It’s not about splintering, it’s about decolonisation. A continental colonial empire is still a colonial empire (just look at the state of local language education in most russian “republics”).

Something to think about for people in the West who hope for a magical “Deus Ex Machina” type change in russian society.

Lets not forget that Gorbachev, widely perceived in the west as some sort of liberal reformer did not want to end russian occupation of independent countires that were part of the USSR and he supported the annexation of Crimea. Not to mention that the impetus for the end of USSR/Warsaw pact came from countries such as Poland, the Baltic nations and Ukraine, not from russia.

And what of current russians liberals? Reading Vladimir Kara-Murza’s latest article in Washington Post would make you think that the issue is putin and not russian society:

Putin’s anxiety is understandable. The Kremlin knows that public opposition to the Ukraine war is much greater than what its propaganda would admit.

And yet Kara-Murza, the darling of the west, also said the following (in an address for the French senate no less):

There is another reason why the Russian Defense Ministry recruits so many members of ethnic minorities [to fight in the war against Ukraine]: as it turns out, because it is psychologically really difficult for [ethnic] Russians to kill Ukrainians. Because we are one people. We are very close peoples, as everybody knows. We have nearly the same language, the same religion, and centuries of history in common. But if it’s someone from another culture, allegedly it’s easier [for them to kill Ukrainians]. I hadn’t really thought about it before. I thought the reasons were primarily economic. But after what [a colleague who spoke about the Buryats] said, I started thinking about it too.

And this is a Western educated russian “liberal”. Can you imagine what goes through the head of the vast majority of russians?

As I said, I don’t buy the propaganda excuse. Independent information sources (in russian) have always been easily available and accessible by all (literally in under 10 seconds). Just look at the creation dates of the DW Russian or BBC Russian YT channels (or even their own TV Dozdh). By mid 2010s YT was widely available not only on desktop, but even on smartphones. Not to mention russians full well know what the KGB is like and how dishonest they are.

Let me give you an illustrative example.

You have Vladimir Kara-murza, darling of the west, went to jail for public opposition to the full scale invasion, western educated and with UK citizenship. And yet here is a recent statement from Kara-Murza:

There is another reason why the Russian Defense Ministry recruits so many members of ethnic minorities [to fight in the war against Ukraine]: as it turns out, because it is psychologically really difficult for [ethnic] Russians to kill Ukrainians. Because we are one people. We are very close peoples, as everybody knows. We have nearly the same language, the same religion, and centuries of history in common. But if it’s someone from another culture, allegedly it’s easier [for them to kill Ukrainians]. I hadn’t really thought about it before. I thought the reasons were primarily economic. But after what [a colleague who spoke about the Buryats] said, I started thinking about it too.

He said this in a speech to the French senate, no less!

We are not on people and I want nothing to with any of them, be it putin or Vladimir Kara-Murza.

And yet WaPo decided to give him the opportunity to write another bullshit article about russian victimhood and innocence.

Putin’s anxiety is understandable. The Kremlin knows that public opposition to the Ukraine war is much greater than what its propaganda would admit.

Is Vladimir Kara-Murza under the influence of propaganda while living in the west?

Agreed regarding the negative elements of American exceptionalism. But people in the US have a spectrum of views and the US has had a measure of dynamism in terms of social attitudes. The same cannot be said about the overwhelming majority of russians.

Russian society’s genuine love for genocidal imperialism has nothing to do with propaganda (if that’s what you were referring to).

Mind you, they are fully capable of change, they just don’t want to and have no incentive to do (Westerners enabling and promoting their victim-hood narratives only contributes to this).

Rajoelina, 51, was first president from 2009 to 2014 before returning to power in 2023. He was increasingly isolated after losing the support of a key army unit that joined thousands of youths activists known as “Gen Z Madagascar” to protest against corruption and poverty. The movement had earlier turned down an invitation to meet him for dialogue and demanded his resignation.

…

Among the demonstrators were soldiers from the elite Capsat unit, which played a major role in the 2009 coup during Rajoelina’s rise to the presidency after mass protests forced his predecessor Marc Ravalomanana out of power.

I believe I read in another article that the soldiers that helped his return to power in 2023 also publicly called to oppose Rajoelina.

I don’t really understand how the president was allowed to have dual citizenship. For senior positions in the judiciary/legislative/executive branch, I don’t think dual citizenship should be allowed. You can make rare, special exceptions, but not for the presidency (or say the supreme court or party leadership).

I mean this was true 20 years ago, it wasn’t as obvious before they invaded Georgia in 2008 (let alone now), but multi decade research (including research that accounts for preference falsification) has clearly shown a consistent level of support among a strong majority of russian society for genocidal imperialism.

The real irony is we both know tankies regularly use the term roaches and call for death over the stupidest things (with fantasies about killing posters with ice picks).

Some degenerates claiming that “everything I don’t like is a BIA conspiracy!!!” are not my (are anyone’s) equals.

Typical tankie world salad.

At least come with some new copytext! You think I haven’t seen this gibberish before?

Everyone I don’t like is a Nazi!

It is reasonable to call an individual who lectures Ukrainians (without knowing Ukrainian or ever having lived here) that “you are brothers with the russians” a degenerate roach.

Your attitude shows that you lack humanity.

You know exactly what a tankie is, don’t play dumb.

I will most definitely call out idiots who roleplay as communists online and don’t speak any other languages. No one is buying your bullshit about “Ukrainian socialists”. The communists party of Ukraine was a russian proxy force. Genuine Ukrainian socialists (or anyone for that matter) would want nothing to do with some online roleplayers who come up with degenerate statements such “North Korea is the vanguard against imperialism!” and support russian genocidal imperialism.

What is happening between Afghanistan and Pakistan?

I was shocked to learn that India had upgraded its mission in Afghanistan to full embassy status.

Something is brewing there, this won’t be the last we’ll hear of this.

No, it is fair to call disgusting tankies roaches and degenerates.

There is no ideology involved. “North Korea is a great place to live and is a vanguard against imperialism” is not a serious statement.

We both know that the vast majority of tankies are bored teenagers and malicious demagogues. Don’t play dumb with me.

The tankie source does support russian genocidal imperialism.

You don’t even speak Ukrainian or russian and have never lived here. You’re in no position to talk about “deep misunderstanding”.

Fuck WSWS. They support russian genocidal imperialism!

Fascinating article, although the secret collaboration between Israel and the Gulf states is not at all surprising.

Nowhere in the article does it claim that any Muslim praying at a mosque is an Islamist (show me the specific quote that suggests otherwise).

The article uses the term Islamist in a factual manner.

There are crazies and extremists in the every religion.

Where did I say that any Muslim praying in a mosque is an Islamist? Why are you even bringing this up?

Is TLP Islamist or no? Are TLP not the organizers of this march?

Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) is not an extremist Islamist party?

Brah, no one buys your online roleplay.

“In June 2021, I felt that Putin was no longer taking the Minsk agreement seriously,” Merkel said, referring to the peace agreement relating to control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region following the 2014-2015 conflict. “And that’s why I wanted a new format where we, as the European Union, could talk directly with Putin.”

A new format! That would totally stop putin! Such a powerful incentive!

The truth is that Merkel is a supporter of russian genocidal imperialism. For Merkel, she did not see anything wrong with russian imperialism and did not believe it should be opposed in a sober and results oriented manner.

That’s why, even after retirement, she continues to work on promoting russian propaganda narratives.

What does the “No Use” text at the end of the photo explainer paragraph refer to?

Use USA No use UK No use Canada No use France No use Japan No use Italy No use Australia No use Spain No use Belgium No use Korea No use South Africa No use Hong Kong No use New Zealand No use Turkey

While a drone defense system is of course a mandatory requirement of modern warfare, the real solution is to ramp-up Ukraine’s ability to strike russia.

Additoanly the EU really needs to implement their own hybrid warfare methods against the russians.