Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
April 05, 2023

Ukraine Open Thread 2023-81

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 April 5, 2023 at 15:48 UTC | Permalink

Comments
next page »

Becoming aware that UKR mine-laying, especially advanced electromagnetic(?) mines, as well as capacity for remote detonation, and remote seeding via artillery shells is a major obstacle.

Any word on RUS countermeasures / doctrinal adjustments?

Posted by: Paul Damascene | Apr 5 2023 15:54 utc | 1

Any word on RUS countermeasures / doctrinal adjustments?

Posted by: Paul Damascene | Apr 5 2023 15:54 utc | 1

A slow, careful advance? In other words, what they're already doing.

Posted by: Intelligent Dasein | Apr 5 2023 16:00 utc | 2

Delousing is ineffective if any lice or eggs remain. DeNazification of Ukraine will require Russia to take all of Ukraine, including the Western parts. I think that Russia will honor each region's Right to Self Determination, so some regions of Ukraine might vote to join bordering countries to avoid being deloused.

Posted by: barstool | Apr 5 2023 16:01 utc | 3

Russia says Finland joining NATO has escalated the conflict

VIDEO https://twitter.com/AbrahamStein8/status/1643645780010344448?s=20

Posted by: Dave Oneil | Apr 5 2023 16:04 utc | 4

Today: Tass Reports: “Russia, US in hot conflict phase.”
Reports”past Cold War” phase. Not sure why statement made today. Putin with welcoming new Ambassadors, seemed again to hold out olive branches. Still hoping for a “”peaceful global power transition “ from West to East I guess. I suppose it’s still possible. When the USSR economy collapsed, they didn’t lose their global power, had to readjust their political power, domestically & foreign. There isn’t any reason US can’t do the same.
It’s just that when you look at the UK, the “Britain Empire”… they’re still a bunch of self indulged children walking around like the world owes them something for being around, and 50 years from now, broke-*ss, de-militarized, de-monetized USA America will likely be walking around with Nuland 3.0s cursing Russia & China, never a day in the national life taking responsibility for a thing.

Posted by: Trubind1 | Apr 5 2023 16:16 utc | 5

I notice commentary about advances being ruled out because they cross empty areas - on both sides. This is the opposite of the way things looked earlier in the war as cities were the hold up. I have to speculate that maybe this changes war forever as surprise is completely missing. Satellites and drones have changed the battlefield greatly. I was skeptical about a stalemate but maybe so. Nobody wants to get caught out in the open. Ukr. tries to use smoke but that doesn't seem like a big enough deal.

Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 5 2023 16:20 utc | 6

Posted by: Paul Damascene | Apr 5 2023 15:54 utc | 1

Yup, I've seen the same point raised in the more clued Russian mil. telegram channels (Ramzai/Shurigin, for example). Russians are now improving their engineering corpus to deal with this.

Posted by: Boo | Apr 5 2023 16:23 utc | 7

Posted by: barstool | Apr 5 2023 16:01 utc | 3. I'm 95% sure that some oblasts will be given to Belarus. given that it is the only former soviet republic ( in Europe) that doesn't hate Russia, that it was the only republic, along with Russia, to be a net contributor in the 1980s, and that it will form a union state with Russia anyway ( with a possible expansion to other EAEU, so no "vassal" crap, sovereignty preserved) it would be stupid not to.

Posted by: Phariah | Apr 5 2023 16:27 utc | 8

Russian Foreign Ministry: Kyiv, with the participation of foreign specialists, is trying to influence Russian civilian communications satellites

Well... boom boom NS, boom boom bridge, airports, cars. Who could have imagined satellite hacking will come after such friendly actions, right? Next week - du party like Fallujah.

Posted by: rk | Apr 5 2023 16:27 utc | 9

I have to speculate that maybe this changes war forever as surprise is completely missing.

Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 5 2023 16:20 utc | 6

"Forever" is a very long time, and there is a countermeasure to every measure. If Russia feels like NATO's satellites are too much of a problem, they will simply take them out. They have the means to do so.

Posted by: Intelligent Dasein | Apr 5 2023 16:29 utc | 10

In memory of all those needlessly killed on the Eastern Front ...

Liam Clancy - Green Fields of France (or the Donbass) 5 mins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYMhc4BROd0

and ... this is shocking alleged level of corruption where dead Ukrainians are left on the battlefield and commanders prevent their retrieval, declare them as missing, so as to make profit for themselves ...

VIDEO: UKRAINIAN COMMANDERS FORBID EVACUATION OF DEAD COMRADES

https://southfront.org/in-video-ukrainian-commanders-forbid-evacuation-of-dead-comrades/

I detest fascism. The New York Times is all-in on promoting AZOV - 10,000+ now to the south of Bakhmuth ... and Prokopenko still strutting freely ...

Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 5 2023 16:36 utc | 11

@Paul Damascene | Apr 5 2023 15:54 utc | 1

Russia has tank-fitted mine clearing equipment that can deal with all types but in limited numbers.

From Simplicius substack:

“This trawl consists of a roller array with pressure action and soil cutters, a device for trawling anti-side mines and an electromagnetic module. The trawl also includes electrical equipment, a pneumatic system, a pyro signal cassette and a single spare parts kit.

The TMT-K mine trawl provides trawling capabilities against most anti-tank mines: anti-burr mines, anti-bottom mines with contact and non-contact magnetic fuses, anti-slide mines with non-contact seismic-optical fuses, as well as the destruction of wired control lines for mine explosions, land mines and triggering remote installation mines installed on the ground surface.”

https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/mines-depleted-uranium-and-important

Posted by: the pessimist | Apr 5 2023 16:39 utc | 12

Paul Damascene | Apr 5 2023 15:54 utc | 1

As far as I know, nothing nato has is technically a problem. Their number is a problem, it'll take years to clear from civilian areas or agricultural lands, especially petal mines or other gifts from nato like Macaron's banned mines from last summer, which have no timeout and explode when they detect a metal detector. These were all used mostly against civilians, not a real problem for the army. You'll hear about exploded legs in all these regions for 5-10 years after the shelling stops. A lot of Ukr soldiers have died from their own mines. They don't say where they place them to prevent their own soldiers from running back. Welded tank doors are another great method to make a kamikaze team by force.

Posted by: rk | Apr 5 2023 16:44 utc | 13


Defense Politics Asia

WAGNER DOMINATING CENTER OF BAKHMUT - sign of Ukrainian forces moving to new line of defense in city

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 5 2023 16:47 utc | 14

BAKHMUT (ARTEMOVSK)

The Russians are continuing to significantly advance in Bakhmut (Russian name of "Artemovsk"). Last week I was questioning if the increased Russian pace in taking Bakhmut would continue.

At the middle of this week, there is no doubt that Russia has taken at least another 5%. Most, if not all, of the territory East of the railroad down the middle of Bakhmut has fallen or will fall to the Russians within the next week.

Got the report today from Alexander Mercouris that 85% of Bakhmut has now fallen to the Russians. Just a week ago the estimate was 65% to 70%.

Also, got the report from Weeb Union that Surovikin and Prigozhin are now on the same page in the Bakhmut offensive. This means that regular Russian troops are being integrated into the Wagner forces making the combination stronger in the remaining defeat of Bakhmut and further Russian advance within the Donbas.

As the territory left to the Army Forces of Ukraine (AFU) shrinks in Bakhmut, more concentrated fire will be directed towards what is left of the Ukrainian forces there. This makes the Bakhmut, Russian meat grinder even more deadly.

I don't know where the Russians will go after Bakhmut falls nor do I know how fast they will advance. But after Bakhmut falls, a lot of Russian military resources will be released to go elsewhere. Amoung these resources are the more aggressive troops. Most likely their new reassignments will speed the Russian advance in the Donbas.

The morale of the AFU will be weakened when the news of Bakhmut's fall passes through the AFU ranks. A lot ot the AFU troops knew someone that either died or was seriously wounded in the Bakhmut area. Many of these troops will think that their sacrifice was for nothing.

As Bakhmut falls, I doubt that the remaining AFU troops there will be given retreat orders. Yet, after it falls, the Ukrainian government will claim that such orders were given. This is the same that happened in the fall of Soledar.

The average AFU troop is starting to get wind of the lies and treachery of their own command. None of them wish to become cannon fodder for the Russian troops. Many of them already know that such may soon be their situation.

Posted by: young | Apr 5 2023 17:04 utc | 15

The average AFU troop is starting to get wind of the lies and treachery of their own command. None of them wish to become cannon fodder for the Russian troops. Many of them already know that such may soon be their situation.

Posted by: young | Apr 5 2023 17:04 utc | 15


Where are your sources to make such statements ? You seem to forget that 1) the ukrainians grunts have been heavily brainwashed, 2) are hysterically lied to on an everyday basis ("yes, the situation is a bit harsh around here but our other offensives are storming Rostov or taking back Crimea...") 3) are drugged up with meth/captagon to the point of being half zombies.

That is the real tragedy. It will take them years to realize the level of lies they've been exposed to. And most of them will remain in denial, because one doesn't acknowledge easily having been misled for so long.

Posted by: Pierrot | Apr 5 2023 17:26 utc | 16

Posted by: Pierrot | Apr 5 2023 17:26 utc | 16

young response below:

A lot of the new Ukrainian troops were pressed into the AFU. They started out in the AFU with a very negative perspective as they were forced into a situation they did not want.

When it comes to saving their hide, many of these new troops as well as older troops that have survived seeing so many of their comrades decimated are waking up.

The high potential of losing one's life can bring about a dramatic wake up call to even the most asleep. Even though I am sure some will continue in their catatonic state even after being mortally wounded.

Posted by: young | Apr 5 2023 17:37 utc | 17

Any word on RUS countermeasures / doctrinal adjustments?

Posted by: Paul Damascene | Apr 5 2023 15:54 utc | 1

Have a look at:

https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/mines-depleted-uranium-and-important

Posted by: Zet | Apr 5 2023 18:03 utc | 18

"Second, if you listen to Lukashenko’s arguments in the video you are astounded. He is saying that on the front lines the soldiers on both sides understand that they are being sent to their deaths for NOTHING. He says that Ukrainians are warning Russians of attacks about to be launched and Russians are doing the same for the Ukrainians who are maybe 50 meters away from them."

Cited by Gilbert Dostorow from here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQSZ0nzgESo

Posted by: the pessimist | Apr 5 2023 18:03 utc | 19

Posted by: Dave Oneil | Apr 5 2023 16:04 utc | 4

BTW, the largest political parties in Finland were already supportive of Nato bases in Finland if they are offered. And US is not going to tell the public if they decide to place nukes, the public will find it out when Russia blows up the first storage site or something. Make no mistake, things are going to hell in a handbasket, especially for Finland.

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 5 2023 18:09 utc | 20

Belarus is going to be used to attack NATO with plausible deniability. Not useful to attack Ukraine. Better to hit Lithuania or lure Poland into an attack. Ambiguous strategic scenarios are the ones that will confuse command and control. Permissions must be granted or initiative will be taken at the operational level. That takes too much time. And the more time passes, the more any response appears to be an overreaction. If Belarus nukes a formation of NATO troops in Belarus or Ukraine, would NATO have the guts to then nuke JUST Belarus, knowing that a retaliatory strike could follow? I don't think so. Western leaders are trifling, greedy dolts. Take it from a guy who lives in an exemplary 'Western' city. They're chickens and weasels.

It's just like negotiation with them in a business setting. They push way too far. When they start losing, it's just like chess: they offer you a draw. Russians play chess too. Why compromise with the losing side? What money is in peace is what arms are in war and Russia is rich by that standard. Western leaders rule by diktat and can't handle feedback loops that contradict 'the strategy.' It's why the Russians aren't going to stop until all of Ukraine is conquered, just to teach NATO a lesson. If NATO isn't sufficiently freaked out, it will take a de-escalatory nuke on a minor NATO country, to force woke Western idiots to have an existential crisis.

Posted by: Aaron Lee | Apr 5 2023 18:13 utc | 21

Well... boom boom NS, boom boom bridge, airports, cars. Who could have imagined satellite hacking will come after such friendly actions, right? Next week - du party like Fallujah.

Posted by: rk | Apr 5 2023 16:27 utc | 9

But disabling NATO ISR was too escalatory and not to be done...

Posted by: shadowbanned | Apr 5 2023 18:20 utc | 22

I'm really getting tired hearing from Military Summary and many others that Ukraine is going to begin a counteroffensive in the near future. IT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
The entire thing is a disinformation campaign designed to keep morale up among Ukrainian soldiers, Ukrainian public and Western public.
The Ukrainian military is totally weakened.

Posted by: Anton Gorbatow | Apr 5 2023 18:23 utc | 23

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 5 2023 18:09 utc | 20

“will find it out when Russia blows up the first storage site or something”

Yes, we all remember those numerous attacks Russia has made outside of former Soviet states…

Posted by: Membrum Virile | Apr 5 2023 18:30 utc | 24

A very interesting article in yesterday's Covert Action Magazine by Valeriy Krylko.

https://covertactionmagazine.com/2023/04/04/war-mongering-cia-connected-think-tank-calls-for-world-war-iii/

Posted by: Ed | Apr 5 2023 18:40 utc | 25

Another hit on Shkolny air base in Odessa, which is part of the supposed support infrastructure for the supposed attack across the Dnepr river. I think Simplicus had some details of this attack in his recent article, several hundred drones could have vanished and additionally those that were in final assembly in that location.

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 5 2023 19:16 utc | 26

Posted by: Intelligent Dasein | Apr 5 2023 16:29 utc | 10
satellites are too much of a problem, they will simply take them out. They have the means to do so

There is a subtle point about satellites that is usually missed: there is no need to blow them up with S500s or similar, risking a Kessler cascade because of the debris.

Most satellites can simply be nudged out of their orbit, either into deep space or falling into the atmosphere (if small), or even just in a different orbit where their usefulness degrades a lot.

Getting rid of a satellite that way can be done with some degree of plausible deniability by using suitable small devices. Plus the satellite is not harmed in any way... :-)

Posted by: Blissex | Apr 5 2023 19:27 utc | 27

Recently released documents demonstrate how the US won the two gulf wars more than with weapons with the suitcases of money with which they bought all the Iraqi armed forces, from the rank of Major up, so that when they went on the attack the opposing army melted like snow in the sun.

Now I think the same is happening in Russia, with practically all ranks of the Armed Forces. on the Western Services payroll.

This hypothesis 'fits' perfectly with what is happening in this war, with the fact that trains loaded with weapons travel with impunity in Ukraine, that despite all the bombings, the electricity, road and rail networks and oil pipelines work without problems, that at first hint of an offensive the Russians withdraw without a fight (Kherson, Kharkov), with the fact that, despite the fact that everything is known about the forthcoming Ukrainian offensive, the Russians do not attack barracks, arms depots, fuel depots, armored vehicle parks and missile systems. It fits perfectly with the fact that the Crimean bridge has been hit, that drones have landed strategic aviation, that the port of Sevastopol is under continuous attack. It fits perfectly with the fact that the only progress is made by Wagner and Chechens, perhaps the only soldiers the President can trust.

Posted by: mauro | Apr 5 2023 19:43 utc | 28

Odessa (Ukraine). A massive explosion is reported on Tairova Street. Presumably, there was an ammunition detonation after a Russian Geranium attack on an AFU depot.
https://t.me/druschbaFm_en/16308

Airstrike at Ugledar....looks like the coal mine North of the town
https://t.me/CyberspecNews/27020

🔥Liman direction:

Russian T-72 gets hit with a Rpg and then proceeds to demolish the Ukr strong point
https://t.me/CyberspecNews/27022

The Russians from the 5th Army of the group [V] effectively hit the nazi ammunition depot in Zaporozhye direction
https://t.me/CyberspecNews/27028


Leaked force build up for the Ukrs. Very interesting
https://t.me/NovichokRossiya/27725


Take a look at the last link if you want to see the order-of-battle for all the stuff that Nato supposedly piled up for the offensive around Zaporozhye.

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 5 2023 19:48 utc | 29

The Pentagon, together with the General Staff, continues to prepare a counteroffensive on the Crimea, which will consist of 2 stages and 6 directions. As conceived by the Americans, the main strike at the beginning of the campaign should consist of two operations:

• land to Tokmak / Vasilievka in order to take the main strongholds before hitting Melitopol

• Landing on Golaya Pristan/Aleshki/Novaya Kakhovka/Staraya Kakhovka/Kamenka/Energodar should stretch the Russian forces and allow the accumulation of a grouping to strike at Armyansk/Genichesk.

For both operations at the first stage, 7-14 days are allotted, according to the plans of the General Staff, the best option is the month of April, when the fields dry out and green grass appears.

The second stage will begin 10 days after the capture of the main points on the left bank of the Dnieper and the creation of a bridgehead for an attack on Melitopol.


https://t.me/rezident_ua/16399
Preparations for the Battle of the Sea of Azov are in full swing, the General Staff continues to form a strike group, which includes 20 brigades in Zaporozhye / Dnepr and 5 brigades in Nikolaev / Kherson, several brigades in Nikopol / Marganets, additionally collect reserves in Western Ukraine.

According to Zaluzhny's calculations, 200 thousand military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine / Main Intelligence Directorate / Ministry of Internal Affairs / SBU and about 2,000 thousand units of heavy equipment should take part in the operation.

The counteroffensive plan has been developed by the General Staff together with the Pentagon and MI6 for the past two months, and Western military assistance was allocated for it with the types of weapons that Ukraine requested.


https://t.me/rezident_ua/17178

Posted by: Down South | Apr 5 2023 19:48 utc | 30

"Zelensky said that in the future there will be no borders between Ukraine and Poland." Ukrainian media write that Duda and Zelensky are discussing the unification of the two countries and the creation of a new Commonwealth.

"Vladimir Zelensky in Warsaw said that in the future there will be no borders between Ukraine and Poland: "In the future, there will be no borders between our peoples—political, economic, and—very importantly—historical." But for this, you still need to win. To do this, you need to go side by side a little more.

According to sources in expert circles close to the Office of the President, the idea of creating a confederation of Ukraine and Poland after the war has been discussed for some time. a sort of "new Commonwealth."

"This idea still looks like some kind of exotic. "But, nevertheless, it appeared as one of the options for answering an important, one might say, strategic question—how to guarantee the security of Ukraine if our country is refused acceptance into NATO after the war," the source says.


https://t.me/Slavyangrad/40436

Posted by: Down South | Apr 5 2023 19:50 utc | 31

The upcoming UKR offensive assumes larger and larger proportions. Now it’s 200k forces and 2000 armored vehicles. What gargantuan size will it be tomorrow? Will the brigades magically turn into divisions?

Posted by: Oh | Apr 5 2023 19:53 utc | 32

In Ukraine, another Orthodox church was burned - a church in the Nikolaev region was destroyed

This time, a cruel fate overtook the temple of the canonical UOC in the village of Novopoltavka. The footage shows how people are watching in horror at the burning church, which was set on fire either by security forces or schismatics.

This is not the first and, unfortunately, obviously not the last arson of the temple. Prior to that, in the Ukrainian village of Kordyshev, the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos was burned , and no one suffered a well-deserved punishment for blasphemy.


https://t.me/Slavyangrad/40493

Posted by: Down South | Apr 5 2023 19:59 utc | 33

Nato has allocated around 160 tanks (incl. 32 Leopard variants and 14 Challengers) and something like 760 AFV and IFV for an offensive around Zaporozhye, per their leaked OOB.

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 5 2023 20:01 utc | 34

reply to 31

Simply amazing. They wouldn't give up even a little dominance for Donbass autonomy. They threatened anyone trying to talk peace with Russia. Now they are willing to give up their sovereignty to Poland. This war really is about hate for Russia and nothing else..

Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 5 2023 20:02 utc | 35

Posted by: mauro | Apr 5 2023 19:43 utc | 28

This is a very shortsighted POV. If Russia is producing at the same level as all of NATO & NATO has not changed its escalatory behavior, then it makes sense to allow them to send all their hardware to Ukraine where it can be destroyed. Putin does Judo & Sambo. If you know either, you know that tiring the opponent out, exploiting openings, & counterattack is everything. At a certain point, NATO will have no more offensive hardware. How will it defend Poland from a Belarus attack then?

Posted by: Aaron Lee | Apr 5 2023 20:04 utc | 36

"..Vladimir Zelensky in Warsaw said that in the future there will be no borders between Ukraine and Poland: "In the future, there will be no borders between our peoples—political, economic, and—very importantly—historical." But for this, you still need to win. To do this, you need to go side by side a little more.

"According to sources in expert circles close to the Office of the President, the idea of creating a confederation of Ukraine and Poland after the war has been discussed for some time. a sort of "new Commonwealth..." Down South-(thanks for the updates).

Nothing like political archaeology to excite a fascist like Moriawiecki. People like him live in a mythical past. No doubt Lithuania, which like Poland is at a bit of a loss for something to do in the modern world, now that it has purged itself of socialism and Russia and made its land safe for emigres of the third generation, will be the next to join the Commonwealth.
Talking of which I hope Zelensky makes it clear that Ukraine's projected role is to return to the colonial status that it enjoyed during the last iteration of Greater Poland. The Ukrainians, in other words, are due to be the hewers of wood and the drawers of water for their masters.
Small wonder that the Polish army is being expanded to garrison its new possessions.

Posted by: bevin | Apr 5 2023 20:05 utc | 37

Dima has suggested the possibility that a reconstituted Poland/Lithuanian empire might once again move in, at Zelensky's invitation if and more probably when things go awry for the Azov, and take over Kievan Rus .... well, there is a bit of history there...

Worth taking a brief geo-history scan at changing faces of European Rule over the past 2,500 years or so ...[19 mins and very informative - Ukraine makes its brief historical appearance ...

This brief video shows the rulers of European countries, for every year
since 400 BC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpKqCu6RcdI

Connected issue relates to attempts to attack the Other's belief system - we are aware of the attacks on the Orthodox by Kiev and today a shocking attack, during Ramadan prayers, as

ISRAELI POLICE STORM AL-AQSA MOSQUE, PALESTINIANS RETALIATE WITH ROCKET FIRE (VIDEOS)

https://southfront.org/israeli-police-storm-al-aqsa-mosque-palestinians-retaliate-with-rocket-fire-videos/

Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 5 2023 20:10 utc | 38

Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 5 2023 20:10 utc | 38
.
Poland....
Poland had already tried to become a world power or tried to get to this level with the help of Napoleon.
Was also then overrun by Russian Cossacks (Crimea) and punished...
Poland the hyena in Europe will sell itself to EVERYONE...

Posted by: mo3 | Apr 5 2023 20:14 utc | 39

"Zelensky said that in the future there will be no borders between Ukraine and Poland." Ukrainian media write that Duda and Zelensky are discussing the unification of the two countries and the creation of a new Commonwealth.

"Vladimir Zelensky in Warsaw said that in the future there will be no borders between Ukraine and Poland: "In the future, there will be no borders between our peoples—political, economic, and—very importantly—historical." But for this, you still need to win. To do this, you need to go side by side a little more.

According to sources in expert circles close to the Office of the President, the idea of creating a confederation of Ukraine and Poland after the war has been discussed for some time. a sort of "new Commonwealth."

"This idea still looks like some kind of exotic. "But, nevertheless, it appeared as one of the options for answering an important, one might say, strategic question—how to guarantee the security of Ukraine if our country is refused acceptance into NATO after the war," the source says.

Posted by: Down South | Apr 5 2023 19:50 utc | 31

Not that it probably matters too much these days, but such a move by Poland would put it in breach of its Treaty of Accession to the European Union.

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 5 2023 20:19 utc | 40

"Not that it probably matters too much these days, but such a move by Poland would put it in breach of its Treaty of Accession to the European Union."

Rules of accession to EU and NATO could be made verrrrryyyy flexible about UKR...

Posted by: mauro | Apr 5 2023 20:21 utc | 41

Posted by: the pessimist | Apr 5 2023 18:03 utc |

Local arrangements like this haven been historically happening for over a century. Armed human beings, in close proximity to one another, rarely use those weapons as effectively as they could. Units in static frontlines are not only rotated for rest and refitting, but often to stop them fraternising. Attritional strategies are often undermined by the most soldiers having a basic humanity, coupled with the difficulty in overcoming a seemingly inherent resistance to killing each other.

Posted by: Milites | Apr 5 2023 20:24 utc | 42

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 5 2023 20:19 utc | 40
Posted by: mauro | Apr 5 2023 20:21 utc | 41

US has jumped the gun re. Ukronato and Ukro-Eu. What's the plan? Poland will waltz into Ukraine and declare protectorate. The Polish army, already part of it which was sent to east side of the Dneper to attack Melitopol gets decimated. The Russians move further west and one way or other decimate rest of Polish army.

So what's going to happen with eastern Europe US satellite states, and on the other hand, how will the rest of Nato react? It will break up, effectively. There will be no popular backing for west part of Nato and societies decay into anarchy. Nato can use what "pro" ground forces they have once, but there's no depth to continue war in Ukraine.

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 5 2023 20:27 utc | 43

Poland
Poland has always sold itself for power...
Even Napoleon served himself... with the result being overrun by Russian Cossacks...Battle of Leipzig!
And YES even then Europe would have perished including Germans, WITHOUT Russia!
Poland…
Always dreamed of a "great" power... with all the tricks of the ambush and lies of diplomacy!
A look at the last 400 years proves exactly that….
And the official package with Sylenski…. now that it's becoming so clear, it only shows ONE!
.
They realized that NO BORDER is the only way to “save” at least western Ukraine
only then Poland has to get along with these educated Nazis.
(The simple Pole probably doesn't clap about it)
Although everyone will probably assume that THESE BEUTENAZIS will not stay in Poland, at the moment Germany is probably their destination.
And Putin is glad to be rid of them - that's why nothing will happen to the Poles from this side if they take over western Ukraine !!!!!
Europe then has the Nazi problem….
.
Whether our Greens have considered... WHAT will happen after the war?
One thing is for sure, Russia will still exist after that….
But it is also FIXED...a lot of NAZIS will stream to Europe and certainly NOT without weapons!
Ergo:
It is quite possible that the Greens /SPD / FTP / CDU will bring the plague into the country instead of cholera...a force that will then fight it...your worst armed opponent....!!!!
.
But can Greens and & still think about the future, not even when it comes to their own ass?
Because those who take what they want are NOT democratic, if only because they were taught to do so!
.
Then, then, foreign citizens in Germany will really have problems...
.
imagination ?
Wait...time will tell...
And Poland with Western Ukraine ... will show Germany and the EU where the hammer hangs!
(Of course only after subtracting billions and billions) preferred by Germany !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
Putin would not need to threaten NATO (West) to even attack……JUST WATCH!!!!
.
If the dollar tips over before ... late July 2024, well then some things will take care of themselves !!!
(Congress must approve more trillions in federal debt by July 23 or it's over)
34 trillion national debts are no longer enough, in view of what Putin started with BRICS....rather before a currency that is END....therefore also expenditure for how many hundreds of bases around the world?
Wait….

Posted by: mo3 | Apr 5 2023 20:51 utc | 45

"Becoming aware that UKR mine-laying, especially advanced electromagnetic(?) mines, as well as capacity for remote detonation, and remote seeding via artillery shells is a major obstacle.

Any word on RUS countermeasures / doctrinal adjustments?"

Posted by: Paul Damascene | Apr 5 2023 15:54 utc | 1

The answer is here.

https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/mines-depleted-uranium-and-important

Posted by: Surferket | Apr 5 2023 20:52 utc | 46

#1: "Becoming aware that UKR mine-laying, especially advanced electromagnetic(?) mines, as well as capacity for remote detonation, and remote seeding via artillery shells is a major obstacle."

welcome to the NATO school of IEDs, advanced grade.

Posted by: Fnord73 | Apr 5 2023 20:58 utc | 47

Maria Zakharova displays her acerbic wit during today's weekly briefing Ukraine portion of her report, here:

The reaction [to the terrorist attack in St. Petersburg], or rather its complete absence, on the part of the "democratic" West is indicative. They call themselves "civilized," "exceptional," "leading." Not like everyone else, but better than everyone else. They call themselves a "blossoming garden." This "blossoming garden" did not say a word or say anything about sympathy, empathy. There was not even a dry statement of the fact that this was a terrorist attack. This is impossible to believe for those who do not know the mechanics of their actions, their philosophy and ideology. For those who know, there is nothing surprising. Absolute composure, because they knew why they needed the Kiev regime. They know why they use Ukraine. They talk a lot about doing everything for this country. That's not really true. They cynically use it as a springboard, a testing ground, a tool to counter Russia. Here's another track. Hence the silence. Lack of an elementary statement of fact about the terrorist attack.

We need to be objective. Not all of them remain silent. Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN, well-known Russophobe R. Ray wrote in his account in social networks that Vladlen Tatarsky was not a journalist, but an "ardent" propagandist who spread hatred and disinformation. Does the Ministry of Truth be located in Canada? There is some international understanding that it is in Canada that they determine who is the "right" journalist and who is the "wrong"? There is no international agreement that Canada had the right to do so. That's the first thing.

Secondly, I have a question for the official authorities of Canada. Our Embassy will duplicate this issue. It turns out that there are people, professions, characteristics, characters, personality traits against whom terrorist acts can be committed? It's something new. Could You elaborate on this topic in Canada? I'm not asking for an explanation. The logic itself is interesting. To be honest, for the first time I hear that from the point of view of the Western "progressive" community, there are certain categories of citizens, people against whom a terrorist act can be considered something natural, normal. We have heard a lot of things that testify to the logic of segregation of people into "right" and "wrong", "worthy" and "unworthy", "creating" and "obeying". I have repeatedly said and quoted Jean-Claude Borrell, as it were, the chief diplomat from the European Union, who divided the world into a "blossoming garden" and a "wild jungle". But for the first time, we hear about the segregation of people on the grounds that some are victims of terrorist attacks, and the second are not, because in relation to them a terrorist attack seems to be a normal phenomenon. We demand that Canada explain itself and demonstrate its logic. Because it's something new.

Indeed, we know historical periods when this logic was not just recognized as normal, but dominated in some countries. It's called Nazism. It was then in the 1930s and 1940s that those who swore allegiance to Nazism and fascism believed that there were people not just worthy of destruction, but who should be destroyed. Because they are "not like that", worse, genetically do not correspond to the parameters of the future of mankind, approved in these countries. Unfortunately, Canada has many direct descendants of Nazis and fascists in its ranks. But I still didn't know that this was already the official position of Ottawa.

We saw the silence of the "collective West" when D. Dugina was killed.

But the reaction on Bankova Street was not long in coming. It's also revealing. It's different and it's changed. Immediately after the terrorist attack became known, Vladimir Zelensky said that he was not following the events in Moscow and St Petersburg, hinting that Kiev was not involved in this. However, the suspect began to testify about cooperation with the Ukrainian special services, with representatives of the Kiev regime and people associated with it. And then something went wrong. Something broke in the very dramatization that was carefully developed in the ranks of mentally ill people of the Kiev regime. And the rhetoric began to change dramatically. We have taken note of a petition registered on the website of the President of Ukraine calling for a street to be renamed in honor of a person suspected of committing a terrorist act.

If you are told that this is some kind of technical accident or so it should be, if people have a desire to post something like this on the president's website, then they can do it – do not believe it. A huge number of humanitarian initiatives that should have been registered, and obviously "overripe", were not registered. Even "hanging" on the website of the President of Ukraine, they were deleted from there. No further reaction.

According to some media reports, Bankova thanked the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for the successfully conducted "operation". Do we need to add anything to this? I think so. Our law enforcement and investigative agencies will add it. They will definitely do it. As they do now, publishing all the information that is checked and which is confirmed.

The whole story with the collective silence of the West, the remarks of the most odious representatives of Western regimes, with this ardent malice demonstrated by the Kiev regime and all those who are inspired by it, is no longer about V.A. Zelensky, as an enfant terrible of the West. This is about the fact that the "collective West" (I mean the ruling regimes) have become enfant terrible of the world community. And V.A. Zelensky is like that. Just implements. [My Emphasis]

Maria then switches to the attacks against the Orthodox Church and attacks the seemingly same silence "heard" from the Collective West:

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that no one should be silent: not representatives of Orthodox countries, where Christianity is the most popular religion. No one should be silent. Neither countries, nor public organizations, peoples in whose states the fundamental religion is Islam, Buddhism, Judaism. This will also affect those who profess these same religions on the territory of Ukraine. They won't stop. Because the prefix "pro-Russian" is irrelevant. They leave only the currents, parties, public figures, ideology, philosophy that serve their regime. All. Nothing else. There should be no other possibilities for alternative opinion, dissent, pluralism. Probably, those who are silent can wait out this situation. But this is a false opinion. Those who do not actively defend their values, do not go against the regime and do not actively defend their values. Maybe they don't feel that kind of pressure right now. But this is a false sense of security. It will let you down.

All this proves that the Kiev regime has turned the religious sphere into one of the instruments of its nationalist policy aimed at cleansing the country of dissenters.

The silence of Washington, its satellites and its "tame" expert community in connection with the criminal prosecution of the UOC by the Kiev regime is indicative. We've talked about this many times. Usually, Americans instantly expose any facts of violation of rights and freedoms, especially if it is connected with Russia. However, this time, official support for the actions of the Ukrainian authorities against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church would contradict Washington's declared goals of the "summit for democracy", which was held at the end of last week under the auspices of the White House. This is not just a political double standard. It's hypocrisy. That's a lie.

In February of this year, the Ukrainian journalist D. Skvortsov was injured, denouncing the state's persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He was arrested by the security service of Ukraine right on the territory of the Orthodox monastery and sent to a pre-trial detention center for 53 days. His sentence expires in mid-April. Where are the specialized bodies of the UN? Where is UNESCO? Where is the OSCE? Where are all these Reporters Without Borders and human rights groups? Or is he not a journalist either? Or is he not a journalist like the others? Everyone is silent. Everyone from the world community is so comfortable. [My Emphasis]

No, I didn't provide the entire Ukraine update. After Ukraine, Maria attacks the Outlaw US Empire over Syria. And in that she's almost as biting as what I provided above. My description of Outlaw fits her accusations perfectly. And after Syria, it's the absurd "Democracy" Summit. Yes, there's more but it will wait for my next comment.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 5 2023 21:03 utc | 48

It fits perfectly with the fact that the only progress is made by Wagner and Chechens, perhaps the only soldiers the President can trust.

Posted by: mauro | Apr 5 2023 19:43 utc | 28
--------------------------------------
Are we going to beat that dead horse again? All the things that you describe are things that happen during ALL military conflicts. Front lines move forward, backwards, and sideways. Strategic retreats are as much a part of war strategy as a forward assault.

Posted by: Ed | Apr 5 2023 21:06 utc | 49

Just the fact I’m picking out the news completely conflicting stories.
https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-latest-updates-putin-warning-finland-nato-wagner-12541713

Just the content and order is complete fantasy. The story of Zelensky waves to the cheering crowds in Warsaw “ He yelled "Slava Ukraini" as the crowd cheered before speaking briefly in Ukrainian.
In his post, he described Poland and Ukraine as "side by side in everything".
Then scrolling down to the next

Ukraine 'ready to talk to Russia if counter offensive succeeds'
Kyiv is reportedly willing to discuss the future of Crimea with Moscow if its forces reach the peninsula.
"If we will succeed in achieving our strategic goals on the battlefield and when we will be on the administrative border with Crimea, we are ready to open [a] diplomatic page to discuss this issue," Andriy Sybiha, an adviser to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told the Financial Times.
This is the biggest indicator Ukraine could come to the negotiating table since peace talks with the Kremlin boke up around a year ago.


All I can say is you have all told us a future that has become true. Thanks.

Posted by: Scot1and | Apr 5 2023 21:08 utc | 50

200,000 troops and 1,000 armored? Bullshit.

Meanwhile, the Russian General Staff is saying, "Thanks for 'revealing' your bullshit plans to the press, but we prefer to rely on our ISR to tell us where your forces are which tells us in which direction you can actually move and with what force, while we sit here planning contingencies for whichever direction you move in. Good luck with your 'offensive'."

Morons like Bentley construct their fantasy disasters for the Russians as if the Russian General Staff are idiots who can't see the same things Bentley does and considerably more, and don't have contingency plans for anything which is at all likely to happen. We're supposed to pay attention to the alleged Pentagon-led grand offensive instead.

A grand offensive planned by clowns who haven't won a war since when? I wasn't even born the last time they "won" a war. Oh, wait, it was the Russians and the Chinese who won that one: the Russians in eastern Europe and the Chinese destroying the bulk of Japanese ground forces in the East. The only thing the US did was take out the Japanese fleet and stumble around in western and southern Europe. Then they got their asses handed to them in Korea. Then failed in Vietnam. Then failed in Iraq - twice. Then failed in Afghanistan. Failed in Libya. Failed in Syria. Wait, was that a "success" in Grenada? Hardly.

Morons.

Poland? They already ran a war game themselves showing their army annihilated in five days. Now they're going to gin up another 200,000 man like it matters? It will take them at least several years to produce a new army which, even with new NATO forces (which will also take several years to gin up) will still be smaller than the Russian army and still with lesser technology. The Russian army will grow to 1.5 million with another ten thousand tanks, millions more shells, hundreds if not thousands of new missiles, a dozen new warships and submarines with Zircon missiles, a dozen more surveillance satellites (one launched just recently), more fighter jets and bombers, more S-500 and S-550, more everything by that time.

NATO is behind and with a crashing economy will remain behind for the foreseeable future, i.e., the next one or two decades.

But the neocons being neocons, they can't and won't learn, so they will have to double down. They will continue to double down until Russia destroys NATO forces decisively on the ground, in the air and on the sea.

But Russia will not initiate any attacks on EU countries or NATO countries until those forces move first. Idiots think if Poland enters Ukraine, Russia will bomb Brussels. No, they won't, despite all the "we'll destroy the real decision centers" stuff. People keep reading the Russians literally which is not how the real world works. Russia will take out whatever they have to take out to eliminate the C4 in theater - nothing more. That's all you have to do to blunt an attack. They have no wish to start WWIII. They will adhere to the legal niceties as far as reasonable. Take out the C4, the logistics, the airfields, the stand-off weapons, and perhaps some ships at sea. NATO in theater is done at that point. No need to bomb European cities or Washington.

The only real question then is: what does Washington do? Do they escalate? Or does someone rein in the neocons? That's the only relevant question. Everything else is preordained: NATO loses, Russia wins. In Ukraine, in Poland, wherever. Same-same over Taiwan with China. Then what? That's the question - to which no one, here or anywhere else, has an answer. Although I'm sure any number of idiots will authoritatively assert one.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 5 2023 21:09 utc | 51

Military summary analysis:

-Zelensky went to Ukraine to get a guarantee written on a paper, if Ukronato offensive fails, the Polish army will move to take western part of Ukraine, or perhaps even further to Kiev
-Ukro offensive in Zaporizhe region is the most logical in the western part of the line due to flat terrain, but precisely because of this reason, it's also the most fortified
-The terrain between Gulyapole and Velyka Novosilka is relatively hilly or high altitude difference, hence less fortified. However, from that direction it is also the longest distance to reach any critical juncture

-most likely scenario is Ukro offensive will be attempted in all those directions. Obviously the west part of the front is most important

-renewed Russian offensive around Ugledar, more methodical this time with now supported by guided bombs. Ugledar needs to be secured to launch a counter offensive on a potential ukro attack in the eastern part of the Zaporizhe region line

Guess? Ukro offensive in the east will be bogged down in the hills, in the west more of a question mark. There will be a crap ton of targets in a small flat area to hit at the same time, but on the other hand, the distances to advance aren't that long. The question is whether giving ground to bog down and saturate the offensive is an option. It might be most cost effective, but Melitopol can't be given temporarily up politically.

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 5 2023 21:13 utc | 52

@ karlof1 | Apr 5 2023 21:03 utc | 48 with the latest Maria Zakharova briefing quotes...thanks

What I want Maria Zakharovato to push on regarding the religion thing is the "In God We Trust" on the US dollars.....which God is that?

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 5 2023 21:18 utc | 53

Posted by: Surferket | Apr 5 2023 20:52 utc | 46

The Russians, during the Afghanistan and Chechen conflict, used to fire FASCAM barrages behind enemy forces as they were attacking, cutting them off. The Ukrainian ‘clever tactic’ is nothing of the sort, it’s just a standard way of utilising the munitions, that the Russians are well aware of.

From an open source appendix on US artillery FM-6-20-30 Appendix C IAM

Reseed breeched minefield.

Posted by: Milites | Apr 5 2023 21:18 utc | 54

51: ""NATO is behind and with a crashing economy will remain behind for the foreseeable future, i.e., the next one or two decades."

You are aware that NATo has not even touched their layers of echelonstacked serious weaponry, right? You see no Reapers over Ukraine, no cruisemissiles hitting serious targets, no longrange artillery or rocketry? This is basically a bumfight except for the nuclear aspect at this time, and Russia is the drunk bum.

Posted by: Fnord73 | Apr 5 2023 21:20 utc | 55

Posted by: Fnord73 | Apr 5 2023 21:20 utc | 55

What planet are you living on? Lloyd Austin just said US drones aren't there because they wouldn't live very long. What you see in Ukraine currently, is most potential and the best tactics Nato can muster. Not to mention, UAF is the single most powerful formation which effectively controlled by Nato.

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 5 2023 21:23 utc | 56

Posted by: Fnord73 | Apr 5 2023 21:20 utc | 55

LOL, basically all the best long range Nato artillery and rockets are used in Ukraine. Lancets simply blow the artillery up so they aren't exactly longer in the headlines.

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 5 2023 21:26 utc | 57

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 5 2023 21:09 utc | 51

‘The only thing the US did was take out the Japanese fleet and stumble around in western and southern Europe‘

Blanket statements like that only serve to undermine any arguments central thesis.

Posted by: Milites | Apr 5 2023 21:29 utc | 58

@mo3 | Apr 5 2023 20:14 utc | 39

Poland had already tried to become a world power or tried to get to this level with the help of Napoleon.

Really? Poland was partitioned in 1795 by Russia, Austria and Prussia and disappeared as a state until 1918. The Polish national anthem "Poland has not perished while still we live' dates from this time. The Poles were hoping to regain their freedom by fighting for Napoleon.

Posted by: cirsium | Apr 5 2023 21:30 utc | 59

Craig Murray on the journalist CIA asset arrested in Russia.

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/04/05/craig-murray-evan-gershkovich-julian-assange/

An interesting point that I had not even considered:

Let us not forget that Russia is still allowing Western journalists to operate inside Russia, while most countries in the West, including the U.K., have closed down all Russian media outlets and canceled the visas of their journalists.

So the land of the free, home of the brave is a fraud.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 5 2023 21:35 utc | 60

Several weeks ago, I provided the announcement by Russia's MFA of its new online, which is officially titled "WHITE PAPERS of crimes committed by Western states and their allies". A new paper's been published that will soon be added, "Losses for Iraq's cultural and historical heritage from the US-led invasion in 2003". Given the clearly premeditated assault on Iraq's artifacts and unique historical treasures, the Outlaw US Empire as ringleader is clearly guilty of Cultural Genocide, a crime it continues to commit everywhere it invades--ask the Syrians and Ukrainians. Such premeditation indicates a policy exists very similar to Plan Ost, and that the roots of that policy date to the time when North America was a British Colony when the Natives were the Genocidal victims.

That's the nature of the Outlaw US Empire. So, we really shouldn't be too surprised when it allies with terrorists and promotes their actions. The Empire's "Founders" glorified Rome and its atrocities and sought to make the USA into the New Rome, and thus its unceasing predations and assumed entitlement of exceptionalism. But Rome was not Civilization; it was Barbarism, and Barbaric is what the Outlaw US Empire most certainly is and must be pacified. And the Big Picture is all about the RoW's attempt to make that reality so humanity can continue to develop in peace.

The new slogan ought to be With The World Against The US Empire.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 5 2023 21:35 utc | 61

Posted by: Fnord73 | Apr 5 2023 21:20 utc | 55

In a "bum fight" both bums are intoxicated. If Russia is the drunk one, then the US-UK-Ukraine axis is the meth-addled bum with early onset dementia.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 5 2023 21:37 utc | 62

Posted by: Fnord73 | Apr 5 2023 21:20 utc | 55

Well, why dont they "bring it on" dude? I'll tell you why. Because they fear the consequences!

Posted by: HERMIUS | Apr 5 2023 21:48 utc | 63

Alex from Black Mountain Analyses interview with Scott Ritter asking his community questions. One of those more tilted toward "must watch".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZBkiUlVEbQ

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 5 2023 21:54 utc | 64

Finlands joining of the NATO would have happened anyway. It's in the wests plan. Its been brought forward because plans for Ukraine have gone awry. The plan was for Russia to lose the conflict in Ukraine. Once done, there wd be no opposition at all to NATO expansion.

Struck with the reality of the failed Ukraine campaign, the west has thrown its dummy out the pram and signed up Finland.

Posted by: HERMIUS | Apr 5 2023 21:55 utc | 65

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 5 2023 21:03 utc | 48

Her analysis, as usual, is breathtaking. Thanks for sharing it.

Posted by: David Levin | Apr 5 2023 21:55 utc | 66

Posted by: Fnord73 | Apr 5 2023 21:20 utc | 55

The thing is about “echelons of stacked weaponry” (to paraphrase) is, of course, they make nice, juicy targets for a Kinzhal or Zircon. Now, if you are NATO, and you have seen the real-time performance of these weapons and analysed the data, would you be keeping your weaponry in massive stockpiles? Presuming these massive stockpiles actually exist in the first place?

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 5 2023 22:01 utc | 67

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Avdiivka seems to be falling, and that was the main source of terrorist attacks on civilians in the Donbass. Once Avdiivka is liberated, we truly can raise our glass here (and I would if I could offer some really ages old delicious brandy to all the good commentators here, and well, a tumbler of waste water to the trolls...).

Posted by: Anton Ysewyn | Apr 5 2023 22:04 utc | 68

psychohistorian @53--

She's done that in an oblique manner, but not in the Soviet manner when the West was accused of addiction to decadent materialism. IMO, the problem is Meism versus Everyoneism--the Multitude must be favored, not the Individual. I seem to recall some Vulcan philosophy: The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one. The many work to solve the needs of the many which in the process also solve the needs for the one. While bettering yourself improves your ability to help meet the needs of all; so, improving yourself improves everyone else. Within a communitarian system, self-advancement isn't done for the self but for the self and all, for the one is actually two--part of the all and itself. The lie that socialism gives loafers a free ride is just that a lie, for there are no loafers as all provide effort for all. Yes, individual's abilities vary due to many variables, but with rare exceptions all can provide effort for all and thus for themselves. Thus, the individual is subsumed within the collective but still remains an individual because my effort will differ from others precisely because I'm an individual.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 5 2023 22:07 utc | 69

karlofi@48

".... Not all of them remain silent. Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN, well-known Russophobe R. Ray wrote in his account in social networks that Vladlen Tatarsky was not a journalist, but an "ardent" propagandist who spread hatred and disinformation. Does the Ministry of Truth be located in Canada?..."

Maria Zakharova is referring her to the egregious political adventurer Bob Rae, who made his name in the Parliament in Ottawa plagiarising Denis Healey's witticisms (if you are going to look Healey up do so on an empty stomach.)
He was, for five years, the NDP (Social Democrat) Premier of Ontario and he led the Ontario NDP for 14 years, after which he migrated to the Liberal Party of which he was briefly interim leader.
Tony Blair was no surprise to those of us who had seen Rae in action- the 21st Premier of the Province reinvented his party as a neo-liberal attack on the hands-Ontario's Trade Unions-that fed it.

It is no surprise that, disgracing himself for big bucks in New York, he utters the stupidities that Maria notes for us.
It really doesn't matter to anyone with a sense of proportion or an understanding of the rules of civilised life what Vladlen Tatarsky did for a living: he was one of several victims of the terrorist bombing, a fatality- almost certainly carried out by agents of Canada's ally the Ukrainian government- in a Petersburg restaurant.

Maria has him 'dead to rights'. And Canada's government, until it apologises for his behaviour and fires him, too.
Rae has, as Zakharova hints, become a Nazi, which is what happens when greedy opportunists without consciences, prostitute themselves to the extent that they actually gloat over murders.

Posted by: bevin | Apr 5 2023 22:07 utc | 70

Posted by: cirsium | Apr 5 2023 21:30 utc | 59
.
Freedom ?
Under Napoleon ??
NO, they sold themselves for power and thus stabbed many of Europe in the back!!!
Ergo : like today !
Or do you really think that Poland with western Ukraine would not soon use this position of power (economy) as a means of exerting pressure on EU neighbors?
Not without first allowing the EU to bleed for reconstruction and then benefit from the result!
THE NEVER MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DAMAGE GERMANY / HUNGARY / AUSTRIA....
Hyenas stop corpse crawlers of the EU

Posted by: mo3 | Apr 5 2023 22:08 utc | 71

On Global Times today:
"It is clear to everyone that being a strategic vassal of Washington is a dead end. Making the China-France relationship a bridge for China-Europe cooperation is beneficial to both sides and to the world."

The USA has just been dumped officialy by China then?
What will France do?
What will Europe do in the Ukraine now?

Posted by: Anthony | Apr 5 2023 22:23 utc | 72

Excellent condensation of our times at Strategic Culture:
https://strategic-culture.org/news/2023/04/03/the-crucial-ideological-transformation-of-our-time/
Worth the read.

Posted by: Wilhelm | Apr 5 2023 22:32 utc | 73

From Xinhuanet is the next step by the Good Cop

BEIJING, April 5 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon for a state visit to China through Friday.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 5 2023 22:41 utc | 74

Pychohistorian #47 there is no good cop they are trying to lean on China and they have the president of Taiwan at a meeting in America at the same time. They have not figured out the larger countries are not listening to threats anymore. The EU thinks allowing China to sell them things they desperately need is a privilege for the Chinese

Posted by: OohCanada | Apr 5 2023 23:06 utc | 75

Minimum, incomplete, low-ball KIA(only)(FEBA only) 580+ ... Translated:

Summary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of a special military operation (05.04.2023)

◽️ In the Kupyansk direction, operational and tactical air and army aviation strikes and artillery fire of the Western Group of Forces defeated Ukrainian armed forces units in the areas of Hryanikovka, Timkovka in the Kharkiv region and Stelmakhovka in the Luhansk People's Republic. In addition, actions of five Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in the areas of Novoselovskoye, Rozovka, Artemivka of the Luhansk People's Republic, Masutovka and Pershotravneve of the Kharkiv region were suppressed.

💥 Up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored fighting vehicles and two pickup trucks were destroyed in this direction during the day.

◽️ In the Krasno-Limansky direction, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems of the Center Group of Forces disrupted an enemy counterattack near the Seversk settlement of the Donetsk People's Republic, and also hit AFU units in the areas of Nevske and Chervona Dibrova settlements of the Luhansk People's Republic.

💥 Over 80 Ukrainian servicemen, an armored fighting vehicle, two vehicles and a D-30 howitzer were destroyed.

◽️ In the Donetsk direction, as a result of active actions of units of the "Southern" group of troops, strikes of operational-tactical aviation and artillery fire, two armored personnel carriers, one tank, four armored combat vehicles, two vehicles and a D-30 howitzer were destroyed.

💥 The enemy's losses in this direction during the day amounted to more than 410 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries.

◽️ On the South Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia directions, air strikes and artillery fire of the Vostok Group of Forces defeated AFU units in the areas of Nikolskoye and Novopol of the Donetsk People's Republic. In addition, three sabotage and reconnaissance groups were suppressed near Vladimirovka, Myrne and Nikolske villages.

💥 During the day, up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, one armored vehicle, two pickup trucks, and two ammunition depots of AFU units in the areas of Novomikhailovka of the Donetsk People's Republic and Gulyaypole of the Zaporizhia region were destroyed in these directions.

◽️ In the Kherson direction up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, two vehicles and an Acacia self-propelled howitzer were destroyed in the course of fire.

💥 Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery of groups of troops (forces) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the past 24 hours hit 89 artillery units of the AFU in firing positions, manpower and equipment in 112 areas. In the areas of Lastochkino and Novomikhailovka settlements of the Donetsk People's Republic the command and observation posts of battalions of the 110th mechanized and 95th airborne brigades of the AFU were hit.

✈️ Fighter aircraft of the Russian Air Force shot down a MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian air force near the settlement of Selidovo, Donetsk People's Republic.

💥 The air defense forces intercepted 13 HIMARS MBRLS rockets and one HARM anti-radar missile during the day. Also, during the day, 22 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in the areas of Novoselovka, Petrovske, Veseloe of Donetsk People's Republic, Mirne, Shcherbaki, Chubarevka of Zaporizhia region, Velyka Lepetikha of Kherson region, Velyky Vyselok of Kharkiv region, Kreminna, Varvarovka and Kudryashovka of Luhansk People's Republic.

📊 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation destroyed (losses over previous 24hrs(+?)):
406(+1) aircraft, (Daily avg 1.0)
228 helicopters, (Daily avg 0.6)
3,673(+22) unmanned aerial vehicles, (Daily avg 9.1)
415 surface-to-air missile systems, (Daily avg 1.0)
8,545(+11) tanks and other armored combat vehicles, (Daily avg 21.1)
1,078 multiple rocket launchers, (Daily avg 2.7)
4,504(+3) field artillery and mortars, (Daily avg 11.2) and
9,302(+10) special military vehicles. (Daily avg 23.1)

Posted by: Outraged | Apr 5 2023 23:25 utc | 76

Fnord73 | Apr 5 2023 21:20 utc | 55

You are aware that NATo has not even touched their layers of echelonstacked serious weaponry, right? You see no Reapers over Ukraine, no cruisemissiles hitting serious targets, no longrange artillery or rocketry?

(Er, wasn't some big droney thing brought down by the RAF, just a couple of days ago ? And, just to give an example, Kinzhal strikes, etc, mmmkay ?)

This is basically a bumfight except for the nuclear aspect at this time, and Russia is the drunk bum.

( Presumably, a "bum" is some poor soul with no money, terrible clothing, little awareness and no friends ?)

I do not think this situation is what you think it is.

Posted by: Sarlat La Canède | Apr 5 2023 23:34 utc | 77

Bill Clinton regrets he pressured country 404 to sell the only remaining stock of nukes for one cent in the air dollar in 1994.

What he forgot to mention. The smarter Russians anticipating the dumb&dumber arrogant racist thieves of Kyiv. Would cause endless headaches within the decade.

Took home all the modern high yield silo nukes. Along with every nuke capable of being fitted to any jet aircraft left behind in 1991. Leaving only a small stock of free fall low yield 1949 RDS clones of the same type used to bomb Japan. Alas, history tells us the aircraft TU-4 was scrapped in the early 1960s. The remaining airworthy
stock was sold off scrapped or shipped to the PLA in China as spare parts.

Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Apr 5 2023 23:36 utc | 78

Ukraine Theater basic & negligible Intelligence Staff work & Analysis ... update. Fnord73 | Apr 5 2023 21:20 utc | 55 & Co ?

TL&DR AFU is in a Hospice, on extended life support ... in the process of being abandoned by supposed "We've got yer back!" (US/NATO/EU). One last gasp ?

Note: MOD Clobber List, averaged over the 403 days of the SMO, per day(24hrs), averages as @ Apr03'23 (Previously as @ Mar03'23). Averages probable slightly lower due ever diminishing arms/systems actually available to be targeted/engaged for destruction:

21.1 tanks and other armored combat vehicles,
(Equivalent of over 2 AFU Tank/Mech Battalions 'DESTROYED' (100%) every three days)

2.7 multiple rocket launcher combat vehicles,
(Equivalent of 1 AFU MBRLS Battery 'DESTROYED' (100%) every two days)

11.2 field artillery, guns and mortars,
(Equivalent of 2 AFU Artillery Batteries 'DESTROYED' (100%) every day) and

Hence, for example, US/NATO would need to manufacture & promptly supply, new production:

Over ~5,074 Artillery & MBRLS systems(@ up to ~$8M+ per unit($18.759+ Billion) over next 12 months, at a sustained rate of ~12/day deliverable, being two full Artillery Batteries+ delivered to FEBA every 24 hours, and

Over ~7,702 AFVs (@ from ~$3M+ up to ~$10M+ per unit($36.585+ Billion) over next 12 months, at a sustained rate of ~21/day deliverable, being two full Tank/Mech Battalions delivered to FEBA every 72 hours.

Merely for AFU to continue in its current derelict state (Crew-served platforms/systems/vehicles only).

Note: Platform only, excludes all additional & supplementary costs & resources required re deployment/sustainment/servicing/support/maintenance/ordnance/POL/logistics vehicles, etc, including specialist trained crews/support, replacement & training.

Materiel losses necessary to be supplied to FEBA daily, or every 10, 30, 60, 90, 180, 360 days merely to sustain current AFU status ?!

AFU manpower, critically short, is meaningless, near zero combat power, without unit cohesive, trained crew-served combined arms Troops/NCOs/Officers/Command, operating system platforms, sustained sufficient materiel & ammunition, functional reliable timely logistics train, etc ... minimum.

Note: Brigades have 'broken' & had to retreat in Bhakmut due to no small arms ammunition. Others, unreported ? It is now indisputable AFU has an absolute critical shortage of severely rationed shells/mortar-rounds/rockets/ for Arty/Mortars/MBLRS/Tank Main Guns. Weight of Fire vs RF at 1:10 disadvantage minimum and continually decreasing.

Translated, abbreviated, MOD Clobber list as @ (03.04.2023)

📊 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation destroyed:
405 aircraft, (Daily avg 1.0)
228 helicopters, (Daily avg 0.6)
3,648 unmanned aerial vehicles, (Daily avg 9.1)
415 surface-to-air missile systems, (Daily avg 1.0)
8,521 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, (Daily avg 21.1)
1,078 multiple rocket launchers, (Daily avg 2.7)
4,494 field artillery and mortars, (Daily avg 11.2) and
9,287 special military vehicles. (Daily avg 23.1)

Comment:

In an interview with the Economist December 03 2022, AFU General Zaluzhny stated to help his forces push back the RF (Not win the War!), he needed:
300 modern MBTs(Tanks), 600-700 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (~950 total AFVs) and 500 howitzers.

So, again, updated ... given accrued losses since Dec03'22 to Apr03'23, US/NATO would need to supply ~2,501 AFVs & ~1,512 MBLRS/Artillery/Mortars, at FEBA, now, TODAY! simply to revert to approximate overall yet even weaker Situ than @ Dec03'22.

Approximate breakdown is 625 MBTs & 1,876 IFVs, as well as 302 MBLRS & 1,210 Artillery pieces/Mortars ...

~950 + 1,551(losses) = therefore ~2,501 AFVs, and
500 + (170 + 842)(1,012 losses) = therefore ~1,512 MBLRS/Artillery/Mortars.

By Jul03'23 (further 90 days) an additional ~1,899 AFVs & ~1,251 MBRLS/Artillery/Mortars will be required!

Note: The above losses are exclusive unreported, unclaimed/unconfirmed by RF platform destruction/loss in repair/maintenance workshops/warehouses rear of FEBA, in logistical transit to or from FEBA re Poland/Western Ukraine, unserviceable/abandoned outside combat, captured/abandoned during retreat/withdrawal from, for example Soledar/Bahkmut/Avdiivka, & throughout the free fire zone of the entirety of Ukraine, etc. In addition each & every asset loss below incurs additional trained/specialist unclaimed manpower losses, KIA/WIA/MIA.

AFU ... stick a fork in it, it's done ... on a one way death ride to Valhalla. Any National leader/Military Commander worthy of the title, should have already entered negotiations re surrender terms & prompt ceasefire, pending finalization/demobilization, to prevent further pointless mass loss of life/limb/destruction & wider suffering/destitution, back in Dec'22, even earlier, at latest Sep'22, IMV.

(Dec03'22 to Apr03'23)
AFU losses for period in total (~120 days):

69 Aircraft,
50 Helicopters,
1,039 UAVs,
24 AD Systems (excluding destroyed irreplaceable pre '91 soviet radars, unclaimed Kill),
1,551 Tanks & other Armored Vehicles, (~16+ Tank/Mech Brigades assets (~5+ Full Armored/Mechanized Divisions)(100% total loss))
(~4+ Tank/Mech Brigades in last 30 days)
170 MBRLS, (~28+ MBRLS Batteries assets (100% total loss))(5 batteries in last 30 days)
842 Artillery & Mortars (~140+ Artillery/Mortar Batteries assets (100% total loss))(39 batteries in last 30 days), and
1,837 special military vehicles.

(03.12.22)
📊 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation destroyed:
336 aircraft, (Daily avg 1.1)
178 helicopters, (Daily avg 0.6)
2,609 unmanned aerial vehicles, (Daily avg 8.8)
391 surface-to-air missile systems, (Daily avg 1.2)
6,970 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, (Daily avg 22.5)
908 multiple rocket launchers, (Daily avg 2.9)
3,652 field artillery and mortars, (Daily avg 11.6) and
7,450 special military vehicles. (Daily avg 24)

Posted by: Outraged | Apr 5 2023 23:40 utc | 79

West of England Andy | Apr 5 2023 22:01 utc | 67

The thing is about “echelons of stacked weaponry” (to paraphrase) is, of course, they make nice, juicy targets for a Kinzhal or Zircon. Now, if you are NATO, and you have seen the real-time performance of these weapons and analysed the data, would you be keeping your weaponry in massive stockpiles? Presuming these massive stockpiles actually exist in the first place?

Yes, yes, they would ! Arrogance is blinding ! And no, they don't !
I'll get the scrumpy in !

Posted by: Sarlat La Canède | Apr 5 2023 23:44 utc | 80

@78

denuclearizing the former republics was “non proliferation.”

usa aided Russian federation to securely transport the weapons to demilitarize and store the dangerous parts.

the process fit with pulling Russia out of Germany, and keeping nato west of the Elbe…..

Posted by: paddy | Apr 5 2023 23:55 utc | 81

So, everything is going swimmingly and you all will soon be vacationing in Berlin? Just like the big winter offensive went so well, right?

Yes, I am trolling, because you folks seem to be building an infrastructure of news based on sources wich are way different from mine, where Russia is winning this with one hand tied behind their back. I remember when you all were shouting about the "third army" (approx october), the fall of Odessa (approx jne) andthe great sucess in Kherson (approx august). Its kind of hard to take you seriously with that much wishcasting. People who believe that the attacking force somehow has a 1:7 casualty rating in a modern conflict is... werid.

Posted by: Fnord73 | Apr 5 2023 23:58 utc | 82

Everyone is silent. Everyone from the world community is so comfortable.
@ karlof1 | Apr 5 2023 21:03 utc | 48

Effusive gratitude for your translations and transcripts. Maria Z's level of discourse is a refreshing astonishment to those of us accustomed to USA pols speaking constant nonsense from both sides of the mouth.

This is hard to articulate without sounding overly impressed with myself: Almost everything I read from US American sources sounds like it's of, by, and for the proud citizens of moronistan. I'm up there in years, but I've hung on to a few of my marbles. It gets tiresome when everyone makes the natural assumption: you're US American, you must be an idiot.

Maria Z, by contrast, is actually challenging to keep up with. I've got a favorite weather blogger neck-deep in geopotential height anomalies, interesting but a bit difficult, like Zakharova. Just the idea of people like Lavrov and Zakharova exercising their fully functional intellects, right in front of everyone. What can I say? It blows my mind, but in a good way.

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Apr 6 2023 0:06 utc | 83

Some videos for today.

Russian tanks play a pivotal role in the army's advance in Lugansk:
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/lugansk-advance:4

Russian Lancet drone destroys another Kiev regime tank:
https://odysee.com/@Overthrown:6/eHz7x1Il6SusI3fP:2

Russian UR-77 system destroys Kiev regime fortified position:
https://rutube.ru/video/0c196be5b6f8b1997cfcfbb8f4428188/

Russia's 2S9 Nona targets Kiev regime military positions:
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/russian-tank-lugansk:4

Russian thermobaric munitions obliterate Kiev regime positions near Kremennaya:
https://odysee.com/@Overthrown:6/video_2023-04-02_12-15-21:9

Posted by: Nate | Apr 6 2023 0:29 utc | 84

Aleph_Null @83--

Thanks for your reply. Yes, it's very refreshing to read 14th+ grade discourse, and they don't dumb-down either. They and others set a bar for their society to attain and surpass quite unlike the West, where if you write beyond the 10th grade level you're not understood.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 6 2023 0:50 utc | 85

Re: Maria Z’s “Everyone is silent. Everyone from the world community is so comfortable.”….

“Comfortably numb” more likely. Just global numbness.

Posted by: Trubind1 | Apr 6 2023 0:56 utc | 86

Posted by: Blissex | Apr 5 2023 19:27 utc | 27 "Most satellites can simply be nudged out of their orbit,"

With what? A lot of those satellites have cameras on them to inspect the solar arrays for micrometeorite damage and might see some other satellite "sneaking" up on it. In addition any such satellite would be tracked from the ground.

But sure, in very limited numbers it can be done. But not likely without everyone knowing who did it. And the west has many more times the number of satellites that Russia has.

Also note that the US just launched an array of satellites designed to track hypersonic missiles via infrared sensors.. This array would be able to track other satellites. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3348974/space-development-agency-successfully-launches-tranche-0-satellites/

Posted by: Response2 | Apr 6 2023 1:00 utc | 87

mines and agriculture dont mix , just ask cambodia, they have a mine museum showcasing the worlds contribution to their nation if you need a day off from seeing temples

Posted by: hankster | Apr 6 2023 1:01 utc | 88

RUSSIAN FIGHTERS AVENGE TERRORIST ATTACKS WITH VICTORIES ON THE DONBASS FRONT

On April 2, another cowardly terrorist attack killed a Russian journalist.

As a result of an explosion in a café in St. Petersburg, prominent war correspondent, former fighter of the Donbass militia Vladlen Tatarsky fell victim to the assassination.

The terrorist attack was carried out during his meeting with readers. The number of people wounded in the explosion has already increased to 32, ten of them are in serious condition.

According to one of the main versions of the investigation, the explosive was hidden in a statuette, which was presented to Tatarsky by a woman from the audience. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia reported that she was identified as Daria Trepova. The suspect in the murder of Vladlen Tatarsky was detained.

On the morning of April 3, another terrorist attack hit the city of Melitopol, the capital of the Russian Zaporozhye region. A car was blown up in the city center during morning rush hour, when local residents were driving to work. As a result of the terrorist attack the former head of the Akimovka town administration was wounded. Doctors have assessed his condition to be serious.

Over the past day, the Ukrainian Nazis also shelled Melitopol with US-made HIMARS and Ukrainian Vlkha MLRS. A peaceful quarter of the city was shelled with cluster munitions. The local locomotive depot and civil infrastructure were damaged. At least six civilians suffered wounds of varying severity.

At least 120 strikes targeted the settlements of the DPR over the past day. At least 20 MLRS missiles and 23 155 mm shells were used by the Ukrainian military. Several civilians were wounded.

Ukrainian formations also shelled border villages in the Russian Kursk region. Seven civilians were wounded in one of them. In the Belgorod region, Ukrainians struck at an agricultural enterprise and residential buildings in a border village.

While the helpless Kiev regime continues to organize terrorist attacks against civilians, Russian fighters are grinding through hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers daily in a fair fight on the Donbass front.

A few hours after the murder of Vladlen Tatarsky, Wagner fighters hoisted a Russian flag with the name of the war correspondent above the city administration building of Bakhmut. This day the city came under control of Russian fighters.

The banner was handed over to the Wagner fighters by the head of the PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin. He recorded a video message against the background of the administration building, which confirms that the city center was moped up and is currently controlled by the Russians.

Courtesy Sputnik

Posted by: HERMIUS | Apr 6 2023 1:03 utc | 89

@Wilhelm | Apr 5 2023 22:32 utc | 73

Thanks for that link. Crooke on return of 'moral integrity' in global context - Worth reading.

Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 6 2023 1:07 utc | 90

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 5 2023 21:09 utc | 51 "They already ran a war game themselves showing their army annihilated in five days"

I think you misunderstand the purpose of wargames. After that wargame, Poland embarked on a steady buildup of forces and purchased a lot of equipment. True, not much of it as arrived yet. But in the meantime, Russia is busy fighting in Ukraine so Poland continues to buy time by providing Ukraine with their second rate equipment.

Also the C4 "in theater", if you mean in Ukraine, how much of it has to be "in Ukraine". A fair proportion of it can be and is located outside of Ukraine.

Posted by: Response2 | Apr 6 2023 1:11 utc | 91

reply to 84

I can't speak for others but I remain a hopeful optimist. I hoped Trump would stop these Endless Wars. Even if he proved to be a liar, I hoped he would destroy US foreign credibility so badly that more pointless wars would be impossible (like the opposite of "War To End All Wars" bullsh*t)

I was dead wrong because I never foresaw how bad the rank and ceaseless lying could become in US foreign policy. I could accept a few incidents such as Gulf of Tonkin or the U2 incident but this is crazy. Lying is so much more convenient and there's no downside or punishment. No shame, no collective responsibility, no honor.

Putting Russia/China in the drivers seat will change things for the better,mostly. The destruction of Ukraine is an utter horror show but they need to stop and get sane fast. The aftermath of WW2 was better for the globe overall. This proxy WW3 will remove a huge weight of bullying off the backs of the 3rd world (mostly). So, I hope...

Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 6 2023 1:14 utc | 92

A noteworthy update on Russia’s SMO by Simplicius the Thinker:

https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/sitrep-4423-huge-tuesday-update-bonanza

He cites Vostok Battalion commander Khodakovsky and states:


...the entire idea for preserving and stockpiling the Russian army while using Wagner as the winter distraction in Bakhmut, was in fact a long term strategic plan by Surovikin to rebuild Russia’s munitions for the coming mass offensives of the future, when the mobilized forces would be ready to commit to battle.

Posted by: HeyHeyHey | Apr 6 2023 1:15 utc | 93

Today's Security Council Meeting featured a report on restoration work being done in the new territories that will certainly irk NATO, which is likely why it's not classified.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 6 2023 1:15 utc | 94

" Really? Poland was partitioned in 1795 by Russia, Austria and Prussia and disappeared as a state until 1918. The Polish national anthem "Poland has not perished while still we live' dates from this time. The Poles were hoping to regain their freedom by fighting for Napoleon.

Posted by: cirsium | Apr 5 2023 21:30 utc | 59 "


You shouldn't let historical facts get in the way of someone's historical ignorance. In fact, let them find Poland on the map in 1795. We all will wait patiently.

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 6 2023 1:56 utc | 95

Posted by: Fnord73 | Apr 5 2023 23:58 utc | 82

I remember youz lot going on about:

"Holidaying in Crimea before the end of the year" (2022)
"The Ghost of Kiev"
"Snake Island"
"We'll take Moscow by the end of the year" (2022)
"Russias running out of missiles" (every week)
"We're building a milion-man-army for an offensive"

Posted by: HERMIUS | Apr 6 2023 2:29 utc | 96

Very interesting if I say so myself. Is a "compromise" about to be made ?

" The problem of a strategic impasse in the war, when both sides have built a layered defense, which there is no way to open. At the same time, the United States continues to rush the Office of the President with a counteroffensive without taking into account the possible risks for Ukraine. Zaluzhny convinces Zelensky of the need to prepare the Azov operation more carefully, but politicians say that we do not have time and we need to launch a counteroffensive in the coming months.

The former head of the Polish Ground Forces said that "pushing the Ukrainians to attack is unjustified" and "there is no chance of a military end to the conflict."

Retired General Waldemar Skrzypczak said this in an interview with Rzeczpospolita newspaper.

"We will definitely not see a military finale of the conflict in the near future. Zelensky's trip to Warsaw is the first of a series of visits aimed at forming a coalition of states that will support him in negotiations on the future of Ukraine," Skrzypchak said.

He explained why the war had reached a stalemate.

"None of the parties has an advantage - we are dealing with a strategic dead end. The Russians do not have enough forces to launch an offensive and conquer the Donbass. The Ukrainian defense is well organized and does not allow the Russians to make such a move. Therefore, they are now moving to a strategic defensive operation on north and south, because they fear a Ukrainian counteroffensive. However, the Ukrainians are not ready for this yet," the former deputy defense minister of Poland said.

The reasons for this unpreparedness are that it takes a long time for the arrival of Western weapons and the training of a large number of soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which "will take no more than 2-3 weeks." In addition, for a successful offensive, Ukraine needs to have a 4-fold numerical advantage over Russia. According to Skshipchak, Kyiv will not be able to achieve such an advantage.

Therefore, in his opinion, "the time for politicians has come." "We need to find a compromise between the expectations of Ukrainians and what Putin wants," the former general added.

https://t.me/resident_ua/17166
Telegram
Resident
In the West, they are increasingly focusing on the fact that the battle of the Sea of ​​Azov can cost Ukraine dearly, especially if you take into account the Bakhmutov meat grinder and the mood in the army. Zaluzhny warned the Office of the President that it was worth waiting for all the Western assistance... "

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 6 2023 2:44 utc | 97

china appears to up the ante with a naval inspection of vessels. set to be only for a 3 day exercise, its a definite start of further escalation. usa is neutered as to a corresponding response to that.

Posted by: hankster | Apr 6 2023 2:56 utc | 98

Tucker Carlson on that $300 billion dollar steal, weaponization of the dollar, and its consequences for the dollar reserve currency ....

And believe it or not - he is on the ball here ... Oh, and, defeating the Russians in Ukraine ...

And all those dollars on way home ... and economic disaster ... Weimar II - Yes - this is on Carlson ...

Short, sweet, acidic, and Fox Newz telling facts ... Yes, facts on US TV ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t9Cr88sAbk

Must have a bet on Carlson becoming POTUS in the future .... and to think that I used to use 10 mins of FoxNewz as a laxative ...

Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 6 2023 3:02 utc | 99

@psychohistorian | Apr 5 2023 21:18 utc | 53

Multiple US Federal Courts have determined that "In God We Trust", added to paper money in the US in the 1950's in fear of the "godless USSR", is a meaningless patriotic expression. Had it any theological import, they would have been forced to declare it a blatant contradiction of the First Amendment, written by the same oligarchs who declared in the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli, ratified by Congress, "the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion."

And so we share this "meaningless patriotic slogan" with Nicaragua, the other country to have this phrase on it's currency, although given current trends, the Còrdoba may soon be more valuable than the US Dollar.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 6 2023 3:04 utc | 100

next page »

The comments to this entry are closed.