Russian lawmakers authorize Putin to use military force outside the country

[Dartz]

AN-225 is gone. Destroyed by artillery.
There's a pitched battle around Chernobyl
Russians have lost some helicopters and tanks but they're sort of not talking about it.
Ukraine doing better than expected in the same way Leighton Orient might do better than expected against Manchester United -- the result won't really be in doubt. It's all about turning Ukraine into a quagmire at this point by feeding them Stingers and Javelins.

People are blaming NATO for this, for advancing into Russia's 'Sphere of Influence'. This, is of course, predicated on the assumption that the smaller nations have no agency of their own, and exist only to be the pawns for the larger. This denies of course, that these countries asked for NATO membership because - well - what the fuck benefit has being associated with Russia ever brought other than misery. They couldn't get away fast enough to happy Europeanism.

One suspects these are the same sort of people who blame their wife for making them hit her.