Ukraine

Russia's tactical nukes range from 10 - 100 kilotons. Russia's problem with using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine is the fallout would drift right over the most populous part of Mother Russia, including Moscow itself.

 

I have a feeling that Putin isn't too worried about fallout. He and his super rich cronies can just go somewhere else in their mega yachts.

He also has very little to lose. His days in power are numbered no matter what he does, so he may well be thinking he might as well go down in history.

 

I'm still not convinced Putin is a one man army, he has Generals, just like Hitler did.
A few cronies but there must be at least some true military men in the mix.

 

Putin wants to be the leader of, in his eyes, the most powerful nation. He won't settle for being the owner and skipper of a yacht. If he used nukes and then went into exile how long do you think he would last? Days? Hours?

 

I'm not entirely sure that Putin has a full grasp of the current economic situation - text taken from the same CNN article:

Putin said Russia’s economy had been growing since July, thanks in part to stronger ties with “countries of the East and South,”

The Russian government’s revenue plunged 35% in January compared with a year ago, while expenditures jumped 59%, leading to a budget deficit of about 1,761 billion rubles ($23.3 billion).

I wonder what the situation will be at close of play for 2023....

 

Apparently, in a frank exchange of views, the US have said to him - we always know where you are, if you set off a nuke - you will be the first to be taken out...

 

By the end of today, about half of Russia's border will be shared with NATO. Finland is just going through the formalities right now with NATO.

Well done Putin, he's achieved the exact opposite of what he wanted, to stop NATO's continued expansion.

As for Finland's military might, they don't look that good on paper to be honest, but as we've seen over the last year or so, it's not always about pure numbers. I understand the Finnish armed forces are quite tough and well trained.

The geography is quite interesting too. It sort of means that NATO now sits between Russia and it's enclave of Kaliningrad.

 

Putin is not pleased:

Finland has become the 31st member of the Nato security alliance, and its flag will soon be raised at the alliance's headquarters.

 

I've long since known that we only get to hear one side of the story.

UK blocks UN webcast featuring Russia children’s commissioner, wanted on war crimes charges.

 

I've tried twice to open that link and I get a message saying that the page has become un responsive.
Had a few problems with the internet the last couple of days so it might be that, but every thing else seems ok.

 

I got there in the end, yes it makes you wonder what is really going on .

 

What does the UN achieve, not much really as far as I can see, just another talking shop with no teeth.

 

Good idea, but they'd just form an alliance against our bit.