The U.S./UK come running out of the neighbor’s burning house, hair on fire, clothes burned, matches still in hand, yelling “it ain’t us.” It was this Ukraine operative.
Jeez. Bragging about how Nord Stream would never, ever start operating, then when the do the dirty deed, claim they did not. Apparently credibility is secondary to Thuggery and Buggery.

Posted by: kupkee | Nov 12 2023 13:48 utc | 3

Z is an after thought at this point. The West’s primary objective now is to block development of a land bridge between Russia and Hungary. When Hungary and Serbia become the main suppliers of Russian Gas to the EU it will the end for NATO and the EU.

Posted by: Goran | Nov 12 2023 13:49 utc | 5

@ Goran, §3:
At present Serbia and Hungary can get Russian gas through SouthStream, but it must transit Bulgaria.
Maybe it´s no surprise that there´s political chaos in Bulgaria, with much interference from the usual subjects, to stop the Bulgarians allying with the Serbs.

Posted by: John Marks | Nov 12 2023 14:08 utc | 7

@Eighthman “And WTF is with the Washington Post? They’ve gone off narrative.”
—————
Not really. The destruction of the pipeline needs to be blamed on some group. And attempts to pin it on Russia have rightly been laughed out of the room. Reading the WaPo article it doesn’t blame “Ukraine”, it blames Zalushny who is a political rival to Zelensky and whom we’ve seen other attempts to disparage recently, and his personal assistant was assassinated this past week (certainly not by Russia). So at a stroke, blame is placed on:
1) A superficially credible culprit (Ukraine has motive)
2) Avoids blaming any official state action but places it on a political threat to Zelensky casting him as at best a loose cannon and more realistically a terrorist whom Europe will not be able to deal with or support now – if this narrative gains credence.
3) Ascribes blame to a country that has no ability to pay reparations which is as good as saying they got away with it.
So no, the WaPo haven’t gone off script at all. The pipeline bombing was 100% done with knowledge and approval (and likely active involvement) of the USA. This promotes an alternative narrative that has upsides for the USA.
And whilst Ukranian special forces being to blame for this is superficially plausible, this is a country with practically no navy, no presence in the Baltic and ignores circumstantial evidence for US involvement such as the level of sophistication of the charges and the coincidence of US navel presence at the time.

Posted by: LeOm | Nov 12 2023 14:45 utc | 9

The total amount of “help” to Ukraine closes in on the amount of ceased russian assets, so we will end up with a free war effort for the west even though we lost to the cost of 2-300.000 dead young people and million wounded or maybe even more.
Russia should open an account for people of the west who feel the shame to donate.

Posted by: Baddy | Nov 12 2023 14:47 utc | 11

Posted by: Baddy | Nov 12 2023 14:47 utc | 6
EU can “confiscate” the Russian euro denominated assets. But the real cost which you seem to be ignoring is the lost share of euro outside the EU, and USD outside the US. There are also other sort of costs, like the subsidies for consumer energy bills around €700 billion last year, and the cost of Germany losing industry in €400 billion value added products. And probably other sort of indirect costs related to EU sanctions on Russia.
US and USD will stay viable for significantly longer than EU and EUR. EU financial bloc has become unviable after German demise. The only reason it’s still held together on paper is 90% of leaders have been indoctrinated into trans-Atlantist doctrine and they will not, yet, acknowledge the failure of the bloc.
As US interest payments rise to the moon, their absorption and crowding out of EU businesses will accelerate, which in turn will accelerate the demise of EU economy.
US also left Ukraine completely onto EU, which will also accelerate the demise of EU economy.
That seems to be the general, irreversible direction and force this is going.

Posted by: unimperator | Nov 12 2023 15:39 utc | 13

At present Serbia and Hungary can get Russian gas through SouthStream, but it must transit Bulgaria.
Maybe it´s no surprise that there´s political chaos in Bulgaria, with much interference from the usual subjects, to stop the Bulgarians allying with the Serbs.
Posted by: John Marks | Nov 12 2023 14:08 utc | 4
Correct. Hungary and Serbia both share about 10 bcm of gas from that pipeline. The EU needs about 120 bcm of Russian gas it currently gets at 10x from India and other sources. What I see as Russia’s end game is 140 bcm of gas piped direct to Hungary and resold to the EU for a much lesser price than what the EU currently pays. Hungary has proven to be a trustworthy business partner for Russia. Hungary and Serbian are the only countries in Europe that still have long term contracts with Russia. Russia would get to keep Europe as a customer without direct obligation.

Posted by: Goran | Nov 12 2023 15:51 utc | 15

Posted by: james | Nov 12 2023 15:53 utc | 9
FAKE James, at least post to the right forum.

Posted by: Morongobill | Nov 12 2023 16:10 utc | 17

“The realities of Industrialized warfare – Heroism is less relevant than firepower and tactics, and all of these less important than the production line.”

Found the above quote again after a long time. Putin was lamenting about how the bravest don’t last long, because they are always the first in the attack or defense. Well since all depends on the production line, its better to just let the production line do all the work rather than take unnecessary risks. And by Feb next year it will be 2 years since the SMO started, and only by that time will the Russian production pipeline really be working. So everything up to now is just the hors d’oeuvre’s, the main courses are still coming.

Posted by: gT | Nov 12 2023 16:15 utc | 19

Ukraine Weekly Update 10th November: May be useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-a9e

Posted by: Robert Hamilton Camp | Nov 12 2023 16:38 utc | 21

Posted by: gT | Nov 12 2023 16:15 utc | 11
Many times in modern warfare heroism is crucial in determining the outcome of an encounter that then influences the larger operation that it constitutes, for the want of a nail syndrome, so to speak. It’s tempting to dehumanise warfare, but whatever technological enhancements are in play it’s still, at the end of the day a battle between grey matter, that is until AI fights AI but, even then, human endeavour will give the edge to one side.
The Germans made the mistake of thinking individual competency and bravery could compensate for outdated production practices but numbers, on their own, are rarely the solution in themselves, as many modern armies can attest. The best solution is to have motivated and experienced personnel, supplied with the equipment they need, the Russians in the SMO are heading for that sweet spot. Not only is Russia’s production able to keep up with combat attrition, but it’s increasingly able to tackle the shortfalls in equipment, critical for full-spectrum warfare, whilst but the troops who use the platforms are increasingly effective in their use.

Posted by: Milites | Nov 12 2023 17:09 utc | 23

Posted by: unimperator | Nov 12 2023 15:39 utc | 7
>EU can “confiscate” the Russian euro denominated assets.
EU isn’t going to confiscate Russian assets. It’s obvious that any eventual peace deal will require Ukraine to request that all frozen Russian assets be unfrozen and used to reconstruct Ukraine (with lots of people carefully auditing all expenditures, ha ha, this is Ukraine after all). If EU or USA refuses this reasonable Ukrainian request (for Russia’s money to be used for Ukraine’s benefit), then Ukraine has the moral right to confiscate EU/USA assets, default on debts, print up counterfeit euros and dollars, cause other economic sabotage, etc. EU/USA will back down fast when faced with those threats, given zero leverage to threaten back if Ukraine under Russian military control/protection.

Posted by: anonposter | Nov 12 2023 17:10 utc | 25

Posted by: anonposter | Nov 12 2023 17:10 utc | 14
Basically what “freezing Russian assets” means is the bonds and real estate and whatever they got hands on will be sold off and the proceeds will go to BlackRock or other companies outside Ukraine who might have pledged to do this or that project inside Ukraine. In any case, Ukraine government, and certainly no Ukrainian will never see 1 cent of the money.
It’s also possible that the purpose is purely to pay off Ukrainian debt to western institutions and maybe private investors holding Ukraine’s bonds.
Ukrainians have been for decades deluded into thinking that once they touch EU with a 30 foot pole, they will suddenly turn into Beverly Hills overnight. This thinking is one of the largest drivers why this war has the ability to continue at serious disadvantaged odds.
You are probably right though that there will be select people inside Ukraine who do have ability to skim off a small percentage of the money, US democrats will get some in their coffers, etc.
Yet again, in reality, it’s probable that the financial markets will learn a painful lesson about how Ukraine is basically an open-ended black hole for investments and within a year or two the “rebuild Ukraine fund” will be long forgotten. Once they do, the rest will basically fall onto the lap of Russia.
This is all based on that people will quickly forget their religious, political, or ethnic grudges if it makes sense from the point of view that benefits their survival or level of wealth. People in Ukraine are no different, once they see they can’t skim more wealth from western entities and the prospect of cheap stuff comes actually from SCO-BRICS the pendulum will swing again.

Posted by: unimperator | Nov 12 2023 17:28 utc | 27

Posted by: Goran | Nov 12 2023 15:51 utc | 8
From Andrei Martyanov:
Saturday, November 11, 2023
Leonkov Doesn’t Hold Back.
“Translation: Immediately after the end of the Special Military Operation, the West will not be able to fight with us. It does not have a trained army, it will not accumulate the required amount of resources, it has no plans for war with Russia. It only has scraps of speculation and guesswork. These three factors make war with NATO unlikely. It is clear that the United States can push the Europeans to take crazy steps. But on the economic and diplomatic front we have specialists who will try to keep them from doing this. And the NWO will lead to processes that will lead to a split in the European Union and NATO. If we break through a land corridor to Hungary, then Serbia will be magnetized to this axis. And it can be followed by Slovakia and Romania, where very interesting processes are taking place. Eastern Europe will begin to break away from old Europe, which will be severely depressed due to the economic situation. After all, Europe is defeated not only on the eastern front, but also in the global south (it is not so simple with China).
Consider this: Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Serbia have a combined population of roughly 42 million. This is substantial, it is also a promising market–make your own conclusion. As I already stated many times, Russia doesn’t need love or obedience, Russia is interested in trade with people who still recognize that there are only two genders. Simple as that. Once the land bridge is built, European structure changes dramatically. Old Europe can go and die.”

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Nov 12 2023 17:45 utc | 29

Posted by: james | Nov 12 2023 15:53 utc | 9
That reminds me of the ‘”Fawlty Towers/Basil Fawlty’ sketch where the German person says “You started the argument” and Basil says “No, you did – you invaded Poland”
You may be a false ‘James’, but you should at least try to live up to his standards. Yours are so blinkered it’s a wonder you can see to type.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Nov 12 2023 17:50 utc | 31

Posted by: unimperator | Nov 12 2023 17:28 utc | 15
I think you misunderstood me. I believe Russia will not accept any peace treaty that doesn’t make Ukraine a vassal state. That vassal state will then get the $300 billion and will put to it use under Russian supervision to rebuilding. Blackrock, IMF, etc will get nothing of this $300 billion. If the vassal state does not get the $300 billion, it will be allowed to go on the economic rampage, under Russian protection and with tacit Russian approval but official Russian disapproval.
Ukraine will have a lot of disabled and unemployed and armed veterans. If they are not provided for and Russia can successfully argue that it is willing to spend part of the $300 billion giving them jobs (suited for their disabilities, if disabled), the rage against the west will be a frightening sight to behold. This is why I said EU/USA will back down fast and unfreeze that $300 billion into joint Russian/Ukrainian hands. In fact, EU may have to supplement the $300 billion to keep the rage at bay.

Posted by: anonposter | Nov 12 2023 17:52 utc | 33

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Nov 12 2023 17:45 utc | 16
Ukraine losing Black Sea coast, and a land border with Hungary will be – while perhaps not the end of EU – it will be the end of Trans-Atlantic hegemony in a large portion of Europe.
Hungary will become massively wealthy and a Switzerland of commodity trading hub between much of Europe and rest of the world. Serbia will also become powerful and wealthy, and in turn begin the conversion process of other parts of the Balkan from EU-Nato to BRICS-SCO.
But we aren’t there yet, we will have to see what occurs in the next few years. But clearly someone in Russia has thought this through a bit further.

Posted by: unimperator | Nov 12 2023 17:53 utc | 35

Posted by: anonposter | Nov 12 2023 17:10 utc | 14
You’re right “EU isn’t going to confiscate Russian assets.” Because it has no legal right to do so, and if it does it anyway there will be consequences to the EU from Russia which still holds billions of EU assets. The Ukraine will be in no position to demand anything after it has unconditionally surrendered, which is what it will have to do, once the dollars run out, as they are in the process of doing

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Nov 12 2023 17:57 utc | 37

Posted by: anonposter | Nov 12 2023 17:52 utc | 18
Ukraine is basically a hot potato game. The game is who can shovel most of the future costs for upkeeping Ukraine and its devastations to the other side.
Russia will probably not rebuild Ukraine as it was for a very long time or even ever. Russia will rebuild some parts of Ukraine as when-needed basis.
The original US plan was Russia to occupy entire Ukraine and bankrupt itself.
The Russian objective would be to kick out the nazis from the area it controls and probably to create some sort of neutral or east-aligned buffer state between itself and Nato. It doesn’t want large areas, but now the situation is what it is.
US neocons were already screaming that China can’t be allowed to participate in rebuilding Ukraine. But it’s probable that China could become interested in participating in reconstruction in Ukraine, and in the best case for Russia, most of the resource minerals will end up under its control, or worst case they can deny the use of those resources from the west, anyway.
Now the question of disabilities. It’s apparent the west “owns” a large part of Ukraine now. All those dozens of thousands of disabilities belong to the west. That is why recently they demanded to cut support payments to disabled people in Ukraine. Because it’s hugely costly and can lead to bankrupting EU even more.
Basically the current Kiev regime is a western controlled puppet and it is robbing Ukraine blind.
The most likely outcome will be some sort of fracturing of Ukraine, and more cooperation with Russia and some eastern and central parts of former Ukraine. But we aren’t there yet, we will need to see what happens.
The current talks in the west of “stalemate” are merely a narrative, which they hope to use to create Minsk 3. However, signals indicate SMO will continue over next year and probably till 2025. Meanwhile AFU effectiveness is dropping continuously to lower levels (meaning they need more troops to achieve same results, be it defending or attacking) while RUAF effectiveness is only increasing.

Posted by: unimperator | Nov 12 2023 18:11 utc | 39

@ Eighthman | Nov 12 2023 13:36 utc | 1
I heard (today tin fact) hat Naftali Bennet asked Putin personally to not assassinate Zelensky. So the jews are to blame once again. Just joking, but who do you think should assassinate Zelensky and for what reason? If his life is in danger than rather from national radicals in Ukraine.
And in retrospect, his way of running the show (mainly in military terms) is a present that keeps on giving. The west did not need him to pour weapons into the country and Zalushny (as a example) would have caused RU way more headache.

Posted by: El.Lissitzky | Nov 12 2023 18:30 utc | 41

American, Brit, and European banks will steal what they can from Ukraine and dip. That’s the real danger for European stability, and if Putin is smart he leaves a rump Ukraine to fester. Russia won’t ever win over the western oblasts and some of the central ones are more long term than they’re worth. The way to win them is to redevelop their neighbors in eastern “Ukraine” and let the comparison speak for itself. Russia and China wil be pouring money into some parts of the eastern oblasts, the latter as soon as the conflict is over.
That rump Ukraine, still corrupt and oligarchic-organized crime state that it will be, is a serious problem for Europe. One which Europe won’t be able to easily turn its back on. It will be full of angry, nationalist combat veterans; lacking in economic opportunity; and abandoned. The first use of a combined, non-NATO European military force will probably be Ukraine.

Posted by: Lex | Nov 12 2023 18:45 utc | 43

” I heard (today tin fact) hat Naftali Bennet asked Putin personally to not assassinate Zelensky. So the jews are to blame once again. Just joking
Posted by: El.Lissitzky | Nov 12 2023 18:30 utc | 23 ”
Why the joke ? I was under the impression thats exactly what happened.

Posted by: Moonie | Nov 12 2023 18:47 utc | 45

“The original US plan was Russia to occupy entire Ukraine and bankrupt itself.”
How On earth would a fully sovereign Russia that issues its own currency bankrupt itself ? It is neither a household or business. It ” issues ” the currency.
Can you show me using the actual Russian government balance sheets how that would happen ? How a situation would ever arise when the Russian state could no longer ” issue ” rubles.
Be very careful now if you want use history to prove the point as those were different times and very different monetary system to what we have today.

Posted by: Echo Chamber | Nov 12 2023 19:08 utc | 47

Posted by: Lex | Nov 12 2023 18:45 utc | 24
>if Putin is smart he leaves a rump Ukraine to fester.
There are several issues. First, to end the war, Russia needs someone from the Ukrainian security apparatus (military, SBU, GUR, etc) to make a deal with Russia then stage a coup. The Ukrainian side has to be able to buy off the troops, both current and disabled. That $300 billion is thus partly to give these troops jobs. No peace agreement possible if no money for troops, and “festering” becomes a moot point until there is a peace agreement.
Second, Russia needs a pipeline and railroad to Hungary, so it can’t allow western Ukraine to “fester” in the sense of anarchy. It would be madness to occupy Lviv, but there needs to be law and order, and so another use of the $300 billion is to ensure western Ukraine has enough prosperity that the majority has something to lose and so won’t sabotage the pipeline and railroad and risk another war.
Third, most of the destruction is in eastern Ukraine, so most of the $300 necessarily goes to Russia controlled and/or Russian friendly areas. Remember, I’m assuming Russia supervises the spending of that $300 billion, perhaps with publicly available accounts so everyone in Ukraine can see that much of money is going to pay Ukrainian veterans versus being stolen.
(As an aside, radical glasnost might be the solution to Ukraine’s corruption. Make everyone publicly report all assets and all income and also make voting at elections non-anonymous. Desperate situations demand desperate remedies.)
People underestimate how fast old enemies can forget the past if money is being offered to forget. As Machiavelli put it, “men will easily forgive killing their fathers provided you also don’t steal their inheritance”. USA nuked Japan and devastated Germany, remember. All that was quickly forgotten when it became apparent that USA was going to allow Japan and Germany to become rich if they cooperated.

Posted by: anonposter | Nov 12 2023 19:18 utc | 49

Posted by: Echo Chamber | Nov 12 2023 19:08 utc | 26
Would you please stop with the misinformation about your MMT (magic money tree) obsession! It is a western thought virus that has permeated academia – notably those that havent lived through hyperinflation caused by such stupidity.
It hardly applies to countries not on the euro or dollar. The EU and US are doing it because of the enormous financial wealth and depth but it will be limited at some point. Maybe even now.
If money printing was the answer we would all be stinking rich.

Posted by: alek_a | Nov 12 2023 19:27 utc | 51

Posted by: anonposter | Nov 12 2023 19:18 utc | 27
You guys are like in the old saying: pan on the fryer but the fish is still in the sea.
The world will turn over many times before we see NATO back to its natural cultural-sociological borders (the ancient viking and barbarian lines or what is fashionable nowadays: “anglo-saxon” realm).
Russia first needs to out-science, out-engineer, out-produce out-culture the West.

Posted by: alek_a | Nov 12 2023 19:34 utc | 53

I believe the Kahovka dam needs to be repaired in order for the Zaporhizhia NPP to be brought back online and function normally. Also for the Crimean canal. No doubt a short term fix has been engineered with pumps and ponds or wells, but I don’t believe this to ve sudficient to opperate the power station normally.
Akso, the right bank of the Dnipr has proved to be a persistent security risk for the Russian bank in Kherson.
I don’t believe Russia can solve these issues prior to a collapse of the front and retreat of UAF forces to the north.
Some months ago it was reported that Russia was working on a rail link to Mariupol from the east (Tagnarog Russia) and repair or construction of a rail link over the Kalmius R near Hranitne. Not sure how this is progressing, but such projects should ease logistics in Kherson.
Bottom line, somehow Russia should control the remainder of Kherson oblast, regardless of what eventually happens to the west.

Posted by: the pessimist | Nov 12 2023 19:37 utc | 55

”
How On earth would a fully sovereign Russia that issues its own currency bankrupt itself ? It is neither a household or business. It ” issues ” the currency.
Posted by: Echo Chamber | Nov 12 2023 19:08 utc | 26 ”
Most nations issue their “own” currency, the question is whether debt is incurred by doing so. Your question should be: Does Russia issue its own debt free currency ?

Posted by: Moonie | Nov 12 2023 19:39 utc | 57

This ‘300 billion’ which is being bandied about, which is Russian money held by the crooked west, is ‘Russian money’. It is not ‘Ukrainian money’ or ‘EU’ money or ‘western money’ or ‘dedicated to the regeneration of the Ukraine money’. If Russia wants to use rubles in Ukraine it will do, wherever it wants to, but any Russian monies held by the west still belong to Russia, and if it does not get them back when the war is over it has options to retaliate. That is the legal situation.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Nov 12 2023 19:43 utc | 59

I don’t get why people keep bringing up this mythical $300 billion.
They CW don’t have it.
However even if they did, what prevents Russia from refusing to accept the validity of that freeze. Then creating an equivalent amount of roubles in a RF central bank account?

Posted by: Urban Fox | Nov 12 2023 19:52 utc | 61

@ Moonie | Nov 12 2023 18:47 utc | 25
„ Why the joke ? I was under the impression thats exactly what happened.“
Well, reality is the best joke / script writer.
Ask Jean Penn if you don‘t believe it.

Posted by: El.Lissitzky | Nov 12 2023 20:15 utc | 63

A bankrupt EU will OF COURSE steal Russian assets. but they will steal everyone else’s assets, including citizen’s cash (ask Cyprus) rather break the EU project.
However, cheap energy would resuscitate Germany, the economic engine of the EU. If I was Russia, I would say – ‘we’ll charge you a premium until you pay back our assets. Still cheaper than US LNG, but extra profit for us.

Posted by: scepticalSOB | Nov 12 2023 20:20 utc | 65

@Milites — 13
How right you are. The Soviet forces built up right before Barbarossa were just massive. I mean, unbelievably massive. Any one with the right intel would have thought that Germany would have been WIPED OUT in the first six months to a year. I’m being imprecise, but it was on the scale of tanks, Soviets = 35,000; Germans = 3,500. I mean 10 to 1 advantage.
That is why Churchill panicked when the Germans basically wiped out the entire front line of the Soviets in the few first weeks/months of the war. Took over much of Soviet stockpile and untold numbers of POW.
I would say that the only two armies with deep knowledge of combined arms warfare would be Germans and Soviets. The Wermacht achieved truly super human feats in the opening year of the war.
But the Soviets were too strong and too determined/driven. Plus, they had a grisled General Staff with many competent officers. They reconstituted 600+ more divisions than German intel thought they were capable of. German intel was woefully wrong on Soviet strength. And they only realized that too late. By the time Germany went full mobilization it was already too late.
History, real history, is just fascinating.

Posted by: Johnny | Nov 12 2023 20:34 utc | 67

One detail that may grow more important in the future, is the number of Ukrainian soldiers who are captured, and describe how they were left by their commanders, in situations without a clear direction or any sort of backup or sufficient ammunition etc..
Specifically those from the the “beachhead” near Kherson, who have been abandoned on the wrong side of the Dniepr.
The examples seen on X may be due to Russian “propaganda”, but I think there is more to it than that. The “command structure” and the relatively untouched “mobilization area” in Western Ukraine, is becoming emotionally separated from the rest of the country. ie. The fodder are starting to hear what is happening to them, and they don’t like it.
*
This is going to be a decisive factor if (or when) any division of Ukraine is made. – or it may just all fall down before that as the “fodder” get to refuse, and the command get to flee the warzone. If the Commas do not actually fight with their troops now, then they are not going to stay around if things get rough. (Apart from there being less and less of them as the war progresses anyway.)
Any ending on Russian terms may have the result of rapidly emptying Ukraine of it’s corrupt “elite”. Rebuilding could then become easier, and “ordinary” survivors might find that helping the Russians to rebuild (for themselves) as a way of making real peace.

Posted by: Stonebird | Nov 12 2023 20:51 utc | 69

Stonebird | Nov 12 2023 20:51 utc | 37
There is a Ukraine politician, now in Russia. He was arrested held for some months and beaten a bit. I see the distinct possibility of a movement or force consisting of these POW’s with him as leader being a nucleus of a future neutral rump Ukraine.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Nov 12 2023 21:09 utc | 71

11 Let’s hope RF can supply with that production line the ones needing it to keep out Zionist expansion. If usa can supply Ukraine with everything required and claim not being a party to it , has to work both ways.

Posted by: Hankster | Nov 12 2023 21:19 utc | 73

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Nov 12 2023 17:45 utc | 16
The last paragraph (“Old Europe can go and die”) was added in by Martyanov himself. Thanks for reminding me why I stopped reading his site.

Posted by: joey_n | Nov 12 2023 21:40 utc | 75

What’s going on in Rabotyne?

[ Album ]
Failure of the enemy’s attack at Rabotino: the 42nd division destroys the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ assault groups with oncoming fire
On the Zaporozhye Front, the enemy will continue offensive operations near Novoprokopovka.
Ukrainian Armed Forces units are trying to advance under fire from Russian troops. During the battles, ours destroy enemy forces and put the survivors to flight.

https://t.me/NovichokRossiya/41572

Posted by: unimperator | Nov 12 2023 22:10 utc | 77

Z and his cronies money is already marked for freezing by the West
When this is over Z will be broke and wanted for war-crimes.
Truth is WW3 is about to start this week and many will die.

Posted by: Peace | Nov 12 2023 22:22 utc | 79

Truth is WW3 is about to start this week and many will die.
Posted by: Peace | Nov 12 2023 22:22 utc | 42
Bartender, I will have what he is having! Make it quick, we have one more week left!

Posted by: alek_a | Nov 12 2023 22:32 utc | 81

Posted by: james | Nov 12 2023 15:53 utc | 9
Correction:
it is an unpopular opinion but also a fact that ukronazis started this and Russia has every right to remove that threat from its western border using whatever it takes to do so…cheers

Posted by: Naive | Nov 12 2023 22:39 utc | 83

Posted by: unimperator | Nov 12 2023 22:10 utc | 41
As usual.
Counter-offensive aka meat-grinder.

Posted by: Naive | Nov 12 2023 22:41 utc | 85

Ukraine is trying to ship a large amount of grain from Odessa and river ports nearby since the start of November after attacking Russian naval assets in the Black Sea. Ukraine must be stopped from exporting grain as it funds its war against civilians in Donbass and Luhansk.
Russia should use anti ship drones, long range missiles against Ukraine’s ports, sea mines and air strikes to destroy Ukie exports.

Posted by: Jason | Nov 12 2023 22:41 utc | 87

Bottom line, somehow Russia should control the remainder of Kherson oblast, regardless of what eventually happens to the west.
Posted by: the pessimist | Nov 12 2023 19:37 utc | 30
The Kherson oblast is part of the Russian Federation. It will be liberated sooner or later. There is no hurry.
As Kharkov, Nikolaiev and Odessa and possibly more.

Posted by: Naive | Nov 12 2023 22:46 utc | 89

Most nations issue their “own” currency, the question is whether debt is incurred by doing so. Your question should be: Does Russia issue its own debt free currency ?
Posted by: Moonie | Nov 12 2023 19:39 utc | 31
——————-
Also it depends on what the currency is used for. Neoliberalism hijacked ‘MMT’ and used the money printing to prop up stocks and real estate rather than for useful and productive projects.
On a more basic level most MMT proponents see it as trying to salvage capitalism rather than a bridge to socialism.

Posted by: financial matters | Nov 12 2023 22:47 utc | 91

Jams O’Donnell @ 16, Unimperator @ 19:
If the EU and NATO were to break up, that leaves a power vacuum in eastern Europe that Poland will rush to fill as part of its Intermarium fantasy of being the leader of Europe from the Baltic to the Black Sea (and the Adriatic).
Warsaw already has northwestern Ukraine sewn up in the event that Ukraine falls apart and is likely to try annexing other parts of eastern Europe once they start collapsing from lack of EU funding. Vilnius in eastern Lithuania might be a target for Polish ambitions because the city was part of Poland from 1921 to the early 1940s.
There will be a fair few more trials in Europe and possibly even another drawn-out conflict in which Russia may have to help defend Belarus and those two nations grind Poland down into the dust, before the golden age Unimperator envisions can happen.
A wealthy Hungary, by the way, would be Romania’s worst nightmare (Budapest might want parts of western Romania back: they’re Hungarian speaking, after all) and a wealthy Serbia would give its neighbours Croatia and Kosovo sleepless nights as well.

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Nov 12 2023 22:49 utc | 93

Most of the reconstructions will happen in Russia: Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhie oblasts. Like with Mariupol and Volnovakha.

Posted by: Naive | Nov 12 2023 22:52 utc | 95

Truth is WW3 is about to start this week and many will die.
Posted by: Peace | Nov 12 2023 22:22 utc | 42
Are you ready to bet it will not start this week, nor the next one?

Posted by: Naive | Nov 12 2023 22:56 utc | 97

Personally I found martinovs statement that Russia is interested in trade with nations that recognise only 2 genders sobering. Wasn’t it Estonia that had 2 referendums to be rejected but recognised gay marriage gender stuff anyways to be European values. Why bother with the people’s vote when its the politicians that just need the price of a suitcase of cash or if that doesn’t work a weekend at Epsteins, after that it’s a photo with a target sent to the politician of his children leaving their private school.

Posted by: Hankster | Nov 12 2023 23:01 utc | 99