Anonymous wrote:I haven’t seen any responses in Russian but they shouldn’t be here, just as there shouldn’t be any responses in any other languages besides English, the language of the forum.

Don't tell me - tell the Russian propaganda trolls. It helps to target the message when they lurk on the board, but all you have to do is post the "Putin as a crab" gif and they have to run away. They're not authorized to look at 'forbidden' stuff so it's the easiest way to scare them away, in case you ever suspect the Russians are on your website / blog, etc. Again, I think their propaganda storyboard is in disarray, which is why you haven't seen many comments lately. They've probably moved onto greener pastures where they can get traction from people they can dupe.

And I'm starting to see the 'bargaining' phase unfold in Russian media - not just the troll that was on here earlier.

"I personally want to address the Ukrainian soldiers. Guys... We are not enemies. Understand, most of us are kindred. And there was a time when we may or may not argue, but we have everything needed to forget our disputes...
Let's forget about everything that happened. Let's unite and turn in the opposite direction and do everything to end the war. And live together again." https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-collaborator-volodymyr-saldo-records-134926115.html

The guy's name is Saldo. When this guy was Mayor of Kherson (2002–2012), his main opponent (Solokov) died in a car accident. While elected as a People's Deputy of Ukraine (2012–2015) months before the first invasion of Ukraine in 2014, he voted for anti-protest laws (aka "dictatorship laws") on 16 January 2014. While Kherson City Councillor (2015–2022), he lost twice for bids to become Mayor of Kherson again. When the second Russian Invasion started in 2022, he came out as staunchly pro-Russian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Saldo

But it will be tough to let bygones be bygones without some sort of serious reconciliation and acknowledgement by Russia that wrongs were committed, so he's pretty much peeing in the wind. He understands that his usefulness to Russia in Kherson is nearing an end so is attempting to negotiate from a position of weakness. If he's smart, he'll surrender to the Ukrainians to make anti-propaganda soundbites to encourage locals to turn on the Russians occupying the city?

Also, now that Wagner is done (hard to lose 500 troops and be 'combat effective'), Prigozhin is a liability. I would expect him to be scraped off of someone's windshield soon. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/10/russians-near-bakhmut-have-retreated-by-up-to-2km-ukrainian-official-says

I haven’t seen any responses in Russian but they shouldn’t be here, just as there shouldn’t be any responses in any other languages besides English, the language of the forum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On a related note, Latvia is looking to deport parts of its Russian population: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russians-take-language-test-avoid-expulsion-latvia-2023-05-08/

Deporting people with a foreign passport and who don't speak the language is a great plan right?

From the Latvian's POV, it's a win-win. The Russians too uneducated, too old, or too stubborn to reject their heritage and culture will be ejected and those who adapt will find a home there.

But those repatriated back to the Motherland will receive a very chilly reception. Russia overnight created an underclass of citizen. All Russians who fled are now branded as traitors and cowards. The assets of the Russians who fled can be confiscated, so they may no longer have homes or bank accounts. Their children have no future in Putin's Russia. They know this. How do you think they will do if conscripted or can't find a job, living in constant fear knowing their families won't be taken care of if they make the 'great sacrifice' for the Motherland? Even if tomorrow Putin grants a total pardon to them all, they'll know it's all a lie because they've had access to information from the outside. They are all now dangerous in the eyes of the FSB because they know or can piece together the closely guarded secrets that the Russian government has been so desperate to hide.

Confiscating passports of Russian Kremlin officials, Kazakhstan returning FSB defectors to the Kremlin, and even the U.S. is sending Russians back home
https://www.ft.com/content/c41be6b0-f625-46f2-91e4-d03eb4b6372b.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fsb-kazakhstan-asylum-jailed/32332662.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/18/biden-administration-russia-deportations

The lid of the boiling pot is closing.

Nah, unless there is a warrant for them, no one cares.
As long as they can afford an apartment for purchase they are fine

.. unless the draft dodgers try to get a Driver's License.. or pay utility bills.. or taxes.. or sell or transfer property..
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-draft-mobilization-conscription-notices-bf18ad64dd08c9d11aab2e222cabfee9
https://www.npr.org/2023/04/13/1169464889/russia-military-draft-ukraine-war

Tough pushing Russian propaganda, isn't it? (oops..)

I changed my opinion of who caused the drone strike when I saw the Russian 2023 Victory Day Parade. I believe it was the Kremlin themselves that did it to hide how many losses Russia has suffered in Ukraine. Maybe a third of the troops, a few light vehicles, no planes flying overhead and only one tank? Even Putin was embarrassed. Look at Putin's expression when he sees the T-34 rolling by. Classic. lol
[53:05 / 1:24:15]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDhJaDzdS3s

Compare this to the 2021 or even the 2022 Parade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f2h8ndDjWg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_lYMlzFlzs

Those eligible to be drafted are in danger but it has nothing to do with their living abroad before.
Interesting, my first thought was that the kremlin drones were their own concoction, but now I am not sure as they aren’t using it to announce anything so why did they do it?!

My guess - because a big fiery red explosion above the Kremlin looks good in a photo handed to Putin? Everyone in the Kremlin can gossip and talk about how the big explosion is putting them all at risk to corroborate and reinforce the storyline? Remember, according to the defector, Putin doesn't surf so who's the wiser?

Yeah might be. I am waiting for them to catch/announce the perpetrators. If they don’t, it’s their own deed imho

Anonymous wrote:The Baltic nations have a huge problem with Russian money-launderers. Assume they are now also overrun with draft dodgers.

No, they closed their borders to Russian nationals before the great draft dodge of October 2022.
They were also very happy to welcome the money launderers before it presented problems for them. They were always happy to take Russian money - I was there in 2008 and talked to some locals who told me Russian language was now necessary in the service industry because of the crisis in Europe - most customers were now from Russia where the crisis was happening a bit later and with less impact.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On a related note, Latvia is looking to deport parts of its Russian population: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russians-take-language-test-avoid-expulsion-latvia-2023-05-08/

Deporting people with a foreign passport and who don't speak the language is a great plan right?

From the Latvian's POV, it's a win-win. The Russians too uneducated, too old, or too stubborn to reject their heritage and culture will be ejected and those who adapt will find a home there.

But those repatriated back to the Motherland will receive a very chilly reception. Russia overnight created an underclass of citizen. All Russians who fled are now branded as traitors and cowards. The assets of the Russians who fled can be confiscated, so they may no longer have homes or bank accounts. Their children have no future in Putin's Russia. They know this. How do you think they will do if conscripted or can't find a job, living in constant fear knowing their families won't be taken care of if they make the 'great sacrifice' for the Motherland? Even if tomorrow Putin grants a total pardon to them all, they'll know it's all a lie because they've had access to information from the outside. They are all now dangerous in the eyes of the FSB because they know or can piece together the closely guarded secrets that the Russian government has been so desperate to hide.

Confiscating passports of Russian Kremlin officials, Kazakhstan returning FSB defectors to the Kremlin, and even the U.S. is sending Russians back home
https://www.ft.com/content/c41be6b0-f625-46f2-91e4-d03eb4b6372b.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fsb-kazakhstan-asylum-jailed/32332662.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/18/biden-administration-russia-deportations

The lid of the boiling pot is closing.

These people have lived in Latvia for generations. They haven't fled.

Everything else you're describing - confiscation of assets, closure of bank accounts, forfeiture of homes, no future for the children - has already been done by the West to affluent Russians who immigrated to Europe. If anything, extrajudicial punishments made it clear to wealthy Russians that the West is not a safe haven for their assets and families that they thought it was.

As Putin has put it - you idiots, you thought your kayaks were safe in Monaco, did you? Bring them home where they belong. The West has shown you you have no future there. Your rights mean nothing to them. So come home.

I see you got DCUMS to delete the response in Russian. Giving up on pretending to be an American already?

But if you're trying to coax out Russians to return to Russia, don't worry. The ones that return will help to spread the word of what's really going on in Ukraine to counter-balance the Russian propaganda.

Didn't think of that, did you.

But with this post it does look like you've reached stage 3? (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance)

I have no idea what you're talking about. There is no need to get personal or emotional about this, you know. Focus on the issues at hand instead of personal attacks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On a related note, Latvia is looking to deport parts of its Russian population: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russians-take-language-test-avoid-expulsion-latvia-2023-05-08/

Deporting people with a foreign passport and who don't speak the language is a great plan right?

From the Latvian's POV, it's a win-win. The Russians too uneducated, too old, or too stubborn to reject their heritage and culture will be ejected and those who adapt will find a home there.

But those repatriated back to the Motherland will receive a very chilly reception. Russia overnight created an underclass of citizen. All Russians who fled are now branded as traitors and cowards. The assets of the Russians who fled can be confiscated, so they may no longer have homes or bank accounts. Their children have no future in Putin's Russia. They know this. How do you think they will do if conscripted or can't find a job, living in constant fear knowing their families won't be taken care of if they make the 'great sacrifice' for the Motherland? Even if tomorrow Putin grants a total pardon to them all, they'll know it's all a lie because they've had access to information from the outside. They are all now dangerous in the eyes of the FSB because they know or can piece together the closely guarded secrets that the Russian government has been so desperate to hide.

Confiscating passports of Russian Kremlin officials, Kazakhstan returning FSB defectors to the Kremlin, and even the U.S. is sending Russians back home
https://www.ft.com/content/c41be6b0-f625-46f2-91e4-d03eb4b6372b.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fsb-kazakhstan-asylum-jailed/32332662.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/18/biden-administration-russia-deportations

The lid of the boiling pot is closing.

These people have lived in Latvia for generations. They haven't fled.

Everything else you're describing - confiscation of assets, closure of bank accounts, forfeiture of homes, no future for the children - has already been done by the West to affluent Russians who immigrated to Europe. If anything, extrajudicial punishments made it clear to wealthy Russians that the West is not a safe haven for their assets and families that they thought it was.

As Putin has put it - you idiots, you thought your kayaks were safe in Monaco, did you? Bring them home where they belong. The West has shown you you have no future there. Your rights mean nothing to them. So come home.

I see you got DCUMS to delete the response in Russian. Giving up on pretending to be an American already?

But if you're trying to coax out Russians to return to Russia, don't worry. The ones that return will help to spread the word of what's really going on in Ukraine to counter-balance the Russian propaganda.

Didn't think of that, did you.

But with this post it does look like you've reached stage 3? (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On a related note, Latvia is looking to deport parts of its Russian population: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russians-take-language-test-avoid-expulsion-latvia-2023-05-08/

Deporting people with a foreign passport and who don't speak the language is a great plan right?

From the Latvian's POV, it's a win-win. The Russians too uneducated, too old, or too stubborn to reject their heritage and culture will be ejected and those who adapt will find a home there.

But those repatriated back to the Motherland will receive a very chilly reception. Russia overnight created an underclass of citizen. All Russians who fled are now branded as traitors and cowards. The assets of the Russians who fled can be confiscated, so they may no longer have homes or bank accounts. Their children have no future in Putin's Russia. They know this. How do you think they will do if conscripted or can't find a job, living in constant fear knowing their families won't be taken care of if they make the 'great sacrifice' for the Motherland? Even if tomorrow Putin grants a total pardon to them all, they'll know it's all a lie because they've had access to information from the outside. They are all now dangerous in the eyes of the FSB because they know or can piece together the closely guarded secrets that the Russian government has been so desperate to hide.

Confiscating passports of Russian Kremlin officials, Kazakhstan returning FSB defectors to the Kremlin, and even the U.S. is sending Russians back home
https://www.ft.com/content/c41be6b0-f625-46f2-91e4-d03eb4b6372b.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fsb-kazakhstan-asylum-jailed/32332662.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/18/biden-administration-russia-deportations

The lid of the boiling pot is closing.

Nah, unless there is a warrant for them, no one cares.
As long as they can afford an apartment for purchase they are fine

.. unless the draft dodgers try to get a Driver's License.. or pay utility bills.. or taxes.. or sell or transfer property..
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-draft-mobilization-conscription-notices-bf18ad64dd08c9d11aab2e222cabfee9
https://www.npr.org/2023/04/13/1169464889/russia-military-draft-ukraine-war

Tough pushing Russian propaganda, isn't it? (oops..)

I changed my opinion of who caused the drone strike when I saw the Russian 2023 Victory Day Parade. I believe it was the Kremlin themselves that did it to hide how many losses Russia has suffered in Ukraine. Maybe a third of the troops, a few light vehicles, no planes flying overhead and only one tank? Even Putin was embarrassed. Look at Putin's expression when he sees the T-34 rolling by. Classic. lol
[53:05 / 1:24:15]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDhJaDzdS3s

Compare this to the 2021 or even the 2022 Parade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f2h8ndDjWg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_lYMlzFlzs

Those eligible to be drafted are in danger but it has nothing to do with their living abroad before.
Interesting, my first thought was that the kremlin drones were their own concoction, but now I am not sure as they aren’t using it to announce anything so why did they do it?!

My guess - because a big fiery red explosion above the Kremlin looks good in a photo handed to Putin? Everyone in the Kremlin can gossip and talk about how the big explosion is putting them all at risk to corroborate and reinforce the storyline? Remember, according to the defector, Putin doesn't surf so who's the wiser?

Anonymous wrote:On a related note, Latvia is looking to deport parts of its Russian population: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russians-take-language-test-avoid-expulsion-latvia-2023-05-08/

Deporting people with a foreign passport and who don't speak the language is a great plan right?

This sounds like a good start.

Anonymous wrote:The Baltic nations have a huge problem with Russian money-launderers. Assume they are now also overrun with draft dodgers.

They never did, actually. The Baltic banks have made excellent business on servicing Russian capital.

The Baltic nations have a huge problem with Russian money-launderers. Assume they are now also overrun with draft dodgers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On a related note, Latvia is looking to deport parts of its Russian population: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russians-take-language-test-avoid-expulsion-latvia-2023-05-08/

Deporting people with a foreign passport and who don't speak the language is a great plan right?

From the Latvian's POV, it's a win-win. The Russians too uneducated, too old, or too stubborn to reject their heritage and culture will be ejected and those who adapt will find a home there.

But those repatriated back to the Motherland will receive a very chilly reception. Russia overnight created an underclass of citizen. All Russians who fled are now branded as traitors and cowards. The assets of the Russians who fled can be confiscated, so they may no longer have homes or bank accounts. Their children have no future in Putin's Russia. They know this. How do you think they will do if conscripted or can't find a job, living in constant fear knowing their families won't be taken care of if they make the 'great sacrifice' for the Motherland? Even if tomorrow Putin grants a total pardon to them all, they'll know it's all a lie because they've had access to information from the outside. They are all now dangerous in the eyes of the FSB because they know or can piece together the closely guarded secrets that the Russian government has been so desperate to hide.

Confiscating passports of Russian Kremlin officials, Kazakhstan returning FSB defectors to the Kremlin, and even the U.S. is sending Russians back home
https://www.ft.com/content/c41be6b0-f625-46f2-91e4-d03eb4b6372b.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fsb-kazakhstan-asylum-jailed/32332662.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/18/biden-administration-russia-deportations

The lid of the boiling pot is closing.

Nah, unless there is a warrant for them, no one cares.
As long as they can afford an apartment for purchase they are fine

.. unless the draft dodgers try to get a Driver's License.. or pay utility bills.. or taxes.. or sell or transfer property..
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-draft-mobilization-conscription-notices-bf18ad64dd08c9d11aab2e222cabfee9
https://www.npr.org/2023/04/13/1169464889/russia-military-draft-ukraine-war

Tough pushing Russian propaganda, isn't it? (oops..)

I changed my opinion of who caused the drone strike when I saw the Russian 2023 Victory Day Parade. I believe it was the Kremlin themselves that did it to hide how many losses Russia has suffered in Ukraine. Maybe a third of the troops, a few light vehicles, no planes flying overhead and only one tank? Even Putin was embarrassed. Look at Putin's expression when he sees the T-34 rolling by. Classic. lol
[53:05 / 1:24:15]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDhJaDzdS3s

Compare this to the 2021 or even the 2022 Parade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f2h8ndDjWg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_lYMlzFlzs

Those eligible to be drafted are in danger but it has nothing to do with their living abroad before.
Interesting, my first thought was that the kremlin drones were their own concoction, but now I am not sure as they aren’t using it to announce anything so why did they do it?!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On a related note, Latvia is looking to deport parts of its Russian population: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russians-take-language-test-avoid-expulsion-latvia-2023-05-08/

Deporting people with a foreign passport and who don't speak the language is a great plan right?

From the Latvian's POV, it's a win-win. The Russians too uneducated, too old, or too stubborn to reject their heritage and culture will be ejected and those who adapt will find a home there.

But those repatriated back to the Motherland will receive a very chilly reception. Russia overnight created an underclass of citizen. All Russians who fled are now branded as traitors and cowards. The assets of the Russians who fled can be confiscated, so they may no longer have homes or bank accounts. Their children have no future in Putin's Russia. They know this. How do you think they will do if conscripted or can't find a job, living in constant fear knowing their families won't be taken care of if they make the 'great sacrifice' for the Motherland? Even if tomorrow Putin grants a total pardon to them all, they'll know it's all a lie because they've had access to information from the outside. They are all now dangerous in the eyes of the FSB because they know or can piece together the closely guarded secrets that the Russian government has been so desperate to hide.

Confiscating passports of Russian Kremlin officials, Kazakhstan returning FSB defectors to the Kremlin, and even the U.S. is sending Russians back home
https://www.ft.com/content/c41be6b0-f625-46f2-91e4-d03eb4b6372b.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fsb-kazakhstan-asylum-jailed/32332662.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/18/biden-administration-russia-deportations

The lid of the boiling pot is closing.

Nah, unless there is a warrant for them, no one cares.
As long as they can afford an apartment for purchase they are fine

.. unless the draft dodgers try to get a Driver's License.. or pay utility bills.. or taxes.. or sell or transfer property..
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-draft-mobilization-conscription-notices-bf18ad64dd08c9d11aab2e222cabfee9
https://www.npr.org/2023/04/13/1169464889/russia-military-draft-ukraine-war

Tough pushing Russian propaganda, isn't it? (oops..)

I changed my opinion of who caused the drone strike when I saw the Russian 2023 Victory Day Parade. I believe it was the Kremlin themselves that did it to hide how many losses Russia has suffered in Ukraine. Maybe a third of the troops, a few light vehicles, no planes flying overhead and only one tank? Even Putin was embarrassed. Look at Putin's expression when he sees the T-34 rolling by. Classic. lol
[53:05 / 1:24:15]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDhJaDzdS3s

Compare this to the 2021 or even the 2022 Parade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f2h8ndDjWg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_lYMlzFlzs

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On a related note, Latvia is looking to deport parts of its Russian population: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russians-take-language-test-avoid-expulsion-latvia-2023-05-08/

Deporting people with a foreign passport and who don't speak the language is a great plan right?

From the Latvian's POV, it's a win-win. The Russians too uneducated, too old, or too stubborn to reject their heritage and culture will be ejected and those who adapt will find a home there.

But those repatriated back to the Motherland will receive a very chilly reception. Russia overnight created an underclass of citizen. All Russians who fled are now branded as traitors and cowards. The assets of the Russians who fled can be confiscated, so they may no longer have homes or bank accounts. Their children have no future in Putin's Russia. They know this. How do you think they will do if conscripted or can't find a job, living in constant fear knowing their families won't be taken care of if they make the 'great sacrifice' for the Motherland? Even if tomorrow Putin grants a total pardon to them all, they'll know it's all a lie because they've had access to information from the outside. They are all now dangerous in the eyes of the FSB because they know or can piece together the closely guarded secrets that the Russian government has been so desperate to hide.

Confiscating passports of Russian Kremlin officials, Kazakhstan returning FSB defectors to the Kremlin, and even the U.S. is sending Russians back home
https://www.ft.com/content/c41be6b0-f625-46f2-91e4-d03eb4b6372b.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fsb-kazakhstan-asylum-jailed/32332662.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/18/biden-administration-russia-deportations

The lid of the boiling pot is closing.

These people have lived in Latvia for generations. They haven't fled.

Everything else you're describing - confiscation of assets, closure of bank accounts, forfeiture of homes, no future for the children - has already been done by the West to affluent Russians who immigrated to Europe. If anything, extrajudicial punishments made it clear to wealthy Russians that the West is not a safe haven for their assets and families that they thought it was.

As Putin has put it - you idiots, you thought your kayaks were safe in Monaco, did you? Bring them home where they belong. The West has shown you you have no future there. Your rights mean nothing to them. So come home.

I am very curious to see which country will hold its promise and not sanction those who weren’t really close to Putin

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On a related note, Latvia is looking to deport parts of its Russian population: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russians-take-language-test-avoid-expulsion-latvia-2023-05-08/

Deporting people with a foreign passport and who don't speak the language is a great plan right?

From the Latvian's POV, it's a win-win. The Russians too uneducated, too old, or too stubborn to reject their heritage and culture will be ejected and those who adapt will find a home there.

But those repatriated back to the Motherland will receive a very chilly reception. Russia overnight created an underclass of citizen. All Russians who fled are now branded as traitors and cowards. The assets of the Russians who fled can be confiscated, so they may no longer have homes or bank accounts. Their children have no future in Putin's Russia. They know this. How do you think they will do if conscripted or can't find a job, living in constant fear knowing their families won't be taken care of if they make the 'great sacrifice' for the Motherland? Even if tomorrow Putin grants a total pardon to them all, they'll know it's all a lie because they've had access to information from the outside. They are all now dangerous in the eyes of the FSB because they know or can piece together the closely guarded secrets that the Russian government has been so desperate to hide.

Confiscating passports of Russian Kremlin officials, Kazakhstan returning FSB defectors to the Kremlin, and even the U.S. is sending Russians back home
https://www.ft.com/content/c41be6b0-f625-46f2-91e4-d03eb4b6372b.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fsb-kazakhstan-asylum-jailed/32332662.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/18/biden-administration-russia-deportations

The lid of the boiling pot is closing.

Nah, unless there is a warrant for them, no one cares.
As long as they can afford an apartment for purchase they are fine

Anonymous wrote:On a related note, Latvia is looking to deport parts of its Russian population: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russians-take-language-test-avoid-expulsion-latvia-2023-05-08/

Deporting people with a foreign passport and who don't speak the language is a great plan right?

The Baltics and Poland were always crazy and now I see their crazy ideas unleashed