Yuri Felshtinsky - Day by day Russia Seems to be Turning Back the Clock to Darker Times from History

GUEST: Dr Yuri Felshtinsky - author, historian, and journalist.
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Day by day Russia seems to be turning back the clock to darker times. Pick the worst periods of Russian history and you will find echoes of them in the present day - whether that be the economic and mafia chaos of the 90s, the privations and exceptionalism of the Soviet period, nuclear threat of the Cold War era, Stalin’s repressions and purges, the slaughter of WWII, poverty of the 19th century or unrelenting imperial expansionism of Ivan the Terrible’s times. In its political mythology and with its weaponed education system, Russia is a country whose focus is on the past more than the future, and daily reminds us why looking forward can sometimes be healthier than looking backwards.
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SPEAKER:
Dr Yuri Felshtinsky is a prominent author, historian, and journalist, and expert on Russia and the former Soviet Union. He has appeared in print, TV, and radio interviews worldwide, and is widely known as co-author of the book “Blowing Up Russia” with Alexander Litvinenko, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the FSB who was poisoned with radioactive polonium in London in 2006. His latest book - “Blowing up Ukraine: The Return of Russian Terror and The Threat of World War III”, was researched before the invasion of Ukraine and is the first comprehensive investigation into the lethal methods Russia has used since 1999 to take over Ukraine - culminating in the full-blown unprovoked war in 2022 and mounting atrocities. More recently he has warned of the risk of a nuclear strike from the territory of Belarus, and it’s the topic of strategic nuclear blackmail that we’ll be discussing today.
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BOOKS:
Blowing Up Ukraine: The Return of Russian Terror and the Threat of World War III (2022)
The Putin Corporation: The Story of Russia's Secret Takeover (2012)
Lenin and His Comrades (2010)
The KGB Plays Chess: The Soviet Secret Police and the Fight for the World Chess Crown (2010)
The age of assassins (2008)
Corporation: Russia and the KGB in the Age of President Putin (2008)
Blowing Up Russia (2002)
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LINKS:
/ @historianyurifelshtinsky
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#yurifelshtinsky #nuclear #nuclearwar #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda
#war #disinformation #hybridwarfare #foreignpolicy #communism #sovietunion #postsoviet
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
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PLATFORMS:
Twitter: / curtainsilicon
Instagram: / siliconcurtain
Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6...
Linkedin: / finkjonathan
Patreon: / siliconcurtain
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Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in KZbin’s algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

[@stephenbethell7548]

What I’m seeing is a longing for the return of the Soviet Union ( but an image of it ) in Russians 50 and over . Pure dreamy nostalgia. In the late 70s I stayed in a German town , my elderly female host , now long dead , dreamily said one day “ Ah in the third reich there was no crime , now look at Germany” . I can equate modern Russia with that . I’ll never forget that statement!!!!

[@karimtabrizi376]

wow that's an interesting anecdote-the gold old days ?

[@archersfriend5900]

Great content. As an 80s American kid, it's baffling to watch. All the old propaganda about Russia and how it wages war is true.

[@macmcleod1188]

The biggest thing I learned since they invaded is that Russia has a strategic *policy* of depopulating areas and then settling them. They specifically attack services, they kidnap the kids to be raised as russians, and they commit genocide against the people who will not leave. *yea I know kidnapping kids is called genocide these days but I think it dilutes the word even tho it's made putin a prisoner unable to leave russia. Should use a different word for that. Maybe call it "cultural genocide".

[@1jediwitch]

Yeppers.👍👍

[@LLlap]

You guys had the chance to end the evil empire but instead useful idiots gave them the A-bomb. Hollywood is still riddled with commies and marxist ideas are at an all time high in USA. I don't see anyone actually worry about the impending doom of the greatest country on Earth.

[@justmary_]

As an American kid of the 60s, it is just ad baffling. I hope Europe will take action against Belarus.

[@rezaa3562]

I really like your in-depth informative interviews. Always great guests. Keep it up!

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍

[@SurfinScientist]

It was great to have Yuri Felshtinsky back as a guest. I remembered his prediction in the previous interview about nuclear weapons in Belarusia. It is a scary scenario that he sketches, but it certainly a possibility that we need to keep in mind.

[@SiliconCurtain]

😳 it’s terrifying!

[@andrewjacobson556]

I hope this discussion is being talked about at the highest levels!!!

[@quad2036]

The only channel I have notifications for. The mainstream media provides the most useless and shallow takes compared to this stuff 👍

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍

[@ldhorricks]

you might enjoy Vlad Vexler who has been on this Channel

[@BillAlexander-cv6oj]

Glad to see your Channel expanding, really like these In depth Interviews with such remarkable guest, I am learning alot about Geo-Politics, who says you cannot teach a old dog new Tricks..Slava Ukraine USA.....

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍

[@normandubowitz1965]

Prophetic! Deductive logic by this historian leads to a very ominous future.

[@glennmitchell9107]

I haven't heard or seen this analysis anywhere else on my regular KZbin channels. It's a bit shocking. Are there any Western leaders or advisors who share these views? Would it help if those Western leaders came out and publicly stated their agreement or disagreement with Dr. Felshtinsky's analysis?

[@hillevih7031]

Thanks so much for all this high quality information.. I think it would be highly recommanded to give this information immediately to all leaders around who now are supporting Ukraine. If with this powertaking also freedom for people in Belarus would start I can't imagine better choice. Best and hooeful wishes from Germany

[@torrinro]

Sir, I don't know how you select you guests but holy f..k, I learn new things every minute I watch. Please keep this up this level, I cannot stress enough how much we need this, all of us.

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍👍👍 more to come… I have a ‘pipeline’ of hundreds of potential guests…

[@TheBlackIdentety]

Thank you for these talks. This is a great channel! I hope you'll make it to 100k subs soon.

[@johntait491]

An excellent and accurate introduction Jonathon, and a great and interesting guest. Thank you. 👍

[@JacobT-1]

Congratulations on 25K subscribers! Just wanted to say this before watching the rest of the interview.

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍👍👍

[@pierresaelen3097]

@@SiliconCurtain You more than deserved it.

[@sirrodneyffing1]

Great interview again. While there may be a good chance that Belarus's military and people would welcome a fast invasion by NATO and to get rid of Lukashenko, it's an incredible move to even contemplate. While the initial invasion may be a lot easier than Iraq or Afghanistan, what a can of worms it would open.

[@carolyng5235]

Your guest presents a rationale for the transfer of nuclear weapons to Belarus that I have not previously heard. I agree that this planned transfer is very dangerous and needs to be robustly prevented. Very interesting discussion, thanks!

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍

[@stephaniewaters1777]

To Russians of a certain age the cold war never really ended

[@natalieturko4808]

​@Зая Ядерная Rocia Tse zlo.

[@2russo.phobic4u]

@Зая Ядерная Don't worry, we are ready now. If you want a fight you will receive the biggest beating you ever received. Hello from NATO.

[@SL-sd3sg]

@Зая Ядерная what is your opinion on the invasion of Ukraine?

[@SL-sd3sg]

@Зая Ядерная I was asking for your personal opinion. I’ve not explained anything to you.

[@keithpalmer4547]

@@user-yp7xq1zw7t Hello Mr. Clown!

[@sherrillwhately7586]

25 K Congratulations 🎊 🍾

[@mike4480]

Slava Ukraine…………💙💛💙

[@SiliconCurtain]

🎉

[@chilli_bean_23]

Fascinating, as always. Thank you!

[@HungryGhost999]

“What’s happening now is surreal”. Oh so true. Thank you 🙏

[@bmunson4920]

1. The planes in Belarus would never get off the ground if the goal was to launch an attack on NATO. 2. Putin forgets Kennedy’s axiom regarding Cuba - an attack on the USA from Cuba would be considered an attack from the Soviet Union itself. If Putin thinks NATO would limit a retaliatory strike to Belarus, he is far less strategic than even his critics think.

[@SiliconCurtain]

Yes, I don’t think we’ll be fooled by a so-called’ indirect’ attack…

[@andyreznick]

Acknowledgement to Podpolkovnik Felshtinsky. As a cynic myself, I must acknowledge the master! Hadn't thought of a false flag nuke from Belarus.

[@SiliconCurtain]

You can always rely on Yuri to imagine the worst possible outcome. Unfortunately he’s been right on a great number of occasions…

[@monikahammaren8509]

On the other hand, Putin has declared full access and control of the transfered nukes. If he/Russia cannot protect them from misuse, he should of course be held responsible. By the way, aren’t there already nuclear weapons already in Kaliningrad?

[@seanhiggins978]

I have to agree, same.

[@scottyd3138]

Great video as always!

[@petefrys545]

Very good interview and a quite worrying assessment of possible future events.

[@AlloBruxelles]

Excellent interview --thx to you both

[@lynnmcquillan2338]

Fascinating! 🙇‍♀️ Thankyou you both to you Johnathon & Yuri 🙇‍♀️☘️✌️

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍

[@robertsmuggles6871]

A major interview. Well done Jonathan - I encourage everyone to support you on Patreon. The content of this interview is stunning.

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍

[@annemarie3140]

Listening to Dr. Felshtinsky was so informative and enjoyable. When I missed a new point he made because of his accent, he would fully explain his point which was great. I didn't want to miss a thing, I was spellbound by his words. So interesting!

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍

[@gloriahoulihan8717]

I agree with you.All of Russia seems to look back! Great to be aware of your past but they don't move on.

[@mattjames7272]

Great interview!

[@Whatshisname346]

Great interview and very informative speaker. Let’s hope he’s wrong on Belarus though. As a CSTO member, wouldn’t Russia retaliate with a nuclear strike of its own if Belarus were attacked? Sure that backs us all into a Mexican (sorry guys for the stereotype) standoff type scenario?

[@bernardodf9746]

Completely extraordinary!!!

[@phineasndhlau7618]

Nuclear bravado is foolish. Yuri is very lucid. Thank you for opening my eyes to some obscure angles. It’s clear that leaders reflect the mentality of the people they govern, the things they discuss at the dinner table. The Russian personality is consistently belligerent through the ages.

[@jsvz9333]

Fascinating! Thanks for posting.

[@LLlap]

This channel needs a million subs at least.

[@dsfwest]

Great content as usual and excellent contributors as always.

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍 more great speakers in the pipeline!

[@bernardodf9746]

This man looks so lucid, so calmly lucid... great to know him!

[@SiliconCurtain]

Check out his books - they are terrifying!

[@bernardodf9746]

@@SiliconCurtain I will! Thank you!

[@ganikurmanov7225]

This is the best content on this war I sow on KZbin so far.

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍

[@judithord4065]

Fabulous interview. Thank you.

[@jwojczulis]

This terror cyclically returns in Russia.

[@inkipinki8468]

Thank you Jonathan. Really like you content and amazing guests with interesting insights. Yuri has been the most insightful. I was fascinated by his thoughts. Amazing

[@gerhardvanderpoll7378]

Thank you for yet another insightful presentation..🏆

[@Ellecram]

Awesome interview!

[@lynnmcquillan2338]

Yes! I think Nato should support Belarus 🇧🇾- Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@planmet]

President Kennedy said, during the Cuban Crisis, that if any nuclear weapons were fired at the USA from Cuba, there would be an equivalent response aimed at Moscow. This doctrine should be applied to the threat of nuclear weapons being fired at Poland or Lithuania from Belarus.

[@sailawayteam]

Interesting discussion. Felshtinsky is very pessimistic and laconic in a very typical and traditional Russian way, and let's hope his nuclear first strike predictions do not come to pass. One observations I made is that it is always striking how lightly many Russians, even civilians, speculate about the use of nuclear weapons, and this guest is no exception. Decades of domestic propaganda of the patriotic war, cold war, NATO war etc has apparently always heavily included the use nuclear weapons. It goes all the way to the top of the "state" where suicidal thoughts are completely intertwined with the "government" policy. (Apostrophes because russia is not a state in the proper meaning).

[@pierresaelen3097]

Well said.

[@momchilyordanov8190]

I actually like the idea of invading Belarus. That would be a surprise to little Vlad. And if he wants to use nukes, he would have to do it himself.

[@abdel-qadeercoubadja4750]

What are you going to invade with ? ... Hopefully not Becky of the two mums.

[@miroslavkutak9430]

What if it was your country with a bad leadership that's to be invaded? How can you say a country should be invaded. Don't you see how much suffering and destruction is inflicted on civilians in modern conflicts? This is not a computer game, sir. We shouldn't be talking so lightly about military action. Defense yes. Support of Ukraine - 100% Kill all invading Russians - you bet. Invading Belarus and its people? Hell no.

[@greenmetal514]

Very good interview

[@carlbyronrodgers]

Interesting and informative.

[@simian_essence]

I thought this was one of your weakest interviews. And it probably had to do with your style, a style that I generally applaud and really like. The problem was that you didn't use something like a cross-examination of Yuri's thesis that NATO needs to - or should have - some kind of a coup operation to effect regime change in Belarus as the way to avoid the use of nuclear weapons, defeat Russia, and assure a Ukrainian victory in this war. At least that was my understanding of his position. By challenging that thesis, you would have increased the listener's understanding and given him/her some daylight with which to evaluate the proposal for themselves.

[@SiliconCurtain]

Thank you for the constructive comment. I tend not to challenge the guests - because mostly there are some kernels of truth in what they say. But perhaps if I’d probed a bit, I might have got more detail from Yuri. I think the scenario he outlines is possible, but not the only outcome… however if Putin goes down this route, I think the outcome is highly unpredictable…

[@darius1988]

I wish so much the predictio was not true, but I can agree with the guest. Also it can be related to NATO summit in Vilnius in July. Best regards from Vilnius, Lithuania

[@16252]

interesting, thanks

[@mauramurphy7297]

This is a great intro- thought provoking, intelligent and astute.

[@sumiland6445]

LOVE IT!! ❤😀 bbl when I can listen uninterrupted 😂

[@sumiland6445]

I met someone today also stressed out about the cruelty of the RussianZ. I suggested they come here and talk to you.

[@sumiland6445]

Kara- Morza getting 25 years for treason is unbearable.

[@miroslawkorek6843]

Very interesting point of view about Biélorussie. We have to win this war sooner than the ww2

[@johncollorafi257]

Felshtinsky tells the truth about the FSB, and Browder told the truth about the money laundering angle.

[@jezalb2710]

Spasiba

[@margareturquhart5641]

So there is a Very terrifying scenario ahead. The argument for removing Lukashenko seems logical. However, the horrendous unforeseen, consequences of removing Saddam from Iraq suggest this may not be the solution at all. I imagine, or rather hope, that if it does happen, there will be much more informed, wide ranging, and considered plan. “Plans of mice and men” Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@inkipinki8468]

Jonathan thank you for letting Yuri do most of the talking.

[@nicolaebulgaru]

Scarry stuff.

[@dixsusu]

Mafia indeed .

[@lynnmcquillan2338]

But! If you know this Yuri - Belarusians must know it - if not before this interview- then surely after it ? Omg! I am so worried for Belarusians & Ukrainians now 😢🙏❤️🙏

[@strezztechnoid]

Thank you Jonathan Fink, appreciate your background. You remind of a neighbor in Cambridge, the Silicon Fen. Any irony to this coincidence, guessing by the program name that you are working out of the city.

[@SiliconCurtain]

👍

[@SiliconCurtain]

I’m working out of it’s rival, Oxford!

[@strezztechnoid]

@@SiliconCurtain That is certainly forgivable, since OxBridge is a thing.

[@dpelpal]

_"Kyiv in threee daayyys!!!"_ never really worked out for Vova. 😂

[@derekjohnston1183]

The State police are part of the mechanism.Theyve been given assurances and ample reward.

[@yrmanja]

A statuette was used as a tool in asassination of Tatarsky (i came across information that the asassination took place in one of Prigozhin's caffes, but perhaps the information is false or not precise). Several months ago there was a news that a sledgehammer with some blood on it was sent in a violin box to the EU. The fact is that both statuette and violin box come from the world of Art.

[@SiliconCurtain]

Not sure about the art connection- but certainly this was a very ‘theatrical’ assassination… the Prighozin and statuette details are correct.

[@larrybuzbee7344]

Various sources put the US Tomahawk inventory at about 7k in active service and around 20k stockpiled. A carefully targeted decapitation strike against Belarus using, say 700, or 1/10th of the active arsenal should more than suffice to give the internal forces ample opportunity to topple what would remain of Lukashenka's power structure without any NATO ground forces. His current situation is already precarious at best and it is highly likely that a significant, perhaps an overwhelming percentage of both the Belorussian military and civilian population would avidly size the opportunity to complete the ejection of the regime and it's remaining Russian enforcers. Declare that no action will be taken against Russian territory and that no NATO troops will deploy on Belorussian territory then hit all launch systems, resupply routes and command and control facilities while avoiding, as far as possible both troop concentrations and civilian infrastructure and support internal dissidents with arms and intelligence. This would put Putin on the horns of a dilemma; Russian doctrine states that it would only use nuclear weapons in the case of a direct threat to sovereign Russian territory while removing the possibility of using Belorussian territory to launch against NATO as was suggested by Mr. Felshtinsky. I would not be surprised to learn that messages along these lines are already being conveyed not only to the top levels in Belorussia and the RF, but to lower levels of command. To quote Samuel Johnson "Let me assure you Sir that the knowledge that one will hang in a fortnight concentrates the mind marvelously".

[@retromograph3893]

What makes you think the Belarussian people wouldn't rally around their flag / leader in just the same way the Ukrainians did? Let's not make the same mistake as Russia. Not to mention the fact that regime change fails every time.

[@DSAK55]

That's been happening for at least a decade. What is new it that Darkness is now spilling out of their border

[@miroslavkutak9430]

I agree with great majority of Yuri's points, but not with the invasion of Belarus. I am not a military strategist, but OMG, we do NOT invade other countries to change regimes, ok? That is completely twisted. If there will indeed be WMDs stationed in Belarus, there should be the same deterrent applied as to Russia. Meaning "catastrophic consequences" to the perpetrators and Russian forces stationed in Ukraine & Belarus as a response to the usage of the nuclear weapons. I am surprised the host didn't confront him. IMHO there should be a peaceful transition of power after Lukashenko is out of office, not another war and destruction of innocent lives. You can't solve all problems with bombs guys.

[@zer0homer]

It is very sad because we are two nations of hostages and not all can migrate out.

[@edwinlemus8530]

When one sees the storm ahead of you, One goes back to the cave from where you just came out.

[@billnance8589]

Feltshinsky is out of his bloody mind. The deployment is no additional danger to Europe. Does he really think there aren't nukes in Kaliningrad? Or that the Baltic fleet doesn't have them? I agree, it's a very provocative move. Suggesting a full-fledged Nato invasion of Belarus in response? That's just batshit. I mean seriously, the most insane thing I've heard in the last year and I'm shocked you didn't push back. I'm all for the Ukranians too, but unilaterally invading? I'm absolutely speechless at the stupidity of such a notion.

[@SiliconCurtain]

Unfortunately, we thought people predicting a full-scale war on the European mainland in Jan 22 were ‘out of their minds’… people predicting Russia would go genocidal and slide towards a partial fascist state were mad… and yet here we are… (BTW I did predict the full war, and the plan to eliminate Ukraine’s intellectual and political elite- but had no channel to broadcast the warning a year ago)

[@SiliconCurtain]

I agree with some of what you say… I don’t think nato should invade Belarus… Ukraine could perhaps try?! But Putin probably sees Belarus as Russian territory now, so would interpret such an aggressive move as as attack on Russia itself…

[@Asptuber]

Thank you. His whole argument rests on Putin believing that the West would honour his fiction of Belarus not being under his control. Which is possible, but doubtful. (ETA: I mean possible that Putin would believe it, not possible that the West would fall for it.) Putin believing the West would fall for a false flag, rogue/terrorist nuking of anywhere? Even more preposterous. Any kind of nuclear weapon going off anywhere in Europe the blame will be on Putin before the dust has settled. And he must know that. And invading Belarus? Yeah, batshit. Strategically it even makes sense to hope that nothing whatsoever changes in Belarus until Ukraine is back to its 1991 borders. (Even though it is annoying that Putin can use Belarus as a staging and training area. But in exchange it keeps the conflict clean - a Ukrainian supported civil war in Belarus would really muddy things up and risk all kinds of complications.) (And I agree with you about the Baltic fleet and Kaliningrad - I don't understand why anyone would believe a priori that Russia would have kept their nukes somewhere else, that just doesn't make sense in any world.)

[@toby9999]

I think you've missed the point of moving weapons to Belarus (as I did initially). Of course, Russia could launch from a ship or from a Russian base, but that wouldn't serve his purpose.

[@pierresaelen3097]

@@SiliconCurtain Or, @Jonathan, the West could do the same thing it did when Putin's regime started to explore the nuclear option with the Zaporizhian nuclear power plant in 2022: expose the plan in advance and make clear that it won't pass without heavy consequences. In the end the RuSSians stopped their dirty little game. The West should do the same now with Belarus and RuSSia's plan to fake as if Ukrainians would have captured the nukes in Belarus and would have launched them at their allies: expose it all in advance and make clear that this would be the end of RuSSia as a military power. Seems a more realistic option than a NATO attack on Belarus. When I listened to this interview I had to think back to a recent video: "Avos - This word is key to understanding Russian mentality" by a relatively new KZbin channel: "An Outsider Inside Russia". He's the first one* I've heard detailing the Russian concept of "avos" and how it explains both the passivity of many Russians, as well as the gambling quality of Putin's regime since it early days. (*Vlad Vexler may have described it a bit in one of his videos about Putin, without mentioning the word.) Putin now preparing to base nukes in Belarus is just another example of this avos-mode of thinking, and frankly when I heard Mr Felshtinsky suggest that NATO should strike first in Belarus, I wondered to what extent he also suffers from avos-thinking, because how on earth is NATO to do this? Not militarily, but politically. It's not covered by the NATO treaty and just one member state would suffice to block it. So, it would require some member states, let's say the US, UK, Lithuania and Poland to act without the others, thereby risking to jeopardize NATO's newfound unity. Could this operation be done within NATO's supporting infrastructure? What if RuSSia retaliated against Lithuania an Poland? They would not be protected by article 5, given that they attacked first. What would be the impact on all those southern countries that buy Putin's so-called anti-imperialist stance? Would Sweden and Finland still want to join (or be a part) of NATO? The military intricacies of such an operation against Belarus pale in comparison to the political intricacies. With this one suggestion Mr. Felshtinsky sounded suddenly so Russian to me. Re: Mr. Felshtinsky's suspicion that China's ruler secretly supports this move. This is contradicted by Xi inviting the presidents of the Stans just upon his return from Putin without involving Russia in that meeting. Peter Zeihan has a short video on it, where he explains the backstabbing: "The Russian & Chinese Partnership" by the channel "Zeihan on Geopolitics". Unless Xi is trying to deceive us with this move.

[@JamesC785]

An extremely concerning scenario painted by Yuri Felshtinsky. He admitted to originally miscalculating the probability of this full blown war & one would hope that this scenario is over-compensation for this (understandable) mistake. One would hope that any nuclear missiles delivered to Belarus would be competently tracked (as nuclear storage is said to be closely monitored in russia proper) & that suitable defensive system are deployed along the Belarusian borders. Should Yuri Felshtinsky be correct, would the NATO missile defence network be effective enough to stop any targets being hit ? After all, the discussion is about tactical weapons & not strategic weapons. Of course it will have to made clear that russia would be held fully responsible for any use of russian nuclear weapons (as has their responsibility for any 'accident' at the ZNPP).

[@keithpalmer4547]

Belarus would be attacked BEFORE they launched any nuclear missles on our allies. Russia will be attacked if they use Belarus as a proxy to launch nukes on our allies. It is that simple.

[@WalterBurton]

👍👍👍

[@pierresaelen3097]

Last year Russia tried to explore the nuclear option with the powerplant in Zaporizhia and with talk about tactical nukes, each time it was clear that it wasn't winning. Now it's the same again Putin, the Avos gambler, is open to losing this war, as long as he loses against Nato. That's worth a few nukes. If it pays off, great. If not, at least Russia will have valiantly ost against NATO

[@PlanetFrosty]

Question of recorded call again suggests he’s playing both sides. Vlad Vexler does not hold that opinion after listening to the call.

[@Cacti78]

i'm afraid he may be right

[@rubenjames7345]

Other than a plot for a new Jack Ryan season, I'm not sure what relavense a nuclear engagement like this has.

[@fromthebackofmymind]

Taking and surrender of territories. That is description of "War" in most basic form. Prescient of Nukes in Belarus. Prizogrin as Commander field officer with nuclear artillery.

[@milekrizman]

Croatia is also similar in that regard. Military frontier and less developed backyard of Western Europe. Sunny im summer with beautiful coast and nature, cities built by Germans and Hungarians on the North, by Italians on the coast. But inhabited by semicivilized South Slavs who, just 60 years ago, before asphalt, electricity and water came to villages were illiterate peasants.

[@lynnmcquillan2338]

Belarus: surely average Belarusians will also become activists ? Thankyou Johnathon - Thankyou Yuri ✌️

[@natotvwarjimbo3461]

🎺💛💙💪🔱🔰👍🥾💤👀= FREEDOM

[@justmary_]

The US is not supplying Ukraine to win for the same reason Europe isn't, resources are not infinite. I would hope Europe realizes how important it is to help Ukraine win as well, even more so because its proximity. Greetings from the USA. 🇺🇸

[@proselytizingorthodoxpente8304]

Yes

[@toi_techno]

Assassination isn't the same thing as "terrorism". And it is nonsensical to say Belarus would be the target of NATO retaliation. If a nuclear weapon was used every peripheral Russian base will be razed to the ground over the course of a few days. NATO want peace but are by far the most power military organisation in the world and will not fuck about.

[@stevenjohns-savage7024]

What don't say there running out of lies, I've been enjoying these stories there coming up with, what's next

[@SiliconCurtain]

They’ll start rerunning the classics again soon… genetically altered mosquitos, bio-labs… etc…

[@lynnmcquillan2338]

Vodka could be Putin’s decline 😔

[@SiliconCurtain]

That poison works too slowly…

[@jogirack8199]

I don't agree with the imperialist idea of invading Belarus by NATO. This would create exactly the the confrontation with Russia that Putin wants to see. Only the Belarusians themselves can liberate their country.

[@STROONZONY]

A woman was arrested for bomb

[@SiliconCurtain]

Well, yes. But did she do it… and who is behind her?!

[@roberhow2441]

Nato to replace Putin, offer that

[@Kurtlane]

Like it or not, Americans are not about to send their troops anywhere, be in Belarus, Iran, or any other place. Even another attack on America itself on the scale of 9/11 will not prompt sending American troops anywhere. This is the lesson they have learned from regime changes in Iraq and Afghanistan. Whether it is the right lesson is a different matter.

[@keithpalmer4547]

Nonsense. As an American I can 100% assure you will be defend our allies in NATO with ALL MEANS including troops. We are ready to defend our civilization.

[@mollirodhaet7224]

Chilling

[@danielwalker5682]

Excellent analysis.

[@prostytroll]

Yeah, we need more vibrant civilization... Strength in diversity!

[@ppss.6302]

Russia is probably the only nation that values imperial mythology, created to the order of its deranged rulers, more than it values its true history and origins. Most russians flatly deny anything that does not fit original imperial myth. It is incomprehensible to me.

[@bascanu1]

man nice content but bad sound quality...

[@JobHuntingAbroad]

Totally agree, I really struggled to hear him