Russian lawmakers authorize Putin to use military force outside the country

[Dartz]

-Day 26 of World War III


--The Ukraine War is no longer front page news here. It's place has been taken by a recent murder
--Covid 19 also still exists -- remember that? It's snuck back into the papers too
--Pro-Russian tabloud has admitted to ~10k casualties, with ~16k wounded. That seems like a lot
--To add perspective - that's the Imperial German losses in 1 Day at the Somme. WW1 be brutal.
--Actual figure may be nearly 18,000 dead - including Wagner group.
--If that's what they're admitting to, one Ukrainian Redditors pre-war prediction that the Russian economy will be propped up by coffin makers for years to come is ringing darkly true.
--Coffin makers may be all that's left of the Russian economy in a short while. The stock exchange opened a crack to sell some bonds and not much else.
--Russia has issued an ominous deadline to Mariupol. Surrender before 5am, or anyone left in the city will be treated as a bandit before a military tribunal.
--Squads are already searching the city with a List of Names. Two AP journalists narrowly escape
--Ukraine has not surrendered. The city remains a warzone. Exactly what follows is unknown - but after 14 hours it may be a bluff.
--Russian meanwhile, continues to warn of a humanitarian catastrophe
--Which they are causing. (Some good wifebeater logic there)
--Allegedly it is continuing to fire on evacuation busses
--Also making noises about missiles it has already fired having longer range, and being capable of being fitted with 'other types' of warheads.
--America has issued a somewhat less ominous sounding reminder - while it won't be putting troops on the ground in Ukraine, it won't prevent any other NATO members from doing so.
--And it will 'back' them.
--US is still not sure who Russian commander in the field is.
--Russians still not sure who Russian commander in the field is. (You can't leak what you don't know!)
--France has found 22 Billion belonging to Russia in its banks and applied the Freeze to it.
--Oh, and also called for a total block on Trade
--If I want that Vostok Scuba-Dude I better be quick. (Russian watches are actually one of the better things with the Made In Russia tag)
--Economic war may actually be more deadly than conventional war, once the starving begins. It's a war without destruction - but not without casulaties.
--Moscow: President Biden threatens rupture of ties with Moscow
--US: Fears Russia will build Concentration camps.
--Ukrainian foreign Minister: Get your finger out China and do something
--China, while insisting it's on the right side of history, *still* hasn't figured out what side that is.
--The Middle-East is being it's usual hypergolic self - where the Iran deal doesn't go well with the Saudis, who also know well what happens if they piss America off too much
--Russia's propaganda machine has obviously given up on the West and is now targeting India, China and other Fence-sitters - where it may be more effective - even at keeping them on the Fence
--Most of the world would rather not be involved - Keeping this in the 'European Bullshit Again' bucket suits them.
--Even the US - is leaving it very much up to the EU to decide whether this is to remain the Ukraine-Russia conflict, or become the Baltic Peacekeeping Action, or the European Large scale special forward defense operation.
--EU is making noises to form a small quick-reaction force of its own, probably based around the Bundeswehr.
--Speaking of Fence-sitters, Lukashenko is still dithering on whether to Shit or get off the bloody pot. Belarus has pulled back from its border, again.
--The refugee crisis from Ukraine, is probably the same sort of refugee crisis that happens in any conflict zone. People jump to the nearest safe country. It's just that in the EU, it's a lot easier to get to the other end of the continent from that point, and the response is a lot more coordinated.
--The crisis is happening 'in' Europe, rather than 'somewhere far away' where only a few people make it here.
--Duterte in the Phillipines: I'm friends with Putin, but he went overboard. I only kill drug dealers
--Russia now outlaws Bankruptcy.
--This is like the economic version of outlawing death
--Elvira Nabiullina has attempted to resign as head of the central bank Twice. This is old news
--Ukraine has lost 500 vehicles, compared to Russia's 1700 - by one trustworthy measure
--Walter-Mitty types joining the war to be Internet Famous are providing a propaganda coup for Russia
--Ukraine is vetting joiners for web-presence, and prior history of being survivalist nut-jobs.
--Modern German weaponry has been photographed at the front line.
--Ancient Russian T-72's have also been captured at the front-line.
--And brand new, dedicated electronic attack vehicles. Because why the fuck not.
--Interesting historical tidbit - a Russian Navy captain may have invented the concept of electronic attack in 1905, when he requested permission to transmit at a higher power than the Japanese naval ships reporting their position to drown them out.
--Admiral Rozhestvensky denied him permission to do so. The result was the Battle of Tsushima. Plus ca change....
--Somebody utterly obliterated a Loaf van. Those things are cute. One of the other nice things Russia makes. (Fite me)
--Ukraine claims to have retaken Makariv, north of Kyiv
--Ukrainian partisans are torching trucks in Occupied Ukraine
--On list of countries providing military aid to Ukraine - Ireland, Sweden and Finland
--Ireland provides fuel, medical supplies and military clothing - not much (They probably lost the batteries for the missiles), but very much sticking the head out of the 'neutral' hole and onto the louder side of global politics.
--You can't be neutral about a fire in your neighbour's house. Or if your neighbour is an arsonist.

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