Ukraine Thread

[Gilrandir]

I hope the Russian people forcefully remove Putin out of the Kremlin on Christmas Day. This is what happens when you go all in on basing your entire economy and power off of commodities.

As far as I can judge, Russian people blame not Putin, but the West. Russian propaganda makes sure that, whatever Putin does, the USA is ultimately the villain guilty of all Russia's setbacks.

Sooner or later rebel infrastructure will start to break down unless they can get a real economy going, and with only Russia to export to they may have no one to sell to when Russia is broke.

Rebels don't need any infrastructure since all they need for war they get from Russia. Infrastructure is neccessary for the people of the rebel-held areas to somehow keep afloat. The rebels can do without it as long as:
1. Russia goes on supplying them just enough to keep the civilians on the verge of hunger.
2. Russia goes on supplying them military-wise to keep hold of the civilians who might protest.
3. Local and Russian propaganda goes on feeding civilians with terrifying news of Ukrainian punitive soldiers massacring locals en masse.

I guess the winner depends on who can stretch their reserves out the longest, Russia or Saudi Arabia?

The answer is evident since the sheikhs invest (or save) the money they get from selling oil and it eventually finds the way to the people's pockets, while in Russia the money gets embezzled and/or goes to the pockets of oligarchs who are not likely to share with the rest of the population.
Edit: want a bet?
http://www.paddypower.com/bet/politi...rp_ids=1974697