[Treefence]

There have been some pretty horrifying and gross videos coming out recently of Russian soldier's treatment of Ukrainian POWs, including one where a Russian castrates a POW, and then later that soldier is shot in the head.  There are also reports that more than 40 Ukrainian POW's who fought in Azovstal plant, were killed in an "attack." Russians are claiming this was a HIMAR attack, but more likely it's just another mass murder by Russians, staged as an artillery strike.  We will see what kind of reaction the west will have, it seemed after Bucha lots of heavy weapon systems were on the table.  I hope there is a reaction because these actions are almost definitely not isolated incidents, but a trend by a nation of evil.

I am extremely concerned that these incidents are far more widespread than anyone wants to accept.  I previously linked an article talking about mass forced deportations.  What do we think is happening to the *900,000* Ukrainians who were forcibly deported to Russia after having their passports, electronic devices, and other personal items confiscated?  There are reports that Ukrainian kids are being put up for adoption by Russian families, never to be returned home.  Not all the adults are being tortured and murdered presumably, but their lives as they knew them may be over.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/202...y-blinken/

Edit:  This should surprise no one.  Putin also helped orchestrate similarly horrific events in Syria not too long ago.  When people call Putin a murderous dictator, they are understating the truth.  He's likely responsible for deaths on a scale comparable to the Rwandan and Darfuri genocides.  When his record is complete, he may well be the bloodiest dictator since WWII.

I think you are absolutely right, but I think it's human nature to overvalue what we see as opposed to what we are told.  It's one thing to hear stories about torture and execution, it's another to see it happen and the results.  I think this tweet by Jack Detsch confirms what you are saying as well

https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/15...CjojmAP15A

On a side note and a warning to all, don't try and look up this video.  I saw parts of a censored version of it, not given much of a warning or knowing what was happening until it was too late.

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In a complete change of subjects, Goose I was wondering if I could get your insight.  Previously we had talked about how Germany has little equipment to give to Ukraine, because they don't have a ton of reserves themselves.  I was curious how that's possible.  I know they don't spend the goal of 2% of GDP on defense spending, but given how big of a country they are, even a lower percentage of GDP, you'd expect much more stocks of military equipment to be available.  It's just crazy to me that much smaller countries, granted they are former Soviet countries, are able to give more to Ukraine than Germany.

[Treefence]

There have been some pretty horrifying and gross videos coming out recently of Russian soldier's treatment of Ukrainian POWs, including one where a Russian castrates a POW, and then later that soldier is shot in the head.  There are also reports that more than 40 Ukrainian POW's who fought in Azovstal plant, were killed in an "attack." Russians are claiming this was a HIMAR attack, but more likely it's just another mass murder by Russians, staged as an artillery strike.  We will see what kind of reaction the west will have, it seemed after Bucha lots of heavy weapon systems were on the table.  I hope there is a reaction because these actions are almost definitely not isolated incidents, but a trend by a nation of evil.

I am extremely concerned that these incidents are far more widespread than anyone wants to accept.  I previously linked an article talking about mass forced deportations.  What do we think is happening to the *900,000* Ukrainians who were forcibly deported to Russia after having their passports, electronic devices, and other personal items confiscated?  There are reports that Ukrainian kids are being put up for adoption by Russian families, never to be returned home.  Not all the adults are being tortured and murdered presumably, but their lives as they knew them may be over.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/202...y-blinken/

Edit:  This should surprise no one.  Putin also helped orchestrate similarly horrific events in Syria not too long ago.  When people call Putin a murderous dictator, they are understating the truth.  He's likely responsible for deaths on a scale comparable to the Rwandan and Darfuri genocides.  When his record is complete, he may well be the bloodiest dictator since WWII.

I think you are absolutely right, but I think it's human nature to overvalue what we see as opposed to what we are told.  It's one thing to hear stories about torture and execution, it's another to see it happen and the results.  I think this tweet by Jack Detsch confirms what you are saying as well

https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/15...CjojmAP15A

On a side note and a warning to all, don't try and look up this video.  I saw parts of a censored version of it, not given much of a warning or knowing what was happening until it was too late.

---

In a complete change of subjects, Goose I was wondering if I could get your insight.  Previously we had talked about how Germany has little equipment to give to Ukraine, because they don't have a ton of reserves themselves.  I was curious how that's possible.  I know they don't spend the goal of 2% of GDP on defense spending, but given how big of a country they are, even a lower percentage of GDP, you'd expect much more stocks of military equipment to be available.  It's just crazy to me that much smaller countries, granted they are former Soviet countries, are able to give more to Ukraine than Germany.