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August 24, 2023
Ukraine Open Thread 2023-201
Comments
Remember all the troll parties screaming Putin is weak ‘cuz he let Prick-o-man live? Now they’re all on the Evil Putin Murder Plotter bandwagon with the rest of the MSM. My forehead is sore from all the facepalming.
Posted by: comrade simba | Aug 24 2023 23:47 utc | 175
Shadowbanned has been quite active the past week. He also called Putin weak for not executing Prigo.
I never said such a thing.
Putin is weak because NATO has been attacking Russia daily, both through its Ukrainian proxy and even directly too, and he hasn’t lifted a finger to stop it.
Now even Moscow is getting attacked daily, and since this morning, with balistic missiles too.
It has been daily life for Crimea for 16 months now, but the NATO drones part of carrying out those attacks have not been touched, and neither has been the Ukrainian proxy.
Prigozhin has nothing to do with Putin’s weakness, it is the fact that Zaluzhny, Budanov, Reznikov, Danilov, and the rest of the Kiev Nazi scum have not been touched. The other side has no qualms whatsoever about attacking Russian leadership — they have tried to assassinate whoever they can reach on multiple occasions — but Putin is not touching them even though he can erase the whole command and control structure in a matter of hours.
Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Aug 25 2023 3:43 utc | 201
Posted by: Suresh | Aug 24 2023 23:46 utc | 173
If Ukraine declares cessation of hostility and withdraws all forces from breakaway oblasts, where does that leave Russia legally?
Wherever Russia desires to be – in as legal a position it is now.
Unfortunately, President Puti is a stickler for rules, so there’s no guarantee of this.
More than a stickler for rules, Putin is a stickler for survival.
He’ll do the necessary to prevent repeat of the fall of the USSR.
The central objective of the SMO, and Putin has explicitly said as much, is to change the strategic conditions on the ground regarding the positioning of NATO forces near Russia.
No stalemate, no ceasefire, no peace treaty (short of the dissolution of NATO and dmilitarization of Europe itself), no withdrawal by either Russian or Ukrainian forces will achieve that.
All that will result is a return to the conditions on the 21st February 2022.
In the absurd event one of these do occur, it’s a certainty hostilities will merely resume again within a short period of time.
Hopefully Ukraine and NATO carry on long enough for Russia to go all out.
Indeed. Persistence is a virtue from many perspectives …
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 25 2023 3:46 utc | 202
Good job James ! Your giving complements to intelligent posters helps readers learn who is worth reading and who is worth skipping. I am pretty good at scrolling past worthless posts but since I skip about 75% of posts , often I find a valid poster because of your complements to that unrecognized [by me] poster. Keep up the good work and thanks to all the conscientious posters , you know who you are…..
Bartholomew Cubbins
Posted by: Bartholomew Cubbins | Aug 25 2023 4:29 utc | 203
Shadowban,
Strelkov is safe in Jail. Prigozhin was killed while out of custody and free to move around. You misunderstand Russian uses of prison. Strelkov will be fine. Indeed his arrest made Prigozhin feel immune. Prigozhin had attempted murder on Strelkov.
Posted by: Wokechoke | Aug 25 2023 4:31 utc | 204
We told you Greece wld be burning and you didn’t post our comment ..mark it it’s happening Turkish Russian alliance and Athens will be bombed with cruise misses drones and jets Russian flag in Greece wi.th Turkish alliance …our fear is stupid nato thinkin it can win and America? Lol they didn’t. Win one war! Germany armed fully is in,y serious threat from NATO
Posted by: Mark | Aug 25 2023 4:34 utc | 205
Mother Russia is full of hot air.. we Ukraine will win war and then we take Greece and crush Turkish empires and avenge the slaughters of 1916 genocide of Greeks, Armenians and others. Russia cannot ally for long with Muslim Turksthey are the enemies of Chrsitians
Posted by: Sonofkiev | Aug 25 2023 4:37 utc | 206
Posted by: Sonofkiev | Aug 25 2023 4:37 utc | 206
Posted by: Mark | Aug 25 2023 4:34 utc | 205
Sub-human-IQ refugees from SF.
@bar – please ignore these.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 25 2023 4:51 utc | 207
FYI – The Duran and Alexander Mercouris’ latest update on YooToob provide the most comprehensive and well thought out analysis of the circumstances around Prigozhin’s “death”.
Highly recommended!
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 25 2023 4:53 utc | 208
Posted by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Aug 24 2023 21:53 utc | 130
If it walks like a duck, it quacks like a duck, and it waddles like a duck….
IT’s A DUCK!!!
Unless it’s an automaton, in which case your confit de canard will be a hard chew.
Most likely it’s as simple as poor quality fuel with light ends being transferred from one wing tank to another…. which created a static charge….. sufficient to create a spark….
that ignited the vapors above said fuel in an integral wing tank….
which over pressured the wing skin… which burst…. and….
tore the outer wing off…
While I laud your attempt to apply Occam’s Razor, Dr. I must say your explanation sounds as complicated as many others.
What is the embraer’s record with regard to such failures?
Is there a technical history for this model of aircraft (and also similar) indicating this kind of failure is plausible?
Do you know if this model of aircraft even has this failure mode?
Now… all you smart asses out there….
Prove me wrong….
You also have an obligation to prove the smart asses wrong and not merely to toss out another narrative, Dr.
You haven’t done enough to prove yourself right!
I don’t want speculations…. if you claim a suitcase bomb in the wheel well…. how big… what would the damage be?? Is that damage consistent with the video of the falling plane???
I see the “shaped charge” theory as plausible as yours.
I say this just to point out that merely applying Occam is not sufficient to determine the truth.
Your fuel leak theory would need as much justification.
You claim a SAM hit… I want to see ditto… where the damage would be…. consistency…
I agree this one is far-fetched: There is nothing in the available footage indicating a SAM hit.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 25 2023 5:07 utc | 209
Posted by: kupkee | Aug 24 2023 22:43 utc | 150
My mistake and thank you for correcting the record. I thought it was Roosevelt , but It was someone in power , and now I’m not sure if it was Marshall,Truman or Eisenhower himself. I remember reading it maybe a decade ago in a history of WWII.
Posted by: Wondrous | Aug 25 2023 5:25 utc | 210
If it was an accident/malfunction that caused the crash we will learn this when the accident report is finished. If it was a bomb then it still may be described as an accident – depending on who the perpetrators were. I don’t expect that we will learn what actually happened if it was other than an accident unless Ukraine was somehow involved. We still don’t know what was really going on with the mutiny. This is the way with such things. More important what happens with Wagner and the SMO as a consequence.
Posted by: the pessimist | Aug 25 2023 5:29 utc | 211
Posted by: Cynic | Aug 24 2023 22:37 utc | 147
Thanks and interesting about Daniel Defoe being a British agent.
Posted by: Wondrous | Aug 25 2023 6:00 utc | 212
Shadowbanned is correct in that Russia’s conservative and relatively weak action is emboldening NATO and its proxy Ukraine. The latest is Ukraine sending cluster bombs onto Russian territory. Ukraine is controlling the tempo and it is deciding to escalate and commit more terrorist attacks on the Donbass and Russia.
Russia needs to get the lead out and go into a much higher gear before it’s too late.
Posted by: MiniMo | Aug 25 2023 6:11 utc | 213
Neither the Military or the Airforce would do anything as dumb as killing Prighozin in Russia during the BRICS event. BRICS is too important to Russia and therefore long term too important for them. And I don’t think Ukraine could or NATO would. I imagine the plane was either overworked or the munitions on board didn’t like the trip. We will see.
and he hasn’t lifted a finger to stop it.
Now even Moscow is getting attacked daily, and since this morning, with balistic missiles too.
-shadowbanned
Yesterday, shadowbanned claimed Moscow was getting BOMBED daily.
also every day he posts, he say “Putin doesnt lift a finger”, or “Putin does nothing”
As if this entire war is “not lifting a finger”
Every day he tells bald faced lies like these, and he’ll push his hysterical hyperbolic hyperventilation to the limit until the baby gets the attention he wants.
Change diaper full pf shit, baby comes back to throw tantrum tomorrow.
Posted by: UWDude | Aug 25 2023 6:53 utc | 215
☝️👉And some details in certain areas from the military commander Evgeny Lisitsyn :
▪️In the Zaporozhye direction, very intense battles are being fought in the Rabotino area. The initiative passes now to one side, then to the other. In the northern part of the village is now the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the southern part – Russian units. But the center of Rabotino is a “grey zone”. From the ground they report that under heavy fire from our artillery and aircraft, Ukrainian militants suffer more losses in manpower and equipment, but, despite this, they do not retreat, pulling up more and more new reserves.
▪️The situation is also difficult in the South-Donetsk direction. The enemy has assembled a large shock fist here and is advancing in the direction of Staromlynovka, but the RF Armed Forces are holding the line. Russian units respond with artillery strikes and clean up nearby forest plantations. It is reported that up to 230 militants, 2 armored personnel carriers, 3 vehicles, and 2 Gvozdika self-propelled guns were destroyed in a day.
▪️On the Artyomovsky direction, the enemy resumed attacks in the direction of Kleshcheevka. Their main task is to occupy the dominant heights in the area. Over the past day, the enemy managed to slightly move forward, but Kleshcheevka and the surrounding area remain under the control of Russian units. But the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to attempt attacks, throwing reserves into this sector of the front from Konstantinovka.
▪️The methodical advance of the RF Armed Forces continues in the Kupyansk direction. Russian military personnel took control of several more positions, pushing back the Ukrainian fighters. There are fights in the area of Sinkovka and near Petropavlovka, which remains under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Artillery of the RF Armed Forces is hitting the suburbs of Kupyansk, in the area of the Sugar Plant, which is a huge fortified area of Ukrainian militants.
——
Mass evasion of mobilization in Ukraine indicates a sharp drop in the morale of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — Global Times
▪️Zelensky’s dismissal of all regional military commissars testifies to the corruption still flourishing in the country and the decline in the morale of the population. A large number of young people resort to illegal means to avoid fighting on the front lines.
▪️Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the population of Ukraine has drastically decreased, and the level of casualties among soldiers on the battlefield is extremely high.
▪️Due to the minimal progress of the Ukrainian counter-offensive this year and the lack of prospects for the end of the war, even greater losses are expected.
▪️Ukrainian conscription resources are nearing exhaustion.
Posted by: unimperator | Aug 25 2023 6:53 utc | 216
Posted by: UWDude | Aug 25 2023 6:53 utc | 216
Even the western allies with all their air power might could not prevent Japan sending balloon bombs to USA and Germany V -rockets to their soils in the last few years of the war. These drones are no different.
Posted by: unimperator | Aug 25 2023 6:59 utc | 217
Source RT, just now.
42 drones in just one salvo all shot down over Crimea. 9 mini planes and 33 copter types, either shot or EW disabled and crashed.
Shame RF can’t EW-Reprogram them:
>>>Command:Return to Home and Drop Your Payload There<<<.
Fuck, that would be funny. Imagine the looks on AFU faces as their own machines started hovering above and then raining grenades upon where they left from!
So, note to @sb:
Putin and his team *ARE DOING* a lot about preventing the so called "pinpricks". So, a couple get through towards Moscow. 42 out of 42 ain't bad!
Posted by: SCCC | Aug 25 2023 7:33 utc | 218
Powerful explosions near Chernomorsk (Odessa region). Local publics report a missile attack.
Air defense works over the Kaluga and Tula regions.
Previously, Ukrainian drones are being fired at, which are trying to break through to Moscow.
At night, the Armed Forces of Ukraine undertook the largest drone raid on the Crimea. 42 UAVs participated in the attack.
9 devices were shot down, 33 crashed as a result of the impact of electronic warfare.
In addition, an S-200 missile was shot down over the Kaluga region. The probable target was the Shaikovka military airfield.
@voenkorKotenok
Posted by: MiniMo | Aug 25 2023 7:55 utc | 219
I am currently visiting Grozny, Russia, since I want to get an impression how much resources Russia has spent rebuilding the city. This would seem like a useful comparison for how Russia might act if it maintains the upper hand, e.g., in Mariupol, making it relevant for the Ukraine conflict.
I remember reading about a year ago an article by Anne Applebaum where she stated that Grozny has an ugly city center surrounded by ruins. I would like to expose this as a lie, but I am unable to currently find a link to the article. Maybe someone can help me out?
Posted by: Martin | Aug 25 2023 9:03 utc | 220
Putin has basically been in charge of Russia since 2000. So for 23 years he has been at the forefront of guiding Russia’s fortunes, to the point where Russia is totally self-sufficient and has an army second to none. The SloMO has been running for nearly 2 years now. Some in the armed forces have performed admirably during these 2 years, so much so that these individuals now assume that they should be in charge on the Russian government. So their 2 years of good work exceeds Putin’s over 20 years of seriously hard work, and Shoigu’s 10 years of hard work as Minister of Defence.
Us humans are geared to be more receptive of warriors as rulers than statesman, its in our dna. “The hand that wields the sword wields the scepter” as an old probably Mongolian expression goes. Putin is going to have to wield the sword if he is to prevent mickey mouses from taking over the governing of Russia. Looks like during every war you have to watch your generals, colonels and even sergeants very, very, very carefully because they will all assume that they are destined to lead because of successes in one, two skirmishes, even though all the equipment and materials used in the victories come from the hard work of others.
Posted by: gT | Aug 25 2023 10:37 utc | 221
@LightYearsFromHome | Aug 25 2023 10:04 utc | 226
natoids need some stories for the msm and the billions must keep flowing, war must be long. So the kamikaze attacks will increase, as well as simple terrorism. I’m sure it’s also linked to future elections in Russia, to place Putin in the worst position, so even more action could appear between January and March. If the Russian army remains with the same 5 soldiers forever stuck inside Donbass and never advancing, they could be forced to retreat in some regions, which will be great for nato if Duda agrees to invade. nato doesn’t care about dead zombies, they will always be pushed into any possible attack with a selfie camera, like the losers who landed for 2 minutes in Crimea.
I’m sure the ecowas clowns received the same plan, kamikaze wave attacks to spread the war as far as possible, Niger surely isn’t the only target there.
Posted by: rk | Aug 25 2023 11:01 utc | 222
UWDude @218, Re: shadowtrolling: “As if this entire war is “not lifting a finger””
Try to empathize with the maddening frustration this Slo-SMO is for these NAFO (NAzi FaggOt) trolls. The Russian actions are careful and measured, massively skewing the casualty ratio in Russia’s favor, while the best the Ukrainians can muster are mindless tactical level spasms and random terrorist attacks on civilians. The Russians are pulling the Ukraine’s teeth, but slowly and agonizingly. Dragging the pain out like this is driving the NAzi FaggOt trolls insane. They want the Russians to be the ones charging mindlessly into the meat grinder, not their beloved Ukro Nazis.
Of course, since the NAzi FaggOt trolls are just obese mouth-breathers living in mommy and daddy’s basements they cannot do anything more for their imagined Nazi paramours than going on social media and web fora and trying to goad the Russians into making mistakes (as if the Russians harvest their military plans from social media!). It is really pathetic and tragic when you think about it. Such hopeless ineffectuality truly defines the Empire in these its declining days.
Posted by: William Gruff | Aug 25 2023 11:31 utc | 223
Sunak back peddling like crazy as the clown show that is the U.K. government and MoD.
Better speak nicely about Russia now that the great game has come to nought again. 🤪
What will Russia and its partners support as the ukraine once again is returned to fields? Fewer because of the high monument of the last ukrops is the only lasting legacy.
No invasion to Poland. And Berlin even after that provocation. It’ll be left to the locals remaining to hold regional referendums on what they want to be. And if they want to be part of the RF. or remain as unarmed neutrals without natzos in their midst.
The actual Nazis and Banderites and Ziolenskies must pay their dues or scarper forever to their end days in ignominy.
The Cooks lastish broadcast from some African field holding his machine gun- like a soldier going to his inevitable demise heroically. Will now become iconic.
The arc of the Wagner story just finished its final act. Only the epilogue remains.
I’ll miss his loose cannon narrative! It was created to counter the Unipolar Rules based bs which is now in full retreat.
It just doesn’t belong in a new multipolar law based order and what better than to finish the narrative and show on a successful season!
Rip ole cooky your rewards are heaven borne and you will live on in history as a folk hero.
Posted by: DunGroanin | Aug 25 2023 11:33 utc | 224
In a new wave of sanctions, the EU has “suspended” the broadcasting license of a.o. Oriental Review and New Eastern Outlook. Does anyone know how to bypass these sanctions? These media are essential to balance western propaganda…
Posted by: Paul-Robert | Aug 25 2023 12:04 utc | 225
Yesterday i ve mentioned Prigozhins first pilot as the ukronazi traitor responsible for placing the explosive in his own plane
Today the confirmation .
Only death penalty will stopp the traitors from terrorist attacks inside Russia
Current treatment of terrorist is ridiculous & an invitation for other traitors to perform terrorist attacks.
Chessmaster is a weakling
Nobody respects him anymore!
❗️🇷🇺✈️ Prigozhin’s personal pilot has been named as a suspect to his murder.
⚡️Prigozhin’s personal pilot and owner of the crashed jet Artem Stepanov (pictured) is wanted by Russian police.
⚡️He had access to the plane and right before the explosion he departed for Kamchatka, where he “disappeared.”
Posted by: SlowSoft | Aug 25 2023 12:45 utc | 226
Take with usual dose of salt.
https://t.me/ZandVchannel/76553
🇷🇺✈️ Prigozhin’s personal pilot has been named as a suspect to his murder.
⚡️Prigozhin’s personal pilot and owner of the crashed jet Artem Stepanov (pictured) is wanted by Russian police.
⚡️He had access to the plane and right before the explosion he departed for Kamchatka, where he “disappeared.”
Posted by: anon2020 | Aug 25 2023 12:47 utc | 227
#230
In wagner channels they write that FSB has found traces of explosives in his apartment……
Posted by: SlowSoft | Aug 25 2023 12:55 utc | 228
“Russia may ‘suddenly break’ under pressure from Ukraine’s counteroffensive, former US general Petraeus says”
Todays news splash. Poor Russia…. All those 3 lines of defense ready to give out any second…
Posted by: Trubind1 | Aug 25 2023 13:03 utc | 229
Posted by: Paul-Robert | Aug 25 2023 12:04 utc | 227
I am able to reach NEO at https://journal-neo.su/ from the US, I always use a VPN these days.
Posted by: SwissArmyMan | Aug 25 2023 13:07 utc | 230
Exiled to Belarus, he and his cadre are flying back to Moscow? No shortage of suspects, the truth will likely never be know, but the movies, the books, the CTs etched in stone…..an extra chapter for Gonzalo and his book, if he ever gets out of there alive.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Aug 25 2023 13:29 utc | 231
Re: Posted by: MiniMo | Aug 25 2023 6:11 utc | 215
Nonsense. NATO is “emboldened” because it’s losing. No other reason. Fast pace/slow pace makes no difference. Because Russia will not capitulate, they will escalate & escalate because they chose this front & won’t accept they’ve been smashed too pieces.
Really tired of hearing what “Russia” could/would/should do. The “West” needs to pick up their toys, grab their minions, and get off Russia’s porch. That’s what needs to happen. This whole theme of “look what Russia’s doing/not doing that’s making the West do such and such”, is pathetic. The West mantra of: “I didn’t want to hit you… but you made me”…psychopaths…
The West has genocidal aims to destroy Russia entirely. It’s that simple.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Aug 25 2023 13:49 utc | 232
https://t.me/llordofwar/194961
🇧🇾🇬🇺 Alexander Lukashenko said that Prigozhin never asked him for security guarantees
“To answer this question directly: I don’t have to ensure Prigozhin’s safety. This is, firstly. Secondly, the conversation has never been in this vein. And thirdly, remember: for security we approached this twice. The first time I called him and there were negotiations, when they were marching on Moscow. I told him: “Zhen, you understand, you will kill people and die yourself?” In the heat of this man (only from the front ): “To hell with him, I’ll die!” I told him: “Zhen, I’ll send you a rope and a bar of soap.” – “No, no, no. I don’t want that. I’ll die a hero. “Here was the first conversation. The second time he came to me with Dima Utkin. I categorically warned them both:” Guys, look “,” said the President of Belarus
https://t.me/llordofwar/194965
🇧🇾🇬🇧 According to Lukashenka Vladimir Putin is not involved in the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin:
“I can’t say who did it. I won’t become a lawyer even for my older brother. But I know Putin. He is a prudent, very calm and even slow person, making decisions on other, less complex issues. I can imagine that Putin did it, that Putin is to blame. Too rough, unprofessional work, if it comes to that”, Alexander Lukashenko said
https://t.me/llordofwar/194966
🇷🇺 Lukashenko on the future of Wagner PMC:
“Wagner” lived, “Wagner” is alive and “Wagner” will live in Belarus, no matter how much someone would not like it. Prigogine and I have already built a system of how the Wagner will be located in our country. And these pictures from space, that we are dismantling something … Why are we removing extra tents – so much is not needed. The core remains here, someone went on vacation, someone even decided to live on the sidelines, but phones, addresses, passwords, appearances in this core are known. Within a few days everyone will be here, up to 10 thousand people. Now there is no need to keep them here. Therefore, they do not run anywhere. As much as we need this unit, they will live and work with us”
https://t.me/llordofwar/194968
🇧🇾 Other statements by Alexander Lukashenko:
▪️Latvia, Lithuania and Poland by closing the borders with Belarus will only make things worse for themselves and their citizens;
▪️Western hegemony is not ending yet, but BRICS expansion is a strong step in this direction;
▪️The CSTO exercises in Belarus are planned, the West should not worry about this
Posted by: anon2020 | Aug 25 2023 13:56 utc | 233
Posted by: SwissArmyMan | Aug 25 2023 13:07 utc | 232
Thank you, it works for me, too! Great.
Posted by: Paul-Robert | Aug 25 2023 15:08 utc | 234
Posted by: SwissArmyMan | Aug 25 2023 13:07 utc | 232
Whatabt Strategic Culture?
Posted by: Paul-Robert | Aug 25 2023 15:22 utc | 235
Arch Bungle | Aug 25 2023 4:53 utc | 210
Thanks for mentioning the Duran analysis; your recommendation is seconded. This hit (and that seems most likely) is indeed worthy of Sherlock Holmes/ Phillip Marlow.
Posted by: robjira | Aug 25 2023 15:40 utc | 236
MSM Yahoo news:
“If fighting grinds to an impasse over the winter, “it’s a really big problem, there’s going to be war fatigue,” said Samantha de Bendern, an associate fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs. “The US is going to be less and less interested in what’s happening in Ukraine and it’s going to be more and more
“difficult for Europeans to convince the Americans that Ukraine is an American problem.”
Who knew? It was the Europeans that dragged the US into this conflict… not freedom. & democracy after all…
Posted by: Trubind1 | Aug 25 2023 16:05 utc | 238
Nonsense. NATO is “emboldened” because it’s losing. No other reason. Fast pace/slow pace makes no difference. Because Russia will not capitulate, they will escalate & escalate because they chose this front & won’t accept they’ve been smashed too pieces.
Really tired of hearing what “Russia” could/would/should do. The “West” needs to pick up their toys, grab their minions, and get off Russia’s porch.
Bravo. The complete fucking dipshits who pose as generals and strategists of Maerica and the West are starting to realize their predicament. They couldn’t win a game of tic tac toe.
These clowns thought they were in for a big payday and now the biggest blowback in the history of mankind is poised to wash away all their schemes and machinations – and with that deluge they will go as well. Couldn’t happen to more deserving people.
Indeed hoisted on their own petard.
Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Aug 25 2023 16:49 utc | 239
@ 240
Well, that’s where the line “f**k the EU” resonates.
Those local satraps serve at their American master’s pleasure. It’s not their *place* to question even thier own scapegoating or impoverishment, nor do they frankly *deserve* to question it.
Britain is in a really bad spot in this regard. As Westminster/Fleet Strret’s neurotic, farcical, belligerence towards Russia. (as if the RF views them a nemesis, rather than Airstrip One)Thier utterly unwarranted-self-importantce vis-a-vis the EU and abbrorant Renfield like servility towards the USA.
Leaves the UK vulnerable to being everyone’s scapegoat & whipping boy. And I zero faith in the current shower-o-bastards, to handle *that* delicate diplomatic problem.
Posted by: Urban Fox | Aug 25 2023 17:13 utc | 240
I remember some time back someone (not me) came up with the moniker “101st Chairborne” for the TrollTeam.
Posted by: SwissArmyMan | Aug 25 2023 17:17 utc | 241
Here’s my Ukraine Weekly Update – it may be useful to some. https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-bd7
Posted by: Dr. Rob Campbell | Aug 25 2023 17:20 utc | 242
Posted by: William Gruff | Aug 25 2023 11:31 utc | 225
Perfect summary.
The fact is that Russia’s financial resources are insufficient compared to NATO, so this current situation can only be solved by further expansion of national capacities.
But this requires touching the interests of the oligarchs, so it can only be done under socialism.
Posted by: Colin | Aug 25 2023 18:03 utc | 243
When did Russia ever get hit with cluster munitions? I’m not talking about annexed Ukranian territory either. Whoever made that claim above, Id love to see that substantiated, maybe it happened yesterday or today, but I have heard no such thing.
Posted by: shadowloser | Aug 25 2023 18:10 utc | 244
Posted by: SCCC | Aug 24 2023 23:19 utc | 164
«Ukraine has had no moral justice to stand on since 2014.»
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/05/10/ukra-m10.html
«With the open support of Washington and its European allies, the regime installed by Washington and Berlin in last February’s fascist-led putsch is now extending its reign of terror against all popular resistance in Ukraine. That is the significance of the events in the major eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol yesterday. After tanks, armored personnel carriers and heavily armed troops were unleashed on unarmed civilians in the city, the Kiev regime claimed to have killed some 20 people.
The Obama administration immediately blamed the violent repression on “pro-Russian separatists.” This is the second time in a week that the Obama administration has defended the role of the Kiev government in the murder of anti-government demonstrators, having done so following the Odessa killings (see: “US defends role of Kiev regime and fascists in Odessa massacre”).
The violence bore all the hallmarks of a calculated provocation on the 69th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Red Army. […] These admirers of Hitler and his Ukrainian collaborators are now serving, with Washington’s full support, as the regime’s shock troops against popular opposition centered in the industrialized east of the country as well as in Russian-speaking centers such as Odessa in the south.»
https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/least-among-us-war-donbas-terrorizing-ukraines-most-vulnerable-citizens/
«The deep anger toward both Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (I was told by one young woman, a native of Donetsk, that “this is Poroshenko’s war”) and an equally deep sense of alienation from the Ukrainian state in Kiev are equally unmistakable.
One young mother told us “there is no ‘back’ to Ukraine for Donbas.” If Poroshenko and his cheerleaders in the Obama administration and the US Congress believe that an economic blockade, Kiev’s deployment of snipers, the shelling of Donbas’s civilians and a proposal to send American weapons with which to facilitate the shelling is the recipe for winning eastern Ukrainian “hearts and minds” they couldn’t be more wrong.
Yet, tellingly, this is the strategy Poroshenko himself laid out last November in a speech in which he declared: “Our children will go to schools and kindergartens, theirs will be holed up in the basements. Because they are not able to do a thing. This is exactly how we will win this war!” Well, he may have half the job done. The little children we saw are indeed cowering in filthy conditions in underground Soviet-era bomb shelters.»
Posted by: Blissex | Aug 25 2023 19:12 utc | 245
“The hand that wields the sword wields the scepter” as an old probably Mongolian expression goes.
Posted by: gT | Aug 25 2023 10:37 utc | 223
Hmmm, though we should note that the Mongol Empire ain’t doing so well lately. The demise of the warrior-king is probably a good thing for advancing civilisation, on the whole. The concept has had its day.
Posted by: ChatNPC | Aug 25 2023 19:15 utc | 246
Russia is totally self-sufficient and has an army second to none.
Posted by: gT | Aug 25 2023 10:37 utc | 223
I wonder if you really believe what you wrote.
Most of components in ‘Russian’ military equipment are Chinese or Western for instance.
Posted by: Karch | Aug 25 2023 19:53 utc | 247
Most of components in ‘Russian’ military equipment are Chinese or Western for instance.
Posted by: Karch | Aug 25 2023 19:53 utc | 249
Really? Source please. Like jet engines? Rocket engines? Really?
Posted by: RB | Aug 25 2023 20:16 utc | 248
“Most of components in ‘Russian’ military equipment are Chinese or Western for instance.
Posted by: Karch | Aug 25 2023 19:53 utc | 249”
holy shit
one of the dumbest post I have read in this site
congrats.
lol
Posted by: Comandante | Aug 25 2023 20:50 utc | 249
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 25 2023 4:51 utc | 209
My DNA tests show I am 1/2 Penepolese and Bulgarian and half Anatolian. So I am half frothing victim of something that happened to me personally 100 years ago and half nationalistic holocaust denier fascist.
Posted by: Turk 152 | Aug 25 2023 21:36 utc | 250
“My DNA tests show I am 1/2 Penepolese and Bulgarian and half Anatolian. So I am half frothing victim of something that happened to me personally 100 years ago and half nationalistic holocaust denier fascist.”
Posted by: Turk 152 | Aug 25 2023 21:36 utc | 252
Just be glad you aren’t anglo-saxon. You can still claim victim status.
Posted by: dh | Aug 25 2023 21:42 utc | 251
Posted by: SwissArmyMan | Aug 25 2023 17:17 utc | 243
HA! that’s perfect.
Posted by: pretzelattack | Aug 25 2023 21:46 utc | 252
When did Russia ever get hit with cluster munitions?
Posted by: shadowloser | Aug 25 2023 18:10 utc | 246
Donetsk City…..thats in Russia.
Posted by: HERMIUS | Aug 25 2023 23:56 utc | 253
Hey Dr Rob Campbell @ 244
wrt your weekly updates, I’ve started looking forward to these as a good concise synopsis of the week’s happenings and the easily digestible material is great for sharing with less plugged in friends and relations.
Thanks for all the effort!
Posted by: Ezz | Aug 26 2023 0:22 utc | 254
At least most of you have quit referring to Russia as a world power.
Posted by: Sergei | Aug 26 2023 0:40 utc | 257
Russia was poorer than Greece, as developed as Kazakhstan and as innovative as Slovakia. That’s hilarious how people would think Russia was even a regional power.
Posted by: Jerk | Aug 26 2023 2:37 utc | 255
Posted by: Sergei | Aug 26 2023 0:40 utc | 257
Move to San Francisco, Sergei. Then talk to me.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Aug 26 2023 3:46 utc | 256
When did Russia ever get hit with cluster munitions?
Posted by: shadowloser | Aug 25 2023 18:10 utc | 246
Donetsk City…..thats in Russia.
Posted by: HERMIUS | Aug 25 2023 23:56 utc | 255
That’s already their new “normal” (tass.com/politics/1665653), now it happens in “old” Russia too:
“Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled a village in the Belgorod region with cluster munitions from Grad. Four people from the village of Urazovo, Valuisky urban district, were wounded (three men and one woman). All have shrapnel wounds, said Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. He added that several houses and cars were damaged. Cluster munitions of militants hit private households and the territory of the store.”
Posted by: rk | Aug 26 2023 8:47 utc | 257
Most of components in ‘Russian’ military equipment are Chinese or Western for instance.
Posted by: Karch | Aug 25 2023 19:53 utc | 249
Posted by: RB | Aug 25 2023 20:16 utc | 250
Posted by: Karch | Aug 25 2023 19:53 utc | 249″
Posted by: Comandante | Aug 25 2023 20:50 utc | 251
Most ‘Western’ military equipment is dependent on Chinese components and it’s possible key items actually depend on Russian material inputs.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 26 2023 15:52 utc | 258
Posted by: Sergei | Aug 26 2023 0:40 utc | 257
You are now aware that the world is more dependent on America than it has ever been.
Lay off the crack Sergei (not a personal attack, just some friendly advice). Just looking at a chart of Chinese trade with the US, and another of the increasing use of national currencies in country-to-country trade proves you wrong.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 26 2023 15:55 utc | 259