..."may you live in interesting times"...
If the Russian military capability and planning was as good as most of the world thought, and if the Ukrainians hadn't demonstrated rather unexpected levels of patriotism and determination (led by an ex-comedian, of all things), we might be seeing a different situation and future outlook.
As it is, Putin (and russia with a small "r") seems to have painted himself firmly into a very tight corner.
If the Blitzkrieg approach had succeeded, then I think the West, and indeed the rest of the world, would have been entirely in catch-up, and of a rather different style. Whilst the response has still been rather slow in coming, the expensively-bought extra days have ensured that a response got under way, and is now rolling.
Russia has become a pariah in almost all the World, including some rather unexpected portions. In reality, it appears the only open support it can muster is Belarus. Countries such as Kazakhstan have given a firm "no", Turkey has decided that, given the difficult (for it) choice, it would rather align with the West, and even China seem to have strong reservations.
Then you have the seismic shifts, such as Germany deciding to take its (natural) place at the head-table of European defence; erstwhile neutral Sweden deciding to supply arms to Ukraine, etc.
Then the sanctions kick in. The SWIFT ban (though admittedly not entirely comprehensive) looked like it wouldn't happen; but has. The accompanying actions, (BP, the Norwegian State Fund, etc.) add further financial blows.
Whatever the immediate outcome, be it some sort of compromise peace, or Ukraine being overrun, much of the above is not going to be rapidly reversed, and I suspect very little of it at all should Putin remain in his current position. (who is going to trust his future intentions?).
So, with a massively increased military opposition, including a much bolstered NATO presence, punitive commercial and financial sanctions, very few friends around the world, and a much diminished view of Russia's conventional military capabilities, whatever he chooses to do from here, Putin is now a big problem for Russia. I wonder how long before the Russian apparatus realises and does something about it. Even if he is a figurehead, and leaves others complicit in current circumstances in his wake, I think Russia may determine his removal is required - has anyone got the power or balls?
...of course, he could just push the button... "uneasy lies the head that wears a crown"
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VxFan |
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26 Feb 22 21:05 |
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25 Feb 22 07:24 |
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Lygonos |
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25 Feb 22 07:46 |
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25 Feb 22 08:59 |
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 The Ukraine, new |
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Zero |
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25 Feb 22 19:14 |
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25 Feb 22 09:01 |
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25 Feb 22 09:19 |
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sooty123 |
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25 Feb 22 10:07 |
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sooty123 |
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25 Feb 22 10:17 |
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CGNorwich |
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25 Feb 22 11:09 |
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Terry |
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25 Feb 22 13:02 |
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BiggerBadderDave |
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25 Feb 22 13:14 |
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smokie |
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henry k |
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CGNorwich |
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25 Feb 22 19:41 |
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sooty123 |
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Bobby |
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25 Feb 22 23:00 |
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Biggles |
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zippy |
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26 Feb 22 01:06 |
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Duncan |
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26 Feb 22 06:29 |
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Bromptonaut |
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26 Feb 22 08:39 |
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Zero |
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26 Feb 22 09:41 |
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Zero |
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28 Feb 22 08:07 |
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sooty123 |
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26 Feb 22 10:39 |
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zippy |
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26 Feb 22 10:49 |
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Zero |
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26 Feb 22 11:06 |
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James Loveless |
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26 Feb 22 11:30 |
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Rudedog |
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26 Feb 22 11:31 |
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sooty123 |
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26 Feb 22 11:52 |
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Fullchat |
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28 Feb 22 21:35 |
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sooty123 |
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26 Feb 22 22:50 |
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zippy |
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26 Feb 22 23:04 |
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sooty123 |
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26 Feb 22 23:30 |
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Lygonos |
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27 Feb 22 00:14 |
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Fullchat |
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27 Feb 22 00:27 |
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henry k |
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27 Feb 22 10:37 |
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Lygonos |
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27 Feb 22 10:43 |
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Zero |
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27 Feb 22 10:49 |
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sooty123 |
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27 Feb 22 10:55 |
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Zero |
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27 Feb 22 11:14 |
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CGNorwich |
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27 Feb 22 10:58 |
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Lygonos |
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27 Feb 22 11:02 |
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CGNorwich |
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27 Feb 22 11:15 |
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Zero |
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27 Feb 22 11:28 |
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Bromptonaut |
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27 Feb 22 11:37 |
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Zero |
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27 Feb 22 11:41 |
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zippy |
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27 Feb 22 12:26 |
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Zero |
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27 Feb 22 11:43 |
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CGNorwich |
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27 Feb 22 12:00 |
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Zero |
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27 Feb 22 12:05 |
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CGNorwich |
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27 Feb 22 12:09 |
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sooty123 |
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27 Feb 22 12:14 |
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Lygonos |
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27 Feb 22 11:56 |
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Zero |
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27 Feb 22 11:12 |
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CGNorwich |
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27 Feb 22 11:17 |
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Duncan |
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27 Feb 22 11:23 |
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tyrednemotional |
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27 Feb 22 11:25 |
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smokie |
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27 Feb 22 11:26 |
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Fullchat |
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27 Feb 22 12:26 |
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Bromptonaut |
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27 Feb 22 12:14 |
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Lygonos |
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27 Feb 22 12:18 |
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zippy |
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27 Feb 22 12:31 |
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Zero |
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27 Feb 22 12:32 |
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sooty123 |
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27 Feb 22 12:37 |
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Ateca chris |
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27 Feb 22 14:38 |
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Zero |
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27 Feb 22 14:52 |
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Robin O'Reliant |
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27 Feb 22 15:24 |
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| Belaurus to Join In? new |
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zippy |
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27 Feb 22 15:41 |
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| Belaurus to Join In? new |
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Biggles |
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27 Feb 22 16:01 |
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| BP Unload its interest in Russian Oil new |
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Zero |
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27 Feb 22 18:51 |
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| BP Unload its interest in Russian Oil new |
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sooty123 |
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27 Feb 22 18:56 |
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| BP Unload its interest in Russian Oil new |
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Robin O'Reliant |
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27 Feb 22 19:42 |
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| BP Unload its interest in Russian Oil new |
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zippy |
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27 Feb 22 20:29 |
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| BP Unload its interest in Russian Oi.. new |
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Lygonos |
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27 Feb 22 21:15 |
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| BP Unload its interest in Russian O.. new |
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Robin O'Reliant |
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27 Feb 22 21:42 |
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| BP Unload its interest in Russian O.. new |
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tyrednemotional |
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27 Feb 22 22:20 |
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| BP Unload its interest in Russian .. new |
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zippy |
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28 Feb 22 02:03 |
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| BP Unload its interest in Russian Oil new |
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sooty123 |
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28 Feb 22 08:06 |
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| BP Unload its interest in Russian Oil new |
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tyrednemotional |
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28 Feb 22 08:53 |
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| What Next? new |
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tyrednemotional |
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27 Feb 22 20:19 |
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| What Next? new |
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Robin O'Reliant |
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27 Feb 22 20:28 |
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| What Next? new |
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zippy |
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27 Feb 22 20:34 |
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| Surprising things new |
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Zero |
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28 Feb 22 10:00 |
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| Surprising things new |
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James Loveless |
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28 Feb 22 10:17 |
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| Surprising things new |
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sooty123 |
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28 Feb 22 10:40 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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VxFan |
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28 Feb 22 13:19 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Bromptonaut |
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28 Feb 22 13:24 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Zero |
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28 Feb 22 13:40 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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sooty123 |
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28 Feb 22 13:54 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Zero |
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28 Feb 22 14:02 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Bromptonaut |
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28 Feb 22 14:13 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Duncan |
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28 Feb 22 14:41 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Robin O'Reliant |
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28 Feb 22 14:46 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Zero |
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28 Feb 22 16:57 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Bromptonaut |
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28 Feb 22 15:03 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Runfer D'Hills |
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28 Feb 22 21:52 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Lygonos |
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28 Feb 22 14:41 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Fullchat |
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28 Feb 22 21:38 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Bromptonaut |
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1 Mar 22 08:03 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Terry |
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1 Mar 22 08:12 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Zero |
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1 Mar 22 08:13 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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zippy |
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1 Mar 22 10:20 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Lygonos |
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1 Mar 22 10:27 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Bromptonaut |
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1 Mar 22 10:54 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Lygonos |
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1 Mar 22 11:34 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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sooty123 |
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1 Mar 22 12:09 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Bromptonaut |
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1 Mar 22 14:21 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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sooty123 |
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1 Mar 22 20:58 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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DeeW |
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1 Mar 22 16:50 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Bromptonaut |
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1 Mar 22 17:11 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Zero |
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1 Mar 22 19:33 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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CGNorwich |
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1 Mar 22 20:10 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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henry k |
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1 Mar 22 20:31 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Lygonos |
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1 Mar 22 20:37 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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CGNorwich |
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1 Mar 22 22:21 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Manatee |
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2 Mar 22 07:55 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Duncan |
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2 Mar 22 08:06 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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James Loveless |
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1 Mar 22 10:22 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Ambo |
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2 Mar 22 15:54 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Lygonos |
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2 Mar 22 23:25 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Manatee |
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3 Mar 22 08:13 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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sooty123 |
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3 Mar 22 09:00 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Zero |
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3 Mar 22 08:59 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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cosec |
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3 Mar 22 11:14 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Manatee |
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3 Mar 22 12:26 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Lygonos |
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3 Mar 22 14:36 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Terry |
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3 Mar 22 15:03 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Zero |
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3 Mar 22 15:38 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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henry k |
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3 Mar 22 16:28 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Fullchat |
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3 Mar 22 18:30 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Zero |
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3 Mar 22 20:05 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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sooty123 |
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3 Mar 22 21:37 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Zero |
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3 Mar 22 22:05 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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sooty123 |
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3 Mar 22 22:29 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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tyrednemotional |
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3 Mar 22 22:41 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Duncan |
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3 Mar 22 22:45 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Zero |
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3 Mar 22 23:00 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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zippy |
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3 Mar 22 17:55 |
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| The Ukraine - Volume 2 new |
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Robin O'Reliant |
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5 Mar 22 21:51 |
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