Comments by "Ash Roskell" (@ashroskell) on "Anna from Ukraine"
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Thank you, Anna, for asking the difficult questions.
I knew nothing else, being born in 1967, in England. I saw the Cold War flair up from time to time, but I did not live through the worst part of it, The Cuban Missile Crisis. In the same way that we didn’t see the fall of the Berlin Wall, or the fall of the Soviet Union, coming (and anyone who tells you they did is making things up or, “misremembering”) we were all fooled into thinking that the Cold War was over.
The line in the movie, Terminator II: Judgement Day, is now famous for reflecting the west’s attitudes in the late 1990’s into the turn of the century; “The Russians? Aren’t they our friends now?”
What I have learned since then is that the Cold War never really ended for Putin and we are now finally waking up to that threat, whilst we are in the midst of Cold War II.
Russia has always been incompetent and reckless in both its attitude to fissile nuclear materials and their secretive default behaviour makes the world a much more dangerous place than any, “threats,” Putin makes. Whilst I can PROMISE any worried person that Putin will NEVER fire a nuclear missile, I would urge that same person to pay close attention to Russian foolishness, as disastrous accidents have already occurred under the Soviet’s watch. Chernobyl is in Ukraine after all. Though this was not a, “weapon,” it remains a perfect argument for how Russia’s stupidity and corruption is too out of control for them to be allowed to keep nuclear weapons, and their nuclear power should be supervised by the west.
No, Putin will never fire a nuke in anger, as he’s actually getting ALL of the, “value,” of his nukes right now, by startling our over-reactive western media outlets. He’s getting all of the, “bang for his buck,” out of these threats, and also the west’s reluctance to, “escalate,” conflicts with Russia. If he fires just one small tactical nuke, that’s over and the west’s reaction is likely to be swift and overwhelming, and Putin knows this. And a narcissistic coward like Putin would never commit suicide in this manner, because he’s obsessed with his own, “legacy.” He does not want to be remembered as being worse than Hitler, Pol Pot and Stalin rolled into one, as, “The man who destroyed the world.” Hated by all who survive to rebuild after him, with a name that is more evocative than Satan? I don’t think so.
So, knowing it would guarantee that he loses this and all other wars, no, he will not do it. Knowing it would wreck any hopes of a legacy, no, he will not do it. Knowing he is a coward, who would never invite a confrontation he could not win, no, he will not do it.
But, might there be an accident? I’d say the odds are around 50/50 right now. And we ought to DO SOMETHING about that.
Slava Ukraine. 🇺🇦🇬🇧✌️👍
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@tomdixon1213 : Indeed, their practice of Russification is simply another aspect of Genocide. As such, it should be strictly outlawed internationally and policed vigorously. I need to do some homework on finding out what the international stance on this is? I know that the mass kidnapping of children, as recently documented in Putin’s indictment, comes under the category of Genocide. So, there is obviously an international recognition of the implications of these practices. But, when we stop to think about the sheer SCALE on which this was and is being executed, so aggressively and with such blatant criminality, it truly chills my blood. Putin will, arguably, be remembered as the most diabolical (in the strictest sense of that word) destructive human being who ever lived.
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This is such an important explanation of Soviet, and current, methodology and criminality. It is such a historic tragedy that the world has lost so many languages and their attendant cultural practices that goes largely overlooked. I used the word, “criminality,” advisedly, as I certainly believe that such deliberate attempts to wipe out the cultures and languages of others should be recognised internationally as a crime.
Now I feel I will have to do some research, to find out what the stance of NATO, the UN, European Union, etc. is with regard to this practice, and whether it is outlawed? And, indeed, if not, why not?
Despite being a bit of a history buff myself, I had not given much thought to this aspect of Russification. I suspect that most of us in the west have always thought of the USSR (and then the Russian Federation) as having many, “regions,” within it, but not really recognising the distinction of them being, “nations,” with different ethnic and cultural roots, despite knowing this in the back of our minds? So, we end up seeing this enormous geographic block as being, “Russian,” as taught to the west by Stalin, Khrushchev and their successors; seeing their world through the distorted lens of their making, rather than through honest, clear and truthful glass.
And, if reasonably educated people like me can still be tricked by that smoke and mirrors act, so can the vast majority of people in the free world. At least, that is my worry?
Even though I have NEVER trusted a word out of Putin’s mouth, and have railed against the Nordstream deals (and others like it) for almost two decades now, (from my powerless, “everyman,” perspective) seeing it as being suicidally stupid and patently obvious that it could only be the result of Putin’s corruption and blackmailing of western politicians; I am still shocked by the sheer brutality and the barbarian savagery of erasing entire cultures in such a pernicious, systematic and calculating manner.
When you put this into a clear perspective like this, which jibes so fundamentally with everything we know about our history of dealing with Russia, it truly chills me to the bone. Russification is just another aspect of Genocide, as practiced in Ukraine today. And, with the added horrors of mass kidnapping of children (recognised as Genocide by the international courts, as recent events have demonstrated) for the purposes of Russification, with the specific goal of shoring up the diminishing numbers of young Russians, as their response to their, “demographic crisis,” of an aging, shrinking population; on top of routine mass murders; all of this is about as sinister and historically unprecedented as it gets! At least in terms of its sheer scale!
Putin is genuinely diabolical, in the strictest sense of the word. I could say more about how his plans look set to backfire, in terms of China’s apparent plans to take some of the Russian, “Federation’s,” population of Putin’s hands, as their recent changing of formerly Russian geographic names to their old Manchurian designations on their electronic maps appears to indicate, but if you have born with me this far, I am grateful for your patience and will spare you my wider geopolitical predictions.
I am so grateful to you for re-opening my eyes to this worldwide threat that Putin would spread around the world like a cancer, destroying all that is valuable, life affirming and good on the face of the Earth. What you offer as a service cannot be weighed in gold. Its educational value is incalculable.
Thank you. From Britain, thank you SO MUCH. ✌️🇺🇦🇬🇧🇺🇦
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The value of these educational videos is immeasurable. The fact that they are entertaining and inspiring is a bonus. Thank you, Anna.
I apologise, but I feel compelled to disagree strongly about only one thing you said. You asserted that Putin, “did not see Ukraine was strong,” in 2014. Actually, (and this is only my opinion, but) I believe it was BECAUSE Putin could see how strong, passionate and united Ukraine was, that he wanted to stamp that out of you. Ukraine is a giant resource in Putin’s eyes, sitting on as much untapped mineral wealth and food production as the rest 0f Russia, in all probability, if only your country was left in peace to govern its own affairs and exploit its own resources. Putin wants that. He’s a mafia crook, trying to steal what you have. He certainly doesn’t want a rival country, closer to Europe (both geographically and politically) providing all the goods and services his nation relies on.
So, it was the very fact of your strength, unity, national pride and belief in freedom and democracy that frightened him so much and enraged him. His plan up until then was just to keep corrupting your politicians while he sent bogus, “nationalists,” to eat away at the sovereignty of your borders, until the whole country became so dysfunctional and, “Sovietised,” that it eventually dropped into his lap. Combined with the west’s former utter lack of urgency and total inaction at his previous crimes, and he saw a situation in which he thought he could get away with it.
As with all bullies, it IS your, “strength,” your dignity, your courage and your determination that bothers him so much and goads him into lashing out. He knows no other way and is not bright enough to be taught. This is why there is no other course for the west but to see it through to the end. Putin in particular, but Russia as a whole, MUST BE DEFEATED. And that means total victory for Ukraine. No other outcome could truly end this war.
Thank you again, for your spirit in the face of the enemy, which inspires me so. Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦✌️🇬🇧
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People in Russian airports are, “rich or influential,” or on official business, employed by the state or doing, “favours,” for the state. Plus, at present, “guests,” of the state. And they turn off the internet themselves, out of sheer paranoia, fear of organised demonstrations.
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When the last boot is ejected from the last inch of Crimea, Ukraine will need some kind of assurance (more concrete than a worthless piece of paper signed by a known habitual liar) that they will not see their civilian men, women and CHILDREN continually showered with cowardly bombs from miles away. Therefore they will need long range missiles systems like the ones the British have just donated, to remove any threats inside Russian territory before they can be used. The more sabotage and fear that can be spread from within Russia, therefore, the fewer missiles will be needed to launch from Ukraine into Russia.
Winston Churchill told his special forces, working behind enemy lines, to, “Set Europe alight!” And they did exactly that. It is believed that the contribution of the resistance forces of various nations, working alongside the special divisions dropped into Europe, shortened the war by at least a year. Some military historians will point to particular operations, siting examples of how they turned the tide completely, such as the destruction of the Telemark Heavy Water plant, preventing the Germans from building first nuclear bombs, etc.
Ukraine has been riddled with Putin Puppets since the fall of his puppet regime in 2014, and leaders have struggled against their corruption and collaboration ever since, rooting them out, one at a time. But the type of sabotage and bombing campaigns that we see occurring inside Russia, derailing trains, blowing up oil refineries, etc, are far more traditional, along the World War Two lines. And that’s a good thing.
Ukraine must always reserve the right to take out legitimate targets inside Russia. And anyone who dares to call that an, “escalation,” has not been paying attention.
Thank you for your rich insights and thoughts, Anna.
Slava Ukraine. 🇺🇦🇬🇧✌️
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Yes please, Anna. I would be especially fascinated to hear your insights on Russia’s victory parade; both in terms of this particular one to come on the 9th, but also your insight into the historical context and how that has changed and warped over the years. It certainly teaches us a lot about the mindset of the Russian, “government,” in the same way that reading Julius Caesar’s account of the Gallic Wars doesn’t tell you all the facts, necessarily, but does tell you a lot about what Caesar wants us to know and how he wants us to think about him. But, then there’s the reactions of the broader public: those who attend (are they forced to? Like with the recent Putin rallies?) and those who refuse to go. Those who watch it live, and those who ignore it, and so on. I think there’s a lot to mine from that topic, since you ask?
Bless you, for all your wonderful work. Thank you. Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦🇬🇧✌️
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All military targets, including infrastructure that supports Russia’s terrorism such as railway lines, fuel depots, etc, are LEGITIMATE. Of course we do not want to harm civilians. We are not cowardly murderers like the Russian armed forces. There are many decent Russians, mostly in jail, or keeping silent. But the majority have earned collective chastisement, since the day that they started celebrating terrorism, taking away civilian power and water. I agree with your analysis. Ukraine will ultimately need to show that they can penetrate behind enemy lines, if they want to achieve peace. As Churchill said, they must, “Set Europe alight!” In this case, Russia.
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As far as I know, the Russian, “constitution,” actually outlaws private military groups. So the mere existence of the Wagner Group is a direct contradiction of Russian, “law.” In fact, there has been a proliferation of various private military groups, according to some reliable western outlets, as there are several oligarchs, each creating their own outfits, who are worried about the possibility of post-war chaos and attempting to protect their own interests.
I understand your feelings about the Russian population, very well. To me, Russia is like the largest open prison on Earth. The closer you get to Moscow and the centres of power, the worse the conditions and the more ignorant it is necessary to be to survive. And it is as though the inmates of this giant jail are all keeping their heads down, hoping not to be noticed by the prison guards, who approach people at train stations, bus depots and especially airports, in their black, faceless uniforms, demanding to see their mobile phones so they can search for banned apps, search private messages and emails for, “rebellious,” language or comments in, “private,” conversations. You can be arrested and jailed for 15 years, just for holding a blank scrap of paper up to a camera.
The people of Russia have seen their privileges being removed systematically, channels being banned, entire news outlets being banned, shops and restaurant chains disappearing from their midst. And soon they know their money will become worthless as they barter for bread: that economic bombshell is coming. Yet, so few protest.
This is not a free society. Russia is a jail of the soul.
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Putin will NEVER use nukes. Not deliberately. He’s getting all of the, “bang for his buck,” out of his threats. That’s the, “value,” he gets from having them. He knows that if he were to use just one, the entire world would react swiftly and ruthlessly with well prepared, pre-gamed, plans for every possible scenario and there’s a good chance that China might well not just sit back but assist, for the same reasons you attribute to Putin: because they want to live. Threats are all he has. He would not choose nukes, even if he were suicidal. Because he knows that even him losing in Ukraine doesn’t stop his, “legacy,” of disinformation that his successors will count on to maintain a dictatorship in Russia.
Accidents, on the other hand, are far more likely. Russia has a history of devastating mistakes with both nuclear weapons and, as every Ukrainian knows, with nuclear power stations. Yes, “PTSD,” was correct. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. And, actually, the stress of living under a permanent threat of this nature can cause that, so I would imagine that Ukraine has higher than average numbers than most developed countries? Especially among the young and other smart, thinking groups of people who feel powerless?
And this is why your service is so good for us and for you. Because you are, “doing,” something that changes lives and improves their quality for so many, rather than allowing yourself to be made powerless. I hope it helps you? It helps me and mine. Slava Ukraine. 🇺🇦✌️🇬🇧
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