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[delphonso]

I think that's the point. Stay out of Ukraine or we'll blast the sarcophagus

[EuchreJack]

I think that's the point. Stay out of Ukraine or we'll blast the sarcophagus

Bullshit.  Russia has nukes.  They don't need to threaten to set off the largest dirty bomb on their doorstep.

It's actually more dangerous under Ukrainian control. I'm worried it might be a terrorist mecca, regardless of who owns it.

Hell, regardless of the outcome of the conflict, maybe Russia should be saddled with the burden of maintaining integrity and security of the Giant Nuclear Moneypit.

[ChairmanPoo]

I think that's the point. Stay out of Ukraine or we'll blast the sarcophagus

Bullshit.  Russia has nukes.  They don't need to threaten to set off the largest dirty bomb on their doorstep.

It's actually more dangerous under Ukrainian control. I'm worried it might be a terrorist mecca, regardless of who owns it.

Hell, regardless of the outcome of the conflict, maybe Russia should be saddled with the burden of maintaining integrity and security of the Giant Nuclear Moneypit.

They can set it off and blame Ukraine

Also if Russia keeps the plant expect to be pestered for money for "maintenance" regularly

[Muz]

Highlight of the day.

I think this was a true heroic moment. The island wasn't strategic, but the willingness to die for it might turn the war. This seems to be the general attitude among Ukranians now. They're sick of being bullied and are fighting back hard. If anything, they're far more eager for war than the Russians.

It's hard to see what's going on but I think Ukraine might do really well even without NATO military power. The Geneva conventions really limits what can be done in a war these days. Whatever firepower Russia has, only precision weapons can really be used if they don't want to be classified as war criminals/terrorists.

[Strongpoint]

Whatever firepower Russia has, only precision weapons can really be used if they don't want to be classified as war criminals/terrorists.

It never stopped them in Chechnya or Syria

[Strongpoint]

As of the report of Ukraine's nuclear agency, there`s an increase in radiation at Chernobyl nuclear power plant caused by soil disturbances, no damage to nuclear facilities

[delphonso]

They can set it off and blame Ukraine

Bingo, buddy. It's a strategic move.

[martinuzz]

Also if Russia keeps the plant expect to be pestered for money for "maintenance" regularly

"You need to end the sanctions or we cannot maintain safety of the concrete sarcofagus".


EDIT: The UEFA decided to move it's Champion's League finals to Paris. This is a huge loss of face for Russia in the sports world (that is if they had any face left to lose after their doping scandals)

EDIT: Oh nice. While they are not threatening with not maintaiing Chernobyl yet, the Russians are threatening that if the sanctions continue, the ISS might crash land on the EU or US.

[EuchreJack]

For those Americans, the UEFA is a World Level Soccer Tournament.  It's one step below the Olympics Committee deciding not to host their games in your country.
I wish I could give a better analogy, but Americans only care about sports that are predominantly American, such as Baseball, American Football, and Basketball.  There is no neat parallel, since Soccer (or Football as they call it in Europe) is the #1 Sport of Europe by far.

Also if Russia keeps the plant expect to be pestered for money for "maintenance" regularly

Oh nice. While they are not threatening with not maintaiing Chernobyl yet, the Russians are threatening that if the sanctions continue, the ISS might crash land on the EU or US.

Impossible.  They're not helping their credibility with that statement.
1) The Cosmonauts are outnumbered, even if they were inclined to do anything
2) If the ISS were to de-orbit, it would probably burn up in atmosphere
3) Most of the budget to maintain the ISS comes from NASA
4) The US has a way to sent missions to the ISS without Russia

There is a minor maintenance issue in that some components of the ISS are obviously made in Russia (since they build half of it).  But even if those components were vital and unique enough that the ISS was unable to function, NASA could rescue the Astronauts (and Cosmonauts) and deorbit the ISS safely.

It's obviously better if the US excludes those components from the sanctions.  It's a loophole.  Americans are experts in loopholes.

[LordBaal]

So Putin is now calling powers form Red Alert 3? So sad...

Really wishing he get his ass kicked down, I'm sad for the poor young fellows dragged into this shit however.

As foe Chernobyl is really implicity they have it as a bargain chip to fuck around and blame it on others, as a last resort measure perhaps.

[Strongpoint]

As foe Chernobyl is really implicity they have it as a bargain chip to fuck around and blame it on others, as a last resort measure perhaps.

It is far simpler

1) The exclusion area is the shortest route to Kyiv
2) There are no pesky civilians getting in the way of building a forward base
3) Ukrainian army won't shell this area

Oh and

4) They'll save money having no need to pay pensions to Russian soldiers who will die from cancer long before retirement

[martinuzz]

Well, it looks like one of the first victims of the war is going to be the climate.
Italy is considering reopening coal power plants to maintain power. 45% of their imported gas comes from Russia.
Italy is also considering to shut down some of it's industries to preserve gas. That might counteract it a bit.

EDIT: Turkey has replied to the Ukrainian request to close down the bosporus for Russian warships. They say that they cannot do that, because international treaties oblige them to always give passage to ships that are returning to their home port.

[Sirus]

Snake Island is an example of a senseless act of heroism. Such stands are needed when you hold some strategically important position, not when you are stationed on a strategically useless rock...

The question in my mind is what Russia had to gain by blowing up a strategically useless rock. My understanding is that the tiny number of soldiers stationed there had basically no way to impact the fighting. Russia could have easily ignored them, or blockaded the island to round up the men later once things cooled down. Instead they chose the metaphorical nuclear option.

Likely no one would have remembered or known about these guys if Russia had taken literally any other course of action

[martinuzz]

Let's just call it by name. The Russian invaders are murderous nazis

[LordBaal]

Exactly. I mean technically they did warned them, they are at war and all, but morally it was unnecesary and homicide in my book. Those soldiers probably would have just starved to death or leave the rock by their own if the situation extends beyond some weeks.