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February 04, 2024

Ukraine Open Thread 2024-040

Only for news & views directly related to the war in Ukraine.

The current open thread for other issues is here.

Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators.

Posted by b on February 4, 2024 at 14:15 UTC | Permalink

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At least 28 people died when shelling hit a bakery in the Russian city of Lysychansk

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-lysychansk-bakery-shelling-war-61ce6fc809bd73ac0fa994e8b7e84286

Posted by: Apollyon | Feb 4 2024 14:17 utc | 1

Summary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation (for the period from January 27 to February 3, 2024)

In the period from January 27 to February 3 of this year, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 37 group strikes with precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on decision-making centers, objects of the military-industrial complex, military airfield infrastructure, arsenals and fuel bases of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In addition, the locations of units of the armed forces of Ukraine, formations of nationalists and foreign mercenaries were affected.

All assigned objects were hit.

In the Kupyansk direction, units of the Western Group of Troops liberated the settlement of Tabayevka in the Kharkiv region and continued to improve the situation along the front edge in some areas. During the week, Russian troops repelled 41 attacks by assault groups of the 30th, 32nd, 44th, 60th mechanized, 57th motorized Infantry, 25th Airborne, 95th airborne assault brigades and 103rd Air Defense Brigade in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka, Tabayevka, Kharkiv regions, Novoselovskoye of the Luhansk People's Republic and Terny of the Donetsk People's Republic.

The enemy's losses amounted to over 750 military personnel, a tank, nine armored combat vehicles, 21 vehicles, as well as eight field artillery guns.

In the Krasnolimansk direction, units of the Center group of forces, with the support of aviation and artillery fire, occupied more advantageous positions and repelled 19 enemy attacks. Clusters of manpower and equipment of the 60th, 63rd mechanized brigades, the 12th special purpose Brigade and the 13th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Kirovsk, Yampolovka of the Donetsk People's Republic, Chervonaya Dibrova, Kuzmino of the Luhansk People's Republic, as well as the Serebryansk forestry.

The enemy lost up to 1,825 soldiers killed and wounded, six tanks, 13 armored combat vehicles, 36 vehicles and six field artillery guns.

In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern Group of Troops competently improved the situation along the front edge and repelled 22 enemy attacks. Air strikes, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems defeated the formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Verkhnekamenskoye, Artemovskoye, Krasnoe, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Andreevka, Belogorovka, Perezdnoye and Georgievka of the Donetsk People's Republic.

The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the specified period amounted to more than 2,245 servicemen, five tanks, 19 armored combat vehicles, 63 vehicles, 28 field artillery guns and two MLRS Grad combat vehicles.

In the South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok group of forces jointly repelled nine attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, in the areas of the settlements of Novomikhailovka, Konstantinovka, Ugledar, Staromayorskoye, Makarovka of the Donetsk People's Republic and Priyutnoye of the Zaporozhye region, units of the 58th, 72nd mechanized, 79th airborne assault brigades, as well as the 127th and 128th air defense brigades were defeated.

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 735 soldiers, two tanks, six armored combat vehicles, 17 vehicles, 12 field artillery guns and two MLRS Grad combat vehicles.

In the Zaporozhye direction, units of Russian troops repelled an attack by an assault group of the 108th Air Defense Brigade in the area of the settlement of Lugovskoye and defeated the manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Workino, Nesteryanka, Pyatikhatki, Kamenskoye, Malaya Tokmachka and Orekhov of the Zaporozhye region.

The enemy lost more than 385 servicemen, a tank, 10 armored combat vehicles, 19 vehicles, 15 field artillery guns and a Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

In the Kherson direction, as a result of preemptive actions by Russian troops, air strikes and artillery fire, the manpower and equipment of the 35th, 36th, 38th Marine brigades, 121st, 123rd and 124th air defense brigades were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Nikolaevka, Tyaginka, Ivanovka, Tokarevka, Antonovka, Yantarnoye, Kherson region.

The enemy lost up to 290 soldiers killed and wounded, four tanks, two armored combat vehicles, 26 vehicles, 11 boats and 12 field artillery guns. During the week, 26 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered.

Over the past week, seven launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, including five S-300, SAMP-T made in France, as well as IRIS-T made in Germany, were hit by operational and tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of groups of troops.

In addition, three radar stations of the Norwegian-made NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system, two radars of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, one radar station of the IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile system manufactured by Germany, as well as six ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit.

Aviation and air defense systems shot down 20 aircraft guided missiles during the week, including four HARM anti-radar missiles, a JDAM guided aerial bomb, 53 HIMARS, Uragan and Alder multiple launch rocket systems, as well as 423 unmanned aerial vehicles.

...

Summary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation (as of February 4, 2024)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to conduct a special military operation.

In the Kupyansk direction, the active actions of units of the "Western" grouping of troops, air strikes and artillery fire repelled four attacks by formations of the 30th, 32nd mechanized and 25th airborne brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka, Kharkiv region and Terny, Donetsk People's Republic.

The enemy lost up to 30 soldiers, two armored combat vehicles, three vehicles, a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system and an M777 artillery system manufactured by the United States.

In the Krasnolimansk direction, the coordinated actions of the units of the Center group of forces have improved the position along the front edge.

Air strikes and artillery fire repelled three attacks by assault groups of the 60th Mechanized Brigade and the 12th Azov special Purpose Brigade in the areas of the settlements of Yampolovka of the Donetsk People's Republic and Chervonaya Dibrova of the Luhansk People's Republic.

In addition, the enemy's manpower was defeated in the areas of the Torskoye settlement of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Serebryansky forestry.

The losses of the Armed Forces amounted to 120 soldiers, two armored combat vehicles and four vehicles.

In the Donetsk direction, units of the "Southern" grouping of troops, with the support of aviation and artillery, repelled two attacks by formations of the 112th Air Defense Brigade and the 24th mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Krasnoe and Leninskoye of the Donetsk People's Republic.

Also, the manpower and equipment of the 22nd, 93rd mechanized and 80th airborne assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Bogdanovka, Novy, Kleshcheyevka and Shumy of the Donetsk People's Republic.

The enemy's losses amounted to 380 soldiers, two infantry fighting vehicles, three Kozak armored vehicles and six pickups.

During the counter-battery struggle, the following were hit: a self-propelled artillery installation "Gvozdika", as well as two howitzers: D-20 and D-30.

An ammunition depot of the 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed near the settlement of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk People's Republic.

In the South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok group of forces, in cooperation with army aviation and artillery, defeated the manpower and equipment of the 72nd mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 1st Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Ugledar and Urozhodnoye of the Donetsk People's Republic.

The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine amounted to 115 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, three cars, two self-propelled artillery installations "Acacia" and a D-20 gun.

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, Verbovoye, Nesteryanka and Shcherbaki of the Zaporozhye region.

The enemy lost up to 45 servicemen, two vehicles, a D-20 cannon and a Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

In the Kherson direction, the active actions of units of Russian troops, air strikes, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems defeated enemy concentrations of manpower in the areas of the settlements of Ivanovka, Tyaginka, Kazatskoye and Zolotaya Balka of the Kherson region.

The losses of the Armed Forces amounted to up to 30 servicemen, three vehicles, the M777 artillery system and the D-20 cannon.

Operational and tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery groups of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed the fuel depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as well as defeated the manpower and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 124 districts.

Air defense means shot down 97 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the areas of the settlements of Veliky Vyselok, Kharkiv region, Golikovo, Belogorovka, Luhansk People's Republic, Tokmak, Novoye, Ocheretovatoye and Chistopolye, Zaporizhia region.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 568 aircraft, 265 helicopters, 11775 unmanned aerial vehicles, 462 anti-aircraft missile systems, 14904 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1216 multiple rocket launchers, 7963 field artillery and mortars, as well as 18230 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed.

Posted by: rumod reports | Feb 4 2024 14:26 utc | 2

Russia continues exhausting the Collective Waste. No money will ever change the outcome in the battlefield. Russia is fully committed 'all the way' to achieve all her goals which were clearly stated back in February 2022.

Posted by: AI | Feb 4 2024 14:43 utc | 3

China is doing a good business in Ukraine.

machine translated

Military uniforms with the symbols of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were found at the railway checkpoint "Zabaikalsk" in a freight train that was transiting through China to Poland.

Everyone is beautiful - both Chinese comrades and customers.


https://t.me/s/obrazbuduschego2/16455

Posted by: too scents | Feb 4 2024 14:47 utc | 4

The post shows a burned out Caesar howitzer with what appears to be an intact barrel and largely intact recoil mechanism (i.e the heaviest and most expensive “hardware”). So long as immobilised equipment isn’t wrecked with followup strikes, Ukraine will continue to exploit economically viable salvage.

https://t.me/ZandVchannel/98846

🏴‍☠️🇫🇷 The destroyed French 155-mm Caesar howitzer, which ukros decided not to throw, but to take away.

In terms of evacuation of damaged equipment, the situation is interesting. Ukros evacuates literally everything.

Even downed planes and helicopters they try to collect and drag away.

Posted by: anon2020 | Feb 4 2024 14:48 utc | 5

China is doing a good business in Ukraine.
...
Posted by: too scents | Feb 4 2024 14:47 utc | 4

Probably, but here we have ...

"
territory containers with uniforms for Ukrainian troops that were on a TRANSIT ROUTE THROUGH China to Poland.
"

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/russian-customs-officers-impound-containers-transporting-ukrainian-military-uniforms/3125779

Producer and sender are not known.


Posted by: 600w | Feb 4 2024 15:26 utc | 6

Ukraine Weekly Update, 2nd Feb 2024: May be useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-cf4

Posted by: Dr. Rob Campbell | Feb 4 2024 15:33 utc | 7

Posted by: AI | Feb 4 2024 14:43 utc | 3

The EU 50 billion money has very little effect on anything. It is mostly sent to pay Ukraine's bills to the IMF, which helps keep the western financial system afloat to a degree, and to pay bills to Lockheed and Raytheon. Of course, the regime officials will stuff some in their pockets to buy more real estate in Croatia and Switzerland, as well.

Furthermore, we heard from the insider channel that the most important condition for giving money to Ukraine was the condition of forcing through the new mobilization law, and harvesting as many people as possible into the infantry force. Who cares if there's no ammo, weapons or supplies available, which is a secondary issue.

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 4 2024 15:46 utc | 8

It seems that all the NAZI's can do now is murder as many innocent Russian civilians as possible until their suicide mission on behalf of the Empire of death, deceit, and delusions is complete.

Posted by: Robert Hope | Feb 4 2024 15:50 utc | 9

It seems that all the NAZI's can do now is murder as many innocent Russian civilians as possible until their suicide mission on behalf of the Empire of death, deceit, and delusions is complete.

Posted by: Robert Hope | Feb 4 2024 15:50 utc | 9

------------------

Of course, that was true all along. They shelled Donesk in a similar fashion because they'll never get it back. It's all hateful spite.

I've said before the reason Ukraine turned to NATO/EU cargo-cultism, by way of Bandera.

Is because deep down they know what f**ked up abortion of a country "independent Ukraine" has been since 1991. And that unlike Russia it has no future.

Makes the Ukro-Nazi worse in that sense, than the OG Nazis. Who only turned from imperialist genocide to suicide-genocide after they knew the war was lost.

Ukraine started out that state. Their demographic prospects alone, tell that grim story.

Posted by: Urban Fox | Feb 4 2024 17:06 utc | 10

Tragedy hits again.......
because of Putin 5d sitting on his hands, the bakery demands the removal of the entire command of Russia. I know strelkov would demand so too.

I don't know why the entire federation of soviets are not demanding that iskanders and kinzhal warheads with nuclear devices are not heading towards at least Berlin. We know that I care so much about that bakery because having heard that they make their own patriotic sourdough borodinsky there, as I do myself when I'm in the shadow banning myself while beating my yeast slowly. along with my echo chamber of pathetic pro putina lovers here. So why not be realistic and just withdraw from crimea already because as we know it Russia lost already?

Posted by: Jason | Feb 4 2024 18:01 utc | 11

… Furthermore, we heard from the insider channel that the most important condition for giving money to Ukraine was the condition of forcing through the new mobilization law, and harvesting as many people as possible into the infantry force. …

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 4 2024 15:46 utc | 8

I noticed that claim, too.

The wilful disregard for Ukrainian life has always encouraged the suspicion that their deaths are a feature of western designs on Ukrainian territory and resources, not a side effect of desperation or incompetence.

Posted by: anon2020 | Feb 4 2024 18:06 utc | 12

Apollyon | Feb 4 2024 14:17 utc | 1

Perhaps the surprise war pig nuland was referring to.

Posted by: Divadab | Feb 4 2024 18:08 utc | 13

11
Agree!
The death toll for a so called SMO among civilians & soldiers is breathtaking.
Chessmaster is a master of desaster!
He is the perfect eastern partner for destroying Russian lifes!

Posted by: SlowSoft | Feb 4 2024 18:58 utc | 14

@ Jason | Feb 4 2024 18:01 utc | 11

“federation of soviets”? Exactly which century are you inhabiting? Obviously not ours.

The test of your comment was no better.

Posted by: malenkov | Feb 4 2024 18:59 utc | 15

Well the Hungarian PM Viktor Orban eventually succumbed to pressure from the Italian and French presidents to sign-off on the EU's funding for Ukraine, their was talk that the EU was going to try impact upon the Hungarian economy reducing it somehow, but now Orban has signed-off on the huge 50 billions Euro budget for Ukraine that plan might not happen now.

I feel sorry for the ordinary citizens of the EU their governments have put their needs to the back, whilst the needs of Ukraine are at the fore, its as if they don't care about their own citizens, they are in government and they'll do what they want with the taxpayers cash.

The poor farmers of Europe springs to mind.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 4 2024 18:59 utc | 16

As in my name I'm just a pilgrim and my first post. there is so much wisdom here and I am grateful to all. From a couple of articles on gateway pundit.... a chicago city council member ask the board why was the immigrants in his city receiving 9K worth of free stuff every month and the other article was about citizens complaining at the airport how immigrants got vip escourt around security. I am Texas born and raised and know the border crisis. My question is does anyone else think the usa is buying mercs to send and fight Russia ? Kinda makes Bidens off the wall comment about funding take a different view ..... fork over the money or we'll send daddies and sons. If true how will this effect me and my family ?

Posted by: Pilgrim | Feb 4 2024 19:20 utc | 17

by Republicofscotland | Feb 4 2024 18:59 utc | 16

It all depends from where one observes Orban from.
He did the best thing he could - negotiated that 50 bil. Euros are to be divided over 4 years, that audit and a control is obligatory on that spending, that the part of the total sum aka the share that Hungary is giving to Ukraine is used for a civilian purposes only, and saved Hungarian piece of cake that is given by EU, although it sums it up to just 2% of Hungarian total GDP. Also he saved numerous Hungarian businesses.

Varoufakis when he was Greek Economy Minister tried and went through the same racket, blackmail and a pressure. Still had to yield and was bragging that Mafia are amateurs in comparison.

Posted by: whirlX | Feb 4 2024 19:26 utc | 18

Posted by: whirlX | Feb 4 2024 19:26 utc | 18

Well, there is pretty much nothing Orban can do. He held out for pretty long.

This open ended money black hole will be the end of EU, as witnessed now through farmer uprisings all across central and western Europe. The only thing they have left is launch a crazy war with Russia, which is the dilemma of a cornered rat. Scary times.

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 4 2024 19:47 utc | 19

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 4 2024 19:47 utc | 19

and the sad thing is, they were given so many opportunities to just stop their madness, but they simply refused to listen, to look, to talk.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 4 2024 19:59 utc | 20

by unimperator | Feb 4 2024 19:47 utc | 19

This money goes nowhere. 50 bil EUR over 4 years is nothing when Ukraine needs around 4.5 bil. EUR per month, just to function as a state.
It was just a show to put Orban in line, but EU failed even that.
Fico from Slovakia is the next.


Posted by: whirlX | Feb 4 2024 20:00 utc | 21

The €50 billion allocated by the EU for 4 years is fueling the appetites of Ukrainian officials. Former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany Melnyk, who was transferred as ambassador to Brazil after a series of scandals, demands that Europe allocate 1% of EU GDP to Ukraine. According to his calculations, this amount should amount to €160 billion annually. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the German government had agreed to arm Ukraine for only €7 billion.

https://pravda-en.com/world/2024/02/04/300629.html

Posted by: Apollyon | Feb 4 2024 20:13 utc | 22

From Zio-AP...

'Moscow-installed officials say Ukrainian shelling killed at least 28 people at a bakery in the Russian-occupied city of Lysychansk.

At least one child was among the dead Saturday, local leader Leonid Pasechnik wrote in a statement on Telegram. A further 10 people were rescued from under the rubble by emergency services, he said.

Ukrainian officials in Kyiv did not comment on the incident.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have increasingly relied on longer-range attacks this winter amid largely unchanged positions on the 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) front line in the nearly 2-year-old war.'

--------

Should read; Kyiv has, since the start of their campaign on behalf of NATO targeting Russia, increasingly relied upon terrorism, deliberately shelling areas with high civilian populations.

Its a clear indication that the same genocidal terrorists are running these attacks in Ukraine and in Palestine. Of course it is not framed that way because those same people own mainstream media agencies like the Associated Press.
Sincere condolences to the families of the slain innocents. I can only inagine what they must be feeling. President Putin, are you considering a major strike on the vassal decision-makers in Kyiv? Lop the head off the snake as it were.

Posted by: Áobh Ó'Sheachnasaigh | Feb 4 2024 20:13 utc | 23

China is doing a good business in Ukraine.

machine translated
Military uniforms with the symbols of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were found at the railway checkpoint "Zabaikalsk" in a freight train that was transiting through China to Poland.

Everyone is beautiful - both Chinese comrades and customers.

Posted by: too scents | Feb 4 2024 14:47 utc | 4

STOP TALKING BOLLOX. STOP YOUR LIES

Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 4 2024 20:19 utc | 24

I am having issues finding what exactly Lavrov said today in UN Sec. Council. He apparently issued a warning to the West.
A second one. Apparently a very serious one.
Karlof1 please help. if you will.
There is nothing on RF MFA and X is as reliable as a village rumor mill..

Posted by: whirlX | Feb 4 2024 20:24 utc | 25

Just adding some extra extrapolations from official news from Ukraine itself.

Male life expectancy dropped a full decade to 57.

As I mentioned earlier, only 1/3 of all male are acceptable army material (at most and with very flexible interpretation of acceptable)

So it is NOT a drop of 67 to 57, but a drop of 67 to 37 for those mobilizable.


Now what does it mean on a more down to earth view for those 4 million ?

10%, 400.000 KIA per year, 33.000 per month, 7.700 per week 1.100 daily


Sounds familiar?

Posted by: Newbie | Feb 4 2024 20:27 utc | 26

This money goes nowhere. 50 bil EUR over 4 years is nothing when Ukraine needs around 4.5 bil. EUR per month, just to function as a state.
It was just a show to put Orban in line, but EU failed even that.
Fico from Slovakia is the next.

Posted by: whirlX | Feb 4 2024 20:00 utc | 21

Just for civilian costs they were getting 1.5+1.5 per month (us+eu), 50 for 4 years is 1bln per month , indeed short, Frodo short.

Posted by: Newbie | Feb 4 2024 20:31 utc | 27

So why not be realistic and just withdraw from crimea already because as we know it Russia lost already?
Posted by: Jason | Feb 4 2024 18:01 utc | 11

It's a war. That "bakery" was a military field kitchen manned by soldier whose job happened to be cooking food for the troops. Soldiers are legitimate targets in war time even if they don't have a combat role. These are Russians soldiers not 1940's era Frenchmen ... they aren't going to surrender just because their bakery got shelled and they didn't have warm croissants for breakfast. Field kitchens are prime artillery targets because their loss affects moral and health of the soldiers ... I'm sure quite a few Ukrainian field kitchens have been shelled as well but you don't hear them crying about it.

Posted by: HB_Norica | Feb 4 2024 20:46 utc | 28

It's a war. That "bakery" was a military field kitchen manned by soldier whose job happened to be cooking food for the troops. Soldiers are legitimate targets in war time even if they don't have a combat role. These are Russians soldiers not 1940's era Frenchmen ... they aren't going to surrender just because their bakery got shelled and they didn't have warm croissants for breakfast. Field kitchens are prime artillery targets because their loss affects moral and health of the soldiers ... I'm sure quite a few Ukrainian field kitchens have been shelled as well but you don't hear them crying about it.

Posted by: HB_Norica | Feb 4 2024 20:46 utc | 28


But no evidence I see. Just because Kiev says it doesn't mean it's true!

Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 4 2024 20:49 utc | 29

What does the offensive of Russian troops in the Kharkov region mean? By Yevgeny Krutikov

“The settlement of Tabayevka in the Kharkov region has been liberated,” the Russian Defense Ministry says. We are not just facing the capture of a village: Russian troops are now hacking into the contact lines, which have not budged for a year. Russia is creating a new strategic situation in the Kharkov region, threatening to dismember the Ukrainian defence up to the Donetsk agglomeration.

First, Krakhmalnoye, then Tabayevka – Russian troops have advanced in the Svatovo direction (Kharkov region), pushing the enemy to a new line of defence (to the village of Peschanoye). Slightly to the north, already close to Kupyansk, the enemy’s positions are also gradually moving to the west and southwest.

Along the way, forests are being cleared, which the VSU [Ukrainian Armed Forces] is turning into fortified areas, even giving them names (“Alligator” and “Woodpecker”). The enemy is losing the old lines of trenches, the first line of contact has been destroyed. Something similar is happening directly near Kupyansk, but there the advanced fortified lines in Sinkovka are being held still by the VSU, though the positions on the flanks have gradually begun to sink.

At first glance, we are looking at isolated episodes of positional warfare, since the big, iconic and recognizable geographical names do not appear in the information releases. But this is not quite true.

Firstly, even in this scenario as published so far, strategic threats arise for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, for example, in the possible drive of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to the Oskol River which has far-reaching prospects. Notwithstanding, it is still impossible to predict when this will become possible in practice.

Secondly, the enemy has been demonstrating a systemic defence crisis in the Kupyansk direction during the past week. The defence of Kupyansk has been under construction by the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the spring of last year, when the decision was made in Kiev on a ‘counteroffensive’ in the southern direction. New brigades with western armoured vehicles were sent to the southern section of the contact line, and Kupyansk and the area around it were designated for defence with the rest of their forces.

In Kiev, they were convinced that Russian troops were forming an offensive group in the Kupyansk direction, and so the VSU began to wait there for a frontal assault. However, as a result, the Russian Army did not undertake anything of the kind in this area. Instead, the Ukrainian units were gradually ground down by the Russian army in positional battles, while the Kupyansk group of the VSU had to be replenished with whatever troops were left.

Now Ukrainian sources are complaining that as a consequence, a combination of lines has formed in the sinkhole areas (that’s the same Krakhmalnoye and Tabayevka). Into these lines the VSU has herded separate battalions from different units, with the result that unified management and command have been lost, and the performance quality of the troops has left much to be desired.

As a result, the VSU is considering the possibility of transferring the remnants of those forces which participated in the failed ‘counteroffensive”’ to Kupyansk from the southern direction. Before that, they had been sent in great haste sent to Avdeyevka.

But this is already a systemic problem for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since there is trouble in the southern sector. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have gradually regained some of the positions which were left during the so-called counteroffensive, and these forces continue to move forward. We are even talking about possible threats to Orekhov, a rearguard city for the VSU, from which all the communications and command of the ‘counteroffensive’ had been carried out.

Behind the defensive fortifications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, an open field for tens of kilometres opens up on a whole group of sites. Kiev’s military reserves are gradually being squandered, and there is practically no human materiel left to plug the holes. Related to these problems there are the panic campaigns in Kiev about total mobilization.

There is another problem: the attrition of officers. Western military personnel cannot replace this crucial resource — they can only be used to service technically complicated weapons systems such as air defence or long-range artillery. Along the line of contact, foreign officers are more likely to interfere due to their ignorance of the language and misunderstanding of the mentality of the [Ukrainian] subordinates.

There are other factors weakening the Ukrainian defence, but they are not directly related to military operations. For example, the Western sponsors are really concerned about the corruption of the Ukrainian leadership. The inspections and audits which are taking place in Kiev on this issue right now are preventing Ukraine from building new defensive lines swiftly enough.

Another non-military factor: political discord among the various factions of the Ukrainian authorities. The premonition of defeat is triggering a drop in morale, not only in the troops, but also in the elites.

All this in general creates a strategic opportunity for Russia to seriously change the situation on the line of contact.

Partial tactical successes must at some point turn into a major breakthrough in the enemy’s defence. Moreover, we are talking about such a breakthrough that will not stop in just two or three days at the next defensive line, but will lead inevitably, precisely, to the collapse of the front. This is exactly what the efforts of the Russian Armed Forces are now aimed at, probing for the weaknesses in Ukrainian defensive positions.

The liberation of Tabayevka is an example of just such an approach. Sooner or later, the VSU will not have time to create a new defensive line behind a particular settlement. And then we will see how the special operation will break the current positional deadlock.

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 4 2024 20:57 utc | 30

Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 - in the Hague, The Netherlands

International Court of Justice decision: Ukraine v. Russia Federation re MH17
Russia found not guilty.

In a blow to Ukraine, the World Court ruled Russia didn’t finance terrorism in Donbass and the court refused to blame Moscow for the downing of Flight MH17.

The World Court ruled on Wednesday that Russia did not finance terrorism in its defense of separatists in Ukraine and the court refused to find Russia guilty of downing Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 as Ukraine had asked.

The case was brought to the ICJ by Ukraine in 2017, three years after the U.S.-backed coup in Kiev overthrew the democratically-elected President Viktor Yanukovych.

When Russian speakers in Donbass rebelled against the unconstitutional change in government that they had voted for, the coup leaders in 2014 launched what it called an “anti-terrorist” military operation to put down the rebellion.

Russia responded by helping ethnic Russians with arms and other military equipment. Ukraine claimed to the court that that was in breach of a treaty barring terrorism financing.

But the ICJ ruled on Wednesday that the treaty only covered cash transfers made to alleged terrorist groups. This “does not include the means used to commit acts of terrorism, including weapons or training camps,” the Court said in its judgement.

“Consequently, the alleged supply of weapons to various armed groups operating in Ukraine… fall outside the material scope” of the anti-terrorism financing convention, the Court ruled. The Court also said it had no evidence to show that any of the armed militias in Donbass fighting against the government could be characterized as terrorist groups.[.]

LINK

Imho, this is very interesting that the "Treaty" only covers cash transfers".
Six years! just a tad too long for a decision by the court. ICJ reform of procedure is warranted.

Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 4 2024 20:57 utc | 31

Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 4 2024 20:19 utc | 24

(1) Let the dust settle first, before jumping into any conclusions.
(2) US is still buying Russian Uranium.
(3) EU are still buying Russian oil and gas, albeit more expensive than the past.
(4) Hamas used Ukrainian NATO supplied weapons.

Posted by: KitaySupporter | Feb 4 2024 21:30 utc | 32

14
These deadly attacks against russian civilians is a speciality from NATO!
Same bloody terror strategy worked well against Serbian civilians. Milosevic only capitulated because of Natos war against civilians.
Seems like Putin learned from Natos aggression against Serbian civilians. He is not folliwing the Milosevic path.
But anyhow Putin is the wrong Person at this time.
He also was the wrong person before the war but nobody realized because he built a fata morgana of „western partners“
His western partners profiled him quite good as a weak, naive poser. So they let him swim in his childish naive dreams of a
silk road from Lisboan to Vladivostok.
Meanwhile they armed & trained Ukronazis under the eyes of FSB and dreamer Putin.

Posted by: tesla | Feb 4 2024 21:42 utc | 33

@ KitaySupporter | Feb 4 2024 21:30 utc | 32

(1) Let the dust settle first, before jumping into any conclusions.
...
(4) Hamas used Ukrainian NATO supplied weapons.

What even is your point?

Posted by: boneless | Feb 4 2024 21:42 utc | 34

Posted by: HB_Norica | Feb 4 2024 20:46 utc | 28

I constantly hear Ukraine crying about shit, often about shit that did not happen like the so called Russian massacre in Busha, whining in general, and begging for money.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Feb 4 2024 21:52 utc | 35

by unimperator | Feb 4 2024 20:57 utc | 30

Kiev is just unlucky to be so close, to both, Russia and Belorussia. Coup de grâce would be surrounding Kiev to a surrender. Ukraine almost has no military up North and those who are there are too few. 30.000 troops means around 10.000 of a fighting force. Again, Kiev in 3 days? Doable.

Posted by: whirlX | Feb 4 2024 22:01 utc | 36

Why are the EU farmers protesting? Because cheap GMO grain from Ukraine undercuts their prices.

Meanwhile, their governments are trying to shut them down in the name of "climate change".
Sounds to me like a Blackrock takeover of Europe.

What did Kissinger say? Control the food and you control the people.

Reminds me of NAFTA, which threw millions of Mexican farmers off their land, once they opened their borders to cheap US corn.

Posted by: wagelaborer | Feb 4 2024 22:19 utc | 37

by wagelaborer | Feb 4 2024 22:19 utc | 37

Very true. All that and added to it, is the same as the EU was paying European fisherman to get rid of fishing boats, some years ago, if they are outside of corporate fishing fleets, meaning a family business. It started with a tuna fish protection propaganda.
Idea of having the Black Rock acquiring European food markets and a production is really scary.


Posted by: whirlX | Feb 4 2024 22:31 utc | 38

@boneless

"What even is your point?"

What KitaySupporter wants to say: All wars are banker wars.

Posted by: Apollyon | Feb 4 2024 22:40 utc | 39

Posted by: HB_Norica | Feb 4 2024 20:46 utc | 28


But no evidence I see. Just because Kiev says it doesn't mean it's true!

Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 4 2024 20:49 utc | 29

Does not look like a field bakery.
https://youtu.be/t7h_FIHsh3c?feature=shared

But of course it is war. Everybody is behaving according his moral standards, like in peacetime.
Kiev/London/Washington has choosen terror as a weapon, in ucraine since 2013/14, elsewhere since...
If you want to cause a food supply problem, you start a campaign.
If you want to beat the military, you fight it. Ut this bakery shit is US logic. Rember Biden and the airstrikes? They dont achive anything, but they continue. As long as they can.
Because western nations lifestyle depends on exploiting other nations wealth and productivity.
China took a long hard way to de-exploit its people. They could do it because of western greed. They underestimate people. If a nation with more then 1.000.000.000 people has the same technology level as the former hegemons, they are free.
Russia has the area, the ressources, but could use more people.
They just need time to improve.
The west is like a galley, impossible to live/move without help from 3rd party.
They dont even try to reinvent themselves. It is all about power conservation of the "influencers".
The life standard will go down, the repression up, until it come to..

Posted by: 600w | Feb 4 2024 22:42 utc | 40

Posted by: boneless | Feb 4 2024 21:42 utc | 34

My point is that moral indignation has no place in wars.

Strength decides the outcome. Not narratives, not God on whose side, not people on your side. Power on the winner's side.

And don't tell me that that is shocking. It is not. We are all being played.

Posted by: KitaySupporter | Feb 4 2024 22:49 utc | 41

There HAS to be talk now in Russian coffee shops and supermarkets, those in the Kremlin are messing things up pretty bad. You CANNOT ignore the pinpricks that are now getting to look like knife jabs and you CANNOT continue to acquiesce to the oligarchs whining about their fucking revenue streams. Putin needs to strategically cut all access to resources or critical metals that will help the West in their goal of collapsing Mother Russia!! Uniforms are one thing but country 404 should not be able to buy Chinese drones ffs!

Posted by: bisfugged | Feb 4 2024 22:50 utc | 42

whirlX | Feb 4 2024 22:31 utc | 38
*** Very true. All that and added to it, is the same as the EU was paying European fisherman to get rid of fishing boats, some years ago, if they are outside of corporate fishing fleets, meaning a family business. It started with a tuna fish protection propaganda.
Idea of having the Black Rock acquiring European food markets and a production is really scary.***

Think back to early this century -- the astoundingly mishandled "Foot and Mouth" outbreak and massive livestock cull in Britain. The mass-media carried "experts" from the top neoliberal/neocon (though at that time, identified as "free-market" or "Thatcherite", which was actually the same as Blairite) think-tanks urging the *global* centralisation of, for instance, beef production in Argentina.
In other words, exactly what corresponded to Kissinger's point about a total blackmail, of everyone everywhere, via concentrated monopoly of production and distribution of essential supplies.
Which no doubt the WEF still intends to deliver.
While the EU continues to sabotage European food and energy supplies, also watch out for the privatisation of the NHS in Britain. That would be a very big prize (in terms of both profiteering and ideological victory) for the US financial predators.
If the present corrupt UK government cannot quite manage it, the utterly rotten false-flag "opposition" certainly will.

Posted by: Cynic | Feb 4 2024 22:55 utc | 43

Uniforms are one thing but country 404 should not be able to buy Chinese drones ffs!

Posted by: bisfugged | Feb 4 2024 22:50 utc | 42

And how is Putin supposed to stop that? The West ordered the world to place a price cap on Russian oil. It failed.

Whatever Putin might do to stop drone sales is bound to fail as well. They will be sold to a transit country, and will still reach Ukraine. He might be more successful with regard to Ukrainian uniforms ... because whoever orders them, whoever produces them will most certainly want them delivered to Ukraine in the end. Who else would be interested in Ukrainian uniforms, after all.

I do wonder, though, if those uniforms were detected by chance in Russia, during a routine inspection. Or if someone tipped the Russian authorities off what was transiting through their country. Why send them through Russia in the first place?

Posted by: Martina | Feb 4 2024 23:06 utc | 44

Regarding Chinese drones ending up in ukraine's hands. There is nothing shocking nor preventable about it. As far as I have to guess are simple commercial drones, used by both sides en mass. How does one ban all commercial drone purchase? Whatever ukraine can't buy, someone else will and send it there. Besides, after a full scale factory production setup, the most cost efficient way to amass simple suicide/grenade-dropping drones is through buying parts in bulk, then assembling them by yourself. Both sides are doing this and there is no stopping it.

Posted by: boneless | Feb 4 2024 23:29 utc | 45

You CANNOT ignore the pinpricks that are now getting to look like knife jabs
Posted by: bisfugged | Feb 4 2024 22:50 utc | 42

How are the pinpricks becoming knife jabs? Have you seen the front line? The Ukraine line is being pushed back, slowly sure, but Russia hasn't even started an offensive yet, they are still in an active defense.

I would counsel patience, but this board is so full of histrionics, intentional and unintentional, that it would be nothing more than talking to a brick wall. Wait six months and then we'll see where the war is at.

Posted by: James M. | Feb 4 2024 23:39 utc | 46

Posted by: Martina | Feb 4 2024 23:06 utc | 44

Judging by the benefits that China brings to the Russia table, Russia will not do anything about it.

You need to ask the chief money backers of Ukraine, US/EU, to stop Ukraine buying Chinese drones. US/EU are spending their citizens' hard earned money to support China's economy and China's future destructions of US/EU through Ukraine. Ironic, isn't it?

Posted by: KitaySupporter | Feb 4 2024 23:48 utc | 47

@ KitaySupporter | Feb 4 2024 22:49 utc | 41

... We are all being played.

Thanks for clarification. In my opinion humans are too stupid to plan all this exploitation so well. Some certainty take advantage of it to the best of their abilities, but not to the "all is a charade" extreme I understand you to suggest.

Posted by: boneless | Feb 5 2024 0:03 utc | 48

@unimperator #30

Thanks for sharing this very interesting analysis.

Posted by: Richsrd L | Feb 5 2024 0:03 utc | 49

45
„….buying parts in bulk…“
?
Parts of commercial drones?

Posted by: SlowSoft | Feb 5 2024 0:27 utc | 50

Uniforms are one thing but country 404 should not be able to buy Chinese drones ffs!

Posted by: bisfugged | Feb 4 2024 22:50 utc | 42

Mr Bisfugged. They're not "Chinese drones" per se. They are DJI drones. These can be bought easily. They're sold all over the world and they are the most popular drone in the world. I have three myself. Although my drones are manufactured in China....I bought them off amazon. Anyone can buy them on the open market.

Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 5 2024 0:39 utc | 51

On the bakery shelling - it was done during the day to maximize civilian casualties. To understand Ukraine's strategy just read shadow spammers posts. Ukraine is losing on the battlefield so they try to create unrest in Russia - Putin can't protect his own, we sank a boat, we can shell Russian territory, Putin is a loser and weak, on and on. Sorry he (SB) hasn't tired of game yet.

Posted by: the pessimist | Feb 5 2024 0:40 utc | 52

Posted by: boneless | Feb 4 2024 23:29 utc | 45

They're DJI drones. The most popular in the world. Can be bought on Amazon and multiple other places. They may be china manufactured but theyre nor "bought from China" lol.

Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 5 2024 0:42 utc | 53

Malenkov


Sorry excuse my non sense I just wanted to see slow soft

Posted by: Jason | Feb 5 2024 0:50 utc | 54

ZH has a posting up with the title

Zelensky Visits Front Line Troops Amid Brewing Split With His Top General

the quote

Part of the conflict stems from Zaluzhny's willingness to criticize top decision-making when it comes to the war, whereas Zelensky and his top aides have only consistently sought to portray an optimistic as possible or rosy picture of how things are going. Zelensky has reportedly seen the general's candid remarks as undermining the war effort and official policies. Zaluzhny also appears more open and realistic about the need for peace negotiations with Moscow.

Starting all the way back in November, Gen. Zaluzhny had been the first first top military official to paint a very negative picture of how Ukraine's military was fairing on the battlefield. What's more is the admission quickly caught the eye of other major publications, most notably The New York Times, which underscored at the time, "His comments marked the first time a top Ukrainian commander said the fighting had reached an impasse...".

Ukraine is losing, regardless of the potential changing of the guard.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 5 2024 0:54 utc | 55

Even downed planes and helicopters they try to collect and drag away.
Posted by: anon2020 | Feb 4 2024 14:48 utc | 5
----------------------------------------------------------
Why would anyone expect them to do anything less. Recycling is important in the ESG empire, even more so when you cannot get replacement parts. Just getting parts might be hard enough as well as competent mechanics.

My guess is we are still in mid-Summer 1944. It will take some time for the Empire to collapse. I do want the Russkies to end up owning Odessa. It would only be fair.

Posted by: Acco Hengst | Feb 5 2024 1:13 utc | 56

by unimperator | Feb 4 2024 20:57 utc | 30

Thanks for bringing this Krutikov guy up. He was on some TV show recently and was really making sense of it all.
Mind you, Russia is full of various qualified ex-military analysts, but to be honest, nobody that I was watching in the last 2 years predicted correctly anything, except on an average gave a good post-action sitrep.
I wouldn't be surprised if RF pulls something completely different and at some least expected point on a front-line.
What RF is doing now is straightening or shortening the line of contact for at least 300 km. That releases significant manpower, equipment and improves the logistics.
L is shorter than C.
After Avdeyevka it could be expected that RF will push to catch up a vertical line at some 30 km from where they are now. Everything North will be straightened, too.
I expect the main offensive action to start after Putin goes to see Erdo at 12th of February. I am unsure that announced Ukrainian grain deal talks would be discussed at all. That is not discussed on such meetings. Also 'tis the first ever trip to a NATO land after 3 years, and that makes some Russian pundits worried.
Very treacherous next few days and moments to come, sure thing that.

Posted by: whirlX | Feb 5 2024 1:28 utc | 57

OH FFS
Stupid westerners carrying on about some uniforms.

They seem to be under the delusion (ooohhhh ooohhhhhhh scary) that every single thing in China is watched by Big Brother (they think China is like the USA or UK).

Some Chinese manufacturer possibly in hard times (I think I know one - or the name anyway) is approached to make Ukrainian uniforms. Big money. He labels them clothing for Europe and off they go. Somehow they were found. I feel sorry for the Chinese manufacturer but to blame the Chinese government is as silly as blaming Biden for not fixing a pothole in Vermont.

Posted by: watcher | Feb 5 2024 1:34 utc | 58

Whoppeedo! More money for the forever wars. Billion$ is just chump change when you got the printing press.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/us-senate-releases-118bln-bipartisan-deal-on-border-security-ukraine-israel-aid-1116591563.html

Posted by: Surferket | Feb 5 2024 2:16 utc | 59

This open ended money black hole will be the end of EU, as witnessed now through farmer uprisings all across central and western Europe. The only thing they have left is launch a crazy war with Russia, which is the dilemma of a cornered rat. Scary times.

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 4 2024 19:47 utc | 19
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 4 2024 20:57 utc | 30
---------------------------------------------------
If it were not for you, Milites, karlof1, b, and a few others I might not have a clue for what's been going on.

That is not say that many of the MoA barflies are enhancing my understanding of this world. I want to thank you specifically.

Posted by: Acco Hengst | Feb 5 2024 2:35 utc | 60

Whatever Putin might do to stop drone sales is bound to fail as well. They will be sold to a transit country, and will still reach Ukraine. He might be more successful with regard to Ukrainian uniforms ... because whoever orders them, whoever produces them will most certainly want them delivered to Ukraine in the end. Who else would be interested in Ukrainian uniforms, after all.

I do wonder, though, if those uniforms were detected by chance in Russia, during a routine inspection. Or if someone tipped the Russian authorities off what was transiting through their country. Why send them through Russia in the first place?

Posted by: Martina | Feb 4 2024 23:06 utc | 44

This is why the whole multipolarity thing is doomed to failure. Either you form a proper alliance and cut off the enemy from all exports of resources and finished good (which in this case would mean complete collapse of the enemy within months). Or you will be picked up one by one and defeated, with the indirect help of the others.

Regarding Chinese drones ending up in ukraine's hands. There is nothing shocking nor preventable about it. As far as I have to guess are simple commercial drones, used by both sides en mass. How does one ban all commercial drone purchase? Whatever ukraine can't buy, someone else will and send it there. Besides, after a full scale factory production setup, the most cost efficient way to amass simple suicide/grenade-dropping drones is through buying parts in bulk, then assembling them by yourself. Both sides are doing this and there is no stopping it.

Posted by: boneless | Feb 4 2024 23:29 utc | 45

It is actually entirely preventable.

Yes, you cannot prevent third countries from reselling the drones and components.

But you can impose a meaningful blockade of the territory of Ukraine.

Israel had absolutely no qualms about doing it to Gaza, in an outright genocidal manner too.

The Kremlin does have the technical means of completely stopping all transport between NATO countries and Ukraine. It is a matter of finally placing the lives of Russian soldiers and civilians above other considerations.

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Feb 5 2024 3:14 utc | 61

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Feb 5 2024 3:14 utc | 61

The difference is that Israel has absolutely no intention of EVER living alongside the Palestinians and it does not matter if they hate them. Added to which a significant minority actually believe the religious texts which treat all non Jewish people as not human. So massacring Palestinians is not much different to a hunting trip. Many white settlers in Australia felt the same about our indigenous people.

By contrast Russians (or intelligent ones) know that they must always live alongside Ukrainians, either as part of Russia or as a near neighbour. They also recognise them as close family - slavic brothers or descendants of the same Kievan Russ from which they share a common culture. So killing them especially women and children or starving them to death is just not their way. The long term problems of hatred give rise to sabotage, unrest and even revolution. Also then Russia has to pay the cost of rebuilding.

Also the decent Russians from Moscow and St Petersburg will recall the stories of their immediate families starved to death by the Germans. They do not want to be tainted in the same way. Putin in particular has a horrific family story, where his brother died of starvation and his mother almost but was saved from the corpse truck at the last minute. These stories make a HUGE impact.

I could of course put it more simply. The Israelis and most of the USA are genocidal, psychopathic, maniacs and most of the Russians are sane humans with normal levels of empathy.

Posted by: watcher | Feb 5 2024 4:24 utc | 62

Posted by: watcher | Feb 5 2024 4:24 utc | 62

Nobody is talking about massacring Ukrainians.

Exactly the opposite -- the current approach is resulting in mass slaughter of Ukrainians and is poisoning relationships forever.

If Ukraine had been taken over with a few weeks, as it should have been, none of that would have happened.

Same if the Polish and Romanian borders had been sealed from the start.

I have commented on the technical means of doing so many times. Even the most extreme of those are preferable to what we've had these last two years.

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Feb 5 2024 4:33 utc | 63

shаdοwbanned | Feb 5 2024 3:14 utc | 61

The Kremlin does have the technical means of completely stopping all transport between NATO countries and Ukraine.

Actually it doesn't, not even close. If it did it would. I think you read Martynov too religiously.

Posted by: Eclavdra | Feb 5 2024 4:51 utc | 64

shаdοwbanned | Feb 5 2024 4:33 utc

have commented on the technical means of doing so many times.

Yes you have stated your rather ignorant opinions on the matter many, many, many times. That doesn't make them true.

Posted by: Eclavdra | Feb 5 2024 4:53 utc | 65

Shadowbanned, I appreciate your posts and thoughts typed. I agree and disagree with this recent train of thought. If Russia had done a full on assault, removing Zelinski, securing the borders etc, as is usually done, a couple issue would occur. First civil unrest would remain with internal rebellion by the Nazi types. Constant civil warring and terror. Second the west would/could/might respond in an all out war. I think neither of these were an acceptable resolution.

What is happening is the total destruction of weaponry and mercenaries which would/could terrorize the region for decades.

It appears each secured area is free of Nazi terrorists and the buildings are rebuilt, safe homes provided. Yes, I see the Ukraine forces are still able to target deep.

As the situation presents itself, and with the potential for destructive escalation, this appears to provide a better result.

I personally do not trust the western powers to be decent by any stretch. I’m also of the belief all of this is theatre as China directs every action of every government including the IMF, WHO and WEF. All media is forbidden to publish any dissent of the prescribed narrative. Not that China is a terrible country or leader for the world, indeed they have excelled in providing for their people. I just do not believe these wars, slaughters, genocides and biological terror campaigns are not completely preplanned well in advance. How China reigns in Israel with their genocidal weapons escapes me. Maybe China see us all as goy too.

It gives us all something to watch and get excited about though. And destroying all that military hardware, expiring, old and ancient, along with the murderous thugs who would use them, well, that’s an excellent idea.

Posted by: Merv Ritchie | Feb 5 2024 4:58 utc | 66

silk road from Lisboan to Vladivostok.
Meanwhile they armed & trained Ukronazis under the eyes of FSB and dreamer Putin.

Posted by: tesla | Feb 4 2024 21:42 utc | 33

Isn’t Putin’s dream, if it is his dream, the dream of a normal human being rather than the nightmare the people are living from the Dnieper west. Since when did a dream of peace become a weakness rather than a strength.

Posted by: Inki | Feb 5 2024 5:00 utc | 67

Posted by: Merv Ritchie | Feb 5 2024 4:58 utc | 66

I had to replace the word “china“ with “us/uk“ for this all to be more realistic.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 5 2024 5:23 utc | 68

Posted by: Merv Ritchie | Feb 5 2024 4:58 utc | 66

Thanks for your comment, but I am afraid it's the exact opposite.

Go back to February 2022 -- what did we see back then? Western countries evacuated their embassies to Lvov, and Biden was saying that sending Abrams tanks to Ukraine is WW3.

What do we have now? They are openly planning to carry out strategic (though conventional for now) strikes deep inside Russia.

How did we get from that original state of affairs to the current one?

Deterrence gradually disappeared as "red lines" (many of them previously absolutely unthinkable) were violated one by one.

That was made possible first, by not taking over all of Ukraine swiftly (had they been at the Polish border in March 2022, the escalation cycle would have ended right there -- at the time NATO was still scared by Russia) and being bogged down in the current nightmare, and second, by bluffing about red lines and not responding kinetically to any of them.

But at some point you will have to respond, or you are going down the Milosevic path (contrary to what somebody said in a comment above). And given the gravity of the violation that is about to occur, you will have to respond by going nuclear against the non-nuclear NATO members and betting that the US will tuck its tail between its legs and leave Europe rather than losing it all by carrying out strategic strikes against you.

The brutal reality is that this wasn't some masterfully executed grand strategic plan by the Kremlin, they simply went in unprepared out of the desperation of having no other option left, and they were unprepared even though they had 20 years to get ready for this, then wasted another six months to mobilize at all and two years to mobilize fully (total mobilization of society should have happened already). Because their deepest wish was to carry on with being a resource appendage to the West and not have to bother with all this difficult existential stuff.

I am reposting what Karaganov said last week (which I was asked to post by a comment in the previous thread) so that people know what is about to happen:

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2024/02/ukraine-open-thread-2024-038.html?cid=6a00d8341c640e53ef02c8d3a625c3200c#comment-6a00d8341c640e53ef02c8d3a625c3200c

Even if we now know at this point that shadowbanned is a troll, this part gave me pause.

Karaganov slipped something very important in his recent Duran interview,

Unless shadowbanned is bluffing as expected, which interview video, and at which time stamp thereof?
Posted by: joey_n | Feb 4 2024 8:54 utc | 168

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCD8l12WeP0

Transcript:

my point is that it seems like a similar situation appears to
27:25 develop now because we see you know United States and NATO seemingly can attack inside Russian borders with

27:31 impunity and again if Russia responds directly to Nato then there would be a

27:37 possible NATO Russia War however if Russia fails then to respond then it may signal that it R lines doesn't matter

27:44 and it can be trampled so I'm just this is a problematic uh dilemma it would seem again I'm not advocating any

27:51 retaliation against NATO country I'm just it seems like this would be a possible Pathway to a war I'm just how

27:57 do you assess it as as I as I said I do not think that

28:03 there is a possibility of a major Russian NATO uh conventional

28:10 War I'm afraid that if uh NATO gets involved or it or Russia get tired of

28:18 defeating nato in Ukraine uh nuclear weapons would be used

28:23 and uh NATO would be devastated several European countries suffer uh Germany will pay uh it debts

28:31 to the humanity first of all but some others will also um yeah I will also

28:37 suffer and I I'm a Russian and I I I I remember the words of dski about the

28:47 uh uh te of uh uh children uh so I do not want that uh but in order to save

28:55 the world from their insane people or insane countries you will have

29:02 sometimes we will have to do that I again uh I am persuading my government

29:08 and uh people around the we having a lot of debates on that

29:15 that uh uh our Western Partners should stop I

29:20 have been warning for 25 years in 19 36 in 1997 since their founding act that it

29:27 to could come to war then I was telling everybody that there will be a war then

29:34 I I I was telling my own countrymen that we should

29:41 start the start the war unfortunately we proc procrastinated for too long I think

29:48 it is should been started earlier and the ultim maybe would have avoided uh

29:54 that tragedy President Putin said uh also he admitted that we procrastinated

30:00 for too long but now the question is absolutely simple we shall win one way or

30:05 another uh the problem is the cost and uh and the cost for ukrainians which

30:12 will which devastate the cost for Europeans and the political

30:17 costs uh but I hope that will stop before

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Feb 5 2024 5:50 utc | 69

Yet, shadowbanned, has the whole of Ukraine been taken the territory would be full of terrorist style hits as the Nazi elements would be widespread. This way Russia has secured most of the ethnic Russian regions and is attempting to now denazify and maybe demilitarize the regions threatening.

Yeah, maybe Nato escalates further, and that will demand a further response, but as it is Russia has prepared many areas for a more peaceful secure life.

But as we see with Israel along with the USA et al, human life means little. You may be correct, but I do not see any country using nukes except Israel.

And it is China. The IMF invited them in and China required all 178 countries to sign an agreement first. The director Christine Legard pushes this through in 2012. China demanded compliance and no dissent. That they received.

If you go into a barroom and see all the arguing and fighting, who do you worry most about? The guy sitting quietly in the back. Look behind the curtain.

Posted by: Merv Ritchie | Feb 5 2024 6:17 utc | 70

Maybe you remember former UK PM David Brown being schooled by China when he suggested the UK would offer asylum to someone who critiqued China? “No you won’t, you signed the agreement!”

Posted by: Merv Ritchie | Feb 5 2024 6:27 utc | 71


Now that d trump has announced he intends to keep funding the war in ukraine provided other nato nations throw more money in, it will be interesting to watch trumpists change their tune.

He's really dropped those rethug congressmen most vocal in their determination that all funding of ukies cease right in the proverbial.

How long before all amerikans acknowledge that there are no 'good guys' to be found either in dc or trying to get there?

Posted by: Debsisdead | Feb 5 2024 7:13 utc | 72

📋🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Two Majors #Report for the Morning of 5 February 2024; pub. 06:56📍

🔹In the #Kherson direction in #Krynki, fighting continious. Artillery and aviation strikes are being carried out on the enemy coast. The enemy is trying to transfer landing groups on boats, most of which are going to the bottom. At night, they reported that our UAV operator, known for his success, with the call sign "Moses", is alive and plans to return to the front. At the same time, our troops note the effective struggle of the enemy with our drones, which are becoming fewer and fewer.

🔹On the #Zaporozhye front, the AFU showed impudence at the locality of #Rabotino, trying to enter the settlement on equipment along the main road, for which they paid. The enemy strikes from MLRS at frontline areas, enemy drones pose a serious danger due to the range of their use.

🔹In the #Avdeyevka sector, the RF Armed Forces are developing success. They managed to enter the AFU positions in the forest north of the Filtratio Station, advancing up to 1 km in depth. Ours bypassed the "Blue Lakes" and entered the urban development. The enemy assesses the situation as critical, to raise morale, the enemy's television showed 1 Abrams tank, supposedly heading towards the direction. In the south of #Avdeyevka, there is an advance of our forwarded units meters along Sportivnaya and Sobornaya streets. Our aviation and artillery are constantly working on the #Avdeyevka sack.

🔹In #Sumy and #Kharkov regions, the AFU are building fortified areas in anticipation of a breakthrough of our forces. The Western press is stoking hysteria by reporting hundreds of Russian armored vehicles ready for a large scale offensive operation.

💥At night, 4 AFU UAVs were destroyed over the #Bryansk region. In the #Belgorod region, the village of #Demidovka in the Krasnoyaruzhsky district, the village of Stary Khutor in the Valuysky urban district were shelled by kamikaze drones. In #Donetsk and #Gorlovka (#DPR), 4 civilians were injured as a result of Nazi shelling.

🎬Kherson Region, Krynki - fighting in the village continues.👇


https://t.me/two_majors/18706

Posted by: Down South | Feb 5 2024 7:17 utc | 73

Sorry, that was David Cameron, not Brown. Old age I suppose.

Posted by: Merv Ritchie | Feb 5 2024 7:19 utc | 74

Zelensky for the first time confirmed his intentions to dismiss the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Zaluzhny.

The President of Ukraine stated this on air on the Rai1 channel, adding that he is also considering the dismissal of not only Zaluzhny, but also other senior officials.

“Of course, a reset and a new beginning are necessary. When we talk about this, I mean the replacement of a number of leading officials of the state, not only in the military sphere. I am thinking about this replacement (Zaluzhny - Ed.), it’s true,” “he said, answering a question about disagreements with Zaluzhny,” Zelensky said.

https://t.me/MediaKiller2021/11336

It happened. Zelensky nevertheless admitted that Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny was being prepared for resignation.

Means:
1. Now, it’s clear why Ze had to go to the Azov area and boost PR with the one who was in Rabotino. PR and hype are everything. As one of our military friends said: “What is more important for a soldier? So that its president would come every month to the front line with cameras and hold demonstration awards, or that the soldier would have weapons, ammunition, equipment and everything would work like clockwork, and in the rear they would print new and new “toys”, preparing huge reserves, but with the president will always be in his office! I think the answer is obvious."

2. This means that our insides that Bezuglaya hit Zaluzhny on the instructions of Ze/Ermak were indirectly confirmed. The guys were preparing to take him down and tried to lower his image. Now they realized that they could not do this - they decided to simply fire him.

3. Our insights that the contradictions between Office and Military have been going on for a long time and are growing - have been confirmed.

4. Our insight that Bankovaya is preparing for the worst is confirmed. (This is why the final displacements are made, trying to make the system monolithic before the storm).

5. Zaluzhny is removed because of Zelensky’s jealousy of the commander-in-chief’s popularity.


https://t.me/legitimniy/17182

Posted by: Down South | Feb 5 2024 7:22 utc | 75

Nope, wrong again, it was Boris during the passage of China’s 2020 National security law against sedition and critiquing China.

Posted by: Merv Ritchie | Feb 5 2024 7:31 utc | 76

New radios are seen on Ukrainian FPV drones ==> https://t.me/s/Lunay14/14708

Posted by: too scents | Feb 5 2024 8:38 utc | 77

speaking of laws regarding national security, just remember the sections 179 and 180 of the UK online safety act from october 2023.

dont believe their lies.

anglos love screeming china as the bad guy wherever possible (alongside russia, iran, and others that resist their genocidal aspirations), but they are just as bad as they like to portay others.

that law prohibits the normal person of doing "false communication" (ie propaganda etc) while licensed media like the bbc have an exemption for it. amazing, isnt it?

Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 5 2024 8:47 utc | 78

So what happens in the ‘printed currency universe’? Trump is now being played as a better candidate for Israel among the hard core ‘spite right Zion Wobblies ‘ , and over in Uke , his clowns , gets more ‘bills’ to SELL . Anti war crap , from an American , is CRAPS - loaded . China is currently , getting bled by speculators as we speak , dreaming , mythicalTrump tariffs . What changes , the massage message ! A Nation in death spiral ! Xi , wake up , you purged your Military of infiltrators . Now , Strike a blow ! Taiwan is yours ! Let them swallow OBAMA HOPE , And if they complain , tell them of the GAZA ARTICLES OF FAITH ! And mythical kingdoms ! Invade now . Finish the BLUFF WE LIVE IN !

Posted by: Paleologos | Feb 5 2024 9:16 utc | 79

The Kremlin does have the technical means of completely stopping all transport between NATO countries and Ukraine.

Actually it doesn't, not even close. If it did it would. I think you read Martynov too religiously.

Posted by: Eclavdra | Feb 5 2024 4:51 utc | 64

Talking about technical means.

Let's make a scenario comparing supplies from Poland to Ukraine and compare it to the scenario where China and Russia set up shop in Guatemala, and send weapons and supplies to the Mexican border. Naval interdiction in the Pacific or Atlantic is not allowed, nor is it allowed to bomb the Chinese and Russian supplies in Guatemala.

Would US have the technical means to stop even 50% of the flow of weapons to Baja California and Texas borders? I doubt not, also, considering by their 'performance' in Yemen. Russia is doing a heck of a good job interdicting some of the weapons inside Ukraine.

There's also the other issue I talked about many times. Suppose that Russia destroys the bridges across the Dnieper. Okay, the weapons don't go over river that easily. But then the weapons will pile up on the west side of the river, and it might prompt AFU to retreat. That is not a stated goal per se, and might make things harder down the road.

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2024 9:40 utc | 80

… Why would anyone expect them to do anything less. ... Just getting parts might be hard enough as well as competent mechanics. … Posted by: Acco Hengst | Feb 5 2024 1:13 utc | 56

Of course, which is why targets worth salvaging are, almost by definition, worth a followup strike to degrade them below the recovery threshold. No sense pretending that recovered units, salvaged parts, won’t come back around and contribute to the loss of a few tens more of your own guys.

… I do wonder, though, if those uniforms were detected by chance in Russia, during a routine inspection. Or if someone tipped the Russian authorities off what was transiting through their country. Why send them through Russia in the first place?

Posted by: Martina | Feb 4 2024 23:06 utc | 44

Good point, the interception story did seem a little flimsy.

Posted by: anon2020 | Feb 5 2024 9:45 utc | 81

shаdοwbanned | Feb 5 2024 5:50 utc | 69

That was all accurate imho. especially about inaction on redlines and being piss weak as.

They may be winning, but they're still 100% piss weak as.

Maybe they know something I (we) don't know?

Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Feb 5 2024 9:57 utc | 82

Canada may transfer CRV7 air-to-surface missiles to Ukraine that were developed in the 1980s and taken out of service in the early 2000s, according to Canadian broadcaster CBC, citing a representative of the country's Defense Ministry.

there are c 80000

Posted by: Jo | Feb 5 2024 10:01 utc | 83

had the whole of Ukraine been taken (early) the territory would be full of terrorist style hits as the Nazi elements would be widespread.
Posted by: Merv Ritchie | Feb 5 2024 6:17 utc | 70


Or two years later, they would all be long dead by now... all over Ukraine and not only in the east. Ya never know what might have happened.

Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Feb 5 2024 10:04 utc | 84

Merv Ritchie | Feb 5 2024 6:17 utc | 70

It would be unlikely that 500K Ukrainians would have lost their lives in battles. (imo)

Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Feb 5 2024 10:06 utc | 85

Or two years later, they would all be long dead by now... all over Ukraine and not only in the east. Ya never know what might have happened.

Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Feb 5 2024 10:04 utc | 84

Never know definitely what will happen but the probability is stacked in favor of - had RUAF with their much smaller force attempted to go in deep, it would have ended badly as they would be swamped from all directions with nazi terrorist attacks. It's not by chance that was what Nato was expecting and hoping.

Even the 'Battle of Kiev' wasn't really the 'Battle of Kiev' what it was presented to be excluding some ambushes. They reached some outskirt and then withdrew in good order after Mariupol had been encircled and land connection established to Crimea and AFU transfers to the south were delayed to the point where it would make no more difference to that outcome. All the old timers in Ukraine know and spoke about that, like Kryvonos. The other version is Nato propaganda.

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2024 10:16 utc | 86

Under a gold standard, USA and EU would not be able to print their way into a WW. We need gold to be audited in USA, and things will quickly fall into place.
Emperors new clothes.

Posted by: g wiltek | Feb 5 2024 10:38 utc | 87

Apparently Ukraine is sending police officers to the army. Dima connected the dots by saying this coincides well with earlier reports of Nato garrisoning western part of Ukraine or even more and picking up security duties to replace the police officers.

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2024 10:43 utc | 88

b

thought had posted last night

any chance finding it

post USA buying up from Greece wrapins to be sent to Ukraine ...also old Russian stock from Ecuador...much much longer range of the GDLBS ? shells that can reach into Crimea beyond Rostov(which is the home of a huge regional military base) and well into Russian territory northwest of Kharkov...yet we have broken promises of hundreds thousands shells supplies from USA and EU and Ukraine complaining...so what exactly is still coming tbrough...
can anyone summarise???? Also current level of funding short term long term???
Will the arrival of the new longer range 145kilometres shells missiles prompt Russia to try and finish the SMO before their arrival?

Sources told Politico on Tuesday that Ukraine is preparing to receive a delivery of the US’ new Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDBs) as soon as this week.The GBU-39 is a glide weapon, which, as the name suggests, means the bomb glides to its target along a pre-designated flight path at low speeds, without the assistance of rocket engines. The system’s comparatively low cost (as little as $40,000 apiece compared to $3.2 million for the Storm Shadows Kiev has been receiving from Britain and using to terror bomb Donbass, for example, combined with its small radar signature and comparatively short flight time makes it difficult to detect and intercept using traditional air defenses.
artivle Jan31 sputniknews

Posted by: Jo | Feb 5 2024 10:43 utc | 89

$40,000 apiece

Posted by: Jo | Feb 5 2024 10:43 utc | 89

---

This figure is missing a digit. Add any digit you choose as long as it isn't a leasing zero.

Posted by: too scents | Feb 5 2024 10:50 utc | 90

"Varoufakis when he was Greek Economy Minister tried and went through the same racket, blackmail and a pressure. Still had to yield and was bragging that Mafia are amateurs in comparison."

Posted by: whirlX | Feb 4 2024 19:26 utc | 18

No, Varoufakis resigned-see below- Alexis Tsipras, the Greek PM, was the one that yielded. But yeah you are right 'same old racket". Just ordered Varoufakis' aptly named new book,"Technofuedalism"

"Varoufakis, who infuriated eurozone leaders and recently compared Greece’s creditors to terrorists, said the Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, thought it would be better if he stood down, after pressure from European leaders.

Greece debt crisis: ECB tightens screw ahead of emergency eurozone summit - as it happened

Announcing his resignation in a blog post entitled “Minister No More!” on Monday, he wrote: “Soon after the announcement of the referendum results, I was made aware of a certain preference by some Eurogroup participants [eurozone finance ministers], and assorted ‘partners’, for my … ‘absence’ from its meetings; an idea that the prime minister judged to be potentially helpful to him in reaching an agreement. For this reason I am leaving the Ministry of Finance today.

“I consider it my duty to help Alexis Tsipras exploit, as he sees fit, the capital that the Greek people granted us through yesterday’s referendum.

“And I shall wear the creditors’ loathing with pride.” (1)

1.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/06/greek-finance-minister-yanis-varoufakis-resigns-despite-referendum-no-vote

Posted by: canuck | Feb 5 2024 11:08 utc | 91

Yandex polishes a turd.

Yandex Parent Cuts Ties to Russia in $5.2 Billion Unit Sale

.Dutch-registered firm is divesting of its Russian assets
.Fallout from the war in Ukraine forced tech giant to split up

Yandex NV reached an agreement to sell its Russian business, including the nation’s most popular search engine, to a group led by management in a deal valued at about $5.2 billion.

The investors will get stakes in Yandex International PJSC, which was registered in Russia’s Kaliningrad special economic zone late last year. The total value of the deal will be 475 billion rubles, subject to adjustments and payable in a combination of cash and Class A shares of the parent company, according to a statement from Yandex on Monday.

The divorce, which took over a year to negotiate as the tech firm attempted to navigate fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine, opens the way for Yandex’s Dutch-registered parent to develop some projects abroad. The Russian unit represented more than 95% of the Yandex Group’s consolidated revenues in the first nine months of 2023, and approximately 95% of its consolidated assets and employees.

...

Misleading URL title ==> https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-30/russia-hit-with-widespread-internet-outage-across-country

Posted by: too scents | Feb 5 2024 11:09 utc | 92

Posted by: too scents | Feb 5 2024 11:09 utc | 92

Bloomberg is playing games with URLs.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-05/yandex-parent-cuts-ties-to-russia-in-5-2-billion-unit-sale

Posted by: too scents | Feb 5 2024 11:14 utc | 93

New radios are seen on Ukrainian FPV drones ==> https://t.me/s/Lunay14/14708

Posted by: too scents | Feb 5 2024 8:38 utc | 77

Interesting find, I’ve copied a translation below for anyone else, and have read similar accounts both here and on TG but there is always someone ready to speak up to the contrary, on what ground they never say.

The enemy is actively beginning to introduce new antenna communication systems to control their FPVs.

In addition to the fact that this allows FPV opponents to fly at non-standard control and image transmission frequencies, it also increases the range of their use. Figuratively, they can now fly not 5 km, but 15-20 km.

I would like to note that the enemy always tries to introduce something new to use their FPVs.

This is due to the fact that the enemy’s issues in charge of FPV are occupied by competent people and bodies who understand what is at stake. But our situation is slightly different, but more on that later...))))

Poster “S” recommended the following channel a while ago: https://t.me/s/ghost_of_novorossia

They appear to be a completely genuine volunteer group proving all sorts of battlefield equipment to support Russian infantry. They also do batches of secure digital comms gear so it’s interesting to get an idea of what’s going on behind the scenes and what gear it appears necessary for volunteer groups to provide.

Posted by: anon2020 | Feb 5 2024 11:21 utc | 95

@ anon2020 | Feb 5 2024 11:21 utc | 95

The most interesting thing about the new drone radios is that they are not artisanal. The industrial integration on display is evidence of a level of engineering beyond "hacking".

Posted by: too scents | Feb 5 2024 11:26 utc | 96

Never know definitely what will happen but the probability is stacked in favor of - had RUAF with their much smaller force attempted to go in deep, it would have ended badly as they would be swamped from all directions with nazi terrorist attacks. It's not by chance that was what Nato was expecting and hoping.

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2024 10:16 utc | 86

What part of "going in with a much smaller force means the Kremlin totally failed to prepare properly" is so hard to understand?

They had to build up a million and a half men army, and start doing it already in 2014.

We have been over this countless times.

I myself didn't believe at all they were really going in until the Sunday before, when they recognized the DPR and the LPR as independent. Because there had been no proper build up. Then once they went in, I assumed there must have been a proper build up because who in their right mind would go in without it? Right? Right? And it was clear to anyone with a brain that once you go in, you have to go all the way to the Polish border, or you will have suffered a huge strategic defeat. Well, here we are two years later...

Talking about technical means.

Let's make a scenario comparing supplies from Poland to Ukraine and compare it to the scenario where China and Russia set up shop in Guatemala, and send weapons and supplies to the Mexican border. Naval interdiction in the Pacific or Atlantic is not allowed, nor is it allowed to bomb the Chinese and Russian supplies in Guatemala.

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2024 9:40 utc | 80

False analogy, plus you are allowed to bomb the roads from Guatemala to Mexico even in your hypothetical scenario.

Nothing prevents Russia from striking anywhere inside Ukraine, including at the border crossings with Poland, Romania and Slovakia. In fact, nothing prevents Russia from striking anywhere in Europe aside from the UK and France, as long as it is not conventional (it has to be a total wipeout of whatever country is targeted so that nothing and nobody remains to demand retaliation), but we don't have to go there. Yet. Soon we will.

It is about 25 border crossings, those could have been pounded with Kh-22s to disable them, and then again and again once they are repaired. Would that have been a more expensive approach than the current two-year shit show?

If the 1000-kg Kh-22 warheads were not sufficient, use small nukes. Then there is the added benefit of the radiation shutting down the area for several weeks until it decays sufficiently. Once they try to repair it and restart transport, hit them again.

Is that so much worse than having half a million dead and all this destruction?

But, as we have again been over it countless times, if you do that, you cut off all ties with the West for many decades, and the Russian elites still dream of going back to Courchevel and Davos. How many babushkas have their brains leaking onto some Donbas pavement after yet another M30A1 strike doesn't matter.

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Feb 5 2024 11:29 utc | 97

The GBU-39 is a glide weapon, which, as the name suggests, means the bomb glides to its target along a pre-designated flight path at low speeds, without the assistance of rocket engines. T

Posted by: Jo | Feb 5 2024 10:43 utc | 89

They use an old rocket (from a decommissioned system) to launch it before it glides 150 km range apparently

---

This figure is missing a digit. Add any digit you choose as long as it isn't a leasing zero.

Posted by: too scents | Feb 5 2024 10:50 utc | 90

40k is the saab contraption to merge an old rocket engine and a small diameter bomb (plus a glide device and guidance), saab is quite frugal see the boeing/saab new trainer.

The old bombs and the past due rockets are not factored as cost.

The big questions are three:

1. if the Advanced Anti-Jam GPS System-aided Inertial Navigation System is a match for RF EW

2. How many kits can be assembled "According to Oryx, an arms data collator, the AFU probably operates around 15 M270 and 30 HIMARS systems, meaning the AFU might well be able to fire off Saab’s annual production capacity of GLSDB missiles in a few days or weeks."

3. The 150 km range was not by chance, the taiwan strait is 130km long, those glide bombs were marked for the "defense of taiwan"

Posted by: Newbie | Feb 5 2024 11:32 utc | 98

so what exactly is still coming tbrough...

Ukraine is preparing to receive a delivery of the US’ new Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDBs) as soon as this week.

Posted by: Jo | Feb 5 2024 10:43 utc | 89

I think nobody mentioned the 150 Kuwaiti M-84 (T-72 variants)

As for the GLSDB read what I said above, production numbers are low, furthermore the US has a lot of those old rockets to scrap, but its in the tens of thousands only.

Posted by: Newbie | Feb 5 2024 11:58 utc | 99

The US and their vassals are doing their best to escalate to a full blown conflict.
Mind they're not the ones to deal with the consequences as far as they are concerned.
Shocking if they were wrong and held accountable!

Posted by: jpc | Feb 5 2024 12:20 utc | 100

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