Quote:Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. Ukraine’s government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in a “full-scale war” that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose fallout already reverberated around the world.

In unleashing Moscow’s most aggressive action since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, President Vladimir Putin deflected global condemnation and cascading new sanctions — and chillingly referred to his country’s nuclear arsenal. He threatened any foreign country attempting to interfere with “consequences you have never seen.”

Sirens rang out in Ukraine’s capital, large explosions were heard there and in other cities, and people massed in train stations and took to roads, as the government said the former Soviet republic was seeing a long-anticipated invasion from the east, north and south. It reported more than 40 soldiers had been killed and dozens wounded so far.

(02-24-2022, 05:33 PM)Heatman Wrote: Yea I saw someone talking about this.. I remember hearing something about that nato isent involved yet but we never know. Obviously tensions are high and implanted martial law and are telling the citizens if they would like firearms that local police station were arming people who wanted to protect themselves

(02-25-2022, 08:06 AM)Boudica Wrote:

(02-24-2022, 05:33 PM)Heatman Wrote: Yea I saw someone talking about this.. I remember hearing something about that nato isent involved yet but we never know.  Obviously tensions are high and implanted martial law and are telling the citizens if they would like firearms that local police station were arming people who wanted to protect themselves

That's sort of right. NATO doesn't have troops on the ground/air in the Ukraine as that would break international laws and literally start a world war between the Western Allies and Russia. However, NATO is heavily involved. This isn't about having a bit more land, it's entirely related to how Russia feels threatened by NATO. The Ukraine asked to become a member of NATO, and Russia was very unhappy about this. I say Russia, based on the protests from Russian's in Russia's own cities, it almost seems more that Putin feels this way.

Regardless, Russia is invading the Ukraine to prevent NATO threats. Which makes no sense to me, as the Ukraine was the only nation putting distance between Russia and it's NATO neighbours. If Russia takes the Ukraine, NATO will literally be on their doorstep.

NATO membership countries have thrown a ton of sanctions on Russia and are continuing to provide the Ukraine aid in any way they can beyond sending actual military forces.

(02-26-2022, 04:27 AM)billyferg Wrote:

(02-25-2022, 08:06 AM)Boudica Wrote:

(02-24-2022, 05:33 PM)Heatman Wrote: Yea I saw someone talking about this.. I remember hearing something about that nato isent involved yet but we never know.  Obviously tensions are high and implanted martial law and are telling the citizens if they would like firearms that local police station were arming people who wanted to protect themselves

That's sort of right. NATO doesn't have troops on the ground/air in the Ukraine as that would break international laws and literally start a world war between the Western Allies and Russia. However, NATO is heavily involved. This isn't about having a bit more land, it's entirely related to how Russia feels threatened by NATO. The Ukraine asked to become a member of NATO, and Russia was very unhappy about this. I say Russia, based on the protests from Russian's in Russia's own cities, it almost seems more that Putin feels this way.

Regardless, Russia is invading the Ukraine to prevent NATO threats. Which makes no sense to me, as the Ukraine was the only nation putting distance between Russia and it's NATO neighbours. If Russia takes the Ukraine, NATO will literally be on their doorstep.

NATO membership countries have thrown a ton of sanctions on Russia and are continuing to provide the Ukraine aid in any way they can beyond sending actual military forces.

Yeah the whole thing seems just Ukraine v Russia which while concerning, is not nearly as concerning as how big it will get if NATO has to get fully involved.

(02-27-2022, 12:46 AM)Dismas Wrote: There's some bizarre implications for Europe's efforts towards space travel:
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/02/the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-will-have-myriad-impacts-on-spaceflight/
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/02/russia-pulls-out-of-european-spaceport-abandoning-a-planned-launch/