[danielktdoranie]

Pretty sure Russia took responsibility for the hospital but my understanding is Russia claims their intelligence was 1.) it was no longer a functioning hospital and 2.) used as a base of operations for the fascist Azov Battalion... not that it didn't happen.

[schleck8]

They claimed they did not destroy the hospital at first and then shifted to calling it an Azov base afaik.

Just like Lavrov yesterday claimed Russia hasn't actually invaded Ukraine.

[xdennis]

He said that Russia doesn't plan on invading any countries and that Russia hasn't even invaded Ukraine... which is very concerning for us in Romania.

[CoastalCoder]

I'm very sorry for the situation you're in. Could you elaborate on your fears for Romania?

Putin's attempt to annex Ukraine has been very damaging to Russia's economy and (I assume) its conventional military strength. Putin's actions also placed the rest of Europe on high alert.

So even if Putin manages to secure control of eastern Ukraine, I assume it would take many years before Russia is strong enough to attempt another expansion. And I expect nearby countries would use that time very productively.

[lazide]

Typically if the economy is collapsing during a military action like this, the gov’t has only two options:

1) stop (which in this situation would mean admitting that it was a bad idea/defeat, and almost certainly lead to Putin’s death and the collapse of the gov’t)

Or

2) double down and switch to a military economy, using outside sanctions as proof that they were right and everyone else WAS out to get the country.

Guess which one they seem to be doing?

And if they successfully switch to us vs them’ing the entire world, they can’t let peace happen or folks will start thinking. They need a constant enemy.

[8note]

Sounds similar to claims about the Ukranian medical research labs.

First claims that there are no weapons labs, then claims that the things attacked aren't weapons labs.

It's possible for details to be lost in translation, and for people to make mistakes

[schleck8]

Wow, Russia has messed up really badly then. I guess their navigation wasn't working since they ended up on all accessible sites of Ukraine, including next to Kyiv. While announcing an operation in Donbass

[throwaway_4ever]

Then that would be the 100th thing they’re calling “Azov Battalion.”

I’m half convinced they see the entire country as “Azov Battalion” and whatever they shell will be given the same excuse.

[scruple]

They can claim whatever they want. They're known liars. What are they claiming as retroactive justification for shooting fleeing civilians?

[watwut]

Which is ... not taking responsibility. And simultaneously it is ... claiming that bombing of maternity ward did not happened.

[at-fates-hands]

Interesting observation. . .

When Crimea was annexed, there were many articles on Azov Battalion and the implications that it was the best thing (capable fighters who will defend the country) and the worst thing (they're Fascists) and how that would play out if Russia invaded.

Since the invasion, I haven't seen any articles on the topic and the US media have gone suddenly silent on their involvement. I find it kind of odd considering there is such a preoccupation with Nazi's in this country, they would just ignore this part of the narrative.

[Bouncingsoul1]

"Since the invasion, I haven't seen any articles on the topic and the US media have gone suddenly silent on their involvement." that's just not true pick your favourite search engine and you see articles on this topic from every major outlet.I checked for this Nyt, WP (US) , der spiegel(ger), guardian(uk). You see articles coming up the last 2 weeks, another spike was 2017 and before 2014. I guess if ran an analysis for I'd see spikes mentioning Azov, whenever the Ukranian topic was in the media

[shihab]

You're right, and yet I disagree with your main point. For every article about Azov or other far-right nationalists, there are like 100 saying Russia is spreading misinformation about Nazism in Ukraine (which can of course be true too). The ratio is not appropriate in my very subjective opinion.

Another point about you mentioning The Guardian- I've always found before, specially so during this conflict, British media presents comparatively balanced narrative than American ones. Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent" is being staged right in front of our eyes.

[Bouncingsoul1]

'The ratio is not appropriate in my very subjective opinion." you are making up a ratio without data to back it up and then say it is not appropriate?

[epakai]

What ratio is appropriate once Russia has used this excuse to invade a sovereign nation? The time for having concern about Azov battalion seems well past. There was never such ultimatum as "get rid of Nazis or we will do it for you". It was never a real concern, but a pretext, their own manufactured consent.

[s1artibartfast]

There was some news covered about a proposed bill stop US military training for the Azov, but pretty quiet after it didn't pass

[vogre]

Latvia (also NATO country, and in the Meta list) still has this https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-latvia-hundreds-march-in-ho...