Posted by: frithguild | May 21 2026 19:46 utc | 1
Odd, my search turned up a bunch of stuff:
Germany’s Merz pitches ‘associate’ EU membership for Ukraine
Russia says “nuclear munitions,” missile tests part of military drills with Belarus
Ukraine Wants 200 Russian Losses for Every Square Kilometer It Takes
Ukraine develops low-cost interceptor missiles to down Russian jet-powered Shahed drone, Defense Minister says
Trump says Ukraine lacks leverage. His own officials say otherwise.
Ukraine war latest: NATO jets scrambled over Baltic airspace – as Ukraine strikes 1,000km inside Russia

Posted by: ed4 | May 21 2026 19:54 utc | 3

@4 
 
Trying to search Ukraine on youtube brings up Denys Davydov, BBC, CNN, The Sun, Kanal 13. So looks like someone modified algorithms, perhaps for emotional fix from defeat that the empire got in Iran.

Posted by: unimperator | May 21 2026 20:12 utc | 5

Trying to search Ukraine on youtube brings up Denys Davydov, BBC, CNN, The Sun, Kanal 13. So looks like someone modified algorithms, perhaps for emotional fix from defeat that the empire got in Iran.
Posted by: unimperator | May 21 2026 20:12 utc | 5
Reality is being memory hole.

Posted by: jpc | May 21 2026 20:21 utc | 7

For anyone who hasn’t encountered this Swedish meatball — I mean, propaganda— titled “I’m the Foreign Minister of Sweden. Don’t Overestimate Russia.”, here you go:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/opinion/sweden-intelligence-russia-economy.html
(I was unable to create an archived version, for unknown reason)

Posted by: Mark Mosby | May 21 2026 21:54 utc | 9

May 21 2026 21:48 utc | 8
Unfortunately most of the Canuklheads I know are fully aware of what we didn’t sign up for.  According to the pope Carnage is quite the guy:https://open.substack.com/pub/thecarneyfiles/p/the-pope-is-warning-the-world-about?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Posted by: Elmer Fudd | May 21 2026 23:50 utc | 11

I clicked on links I saved two weeks ago (about 20).  Only two of those 20 links opened to the contents they had been saved for.  All the other links have disappeared; some gave messages, some just gave blank webpages, 3 gave advertising all of content the links were saved to preserve was missing. Only 2 of the 20 links produced the same information.  I want to know more about cloudfare because I often see them trying to block or gate what I want to see.  But I am sure there is much more to this story than cloudfare. 
 
Looks like Humanity is going to need to become proactive if it wants access to any useful or truthful content.  Develop Counter algorithmic algorithms and distribute it globally.   Algorithms capable to discover, track, engage and deal with “information disappearing algorithms” (IDAs) is wanting.   WWIII might turn into an information war (between the Epstein class controlled and financed IDAs  and the information the human masses that occupy the planet must have if they are to keep their human rights and understand what the leaders of the world are up to)? 
 
Until recently none of us have realized accurate, timely, and useful information and the tools to find original subject matter content, engage with it, and to distribute it to others, have been decommissioned by military backed and instructed commercial AI and government rules and regulations.     
 
Dissenters and Information distributors are being sanctioned by laws, money power and who knows what else. We are not allowed to see or deal with accurate timely information that disputes a Epstein class narrative or throws questions at what we are being told. 
 

Posted by: snake | May 22 2026 0:55 utc | 13

Posted by: frithguild | May 22 2026 1:13 utc | 14
 
Welcome to Orwell’s world.
 
I can tell you that from the African country where I am, it’s even worse, and it’s been going on for much longer.
 
Not only has content disappeared, but access to certain sites is either blocked or delayed for hours by Cloudflare or others. I can no more or rarely acces to the Iranian press TV or the Lebanese Al-Manar or Al-Mayadem.
 
It’s so ridiculous that I no longer have access to websites in my own country. And it doesn’t stop there.
 
Numerous scientific websites have become inaccessible from our countries.
Others have been expunged, leaving only the bare literature.
 
Many Wikipedia pages have been revised to remove certain information. History itself is being rewritten, piece by piece.
 
What’s happening is a real turning point, silent but systemic.

Posted by: Sebgo | May 22 2026 3:52 utc | 15

Posted by: Gerhardt G. | May 21 2026 23:24 utc | 10
 
because Russia uses its words very carefully, and ukraine is still good at disabling 60 – 90%% of drones and missiles.
 
Its is ne essary to understand the realitites of this war, and all nations use this terminology, making it sound like their attacks were far more successful than they were.
 
Many people who dont understand how good AA is almost everywhere eventually star asking why isnt such and such blown up.  The answer is because very few drones ever hit their target, anywhere, Russian or Ukrainian or Iranian.

Posted by: UWDude | May 22 2026 7:03 utc | 17

90%??? Get back to Marty from Amerika’s blog and stay there 

Posted by: rk | May 22 2026 7:11 utc | 19

Looks like Russia’s air defenses are crumbling. It will only get worse from here. This means Russia’s virtually lost the war.
I can’t imagine the Russian army holding onto its positions in Donbass and Crimea. That’s because Ukraine’s dominance of the air will sever the Russian military’s ability to reinforce and supply its troops at the front. 2026 will end much like 2022, only worse. 
Has anyone considered what Ukraine’s peace terms will be? Will Russia be forced to pay a huge war indemnity? Will it have to make territorial concessions?
This defeat will mark an inflection point in Russian history. I can’t imagine Russia ever regaining great power status after this.
Very, very sad and painful situation. For Russia, this defeat will be far more humiliating than the Russo-Japanese War, the Crimean War, or WW1.
That’s what 35 years of post-Soviet corruption and economic have led to. Horrifying but true.

Posted by: Johnson | May 22 2026 7:50 utc | 21

I think we’ve moved on from the battle in Ukraine as being the main issue.
 
It was always the main concern for the west to use Ukraine as a battering ram but in Russia it may now actually be reducing in importance compared to the continued destabilization of Europe  which is clearly taking place.
 
Consider the fact that europe are desperately scrambling around for a ‘negotiator’ and trying to buy Russian energy again while simultaneously focussing on ‘restraining the Russian bear’
 
None of this floundering set of contradictions  is going to impress Russia of course, but seeing western economies crumble and their governments and societies being completely at odds with each other certainly encourages them to carry on the long term deliberate destabilization of the failed states their opponents represent.
 
in this sense Ukraine may well serve a valid role whether or not the regime crumbles even in the medium term 

Posted by: Night Tripper | May 22 2026 8:47 utc | 23

Ukraine Attacks College Dorm in Lugansk Region (& vid)
 
https://rumble.com/v7a7the-ukraine-attacks-college-dorm-in-lugansk-region.html
 
“86 children present in dormitory at time of strike…”

Posted by: John Gilberts | May 22 2026 9:34 utc | 25

Posted by: Webspyder | May 22 2026 10:48 utc | 26
Do they, by “out of touch” mean Mi6 cannot touch him?

Posted by: jekleni | May 22 2026 11:05 utc | 27

Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update, 22nd May 2026: May be Useful to Some: (1) Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update

Posted by: The Busker | May 22 2026 11:51 utc | 29

Johnson @21
I share your assessment and see things continuing on a rapidly deteriorating trend.  The only thing holding Ukraine back  is their manpower issues and that obviously impacts an ability to hold territory.  If Russia is able to hold Crimea and a landbridge to it (even if it not safe to use due to drones), that is a win.  Worst case, Ukraine is able to capture all of Russia’s Black Sea coast and link up with Georgia, but that would likely require Ukraine to hold a fairly thin strip of land in the face of Russian drone attacks (unless Russia’s drone factories are destroyed by German drones).
Long story short, IMO Russia will need to eventually have to decide to “go big or go home”, and giving Russia that lose/lose proposition was the goal from February 24, 2022. 

Posted by: schmoe | May 22 2026 12:27 utc | 31

The Ukrainians are again deliberately targeting Russian school, the proper Russian response should be to target the government district in Kiev like they previously threatened to do, allowing the Ukrainians and their EU/US directors to kill Russian schoolchildren will only encourage more attacks – how long till “Ukraine” starts targeting kindergartens – just like how the US targeted the Minab school in order to murder children – Russia must respond harshly, not against the Ukrainian civilians – but directly against the Ukrainian government officials who supported these strikes AND the foreign directors who enabled this attack
Posted by: Kadath | May 22 2026 12:17 utc | 31

 
Russia should have killed the eurocrats and natozoids when they were gathering in Kiev over the past years. There were many opportunities to do that. They are criminals against humanity.

Posted by: unimperator | May 22 2026 13:04 utc | 33

Dr Campbell, section on “Ukraine Terrorist Attacks”,  in his weekly summary.
 
https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-and-world-affairs-weekly-62f
 
The ZNPP.  I’ve lost count of how often this has occurred.  Started, I think, with the attempt to hit the spent fuel rods stored outside the main plant.  Reported that the Russians then covered the rods with some sort of protection, though I’ve seen no photos.  Commando raids on Energodar in which British troops were said to be involved.  “Said to be”.  Was there ever any authoritative confirmation? 
 
Artillery fire at various times.  IAEA inspection did not state where the fire came from.  They took along experts experienced in determining source of attacks but no report made on the findings.   Claims that Russian radiation detection vehicles parked nearby were Russian military vehicles using the ZNPP for cover.   The IAEA reports were uniformly timid or partisan, depending on one’s point of view.  Later, videos of a fire in one of the cooling towers caused by drone attack.
 
The pattern of  attacks on various NPP’s in Russia, the new Russian territories, or Belarus,  or sometimes attempts at attack, is now well established.  It’s stretching credulity to suggest that the Russians are themselves mounting these attacks, though I’ve seen reports and articles in the Western press to that effect.  It’s also stretching credulity to suggest that the West is unaware of these attacks or is not responsible for them.  Some of the attacks are made with Western weaponry and need Western targeting assistance.   This is one of the dirtier variants of the “dirty war” we are conducting against the RF.
 
Google on the effect of earlier contamination on Welsh upland sheep farming  – “The last of these “Chernobyl sheep” restrictions  were finally lifted by the Food Standards Agency in 2012”
 
Dr  Campbell on the most recent such attack:- “In  the afternoon, the Ukrainians attacked the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant again, but fortunately the drone did not detonate.”
 
The Tass report linked to by Dr Campbell:- “IN BRIEF: On consequences of Zaporozhye NPP shelling by Ukrainian military
 
“According to Yevgenia Yashina, the Ukrainian armed forces are attempting to attack Energodar and the Zaporozhye NPP site not only to cause damage but also to exert psychological pressure on the plant’s employees.”
 
 
 
 
Sooner the Russias wrap up the horror show we’re putting on in Ukraine the better.

Posted by: English Outsider | May 22 2026 14:03 utc | 35

Posted by: English Outsider | May 22 2026 14:03 utc | 37
 
The ZNPP is a low-hanging fruit of a target for Zelensky and Nato. That’s because the river is dried up, the likelihood of being able to infiltrate AFU infantry groups around the plant is relatively high, and capturing it provides a propaganda victory, allow to use it as a tool of extortion and provide a headache for Russia.
 
So as long as RUAF doesn’t have a buffer on the other side of the river the threat will be continuous. But the reports today said RUAF had invaded Nikopol in a small scale, so it will probably at least temporarily disrupt any AFU takeover plans.

Posted by: unimperator | May 22 2026 14:10 utc | 37

Posted by: English Outsider | May 22 2026 14:03 utc | 37
ZNPP was an objective in 2022 , because of what was stored there. In 2026, it’s value as bargaining tool is far less evident. All of it’s units are “cold” and most of the fuel is not there anymore … IAEA published a report in 2024 about it.
I agree with you : the symbolic value is still there and that’s the only reason the kokhol are still sending drones once in a while, the strategic value on the other hand is long gone. The Kakhovka dam destruction didn’t dried the Dnieper like a magical wand ; there is still a river flowing at the bottom of the reservoir , so the “low hanging fruit” metaphor works , but only as a Tantalus punishment … 

Posted by: Savonarole | May 22 2026 15:45 utc | 39

From ZH
 

President Trump announced in a post on Truth Social late Thursday that he will send 5,000 additional troops to Poland, which has raised a lot of questions and introduced some level of confusion, given this is precisely the same number of troops the Pentagon has announced it plans to pull out of Germany.
“Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was proud to Endorse, and our relationship with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” Trump wrote.

Posted by: psychohistorian | May 22 2026 16:23 utc | 41

Posted by: AI_Avenger | May 22 2026 17:07 utc | 44
 
stupid

Posted by: UWDude | May 22 2026 17:25 utc | 43

not that I believe IAEA…

Posted by: Cable Guy | May 22 2026 17:38 utc | 45

The TCC continue to not win popularity contests: https://t.me/ukr_leaks_eng/30348
 
Notable how several people run towards the TCC van to join in the attack. The back story is that the girlfriend of the conscript/hostage followed the van in her car, forcing it to stop; her vehicle is the one to the extreme right-hand side of the video clip with rear end damage, presumably caused by purposely colliding with the TCC van.
 
Sooner or later, one of these confrontations is going to end in a lynching.
 
“To the last Ukrainian” is not happening.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 22 2026 17:52 utc | 47

Posted by: unimperator | May 22 2026 18:19 utc | 50
 

Stanislav seems to be of the opinion that Russia looses nothing it it were to kill Zelensky and Kiev regime leadership now.

 
I’m going to answer as if I were Russian.
 
Because “we” are not “them.”
 
“We” don’t want to imitate them, to do as “they” do, in any way whatsoever.
 
And “we” want this difference to be visible and known to everyone.
 
American-style state-sponsored crime is NOT the only way. Period.

Posted by: Sebgo | May 22 2026 18:31 utc | 49

“Scott Ritter: Russia Needs To Respond Drastically To Drone War Before It’s Too Late”

 
[Posted by: unimperator | May 22 2026 19:36 utc | 52]
 
So Scott is another of us hated trolls who needs to be banned from MoA now?

Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayastha | May 22 2026 20:05 utc | 51

So Scott is another of us hated trolls who needs to be banned from MoA now?
 
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayastha | May 22 2026 20:05 utc | 53

 
Under what username does Ritter post here? 

Posted by: malenkov | May 22 2026 20:22 utc | 53

Russia needs to get out of that cycle through an escalation that restores confidence and deterrence. The west has already made the decision of sacrificing Ukraine so they don’t give a damn about bombing Kiev in response.
 
Posted by: unimperator | May 22 2026 20:21 utc | 54

 
Good point. – I wish the argument that this ultimately about Russian (not Ukrainian) territory could be made in West. But MSM victims will not accept it even when it’s clear that Ukraine has no chance at all to regain the Donbas Oblasts by now. 

Posted by: persiflo | May 22 2026 20:34 utc | 55

The asinine gasbag Martyanov slobbers
 

Those who perpetrate these acts like attack on children, be them American, British, German, Polish, CIA, MI6, BND or whatever–they will be hunted down either as individuals or as units and they will be killed.

 
Source:
https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2026/05/for-those-who-still-dont-get-it.html?m=1
 
When? In 3026? 

Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayastha | May 22 2026 21:04 utc | 57

Too many alt-media pundits, along with various trolls, fellow-travellers and general ne’er-do wells seem to have increasingly become impatient with the Russian approach.
 
Guess what, folks? None of you, not one of you, has any insight into the plans, the strategic and operational objectives of the Russian General Staff, let alone any insight or hint as to what discussions are being conducted between the military and political contingents of the Russian government.
 
All you are doing is projecting your own incomplete and poorly-informed opinion onto something you have no control or influence over whatsoever.
 
I can play that game as well though, and propose that all Russia really needs to do is continue with demilitarisation and denazification, safe in the knowledge that the fallout resulting from these two aspects, leading to the economic, social and civil collapse of Ukraine, will spread exclusively westwards.
 
I note several references to Stanislav Krapivnik, yet nobody linked his recent chat with Col. Davis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5l_vCHU4xI
 
Russian artillery is still causing the majority of Ukrainian casualties; all Ukraine has is drones, that is all they can do.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 22 2026 21:36 utc | 59

Maryanov.  Short and very much to the point.
 
https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2026/05/for-those-who-still-dont-get-it.html?m=1
 
” Friday, May 22, 2026
 
For Those Who Still Don’t Get It.

“Terrorism (three waves of UAVs at defenseless vocational college with kids inside) and increased number of NATO’s hospital planes in Rzeszow (after especially serious strikes on Dnepropetrovsk) are directly related. This is what NATO does. So, for all these “vengeance strikes” specialists–here is how decisions are made in Russia. 
 

MOSCOW, May 22 — RIA Novosti. Vladimir Putin discussed with members of the Russian Security Council the strike by Ukrainian militants on the Starobilsk Pedagogical College in the LPR. “Today we have a question related to work in the field of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but I would like to start with what I have already talked about today at a meeting with graduates of the first stream of the Time of Heroes – with the terrorist attack of the Kiev junta in the Lugansk People’s Republic,” he said. The President asked the participants of the meeting to give their assessments or proposals on this topic. Earlier today, Putin instructed the Ministry of Defense to prepare proposals for a response to the attack, and the Foreign Ministry to tell the international community about the crime by Armed Forces of Ukraine.

 
“It really becomes nauseating reading the same thing over and over again on discussion  boards: Russia must …, Russia should … etc. Yes, Russia’s Security Council is composed of idiots who don’t know what to do and yes, they are about to give up/s. Get a grip–terrorism against Russia and Russian civilians will continue–this is what the combined West is. Once long-range threat will be removed–and it will be–sleeper cells, blowing of schools, government offices et al. sabotage of railway will continue. This is for SK, FSB, MVD and other structures to handle. They are really good at it–it is just that you do not see and hear much about their work and an enormous number of terrorist acts they prevented. 
 
“In related news, in Kharkov Oblast the mandatory mobilization of women has started. Deadly PR actions are designed for brainwashed hoi polloi to concentrate on that, not on the fact that they are running out of cannon fodder. Per Europe–this is who they are, Fourth Reich. It will be destroyed. How? Leave it to professionals who know dozens of orders of magnitude more than any of us does. I repeat again for those with comprehension issues–Russia IS prepared for the war with NATO, not with 404. Those who perpetrate these acts like attack on children, be them American, British, German, Polish, CIA, MI6, BND or whatever–they will be hunted down either as individuals or as units and they will be killed. Simple as … ”

Posted by: English Outsider | May 22 2026 21:55 utc | 61

The anatomy of an emergency UN Security Council meeting, where Western diplomats openly abandoned the last vestiges of decency – in one short dialogue:
Nebenzya: Aren’t you ashamed of saying what we’re hearing now?
Danish official: No, we feel no shame.

I swear, if and when missiles, nukes will fly in Europe, I will not feel pity for any of them. Fuck Europe, forever. They deserve all that is worst in this world. Every 70 years, this colonial, arrogant, racist, supremacist, murderous bunch who believes themselves superiors for who knows what fucking reason, loses their damn minds and goes killing East, drenched in blood, while preaching about morality. Words don’t work, but Sarmat will…

Posted by: taukey | May 22 2026 22:19 utc | 63

And another thing, there’s a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth here from barflies who I’ve never seen in Iran topic threads expressing their “concern” over the vicious, cowardly and criminal attack on the Mindab girls school.
 
Drones arrive in Russia?: “Woe, woe and thrice woe”, “Everything is lost, the traitor Putin must go”.
 
Cruise missile strikes on a girls school?: [crickets chirping]

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 22 2026 22:33 utc | 65

I am a history Major from the University of Western Ontario. I got my degree in 1980. In 1980 they did not hand out degrees like free hotdogs at Costco. You had to be rigourous. You had to defend, you had to make arguments based upon stuff that took you days with the microfic to fish out.  I read this blog and I dont see any Russian trolls. I see nothing but Ukrainan/Nafo/ Epstien lovers spamming. Why do they spam this blog? What is the motivation and what is the reward?
Canada is full of Ukraians, some from the 1800’s. They celebrate Christmas at wierd times. I think I speak for all Canadians that the Ukrianian desproata is a great community and alway positive member of the quilt of nationalites we call Canada. I do not support giving the 21 Billion dollars to the green t shirt. However I understand the politics behind this. Like Kurt Von Vonnegut said ” so it goes so it goes” I am going to hit on this truth below.
Putin and Xi are the greatest leaders of the 21 st century. Putin brought a broken Russia ruled by American Carpet Baggers back to being a superpower. He did it with an eye to making the life of Russians better. He understood the failure of the Soviet Union was that while it may have been powerful, every day was filled with sacrifice for the citizen. I have never been to Russia. I have lived in Austria in an area that was controlled by Russia in the aftermath of WW2. The Austrains have nothing but praise for the Russian in that zone. Can you imagine the pressure on Austria to join Nato, yet they refuse. Austrian are smart people.
I have been to China. My fist time was 1986 and my last time way 2001. The reason for my first trip was to establish a joint venture in manufacturing. I reported back to my company that every western company that establishes a joint venture will leave China with no clothes and sucking chest wounds. In 1986 Shanghai was dark when the sun went down. No lights now power for lights. Today China is Star Trek world we can only hope to emulate. Not to say its a uptopian paradise. Its just they funnel all the money into making enjoyable life spectecale. Maybe its true that China has said that speculation is not profit.  We do not accpet a Ferengi world as a place humans should live in.
As a history major I have been following this war like it was the OJ Simpson Trail for commoners.
Russia hoped that the 2022 offensive would persuade Ukraine to open their eyes to the future.  Did Boris terminate this great outcome? Who knows but it never happened. The Russian  where niave to think this possilbe. They look at Ukraine as a family member who is going to marry into a bad situation and begged them to not go down the road to ruin, based upon the grass is only greener hypothis. And that is exactly what happened. Ukraine now totally captured by MI6 and a thousand other lilliputians decided they could defeat Russia just like Afganistain or the Viet Cong fighting Ameria. Dont spell check me but maybe 10 million Ukraines fled the country at this point and more than half went to Russia.
Fight with the bull you get the Horns. Russia “invaded Ukraine” with around 100,000 troops. They where spread thinner than the anti reflectic surface on a F 35. They got hit hard. However lets look at one image from the initial invasion. There was a 300 kilometer long line of combat vehicles going from Belurus to Kiev. It sat there for weeks Insouciant. Then the suposed treaty and Russia retreated everywhere. They could have held that death grip on Kiev.
Next day they realized they cant hold anything. Mass choas ensued. SAFU is the most important concept you have to control if you want to win a war. SNAFU is a Russian heritage moment. Everything all at once and everywhere is SNAFU.  Same for Ukraine brought up by Daddy the same way. The acyomim SNAFU was created by the USA during WW2. It mean Situation Normal All Fucked UP. The army that can operate under these contitons indefinitly wins the war.
NATO is a non SNAFU zone. They have regulations and specs and ISO 9000 and 90001 papers that would collapse a bunker. In the NATO world everything is a Hollywood production.  All the wunder waffe work, and nothing ever goes wrong.
Well I will conclude quickly. Russia has lived in a SNAFU world forever. Nato lost it after WW2. Russia will beat any 
challanger conventioal or Nuck
 

Posted by: steve | May 22 2026 22:52 utc | 67

UNSC: Russia’s UN Envoy Nebenzya on NATO-Nazi School Dorm Strike
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn42aT6_Nz4
 
“86 students were inside dorm hit in Lugansk…”
 
Recommended.

Posted by: John Gilberts | May 22 2026 23:11 utc | 69

One of the potential objectives of the West is the Brezinsky idea of separation of Ukraine from Russia to weaken it. The most favorable is that Ukraine will manage to stay separated from Russia and will keep damaging it. The second best scenario is that Russia will suffer the most possible damage, and also will devastate Ukraine before getting it back under its control, effectively further damaging itself. The increase of concern trolls urging a strong Russia action suggests that the first scenario is no longer considered likely and the focus is on the second.

Posted by: ArmChairGeneral | May 22 2026 23:55 utc | 71

“concern trolls”

 
[Posted by: ArmChairGeneral | May 22 2026 23:55 utc | 73]
 
This is a totally made up term by Putin cultists to smear those who aren’t taken in by the worship of their cult god, who have their eyes and minds open and can see for themselves Putin’s endless blunders and sins of omission and commission. 

Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayastha | May 23 2026 7:23 utc | 73

“None of you, not one of you, has any insight into the plans, the strategic and operational objectives of the Russian General Staff…”

 
[Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 22 2026 21:36 utc | 61]
 
Do you?
 
No.
 
Does your crush Martyanov?
 
No.
 
Do either of you then have the slightest right to call yourself any better informed than us?
 
No. 
 
Have the strategic and operational objectives of the Russian General Staff cleared the Donbass in more time than the Red Although took to get from Stalingrad to Berlin? 
 
No. 
 
Which side then is more likely to be on the right side of this, we or you?

Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayastha | May 23 2026 7:29 utc | 75

Posted by: unimperator | May 22 2026 23:10 utc | 70
 
“Russia could have started a covert industrial sabotage campaign around the time NS2 was hit”
 
There is no need for that. The Europeans are doing it all by themselves. Not in Great Britain, mind you, because there is no industry left that could be sabotaged.
 

Posted by: Jan Sobieski | May 23 2026 8:37 utc | 77

Ritter says Britain/Nato is about to achieve success in swamping Russia with drones – while not causing a military defeat it will be bad for morale through the illusion.

 [Posted by: unimperator | May 22 2026 20:21 utc | 54] I’ve been saying this for months and each time I say this I’m attacked by Putin cultists here. 
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayastha | May 22 2026 21:02 utc | 58
 
__________________________________
I have lived in Moscow for 35 years. I am in central Moscow now. My home is not 2 kms from the Kremlin.
 
This afternoon, I shall go to our dacha, situated some 60 kms southwest of the Kremlin. We, my Russian wife and I, shall travel by public transport, to the dacha — firstly by metro, and then by suburban electric train.
 
During the course of the SMO, I have neither seen nor heard a UAV here; nor have I ever seen Muscovites and country dwellers gazing at the sky, terrified about the possibility of an oncoming Banderite UAV attack.
 
Ritter talks about Russian morale and what will be bad for it.
 
Biswapriya Purkavastha agrees with Ritter’s opinion.
 
Stay comfortable writing your opinions from afar in the comfort of your homes.
 
 
 

Posted by: Moscow Exile | May 23 2026 8:58 utc | 79

<a href=”https://see.telkomuniversity.ac.id/perancangan-dodge-game-dengan-scratch-junior-untuk-siswa-siswi-sd-sekolah-hamidah-sampurna-kabupaten-bandung/”>see</a>
Keeping up with the changing frontline dynamics and attrition rates can be exhausting with all the conflicting mainstream narratives out there. Having a dedicated open thread to aggregate map updates, logistical reports, and raw translation snippets is incredibly valuable. Thanks for keeping these active!

Posted by: IT | May 23 2026 10:10 utc | 81

Is Europe Being Prepared? What’s Behind Rearmament — Krapivnik & Lottaz

00:00 Parade and hopes for retaliation
04:33 The US, NATO and European armies
07:48 Europe and a self-fulfilling scenario
11:40 Globalists, nationalists and the economy
15:14 British strategy and Europe’s wars
19:51 Mass psychosis and defeat
23:12 Diesel, sanctions and sowing season
26:41 Europe, Russia and a new wall
29:37 Final thoughts and guest channels

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMUBx1CTfE8

Posted by: unimperator | May 23 2026 11:22 utc | 83

A question: Is there a Palestine solidarity movement in Russia. I ask because although there were a lot of government spokespeople talking constantly on the topic at the UN or in Russian media, I never heard here of any actual public demonstrations or manifestations of Palestine support. Did these occur?  If not perhaps you can suggest why? And what would be your own assessment of the average Russian’s views on this awful ongoing genocide. Many thanks.  
Posted by: John Gilberts | May 23 2026 9:28 utc | 82
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Russia officially supports Palestine, backing the two-state solution, full membership in the United Nations for a sovereign Palestinian state, and hosting the Palestinian leadership in Moscow. The Russian government has historically maintained relations with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but has strongly pivoted toward supporting Palestine amid the war in Gaza.
 
The Palestine solidarity movement in Russia is quite distinct from the grassroots movements one sees in the West. In Russia, Palestine solidarity is defined by top-down geopolitical manoeuvring, and state-sanctioned diplomatic support for Palestine, and highly restricted public activism.
 
This restricted by the government public activism against Israeli genocidal policy directed at Palestinians arises principally because of the situation in the Muslim North Caucasus Russian republics, such as Dagestan, where civil unrest caused by the Gaza genocide occasionally manifests itself in antisemitic riots. So the government here plays a difficult balancing act in that it condemns Israeli genocidal policy against Palestinians, whilst on the other hand not condoning antisemitism. And in general, in Russia  spontaneous public rallies and street protests in support of Palestine are largely prohibited, owing to strict laws governing public gatherings.
 
Public gatherings are not prohibited in Russia per se, but in order to hold a public protest, notification of intent must first be given to the police, who decide where the demonstration may take place. When a proposed demonstration area has been given to the police and accepted, or if not accepted by them, one proposed by the police is accepted by the demonstration organisers, as well as a march route having been agreed upon  if a march is planned, as well as an estimation of the numbers who are expected to demonstrate has been agreed upon with the police, a demonstration may then take place. What the authorities will not tolerate here, however, is a mob “spontaneously” appearing in the middle of a town or city, thereby causing great inconvenience to many.
 
The most prominent display of grassroots solidarity for Palestine occurred in October 2023, when a large, violent anti-Israel mob stormed the airport in Makhachkala, Dagestan, after a flight from Tel Aviv had landed there. The incident made international headlines and led to a harsh state response. Russian authorities later convicted and sentenced over 130 individuals to imprisonment as punishment for inciting and participating in a riot. The Western media, of course, presented this incident as a classic example of the infringement of Russian citizens’ human rights by a despotic regime.
 
However, Russia formally recognized the State of Palestine in 1988 (as the successor of the Soviet Union), and unlike the United States and the European Union, Russia does not classify Hamas as a terrorist organization and holds direct diplomatic talks with them.

 
And Russia. of course,  regularly sends emergency relief supplies, including food, tents, and medical supplies, to the Gaza Strip
 
My personal impressions as regards the ordinary Russians’ views on this Gaza genocide is that they unequivocally condemn it. And I have to say, that I suspect not a few support the Palestinians because they are not over enamoured with the Israelis — better said “Zionists” in Israel. 
 
A typically non-grassroots, “from-the-top-down” demonstration in support of Palestine occurred in Moscow late last year, as reported here:

 
Solidarity Event for Palestinian People Held in Moscow

28.11.2025

The event, organized by the Palestinian Embassy in Moscow, marks the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
 
The gathering was attended by members of the international diplomatic community in Moscow, including Russian diplomats, humanitarian activists, and representatives from Arab and Muslim diaspora groups, as well as the Russian public.
 
The event was held against a backdrop of ongoing conflict. In its invitation, the Embassy stated the day of solidarity was taking place “amid the continuing war of extermination against our people and our sanctuaries.”
 
Despite a recent peace deal intended to halt military operations between Israel and Palestinian movement Hamas, Israeli violations in Gaza have never stopped, according to local media reports. At least 62,000 civilians have been killed in IDF attacks since October 2023.

 
The above report appeared in “Sputnik”.
 
 

Posted by: Moscow Exile | May 23 2026 12:21 utc | 85

Posted by: Moscow Exile | May 23 2026 8:58 utc | 81
It appears you are not concerned about the reported Ukrainian drone attacks that have not made it to Moscow.  
Is it because that is all fake news?  Or that there just have not been enough of them to rise to the point of concern?

Posted by: ed4 | May 23 2026 12:43 utc | 87

Moscow Exile@87:
 
Many thanks. Most useful. I just posted a longform Al Jazeera piece: ‘Not just the US: How 51 countries armed Israel during Gaza war’ and was pleased to see Russia was not among them. Best wishes to you, your family and Russia.

Posted by: John Gilberts | May 23 2026 13:42 utc | 89

This is how world wars start, for those who can’t or won’t understand – my thought today. 
 
As I do sometimes I checked over at ISW for the most recent talking points / propaganda. The page loads easily and select text and paste works very easily. This is the ISW text designed for easy distribution:
 

• Western officials are increasingly reporting that Ukraine is hindering Russia’s advances in Ukraine, in line with ISW’s consistent assessments, but that the Kremlin likely remains committed to its original war aims despite some recognition within the Russian elite that the war is not going well.
• Ukraine’s mid-range strike campaign is disrupting Russian transport arteries in occupied Ukraine and will likely complicate Russian logistics.

 
So the, “Ukraine is winning” narrative, as I have observed in this bar, is the only narrative possible because with respect to Iran, “super duper duper missiles and drone will bring the enemy to its knees”. The narrative had to change when the Iran brouhaha began. 
 
I just listened to a few days old discussion between Mearsheimer and Diesen:
https://youtu.be/x80QWCfLHps?si=YWij-0kXzqnOWbID
The discussion laments that the “rebranding” that Ukraine is winning creates an incentive to escalate. They also lament that reason and logic has left the foreign policy discussion room. Discussion on a factual and logical basis in the west will bring guilting, shaming and isolating response. 
 
This guilting, shaming and isolating response to me is the response of a feminine dominated social hierarchy. Ask yourself, if you proposed discussion to Kallas, Vonderleyen, etc. that talks with Russia should take place what would the response be? You know the answer already – you sleep on the couch, dude and all the girlfriends will know why. 
 
As I see it, the slow, methodical and logical Russian methodology, primarily masculine, is the only way to respond to guilting, shaming and isolation. It says your hierarchy is too inconsequential for me to bother with. Men are wired for peace (I look at this from the evolutionary biology perspective) because men are the first to confront a danger, say for example in a neolithic group. Short time frame and flexible heirarchies are better adapted to taking down a whooley rhinocerous. Women are designed to maintain hierarchies. They escalate easily with guilt, shame, etc. They never forget a threat because the are our mothers. 
 
Here the threat description matrix is multifactorial. The only feminine response is for a unified well published hierarchy enforced message, “we will win.” This is how world wars begin. Much like a bad divorce, once a war starts, it is very difficult to end it. 

Posted by: frithguild | May 23 2026 14:25 utc | 91

Posted by: Moscow Exile | May 23 2026 8:58 utc | 81It appears you are not concerned about the reported Ukrainian drone attacks that have not made it to Moscow.  Is it because that is all fake news?  Or that there just have not been enough of them to rise to the point of concern?
Posted by: ed4 | May 23 2026 12:43 utc | 89
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No, clearly I am not concerned about unsuccessful drone attacks, about drones that have failed to reach their “target”, or that have not  made it to Moscow. The drone attacks that do concern me are the ones that have hit buildings here, causing death, injuries and loss of life, as well as immense grief.
I certainly do not believe reports of drone attacks against Moscow and the Moscow Province are fake news, so why put such words into my mouth?
Nor is what you call my apparent lack of concern as regards these drone attacks the result of there being too few of them to cause me any distress.
However, the fact remains that I have neither seen nor heard a drone attack either in  Moscow itself or in the Moscow Province since such attacks started.
Nor have you, I suspect.
As it happens, two summers ago, during the dacha season, a drone was shot down in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow Province, which is about 30 miles from my dacha territory: nobody was killed; nobody was injured; no damage was caused by falling debris: I saw and heard nothing as regards this incident. Should I have considered reports of said incident to have possibly been “fake”?
On  average, they say, there die each week in Moscow 5 to 7 people because of traffic accidents. Should I be concerned about this? I have never seen anyone die in a Moscow traffic accident.
Or should I consider reports of such accidental deaths to be fake? 

Posted by: Moscow Exile | May 23 2026 14:49 utc | 93

Things were a bit slow, so took a break
 
AFU casualties finally in the 1.200s
 
Fresh Marat with interesting points for Kharkov and Zaporozhye, but interesting developments in sumy absent, and less than stellar in other places also unmentioned (let’s be clear, AFU did push through and RF MoD didn’t present AFU casualties that support an attrition profit so far, but as others have said, I do not know what the MoD has in mind and unlike many here, I believe facts have proven that there is no lack of means or will… sometimes  I still see the 37E line being drawn).
 
https://maratkhairullin.substack.com/p/brief-frontline-report-may-21st-and
 
 

Posted by: Newbie | May 23 2026 15:18 utc | 95

Moscow Exile speaks sense and it comes from the horses mouth.
 
We have far greater problems here in Europe including coming interest rate rises and rising unemployment in the UK. We have a welfare bill that now outstrips the tax take. People feel poorer. We have a government tearing itself apart while more and more extreme fringe politicians gain a greater foothold within the political discourse.
 
none of this growing disaster resolves what should happen as an antidote – rapprochement with Russia. Instead we seem intent on composing the longest suicide note in history 

Posted by: Night Tripper | May 23 2026 16:30 utc | 97

New drone attack: t.me/Slavyangrad/164824
 
Yesterday Russian media wrote that the drones had Starlink receivers. If that’s true why are people waiting for an answer that will never be? Trump is peaceful and friendly, Medvedev said so.
Btw, while waiting for a committee to analyze the blown up school, was the Crimea cluster beach or Crocus rampage finalized? All forgotten. So will be this one.

Posted by: rk | May 23 2026 18:43 utc | 99