Navigating the Tensions in Ukraine: A Scientific Perspective

[phinds]

I think we need... we need... We need ... we need ... we need ... We need ...
We need ... We need ... we need ...

Needing things is pointless if there is no way to get them. You're like Captain Hindsight who swoops in after a disaster and points out "well, what we SHOULD have done was ... "

 

[neilparker62]

Needing things is pointless if there is no way to get them.

Fair comment but at least put an alternate vision on the table. It's like buying a ticket for the lottery - you have a miniscule probability of winning but at least better than if you did not buy a ticket at all.

 

[gmax137]

we need ... we need...

Needing things is pointless if there is no way to get them. You're like Captain Hindsight who swoops in after a disaster and points out "well, what we SHOULD have done was ... "

Unless the first quote ends with "So, starting today I am going to do xxx" then yes it is pointless. Many people say "we need to do x" but what they mean is "somebody else needs to do x" If everyone actually did something we might make some progress.

not picking on you in particular, @neilparker62

 

[neilparker62]

""That's some question. Here? Nazis? Fascists? These people? Guys what are you talking about? These are not fascists or Nazis? Look at them. These are Ukrainians. It's simple."

Volodymyr Dehtyarov: Soviet army veteran

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60685723

So "Guys" - what are you talking about actually ?

 

[Hall]

Its a pro Russian symbol, Z

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/09/letter-z-russia-symbol-pro-war/

Does it mean that wrobel has lately come to condemn the war?

 

[phinds]

Does it mean that wrobel has lately come to condemn the war?

? When did he ever NOT condemn the war? @wrobel am I missing something here?

 

[DennisN]

An article on BBC today about war crimes and legal matters regarding prosecution etc.

What is a war crime, and could Putin be prosecuted over Ukraine? (BBC News, 10th March 2022)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60690688

 

[DennisN]

Here are two recent, interesting interviews with Andrei Kozyrev (Russian Foreign Minister from 1991 to 1996), which I post in addition to my previous interview posts (#653 and #734):

Putin Is Acting ‘Out Of Desperation’ Says Ex-Russian Foreign Minister (MSNBC, March 9 2022)


Kremlin Vet: They’ll Overthrow Putin Before Giving Him ‘Bad News’ About Russian Setbacks In Ukraine (MSNBC, March 10, 2022)

 

[Vanadium 50]

I think we need a 'reset' on this conflict and we need it urgently if I'm not stating the obvious.

Russia's likely response is "what you mean 'we', kemosabe?"

 

[StevieTNZ]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europ...e-hold-highlevel-talks-after-hospital-bombing
Russia denies bombing children's hospital

The Russian Defense Ministry denied has responsibility for striking a maternity hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and claimed that the explosions that hit the building were staged to smear Russia.

Ukrainian officials said the Russian air strike on the hospital killed three people, including a child, and wounded 17 others. The attack has caused global outrage.

Russia's Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov denied that the Russian military struck the hospital. He claimed that the two explosions that ravaged the building were caused by explosive devices planted nearby in what he described as a "staged provocation to incite anti-Russian agitation in the West."

From the same link:
Zelenskyy: Invasion will backfire

Ukraine's president is telling Russian leaders that their country’s invasion of Ukraine will backfire, by landing them in court and making their people hate them.

“You will definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video released Thursday (local time).

The West has slapped harsh financial and economic sanctions on Russia because of the invasion, and the Ukrainian leader said the consequences will be felt by all Russians.

“And then, it will definitely happen, you will be hated by Russian citizens — everyone you have been deceiving constantly, daily, for many years in a row, when they feel the consequences of your lies in their wallets, in their shrinking possibilities, in the stolen future of Russian children.”

 

[DennisN]

Ukraine maps: At-a-glance guide to the Russia war (BBC News, The Visual Journalism Team, 10 Mar 2022)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60506682

"About these maps", quote:

To indicate which parts of Ukraine are under control by Russian troops we are using daily assessments published by the Institute for the Study of War with the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project.

[...]

To show key areas where advances are taking place we are also using daily updates from the UK Ministry of Defence and BBC research. To show locations where there have been attacks or explosions we are using reports that have been verified by the BBC.

 

[fresh_42]

I just saw on tv: "Jewish center in Berlin organizes rescue plan".

It is getting absurder by the day: According to the Russian narrative, we have Jewish people rescuing Nazis.

 

[wrobel]

? When did he ever NOT condemn the war? @wrobel am I missing something here?

no you are not; I condemn the war the whole war since 2014

 

[256bits]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europ...e-hold-highlevel-talks-after-hospital-bombing
Russia denies bombing children's hospital

From the same link:
Zelenskyy: Invasion will backfire

The fog of war.
I don't even know who is winning.
But I do know both sides are losing.

 

[256bits]

5% of the total Ukrainian population are currently refugees. Only counted those abroad.

And will they stay there. Mostl are in Poland as I understand.
Canada has( had ) the 3 rd largest ethnic group claiming Ukrainian ancestry, after the countries of Ukraine and Russia.
Around 1900's free land ( with the 99 year lease thing ) as long as you put up a house - no speculation - was given to immigrants, no questions asked Funny thing is they settled not on the best farming land, but land with trees and timber, the reason being that in the old country timber was 'had to be asked for' and maybe you got and maybe not. Free land with timber was like a god send, but maybe not the best in the long run to have this still cultural baggage brought over to the new country. Some land taken was even swampy, but that is what was asked for rather than clear prairie land ( which would have been better and easier to farm ).
No free land any more, so I do wonder how many Canada will bring in, and if the border agencies still keep their beaucratic BS alive and well to determine if they are 'acceptable' for our country - up to a 2 -3 year wait. Saying and doing don't match at times.

Or perhaps the refugees will want to come to the new world, or not, and stay in Europe.

I can't remember if ...ski , or ...sky is Polish or Ukrainian.
At school we could opt for either french or Ukranian as second language.

 

[StevieTNZ]

Thanks, Russia. We'll be sure to send you the bill to pay later on.

Ormsby said continued uncertainty over the Ukraine crisis and the ban on Russian fuel by the US and the UK had reverberated across the market, leading to crude oil prices rising to levels not seen since 2008.

A Z Energy spokesman agreed the Russian invasion of Ukraine continued to create volatility on the international markets for refined fuels, which had led to further rises.

“Based on this global situation, Z can confirm that it has increased the price of fuel across all grades as it is no longer able to absorb the significant international price pressures.”

-- https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/12...hout-the-country-drivers-warned-of-price-hike

 

[Rive]

Wiki wars:

Current operators of Tor missile system, older version:

Even the reference were set:



Strictly speaking, it's trolling (19 edit that day). Yet, it made my day...

 

[artis]

Sometimes, I really don't get who are Nazis? Was Hitler, Goebbles and Himmler were the only Nazis? Weren't US soldiers in Vietnam were Nazis? Aren't those extremists of Sunni and Shia (saying only their sect is allowed to live) Nazis? Or simply carrying a Swastik and using the word Aryan will make me a Nazi?

The term "Nazi" came into language since Adolf Hitler's 3rd Reich and the rule of National Socialists in Germany leading up to WW2 including it.
Ever since it is used as a blanket statement for any individual or group that views any other group (especially Jewish people) to be lesser in value.
It is used so widely that not every use of this term is appropriate , the original meaning is strictly speaking about National Socialists who following Hitler's doctrine believed Jewish people as well as other races to be inferior and therefore subject to worse treatment or extermination altogether.

The conflict in Vietnam had nothing to do with National socialism, it was a proxy war between the US and the USSR. The beginnings of it were a nationalistic communist movement (together with other independence movements) that first sought freedom from French rule in Vietnam, then fought Japanese invasion during WW2 and then French rule once again after the war. US simply sided with France and fought against communists which after WW2 had gained full control of the Vietnam independence movement. So it was largely a war between ideology and for territorial control. This is what I recall is short.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viet_MinhAs for the Islamic radicals , they again I would argue are not Nazi's because they don't judge by your race or ethnicity (at least not to a large degree)but by your religious practice. The Sunni-Shia conflict began back after Muhammad's death as they couldn't agree which should be his successor, either his father in law or son in law.

That is to the best of my knowledge. Nazi aka National socialist among others things believes in the superiority of one race/genetics over others ones.

 

[artis]

On the serious side, it has been long said that all radical (left or right) regimes share some common features. It was forbidden in the USSR to compare Soviet government with certain attributes of Nazi Germany, but they definitely shared many common factors.
This morning I saw someone made this picture with regards to the current crisis and it made me think...
The Z propaganda is "lectured" in Russian schools now from what I read, similar indoctrination just on a larger scale happened in Komsomol back in the day.

 

[Hall]

@artis You have established, very beautifully, how miserable and fundamental blunder it is to paint Putin as Hitler by newspapers and internet users.

 

[artis]

@artis You have established, very beautifully, how miserable and fundamental blunder it is to paint Putin as Hitler by newspapers and internet users.

Well I personally think Putin shares some personality traits with Adolf, but in general this invasion has not much to do with "Nazism" , it is only used as a slogan and an excuse.

 

[artis]

 

[DennisN]

I have read statements like this one lately on various youtube channels:

"Dear Mr. Putin, these are not sanctions. This is a special financial operation. We are here to save your economy."

Commenters can be clever.

 

[DennisN]

A fascinating interview:

Russian State TV Pundits Call On Putin To End Ukraine Attacks (MSNBC, Mar 11, 2022)

Journalists Molly Schwartz, Julia Davis and Michael Wasiura join MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss the “radical change” in Vladimir Putin’s propaganda as some pundits on Russian state TV called for Putin to end the war as harsh sanctions and growing protests destabilize life in Russia.

 

[neilparker62]

Russia's likely response is "what you mean 'we', kemosabe?"

From the Kremlin I've no doubt you're right. Elsewhere in Russia I would gauge the mood to be somewhat restive. See post #975.

"kemosabe": umuntu ohlola amazwe angaziwa kahle

Roughly translated into Zulu.

 

[phinds]

Elsewhere in Russia I would gauge the mood to be somewhat restive.

Not only do I think you are right but I think it is clearly going to accelerate as the economic conditions worsen and everyone realizes that their access to the rest of the world has been severely curtailed.

The question that matters, however, is whether or not that will make any difference. How tight is Putin's grip on the reins of power? Very strong, I suspect.

 

[PeroK]

I believe we owe a huge debt to the Ukrainians. If Russia had rolled over Ukraine and they were marching today in the streets of Kyiv bearing posters of the little dictator, then there's every chance Russia would have struck west immediately, before Nato had time to think.

At the very least they have shattered any delusions that Putin and his supporters have that they could roll through Eastern Europe and establish a new Russian empire.

If the Russian people, politicians and military commanders are willing to take a stand against Putin, I've yet to see it. A few thousand brave souls have been arrested of course, but the vast majority of 140 million for one reason or other seem incapable of acting against him.

 

[neilparker62]

I believe we owe a huge debt to the Ukrainians. If Russia had rolled over Ukraine and they were marching today in the streets of Kyiv bearing posters of the little dictator, then there's every chance Russia would have struck west immediately, before Nato had time to think.

At the very least they have shattered any delusions that Putin and his supporters have that they could roll through Eastern Europe and establish a new Russian empire.

Paddington a little bit tougher than expected!

 

[Borg]

If the Russian people, politicians and military commanders are willing to take a stand against Putin, I've yet to see it. A few thousand brave souls have been arrested of course, but the vast majority of 140 million for one reason or other seem incapable of acting against him.

It will take time for the effects of the sanctions to bite everyone. People can be completely clueless until they get run over the bus that's headed for them. I have heard of Russians who have the attitude of "we've had hard times and we'll be fine. I'll grow my own potatoes if I have to...". However, Russian millennials under 30 have for the most part, not been through that. Many of their favorite social media sites are gone and what little is left of their online lives is headed for the toilet. Add to that, the lack of credit cards since the big three had shut down all operations and you have a country full of youth going through things that they've never seen or experienced. It will take time for them to be affected but I'm sure that many will eventually start to rebel.

Note that I don't see rebellion to necessarily to be limited to street demonstrations. For example, during the cold war, Russians had little access to western luxuries like jeans. Only people who were high up or traveled to other countries could get them. However, people could see that some people had these things and wanted them for themselves as well. Over time, this did have an eroding effect on Russian society. In the current situation, people in Russia have had the western luxuries that they've been used to for decades suddenly taken from them. The disaffection of the Russian people is likely to be more immeadiate as a result. Again, it will take time but I believe it to be the best of the few available options.

 

[artis]

I believe we owe a huge debt to the Ukrainians. If Russia had rolled over Ukraine and they were marching today in the streets of Kyiv bearing posters of the little dictator, then there's every chance Russia would have struck west immediately, before Nato had time to think.

At the very least they have shattered any delusions that Putin and his supporters have that they could roll through Eastern Europe and establish a new Russian empire.

If the Russian people, politicians and military commanders are willing to take a stand against Putin, I've yet to see it. A few thousand brave souls have been arrested of course, but the vast majority of 140 million for one reason or other seem incapable of acting against him.

Well finally I can say I for once fully agree with your whole comment, Zelensky might overestimate some figures to give his fighters more motivation but one thing I take him at his word is that "Ukrainians are now fighting the battle which could have happened elsewhere in Europe"
Ukraine serves as a lightning rod, sadly of course.

I think that two major factors also save the day currently,
1) Russia apparently due to whatever reasons (I suspect corruption and vodka to some level) had overestimated the combat readiness of their 20 year old average school boy obligatory military service conscripts, they so far have underperformed heavily, and understandably they have low motivation to fight fellow Slavic people.
2) Russia (and the whole world truth be told) apparently underestimated the hatred Ukrainians have for Russia and how ready they are to fight.I mean we can only speculate how far Putin would have gone if he were able to roll through Ukraine easily, thankfully due to this operation going longer NATO has the time to now assemble troops and weapons that arguably should have been here a long time ago, but at least if there is one good thing from all of this is that European leaders as well as NATO hopefully have no more illusions as to what they are facing.
Looking towards the future I am not that optimistic that Russians will now rise up as one and do the right thing and give birth to democracy or something resembling it. I could argue my points here but then I would again be irritating to some most likely and would have to come back and apologize again so let me not make that mistake.

My only concern is this -if the whole Ukraine deal goes south and Russia does suffer defeat , if they don't change their thinking and government to a large degree then they could come back years later but this time much better prepared...
And don't tell me there aren't examples of such in history. I recall the terrorists who bombed the WTC in New York in 1993, came back differently in 2001 but this time finished the job and got a result they themselves probably didn't even hope for.

People learn from their mistakes, evil people do the same, the result? They don't become nicer, just wiser in their evil deeds.

 

[russ_watters]

However, Russian millennials under 30 have for the most part, not been through that. Many of their favorite social media sites are gone and what little is left of their online lives is headed for the toilet. ... It will take time for them to be affected but I'm sure that many will eventually start to rebel.

Ahh, millenials. They'll be the downfall of us all!

 

[StevieTNZ]

Facebook will allow some calls for violence against Russian invaders as the war in Ukraine drags on, creating an unusual exception to its long-standing hate speech rules that prohibit such language.

"As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders. We still won't allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians," spokesman Andy Stone said.

-- https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europ...me-calls-to-violence-against-russian-invaders

 

[Astronuc]

At the very least they have shattered any delusions that Putin and his supporters have that they could roll through Eastern Europe and establish a new Russian empire.

Putin and his military have not committed full resources to the invasion, so it's not clear that Russian military forces could roll on through nations further west. Russia has been building forces on the border for sometime. If a similar force had build up on Poland's border, it would have stirred a response from NATO.

If the Russian people, politicians and military commanders are willing to take a stand against Putin, I've yet to see it. A few thousand brave souls have been arrested of course, but the vast majority of 140 million for one reason or other seem incapable of acting against him.

Putin and his regime have a tight control on the nation. Police are arresting many people, so most will not protest. And apparently on Russian state media, Russia is supporting a 'special military operation' in support of Russian-speaking Ukrainian separatists in the Donbas, and as far as many Russians are concerned, the Russian military is being welcomed by Ukrainians. Independent media, that is media that tell a contradictory narrative, have been closed down. I was listening to a Russian-American journalist, Masha Gessen, who left Moscow last week.
https://podbay.fm/p/the-ezra-klein-show-280811/e/1646992800

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...rn-truth-about-war-ukraine-independent-media/

Fiona Hill paints a bleak and disturbing picture. Basically, at this point, Putin wants to 'punish' Ukraine, probably because it hasn't rolled over and submitted to him.
https://podbay.fm/p/the-ezra-klein-show-280811/e/1646733600

That leaves Ukrainians with three choices: 1) leave the country, 2) submit to a harsh life in an essentially imprisoned country, or 3) perish.

Putin clearly wants Ukraine under his control, and Russian domination.

 

[Oldman too]

GPS Spoofing in Finnish Airspace, now what could this Portend?
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...y-warns-of-unusual-aircraft-gps-interference/

 

[artis]

Ukraine thanking Russia for their level of corruption that helps to weaken their army and eases Ukrainian defense...
https://www.businessinsider.com/ukr...nks-russian-military-for-being-corrupt-2022-3

In a March 9 letter addressed to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the head of Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention, Oleksandr Novikov, said that embezzlement of public funds has made an "invaluable contribution" to the defense of his country.

"Russian means and support resources for the attack on Ukraine were stolen even before they were accumulated on the border of the two states," Novikov wrote.

 

[artis]

This is an interesting information bit.
Apparently a Soviet era made drone - Tu141 flew all the way from Ukraine over 3 NATO countries and finally landed in Zagreb
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ry-drone-crashes-into-croatian-capital-zagreb

Milanović said “the serious incident” must be thoroughly investigated to determine “how a relatively unsophisticated drone flew for over an hour over Nato countries without being detected”

https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...raine-crashes-croatia-zagreb-says-2022-03-11/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-141

 

[neilparker62]

This is an interesting information bit.
Apparently a Soviet era made drone - Tu141 flew all the way from Ukraine over 3 NATO countries and finally landed in Zagreb

Perhaps not a good idea at the moment !

 

[wrobel]

If the Russian people, politicians and military commanders are willing to take a stand against Putin

Mr. Biden is afraid to close the sky over Ukraine. What do you want from Russian people?

Perhaps not a good idea at the moment !

I was there I sow it!

 

[Astronuc]

Apparently a Soviet era made drone - Tu141 flew all the way from Ukraine over 3 NATO countries and finally landed in Zagreb

That would demonstrate a vulnerability to cruise missiles from Ukraine or Belarus to much of Europe. Ostensibly, there are more sophisticated systems.

 

[hutchphd]

Mr. Biden is afraid to close the sky over Ukraine. What do you want from Russian people?

An attempt at rational thought, followed by massive civil disobedience. What do you want ?

.

 

[fresh_42]

Mr. Biden is afraid to close the sky over Ukraine. What do you want from Russian people?

It is apparently much easier to demand a revolution from the self-righteous standpoint of a safe place in the West than it is under the pressure of being arrested and threatened with prison. Especially, if people have not the slightest idea what it means to live in a tyranny.

Some ignorance by the participants of this thread (not you) is very disturbing.

 

[PeroK]

Mr. Biden is afraid to close the sky over Ukraine. What do you want from Russian people?

Yes, it's shameful. If the POTUS is afraid to stand up for the free world, then we are all in trouble. You have China and the wannabe dictators looking on and seeing weakness.

I never thought I would ever quote Ronald Reagan but "The future does not belong to the faint-hearted, it belongs to the brave." Biden is showing faint-heartedness when bravery - sooner or later - in needed. If not now, when?

 

[Hall]

Putin is a very matured administrator, thinking of civil war doesn't make sense. There is a vital difference between the people who supported Trump and those who are supporting Putin, the Trump supporters didn't support him rather they support the main thematic ideas of rightism (not invented or even promoted by Trump), while Pro-Z are much more internally captivated by the idea of Putinism (and I really don't know what that idea is). Putin can not be defeated internally.

 

[PeroK]

It is apparently much easier to demand a revolution from the self-righteous standpoint of a safe place in the West than it is under the pressure of being arrested and threatened with prison. Especially, if people have not the slightest idea what it means to live in a tyranny.

Maybe I would lack the courage. That's not the point. The point is that the people of Russian have done little or nothing for 20 years to halt this man's rise to absolute power. And, now, when he's engaged in a war of aggression, they follow his orders, they shell towns and cities, they do every last thing he asks of them.

Perhaps if I was in Russia I would be weak and this would be on my conscience too. But, you have no way to know what I would do. If I failed when bravery was asked of me, then you would have something to say. But, you cannot presume to know what I would do. You cannot presume to know I would be a coward. You do not know me. You don't know whether I would fight or not. Whether I would be a political dissident or not.

 

[hutchphd]

Biden in showing faint-heartedness when bravery - sooner or later - in needed. If not now, when?

Our primary responsibility to our fellow and predecessor humans in this situation is to choose a path that does annihilate the race. What does "the future belongs to the brave" mean? Like most Reaganisms (with kudos to Peggy Noonan), it means exactly what you wish it to mean. Brave does not always mean sabre-rattling. Witness Mohandas Gandhi. Or Martin Luther King. War begets war.
But appeasement is a certainly not the solution.
So here we are: Scylla and Charybdis. What does bravery look like here?

 

[PeroK]

What does bravery look like here?

It's just my opinion, but in the current situation bravery is a willingness to fight. And faint-heartedness is a reluctance to fight.

 

[Filip Larsen]

Wired.com ran this piece the other day, and it struck me that it took the bravery of Ukraine to stand up for themselves to finally make the west (and hopefully others) to open their eyes fully. I surely hope journalists and historians over time will be able to verify and document all the relevant facts of this so both people and countries alike can learn not to fall into this trap again (yeah, I know, fat chance, but still, one can hope).

Another thing that struck me is that Putin, this time, apparently also generously lied internally, at least to the Russian soldiers, and if this is really what happened then there should be at least around 130 Russian troops that know something is rotten with the information they are getting. Over time this may just end up making a difference for the Russian collective knowledge.

 

[fresh_42]

The crucial point isn't about bravery. The crucial point is the media. Some nations even speak of manipulation of elections if only some internet propaganda from the Russian side took place. As if the internet could influence my decision to vote for or against a certain party. Now imagine how much more it means if there isn't any opinion available other than the tyrant's opinion! "A tyrant doesn't adjust his opinions to match the facts, he adjusts the facts to match his opinion." (Dr. Who, 1977)

Many if not most Russians actually believe that there was a genocide going on in East Ukraine in the past eight years (seen in a street interview in Moscow today). Common people do not reflect what they are told, and in this case on literally all available channels. Putin shut down all sources of opposition, foreign or domestic. Do you want to control the public? Start to control the media. There are plenty of examples, even in the West (Italy, USA), although not to the same extent, however, the attempts could have been observed.

 

[hutchphd]

Putin shut down all sources of opposition, foreign or domestic.

I refuse to believe that the Russian people are so stupid that most of them don't comprehend the meaning of that action. Those who wish to know the truth can know the truth. It is easier not to know. Even as a US citizen there were times over the last several years when the truth was too painful to look at squarely and I demurred.
Bravery comes in all shapes and sizes. First it involves seeking the truth. Actions then must follow. That does not necessarilly mean using the biggest arrow in your quiver.

I remind all of the Cuban Missile Crises (I was 10 years old at the time and knew full well what was at stake). We were in more peril (nuclear torpedoes on Soviet submarines with local firing authority) than even a terrified 10-year old suspected. Thank god for the bravery of those Soviet commanders not to pull out the big arrow.
President Kennedy's military advisors were recommending an invasion. Thank god for the bravery of Kennedy to resist that siren song.
And so I got to live a full (and largely foolish) life. Bravery comes in many forms.

//

 

[fresh_42]

I refuse to believe that the Russian people are so stupid that most of them don't comprehend the meaning of that action.

It isn't stupidity, it is laziness. We eat what's on the table. And the current situation is we (Russians) against them (Ukrainian fascists). The word fascist has a completely different connotation as it has to us. Fascists were the German occupants, and the victory over them is basically a national holiday celebrated year by year. So fighting these kinds of people is patriotism for Russians. Putin knows the buttons he must push.