News & views related to the war in Ukraine …
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November 2, 2025
Ukraine Open Thread 2025-255
Comments
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Nov 3 2025 3:45 utc | 95
I have read from good sources that the rest of the world including the US is around 10 years behind China on refining and making special alloys from rare earths.
Now that China has replaced the US as the ‘Can Do’ country, I suggest that in 10 years time it will be moreover 50 years ahead of the West with rare earths and many other technologies.
Thucydides trap. They should be talking about the Trumpian trap that is destroying America economically. True
And also any study of the Peloponnesian War that Sparta won against Athens (even against Athens’ navy which was considered far superior at the time) would suggest China looks and acts far more like Sparta compared to the US that looks far more like Athens. Compare the two systems of governance as well. Russia also looks more like Sparta.
Thu
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Nov 3 2025 4:35 utc | 101
LoveDonbass
Apples are ok but I prefer cherries.
And arguments about printing real money or making it on a computer as the Fed does is totally missing the point. Both these actions are inflationary and both depreciate the value of the dollar.
Your ten apples become nine, then right, then seven. But you pay the same $. Inflation isn’t hard to understand. People who try and make it complicated do it because they are into finance to edge out some dollars for themselves.
Russia and China are showing the world that they can succeed and be better off as traders and not vassals to the US dollar. Step back and take a hard look at how these countries are prospering while the EU and America are getting themselves into financial difficulties. So much for the sanctions against Russia that we were assured would bring it down. Isn’t it obvious what has and is happening. And I am thinking the ROE can see it as clearly as we can. Many have put a toe in the water.
But China is wiping the floor with US Bressent and tariff Trump.
Posted by: Bingo | Nov 3 2025 4:48 utc | 102
an old Imperial systemic framework under modern guise of democracies
Posted by: titmouse | Nov 3 2025 1:14 utc | 82
The Empire never died.
From Roman empire to Christendom, it took numerous faces, took numerous shapes, changed its center numerous times and infected numerous places.
It only yearns for two things : war and the people’s blood.
Posted by: xiao pignouf | Nov 3 2025 4:48 utc | 103
@88 Juan Moment
” For Russia this is existential, for the US and eurotards at most a matter of pride, reputational.
As for rump Ukraine “seriously pursuing arms production”, after Russia has demonstrated for four years that it has the means to level any building used for weapons manufacturing, I doubt there will be much appetite to invest in such enterprises.”
I mostly agree, but to clarify I meant that it would nato, primarily the “arsenal of democracy” aka the USA would be earnestly rearming in response to a more serious threat of Russa facing off against nato troops. The optics would support the politics necessary to get serious about weapons production, not quite existential but much more serious threat than Russia being mired in the Donbass. Russia gaining an edge in the black sea stops nato expansion where it is otherwise they can get the Caucasus too. A neutral ukraine involved the black sea v8a Odessa would be almost as good.
Like I said I’m going out on a limb here I’m not certain I’m right. But so far facts on the ground suggest to me Russia wants Odessa neutral to keep Nato doing things on the cheap and not go to a war footing.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Nov 3 2025 4:54 utc | 104
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Nov 3 2025 4:35 utc | 100
######
China isn’t succeeding with branding or rent seeking. It isn’t threatening anyone with sanctions or airstrikes.
They are winning culturally and through knowledge industries.
Capitalism has crippled the West but the elites won’t allow the system of privileges and exploitation (including their own people) to evolve.
There is nothing stopping the West from aping China or Russia’s reforms but again, the elites.
China didn’t de-industrialize the West through shady means. They looked at how they could be more attractive to manufacturing, a lot of that is offering a highly educated citizenry and cheap electricity. A system without rent seekers or many middlemen.
America hasn’t meaningfully expanded electricity production in a decade, and now they want to get into the AI datacenter game…
China is so far ahead in programming, engineering, and technology as they continue to invest in those sectors.
I see a great bifurcation in the future. China and friends and then the decaying Capitalist West.
I am not an ideological Marxist but, today, I am a committed anti-Capitalist. That “system” does not work, not is it fit for human flourishing.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Nov 3 2025 5:14 utc | 105
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Nov 3 2025 5:14 utc | 107
Agreed
I’d also say that capitalism as it has degenerated to now, with sabotage and wars, as well as the fetid and corrupt democracies we currently witness, are two arms of a degenerate system that is destroying the West.
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Nov 3 2025 5:27 utc | 106
Posted by: Naive | Nov 2 2025 23:08 utc | 62
“Here we are: under Trump more than ever the yankeeland is a fascist State.”
I’d call it crony capitalism. It seems that many legislators are sponsored by one industry or another, but it’s all unofficial. In fascism it’s the other way around; government controls business (not vice versa) and it’s official.
Posted by: Paranaense | Nov 3 2025 5:32 utc | 107
One major difference between China and western countries is the nationalisation/privatisation of money. Government borrowing money from private entities money they don’t have, instead of borrowing from itself money just created.
Consequence : paying interests to those private entities. Or not.
US government revenue (2023) : 4440 billions dollarbucks. Payment on federal debt (2023) : 659 billions dollarbucks (15 percent).
And guess what, the yearly payments on debt is paid with more debt (rolling) and this amount is decided by “the market”. Private entities and oligarchs who have a tendency to talk to each other to preserce their privilege, and punish/reward government according to their “democratic obedience”.
Posted by: Asian Frog | Nov 3 2025 5:39 utc | 108
“It only yearns for two things : war and the people’s blood.”
Posted by: xiao pignouf | Nov 3 2025 4:48 utc | 102
It became psychopathic and has to keep killing to maintain hegemony and its raison d’etre. I think the cause underlying this* yet again has always been for power and especially wealth accumulation based on greed (originally gold and jewels).
*Since I old the view of that there are always multiple causes or dependent layers supporting any event.
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Nov 3 2025 5:41 utc | 109
*Since I HOLD the view of that there are always multiple causes or dependent layers supporting any event.
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Nov 3 2025 5:43 utc | 110
Larry Johnson is covering the Black Hawk incidents in Ukraine today for those who showed earlier interest.
https://sonar21.com/ukraines-suicide-helicopter-missions-why/
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Nov 3 2025 6:17 utc | 111
[…] to clarify I meant that it would nato, primarily the “arsenal of democracy” aka the USA would be earnestly rearming in response to a more serious threat of Russa facing off against nato troops. […]
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Nov 3 2025 4:54 utc | 103
Cheers Neo, I wasn’t quite sure whether you meant Ukraine or NATO, thanks for specifying.
[…] The optics would support the politics necessary to get serious about weapons production, not quite existential but much more serious threat than Russia being mired in the Donbass. […]
For one, the U.S. and Euros are tapped out. It seems they are already in arms production overdrive, in preparation for a head-on collision by the end of this decade. I don’t think Russia would be too concerned about the anglosphere being able to ramp up their “defense spending” even higher than the 5% of GDP they have committed long-term to. For example, Fuhrer Fritz announced
Germany will more than double its military spending by the turn of the decade under a new defense spending proposal approved by the government this week.
In total, Germany plans to spend €649 billion ($761 billion) on the military over the coming five years. It marks a continuation of a historic shift that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and led to Berlin loosening the purse strings and overhauling its approach to military might. […]
The spending spree will be financed by a wave of borrowing totaling €400 billion ($469 billion) over the next five years. This, in turn, has been enabled by a constitutional reform that loosened Germany’s notoriously stringent debt rules to allow for loans to be taken for military spending and some infrastructure projects.[…]
Same as far as the U.S. is concerned. In Trump’s second term military spend has already gone up by $180B, to just under $1T pa. That’s about 3.5% of GDP. Most of it paid for with borrowed money, for which the interest payments alone are also approaching $1T per year, forecast to reach 4% of GDP all too soon. Unsustainable
In other words, the Kremlin knows there is little left in the anglo’s tank. If the RuAF takes Odessa or not won’t make much of a difference in terms of U.S./EU plowing even more resources into arms build up. If anything, in light of it taking years for the frantic effort in the West to pump out the needed hardware, all the more reason to take Odessa and the coastal strip asap.
Secondly, by the time the Russians reach Odessa, they would have had to liberate quite a number of other strategically high value cities and regions, so when it comes to optics, for most Americans and Europeans Odessa will simply be another dot and name on the map of which they have no idea. If Hegseth or vdL flail their arms crying about Odessa, most people in the West will shrug their shoulders, as by then the flailing and crying about Ukraine will be perceived as insignificant background noise. Which it already is for many.
[…] Russia gaining an edge in the black sea stops nato expansion where it is otherwise they can get the Caucasus too. […]
Bingo.
[…] A neutral ukraine involved the black sea v8a Odessa would be almost as good […] Russia wants Odessa neutral to keep Nato doing things on the cheap and not go to a war footing.
A neutral Ukraine may not stay neutral. But a Russian Odessa will stay Russian.
If NATO wants to go to a war footing, they will do so no matter what happens to Odessa. Plenty of other pretexts for them to choose. But if they do, Russia would be in a much better position holding Odessa and the entire Black Sea coast at that point.
Posted by: Juan Moment | Nov 3 2025 7:16 utc | 112
Trying to escape from Kupyansk to the north on 2 porcupine M113, disabled by FPV drones, then manhunt on open field.
https://ok.ru/video/9844955744896
This is a very well documented war. You can get familiar with men one second before a big fat flying bug explodes in their faces.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Nov 3 2025 7:40 utc | 113
https://ok.ru/video/9844955548288
Large body part flying at 1:08. Ends up over 10 m far from the body it was attached to.
This is what we are paying for. So our leaders don’t look as losers.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Nov 3 2025 7:51 utc | 114
“Former Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Vitaly Deynega has called for an immediate order to withdraw troops from Pokrovsk and Mirnograd, admitting that Ukrainian forces have “effectively lost” both cities.
“If no one signs the withdrawal order soon, we risk losing not only a significant number of highly motivated paratroopers and marines — the equipment worth hundreds of millions is already gone, with no chance of evacuation — but also face a situation where there’s simply no one left to plug the holes in the front. The fortifications we’ve built in the rear will quickly fall into Russian hands,” Deynega wrote.
He added that General Staff reports are becoming increasingly filled with lies.
“In reality, we’ve practically lost Pokrovsk. That means holding Mirnograd makes no sense — the logistics are suicidal and exposed. This isn’t revealing any secret; the Russians can see everything from their drones in real time. The situation must be acknowledged, and the troops who refuse to stay without orders must be saved,” Deynega said”
Posted by: Newbie | Nov 3 2025 8:09 utc | 115
– Pokrovsk has fallen to the russians ? The Ukraine abandonede their soldiers over there ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9SlvhBR61M (length: 5 minutes )
Posted by: WMG | Nov 3 2025 8:13 utc | 116
More likely, they [US+EU] will try to buy off the conflict, either with money or territory. It is no coincidence that in the Baltic countries there is currently no confidence that NATO will fight for them even in the case of direct Russian aggression.
The above is Simplicius quoting some ukrop commentator.
Of course, as I’ve saying here, the Baltics are next. NATO or not, Lithuania would have to move its capital to the Baltic Sea to make way for the Russian corridor from Belarus.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Nov 3 2025 8:19 utc | 117
Havent’ watched any report yet but RUMOD claims the attacks on Rodynske have been repelled.
A day or two ago it was reported AFU had a small wedge in north part of Rodynske, no road connections, only relying on heavy supply drone like Vampyre. RUAF was supposedly bombing the AFU wedge with FAB bombs.
The AFU move further north in Shakhove and Kucheriv Yar were halted and reversed.
If this holds true then Syrsky’s hail mary counter-attack after accumulating forces from all other direction has been halted, stalled and failed.
The cost would be further RUAF gains, and AFU encirclements in other directions.
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 9:25 utc | 118
The cost would be further RUAF gains, and AFU encirclements in other directions.
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 9:25 utc | 118
As the AFU loses more and more (and have fewer and fewer pieces to play), things can become interesting.
All bets are off about Zaporizhzhya being reached from the south or from the east first 😀
Posted by: Newbie | Nov 3 2025 10:07 utc | 119
Posted by: S Brennan | Nov 2 2025 22:23 utc | 56
Thank god, an over-rated commander whose tactics forced numerous reorganisations in the Soviet Army as they struggled to deal with the results of his ‘successes’. The Russians cannot exploit the gains they make because the doctrinal method for doing such, use of concentrated armour, backed by rotary envelopment and CAS, are rendered near impossible by current conditions on the battlefield (drones/SAMS/ISR/FASCAM). Given the current pendulum has swung decisively in favour of the defender it’s simply easier and more productive to bite, hold, exploit, consolidate, rinse and repeat than to try to swallow large chunks of real estate and risk choking.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Nov 3 2025 3:24 utc | 94
‘Official estimates’, that’s a joke, both sides struggled to keep accurate accounts of their casualties due to the mechanisms used, categories included or ignored, the chaos of keeping records in a war, and a desire by a totalitarian regime to portray certain post-conflict narratives about the conflict.
Drawing conclusions from overall casualties from a conflict, whatever the figure claimed, can create serious misconceptions about the nature of the combat’s that generated the figures in the first place. Even until the end of the war the Germans tactically dominated the Soviets, extracting comparatively heavy losses on tip of the spear forces, even when operationally defeated. This is proven by the Allies having to reorganise their tactical formations and re-consolidate their systems of troop replacements, in response, sometimes drastically.
The Soviets in WW2 has tactically few options, with the vast bulk of their infantry and armour forces constantly made up of hastily trained troops thrown into battle, using rudimentary tactics that at first were nothing short of disastrous but then began to operationally succeed, being driven by more skilled commanders, and strategic factors like demographics, terrain and raw industrial production numbers. Pretending the Soviets were tactically anywhere near equivalent operators to the Germans tends to undermine the argument you and other posters have used to explain the disparity in Russian/Ukrainian losses, i.e better trained troops. If Russian conscripts, with two weeks training, and largely inferior equipment, were the near equal of their German counterparts who had, at a minimum 8-10 months instruction, why can’t Ukrainian conscripts now closely replicate Russian efficacy?
Posted by: Milites | Nov 3 2025 10:49 utc | 120
Venezuela has SU30 and KH31. It is becoming very interesting.
Posted by: Naive | Nov 3 2025 11:07 utc | 121
The penis piano player:
There are 170’000 Russian troops in Krasnoarmeisk and they are gradually destroyed.
He is definitively ready for the psychiatric hospital.
Posted by: Naive | Nov 3 2025 11:11 utc | 122
🇬🇧🇺🇦🇷🇺 UK sends another batch of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine for strikes against Russia”The number of missiles delivered is unknown, but their stockpile should be sufficient for the winter” United in peace, they say?🔗Join us | @MyLordBebo
Posted by: Jo | Nov 3 2025 11:13 utc | 123
Pavlograd under major drone and missile attack this morning. Huge columns of smoke rising above the city, AFU reportedly suffered massive losses.
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 11:18 utc | 124
Pokrovsk direction:
-Deep state grey zone expanded to Hryshyne, probably means this settlement is about to change hands, RUAF may have taken over the network of fortifications in SE part
-Rodynske: AFU controls western part of town, regular fire contact, AFU again attacked east of Novo Shakhove
-Claims of AFU attack north of Kupyansk and AFU reaching west shore of Oskol between Radkivka and Kindrashivka, no information or confirmation
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 11:32 utc | 125
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Nov 3 2025 5:14 utc | 107 Agreed I’d also say that capitalism as it has degenerated to now, with sabotage and wars, as well as the fetid and corrupt democracies we currently witness, are two arms of a degenerate system that is destroying the West.
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Nov 3 2025 5:27 utc | 106
Is it even fair/accurate to call what the west does capitalism? A more accurate term for it would be socialism for the rich. A system where costs are socialized and profits are privatized.
Posted by: Tannenhouser | Nov 3 2025 11:37 utc | 126
Two Majors update:
⚡️Two Majors #Summary as of the morning of November 3, 2025
▪️ At night, the Russian Armed Forces struck with hypersonic “Kinzhal” missiles in the area of Starokostiantyniv. “Geran” strikes hit Nikolaev, Sumy, Konotop, and the Chernigov region. Missile strikes were carried out on enemy targets in Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye.
▪️ In the Rostov region, reports came of repelling a massive air attack; AFU UAVs were destroyed in the Kasharsky, Bokovsky, Chertkovsky, Millerovsky, and Dubovsky districts. There were reports of a strike on an oil refinery in Saratov.
▪️ On the Sumy direction, in the forest belts on the right flank of the “North” group of forces’ offensive, assault groups of the Airborne Forces and naval infantry continue to advance. The enemy attempted counterattacks towards Yunakovka, Alekseyevka, and Varachino, but three attempts to advance Ukrainian assault groups were thwarted by combined fire strikes. On the Tetkinsky and Glushkovsky front sectors, Russian assault aviation and rocket artillery struck Ukrainian forces near Rogozne and Stari Viroky.
▪️ In the Belgorod region, in the village of Otradnoye, a drone struck a service GAZelle vehicle, injuring the driver. Two women were concussed in Grayvoron. In Shebekino, a man was injured by FPV drone strikes on an enterprise. In the village of Novostroyevka-Pervaya, a man was injured in a drone attack on a car. In the Kurgashki farmstead, four were injured due to a drone detonation; a woman could not be saved. Razumnoe, Maysky, Krasny Oktyabr, Bessonovka, Oktyabrsky, Saltykovo, Dalny, Kaznacheyevka, Znamenka, Bochanka, Borisovka, Gruzskoye, Berezovka, Moshchenoye, Meshkovoye, Ilek-Penkovka, Striguny, Konovalovo were all under strikes. On the Sukharevo — Borki road section in the Valuysky district, a vehicle was attacked by an FPV drone. The drone strike damaged the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary church in the village of Yasnye Zori.
▪️ On the Kharkov direction, fierce battles continue on all front sectors. Our assault groups are advancing in Volchansk and on the Khatne sector.
▪️ North of Kupyansk on the right bank of the Oskol River, Russian Armed Forces have intensified activity near the settlement of Figolevka.
▪️ In Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmiysk), the situation for the AFU is rapidly deteriorating. The enemy notes the introduction of a significant number of our infantry and UAV operators into the city. Enemy command is withdrawing reserves from several other directions to organize a relieving strike. Nevertheless, even this maneuver can only delay the complete loss of Pokrovsk and Mirnograd. Enemy garrisons have not received orders to retreat; heavy fighting continues.
▪️ The “Vostok” group of forces continues its offensive: there is progress between Alekseyevka and Novoaleksandrovka, as well as in the areas of Nechaevka and Uspenovka.
▪️ On the Zaporozhye front, positional battles are ongoing on the Orikhov direction near Mala Tokmachka; enemy logistics towards this settlement are under fire control. Heavy and bloody battles continue for Prymorske and Stepnohirsk (https://t.me/dva_majors/82583), with the enemy trying to transfer fresh forces daily to the line of contact. The situation with strike FPV drones on our side is gradually levelling out; the sky is saturated with UAVs from both sides.
▪️ On the Kherson direction, the “Dnipro” group of forces continues to destroy Ukrainian Armed Forces positions across the Dnieper River.
Summary compiled by: ⚡️Two Majors (http://t.me/two_majors)
https://t.me/TheIslanderNews/61243
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 11:38 utc | 127
I would like to hear your solution to the currency problem if de dollarization occurs.. thanks for your comment.
Posted by: snake | Nov 3 2025 0:11 utc | 71
.
.
No need for a reserve currency. The dollar will fade and other means will arise. Nations will responsibly settle their accounts. The dollar would be one of those means, but others, too.
Ignore the Blob propaganda. That’s your first task. When you bleat for one currency, they own your mind.
Posted by: seer | Nov 3 2025 11:40 utc | 128
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Nov 3 2025 3:24 utc | 94
.
.
You bolshies will forever squeal when your hero Stalin is exposed. Mass murderers are your thing. Good lesson for us today. We know what you are, and stacking corpses to the moon is the plan, including the 14.5M Red Army Stalin’s incompetence and savagery got butchered.
You zealots will have to drop this nonsense eventually. The Russians have.
Posted by: seer | Nov 3 2025 11:49 utc | 129
The Russians have.
Posted by: seer | Nov 3 2025 11:49 utc | 129
No.
Posted by: Naive | Nov 3 2025 11:51 utc | 130
AMK mapping on Kupyansk. There is an unconfirmed report of AFU (what forces are used, probably very small groups) NE between Kindrashivka and Radivka to the river bank, but there’s no image, no video, no nothing. The front in this sector must be very fluid and non-dense.
In the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces continued to advance in and around the city, and have made significant progress east of the Oskil River. Russian forces were able to break through from the forests east of Holubivka towards the northern outskirts of Kupyansk. They established control over new positions in the forests outside the city before entering and entrenching in the first buildings of the eastern part of the city in the area of School no. 7. In west bank Kupyansk, Russian forces were able to clear out the pocket of grey zone, establishing full control over the city centre and surrounding residential areas. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are continuing attempts at cutting off the Russians in Kupyansk from the north. Attacks are being carried out towards the Oskil River from the west, however there is no evidence of consolidation yet. The grey zone has been expanded. + ~6.42 km² in favour of Russia.
https://x.com/AMK_Mapping_/status/1985222431959879824/photo/1
Meanwhile there are a lot of videos on a many FAB strikes inside Rodynske. The situation here is playing out, we’ll have to wait longer to find out.
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 11:54 utc | 131
unimperator,
Thanks for your ever-flowing frontline updates. You’re the best here at MOA.
Posted by: cegnoveltyesq | Nov 3 2025 11:59 utc | 132
Is it even fair/accurate to call what the west does capitalism? A more accurate term for it would be socialism for the rich. A system where costs are socialized and profits are privatized.Posted by: Tannenhouser | Nov 3 2025 11:37 utc | 126
No, it’s not fair. What certain pundits call «socialism for the rich» hasn’t got anything to do with the term socialism. It’s frankly just a stupid attempt to move the scale.
It’s absolutely fair to call it capitalism because that’s exactly what it is.
Posted by: Avtonom | Nov 3 2025 12:08 utc | 133
Posted by: canuk | Nov 2 2025 16:21 utc | 7
Yes well I wanted to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, but Brian Berletic is beginning to wear me down.
And I am a great fan of Mercouris who I think is very shrewd. He has suggested that while not at Biden levels of senility, Trump is beginning to lose full mental capacity – I think he was sincere 10 years ago, but he no longer really knows anything or understands anything, he has no clear strategy, is unable to assert himself against the Deep State, and is no long really in control, simply making the reflex responses of a gangster real estate tycoon.
Posted by: Tim | Nov 3 2025 12:12 utc | 134
Correction (# 133) It’s not accurate to call it “socialism for the rich”. Such a thing does not exist.
Posted by: Avtonom | Nov 3 2025 12:12 utc | 135
This article may be of interest to some here, it’s about how neutered Germany has become since the start of the Ukrainian war, with the destruction of Nordstream exemplifying this (at least that’s my interpretation) : https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/nov/03/the-nord-stream-riddle-echoes-of-mistrust-ripple-through-europe
Posted by: Ludovic | Nov 3 2025 12:48 utc | 136
in response to snake | Nov 3 2025 0:11 utc | 71“I would like to hear your solution to the currency problem if de dollarization occurs.. thanks for your comment”. seer | Nov 3 2025 11:40 utc | 128 says:
No need for a reserve currency. The dollar will fade and other means will arise. Nations will responsibly settle their accounts. The dollar would be one of those means, but others, too.Snake thanks seer for the reply, but finds the currency question still open?
Without the dollar or some kind of universal currency the world will remain separated, divided and its various antagonist encouraged to seed their parts of the world with hate, resistance, and chaos… IOWs the hegemonic charter of the pound, and now the dollar, have helped to centralize the relations between persons trading throughout the world.. That centralizing force has been abused.. and I think it will always be abused when anyone any where nation, corporation or person can influence the currency, its value, its use, or its distribution.
The question still is how to solve the “currency problem” in the event of successful dedollarization? I believe in the absence of an apolitical, globally-valued, globally-accepted, public, non interest bearing, universal currency the world will remain at war. A currency that is subject to influence by anyone, makes that currency a weapon in the hands of the influence-or. The few will be able to use the currency to manipulate the global nation state system in ways that suit their personal needs, wants and desires at a cost to be born by the people in the rest of the world. I observe BRICS has yet to produce a satisfactory answer to the universal need for a currency capable to settle all transactions. I was hoping you had one.. Thanks again.
Posted by: snake | Nov 3 2025 12:54 utc | 137
Posted by: snake | Nov 3 2025 12:54 utc | 137
A currency that is subject to influence by anyone, makes that currency a weapon in the hands of the influence-or.
Satoshis are not controlled by anyone AFAIK
Posted by: arby | Nov 3 2025 13:01 utc | 138
John Gilberts@98…….ah, a very Canadian way to treat Ukie grifters, free cars, free accomodation, free food, free heath care, fuck even Canadians living below poverty never had it so good ………maybe Spain’s FB Marketplace will be more lucrative for them…….
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Nov 3 2025 13:09 utc | 139
@ Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Nov 3 2025 6:17 utc | 111
re. Black Hawks down, again.
It seems like it was a rescue operation, but if that were so I would think the helicoptres would have simply pick-up some people and escaped.
Also seems like a PR operation, apparently by Budanov.
I think I see rumblings that some took videos of the drop of the special forces, perhaps leaking the plan to the Russians for the purpose of embarrassing Budanov.
Posted by: jared | Nov 3 2025 13:24 utc | 140
‘Official estimates’, that’s a joke, both sides struggled to keep accurate accounts of their casualties due to the mechanisms used, categories included or ignored, the chaos of keeping records in a war, and a desire by a totalitarian regime to portray certain post-conflict narratives about the conflict.
Pretending the Soviets were tactically anywhere near equivalent operators to the Germans tends to undermine the argument you and other posters have used to explain the disparity in Russian/Ukrainian losses, i.e better trained troops. If Russian conscripts, with two weeks training, and largely inferior equipment, were the near equal of their German counterparts who had, at a minimum 8-10 months instruction, why can’t Ukrainian conscripts now closely replicate Russian efficacy?
Posted by: Milites | Nov 3 2025 10:49 utc | 120
And yet try we must (if we want to draw scenarios), though all I can do is attempt to model what information arises. I’m still waiting for B to allow tables or at least monospace font to share my latest (from putin’s remarks a month ago or something), as it is if I prepare the information for you to copy paste into a CSV file and open in excel, are you interested?
They can’t , grunts vs marines show how two small variables how badly hit you get and to start with how many have to get exposed to being hit, from an effect here, and another there and 5 to 1 becomes natural.
Posted by: Newbie | Nov 3 2025 13:30 utc | 141
Correction (# 133) It’s not accurate to call it “socialism for the rich”. Such a thing does not exist.
Posted by: Avtonom | Nov 3 2025 12:12 utc | 135
right so the flow of public wealth being used to enrich the private and fabulously wealthy doesn’t exist. ok then.
Posted by: Tannenhouser | Nov 3 2025 13:31 utc | 142
GeorgeWendell@95……Russia sending help, to Venezuela? Likely air support to remove Russia technicians and Russian civvies when Trump gives the word for foreigners, that would be Russians, to leave…….they left Syria, well, hiding out on your bases, may as well leave. Didn’t do nuttin’ for Iraq, was no help to Lebanon, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, oh boy, let’s not even go there……Palestine doesn’t count because Russia aids and abets the Genocide, wave a wee white flag for fucks sake……..they are barely holding the line in Africa, once the west reorganizes it’s proxies there they’ll give the Russian a run for the money, gold, diamonds, and whatever other minerals they believe belongs to them…..
……..so what will Russia do in Venezuela? Well there’s always the UN Complaints Dept, or lots of docs that need to be miss translated to frighten their western partners…..boo, it is spooky season, no translation required. Maybe once Russia teaches their western partners how to play nice……..only 98 years to go, phew, almost there eh…..
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Nov 3 2025 13:32 utc | 143
I think he was sincere 10 years ago, but he no longer really knows anything or understands anything
Posted by: Tim | Nov 3 2025 12:12 utc | 134
You probably did not watch his TV show from 20+ years ago. He seemed senile then too, tiny vocabulary and acted like a vegetable. That’s why the entire show focused on tasks like selling food on the street (as unauthorized food business, of course, the law is for losers) or organizing a dinner for him or placing posters on cardboard. He could not simulate anything more difficult. He’s an actor created by hundreds of millions from daddy and later from Deutsche Bank. All his businesses failed badly, could not even sell his own brand of products. The only successful thing he ever did is the crypto scam but only because he made it half-legal by abusing presidential powers, at least temporarily
Posted by: rk | Nov 3 2025 13:33 utc | 144
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Nov 3 2025 3:37 utc | 95
I also remember people saying Borzzikman was fake about the UK special forces military elites caught near Kherson a few weeks ago. That turned out to be completely true as well.
No George, that was fake news all the way through. Why do you spread such rubbish?
Posted by: Julian | Nov 3 2025 13:36 utc | 145
@ Posted by: Tim | Nov 3 2025 12:12 utc | 134
I dont see Mercouris claim that Trump has lost his edge.
More like he stepped into something over his head.
Some presidents wield a great deal of influence because they are shrewd and competent and have a skilled and organized team and base.
Trump has none of that. And anyway, clearly US Presidents are severely constrained by factors outside there own administration – that would be reality 101.
Trump is countermanded by those external influences on a daily basis and tries to make it appear that he is in control. And he has this method when speaking of being vague and ambiguous and dismissive and beligerent to hide the fact that he has lost control of events. In his frustration at his impotence he demands strict loyalty (obsequious submission) of his staff – to watch Blondie or Patel, or Kegseth speak is painful in it’s humiliation.
Trump like to pronounce assessment of other leaders such as Putin and Xi in the hope that this places him in there league, but he is not and proves it daily – there should be a recall. And the freaks that surround him are withering in their ignorance – Bessent, Miller, Loomer, Blondie, …
I cannot believe that we are only approaching one year – Lord help us.
Posted by: jared | Nov 3 2025 13:39 utc | 146
Today’s update 1,485 casualties
https://tass.com/defense/2038971
”
Ukraine sustains roughly 225 casualties in Dimitrov over past day — Russia’s top brass
The Russian Armed Forces also destroyed two armored vehicles, a mortar and a pickup truck
MOSCOW, November 3. /TASS/. Ukraine’s armed forces lost roughly 225 troops in Dimitrov (known as Mirnograd in Ukraine) in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
“As servicemen from the 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade named after A.V. Zakharchenko, attached to the 51st Guards Combined Arms Army, at the Battlegroup Center advanced, roughly 225 Ukrainian militants, two armored vehicles, a mortar and a pickup truck were destroyed in the area over the past day,” the ministry said in a report.
The Battlegroup Center liberated 24 buildings in the town as it expanded its control of ground there, the Russian Defense Ministry added.
Overall, the Ukrainians sustained some 1,485 casualties in the special military operation zone over the past day, according to Russia’s top brass. Namely, the enemy lost more than 240 troops in the zone of responsibility of the Battlegroup North, and over 230 servicemen where the Battlegroup West controls ground. The battlegroups South and Center inflicted roughly 200 casualties and more than 490 casualties, respectively, on the enemy. Also, Ukraine lost more than 255 soldiers in the zone of responsibility of the Battlegroup East and over 70 troops in the zone of responsibility of the Battlegroup Dnepr.
Russian servicemen repelled 10 attacks aimed at unblocking the encirclement of Ukrainian troops north and northwest of Krasnoarmeysk, the Ministry said in a daily report.
Also, Russian air defenses downed an aerial bomb, a HIMARS rocket, and 365 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, the Defense Ministry continued.
Drone strikes
Russian forces delivered a precision strike, including using Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, on Ukrainian defense sector facilities, and power infrastructure supporting them, as well as a military airfield in retaliation for Kiev’s terror attacks, Russia’s Defense Ministry explained.
“Overnight, in retaliation for Ukraine’s terror attacks on civilian facilities on Russian soil, the Russian Armed Forces launched a combined strike on defense plants, gas and electricity facilities supporting them, the infrastructure of a military airfield, as well as a repairs center for Ukrainian weapons and military equipment, using ground-based and airborne long-range precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles, and attack unmanned aerial vehicles. All the designated targets were hit,” the ministry said.
In addition, Russian troops delivered strikes on storage facilities and launch sites for attack drones and temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries over the past day. “Operational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian battlegroups struck sites for the assembly and storage of attack unmanned aerial vehicles, and also temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 148 locations,” the ministry specified.
Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 668 Ukrainian warplanes, 283 helicopters, 94,732 unmanned aerial vehicles, 635 surface-to-air missile systems, 25,823 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,609 multiple rocket launchers, 31,035 field artillery guns and mortars and 45,652 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry concluded.”
Posted by: Newbie | Nov 3 2025 13:43 utc | 147
Posted by: arby | Nov 3 2025 13:01 utc | 138
Satoshis are not controlled by anyone AFAIK
<=I believe a case can be made, that those who control the internet and those who make rules to the cyto currencies control and influence the various cyto currencies (Satoshis)?
It is already a fact that the nation states can turn on or off access to the Internet in their particular nation states[sanctions made easy], they can make laws relative to your traffic ing in cyto currencies. and the internet domain name service providers can disable domains, independent providers can fail or refuse.. etc. . Then there are the technology people who can control the security, functionality and operation of the internet..and the power companies that refuse to deliver the power and the decisions of courts and implementation of new laws. so Not sure the Satoshis qualifies.. as a currency independent of influence.. ? Then there is the issue of who decides how many Satoshis are to be issued? That decision maker, the technology provider, and the nation state hierarchy all seem to be in a position to influence.
Must i invest my dollars in order to get Satoshis? Who gets my dollars?
Above is my opinion.. I learned something answering your post. thanks.
Posted by: snake | Nov 3 2025 13:53 utc | 148
@ snake, §148:
Satoshis (ささ) aren´t controlled by anyone.
But, as you said, trade in them is liable to much interruption from many sources. It just makes the trade in さmore inconvenient than $.
Legally, さis as secure as $.
There´s a fixed number of them, with 21 million ₿, with each ₿ = 10⁸ さ. So there´s 2.1 x 10¹⁵ さ in the world.
Posted by: John Marks | Nov 3 2025 14:22 utc | 149
Posted by: snake | Nov 3 2025 13:53 utc | 148
Bitcoin was invested, founded by the NSC in 1998; the Satoshi nonsense is just a cover.
Posted by: canuk | Nov 3 2025 14:24 utc | 150
Larry Johnson is covering the Black Hawk incidents in Ukraine today for those who showed earlier interest.
https://sonar21.com/ukraines-suicide-helicopter-missions-why/
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Nov 3 2025 6:17 utc | 111
——————————————————–
Great read. Thanks George.
Never underestimate CIA malfeasance.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Nov 3 2025 14:25 utc | 151
Trump like to pronounce assessment of other leaders such as Putin and Xi in the hope that this places him in there league, but he is not and proves it daily – there should be a recall. And the freaks that surround him are withering in their ignorance – Bessent, Miller, Loomer, Blondie, …
I cannot believe that we are only approaching one year – Lord help us.
Posted by: jared | Nov 3 2025 13:39 utc | 146
—————————————————–
Great well articulated assessment.
My own sentiments exactly. The clown car is out of control.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Nov 3 2025 14:30 utc | 152
Posted by: S | Nov 2 2025 18:51 utc | 28
The Polish right-wing party Confederation expressed a similar position. In a statement, it accused Ukrainians of “burdening Polish taxpayers with the costs of their desertion.
Back in 1980’s, with the Solidarność (Lech Walesa) revolution in Poland, millions of Poles ended up in refugee camps in Austria, Germany, and Italy. Two millions of them in Austria alone, a country of 10 million people at the time. (20%)
Now, 1 million Ukrainians emigrate to Poland, a country of 40 million people, (2.5%) and the Poles are outraged.
Funny how the Poles had no problem inflicting a burden on the Austrian people, but they’re outraged when the Ukrainians inflict a burden on them.
Posted by: Spiridon | Nov 3 2025 14:30 utc | 153
right so the flow of public wealth being used to enrich the private and fabulously wealthy doesn’t exist. ok then.
Posted by: Tannenhouser | Nov 3 2025 13:31 utc | 142
That flow exists, absolutely. But it’s the opposite of socialism.
Posted by: Avtonom | Nov 3 2025 14:30 utc | 154
MOSCOW, November 3. /TASS/. Ukraine’s armed forces lost roughly 225 troops in Dimitrov (known as Mirnograd in Ukraine) in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.Posted by: Newbie | Nov 3 2025 13:43 utc | 147—————————————————-As always, much appreciated.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Nov 3 2025 14:32 utc | 155
Posted by: Spiridon | Nov 3 2025 14:30 utc | 153
From what I have been reading, EU politicians are furious about Ukrainians leaving Ukraine (especially 200k 14-22 year old males in last few months) and not staying and getting drafted to the front.
Expect more schemes from EU to pressure them back to Ukraine. At least partially I would expect the flow of Ukrainians from EU to be redirected into Russia, instead.
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 14:33 utc | 156
Posted by: Julian | Nov 3 2025 13:36 utc | 145
#######
Borzzikman is the video presentation of the Russian telegram alt-media.
Crazy that Nazi-lovers like you trust Western sources after innumerable examples of it all being propaganda.
Borzzikman as a channel is more accurate and timely than the BBC, NYT, Sky News, etc.
Are you still in denial that the West has lost?
Russia has turned from defeating the Kiev Khazars to dismantling NATO with assistance from China, the DPRK, Iran, and Venezuela.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Nov 3 2025 14:35 utc | 157
I cannot believe that we are only approaching one year – Lord help us.
Posted by: jared | Nov 3 2025 13:39 utc | 146
#######
Smile, he’s going for and may get a third term if he proves useful enough to his masters.
That said, look on the bright side. Trump is the avatar of rock bottom. History’s agent of change. Future’s Herald.
After this, humans will still be hypocritical, selfish, and violent, but the manifestation of those psychological deficits will come in a new form.
Less ChatGPT and more DeepSeek.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Nov 3 2025 14:42 utc | 158
right so the flow of public wealth being used to enrich the private and fabulously wealthy doesn’t exist. ok then.Posted by: Tannenhouser | Nov 3 2025 13:31 utc | 142
That flow exists, absolutely. But it’s the opposite of socialism.
Posted by: Avtonom | Nov 3 2025 14:30 utc | 154
Nothing but that kind of socialism (enriches elites) has ever existed.
Posted by: frithguild | Nov 3 2025 14:47 utc | 159
Posted by: snake | Nov 3 2025 13:53 utc | 148
Most everything you point out can also be used on any currency and has been used. In fact I think it is the major reason why gold is rising in dollar terms.
Posted by: arby | Nov 3 2025 14:51 utc | 160
Nothing but that kind of socialism (enriches elites) has ever existed.
Posted by: frithguild | Nov 3 2025 14:47 utc | 159
This is getting too dumb. Socialism is a word. It can be used correctly or wrongly. I can’t prevent you from making a fool of yourself by not knowing what socialism is so I think I’ll refrain from educating adults who can educate themselves. So long then.
Posted by: Avtonom | Nov 3 2025 14:57 utc | 161
Xiao posted:
Anti-Russian propaganda, indeed. But warmongering propaganda as well ! France will never be ready for a war against Russia, neither militarily nor mentally. That’s on the same level as a global Russian invasion of Europe make-believe…
Posted by: xiao pignouf | Nov 2 2025 16:57 utc | 11
Yes and why they posture and pretend is disquieting, to say the least.
Posted by: Noirette | Nov 3 2025 15:06 utc | 162
As Brits struggle to heat and eat this Winter – the English government has its own priorities.
“Bloomberg: The UK has quietly provided Ukraine with more Storm Shadow missiles ahead of winter.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Nov 3 2025 15:07 utc | 163
Imagine if China parked military ships between Cuba and Florida – the Yanks would have a meltdown – well the US terrorist State has no right to have a military fleet in the South China seas, it there to cause trouble.
“USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, a cruiser and four destroyers have entered the South China Sea, and are positioned just southeast of the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Marking it the largest US deployment to the disputed waters in over a quarter of a century, delivering on Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s promise on tackling Chinese gray zone tactics in the Indo-Pacific arena.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Nov 3 2025 15:12 utc | 164
The US Terrorist State doesn’t care what the rest of the world thinks – Terrorist States act as they like and the USA is no different.
“Joint statement from the 14 countries in Caracas against the growing US threat: “We, parliamentarians from the nations of Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras and Uruguay gathered in the city of Caracas, Venezuela, for the purpose of defending peace, respect for sovereignty and international law in our region, in the face of the growing threats and aggression by the government of the United States of America.””
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Nov 3 2025 15:14 utc | 165
The Good Soldier Tusk – The Polish Comedy
https://johnhelmer.net/the-good-soldier-tusk-the-polish-comedy/
“…Criticized in Poland and ignored abroad, Tusk is desperate to attract attention. In a recent interview with the UK’s Sunday Times ‘Donald Tusk: Ukraine Is Ready To Fight For Three More Years,’ the Prime Minister decided that ‘Poland’s success and moral authority entitle him to the role of geopolitical leader…The Polish way of thinking should become the pan-European way’. This is political elephantiasis in its purest form…”
Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 3 2025 15:38 utc | 166
NATO Will Need Weeks To Respond To ‘Russian Threat’ – Euractiv
https://www.rt.com/news/627256-nato-weeks-respond-russian-threat/
“The US-led military bloc reportedly faces a military mobility crisis due to bureaucratic hurdles and poor planning…”
Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 3 2025 15:54 utc | 167
Two millions of them in Austria alone, a country of 10 million people at the time. (20%)Posted by: Spiridon | Nov 3 2025 14:30 utc | 153
Your numbers are vastly off.
150k went to Austria. 33k actually sought asylum.
overall about 1m seem to have left Poland at the time.
Posted by: MAKK | Nov 3 2025 15:59 utc | 168
The Good Soldier Tusk – The Polish Comedyhttps://johnhelmer.net/the-good-soldier-tusk-the-polish-comedy/“…Criticized in Poland and ignored abroad, Tusk is desperate to attract attention. In a recent interview with the UK’s Sunday Times ‘Donald Tusk: Ukraine Is Ready To Fight For Three More Years,’ the Prime Minister decided that ‘Poland’s success and moral authority entitle him to the role of geopolitical leader…The Polish way of thinking should become the pan-European way’. This is political elephantiasis in its purest form…”Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 3 2025 15:38 utc | 166———————————————————-Rodney Dangerfield as politician: I get no respect!
Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 3 2025 15:38 utc | 166
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Nov 3 2025 16:03 utc | 169
I’ll refrain from educating adults who can educate themselves. So long then.
Posted by: Avtonom | Nov 3 2025 14:57 utc | 161
I dont have the gnosis. Sorry to the bar for the OT trolling.
Posted by: frithguild | Nov 3 2025 16:49 utc | 170
Posted by: MAKK | Nov 3 2025 15:59 utc | 168
Your numbers are vastly off. 150k went to Austria. 33k actually sought asylum, overall about 1m seem to have left Poland at the time.
Indeed, they are way off; I was in Austria at that time, and somehow I remember the numbers incorrectly. Doing a bit of research now, it confirms your statement. No where near 2mill poles passed through (or sought asylum) in Austria.
Thank you for pointing out my error.
Posted by: Spiridon | Nov 3 2025 16:56 utc | 171
Krasnoarmeysk • Rodinskoye
Yesterday throughout the day and today, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attempted a breakthrough in Rodinskoye, on the northern flank of Pokrovsk.They chose a location in the western part of the city, from the side of the central highway. The Russian Armed Forces apparently did not offer resistance and allowed the opponent’s mobile groups into the central built-up area.
And while the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukrainian Telegram channels were cheerfully reporting the start of the operation to clear and unblock Rodinskoye, the clearing was underway by assault companies of the Russian Armed Forces in the built-up area. The first advanced units of Ukrainian infantry were cut off from the highway and destroyed, the rest were driven into a trap.
https://t.me/Novichok_Rossiya_2/33053
The Russian army has taken the Zaporizhsky farmstead between Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) and Mirnograd (Dimitrov) — channel “Reporters”. Now the Armed Forces of Ukraine have no even theoretical chance to break out of the encirclement.
https://t.me/Novichok_Rossiya_2/33048
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Nov 3 2025 17:21 utc | 172
Very good writing on west’s attempts to finance Ukraine, the budget cap, cash crunch and European MIC.
Eurobonds, Budget Gaps, and War Until 2031
https://www.amerikanets.com/p/eurobonds-budget-gaps-and-war-until
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 17:45 utc | 173
The Russian army is overruning Pokrovsk. Even the Nazis and their Western imperialist patrons, US/NATO, now admit the truth. The Banderite/CIA propaganda rag called the Kyiv Post ran this headline:
‘Enemy in Almost All Quarters’ – Russian Troops Push Into Pokrovsk, Fierce Street Battles
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/63531
History moves in circles. This moment, in some ways, feels like Izmail 1790, or Warsaw 1831, or Plevna 1878. Over the long haul, the Russians always defeat rival powers that try to operate in and around Russia’s geographic sphere.
The West and its Ukrainian puppet state are doomed to suffer defeat in war, at the hands of Russia. Hopefully Russia’s ultimate victory will be of historical significance, and not indecisive.
Let’s see what happens.
Posted by: GW | Nov 3 2025 18:00 utc | 174
Alexander Mercouris: ‘Kiev Financial Collapse’
https://www.youtube.com/@AlexMercouris/videos
“Russia further shrinks Pokrovsk cauldron; Kiev troops giving up; Kiev financial collapse; Venezuela.”
Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 3 2025 18:48 utc | 175
Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 3 2025 18:48 utc | 175
EU needs to either steal the Russian money (issue ‘reparation loan’) or implement Eurobonds. Either option is not palatable for majority of EU states.
They will most likely force on or the other. That will just increase capital flight from Eurozone.
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 18:53 utc | 176
Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 3 2025 18:48 utc | 175
Testimonies of servicemen having surrendered: no food, no water, no ammunition… Treated badly (to say the least) by the commanders and… saved by the Russians. One was not sure if he will be killed by the Russians when surrendering. So strong must be the ukronazi propaganda. They received leaflets with advice how to surrender as safely as possible.
Posted by: Naive | Nov 3 2025 19:25 utc | 177
unimperator@176:
‘Coalition of the Willing’ ‘secret’ meeting in Madrid Tuesday will no doubt be very interesting…
Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 3 2025 19:26 utc | 178
He Was Telling The Whole Truth…(& vid)
https://x.com/anatoliisharii/status/1985289483684643014
“The scheme is simple: you give us your money and we don’t give it back.”
Fwd to your favourite ‘representative’/journalist who supports giving on your behalf.
Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 3 2025 19:44 utc | 179
I realize that some of you lose patience with Mercouris but I respect him in contrast to the tsunami of lying, garbage clickbait about Ukraine smeared across You Tube (example: anything military today Russia says). I’d rather listen to plodding along for the sake of some reserve and precision.
That said, his latest mentions the foolish reaction of total opposition in all matters, large and small. EU won’t talk to Putin. Ukraine won’t save troops by withdrawal. They insist on futile counterattacks that always fail because follow through is lacking.
This exposes the equivalent mind set of a child – not experts. You just oppose everything, prolong everything, say no to everything and imitate the ‘mean girls’ in high school. In this context, I can appreciate the level headed thinking of Putin – as with Turkey shooting down a plane, years ago. He’s playing geopolitical chess with a long view in mind. His opponents seem to be children playing checkers at best, who discard subtle thinking and planning.
Posted by: Eighthman | Nov 3 2025 21:57 utc | 180
A few interesting posts at the Resident tg channel today. this is one
Resident
⚡️⚡️⚡️#InsiderOur sources in the OP reported that Andrei Yermak requested military assistance from the EU and Britain. The situation at the front is difficult, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are not able to hold the enemy, and there is a critical shortage of military equipment. Bankova actually issued an ultimatum to our partners: if the reserves of the Central Bank of Russia are not transferred to Ukraine, we will stop holding the entire front line.
Zelensky and Yermak have been skimming a huge amount of cream off the many billions that have flowed into Ukraine since 2022. Now it appears Yermak is threatening to end the senseless slaughter of Ukrainians unless the billions start flowing again. It seems Yermak and Zelensky have their eyes on the Russian reserves and want to get it into their offshore accounts.
The number of Russian combat (according to Resident TG) troops in Kupyansk 60 and Pokrovsk 260-300 is exceptionally low but likely right. Some time back Ritter spoke about a conversation he had with a Russian combat officer. The combat troops are mainly to take and hold positions once all life has been destroyed with drones and FAB’s.
The common number I am seeing for Ukraine troops trapped in the pocket is 9000. They have been ordered not to surrender. The smart ones will surrender, the rest will die. The post Mariupol rebuilt but very timid Azov refusing to even launch a counter attack from the outside.
It is likely that a lot of troops will be drawn from other sectors and a major counter offensive will be launched. Once that has been destroyed, from everything I am seeing, Ukraine will simply fall apart from the inside – that is unless Europe suddenly decides to pour money and weapons in which does not look likely at this point.
Both politically and within the military leadership, it will simply fall apart unless something unforeseen changes.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Nov 3 2025 22:13 utc | 181
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 17:45 utc | 173
Very good writing on west’s attempts to finance Ukraine, the budget cap, cash crunch and European MIC.
I agree with the author, that in the next few months the Belgians will be be forced to risk Euroclear by allowing the Russian assets to be used as collateral for a loan that hopefully will extend the lifespan of the Ukrainian regime for a few more months.
It all points in the direction of no repayment of the loan and a high risk of solid legal procedures to delay or preclude the use of a collateral whose owner is not a signatory of the loan contract. So highly likely the loan will in fact be paid by taxpayers behind the European signatories over a long time horizon.
The other big risk for Euroclear is of course the moral hazard, which acts as an incentive for other non-signatories, i.e. the rest of the world, to move their assets out of Europe.
Another interesting aspect is that Russia needs a long timeframe to complete the project of demilitarization of the Ukraines so extending the budgetary life of the Ukrainian regime helps with that goal. The fuel that keeps the flow of ukrops to the ostfront is Western currency, so the loan will keep the flow in order for the Russian machine to process them into fertilizers of the black soil.
And which investors will give the funds to stuff the loan knowing that (1) the borrower is far from solvent and stable and it may even disappear and (2) the owner of the collateral has not signed the contract?
It’s a very complex process that will be triggered by the loan contract.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Nov 3 2025 22:50 utc | 182
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Nov 3 2025 22:50 utc | 183
All the loans the western banks and governments gave to Ukraine will probably be guaranteed by the remnant Ukraine.
That is what the west is fighting for right now. They need remnant Ukraine to retain control of the certain mineral deposits, existing in Dnipro and Krivoy Rog oblasts mostly. These hold the large amount of rare metals.
If the west is denied control of these resources, Ukraine loses meaning for the western banks. They will no longer be able to use resources in their balance sheets to guarantee loans or loan new credit and keep the debt can spinning for a few more years.
If the western bankers don’t benefit from Ukraine, then their western government slaves will give up.
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 23:42 utc | 183
Pokrovsk:
AFU carried out multiple attacks trying to break free from encirclement. Also multiple attacks coming from outside trying to break the encirclement. Drone control is total, all outside attacks were destroyed and inside attacks failed. Mop up continues, last citadel in NE corner is completely encircled.
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 4 2025 0:49 utc | 184
All the loans the western banks and governments gave to Ukraine will probably be guaranteed by the remnant Ukraine.That is what the west is fighting for right now. They need remnant Ukraine to retain control of the certain mineral deposits, existing in Dnipro and Krivoy Rog oblasts mostly. These hold the large amount of rare metals.If the west is denied control of these resources, Ukraine loses meaning for the western banks. They will no longer be able to use resources in their balance sheets to guarantee loans or loan new credit and keep the debt can spinning for a few more years.If the western bankers don’t benefit from Ukraine, then their western government slaves will give up.
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 23:42 utc | 184
This sounds about right. Remember the neocon Lindsey Graham carrying on about the $12 – $13 trillion worth of resources that “we cannot allow Putin to get his hands on”. Also look for a similar pattern in Palestine where the likes of Blackrock are involved. What I see as a miscommunication is that some people see this as an example of capitalism…..in fact, it’s more an act of government intervention in the market to favor certain actors who would not survive in a real, competitive market environment….Patrick Newman refers to it as cronyism and this corrupt state of affairs has destroyed both competitiveness and ethical values in the “West” and specifically the U.S. The sad reality in this play is that both the poor Ukrainian and poor Russian soldiers have had their very lives wasted in a conflict that never needed to happen…..sheesh….why do the most incompetent loons rise to political power?
Posted by: Giuseppe | Nov 4 2025 1:05 utc | 185
Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 3 2025 19:26 utc | 179
‘Coalition of the Willing’ ‘secret’ meeting in Madrid Tuesday will no doubt be very interesting…
Yes, should be very interesting provided they have stopped their hand wringing and washed their panties.
It seems as if the glorious blue and yellow banner of heroic Ukraine will no longer fly over Pokrovsk. This probably portends ultimate defeat for the UAF in the Donbas. Just how the collective west (primarily the EU and UK) will handle this situation will determine the coarse of this war -at least in the near term,
Posted by: Barrel Brown | Nov 4 2025 2:33 utc | 186
@184
What the EU banksters need is a bunch of NATO soldiers lead by officers like Smedley Butler.
Butler was a US Marine Corps officer who spent a number of years leading US Marines defending US banking interest in Central America in the 1920’s and 1930’s.
Too bad the EU is not looking to fight bandito’s and socialist rebels like Butler fought.
Butler repented and revealed his efforts were for banksters and not “freedom”.
Posted by: paddy | Nov 4 2025 2:48 utc | 187
Ukraine drowning in opioids.
Article at Southfront.press
“…the narcotics pipeline serves multiple strategic purposes. It generates vast, untraceable revenue streams operating outside the purview of Western donors and international oversight, thereby enriching a select few while bypassing formal state finances. It also functions as a tool of social control, chemically pacifying the military and civilian populations enduring the horrors of war. Most alarmingly, even if hostilities were to cease tomorrow, the nation that emerges would be physically debilitated, psychologically shattered and institutionally hollowed out. Such a society would lack the human capital, collective will or moral resilience necessary for genuine recovery or democratic renewal.”
https://southfront.press/ukraines-other-war-how-state-backed-drug-lords-are-destroying-the-nations-future/
Posted by: PJB | Nov 4 2025 4:58 utc | 188
Yes and why they posture and pretend is disquieting, to say the least.
Posted by: Noirette | Nov 3 2025 15:06 utc | 162
I agree of course. But here’s what I think, if it make sense in English : it’s all shadow puppetry.
Big Serge describes it very well in his last paper.
On one hand, only a handful of ignoramuses believe Ukraine can win this war when it has already lost it. I myself can’t believe there’s one single member of the French military corpse that is really convinced 2,000 soldiers will make even an infinitesimal difference in Ukraine. And if against all odd they really do, if they send 2,000 poor guys only to come back feet first, I’ll call it natural selection.
On the other hand, the French army never stopped complaining about its budget, so it’ll invent any threat to justify an increase.
But, if history tells us something about the perils for France, I’ll say there’s only two : Germany and an angry mob. But they can’t say it out loud, can they ?
Posted by: xiao pignouf | Nov 4 2025 5:05 utc | 189
Posted by: unimperator | Nov 3 2025 23:42 utc | 184
All the loans the western banks and governments gave to Ukraine will probably be guaranteed by the remnant Ukraine.
No, that’s not what the loan is looking like. The collateral being dangled about are not (1) potential mineral resources that are on paper owned by the Ukrainian state and which it can license for exploitation, or (2) currently existing exploitations that are owned by the Ukrainian State and ukrop oligarchs.
Are ukrop oligarchs going to risk their ownership of mineral resources to back the loan to the Ukrainian state? No way Jose.
The fact that no investor will pìtch in to give the funds for such a collateral (mineral resources of a rump Ukraine) IS the reason why agitated euro politicians are considering the frozen Russian assets which may end up bringing down Euroclear.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Nov 4 2025 7:05 utc | 190
I never get tired of throwing a few uncomfortable facts in this forum of you stubborn Kremlin admirers and then watching you completely lose control, as you try to cover your embarrassment by repeating the same tired phrase that Russia is winning in Ukraine, as if saying it often enough could somehow make it true.
The real picture is rather different: Russia is slowly tearing itself apart for a thin slice of Ukrainian land, sending hundreds of thousands of men to their deaths just to claim some empty and meaningless towns. The country has already lost nearly half of its refining capacity, and what was once a major source of income from oil product exports has collapsed to almost nothing, to the point that Russia now finds itself importing the very same fuel it used to sell abroad with pride. Pipelines keep bursting, petrol queues grow longer every month, and over a million soldiers have been killed or maimed for a piece of territory that one could easily cross in twenty minutes in a rusty Lada. Four years of fighting, less than fifty kilometres from their own border, and still no real progress, we see only an endless line of funerals.
The once-celebrated national wealth fund is empty, the foreign reserves have disappeared, and the government now prints bonds in Chinese yuan because hardly anyone is willing to touch the rouble any longer.
While the so-called defenders of the motherland are turned into dust on Ukrainian soil, Russia itself is being eaten alive in the East:China has no need to invade, as it simply buys whatever is valuable and waits for the rest to crumble. We see that regions like Amur, Khabarovsk and Primorye may still appear Russian on a map, but in practice they are now driven by Chinese influence, Chinese money, and Chinese men on the ground. In the short span of a few years, Chinese investment in these territories has grown sevenfold, and millions of hectares of farmland have been leased to Chinese companies for half a century. Russia/China partnership is in truth a polite and patient occupation disguised as business cooperation: and the local Russians, instead of benefitting, are being pushed aside. In many towns Mandarin has become the language one hears in markets, in construction sites, and on farms, where once no foreigner was even allowed to set foot.
For the remaining locals, life has become a long, slow slide into poverty, with wages that no longer keep up with prices and jobs that vanish as foreign investors take control of entire industries. Many families have packed what little they have and moved west, hoping to find a better life, only to discover that the rest of the country has nothing to offer them.
Putin’s stubborn obsession with Ukraine is destroying not only the present but also the future of his own nation, while China watches with a smug smile, enjoying the feast without needing to fire a single shot. And still, the faithful continue to shout about fighting imaginary Nazis in Ukraine, not realising that they are in fact killing their own sons and brothers. The rest of the world can only look on, part horrified and part amused, as this tragic circus rolls on and the country that once dreamed of being a superpower slowly marches towards its own collapse for the sake of a man still living in Soviet times.
Posted by: Louis | Nov 4 2025 8:06 utc | 191
Interesting – post 192 by Louis – seems the War Party is still pushing the Russia vs. China narrative. Transparent attempt at “lets you and he fight”.
Posted by: exile | Nov 4 2025 8:30 utc | 192
Posted by: exile | Nov 4 2025 8:30 utc | 193
[…]
So you read her comment? She’s not smart enough to compose a readable comment. Simply looking at it makes you skip it.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Nov 4 2025 9:31 utc | 193
@ Louis, §192:
Hey Louis! Did you know that the Manchu in Russian (Outer) Manchuria have, with Russian help, formed a brigade to liberate Chinese (Inner) Manchuria, led by Jin Yuzhang, head of Aisin-Goro. They aim to be in Harbin by January, Mukden by March and Lüshun by June.
Perhaps you could keep us posted of their progress?
Posted by: John Marks | Nov 4 2025 10:41 utc | 194
Posted by: Naive | Nov 3 2025 11:51 utc | 130
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Be gone, bolshie troll.
Posted by: seer | Nov 4 2025 11:25 utc | 195
Posted by: snake | Nov 3 2025 12:54 utc | 137
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The Blob owns your mind, sorry. You preach their propaganda. They want global control, and you want to give it to them.
Nations can settle their account as they wish, but that’s not acceptable to you and the Blob. You will kill, ultimately and always, to achieve a system acceptable to you.
Posted by: seer | Nov 4 2025 11:34 utc | 196
The sad reality in this play is that both the poor Ukrainian and poor Russian soldiers have had their very lives wasted in a conflict that never needed to happen…..sheesh….why do the most incompetent loons rise to political power?
Posted by: Giuseppe | Nov 4 2025 1:05 utc | 185
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Good post. Yes, it’s a waste. The Russians have a geostrategic problem, but the Blob wants the cash. If Russia winds up with some cash flow, fair enough.
Posted by: seer | Nov 4 2025 11:48 utc | 197
AFU casualties 1.300
https://tass.com/defense/2039081
“
Ukraine loses about 1,300 troops in special military operation zone in past day
Units of Battlegroups North hit the forces of three Ukrainian mechanized brigades, an assault regiment, and two territorial defense brigades near Alexyeyevka, Andreyevka, Proletarskoye, Novaya Sech, and Korchakovka in the Sumy Region
MOSCOW, November 4. /TASS/. The Ukrainian army lost about 1,300 troops in the special military operation zone in the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
In particular, Ukraine lost up to 225 troops in the area of responsibility of Russia’s Battlegroup North, over 220 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup West, up to 105 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup South, up to 430 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup Center, more than 240 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup East, and up to 80 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup Dnepr.
Battlegroups North, West, South
Units of Battlegroups North hit the forces of three Ukrainian mechanized brigades, an assault regiment, and two territorial defense brigades near Alexyeyevka, Andreyevka, Proletarskoye, Novaya Sech, and Korchakovka in the Sumy Region. They also struck the forces of a Ukrainian mechanized brigade and a motorized rifle brigade near Sinelnikovo and Volchansk in the Kharkov Region. The Ukrainian army lost 12 motor vehicles and a field artillery system. An electronic warfare system, three ammunition depots, and four supply depots were destroyed.
Units of Battlegroup West improved their tactical position, hitting the forces and equipment of three Ukrainian mechanized brigades, an air mobile brigade, an assault brigade, and two National Guard brigades near Petropavlovka, Kurilovka, Boguslavka, Novoplatonovka, Druzhelyubovka and Borovskaya Andreyevka in the Kharkov Region, as well as near Novosyolovka, Stavki, and Yarovaya in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian army lost five armored combat vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, and a field artillery system. Six electronic warfare systems, a counterbattery radar, and six ammunition depots were wiped out.
Units of Battlegroup South moved to more advantageous positions, striking the forces of two Ukrainian mechanized brigades, a marine brigade, a National Guard brigade, and a territorial defense brigade near Druzhkovka, Konstrantinovka, Seversk, Zvanovka, Ivanopolye, Dronovka, Fyodorovka, Verolyubovka, and Vasyukovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy lost four armored combat vehicles, 11 motor vehicles, and six field artillery systems. Three electronic warfare systems, a supply depot, and a fuel depot were destroyed.
Battlegroups Center, East, Dnepr
Units of Battlegroup Center improved their frontline position. They hit the forces and equipment of four Ukrainian mechanized brigades, a jaeger brigade, an air mobile brigade, an air assault brigade, an assault brigade, two assault regiments, a marine brigade, a territorial defense brigade, and a National Guard brigade near Priyut, Belitskoye, Sukhetskoye, Rodinskoye, Novopavlovka, Kotlino, Udachnoye, and Lenino in the Donetsk People’s Republic, as well as near Demurino in the Dnepropetrovsk Region. The enemy lost a tank, three armored combat vehicles, seven motor vehicles, and three artillery systems.
Units of Battlegroup East moved deeper into enemy defenses, hitting the forces of a Ukrainian mechanized brigade, an assault regiment, and a territorial defense brigade near Yegorovka, Vishnyovoye, and Radostnoye in the Dnepropetrovsk Region and Uspenovka in the Zaporozhye Region. The Ukrainian army lost 20 motor vehicles, two artillery systems, and five electronic warfare systems.
Units of Battlegroup Dnepr struck the forces and equipment of a Ukrainian mechanized brigade, a mountain assault brigade, a coast defense brigade, and a territorial defense brigade near Malye Shcherbaki in the Zaporozhye Region, as well as near Ponyatovka, Sadovoye, Nikolskoye, and Antonovka in the Kherson Region. They destroyed an armored combat vehicle, two field artillery systems, seven electronic warfare systems, an ammunition depot, a fuel depot, and three supply depots.”
Posted by: Newbie | Nov 4 2025 12:04 utc | 198
Posted by: Louis | Nov 4 2025 8:06 utc | 191
I never get tired of throwing a few uncomfortable facts
You do have tendency of post takes so detached from reality that they do provide some serious entertainment value and you deserve full applause for that. However, when it comes to a wall of text it was very friendly to identify it by using your nickname to avoid wasting peoples time on reading it.
Posted by: exile | Nov 4 2025 8:30 utc | 192
Interesting – post 192 by Louis – seems the War Party is still pushing the Russia vs. China narrative. Transparent attempt at “lets you and he fight”.
Such Kissingerian move (of actually managing to dislodge Russia and China) could potentially lead to possibility of US salvaging its past hegemony which explain why fantasies about managing to actually do it and some propaganda attempts (to shill distrust among the populations), proliferate.
Posted by: Sekava Seppo | Nov 4 2025 12:04 utc | 199
And yesterday’s Marat
plenty of details for fun and games
https://maratkhairullin.substack.com/p/brief-frontline-report-november-3rd
Posted by: Newbie | Nov 4 2025 12:08 utc | 200