re: Reminder that Ukraine has more troops in the combat zone than Russia

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The first time I heard it was in reference to a kitchen appliance, but I also heard it in reference to Russian cars.

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The expression I hear often is "if you want to become a mechanic, buy a Lada (Russian car)."

Also, you mentioned your friend is a reservist in the Ukranian ground forces. Therefore I'd imagine his views are definitely biased against Russia. And your friends you have visited in Ukraine, if met through him, probably share those biases, all of which affect your views of how Ukranians think of Russia.

I'm not saying you are wrong, but I think you are oversensationalizing the hatred Ukranians have for Russia.

I have Ukranian friends in Moscow who moved here because it is easier to find a job. All of whom have family back in Ukraine (Kyiv and Crimea). According to them it is about a 50/50 split between Pro-Ukraine and Pro-Russia, with the Pro-Ukraine group being more vocal.

With that being said, most people here are worried about NATO expansion, they don't care about claiming Ukraine because it is "rightfully Russia's."

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Yes but the French were pussies

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They really werent. They had poor leadership. Generals who made terrible decisions. Plus, they put everything into the Maginot Line, and Germans...get this...drove around it.

The French are the only reason the British army escaped at Dunkirk. They stayed behind and stopped the German advance to the sea. Actually were given the last European surrender parade by the Germans because they fought so hard. and yes they had to surrender. Ran out of supplies, and had no air support.

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Also, you mentioned your friend is a reservist in the Ukranian ground forces. Therefore I'd imagine his views are definitely biased against Russia. And your friends you have visited in Ukraine, if met through him, probably share those biases, all of which affect your views of how Ukranians think of Russia.

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Most of my friends in Ukraine I met through mission work and are not in the reserves. I have been going to Ukraine and Russia occasionally since 2012 and there is definitely been a noticeable shift in feelings since then. Especially among young people in Ukraine. Unlike the USA, I have noticed that young people are much more patriotic in Ukraine than the older people. Last time I was in Ukraine was in 2019 when I went for my friend's wedding in Kharkiv and I stayed to do a month of medical mission work in Mariupol the majority of the people that I spoke with (I only speak Russian btw) blamed the war on Russia, strongly disliked Russia, and were pro Ukrainian. The majority of the people that admitted to being pro-Russian were older people from the DPR who were just in Mariupol to pick up their pensions and get healthcare. I always asked why they stayed and the most common reason was because that is my home and eventually Russia will start paying the pensions and I will get more money.

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Putin is playing chess while the west is playing checkers…he gains cred at home rattling his saber while Ukraine spends $ it doesn’t have just prepping for a Russkie invasion into the Donbass…Ukraine does not have the resiliency in its infrastructure nor military organization to survive all out Russian asymmetrical warfare.

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1. Putin is definitely trying to rattle sabers to boost his sagging popularity ratings. You know it's bad when Russian polling admits that almost as many people do not want Putin to stay in power after 2024 as people that do. LINK

2. Ukraine is getting $$$ from the USA and the EU and it is likely just going to increase as a result of Putin's saber rattling.

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Look at the two faces of the Russian ops re: Chechnya…they did not make the same mistakes going back in there the 2nd time. They were ruthless and crushed the will of the Chechen resistance.

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Chechnya has a total population of 1.3 million. Ukraine has a population of almost 40 million. That is a big difference.

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Russia would wipe out the power grid, cell towers, NG pipeline, railroad depots, and water supplies in major cities…Ukraine knows it…Europe knows it, hell even Billy Idol knows it…

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Putin knows it and he also knows that he does not have the military force to occupy Ukraine. He also knows that Russia does not have the financial resources to rebuild all of that if they destroy all of that stuff.