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January 31, 2024
Ukraine Open Thread 2024-035
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Summary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation (as of January 31, 2024)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to conduct a special military operation.
In the Kupyansk direction, units of the “Western” grouping of troops, with active actions, air strikes and artillery fire, repelled six attacks by assault groups of the 30th, 32nd, 44th mechanized, 57th motorized Infantry and 25th airborne brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka, Tabayevka, Kharkiv region and Terny, Donetsk People’s Republic.
The enemy lost up to 80 soldiers, a tank, three vehicles, an AS-90 self-propelled artillery unit made in Great Britain and an M777 howitzer made in the USA.
In the Krasnolimansk direction, coordinated actions of units of the Center group of forces occupied more advantageous lines and positions, as well as inflicted fire damage on the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Grigorovka and Dzerzhinskoye of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
In addition, three attacks by assault groups of the 60th mechanized Brigade and the 12th special purpose brigade were repelled in the areas of the settlements of Yampolovka of the Donetsk People’s Republic and Kuzmino of the Luhansk People’s Republic.
The enemy’s losses amounted to 280 soldiers, two armored combat vehicles and seven vehicles.
In the Donetsk direction, units of the “Southern” grouping of troops improved the situation along the front edge, defeated the manpower and equipment of the 28th, 54th mechanized brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 112th and 114th air defense brigades in the areas of the settlements of Verkhnekamenskoye, Artemovskoye, Krasnoe, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka and Leninskoye of the Donetsk People’s Republic The Republic.
The enemy lost up to 310 soldiers, a tank, three armored combat vehicles, ten vehicles, as well as a self-propelled artillery installation “Gvozdika”.
In the South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok group of forces, in cooperation with aviation and artillery, repelled an attack by assault groups of the 79th Airborne Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the settlement of Novomikhailovka of the Donetsk People’s Republic, and also defeated the manpower and equipment of the 128th Air Defense Brigade in the areas of the settlements of Urozhodnoye and Staromayorskoye Donetsk People’s Republic.
The losses of the Armed Forces amounted to 115 soldiers, two armored combat vehicles and two cars.
In the Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian group of troops, with the support of artillery, defeated the manpower and equipment of the 33rd, 65th, 118th mechanized and 128th mountain assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Workino, Orekhov, Malaya Tokmachka and Shcherbaki of the Zaporozhye region.
The enemy lost up to 80 soldiers, a tank, three armored combat vehicles, two cars and a D-30 howitzer.
In the Kherson direction, as a result of the active actions of units of the Russian group of troops and the complex fire defeat of the enemy, the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine amounted to up to 30 servicemen, five vehicles and a warehouse of rocket and artillery weapons.
▫️ Operational and tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of groups of troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed: the IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile system manufactured by Germany, the Pelican air target detection radar station, as well as the personnel and equipment of the 3rd assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a fuel depot, manpower and military equipment in 136 districts.
Nine HIMARS multiple rocket launchers manufactured in the United States were shot down by air defense means.
In addition, 81 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed, including in the areas of the settlements of Petrovskoye, Tokarevka, Kharkiv region, Zhitlovka, Kremennaya, Luhansk People’s Republic, Khartsyzsk, Donetsk People’s Republic, Zhovtnevoye, Orlyanskoye, Zaporizhia region and Novaya Kakhovka, Kherson region.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 568 aircraft, 265 helicopters, 11512 unmanned aerial vehicles, 457 anti-aircraft missile systems, 14,860 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,211 multiple rocket launchers, 7,906 field artillery and mortars, as well as 18,103 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed.
Posted by: rumod report | Jan 31 2024 16:13 utc | 1
Question: Did Zelensky consult with the US or NATO before his move to fire Zaluzhny yesterday?
Posted by: Noah Nehm | Jan 31 2024 16:18 utc | 2
Posted by: Noah Nehm | Jan 31 2024 16:18 utc | 2
Nuland is in Kiev today. Talk about criminals always returning to the crime scene.
Is it a coincidence that Zelensky backs off sacking Zaluzhny at the same time?
Posted by: unimperator | Jan 31 2024 16:35 utc | 3
Nuland is the annoyed owner showing up telling management their public squabbling is causing the stock price to tank and that they are all around underperforming, start showing positive results or heads will roll.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 31 2024 16:44 utc | 4
If only Ukraine Flakes cereal (now with NATO marshmallows!) gave dry, plausible reports like rumod report reprinted from the Russian Ministry of Defense above at post 1, then I would have been more inclined to think of it as part of a complete breakfast. As it is I suspect Ukraine is all over-priced, frosted-covered, sugarbombs that’s gonna rot out teeth and empty wallets. EU needs more parental guidance or it is going to end up toothless and broken.
Posted by: titmouse | Jan 31 2024 16:52 utc | 5
Sputnik News:
Putin: Ukraine Downed Russian Il-76 Full of Ukrainian PoWs Using US-Made Patriot Missile System
Six Russian crewmembers, three Russian servicemen and 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed in a Ukrainian surface-to-air missile attack targeting an Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlifter over Belgorod region last Wednesday. The plane was on route to a planned prisoner exchange, which was subsequently cancelled.
The Russian Il-76 transport plane full of Ukrainian PoWs downed over Belgorod region on January 24 was targeted using an American-made Patriot missile system, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced, citing the findings of Russian investigators.“The plane was shot down by the American Patriot system. This has already been established for certain in an expert review,” Putin said, speaking to election campaign surrogates in St. Petersburg on Wednesday.
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 31 2024 16:55 utc | 6
Nuland was also on the record stating that there will be no withdrawal from syria either, despite rumors Biden wants to run away from there too.
Clearly she’s the face of the America’s true rulers trying to enforce their authority.
On the Ukrainian front it seem ukraines new Nato approved strategy of defending only is coming online. Ukrainian counter attacks have reportedly stopped.
The next phase of the war is beginning as no one wins a war on defence but ukraines resources are still substantial. A slow grinding retreat until they get their next 100 billion to reanimated their economy and state.
But again they’ve got a lot of weapons stashed away, they will be forced to use them, even if they want to sell them later after the war. No new money until the locals cough up what they’ve stolen.
That’s this phase.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jan 31 2024 17:01 utc | 7
Vicious Vicky Nuland/Nudelman…..visit Kyiv…will Dr.Kinzhal visit her …as did (?)honorable lloyd austin ?????
The prisoner exchange was completed successfully with 195 soldiers from each side.
As for why UAF soldiers would wish to return – no doubt many have families in Ukraine they wish to return to.
Posted by: the pessimist | Jan 31 2024 17:07 utc | 9
Posted by: titmouse @ 5
And the prize in the box was a let down too, I could have gotten something better from a 5 cent gumball machine.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 31 2024 17:07 utc | 10
“Nuland is the annoyed owner showing up telling management their public squabbling is causing the stock price to tank and that they are all around underperforming, start showing positive results or heads will roll.”
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 31 2024 16:44 utc | 4
Have the following phrase delivered by a Palestinian youth (its Captain Ahab) whose family has just been killed by the Zionists in Gaza and the whale is Nuland:
“Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from Hell’s heart I stab at thee;..”
The whale imagery is not much of a stretch.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/87752
Demographic extinction is not far fetched.
Posted by: Eighthman | Jan 31 2024 17:20 utc | 12
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 31 2024 16:44 utc | 4
Ha! Very good, and reminded me of Brando/Kurtz telling off Sheen/Willard.
https://youtu.be/JzavWBsm88w?si=aL7ooxTRV3FpD8-W
Kurtz : I expected someone like you. What did you expect? Are you an assassin?
Willard : I’m a soldier.
Kurtz : You’re neither. You’re an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect a bill.
Posted by: Babel-17 | Jan 31 2024 17:26 utc | 13
Vicky Nuland visits Kiev.
Why is she not involved in a fatal car accident ? A regrettable fall downstairs which ends with a broken neck ? A mass shooting perpetruated by a desperate ukrainian mental patient who lost all his brothers and oncles in the trenches ? Unfortunately killed by a rogue drone gone mad due to an unfortunate software bug ? Abducted by a mafia gang confusing her with someone else ? A terrible slip through a window from 11th floor ?
There are many ways to get rid of this criminal filth without the russians being the official culprits.
One million and half people died on both sides because of her. Millions of other people impoverished or exiled. An economy and a country utterly destroyed. Millions of people without a future.
The fact that she’s allowed to come to Kiev, and then to just walk away as if nothing, is making a lot of people distrust everybody, and lose any kind of sense of Justice.
It is wrong in so many ways.
Posted by: Pierrot | Jan 31 2024 17:32 utc | 14
JUST SEEN – UKRAINE will today receive its first big batch of longer-range missiles that promise to blast Putin targets twice as deep inside Russia.
The imminent arrival of the brand new 100-mile precision bombs follows months of testing by the US military.
“It’s just an extra arrow in the quiver that’s gonna allow them to do more.”
Co-developed by Boeing and Saab, the weapon comprises a precision-guided 250lb bomb strapped to a rocket motor that can be fired from various ground launchers.
Posted by: Geraint ap Iorwerth | Jan 31 2024 17:37 utc | 15
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland arrives in Kyiv on a visit
12:47, today
This was announced on January 31 by US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink on the social network X.
“I welcome the return to Ukraine of US Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland. Today, we will meet with government leaders, veterans, and civil society to underscore our shared commitment to defeating Russian aggression in Ukraine,” the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine wrote.
Recall that the day before, three inspectors general arrived: from the US Department of Defense, the State Department and USAID.
Before that, the US Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, Penny Pritzker, arrived to discuss with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities the appointment of Olga Pishchanskaya, who is considered close to the family of President Volodymyr Zelensky, as head of the Accounts Chamber.
https://strana.news/news/456586-v-kiev-priekhala-zamestitel-hossekretarja-ssha-viktorija-nuland.html
Posted by: Paul from Norway | Jan 31 2024 18:06 utc | 16
Our source in the OP said that the urgent visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland to Kyiv is connected with Zelensky’s attempt to fire Zaluzhny. The Americans are against replacing the Commander-in-Chief, they were the ones who suspended the publication of the decree on Monday, now there will be detailed negotiations.
https://t.me/rezident_ua/21448
State Department vs MI-6
Posted by: Down South | Jan 31 2024 18:08 utc | 18
@canuck
Have the following phrase delivered by a Palestinian youth (its Captain Ahab) whose family has just been killed by the Zionists in Gaza and the whale is Nuland:
“Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from Hell’s heart I stab at thee;..”
The whale imagery is not much of a stretch.
The Moby Dick metaphor doesn’t fit. Moby Dick is the good guy. Ahab is the evil maniac. I love Moby Dick, when at the end, all Americans die.
Posted by: Apollyon | Jan 31 2024 18:09 utc | 19
And of cource- if somebody will protest the mobilization- Aidar will take care of it:
“If the draft dodgers begin to gather in groups, the veterans will “mop them up so that there will be no room left.”
This was stated by the ex-commander of Aidar Yevhen Dykyi in an interview with Novinarni.
“Draft dodgers are frightened rats. When they are in a flock, they bite, but they will play to the end that people like me will have to take it into their own hands. We have enough hands, iron, and determination for this. Believe me, we will clean them up, that there will be no space left,” he said and answered in the affirmative to the clarifying question of the presenter that we are talking about veterans.”
https://strana.news/news/456595-eks-komandir-ajdara-zajavil-chto-u-veteranov-mnoho-vozmozhnostej-dlja-borby-s-uklonistami.html
Posted by: Paul from Norway | Jan 31 2024 18:14 utc | 20
@ Geraint ap Iorwerth | Jan 31 2024 17:37 utc | 15
Yay, a new Wunderwaffle! Of course, since it’s made by Boeing and Saab, expect a high fail rate…
Oh, and what Apollyon @ 18:09 utc said.
Posted by: malenkov | Jan 31 2024 18:14 utc | 21
World Court dismisses much of Ukraine’s case against Russia
THE HAGUE, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Judges at the top U.N. court on Wednesday found that Russia violated elements of a U.N. anti-terrorism treaty, but declined to rule on allegations brought by Kyiv that Moscow was responsible for the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.
In the same ruling, judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that Russia had breached an anti-discrimination treaty by failing to support Ukrainian language education in Crimea after its 2014 annexation of the peninsula.
The decisions were a legal setback for Kyiv. The court rejected Ukraine’s requests to order reparations for both violations and only ordered Russia to comply with the treaties. (…)
“>https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/world-court-rule-whether-russia-violated-international-treaties-ukraine-2024-01-31/
Posted by: Apollyon | Jan 31 2024 18:17 utc | 22
It could be problematic for the AFU to give up all offensive operations while occupying their current positions, imo anyway. That would allow the Russian Federation forces a lot more latitude to maneuver, and I’d expect them to use that to fight for more of the high ground, better position their artillery, and better position themself for laying siege to Ukrainian positions. Russia would be able to send out more patrols, and it could even begin surveying Ukraine’s mine fields.
On the other hand, if the West has begun to accumulate supplies for the AFU, and just needs legislative/budget approval to pay for every scrap left that can be sent to Ukraine, going on the defense makes more sense. The bottom line is that the current position of the AFU on the line of contact with Russian forces is untenable. The AFU arguably needs a lot of help just so as to arrange orderly retreats. I’m no expert, but afaik when done on a large and lengthy scale, an orderly retreat requires a hell of lot of artillery fire to cover it, and very steady and competent troops to make up the rear guard. If they break, a retreat becomes a rout. Ironically, the obvious choice for that duty, one which risks heavy casualties, are the Neo-Nazi like blocking forces. Troops that can’t be trusted to advance most certainly can’t be trusted to fight to the death, and not surrender, just so as to cover the retreat of the rest of the army, especially when that includes the blocking forces.
Perhaps the plan is to get a hurry on in building a better series of defensive lines behind the current ones, and then in late spring and the summer move through cover to occupy them, while forcing Russian forces to fight for every meter of territory as it advanced towards them. That would be a solid plan, if it was at all doable. Construction should already have started in a big way on the new lines of defense, but afaik they haven’t.
Given that Zelenskyy factors into all planning, the West might end up having to go along with pouring everything thy can send into the AFU’s current position, while Zelenskyy somehow dragoons more citizens into service. I think they’d also plan on ratcheting up long range missile attacks, and if it turns out the AFU were both unable to withdraw to better positions, and was going to eventually experience serious breakthroughs of their lines, and the loss of key positions, then the West would have to decide if it was going to supply Ukraine with a lot of next level missiles, in an attempt to get Russia to negotiate rather than score an enormous victory at the front.
Yadda yadda yadda, that final scenario could be another reason why Russia has chosen to slowly grind away the Ukranian MIC. By allowing time for the West to go through all the stages of grief in regards Ukraine, and finally land on acceptance, it becomes less and less likely that the West could form a consensus on acting precipitously by sending a lot of next level long range missiles to Ukraine.
Thankfully the West is starting to view military adventurism more pessimisticlly. The failures of the IDF, the success of the Houthis, the growing recognition of the importance of drones, and of the course the humiliating failure of Zelenskyy’s grand summer offensive, have all given cause for more caution in the West.
Posted by: Babel-17 | Jan 31 2024 18:18 utc | 23
Only blood awaits Ukraine ahead, and they are already ready to kill those who refused to serve.
Dodgers are scared rats. When they are in a flock, they bite, but they will finish the game and people like me will have to take it into their own hands. We have enough hands, iron, and determination for this. Believe me, we will clear them out, there will be no room left,” ex-Aidar commander Dikiy
https://t.me/rezident_ua/21454
◾The commander of the 118th Terrestrial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Anatoly Stuzhenko , proposes that all Ukrainians who refuse to mobilize should be shot in the knees .
– “It must have been like this: I didn’t get out of the car – I was shot in the knee. It must be this way, otherwise we will not win. We’ll play democracy! We will soon reach a state where they will kick us military men,” he said.
Women in Odessa began to collectively defend men from military commissars, raids are becoming increasingly difficult for the TCC, and society is no longer accepting of men in military uniform.
https://t.me/rezident_ua/21445
Posted by: Down South | Jan 31 2024 18:22 utc | 24
⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Front #Summary for 31 Jan 2024 by 19:15⚡️
🔹In #Kherson Direction, several AFU boats were able to ferry reinforcements to #Krynki thanks to mobile electronic warfare. This is about the question of how important it is to urgently begin mass production of manual jammers.
🔹In #Zaporozhye Direction, it is likely that assaults to level out all the achievements of the AFU counteroffensive are not yet advisable. The fighting at the #Rabotino – #Novoprokopovka – #Verbovoye line is heavy, the positions are destroyed, there is no hiding. The nearest goal is to reach the “dragon’s teeth”, their line is approximately in the middle of the ledge.
🔹In #SouthDonetsk Direction, our forces are successfully attacking north of #Priyutnoye. They pushed the AFUback from a number of positions north of the village. In the #Maryinka sector, ours are advancing on #Novomikhaylovka from #Zverinets and southwest of the village. The advance is about 0.5km. Our army is clearly aimed at taking the village in “pincers”.
🔹In #Donetsk Direction, in the south of #Avdeyevka, the AFU are attacking at Sobornaya and Sportivnaya streets. Our heroes are holding on and have advanced by about 300 metres over the day. Ours are attacking the Donetsk Filtration Station, and fighting is going on in the landings to the south. In the north, the AFU attacked west of #Gorlovka, possibly as a diversionary manoeuvre. So far they have occupied an abandoned building, but they don’t have much strength there.
🔹In #Bakhmut Direction, on the northern flank of the city, there is fighting in #Bogdanovka. The AFU are resisting fiercely, because the capture of the village is strategically important for our advance towards Chasov Yar. To the south In the area of #Kleshcheyevka our forces hit 3 tanks with 3 lancets.
🔹In #Svatovo Direction, our army is attacking towards #Kupyansk. At #Tabayevka and #Krakhmalnoye ours are fighting their way towards #Peschanoye, #Berestovoye and towards #Kislovka. The AFU have brought up reserves and are counterattacking, trying to hold our offensive back. Further west, in #Kharkov, the AFU seems to be preparing for urban fighting, building fortifications in the vicinity.
☠️ In #Donetsk, four people were seriously wounded by cluster munitions, and another was blown up on a petal. In #Panteleymonovka, a kamikaz drone killed two. Air defence shot down a drone near the Nevsky Mazut plant in St. Petersburg. Another UAV was shot down in the #Pskov region.
💥Tonight our Aerospace Forces hit AFU locations in #Volchansk and #Kherson, facilities in #Snigirevka, where the AFU are collecting equipment, and targets in Kriviy Rog and #Kharkov. They report the defeat of an Iris-T air defence system. There were strikes near #Kremenchuk, with repeated detonation, possibly at air defence or warehouses.
Posted by: Down South | Jan 31 2024 18:24 utc | 25
The prisoner exchange was completed successfully with 195 soldiers from each side.
As for why UAF soldiers would wish to return – no doubt many have families in Ukraine they wish to return to.
Posted by: the pessimist | Jan 31 2024 17:07 utc | 9
———————————————————————-
Do you mean minus the 65 Ukie POW’s that were shot down by Ukraine? Please clarify and provide sources.
Posted by: Ed | Jan 31 2024 18:29 utc | 26
The whale imagery is not much of a stretch.
‘
Posted by: canuck | Jan 31 2024 17:19 utc | 11
————————————————————–
Is Nuland on the whale, or is she the whale? Could be both I suppose.
Posted by: Ed | Jan 31 2024 18:32 utc | 27
Mmm, what sort of cookies will Nuland bring to Ukraine this time?! I hope they smell of pumpkin spice! Do you think she giggles like a poked Pillsbury Doughboy when people die from her idiotic, murderous advice? Must sound like a methed out terrier with a chew toy at the State Dept.
Might as well heed the advice of Hunter S. Thompson, “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”
Posted by: titmouse | Jan 31 2024 18:34 utc | 28
As for why UAF soldiers would wish to return – no doubt many have families in Ukraine they wish to return to.
Posted by: the pessimist | Jan 31 2024 17:07 utc | 9
After the crash it was reported that they had recovered NAZI motive tattooed bodies.
i.e. returnees are to a significant part/predominantly ASOV and similarly nice guys?
( I seem to remember that RU wanted to prosecute those!?)
Posted by: MAKK | Jan 31 2024 18:40 utc | 29
Posted by: Apollyon | Jan 31 2024 18:17 utc | 22
EU6 decided 12 years ago, when the EU offered Yanukovych a bogus ETA, to eliminate all ATO facts on the ground from public knowledge. Rutte’s court was unable to decisively convict any suspect for the MH-17 caper. Big Israel’s government, in particular Zelensk*’s cabinet, have run its organizational credibility 6-feet underground—and still digging. Are your willing to take Reuters’ 700-word digest of the ICJ’s opinion at face value?
Judgments, Advisory Opinions and Orders
Application of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Ukraine v. Russian Federation), Jan 31, 117 pp pdf
Posted by: sln2002 | Jan 31 2024 18:55 utc | 30
Posted by: Down South | Jan 31 2024 18:22 utc | 24
So draft dodgers will be shot in the knee? What a great idea.
That means these people cannot be sent to the front for quite some time.
Posted by: Martina | Jan 31 2024 18:56 utc | 31
Nuland is the annoyed owner showing up telling management their public squabbling is causing the stock price to tank and that they are all around underperforming, start showing positive results or heads will roll.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 31 2024 16:44 utc | 4
—-
Well damn if you didn’t make me laugh at how perfectly you summed the trip/scene in this movie. Cheers.
Posted by: knighthawk | Jan 31 2024 19:03 utc | 32
#28 (titmouse): > Mmm, what sort of cookies will Nuland bring to Ukraine this time?! I hope they smell of pumpkin spice! Do you think she giggles like a poked Pillsbury Doughboy when people die from her idiotic, murderous advice?
Who knew this commercial was predictive programming, lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uh7rl4FNyk
Posted by: Noah Nehm | Jan 31 2024 19:05 utc | 33
Do you mean minus the 65 Ukie POW’s that were shot down by Ukraine? Please clarify and provide sources.
Posted by: Ed | Jan 31 2024 18:29 utc | 26
You don’t have google there? tass.com/politics/1739989
Posted by: rk | Jan 31 2024 19:11 utc | 34
That means these people cannot be sent to the front for quite some time.
Posted by: Martina
Well that disability is not a good enough reason for a medical waiver…ie Autism, pregnancy, missing limbs and computer game addiction.
Hard choice here … is Vicky the whale or the captain
Posted by: Angelo | Jan 31 2024 19:12 utc | 35
The whale imagery is not much of a stretch.
Posted by: canuck | Jan 31 2024 17:19 utc | 11
That’s not going to be beaten as an allegorical example for a while canuk
Posted by: jpc | Jan 31 2024 19:13 utc | 36
Nuland was also on the record stating that there will be no withdrawal from syria either, despite rumors Biden wants to run away from there too.
Clearly she’s the face of the America’s true rulers trying to enforce their authority…
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jan 31 2024 17:01 utc | 7
—
Definitely not a person most want showing up on their itinerary, I imagine it’s never good news.
Posted by: knighthawk | Jan 31 2024 19:16 utc | 37
Regarding the recent shoot down of the Prisoner plane, there is some chatter on the usual blogs that Putin has chastised a very senior military officer for allowing the Ukrainians to place a Patriot missile system just 5 miles from the Russian border.
This is the second time (known about) that Ukraine has placed a Patriot system on a train and surprised / ambushed Russian aviation.
Many people are asking not only how this massive intelligence failure occured, but why the heck trains are freely moving around at this point in the war.
Posted by: Questioneer | Jan 31 2024 19:16 utc | 38
This is the second time (known about) that Ukraine has placed a Patriot system on a train and surprised / ambushed Russian aviation.
Many people are asking not only how this massive intelligence failure occured, but why the heck trains are freely moving around at this point in the war.
Posted by: Questioneer | Jan 31 2024 19:16 utc | 38
Very relevant observations.
Same with motorway bridges river crossings.
Not making sense at this point in the conflict.
Posted by: jpc | Jan 31 2024 19:27 utc | 39
Many people are asking not only how this massive intelligence failure occured, but why the heck trains are freely moving around at this point in the war.
Posted by: Questioneer | Jan 31 2024 19:16 utc | 38
There can be political reasons but keep in mind that a soviet style railway system could soak up a lot of relatively scarce missiles/drones and still keep going to an extent. I would bet for example there are still a lot of industrial sidings one could use to hide what is the most critical resource, broad gauge diesel locomotives.
Perhaps the bridges on the Dnepr could have been dropped early in the war and kept down, but assuming the ukrainian army evacuated on the other bank that would be one hell of a defensive barrier for the russians to crack.
Posted by: Satepestage | Jan 31 2024 19:48 utc | 40
@ Satepestage | Jan 31 2024 19:48 utc | 40
I do believe that Victoria Nuland can only safely leave Ukraine under Russia’s protection.
Posted by: too scents | Jan 31 2024 20:04 utc | 41
Look at the very top of the US government now in power in DC and we see Ukrainian family ex pats in positions of high power continuing to visit Kieve and push for more aid for the Ukrainian fascist government:
– Victoria Nuland-Nudelman – Deputy Secretary of State in some form under Presidents GW Bush, Obama, and Biden (also served in the Clinton administration), and the chief architect of Maidan Square coup in 2014 and in planning the never established offensive to ethnically cleanse the Dombass of Russian Orthodox Christians. Remember she was in Kieve when the coup started, handing out cookies to the seditionists…….in the same square no less. Worked for the Soros foundation as a consultant.
– Anthony Blinkin-Blinkensky – Secretary of State, and also worked in the Obama and Clinton administrations at DOS. Also instrumental in the staging of the Maidan Square coup in 2014, and in planning the abortive AFU offensive in 2022 to extirpate Russian areas of the Donbass……..his dad was on the board of the Soros foundation for many years. Toni has worked for Soros foundations and corporations.
– Merrick Garland-Garfinkel – Attorney General – family is from Kieve and he as USAG has met with and advised VZ and company on how create a better police state.
Gee I cant see any connection here…………..
Posted by: Tobias Cole | Jan 31 2024 20:08 utc | 42
Ukraine to Australia: ‘We don’t want your flying trash’
Aaron PatrickJan 30, 2024 – 6.19pm
Last year, as Ukrainian fighter pilots were desperately trying to avoid being shot down by Russian aircraft equipped with longer-range radars, a senior Ukraine Air Force official told two Australians in Kyiv he wasn’t interested in a donation of 41 retired F/A-18 Hornet fighters.
“We don’t want your flying trash,” he said, according to a person present.
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/ukraine-to-australia-we-don-t-want-your-flying-trash-20240130-p5f0zo
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 31 2024 20:14 utc | 43
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 31 2024 20:14 utc | 43
Couldn’t read the article as it’s for subscriber only, so I don’t know if it also said what some “evil tongues” (phrase from German, was too lazy to check if it exists in English too 😉 claimed, that the offended Australians then preferred to scrap their 40 or so MRH-90 Taipan helicopters instead of giving them to the Ukrainians (who politely asked them to do so beforehand).
Posted by: NoName | Jan 31 2024 20:43 utc | 44
UST SEEN – UKRAINE will today receive its first big batch of longer-range missiles that promise to blast Putin targets twice as deep inside Russia.
The imminent arrival of the brand new 100-mile precision bombs follows months of testing by the US military.
“It’s just an extra arrow in the quiver that’s gonna allow them to do more.”
Co-developed by Boeing and Saab, the weapon comprises a precision-guided 250lb bomb strapped to a rocket motor that can be fired from various ground launchers.
Posted by: Geraint ap Iorwerth | Jan 31 2024 17:37 utc | 15
Perhaps the Monkey Wrench stars, hired under DEI, sans skills, sans mind, remembered to install all the bolts, so that more Ukes don’t DIE.
Posted by: kupkee | Jan 31 2024 20:44 utc | 45
The French SCALP-EG (British Ninja Xtreme maXX Pro) missile managed to score a direct hit on an empty field near the outskirts of the Belbek airfield in Sevastopol.
Two field mice were wounded in the strike.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/87809
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 31 2024 20:48 utc | 46
Now I no longer believe in the goodness of Putin and the Russian army,
Russia continues to supply everything the West needs to operate factories and steel mills that work to support Ukronazistan, who in turn kill Russians, this war has been killing men, women and children for two years and the Russian army has not it destroyed the railways, the snowy junctions of roads and highways, the Ukrainians and their masters, the Anglo-Americans move as they please,
the impression one gets is that it is mostly simple soldiers and poor citizens who die, while in Moscow, Washington and London they share lavish profits
Posted by: A.cagliostro | Jan 31 2024 20:52 utc | 47
Video of Victoria Nuland in Kiev
🇺🇸🇺🇦🇷🇺US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland during her visit in Kiev today was unable to answer the question of whether the United States has a Plan B if Congress does not approve an aid package for Ukraine
“Americans understand and admire the incredible results that Ukraine has already achieved in the fight against Russian aggression. And they also understand what will happen if you cannot continue not only to defend yourself, but to succeed. I am absolutely confident that understanding this will affect the results of the Congress’ vote at the request of President Biden,” the US Deputy Secretary of State answered when asked whether Ukraine will receive assistance from the United States and whether there is a “Plan B”.
https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/100176
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 31 2024 21:03 utc | 48
◾The commander of the 118th Terrestrial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Anatoly Stuzhenko , proposes that all Ukrainians who refuse to mobilize should be shot in the knees .
– “It must have been like this: I didn’t get out of the car – I was shot in the knee. It must be this way, otherwise we will not win. We’ll play democracy! We will soon reach a state where they will kick us military men,” he said. . .
Posted by: Down South | Jan 31 2024 18:22 utc | 24
Ukraine’s methods remind me of the old joke “The beatings will continue until morale improves.” Except that in Ukraine, they believe this will actually work.
Posted by: Mike R | Jan 31 2024 21:07 utc | 49
returnees are to a significant part/predominantly ASOV and similarly nice guys?
( I seem to remember that RU wanted to prosecute those!?)
@ MAKK | Jan 31 2024 18:40 utc | 29
Azov members are being prosecuted, slowly but steadily. However, AFU appears to prioritize to exchange POW for their best troops, giving little thought to poor territorial defense and the like. As long as Russia is interested in getting their own soldiers back, they will likely have to keep trading the sun salute enthusiasts.
Posted by: boneless | Jan 31 2024 21:10 utc | 50
Posted by: Questioneer | Jan 31 2024 19:16 utc | 38
The fact is it is not hard to camoflauge and move a mobile anti-air launcher, since it does not need its own radar, only the missile launching unit. They can drive it in the night on back roads and hide it in the edge of an forest and wait to receive the Nato signal to launch its missile.
It is inevitable such an ambush will happen. The same, of course could apply both ways, but Ukraine has very few aircraft close to the front lines (within 80km) so it rarely happens.
Posted by: unimperator | Jan 31 2024 21:10 utc | 51
I was discussing Ukrainian Army recruitment with a friend who reads only MSM sources. She was “very skeptical” when I suggested that recruitment was disproportionately from the ethnic Russian/Hungarian minorities. Does anyone have a link with evidence for this that I could share with her? Thanks all.
Posted by: Maff | Jan 31 2024 21:20 utc | 52
titmouse | Jan 31 2024 16:52 utc | 5
What a fitting comparison! Add half a day of serious heartburn for me, that’s what it sounds like.
—
Down South | Jan 31 2024 18:08 utc | 18
“State Department vs MI-6”
Exactly. I don’t know why but people keep ignoring the fact that the Brits have their stinking sticky fingers in this, too.
—
Satepestage | Jan 31 2024 19:48 utc | 40
“Perhaps the bridges on the Dnepr could have been dropped early in the war and kept down, but assuming the ukrainian army evacuated on the other bank that would be one hell of a defensive barrier for the russians to crack.”
If it ever comes to that, what makes you think the Ukros aren’t going to blow up those precious bridges themselves? I’m talking about the guys who do clay-pigeon shooting with their very own POWs as pigeons.
—
too scents | Jan 31 2024 20:04 utc | 41
“I do believe that Victoria Nuland can only safely leave Ukraine under Russia’s protection.”
Yep, ALL those visits get pre-announced to the Russian side, and Russia dutifully makes sure nothing happens there.
—
May I recommend John Helmer’s latest? BREAKTHROUGH ON ALL FRONTS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, it’s really quite uplifting. Might bring together those who find fault with Russia’s go-slow SMO and those who don’t.
Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | Jan 31 2024 21:22 utc | 53
https://t.me/ChDambiev/27710
Anyone think French troops will be charging into battle with a picture of fairy queen Macron on their flag? Or Germans rolling towards Russia tanks flying the image of pinhead Scholz, maybe the staunch lions of Britain charging machine gun nests carrying the banner of twee sprite Sunak?
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 31 2024 21:22 utc | 54
If Russia wins, there will be consequences for the European Union (nobody cares, certainly not Victoria) and for NATO (wasn’t supposed to happen). Perhaps this explains Nulands’ insistence on war.
Posted by: Passerby | Jan 31 2024 21:34 utc | 55
Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | Jan 31 2024 21:22 utc | 53
Thanks for the read. Already a few months ago there were mention of intense special forces activity along the Kharkov and Sumy border areas, and even much deeper than the borders. They have managed to apparently disrupt any mercenary sabotage missions in Russia, destroy bridges, hit border troops and generally kept AFU unbalanced and unable to secure the border for infiltration operations.
These have now developed into some sort of positional artillery battles. Kharkov is being targeted relatively much with drones and missiles. Dima from Military Summary said Kharkov is effectively being cut-off, without it being physically cut off, because it is under such intense fire.
There’s a decent likelihood that by May we will see undeniable signs of the front lines crumbling, as AFU is very over stretched and under equipped everywhere.
By the way, everything on MSM points that Nato is freaking out, they are increasingly talking about ‘mobilization’ and ‘conflict with Russia’, which is just another way to say Ukraine crumbling. If it were winning, there would be no need to show such continuous panic.
Posted by: unimperator | Jan 31 2024 21:39 utc | 56
NoName | Jan 31 2024 20:43 utc | 44
Neo nazi toddler level arrogance does not go down well.
I believe prior to that, the nazi ambassador here had given the labor government the liverwurst sausage treatment.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 31 2024 21:45 utc | 57
No Name @ 44:
Australia is now considering scrapping the old Super Hornets or selling them to a private company to train pilots.
Australian press: Ukraine was left without F/A-18 Hornet fighters due to rude remarks about aircraft
The Taipan helicopters are a separate issue, apparently Kiev’s request for the helicopters came too late (three months) after the helicopters were already sent into “disposal”, that is, no further maintenance is being done on them and some of their essential or critical parts may have already been taken away for sale to other countries or companies as spare parts.
Australia reveals why it isn’t sending grounded Taipan helicopters to Ukraine
Never mind, once Australia receives its F-35 fighter jets (whenever) and discovers they are too much of a burden on Australian taxpaers to keep in the air for longer than five minutes, maybe they can be flogged off to Ukraine or whatever remains of that country.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Jan 31 2024 21:49 utc | 58
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Jan 31 2024 21:49 utc | 58
Thanks for the links!
Posted by: NoName | Jan 31 2024 22:02 utc | 59
Russian MFA has released two PRs on the two ICJ rulings made public today, “International Court of Justice Rulings on Ukraine’s Claims”, that provide good short summations, with a few added twists.
“Posted by: Pierrot | Jan 31 2024 17:32 utc | 14”
“There are many ways to get rid of this criminal filth without the russians being the official culprits.
One million and half people died on both sides because of her. Millions of other people impoverished or exiled. An economy and a country utterly destroyed. Millions of people without a future.
The fact that she’s allowed to come to Kiev, and then to just walk away as if nothing [happened], is making a lot of people distrust everybody, and lose any kind of sense of Justice.
It is wrong in so many ways.”
If there is any Justice in the world, which I lost faith in many decades ago, then she will be arrested and extradited to Ukraine (once the actual Ukrainians have control of their country back, that is), prosecuted, convicted, and publicly hanged in Maidan Square. Alongside her accomplices, boss at the time, and subsequent employers who knew full well her guilt.
Posted by: Dalit | Jan 31 2024 22:11 utc | 61
by NoName | Jan 31 2024 22:02 utc | 59 & Refinnejenna | Jan 31 2024 21:49 utc | 58
Are not those helicopters named ‘flying coffins’ by crashing constantly? Not that F-35 do not crash. Also crashing the economy along the way, true.
But isn’t Hornet a current pride of US Navy too, as those are, in comparison to F-16, somewhat advanced?
One would assume that F-18 is a lot better fit for the Ukrainian theater than F-16 would be with its 20 years older air-frame.
Posted by: whirlX | Jan 31 2024 22:41 utc | 62
“FT: EU planning to destroy Hungarian economy” —The Duran today at YouTube. Only real shock is that there is nothing shocking about extent of EU desperation re Russia
Posted by: Pundita | Jan 31 2024 23:02 utc | 63
The money for Ukraine question remind me of the tanks standoff between USA, Germany/EU and UK
Nobody wanted to be the first:
UK gave the first 31 tanks- now they have pledged some 2,5B
EU/Germany waited to the USA plegded 31 Abrahams (out of more that 6000)
Then they went all in with more than 100
US have delivered 6- not seen in battles
Now EU is quarelling about 50B
USA quarreling about 60B
EU/germany will give probably give 20B, most in real money
USA will probably give something worth 10B, but in inflated weapons
It’s not for as long as it takes- anymore
The good: UK, The bad EU, The evil US
Posted by: Paul from Norway | Jan 31 2024 23:08 utc | 64
Posted by: Pundita | Jan 31 2024 23:02 utc | 63
Independent Hungary is the gateway that can potentially lead to the destruction of EU once Ukraine is sufficiently messed up.
EU is controlled by the WEF – therefore Hungary through Serbia and all surroundings connected to BRICS will effectively derail all their plans not only in the rest of the world, but even within EU through offering the choice for any EU nation to get back their independence from the globo clique. Now of course, not everyone would take the offer, but at least 40 % could.
Posted by: unimperator | Jan 31 2024 23:08 utc | 65
Exactly as stupid to be following RAND’s plan on destabilizing Russia, the USA, exactly as expected, is.
This statement below from the Russian MFA confirms it.
If they think that Russia is unable to fight on two fronts, somebody should tell them, that for that part of the world please go talk to the Chinese. Russia has enough missiles, bombs and enough Navy firepower in the far East to obliterate anything there remotely. It needs around 20.000 white collar officers military academy educated people there.
A pretty serious statement, if you ask me, below:
Tension has been escalating in the Korean Peninsula lately threatening security and stability in Northeast Asia.
This escalation stems from the provocative steps by the United States and its allies, aimed at ramping up their military activity in the region, including by deploying NATO infrastructure, making military preparations and holding more manoeuvres and exercises, some involving nuclear components, close to the DPRK’s border.
The fact that the United States and the collective West are seeking to shift the blame for escalating tension in the peninsula and in Northeast Asia in general onto the DPRK is nothing more than a reflection of their long-standing habit of shifting the burden of responsibility. In fact, it is the unrelenting aggressive provocations by Washington, Seoul and Tokyo that are forcing Pyongyang to take adequate measures to ensure its defence capabilities and security.
The Foreign Ministry calls for an end to the United States’ irresponsible and hazardous policy, which uses its Indo-Pacific Strategy as a motto to divert countries in the region from developing independently, depriving their people of their sovereign right to preserve and strengthen their identity and choose their own development path.
Posted by: whirlX | Jan 31 2024 23:16 utc | 66
Unimperator @65 – hmmm insightful observations. Mercouris has detailed advice
Posted by: Pundita | Jan 31 2024 23:34 utc | 67
Re: Victoria Nuland
Whale may not be far off, but I prefer to think the South Park cartoon writers got it right- WomanBearPig!
Posted by: Rolando | Jan 31 2024 23:49 utc | 68
Try to act surprised.
‘Sign of the times’: Big Israel laments UN court’s ‘toothless’ ruling against Russia
Posted by: sln2002 | Feb 1 2024 0:09 utc | 69
Martina@31…..sent to the front and can’t run away, genius really.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 1 2024 0:39 utc | 70
Wow! Definitely get some more popcorn on shopping list.
‘ A moment of surrealism!
Former Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki says Brussels blackmails Hungary.
Take some popcorn!
@Slavyangrad’
https://t.me/TheIslanderNews/5453
Posted by: DunGroanin | Feb 1 2024 0:40 utc | 71
Posted by: Maff | Jan 31 2024 21:20 utc | 52
>I was discussing Ukrainian Army recruitment with a friend who reads only MSM sources. She was “very skeptical” when I suggested that recruitment was disproportionately from the ethnic Russian/Hungarian minorities. Does anyone have a link with evidence for this that I could share with her? Thanks all.
Galicians say the opposite: that most recruitment is from Galicia because Russian speaking Ukrainians (there are essentially no ethnic Russians in current Ukraine, they all moved to Russian controlled Oblasts) cannot be trusted.
What is known for sure is that the bulk of the original 2022 army was Russian speaking because the economy was worse in Eastern Ukraine and they joined for economic reasons, plus lots of Russian speaking football hooligan types from those big Eastern industrial cities joined Azov because they wanted to kill someone, anyone, same reason Russian hooligans joined Wagner. But those guys have mostly been killed or maimed.
Non hooligan Russian speaking Ukrainians were the first to start doubting the war and are now avoiding conscription and deserting. Whereas ordinary Galicians slow to figure things out. But getting exact numbers is difficult.
Hungarians mostly fled across the border. Hard to stop them.
Posted by: anonposter | Feb 1 2024 1:16 utc | 72
RT reports
Russia to expand Ukraine’s ‘demilitarized zone’ – Putin
Russia needs to create a large “demilitarized zone” in Ukraine, one that is big enough to ensure no longe-range weapons can strike Russian cities, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday
Russian border regions have been subjected to frequent drone and missile attacks, as well as shelling by the Ukrainian military, since the start of the conflict between Kiev and Moscow. One of the deadliest attacks took place on December 30, when Kiev’s forces struck the Russian border city of Belgorod with multiple rocket launchers, including the RM-70 Vampire – an upgraded heavier version of the Soviet BM-21 Grad system.
A December strike claimed the lives of 25 people, including children, and left more than 100 injured. In January, another massive strike hit the city of Donetsk, killing 27 civilians. Both attacks were condemned by the UN.
“This [demilitarized] line should … lie at such a distance from our territory that it would ensure the security [of Russian cities],” the president said on Wednesday, adding that he was specifically referring to protection from “foreign-made longer-range weapons that the Ukrainian authorities use to strike peaceful cities.”
=================
Putin says a lot of things. Will this be backed up with actions and actual results?
Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Feb 1 2024 1:36 utc | 73
Some videos for today.
Russian drones destroy enemy firing positions and vehicles near Spornoye:
https://rutube.ru/video/72b5c8abbde6a9151f9dd0c0b05eae1a/
Russian Msta-B howitzer destroys enemy command and observation post near Krasny Liman:
https://rutube.ru/video/6b1d8c0bd9d7e70290c81d3d6ea4bf54/
Russian airborne troops storm enemy stronghold northwest of the DPR’s Artemovsk:
https://rutube.ru/video/59728ee9f9590ff6ed27d3d914336ddc/
Russian Ka-52 and Mi-8 helicopters in action near Kupyansk:
https://rutube.ru/video/9a8847dd89855a166e965d25874e6ad4/
Posted by: Nate | Feb 1 2024 1:48 utc | 74
The real game changer is coming next Wednesday!
Putin better accept the latest surrender terms offered by Elensky!
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/how-can-russia-stop-ground-launched-glide-bombs-us-is-sending-to-ukraine-1116513455.html
Posted by: Surferket | Feb 1 2024 1:49 utc | 75
by Lavrov’s Dog | Feb 1 2024 1:36 utc | 73
During the WWII, liberating the Ukraine and Belorussia, the Red Army had a coverage of a 400 artillery tubes per German defensive mile. Long heavy artillery that outguns enemy in range and explosive power is when RF needs there. A lot of it and in a high concentration, naturally.
Posted by: whirlX | Feb 1 2024 1:57 utc | 76
Bodies of the dead were also exchanged – 55 Russian, 77 Ukrainian. Exchange facillitated by UAE. Some consolation to the families. A hopeful thing, the exchange, so soon after the il76 went down.
We can also hope that the John Helmer piece reflects the Russian planning and prospects accurately and this winter the Russian strategy will begin to bear visible, tangible fruit.
Posted by: the pessimist | Feb 1 2024 2:10 utc | 77
Perhaps Nuland’s visit reflects the state of disarray and an attempt at damage control – putting out fires.
Posted by: the pessimist | Feb 1 2024 2:13 utc | 78
by the pessimist | Feb 1 2024 2:13 utc | 78
Not really. She came to threaten Putin personally and Russia,
So arrogant of a might behind her, she does it from the Russian garden.
She also warned Erdogan to get rid of S-400, if he wants the military coop, while giving Greece 4 US made littoral Freedom class ships. Why so much distrust, I wonder?
Posted by: whirlX | Feb 1 2024 2:36 utc | 79
re:%20Posted%20by%3A%20unimperator%20%7C%20Jan%2031%202024%2023%3A08%20utc%20%7C%2065
EU is controlled by the WEF – therefore Hungary through Serbia and all surroundings connected to BRICS will effectively derail all their plans not only in the rest of the world, but even within EU through offering the choice for any EU nation to get back their independence from the globo clique. Now of course, not everyone would take the offer, but at least 40 % could.
Yes, true, but after two years of conflict Russia is a long long way from creating a land bridge to Hungary – and I suspect we will see hundreds of thousands of NATO troops in Western Ukraine before that ever happens and Russia will back off and sign a deal – by Russia, I mean of course Putin.
Posted by: Julian | Feb 1 2024 2:47 utc | 80
The Sputnik story below is a reminder that the information war that matters most is the one that Russia is waging against its own Fifth Columnists.
After decades in which large numbers of opinion influencing ‘intellectuals’ in Russia have regularly chosen the Imperialist narrative in preference to their own government’s (not to mention the evidence of their own eyes), the US version is becoming less and less credible.
The net result, to be seen in public opinion polls, is that public opinion in Russia is not only giving the Kremlin the benefit of the doubt, and laughing at the crudeness of Imperialist propaganda but re-evaluating decades of past lies and western attacks on the Soviet Union.
“President Putin announced Wednesday that Ukraine used a US-made Patriot missile system to bring down the Il-76 transport plane carrying nine Russian crewmembers and servicemen and 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war on January 24. An ex-Pentagon analyst told Sputnik the next steps Moscow will need to take to be heard.
“Russia will have to take its case regarding the shootdown of the Il-76 to the United Nations to break through the information blockade around the incident put up by Western governments and media, former US Department of Defense senior security policy analyst Michael Maloof believes.
” “The Western media is hardly mentioning this incident at all,” Maloof told Sputnik, commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remarks earlier in the day revealing that Russian investigators had concluded that the Il-76 was shot down using a Patriot missile system. “Now, the revelation that it was a Patriot missile has not been reported whatsoever, at least here in Washington. This is quite extraordinary, and I think that they’re going to want to bury that,” the observer said…”
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/how-russia-can-disarm-naysayers-on-patriot-missiles-used-to-shoot-down-doomed-il-76-1116518444.html
Posted by: bevin | Feb 1 2024 3:08 utc | 81
WhirlX @ 62:
I would agree with you, and I’m sure No Name would also agree, since at this stage Kiev now needs all the kamikaze pilots its press gangs can get hold of, and all the “flying trash”, “flying coffins” and other aircraft destined for the scrapyards available, even if they have all passed their expiry dates.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Feb 1 2024 3:08 utc | 82
by Refinnejenna | Feb 1 2024 3:08 utc | 82
How come Australians managed to spend those F-18 and wants to dump those, when the US Navy is using the same planes from their aircraft carriers and for most of the flying?
First suckered into the US subs, pissed off France, ditched reasonable stuff, signed for imaginary never ending F-35 project. That is what Ossies did, right?
Strategically F-18 has much more air power and gives a good ground support, while it has a bit better armament load than Mig-29.
F-16 is maybe good for a long penetrations in-depth, that is why RF treats it as a nuke deliverer. So F-16 is a stupid plane for Ukraine from the start.
However, nothing given to Ukraine from the Western tech performed well enough, as superiority was expected there, so flying coffins are also good as anything else.
Posted by: whirlX | Feb 1 2024 3:32 utc | 83
Surferket
PPutin is shaking.
After all, the Kiev Nazis will have yet another wonderful and infallible magical weapon in their hands.
I know you like a good joke.
rs,rs,rs,rs,rs
Posted by: mark linhter | Feb 1 2024 3:34 utc | 84
With Nuland flying around everywhere breaking shit, perhaps we should compare her to a whale, namely Twitter/X’s Fail Whale error image: a big, smiling whale being held aloft by ropes tugged by tiny tweety birds. She is the Fail Whale of the US State Dept. We should make humpback whale song noises followed by explosions whenever the news has to mention her. Uuuooooooooaaaaa *ka-boom!* Aaaaoooouuuuuu-uuu *shabroom!* Oooouuuiii-iii *ker-pow!*
Posted by: titmouse | Feb 1 2024 4:27 utc | 85
ZH does have a posting up with the title
US Patriot Missile Downed Russian Transport Plane Which Killed 74: Putin
the quote
President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that a Russian investigation into the shoot down of an Il-76 military transport plane which crashed close to the Ukrainian border last week has been concluded.
He pointed the finger at Washington and its supplying advanced weapons to Kiev in the remarks by saying it was a US Patriot missile that downed the flight. “It’s been definitively established that the plane was shot down by an American Patriot air defense system,” Putin said during a campaign event for his reelection.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 1 2024 4:52 utc | 86
Putins goals were denazification, liberation of Ukraine, saving Russian lives, now we hear it need a buffer in missile range and all is super.
If the West only delivers missiles with a range of 5 km (3km is ok too), Putin will have his glorious victory, Ukraine will have peace – neoliberal goals and a war are like fire and water (a war need patriotism).
Let see what come as next
Posted by: theo | Feb 1 2024 6:04 utc | 87
by Refinnejenna | Feb 1 2024 3:08 utc | 82
How come Australians managed to spend those F-18 and wants to dump those, when the US Navy is using the same planes from their aircraft carriers and for most of the flying?
First suckered into the US subs, pissed off France, ditched reasonable stuff, signed for imaginary never ending F-35 project. That is what Ossies did, right?
Strategically F-18 has much more air power and gives a good ground support, while it has a bit better armament load than Mig-29.
F-16 is maybe good for a long penetrations in-depth, that is why RF treats it as a nuke deliverer. So F-16 is a stupid plane for Ukraine from the start.
However, nothing given to Ukraine from the Western tech performed well enough, as superiority was expected there, so flying coffins are also good as anything else.
Posted by: whirlX | Feb 1 2024 3:32 utc | 83
Broadly agree here.
I would not classify the F18 (super hornet variant) as “flying trash”. Certainly it is getting on in age, but ex-Australian planes have probably been well maintained and would be still viable for some time.
The F18 is broadly similar to the Mig 29 and should be able to perform the same roles the Ukies have employed their Mig 29’s for. Both aircraft are getting old, but are still credible platforms.
Posted by: Barrel Brown | Feb 1 2024 6:08 utc | 88
Colleagues, the interview with the CIA director is realistic at first glance, but it is manipulative and hypocritical.
1. According to BV. All wars there were instigated and are being incited by Western intelligence services in their own interests (struggle for resources, logistics, deterrence of “competitors/allies”, trades, etc.).
2. The United States and Western intelligence services themselves led the Ukrainian case to “war”, starting in the 2000s, when they already began to work closely with Kuchma. It’s just that Putin was ahead of them in the case of war. According to their plan, the war was supposed to begin in 24-25.
3. Russia, like the West, disposed of a lot of their junk during the war and were able to see their miscalculations/disadvantages (anyone will tell you that the RF Armed Forces of 2022 and 2024 are two different armies. Although yes, there is still a lot of bureaucracy everywhere).
4. Let’s argue about the message that the Russian Federation is a Chinese economic vassal. Is it possible that China is taking advantage of the situation? But the United States itself has created a situation where China benefits. It was more important for Washington to bend the EU at the first stage (they were forced to abandon cheap Russian energy resources and markets) in order to make Europe even stronger as its vassals. How much longer will the EU last like this)?
5. Preservation of Western military assistance to Ukraine is necessary for many reasons: a) the US military-industrial complex receives orders and a good training ground, b) slows down the Russian Federation, which is immersed in this crisis c) has a “lot” for bidding at the expense of Ukraine, d) is gradually draining the destroyed Ukraine, as an anchor for the Russian Federation, d) warms up its financial system – the dollar. Distributing new loans for wars and post-military reconstruction. There are no interests of Ukraine and Ukrainians here, they are just consumables in the game.
6. The war turned out to be both a failure and a victory for Putin. See point 3, and also add here that the Russian Federation has only now partially put everything on a war footing, where the actual production of equipment, ammunition, aircraft, missiles, UAVs, electronic warfare, air defense is tens/hundreds of times more than in 2022. By 2026, the Russian Federation will be tens of hundreds of times superior to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in everything (we are not producing anything new, and the West is giving less and less, forcing us to fight with people).
The hope of Western intelligence services remains the same – Maidan/coup in Russia. It doesn’t matter by whose hands, the fact of chaos/turmoil itself is important.
Posted by: Down South | Feb 1 2024 6:32 utc | 89
Our sources in the OP report that the Office of the President is looking for a reason for Zaluzhny’s resignation, which will allow Zelensky not to lose his rating, and most importantly, will not cause a negative reaction among the military.
Bankovaya is ready to ignore the opinion of the United States, since this year military and financial assistance will be greatly reduced, which means there is no need to fulfill all the demands of its partners.
https://t.me/rezident_ua/21462
Posted by: Down South | Feb 1 2024 6:36 utc | 90
Finally, Russia is saying that the demilitarized zone in Ukraine must be expanded to cope with the West’s long range weaponry supplied to Ukraine.
https://www.rt.com/russia/591625-russia-expand-demilitarized-zone-ukraine/
So that means territorial expansion as opposed to just plain old attritional warfare wearing down the West. While the attritional warfare strategy is working, the West’s sending of longer and longer range weapons to Ukraine does irritate Russia. Its not possible to conduct a comfortable, relaxed SloMO while bees sting your backside unexpectedly on occasion. Since drones with a strike range of over a thousand kilometers are in usage now this means that the demilitarized zone has to eventually stretch across the whole of Ukraine. So expect much more Russian aggression in the future. Instead of just wearing down the opposition in the eastern most part of Ukraine, now the frontlines have to move further west.
Posted by: gT | Feb 1 2024 7:33 utc | 91
Posted by: NoName | Jan 31 2024 20:43 utc | 44
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 31 2024 20:14 utc | 43
Couldn’t read the article as it’s for subscriber only, so I don’t know if it also said what some “evil tongues” (phrase from German, was too lazy to check if it exists in English too 😉 claimed, that the offended Australians then preferred to scrap their 40 or so MRH-90 Taipan helicopters instead of giving them to the Ukrainians (who politely asked them to do so beforehand).
for all complainers:
i learned a trick at moa
– go to https://archive.is/
– insert the “blocked” url
Posted by: ghiwen | Feb 1 2024 7:35 utc | 92
Ah the never failing to entertain inform and educate Russian MFA has an update on the ICJ that seems to have given a no way Jose ruling against grabbing Russias funds – no wonder the Cookie Monster was visiting her trashy ancestral lands yesterday. She saying a final goodbye?
‘ ⚡️ On the International Court of Justice finding no discrimination against Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians in Russia and completely rejecting Ukraine’s reparations claims
…
✅ The case is over. Russia is not supposed to take any special action to fulfil this judgment. All of Ukraine’s demands for reparations have been rejected.’
https://t.me/MFARussia/18913
The ICJ appears to have grown some ! Quite a lot to digest. I’ll leave it to Karl who does it best. Now to hear Maria’s zingers on it all
Posted by: DunGroanin | Feb 1 2024 8:13 utc | 93
Finally, Russia is saying that the demilitarized zone in Ukraine must be expanded to cope with the West’s long range weaponry supplied to Ukraine.
https://www.rt.com/russia/591625-russia-expand-demilitarized-zone-ukraine/
So that means territorial expansion as opposed to just plain old attritional warfare wearing down the West. While the attritional warfare strategy is working, the West’s sending of longer and longer range weapons to Ukraine does irritate Russia. Its not possible to conduct a comfortable, relaxed SloMO while bees sting your backside unexpectedly on occasion. Since drones with a strike range of over a thousand kilometers are in usage now this means that the demilitarized zone has to eventually stretch across the whole of Ukraine. So expect much more Russian aggression in the future. Instead of just wearing down the opposition in the eastern most part of Ukraine, now the frontlines have to move further west.
Posted by: gT | Feb 1 2024 7:33 utc | 91
Well, I hate to say “I told you so” but… I told you so. And not me in particular, lots of clever people already foresaw this escalation.
In 2022 the Z-crowd was smugly proclaiming that Russia was in the driver’s seat and that time was in Russia’s favor. It was fashionable to claim that the SloMo was the perfect approach and pooh-pooh the likes of Strelkov, who already two months after the beginning of the SMO forecast that mobilization was inevitable.
Now Russia is indeed in an incomfortable situation. The Western camp is developing constantly longer range weapons, or delivering existing ones to Ukraine, disregarding red line after red line. And why not, as all Russia is doing is to bleat helplessly and run to mommy, err I mean the United Nations or the ICJ ? “Bad ukrainians mom ! They destroying me planes with their Patriot !” So what ? Laughable.
Now as to the question of whether Russia will move further west. You are still apparently under the illusion that somehow it’s only a question of will. As if Russia can magically make whole divisions appear, but not only that ; as if Russia had a secret weapon enabling it miraculously solve the drone problem, which has proven near intractable for both sides.
The facts are hard : for the last year advances can be counted in a handful of kilometers. If you claim, against all evidence from the ground, that Russia is somehow capable to suddenly advance 20 km per day – which would be the minimum to really create a buffer zone in a reasonable amount of time, then the burden of proof is on you. Please explain with which men, artillery, and revolutionary combined arms tactics, Russia will achieve such a feat when all the videos taken from the ground uniformly show a bloody and painful slog.
Just for example, it’s been two weeks the Russian forces are battling the Ukrainians to take two streets in south Avdiivka (Sobornaya and Sportivnaya). At this rate I’m more confident than ever in my prediction that Avdiivka will still be in ukrainian hands by end of March.
Posted by: Micron | Feb 1 2024 8:52 utc | 94
Posted by: Julian | Feb 1 2024 2:47 utc | 80
You NAFO corksoakers can have your wet faggy dream about Putin signing on unfavorable conditions for Russia, but in reality that won’t happen. So dream about that hot chocolate US cock, future NATO bodybag.
Posted by: Boo | Feb 1 2024 8:57 utc | 95
Micron | Feb 1 2024 8:52 utc | 94
Contrast what just went down between the empire and the Iranian government. The empire asked (thru the Swiss) the Iranians to stand down kayfabe-style while the US carried out a fake face-saving strike. (Like the standard fake ritual combat in the Ukraine.)
But the Iranians said No, they’ll treat any strike on their territory as an act of war. And the cowardly bully backed off, just like many of us always said the empire would always do in the face of a credible red line.
We see the difference between how the empire hits (or doesn’t hit) those like Iran or North Korea who have credible red lines, and those who don’t.
Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Feb 1 2024 9:16 utc | 96
by Refinnejenna | Feb 1 2024 3:08 utc | 82
How come Australians managed to spend those F-18 and wants to dump those, when the US Navy is using the same planes from their aircraft carriers and for most of the flying?
First suckered into the US subs, pissed off France, ditched reasonable stuff, signed for imaginary never ending F-35 project. That is what Ossies did, right?
It’s important to understand that the F-35 Program is not just about supplying a fighter jet to countries, it’s also about stimulating the local economy via component manufacturing. Each of the partner countries gets to build a set of components for the remainder of the partners aircraft.. eg Australia builds the wings and intakes, Norway builds the main under carriage etc etc. Australia chose to buy F-35s (and US subs) because of the injection of infrastructure, skills and money into our economy. Doesn’t matter if the product is crap, or the current aircraft are capable… it’s about the ‘Industry.’ More than anything else.
Posted by: DDK | Feb 1 2024 9:21 utc | 97
Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Feb 1 2024 9:16 utc | 96
Good point. In fact I think deep down we all know it : North Korea hasn’t been touched until now because there is a rock solid conviction that Seoul will disappear under a deluge of bombs if the Empire even thinks about playing the shenanigans Russia has had to endure last year : Kerch bridge bombing, Tuapse, TU-22 bombing… And guess what, North Korea is secure. Just as Iran is.
Comparatively Putin has been weak. Let’s just recall his fiery speech in the first days of the SMO where he threatened any country willing to support Ukraine. Fast forward two years later, all Western countries and satellites have pretty much emptied their entire arsenal and given it to the Ukies. And Russia just sat on its thumbs. What needed to be done you may ask ? Obliterate Rzeszow, Ramstein. Oh, but this would anger NATO you say ? Well if NATO is such a powerful adversary, what makes you think it will tolerate Russia conquering most of Ukraine ? In that case Russia should just beg for negotiations if it perceives NATO as being such a powerful opponent.
Posted by: Micron | Feb 1 2024 9:30 utc | 98
The people who think about wars as winning the shooting match and taking the twrritory never cease to amaze me with their untarnished naivete.
The fisrt question a real commander asks is: Ok, let’s assume we won. Now what?
Let’s say Russia bombs the hell out of tbe cities and rolls over Ukraine. It can do that, no question. Ok, now what? Massive humanitarian catastrophe and 100% hostile population with hundreds of thousans armed military people lost aming civilians. Decades of guerilla warfare, like USSR had in exactly the same place after WW2.
Russia allows all ideological Nazis to come to the frontline to be killed. Gang-pressing civilians does not endear Bazis to the remaining population.
And then there are millions of refugees who fidn’t want to fight. They have no strong loyalty to Ukrainian idea, and a lot of them will come back when Western welcone wears thin. They won’t be a problem, but widely destroyed infrastrucrure will.
Limiting devastation to the narrow static front line and spending time patiently killing Nazis and waiting for collapse seems to be the best answer to the “We won, now what?” question.
By the way US milisary snd State Dept do not seem to be able to comprehend this question. Time after time US inflict total devastati9n 9n enemies… only to be kicked out later by very motivated guerillas.
Posted by: averros | Feb 1 2024 9:48 utc | 99
AFU launched 20 missiles toward Crimea overnight. 17 were shot down over the Black Sea and 3 above Crimea according to RU sources sighted by Dima. One video released shows a missile crashing in a field setting off a huge dust cloud.
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 1 2024 9:49 utc | 100