… The “Clobber list” being posted daily without any scepticism is my favourite thing in this echo chamber.
Posted by: evilsooty999 | Aug 23 2022 17:26 utc | 79
You’ll humour us all with an explanation as to why those with the most to gain from exposing false RF claims don’t even try to dispute the regular progress reports that are official statements from RF ministry of defense.
The US, its Zone A bootlickers, the embezzler-pimps of Team Zelensky, even Z’s online legions of relapsed bipolar meth-heads don’t bother.
RF progress reports omit their own losses but the lack of any external challenge leaves little doubt that RF claims are on the low side and that everyone with inside info knows it.

Posted by: anon2020 | Aug 23 2022 18:42 utc | 104

Scott Ritter by RT
.
Fears that the Ukraine conflict is now bogged down into some sort of stalemate which risks dangerous escalation from the parties involved in order to achieve victory are misplaced. There is only one victor in the Ukraine conflict, and that is Russia. Nothing can change this reality.
Renowned American intellectual John Mearsheimer has written an important article about the conflict, entitled: ‘Playing with Fire in Ukraine: The Underappreciated Risks of Catastrophic Escalation’. The article paints a dark picture about both the nature of the war in Ukraine (prolonged stalemate) and probable outcome (decisive escalation by the parties involved to stave off defeat.)
Mearsheimer’s underpinning premises, however, are fundamentally flawed. Russia possesses the strategic initiative – militarily, politically, and economically – when it comes to the war in Ukraine and the larger proxy engagement with NATO. Moreover, neither the US nor NATO are in a position to escalate, decisively or otherwise, to thwart a Russian victory, and Russia has no need for any similar escalation on its part.
In short, the Ukraine conflict is over, and Russia has won. All that remains is a long and bloody mopping up.
The key to understanding how Mearsheimer got it so wrong is to dissect his understanding of the ambitions of both the US and Russia when it comes to the issue. According to Mearsheimer, “Since the war began, both Moscow and Washington have raised their ambitions significantly, and both are now deeply committed to winning the war and achieving formidable political aims.”
Ukraine and its Western backers should be held accountable for the ‘suicidal’ attack on Europe’s largest nuclear powerplant
Read more Ukraine and its Western backers should be held accountable for the ‘suicidal’ attack on Europe’s largest nuclear powerplant
This passage is especially difficult to parse out. First and foremost, it is extremely difficult to articulate a sound baseline when it comes to assessing US “ambitions” vis-à-vis Ukraine and Russia. President Joe Biden’s administration inherited policy which had been conceived in the George W. Bush-era and partially implemented under the team of Barack Obama (where Biden played a critical role). This was a very aggressive policy geared toward undermining Russia with the goal of weakening the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to such an extent that eventually he would be replaced by a figure more amenable to adhering to a US-dictated policy line.
But one cannot pretend that there were not four years of Trump administration policy which threw the anti-Putin – and, by extension, anti-Russia – narrative promulgated by the Obama administration on its head. While Trump was never able to gain traction for his ‘why can’t we be friends’ approach to US-Russian diplomacy, he was able to seriously undermine two major policy pillars which propped the Obama-era policy up, namely NATO unity and Ukrainian solidarity.
The Biden administration was never able to resuscitate the Obama-era policy direction regarding Russia, inclusive of its anti-Putin goals and objectives. Trump’s undermining of NATO’s unity and purpose, when combined with the humiliating pull-out from Afghanistan, put the bloc on the back foot when it came to standing up to the challenge of a Russian state determined to be more assertive about what it viewed as its legitimate national security interests, inclusive of a new European security framework respectful of the notion of a Russian ‘sphere of influence’.
Instead, the world was treated to the spectacle of Joe Biden insulting his Russian counterpart with cartoonish ‘he’s a killer’ comments, all the while making promises regarding diplomatic initiatives (pressuring Ukraine to accept Minsk II, starting ‘meaningful’ arms control talks) that his administration proved unable and/or unwilling to follow through on.
The US keeps reneging on arms control agreements, so why should Russia trust Joe Biden’s latest overtures?
Read more The US keeps reneging on arms control agreements, so why should Russia trust Joe Biden’s latest overtures?
When confronted with the reality of a Russian military build-up around Ukraine, the best the Biden administration could do was make empty military threats and even emptier promises about “meaningful and unprecedented” economic sanctions should Russia intervene militarily.
The fact is, while US government officials may make bold statements about the need to inflict harm, via proxy, on the Russian military through the provision of billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to Ukraine, it is the US which has had defeat inflicted on it in terms of the ongoing losses of its Ukrainian proxy military and the destruction of the equipment provided in support. The US, like its NATO allies, has proven to be very good at making bold pronouncements about goals and intent, but very bad at putting them into practice.
This is the state of American ‘ambitions’ vis-à-vis Ukraine today – all rhetoric, no meaningful action. Any fear of a US and/or NATO military intervention in Ukraine must be weighed against the reality that hot air does not generate cold steel; US politicians might be adept at filling the pages of a compliant mainstream media with impressive-sounding words, but neither the US military nor its NATO allies are able to generate the kind of meaningful military capability needed to effectively challenge Russia on the ground in Ukraine.
This reality severely limits the scope and scale of any possible US ambitions regarding Ukraine. At the end of the day, Washington has only one path forward – to continue to waste billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money sending military equipment to Ukraine, which has no chance of changing the outcome on the battlefield, to convince a domestic American audience that their government is ‘doing the right thing’ in a losing effort.
NATO’s arsonist-in-chief Jens Stoltenberg wants the Western public to pay for a Ukrainian fire he helped to ignite
Read more NATO’s arsonist-in-chief Jens Stoltenberg wants the Western public to pay for a Ukrainian fire he helped to ignite
There is no ‘military option’ in Ukraine for either the US or NATO because, simply put, there is no military capable of meaningfully executing such an option.
This conclusion is critical to understanding Russia’s ‘ambitions’. Unlike the US, Russia has articulated clear and concise objectives regarding its decision to dispatch military forces into Ukraine. These can be described as follows: Permanent Ukrainian neutrality (i.e., no NATO membership), the de-Nazification of Ukraine (the permanent eradication of the odious nationalistic ideology of Stepan Bandera), and the de-militarization of the state – the destruction and elimination of all traces of NATO involvement in the security affairs of Ukraine.
These three objectives only reflect the immediate goals of the Special Military Operation in Ukraine. The ultimate objective – a restructured European security framework that has all NATO infrastructure withdrawn to the 1997 boundaries of that alliance – remains as a non-negotiable requirement that will have to be addressed after Russia secures its final military and political victory in Ukraine.
In short, Russia is winning on the ground in Ukraine, and there is nothing either the US or NATO can do to alter this outcome. And once Russia secures this victory, it will be in a far stronger position to insist that its concerns about a viable European security framework be respected and implemented.
Mearsheimer believes that the situation on the ground in Ukraine provides both the US and Russia with “powerful incentives to find ways to prevail and, more important, to avoid losing.”
At the end of the day, the Ukraine conflict is not an existential one for either the US or NATO; a loss in Ukraine will be another setback – Afghanistan on steroids. But a Ukrainian defeat does not, in and of itself, threaten NATO with collapse or spell the end of the American Republic.
Simply put, Mearsheimer’s fear that a loss in Ukraine “means that the United States might join the fighting either if it is desperate to win or to prevent Ukraine from losing” is unfounded.
The myth of the HIMARS ‘game changer’: American-supplied rocket system is effective, but it won’t bring victory to Ukraine
Read more The myth of the HIMARS ‘game changer’: American-supplied rocket system is effective, but it won’t bring victory to Ukraine
So, too, is his contention that “Russia might use nuclear weapons if it is desperate to win or faces imminent defeat, which would be likely if US forces were drawn into the fighting.” Russia neither “faces defeat” nor has anything to worry about, existentially, from a US military intervention which, from all practical points of view, could not materialize even if the US wanted to be so bold.
Mearsheimer concludes his article by noting that “This perilous situation creates a powerful incentive to find a diplomatic solution to the war.”
Nothing could be further from the truth. Just as the US would be loath to seek a “diplomatic solution” to the conflicts waged against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, Russia would be similarly disinclined to engage in any diplomacy which denied it the full implementation of its core objectives.

Posted by: mac998 | Aug 23 2022 18:43 utc | 106

Chaka Khagan @93–
Yes, that’s how they shotdown two F-117 “stealth” fighters when NATO attacked them. Those same AD weapons will take out B-52s. And that’s a reason why they use stand-off weapons against AD equipped nations while using dumb bombs on the world’s Afghanistans. It appears that Serbia was equipped with Chinese AD systems instead of S-300s.

Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 23 2022 18:57 utc | 108

Regarding war reporting, one side has great credibility while the other side has none. It’s really that simple. The Empire of Lies has well-earned that sobriquet. That’s why it imprisons Assange.

Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 23 2022 19:03 utc | 110

Posted by: evilsooty999 | Aug 23 2022 18:48 utc | 106
Your cheap hustle is misplaced.

Posted by: anon2020 | Aug 23 2022 19:06 utc | 112

These theories that nato can’t find a big enough army to win forget that US may not be looking for a win.
The way US has killed 100k-200k Ukr, knowing very well they absolutely can never win a war, can be repeated in Poland, Romania, Baltics or Finland, even Moldova. Don’t think those puppets won’t send their own population to die if they’re asked to. That is why they exist and are part of nato, they are a meat buffer.

Posted by: rk | Aug 23 2022 19:13 utc | 114

Inserito da: NewWorldDisorder | 23 ago 2022 19:00 utc | 108
The SMO was a necessary and legitimate act given the situation that has arisen since 2014. Russia had the right to defend itself from the NATO presence that threatened its borders and killed 20000 civilians in Donbass.
The war of attrition is a consequence of the continued Western support and the Western desire to have as many ukrops killed as possible used as cannon fodder.Even my dog understands that,sorry for you.

Posted by: LuBa | Aug 23 2022 19:36 utc | 116

@116
Your dog is an idiot that licks his own ass so stop emulating him.
The SMO was never necessary or legitimate, WAR was and is necessary. The SMO is half measures and delays that has and will cost Russia dearly.

Posted by: NewWorldDisorder | Aug 23 2022 19:55 utc | 118

Posted by: NewWorldDisorder | Aug 23 2022 19:55 utc | 118
You shouldn’t be angry when someone highlights your low IQ.

Posted by: LuBa | Aug 23 2022 19:59 utc | 120

Military Summary Channel speculates that on 25 Aug the Russian Duma will declare Ukraine to be a “terrorist state”.
He further speculates that, once so declared, any country, company, organization supporting Ukraine, will be considered supporting terrorism, and is fair game.
He speculates that this will justify cutting off the supply of everything.. gas, oil, diesel, gasoline, coal, titanium, aluminum, wheat, fertilizer to any country supporting Kiev.
Interesting…..
Could the assassination of Daria Dugina be the straw which broke the camel’s back?
INDY

Posted by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Aug 23 2022 20:14 utc | 122

from @22 “Summary”.

a radar station for detecting low-altitude targets in the area of the Dymovskoye settlement of the Mykolaiv region, as well as a US-made radar system for counter-battery warfare in the area of the Rogan settlement of the Kharkiv region.
During the counter-battery struggle, three Ukrainian platoons of Grad multiple launch rocket systems were suppressed in the areas of the settlements of Razdolovka and Opytne, four platoons of D-30 howitzers in firing positions in the areas of the settlements of Petrovskoye, Krasnogorovka, Pervomaiske and Dzerzhinsk of the Donetsk People’s Republic, as well as two American M777 howitzers in the Manganese region of the Dnipropetrovsk region.

(my emphasis in bold text)
First is the Russian emphasis on the US origins of the artillery. Second is that the later M777 that have been supplied use electronic geo location – that MUST come directly from the NATO/US satellite systems. (As do HIMARS tagets). Line of sight and drones are so “passé”.
*
“radar systems for counter-battery warfare”, both side claim they are destroying each others systems. (Twitters and drones for “proof”) BUT the US has introduced HARM missiles (radar seeking) fired from ????? but normally carried only by suitably adapted aircraft, which I don’t think the Ukes have.
*
Clearly the next phase of the SMO (Slow Motion Obliteration) is not going to be anything like the first two.
*
Now, the US is appearing more and more directly on the front line. Which is what many have feared – a direct war is a distinct possibility between nuclear armed powers.
***
Not having enough guaranteed information to work out what will happen before the end of the month, here are a couple of points to keep an eye on.
Belarus; Could be either a real buildup, or the S-400 are blowups. (As have been seen in Crimea). If they are blow-ups in Crimea, it suggests the Belarussian ones are for real.
The USS Kearsage, LCD 3. One of the biggest ships in the US Navy, mainly for landing or support for troops, is in port in Klaipedia, Lithuania, just next door to Kalingrad. I don’t think the US is stupid enough to try to take Kal., but why did the Russians move two M-31’s with Zircons there?
**
These are just movements, the waltz, but the position of the US is now – that they are no longer hidden behind a “proxy” doing the fighting and with Europeans doing the heavy lifting and paying.
The reluctance of the EU to go any further except in bluster, shows that cold reality may be beginning to show it’s first icy fingers. (As they desperately try to light up a few barbeque fire-lighting bricks to keep warm.)
****
Kherson is going to be one of two centres of interest – as the US has gone to ground there (Odessa). The Russian HAVE advanced towards Nickolaev,(suprise, surprise even though their access is supposedly cut). The other is “Kiev”, but my guess is Kharkiv comes first.
**
May I live in less interesting times (or is it a bit too late for that?)
***
PS. An apparent connection between the ZPP and Chemical attacks on Russian troops, MAY be the large Ukrainian specialized “Unit” (size unknown) on the Western side of the Dniepr opposite. (Specialized in Radiation and chemical warfare, completely Hazmatted – which I would have assumed was defensive – but one never knows exactly)

Posted by: Stonebird | Aug 23 2022 20:17 utc | 124

Stonebird | Aug 23 2022 20:17 utc | 124
I believe two Migs went to Kalingrad some time ago, another three in the last two days. That gives five decapitating shots that can reach UK amongst other places as first volley.
Putin put the nuclear forces onto full combat alert on 28th February due to noises coming out of UK.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 23 2022 20:34 utc | 126

@Stonebird | Aug 23 2022 20:17 utc | 124
Very shrewd analysis. I would only point out that without major American troop deployments to Europe and without a Russian mobilisation all of this save the new Russian maneuvers north of Kherson are merely the waltz.

Posted by: Bleethe | Aug 23 2022 20:40 utc | 128

Dr. George W Oprisko | Aug 23 2022 20:14 utc | 122
I have been wondering about that. I believe the murder has been brought up at the UN but haven’t read up on that. The results of the Duma meeting may be interesting.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 23 2022 20:47 utc | 130

Posted by: Zanon | Aug 23 2022 20:13 utc | 121
Baltic is one weird type of people, today another baltic nation razed monument against nazi genocide. These people only purpose in life seems to be to hate Russian people just like Hitler.
—
Some monuments pass, others arise.

Nazi collaborator monuments in Lithuania
Vilnius — In many ways, Lithuania pioneered the glorification of Nazi collaborators on a state level. It has perverted museums and tourist sites; celebrated perpetrators as national heroes; persecuted Holocaust survivors who defended themselves with pre-trial investigations for “war crimes;” destroyed a prominent author’s livelihood for the crime of admitting Lithuanians participated in the Holocaust; and is debating denialist legislation similar to Poland’s.

https://forward.com/news/462699/nazi-collaborator-monuments-in-lithuania/

Posted by: Nobody | Aug 23 2022 20:50 utc | 132

The moment western media distanced itself from Assange, it lost all of its credibility…
Posted by: toxique | Aug 23 2022 19:49 utc | 117
Brilliant summary of western MSM
A vaccous nothing parroting inanity.

Posted by: Jpc | Aug 23 2022 20:53 utc | 134

How are we supposed to be able to recognize who is a troll?

Posted by: Lysias | Aug 23 2022 21:11 utc | 136

@Dr. George W Oprisko | Aug 23 2022 20:14 utc | 122
It would run contrary to Russian inclination and practice. The emotional effect of the assassination is on the Russian citizen, not the external world, so if it is to be used at all it will be upon the rodina. I would not expect any dramatic military moves from the RT, as they are winning with the strategy they are using. Any drama will come from Europe, likely in reponse to its energy concerns.

Posted by: Bleethe | Aug 23 2022 21:13 utc | 138

“What’s disingenuous and empty is claiming Russia is under existential threat from the combined forces of nato and the west but some mercenaries and local militias are all that’s required to deal with.”
Posted by: NewWorldDisorder | Aug 23 2022 20:53 utc | 134
Why are you replying to me and then having nothing to say about my comment?
To borrow your opener, What’s disingenuous and empty is your reply/comment.
I mentioned nothing of existential threats to Russia, or NATO, or mercenaries or local militias, etc.

Posted by: Spinworthy | Aug 23 2022 21:14 utc | 140

IMO, the Sanctions War has always been part of the Ukraine drama. Today, Putin met with Chairman of the State Development Corporation, Vnesheconombank, Igor Shuvalov about the bank’s priority areas of activity in the face of external sanctions pressure. Here we have direct evidence provided by a main actor that sanctions are failing very badly and are having the opposite affect of helping Russia’s internal banking, finance, and development activities. I’m very impressed, but don’t take my word for it. Here’s the transcript translated to English:

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Igor Ivanovich, Vnesheconombank is the most important development institution in our country. The group’s assets are over four trillion, and the loan portfolio is over one and a half trillion.
How is the work of the group structured in today’s conditions?
I.Shuvalov: Thank you, Mr President.
Today’s conditions are not easy. After February and such large-scale sanctions that were imposed against the banking sector of the Russian Federation, we, in fact, had to re-form the infrastructure of interaction with banks and with our customers. But we managed to do this work, to do it. And I would like to inform you that by now we have built full cooperation with Russian banks, with some foreign banks and with our clients.
It’s no secret that customers are often wary of secondary sanctions. Using the mechanisms of information delivery that were provided to us by the Central Bank, we managed to solve this problem. We often served – especially where it is an export-import operation – in dollars and euros. We switched exclusively to working in rubles. We also use other currencies of friendly countries, but at the moment we do not conduct any more operations on the euro and the dollar.
Interest in the data transmission system of the Central Bank is great. By the way, we are even before all these sanctions, guided by the principles of partnership in the interbank association. Scowhen they were chairmaned at one time, this system was promoted. Some banks of countries, including those included in EAEU, this system was accepted.
So far, what is happening to VEB’s business? In cooperation with the Government and the Central Bank, all the necessary decisions have been made on regulatory requirements and the provision of capital. On your instructions, the Supervisory Board decided to allocate guarantees in favour of commercial banks in the amount of 1 trillion 350 billion rubles. Of this amount, 860 billion has already been provided to commercial banks, and they are already signing loan agreements with their borrowers. To date, 365 billion rubles have been issued.
So these are real support measures – just as a development bank should work in a difficult crisis situation. The Government and I are working flexibly enough to reorient some of the already issued lines of guarantees in order to consider investment projects, and not only the replenishment of working capital or other needs of our enterprises.
Moreover, speaking at the St Petersburg Forum, the XXV International Economic Forum, you said that it is necessary to support the Project Financing Factory and provide us with additional capital of 120 billion rubles. These decisions have been made, and we are now discussing with the Government and the Ministry of Economic Development what new projects to launch in order to support the investment cycle in the Russian Federation in these difficult conditions.
First of all, this will concern projects of new industry. We now live in conditions when there are completely different needs, for example, in our aviation equipment. The market requires the production of aviation equipment in such a volume that we will have to expand the capabilities of existing enterprises.
Vladimir Putin: Thank God.
Igor Shuvalov: Yes. And this is our work, so we are fully involved in this work at the request of the Government in order to expand the production capacity of aircraft and engines. We perceive this as a priority for ourselves.
The projects that we previously planned for ourselves will be fully implemented. This includes the modernisation of electric urban transport and housing and utilities – you also spoke about this topic. We get involved and here we work together with Marat Shakirzyanovich Khusnullin.
Together with the DOM.RF Corporation, we are looking at joint opportunities, how to prepare large sites in order to launch as many square meters of new modern housing for Russian families as possible.
Also, everything related to the agenda of technological sovereignty is now a priority for us. You talk about this all the time. We see this for ourselves now as one of the main tasks.
Therefore, everything that concerns the lives of ordinary citizens in cities – where waste management, clean water, urban transport, where these are large industrial enterprises – we are fully involved in the work and will continue this work.
We experienced certain difficulties with the capital market and thought that these difficulties would be quite long. But I must report to you, Mr President, that we have recently managed to place 60 billion rubles of bonded loans on the Russian market on good terms. For us, it was a good test to see how much we can work in the ruble zone. We see this as a success. Of course, we are careful about this. We will not now, at this time, place bond loans for huge sums, we will be placed only for those projects that require liquidity.
But the Ministry of Finance helps us in terms of liquidity, we work according to the rules for providing funds from the National Welfare Fund. So here we have both the opportunity to borrow on the market from commercial banks – commercial banks treat us as a reliable partner, and to place bonds in favor of corporate clients.
Vladimir Putin: Are you able to find projects that require, on the one hand, support, but, on the other hand, are liquid?
Igor Shuvalov: Yes, Mr President, we are currently working for the most part on projects that are of interest to commercial banks, but which at the moment cannot be fully serviced by commercial banks due to the new risk circumstances that commercial banks want to share with the development bank.
This applies to copper mining and the creation of new batteries, for example, what Rosatom will do. These are all commercial projects on a repayable basis. It’s just that in these conditions, commercial banks want to share the risks with us. This is just our main function, so we will definitely work.
Vladimir Putin: Very good.

While NATO’s financial structure groans and erodes at the margins under an impossible debt load, Russia’s system is becoming stronger daily, and without any help from China. One big surprise was the strength of the internal Ruble Capital Market. If I were in a position to buy Russian bonds, I certainly would as they’re likely the best current investment vehicle available. What I find highly ironic is Russia’s following what Hudson called the American School of development that was responsible for its ability to develop without much in the way of European financial aid from 1820-1912. What’s more, NATO has no tools to use to stop Russia’s growth.

Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 23 2022 21:30 utc | 142

Remember y’all, when the imperial whore presstitutes are ginning up hysteria about ”The Russians are coming!” it is intended to cover for an offensive by the NATOadies. My prediction is that they intend to try and saturate and destroy Russian air defenses in and around the Ukraine and set up a NATOady “no fly zone”… or more accurately “only NATOady fly zone”. This is because they have begun to realize that it is impossible for the NATOadies to even achieve stalemate without air superiority. All American strategies depend upon it.

Posted by: William Gruff | Aug 23 2022 21:35 utc | 144

*US Embassy (re)declares that all U.S. citizens leave Ukraine immediately because of rising tensions.
*US Ambassador to the UN *demands* Russia allow the IAEA come to inspect the plant (they already did months ago)
*Big grass fire on the periphery of Zaporizhzhia NPP today from shelling (obviously Russians shelling themselves again)
*Russian soldiers taken to the hospital with signs of either organic poisoning or radiation poisoning (sketchy details, sounds like B.S. but same thing reported in July)
*Purported official-sounding Ukraine public announcement from random social media account. Doc in Ukrainian, comment by poster:

“This public announcements started to show up in #Ukraine. It says because #Rusdia occupied #ZaporozhyeNPP our military will have to hit them on those positions this may result in leak of radiation please be ready and prepare the following list: firstAid kit, water, your documents[followed by image of doc in Ukrainian]

*Related? US sends a couple of B-52s for “assurance overflights” as a show of “inter-allied cohesion and solidarity” (or small-penis syndrome compensation) over our important allies in south:

“…The flyover demonstrated U.S. commitment and assurance to NATO Allies and partners located in southeastern Europe flying over Dubrovnik, Croatia; down the Adriatic coast of Montenegro; Skopje, North Macedonia; and Tirana, Albania.”

[Note: if this flyover sounds weird as hell to you, I can assure you: IT IS.] Greek F-16s chased away some Turkish F-16s (or the other way around) escorting the B-52s.
*US/UK now have a nearly continuous Global Hawk drone and RC-135 Surveillance/Electronic Warfare aircraft presence over the Black Sea for, errr…. security and freedom stuff. No signs of our WC-135 Constant Phoenix nuke sniffers (not that they would advertise their presence), but I would guess they’re skulking around the Black Sea ‘just in case’.
What does it all mean? No reason to panic. They would do this in order to nail the ‘be afraid’ narrative mongered by the US and NATO. The implication being that Russia must leave Zaporizhzhia immediately (and stop looking for extra or missing illegal nuclear materials because there’s a perfectly innocent explanation unless you’re some kind of a Putin-lover!]

Posted by: PavewayIV | Aug 23 2022 21:44 utc | 146

Mr. B tells us : « don’t feed the troll. »
Everybody feeds the troll LMAO.

Posted by: Featherless | Aug 23 2022 21:50 utc | 148

mac998 @146: ” And who is supposed to do that.”
Well, I did say the NATOadis would “try”, not that they would succeed. Honestly! When was the last time the Empire of Lies & Delusions got anything right? The morons started believing their own lies decades ago and have done nothing right since.

Posted by: William Gruff | Aug 23 2022 21:52 utc | 150

@William Gruff | Aug 23 2022 21:52 utc | 151
mac998 is a schizophrenic. don’t waste your breath.

Posted by: Skeek | Aug 23 2022 21:57 utc | 152

@Posted by: Pyper | Aug 23 2022 21:53 utc | 152
Exactly and succinctly!

Posted by: Roger | Aug 23 2022 22:06 utc | 154

Scorpion | Aug 23 2022 21:51 utc | 150
If they can knock out the cooling systems, very large radiation zone depending on wind direct. The hydro dam Ukies are targeting apparently supplies electricity to the plant which would be required for a shutdown. They are also targeting the spent fuel storage site which according to Russia MoD would result in a small contamination zone.
No new Eurozone promises or donations in the last two months – plenty of articles now on war fatigue and how Europe must keep backing Ukraine. Desperate times calls for desperate measures.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 23 2022 22:17 utc | 156

@ Lysias 137
How are we supposed to be able to recognise who is a troll?
Their lips move!

Posted by: WTFUD | Aug 23 2022 22:24 utc | 158

Surely the risk from radiation from the Zaporizhia plant depends partly on the direction of the wind, in the two weeks following (or until there is a big rain storm to wash dust out of the air). Dust can travel thousands of km but I assume it would be the first 500km downwind most severely affected.
The one area that cannot escape is the Black See where radioactive dust will be washed. Not sure how important fishing is to Romania, Georgia, Moldova, and Turkey but I think it would be all over for them for the next 100 years.
Just checked – 390,000 tonnes of fish from the Black sea. Lots of small fishing boats. hideous social problems if destroyed. Now I am not sure of the flow rate/interaction between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean but if there is significant flow into the med, then Greece will e severely affected too.

Posted by: watcher | Aug 23 2022 22:26 utc | 160

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 23 2022 22:17 utc | 158
Thanks for your reply, Peter. So probably not too bad for Germany but no guarantees?
To prevent further shellings would RF need to take out NATO overhead (spy satellites, AWACs etc.)? If so, then they will have to take this to the next level.
Could be a good thing, but will further traumatize West into yet more mass formation pathocracy.

Posted by: Scorpion | Aug 23 2022 22:27 utc | 162

I believe Erdogan’s statement after meeting with Ze & Guttersnipe of the UN was most telling, even though there’s not been much comment on it.
He inferred that Ze felt he was being used, even lied to.
What a prick!!!
How do you know when a politician/spy are lying? – Their lips move.
Poor sap, if he escapes assassination, all he has left is a half dozen McMansions and half a Billion off-shore.
Not a lot to show for selling your citizens/country to the evil empire.

Posted by: WTFUD | Aug 23 2022 22:38 utc | 164

Scorpion | Aug 23 2022 22:27 utc | 164
I suspect RF has everything under control. Beefed up AD that prevents anything critical at the plant getting hit. Being soviet era quite likely has underground bunkers is which back up cooling systems and generators may have been recently installed in the event of shutdown.
Ukraine knocked out the power to Chernobyl when Russia controlled it and backup generators for the coolant pumps were used there.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 23 2022 22:39 utc | 166

Pyper | Aug 23 2022 22:27 utc | 163
The only thing Zelensky worries about is staying alive while raking in the dollars. He is organised crime. The country, the people mean nothing to him.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 23 2022 22:43 utc | 168

Bleethe | Aug 23 2022 22:36 utc | 166
There is a massive range of opinions in Russia which is good to get the mood of the country. As to what Russia will actually do, the only ones to listen to are Putin and Lavrov.
Putin is in charge of foreign policy and makes the final decision. Only Putin and Lavrov speak within those decisions because what they say is official policy. Most others are free to say what they like.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 23 2022 22:51 utc | 170

Opport Knocks | Aug 23 2022 22:43 utc | 170–
The good Doctor provided me that info in a PM at VK, while you personally attack him. That’s really poor form and 100% INEXCUSABLE.

Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 23 2022 22:59 utc | 172

thanks to all the informative folks here – stonebird, paveway, the watcher, karlof1, william gruff, peter and some of the newer posters…
here is the headline on cbc news… if anyone thinks the info on what is happening with get thru to western msm, they better think again.. ps – i am not providing a link, because i don’t like supporting straight out bullshit… cheers james
“Mother of Mariupol steel plant defender has only rumours and hope, 3 months after his capture.”
that is at the top of cbc news today… canada is so fucked in the head.. the media, the politicians and generally the public too…

Posted by: james | Aug 23 2022 23:21 utc | 174

Pyper | Aug 23 2022 21:53 utc | 152 – Re: “Russia has disconnected Zaporizhzhia from the Ukrainian power grid.”
Not as far as I know, Pyper. People often confuse a couple of different events:
1. Ukraine disconnected its power grid from the Russian/Belarus one in March, synchronized the power with the European grid (ENTSO-E) and is now permanently connected to it. The Ukraine grid includes Zaporizhzhia NPP and TEP.
2. Ukraine cut Crimea from its power grid years ago. Russia has built two new thermal electric plants that supply Crimea’s electrical needs. It’s not clear if Crimea is connected to Russia’s grid (via Crimean Bridge) but they can supply their own power independent of Russia now.
3. Zaporizhzhia NPP must be connected to another power plant or a national grid as a component of layered nuclear plant safety. Being disconnected would be considered a serious event: loss of offsite power sources at a nuclear plant is a reportable critical event and a degraded safety condition. On-site generators are only a last-ditch temporary fix (days).
Russia and ZNPP workers would simply not voluntarily disconnect from the Ukrainian grid under any circumstances without adequate alternate offsite power. Ukraine, on the other hand, has already tried to blow the plant’s high voltage switchyard controlling all 750kV HV offsite power (partially successful), already blown up the high-voltage transmission towers to/from the plant (partially successful – two of three 750kV lines down), blew up a 330kV alternate feed outside Unit 4 to/from the thermal plant’s switchyard (successful, also caused Unit 4 to shut down from full power) and has repeatedly bombed the thermal plant’s switchyard and substation (plant is not operating, but acts as a distribution point to most of the Russian-controlled territory south and east of the plant.
There are two power plants at the ZNPP site: 6 x 1,000 MWe reactors/turbines at the nuclear site, and 3 x 1,000 MWe steam turbines at the thermal (coal) plant.
Russia has no desire to continue feeding gigawatts of electricity to the Ukraine grid that Kiev can then export/resell to Europe. But disconnecting Zaporizhzhia from that grid is a complex, time-consuming operation. Repairing the thermal electric plant next to the nuclear plant and having it operating is probably the first thing that must happen before they think of disconnecting from the Ukraine grid. In any case, it’s a lot more complicated with a nuclear plant that just cutting the existing high voltage lines or flipping a big switch somewhere. Western MSM always leaves that part out.

Posted by: PavewayIV | Aug 23 2022 23:28 utc | 176

Posted by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Aug 23 2022 20:14 utc | 122
Yesterday Dima predicted the Duma making a big decision and he’s right about the process of Russian politics. However, yesterday he predicted that the Duma would give Putin power to use nuclear weapons outside of Russia and “as needed”. He was wrong. I thought he was and guessed designating Ukraine a terrorist state (but I can’t prove that I did). He was very observant on the process. He’s still good but has gotten more and more into saying what he thinks will happen instead of what will happen, as well as passing “inside information”. He’s no more right on his predictions or inside information than anyone (including some excellent commenters here). All analysts should be taken with a grain of salt. The best analysts admit their errors instead of changing the script.

Posted by: Lex | Aug 23 2022 23:34 utc | 178

Is Phase 3 of the war starting? With a Russian push west along the black sea. This will allow LDNR to finish up Donetsk and crack the remaining Ukraine forces and Nazis. Kharkov and Odessa will be last. So Russia doesn’t have to destroy them. They will be surrendered. What are the Russian troops doing in Belarus? Lots of s400s reported there.

Posted by: Ringo | Aug 23 2022 23:39 utc | 180

Ukraine knocked out the power to Chernobyl when Russia controlled it and backup generators for the coolant pumps were used there.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 23 2022 22:39 utc | 169
Thanks. I suspect you are right. How hard can it be for a colossus like RF to ensure a full suite of backup generators? Let’s hope you’re right that the basic structure is impervious to bombardment….

Posted by: Scorpion | Aug 23 2022 23:43 utc | 182

Two useful links on Ukraine from Canadian sources.
This item is a collection of news articles and research papers that detail the longstanding efforts of Western governments and agricultural giants as well as Western financial institutions to lift restrictions in Ukraine on the sale and leasing of farmland. Polls show a majority of Ukrainians oppose any large-scale privatizations of farmland, but the government in Kyiv together with Western governments and financial institutions are working very hard to break down and eventually eliminate such restrictions.
https://socialistincanada.ca/dossier-on-western-pressures-to-open-farmland-in-ukraine-for-leasing-and-privatization/
In Just Under Three Weeks, Ukrainian-Fired Prohibited “Petal” Mines Maim At Least 44 Civilians, Kill 2, in Donetsk Region by Eva Bartlett
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/08/23/in-just-under-three-weeks-ukrainian-fired-prohibited-petal-mines-maim-at-least-44-civilians-kill-2-in-donetsk-region/

Posted by: bevin | Aug 23 2022 23:46 utc | 184

The good Doctor provided me that info in a PM at VK, while you personally attack him. That’s really poor form and 100% INEXCUSABLE.
Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 23 2022 22:59 utc | 175

Hardly an attack, simply a poor attempt at dark humor. After all, he is the same age as I am 😉

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Aug 23 2022 23:51 utc | 186

Ringo | Aug 23 2022 23:39 utc | 183 “What are the Russian troops doing in Belarus? Lots of s400s reported there.”
Europe along with their masters, five-eyes, has bet the family jewels on destroying Russia. When you are about to lose the family jewels, what is there to do but escalate?
Belarus and Kalingrad protrude into Europe. The barbarians of the German forest and the anglo seafarers are stoked on hubris and beating the war drums. Geography professor Truss is quite likely to become the PM of the soon to be former UK.
The anglosphere appears determined to prove Hudson wrong on his timeline.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 23 2022 23:58 utc | 188

@PavewayIV | Aug 23 2022 23:28 utc | 179
I don’t have any inside information, but a ZPP disconnect makes strategic sense AND explains the recent UA outbursts.
1. Russia has physical control of ZPP and can disconnect at will.
2. Crimea is irrelevant. The purpose of a disconnect would be to restrict electricity to the EU, which UA has been dselling to the EU since 2 July.
3. Dinconeecting ZPP from the grid creates NO danger. You are conflating two separate processes: the nuclear generators’ process of generating electricity and the distribtuion of that electricity upstream.
The former IS as you say a very delicate situation, and if the core is not respected it will fracture and release its energy in a catastrophic manner. That core must be cooled with water, and the flow of that water is controlled by separate electricity generation. That is the danger associated with atomic power.
The failure to distribute the electricity GENERATED by an atomic power plant, however, creates no danger. The generated electricity merely DISCHARGES if not stored or distributed upstream.
By anaology, the failure to turn on a lightswitch does not create an energy hazard as a byproduct of the electricity that has already been produced. The electricity itself is either stored or transferred. Failure to turn on the lightswitch means it is not transferred. That which is not transferred is either stored or discharged. Disconnecting the plant from the Urkrainian grid without connecting it to the Russian grid would merely discharge it. Such discharges are part and parcel of the operation of atomic plants (research “thermal discharges”), though in this instance the generation of electricity would probably need to be reduced to compensate for the increased discharge.
I agree disconnecting from an existing grid is a complex time consumer operation, and common sense dictates it has been going on since RT forces took control of the plant in March. Hence the monthly stories about the “danger” associated with Russian control: they represent indicia received by the Ukrainians that the plant was being disconnected. The shelling suggests that process has been completed. “If I can’t have it then no one can” sort of thing.

Posted by: Pyper | Aug 24 2022 0:04 utc | 190

@ james, I second the general thanks to all the usual suspects
@ bevin, re: petal mines and what’s happening in Donetsk, I suggest having a look at http://alawata-rebellion.blogspot.com/ He seems to have been downtown today in between 2 volleys
A few points about the source:
– strong ideological bias towards left, some messianic tendencies in regards to the cause
– Apparently involved as a “foreign legion” sniper with the Donbas republic since 2014
– Very personal point of view, nothing systematic either in news, format or substance, although some of his (idiosyncratic?) typologies are interesting to me as an ignorant on military matters (e.g. types of bombardments, a recent post that I recall)
– In French, but I suppose no problem with google translate.

Posted by: htyul | Aug 24 2022 0:23 utc | 192

Lex@181…Dima would be one of the first guys to pass you the box of salt. He’s very quick to say, “let’s look in a few days” or “wait till tomorrow”….he doesn’t do predictions, just pretty level headed analysis. He has things many don’t. No language issues reading open source internet reports from both sides. And contacts.
When this is over, many will be able to go back to see just how accurate, better than the soggy bottom boys at ISW and Whitehall, he has been.
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Aug 24 2022 0:28 utc | 194

Headlines in our so called Aussie government owned rag
“Kyiv vows to restore Ukrainian rule over Crimea to re-establish ‘world law and order'”
The 30th most corrupt country in the world is going to restore ‘world law and order’. Not only is it one of the most corrupt countries in the world, it also embraces extremist nazi ideologies from its minority forbears. Many eastern European countries now embrace their fascist past. Many European leaders are now direct descendants of WWII Nazi’s.
That is no accident but a thought out plan to once again attack Russia by the Anglo world.
The outcome will be no different. Apart from where the Russian flag fly’s. The Russian flag will fly above Buckingham palace and the White house this time.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 24 2022 0:38 utc | 196

@Peter AU1 | Aug 24 2022 0:20 utc | 194
I would say the autumn campaign has begun. This is what one would expect:
1. RF northward approach toward Nikoleiv
2. RF northward approach toward Kryvyi Rog
3. RF northward approach toward Zaporzihzhia
4. termination of northward electrical flows from Enerhodar, Kakhovka & Tashlyk
5. RF fixing actions toward Nechayane & Berezanka
6. RF fixing actions in Kharkov region w/ LPR assistence
7. militia-bourne activity in the DPR
8. theatrical UA strikes inlower Nikoleiv region, upper Kherson region, central and western Dnipro region and perhaps upper Zaporzihzhia region
Central and eastern Dnipro region look to be in the crosshairs for winter. Even the layman can see it now just by looking at the map.

Posted by: Pyper | Aug 24 2022 0:56 utc | 198

Dr. George W Oprisko @ 122
By the sound of today’s military summary the trial balloon has been launched to declare Ukraine and its allies a terrorist network. Going to the UN about a car bombing is an interesting move for a country bombing the hell out of another country. Not sure what to make of that but if we see more nations issuing orders to leave the country the word is going out on diplomatic back channels that hell is coming to breakfast.
Dima also talked about a few reconnaissances in force that ended up facing little opposition. The Russians grabbed some large pieces of territory in a few different areas by recon according to him.
If the nutcases crack the nuke plant’s cooling system it will be Fukushima part 2. Years of radiation pouring into the Black Sea I imagine. It wont soak it up like the Pacific.
Turkey surely has an interest. He must have brought up the issue at the meet up with coke head last week. I cannot imagine the other countries along the Med including the notable one not stepping in and telling them to stop this madness.
As far as the grid connect of the plant Russia is considering placing the plant into cold storage. I hope they do so and quick. Starting cooling those dam things down now. From what I read they are not considering moving the storage. Do not have time to dig up the link on that one, its been a long day.

Posted by: circumspect | Aug 24 2022 1:10 utc | 200