Russia bans jet skis, ride-hailing ahead of WWII tributes

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SUSIE BLANN 8 minutes ago

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia enacted a major security clampdown ahead of Tuesday’s annual commemorations marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, curbing the use of drones, jet skis and car-sharing services in its largest cities amid its 14-month war with Ukraine.

At least 21 Russian cities canceled May 9 military parades — the staple of Victory Day celebrations across Russia — for the first time in years, Russian media said.

Regional officials blamed unspecified “security concerns” or vaguely referred to “the current situation” for the restrictions and cancellations. It was not clear whether their decisions were taken in coordination with the Kremlin.

Last week, Russia — which hasn’t witnessed the carnage endured by Ukraine during the invasion — was rattled by ambiguous official reports that two Ukrainian drones flew into the heart of Moscow under the cover of darkness and reached the Kremlin before being shot down.


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-attack-6992b7e905e4449f9888ccfcfd607b3f

[Farmer-Rick]

1. The war Putin started

Has come to plague the country he supposedly is protecting.

Putin just wanted to create an empire for himself. This war with Ukraine is all about getting Putin what he wanted at the expense of Russia and Ukraine. Now, Russia is suffering more and more and the war has not made Russia any safer.

[Igel]

12. Russia is a rump empire.

The US/Canada had "Indian schools." Officially under Lenin indigenous languages/etc. were encouraged (politics and economics excepted).

Under Stalin the assimilation revved up. For centuries the Urdmuts, Yakuts, Mordva, Ingush, were unmolested. As in any good empire, you require tribute and let the populace alone. Who cares what they speak or if they read if they pay up and let you use their lands?

Assimilation is a bit less along in Russia than in the US. And the idea of supporting *non*-assimilation is lethal to Putin's vision of Eurasian Russia. He's actively fighting any "identity" movement(s) among the indigenous, very much non-Indo-European folk.

Just like China and Iran, it's a rump empire fighting for its imperialist and colonialist traditions. To a far greater extent than the US has been, with far less fairness.

[marble falls]

2. Dammit. I'd just lined up some jet skis, too. Jet skiing in Moscow in May is on my bucket list.

[Kennah]

5. With a Javelin and a machinegun

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

6. Put a minigun on the handlebar like Machete!

[Kennah]

7. Isador Cortez - Greatest spy ever

[riversedge]

3. Russia defeated the Nazi-yet they ended up with an authoritarian Putin!

[NullTuples]

9. We're dancing that same dance thanks to the GOP, with Putin's help.

[riversedge]

11. yes, and only Dem Gov's or Dem controlled legislators can hold them at bay! Of course

Pres Biden can hold them at bay also--IF the Dem Senate agrees with him--and all members are present.

[maxsolomon]

10. Stalin's USSR was an Authoritarian State

Arguably more repressive than Nazi Germany prior to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. A million were killed in the Great Terror.

As a Tsar is basically an Autocrat, all Russia has known is Authoritarian Rule - it's why it was so easy to slip back into it after Yeltsin.

[Warpy]

4. You already can't hail a taxi or Uber anywhere near the Kremlin

because the whole area is jammed.

Kind of brings up a lot of questions about those drones above the Kremlin, doesn't it?

The jet skis I don't get. Just because Shahed drones are noisy buggers doesn't mean Ukrainian drones are, they tend to glide in after the fuel is spent. Besides, the diesel engines and clanking treads of the parade would drown out even Shaheds. Plus, the water is damned cold this time of year.

Still, it's nice to see Russia this paranoid because they think everybody does what they're doing.

Kind of like another bunch right here in the US.

[NullTuples]

8. Hard to have military parades when all your old junk & best kit is busy invading a sovereign nation.