Ukraine Open Thread 2024-112
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 April 18, 2024 at 14:19 UTC | Permalink
next page »Not sure how much of the Ukrainian farmland is owned by western corporations but as Ukraine will be defeated and Russia will be calling the shots over that farmland then I hope the bean counters at those corporations have made allowance for a 100% loss on the investments.
Posted by: Neal | Apr 18 2024 15:08 utc | 2
I recall that after Britain declared war on Nazi Germany in 1939 they refused to bomb German factories that were making war material for the German forces. The reason given was the factories were privately owned industries - that is the wealthy were protected from having their investments damaged even if the products they made were killing British people!
Posted by: Bill R | Apr 18 2024 15:33 utc | 3
https://t.me/Novichok_Rossiya_2/5107
👉 Ukrainian PostHow many times can you say, how many times can you ask for an Air defence? It's only getting worse. The FABs are pouring in like rain. What to do... Everyone, command, Kiev, Western partners (!!!!) don't give a fuck, it's like this.
https://t.me/Novichok_Rossiya_2/5110
👉Ukrainian Post26 km of defensive fortifications in Donetsk region helped build Ukraines Steel Front 🛡
🏗 Since December last year, DTEK Energo has handed over the materials and equipment necessary for the construction of about 100 fortification structures in these areas.
⛏In particular, this is 4,000 cubic meters of wood for arranging fortifications and heating positions, as well as more than 1,000 tons of coal.
Posted by: anon2020 | Apr 18 2024 15:44 utc | 4
Posted by: Neal | Apr 18 2024 15:08 utc | 2
I can't imagine any company investing in farmland in an area contested by civil war. I don't see that getting by any lawyer. I think they're getting some pretty good deals west of the Dnieper but not to the east. By the way the french and UK are acting I suspect someone has invested a lot in the port of Odessa which would make sense if they are buying farmland in Ukraine. I'll bet you'll see things really heat up with EU countries if Russia gets across the Dnieper in the south.
Maybe they bought assets east of the Dnieper for pennies on the dollar as a distressed asset? It would be longshot bet the pro Russian rebels would lose which was likely a good bet prior to 2022 but not so good today.
The company I worked for in 1992 was hired to build for an AG company buying up farmland in Poland. We used to ship containers of everything from screws to toilet paper for the guys we had working over there. Apparently it was a really good investment then and I don't doubt it's even better today.
Posted by: HB_Norica | Apr 18 2024 15:52 utc | 5
Here is the latest report from Russia MOD from https://t.me/s/ZandVchannel
🇷🇺 Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation
(18 April 2024)
Part I
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
▫️ In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces have inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, the 100th Mechanised Brigade, as well as on the 31st Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Novosyolovskoye, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Two counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 3rd Assault and 63rd Mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled near Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two pick-up trucks, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, and two 152-mm D-20 howitzers.
▫️ In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 30th, 56th, and 93rd mechanised brigades near Vasyukovka, Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).
One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 46th Airmobile Brigade was repelled near Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy lost up to 590 Ukrainian troops, one tank, and seven motor vehicles.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, two Nota electronic warfare stations, as well as one field ammunition depot were eliminated.
▫️ In Avdeyevka direction, the units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation and defeated the units of the 68th Jaeger, 24th, 47th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Artyomovo, Semyonovka, Netaylovo, and Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
▫️ Seven counter-attacks of the 24th, 115th mechanised, 71st Jaeger brigades, and 78th Separate Air Assault Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled close to Novokalinovo, Novogorodskoye, Vodyanoye, Pervomayskoye, Berdychi, and Novobakhmutovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses included up to 130 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and one 152-mm D-20 howitzer.
▫️ In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on units of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 72nd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, 102nd and 128th territorial defence brigades near Vodyanoye, Ugledar, Urozhaynoye, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 140 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, UK-made 152-mm AS-90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, as well as three field ammunition depots.
▫️ In Kherson direction, the units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 65th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, 36th Marine Brigade and 126th Territorial Defence Brigades close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region), Zmeyevka, Nikolskoye, and Ivanovka (Kherson region).
One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the 15th Operational Brigade was repelled close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, as well as two 122-mm D-30 howitzers.
68 viewsТатьяна Н.,
07:35
Z and V
⚡️🇷🇺 Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation
(18 April 2024)
Part II
Operational-Tactical and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Russian Federation have been eliminated during the day: AFU Operational Command Centre North (Sever), two launchers equipped with illumination and targeting radar set of the S-300 air defence systems, an ammunition depot of the Donetsk Operational-Tactical Group, arms and fuel depots of the 101st Territorial Defence Brigade, and engaged enemy manpower and military hardware in 126 areas.
Air defence systems shot down 251 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, two Tochka-U tactical missiles, and 33 Vampire missiles during the day.
📊 In total, 583 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 21,734 unmanned aerial vehicles, 504 air defence missile systems, 15,801 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,267 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,945 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 21,111 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Posted by: ctiger | Apr 18 2024 15:56 utc | 6
@ Posted by: CitizenSmith | Apr 18 2024 14:42 utc | 1
were any bridges sold?
Posted by: ctiger | Apr 18 2024 15:58 utc | 7
Given that the corrupt selling of Ukraine by its politicians constitutes treason, there is a real risk to those politicians that they will experience a summary justice which may prove a prolonged and painful experience; they should leave while they can.
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Apr 18 2024 14:42 utc | 1
It's not the politicians. It's the oligarchs that control the politicians. Just like in the west Ukrainian politicians are beholding to those who financially support them. The of course doesn't mean the politicians won't get blamed though.
Posted by: [email protected] | Apr 18 2024 16:07 utc | 8
Praise be!
Cops in Germany 'miraculously' discover 161 kids flagged by Ukraine as kidnap victims of Russia's insatiable desire to keep children out of warzones.
In an act of typical Kiev hubris, they actually put their names on an international database & forgot to tell the German authorities not to do any checking. To no-ones surprise the majority of kids were with their Ukrainian parents and guardians, though the BKA in a statement have said that a small number came to Germany as a result of "unlawful transfer" (I believe it used to be referred to as child trafficking).
Sadly, I doubt this will have any impact on the bogus ICC charge. As one of Putin's co-accused, Russian children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, has stated, Russia:
“has long been drawing the attention of the international community to the fact that Ukraine has created a systemic myth regarding the children, who it claims had been ‘deported’ to Russia.”
Here's the original RT article for anyone who lives outside the censorship grid, has a VPN or simply downloaded the APK for their phone:
Ukrainian children ‘kidnapped’ by Moscow found in Germany
https://www.rt.com/russia/596195-ukrainian-children-kidnapped-germany/
Posted by: FakeBelieve | Apr 18 2024 16:11 utc | 9
161 ukrainian kids "kidnapped by Putin" were finally found
...in Germany
Posted by: Arioch | Apr 18 2024 16:11 utc | 10
"volunteers" in Ukraine. A citizen took a receipt for utility payments. On the other size of the receipt there was an "UkrArmy jack pot" for him.
https://t.me/argumentum_a_priori/15518
Lady Ze was asked if Ukrainian families could have lost something too.
What a sincere, happy smile!
Posted by: Arioch | Apr 18 2024 16:16 utc | 11
if video in TG has problems, they here lady Ze is at 0:45 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCuE8cVIuiQ
Posted by: Arioch | Apr 18 2024 16:19 utc | 12
Our source reports that Zelensky promised American lobby groups that would push “credit to Ukraine” that in the first two months of mobilization he would “catch” 100-300 thousand people, send them to training and in the fall before the elections in the United States, he would launch a counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a huge the amount of manpower that will be the main weapon of attack on all fronts.Of course, the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be huge. But Bankovaya and Ze hope that by simultaneously throwing 300-400 thousand infantry into the attack, they will be able to take a large amount of territory from the Russian Federation. If you win, no one will ask for losses and the “price”; everyone will have victory on their ears.
In the summer they will be missing everyone en masse.
https://t.me/legitimniy/17733
Colleagues, Zelensky had no other option but to receive funding from the United States; we were given clear demands when a delegation from Congress flew to Kyiv. That is why the mobilization bill was adopted so sharply, and the deputies did not block it.It was the Americans who demanded that demobilization be excluded from the law so that at the end of the summer the Armed Forces of Ukraine could launch a counter-offensive before the presidential elections in the United States.
https://t.me/rezident_ua/22494
Posted by: Down South | Apr 18 2024 16:22 utc | 13
“Ukraine has no chance of winning this war. France's policies are contrary to its national interests."Rigi Chamagne - Colonel of the French aviation, was the commander of the Mirage F1C squadron in Cambrai, and then the commander of the reconnaissance squadron on the Mirage F1C in Strasbourg. Knight of the Legion of Honor, Knight of the National Order of Merit. The authoritative military man shared his vision of the Ukrainian war and explained Macron’s policies.
According to Colonel Chamagne, the foreign policy of modern France is dictated by two circumstances: Macron’s dependence on the United States and his inadequacy. The French President's initiative to send military personnel to Ukraine will not change the strategic situation on the battlefield.
“Macron’s behavior has two explanations. First, he was sent by the United States to carry out their policies. Secondly, he is a psychopath. He now states that NATO's Article 5 will not be valid in the event of a clash with Russia. This is done to justify your decision. As far as I know, France is already sending its specialists to Ukraine and participating in the training of Ukrainian soldiers. But I think that the participation of Paris will not help Kyiv in the long term, but situationally it will help Ukraine improve its artillery.”
As for Ukraine's chances, Rizhi Shaman is convinced that it is doomed to lose to Russia. There are many reasons, including lack of people, weapons and motivation.
“Ukraine is on its way to losing. It lacks material resources, lacks ammunition, people, experience, motivation. The Ukrainian army is in decline. The war is reaching a point where the Russian army can advance much faster. Statements from the Russian side show that it is better for Ukraine to accept Russia’s conditions. Ukraine has no chance of winning this war. This was clear from the very beginning. Russia's military capabilities are disproportionately stronger than those of Ukraine and the West. The same applies to human resources: Ukraine is rapidly losing its population. So Kyiv has no chance of winning. From an international point of view, we can add that de-dollarization will hit the US position and its ability to help Ukraine in the long term.”
Returning to the actions of the French leadership in the international arena, Colonel Chamagne said that the foreign policy of the current government of the country contradicts the fundamental interests of the French people, who are still predominantly friendly towards Russia and Russians and remember the history of cooperation between our countries.
“Macron's policies do not correspond to the interests of France, he is in power to destroy nation-states such as France. The systemic destruction of our state has been going on since the time of Sarkozy. Macron doesn't care about his country. Regarding relations with Russia, I think that relations between our peoples have always been good. Many French people love Russia. We remember very well how Alexander I, the Russian emperor, spoke out for preserving our territorial integrity after the Napoleonic wars, while England wanted to dismember us. I am sure that our people do not hate Russia and Russians. We are not happy that people like Macron are in power.”
The French colonel is confident that without the active participation of the United States, the European Union will not be able to provide full-scale support to Ukraine.
“I think that without the United States, the European Union is nothing militarily. The United States commands NATO and its representatives occupy key positions there. I know what I'm talking about because I participated in NATO operations. The reality is that without America, NATO is untenable. As for the integration of Ukraine into the EU, I think this is impossible, because the European Union is seriously ill. I am sure that in the end the EU will collapse just like NATO.”
https://t.me/rezident_ua/22497
Posted by: Down South | Apr 18 2024 16:26 utc | 14
Down South @ 14
The goal of the Atlanticists leadership in the EU is to destroy national consciousness and allegiances and national politics to create an EU-USA superstate that can compete both economically, militarily and geo-strategically with successful rising civilization states China, India, and Russia. Call it a tabula rasa pseudo civilization state. Once you see that you also understand the immigration policies of the EU and USA.
I wonder if the French troops Macron is sending are nothing more than a finding a way to explain the body bags coming back home? Until now the French people were told only a handful of French mercenaries and advisors were in theater, then new Russian intelligence capabilities and a growing partisan network starting causing the French to die by the score. Maybe it's enough dead now to not be able to sweep under the rug w/o an ugly lump in the middle of the room?
Maybe Macron was about to get caught having illegally sent a thousand or more regular French army soldiers to Ukraine and is trying to hide his crime or serious bad judgment by "sending" them after the fact.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Apr 18 2024 17:19 utc | 15
Posted by: Neal | Apr 18 2024 15:08 utc | 2
With names such as Vanguard, Blackrock and JP Morgan involved in Ukrainian land ownership deals their beancounters are 100% sure that any losses will be backstopped by the US government.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 18 2024 17:31 utc | 17
Apparently Scholz has said that the EU will use frozen Russian assets to purchase weapons for Ukraine.
No confirmation yet, I saw it on the telegrams.
Posted by: alek_a | Apr 18 2024 17:38 utc | 18
Ukraine and Israel wars are US wars. US has no friends but only enemies.
Posted by: AI | Apr 18 2024 17:39 utc | 19
AI @ 19
US has no friends but only enemies.
Soft power is yesterday's news, the USA is no longer interested in friends any more than the Nazis were, which is telling.
On the other side of the new iron curtain (the reverse of the old iron curtain) the side with the surplus capital and natural resources, the BRICS, it's all about soft power, which is also telling.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Apr 18 2024 18:02 utc | 20
MiG-29 and S-300 battery targeted with cluster munitions.
https://twitter.com/VigorousFalcon/status/1781023516730810425
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 18 2024 18:16 utc | 21
Xi is more than a match for Scholz, an Atlanticist puppet of Washington, the German Chancellor who vehemently backs both the Zionists and their genocide and the Neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine is barking up the wrong tree here with the sly old fox Xi, who has seen it all before.
Of course the Neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine has stirred up old feeling in Germany.
https://thegrayzone.com/2024/04/07/centuria-ukraines-western-neo-nazi-army/
"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he hopes Berlin and Beijing could collaborate to help achieve a "just peace" in Ukraine, during his meeting with President Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital.
Scholz discussed with the Chinese leader Xi how they can the enhance their contributions towards achieving a fair and peaceful resolution in Ukraine.
China and Russia have in recent years accelerated their economic cooperation and diplomatic contacts, while their strategic partnership has grown stronger since the military conflict in Ukraine began over two years ago.
Scholz claimed in his meeting with Xi that Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and its armament have a “very significant negative impact on security in Europe,” according to a recording from the chancellor's office.
"They directly affect our core interests," he told Xi, claiming that they "damage the entire international order because they violate a principle of the United Nations Charter."
For his part, Xi called for all parties to work together to restore peace to Ukraine as soon as possible and keep the conflict from spiraling out of control."
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 18 2024 18:19 utc | 22
Meanwhile Russia loses out again, never trust an insurance company they'll screw you over.
"The legal team representing high-powered insurers Lloyd’s and Arch says that since the Nord Stream explosions were “more likely than not to have been inflicted by… a government,” they have no responsibility to pay for damages to the pipelines. To succeed with that defense, the companies will presumably be compelled to prove, in court, who carried out those attacks.
British insurers are arguing that they have no obligation to honor their coverage of the Nord Stream pipelines, which were blown up in September 2022, because the unprecedented act of industrial sabotage was likely carried out by a national government.
The insurers’ filing contradicts reports the Washington Post and other legacy media publications asserting that a private Ukrainian team was responsible for the massive act of industrial sabotage.
A legal brief filed on behalf of UK-based firms Lloyd’s Insurance Company and Arch Insurance states that the “defendants will rely on, inter alia, the fact that the explosion Damage could only have (or, at least, was more likely than not to have) been inflicted by or under the order of a government.”
As a result, they argue, “the Explosion Damage was “directly or indirectly occasioned by, happening through, or in consequence of” the conflict between Russia and Ukraine” and falls under an exclusion relating to military conflicts."
https://thegrayzone.com/2024/04/17/uk-insurers-refuse-pay-nord-stream/
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 18 2024 18:21 utc | 23
There is a bit of a resemblance between Robert Helpmann and *elensky.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUnhfvGdmmw
I never would have imagined that there would ever be an even greater resemblance between a nation's policy towards its own citizens, US foreign policy and this scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Posted by: kvp | Apr 18 2024 18:24 utc | 24
The Kit Klarenberg report that they are trying to ban that shows the Pentagon tried its best to bait Russia into conflict with Ukraine.
https://thegrayzone.com/2024/04/17/facebook-kit-klarenberg-dangerous/
https://www.kitklarenberg.com/p/how-cia-and-mi6-created-isis
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 18 2024 18:29 utc | 25
Does the FBI have a backdoor into Telegram, and if so what does that mean in real terms with the conflict in Ukraine ongoing.
"The founder of the popular messaging application Telegram says US authorities sought on multiple occasions to gain access to the platform in an apparent bid to spy on its users.
Pavel Durov said in an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson that was released on Wednesday that officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had approached him or his employees several times.
“We got too much attention from the FBI, the security agencies, wherever we came,” Durov said in the interview as he insisted that the “alarming” experience was one of the main reasons he refused to set up his company in the US.
“Whenever I would go to the US, I would have two FBI agents greeting me at the airport, asking questions. One time, I was having breakfast at 9 am and the FBI showed up at the house that I was renting,” he said, adding “My understanding is that they wanted to establish a relationship to control Telegram better.”
Russian-born Durov, who left his country in 2014 to be able to expand his company, said US agents had even attempted to hire one of his employees to use the person for their purposes.
“There was a secret attempt to hire my engineer behind my back by cybersecurity officers,” he said, adding, “They were trying to persuade him to use certain open-source tools that he would then integrate into Telegram’s code that, in my understanding, would serve as backdoors.”
Telegram is now based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Durov said in the interview with Carlson that the social media platform will likely cross one billion active monthly users within a year, up from a current figure of 900 million users."
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 18 2024 18:35 utc | 26
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 18 2024 18:21 utc | 23
Uk insurance business has already lost, if not it will soon lose out on the global transport business.
It's a one time hit for Russia, but every time British firms neglect their obligations they shoot themselves in the foot.
The biggest hit is USD, GPB and EUR losing clout.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 18 2024 18:35 utc | 27
This is part 2 of "Who is Zelensky": https://twitter.com/Truth_InMedia/status/1780958558512959495
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 18 2024 19:00 utc | 28
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 18 2024 18:21 utc | 23
Is it exclusively a loss to Russia though? From: https://www.nord-stream.com/about-us/our-shareholders/
Nord Stream is a joint project involving five major companies: Gazprom international projects North 1 LLC (Gazprom Group company), Wintershall Dea AG, PEG Infrastruktur AG (E.ON), N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie and ENGIE.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 18 2024 19:05 utc | 29
As a result, they argue, “the Explosion Damage was “directly or indirectly occasioned by, happening through, or in consequence of” the conflict between Russia and Ukraine” and falls under an exclusion relating to military conflicts."
https://thegrayzone.com/2024/04/17/uk-insurers-refuse-pay-nord-stream/
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 18 2024 18:21 utc | 23
A pity that argument was not used for the wtc towers.
And thanks for all information you are providing above.
Posted by: Naive | Apr 18 2024 19:39 utc | 30
after Britain declared war on Nazi Germany in 1939 they refused to bomb German factories that were making war material
Posted by: Bill R | Apr 18 2024 15:33 utc | 3
These reticences disappeared quickly. "Mission No. 84 was a strike by 376 bombers of 16 bomb groups against German heavy industry" (wiki, Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission)
Posted by: Passerby | Apr 18 2024 20:51 utc | 31
Comment 1
ZioHedge states the obvuous (Dima pronunciation : ). However, those foreign zio-buyers surely will lose all their 'money'. Its no good trying to lay claim to stolen goods and land, when they belong to a much more powerful adversary. It is all going back to Russia. What's left of a rump state after Russia keeps what it chooses, might be given back to Poland and Hungary after a time, and with iron-clad guarantees of cooperation and a form of 'neutrality' that of course favors Russia.
Posted by: Áobh Ó'Sheachnasaigh | Apr 18 2024 20:52 utc | 32
Republicofscotland @ 22
Xi is more than a match for Scholz
https://t.me/ZandVchannel/109315
Xi is more than a match for the entire Atlanticist clown troupe. I knew Scholz was a puny twit but it really shows next to Xi. It’s like a bantamweight next to George Foreman. Growing up the images were always a tall corn feed honcho next to a little asian fellow now it's the other way around. Then add in Lilliputians Von Der Leyen, Macron, Meloni, and shoe lift tinker bell Sunak, WTF is going on? God’s prank on the decline of the west? Is he physically shrinking western leaders because we are in too deep a torpor to notice our declining civilization? “How little do I have to make the leaders before you fools catch on!”
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Apr 18 2024 21:09 utc | 33
„Apparently Scholz has said that the EU will use frozen Russian assets to purchase weapons for Ukraine.
No confirmation yet, I saw it on the telegrams.“
Posted by: alek_a | Apr 18 2024 17:38 utc
Not the frozen assets but the profits from the frozen assets.
Source: Telegram DD Geopolitics
Posted by: NoName | Apr 18 2024 21:51 utc | 34
It has now been confirmed the US is sending $60 billion in credit for Ukraine. In exchange, Zelensky has promised to 'capture' another 300k people, who will be used in a counter-offensive before the US election.
That is $2-3k per Ukrainian, less than the price of an artillery shell.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 18 2024 21:54 utc | 35
Long term. Russia returns Novorossiya, plus acquires whatever she wants of “the Ukraine”. U$-EUand vassals[australia claims to have $9b frozen] steal the Russian foreign reserves, nominally $3O0b.
Is that a then the trade off. Russia “buys” parts of 404 for $300b ?
IMVHO, maybe. The collective waste will fight like starving wild dogs over the 300b. [where is it,? who can access? Who can control?]
And the “reputational” damage, seen thru the RoW, and even among themselves, will be significant.
The 300b, however it is disbursed, will be squandered within a year; 5, tops.
Russia will hold the returned territory forever. The value, and the ROI, for perpetuity, is far greater than a once-off looting of stolen fiat.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 18 2024 22:02 utc | 36
Posted by: NoName | Apr 18 2024 21:51 utc | 34
I thought that I didnt see the word “profit” originally. But it is there so ok.
That is $2-3k per Ukrainian, less than the price of an artillery shell.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 18 2024 21:54 utc | 35
That is sadly a characteristic of War. Ammo is more precious than lives.
Posted by: alek_a | Apr 18 2024 22:19 utc | 37
As a result, they argue, “the Explosion Damage was “directly or indirectly occasioned by, happening through, or in consequence of” the conflict between Russia and Ukraine” and falls under an exclusion relating to military conflicts."
https://thegrayzone.com/2024/04/17/uk-insurers-refuse-pay-nord-stream/
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 18 2024 18:21 utc | 23
If they paid the proceeds would be "frozen" and sent to our actor friend....
Uk insurance business has already lost, if not it will soon lose out on the global transport business.
It's a one time hit for Russia, but every time British firms neglect their obligations they shoot themselves in the foot.
The biggest hit is USD, GPB and EUR losing clout.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 18 2024 18:35 utc | 27
And they did a huge disservice to Israel, all houti (allies and co-belligerents with Hamas) actions are within the Israel/Palestinian current military conflict ... we're not talking about higher insurance primes, we're talking about nothing being paid as per current defense in court.
Posted by: Newbie | Apr 18 2024 22:20 utc | 38
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that NATO partners will provide Ukraine with six more Patriot air defense systems. He spoke about this on the Phoenix TV channel.
No one is running out of anything. Except brains.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Apr 18 2024 22:35 utc | 39
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Apr 18 2024 22:35 utc | 39
Most likely Germany is one of the few if only countries who still has Patriot PAC systems. The reason why Nato did't send more is because they are horrified by the rate of which they were located and destroyed. Kinzhal is in a class of its own destroying them, albeit anything else can do it.
Ukraine deployed a lot of those systems closer to the front earlier in a bid to prevent FABs.
Nato does not give Ukraine anything, especially scare ADs without a purpose. Most likely there is a specific unmentioned reason. It could be related to the supposedly upcoming offensive they are planning after mobilizing 300k more people.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 18 2024 22:43 utc | 40
SKY NEWS
"Polish man arrested over alleged Russia plot to assassinate Zelenskyy"
What a load of fuckin lying bollox!
This is the next stage of western propoganda. Lies about so-called saboteurs. In another report, a weapons factory in Germany reportedly sabotaged by "russian sabateurs"
The objective is to convince western publics that theyre directly under attack by russia. This makes it easier to convince them to go to war with russia.
Posted by: HERMIUS | Apr 18 2024 23:02 utc | 41
Russia should target Ukraine's Kremenchuk and Kiev hydro dams. Bust those 2 dams and Ukraine will be weakened. Kiev will be under water and Zeli will have a watery grave. Iskandar M can do it.
Posted by: Jason | Apr 18 2024 23:28 utc | 42
RE: Bill R (3)
At the start of World War 2 (and indeed long before that) there was much debate about aerial bombing and the supposed rules and conditions to be observed by belligerents. There were objections, both private and public, in Britain to the idea of targeting (a) enemy civilians and (b) enemy private property. The idea that a British Government would limit its options by banning either is ludicrous to anyone with the faintest knowledge of British imperial history. These quaint notions (sentimental relics from a bygone age) never quite went away during the war, but Hamburg, Dresden etc show how little they counted when push came to shove.
Posted by: Bernard Davis | Apr 18 2024 23:31 utc | 43
Republicofscotland | Apr 18 2024 18:35 utc | 26
“There was a secret attempt to hire my engineer behind my back by cybersecurity officers,” he said, adding, “They were trying to persuade him to use certain open-source tools that he would then integrate into Telegram’s code that, in my understanding, would serve as backdoors.”
Considering the xz-utils backdoor that almost found its way into the major releases of multiple Linux distributions a few weeks ago, I wish his engineer would do all of us IT guys a favor and spill some beans. We could certainly use the help rooting out supply chain attacks.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen | Apr 18 2024 23:37 utc | 44
Posted by: Neal | Apr 18 2024 15:08 utc | 2
Not sure how much of the Ukrainian farmland is owned by western corporations but as Ukraine will be defeated and Russia will be calling the shots over that farmland then I hope the bean counters at those corporations have made allowance for a 100% loss on the investments.
Any western corporation investing into a region such as Ukraine without comprehensive (possibly undisclosed) insurance from the Western taxpayer is led by suckers.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Apr 19 2024 0:31 utc | 45
RT today --
Germany urges more ‘Patriots’ for Ukraine
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called on other NATO members to contribute air defenses to Kiev."
Old Nazis and Neo-Nazis. Neither has any shame about their sickening alliance. Just good old teamwork.
Posted by: Elmagnostic | Apr 19 2024 0:45 utc | 46
The $60B for Ukraine seems a go in the US Congress.
Mike Johnson went to Mar a Lago last week to kiss the Trump ring. Seems like Trump wants to avoid being charged with 'losing Ukraine.'
There is some expensive shopping going around the Western World to avoid that label.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Apr 19 2024 1:00 utc | 47
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Apr 18 2024 21:09 utc | 33
Lol! Amusing observations. Following up on this trend soon we gonna have a Western political leader whom is an outright dwarf dressed as a clown giving speeches standing on a stool.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Apr 19 2024 1:05 utc | 48
Dnipro
https://t.me/CyberspecNews/51125
Russian Armed Forces strike Dnipro airportIn the evening, footage emerged of a Russian Armed Forces strike on the Dnipro airfield, with reports of explosions in the area coming in earlier in the day. Over the past two years, this facility has repeatedly become a target of attacks, but today's raid was clearly the most effective.
▪️Two missiles with cluster warheads hit the parking areas in the western part of the airfield, where three MiG-29 fighters were located. Part of the submunitions exploded in close proximity to the aircraft, and they most likely sustained serious shrapnel damage.
Coordinates: 48.3591581, 35.0797514
48.3590024, 35.0823327▪️Another missile hit a warehouse near the parking areas, where equipment was stored. A fire broke out at the impact site.
Coordinates: 48.3617684, 35.0853012▪️Also, to the east on the left bank of the Dnipro River, Russian forces struck the position area of an S-300 air defense system: one launcher and the combat control cabin were destroyed, and the target illumination and guidance radar was damaged.
Coordinates: 48.3486111, 35.1950000All targets were located 90 km from the front line, and in each case, a drone was present overhead. This is an absolute record for this type of strike with aerial visual objective control since the start of the SMO.
This episode is another testament to the growing fire, reconnaissance, and organizational capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces.
For the opponent, the loss of three aircraft and another air defense system is a very tangible loss, especially against the backdrop of previous effective Russian attacks.
Another post is of family mourning loss of their brother aviator, so hit us (somewhat) confirmed.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 19 2024 2:55 utc | 49
Post 35 states: “ the US is sending $60 billion in credit for Ukraine. In exchange, Zelensky has promised to 'capture' another 300k people, who will be used in a counter-offensive before the US election.
That is $2-3k per Ukrainian, less than the price of an artillery shell.”
60 billion divided by 300 thousand is 200 thousand. Still less than the price of an American artillery shell, especially with no bid contracts. :^)
Posted by: Butte Bill | Apr 19 2024 3:03 utc | 50
The Ukraine has become a complete insane asylum, just like Trans'America and Misery'ael. The Ukraine Verkhovna Rada is more like a Viz Comics free-for-all, with the Johnny Fartypants's, Buster Gonadses, and no shortage of Fat (and sometimes hot) Slags making the decisions on running the country into oblivion. Deez nutz keep spouting preposterous lies that only a relative few insane'oes believe as they are now cruising in 'believe our own absurd bullsh't' mode. If Charles Dickens were alive today, he would likely move to Ukraine to get some sensational material for five new volumes, starting with 'Bleak Country'. What is sad, is these daft c'nts continue to sit around and make up absurd lies for the American and European 'free press', while doing nothing constructive to save their remaining population from complete annihilation. They seem oblivious that their people are being decimated.
Posted by: Áobh Ó'Sheachnasaigh | Apr 19 2024 3:15 utc | 51
Don’t need an account to view:
Australian cardboard drones. Value $3500. Speed, 60km; distance, 120km; load, 3kms.
Flimsy, but in quantity, can get the job done of overcoming AD and inflicting a bit of damage.
https://t.me/AussieCossack/15929
———
The Russians are having a bit too much fun here, mocking NATO propaganda.
View without an account:
https://t.me/AussieCossack/15917
The chips (stolen from Ukrainian washing machines) will fly… as robots, drones and arty….
_____
Ukraine needs more…
In fact, be like Denmark, and give everything you have… says Stolenbug.
(No account needed)
https://t.me/AussieCossack/15886
____
200 Aussie pollies and ex-pollies (Little Big nobodies) - that aussies have themselves mostly never or hardly ever heard of - have been banned from entering Russia. Apart from the indignation that Russia is presumptuous about saying where aussie pollies can traipse, they themselves nor anyone else will care.
——-
Update on Russell texas Bentley. From his wife
Today is the 10th day since Russell disappeared. To this day, I do not know his whereabouts.
Honoring а heartfelt appeal, I am publishing an address of Texas’ comrade in arms Andrey, call sign “Buryat”, regarding what happened to Russell.
Greetings to you, guys of the 5th tank brigade. I am Andey Buryat, my call sign is “Buryat”. I am from Buryatia. Anyway, here’s the deal. Currently you've got my dude locked up there. His call sign is "Texas". Do not commit sin. Let this dude go. God forbid he loses a single hair, I won't fucking let you live in peace. I'll fucking make you miserable. I'm from Wagner (PMC) myself, dudes. And keep in mind, there are plenty of Wagners in Buryatia. We'll make your life miserable should he lose a single hair. Anyway, don’t commit sin. Fuck, that's my dude. Just let him go the easy way, that's all.
——
Russians with attitude telegram
A horrific video is circulating online. It features a man speaking in Turkish with an Arabic accent, talking about the arrival of 10 girls from Ukraine. He promises two of them, "the most beautiful" ones, to a man named Abu Jaffar
The video shows the passports of Ukrainian women who appear to have been sold as sex slaves to foreign countries, and a girl kneeling in the human trafficker's room.
Users have noted that the accent of the speaker seems similar to that of residents of Aleppo Province. It is likely that he is a mercenary with the "Syrian National Army", an auxiliary force of the Turkish Armed Forces.
https://t.me/RWApodcast/1222
[access no account nec]
~~~
>… Missile Attacks by the Russian Armed Forces on the Aviatorskoye Air Base in the Dnepropetrovsk region.
Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29s were hit by cluster munitions; the extent of their damage is not clear, but the S-300PS position area covering the Air Base was completely destroyed.
>…FAB attack. A pipeline exploded in the Charkow region: A huge pillar of flame is nearby, Asphalt is melting. People report that the column of flame is about 70 meters, and the asphalt is melting within a radius of 40 meters.
>…Towards Zaporozhye. Crews of 122 mm Howitzers D-30 of the Crimean paratroopers disrupted the night rotation of the infantry of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of the settlement of Verbovoe.
>… Russian Aircraft destroyed the temporary deployment point of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (formerly “Azov” - banned in the Russian Federation) in Borovaya, Kharkov region.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 19 2024 3:51 utc | 52
Tu-22M3 bomber crashed on the territory of the Krasnogvardei district in Stavropol, there were no casualties or damage, the pilots ejected - Governor Vladimir Vladimirov.
https://t.me/CyberspecNews/51164
View vid no account nec.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 19 2024 4:39 utc | 53
Russian refineries are coming back online.
https://www.wnd.com/2024/04/russia-restoring-oil-refining-capacity-ukrainian-suicide-drone-strikes/
Posted by: Paranaense | Apr 19 2024 4:40 utc | 54
>… Russian refineries are coming back online.
Ukraine power plants, hit in retaliation. Are not.
Ukraine requested emergency electricity from Europe today.
Ukraine is increasingly that “friend” in need who is always skint and on the bludge.
After Ukraine burns thru Germany’s next lot of Patriots, be interesting to see how many friends Ukraine still has…
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 19 2024 5:04 utc | 55
At the start of World War 2 (and indeed long before that) there was much debate about aerial bombing and the supposed rules and conditions to be observed by belligerents. There were objections, both private and public, in Britain to the idea of targeting (a) enemy civilians and (b) enemy private property. The idea that a British Government would limit its options by banning either is ludicrous to anyone with the faintest knowledge of British imperial history. These quaint notions (sentimental relics from a bygone age) never quite went away during the war, but Hamburg, Dresden etc show how little they counted when push came to shove.
Posted by: Bernard Davis | Apr 18 2024 23:31 utc | 43
There was a famous speech by the Minister for Air in Parliament in early 1940 in response to a suggestion by Churchillians that Britain should use incendiaries to burn down the Black Forest (as crazy an idea as any of Churchill's wheezes): "Are you aware that it is private property? Why, you will be asking me to bomb Essen next!"
The actual reason for the bombing truce on both sides was that both sides were afraid of the other's bombers, and particularly of the use of poison gas from bombers. Once it became clear that bombs were less effective against cities than had been thought, both sides went ahead with gusto until eventually the British and Americans developed bomber forces which could actually do the kind of damage which had been expected in 1939 -- of course by then the Germans and Japanese had essentially no air forces so the Allies could bomb whatever they liked.
Sort of like what's happening in Ukraine at the moment. As for Iran-Israel, we'll have to see what happens. I'm rather antsy.
Posted by: MFB | Apr 19 2024 6:01 utc | 56
After Ukraine burns thru Germany’s next lot of Patriots, be interesting to see how many friends Ukraine still has…
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 19 2024 5:04 utc | 55
Israel wants to siphon off all the value it can by selling its own AD systems to Germany, hence Strack-Zimmermann‘s absurdly conspicuous flying visit to Israel way back in, wait for it, April 2022. I’d wager this was to haggle over her Big Guy commission on whatever sales she could engineer, not the sort of conversation one would want overheard, although things might now have degenerated to the point that such precautions are no longer necessary.
The squalid alacrity of her visit suggests neither side could contain their shit.
https://www.dw.com/en/will-germany-spend-big-on-an-israeli-missile-defense-shield/a-61291987
Posted by: anon | Apr 19 2024 6:31 utc | 57
📋🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Two Majors #Report #Summary for the Morning of 19 April 2024; pub. 06:56📍🎯 The RFAF conducted a combined strike on enemy rear facilities at night. In the first half of the night, enemy air defence systems and targets were destroyed by the Geran UAV. At 05:00, missiles launched from strategic Tu-95ms entered the airspace of #Ukraine. Multiple explosions were heard in #Dnepropetrovsk, #Pavlograd, #Odessa, #KrivoyRog, #Poltava and #Kharkov regions. Yesterday it also became known that as a result of the strike on the #Dnepropetrovsk airfield, the RFAF destroyed three MiG-29s with cluster munitions. The presence of a Russian UAV conducting objective control over an enemy airfield at the moment of impact was indicative.
🔹In the #Kherson direction, the AFU maintains a presence on our shore in #Krynki and at the #Antonovsky Bridge. The day before yesterday, the AFU replenished their manpower with a small landing force. There are mutual attacks, enemy drones still pose a serious threat. In addition, the AFU regularly fire at civilians. Yesterday, as a result of an enemy strike on #Alyoshki, a civilian received shrapnel wounds.
🔹On the #Zaporozhye front, there are battles in #Rabotino, they report the advance of our troops northwest of #Verbovoye. The enemy has a lot of drones with night cameras. Baba Yaga hexacopters and FPV have become one of the AFU main means of hitting in the direction. The use of Israeli cluster mortar mines M971 caliber 120 mm by the AFU is reported. In the afternoon, a Ukrainian drone was shot down over the #ZNPP. Attacks on the nuclear facility have become permanent.
🔹In the #SouthDonetsk direction (southwest of #Avdeyevka}, the RFAF are advancing in the south of #Krasnogorovka, our artillery and aviation are working closely. Our troops are already operating north of the railway tracks.
🔹Northwest of #Avdeyevka, the Russian Army is trying to cover #Novokalinovo. The significant advance of our troops at #Ocheretino was the reason for discussions in the Ukrainian segment of social networks.
🔹At #ChasovYar, fierce fighting is ongoing, the line of contact for the day without significant changes. The urban development in which the enemy is settled is constantly being hit by FABs with UMPC.
🛡The governor of #Sevastopol announced in the morning that an air target had been destroyed over the sea area at a great distance from the city.
💥Over the #Belgorod region, 25 air targets were shot down closer to midnight on approach to #Belgorod, damage to residential buildings and fires on the ground. Shelling of the border areas of the region continues, the enemy strikes with drones.
💥On the #DPR's peaceful population, the enemy fired 133 rounds of ammunition, 11 civilians were wounded, including a girl born in 2019. The enemy fired at #Gorlovka from the HIMARS MLRS, with M-31 missiles (fragmentation striking part).
🎬 Bombers of the RF Aerospace Forces iron #ChasovYar with FABs of different calibers. Beautiful…
https://t.me/two_majors/22572
Posted by: Down South | Apr 19 2024 6:34 utc | 58
⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Frontline #Summary for the Morning of 18 April 2024; pub. 08:08⚡️🔵On the #Zaporozhye Front, northwest of #Verbovoye, positional battles are taking place. The AFU is trying to slow down the Russian advance and prevent them from reaching the eastern outskirts of #Rabotino. In #Rabotino itself, the RFAF are conducting assault operations, there are ⭐️small advances inside the settlement. Both sides are actively using long range weapons. (Fig. 1)
🔵On the #Donetsk Front, in #Novomikhaylovka, the RFAF are knocking out the remnants of the AFU garrison from the village. In #Georgiyevka, fighting continues.
🟡In #Krasnogorovka, the RFAF, supported by aircraft and artillery, attacked the town. As a result of which the Russian forces managed to ⭐️advance in the town.
🟡In the area of #Pobeda, there are oncoming battles. There are ⭐️advances south of #Pervomayskoye, towards #Nevelskoye, where there are still AFU positions in the fields. Apparently, the AFU fighters in this pocket will soon be cut off from the supply of provisions and ammunition, after which there is little choice: annihilation or capture.
🟡In the area of #Netaylovo and #Umanskoye, there are oncoming battles. The RFAF are trying to open up the enemy defences on this section of the front.
🟡In the area of #Semyonovka and #Berdychi, there are no significant changes, fierce fighting continues.
🟡But to the north of #Berdychi, the RFAF continues to ⭐️break through to the outskirts of #Novobakhmutovka and #Ochertino, which further aggravates the already difficult situation of the AFU garrison in #Semyonovka and #Berdychi. (Fig. 2)🔵In the #ChasovYar Direction, counter fighting continues in the eastern suburbs of #ChasovYar. The AFU is pulling up reserves here. In the area of #Bogdanovka there are also oncoming battles. The frontline has not changed significantly, but the Russian Aerospace Forces and artillery ⭐️are pounding the AFU positions in the town round the clock, which may affect the quality of defence and, above all, the morale of Ukrainian troops. (Fig. 3)
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/94871
Posted by: Down South | Apr 19 2024 6:37 utc | 59
From the FT Today : https://www.ft.com/content/d0d50fe0-ab00-4f09-8b86-51c0bc476edb Hedge fund pushes for power firm to be excluded from Ukraine debt deal
Paywalled so I will extract only a short quote - "The group is also advocating separate treatment for Ukrenergo because its bond’s next interest payment in effect does not fall until May next year, long after the deadline for a sovereign restructuring, the people said...Holders of Ukraine’s sovereign bonds have formed a committee as Ukraine has said it plans to secure a restructuring by the middle of this year, in time to replace the two-year moratorium that expires in August. The IMF has said a debt deal is needed to help finance Kyiv in the next few years....Ukraine’s bonds are trading at about 25-30 cents on the dollar. The Ukrenergo bond has risen from 18 cents on the dollar a year ago to about 36 cents."
We don't often read about the debt position of Ukraine, but this snippet highlights that (a) in August the soveriegn debt moritorum expires - and who holds that debt? Also there are efforts made to equate private sector debt - which is also in default - to sovereign debt. No doubt some of this debt will be asset backed but for its holders I do hope the collateral is located in western Ukraine. However we do see a mini financial crisis building up here in the western financial system.
There is about $100B of sovereign debt of which $20B is up in September, and an unknown value of private debt. The markets are trading this at c 25c on the $, based no doubt on some sort of stalemate peace in the future. What will this look like in the event of a Russian victory, where it takes physical possession of all those assets - including Blackrock's farmland? And you wonder why peace is not breaking out? And also why various interests are so keen to steal Russia's frozen assets. The big picture of trust in the US$D and its dominance is not so important as the next quarterly earnings report? Losses need to be made good somehow. I suggest the $300B will handily cover the west's financial losses.
And even if Ukraine was able to manage a stable peace, it will spend most of the next 50 years paying off its creditors having lost its richest areas and much of its natural resources, not to mention up to half the population. The old saying come to mind about playing poker - if you sit at the game and cannot see the patsy, it usually means it is you. Well Ukraine tried to sup at the Western table and it has led them to total catastrophe.
Posted by: marcjf | Apr 19 2024 7:00 utc | 60
I am baffled that some of you would consider Russia's losses, such as confiscation of its assets to buy weapons for killing Russians, as victories. Seems like mental gymnastics.
Posted by: Ambre | Apr 19 2024 7:01 utc | 61
… I suggest the $300B will handily cover the west's financial losses. …
Posted by: marcjf | Apr 19 2024 7:00 utc | 60
In a sense but confiscation (or imposing prejudicial conditions / endless withholding) leads naturally to RF considering those funds a write off and moving on unburdened. Those contested funds are nothing when weighed against what remains of Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, especially Odessa, and cannot serve as credible leverage in that calculation, which seems to be part of the intent.
If it’s a question of legality, Russia could make a gift of those funds to deserving parties and leave the sticky fingered to explain themselves to the new beneficiaries.
Posted by: anon2020 | Apr 19 2024 7:23 utc | 62
Posted by: Ambre | Apr 19 2024 7:01 utc | 61
Where was victory mentioned?
I don't think #60 was saying that (some implied victory in the comment), in fact I thought they were explicitly noting the west as having to resort to straight thieving to cover their losses, all while what may be left of ukr will still carry the burdens of being played, hard.
Posted by: knighthawk | Apr 19 2024 7:26 utc | 63
Forced to fight by the #Ukranian regime this 🇺🇦 #POW surrendered at the very first opportunity W help of #Russian droneI had no chance: I just simply waved my hands at the drone in order to at least get captured and survive. A drone escorted me to Russian positions.
https://twitter.com/ArthurM40330824/status/1781220334928060578
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 19 2024 7:30 utc | 64
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 19 2024 7:30 utc | 64
Interesting, probably safer then volga in that nobody could listen to the convo.
Posted by: knighthawk | Apr 19 2024 7:36 utc | 65
@Melaleuca #52
Russell’s wife Lyudmila (April 15, 2024):
I, Lyudmila Nikolayevna Bentley, have received reliable and confirmed information about the circumstances of the “disappearance” of my husband, Russell Bonner Bentley, call sign “Texas.”Using the right of a journalist not to disclose the source of information (based on Article 41 of the Russian Federation Law on Mass Media), I cannot name it. But the information is ironclad and does not raise any doubts.
My husband was taken and continues to be illegally detained by the military, tankmen from the 5th Brigade. Russell was harshly detained on April 8, 2024, between approximately 16:20 and 17:00 in the Avtobaza area in the Petrovskiy district of Donetsk.
I CALL ON EVERYONE to do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to save my husband, our “Texas”: from appeals to the Office of the Head of the DPR, to the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, to the leadership of the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff to the top officials in the Investigative Committee, the FSB, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
I ask all Russell’s friends, all people who care to do everything to save my husband, a friend of Donbass and Russia.
Perhaps we have very little time.
The 5th Tank Brigade in headquartered in Ulan-Ude, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Buryatia.
Given that 11 days later his wife still hasn’t been allowed to talk to him, it’s possible that he’s dead. I hope I’m wrong.
Posted by: S | Apr 19 2024 8:38 utc | 66
"According to Zero Hedge, the vast majority of Ukraine’s farm land has been sold to foreign buyers."
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Apr 18 2024 14:42 utc | 1
I told the Ukrainians about this and asked them - what are you dying for?! They 're in response ...They just banned me.
Posted by: Виктор | Apr 19 2024 8:47 utc | 67
Foreign Affairs article on the Istanbul Agreement:
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/talks-could-have-ended-war-ukraine
Quote from the article:
Yet days after the invasion began, Moscow began probing to find grounds for a compromise. [] Zelensky, as he had before the war, voiced an immediate interest in a personal meeting with Putin. Though he refused to talk directly with Zelensky, Putin did appoint a negotiating team. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko played the part of mediator.
The talks began on February 28 at one of Lukashenko’s spacious countryside residences near the village of Liaskavichy, about 30 miles from the Belarusian-Ukrainian border. The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Davyd Arakhamia, the parliamentary leader of Zelensky’s political party, and included Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, and other senior officials. The Russian delegation was led by Vladimir Medinsky, a senior adviser to the Russian president who had earlier served as culture minister. It also included deputy ministers of defense and foreign affairs, among others.
At the first meeting, the Russians presented a set of harsh conditions, effectively demanding Ukraine’s capitulation. This was a nonstarter. But as Moscow’s position on the battlefield continued to deteriorate, its positions at the negotiating table became less demanding. So on March 3 and March 7, the parties held a second and third round of talks, this time in Kamyanyuki, Belarus, just across the border from Poland. The Ukrainian delegation presented demands of their own: an immediate cease-fire and the establishment of humanitarian corridors that would allow civilians to safely leave the war zone. It was during the third round of talks that the Russians and the Ukrainians appear to have examined drafts for the first time. According to Medinsky, these were Russian drafts, which Medinsky’s delegation brought from Moscow and which probably reflected Moscow’s insistence on Ukraine’s neutral status.
At this point, in-person meetings broke up for nearly three weeks, although the delegations continued to meet via Zoom.
Posted by: Wim | Apr 19 2024 8:57 utc | 68
British media is ramping up hype about a supposed assassination attempt on Zelensky.
He has become a liability to the FUKUS. Either he will get whacked for real or simply disappear into Dubai or Miami villa after some face surgery.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 19 2024 9:08 utc | 69
Our source in the OP said that the Office of the President sent a delegation to the UAE to negotiate with the telegram administration, but Durov refused to meet and discuss blocking political channels.Bankova is now deciding how to influence telegram so that Ukraine’s position is accepted, primarily by blocking the Resident and Legitimny channels.
https://t.me/rezident_ua/22493
Our source in the OP said that the Office of the President instructed Vice Prime Minister Mikhail Fedorov to develop formats for limited blocking of telegrams in Ukraine, to put pressure on Durov, who refused to negotiate with our delegation.Bankova wants to use the information component to start trading, for this a bill will be adopted and conditions will be set for the telegram administration: blocking political channels or violating the jurisdiction of Ukraine.
Technologists from the Office of the President are in a hurry to resolve the issue of closing the Resident and Legitimate channels to the point of a vacuum of legitimacy in order to completely control the country’s information landscape.
https://t.me/rezident_ua/22503
Posted by: Down South | Apr 19 2024 9:18 utc | 70
@ unimperator | Apr 19 2024 9:08 utc | 69
Didn't the bum-king claim in a Western interview some months ago he survived five or even ten attempts? What's one more. Even that narrative should be getting stale by now.
Posted by: boneless | Apr 19 2024 9:21 utc | 71
Videos in links
Massive arrival along the Dnieper. The arrival was to a building in which premises had previously been rented out for commercial real estate, but as you know, since the beginning of the war, all such buildings are used not for commerce, but for the army. It was also possible here (to be specified).People live in the other part. It is also possible that the missile did not arrive, but fell after being shot down/hit, and the target was a completely different building. Well, no one will talk about this. And this doesn’t make things any easier for peaceful people. The war will continue, which means they will come more often.
There are civilian casualties due to shrapnel from the explosion that took place this morning.
The Russians lost one of their Tu-22 aircraft. The Ukrainian Armed Forces and Bankovaya immediately shout that they shot down, which is unlikely, too far away. So they are lying as usual. Everyone is inclined to believe that there was a malfunction or that their own air defense was distinguished.
https://t.me/legitimniy/17742
Preliminary cause of the Tu-22M3 crash in the Stavropol Region is the loss of thrust in one of the engines.Two people died. The first was the crew commander, who forcibly ejected the assistant, navigator, and weapons operator. But he remained in the cockpit and steered the bomber away from residential buildings until the last moment. The second crew member was found dead.
There is no threat to the lives of the other two pilots. Regional medics are working with them. In the near future, they will be transported to a military hospital outside the region, according to a statement from Governor Vladimirov.
https://t.me/two_majors/22577
Posted by: Down South | Apr 19 2024 9:29 utc | 72
Posted by: Down South | Apr 19 2024 9:18 utc | 70
Colleagues, Office workers have been preparing to block Telegram for a long time. They are greatly hampered by the fact that the popularity of alternative opinions is growing.
The Ermak/Zarivnaya track is supervised, but it is publicly pumped up by the “little pig” Yurchishin, who has been in Bankova’s pay for a long time and does everything that the office people “tell” him.Close media workers of the OP have already been hinted at developing groups/channels in alternative social networks (Instagram, FB, etc.).
Bankova may use the Chinese version, which the Wall Street Journal wrote about today.
Apple today removed Telegram, WhatsApp, Threads and Signal from the Chinese App Store.
"We have decided to remove these apps from the store in China due to national security," the company said in a statement.
But such “removal” will be easy to circumvent in Ukraine. Just select another country in the settings on your phone (for example, Moldova).
https://t.me/legitimniy/17747
Posted by: Down South | Apr 19 2024 9:33 utc | 73
At the first meeting, the Russians presented a set of harsh conditions, effectively demanding Ukraine’s capitulation. This was a nonstarter. But as Moscow’s position on the battlefield continued to deteriorate, its positions at the negotiating table became less demanding. So on March 3 and March 7, the parties held a second and third round of talks, this time in Kamyanyuki, Belarus, just across the border from Poland. The Ukrainian delegation presented demands of their own: an immediate cease-fire and the establishment of humanitarian corridors that would allow civilians to safely leave the war zone. It was during the third round of talks that the Russians and the Ukrainians appear to have examined drafts for the first time. According to Medinsky, these were Russian drafts, which Medinsky’s delegation brought from Moscow and which probably reflected Moscow’s insistence on Ukraine’s neutral status.
So in essence, Russia did experience serious difficulties at the beginning and its position steadily deteriorated. Let's recall that at the time, the entire pro-Russian crowd was firmly believing Russia was going to smash through Ukrainian defenses. Also, said crowd (led by the Saker) explained profusely that Russia would never again negotiate with the "agreement-incapable" West.
Faced with this inescapable reality, some people continue claiming that it was all planned in advance and that the mysterious 220-IQ geniuses at the Russian general staff have it all precalculated. We lowly mortals are incapable to understand such lofty matters, unless we underwent the full curriculum at the Russian military academy. I should note, however, that it's not guaranteed to be enough ; when bona fide colonels or general like Falichev or Balyuevsky explain frankly the shortcomings, the Martyanov crowd will simply deny they exist because they don't have an Instagram account like your regulary Youtube slut.
It's the same with the TU-22 loss. Losing an irreplaceable plane will surely be considered a "pinprick". You see, the 5D-crowd has already concluded Ukraine has lost. The only people refusing to accept this are, well 1) the USA 2) the collective West 3) Ukraine. But that's a minor detail.
Posted by: Micron | Apr 19 2024 10:12 utc | 74
You see, the 5D-crowd has already concluded Ukraine has lost. The only people refusing to accept this are, well 1) the USA 2) the collective West 3) Ukraine. But that's a minor detail.
Posted by: Micron | Apr 19 2024 10:12 utc | 74
OK, so we can infer from this that you believe Ukraine is winning?
Let’s take a closer look:
1) Ukraine has lost custody of its sovereign gold reserves. Nobody definitively knows where they are or what happened to them, let alone the chances of repatriation.
2) Ukraine’s sovereign bonds are rated as junk, at a level that would make a banana republic blush. Some of this debt matures this year; who’s going to buy any new issuance? At what level of yield? How will the existing bondholders be made whole?
3) Ukraine has lost Crimea, Lugansk and Donetsk and does not have full control of Kherson, Kharkov and Zaporizhzhia. What is your timetable for regaining these?
4) Ukraine’s civic infrastructure is dependent entirely on Western financial life-support. Presumably, in your view, Ukraine “winning” includes this support continuing indefinitely?
5) The territory of Ukraine is wide open to precision missile strikes against key military and industrial nodes.
6) Corruption is rife among politicians and bureaucrats, increasingly resented by the rest of the long-suffering population.
7) Several millions of its mainly younger and productive population have fled, unlikely to willingly return. If Ukraine is “winning” in your view, what is your explanation for this phenomenon?
Yup, sure looks like Ukraine is winning to me...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 19 2024 11:00 utc | 76
Posted by: Micron | Apr 19 2024 10:12 utc | 74
Micron my friend. I’m beginning to think you are nothing more than a troll. I thought you left with your buddy Shadowbanned.
We’ve been over this before: the reason for Russian “difficulty” in the beginning is because their goals were to force Ukraine to sign an agreement promising neutrality. Ukraine, after initial agreement, backed out on Johnson’s promise of Western aid. After that Moscow shored up their lines, withdrawing from Kiev, and took Mariupol.
After that, Western aid to the tune of three times the Russian defense budget infused Ukraine. This led to some modest gains as Russia reconfigured its force structure and shored up its defensive line more. Now Russia has tipped the scales and is advancing.
As for agreements, I cannot speak for the Saker, but Russia has always stated they are open to negotiations and new arrangements, however they have to accept the new realities.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 19 2024 11:02 utc | 77
"Micron my friend. I’m beginning to think you are nothing more than a troll. I thought you left with your buddy Shadowbanned."
Posted by: James M. | Apr 19 2024 11:02 utc | 78
Micron and Sbanned have different perspectives, obviously , contrasting your own.
That's what makes a blog interesting and not an Echo Chamber.
To call someone a 'troll' because they have a unique POV is extremely childish and injures proper discussion.
Grow up!
OK, so we can infer from this that you believe Ukraine is winning?
Let’s take a closer look:
1) Ukraine has lost custody of its sovereign gold reserves. Nobody definitively knows where they are or what happened to them, let alone the chances of repatriation.
2) Ukraine’s sovereign bonds are rated as junk, at a level that would make a banana republic blush. Some of this debt matures this year; who’s going to buy any new issuance? At what level of yield? How will the existing bondholders be made whole?
3) Ukraine has lost Crimea, Lugansk and Donetsk and does not have full control of Kherson, Kharkov and Zaporizhzhia. What is your timetable for regaining these?
4) Ukraine’s civic infrastructure is dependent entirely on Western financial life-support. Presumably, in your view, Ukraine “winning” includes this support continuing indefinitely?
5) The territory of Ukraine is wide open to precision missile strikes against key military and industrial nodes.
6) Corruption is rife among politicians and bureaucrats, increasingly resented by the rest of the long-suffering population.
7) Several millions of its mainly younger and productive population have fled, unlikely to willingly return. If Ukraine is “winning” in your view, what is your explanation for this phenomenon?
Yup, sure looks like Ukraine is winning to me...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 19 2024 11:00 utc | 77
As I have said multiple times : it is not a question of Ukraine winning or losing. Ukraine is not an independent agent or a sovereign country. It is a tool of the US.
The US and the West do not care about Ukraine winning. What they care about is using Ukraine as a forward base and weakening Russia in the process.
So the real question is : is NATOstan winning ? I would posit that the answer verges slightly on yes. As I also have stated several times, NATO and the US have succeeded in bogging Russia down in a two-year long bloody stalemate, without losing more than a few dozens of expendable people (or maybe NATO officers) and at the cost of depleting NATO stocks - which the US doesn't care about, as it simply translates into new profitable contracts for the US MIC.
I will again state two inconvenient facts :
- The US MIC had an exceptional year in 2023 and has cemented its position as the supplier of Europe in an unprecedented fashion
- France has just passed Russia and become number 2 in arms sales. Serbia is buying Rafale ! For god's sake, Serbia !
Just those two facts should make you pause.
Posted by: Micron | Apr 19 2024 11:18 utc | 79
I really do not understand how is Unraine still able to stop Russian attacks.
Posted by: vargas | Apr 19 2024 11:18 utc | 80
From the Interwebs commentariat:
replying to the comment "Real, serious successes on the battlefield, which I understand the Russian army is now carrying out."
Splendid. Let's hears more about them. There is a danger, though: if such victories were overwhelming (if there were a complete conquest of all Ukraine) the war party in Washington might take the news and use it to get the whole of America alarmed and supportive of an escalation.
So it might be wiser to make progress gradually."
-----
Well put reasoning. The other side of this, however, is monkeys will type the Bible given time enough. Time doesn't wait.
Posted by: Elmagnostic | Apr 19 2024 11:23 utc | 81
Micron my friend. I’m beginning to think you are nothing more than a troll. I thought you left with your buddy Shadowbanned.
We’ve been over this before: the reason for Russian “difficulty” in the beginning is because their goals were to force Ukraine to sign an agreement promising neutrality.
It feels sometimes like I'm talking to walls.
I will repeat it again very slowly. 1) the 5D-crowd stated for years that Russia would never anymore sign an agreement with the West because 2) Minsk-I and Minsk-II were total failures and just tools used by the West to covertly rearm Ukraine -> this is an official fact as coming from the mouth of Merkel and Hollande.
Do we all agree here ? Are we on the same page ? Do you agree that Minsk 1 and 2 were grossly misused ?
I we don't agree, then I don't see the point in talking further because we clearly live in separate realities. If we agree, why the heck should Russia sign a new agreement with the same actors which disregarded completely the previous ones, and what reasons would Russia have to believe that, this time, Ukraine and its guarantors would abide by the treaty ?
Ukraine, after initial agreement, backed out on Johnson’s promise of Western aid. After that Moscow shored up their lines, withdrawing from Kiev, and took Mariupol.
To the surprise of exactly no one. I mean, you really believe that after fomenting color revolutions since the 90s and funding elites to the tune of billions of dollars, the US would just say "oops. Fooled. Ok, i'll just write off my 20-years old strategic project because my puppet Zelensky wants to cry uncle." Nobody in its right mind could believe NATO would just give up.
Moscow did not "shore up its lines". Moscow simply hastily withdrew as its forces were hopelessly streched and outnumbered.
After that, Western aid to the tune of three times the Russian defense budget infused Ukraine. This led to some modest gains as Russia reconfigured its force structure and shored up its defensive line more. Now Russia has tipped the scales and is advancing.
I thought Russia was not interested in advancing, but only in attrition ?
Joke aside, Russia is advancing at a minuscule pace. It controls a few strategic points, mainly the Azov sea, but has not conquered a single oblast or regional capital. It's been two years and the Ukrainian army is fending them off with no signs of collapse or operational breakthrough. The Ukrainians are still about 15 km away from Donetsk.
As for agreements, I cannot speak for the Saker, but Russia has always stated they are open to negotiations and new arrangements, however they have to accept the new realities.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 19 2024 11:02 utc | 78
This is particulary naive considering the Minsk-I and II track record. And when I look at the draft agreement of March 22 I don't really have a good feeling, no ironclad guarantees anywhere. Thank god Boris Johnson put an end to it.
Posted by: Micron | Apr 19 2024 11:28 utc | 82
I really do not understand how is Unraine still able to stop Russian attacks.
Posted by: vargas | Apr 19 2024 11:18 utc | 81
A few simple reasons :
1) NATO ISR and real-time intelligence
2) NATO supplies
3) Drones
4) Competent commandment.
Posted by: Micron | Apr 19 2024 11:29 utc | 83
I really do not understand how is Unraine still able to stop Russian attacks.
Posted by: vargas | Apr 19 2024 11:18 utc | 81
Russia is not attacking at all, smo is a police action. Ukros+nato attack. Many would like to see Russia attacking but it's not going to happen as long as the smo remains smo.
Posted by: rk | Apr 19 2024 11:42 utc | 84
The only thing Ukraine has going for it are the FPV drones.
And the occasional high-profile Himars strike, like in Dzankhoi, or the occasional war crime, like on Gorlovka hospital and blood transfusion site.
FPV drones seem to be the largest problem and there are still no solid solutions.
But of course, it cuts both ways. Ukraine as FPVs. Russia has equivalent FPVs, more artillery, more bombs, more missiles, and solid HUMINT around Ukraine.
The ambulances in Belgorod now have anti drone devices.
Nato war criminals focus attacks on ambulances and hospitals. Just like in Gaza.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 19 2024 11:56 utc | 85
Posted by: Micron | Apr 19 2024 11:18 utc | 80
Thank you for replying; for the record I do not share the view of the poster above who dismissed your post as trolling.
Clearly we are not going to agree on everything, but here we go anyway:
The US MIC had an exceptional year in 2023 and has cemented its position as the supplier of Europe in an unprecedented fashion
A record level of invoice generation does not equate to actually delivering cost-effective or functionally-effective weaponry, though if your point here is that the primary aim is to generate revenue rather than military capability then I agree. I actually posted on Andrei M’s blog a couple of weeks ago that I viewed the F-35 as an attempt at “Air Force As A Subscription Service”.
Serbia is buying Rafale ! For god's sake, Serbia !
Well, good luck to Serbia, the Rafale remains to be proven against a peer opponent. Wonder what Serbia didn’t like about the F-35?
So the real question is : is NATOstan winning ? I would posit that the answer verges slightly on yes.
Disagree here, I would posit that the SMO has exposed serious stresses and strains within NATO, particularly among the European members and it is in Russia’s distinct interests to prolong things to the point where these stresses and strains develop into structural cracks. Naming no names we can also point to a US political faction that is demonstrating increasing exasperation with the European NATO membership. Again time is on Russia’s side here. In its current format NATO is too flabby, too unwieldy and too riven with national domestic political considerations to be effective. Witness the recent French shilly-shallying by your near-namesake.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 19 2024 11:56 utc | 86
British media is ramping up hype about a supposed assassination attempt on Zelensky.
He has become a liability to the FUKUS. Either he will get whacked for real or simply disappear into Dubai or Miami villa after some face surgery.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 19 2024 9:08 utc | 69
He’s losing so becoming very unstable and so difficult to control.
They’ll make him a land owner sooner rather than later.
Posted by: PalmaSailor | Apr 19 2024 12:12 utc | 87
Posted by: Micron | Apr 19 2024 11:28 utc | 83
>Joke aside, Russia is advancing at a minuscule pace. It controls a few strategic points, mainly the Azov sea, but has not conquered a single oblast or regional capital. It's been two years and the Ukrainian army is fending them off with no signs of collapse or operational breakthrough. The Ukrainians are still about 15 km away from Donetsk.
Virginia front of American Civil War and Western Front of WWI were also stationary but attrition was real, though only evident to military leaders, since information about casualties was kept secret, same as in this Ukraine Russia war.
All wars are wars of attrition UNLESS there is a good reason to gain territory. Typically, that reason is vital natural resources (oil for the Germans in WWII) or industrial facilities or transport hubs (Moscow rail junctions for Russians in WWII). Otherwise, attacking is expensive so you only attack enough to force the enemy to show up and be subjected to attrition.
This is most obvious in air, sea and steppe horsemen wars, where territory is essentially unlimited and of no value. You don't fight a naval, air or steppe cavalry battle to gain a small amount of air, sea or steppe territory, you fight to destroy the enemy's forces. After destroying those forces, you gain ALL the territory. Same principle applies to non steppe horsemen land wars where no vital natural resources or industry or transport hubs. Because Ukraine is supplied by the west and Russia is supplied from deep inside Russia, neither desperately needs resources inside Ukraine, so position of the front line is strictly about managing attrition and shaping public opinion.
Russia moves forward mainly because Ukraine hates Russia to move forwards, and therefore resists strongly, causing attrition. From a strictly military point of view, it would be better for Russia to stay in place or even move backwards, provided Ukraine played into Russia's hands by attacking against strong Russian defenses and provided there weren't so many idiots like you who think territory matters. Because of these idiots, Russia benefits from moving forwards slightly. But the real war is the attritional one, and it is slow, given the size of Ukraine and its NATO backers.
As for no signs of Ukrainian collapse, you must be living under a rock. It's possible to discount all public statements by Ukrainian military that they are facing problems as a trap, trying to lure Russia into attacking into an ambush (maskirovka). But that new Ukrainian mobilization law and the resistance of Ukrainian men to conscription cannot possibly be maskirovka. Warnings everywhere about Ukrainian budget problems also cannot be written off as maskirovka. Nor the plans to shut down Telegram access in Ukraine. Nor the cancelled Ukrainian election and refusal of Zelensky to follow the constitution and hand control to the legislature on May 20 when his term expires. Etc, etc.
Posted by: anonposter | Apr 19 2024 12:14 utc | 88
To call someone a 'troll' because they have a unique POV is extremely childish and injures proper discussion.
Grow up!
Posted by: canuck | Apr 19 2024 11:12 utc | 79
I call someone trolling who doesn’t take facts into consideration, or offer a substantive counterargument or rebuttal. Micron repeats the same argument over and over and doesn’t engage in substantive debate, that is the definition of trolling. The point of a forum is to facilitate discussion, the free flow of ideas.
I posit a certain point of view this is true, and I challenge posters who don’t agree with me. I do this because I want to hear their arguments. I am not a rah rah Russia cheerleader, but it is my belief, my argument, that Russia will win this war. This is based on my years of research, study, and work in the broad field of international relations.
If there’s a counterargument, I’d love to hear it. If it’s not good, I’ll dismantle it. If it is good I’ll consider it. Mock or dismiss me all you want, but my arguments are going to be couched in logic and empiricism, as much as I am able to. I’m a busy man, and I don’t suffer fools lightly., so stupid arguments are going to get the treatment they deserve.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 19 2024 12:24 utc | 89
Mariupol short documentary
This is a 30 min. narration of the rebuilding of Mariupol, starting around March, 2022 and ending a month or so ago. The guy is a resident, shows how Mariupol is being rebuilt, talks us through it but not too much, gives a little info on his own life during the early days, overall very impressive, encouraging and it reveals the essence of Russian spirit and action.
bottom line, if other cities and areas of Ukraine follow Mariupol's path Ukraine will be built back better, Russian style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYEBVGj51nk
Posted by: migueljose | Apr 19 2024 12:29 utc | 90
This is particulary naive considering the Minsk-I and II track record. And when I look at the draft agreement of March 22 I don't really have a good feeling, no ironclad guarantees anywhere. Thank god Boris Johnson put an end to it.
Posted by: Micron | Apr 19 2024 11:28 utc | 83
There are no “ironclad “ guarantees or agreements in international relations. Treaties are only enforceable if/when participants enforce them, even then there are always exceptions. Look at history for a guide to this. This is the reason NATO will fail apart, since Article V can never be enforced.
Russia knows this, which is why they went to war in the first place. The difference between Minsk and now should be obvious, even to you. There will be an agreement at the end of this war, however I believe Russia will follow their own dictum доверяй, но проверяй with the RuAF as guarantor.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 19 2024 12:33 utc | 91
Posted by: anonposter | Apr 19 2024 12:14 utc | 89
People are trying to leave Ukraine by the tens of thousands. One scheme is to buy a cheap car, drive to the border, leave it there and make a run for it through a forest.
We heard US just gave Zelensky $60 billion credit in exchange for another 300k people to be mobilized. US also invested $300 million to improve border protection of Ukraine's western borders. Strange how they have no money to protect the border with Mexico.
Sure seems like a super solid foundation for the army and state.
We could argue at present pace a collapse is coming.
The main thing slowing, or hiding it is the influx of Nato drone operators and mercenaries. A man from the street - any man from the street - can sit in a trench as a placeholder.
When fire support and FPV drones are removed, the placeholders become just speed bumps.
All this requires dissecting defensive lines methodically and small sections, which take time. Look at Ocheretyne. They are in SE part - now Novokalinove is mostly cut off, but still needs to be cleared from placeholders who now have no fire or drone support. Novobakhmutovka is in a semi pincer, that needs to be clear.
After those are cleared, the fire support needs to be moved closer, and everything set up, the next line of defense need to be reconned, bombed and then planned an assault. That is why things are slow, and just the way it is.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 19 2024 12:36 utc | 92
Moscow did not "shore up its lines". Moscow simply hastily withdrew as its forces were hopelessly streched and outnumbered.
Posted by: Micron | Apr 19 2024 11:28 utc | 83
What do you think “shore up its lines” means Micron? Yes, they were overextended, which is why they withdrew. They did not retreat. You see how hard Ukraine had it after that.
I thought Russia was not interested in advancing, but only in attrition ?
You advance after you attrite, that’s how warfare works usually.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 19 2024 12:41 utc | 93
To the surprise of exactly no one. I mean, you really believe that after fomenting color revolutions since the 90s and funding elites to the tune of billions of dollars, the US would just say "oops. Fooled. Ok, i'll just write off my 20-years old strategic project
Posted by: Micron | Apr 19 2024 11:28 utc | 83
Well prepare to be very surprised Micron. It’s one thing to fund a “color revolution” from afar, quite another to support a war against a nuclear great power.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 19 2024 12:45 utc | 94
"I call someone trolling who doesn’t take facts into consideration, or offer a substantive counterargument or rebuttal. Micron repeats the same argument over and over and doesn’t engage in substantive debate, that is the definition of trolling. The point of a forum is to facilitate discussion, the free flow of ideas."
Posted by: James M. | Apr 19 2024 12:33 utc | 92
You poison the discussion with personal criticism rather than argue the points rationally and civilly.
I would conjecture this nastiness you ubiquitously project stems from some internal emotional discomfort: girls don't like you? You have an inferiority complex?
Whatever, no one cares about your inner turmoil other than you [perhaps that's the problem? editor]- keep it to yourself, attempt to be civil and display some dignity.
Funny, so many people have trolls living rent free in their heads.
It would appear from released videos that FPV drones make Russian armour go boom just as quick as NATO armour goes boom. Russia is winning, one fried armour column at a time. Big influx of money for toys, bigger badder toys...... Russia sure has it covered. Or so it's said....we shall see. I'm thinking 300k times the average weight 140kg (meat grinder maths) I hear they are hungry so they don't weigh as much, times 1k dead per day, minus the odd deserter divided by four, to the power of seven, plus the six hurt guys that went back to fight.....yep she'll be all wrapped by......taking all bets....
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Apr 19 2024 12:51 utc | 96
The critical matter is this: Ukraine is defeated and moving towards demographic extinction. The US/EU can command this even if Zelensky is killed. Pick a new puppet, bribe or threaten the Rada, continue the war with no regard for Ukraine lives or future. Since they control Western media, no one will notice or care.
The danger is that Russia can lose, regardless of Ukraine doom. I have strongly felt that there has never been a 'moderate' or 'negotiated' settlement of this conflict. I am somewhat relieved to hear Russia speak of unconditional surrender as a realization because the West prevents any alternative. Sadly, the only thing that matters is the deaths of Ukraine males under 60 because there is no other way to stop the war, horrific as that sounds. Can Russia kill 2 - 3 million of these?
The only diversion here would be truly mass surrenders or violent rebellion against conscription and Ukrainians aren't capable of either, unfortunately.
Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 19 2024 12:57 utc | 97
Posted by: anonposter | Apr 19 2024 12:14 utc | 89
Exactly my thoughts.
Russia don’t need to bother with territorial gain at this point, all they need to do is to bait UKRNATO to keep throwing resource into the grinder
From the perspective it’s better to keep the SMO to the east because that way they have to get their resources to the front across a lot of territory which exhausts still more resources.
When it’s all done they can just walk to Kiev and take it.
Posted by: PalmaSailor | Apr 19 2024 12:59 utc | 98
@anonposter #89 (emphasis mine):
From a strictly military point of view, it would be better for Russia to stay in place or even move backwards, provided Ukraine played into Russia's hands by attacking against strong Russian defenses and provided there weren't so many idiots like you who think territory matters. Because of these idiots, Russia benefits from moving forwards slightly.
This is a new height of lunacy! Turns out, it’s better for Russia to retreat, betraying all the people who believed in Russia, just so that anonposter from the Church of Martyanov feels “right.” Thank God there are “idiots” who think Russia shouldn’t retreat.
Posted by: S | Apr 19 2024 13:00 utc | 99
Three Ukrainians swam across the Dnieper and surrendered.
Love the smell of collapse in the morning.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 19 2024 13:01 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
According to Zero Hedge, the vast majority of Ukraine’s farm land has been sold to foreign buyers.
Given that the Ukrainian Government is despotic and authoritarian, and can “ disappear”whomsoever it wants, (arrest, send to the front, murder or whatever), it follows that Government can sell anything in Ukraine, regardless of the legal owner.
The scumbags from the West, who have literally bought Ukraine do not want to lose their “investment” and are shovelling money to U.S. (and other), politicians to make sure that they don’t, which necessitates keeping the war going.
The mission of any NATO troops is to take posession of what the West has bought and hold it. Illumination will come from watching where NATO goes.
Given that the corrupt selling of Ukraine by its politicians constitutes treason, there is a real risk to those politicians that they will experience a summary justice which may prove a prolonged and painful experience; they should leave while they can.
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Apr 18 2024 14:42 utc | 1