You think wrong. There were multiple elections in those areas, before Russia started invading (2014 etc). The Join-Russia parties never managed to get a majority in any of border regions. Even the Pr… (View Post)

There many hundreds of thousands of people living there who don't want to be in Russia. They voted against that, repeatedly. They voted, repeatedly, to be part of Ukraine. Just because they are "… (View Post)

Aimed at Point Nemo, like many spacecraft being disposed of. An uncontrolled reentry for ISS would be nasty - lots of heavy stuff to reach the ground. (View Post)

Apart from the people living in "East Ukraine" - Putin would start by demanding that a pro-Russian regime is installed. despite the evidence that isn't what the people who live there want. … (View Post)

The Russian expectation was caused by a combination of Ukrainian patriotism and organised intelligence work. Ironically In the run up to the invasion, the FSB tried widespread bribery of politicians,… (View Post)