. . .from The Kyiv Independent
>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that work is underway to resume operations in Kyiv very soon.
>Russia’s war destroyed 23% of Ukraine’s railway network. The cost of damage already reached $90 billion, and the figure is growing every day, Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on May 14.
>Negotiations underway to evacuate 60 people from Azovstal. According to Deputy PM Iryna Vereshchuk, Russia doesn’t agree to a full evacuation, so the sides are talking about evacuating 60 seriously injured people and doctors from the plant in besieged Mariupol.
>There are over 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers left at the Azovstal steel plant, hundreds of them wounded.
> Kremlin’s proxies in Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast announced they are seeking outright annexation of Kherson by Russia, instead of their “original invasion plan” to hold a referendum to pronounce the Ukrainian region a breakaway “republic.”
>Police are investigating the case after multiple swastikas were spray-painted on the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada’s Edmonton building at around 3 a.m. on May 13. . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | May 16 2022 4:42 utc | 304

The process might be called ‘delexification’. ‘Progressive’ turns into ‘moderate slaughter’, etc. We cannot actually discuss political events anymore since ‘political scientists’ have delexified all of the terminology. We can’t say anything anymore. ‘Liberal’ means pro-Nazi, etc.
It’s all just academic edubabble. So we shut up, own nothing, and be ‘happy’.

Posted by: blues | May 16 2022 4:45 utc | 306

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 15 2022 21:36 utc | 195
In which case I’d appreciate it if you could provide some examples using the little hyperlinks embedded in each comment at # field.
Clearly no rush and you can always tell me to go f*ck myself and frankly I’d understand given the amount of time it takes, but I would like a better understanding of why a commenter I’m reading in this thread has repeatedly been called a concern troll for what they’ve said in this thread and none of their posts strike me as such – hence, I’m wondering if you’re misinterpreting the same way.
Also, really do any of us have any power to alter or affect what’s happening in Ukraine or Russia? Concern trolling in my experience tends to be most insidious when it’s attempting to sow discord or doubt among a group that is undertaking an important project (or election, yuk yuk) with real life consequences and results. If someone’s putting easy to debunk shit down here, it’s just another opportunity for some of us to teach and some of us to be taught about how to strike it down with facts and logic, even if either or both of those can be debated in each respective case.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 16 2022 5:02 utc | 308

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 15 2022 21:44 utc | 197
That’s a major under-reading of what has been said there. Click on some of the previous entries at his Substack. To answer your question that I don’t really feel obligated to answer, I find it on Twitter and then look for the Substack of the person in question.
Again though, I did say he’s writing in a convoluted manner on the issue and he’s trying not to go too far down any path that would make him easy to pin down. That – in fact – is what annoyed me enough about that particular piece to proffer it to MoA. Figured people’d get that, but I guess not.
Anyway, and I ask you in fully good faith, what’s really at stake here for you RSH? You seem like you’re trying to police a community of commenters that’s perfectly capable of spotting and ignoring or responding to legitimate but not quite aligned narratives.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 16 2022 5:08 utc | 310

Reuters is reporting that Ukraine is on the offensive against Russia.
It will be interesting to see in 24 hours if Ukraine has made good on the Reuters claim.
Thanks to DonBacon # 303 with the update and report on negotiations around Azovstal captives.

Posted by: psychohistorian | May 16 2022 5:13 utc | 312

Posted by: james | May 16 2022 4:32 utc | 302
I guess that last sentence sums up my various disjointed and typo’s of my thoughts in this thread.
Overall, the clowns we see in the US/UK are up against someone who is very capable of rewriting the art of war though most likely a new book on war is required. And Putin is too busy to write it.
I have found your reservations on a number of times to be like a weather vane. My youngest daughter has similar character. Something I have learned to respect.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 16 2022 5:17 utc | 314

@ 313 peter… thanks.. i am on much the same page as you here… cheers..

Posted by: james | May 16 2022 5:25 utc | 316

@ Undercutter | May 16 2022 5:30 utc | 316 who wrote
”
I think the Russians have this scenario planned out well. By not mobilizing more forces into Ukraine they lead the NATO countries into believing that Ukraine can win and thus they continue to deplete their own resources and leave themselves lacking in available resources in the event of a larger conflict.
”
I see it the same and Russia has already made clear that Poland is next so where are the NATO resources to protect Poland when Ukraine is toast? Is it nukes then? Curious minds want to “know”.

Posted by: psychohistorian | May 16 2022 5:40 utc | 318

99 RK could you supply a link to the telegram photo of BUK with serial number re MH 17 – It would be really great. I did look in telegram but could do with a link Thanxs.

Posted by: col from OZ | May 16 2022 5:51 utc | 320

I haven’t seen the Reuters article on the Ukrainian offensive. Where is it to take place? I suspect they are building force to push towards Kherson.
Ukrainian forces have been attempting a counter-offensive around Izium for a week or more originating from various places including Severodonetsk.
Russia isn’t the only ones building pontoon bridges across the Siverskyi Donets River leading me to be skeptical of some of the reports coming from that area.

Posted by: Haassaan | May 16 2022 5:55 utc | 322

Ten Ukrainian soldiers with white flags left the territory of the Azovstal enterprise, commander of the Vostok battalion of the NM DPR Alexander Khodakovsky reports.

Posted by: Undercutter | May 16 2022 6:14 utc | 324

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 16 2022 6:25 utc | 324
“we’re done here”
Fine then I’ll take your Russian military daily summaries as they are and try to verify, which is admittedly hard to do accuarately. I still think you’re taking yourself way too seriously, even if I agree with you on much (and have for a while TBH including on other topics excluding trans-humanism) but think you’re being lazy on others. Whatever, you do you.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 16 2022 6:31 utc | 326

William Gruff | May 15 2022 21:11 utc | 189
____
Thanks for profound insight on consciousness … and what happens when propagandists snort their own product.

Posted by: Doug Hillman | May 16 2022 6:42 utc | 328

Richard Steven Hack | May 16 2022 6:25 utc | 324
The average human, male and female would like to be able to raise a family in times of peace and relative prosperity. Something current Rus has a great understanding of.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 16 2022 6:52 utc | 330

The article contains errors:
“The director of the Russian Central Bank left the central bank’s reserves on an unguarded shelf where the West could steal them. ”
The 300bn stolen were mostly from energy contracts. Money was supposed to be stored in Western banks. It wasn’t Central Bank’s error and it was publicly explained. But basically EU, after stealing the money, had free gas for a few years. That’s why the quick change to gas-for-rubles. And I hope soon everything- for-rubles. Remember that Biden lied at first about $600bn, but $300 were moved long time ago
“Russian government permitted George Soros and his organizations to operate in Russia” – In the past yes, but not in the recent years, they’re all banned. Hungary does it too
While I agree that Russia has very weak economic sanctions in short term, which is a mistake, they will be strong in 6-12 months when the ban on fertilizers exports, lack of food and high gas/oil prices will hit West.
BTW, Germany published an increase of 77.7% in costs of Russian imports. So they’re close to double for the same amount of stuff :)) Sanctions work, but backwards.

Posted by: rk | May 16 2022 7:10 utc | 332

Seems that Russia wants the SMO to take a very long time.
Consider, current ratio of Russian losses vs. UKR losses seems to be very high, maybe as high as 1 vs 10? To have such a large margin is a luxury and why not to prolong it?
I think Russia is wanting the real weapons to be sent into UKR, not just the ancient relics. The more real weapons sent into UKR, the less damage they will do as UKR forces cannot be effective now. Any future NATO conflict loses usage of arms sent to UKR.
Russia can also manufacture replacement armaments much faster than the west as it has all the needed materials. The more weapons used in UKR, the more the long term balance shifts in Russia’s favor.
However, it must appear that UKR has a chance, at least to achieve a stalemate, before the more valuable weapons are sent in. Appear weak… and all that.
Economically, everyone knows time is on Russia’s side. Everyday more EUR is sold for RUB, the west slides closer and closer to the internal crisis. Notice the now daily mass shootings as western society implodes.
If SMO was completed immediate, would that not actually be a worse outcome for Russia? Oil prices would reduce, etc. Why does everybody want to speed this up, is there something better for Russia to do?
As it is less natural resources are sold for more currency, EUR is weakened while RUB stronger, even possible to dethrone USD as global reserve currency over the longer term. Everyday more and more territory is gained but more importantly UKR military is being reduced by half percent per day!
Seems that this is a long term process and not a singular event. Grinding down the entirety of the west military machine cannot be done in days, weeks, months or even years.

Posted by: ct | May 16 2022 7:40 utc | 334

Another thing that occurs to me is that some people who really ought to know better have described this as an existential battle for both Russia and the United States. This is self evidently ludicrous. We all remember the ‘kangaroo court’ that killed Saddam, and the way the West whooped, hollered and cheered as the legal leader of Libya was tortured raped and murdered.
If Putin loses, he dies. It really is that simple. Or at least, he runs a strong risk of death. If Biden loses…nothing happens. He even managed to survive, politically, losing in Afghanistan. He might take a short term political hit. But Americans are simple people with short memories. It will quickly be forgotten.
So it is absolutely existential for Putin and for the Russian government per se that they win this. It is absolutely imperative that they do so, and every Russian General and soldier knows this. The Ukrainians know that they don’t even face being conquered: all that happens when they lose is they lose some parts of the Ukraine that never liked them anyway, and that they don’t get to join Nato (which was never going to happen anyway). So it’s not existential for them. And, as stated earlier, it’s not existential for the US (if they lose this one, they will just move onto the the next plan to weaken the Russians and Chinese). But it’s existential for the Russians.
So the Russians simply cannot afford to lose this one, and they won’t. If it looks like they are losing, they will mobilise more men. If that doesn’t work, they will use nuclear weapons. But they are not going to lose, and the Ukraine’s chances of winning are zero, as they have been throughout this war.

Posted by: Hidari | May 16 2022 7:52 utc | 336

US/anglo pysops designed to remove people from reality – remove reality from people, Russian psyops designed to return people to reality.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 16 2022 4:27 utc | 301
My psyops are better than your psyops? Really?!
Even if one camp is several orders of magnitude more cynically hypocritical, they are both Empire.

Posted by: Rae | May 16 2022 7:56 utc | 338

Haassaan | May 16 2022 7:49 utc | 334
In Russia;s case, actions speak clearer than words. Not louder- clearer. Russia will not progress beyond what it now militarily controls. To the contrary it may well pull back from the kharkov district.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 16 2022 7:58 utc | 340

A much more serious article than the title implies
From the Dreizin Report
Russia Helps the Ukraine Meet its Emissions Reduction Targets

Posted by: Norwegian | May 16 2022 8:07 utc | 342

@ #342
– No one should have any illusions that the Russian Federation will simply put up with the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO, Ryabkov said
– Finland’s accession to NATO will definitely lead to the emergence of “new factors” in its relations with China – Chinese Foreign Ministry

Posted by: rk | May 16 2022 8:12 utc | 344

@Haassaan | May 16 2022 8:31 utc | 344
I believe they will go to Odessa, but I don’t know when. The reasons include the fact that Odessa is an important city for the Russians, but strategically it is important to cut off Rump Ukraine from the sea and deny any NATO port in Odessa.

Posted by: Norwegian | May 16 2022 8:42 utc | 346

In case anyone is wondering what is happening: apart from the smoke and mirrors:
‘(Ukrainian) Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich told local television that Russian troops were being (moved) in the direction of Donbas…Russian forces were being sent towards Lugansk.
“Their task is to take Severodonetsk,” he said.
Severodonetsk is the easternmost city still held by Ukraine, and its fall would grant the Kremlin de facto control of Lugansk, one of two regions – along with Donetsk – that comprise Donbas.’
(From the UK Guardian).
There you have it. Indeed, as other reports have mentioned, there are already Russian troops in the outskirts of Severodonetsk. Once they take it, and they will, though it might take weeks or even longer, then they have control of Lugansk which will not be the end, not at all, nor even near the end, but it will be the end of the beginning.

Posted by: Hidari | May 16 2022 8:47 utc | 348

Its funny how ppl here calling others “concern trolls” but trolling i their comments itself.
I think what many ppl here don’t understand, the war will not be over if the AFU has been defeated in Donbas.
What about Odessa, Kharkiv, Kiew? I dont see any options for russia to take these cities without heavy losses on both sides, ok, it was never the goal to take Kiew, but russia needs Odessa and Kharkiv
even if donbas is liberated Zelensky won’t surrender,what are russia options then? trying to establish a border to middle ukraine ?
NATO goal is to drag russia in an Afghanistan like conflict, and NATO dont need much achieve this, they can drag russia in a endless guerilla war in donbas.

Posted by: source of truth | May 16 2022 9:19 utc | 350

@ Richard Steven Hack | May 16 2022 1:50 utc | 280 Re:
“And if it does happen, will you STFU?
Thought not.”
If this thing plays out as you describe then I will gracefully concede that you turned out to be right and I will treat your predictions with more respect in future. Is that good enough for you?

Posted by: MarkU | May 16 2022 9:35 utc | 352

‘I think what many ppl here don’t understand, the war will not be over if the AFU has been defeated in Donbas.’
Who said it would? But the mass of the Ukrainian army, including its best troops, will have been destroyed.
‘What about Odessa, Kharkiv, Kiew? I dont see any options for russia to take these cities without heavy losses on both sides, ok, it was never the goal to take Kiew, but russia needs Odessa and Kharkiv.’
Really? Why? The Russians are only interested in liberating Russian-speaking parts of the Ukraine who want to be liberated. The Russians cannot and will not tolerate a Nato funded terrorist/guerilla operation, fighting for ‘independence’ or ‘re unification’ with the Ukraine in areas that have been conquered/liberated.
Once the Ukrainian army is destroyed, the Russians take those parts of Ukraine most in favour of being re-assimilated into Russia, and then leave the rest. Then they put into place a huge long anti-fascist defence barrier (the Russians have done this before….) separating Russia from Nato-occupied Ukraine.
Remember, ARMIES NOT AREAS!!

Posted by: Hidari | May 16 2022 9:42 utc | 354

@349 source of truth
“they can drag russia in a endless guerilla war in donbas.”
No, no they can’t, not in the Donbass. They’d have a generally loyal population and plenty of logistics and intelligence/counter-intelligence to prevent anything but sporadic terror attacks. That would hold true in most of the East.

Posted by: Haassaan | May 16 2022 9:51 utc | 356

@source of truth | May 16 2022 9:19 utc | 349
As a matter of fact, there have been two highly combat ready, well armed and trained parts of the AFU, making about two thirds of the active army at start of the SVO, namely the Donbass group and the Mariupol (Azow plus marine corps) group, the one about 120k ppl, the other 15-20k ppl. The latter has perished almost completely, the further may have lost at least one third of their personnel, partially to combat losses and defections, partially due to relocation to other fronts in Cherson and Charkov regions. When the battles of Donbass end, most of these units will have ceased to exist. Already, ten thousands of Teroboron units are thrown into the meat grinder, dying, surrendering, defecting.
What is left to Ukraine? There are about 60-80k units in the West and the middle, partially covering the border to Belarus and Kiew. They may hardly be withdrawn and thrown to the East. There may be 30-40k units of different combat value in Nikolayev and Odessa oblast which have to cover a huge terrain, the Nikolaev/Krivoy Rog group already under attrition, having suffered losses in a series of failed counter offensives, many defections reported. The initiative on those fronts is completely to the RF.
It is american sources telling that the RF has not yet used any of the newly transferred motorized brigades. They can do anytime.
Looking at the combat losses reported and estimated, it seems that the Ukraine suffers at least 3 times more in personnel (defections not counted) that the RF, and possibly more than 5 times in equipment (50 times or so in aviation). Only, Russia may always replace the losses. I am wondering a bit why so few of their lates combat technique has shown up so far. An explanation may be that the newest technique does not offer large advantage over the standard one like T72/90, BMP2/3 etc. over a second class opponent. Rozhin opines, though, that the uzility of UAF has initially been underestimated by the RF, that may well be. But all the zoo of combat technique from the NATO junkyards will hardly make up for the UA losses, and still have to be brought to the frontline. To bleed Ukraine out of equipment, a frontline as far from NATO borders as possible is an advantage.
Question is, how will and can Ukraine sustain the war? When the Donbass group is gone, Nikolayev and Odessa are most probably next, maybe a sweep of the areas close to the Russian border to get rid of molestations by UA artillery. Maybe they return to Charkov, sure. Takink Kiew, why? This is not a napoleonic war.
And at some point, Ukrainians may rise up. Lost wars are a breeding ground for revolutions.

Posted by: aquadraht | May 16 2022 9:55 utc | 358

@Hidari | May 16 2022 9:34 utc | 350
I agree about Western presstitutes, but do not blame everything to the internet. They were rotten in Iraq war already, as the US had “learnt the lesson of Vietnam” where they blamed the defeat to hostile media and public. Since then, the media, and as much as possible, the public, has been brainwashed. Internet is more a panem et circenses thing here.
But there are still journalists left. Vanessa Beeley, Karin Leukefeld (in Syria), Patrick Lancaster and a few more courageous westerners, then ANNA News (they are sometimes crazy taking risks), and a bunch of Russian reporters and war correspondents, who do exactly that, speaking with the locals, going close to the frontlines. And bloggers like Rozhin do in no way sugarcoat Russian advances and failures.

Posted by: aquadraht | May 16 2022 10:14 utc | 360

Remember that Biden lied at first about $600bn, but $300 were moved long time ago
Posted by: rk | May 16 2022 7:10 utc | 331
Biden did not lie – his script writers just stumbled over the fact that not all Russian currency reserves were held in currencies the US and its allies control.
It’s quite possible they believed that they would be able to freeze all of Russia’s reserves – they still seem surprised that most countries on Earth refuse to join their sanctions on Russia.

Posted by: Martina | May 16 2022 10:27 utc | 362

Dash cam video of at least 7 Iskanders going on highway in Vyborg towards Finland border appeared right now.

Posted by: rk | May 16 2022 10:31 utc | 364

If you seriously believe Russia is having an easy time in this war and not facing a tough fight I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
Posted by: darren price | May 16 2022 0:53 utc | 256
If you have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell, it only means that you are a crook.
If you believe that the ukronazis are having an easy time in this war, it only means that you are a pro-nazi troll.
When I see Tchetchens at work or some Somali servicemen on the shore of the Azov sea or the soldiers encircling Azovstal, yes, I know that they can have easy time.
Conclusion: fuck off with your strawman fallacy as nobody here says war is an easy time.

Posted by: Olivier | May 16 2022 10:45 utc | 366

Reading reports that Ukr forces have reached the Russian border north of Kharkiv. Another pr stunt with no strategic significance or is Russia facing problems in this area?
Posted by: Keith | May 16 2022 10:26 utc | 360
I read that Ukraine stormed successfully Serpent Island.
I read that the ukronazis of Azovstal will be evacuated to Turkey.
I read that Ukraine will win the war.
I read that Ukraine will get back Donbass and Crimea.
Please, stop asking stupid questions. Thanks.

Posted by: Olivier | May 16 2022 10:54 utc | 368

Local units of the 101st Airborne (Ft. Campbell, KY) have been mobilized and are headed to Europe.

Posted by: Wook | May 16 2022 11:02 utc | 370

Ritter seems to be under the impression that it is or was Russia’s plan to not only go west of the Dneiper, but make war on Finland to. As such he is suffering cognitive dissonance with what he is seeing on the battlefield.
Posted by: Haassaan | May 16 2022 7:49 utc | 334
How do you now what Russia’s plans are?
Scott already stated earlier that he sees the situation in Ukraine slide towards war – so far, it is not war yet but a special operation, and that fighting will become much worse if/when it becomes a real war. He said most of central Ukraine would be destroyed in the process.
That is not cognitive dissonance. It is what will result from NATO pumping more weapons into Ukraine, from NATO’s hybrid war on Russia. It is what will come from NATO’s insistence “to not let Russia win”. US senators openly say “We are at war with Russia.” Scott wasn’t born yesterday. He has heard such declarations of intent before.
As for the war in Ukraine, Gonzalo Lira goes one step further than Scott. He says the outcome of the war in Ukraine is already decided. Poland will annex Western Ukraine. Russia will take the South and East. The rest will become a dead buffer state.

Posted by: Martina | May 16 2022 11:12 utc | 372

I’m hesitant about writing this, but
Remember the fight in Zaire when Muhammad Ali, without telling anyone and much to their dismay, decided on the tactic of encouraging taunting and exhausting his opponent, whom most had vaunted as much bigger much stronger, until he was all fought out and became an easy prey
The stated modest aims of the SMO and pretty much all subsequent actions appear designed with this tactic in mind
If this is unconvincing, A quote from Lenin to remind everyone that even careful patient progress is riddled with pitfalls to be overcome, a lesson Putin appears to have learned, and applied to the prosecution of this war
There is “nothing more dangerous than illusions. “Those Communists are doomed who imagine that it is possible to finish such an epoch-making undertaking as completing the foundations of socialist economy…without making mistakes, without retreats, without numerous alterations to what is unfinished or wrongly done.”

Posted by: Gerrard White | May 16 2022 11:14 utc | 374

Posted by: MarkU | May 16 2022 9:35 utc | 351
“If this thing plays out as you describe then I will gracefully concede that you turned out to be right and I will treat your predictions with more respect in future. Is that good enough for you?”
Works for me. And as I said, if I’m wrong, I will admit so. I’ve done it before.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 16 2022 11:32 utc | 376

Martina @371 “How do you now what Russia’s plans are?”
I don’t, of course, just throwing my opinion out there and viewing the situation through my own lens of beliefs and whatnot.
Yes,I think he is right, NATO will likely create a wider war with its actions. I just think Russia will wage most of the war defensively and won’t grind away its army pushing into Finland or Western Ukraine.
The cognivitive dissonance comes in by thinking Russia has to take more land than they do.

Posted by: Haassaan | May 16 2022 11:41 utc | 378

rk @372
Yup, originally connected to this exercise:
https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12416160@egNews

Posted by: Joe6pack | May 16 2022 11:52 utc | 380

About all the back and forth about Ritter’s about face (supposedly):
How abut we take a cue from Lavrov’s recent statements? yes, he did mention the SMO is going some what slower than expected, though, as he added for context, it’s for good reasons:
1. Russia is fighting the collective West – he as much as said it. No doubt in reference both to the continuing supplies of weapons, the endless propaganda, and perhaps in recognition of the invaluable help provided by NATO’s satellites, including Musk’s starlink. These no doubt combine to slow the pace of the operations, given that Russia absolutely wants to minimize its own casualties. They also serve to keep up the fight n the Ukie side, by hook or by crook. Yes, Russia could counter with more EW for example, but perhaps it chooses not to reveal its hand? which means slower, yes.
2. The war is a hybrid war. Now that has meaning ie – it’s taking place on multiple fronts – economic, military, political. One aspect that occurred to me is that Russia is also trying not to give cause for accusations of untoward brutality, scorched earth tactics, etc. This is extremely important if Russia is to keep the sympathies and the [sometimes secret] support by China, India and the Global south as well as those of us who are western dissidents.
3. Most significantly, he mentioned on at least two occasions that what the war is really all about is to displace American hegemony. What that means among many many other considerations, is that time must be given for Glaziev et al to prepare the new currency basket with its commodity basis, as well as new alternatives for money transfer that can be universally accepted (not just by China and Russia). It always seemed to me that such a monumental endeavor (displacing a hegemon without a world war of the all out kind) must be allowed to take time, and neither Russia nor China were ready for some kind of an abrupt transition, especially if digital currencies are to be part of the mix.
If I am right abut the behind-the-scenes aspects then indeed, those are best carried out under the shadow of the fog of war, which takes up most of the attention now. Including Ritter’s.
Heck, now that I think of it, there is even the possibility that the SMO is deliberately carried out at something of a “leisurely pace”, which annoys us all, and causes hysteria and hand wringing b y not a few, but long long time from now, after the dust is settled, will be viewed as a brilliant [non speedy] move.

Posted by: Merlin 2 | May 16 2022 11:52 utc | 382

@Joe6pack – thanks for the info. I’m dissapointed :)) Maybe next week

Posted by: rk | May 16 2022 11:54 utc | 384

Posted by: Olivier | May 16 2022 10:54 utc | 367
A valid question that didn’t deserve such a stupid answer

Posted by: Keith | May 16 2022 12:13 utc | 386

One last thing before I head off for the day:
Remember
The real enemy of the Yanks is not the Russians. The real enemy of the Yanks is China.
In reality the Yanks probably don’t care too much about the Russians. But they are afraid of the Russian’s 5000 nuclear warheads.
I hate to say it, but I think the US have done quite well out of this so far. Finland and Sweden can join the American Empire. With Brexit and other things, the EU is probably disintegrating (it can be replaced by Nato as the ‘glue’ holding Europe together, completely under American control).
I think the model here is Kuwait. In 1991, the American media persuaded people that the freedom loving Kuwaiti junta needed protection from the ‘New Hitler’ Saddam Hussein. This was the excuse not just for attacks on the Iraqi army (via proxies, mainly) but for 10 years of crushing sanctions. When those had done their work, the US manufactured another excuse and then invaded and destroyed Iraq.
I doubt the Yanks want a war with Russia yet. The Russians are too strong…for now. But the Americans want to ‘grind the Russians down’ for a decade or so, hoping to starve and immiserate the Russians. When they are weak and destroyed (or at least, immiserated) the Americans can go on with attacking, invading and then destroying China.
Or at least that’s the plan, or so it seems to me.

Posted by: Hidari | May 16 2022 12:28 utc | 388

“That one M777 (out of 90) that was shown did not have its typical satellite navigation and digital fire control system. Seems the U.S. removed those boxes before handing them over. It will have made them less precise.”
Posted by: b | May 15 2022 13:24 utc | 22
Phony war? Certainly very strange war… But then they nearly all are when you dig down…

Posted by: Scorpion | May 16 2022 12:48 utc | 390

Phony war? Certainly very strange war… But then they nearly all are when you dig down…
Posted by: Scorpion | May 16 2022 12:48 utc | 389
Well the question is, who is manipulating whom, who is getting traction with their efforts to damage the other? Who really needs to end this and who can carry on indefinitely? Who has options and who is out of luck?
Russia framed it from the beginning as “special” and limited, and it is clear the West wants to play chicken as much as it can. So yeah, phony, especially for the people who are fighting and dying in it as an existential cause.
I think Mr. Ritter has been talked to. I have read the piece at Unz where it explains his POV now, and he is not very convincing.
But most modern wars are like that, lots of pretend.

Posted by: Bemildred | May 16 2022 13:08 utc | 392

RT is reporting that surrender of injured Ukrainians from Azovstal has been negotiated. Apparently the group of ten Ukrainians that surrendered earlier was sent with a mission of negotiating the terms of surrender.

Posted by: Milos | May 16 2022 13:18 utc | 394

Putin talked about neo-nazi in Ukraine. The response to Finland and Sweden will be linked to deployment of weapons or infrastructure. And that nato is an artificial thing only used for US policy.
US created biological weapons at the borders of the CSTO. And CSTO will start multiple large scale military exercises

Posted by: rk | May 16 2022 13:40 utc | 396

Posted by: Milos | May 16 2022 13:47 utc | 396
You mean at Azovstal? Around 500-600 from the injured, and only VSU, it seems from the channels. The first 50 or so are coming out now.

Posted by: Bloke from block 8 | May 16 2022 13:50 utc | 398

Posted by: daisuke | May 15 2022 12:06 utc | 3

“So Scott Ritter, who I have a lot of respect for and therefore concern over this, has overnight changed his view on the Ukraine war to unwinable as the West will “bleed it dry” with endless weapons flow. Any riposte?”

Scott Ritter has given us all he knows, which is much.
However, Scott Ritter knows nothing of victory, for he has never seen it.
Vladimir Putin, however, knows the shape and feel of victory.
He created true victory in Chechnya, Georgia and Crimea. What he has created in Syria is certainly a a victory, though a tenuous one.
I would say we have come to the edge of where Ritter can guide us, from here on out there is only one man on this earth with the hands-on experience of military victory in recent decades, and that man is V.V Putin … and he, I’m afraid will remain silent.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | May 16 2022 13:57 utc | 400