Posted by: kupkee | Sep 29 2024 13:37 utc | 2
Ki
Link(s)?

Posted by: Mary | Sep 29 2024 13:41 utc | 4

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Ukrainian UAV attack on Russian regions
Last night, Ukrainian forces carried out another massive drone strike. Russia’s air defense forces were active in seven regions of the country, intercepting 125 UAVs.
▪️The largest group of 67 drones was destroyed in the airspace of the Volgograd Region. Several explosions were recorded in the Kotlubani area, where the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU) arsenal of the Russian Defense Ministry is located. According to available information, there were no casualties and no serious damage to the facility.
❗️Despite claims by the enemy’s media resources about the destruction of a railway train during the raid, data from fire monitoring services indicates no fires in the area of the railway line located on the territory of the arsenal and nearby settlements.
The force of the explosions recorded in this area also does not fit the AFU’s version – the destruction of a train with, as stated, artillery ammunition would have caused much more extensive damage to the facility.
▪️In the Rostov Region, 17 UAVs attacked civilian infrastructure facilities in the Tsimlyansk District. Local residents reported partial power outages in both the eponymous settlement and the neighboring Volgodonsk. So far, there have been no reports of damage to power facilities in the region.
▪️In the Voronezh Region, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed 17 air targets. One of the AFU drones hit a multi-story building in the regional capital. A fire broke out on the upper floors, affecting several apartments, but the residents were evacuated in time – there were no casualties.
▪️Air defense forces also repelled the enemy’s attack on the Belgorod Region, intercepting 18 air targets. In the Bryansk and Kursk Regions and the Krasnodar Territory, one AFU drone each was destroyed, and three more were shot down over the waters of the Sea of Azov. There were no casualties in any of these cases.

https://t.me/rybar_in_english/18054

Posted by: Down South | Sep 29 2024 13:51 utc | 6

Ukraine Weekly Update, 27th Sept 2024: May be useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-22d

Posted by: Dr. Rob Campbell | Sep 29 2024 13:55 utc | 8

⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Two Majors #Summary Overview for the Morn of 29 Sep 2024; 09:20 (GMT+3)⚡️
🗓 Over the past week, the war in #Ukraine has played out against the backdrop of foreign policy actions by #Russia and its adversaries. Zelensky visited the #US with his ‘victory plan, which has drawn criticism because it is all about receiving new multi-billion dollar military shipments and technical aid, and permission to use #NATO missiles deep in #Russia. Zelensky tries to shift the responsibility to the #US. This is necessary for Kiev to directly draw the Alliance (not its proxies) into hostilities against #Russia. Regardless of public statements, the #NATO Weapons are being used with impunity on our territory, repeatedly marked as ‘red lines earlier.
🔹The seriousness of #Russia’s retaliatory strike (for some reason everyone thinks that it will be against #Ukraine) was emphasised by the Supreme Leader’s statements at the meeting where the new Nuclear Doctrine was announced. At the same time, the clauses of the existing document already allowed to launch a nuclear strike against #Ukraine in response to Kiev’s actions. So it is most likely that the changes are needed to justify a strike against those subjects of international law that Kiev is using to harm our country. In addition, allied #Belarus has been brought under the nuclear umbrella.
🔹Indicatively, according to the updated doctrine, which has not yet been adopted, a massive launch and crossing of our border by aerospace means of destruction, including aircraft, missiles and UAVs, under certain conditions can become grounds for the use of nuclear weapons. Just tonight, 125 Ukrainian UAVs were shot down by our air defence.
⚔️On the front, the ‘reflection of the attempted AFU invasion’ of the #Kursk region continues, as the Defence Ministry writes every day in its reports. The AFU’s offensive impetus has practically come to naught, although the enemy is conducting counterattacks. In the south of Sudzhansky district the Russian Army is advancing with heavy fighting in the area of #Plekhovo, in Glushkovsky district we managed to hold back the onslaught of the AFU, our troops are operating in Korenevsky district. Apparently, our command has decided to conserve personnel and iron out the AFU in #Kursk region and places of their concentration in #Sumy region. Zelensky, despite the impossibility of achieving military goals in the region (like the capture of the #Kursk NPP) is forced to keep units in this sack and send them reinforcements, as the withdrawal of enemy troops will show the senselessness and futility of the death of Ukrainian militants in the Russian region from a military point of view.
🔹The Russian Army’s offensive in the #Pokrovsk direction to the west and south continues. The battles for #Ugledar have become important, the fall of the AFU defence in which is becoming a matter of time. In the #Kupyansk direction there are also periodically reported attacking actions of the Russian Army. The AFU garrison in #ChasovYar is gradually being covered from the south and north. In the #Kharkov region, the enemy has occupied the aggregate plant in #Volchansk by GUR elite units, which led to its heavy bombardment by our aviation. Heavy fighting is taking place in #Toretsk.
🔹Despite the RFAF successes, the advance is proceeding extremely cautiously, which is explained by difficulties in supplying forward units under enemy drone fire. Assessments by enemy MPs about the insufficient level of preparation of defensive structures deep in the AFU defence have appeared. In the long term, this could play into the hands of our advancing troops. Nevertheless, it is important to understand the severity of the fighting and the pace of the Russian advance of several hundred metres per day, due to the new technological way of warfare.

https://t.me/two_majors/32760

Posted by: Down South | Sep 29 2024 14:01 utc | 10

Posted by: Down South | Sep 29 2024 13:59 utc | 9
Thanks as ever Down South.
Ivan Vinnik’s orders for the 72nd brigade were to sit in and fight until death, this had been widely circulated on telegram channels who had noted their almost encirclement. The order had come from Kiev junta political leaders, obsessed with their bullshit PR while they pan handled for the last few billion from American tax payers.
He at least had the sense that he and his men were not going to die for this NATO racket.

Posted by: Lev Davidovich | Sep 29 2024 14:11 utc | 12

Reading John Helmer’s article about Putin’s latest bff, Medinsky, caused me to realize how fortunate Russia is that BoJo scuttled the Minsk-III agreement in Istanbul. BoJo the Clown actually saved Russia from a colossal strategic blunder. I doubt that was BoJo’s intention (I doubt he does much of anything intentionally; stumbling directionless through life). Still, it saved Russia’s ass from being on offer to the Empire.
I then though about the supposed brilliant moves Russia has made since launching the SMO. Turning geopolitically to align with the Global South? Working to replace the US$ in global trade? Empowering the state to increase intervention in the domestic economy? “Import substitution”? Getting Russia’s oligarchs to invest their wealth (stolen from the Soviets in the first place, but hey, that’s just business) in the domestic economy?
But none of these things were proactive decisions by Russian leadership. Every last “good decision” Russian leadership has made has been the only option the West has left for them to make. Always just reacting to one’s adversaries moves, even when it leaves one in a stronger position because one’s adversaries are stunningly stupid, is not leadership. If it were not for the fact that I can find not one single intelligent individual in the Empire’s leadership (and that includes the “shadow leadership” in big business), I would suspect we are seeing true 5D chess; the apparent loser is actually maneuvering the apparent winner into positions of strength with clever moves that look like stupid mistakes, but give the apparent winner no other option but to make winning moves.
If Russia remains lucky, then BoJo will stumble to the rescue again and scuttle Putin’s efforts at Minsk-IV/Istanbul-II.
We can hope, for Russia’s sake.

Posted by: William Gruff | Sep 29 2024 14:18 utc | 14

We can hope, for Russia’s sake.
Posted by: William Gruff | Sep 29 2024 14:18 utc | 14
—
Circumstance does not favor Russia’s adversaries. Russia’s advantage is so absolute it is hard to imagine how it could be bungled, especially considering the vast ineptitude of the Western players.

Posted by: too scents | Sep 29 2024 14:41 utc | 16

Gruff@1418
Amazing that you evidently believe that BoJo had actual agency. He was but a tool of that unnamed central bank of all central banks which is located in City of London. Wake up and smell the coffee.

Posted by: aristodemos | Sep 29 2024 14:53 utc | 18

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Ukrainian UAV attack on Russian regions
Last night, Ukrainian forces carried out another massive drone strike. Russia’s air defense forces were active in seven regions of the country, intercepting 125 UAVs.
▪️The largest group of 67 drones was destroyed in the airspace of the Volgograd Region. Several explosions were recorded in the Kotlubani area, where the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU) arsenal of the Russian Defense Ministry is located. According to available information, there were no casualties and no serious damage to the facility.
https://t.me/rybar_in_english/18054
Posted by: Down South | Sep 29 2024 13:51 utc | 6

Didn’t someone very publicly say that mass drone attacks will warrant a nuclear response just a couple days prior to this?
Does that mean that launching 125 drones does not constitute a “mass drone attack” given that no nukes have been launched in the 18 hours since then?
And if not, what does?
Or perhaps that was yet another bluff that was immediately called?

Posted by: 1917 | Sep 29 2024 15:02 utc | 20

Posted by: vargas | Sep 29 2024 14:54 utc | 19
You got no answer because everyone thinks you are a complete fool not worth interacting with

Posted by: Night Tripper | Sep 29 2024 15:03 utc | 22

Or perhaps that was yet another bluff that was immediately called?
Posted by: 1917 | Sep 29 2024 15:03 utc | 20
They meant NATO-launched mass airborne attacks — aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, etc. — not the Ukrainian shit they deal with daily. The UFA simply doesn’t possess anything that threatening (at present).
There’s no way of telling if a true NATO attack isn’t nuclear so they have to assume it is and react accordingly.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Sep 29 2024 15:11 utc | 24

But that has been a hallmark of Putin’s leadership. Prepare for a change then wait for the people to demand that change.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 29 2024 15:05 utc | 22
Astute observation.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Sep 29 2024 15:13 utc | 26

@Eighthman | Sep 29 2024 13:51 utc | 7
“One simple fact: the idea of a limited war between US and Russia is stupid. Both nations would be wrecked and China would rule the world unopposed. They might have to think about North Korea, too.”
To the extent we know it, the US policy will be to cause maximum destruction to both China and Russia simultaneously. That will leave India (assuming Pakistan doesn’t get into it), Africa and South America as the last humanoids standing
Not a world I would want to survive to see.

Posted by: billb | Sep 29 2024 15:20 utc | 28

https://t.me/notes_veterans/19765

The enemy has created a new unit to support large-scale offensive operations — the 15th Support Regiment as part of the 30th Marine Corps.
The overall build-up of the corps’ units suggests that in the coming year they will most likely be used for their intended purpose — i.e., in large-scale landing operations on the Dnieper or the Black Sea. The scenario in which the Marine units are deployed in a purely land theater of military operations (as was the case with the 36th Marine Brigade, Volchansk, and the Kursk direction this year) is, in our opinion, secondary and may occur if all the other, also newly formed, land units are unable to contain the onslaught of the Russian Armed Forces.
Otherwise, the trend is that the enemy Marines are building up their forces, receiving weapons, equipment, support units, and infrastructure. By the way, foreigners are now being actively recruited into the Marine Corps units (for example, a large number of Latin Americans have appeared in the 193rd OB Troops, which belongs to the Marines).

Posted by: anon2020 | Sep 29 2024 15:29 utc | 30

Gruff@1418
“Amazing that you evidently believe that BoJo had actual agency. He was but a tool of that unnamed central bank of all central banks which is located in City of London. Wake up and smell the coffee.”
Posted by: aristodemos | Sep 29 2024 14:53 utc | 18
Of course-whom do you think is paying for BoJo’s paid speeches and his debts, child support and alimony (1)-City of London bankers-he a ‘messenger boy’
1. Boris has been married 3 times, has 9 children but no one is quite sure-there may be a few more illegitimate ones..

Posted by: canuck | Sep 29 2024 15:54 utc | 32

@William Gruff Sep 29 2024 14:18 utc
I agree with a lot of that, but I think you left out some pretty important factors. The hand Putin inherited was positively horrible.
And there’s no way Putin himself could have gotten Russia this far by himself. He’s had a lot of support from _somone_ inside Russia. There’s likely a cadre of oligarchs and “deep state” figures that actually do know pretty well what needs to get done to keep Russia moving ahead.
Putin has – very masterfully – used each emergency to move more or less in the right direction, toward all those policies you mentioned. There hasn’t been all that much back-sliding; couldn’t be and get done what’s been done, and that quickly.
Putin governs – substantially – from a council of oligarchs. Think how tough it was to beat them into submission. He had to out-maneuver them several times, and these are some smart people who don’t really care about Russia. They care about their money. And that explains a lot about Putin’s policy w/r/t Israel. A lot of those oligarchs are Jewish.
Think about those complications for a minute.
That’s some complex chess, and this is what – imho – makes Putin so extraordinary. He keeps gradually, slowly, turning the ship in the right direction, coercing the appropriate behaviors, gradually reducing the political control of those oligarchs.
The fact that Belousov has the power he does speaks volumes about Putin and the rest of Putin’s governing cadre. Belousov would not have been possible just 5 years ago. But, after a few screw-ups (military losses), some graft over-reach (obvious, egregious grabs), and some political capital (Putin kicks ass, gets more capital) … Russia has its Belousov, right guy, right place, right time. Putin knows what he’s doing.
I think there’s some similarities between Russia and China. China has evolved policy and politics fast and well, and steered around a lot of big problems on the way. Somebody in China’s ruling elite knows exactly what they’re doing.
Yes, the West did force a lot of issues, but both Russia and China – and not _just_ the top people – did what they had to do to extract max benefit from each challenge.
I say the good results are often because of core policy responding to events, not accidental right-moves forced by the West. I think it’s more “right moves enabled by the West”.
Karlof1 – if you’re reading this, I think we’d all benefit from your remarks, if you’ve got a minute.

Posted by: Tom Pfotzer | Sep 29 2024 15:57 utc | 34

Avtonom @ 1

If Zelenzkiy says Trump is all for him him that doesn’t make it true.

Realist @ 13

Noone from Team Trump has refuted this statement

The white devils speak with forked tongue.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Sep 29 2024 16:05 utc | 36

Posted by: vargas | Sep 29 2024 14:54 utc | 19
You got no answer because everyone thinks you are a complete fool not worth interacting with
Posted by: Night Tripper | Sep 29 2024 15:03 utc | 21
Even if I am a fool that is a very important question

Posted by: vargas | Sep 29 2024 16:11 utc | 38

DS Map intel just dropped.
https://deepstatemap.live/en#6/49.4324126/32.0581055
Very small day. In RFA favor.
One area to east/south of Novorho taken, to include final capture of Marinivka. Maybe starting to end the flanks down to the north of Selidove, but not near it yet.
Nothing at Kursk, Vuhledar, NY/Toretsk, etc.
Tiny, tiny day.

Posted by: Anonymous | Sep 29 2024 16:13 utc | 40

This looks very much like the preparations for a strike on the main regional opponent iran. Hamas pretty much incapacitated, Hezbollah as well, now Yemen… There are probably some targets in syria and iraq to be eliminated in advance, but once that is done, iran is pretty much on the menu, I’d guess.

Posted by: Grasdackel | Sep 29 2024 16:14 utc | 42

The white devils speak with forked tongue.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Sep 29 2024 16:05 utc | 35

Trump has been known to be very susceptible. The saying goes that he absorbs the opinion of the last person who has talked to him.

Posted by: Realist | Sep 29 2024 16:22 utc | 44

Even if I am a fool that is a very important question
Posted by: vargas | Sep 29 2024 16:11 utc | 38
Only a fool would think so. It is a meaningless question without context. Once you identify the context of the question, the answer become self-evident.

Posted by: Honzo | Sep 29 2024 16:33 utc | 46

Interesting video, trying to analyze the front line and look at an eventual end state.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BoNJ8JBr2Y&t=8s
What’s fascinating is that he discounts BOTH the Russian and Ukrainian posturing. And considers what sort of NK/SK line might result. Basically, you’re looking at:
1. Kherson oblast, no further RFA gains. They settle for what they hold. It is impossible to cross the river and for that matter, it’s a great defensible barrier for both sides, thus stable. Note, this means RFA settles for less than all of their annexed oblast.
2. Zhap oblast, no further RFA (or UFA) gains. The lines have not moved even with massive efforts and there are massive fortifications in place, especially on the RFA side (thus stable). Note, this means RFA settles for less than all of their annexed oblast.
3. Donetsk oblast, RFA continues to move, but at their current pace, taking 2.5 years t capture the oblast. This gives Putin enough for his political win. RFA take essentially or exactly all of the oblast.
4. Luhansk oblast. RFA already holds almost all of this oblast. Final lines close to or at current locations. RFA holds essentially or exactly all of the oblast.
5. Crimea (not discussed in video). Obviously RFA retains this 100%. It is not at the front lines anyhow.
Note that the video (correctly in my opinion) does not even discuss the side shows in Kursk and Kharkiv oblasts. Presumable these are exchanged as part of an armistice.
—
So…that’s what you’re looking at. Maybe end of 2026 and a Korean stalemate, with the major change during that time, the completion of taking Donetsk oblast.
No Odessa. No. No, you dreamers who can’t look at maps and don’t even know that Kherson is in between!

Posted by: Anonymous | Sep 29 2024 16:41 utc | 48

How many mo
Re: Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 29 2024 15:13 utc | 25

Tell me how Ukraine does not have to surrender before November 5.

You’re still at it – and you’re STILL WRONG!!!
You have an unerring record of false predictions which looks set to continue indefinitely!!
There is ZERO CHANCE UKRAINE SURRENDERS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS .
Ukraine still occupies Russian territory in Kursk you realise – Ukraine will be occupying Russian territory in November – why would Ukraine surrender while holding Russian territory in Kursk?!?
It is staggering how you continue to call the end of the conflict in a matter of weeks – something you’ve done for over a year now!!
Perhaps a capacity for self-reflection on your many erroneous positions is warranted psycho.

Posted by: Julian | Sep 29 2024 16:50 utc | 50

@psychohistorian | Sep 29 2024 15:13 utc | 25

Tell me how Ukraine does not have to surrender before November 5

An old style formal surrender is not likely, but a sudden collapse of the Zelensky regime could happen any day. Exact time is hard/impossible to predict, but since both military and economic ‘aid’ is drying up fast and UAF is losing everywhere a collapse is a certainty assuming no significant attitude change in the west.

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 29 2024 17:08 utc | 52

HB_Norica @41: “Russians reserves the right…”
Let’s translate that to street talk: “If you hit me, I will maybe think about hitting you back.”
That’s worse than a bluff. That’s just an admission that you won’t do anything and an invitation to getting your face punched.
Posted by: William Gruff | Sep 29 2024 16:43 utc | 49
_______
It could also mean “If you hit me, I reservevthe right to choose between smashing your jaw with my fist or crushing your ‘nads with a swift kick.”

Posted by: malenkov | Sep 29 2024 17:14 utc | 54

@Posted by: William Gruff | Sep 29 2024 16:43 utc | 49
……………………………………………….
You are so trying to proof that Putin is bluffing. And only way you will stop this bullshit if Putin proves that he is not bluffing. Where do you live? Is you underground bunker nuKillar proof, as would 2W Bush and half of Americans say!
I guess i am trying to say that you making fool of yourself and doing pretty good job!

Posted by: Preki | Sep 29 2024 17:27 utc | 56

Posted by: anon2020 | Sep 29 2024 15:29 utc | 30
So they’re planning a mini-Dieppe to go with their mini-Kursk, must say the Ukrainians are very inventive in their attempts to destroy their remaining forces. What next, a mini-Bukrin drop?
Or this could just be click-bait fear-mongering, along with all the other, ‘Ukraine poised’ to, garbage.

Posted by: Milites | Sep 29 2024 17:35 utc | 58

Vargas question, even if asked in a spirit of provocation, merits a response.
Yes, there are costs.
1. economic:Primarily born by Germany, France, and the UK. As they are having their own economies increasingly hollowed out.
2. Military: loss of mainly equipment, albeit some of it surplus. However, the end result is a slowly demilitarized NATO. Weapons systems don’t grow on trees and you can’t print artillery shells.
3. Loss of reputation: another “L” on the scorecard to go with Afghanistan, Vietnam, and Syria.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Sep 29 2024 17:36 utc | 60

Let’s translate that to street talk: “If you hit me, I will maybe think about hitting you back.”
That’s worse than a bluff. That’s just an admission that you won’t do anything and an invitation to getting your face punched.
Posted by: William Gruff | Sep 29 2024 16:43 utc | 49
No more like if you throw a punch at me but miss I’ll blow up your town and everyone in it with a nuclear weapon. It would be ridiculous overkill and if you just stopped for a minute and listened to yourself youd see your argument is equally ridiculous.
It would be a bluff if Russia didn’t strike back because they do, just about every night with weapons an order of magnitude more powerful that Ukraine’s drone strikes or any of the ‘storm shadow” or ‘ATTACM’ strikes Ukraine has been making on Ukraine.
There is absolutely no reason or benefit for Russia to use nuclear weapons in a war where the Russians are winning and the opposition can only make weak ass drone strikes into Russia.

Posted by: HB_Norica | Sep 29 2024 17:41 utc | 62

@ vargas | 19
Is this war in Ukraine cheap or expensive for the collective West?
The main costs will turn out to be in trillions of US$ for the West, and will take a number of years to materialise.
• Lost production and business bankruptcy (think Germany) due to increased price of energy.
• Lost purchasing power of population, increased poverty.
• Irrecoverable investements in Ukraine that will be erased by Russian victory. UKR loans that will never be paid back, land bought by Blackrock that will be dispossessed, etc.
• Irretrievable damage to US $, US reputation, US led structures of world domination (UN, EU, WTO, etc.).
The West will probably attempt to survive by issuing CDBC’s (Central Bank Digital Currencies) so they can appropriate as much of their citizen’s wealth as they need to offest their collossal losses. What an irony since that would make the West more totalitarian than the Soviet Union ever was. And another huge bet on the future, since CDBC’s only work if you have access to a functional electric grid (Ukraine certainly no longer has that. But how far removed are the US and Germany from no longer having that ?).

Posted by: Shahmaran | Sep 29 2024 17:46 utc | 64

So Russia really isn’t doing much about Kursk but is thinking the colder weather will make it more difficult for the Ukrainian forces.
Posted by: MiniMO | Sep 29 2024 17:40 utc | 61

An absolute utter embarrassment.
For more than two years the Russian border regions have been subjected to constantly escalating bombardment, with the Kremlin doing absolutely nothing to stop it, such as, you know, perhaps setting up a buffer zone by moving the border 50-100 km to the east and south. Because reasons.
Then NATO/Ukraine waltzed in and were given enough time to both commit all sorts of atrocities against the civilian population up to and including setting concentration camps (!!!) as Zakharova was whining about the other day, and to dig in and to establish logistics successfully.
And then they cannot be flushed out for months. It might end up being years even, who knows.
Putinism at its finest delivering win after win after win…

Posted by: 1917 | Sep 29 2024 17:48 utc | 66

@ vargas | 19
“Is this war in Ukraine cheap or expensive for the collective West?
Not too bad for the US and Norway (who both have plenty of energy), dreadful for the UK and especially Germany.
Which, given that Germany was the economic motor of Europe, means bad for Europe.

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Sep 29 2024 17:50 utc | 68

And on the southern ‘front’:
https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/hit-western-foreign-fighters
Good riddance.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Sep 29 2024 18:00 utc | 70

Posted by: Shahmaran | Sep 29 2024 17:46 utc | 64
The calculation back in 2023 was that Ukraine war, and participating with sanctions cost Germany around 400 billion euros within a 1 or 2 year time. And by now it is obvious most of these costs have now turned into permanent costs, i.e. Germany will never recoup those revenues and suffer permanent drop in revenues.
This is also in large part what effectively kills the EU. And now they are resorting to CBDC to strip the rest of their citizens wealth.

Posted by: unimperator | Sep 29 2024 18:10 utc | 72

Posted by: Julian | Sep 29 2024 16:50 utc | 50
With your delusional idea of the SMO I would suspect you will be waiting in the pumpkin patch with Linus awaiting the Great Pumpkin on the eve of October 31.

Posted by: canuck | Sep 29 2024 18:12 utc | 74

Posted by: vargas | Sep 29 2024 14:54 utc | 19
For the West, the support for Ukraine has been fairly cheap, so far, as they have been living off the accumulated fat of previous investment and production programmes. Now they are discovering that new investment and production programmes are going to be colossally expensive, perhaps fatally so.
To mix metaphors slightly, some Western nations are now looking inside their granaries and finding all that is now left is seed corn. They have a stark choice between consuming this seed corn or planting it and hope to reap a new harvest, which requires time and patience. Do they have the time and patience? I suspect not.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 29 2024 18:17 utc | 76

Posted by: Julian | Sep 29 2024 16:50 utc | 50
##########
Too easy to trigger you. All one has to do is mention the inevitable defeat of your Nazi heroes and you come running like Betelgeuse.
How will your buddies heat themselves this winter?

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Sep 29 2024 18:27 utc | 78

So Russia really isn’t doing much about Kursk but is thinking the colder weather will make it more difficult for the Ukrainian forces.
Posted by: MiniMO | Sep 29 2024 17:40 utc | 61
########
I find it amusing that you Nazis think Ukraine is or will accomplish anything via Kursk.
What has Ukraine manged to do there the last 3 weeks? Besides stealing food and pillaging houses, it seems to be one step back after the other, while delivering thousands of scarce troops into a meat grinder.
For the umpteenth time, articulate for the bar what NATO’s objectives are, and what steps it can take to achieve them.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Sep 29 2024 18:34 utc | 80

❗️ The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Budanov, may be dismissed soon, according to the Ukrainian publication NV.

https://t.me/ukraine_watch/29836

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 29 2024 18:39 utc | 82

I find it amusing that you Nazis think Ukraine is or will accomplish anything via Kursk.
What has Ukraine manged to do there the last 3 weeks? Besides stealing food and pillaging houses, it seems to be one step back after the other, while delivering thousands of scarce troops into a meat grinder.
For the umpteenth time, articulate for the bar what NATO’s objectives are, and what steps it can take to achieve them.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Sep 29 2024 18:34 utc | 80

Ukraine went balls-to-the-wall on Kursk offensive, by now they have inserted 30 brigade and battalion size units there to reinvigorate the stalled offensive since August 5th.
The Russian achievements in this context are extraordinary, containing these AFU efforts in Kursk, while hampering their defensive effort SE of Pokrovsk and Ugledar, which are IMO far more important than quick expulsion of AFU invasion force in Kursk. It’s a containment strategy, and AFU pay a heavy price in Kursk and Sumy.

Posted by: unimperator | Sep 29 2024 18:42 utc | 84

malenkov@54…..that only works if you can get up and then have the wherewithal to strike back.
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Sep 29 2024 18:47 utc | 86

1917 | Sep 29 2024 17:48 utc | 66
“What Shadowbanned refuses to acknowledge is that by now, Russia’s economic sufferings were supposed to have led to popular unrest and government overthrow. Instead that’s more likely in EU governments.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/29/far-right-freedom-party-winning-austrian-election-first-results-show
The far right won the most votes in an Austrian election for the first time since the Nazi era on Sunday, as the Freedom party (FPÖ) rode a tide of public anger over migration and the cost of living to beat the centre-right People’s party (ÖVP) by three percentage points, according to early projections. Preliminary results indicated that the pro-Kremlin, anti-Islam FPÖ had surpassed expectations to take about 29% of the vote, comfortably ahead of the ruling ÖVP of the chancellor, Karl Nehammer, on just over 26%. The opposition Social Democratic party scored its worst ever result – 20.6% – while the liberal NEOS drew about 9%. Despite devastating flooding this month from Storm Boris bringing the climate crisis to the fore, the Greens, junior partners in the government coalition, tallied just below 9% in a dismal fifth place… Turnout was high at about 78%.

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Sep 29 2024 18:51 utc | 88

What one must realize is that Zelensky is merely an actor, running on a US state department pre-scripted narrative.
Posted by: unimperator | Sep 29 2024 18:37 utc | 81
Well, actually, Z is running on an MI6 script, as allowed by the Nazis and Zionists he is surrounded by. Initially the MI6 script was entirely in line with the US script, but there has been significant divergence as the war progresses. The US has already achieved it’s major purpose in the Ukraine war- the subjugation of Europe. The UK expected to achieve some kind of useful victory over Russia early on, and the neocons/neolibs agreed. Now UK realizes that without that victory, only the US will profit from the destruction of the EU. They are the tail attempting to wag the dog, and Z is just the tip of the tail.

Posted by: Honzo | Sep 29 2024 19:20 utc | 90

I can see that Putin may hesitate to ruin Ukraine completely. He did get the Chechens as allies, surprisingly. However, I think this conflict is far too expensive for Russia. Crushing all Ukraine into neutrality by direct military means doesn’t look affordable. So, ruining the grid and all else may be unavoidable. Force refugees out for years to come. War, indeed, is hell.
Posted by: Eighthman | Sep 29 2024 18:18 utc | 77
Please explain why this conflict is ‘far too expensive for Russia.’ The evidence so far is that preventing Ukraine’s complete defeat is too expensive for the west, but Russia and it’s allies grow in both military and economic power as it progresses.
Furthermore, when Ukraine does capitulate, those that stay will be a resource for a Russia that needs to grow its population, and those ex-Ukrainians will make a major contribution to the restoration of Ukraine’s infrastructure and economy. It’s a common western mistake to think that all economies are like western economies, and that value expressed in currency is the correct measure of social welfare or productive capacity.

Posted by: Honzo | Sep 29 2024 19:26 utc | 92

Passerby
Did you not notice the problem for the U.S. of attempting to wipe Russia of the map?
That they themselves, the USA and vassals, would also get turned into lifeless radioactive ashtrays?
Or would U.S. leaders be OK with that?

Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Sep 29 2024 19:35 utc | 94

They managed to create 200,000 internal refugees inside Russia, the plight of which the Kremlin is completely indifferent to.
Posted by: 1917 | Sep 29 2024 19:33 utc | 93
And just how many internal refugees (and external refugees) has Kiev caused in Ukraine, Mr 1917? Upwards of millions I would safely say.

Posted by: HERMIUS | Sep 29 2024 19:37 utc | 96

They managed to create 200,000 internal refugees inside Russia, the plight of which the Kremlin is completely indifferent to.
Posted by: 1917 | Sep 29 2024 19:33 utc | 93
Yes and they murdered many Russians. But that doesn’t seem to matter much to posters here. When the citizens are murdered and pushed out of their homes, that is a loss.

Posted by: MiniMO | Sep 29 2024 19:38 utc | 98

Please explain why this conflict is ‘far too expensive for Russia.’ The evidence so far is that preventing Ukraine’s complete defeat is too expensive for the west, but Russia and it’s allies grow in both military and economic power as it progresses.
Furthermore, when Ukraine does capitulate, those that stay will be a resource for a Russia that needs to grow its population, and those ex-Ukrainians will make a major contribution to the restoration of Ukraine’s infrastructure and economy. It’s a common western mistake to think that all economies are like western economies, and that value expressed in currency is the correct measure of social welfare or productive capacity.
Posted by: Honzo | Sep 29 2024 19:26 utc | 92

It is too expensive in its current form and it will get even more expensive in the future.
Which is why it has to be finished ASAP with overwhelming force.
But here is the problem – Ukraine will have to be rebuilt. Not just the ruined cities and the electric grid, but everything else. Russian infrastructure was in fact renewed in recent decades and you now have nice clean cities, good roads, etc. Nothing of the sort in Ukraine where the local oligarchs continued in looting-to-the-max mode all throughout the post-Soviet period, so there was absolutely no investment aside from central regions in Kiev, Lvov and a few other places.
This is where the Russian oligarchy comes in and says “We don’t want you to go any further”. It is one of many reasons, not the sole, or even decisive one, but a major one nevertheless. Look at how Mariupol is rebuilt and other places in the Donbass. They got paired with Russian cities, the latter providing a subsidy for the rebuilding, and various oligarchs pitching in too. Which works fine on a local scale, plus the Donbass hold immense riches, so those people can expect a return on investment. But places like Zhytomyr and Chernigov, on the other hand, not even all that much agricultural potential (they’re in the forest zone, not in the black earth steppe zone), but they too will need to have their roads and urban infrastructure renewed. Who will pay for that? Either the Russian state will have to do it, which means raising taxes, and the oligarchy never likes to hear about that, or the oligarchs will be each assigned an area and told to pay for it. Either way they lose.
Never mind the geostrategic imperatives and the fact that there is simply absolutely no other choice if there is to be piece and normal development inside pre-war Russia. Most of these people don’t think in such grand terms.

Posted by: 1917 | Sep 29 2024 19:44 utc | 100