Russia begins invasion of Ukraine - what now?

    “For those who ask: “Why does Ukraine matter? “ This is why Ukraine matters.

    It is the second largest country by area in Europe by area and has a population
    of over 40 million - more than Poland.

    Ukraine ranks:
    1st in Europe in proven recoverable reserves of uranium ores;
    2nd place in Europe and 10th place in the world in terms of titanium ore reserves;
    2nd place in the world in terms of explored reserves of manganese ores (2.3 billion tons, or 12% of the world's reserves);
    2nd largest iron ore reserves in the world (30 billion tons);
    2nd place in Europe in terms of mercury ore reserves;
    3rd place in Europe (13th place in the world) in shale gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters)
    4th in the world by the total value of natural resources;
    7th place in the world in coal reserves (33.9 billion tons)

    Ukraine is an important agricultural country:

    1st in Europe in terms of arable land area;
    3rd place in the world by the area of black soil (25% of world's volume);
    1st place in the world in exports of sunflower and sunflower oil;
    2nd place in the world in barley production and 4th place in barley exports;
    3rd largest producer and 4th largest exporter of corn in the world;
    4th largest producer of potatoes in the world;
    5th largest rye producer in the world;
    5th place in the world in bee production (75,000 tons);
    8th place in the world in wheat exports;
    9th place in the world in the production of chicken eggs;
    16th place in the world in cheese exports.

    Ukraine can meet the food needs of 600 million people.

    Ukraine is an important industrialised country:

    1st in Europe in ammonia production;
    Europe's 2nd’s and the world’s 4th largest natural gas pipeline system;
    3rd largest in Europe and 8th largest in the world in terms of installed capacity of nuclear power plants;
    3rd place in Europe and 11th in the world in terms of rail network length (21,700 km);
    3rd place in the world (after the U.S. and France) in production of locators and locating equipment;
    3rd largest iron exporter in the world
    4th largest exporter of turbines for nuclear power plants in the world;
    4th world's largest manufacturer of rocket launchers;
    4th place in the world in clay exports
    4th place in the world in titanium exports
    8th place in the world in exports of ores and concentrates;
    9th place in the world in exports of defence industry products;
    10th largest steel producer in the world (32.4 million tons).

    Ukraine matters. That is why its independence is important to the rest of the world.”

    Copied from media post. (MSNBC)

    The group that wants to win will always beat the group that wants to be left alone.

    Like 4

    You need to tell Boroda that. He's tell us this is all in the name of national security.

    A real man loves his woman every day of the month

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    I have seen that before. I like what T had to say but I would also like to hear what their response was if they had one. Did anybody respond to T?

    I believe one of the reasons the USA has spent so much on Europe and Germany is to facilitate American corporate expansion in Europe. Also going back to the time prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall, American interest was one in which we were working to prevent Russia from invading and taking over Europe because it benifitted the USA and American companies.


    The pipeline to Germany was paid for with private corporate money I believe.

    Quote from 69 CREAM

    I believe one of the reasons the USA has spent so much on Europe and Germany is to facilitate American corporate expansion in Europe. Also going back to the time prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall, American interest was one in which we were working to prevent Russia from invading and taking over Europe because it benifitted the USA and American companies.


    The pipeline to Germany was paid for with private corporate money I believe.

    The Marshall Plan was good for Western Europe and was designed to help keep extremism at bay (like post WWI Germany). Of course it was a competition of ideologies (economic systems, actually) attempting to stave off the potential spread of communism.

    Quote from Lord Soth

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    He never was the greatest orator, but God I miss him...

    The group that wants to win will always beat the group that wants to be left alone.

    Quote from GeeEss

    Sorry. I'm afraid self-flagellation is your best option to satisfy that particular thing...

    We all have our strengths and weaknesses and one of my biggest weaknesses is learning new software. I find it VERY difficult to learn complex stuff like Dreamweaver and Photoshop.


    Otoh, the first time I tore an internal combustion engine apart, I put it back together and it ran with no issues. I replaced a camshaft in a small block chevy in a motel parking lot. I tore apart an M61A1 and didn't use the T.O. to reassemble it and I was the first one done. Although I did get an ass chewing from one of the instructors for not even opening the T.O.

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    Quote from Lord Soth

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    What a dressing down .


    Trump was on fire. He's a smart man. Balls too.


    Completely correct.

    Very sad but defiant to the end. If this is how most Ukrainians respond Russia will have it's hands full.


    On Ukraine’s Snake Island, a defiant last stand against Russian forces (msn.com)


    As the Russian military pounded targets across Ukraine with an array of bombs and missiles, a small team of Ukrainian border guards on a rocky, desolate island received an ominous message: Give up or be attacked.

    “I am a Russian warship,” a voice from the invaders said, according to a recording of the communications. “I ask you to lay down your arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary deaths. Otherwise, you will be bombed.”


    The Ukrainians responded boldly.

    “Russian warship,” came the reply, “go f--- yourself.”

    The Russians opened fire, eventually killing the 13 border guards.

    A real man loves his woman every day of the month