Ukraine

[TSR2]

This is all about money. The reality is that as the price of energy goes up, we (all of world) pays more for gas and oil, and we buy at least some of it from Russia, at inflated prices, which helps fund him. Not only that, it helps fund BP (as an example) so 20% of their profits last year came from their 20% stake in the Russian oil business. Now are the BP shareholders prepared to loose 20% of their profits? Are they hell. They’re frantically working out how to distance themselves from it without giving it up. BP is an easy target but there are thousands of them. Unilever solid underarm deodorants.. all of their brands… all made in Russia. Then we have the German industrial manufacturers.. their cheap energy cones from, Russia. Do their shareholders want their costs to go up? No. All the people with the serious money want more of it. China will be worse. No one with the clout to make a significant difference to Vlad financially will, because money is more important to them than anything else.

[TSR2]

All credit to our French neighbours…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-e ... type=share

[Nigel H-J]

Excellent, now Russia will have to wake up to reality to know that the whole world or hopefully nearly the whole world, are willing to take hard action against them for attacking an innocent country.

Regards
Nigel.

[TSR2]

A lot of activity tonight near the Ukrainian border Kevin. The Conningsby Typhoon is actually travelling with the A330’s as protection I’ve heard from someone in the know. We also have quite a bit of “cargo” being ferried out to Cyprus at the moment which I’ve been told wouldn’t normally happen at weekends under normal circumstances. There are a couple of low flying Hercules near the border, under 5000ft both US and Polish; the KC135’s and KC10’s are also up.

[TSR2]

ZZ330 had just arrived on station over northern Poland replacing a NATO 330 from Eindhoven which is now on its way back. No idea what they are refuelling but I wonder could it be Ukrainian jets? I’ve no idea tbh, but there’s a lot of fuel up there at the moment.

[Kevin Farnell]

Thanks, Ben.

The A330 I saw a couple of days back refuelling a Typhoon, I later found heading back to the UK flanked by 2 Typhoons. I'm not trying to glorify this and I really, really, really wish the whole situation wasn't happening.

I'm boycotting Russian goods (not that I buy many anyway), although it's impossible to separate out Russian gas.

Kevin

[TSR2]

Completely agree Kevin. I stopped buying lynx stick deodorants some years ago when I noticed they were made there, after the whole Salisbury carry on. I’m very cautious about where stuff is made as a general rule, but I’m fortunate that I can afford to be at the moment.
I very glad to see other European countries stepping up efforts now and hope that the pressure continues to mount any that an end is brought soon.

[Kevin Farnell]

ZZ330 had just arrived on station over northern Poland replacing a NATO 330 from Eindhoven which is now on its way back. No idea what they are refuelling but I wonder could it be Ukrainian jets? I’ve no idea tbh, but there’s a lot of fuel up there at the moment.

Do Ukraine still have any operational airbases?

Also, I found an Aeroflot A321 heading from Rome to Moscow. It seems to have taken a very long route, over Germany, then over the Baltic, Lithuania and Belarus. Another Aeroflot flight from Barcelona has taken a similarly long routing. Really could do with other western European nations introducing a ban.

Kevin

[TSR2]

They’re all barred from midnight Kevin, so they’ll all be trying to get back.

RE the airbases, I didn’t think so, but I heard some reports today of Ukrainian jets shooting down Russian aircraft, so they must be based somewhere. It’s not like they (or us for that matter) have harriers that could just land anywhere.

[Kevin Farnell]

The first I've noticed of any Russian Air Force flights. RF82040 is an An-124, whilst the aircraft preceding it, RF78662 is an Il-76. Both are heading over Belarus. It will be interesting to see how far they are tracked.



Kevin