Ukraine Open Thread 2022-103

(An unexpected family issue kept me busy today. As I had no time to read and write this will be the only thread today.)

Only news & views related to the Ukraine conflict ...

The current open thread for other issues is here.

Ukraine Open Thread 2022-102

Only news & views related to the Ukraine conflict ...

The current open thread for other issues is here.

The MoA Week In Review - (NOT Ukraine) OT 2022-101

Last week's posts at Moon of Alabama:

• Jun 27 - Newsbits on Ukraine - Lysichansk Cauldron, Civilian Damage, Reserve Troops, Russian 'Default'
• Jul 1 - Ukraine - The Bear Caught The Kraken By Using This Trick
• Jul 2 - Lysichansk Is Under Control Of The Russian Side
  Related:
  - America in a World of Limits - National Interest
  - Ukraine Is the Latest Neocon Disaster - Jeffrey Sachs / Consortium News (German version)
  - As Ukraine war bogs down, U.S. assessments face scrutiny - Washington Post
  - U.S. Generals Have Been Wrong on Ukraine. We Shouldn’t Be Shocked - 19fourtyfive

• Jun 28 - Another Zelensky Lie Debunked - White House Says Ukraine Must Give Up Territory
  Related:
  - Is Russia’s Bombing of the Mall in Kremanchuk Another False Atrocity Story? - Covered Action Magazine
  - Poland intervenes after Ukrainian ambassador denies wartime massacre of Poles and Jews - Notes from Poland
  - Conversation with American Mercenary, DPR POW: “Be Better Informed” - International 360

• Jun 30 - No, NATO Will Not Get Ready For War
  Related:
  - The U.S. is welcoming Finland and Sweden to NATO. That’s a mistake. - NBC News
  - The West’s self-defeating sanctions - The Critic
  - Michael Hudson: A Depression Is Coming - Naked Capitalism
  - G7 and the Desperation Stage of Russian Sanctions - Counterpunch
  - Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions at a joint news conference, June 30, 2022 - Foreign Ministry, Russia

> Look at the current list of sanctions. I suggest that you conduct this interesting analysis. Compare restrictions that European countries are imposing on Russia and Belarus with the relevant US restrictions. The United States is sparing itself and is trying not to encroach on various spheres that could seriously damage its own economy. Yes, the United States is also experiencing negative effects from this activity, but Europe is suffering much more. I believe that, apart from “punishing” our countries, the United States wants to weaken the European Union as its rival. <

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Other issues:

Cont. reading: The MoA Week In Review - (NOT Ukraine) OT 2022-101

Lysichansk Is Under Control Of The Russian Side

Lysichansk is now under control of the Russian side of the war.

This was reported by a Russian speaking journalist from the Lysichansk City Park (map) which is at the center of the city. There are a few locals around him who seem to be happy. There is no background noise of shooting or artillery fire or impacts in his report.

The Lugansk People’s Republic now has the entire territory of the Lugansk oblast under its control.

This comes only a week after the cauldron around Lysichansk began to close. Until a few hours ago there was still a chance to flee from Lysichansk but the only passable road was under Russian fire. It is not know yet how many made it out or how many gave up and were taken prisoners.

Some of those who retreated went to Siversk some 20 kilometer west of Lysichansk. That city will be the next bigger target in that campaign sector.

The speed of this operation was much faster than the one in Mariupol. That points to diminished capabilities and soldier motivation of the Ukrainian forces.

The now much shortened frontline frees up several battalion tactical groups on the Russian side which can now be refitted and rested to then move elsewhere.

Ukraine - The Bear Caught The Kraken By Using This Trick

This is the map that shows the historic development of Ukraine.

bigger

Russia is, in my opinion, aiming at taking the pink and yellow parts which have predominantly Russian speaking populations. The most north- western pink oblast is Kharkov which is also the name of the oblast's main city. 

On March 1 the city was already under attack.

Cont. reading: Ukraine - The Bear Caught The Kraken By Using This Trick

Ukraine Open Thread 2022-100

Only news & views related to the Ukraine conflict ...

The current open thread for other issues is here.

No, NATO Will Not Get Ready For War

I had a good laugh when I read this nonsense:

NATO to boost troops on high alert to over 300,000 -Stoltenberg

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO will boost the number of troops on high alert by more than sevenfold to over 300,000, its secretary-general said on Monday, as allies prepared to adopt a new strategy describing Moscow as a direct threat four months into the Ukraine war.
...
Stoltenberg said NATO in future would have "well over 300,000" troops on high alert, compared to 40,000 troops that currently make up the alliance's existing quick reaction force, the NATO Response Force (NRF).

The new force model is meant to replace the NRF and "provide a larger pool of high readiness forces across domains, land, sea, air and cyber, which will be pre-assigned to specific plans for the defence of allies," a NATO official said.

NATO does not have 300,000 troops to put on high alert. The troops are controlled by member states and I see no willingness by any of them to shoulder the costs that a real high alert status would have. Units on high alert means that they fully manned with no one on vacation and with enough supplies ready to sustain weeks of battle. All of that costs money. Member states will instead designate existing units as 'high alert' ones and change nothing else in their usual equipment and training.

The statement is pure NATO public relations fluff. Stoltenberg did not even ask or inform member states before he made that announcement:

Cont. reading: No, NATO Will Not Get Ready For War

Ukraine Open Thread 2022-99

Only news & views related to the Ukraine conflict ...

The current open thread for other issues is here.

Open (Not Ukraine) Thread 2022-98

News & views (not related to Ukraine) ...

Another Zelensky Lie Debunked - White House Says Ukraine Must Give Up Territory

Yesterday I mentioned the burning shopping center in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, of which the Ukrainian president Zelensky falsely claimed that thousand people had been inside.

I asked:

Satellite pictures show that the shopping center is right next to the large Kredmash machine plant. Was that the real target of the attack with the shopping center being an unintended casualty?

It has now been confirmed that the answer to my question is 'yes'.

Today's report on the war by the Russian Defense Ministry says:

On June 27, in Kremenchug (Poltava region), Russian Aerospace Forces launched a high-precision air attack at hangars with armament and munitions delivered by USA and European countries at Kremenchug road machinery plant.

High-precision attack has resulted in the neutralisation of west-manufactured armament and munitions concentrated at the storage area for being delivered to Ukrainian group of troops in Donbass.

Detonation of the storaged munitions caused a fire in a non-functioning shopping centre next to the facilities of the plant.

Ahhh - "don't trust the Russians!" you say. Well, don't trust anyone I say, just scrutinize the facts.

Cont. reading: Another Zelensky Lie Debunked - White House Says Ukraine Must Give Up Territory