Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Catfish]

:haha:

https://i.imgur.com/7YyaQW2.png

[Jimbuna]

Probably hard to bring a 40-foot table to a funeral.

:haha:

[Jimbuna]

Total combat losses of Russia since beginning of war - about 48.7 thousand people, 234 aircraft, 205 helicopters, 2009 tanks and 4,366 armored vehicles. INFOGRAPHICS

The Russian occupants who have invaded Ukraine continue to suffer casualties. As of the morning of September 2, enemy personnel losses totaled approximately 48,700.

This is stated by Censor.NЕТ with reference to рress service of AFU General Staff.

As noted, the total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 02.09 are estimated to be:

personnel - about 48,700 (+350) people were eliminated,

tanks - 2009 (+12) units,

armored combat vehicles - 4366 (+21) units,

artillery systems - 1126 (+11) units,

MLRS - 289 (+2) units,

air defence - 153 (+0) units,

aircraft- 234 (+0)

helicopters- 205 (+0)

UAVs of operational-tactical level - 853 (+2),

cruise missiles - 198 (+2),

ships/boats - 15 (+0) units,

automotive equipment and tank trucks - 3247 (+8) units,

special equipment - 105 (+1). Source: https://censor.net/en/n3364609

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B74xUUtjmjc

[Exocet25fr]

Bravo :up:

https://defconnews.com/2022/09/01/sanctions-against-russia-have-failed-spectacularly/

[Skybird]

Bravo :up:

https://defconnews.com/2022/09/01/sanctions-against-russia-have-failed-spectacularly/
Little to argue with in that.

The G7 just announced it wants to install a world regiment against Russia by capping oil and gas prices globally, hoping to enforce that by controlling most tankers and shipping insuring companies. - I had a good grinning while reading about it. If you make such statements you better have made sure in advance that you can enforce what you say, else you have made yourself the running joke at the party. In other words: it will not work as they imagine.

I said it often: you cannot sanction somebody into obedience whom you vitally depend on yourself and who is in his own basic needs fully autark.


This war can only get decided on the battlefield, not by "sanctions".

[Skybird]

How unexpectedly! Contrary to announcements, no gas will continue to flow through the Nord Stream 1 Baltic Sea pipeline from this Saturday. This was announced by the state-owned company Gazprom on Telegram on Friday. The reason is an oil leak at the Portovaya compressor station, Russia claims. The flow of gas will remain stopped until the problem is resolved.

I predict that oil leak has come to stay. :know: And if it goes away, somethign else will happwen - bet! :D

Poor German hopefuls, how could life be so unfair ...

[Skybird]

And this: Now the merry-go-round starts. Arcelor-Mittal, the world's largest steel producer, is shutting down two production facilities at the end of September due to high energy prices in Germany. "Until further notice," one of the two blast furnaces at the flat steel site in Bremen will be shut down. And the direct reduction plant at the Hamburg long steel mill is also to be shut down. In addition to the already high costs for gas and electricity, the gas surcharge planned from October will place a further burden on the competitiveness of energy-intensive plants, it says in justification. "With a tenfold increase in gas and electricity prices, which we had to accept within a few months, we are no longer competitive in a market that is 25 percent supplied by imports," Germany boss Reiner Blaschek is quoted as saying in a statement from Arcelor-Mittal.



Several producers in the alumium industry in germany have stopped production already many weeks ago.

A rat tail of shortages in products made of these is to follow. And price hikes for end products fueling inflation further.

I post this here and not in the energy or economy thread, because we are talking about the symptoms of economic warfare that also is part of the Ukraine war.

Moscow meanhwile has reacted to the threat by the G7 and indicates that it will react by not delivering anything at all to anyone who obeys such price caps for oil and gas. How unpredictable! And you guess what - they can even afford it!

Once again I get the idea that the West does not shoot its foot, but head.


It takes a crashing military defeat for Russia to make them stop believing that no matter what in the end they will nevertheless inevitably win anyway due to their mystical rooting in the powers on nature herself and special Russian archpowers etc etc. As long as they are driven by this confidence in their invincibility they will press on with their war against Ukraine. Not politics and economics and finances, but only battles will stop them.



And we still put the foot on the Ukrainian brake... With all energy deliveries now likely to stop anyway, we even should consider to threaten - and be willing to do it! - with direct military intervention. I mean, look at their performance. The idea that Russia still is capable to roll into Poland and take it, is currently ridiculous.

[Dargo]

Little to argue with in that.

The G7 just announced it wants to install a world regiment against Russia by capping oil and gas prices globally, hoping to enforce that by controlling most tankers and shipping insuring companies. - I had a good grinning while reading about it. If you make such statements you better have made sure in advance that you can enforce what you say, else you have made yourself the running joke at the party. In other words: it will not work as they imagine.

I said it often: you cannot sanction somebody into obedience whom you vitally depend on yourself and who is in his own basic needs fully autark.


This war can only get decided on the battlefield, not by "sanctions".There is not much to destroy in the first place, Russian economy has never recovered much after the financial crisis (2014–2016) you just can't destroy something twice.

[Dargo]

Bravo :up:

https://defconnews.com/2022/09/01/sanctions-against-russia-have-failed-spectacularly/Dutch economy grows by 2.6 percent in 2nd quarter 2022 The value added (the difference between production and consumption of energy, materials and services) of the culture, sports, recreation and other services industry grew by more than 40 percent in the second quarter of 2022, the fastest of all industries. Arts, culture, sports and recreation grew particularly strongly. Business services grew by almost 11 percent. The staffing and travel sectors, among others, contributed strongly to this growth. Value added in trade, transport and hotels and restaurants was 9 percent higher in the second quarter than twelve months previously. The sector hotels and restaurants grew particularly fast, but the added value of transport (especially aviation) was also higher than one year previously. The value added of trade, however, shrank slightly. Manufacturing industry grew by 5 percent. The machine industry and the electrical engineering industry were the main contributors. The construction sector grew by more than 3 percent.

Employees and the self-employed worked a total of approximately 3.7 billion hours in the second quarter of 2022. That is, seasonally adjusted, 2.6 percent more than a quarter earlier. There were 467 thousand job openings at the end of June, 16 thousand more than at the end of the first quarter. This is the eighth quarter in a row that the number of vacancies has increased. In two years, the number of open vacancies has more than doubled. The number of unemployed continued to increase to 353 thousand in July 2022. That is 3.6 percent of the labor force. The turnover of temporary employment agencies and employment services increased by 5.8 percent in the first quarter 2021 compared to a quarter earlier.

Bet that Russia can not present figures like this.

[Dargo]

The White House will ask Congress to provide additional aid for Ukraine in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, as officials warn that earlier monies are running out with the effort to combat Russia’s invasion now past its six-month mark.

The administration is seeking $11.7 billion in security and economic assistance for Ukraine in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, along with $2 billion aimed at helping to prevent domestic energy costs from going up as Russian President Vladimir Putin squeezes supplies.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-02/white-house-to-seek-11-7-billion-in-additional-ukraine-aid?cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-politics

[em2nought]

The administration is seeking $11.7 billion in security and economic assistance for Ukraine in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, along with $2 billion aimed at helping to prevent domestic energy costs from going up as Russian President Vladimir Putin squeezes supplies.


Yeah, U.S. taxpayers wouldn't want energy costs to go up in the Ukraine. :har:

[August]

Yeah, U.S. taxpayers wouldn't want energy costs to go up in the Ukraine. :har:


Badly written I think. He's got more than one hand out.

[Dargo]

Yeah, U.S. taxpayers wouldn't want energy costs to go up in the Ukraine. :har:The cost that Ukraine pays in this war from the destruction of buildings and infrastructure amounted to $113.5 billion and eventually a total of $750 billion for recovery. Think they pay more than any U.S. taxpayer, and this is only economical.

[Catfish]

Bravo :up:
https://defconnews.com/2022/09/01/sanctions-against-russia-have-failed-spectacularly/
Bravo for the idiots, AND quoting Russia today.

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/def-con-news-bias/

[Dargo]

Bravo for the idiots, AND quoting Russia today.

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/def-con-news-bias/The About of this site states it all :D

[Skybird]

Russian politics have never been about caring for the people, this is what Western analysts finally have to understand. IKts about the peope at thje top of the food chain securing power and plundering the country. Westenr sanctions do not change this, and Wetsern sanctions do not stop Russia making war in the ukraine.

You can ridicule the Russian economy as much as you want, from a Western POV these clever arguments may make sense, in contextx that form the thinking world of the West academics. In Russia, they simply do not matter. GET USED TO THAT.

That website's nature is of secondary relevance only, and these days I see in germany journalists and politicians being called Nazis just because they refuse to use gender speak. What did the website in Rockstar's quote say?




The trust in Western banking institutions has been crushed;
The SWIFT system as a reliable source of economic order is at its all-time low;
Local currencies are replacing the U.S. dollar at the speed of light;
85% of the global population is refusing to sanction Russia (https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2022-08-16-chinese-foreign-ministry%E2%80%9385%E2%80%93of-the-world-s-population-has-not-imposed-sanctions-against-russia.BJKi9Lt0q.html);
Russia itself is swimming in money from the skyrocketing energy prices (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-15/economists-say-a-euro-zone-recession-is-now-more-likely-than-not); and
President Putin has never been more popular, trusted by over 8o% (https://www.statista.com/statistics/896181/putin-approval-rating-russia/) of the Russian population, according to VTSIOM, many of whom complain that he should have attacked Ukraine much earlier. Even oligarchs (https://hannenabintuherland.com/usa/washingtons-russia-sanctions-are-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-russia-and-the-worst-for-europe/) who formerly hated Putin and strongly opposed him domestically now love him.

Europe also used to love Putin, to the extent that when the green energy ideology first made Europe shut down its own energy resources without having an energy substitute, Europe was happy to leave its fate (https://hannenabintuherland.com/usa/europe-the-slave-of-america/) in the hands of Russian oil and gas.
Remember, in September 2018 President Trump warned the German delegation at the U.N. General Assembly against becoming totally dependent on Russian energy?




No point in that is wrong. The trust in banks is eroding, though not just due to Russia, but already before. SWIFT is in rough waters due to its obvious use for manipulating global politics (no comment on whether it is ethically justfied or not, I just state the fact). Local currencies are being pushed indeed, since years, with varying success, but Russia and China try to dump dollars, and have done so, and Russia buys gold like crazy, still. India tries to steer free of the Euros and Dollars regime, too, they just do not make a big show of it. Indeed countries representing over 80% of the planets population refuse to join the West in its attempt to mobilise support against Russia. Russia has made more profit with energy sales in the last six months than in the full year 2021. Putin and the war is popular in Russia: the war since it is not the population in the city seing the coffins coming home, Putin sicne the media ciontor, and censorship is compeote and the the rural places' population only know what state media tell them, and the civil reosstence in the cities is massively overestimated ion the Western media, since many years. Putin always has been more popular with Russians that we Westerners wanted to realise. What Trump saiod about Germany and Russia and the energy dpeendency obviously is true as well.

The Western position on Russia is a minority position, there is no doubt on that. China, Russia and India are influential enough to prevent more. We live in the time when the strongest anti-Western block ever forms up. Much of Asia, much of Africa, much of Latin America refuse the Western claim for lead role, the motives are varying but do not matter here.

So, the website in question may have this or that reputation: it does not matter. What is said in this one link given is what counts: and there is little in it I could argue with. Nothing, to be precise. The time when the G7 formed a majority of the global economic power, is over, these days it is a faction that does not even represent half of the globe's total economic power,. but clearly less. It has lost tremendously in power over the past 20 years.

[Skybird]

Part of the new warfare Russia wages against the West - since many years, and against Europe and America alike. FCOUS writes:
---------------------
AfD shares manipulated Baerbock video - detail exposes Kremlin propaganda

Foreign Minister Baerbock is facing criticism following a panel discussion. Videos are circulating on social networks showing alleged statements by Baerbock, which subsequently caused a stir. But now it comes out: the sentences Baerbock have not fallen so, the videos were manipulated.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) came under fire after a panel discussion in Prague because she had pledged her support for Ukraine - regardless of the opinion of her electorate in Germany. Baerbock was subsequently accused of treason for allegedly favoring the Ukrainian population over her own. On Twitter, #BaerbockRuecktritt was one of the most used hashtags in Germany on Thursday. However, a Russian disinformation campaign is apparently behind the video.

In the viral video, the German foreign minister explains her stance on sanctions against Russia as well as support for Ukraine. For example, Baerbock says that she will "stand by the Ukrainians as long as they need it" - and that she also wants to keep her promise, "no matter what my German voters say." Furthermore, Baerbock states that she will not stop the sanctions in the winter, even if the Germans demonstrate because of high energy bills.

Calls for Baerbock's resignation

The AfD in particular made a fuss about Baerbock's statement. AfD leader Alice Weidel, for example, wrote on Twitter, "The resignation of the foreign minister is overdue. Anyone who explicitly whistles on the interests of voters in Germany no longer has any business in a ministerial office." In general, the entire traffic light coalition is "deliberately working against the people in our country," Weidel said.

Harsh criticism also came from other parties: left-wing politician Sevim Dagdelen wrote on Twitter of Baerbock's alleged: "Ukraine first, citizens no matter contempt." Sahra Wagenknecht of the Left Party, called Baerbock a "danger to our country" on Twitter. Baerbock was equally criticized by CDU politicians.

Russian disinformation campaign

However, according to "Spiegel" research, a Russian disinformation campaign is said to be behind the video: The short excerpt was first posted by accounts close to the Kremlin and edited together to distort the meaning. Accounts close to the Kremlin or partly state-run Russian actors are said to have started the campaign by abbreviated quotes and to have fueled it again and again, according to an analysis of the "Disinformation Situation Center", which is available to "Der Spiegel".

Accounts close to the Kremlin are said to have disseminated doctored video

The first quote from the event was allegedly posted on Telegram by state news agency Ria Novosti, according to Der Spiegel. Four minutes later, the quote was again doctored and posted by a Telegram channel belonging to state media Sputnik, it said.

Four hours later, the Telegram channel "Russian American Daily" allegedly showed the edited video, "Spiegel" writes. The members of the channel had already been interrogated by the FBI in the past on suspicion of spying for Russia, "Spiegel" added. The channel frequently posts propaganda about the war in Ukraine and is said to have a proximity to the Kremlin.

With distorted words such as "will put Ukraine first, no matter what German voters think," the video was distributed. The words "in the first place" do not even appear in Baerbock's speech. Smaller, anonymous accounts are said to have subsequently redistributed the video in German, according to Der Spiegel.

Weidel shares Baerbock video - watermark exposes Kremlin propaganda

Weidel was one of the first to share the video. Explosive: the video contained a watermark of the "Russian American Daily" channel. It was clicked 140,000 times on Weidel's Facebook profile alone, and another 115,000 times on the official AfD account on Facebook. Here, too, the video was used with the watermark of the account close to the Kremlin. Other AfD politicians shared the video and also called for Baerbock's resignation.

German media translated quotes incorrectly

In addition, German media partially translated Baerbock's English sentences incorrectly. "Die Welt," for example, published an article with the headline, "Government stands by Ukraine, no matter what German voters think." In the video, however, Baerbock speaks exclusively of her electorate, the Green voters. According to "Spiegel," the "Welt" article was shared thousands of times, and only after hours was the headline corrected.

No deepfake video

It is true that the video and audio material was not manipulated with the help of software. However, Baerbock's statements were edited in such a way that the content of what was said was distorted. The foreign minister did indeed utter the sentences that appear in the short version, but relevant statements were omitted. A 2 minute and 13 second speech ultimately became a 54 second video.

For example, Baerbock says on the panel that fortunately in democracy there is the possibility that her constituents will punish her if they see it differently. She also talks about the need for all of Europe to find good solutions to balance the social effects of Russia's war of aggression and the energy crisis.

Greens popular target for Russian disinformation campaigns

Felix Kartte, an expert at Reset, an initiative that promotes digital democracy, told Der Spiegel, "It was to be expected that Russian disinformation would target top Green officials in particular." Already during the Bundestag election campaign, he said, the Greens, and among them chancellor candidate Baerbock in particular, had been a popular target of disinformation campaigns.

-----------------

[Jimbuna]

The economic impact of the war in Ukraine is tough on its allies, the country's first lady has told the BBC, but as Britons "count pennies", Ukrainians "count casualties".

Olena Zelenska told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that if support for Ukraine was strong the crisis would be shorter.

In an interview recorded in Kyiv, she also said it was important to keep highlighting the human toll of the war.

And Mrs Zelenska said while she rarely saw her husband, they talk every day.

The first lady, who has been married to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since 2003, spoke to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg in Kyiv.

In a wide-ranging interview to be broadcast on Sunday 4 September, Mrs Zelenska was asked what message she had for British people who are facing soaring energy bills in part due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the impact that has had on global gas and oil prices.

"I understand the situation is very tough. But let me recall that at the time of the Covid-19 epidemic, and it's still with us, when there were price hikes, Ukraine was affected as well.

"The prices are going up in Ukraine as well. But in addition our people get killed.

"So when you start counting pennies on your bank account or in your pocket, we do the same and count our casualties," she said.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62766917

[mapuc]

On the bottom line it's all about standpoints and belief.

I choose to believe what I hear coming from UA-forces and not so much what comes from Russia.

It could be false or exaggerated information I get from different source I follow-Cause I really don't know what's going on, on the frontline in Ukraine.

Some of my friends are convince Russia has success all over the frontline-As one said-If you knew what I have been told by the Russians on VK.

It made me sad-I want it to be untrue, however it may be true-I don't know-I just want Ukraine to win the war.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

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

[Jimbuna]

Mobilized residents of Donbas are deserting en masse from "army of DPR", - Kazansky. PHOTOS

In occupied Donetsk, Rashists are posting announcements about the search for deserters who refused to fight in the "army of the DNR".

As Censor.NET informs, this was reported by journalist Denys Kazansky on Facebook.

"There are such announcements all over Donetsk. Mobilized residents of Donbas are deserting en masse from the "army of the DPR" and do not want to go to a senseless death for the sake of Putin's crazy fantasies," the report says. Source: https://censor.net/en/p3365025

[Rockstar]

Another source of intel https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWM_qCXaxs0

[Otto Harkaman]

Russian submarine Severodvinsk
Naval News has seen strong indications that a Russian attack submarine (SSN) or cruise missile submarine (SSGN) is operating near Italy.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/09/new-intelligence-russia-sends-nuclear-submarine-to-mediterranean/

Russia’s most powerful submarine equipped with cruise missiles reached the Mediterranean Sea after leaving Ukraine war, know the purpose
This submarine of the Russian Navy is standing at the entrance of NATO countries off the coast of Italy. In such a situation, there has been an increased concern for NATO countries to guard their maritime border more than the Ukraine war.
https://www.newsdayexpress.com/world/russias-most-powerful-submarine-equipped-with-cruise-missiles-reached-the-mediterranean-sea-after-leaving-ukraine-war-know-the-purpose/

https://youtu.be/hhAaFXyy9rU

Interesting where the US carriers are located
https://news.usni.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FT_8_29_22.jpg

[Catfish]

re Skybird, russian propaganda and AfD in Germany

Now democracy being the lesser evil of government systems, why isn't there some inbuilt self-preservation, like making groups illegal by law that try to overthrow the constitution, and even have that written in their party program.
In Germany this means the AfD as well as Die Linke.
On one hand it is of course convenient to have all the suspects at one place to have an overview of known troublemakers, on the other hand their influence and world view may spread like a wildfire, certain preconditions provided.
So if a majority democratically suddenly removes the current system by a final act and votes for someone like Hitler, this would be perfectly ok and there is no way back to democracy without a revolution, or a lost war..

Even with a majority content with the current system and circumstances, if they are just too lazy to counter such groups in time they will just let it happen. Add foreign help to these groups, like from Russia (as it is just happening now) they become a direct and physical threat.


In this case Russia uses its usual program like disinformation, concocted history, false flag operations and so on, but on steroids:
Now even RT (Russia today), TASS and all those others flooding the internet do not only condemn their perceived enemies' behaviour, but spread contradictory statements, now even within one broadcast. Russia has advanced, but Russia has retreated. Scholtz is a Nazi, Scholtz is good to Russia. They use a bit of real fact and spin a complete package of nonsense around it.
And people fall for it, you can even see this in this forum.

This is in a way how Trump did it, though i am not sure his "statements" were a strategy or not rather simple incompetence and lack of understanding.
The russian approach is to destabilize any opinion and facts until people think they cannot trust anything anymore, so the strongmen offering simple explanations and solutions become accepted, and even loved.

This is all simple enough to understand, but shouldn't the free countries and their various coalitions try to counter this? :hmmm:

[Skybird]

Yeah, sure. How deep Putinomics are already inside people's brains shows the Us politics thread. The demagogic comparisons made there recently have no more mental sanity in them, are as abstrus as it gets. The internet media play into extremists' hands.

Russia wages allout war against the West on several levels, economically, media, diplomatic bribery to win support by bystanding countries, assassinations.


Still, opposition to Putin in Russia never was as strong or widespread as western media paint it as. Just yesterday the BND said they have zero indications for an imminent loss of control by Putin, too. Since years we get told that Russia is economically close to collapse.

Lets face it, thd sanctions are simply irrelevant for Putin determination to have this war. Winter is an old ally of Russia at war. In the coming months western mood over Ukraine will dramatically change. He knows that.

[Catfish]

^ and remember that after North Stream II has not been opened, and N. Stream I been completely closed now, Putin will close the "rest" of 85 percent gas and oil (coming from Russia through those other pipelines) too, probably in mid-winter.
Who could have possibly foreseen this? :D

re my post, how do you think one can counter Russia's disinformation and destabilization strategy?

I heard that the EU intends to install counter measures against propaganda, i just wonder how they want to do this. Information and facts only work if people are willing to look at it.
Censoring or shutting down propagandas sites, well – cutting RT (Russia today) already had Die Linke almost on the barricades already. And of course that is censorship. Cries just of all the AfD who will be the first to shut down any critical media the second it comes to power.
If you think people are bright enough to see through RT's most obvious nonsense you may be in for a surprise.
Let alone better thought-out influencing.

[Catfish]

Not sure what to make of this, but it sounds reasonable enough, and maybe not propaganda .. :

https://www.russia-briefing.com/news/why-the-russian-economy-isn-t-collapsing.html/

PPP is the point. We know it was not a good idea to switch a country's industry to the service sector alone. As long as money is being printed and paid for no real equivalent value it works for a "short" (10-20 years or so) time, but then the money being paid for services has to come from somewhere again.

So e.g. Thatcher's decision to mow down industrial capacities and cut each others' hair instead has led to major empoverishment, now even more than before. We know the difference between poor and rich in the UK is based and obviously accepted together with the class society, but what about the rest of Europe?
Russia does have the resources. If it ever properly develops its economy and infrastructure together with proper education, it indeed will be a world power.

[Jimbuna]

Russia sets 'deadline' to end war as MoD declares 'highly unlikely' it will achieve goals

The news comes as Ukrainian defence forces take steps to recapture occupied towns and cities in the eastern region of the country, with particular focus on Kherson which was taken by Moscow in the early stages of the war six months ago. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked his forces for taking two settlements in the south and a third, along with additional territory, in the east, citing "good reports" from his military commanders and intelligence head as the mission to push back against Vladimir Putin's forces continues.

The latest MoD report states the Donbas region remains Putin's top priority in the conflict, hoping any gains would be seen as a victory in the process.

Intelligence released by the MoD said: "Despite its effects to contain recent Ukrainian offensive action, Russia's main effort in Ukraine almost certainly remains its Donbas offensive operation. Its principal axes of advance in the Donbas remain at Avdiivka near Donetsk City and, 60km to the north, around Bakhmut.

"Although Russia has had the most success in this sector, its forces have still only been advancing around 1km per week towards Bakhmut."

The report continued by highlighting the unlikely reality of the goal being achieved.

"The political goal of the Donbas operation almost certainly remains to secure the whole of Donetsk Oblast, which would enable the Kremlin to announce the 'liberation' of the Donbas.

"Russian forces have highly likely repeatedly missed deadlines to achieve this aim.

"The Ukrainian authorities have claimed that Russian forces are now under orders to complete this mission by 15 September 2022.

"The force is highly unlikely to achieve this, which will further complicate Russia's plans to run referendums on the occupied areas joining the Russian Federation."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/russia-sets-deadline-to-end-war-as-mod-declares-highly-unlikely-it-will-achieve-goals/ar-AA11tG9N?ocid=mailsignout&li=AAnZ9Ug

[Skybird]

Not sure what to make of this, but it sounds reasonable enough, and maybe not propaganda .. :

https://www.russia-briefing.com/news/why-the-russian-economy-isn-t-collapsing.html/

PPP is the point. We know it was not a good idea to switch a country's industry to the service sector alone. As long as money is being printed and paid for no real equivalent value it works for a "short" (10-20 years or so) time, but then the money being paid for services has to come from somewhere again.

So e.g. Thatcher's decision to mow down industrial capacities and cut each others' hair instead has led to major empoverishment, now even more than before. We know the difference between poor and rich in the UK is based and obviously accepted together with the class society, but what about the rest of Europe?
Russia does have the resources. If it ever properly develops its economy and infrastructure together with proper education, it indeed will be a world power.

^For the same reason the material reserve of the Russian military is not correctly understood, too. We read the official defence budget (there is a black budget as well, I bet, like in any other country...) and think "This is the number, now compare - ooops, does not sound that impressive, the miliutary is not that big." However, they pay lower wages to their factory workers, the y have in general much lower production costs for military equipment, and they have the ressources and ores they need mostly themselves, they must not buy them on the world market. With the money they have, they can get further, in quantity at least. Thats why the Russian military, on a quantity level, is much bigger than the defence budget seems to express. And thats why I think they can sustain this war of atrition longer than we like to realise. Their problem is not material, but morale.

[Jimbuna]

Russia planning ‘decisive energy blow to all Europeans’, Ukraine’s Zelensky warns

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has told Europeans to expect a difficult winter as the Russian assault on his country leads to cuts in oil and gas exports by Moscow.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has told Europeans to expect a difficult winter as the Russian assault on his country leads to cuts in oil and gas exports by Moscow.

Mr Zelensky warned in his daily video address that Russia is preparing for a “decisive energy blow on all Europeans for this winter”.

He was speaking on Saturday after Moscow shut down a main pipeline that supplies Russian gas to the continent.

Moscow has cited Western sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine and technical issues for the energy disruptions.

European countries which have backed the Kyiv government with diplomatic and military support have accused Russia of weaponising energy supplies.

Some analysts say the shortages and a surge in living costs as winter approaches risk sapping Western support for Kyiv as governments try to deal with disgruntled populations.

Last week Moscow said it would keep the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, its main gas channel to Germany, closed and G7 countries announced a planned price cap on Russian oil exports.

In response, the Kremlin said it would stop selling oil to any countries that implemented the cap.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday that his government had been planning for a total halt in gas deliveries in December but he promised that his country would make it through the winter.

“Russia is no longer a reliable energy partner,” Mr Scholz told a news conference in Berlin.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/russia-planning-decisive-energy-blow-to-all-europeans-ukraines-zelensky-warns/ar-AA11s8K3?ocid=mailsignout&li=AAnZ9Ug

[Skybird]

re my post, how do you think one can counter Russia's disinformation and destabilization strategy?


Difficult, and I have no ultimate answer, too.

Problem is we cannot trust our own political elites either. Any tool to curb Russian influence in the web media will be abused by them to servíce their own agendas as well. The polarization in the US imo has been aimed for without doubt by Russian operators, and see what damage it does, it burns itself into the political culture, into the civil society, the media, even into families. Lacking education, white class being left behind in qualification success versus Asian immigrants, and econimc exodus to Asia in past decades have prepared the ground on whcih Putin'S seeds wonderfully blossom. The result is Trumpism and a level of polarization that only few have ever forseen, it will go on without him, and it will get worse. When in the wake of the Iraq war 2003 I repeatedly said that I think the US will sooner or later turn into a totalitarian regime (I was thinkling mostll about demography, migration and religious zealots back then ), a police state, maybe even openly fascist, I was laughed about, and ridiculed. And today? Look where things are. Things are clearly shifting towards that direction. With help from Russia, with love. That I did not forsee, of course. Means: the seeds that Russia brought to fruit, already were there before. Trump is not the cause of the American political degeneration. He is only the symptom. That I also say since years. The corrosion of the political culture in the Us will continue. It was seriously dmaaged already years ago, and Putin now has given it the rest, from here on the process is self-maintaining, he must not push it anymore. The egoism of political actors and the stupidity of the media will do all the work for him.

Something like that can happen in the EU as well. It would be easier to risk impelmenting certain limiting measures to media freedom, if we would not need to fear that the EU would immediately try to use these for censoring criticism of itself, for example, and there already have been attempts to criminalise criticsm of the EU, or to have mechanisms installed that judge whether a voiced criticism is justified and thus allowe, or not , then it would be sanctioned. The deciding instance of course would be installed by the EU. Aber hallo...?


The West could however answer Russian favours in the same way and declare - unofficially - unlimtied cyberwar on Russia, too, like they do to us.As I see it, we are at full war with Russia already, fought in a way that continues military efforts by other means. But this is a minority opinion I hold, and it has no chance to become the mainstream opinion, so it is a waste of time to speculate about it further.

Thinking men liking freedom and self-responsibility these days can probably do only one thing, that is finding or makign themselves a refugium, hide from the world leave it to itself. I start to think that anythign else is pretty much in vain, for the world is so much off balance that things now are out of control. Atlas must shrug - else he would be called a stupid.

The hexagram 36, Darkening of the Light/Brightness Hiding, in the I Ging describes it like this.

https://schuledesrades.org/public/iging/buch/?Q=5/1/2/36


We must become like Yoda in exile. :) I think there is no solution to our problems in the meaning of things will become again like they were 40 years ago. We must endure the dark times ahead. Those of us who make it over this time, will live. Many will get lost. And I think we do not talk about just a few years, but decades, one, two generations. Maybe this century. We have been indifferent for too long. We messed things up too fundamentally. We did not care for too long. The damage cannot be prevented - it is done since long time. I especially think like this regarding Europe, it will be the biggest and most obvious looser from this redefinition of a new world order.

[Dargo]

^For the same reason the material reserve of the Russian military is not correctly understood, too. We read the official defence budget (there is a black budget as well, I bet, like in any other country...) and think "This is the number, now compare - ooops, does not sound that impressive, the miliutary is not that big." However, they pay lower wages to their factory workers, the y have in general much lower production costs for military equipment, and they have the ressources and ores they need mostly themselves, they must not buy them on the world market. With the money they have, they can get further, in quantity at least. Thats why the Russian military, on a quantity level, is much bigger than the defence budget seems to express. And thats why I think they can sustain this war of atrition longer than we like to realise. Their problem is not material, but morale.

Russia is a great power only militarily (not anymore), but not economically, not financially, not technologically and not demographically. Technology and equipment are outdated, working and living conditions are poor, and social standards are low. The purchasing power of the Russian people is increasing more slowly than in almost any other country in Europe. Russia's companies are not innovative enough, in the infrastructure is hardly invested, many transport routes are in desolate condition, it has not managed to achieve an economic miracle like in China, at least in the field of transport infrastructure, Russia had still only one expressway Moscow-Saint Petersburg. The main road to the east, connecting Moscow and Beijing, is being reconstructed to this day. Moscow has changed, but not all of Russia, only the money has disappeared. People outside the big cities live under harsh conditions, those people will produce less than in the cities. The Russian economy is still resting on its natural resources, which bring the state the most money; the share of coal, oil, natural gas in export revenues is about one third. In some energy companies, the state is at the same time a major shareholder and helps determine the price as before, the main problem lies in the general atmosphere in the economy.

[Dargo]

Putin orders job guarantees for people who "volunteer for the special operation".
https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/15655235
But why you need with a job guaranty when you are fertilizer.

[mapuc]

What do we ordinary people know about what's going on, on the battlefield in Ukraine ?

Had some serious discussion with some of my FB-friends and some of them seems to believe more what comes from Russia.
(They laughed when I wrote that Russia was in deep trouble in Kherson Oblast)

I said it's all about what one decide to believe and what standpoint one have. I also said I support Ukraine, so I believe what comes from there.

Markus

[Dargo]

What do we ordinary people know about what's going on, on the battlefield in Ukraine ?

Had some serious discussion with some of my FB-friends and some of them seems to believe more what comes from Russia.
(They laughed when I wrote that Russia was in deep trouble in Kherson Oblast)

I said it's all about what one decide to believe and what standpoint one have. I also said I support Ukraine, so I believe what comes from there.

MarkusWhat comes from Russia is always a lie Ukraine has radio silence for the reason that the enemy is in the dark only see attacks on supply targets for the rest this or that village is ... but none are confirmed by any side. Think this will be so for weeks at least till the weather changes.

[mapuc]

What comes from Russia is always a lie Ukraine has radio silence for the reason that the enemy is in the dark only see attacks on supply targets for the rest this or that village is ... but none are confirmed by any side. Think this will be so for weeks at least till the weather changes.

Thank you Dargo..I'm also convinced what comes from Putin-Russia is nothing but lies and propaganda.

Let me give you an example
(which some of my friends believe is true)

Anticipatory lies.
russian propagandists are reporting about destroyed M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2A4 tanks in the south of Ukraine.
However, the decision to provide Ukraine with this equipment hasn’t been made.

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1566849608554348544

I like to follow this page on twitter.

https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3

They give updates about the war without revealing things

Markus

[Dargo]

Thank you Dargo..I'm also convinced what comes from Putin-Russia is nothing but lies and propaganda.

Let me give you an example
(which some of my friends believe is true)



https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1566849608554348544

I like to follow this page on twitter.

https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3

They give updates about the war without revealing things

MarkusYeah Russians are bad at it :D

[mapuc]

Russian “elite” paratrooper units are being forced into the heaviest fighting in Kherson region.

It seems the Russian elite units will be non existent after this war…

This is largely due to the normal infantry being so incompetent that elite units are put in frontal assaults

Markus

[Skybird]

Russian “elite” paratrooper units are being forced into the heaviest fighting in Kherson region.

It seems the Russian elite units will be non existent after this war…

This is largely due to the normal infantry being so incompetent that elite units are put in frontal assaults

Markus
Their airmobile units were dramatically thinned out already in the first few days when naive Russian commanders thought they could send their helicopters in dare-devil fashion and all alone deep into enemy territories to seize bridgeheads at important objectives - and instead got often almost wiped out. After the Ukrainians were done with them after the first two weeks, many of these units had practically seized to exist as cohesive combat formations. The losses were reported to be dramatic.



The Sovjet airmobile regiments were feared during the cold war, assumingn they would be like Nazguls haunting the battlellines up and down from above and penetrate the frontline at will. The Russians maybe became victim of their own according self-perception, thus the over-confidence.

-------------------
Chechnyan terror leader Kadyrow gets reported to have indicated he wants to withdraw from the war and plans to return to his hellhole in Chechnya. Rats leaving the sinking ship?

-------------------
One thing should not be forgotten, never. The Russians have activated so far only a small fraction of their material reserves. And they still have the option to escalate with weapons so far not being used. The question is where their inhibition threshold lies - or better, where it ends.

[mapuc]

Their airmobile units were dramatically thinned out already in the first few days when naive Russian commanders thought they could send their helicopters in dare-devil fashion and all alone deep into enemy territories to seize bridgeheads at important objectives - and instead got often almost wiped out. After the Ukrainians were done with them after the first two weeks, many of these units had practically seized to exist as cohesive combat formations. The losses were reported to be dramatic.



The Sovjet airmobile regiments were feared during the cold war, assumingn they would be like Nazguls haunting the battlellines up and down from above and penetrate the frontline at will. The Russians maybe became victim of their own according self-perception, thus the over-confidence.

-------------------
Chechnyan terror leader Kadyrow gets reported to have indicated he wants to withdraw from the war and plans to return to his hellhole in Chechnya. Rats leaving the sinking ship?

-------------------
One thing should not be forgotten, never. The Russians have activated so far only a small fraction of their material reserves. And they still have the option to escalate with weapons so far not being used. The question is where their inhibition threshold lies - or better, where it ends.

After I had read your last sentence-One thing should not be forgotten,....

I started to search the internet for a specific article-I remember that in this article some expert said something with We haven't seen Russia's fully Potential in the war.
He mention the airforce-Only a little fraction is active in the war.
He mention the fleet-Only the black fleet or part of is active in the war.
He mention the army...

Markus

[Skybird]

Is Russia's economy really hurting?

https://beta.dw.com/en/is-russias-economy-really-hurting/a-63000166

I say since long economic factors and financial factors will not make Russia alter its war policy. I also do not expect the masses rising up against Putin.

[Skybird]

Russia's revenues from fossil fuel exports significantly exceeded the cost of the invasion in the first six months of the Ukraine war. The Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) calculated revenues of the equivalent of 158 billion euros. This compares with estimated war costs during the period of one hundred billion euros.

Russia is "still generating record revenues" from fossil fuels despite the decline in export volumes, CREA analyst Lauri Myllyvirta said. The data showed that the EU was the largest buyer of supplies, with 85 billion euros, followed by China with 35 billion euros. Within the EU, Germany led the way with a volume of 19 billion euros, making it the second largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in the world, just behind China.

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_8zCPUeTSw

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcM1IWC9so0

[Jimbuna]

Russia has been forced to buy military hardware from North Korea as sanctions squeeze Moscow's ability to supply its military, US media have reported.

According to declassified intelligence obtained by the New York Times, Russia has bought millions of artillery shells and rockets from Pyongyang.

A US official said Russia would be forced to buy additional North Korean weaponry as the war dragged on.

Last week, Moscow reportedly received its first order of new Iranian drones.

Iran and North Korea, both the targets of significant Western sanctions, have sought to deepen ties with Russia since President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February.

Kim Jong-un's regime has blamed the US for the conflict and accused the West of pursuing a "hegemonic policy" that justified Russia's use of force.

Last month, North Korea recognised the independence of Russia's two proxy statelets in eastern Ukraine - the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics - and vowed to deepen its "comradely friendship" with Moscow. Russia's Vladimir Putin said the two countries would expand their "comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations", according to Pyongyang state media.

The exact size and scale of the new weapons deliveries revealed by the report remain unclear.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62804825

[Jimbuna]

Russia earned more from sale of oil, gas and coal than it spent on war with Ukraine

Russia still receives record revenues from energy sales that far exceed its spending on the war against Ukraine.

This is evidenced by a study by the Finnish Energy and Clean Air Research Center (CREA), Censor.NET reports with reference to UNIAN.

In particular, Russia's revenues from oil, gas, and coal exports in the first six months of the full-scale war against Ukraine amounted to about 158 billion euros, which far exceeds the costs of the invasion, which are estimated at 100 billion euros.

The European Union was the largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels, paying the aggressor country 85 billion euros, followed by China with 35 billion euros.

Among the EU countries, Germany became the largest client of Russia, which paid 19 billion euros. This made it the second largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in the world after China.

Despite the drop in energy exports, Russia is "still making record profits" from fossil fuels, CREA analyst Laurie Millivirta notes.

"To combat this, governments should introduce tariffs or price caps on imports from Russia and accelerate energy conservation measures.
First of all, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of oil and gas by accelerating the use of clean energy and electrification with the help of heat pumps and electric cars," Millivirta emphasized. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3365396

[mapuc]

A Russian taxi company that manages more than 700,000 drivers across Russia was hacked last week, causing a huge number of cabs in Moscow to be routed to the exact same location. When the taxis arrived, there were no passengers waiting there, just blocked streets and utter chaos from the angry drivers and police attempting to diffuse the situation.

https://www.iflscience.com/chaos-in-moscow-after-hackers-route-dozens-of-taxis-to-single-spot-65185

:haha::haha:

Markus

[Jimbuna]

European Commission proposes to completely suspend Agreement on simplification of visa regime with Russian Federation

The European Commission has officially made a proposal to completely suspend the Agreement on visa facilitation between the EU and Russia.

This is stated in a statement on the website of the EC, writes "European Truth", Censor.NET reports.

The proposal to suspend the agreement would put an end to all simplifications for Russian citizens applying for a short-term visa to the Schengen area. Instead, the general rules of the Visa Code will apply.

In practice, for Russian applicants this will mean:

Higher visa fee: The fee will increase from €35 to €80 for all applicants.

Extended processing time: the standard deadline for consulates to make a decision on visa applications will increase from 10 to 15 days. This period can be extended up to a maximum of 45 days in individual cases when additional consideration of the application is required.

More restrictive rules on multiple entry visas: Applicants will no longer have easy access to visas valid for multiple entries into the Schengen area.

Longer list of supporting documents: Applicants will be required to provide a full list of supporting documents at the time of visa application.

"A country like Russia, which is waging a war of aggression, should not claim visa facilitation as long as it continues its destructive foreign policy and military aggression against Ukraine, showing complete disregard for the rules-based international order," the statement said.

The European Commission added that the EU will remain open to certain categories of Russian visa applicants traveling with the main purposes, including family members of EU citizens, journalists, dissidents and representatives of civil society.

The EU Council must now consider and adopt the proposal to suspend the agreement. Once adopted, the decision will enter into force on the second day after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Russia will be notified of the suspension decision no later than 48 hours before it takes effect. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3365464

[Dargo]

https://i.postimg.cc/VsqnC5ng/50k.jpg

[Dargo]

It's the microchips that look set to get Vladimir Putin in the end. Six months into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is being throttled by a severe technology deficit inflicted by sanctions.

Having fired off (or lost in combat) way more of their missile firepower than they originally anticipated, Moscow's soldiers are now increasingly relying on ancient stocks of primitive Soviet-era munitions while Western-armed Ukrainian forces are battling to turn the tide in a southern counteroffensive with pinpoint strikes on munition dumps and key infrastructure such as bridges.

Kyiv is acutely aware that the outcome of the war is likely to hinge on whether Russia finds a way to regain access to high-tech chips, and is out to ensure it doesn't get them. In order to flag the danger, Ukraine is sending out international warnings that the Kremlin has drawn up shopping lists of semiconductors, transformers, connectors, casings, transistors, insulators and other components, most made by companies in the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K., Taiwan and Japan, among others, which it needs to fuel its war effort

https://www.politico.eu/article/the-chips-are-down-russia-hunts-western-parts-to-run-its-war-machines/

[mapuc]

Day 195 of my 3 day war. The "world's 2nd most powerful military" has to buy ammo from North Korea.

I remain a master strategist

https://twitter.com/DarthPutinKGB/status/1567216080283648001

Those drones Iran sold us are so great we've been unable to spot Ukraine's attack near Kharkiv

https://twitter.com/DarthPutinKGB/status/1567222291674578945

Markus

[Jimbuna]

It's the microchips that look set to get Vladimir Putin in the end. Six months into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is being throttled by a severe technology deficit inflicted by sanctions.

Having fired off (or lost in combat) way more of their missile firepower than they originally anticipated, Moscow's soldiers are now increasingly relying on ancient stocks of primitive Soviet-era munitions while Western-armed Ukrainian forces are battling to turn the tide in a southern counteroffensive with pinpoint strikes on munition dumps and key infrastructure such as bridges.

Kyiv is acutely aware that the outcome of the war is likely to hinge on whether Russia finds a way to regain access to high-tech chips, and is out to ensure it doesn't get them. In order to flag the danger, Ukraine is sending out international warnings that the Kremlin has drawn up shopping lists of semiconductors, transformers, connectors, casings, transistors, insulators and other components, most made by companies in the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K., Taiwan and Japan, among others, which it needs to fuel its war effort

https://www.politico.eu/article/the-chips-are-down-russia-hunts-western-parts-to-run-its-war-machines/

My heart bleeds for them.

[Skybird]

Why did we deliver them hightech in the first? Weapon components? Tank component upgrades? Complete weapon platforms, right down to small warships? We cannot do much regarding what Taiwan, China deliver them, but at least Western chip producers never should have started to deliver them chips and computers.



Same question regarding China. One does not deliver a potential or real enemy what makes him stronger, thats plain reason, or not?

[Dargo]

Why did we deliver them hightech in the first? Weapon components? Tank component upgrades? Complete weapon platforms, right down to small warships? We cannot do much regarding what Taiwan, China deliver them, but at least Western chip producers never should have started to deliver them chips and computers.



Same question regarding China. One does not deliver a potential or real enemy what makes him stronger, thats plain reason, or not?They all thought Putin was a nice fella I suppose

[Skybird]

But we do with other questionable "customers" like this, too, or try to do so again in the future, thinking of Iran.
Why this enthusiasm to sell others what helps them to turn into rivals - economically, militarily - to us? I never understood this naivety. To me its stupidity, just this.

[Dargo]

But we do with other questionable "customers" like this, too, or try to do so again in the future, thinking of Iran.
Why this enthusiasm to sell others what helps them to turn into rivals - economically, militarily - to us? I never understood this naivety. To me its stupidity, just this.Not naive it's greed you see all those leaders invite the worst and crazy dictators to sell arms those politicians all get their bribes and their world is ok with that.

[mapuc]

Is the Russian army collapsing in Ukraine ??

By following what is being written on Twitter there seems to be chaos among the Russian military all over the frontline
It's especially around Kharkiv and Bakhmut even in Kherson areas the Russian army seems to be collapsing.

It could also be Ukrainian propaganda-Which would be new to me if so.

Markus

[Catfish]

[...]
It could also be Ukrainian propaganda - Which would be new to me if so.
:-j

[Dargo]

Is the Russian army collapsing in Ukraine ??

By following what is being written on Twitter there seems to be chaos among the Russian military all over the frontline
It's especially around Kharkiv and Bakhmut even in Kherson areas the Russian army seems to be collapsing.

It could also be Ukrainian propaganda-Which would be new to me if so.

MarkusThe drafted personnel from the separatist republics are not trained, they can not use the heavy material, so they flee that's what you are seeing on the eastern front rest is lack of supply, treatment of their own and Russians are still not able to operate on multi fronts Russians act surprised of attacks they could have seen coming for days.

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJngREUNLR8

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze5aOiZaBE4

[Jimbuna]

I think Zelensky is talking to the wrong guy.

Zelensky and Sholtz discussed plans to further strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had a telephone conversation with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz.

"Had a telephone conversation with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz on a wide range of topics," Zelensky wrote.

The President noted that during the conversation, he thanked the head of the German government for confirming EUR5 billion of macro-financial assistance from the EU, and also talked about the need for a full-fledged IMF program.

"They discussed plans to further strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities," Zelensky said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3365726

[Dargo]

Is the Russian army collapsing in Ukraine ??

By following what is being written on Twitter there seems to be chaos among the Russian military all over the frontline
It's especially around Kharkiv and Bakhmut even in Kherson areas the Russian army seems to be collapsing.

It could also be Ukrainian propaganda-Which would be new to me if so.

Markus"Russian soldiers are complaining on social media that their commanders are sending them into senseless counterattacks without the necessary manpower or tactics to be successful..." https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1567538768214646787

We heard this in 1st month of this invasion still leadership has not solved this you can say they do not care, but this is not WW2 where Russia had at least 2 millions in the gulags and other means to force people as cannon fodder and clearly what they have in stock can not be used to supply the artillery steamroller Russia still uses doctrines not from this time, but that is general in Russia.

Always maintain your stock before an offense. Blitzkrieg 101

[Jimbuna]

We cannot rule out involvement of leading countries in "limited" nuclear conflict, - Zaluzhny and Zabrodsky

Cooperation with partners and the provision of arms to Ukraine are influenced by two factors: misconceptions about the scale of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the threat of Russia’s use, under certain circumstances, of tactical nuclear weapons.

This is stated in an article by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny and the First Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, General Mykhailo Zabrodsky, Censor.NET informs with reference to Ukrinform.

According to the authors, the above-mentioned two factors have an influence on the adoption of relevant decisions, terms, and volumes of aid receipts.

Firstly, it is difficult for the modern generation, the world, and Europeans, first of all, to imagine combat operations in reality as during the Second World War.

"And the daily consumption of ammunition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, for example, artillery shells per gun, on average exceeds three times the indicators of the Royal Artillery of the British Army during the First World War. Taking into account the duration of the war and the prospects for the 2023 campaign, it is unlikely that these indicators will decrease", - the article says.

Therefore, in order for Ukraine to repel Russian aggression, it needs and will need significant material resources and financial expenses.

"But one cannot ignore the threat that will appear for the whole of Europe. One cannot also completely rule out the possibility of direct involvement of the world's leading countries in a "limited" nuclear conflict, from which the prospect of the Third World War is already directly visible," the authors are convinced.

It is worth returning to the source of Russian confidence, that is, to impunity:

- any attempts at practical steps regarding the use of tactical nuclear weapons must be stopped using the entire arsenal of means at the disposal of the countries of the world;

- after all, starting from this moment, Russia will become not only a threat to the peaceful coexistence of Ukraine, its other neighbors, and a number of European countries, but also a terrorist state on a global scale.

The authors are convinced that it is taking into account such a complex and ambiguous combination of factors that the prospects of the 2023 military campaign should be considered. After all, only a complete and comprehensive consideration will allow creating the prerequisites for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to defeat the armed forces of Russia and to end the war within Europe. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3365700

[Dargo]

The weather forecast says it is going to be very hot in Crimea.
It's time for the rus invaders to prepare for a swim. It takes a lot of strength to swim to Sochi or Yeysk.
BTW the Guinness Book of World Records may include a new record for the longest open water swim. https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1567526011041988609

Crimea Beach Party happening Summer 2023. (https://www.saintjavelin.com/collections/crimea) :D

[Jimbuna]

Ukrainian soldiers captured flag of 150th motorized rifle division of Russian Federation near Balaklia. PHOTO

The defenders of Ukraine during the battles for Balaklia in the Kharkiv Region captured the flag of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division (150th Motorized Rifle Division of the Idritsia-Berlin Order Kutuzov Division) as a trophy.

This was reported by Taras Berezovets on Telegram channel, Censor.NET informs.

"The flag of the 150th Order of Kutuzov of the Idritsia Division. Balaklia is ours," he wrote.

https://i.postimg.cc/yNSxS7LX/780x585.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

This information is also confirmed by the press center of the First Separate Special Purpose Brigade named after Ivan Bohun.

"The flag of the 150th Order of Kutuzov of the Idritsia Division. Our separate special purpose battalion "Wild Field" took it near Balaklia in the Kharkiv region," the message says. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3365650

[mapuc]

Secretary of National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine believes Russias collapse has already begun: "dozen of regions ready to leave the Russian Federation"

https://news.yahoo.com/secretary-national-security-defence-council-112756303.html

We are entering Russian politics, but I post it here.

Markus

[Dargo]

https://news.yahoo.com/secretary-national-security-defence-council-112756303.html

We are entering Russian politics, but I post it here.

MarkusDecayed regimes inevitably elevate leaders of stunning incompetence, corruption and imbecility. The refusal by the police and military to restore order and defend the old regime is key to success. The police and military have done this in the past of Russia. It is the only force who can behead Russia of Putin not a Holy Writ, but let's hope they get fed up with Putin and start to go home, that will be enough to destroy Putin. Putin gambles on a bad winter for Europe, think he will get the worst winter for himself.

[mapuc]

Decayed regimes inevitably elevate leaders of stunning incompetence, corruption and imbecility. The refusal by the police and military to restore order and defend the old regime is key to success. The police and military have done this in the past of Russia. It is the only force who can behead Russia of Putin not a Holy Writ, but let's hope they get fed up with Putin and start to go home, that will be enough to destroy Putin. Putin gambles on a bad winter for Europe, think he will get the worst winter for himself.

Came to think of what Jim posted on this page #6066
"We cannot rule out involvement of leading countries in "limited" nuclear conflict"

We do not know how Putin will react when he sees himself trapped in the corner where he can't get out.

Markus

[Dargo]

Came to think of what Jim posted on this page #6066
"We cannot rule out involvement of leading countries in "limited" nuclear conflict"

We do not know how Putin will react when he sees himself trapped in the corner where he can't get out.

MarkusI do not believe in the nuclear... if/when .... all no holy writ and am no wizard that can look into the future when I know for sure I am hit there is no "limited" you can not control a nuclear war anyone thinking to pull this off is an imbecile.

[mapuc]

I do not believe in the nuclear... if/when .... all no holy writ and am no wizard that can look into the future when I know for sure I am hit there is no "limited" you can not control a nuclear war anyone thinking to pull this off is an imbecile.


Same here I hope he's man enough to accept the lost and withdraw without any escalations whatsoever.

Markus

[Dargo]

Came to think of what Jim posted on this page #6066
"We cannot rule out involvement of leading countries in "limited" nuclear conflict"

We do not know how Putin will react when he sees himself trapped in the corner where he can't get out.

MarkusIs this not typical, always coming when Ukraine forces gain ground (682 square kilometers since August 28th. 10 days. Not confirmed!) find it warmongering based on unrealistic doctrines the world's leading countries know where a nuclear conflict leads to now they consider it after years of avoiding this is an oxymoron FUBAR.

[Jimbuna]

He is just about the last person to be preaching to other countries about democracy!

Putin says election of Truss as UK leader ‘far from democratic’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkj2ZNJxN_8

[Dargo]

He is just about the last person to be preaching to other countries about democracy!

Putin says election of Truss as UK leader ‘far from democratic’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkj2ZNJxN_8Yeah he is funny now he can go to gulag

[mapuc]

^ We have a Saying here in Both Denmark and Sweden.

Thou shall not throw rock when thy is in a glashouse.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

[Dargo]

Stalin appears to Putin in a dream and says: "I have two bits of advice for you: invade Ukraine and paint the Kremlin blue." Putin asks, "Why blue?" Stalin: "I knew you would not object to the first one."

[mapuc]

Just read an article in a Danish online newspaper

(Translate a part of it)

The situation is serious, but it could get even worse when winter comes.
This is what Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) says ahead of a press conference on Thursday afternoon about the security of supply in Denmark.
- We are all worried. These are all households in Denmark and Europe, and so are we as an authority and government.
- The situation is serious and it can get worse. If we see no Russian gas coming into Europe, there could be further upward price spiral, but there could also be shortages

Reading this made me remember what I have said before.

If we get a very cold winter will we give in for Putin and put pressure on Ukraine to accept the lost of land ?
Or
Will we put boots on the ground to end the war and put pressure on Putin to accept that he has lost the war and the land he toke during the invasion ??
Or
Will we give in and lift the embargoes and sanction so we can get oil and gas from Russia ?

I'm 150 % convince that something will happen during the winter if it become very cold. What I can't say

Markus

[mapuc]

Russian sources report that Ukrainian forces are using effective NATO style combined arms attacks on their positions and they are totally overwhelmed in some areas.

https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1567474654310277120

This is why Ukraine-Despite having less weapons and manpower is on the way to win the war.

Markus

[Dargo]

Was just talking with a NATO officer about the Russian Army and asked him how long it would take the Finnish Army to seize St Petersburg. He said, ‘not long, the only problem they’d face is that the Poles would get there first.’
https://twitter.com/PhillipsPOBrien/status/1567580739440451584

[mapuc]

Was just talking with a NATO officer about the Russian Army and asked him how long it would take the Finnish Army to seize St Petersburg. He said, ‘not long, the only problem they’d face is that the Poles would get there first.’
https://twitter.com/PhillipsPOBrien/status/1567580739440451584

I have an interest in military history and a little interest in military strategy.

For me it looks like the Russian has forgot to evolve with the development of new weapon type and material-It seems like they are mentally fighting WWII with modern weapon(After 60 and upward)

Markus

[Dargo]

Grey Zone (Wagner): "Russians are leaving Balakleya. The city will be abandoned". https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1567588381256736769

Balakliia is a city in Izium Raion, in Kharkiv Oblast, eastern Ukraine, on the north-east side of the Siverskyi Donets river close to where it is joined by the Balakliika river which runs through the city. It is an important railroad junction in the oblast.

[Skybird]

If we get a very cold winter will we give in for Putin and put pressure on Ukraine to accept the lost of land ?
Thats what Putin c alöcuates for. And he may be right, German minister president Kretschmer (CDU) already talks like that, and at the same time rejects that he means it like his words in pratcice imply.

Will we put boots on the ground to end the war and put pressure on Putin to accept that he has lost the war and the land he toke during the invasion ??Thats what I would do, but question is: whose boots?


Will we give in and lift the embargoes and sanction so we can get oil and gas from Russia ?
Answer No. 1


I'm 150 % convince that something will happen during the winter if it become very cold. What I can't say
Protests, riots in the street, people pressuring governments, more money aid, more inflation, more debts. Radical oponions will spread, political and religious extremeists will gain influence, may even topple governments. Political establishment eroding. Support for Ukraine will decrease. Public opinion support for Ukraine in Germany already is declining, since weeks.

When people drown in debts to finance their households or small enterprises, and sit in cold and darkness in their flats, Ukraine will suddenly move to the outer rim of people's perception monitor. Eyes will be glued to the ticker counting the growing private debts. With debts coming in, hope goes out.

The ECB and Euro is in realistic danger (or should I say hope?) to collapse, it is no longer unthinkable. I am stunned by how little, if at all, this gets reflected by media commentators. The EU will dramatically accelerate its move towards a planned economy regiment. It already does.


Germany: the energy transformation of the past ten years will brutally directly explode the Germans into their faces. The costs for it will become unbearble. Fossil fuels will see a huge revival. "Oh weh, oh weh - ein AKW!" will become the new German national anthem.

[mapuc]

Protests, riots in the street, people pressuring governments, more money aid, more inflation, more debts. Radical oponions will spread, political and religious extremeists will gain influence, may even topple governments. Political establishment eroding. Support for Ukraine will decrease. Public opinion support for Ukraine in Germany already is declining, since weeks.

When people drown in debts to finance their households or small enterprises, and sit in cold and darkness in their flats, Ukraine will suddenly move to the outer rim of people's perception monitor. Eyes will be glued to the ticker counting the growing private debts. With debts coming in, hope goes out.


A Dane made an interesting termometer

+15 Degrees C Putin is dumb long live Zelenskyy
+10 Degrees C Could Putin be correct and Zelenskyy wrong
Down to Minus 20 Degrees C. Long live Putin down with Zelenskyy.

Was ist das für an dinge diesen AKW ?

Markus

[Skybird]

Was ist das für an dinge diesen AKW ?
For German Greens, nuclear powerplants (AKW: Atomkraftwerk) compare to Sauron's master ring. Its the materialisation of the purest evil you can think of. And nothing is more risky and dangerous. It kills. And if it doesn't kill, it nevertheless does.
Now you know. You have been warned! ;) Beware the AKW! It makes you feel the Angst!

[mapuc]

Todays updates on the war

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

Markus

[Dargo]

Russian front lines north of Izium (Balakliia/Volokhiv Yar) are collapsing as Ukrainian forces make significant gains (in some cases in perilously unarmoured pickup trucks because you can't wait for Western IFVs forever). Russian sources claim some of their units are surrounded.

For its southern offensive, Russia moved significant assets away from the area north of Izium where Ukraine is now on the offensive. The Russian border is close, and Russian military planners may have hoped it was safe to weaken this area with most of the action elsewhere.

Russian commanders will need to act quickly with limited trained human resources, which is hard to do in a highly centralized Soviet military system. Otherwise, much larger Russian forces may be surrounded as Russian defenses crumble.

In some areas, Russian soldiers (including officers) are already surrendering, and more are expected to surrender in the next few hours and days.

Russian sources are panicking that Ukrainian forces are bypassing and encircling Russian forces as they move north towards the critical rail hub of Kupiansk while launching an attack towards Izium from the south where they say thousands of Russian soldiers could be trapped.

https://twitter.com/StateOfUkraine/status/1567623393721155586

[mapuc]

For German Greens, nuclear powerplants (AKW: Atomkraftwerk) compare to Sauron's master ring. Its the materialisation of the purest evil you can think of. And nothing is more risky and dangerous. It kills. And if it doesn't kill, it nevertheless does.
Now you know. You have been warned! ;) Beware the AKW! It makes you feel the Angst!

Thank you Skybird I was never in that area I was thinking in the LKW und PKW areas so I thought ok Kraft Wagen what does A stand for ?

About the rest of your post-It was like hearing our own Minister for Energy-For him Nuclear power is very very dangerous.

Markus

[mapuc]

Russian front lines north of Izium (Balakliia/Volokhiv Yar) are collapsing as Ukrainian forces make significant gains (in some cases in perilously unarmoured pickup trucks because you can't wait for Western IFVs forever). Russian sources claim some of their units are surrounded.

For its southern offensive, Russia moved significant assets away from the area north of Izium where Ukraine is now on the offensive. The Russian border is close, and Russian military planners may have hoped it was safe to weaken this area with most of the action elsewhere.

Russian commanders will need to act quickly with limited trained human resources, which is hard to do in a highly centralized Soviet military system. Otherwise, much larger Russian forces may be surrounded as Russian defenses crumble.

In some areas, Russian soldiers (including officers) are already surrendering, and more are expected to surrender in the next few hours and days.

Russian sources are panicking that Ukrainian forces are bypassing and encircling Russian forces as they move north towards the critical rail hub of Kupiansk while launching an attack towards Izium from the south where they say thousands of Russian soldiers could be trapped.

https://twitter.com/StateOfUkraine/status/1567623393721155586

In some yt videos and reading info on the web the Ukrainian truly has success in the offensive...but...an offensive can also go to fast forwards. Meaning the logistic and supply line can't keep up with the speed of the advancing troops.

And here is the problem-Slowing down and the enemy will have time to reorganise their troops.

It's about finding a balance between speed-Preventing enemy to reorganise and time for supply and logistic to keep up with the troops.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Protests, riots in the street, people pressuring governments, more money aid, more inflation, more debts. Radical oponions will spread, political and religious extremeists will gain influence, may even topple governments. Political establishment eroding. Support for Ukraine will decrease. Public opinion support for Ukraine in Germany already is declining, since weeks.

When people drown in debts to finance their households or small enterprises, and sit in cold and darkness in their flats, Ukraine will suddenly move to the outer rim of people's perception monitor. Eyes will be glued to the ticker counting the growing private debts. With debts coming in, hope goes out.

I fear you may well be proven correct.

[Jimbuna]

The body of a captured British man who died in detention has been returned by Russia with signs of "possible unspeakable torture," Ukraine says.

Paul Urey, aged 45, is reported to have died in detention in July after being captured by pro-Russian separatists.

He was being held captive in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) breakaway region of Ukraine.

The UK has previously described Mr Urey as an aid worker and said Russia must face responsibility for his death.

Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said "Russians" had now returned his body with "signs of possible unspeakable torture," giving no further details.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62828238

[Jimbuna]

Ukraine's President Zelensky said he has "good news", claiming the recapture of several settlements from Russia.

Rumours have swirled for days about a possible breakthrough in the eastern Kharkiv region, but with no word from Ukrainian officials.

Mr Zelensky declined to name which places had been retaken, saying that "now is not the time to name" them.

Separately, US officials said Ukraine was making "slow but meaningful progress" against Russian forces.

Speaking in his nightly video address to Ukrainians, President Zelensky said there was "good news" about the rumoured success of Ukrainian troops.

"I think every citizen feels proud of our soldiers," he said, naming specific military units and applauding their bravery in combat.

But he said: "Now is not the time to name the settlements to which the Ukrainian flag returns."

Ukraine has tightened its operational security in recent weeks, sharing few details about a widely expected counter-offensive in the east and south.

Ukrainian soldiers have launched an offensive south-east of Kharkiv, towards the eastern region of Donetsk, over which Russia has maintained substantial military control since the war began six months ago.

Some reports suggest Ukrainian forces may be a few dozen kilometres from the city of Izyum, an important link in Russia's military supply chain.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62828859

[Jimbuna]

Ukraine has already received 26 MLRS and 126 M777 howitzers from US and allies, - Austin

The Secretary of Defense of the United States of America, Lloyd Austin, said that Ukraine has already received 26 rocket launchers from allies.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to UNIAN.

The head of the Pentagon reminded that in April, the USA first handed over to Ukraine 155-mm howitzers M777, which became the first artillery installations according to NATO standards that entered the service of the Ukrainian army.

According to him, the USA has delivered 126 such howitzers to date.

"Since our first Contact Group meeting, the United States and our allies and partners have delivered a total of 26 long-range rocket artillery systems and their associated GMLRS projectiles. All these capabilities have clearly helped Ukraine counter Russian aggression and even allowed Ukraine to resist the current Russian offensive," Austin added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3365860

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHe4QtE7iQU

[mapuc]

Weeks - 29
Victories - O
Economy - 🚽💩
Dead - 50,000
Losses - "Nothing"
Drones - Iranian
Artillery - North Korean
Army - Advancing rearward
RU telegram - Very quiet
Sanctions - Self applied
Gas Price - Dropping anyway
Bridges - Destroying HIMARS

I remain a master strategist

https://twitter.com/DarthPutinKGB/status/1567788112511631362

Markus

[Catfish]

^ Have been looking at "Darth Putin"'s twitter site from time to time :haha:

[Jimbuna]

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

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umudjcXwU0w

[vanjast]

Just heard..

'Zalenski' has surrended.
There will soon be a parade of Russian troops through Kiev.
Any further damage/killing will be on the heads of the Ukie zealots.

Sadness and condolences to the families of those that have perished in this uneccessary war, brought on Ukraine by CIA, many US presidents (the bidens in particular) and many other supporting structures.

MSM has sown dis-information and lies for a long time, this is now at an end.

To complete what Russia has started, China will sweep through Taiwan within the next 14 days or so. It will be a swift 'Special Operation' where they will go in, complete the task (similar to what Russia did in the Ukraine but on a much smaller scale), and move out.

:up:

[Jimbuna]

Just heard..

Zalenski has surrended.
There will soon be a parade of Russian troops through Kiev.
Any further damage/killing will be on the heads of the Ukie zealots.

Sadness and condolences to those that have perished in this uneccessary war, brought on Ukraine by CIA, Many US presidents (the bidens in particular) and many other supporting structures.

MSM has sown dis-information and lies for a long time, this is now at an end.

To complete what Russia has started, China will sweep through Taiwan within the next 14 days or so. It will be a swift 'Special Operation' where they will go in, complete the task (similar to what Russia did in the Ukraine but on a much smaller scale), and move out.

:up:

Then the band played 'Believe it if you like'

[mapuc]

Then the band played 'Believe it if you like'

This reminded me of the German Wochenschau Which was a kind of news of the week-It was shown Sundays before the movie started in the cinema during the WWII

As the speaker said in one of the episode of Hitler's Germany.

Even when spectators could hear the explosion in the distance they believed what the German propaganda told them.

Markus

[Rockstar]

Just heard..

I been hearing it too :D

'Zalenski' has surrended. No he hasn’t

There will soon be a parade of Russian troops through Kiev.. Pretty sure Russians tried that once already and it didn’t go over too well.

Any further damage/killing will be on the heads of the Ukie zealots. Bloodshed continues because Russia continues to use violent force to impose it’s will on the citizens of a sovereign nation. All Russia has to do is retreat back to within their own borders and the bloodshed stops. Pretty simple if you ask me.

Sadness and condolences to the families of those that have perished in this uneccessary war, brought on Ukraine by CIA, many US presidents (the bidens in particular) and many other supporting structures.

That’s not the reasons Putin gave for invasion of a sovereign nation.


MSM has sown dis-information and lies for a long time, this is now at an end.. Who the hell reads MSM anymore?

To complete what Russia has started, China will sweep through Taiwan within the next 14 days or so. It will be a swift 'Special Operation' where they will go in, complete the task (similar to what Russia did in the Ukraine but on a much smaller scale), and move out.

:up:

Are you saying what was supposed to be a three day operation that has now been going on for almost 200 days with no end in sight SWIFT? :har::har::har::har::har::har::har:

[mapuc]

^ He's right The Russian forces is advancing...rearwards

Markus

[Dargo]

Just heard..

'Zalenski' has surrended.
There will soon be a parade of Russian troops through Kiev.
Any further damage/killing will be on the heads of the Ukie zealots.

Sadness and condolences to the families of those that have perished in this uneccessary war, brought on Ukraine by CIA, many US presidents (the bidens in particular) and many other supporting structures.

MSM has sown dis-information and lies for a long time, this is now at an end.

To complete what Russia has started, China will sweep through Taiwan within the next 14 days or so. It will be a swift 'Special Operation' where they will go in, complete the task (similar to what Russia did in the Ukraine but on a much smaller scale), and move out.

:up:https://i.postimg.cc/8Cdt5P95/hahafunnyb82gulag.jpg

[Dargo]

Ukraine has regained control over 700 square kilometers of Russian-occupied land in the Kharkiv and Kherson directions, Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksiy Hromov said speaking at a briefing on 8 September, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Hromov added that Ukrainian units advanced from 2 to several dozen kilometers deep into the enemy’s defenses in several directions and liberated a number of settlements.

In the Kharkiv direction, where Ukraine delivered a surprise blow yesterday, Ukrainian forces wedged up to 50 kilometers into the enemy’s defense and liberated over 20 settlements. Filtration measures are being conducted there.

In the Kramatorsk direction, Ukraine advanced to a depth of 2 kilometers.

In the Sloviansk direction, units of the 103rd separate territorial defense brigade together with units of the 15th regiment of the National Guard advanced 3 kilometers and liberated the village of Ozerne.

Battles are taking place in the Kherson direction as well. The enemy is partially demoralized, but continues to resist, the brigadier general noted.

This is Ukraine’s first official update about the counteroffensive it launched on 29 August. It has insisted on keeping silence about the course of military actions.

https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/09/08/ukraine-regains-700-sq-km-pushes-russians-back-50-km-in-counteroffensive/

[mapuc]

Many of my military history books are gone. So I'm digging deep into my mind to find a similar situation.

Even in world war 2 when Russia had a massive pressure the Germans had some kind of organisation in they retreat and so even from the west front.

Maybe you my friends could enlighten me and tell the collapse of an army has happened before.

'cause I can't find any similar in my memory. Where an army collapse and start to flee or refuse to fight.

I seem to recall something from WWI.

Markus

[mapuc]

Is Belarus planning on making a huge mistake ?

Belarus, a close ally of Russia, said the exercises, located just 20 miles from Ukraine's border and six miles from Poland, will practice 'liberating territory temporarily seized by the enemy' and regaining control over border regions.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11192493/Belarus-begins-military-exercise-Poland-border-rehearse-liberating-territory.html

Markus

[August]

Is Belarus planning on making a huge mistake ?



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11192493/Belarus-begins-military-exercise-Poland-border-rehearse-liberating-territory.html

Markus


"Liberating territory temporarily seized by the enemy" sounds defensive in nature. After all what Belarusian or Russian territory has Ukraine seized?

[mapuc]

How much of the story is true I don't know

Municipal deputies in St Petersburg have put forward a proposal to the 🇷🇺 State Duma to bring treason charges against Putin in order to remove him from the presidential office

https://twitter.com/mbk_center/status/1567895334310772738

Markus

[mapuc]

"Liberating territory temporarily seized by the enemy" sounds defensive in nature. After all what Belarusian or Russian territory has Ukraine seized?

The territory Russia toke during it's invasion which mean northern part of Ukraine including Kyiv.

Markus

[Rockstar]

Many of my military history books are gone. So I'm digging deep into my mind to find a similar situation.

Even in world war 2 when Russia had a massive pressure the Germans had some kind of organisation in they retreat and so even from the west front.

Maybe you my friends could enlighten me and tell the collapse of an army has happened before.

'cause I can't find any similar in my memory. Where an army collapse and start to flee or refuse to fight.

I seem to recall something from WWI.

Markus


It’s still way too early to declare victory. It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.


But IMO Russia does seem to me to be geared more of an occupation force sent to harness the civilian population and establish Russian puppet governance than it does an offensive war machine. Of course Ukraine decapitating Russian leadership destroying supply and ammo depots and blowing bridges and airbases doesn’t help Putler’s cause either.

According to the authors of the linked book below, if this were a perfect world they say this is how Russia’s response should have worked. But so far the Russian military behaves more like a mob terrorizing the civilian population than a top tier professional army.

The Russian Way of War

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Charles-Bartles/publication/329934215_The_Russian_Way_of_War_Force_Structure_T actics_and_Modernization_of_the_Russian_Ground_For ces/links/5c245aee299bf12be39c2a4f/The-Russian-Way-of-War-Force-Structure-Tactics-and-Modernization-of-the-Russian-Ground-Forces.pdf?origin=publication_detail

[MaDef]

Many of my military history books are gone. So I'm digging deep into my mind to find a similar situation.

Even in world war 2 when Russia had a massive pressure the Germans had some kind of organisation in they retreat and so even from the west front.

Maybe you my friends could enlighten me and tell the collapse of an army has happened before.

'cause I can't find any similar in my memory. Where an army collapse and start to flee or refuse to fight.

I seem to recall something from WWI.

Markus

The collapse of the Afghan Army last year springs to mind.

[mapuc]

The collapse of the Afghan Army last year springs to mind.

Thank you.

Markus

[Rockstar]

English language news from Poland.

https://youtu.be/7kqfuZ7JL9s

[mapuc]

Day 198 of my 3 day war.
I came.
I saw.
I retreated.

I remain a master strategist.

https://twitter.com/DarthPutinKGB/status/1568116737744191488

Markus

[Dargo]

Thank you.

MarkusRussian army are being kettle in Kharkiv oblast involving +10k Izyum is already surrounded other main supply hubs Ukraine army already near Russians send reinforcements, but it is too late Kharkiv oblast front will collapse in days.

[Dargo]

To give an idea about the strategic significance of Kupyansk where the Ukraine army now is.
https://i.postimg.cc/m2MpwTky/Kupyansk.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/yNWFLTnC/Kupyansk1.jpg

The only thing the Russian do right now is bombing civilian cities, the city of Kharkiv has just been hit with the most significant midday Russian attack in months tells much. Russia has less than 200 Iskanders left, and it is now trying to save them; instead, it is using old S-300 missiles on Ukraine, which should be disposed of. The Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated more than 1,000 square kilometers from the occupiers in the last few days. Ukraine Blitz

[Dargo]

Igor Girkin - Ukrainians will continue advancing aiming to strike approaching Russian reserves during the march. Russians may be forced to abandon Izyum very soon. https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1568201294418001923

Igor Girkin: Russian army veteran and former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer who played a key role in the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Girkin

Echoes of Paulus' thrust into the rear of the Izyum bulge during Operation Fredericus in late May 1942 following the failed Soviet push on Kharkov. And Soviet and Russian militaries were supposedly big on the systematic study & analysis military history. https://twitter.com/AlexAlmeida2020/status/1567905038067982340

A Russian Telegram channel claims that the commander of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division evacuated from Izyum two days ago even though some of his forces are still in the area. https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1568222131489472512

[mapuc]

Russian propagandists are having a breakdown on social media accusing different high ranking officers of incompetency.

https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1568209710532251651

"This whole front collapsed."
This is referring to Russian lines south east of Kharkiv

https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1568230933269987328

To put into context what is happening in Ukraine right now, every analyst I know is in a state of disbelief at just how quickly Ukraine is advancing. They keep saying “there’s no way they’ve made that much progress”, only to see visual conformation of that progress hours later.

https://twitter.com/OzKaterji/status/1568229587439570950

There's more info in the comments.

Markus

[mapuc]

https://twitter.com/DarthPutinKGB/status/1568161754726760448

:har::har:

Markus

[Dargo]

https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1568209710532251651



https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1568230933269987328



https://twitter.com/OzKaterji/status/1568229587439570950

There's more info in the comments.

MarkusGood animation of counteroffensive shows state of Russian army after 3 days :D

https://twitter.com/TarmoJuntunen/status/1568227635641331713

[Dargo]

Amazing video of a Russian T-72 fleeing Ukrainian troops, discarding men and then crashing into a tree. https://twitter.com/CalibreObscura/status/1568282616373059586

:har:

[mapuc]

Amazing video of a Russian T-72 fleeing Ukrainian troops, discarding men and then crashing into a tree. https://twitter.com/CalibreObscura/status/1568282616373059586

:har:

You were faster than me-But it is nevertheless very funny. :har:

Markus

[Dargo]

The Ukrainian military has recaptured nearly 300 square miles of territory in a lightning dual counteroffensive in the south and the east of the country, a top Ukrainian general said Thursday, marking perhaps the most significant advance in the war in months.

After weeks of stalled fighting in and around the eastern Donbas region, Ukrainian troops began pushing Russian forces back from the country’s second-largest city of Kharkiv six days ago, threatening to cut vital supply lines for the Kremlin’s assault. And videos posted to social media showed that the snap offensive wasn’t just racking up Russian casualties but rows of prisoners.

The Ukrainian push on two fronts, striking both east toward Kharkiv and south toward Kherson, has put Russian forces on the back foot. Russia moved troops south when the big punch came in the east. “My understanding is that they are pushing everywhere,” said Tymofiy Mylovanov, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/09/08/ukraine-counteroffensive-russia-war/?tpcc=recirc_latest062921

[mapuc]

The Ukrainian push on two fronts, striking both east toward Kharkiv and south toward Kherson, has put Russian forces on the back foot. Russia moved troops south when the big punch came in the east. “My understanding is that they are pushing everywhere,” said Tymofiy Mylovanov, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/09/08/ukraine-counteroffensive-russia-war/?tpcc=recirc_latest062921

It's like beautiful music in my ears-Give the enemy false information on where you going to make your main move against them and then make the major move somewhere else among the frontline.

I call it making a Schwarzkopf move

In this case it wasn't a 100 % Schwarzkopf move.

Markus

[Dargo]

The Ukrainian Army destroyed a bridge (eastern Oskil river bridge) into Kupyansk, this will hinder Russian attempts to get reinforcements into the town encircling them.

https://i.postimg.cc/zBHhfLWm/Kupyanskbridge.jpg

This is the plan (also in Kherson oblast) only exit/entry are bodies of water do not think Russians swim good.

[Dargo]

It's like beautiful music in my ears-Give the enemy false information on where you going to make your main move against them and then make the major move somewhere else among the frontline.

I call it making a Schwarzkopf move

In this case it wasn't a 100 % Schwarzkopf move.

MarkusImagine the material captured that can be used to fight the coming months. Ukraine has now liberated more territory in 3 days than Putin's grand "Donbas Offensive" managed to occupy in 4 months, whole Russian units are just vanishing.

[Dargo]

The Russian invaders announced the evacuation from the territory of Kharkiv Oblast after Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a counteroffensive and liberated some of the settlements.

Source: Russian-aligned news outlets TASS and RIA Novosti, citing Maksim Gubin, the Russian-appointed head of the Kupiansk District of Kharkiv Oblast

Quote from the collaborator Gubin: "We are trying to concentrate all our efforts on evacuating the local population for at least 3-4 days, until the situation is stabilised.

We are organising evacuation cars and buses. People are being taken to the "Luhansk People’s Republic" to Svatove and to Logachevka [a village in the Valuyki district of Belgorod Oblast - ed.] in Russia. People are being placed in temporary accommodation points."

Details: According to TASS, "evacuation" is underway from Izium, Kupiansk and Velykyi Burluk in Kharkiv Oblast.

RIA Novosti reports that "women and children from Kharkiv Oblast" will be accepted "in the sanatoriums of Krasnodar Krai".

Russian news outlets note that "the situation in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast remains difficult," but the Russian military allegedly "holds the city."

Gubin added that Ukrainian forces are conducting active combat operations in the Shevchenkivskyi district; according to him, that is currently the location of the front line.

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/09/9/7366798/

[Dargo]

In the long run, Russia's future is bright (every family who sent his son to Ukraine and is KIA will have a Lada).
https://i.postimg.cc/NMdLcmp7/lada22.jpg

[mapuc]

^ :har:

Markus

[Dargo]

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine are already in Izyum"
According to a fighter of the National Guard and ex-deputy of the Izyum City Council Nikita Karakay. https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1568296413125287936

The move on Lyman will give the Russian command in Izyum very little time to decide whether to try to hold or to escape south then east before the door closes at Lyman. The destruction of the bridge at Yaremivka may seal their fate, clearly it will be a long night in Izyum. Putin walked like a boss in the trap he sends all what could defend the Donetsk & Kharkiv oblasts down into the Kherson trap.

[Dargo]

Videos show mechanized Ukrainian forces crossing the T0514 bridge over the Siverskyi Donets River, reportedly heading towards Lyman. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1568305891279048710

[Dargo]

Beware the quiet force. For while others roar, it watched. And while others act, it plans. And when they finally rest… it strikes.

[Dargo]

"In the South, battles are being fought 15 km from Kherson." https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1568326403673788416

"Fun has begun in Izyum. APU entered the city." https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1568326474523967492

Russian military correspondents fled from Izyum in the afternoon to Svatovo. https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1568331553142411267

"Russians are waiting for reinforcements in Svatovo, they are sure that the Armed Forces of Ukraine beyond Kupyansk may be in Svatovo tomorrow." https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1568331481365331968

[mapuc]

Todays update

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=422RLvK0r4U

Markus

[Dargo]

Leaked plan of Operation Wrong Side of the River!
https://i.postimg.cc/VN15SnLM/leakplanb.jpg

[mapuc]

Two word

Operation Mincemeat

Markus

[Dargo]

Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov reports that explosions and shooting are heard in the city. https://twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1568342706866249728

If Ukraine is capable of moving out and isolating Melitopol as well now, the Russian war is absolutely done. https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1568346170035945472

[mapuc]

Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov reports that explosions and shooting are heard in the city. https://twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1568342706866249728

If Ukraine is capable of moving out and isolating Melitopol as well now, the Russian war is absolutely done. https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1568346170035945472

It's most likely partisan and perhaps some special forces who is engaging Russian in the city.

I know the UA military has made a huge progress around that area..However I don't think they are that close yet.

Their HIMARS and their M777 Haubits can reach the city and longer.

Markus

[Dargo]

It's most likely partisan and perhaps some special forces who is engaging Russian in the city.

I know the UA military has made a huge progress around that area..However I don't think they are that close yet.

Their HIMARS and their M777 Haubits can reach the city and longer.

MarkusRussian lines are collapsing faster than Ukrainian war-map guys can move lines on the digital maps. :D

[mapuc]

Russian lines are collapsing faster than Ukrainian war-map guys can move lines on the digital maps. :D

Yesterday I asked a military historical question and MaDef

Wrote "The collapse of the Afghan Army last year springs to mind."

But can you compare a loosely trained army with an army who have had decades of training and hard(not the correct word) structure in the chain of command.

The answer must be NO.

Which mean we are back to square one. So I must say it's without precedent what we are witness to in the occupied area of Ukraine.

I could be wrong.

Markus

[Dargo]

Nice thread (Dutch) explaining the state of affairs on the Kharkiv front in recent days. https://twitter.com/robert_bor/status/1568328374313013248

The Kharkiv offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine began only three days ago and is already making history as an operation of speed and daring, with the potential to change the entire war.

On September 6, the first reports trickled in that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had launched an offensive at Balakliya, a central point in the Russian defenses southeast of Kharkiv. The city was guarded by an elite SWAT team, a so-called SOBR unit.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine surrounded this garrison, but then immediately pushed forward. They advanced at lightning speed, and behind them the front widened. The attack had a clear direction: Kupyans'k..

Kupyans'k is a crucial logistical hub. The Russians have built their military on the rail network, and they are incredibly good at it. Kupyans'k provides deliveries by rail to Izyum, Lyman, Severodonetsk and even (in theory) Popasna.

That Armed Forces of Ukraine has its eye on this prey is quite understandable. Successfully putting this city under artillery fire, or even capturing it, is a disaster of unprecedented proportions for the entire northeastern army of the Russians.

But to get there, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had to press on firmly. And they did, on September 7 they were in front of Shevchenkove, on the P-07 highway. Fighting broke out there as well, but the vanguard would not be slowed down and advanced further east.

Even today, the Armed Forces of Ukraine stood on the outskirts of Kupyans'k. An unprecedented achievement, within three days a distance of more than 60 kilometers has been advanced and the most important Russian junction is about to be conquered.

Southwest of Kupyans'k is the Russian Izyum Group, an army of ~10,000 men. There are 3 nodes through which they maintain contact with the rest of the army, Sen'kove, Borove and Oskil. Losing these points means that the Izyum group is hemmed in. The city of Sen'kove has been captured. This eliminates one of the three points.

According to Russian military blogger Rybar, Ukraine now also controls the crossing at Borova. This voids the second of the three points. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the third and final point, Oskil, may have already fallen. In theory, there are still some goat tracks south of Oskil, but they run right along the southern front with Ukraine.

To add to the problem, the Armed Forces of Ukraine has begun the assault on Lyman, and it does not seem to be going well for Russia. With the attack on Lyman, Ukraine is increasing the depth of the encirclement and making it harder for the Russians to get out.

Earlier we had seen the Armed Forces of Ukraine suddenly show up at Stavyi Karavan and Ozerne, two seemingly "random" places. Not so random in retrospect, but part of a larger plan to surround and eliminate the Izyum group.

The Russians are facing a serious soldier shortage. That sounds very strange, because when you think of Russia, you always think of endless waves of soldiers. Not so in this case. This problem, among others, makes RU unable to respond properly. They have no reserve.

Looking at the situation, it looks bad for Russia. Ukraine retains the initiative and creates new opportunities with attacks. Russia has to endure it and can only react.

The deadly bear trap in Kherson, for which the Armed Forces of Ukraine has all the time in the world to starve the bear, the expected fall of Kupyans'k and the encirclement of the Izyum group are surefire signs for Putin's special military operation.

[Dargo]

Yesterday I asked a military historical question and MaDef

Wrote "The collapse of the Afghan Army last year springs to mind."

But can you compare a loosely trained army with an army who have had decades of training and hard(not the correct word) structure in the chain of command.

The answer must be NO.

Which mean we are back to square one. So I must say it's without precedent what we are witness to in the occupied area of Ukraine.

I could be wrong.

MarkusThe Afghans are good in guerrilla for centuries, but that it is all training does not help with that high corruption, Afghanistan is corrupt to the bone not a world power lost in Afghanistan but the corrupt state of Afghanistan lost. This does not remind of "The collapse of the Afghan Army last year spring" but more the USSR in Afghanistan.

[Dargo]

Russian media: Russia sends reinforcements to Kharkiv in response to Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Russian state-controlled media outlet RIA Novosti reported that Russia is sending columns of reinforcements into Kharkiv Oblast following Ukraine’s major counterattack in the area https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1568359371746205698

...
https://i.postimg.cc/qq09ys5f/semperpie.jpg

[Dargo]

I'm seeing unconfirmed reports that Russian units are retreating from Svyatohirs'k and Lyman. If accurate, Russian forces between Lyman and Kupyansk are effectively collapsing in real time. https://twitter.com/RealCynicalFox/status/1568369971599745027

https://i.postimg.cc/02Bsr2S9/nopanic.jpg

[mapuc]

Arestovych: "In the extreme case, Putin will declare total mobilisation... in this case, I will request to award him with Hero of Ukraine award, as there is no quicker way to destroy Russia".

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1568339936784404480

Markus

[Dargo]

Ukrainian forces continue to make significant territorial gains in multiple sectors of the front lines and appear to be greeted everywhere with open arms by civilians, some of which spent over six months under the thumb of Russian occupiers.

Videos like the one below have proliferated online as Ukrainian troops push rapidly through Russian lines in the north around Kharkiv and in the south around Kherson. Ukrainian forces in most places appear to be greeted with hugs, handshakes, and tears of joy by their liberated countrymen.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ukraine-situation-report-liberators-greeted-with-cheers-tears-of-joy

[Jimbuna]

Amazing video of a Russian T-72 fleeing Ukrainian troops, discarding men and then crashing into a tree. https://twitter.com/CalibreObscura/status/1568282616373059586

:har:

I enjoyed that :yep:

[Reece]

That was funny, :yep: for those who have problems with twitter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOhF-k9jN2Y

[Jimbuna]

A Ukrainian advance near the eastern city of Kharkiv - which has recaptured several towns - has taken Russia "by surprise", UK defence officials say.

In a daily update, they said Kyiv's forces have advanced 50km (31 miles) into previously Russian-held territory.

The attack has also left thousands of Moscow's troops "increasingly isolated" near the key city of Izyum, they said.

On Friday evening, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had retaken 30 settlements in the Kharkiv region.

Speaking from Kyiv during his nightly address, Mr Zelensky said his forces are "gradually taking control of new settlements" and "returning the Ukrainian flag and protection for all our people".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62860774

[Jimbuna]

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

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oVSfHgdv_Q

[Jimbuna]

G7 countries and EU will ban shipping of Russian oil by sea next year

The countries of the "Group of Seven" and the European Union will introduce a ban on sea transportation of Russian oil on December 5.

The ban on the transportation of oil products by sea will come into effect on February 5, 2023. This will be one of the measures to establish maximum prices for raw materials from Russia.

The ministry has issued a manual that talks about the possibility of an investigation into buyers of Russian oil who paid prices above the set limit and knowingly provided false documents. Governments involved in implementing the restrictions will share such information to help monitor them.

The price cap plan agreed by the G7 countries provides for the refusal of participating countries in insurance, financial, brokerage, navigation and other services for oil cargoes whose price exceeds the maximum price for oil and oil products, which has not yet been determined.

The US Treasury Department said that these service providers must keep records of Russian oil deliveries for five years.

"If a service provider that does not have direct access to pricing information reasonably relies on the customer's certificate, that service provider will not be liable for possible violations of the sanctions due to the actions of unscrupulous persons 'who attempt to violate or evade the restriction,'" it says. manual of the ministry. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3366277

[mapuc]

The advancement in the Kherson and Kharkiv area is going real fast..

Markus

[Jimbuna]

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

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP_jMDC6BVc

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LKDxT27RTQ

[nikimcbee]

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




Is it just me, or is he saying "Poutine"? not Putin. lol:Kaleun_Wink:

[Jimbuna]

Yeah, sounds like it :)

[nikimcbee]

Just for you Jim.:Kaleun_Cheers: I was gunna say, they need to update this for Ukraine, but somebody already has.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSzAnNU4u28

[nikimcbee]

Yeah, sounds like it :)




.....and that is how Canada was drawn into the war.:k_confused:

[Jimbuna]

Just for you Jim.:Kaleun_Cheers: I was gunna say, they need to update this for Ukraine, but somebody already has.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSzAnNU4u28

I think there'll be quite a few more like that before this mess comes to an end :03:

[nikimcbee]

.....and that is how Canada was drawn into the war.:k_confused:


Which causes chaos at CNN.



...after seeing news, Biden declares war on Canada, for being Pro-Poutine.

[Jimbuna]

Which causes chaos at CNN.



...after seeing news, Biden declares war on Canada, for being Pro-Poutine.

Was never sure what political persuasion you were Jason....until now :03:

[Skybird]

...after seeing news, Biden declares war on Canada, for being Pro-Poutine.


:har:

[Skybird]

Neue Zürcher Zeitung: "I fear that the very big war is still ahead of us" - conversation with Russian writer in exile Arkady Babchenko.

Arkady Babchenko served as a soldier in Chechnya and has described the horror of war in unrelenting detail. He knows the Russian army from the inside and fears that the fighting in Ukraine is escalating. He sees a black future for Russia.

--------------------------------

Mr. Babchenko, you left Russia in 2017 because you feared for your life because of your stance critical of Putin. Today you have asylum in a European country, but your current place of residence is secret. How great is the danger for you right now?

Behind Salman Rushdie you were thirty years. The money for the killer who was set on me has been paid, but the job has not been done. One of the potential killers has revealed the matter to Ukrainian intelligence, but those behind it are still active. The chain goes all the way to Russia and probably reaches all the way to the top to "Putin's cook," Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the security and military company "Wagner," which operates on Putin's behalf. At least, that's how Ukrainian intelligence sees it.

In 2018, in order to find out these connections, you even faked your assassination by Russian intelligence services. A not uncontroversial action.

I don't know. Death is part of my life. In 2014, I was supposed to be shot once before in Crimea. I was naked and had a bag over my head. I could hear the soldier's nervousness from the sound of the rifle. His bullet missed me.

These days, your book "Im Rausch. Russia's War." It is a kind of diary, consisting of essays or Facebook entries, going back ten years. Three days after Russian troops began invading Ukraine in February of this year, you note, "Russia has lost the war. Already."

Today, if you look at Russia's goal, which is the total subjugation of Ukraine, you can say that that goal has fallen far short. Ukraine has kept its sovereignty, its army, and now comes the counterattack.

At the moment, I think the situation is that the war can last for a very long time. They talk about "Syrianization" of the war.

The Russians thought they could do it like they did in Syria, but it doesn't compare. Ukraine is not Syria. The country has 40 million inhabitants and measures a thousand kilometers from north to south. Russia simply does not have enough missiles to turn Ukraine into Syria. Already, the Russian army is running out of material. What is like Syria, however, is that the aggressor has targeted residential settlements.

You know the Russian military from your own experience. As a young soldier, you were in the Chechen war twice and described your traumatic experiences in the book "The Color of War. The desolate army and its brutalized morale are painted in the darkest colors. What does Vladimir Putin know about his army and about the chances of this war?

Every dictator lives in his information bubble. Putin hates bad news. He does not use the Internet. News is put on his desk in paper form. Dictators don't necessarily surround themselves with professionals, but with loyal existences very devoted to one.

Putin possibly lives in the idea of winning the war right now?

I don't know, but he hates to lose. Whatever one may think of the qualities and capabilities of the Russian army - in terms of the amount of human resources, it is absolutely superior. I am convinced that Russia will launch another attack on Kiev.

Putin will send even more people to war?

If you look at Russia's population of 140 million people, you can assume that 100 million of them live in poverty. For these people, the current soldier's pay of 200,000 rubles is a fortune. That is why we can assume that Putin can recruit 200,000 men at any time. So he still has supplies. Besides, there are about 400 000 prisoners in Russian prisons. If only every tenth person agrees to serve in the army, that will be enough.

You went to the Chechen war when you were eighteen, nineteen years old. Do you understand the young people who are now going to the Ukraine war?

There are very many who do not inform themselves. Not on the Internet and not anywhere else. Those who are eighteen today actually know Ukraine only as an independent state, comparable to France or Germany. But the anti-Ukrainian propaganda works great in Russia. It is the main weapon of Russia. It is not the submarines or the nuclear missiles, but it is the zombie box of television.

Can you contribute to a kind of counter-narrative with your work? Who else are you reaching in Russia?

No one. I don't even want to. The time for talking is over. It's like in 1943, the year of the war, when no one would have asked if it wasn't better to talk to each other. I no longer associate myself with Russia. I am Ukrainian now.

Your relatives still live in Russia?

Yes, my mother stayed there.

Do you speak with your mother?

Practically not. Very rarely. She thinks I am a traitor and that there are fascists in Ukraine. When I was a soldier in Chechnya at eighteen, my mother followed me. She saw everything. She hated the Russian army. Yeltsin and Putin. Now she thinks I left as a traitor. This is the effect of Russian television.

In what direction is this re-education of your own people going?

Europe must finally understand that a fascist state has formed on its eastern border. Not a fascism-like state, but a de facto fascist state. Russia has already incorporated into its official ideology to destroy neighboring nations. And this fascist state will exist for a long time. At least fifteen, twenty years. And you have to be prepared for that.

What is fascist about the present Russia?

The goals and the propaganda. I saw in 2014 how a whole nation lost its mind.

With the occupation of Crimea?

Yes. In history classes at school, I didn't understand how a nation could go so crazy as to burn people in crematoria and scatter the ashes in the fields. In 2014, I saw it with my own eyes. People were going crazy. A Russian professor of geology told me then that Ukraine had to be destroyed. Since then, I have had no questions at all about German history. If you look at German history, you know what is happening in Russia today. It is going to get worse and worse.

How exactly can it get worse?

I'm afraid that the very big war is still ahead of us. Russia may first retreat and regroup after the initial defeats, but after a few years will attack again. Other theaters will be Kazakhstan and Moldova. Perhaps the Baltics. The problem is not just Putin, but what comes after. The only thing that will help against Russia's expansionist plans is total isolation. Maybe forcing the country to withdraw into itself will do some good. But maybe it won't work, because Russia is enormously rich in raw materials.

Your book gathers blog entries from the last ten years. The entire blueprint of Russian aggression against Ukraine is foreshadowed there. Shouldn't the West have just read along?

The West is acting out of a mixture of naiveté and economic self-interest. Europe has not fought for 75 years and believed that there would be no more shocks. NATO itself has already considered itself superfluous.

Has it escaped the West's notice that Putin has lived permanently in a world of war at least since his work for the secret service?

All of Russia always lives in war. After the end of World War II, Russia participated in forty wars. One war every two years. Always on foreign territory! Putin is a creature of this permanent state of war.

You write that Putin has managed to bring out the worst in people.

Again, we have not yet reached the deepest abyss. There is no bottom, we are still in the middle of the fall. Soon they will start hanging gays in Red Square. The propaganda is working. And the fear in the population is growing.

What is the capacity of the Russian people to suffer?

The Russian people have lived in humility for three hundred years and may continue to do so for another three hundred years. The West still sees the Russian people as a subject of politics. In truth, however, it is only an object of politics. It has no influence at all. The only thing that counts is the will of the tsar. That is how it has always been. And that is how it will always be.
---------------------

[Dargo]

The colossal cascading collapse of the Russian army continues with breathtaking speed. Maps are often out-of-date as soon as they are posted. Russian positions across Kharkiv and northern Donetsk are folding as Russian troops retreat and surrender. Izium is expected to fall. The Russian military is throwing all the resources it can muster into the Kharkiv theater of operations to stop Ukraine's offensive, but Russian troops are disorganized and unprepared. Even pro-Russian sources are horrified by how paralyzed the Russian command appears to be. https://twitter.com/StateOfUkraine/status/1568333583059750915

+2,000 sq km of Ukraine territory is liberated since Sept 1, says Zelenskyi two days ago it was 1,000!

https://i.postimg.cc/j2PCG1WB/retreatnopanic.jpg

[Dargo]

How to add to Russia's force's collapsing morale in Ukraine. Russia's puppet leader in occupied Donetsk, gives update from a speeding car - probably heading to Russia. Says it's all going tits up (quite difficult) in Donetsk. Then tells the taxi driver to get a ****ing move on. https://twitter.com/dimaFromUkraine/status/1568616989337296897

[mapuc]

First I saw this video clip from twitter
My first thought was-The Russian seems to have a different way of celebrating success

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1568677656220016641

Then a friend posted the answer to the first video

On the day Russian forces retreated from occupied areas of Kharkiv region and Ukrainian forces reported major gains, back in Moscow Vladimir Putin was inaugurating a giant Ferris wheel & there was a fireworks display to celebrate city day. Surreal.

https://twitter.com/BBCSteveR/status/1568688632286040064?s=20&t=VJa9FkeE45bs42zsZ_X1Kw

Markus

[Dargo]

First I saw this video clip from twitter
My first thought was-The Russian seems to have a different way of celebrating success

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1568677656220016641

Then a friend posted the answer to the first video



https://twitter.com/BBCSteveR/status/1568688632286040064?s=20&t=VJa9FkeE45bs42zsZ_X1Kw

MarkusWar is mainly a catalogue of blundersMaybe we see a rhythm of history:
Stalin’s generals asked for permission to retreat (Operation Barbarossa) to reduce casualties, move to defensive positions, and prepare for a counterattack. Stalin refused. His poorly equipped, trained, and led soldiers were ordered to stand their ground regardless of the consequences.

[mapuc]

Maybe we see a rhythm of history:
Stalin’s generals asked for permission to retreat (Operation Barbarossa) to reduce casualties, move to defensive positions, and prepare for a counterattack. Stalin refused. His poorly equipped, trained, and led soldiers were ordered to stand their ground regardless of the consequences.

It has been mentioned a few times here in this thread, that the generals did not dare to tell Putin the truth about the war in Ukraine.

I think Putin is well aware of how his troops are doing in Ukraine.

Markus

[nikimcbee]

Was never sure what political persuasion you were Jason....until now :03:


Premier Trudeaux Counters with a closing of the Beef Gravy pipeline to the south, causing chaos and rioting at all Golden Corral Buffets. Antifa counterstrikes and burns down all Starbucks in Portlandia.


Sounds like the opening moves to Red Dawn III.


:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

[Dargo]

It has been mentioned a few times here in this thread, that the generals did not dare to tell Putin the truth about the war in Ukraine.

I think Putin is well aware of how his troops are doing in Ukraine.

MarkusPutin knows same as Stalin knew but admitting failure is impossible for this kinda people with brainfarts

[Catfish]

No joke:

Russian propagandist and editor in chief of the Kremlin’s news agency RT (Russia Today) Margarita Symonyan is quite literally calling this the "great patriotic retreat".

https://i.imgur.com/m2UdgWfl.jpg

[Dargo]

No joke:

Russian propagandist and editor in chief of the Kremlin’s news agency RT (Russia Today) Margarita Symonyan is quite literally calling this the "great patriotic retreat".

https://i.imgur.com/m2UdgWfl.jpgRussia know they can not win this, that is why they change the goals of this "Operation" so often.

Russia claims it withdrew from part of Kharkiv Oblast to boost its efforts in Donetsk Oblast. Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for Russia's Defense Ministry, said on Sept. 10 that Russia had transferred troops from Balakliya and Izium in Kharkiv Oblast to Donetsk Oblast. He claimed that the aim of the withdrawal was to achieve the main aim of Russia's so-called "special military operation" - the capture of the entire Donbas. The statement came after Ukrainian forces regained control over Balakliya, Izyum, and Kupiansk.

[mapuc]

Todays update

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm7cGVvYAW8

Markus

[Dargo]

In addition to recruiting prisoners/psychiatric patients/homeless people, Russia has sent undocumented workers to Ukraine. The blindfolded man captured near Kharkiv is an Uzbek mercenary whose illegal status would have made it easier to send him to Ukraine. By sending powerless "undesirables" to fight in Ukraine, Putin was hoping to avoid general mobilization that could destabilize his regime, but instead, he destabilized the Russian military, which is now failing in large part because of these poorly trained and unmotivated people.
https://twitter.com/StateOfUkraine/status/1568727220063019009

[Catfish]

From september 8th, but i wonder ..
Local St. Petersburg Deputies Urge Putin be Removed

https://www.kyivpost.com/russia/local-st-petersburg-deputies-urge-putin-be-removed.html

[mapuc]

In Sweden they have several steps in mobilisation

Step - Red-Here the Entire Air force is put up to highest alert and some of the navy is also put on highest alert.

Step - Yellow(or was it Orange)Air force highest alert together with the navy
.
.
.
.
Step - White Full mobilisation.

So Putin could active his air force make a full mobilisation it.

Markus

[Dargo]

Only _today_ Ukraine has captured more tanks and howitzers from the Russians than Germany delivered to Ukraine in over six months. Let this sink in. https://twitter.com/A_SHEKH0VTS0V/status/1568713535227658240

[Dargo]

In Sweden they have several steps in mobilisation

Step - Red-Here the Entire Air force is put up to highest alert and some of the navy is also put on highest alert.

Step - Yellow(or was it Orange)Air force highest alert together with the navy
.
.
.
.
Step - White Full mobilisation.

So Putin could active his air force make a full mobilisation it.

MarkusBut he did not, lost more terrain in a couple of days than he gained in months, mobilization is not the magical wand will take Russia months to prepare a new army. Russia will likely reroute units from other fronts to strengthen the east front, but that will weaken the other fronts where Ukraine will start attacks this is really the time when Ukraine is dealing hefty blows. And now Russians have to start thinking what they are going to do. Putin doesn't have that many good options left. The most sensible thing from a military point of view is to retreat behind defensible positions to get the lines back in order. But then he has to give up quite a lot of territory, which the troops have fought very hard for. His other option is: escalate by actually gathering a lot more manpower by mobilizing. But that would be very unpopular domestically.

There is much discontent in Russia, even on blogs of Russian supporters of the war. Few believe that Russia can recapture the lost positions in Kharkov, and some even foresee a complete defeat. According to Putin, "nothing has been lost" that's hard to sustain after today, but Putin is not someone who gives up easily, Putin will first be furious with his military leadership. People will get a good beating, maybe heads will roll. But he will also want to come up with a military strategy to retaliate.

[mapuc]

Dargo wrote
"But he will also want to come up with a military strategy to retaliate."

Since the start of this offensive and the success I had this fear what Putin may do.

I pray he accept the lost and withdraw from Ukraine to where Ukraine had their border in 1991.

My fear he escalate the war-Be prepared for anything even nukes and/or Chemical.

Markus

[Dargo]

Dargo wrote
"But he will also want to come up with a military strategy to retaliate."

Since the start of this offensive and the success I had this fear what Putin may do.

I pray he accept the lost and withdraw from Ukraine to where Ukraine had their border in 1991.

My fear he escalate the war-Be prepared for anything even nukes and/or Chemical.

MarkusIt will not be nuclear Russia knows this has consequences they can not take, that said retaliation will be horror same doctrine of destroying cities military Putin failed so he gone be his horrible self and be Vlad the slaughter of civilians. I see no wunderwaffe in Russia that can turn the tide for Russia in a short time, no stock of grenades or barrels have brought him any success.

[mapuc]

It will not be nuclear Russia knows this has consequences they can not take, that said retaliation will be horror same doctrine of destroying cities military Putin failed so he gone be his horrible self and be Vlad the slaughter of civilians. I see no wunderwaffe in Russia that can turn the tide for Russia in a short time, no stock of grenades or barrels have brought him any success.

Guess you're correct on this.

You could also be correct on what Putin may do as a retaliation

Markus

[Dargo]

Guess you're correct on this.

You could also be correct on what Putin may do as a retaliation

MarkusI wonder how the reaction is on his explanation on the second-strongest military in the world to the second-strongest military... in Ukraine will be :D

[Schroeder]

Only _today_ Ukraine has captured more tanks and howitzers from the Russians than Germany delivered to Ukraine in over six months. Let this sink in. https://twitter.com/A_SHEKH0VTS0V/status/1568713535227658240
That doesn't mean much though considering that our chancellor is firmly on the brakes when it comes to supplying Ukraine with heavy equipment. To my knowledge we didn't deliver a single tank and just 7 self propelled howitzers and a hand full of self propelled anti aircraft artillery systems. Shameful in my opinion.


So yes, you seize the equivalent of one company of heavy equipment and you have more than Germany has delivered in 6 months.:/\\!!

[Skybird]

From september 8th, but i wonder ..
Local St. Petersburg Deputies Urge Putin be Removed

https://www.kyivpost.com/russia/local-st-petersburg-deputies-urge-putin-be-removed.html
Unlikely that it has consequences for Putin, but maybe for tbe deputies. They better stay away from open window and high roof tops from now on.

[mapuc]

Day 200 of my 3 day war. The Russian army advances rearwards exactly as planned while Ukrainian military flees in a panic chasing after it.

I remain a master strategist.

https://twitter.com/DarthPutinKGB/status/1568829928023400448

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Putin Faces Second Revolt as Russian Officials Slam War, Demand Resignation

AMoscow municipality has become the second Russian local authority this week to take the risk of calling for Vladimir Putin's resignation.

The letter addressed to the president by council deputies at Lomonosovsky Municipal District did not directly mention Putin's invasion of Ukraine, but did refer to how Russia had now become "feared and hated" while "aggression" has taken the country back to the "Cold War era."

The letter also made a pointed criticism of the length of Putin's presidency, describing how following local Moscow elections on Sunday, it was a good thing that the council's membership would change after five years.

"In countries with regular turnover of power, people, on average, live better and longer than in those where the leader leaves office carried out in a box," it said.

Putin became president in 2000, a role he has held apart from four years between 2008 and 2012, when Dmitry Medvedev took over in what was seen globally as a move just to keep his seat warm. Upon resuming the presidency in 2012, the Russian constitution has been changed to allow him to potentially stay as head of state until 2036.

The missive went on to say there had been "good reforms" in the first and part of the second of Putin's terms, but after that "somehow everything went wrong." It referred to Russia's brain drain, how the minimum wage and GDP did not rise enough and the "promised stability is not in sight."

"The rhetoric that you and your subordinates are using has been riddled with intolerance and aggression for a long time, which in the end effectively threw our country back into the Cold War era," the letter said.

"Russia has again begun to be feared and hated, we again threaten the whole world with nuclear weapons," it added. "We ask you to relieve yourself of your post due to the fact that your views, your management model are hopelessly outdated and hinder the development of Russia and its human potential."

Journalist and Russia watcher Julia Davis tweeted how the council had voted on the motion and produced the letter, which was also reported by the independent Russian-language news outlet The Insider.

"Criticism of Putin is rare, & while the two motions were little more than symbolic statements, they represented a remarkable public rebuke," Davis wrote.

Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin and Lomonosovsky Municipal District Council for comment.

Criticizing Putin so brazenly carries a considerable risk where dissent can lead to imprisonment or worse. Police in St Petersburg have said they would charge lawmakers at Smolninsky District Council in Putin's home town after they called for the president to be charged with treason.

The district council's statement came in the form of a request to the Russian parliament, the State Duma, and said Putin's invasion led to a massive loss of life, disabled veterans, hindered the national economy, and fast-tracked NATO's eastward expansion. Police said they face charges linked to "discrediting" the Russian government,
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/putin-faces-second-revolt-as-russian-officials-slam-war-demand-resignation/ar-AA11FKy2?ocid=mailsignout&li=AAnZ9Ug

[Rockstar]

Unlikely that it has consequences for Putin, but maybe for tbe deputies. They better stay away from open window and high roof tops from now on.

Truly an immediate concern for those dissenting deputies. But to others it’s seen as rumblings which will eventually lead towards the break-up of the Russia Federation in the not too distant future.

[Jimbuna]

Vladimir Putin Faces Major Backlash After Paying Tribute To The Queen

Messages of condolences and tributes have been pouring in from across the world in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's death. Russian president Vladimir Putin was no different, despite the tenuous relationship between Russia and the United Kingdom.

In a letter to King Charles III, Putin penned that the queen "rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage," per the New York Post. Putin wrote that he wished King Charles III "courage and resilience in the face of this difficult irreparable loss," adding that he hoped the king to "pass on sincere condolences and support to members of the royal family and the entire people of Great Britain."

President Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Queen Elizabeth II had "wisdom and authority," which he believes "are in very short supply on the international stage at the moment," per Reuters. According to the Daily Mail, President Putin will not be attending the queen's funeral on September 19.

At the British Embassy in Moscow, Reuters reports flowers, candles, and other tributes to the queen have been left since the announcement of her death. Queen Elizabeth was the only British monarch to visit Russia, per the New York Post.

One person who will be happy is Piers Morgan, who was quoted by the New York Post as saying the Russian president could "stick [his] condolences where the sun don't shine" and that it was the loss of lives in Ukraine that Morgan was concerned about.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/vladimir-putin-faces-major-backlash-after-paying-tribute-to-the-queen/ar-AA11G6V2?ocid=mailsignout&li=AAnZ9Ug

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIcxTZrP9U8

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qopvCvRra4

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpXF_uyXw5U

[mapuc]

For once I was right on spot :smug:

'cause I remember having said that Ukrainian could lure them by indicating an offensive in Kherson area but make the main attack elsewhere. Well I said something with they could do a Schwarzkopf maneuver


https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/10/ukraines-publicised-southern-offensive-was-disinformation-campaign

Markus

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEt7WmQ0Q-A

[Jimbuna]

Can't say I believe this when looking back on the German track record so far.

Berbok on Germany’s supply of weapons to Ukraine: Situation has changed by 180 degrees. We will help as much as necessary

Germany made a 180-degree change in its position on military aid to Ukraine after the Russian full-scale invasion. Berlin will provide the Ukrainians with weapons as long as necessary.

This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Berbok, at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum, Censor.NET informs with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

"We are 150% on the side of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. And we will be with them as long as Ukraine and the Ukrainian people need us," Berbok said.

According to her, until February 24, Germany did not supply weapons to Ukraine, as this could become the basis of an invasion for Russia, but now the situation has changed by 180 degrees.

"We will supply weapons to Ukraine as long as it is necessary," said the head of the German Foreign Ministry. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3366403

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Yr9z-5QbvY

[Jimbuna]

Russia does not give up negotiations with Ukraine, but longer process is delayed, more difficult it will be to reach agreement - Lavrov. VIDEO

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Serhiy Lavrov, said that Russia is not giving up negotiations with Ukraine.

"The Russian Federation does not abandon negotiations with Ukraine, but the longer the process is delayed, the more difficult it will be to reach an agreement," the Russian minister said. Source: https://censor.net/en/v3366409

[mapuc]

Danish Radio writes:

The events of the past few days in Ukraine are the most significant in the war since Russia withdrew from northern Ukraine on 26 March.

The assessment comes from military analyst at the Defence Academy Anders Puck Nielsen, after Ukrainian forces reportedly recaptured a number of Ukrainian towns in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

Towns which until a few days ago were in Russian hands.

- It is a huge area that the Ukrainians have won back in a matter of days. It seems that the Ukrainians have gained momentum and that the Russians are experiencing some kind of collapse, he says.

And while Anders Puck Nielsen points out that much can change, the latest developments present Russian President Vladimir Putin with big choices if the Ukrainian counteroffensive continues.

In his assessment, Putin has four distinct options:

1. Mobilisation
According to Anders Puck Nielsen, Russia started its "special military operation", as it is called in Russia, on the assumption that it would be easy for Russia to invade Ukraine.

However, it turned out quite quickly that it would not go as expected.

- This means that you are not at all equipped to fight a war like the one we are fighting right now," he says.

That is why Anders Puck Nielsen sees Putin's options for mobilising troops as a logical military step.

- In other words, the mobilisation that perhaps should have been made a long time ago. Then they should start calling up young Russian men for military training and subsequent service in Ukraine.

But even if that might be the most logical thing for Putin to do from a military point of view, it leaves him with a problem of explanation.

- The Russian people are not at all prepared for this to happen. When you have been saying for the last seven months that things are going excellently and according to plan and then suddenly say that you have launched a mobilisation, that will be an admission that you have been wrong," he says

2. Nuclear weapons
As Anders Puck Nielsen sees it, Russia has only one weapon left in its arsenal that it has not yet used.

- That is the nuclear bomb. What makes it a really bad option is that, first of all, it is not at all certain that it will work.

According to the military analyst, this also presents Putin with a number of additional dilemmas.

- It can be hard to know who to throw it at. It could be on the Ukrainian forces, or you could use it as a scare weapon and drop it on some cities. You could also drop it on NATO, says Anders Puck Nielsen.

But again, he points out that this option could have far-reaching consequences for Russia.

- It's pretty unlikely to happen. Putin must expect some kind of response, primarily from the US, because they will react in a way that gives Putin even greater dilemmas to deal with, he says.

3. Reducing the goal
A third option for the Russian President, according to Anders Puck Nielsen, is to reduce the success criteria for a successful "military special operation".

Because if he won't recruit more soldiers from the street, he'll have to make do with the ones he has.

This can be done by reducing the target.

- That would initially be something like giving up some of the areas you are fighting over right now and then focusing on the ones you think are the most important. That could be a military way forward, says Anders Puck Nielsen.

It would be the easiest option for Putin, he says.

- Because the other options would largely threaten Putin's own power in Russia, says Anders Puck Nielsen.

4. Belarus
The last opportunity Anders Puck Nielsen sees is hiding north of Ukraine.

- One could well imagine that Putin could pressure Belarus to open a new front and enter the war, it is also not entirely unthinkable. They've been doing military border exercises for about five months now. You could imagine that something like that could come up," he says.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

My own:

5. Full withdrawal

Putin knows he has lost the war and to save what he has he gives the order to withdraw from entire Ukraine, including Crimea.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j803HpO_S7E

[ET2SN]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Yr9z-5QbvY

Dang, Jim beat me to it. :D

Still, :hmmm:

[Jimbuna]

Dang, Jim beat me to it. :D

Still, :hmmm:

Yeah and I've just deleted my response to you :doh:

[ET2SN]

Well, moving forward it begs the question:

How does Russia wiggle out of this debacle?
Can Russia wiggle out of it?

I doubt Putin and Lavrov could hold a press conference saying, "You don't understand, all of this was a practical joke on our Ukrainian brothers..". :O:

Even if Russia foots the bill to clean up everything that was damaged and make a full restitution, why should anyone ever trust them again? :hmmm:

[ET2SN]

One thing about Nukes, you DON'T drop them just outside your own border. :yep:

[Jimbuna]

Well, moving forward it begs the question:

How does Russia wiggle out of this debacle?
Can Russia wiggle out of it?

I doubt Putin and Lavrov could hold a press conference saying, "You don't understand, all of this was a practical joke on our Ukrainian brothers..". :O:

Even if Russia foots the bill to clean up everything that was damaged and make a full restitution, why should anyone ever trust them again? :hmmm:

I doubt anyone can answer with an air of confidence. Any answer woold be speculation and guesswork at best.

One thing about Nukes, you DON'T drop them just outside your own border. :yep:

I'm hoping there is a strong enough presence by the military in the background to prevent that happening but honestly can't say tactical nukes and/or chemical weapons won't be used under any circumstances.

[Schroeder]

One thing about Nukes, you DON'T drop them just outside your own border. :yep:
Didn't the US detonate several WITHIN their borders?:hmmm:

[ET2SN]

Didn't the US detonate several WITHIN their borders?:hmmm:

A long time ago when we had a lot of empty land and a poor understanding of fallout. :yep:

[Rockstar]

Didn't the US detonate several WITHIN their borders?:hmmm:

Yep, and we had some nukes accidentally dropped. Two on the State North Carolina and one off shore Tybee Island, GA. Rumor Control Central (RCC) says the one off Tybee is still out there ‘somewhere’ :o


https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/nuclear-bombs-dropped-on-north-carolina


The article says nobody knows why they didn’t go off. But that’s actually kind of easy to answer. Back then I believe one of the flight crew had to physically go back and finish assembling it to arm the bomb. One of the bombs that dropped in North Carolina the TNT component did detonate wiping out some poor farmer’s house and barn.

[Jimbuna]

Shot Divider of Operation Julin on 23 September 1992, at the Nevada Test Site, was the last U.S. nuclear test.

[Dargo]

Danish Radio writes:



My own:


Markus6. Russian soldiers start “voting for peace with their legs.” We saw refusal before by Russian soldiers, if those numbers grow the corps of officers are powerless to act and the collapse of the Russian army in Ukraine is final.

[ET2SN]

Shot Divider of Operation Julin on 23 September 1992, at the Nevada Test Site, was the last U.S. nuclear test.

..and deep underground. :yep:

The point being, you don't use WMD close to your own turf. Its like punching yourself in the face.

[Jimbuna]

..and deep underground. :yep:

The point being, you don't use WMD close to your own turf. Its like punching yourself in the face.

Oh I do agree but everything depends on how pressured Rasputin feels.

[mapuc]

"The Russians are retreating from Snigirevka in the South."
HUGE if confirmed

https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1568998482182119425

Russian forces are fleeing Starobil's'k in the direction of Luhansk.
Several convoys were reported to be leaving the town at high speed recently.

https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1568999440119103489

Russian units around the Kherson frontline are experiencing severe logistical issues.

Logistics are running out.

Russian forces try to sustain these losses by transporting logistics via helicopter and boats.

https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1569000612829831169

Russia admits its troops were pushed back from almost entire Kharkiv Oblast.

The Russian Defense Ministry published a video showing that Ukraine’s Armed Forces knocked out the Russian forces from the north of Kharkiv Oblast.

https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1568953100953608193

It's not going so well for the Ruskies

Markus

[Dargo]

Vladimir Putin, who has changed command twice since the start of the war in Ukraine, no longer wants to see his generals.

The President postponed meetings in Sochi with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense after the army in the Kharkiv region suffered the worst defeat since the beginning of the war.

For a week, the Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to recapture 3,000 square kilometers, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny said on Sunday. After breaking through the front, the Russian army left the territory in a matter of days, which it had captured for about three months with thousands of victims.

Following Balakliya, Kupyansk and Izyum were left, where the occupation administration of the Kharkov region and the headquarters of the group advancing on the Donbass from the North were located. The Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday called what is happening "distractions" and a planned withdrawal of troops.

But that hardly suits President Vladimir Putin. He postponed meetings with the leadership of the defense department and representatives of the defense industry - these meetings are "shifting to the right" in the schedule of the head of state, his press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

“As the special military operation develops, certain experiences are gained that need to be discussed,” he said, adding that meetings are necessary. Peskov did not name a new term (quotes from RIA Novosti).

The Russian army's retreat from Izyum and Kupyansk is a "complete collapse," says Phillips O'Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

“To fight for the Donbass, there were probably more troops stationed there than anywhere else, and now they don’t seem to be able to hold anything there,” O’Brien explains.

Due to the fiasco of the army, the referendums on the annexation of the occupied territories of Ukraine have again been postponed indefinitely, Meduza reports, citing sources close to the presidential administration.

Initially scheduled for May, then postponed to September, then postponed to November, the referendums were put on hold, one of the interlocutors of the publication said.

According to another, the political technologists sent to the Kharkiv and Zaporozhye regions to prepare the vote received an “order to go home,” says a Meduza source. In the Kherson region, Russian political technologists who prepared the referendum are still staying.

After a successful counterattack, the Ukrainians will now have "logistical problems of their own: they will need to supply all the units now scattered throughout the territory" occupied by the offensive in the Kharkiv region, O'Brien says. “But the Russians will have trouble stabilizing the front line,” he continues. “So the situation will be chaotic for a while until a new front line starts to emerge.”


https://www-moscowtimes-ru.translate.goog/2022/09/11/polnii-krah-putin-otmenil-soveschanie-s-generalami-posle-krupneishego-porazheniya-armii-s-nachala-voini-a24146?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

The Moscow Times (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moscow_Times)

[mapuc]

After a successful counterattack, the Ukrainians will now have "logistical problems of their own: they will need to supply all the units now scattered throughout the territory" occupied by the offensive in the Kharkiv region, O'Brien says. “But the Russians will have trouble stabilizing the front line,” he continues. “So the situation will be chaotic for a while until a new front line starts to emerge.”


https://www-moscowtimes-ru.translate.goog/2022/09/11/polnii-krah-putin-otmenil-soveschanie-s-generalami-posle-krupneishego-porazheniya-armii-s-nachala-voini-a24146?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Said this a few times by now-An offensive can go to fast so the logistic can't keep up with the advancing army.

Said also An offensive should be so balanced that the enemy don't have time to regroup and the logistic can keep up with the army.

Markus

[ET2SN]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKT40CPjrqw

Holy crap, read between the lines. :o

Plus, I beat Jim this time. :O:

[Dargo]

Said this a few times by now-An offensive can go to fast so the logistic can't keep up with the advancing army.

Said also An offensive should be so balanced that the enemy don't have time to regroup and the logistic can keep up with the army.

MarkusI bet Ukraine know this seeing reports coming in that Russians fleeing on all fronts (because they lost their supply lines), so Ukraine only need to follow them :D

[Dargo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKT40CPjrqw

Holy crap, read between the lines. :o

Plus, I beat Jim this time. :O:Would not be the first time a Russian leader lost his position because of bad results on the fronts.

[mapuc]

I bet Ukraine know this seeing reports coming in that Russians fleeing on all fronts (because they lost their supply lines), so Ukraine only need to follow them :D

It's fully understandable in which the Ukrainian army is advancing so fast when the Russian is..fleeing.

Been thinkin and have to say it could also be the Ukrainian supply line who need to gear up a few steps.

Remember an interesting book I read about the huge logistical operation before, during and after Operation Overlord.
(If I only could remember the name of this book I read it in the beginning or in the middle of the 80's)

Markus

[Dargo]

It's fully understandable in which the Ukrainian army is advancing so fast when the Russian is..fleeing.

Been thinkin and have to say it could also be the Ukrainian supply line who need to gear up a few steps.

Remember an interesting book I read about the huge logistical operation before, during and after Operation Overlord.
(If I only could remember the name of this book I read it in the beginning or in the middle of the 80's)

Marku****ler had the same problems in France that why he paused the offensive that did not prevent France capitulation. A counter-offensive liberates territory and after that you have to control it and be ready to defend it, another problem for Ukraine. The Ukrainian blitzkrieg rolling like a snowball down a hill is the biggest setback so far for Russia since the invasion the +10k Russian reinforcement did not arrive to safe Kharkiv oblast and the Donetsk oblast is in danger to go also let Putin explain that first to his people before he continues this disaster. Kremlin has 'stopped' their fake referendums on 'annexing' occupied territories to Russia. They were 'postponed indefinitely.' Actually, the postponement will be for good, we will see more of this in coming days/weeks. Putin should not underestimate how quickly bad news, panic, and rumors can cascade along the front

[Dargo]

Russia is retaliating against its military defeat by hitting Ukraine's critical civilian infrastructure, leaving millions of civilians without electricity and water supply. People in Russian channels are cheering and celebrating Russia's ability to commit war crimes with impunity https://twitter.com/StateOfUkraine/status/1569024026529435648

[mapuc]

You mention something important-Keep the failure away from the Russian people-Can he do that ?

I say no.

Markus

[mapuc]

Russia is retaliating against its military defeat by hitting Ukraine's critical civilian infrastructure, leaving millions of civilians without electricity and water supply. People in Russian channels are cheering and celebrating Russia's ability to commit war crimes with impunity https://twitter.com/StateOfUkraine/status/1569024026529435648

I can somehow understand those of my friends who is supporting Russia and disbelief what is said in the main news...

I have difficult to understand them when Russia commit war crimes.

Markus

[Dargo]

You mention something important-Keep the failure away from the Russian people-Can he do that ?

I say no.

Markuscorrect the news of this failure came out of Russia’s pro war Russians, this will cascade into Russian society.

[Jimbuna]

Ukraine's military says its forces have retaken over 3,000 sq km (1,158 sq miles) during a rapid counter-offensive in eastern Ukraine.

The remarkable advance, if confirmed, means Kyiv's forces have tripled their stated gains in little over 48 hours.

On Thursday evening, President Zelensky put the figure at 1,000 sq km, and then 2,000 sq km on Saturday evening.

The BBC cannot verify the Ukrainian figures, and journalists have been denied access to the frontlines.

On Saturday, the eastern counter-attack saw Ukrainian troops enter the vital Russian-held supply towns of Izyum and Kupiansk.

But UK defence officials have warned that fighting has continued outside those towns. And officials in Kyiv said Ukrainian forces were still fighting to gain control of a number of settlements around Izyum.

Russia's defence ministry confirmed its forces' retreat from Izyum itself and Kupiansk, which it said would allow them"to regroup" in territory held by Moscow-backed separatists.

The Russian ministry also confirmed the withdrawal of troops from a third key town, Balaklyia, in order to "bolster efforts" on the Donetsk front. Ukrainian forces entered the town on Friday.

The pace of the counter-attack has caught the Russians off guard, and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov - a staunch supporter of President Vladimir Putin - appeared to question Moscow's military strategy.

In a message posted to Telegram, Mr Kadyrov said if there was not a change in Russia's fortunes, he would be forced to question the country's leadership to explain the situation.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62867560

[Jimbuna]

Backup power line was restored at ZNPP - IAEA

Specialists restored the backup power line to the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which makes it possible to provide it with external electricity.

"A backup power line to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine has been restored, providing the plant with external electricity necessary for reactor cooling and other safety functions," the agency said.

We will remind you that tonight the ZNPP staff turned off the only working power unit No. 6. It is transferred to a cold state.

Energoatom explained that for the past three days, the 6th power unit was operating in an island mode and provided only its own needs, as all the station's communication lines with the Ukrainian power system were damaged due to Russian shelling. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3366447

[Dargo]

Russia has just spent 11 extremely expensive missiles (worth several million dollars apiece) so that some of Ukraine’s regions went blackout for an hour or so. There have been five Kh-101 missiles, each costs nearly $13 million. Besides, 9 out of total 11 missiles have been intercepted. https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1569037830684286976

Russia's attack on Ukrainian electricity infrastructure today, leaving millions of people without power, is a demonstration of both cruelty and impotence. They are taking revenge for a military defeat on Ukraine's civilians - just as they did in Bucha, Irpin and Hostomel. https://twitter.com/MaxRTucker/status/1569036809086144514

[mapuc]

Belarusian fighters from the Terror Battalion reported about the takeover of the strategically important point in the Kherson region. I am proud that Belarusians are helping Ukraine become free. Our people support Ukrainians in every way possible. We all wish for victory

https://twitter.com/HannaLiubakova/status/1568994702786961409

Edit
Ukrainian farmers make their comeback, towing a captured Russian tank in Kharkiv Oblast.

https://twitter.com/Blue_Sauron/status/1569004688938352640
End edit

Markus

[MaDef]

It's fully understandable in which the Ukrainian army is advancing so fast when the Russian is..fleeing.

Been thinkin and have to say it could also be the Ukrainian supply line who need to gear up a few steps.

Remember an interesting book I read about the huge logistical operation before, during and after Operation Overlord.
(If I only could remember the name of this book I read it in the beginning or in the middle of the 80's)

Markus
Are you talking about the Red Ball Express?

[Rockstar]

Special Kherson Cat is publishing reports DNR conscripts may be abandoning forward positions in Kherson region.

[Jimbuna]

The Russian Army Is Losing A Battalion Every Day As Ukrainian Counterattacks Accelerate

The Russian army is losing at least a battalion’s worth of vehicles and men a day as twin Ukrainian counteroffensives roll back Russian territorial gains in eastern and southern Ukraine. That’s hundreds of casualties and scores of vehicle write-offs every day.

These losses are catastrophic for Russia. The Russian army barely was sustaining a little over 100 under-strength battalions in Ukraine before Kyiv’s forces counterattacked in the south on Aug. 30 and in the east eight days later.

In just under two weeks of brutal fighting, the Ukrainians have destroyed, badly damaged or captured 1,200 Russian tanks, fighting vehicles, trucks, helicopters, warplanes and drones, according to the Ukrainian general staff. Independent analysts scouring social media for photos and videos have confirmed nearly 400 of the Russian losses.

Around 5,500 Russian troops have died in Ukraine since Aug. 29, according to Ukrainian officials. It’s possible the Ukrainians are overstating the death toll, but it’s worth noting that recent U.S. estimates of Russian losses have been only slightly lower than Ukrainian estimates.

To put these numbers into perspective, Russian losses in Ukraine have swelled by a tenth in around 10 days—in a war that’s 200 days old. The rate of Russian casualties and vehicle write-offs doubled then tripled as the Ukrainians launched their counterattacks.

Worse for the Russians, in their faltering defense of the south—and total rout in the east—they’ve failed to inflict heavy losses on the attacking Ukrainian brigades. Rough estimates have the Ukrainians losing one-tenth as many troops and vehicles since Aug. 30.

Worse still, captures account for half the Russian vehicle losses. The Ukrainian army in just the last week and a half has seized enough Russian tanks, fighting vehicles and artillery to equip an entire brigade. In other words, the Ukrainian army actually has more vehicles now than it did before launching its counteroffensives.

The Ukrainians meanwhile have taken so many Russian prisoners of war—potentially thousands—that they’re struggling to accommodate them. “We have nowhere to keep all the POWs,” Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, said Friday.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/the-russian-army-is-losing-a-battalion-every-day-as-ukrainian-counterattacks-accelerate/ar-AA11IaQj?ocid=mailsignout&li=AAnZ9Ug

[Jimbuna]

Russians 'outnumbered 8-1' in counter-attack

Ukrainian forces outnumbered Russians by eight to one in last week's counter-attack in the Kharkiv region, Russia's top occupation official there says.

Vitaly Ganchev told Russian TV that Ukraine's army had taken villages in the north and broken through to the Russian border.

Ukraine says it has regained control over 3,000 sq km of (1,158 sq miles) of territory in a potential breakthrough in the six-month war.

The BBC cannot verify these figures.

The Ukrainian army says it took back 20 villages in the past 24 hours alone, in its continued counter-offensive in the north-east of the country.

UK defence officials say the Ukrainian army's successes will have "significant implications" for Russia's overall operational design.

A Kremlin spokesperson was however undeterred, saying operations in Ukraine would continue "until all the tasks that were initially set" had been fulfilled.

Russia said its forces were carrying out strikes in those areas that Ukraine had retaken recently.

This included targets in Izyum and Kupiansk which were taken by Ukraine on Saturday. Russia confirmed its forces' retreat from both towns, which it said would allow them to "regroup".

Russia has been accused of targeting civilian infrastructure in revenge for setbacks on the battlefield.

Moscow struck back on Sunday with a wave of missile strikes across Ukraine, causing power cuts.

The blackouts reportedly affected millions of people in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. The Kharkiv city mayor says power is now restored.

Ihor Terekhov called it a vile and cynical attempt at revenge for the Ukrainian army's recent successes.

Ukraine's Defence Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, said the priority now was to secure the territorial gains made in a week of rapid advances in the Kharkiv region.

The Russian army appears to have abandoned large quantities of equipment and ammunition as it withdrew from areas it had held since the first weeks of the war.

A Russian battle-tank maker has switched to "round-the-clock" production after these setbacks, according to reports.

Workers at Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil, Russia's largest armoured vehicle manufacturer, have reportedly not been allowed to go on vacation due to the "production necessity".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62874557

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsllPGXc2uE

[Jimbuna]

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

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saXpx59HipY

[Commander Wallace]

^ Thanks for posting the updates and various video's, Jim. Very informative and very welcome. :yep:

[Jimbuna]

No problem my friend :salute:

[mapuc]

Are you talking about the Red Ball Express?

A bell rang inside my head when I read those words..

The book which was a Swedish book had the end title(I think) ....Seger=Victory

So I made a search and found a book called The Road to Victory
Except this if from 2000/2001 And I am pretty sure I read this book some decades earlier.

The build up of this huge machinery started already in 1942/3.

I don't think people knew how huge and complex it was.

Back to discuss War in Ukraine.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Putin uses every cubic meter of gas to divide Europe, - Austrian President van der Bellen

Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen supported tough sanctions against Russia and called for getting rid of dependence on Russian gas as soon as possible

This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to Twitter of the President of Austria.

He emphasized that Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine "concerns all of us."

"Putin uses every cubic meter of gas to split Europe. We must get out of the self-inflicted dependence. By investing in renewable energy sources, we save energy," the Austrian president wrote.

He also urged not to "get involved in an agreement with the Russian regime." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3366644

[Jimbuna]

Putin knows about retreat of Russian troops in Ukraine, - Peskov

The military command of the Russian Federation informs the Russian dictator Putin about the "regrouping of Russian troops" in Ukraine.

This was stated by Putin's press secretary Dmytrii Peskov on Mayak radio, Censor.NET informs.

"Of course, everything that happens, any actions taken by the military during the "special operation" are reported to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The President (Putin. - Ed.) is in constant, one might say round-the-clock communication with the Minister of Defense, and with all military commanders. Of course, it cannot be otherwise during the implementation of a "special military operation," said the Kremlin spokesman.

According to Peskov, the so-called "special operation" continues and will continue "until the goals that were originally set are achieved." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3366632

[Dargo]

Russian command has suspended sending new units to Ukraine - Ukraine General Staff https://twitter.com/IuliiaMendel/status/1569366773236908033

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4cv7uEN_VU

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IQqA-O-sx0

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qein5xnieSU

[Dargo]

U.S. official list of military aid to Ukraine as of September 8:

Over 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft systems;
Over 8,500 Javelin anti-armor systems;
Over 32,000 other anti-armor systems;
Over 700 Switchblade Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems;
126 155mm Howitzers and up to 807,000 155mm artillery rounds;
20 105mm Howitzers and 144,000 105mm artillery rounds;
126 Tactical Vehicles to tow 155mm Howitzers;
22 Tactical Vehicles to recover equipment;
16 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and ammunition;
20 120mm mortar systems and 85,000 rounds of 120mm mortar rounds;
1,500 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
Four Command Post vehicles;
Eight National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and munitions;
High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs);
20 Mi-17 helicopters;
Hundreds of Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles;
200 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers;
40 MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles with mine rollers;
Mine clearing equipment and systems;
Over 10,000 grenade launchers and small arms;
Over 60,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition;
Over 75,000 sets of body armor and helmets;
Approximately 700 Phoenix Ghost Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems;
Laser-guided rocket systems;
Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems;
15 Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial Systems;
Unmanned Coastal Defense Vessels;
Up to 50 counter-artillery radars;
Four counter-mortar radars;
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems;
Four air surveillance radars;
Two harpoon coastal defense systems;
18 coastal and riverine patrol boats;
M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel munitions;
C-4 explosives, demolition munitions, and demolition equipment for obstacle clearing;
Tactical secure communications systems;
Thousands of night vision devices, thermal imagery systems, optics, and laser rangefinders;
Commercial satellite imagery services;
Explosive ordnance disposal protective gear;
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment;
100 armored medical treatment vehicles;
Medical supplies to include first aid kits, bandages, monitors, and other equipment;
Electronic jamming equipment;
Field equipment and spare parts;
Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment.

https://www.state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-ukraine/

[Jimbuna]

AFU destroyed Russian equipment worth $700 million in week of fighting in September - Forbes

News Censor.NET War in Ukraine

During September 6-11, the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 670 million dollars worth of enemy equipment, much of which was destroyed during the counterattack in Kharkiv region.

According to Censor.NЕТ, a corresponding assessment is given by Ukrainian Forbes in view of the data provided by the General Staff.

Thus, according to the General Staff, 2,850 occupiers and 590 pieces of equipment were destroyed during this period. A significant part of the equipment was destroyed during the counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, but it is difficult to establish exactly which.

Enemy losses were 86 tanks and 158 armored fighting vehicles, 106 artillery systems, 159 vehicles and 46 units of other equipment. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3366688

[mapuc]

^^
Day 201 of my 3 day war. My army is being destroyed by western weapons so to prevent this I have gifted Ukraine loads of brand new Russian gear, which is ****.

I remain a master strategist.

https://twitter.com/DarthPutinKGB/status/1569236849268518914

Markus