catbonez @ 1

An Ukrainian does not have a chance.

It’s not fair but life isn’t fair, one aspect, an important one, when reaching adulthood and attaining the age of reason is to not be a sucker, at the very least for your own self respect. Many people in Ukraine have no voice and are constrained like many of us in the west, but way too many are putting up a very brave and hard fight for all the wrong people and all the wrong reasons.
On a tangent just saw this on TG and worth sharing, UKR has absolutely no idea of their dead, this is just too obvious to not be true:
Info from a channel in Kiev: We were once engaged in alcoholism with our old friend in early September, AFU general. And by the morning (i.e. very drunk) we touched this delicate issue. A friend said that officially at that time 46K were KIA, 12K MIA. But these numbers only include those who officially was registered in AFU either before February 24 or in June when the documents were put in order. All these territorial defence units recruited by thousands on the streets in Mariupol, Kharkov, Sumy, Bakhmut, Slavyansk, Nikolaev, Kramatorsk and dozens of other towns, are not included here. Until the fall they didn’t even have documents. People were just given machine guns and sent to kill Russians. Same about police, prison officers, SBU officers, the National Guard, volunteer gangs and so on – they are not included in the AFU losses.
https://t.me/denatofication/4385

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Dec 1 2022 17:45 utc | 3

Re:”before the war in Ukraine there was one in Georgia. Can anyone shed any light on what happened to start that conflict?”
No, but I can assure you that after the war in Ukraine there will be one on Moldova (Romania?) as night follows day

Posted by: CommiesGOFY | Dec 1 2022 18:00 utc | 5

Another article some people here should read that fooling themselves that russians will somehow do better during winter than ukrainians in a war in..Ukraine.
“Russian Soldiers Are Freezing To Death In Eastern Ukraine”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/11/27/russian-soldiers-are-freezing-to-death-in-eastern-ukraine/?sh=6324558f4254

Posted by: Zanon | Dec 1 2022 18:04 utc | 7

@Roadblock 4
Search for the Tagliavini Commission Report. This is the EU report which stated that Georgia was the party that was mostly at fault, not Russia.
Here in the U.S., the propaganda machine has consistently claimed since Obama took office that Russia invaded Georgia for no reason. Basically, the politicians here didn’t like the facts and conclusions in the EU report so they have never said there was any disagreement about what happened or who was at fault — the consistent message has been that Russia invaded Georgia and Russia was 100% wrong in their actions.
However, the EU Tagliavini Commission Report puts most of the fault on Georgia. I suggest you read the report and draw your own conclusions.

Posted by: OdessaConnected | Dec 1 2022 18:07 utc | 9

I tried posting this in previous thread, everyone was busy with meta.
AFU offensive in Svatove and Kremenna stalled due to ammunition shortage: details
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have failed the planned November offensive in the Kupyansk and Krasnoliman directions due to an artillery crisis.
A check of the combat efficiency of the 92nd and 80th AFU brigades near Svatov has revealed that units armed with self-propelled and towed guns are experiencing serious shell starvation and cannot take part in major offensives.
According to the Military Chronicle, the biggest shortages are related to artillery shells of 122 and 152 mm caliber, as well as the delivery and use of shells of NATO caliber (155 mm). The ammunition situation is particularly difficult in units using 203 mm Pion guns. Shells for these guns were not produced in Ukraine, and their quantity was strictly limited.
Production of artillery ammunition of Soviet calibers at the Artem plant in Kyiv is currently impossible. The company cannot operate in the context of Ukraine’s energy shortage and constant missile attacks on the country’s military infrastructure.
The situation is different in the 25th and 95th brigades of the AFU near Novovovodnoye (35 km north of Kremenna). The units are depleted due to high casualties and the deterioration of guns. Approximately 30-40% of self-propelled and towed guns have been destroyed or require repair, while another 30% have already been sent for repair and taken out of service. For the remaining 155mm shells, the AFU units near Kremenna are short of guns.
Due to artillery shortages, the AFU is not receiving modern weapons, but foreign M101 105mm caliber guns have been produced since 1941. Shells for these guns are not effective enough and are consumed 15 times faster than 152mm ammunition, which only adds to the shortage of ammunition.
The AFU cannot promptly replenish ammunition from old depots in the nearest regions: most of the RAW depots in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Sumy, Kyiv, and Chernihiv regions have been destroyed by high-precision weaponry.
The shells that manage to reach artillery units have expired shelf lives. The newest ammunition with a long shelf life was produced in the late 1980s and shows signs of casing deterioration, leading to incidents. Since the beginning of October, the howitzer division of the 25th Airborne Troops Brigade has recorded at least three fatal incidents involving a projectile rupture in the breech casing of the 122mm D-30 gun.
The redistribution of shells and guns between units on the Kremenna-Svatovo line is hampered by the November muddy weather, a shortage of heavy equipment to transport ammunition, and the activity of Russian Orlan-30 drones, which target surviving AFU convoys with rocket artillery and Su-25 attack aircraft, depriving Ukrainian forces of the ability to form a striking grouping.
https://t.me/milchronicles/1352
Of course you can choose to not believe any of this. Such as it is I would say the specific and local has more heft thn the global.
But there it is. Can’t fight without ammo.

Posted by: oldhippie | Dec 1 2022 18:21 utc | 11

cbc headline today
Why the battle for the small city of Bakhmut is so important to both Russia and Ukraine
One of the longest-running battles in Russia’s war on Ukraine is in the Donbas city of Bakhmut, where Russian forces have suffered immense losses for months trying to break Ukrainian positions.
i refuse to link the page here.. if canucks believe this shit, they deserve everything they get and that includes me!!

Posted by: james | Dec 1 2022 18:21 utc | 13

If Im fooling myself about how well Russians will fare better than Ukrainians this winter. it may be because I can read a map. All of Russia is either further north of Ukraine or further away from the tempering influence of the Black Sea .. meaning however cold it is in Ukraine it is even colder in Russia; and much colder than Southern Ukraine
I also know history. Russia conducted impressive offensive maneuvers in the Stalingrad AO from November thru February, 1943 and cleared much of Ukraine of Germans in the winter of 1944. Im guessing Russia has taken steps to protect its troops from cold. I wonder if Ukraine can say the same thing

Posted by: Callmelennie | Dec 1 2022 18:22 utc | 15

Posted by: Roadblock | Dec 1 2022 17:48 utc | 4
CIA-backed attempted coup. Russia prevented the coup, cleaned the place up & left.

Posted by: Mary | Dec 1 2022 18:35 utc | 17

They say that History repeats itself but I think Mark Twain said it best It Rhymes. Looking back to WW II the west financed the Nazi’s rise to power and existence. Basically to destroy Russia. Today the West is doing the same thing and it’s financing the Nazi’s for the same reasons as before WW II to detroy Russia. Since history rhymes or repeats itself I guess we’ll have WW III also.
https://www.voltairenet.org/article174656.html

Posted by: Llob | Dec 1 2022 18:36 utc | 19

LOL west and Ukraine know exactly what Russia is up to that is why they can never do any real damage/win.
Russia is preparing another powerful air raid on Ukraine, writes Der Spiegel

“Actual satellite imagery shows unusual movement at a key Russian military airport. Experts see Engels-2 on high alert and warn of a powerful new air raid on Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/Inc2Get/status/1598319087750467585
Like I said many times, the russians always 1 step behind.

Posted by: Zanon | Dec 1 2022 18:53 utc | 21

James 13, it’s almost laughable: the number of times the MSM can sound the victory call. Dozens of Russian generals whacked, RF forces running out of missiles. The latest I heard on the radio was that the Ukrainian media had opened up a channel where Russians can opt to surrender. Meaning what? That they will call into a radio show and say the word ‘surrender’? Or do they surrender via text message?! As usual it’s classic projection.
The text should read: The Russians are “suffering” immense losses of artillery shells which they are using to pulverize Ukrainian positions.

Posted by: Chevrus | Dec 1 2022 18:57 utc | 23

Chris @ 12

Keep this up and you’ll get a pay cut. Seriously worried for you!

Our little troll is being paid in rat tails and worm ends, the big trolls are harsh and bully him. He comes here for the human affirmation. Love is where you find it.
BTW at the very start of the SMO, when there was that 40k long military convoy, the NYT had a front page story with a picture of an RF APC in the long line covered in snow and icicles, saying how the Ruskies were going to run out of gas and that hundreds of troops would freeze to death in their vehicles. Even an ardent mush brained reader of the NYT would have spit out their morning coffee at that one.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Dec 1 2022 19:01 utc | 25

It appears that Zanon is once again using the bar as his/her/its toilet…

Posted by: Victor Scarpia | Dec 1 2022 19:10 utc | 27

oldhippie @ 11

AFU offensive in Svatove and Kremenna stalled due to ammunition shortage

I immediately thought of the supposedly huge soviet era depot in Transnistria, and then this shows up on TG. My guess is the RF would blow it up, but guess that depends were it is w/ respect to the cities or inhabitants there. I would imagine and hope it isn’t in the middle of town. But then yah never know:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion
Moldovan Foreign Minister Popescu calls for withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping forces from breakaway republic of Transnistria and elimination of ammunition depots left over from Soviet period
A Soviet-era ammo depot exists in Transnistria-controlled village of Cobasna under control of Russian forces and local authorities. https://t.me/IntelRepublic/9600
And, just a few days ago, seemed same old same old at the time:
https://www.esteri.it/en/sala_stampa/archivionotizie/comunicati/2022/11/sottosegretario-tripodi-partecipa-alla-conferenza-ministeriale-del-gruppo-di-sostegno-alla-moldova-parigi-21-novembre/

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Dec 1 2022 19:15 utc | 29

Lol someone using my nick now. Not me at #30.
b can of course see the IP of this sockpuppet imposter LOL.

Posted by: Zanon | Dec 1 2022 19:20 utc | 31

There are over 60 patriots now in position having fallen of the back of trucks.Like refrigerators they love the cold.

Posted by: mcohen | Dec 1 2022 19:25 utc | 33

@Roadblock | Dec 1 2022 17:48 utc | 4
TL;DR on the Georgian War in 2008.
Georgia had a colour revolution (Rose Revolution) prior to ’08 that put a Western backed guy in power (Saakashvili).
The Western backed guy had an eye toward NATO and the EU, and participated in some American military adventures. He was also fairly corrupt.
He had two break away regions in his country that were blocking it’s admission to NATO. See any parallels? 😉
He made the ‘wise’ choice to open fire on UN mandated Russian peacekeepers during the Beijing Olympics (when Putin wasn’t President and was out of the country at the Olympics). The world was distracted with the Olympics, and he though he had the support of the West. He tried to make new facts on the ground when ‘everyone’ (AKA- the Western public) was distracted.
The Georgian army was stomped by a rather ramshackle Russian army. Western support was mostly just words. (Which, given current events, was probably better for actual Georgians than the West ‘helping’.) Then Russians went back home (with some minor security adjustments around the break away regions). The Georgian leader didn’t get reelected…
I personally credit this episode with being the thing that encouraged the Russians to begin a serious modernization of their military equipment, as prior reforms were mostly organizational. It was one thing when the West was sponsoring terrorists in Russia, it’s another when a state level actor is ‘encouraged’ to attack Russian soldiers.
The Georgian leader (Saakashvili) has popped up wherever the Americans need a tools since he was run out of office. Recently as a Governor in post Western coup Ukraine. He then went back to Georgia, where he was he was promptly put in jail.

Posted by: Another James | Dec 1 2022 19:27 utc | 35

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Dec 1 2022 19:01 utc | 25
The purpose of the writer from Forbes is to push the narrative that the Russian military is incompetent. Just check out his past articles since day one. Here is one: “Russian Trenches In Southern Ukraine Are Too Short To Stop A Ukrainian Attack”.
When the invasion started I looked to various news sources and would get so called military experts who showed a picture of one Russian tank and concluded that supply lines were not delivering, maintenance was shit, old tanks, etc …. all from one picture of a Russian tank that could have been taken anywhere and at any time.

Posted by: Erelis | Dec 1 2022 19:38 utc | 37

Well stop whining and make your own resolution against Germany, that they commited genocide against russians!
Posted by: Zanon | Dec 1 2022 18:19 utc | 10

What for?
So Germany says something about Russians committing genocide.. blah, blah, blah big deal, who cares? After sanctions and the nordstream sabotage, there is nothing of consequence that could arise from that.
The only thing worth Russia’s time in “making your own resolutions against Germany” is to hire a couple of propaganda workers to spread archived pictures of present day German chemical and auto makers during world war 2 on Twitter all day.
Done.

Posted by: FieryButMostPeaceful | Dec 1 2022 19:40 utc | 39

Our narratives are basically in line, but I disagree with you on whether the Russian Georgian operation was “ramshackle”. The Russian offensice suprised the West with how professional it was; modernization of the Russian military was already well-underway but was ramped up even more powerfully in the years sine. The Russian military performed extremely well in Syria where aviation assets were also employed, but the Russian effort in Ukraine has been nothing short of brilliant. In eight months Russia has managed to bring a once-modern nation to its knees and to essentially eliminate one of the largest and well-armed militaries in the world.

Posted by: FHTEX | Dec 1 2022 19:44 utc | 41

It took quite a while for the presser to be posted, here is the begining of the long conference, Lavrov as sharp as ever, I’ve watched the introduction and a couple of questions.
https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1841407/

Posted by: Paco | Dec 1 2022 19:48 utc | 43

I guess we should take the “where’s Zanon” comments to a non-Ukraine open thread.

Posted by: Old canadian | Dec 1 2022 19:51 utc | 45

whirlX
The food have to be transported from Russia proper, of course that is a huge risk and Russia is certainly not prepared, risk ending up like Hitler’s soldiers:
Hitler’s Winter Blunder

The call for winter clothing for the German armies in Russia

https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/hitlers-winter-blunder/
Video: Russian soldier with Hypothermia. No blood or other causes of death to be seen.
https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1596283603385651200

Posted by: Zanon | Dec 1 2022 19:53 utc | 47

Minor tactical successes yesterday for Russia. Ukraine is striking Russian concentrations South of the z npp, tomak I believe. Its been struck multiple times, maybe Russia should put their stuff under tents or something. They seem to forget satellites watch them 24/7.
Speaking of satellites looks like they arm their bombers out in the open still. Border infrastructure is still being struck in Russia so there goes another red line i guess. Ukraine doesn’t recognize Russian territory as off limits.
Propoganda about Ukrainian electrical repair crews is ramping up. Russia better get in some more hits before Ukrainian AD is built up like their artillery before.
Lots of rumors about a winter offensive from Russia, their troop concentrations clearly are being recorded exactly so sounds like it’ll be a turkey shoot if they swarm in.

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Dec 1 2022 19:57 utc | 49

I try not to copy paste too much from TG as this is a discussion forum not a news aggregator but this is rather interesting, seems we are at total shut down, just in time for the cold that kills to set in. Pity the people of Kharkov and Odessa who are majority pro Russian have to go through this, it’s terrible for the old.
@Rybar Analysis: The State of the Energy System in Southern #Ukraine after the Russian Strikes⚡️
During a recent speech, Zelensky said that the electricity situation in the #Odessa region is one of the worst in the country. To solve the problem, the Kiev authorities are even considering fantastic options of using Turkish floating power plants.
In the light of such statements, it is possible to determine by circumstantial evidence which specific Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities in the #Odessa Region were taken out of action during the massive missile strikes.
With a very high probability, the Ajalyk 330 substation northeast of #Odessa was knocked out during the raids. This prevents the transfer of power to the city from the South-Ukrainian NPP in the #Nikolaev region. A bypass line through the Ladyzhyn TPP open switchyard is also out of service, presumably to the Pobuzhskaya 330 substation.
The strikes on the facilities of Ladyzhyn TPP in 👉 #Vinnitsa Oblast have also significantly reduced the ability to transfer energy to the southern parts of the country. The entire Odessa region is now powered by transit through the Moldovan TPP, whose capacity is critically insufficient to power the region.
Theoretically, damage to the open switchgear of the South Ukrainian nuclear power plant is possible. However, the probability is extremely low: in the event of such an attack, Ukrainian resources would have published tons of material from the scene to accuse Russia of “nuclear terrorism,” but it has not appeared online.
It can also be assumed that the targets of the latest massive strike by the Russian Armed Forces were no longer transformers, but precisely the general station control points (GCPs). This partly explains why major power supply problems began simultaneously throughout the country.
The cumulative effect of past raids has taken its toll and the unified Ukrainian energy system is disintegrating into separate unconnected islands.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Dec 1 2022 20:06 utc | 51

The Owl @ 51

It was never 40k long, it was @5k long (iirc)

You would think hyping it to 40K would make the convoy, the resources, and the Russians even more impressive not less? I was using 40K to reference the event, I never figured it was 40K as that’s just silly but did figure 20K from the picts, especially the aerials. I’m not to sure about 5K however, I live in Bumfuck and we get 3 mile jam ups in the middle of town if there’s an accident, flooding, road work.
But yes, I have to keep reminding myself lenses flatten perspective, media use the effect all the time to make small look large or large look small, even though I know it if I’m not concentrating it’ll con me.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Dec 1 2022 20:26 utc | 53

has anybody got any serious info on satellites…
surely all these drones/missiles etc only find their targets from
gps signals etc…
or am I wrong.
and recently russia has placed more in orbit.
are there killer satellites to take out NATO/USA satellites
anyone got any idea.

Posted by: harryash | Dec 1 2022 20:43 utc | 55

@harryash | Dec 1 2022 20:43 utc | 56

anyone got any idea.

I guess it is possible that some of them also navigate by tracking stars.

Posted by: Norwegian | Dec 1 2022 20:52 utc | 57

harryash @ 56

are there killer satellites to take out NATO/USA satellites

Of course there are, as there used to be a military Space Shuttle they never talked about which was their fighter plane in space, or experiment with one. I’m sure there were plans to grab a Russian or Chinese satellite.
Russia last year, IIRC, used a S500 to knock out one of their old satellites, one shot, one hit. It was a message as much as a test.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Dec 1 2022 21:06 utc | 59

>Posted by: Norwegian | Dec 1 2022 20:46 utc | 57
>Here is the real tragedy of this conflict—the human toll. By the time this war is over, Ukraine will more >than likely have suffered around 500,000 combat deaths. That is 5 times the number Van der Crazy was not >allowed to say publicly.
Then Russia should just say “f*** it” and steamroll Ukraine already. A total war is the shortest war (and hence, the most humanitarian).

Posted by: ReinhardVonSiegfried | Dec 1 2022 21:14 utc | 61

ReinhardVonSiegfried
There are no 100k dead combat deaths, there are 100k ukrainian death and injured persons. Likely Russia have suffered as much atleast:
Dana Spinant, deputy chief spokeswoman and Director for Political Communication for the European Commission, clarified on Twitter that the 100,000 figure was meant as a rough estimate of total Ukrainian military casualties, including both dead and wounded.
https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1597928159336615936

Posted by: Zanon | Dec 1 2022 21:17 utc | 63

Zaporizhzhia update:
Four of six reactors in cold shutdown – fuel is below boiling point, control rods fully inserted, reactor vessel can be depressurized and opened for refueling, repairs, etc.
Two reactors in normal or warm shutdown (#4 and #6?) – fuel is still hot but fission is very low (control rods almost fully inserted). Rosatom, current operator, announced last week that these two reactors would be brought back into full operation (soon?).
Old Zaporizhzhia plant director fired by Rosatom, who has now promoted one of the senior engineers to the director position. Energoatom (former plant operator), in turn, fired this engineer (!) and labeled him a traitor to Ukraine. Not that this matters – Energoatom hasn’t paid employees in months.
Rosatom asked all plant employees to sign new employment contracts with them, as they are the current operators. Which means better salaries and payment in a useable currency, Russian rubles, not the nearly-worthless Ukraine hryvnia. For normal employment administration and security, Rosatom will not let non-employees in the nuclear plant, so those former Energoatom employees refusing to sign on to Rosatom employment (to avoid being labeled as traitors and collaborators by Ukraine) are effectively quitting. Rosatom apparently isn’t requiring Russian citizenship as a condition of employment, although many employees and their families have already applied.
No reports yet on how many will stay on vs. quit, but the vast majority of current plant employees are thought to be staying and signing new Rosatom contracts, much to the horror of Energoatom and Zelensky’s administration. The handful of Zelensky ‘loyalists’ have long since departed the plant and their homes in Enerhodar for Ukraine-held territory. Zaporizhzhia NPP previously employed 11,000 workers, no reports of how many there are today.
The Ukrainian Energy Ministery (headed by German Galushchenko), Ukraine’s power distribution operator, Ukrenergo (CEO Vladimir Kudritsky) and Ukraine’s nuclear operator (Peter Kotin) are thoroughly mobbed-up and are the main players in endemic corruption of the industry. Loss of Zaporizhzhia represents the loss of a huge stream of grift and bribes that these guys depended on, as well as an entire other web of organized crime/government parasites and moochers. Dangerous because these clowns are tied to many other western organized crime clans/governments that live off of the skim from their nuclear and power generation loans/grants/aid to Ukraine.

Posted by: PavewayIV | Dec 1 2022 21:36 utc | 65

fyi
I guess this is just the price of Freedom⟨™⟩ and Democracy® in Ukraine
https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1598302069353582592
“The UK intends to provide military, financial and diplomatic support to Ukraine until Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine.” – UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverley.
MEANWHILE, back at the ranch:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-63754846
Cost of living: People in Cardiff ‘eating pet food’
“People are having to eat pet food while others try to heat food on a radiator, a community worker with 20 years’ experience has said.
….Trowbridge lies in what Mr Seed calls an “arc of poverty” from east to west of the Welsh capital, with issues endemic in his area.
“I’m still shocked by the fact that we have people who are eating pet food,” he said.
“[There are] people who are trying to heat their food on a radiator or a candle.
“These are shocking kind of stories that are actually the truth.”…..

Posted by: michaelj72 | Dec 1 2022 21:40 utc | 67

michaelj72
Disgraceful indeed, still the stupid westerners support the warmongering policy on Ukraine!
Public continues to support Britain’s role in Ukraine conflict
6 in 10 support Britain’s response to the conflict – just 12% oppose
https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/public-continues-support-britains-role-ukraine-conflict

Posted by: Zanon | Dec 1 2022 21:46 utc | 69

@FHTEX | Dec 1 2022 19:44 utc | 42
I think the Russians did surprise the West with their ability to respond, and respind quickly– Though, given the region of Russia that Georgia bordered, the West shouldn’t have been surprised. I also think the Russians operated well on a strategic level. However the material level of the forces that went into Georgia left a lot to be desired (despite the stomping they gave the Georgians).
As I said, I think that the Georgian War was what ultimately what pushed Russia into an accelerated military modernization drive (on more than an organizational level). The Russian military the world saw in Syria, or during the Crimean operation, was a very different force.
As neither a Russian, nor a slavophile, I view the Georgian War as tremendously short sighted on the part of the West. After Putin’s Munich speech in 2007, on a purely cynical imperialist level, the West would have been better served by backing off a bit, stringing Putin along, encourage the Russians to continue half assing military modernization, while ‘building bridges’ with the West. A just West would have given Russia a proper seat at the table… Either of those was a better option for the West.
(My interest in Russia is mostly centered of the Post Soviet transition, as the fall of the Soviet Union and Eastern Block was always something that fascinated me.)
@Membrum Virile | Dec 1 2022 19:56 utc | 49
If someone would be kind enough to pay me that would be nice, but alas it was simply case of two people trying to come up with a reasonably short summary of events around the Georgian War at the same time. We just happened to hit most of the same points because those are the most relevant to conveying the story.
If FHTEX is getting paid I’m jealous (and would like a cut).

Posted by: Another James | Dec 1 2022 21:52 utc | 71

whirlX | Dec 1 2022 19:43 utc | 41
+ @ Zzzzzzznon
re Russian supply lines. Saw a vid on telegram where a clump of Ukrainian soldiers find a Russian food/ ration pack.. Laughter. “Just feed it straight to the pigs”… “nah. Even pigs won’t eat this shit”. Anyway they rip into the box, and start opening the sealed single serve tins and packets. One dips a spoon into one meal….ooops, it’s really good.
Slowly, against their every inclination, they are increasingly impressed (and jealous).
For a single day ration pack, the food is nutritious, tasty, with variety, there’s a few sweet treats, and there’s enough for a hungry man.
Fuck. Say the Ukrainians how come these mfkrs get this? How?
……… cue the zzzzzz:) #they weren’t really Ukrainian… #they were Russians in Ukrainian uniforms playing acting.
Yeah. Nah. It seemed a real vignette. Why did they then posted to telegram? ….
But why do Ukrainian soldiers post any of the stuff they post….. ?
Like the young lads soaking in the summer sun on the top of the transport … less goofing for the selfie and more situational awareness… maybe they would have noticed they were about to be obliterated…

Posted by: Melaleuca | Dec 1 2022 22:01 utc | 73

” the Russian Georgian operation was “ramshackle” ”
@ FHTEX | 42

fwiw John Mearsheimer’s opinion about Russia in Georgia, also was it wasn’t great mil performance and motivated Russia to thoroughly reform it’s military and training etc etc which it has done.
my ref is very recent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBiV1h7Dm5E (sorry can’t recall where exactly, towards the end?, but it’s a decent interview to watch anyway)
And just because he said it doesn’t make it true, but he has some bonafides on the subject matter. I don’t know myself either way.
And @ Membrum Virile | 49
Really good! 🙂

Posted by: SeanAUs | Dec 1 2022 22:27 utc | 75

Posted by: Zanon | Dec 1 2022 19:18 utc | 31

Remember the nazis froze to death in their attack on the Soviet union – in many thousands, if that happen in this war it will of course happen to russian soldiers before ukrainian soldiers. Just imagine the food that have to be transfered to keep 150-200k soldiers warm.

Sergueï Koujouguétovitch Choïgou, is of the Tuvan. He knows the cold.

And why would any russian soldier want to stay and be used as a cannonfodder stuck in cold winter in Ukraine anyway?

If you threatened and attacked my mother, nothing would stop me from getting to you.

Posted by: Sarlat La Canède | Dec 1 2022 22:39 utc | 77

@Zanon 7
You couldn’t find a source for you BS in Beano, soo you quoted Forbes instead? You do really ze it is less credible?

Posted by: Hermit | Dec 1 2022 22:50 utc | 79

Posted by: Norwegian | Dec 1 2022 20:46 utc | 57
blabla

Here is the real tragedy of this conflict—the human toll.

Oh, is it ? What about, uhmm, the innocents, the birds, the deer, the boar, the bloody squirrels (my dog hates ’em, hates ’em), stoats, weasels etc, etc ! And the ‘kin insects, beez ‘n shit, yo ?
The fucking land ?

Posted by: Sarlat La Canède | Dec 1 2022 23:05 utc | 81

Thank you all for reminding me about the 2008 war in Georgia. At the time I was all in the “the big Russia meanie head” camp but that no longer applies.
This gives me an example to use for those that insist Russia and VVP want all of ukraine. Why didn’t they do that to Georgia? Because there was no need in the first place and IIRC there was a promise to not expand eastwards after Russia withdrew from the former DDR.
WRT the commentator who stated that only 12% of Britains supported Russia in this war, I will say that only 12% were brave enough to admit it. I would put that percentage at least double. A minority for sure but a sizable one at that in spite of all the propaganda that comes from the british legacy media.

Posted by: T.D. | Dec 1 2022 23:20 utc | 83

Long ago, Oswald Spengler wrote a book “The Decline of the West”. Now, it seems that this decline progressed and that we came to the point of the collapse.
I am looking people at work in one Dutch company. They live like in a dream, so full of pride that they are so advanced, so “progressive”, even more progressive then democrats in USA. They are honestly happy that democrats won in the midterms.
Young generation is totally consumed in “managers” culture, believing and pretending to believe in different buzzwords like “scrum” or sales divinity.
They are ready and want to sacrifice themselves fro Ukraine. They are buying solar panels believing in green transition.
A lot of believing, a new religion.

Posted by: margo | Dec 1 2022 23:23 utc | 85

Lol “>https://azgeopolitics.com/?p=2676

“Lockheed Martin Corporation has been awarded a fixed-price contract in the amount of $430,930,711 for the full-scale production of HIMARS MLRS and support services to meet the urgent support needs of the United States Army and various foreign partners,”
Export price for one GMLRS missile is $222,900. The Pentagon gets some discount, hopefully, so let us assume 150,000$ .
That means 2867 missiles. Not really impressive.

Posted by: aquadraht | Dec 1 2022 23:29 utc | 87

Posted by: Paco | Dec 1 2022 20:09 utc | 53
Didn’t know that Scott Ritter has a Substack. Unfortunately, it’s paid only – the free version only has “occasional public posts”. Sorry, not paying $7/month for this, not when I can get the same info on his Youtube interviews. He was complaining in a recent interview about the cost of living in the US, his bills and mortgage have gone up, so clearly he needs the money. At $7/month and with his rep, he’ll likely make some good money on Substack eventually.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Dec 1 2022 23:31 utc | 89

Posted by: Passerby | Dec 1 2022 18:22 utc | 14
Young Ukrainian girl “Vova, smash them!” Vova is Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian girl tells funny parable
Ukrainian girl pull no punches
Those girls are fed up.

Posted by: Anne B | Dec 1 2022 23:38 utc | 91

a suggestion….
slow down, step back, take a breath… read what b said at the beginning of this open thread:
“Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators.”
I doubt I’ll ever have the pleasure to meet b in person but I have benefited from his work and can imagine that he is living through some hard times in Hamburg, Germany and yet he continues to take the time to research, question, resist, sometimes admitting his work didn’t bear fruit, and keep this wonderful blog going so we can check in on what’s going on and make our lives a bit more informed and better. He doesn’t bitch about his problems. He tolerates a large spectrum of conversation which I guess includes many opinions far from his. From my perspective, b exhibits qualities I try for. My suggestion… read his few words and consider what he asks for in this blog: give facts. stop smearing and trying to put down people who present themselves as opposing the dominant tenor of the bar. Give a link to what you’re reading. Absorb insults without responding.

Posted by: migueljose | Dec 1 2022 23:47 utc | 93

@ PavewayIV | Dec 1 2022 21:36 utc | 66
thanks paveway… i appreciate it…
@ Anne B | Dec 1 2022 23:38 utc | 92
thanks.. the bottom 2 are quite good!
@ migueljose | Dec 1 2022 23:47 utc | 95
right on! thanks…

Posted by: james | Dec 2 2022 0:01 utc | 95

But jeez, call me Irish meant as an insulting putdown and I’ll go crying to my mother.

Posted by: SeanAU | Dec 2 2022 0:05 utc | 97

There’s a cold week-end ahead. Forecast says around -8 C during the nights. Ukrainian cannon fodder will get to feel what it’s like when hell freezes over. Their Nazi commanders probably have generators in the houses they’ve occupied so they’ll be spared this time.

Posted by: Fentanalyst | Dec 2 2022 0:14 utc | 99