andz

Do you sincerely believe macroeconomics doesn’t affect the lives of ordinary people? Why do you think they scam their way over the border (usually by saying they’re visiting relatives or the like) and then raid the neatest grocery store for fresh fruit, vegetables, and so on, after which they fill as many jerry cans they can with gasoline and then finally buy all the ibuprofen and paracetamol etc they get?

Does that sound like things are going well for them? I’ve seen a guy with so many cucumbers that they literally spilt out of the top of his backpack.

Anyway, since I know both Russians, which I dislike, but that’s irrelevant, and I’ve dated a Ukrainian with relatives in Russia, I do have a good picture of things, yes. I’ve lost several good friends in Ukraine. I know from my a guy from my hometown who got his foot shot of.

I also get regular news from inside Russia via my father’s wife, who’s got her relatives stuck on the other side. I don’t particularly like her, but it I’d what it is. I can’t exactly post what she’s saying here, can I? Other than what I’ve already written.

I’m still wondering why you, in particular, are such an expert on all things Russian, especially if all you have to go to is third hand publications at best.

Come to Finland and have a look at the border, and you’ll quickly see how things are on the other side. They’re hurting, and they’re hurting badly. A few more weeks, maybe a month or two, and the fuel situation is going to be catastrophic. Not to mention things like prescription medicines and glasses, spare parts for everyday machines, and so on.

Yet, you seem to be absolutely sure you know better than anyone else.

What the actual fuck?

You’re not serious. You can’t be. Nobody is this stupid and manages to make an account on lemmy. Please go away.

You’re accusing someone who practically lives right next door to Russia of not knowing how things look on the ground. My father is married to a Russian, and my mother’s grandmother was a minor nobility at the Russian tzarist court.

I believe I just might have a better understanding of the day-to-day goings-on than someone who sits and posts articles. You still haven’t answered my question, btw. What makes you such an expert on the daily life in Russia? Do you live close by, or do you sit in the US thinking you have it all figured out?

Do you not remember how you started this thread? You made claims to the contrary, i.e., that this is news that has been repeated several times, which just shows how naive you are.

It’s not a secret per se, but a lot of disinformation is floating around, and saying Russia hasn’t been diminished at all os certainly one of them.

You simply moved your opinions when it suited you.

…and you still haven’t answered my original question; where do you get your information from?

There are other sources than their media, which indeed is full of propaganda. Even they are slowly starting to sour at the war in general at this point in time, though. More than one host has openly questioned the war at this point. The (pathetically small) middle class is also not particularly happy at the progress and rations they now have to endure, and even less so since their sons are next to get to go play in the meatgrinder. These are things I’ve heard firsthand from Russians.

Those with family here come over the border to buy groceries and fuel any chance they get. It’s not unusual to see some Russian buy 20 cucumbers and as much flour and milk he can carry, for example. Also, basic medicine is popular because they simply do not have any domestic availability for these things. If that’s not an indicator of how bad it is, I don’t know what you’re thinking.

If you can’t speak Russian, I still wonder why you think you have any real knowledge about how things are inside Russia. Sure, they’re shooting their missile reserves (and the really expensive ones at that), but that is something they can’t keep up indefinitely.

Lastly, the conscription is extremely unpopular inside Russia, although few dare to speak out loudly, for now. That is also something that they can’t do indefinitely without completely destroying their population.

I find it pretty arrogant that you think you know the situation on the ground based on an article or two that you happened to come across. I can ensure you that this missile barrage is an act of desperation, nothing more.

Their oil production is bad enough that they have to import refined fuel. Think about that for a minute and come back to tell me shit hasn’t hit the fan, I dare you.

In that case, do you want to disclose where you’re getting your information from?

I’m asking because it really does look like you’re simply trying to push your opinions as fact.

Do you understand Russian? Can you read it? Do you know anyone inside Russia?

Edit; For the record, I’ve lost three good friends in Ukraine so far, and a fourth is missing, so I assume she’s gone as well. Do you have any idea what’s really going on in this war?

You are, huh? Where?

You didn’t answer my question.

deleted by creator

I live about an hour from the Russian border. I know people on the other side. I can read Russian well enough to follow their news since we’re probably fairly high up on the list of targets if this goes really wrong. Not that that would end well for Russia, but they’re not exactly behaving rationally atm.

I know what it really looks like inside Russia. Can you claim the same, or do you just like to spread misinformation?

It’s an enormous country with an abundance of natural resources. It was always going to take a fair amount of time before they got desperate. Now they are, and it’s not going well, hence the endless missile and drone barrage.

They lost their momentum on the ground a while back, and now they’re reduced to holding what they can and hope they can break the Ukrainian morale with civilian casualties. There’s nothing new there. They’re using the same tactics they used in Chechnya all over again. The only difference is the weaponry used.