Russia planning potential sabotage operations in Ukraine, U.S. says

[former9thward]

Source: Washington Post

The Russian government has sent operatives into eastern Ukraine in preparation for potential sabotage operations that would serve as a pretext for invasion, the Biden administration said on Friday.

“We have information that indicates Russia has already prepositioned a group of operatives to conduct a false-flag operation in eastern Ukraine,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules established by the Biden administration, said in an email. “The operatives are trained in urban warfare and in using explosives to carry out acts of sabotage against Russia’s own proxy-forces.”

The Biden administration has accused the government of President Vladimir Putin of taking actions that serve as a justification for a potential invasion, which the official said could occur between mid-January and mid-February.

The official said that Moscow was also increasing its use of social and state media to “fabricate Ukrainian provocations” ahead of possible Russian military action.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/russia-ukraine-invasion-sabotage-operations/2022/01/14/769314a2-754f-11ec-8ec6-9d61f7afbe17_story.html

[GB_RN]

1. Putin Would Never Pull A Stunt Like That...

In order to justify an invasion of Ukraine. /sarcasm

I mean, it's not like he's done similar shit in the past or anything: "I've got to protect ethnic Russians in Crimea, or they'll be exterminated, so I'm going to invade and take it back. Never mind the fact that there's an important naval base that we can use. Nothing to see here. Move along. Move along."

[EndlessWire]

6. Yeah.

Exactly that.

[Traildogbob]

2. Chess

The saber rattling from Pooty and Kim will have trump shouting, “Only I” can keep them from attacking Ally's or us. SOME of these threatening gesture's May be coordinated to make Biden look weak, and trump, never allowed them to get out of hand. I think, let me repeat, I think, some of this is coordinated with GQP to cry, Only Trump.

[BComplex]

3. Putin is just waiting until trump or a suitable puppet of his is elected in 2024.

He's sure that any sanctions will be lifted if trump gets back in.

[Bayard]

4. You can't say Putin isn't focused

One track mind.

[YP_Yooper]

5. What the hell? Why don't we speak out against this?

From another current post:
Brzezinski, Kissinger, the Council of Foreign Relations on MSNBC, McCain, Lindsey Graham, and the other neocon war hawks would be SO proud to start a damn war with a country with the economy of New Jersey, a military that stays in their own country (unlike the US), yet has enough nuclear weapons to literally end the world over a "country" that is mostly Russian to begin with (and was for a hundred years), that's the size of California, that was politically usurped by the west during Obama and put Biden's son (of course being qualified as a full time artist) as a board member (?!?!) of an energy company aligned with the coup.

WTF, you can't make this up (and please, this is factual and anti-friggin' global nuclear war, not to be anti-DU)

I've lost too many family and friends to these BS wars let alone being the recipient of a nuclear weapon to my home, and even those BS wars, weren't against a country that can end the world in a literal flash...

Look at the games played by Jen Psaki today. Long story short, we think that Russia is lying in their claims that the US is helping the Ukraine, and they're really creating a false-flag narrative to justify an invasion. SO, today we say we're calling them out for their false-flag with our own counter false-flag narrative knowing we really are helping the Ukraine, but claiming we caught them in their false-flag so they are caught in a lie.

[Sapient Donkey]

7. Considering Russia has been using Ukraine as a cyber warfare practice ground

for the past decade, this doesn't seem too shocking. Although, this sounds like they are taking about actual physical acts, aye?

It's interesting how on twitter the right-wingers are defending Russia's honor over this story.

[YP_Yooper]

8. Maybe because the Ukraine actually has the best cyber people for good and bad over there

not to mention all that US presidential election disinformation supporting Trump came mostly from the Ukraine.

...and we're risking global nuclear war for the Ukraine?

[Sapient Donkey]

11. You mean, is Russia risking nuclear war for Ukraine?

Maybe there are, but I'm not sure Russia's actions will lead to nuclear war. Russia's actions could very well lead to a many deaths of Ukrainians and Russians, though. Russia should reconsider what it is doing.

How many times have Russian state hackers taken down the power in Ukraine? How many times have the Ukrainians done something similar to Russia?

I'm not anti-russian, btw. I mean, Yandex drive is really awesome. Far superior to google drive, in my opinion. Really fast.

[YP_Yooper]

13. "I mean, Yandex drive is really awesome" lol

true
If anything, it's a local issue, no? Why does the US get involved? For over 100 yrs and more, these two were very close, and now we're sticking our nose into it?

[GB_RN]

9. Interesting How The Reichwingers...

Have gone from being anti-Russian to Russia’s/Putin’s biggest defenders in a very short time.

[YP_Yooper]

10. So true lol

RW go from anti-russia to pro-russia

from pro-china (for corporations and freedom) to anti-china now

[rockfordfile]

12. Most likely they've been doing that

[electric_blue68]

14. The USA shouldn't go to war for The Ukraine. That being said...

As a 2nd Gen Ukrainian-American I can say that many of us here in the USA, and probably Canada (and a lot in The Ukraine itself) hated that the Soviet Union usurped The Ukraine as a country - not "country".

At some point the USSR moved a lot of Russians into Eastern Ukraine to bolster their claim that The Ukraine belonged, supported the USSR, and after the desolution - Russia.

Personally because my dad was an only child, while my mom a 1st Gen Greek-American had 4 siblings I identified more with my Greek side. We did go a Ukrainian Catholic church. We did both both Greek, and Ukrainian Easter traditions, and (yum!) food. I love, and have the fairly renowned Psansky - multiply dyed and designed Eggs (they're lovely!).

I do hope we will send as much help as possible so maybe some more Ukrainians will live.

Since I read a book on the '13 - '14 war (interviews with Ukrainians involved in the fight) I'm more attuned to the situation. If it probably happens it will be a great tragedy.

[Yandex]

15. I may be sticking my neck out on this situation but...

...if I was Russia, I wouldn't want NATO on my doorstep. Just like I wouldn't want Russia to have troops or a friendly/client state's troops on the southern border of the US.

The Monroe Doctrine states that the US would no longer tolerate any interference from European powers in the Western Hemisphere, and it also says the US would stay out of European affairs.

[EX500rider]

16. Ship has already sailed...

NATO via Latvia & Estonia already shares a border with Russia. NATO is a defensive org, Russia ought to a lot more worried China then NATO.

[Yandex]

17. True but they could be considered

on the extreme fringe of Russia, about a combined 280-mile border. Ukraine would be over a 1,000-mile border with Russia and well across its southern flank.

I do not support war but I believe Russia will occupy a large portion of eastern Ukraine soon and use its occupation as leverage.

[electric_blue68]

18. Something to think about, and...

WWI, WWII is that why the US stayed out earlier on (that part of those wars Idk.

And it was before the USSR made it's massive power grab.
If Putin wasn't trying to bring back the USSR then maybe I'd consider that more.
Taking over The Ukraine it's probably the biggest prize in restoring the SU.

[Yandex]

19. I think he will grab a big chunk of it and use it for leverage. n/t