Ukraine Open Thread 2025-020

January 30, 2025

News & views related to the war in Ukraine …

Posted by b on January 30, 2025 at 16:25 UTC | Permalink

Comments

Going home. Foreign mercenaries began to disappear en masse from the Armed Forces of Ukraine
.
Ukrainian public pages report on the mass exodus of foreign mercenaries from the “International Legion” of the country’s armed forces. They complain about inadequate leadership decisions and low morale in the army. If recently there were about 40 thousand people, today this number is estimated at several thousand.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said back in February 2022 that 20 thousand militants from 52 countries of the world had joined the International Legion. Former adviser to the head of the Presidential Office (administration) Alexey Arestovich * noted in December last year that by that time there were already 40 thousand people.
However, now their number has dropped sharply. Some Ukrainian public pages write that there were problems with financing. According to others, mercenaries complain about inadequate orders from the command to carry out so-called meat attacks – unprepared attacks without support and equipment, during which the units suffer heavy losses. In addition, foreigners talk about low morale in the Ukrainian army.
Foreign Legion. Arestovich announced the number of mercenaries in the Ukrainian army
According to the Resident Telegram channel, there are several thousand mercenaries left in the Armed Forces of Ukraine today. These include both volunteers and employees of private military companies. But more and more countries are recalling their soldiers on leave, especially the French and German ones.
Immediately after the outbreak of the conflict, the International Legion was quickly created. This indicates that Ukraine was preparing for hostilities. It includes the “Polish Volunteer Corps”, the “Normandy Brigade”, the “Dudaev Battalion” and other units. There are many Latin Americans who came from poor countries in the hope of earning money. According to open information, mercenaries receive $500 per month and $3,000 for participating in hostilities.
As the mercenary prisoners of war said, their main gathering point was in Poland. There they provide instruction and training. After that, foreigners are usually sent to the Lviv region to the Yavoriv training ground. And from there they are distributed among the detachments.
Many mercenaries buy their own equipment and even weapons themselves. They said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces offered them clothes from killed Ukrainian soldiers.
They also know and are aware that Russian units prefer to kill mercenaries on the spot rather than burden themselves with their capture.
French “geese” have fun. Mercenaries of the Ukrainian Armed Forces prefer bars to trenches and prefer to fight from a distance rather than in close combat.
Foreign mercenaries often appear in military reports. Recently it was reported about the murder of the Austrian convinced neo-Nazi Richard Schermann . His grandfather fought on the side of Bandera. The Austrian was liquidated in the Zaporozhye region.
There are mercenaries from exotic countries. So, on the same day in the same Zaporozhye region, the Japanese special forces soldier Koto Ono was killed . He was an officer in his homeland and decided to fight for Ukraine. However, he did not have time – he was destroyed by a powerful Russian attack.
.
https://aif.ru/politics/world/gou-houm-inostrannye-naemniki-nachali-massovo-ischezat-iz-vsu?from_inject=1

Posted by: berthold | Jan 30 2025 16:45 utc | 1

Posted by: berthold | Jan 30 2025 16:45 utc | 1
There is very little lower on the moral ladder than a mercenary. Killing people for money…

Posted by: alek_a | Jan 30 2025 16:51 utc | 2

The Pokrovsk front has been a Russian goal for over six months. Here is the latest from Pravda, “the risk of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad being encircled.”

Posted by: Don Bacon | Jan 30 2025 16:59 utc | 3

There is very little lower on the moral ladder than a mercenary. Killing people for money…
Posted by: alek_a | Jan 30 2025 16:51 utc | 2
.
I agree with you, and probably every normal thinking person does too.
But…now the but…then in my eyes every professional soldier is a paid “murderer” because he follows orders and cannot judge whether they are in line with human rights and then kills for a monthly salary, with luck even with a danger allowance.
A mercenary goes to kill without being interested in the human rights criterion…A professional soldier has to trust his superiors, the NATO attack on Serbia shows us what this looks like…
Of course, in order to calm the conscience of professional soldiers and to protect them from shame and disgrace, this attack is stubbornly described as necessary, although everyone is convinced of the opposite.
So, professional soldiers are on very, very shaky ground when it comes to decency and law.
But what is right and what is not is decided by others depending on their daily needs.

Posted by: berthold | Jan 30 2025 17:04 utc | 4

The Pokrovsk front has been a Russian goal for over six months. Here is the latest from Pravda, “the risk of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad being encircled.”
Posted by: Don Bacon | Jan 30 2025 16:59 utc | 3
.
Further in the report :
SVO News of January 30. The Nazis of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are driven into a cauldron near Pokrovsk
Plot: Attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the Kursk region of August 6, 2024
A group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces may find themselves in a cauldron near the Donetsk city of Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeisk). This was stated by the adviser to the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Igor Kimakovsky .
According to him, the Russian military is not attacking the city head-on, but is covering it from several directions at once. In particular, an advance of our troops is taking place in the direction of neighboring Mirnograd. All this leads to the fact that Ukrainian militants near Pokrovsk can repeat the fate of their “brothers” in Velyka Novoselka, who were completely surrounded and mostly destroyed.
Death to spies
Russian fighters have eliminated a group of Ukrainian saboteurs in the Kursk region. This is reported by RIA Novosti, citing a source from security circles.
According to the source, our military discovered a seven-member reconnaissance group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the recently liberated settlement of Nikolaevo-Daryino from the Russian armed forces. Fire was opened on the group, killing three militants and taking four prisoner.
Bradley infantry fighting vehicle.
They kill everyone. The Nazis no longer return alive from the Kursk region
More details
The Odessa region was shaken by explosions
Last night, the Russian armed forces launched a series of successful attacks on the military and industrial infrastructure of the city of Izmail in the Odessa region. As a result, the enemy suffered serious damage.
As military correspondent Boris Rozhin writes in his Telegram channel, an oil warehouse was hit, where fuels and lubricants were stored, which came from EU countries through Romania. The impact completely destroyed a 5,000 cubic meter tank. m containing oil residues, which caused a fire.
The attacks also hit the Dunaysudnoservis enterprise, one of the repair bases for unmanned boats used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to attack facilities of the Crimea and the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Going home. Foreign mercenaries began to disappear en masse from the Armed Forces of Ukraine
More details
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost 160 thousand people in three months
The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in killed and wounded over the past three months exceeded 160 thousand soldiers and officers. The Russian Defense Ministry presented official data in its summary.
Thus, in January the Ukrainian army was missing 51,960 people, in December last year – 48,470 people, and in November – 60,805 people. In addition, according to the department, 100 thousand Ukrainian servicemen simply resigned from the army.

Posted by: berthold | Jan 30 2025 17:08 utc | 5

Tulsi is potentially a fascist (it’s hard to be an imperialist otherwise) but she’s intelligent and well spoken. I’ve got the popcorn out for these two confirmation hearings. I noticed she both confirmed she would have prosecuted Snowden and that he revealed ‘illegal actions of the government’…its all.more than a bit contradictory. But hearing Jake the Snakes famous ‘Al Qaeda on our side’ quoted in a confirmation hearing where minutes are being taken?
Priceless.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Jan 30 2025 17:15 utc | 6

She also – correctly – called out the Syrian diverse and inclusive headchoppers as being Islamic extremists dismantling Syrias civil society.
Something about this cat amongst the pigeons moment gives me some glee.
Apologies, off topic I suppose.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Jan 30 2025 17:18 utc | 7

It is very interesting to read that link, the Ukrainian Pravda reports on the war much more honestly than the clowns at Business Insider, Forbes, and Newsweek.
While Ukraine suffers, these Goebbels clowns print outright lies and false statements for consumption by gullible, stupid Americans. If you didn’t take the time to read alt-media, or even the Ukrainian media, you’d think that Ukraine was winning!
We truly deserve the collapse that is coming in America.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jan 30 2025 17:34 utc | 8

Not up to you now: Trump has on Ukraine has no money, no time, no desire
Trump’s “Lightning plan” to achieve peace on Ukraine has not been announced, negotiations are not going on, there are not even such attempts. What’s the matter? The columnist tried to answer this question Pravda.Ru Lyubov Stepushova.
A week ago, US President Donald Trump announced that they would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss peace at the Ukraine, “as soon as they can.” Kremlin press attache Dmitry Peskov is asked every day by journalists how the negotiations are going, and every day the answer is that there are no proposals from Trump.
That is, Moscow believes that the ball is on the side of the United States. They promised peace in a day, then do it in 100 days. Why is Trump silent and his envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is going to Latin America, and not to Europe? First of all, Trump does not have a strong hand. Over his statements about a weak Russia and huge losses in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Putin is probably chuckling. Because this is a “fright” pressure.
Secondly, there is no real cost plan. The Korean version of the truce requires billions of dollars for the equipment of 1000 kilometers of LBS and tens of thousands of peacekeepers. “Where does the money come from, Zin?”
Thirdly, it is necessary to do something about the lack of legitimacy of Vladimir Zelensky, since this is a precondition for Moscow and, in principle, it is necessary for the legal execution of the “deal”. Hold elections, for example. But this issue is also complicated and costly. Zelensky, for obvious reasons, is not interested in the elections and will ask for a lot of money for them.
Fourth, much more pressing domestic problems have emerged in the United States. This is a fight against the liberal “swamp”, starting from the State Department, ending with the Pentagon. And a conflict may also open up right at the very borders of the United States in the form of a war with drug cartels.
Fifthly, the world hegemon is clearly divided into two parts (liberal and conservative), which are fighting each other for life and death. Waving a saber leads Trump to a weaker overall position of the West than it has been so far. Of course, this situation makes Russia’s position much easier.
Sixth, the Saudis refused to lower the price of oil, with the help of which Trump promised to put Putin at the negotiating table. China also did not succumb to Trump’s demand to convince Putin to sit down at the negotiating table, refusing to buy Russian energy resources. These countries are not unhappy Colombia, which could be reformed in an hour.
As for Russia, it has a peace plan, even several, and they all rely on their own resources and forces, including the army. Russia has proved that it is ready to fight and sacrifice on a large scale, which is very problematic for the liberal West. The Russian Federation can economically afford to conduct SMO for quite a long time. Ukraine, on the other hand, has no subjectivity, it has nothing of its own except soldiers, but they are also running out. Forecasts say that within a year, even if there is material assistance, there will be no one to fight.
Trump has little time, soon the liberals will blame the ongoing conflict on him. Americans will be convinced that the United States can be drawn into a war like the Vietnam war. This will be a major political defeat for Trump with an unpredictable outcome of his re-election.

https://eadaily.com/en/news/2025/01/30/not-up-to-you-now-trump-has-on-ukraine-has-no-money-no-time-no-desire

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 30 2025 17:50 utc | 9

@ Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Jan 30 2025 17:15 utc | 6

Tulsi is potentially a fascist (it’s hard to be an imperialist otherwise) but she’s intelligent and well spoken

Her relative youth compared to the gerontocrats in Congress probably makes that seem a lot more real than it is. Actually, I don’t know if I want smart imperialists and fascists in charge. Give me the dumb fucks. Easier to cope with their bullshit if I know they’re intellectually in addition to morally retarded.

Posted by: fnord | Jan 30 2025 17:54 utc | 10

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jan 30 2025 17:34 utc | 8
While Ukraine suffers, these Goebbels clowns print outright lies and false statements for consumption by gullible, stupid Americans. If you didn’t take the time to read alt-media, or even the Ukrainian media, you’d think that Ukraine was winning!

Indeed…..
https://old.bitchute.com/video/UKyOeRjPHYU3/

Posted by: saner | Jan 30 2025 17:57 utc | 11

Inspired and inspirational:
Stand up, lads! We still have some job to finish!

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 30 2025 18:16 utc | 12

Financial figures swirling around in Ukraine are extremely foggy, to say the least, so make of this what you will:

It became known how much Ukraine costs one day of war
In the economy, our country is facing a more powerful enemy. Even before the start of a full-scale war, Russia’s GDP exceeded Ukraine’s by about 10 times
As reported by RegioNews, this is stated in the material of BBC Ukraine.
According to the Ministry of Finance, last year defense expenditures from the State Budget Fund amounted to almost 2.1 trillion hryvnias, or 51.9 billion US dollars.
Taking into account these figures, on average, a day of war cost Ukraine about UAH 5.7 billion, or $ 142 million.
In 2025, they plan to spend even more on defense – UAH 2.2 trillion. This is more than a quarter of Ukraine’s GDP.
Experts note that the support of partners within the framework of the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration for Ukraine (ERA) program plays an important role. It is expected that in 2025, our country will receive $ 22 billion under the program.
According to the US State Department, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has received more than $ 61 billion in military aid from the United States.
The IMF predicts that from 2027, when the current aid programs are completed, Ukraine will receive no more than $ 12 billion a year.

https://regionews.ua/ukr/news/ukraine/1738225047-stalo-vidomo-u-skilki-ukrayini-obhoditsya-odin-den-viyni (via translation add-on.)
Gotta admire the IMF’s optimism about 2027 though…

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 30 2025 18:26 utc | 13

Meanwhile, back at the ‘new weapons dept.’:
“Multiple sources have reported that Russia is close to beginning serial production of a new derivative of the Iskander-M ballistic missile system, the official designation of which has not been confirmed. The new missile is expected to double the 500 kilometre range of the original system both by using a new more efficient engine, and by increasing fuel carriage by an estimate 15 percent. The resulting 1000km projected range has led the system to be colloquially dubbed the Iskander-1000.”
https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-new-iskander1000-missile-doubled-range-greater-accuracy
Based in Kaliningrad this would cover most of Europe, including Germany and the UK. They have no effective defences against it. I wonder if Scholz and Starmer know this?

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Jan 30 2025 18:30 utc | 14

When this carnage of Slavs finishes.
The Russians decide how far west they want to or have to go.
And what the terms are.
Here’s the thing.
What does the EU fo when the Ukrainians look west and start making threats and demands?
You can be guaranteed it’s the next stage.

Posted by: jpc | Jan 30 2025 18:50 utc | 15

Is something afoot?
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine are accumulating forces in the Chernihiv region, Sergei Lebedev, coordinator of the Mykolaiv pro-Russian resistance, told RIA Novosti, referring to his colleagues.
“In the Horodnyansk district (Chernihiv region Ukraine – Ed.) Local residents often see military equipment and the military themselves in the plantings. They move frequently. They are distinguished, according to the local population, by a new beautiful uniform and the fact that the equipment is freshly painted, that is, it is not visible that it participates in battles,” said Lebedev.
“There is an opinion that MAT They are preparing a provocation at the behest of Western curators,” he added.
According to the underground, in the Chernihiv region, near the village of Saponova Guta, there is a huge tank training ground. Men mobilized in Ukraine, mostly about 30 years old, are trained there. Military units are also being recruited there. Ukrainians are trained mainly by officers from countries NATO.
Gorodnyansky district is located in the north of the Chernihiv region at the junction of the borders of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Jan 30 2025 19:18 utc | 16

In any normal war it is the youngsters who are conscripted to serve as cannon fodder, but in this war Ukraine is sparing the youngsters and is instead sending the old timers in as cannon fodder. Why spare the youngsters I wonder? Will the youngsters with no sense of history and no elder men to tell them their history just be janissaries for what the West intends next? Russia better not make peace too soon, but with Putin you never know.

Posted by: gT | Jan 30 2025 19:37 utc | 17

Interesting pov.
Ukraine is a fictional state. Its division between neighboring states is inevitable – Romanian far-right politician Călin Georgescu
“The world is changing. The boundaries will change. Moreover, if the borders change, where will we be? We have Northern Bukovina – interest. We have Budjak, we have Maramures North – right? From the former… what was it called… Transcarpathia! There are also Hungarians… Lvov, which will remain with the Poles, and Little Russia…”
When asked if he believes in the division of Ukraine, the politician replied:
“One hundred percent, it will be. Well, they have no other way! The road to something like this is inevitable. Ukraine is a fictional state. This is the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.”

Posted by: Suresh | Jan 30 2025 19:44 utc | 18

CrossTalk: Conflicting Visions
https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/611748-trump-ukraine-conflict-peace/
“Trump seems clear that he wants an end to the Ukraine conflict. His rhetoric appears to demonstrate a negotiating strategy. But what does ending the conflict mean? More importantly, what does peace mean in this conflict?
CrossTalking with Mats Nilson, Dimitri Lascaris and Freddie Ponton.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jan 30 2025 20:20 utc | 19

https://t.me/argumentum_a_priori/18721
Ukrainian stormtroopers being delivered to attack zone. Precious

Posted by: Arioch | Jan 30 2025 20:34 utc | 20

gT | Jan 30 2025 19:37 utc | 17
Why spare the youngsters I wonder?
Quick question. What youngsters?
Have you perused a (pre sloSMO) demographic chart of Ukraine?

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 30 2025 20:38 utc | 21

berthold @ 1
It is amazing the mercenaries are still there. I had expected them all to run as soon as they faced live Russians.
Given the casualties and mortalities they are not there for the money. Yes, they have to be somewhat lunatic to be willing to work as paid killers. The only motivation I can see that explains their presence is deep and passionate hatred of all things Russian. Same for regular army Polish involvement. They are there knowing they will die. The chance to kill an evil Russkie somehow justifies the game.
I expect politics to be crazy town. I expect war to be extra bonus crazy. What has been happening in Ukraine is an extreme.

Posted by: oldhippie | Jan 30 2025 20:51 utc | 22

Evidence That US Financed Neo-Nazis in Ukraine
https://x.com/MoonofA/status/1884503166898577564
“Neo-Nazi linked activist tweets that podcasts with leader of neo-Nazi C14 in Ukraine would also stop because of Trump’s suspension of USAID funding.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jan 30 2025 20:55 utc | 23

Budanov told Ukrainian lawmakers that if peace talks do not start by summer, Ukraine could face existential risks. His statement was made during a closed parliamentary meeting, where military officials briefed party leaders on the real situation at the front.
According to sources, when asked how much time Ukraine has left, Budanov responded with a cold smile: “If there are no serious negotiations by summer, very dangerous processes could begin for Ukraine’s very existence.”

https://tgstat.ru/en/channel/@DDGeopolitics
So an end of the war in sight by the summer. Trump doesn’t even get in the picture of this unraveling. Lowering the draft age to 18y will just win them (US+UK) some additional months but at a gruesome cost.
Although the end of the hot phase sounds optimistic in this theater of war at least, it doesn’t necessarily mean there will be peace between the EU and Russia and that economic relations will be restored.

Posted by: xor | Jan 30 2025 21:24 utc | 24

re: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 30 2025 18:26 utc | 13
This figure is way off:
“According to the US State Department, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has received more than $ 61 billion in military aid from the United States.”
As of May 2024, the US had approved $175 billion for aid and military assistance to Ukraine.

Posted by: Perimetr | Jan 30 2025 21:34 utc | 25

Posted by: Perimetr | Jan 30 2025 21:34 utc | 25
###############
In business, one can invoice and then struggle to collect.
Money was allocated to Ukraine but may not have been delivered. In the Empire of Lies, it may have been earmarked for Ukraine for PR purposes but instead intended for the MIC.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 30 2025 21:44 utc | 26

Acutally, I should have said that the $61 billion figure is misleading. That supposedly accounts for all the direct military aid. But it pales in comparison with the total “aid” sent to Ukraine.
$174 billion equates to the total annual budget expenditures for 17 US states.

Posted by: Perimetr | Jan 30 2025 21:49 utc | 27

Mercs leaving? That’s a sign that the money spigot’s really been shut off. This may be over sooner than even the most “optimistic” of us thought.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Jan 30 2025 21:49 utc | 28

Posted by: Perimetr | Jan 30 2025 21:34 utc | 25
Posted by: Perimetr | Jan 30 2025 21:49 utc | 27
Indeed there will be a difference between $175 billion allocated and $61 billion received. In the retail industry this is known as “shrinkage”; in high finance it is a “quarterly bonus”; in politics it’s called “10% for the Big Guy”, though in this case there are an awful lot of “Big Guys” taking their 10%…

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 30 2025 22:12 utc | 29

Posted by: Milites | Jan 30 2025 22:12 utc | 30

Posted by: oldhippie | Jan 30 2025 20:51 utc | 22
Interesting mix of motivations, some fit the stereotype down to a T, others the opposite. More brutalisation by the job than hatred, and the successful ones have a sixth sense when to get out of Dodge, before it’s too late.

Posted by: Milites | Jan 30 2025 22:16 utc | 31

US assistance suspended/removed
Posted by: Milites | Jan 30 2025 22:12 utc | 30
The last option is most likely. Trump’s been extremely critical of long-range strikes and they cannot do them — even with Shadows or Scalps — without our help.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Jan 30 2025 22:23 utc | 32

Trump’s Ukraine Trap EXPOSED: Why Russia Won’t Fall for It w/ Brian Berletic
Danny Haiphong joined Brian Berletic’s The New Atlas to expose the truth behind Trump’s cutting of aid to Ukraine. Has Ukraine been abandoned? Or is this a trap set for Russia to take the conflict to new heights. Brian, Danny & Angelo Giuliano break it down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BphNnhqYP0

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 30 2025 22:29 utc | 33

One thing never explained is how $ and € are actually used to fund anything day to day in ukropia.
Is there some conversion into the local painful hurnya or whatever it’s called?
How? What is the exact process? Where is foreign currency received and with what is it converted with?
(Yes, yes sonof I know … but most don’t)
Ah well I wonder if we’ll get one more field demo of hazelnut before the surrender talks. Would be cool to see.
Big Sleep calls the natzios and deluded ukropians.
Good riddance.
I hate Nazis.
Whatever shape they come in.
I love Nazi killers – they make the world safe.
Ura!

Posted by: DunGroanin | Jan 30 2025 22:34 utc | 34

Trump’s Ukraine Trap EXPOSED: Why Russia Won’t Fall for It w/ Brian Berletic
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 30 2025 22:29 utc | 33
Brian has a justifiably high level of cynicism… and I’m one who always says actions speak louder than words. Regardless, if ANY administration is going to change course on Ukraine it’s this one.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Jan 30 2025 22:34 utc | 35

Posted by: Milites | Jan 30 2025 22:12 utc | 30 “No ATACMS strikes against Russia recorded since the 14th Jan, Ukraine are relying on drones instead. Either due to:”
That have been publicly announced?
But is that Russian oil exporting port really shut down at the moment? Plenty of drones getting shot down over oil refineries/storage/pumping facilities.

Posted by: Ed4 | Jan 30 2025 22:36 utc | 36

@27
Yes quoted estimates are understating US aid.
Of the $60 odd billion US sent last summer $20 billion was for US European Command direct combat support. Likely not counter as the money could not be sacked in Kiev.
The funding of U.S. space assets is likely not counted as well.
U.S. pentagon has never passed a financial audit

Posted by: paddy | Jan 30 2025 22:37 utc | 37

Really slow day yesterday, for the AFU it must be unnerving, they know RF could easily be imposing 3X 4.500 casualties, within past performance, or even 4x or more. What is RF reserving for?
APU attack on the Kursk region
Continuation of the destruction of the Nazis who invaded the territory of Russia.
Liberation of new regions of the Russian Federation
Expansion of control in the direction of Razliv and Constantinople, north of Yantarny, in the eastern part of Dachnoye. Liberation of Novoandreevka with an advance of more than one and a half kilometers. The entrance to Verkhnekamenskoye is from the south, with the eastern part of the locality cut off.
A day earlier: Full release of Novoelizavetovka.
Daily losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were minimal since June 9, 2024 and amounted to 1,515 soldiers, including 550 in the Pokrovsky direction (Center), 320 in Kupyansk (West), 175 in Donetsk (South), 125 in South Donetsk (East), 55 in Kherson (Dnipro), 50 in Kharkiv (North). 240 Ukrainian Armed Forces militants were killed in the Kursk direction.

Posted by: Newbie | Jan 30 2025 22:38 utc | 38

No ATACMS strikes against Russia recorded since the 14th Jan, Ukraine are relying on drones instead. Either due to:
Stockpiling to support an operation
Critically low stocks
US assistance suspended/removed
Wonder which.
Posted by: Milites | Jan 30 2025 22:12 utc | 30
Two weeks don’t make a lot…
But you missed a final one (unless you included in the last) us not authorizing /not locking coordinates, unlocking launch, or even worse/better us stoped sharing intelligence with the AFU so no targets.

Posted by: Newbie | Jan 30 2025 22:43 utc | 39

Posted by: Milites | Jan 30 2025 22:49 utc | 40

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Jan 30 2025 22:34 utc | 35
###########
I love the depth of Brian’s research into the American NGO complexes.
He’s a very bright and passionate guy who has smartly relocated to SE Asia.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 30 2025 22:50 utc | 41

I love the depth of Brian’s research into the American NGO complexes.
He’s a very bright and passionate guy who has smartly relocated to SE Asia.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 30 2025 22:50 utc | 41
100%

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Jan 30 2025 22:56 utc | 42

Daily DS map update:
https://deepstatemap.live/en#6/49.4383200/32.0526800
Another poor day for the RFA, with only 4.1 kmsq taken. Slower pace than the DEC average of 14/day and much slower than the NOV pace of 23/day.
Gains all in the Donetsk, S to N:
1. Shevchenko (the one at the north of the Dachne pocket).
2. Dnipropetrovsk front (small, not significant).
3. Kotylne (loss and gain, but net gain). Ukrops counterattacked.
4. Nelipivka (north of New York).

Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 30 2025 22:58 utc | 43

Re mercenaries. Am intrigued by Australian govts concern over a merc, Oscar Jenkins.
Months back, Telegram accounts showed his capture in Ukraine by Russians. Oz media, without evidence, said he’d been executed. The Russian ambassador to Australia was summoned for a chastisement [I wager the Russians are amused at Australia crying over one mercenary]
Now Jenkins is presumed still alive.
Other Aussies mercs have died in Ukraine and no one but their families cared.
What’s special about Jenkins? Inquiring minds are curious.
§| Disgusting the Oz media’s handwringing over a merc, in contrast to their decades of reporting on Assange.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 30 2025 23:02 utc | 44

Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 30 2025 22:58 utc | 43
###################
You do this every day.
It’s like judging people by their height or bank balance.
Territory means nothing. Russia could lose territory every day, and if it kept up the KDR, it would still be “winning.”
The losses of manpower by Ukraine are irreplaceable and the materiel won’t be easily replaced as it is lost, particularly since Trump and Germany have eased support of equipment.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 30 2025 23:07 utc | 45

Russian Assault on Konstantinopol Begins
Ukrainian Armed Forces plunging into yet another massive quagmire.
According to reports, assault forces from the Russian army have stormed the town from the south. Russian airstrikes and artillery barraged Ukrainian positions in the days leading up to the assault operations.
Russian stormtroopers from the 102nd regiment of the 150th division managed to breach the Ukrainian defences in Dachne and establish a foothold in the centre of the hamlet, demonstrating impressive ability on the eastern side. Russian forces went as far as 1.3 km and captured many buildings in the village centre.
To the north, Ukrainian forces are being encircled by the advance of Russian soldiers. As they near the centre of the village, Russian forces are penetrating Ukrainian defences in Andreevka. Attacks are continuing from both the north and the east. The Ukrainian army was driven back from its positions along the riverbank to the east of the settlement.
A vast region stretching over 10 kilometres west of Kurakhovo became yet another boiling pot for the Ukrainian forces that were fleeing as a consequence of the Russian assault. Hastily deploying forces, the Ukrainian command is attempting to bolster defence in the area. Near Razliv in particular, armoured trucks were seen transporting reinforcements to Ukrainian military positions.

Posted by: HERMIUS | Jan 31 2025 0:01 utc | 46

Posted by: HERMIUS | Jan 31 2025 0:01 utc | 47

You do this every day.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 30 2025 23:07 utc | 45

C’mon, everyone has to earn his keep.
His job is to find any success for Ukies. Just that the only victory for them now remains “Yes, they are losing every day, but look, how beautifully slow!”

Posted by: Rutte | Jan 31 2025 0:01 utc | 48

“Yes, they are losing every day, but look, how beautifully slow!”
Posted by: Rutte | Jan 31 2025 0:01 utc | 47
Won’t be much opportunity to do that going forward.
—
Stepping back… the fight in the Ukrainians themselves can never be questioned. I am truly pained by the thought of all the soldiers lost because of TPTB that play their petty power games, a sad part of history that repeats itself all too often.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Jan 31 2025 0:13 utc | 49

The clip mentioned before, “Trump’s Ukraine Trap EXPOSED: Why Russia Won’t Fall for It w/ Brian Berletic,” is from Haiphong’s channel and much of the talking is done by Haiphong rather than Berletic. It is worth watching, but for those who are not familiar with Berlectic, I recommend his YouTube channel, The New Atlas.
See Berletic’s latest podcast US Transfers Missiles to Ukraine, “End War Responsibly” a Euphemism for Continuity of Agenda

Posted by: Perimetr | Jan 31 2025 0:33 utc | 50

Trump’s declared peace plan is cover for his real one, to step in after the AFU is crushed and Zelenskyy is begging for a lifeline for himself.
Trump is still a real estate developer, and he can make himself enormously more wealthy in political capital by divvying up what remains of Ukraine, and handing over the rump of it to those it’s in debt to.
How can American companies exploit Ukraine’s remaining riches? One way is to cut deals with those about to be in control of the land holding that wealth.

Posted by: Babel-17 | Jan 31 2025 1:16 utc | 51

Going home. Foreign mercenaries began to disappear en masse from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Posted by: berthold | Jan 30 2025 16:45 utc | 1

If only the foreign mercenaries could be ejected from the bar, the bar would become a more frequentable place.

Posted by: Naive | Jan 31 2025 1:27 utc | 52

Babel-17@50…Trump Towers Odessa…..it does have a peaceful ring to it…..
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Jan 31 2025 1:43 utc | 53

Posted by: Newbie | Jan 30 2025 22:38 utc | 38
German diary entries days before Bagration mentioned how quiet the Front was and how that normally meant bad tidings were around the corner. It could also be the impact, on both combatants, of a new US Administration taking power.
Posted by: Milites | Jan 30 2025 22:49 utc | 40
Some month’s I have been saying kiev has been inviting a RF drive to Chernikov, maybe you think now is the time? Bagration? Really?
——————–
Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 30 2025 22:58 utc | 43
###################
You do this every day.
It’s like judging people by their height or bank balance.
Territory means nothing. Russia could lose territory every day, and if it kept up the KDR, it would still be “winning.”
The losses of manpower by Ukraine are irreplaceable and the materiel won’t be easily replaced as it is lost, particularly since Trump and Germany have eased support of equipment.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 30 2025 23:07 utc | 45
Yes, and from my exchange with milites there can be something more, RF has been consolidating and even advancing, but at a very low pace, 1.500 AFU casualties to normal 2.000 +- something.That’s even lower than orthodox Xmas period.
Smething is probably afoot, from milites Bagration mention I’d say chernikov or even kiev, though I thought I’s thought I’d seen chasiv yar connecting to pokrovsk and being filled in from toretsk…
—————-
Russian Assault on Konstantinopol Begins
Ukrainian Armed Forces plunging into yet another massive quagmire.
According to reports, assault forces from the Russian army have stormed the town from the south. Russian airstrikes and artillery barraged Ukrainian positions in the days leading up to the assault operations.
Russian stormtroopers from the 102nd regiment of the 150th division managed to breach the Ukrainian defences in Dachne and establish a foothold in the centre of the hamlet, demonstrating impressive ability on the eastern side. Russian forces went as far as 1.3 km and captured many buildings in the village centre.
To the north, Ukrainian forces are being encircled by the advance of Russian soldiers. As they near the centre of the village, Russian forces are penetrating Ukrainian defences in Andreevka. Attacks are continuing from both the north and the east. The Ukrainian army was driven back from its positions along the riverbank to the east of the settlement.
A vast region stretching over 10 kilometres west of Kurakhovo became yet another boiling pot for the Ukrainian forces that were fleeing as a consequence of the Russian assault. Hastily deploying forces, the Ukrainian command is attempting to bolster defence in the area. Near Razliv in particular, armoured trucks were seen transporting reinforcements to Ukrainian military positions.
Posted by: HERMIUS | Jan 31 2025 0:01 utc | 46
What I can’t understan is AFU still fiercly fighting miles east of that…
That could be a line to be held and first thing the AFU did was blow the bridge south of Andreevka…

Posted by: Newbie | Jan 31 2025 2:01 utc | 54

Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 30 2025 22:58 utc | 43
Hey, trainspotter! Didn’t you hear?
“Putin has already lost.” – Biden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3F3owL3iQo

Posted by: Suresh | Jan 31 2025 2:31 utc | 55

What everybody in the bar must realize is that when Trump publicly says things to Putin or Russia, he is speaking to the west not Russia. Nobody negotiates in public especially the guy who wrote the book. Trumps biggest hurdle is to comfort the Europeans while what is de facto on the field continues. Trump is letting Putin finish.

Posted by: thomas j cahill | Jan 31 2025 3:27 utc | 56

BTW, Brian Berletic’s new fears are a little exaggerated. He doesn’t know quite what to make of a non-parliamentary type of President. Take notes.

Posted by: thomas j cahill | Jan 31 2025 3:33 utc | 57

…What everybody in the bar must realize is that when Trump publicly says things to Putin or Russia, he is speaking to the west not Russia. Nobody negotiates in public…
Posted by: thomas j cahill | Jan 31 2025 3:27 utc | 55

Yeah, right. After it backfires you can also say it had been just a joke.
The problem is, sometimes the punch gets delivered already, before some smart aleck blubbers through his broken teeth “It was only a joke, can’t you guys take a joke?”

Posted by: Rutte | Jan 31 2025 4:05 utc | 58

Tulsi is potentially a fascist (it’s hard to be an imperialist otherwise) but she’s intelligent and well spoken
Her relative youth compared to the gerontocrats in Congress probably makes that seem a lot more real than it is. Actually, I don’t know if I want smart imperialists and fascists in charge. Give me the dumb fucks. Easier to cope with their bullshit if I know they’re intellectually in addition to morally retarded.
Posted by: fnord | Jan 30 2025 17:54 utc | 10
If you think Tulsi is a fascist then you ARE one of the dumb fucks.

Posted by: Screwdriver | Jan 31 2025 4:44 utc | 59

Newbie@201 Jan 31
Steamrollers do not advance very rapidly. However, they do have amazing crushing and smoothening capabilities. That analogy is precisely what those concern trolls do not and wish not to understand.

Posted by: aristodemos | Jan 31 2025 5:12 utc | 60

Babel17@116 Jan 31
Aha. Odessa might be the key to a rapprochement. President Putin could offer the real estate tycoon a deal he simply could not resist. Newly liberated Odessa, bordering the Black Sea, could make a fine place for yet another Trump Tower. He could build it on the demolished site of one of the harbor warehouses. The R.U. did the heavy work of primary demolition with their mighty missiles.
Video coverage of the Trumpster and Putin shaking hands over their art of the deal. Miriam Adelson would not approve. However, the Donald would be beaming with gold-stars in his eyes. After all he achieved a nice chunk of real estate without having to kowtow to his no longer required campaign contributor.
Maybe he would choose Barron to run the joint…his own Barony at an age where he need not even shave on a daily basis.
Sabotage Seriousne$$.

Posted by: aristodemos | Jan 31 2025 5:28 utc | 61

re: Screwdriver | Jan 31 2025 4:44 utc | 58
Spot on!

Posted by: Perimetr | Jan 31 2025 5:50 utc | 62

Trump tower in Odessa, with a view on the Black Sea, cool AF.

Posted by: Featherless | Jan 31 2025 6:02 utc | 63

https://t.me/argumentum_a_priori/18721
Ukrainian stormtroopers being delivered to attack zone. Precious
Posted by: Arioch | Jan 30 2025 20:34 utc | 20
.
Ur Ur Alt post on Telegram.
Was first shown in 2023.

Posted by: berthold | Jan 31 2025 7:23 utc | 64

Not just the foreigners deserting:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/31/tired-mood-changed-ukrainian-army-desertion-crisis

Posted by: KingCobra | Jan 31 2025 8:53 utc | 65

If you think Tulsi is a fascist then you ARE one of the dumb fucks.
Posted by: Screwdriver | Jan 31 2025 4:44 utc | 58
Hmmmm, a pretty thin line these days between a fascist, a fervent US patriot, a US imperialist, a MAGA zealot, a militarist. She may well have travelled thus far with her high political morals, but she may well get tainted by the pressures of ambition and high office.
I had/have the feeling she’s playing whatever role(s) Trump bestows upon her in the next 4 years to gain traction for a Trump-sanctioned and sponsored 2028 run for POTUS … that is if she ain’t “You’re Fired” or overly tainted by Trump’s antics in the meantime.

Posted by: Just a Voice | Jan 31 2025 9:07 utc | 66

From Joe Caligula Biden, Donald Nero Trump … and Tulsi … to London
“Politicians” in The West, Club of heirs of the British Empire and last version of the Roman Empire, have no chance against Power.
In the West there is little small-scale corruption and the system is one of large-scale legalized corruption and the system is very very cheap, as Professor Sachs has pointed out.
It must be taken into account that there is a natural, biological predisposition to identify with Power, and everyone wants to be accepted and be part of the group with Power, and they know that the reward is as great as the punishment.
So the so-called “politicians” sail with the winds and put themselves at the service of Power as is logical and natural.
In London we have recently seen first hand how Power has changed cook, gardener, driver, butler and person in charge of taking care of the children.
The West political-media industry is perfect for the entertainment and confusion of the plebs.

Posted by: Simon | Jan 31 2025 9:35 utc | 67

“EU debates return to Russian gas as part of Ukraine peace deal” (ft, paywall) but also tass, moscowtimes and oilprice.com.

“Advocates of buying Russian gas argue it would bring down high energy prices in Europe, encourage Moscow to the negotiating table, and give both sides a reason to implement and maintain a ceasefire,” FT said. “In the end, everybody wants lower energy costs,” a senior EU official told the newspaper.

Translated: EU to Russia: Stop winning the war in Ukraine, and in return I’ll generously allow you to sell me gas, cheap.

Posted by: Passerby | Jan 31 2025 10:01 utc | 68

Translated: EU to Russia: Stop winning the war in Ukraine, and in return I’ll generously allow you to sell me gas, cheap.
Posted by: Passerby | Jan 31 2025 10:01 utc | 68
Except for the very recent nuclear fuel export ban to US, which will probably take years to have an effect or zero due to large stocks, they continue to sell everything and anything Nato wants, directly on dollars and euros or thru India, currently EU’s largest “partner”. What makes you think RF won’t sell again the day NS is fixed? The only problem with that article is that FT and MT, as any other “…Times” site on the planet, is pure Nato trash. It’s more of a call for the “businessmen” in Russia to sabotage more the smo based on empty promises. Trumpy will never ever allow that to happen ,he even calls himself the real destroyer of NS. NS will work again only if he owns it and controls the quantity and profits. Then he’ll do the same with Turkstream, directly or indirectly, as he already is trying to explode it, like Biden. He already started to sink commercial ships and looking at Russia’s lack of reaction again, they’re going to lose many ships and pipes. Basically another message to the “businessmen” and their puppets in the general staff. How many pipes Ukr has lost? Zero. What’s the damage outside the new regions? Close to zero. I can’t wait to see who died in the helicopter-plane crash in US, looks like someone just discovered they can kamikaze at home as well.

Posted by: rk | Jan 31 2025 10:39 utc | 69

Ukraine Weekly Update, 31st January 2025: May be useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-786

Posted by: The Busker | Jan 31 2025 10:58 utc | 70

Posted by: Milites | Jan 30 2025 22:12 utc | 30
There was a report US ATACMS operators in Ukraine or other people associated in providing targeting or launching in Ukraine war have been either suspended or arrested in the US. So maybe US removed the possibilities for Ukraine to use ATACMS.
That said, running out of either missiles or launchers isn’t excluded.

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 31 2025 11:15 utc | 71

Looks like the Kurakhove-Ulakly-Konstaninypyil valley is being cleaned up. The AFU positions in the valley are crumbling from all sides.

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 31 2025 11:19 utc | 72

KingCobra | Jan 31 2025 8:53 utc | 65
Worth quoting from that, as Luke Harding is one of the big NATO cheerleaders.
“Some who desert keep a low profile. Others live and work openly. Viktor said he went back to his brigade in August 2023 but was told he was not wanted. Once a trained sniper, he now runs a garage in western Ukraine, where he repairs military vehicles for free. Had he killed Russians? “Many,” he replied. “Everybody is tired. The mood has changed. People used to hug soldiers in the streets. Now they worry about being conscripted.”
Hrebeniuk’s mechanised brigade, the 110th, last week took the unusual step of saying it was critically short of personnel. It had enough drones and artillery, but no infantry, at a time of constant Russian attacks. “We need to break the stereotype that if you join up you will be dead in five minutes,” Hrebeniuk said. He added: “Simple things keep you alive, like digging in, cleaning your weapons, and paying attention during first aid training.”
First aid in the field might keep you alive, but it all depends what drops on you.
Reshetylova said there were hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers staying in their positions and “not going anywhere”. The recruitment crisis could be solved, she added, if Ukraine’s allies sent their own troops. If they did not, and Kyiv fell, Vladimir Putin would keep going. She said: “As I see it, it is Europe’s armies that are absent without leave. They don’t understand – or don’t want to understand – that this is their war too.”
Despite the huge propaganda push, most people don’t think it’s their war – certainly not worth sending their kids to die in it. Perhaps this is more about sending 18 year olds.

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Jan 31 2025 11:24 utc | 73

Looks like EU efforts to step in to replace US as a superior military hardware producer continue suffering setbacks.

Blast rocks EU manufacturer of 155mm artillery shells for Ukraine.
The incident at German manufacturer Rheinmetall in Spain injured six employees.
The explosion occurred in an unguarded tank, after which a fire broke out in the forest near the plant, covering more than two thousand square meters. Firefighters took hours to extinguish the fire.
On January 25 last year, an accident also occurred at the same enterprise.
The cause of the sabotage is believed to be “Bad Karma.” 😅
https://x.com/AlternatNews/status/1885231884839407967

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 31 2025 11:26 utc | 74

rk | Jan 31 2025 10:39 utc | 69
I think you credit Trump with far too much agency.
“looking at Russia’s lack of reaction again…”
Ah, I get it. Another one.

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Jan 31 2025 11:26 utc | 75

Many thanks to the Busker for his weekly updates. Essential Friday reading.

Posted by: Truthsayer | Jan 31 2025 11:54 utc | 76

Posted by: The Busker | Jan 31 2025 10:58 utc | 70
Ukraine Weekly Update, 31st January 2025: May be useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-786
very informative series of reports -as usual.
Thank you Sir.

Posted by: Barrel Brown | Jan 31 2025 12:00 utc | 77

Posted by: Truthsayer | Jan 31 2025 11:54 utc | 76
Posted by: Barrel Brown | Jan 31 2025 12:00 utc | 77
I agree. Rob Campbell’s weekly update is extremely useful for those of us who want to know what is actually happening.

Posted by: Avtonom | Jan 31 2025 12:42 utc | 78

Willy OAM has a JAN pace calculation, from DS. (He is a day early, being in Oz.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuCBAxIfUU4&t=376s (minute 6)
RFA did 314 kmsq in JAN. Given 31 days, that’s a 10km/day pace. Worse than AUG/SEP/OCT/NOV/DEC (which was worse than NOV/OCT/SEP).
So RFA sure as heck didn’t “go slow, but getting better” in JAN (or DEC). Weather/drones/UFA, along with the inherent weaknesses of the RFA led to a reversal of the “acceleration” from JUN-NOV and a very slow almost static pace in JAN.
Still waiting for that “muh attrition” to kick in and make the UFA unable to hold territory and allow the RFA to progress in claimed areas. Seems like it hasn’t yet. (Even in Kursk.)
Anyhow…you can go back to the muh attrition cope if you like. Just, sure as heck, don’t believe any clickbaiters that say RFA is hoovering up villages like crazy. It’s the opposite, in DEC and JAN. A slowdown (of an already slow pace).

Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 31 2025 12:43 utc | 79

There was a report US ATACMS operators in Ukraine or other people associated in providing targeting or launching in Ukraine war have been either suspended or arrested in the US. So maybe US removed the possibilities for Ukraine to use ATACMS.
That said, running out of either missiles or launchers isn’t excluded.
Posted by: unimperator | Jan 31 2025 11:15 utc | 71
Do you have a link on that? I speculated as much @39

Posted by: Newbie | Jan 31 2025 12:43 utc | 80

72, unimp.
Sure, agreed on that pocket. But it’s still a very slow pace and a small pocket. You get the wrong impression when the clickbaiters zoom in and celebrate treelines.
Rate of advance has gotten worse, not better. Maybe winter sure…but still, worse rate of advance. UFA is holding RFA to a very very very slow grind. Not “cleaning up” fast.

Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 31 2025 12:46 utc | 81

Hadn’t realised until a few days agp that it’s actually been very mild and wet at the front which could be an explanation for slow progress.
Due to become much colder next week.

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Jan 31 2025 13:15 utc | 82

Romanians are reminding us how Stalin annexed parts of Romania, given to Ukrainian SSR, but which Ukraine has never returned to Romania after its independence. Will the Ukrainian occupation force will eventually be removed from foreign country territories at the conclusion of SMO?

Territories Stalin annexed into the Ukrainian SSR and were not returned by Ukraine after gaining independence
Northern Bucovina 🇷🇴
Budjak 🇷🇴
Galicia 🇵🇱
Volhynia 🇵🇱
Polesia 🇵🇱
Transcarpathia 🇸🇰
How does Ukraine expect anyone to support them when they themselves are occupiers?
https://x.com/daily_romania/status/1885285471141416971

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 31 2025 13:22 utc | 83

Western Pundits told us years ago Russian economy will be over in 3 month and VVP out even before that. Nearly 4 Years later, they are starting to realize they were the one with a limited capacity to deal with sanctions and that a lot of them have already being put out of affairs by now.
Years ago, none of them were talking about an urgent peace … and now they all seems in a hurry to end this mess, but don’t be fooled : it’s not for Hellenskyi or the Banderistan they are afraid, it’s for themselves.

Posted by: Savonarole | Jan 31 2025 13:51 utc | 84

Ukrainian Fighter Confesses Troops Raped and Tortured Russian Civilians (Graphic Video)
https://www.rt.com/611953-kursk-village-ukrainian-massacre/
“…Earlier this month the Russian Foreign Ministry said the incident further confirmed the terrorist and neo-Nazi essence of the Kiev regime.”
Not to mention the Western powers that support it.

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jan 31 2025 14:03 utc | 85

Posted by: Savonarole | Jan 31 2025 13:51 utc | 84
Funnily enough, it was actually EU economy that was effectively over after 3 months of start. Funnily enough it was EU who does not semiconductors, who has to take chips from dish washers and refrigerators, whose industry is in tatters, banking sector is in tatters etc.
We see it now with reduced US support, EU is nothing. The little poodels are scrambling and running around like headless chicken not knowing what to do. Their latest idea is to start importing Russian gas to reduce energy prices. What were they doing in the last 3 years as the prices exploded, leading to EU governments having to subsidize their consumers and industries worth 700+ billion Euros for food and energy subsidies? This, btw, is probably what finally has broke the camels back.

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 31 2025 14:21 utc | 86

Tulsi is potentially a fascist
I’ve been following her career since she was an outspoken senator and if anything she’s too much of a peacenik to satisfy US senators. If she seems to contradict herself or appears to be a “fascist” then it’s to satisfy these warmongering senators fear that the people who financed their campaigns and provide jobs in their districts that the money continues to flow.
The questions I heard from this hearing directed at her were absurd “gotcha” questions posed to get her to look “un-american”.
The truth is she IS un-american in that she wants peace and is a practicing Hindu but she can’t let these senators outwit her into confessing to be such.
Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Jan 30 2025 17:15 utc | 6

Posted by: HB_Norica | Jan 31 2025 14:23 utc | 87

An important DS update today. Russians are still advancing. Shocking.

Posted by: boneless | Jan 31 2025 14:49 utc | 88

The Neo-Nazi’s in Ukraine – their top spy could be in big trouble.
“The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has initiated a criminal investigation after media reports claimed Kiev’s top military spy, Kirill Budanov, had warned a high-level meeting in the country’s parliament that Ukraine could cease to exist if it does not engage in peace talks with Russia, a senior MP said on Friday in Kiev.
Earlier this week, the Strana.ua news outlet claimed that Budanov, Ukraine’s head of military intelligence, suggested during a closed session of the national parliament that Ukraine might not survive unless negotiations with Russia began by summer. The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense (HUR) has refuted these claims, asserting that the purported statements were false and taken out of context.
MP Roman Kostenko, who is the secretary of the Verkhovna Rada’s Defense Committee, announced that the SBU has launched a criminal probe into the unauthorized disclosure of information from that classified session.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Jan 31 2025 14:51 utc | 89

The reason the Russians haven’t been moving along the front is because there is currently a “January thaw” in Ukraine turning everything but pavement to greasy gumbo. Temperatures have reached 20 C in recent days.
If the Russians are advancing all it means is the soil has firmed up enough to travel.

Posted by: HB_Norica | Jan 31 2025 14:58 utc | 90

From telegram channel Intel Slava, https://t.me/s/intelslava the EU won’t like this:
“Trump does not want to help Ukraine and accept it into NATO, writes The Washington Post columnist Lee Hockstader.
He writes that the US president “does not want to provide Ukraine with more aid, let alone American troops; he also does not want Ukraine to be accepted into NATO.” And he considers monitoring a possible ceasefire and ensuring Ukraine’s security “a problem for Europe.”
Looks like the Europeans are going to be left holding the bag, damn I hate that /s
Maybe France can send some troops (unless they are all going to Greenland, lol)

Posted by: ctiger | Jan 31 2025 15:00 utc | 91

As soon as France completes its first icebreaker, the soldiers deployed in Africa will be able to go to Greenland. A call for tenders for warmer outfits has yet to be finalised.

Posted by: UnCopEra | Jan 31 2025 15:08 utc | 92

Okay some will say that this Neo-Nazi confessed under duress – and ergo his confession cannot be trusted, however their is enough evidence out their to show that the Ukrainian Neo-Nazi’s have committed war crimes.
“A Ukrainian military unit raped and killed eight women and murdered at least 14 other civilians in the village of Russkoye Porechnoye, a captured Ukrainian soldier has admitted during interrogation by Russian investigators.
Russkoye Porechnoye, home to around 300 people, fell under Kiev’s control in August last year during a Western-backed incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region. Russian forces liberated the settlement earlier this month, where they discovered decomposing corpses of civilians stashed in basements throughout the village.
On Friday, the Russian Investigative Committee released new evidence on the massacre, including footage of the interrogation of Yevgeny Fabrisenko, a soldier with the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade. Fabrisenko stated that he was deployed to the village on September 28 alongside his immediate commander and two other soldiers.
According to Fabrisenko, their company commander explicitly ordered them to “cleanse” the village of Russian civilians. The unit remained in Russkoye Porechnoye until October 3, during which they raided homes, raped women, and executed men on sight. Those who resisted were tortured and killed, he admitted.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Jan 31 2025 15:14 utc | 93

Trump’s “Lightning plan”…
I have been taking it as a near certainty that Trump wouldn’t get a deal, “lightening” or otherwise. Our side won’t admit how strong the Russian army is, thus on a political level we can’t give Russia a deal good enough that they will go along with it. The only possibility would be if they can sucker Putin again, which is unlikely.

Posted by: Jmaas | Jan 31 2025 15:27 utc | 94

If the Russians can’t get a deal, I think they should de-populate and de-industrialize the western part of the country. Not by occupation, that would produce too strong a condemnation, but by damage to the civilian infrastructure that continues to such an extent that just about everybody leaves. If someday a population exists that is willing to sue for peace, then it ends. You got to do what you got to do.

Posted by: Jmaas | Jan 31 2025 15:29 utc | 95

@ Jeremy Rhymings-Lang, §9:
Trump urgently needs to boot out Swamp reptiles like Kellogg and Rubio and bring back Macgregor and Flynn.
Ending this war, even on Russia´s terms, will be a victory for Trump because he ended the war.

Posted by: John Marks | Jan 31 2025 16:03 utc | 96

Russia’s demographics were looking bad before the war….and are looking horrible 3 years into the war. They will need to import millions of immigrants to take over jobs vacated by retirements and deaths. Putin destroyed Russia and he won’t live long enough to see it happen.
Posted by: Cager | Jan 31 2025 15:54 utc | 96
Russia got millions of new citizens from the new oblasts and millions of russian speaking refugees from Ukraine. Stay clueless lil natoddler.

Posted by: 5thcolumn | Jan 31 2025 16:39 utc | 97

Ending this war, even on Russia´s terms, will be a victory for Trump because he ended the war.
Posted by: John Marks | Jan 31 2025 16:03 utc | 97
My take on the situation is that if Trump lets the country fail, say through inadequate funding, that will be less damaging to him than a deal that doesn’t look like a win. Let it look like an accident. Easy to do because the country is on the edge of failure anyway.
We went through this same crap with Vietnam. It became apparent it was a loser, but no president wanted to pick up the blame that would go with ending it. Nixon attempted to shift the outcome, and thus the blame, to Vietnam itself with Vietnamization. While it certainty didn’t help Nixon when the country fell apart quickly, in the news coverage they talked about the blowup more than they talked about Nixon.

Posted by: Jmaas | Jan 31 2025 16:56 utc | 98

Posted by: The Busker | Jan 31 2025 17:10 utc | 99

Cager@1554 Jan 31
When they have successfully caged you into propaganda traps via the mass-media…or by financial assistance…it is easy for you to present ridiculous attacks on the R.U.
Will you ever make your jailbreak?

Posted by: aristodemos | Jan 31 2025 17:24 utc | 100

Back to Main