Zelenski's Regime Is Finished
Yesterday's drone attack on the Kremlin (and other installations) mark the end of the Zelenski regime. While Russia had so far refrained from regime change in Kiev it will now have to pursue it.
The former prime minister of Israel Naftali Bennet had reported that president Putin had promised him not to hit Zelenski:
“I knew Zelensky was under threat, in a bunker… I said to [Putin], ‘Do you intend to kill Zelensky?’ He said, ‘I won’t kill Zelensky,’” Bennett recalled in the interview, which was published on his own YouTube channel.
...
Bennett said he called the Ukrainian president immediately after the three-hour encounter with Putin, and told him, “I’ve just come out of a meeting — [Putin] is not going to kill you.“[Zelensky] asked me, ‘Are you sure?’ I said 100 percent. [Putin’s] not going to kill you.”
Bennett recalled: “Two hours later, Zelensky went to his office, and did a selfie in the office, [in which the Ukrainian president said,] ‘I’m not afraid.’”
Well, now he has very good reason to again be afraid, very afraid. As former ambassador MK Bhadrakumar writes:
Make no mistake, this is a tipping point; the clumsy attempt on Putin’s life jolts the kaleidoscope beyond recognition. The only comforting thought is that the Kremlin leadership is not going to be driven by emotion. The considered Kremlin reaction is available from the remarks by the Russian Ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov:“How would Americans react if a drone hit the White House, the Capitol or the Pentagon? The answer is obvious for any politician as well as for an average citizen: the punishment will be harsh and inevitable.”
The ambassador went on to draw the bottom line: “Russia will respond to this insolent and presumptuous terrorist attack. We will answer when we consider it necessary. We will answer in accordance with the assessments of the threat that Kiev posed to the leadership of our country.”
I agree with Bhadrakumar that there will be no knee-jerk reaction from Moscow. But public opinion in Russia demands that there will be payback for the attack and against anyone involved in it.
Putin’s hands are tied beyond a point when the country is in rage and demanding retribution, as evident from the comments by former Russian President and current Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev: “After today’s terrorist attack, there are no options left except for the physical elimination of Zelensky and his clique.”
That Zelenski fled to Finland, then to the Netherlands and Germany after the drones hit the Kremlin is a sure sign of his complicity in the act.
When (if?) he comes back to Kiev it will be bunker life for the rest of his reign.
Posted by b on May 4, 2023 at 16:08 UTC | Permalink
next page »If you have a rat problem, it does not help to just kill half the rats.
Posted by: G wiltek | May 4 2023 16:16 utc | 2
#1 -- The current desperate US denials of any role (example Kirby) are necessary to avoid retaliation against the US.
They are not credible. Example Kirby, a compulsive liar.
What do the Russians actually believe about US involvement? That is now critical. Note, I don't say, "what is true" nor "what does the US public believe." All that matters is what is believed by those who might take action based on those beliefs.
Posted by: Mark Thomason | May 4 2023 16:17 utc | 3
I cannot judge what happened from the other side of the Atlantic, but the visuals I saw looked more like a failed holiday festival firework than anything lethal. Of course if someone were to drop a firecracker on the White House lawn, Biden would send the USS Kitty Hawk after the perpetrator, so I'm not dismissive of it.
Posted by: Maracatu | May 4 2023 16:18 utc | 4
If the assumption of Zelensky being finished is correct, and the Biden regime comes to a similar conclusion, they will have nothing to lose by martyring Zelensky. Biden also desperately needs any sort of escalation, this would easily constitute as one. It may come rather sooner than later.
Posted by: unimperator | May 4 2023 16:19 utc | 5
I wonder when it will sink in that this inept drone attack WAS the much ballyhooed "Ukraine counteroffensive" Cue the memes of Elensky hiding in a basement with an RC car controller, and you'll start to understand the bathos of the whole situation.
Posted by: Intelligent Dasein | May 4 2023 16:20 utc | 6
IMO, this was an attack on Putin as January 6 was an insurrection. It was a symbolic attack. If by Ukraine, to rally a pathetic and demoralized population that there was hope in their lost cause, and if a false flag launched by elements within Russia, to rally its population around the flag, or to move policy a certain way. We don't know. And to take anything at face value is naïve.
cheers!
Posted by: gottlieb | May 4 2023 16:26 utc | 7
Thanks b.I think the whole attempt on Putins life meme is hysteria. The whole thing reeks of false flag. Nothing more than theatre that plays to both sides. This just allows even further the drawdown of SMO leading to official declaration of war, and the 404 state gets a wag the dog style PR victory. Its a win win. Which is thought provoking to say the least.
Posted by: Tannenhouser | May 4 2023 16:27 utc | 8
Like ns2 they r blaming Russia, like Russia needs excuses to escalate or would like nothing better than to have their citadel breached as an excuse to make some noise.
But I disagree with the analysis, this was not an attempt on putin's life but a petulant action by the Ukrainian with probably the blessings by us to just test the defense parameters of Kremlin.
I doubt it very much zelansky was aware of this plot I doubt it very much he would approve seeing how that makes him a target
Posted by: A.z | May 4 2023 16:28 utc | 9
Far as I can see, assassinating Zelensky would accomplish absolutely nothing for Russia. I do think it likely that some deep sea digital fiber optics cables will be wrecked by some unknown vandals.
Posted by: blues | May 4 2023 16:30 utc | 10
I doubt that promise had much credibility, and I assume that both Zelenskyy and Putin were operating their security on the assumption that each wanted to assassinate the other.
Posted by: Inkan1969 | May 4 2023 16:31 utc | 11
Will Ukraine ever run out of clownish ways to dominate the news cycle?
Tune in tomorrow to find out.
Posted by: too scents | May 4 2023 16:31 utc | 12
Posted by: Dave Oneil | May 4 2023 16:11 utc | 1
There's no way that can be real, because neither the US nor Russia want to start a nuclear war. That's why Biden and Putin always inform each other ahead of time when they visit warzones.
Posted by: Inkan1969 | May 4 2023 16:33 utc | 14
Sid James and John Cleese. Not so good for british respectability. Paul the upholder of aristocracy might care to comment.
I thought the loyal paulus put in a comment here but it is gone.Such is life.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 4 2023 16:38 utc | 15
Who tells us that the CIA isn't behind this?
To give Puttin the reason to dispose of Zelensky..... so the US does NOT have to do it!
It is obvious that ER is perceived as a nuisance in the Pentagon....WITH HIM there can be no negotiation against a truce!
And that's exactly what the West needs now, then sell it as a victory, gain time and arm yourself in peace!
Hope the Kremlin thinks the same.... IF then Biden should give the order himself to "dispose of" Zelensky...
.
It's funny or strange that he just happens to NOT be in the country at this point in time.
Posted by: mo3 | May 4 2023 16:38 utc | 16
Russia targeted Kyiv and Odessa with missile and drone attacks today. Sounds pretty knee-jerk to me.
And why should this website indulge public demands for payback when it condemned such demands from the US public on Afghanistan back in 2001?
Posted by: Inkan1969 | May 4 2023 16:41 utc | 17
My guess is that Russia won't take out Zelensky until the end game is closer. If they did, there is no clear successor, and somebody needs to be there to surrender. If Zelensky is blown up, it only helps NATO.
A two part SitRep today. Part one is posted.
https://askeptic.substack.com/p/battlefield-update-2023-05-04-1
Posted by: Will | May 4 2023 16:42 utc | 18
My guess is that Russia won't take out Zelensky until the end game is closer. If they did, there is no clear successor, and somebody needs to be there to surrender.
Could it be, then, that Ukraine really try to assassinate Putin on the assumption that Prigozhin would then be the successor and surrender?
Posted by: Inkan1969 | May 4 2023 16:44 utc | 19
Elijah M. has a thread on this, and makes a number of good and valid points. starting here:
https://twitter.com/ejmalrai/status/1653778992984387585
...Are these drones Ukrainians? Is the decision to send drones issued by #Ukraine? Don't even think about it. The #US told us that the war room is coordinated with 50 nations in #Germany Ramstein. All 50 nations r responsible & Ukraine is the last to know but the 1st to be blamed....
...And last: It is not in #Russia's interest to announce that the #US is behind the attack on #Moscow and the Kremlin. Otherwise, it is forced to target the White House.
This is a calculated US attack, aware that the tit-for-tat will have to come in another form+....
#Russia can empower #Iran, #Syria, #China in different forms to upset the #US to a superior level than the "drone attack on the Kremlin".
I presume Russia would hit strategically and indirectly to cause strategic pain to the US or its close allies, apart from causing further destruction to Ukraine.
Posted by: michaelj72 | May 4 2023 16:48 utc | 20
And why should this website indulge public demands for payback when it condemned such demands from the US public on Afghanistan back in 2001?
what?
Posted by: annie | May 4 2023 16:50 utc | 21
Posted by: annie | May 4 2023 16:50 utc | 21
Also, I remember this website boasting that the US's assassination of Soleimani would be a game changer because of Iranian demand for payback. Since then, not much has changed.
Posted by: Inkan1969 | May 4 2023 16:54 utc | 22
The Kremlin should have come to that conclusion long ago......for the sake of the planet...'cause otherwise the present sh*t show won't stop.
Posted by: Robbie | May 4 2023 16:55 utc | 23
I expect that Zelenski will soon be suffering from a severe case of Polonium-210 poisoning. The lethal agent will be delivered as a suppository.
Posted by: Elmer Fudd | May 4 2023 16:57 utc | 24
Posted by: Elmer Fudd | May 4 2023 16:57 utc | 24
I expect that Zelenski will soon be suffering from a severe case of Polonium-210 poisoning. The lethal agent will be delivered as a suppository.
But I thought Russia was completely innocent of every such incident...
Posted by: Inkan1969 | May 4 2023 16:59 utc | 25
Zelensky: There is plenty of damnable evidence to condemn Zelensky. However, I see it best to allow the higher powers to judge him.
This is a very good time for Zelensky to repent of his evil ways and to find Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. I hope he does. I pray that he does.
Posted by: young | May 4 2023 17:00 utc | 26
Posted by: young | May 4 2023 17:00 utc | 26
Why would any Jew need to find Jesus Christ as their "savior?...
Posted by: Inkan1969 | May 4 2023 17:01 utc | 27
Two UAV hail marys at the Kremlin seems like a pretty dumb way to assassinate Putin, or a more clever way to assassinate Zelensky, given the expected Russian response. Seems like there are enough people in the US deep state that are saying "let's wrap this thing up and move on to China" where the latter option isn't entirely out of the question (even if the former should be seen as likely, given the ocean of stupidity all of this floats in).
Posted by: Anders Rho | May 4 2023 17:02 utc | 28
Through the fog of war and chaos, I see desperation. Desperation from the Ukrainians, the US, UK and NATO. Who knows where all this desperation will take us, your guess is as good as mine. All I can divine is a general direction and that direction is toward more escalation, war and chaos. Taken in total along with the west's financial, economic and political chaos I see a quickly approaching storm, perfectly dark and quickly blotting out all the light. The center cannot hold against such levels of insanity, corruption, greed and hate. Something is going to break and when it does, god help us all
Posted by: JustAMaverick | May 4 2023 17:04 utc | 29
Why is Zelensky on German TV so upset about the betrayal of secrets....since it became public that he would be in Berlin on May 14th????
He even insults Germany because of it...
Is he afraid of a corresponding greeting from the German people?
Posted by: mo3 | May 4 2023 17:09 utc | 30
Just watched a short Twitter video clip of Zelensky making a statement in English of him distancing himself from the so-called drone attack in Moscow. The guy sound frightened. And why use the English language? Was he trying to tell the US something? LOL
Posted by: Ian2 | May 4 2023 17:09 utc | 31
PaulaFox@30. Wrong forum. I believe B knows what to do next.
Also, I remember this website boasting that the US's assassination of Soleimani would be a game changer because of Iranian demand for payback. Since then, not much has changed.Posted by: Inkan1969 | May 4 2023 16:54 utc | 22
Saudi Arabia and Iran are back on speaking terms is considered not much? LOL
Posted by: Ian2 | May 4 2023 17:14 utc | 32
I like the off guardian's response to this attack:
Basically the attack doesn't make sense. It wasn't serious in that it had no chance of actually killing Putin. It could be a false flag by Russia but if they wanted a false flag they'd also do something not as lame.
Seeing as Zelensky fleed it could be members of his government setting him up to be killed, either by the Russians or by his own government before asking for peace talks.
Posted by: Matthew | May 4 2023 17:14 utc | 33
It is not only Zelensky and his band of neo-Nazis that should be afraid, the Baltic and Polish hotheads should also be very afraid now. Zelensky could be taken out anywhere, outside Ukraine or inside Ukraine. It seems that's what the US neocons want anyway, the physical elimination of the coke-head of Kiev. I read that the US embassy in Kiev is also in fear of a missile attack. That is how it should be. The dullard Boris Johnson is advised to watch his movement henceforth.
Posted by: Steve | May 4 2023 17:18 utc | 34
Without questioning the criminal responsibility of the Kiev regime and the US, which have propagated the version of a "false flag" attack, I have some doubts about what happened. Taking into account also the cowardice of Zelensky, who never acknowledged his responsibility in the terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge. These are:
- Moscow is not close to Ukraine. Do drones like the ones used in the attack on the Kremlin have enough flight range to get there after taking off somewhere, say, near the border?
- Is there a possibility that the drones have been launched by a terrorist cell inside Russian territory, near Moscow?
- If the drones used for the attack flew more than, say, 20 minutes towards the Kremlin, how come they were not detected until the end of their trajectory?
For the rest, I fully agree with Medvedev: the Nazi scum must be eliminated as soon as possible, but this decision had to be made a long time ago.
Posted by: Gabriel Moyssen | May 4 2023 17:21 utc | 35
"That Zelenski fled to Finland, then to the Netherlands and Germany after the drones hit the Kremlin is a sure sign of his complicity in the act"
Sorry, but this is not a correct logical conclusion. It is equally possibly a sign that he understands that he will be perceived as being responsible. It could easily have been a false flag by Russian to justify removing Zelensky.
Posted by: John | May 4 2023 17:23 utc | 36
An interesting lot of comments. The Kremlin and MFA's official line is what it is as I provided on the previous thread. The drone and missile assault was a SOP part of the SMO and had nothing to do with the Moscow incident. The observation that those tiny drones lacked the power to do any serious damage is well made; the Kremlin after all is a Fortress. Several Russians said yesterday that it was merely a "PR Stunt," which was proven by Kiev having a postage stamp already prepared to celebrate the event. Was it vetted by the Master? Most likely, but not Biden personally; most likely Sullivan as he seems to have a fetish for such schemes. RT reports the following info that supplements the earlier press statements by the Kremlin and MFA:
All of Kiev’s decisions are ultimately dictated by Washington, including which targets to hit and by what means, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed on Thursday. His comments came after two Ukrainian drones unsuccessfully attempted to strike the Kremlin in the early hours of Wednesday morning.“Such decisions – the definition of goals, the definition of means, and so on – all this is dictated to Kiev from Washington, and we are well aware of this,” Peskov told reporters.
The spokesman for President Vladimir Putin dismissed attempts by US and Ukrainian officials to “disown” Wednesday’s attack as “laughable,” insisting that “we know full well that decisions to carry out such terrorist actions are made not in Kiev, but in Washington.
The "leaked" papers confirm complete Outlaw US Empire control over what happens in Ukraine making Kirby's denials disingenuous as usual. The reality is for decades the world's #1 terrorist Nation's been the Outlaw US Empire, and this incident and the entire Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, and many other crises are all terrorist attempts to alter governments while terrifying others into submission. Again I cite the SCO's security direction is "aimed at the prevention of International Terrorism and not aimed at any one particular nation," although we already know what that actually means between the lines.
Upshot: SMO will continue. Dedollarization will escalate further. Greater awareness by RoW about the potential for chaos to be sown and by whom is raised making it harder for such events. Greater support for China's Global Security Initiative. Revulsion by Europeans at the insanity of such an action that will raise opposition to all EU/NATO efforts to escalate the situation. As for Zelensky and his cabal, they were already marked for arrest and prosecution, and the drone attack merely adds one more item to the charge sheet. IMO, no additional effort will be made to eliminate him as he actually has value for Russia in a manner similar to Hitler having value as an extremely inept military commander who helped Russia defeat him.
Posted by: Maracatu | May 4 2023 16:18 utc | 4
Biden certainly would, given the USS Kitty Hawk was decommissioned in 2009.
Posted by: Milites | May 4 2023 17:42 utc | 38
No need to make a martyr of Zelensky.
As Ukraine has been blocked by several European countries from exporting grain all the Russians would need to do is not renew the grain deal and block Ukraine from exporting grain via sea.
Posted by: Down South | May 4 2023 17:45 utc | 39
karlof1 | May 4 2023 17:32 utc | 38
You say US controls everything (Zely 100% actor), then you also say he's "needed" by Russia because he's stupid and easier to defeat. Which is it? Anyway, the drone too small to do any damage story isn't exactly true. A little drone can contain things other than a small grenade, like chemical or biological agents. It was a relatively big failure that no radar detected it, no one saw or heard the loud motor but in the end no damage was done so they have another chance to be prepared for next time.
Posted by: rk | May 4 2023 17:50 utc | 40
Clever operation, as it’s plausible that Ukraine were just as much the target as Russia and both are being played off against each other. The tell, from the guilty party, will probably be their attempt, post-attack, to significantly change the trajectory of the conflict.
Posted by: Milites | May 4 2023 17:54 utc | 41
'It could easily have been a false flag by Russian to justify removing Zelensky.'
Sophomoric. What additional justification following previous terrorist attacks does Russia need for 'removing' as you euphemistically put it Zelensky?
Legally, it's not like there is some clear cut rules..its essentially norms established through the decades. Russia will be pilloried by the stenographers of the West regardless.
The fact Zelensky has not been and, I should point out, will not be assassinated by the Russians, is due to Russian restraint and prudence, nothing more.
Zelensky has outlived his usefulness and like a rat senses the trap he cannot see. Maerica would like Russia to take care of the Zelensky problem..for he knows too much..but if they won't dutifully comply they will just murder him.anf blame Russia anyway. Win win.
Again, seems straightforward, Zelensky is an American liability. This scenario is basic shit, something that the Russians are going to have gamed out already. I trust their planners more than the backs of my napkins ..which I trust more than Western competence in strategic planning. I think they outsourced that shit.
Posted by: Doctor Eleven | May 4 2023 17:56 utc | 42
No doubt in my mind that this is cover for a false-flag operation by the Americans. Attack (extremely ineffectively) the Kremlin, probably using drones launched in Moscow, get a popular reaction in Russia of rage and noise to eliminate Zelensky, then take out Zelensky when everyone is expecting a Russian attempt against him. Beat all drums to honor the fallen hero. Big win on points. A disturbing Ngo Dinh Diem is taken out with no damage.
Posted by: Piero Colombo | May 4 2023 17:56 utc | 43
Peskov via Dave Oneil | May 4 2023 16:11 utc | 1
"We know very well that decisions on such actions and such terrorist attacks are made not in Kyiv, but in Washington."
Having stated that, Peskov is making clear that it makes no sense to remove Zelensky utilizing the Darwin's Prize way.
Those who are responsible for a complete chaos sit in Washington.
Hunk of a woman Nuland, rotten rat Bolton, BoJo, Uschi, stinktank's memebers belonging to RAND, ISW etc. should eventually meet Bandera.
Bandera was removed with a bullet in the face. Bullet was also cyanide poisoned. In Muenchen, on the street.
I am sure that RF's intelligence has a such reach and can track whereabouts of comfy Learjets and Boings disseminating chaos and dismay around the planet. MANPADs also do the job.
They also know where those bastards live and which routes they take.
For every high profile damage, RF should take one bad official out.
Zelensky is needed after this SMO is done and properly done with to testify.
We want to know every detail of USA involvement and who did and said what, when and why.
I wonder where is Yatsenuk, a Scientologist bastard that helped put Nazis in motion to take over Ukraine?
I am sure that he can be found, too.
For such cases, SMERCH should be resurrected until it is not required any more.
Those people should never rest and relax, as they caused so much pain, destruction, and death.
I am also pretty sure that RF has a working version of Novichok, since UK's derivate didn't really work well on Scripals.
I am against death penalty, as every human life is a precious one.
But to speed up the bettering of a gene pool, sometimes it is needed to apply Stalin's idea: No man, no problem.
Named non elected officials above pose a problem, will never stop and will double down until meeting the maker.
Posted by: whirlX | May 4 2023 17:57 utc | 44
45.
Precisely. I concur in general, and would add that like all things under the current powers that be, it's gone to shit. Zelensky is slipping the leash and sensing the sword about to fall.
Fucking amateur hour improvisation but at least it's in the right direction. They're trying to get their testicles out of the conundrum.
Posted by: Doctor Eleven | May 4 2023 18:02 utc | 45
The postage stamp shows the kremlin in flames.
That and the fact that the drone was carrying a flammable liquid suggests that the intent was to to crash through a roof or window and start a major fire.
Burning down the kremlin just before May 9th would count as a major pr coup.
The stamp confirms Kiev’s guilt
Posted by: CitizenSmith | May 4 2023 18:03 utc | 46
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 4 2023 17:51 utc | 42
It’s when he’s told that Blinken’s flight has been delayed and he has to talk to him on the ‘special’ mobile, that he’ll really panic. I’ve always suspected key individuals in his government of bitterly resenting the role the West have ‘chosen’ for their country and decided aiding Russia is the best weapon against their ‘overlords’.
Posted by: Milites | May 4 2023 18:04 utc | 47
it appears the topic heading elicits a rushed response from critic farms. is it too much to ask for non lobotomized actors? I suppose. at least the human trafficking element at the bottom of Ukrainian Biden family investments is stepping up to bat.
Posted by: Not Ewe | May 4 2023 18:06 utc | 48
Zelensky is a US problem. Let them eliminate the guy, as they'll have to do eventually. He's Ukraine's golden goose, and once the US cuts him off and the goose stops laying golden eggs, he'll be eliminated. Make the US be caught murdering him, or their nazi henchmen. Russia just needs to watch, and wait for the breakup.
Posted by: seer | May 4 2023 18:06 utc | 49
Posted by: CitizenSmith | May 4 2023 18:03 utc | 48
There's a pretty high chance that the postage stamp was designed already before the event. So was the case with the Kerch strait bridge postal stamp. The latter was done by British Mi6, leading to the question about this case? Most likely initiated by Mi6.
Posted by: unimperator | May 4 2023 18:07 utc | 50
I was reading the Washington Post comments on this drone attack. The fools there claimed it was Russia that hit the Kremlin with the drones, yet there was no information out to even suggest that. Worse yet, they seem to have convinced themselves that it was Russia who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines. This is what happens when all you have is U.S./Ukrainian propaganda for information.
Posted by: Cesar Jeopardy | May 4 2023 18:10 utc | 51
Totally agree karlof1@38.
What people aren't saying is that this sets Russia up to be blamed on Z's upcoming elimination. He's no longer useful for the charity drive/money laundering. He knows too much. Zelensky can't negotiate for: 1) he's dead if he tries by those in his own circle. 2)he painted himself into a corner politically by making negotiations impossible. Isn't it enshrined in legislation? Russia should reiterate that they are not targeting him, if only for plausible denialabity. Russia is automatically blamed if it happens. Even more so now.
Posted by: cofcanuckistan | May 4 2023 18:11 utc | 52
You guys are hilarious. Remember when Azov was committing crimes and you all went on about “Russia will de-nazify Ukraine!!!” And then Russia released like 500 of them in a prisoner swap after a few months?
Same thing here. They’ll pretend to be outraged by Zelensky. But they’ll shake hands and go back to normal once this “war” comes to an end.
Posted by: Test | May 4 2023 18:16 utc | 53
Many pro-ukrainians are ranting about how "Russia is such a fail since it could not stop the drone from hitting the kremlin"
Trying to shoot down the drone with explosive anti air shells would bring even more damage than the drone. There are more important locations to protect than regular buildings and air defense quantity is limited.
Posted by: A200 | May 4 2023 18:17 utc | 54
Doctor elevan @44
You beat me to the punch! I type slower I guess. Totally agree.
Posted by: cofcanuckistan | May 4 2023 18:21 utc | 55
An Ukro oligarch recently offered a bounty of something like $500k for anyone who hits the Kremlin with a drone before May 9. I can't remember where I read it so I can't repost link. Seems like an opportunist responding to the cash offer.
Posted by: ge0m0 | May 4 2023 18:22 utc | 56
@karlof1 | May 4 2023 17:32 utc | 38
"Revulsion by Europeans at the insanity of such an action that will raise opposition to all EU/NATO efforts to escalate the situation."
Sorry, Europeans no longer have the guts to revolt against their colonialism and oppresion. No hope from that area, not now at least.
Posted by: Steve | May 4 2023 18:23 utc | 57
rk | May 4 2023 17:50 utc | 41--
An intelligent question, thanks. Zelensky's useful because he's more poisoned in his mind than the Neocons and can't say no to save himself. He's the perfect patsy. As far as we know, Hitler had no behind the scenes motivators. But we do know that rogue elements within FDR's administration did try to arrange a separate, non-unconditional surrender with the Nazis, which was also known by Stalin. Thus, Patrushev's interesting choices for his recitation of history in his latest interview. We must recall which entity said "For as long as it takes," which means beyond Zelensky's end.
I wonder if the actor knew up front that the Kremlin would be attacked. Assuming he would at least sit out the beginning of the much vaunted Ukrainian "counter offensive" which just kicked off it does seem that he fled because of what the Russian response will entail. But even if he's only nominally in charge, of course he's still responsible for everything that happens. With the attack on the Kremlin his death sentence has been cast. I doubt he will return to Ukraine unless it's for photo-ops where he's at all time accompanied by Western politicians that will act as human shields against Russian hyper-sonic missiles.
Posted by: xor | May 4 2023 18:30 utc | 59
A little off topic but still related to the SMO. I apologize if it should be in another thread b. Just trying to contribute in the most current thread.
I can't fathom how De-nazification can be achieved when it was incubated in Ukraine since 1945 under the very noses of USSR. Plus it is so pervasive now in our governments of the west. For example corporations calling the shots and blatantly manipulating the public. Too vague to be part of an objective IMO.
Posted by: cofcanuckistan | May 4 2023 18:40 utc | 60
They're not going to kill Zelensky, they need him to be the focus of Ukrainian rage.
As I noted in an article, this attack was timed with a Victory Day offensive planned at least 5 months ago.
It has always been Russia's goal to achieve unconditional victory in Ukraine.
Test - And then Russia released like 500 of them in a prisoner swap after a few months
Saving lives of your own soldiers is more important than destroying the enemy. Releasing Azov soldiers wont make a difference if nazi ukrainians and the rest of the ukrainian regime will be destroyed.
Moreover russia intentionally hand-picked the azov-soldiers who are the most freakish neo cossack-viking type, while leaving the more sane in prison. tens of thousands of ukrainian soldiers were captured in mariupol - It was a great defeat caused by ukraine's complete humilating unpreparedness to invasion through crimea, and an invasion by Russia at all, while ukraine were over-confidently massing troops for an attack on the separatist region, the reason Russia began the invasion.
Remember that Russia never made massive strikes on electric facilities in Ukraine until ukraine bombed the crimean bridge (And cringefully made these bombed bridge stamps)
Posted by: A200 | May 4 2023 18:41 utc | 62
I admit I didn't attend some fancy neocon war college, or wherever these filthbag warpigs get their ideas, but if I'm invading a country, the political and military leadership would be one of my primary targets. Chop the head off like they say. If a new head appears, chop that off. Eventually their side is being run by fifth or sixth string incompetents with no experience.
Posted by: MR | May 4 2023 18:44 utc | 63
I think they did it to cancel the Victory Day parade. Seemed to work.
Posted by: Doh | May 4 2023 18:48 utc | 64
What Zelensky (and his clique, as MKBhadrakumar calls them) attempted was a daunting stunt that accomplished nothing, and was even considered having little chances of accomplishing anything judging by the scale and resources utilized in the stunt, but would certain to draw harsh responses even by the perpetrators themselves. Geez, how stupid can these clowns be?
Russia suffered nothing! Now Russia can sit back, take its time, and enjoy watching the weasels live in fear day and night until their demise. Punishment can be administered any time now, at Russia's discretion and conveniences. The weasels, meanwhile, will all be living in intense fear from now on, wherever they are. Zelensky is guilty of being stupid. Zel's advisers are guilty of being stupid. Zel's overlord, the Empire's demented figurehead and his cabinet, are guilty of being stupid!!! The stupidity manifested is quite typical of the West these days.
Posted by: Oriental Voice | May 4 2023 18:52 utc | 65
Basically the attack doesn't make sense. It wasn't serious in that it had no chance of actually killing Putin. It could be a false flag by Russia but if they wanted a false flag they'd also do something not as lame.
Posted by: Matthew | May 4 2023 17:14 utc | 34
I think it'd be quite clever to do this so "lame", for the main audience would be Zelensky himself, followed by his own staff - they were supposed to command an offensive, I guess - and also the strategists at NATO, who were about to threaten a whole other kind of false flag to the Kremlin ...
Posted by: persiflo | May 4 2023 18:53 utc | 66
I have it on good authority that bunkers become very uncomfortable when kinzhals light off in them.
Posted by: William Gruff | May 4 2023 18:56 utc | 67
Soviet tanks* in Kiev
Ukrainian actions may look irrational, but the war follows a clear neocon logic. The intention of the West is not to save Ukraine. It is to sacrifice Ukraine, at the same time inflicting the maximum cost to Russia in blood, treasure, and international standing. The end result is total US domination and occupation of the rest of Europe.
I wrote this nine years ago, two weeks before the Maidan coup. Everything still stands.
On the situation in Ukraine (February 7, 2014)From the point of view of Western geopolitical strategy it would be very desirable to see Soviet tanks in the streets of Kiev. In the absence of Soviet tanks Russian tanks will do – if not in Kiev, then at the very least in the Crimea. Western strategy is the same as that in Afghanistan, get Russia tied up to its own Vietnam. Russia must be internationally condemned and isolated from the "international community."
Ukraine has done everything to raise anger in Russia. If the ongoing cultural genocide was not enough to provoke a Russian invasion, then some more extreme measures would have been taken. Maybe publicly executing 20 Russian "vatniks" every day on Independence Square in Kiev would have finally forced Russian tanks to move west.
(* By the time Russian tanks reach Kiev, they will most likely be carrying a Soviet flag. There was a photo taken somewhere outside Kiev in March 2022 of Oleg Tsarev standing on a BMP with a Soviet flag.)
Posted by: Petri Krohn | May 4 2023 18:57 utc | 68
Elensky is going to be fine.
Massive retaliation against the Kyiv regime targeting Elensky himself is something that NATO wants as a pretext for further escalation.
I'm sure Putin is fuming. Jinping taps on the shoulder, shakes his head, "patience dear friend. The time to strike has not arrived. Yet. As the world continues to tip over the western financial system, there will come a time when NATO will be too weak to last a month in an all out war. That time is coming. Soon. Just stick to the plan."
As for optics, the drone that hit the Kremlin is practically a firecracker. The public will forget quickly.
Posted by: FieryButMostPeaceful | May 4 2023 18:59 utc | 69
@blues, #10:
Knocking off Zelensky would not mean much as far as SMO is concerned. But knocking out Zel will please lots of people in Russia and RoW. Don't call that as nothing
Posted by: Oriental Voice | May 4 2023 19:01 utc | 70
>>>>>>: G wiltek | May 4 2023 16:16 utc | 2
If you have a rat problem, it does not help to just kill half the rats.You get the rats to do it for you.
Posted by: Ghost Ship | May 4 2023 19:02 utc | 71
Barflies sure give Zelensky a lot of agency. He's not comparable any historical leaders I can think of, all who in some way or other earned or inherited their position, even recent shallow lightweights like Reagan, GWB, and Obama spent time in political office before becoming President. Zelensky was picked out of a casting call, did a winning song and dance, got the role, and was made President.
He makes no decisions, he's a 100% manufactured figure with no agency, no input, with certainly no respect from any of the political or military leadership Ukrainian or NATO that actually earned their positions - regardless their skills or talents, worthy or fools, they at least weren't just called up from central casting and had wardrobe put them in an army green T-shirt. Give me a break, nobody in the Ukraine or NATO leadership gives Zelensky the time of day. People are plotting, killing, and dying for something in Ukraine but it isn't for Zelensky.
I'll say it again, he's The Nose in the Woody Allen movie Sleeper, or, maybe the dismembered Penis in a movie yet to made.
If the Russians bump him off it'll be the same as someone shooting his neighbor's dog because the neighbor plays loud guitar at 2am every night, petty rancor. If his own people bump him off it's because the movie bombed and they need a new star for the half-assed, low budget sequel.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | May 4 2023 19:03 utc | 72
@mo3, #16:
There is nothing to tell us CIA isn't behind this. But there isn't anything to tell us CIS IS behind this, either.
In the lack of evidence one way or the other, one can't justify certain actions against the CIA, I reckon.
Posted by: Oriental Voice | May 4 2023 19:06 utc | 73
I agree with those who say that the *intent* of this action is to provoke Russia to escalate war against decision-making centers in Ukraine and primarily to target Zelensky.
It is the *US* who wants Russia to target Zelensky. It is still not in Russia's interest to target Zelensky imo.
But how can Russia respond in a way that does not (1) play into the US's plans for Zelensky's demise and (2) instigate a hot war with the US/NATO? That is the difficult question that I believe Russia is trying to answer now.
Posted by: WJ | May 4 2023 19:08 utc | 74
Yawn.
This isn't the first action in country. Big deal.
And Zelensky is already looking at his admin ending if he loses the war or goes to the peace table.
Feels like more hopium. How many times have we read this stuff. And the stalemate persists. Saw a cartoon that said "what I want to be true" as a search in YouTube. Gotta watch out for that stuff. Or else you'll be releasing the Kraken with Qanon.
See:
Posted by: Anonymous | May 4 2023 19:09 utc | 75
@Inkan1969 | May 4 2023 16:41 utc | 17
Afghanistan had nothing to do with 911
Posted by: Norwegian | May 4 2023 19:13 utc | 76
German massmedia again is on the train Russia themself rigged this drone "event"
I really dont know how i can trust my countries massmedia ever again, they lust all trust the last years and keep continueing telling lies,
good old Lügenpresse...
Posted by: Kati | May 4 2023 19:15 utc | 77
Looks to me like a US provocation designed either to provoke a Russian reaction or, more likely, to allow the US to set off a nuclear bomb in Ukraine, use their new Super Dooper Blame Russia Radiation Sensors, and set off the Mighty Wurlitzer, ala "Assad chemical weapons atttack", to create a demand that the US/NATO join in the upcoming spring offensive attack on Russia.
No point in killing Zelensky. He has no power and no control. The entire operation is run by the USA, and Russia knows it.
Posted by: wagelaborer | May 4 2023 19:21 utc | 78
And while people keep cheering for one side in this conflict or the other, the real puppet masters behind the curtain keep on playing with their marionettes, to the delight of the people. "Kill them, kill them!" they shout, from both aisles. All none the wiser to the bigger picture that is happening. You are going to get World War 3, and One World Government (along with a World Currency), every one of you will be microchipped and cash taken out of the system, and then, you will be slaves to the real rulers of this world (the Satanic banking cabal that owns pretty much everything already).
But keep on hating/liking the West/Russia (or China), that's exactly what the TPTB want. The us vs. them mentality that keeps you from seeing beyond the curtain. Really barflies, you really can't see how you're being played from on high? It's time to open your eyes.
Posted by: just somebody | May 4 2023 19:21 utc | 79
In response to Test@54,
Written as if the conflict is over and done with. Is rotting in a Turkish prison the final chapter for those Azov commanders?
In response to MR@63,
And if their side is already being run by incompetents? When the whole point of armed conflict is to force your opponent to change their course, elimination of those decision makers isn't only potentially counterproductive to that task, but also a priori an admission of defeat.
Apart from that, it's doubtful that any actual decision makers can be eliminated overtly without expanding the conflict to territories outside of Ukraine. Turning this proxy war with the West into a hot war doesn't sound like it would benefit the Russians or help them accomplish their objectives in Ukraine.
As for the Kremlin drone-strike, I too think this is less of an attack on Putin or Russia than it is on Zelensky. Whether or not the people directly responsible realize that or not is a different matter, as is the question of how Russia will choose to respond.
Posted by: Skiffer | May 4 2023 19:24 utc | 80
cofcanuckistan | May 4 2023 18:40 utc | 60--
Your query gets discussed occasionally and as you note it's a global problem, not just one related to Ukraine. The result is the Big Picture paradigm change, civilizational war, or other related description dealing with the elimination of the related philosophies driving Neoliberalism and Neocon/Nazism which are behind the two World Wars, the Cold War and now our current crisis. The discourse on that topic has been ongoing for years occasionally resurfacing in commentary made mostly by elder barflies. A related article was provided yesterday, "“A Schittian” Moment—Minus the M" that fills in a few blanks while providing more leads to additional sources providing answers. The underlying issue is in trying to get a grip on the overall history which is long, complex and very time consuming, while abridged versions lack the evidence needed to convince those who've been seduced by the many decades long narrative. We're Winston Smith's before being captured by Big Brother, while most remain Proles.
It was certainly not a Russian false flag attack, as some here are surmising, because false flag attacks are simply not part of the Russian political culture. False flag attacks are a speciality of the Anglo-Saxon culture and over the time became routine operations (Gulf of Tonkin, JFK murder, 9/11, London 2005, Berlin 2016, just to name a few).
Didn't I read a few days ago that Putin said that 90% of all terrorist attacks in the last years have been performed by the CIA? The Russians will certainly not copy this misguided "politics", like they don't copy the turbo-capitalism of the Western world.
Posted by: mk | May 4 2023 19:24 utc | 82
PaulaFox@30
We've already said no to sending F16s. Sending sexy photos won't change our minds
Kind regards,
NATO
Posted by: Rattus | May 4 2023 19:26 utc | 83
Aujourd'hui, sur LCI, la chaîne de propagande ukrainienne française, ils ont beaucoup insisté sur le possible sabotage des câbles sous-marins en nous disant que transitaient par ces câbles, des milliards de dollars car reliant les différentes places boursières à travers l'Atlantique...
Ce qui est étrange est que ceci concorde avec le vent de panique qui souffle sur les valeurs bancaires américaines.
Il ne serait donc pas impossible qu'en cas d'effondrement des banques US et par contagion des banques européennes, on nous fasse le coup du sabotage des câbles par les russes.
Ce n'est peur être qu'une coïncidence, néanmoins je trouve ça plutôt étrange..
Posted by: JOUAN | May 4 2023 19:33 utc | 84
[15]
Your comments are increasingly bizarre. What does Sid James as a South African Jew have to do with aristocracy which simply means „rule by the best“ ?
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | May 4 2023 19:39 utc | 85
Petri Krohn | May 4 2023 18:57 utc | 68--
Happy belated birthday by the way! IMO, you agree with Patrushev, or he agrees with you. Ukraine was to be the first of many Balkanized chunks of the USSR since this plan predates USSR's demise and the advent of the Russian Federation.
Far as I can see, assassinating Zelensky would accomplish absolutely nothing for Russia. I do think it likely that some deep sea digital fiber optics cables will be wrecked by some unknown vandals.Posted by: blues | May 4 2023 16:30 utc | 10
From the previous thread:
On the contrary, it will have numerous highly beneficial effects.First, "decapitation" does not mean taking out Zelensky alone, it means that Budanov, Zaluzhny, Danilov, Reznikov, etc. are vaporized too. In fact, it is a continuing mystery why those have not already been taken out. OK, let's say Zelensky is the president and "we are not like that", and it sets a bad precedent to take him out, etc. But Budanov? Give me one good reason Budanov is still alive? Taking the command structure as a whole out will definitely help disrupt the operations of the AFU.
Second, it is not a one-time thing. You take Zelensky out, he is replaced, you immediately take the next guy out, etc. They should be given absolutely no chance to maintain a proper chain of command.
Third, it will have a hugely beneficial effect at home in Russia. I know I am getting irritating with constantly pointing it out, but that makes it no less true -- if you get your info from The Duran, Ritter, McGregor, Lira, Martyanov, etc., you are completely misinformed about the actual situation in Russia, where the patriotic portions of the population are in complete despair for more than a year now watching how the Kremlin is conducting this strange "not war". Because they remember the late 1980s, when the biggest act of treason in human history was committed, they remember the three decades that followed, during which it was never reversed, and they can clearly see that the same kind of shady dealings are going on behind the scenes now too. Meanwhile, not only is the war not fought seriously, but now Russia is humiliated daily, and there is no reaction. So there is deep, existential fear that the country will be sold out by its elites once again, and there will be no recover.
If you take out Zelensky and co., that will send a very strong message that see, we are going to be fighting the war seriously from now, nobody will take a dump on the honor of the country again, let's all mobilize and finish this thing off. Right now you have soldiers out there who have no idea what it is they are fighting for, and a substantial reason for why all these sabotage acts are so successful is that locally people are resigned to their fate and not on their guard.
Fourth, that will burn the bridges with the West for good too, because from here on the Russian elite will be a target too. That is precisely why they are afraid of taking out Zelensky, but if they finally do it, then it is an existential fight for them too, one they will have to win.
For all these reasons, it should have been done a long time ago, and the second best time to do it is now.
There should also have been a denunciation of the Belovezh accords and a derecognition of Ukraine. To hell with whether it makes e.g. Kazakhstan angry, Kazakhstan will have to be dealt with separately anyway sooner or later.
As long as these things are not done, the leading hypothesis for what is happening remains that Russia is still governed by traitors and nothing has really changed since the late 1980s.
P.S. This illustrates the situation perfectly:
May 3. There can be no negotiations with the Zelenskyy regime - Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the Russian Parliament. May 4. Delegations of 🇷🇺, 🇺🇦 and 🇹🇷 are scheduled to meet on Friday in Istanbul to discuss the issue of transporting Russian ammonia through Ukrainian ports.
Posted by: shadowbanned | May 4 2023 19:39 utc | 87
@Steve | May 4 2023 18:23 utc | 57
Sorry, Europeans no longer have the guts to revolt against their colonialism and oppresion. No hope from that area, not now at least.I guess you missed the 2+ million protesting in the streets of Paris a couple of days ago.
Posted by: Norwegian | May 4 2023 19:40 utc | 88
I doubt that promise had much credibility, and I assume that both Zelenskyy and Putin were operating their security on the assumption that each wanted to assassinate the other.Posted by: Inkan1969 | May 4 2023 16:31 utc | 11
Incorrect. Zelensky went to the front lines on numerous occasions -- Izyum, Kherson, Bakhmut, Avdeevka, etc. RU artillery had him positioned several times, but was under strict order not to shoot.
Zelensky would have never done that if he had the slightest doubt he is safe.
Posted by: shadowbanned | May 4 2023 19:41 utc | 89
I wonder if Zelenskyy will ever dare to return to Ukraine, let alone Kiev - this would make him a sitting target in case Putin wants to retaliate. It is entirely possible that he applies for asylum in Germany, which he is likely to receive - giving me one more reason to hate being German, after all decisions we made in this conflict. I would hate to accommodate this piece of **** on top of everything else.
Posted by: grunzt | May 4 2023 19:48 utc | 90
@Rattus | May 4 2023 19:26 utc | 83
We've already said no to sending F16s. Sending sexy photos won't change our minds
I wrote a long response to Paula Natasha, but the spam blocker ate it. It went something like this:
No, Paula, you are not "Paula". Paula is just a pseudonym your agent or pimp has given you. In reality you are Natasha from "Kyiv".P.S. - Tell your pimp that the Cyrillic letters а and е are not used in proper English, although they may look the same. Use A and E instead.
P.P.S. - I am sorry your boyfriend was killed in Bakhmut. I hope you find your way into Europe and find an older but rich husband. The EU is suffering a demographic crisis and needs fresh European blood. Ukraine does not need you. Russia will take care of all the babushkas.
Posted by: Petri Krohn | May 4 2023 19:50 utc | 91
if you get your info from The Duran, Ritter, McGregor, Lira, Martyanov, etc., you are completely misinformed about the actual situation in Russia, where the patriotic portions of the population are in complete despair for more than a year now watching how the Kremlin is conducting this strange "not war".
Posted by: shadowbanned | May 4 2023 19:39 utc | 87
What should one read to get a picture of the situation in Russia? I can read Russian, just don't know where to look.
Posted by: Mike | May 4 2023 19:52 utc | 92
But how can Russia respond in a way that does not (1) play into the US's plans for Zelensky's demise and (2) instigate a hot war with the US/NATO? That is the difficult question that I believe Russia is trying to answer now.
Above Posted by: WJ | May 4 2023 19:08 utc | 74
Only a difficult question for you, I suspect. Russia has already provided the answer: it can respond by simply continuing on its course as planned and thumbing its nose at the attempted and trivial provocation while reserving other actions for use to address more serious provocations that are worth addressing.
The highly opinionated in both the worlds of supporters and trolls are ceaseless in their criticism of Russia's behavior with no obvious reason to believe their opinions have remotely comparable weight to the weight of those who are actually in charge of that behavior. I'm simply enormously grateful to Russia for having stepped up to the place and put a substantial (and so far effective) bar between the spokes of the U.S.'s many-decades-long misbehavior.
Posted by: StirThePot | May 4 2023 19:53 utc | 93
If Zelenski happens to be visiting Finland, the Netherlands, and Germany when a drone hits the Kremlin, then someone with foreknowledge organized that trip. The list of countries able to set up a trip is short. And Blinken not admitting complicity is admitting the cannot afford the consequences.
Russia will do nothing, until it does, and then the world will be too small.
Posted by: Passerby | May 4 2023 19:54 utc | 94
Posted by: mk | May 4 2023 19:24 utc | 82
That Katyn Massacre really was those nasty Germans, not us straight arrow Russians. It’s when people start to elevate their side to super-human status is when humanity takes a historical nose-dive. Russians are as duplicitous, conniving and scheming as anyone else, to pretend otherwise is easily disproved and concomitantly counter-productive to the cause you are allied with.
Posted by: Milites | May 4 2023 19:57 utc | 95
any one thought of operation splatt.
lots of cheap drones loaded with paint. send them to us uk etc. if taken out by firepower then splatt anyway.
boris gets out of car. splatt. rishi needs a new suit. Joe slips in paint.
of course it would soon start a craze. schoolboys splatting teachers or their sisters.
i suggest rainbow and glitter for the usa except for the extreme anti communist right who should get red. the greens in Germany should get an electric green. zelenski et al should get colours of russian flag.
comedy not killing will be the best strategy.
Posted by: watcher | May 4 2023 20:02 utc | 97
Ukraine shot down their own TB2 Bayraktar drone over Kiev today during an "arabian wedding"
https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/60348
https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/60354
https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/60359
https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/60365
Posted by: Norwegian | May 4 2023 20:08 utc | 99
Posted by: young | May 4 2023 17:00 utc | 26
Why would any Jew need to find Jesus Christ as their "savior?...
Posted by: Inkan1969 | May 4 2023 17:01 utc | 27
Uhhm, coz the biggest funders and voters for political Zionism & Israel in the U.$.A. are the right-wing fundamentalist knuckle-dragging Bible banging white supremacist CHUDs? Because their Jaysus loves guns, violence & the death penalty (which thankfully didn't hurt Jesus coz he could self resurrect)? And since some Jews (not Zelensky though, thankfully) are kind of dark-skinned Mideastern types, it's a good way to get right with "all the good white people" (as Nancy Reagan once said)? This has been simple answers to stupid questions broadcast #167. You're welcome!
Posted by: SkepticalThinker | May 4 2023 20:10 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blames US for hit on Kremlin
“"We know very well that decisions on such actions and such terrorist attacks are made not in Kyiv, but in Washington."
US Secretary of state Anthony Blinkin has no answer
Video https://twitter.com/AbrahamStein8/status/1654156730111074307?s=20
Posted by: Dave Oneil | May 4 2023 16:11 utc | 1