Ukraine Open Thread 2022-119
Only news & views related to the Ukraine conflict ...
The current open thread for other issues is here.
Posted by b on July 31, 2022 at 13:22 UTC | Permalink
next page »Posted by: Republicofscotland | Jul 31 2022 13:33 utc | 3
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The whole of the Ukraine would be denazified and demilitarized, Putin said on 23rd February.
Posted by: ostro | Jul 31 2022 13:44 utc | 2
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Jul 31 2022 13:33 utc | 3
If you listen to what Sergei Lavrov said about defending the Donbas and Russia from the longer range weapons the US is sending to Ukraine, it would appear that most of Ukraine is now the battle zone. Russia will stop when those weapons can no longer hit Russia. Of course, if Russia takes all of Ukraine, those weapons will be in Poland, right next door. So who can say when it will end?
Ah, the pampers-clad woman had landed in Guam. Might try to fly to Taiwan from there, instead of to Singapore. Anyway, her plane should be forced to land on the Chinese mainland, or interfere with its electronic system, so it'd go feed the fish. Poor fish!😃
Posted by: ppp | Jul 31 2022 13:48 utc | 4
[email protected] appear to upping their game outside the Donesk Arc, so it may take a year at least a year for the RF get to Odessa, or a future SMO as Crimea has now been attacked somewhat successfully.
Yesterday big photo op in Odessa Z and G7, that's throwing down the gloves, now hitting Crimea, getting to a point where, Money Talks, Bullshit Walks....so Russia may have to Put Up, or Shut Up.
Cheers M
The targeted strike on the billionaires house, I think he was home, may be a new 'phase'.
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Jul 31 2022 13:49 utc | 5
Of course, if Russia takes all of Ukraine, those weapons will be in Poland, right next door. So who can say when it will end?
Posted by: Caveman | Jul 31 2022 13:47 utc | 5
--------
Poland is all fart. If it happens, NATO bases will be attacked. How many NATO countries do you think has the will for a open fight with Russia? On the 24th February the world had changed and won't come back to status Quo. The 3 Baltics will be liberated too.
Posted by: ostro | Jul 31 2022 13:52 utc | 6
@PeterAu
Do you have these links for you VK project?
> Biological Threat Reduction Program
https://ua.usembassy.gov/embassy/kyiv/sections-offices/defense-threat-reduction-office/biological-threat-reduction-program/
>……The Biological Threat Reduction Program’s priorities in Ukraine are to consolidate and secure pathogens and toxins of security concern and to continue to ensure Ukraine can detect and report outbreaks caused by dangerous pathogens before they pose security or stability threats.
Why is the US Air Force collecting samples of Russian DNA?
https://apokalypsnu.nl/2017/11/04/why-is-the-us-air-force-collecting-samples-of-russian-dna/
>……The US Air Force recently put out a request for samples of DNA and RNA from Russians and people of Russian descent. Their reasons are unclear. This story, fairly predictably, has got very little coverage in the MSM…none, in fact. Vladimir Putin mentioned it in a speech, ……
> This is not some “crazy conspiracy theory”, the request (pictured above) is publicly available on US government websites.
The lack of coverage of this issue in the MSM, while predictable, still serves to highlight how little objectivity our notionally free press really have.
Can you imagine the headlines if Russia, China or Iran’s military had started doing research on British or American DNA samples?
The hysteria would be deafening.
So the question becomes…why? The memo states that the samples “must be Caucasian and Russian”, and that they will “not consider” samples from Ukraine. Why would that be the case? People are theorizing it’s for bio-weapons research, and that’s possible, there are other possibilities too.
None of them are benign.
Can I suggest you (or someone with more computer skills than me archive these… and everything.
The memory hole grows ever larger..
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jul 31 2022 13:57 utc | 7
The shortest air distance from Kuala Lumpur to Seoul is 4611 kms, but that's across mainland China. Pelosi's plane is a US military one, so cannot fly across China. Now, that China threatens, it cannot fly across Taiwan too. It may have to make a detour, maybe through Philippines. But, Pelosi has nothing much to lose at 82, so she might try to visit Taiwan. I'd like her to try to do that. Finally, Taiwan would be a part of Mainland China. There's already demonstrations in Taiwan supporting the reunification.
Posted by: ppp | Jul 31 2022 14:09 utc | 8
I read/watch Unz, MOA, Martyanov, Cristoforu, Military Summary, et. al. and the occasional mainstream article, and at present I have no idea of what is happening in Ukraine, that is, I don't know if the Russians are inexorably crushing the Ukes, as claimed by the Putinistas, or if they are stalemated as per the mainstream.
Here is my suggestion - if someone would publish a weekly map showing the territory conquered by the Russians, along with an estimate of the square km that the Russians gained or lost in the week, I believe it would give us an objective, if imperfect, idea of what is going on. And, the weekly maps/estimates should be retroactive, i.e. start at the beginning of the SMO.
The NATO spy plane won't go over the Black Sea, had already turned,
Posted by: ostro | Jul 31 2022 14:19 utc | 10
[email protected] about a Ukie death count by sq mile, it may be a more accurate form of measure.
If you use Martyanovs Applied Military Mathematics, y-4x=lots, the more dead Ukies, the less ground Russia occupies.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Jul 31 2022 14:23 utc | 11
Here is my suggestion - if someone would publish a weekly map showing the territory conquered by the Russians, along with an estimate of the square km that the Russians gained or lost in the week, I believe it would give us an objective, if imperfect, idea of what is going on. And, the weekly maps/estimates should be retroactive, i.e. start at the beginning of the SMO.
Posted by: Saggy | Jul 31 2022 14:10 utc | 11
That's quite an impressive amount of work to be done for free, Sammy. I assume this is your first week tuning into real sources for the Ukraine SMO? If so, check out The Saker for some quality sitreps, especially in his archives.
Posted by: trev006 | Jul 31 2022 14:35 utc | 12
Russia clearly isn’t prioritizing capturing territory, so the pace is somewhat immaterial. Note, prioritizing. It certainly intends to take take territory but at the moment it suffers minimal losses while inflicting significant ones. But it’s not what’s happening in Ukraine that’s most important. There’s fraying of relationships throughout Europe. What’s also happening in Ukraine is a breakdown of the state. Naftogaz being bankrupted by the state, a collapsing currency, etc. These are long tail events but more significant than racing to capture any particular city.
Let’s say it’s November, Russia has Donbas plus Nikolaev, most of Zaporizhzhia and all of Kherson while Kharkov oblast is split. Russia is threatening Odessa. But Zelensky is caught up in waves of purges while people are hungry and poor. The military is degraded and splintering because they’re not getting paid and their family at home is suffering. That’s far more dangerous to the US than retreating to rearm in western Ukraine; it’s a dangerous basket case sitting in NATO’s lap. Is that Russia’s plan? Probably not. But it’s likely one option in the plan because it’s still beneficial even if it isn’t tanks rolling through Kiev.
To the western bar flies. Please be careful reading translated Russian sources. It’s not that Doomers are wrong. It’s that westerners can’t really grasp the level of cynicism in Russians about pretty much everything. They may generally trust Putin but do not trust the state. They assume someone is ruining something either out of incompetence or greed. Americans will get there, but it’s going to take another generation or two.
Posted by: Lex | Jul 31 2022 14:42 utc | 13
Re: Posted by: Saggy | Jul 31 2022 14:10 utc | 11
Geroman on Twitter is one who provides updated maps all the time.
Just drop by his page.
So does this page. Some may say it is Polish, so what - it's maps have been accurate the whole way through.
https://twitter.com/newsmap_pl
Posted by: Julian | Jul 31 2022 14:45 utc | 14
@Saggy #11
Listen to Mercouris for general updates or check out the Military Summary channel if you want detailed war porn.
I personally have little desire to wade through daily summaries of hundreds to thousands of people getting killed or wounded.
Posted by: c1ue | Jul 31 2022 15:12 utc | 15
Posted by: Julian | Jul 31 2022 14:45 utc | 17
--
It is Polish and it is not true, just because it is Polish. 😏
There's always an inborn Russophobia in Poles. "NewsMap.pl Russian invasion of #Ukraine" says exactly that.
Posted by: ppp | Jul 31 2022 15:13 utc | 16
ostro | Jul 31 2022 13:52 utc | 8
"How many NATO countries do you think have the will for a open fight with Russia? "
No need to guess. Both Trump and Biden refused to give security guarantees to Pooland in their visits. Trump's video is on yt, he sits next to their president and answers questions.
If Pooland or Rromania do anything, for example launch planes to attack Russian troops and then return to their airfields or launch missiles or whatever, no one will protect them. Not even Article 5 works because it's their invasion. Even if attacked first, the article is optional, there's no automatic anything.
Posted by: rk | Jul 31 2022 15:27 utc | 17
Russia clearly isn’t prioritizing capturing territory, so the pace is somewhat immaterial.
So say the Putinistas. Doesn't mean it's wrong .... but, the Putinistas have a spin on every event. For example, the Duran said the Russians had the Ukes in a cauldron that
would be soon be annihilated in March. It hasn't happened. I don't believe Putin, or anyone else, anticipated a long war. It would take something specific to convince me
otherwise.
Let’s say it’s November, Russia has Donbas plus Nikolaev,
Great Scott ! Every day this war goes on there is the potential for a massive escalation. For a counter perspective see ... https://www.unz.com/proberts/the-war-continues-to-widen/
Geroman on Twitter is one who provides updated maps all the time.
I see plenty of maps, e.g. Miliary Summary, they are confusing and all look about the same to me. I want to sea an outline of Ukraine, and a line dividing the Russian and
Ukrainian territories, and I want to see it updated weekly, along with the square km gained/lost by the Russians
Listen to Mercouris for general updates or check out the Military Summary channel if you want detailed war porn.
I listen to Christoror daily and sometimes Mercouris and watch Military Summary. Military Summariy's maps are too detailed, too localized, and don't tell me how much
territory the Russians have gained in the last week. Also, Military summary said the Russians were pausing to teach their troops how to use Iranian
drones, which strikes me as absurd.
They are routinely shelling into Russia, first time that happened since Germany's SMO in 1941.
Given Putin's inability to quash the 5th Column, this may wind up like the great SMO in 1914-1917, all one big SMO really.
I don't see progress on the SMO maps. Some in Kharkhov perhaps.
The West is testing China by provoking what may be a an SMO starting in Taiwan.
China might switch sides. None of you see it. The rest of the world does.
The King of Half Measures (Putin), like Stalin before him, doesn't see that his totaltaruan friend actually has designs on his land. Stalin wound up with a huge SMO, which he won because he had the Westetn support.
Go slow Putin, King Of Half Measures, SMO's Ukraine with few men, and refuses to intensify. The King of Stagnation. Can't he see the increasing Chinese contempt?
What Putin is stumbling into is a huge SMO like Stalin had. It should have been over by now. He is so proud of his honor. What the rest of the world sees is weakness, festering corruption, weakness, confusion, a paper tiger.
Posted by: Rangewolf | Jul 31 2022 15:35 utc | 19
Posted by: Rangewolf | Jul 31 2022 15:35 utc | 21
Now give us your strategic insight into USA and NATO on a global scale. You are so right about Stalin after all Germany was a pushover in the West and France had occupied most of Germany by May 1940.........once the USA entered it was all over by 1942 in the Pacific ........
FDR had that victory parade in Berlin and then in Tokyo
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jul 31 2022 15:40 utc | 20
For example, the Duran said the Russians had the Ukes in a cauldron that
would be soon be annihilated in March.
There was a change of tactics away from cauldrons........did you even notice ? It was evident there was going to be an artillery approach to fixed positions........NATO too changed tactics....did you notice ?
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jul 31 2022 15:42 utc | 21
if someone would publish a weekly map showing the territory conquered by the Russians, along with an estimate of the square km that the Russians gained or lost in the week, I believe it would give us an objective, if imperfect, idea of what is going on
Why is that important ?
What does your involvement contribute to Russian military objectives ?
Does Milley give you a weekly update on US military movements ?
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jul 31 2022 15:44 utc | 22
If you listen to what Sergei Lavrov said about defending the Donbas and Russia from the longer range weapons the US is sending to Ukraine, it would appear that most of Ukraine is now the battle zone.
The warning was that longer-range weapons will be matched by longer-range weapons.......most of Europe is now in the battle zone
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jul 31 2022 15:46 utc | 23
OK so Russia is winning, systematically dismantling the Ukrainian forces. However, Ukraine has a long term plan here for when they retake the Donbass. All the dead Ukrainian soldiers, especially the ones in the trenches who's rotting carcasses will provide future stockpiles of fertiliser. Further Slavic DNA samples will provide American/EU toxicologists with invaluable data for when they are able to train migratory birds and insects in the region.
Like China, Ukraine thinks decades ahead.
Posted by: WTFUD | Jul 31 2022 15:58 utc | 24
@Saggy #20
I am confused as to the level of detail you are looking for.
Square kilometers gained?
As others have noted - the Russian strategy in the SMO clearly does not involve area capture so much as destruction of the Ukrainian military and US/EU equipment and treasure shipped to Ukraine.
As such, "area captured" is utterly meaningless. Nor is there anything the least bit off concerning Russian deployment: the fall of SeveroDonetsk and Lisichansk; the rest, refit and redeployment of units involved in that operation; and the planning and preparation for the next phase obviously involve more than the movement of plastic markers on a map.
Equally, it seems clear you are not consistent in listening to Mercouris. The "pause" has long since ended.
Posted by: c1ue | Jul 31 2022 16:01 utc | 25
Posted by: Caveman | Jul 31 2022 13:47 utc | 4
Russia will stop when those weapons can no longer hit Russia. Of course, if Russia takes all of Ukraine, those weapons will be in Poland, right next door. So who can say when it will end?
The war will end when Russian tanks reach the Polish border. If Poland decides to move its borders east, then that is where the war will end.
There can be no firing from NATO to Russia or vice versa. Only a proxy war is possible. When the proxy is eliminated, the war will end.
A political solution is also possible, but that would require a near unconditional surrender by Ukraine.
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Jul 31 2022 16:08 utc | 26
Saggy,
Demilitarization is the goal not geography. The Allies ( DPR, LPR, and RF ) have so dominated the NATO trained, equipped, and trained military of the Kiev regime that NATO has been sending Territorial formations into critical front line positions.
The Territorials are the grandpa units easily identified by their triple digit designations ( ie the 115th ). That’s desperation on the part of NATO.
Posted by: Exile | Jul 31 2022 16:19 utc | 27
Stonemasonry is a dying trade here in Europe and as soon as Russia take Ukraine, judging by these reinforced concrete bunkers/dwellings, whatever remnants of the Ukie army are left over after SMO + there'll be work for them, especially in the UK.
Posted by: WTFUD | Jul 31 2022 16:28 utc | 28
Zelensky's elite battalion destroyed – Russia
Military summary has been talking about these units being used as anti retreat forces but this week he is saying they are being thrown onto the zero line more often.
Posted by: circumspect | Jul 31 2022 16:29 utc | 29
the CBC is running "zelensky orders evacuation from donetsk" and "drone 'blasts' russian black sea fleet HQ in crimea". since it's hard to believe them when they say water is wet i'll wait for the real story.
if he's "evacuating" soldiers: about time he let them stop being cannon fodder. if he means civilians then he's even dumber than he looks.
as for the drone, was it a "switchblade" or a quadcopter from a hobby shop? they usually gloat over every supposed russian casualty so i'm guessing it was a non-event.
Posted by: the pair | Jul 31 2022 16:30 utc | 30
noticed someone was asking for a military summary map
this guy uses a ukraine biased map and does a daily military summary. duran and others use his analysis at times.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUnc496-PPmFZVKlYxUnToA
Posted by: polarbear4 | Jul 31 2022 16:32 utc | 31
@the pair | Jul 31 2022 16:30 utc | 37
- "as for the drone, was it a "switchblade" or a quadcopter from a hobby shop?"
According to their official statement this morning, it was a home made drone with a small explosive.
- "if he means civilians then he's even dumber than he looks."
Civilians. At this moment it isn't forced, those who don't want to leave must sign some papers.
Looks like they are getting large groups moved to be human shields in other places. Also looks like preparation for a new Bucha. I don't believe the shelling and drone attack of Zap. NPP, multiple times, was made by some crazy nazis. I don't believe the himars on the detention center was to shut their mouth, it was a warning (and taking advantage of the idiotic idea to keep prisoners close to the war zone).
nato probably plans to explode an npp, a chemical storage or something that will result in mass destruction and deaths. Then they'll blame Russia for it, what else?
They're also preparing to block something somewhere:
"The US State Department plans to allocate about $706k for the purchase of gabion barriers for the Ukrainian border service. Ukrainian service requested emergency assistance in the purchase of equipment for the deployment of advanced bases and the protection of the country's borders"
Posted by: rk | Jul 31 2022 16:54 utc | 32
Trouble on Serbian/Kosovo border, alleged shots fired, air sirens, casualties
Is NATO looking for a provocation to distract Russia and score itself a win?
Doing what it does best, beats up on a small country to counter its humiliations in Ukraine and Taiwan?
Posted by: Et Tu | Jul 31 2022 17:13 utc | 33
Maybe the demented old witch will travel in a rowboat from P.I. for a stealth approach.
Campaign mode Duterte started out maligning the US along with his political predecessors for corrupt behavior, taking handouts from Uncle Scam and lining their own pockets. That has been modus operandi since 1945.
He said, if he needed any money, he'd borrow it from China!
A breath of fresh air.
In the end (after engaging police to commit street murder of plebes with no due process) he caved to the USA.
What a dickhead.
Posted by: Chaka Khagan | Jul 31 2022 17:19 utc | 34
These things don't happen by accident:
Intel Slava Z, [31/07/2022 18:36] 🇷🇸🇽🇰⚡️Gunshot wounds reported among Serbs at the Jarinje checkpointThe Serbian population of Kosovo and Metohija began to build barricades, the national television of the republic reported.
Intel Slava Z, [31/07/2022 18:36]
🇽🇰🇷🇸❗️Kosovo army plans to attack the northern part of Serbia at midnight - VučićIntel Slava Z, [31/07/2022 18:37]
🇽🇰🇷🇸❗️ #Breaking
Serbian President Vučić intends to issue an emergency address to the nation on the situation in Kosovo
Kosovo army plans to attack the northern part of Serbia at midnight - Vučić
Posted by: rk | Jul 31 2022 17:40 utc | 36
@Saggy 11
From what I understand, and if I am incorrect I would be grateful for the accurate information, there are several reasons for the apparently slow pace of the Russian advances.
One is that a decision was made at the time of the operations to secure Mariupol, to progress with the least risk of casualties.
With the failure of the US and NATO to commit to troops on the ground, their success in the conflict was all but assured and the military hierarchy along with Putin didn't see the need to be profligate with the lives of the troops just to gain the success that was already pretty much guaranteed.
Another is the nature of the defence put up by Ukraine in the Donbass.
For reasons best known to themselves the Ukraine military, along with their NATO advisors, decided several years ago that the best way to defend the towns and villages under their control, against an invasion from Russia, was by following the example of over 100 years ago in WW1, and dig trenches around them as protection.
It is clear from the video clips of the conflict, that these trenches are everywhere and they have to be cleared one by one.
This is a slow process, and made much more difficult by the bravery and courage of the Ukraine troops on the front line.
What the brains trust of the Ukraine and NATO hierarchy did not factor was the highly effective drone technology in the Russian military, that can identify the locations of these trenches quickly, and
take them out quite efficiently with targeted rocket or missile strikes without placing the troops at risk.
The surviving Ukraine troops just retreat to the next village or town after providing whatever resistance they can, and start again.
These defensive trench systems do not go all the way to Kiev obviously, and in the Severodonetsk region the Ukraine troops do not have much more to retreat into, which may have provoked Zelenskys evacuation order in the last day or so.
As I said, if anything above needs correction, give the accurate information.
If it is close to the mark, it reveals a staggering level of incompetence from the US and NATO in terms of tactical cop on.
They obviously haven't a clue how advanced the technology available to the Russian forces are.
The Russians appear able to take out the drones available to Ukraine at will, while their own are able to operate jn the area unmolested.
There have also been repeated stories of the uselessness of the communications equipment provided by NATO to Ukraine, which the Russians can block it at will.
From the information available, it looks like the regular Ukraine army who have been manning the front line for months now are akin to the British forces at the start of WW1, lions led by donkeys.
Posted by: Orchard1 | Jul 31 2022 17:48 utc | 37
US Base Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo is largest or among the largest of US MIC bases.
Must sense an advantage over Serbian Military. Perhaps intention is to draw Russians to assist.
The US operates the way delinquent teen boys do, insofar as placing an ignited bag of shit on the doorstep, ringing the bell and running away.
Posted by: Chaka Khagan | Jul 31 2022 17:57 utc | 38
Posted by: Saggy | Jul 31 2022 14:10 utc | 10
Try https://rumble.com/c/c-1613003
Posted by: T Paine | Jul 31 2022 17:58 utc | 39
I fear that the Outlaw Empire is opening the Kosovo front..and quickly..the consequences of this are totally unpredictable but are not good at all.Kosovo is Serbia!
Posted by: LuBa | Jul 31 2022 18:09 utc | 40
They are getting whooped in Ukraine, lost face in Taiwan, these bastards are about to open a new front in Serbia/Kosovo. Hopefully, it won't spiral out of control or China/Russia will be forced to aid Serbia.
Posted by: caption | Jul 31 2022 18:14 utc | 41
An ukr mp tweeted that ukr is ready to send troops to fight Serbia.
Drugs are bad, stay in skool
Posted by: rk | Jul 31 2022 18:20 utc | 42
If these reports regarding Kosovo and Metohija are correct; this is just NATO trying to destabilize the periphery of Russia. We can expect more such illegal actions in the 'Stans and in the Cacusus plus geez - even in the Arctic.
FYI - UNSCR 1244 establishes Kosovo and Metohija is part of Serbia. NATO had to cave on that point after losing the 1999 war.
Posted by: Exile | Jul 31 2022 18:22 utc | 43
These things don't happen by accident:
Intel Slava Z, [31/07/2022 18:36] 🇷🇸🇽🇰⚡️Gunshot wounds reported among Serbs at the Jarinje checkpoint
The Serbian population of Kosovo and Metohija began to build barricades, the national television of the republic reported.
....
https://t.me/intelslava/34343
Posted by: Barofsky | Jul 31 2022 17:40 utc | 44
Related to this?
Serbian Interior Minister reveals that a major foreign agency has been pressing him to change his official stance on Russia and China.
Posted by: anon2020 | Jul 31 2022 18:23 utc | 44
@45 Vučić probably means the Mitrovica area of Kosovo. The Kosovan army would have a hard time getting to the northern part of Serbia.
Posted by: dh | Jul 31 2022 18:25 utc | 45
They claim that Camp Bondsteel was named for a military enlistee.
Has anyone here ever met a person by the name of Bond, Steel, or Bondsteel?
Posted by: Chaka Khagan | Jul 31 2022 18:31 utc | 46
Kosovo, the final chapter. As was the case during the bombing of Yugoslavia, the West hasn't enough political tolerance for a small lose of foot soldiers. Serbia will take out a handful of the Anglo invaders and Shitars as within her capabilities. Kosovo will be Afghanistan 2.0.
Posted by: Goran | Jul 31 2022 18:35 utc | 47
Clearly the US government is disappointed at the time it is taking the-pro EU government- in Serbia to join the Eurasian alliance and apply for BRIC membership. So, in order to get Belgrade to move more quickly, it is attacking Kosovo's ethnic Serb minority.
Or perhaps the government of Kosovo, a major player and a trusted name in the human organs supply trade, is looking for body parts.
Posted by: bevin | Jul 31 2022 18:35 utc | 48
Posted by: Saggy | Jul 31 2022 14:10 utc | 10:
I read/watch Unz, MOA, Martyanov, Cristoforu, Military Summary, et. al. and the occasional mainstream article, and at present I have no idea of what is happening in Ukraine, that is, I don't know if the Russians are inexorably crushing the Ukes, as claimed by the Putinistas, or if they are stalemated as per the mainstream.
Saggy, suggest that you always read publicly available news articles with a grain of salt, even those you like and respect a lot. Facts on the ground is that presently there is a stalemate. But its a stalemate of Russia's choosing. Exorable crushing of Ukraine will earn Russia nothing but bad, bad reputation. A stalemate will result in Ukraine losing GDP at 34.5% a year for as far as the eyes can scan, while RF raking in Rubles from inflated energy/grain/fertilizer prices. After tasting these salt, you'll figure out that it ain't really all that complicated.
Oh, be aware also that Russia has no stomach to "own" Ukraine at this point, not with $2Trillion's worth of war destructions to be rebuilt, and ostensibly a brainwashed population hating Russians in their guts because the West told them to. They want to be with the decaying West, let them be. Just like China would Taiwan as long as Taiwan stays short of declaring independence.
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Jul 31 2022 18:35 utc | 49
@Lex #15
Good synopsis of the Russian situation and mind set. Agree, Russia is in their front yard and are in the drivers seat. A few bumps here and there but it's been at least a 10 year chess game so far , but the clock is ticking down on the West.
Posted by: GMC | Jul 31 2022 18:37 utc | 50
Don't forget who won the Battle of Kosovo! They will go on to conquer Serbia and claim it as a NATO advance base, from which they will go on to subjugate all of the territories of Kievan Rus'.
Posted by: Noam A. Larkey | Jul 31 2022 18:38 utc | 51
Zakharova called the decision of the local unrecognized authorities to force the Serbs to change their documents to "Kosovar" another step towards their expulsion from Kosovo.
Posted by: rk | Jul 31 2022 18:47 utc | 52
anon2020 #59:
Related to this?
For those who can’t access Strategic Culture, here’s a copy of the article cached by Google.
Posted by: S | Jul 31 2022 18:55 utc | 53
Posted by: Rangewolf | Jul 31 2022 15:35 utc | 21
… and a number of other posters on this thread.
Putin afraid, putinists slow, where are the maps, gains invisible, china covets russian territory, will switch sides etc. These are talking points of western war propaganda. By the book. Delivered in a shroud of believability but still we recognize them.
Try again.
Posted by: alek_a | Jul 31 2022 19:22 utc | 54
@ Paul Greenwood | Jul 31 2022 15:40 utc | 23
:-) Thanks for the chuckle.
Posted by: dfg | Jul 31 2022 19:45 utc | 55
Norwegian@ 68
Interesting flight path. Maybe a surprise trip to Manila rejected. The Philippines does not want to be in the middle of WWIII like they were with WWII.
SPAR19 is dropping into Singapore.
Posted by: circumspect | Jul 31 2022 20:04 utc | 56
ostro @ 87
I was there not long after the base closures. The Filipinos were I talked to were glad to see the US military go. They do like the USA but they know that China is their very close and dear neighbor. They know which way the wind is blowing.
Posted by: circumspect | Jul 31 2022 20:22 utc | 57
I am sure she has vehicles and equipment to roll off as well as plenty of ice cream in the freezer. Maybe they feared some sort of incident or protest at the airport.
Probably not likely though for fear of 40 lashes with the cane. Pelosi is there to give them a lesson in democracy, among other things.
Posted by: circumspect | Jul 31 2022 20:33 utc | 58
Posted by: Et Tu | Jul 31 2022 17:13 utc | 42
yes excellent point.the US can still beat Yugoslavia to pieces now that it has ceased to exist. SERBIA has caused a lot of trouble lately so neocons cojld sayiate their thirst for blood there (again).
Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 31 2022 20:44 utc | 59
This is a surprise from RT: "Ukraine not America's business – top US conservative: Ann Coulter accused the US-led NATO bloc of 'encroaching' on Russia."
Conservative US author Ann Coulter has argued that the US and UK “have [their] own problems” and shouldn’t care about Ukraine, which she pointed out was historically under Russian influence. With British broadcaster Piers Morgan vehemently disagreeing, Coulter blamed the expansion of the NATO alliance for the current conflict.Speaking to Morgan on Thursday, Coulter declared “on the NATO thing, I’m with Noam Chomsky, Pat Buchannan, George Kennan, once the Soviet Union fell there’s no point to NATO, and we keep encroaching, encroaching, encroaching,” referring to the alliance’s expansion into Eastern Europe since the fall of the USSR, something its leaders assured Russia it would not do.
Morgan, a staunch supporter of Ukraine who recently interviewed Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and his wife Elena, argued otherwise, claiming that Russia’s military operation in Ukraine proves “that’s what NATO’s there for.”
“I’m sorry, Ukraine was historically part of the Russian empire of influence,” Coulter countered. “I’m not defending Putin… but why should Americans care about this? We have our own problems. Why should the British care about this?” [My Emphasis]
There're many things I dislike about Coulter, but here I must applaud her. And I'll bet most of North America would also applaud IF they were informed of her words.
@ karlof1 | Jul 31 2022 21:21 utc | 98 with the Ann Coulter statements
I think there are some folks that see the writing on the wall, want to get out in front of the train and ride it into the future.....
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 31 2022 21:39 utc | 61
I think a few words about military deception are needed. In wartime, everybody lies, That's expected.
However, I think there is a critical difference between deception for a long term purpose and just flat out lying. Maskirovka is a doctrine about changing or reducing an opponent's reaction, not just blatant falsehood.
And this is what I see about British/Ukrainian claims vs Russian claims. I can remember listening to shortwave during the Falklands War and noting the dispassionate statements by the BBC vs Argentina.
Times have changed apparently. It's like the British aren't even trying to be credible. And Ukraine likewise. That ain't maskirovka.
Posted by: Eighthman | Jul 31 2022 21:44 utc | 62
Posted by: Saggy | Jul 31 2022 14:10 utc | 10
Mapping
if someone would publish a weekly map showing the territory conquered by the Russians
The following map can be dialled back for 14 days to observe the change in position over that time period. If you were to take a screen-shot at one week intervals you wouldbe able to build a complete history of the war in 404.
Once you complete all this work you can post your findings to MoA and let us know what is going on.
SOURCE:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1B1PLMhbHmG1aJ2-QNxHY1TksI6HlNhqF&ll=48.984757113452105%2C37.13247662920268&z=8
Posted by: Sushi | Jul 31 2022 22:24 utc | 63
Danger to US - RF offers to Assist
Posted by: Lex | Jul 31 2022 14:42 utc | 15
That’s far more dangerous to the US than retreating to rearm in western Ukraine; it’s a dangerous basket case sitting in NATO’s lap. Is that Russia’s plan? Probably not.
Just to play devil's advocate, let us presume your scenario plays out and the failed state of 404 poses a security risk to Europe and the US.
Putin strikes me as a reasonably intelligent man. What would prevent him from approaching the EU and offering to assist in controlling the anarchy in 404? If the EU states feel threatened might they not accept such an offer? After all, most of the EU will be facing internal unrest, will suffer financial shortfalls, and will have transferred much of their military equipment to 404 where it has been immediately resold to members of the EU underworld.
If the EU is unwilling to pay for RF oil will they be willing to pay for RF military protection from the heavily armed coke crazed remnants so the Z regime?
"When 404 is blowing up the neighbourhood, who you gonna call? Ghostbusters? NATO? Joe Tzu? Or VVP?"
Posted by: Sushi | Jul 31 2022 22:37 utc | 64
@karlof1 #92
Coulter and Tucker Carlson are absolutely getting the message out to a lot of Americans, relatively speaking.
Tucker Carlson has repeatedly spoken out asking why the border of Ukraine is so sancrosanct when the US border with Mexico is not. He has also repeatedly questioned why tens of billions is being sent to Ukraine even as Americans are suffering.
The real issue on the conservative side is: how will the dinosaur Republicans be handled? This group includes the neocons, up to and including George W. Bush, McFaul, Rice, Graham and so forth.
A very valid concern is whether the Republican landslide in November 2022 will be effectively nullified because the dinosaur Republicans/neocons simply outright switch their votes to the Democrat minority in both houses of Congress...
Posted by: c1ue | Jul 31 2022 23:31 utc | 65
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdxPcmSWBXQ
2019 talk by Eric Li in Croatia on the distinction between globalization and liberalism’s globalism. Foresees Europe’s present season of discontent. The first 18 minutes is enough to understand everything that has led to Ukraine, the sanctions, the current US stance on Taiwan. What was beginning to emerge in 2019 has matured…
Posted by: Mjh | Aug 1 2022 0:02 utc | 66
c1ue @119
Tucker Carlson has never concealed his intention that he wants the US to prioritize on fighting China. There are a whole bunch of “realist” American conservatives who believe that prodding Russia is a geostrategic mistake, and that the US, perhaps by bringing Russia into its sphere of influence, should instead be focusing on its real enemy — China.
The problem with this view is that the US would lose its dominant role over Europe should Russia is brought closer to Germany and the rest of Europe. Europe + Russia will become completely self-sufficient and thus will no longer need to depend on the resources and energy from the US. The NATO instigation over Ukraine is precisely this - to sever the cooperative relationship of Europe with Russia and China.
As such, the US-led neoliberalism is doomed to fail, as any good Marxist would tell you. The de-industrialized West simply do not have the productive capacity to take on China, let alone Russia-China-Iran.
Posted by: icepick | Aug 1 2022 1:08 utc | 67
so are we to expect NATO with depleted uranuim and bombings again or they happy to leave it to natural genocide in a gentler slower manner
Posted by: hankster | Aug 1 2022 1:29 utc | 68
"Where is the left?"
There is no Left in USA's oligarchic regime. There's only an illusion of "change" between blue warmongers/NeoCon and red warmongers/NeoLib, both very, very, VERY Right-Wing in the Economic axis.
Understanding this is the basic.
USA doesn't need elections. That's like saying Pinochet's Chile just needed elections. No!
USA needs revolution. Regime change. A coup. A successful January-6th. Call it whatever you want.
If the next elections form a USA government from any person in the current system, then there was no change.
Maybe, and only maybe, if Bernie Sanders (an independent) with a decades old grassroot platform, won the Presidentials, and then USA's ridiculous Bible... i mean, Constitution, was dramatically changed in order to at least end bi-partisan system, end lobbyism, end gerrymandering, end vote suppression, end lack of proportionality, and declare HealrhCare, Education, and Unions, as fundamental Human Rights.
And only then, only if the companies from Military-Industrial-Companiex, became State property, only then somerhing would change in USA.
If this doesn't happen, then voting B.Clinton, G.W.Bush, B.Obama, H.Clinton, D.Trump, J.Biden, Justin Bieber, Alexis Texas, or any other red/blue puppet or pro-regime clown, will always be the same: the continuation of warmonger foreign policy, and pornographic inequality at home, with Bezos going to space, and the non-lucky homeless.
If F.D.Roosevelt was alive today, he wouldn't be sending weapons to Nazis in Ukraine, he would be sending the army to Washington DC... That's how rotten USA's regime has become.
A minimum wage of 7.5$/hour while others ride their Private jets? That's how you get "full employment"... But that's not Democracy. There's no Freedom in being poor. Or in being so indebted that all your life (housing, healthcare, education, pension) depends on the baksters and their "markets".
Comparing to this, even China's single party state/industrial capitalism system is better. Even Cuba has better results with their HealthCare system. Even Russia has a better Defense system with just a small percentage of the expenses. Even people in "bankrupted" small European countries have a better standard of living.
Because a country's strenght is not measured by GDP (a very unreliable measurement that only shows what a few less than 1% are getting in their casino economy). A country's strengt is measured on how well do the poorest and powerless live. And looking at USA current regime, it doesn't even compare well with 3rd World countries in Africa.
So, what are you waiting for? The Bastille wasn't stormed by itself. And USA's 4th of July wasn't made by just voting in a different UK goverment.
Posted by: Carlos Marques | Aug 1 2022 1:38 utc | 69
@circumspect #127
Everyone is entitled to their views.
The reality, though, is that Tucker Carlson has consistently expressed public disapproval of the entire Ukraine adventure despite the entire US federal government, Congress and media attacking him for it.
The failure to recognize this admirable stand in any person regardless of political affiliation only serves to underscore how deep the Republican-Derangement-Syndrome, Conservative-Derangement-Syndrome, Trump-Derangement-Syndrome, whatever you want to call it, is.
I absolutely do not agree with Tucker Carlson in all subjects, but the reality is that he is the ONLY mainstream news figure who takes on these unpopular positions.
Perhaps that is why so many Democrats watch his show...
Posted by: c1ue | Aug 1 2022 1:53 utc | 70
@icepick #132
You said
Tucker Carlson has never concealed his intention that he wants the US to prioritize on fighting China.
I disagree 100%: Tucker Carlson has never said the US should fight China.
What he has said is that if the US is concerned about its foreign enemies, that China is the greatest threat to the US.
You do understand the difference between recognizing a threat and advocating a declaration of war, do you not?
And can you say that he is wrong? Is Russia really a threat to the United States - militarily, economically or socially? The answer is: Absolutely not to all 3.
Is China a threat to the United States militarily? No.
Socially? No.
But economically? Very much Yes.
The Chinese also have been far more canny in deploying their increasing wealth in the United States to deflect/delay/deny US action against them. Note that I don't say this is bad in any way - why wouldn't China do so? It is perfectly understandable that any sovereign nation would devote resources to neutralizing threats in any way possible.
Posted by: c1ue | Aug 1 2022 1:58 utc | 71
If I could make decisions for the Russian Kremlin, I would, at this point, just grab all of the Ukraine. Then just send in the Chechens to liquidate the Nazis. Enough already. It won't make no difference to the Western shedstream media (SSM) anyhow, will it?
Posted by: RKJoyce - Prophet | Aug 1 2022 2:13 utc | 72
c1ue @142
I already laid out very clearly in my previous comment that Russia threatens US dominance in Europe.
A Europe united with Russia will be completely self-sufficient and will be able to exert their sovereignty independent of the US. In fact, this is why US-led NATO needed to start a war in Ukraine - it is to effectively prevent Europe from becoming increasingly connected to Russia and China. Why do you think they refused to allow the Germans to open Nord Stream 2, after billions worth of investment?
The Washington-led neoliberal model does not allow for that because the free market has to serve US interests, not anyone else’s. Losing control of Europe would mean the US being completely isolated after spending more than half a century wreaking havoc on Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Therefore, they cannot, and must not, allow Russia to exert its own sovereignty and form close ties with the rest of Europe.
Posted by: icepick | Aug 1 2022 2:25 utc | 73
c1ue @142
Another point to add: I get what you’re saying but you are looking at the situation from the perspective of the US as an individual country (however powerful they might be), but not from the perspective of neoliberal capitalism as a whole.
Posted by: icepick | Aug 1 2022 2:28 utc | 74
The major issue this coming week maybe Kiev's mandatory evacuation of civilians from Donest and other areas which may shortly fall under Russian control. It seems this civilian caravan that has been proposed may be cover for Kiev to withdraw large numbers of troops disguised as civilians or as an escort. Noncombatants should not be forcibly exposed potential harm.
Posted by: Jerr | Aug 1 2022 3:20 utc | 75
Posted by: Sushi | Jul 31 2022 22:24 utc | 106
Thanks. Great maps. Not perfect, but very good. The Front line is obscured by all the markers, but I've saved maps for days 139 and 156, and I can tell you the Russians haven't anything I can see in the last 2 weeks. I'm going to try to remember to save a new map every Sunday.
medvedevs newest map has Poland taking some of the east of Ukraine.
this most likely insinuated to Poland that Russia will allow them to take back lviv, if they promise to secure it and cease all attacks on Russia.
this would also begin the break up of nato and the eu because that would violate rules for Poland to take Ukrainian land as well as sign a peace treaty with Russia.
i see all of dnieper,kharkiv nikolev, and odessa being taken for Russia by the end of this war
Posted by: BurnEye Minds3rdEye | Aug 1 2022 3:28 utc | 77
but I also don't see Russia invading Poland, and possibly not requiring every inch of Ukrainian land by force, if it can negotiate a peace with Poland or also hungary Belarus might also join in with Poland potentially
Posted by: BurnEye Minds3rdEye | Aug 1 2022 3:30 utc | 78
OMG How great would Minx 3 be, if it included a conquered kiev being put under Belarusian control!
ohh that would be the day Biden would be taking to the hospital because he couldn't stop poopoo putin.
when Kiev falls, shit yourself
joe tzu
Posted by: BurnEye Minds3rdEye | Aug 1 2022 3:33 utc | 79
"So, sue me for cracking wise" @126
I would, but you're not...
Posted by: ianMoone | Aug 1 2022 4:06 utc | 80
@154
Dang b, the bar was doing great until you got that Karaoke machine. Now all the wipper-snappers grab the mic & think they're karlof1 or psychohistorian. I'm not one for censorship, but it's tempting...
Posted by: ianMoone | Aug 1 2022 4:18 utc | 81
Dear karlof1,
as you seem to have direct communication with Michael Hudson, please ask him what to do about the biggest rentier sector in the world, the stock market and its dividends! In my view that's the definition of unearned income aka free lunch: buy some stocks, collect dividends in your sleep for the rest of your life. How do we fix this?
Posted by: Anonymous | Jul 31 2022 21:53 utc | 103
anonymous @103 I hope my attempt to post an answer to the question you asked karlov1 to get from M. Hudson. I am no where near as qualified as Karlov1 or Michael Hudson to answer your question, but likely the answer Karlov1 or Hudson might give will be different from the answer I believe satisfies the question.
90% of assets of entities on the stock exchanges (according to ocean Tomo) are intangible assets. Earnings from intangible assets are rentier income because they are earnings attributable to the monopoly power embedded in the intangible.
Most intangibles represent underlying fictions; that is intangibles are generated from rule of law..not from the productive effort of labor. Without a government to make law, most intangible assets could not exist: good will might be an exception.
Copyrights, patents, deeds, trademarks, contracts etc are examples of intangible assets they represent the power to exclude all competition. Monopoly power (rights to a competition free market) are generated by law (our maker has not provided the earth with intangible (fictitious) assets that I am aware of).
So the way to destroy rentier income and to return monopolism (profit from rule of law) to capitalism (profit from labor) is to reverse or remove the laws that endow private interest with anti competitive monopoly power. Copyright denies persons from sharing and improving on the wisdom in the writing or the beauty in the art, or the benefit of software that runs a device or that describes or uses a process which has been worked out. Patents deny persons wishing to make the same thing cheaper or better any legal way to do that.
America was at its greatest when monopoly power in private hands were lowest..and when corporations had limited authority to do business and had lifetimes that were short and finite in lifetimes.
Capitalism is always more efficient and more productive than monopolism, but capitalism is also highly disruptive to those who are economic winners, because tomorrow, a new competitor will likely be the new winner<= which means yesterday's winner will be once again reduced to being a competitor. Competitive capitalism spreads the wealth, increases production and improves efficiency; anti-competitive monopolism concentrates the wealth, reduces efficiency and lowers productive output and in the end its monopoly powers in private hands privatizes and then destroys the very government that made monopolism possible in the first place.
Thank you for the privilege to answer your very good question from my viewpoint. I will be as interested as you to hear what comes from your question to Karlov1.
Posted by: snake | Aug 1 2022 4:24 utc | 82
https://www.theonion.com/china-threatens-to-retaliate-for-pelosi-s-taiwan-trip-b-1849343979
Posted by: Butch | Aug 1 2022 4:28 utc | 83
Posted by: Wester | Aug 1 2022 3:01 utc | 154
Brilliant takedown of Carlson, could not agree more.
He is pure affect.
Partisan US politics rule the bar on a quiet day, don't you know?
Posted by: K | Aug 1 2022 4:40 utc | 84
Re: NATO destabilizing Serbia
On 26 July (((Blinken))) visited Pristina to give the green light for the current destabilization.
https://t.me/BellumActaNews/80191
Posted by: Exile | Aug 1 2022 4:42 utc | 85
A second-hand report from Lviv: a breakdown in law @ order, snatching of conscripts on the street, arrest of anyone suspected of Russian sympathies, signs everywhere saying ‘Speak Ukrainian, or learn Ukrainian.’
Posted by: Pete | Aug 1 2022 5:00 utc | 86
So, what are you waiting for? The Bastille wasn't stormed by itself. And USA's 4th of July wasn't made by just voting in a different UK goverment.
Posted by: Carlos Marques | Aug 1 2022 1:38 utc | 135
No the US rebels were funded and aided by the French Absolutist Monarchy against the British Constitutional Monarchy to such an extent that France went bankrupt leading to financial crisis where the aristocrats refused to pay taxes to cover the deficits and the country collapsed within 6 years of the end of the US Rebellion into Revolution.
So you are right about the Bastille.........Louis XVI thought he could fight the British in North America and India and went bankrupt concealing the debts under Necker until his regime collapsed........
Maybe History repeats and the US Imperial Monarchy will implode in a debt default and experience Revolution and Secession since no-one appears to want to pay taxes to fund a $30 Trillion Debt ?
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Aug 1 2022 5:28 utc | 87
So now they are back to trying to stir up trouble for Serbia again? Amazing. They really are trying to light up fires everywhere, aren't they?
Nobody but the dumbest of the dumb fails to see where all this stuff is coming from any more.
Posted by: Ghan-buri-Ghan | Aug 1 2022 5:35 utc | 88
90% of assets of entities on the stock exchanges (according to ocean Tomo) are intangible assets. Earnings from intangible assets are rentier income because they are earnings attributable to the monopoly power embedded in the intangible.
Most intangibles represent underlying fictions; that is intangibles are generated from rule of law..not from the productive effort of labor.
Really ????
Bizarre - so software has no value ?
"productive efforts of labour" ???????? That canard "labour theory of value" ????? Mining is more valuable when carried out with pick and shovel instead of excavating equipment ?
So Bangladesh is a richer country than Japan because it has less capital-intensity and fewer quoted companies ?
Apple is a fiction because it does not make anything but sells "dreams" ?
You really should start reading Gordon Dividend Growth Model; and marry it to Marris Growth Theorem - or thinking of income-streams.
South Africa and Australia and Russia mine diamonds but it is in India or Belgium or Israel that they are cut and polished and where value is added.........
Intangibles are Trademarks which are valued in terms of Income Streams and suffer immediate Impairment if there is a setback. That is RISK.
Capitalist Society works on RISK and REWARD. China was never important in the global economy until it developed Know-How and Capability - no-one cared when Mao was experimenting.
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Aug 1 2022 5:41 utc | 89
Hey barflys!
Please follow my lead and take this economic discussion over to the latest Open Thread as I have.
Thanks
Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 1 2022 6:17 utc | 90
From Conservapedia:
NATO/Ukraine showers Donetsk Republic with anti-personnel petal mines aimed at killing civilians.
https://youtu.be/mKOFTc0LV5w
Ukraine evacuated civilians. Does this mean they will start counter offensive (they will lose as all previous) or they are leaving Donetsk region???
Also ukrainians could had fired at prison using HIMARS so that to destroy the walls and prisioners (some of them war criminals) could run. Exept that it not worked and all of them are dead. Or maybe they wanted to get rid of certain prisioners they don't wanted to return alive. Ukr could prefare dead heroes over the live ones, as they could take power in Kiyev.
Posted by: Alef | Aug 1 2022 6:21 utc | 91
I already laid out very clearly in my previous comment that Russia threatens US dominance in Europe.A Europe united with Russia will be completely self-sufficient and will be able to exert their sovereignty independent of the US. In fact, this is why US-led NATO needed to start a war in Ukraine - it is to effectively prevent Europe from becoming increasingly connected to Russia and China. Why do you think they refused to allow the Germans to open Nord Stream 2, after billions worth of investment?
Part of europeans are fighting "asiatic horde of Russia". Eastern Poland, Silesia, Northern Czech republic is filled with nazis. Poland is "shield of Europe". Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia is very anti - russian. If they don't need to fught russians they are fighting each other, on Polish Lithuanian border nazis are marching and fighting lithuanians. (In this region there are no blacks or muslims.)
Originaly it was based on religion, as russians had different branch of christianity than the Europe. So they were "asians".
I guess these ideas are shared by Brussels, too, including about their supposed moral superiority. Alsou steming from religion.
Of corse in the west they have green liberals who would fight Putin like american liberals - Trump, becouse they are so more progressive/gay;)
I had seen russians / ukrainians as TV journalists in american and canadian media but not in european. Well, I had seen a lithuanian journalist in BBC ireland but of corse not in BBC england.
***
If you'll watch UK, they don't have any real anto-russian objectives. I guess they have only a psychological issues aka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_ponerology
***
USA - Russian agreement is more likely. They at least understand each other as they are speaking language they both understand. So they at least can agree on something. Aslou for US all mentioned are white;)
***
Smame issues with China, european originaly religious ideology of their superiority would block from any serious long term relationships. Well, maybe exept in Hungary, by the origin they are asians themselves from the western Siberia.
***
American hard-line conservatives are pro-Putin and calls Zelensky a dictator https://www.conservapedia.com/Main_Page
Posted by: Alef | Aug 1 2022 6:55 utc | 92
Viacheslav Volodin - Chairman of the State Duma
President Zelensky and Washington are behind the missile attack on the pre-trial detention center in Yelenovka.This was done for one purpose: to prevent a new Nuremberg trial, where captured Nazis - Azov would begin to testify.
Washington and Kiev are removing witnesses to their crimes against humanity so that the citizens of European states and the United States do not turn away from them, and the supply of weapons and ammunition continues.
Public recognition of their atrocities by the nationalists of the Azov Battalion would inevitably lead to demands to prosecute the leaders of a number of NATO countries.
Posted by: ostro | Aug 1 2022 7:11 utc | 93
By the way, today, 1st August, is the Remembrance Day of Warsaw Uprising against the German occupation in 1944 -- Germans then wanted to liquidate Poles as a nationality. It was genocide by the Germans then...and today, with VD Leyen as the head of EU running the next genocide in the Ukraine, ironically with the help of the Poles themselves.
Posted by: ostro | Aug 1 2022 7:18 utc | 94
American hard-line conservatives are pro-Putin and calls Zelensky a dictator
Posted by: Alef | Aug 1 2022 6:55 utc | 176
This is what a lot of posters on MOA are saying. I strongly disagree. A huge amount of Americans of all stripes are antiwar, in general, regarding all of the many wars that the US manages.
You may see more of US media on the right against the war, yes. The left media chokes when they might oppose anything that our current Democrat president tries to do.
Check out commondreams.org. They will introduce a topic related to the war in Ukraine in some way. This opens the door for the comments, which come pouring in, 95% strongly opposed to the Ukraine War, and pretty much any war going back into US history.
Posted by: HelenB | Aug 1 2022 7:18 utc | 95
Posted by: Jerr | Aug 1 2022 3:20 utc | 156
It seems this civilian caravan that has been proposed may be cover for Kiev to withdraw large numbers of troops disguised as civilians or as an escort.
There are a varied number of possible explanations:
1) As cover for 404 troop movements (your explanation)
2) To depopulate the area and permit scorched earth tactics
3) To depopulate the area and retain/increase the 404 population
A likely 4th reason is found in an examination of the RF reporting of targeted missile strikes. The RF is using precision weapons and hitting key locations containing troop concentrations, headquarters or communications functions, or military stores.
How are the RF able to achieve such precision targeting? From space one warehouse looks much like another; how does the RF know which one contains the military stores, or the personnel?
If we accept that the Donbass contains a majority of Russian speakers who have been labelled as "cockroaches" and therefore subject to extermination, refused use of their own language and culture, and at various times being roasted alive or subjected to military attack, then it is reasonable to presume the inhabitants are not friends of the Z regime.
I suspect a major factor in the success of RF precision attack derives from source reporting by the disaffected Russian speakers whose lives are at risk as long as they live within the jurisdiction of Z. They have every incentive to ensure the success of the DPR/LPR/RF and do so by reporting what they observe. These observations then result in a visit from Mr Kalibre.
It is also known Z has fired the head of the SBU due to the fact this UAF Gestapo also appears to pass information to the DPR/LPR/RF.
If you are loosing the war because the population is helping your opponents prevail the only response is: 1) kill them all (expensive, hard to achieve, bad optics) or 2) evacuate the population for their own safety (to the applause of the west).
Posted by: Sushi | Aug 1 2022 7:29 utc | 96
Posted by: Saggy | Aug 1 2022 3:23 utc | 157
The Front line is obscured by all the markers
If you zoom in on those markers you will see that a large number of them show UAF entrenchments. These are variously trench networks, gun emplacements and concrete bunkers created over the years since 2014.
This is a very strong defensive position akin to what was common in WWI. A frontal attack would be suicidal. The DPR/LPR/RF have therefore been using artillery strikes to destroy these positions and weaken them. This application of force enables a slow rate of advance that avoids significant loss of own troops.
There has been a breakthrough in the area of Donetsk. It is believed the DPR/LPR/RF will exploit this breakthrough and seek to expand it and push the UAF back and out of range of the civilian population of Donetsk. It is speculated this advance will occur in August.
Posted by: Sushi | Aug 1 2022 7:43 utc | 97
Alexander Mercouris analysis nicely summarizes here and in earlier reports on an issue I have struggled with: what about the big cities, are they much harder to conquer and aren't they being postponed? This was based on my lack of understanding that much of the urban fighting has already been going on in Donbass.
AM :"in my opinion the battle of donbass remains the single most important battle of the ukraine war. If the russians. Clear donbass, I've never myself had any doubts that eventually they would do but if they're able to capture donbass, the best better part of the ukrainian army would have suffered massive losses and there is no other area of ukraine except possibly parts of kiev and perhaps the immediate area around odessa city which is remotely comparable to donbass in terms of its the ability to create fortifications and defense lines there donbass because of its very high population densities at least by ukrainian standards it's highly urbanized character the fact that there's large a large number of heavy industrial facilities located there is defendable like no other part of ukraine is and if donbass comes under russian control personally I do not see how the ukrainians could continue to hold on to places like Zaporozhia city
and even Kharkov itself starts to look extremely vulnerable."
Posted by: Tuyzentfloot | Aug 1 2022 8:13 utc | 98
Looks like Serbia has managed to delay NATO's second Kosovo war until September at least.
https://www.rt.com/news/559963-kosovo-serbs-tensions-vucic/
Conveniently timed as a bargaining chip for Autumn? when presumably all of Donbass will be taken, Russia will be pushing further West, and Germans will be freaking out at rising inflation, low gas reserves and droppings temp and GDP figures..
Ursula and Borrell will be 100% on board too of course, grasping at whatever leverage they can get while seeking to punish anyone who even mildly deviates from the EU party line, like Vucic. One wonders what is brewing for Orban and Hungary perhaps?
According to Pepe Escobar, Blinken was in Kosovo merely days ago.
https://t.me/rocknrollgeopolitics/4269
I would be very wary of any future 'visits' to Eastern and Central Europe by US State department officials. If Burns or Austin turn up, can we expect some new colours in the NATO 'rainbow of change', or at least something equally dodgy? I wish them every success Juan Guaido got in Venezuela..
Posted by: Et Tu | Aug 1 2022 8:17 utc | 99
Sushi | Aug 1 2022 7:29 utc | 181
" how does the RF know which one contains the military stores, or the personnel?"
It's clear they have a lot of local support. But the eye in the sky works 24/7 too.
This relocation of civilians, which isn't mandatory yet, they can stay if they want, must have other reasons. They may need human shields in other locations, they may kill them and say it was Russia, exactly like Bucha, it can be anything. They still say on MSM exactly what Borel tweeted, that Russia exploded their own prison or that Russia is attacking Donetsk.
Which shows how strange this strategy is, of not "removing" the government and all US puppets. Since nato has killed almost the entire ukr army just for fun, the revenge attacks will search the biggest targets they can find, with the highest effect on MSM
Posted by: rk | Aug 1 2022 8:19 utc | 100
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From the Saker, does this mean that the RF will take the whole of Ukraine, or was it just a throw away comment.
"This change was implicitly confirmed on 28 July by Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary to President Putin, who declared that ‘the whole of the Ukraine needs to be denazified’."
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Jul 31 2022 13:33 utc | 1