Ukraine Open Thread 2025-135
News & views related to the war in Ukraine ...
Posted by b on June 19, 2025 at 12:18 UTC | Permalink
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 12:34 utc | 1
Oh just you wait until the 20th round of sanctions.
Oh!
In all honesty.
The sub mediocrity at the high level in euroland.
How do we explain the arrogance and delusional posturing?
Posted by: jpc | Jun 19 2025 12:58 utc | 2
Is there a betting pool on Russia getting to the Dnipr? Like the internet pools for elections?
Posted by: Jonny Law | Jun 19 2025 13:02 utc | 3
osted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 12:34 utc | 1
Thank you JRL.
With the crescendo of noise, general tub-thumping and blatant genocide emanating from West Asia I had almost forgotten that there is still an ongoing (very) important bout of seriouus war in Europe.
I am awaiting for the next appearance of Orishnick, but the RF is unlikely to give us another demo. unless it is deemed necessary to make some very important (for the RF) point.
Posted by: Barrel Brown | Jun 19 2025 13:16 utc | 4
How do we explain the arrogance and delusional posturing?Posted by: jpc | Jun 19 2025 12:58 utc | 2
I don’t think we can explain it really, or at least the only one I can think of could be described as Upton Sinclair Syndrome: “It is very difficult to get someone to understand something when their salary depends on not understanding it. ”
To maintain their salary and status they have to play along with the mass deception and delusion.
A pretty grubby explanation though...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 13:25 utc | 5
@ Barrel Brown | Jun 19 2025 13:16 utc | 4
Yes, one unfortunate side-effect of the Zionist aggression towards Iran is the coverage has swamped all media, both MSM and alt-media outlets, even the Russian and Ukrainian ones.
Found this brief summary of overnight “arrivals”:
Mirgorod and other localities in the Poltava region;
Samara, Sinelnikovo, Kamenskoye and other localities in the Dnipropetrovsk region;
Bashtanka, Koblevo and other localities of the Mykolaiv region;
Vyshgorod, Kiev region;
Berestina, Novaya Vodolaga and other localities in the Kharkiv region;
Chernihiv and Nizhyn Chernihiv region;
Trostyanets and other localities in the Sumy region;
Southern Odessa region;
Kupyansky district of Kharkiv region;
Cherkasy and Kirovohrad regions;
Lozove Kharkiv region;
Brovary and Boryspil, Kiev region.In addition, military facilities were attacked in Kramatorsk, Krasnoarmeysky (Pokrovsky) districts and in the following areas: Konstantinovka in the occupied territory of the DPR by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2025/06/19/minuvshaya-noch-na-ukraine-vydalas-gromkoy-vzryvy-gremeli-vo-mnogih-oblastyah (via translation add-on.)
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 13:41 utc | 6
Landmines are bad ... excepted when you border Russia.
https://apnews.com/article/finland-land-mines-russia-f54d2eaeb3552e04ab91a51575a401d9
Flying reindeer might not stay a Christmas child-tale for long.
Posted by: Savonarole | Jun 19 2025 13:56 utc | 7
Jeremy [email protected]? No. Just the truth. The System Pigs.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Jun 19 2025 14:09 utc | 8
Must read about the stupid European idea of a 'deterrence force' in Ukraine:
How NATO military doctrine failed Ukraine on the battlefield - Responsible Statecraft
This will also doom the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ — in part because these forces were trained to wage the Cold War, and Russia has evolved
by Alex Vershinin
Their goal is to deter the Russians from restarting the war. Unfortunately, deterrence comes from combat capability. Without it there is no deterrence at all. That capability is in question. NATO equipment and doctrine was developed for the Cold War and tested in the mountains of Afghanistan. It has not been tested in conventional war and needs to absorb lessons from the Ukraine war to offer a military option to the European elites, independent of the United States.
...
There is also lack of professionalism among NATO officers, stemming from over 20 years of “War on Terror” that atrophied professional education in realms of conventional warfare. The loss of institutional knowledge has deeply affected Western militaries and is exacerbated by hubris gained from victories over weaker powers.
...
Instead of taking time to learn the lessons from Ukraine and improve its combat capability, NATO appears to assume that Russians don’t know how to fight. In the meantime both European training and equipment readiness rates are abysmal.
...
"...Instead of taking time to learn the lessons from Ukraine and improve its combat capability, NATO appears to assume that Russians don’t know how to fight. In the meantime both European training and equipment readiness rates are abysmal..."
[excerpt from 'Coalition of the Willing' article, ALEX VERSHININ, at Responsible Statescraft]
Thank you, b | Jun 19 2025 14:19 utc | 9!
Point being: adaptation, as enshrined in Patriots vs Redcoats, US's own military history. Even I, not an historian or military buff, shuddered at the antiquated claim 'Coalition of the Willing'. Who wants to repeat that history?
Posted by: juliania | Jun 19 2025 14:59 utc | 10
Posted by: b | Jun 19 2025 14:19 utc | 9
Of course, from a European perspective, all of this could have been avoided if sane leadership simply recognised that it was in Europe's interest to reach a security and trade agreement with the Russian Federation.
European Citizenry has been betrayed by its quisling leadership.
Result: see Jams O'Donnell provided link at #1 above.
Europe needs 'regime change' and a divorce from Uncle Sam.
@Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 12:34 utc | 1
Thanks for reposting link.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Jun 19 2025 15:11 utc | 11
Instead of taking time to learn the lessons from Ukraine and improve its combat capability, NATO appears to assume that Russians don’t know how to fight. In the meantime both European training and equipment readiness rates are abysmal.
...
Posted by: b | Jun 19 2025 14:19 utc | 9
Maybe they're stupid enough to try to continue beyond EOY (with other european troops), would delay capitulation by a couple of years but would be a much wider capitulation.
That's why putin is sparing missiles and bayonets (2 million by EOY)
Meanwhile things are going steadily, short-changed DS gives 15km2, AFU casualties near 1.350, Lugansk only 20 km2 to go but no need to hurry https://tass.com/politics/1976511
Posted by: Newbie | Jun 19 2025 15:13 utc | 12
Must read about the stupid European idea of a 'deterrence force' in Ukraine:Posted by: b | Jun 19 2025 14:19 utc | 9How NATO military doctrine failed Ukraine on the battlefield - Responsible Statecraft
Thanks for linking to that piece; the final two paragraphs raise similar questions to those raised by the earlier Strategic Culture article:
Here lies the ultimate puzzle. Given the inadequacy of NATO’s European forces to fight a sustained war, one must wonder, what are the European leaders hoping for? Do they delude themselves into thinking Russia is losing and they can defeat it in war, like some in the U.S.? Are they bluffing, or do they assume that the mere sight of Western forces will cause Russians to capitulate?Why are they willing to run the real risk of a military defeat with all its negative political and economic consequences? Europe must address these questions before a catastrophic mistake is made.
Why, indeed? The continued pursuit of these delusions by the European so-called elites is unfathomable to me and I guess many barflies. What is the motivation, the desired outcome, driving this bizarre denial of reality?
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 15:27 utc | 13
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 13:25 utc | 5
They are much worst than sex prostitutes.
Posted by: Naive | Jun 19 2025 15:47 utc | 14
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 12:34 utc | 1
I am waiting so much that it will happen. They deserve it for all the crimes they committed for the last 5 centuries.
Posted by: Naive | Jun 19 2025 15:52 utc | 15
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 15:27 utc | 13
Unfathomable for any human being with a sound mind and a morality. The problem is that they are totally deprived of both. They think that they are geniuses. If you read Nietzsche, you understand where this hubris comes from: inversion of all values, war as a necessity, Uebermenschen versus cattle. Megalomania is spreading like a transmitted disease. In a sound society they would be all locked in psychiatric hospitals.
Posted by: Naive | Jun 19 2025 16:04 utc | 16
Ursulla and the Commissar's gang last one : take Russian assets at Euroclear on a more rewarding* investment plan and give the "benefits" to the banderist proxy.
I wonder who they are gonna choose , PrivatBank ? LatvianBank ? Blackrock ?
I can just wonder how can it be legal and how it will end the day Russia will ask its assets back with interests ...
Fell like the Euro will then de-facto be ruled an unsafe investment (DDD---).
* Read : more risky.
Posted by: Savonarole | Jun 19 2025 16:14 utc | 17
A yet to be observed loss of satellite intel and comms sent to help the genocide will impact.
Ptolemy no fewer CIA/MI6 ops inside Russia. As well as in Donbas.
Posted by: paddy | Jun 19 2025 16:21 utc | 18
To maintain their salary and status they have to play along with the mass deception and delusion.
A pretty grubby explanation though...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 13:25 utc | 5
Here was I thinking that it was the welfare of the nation and its people were the priorities.
Anyway I digress the proletariat don't understand their predicament.
I thought that the Norwegian numpty had a mental health problem.
The Dutch nutter makes him look rational.
Posted by: jpc | Jun 19 2025 16:38 utc | 19
@ juliania, §10:
It´s the "Coalition of the Sniffing": ´Kneeler´ Starmer, Macroléon, Merz von BlackRock and The Spiv of Kiev.
Posted by: John Marks | Jun 19 2025 20:44 utc | 20
❗️Russian youth organisations staged a protest outside the British Ambassador's residence in Moscow.In response a British embassy official stood on the balcony of the British embassy and gave the Nazi salute. This is how he celebrates the birthday of the English king. A week before Remembrance Day!
remember how they all screemed that musk did the nazi salute? well, whats good for the goose.. here we have a fine example of the modern brit. a nazi.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Jun 19 2025 20:48 utc | 21
ok. It's been a couple months, so I feel safe to tell this story now.
I was on one of my walks, they are quite long, and I walked down a street. A house had a flagpole with a Canadian Flag on top and an upside down ukrainian flag below it.
As I got closer, there was a younger couple also on a walk across the street from the flags.
I am a strange person, especially when it comes to shit I hate. Anyways, I walk up to them and just start saying, loudly, "Look at these idiots, they care so much about Ukraine they got the flag upside down"
The dude replied, "I know, and the other flag is Canadian, pisses me off every time I walk by it... ...is it really upside down?"
I say "Yup, blue sky above yellow field is what it represents "
"makes sense" he says, and I continue on, only to see the dude with the flags' door is open (one of the first sunny days of Spring) and he is sitting in a chair where he could see me and I could see him.
I just yelled, "Your FLAG'S UPSIDE DOWN!" I am sure he was confused, so as I continued to walk by his house I looked at him and yelled even louder, as if I was really pissed, "YOUR FLAG'S UPSIDE DOWN!!!" then walked by...
...about 10 seconds later, I was now about 20m down the street, I hear this "excuse me..... excuse me"
I turned around and to see him and to let him see murder on my face.
"Did you say my flag is upside down, if so l apologize and will correct it."
Then I yelled back in a Ukrainian accent XD "YOU DARE TO DISRESPECT UKRRAINE!"
"is it upside down?" he yelled back in a weak shaky high voice
"BLUE GOES ON TOP"
"it is?"
"BLUE GOES ON TOP!"
true story. afterward, I got really paranoid, its a small town, and I am "seen a lot", shall we say. But its just one of those things I do sometimes.
XD
Posted by: UWDude | Jun 19 2025 22:26 utc | 22
Russian Su-24 skims the waves in neutral waters of the Baltic Sea. It flew by a US warship and released flares.
CMIIW but the flares are released by the plane's computer when it senses radar or IR, so the USA ship's weapons locked on to the plane. Extremely risky by both sides.
The Baltic Sea is the place to watch, that's where they will try and fuck up Russia's winning game, force Russia to extend when it needs to concentrate, bring in NATO's forte, its navies and air forces - as separate states, no enacting article 5, NATO's own SMO in the Baltic.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jun 19 2025 22:36 utc | 23
Posted by: jpc | Jun 19 2025 12:58 utc | 2
Posted by: John Marks | Jun 19 2025 20:44 utc | 20
Yup. Cocaine. That's how you explain it.
Posted by: Arganthonios | Jun 19 2025 23:28 utc | 24
I say "Yup, blue sky above yellow field is what it represents "
Posted by: UWDude | Jun 19 2025 22:26 utc | 22
Wrong, it reprensents tears and piss.
Posted by: Naive | Jun 19 2025 23:48 utc | 25
UAVs hit Kharkiv and Odessa (DD geopolitics)
and
Special Military Operation Sitrep - June 19, 2025
By: @Rybar
➡️Russian forces struck targets in the Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Cherkassy, and Kharkov regions. Ukrainian units launched over 100 drones at Russian rear and border areas.
➡️On the Sumy front, Russian troops broke through enemy defenses in Yunakovka and engaged in fighting on the town’s northern outskirts.
Ukrainian attempts to counterattack along the Andreevka–Alekseevka line failed.
➡️On the Kramatorsk front, Russian forces are engaged in combat on the southern flank of Chasov Yar, specifically in Stupochki, aiming to clear the southern part of the village. Inside Chasov Yar, fighting continues in the high-rise area south of the refractory plant and in the Shevchenko district.
➡️On the Konstantinovka front, Russian troops landed in the central part of Aleksandro-Kalinovo and widened the breach in Ukrainian defenses near Yablonovka.
Posted by: Newbie | Jun 20 2025 0:59 utc | 26
NATO Exit ramp for Ukraine:
Scoop: France has suddenly discovered there are NAZIS in Ukraine. It was only when Russia started the SMO that these rats were suddenly forgotten after many articles and several documentaries produced before, as well as the coverage of the 2014 Maidan coup.
"Nazi symbols prevalent in Ukrainian military – Le Monde"
https://www.rt.com/russia/619862-lemonde-ukraine-nazi-symbols/
Posted by: George | Jun 20 2025 1:31 utc | 27
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 13:41 utc | 6
Thank you for the summary.
The only stuff I can access -and am inclined to believe- is that from Marat K, so your information is very welcome.
Posted by: Barrel Brown | Jun 20 2025 1:35 utc | 28
Posted by: George | Jun 20 2025 1:31 utc | 27
interesting.
Posted by: UWDude | Jun 20 2025 1:38 utc | 29
@ George | Jun 20 2025 1:31 utc | 27
Or maybe it’s a step toward Europe’s embrace of its Nazi past.
Posted by: malenkov | Jun 20 2025 1:40 utc | 30
Or maybe it’s a step toward Europe’s embrace of its Nazi past.
Posted by: malenkov | Jun 20 2025 1:40 utc | 30
Well it's a French source and it wasn't that ready to admit the NAZISM in Ukraine since Russia started the SMO, it was rather rushing to supply weapons and troops instead. Now they have all dumped Ukraine so exit ramps and excuses are needed. It's just very strange how these stories suddenly stopped during the NATO backed war.
Posted by: George | Jun 20 2025 2:04 utc | 31
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 12:34 utc | 1
Thanks for calling attention to the linked article by Lucas on the Strategic Culture site.
From the article:
The militarization of Europe, sold as a solution, is in fact a symptom of collapse. Lacking an industrial base, political capital, or social support, any attempt to rebuild a significant military force will result either in prolonged recession or the dismantling of the welfare state—two paths that will lead the so-called “European garden” to ruin.
Immediately after our mediocre elites started to speak about re-armament I commented here that was to the detriment of the European welfare state and also to the power of euro liberal elites.
The euro populace, mostly leftists but also a large part of the right, vote for mediocre degenerates like Macron, Rutte, that guy in the UK, because they fear losing their little privileges afforded to them by the welfare state. So if our elites dismantle the welfare state to re-arm (mostly Germany transfering wealth to America) to any significant degree, within two or three ellectionering cycles these elites will be kicked out.
And it is not the euro-left the side that will benefit, no, it will be the 'far right'.
Europe is stuck in a rotting middle but deterioration of the welfare state due to re-armament will be the way out of it.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Jun 20 2025 6:36 utc | 32
Posted by: b | Jun 19 2025 14:19 utc | 9
Thanks, agree, this is an important article on big-picture military matters in the NATO versus Russia antagonistic landscape.
From the article:
This leaves introducing a draft [euro populace not patriotic enough to volunteer], which is always an unpopular measure, but the migrant crisis risks exacerbating the situation. New citizens are unlikely to fight in Ukraine, without massive unrest. Excluding them will result in equally massive unrest from the European indigenous population. Either way, the draft threatens tearing European societies apart.
Excellent thinking ahead. In my work, I often discover processes that are inside systems and that lead to the decline of the system's output, in order to use those discoveries to achive my goals.
Liberal hegemony in the West has in it numerous processes that work against the system but that are set in motion for short-term gain. Immigration, which effectively means importation of cheaper working classes, in the long term destroys the fibre of nations, although in the short term increases profit margins for companies and the chances of liberal politicians to stay in power.
Here lies the ultimate puzzle. Given the inadequacy of NATO’s European forces to fight a sustained war, one must wonder, what are the European leaders hoping for? Do they delude themselves into thinking Russia is losing and they can defeat it in war, like some in the U.S.? Are they bluffing, or do they assume that the mere sight of Western forces will cause Russians to capitulate?
I can answer those questions. Euro liberal political elites are bluffing because they do not beleive there will be war with Russia, except that Russia will attack the Baltic statelets and that will not matter much (although the self-righteous noise will be very loud).
So there is no need to upgrade NATO. European liberal elites are yapping about war with Russia mostly just for one reason: to make Germany go into debt and thus help America achieve a soft landing from its current unsustainable federal financial position.
Recall, I have provided evidence (through linking to declassified docs in USA National Archives) that America created the European Union. Likewise, America need to consume now the EU to help it achieve its very much needed financial soft landing.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Jun 20 2025 7:15 utc | 33
Posted by: George | Jun 20 2025 1:31 utc | 27
The "media pundits" no one read anymore are just backing the let down of 404 by "the west" hoping to shape a public opinion they already long lost on the matter... while selling the "new war" (with 20% more missiles) like there was no yesterday.
It's pathetic and comical at the same time : the essence of a clown show, or the perfect smoke screen for the eternal war they won't speak about : the class war.
Posted by: Savonarole | Jun 20 2025 8:30 utc | 34
Likewise, America need to consume now the EU to help it achieve its very much needed financial soft landing.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Jun 20 2025 7:15 utc | 33
That won't be enough. US needs, as Trumpy says now publicly, to control the entire planet, all routes, straits, ports, energy. He wants to decide who can buy oil from Russia (which he already does) or Iran or anywhere else.
He literally wrote that he is "the hunter" now, he demands complete capitulation. That can be easily achieved with nukes because no one will offer to help the victim. So he will do so, he always had the plan to normalize their use. If he uses his beloved small nukes in terrorist acts against Russia thru Ukr, they can't even nuke him back, they will take the hit like with Kirillov or the nuclear carriers or the famous clustered beach, the symbol of full castration.
Kremlin says if Khamenei is assassinated "we will strongly condemn this" ( en.topwar.ru/266651-peskov-ustranenie-verhovnogo-lidera-irana-otkroet-jaschik-pandory.html ) but they are very upset when RAI suggested to kill Putin too ( tass.com/politics/1976663 ) What a hilarious government
Posted by: rk | Jun 20 2025 9:25 utc | 35
Simple @Slavyangrad explanation.
"A quick observation on these talks about killing the Ayatollah Khameini: it would be peak lunacy on so many levels, it boggles the mind.
First, Khameini is already quite old and there surely is a hierarchy of candidates ready to take his place even if he died of natural causes. His death won't impact the functioning of the Iranian state in any way.
Second, as both the supreme spiritual leader of Iran and a sayyid (patrilineally descended from the Prophet of Islam), he's the defacto holy leader of Shia Islam, or at least the twelver branch.
Killing him would turn him into a revered martyr, creating a standard behind which the majority of the Shia world will rally, and elevate the conflict to a Jihad.
And anyone who knows about Hasan-i Sabah and the order he founded also knows the lengths that Iranians (or Shia Muslims in general) are capable of going to in a holy war.
Then again, sanity has vacated the heads of American policymakers a long time ago."
Posted by: Tichy | Jun 20 2025 9:36 utc | 36
Posted by: rk | Jun 20 2025 9:25 utc | 35That won't be enough.
I agree with that. Like I said, Germany going into debt to re-arm will help America achieve its soft landing, just help, it's part of the package.
But then you go crazy or propagandist by claiming America will attack Russia under my premises. Why would America risk nuclear war or simpy face a reclacitrantly independent Great Power when it still has rather large vassal nations like Germany, Canada, and Australia, that will pitch in with no friction to help their America-daddy Great Power when in trouble?
You have an obsessive Russophobia, I guess 'cause you're one of those poor loser ukrops, so you masturbate-fantasize about many Russian civilians dying in nuclear terrorist attacks and other quite stupid things.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Jun 20 2025 10:21 utc | 38
Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update, 20th June 2025: May be useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-and-world-affairs-weekly-26e
Posted by: The Busker | Jun 20 2025 11:15 utc | 39
Ukrainian drone crashes in Kazakhstan steppes – likely BritishA drone was found shot down in the Karakyan district of the Mangystau region in Kazakhstan. According to media reports, it is preliminary that it is a Banshee Jet 80, a British drone in service with the Ukrainian army.
The device fell far from populated areas, there are no damage or casualties. The place is fenced off, special services are working.
The Banshee can travel up to 700 km at a speed of 720 km/h. It is used as a reconnaissance aircraft, decoy or kamikaze drone.
According to one version, the drone was supposed to attack the Orenburg region, but “overflew” and fell on the territory of Kazakhstan.
The Orenburg region declared a threat of drone attacks yesterday. Military channels wrote that the Ukrainian armed forces could have targeted the Russian cosmodrome and missile base in the city of Yasny.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Jun 20 2025 12:00 utc | 40
Hitler Youth is reborn
In Bandera's Ukraine...The Ukrainian "Radmila" has decided to support the pro-Nazi game "Jura" in order to develop in young people "the readiness to defend their own state with weapons in hand". The reason for this initiative is banal: the Ukrainian armed forces are running out of fighters, reports InoSMI...
Ukrainian MP Vasyl Mokan commented on the situation as follows:
Currently, two important areas are in the process of development, such as "Jura-Drone Operator" and "Jura-Scout". The strategic nature and importance of this project is in the context of the eternal conflict with the Russian enemy...
shared western values.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Jun 20 2025 12:04 utc | 41
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Jun 20 2025 7:15 utc | 33
Very good observation. Indeed, the Federal Gov. was created with the intention of surpassing those annoying States (former colonies) that claimed sovereignty, and with it, prevented big business from NY from expanding without limitation. The Federal Gov. and the Constitution were the tools created to put States under control. The Supreme Court was to exert vigilance over States legislation, the Congress was to approve federal legislation directly applicable in the States and was open for business for big capital, which introduced corruption and bribery as a standard currency for influence. And the President was created to have total liberty on policies, independent from the Congress.
American oligarchs want to implement this model in the EU since many years ago given the existing strong public sector here, while destroying Russia and China to have total control over trade, resources, and any type of assets (including people) all across the northern hemisphere.
Europeans still think the left is progressive and democratic but, indeed, the left and the far-left have turned into neo-liberals, managers of the State for the benefit of the oligarchical status quo, vigilant of their privately-led, monopolistic, and censorship-style regimes.
It's very scary.
Posted by: Emi | Jun 20 2025 12:07 utc | 42
Hi, from Poland. Who thinks that under any prez US would go to full nuclear war with Rus if places in EU nuked? I think any future EU-Rus war would finish after 2-3 big cities in the West becomes nuked. No need to do that to Poland, as it decides nothing in EU. From Rus
side more sense makes to milk EU cash and resources, as war contribution. Finland & Baltics are different story, their independence were tollerated by Rus provided become neutral (remember Mannerheim advice to Finnish gov., despite him succesfully fighting 2 wars).
As far as Poland concerned, by popular wish we are rearming yet not for modern rocket/nuke war but the past one, like Ukr, so would be useless if full EU attacked by rockets/air. Since several centuries the important split is not left-right but those who have and have not. Remember that feudal slavery here was abolished (in fateful 1864y) not by our elites but foreign occupiers, to satisfaction of then 90% population. Pest-before date of neo-liberal experiment in Poland lasting from 1990 already expired. Voters support populists not because Tusk government is poor but because they hate elites and 'their' as opposed 'our' state, and wish them humilated, accepting (very likely) risk that the next one would be worse. It is about (lack of) implementation of labor laws. Catolic church and social conservatism are secondary issues in this context. So after 2027 elections we are going to have national-socialist system (not in NSDAP sense),
corrupt and authoritarian.
Posted by: alexwdomu | Jun 20 2025 13:12 utc | 43
Posted by: alexwdomu | Jun 20 2025 13:12 utc | 43
i hate to break it to you, but poland is a prime transit nation for weapon deliveries to the ukraine. if something big is about to happen with nukes involved, dont think that the russians will only involve us stupid germans and the vile brits. your territory is a staging ground and thus a valid target. rzeszow get daily flights in and out, ask your gov why they allow something like this to happen. why they let your country paint a big target on its back.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Jun 20 2025 14:01 utc | 44
So 21 km2, near 1.350 casualties
and latest update
https://maratkhairullin.substack.com/p/brief-report-from-the-front-june-789
Posted by: Newbie | Jun 20 2025 15:29 utc | 45
Posted by: Justpassinby | Jun 20 2025 14:01 utc | 44rzeszow get daily flights in and out, ask your gov why they allow something like this to happen. why they let your country paint a big target on its back.
For a neighbor nation with a large and active fascist part more than willing to genocide a few Poles to make some Lebensraum for Banderistan, as they have done in the past. I mean, Poland as a political entity, though not yet as a nation, is now a more abject vassal of liberal Western elites than when they were vassals of the Soviet Union.
How about some independence? Why the girlish urge to join others and be their bitches?
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Jun 20 2025 16:01 utc | 46
JUST BEGINNINGInjured and humiliated, former soldiers of the Ukrainian armed forces have started protests in Kiev...
"We volunteered to repay our debt to our country, they didn't buy us off the street... Today we only ask ourselves one thing... Where have our rights gone?"
During that time, the police are on "combat alert"...
The veterans have given the authorities an ultimatum until a certain date...
Comment:
Being deceived and indoctrinated, I feel sorry for them both as soldiers and as someone's relatives...This cannon fodder and ordinary numbers for their overdue president and his Independence...I remember the movie The Last of the Mohicans...The movie The Last Ukrainian should have Sean Penn in the lead role...
source
Posted by: Justpassinby | Jun 20 2025 16:36 utc | 47
@ Justpassinby | Jun 20 2025 16:36 utc | 47
Interesting info, thanks for finding that and sharing it, another pebble building towards a landslide of popular discontent with the Kiev junta. It’s building slowly, and there’s no predicting the tipping point, but sooner or later the remaining population will have their say, regardless of MI6/CIA/EU machinations.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 20 2025 18:55 utc | 48
The latest week's Ukrainian casualties and other losses as reported by the Russian Military. I track these weekly numbers, and the trend in all armoured vehicles (tanks, IFV/AFV, APC, HMV/Light Armoured Vehicles) has really gone down, pointing to growing shortages of these in the Ukrainian military. Same goes for artillery, where losses are now one third of their peak during quite intense fighting. Even the human casualties are remaining under 10,000 a week during intense fighting, somewhat confirming the stories of significant Ukrainian troop shortages at the front. Perhaps the Ukrainians are on their last legs, with all of the Biden supply packages now exhausted and no new ones on the way.
Ukrainian losses for the week June 14th to June 20th, as reported by the Russian defence ministry:
- Kursk & Kharkov fronts: 1,250 troops, 22 LAV/HMV, 25 motor vehicles, 24 artillery pieces, 2 EW systems.
- Zapad Group (Luhansk area): 1,480 troops, 1 tank, 7 LAV/HMV, 58 motor vehicles, 4 artillery pieces, 12 EW and CB systems.
- Yug Group (Donetsk north): 1,390 troops, 1 tank, 3 APC, 7 LAV/HMV, 16 motor vehicles, 12 artillery pieces, 7 EW and Counter-Battery systems.
- Tsetr Group (Donetsk south): 3,410 troops, 7 APC, 36 LAV/ HMV, 34 motor vehicles, 13 artillery pieces.
- Vostok Group (southern front): 1,350 troops, 1 tank, 12 LAV/HMV, 54 motor vehicles, 15 artillery piece, 6 EW ad CB systems.
- Dnepr Group: 470 troops, 1 LAV/HMV, 54 motor vehicles, 3 artillery pieces, 15 EW and CB systems.
In total: 9,350 troops - under 10,000 (40,517 per month, with undercounting probably around 45,000).
3 tanks (0 in Kursk/Kharkov), 0 IFV, 10 APC, 85 HMV/Light Armoured Vehicle (22 in Kursk/Khakrov). Another 10 of the death-trap aged APCs. Notably less tanks, no IFVs and even quite a few less HMV/LAVs. Could the Ukrainian forces be running short of even light armoured vehicles? Even a third less motor vehicles at 241.
Only 71 artillery pieces (24 in Kursk/Kharkov), plus also 0 MLRS. Down to a rate of 308/mth; 1/3rd of the peak loss rate. Looks like Ukrainian artillery may have been depleted to a relatively low level, the Russian advantage here will have been multiplied.
Plus 42 EW and Counter Battery systems, the Russians are having a lot of success wiping out the Ukrainian EW and CB capabilities.
The shortage of armoured vehicles, even light armoured vehicles seems to have been intensified. Along with a lack of artillery. A casualty rate of only 9,350 during intense fighting may also conform the reports of a lack of Ukrainian troops.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Jun 20 2025 19:01 utc | 49
@ Roger Boyd | Jun 20 2025 19:01 utc | 49
Thanks for this, and I agree with your observations about the declining numbers, these being a big indicator of the attritional approach adopted by Russian forces.
Don’t know if you saw a translation from a Ukrainian outlet that I posted in an earlier thread; not only are the press-gangs running at some 50% of the targets set by the Kiev junta but those they do grab are rejected by the army training centres for various health issues, at a rejection rate of up to 97% in one quoted example. There was a description attributed to one of the press-gang commanders of how he had several hundred addicts and alcoholics turning up once a month, to be touted round the training centres, knowing full well they would all fail the medical exam.
They are running out of fit bodies, and those that do remain seem to be becoming more militant in their objection to being “the last Ukrainian”.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 20 2025 19:21 utc | 50
I'm wondering at the effectiveness of Ukrainian forced conscripts being used in attacks across large areas. As soon as they get out of sight of their commander's binoculars, and they hear gunfire, why wouldn't they hug the ground, the mission be damned?
If this is somewhat true then the reported rates of AFU attrition could be even more serious then they appear. Sure, FPV drones will attack anyone, even conscientious objectors, but the casualties among those breaching Russian Federation lines will be occurring mostly among Ukraine's bravest and best remaining soldiers.
And this imo has likely been the case for quite a while now. So the current defenders of Ukrainian positions might be a whole lot more interested in joining in an unordered retreat, a rout in other words, and surrendering if given a decent opportunity to do so, than their predecessors were a couple of years ago. Time will tell, and pretty soon, as the front-lines are abuzz with activity.
Posted by: Babel-17 | Jun 20 2025 19:22 utc | 51
Moskovka, just 2 km north west of the main road intersection in Kupyansk taken. If the Russians continue south by 2km, they will cross the P07 main supply highway into Kupyansk. The north-south P79 is cut to the south at Kruhlyakivka and to the north at Rad'kivka so it cannot be used as a supply route. So the Russians are only 2km from an operational encirclement of Kupyansk.
At the same time the Russians have downed every bridge over the Oskol between Kupyansk and Kruhlyakivka, cutting off all of the Ukrainian troops on the east side of the river between those two towns. This could produce a hastened retreat by the Ukrainian forces and the taking of Kupyansk, a major victory for the Russians. The Russian troops on the eastern bank could then be focused on driving southwards toward Borova and then Lozove and Oskil (10km east of the Izyum area and the remaining main supply line to Slovyansk/Kramatorsk). Driving southwards in parallel to the Russian troops coming down from Kupyansk. Recreating the position of the Russian forces in 2022, but this time with the southern supply routes cut.
The same dynamic is playing out south of Kostyantynivka as the Ukrainian troops west of Toretsk and east of Novoolenivka are threatened with complete encirclement south of the Kleban-Bykske reservoir and Yablunivka. This would open the way for direct assaults upon Kostyantynivka, and also a flanking move to the west of that town toward Druzhkivka to the north and even Kramatorsk.
The front may become quite a bit more fluid within the next few weeks.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Jun 20 2025 19:26 utc | 52
Unstable security situation: Sumy Theater cancels performanceshttps://regionews.ua/ukr/news/sumshchina/1750438473-nestabilna-bezpekova-situatsiya-sumskiy-teatr-skasovue-vistavi (via translation add-on.)In Sumy National theater decided to cancel performances. The reason was the situation in the region
This is reported by representatives of the theater, reports RegioNews .
Sumy National Theater named after Shchepkin prematurely stops the theater season. The reason was a dangerous situation in the region. The theater team decided to cancel three performances. Viewers must get their money back.
"Due to the unstable security situation in the city, we are forced to cancel performances on the big stage until the end of the 92nd theater season," the report says.
It was actually amateur comedy night, but star turn Donald Trump had a diary clash...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 20 2025 19:36 utc | 53
And now the future mothers of Ukraine are leaving. Wreck the nation badly enough and it will fade into history.
Posted by: Eighthman | Jun 20 2025 19:37 utc | 54
@Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 20 2025 19:21 utc | 50
Yes, after more than three years of fighting the Ukrainians do at last seem to be running out of men and machines. The Ukrainians are mounting counter-attacks around Pokrovsk, which I can only assume are using the remaining experienced and highly trained troops, as the press-ganged would be both quite unwilling and quite useless in such attacks. The quicker that remaining core of experienced and trained soldiers are attrited, the quicker the rest will decide to just not fight and/or surrender.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Jun 20 2025 19:47 utc | 55
Moskovka, just 2 km north west of the main road intersection in Kupyansk taken. If the Russians continue south by 2km, they will cross the P07 main supply highway into Kupyansk. The north-south P79 is cut to the south at Kruhlyakivka and to the north at Rad'kivka so it cannot be used as a supply route. So the Russians are only 2km from an operational encirclement of Kupyansk.
At the same time the Russians have downed every bridge over the Oskol between Kupyansk and Kruhlyakivka, cutting off all of the Ukrainian troops on the east side of the river between those two towns. This could produce a hastened retreat by the Ukrainian forces and the taking of Kupyansk, a major victory for the Russians. The Russian troops on the eastern bank could then be focused on driving southwards toward Borova and then Lozove and Oskil (10km east of the Izyum area and the remaining main supply line to Slovyansk/Kramatorsk). Driving southwards in parallel to the Russian troops coming down from Kupyansk. Recreating the position of the Russian forces in 2022, but this time with the southern supply routes cut.
The same dynamic is playing out south of Kostyantynivka as the Ukrainian troops west of Toretsk and east of Novoolenivka are threatened with complete encirclement south of the Kleban-Bykske reservoir and Yablunivka. This would open the way for direct assaults upon Kostyantynivka, and also a flanking move to the west of that town toward Druzhkivka to the north and even Kramatorsk.
The front may become quite a bit more fluid within the next few weeks.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Jun 20 2025 19:26 utc | 52
Agreed, the drive to 37E up north starts by 37.4E oskil river+-
Posted by: Newbie | Jun 20 2025 19:58 utc | 56
Donald Trump warned those urging Kiev to continue the war to “watch their language.”
Their statements, he said, could “lead to serious trouble.”
He said this in response to a question about Lindsey Graham and Mike Pompeo visiting Ukraine and pushing for continued fighting.
Posted by: Newbie | Jun 20 2025 20:35 utc | 57
Posted by: Emi | Jun 20 2025 12:07 utc | 42
"Indeed, the Federal Gov. was created with the intention of surpassing those annoying States (former colonies) that claimed sovereignty, and with it, prevented big business from NY from expanding without limitation. The Federal Gov. and the Constitution were the tools created to put States under control."
Not true. The federal government was created to pay off the war debt, standardize the currency, keep the postal service running and make treaties both economic and defensive with other nations. That's why the Tenth Amendment (which is now totally ignored) limits the federal government and reserves broad powers for the state governments. The federal government only broke the shackles of the Tenth Amendment after the Civil War. It was a Faustian bargain in which the northern states gave up their sovereignty to defeat the southern states and once the war was over they didn't know how to reclaim their sovereignty. You might have missed a bit when you were studying history.
Posted by: Paranaense | Jun 21 2025 3:21 utc | 58
Posted by: Paranaense | Jun 21 2025 3:21 utc | 58
Emi was writing about the hidden motives behind the push to federalize and you are responding with history lessons taught to kids.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Jun 21 2025 6:10 utc | 59
Who thinks that under any prez US would go to full nuclear war with Rus if places in EU nuked? I think any future EU-Rus war would finish after 2-3 big cities in the West becomes nuked.
Posted by: alexwdomu | Jun 20 2025 13:12 utc | 43
US is very interested in localized war, more exactly European but not fully, there are no plans to involve UK or FR. Which will greatly be helped by normalizing nuclear use if Trump nukes Iran. Unfortunately, if you read Putin or any other RF official statements, they also always talk about a danger of an European war.
I find this repeated phrasing very interesting because US was and is the main driver in Ukr war and they are also in control of EU, so much that basically no army there is locally controlled anymore.
So you in Poland are most likely to be screwed in all ways possible. Nato might send you to attack Belarus or do terrorist acts there or something, and because Russia never dares to respond to US (they're afraid to even shoot their drones right at the border while they guide atacms or himars into the heads of their population) they'll punish you while they invite American investors to Russia.
Posted by: rk | Jun 21 2025 6:52 utc | 60
Immediate negotiations with Russia are Ukraine’s only chance — envoy to UN
Vasily Nebenzya thanked the United States for supporting the direct dialogue between Moscow and Kiev
https://tass.com/politics/1978143 so, us is out, be smart
Russia handed over to Ukraine its best peace proposal, advises to accept it — diplomat
Vasily Nebenzya added that the document was based on principles voiced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2024
https://tass.com/politics/1978143 so, last offer at discount
Posted by: Newbie | Jun 21 2025 8:25 utc | 61
Posted by: Newbie | Jun 20 2025 19:58 utc | 56
It's a shame that web translators use the transcript of Ukrainian names instead of Russian, when most of those Donbass places always had Russian names. Reads kind of phoney, otherwise good info.
Posted by: Paco | Jun 21 2025 10:20 utc | 62
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/close-natos-door-ukraine
"Despite past promises, consensus within the alliance on inviting Ukraine to join has not been reached and is unlikely to materialize in the foreseeable future. At the same time, NATO member states have made it clear that the alliance does not consider the defense of Ukraine a basis for starting a war with Russia"
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Jun 21 2025 10:28 utc | 63
Posted by: Paco | Jun 21 2025 10:20 utc | 62
Supported!!!
Posted by: Naive | Jun 21 2025 20:32 utc | 64
The comments to this entry are closed.
H/T @ Jams O’Donnell for linking to this at the end of the previous thread, needs more visibility so reposting on the new thread: https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/06/18/the-european-garden-on-the-brink-of-ruin/
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 19 2025 12:34 utc | 1