Kid A

This quote is 10/10.

I can never get over how similar Christiano Ronaldo and Homelander feel.

You pull out one thing you don’t like about European societies, present your extremely one-sided negative view of that thing, and then that’s supposed to be a good argument for why European societies can’t be more developed than the rest of the world? Forget that the people there are the ones who answer that they’re most satisfied with their lives of everyone in the whole world when asked, forget that they’re the ones who have their basic needs met to the greatest extent, forget that they have the most well-functioning welfare states, forget that the people there have the most freedom to live their lives as they themselves want: They have women in bikinis that make men horny, EWWWWW, shit societies!!!

If it's any comfort, you should at least know that it's not just you migrants who struggle to make friends here in Western Europe.

It is well-documented that Russia interfered in the American election in 2016 and has done the same with other Western elections through multiple troll factories to weaken Western democracies. Mueller Report (2019) - Documents the Internet Research Agency (IRA) troll factory that created hundreds of fake accounts and bought $100,000 in Facebook ads seen by 4-5 million Americans in a campaign favoring Trump and disparaging Clinton ( https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl?inline= ) Senate Intelligence Committee Report (2020) - Bipartisan 1,000-page report concluding Russia conducted an "extensive campaign" to sabotage the election in favor of Trump, with the goal of undermining "public faith in the US democratic process" ( https://intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Report_Volume2.pdf ) European Parliament Report (2022) - Documents Russian interference in Brexit, French, and other EU elections, stating the objective is to "undermine confidence in the electoral system and therefore in the democratic process itself" ( https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2022-0022_EN.html) NPR's coverage of Senate findings on extensive Russian interference ( https://www.npr.org/2020/08/18/903616315/senate-releases-final-report-on-russias-interference-in-2016-election ) Carnegie Endowment analysis showing interference "geared towards undermining the effectiveness and cohesion of the Western alliance" ( https://carnegieendowment.org/2018/05/23/russian-election-interference-europe-s-counter-to-fake-news-and-cyber-attacks-pub-76435 ) Evidence of Voice of Europe troll network bribing European politicians ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_interference_in_European_politics ) It's meaningless to claim that the West only has itself to blame when Russia is pouring gasoline on the fire to such a great extent as they actually do.

The algorithms of social media make people live in echo chambers where they are pretty much fed only one side of a matter. That's a recipe for imbalance and extremism. Also, social media like TikTok, with short video formats, are really suited for for example spreading political messages with very simple solutions, which you often find on the extreme ends of the political spectrum, both right and left. Complex solutions demand much more time than a short video. Extremism thrives on oversimplification.

I'll never understand how this became a common saying. If it ever made sense, it must have been many years ago...

I've never been prouder of my fellow citizens than earlier this year, when there was a national effort to remove all advertisement for his filthy party from public spaces. It was a great success! That guy is as trustworthy as the Kremlin.

I actually get conflicting answers when I ask ChatGPT and the different versions of Claude whether it was primarily to appeal to their loyal base or to swing voters. I think it’s safe to say it was a solid combination of both.

There’s a reason why the Republican Party is so obsessed with trans, and especially was so during the campaign. It wasn’t primarily to appeal to their loyal base, who would vote for them anyway, but rather those who were considering voting for Kamala.

@Emerald I was just spesifically talking about trans women competing in women’s sports. I don’t see how that’s «coming for» trans people or «throwing them under the bus.» I myself am against it.

After reading a lot of posts from “moderates” explaining why they voted for Trump this time, I’ve been pretty amazed by how many specifically mention trans women competing in women’s sports as one of their main reasons. If the Democratic Party had gone out publicly and clearly said they don’t support this, it probably would have drastically improved the chances of the US not falling into the claws of fascists. Do you think it was worth it, not doing so?

Legroom. I’m below average height and I always have a comfortable amount of space for my legs wherever I sit. This week I was at the opera house here, which I’ve heard really tall people actually can’t attend because the legroom is so bad. I had a wonderful time, so that sucks for them.

Wow. It's time for some fact-checking: Claim 1: "Illegal, forced change of government by anti-Russian nationalists" FACT-CHECK: FALSE/MISLEADING What actually happened: Yanukovych fled on his own after his security forces killed 100+ protesters Sources: BBC: "Ukraine President Yanukovych flees Kiev" (Feb 22, 2014): https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26304842 The Guardian interview with Yanukovych's own bodyguards: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/24/viktor-yanukovych-ukraine-abode Parliament voted 328-0 to remove him (including his own party members) Sources: Ukrainian Parliament official records: https://www.rada.gov.ua/news/Novyny/88188.html Reuters: "Ukrainian parliament votes to oust Yanukovych": https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-parliament-idUSBREA1L0OU20140222 The interim government included Russian-speakers and Eastern Ukrainians Sources: Wilson Center analysis of government composition: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/ukraines-new-government Carnegie Europe on linguistic diversity: https://carnegieeurope.eu/2014/03/10/ukraine-s-new-government-pub-54832 Far-right parties got only 2% in subsequent elections Sources: OSCE Election Observation Report May 2014: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/ukraine/119078 Central Election Commission results (Svoboda 4.71%, Right Sector 1.8%): https://www.cvk.gov.ua/pls/vnd2014/wp300e?PT001F01=910 Claim 2: "Ukraine has tradition of helping Hitler, Stepan Bandera, etc." FACT-CHECK: DISTORTED HISTORICAL CONTEXT The complex reality: Some Ukrainian nationalists did initially collaborate with Nazis Sources: Timothy Snyder: "The Causes of Ukrainian-Polish Ethnic Cleansing": https://www.jstor.org/stable/2500179 John-Paul Himka on OUN-UPA: https://www.academia.edu/2052133/ But Ukraine suffered enormously under Nazi occupation: 5-7 million killed Sources: US Holocaust Memorial Museum on Ukraine: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/kiev-and-babi-yar Timothy Snyder, "Bloodlands" (2010), Yale University Press, pp. 411-412 2.5 million Ukrainians fought in Red Army against Hitler Sources: David Glantz, "When Titans Clashed" p. 302 (University Press of Kansas, 1995) Soviet archives via Wilson Center: https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/117306 Modern Ukraine has Jewish president (Zelensky) and had Jewish PM (Groysman) Sources: Times of Israel on Zelensky victory: https://www.timesofisrael.com/zelensky-wins-ukraines-presidential-race-in-landslide/ JTA on Groysman appointment: https://www.jta.org/2016/04/14/global/ukraine-gets-its-first-jewish-prime-minister-volodymyr-groysman Claim 3: "11 million Russians felt threatened and held referendums" FACT-CHECK: MISLEADING Reality of the "referendums": Conducted under military occupation by Russian forces Sources: UN Resolution 68/262 declaring referendum invalid: https://www.un.org/press/en/2014/ga11493.doc.htm Venice Commission legal opinion: https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2014)002-e No legitimate international observers present Sources: OSCE declining to observe: https://www.osce.org/cio/116313 EU non-recognition statement: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2014/03/17/declaration-on-crimea/ Many Russian-speakers opposed Russian intervention Sources: Rating Group polling in Kharkiv: https://ratinggroup.ua/research/ukraine/ocenki_harkovchan_situacii_v_gorode_27-28_fevralya_2022.html KIIS survey of Russian-speakers: https://www.kiis.com.ua/?lang=eng&cat=reports&id=1043 Russian-speaking cities (Kharkiv, Odesa) didn't rise up Sources: International Crisis Group: "Nobody Wants Us": https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/eastern-europe/ukraine/252-nobody-wants-us-gradual-reintegration-eastern-ukraine Carnegie analysis on Kharkiv: https://carnegiemoscow.org/2014/09/18/why-kharkiv-didn-t-follow-donetsk-and-luhansk-pub-56935 Claim 4: "A civil war begins" FACT-CHECK: FALSE - It was Russian invasion, not civil war Evidence of Russian involvement: Key "separatist" leaders were Russian citizens Sources: BBC on Borodai's Russian citizenship: https://www.bbc.com/russian/russia/2014/05/140515_tr_donetsk_boroday Bellingcat on Girkin's FSB service: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2019/11/14/identifying-the-separatists-linked-to-the-downing-of-mh17/ Girkin admitted: "I pulled the trigger of war" Sources: Original interview in Zavtra newspaper: https://zavtra.ru/blogs/kto_ti_strelok Moscow Times translation: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/11/21/russias-igor-strelkov-i-am-responsible-for-war-in-eastern-ukraine-a41598 Russian military units documented Sources: Guardian on captured paratroopers: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/26/russia-admits-soldiers-ukraine NATO satellite evidence: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_112193.htm OSCE monitoring reports: https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/156571 Claim 5: "Americans building virus labs near military bases" FACT-CHECK: CONSPIRACY THEORY What these labs actually are: Soviet-era facilities US helped secure since 2005 Sources: DoD Biological Threat Reduction Program documents: https://media.defense.gov/2022/Mar/11/2002954612/-1/-1/0/FACT-SHEET-THE-DEPARTMENT-OF-DEFENSE'S-COOPERATIVE-THREAT-REDUCTION-PROGRAM-BIOLOGICAL-THREAT-REDUCTION-PROGRAM-ACTIVITIES-IN-UKRAINE.PDF Nunn-Lugar Program overview: https://sgp.fas.org/crs/nuke/R43143.pdf Public health labs studying routine diseases Sources: WHO statement on labs: https://www.who.int/news/item/11-03-2022-who-advises-ukraine-to-destroy-high-threat-pathogens-in-health-laboratories Science Magazine fact-check: https://www.science.org/content/article/fact-checking-russian-biological-weapons-claims No evidence of bioweapons Sources: UN Security Council finding no evidence: https://press.un.org/en/2022/sc14840.doc.htm US State Department fact sheet: https://www.state.gov/the-kremlins-allegations-of-chemical-and-biological-weapons-laboratories-in-ukraine/ Claim 6: "Ukraine's annexation into NATO with nuclear weapons" FACT-CHECK: FALSE The actual NATO situation: Ukraine was NOT offered NATO membership before invasion Sources: NATO Bucharest Summit 2008 - no MAP offered: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_8443.htm NATO Secretary General Jan 2022: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_190966.htm Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons in 1994 Sources: Budapest Memorandum text: https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume 3007/Part/volume-3007-I-52241.pdf Arms Control Association analysis: https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Ukraine-Nuclear-Weapons No nuclear weapons in new NATO states Sources: Federation of American Scientists report: https://fas.org/issues/nuclear-weapons/status-world-nuclear-forces/ NATO nuclear policy: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_50068.htm Claim 7: "Kissinger said invasion 100% certain" FACT-CHECK: MISREPRESENTATION What Kissinger actually said: Advocated neutrality BUT with Ukrainian sovereignty Sources: Washington Post op-ed (March 2014): https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/henry-kissinger-to-settle-the-ukraine-crisis-start-at-the-end/2014/03/05/46dad868-a496-11e3-8466-d34c451760b9_story.html Changed position after invasion to support NATO membership Sources: Financial Times on Davos speech: https://www.ft.com/content/6be7dd1d-f509-44a5-88fe-69f3cb93816e The Spectator article (Dec 2022): https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/henry-kissinger-how-to-avoid-another-world-war/ Most experts didn't predict full invasion Sources: Foreign Affairs expert survey: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/ukraine/2022-02-21/what-if-russia-wins RAND Corporation assessment: https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1971-1.html Claim 8: "Biden behind Euromaidan with Victoria Nuland" FACT-CHECK: CONSPIRACY THEORY What actually happened: Millions of Ukrainians participated spontaneously Sources: BBC day-by-day coverage: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26232891 Pew Research: 58% supported Euromaidan: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2014/05/08/despite-concerns-about-governance-ukrainians-want-to-remain-one-country/ Nuland call discussed post-Yanukovych transition, not causing protests Sources: BBC transcript and context: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26079957 Politifact on "$5 billion" claim: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2014/mar/19/facebook-posts/united-states-spent-5-billion-ukraine-anti-governm/ Biden conducted normal diplomacy as VP Sources: White House archives: https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/22/fact-sheet-us-crisis-support-package-ukraine CFR timeline: https://www.cfr.org/timeline/us-ukraine-relations Claim 9: "Hunter Biden director of Ukraine's largest gas company" FACT-CHECK: PARTIALLY TRUE BUT MISLEADING The actual facts: Hunter was on Burisma board 2014-2019 (problematic but legal) Sources: Burisma announcement: https://web.archive.org/web/20140517093402/http://burisma.com/en/media/company-news/ Senate report: https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/HSGAC_Finance_Report_FINAL.pdf Burisma is ONE OF largest, not THE largest (Naftogaz is largest) Sources: Naftogaz annual reports: http://www.naftogaz.com/www/3/nakweben.nsf/0/3E92FC8C4C4EF585C2257EDD006F1485?OpenDocument Ukrainian energy sector analysis: https://www.oecd.org/ukraine-hub/policy-responses/ukraine-s-energy-sector-and-the-energy-community-treaty-d187a44f/ This happened AFTER Euromaidan, not before Sources: Reuters timeline: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hunter-biden-ukraine-idUSKBN1WX1P7 New York Times investigation: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/us/politics/biden-son-ukraine.html No evidence of influence on Joe Biden's policy Sources: Republican Senate investigation found nothing: https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/HSGAC_Finance_Report_FINAL.pdf Ukrainian prosecutors confirmed: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment-ukraine-idUSKBN1XU2N7 Claim 10: "Nord Stream destroyed... US grows 2%" FACT-CHECK: MISLEADING CORRELATION The facts: No definitive proof who destroyed Nord Stream Sources: Swedish investigation closed without conclusion: https://www.government.se/press-releases/2024/02/the-swedish-prosecutor-closes-investigation-concerning-nord-stream/ German investigation ongoing: https://www.generalbundesanwalt.de/DE/Home/home_node.html US growth from post-COVID recovery, not Nord Stream Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis GDP data: https://www.bea.gov/news/2023/gross-domestic-product-fourth-quarter-and-year-2022-advance-estimate Federal Reserve analysis: https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/beigebook202301.htm US was already major LNG exporter Sources: Energy Information Administration data: https://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/weekly/ IEA Gas Market Report: https://www.iea.org/reports/gas-market-report-q1-2023 Claim 11: "Ukraine left in ruins with millions of exiles" FACT-CHECK: TRUE BUT MISATTRIBUTED Who's actually responsible: Russia is bombing Ukrainian cities Sources: UN Human Rights documentation: https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2023/01/ukraine-civilian-casualty-update-9-january-2023 ICC war crimes warrants: https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-ukraine-icc-judges-issue-arrest-warrants-against-vladimir-vladimirovich-putin-and $411 billion in damage from Russian attacks Sources: World Bank damage assessment: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2023/03/23/updated-ukraine-recovery-and-reconstruction-needs-assessment UN reconstruction estimates: https://ukraine.un.org/en/253322-updated-damage-estimates-point-recovery-and-reconstruction-needs-411-billion Refugees fleeing Russian invasion Sources: UNHCR: 6.5 million refugees: https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine IOM displacement tracking: https://dtm.iom.int/ukraine Additional Context: NATO Expansion Narrative FACT-CHECK: MISLEADING FRAMING Reality of NATO expansion: Countries voluntarily join defensive alliance Sources: NATO Treaty Article 10 on voluntary accession: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_17120.htm NATO enlargement study: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_24733.htm Eastern Europeans sought protection from Russia Sources: Polish Ministry archives: https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/nato Baltic security concerns per RAND: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1577.html No written promise against expansion exists Sources: Gorbachev: "Topic not discussed": https://www.brookings.edu/articles/did-nato-promise-not-to-enlarge-gorbachev-says-no/ National Security Archive documents: https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2017-12-12/nato-expansion-what-gorbachev-heard NATO actually reduced forces before 2014 Sources: Congressional Research Service report (2013): https://sgp.fas.org/crs/row/R42532.pdf IISS Military Balance showing troop reductions: https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance Summary Pattern This narrative demonstrates classic disinformation techniques: Victim-aggressor reversal - Ukraine defending = aggression Cherry-picked facts mixed with fabrications Conspiracy theories (biolabs, puppet masters) Denying Ukrainian agency - Ukrainians can't want democracy independently False correlations - US growth caused by Nord Stream Sources for disinformation analysis: EU DisinfoLab reports: https://www.disinfo.eu/ Atlantic Council DFR Lab: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/digital-forensic-research-lab/ Bellingcat investigations: https://www.bellingcat.com/tag/ukraine/ StopFake fact-checking: https://www.stopfake.org/en/main/ The fundamental fact remains: Russia invaded a sovereign nation. Whatever grievances existed could have been addressed diplomatically. The destruction you correctly identify is the result of Russian aggression, not Western manipulation.

This is exactly what @Lyubov does better than most people here imo. It probably says more about the other person that a guy like him would choose to write this way.

And you choose the Russian narrative?

Here's Claude's summary of it: I'll provide a medium-length comprehensive analysis of Russian disinformation warfare against Ukraine since 2004, with fact-checks confirming false narratives. The Orange Revolution Era (2004-2008) The Poisoning and Initial Protests When Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned with dioxin in September 2004, Russian media launched a multi-pronged disinformation campaign. They first denied the poisoning occurred [FALSE: International toxicologists in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany independently confirmed TCDD dioxin levels 1,000 times normal], then claimed he was an alcoholic who damaged his own face [FALSE: Medical evidence clearly showed dioxin poisoning], and finally suggested it was staged for Western sympathy [FALSE: Nearly fatal poisoning documented by multiple specialists]. During the Orange Revolution protests (November 2004-January 2005), Russian state media and affiliated outlets created an alternate reality: Protesters were allegedly paid $50-100 per day by American NGOs [FALSE: No evidence ever produced; millions participated spontaneously after fraudulent election] George Soros and the CIA orchestrated a coup [FALSE: While Western NGOs supported civil society, the protests were indigenous response to election fraud documented by OSCE observers] "Trains of nationalists" from Western Ukraine were coming to attack Russian speakers [FALSE: Protests included massive participation from Russian-speaking regions; no ethnic violence occurred] Orange color was deliberately chosen to provoke associations with Ukrainian nationalist movements [FALSE: Simply Yushchenko's campaign color with no historical connection] Post-Revolution Destabilization Campaign (2005-2008) After the revolution's success, Russia established institutional disinformation infrastructure. The "Institute of CIS Countries" coordinated information warfare, while "anti-orange" youth movements like Proryv received Russian funding. During the 2006 and 2009 gas conflicts, Russian media portrayed Ukraine as "stealing European gas" [FALSE: Contractual disputes over pricing; Ukraine was paying below-market rates per existing agreements]. Russian-funded media promoted the "Novorossiya" (New Russia) concept, claiming eight Ukrainian oblasts were historically Russian territory [HISTORICAL MANIPULATION: These territories were ethnically diverse, including Ukrainians, Jews, Greeks, Tatars, Germans; never exclusively Russian]. They organized pseudo-academic conferences declaring Ukrainian statehood "artificial" [FALSE: Ukrainian national identity, language, and culture developed over centuries independently]. The Yanukovych Interlude (2010-2013) Soft Power Infiltration During Viktor Yanukovych's presidency, Russia shifted to subtler influence operations while preparing for potential escalation. Russian businesses acquired major Ukrainian media outlets through proxy oligarchs. The "Russian World" (Russkiy Mir) foundation expanded cultural centers promoting civilizational unity [IDEOLOGICAL MANIPULATION: Soft power tool to justify future intervention]. Anti-EU Association Campaign (2013) As the Vilnius Summit approached, Russian media intensified disinformation about the EU Association Agreement: Economic catastrophe predictions claimed Ukraine would lose $100 billion [FALSE: Manufactured numbers with no economic basis] EU membership would require legalizing same-sex marriage [FALSE: Association agreement contained no social policy requirements] Polish farmers would buy all Ukrainian farmland [FALSE: Land moratorium remained in place] Ukrainian products couldn't meet EU standards and would be banned [FALSE: Agreement included transition periods and assistance] 70% of Ukrainians opposed EU association [FALSE: Independent polls consistently showed majority support] Euromaidan - Information Warfare Escalation (November 2013 - February 2014) Phase 1: Minimization and Dismissal (November 21 - December 1, 2013) Russian media initially dismissed protests as "a few hundred students manipulated by Western grants" [FALSE: Hundreds of thousands participated within days]. After Berkut special forces brutally beat students on November 30, Russian media claimed students "provoked" police with "extremist actions" [FALSE: Video evidence showed peaceful students attacked while sleeping]. Phase 2: Demonization and Fear-mongering (December 2013 - January 2014) As protests grew, Russian propaganda shifted to presenting an existential threat: All protesters were labeled "Banderovtsy" (followers of WWII-era nationalist Stepan Bandera) [FALSE: Protests included diverse political views; far-right represented tiny minority] "Armed militants from Lviv" were supposedly seizing government buildings [FALSE: Protests remained overwhelmingly peaceful despite government violence] Protesters were allegedly given drugs and alcohol to maintain aggression [FALSE: Maidan kitchens famously served tea, not alcohol; no evidence of drug distribution] "NATO instructors" were training extremists in camps [FALSE: No evidence of any NATO involvement] Plans existed to ban Russian language immediately after victory [DISTORTION: While Parliament briefly considered repealing 2012 language law, it was quickly dropped; Russian was never banned] Russian Channel One created fake witness testimonies about "trains of Galician extremists" coming to kill Russian speakers [STAGED: Multiple "witnesses" identified as paid actors]. Life News produced segments showing "terrified Kyiv residents fleeing the city" [FAKE: Actors performed in multiple videos with different identities]. Phase 3: The Sniper Massacre (February 18-22, 2014) When government snipers killed over 100 protesters, Russian media immediately launched multiple false narratives: Opposition leaders ordered snipers to shoot their own supporters for sympathy [FALSE: Ballistic evidence, videos, and investigations confirmed shots from government-controlled positions] "Georgian mercenaries" hired by the opposition were responsible [FABRICATED: "Mercenaries" who "confessed" on Russian TV were actors; Georgia officially denied involvement] Shots came from opposition-controlled buildings [FALSE: Forensic reconstruction proved trajectories from government positions] Bodies were "theatrical mannequins" [GROTESQUE LIE: All victims identified by families, documented by doctors] Crimean Annexation - Hybrid Warfare Blueprint (February-March 2014) Manufacturing Consent (February 22-27, 2014) Russian media created a false crisis to justify intervention: "Trains of Right Sector fighters" heading to Crimea to massacre Russians [FALSE: No such movements occurred; Right Sector had minimal presence even in Western Ukraine] Crimean Tatars were preparing terrorist attacks against Russians [FALSE: Crimean Tatar leadership explicitly called for peace] "Secret NATO documents" revealed plans for base in Sevastopol [FALSE: No such documents or plans existed] "Seven buses of armed Banderists" approaching Crimean border [FALSE: Complete fabrication; no evidence of any such groups] Russian media showed "spontaneous self-defense forces" emerging to protect locals [FALSE: These were Russian special forces, as Putin later admitted in April 2014]. The Occupation and Referendum Theater The "little green men" were presented as local self-defense who "bought uniforms at military surplus stores" [ABSURD LIE: Professional Russian special forces with Russian-exclusive equipment]. Putin personally denied they were Russian forces on March 4, 2014 [DIRECT LIE: He admitted the truth in documentary "Crimea: Path to Homeland" one year later]. The March 16 referendum was portrayed as free and fair with 96.77% support and 83% turnout [MASSIVELY FALSIFIED: Russia's own Human Rights Council accidentally published real data showing 30-40% turnout with 50-60% yes votes]. "International observers" validated results [FAKE: Real international organizations (OSCE, UN, EU) refused to observe; "observers" were far-right European politicians and extremists]. The Donbas War - Denial and Deception (April 2014 - February 2022) The "People's Uprising" Fiction (April-August 2014) Igor Girkin/Strelkov, a Russian FSB colonel, was presented as a "local reenactment enthusiast" [FALSE: Active FSB officer who later admitted "I pulled the trigger of war"]. Other Russian military intelligence officers were given elaborate fake backstories as "former miners" and "local activists" [FALSE: Most key figures were Russian citizens with no connection to Donbas]. The capture of military equipment was portrayed as "trophies from Ukrainian army" [FALSE: Modern Russian equipment never possessed by Ukraine appeared, documented by NATO and OSCE]. When Russian paratroopers were captured in August 2014, they were "lost on training exercises" [ABSURD: They were 50km inside Ukraine with full combat equipment]. MH17 - The Disinformation Firehose (July 17, 2014) Within hours of shooting down MH17, Russian media produced constantly changing narratives: Ukrainian Su-25 shot it down [PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE: Su-25 maximum altitude 7,000m; MH17 at 10,000m] Ukrainian BUK aiming for Putin's plane [FALSE: Putin's plane nowhere near Ukraine that day] CIA filled plane with dead bodies for false flag [INSANE AND OFFENSIVE: 298 real victims with grieving families] Ukraine used captured Russian BUK [FALSE: JIT investigation proved BUK came from Russia's 53rd Brigade in Kursk] Russian media created fake Spanish air traffic controller "Carlos" and fake Ukrainian pilot "Voloshin" who "confessed" [BOTH FABRICATED: No such persons existed in those positions]. Years of Denial (2014-2022) Major battles involving regular Russian forces were systematically denied: Ilovaisk (August 2014): Russian armor columns described as "volunteers on vacation" [FALSE: Entire battalion tactical groups don't vacation with tanks] Debaltseve (January-February 2015): Russian artillery support denied [FALSE: OSCE documented cross-border shelling] Russian military deaths: Soldiers who died in Ukraine buried secretly, families silenced [COVER-UP: Cargo 200 (military dead) hidden from public] "Humanitarian convoys" (70+ from 2014-2019) brought "baby food and medicine" [FALSE: OSCE spotted military equipment; Ukraine denied inspection rights]. The Inter-War Preparation Period (2015-2021) Gradual Escalation (2015-2018) Russian media normalized occupation while denying involvement. They promoted "civil war" narrative [FALSE: International conflict with Russian forces] and demanded Ukraine negotiate directly with "rebels" [MANIPULATION: Forcing Ukraine to legitimize Russian proxies]. Passportization and Annexation Preparation (2019-2021) Distribution of 800,000+ Russian passports in occupied territories was presented as "humanitarian aid to abandoned people" [ILLEGAL: Geneva Convention prohibits occupier from changing civil status]. Claims that Ukraine "abandoned" these citizens [FALSE: Ukraine couldn't provide services due to Russian military occupation]. COVID-19 Weaponization (2020-2021) Pandemic disinformation included: US biolabs in Ukraine creating ethnic-specific bioweapons targeting Slavs [SCIENTIFICALLY IMPOSSIBLE: No such technology exists] Ukraine deliberately spreading COVID in occupied territories [FALSE: No evidence; occupied areas suffered due to Russian healthcare failures] Western vaccines were "genetic weapons" [FALSE: Anti-vaccine propaganda while Russia promoted its own Sputnik V] Putin's Historical Revisionism (July 2021) Putin's 5,000-word article "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians" became mandatory reading for Russian forces. Key false claims: Ukraine was "created by Lenin" [FALSE: Ukrainian national movement predated Soviet Union by decades] Ukrainians and Russians are "one people - a single whole" [FALSE: Distinct languages, cultures, and national identities] Modern Ukraine is "anti-Russia project" [FALSE: Ukraine's independence isn't about Russia but about self-determination] Full-Scale Invasion and Beyond (2022-2024) Pre-Invasion Crescendo (October 2021 - February 2022) Russian media prepared the population with escalating false narratives: "Genocide in Donbas" with 130,000 refugees fleeing to Russia [FALSE: UN documented ~3,400 total civilian deaths over 8 years, mostly in 2014-2015] Ukraine preparing "Operation Storm" to retake Donbas [FALSE: No offensive preparations or capabilities] Discovery of "mass graves of Russian speakers" [FABRICATED: No evidence provided] Ukraine developing plutonium-based nuclear weapons [FALSE: No nuclear program, no plutonium] Ukraine planning false flag chemical attack [PROJECTION: Russia preparing narrative for potential chemical weapons use] Invasion Justifications and War Crimes Denial (February 2022 - Present) "Special military operation" for "denazification" [ORWELLIAN: Full-scale war against democratic country with Jewish president]. When war went badly, narratives constantly shifted: Bucha massacre: "Bodies appeared after Russians left," "satellite images faked" [FALSE: Satellite imagery, phone records, forensics all confirmed Russian atrocities during occupation] Mariupol theater bombing: "Azov Battalion false flag" [FALSE: Russian airstrike killed 600 civilians in clearly marked shelter] Kakhovka dam destruction: "Ukrainian sabotage" [FALSE: Dam under Russian control; flooding benefited Russian defense] Grain theft: "Protecting grain from Western exploitation" [FALSE: Systematic theft of Ukrainian grain documented] Key Disinformation Strategies and Techniques The Firehose of Falsehood Russian strategy involves overwhelming audience with numerous, often contradictory narratives. MH17 generated 15+ different explanations; Bucha massacre had 8 different denials. Goal isn't coherent alternative truth but destroying concept of truth itself. Projection and Reversal Consistently accusing Ukraine of what Russia itself does: calling democratic Ukraine "fascist" while exhibiting fascist characteristics, claiming Ukraine commits genocide while conducting genocidal actions, accusing Ukraine of aggression while invading. Manufactured Evidence Creating fake witnesses, documents, and recordings. Hiring actors to play refugees, victims, or "concerned citizens." Producing fake "intercepted communications" and "secret documents." Historical Weaponization Rewriting history to justify present aggression. Denying Ukrainian nationhood, claiming territories as "historically Russian," invoking WWII constantly while distorting its history. This comprehensive disinformation campaign represents the most extensive information warfare operation of the 21st century, combining traditional propaganda with modern digital tools to justify aggression, confuse international audiences, maintain domestic support, and attempt to destroy Ukrainian national identity. The scale, sophistication, and persistence of these operations demonstrate that information warfare was not auxiliary to military operations but central to Russian strategy against Ukraine.

After 20 years of Russian disinformation warfare, that is.

Good point.

I think this is a strangely absolute position to hold. Do you mean this about all invasions of sovereign states? Do you think, for example, that it was evil of the Allies to invade Nazi Germany and that they shouldn't have done it?

Roughly as little as the Kurdish, Kuwaiti, Shia, and Marsh Arab civilians who were killed by the Iraqis under Saddam. Like I said: «the US of course shouldn't have invaded Iraq.»

Yeah, even though the US of course shouldn't have invaded Iraq, it's pretty unfair to compare Ukraine to Saddam & co. What bad has Ukraine really done, other than trying to protect themselves from this exact "denazification" which is going on at the moment?

Soul>>>>>>>>blood. I welcome you 🇳🇴

@Daniel Balan Interesting reading! Horrible to read about your childhood experiences in the other thread btw. I've also had my black metal period after developing a distaste for religion. Nothing like what you experienced, but growing up as the only atheist in my circle during a time when the Norwegian school system was still very Christian, was a little lonely and frustrating experience.