Brit goes to Kyiv - sees no sign of war even while MSM reporting city surrounded

[NeveR]

I can't verify it, but the guy seems legit. Make of it what you will.

[BuriedTartaria]

Reminds me of a meme from the thick of the covid situation. It said something like "if you watch the news, we're experiencing the black plague. If you go outside, it's a normal Saturday"

I know conflict is going on, the question is how much are TPTB influencing and escalating the reality of what is occurring?

[Robin Hood]

Why should we believe anything the MSM or the politicians say. They have just spent the last 2 years lying through their teeth.

[Sarah]

I can't verify it, but the guy seems legit. Make of it what you will.

Video was taken from Twitter account Lez Luther. I remember seeing someone post something from him before. Unfortunately he didn't catch any proof to his claims. The date was a separate shot at the beginning, so it could have been added in. He interviewed no one. He claimed every time he got his camera out the police were stopping him but no sign of that. And as one commenter remarked, videos from others showed snow on the ground and his does not (haven't verified that claim). Anyway, if he wanted to be convincing he needed to interview people on the street, but then he would need his own actors.

[Robin Hood]

I can't verify it, but the guy seems legit. Make of it what you will.

Video was taken from Twitter account Lez Luther. I remember seeing someone post something from him before. Unfortunately he didn't catch any proof to his claims. The date was a separate shot at the beginning, so it could have been added in. He interviewed no one. He claimed every time he got his camera out the police were stopping him but no sign of that. And as one commenter remarked, videos from others showed snow on the ground and his does not (haven't verified that claim). Anyway, if he wanted to be convincing he needed to interview people on the street, but then he would need his own actors.

I know what you mean.
Then again, if it was fake he could easily have made it more convincing.

[Niemand]

Why should we believe anything the MSM or the politicians say. They have just spent the last 2 years lying through their teeth.

What's the old saying?

"If you don't watch the news you are uninformed, but if you do watch it you are misinformed."

I'm not even sure the first part is true.

[endlessQuestions]

I can't verify it, but the guy seems legit. Make of it what you will.

I am good friends with a person who has traveled extensively in the area and has multiple contacts there. There is definitely action, as in shelling, taking place. But, for example, my friend still gets on Skype once a week to take his Russian lesson with his teacher, who lives in downtown Kiev. It’s not an “invasion” in the sense that you would think of historically, apparently. You might even call it a “special military operation”, if you were so inclined.

[Niemand]

There is one interesting detail in here, roundabout the bit with all the tyres, you can see small tank traps. However, the grass does seem a bit green at times. The leaves are off the trees though, so who knows when this really was filmed?

As for that newspaper, I would have liked to see him show it while he was filming Kiev, not on the plane when the footage could have been taken at any time.

[JK4Woods]

Maybe the shelling isn’t even Russians.

Maybe it’s militia trying to broaden the war.

Russia would be hard to stop, if they really wanted to take over the country.

[tribrac]

If you believe it, or don't believe it you gotta admit it shows how deceptions can be staged and filmed.

Truth is harder to find than gold.

[jonrizzy]

I can't verify it, but the guy seems legit. Make of it what you will.

I am good friends with a person who has traveled extensively in the area and has multiple contacts there. There is definitely action, as in shelling, taking place. But, for example, my friend still gets on Skype once a week to take his Russian lesson with his teacher, who lives in downtown Kiev. It’s not an “invasion” in the sense that you would think of historically, apparently. You might even call it a “special military operation”, if you were so inclined.

A force of 100k plus troops is an invasion.

[Robin Hood]

I can't verify it, but the guy seems legit. Make of it what you will.

I am good friends with a person who has traveled extensively in the area and has multiple contacts there. There is definitely action, as in shelling, taking place. But, for example, my friend still gets on Skype once a week to take his Russian lesson with his teacher, who lives in downtown Kiev. It’s not an “invasion” in the sense that you would think of historically, apparently. You might even call it a “special military operation”, if you were so inclined.

A force of 100k plus troops is an invasion.

Many of whom were already in eastern Ukraine and had been for years.
It's not really an invasion in the traditional sense. It's more a case of the Russians taking the fight to the Ukrainians rather than just sitting back and defending their interests/people in the Donbass region, and being continually shelled for their efforts.

[Niemand]

I can't verify it, but the guy seems legit. Make of it what you will.

I am good friends with a person who has traveled extensively in the area and has multiple contacts there. There is definitely action, as in shelling, taking place. But, for example, my friend still gets on Skype once a week to take his Russian lesson with his teacher, who lives in downtown Kiev. It’s not an “invasion” in the sense that you would think of historically, apparently. You might even call it a “special military operation”, if you were so inclined.

A force of 100k plus troops is an invasion.

Many of whom were already in eastern Ukraine and had been for years.
It's not really an invasion in the traditional sense. It's more a case of the Russians taking the fight to the Ukrainians rather than just sitting back and defending their interests/people in the Donbass region, and being continually shelled for their efforts.

These are the three main possibilities:
* Putin is doing what he did with Georgia, i.e. maintain several micro-states (or pseudo-states) along the border. This idea has the merit of being something he has done before.
* Putin wishes to get the current leadership removed and a more pro-Russia leader/puppet in. (Possible, although I think this clown Zelensky appears to be winning the propaganda war.)
* Full reintegration into a Russian led state like the USSR. (This is the view being promoted the most by mainstream media but not the only one.)

If he does the third, then he has the problem of occupying the Ukraine on a long term basis. As we know from Afghanistan or Iraq, conquering a place is one thing, but holding it is another.

I notice my Facebook stream is full of church members praising Zelensky and how brave and good he is. I doubt any of them had heard of him a few weeks ago. I expect no less from people who've spent the last two years believing in our own political leaders. My sympathy is with ordinary Ukrainians, not some eejit who appears continually for photo ops. It's the equivalent of David Walliams, being prime minister, and he cross dresses too. Zelensky has been busted for using pictures from a troop inspection last year as proof he is on the front line. Total chancer.

[Fred]

A force of 100k plus troops is an invasion.

There have been ten times that amount of armed thugs invading the USA for quite some time. There are liars that say the criminal invaders are not violent. Some pretend it is not happening. Others say that God sent them. The only for sure thing is that the world would be a better place if they were dead. Or at least stayed home. Their goal is the destruction of the USA. So in that regard it is truthful to call them disciples of satan. At least the Ukrainians are smart enough to shoot their invaders.

[Niemand]

A force of 100k plus troops is an invasion.

There have been ten times that amount of armed thugs invading the USA for quite some time. There are liars that say the criminal invaders are not violent. Some pretend it is not happening. Others say that God sent them. The only for sure thing is that the world would be a better place if they were dead. Or at least stayed home. Their goal is the destruction of the USA. So in that regard it is truthful to call them disciples of satan. At least the Ukrainians are smart enough to shoot their invaders.

The USA has let in a lot of gangsters over the past century or so, from one country and another. In fact I think it's fair enough to say a lot of organised crime is either by certain immigrants, or by the children born in America. Certainly the case with the Italian Mafia, although it has become nativized. Or the Russian/Chechen Mafia. Or Latino drug syndicates.

[Robin Hood]

I am good friends with a person who has traveled extensively in the area and has multiple contacts there. There is definitely action, as in shelling, taking place. But, for example, my friend still gets on Skype once a week to take his Russian lesson with his teacher, who lives in downtown Kiev. It’s not an “invasion” in the sense that you would think of historically, apparently. You might even call it a “special military operation”, if you were so inclined.

A force of 100k plus troops is an invasion.

Many of whom were already in eastern Ukraine and had been for years.
It's not really an invasion in the traditional sense. It's more a case of the Russians taking the fight to the Ukrainians rather than just sitting back and defending their interests/people in the Donbass region, and being continually shelled for their efforts.

These are the three main possibilities:
* Putin is doing what he did with Georgia, i.e. maintain several micro-states (or pseudo-states) along the border. This idea has the merit of being something he has done before.
* Putin wishes to get the current leadership removed and a more pro-Russia leader/puppet in. (Possible, although I think this clown Zelensky appears to be winning the propaganda war.)
* Full reintegration into a Russian led state like the USSR. (This is the view being promoted the most by mainstream media but not the only one.)

If he does the third, then he has the problem of occupying the Ukraine on a long term basis. As we know from Afghanistan or Iraq, conquering a place is one thing, but holding it is another.

I notice my Facebook stream is full of church members praising Zelensky and how brave and good he is. I doubt any of them had heard of him a few weeks ago. I expect no less from people who've spent the last two years believing in our own political leaders. My sympathy is with ordinary Ukrainians, not some eejit who appears continually for photo ops. It's the equivalent of David Walliams, being prime minister, and he cross dresses too. Zelensky has been busted for using pictures from a troop inspection last year as proof he is on the front line. Total chancer.

There is a fourth possibilty. Russian recognition of the Donbass as a seperate independent republic accepted by Ukraine, no NATO or EU membership for Ukraine... ever; and Ukraine declare it's status as a neutral country.
These are actually the stated aims of the Russian incursion.

[Niemand]

A force of 100k plus troops is an invasion.

Many of whom were already in eastern Ukraine and had been for years.
It's not really an invasion in the traditional sense. It's more a case of the Russians taking the fight to the Ukrainians rather than just sitting back and defending their interests/people in the Donbass region, and being continually shelled for their efforts.

These are the three main possibilities:
* Putin is doing what he did with Georgia, i.e. maintain several micro-states (or pseudo-states) along the border. This idea has the merit of being something he has done before.
* Putin wishes to get the current leadership removed and a more pro-Russia leader/puppet in. (Possible, although I think this clown Zelensky appears to be winning the propaganda war.)
* Full reintegration into a Russian led state like the USSR. (This is the view being promoted the most by mainstream media but not the only one.)

If he does the third, then he has the problem of occupying the Ukraine on a long term basis. As we know from Afghanistan or Iraq, conquering a place is one thing, but holding it is another.

I notice my Facebook stream is full of church members praising Zelensky and how brave and good he is. I doubt any of them had heard of him a few weeks ago. I expect no less from people who've spent the last two years believing in our own political leaders. My sympathy is with ordinary Ukrainians, not some eejit who appears continually for photo ops. It's the equivalent of David Walliams, being prime minister, and he cross dresses too. Zelensky has been busted for using pictures from a troop inspection last year as proof he is on the front line. Total chancer.

There is a fourth possibilty. Russian recognition of the Donbass as a seperate independent republic accepted by Ukraine, no NATO or EU membership for Ukraine... ever; and Ukraine declare it's status as a neutral country.
These are actually the stated aims of the Russian incursion.

I see that as a combination of the first and second aims.

While I sympathise with ordinary Ukrainians, it is amazing how many people here can't see that NATO and the EU are a root cause of this problem...

Although it is worth pointing out that St. Petersburg is practically on top of both, and Kaliningrad is surrounded by it.

[Robin Hood]

Many of whom were already in eastern Ukraine and had been for years.
It's not really an invasion in the traditional sense. It's more a case of the Russians taking the fight to the Ukrainians rather than just sitting back and defending their interests/people in the Donbass region, and being continually shelled for their efforts.

These are the three main possibilities:
* Putin is doing what he did with Georgia, i.e. maintain several micro-states (or pseudo-states) along the border. This idea has the merit of being something he has done before.
* Putin wishes to get the current leadership removed and a more pro-Russia leader/puppet in. (Possible, although I think this clown Zelensky appears to be winning the propaganda war.)
* Full reintegration into a Russian led state like the USSR. (This is the view being promoted the most by mainstream media but not the only one.)

If he does the third, then he has the problem of occupying the Ukraine on a long term basis. As we know from Afghanistan or Iraq, conquering a place is one thing, but holding it is another.

I notice my Facebook stream is full of church members praising Zelensky and how brave and good he is. I doubt any of them had heard of him a few weeks ago. I expect no less from people who've spent the last two years believing in our own political leaders. My sympathy is with ordinary Ukrainians, not some eejit who appears continually for photo ops. It's the equivalent of David Walliams, being prime minister, and he cross dresses too. Zelensky has been busted for using pictures from a troop inspection last year as proof he is on the front line. Total chancer.

There is a fourth possibilty. Russian recognition of the Donbass as a seperate independent republic accepted by Ukraine, no NATO or EU membership for Ukraine... ever; and Ukraine declare it's status as a neutral country.
These are actually the stated aims of the Russian incursion.

I see that as a combination of the first and second aims.

While I sympathise with ordinary Ukrainians, it is amazing how many people here can't see that NATO and the EU are a root cause of this problem...

Although it is worth pointing out that St. Petersburg is practically on top of both, and Kaliningrad is surrounded by it.

Completely agree. I think Russia has a genuine grievance and has been double-crossed by NATO in regards to eastward expansion. They have drawn a line in the sand this time and I don't blame them.
But sadly, as with all of these international machinations, it's the ordinary folk who end up paying the price.

[NeveR]

What I take away from this is we have no clue what is going on and should just remain alert but agnostic.

Oh the guy who made the vid has a Twitter for those who use Twitter. I have not checked it out, just saw it posted as a link

https://twitter.com/lezluthor?s=21

[jonrizzy]

I can't verify it, but the guy seems legit. Make of it what you will.

I am good friends with a person who has traveled extensively in the area and has multiple contacts there. There is definitely action, as in shelling, taking place. But, for example, my friend still gets on Skype once a week to take his Russian lesson with his teacher, who lives in downtown Kiev. It’s not an “invasion” in the sense that you would think of historically, apparently. You might even call it a “special military operation”, if you were so inclined.

A force of 100k plus troops is an invasion.

Many of whom were already in eastern Ukraine and had been for years.
It's not really an invasion in the traditional sense. It's more a case of the Russians taking the fight to the Ukrainians rather than just sitting back and defending their interests/people in the Donbass region, and being continually shelled for their efforts.


Right out of the Hitler playbook. There are Germans in Poland and Austria. We must invade.