I count 7 HIMARS destroyed and rumors of one being sold to the Russians.

Posted by: John Nudo | Aug 13 2022 15:04 utc | 4

@ John Nudo | Aug 13 2022 15:05 utc | 5 with the data points about HIMARS in Ukraine
Thanks. I am curious about their overall impact on the Ukraine SMO…how many brought into the zone, how much used and to what effect and then how many destroyed……I expect the only happy folks are the merchants of war tools.
I didn’t expect this SMO to continue at this pace. I expected the situation to escalate in Ukraine and around the world sooner to pressure the God of Mammon cult into ending their bully ways of social control and am being proven wrong. I do believe the outcome will remain the same but more must die and suffer to structurally change the Western social contract away from private finance.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 13 2022 15:22 utc | 6

It’s funny that you mention a trip to Crimea, that has been on mind for several years, way before 2022, and ever since reading a couple of books by author RH Auslander; specifically, “An Incident on Simonka” (2016?) and “Sevastopol, The Third Defense, 2013-2014: A Premonition, The Move South” (2018).
The books intrigued me, as the author seemed to have a very unique background, and I liked his use of the device of a novel (fiction) to suggest certain things that might or might not have actually taken place.
Posted by: Yashuo | Aug 11 2022 17:49 utc | 66
A post from the last thread that jumped out. This man, an American who moved to Crimea many years ago is not only a top class writer but has now suffered more than most since 2014 with members of his family, killed and injured in the fighting in Donbas.

Posted by: JohninMK | Aug 13 2022 16:06 utc | 8

USA sent 7 or 8 HIMARS, then +4, then announced +4 again. That’s 16.
UK sent 3 M270, then +3.
Germany also sent 3.
That’s 25 new MLRS for Ukraine since June.
But it really doesn’t matter. Russia destroyed 797 MLRS in total.
From the USA brand, destroyed 7 and presumably bought 1. That leaves 8 for Ukraine (4 there on the front line and 4 arriving).
What difference does it make? Why track a specific model? I tell you why: because the western “journalists” that made so much noise about it, were paid to do so. By whom? Lockeed Martin.
Now, when Western governments spend more in their “Defense”, when NATO national budgets go up to 2% GDP while people can’t handle inflation, cold, and recession, the positive propaganda will allow the “leaders” to say something like: *but it’s money well spent, because it’s on HIMARS to defeat Putin*
Actually, the reason why Russia decided to play along and start announcing each destruction of this particular model of MLRS, serves 2 purposes:
– more talk about HIMARS, keeping the brand popular in Western consciousness;
– PsyOp, because every HIMARS destroyed is a direct blow against NATO propaganda, and later it will take its toll when European governments apply austerity while at the same time try to increase “Defense” spending to 2% GDP.
Now, talking about Ukrainian terrorism around the Nuclear Power Plant, I can only expect Russia to keep doing the same: not biting the bait for more escalation.
Well, maybe only one or two KALIBRations around Western Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, as a final warning, in case Medvedev’s rethoric is not enough as a first warning.

Posted by: Carlos Marques | Aug 13 2022 16:24 utc | 10

Re Zaporozhye
The sure way to stop this nonsense and the resulting catastrophe would be for the RF to issue an ultimatum to the US and the UK
that if the Ukrainians keep shelling the Zaporozhye NPP the RF will NUKE Washington and London.
End of game.

Posted by: CarlD | Aug 13 2022 16:26 utc | 12

Chay Bowes has an article at Covert action magazine on Ukraine propaganda:
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/08/13/war-propaganda-about-ukraine-starting-to-wear-thin/
The problem is that there really is nothing new to say, while all the events add up to an indictment of the Ukrainian regime and its demented sponsors in Washington with a policy which has been on autopilot since at least 1947 and probably goes back to the, now forgotten, General Hoffman in 1918.

Posted by: bevin | Aug 13 2022 16:39 utc | 14

Another link!
“Who wants a nuclear disaster in Ukraine? The role of the Black International”
By Dimitris Konstantakopoulos
“…We have been pointing out for a long time the existence of an extremist “Black International” within the Western system, acting with the methods of “entryism”, provocations and the creation of faits accomplis, in order to push the whole western system of power in its preferred direction.
“This tendency is responsible for all the wars in the Middle East, for the overthrow of the entire arms control regime installed in the world 30 years ago and for the crisis in Ukraine. They tried to provoke a US invasion of Syria in 2013 and – repeatedly – to provoke a war against Iran. We hope they have nothing to do with COVID.
“Their strategy is to spread war and chaos, hoping that in this way they will preserve Western domination on the planet. It is the Wolfovitz, Jeremiah, Huntington scenario.
“They will not succeed in assuring western domination, but they can, if they try hard enough, blow up the world…”
http://www.defenddemocracy.press/who-wants-a-nuclear-disaster-in-ukraine-the-role-of-the-black-international/

Posted by: bevin | Aug 13 2022 16:43 utc | 16

It appears to me that western behavior extrapolates to direct and unlimited conflict with Russia. For technocrats is purely a formality, does not reflect personal views nor to they generally expect significant personel discomfort as a result. It is the nature of bureaucracies that they wing themselves up to justify the most extreme behavior. So far, Russia hoping/expecting that they may come to thier senses but when large corrupt bureacracy meets resistance it only reacts to increase force often extending the same measures which resulted in undesirable outcomes. Particulary when the bureacracy is only a tool/surrogate of larger interests.
I believe that Russia might get ahead of the escalation curve by putting west on notice that it deems itself justified to respond in kind to genocidal, nuclear threat – targeting wider military targets including decision making centers with wide scale destruction.
Unfortunately, perhaps there is no one with power to change course listening on the western side. This would be portrayed as a bluff and anyway is desired outcome for some I suspect. One cannot intimidate the insane.

Posted by: jared | Aug 13 2022 16:47 utc | 18

RIA Novosti reports that a total of 40 civilians, including 2 children, have stepped on PFM-1 “Lepestok” anti-personnel mines in the DPR since the Ukraine first started to disperse them over civilian areas on July 30; one civilian has died from injuries. Here’s a photo of an old woman who stepped on a PFM-1 mine on August 6 on Zharikova Street, Donetsk: photo.

Posted by: S | Aug 13 2022 17:31 utc | 20

PavewayIV@22…it always prudent to err on the side of caution, women and children first. Basically all non essential personnel.
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Aug 13 2022 17:53 utc | 22

Eva Karene Bartlett @EvaKBartlett – Aug 8, 2022 · 7:12 AM UTC
Aside from Ukraine’s relentless bombing of civilian areas, tearing people into pieces…& it’s firing of missiles containing petal/butterfly mines onto areas we walk, it has also repeatedly targeted water infrastructure.
For days there’s been no running water in Donetsk…

Eva Karene Bartlett @EvaKBartlett – Aug 8, 2022 · 7:16 AM UTC
This is how we get water: Emergency Services delivers, we line up & wait for our chance to fill up bottles & buckets.
I used 1 5 litre bottle to bucket to “shower” yesterday, another to finally hand wash laundry. Goes quicker than you think, even if being v careful…
[4 photos]

Alkaline Stingray 碱性魔鬼鱼 @WingdingsPerson – Aug 8, 2022 · 7:16 AM UTC
Doesn’t seem like there’s a legitimate justification for Ukraine to be targeting water facilities but then again, we’re talking about the country that blocked a whole river to Crimea for 8 years out of spite.

Article 51: Targeting Waters or Water Installations
1. Combatants shall not, for military purposes or as reprisals, destroy or divert waters, or destroy water installations, if such actions would cause disproportionate suffering to civilians.
2. In no event shall combatants attack, destroy, remove, or render useless waters and water installations indispensable for the health and survival of the civilian population if such actions may be expected to leave the civilian population with such inadequate water as to cause its death from lack of water or force its movement.
3. In recognition of the vital requirements of any party to a conflict in the defense of its national territory against invasion, a party to the conflict may derogate from the prohibitions contained in paragraphs 1 and 2 within such territories under its own control where required by imperative military necessity.
4. In any event, waters and water installations shall enjoy the protection accorded by the principles and rules of international law applicable in war or armed conflict and shall not be used in violation of those principles and rules.

Posted by: S | Aug 13 2022 17:59 utc | 24

Posted by: rk | Aug 13 2022 16:39 utc | 14
—
Well, you may have noticed that Dmitry Medvedev had gone to LNDR on the 11th August with a delegation to meet the heads of the republics. He had gone there in the name of the president of RF.

On Thursday, I visited the Lugansk People’s Republic, where I met with the heads of the LPR Leonid Pasechnik and the DPR Denis Pushilin.
On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, I held a meeting on priority measures to ensure the security of the republics of Donbass.
At the meeting, which was attended by Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Igor Krasnov, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation Sergei Kiriyenko, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Minister of Construction Irek Fayzullin, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov, Head of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin, they also considered issues of promoting economic and social development of the LNR and DNR.
Particular attention was paid to the harmonization of the laws of the LPR and DPR with the legislation of the Russian Federation, the restoration of infrastructure, the repair of hospitals and the preparation of schools for the start of the school year, the solution of social problems and the support of citizens.
The head of the Investigative Committee informed about the progress of the investigation of crimes committed by Ukrainian nationalists and the collection of evidence in the framework of the criminal cases.

Posted by: rp | Aug 13 2022 18:06 utc | 26

Dimitry Medvedev is the deputy chief of the RF Security Council. Medved, by the way is the Bear.

Posted by: rp | Aug 13 2022 18:08 utc | 28

@PavewayIV #22
Rybar writes:

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Ukrainian resources are pushing information about more strikes on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. They’re also posting videos with alleged traffic jams at the exit from Energodar, where the largest nuclear power plant in Europe is located.
But with a detailed analysis of the video, you can immediately notice several inconsistencies:
▪️If the recording was indeed made this afternoon, then at these latitudes the sun should be in the south-southeast. Comparing this fact with the frames, you can see that the line of cars is moving east-north-east.
▪️It is simply impossible to go anywhere from Energodar to the north: the Kakhovka reservoir is located there. Therefore, if the video was really made somewhere in the vicinity of the city, then the convoy of cars is just at the entrance to the village.
▪️However, with a high degree of probability, the video was filmed somewhere in the central regions of the Zaporozhye region: this is indirectly indicated by the phrase at the end, where the operator advises “to go through Melitopol”. According to local residents, the recording shows a traffic jam on the road between Skelpa and Vasilyevka, caused by the blocking of a checkpoint on the border between the liberated and UAF-controlled territories.
🔻The very fact of shelling of nuclear power plants, by the way, has not been confirmed either: there is not a single video with explosions in open sources, which usually immediately appear on the network after the strikes.
But even in this case, taking into account the above points, it can be accurately stated that the video with the alleged mass exodus of Energodar residents is a deliberate disinfo of Ukrainian propagandists. Which is part of the Ukrainian campaign to create panic in the liberated territories in order to disrupt the upcoming referendum.

Posted by: S | Aug 13 2022 18:12 utc | 30

Iran and Russia to build three satellites together
Iran and Russia are to manufacture three orbital spacecraft similar to the recently launched Khayyam spacecraft. The Minister of Information and Communication Technologies of Iran, Isa Zarepur said, “God willing, we will build Khayyam-2, Khayyam-3 and Khayyam-4 in cooperation with Russia.”
He explained that the Khayyam apparatus was developed by the Iranian Space Agency, while its manufacture was carried out in Russia. On Tuesday, Roscosmos announced that the Khayyam satellite, launched on August 9 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, had been launched into orbit.

Posted by: rp | Aug 13 2022 18:24 utc | 32

If the attacks are to prevent a referendum, the timing is wrong, it’s a month till then. Or zely doesn’t think he’ll be around in September?

Posted by: rk | Aug 13 2022 18:44 utc | 34

PavewayIV | Aug 13 2022 17:32 utc | 22
S | Aug 13 2022 18:12 utc | 31
S is correct; Another person also debunks Number 5.
Elena Evdokimova
@elenaevdokimov7
·
1h
🇺🇦 fake by @ChuckPfarrer
⬇️about the Zaporozhya nuclear station -🇺🇦 is relentlessly shelling it:
Debunking:
https://t.me/rybar/37132
The line of vehicles is a traffic jam on the road between Skelpa and Vasilyevka
(Uses the same source)
***
BUT, there are other movements, including an unexpected advance North West of Kharkiv, Entry into Bakhmut after four weeks (DPR), Pisky nearly all taken, Marinka breached etc. and renewed Russian pressure ALL along the line in Donbas.
All of which suggest the total breakdown of Ukraine’s defensive lines must be close. The recalling of Ukrainian “recruitment centres and Town officials”, is part of a generalized movement and they were told to “bring the city records with them”. One reason could be to set up a “Government in exile” later.
Must keep the cash flow, see Juan Guaido.
***
“Speculation” says that there could be a massive airdrop coming, and my own “bet” is on Dnipro, as it would allow movement into the territory north of the Zaphoriza plant but on the other side of the river (Nikopol). Even towards Zeles “hometown”. (Not sure what in-depth defensive lines exist in that area.)
It has a big dam and several bridges, which could be useful to cross the Dniepr, plus a large train shunting yard.
***
PS. Plus a small granite island just downriver of the dam called “Stone bird island”, but those are not relatives of mine.

Posted by: Stonebird | Aug 13 2022 19:03 utc | 36

Ah, the Ukraine, a bastion of democracy and human rights: video.
The moderate Nazi concludes the extremely democratic execution by proclaiming in Ukrainian: “That’s what will happen to every enemy who comes to kill our women, children and dishonor our land. Glory to Ukraine, and death to enemies!” The “enemy”, of course, is also a Ukrainian, so he didn’t really “come” to the Ukraine—he was there all the time—but who cares about such trifles when the totally-real-and-not-at-all-a-complete-and-utter-bullshit “Ukrainian democracy and human rights” are at stake?

Posted by: S | Aug 13 2022 19:18 utc | 38

#joe9211
.
Tip :
Google the nickname “joe9211”
Little pro, just whether also a troll?
But measured by his participation on almost every page, whether English or Chinese, suggests full-time!

Posted by: mac99 | Aug 13 2022 19:38 utc | 40

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/joe9211/
Starts a Pinterest entry, 0 Followers, 4 Following, 0 Pins
What a great troll;-)
Seriously, if you expect to get paid, you REALLY need to up your game.
I KNOW, DON’T FEED THE TROLLS.
But ridiculing them is SO much fun1

Posted by: Old canadian | Aug 13 2022 19:45 utc | 42

#Eightman
My tip….thank you

Posted by: mac99 | Aug 13 2022 19:48 utc | 44

Russia IMO are misguided in announcing Referendums when they can’t offer the various regions SECURITY. These announcements only further provoke the Nazi Ukrainian regime into committing more War Crimes against civilians.
Secure the Donbass, take whatever other regions you want and when the threat of the Ukrainian regime is negated, proceed with elections, not while civilians are at their most vulnerable.

Posted by: WTFUD | Aug 13 2022 19:56 utc | 46

People are misinterpreting what Freeland says when she states, ostensibly about the NDP, that “we are in charge”. What she means is, “Trudeau and I are following orders from the WEF where I am a board member, and Singh also a WEF Young Leader, better remember who is in charge of the Canadian government… Klaus Schwab, who has over 50% “penetrated” said gov’t. (his word not mine, and Trudeau confirmed this by subsequently praising Schwab at that same gathering.)
This is banner-waving Ukie-nazi-in-residence Freeland, who supports the Zelenski cabal with money, weapons and propaganda.

Posted by: Old canadian | Aug 13 2022 20:07 utc | 48

g7 chooses not to stop shelling of nuclear plant.
Posted by: polarbear4 | Aug 13 2022 19:51 utc
There might be another way to interpret what is going on with the ZNPP.
I just checked CNC and CTV “news” and Ukraine seems to have indeed disappeared from the “top of main page” spot. A couple of nothing blurbs down the splash page, but that’s it. Even the Ukraine-specific sub-page is not piled with major “news”.
Could it be that Zelenski has gone rogue regarding the ZNPP? Maybe the US doesn’t want to be connected to the second “country” which deliberately caused non-military-objective-carnage by massive irradiation of a civilian population?
How to convince Z that doing so is a bad idea? De-platform him. If that doesn’t work, quietly stop sending him toys and cash until he falls back in line.
Assassinating Z would be difficult to pin on Russia (for long), as Russia really hasn’t noticeably engaged in reported Tactical Team attacks in western Ukraine. If they were, Z would have been screaming it from the rooftops.
And IIRC, Russia has consistently, publicly said they want Z alive to negotiate as the “legitimate” president of Ukraine, otherwise it becomes a mess as to who can actually negotiate at all.

Posted by: Old canadian | Aug 13 2022 20:28 utc | 50

The Crisis in Ukraine Is Not About Ukraine. It’s About Germany By Mike Whitney, first posted on Global Research on February 13, 2022, prior to the Russian invasion
Interesting read…

Posted by: rp | Aug 13 2022 20:55 utc | 52

S | Aug 13 2022 17:59 utc | 25

Doesn’t seem like there’s a legitimate justification for Ukraine to be targeting water facilities

It’s the US way of war – remember Iraq, Syria, Serbia, Yemen.

Posted by: cirsium | Aug 13 2022 21:00 utc | 54

karlof1@57
Designating the USA a “State Sponsor of Terrorism” and citing chapter and verse to prove it would be a ‘slam-dunk’.
From the Forest Brothers through to ISIS and the various bands of goons they have working in Africa there is a superfluity of evidence, (most of it well known to the UN member governments who have been victims of US proxies), beyond any doubt that is is high time to fight lies with truths.
The United States is the sponsor of ninety per cent of the terrorism-including that from which it suffers-in the world.
Call it Belling the Cat.

Posted by: bevin | Aug 13 2022 21:16 utc | 56

It’s almost impossible to figure out what is happening in the war.
All governments lie (Izzy Stone), most especially in wartime.
Some guesses/opinions.
a) The war in the South is close to a stalemate. Very little progress
on the ground. Both sides are suffering serious losses in men and materiel
but Ukraine more so.
b) Partisan/Spacial forces action behind the Russian lines is a problem for
Russia. The damage to the airfield in Crimea was serious and probably a
result of such action. [The alternative is incompetence].
c) Strategically this is bad for Russia. The industrial capacity
of Europe and North America is much greater than Russian capacity.
How many HIMARS can be manufactured and delivered in the next year?
d) Shelling nuclear power plants is beyond stupid.
e) The danger of escalation is very real, and many decision makers seem
oblivious to the risks. We need a settlement very soon.

Posted by: Nick | Aug 13 2022 21:17 utc | 58

It’s almost impossible to figure out what is happening in the war.
Some guesses/opinions.
Posted by: Nick | Aug 13 2022 21:17 utc
No point in knocking these down point by point. It wastes our time and annoys the pig.
The only way that your guesses and opinions to make ANY sense is if one gives any credence to anything the US/ZATO gov’ts and their presstitutes say.
I suggest you spend some time reading 6 months of Ukraine-related back-articles and posts (including the past trollery highlights) here at MoA to figure out the level expected.
Is this like Zelenski sending untrained troops to the grinder that the front has become? US/ZATO not paying well enough to get their best boiler-room commenters to grace MoA?

Posted by: Old canadian | Aug 13 2022 21:34 utc | 60

Could it be that Zelenski has gone rogue regarding the ZNPP? Maybe the US doesn’t want to be connected to the second “country” which deliberately caused non-military-objective-carnage by massive irradiation of a civilian population?
Posted by: Old canadian | Aug 13 2022 20:28 utc | 54

It’s not clear to me how Zelenski would expect to benefit from doing something of which his handlers/sponsors/suppliers might disapprove.

Posted by: David Levin | Aug 13 2022 21:40 utc | 62

S | Aug 13 2022 21:31 utc | 63–
Excellent, and thanks very much. I’ve taken to reading the Russian version of TASS too as there’s more info.

Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 13 2022 21:45 utc | 64

Very useful article by Sputnik about HIMARS:

Cancian said his estimate is that the United States has produced about 50,000 guided missiles since 2004, when the production began, with 5,800 to be procured this year alone. At the same time, the Biden administration has provided Ukraine with about a third or 10,000 of HIMARS missiles in US stock.
The colonel also said that manufacturer Lockheed Martin is trying to increase production levels, but it takes time to do so, usually about 18 to 24 months, while the HIMARS launchers are currently not in production.
While it remains unclear how many HIMARS the United States has at the moment, it is known that by 2009 Lockheed Martin produced about 250 units for the Army and Marine Corps, the report said.
According to official data, the United States to date has supplied Ukraine with 16 HIMARS systems and with munition for them.

Yes, there’s more at the link.

Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 13 2022 21:55 utc | 66

d) Shelling nuclear power plants is beyond stupid.
e) The danger of escalation is very real, and many decision makers seem
oblivious to the risks. We need a settlement very soon.
@Nick | Aug 13 2022 21:17 utc | 62

The industrial capacity
of Europe and North America is much greater than Russian capacity.

I dare to doubt. So does RUSI https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/return-industrial-warfare
Deindustrialization was great for neoliberal rent collectors but detrimental for any kind of “production battle”. See also https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/is-america-the-real-victim-of-anti-russia-sanctions

How many HIMARS can be manufactured and delivered in the next year?

I would estimate >50 <100 launchers, both HIMARS and M270 together, within a year. Pentagon planned to order 240 such guns over a period of 4 years. And it is far from clear that such an order would not run into supply chain and resource troubles, maybe needing commodities and pre-products from Russia and China.
What is known, is the actual maximum capacity of GMLRS missiles for the launchers by Lockheed Martin, namely 7000 per year. Same as above applies here too, not sure whether they are able to sustain it. As to stocks, there were 40,000 rounds ever produced, distributed between all NATO partners, Australia, NZ, Taiwan and a few more. At best, 20k will be available to be shipped to UA, and the state of some may resemble that of Javelins and Stingers. Some missiles landed unexploded behind the front and were displayed by the Russians.
GMLRS are an effective pinpoint weapon, albeit not very powerful. The missile is a 200kg steel tube. Unguided MLRS missiles from HIMARS/M270 with a range of 30km were reported by Lockheed to have a warhead mass of 90kg. The 70-80km range guided version, with additional solid fuel and gear for steering and targeting naturally have less, I estimate 40-50kg, as much as a heavy field artillery or howitzer shell. The pictures of damage at Antonovsky bridge corroborate that.
In summary, HIMARS/M270 is no wonder weapon, as wasn't Javelyn and so on.

d) Shelling nuclear power plants is beyond stupid.

I agree. The silence/denial of the West, media included, is scary.

Posted by: aquadraht | Aug 13 2022 22:16 utc | 68

Re Zaporozhye
The sure way to stop this nonsense and the resulting catastrophe would be for the RF to issue an ultimatum to the US and the UK
that if the Ukrainians keep shelling the Zaporozhye NPP the RF will NUKE Washington and London.
End of game.
Posted by: CarlD | Aug 13 2022 16:26 utc | 13
I thought something similar.
RF tells DC that if the Ukes cause a contamination disaster, then Russia will consider that a nuclear first strike against Russia by the US and NATO, and will respond accordingly.
I just wish the Russians would flatten that area that’s shelling the plant already.

Posted by: Michigan Dude | Aug 13 2022 22:25 utc | 70

@ 62 Nick Xmas
No progress, hmm.
Pure nonsense, UAF are nearing total capitulation. Where are you getting your info from, Bellingcrap?
The end is nigh!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: WTFUD | Aug 13 2022 22:32 utc | 72

In al demographic maps of Ukraine, the line that separates the ethnic Russian areas is also the line of the extent of historic Polish rule and also marks the edge of the Eurasian step. Belarus – Kievan Rus principalities that came under Lithuanian rule and influence. Ukraine – principalities that came under polish rule and influence.
Galica is an outlier in that it came under Austrian rule with Austria/German influence in the 140 years prior to WWI. There was a large German migration into Galicia in the period Galicia was part of Austria.
I have done a bit of an article with maps and so forth here.
https://vk.com/@739151204-the-three-parts-of-ukraine

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 13 2022 22:43 utc | 74

Michigan Dude | Aug 13 2022 22:25 utc | 74
“………RF tells DC that if the Ukes cause a contamination disaster, then Russia will consider that a nuclear first strike against Russia by the US and NATO, and will respond accordingly.”
Agree.
I’d like to see some precision RF weapons placed in a “nyet” pattern just outside the perimeter of one, or all, of the west Ukrainian NPP.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Aug 13 2022 23:10 utc | 76

Eighthman | Aug 13 2022 21:41 utc | 67
“…Ukraine is wholly supported by the West ($). How long can that go on?”
Ukraine in default according to Fitch and S&P
Aug 12 (Reuters) – Global rating agencies S&P and Fitch on Friday lowered Ukraine’s foreign currency ratings to selective default and restricted default as they consider the country’s debt restructuring as distressed.
Earlier this week, Ukraine’s overseas creditors backed the country’s request for a two-year freeze on payments on almost $20 billion in international bonds.
The move will save Ukraine some $6 billion on payments according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
Battered by Russia’s invasion, which started on Feb. 24, Ukraine faces a 35%-45% economic contraction in 2022 and a monthly fiscal shortfall of $5 billion.
Ukraine aims for $15-20 billion IMF loan by year-end, central bank governor says
Ukraine aims to strike a deal for a $15-$20 billion programme with the International Monetary Fund before year-end to help shore up its war-torn economy, the country’s central bank governor Kyrylo Shevchenko told Reuters.
Shevchenko ……said he hoped to agree on a swap line with the Bank of England “within weeks”, though he did not specify the amount.
Kyiv had already submitted its request to the IMF, the governor said, and was now in consultation with the fund over the new financing that he hoped would provide as much as $20 billion over two or three years in form of a Stand-By Arrangement or an Extended Fund Facility.
It was the first time Ukraine has put a number on the fresh financing it needs from the Washington-based lender.
A $20 billion programme would be the second largest currently active loan from the IMF after Argentina.
“The IMF has always acted as Ukraine’s partner during the war,” Shevchenko told Reuters.
The IMF’s latest loan to Ukraine was a $1.4 billion emergency financing support agreed in March – the equivalent of 50% of the country’s quota in the fund.
Separately, Kyiv is now in talks with its international creditors over a freeze in debt payments to ease its liquidity crunch. On Tuesday, Ukrainian energy firm Naftogaz has become the country’s first government entity to default since the start of the Russian invasion.
Ukraine’s central bank has a $1 billion line with Poland’s central bank already.
Some relief on foreign exchange revenue and liquidity would also come from the deal agreed last week between Moscow and Kyiv to allow safe passage for grain shipments in and out of Ukrainian ports,
However, those revenues and shipments would only pick up in earnest next year, when under the central bank’s “conservative” estimates exports could hit 5 million tonnes per month and generate approximately $5 billion in 2023, Shevchenko said.
Speaking about the central bank’s intervention in currency markets as well as its bond buying programme, Shevchenko said both would continue for now, though the latter would cease as soon as the war ended.
He added that operating in times of war had seen a whole new host of vocabulary spring up, with expressions such as “maturity of war” – a term to describe the time frame of a debt instrument used in the context of the conflict.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Aug 13 2022 23:47 utc | 78

apologies if this is too far off topic, regarding Nuclear provocations in Ukraine, is anyone aware of any research into the possibility of Chernobyl being an act of espionage?

Posted by: K | Aug 13 2022 23:53 utc | 80

psychohistorian | Aug 14 2022 0:17 utc | 86
I posted a link to the Michael Roberts blog on this very subject today. If you didn’t see it here is another link to the same, very useful, piece.
https://socialistincanada.ca/in-ukraine-the-threatened-invasion-of-foreign-capital/

Posted by: bevin | Aug 14 2022 0:40 utc | 82

So that’s two huge – huge – losses on the scoreboard for the Pelosi crazies. Will they attempt a hat trick, or will the faction who could see the insanity of provoking Russia AND China finally prevail?
Posted by: Melaleuca | Aug 13 2022 22:40 utc | 77
Unless Pelosi’s visit aroused exactly the response desired by the US (and probably requested by PRC), namely PRC beginning a sanctions war against US which will no doubt escalate over time as with Russia such that by winter time the world supply chain from Eurasia to West will dry up.
Just next step in this globally coordinated take-down of the West.

Posted by: Scorpion | Aug 14 2022 1:43 utc | 84

Does anyone else smell the stench of American thinking in every pronouncement from the Ukrainian government? Even controversial matters are presented with signature American cultural flavor. Parse the word choices, the grammar, the logic (if there is any), and it all points to the stupid, angry, violent, domineering mode of typical American thinking. There is absolutely ZERO sovereignty in the Ukraine; just a collection of mindless Ukrainian bodies (vessels) carrying out orders from the United States. It’s creepy and sad. One hopes that when the Ukrainian government is defeated and its members put on trial for crimes against humanity, the United States too will suffer a mortal blow. What a pox upon the Earth.

Posted by: Horton | Aug 14 2022 4:24 utc | 86

Thanks for all the comments on this.
sean the leprechaun | Aug 13 2022 17:53 utc | 23 Re: erring on the side of caution. I guess my point was: what changed? Why (if true) would they leave now and not previously? And why? Fear of more shelling? Some kind of new Russian offensive? A Ukraine offensive? (OK, just threw that one in for the lols) And were are the civilians going? South and east to remain in Russian controlled territory, or going east around the reservoir to get to Zaporizhzhia city? Maybe they’re not ‘fleeing’, but going shopping in Zaporizhzhia for the weekend.
jared | Aug 13 2022 17:55 utc | 24 Re: Demilitarizing the NPP. Sorry, I respectfully disagree. I wouldn’t trust AFU and damn well wouldn’t trust the right-wing nutjobs. Either would make a grab for the plant. Can you imagine the nightmare of trying to smoke them out if they took over the plant and took the reactor operators hostage? I think Russia is right to guard it.
S | Aug 13 2022 18:12 utc | 31 Re: Rybar analysys. I saw that but a few things confused me.
– The sun is *not* in the south-southeast in the afternoon – it’s in the south or southwest. I can see the sun reflecting off the south or west-facing edge of the truck/van windshields. The cars seem to be traveling 1) east if it’s before noon, or 2) south if it’s after noon. Rybar says east-northeast.
– Rybar makes a point about not being able to travel directly north from Enerhodar because of the reservoir and (I guess) uses that to suggest that – if the video was made in Enerhodar, then it must be at the edge of the city. Rybar seems to be implying that the cars are at the outer edge of Enerhodar traveling east-northeast, but there is no such road leading to Enerhodar in that direction. And that brings up the more confusing possibility that people are fleeing *into* Enerhodar from somewhere. Maybe I’m misunderstanding this.
– The last suggestion that the video was taken somewhere in central Zaporizhzhia because of the reference to going through Melitopol totally baffles me. Central Zaporizhzhia = somewhere like Tokmak. So if someone is there, in a traffic jam, and being directed to Melitopol as an alternative, then they would be traveling 50km or so to the southwest. I can’t figure out why so many people would be going anywhere if they were already in central Zaporizhzhia or why they wouldn’t already be going to Melitopol.
– Finally, Rybar says the locals say its a video from traffic between Skelpa (which I cannot locate on a map) and Vasilyevka backed up due to a checkpoint. Seems reasonable, but why would anyone then suggest going through Melitopol, 65 km to the south, instead?
I’m willing to believe the video is NOT a traffic jam of people fleeing Enerhodar and that will be easy enough to confirm in the next day or two. If there was that kind of exodus, then people either remaining in Enerhodar or those that left will post something about it. I’m guessing we’ll hear nothing. Not sure what to make of Rybar’s suggestion that it was propaganda to disrupt the referendum since it is so sloppy and easily disproved.
rk | Aug 13 2022 18:44 utc | 35 – Re: too early to disrupt the referendum. Seems like – IDK.
Stonebird | Aug 13 2022 19:03 utc | 37 – Re: Elena Evdokimova (Twitter) debunking – she blames Chuck Pfarrer, but all that guy did was repost the original by Nazi shill Jay in Kyiv. Jay in Kyiv has been ranting about [sigh] Kherson offensive/Russians cut off in Kearson/Russian commanders fleeing south across the Dnieper. The ‘fleeing’ video kind of goes with that narrative.
Re: Recall of Ukraine recruiters and town officials. Agree that would indicate a collapsing front, but why would Ukrainians publicly announce that? The Kherson/Zaporizhzhia front may indeed be collapsing, but this particular bit seems fabricated.
Re: Big airdrop. Intriguing, but that would be wishful thinking on my part. Russians are in slow grind mode, not big, splashy ops mode. And an airborne assault with big transport aircraft into territory monitored 24×7 by NATO with workable Ukrainian air defenses is a recipe for disaster. Still, it would be damn amazing if they pulled it off.

Posted by: PavewayIV | Aug 14 2022 6:08 utc | 88

Barflies should be under no illusions. Kiev’s military is NATOland trained, organized, and commanded. It’s also highly probable that thousands (tens of thousands ?) of various NATOland military is currently active inside Kiev‘s territory.

Posted by: Exile | Aug 14 2022 6:55 utc | 90

However much Ukies bomb/throw missiles at Energodar NPP, they can’t break through the concrete cover. They can keep on playing the Himars comedy.
Russia also plays along the Ukie comedy to keep everyone focused on upcoming nuclear disaster, while concentrating on a much more important matter in liberating DPR, that is, encircling the highly fortified region, Bakhmut, Kramatorsk, Slovyansk. Once, these areas are taken, or blocked and suppressed, it’d be the end of story for the Ukie army. Right now, half the Soledar had been taken.
In the meantime, RF forces are slowly, but surely moving around Kharkov. Also, holding a a large part of Ukie army near/around Nikolayev. Ukies have to keep a part of its army in around Sumi too. That is, there’s more than 800kms of front line, not considering the Odessa oblast. Its pretty hard for them to determine, where would the RF forces break through, even with all those US/UK spy planes, US spy satellites.
I feel that in a few weeks, the highly fortified region, Bakhmut, Kramatorsk, Slovyansk will be encircled. When that happens, or just before that, many military infrastructure of western Ukie cities will be Kinshalled.
By the way, many military/intelligence “experts” in the western MSM are a bit “troubled” with the slow motion or no-motion of the RF forces for the last few days. Still, for them, Russians are too tired, doesn’t have enough weapons…😃

Posted by: rp | Aug 14 2022 7:41 utc | 92

PavewayIV | Aug 14 2022 6:08 utc | 93
Thanks for the reply.
Re: Recall of Ukraine recruiters and town officials. that particular point was probably PR to “strike enough terror” (Joe Tzu karaté style) into people in the area to leave. Although taking the offficial records with them may have something to do with a certain “Million man army” and a line of coke. Or a new devious “Black Adder” type of plan by Zelensky. (Retirement as a new Gov. in exile)
*
Airdrop and Zaporizhzhia. Here I have to eat crow as I mentioned/confused it with Dniepro which is further North. Zaporizhzhia is the one with the large Dam (Too big to blow up?) and several bridges just upstream.
Thinking it through now, It could be another spot for a FF and put the NPP in some danger if breached, but that is also rather stupid as it might make crossing the Dniepr upstream easier. “Foot meet bullet” for the Ukes and NATO, (as the only material that is not in short supply for them is stupidity).
However, from earlier maps there are two fortified lines betweeen the present postions of the Russians and Zaporizhzhia along the eastern river bank. Neither of which extend eastwards very far into the agricultural plain. (Based in one case behind another tributary joining the Dniepr). It may be worth leapfrogging them by air, but risky as you say, and is probably unlikely.
****
PS. Now I notice that crows round here are in short supply, I wonder why?

Posted by: Stonebird | Aug 14 2022 8:09 utc | 94

JohninMK 9. I too purchased Auslander’s books from him and found them a fascinating and prophetic read. He used to post regularly on the Saker but not seen anything from him for months. Sorry to hear he has experienced family losses. Do you have any news of how he is doing?

Posted by: Phil Espin | Aug 14 2022 8:24 utc | 96

If you know Russian, listen to Olesya Medvedeva, an Ukrainian born in Gorlovka, Donetsk Oblast. Gorlovka is still not fully liberated by the RF and allied forces. You can use subtitles to read in your language.

Posted by: rp | Aug 14 2022 8:59 utc | 98

Trudy said he’ll train nazis too.
All they do is basic training for basic terrorists on how to use explosives, mines, little drones and whatever. That’s all it is, there are no soldiers coming out of them.

Posted by: rk | Aug 14 2022 9:36 utc | 100