Ukraine Open Thread 2023-29
Only for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict.
The current open thread for other issues is here.
Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators.
Posted by b on February 4, 2023 at 18:12 UTC | Permalink
next page »đ©đȘđșđžđąđGerman companies are ready to withdraw investments from Germany because of gas pricesGermany's largest producers are ready to cut thousands of jobs and withdraw investments to the United States, since Berlin "will not be able" to provide them with energy at prices that were Russian gas, writes Bloomberg
"We are no longer competitive in Germany, but our investments for further growth will be directed to more competitive places, such as the USA," said Matthias Zahert, head of the Lanxess chemical company.
The largest chemical producer BASF and the international company Dow are also among the companies ready to lay off workers and withdraw investments from Germany.
https://t.me/azmilitary11/36080
Posted by: Down South | Feb 4 2023 18:26 utc | 2
In yesterdayâs Ukraine thread Paul Greenwood posted a link to and excerpt from a 1917 work by Lenin on finance capital and imperialism. Leninâs fourth main point at the very end of the work is that the period of finance capital remains a competition between imperialist powers for sources of raw materials and for markets. I am struck by how US policy in regard to Ukraine and Europe continues to be basically the attempt to secure markets and control of raw materialsâŠ
Posted by: mjh | Feb 4 2023 18:28 utc | 3
Posted by: Anton Gorbatow | Feb 4 2023 18:23 utc | 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijHL10tYVSA
Young Lydia Spivak (later to become a teacher in Donetsk) monitors traffic at Bandenburg Gate, Berlin 1945.
Posted by: Greg Galloway | Feb 4 2023 18:31 utc | 4
Very interesting Tweet on Trump/Zelinski and Putin.
https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/1621590429396238338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1621852527170912256%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=
Posted by: jgalt | Feb 4 2023 18:32 utc | 5
Our source reports that Zelensky indicated at the headquarters that it is necessary to keep Bakhmut / Artemovsk at any cost until the start of the spring offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.Bakhmut should be like a breakwater that will hold back the Russian onslaught while the best reserves are being prepared in the rear, who have been trained at NATO bases and are waiting for the arrival of military equipment.
The Office of the President has long been working on options for delivering strikes on the territory in the depths of Russia. This will allegedly raise the falling morale among the Ukrainian masses and provoke panic in the Russian Federation.They also want to disrupt the summer season in Crimea by constantly striking at the peninsula. According to rumors from the OP, this will be possible closer to April-May, according to functionaries based on the weapons they receive.
https://t.me/legitimniy/14707
Posted by: Down South | Feb 4 2023 18:35 utc | 6
@1 yes, it's a repeat of the initial invasion where Biden declared war on ukraine on behalf of Russia. Now they need to wrap it up sooner rather than later due to losses so they are in fact ordering Putin to hurry up and throw all in.
If putin does, and they just had the Cia head visit him, just like last year when the Cia head visited prior to the initial invasion, then Putin is once again leading his army to slaughter.
If he does not then there's been a shift in Russia political power groupings.
It's clearly a trap and clearly the Cia is working to trick Russians into it.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Feb 4 2023 18:36 utc | 7
#Summary #Report on the morning of February 4, 2023During the past week, the initiative on the line of contact remained in the hands of the Russian Armed Forces.
After a week-long defence, the 144th Motorised Rifle Division launched a counter-offensive, advancing towards Yampolovka. The capture of Belogorovka is reported. The offensive on this section of the front would mean that there is a plan to encircle Seversk from this direction, which is 10-15 km away.
The PMC Wagner is moving towards Seversk from the south, having liberated several other settlements. Seversk's population before the war was comparable to Soledar (about 10,000 people).
South of Soledar, in the village of Krasnaya Gora, the enemy suffers heavy losses and throws border guards and defence forces into the battle. Our advanced line in the settlement is holding.
Artyomovsk (Bakhmut, up to 70,000 population before the war) is constantly being reinforced by new enemy forces, with roads under fire from our troops and reinforcement columns being periodically destroyed. To the south of the city the zone of control is expanding, the road to Chasov Yar is only a few kilometres away.
There is heavy fighting in Avdeevka and Mariinka. No success has been achieved in the Ugledar sector, the enemy has moved reserves. The bypass of the city from the eastern side failed.
Common to all sectors of the front in the actions of our troops are attempts to encircle enemy strongholds.
On the Zaporizhzhya direction, the sides are fighting positional battles, with no advances by the Russian Armed Forces.
Russian frontline regions are under constant strikes by the AFU. Belgorod region appears most frequently in the reports, but strikes are also carried out regularly in Kursk and Bryansk regions. Civilians in the LNR and DNR experience enemy fire even more frequently.
Some logistics issues have not been fully resolved.
The enemy is experiencing problems with manpower throughout the front, but massive mobilisation and rapid transfer of reserves are preventing our forces from making deep breakthroughs on the front. In addition, we should not forget Kiev's massive preparation of large reserves.
The enemy's sabotage activity on Russian territory remains high: yesterday, a vehicle explosion in Energodar killed an employee of the Zaporizhzhya Regional Ministry of Internal Affairs.
As of 4th February, we can conclude that the main reserves of the Russian armed forces have not yet been brought into combat. The question of their use remains open. The most successful advance is being carried out by the PMC Wagner, which is ably accompanied in the information field.
https://t.me/sitreports/4143
Posted by: Down South | Feb 4 2023 18:38 utc | 8
Posted by: Anton Gorbatow | Feb 4 2023 18:23 utc | 1
Military Summary thinks that a major Russion offensive will start in a few days. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?
Well, if freezing temperatures and frozen mud are important for a large scale advance with heavy equipment, then the opportunity is now! Night temperatures of -10C or lower and freezing temperature even during daytime are forcasted for the entire Donbass region for the next 10 days.
Posted by: Konrad | Feb 4 2023 18:38 utc | 9
It seems to me on another thread recent there was a consensus of sorts that Odessa is critical with respect to resolution of the "Special Military Operation". For some misguided and misbegotten it seems, I suspect the concept of transparency is inconsistent with how they conduct themselves and "do business". Per my perspective, and taking into consideration the frailty of fiat currency based upon nothing but "good faith" as well as the delusion of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT - an idea easily used nefariously flawed as such), Odessa could be the solution to this conflict after it returns to the country that deserves to have sovereignty of Odessa based on my studies serious. I'm sure if I had been to Odessa (I've been to Odessa, TX - "west Texas you know") - my view could be more informed, but I don't see much chance for me to ever go there even though if there was peace, there might be a chance. I suspect it is a beautiful place in peace.
~
If I ever go there (most unlikely, but a fella can dream), I think I'd like to get there via dirigible because I won't ever fly in an aeroplane ever again and that seems like sad reality of the world we live in today when there have been so many lies and so much trickery..so much obfuscation...who is a peasant to put faith in is a fair question. Certainly not the gubment emanating out of DC, and that is also sad since it wasn't always this way and so many still don't realize the trickery in play.
~
Tis a sad world we live in today, but I think things are going to get better, and it is only a matter of will and time. Thank-you to all who post here where ideas are shared in the bar and all that is left is for the reader to discern.
Peace,
BK
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 4 2023 18:47 utc | 10
As I wrote about Klitschko in an earlier post:
.
As far as his so you can almost say "heavy" widespread divorce is concerned, every medium spread this almost worldwide but rather a personal decision !!!
.
My thesis at the time: He wanted to get his wife and children out of Zelensky's line of fire.... One leverage less and you know for sure!
.
Well⊠Klitschko seems to be the next person Sylensky distrusts like psychopaths do when it comes to the end!!!
.
Report :
Political scientist Svetlana Kuschnir writes that the president's office has ordered the security forces to search Klitschko and his entourage.
A mask show is planned for the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, starting next Monday. Reason: Klitschko irritates the presidential office with his international relations to the EU and the USA as well as his influence in Kyiv. In addition, the positions of the OP in the capital are not being strengthened - the head of the city's military administration, Popko, still has little influence on what is happening in the capital.
The final straw for the OP was that Klitschko nominated three dozen mayors and brought them to court in Lviv in support of Chernihiv Mayor Atroshenko.
So at a meeting in the President's office, they decided to say hello to Klitschko. Klitschko was given the search order and the task of searching the houses of his entourage. He himself was also searched and observed by Zelensky's people, writes political expert Svetlana Kuschnir.
Posted by: mo3 | Feb 4 2023 18:51 utc | 11
Buffalo_Ken@10
If you want to see what Odessa looked like watch Eisenstein's "Battleship Potemkin' one of the greatest movies ever made.
Posted by: bevin | Feb 4 2023 18:52 utc | 12
Bevin above (@18:52) - I'll check it out. Thanks.
I watched a movie recently with Nicolos Cage about his actions as an "arms dealer" and Odessa was in that movie as well.
That movie could have been done better, but it still was prescient in a way and I enjoyed watching it with my wife after I said to her - we need to find a movie that pertains to the "Black Sea"......that was the movie we found and I can't even remember the name of it.
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 4 2023 18:55 utc | 13
The end of this war will depend on which economy can survive. Ukraine's economy is dead. The U.S. economy is a rump of the Arsenal of Democracy days. U.S. GDP is 89% Government and Services. Services being LuLu Lemon pantyhose (made offshore), hamburger and Pizza joints, Smartphone (Dumbphone) time wasters, Netflix, and $3 Trillion in "imputed Rent", i.e., rent that is never paid, but conjured out of a bureaucrat's butt.
The evidence of the reality of the Western World's true economies is found in the antiquated weapons they are sending to Ukraine, to assist the Russian slaughter of Uke Nazis. Factories do not exist to scale up the necessary weapons to fight Russia in the Ukraine, and Western Powers refuse to send in more modern weapons for fear of Russian capture.
If it wasn't for the stupidity and utter contempt for reason that the U.S. Imperial City has for eventual Nuclear extinguishment of human life on earth, it would be laughable to watch the U.S. being shot with a ball of their own excrement.
Too bad there are no honest brokers, no diplomats, no reason and all the Western bridges have been burned down by the West.
And now we have "Bring in the Clowns" as Boris plays with his Johnson in public again.
Posted by: kupkee | Feb 4 2023 19:03 utc | 15
Thanks @rk
That was it. The plot could have been done better, the telling of the story, many aspects of the movie.
But the theme of the movie was on target seemed to me - and so sad it is.
Makes one wonder - "have we lost our way".
Oh well.
Bartender - give me a double please.
BK
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 4 2023 19:08 utc | 16
An enigma is something hard to understand or to explain. The Ukrainian tactics in the Donbas are an enigma.
THE ENIGMA: The Ukrainian tactical position is an engima. It is an enigma that Zelensky is determined to hold onto every square meter of Donbas territory when it insures the certain destruction of masses of Ukrainian troops?
WHY IS UKRAINE'S BATTLE TACTIC AN ENIGMA: The rational and reasonable tactic would be for Ukraine to fall back to more easily defendable positions such as the West side of the Dnieper River. This would allow the Ukrainians to set up a much more defensive lines which would be very difficult for the Russians to penetrate.
Yet, this is not what will happen. Watch one Ukrainian brigade and battalion after another fall in the Donbas in the coming months. Yet, I doubt that a withdrawal or retreat order will be given to any of the Ukrainian troops that find themselves in the Russian pinchers, cauldrons, or boiling pots. Afther a certain area falls and the extent of the defeat is realized, Ukraine may claim they had an orderly withdrawal from a certain area. Yet, that is quite impossible without orders to do so before that area is encircled.
THE EXPLANATION?: I think I have figured it out. But the reason for this enigma is about as bizarre as continuing to throw away one brigade after another in the attempt to hold onto every square meter of the Donbas.
I think the USA knows that soon after Russia takes and secures the Donbas that it will launch against the USA. So, the West is doing everything and anything they can to prevent Russia from taking the Donbas. This includes continuing to buy off Zelensky and whomever else is necessary to do whatever they can to contain the Russians as long as possible in the Donbas.
I don't know exactly how the West knows this. Maybe it just makes sense that Russia would want the Ukrainian army off of its Western border before it launches against the USA. Maybe this info is coming from military intel on what Russia's plans are. Maybe this comes from remote viewing, or from the 10 kings or the Bible.
I see it from the prophecy of Daniel 7:5 where the bear arises and devours much flesh after it has 3 ribs in its mouth between its teeth. I see those 3 ribs as being Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk.
Wherever the West is getting this intel/ revelation, I do believe they are receiving it very loud and clear. So, Ukraine will sacrifice down to the last Ukrainian to hold the Donbas. Yet, it will be to no avail. Soon Donbas' ground will freeze solid again the second time this winter. And yet again the Russians will mobilize in a significant way as they continue to take the Donbas.
After Russia takes and secures the Donbas, they will launch. This will end the USA empire along with NATO.
Posted by: young | Feb 4 2023 19:12 utc | 17
Report of Abrams tanks transported in eastern Bulgaria
https://obektivno.bg/amerikanski-tankove-ejbrams-na-am-trakiya-video/
Posted by: Paul | Feb 4 2023 19:13 utc | 18
@young @19:12 above
That is some serious projection on your part, but please, lets all be honest - not a one of us knows what the future holds because uncertainty is part of life. The sooner we learn to live with it the better.
For my part, I think you are incorrect in your suppositions and that is based upon serious study.
Regards.
BK
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 4 2023 19:17 utc | 19
Aleks at Black Mountain Analysis posted a new strategic analysis today focusing on the longer term.
https://bmanalysis.substack.com/p/prospects-for-world-war-3-dedicated
Posted by: Tom Hickey | Feb 4 2023 19:32 utc | 20
Posted by: young | Feb 4 2023 19:12 utc | 17
THE EXPLANATION?: I think I have figured it out. But the reason for this enigma is about as bizarre as continuing to throw away one brigade after another in the attempt to hold onto every square meter of the Donbas.I think the USA knows that soon after Russia takes and secures the Donbas that it will launch against the USA. So, the West is doing everything and anything they can to prevent Russia from taking the Donbas. This includes continuing to buy off Zelensky and whomever else is necessary to do whatever they can to contain the Russians as long as possible in the Donbas.
You asset a conclusion but you have no premise which supports it. It seems like you are saying that you donât know why but you just know. Maybe you are on to something. Maybe there is a big bioweapons lab there that they must protect from the world finding out. Or maybe itâs just the best central point for which Russia can attack other areas of Ukraine. Maybe itâs the end times, maybe it isnât. I find end times prophecies fascinating, but what I generally find with them is they just keep moving up the date.
Do you have a thing or even concept that you can even speculate to for your reason that Zelenskyy isnât pulling out other than âyour gutâ? It seems the MIC in the US has advised him to pull out of Balkmut, but he still hasnât. I feel sorry for the poor dudes on Tinder who are getting sent to the frontlines to get shelled by Russians for no other rational reason than Zelenskyâs ego. If I were them, Iâd surrender to the Russians. Itâs the most logical choice if they want to live.
Posted by: Trimalchio | Feb 4 2023 19:34 utc | 21
Question: Please comment on the EU-Ukraine summit held in Kyiv on February 3 and the joint statement adopted on its results.Maria Zakharova: The February 3 event in Kiev once again confirmed that in order to weaken Russia and serve the hegemonic aspirations of the United States and NATO, the European Union continues to recklessly support the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev. Promising him a euro perspective in violation of its own standard requirements for European candidates and declaring the "common values" of the EU with it, it is in solidarity with the total suppression of dissent, the violation of freedom of speech and expression, and the gross violation of linguistic and religious rights in Ukraine. At the same time, he cynically "confirms" in a joint statement at the end of the summit "commitment to full respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities." This completely negates the principles on which the EU was once built.
Equally hypocritical are the EU's calls for peace when they declare their readiness to invest in the continuation of hostilities "for as long as necessary." 12 billion euros have already been allocated at the expense of European taxpayers. Increasing funding for the conflict, new supplies of weapons and equipment, increasing training camps, expanding training programs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - all this leads to an increase in the number of victims of the conflict, including among the civilian population.
Attempts in these conditions to launch the process of creating any quasi-structures to bring to justice for what is happening in Ukraine are absurd and immoral. As they say, who are the judges? Those who cheated with the Minsk agreements, covered up the war crimes of the Kiev regime against civilians in the Donbas since 2014, pumped Ukrainian criminals with weapons and money, who are trying to misappropriate Russia's state assets and the funds of our citizens?
It is once again confirmed that the leadership of the European Union and its member states has invested all political, financial and military resources in order to deploy a front in Ukraine against the formation of a multipolar world order, which Russia and the majority of the world community firmly support.
But Western efforts are in vain. As the Russian leadership has repeatedly stated, the goals and objectives of the special military operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine will be fully achieved. All participants of the Kiev gathering on February 3 of this year are waiting for a cruel disappointment. They will have to answer, among other things, to their own population, at the expense of whose funds the bloody geopolitical game "to the last Ukrainian" started by the West is financed.
The fact that Ukraine can still supply the front line while simultaneously receive massive arms supply across the border and organise a future offensive from it depth shows the nature of this conflict.
Russiaâs inability to strike in depth at mobile targets is shaping this conflict, a Russian offensive wonât happen because it canât happen. The resupply of static defences and overwhelming atms means an armoured punch canât happen.
The curious aspect of Ukraineâs prepared offensive is that it is premised on Russiaâs inability to hit mobile groupings.
Posted by: Johnycomelately | Feb 4 2023 20:03 utc | 23
Found this at Sputnik News:
UK âHas No More Heavy Gunsâ After Giving Them to Ukraine - ReportA report claiming two Royal Artillery regiments were left completely disarmed due to Downing Streetâs decision to send the guns to Ukraine comes as British hawks step up their public relations campaign to convince taxpayers to submit to a surge in military spending.
The British Army has no more heavy guns left after having given them all to Ukraine, according to a recent report.
All of the UKâs 30 serviceable AS-90 self-propelled artillery guns have been sent to the Zelensky regime, The Sun is reporting.
âThe decision to give them away has stripped two Royal Artillery regiments, based on Salisbury Plain, Wilts, of all their working weapons,â wrote the outlet, which added that an artillery source told them: âIf gunners donât have guns we canât fight, we canât train.â
The news comes amid a high-profile push by British war hawks to convince the public to cough up for newer and fancier toys for the military.
Claiming that British fighting capabilities have been âhollowed out by spending cuts,â the former head of the UKâs Joint Forces Command, retired General Richard Barrons, wrote in a recent op-ed that âyears of cuts to ammunition production mean that, for some types of key weapons, the army would run out in a busy afternoon.â
Opining that the UKâs military is now âbarely tier twoâ â a designation which would place it among the ranks of Germany and Italy, rather than âtier oneâ militaries like those of the US, China, Russia, or France â Barrons insisted the Brits will have to fork over an additional ÂŁ3 billion to return to the upper echelon.British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace also recently echoed the view the British military has been left âhollowed out and underfundedâ in light of his governmentâs continuing campaign to pump Ukraine full of deadly weapons. âAs the world gets more dangerous, defense should get a growing proportion of spend,â he reportedly urged.
The possibility that the UK would likely be left flat-footed in a military engagement has been greeted with increasing concern among British military members, but across the Atlantic, news that UK military supplies have been gutted has provoked a decidedly different response.
âThe UK Is Giving Ukraine Lots of Artillery â Now The British Army Can Get Newer And Better Guns,â cheered Forbes in one particularly shameless headline.
By âdonating to Ukraine more and more of its artillery,â the British Army is âeffectively forcing the government in London finally to spend real money on new guns and launchers,â the author crowed.
But thereâs little indication that view aligns with those of working-class Britons, who have endured one of the toughest years in recent memory. With half a million Brits on strike Wednesday amid the worst cost-of-living crisis in generations, issues like better pay and an end to draconian public spending cuts tended to be at the top of the list of demands â but ânew heavy weaponsâ was nowhere to be found.
Posted by: W | Feb 4 2023 20:11 utc | 24
@23 that's why the russian offensive fears is a western trick. Russia's best bet is to grind out close to AD and artillery where they have the advantage.
It remains to be seen if Putin has Russias best interests at heart or is just selling his people out.
If he attacks its another sign he's a globalist agent, if he continues to rely on Russias advantages then he may have some independence.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Feb 4 2023 20:16 utc | 25
I think that Zelenskyy's decisions regarding not retreating, and continuing to push troops to the front, are a result of fear and cunning.
He fears that America and the West are teetering on the point of bailing out on their joint endeavor with him, and he cunningly suspects that it will be supremely difficult for them to do that as long as he continues the drama of "No Surrender, No Retreat" as he opposes Putin and Russia.
He fears the elements in his administration and/or Kiev who are ready to depose or kill him should he appear to be less of a true believer than they are. He cunningly suspects that the media in the West has the whip hand here, and as long as he keeps posing heroically, they will not allow the political class to abandon him. Zelenskyy thinks that if he keeps things playing out like an episodic drama that the viewing audiences are addicted to, then they, and the media, will demand that West step in with whatever it takes for Ukrainian's military to not be destroyed as the culmination of a do or die, all in, season finale, series of battles on the front line.
Zelenskyy is betting that by not retreating he can compel the West to directly enter the fray.
Posted by: Babel-17 | Feb 4 2023 20:17 utc | 26
Posted by: Anton Gorbatow | Feb 4 2023 18:23 utc | 1
Dima likes to go out on a limb and speculate. Ignore him.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 4 2023 20:24 utc | 27
Posted by: Johnycomelately | Feb 4 2023 20:03 utc | 23
.
Have you ever thought that you don't want to meet the mobile forces in the hinterland?
Why should they come forward by themselves!
With the effect that they reveal their direction, where they center themselves, where what is planned.
Incompetent...Oops what incompetence what calculation is will probably always remain closed to YOU.
Just as every journalist in the West is suddenly a war reporter and a specialist in Russian thought.
Correct is..... the appearance of German tanks on Russian soil (and all Russians perceive the Ukraine as such)!!!
Putin now brought up to 86% approval among Russians ..... The West is well aware of what the appearance of German tanks now means for the mentality of the Russians!
And is possibly even wanted to get to the desired escalation....BECAUSE THE WEST wants to escalate at any price....BUT Putin should be driven to it...why?
For example, because escalation is the only solution for NATO and the USA to save their system.... to save face???
Besides....
Posted by: mo3 | Feb 4 2023 20:29 utc | 28
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 4 2023 18:55 utc | 13
That movie was allegedly more or less based on Victor Bout. Bout complained about it in his interview with Scott Ritter.
EXCLUSIVE | Interview with Viktor Bout | The real truth behind the case of Viktor Bout
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLOzzuByYzc
Fourteen Years and Nine Months: The Revelation and Redemption of Viktor Bout
https://www.scottritterextra.com/p/twelve-years-and-nine-months-the
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 4 2023 20:30 utc | 29
Are you a troll.....or do you want to tell us the last hope of your thinking....some kind of WHAT can't be, that mustn't be!
Russia (nuclear power) cannot be defeated without wiping out Ukraine (Europe)!!!!
The dumbest person should understand that.....YOU too!
Posted by: mo3 | Feb 4 2023 20:30 utc | 30
Posted by: W | Feb 4 2023 20:11 utc | 24
Oops, it appears that I havenât quite got the hang of usernames in TypePad yet :(
Posted by: West of England Andy | Feb 4 2023 20:33 utc | 31
Zelensky is surrounded by people-armed and dangerous madmen- who regard Hitler as the model statesman.
And Zelensky, channeling Adolf as the script requires, issues No Surrender edicts because, if the troops in the trenches were ever allowed to retreat they would march, as one man, to Kiev and string the fascists and their puppet up. Unless of course, they discover that the traitors have killed themselves first and booby trapped their bunker.
The truth about Ukraine is staring the world in the face: it is run by men who couldn't get to elected anywhere east of Lvov. And only there because their gangs control the place and kill any opponent. Zelensky was elected on a programme of peace, and putting Minsk into effect.
What the Russians want is what 8 out of 10 Ukrainians, and almost all Ukrainians abroad, want.
And that is why, Johnycomelatel@23, they are not bombing and burning the land in which the Ukrainian victims of western demagogues are struggling to survive.
Posted by: bevin | Feb 4 2023 20:39 utc | 32
They also want to disrupt the summer season in Crimea by constantly striking at the peninsula. According to rumors from the OP, this will be possible closer to April-May, according to functionaries based on the weapons they receive.
Posted by: Down South | Feb 4 2023 18:35 utc | 6
If the Ukro-nazis somehow succeed in landing a major blow to Crimea, I'd imagine that the Russian gloves will come completely off and each fist will be clenching a roll of nickles. Dresden or Laos come to mind, but with more modern weapons like hypersonics, aimed at Kyiv and other major Western Ukrainian cities.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 4 2023 20:42 utc | 33
But thereâs little indication that view aligns with those of working-class Britons, who have endured one of the toughest years in recent memory. With half a million Brits on strike Wednesday amid the worst cost-of-living crisis in generations, issues like better pay and an end to draconian public spending cuts tended to be at the top of the list of demands â but ânew heavy weaponsâ was nowhere to be found.
Posted by: W | Feb 4 2023 20:11 utc | 24
I guess someone should inform Sputnik that the views of working-class Britons are absolutely meaningless to the Tory government. The fact that there are so many on strike with no significant negotiations happening should have clued them in. In the late stage capitalist Anglophone West, the working-class is but a nuisance to be gotten rid of or ignored.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 4 2023 20:45 utc | 34
Everything that is supplied to the front line is demilitarized. Russia has already proven that they can move inside Ukraine at any time. It looks as if the goal is to protect the annexed territories that are now Russia. Russia is working within the law. If they went beyond their annexed territories that would be outside of the law and beyond the scope of the SMO, which has been a legal military action thus far. If the belligerent lawless side continues their activities Russia will do whatever it takes to protect themselves. It is very plain to see.
Posted by: Diego | Feb 4 2023 20:49 utc | 35
@Babel #26
The Ukrainian army does not have a good spot to go if they retreat from Bahkmut. They over committed and have too many guys that are going to have to leave on foot. It looks like the expected a huge Russian push and the Russians went north instead.
That being said Zelensky announced they will not retreat so the Ukies will probably try to retreat and suffer serious losses.
Posted by: OohCanada | Feb 4 2023 20:50 utc | 36
For those not acquainted. The Oliver Stoneâs documentaries on UKR:
âUkraine on Fireâ 1 hr 34 min (2016)
LINK
Ms. Cookie and the birthing.
+ + + + + +
âRevealing Ukraineâ (2019) at 1 hr 20 mins very predictive of the SMO 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRivDlc_hz4
Viktor Medevedchuk, opposition politician, was arrested by Zelensky and in recent months was swapped to Moscow. Imho, Medevedchuk is the one to watch. He has a future role.
+ + + + + +
"Transcript: Oliver Stoneâs Interview with Vladimir Putin, July 2019"
LINK
Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 4 2023 20:52 utc | 37
Public Spending in the UK is at record levels and most on strike were the middle class on wages well above the national average. All politicians in Britain are bought either by big business or public unions. For those of us working in small private business there is nobody to vote for.
Great site by the way.
Posted by: IAN WRIGHT | Feb 4 2023 20:54 utc | 38
Posted by: Johnycomelately | Feb 4 2023 20:03 utc | 23
In addition to what bevin tells you @32, I suggest you read the following (warning: it's full of the obligatory Russia-Evil shit) article from Newspeak published a few weeks after the SMO began. Basically they're saying that Russia could have done exactly what you suggested, but have held back for humanitarian reasons.
https://www.newsweek.com/putins-bombers-could-devastate-ukraine-hes-holding-back-heres-why-1690494
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 4 2023 20:55 utc | 39
Posted by: IAN WRIGHT | Feb 4 2023 20:54 utc | 38
What I'm told over here in the US at labor-centric sites is that the strikes are primarily rail workers, teachers, nurses, police and "maritime services", even those who process passport applications and driving tests - I can see perhaps nurses being in the upper middle class, but the rest of them paid more than average Britons? If that's the case then England truly is a third world 51st state of the USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPSO8pdAX6c
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 4 2023 21:00 utc | 40
In response to Richard Steven Hack @20:30
~
I have chosen to boycott any video from youtube, but I will check out the 2nd link and thank-you for that.
Over the years, at other sites I have posted frustration with the prognostications of Scott Ritter especially in regards to potential "war in Iran", but doesn't mean I don't recognize the value of his thoughts and information he facilitates public discourse upon.
~
Odessa beckons is what my heart tells me, but life is full of uncertainty no doubt.
~
Regards to you sir.
BK
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 4 2023 21:06 utc | 41
As a follow up to my post above, from the 2nd link:
~
Thatâs when Viktor Bout schooled me on the harm that movie did to his life. Nicholas Cage is a superstar of rare talent, and to have him portray you in a film means that his interpretation of the character will define you in the eyes of anyone who had seen the film.
This was a reality the prosecution took full advantage of. Viktor Bout wasnât just fighting the trumped-up charges the DEA had brought him up on, but the Hollywood narrative that Nicholas Cage had brought to life on film.
If someone was looking to tamper with a jury, you couldnât have done a better job than have this movie out in the public.
Nicholas Cage, unwittingly, helped convict Viktor Bout.
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 4 2023 21:11 utc | 42
Is Trimalchio @ 21 in charge of the buffet? I heard the hummingbirds were tasty but someone ate them all.
Please don't feed the trolls who will soon show up. I fear arguing with them is actually enabling a chatGDP (AI or expert system) to pass as human. Ignore them for humanities sake.
Posted by: Martin Oline | Feb 4 2023 21:15 utc | 43
@43 chatgpt is nothing more than a glorified text prediction program like the one that auto completes your text messages, but tiered beyond human(but not computer) comprehension.
Like any good text predictor it gets it training data from stuff humans type.
Responses, your posts its all good.
Conversely like any dumb machine garbage in garbage out. Who's a troll and what trolling means may be very different than you assume.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Feb 4 2023 21:24 utc | 44
Ukraine âwill burnâ if it strikes Crimea, ex-Russian president warns
RT
Moscow could retaliate âin any way possibleâ should Kiev decide to attack Crimea, Dmitry Medvedev has said
[.]
In an interview with Russian journalist Nadana Fridrikhson, Medvedev denied that Ukrainian strikes against the Crimean peninsula would force Moscow to sit down at the negotiating table. âThe result would be exactly the contrary. There would be no talks in such a case. There would only be retaliatory strikes,â he warned .
Medvedev insisted that if Washington wanted peace in Ukraine, it could simply urge Kiev to engage in talks with Moscow, but that US President Joe Bidenâs administration and âhawksâ in Congress are âsimply not interested in it.â[.]Russia could âretaliate in any way possibleâ should Ukrainian forces strike targets in Crimea or deep inside Russian territory, the former president warned. âWe do not set any limits depending on the nature of threats, and are ready to use all types of weapons,â he insisted, adding that Russia would only be guided by its own doctrines, including the nuclear protocol.[.]
Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 4 2023 21:32 utc | 45
Yet another reason that the US and UK are attempting to make an example out of Julian Assange and Wikileaks.
If not for the cables, they could just deny knowledge and feign surprise at Russia's reaction to NATO expansion.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 4 2023 21:45 utc | 46
@young: The reason why Ukraine doesn't pull back to the west bank of the Dnieper is that once the Russians get to the Dnieper the war is over - eastern Ukraine (east of Dnieper) accounted for close to 2/3 of pre-war Ukrainian GDP. Western Ukraine, while large geographically, is relatively poor and really isn't worth fighting over. Though some observers claim Russia wants to take over all of Ukraine, once Russian forces reach the eastern bank of the Dnieper, Putin will probably declare victory while magnanimously ceding Odessa to Ukraine and expelling ethnic Ukrainians from Russian held territory to avoid a potentially nasty guerrilla war. This gives Putin a defensible border with NATO while leaving Ukraine as little more than a rump state, especially after Hungary and Poland take some of the far western regions. Later, when it is clear just how poor and bereft of assets the Ukrainian rump state will be, Russia may move to absorb the areas around Odessa with large ethnic-Russian populations.
Posted by: CoupLeeBob | Feb 4 2023 21:49 utc | 47
Babel17@26
Interesting take. Maybe worth watching as events unfold.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 4 2023 22:01 utc | 48
@W | Feb 4 2023 20:11 utc | 24
To add to the article on the UK, here is Tobias Ellwood MP (and officer in the 77th Brigade) doing an Annalena Baerbock.
A case of Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first drive mad?
Posted by: cirsium | Feb 4 2023 22:03 utc | 49
@CoupLeeBob | Feb 4 2023 21:49 utc | 47
That sounds like a reasonable template for an acceptable outcome for Russia at this point. The problem is what guarantees could the Ukraine or the broader West possibly make that the Ukrainians wouldn't simply keep firing missiles across the river? Send in the OSCE again? I don't think there is any market for that in Russia. That shifts the minimal acceptable outcome to everything East of the river and a Russian zone of control with slightly more depth that the longest ranged weapons system the Ukrainians can acquire in bulk (maybe with an indigenous production licence for graft and deniability). At that point the Russians might as well grab Odessa and remove that pain point for once and all.
Posted by: Another James | Feb 4 2023 22:08 utc | 50
@41 , Buffalo_Ken
i agree with your boycott of Google/ YouTube.
try invidio.us , an open source privacy front end for ytube:
https://yewtu.be/watch?v=lRivDlc_hz4
(yewtu.be is an invidio.us node)
Posted by: altCensored.com | Feb 4 2023 22:11 utc | 51
Lira got the balloon right:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14_0r6TZc5Q
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Feb 4 2023 22:25 utc | 52
Posted by: OohCanada | Feb 4 2023 20:50 utc | 36
There are reports that Russians are entering Bakhmut from the North. Also some Russian units are entering southern neighbourhoods. It appears that Ukrainians have started pulling out. Next two to three days will prove it.
Posted by: Milos | Feb 4 2023 22:31 utc | 53
The perceived wisdom is that Zelensky has made a tactical decision to sacrifice poorly trained conscripts on the front lines whilst husbanding experienced forces behind the front lines for the future; this may not be true.
Multiple sources have described Ukrainian Officers as leading from the rear; the Ukrainian Army will have an entirely accurate picture of the present position on the front lines and a realistic view of the likely future prospects for success.
I know from relatives in Ukraine that Ukrainian soldiers have a natural desire to stay alive, and avoiding a post to the front lines is a necessary prerequisite to that end. The experienced military have the contacts to obtain posts behind the lines; new conscripts donât. We can see the results.
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Feb 4 2023 23:01 utc | 54
" and expelling ethnic Ukrainians from Russian held territory to avoid a potentially nasty guerrilla war. This gives Putin a defensible border with NATO while leaving Ukraine as little more than a rump state, especially after Hungary and Poland take some of the far western regions. Later, when it is clear just how poor and bereft of assets the Ukrainian rump state will be, Russia may move to absorb the areas around Odessa with large ethnic-Russian populations.
Posted by: CoupLeeBob | Feb 4 2023 21:49 utc | 47 "
I thought your hero Putin is all about observing the UN legal system. Your idea of expelling Ukrainians would be a crime against humanity under UN rules. Anyway, if Putin did expel them most of the Western nations would expel Russians in retaliation. Careful what you wish for.
Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Feb 4 2023 23:25 utc | 55
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 4 2023 19:17 utc | 19
There is no off ramp for the continual escalation in Ukraine. So, the conflict in Ukraine will go nuclear. I have no doubt of this. Logic alone leads to this conclusion.
The only question is when? Logic points to after the Russians take the Donbas. At this point Russia will have taken down most of the Ukrainian army. They no longer will have a serious threat on their Western border. Also, the Ukrainian conflict to that point will allow the Russians to position their military where they want it to be prior to the nukes flying. The Russian don't want a hostile army on its Western border when the nukes fly.
The when can be determined from several perspectives, that is by logic, remote viewing, military intel, future memories, the Bible, by divine revelation, by the 10 kings, by the tree of knowledge.
If one does not believe in any of these and lock into one or more of them, they will not see what is coming until it comes. And that may not be very far away either in time or in the physical.
Posted by: young | Feb 4 2023 23:28 utc | 56
Posted by: W | Feb 4 2023 20:11 utc | 24
Perhaps the elite's disarmament of Western Europe is a feature not a bug?
Posted by: Tim | Feb 4 2023 23:28 utc | 57
I thought your hero Putin is all about observing the UN legal system. Your idea of expelling Ukrainians would be a crime against humanity under UN rules. Anyway, if Putin did expel them most of the Western nations would expel Russians in retaliation. Careful what you wish for.
Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Feb 4 2023 23:25 utc | 55
I think most Americans would be ok with this. American for Americans, Europe/Africa for Russians, Asia for the Chinese/Japanese. Only way for world peace. MEGA (Make Earth Great Again!)
Posted by: Let's Go Brandon! | Feb 4 2023 23:29 utc | 58
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 4 2023 21:00 utc | 40
"I can see perhaps nurses being in the upper middle class..."
Hahahahahaha!!!!!! You Americans crack me up :-D
The NHS used to be the most efficient health system in the world because nurses worked there for love, not money. A concept utterly beyond the comprehension of neoliberal economics.
Totally agree with the rest of your comment, and your other posts btw. Sorry about the sarcasm, I couldn't resist but no offence intended.
Posted by: Tim | Feb 4 2023 23:33 utc | 59
" I think most Americans would be ok with this. American for Americans, Europe/Africa for Russians, Asia for the Chinese/Japanese. Only way for world peace. MEGA (Make Earth Great Again!)
Posted by: Let's Go Brandon! | Feb 4 2023 23:29 utc | 58 "
Define what an American is.
Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Feb 4 2023 23:33 utc | 60
I have zero Military experience but I've read several books on the WWII Air war in Europe and N Africa from the German perspective. I can however do simple math. Ukraine before the war was likely <35 M with millions working in the EU and Russia. Now where you take away the population of what is now Russia and the millions of refugees I doubt there's more than 20M Ukrainians and by any measure it's a failed state supported militarily and economically by the western world criminal governments robbing from their own people's. Compare to Russia, a country of ~145 + 5 millions from what used to be the Ukraine. Russian weapons are easily superior to the USA/European obsolete weapons and they are fighting across their border, not an ocean. How anyone could believe despite the overwhelming omnipresent agitprop that the Ukraine could win militarily is way beyond me. Minsk was basically a Quebec in Canada solution. Some autonomy, language and culture issues which work well for us. Certainly better than breaking up the country which almost happened twice until a reality check happened. Europe is getting lots of white guest workers and Germany is being deindustriaized to the great joy of the US and UK.
Posted by: Bob | Feb 4 2023 23:35 utc | 61
"Define what an American is."
A patriotic American either by birth or naturalization. Your definition?
Posted by: Let's Go Brandon! | Feb 4 2023 23:36 utc | 62
" The NHS used to be the most efficient health system in the world because nurses worked there for love, not money.
Posted by: Tim | Feb 4 2023 23:33 utc | 59 "
Oh, there were many other reasons why also.
Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Feb 4 2023 23:37 utc | 63
Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Feb 4 2023 23:33 utc | 60
"Define what an American is."
Nothing at all...Perhaps you mean a citizen of the United States? Many of these make the same mistake you just did.
Posted by: donten | Feb 4 2023 23:40 utc | 64
Posted by: altCensored.com | Feb 4 2023 22:11 utc | 51
Thanking you for that site.
Posted by: Brother Ma | Feb 4 2023 23:50 utc | 66
Posted by: CoupLeeBob | Feb 4 2023 21:49 utc | 47
CoupLeeBob,
Good analysis of what most likely will happen. And that may not be many months away.
young
Posted by: young | Feb 4 2023 23:56 utc | 67
" "Define what an American is."
A patriotic American either by birth or naturalization. Your definition?
Posted by: Let's Go Brandon! | Feb 4 2023 23:36 utc | 62 "
No, your definition of an American. Whats a true American ?
Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Feb 5 2023 0:00 utc | 68
The Saker blog will be closed end of Feb..best decision. He had much to fear.
This is a very bad precedent that will return to bite.
Transfer of businessmanâs assets to Kiev regime is "outright theft" â Russian embassy
WASHINGTON,
February 4. /TASS/. The transfer of assets of Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeyev to Ukraine shows that funds of foreign businessmen in the United States can be confiscated at any time, the Russian Embassy in the US said in a comment."We took notice of the statement of Attorney General Merrick Garland on the transfer of the forfeited assets of the Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeyev to the Kiev regime. An egregious precedent has been set," the Russian diplomatic mission noted. "Using various legal tricks and manipulations, local authorities resorted to outright theft of private possessions for the sake of opportunistic interests," the Embassy said.[.]
"Such actions are undermining the investment climate in the United States," the diplomatic mission informed. "A signal has been sent to foreign businessmen that their assets are not protected by local laws and can be seized and forfeited at any time under false pretenses," it noted.
So, Garland confirms USSA is at War with Russia.
Mr. Malofeyev will recover his US$5.4 million with interest on principal. He has a very good case all the way to the Supreme Court.
Were persons with Russian names living in the USSA declared enemies of the state?
Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 5 2023 0:01 utc | 69
Southfront had an article of some UK government bureau sending letters to hosts of Ukrainian refugees, demanding the refugees to visit the Ukrainian embassy in UK.
https://southfront.org/kiev-regime-looking-for-new-soldiers-among-ukrainian-refugees-abroad/
Still remember Arestovich's "million man army" from last August. Well, the net balance seems to be struggling but maybe they'll get there some day.
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2023 0:04 utc | 70
someone who was either legally born in the US (not anchor babies) or LEGALLY became a citizen through the naturalization process. Not sure how things work where you are from, but this is what defines an American.
Posted by: LGB! | Feb 5 2023 0:09 utc | 71
In response to Trimalchio | Feb 4 2023 19:34 utc | 21
I stated my premise based upon Daniel 7:5
"I see it from the prophecy of Daniel 7:5 where the bear arises and devours much flesh after it has 3 ribs in its mouth between its teeth. I see those 3 ribs as being Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk."
Logic reveals that Russia wants to take and secure the Donbas before it launches.
We will see what happens after Russia takes and secures the Donbas.
Posted by: young | Feb 5 2023 0:10 utc | 72
Abouth THE ENIGMA: The Ukrainian tactical position is an engima. It is an enigma that Zelensky is determined to hold onto every square meter of Donbas territory when it insures the certain destruction of masses of Ukrainian troops?
.
There is no riddle! Ukraine is being sold to BlackRock and other big corporations. THE FEWER OWNERS REMAINING AT THE END OF THE WAR, the easier it will be for new owners to occupy their properties. Something that has already been done in the indigenous wars in the USA, except that the Indians are the Ukrainians and the whites are the new oligarchs.
The word that explains what is being done is GENOCIDE.
Heavy weapons from North America and Western Europe bound for Ukraine arrive in neighboring countries on rail cars before being brought across the border covertly....but more importantly very dispersed. To interdict that far behind FEBA would involve long range weapons....a Kalibre per tractor trailer hauling a Bradley is hardly economic. I suspect they are heading for the front because orientation and training would be done outside of Ukraine... training areas even on the Polish border have been destroyed in the past...these units with have to form up as they get closer to the front and concentrate to be effective. This is when they are being hit....when they are within range of tube artillery and laser guided munitions for individual machines or rocket artillery for troop concentrations. It's economy of effort.
Posted by: Joe | Feb 5 2023 0:11 utc | 74
Posted by: Milos | Feb 4 2023 22:31 utc | 53
Big Serge agrees...
Big Serge âŠïžđșđžđ·đș @witte_sergei
1h
It tentatively appears that Ukrainian forces are at long last beginning to leave Bakhmut, or at least the extremities of the city. Russian progress is accelerating on the flanks.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 5 2023 0:14 utc | 76
Tim
The NHS has been a decrepit shambles for sometime, a bureaucratic monster, overrun by non-clinicians, repeatedly failing in itâs core mission and increasingly fixated on socio-political agendas.
My father loved it when the nurses went on strike, theyâd automatically garner public support, get a raise and immediately the consultants would pocket another couple of thousand quid as wage bands had to be maintained.
Posted by: Milites | Feb 5 2023 0:19 utc | 77
IIRC a commander of Vostok battalion (or Wagner) claimed that Ukraine has half a million in reserve. If things start to stretch and crumble, and turn to a local route here or there, the casualty rate should shoot up significantly. Then it will last even a shorter time.
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2023 0:19 utc | 78
@ RSH Post 76
The Sputniknews SMO interactive map has this:
"Fire fighting is ongoing on the outskirts of Artemovsk (Bakhmut). Earlier, advisor to the DPR's interim head Igor Kimakovsky said that the Russian artillery had taken all city entrances under control. The enemy is pulling its reserves in a hurry."
Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 5 2023 0:28 utc | 79
"The advantage is that the Russians will carry out the genocide. Clean service."
Hey now, the Ukes could end it at any time by just surrendering.
Posted by: LGB! | Feb 5 2023 0:36 utc | 80
Interesting how few comments are on topic these days....sigh
ZH has a posting up with the title
179 Soldiers Freed In Significant Ukraine-Russia Prisoner Swap
The quote
One rare positive development amid the tragic darkness and death of the Ukraine war is that prisoner swaps have now become routine.Many dozens of POWs have been freed in the latest Saturday exchange, both sides have confirmed, with the Ukrainian presidency's office saying 116 Ukrainians were freed. On the Russian side, the defense ministry said that 63 of its troops had been returned, some among them likely high profile - meaning 179 prisoners freed in total during the swap.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 5 2023 1:14 utc | 81
Looks like the end of Ukie control of Bakhmut....
From Slavyangrad telegram channel....
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/31998
In Bakhmut , the "Wagnerites" entered the Stupka area in the north of the city. Fierce battles are going on in urban areas. Statements about a breakthrough in the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are not true - Ukrainian formations continue to resist.
At the same time, the partial withdrawal of units from the northern suburbs of Bakhmut and the departure of 63 mechanized brigades from the city yesterday indicate preparations for a possible surrender of the garrison. Now the Armed Forces of Ukraine are concentrating their efforts on holding the route to Chasy Yar in order to preserve the logistics hub.
âȘïžAt the same time, intense fighting continues in the industrial zone on the eastern outskirts, as well as in residential areas in the southern part of the city, where assault squads are attacking the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Pervyy Radyansky Street.
đ»Southwest of Bakhmut , Russian units are advancing in the direction of the section of the Chasov Yar - Bakhmut highway. The Wagnerites advanced towards Krasnoe - less than one and a half kilometers remained to the suburbs.
âȘïžThe command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is transferring manpower and armored vehicles from Konstantinovka to the vicinity of Chasov Yar . At the same time, additional defensive lines are being prepared in Konstantinovka itself.
âȘïžRussian artillery is conducting a massive shelling of the areas where enemy reinforcements are concentrated on the Konstantinovka -Chasov Yar - Bakhmut highway.
Russians are attacking from NW E SE SW & W...
INDY
Posted by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Feb 5 2023 1:23 utc | 82
no hiding the Transcarpathia hungarians being forced conspription into the 128th mountain brigade which has suffered heavy casualties and been put into the worst situations. these guys need to fight back and shoot a few of these agents. watching them being rounded up one by one violently can only go on for so long. hardly makes willing soldiers that way.
Posted by: hankster | Feb 5 2023 1:23 utc | 83
It seems a common understanding of the bar that the driving force for the US and therefore Zelensky is corporate interests like Blackrock and various oligarchs. Russiaâs foreign exchange reserves were frozen as the penalty for invading Ukraine. That is what they regarded as their property.
What if Russia was to say after taking over all of Ukraine âyou can keep our reserves while we keep Ukraineâ. Blackrock and co will have no property rights going forward while Russia keeps the country and all its assets.
If anyone wants to sue theyâve already been compensated. And they also chose the settlement amount and the payment method.
Posted by: Cyberhorse | Feb 5 2023 1:24 utc | 84
As I have said in previous posts last year, Russia must take Odessa and probably incorporate Transnistria. Anything less would leave the Empire a nose to get under the tent. Just looking at a map would tell you this. Russia must control their side of the Black Sea or else...
Posted by: Immaculate deception | Feb 5 2023 1:35 utc | 85
Ross Douthat, NYT opinionator... reality is setting in with the elites:
The Costs of a Long War in Ukraine
It starts out with this:
The Ukrainian hope for how this escalation ends was sketched out by Mykhailo Podolyak, a key adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a recent interview with Bruno Macaes for The New Statesman. âRussia will embark on some minor offensive actions in a short period of time,â Macaes summarizes. âA lot of manpower will be lost. After that, it will face a series of significant defeats.â This will lead to Russian unraveling: Major cities will be lost, some kind of military collapse will follow, and then there will be âuncontrolled political transformationâ within the Russian Federation itself.
It ends this way, after discussing the RAND Long War paper:
But if the next phase of war suggests that such a compromise is required for peace, better to seek it sooner than after many more seasons of suffering and death.
We need resources to defend against Chinese baloons.
Posted by: upstater | Feb 5 2023 1:35 utc | 86
@ Anton Gorbatow | Feb 4 2023 18:23 utc | 1
Military Summary thinks that a major Russion offensive will start in a few days. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?
Hi, there is no 'thoughts' about this unless new facts have spoken.
Facts today (from where so far?) are floating day-by-day.
The fact today is only, that even RF has a gig lot of losses... Ugledar isn't as easy to capture or even encircled as assumed by RF as 'before' due to its material support isn't provided as timely needed.
As a war just is, but RF should be more 'effective' to protect its new civilians in Donetzk-city. Rockets are landing hour-by-hour down there .. No stop so far - but when by what means (Bunker-bombs or what else) ..
.
Posted by: spare_truth | Feb 5 2023 1:36 utc | 87
Young @56
Guess its time to list you among those who approach this conflict from a mindset of existential fear. Death wishes do not add to the tenor of this site. Not helpful. Consider the possibility that we are spirits, already possessed of eternal life and that though our bodies will experience whatever comes about; the center of our beings live on.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 5 2023 1:50 utc | 88
Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 5 2023 1:14 utc | 81
The ukrop whos negotiating these exhanges is a better diplomat than Russia has in all of Kremlin. Time after time he manages to get double the Ukrainians released, makes Russia give them back Azov fighters and foreign mercs already sentenced to death. Replace Zelensky with this dude and he will negotiate Russian surrender before the snows melt.
Posted by: experienced | Feb 5 2023 1:57 utc | 90
Dep C. @68
So. You are looking for a definition of a true American. Though they are getting a bit scarce in this devolutionary culture; a fairly succinct def would be one who holds to the revolutionarily principles espoused in the Declaration of Independence and full embracing of the Bill of Rights.
Any more questions? I sure the hell am ready if you are.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 5 2023 1:57 utc | 91
You see, my mother had a Russian friend that escaped Russia under Stalin. She was a ballerina and toured Europe with her American husband who was a concert pianist. This was in the 60s-70s. So I grew up unafraid of Russians and we also had Chinese and Japanese friends. I never believed all the bullshit. Especially since my grandfather worked for Standard oil in the LA basin. I learned early in life to not trust anything on the news. My grandfather uncle's and cousins fought in every war since WW1 And none of them would ever trust this lying, conniving shit show we call a government. That's my rant for awhile.
Posted by: Immaculate deception | Feb 5 2023 1:59 utc | 92
Likklemore @69
Thanks for sharing this revelation of the total perfidy of that thieving action by the U$$A gov. This highway robbery once again proves out Karlof1's description of this ruptured republic as an Outlaw regime.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 5 2023 2:01 utc | 93
The ukrop whos negotiating these exhanges is a better diplomat than Russia has in all of Kremlin. Time after time he manages to get double the Ukrainians released, makes Russia give them back Azov fighters and foreign mercs already sentenced to death. Replace Zelensky with this dude and he will negotiate Russian surrender before the snows melt.
Posted by: experienced |
And you believe those numbers coming from the same propaganda machine that issues such whoppers as "we'll take Crimea back by end of 2022!", because ... ?
Seems like we should all stay skeptical about anything coming out of the western propaganda machine.
Posted by: Chris | Feb 5 2023 2:06 utc | 94
young @72
Although you appear to be a Believer, presenting prophecies on this site is rather irrelevant to most of us. There are many prophets from many organized religions...and even some such as Bob Dylan, who though still producing at the age of 80 with such memorable takes such as "he not busy being born is busy dying".
So is this site to become one of dueling prophecies?
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 5 2023 2:06 utc | 95
Posted by: Down South | Feb 4 2023 18:35 utc | 6
ref: https://t.me/legitimniy/14707
The Office of the President has long been working on options for delivering strikes on the territory in the depths of Russia. This will allegedly raise the falling morale among the Ukrainian masses and provoke panic in the Russian Federation.They also want to disrupt the summer season in Crimea by constantly striking at the peninsula. According to rumors from the OP, this will be possible closer to April-May, according to functionaries based on the weapons they receive.
That is the plan, suggested by the Cock-Piano player. Wake up Mr. Lensky .. Sniper is waiting ..
Posted by: spare_truth | Feb 5 2023 2:07 utc | 96
R. Maestri @73
You certainly have mastered that little pretzel twist that the Puppet Regime in Kiev has created. That's exactly one of the pressing reasons why the RF will likely find it necessary to remove Ukraine as it currently exists from the list of nations, replacing it with a Slavic Brotherhood land, somewhat similar to Belarus.
ALL prior contracts and treaties committed by the Puppet Regime will be voided as having been the actions of a fake government which does not have genuine agency as it is currently being directed as a mere colony by alien outside interests.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 5 2023 2:11 utc | 97
experienced @90
Do note that the Russians have experienced horrific videos taken by Ukie troops proving that those maniacs hogtie prisoners and demand they lay on their bellies. Next they shoot them one by one. That was not the only such occasion.
So they murder prisoners, don't they?
Thus, even by trading two Ukie prisoners for every one Russian in their captivity; they are all about saving precious lives, no matter the cost.
Can you determine who holds the moral edge in this conflict?
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 5 2023 2:22 utc | 98
Posted by: Down South | Feb 4 2023 18:38 utc | 8
ref: https://t.me/sitreports/4143
.. As of 4th February, we can conclude that the main reserves of the Russian armed forces have not yet been brought into combat. The question of their use remains open. The most successful advance is being carried out by the PMC Wagner, which is ably accompanied in the information field.
If there is a "main reserves" on RF side -or not, it wouldn't be publicly discussed.
May be there it is, but some doubts have arised due to current lack of material support.
Posted by: spare_truth | Feb 5 2023 2:24 utc | 99
spare__truth @96
Appears like those moves or threats emanating out of the assholes in Kiev are genuine signs of desperation.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 5 2023 2:25 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Military Summary thinks that a major Russion offensive will start in a few days. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?
Posted by: Anton Gorbatow | Feb 4 2023 18:23 utc | 1