I hadn’t run into this guy before, but got it from the latest Saker sitrep. He’s been cited here in this thread already as stating that Wagner was part of the latest developments – I’m not going there, but I enjoyed his video because he shows in very clear and granular detail how the overarching Russian methods of warfaring have played out and are playing out (and speculatively, may play out) in the Donbass theater:
Major Russian breakthrough at POPASNA
I like that he throws in references to WWII and Napoleon and other notable campaigns – I’m not military enough to judge but he seems like a man filled with enough understanding of warfare that it keeps spilling into his analysis. Very rich 18 minutes.
~~
My takeaway is how Russia is fighting this campaign. He says Russia has “no plan” – by which he means only that Russia has “all plans” and is supremely flexible in how it goes about winning ground, because it can select at each crossroads which way to go. And having gone, whether to proceed further, or to spread to the flanks to avoid its own encirclement. And having spread to the flanks, whether to proceed even farther to the side, to take another objective, which would then lead to another possible path to take. And so on.
As in the Great Patriotic War, Russia attacks at multiple locations, and when one succeeds it throws its bulk of support into that salient – i.e. not rushing to support the failing forces, or seeking a solid front line, but always pushing through. I remember Dmitry Orlov teaching us that several years ago – and so it shows on this man’s maps, which he marks up with a pen as he explains.
When you follow the multiple twists and turns that RF forces have taken in his brief recap, you can see the tactical and operational moves that are open to the commanders at every mile or two. Thinking that the progress is slow is to misunderstand the inch-by-inch nature of this cleansing operation. This video can be a palliative for that, for any who wish to be cured of the misunderstanding.
Watching the progress of the Russian forces at this moment, on this man’s map, shows us that we don’t know what Russia will do next, but that we can see the several choices that will exist for the commanders, parsing the latest data and shape on the ground, to make their next decisions.
I found the video one of the most fascinating ever in this war. It actually put me into the Russian decision-making. Very good.

Posted by: Grieved | May 27 2022 5:59 utc | 203

Can somebody explain what this display of amazing “fireworks” is?
https://t.me/intelslava/30020
How destructive is it and is it equivalent to carpet bombing?

Posted by: ct | May 27 2022 6:08 utc | 205

i thought this sums up ukie army. guys on moped laughing at guys on tractor. while we laugh at both. thats some billions there. never let the boss buy cocaine before putting in the tank and truck order
https://www.bitchute.com/video/dppjpPoqnvCV/

Posted by: hankster | May 27 2022 6:20 utc | 207

Can you believe the Washington Post published this?
Ukrainian volunteer fighters in the east feel abandoned
https://archive.ph/2u4Y5#selection-839.0-839.55
As Donbass Insider says,

I sense a disturbance in the Narrative. Recall last week’s calls for a truce by the New York Times and in the Atlantic, and then (sort of) by Kissinger at Davos? Now the Washington Post of all places runs a shockingly honest account (https://archive.ph/2u4Y5) of how Kiev is throwing volunteers and conscripts from western Ukraine into the Donbass meat-grinder.
Once you get past the required embellishments of “bad Russia, good Ukraine”, you’re left with a volunteer company from Uzhgorod being reduced from 120 men to 54 “because of deaths, injuries and desertions.” They speak of constant Russian artillery pounding, being reduced to eating a potato a day due to supply problems, and having no radios, few RPGs, and only basic training in how to shoot.
The most interesting part to me is that they were deployed in Toshkovka, south of Lisichansk — where a massive number of Ukrainian troops is currently trapped — and last week simply LEFT for a town south of Kramatorsk, after their command bailed on them, “taking food, water and other supplies.” In a twist ending, the commander and his XO were both arrested for desertion by the Ukrainian army, after spilling the beans to WaPo.
What I wonder is, how does this serve the Narrative? Shall it be used to send more weapons and money to Kiev, or is it preparation to rationalize the impending defeat of Ukraine’s military? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see…

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 27 2022 6:26 utc | 209

Posted by: Hidari | May 27 2022 6:25 utc | 206
This post cracked me up. Wait until he finds out the real attrition rate which is 5-10 times Zelenskyy’s figures. That he takes anything Zelenskyy says as worthg repeating shows my Martyanov dismisses these guys as “wannabes.” As Martyanov says, he’s gonna be so butthurt.
Michael Kofman @KofmanMichael
May 25
Recent Russian gains in the Donbas, despite a relatively weak military advantage, suggest that UKR forces have suffered significant attrition. Zelensky mentioned a range of 50-100 KIA per day. This is a high casualty rate. 9/

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 27 2022 6:30 utc | 211

@hidari
After the first day, it was too late.
If this were chess, it would be like losing your queen, rooks and bishops after the first move.
Game over, just formality for the superior forces to slice and dice up the remaining knights and pawns. That is not to say a tenacious defense cannot be constructed and the superior side will need to sacrifice some material to break through the defenses.
Does the number of moves it takes to achieve checkmate matter so much? Especially when the longer it takes, the more money Russia earns. If war finishes today, oil prices goes way down and sanctions are still in place. So when incentives all say to take your time and be methodical, that is what happens.
People complaining that it is move 92 and still not checkmate, while the position is still totally winning and there being no chance for counter attack, think about whether it is better or worse for Russia to complete the mission immediate.

Posted by: ct | May 27 2022 6:35 utc | 213

Posted by: Andrew B. | May 27 2022 0:44 utc | 155
That article is intriguing. They’re using a sonic ‘fingerprint’ to identify the type of ordnance being used. Then use triangulation from multiple listening points to identify a rough location to send a drone which pinpoints the location for the return artillery fire.

Posted by: auximenes | May 27 2022 6:53 utc | 215

@malenkov | May 26 2022 23:46 utc | 140

It’s unlikely, I know, but I’m enjoying the fantasy of an emergency NATO meeting prompted by a 404 attack on, say, Hungary. It would be embarrassing to see Jens & Co. having to walk back their sacred Article 5.

Yes, that would be something. But, an unapologetic hypocrite like Jens will simply present it as renewed reason for NATO’s existence, that is the only real objective they are serving anyway.

Posted by: Norwegian | May 27 2022 7:43 utc | 217

@Richard Steven Hack | May 27 2022 0:42 utc | 154

Jesus, can we please get off the bridge stuff…?

They are counting the inventory, in an environment of massive propaganda there are now many bridges to be sold.

Posted by: Norwegian | May 27 2022 7:53 utc | 219

PavewayIV@172
It looks like the IAEA bureaucrats are working for the US to spy on Russian operations in the SMO.
The Doctor quoted in the article is a liar and an idiot like the author at the Livermore National Lab who stated the same lie. Actually, plutonium is highly carcinogenic if inhaled and taken into cells throughout the body. While alpha particles are slow and do not penetrate very far they pack a punch due to their mass and can readily cause double-stranded damage to DNA which results in mutations and ultimately cancer. One of my co-workers used to handle plutonium pits in the 325 building at Hanford. Both he and his wife died of cancer within one year of retirement.
Likewise, the IAEA director is lying about stores of plutonium and enriched uranium in Ukraine. Ukraine cannot produce 30 metric tons of plutonium without a plutonium processing plant? Ukraine lacks fuel reprocessing facilities to extract plutonium from fuel rods. In the US this was done using the PUREX process created by three senior scientists at the Hanford 325 building with level 2 security clearances (better than top-secret) Besides, the Ukrainian reactors are used for power generation and not for the production of high burnout fuel which uses metallic uranium as a fuel compared to uranium in ceramic beads in thermal nuclear power plants.
The Zaporizhzhia reactor complex depleted fuel rods were replaced with new fuel rods from Russia and the spent fuel rods were returned to Russia to be reprocessed until 2014. There was thus no opportunity to divert spent fuel into weapons production.
All nuclear weapons in Ukraine were transferred to Russia at the fall of the USSR. Much of the uranium is sold to the US to fuel the US commercial reactors. Same with much of the plutonium, with the “hottest” isotope used to fuel US deep space probes.
Plutonium is stored in segregated facilities with multiple levels of security. Strict spacial distribution is maintained and regular audits are conducted to account for the mass down to the nearest milligram. Ukraine just doesn’t have these facilities.

Posted by: Krollchem | May 27 2022 7:57 utc | 221

“And amongst the heads of state there is only one who is standing up against the forces of evil. Don’t count on Boris Johnson in England. Don’t count on Macron in France. Don’t count on Draghi in Italy. It’s Vladimir Putin! Who may be no angel and no saint, but nevertheless is a man of intelligence and great courage. And as the head of Russia, he has the means to stand up against the one world government,”
https://citizenfitz09.blogspot.com/2022/05/bishop-williamson-lays-it-out.html

Posted by: Citizenfitz | May 27 2022 8:14 utc | 223

Grieved | May 27 2022 5:59 utc | 201
Thanks you very much for the video – clarity at last! The scene changes really fast, and the three point semi-encirlement is straight out of Sun Tzu.

Posted by: Stonebird | May 27 2022 8:22 utc | 225

This from the head of the ECB who was found guilty of negligence in 2016 but suffered no consequences as such, she is a Bilderberger and a Atlantic Council member, and WEF board trustee.
“EU countries need to flex their muscles and show collective power more often, rather than focusing solely on their own interests. said The head of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, speaking at the economic forum in Davos.
“Europe needs to make more use of the ‘astounding collective power’ that it possesses and flex its muscles,” the ECB chief said.”
No doubt by “flexing its muscles” she means complying more with the USA’s belligerence to Russia and China.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | May 27 2022 8:42 utc | 227

Ukrainian Gestapo agents (SBU) captured during checks near Kharkov.
“Russia’s National Guard has detained agents for the Ukrainian security service (SBU) during targeted checks in the Kharkov Region, the Guard’s press service said in a statement on Thursday.
One of the detainees, a previous convict, said there was a disguised cache near his place of living, where the Russian National Guard found more than 20 hunting arms, ammunition rounds, a cell phone and radio communication devices, the statement reads. The man also named his accomplices, and thus an agent network was uncovered.
The other detainee has been providing his foreign curators with data on the number of Russian servicemen, as well as the positions and moves of columns of troops and military hardware, the Guard’s press-service said.
“A camera, a video recorder, a compact quadcopter and communication devices were found at his place of living. The suspect has been communicating all his collected data via a private chat on a messenger,” the Guard said.”
https://tass.com/politics/1456413

Posted by: Republicofscotland | May 27 2022 8:47 utc | 229

The self-proclaimed world police’s (USA) belligerent bully boy gang Nato will move its “defence line” to the Pacific Region, even the EU is thinking of expanding its remit (military wise) to the region, the gall of this lot is staggering who gave them the right to police the world as they see fit.
” NATO’s remarks about security in the Asia-Pacific region apparently signal that the alliance’s next ‘line of defense’ will be moved to the South China Sea, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with RT Arabic, aired on Thursday.
“Lately, NATO Secretary General [Jens Stoltenberg] and belligerent politicians, such as UK Foreign Secretary [Liz Truss] stated publicly that the alliance should have global responsibility, that NATO should be responsible for security in the Pacific region. Apparently, it means that next time, NATO’s ‘line of defense’ will be moved to the South China sea,” Lavrov said.
In his words, the European Union also seeks to assume security responsibilities in the region, but will not be allowed to create its own ‘army.’
“[European Commission President] Ursula von der Leyen <…> said the EU should be responsible for security in the Indo-Pacific Region. How are they going to do that? They talk of an ‘EU army’ of some sort. No one will allow them to create this ‘army’ as long as the North Atlantic Alliance exists,””
https://tass.com/politics/1456623

Posted by: Republicofscotland | May 27 2022 8:53 utc | 231

On ‘missing’ tons of plutonium etc:
I posted this about 24 hours ago on the Ukrainian upside down flag thread and I repost it below as it contains the source data references for the story and some contributing information. The links are in the original post should you care to look further.
The odd thing here is that the global data on plutonium stockpiles totally undermines the malign proposition of this wanker, Mr Grossi of the IAEA. If this sort of inflated tosh is being fed to the Davos gang of rogues then it is no wonder they have become the subject of global ridicule among thinking people. There seems to be a global contest going on for the prize of presenting the most extreme threat propaganda with the least basis of proof or even rationality.
Perhaps we need to inaugurate a White Helmet in Journalism Award?
Grossi – inaugural award winner.

Defense Politics Asia is running a report on missing plutonium in Ukraine.
“He said the use of nuclear weapons was “unthinkable” and explained that the IAEA’s focus was on avoiding nuclear accidents derived from an attack on a nuclear power plant or the release of radioactive material. Mr Grossi added that the IAEA is seeking to visit Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, under occupation by Russian forces, to verify that the 30,000 kg of plutonium and 40,000 kg of enriched uranium stored there have not been deviated for other uses.”
The Global Inventory of Separated Plutonium 2019 data does not even list Ukraine. There is 0.7 ton in the entire group of non nuclear weapons countries. This seems like a BS claim from the IAEA. Then the Institute for Science and International Security doesn’t even mention Ukraine. Is this IAEA propaganda?
Perhaps this is the same IAEA that is blind on Israel, totally distrusted by Iran and scratching around looking for glory in tough budget times.
The next fake news cycle has begun as sure as the sun rises.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | May 26 2022 9:39 utc | 357
Here is the IAEA press statement at DAVOS.
The key extract:
States of concern
Mr Grossi took part in a panel discussion moderated by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Distinguished Fellow, Moises Naim, titled ‘States of Concern’. Joined by Ukrainian Member of Parliament Alona Shkrum, Royal United Services Institute Director-General Karin von Hippel, and Munich Security Conference Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger, Mr Grossi spoke on the nuclear risks from the conflict in Ukraine and the renewed interest in multilateralism globally. A recording of the event is available for replay.
“You have bystanders, abstainers, analysts and you have problem solvers. You must have people who look at problems practically,” Mr Grossi said, describing the IAEA as a problem solver. He said the use of nuclear weapons was “unthinkable” and explained that the IAEA’s focus was on avoiding nuclear accidents derived from an attack on a nuclear power plant or the release of radioactive material. Mr Grossi added that the IAEA is seeking to visit Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, under occupation by Russian forces, to verify that the 30,000 kg of plutonium and 40,000 kg of enriched uranium stored there have not been deviated for other uses.
Hesitant to describe the conflict in Ukraine as having a silver lining, Mr Grossi did say that there is now, “a renewed conviction that working through international institutions, multilaterally, together will always be a solution — unilateralism doesn’t solve anything it aggravates everything.”
Posted by: uncle tungsten | May 26 2022 9:47 utc | 358

Posted by: uncle tungsten | May 27 2022 10:07 utc | 233

By the way, you’re probably going to need a VPN to access Stalkerzone. When I tried without it, my system went straight to 127.0.0.1…

Earlier in the week we got bombed by a DDoS attack from the US and Germany. So we had to temporarily restrict access from that direction. Now things have stabilised, so for now the restriction has been lifted 🙂

Posted by: Oliver Richardson | May 27 2022 10:13 utc | 235

From Stalkerzone Web site… a reminder that the SMO is going well…
Russian’s Special Operation in Ukraine Is Meeting Expectations
https://www.stalkerzone.org/russians-special-operation-in-ukraine-is-meeting-expectations/

Strangely, a certain number of fans of blitzkriegs suddenly appeared in Russia who were suddenly saddened when the Russian tank columns did not repeat the inhuman successes of Guderian, Hoepner and Kleist with Manstein. We remind you that the entire special military operation was launched just so that the fans of Hitler’s “pantheon” who raised their heads would never try to restore their order again.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 27 2022 10:41 utc | 237

This is probably getting old, but here’s another instance of Ukrainian ammo being stored inside a school (indoor gym), found by Chechen fighters in Toshkovka: video.

Posted by: S | May 27 2022 10:44 utc | 239

@Norwegian | May 27 2022 10:41 utc | 236
According to GL’s own comment in the YT post:

EDIT: I found out what happened. A facility belonging to Triolan, which is an internet and cable TV service provider (the one I use), was bombed yesterday evening around 7pm local time. I don’t know what was bombed, but obviously some essential equipment. Whether it will be repaired or not, I do not know. From now on, my workaround is only available from 11am to 3:30pm local time. Follow me on Twitter for updates. GL
Obviously, since you’re reading this, I figured out a way to upload content. It seems that the TV/internet got cut for my whole neighborhood. (I won’t say which neighborhood for obvious reasons.) Not clear if it can be fixed, so I’m assuming at this time that it’s permanent. So it’s a hike to find internet. Hopefully my content will be back to its regular schedule on Saturday. GL

Posted by: Norwegian | May 27 2022 10:55 utc | 241

Posted by: Norwegian | May 27 2022 10:55 utc | 239
I just ain’t fast enough…

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 27 2022 10:56 utc | 243

Vladimir Putin addressed the plenary session of the 1st Eurasian Economic Forum
Report from The Saker, which contains full text of Putin’s speech
Which addresses the need for even more progress on import substitution, to take advantage of western sanctions, to develope economic leading to political itegration, independence from SWIFT, a shared map for re idustrialisation, development of reinsurance, etc etc
One of the very few reports on this event was from Reuters, which, despite the top and tail regulation Russia is evil Putin is too, was straightforward enough
(VP) “The Eurasian Economic Union has developed a roadmap for industrialisation, with over 180 projects with a total investment of over $300 billion. A programme for agricultural development has been prepared, including more than 170 projects worth $16 billion.
Russia has something to offer here, and businesspeople are well aware of this. We have grown to be highly competitive at the global level, in the global markets. Russia remains – if we speak about agriculture – the largest exporter of wheat, number one in the world. Until recently, we were buying it – now we are selling it, number one in the world. True, countries such as the United States or China produce even more, but they also consume more. But Russia has become number one in international trade.
Our high-tech industries are growing successfully, too. And we would like to continue growing together with our EAEU partners. We can and should restore our collaborative competencies.”

Posted by: Gerrard White | May 27 2022 11:13 utc | 245

Boris Johnson is now talking about creating a “European Commonwealth” between the UK and Ukraine + the Baltics etc. as an alliance against Russia. https://www.teletrader.com/johnson-pitched-europe-alliance-idea-to-zelensky-report/news/details/57955770?ts=1653652920603

Posted by: Jonathan W | May 27 2022 12:07 utc | 247

Jonathan@245….so that would be a Brexin?

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | May 27 2022 12:45 utc | 249

I think the West baited Russia into this conflict on the assumption that the economic “shock and awe” approach of sanctions, withdrawal of companies, boycott of Russian goods, and the economic “nuclear” option of exclusion from Swift would break Russia in no time. There is no Plan B as they were so sure of their flawed calculus. They didn’t expect it to fail and they certainly didn’t expect the strategy to backfire so spectacularly. Hence the comical flailing about now by “leaders” such as Biden, Von Der Leyen, Scholtz, Johnson et al. It’s bad when Henry Kissinger is the voice of reason.

Posted by: Donal | May 27 2022 13:03 utc | 251

@ 243 Putin- SWIFT will die
Mastercard CEO Teases CBDC Panel: SWIFT May Not Exist in 5 Years

Mastercard (MA) CEO Michael Miebach made people gasp. He answered “no” when asked if SWIFT, the current interbank messaging system that allows for cross-border payments, will exist in five years’ time.
He smiled during his answer but the crowd seemingly took his answer seriously.
Miebach spoke on a panel adjacent to the World Economic Forum’s annual (WEF) summit hosted by the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC). The panel discussed the future of cross-border payments and the potential of CBDCs in the financial system.
“If you can get a payment with all the data attached that you need as a company […] the cost savings of that in addition to a payment cost that is lowered, and the overall productivity boost, we can expect if we do this well, that’s the real goal here,” Miebach said on the panel.
The conference officially kicked off Tuesday, with crypto being mentioned frequently in panels adjacent to the conference. The subject is bolstered by the strong presence of crypto companies on promenade, the main street leading up to the Congress, where official WEF panels take place. . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | May 27 2022 13:11 utc | 253

Thank you, Grieved (201). Added to top of watch list.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nKidMrwhME

Posted by: Doug Hillman | May 27 2022 13:30 utc | 255

Posted by: Donal | May 27 2022 13:03 utc | 249
I suspect you have an exaggerated sense of intellectual grasp among decision-makers. You really have no idea how “ordinary” these people really are. Remove the smoke and mirrors and they have very limited experience and IQ but are able to portray themselves as “special”.
THEY – the p[eople you think about – have NO IDEA. They simply “expected” Russia to behave as they “wanted” because that is the linear thinking they embrace. They cannot conceive of being “outfoxed” especially by someone who does not think in English.
I know these people – they do not think there is anyone intelligent as themselves outside their bubble. They really do think they are “superior” – Dunning Kruger Effect.
They thought Russia would fall into a trap so obvious because Russians are stupid and act on the basis of templates. They are themselves so devoid go moral frameworks they think they can outfox anyone inhibited by structured thinking.
I really advise you to wake up before these clowns destroy your world. They are criminally insane because they are incredibly ignorant.
“Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” Matt 12:36 was what Jesus said on The Cross
These idiots are so convinced they will win they double the stakes each time – it is the Politics of The Gambler and the Voters give them endless chips mortgaged on their own lives

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | May 27 2022 13:43 utc | 257

Posted by: Jonathan W | May 27 2022 12:07 utc | 245
Ah Jonathan you don’t know the game, do you ?
BreXit freed Britain from the EU machinery and let it be unbound. Roettgen wanted to bind UK into a European Security Apparatus by generous post-BreXit deals but the Francophones wanted to punish Britain instead.
US wanted to split China from Europe by blocking German cooperation through Russia and the train links from Shanghai and Wuhan to Mannheim and Duisburg, especially after Merkel signed up to an Investment Treaty with China.
UK wants to use Baltic States plus Poland to isolate France and Germany within EU and if possible facilitate war between Germany and Russia. Macron is fighting against this.
UK sees an opportunity to fracture Europe so it can make itself the pivot and ally with the Polish-Lithuanian Empire revisited to damage German economic influence and use Ukraine as a giant Chernobyl-Zone where everything is quarantined and nothing regenerates.
This is Great Power politics as played before 1914. The EU is the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia is being cornered as A-H was with Serbia and Black Hand.
It is so obvious there will be a nuclear war – the question is whether it is in Europe as envisaged during the Reagan Years or in USA. Macron hopes the latter but Germany is led by a very weak leader frightened of the Greens or he would kick Melnyk out of Berlin. NO German Chancellor in history would ever have tolerated an ambassador like Melnyk – how the German press hated Grenell from USA when Trump appointed him but who knows who the US Ambassador to Germany is today – and even if she is present in Germany ?

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | May 27 2022 13:54 utc | 259

@Peter AU1 #107
I think you’re reading a little too much Ukrainian Twitter warrior nonsense.
Yes, it is true that modern combat between 2 moderately technologically advanced militaries is eggshells with sledgehammers, duking it out.
I would also bet money that Ukraine is getting direct intel feeds from US satellites and what not – and Ukraine still has MLRS, artillery etc – of course there are going to be Russian casualties.
However, I have not seen any evidence of Ukrainian “superiority” in any way. Ukraine has not executed any moderate, much less major offensives at all in the face of any serious opposition from Russia, whereas Russia has been smashing down stronghold after Ukrainian stronghold.
If the Ukrainians were truly qualitatively superior – and we know they are numerically superior – how exactly are the Russians proceeding from victory to victory?

Posted by: c1ue | May 27 2022 14:21 utc | 261

Posted by: Linda Wood | May 27 2022 2:46 utc | 179
For Linda and the others discussing the Wagner group- My understanding is that Wagner was founded recently, since 2014 in fact, and that it was actually founded in Luhansk. There were recently some photos on Telegram of Wagner fighters standing in front of their old office once it was recaptured/liberated. It has also been stated on Telegram that Wagner fighters are fighting in Luhansk as “volunteers”, so my guess is the fact that Wagner was founded/headquartered in Luhansk Republic, and that they are currently fighting as “volunteers” allows Russia the ability to say that Russia does not have mercenaries, and that it is not employing them in Ukraine. Politicians and governments really love them some plausible deniability.

Posted by: Arkady Bogdanov | May 27 2022 14:30 utc | 263

Posted by: Republicofscotland | May 27 2022 14:02 utc | 258
You did not really write this ! Seriously ?
You think the world revolves around you ? Scotland is an irrelevant piece of real estate.
Geopolitics has no interest in a scrap of wilderness north of Newcastle. Did you actually read what I wrote. UK is NO LONGER bound by collective decision-making inside EU. It has inverted the system and put NATO in charge. Borrel now talks of EU not being prepared for war and needing more military spending.
You are so parochial. Now the EU is a military organisation spending borrowed money to arm Ukraine. It is raising debt in SPVs to fund Ukraine.
Scotland with population 5 million is hardly a player when we look at Russia, Germany, China and global politics and war strategy.
I cannot believe you are so self-absorbed as to write what you did when I mention nuclear war strategy !!!

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | May 27 2022 14:35 utc | 265

@uncle tungsten #191
Scott Ritter has contributed enormously to what we understand about what is going on, but he has not been even remotely – universally correct.
He said Russia would win in a week in February. Wrong.
He said Russia would “shock and awe”. Wrong.
He said Mariupol would fall in 2 weeks max. Wrong.
Ritter is valuable because he explains why he says something; the explanations are what are valuable.
His actual pronouncements have been wrong far more often than right, but he is respectful enough to admit error and analyze where his error arose from.
That too, is extremely valuable.

Posted by: c1ue | May 27 2022 14:38 utc | 267

@Per Terram #230
Apparently to you the difference between a 1 man foxhole and a 2 man foxhole is enormous.
But you apparently missed the main point: nobody uses long open trenches anymore.
Stick to military manuals – apparently reading comprehensively is not required for that.

Posted by: c1ue | May 27 2022 14:44 utc | 269

@nick #256
Have you actually seen evidence of this “large Ukrainian army” training in Western Europe?
One thing I learned recently is that it isn’t just Zelensky that is an actor; much of the Ukrainian leadership is literally his production team. That explains a lot: the Ukrainian predilection for Twitter war vs. actual war, its focus on image vs. substance etc.
How do we know this talk about an expat Ukrainian legion forming in Germany, Poland, UK whatever isn’t just bullshit too?
Piled on top of all the other bullshit they have been spewing?
The whole thing is like a weird version of Wag The Dog.

Posted by: c1ue | May 27 2022 14:50 utc | 271

Okay, meanwhile in 404 land…
t .me/ondutymd/8496
Kissinger got listed on that “Mirotoverts/Peacekeeper” online hitlist.
What do those niggas allow themselves???

Posted by: Arioch | May 27 2022 15:02 utc | 273

These idiots are so convinced they will win they double the stakes each time – it is the Politics of The Gambler and the Voters give them endless chips mortgaged on their own lives
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | May 27 2022 13:43 utc | 255
It’s beyond their ability alright Paul.
It’s all incredible how stupid they are.
“We must make Putin understand that there will be no imposed peace, Ukraine will not accept it – and neither will we – Scholz”
There’s no buying of gas for ruples either Olaf
▫️
“There can be no appeasement regarding Russian aggression. It needs to be countered by force. We must work tirelessly to ensure that Ukraine wins through military assistance and sanctions. We can’t take our foot off the gas pedal right now.”
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss
Someone needs to have a word in Lizs ear WRT the current situation.
It’s over!
How many people does she want to die is the question.

Posted by: Jpc | May 27 2022 15:02 utc | 275

Beyond “clown world” and “you can’t make this up…”:

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/27/europe/russia-ukraine-genocide-warning-intl/index.html

CNN/Guardian are publishing this tripe produced by some “genocide experts” from “New Lines Institute” (of the Colombian nose candy variety?).

Posted by: Bloke from block 8 | May 27 2022 15:14 utc | 277

@c1ue | May 27 2022 15:02 utc | 272
Perhaps economically and logistically Russia can “do this more or less forever”, but will the Russian population tolerate such a strategy? They seem onboard with the liberation of Donbass but a ‘forever war’ is a different matter domestically. The macro economic consequences of the reaction to the SMO (sanctions etc) I think work in Russia’s favor for at least the next 6 months to a year. That said Russia is not unaffected. Both the general population and the political elite must remain supportive, and a ‘forever war’ scenario with continued casualties and domestic economic consequences that does not show significant progress will likely see support erode – especially without a full mobilization which treats the war as a threat that the country needs to pull together to overcome.
We will see.

Posted by: the pessimist | May 27 2022 15:19 utc | 279

@c1ue | May 27 2022 15:02 utc | 272
Also, if you think the November elections will change US foreign policy you are quite an optimist.

Posted by: the pessimist | May 27 2022 15:24 utc | 281

“and ex-pats are wondering why life in the EU has gotten tougher.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | May 27 2022 14:02 utc | 258
Unless they’ve been deprived of their original nationality, or have found themselves “without a motherland” in bureaucratic terms, they’re either long-term tourists or immigrants. Sometimes they’re even goddamn fugitives from justice.
For the most part, british people in the EU haven’t been deprived of their british citizenship, and the second doesn’t apply since Perfidious Albion still exists.
This word has been prostituted by the British and other native english speakers to the point of absurdity, for some f***ing stupid reason they seem convinced that by contracting it to the cutesy “ex-pat” instead of EXPATRIATE they’re somehow granted a halo while they go live somewhere else for shits and giggles, often without even bothering to try and learn the local language. But of course if they said “expatriate” with all its letters, they would get called out on it more often.
This usage is racist and classist as f**k.
An ISIS bride is more of an expatriate that the typical Brit you’ll find on the southern coasts of Europe, since some ISIS brides have actually had their british citizenship revoked, for f**k’s sake.

Posted by: Arganthonios | May 27 2022 15:29 utc | 283

The Ottawa (Canada) ambassador Larisa Galadza to Ukraine makes an admission. It looks like the Donbas/Russian conflict has been long in the planning with the help of Canada.
“The Canadian Armed Forces have been training the Ukrainian military for seven years, about 30,000 soldiers have taken courses.”
“We are already long-standing partners with Ukraine regarding military support. You know that more than 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers have already undergone exercises from the Canadian Armed Forces, which had been working in Ukraine for seven years before the war,” Galadze said.
She added that Ottawa has already provided Kiev with lethal weapons, intelligence data from satellites, cameras for bayraktars.”
https://ria.ru/20220527/ukraina-1791094624.html

Posted by: Republicofscotland | May 27 2022 15:33 utc | 285

UK wants to use Baltic States plus Poland to isolate France and Germany within EU and if possible facilitate war between Germany and Russia. Macron is fighting against this.
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | May 27 2022 13:54 utc | 257
I’m not sure about Poland, but the Baltics will be obliterated sooner or later if they try their hand at anything else than symbolic and ineffectual shit – if they’re even capable of doing so, that is.
And virtually no f**cking body is going to miss them.
If Kaliningrad goes, the Baltics go with it.
If they keep aggravating their Russian population (which they will just as they have) they may very well find themselves calibrated into a more amenable disposition.
I’m sorry, but I cannot feel any empathy for such minuscule countries with completely useless languages when they display such inflated sense of unwarranted importance – but of course, the smallest dog barks the most.

Posted by: Arganthonios | May 27 2022 15:39 utc | 287

The US trained the Afghan army for over a decade, they lasted a few days after the US withdrew, despite better equipment than the Taliban and despite all that training. i wonder what that says about the prospects for success of the US/NATO against Russia.

Posted by: pretzelattack | May 27 2022 15:44 utc | 289

@Barofsky | May 27 2022 15:29 utc | 281
“As always, the Russians are playing the long game.”
The SMO is not a ‘long game’. The Russian strategy from 2014 until Feb 24th was the long game. Putin has been criticized domestically since 2014 for being too cautious, and is vulnerable in that regard. The current pace of operations allows planners in the US and European elites to believe Russia is not serious and IMO will lead to additional complications due to their meddling. This is especially true of Odessa. Russia has many long standing unresolved domestic problems that need attention, and full mobilization would allow the Russian government to address some of them. There is an opportunity to invest some of their reserve fund to rebuild/restore the liberated regions and this could help with domestic unemployment. Such a program would need to be balanced with attention to the home front as well, where the economic impact of the sanctions is exacerbating long-term problems.

Posted by: the pessimist | May 27 2022 15:52 utc | 291

Posted by: Republicofscotland | May 27 2022 15:55 utc | 293
the training program was a farce, and a source of profit for those contracted to train them, and a source of weapons for the Taliban. reminds me of Vietnam, and how long the South Vietnam army lasted after the US pulled out.

Posted by: pretzelattack | May 27 2022 15:59 utc | 293

@the pessimist #282
I never said the US would change its general foreign policy.
What I said is that the war in Ukraine is Biden’s war and the Democrat’s war. It is their war because they went all in on it.
The Republicans who aren’t literal finger puppets of the MIC are therefore intrinsically opposed to it.
So this is nothing about principle – I am not saying the Republicans are peaceniks or what not. I’m saying if Biden and the Democrats said the sky was rising in the East, the Republicans would argue that on general principle.
Throw in a situation where it is very possible that there will be a 2nd American military disaster (Ukraine surrendering would absolutely qualify as such) in less than 1 year – that’s another reason to not be seen as supporting a losing cause.
So while I am sure some non-neocon dinosaur Republicans will support the Ukraine conflict no matter what, and some will support it because they believe it would damage America’s prestige (and they’re right), the basest and easiest path for a Republican is to oppose it because it is a loser and it hurts their opponents.

Posted by: c1ue | May 27 2022 16:40 utc | 295

@ the pessimist | May 27 2022 14:46 utc | 271 /280 and etc…
first off thanks for your posts and i pick up on your passion for all this too… i think it is very difficult to appreciate a different approach that russia seems to be exhibiting… i watched the dynamic in syria and was mystified for a long time… i think the concept of freezing something is brilliant… maybe that is a poor way to describe it, but i think russia has the ability and insight to get what it wants done… i don’t believe you are correct in the land grab you articulate, but i remain open.. i don’t believe russia is going to get bogged down here, but i know they have bitten off a lot! we need to let them go at the pace and set the agenda and be open to that.. for me the fact they are taking on a declining world power at this point means they see the opportunity here and are not going to be pushed around anymore… maybe i am wrong, but i don’t think any of us know how this will play out, or what the best strategy is moving forward… i know things have to change and i believe russia and china are making the positive changes necessary to call out the bully… my 2c… cheers..

Posted by: james | May 27 2022 17:12 utc | 297

Paul Greenwood.
Ah yes that old flogged to death fallacy that somehow England supports Scotland financially, of course if Scotland was such a financial basketcase then why has the English government done everything in its powers for years to thwart Scottish independence, the truth of the matter is that England has been robbing Scotland of its assets from the Malt Tax to North sea oil, we send half our revenue to Sunak’s coffers.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | May 27 2022 17:48 utc | 299