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March 31, 2024
Ukraine Open Thread 2024-094
Comments
“One more thing, I think many people may not understand how prevalent trans people are, especially here in the Seattle area.”
Posted by: UWDude | Mar 31 2024 19:12 utc | 69
One man I worked with closely in the early 90s in a conservative area and in an industry traditionaly very male-dominated ended up coming out as transgender and then moving to Seattle and did the actual transition. And remained married to his real female wife. He wasn’t outwardly feminine in any way, had a manly voice and a beard. I shared field accommodations with the man for a couple months and had no idea.
Seems like the whitest liberal areas with relatively low proportions of racial minorirites are the most attractive areas for transgenders. Anything goes, no judgements.
Thanks for all of your posts, very good.
Posted by: Wisco | Mar 31 2024 21:38 utc | 101
Posted by: Wisco | Mar 31 2024 21:12 utc | 99
Those labelled as TERFs might disagree, just as the black minorities being replaced by illegal immigrants would. I think you’re partly correct, but I also think it’s also symptomatic of a section of society who are only able to achieve personal satisfaction by endlessly escalating their demands on levels of societal tolerance: women, minorities, homosexuals, transgenders and their variants, now pedophiles, the list is seemingly endless and ultimately self-destructive. Woke ultimately created, and energised MAGA, not the other way around, remember, something that is being weaponised by the PTB as witnessed by Biden’s tone-deaf displacement of Easter’s traditional position in the cultural memory of many.
Posted by: Milites | Mar 31 2024 21:53 utc | 102
“…Biden’s tone-deaf displacement of Easter’s traditional position in the cultural memory of many.”
Posted by: Milites | Mar 31 2024 21:53 utc | 102
To be a little bit fair, he didn’t suddenly displace Easter, Trans Day was designated specifically as March 31 back in 2021, and this year Easter happened to fall on March 31. But the fact they celebrate the one and ignore the other still illustrates your point.
Also, I don’t think many Black Americans are showing much antipathy to illegals. Some, but not much. Many immigrants, illegal or legal, do come to the US to work, and many work very hard for low pay. A prime example is that all of the pothole-fillers working in the middle of the night who died when the Baltimore bridge collapsed were recent immigrants from Central America, not local Blacks. That’s in 70% Baltimore.
Posted by: Wisco | Mar 31 2024 22:10 utc | 103
“I don’t think some posters truly appreciate the combat power the US Army can still wield,
Posted by: Mi;ites | Mar 31 2024 18:04 utc | 48”
The US Army is a shadow of its former self. It used to have a Regular Strength of about 800,000, plus over 200,000 in the Marine Corps. At best we are down 40% from there.
Then we have quality problems with politics being injected into everything. Recruiting not meetings it goals as standards drop.
Meanwhile Russia has 750,000 superbly equipped and trained Patriotic warriors.
Good luck with that.
Furthermore we can get into our useless heliborne Division and all sorts of ridiculous outdated doctrines.
Posted by: Dc9loser | Mar 31 2024 22:14 utc | 105
“Woke ultimately created, and energised MAGA, not the other way around…”
Posted by: Milites | Mar 31 2024 21:53 utc | 102
Exactly!
“Woke ultimately created, and energised MAGA, not the other way around…”
Posted by: Milites | Mar 31 2024 21:53 utc | 102
“Exactly!”
Posted by: canuck | Mar 31 2024 22:25 utc | 106
I concur 100%.
MAGA led by Trump, though, is very weak tea. Trojan Horse type of thing. Or if you prefer, “controlled opposition”. Leading the flock astray. Trump supporters often talk about TDS, Trump Derangement Syndrome. It works both ways. Divide and rule stuff.
Posted by: Wisco | Mar 31 2024 22:34 utc | 107
Excellent thread btw. Very informative posts above. Even the one troll exchange between Milites and Satana Canada or whoever was at least funny.
Posted by: Wisco | Mar 31 2024 22:49 utc | 108
Milites | Mar 31 2024 16:24 utc | 33
*** Potentially the start of the next American Revolution, with potentially the same impact on the world as the first.***
Revolution — but against who?
The Americans might not find the Zionists so easy to remove as they did the British, given that London seems to have regarded the profitable West Indies (threatened by France) as being more important to defend than a few comparatively pampered American colonies.
Posted by: Cynic | Mar 31 2024 22:53 utc | 109
Not Ukraine specific but Russia recently vetoed the Security Council sanctions on the DPRK that have been automatically renewed each year without any debate.
The multi-polar world continues amassing small victories.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 31 2024 23:00 utc | 110
Posted by: vargas | Mar 31 2024 20:27 utc | 87
#####
That you still listen to Dima for analysis makes many of your comments come into context.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 31 2024 23:01 utc | 111
That you still listen to Dima for analysis makes many of your comments come into context.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 31 2024 23:01 utc | 111
_____
There was a previous concern troll here whose comments were usually one-liners beginning “Dima says.” I forget the nick; five letters beginning with S, if memory serves.
Which makes me think that “vargas” has been here before…
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 31 2024 23:25 utc | 112
On the one hand we have Dima, on the other hand we have Nima. Dima vs Nima. Nima is just an interviewer though and not one to interject opinions. Very good interviewer.
Posted by: Wisco | Mar 31 2024 23:27 utc | 113
I rate a good interviewer higher than an unreliable gossipmonger.
It doesn’t hurt that the good interviewer in question features high-quality guests.
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 31 2024 23:57 utc | 114
Doctor Eleven@91
The future never unfolds the way we expect.
Milites conveniently forgets the logistical tail, including parts and maintenance, required to keep the US military force functional in combat – and the ability to protect the same.
Posted by: the pessimist | Apr 1 2024 0:02 utc | 115
Posted by: Wisco | Mar 31 2024 22:10 utc | 103
I think there’s a growing resentment, amongst the black communities, (witness the recent chanting in Chicago) at the money and opportunities being gifted to illegals. I don’t think Trump leads MAGA, I think he’s seen as the head of a battering ram they’ve picked up, or as the meme goes, Trump’s not our leader, he’s our murder weapon. Human nature tends towards the bonding of perceived ideological soulmates, but their real target is the RINO’s who are seen as traitors, the Democrats largely as enemies, big difference in the motivational energies unleashed by both categories. Although for the growing walk-away movement the situation is reversed, hence his appeal to those who feel disenfranchised and ignored. Picture Trump as the leader of a 60’s-70’s liberation movement and you have a more accurate depiction of what is happening. According to the CIA’s definition of revolutionary warfare the US is at stage three, of a four part process.
Posted by: Cynic | Mar 31 2024 22:53 utc | 109
The successful French naval campaign largely sealed the fate of the British, and whilst its true that the priority was defending more lucrative shores, the Redcoats were still a tougher opponent than the institutions increasingly helmed and manned by people promoted because of ideological loyalty, not merit. What’s even more fascinating is that European resistance, to increasingly totalitarian governance by diktat, is influencing the US movement, mirroring the pre-Revolutionary Enlightenment’s period of influence on the founders of the Republic.
Posted by: Dc9loser | Mar 31 2024 22:14 utc | 105
Do you call them ice-cream soldiers as well?
Posted by: Milites | Apr 1 2024 0:07 utc | 116
“It doesn’t hurt that the good interviewer in question features high-quality guests.”
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 31 2024 23:57 utc | 114
I agree. And he doesn’t interrupt people to interject propaganda points like virtually all MSM low-quality interviewers do.
I’ve never even once read anything by this Dima, btw. Nothing that I remember anyway.
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 0:12 utc | 117
Posted by: Dc9loser | Mar 31 2024 22:14 utc | 105
Meanwhile Russia has 750,000 superbly equipped and trained Patriotic warriors.
Good luck with that.
Furthermore we can get into our useless heliborne Division and all sorts of ridiculous outdated doctrines.
And yet – in the last 21 months the Russian army has lost ground (in Kharkiv & Kherson) in Ukraine, and barely begun to make a fraction of that lost ground back – even now – against this pitiful Western-backed force that you scorn – what is taking them so long considering the weak opposition they are up against as you say.
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 0:15 utc | 118
@ HERMIUS | Mar 31 2024 19:27 utc | 77 with the link/posting about Russia demanding that Ukraine turn over the perps behind the Moscow terrorism…thanks
It will be interesting to see how the West spins this or even reports it…Isn’t ISIS still the purported bad guys?….I just checked and Reuters has this posting title
Russia seeks extradition of Ukraine security service head; Ukraine rejects demand
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 1 2024 0:17 utc | 119
Posted by: the pessimist | Apr 1 2024 0:02 utc | 115
Nope, we can talk T3R’s and the dangers of the self-licking lollipop syndrome, but I’d also question your assumptions about supposed uniqueness of US logistical vulnerabilities, or the fact that by mirroring Western capabilities, her opponents are losing many advantages they once had, in that regard, whilst replicating some of the issues. A problem by the way exacerbated by their outdated logistical capabilities, used to supplying more modestly equipped forces.
Posted by: Milites | Apr 1 2024 0:26 utc | 120
https://thehill.com/opinion/4566466-ukraine-is-not-losing-us-assistance-must-continue/
Quote: “Ukraine is winning”. Expert opinion, just in case you were wondering. And so they march towards demographic extinction willingly
Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 1 2024 0:28 utc | 121
Posted by: Wisco | Mar 31 2024 22:10 utc | 103
Re: pothole fillers, one wonders if simple criminal charges like marijuana possession from before it was semi-legalized could be preventing a lot of the black folks in B-more from getting such jobs.
NYC: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583356/ (I’m blocked from viewing the study because I’m behind a proxy service that apparently has violated their rules before)
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 1 2024 0:32 utc | 122
Anyone happen to catch wind of this dustup down in Oz a week or so ago?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/19/abc-four-courners-russia-ukraine-war-documentary-bowl-of-vomit
Truly amazing the ability of “western” nations and their governments and media to completely sanitize their discourse from anything resembling the truth from “the other side.” I just downloaded the film and plan to watch tonight.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 1 2024 0:37 utc | 123
ZH has a posting up with the title
Musk Warns Ukraine May Lose Odessa & Black Sea Access If It Doesn’t Negotiate
Whichever faction of the elite that Musk’s X mouth fronts seems to still think they have some agency in how things turn out.
When Ukraine surrenders, they and their backers will not be in a position to dictate terms.
We are describing proxy war dominoes to our civilization war that are about to fall.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 1 2024 0:41 utc | 124
Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 1 2024 0:37 utc | 123
Yes, the West will do everything wrong, before it does the right thing. It takes the time.
I have seen the most of the snippets of the named docu from Aussies, and it is not bad, but as you say a shallow enough for people supporting Russia, heretic enough for the Western/Ukrainian supporters.
Oscar winning Mariupol is unwatchable in comparison. A pure pile of lies and full list of deceivements. It is a bad, slimy and spineless propaganda.
Posted by: whirlX | Apr 1 2024 0:47 utc | 125
Russian blogger and military volunteer Roman Alyokhin on Zelenskiy’s last day as a president (March 31, 2024):
Today is Zelenskiy’s last day as the legitimate president of the Ukraine. Although even this legitimacy is formal, given the way he became president.
But today at 00:00, as if in a fairy tale, he will turn from a drug-addicted clown with the status of president into a mere drug-addicted clown.
It is symbolic that this will happen on the April Fools’ Day.
And the fact that he will remain in charge of the country on April 1 is an even greater mockery of the nation, whose pride and belief in being democratic have been nurtured for decades, yet it turned out that they created a nation of fools, which tomorrow they will prove to this nation once again.
It is already April 1 in Kiev.
Posted by: S | Apr 1 2024 0:52 utc | 126
@118
“And yet – in the last 21 months the Russian army has lost ground (in Kharkiv & Kherson) in Ukraine, and barely begun to make a fraction of that lost ground back…”
Since last summer, the Russians have done better than regain lost ground. They’ve won strategically significant victories at Zaporozhye and Avdeevka, essentially gutting the Ukrainian army and turning the direction of the entire conflict.
Now, many of Ukraine’s most important Western supporters are quietly acknowledging the war’s lost. Even General Zaluzhny, the UAF’s former CoC, has all but said the same.
US/NATO and its Ukrainian proxies forced this war on Russia. The aggressor states – which are now the defeated parties – must and will face painful consequences for their immoral actions.
Posted by: GW | Apr 1 2024 0:52 utc | 127
(Sorry for using a URL shortener, but TypePad wouldn’t allow me to post otherwise.)
Posted by: S | Apr 1 2024 0:53 utc | 128
“…one wonders if simple criminal charges like marijuana possession from before it was semi-legalized could be preventing a lot of the black folks in B-more from getting such jobs”
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 1 2024 0:32 utc | 122
They don’t want those pothole-filler jobs. Way too much work. More beneficial to keep blaming whitey for everything, and keep collecting the dole. Kind of silly of you to prosecution blame low-level weed smoking holding them back from doing productive work. That stuff isn’t even prosecuted anywhere anymore. Violent criminals get off with no cash bail, repeatedly.
Baltimore is 70% Black, but all of the pothole-fillers who died working when when the bridge collapsed were immigrants from Central America.
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 0:56 utc | 129
Yes, the West will do everything wrong, before it does the right thing. It takes the time.
Posted by: whirlX | Apr 1 2024 0:47 utc | 125
############
What unit of measurement are you using for how much time it will take for the West to “do the right thing”?
I’m approaching middle age. Do you believe that I will live to see the West stop being a racist, colonial, fascist kleptocracy run by Satanic kiddie-diddlers?
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Apr 1 2024 1:00 utc | 130
And yet – in the last 21 months the Russian army has lost ground (in Kharkiv & Kherson) in Ukraine, and barely begun to make a fraction of that lost ground back – even now – against this pitiful Western-backed force that you scorn – what is taking them so long considering the weak opposition they are up against as you say.
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 0:15 utc | 118
##############
C’mon man. The West is so pitiful that they are deploying the French as the “Tip of the Spear”. 😂😂😂
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Apr 1 2024 1:06 utc | 131
@121
Farkas is among the last people who can be trusted to render an honest, objective assessment of what’s happening in Ukraine. She’s long been an Atlantic Alliance political hack, a proponent of unrestrained eastward NATO expansion, and an anti-Russian ideologue.
Just read Farkas’s publications dating back 15 years. She literally pushed for this war to happen.
Posted by: GW | Apr 1 2024 1:06 utc | 132
@whirlX | Apr 1 2024 0:47 utc | 125
“20 Days in Mariupol” is indeed a travesty. I watched a fair portion of it – unbelievable it was given an oscar, but that shows the power of the western propaganda machine. I have not seen the other that Kiev is upset about, but they are very militant about suppressing or attacking anything that might disturb their narrative that appears in mainstream media. That so few have so far bothered to look behind the curtain is their good luck. Perhaps that is beginning to change.
@Milites | Apr 1 2024 0:26 utc | 120
The US has never been tested in this regard, and we can hope that they never will be for the sake of the planet. Correct that it isn’t a unique problem, but if the Russians have some problems with AD in the rear you can bet the US would suffer in spades trying to fight in Europe.
Posted by: the pessimist | Apr 1 2024 1:10 utc | 133
Milites
I knew a bloke once who said ‘baffel em with science’. You post a lot of detail, yet your view is quite a contrast to the likes of Macgregor and Ritter. You are fighting a different war in a different time and place.
American land forces are expeditionary forces. The US has never been a land power. It has been an air and sea power.
But as Ritter said, the cold war era big war training which he was part of is now outdated and would not work against the way Russia is now operating.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 1:13 utc | 134
“I’m approaching middle age. Do you believe that I will live to see the West stop being a racist, colonial, fascist kleptocracy run by Satanic kiddie-diddlers?”
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Apr 1 2024 1:00 utc | 130
Darn, you have just gone rogue with that post. Obviosly a very huge majority of the “kiddie-diddlers” (groomers) now in Europe and the UK are immigrants. Media ignores the fact but everyone knows it.
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 1:14 utc | 135
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 0:56 utc | 129
This is an overly simplistic analysis. If you believe that people aren’t still suffering today from marijuana charges/convictions received prior to any recent tamping down of the War on Drugs, I don’t know what to tell you. It was only legalized in mid 2023. Also look at recent arrest stats.
Expungement only started early this year: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2023/07/05/with-legalization-come-changes-in-cannabis-related-laws-on-expungement-traffic-stops/
https://www.peoples-law.org/recreational-marijuana-cannabis-use-and-possession-maryland
Just because the particular crew that was working on the bridge at the time the barge struck the supporting column were mainly immigrants doesn’t mean that black residents of Baltimore don’t also work the same type of jobs. But there is a long history of black labor struggles in Baltimore going back to the original building of the port. Longshoreman unions, dominated by Poles, historically discriminated against them. Black people in that region begin working professionally earlier than whites and continue working past the age where whites leave the workforce.
The reasons for black unemployment rates there and elsewhere can’t simply be brushed aside with old tropes like “laziness” – and just as many white kids smoked pot as blacks, but the outcomes in similar cases are usually very different. A criminal record for marijuana can still follow you around for a long time after legalization.
Don’t get me wrong, and since this is a Ukraine thread I’ll leave it at this, but yes – segments of the black community have cultural issues that impede them. However, there are many other issues over which they, and the white and Latino working class have little to no control over.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 1 2024 1:21 utc | 136
Re: Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 1 2024 0:41 utc | 124
When Ukraine surrenders, they and their backers will not be in a position to dictate terms.
We are describing proxy war dominoes to our civilization war that are about to fall.
Do you base this on Putin’s history of refusing to sign agreements with The West, and then, after signing agreements, Putin’s history of violating said agreements?
To what do you base your view that Russia will be “dictating terms”?
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 1:24 utc | 137
Re: Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 1:13 utc | 134
Milites
I knew a bloke once who said ‘baffel em with science’. You post a lot of detail, yet your view is quite a contrast to the likes of Macgregor and Ritter. You are fighting a different war in a different time and place.
American land forces are expeditionary forces. The US has never been a land power. It has been an air and sea power.
But as Ritter said, the cold war era big war training which he was part of is now outdated and would not work against the way Russia is now operating.
There’s your mistake right there.
Ritter has been SO SO WRONG many many times on Ukraine – he said it would be over by June 2022 FFS!
When has Milites been wrong?
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 1:29 utc | 138
ZH has a posting up with the title
Musk Warns Ukraine May Lose Odessa & Black Sea Access If It Doesn’t Negotiate
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 1 2024 0:41 utc | 124
————————————————————
Musk has also said the opposite.
Me thinks that he needs to be in receiving mode for some US Government largesse.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Apr 1 2024 1:30 utc | 139
fyi,
https://twitter.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1774476842373935368
Russia has officially accused Ukraine of involvement in the terrorist attack at Crocus. This is stated in a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
“The investigative actions carried out by the Russian competent authorities indicate that the traces of the latest terrorist attacks lead to Ukraine. “Russia has sent a demand to the Ukrainian authorities for the arrest and extradition of all those involved,” the statement said.
Russia also demands from Ukraine the arrest of the head of the SBU Malyuk, in connection with his statements about his involvement in the bombing of the Crimean Bridge and in the murder of a number of people in the Russian Federation (in particular Tatarsky).
The Russian Foreign Ministry threatens Ukraine with liability for “violation of obligations under anti-terrorism conventions.”
Russia issues an ultimatum to the Kiev regime immediately stop any support for terrorist activities and compensate for the damage caused to the victims
Ukraine denies to this moment any involvement in the terrorist attack at Crocus.
And for those able to access RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/595190-ukraine-terrorism-suspects-demand/
Moscow demands that Kiev surrender terrorism suspects
Russia has insisted that Ukraine hand over those it believes were involved in terrorist attacks, including its spy chief……
Posted by: michaelj72 | Apr 1 2024 1:42 utc | 140
Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 1 2024 1:21 utc | 136
In Australia, many aboriginal/part aboriginal people have developed what I term a fringe dweller culture. Not because of low IQ or anything like that, just a natural development of the white environment they found themselves in. Some similar has occurred in the US. I don’t see it much with the indigenous there, but that could be because they are very much a minority that doesn’t make the news much.
Once the fringe deweller culture sets in it becomes a worsening cycle. I watch it here,Young aboriginal people turn to petty theft to pay for drugs and alcohol, antagonism between blacks and whites grows.
Nobody looks back to see why this fringe dweller culture appeared and how to turn it around. Law and order they say, this in turn adds to the underdog culture of the fringe dweller.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 1:44 utc | 141
Julian | Apr 1 2024 1:29 utc | 138
Milites I have a bit of respect for. You I dont.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 1:45 utc | 142
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 1 2024 1:21 utc | 136
Ok thanks Tom. Your contributions are generally very, very good and thoughtful and you provide pertinent facts. I won’t argue the point.
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 1:50 utc | 143
In response to
”
To what do you base your view that Russia will be “dictating terms”?
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 1:24 utc | 137
”
I pull it out of my ass……I have been watching this shit show for 50+ years and have background in macro economics and cultural anthropology. The China/Russia axis is bringing down the God Of Mammon cult bullies w/o nukes so far and I think they are close to closing the deal….early August at latest is my speculation and likely sooner for Ukraine and later for Occupied Palestine.
I hope they pay you well for your drivel and only responded because of your direct question.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 1 2024 1:51 utc | 144
To what do you base your view that Russia will be “dictating terms”?
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 1:24 utc | 137
——————————————————
You might be a member of the ‘umbra collective’ since you sound a lot like them.
I’d like to help you out with an answer. Mr. Putin is bringing some of his friends, one of them Mr. Kinzhal. They will all be having a FABoulus time.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Apr 1 2024 1:52 utc | 145
“The Russian invaders deliberately target the largest Ukrainian gas storage facilities.
Ukraine may lose its gas supply system due to Russian shelling.
People’s deputy of Ukraine, ex-minister of housing and utilities sector Oleksiy Kucherenko stated this on “Espresso”.
“It is very unpleasant news that for the second time in a row, there has been an attack on gas infrastructure facilities, on our storage facilities. These are natural reservoirs from which gas was extracted. These are natural storage facilities. I would like to remind you that in the 1950s, huge volumes of gas were extracted in Ukraine. A record 76 billion per year was extracted precisely in western Ukraine. That’s where the Russians are hitting now. Ironically, back then in Ukraine, we extracted gas to give it to Moscow. Everything we extracted in western Ukraine, we gave to Moscow,” Kucherenko explained.
He stated that the Russian aggressors specifically choose the largest Ukrainian gas storage facilities for their missile strikes. And if at the same time there is no transit from Russia, that is, no pressure from there, and our storage facilities in the west are damaged, then there will be a threat that the gas supply system will be lost. That is, it will be unbalanced and unable to operate in a stable mode,” Kucherenko said.”
https://tsn.ua/en/ato/strikes-on-gas-storage-facilities-a-people-s-deputy-talked-about-the-consequences-2546776.html
Posted by: daffyDuct | Apr 1 2024 2:01 utc | 146
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Apr 1 2024 1:30 utc | 139
Fusk Musk. People should quit expecting him and Trump to save the day. Musk is a huge MIC govt contractor, probably biggest one ever.
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 2:03 utc | 147
This drift into big war becomes far more complex than just comparing individual weapons and how they are used.
The mindsets of attackers vs defenders. And not only can a country, in population and resources absorb losses, but also can the culture absorb losses.
I look at what were the non nazi neutral Ukrainians. To me looking on from the outside, they are fighting for the rights of the Nazis to kill ethnic Russians. To them, they are fighting an invader. Lots of brainwashing but still, that is how they see it.
I watched a bit of a doco on the origins of the slaves. They were written about in ancient Rome and Greece. Even back then they had the reputation of tenacious fighters when attacked.
Weapons systems/miltech, doctrine, culture, mindset of attackers and defenders… so many aspects come into it.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 2:05 utc | 148
Failing to meet Russia’s demands will constitute a breach of Ukraine’s international obligations with respect to fighting terrorism and “entail its international legal responsibility,” the ministry warned.
“Fighting against international terrorism is the responsibility of every state. The Russian side demands that the Kiev regime immediately stop any support for terrorist activities, hand over the perpetrators and compensate for the damage done to the victims,” it stressed.
https://www.rt.com/russia/595190-ukraine-terrorism-suspects-demand/
Posted by: HERMIUS | Mar 31 2024 19:27 utc | 77
Thanks for the news report. I only wish to say I think there is something seriously wrong with how Russia communicates with Ukraine and the west in general that simply defies reality. Psychologically Disconnected? Juvenile Denial?
Sure, Ukraine Govt will be quaking in their boots being accused by Russia of breaching their “international obligations” on Terrorism agreements. It’s simply weird to me and seems disconnected from what has been done and who they are speaking to. As if it is a Monty Python movie not a hot War.
Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Apr 1 2024 2:09 utc | 149
“US military recruits mostly come from the conservative side of the US.”
This is currently dropping at large rates, hence the US news stories about recruiting crises.
I come from a family that EVERY member served, older female relatives as WAC, WAV etc.
The current family members of military age have all either refused to re-enlist and taken their discharge or are currently waiting for their time to expire.
“We do just fine when the scale of combat is small, but owing to the logistics, the United States is capable of a major ground war against an enemy that can sink ships only in North America”
Very true.
Get there first with the most men.
Every moment lost is worth the life of a thousand men.
Nathan Bedford Forrest
They can win that ground war across the Atlantic, … if they have a year to mobilize like desert shield/storm. This won’t work with a peer or near peer enemy.
Posted by: Archetypex | Apr 1 2024 2:11 utc | 150
“Sergei Shefir, who was fired today, is Vladimir Zelensky’s closest friend and ally since the president’s youth. Since Zelensky came to power, Shefir has played a large role in the overall structure of public administration. Especially in terms of communicating with oligarchs and businessmen. The close relationship between Zelensky and Shefir is also evidenced by the fact that it was to the Shefir family that the Zelensky family rewrote corporate rights to Ukrainian and offshore companies. Therefore, Shefir was often called the “president’s wallet.”
However, as a Strana source close to the OP said, after the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, Shefir’s influence sharply decreased.
“The President did not forgive him for the fact that in the first days Shefir hastily left Kiev. After that, his resignation was a matter of time. And besides, Shefir’s previous functionality in terms of negotiations with oligarchs was no longer relevant. Now the conversation with big business in power is direct, specific and short. In terms of internal arrangements, Shefir’s resignation, as well as the previous resignations this week – Danilov and Smirnov, mean a serious strengthening of the positions of the head of the OP Andrei Ermak,” says the source.
At the same time, one of the people who knows Shefir told Strana that he resigned on his own initiative.
“Sergei is very skeptical about what is happening in Ukraine. Therefore, he decided, roughly speaking, to “go on skis”. The whole question is whether he will be allowed to leave,” the source said.
Let us remind you that on March 30, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky fired Sergei Shefir from the post of his first assistant .
https://strana.news/news/461261-ukhod-koshelka-prezidenta-chto-oznachaet-otstavka-serheja-shefira.html
Posted by: daffyDuct | Apr 1 2024 2:24 utc | 151
Posted by: Archetypex | Apr 1 2024 2:11 utc | 150
The pure hatred explicitly emanating from the so-called left and from the media and from the govt against any remnants of the patriotic core is quite palpable now. The nation is divided perhaps beyond repair. And they call it “Our Democracy”.
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 2:26 utc | 152
daffyDuct | Apr 1 2024 2:24 utc | 151
The office of the president. It is the full set from ‘Servant of the people’. Literally. Zelensky’s tv production company.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 2:33 utc | 153
Those who still think that the rural people in flyover country still have a lot of the patriotic spirit of old 1960s type patriotism are probably wrong. The blue-hairs and tattooed and pierced freaks are possibly more numerous here now than in the cities. They are maybe even more susceptible to media and social media influences than are the city dwellers. They overcompensate because they don’t ever want to be thought of as “hicks”.
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 2:42 utc | 154
@ Peter AU1, #41
“Biden changing easter Sunday to tranny day. Banning in the military establishment children contributing anything with religious theme. US military recruits mostly come from the conservative side of the US. Like Zelensky is single handedly destroying Ukraine, Diversity Biden is also single handedly destroying the US military.”
Then there shouldn’t be too much of a leap to link why Sniffy and his minions are letting in multiple millions of military age men (and women) with their open border policy. Its because when the DC government orders the U.S. military to turn on its own people, the DC bubble will need to replace 50-75% of the current active forces and thus they will need extendible cannon fodder. I know a good number of the current regular grunts, know some very, very well 😉 and they will walk before they will kill their own people. Call me naive but the Pentagon ass kissers don’t clear buildings and take “trenches”. If it goes internally kinetic in the good ole US of A, it won’t end for a good while and it will make CW1 look tame…
Posted by: DakotaRog | Apr 1 2024 2:55 utc | 155
Too many of the better thinkers from rural areas have already migrated to the cities for better economic opportunities. Sad to say it but what’s left of the population in the rural areas isn’t something to give one hope, it ain’t pretty. The ones remaining are far less apt to question anything from the MSM narrative than are the city folks. Sure, they usually like Fox News more than MSNBC, big deal. Most think Facebook is really cool.
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 2:56 utc | 156
Re: Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 1 2024 1:51 utc | 144
early August at latest is my speculation and likely sooner for Ukraine and later for Occupied Palestine.
I hope they pay you well for your drivel and only responded because of your direct question.
You are drowning in delusion if you think this Ukraine conflict will be over by early August!! In four months time!!
What has happened since early December (4 months ago) to give you that idea?!?
No chance this wraps up this year – this war is continuing into 2025 – and perhaps for far longer beyond that.
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 3:04 utc | 157
“No chance this wraps up this year – this war is continuing into 2025 – and perhaps for far longer beyond that.”
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 3:04 utc | 157
And the bad thing is that you and so many others like you are happy about that. “More death, yay!”
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 3:14 utc | 158
Russia is probably wrong in not making the people responsible for this war pay a little bit of the price. The cheerleading of this slaughter from afar is rather sickening. The feeling of perfect impunity and being beyond the real effects maybe needs to end.
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 3:28 utc | 159
@ Lavrov’s Dog | Apr 1 2024 2:09 utc | 149
Lavrov’s canine, I understand your frustration with the RF legalistic pedantic political moves, but I understand that the law is the law, and Putin is a lawyer by trade, very strict in words. As Goethe said in Faust
“mit Worten lasst sich trefflich streiten,
vom Wort lasst sich kein Iota rauben”…
That pedantic stance may come very handy sometime in the future , when chicken come to roost. Hopefully.
Posted by: fanto | Apr 1 2024 3:34 utc | 160
The feeling of perfect impunity and being beyond the real effects maybe needs to end.
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 3:28 utc | 159
I see that all about me here in oz.
Watching the larger war, Russia is focused on what since WWII is the source of western power – the US. Everything about Lavrov’s hybrid war is the destruction of the power. Not the people, not the geographical area but the power.
The US dollar and US military might that underpins the dollar.
Rope a dope.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 3:40 utc | 161
My friends,
The only question you have to ask yourself, is “who benefits?”
WHO BENEFITED from WWI or WWII. In WWI, the European powers were bled white. And then we have the Balfour Declaration. In WWII, again the European powers, including Russia, were bled white, Russia and Germany most of all. Again, who benefits?? Shortly thereafter, the “nation” of Israel was created.
And now, we are on the brink of WWIII, and what is happening again?? The slavs are being bled white.
The only WHITE nation in this equation that has not been adequately bled yet is America. And all the strings are being pulled by a certain ethnic clan with IMMENSE POWER behind the scenes to make sure that is rectified this time, I do not think the oceans will protect America this time.
America’s greatest resource is that it has over 240MM white people to rely upon as it’s backbone. THAT is why Putin is very cautious. THAT is why bad old uncle Adolf refused to engage the US in warfare even though we were attacking him on the oceans for a loooooong time.
Despite all these lunatics demanding Putin attack and/or nuke everyone in sight everytime Russia suffers a hit, I think Putin’s long term strategy is EXACTLY correct. Tough to swallow sometime, for sure, but the Empire of Lies wasn’t built in a day, and one need tread carefully around a thrashing, wounded beast, especially since its people are innocent and/or ignorant of the craziness and lies they are spoonfed every day.
I pray that the people of America finally wake up. MAGA and Trump, as imperfect as it is, are the first rumblings of that awakening…
We will deal with that genocidal, psychopathic, murderous freak show of a projecting ethnic clan soon enough I think. And woe to them, once their lies against entire nations be exposed. Morty down at Paramount Studios won’t save you when the whole thing is ablaze. Just saying…
Posted by: Johnny | Apr 1 2024 3:42 utc | 162
The big war…
Donbass 2014. Russia only entered that after the European sanctions on MH17. Donbass forces were constantly pushed back into and ever smaller circle. Then suddenly it turned around. Ukraine forces trapped in cauldrons. Donabass area began to expand. Nationalist small war Girkin ousted, Minsk.
Ukraine 2014 – right place, wrong time. 2022 right place and right time. Russia chose both the place and the time.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 4:04 utc | 163
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 1 2024 0:37 utc | 123
…downloaded …and plan to watch tonight
Well you’re a braver man than me, TQC.
Guilty here, of extreme prejudice and bias, but assume anything aired on our Oz government-funded national broadcaster is not going to stray too far beyond U$ State Department talking points.
Oh, yes, the Ukrainian ambassador squealed like a stuck pig that anything not 10,000% approved by the Ukrainian ministry of truth be given airtime.
You do you, – but I anticipate you’ll find it a waste of your valuable internet allocation.
Post a review if you do watch it. It’ll be interesting to see if your IRL view matches my preconceived view …
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 1 2024 4:11 utc | 164
Melaleuca | Apr 1 2024 4:11 utc | 164
The BBC/ABC thing. I watched it. Very bland at best. Only makes waves due to the nazi war pig masquerading as Ukie ambassador here.
Dumb as dogshit those nazi ukies but get all the attention by the propaganda media like the idiot child Thunberg.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 4:17 utc | 165
Re: Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 3:14 utc | 158
And the bad thing is that you and so many others like you are happy about that. “More death, yay!”
No, you couldn’t be more wrong.
I am one of those consistently calling for Russia to “get on with it” and “take this conflict seriously” – it is the Russian strategy that is dragging this conflict out for years.
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 4:18 utc | 166
So many must have the surname nukum. What’s your thoughts on nuclear war?
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 4:25 utc | 167
Post a review if you do watch it. It’ll be interesting to see if your IRL view matches my preconceived view …
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 1 2024 4:11 utc | 164
Haha! I already posted one to IMDB. It has yet to be approved, though. You might check in from time to time and see how many 9/10 star entries are “gifted” with 1/45 helpful votes!
To be serious (although I really did watch and review), it wasn’t half bad. Especially considering the source. Let’s just say I echo WhirlX’s comment that it’d have been really, really tough to be as big a piece of 100% Grade-A dogshit as ’20 Days in Mariupol’ – or ‘The White Helmets’ – or ‘Navalny’. Now those were some straight up propaganda pieces of garbage!
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 1 2024 4:31 utc | 168
Julian | Apr 1 2024 4:18 utc | 166
Forgot to address my 167 to you.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 4:31 utc | 169
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 1:50 utc | 143
I feel the same about your commentary. But we’re always prone to find something with which we disagree. We’re only human.
Don’t know why, but this reminds me of a situation I found myself in earlier today at the in-laws’ house playing some silly mobile phone/streaming TV trivia game. The question was which of 5 diseases could be treated by antibiotics since it’s bacterial in nature. The choices were: Cold, Influenza, Syphilis, Chicken Pox and Measles. I was the only one who got it right.
Syphilis. Duh. I got a major round of antibiotics down in Juarez as a younger dude from banging a (hot young!) prossie in the 90s. Couldn’t divulge that though!
Now you may think I’m way off on a tangent or down a rabbit hole, but I was also just telling my wife the other day how many times I and my two closest male friends have been arrested and spent one or more nights in jail. Mine is 10, 8 of which were for marijuana or PI charges. Out of the three of us, one is black, and even the white guy with firearms and possession/intent to distribute felonies (he’s actually on TV in Rockwall, TX getting busted 17 years ago) and myself have never had it come up in a serious way when applying for a job. The black dude, Aaron, is a totally different story, and he’s at least as smart as either of the other two of us.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 1 2024 4:41 utc | 170
I am one of those consistently calling for Russia to “get on with it” and “take this conflict seriously” – it is the Russian strategy that is dragging this conflict out for years.
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 4:18 utc | 166
The war of attrition as a way of waging war has not been canceled. Moreover, we have a proverb “the beast runs at the hunter.” Ukrainians fled in the summer of 2023 and are still fleeing…
Posted by: Виктор | Apr 1 2024 4:42 utc | 171
Re the Great Tank Debate having another re-run in this thread.
None of the U$NATO wonderwaffles are supposed to operate without air support [dominance/ superiority/ supremacy] or whatever snazzy slogan is employed.
Once the Sanctions From Hell™️ failed in the first 6months, and more and more “packages” of sanctions similarly failed, U$NATO defaulted into fighting a land war against Russia in Europe.
Oh dear.
I thought there was some war manual somewhere that proscribed against exactly that.
Nothing the Russians have done in their enigmatic, inscrutable sloSMO has aligned with the war-“games” USNATO had scenarios for.
Oh dear. Maybe some mighty mighty (meme) Abrams tanks will save the day.
~~
Among the many billions recycled through the Ukrainian money laundromat, a sizeable paycheque found its way to top tier Madison Ave-DC-London consultancies, think tanks, NAFO and similar; all of them thinking a real old-fashioned artillery war could be won by memes, and narrative control.
It was NAFO that forced EU-NATO to send more and more waffles to Ukraine.
Politicians, and the politically savvy in the top of USNATO militaries, were cowered by NAFO, not understanding NAFO was not damaging Russia, but disastrously impacting their own decision-making.
NAFO. A trained attack dog turned against its owner. Hitting your own thumb with your hammer.
That’s how we got Abrams in Ukraine without air support.
It’s too late to now send meme F-16s and F/18s.
~~
Many barflies are intimidatingly smart, with impressive backgrounds in hard science careers. They can explain stuff like explosions, and why Ukrainian claims defy physics and other matters.
Me? With my background as a shiny-arse, I have 40 years of “corporate” culture; I can truly understand how USNATO got itself in this pickle.
Didn’t matter if it was a new business to launch, or a sales/marketing campaign, or whatever project. Hours were expended on details so that all the essential moving parts were assembled and would work.
Then – didn’t matter the organisation – finance [sometimes HR] would get involved. A bean counter would count the beans and decide arbitrarily, the project/enterprise could be implemented, but with a reduction of X beans. [or people]{or both}.
No amount of screaming, squealing, sulking, providing 3-quotes for every line item of expenses would budge the bean.
Inevitably the project would flounder or fail because it wasn’t adequately resourced. I learned (very late) the successful strategy from middle to upper to CEO strata, was the timing to have vacated the chair just long enough before SHTF. You got to put on your resume: “successfully launched XYZ”, without mentioning its later predetermined demise (outside your tenure).
And here we are with USNATO. All the yes-men said yes, and those who neighed were sent to the knackery.
USNATO is failing exactly as Brian Berletic, RUSI and a few others predicted in May 2022.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 1 2024 5:06 utc | 172
a good short discussion on the dynamics that block open discussions in western Europe of ukriane v russia, and peace options.
Western WAR PROPAGANDA Makes Peace in Ukraine Impossible | Dr. Ulrike Guérot (Part 2)
Neutrality Studies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCxCPr8mlVI
Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Apr 1 2024 5:19 utc | 173
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 4:17 utc | 165
Very bland at best. Only makes waves due to the nazi war pig masquerading as Ukie ambassador here.
Yep. That’s *exactly* what I thought it’d be, without watching.
Since convid and “Russia’s illegal/unprovoked™️ war against Ukraine”, I have a low-to-no tolerance for Oz media. Including “my” ABC. Sad. I once was such an ABC aficionado/acolyte. Even went to a mild-manner protest against funding cuts. Lol@me.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 1 2024 5:28 utc | 174
Those who still think that the rural people in flyover country still have a lot of the patriotic spirit of old 1960s type patriotism are probably wrong. The blue-hairs and tattooed and pierced freaks are possibly more numerous here now than in the cities. They are maybe even more susceptible to media and social media influences than are the city dwellers. They overcompensate because they don’t ever want to be thought of as “hicks”.
Posted by: Wisco | Apr 1 2024 2:42 utc | 154
I’m not aware of any agreed-upon definition of the ‘patriotic spirit of old 1960s type patriotism. The most vocal ‘patriots’ of the 1960s were pro-government, pro-war reactionary conservatives, but I was involved in anti-war activities with a lot of ex-mil anti-war patriots. They didn’t get much airtime, but they were vocal, organized and present. The current crop of vocal patriots have adopted a lot of the talking points of the ‘left’ of the 1960s- anti-censorship, anti-big government, anti-war, anti-corporation, pro-privacy, etc. The blue haired hicks in my little corner of fly-over country are mostly still fighting the Sexual Revolution, and they look to big government and corporate power to protect their gender/sexuality/identity rights. Despite living in a university town, there really aren’t that many of them.
There’s a gender split in that crowd- most of the young men I’ve conversed with in recent years have all kinds of incoherent ideas about identity, but they are anti-government and anti-war. It’s the women folk who are completely detached from reality, and really, not so many of them. We do, however, have a significant contingent of ‘classic liberals’ who still believe it’s 1975 and the government is here to help. Middle class white professionals, all of them.
Posted by: Honzo | Apr 1 2024 5:36 utc | 175
Melaleuca | Apr 1 2024 5:28 utc | 174
ABC… it changed with Abbott’s telling them they had to ‘bat for the home team’. In I think 2014.
As an aside, I am bad at seeing the funny side of things at times. I often have this vision of Physiohistorian, long hair and beard, dressed in a robe, bullwhip curling forward as he drives the private money from the temple of public money.
“Me? With my background as a shiny-arse,” Apologies but I saw the funny side of that.
Keep on keeping on Melaleuca.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 5:45 utc | 176
That pedantic stance may come very handy sometime in the future , when chicken come to roost. Hopefully.
Posted by: fanto | Apr 1 2024 3:34 utc | 160
I’d suggest that the Russian demand is designed to be refused, after which the Ukrainian regime will be essentially a rogue state. Droning the leaders of terrorist organizations is accepted practice all over the west. Between this demand and the expiration of Elensky’s term as president, the legitimacy of the state will be seriously degraded by Ukraine’s refusal to play ball, making a host of actions legal that might otherwise be considered war crimes (according to US Rules Based Order.) Elensky is, as of tomorrow, illegitimate, and Ukrainians are no longer obliged to follow his orders, or the orders of those who follow his orders. Add to this the way that the Elensky regime has positioned itself openly as an international terrorist organization, and the justification is there for just about any action by ‘patriotic Ukrainians,’ let alone Russia. While I don’t really expect anything dramatic, the move does create a problem for the west in general. If the Elensky regime is a sponsor of international terrorism, and, say, Germany gives them aid, money, weapons, political cover, then Germany becomes complicit in international terrorism. All the western sponsors have to confront this problem. Since they are losing control of the narrative, this creates real jeopardy for western leaders for decades to come.
Posted by: Honzo | Apr 1 2024 5:48 utc | 177
Honzo | Apr 1 2024 5:36 utc | 175
US at one time did have a Pearl Harbor culture. That was required again so we saw the CIA/Bandar Bush destruction of a couple of buildings.
I suspect the aftermath may have knocked the stuffing out of Pearl Harbor culture.
What is US culture now? A mishmash of ‘diversity’ – the woke, the babbling in tongues christian Zionists, the older pilgrim bible belt, the rust belt. Wot a mess.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 6:03 utc | 178
The Russian Foreign Ministry threatens Ukraine with liability for “violation of obligations under anti-terrorism conventions.”
Someone upthread was dismissive of Russia accusing Ukraine of terrorism for the attacks on Crimea Bridge and Moscow Crocus theatre.
Hmmm. I remember Bush, the Coalition of the Willing and the GWoT. (Global War on Terror).
I could imagine the U$ and the UN have previously crafted some “international” treaties within their “Rules”-based international order.
Maybe something that “allows” them to bomb “ISIS” (of any branding) in whatever country they, themselves want to terrorise. ?
Russia used R2P and the Kosovo precedent as legal cover for its sloSMO.
I have a hunch this accusing Ukraine of terrorism, will be another example of Russia judoing previous U$ actions against it.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 1 2024 6:03 utc | 179
Honzo | Apr 1 2024 5:48 utc | 177
I see we are inside a similar thought bubble.
Ukraine is now a sponsor of international terrorism.
And thus, it’s key terrorists are legitimate targets….
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 1 2024 6:07 utc | 180
📋🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Two Majors #Report for the Morning of 1 April 2024; pub. 06:59📍
🔹In #Kherson direction, our assault groups are clashing with the enemy in #Krynki. The AFU does not intend to abandon the continued presence of small infantry groups on our shore. Despite the losses and regular destruction of boats, the enemy is trying to bring personnel and supplies to our shore. Attacks on the civilian population are continuing, and artillery attacks are taking place.
🔹On the #Zaporozhye front, the RFAF are advancing towards #Rabotino from the west, holding the southern part of the village. Northwest of #Verbovoye, fighting intensified yesterday, artillery and drones were involved on both sides. The enemy is actively using Baba Yaga agricultural drones to mine the area. The AFU also deployed German armoured vehicles in the direction. FAB strikes with UMPC are carried out at the enemy’s concentration sites near #Orekhov.
🔹South of #Maryinka, the RFAF are fighting heavy battles in #Novomikhaylovka. In the #Kurakhovo direction (to the west), the RFAF are moving westward.
🔹Southwest of #Avdeyevka, our troops are reported to have liberated the settlement of #Vodyanoye, which creates additional conditions for the development of the offensive in #Pervomayskoye. To the north, there are battles for #Semyonovka and #Berdychi.
🔹In the direction of #ChasovYar (west of #Artyomovsk), the RFAF are advancing towards the city along the railway. Our advanced units are located at a distance of less than 1 km from the western outskirts of the town. There are battles in #Bogdanovka, #Ivanovskoye (#Krasnoye), near #Kleshcheyevka.
🔹South of Kremennaya, the battle for #Belogorovka continues. To the west, the RFAF are advancing towards #Terny.
💥The Fascists do not stop the terrorist attacks on the #Belgorod region. A civilian was killed in the village of #Dunayka in the Grayvoron urban district. Yesterday morning a woman was injured as a result of shelling from the MLRS on the capital of the region. Yesterday, the governor reported on AFU attacks on the locality of Bogun-Gorodok in the Borisovsky district and the village of Dolgoye in the Valuysky urban district. The enemy is hitting the peaceful population with FPV drones. Thus, the enemy’s operators see that they are not striking military targets.
💥In the #Kursk region, the village of #Tyotkino in the Glushkovsky district was shelled. A local resident received shrapnel wounds.
💥 On the #DPR’s peaceful population, the enemy fired 61 rounds of ammunition per day, 3 civilians were wounded. In the locality of #Yasinovataya, men born in 1965 and born in 1957 were wounded. In the locality of #Gorlovka, as a result of the detonation of a previously unexploded cluster munition, an employee of “Donbass Gas” born in 1953 was wounded.
Posted by: Down South | Apr 1 2024 6:09 utc | 181
⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Frontline #Summary for the Morning of 1 April 2024; pub. 08:07⚡️
🔹On the #Zaporozhye Front, positional battles in #Rabotino continue. Long range weapons are actively working. Northwest of #Verbovoye there are ⚠️advances of the RFAF, but it should be understood that we are talking about taken positions, not about any significant advance.
📌 In any case, the initiative in this area, despite the fierce resistance of the AFU, remains on the side of the RFAF. (Fig. 1)
🔹On the #Donetsk Front, the RFAF are trying to build on their success in #Novomikhaylovka. As a result of the assault operations, the RFAF achieved further ⚠️tactical successes in this settlement, but the resistance of the AFU remains extremely serious. In #Georgiyevka and on the outskirts of #Krasnogorovka the frontline ⚠️did not change.
🟡In #Pervomayskoye, Russian troops are pressing the clinging Ukrainian military to the western outskirts of the village. The ⚠️advance there, although not rapid, is stable. Russian troops have completely ⚠️liberated #Vodyanoye, where fighting had been going on for almost a year and a half due to the large length of the village.
🟡In the area of #Tonenkoye, Russian troops continue their ⚠️attempts to advance towards #Umanskoye. The AFU are fiercely resisting and counterattacking. On the outskirts of #Semyonovka, Ukrainian troops are also not going to give up their positions, attempting to cut off the Russian units entrenched in the southern part of the settlement. In #Berdychi, fierce oncoming battles continue. (Fig. 2)
🔹In the #Bakhmut Direction, the RFAF, supported by aviation and artillery, continue to ⚠️advance towards #ChasovYar. In #Kleshcheyevka and #Bogdanovka there are oncoming battles. The line of contact has not changed significantly. (Fig. 3)
Posted by: Down South | Apr 1 2024 6:10 utc | 182
Posted by: rk | Mar 31 2024 18:56 utc | 64
Yes, the US Carrier Battle Groups are far powerful than what the Russian or Chinese Navies can muster combined.
Posted by: Old Sovietologist | Mar 31 2024 18:38 utc | 57
One missile and all sink in first 30min, at the same time. Is there a single post where you don’t lie? Old Ukrologist is a much better name for you. Or without k.
Okay, just had to laugh at that : )
RK brings up an important fact. First, Russia has been engaged in a ‘special military operation’, meaning limited ,controlled engagement meeting legal definitions within their society. The Russians have deliberately (and ingeniously) slow-walked the advancement of the front, for the purpose of inflicting maximum damage – attritional warfare, whilst minimising losses. So effective has this been, that the Russian army has all but annihilated the entire NATO-backed Ukrainian army in just 2 years, with not even 20% of their full military capability deployed, – a Ukraine I might add, that has been for the past 8 years, funded, armed, and logistically prepared by the neocon cabal for a war in which the objective has been to destroy Russia. Gone! Pooof! In the words of the Northern-British comedy legend, Henry Cooper, Just like that!
All this talk of tank superiority is great and everything, but, warfare has changed drastically since Desert Storm. Plus the Russians are NOT the Iraqis. In todays’s theater of war on the Russian sphere, on the modern battlefield, UAVs and drones are everywhere. Every move made is seen by satellite. There are no surprise movements to gain advantage. All these grand big-arrow offensives are great for optics but are for the most part no longer viable. Even with the support of US airforce. Massive formations are easy targets for mass swarms of drones/UAVs, unrelenting missile strikes from hypersonics, thermobaric bombs, FABs, terminator tanks etc etc. Oh, and mine-laden fields. It is the reason why both Russian and Ukrainian battle tactics utilize smaller highly-mobile fighting groups.
Russia is set to end this quickly with a major offensive push in the Spring, early May probably, and thats just a month away. But they’ve done all the hard ground work, virtually eliminating Ukraine-NATO air-defense, while positioning their own best-in-class air defense systems for the final push. Putin, Gerasimov, Shoigu and the leadership have been deliberately cautious to go slowly so as to preserve Russian lives, and limit Ukrainian civilian casualties. Now, the Ukrainians retreat at haste, without time to retrench behind sound defensive barriers. They are on the run from here on. With the massive strikes and constant pounding that will come in a month or less, complete surrender will be the only sensible option for the Ukrainian army. What the ‘nazi’ regime will do is anyones guess, but the people will surrender.
Russia is preparing for the eventuality that NATO troops will enter Ukraine for ‘part two’, and this will be a TERRIBLE mistake by NATO countries. As some barflies including RK have astutely pointed out, should NATO countries do this, they must know that Russia and its allies will strike into Europe and the USA. Of course they will because it will then be the only way left for victory to preserve their country. And they will strike hard, to nip the danger in the bud. The US and its allies are still laboring under the delusion that they have escalatory dominance. In this new age of warfare, and with a US population that will simply refuse to fight any more unjust wars and die for the bankers, the ‘elites’, and the woke agenda fascists, like Biden, Schumer, Shiff, Graham and too many more (including Trump), the USA and its yapping vassals will be soundly defeated.
As the Ukrainian mystic-healer-oracle named Mihailo Nechay who appeared to predict precisely these events in Ukraine almost 20 years ago, said:
“Nothing teaches people like a great tragedy. Tragedy is the academy of life for the people. Those who have never seen tragedy don’t know the price of freedom. Tragedy is like a science, it teaches how to live, how to appreciate freedom, your people, your value [of] everyday things. And only tragedy teaches that, not prosperity. Prosperity invites tragedy, and tragedy wants prosperity. Those two powers are forever, as long as man remains on the earth. The psychology will change. Currently they love themselves only. They turn good into bad. They are rude. They want to live well, but prevent one another from doing so. This is why they don’t deserve the ‘spiritual art’, which would govern the world and people.”
“What happens if there are no such people of spirituality?”
“God will govern them”.
Posted by: Áobh Ó’Sheachnasaigh | Apr 1 2024 6:12 utc | 183
Our source reports that the defense fortification line of the Ukrainian Armed Forces “named after Zelensky” will not be able to stop the real offensive of the Russians.
Even without taking into account the fact that it is being built by “our own people” for money laundering.
Experts and Western intelligence services have already provided “friendly” reports to the Office of the President, which indicate that simply “mines, potholes, concrete and pits” will not be able to withstand the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces alone.
This means that a large quantity is needed:
a) artillery, infantry, ammunition
b) uninterrupted supply and closely located decentralized ammunition depots
c) a lot of air defense/missile defense/air defense systems and MANPADS
d) aviation
e) prepared and concentrated reserves nearby
And there are many more factors, but the most important thing is that all this must be prepared and placed in advance. But the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not have such reserves of weapons/ammunition and human reserves.
Defending thousands of kilometers is difficult and almost impossible. The Russians can attack both in Donbass and in the North/South, etc.
The source indicates that if the Russians break through the defense line in one place, then the rest will cease to be relevant (there will be a risk of entry from the rear, or the formation of pockets). We will have to build new ones in a hurry and under fire from art and panic.
The source adds that Western intelligence services call “Russian planning bombs” (UAB/KAB) precisely those weapons that will change the course of the war and “bury” the defense line “named after Zelensky.”
Note, not UAVs, but bombs…
Posted by: Down South | Apr 1 2024 6:13 utc | 184
Russia has officially accused Ukraine of involvement in the terrorist attack at Crocus. This is stated in a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
“The investigative actions carried out by the Russian competent authorities indicate that the traces of the latest terrorist attacks lead to Ukraine. “Russia has sent a demand to the Ukrainian authorities for the arrest and extradition of all those involved,” the statement said.
Russia also demands from Ukraine the arrest of the head of the SBU Malyuk, in connection with his statements about his involvement in the bombing of the Crimean Bridge and in the murder of a number of people in the Russian Federation (in particular Tatarsky).
The Russian Foreign Ministry threatens Ukraine with liability for “violation of obligations under anti-terrorism conventions.”
Let us remind you that Ukraine denies any involvement in the terrorist attack at Crocus.
https://t.me/nabludatels/41053
This is a bad sign, which clearly shows how Russia is step by step trying to discredit Kyiv in the international arena. The second option is to create a reason for a future declaration of war or increase the stakes in the Ukrainian crisis.
As you can see, they are in no hurry to do anything. Although many predicted the beginning of a full-fledged official war and the use of any means of destruction. Up to tactical nuclear weapons.
The Ukrainian government has driven itself into this situation, since the head of the SBU indirectly confirmed that the Ukrainian special services were behind the previous “terrorist attacks/sabotage.” Although previously the Ukrainian authorities denied this in every possible way.
This track will be gradually promoted and when it is profitable for the Kremlin to raise the stakes, they will do so. The reason chosen will be the message: “neutralization of a terrorist enclave” (just like Israel).
Our source is confident that this case will be used by the end of the year.
Posted by: Down South | Apr 1 2024 6:20 utc | 185
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 31 2024 14:26 utc | 9
RT reported that the Abrams tanks in Ukraine are totally stripped version. They called it monkey version.
Posted by: RB | Apr 1 2024 7:28 utc | 186
The Russian formal request to extradite the nazi terrorists. Going through the motions. Foreplay. He/they are dead man walking. There will most likely be a court hearing with or without them, then they will be killed.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 1 2024 7:47 utc | 187
Posted by: Áobh Ó’Sheachnasaigh | Apr 1 2024 6:12 utc | 183
Thanks Áobh
But Henry Cooper was a London boxer who fought Muhammad Ali. If he had a catchphrase it was “Splash it all over” endorsing Brut aftershave.
Tommy Cooper was the comic magician, born in Caerphilly, Wales, but raised in Exeter, Devon, whose catchphrase was “Just like that”.
It feels great to finally contribute facts.
Posted by: Les Dawsonovich | Apr 1 2024 7:49 utc | 188
No chance this wraps up this year – this war is continuing into 2025 – and perhaps for far longer beyond that.”
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 3:04 utc | 157
————-
Meh, you’re overselling the premise. Ukraine doesn’t have a “far longer” supply of manpower, unless they have hidden cloning vats.
Being contrary for the sake of it, impresses no-one.
Posted by: Urban Fox | Apr 1 2024 7:51 utc | 189
Wisco | Apr 1 2024 3:14 utc | 158
“No chance this wraps up this year – this war is continuing into 2025 – and perhaps for far longer beyond that.”
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 3:04 utc | 157
And the bad thing is that you and so many others like you are happy about that. “More death, yay!”
It’s the Putin Yes-men who celebrate the snail’s-pace “SMO” who not only are tolerant of the war extending indefinitely for many years to come but who clearly want it to become a permanent war-type situation like Syria or Palestine.
They also are the ones who implicitly want to maximize hohol deaths, and Russian deaths as well.
Not one of them ever clarifies how long would be too long, how many deaths would be too many, or what result could ever falsify their position. That’s because they have no position beyond whatever Putin and the MOD are saying and doing (and especially not doing) at any particular time. They’re pure authoritarian followers with zero position of their own.
So don’t project the death-lust onto those of us who criticize the “SMO” kayfabe. If things had been done our way, Russia would have successfully finished this theater war long ago, attaining its proclaimed war goals (while the Yes-men always are prepared to see the proclaimed and necessary war goals cast aside), and vastly fewer on both sides would have died.
Posted by: flying dutchman | Apr 1 2024 8:14 utc | 190
187
BlaBlaBla
like the walking dead red lines ? 😁
Ukronatostan is laughing about such statements
NOBODY is taking serious anymore the masterweakling in Kremlin
Meanwhile ukronato is preparing the next terror operation
Posted by: tesla | Apr 1 2024 8:20 utc | 191
Urban Fox | Apr 1 2024 7:51 utc | 189
No chance this wraps up this year – this war is continuing into 2025 – and perhaps for far longer beyond that.”
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 3:04 utc | 157
————-
Meh, you’re overselling the premise. Ukraine doesn’t have a “far longer” supply of manpower, unless they have hidden cloning vats.
Being contrary for the sake of it, impresses no-one.
He’s only reflecting the ponderous timelines of the Yes-men. Just the other day Simplicius said he doesn’t expect the Russians to even reach Odessa, let alone take it, for a few years yet. And most here are very content with that notion.
Posted by: flying dutchman | Apr 1 2024 8:38 utc | 192
and then, after signing agreements, Putin’s history of violating said agreements?
Posted by: Julian | Apr 1 2024 1:24 utc | 137
Care to elaborate, julian röpke?
Posted by: Justpassinby | Apr 1 2024 8:40 utc | 193
Not one of them ever clarifies how long would be too long, how many deaths would be too many, or what result could ever falsify their position. That’s because they have no position beyond whatever Putin and the MOD are saying and doing (and especially not doing) at any particular time. They’re pure authoritarian followers with zero position of their own.
Posted by: flying dutchman | Apr 1 2024 8:14 utc | 190
The accounting report on the war of attrition has not yet been invented. You try it…
Posted by: Виктор | Apr 1 2024 8:44 utc | 194
191
Mastertraitor Putin & his vassals of traitors re overestimating the patience of ROW!
People in ROW re tired of the braindead SloMo!
In ROW many politicians, analysts, media Some expressed their indignation towards the neverending braindead SMO
Some analysts commented that the braindead SloMo only provocates such bloody terrorists attacks with giving SBU, CIA, MI6 all time needed to prepare & perform such operations. The SloMo enabled Ukronazis to turn a nation into a full function terror nation, establishing a terror infrastructure all over the country with full equipped terror camps and a professional terror recruitment.
Western partners say: Thanks chessmaster for the SloMo
Posted by: SlowSoft | Apr 1 2024 8:46 utc | 195
Posted by: flying dutchman | Apr 1 2024 8:14 utc | 190
So don’t project the death-lust onto those of us who criticize the “SMO” kayfabe. If things had been done our way, Russia would have successfully finished this theater war long ago, attaining its proclaimed war goals (while the Yes-men always are prepared to see the proclaimed and necessary war goals cast aside), and vastly fewer on both sides would have died.
Could you please elaborate on “your way” that the RF should have adopted to attain its goals?
This is a genuine question and please don’t say “sack the yes men” or other non-specific measures. Overall strategy, tactics etc, and possible time lines would be useful.
Thx
Posted by: Barrel Brown | Apr 1 2024 9:16 utc | 196
@Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 1 2024 1:21 utc | 136
In the States the Asians earn the most on average, followed by whites, followed by Hispanics and in last place comes the blacks. Its all due to IQ, Asians, especially the east Asians, have the highest IQ’s, so they are at the top of the earnings list. Blacks have the lowest IQ’s so they are at the bottom of the earnings list. And since the woke are going to make a lot of noise about IQ measurement deficiencies and such tripe, just consider this, the Asians are a very recent addition to the States, while the blacks have been in the States for centuries. And these recent additions to the States, the Asians, now earn the most in the States, while the blacks are still at the bottom, a position they have occupied since their arrival in the States. The only plausible explanation for some forever failing to make progress while others can progress quickly is the IQ differences.
There have been many decades of cultural interventions, of education and training and praying, yet it made no difference, blacks still occupy the lowest rung in the earnings potential ladder in the States. Blacks are a net drain on the fiscus as they take out much more in welfare than they return in taxes.
Posted by: gT | Apr 1 2024 9:26 utc | 197
Some analysts commented that the braindead SloMo only provocates such bloody terrorists attacks with giving SBU, CIA, MI6 all time needed to prepare & perform such operations.
Posted by: SlowSoft | Apr 1 2024 8:46 utc | 195
Let these analysts show their brains in all their glory, commenting on Mrs. Merkel’s laughter – how beautifully we deceived Putin, preparing Ukraine for war for 8 years!
Fools have only one way out, to blame everything on Putin. People are eating…
Posted by: Виктор | Apr 1 2024 9:28 utc | 198
I think malenkov and UWDude have together touched upon the core issue in esprit de corp in the USA recruitment numbers — we low-level civilians already see in deep bas relief America as an empire and the lowest levels are not benefitting from such empire. Remember, Afghanistan withdrawal was only in 2021. One side saw it was stupid from the beginning, the other later as Tora Bora was bandied about and much later in Pakistan Osama Bin Laden was killed (“killed” as Benazir Bhuto porbably released the cat out of the bag to her own danger). Bit by bit all the lying added up to a shattering of narrative. This isn’t the first time in history games of empire seed the wind and reap the whirlwind… lies, webs, tangles, y’know.
It’s an issue of disillusionment: the former’s with one’s position TO the exploitation, the latter’s disillusionment with one’s position IN the exploitation. The self-aware and self-sacrificing of any political stripe finally came to the conclusion this is wrong and we are being wronged used as tools to do it; the selfish and self-preserving of any political stripe lower on the totem pole came to the conclusion that this is pointlessly hurtful to me and mine. The act itself revolted some savvy cynical yet moral people in the early 2000s, the silly games and lack of follow through revolted principled true believers of the convenient 9/11 story and Project for a New American Century (PNAC) in the 2010s, and its utter pointlessness in the end revolted the remainder who were too slow on the uptake but finally understood they’re being used by Afghanistan’s recapture by the Taliban in 2021.
“You can fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” Abraham Lincoln’s Lincoln Bedroom Ghost, probably.
Why serve treachery? Cui Bono? Let the bastards do their own dirty work.
Posted by: titmouse | Apr 1 2024 9:30 utc | 199
We should be talking how much longer we want those clowns in their uniforms with those stupid metal bimbles on their chests to tell us what to do.
Posted by: Marvin | Mar 31 2024 15:50 utc | 29
You’re going to have to go a few steps further out Marvin.
Address Your question to the political pond life the military report to and then the people the political pond life work for.
And that isn’t us.
Posted by: jpc | Apr 1 2024 9:35 utc | 200