17 votes

Daily megathread for news/updates/discussion of Russian invasion of Ukraine - February 25

Automatically posted
Tags: russia, ukraine, recurring.daily, military conflict, war, geopolitics, 2022 russian invasion of ukraine

This thread is posted daily - please try to post relevant content in here, such as news, updates, opinion articles, etc. Especially significant updates may warrant a separate topic, but most should be posted here.

13 comments

  1. streblo
    Link
    Japense and Moldovan merchant ships hit by Russian attacks in Black Sea. It looks like Russia is making illegal attacks on merchant ships to attempt to blockade Ukraine. Concerning because it’s a...

    Japense and Moldovan merchant ships hit by Russian attacks in Black Sea.

    It looks like Russia is making illegal attacks on merchant ships to attempt to blockade Ukraine. Concerning because it’s a potential avenue of escalation.

    22 votes
  3. chrysanth
    Link
    If you're in the U.S., there's a script in the expandable section to use if you'd like to call your senators and representative and ask them to support Ukrainian refugees....

    If you're in the U.S., there's a script in the expandable section to use if you'd like to call your senators and representative and ask them to support Ukrainian refugees.

    https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
    https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

    Script Dear [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE],

    My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am a resident of [TOWN/STATE].

    [IF YOUR SEN/REP HAS MADE PUBLIC STATEMENTS AGAINST THE INVASION: First, I want to thank you for your public statements condemning Putin’s aggression against Ukraine.]

    As your constituent, I ask that you support Ukrainians seeking refuge from Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Please urge President Biden to waive visa requirements for Ukrainians traveling to the United States, grant Temporary Protected Status to Ukrainian and other regional refugees, and raise the annual refugee cap. Please introduce and support legislation to expedite the transportation and processing of refugees from Ukraine and fund the resettlement agencies that will provide them with aid upon their arrival. Finally, issue public statements of support and welcome for refugees of the conflict. Thank you.

    Source

    7 votes
  5. skybrian
    Link
    NATO Response Force activated for first time [...]

    NATO Response Force activated for first time

    NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Tod Wolters activated the multinational force consisting of land, air, sea and special operations forces from the allies that can deploy quickly in support of the NATO alliance.
    The activation of the response troops does not mean that any US or NATO troops will go into Ukraine, which is not a member.

    [...]

    The force has not yet deployed but is on standby. It's not clear how many troops the response force will contain.

    4 votes
  6. streblo
    Link
    Two US officials confirmed that Ukraine shot down a second Il-76 transport aircraft tonight. If true, this would be a really significant mistake for the Russian military, and possibly the worst...

    Two US officials confirmed that Ukraine shot down a second Il-76 transport aircraft tonight. If true, this would be a really significant mistake for the Russian military, and possibly the worst loss of life for the Russian Airborne Forces since the 2nd Chechen War.

    4 votes
  7. skybrian
    Link
    Thousands flee Ukraine into EU, men told to stay and fight [...]

    Thousands flee Ukraine into EU, men told to stay and fight

    In Poland, which has the region's largest Ukrainian community of about 1 million people, authorities said wait times to cross the border ranged from 6 to 12 hours in some places.

    At Medyka in the south of Poland, some 85 km (50 miles) from Lviv in western Ukraine, roads were packed with cars, police directing traffic, and people hugging loved ones after they arrived on the Polish side. An internet map site showed a third of the way congested with heavy traffic at one point on Friday.

    [...]

    U.N. aid agencies say the war could drive up to 5 million people to flee abroad, with up to 3 million heading to Poland alone. They said fuel, cash and medical supplies were running low in parts of Ukraine.

    3 votes
  8. [4]
    Adys
    Link
    Good twitter thread for context https://twitter.com/zoyashef/status/1497378894529589250

    Good twitter thread for context

    https://twitter.com/zoyashef/status/1497378894529589250

    3 votes
    2. [2]
      skybrian
      Link Parent
      It’s only been two days. It seems like this analysis makes an optimistic assumption that Zelenskiy can avoid capture for a long time. I don’t know what odds to put on that.

      It’s only been two days. It seems like this analysis makes an optimistic assumption that Zelenskiy can avoid capture for a long time. I don’t know what odds to put on that.

      1. MimicSquid
        Link Parent
        The thread specifically talks about the potential consequences of his capture or death, though perhaps it was expanded after your comment?

        The thread specifically talks about the potential consequences of his capture or death, though perhaps it was expanded after your comment?

        3 votes
  9. [2]
    Adys
    (edited )
    Link
    Patreon removed one of the Ukrainian charities from their site. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30465654 https://blog.patreon.com/on-the-removal-of-come-back-alive

    Patreon removed one of the Ukrainian charities from their site.

    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30465654
    https://blog.patreon.com/on-the-removal-of-come-back-alive

    1 vote
    1. cfabbro
      Link Parent
      Since I think this should be made clear up front.

      Since I think this should be made clear up front.

      This morning, Patreon suspended a Ukrainian organization’s page from our site called “Come Back Alive” because it violated our policies. The website of the organization says they use contributions to finance and train military personnel. Specifically, they claim to use funds they received for the following:

      • “funds were used for… more than 1,500 tablets with software for Gunnya-Armor artillerymen, 230 quadcopters, 45 mobile surveillance systems…, and more than 60 military vehicles.”
      • “The organization also initiates the creation and implementation of new technical solutions,” including “models of artillery weapons.”
      • “trained 350 snipers, more than 2,000 sappers and more than 3,000 gunners, and training is being conducted to train UAV operators.”

      We don’t allow Patreon to be used for funding weapons or military activity. It is a violation of our policies, and so we have removed the page. All remaining funds in the account will be refunded to contributors.

      15 votes