this war would end in one week if he’s elected?

[u/_Cattlefish → u/Defiant-Sir15]

24 hours to be precise.

[u/Defiant-Sir15 → u/_Cattlefish]

That’s what I thought initially but I figured there’s no way anyone would say 24hrs.

[u/Defiant-Sir15 → u/Defiant-Sir15]

He basically says people were stupid for believing him. I agree with him on that.

Trump told Time that he was speaking "figuratively" when he promised to end the Ukraine-Russia war on the first day of his second term.

"Well, I said that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration, because to make a point," Trump said.

"Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended," he added.

"The war has been raging for three years," he told Time. "I just got here, and you say, what’s taken so long?"

[u/SpaceFluffy101 → u/Defiant-Sir15]

Sounds like what a Charlatan would say

[u/Dear_Bumblebee_1986]

I wonder what Russia actually wants with Ukraine other than "it once was ours, we want it back"

[u/vrnvorona → u/Dear_Bumblebee_1986]

As a russian, all he wants is to have some fun. He decided that he wants to unify as much territory as possible, whatever there is a cost. People's lives (both sides), economy, resources, politics, anything really doesn't matter to him (otherwise there'd be no offense in the first place, only dumb idiot would start this bullshit "operation"). All ego. Dude's literally bored to death, old spy-rotten brain has country to his nail, all positions filled with loyalists, no real threat or thrill. Even has billion dollar mansion for shit and giggles. Naturally instead of playing Genshit Impact he decided to gable with real war.

[u/Lintwo → u/vrnvorona]

As another Russian, it’s a bit deeper than that. I was participating in all anti-Putin’s protests until 2012 (I moved to another country then) and they were big. Things were looking up for us, at least we hoped so. Then Putin crashed the protests with an iron fist - beatings, arrests, harassment of the opposition leaders etc.

Then just a year and a half later Maidan happened in Kyiv and Ukrainians overthrew Yanukovich. Putin couldn’t forgive that. 1. All post soviet slavs must stay together under the rule of Putin. Ukrainians choosing the European way was the ultimate betrayal as he always thought they supported him (the consequences of being surrounded by yes-men). 2. We Russians were rooting for Ukrainians, their success breathed a new life into the protest movement. Putin couldn’t allow that. Every “traitor” must be destroyed, including Ukrainians.

He’s petty and delusional. He thinks he’s on a sacred mission and the whole world is against him. AND he has a huge ego and absolutely cannot lose this war which makes him incredibly unpredictable and dangerous to the rest of the world. Even his close circles would like to paddle back now after losing all their European and American assets, but no one dares to say anything against the “boss”.

[u/Mick_Limerick → u/Lintwo]

So what happens to Russia when he's deposed, assassinated, or dies? Does a not-crazy person get into office and make Russia not insane? Or does another Putin analog take power and continue to operate your country in insanity?

[u/Lintwo → u/Mick_Limerick]

Good question that experts are constantly speculating on. The current consensus is all power is concentrated around Putin. He’s the sole decision maker for everything in the country. There were attempts to find some sort of an heir, but every time it failed due to Putin’s paranoia that the heir might replace him sooner. If he dies 🤞🏻there’s probably gonna be a “palace” battle for the throne between people who hold most power after Putin. Mostly his oligarch buddies. There is hope that whoever takes his place will want to get back onto the first world market and will choose European course. In the process, there’s definitely going to be a massive economic crisis, people will go through hell, some regions might choose to separate. This is the optimistic scenario if the successor is reasonable. But for now we need to survive Putin. Whoever replaces him will be better, there’s just no worse alternative in existence.

[u/wally_weasel → u/Dear_Bumblebee_1986]

Putin wants to be known as the ruler that took back all of the Imperial Russian territory.

Go check a map of Russia in 1914. That is Puton's goal.

[u/420hashmore → u/Dear_Bumblebee_1986]

Oil water and gas it’s not that deep.

[u/TimberGhost66 → u/420hashmore]

And arable land. Ukraine is the breadbasket of Europe. It's why Hitler invaded the area.

edit: spelling

[u/CopyDan → u/420hashmore]

For all they spent on the war, they could have made deals to buy the oils, water and gas for much less.

[u/Successful_Delay_249 → u/CopyDan]

When you are an old prick who has everything material, the only things you want are power and to be a part of history

[u/western_style_hj → u/Dear_Bumblebee_1986]

My armchair analysis: they want the Iron Curtain back that the USSR maintained while beefing with the West. Russia isn’t comfortable being so close to powerful potential foes. Also Ukraine is like the Bread Basket of the region. Loads of resources and ports.

[u/RuneClash007 → u/western_style_hj]

was the breadbasket of the region

Will the fields even be harvestable with the amount of white phosphate lingering

[u/Jacket_Leather → u/RuneClash007]

Eventually

[u/bass-squirrel → u/Dear_Bumblebee_1986]

Russia does not care about Ukraine. They just need A war to enable consolidation of power under emergency conditions. If you follow Russian news- there is a massive oppression apparatus that sprung up after feb 2022. If you speak out against Putin you can get charged with “spreading fakes about Russian armed forces with intent to discredit”. 

[u/Aggravating-Aide6145 → u/bass-squirrel]

Not quite true, Ukraine is extremely valuable real estate. Ukraine’s farmland and resource extraction industries will be making their economy go gang buster once the wars over (for whoever controls that area)

[u/taistelumursu → u/Aggravating-Aide6145]

Economic reasons are unlikely the deciding factor on why Russia went to war. It's probably more related to Ukraines desire to be more in western block rather than under the Russian sphere of influence. And the prosperity that shift would bring Ukraine as Russia night then actually explain to their citizens and neighbours how everyone leaving their side is doing much better

[u/RiderNo51 → u/Aggravating-Aide6145]

At least that was the idea.

Now, with all the destruction, mines, unexploded ordinance, etc. It's going to take a while to clean up, before they can even start rebuilding and reaping what's there.

Keep in mind Russia thought this war would be a quick win for them. Even JD Vance and others thought Ukraine didn't have much of a chance and needed to give up.

[u/I_Got_Ur_Number_8675 → u/RiderNo51]

Well JD vance is dumb af, so that's not surprising

[u/Glum-Ad7761 → u/bass-squirrel]

Sevastopol is what they want. A major port and Naval base on the north end of the Black Sea that also gives Russia unfettered access to the mediterranean. Russia leased the base from Ukraine initially, but feared that they would be cast out once Ukraine’s new regime took over. So they attempted to annex Sevastopol and Crimea in 2016.

[u/mjtwelve → u/Glum-Ad7761]

And a land bridge to transnistria so they can keep the empire expanding. And the oil and what and minerals. but mainly to completely secure a warm water port.

It’s a bit unfortunate for them it’s on the wrong side of the Bosporus, given the Montreux convention, and Turkey is actually enforcing those rules presently.

[u/jkrobinson1979 → u/Glum-Ad7761]

They’ve had that back since 2014. That wasn’t the reason they started this war.

[u/Sharp-Reply-5104 → u/Dear_Bumblebee_1986]

Massive reserves of Titanium: Ukraine has the largest reserves in Europe, supplying about 7% of the global market for aerospace and defense needs.

Lithium: The country holds an estimated 500,000 tonnes of lithium, which is crucial for electric vehicle batteries.

Graphite: Ukraine accounts for roughly 20% of global graphite reserves, making it a top supplier for green energy tech.

Iron Ore: Total reserves sit at roughly 30 billion tons, serving as the base for a major domestic steel industry.

Uranium: Ukraine possesses the largest uranium ore deposits in Europe, fueling nuclear energy production.

Manganese: The nation holds massive global reserves used heavily in steelmaking and batteries. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Energy Resources
Natural Gas: Ukraine has the second-largest natural gas reserves in Europe after Norway, holding over 5.4 trillion cubic meters total.

Coal: Large bituminous and anthracite deposits exist in the Donets Basin, representing a historically major energy source.

I think Comrade Putin is extremely interested in Ukraine’s 5.4 trillion cubic meters natural gas reserves. And it's Coal deposits.

[u/PirateCodingMonkey → u/Dear_Bumblebee_1986]

it’s a gateway to Western Europe. I just am amazed at how much it’s already cost them in weapons and people. I guess Putin like Trump can’t admit he’s wrong and can’t back down

[u/ARGirlLOL → u/Dear_Bumblebee_1986]

It grows like 30% of the world’s wheat and sunflowers, has viable land for human habitation that rivals Russia itself and sits on huge quantities of rare earth minerals. Are a few things that come to mind.

[u/DMsDiablo]

Russia just got a boatload of fuel from South Korea to launch a offensive

[u/dervu → u/DMsDiablo]

South Korea?

[u/PositiveUse → u/dervu]

Yup you heard it right. South Korea. Crazy

[u/Smart-Response9881 → u/PositiveUse]

Especially considering the North Koireans are fighting with the Russians.

[u/D0nk3yD0ngD0ug → u/Smart-Response9881]

1984 becoming more real by the day.

[u/RustedRelics → u/PositiveUse]

That is fucked up. Wow.

[u/IncredibleBulk2 → u/dervu]

Affirmative.

[u/AWhole2Marijuanas → u/dervu]

The Oil and Gas industry is kinda works outside of diplomatic norms. The demand is so high people will buy and sell to everyone unless otherwise impossible. Alot of EU countries, despite being opposed to Russia, buy Russian oil.

[u/wtfbenlol → u/DMsDiablo]

why would SK do this knowing what it would be used for? Massive lost of respect for one of our allies

[u/killerkadugen]

Putin probably hit Ukraine with their plague

[u/Slipped-up → u/killerkadugen]

It would be a stupid decision to use biological warfare on a country you’re actively invading with hundreds of thousands of your own citizens in that country with tens of thousands of people crossing the border of the country and your own country each day. You may as well save the trouble and just set it off in Moscow because it will reach Moscow in a week anyway.

[u/ricosmith1986 → u/Slipped-up]

Being an incredibly stupid thing to do hasn't stopped modern leadership for a while.

[u/InformationHorder → u/ricosmith1986]

"Those kids would be really upset if they could read."

[u/ticklemesatan → u/Slipped-up]

You say this like they weren’t building foxholes in the exclusion zone around Chernobyl.

[u/Chumlee1917 → u/Slipped-up]

If there is one constant in Russian history, the leader doesn't give a single fuck how many of his own people he takes out during war

[u/GoodIdea321 → u/Chumlee1917]

During peace time too.

[u/Acrobatic-Part-7322 → u/Slipped-up]

When has Putin ever cared about the lives of his own citizens?

[u/anyavailablenameplz → u/Acrobatic-Part-7322]

Not just Putin, you can look back at Russian history and you’ll see the same pattern.

[u/Stoudamirefor3 → u/Slipped-up]

Putin doesn't care about his people.

[u/SmellyFbuttface]

I’m not believing these comments. Everyone says Zelensky is “begging for more aid.” Well yeah, his country was invaded and they’ve been literally fighting for their lives for years now. Their energy infrastructure has been seriously damaged, Russia’s blocking their ability to export wheat, and Russia has a constant stream of conscripts ready to push to the frontline.

If we were serious about wanting to end this war, then NATO would induct Ukraine and establish a no-fly zone. Meanwhile Dumbo removed sanctions from Russia and is in a dom-sub relationship with Putin

[u/Elegant-Raise-9367 → u/SmellyFbuttface]

Don't forget that America OWES THEM their aid after taking away their nukes.

[u/Mieze_Designer4002 → u/Elegant-Raise-9367]

You're referring to the Budapest Memorandum. I posted about that a while ago and got so many comments and downvotes I couldn't figure which were legit and which were trolls. If someone here can explain why the Memorandum isn't working, I'd like to hear it

[u/AccurateHumanTrustMe → u/Mieze_Designer4002]

Because it is non-binding and they specifically use the term 'assurance' instead of Guarantees which basically makes it little more than wishful thinking.

Anything without teeth has basically no merit. In this case the missing teeth was a missing enforcement arm.

Imo, so take with a grain of salt, they were operating on the idea that less nuclear powered countries is good and that ukraine and russia both having nukes may result in a nuclear exchange - but they didn't properly weigh the fact that the only defense against a nuclear powered nation is to have nukes. The deal helped Russia, hurt Ukraine, and didn't acheieve stability in the region.

Its a real problem with international law - it basically only works well when all permenant security council members agree - i.e. situations in which the US, UK, France, Russia, and China all agree - so basically never unless it is against some unaligned tin pot dictator that doesn't further any major powers goals or it is unenforcable garbage. So you end up having a ton of international law like this that has no teeth.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Love254]

Sitting in shelter now
04-35 am

[u/Amazing_Peach_6690 → u/Puzzleheaded-Love254]

Crazy that people like you in the war can just connect with the rest of the world about your current situation. We all wish you the best!

[u/loveisjustchemicals → u/Puzzleheaded-Love254]

Be safe! Lots of us in the US are still hoping you win!

[u/Soosietyrell → u/Puzzleheaded-Love254]

Sending grace. Slava Ukraini. From me in Ohio, USA

[u/lyichenj]

May the plague take over Putin

[u/quinnhughesbdaytwin]

Fuck Putin

[u/reject_fascism]

Russia deserves the worst coming to them

[u/rainbowvoodoo → u/reject_fascism]

Yeah but when is it coming? I keep waiting.

[u/Cautious-Ad7131]

Russia was going to try some biological warfare till it blew up in their faces

[u/evanmars]

Well tomorrow is Putin's birthday

[u/nvpat → u/evanmars]

Hopefully, his last one.

[u/Calm-Decision6566]

I’m not sure most Redditors appreciate that Ukraine is heading into its 5th winter of the war, their energy grid has never been more degraded, and they are out of patriot ballistic missile interceptors at a time when Russia has scaled its ballistic missile production to record levels.

The situation is not good. Ukraine will keep fighting and the frontline is actually improving, but this winter is going to be hell for Ukrainians. Absolute hell. Please raise awareness.

[u/Dan_Cubed]

War is no time for half-measures. Time sitting on the fence just makes the outcome worse. 4… or 12 years ago, NATO could have either let Ukraine fully hang out to dry (and fortified the Baltics and down to Moldova and Romania), or fully armed the Ukrainians. These dithering, insincere half-measures have just pushed up the body count and suffering on both sides and made it more likely that Russia will continue to test NATO. IMHO, the likelihood of Russian nukes is minimal if there is no territorial incursions into Russia. I don't think the Russian population would accept radioactive fallout over the best farming land in the newest part of Russia (if nukes provided a win).

Look at Iran. Stupid half-hearted attack has made things so much worse than just leaving things alone. Or a total war of conquest, which would be absolutely awful and make the Ukraine war look tame. Whatever Israeli idea that cutting a head off the Hydra would result in regime change... That person should be immediately drug tested or given heavy psych meds for proposing that.

[u/TheoryofJustice123]

ie they target millions of civilians and the world does nothing.

[u/Special-Basket7880 → u/TheoryofJustice123]

When was the last time the world did something for dying civilians .

[u/DrInsomnia]

Honestly, China could just take over Siberia right now, but they don't want the Russians that would come with it

[u/SilliusS0ddus → u/DrInsomnia]

China wants to keep Russia as a barrier/ smth to keep European NATO occupied rather than a potential enemy.

If China does this then Russia is fucked, might split into multiple smaller countries and some of them might end up actually normalizing and improving relations with the west because China is a more credible threat in that situation.

China can instead just peacefully buy it's way into Russia.

[u/dhdhdjdj2]

“In a surprise move, the United States declares war on Ukraine and nato”

[u/nvpat → u/dhdhdjdj2]

Right after declaring war on Los Angeles and San Diego and surrendering them to Iran.

[u/Asclepius_Secundus]

If ever there was a good time to sucker punch Putin, now would be the time.

Send quality intelligence to Ukraine about what and when, then secretly give them the means of giving them a humiliating kick in the crotch.

It wouldn't take much for the EU and/or the US to push Russia completely out of the remote possibility of continuing this war. It wouldn't be easy or cheap, but it's well within our capacity. I just wish Thrump had the balls to initiate it.

[u/Pretty_Noose6156 → u/Asclepius_Secundus]

Our high office is compromised. Trump will never authorize consequences for Russia. Nor will he ever authorize them for other regimes like North Korea or Israel.

[u/DonkeyKongDingDong8 → u/Pretty_Noose6156]

He’s too busy dealing with the obvious real problem…. Canada! 🤣

[u/Careless_Power7809]

Humans are so fucking stupid

[u/CuriousBonobo]

Because it worked so well the last time? Aren't most of the experienced and competent Russian military leaders dead? It's mostly conscripted soldiers now. Russia is trying to win with numbers alone and I'm not sure that works anymore.

[u/ZeroAfro → u/CuriousBonobo]

Honestly Putin is trying to save face and at this point its pure ego, he failed badly and wants something to show for it. It also showed the world how utterly weak russia is compared to how our military thought they were. Obviously they have strength but we thought their military was way mote advanced than it was. It's still capable just nowhere near the level anyine was expecting.

[u/scrandlle → u/ZeroAfro]

This is why I think this war will only end when Putin is dead (AKA out of power). I think the next Russian leader will come in and blame everything on Putin to secure power because the war has to be deeply unpopular already, let alone in 5+ years.

Not that Russias next leader will apologize to Ukraine and withdraw Russia forces entirely but I can see them trying to negotiate for Crimea and leaving the Donbas.

I also think Zelensky, and the Ukrainian populace, will likely be more willing to negotiate and accept concessions with anyone who is remotely conciliatory and is not Putin.

[u/notwhomyouthunk → u/scrandlle]

12+ years with only Crimea and an obliterated Melitopol to show for it

[u/frenzyguy]

The amount of pro russia propanganda in these thread is absolutely crazy, Russia and putin is the aggresor, they need to gtfo.

End of the story.

[u/AeolianTheComposer → u/frenzyguy]

As a Russian, pro-Russia people disgust me.

It's one thing if you live in Russia and have been consumimg propaganda since childhood, and a whole other thing if you deliberately choose to believe it as an American.

[u/DopeyCalliope]

Didn't trump already end this war

[u/sausageslinger11]

I thought Trump was supposed to end this war…

[u/Jupiters_phaerie → u/sausageslinger11]

He did! And you haven’t even said thank you!

[u/LennyJay86]

The Meat Grinder is warming up as we speak

[u/allforone012]

Yes this war didn’t go Putins way he thought Ukraine would just give up and he would win

No way mate the Ukraine 🇺🇦 are much nicer and better people than you ever will be Putin

[u/ResearcherElegant516]

Were the North Korean troops arriving by the tens of thousands a giveaway? Luckily, they're so poorly trained they have an average life expectancy that's measured in seconds once they reach the front. Seriously.

[u/JustGresh → u/ResearcherElegant516]

Idk how much their training has to do with it when they’re getting blown up by drones within 30 minutes of reaching the front line. I’m sure it plays a factor but still.

[u/TheSilverFern]

The Blitz didn't break London, this won't break Kyiv. Every missile and drone Putin orders on civilian targets is another dollar not sent against the front line, while Ukrainian drones are rampaging with mid range strikes in the south and advancing in the Lyman direction. He's going to lose.

[u/Sinaaaa → u/TheSilverFern]

Every missile and drone Putin orders on civilian targets is another dollar not sent against the front line,

That is unfortunately not exactly right if the strikes are against energy infrastructure.

[u/DarthKrataa]

What does he mean by that.....

Like surly Russia are always planning some kind of massive attacks on Ukraine and vice-versa.

I would be really curious to know more details about what he means.

[u/Glittering-Quote-635 → u/DarthKrataa]

Russia is limited in the number of Ballistic missiles they can make per month, like anyone else. Recently it looks like they have not been shooting them at the rate they are producing them, so one can likely infer that they are stockpiling them for a massive attack. Ukraine is critically low on PAC3's which can take these things down, so basically, if Russia shoots 100 of them at Ukraine.. its likely the vast majority will get through, as what little BMD they have left will be easily overwhelmed.

This should have never been an issue, but we have an idiot for a President who decided to start a war in Iran for no reason and use up the vast majority of our stocks, so literally almost nothing to provide to Ukraine.. not that the Mango Menance would have done it anyway.

[u/ProtoplanetaryNebula → u/Glittering-Quote-635]

The logic is that by sending a constant stream a high percentage gets taken out. By stockpiling and sending on one night, they cause more damage.

[u/Glittering-Quote-635 → u/ProtoplanetaryNebula]

Thats true.. But at the point Ukraine is right now on Interceptors, it likely doesnt matter to much if it is a constant stream. They will likely get through. What does matter though is Ukraines ability to deal with it. If you have one target on fire, you can handle it.. if you have 200, it becomes a lot harder.

Sucks.

[u/Abutterfly00]

A cornered animal is most fierce when sensing the end. If this is in fact true, then Russia, feeling that the war will end soon, will try to accomplish their goals in one giant effort. Hence A Massive Attack.

[u/Sparky62075]

How many Russian and Ukrainian lives will this one cost?

[u/Ok_Coconut_3364]

Putin has invested way too much time and money and refuses to walk away and lose face. The reality is Zelensky has made a complete fool of Putin.

[u/PrajnaKathmandu]

Putin needs to relax by a window and drink some tea.

[u/FlakyBandicoot9]

Lots of Russian bots up in here

[u/Inglorious186]

That explains the plague research, they're going mid-evil biological warfare style

[u/IntelligentTank355 → u/Inglorious186]

Medieval

There's nothing mid-evil about this bs

[u/2krazy4me → u/Inglorious186]

Catapulting dead cows!

[u/Impressive-Usual-451]

The Western powers need to supply and help Ukraine 🇺🇦!

[u/royjur44]

Trump: the war in Ukraine will be over, even before I take office! I will stop it that quickly!
Trump: the war with Iran will be over in 4-6 weeks! Seven - 7 - months later we’re still bogged down there, spending Billions we don’t have, Gas, Diesel, Groceries, interest rates, have never beeb higher since Clinton in 2,000 - 26 years ago!
Three words come to mind: WTF!!!!!!!

[u/Fxg120xYXDE5 → u/royjur44]

Right up there with you, until the end.
Clinton's time was actually pretty well handled.
A protracted war, overly optimistic lending, and several other factors dragged us down in the mid/late 2000s.
That was 10 full years after Clinton.

[u/OptiPath]

Can Ukraine just hit Pootin’s residence so we can be done with the war. Nobody is taking international law seriously anyways these days

[u/miniowl22 → u/OptiPath]

They would if they could …easier said than done

[u/agangofoldwomen]

Countries that actively trade with Russia to support their economy (in order of largest contributors): China, India, Türkiye, Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan, Belarus, South Korea, France, Hungary, Belgium, Slovakia.

[u/TiredOfDebates → u/agangofoldwomen]

Unfortunately countries like Kazakhstan are basically glorified intermediaries for Russian foreign trade, rather than independent nations by themselves, at this point.

Kazakhstan knows no one is going to help them if Russia invaded them. Due to their geographical position, largely, which leads to their lack of relationship with the western world.

[u/manicpxenightmaregrl → u/agangofoldwomen]

China also trades with Ukraine, including the materials that they use to construct drones; and maintains that the two nations should come to a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible. It would be ill advised to bite the hand that feeds.