#1 Intelligent Dasein…you are right…if your enemies torture your soldiers, kill innocent civilians ..do openly terrorist acts against non military personnel and infrastructure..you do not act against them with.. police action (SMO)…wander what it take VVP/SHOIGU to start real war against NATO forces already in the UKRAINE territory…..

Posted by: sejmon | Jul 20 2023 14:43 utc | 3

“By ordering the deployment of 3,000 more reservists to Europe, US President Joe Biden is preparing to fight Russian forces on the ground in Ukraine, Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said. ‘I want people to understand what this troop mobilization is about. It’s about preparing for a ground war with Russia,’ he said.”
Victoria Nuland has not only “fuck[ed] the EU”, but the US as well:
https://jamesburrillangell.substack.com/p/strange-diplomacy-victoria-fck-the

Posted by: doim | Jul 20 2023 14:57 utc | 5

Lots of concern posted here…
Ukraine is headed for the drain. Russia will come out on top.

Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 20 2023 15:06 utc | 7

What’s the point of the grain deal? Judging from western hysterics, the point had been to ship arms in while shipping grain out. Apparently, that’s all over now.
Putin Strikes Back: Ukrainian Ports Devastated To Cap Grain Deal’s Termination
It’s nearly time to “strike,” as show-biz people say, in the Ukraine theater: to put away the folding chairs after the show is over. That’s the sense I get from Simplicius’ sitrep. Backstage: mounting desperation for Biden’s Ukraine gambit gang.

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Jul 20 2023 15:11 utc | 9

@1. The whole point of the SMO appears to be the presontation of the narrative “say hello to the new boss not even close to the same as the old boss”
Only anti humans dont get it….Do you?

Posted by: Tannenhouser | Jul 20 2023 15:13 utc | 11

My theory as to why the military operation is taking so long:
Ukraine is an economic trip wire for the west as much as it was military trip wire for Russia.
A joint plan by Putin & Jinping to overthrow the US empire by dismantling US mandated global finance system
You see, most countries in the global south have broken economic systems and so much corruption that their elite/rich keep their stash in offshore accounts & instruments in dollars and euros.
It is those elite who are the primary obstacles to de-dollarization, not the US military.
Since government confiscation a.k.a. communism, is proven not to work in the long run, there has to be a better way. A scare tactic that posits assets could be frozen by the whims of the western class seems to be chosen as a carrot for de-dollarization. All is required is a demonstration.
Further, as long as Ukraine has a fighting chance, it keeps G7 politicians occupied/distracted while China acts to consolidate political and economic alliances around which it’s certainly doing since the last 12 months.
Teamwork by Putin and Jinping. If I sound too much like a conspiracy theorist, let me point out that they were caught on camera casually talking how they’re “driving changes together that the world has not seen in 100 years”.
Somebody in the Russian military brass (I don’t remember who it was or when or where I heard it, Duran I think) did say the timetable for conclusion is 2024. Given, what I said above, it makes sense as to why there would even be a timetable a whole 2 years ahead. So I wouldn’t hold my breathe for the armed conflict concluding soon, although I’m puzzled as to how Ukraine would continue from here with nothing left.

Posted by: FieryButMostPeaceful | Jul 20 2023 15:25 utc | 13

Posted by: FieryButMostPeaceful | Jul 20 2023 15:25 utc | 13
Aleks on BMA says that the organized resistance will be gone soon. But the unorganized resistance may continue for years. A primary concern for Russia was to avoid fighting for every single town in Ukraine the same way they had to do in Mariupol.
Larry Johnson also compared AFU to a clone that’s getting continuously re-cloned. The end result is the clone down the line will be CP/retarded. That’s what’s happening in AFU and the command structure, experience levels decline, the level of command adequacy declines and you get simply more stupid stuff, stupid attacks and decisions going on the battlefield.
Sure, the Nato wundewaffle has caused damage to Russians and their commanders too, unfortunately. But mainly Storm shadow and Himars are applicable in areas which aren’t defended / lower priority, because RU air defense is completely adapted to them and by reports has very high intercept ratio.

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 20 2023 15:38 utc | 15

Putin is a stronger leader than those of us in the West are accustomed to, but he is not an aggressive man. And he is, I think, touched by what I think of as the Russian disease…he, like so many other Russians, wants to be part of the West, not fight with it. Of course, we’ve gone so far off the deep end these days that even the most pro-western Russians have got to be thinking, “Wtf?”.
But it has been like that for Russia for centuries…they wanted to be part of the ‘European Club’, but it was a club of snobs who never accepted them. The US, in that regard, is just the even snottier little brother of Europe, just keeping the whole shitty little junior high school cliche crap going…
Why do Russians even want to belong to this club? At this point, they should be making their own ‘club’, and I hope this BRICS thing is a start. Getting their economy off the western teat and running in a new direction will allow them to generate wealth outside the western banking system. But they have to get away from the rot that is today’s American culture…it isn’t blue jeans, rock music and action movies anymore. Now they’re sterilizing and mutilating our children over here, thank God they have a leader willing to stand up against this garbage, because we sure as hell don’t.
But I do believe that Putin harbors a faint hope that the current madness will burn itself out, and is hesitant about getting too ‘escalatey’ in the interim, if at all possible. Although I think the ‘club’ is becoming less and less desirable to many Russians, Putin hasn’t been willing to close all doors just yet. Some may call that weak, but it is in fact evidence of the kind of longer-term, big picture thinking that is so lacking among leaders these days.

Posted by: bemused observer | Jul 20 2023 15:53 utc | 17

John McIntyre is an American soldier who went to Ukraine, observed and recorded what was going on, and then after a year defected to Russia. The linked story in Newsweek was published in early March. Interestingly, an interview with McIntyre uploaded shortly afterwards has accrued less than 1500 views on youtube.
I am impressed by their shadow-banning abilities, but also dismayed.
Watch and share widely.

Posted by: farm ecologist | Jul 20 2023 15:59 utc | 19

@ Intelligent Dasein | Jul 20 2023 14:28 utc | 1
yes, things are baffling, so consider asking more questions as opposed to coming up with a lot of conclusions… try that for a change..

Posted by: james | Jul 20 2023 16:09 utc | 21

If you know where these decision-making centers are, and you have the ability to target them, and targeting them would hurt Ukraine, then what the blessed fuck are they still doing there in the first place?
Posted by: Intelligent Dasein | Jul 20 2023 14:28 utc | 1
How many more times will I have to explain this?
You do not bomb command centers unless the commanders are actually there. Otherwise you are just bombing an empty building.

Posted by: UWDude | Jul 20 2023 17:39 utc | 23

I forgot, I also have to explain every time Russia bombs command centers all the time, “retaliation” or not.

Posted by: UWDude | Jul 20 2023 17:47 utc | 25

@1 intelligent daesin
1.the grain deal was supposed to have benefits for russian exports, which failed to materialize. It was supposed to also offer a basis for peace talks and win win scenarios. It was worth a try, and since russia is hard pressed to actually keep ships afloat near the coast it didn’t cost too much either.
Worth the effort on its own merits, it was never mainly about erdogan.
2. Decision making centers are where nato personnel are located. Russia may not actually know where that is all the time. Knowing ukraine they probably keep day cares as sacrifices in their government buildings, so that’s tough. Also russia gets a lot of double agents lying to them. I imagine it’s pretty tough to find and hit them at the right time. So mostly that’s idle threats.
As for russian grand strategy this war has to end when nato calculates that pursuing anti russian policies isn’t worth it. A quick victory taking all of ukraine wouldn’t do it. They need to really suffer and that will take many years. So russia has to pace itself, it can’t throw all in at the beginning.

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 20 2023 18:03 utc | 27

Do you remember why they didnt bomb the GRU building?
Do you remember how they did it when they did, and supposedly killed Budanov, but didn’t?

Posted by: UWDude | Jul 20 2023 18:27 utc | 29

“A drone attacked the northwestern part of Crimea early in the morning, killing a 14-year-old teenage girl. Four administrative buildings were also damaged, head of the republic Sergey Aksenov said in his Telegram channel.”

Posted by: rk | Jul 20 2023 19:00 utc | 31

If russia’s goals is to get more NATO around, destroy economy, lose markets, lose allies and get enemies, murder and maul russians and russian-speaking Ukrainians, militarize and extremize Ukraine – these goals are already met.

Posted by: Jan | Jul 20 2023 19:05 utc | 33

Is it so easy to do as you wish, Daesin? Is it simple? Is ot easy? Is it even doable?
Posted by: UWDude | Jul 20 2023 18:17 utc | 29

Are you saying that Russia is not competent to find and destroy Ukrainian commanders? That is a strange way of defending Russia’s superiority.
In any case, you might want to direct your question not to me but to Putin. He is the one saying that Russia was winning from Day 1, that he hadn’t started anything serious yet, and that he could hit any building in Ukraine any time he wants.
And do you know what? I believe him. I believe Russia is quite obviously superior to this enemy. So again I ask, what the hell is the holdup?

Posted by: Intelligent Dasein | Jul 20 2023 19:18 utc | 35

@36 intelligent dasein
The Ukrainian leadership takes its orders from foreigners. There’s no point to hit them, it has no impact other than making martyrs. Better for them to keep barking and buying expensive cars. That’s a better message

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 20 2023 19:28 utc | 37

Wagner seems to be settling in nicely in Belarus and is even doing combat training with the Belarusian army.
https://eng.belta.by/society/view/pmc-wagners-experience-deemed-invaluable-for-belarus-special-operations-forces-160410-2023/
No mention there of Prigozhin but there are other reports since yesterday of him with Wagner in Belarus.

Posted by: Brendan | Jul 20 2023 19:38 utc | 39

@ scepticalSOB | Jul 20 2023 19:39 utc | 41
All I heard is just before a contract for a rent on Sevastopol Naval Base was renegotiated, around 2013, the USA pressured Ukraine, that was in the mess itself, to change the constitution to forbid any foreign military to be stationed in Ukraine. They also had to restrict some laws on landownership and land lease duration. So probably that drove the big sell-off of the land there.
I do not know if they understand that every foreign investment in Ukraine, is like throwing money on the pyre. They will not get one single cent back, and I hope they are insured well.
Btw. RF needs a grain port too. And in silos you can hide whatever one wants, not too much, but enough. Izmail seems very strategic, too.

Posted by: whirlX | Jul 20 2023 20:05 utc | 41

Can this be proved? It made me nauseous..😣
No wonder the paedo British and US establishments are so invested in the ukraine.
—————————
“
🔥 The thief’s hat is on fire. While Ukraine is screaming that Putin and Lukashenko have stolen its children, the kidnapping of Ukrainian children in the EU has reached simply shocking proportions.
➡️ May 2023. A 52-year-old Ukrainian refugee has been arrested in Poznan and accused of selling children to pedophiles. She came from the Dnepropetrovsk region last year. The woman has no children of her own, she brought up foster children – 10 children aged from four to 16 years old. Investigators found out that the woman sold children to pedophiles in Ukraine and Poland. It is noted that when the clients abused them, the Ukrainian woman stood next to them and watched the allotted time (the sessions lasted 20 minutes).
➡️ An entire orphanage with 85 children was sold to Spain from Ukraine. The children were taken to the EU from Mariupol back at the beginning of the SMO and they disappeared there. Spanish newspapers tried [to find out] what [happened to] the kids, but couldn’t.
➡️ 500 children from the territory of Donbass controlled by Kiev were taken to Poland and Israel by a certain little-known organization “Ukraine Without Orphans”. A Western religious organization, whose members call themselves “Neo-Pentecostals”, also plundered at the beginning of the SWO.
➡️ In the Netherlands, 170 Ukrainian teenagers were reported missing.
➡️ Another 30 or 40 children from another Ukrainian orphanage were supposed to have travelled from Madrid to the Canaries in Spain, but disappeared without a trace on the way.
➡️ Another 159 orphans were evacuated from southern Ukraine to Turkey, but their trail was lost. They were placed in a hotel in Antalya, allegedly for security reasons. The further fate of the children is unknown.
➡️ A group of 43 children from Ukraine was detained in Lithuania. The children from the private orphanage “Perlynka” were allegedly taken for “adoption” to other countries, but the caregivers are now suspected of human trafficking.
➡️ About a month ago, the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper, citing the Ukrainian ombudsman for children’s rights, wrote about 240 cases of children being taken away from refugees in the EU countries because of incorrect documents. Social services removed children from refugee families “due to differences in legislation”.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/55939

Posted by: DunGroanin | Jul 20 2023 20:42 utc | 43

I think the best Copium Ukr Thread is that one Reddit as always
well the Copium for people like us is MoA – I like it more 🙂

Posted by: Macpott | Jul 20 2023 20:57 utc | 45

@45 west of England
Russia has always been happy to sell their resources at a fair price. For instance the German industrial economy was predicted on cheap russian energy and they didn’t try to raise the price very high. Clearly Germany was willing and able to pay more.
No, it’s the nukes and space program in russia that’s the target, their development as Putin would put it. Thus why they seem price insensitive to this whole effort. If it was just money they could’ve done a profitable business with russia.

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 20 2023 21:22 utc | 47

Military summary:
-RU actually made a small expanding of territory near Kamyanske (shore of Dnepr river in Zaporozhye)
-AFU tried to make some demining operation near Robotino but they can’t attack here
-little happening in Urozhaine and Staramayorske
-AFU launched an attack with AFVs and tanks near Ugledar, which were spotted and hit with mines and artillery (6-7 vehicles)
-RU trying to hold coal mine between Maryinka and Krasnogorovka. Details: the coal mine isn’t large and can’t hold lot of troops, reinforcements need to be called every time AFU attacks. AFU managed to ambush the RU reinforcements. The same obviously applies in reverse if AFU holds the coal mine area
-RU hit a hangar with AFU AFVs inside west of Avdeevka
-RU managed to restore some positions N of Avdeevka
-no clear picture of Klescheevka, it will be sorted out in a few days
-RU launched some offensive around Kupyansk, deduced from higher AFU losses
-T90 and T72Bm3 tank production level increase
-Also video of S-70 Hunter, which is very large
-Wagner forces deployed to the SW corner of Belarus conducting training with Belarus army

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 20 2023 21:31 utc | 49

Also, incoming artillery shells can be detected acoustically with drone based microphones. Several drones in the air and geolocated can triangulate the position of an artillery piece. Drones can transmit to the operator who performs the triangulation…. on an app … lol. Just need an accurate speed of sound measurement for the weather conditions….

Posted by: Mirrorspock | Jul 20 2023 21:50 utc | 51

Makar and his friend are not going back to Ukraine, they weren’t born to die for politicians.
Makar and his friend are fine in Spain.
Anyways, good luck in Zaporozhye and Slava Ukraini
https://twitter.com/narrative_hole/status/1682100472591548416

Two little piglets in Spain. Wonder if these will ever get rounded up or not? Because they are needed for the war effort to be kept going.

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 20 2023 22:08 utc | 53

Some videos for today.
RT frontline report from near the LPR’s Kremennaya:
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/Kremennaya_2007:a
Russian forces beat off enemy attack near Ugledar, on the southern DPR frontline:
https://odysee.com/@Overthrown:6/ugledar-afu-failedassault:5
Russian airborne troops’ artillery pounds the Banderites near Artemovsk:
https://rutube.ru/video/ee117df42798c9c14f53aed9a2a2e8b3/
Russian tank destroys enemy tank:
https://odysee.com/@Overthrown:6/video_2023-07-20_14-04-25:7
Russian T-72 tank pounds enemy positions near Kupyansk:
https://rutube.ru/video/0dc854736205e822e7d23eb9ef4a8686/
Russian Su-34 launches two glide bombs:
https://odysee.com/@Overthrown:6/_cBZgjBRORNhATEI:1
Russian Ka-52’s precision strike destroys enemy armored vehicle:
https://rutube.ru/video/5e42ac04c42f6d230d2f1000055f8cfb/

Posted by: Nate | Jul 21 2023 0:25 utc | 55

The Big Reveal —
In this and a few other ‘realist’ blogs we discuss the topic of the war almost constantly. It truly is about time that I explain to all of you fine individuals exactly why the war and its concomitant social disasters is constantly occurring.
Theories about powerless people plotting against powerful ones are called ‘narrative theories’. Theories about powerful people plotting against powerless ones are called ‘conspiracy theories’. You are about to be reading about a ‘conspiracy theory’.
The human world is predominantly ruled by mentally unwell individuals, most of whom have ascended the ladders of power via some pseudo-democracy fraud. Humanity is a diseased species. Pseudo-democracy is the biggest fraud humans ever invented. Ignore what the mentally dysfunctional fasciopathic scholars have washed your brain with. The real world is not what they programmed you to think it is.
We ordinarily do not ‘elect leaders’. We ‘elect’ false faces who misrepresent their true agendas, and instead carry out the schemes of mostly hidden mentally deranged fasciopaths who have reached the pinnacle of power.
Mental dysfunctions seldom manifest as linear ‘spectrums’, but rather as multifaceted ‘constellations’ having various, yet commonly typical traits. Fasciopaths have many traits in common with sociopaths, but these groups are nonetheless distinct. The cardinal fasciopathic traits are power craving and sadism. War between artificially distinguished common people, whom they regard as ‘subdignified’, is their favorite sport. The ruling fasciopaths simply regard themselves as ‘surdignified’, and the commoners as ‘subdignified’ mobs, as disposable pawns suitable for utilization in the ever-satisfying game of warfare. Truly sane people are ‘andignified’, and little occupied with maintaining dignity, while striving for survival, enjoyment, and life meaning.
The common people have been educated that foolish notions of ‘liberal’, ‘conservative’, ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘capitalism’, ‘communism’, and so on, and on are of great significance. However these are actually just meaningless distracting platforms for empty jargon. The only thing of significance to the rulers is the great fasciopathic game of war, and distractive albeit unnecessary commercial churning, trade, and plunder.
So long as ‘great power’ nations are ruled by fasciopaths there will always be war. And it doesn’t matter at all where.

Posted by: blues | Jul 21 2023 2:24 utc | 57

If things end up spiraling out of control, there is no way that the verdict of history will fail to place a good portion of the blame directly on Putin himself for dragging this conflict out and not acting more directly.
Posted by: Intelligent Dasein | Jul 20 2023 14:28 utc | 1
—————————————————————–
He is a troll and he is asking the same questions on every thread… maybe we could have a SloMO thread where we can safely ignore people like Intelligent Dasein instead of getting caught in their pointless rants every day, again and again…
Posted by: Zet | Jul 20 2023 17:45 utc | 25
——————————————————-
As for russian grand strategy this war has to end when nato calculates that pursuing anti russian policies isn’t worth it. A quick victory taking all of ukraine wouldn’t do it. They need to really suffer and that will take many years. So russia has to pace itself, it can’t throw all in at the beginning.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 20 2023 18:03 utc | 28
—————————————————————-
And do you know what? I believe him. I believe Russia is quite obviously superior to this enemy. So again I ask, what the hell is the holdup?
Posted by: Intelligent Dasein | Jul 20 2023 19:18 utc | 36
————————————————————–
Posted by: Intelligent Dasein | Jul 20 2023 14:28 utc | 1
As a usually intelligent poster this comment makes me query your intent.
Posted by: watcher | Jul 21 2023 0:10 utc | 55
———————————————————
In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississipi.
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.
We fired our guns and the British kept a’comin.
There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began to runnin’ on
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
We looked down the river and we see’d the British come.
And there must have been a hundred of’em beatin’ on the drum.
They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring.
We stood by our cotton bales and didn’t say a thing.
Old Hickory said we could take ’em by surprise
If we didn’t fire our muskets ’til we looked ’em in the eye
We held our fire ’til we see’d their faces well.
Then we opened up with squirrel guns and really gave ’em … well
We fired our cannon ’til the barrel melted down.
So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round.
We filled his head with cannon balls, and powdered his behind
And when we touched the powder off, the gator lost his mind.
Yeah, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn’t go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn’t catch ’em
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
Johnny Horton, peace be with you, and slow down.

Posted by: Acco Hengst | Jul 21 2023 2:45 utc | 59

No idea wtf to make of this one: https://www.ft.com/content/85161699-2808-45b2-800d-46189916fe9e
Republican war on woke will wound the Pentagon
Ukraine’s armed forces are outperforming those of Russia partly because they are more tolerant and motivated
Most surreal snippets:
– In contrast to Russia, which has almost entirely male frontline forces and is hostile to gay people in its military, Ukraine has virtually overnight become the most progressive fighting force in Europe. It had no choice. When a foreign occupier shows up, it makes sense to take any able-bodied adult who is willing to fight. Roughly a tenth of Ukraine’s combat troops are women. Some of its LGBT+ soldiers have chosen to wear insignia identifying them as such. The level of discrimination in Ukraine’s military and society at large has reportedly fallen sharply. You could say that there are no genders (or sexual orientations) in a foxhole.
– Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, has explicitly described the invasion of Ukraine as a war against a woke west that embodies degenerate values, such as same-sex marriage.
We can judge the results for ourselves. Despite having one hand tied behind its back — being unable to strike Russian territory with its western-supplied missiles — Ukraine has defied all predictions of collapsing morale. Ukraine’s troops are more motivated than Russia’s. Its fighting forces better reflect society’s make up. There is no need to cite historical chestnuts about Alexander the Great or Richard the Lionheart being gay. Just measure the effectiveness gap between the Russian and Ukrainian militaries.

Posted by: OrCastrated Mess | Jul 21 2023 3:30 utc | 61

Re: Posted by: OrCastrated Mess | Jul 21 2023 3:30 utc | 62
It’s easy to destroy this narrative – it just requires battlefield victories and measurable territorial gains.
Maybe in 2024?

Posted by: Julian | Jul 21 2023 3:48 utc | 63

Below is a current Reuters posting heading and sub heading

European countries have not fully seized on the opportunity to plug workforce gaps presented by the arrival of millions of Ukrainian refugees, even though many of those fleeing the war are highly educated.
Continual focus on that bottom line thing for corporations is not what countries are supposed to focus on, is it?

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 21 2023 5:51 utc | 65

Posted by: Mirrorspock | Jul 20 2023 21:31 utc | 49
Posted by: Mirrorspock | Jul 20 2023 21:50 utc | 52
Counter-battery radar gives its own position away, it’s cost effective so long as the radar stations are cheap enough to keep replacing or mobile enough to be more survivable. As you note, audio triangulation is passive, cheap and easily “droneable”, plus there’s the heat signature from the muzzle flash, which can apparently be picked up with IR sensors.
Any gun firing unguided shells on a ballistic arc gives away its position, firing low can keep shells below radar coverage but requires guided shells to remain useful over long range … and there’s still the acoustic / thermal signature.
The problem for high value artillery, tanks, attack helicopters, EW stations, active battlefield sensors etc. is this: there is no cat-and-mouse argument that can dial out their cost. Their cost makes them inherently attractive targets, those listed all have conspicuous operational signatures.
It’s sufficient to immobilise even the most heavily armoured or costly piece of equipment and it’s then a sitting duck that can be engaged as a stationary target.
Passive sensors where possible, lower cost distributed sensors otherwise. Munitions delivered by rockets and drones wherever possible. The place for low volume, high value systems is behind the lines where they can operate safely and even then they would remain a potential weak point for a novel attack.

Posted by: anon2020 | Jul 21 2023 8:30 utc | 67

On the territory of Belarus🇧🇾 joint exercises of special operations forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic and fighters of the PMC “Wagner Group” are held 🪖
Trainings are held on the basis of the Brestsky training ground near the city of Brest.
Joint exercises of regular armed forces and PMC units testify to a change in approaches to combat training: there is a transition from the “classical” Soviet system to the real experience of modern warfare. We emphasize – it is “war”, and not an armed conflict. […]
more on https://t-me.translate.goog/multi_XAM/520?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp
( click on “Context” to view translation – and scroll down for other posts )
The expected reaction of Poland to the joint exercises of the MTR of the Armed Forces of Belarus and units of the Wagner Group PMC
Polish Minister of Defense🇵🇱Mariusz Blaszczak reacted to these events, noting: “We expect Russian provocations, so the Polish services are constantly working <...> We must be aware that, for example, attracting several thousand Wagnerites to Belarus also poses a threat to our country. ” […]
Considering the activities of the Wagner Group PMC in Belarus as a threat, the Security Council of Poland made a hasty decision to move a reinforced contingent of Polish troops to the border with Belarus. At the same time, this decision was made at a meeting on Wednesday, exactly after a video of a speech by the head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was circulated on the network.and the military commander of PMC Dmitry Utkin – “Wagner”.
https://t-me.translate.goog/multi_XAM/528?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Jul 21 2023 10:37 utc | 69

Ukrainian forces have begun using US-supplied cluster bombs – which are banned by more than 120 countries – in the ‘“last week or so” and they are “having an impact” on Russian defences, a White House spokesperson has said.
“They’re using them appropriately, they’re using them effectively and they are actually having an impact on Russia’s defensive formations and Russia’s defensive manoeuvring,” White House national security council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.
The munitions arrived in Ukraine last week and are seen by the US as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian frontlines.
That didn’t take long!!!

Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Jul 21 2023 12:18 utc | 71

Putin at Security Council – Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian military unit is planned to be used for the subsequent occupation of Ukraine. Poland wants to tear off part of the western territory of Ukraine and Belarus under the NATO umbrella, this is a dangerous game. Unleashing a war by Poland against Belarus means a war against Russia.

Posted by: rk | Jul 21 2023 12:23 utc | 73

blues @ 58
You are correct.’ And their next war of choice is very rapidly approaching. Watch out Iran! The West is looking for another measly country to throw against the wall for us all to study and write about. Only trouble is (as the West will quickly find out) Iran will be a bridge too far. This confrontation will be the event that really gets the whole world worked up and everyone one involved, whether they want to be in on the action or not. The stage is being set. Get your shorts in order. Peace out! ✌️✊🙏🏻

Posted by: thecelticwithinme | Jul 21 2023 13:04 utc | 75

Posted by: Udkanten | Jul 21 2023 13:10 utc | 77
As far as connecting RU agricultural bank to SWIFT and easing insurance and shipping for RU grain, those have not been fulfilled ever, nor are they new demands. Also, IIRC there was a condition about RU fertilizer exports which were not fulfilled.
Dima on Military summary said that RU left one of the three ports, north of Yuzhne untouched in case the deal could be retained, but most likely it will not and they will need to destroy that port as well.

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 21 2023 13:44 utc | 77

Posted by: Udkanten | Jul 21 2023 13:10 utc | 76

… quoted from United Nations Black Sea Grain Initiative Joint Coordination Centre

The resumption of Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea amid the ongoing war is “a beacon of hope” in a world that desperately needs it, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the signing ceremony on 27 July in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The UN plan, which is linked to efforts to ensure Russian food and fertilizer reach global markets, supports the stabilization of spiralling food prices worldwide and stave off famine, affecting millions.
The Initiative specifically allows for commercial food and fertilizer (including ammonia) exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odesa, Chornomorsk, Yuzhny/Pivdennyi.
The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) was established to monitor the implementation of the Initiative. The Joint Coordination Centre is hosted in Istanbul and includes representatives from Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Nations. The UN acts also as the Secretariat for the Centre.
Ukrainian vessels guide cargo ships into international waters of the Black Sea, avoiding mined areas. The vessels then proceed towards Istanbul along the agreed maritime humanitarian corridor. Ships heading to and from the Ukrainian ports are inspected by JCC teams comprised of Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian and UN inspectors.
In April 2022, the Secretary-General met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to propose the plan.
Two UN Task Forces were established in parallel on the talks – one focused on the shipment of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, which was led by UN humanitarian affairs chief and head of OCHA Martin Griffiths, and the other on facilitating exports of Russian food and fertilizers, headed by Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD.
https://www.un.org/en/black-sea-grain-initiative

Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Jul 21 2023 15:40 utc | 79

Strelkov arrested for being a doomer lol

Posted by: Salty Oskar | Jul 21 2023 19:30 utc | 81

Strelkov’s main thesis is that Putin miscalculated the beginning of the war, which led to a lot of deaths. Keeps only loyal generals who are not able to win, and Putin removes those who are capable. Putin makes numerous concessions to the West in the hope that he will be forgiven. but he does not understand that the fate of Kadaffi or Miloschevich awaits him. To win the war, it is necessary to declare full mobilization and firmly and clearly state what the authorities want to achieve in general, but Putin does not do this because he does not know what he wants. Most likely, he wants to negotiate with the West on his own terms (a neutral Ukraine) and continue to live as before the war, but this will not happen. Putin is silent a lot, afraid to take responsibility for the war.

Posted by: MXTN | Jul 21 2023 19:38 utc | 83

The domestic crackdown post prigozhin has been so interesting and hints at the factional struggle within the kremlin
The fact ultra nationalist and mutinous characters like girkin (and the angry patriot party at large) surovikin and popov have been purged while prigozhin is untouched and maybe on a political ascent again shows that the kremlin is internally divided imo
To me the domestic situation in Russia is the dark horse that will determine the wars outcome in the next two years

Posted by: basedandcoolpilled | Jul 21 2023 19:42 utc | 85

Bad time for Turkey to violate their agreement with Russia and release those AZOV members. Can’t imagine Russia will be too trusting in any future deals with Turkey involving the war in Ukraine.

Posted by: Cheeto Babi | Jul 21 2023 19:56 utc | 87

U.S. officials have questioned how much more they can ramp up those land routes — which are extremely expensive and have also stoked anger among farmers in neighboring countries, for the stress the grain influx has put on prices and critical shipping infrastructure.
“We’re looking for options. I just don’t think we can make up the volume,” Blinken said.

Straight from the mouth of the arch-neocon in the top inner circle of the U.S. ruling clique.
And yet pro-Kiev voices online made it sound like this was no big deal, the arrangement will continue anyway without Russia, and Russia can do nothing about it or can’t stop it so they’ll just proceed and continue on as they were. Either they couldn’t stop the deal or even on the off-chance, one in a trillion infinitesimal chance they ever did, it wouldn’t have any effect and nothing would change anyway. Of course, this was utterly wrong and nothing could have been further from the truth. Even leading U.S. government officials immediately within hours and days came out against such misplaced sentiments.

Posted by: Thevaram Acolytus | Jul 21 2023 20:06 utc | 89

They’re clearly trying to find any way they can to undermine Russia. So from their perspective they get Russia to agree to this grain deal and that allows Ukrainian grain to leave for a little bit which lessens their burden and apparently gives them cover to launch attacks on Crimea from Odessa. If Russia pulls out they go to plan B which is launch a vicious propaganda campaign about how Russia is starving the world. That’s probably why Nuland is going to Africa right now to mess with BRICS countries. “Putin is trying to starve you! Why are you on his side?” Of course, Russia foresaw this and has apparently offered Russian grain to these countries for free. These people are just psychopaths.

Posted by: ThrowsiesAwayForLife | Jul 21 2023 20:14 utc | 91

Yeah, but they are so caught up in their own propaganda that they really believe the entire world thinks the way they do. It’s also in their nature to just go on the attack at all times. They’re always scheming.

Posted by: ThrowsiesAwayForLife | Jul 21 2023 20:16 utc | 93

The Crimean Bridge is Ukraine’s goal, Volodymyr Zelensky said
The Kerch Bridge is not some small logistical road. It is being used to deliver munitions and militarise Crimea. It is clear to us that this is an enemy object built outside of international law. Therefore, this is our goal, and any goal that carries war, not peace, must be neutralized,” the President said at the Aspen Security Forum.

Posted by: Myrianda | Jul 21 2023 20:44 utc | 95

indian punchline from today
Storm clouds gathering in the Black Sea

Posted by: james | Jul 21 2023 20:59 utc | 97

Re: Strelkov, Prigozhin, etc…
Their complaints are not just imaginary. There really is a layer in Russian society that is sandbagging the war effort.
Many people seem to think that Russia = USSR, and that is not the case at all. Russia may be the biggest chunk of territory from the USSR, but industrially it is just a small fragment of the Soviet Union. During WWII, the Soviet Union produced over 100,000 tanks and over 150,000 aircraft for the war effort. Since the start of the SMO Russia has produced a few dozen tanks and a small handful of aircraft. The vast majority of the hardware fielded by Russia today were, like the Ukraine’s military hardware, actually built in the Soviet Union. Much of the Russian kit has been upgraded and modernized, but were still built before idiotic and selfish liberals deliberately wrecked the USSR so that they could get rich and buy Jordache jeans (admit it, Russian expats, you absolutely loved those faggy things… you wanted them so much you threw away your country for them).
Thing is, there are still Russians who would trade in their country for clothing made in China with western logos stitched on the pockets, and these people don’t want to burn their bridges to the Empire. They sandbag the SMO in the naive and infantile hopes of eventually getting a pat on the head (and maybe a sniff) from uncle Biden. If the Nazis in the Ukraine are decisively defeated, then there will be no going back to neoliberalism. Russia’s future will irrevocably be Eurasian, and not western, and Russian liberals would hate that. So they sandbag.

Posted by: William Gruff | Jul 21 2023 21:24 utc | 99