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March 7, 2023
Ukraine Open Thread 2023-56
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From Eurasia & Multipolarity –
According to Ukrainian sources, In the area of Chasov Yar in Bakhmut direction, as a result of an accurate missile and artillery strike on the command post of the airmobile battalion of the 80th separate air assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a group of Ukrainian officers led by the battalion commander, Major Andrey Lukanyuk, were killed.
Posted by: MiniMo | Mar 9 2023 0:02 utc | 201
To All You Ukraine Apologists
It really looks to me as if Zelensky is “all in” on Bakhmut – meaning, he is willing to sacrifice every resource he has to hold the city. So, it is truly “at any cost”. That level of commitment strongly suggests to me that there can be no mass offensives by Ukraine in the future. In particular, the reserved troops will be gone along with available armor, shells and so on.
If anyone disagrees, I would appreciate hearing evidence otherwise.
Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 9 2023 0:09 utc | 202
Posted by: Melaleuca | Mar 8 2023 13:16 utc | 155
He sounds like a New Zealander.
Posted by: auximenes | Mar 9 2023 0:10 utc | 203
Interesting accent for this speaker of English in command (just doing a lot of shouting) of a retreating Ukrainian unit at Bakhmut.
Sounds to me like an Aussie who was either born oversees, or is a child of European (eastern/Mediterranean) immigrants.
https://twitter.com/vicktop55/status/1633374914299281410
>… Someone in the comments also thinks Aussie accent.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Mar 8 2023 13:16 utc | 155
Nope. That’s a ‘yarpie’ – white South African. Stateless persons now. Picked the wrong side here.
Not a military guy asking “why is an FOAB in downtown Bhakmut” a bad idea? Surely they must know where all the hidey holes are to the great salt HQ.
Posted by: Renoman | Mar 9 2023 1:26 utc | 205
Nope. That’s a ‘yarpie’ – white South African. Stateless persons now. Picked the wrong side here.
Posted by: abrogard | Mar 9 2023 0:41 utc | 206
Both Kiwis and South Africans clip their vowels. this Aussie bloke has broad open vowels, obvious to other Aussies like Mal of course. Given Australia’s active military role in all US wars of aggression, its a given we have a lot of presence there, that we mostly do not hear about.
Posted by: K | Mar 9 2023 1:57 utc | 206
DakotaRog | Mar 8 2023 23:05 utc | 198
The shouty English speaker “commander”.
Yes. Green armbands mean territorial defence AFAIK.
How do the guys he’s with know what he’s shouting? ?
I reckon they are Polish, or other “international” legion with English language.
Do they know what he’s shouting?
“GoGoGo”. “No. Stop”. “Cmon cmon cmon”. “Go”.”Stop”. With “fuck” interlaced every second word.
He’s panicked and hasn’t a clue. The “guys” are basically just ignoring him.
A self-respecting working dog on a farm would ignore him, knowing he’s an idiot, unable to give clear instructions.
I reckon he’s Aussie. With all respect to Outraged. Many US guys think the aussie accent sounds British.
To my ear, he has “wog boy” intonation. Wog Boy being a tv/movie/live theatre comedy series, based on Greek/Italian first generation migrants to Australia.
I hear a late childhood early-teen migrant from the Mediterranean or Eastern Europe. Maybe first generation.
Which may explain why he’s gone to Ukraine to kill Russians.
Parents from the “old country” have taught him the only good Russian is a dead Russian.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Mar 9 2023 2:09 utc | 207
While listening to Hal Turners broadcast, he claime Russia is hitting deep into western Ukraine hard. It makes one wonder what the special occasion is.
Over and out.
Posted by: Lt.Gen_breedluvv | Mar 9 2023 2:13 utc | 208
Oksana Boyko has an interesting set of interviews up on her “Worlds Apart” RT page. Russia/China relationship, German politics, European politics and history, US sanctions policy, etc.
Posted by: the pessimist | Mar 9 2023 2:15 utc | 209
@ Melaleuca | Mar 9 2023 2:09 utc | 209
You are far better authority compared to my limited time with Aussies, re my guesses. So, my take-away is, Aussie strine(?) essentially has, discernible dialects, yes ? 🙂
Perception is the Ukies in clip are un/minimally trained, little self-discipline, unmotivated/low morale, and to a degree, merely ‘tolerate’ their assigned junior ‘Hitler’. Just sayin’ …
@ Lt.Gen_breedluvv | Mar 9 2023 2:13 utc | 210
Over & Out ? Yer no General. Too much Hollywood fer you. Hal Turner ?! Just stick with, ‘Out’, permanently, perhaps.
Posted by: abrogard | Mar 9 2023 0:41 utc | 206
He’s not South African. Sounds like a Kiwi
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 3:00 utc | 211
🥷💰🇨🇭🇨🇳🇷🇺Swiss banks complain about the departure of Chinese customers
FT: the Chinese are afraid to keep money in Swiss banks because of sanctions against Russia
The heads of Switzerland’s largest banks have said that their wealthy Chinese clients have become much more worried about keeping their funds in their country because of its sanctions against Russia, the Financial Times newspaper reports, citing unnamed bankers.
“We were not only surprised, but also shocked that Switzerland abandoned its neutral status. I have statistics that literally hundreds of clients who wanted to open accounts now don’t do it,” said a member of the board of directors of one of the Swiss banks overseeing operations with clients from Asia.
It is noted that the newspaper talked with the heads of six Swiss banks, which are among the ten largest financial institutions in the country, about working with private clients, and they all told the same story. At the same time, many of them noted that they were afraid of the effect that could slow down profitable business development.
“>https://www.ft.com/content/409d9fc1-7259-4b11-8916-376fa25a00a4
https://t.me/azmilitary11/40195
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 3:02 utc | 212
⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ #Chronicle of the Special Military Operation for 8 Mar 2023⚡️
🔹#Starobelsk Direction:
▪️ The situation has not changed. The RF Armed Forces are striking at enemy positions, stopping attempts by Ukrainian forces to gather reserves for counterattacks near #Gryanikovka in the #Kupyansk sector and #Serebryanskoye forestry in the #Liman (#Lisichansk) sector:
🔹#Soledar (#Bakhmut) Direction (MAP):
▪️ The Wagner PMC storm troopers have established full control of the eastern part of #Bakhmut, mopping up the areas east of the Bakhmutka River.
▪️ In the south of the city, fighting continues in the area of Independence Street and the stele of the MiG-17 monument.
▪️ In the vicinity of #Bogdanovka, #Khromovo (in NW-W of city) and #Krasnoye (SW of city), the AFU are forming strike groups to attempt a counterstrike in order to maintain a corridor into the controlled part of the city.
🔹#Donetsk Direction (MAP):
▪️ The RF Armed Forces resumed their offensive in the direction of #Krasnogorovka, occupying a number of positions near the liberated village of #Vesyoloye.
▪️ To the south of #Avdeyevka, the Sparta battalion launched an offensive near #Vodyanoye, destroying the AFU at strongholds in the landings and on heights.
The AFU is reinforcing positions at the base of #Avdeyevka, and attempts of counter-offensive actions in the area of #Novobakhmutovka are possible.
🔹#Zaporozhye Direction:
▪️ Ukrainian drone strikes power lines in #Energodar, fire broke out at the site of the arrival. Part of the power lines were de-energised.
🔹#Kherson Direction on #SouthFront:
▪️ AFU moves equipment near #Novoberislav. This may indicate preparations for offensives or diversionary strikes as part of the upcoming spring campaign.
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 3:03 utc | 213
Ukrainian sources reported that units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are increasingly leaving their positions near Bakhmut without orders from their commander and retreating to Chasov Yar, which leads to the loss of positions. The soldiers do not understand why to keep the city, which is in operational encirclement, and are afraid of being abandoned.
Unit rotation is complicated by weather conditions and cut roads, and no one shares the mood of the commanders. “At the front, they see how senseless the sacrifices are made by the Armed Forces of Ukraine every day and require the support of artillery, but there is none.”
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/36377
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 3:05 utc | 214
@207 the plane delivering the moab has to be vulnerable so it can’t be used around manpads. Russia uses tos 1a usually to deploy fuel air bomb rockets that can be fired safely away. They used a bunch recently to flatten buildings in ugledar, but ukraine seemed unfazed
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Mar 9 2023 3:24 utc | 215
Have been seeing numerous ‘concern’ intermittent commentary from reliable/credible RF sources for days now touching on a ‘surprise’ AFU counter-attack on RF forces, in various specified possible sectors, that would catch RF forces deployed in an offensive posture off-guard unprepared, combined with long range in depth/rear area strikes, sowing panic & disarray!, unable to resist superior numbers of Ukie’s ‘assaulting’, really ‘Assaulting’, ’em. Hm ?
Am calling probable co-ordinated/directed Maskirovka, sub-element, influence/deception OPs re Wagner/Prozighin(?) and this cascade of sudden expressed ‘concern’.
AFU Strategic ‘Assaulting’ Reserves … Come on Down! Come to ‘dozing’ Papa Bear. And all his active, alert, deployed, yet so far uncommitted reserves. 😉
&
What does RF ‘Fire Control’ over a marginal, limited traverseable, fragile remaining Main Supply Route(MSR) look like ? (Bahkmut)
Intel Slava – Telegram, browse-able Public(Open) access, clip.
&
BMP close-quarter run & gun, confined urban area – as above.
This only occurs when verified/supremely confident, AFU has only small arms left, maybe merely just shovels & bayonets (No AT means).
Gang-pressing continues
https://t.me/azmilitary11/40239
https://twitter.com/AZgeopolitics/status/1633573641890721795
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 3:36 utc | 217
Everything suggests that one of the offensives will be precisely across the Dnieper River, since the West is massively transferring bridgelayers to use them to pass the blown up bridges. Of course, these bridgelayers cannot pass wide spills, but narrow spills can easily be overcome.
Earlier, the source indicated that the Kherson direction is one of the very first points, since there are many floodplains and islands, and this is also the end point of the river, which the Office of the President will try to drain closer to summer.
The Bundeswehr today announced the transfer to Ukraine of two more Gepard ZSUs (36 in total), two vehicles for border guards, as well as another 13 Biber tank bridge layers to the already seven existing ones. In total, only the Germans handed over 20 of these toys, count already 20 places for passage. The more such engineering toys, the more transition points the APUs can use.
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 3:41 utc | 218
Outraged | Mar 8 2023 23:30 utc | 201
retired us dod contractor employee. vietnam era veteran.
logistics (fuel, munitions, spare parts, tools/etc and qualified repairers) would be a problem for f-16 deployed for eastern european war operations.
go to https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106375 read between the lines, f-16, a-10, f-15, f-18 aircraft aging because f-35 is very late and requires a lot more design time to fix dangerous faults, if f-35 ever becomes useable.
gao checks out how usa’ tactical aircraft are aging and becoming less reliable, harder to maintain.
while f-35 as the replacement is not adequate, hard to keep flying and late as is.
i doubt a vietnam level air campaign is feasible due to older systems deficiencies and russian federation air defense threats.
as the vietnam campaign was a failure.
probably why usaf is not hawking f-16!
Posted by: paddy | Mar 9 2023 3:55 utc | 219
Junior and senior NCOs run the men… therefore they run the army…officers are administrative…NCOs take many years to gain the experience and respect needed to inspire men to get up and take a bound to draw fire. Maybe why foreigners are running units…all the native guys are dead. Big attack tonight…once the Russian forces get past the last defensive positions…there will be operational space to introduce all those Guards Tank Armies and there will be no hiding or ambiguity of execution of this operation
Posted by: Joe | Mar 9 2023 4:01 utc | 220
Massive Russische Luftangriffe auf die UA
7:20
Polish President Andrzej Duda has said that Warsaw is ready to supply Kiev with its MiG-29 fighters.
“The MiG-29 aircraft, which are in working order and are in service with our air force, we are ready to hand over,” he said in an interview with CNN.
7:18
Power outages reported in Kharkiv, Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv. A massive missile attack on Ukrainian infrastructure was preceded by a wave of Geranays.
7:18
Missiles reached targets in Kiev region and Kiev, explosions were also heard in Nikolaev, Odessa, Vinnitsa, Ternopol, Poltava, Kirovograd, Sumy, Khmelnytsky, Ivano-Frankivsk regions, Kharkiv, Zhitomir and Dnipropetrovsk.
7:18
A new explosion has been heard in Dnipropetrovsk. Locals are reporting the sounds of another explosion in Dnipropetrovsk. Earlier, Russian missiles had already reached a critical infrastructure facility there, where a major fire broke out. In addition, there are power cuts in the region.
7:17
New explosions have been heard in several regions of Ukraine. There are reports of new explosions in the Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil regions. Air raid alarms are still sounding across Ukraine.
7:17
Immediately after reports of an explosion in Kiev, footage has emerged from the scene – a column of thick black smoke is rising over the city. Officially it has not yet been confirmed by the authorities.
7:17
Another explosion in Kiev. Local social networks report powerful arrivals on Troyeshchyna and the left bank. There is no official confirmation of the information yet.
7:16
Explosions are heard in Volyn and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine. In addition, repeated arrivals on critical infrastructure have been recorded in Dnipropetrovsk region, and explosions have also been heard in Kirovohrad and Sumy regions.
According to local resources, Russian geraniums have been spotted over Kyiv. The air-raid alert continues across Ukraine and new missile launches have been recorded.
7:16
Russian missiles hit critical infrastructure facilities in Sumy region.
7:16
A massive missile strike in Odessa has destroyed energy infrastructure facilities, local authorities say.
7:15
Critical infrastructure struck in Poltava region. Ukrainian social media panic, writing that air defence is unable to cope with the attacks. Many areas have lost power.
7:15
Explosions in Kiev, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Khmelnytsky region, as well as Ternopil. Ukrainian infrastructure is being destroyed across the country.
7:15
Powerful explosions in Kiev, Kharkiv and Zaporozhye. Russian missiles strike critical infrastructure in Ukraine.
7:15
There are reports of explosions in the Zhytomyr region.
7:15
Heavy explosions are reported in Dnipro, repeated explosions in Odessa region. There are also reports of explosions in Mykolayiv and Vinnytsia regions.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Posted by: Oberbayer | Mar 9 2023 4:39 utc | 221
@ Down South | Mar 9 2023 3:41 utc | 220
Those 2 new Gepard SPAAGs came with 6,000 rounds of the crucially scarce ammo for the 35mm auto-cannons. Hm, that’s about 10 bursts from the dual guns at an expenditure of ~1,100Rnds (standard loadout). So enough ammo for 10 bursts for qty x 5 Gepards, thence, outta ammo. So sad, too bad for the other 31 Gepards, they don’t get to play. Oops!
@ paddy | Mar 9 2023 3:55 utc | 221
Again, well met. There’s a gaggle of us ancient bustards pervading the bar. Enjoy your comments, though curious why no capitalization ? Despise DC ? 😉
Yes, am aware(Readiness, etc). Enjoyed your previous reference to the Thuds.
All the talk of F-16s, Mirage 2000’s, etc is BS. Utterly impractical, suicidal as envisaged re RF ADS by AFU & ultimately indisputable direct belligerence. Then there’s is the minor matter of timeframes … Cheers
Peace
@ Joe | Mar 9 2023 4:01 utc | 222
Indeed. Vast majority of ’em in the AFU are KIA/irrecoverable WIA, multiple times over … Cheers
@ Oberbayer | Mar 9 2023 4:39 utc | 223
Thank you kindly. AFU will be pleased, more pre ’91 Mig-29s, whoo-hoo …
No doubt UK MOD/ISW will inform us RF has now finally, at last, with ‘High Confidence’ this time, finally run out of missiles & drones …
PMC Wagner is approaching collapse, lost almost all of its mercenaries.
https://english.nv.ua/nation/prigozhin-s-wagner-approaching-collapse-lost-almost-all-of-its-mercenaries-cherevaty-50308918.html
Posted by: Kychâ | Mar 9 2023 4:46 utc | 223
Every time I peer into my crystal ball I see a Pentagram,
errrrrrr I mean a Pentagon(cia).
Heeey, is that the USS Jimmy Carter flying the Jolly Roger, again.
Posted by: L Garou | Mar 9 2023 5:16 utc | 224
@ L Garou | Mar 9 2023 5:16 utc | 226
Nope, possibly the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) burning to the waterline, dockside. (Navy Times Sep25’22)
On the morning of July 12, 2020, the first orange flickers of destruction took hold in the bowels of the hulking USS Bonhomme Richard as it sat moored at a San Diego naval base.
Unimpeded, the fire gathered force, surging upward, conquering one level of the 844-foot ship and then the next, while the crew — the ship’s critical firefighting force — fled to the pier. There, the captain and his sailors stood by as the Bonhomme Richard burned, in cruel irony of its motto “I have not yet begun to fight.”
Not until the San Diego fire department went aboard did anyone spray water on the fire — nearly two hours after it had started. By then it was too late. Gas cylinders were exploding and shooting through the air, and firefighters didn’t have a map or even a sailor to guide them through the smoky maze of the ship. A firefighter’s warning that a compartment was “about to blast” forced firefighters off the Bonhomme Richard just minutes before an explosion so powerful it was heard 13 miles away and hurled debris onto a nearby destroyer.
That afternoon, the flames, hot enough to warp steel beams, …
Here’s a very good article on current situation. Yes Russia has lost the ear because all they have now are shovels.
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/sitrep-3823-southern-advances-amid
Posted by: Surferket | Mar 9 2023 6:37 utc | 226
Posted by: Kychâ | Mar 9 2023 4:46 utc | 225
We just read on CNN sources in Ukraine MOD that they have lost 250k/250k/80k KIA/WIA/MIA, which includes their initial army, second army equipped by Warsaw Pact equipment and third army equipped by Nato. Ukraine is most likely referring their own soldiers as Russian soldiers.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 9 2023 7:02 utc | 227
Another front being opened?
Visegrád 24@visegrad24
The time has come to restore Georgia’s territorial integrity and throw out the Russian soldiers stationed in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1633535377297244161
Visegrád 24@visegrad24
Georgia’s ruling party Georgian Dream has announced that it will withdraw its draft bill on “foreign agents” after the mass protests.
https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1633743548251009024
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 8:50 utc | 228
⚡️🇬🇪 Georgian opposition party says it will CONTINUE protests despite withdrawal of draft Foreign Agents Bill from parliament.
Violent protests sprang up in Georgian capital Tbilisi against Foreign Agents Bill, which proposed establishment of register of NGOs, media outlets and entities receiving foreign funding.
https://t.me/IntelRepublic/15946
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 8:52 utc | 229
⚡️ Transnistrian Security Service FOILS assassination attempt on president Krasnoselsky and detains suspects.
Transnistrian State Security Ministry says attempt on president’s life was being prepared by Ukrainian special services.
Putin’s spared Zelensky but Zelensky’s drunk on power, exerting his Washington-supplied influence on other nations.
https://t.me/IntelRepublic/15951
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 9:13 utc | 230
According to Turkish repoters, the losses of the AFU on the Donetsk-Avdeevka line were higher than in Bakhmut.
For several weeks Avdeevka was subjected to constant artillery and rocket attacks day and night. Moreover, at the same time, especially at night, Russian planes bombard Ukrainian fortifications with bombs weighing from 500 to 1500 kg.
At the same time, the Ukrainian army, whose own artillery support has greatly weakened due to counter-battery actions in recent months, is constantly reducing its potential under continuous artillery fire.
Large-caliber aerial bombs are usually thrown at fortifications which are destroyed one by one.
Daily losses in Bakhmut amount to more than 500 people, and Avdeevka is beginning to surpass even this place due to heavy bombing.
As a result, the daily losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine throughout the front exceed 2,000 people killed and wounded
https://t.me/CyberspecNews/23617
Thought Ukraine was bleeding at Bakhmut? Well they are getting decimated at Avdeevka.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 9 2023 9:40 utc | 231
Irakli Garibashvili wouldn’t even want to sanction Russia, while CIA pressured him to do so. I doubt he would want to throw Russian peacekeepers out from South Ossetia and Abkhazia, especially when his government would actually be more concerned about dealing with this colour revolution than anything else.
Posted by: La Femme Vanillée | Mar 9 2023 9:40 utc | 232
Our source reports that the Office of the President began to save on air defense missiles, as the Russians very often launched “dummy” to reveal the air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Today’s attack was the most widespread due to the use of dagger missiles, which, according to our data, hit the bunker control and planning centers, as well as air defense / radar. There is information that there are hits on Western installations (Iris-r and nasams).
Losses among officers.
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 9:59 utc | 233
Who are these repoters ? This would be nice if all of you shared official sources instead of these shady accounts on Telegram.
In this article, Thomas d’Istria insinuated that Kievan forces managed to hold the advance off.
Posted by: Kra Mik | Mar 9 2023 10:06 utc | 234
Just a quick note passing through: Thank you “b” and the learned pub commentariat here! The content, and responses, are beyond vital at this juncture. I’m a VERY patriotic American who is appalled by the treachery of our political and fiscal masters and the ignorance of our citizenry. Honestly, I sometimes get prickly at the visceral animus many here have toward the United States and our policies …. but I “get it” wholly and really have no legitimate rebuttal. The policies are sinister and immoral. Please know this: Many Americans understand – and with a bit of luck and lots more education, courage and duty will confront – this endemic criminality and strive to obliterate it globally. Can’t say I’m sanguine, but I remain prayerfully hopeful. What else we got? I never would have imagined this in my wildest dreams 5 years ago but … Putin just might save the World and the remnants of a long past Constitutional America. The “elements” that want to take down Putin and create a War with China are the same who jail political enemies and poison populations with inoculations in 2023 America. The juxtaposition is startling: 2023 America is more like Stalin’s Soviet regime and Putin’s Russia is more like Reagan’s optimistic fantasy of the “Shining City on the Hill”. Interesting times, indeed.
Posted by: Drake Schroeder | Mar 9 2023 10:08 utc | 235
Ukraine might become much better off than Russia. Between crippling sanctions, brain drain, inflation, draining of reserves and reparations, Russia might be a very poor country for a very long time. That would be like North Korea but way bigger.
Posted by: Mountaindewisamazing | Mar 9 2023 10:17 utc | 236
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 8:52 utc | 231
I have no idea why this is tolerated. This is maidan repeated. Georgia will end up like Ukraine.
Posted by: Vikichka | Mar 9 2023 10:29 utc | 237
American military assistance to Ukraine, which has already exceeded $32 billion, has revealed the inability of the United States to rapidly increase the production of many types of weapons and ammunition that are needed by both Kiev and Washington itself and its allies. This is the conclusion reached by the authors of an article published in The Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/03/08/us-weapons-manufacturing-ukraine/
Posted by: Apollyon | Mar 9 2023 10:45 utc | 239
Posted by: Mountaindewisamazing | Mar 9 2023 10:17 utc | 238
——————-
Well … that was pretty dumb. Russia produces more engineers per capita than the United States and most of Europe. No brain drain there. Psst … Ukraine is HISTORY!! Sadly.
Long ass time ago I studied Russian History as part of a History minor at an American University. I had the privilege of visiting Russia several times for business in the 2008-11 era. I loved every visit. The culture, history and people there are rare and wonderful. Russians are in intimate, ongoing touch with their history and culture. Their Church. We don’t understand that here in America. Or in the decadent Americanized, EUized Europe. Russia is forever sustainable both spiritually and materially. I don’t get the hate for Russia and Russians. The Soviet system was ODIOUS and BRUTAL … that’s not Russia today. Russia is wonderful and complex. Putin is a historic hero. He’d engage in Nuke Disarmament negotiations TOMORROW if our American elite weren’t such rapacious warmongering fucktards.
Posted by: Drake Schroeder | Mar 9 2023 11:04 utc | 240
Based on the massive use of dagger missiles, it can be assumed that Russia has established mass production of these missiles and they have no problems with components.
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 11:22 utc | 241
🇲🇩🇷🇺🇺🇦⚡The authorities of Transnistria reported that they had prevented an attempt to assassinate the President of the PMR Krasnoselsky, which was organized by the SBU. Participants in the assassination attempt were detained by the security service. Operational materials will be presented tonight at 19-00.
Once again, I note that in our country the SBU has not yet been recognized as a terrorist organization.
🇲🇩🇷🇺🇺🇦 The SBU planned to kill the President of Transnistria Krasnoselsky in the center of Tiraspol by blowing up his armored Land Rover using 8 kg of explosives (RDX) with damaging elements. In the event of an explosion on the streets of the city, this is guaranteed to lead to accidental civilian casualties.
🇲🇩🇷🇺🇺🇦⚡️ Foreign Minister of Transnistria : the means for committing a terrorist attack in Tiraspol were made in Ukraine
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 11:24 utc | 242
The Ministry of State Security of Transnistria arrested the perpetrator of the failed terrorist attack – the terrorist had a turbulent criminal past in the republic and was in the Odessa Terodefense
Vyacheslav Kisichan (previously had the surname Sarazhinsky), taken by the TMR special services in a failed attempt at a terrorist attack against the head of the republic, Vadim Krasnoselsky, is already confessing. So, it became known that in addition to the politician, bystanders, who should have been many in the center of Tiraspol, were supposed to become victims, and that the attack was coordinated and planned by Kisichan’s curators from the SBU.
The offender himself had a criminal past before that. A native of Tiraspol, in his native Transnistria, he traded in pimping, robbery, hooliganism, for which he had a criminal record. 12 years ago he moved to Odessa, changing his surname, and started everything “from scratch” – this blank slate eventually included participation in the Odessa Terodefense since February last year and recruitment to the SBU for terrorist activities in the territory of Transnistria, namely surveillance and elimination Krasnoselsky.
The Pridnestrovian authorities said that today they would send a request about the incident to Kiev, but it is unlikely that something constructive would be answered in the government of the country that trades in terrorist attacks, does not recognize the independence of the PMR, is preparing armed provocations on the border and the invasion of troops in order to return Pridnestrovie to Moldova.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/36441
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 11:26 utc | 243
“Russia has run out of missiles”.. again.. apparently.. so I am told…
Two separate reports on Sputnik:
Strikes Against Energy Facilities Reported Across Ukraine
Energy infrastructure facilities have come under attack in seven Ukrainian regions, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said on Thursday.
“Shelling of energy facilities in Kiev, Nikolaev, Kharkov, Zaporozhye, Odessa, Dnepr and Zhitomir regions was recorded,” Galushchenko wrote on social media.
~~~
Emergency Power Cuts Leave 40% of Kiev’s Residents Without Heating: City Mayor
Emergency power outages left 40% of people living in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev with no heating on Thursday, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Air raid alarms went off in various parts of Ukraine on Thursday morning. The country’s energy ministry said airstrikes targeted energy infrastructure in seven regions, including the Kiev region.
“After the attack 40% of consumers of the capital city are so far without heating due to emergency blackouts,” Klitschko wrote on Telegram.
Emergency blackouts were also enacted in other Ukrainian regions, including Zhitomir, Odessa and Dnepropetrovsk. Mayor of Zhitomir Sergey Sukhomlin said that most of local households were left with no electricity and water supply.
Ukrainian Railways stated that a number of trains are delayed due to power cuts in some parts of the railroad, with delays exceeding one hour in some cases.
https://sputniknews.com/20230309/live-updates-strikes-against-energy-facilities-reported-across-ukraine-1108199916.html
Plus this grudging piece from Ukranews: https://ukranews.com/en/news/919759-rf-launches-shaheds-cruise-and-ballistic-missiles-kyiv-city-military-administration
On the night of Thursday, March 9, Russian troops carried out another massive air attack on Ukraine. According to preliminary information, an infrastructure facility was hit by a Kinzhal-type missile in Kyiv.
This was reported by the Kyiv City Military Administration.
It is noted that the alarm in the capital lasted for about seven hours, and during this time, the Russians used almost all types of air weapons – from Shahed barrage ammunition to almost all names of cruise missiles.
“Thanks to the work of our air defense, cruise missiles, and UAVs were not allowed to hit the capital. But, unfortunately, an aeroballistic missile of the Kinzhal type (preliminary information) hit the infrastructure object,” said Serhii Popko, the head of the city military.
All services are working at the attack scene, and the consequences liquidation is underway. There are partial emergency power outages in the capital.
In the Sviatoshynskyi District of the capital, two people were injured, and missile fragments damaged cars.
As earlier reported, on the night of Thursday, March 9, the occupiers carried out a massive rocket attack. An air alert was announced in all regions of Ukraine. The occupiers used rockets and Shahed UAVs. There are hits and casualties and electricity and heat supply shutdowns. 40% of Kyiv residents were left without heating after the missile attack.
Posted by: West of England Andy | Mar 9 2023 11:31 utc | 244
American military assistance to Ukraine, which has already exceeded $32 billion, has revealed the inability of the United States to rapidly increase the production of many types of weapons and ammunition that are needed by both Kiev and Washington itself and its allies. This is the conclusion reached by the authors of an article published in The Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/03/08/us-weapons-manufacturing-ukraine/
Posted by: Apollyon | Mar 9 2023 10:45 utc | 241
Geniuses, they are, geniuses. It is hard to ramp up manfacturing of anything if you don’t have the factories and workforce any more.
Trying to rely on foreign nations that you also are trying to subvert at the same time doesn’t seem to work./sarc
Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 9 2023 12:11 utc | 245
Translated:
INTERCEPTION (Z) Telegram, browse-able Public(Open) access.
Warsaw sent Kyiv 10 Leopard 2A4 tanks out of 14 previously promised, said the head of the Polish Ministry of Defense, Mariusz Blaszczak.
Poland is starting to create a hub for servicing Leopard 2A4 tanks delivered to Ukraine , spare parts for which are in short supply and have not been produced for about 20 years. According to the minister, the republic has also completed the training of Ukrainian tank crews.
Re the video posted by melaleuca @155 and the nationality of the ‘commander’ urging on the retreating group of Ukrainian soldiers, the accent is definitely a Kiwi one, as already guessed by abrogard, auximenes and Down South (thanks for your posts, by the way).
Hope he’s enjoying his northern holiday. Judging by the heavy panting, however, he needs a bit more fitness training. Low quality merc material.
Posted by: B. Wildered | Mar 9 2023 12:31 utc | 247
If the guy is kiwi he also has a Maori accent. Which means he must be part Maori. The panting makes sense then as Maoris tend to be a bit on the heavy side.
Posted by: Comandante | Mar 9 2023 13:12 utc | 248
🇷🇺🚀🇺🇦Massive missile strike of the Russian Armed Forces on infrastructure facilities on the territory of Ukraine on March 9 – which is known by 14.00(12:00 CET) – @Rybar
❗️ Russian troops launched massive strikes at night on critical infrastructure in Ukraine.
The list of the weapons involved in the attack has significantly expanded: the RF Armed Forces used kamikaze drones, cruise missiles, and even the Kinzhal hypersonic complex.
🔻What is known by now?
➡️Kiev: the engine room and boiler room of CHPP-5, a large generating station in the capital, were hit. Together with other hits, the city experienced significant problems with electricity and communications.
Previously, the facility has repeatedly become the target of attacks by Russian troops, but the station still continued to work. If the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation managed to disable at least a few turbines and boilers, energy generation will significantly decrease.
➡️Kharkov: at least fifteen explosions sounded in the city. According to some reports, the operation of CHPP-3 and CHPP-5 was stopped. Local residents reported power and water outages, communication and heating problems.
➡️Dnepropetrovsk region: a series of explosions sounded in Pavlograd, Krivoy Rog and Dnipropetrovsk city. According to preliminary data, in Krivoy rog, the targets of the attacks could’ve been the “Krivorozhskaya TPP” and the Substation South 330.
➡️Zhitomir region: presumably, the substation of the substation “Zhitomirska 330” was hit: the regional center is partially de-energized, about 150 thousand residents were left without electricity.
➡️Volyn region: citizens heard powerful explosions in Lutsk and Kivertsy. The explosion was so powerful that some residents of Kivertsy reported that their houses were shaking.
In the Lutsk region there is an oil depot, an airfield and a substation “Lutsk-Severnaya 330”, as well as military installations.
➡️Vinnitsa region: powerful explosions sounded in the region. Most likely objects at the “Ladyzhinskaya TPP” were hit again
➡️Kirovograd region: local residents reported the sounds of explosions in the Kropyvnytskyi district and an emergency power outage. The target of the attack in the area could’ve been the substation “Ukrainka 330”.
➡️Odessa region: local authorities announced a strike on an energy facility in the region. Among the possible targets of the strikes are the “Adzhalyk 330”, “Novoodesskaya 330”, “Usatovo 330” and the “Centrolit 220” substations.
➡️Sumy region: one of the buildings of the Research Institute of Chemical Products in Shostka was probably hit.
➡️Zaporozhye region: local authorities announced hit on an infrastructure facility, but there is no exact information about it at the moment.
➡️Ivano-Frankovsk region: an unknown energy infrastructure facility was hit.
💥Local residents also reported the sounds of explosions in Lvov, Kherson, Khmelnitsky, Nikolaev, Ternopol, Rivne, Cherkassy and Chernihov regions.
⚡️After the strikes, Ukrainian Railways reported a delay of up to an hour for trains due to power supply problems. Several trains are delayed by almost four hours.
Today’s wave of strikes has become the most massive in the current year. Known targets include critical turbine rooms for the operation of power plants.
As a result of accurate hits in several regions of the country, there were significant problems with power supply, which, however, was restored within a few hours.
The largest power outage of the contact network was in central Ukraine. Large breaks were recorded in the region of Podolsk (Odessa region) and Odessa, as well as small breaks near Lvov and on the Carpathian passes.
In addition, the local authorities once again preventively turned off the power before the raid, but this also causes significant damage to the energy system, undermining its stability.
Despite the lack of immediate results, such attacks are increasingly destabilizing the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, leaving hope for its collapse and disruption of the railways with industry.
https://t.me/azmilitary11/40311
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 13:21 utc | 249
🇬🇪The Georgian opposition will hold a meeting after the withdrawal of the law on foreign agents
The Georgian opposition, after the withdrawal of the law on foreign agents, will hold a meeting instead of a rally
The chairman of the largest opposition party in Georgia, the United National Movement, Levan Khabeishvili , after the decision of the authorities to withdraw the bill on foreign agents, congratulated the population on the victory and called for an “information meeting” to be held instead of the rally scheduled for Thursday and discuss further plans
The oppositionists planned to hold a rally in the center of Tbilisi on Thursday at 19.00 (18.00 Moscow time), despite the decision of the authorities to withdraw the bill, as they demanded to clarify their actions. Later, the ruling party explained the entire procedure and confirmed that the bill would be withdrawn.
“I want to congratulate on the victory of our citizens, young people who fought and are fighting for the European future. However, it is very important that this is formalized legally… I propose to gather today at 19.00 and hold an informational meeting, including in connection with future plans,” Khabeishvili told reporters.
https://t.me/azmilitary11/40318
Posted by: Down South | Mar 9 2023 13:24 utc | 250
Thanks for posting the Georgian article Mr. down South;
Question – since this is clearly a Washington organized color revolution why would the gov‘t cave on the foreign agent law ?
Posted by: Exile | Mar 9 2023 13:45 utc | 251
@ Melaleuca #209
I’m sitting in the middle of the United States and initially thought the guy was from some place “down under” ;). But I agree with Outraged that the leader’s men seem pretty under-trained and/or not overly motivated so if those green arm bands are Poles and have prior army service, it doesn’t speak that well of the Polish army.
I also agree with Joe @ 222, it takes a while to make a good NCO, although guys with inherit talent often make E-5 by the end of the first 3 years. Or that make that rank because there really aren’t many other “options” for that unit. My youngest kid is a “buck Sargent” and I think he would have these green band guys a bit more motivated in getting their asses out of the open kill zone. The kid is now in sort of a back water area of the U.S. command and he and I hope it stays that way. His eyes have been opened quite a bit in the last few months on the reality of Ukie land. I don’t think he has any illusions if they had to go up against the Rus or the Chinese. Currently his platoon is about 50-60% filled out, about half NCOs and half E-4s and lower. And that’s before meeting any “enemy”…
Posted by: DakotaRog | Mar 9 2023 14:04 utc | 252
Looks like after Uncle Schmule gave the Ukraine credit for NS2, Russia is exacting pounds of flesh. Much going boom all over 404.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 9 2023 14:16 utc | 253
A bit off topic but take a look at the dressing the German ambassador in Namibia gets from the president. Oh Europe, quo vadis?
https://youtu.be/nYZ9C4QZWp8
Posted by: Paco | Mar 9 2023 14:22 utc | 254
Why aren’t these hits on the power plants accomplishing anything meaningful (trains delayed a few hours, sad) and what is the point of continuing to waste missiles on this apparently fruitless endeavor?
Posted by: catdog | Mar 9 2023 14:25 utc | 255
Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 9 2023 0:09 utc | 204
Zelensky has his counteroffensive army parked where they can attack either Melitopol, Mariupol or Bakhmut. If he was successful in taking back any of those it would be a huge victory for UA. It is not at all apparent that Zelensky has denuded his counteroffensive army by reinforcing Bakhmut, where only a fraction of UA troops are committed. We have not seen any M2 bradleys, Leopard 2s, Challengers, AMX-10RCs which were earmarked for the counteroffensive in combat yet.
Posted by: catdog | Mar 9 2023 14:35 utc | 256
Ukraine has a large and complex electricity generation and distribution system.
Repeated attacks on this infrastructure are essential:
1. To continue to weaken industry, transport and the war effort of Ukr
2. To demoralize and undermine civil society in Ukr
All electrical distribution systems build in a great deal of redundancy, so that the operator can switch supply routing when needed.
Continued attrition of the key parts of the system and the national control centre must be a priority of the RF war effort.
Posted by: Engineer-John | Mar 9 2023 14:59 utc | 257
Zelensky has his counteroffensive army parked where they can attack either Melitopol, Mariupol or Bakhmut.
Posted by: catdog | Mar 9 2023 14:35 utc | 258
What counteroffensive army?
As for this:
We have not seen any M2 bradleys, Leopard 2s, Challengers, AMX-10RCs
The reason we aren’t seeing those is they haven’t been delivered yet, at least in any meaningful quantities. The nations supposedly supplying this stuff are shilly-shallying around in a polite game of ‘After you’.
Posted by: West of England Andy | Mar 9 2023 15:02 utc | 258
Posted by: Exile | Mar 9 2023 13:45 utc | 253
“Thanks for posting the Georgian article Mr. down South;
Question – since this is clearly a Washington organized color revolution why would the gov‘t cave on the foreign agent law ?”
I ask myself the same question.
It makes little sense.
It is a show of weakness … Never a good thing to do.
Posted by: Engineer-John | Mar 9 2023 15:03 utc | 259
@catdog | Mar 9 2023 14:25 utc | 257
One of the issues is the nuclear plants – I believe 3 are still controlled by Ukraine. They cannot be safely damaged, and even if taken offline they need access to backup power for cooling (see the situation at Zapharhozia NPP controlled by Russia). Russia will not directly target them. Also, as has been mentioned previously, The fact that Ukrainian industry has been decimated and half the population has fled means that there is considerable over capacity available.
Posted by: the pessimist | Mar 9 2023 15:10 utc | 260
Posted by: Engineer-John | Mar 9 2023 15:03 utc | 261
The georgian president already announced she was going to veto if it passed, so it makes no difference.
Posted by: catdog | Mar 9 2023 15:11 utc | 261
To me looks like that officer in that video clip is bearing a stretcher himself and shouting to men _behind_ him. As to the manner of those grunts, tired and exhausted men behave exactly like that regardless of their initial normal condition.
Posted by: the pessimist | Mar 9 2023 15:10 utc | 262
Ukraine has been reduced from a country to a Nato frontier battleground against Russia. For that purpose, the electric grid could still be plentiful and they don’t need to worry too much about restoring electricity in some cities or countryside. Purpose of Russia is to reduce the value and utility for Nato being able to utilize this frontier battleground, and make Nato forces as inefficient as possible.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 9 2023 15:15 utc | 263
Here’s the latest Russian Defence Ministry report, including acknowledging the use of the Kinzhal system:
In response to the terrorist acts in the Bryansk region organised by the Kiev regime on 2 March this year, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a massive retaliatory strike.
High-precision, long-range air-, sea- and land-based weapons, including the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system, hit key elements of Ukraine’s military infrastructure, defence and industrial complex enterprises, as well as energy facilities that support them.
The purpose of the strike has been achieved. All the assigned targets have been neutralised.
The strike destroyed unmanned drone strike sites, disrupted the movement of reserves and railway transport of foreign weapons, and impeded military repair and ammunition production facilities.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Kupyansk direction, air strikes and artillery fire of the ‘Zapad’ Group of Forces hit enemy units in the settlements of Gryanikovka, Pershetravnevoye, Olshana (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People’s Republic).
More than 50 Ukrainian servicemen, two combat vehicles, five armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles have been eliminated in this direction during the day.
In Krasny Liman direction, active actions by units of the ‘Tsentr’ Group of Forces and artillery fire inflicted damage on the manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the settlements of Nevskoye, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People’s Republic) and Torskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Total enemy losses in this direction amounted to 115 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, and a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer.
In Donetsk direction, the ‘Yug’ Group of Forces and artillery fire have destroyed over 135 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, three pick-up trucks, four motor vehicles, two D-20 howitzers, a Msta-B howitzer, and one D-1 howitzer close to Kransnoye, Semenovka, and Pervomayskoye during the day.
In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, artillery of the ‘Vostok’ Group of Forces engaged the AFU units close to Ugledar and Prechistovka (Donetsk People’s Republic)
The total losses of the enemy in these directions during the day amounted to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, and a D-20 howitzer.
In Kherson direction, four armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers were destroyed in complex fire attack.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 78 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, enemy manpower and hardware in 102 areas during the day.
An ammunition depot of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been hit close to Vozdvizhenka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
A US-made AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery radar station was destroyed near Chasov Yar (Donetsk People’s Republic).
A MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force has been shot down by Russian Air Force fighter aircraft close to the village of Volnyansk (Zaporozhye region) in an aerial battle.
A Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter has been shot down near the settlement of Novogrodovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Air defence forces intercepted six HIMARS multiple-launch rocket launchers and also destroyed five Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles close to Nikolskoye, Blagodatnoye (Donetsk People’s Republic), Kremennaya (Lugansk People’s Republic), Berestovoye (Kharkov region) and Chervony Mayak (Kherson region).
In total, 399 airplanes and 218 helicopters, 3,366 unmanned aerial vehicles, 410 air defence missile systems, 8,241 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,055 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,308 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 8,816 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
https://eng.mil.ru/en/special_operation/news/more.htm?id=12457099@egNews
Posted by: West of England Andy | Mar 9 2023 15:16 utc | 264
📊 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation destroyed (losses over previous 24hrs(+?)):
399(+1) aircraft, (Daily avg 1.1)
218(+1) helicopters, (Daily avg 0.6)
3,366(+5) unmanned aerial vehicles, (Daily avg 8.9)
410 surface-to-air missile systems, (Daily avg 1.1)
8,241(+19) tanks and other armored combat vehicles, (Daily avg 21.8)
1,055 multiple rocket launchers, (Daily avg 2.8)
4,308(+8) field artillery and mortars, (Daily avg 11.4) and
8,816(+18) special military vehicles. (Daily avg 23.3)
It’s also possible that last nights targets were carefully chosen to take out power to NATO command and control centers inside 404. Along with those plants supplying power to industry.
Sure, they could always hook up mobile generators to those c & c centers, but those tend to make noise which might be useful for future strike locations.
Don’t undertook the possibility of pro-Russian spotters on the ground in Kiev.
As far as effectiveness of the de-energizing campaign, yesterday before these latest strikes I found an article in the pro-Ukrainian media that admitted they had only restored lights to the center of Kharkiv just the other day, and then only for 2 hours a day.
So just because we don’t have the Twitter-verse posting pics of Ukrainian families huddled in their living rooms under blankets while the furniture burns in the fireplace, that life is anything approaching 20th century standards over there.
Posted by: Chris | Mar 9 2023 15:24 utc | 266
Sputnik reporting comments from John Kirby, US National Security Council Spokesman For Stating The Bleeding Obvious:
Patriot Systems for Kiev Not Effective Against Russian Cruise Missiles, Drones – Kirby
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Patriot systems for Ukraine will not be effective against Russian cruise missiles and drones, US National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said on Thursday.
“The Patriot missile system is really designed to go after ballistic missiles. It is not as effective on cruise missiles, and it certainly cannot be effective against drones,” Kirby said.
He added that Ukraine’s capabilities to fight hypersonic missiles are “limited.”
“Hypersonic missiles are generally very, very difficult to counter, and it would not surprise me that Ukrainian air defenses are limited in their ability to go after hypersonic missiles,” he said.
Posted by: West of England Andy | Mar 9 2023 15:37 utc | 267
@ West of England Andy | Mar 9 2023 15:37 utc | 269
A total of three Patriots were promised, starting last year. None., none have been shipped …
Patriots have zero demonstrated combat capability, even against ancient 50’s Era Soviet Scud SRBMs. Hypersonics ? Hahaha ….
Aussies & Kiwis in the ranks of the UAF ?
Good job, native English speaking barflies. Please carry on to deliver evidence of the direct involvement of these countries. I guess RF still collects arguments for the justification of this strategy: How a nuclear strike on New Zealand could prevent a third world war.
Personal note: Every nuke deflected from Europe is technically increasing our survival rate here. My favourite word (and hope) in this strategy is “prevent”, however.
Posted by: OttoE | Mar 9 2023 15:45 utc | 269
Posted by: West of England Andy | Mar 9 2023 15:37 utc | 269
Are Patriots capable of shooting down the type of ballistic missiles Russia uses for their nukes?
Posted by: catdog | Mar 9 2023 15:46 utc | 270
Are Patriots capable of shooting down the type of ballistic missiles Russia uses for their nukes?
Posted by: catdog | Mar 9 2023 15:46 utc | 272
As @Outraged notes #270, Patriots do not have a good record for shooting down anything!
If you’re specifically thinking of Russian ICBMs, these will be at hypersonic speeds, approaching from very high altitudes. They would need to be detected before any attempt at interception could be made.
Posted by: West of England Andy | Mar 9 2023 16:04 utc | 271
Posted by: catdog | Mar 9 2023 15:11 utc | 263
The veto itself could be null and void with a sufficient majority vote in parliament which the ruling party believe they had
Posted by: DaVinci | Mar 9 2023 17:55 utc | 272
Posted by: OttoE | Mar 9 2023 15:45 utc | 271
A discussion occurred here a while ago on the merits of targeting oligarch doomsday bunkers with nuclear weapons rather than the nominal states through which they act. Certainly a more humane strategy.
New Zealand is one obvious location but there are others. It would be enough to make a show of funding academics and investigators to compile and maintain a list of known bunker sites, with the obvious implication that these sites were then targets, a considerable disincentive to play host to these bunkers.
Poster Stonebird also mentioned UK news reports of underground rumbling that might indicate secret tunnelling operations to excavate bunker space.
Posted by: anon2020 | Mar 9 2023 18:11 utc | 273
Interesting accent for this speaker of English in command (just doing a lot of shouting) of a retreating Ukrainian unit at Bakhmut.
Sounds to me like an Aussie who was either born oversees, or is a child of European (eastern/Mediterranean) immigrants.
https://twitter.com/vicktop55/status/1633374914299281410
>… Someone in the comments also thinks Aussie accent.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Mar 8 2023 13:16 utc | 155
I’m a bit late to this discussion, but as a born and bred Aussie I say that the accent is of a non-Maori New Zealander. I can understand why others may not pick it, but to me it is clear. The NZ and Australian accents have been diverging for 50-70 years now with, interestingly, the change mainly coming on the NZ side, and spearheaded by females.
Within Australia new accents are developing in parallel to the old Anglo-Celt Aussie accent. These new accents are coming down through the second and third generations of migrants (Italian, Greek and now Middle Eastern). Descendants of Vietnamese migrants/refugees tend to speak English with an Anglo Celt Aussie accent.
Posted by: Marduk | Mar 10 2023 2:36 utc | 274