Russia Takes New Steps To Secures Its Western Border
With NATO expanding and increasing its bellicosity Russia needed to react. One move is the integration Belarus into its defense sphere. The other is an increase of its military force to cover new threats towards its northwest.
Belarus seems to be a small country when compared to Russia.
But its actually of pretty decent sized country, with roughly 500 kilometer (300 miles) diameter from border to border. It has well established heavy industries and some interesting commodities like potash. Its population of 9.5 million people is highly educated. For Russia it is an important buffer state and the supply route to its exclave around Kaliningrad.
In June of 2020 we saw the first signs of a U.S. engineered 'color revolution' in Belarus. At the beginning of August the protests took off. But just two weeks later the attempt to overthrow the long term leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, was ended. Russia had come to the rescue of the Belorussian government after it had agreed to finally implement the Union State:
In 1999 Russia and Belarus signed a treaty to form a Union State out of Russia and Belarus. It would include free movement, a common defense and economic integration as well as a union parliament. But since then Lukashenko has dragged his feet on the issue. At the end of the last year Putin pressed him again to finally execute the deal. When Lukashenko rejected that Putin shut off the country's economic lifeline from Russia. Belarus did no longer receive subsidized Russian oil that it could refine and sell at market prices to the 'west'. Lukashenko then tried to make nice with the 'west'. He bought U.S. fracking oil. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came to Minsk. In March the U.S. reopened its embassy in Belarus.
But now the 'west' which Lukashenko had tried to coddle with is trying to get him killed. Every U.S. embassy is also a U.S. regime change base. He would have been better off without one.
As he was the target of an ongoing U.S. led regime change operation, and with economic pressure in direct sight, Lukashenko obviously needed help. Today he finally wised up and capitulated to Moscow on the Union State issue.
It did not take long for Putin to respond. Some 6 hours after the above Reuters report the Kremlin published a note about a Telephone conversation with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (emphasis added):
Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the initiative of the Belarusian side.Alexander Lukashenko informed Vladimir Putin about the developments following the presidential election in Belarus. Both sides expressed confidence that all existing problems will be settled soon. The main thing is to prevent destructive forces from using these problems to cause damage to mutually beneficial relations of the two countries within the Union State.
In connection with the return to Russia of 32 people who were previously detained in Belarus, a positive assessment was given to close cooperation of the relevant agencies in this regard.
They also agreed on further regular contacts at various levels, and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening allied relations, which fully meets the core interests of the fraternal nations of Russia and Belarus.
It seems to me that Putin accepted the deal. Lukashenko, and his police, will not hang from a pole. Russia will take care of the problem and the Union State will finally be established.
That does not mean that the color revolution attempt is over. The U.S. and its lackey Poland will not just pack up and leave. But with the full backing from Russia assured, Lukashenko can take the necessary steps to end the riots.
Since then there have been several meetings between Lukashenko and Putin and important parts of Union State agreement have been implemented. Two days ago the latest summit took place in Minsk. In a press conference both leaders empathized their economic cooperation but also mentioned defense issues. With the war in Ukraine ongoing and potential NATO involvement these have become increasingly important.
Belarus has received a number of high end weapon systems and, as Putin announced, will also soon be able to use Russian nukes:
I would like to remind you that, as part of the consistent implementation of the Russia-Belarus military doctrine, we work on joint military planning and have an operational Russia-Belarus regional force grouping. Our countries’ divisions and military units currently undergo coordination training in Belarus. We have created a joint air defence system that is already on combat duty. We have agreed to continue taking all necessary measures to ensure the security of our countries, prioritising training of the troops, improving their combat readiness and continuing the practice of regular joint exercise and other operational and combat training events, mutual supplies of essential weapons and producing new military equipment together.I believe it is also possible to continue implementing President Lukashenko’s proposal on training the Belarusian Army combat aircraft crews that have been re-equipped for potential use of air-launched ammunition with special warheads. I want to stress that this form of cooperation is not our invention. For example, the United States have conducted similar activities with their NATO allies for decades. These coordinated measures are extremely important in view of the tensions at the external borders of the Union State.
Lukashenko was a bit more specific:
A special thank you, and not just on my behalf or on the part of the military, for fulfilling your promise. Today, an S-400 complex you transferred to Belarus was put on combat duty. Even more importantly, we received an Iskander complex you promised us six months ago.You have just raised a very sensitive issue, approaching it with great caution. However, you were right to note that we were not the ones who started it. I am talking about training our air force crews in handling special weapons and special warheads. I must tell you that we have prepared our aircraft. It turns out we have had these planes since the Soviet era. We tested them in the Russian Federation and are now working with the Russians to train our crews to pilot planes carrying special warheads. By doing so we are not threatening anyone. I have informed you on several occasions, including during our meetings in St Petersburg, Moscow and in Sochi, that we have major concerns regarding what you call tension along the borders of the Union State, primarily in the West. We felt the need to ensure the security of the Belarusian state. You have made a resolute and very important step to support Belarus. Once again, thank you very much.
Belarus is now protected by a first class long range air defense system, the S-400. It has medium range precision strike capabilities due to Iskander missiles. The air and ground forces of the two militaries are now under a common command. Belorussian planes will soon be able to use nuclear armed missiles and cruise missiles against NATO ground targets.
The Belorussian military is quite small. Its army has only 40,000 soldiers of which less then half are potential frontline units. This is one reason why Belarus is unlikely to join the war in Ukraine. It has long borders with NATO countries that need protection and, without activating reservists, the number of troops it has are barely enough for that purpose. But an Iskander missile fired from Belarus can cover all of Poland which is now NATO's main concentration area for an eventual escalation.
With Russia now backing it Belarus can feel secure. To Russia the Union State means that it has secured an additional 500 kilometer of buffer zone between NATO borders and Moscow.
The move will be welcome in Russia but it does not solve all of Russia's NATO problems. The entering of Sweden and Finland into the U.S. proxy organization has created new ones. It is the reason why the Russian Minister of Defense today announced a significant expansion of the Russian military:
During a Russian Defense Ministry meeting on Wednesday, Shoigu proposed a number of measures to strengthen the security of the Russian Federation, including creating a special grouping of troops on the country’s northwestern border and expanding Russia’s armed forces to amount to 1.5 million servicemen in total, with some 695,000 of them being contract soldiers.Shoigu’s comments come as Helsinki and Stockholm have submitted bids to join NATO, citing a perceived threat from Russia in light of its ongoing military operation in Ukraine.
...
Shoigu went on to suggest creating a number of new military groupings, including five new artillery divisions, eight bomber aviation regiments, and one fighter regiment, as well as six army aviation brigades.
Previously the Russian military had about 1 million soldiers. Altogether this is a very significant increase with a lot of punching power. Such a growth of manpower and the acquiring the necessary equipment will take at least five years.
I seriously doubt that NATO will be able to match it.
Posted by b on December 21, 2022 at 17:25 UTC | Permalink
next page »Russia seems to make and have allies that are sovereign and have stature. USA allies seem like supplicants and vassals willing to take the hits economic and military for the empire. Some are poodles some are border collies. I intend no offense to poodles and border collies both are wonderful and should not have their trust and love abused.
Posted by: klutchKargo | Dec 21 2022 17:48 utc | 2
Nice reporting on the Russia/Belarus relationship b, thanks
I continue hope that our civilization war will resolve itself soon but because of its significance. a protracted war may be necessary.
Our species looks pretty stupid to me right now. 8 billion of us living under a MAD umbrella of manufactured fear of control maintained by a small cult of Might-Makes-Right patriarchy humans.
Blessings to Russia for being The Bad Cop to China's Good Cop role in this schoolyard bully take down.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Dec 21 2022 17:53 utc | 4
@ 2
Russia seems to make and have allies that are sovereign and have stature. USA allies seem like supplicants and vassals willing to take the hits economic and military for the empire
It's the Russia/China agreement - no 'allies' but partners because every country is sovereign. There will be no more US-style 'rules based international order,' no more getting involved in other countries' domestic matters, no more color revolutions.
There will be the UN Charter, united sovereign nations.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 21 2022 17:59 utc | 5
How do we know that "special weapons" and "special warheads",
referred to by Putin and Lukashenko, necessarily equal "nuclear armed missiles and cruise missiles"? Seems self-evident; just wondering about alternative interpretations.
Posted by: Doug Hillman | Dec 21 2022 18:05 utc | 6
Posted by: Doug Hillman | Dec 21 2022 18:05 utc | 6
How do we know that "special weapons" and "special warheads",
referred to by Putin and Lukashenko, necessarily equal "nuclear armed missiles and cruise missiles"? Seems self-evident; just wondering about alternative interpretations.
Special = Hypersonic missiles or other tech that the US hasn’t mastered
Posted by: Augustus Caesar | Dec 21 2022 18:14 utc | 7
thanks b..
it seems this intentional drive to isolate russia has no end in sight.. does finland, sweden and etc population buy into this? i realize the leadership is easily duped, but i am curious.. how do they all get and develop their subservience to the usa-nato crowd? do they actually believe the bullshit? it appears to... sweden continues to have my most vehement hostility over the assange issue, but now more recently over their handling of the nordstream sabotage... there is no separation between the usa and sweden...
this is a long game and all of these players are playing with fire.. it can come back to bite them all in the ass...
Posted by: james | Dec 21 2022 18:16 utc | 8
Why did Belarus resist joining the "Union State"?
Belarus wanted to maintain as much of the Soviet style economic planning as possible, while Russia, at least for a period, was hell-bent on "liberalizing" its economy. Some evidence seems to suggest that Putin himself still dreams of further liberalization, though events likely have soured that dream somewhat.
Russia's economy is enormous compared to Belarus', and economic integration between them would pressure Belarus to adopt Russian standards and practices. With that said, the war has certainly put a spotlight on the shortcomings of a "liberal" economy. Furthermore, all, as in 100%, of the recently added regions from the Ukraine, including Crimea, lean heavily socialist and are not enamored with liberalism at all. This, along with the economic realities imposed by the war, will put significant pressure on Russia to go hunting for the baby they threw out with the bathwater back in the early 1990s.
Compound this with the positive example of socialism being set by China over the last couple decades and Russia may be forced to roll back significant amounts of the economic "liberalization" from the 1990s. If Belarus holds firmly to their embrace of economic planning and the populations of the former Ukrainian regions push left economically, then maybe we could witness the partial restoration of the Soviet economy? I had previously felt only a new socialist revolution could accomplish that, but conditions have changed quite a bit over the last several years, so just maybe...
Posted by: William Gruff | Dec 21 2022 18:18 utc | 9
Well I guess it's full steam ahead. I kinda doubt the EU is in for a good time without reasonably priced (Russian) hydrocarbons, but what do I know? What with the "tenderizing" in Ukraine turning into a full fledged beatdown, I'm sure the vassals will be delighted to funnel in more moneys, take in a metric shit-ton of refugees, and remain cold dark and hungry. All for the uncommon (see: 1%) good right?
Posted by: Chevrus | Dec 21 2022 18:34 utc | 10
If Russia continues to stay on the defensive it will lose over time.
Better go on the offensive.
1. Help push better ties between India, China and Pakistan.
2. If India and China settle their border disputes it's game over for the US empire.(off topic, but I'll explain with evidence later but the recent "border clash" between India and China is a pure Washington think tank, color revolution invention and not a real conflict)
3. Partner with China to promote peace in the Middle East particularly among Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and Syria. Sure they may have religious differences, but geopolitical agreements must be put in place and monitored so that these religious differences do not escalate into kinetic conflict and disturb peace, prosperity, sovereignty and economic growth.
4. Latin America and Africa will automatically tag along.
5. This is most important: begin sketching plans for a global anti-US defence alliance. It goes like this: it's just like NATO but specifically targetted against the US. For example if all BRICS++ nations are members to this alliance and if US attacks any one of them, all of them are required to pool in their nukes and obliterate the USA. But if they attack each or someone other than the US, say Madascar, attacks one of them, the treaty has no effect, since it's specifically anti-US. Russia and China would be the first members. I have no doubt others would join.
Kremlin and Beijing must be very proactive and get things done fast, faster than Beijing's overt attempts at overthrowing the petro-dollar two weeks ago during the China-Gulf summit.
This sitting around waiting for Washington to start color revolutions to respond will not work in the long run.
Posted by: FieryButMostPeaceful | Dec 21 2022 18:36 utc | 11
Puts some pressure on Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, not to mention Ukraine.
Posted by: jared | Dec 21 2022 18:36 utc | 12
Belarus let Russian troops attack through their territory. Poland has designs on its territory and is rapidly arming.
Yeah Belarus better batten down the hatches. There's enemy soldiers on its borders it would be best if they built defenses in depth and prime a few tactical nukes.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Dec 21 2022 18:48 utc | 13
Putin is making strategic political moves to shore up Russia for the inevitable fight with the USA and its NATO allies. Solidly getting Belarus on its side is a key political milestone in the fight that for sure is coming in 2023.
Meanwhile, Russia's General Surovikin is attacking the front line throughout the Donbas. Many areas of attack are now under way. This prevents Ukraine from launching any major offensive along the zero line. To do so will mean a further weakening of their current lines which most likely would speed up a signficant Russian breakthrough.
The Hi temperature for Donetsk City is dropping according to the weather forecast. Yet, the ground will not start to freeze solid until the first days of the new year. At that point, Russia will have further offensive options along the front lines in the Donbas since their heavy equipment will not be slowed are stalled out by the incredible amount of mud that is now in the fields and dirt roads.
Once Russia takes the Donbas, the bear will have further attack options non only in Ukraine but also directly towards the USA and the rest of NATO. This could result in nuclear war.
For sure 2023 is going to be a most interesting year as nation rises against nation and kingdom rises against kingdom.
Posted by: young | Dec 21 2022 18:54 utc | 14
Sweden and Finland look foolish. They will now be under the US whip to pay a maximum tribute, tax dollers, to Nato. Of course they can be assured that Russia will direct a substantial amount of weapons and troops towards their borders.
Posted by: Michael A Crockett | Dec 21 2022 19:14 utc | 16
Nice sum-up. However, I wouldn't bet too much on the last sentence. In fact, NATO countries are enlarging their armies, industry capabilities, and infrastructre. One may doubt the quality of their enlargement efforts and soldiers. However, as Sun Tsu said, you should never underestimate your enemy. Even in b's Germany, after decades of neclecting their railways and autobahns, they now start to invest as the country is the junction of all critical supply lines to the east. They're certainly preparing for greater campaigns. And Germany's army begins to switch from colonial warfare equipment (used in Afghanistan and elsewere) to conventional war material for purposes in Europe. Ukraine thereby serves as a graveyard for the old stuff and as testing ground for new gadgets, and the industry is eager to fill the emptying stocks. So, imo the pressure still lies on Russia's (and its allies') shoulders. Maybe the amount of 1.5 million servicemen is not enough?
Posted by: Seneschal | Dec 21 2022 19:21 utc | 17
Seneschal @ 16
In fact, NATO countries are enlarging their armies, industry capabilities, and infrastructre.
Funny how rising unemployment and military tensions go hand in hand. By this time next year the west won't have any difficulty filling the ranks, looking at the UK a war job will soon be the only paycheck one can hope for.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Dec 21 2022 19:30 utc | 18
Sweden and Finland look foolish.
Posted by: Michael A Crockett | Dec 21 2022 19:14 utc | 15
On 17 january 2022, Finnish press wrote:
HS: Opposition to Nato membership drops to record low in FinlandYou have to read until the last line of the article before it dawns support of Finland's NATO membership is based upon a telephone survey of 1000 people.
Posted by: Passerby | Dec 21 2022 19:39 utc | 19
what about Kazakhstan?
The CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) is being challenged by the OTS (Organization of Turkic States).
Kazakhstan almost fell weren’t it for Russian intervention but in the long run it shares more culturally with the OTS than it does with Russia.
The US is deeply involved in this region creating a Turkic block to bypass Russian gas. Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are US client states. The Afghan adventure was about securing the TAPI pipeline.
Russia is allowing Armenia to bleed until it stops being a US client state. Then there will be a reckoning in the Caucuses.
Georgia is another Ukraine.
Posted by: Johnycomelately | Dec 21 2022 19:41 utc | 20
Posted by: Doug Hillman | Dec 21 2022 18:05 utc | 6
How do we know that "special weapons" and "special warheads",
referred to by Putin and Lukashenko, necessarily equal "nuclear armed missiles and cruise missiles"? Seems self-evident; just wondering about alternative interpretations.
------------
Because Russia made clear that what Russia is going to with Belarus is the same as what the US did with some of its NATO allies (e.g. Germany).
The US trained German military pilots flying nuclear-weapon-carrying planes, and launching nuclear weapons. And Germany already announced the purchase of 35 F35s just for that purpose.
Posted by: Chen Laoshi | Dec 21 2022 19:43 utc | 21
LightYearsFromHome | Dec 21 2022 19:30 utc | 17
precisely.
and when do the volks that make f35's and patriot missiles and sell their populaces on the space farce start to make something other than walmart junk? is there some flip they switch, where the DOD budget suddenly stops being at least 50% some kind of financial corruption?
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Dec 21 2022 19:44 utc | 22
@Augustus Caesar #7
Special = Hypersonic missiles or other tech that the US hasn’t mastered
No.
In Soviet/post-Soviet military terminology, the word “special” means “nuclear” when applied to explosive devices such as bombs, missiles, warheads, shells, torpedoes, mines, etc. (In all other cases, such as “special measures”, “special-purpose forces”, etc., it has the ordinary meaning.)
A hypersonic aeroballistic missile or a hypersonic glide vehicle with an ordinary explosive charge (or without any charge, i.e., purely kinetic) would never be called “special” in Russian publications.
Posted by: S | Dec 21 2022 19:52 utc | 23
Hoping this doesn't create the longed for pretext to arm Ukraine with nukes.
The NATO escalation claque is just about crazy enough to press forward with this.
Posted by: Paul Damascene | Dec 21 2022 19:54 utc | 24
I seriously doubt that NATO will be able to match it.
No need to. nato is preparing to deploy nukes at borders and then engage in terrorist activities using those states as proxies under the protection of nukes. Why you think Ukr weapons started to appear in nordic countries? Like the weapons "forgotten" in Afghanistan, it was part of the plan. Poland "demanding" nukes, the same plan.
For some reason Russia didn't switch to anti-terrorist operation after first months, to target the entire (proxy) government and anything related to them, make an example out of the zombies. Very bad move not to do that. Now they have new problems with France trying to kill a diplomat in CAR. The same Macaron who sent banned mines many months ago. And I read that Russia sells LNG to France and LNG isn't even restricted to rubles. If that's true, what a great strategy!
Posted by: rk | Dec 21 2022 19:56 utc | 25
Russia is still not directly at war with NATO, allthough the British and others would like this kind of escalation. Putin has to take precautions, I can't blame him for that, since he is facing the Western aggression pretty much alone. For him, everything is at stake. Once the conflict is no longer contained in Ukraine, it will quickly spin out of control, and there is nobody with a recipe, and sufficient authority, to stop it. Will it go nuclear? I'm afraid it will. Now is the chance to avoid the final escalation.
Posted by: grunzt | Dec 21 2022 19:56 utc | 26
annie | Dec 21 2022 19:07 utc | 14
“…Kazakhstan?”
Days after Shoigu first visited Belarus he visited Kazakhstan and signed some “mutual” agreements.
Not much came out in Russia-English telegrams, and almost nothing in western reports. And zero in western corporate media.
But yeah, Kazakhstan is being increasingly in the collective defence ring from what I can read.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Dec 21 2022 20:00 utc | 27
LightYearsFromHome @ 17
Well I doubt a bit that the worsening economic crisis alone will help to fill the ranks. The Germans are already discussing the reintroduction of conscription (suspended in 2011). If that measure and the crisis are not enough, they probably turn to tactics from the good old days of Kaiser and Führer and enlist more foreigns. Just remember: a third of Hitler's invasion force for Operation Barbarossa in 1941 consisted of soldiers from other Axis countries as well as other foreigners, hired all over Europe. And still it was quantitative inferior to the USSR, even at the campaign's beginning... Today NATO governments may reach out to migrants - fight 25 years for the "rules based order" and you may get a pension or a job...
Posted by: Seneschal | Dec 21 2022 20:02 utc | 28
Posted by: Seneschal | Dec 21 2022 20:02 utc | 27
I don't think the US wants its poodles to be too well armed. they might become independent. Germany might start thinking it doesn't really need all those US military bases, and remember to ask the US "say, who blew up our pipeline, and how come we have to pay so much for gas"?
Posted by: pretzelattack | Dec 21 2022 20:09 utc | 29
And IMO, we owe all this global turmoil to our giant corporations lust to capture global resources, to ensure they can achieve not only national "market share", but "global market share" as well.
That mindset is cancerous, and a plague on humanity...
Posted by: vetinLA |
Posted by: vetinLA |..
Posted by: vetinLA | Dec 21 2022 20:10 utc | 30
I provided Putin's introductory remarks at the Ministry of Defence Board Conference on the previous thread. Now, I'll supply Shoigu's Report and follow that with Putin's closing remarks. I'll not provide any additional emphasis, although there are portions meriting such treatment. Do recall that this report is being made primarily to Russians, a point that should be kept in mind while reading Putin's words. But there's a secondary audience--the RoW--and that includes us at MoA. Yes, even the trolls--they need to know they're working for the wrong side and that side is Anti-Human. Anyway, enough of my preamble:
Sergei Shoigu : Comrade Supreme Commander!I will start my report with a special military operation.
Today in Ukraine, Russian military personnel are being countered by the combined forces of the West. The United States and its allies are pumping the Kiev regime with weapons, training military personnel, providing intelligence, sending advisers and mercenaries, and waging an information and sanctions war against us.
The Ukrainian leadership resorts to prohibited methods of confrontation, including terrorist attacks, contract killings, and attacks on civilians with heavy weapons. Western countries try not to notice all this, as well as elements of nuclear blackmail, for example, provocations against the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and the scenario of preparing a so-called dirty nuclear bomb.
It is clear that the current situation is primarily beneficial to the United States, which seeks to use it to maintain global dominance and weaken other countries, including its allies in Europe.
Of particular concern is the buildup of NATO's forward presence near the borders of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, as well as the West's desire to prolong military operations in Ukraine as much as possible in order to weaken our country.
After the revelations of Mrs. Merkel, Poroshenko and other politicians about the true goals of the Minsk agreements, it became clear to everyone that Russia was not the source of the conflict in Ukraine, but the reason was the Western-funded coup in Kiev in 2014, which brought anti-Russian forces to power and divided fraternal peoples. This provoked an armed confrontation in the Donbas.
We are working to save the population from genocide and terror.
Russia is always open to constructive and peaceful negotiations.
Russian troops continue to destroy military targets, launch massive precision strikes on the military command system, military-industrial enterprises and related facilities,including energy. The supply chain of foreign weapons is being destroyed, and the military potential of Ukraine is being crushed. At the same time, comprehensive measures are being taken to exclude the death of the civilian population.
As a result, the armed forces of Ukraine suffered significant losses, and a significant part of the weapons and equipment available at the beginning of the operation was destroyed. To make up for the losses, the United States of America and NATO countries have significantly increased their military assistance to the Kiev regime. 27 countries have already spent $ 97 billion on arms supplies to Ukraine, which is much more than the amount left by the Americans in Afghanistan. Some of the Afghan stuff left behind in Afghanistan is in the hands of terrorists and is spreading all over the world. It is not known in whose hands weapons from Ukraine will appear tomorrow.
It should be noted that NATO staff officers, gunners and other specialists are in the combat zone. In the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, more than 500 US and NATO spacecraft are operating, of which more than 70 are military, and the rest are dual ‒ use.
The United States and its allies spend significant funds on providing information and psychological impact on Russia and our allies. We have fully understood what a supposedly free Western press is. Every day, thousands of fakes about events in Ukraine are published according to the same templates by a team from Washington. Hundreds of TV agencies, tens of thousands of print publications, media resources in social networks and instant messengers work for this purpose.
The total silence of the Western media about the war crimes of the Ukrainian military looks like the height of cynicism. At the same time, the Kiev criminal regime of neo-Nazis is being glorified. Terrorist methods of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are presented as legitimate self-defense or passed off as the actions of Russian units. Ukrainian nationalists have taken on the role of detachments. We receive daily data on shootings of AFU servicemen who evade performing combat missions.
To stabilize the situation, protect new territories and conduct further offensive operations, it was necessary to increase the combat and numerical strength of the groups of our troops. For this purpose, a partial mobilization was carried out, it became a criterion for the maturity of Russian society, a serious test for the country and the Armed Forces.
Mobilization plans have not been put into effect since the Great Patriotic War. The system of mobilization training itself was not fully adapted to the new economic relations. Therefore, with the beginning of partial mobilization, we faced difficulties in notifying and calling out citizens who are in reserve.
All the shortcomings had to be corrected on the go: in the shortest possible time, changes were made to the organizational and staff structures of the military command bodies of formations and units, urgent measures were taken to improve all types of support.
Partial mobilization measures were implemented in a timely manner and in full. 300 thousand citizens who are in reserve are called up for military service. An important role in this was played by the consolidated work of federal and regional government bodies.
I would like to emphasize the active civil position of Russians: without waiting for subpoenas, more than 20 thousand people joined the troops as volunteers.
To support the country's economy, more than 830 thousand citizens working in the military-industrial complex and in a number of other socially significant areas that ensure the state's vital activity have been released from conscription.
Thanks to the decisions taken by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, mobilized citizens receive the same benefits and guarantees as contract servicemen.
With the mobilized military personnel, training for combat operations is organized from practicing individual skills to combat coordination as part of units.
A huge burden was placed on the military-political bodies. This confirmed the correctness of the decision taken in 2018 to create them. At the same time, much remains to be done to ensure that they fully ensure the readiness of personnel to perform combat tasks.
In general, partial mobilization made it possible to increase the combat capabilities of the troops and intensify combat operations. The troops liberated territory five times larger than that occupied by the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics before February 24. At the end of May, Russian troops completely cleared the large industrial center of Mariupol from the Nazis. The city was transformed by the Kiev regime into a powerful fortified area, the core of which was the industrial zone of the Azovstal plant. As a result of the successful actions of units of the Russian Armed Forces and the Donetsk People's Militia, more than four thousand militants were killed, 2.5 thousand Azov nationalists and AFU servicemen laid down their weapons and surrendered.
A peaceful life is being established. Today, the ports in Berdyansk and Mariupol are fully functioning. We plan to deploy ship basing points, support for the emergency rescue service and ship repair units of the Navy in them. The Sea of Azov has once again become the internal sea of Russia, as it has been for 300 years of our country's history.
Overland communication with Crimea by rail and road has been resumed. Railway traffic with the Donbass region is being restored. Cargo has been delivered to Mariupol and Berdyansk and other liberated settlements for several months.
The establishment of control over the North Crimean Canal made it possible to restore water supply to the Crimean Peninsula, which was absent for eight years due to the water and energy blockade.
Russian servicemen show bravery, perseverance and dedication during a special military operation. More than 100 thousand people were awarded state awards, 120 of them were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. During the special operation, more than 250 thousand regular military personnel gained combat experience.
Today, the Russian Armed Forces are actively involved in establishing peaceful life in the liberated territories. More than 27 thousand hectares of territories have been cleared of mines. In Mariupol, military builders have built 12 residential buildings, and the construction of another six, a kindergarten and a school continues. In Luhansk and Mariupol, the construction of two multifunctional medical centers with state-of-the-art equipment with a capacity of 260 beds was completed in record time.
A lot of work is being done to restore water supply in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. Water pipelines with a total length of more than 200 kilometers were built, and they provided water to more than one and a half million people. The construction of a 194-kilometer-long water pipeline from the Don River is underway, which is guaranteed to provide water supply to Donetsk.
In general, the special military operation demonstrated the high professionalism of commanders, staff commanders at all levels of management, as well as the readiness of military personnel to perform the most complex combat tasks. Our samples of weapons and military equipment have proven their exceptional reliability and efficiency.
A special military operation provides a unique opportunity to analyze modern methods of conducting interspecific operations, the forces and means used to take into account in the plans for improving the Armed Forces.
The country's leadership and Armed Forces have received unprecedented support from Russian citizens. This clearly shows the unity of the army and society.
This year, the Ministry of Defense has solved and continues to solve a number of other important tasks. At the beginning of the year, together with the CSTO countries, they conducted an operation to stabilize the situation in Kazakhstan, and prevented a "color revolution" in this country.
Russian military groups remain the main guarantor of peace in Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh. During the year, they carried out humanitarian actions, mine clearance operations, and provided medical assistance to the population.
Our nuclear triad is maintained at a level that allows us to guarantee the implementation of strategic deterrence. The high combat readiness of strategic nuclear forces is ensured by an unprecedented level of modernity, brought to 91.3 percent.
The Strategic Missile Forces have completed re-equipping two missile regiments with the Yars mobile ground-launched missile system. Another regiment equipped with the Avangard missile system with a hypersonic gliding cruise block has entered combat duty. Successful launches of the new Sarmat heavy-class missile system during state tests made it possible to start work on its deployment.
The aviation and strategic nuclear forces were replenished with the Tu-160M strategic missile carrier and the Tu-95M aircraft. This year, 73 air patrols were conducted, two of which were conducted jointly with the People's Liberation Army of China. Nuclear-powered missile submarines perform scheduled combat service in designated areas of the world's oceans. Another nuclear-powered submarine of the Borey-A project, Generalissimo Suvorov, armed with Bulava ballistic missiles, has been accepted into the Navy. The combat capabilities of the types and branches of the Armed Forces continued to be improved.
The united space system was further developed in the Aerospace Forces, and the sixth Kupol spacecraft was launched, which allows for continuous monitoring of missile-prone areas in the Northern Hemisphere. Training aviation is being systematically developed. The flight time of cadets has been increased by more than a third due to the arrival of new models of training aircraft. This year, the first graduation of female military pilots took place, more than half of the graduates completed their studies with honors.
The Navy received the most modern submarine, six surface ships, three combat boats, 11 vessels and support boats, as well as two coastal missile systems.
Serial deliveries of the sea-based hypersonic missile Zircon have begun. At the final stage is the preparation of the frigate "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov" with hypersonic missiles on board for combat service in an unplanned area of the World Ocean.
The most important feature of the implementation of the state defense order 2022 was the provision of weapons and equipment to groups of troops that solve the tasks of a special military operation. To increase their combat capabilities, deliveries of the most popular samples were postponed from 2024 and 2025 to 2023. In order to optimize the supply of weapons, a decadal schedule has been formed. Control over its implementation is carried out by a joint task force of the Ministry of Defense, the Military-Industrial Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and organizations of the military-industrial complex.
The amount of financial resources provided for in 2022, taking into account the additional supply of weapons and equipment, made it possible to increase the number of basic samples sent to the troops by 30 percent, ammunition for rocket and artillery weapons and aviation weapons of destruction-from 69 to 109 percent. At the same time, the level of fulfillment of tasks of the state defense order for the main samples was 91 percent.
In 2022, all planned operational and combat training activities were completed, including 14 international exercises of various levels. At the beginning of the year, a series of large-scale naval exercises were held, during which the tasks of countering military threats to Russia from sea and ocean directions were worked out.
The final event of the combat service was the strategic command and staff exercise Vostok-2022. It was attended by more than 51 thousand military personnel, including from the armed forces of 14 foreign countries. A special feature of the exercise was the creation of an international group of troops to solve joint tasks. The exercise demonstrated the ability of established international groups to effectively carry out tasks to ensure regional security.
During a special exercise, the strategic nuclear Forces successfully fulfilled the tasks of delivering a massive nuclear strike in response to the use of weapons of mass destruction by the enemy.
An Arctic expedition was conducted in the eastern sector of the Arctic and on the Chukotka Peninsula. A complex of training and combat activities, research and experiments was carried out. All samples of weapons have confirmed their technical characteristics in the Arctic conditions.
Despite the attempts of the collective West to isolate Russia, we continue to expand the geography of international military and military-technical cooperation.
The Ministry of Defense develops relations with the armed forces of 109 countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. This year we have held 350 significant international events.
The International Army Games have become one of the main events of joint training with the armies of foreign countries. More than five thousand three hundred military personnel from 34 countries participated in the games. The Games, held in 12 countries, were attended by over three million people. During the eight years of the games, 80 training grounds have been modernized, the training and material base of which is actively used for combat training of units.
The annual Army Forum contributed to the strengthening of international military-technical cooperation. It was attended by delegations from 85 foreign countries, and the number of visitors amounted to almost two million people. At the forum, 36 state contracts were signed with defense industry enterprises totaling more than 525 billion rubles. The Forum is an effective, dynamically developing project, which significantly exceeds similar leading international exhibition venues in terms of its performance.
In August, the tenth Moscow Conference on International Security was held, which was attended by more than 700 delegates from 70 countries. This is the largest military-political event in the world in terms of participants.
This year, the First International Anti-fascist Congress was held. It was attended by state and public figures, veterans of the Great Patriotic War, nine foreign delegations and military attaches from 26 countries. The forum participants unequivocally condemned any manifestations of fascism, neo-Nazism and chauvinism in the modern world. The Congress is scheduled to be held annually.
Our higher military school is one of the best in the world. Students and cadets from 55 countries study at the universities of the Ministry of Defense. This exceeds the figures of the Soviet era. From September 1, 2023, the network of educational institutions of the Armed Forces will be replenished with the Donetsk Higher Military Combined Arms Command School.
The development of the network of pre-university educational organizations of the Ministry of Defense continues. By September 1 next year, we will open a new Suvorov military school in Irkutsk.
Together with the authorities, work has been organized to create a Federal agency for work with veterans. This will make it possible to centralize and make the social protection system for military veterans more effective. Thank you, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, for supporting this initiative.
Housing conditions have been resolved for 49 thousand families of military personnel, and 100 thousand people receive compensation for subletting housing.
We pay great attention to the development of military medicine. Thanks to the ongoing medical and preventive measures, the overall morbidity rate in the Armed Forces has decreased by one and a half times over 10 years. The number of military medical organizations providing high-tech medical care has tripled, and the range of services they provide has doubled. The number of patients who received this type of care was more than 28 thousand people.
Military medics especially showed themselves during a special military operation. First aid is provided within 10 minutes. The wounded get to medical units within an hour, and to military hospitals - within the first day.
We achieved a low mortality rate at the stages of evacuation of the wounded. In the hospital unit, the mortality rate was less than half a percent – the lowest figure in the entire history of military medicine.
In accordance with your instructions, the implementation of the military healthcare modernization program for the period up to 2027 has begun. A new modern military hospital with 150 beds has been opened in Kazan. Nine new military hospitals are being built in Ryazan, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Kaspiysk, Sevastopol, Mirny and Vladikavkaz. Construction of a health and wellness center has been completed at a unique balneological resort in Kamchatka.
The Ministry of Defense has organized a systematic fight against the new coronavirus infection. During the sixth wave, an outbreak of the disease was not allowed.
As for the military construction complex, all plans have been fulfilled, more than three thousand buildings and structures have been built. The main focus is on the development of infrastructure for strategic nuclear forces. This year, 650 high-tech facilities were built for them, including for the placement of the Avangard, Yars and Sarmat missile systems.
Northern Fleet commissioned onshore energy and social infrastructure facilities in Gadzhievo. At the base of the Caspian Flotilla, a mooring front with a length of 1,154 meters was put into operation, and the construction of another berth was completed. As part of the development of the air base system of the Armed Forces, infrastructure facilities were reconstructed at 15 airfields to receive all modern models of aviation equipment. According to the plan, the construction of military camps was carried out. Construction of 625 buildings and structures of the park and barrack-housing zones has been completed.
In accordance with your instructions, units of the railway troops continue the reconstruction of the BAM on the Ulak – Fevralsk section with a length of 339 kilometers. About three million cubic meters of earthworks have already been completed, which is more than half of the planned figures.
The Ministry of Defense has implemented major patriotic and cultural projects. Military parades were held in 28 cities. Traditionally, the Main Naval Parade was held. In accordance with your instructions, the Saur-Grave memorial complex, a landmark for the whole country, has been restored in 90 days. The Eternal Flame is once again burning on the mound.
Systematic work on military-patriotic education of young people was continued. Its core is the Unarmia movement, which has already covered all regions of Russia and brought together more than 1,251 thousand children and teenagers.
In cooperation with the authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, work continued on the development of the Avangard network of educational and methodological centers for military-patriotic education of young people. In 2022, 20 regional centers and 25 city centers will be opened in cities with a population of more than 100 thousand people. In total, more than 150 thousand high school students were trained in 88 Avangard centers. We believe that the creation of such centers should become the basis for initial military training and the system of military-patriotic education of young people in the country.
Comrade Supreme Commander!
In general, all the tasks set in 2022 have been completed by the Armed Forces. Their combat capabilities have increased by more than 13 percent, and the specified level of maintaining the country's defense capability has been ensured.
Measures to strengthen the security of the Russian Federation.
Given the desire of NATO to increase its military potential near the Russian borders, as well as expand the North Atlantic Alliance at the expense of Finland and Sweden, it is necessary to take retaliatory measures to create an appropriate group of troops in the north-west of Russia.
When recruiting the Armed Forces, the age of conscription of citizens should be gradually increased from 18 to 21 years, and the maximum age should be raised to 30 years. Provide an opportunity for citizens to enter military service under a contract at their request from the first day of joining the service.
Create two interspecific strategic territorial associations of the Armed Forces-the Moscow and Leningrad military Districts.
Continue to improve the composition and structure of the Armed Forces, increase the responsibility of the main commands for the training and use of formations and formations. Form three motorized rifle divisions, including combined arms units, in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, as well as an army corps in Karelia.
Reorganize seven motorized rifle brigades in the Western, Central, and Eastern [military] districts and in the Northern Fleet into motorized rifle divisions. In the Airborne Forces, it is necessary to additionally form two amphibious assault divisions.
For each combined-arms (tank) army, maintain a mixed aviation division and an army aviation brigade of 80-100 combat helicopters. In addition, it is planned to additionally form three aviation divisions, eight bomber aviation regiments, one fighter aviation regiment, and six army aviation brigades.
To create an artillery reserve in strategic areas, form five artillery divisions of military districts, as well as high-capacity artillery brigades.
In the coastal forces of the Navy, five marine divisions should be formed on the basis of existing Marine brigades.
In order to guarantee the fulfillment of tasks related to ensuring military security of the Russian Federation, it is necessary to increase the number of Armed Forces to one and a half million military personnel, including contract servicemen - up to 695 thousand people.
The transition to outsourcing in 2008-2012 led to the practical destruction of military repair bodies, which negatively affected the serviceability of weapons and equipment. Since 2012, measures have been taken to restore them. A special military operation showed the need for further building up of repair and restoration bodies in the troops. Next year, three repair plants will be formed and repair units in the military level will be strengthened.
In military commissariats, introduce federal state civil service with an increase in the number of military posts in them. Complete the digital transformation of military registration and enlistment offices.
Comrade Supreme Commander!
With your consent, the outlined approaches will be included in the development plans of the Armed Forces in accordance with the established procedure.
Priority tasks for 2023.
Continue conducting a special military operation until the tasks are fully completed. Russian groups of troops and forces should ensure the preservation of peace and stability in Nagorno-Karabakh and Syria.
Fully implement a set of operational and combat training measures with a focus on the threats associated with the further expansion of NATO to the east.
Prepare and conduct military maneuvers "West-2023".
Put on combat duty in the Strategic Missile Forces 22 launchers with intercontinental ballistic missiles "Yars", "Avangard"and " Sarmat".
To accept three Tu-160 strategic missile carriers into the air strategic nuclear forces. To accept the Emperor Alexander III nuclear-powered submarine of the Borey-A project, as well as four submarines and 12 surface ships, into the fleet.
Increase the supply of high-precision hypersonic missile systems "Dagger"and " Zircon". Continue working on other promising samples.
Increase the number of military personnel under the contract, taking into account the replacement of mobilized citizens in the groups of troops and the recruitment of new formations by the end of the year to 521,000 people.
Comrade Supreme Commander!
In accordance with your instructions, the course of progressive development of the Armed Forces and improvement of their combat capabilities will continue next year.
We will discuss the results of our activities in detail during the closed part of the board meeting.
Thanks.
I finished my report.
Erdogan must see advantages in a closer relationship to Russia. Ottoman revanchism suits Putin too. A Turkic-Russian-Persian axis in the west dooms the US to Monroe doctrine self-cannibalism.
When will Poland, Sweden and Finland realise that NATO is over and they'd benefit more from similar deals? Germany, I'm sorry to say my dear b, is lost.
Posted by: Patroklos | Dec 21 2022 20:11 utc | 32
If/when NATO becomes involved Turkey is a wildcard. Turkey has the second biggest military right behind the World Police.
Posted by: chunga | Dec 21 2022 20:15 utc | 33
Meanwhile:
The other guy finally got a ride
https://twitter.com/ian_matveev/status/1605630327053058048/photo/1
Posted by: Bill Smith | Dec 21 2022 20:20 utc | 34
Long, comprehensive report that will need to be reread. Now, here're Putin's closing remarks that are of a different nature from his opening speech. Here the audience is more RoW. I'll be transferring these three segments to my VK so people can find them easily when wanting to refer to them later. Again, the urge to add emphasis is great but.... There's a video of it all at the link provided @30. It's 1hr 3min and all in Russian. There's also a series of 15 photos, one of which reveals some of the women in the audience. Now again, President Putin:
Vladimir Putin: Dear comrades,By tradition, I will conclude with a few words, which will be general words, but nevertheless, in my opinion, are always of interest to us – in any case, what I will say, I think, is always of interest to the current situation in particular.
I have already said it more than once and even wrote it in my articles: our strategic adversaries have the goal of disintegrating and weakening, of dividing our country for centuries, and there is nothing new here. The country is too big, as it seems to them, and poses a threat to someone, so it needs to be "cleaned up" a little, fragmented. Always, remember, centuries, wherever you look, this goal has always been set, I will not give these examples now, just look at the relevant literature. An idea was always hatched and plans were hatched, plans were made, hopes that one way or another they would be able to do it.
For our part, we have always, almost always, taken a completely different approach, different attitudes: we have always wanted to be part of this so-called civilized world. And after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which we allowed with our own hands, for some reason it seemed to us that from day to day we would become part of this so-called civilized world. And as it turned out, we were not expected there, despite all our efforts and attempts – I say this, referring to my work, I also made these attempts. Our attempts to get closer, to become a part of it.
On the contrary, other actions were taken, including using international terrorists in the Caucasus, in order to finish off both Russia and the newly created Russian Federation. Many of those present in this Hall do not need to prove anything, as you already know what happened in the mid-1990s and early 2000s. And it seems that they anathematized all sorts of "Al-Qaeda" and other criminals, but their use on the territory of Russia was considered acceptable, they were given all sorts of support: material, informational, political – anything, including military, as long as they fought against Russia. Thanks to the peoples of the Caucasus, thanks to the Chechen people, thanks to the heroism of our servicemen, we have passed this difficult period of our history. We have passed through these trials and strengthened ourselves.
Further, as they say in such cases, – more. Our geopolitical rivals have started using everything – I don't want to offend anyone, but I will say it anyway-that is bad for their own purposes: they have started to engage in brainwashing in the post-Soviet countries, and above all in Ukraine. Moreover, they did it quite successfully and were well prepared for it, since even in Soviet times, entire institutes worked in this direction.
After the coup d'etat in Ukraine in 2014… And we have been trying for decades, and I want to emphasize this, and we have been trying for decades to build relations in new geopolitical conditions. Everything was done to build not just good-neighborly, but fraternal relations in the new conditions: loans were given, and almost free energy resources were supplied-for years. No, nothing worked, just nothing.
Let me remind you that during the period of disintegration of the Soviet Union, when Ukraine was leaving the Union, in its Declaration of Independence – I think that the then leaders of Russia also had this in mind, I am sure that this was exactly the case – it wrote down that Ukraine is a neutral state. Therefore, in general, we can understand the leadership of that time, and in the conditions of that time, we probably did not see any threats: a neutral state, a fraternal people, a common culture, common spiritual and moral values, a common history. We didn't see any threats. But no, the enemy worked very hard and, we must pay tribute, effectively.
None of our actions to build these relationships, which we probably hoped for, were effective and did not achieve the desired goal. I want to emphasize this: but there is nothing to reproach us with, I say this quite responsibly.
We have always – you know my position-considered the Ukrainian people to be a brotherly people, and I still think so. What is happening is, of course, a tragedy, our common tragedy. But it is not the result of our policy, but, on the contrary, it is the result of the policies of other countries, third countries that have always been striving for this, for the disintegration of the Russian world.
To a certain extent, they succeeded and pushed us to the point where we found ourselves.
So, after the coup d'etat of 2014, I will not talk about the reasons for this coup now, I will only say that it is unacceptable. Let me remind you that in February 2014, three foreign ministers of European countries – Poland, France and Germany – came to Kiev and signed as guarantors of the agreement between the opposition and the current government. A few days later – a coup d'etat. Everyone has forgotten about these guarantees, as if they never existed. What should have been done? Just say: dear friends, we are the guarantors, we are the largest European countries, we ask you to return to the negotiating table, go to the elections and use political procedures to resolve the issue of power. All.
And everyone knew perfectly well that for better or worse, the current government would certainly have lost any election, especially since the then president agreed to almost all the demands of the opposition, including early elections. And when I ask our so-called colleagues: well, why did you bring the matter to the coup d'etat? You know, there is no answer, they just throw up their hands: well, it turned out that way. Wow, it just happened! That is, we were given to understand that no pro-Russian forces – but any political figures, journalists, public figures who somehow raised their voice in favor of developing relations with Russia, they were simply killed on the street, and no one investigated anything. It became clear that we would not be given any chance, just no chance, to restore relations with this part of our former common country. Simply impossible. In fact, the practice of terror was used shamelessly and brazenly.
The brainwashing of Ukrainian citizens and the use of neo-Nazi, extreme nationalist ideology have done their job one way or another for decades.
Well, what is it?.. Hitler's accomplices have elevated them to the rank of national heroes, and no one seems to notice this. Yes, they are nationalists, there are nationalists in every country, and we have them. But we are fighting the manifestations of neo-Nazism and fascism, and we do not make it a national policy. And in Ukraine, they are being built, and everyone pretends not to notice it. Nationalism seems to be a good thing, they are fighting for national interests, but the fact that this is done on the basis of fascist, neo – Nazi ideology is simply not noticed by anyone. They carry swastikas in the center of major cities, including the capital, and it seems that, thank God, this is the way it should be. Why? Because it's just like in the 1990s-in the early 2000s, international terrorists were used to fight Russia, they didn't care, sorry for the bad manners, that they were terrorists, recognized international terrorists, but they didn't care, because they were used in the fight against Russia. So it is here: neo-Nazis are used in the fight against Russia – and it doesn't matter that they are neo-Nazis, as long as they fight Russia. But we do care.
It became obvious even then that a clash with these forces, including in Ukraine, was inevitable, the only question was when it would happen. And of course, fighting, military operations-this is always associated with tragedy and loss of people, we are well aware of this, we are aware of it. But since it's unavoidable, it's better today than tomorrow. I think that all those present in this Hall perfectly understand what I am talking about, meaning both the state of our Armed Forces and the availability of promising types of weapons and equipment that other countries do not have, but we do. All this creates a certain margin of safety, and it is there.
We know our advantages: the nuclear triad, the Military-space Forces, the Navy in separate segments, and so on. We know all this, we have it, and all this is in the right state. We also see what we need to do to improve the Armed Forces, including Ground Forces, counter-battery warfare, communications systems, and so on. Everyone in this Room understands what I'm talking about, and I'm sure you agree.
But what do I want to emphasize? We, namely Russia, and there are not many such countries in the world, not to mention our neighbors, they will soon have nothing at all, everything will be only in the form of handouts and money, weapons, ammunition, only handouts, in Russia everything is completely different: we have everything, I think I would like to emphasize that we have everything, all the opportunities, to build up this potential, and we will certainly do it without any discounts. And unlike many other countries, as I have already said, we will develop it on our own – our own, I want to emphasize this-scientific, technological, industrial and human resources base. And we will solve these tasks without compromising the development of the economy and the social sphere, without failing to fulfill any obligations to our people, to our citizens in the social sphere. All our plans are here, all our long-term tasks will be solved, and all our plans will be implemented.
We will not repeat the mistakes of the past, when in the interests of increasing our defense capability, we destroyed our economy where it was necessary, and where it was not really necessary. We will not engage in the militarization of the country and the militarization of the economy, primarily because the current level of development, the structure of the economy and so on do not require it, we simply do not need it. And I want to emphasize once again that we do not intend to do anything unnecessary to the detriment of the country, to the detriment of our people, the economy, and the social sphere.
We will improve the Armed Forces and the entire military component of the state. We will do it calmly, rhythmically, without any fuss, consistently. We will solve problems in the field of strengthening the defense capability in general and solving problems that are faced during a special military operation.
I agree with your suggestions for further structural changes in the Armed Forces, but after the discussion at the board, I ask you to report back, and we will also discuss this in detail.
I want to thank all of you for everything that has been done, and I express my confidence and want to convey to you that you yourself feel this, the mood in the country: the whole country looks at the Armed Forces, wishes you success and good luck. And we have no doubts about achieving all the results that we have formulated, put forward, formulated by you, and reported to me. I have no doubt that all the goals we set for ourselves will definitely be achieved.
Thank you.
All the best!
pretzelattack @28
You're probably right, but Germany's army still remains far below the 370,000 troops threshold, determined in 1990's Two Plus Four Agreement between the Four Powers and both German states. And if you ask me, Berlin also wants to check on the Poles. After all, Warsaw enlarges its army, too.
Washington is happy as long as its subordinates waste money on useless armament. Should they become too cocky, it still has a large toolbox with means to catch them at the right time.
Posted by: Seneschal | Dec 21 2022 20:24 utc | 36
Putin made an important observation--those that tried to destroy Russia after the USSR's demise are no different from those trying again today--they employ the same vermin and extol the same lies, while Europe is even more of a prisoner now than then. In essence, GHW Bush, Clinton, GW Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden are all essentially Nazi Fascists willing to employ anything--people, ideology--to defeat Russia and dismember it along the lines of Plan Ost. Yes, Putin didn't make the direct connections today, but he has in the past as he alluded to. And you know the audience in the Hall knew all that as do most Russians. It's probably too much to expect our troll population to read those three postings, but they really ought to as they're working with/for Terrorists and Genocidalists and need to ask themselves: Is that what I really want to be doing?
Posted by: james | 21 december 2022 18:16 UTC
A Swedish man wrote a book "Without media you cannot start a war." Before the Swedish Parliament signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Nato there had been no public debate about the agreement, all the media were silent, including Public Service. If any Swedes knew that there would be an agreement between Sweden and Nato, almost nobody understood what it did mean. Two members in a group called "No to Nato" (they collected names against this agreement) paid for an opinion poll, to ask the Swedes if they understood what the agreement meant, and it showed that a vast majority of the people would have said No to the agreement if they had understood what it meant, whether they belonged to the left or the right political side.It has always been very easy to hand out flyers among the immigrants, now it seems to be easy to hand them out among workers too... Since Russia invaded Ukraine,an old anti-Russia fever, has woken up. In Sweden we had something similar to concentration camps (nobody was killed ) with all sorts of people who were anti-Nazist and anti-Germany before and during the second World War...and Hitler was seen by the public as a peacemaker, the Swedish media wrote almost admiring articels about Hitler.Today there is not a single well-known Swede who stands with Russia,they are all afraid of beeing cancelled. When Hitler ravaged there were at least a few, (one prominent in the second city in Sweden, Gothebourg)...but now none. The biggest party to the left agree to send weapons to Ukraine.
Posted by: Northern Eve | Dec 21 2022 20:41 utc | 38
I was able to fit the entire event onto one page at my VK.
it seems this intentional drive to isolate russia has no end in sight.. does finland, sweden and etc population buy into this? i realize the leadership is easily duped, but i am curious.. how do they all get and develop their subservience to the usa-nato crowd? do they actually believe the bullshit? it appears to... sweden continues to have my most vehement hostility over the assange issue, but now more recently over their handling of the nordstream sabotage... there is no separation between the usa and sweden...
this is a long game and all of these players are playing with fire.. it can come back to bite them all in the ass...
Posted by: james | Dec 21 2022 18:16 utc | 8
Good question. This is the bit that interests me most of all. The population. The missing factor. The elephant in the room. I think they are never consulted, never, ever, anywhere in the West.
Never. And they don't ask to be consulted. They don't want to know. They are essentially, I fear: zombies. We saw, I saw, through three covid years how they swallowed patent lies, censorship, loss of all democratic rights and willingly walked into slavery.
The leaders of the Western world are behaving irrationally to the extreme, they do as they wish, they're like mad dogs.. and how/why can they be like that? Because they have utter contempt for the people for they know the people are what I said: zombies.
Awful. But that's how it looks to me. All over the West the same problem: sleep walking zombies. And they are walking us into the zombie apocalypse.
@ karlof1 | Dec 21 2022 20:11 utc | 30
Un grand merci
Posted by: La Bastille | Dec 21 2022 21:04 utc | 43
karlof1 | Dec 21 2022 20:23 utc | 34
But what do I want to emphasize? We, namely Russia, and there are not many such countries in the world, not to mention our neighbors, they will soon have nothing at all, everything will be only in the form of handouts and money, weapons, ammunition, only handouts, in Russia everything is completely different: we have everything, I think I would like to emphasize that we have everything, all the opportunities, to build up this potential, and we will certainly do it without any discounts. And unlike many other countries, as I have already said, we will develop it on our own – our own, I want to emphasize this-scientific, technological, industrial and human resources base.
I can't help but think of Poroshenko's speech when he said "their children will live in basements". Attempted genocide of the ethnic Russians hasn't worked out so well for the Ukraine nazi's.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Dec 21 2022 21:16 utc | 44
Seneschal @ 16
In fact, NATO countries are enlarging their armies, industry capabilities, and infrastructre.
Europeans NATO countries are just canon fodder, as well done with Ukraine.
Let's face it, the European Union's arms industry is a relic of the past.
Let's take the example of tanks.
The French Leclerc tank, a project from the 1980s, was produced from 1990 to 2007 in 876 units. Production has never reached 100 units per year. For the past 15 years, France has not built any more tanks, and it is difficult to maintain 220 tanks that should remain in service until 2040.
The German Leopard 2 tank (Bernhard will correct me if I am wrong) is even older. Produced from 1979 to 1992 at 2950 units, a maximum of 300 per year.
What is left of the production capacity and how many years would it take to be able to produce say 500 tanks per year?
Is it feasible without the capacity to produce even steel? Not to mention titanium....
Combat aviation or even the military adaptation of civilian aircraft is more a matter for the air and space museum. The Franco-German SCAF project has been abandoned and Dassault will not survive.
What remains? Some Mauser, Glock and Beretta....
And , yes, a few Exocet for friendly fire.
Posted by: La Bastille | Dec 21 2022 21:19 utc | 45
I posted this at my VK site but it very much fits with this thread. As a summary overview, it's right up there with the Unz comment that was quoted here recently. Machine translation.
Legitimate
Forwarded from
ЗеРада
⚡🇷🇺⚡How they wanted to destroy Russia
Western analysts, all of whose forecasts predicted Russia's victory over Ukraine in 3-5 weeks, understood that Ukraine alone would not be able to stop Russia. To cause critical damage to the Russian Federation, it was necessary to draw it into several conflicts simultaneously or within the same period, along with sanctions.
Such operations have been prepared for years, taking into account the scale and consequences for the world order.
Putin's calm appearance is puzzling for many, because "SVO" is not going according to plan at all. But what if ITS not the first act of this play, and February 24 is not the starting point?
Let's go back a couple of years from 24.02.22 and see what NATO could expect in the confrontation with the Russian Federation.
It was planned to link the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation with combat operations in several directions.
Belarusian. 🇧 🇾In 2020m, the color revolution begins. The goal of which is to demolish Lukashenka. If this were to happen, the Kremlin would lose its closest, and indeed only, military ally. No offensive against Kiev could be considered, and the pro-Western government of Belarus would provide Ukraine and NATO with at least intelligence and" territorial " capabilities.
However, the cunning Lukashenka controls his country too well and has effectively stopped the protests. The control of the security forces and the support of the population allowed Batka to retain power.
Georgian wine. In 2021, Saakashvili went to Georgia to organize a Maidan there. The opposition had good chances. If the opposition had succeeded in the West's plan during Russia's war with Ukraine, the new Georgian authorities would have decided without hesitation to return the lost Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which would have opened the Caucasus Front for Russia.
Saakashvili's failure nullified plans to seize power and launch a new military operation. The consensus of Georgia's elites made it possible to avoid a new war, and now official Tbilisi avoids supporting Ukraine in the war as much as possible, receiving very good economic bonuses, despite the constant attempts of Soros and Ukraine to involve Georgia in the conflict. By the way, it was the support of Saakashvili by the Presidential office that was an important irritant to the Georgian authorities, who take an emphatically neutral position.
Kazakh. 🇰🇿Two previous setbacks pushed the West to urgently secure the Asian front through a change of government in Kazakhstan. Once again, the West's favorite tool is the color revolution. The local" Maidan " in January 22 was the most unprepared, because they were in a hurry. The situation developed too quickly, the radicalization of the protest happened instantly, and the CSTO resolved the issue by "paratroopers".
Now imagine if these explicit bookmarks were implemented? The situation of the Russian Federation by now should have been much worse. According to the plan of the United States, Georgians should already be fighting against the Russian Federation, and Kazakhs and Belarusians should delay their forces for various provocations.
The Kremlin managed to avoid this scenario. That is why they are in a good mood, the situation is not going according to the plan of Western screenwriters, and this is already an achievement.
We do not consider the Karabakh conflict as there are more interested parties.
The West still has Moldova in reserve, where their puppet Sandu is preparing to open a front against Transdniestria.
At the moment, Russia has effectively stopped 3 out of 5 threats in the perimeter of the near abroad, which helps the Kremlin feel confident enough in a military conflict, even if it drags on indefinitely. It should have been much harder.
https://t.me/legitimniy/14370
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Dec 21 2022 21:20 utc | 46
Well since its more or less official now, what will be asked for now?
a Christmas Brake? :3
Posted by: Macpott | Dec 21 2022 21:21 utc | 47
It's been a very busy day for Putin: "Vladimir Putin took part in the commissioning ceremony of the Kovykta field and the Kovykta-Chayanda section of the gas pipeline via videoconference 'The Power of Siberia'."
"Recoverable reserves of the Kovykta field - 1.8 trillion cubic meters of gas and 65.7 million tons of gas condensate, design capacity - 27 billion cubic meters of gas per year."
I bet some EU nations would like some of that gas! Putin had the following and more to say:
"A new, Irkutsk gas production center appears on the map of the country. We are launching the unique Kovykta gas condensate field – the largest in Eastern Siberia....
"Pipeline built for natural gas delivery 800 kilometers long. It will connect the Kovykta field with Chayandinskoye in Yakutia.
"This section will complement the main gas pipeline "Strength" Siberia", thereby putting into operation our most important gas transportation route along its entire length. It will exceed three thousand kilometers.
"In addition, Kovykta will produce gas condensate – the most valuable chemical raw materials. For its shipment, the pipeline and railway infrastructure was also carried out.
"I would like to note that the design capacity of the Kovykta and Chayanda fields is more than 50 billion cubic metres of gas per year. This is a serious resource base for the Amur Gas Processing Plant – one of the largest and most modern in the world. On its technological lines ethane, propane, helium and other commodity items that in demand in the chemical industry, in the municipal sphere and others Industries.
"Thus, in the East of Russia, a powerful, a strategically important production complex, which includes production, transportation and processing of natural gas."
The Amur Gas Plant I alerted barflies to its near completion about 18 months ago. It was 100% carved out of the wilderness in an awesome engineering project that was amazing to behold. The transcript records some of the construction history by various participants. There's a segment in the video showing the plants construction. Of importance to nearby residents is the gasification of their heating sources all constructed by Gazprom as part of the overall installation.
Russia is very serious on making its Arctic regions habitable--and comfortable--and is putting lots of resources into making that reality.
chunga | Dec 21 2022 20:15 utc | 32
Turkiye's economic future is now Russia. Very large two way deals occurring. The gas hub deal was a big one. At some time in the future, Europe will again import Russian gas. That will all run through Turkiye who will either receive transit fees or buy Russian gas and sell it at a good mark up to European fools.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Dec 21 2022 21:33 utc | 49
Indeed Belarus isn't exactly a small country. By European standards it's definitely of decent medium size. After all, its area is 85% of the whole UK.
Posted by: Clueless Joe | Dec 21 2022 21:35 utc | 50
It will be interesting to see why Zelensky got called in to headmasters office. US has been talking negotiated end to its disaster in Ukraine. Zelensky has been saying no negotiations.
I guess the coming weeks and months will show what they talked about.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Dec 21 2022 21:38 utc | 51
Peter AU1 no. 50
He just went there to give biden a medal:
"Volodymyr Zelenskyy has handed Joe Biden a military medal from a Ukrainian soldier in Bakhmut."
The Ukrainian president said a captain who he met in the eastern city yesterday asked him to pass on his military medal to the US President calling him "brave".
Mr Zelenskyy presented the medal to the President who replied: "what a great honour".
(Sly news)
Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Dec 21 2022 21:49 utc | 52
"..both leaders empathized their economic cooperation.."
I think that you have invented a new word b. I'd have said "emphasised."
Posted by: bevin | Dec 21 2022 21:52 utc | 53
And at 9:30 this evening in Moscow Putin sat down for a talk with Secretary of State of the Union State of Russia and Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev. I guess Putin was too busy to call Xi, so Medvedev's trip was needed. Many topics were covered in this talk. It's clear Belarus and its people will benefit the most during the formative years of the new Union State relationship. Some have wondered if something similar will happen between Kazakhstan and Russia. For the time being, I'd say no because of the degree of nationalist sentiment present in Kazakhstan that will take awhile to abate as the Kazakh economy improves as part of the overall Central Asian boom that's in its beginning stages.
Here's an excerpt from the end of their talk--one last thing:
"And Mr Putin, literally, if I may, one word. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Culture addressed us, and we certainly support this, on the issue of creating a center for patriotic education on the Kobrin borders in the Brest Fortress. So that it is not an ordinary traditional museum, which is also very important, so that it is a center for interactive immersion of children in the history of the Great Patriotic War. So that this is an opportunity for them to discuss who I am today, what I am like, how I understand the role of a citizen. I want it to be a dialogue between young Belarusians and young Russians, because in 20-25 years they will take responsibility for the fate of their countries and for the system of relations in the Union State, too.
"Vladimir Putin: We will definitely support you."
Yes, "how I understand the role of citizen." Teaching civic literacy is a must, particularly in nations wanting to remain sovereign.
@ Northern Eve | Dec 21 2022 20:41 utc | 37
thanks... i appreciate hearing from you and your insight and the history on this.. that is much appreciated..it is ironic that sweden did not go along with the lockdown ideology, and yet they have gone along with natos ideology here... clearly nato invaded ukraine some time ago, but since that wasn't broadcast loud and clear in the media, they only know when they get the message from the cia run wire services - reuters, associated press and api out of france.. that's a shame, as it is going to come at a cost to the world.. it is the same deal here in canada.. ignorance reigns supreme...
@ abrogard | Dec 21 2022 20:53 utc | 40
thanks.. but i think many people do want to be informed and know what is happening.. unfortunately too many people fall for propaganda and bullshit and go so far as to think they actually know, when they don't know shit.. ironically sweden didn't go along with the lockdowns, but they have gone along with the hate russia meme...it reflects poorly on them and all those on the planet who buy into this hate russia meme..
@ Peter AU1 | Dec 21 2022 21:38 utc | 50
its just another stupid pr stunt...d rally the masses back home... the guy will still look like the dipshit he is, wearing his green uniform and talking tough on russia... we have had enough stupid soundbites of this nimrod.. but, we are going to get more.. this is worse then living in lala land walking towards the edge of a cliff... but it is the message brought to you by the banking, military and energy complex... stick with the good guys - ie the guy in the permanent set of green uniforms with a permanent smirk on his face,lol..
Posted by: james | Dec 21 2022 21:54 utc | 55
Johnycomelately | Dec 21 2022 19:41 utc | 19
There will be many interlocking and interconnected spheres in the Future. Turkiye is acknowledge leader of the Turkic sphere. That is no incomparable with the post soviet organisations.
Turkic nationalism combined with Islam is something US/UK will try to use against Russia. With Erdogan acknowledged leader of the Turkic would, that may not occur.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Dec 21 2022 21:56 utc | 56
bevin @52--
I chuckled when I read what appears to be a typo. But then I thought about the conditions of both economies and thought it an accurate descriptor of the Onion variety.
Yeah, either Zelinsky is in for a talkdown at the master office, or the master knows more about which
way the hammer is comming down soon, and they discuss in person (not with brandon) a bit about the exit
route or damage control (the billions handed over are just for show for the gullible - and hey, why not, money has to be constantly moving). Similar to when Wallace had to report in over the pond. Some suspense is building up. Any takers here where the Bakhmut factory scene was made with the mini crew? Already in the states?
Posted by: C | Dec 21 2022 21:58 utc | 58
Typos again....no incomparable. should have been 'not incompatible' @55
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Dec 21 2022 22:00 utc | 59
It will be a very interesting year 2023 to say the least - let's hope it won't be the last.
Posted by: unimperator | Dec 21 2022 22:03 utc | 60
C | Dec 21 2022 21:58 utc | 57
The Biden family laundromat must keep operating. On Bakhmut, all workshops/factories - anything that can be used as a repair facility - have been destroyed. No video of the comedian entering Bakhmut for geo location. Greenscreen man filmed it somewhere safe and warm.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Dec 21 2022 22:05 utc | 61
Thierry Meysann has had a soft spot for Donald Trump since the NY Developer told the world, in September 2001 that there was something seriously wrong with the story of the collapse of the World Trade Centre on 9/11.
Here he calls Trump a Jacksonian and praises him for promising to restore Free Speech.
https://www.voltairenet.org/article218538.html
karlof1@56 Agreed- this might be a word we have long needed.
Posted by: bevin | Dec 21 2022 22:05 utc | 62
Still catching up on events. Here's the opening salvo delivered by Lavrov at the General Meeting of the Commission for UNESCO of the Russian Federation, which were then followed by an ordinary review of and preview of next year's planned events:
Dear colleagues,We are holding our regular General Meeting of the members of the Commission for UNESCO.
The year we are summing up was not easy and remains so, including for international cooperation in the areas that UNESCO is engaged in: education, science, culture, sports and communications.
The "collective West" in the framework of the unleashed hybrid war against our country began an unprecedented in scale information and propaganda campaign. Unfriendly countries promoted a confrontational agenda in UNESCO against all the foundations on which the Organization is based. The programmatic activities of UNESCO and related convention mechanisms have been politicized and artificially oriented towards serving the opportunistic interests of the Kiev regime. Russophobia came to a head when UNESCO's Executive Board rejected a proposal to proclaim June 6 (Pushkin's birthday) the World Day of the Russian Language. With this act, the relevant "figures" refuted all the "incantations" that in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, the West is not waging a campaign to abolish everything Russian, and proved the opposite.
Of serious concern is the position of the UNESCO Secretariat, which, contrary to the requirements of the Charter, has obediently followed Western guidelines in violation of the principle of impartiality. During the year, the Organization did not provide its auspices to any of the events held in Russia. All Russian applications for the creation of new UNESCO Chairs were rejected. The Secretariat deliberately hindered scientific projects supported by Russia, blocked voluntary earmarked contributions, directly harming the interests of developing countries, for which these contributions were important.
The apotheosis of hypocrisy was the refusal of the Director-General of UNESCO O. Azoulay to condemn the brutal murder of our journalist D.A. Dugina by Ukrainian national radicals. This was done contrary to the powers of the Secretariat and the practices of the Secretariat in similar tragic cases in the past.
It cannot be said that this position of the Secretariat was formed only this year, during a special military operation. For many years, the Director General and her staff did not react to the long-term infringement of the Russian language in Ukraine and the Baltic States, to the shameful practice of demolishing monuments to the winners of Nazism in the EU countries.
Despite all the efforts to isolate, "cancel" Russia in UNESCO, the West failed. The overwhelming majority of member states refused to participate in anti-Russian "games". Ultimately, this Western line has damaged the Organization itself and the ideals it promotes. An illustrative example is the postponement of the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee to 2023, contrary to the position of developing countries and their interests.
That UNESCO was discriminating against Russia prior to the SMO is telling. Yet another reason to completely overhaul the UN organization.
Russia must revamp its biological weapons program ASAP. Increasing the size of the army is too expensive and reduces funds available for weapons. Russia must also globalize war against USA as USA will deploy nukes in Sweden and Finland.
Posted by: Jason | Dec 21 2022 22:18 utc | 64
Posted by: Patroklos | Dec 21 2022 20:11 utc | 31
It's true that the claimed support for Nato membership in Finland was a poll consisting of approximately 1100 votes, conducted by the UK based marketing firm Kantar. The main driver is not the "support" but the endless daily fake propaganda related to the war. It's intended to increase the real support.
Every single Nato country in Europe, with the exclusion of Germany is completely reliant on US war production. Even Germany is becoming reliant, though, as their parliament apparently approved purchasing F-35.
I would generalize the situation of Euro-Nato in the following way. Europe in economic and financial ways are getting weakened in ways we haven't seen since the Black Death. That means that there is also a limited time during which USA will be able to utilize its vassals. That's a common use-it-or-lose-it proposition for Nato. All sorts of destabilization attempts will be increased on the borders for sure. Earlier this year, another armed coup attempt organized by Nato was already revealed in Belarus and thwarted. Also, in an ironic way, the war in Ukraine helps to actually mitigate destabilization attempts through the neo-nazis fighting and dying there, hence the worst nutcases are no longer available to be utilized in more sinister ways.
Tbh, I doubt the support for Nato is generally as high even in eastern Europe as the Nato run media claims. It's mostly Nato professional soldiers and neo nazis are fed into Ukraine. It's apparent that US will attempt the Ukraine playbook in Poland, Baltic states and Finland too, but I don't think it will work that way. These countries will seriously impoverish over time, just keep them under check and control, without causing over border problems will probably be fine.
Posted by: unimperator | Dec 21 2022 22:18 utc | 65
It just doesn't seem to end. More Anti-Human outrage by the EU:
Question: Today, the European Union's decision not to accept passports of Russian citizens living in the new constituent entities of the Russian Federation, as well as in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, was officially published on December 14. How can the Russian Foreign Ministry comment on this?Maria Zakharova: The European Union has long proved that its actions in the consular and visa sphere are subordinated to cynical political tasks. In accordance with the "recommendations" of the European Commission and the European External Action Service, even before the start of the special military operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, most EU member states did not accept Russian passports of our citizens living in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, in particular in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. . From now on, this discriminatory practice, which grossly violates international law, has become part of the legislation of the European Union and the associated states of the Schengen area – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
According to the authors of this policy, the citizens of the Russian Federation should be "punished" for their democratic choice in favor of Russia. The inhumanity of these visa "sanctions" is that they are introduced on a collective basis and are aimed at creating deliberately biased conditions for the consideration of visa files of citizens of the Russian Federation. Thus, the EU unilaterally restricts the freedom of movement of millions of people and denies them the right to free choice of citizenship and place of residence.
By implementing the policy of visa discrimination, the member states of the European Union violate the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, and also ignore their political obligations to ensure freedom of movement in accordance with the Helsinki Final Act of the CSCE of 1975. those steps ran counter to the universally accepted principle that the non-recognition of a State's sovereignty over a certain territory should not entail depriving its population of the basic rights and benefits of international cooperation.
The history of recent years shows that sanctions pressure and discrimination are not able to change the will of people who have made an unequivocal and irrevocable decision to return to their homeland. Such a policy of segregation is nothing more than direct interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, once again demonstrating the true hostile intentions of the European Union towards our country and its citizens. The real result of these short-sighted actions will be the further loss of the EU's authority in international affairs. For our part, we will continue to use all available opportunities to protect the interests of our citizens and ensure their legal rights.
bevin | Dec 21 2022 22:05 utc | 61
The Ron Unz piece that was quoted here in the last day or so - Countries and cultures, Russia - Putin equaling a Tzar - China, Xi an emperor.
US is still a young nation but it did develop a culture to return to.
The massive government funded infrastructure programs during the depression that under pinned the future wealth of the US - was that FDR? Befor that Ford. Regadless of affiliations to nazi Germany, he did a lot for the common man, paying workers double the going rate and making the automobile affordable for most ordinary man.
US will be people like Trump, Musk, Macgregor and many others. That is its culture. Although it might be an aggressive culture, it is also pragmatic and rational.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Dec 21 2022 22:27 utc | 68
Russia must revamp its biological weapons program ASAP. Increasing the size of the army is too expensive and reduces funds available for weapons. Russia must also globalize war against USA as USA will deploy nukes in Sweden and Finland.
Posted by: Jason | Dec 21 2022 22:18 utc | 63
There are no rules in this game. The empire will play dirty, no matter what, and they have been screaming of novichok murder for years. So there really is no deterrent, perhaps those russkies can show what a real novichok/chemical weapon campaign really looks like. If things get really bad.
Posted by: unimperator | Dec 21 2022 22:40 utc | 69
The Poles are mobilizing, up to 300.000 men, says Alexander Mercouris today. It is not clear if this is...
...a defensive move in reaction to Russian troop movements in Belarus
...an offensive move, aiming to occupy some Ukrainian oblasts like Lvov that once were Polish.
What makes it ominous in the eyes of AM is that, allthough it's real, it didn't make the news anywhere in Europe.
Posted by: grunzt | Dec 21 2022 22:45 utc | 70
I find it hard to believe Zelensky has gone to Washington just to read aloud a shopping list.
Posted by: Passerby | Dec 21 2022 22:55 utc | 71
james at about a quarter past 6 pm GMT this midwinter's eve, musing about Sweden & Finland ...does finland, sweden and etc population buy into this?...
It sometimes gets overlooked just how different Finland is to Sweden: different provenance of their peoples, different attitudes towards east and west and towards neighbours, different histories, different cultures. Sweden is very much like the rest of Scandinavia, west-focused, deeply integrated ancestrally through immigration into North Amerika, closely tied historically with the rest of germanic and frankish northern Europe. Sweden also has an inflated ego remaining from her short-lived glory days as something of a guru to the quondam Third World (not undeservedly) and social-dem beacon; and, stretching further back, a string if minor emperor of much of the Baltic-to-Black land mass.
Finland, decidedly Not-Scandinavia, jostled between Sweden and Russia and mentally landlocked if not physically, having no grand delusions (and having long been subject to that Swedish empire), had had centuries-long, complicated interrelationships with the Russian empire at many levels including demotic, not only with European nether-Russia but stretching east (cf. for example, the Mari, by the Volga and near Tatarstan, with their Finn ties) and afield beyond the Urals. Language, other aspects of suomi culture, and even elements of genotype come, like the three kings, assorted other wise men and by some accounts the scourgers of John Barleycorn, out of the east.
There is also the remaining historical affinity with the huge Karelia region, an affinity which is not irredentist and therefore not perceived threatening to Russians in the region nor in Moscow (the irredentist voice is not absent but is small and very weak). [In soviet times Karelia was a popular summer retreat for Russia (and, hush, some Finns) but is nowadays somewhat fallow. Finns had the collective knowledge for dealing with this land of temperate swamp and pond, Russians less so, hence the wilderness retreat character of the place.] Even during the height of the CW, with all the exaggerated focus on Berlin, the FRG-GDR border and the Curtain generally, the very long Finland-Soviet border was, out of the limelight most of the time and somewhat porous to communities with connections on both sides.
It is a pity that Helsinki is currently benighted with such a US sycophant and serf holding the sceptre; let's hope the Finnish people defenestrate her and her team of toadies (and thereby inspire the rest of Europe's people to do likewise with their venal parcels of rogues).
Posted by: petra | Dec 21 2022 22:58 utc | 72
Posted by: grunzt | Dec 21 2022 22:45 utc | 69
It's probable that PM Morawiecki is acting under US command with this assumed mobilization. The number I've seen was 200k. In addition they also offer 1-day training course for every citizen (under the max age limit).
There's two options. US is attempting to feed Polish conscripts into the conflict through UAF banner, or the second possibility is they are still planning "der Anschluss" of the Lvov region. However, it's strange that the joining with Lvov has been talked for a long time, it has been supposed to occur many times, but time after time it does not occur. It might be tied to the real situation of UAF performance, which might not be as good as advertised in the general media.
The new conscripts may also be used as Poland garrison if professional soldiers move to Ukraine, or attempt the Lvov attachment.
Posted by: unimperator | Dec 21 2022 23:08 utc | 73
https://sonar21.com/ukraine-war-what-next-by-helmholtz-smith/
Just today my girlfriend and I were discussing the fact that the same people obsessed with Afghanistan in July last year would blink in confusion if you mentioned the country. More than that, do you remember the deification of Amrullah Saleh and Masoud Jr, who were supposed to sweep away the Taliban from their impregnable stronghold in the Panjshir Valley? Where are these people now? Who remembers them now?
That said, there is a point to taking Kiev, but only6 after besieging it leaving one route open for the Russia hating part of the population to flee west into Europistan. Let’s be clear: this war will continue to be waged from Europistan by any means.
Let me predict that if the Ukranazis lose huge swathes of territory, Patriots and other NATO supplied missiles (crewed, naturally, by NATOstanis in Ukranazistani uniform) will be stationed in Polandistan and possibly in the Baltic slagheaps; NATO will claim that it isn’t a direct intervention by them since “Ukrainians” are crewing the systems, but at the same time any Russian attack on them will be “an attack on NATO”.
How do you fight under these conditions? One way is to swamp Europistan with hordes of ungrateful, sponging, demanding, nazis. And Kiev is a Russian city; let Polandistan have Lvov if it really wants it. At most.
All this said, the only thing standing in the way of a Russian victory today is the same thing that stood in its way in 2014; that is, Putin’s political will to make the decisions necessary to secure victory. It is only with the appointment of General Surovikin and the setting up of a unified command that one can finally have some confidence that this political will has been developed and that the LDNR (and other liberated territory) will not be thrown under the blueyellow nazi bus.
Again.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Dec 21 2022 23:16 utc | 74
Is there not some significance in the fact that, according to Shoigu's speech- kindly brought to us by Karlofi- the new frigate in the Pacific is named "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov" ?
Posted by: bevin | Dec 21 2022 23:25 utc | 75
Shoigu said:
"in the armed forces will be formed: - Moscow military district; - Leningrad military district; - army corps in Karelia; - motorized rifle division in the Kherson region; - motorized rifle division in the Zaporozhye region; - two new airborne assault divisions as part of the Airborne Forces; - seven motorized rifle and tank brigades of the Western Military District, Central Military District, Southern Military District, Eastern Military District and Northern Fleet will be reorganized into divisions; - five marine brigades will be reorganized into divisions; - eight new bomber regiments; - fighter aviation regiment; - six brigades of army aviation (helicopter) for 80 helicopters; - four artillery divisions (in each existing operational-strategic direction); - four artillery brigades of Great Power (in each artillery division); Each association (army) will receive an army aviation brigade." These are not all the proposals of the Minister of Defence.
What's most interesting here is that Russia is returning to the division/army model from the battalion tactical group model while here in India Modi's army chief is still babbling about the need to switch from the division/corps model to the battalion tactical group model.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Dec 21 2022 23:28 utc | 76
petra@71
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-UalZhwFBU
' For "english" please read "american."
Posted by: bevin | Dec 21 2022 23:29 utc | 77
@Seneschal (16) I wonder how NATO nations will beef up their militaries and industries without a cheap energy source. When people are cold and hungry, I highly doubt that they will be clamoring for a fight to the death with Russia. No, they will want heat and food. The real contest between Russia and NATO is an economic, not a military, one, and Russia has already won.
Posted by: Rob | Dec 21 2022 23:31 utc | 78
In order to get a country (such as Kazakhstan) to join the union state, Russia would need to get approval from Kazakh elites , and apply some of the "techniques" the US uses; increase investment, cultural/media projects, propping up supporters within the government etc... Russia has been doing some of that for some time, with investments in Kazakhstan growing by more than 3 times since 2019. A few of the events related to the Eurasian economic union, such as interstate parliaments meetings etc,helps towards that. But a lot more cooperation, law interoperability etc... would be needed before any real chance appeared. Russia would better get approval from Kyrgyzstan first, since both Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have a very friendly and close relationship , if one entered the union would be easier to get the other to agree. I think this could happen as early as 2026, and the creation of this new confederation (Russia , Kazakhstan , Belarus , Kyrgyzstan) as early as 2030.
Posted by: Phariah | Dec 21 2022 23:35 utc | 79
@ passerby #70
I bet a donut it was the Blinken admin that summoned their puppet to the Wretched City to drum up support, tiny hat in hand, because this entire thing is unravelling.
US backed former state of Ukraine is about to be unequivocally destroyed.
Posted by: chunga | Dec 21 2022 23:49 utc | 80
"It just doesn't seem to end. More Anti-Human outrage by the EU"
karlof1 | Dec 21 2022 22:20 utc | 65
____
It will not end until the Israel-first Neocons and their US/EU cronies are wholly uprooted from power and permanently put away or put down. Outwardly, these people appear to be normal high-functioning sociopaths, but they're consistently revealing themselves as irratuonal psychopaths---criminally-insane and beyond treatment.
That, or reptilians. It's increasingly hard for me to see Western leaders as human.
Posted by: Doug Hillman | Dec 21 2022 23:51 utc | 81
@ karlof1 | Dec 21 2022 22:20 utc | 65
. . . From now on, this discriminatory practice, which grossly violates international law, has become part of the legislation of the European Union . . .By implementing the policy of visa discrimination, the member states of the European Union violate the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, and also ignore their political obligations to ensure freedom of movement in accordance with the Helsinki Final Act of the CSCE of 1975.
All of those treaties preceded the formation of the EU in 1993, which is supra-national and not a party to the treaties. The UN Charter and other regulatory documents only cover international matters, between nations, and Europe is special don't ya know. The EU is above the law, no?
Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 21 2022 23:55 utc | 82
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Dec 21 2022 19:30 utc | 17
Posted by: Seneschal | Dec 21 2022 20:24 utc | 35
My mom used to tell me how a conscript army was a democratic force, while a mercenary army only gets as far as your money goes.
I think that still holds.
Posted by: Anne B | Dec 21 2022 23:56 utc | 83
@ petra | Dec 21 2022 22:58 utc | 71
thanks for all of that.. i kind of singled out sweden and didn't say anything on finland in one of my responses here.. the 2 countries are definitely different.. i think of the finnish folks as more level headed.. i hope they find a leader who can be neutral, as opposed to kowtowing to usa-nato.. at present, they don't have one.. that's a shame..
Posted by: james | Dec 21 2022 23:56 utc | 84
@ bevin | Dec 21 2022 23:29 utc | 76
beautiful track.. thanks..
Posted by: james | Dec 22 2022 0:00 utc | 85
"...the new frigate in the Pacific is named [after?]"Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov" ?"
bevin | Dec 21 2022 23:25 utc | 74
_____
Guessing they'll shorten it to "Gorshkov"
Sergey Georgyevich Gorshkov (1988) was an admiral of the fleet of the Soviet Union. Twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, he oversaw the expansion of the Soviet Navy into a global force during the Cold War.
Posted by: Doug Hillman | Dec 22 2022 0:10 utc | 86
"Europe is special don't ya know. The EU is above the law, no?"
Don Bacon | Dec 21 2022 23:55 utc | 81
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Indeed, "supra-national" as well as "supra-democratic"! USUKIS too.
Posted by: Doug Hillman | Dec 22 2022 0:20 utc | 87
Talking about Z in DC, did folks notice Biden's tie? WTF? Is this trolling on a presidential level? Is this a hint of what is being discussed? I just can't imagine nobody pointed it out to him.
Posted by: Semyony | Dec 22 2022 0:31 utc | 88
petra@71 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-UalZhwFBU
For "english" please read "american."
bevin, as about half past eleven pm gmt, solstice
A nice version! I remember seeing Dick Gaughan singing this in a pub off Red Lion Sq., quite some years ago, in the days when pubs weren't sports bars.
A lot of the old folk songs can readily be adapted against the current bane. Some were even ready-made as anti-USAk anthems, such as Jock Purdon's. I have tried in vain to find some of his stuff, but he was never one to make recordings. Pardon the, on the surface, not quite on-topic chatter.
Posted by: petra | Dec 22 2022 0:34 utc | 89
From Putin's closing remarks as posted by Karlof1:
We will not repeat the mistakes of the past, when in the interests of increasing our defense capability, we destroyed our economy where it was necessary, and where it was not really necessary. We will not engage in the militarization of the country and the militarization of the economy, primarily because the current level of development, the structure of the economy and so on do not require it, we simply do not need it. And I want to emphasize once again that we do not intend to do anything unnecessary to the detriment of the country, to the detriment of our people, the economy, and the social sphere.
Putin is talking about the overall military, but as far as I can tell what he's saying describes his approach to the SMO as well. Putin seems to be intent on continuing in his attempts to "right-size" the resources allocated to the military (and hence the SMO) so that the SMO is an indefinitely sustainable effort. The problem with that of course is it is very possibly self-fulfilling. By only allocating resources at an indefinitely sustainable level the SMO may very well drag on indefinitely.
That's not without risks. e.g. What happens if by next year this time, hundreds or thousands of Ukrainian Shahed-136 equivalents (or better) are darkening Russian skies every day. Is the plan for the Pantsir to become the most popular SUV in Russia?
Posted by: Mike314159 | Dec 22 2022 0:40 utc | 90
Re petra on 22nd Dec, 12.34 am GMT (was #88)
Sorry, I messed this ^^^ up;
was responding to v v v
@ bevin on 21st Dec, 11.29 pm GMT (was #76)
Posted by: petra | Dec 22 2022 0:49 utc | 91
karlof1 | Dec 21 2022 22:20 utc | 30, 34, 36, 47, 56, 62, 65...
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¡Muchisimas gracias! That's Yeoman's work!
A few brief impressions:
-- comparing our own politicians with Russian leadership is stunning. (Picture Biden's teleprompted, barely coherent speeches; SecDef/SecState repetitive sloganeering etc.; or the typical deliberations, debates, impeachment hearings in the US [Knesset])
-- consideration and concern for citizens and troops is manifestly beyond US lip-service.
-- Russia's got soul; it's entire population is galvanized, motivated, and mobilized; US/EU is alienated, fragmented and disintegrating
-- Russia has a formidable arsenal---land, sea, air, and space; sound, low-debt economy with ample resources and industrial capacity
-- international cooperation, collaboration, and coordination---economic and military is truly impressive.
-- Russia is rapidly preparing and already well-prepared for total, existential war with the west. (And China's)
Thanks for the mind-blowing curating you do!
Posted by: Doug Hillman | Dec 22 2022 1:01 utc | 93
doug hillman 22 22 1:01 @ 92 re: karlof: seconded, we are deeply indebted. thank you.
Posted by: emersonreturn | Dec 22 2022 1:15 utc | 95
Just watched Zel's speech to the US congress… what a boatload of crap.
Anyway, a big thank you to @karlof1 for posting the speeches of Putin and others.
Posted by: Zet | Dec 22 2022 1:17 utc | 96
WHITE HOUSE: Zelensky handed Biden a letter and an award from the captain of the AFU, the commander of the HIMARS crew.
https://twitter.com/AZgeopolitics/status/1605660892250660876
DONETSK:
A HiMARS rocket kills one at the cafe where Dmitry Rogozin(ex-Roscosmos General Director) was celebrating his birthday. Also injured was Prime Minister of the DPR government Vitaly Khotsenko.
https://twitter.com/AZgeopolitics/status/1605681435649744918
Posted by: Melaleuca | Dec 22 2022 1:18 utc | 97
Mike314159 @89--
Again, Putin is NOT THE TSAR! Putin is the head-of-state and presides over a collective decision making body. He gets to make the speeches and appearances, but that's his duty as head-of-state. Russia is a far more democratic nation than any in what was formerly known as the West. And ideally a democracy makes its decisions in a collective manner.
Overheard in the backroom just now after Zelenski's speech to the US Congress ...
"Buy now - NOW - Slava Lockheed Martin! Slava Raytheon! Slava Boeing! Slava Zelenski1 'loud laughter Suckers' " etc.
Two Trillion and another 45 billion for Ukraine in 2023 ....
After all that applause ... it will probably pass.
Meanwhile Europe is rapidly going down-hill ... the new Western Slavs - with the term 'Slav' originally meaning 'slave' - now the new European reality.
If despair were an option I'd be in it.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Dec 22 2022 1:21 utc | 99
Posted by: Rob | Dec 21 2022 23:31 utc | 77 "Russia has already won." 'this economic contest'.
By what measurement will the west realize this? Any estimate on when the west will realize this? Before the end of winter?
Posted by: Bill Smith | Dec 22 2022 1:25 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Finally.
Posted by: Mikhail Lobko | Dec 21 2022 17:46 utc | 1