Russia and Ukraine

[Fake Messiah]

Wow, that Putin sure doesn't want Russians talking to each other.

Telegram, an important platform for public and private communications in Russia, will face further restrictions from authorities because it has failed to correct previous violations, the state communications watchdog said on Tuesday.

The watchdog, Roskomnadzor, began limiting voice and video calls via Telegram last August, when it took similar steps against Meta's WhatsApp. In a further clampdown on foreign-based tech providers, it blocked Apple's video-calling app FaceTime in December.

Telegram is used by newsmakers of all kinds - including the Kremlin, courts, media, celebrities and the exiled opposition - to distribute information instantly to a large audience.

Military bloggers say it has also been used extensively by Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

Durov, writing on his Telegram channel, accused authorities of curbing access to Telegram to push Russians toward a state-controlled alternative, likely referring to MAX messenger.

"Restricting citizens' freedom is never the right answer," he wrote. "Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy, no matter the pressure."

Several Muscovites told Reuters in street interviews they had observed the app was working less well.

"I noticed it clearly today. My business is very tied up with it, so that's bad," said Roman, a media professional. He said it could cause problems for Russian firms that tend to rely on social networks rather than email to attract new clients.

State news agency RIA reported separately that Telegram was facing fines of up to 64 million roubles ($830,000) in eight upcoming court hearings in connection with alleged failures to remove information required by Russian law. It said bailiffs were also seeking to collect another 9 million roubles in earlier, unpaid fines.

Russia has placed curbs on foreign-based apps while rolling out the state-backed rival, MAX, which people are encouraged to use for access to government services, as well as for messaging. Critics say MAX could be used for surveillance, though state media have denied that.

Russia tried and failed to block Telegram in 2018. It has also banned Meta's Facebook and Instagram, and restricted access to YouTube, which is owned by Alphabet's Google.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/s...026-02-10/

[The Grand Nudger]

Honestly, I think he's more concerned with how his group of brokedick pricks keep using it for military comms since russia the great can't provide enough radios for troops on the field. Then again, the radios they do get aren't much of an improvement. The ukranians speak russian and the russians don't speak ukranian.

[Mister Agenda]

They MADE SURE the Ukrainians could speak Russian.

[Ivan Denisovich]

Polish lawmakers have approved granting legal amnesty to Poles who have taken up arms in defence of Ukraine. Normally, serving in a foreign military without consent from the Polish authorities is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

On Friday, the proposed new “law on the non-punishment of volunteers defending the freedom and independence of Ukraine” was supported almost unanimously by the Sejm, the more powerful lower house of parliament. Only the far-right did not vote in favour.

Smart move I would say. Fighting against rus(s)ia certainly is in Polish interest.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Polish lawmakers have approved granting legal amnesty to Poles who have taken up arms in defence of Ukraine. Normally, serving in a foreign military without consent from the Polish authorities is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

On Friday, the proposed new “law on the non-punishment of volunteers defending the freedom and independence of Ukraine” was supported almost unanimously by the Sejm, the more powerful lower house of parliament. Only the far-right did not vote in favour.

Smart move I would say. Fighting against rus(s)ia certainly is in Polish interest.

Patriotism wears many hats. Or in this case, helmets.

Boru

[The Grand Nudger]

They MADE SURE the Ukrainians could speak Russian.

The universe has a sense of irony.

[Leonardo17]

Fake Messiah:
 
That’s probably because the economy is starting to feel the effects of the economic sanctions. Even with a fossil fuel based economy, even with a communist heritage, even with the support of China there is a limit to defying international world order. I wish D. Trump could see that and stop whatever it is he is trying to achieve with his “Board of Peace” and give everyone their money back
 
- The BBC has documented 186,000 Russian deaths in the Ukraine war. These are mostly the deaths in small and distant villages. In some villages they don’t even have enough workforce for the necessary tasks anymore. Of course these are only the “documented” deaths. The total number (that includes conscripts from cities) is estimated to be 5 time this number:




 
 
But let us compare this with other numbers:
 
In the Vietnam war of the US between 1960 and 1974 there has been 58,261 soldiers who were killed in action, who died from wounds or simply disappeared. (Wikipedia)
 
In the Soviet-Afghan that lasted from 1979 to 1989 the total number of dead Soviet soldiers is 14,453.
 
In the Kurdish insurrection in South-East Turkey that lasted between 1981 and 2012 the total number of security forces who died is 6877.
 
These are all 10-20 year conflicts and they are the bloodiest conflicts since WWII.
 
+ These are “old” conflicts. Today we have much better medical corps, better field medicine and an approach to warfare that cares more about the protection of the lives of the soldiers in the field.
 
/ Even with this “tiny” 6877 deaths number above, I sort of know how society as a whole will reacted to these deaths. I know how people (in the 1990’s / at the height of the Kurdish insurgency conflict) were scared to be drafted. I know how the families of those soldiers were scared for their kids. This was a “tiny” war, but it had such effects on the lives of all of us at the time.
 
So if you have a minimum death toll of 186,000 I think it’s normal to ban Telegram in Russia. I would have banned all radio and TV stations too. Something that is happening in Russia after the Yeltsin era is simply not right. I think the Russian leadership is simply no longer in touch with reality

[Ivan Denisovich]

Something that is happening in Russia after the Yeltsin era is simply not right. I think the Russian leadership is simply no longer in touch with reality

So what happened in russia before Yeltsin was right? russia is disaster and Europe sick man at least since it managed to throw off Mongols yoke and in all honesty it probably was shit even before it.

[Ivan Denisovich]

Polish lawmakers have approved granting legal amnesty to Poles who have taken up arms in defence of Ukraine. Normally, serving in a foreign military without consent from the Polish authorities is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

On Friday, the proposed new “law on the non-punishment of volunteers defending the freedom and independence of Ukraine” was supported almost unanimously by the Sejm, the more powerful lower house of parliament. Only the far-right did not vote in favour.

Smart move I would say. Fighting against rus(s)ia certainly is in Polish interest.

Patriotism wears many hats. Or in this case, helmets.

Boru

I think that it is simple common sense.

[The Grand Nudger]

 
+ These are “old” conflicts. Today we have much better medical corps, better field medicine and an approach to warfare that cares more about the protection of the lives of the soldiers in the field.

Russia doesn't have that.

 
So if you have a minimum death toll of 186,000 I think it’s normal to ban Telegram in Russia. I would have banned all radio and TV stations too. Something that is happening in Russia after the Yeltsin era is simply not right. I think the Russian leadership is simply no longer in touch with reality

Telegram is where russian meat goes to make all of these observations, and more.  Where they beg for air support.  Where they contradict every official government position about the russo-ukrainian war in real time.  Where many of them put their last will and testament, pleading for dear leader to rescue them from the grinder he created.  

That's why they want it banned, not because terrible things are happening in russia which they hope to solve - but because terrible things are happening to the terrible thing they're doing to russia.