Here we go again-Ukraine once again [Archive] - Page 35

Jimbuna

11-30-22, 09:36 AM

Putin intensifies repression against Russians against background of lack of victories at front, - British intelligence

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is strengthening the repressive powers of the state to further suppress dissent.

This is stated in the intelligence report of Great Britain, Censor.NET reports.

They recalled that in July, Putin approved amendments to the "law on foreign agents" of 2012, which is widely used to repress opponents of the regime - the new measures should come into force on December 1.

The 2012 law defined "foreign agents" as individuals or organizations that received financial support from abroad. The amendments would expand the definition of those who are simply under unspecified "influence or pressure from foreign players".

The Russian Ministry of Justice will now have the right to publish the personal details and addresses of "foreign agents", almost certainly putting them at risk of prosecution.

The new amendments to the law will further expand the repressive powers of the Kremlin. A similar trend has persisted since Putin's return to office in 2012, but it accelerated sharply after February 24.

The Kremlin is likely trying to prevent domestic dissent from escalating as the conflict remains unresolved and increasingly affects the daily lives of Russians, the report concluded. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383942

PO commented on von der Leyen’s statement about Ukraine’s losses in war: This is sensitive information, official data will be made public "when the right moment comes"

The President’s Office commented on the statement of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who previously stated that Ukraine lost about 100,000 soldiers and 20,000 civilians in the war with Russia.

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

Presidential spokesman Serhii Nykyforov noted that only the Commander-in-Chief, the Minister of Defense, or the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine should provide reliable information about losses.

He added that President Zelenskyi will make public the official data "when the right moment comes" because this is sensitive information.

A video fragment of the speech was published on the official page of the EC chapter on Twitter. However, this fragment was later deleted, and a new video was uploaded to the page without data on the number of military and civilian casualties.

The public asked the European Commission to comment on the announced data.

Also remind, that earlier the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that Ukraine has already lost more than 100,000 defenders. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383947

Jimbuna

11-30-22, 09:49 AM

Russia will capitally develop nuclear forces, - Shoigu

Russian Defense Minister Serhiy Shoigu said that his department will capitally build up the nuclear forces of the Russian Federation in 2023.

Shoigu's words are quoted by the Russian mass media, Censor.NET reports.

"Next year, we will pay special attention to capital development in the interests of nuclear forces," he said.

Shoigu also added that the armed forces of the Russian Federation are testing new methods of using missile forces and artillery on the territory of Ukraine.

According to him, this primarily concerns the use of "reconnaissance and strike fire systems, which include unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as modern and promising weapons."

The Russian Minister of Defense noted that taking into account the experience of the war in Ukraine, "counter-battery combat is being improved as one of the main tasks of destroying the enemy by fire."

According to Shoigu, the Tornado-S long-range jet artillery systems and the high-power Malka artillery systems are involved in its implementation - they allegedly effectively hit "foreign jet and artillery systems."

The head of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also proposed to use "promising weapons" in the war in Ukraine. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383963

General Staff on losses of AFU: Figures are closed

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine cannot announce the losses of the Ukrainian army in a full-scale war against Russia. At the same time, he emphasizes the irreversibility of punishment for the aggressor country for the death and injury of Ukrainian citizens.

Bohdan Senyk, head of the Public Relations Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated this in a comment to the UP, Censor.NET reports.

When asked to comment on the assessment of Ukraine's losses in the war against the Russian Federation (100,000 soldiers), voiced by the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the General Staff reminded that military losses are classified information.

"We cannot confirm this figure, we emphasize that the losses of the Ukrainian army are official information and are subject to restrictions on publication. At the same time, if what the head of the European Commission announced will allow us to bring the aggressor country to justice, we can only support actions that will contribute to legal punishment for those who organized the genocide of the Ukrainian people.

It is necessary to do everything so that all those responsible for the loss of civilian and military citizens of Ukraine end up on the dock," he said.

Also remind, earlier on November 30, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that more than 100,000 Ukrainian servicemen and 20,000 civilians died in the war with the Russian Federation.

The President's Office commented that this information is sensitive, and official data will be released when the right moment comes.

After that, the European Commission clarified that von der Leyen's statement referred to both the dead and wounded defenders of Ukraine and civilians. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383965

Jimbuna

11-30-22, 10:29 AM

Preliminary condition for consideration of Ukraine’s membership in NATO is its victory over Russia, - Stoltenberg

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg believes it is crucial to ensure Ukraine’s victory.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"Whatever you think about when Ukraine can become a member of (NATO. - Ed.), the precondition for this issue to be on the table at all is for Ukraine to win. And we are helping to make it happen at this moment . The allies made it clear during the meeting that they are ready to maintain support with advanced military equipment, ammunition, fuel, everything that Ukrainians need for self-defense. This is the immediate most important task for the allies," Stoltenberg said.

The Secretary General of the Alliance emphasized that for the victory of Ukraine, allies should mobilize as much as possible regarding military, economic, financial, and humanitarian support for Ukraine.

"This is exactly what we are doing. If Ukraine does not win as an independent, sovereign state, then, of course, the membership issue will not be on the table at all, because we will no longer have a candidate for membership in the person of Ukraine," he added.

Stoltenberg noted that now it is important to move step by step, and the most important and urgent action is to ensure Ukraine's victory.

"We need to develop a closer political and practical partnership with Ukraine. This will strengthen their institutions, help them move from Soviet equipment standards to NATO's modern equipment doctrines. This is good for Ukraine to strengthen mutual interoperability. And it will also help Ukraine get closer to membership", concluded the NATO Secretary General. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383993

Catfish

11-30-22, 01:44 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/vHKkp7qr/soCsrLll.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Jimbuna

11-30-22, 02:20 PM

Over trillion dollars needed to restore Ukraine, - Zelenskyi

More than a trillion dollars are needed to restore Ukraine. Dozens of partner countries will be involved in the work.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said this during the presentation of Odesa's application to host Expo 2030, Censor.NET reports.

According to him, a particular patronage system will be created that will enable advanced countries and companies to help restore Ukrainian regions, cities, industries, and enterprises.

"To not just restore them, but to show that the free world and honest states are always stronger than any tyranny and aggression," Zelensky emphasized.

France, Great Britain, Germany, the United States, Japan, Canada, and 16 other countries have already expressed their interest in sponsorship. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384020

Ukraine needs multipurpose fighters, - Ignat

Ukraine needs, first of all, multipurpose fighters. Even if the partners hand over the MiG-29, it will not solve the problems that Ukrainian aviation is facing today.

Colonel Yuriy Ignat, the spokesman of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told about this on the air of the telethon, Censor.NET informs with reference to Armyinform.

"We understand that the enemy is numerically and technologically superior to us. He has multi-purpose aircraft that are ready to perform many tasks on the battlefield, are capable of hitting air and ground targets, and have a wide range of weapons. Unfortunately, we have outdated weapons and airplanes. It was possible to adapt something to American weapons, such as HARM missiles. But this is not enough," Ignat said.

Multi-role aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16 are needed to respond to the current threats to Ukraine. The enemy does not hide further plans to destroy civilian and critical infrastructure. To repel this threat, long-range weapons, both missiles and those that can operate from multi-purpose aircraft, are needed.

"Therefore, it is necessary to seek the adoption of a political decision on transferring these aircraft to Ukraine. After all, they are capable of shooting down cruise missiles in flight, as well as striking ground targets, thus reaching the enemy far in the rear," said the spokesman of the Air Force.

Ignat said that the pilots who are ready to go for training to fly foreign planes have already been identified. However, to send them, it is necessary to decide on the type of aircraft that will be used by the PS.

"When it is clear where and to what type of aircraft our pilots need to be redirected, they will go to training. In addition, it is necessary to train military engineers who will maintain the equipment and the airfield infrastructure, that is, adapt it to Western models of equipment," the spokesman said of the Air Force.

Ignat also noted that according to the perspective model of the Air Force, by 2035, Ukraine plans to have at least five brigades of fighter aircraft, several units of unmanned aircraft armed with modern UAVs, particularly those that can be built in Ukraine. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384009

August

11-30-22, 07:05 PM

I really like this guys videos.

Well presented and informative.

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

Reece

12-01-22, 12:14 AM

Great video Dave, makes you think!! :hmmm:
To summarize my thoughts/feelings: Three cheers for Poland! :Kaleun_Applaud:

Jimbuna

12-01-22, 07:07 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey2R5gJ2OT0

Jimbuna

12-01-22, 07:27 AM

Is attacking Ukraine's power grid a war crime?

By Ben Tobias
BBC News

Russia's frequent and widespread attacks on Ukraine's power infrastructure have plunged millions of people into darkness, depriving them of heat, power and water just as winter arrives and temperatures drop below zero.

Many Ukrainian and Western leaders quickly condemned the strikes as war crimes because of the harm done to the civilian population. But attacks on energy grids have long been part of warfare - so is Russia's strategy a violation of international law?

With certain limitations, parts of a country's electrical grid can be considered legitimate targets if they are used to power military facilities.

This is true even if the targets have a civilian as well as a military purpose, so long as destroying the object would "offer a definite military advantage".

Iraq's energy infrastructure was attacked by US forces in 1991 - a strategy that has been heavily criticised. Nato forces also targeted the power grid in Serbia in 1999. In both cases, the civilian population was affected by the resulting power outages.

In fact, there may be times when neutralising a military facility by taking out its power supply is preferable to hitting the facility directly with missiles or artillery.

"Would I rather deprive part of the civilian population of electricity for a limited period, rather than risk killing civilians because of the collateral effects of using kinetic weapons? Yeah, I would think so," Michael Schmitt - professor emeritus at the US Naval War College - told the BBC.

Russia denies intentionally targeting civilians, and has sought to justify its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure as strikes against the "military command system of Ukraine and related energy facilities", according to a defence ministry statement on 18 November.

However, even when an object is a legitimate military target, there are still limits on when and how it can be attacked.

"The state has an obligation under international humanitarian law (IHL) to choose a target or a tactic that will cause less damage to civilians. Less death and less injury, but still fulfilling the military advantage," Dr Maria Varaki from King's College War Studies department told the BBC.

Civilian deaths and injury caused by attacks on military targets are not necessarily violations of international law. But the principle of proportionality must be applied, which says that the harm to civilians should not be excessive in relation to the military advantage gained. Parties must also take "constant care" to spare the civilian population and civilian property.

In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said after strikes on cities in November that 10 million people had been left without electricity and that half of the country's power capacity had been knocked out. Six million were still without power by Thursday night, he added.

At a certain point, says Prof Schmitt, "the civilian harm is so severe that you just can't pull the trigger".

The sort of advantage gained by an attack is also a factor when considering whether it is a violation of IHL.

"Demoralising people, terrorising people, is not considered to be an acceptable military advantage," Dr Varaki explains. In fact, she says, the opposite is true: "Terrorising the civilian population is considered to be a war crime."

As well as Russia's insistence that it is targeting only military objects, the Kremlin has hinted that there is another reason for the strikes - persuading Kyiv to talk.

"The unwillingness of the Ukrainian side to settle the problem, to start negotiations, its refusal to seek common ground - this is their consequence," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

An attacking force may hope that destroying the civilian power grid will lower the morale of the enemy, but that is not enough to justify the attack under international law. There must also be a concrete military advantage before the attack is deemed legal.

The sheer scope and scale of Russia's attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure make it unlikely that they can all be justified in that way, says Prof Schmitt.

"We're at a point now where they're hitting so many targets that I can't imagine they're picking power infrastructure that qualifies as a military objective in every case."

As a former US Air Force targeting officer, Prof Schmitt also doubts that Russia is fully validating every object it attacks - another requirement of IHL.

"You just can't conduct operations of that intensity and that frequency across an entire nation and have done your required verification of targets," he explains.

With that in mind, Prof Schmitt believes it is now "pretty clear" that Russia's main motivation, at least in some attacks, is to "terrorise the civilian population".

Whatever Russia's exact reason for targeting the power grid, Dr Varaki says it has not previously shown a commitment to minimising civilian harm.

"You can identify a general pattern that the Russian army has not been fully concerned by civilian deaths," she argues.

By 28 November, Russia had hit more than 200 separate targets relating to Ukraine's energy infrastructure, according to the defence minister. Millions were without power, and electricity usage was restricted in over a dozen regions.

But despite that, Prof Schmitt says that if Russia hopes to demoralise the population, the tactic is unlikely to work.

"Historically there is no reason to believe the Ukrainian morale will break... [Putin] is hardening the resolve against Russia to stay the fight. This is a strategic miscalculation."

So has Russia violated international law? Any future legal process would have to first consider if the huge number of targets could all be considered legitimate military objects.

Even if they are, the harm done to the civilian population in attacking them should not be excessive in relation to the concrete advantage gained. And that advantage must be military in nature - terrorising the population is not a legitimate reason to launch an attack.

Russia and Ukraine are both parties to Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions, where many of these rules are defined. It remains to be seen whether Russia will ever have to explain how its actions comply with those rules.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63754808

Jimbuna

12-01-22, 07:54 AM

Russian Federation has never asked for negotiations with Ukraine, - Lavrov

Russia has never asked for negotiations on the situation in Ukraine, but has declared its readiness to listen to those who show interest in a negotiated solution.

This was said by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Serhii Lavrov, Censor.NET reports with reference to Interfax.

"When we are accused of constantly asking for some kind of negotiations to buy time to, so to speak, gather additional forces for a special military operation, well, it's both funny and unpleasant, because people are lying, lying outright ", said the Russian minister.

Lavrov said that "we never asked for any negotiations, but we always said that if someone is interested in a negotiated solution, we are ready to listen."

"And this is confirmed by the example I gave now when in March the Ukrainians asked to listen to them. We not only listened to them, but we were also ready to agree with them on the principles that they put forward themselves," said the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384199

Russian Federation plans to hold positions in east and land corridor to occupied Crimea, - General Staff

For the Russian Federation, maintaining its positions in the east of Ukraine and the land corridor to the temporarily occupied Crimea remains a priority.

This was reported by the Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Brigadier General Oleksii Hromov, Censor.NET reports with reference to Ukrinform.

"The priority of the Russian Federation remains maintaining positions in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the land corridor to the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea," he said.

According to Hromov, Russia is concentrating its efforts on conducting offensive actions in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka areas, and in the Kupiansk, Lyman, Novopavlivka, and Orihiv areas, it is conducting active defense on captured lines.

The representative of the General Staff noted that during the week the invaders carried out offensive actions in the Kharkiv and Kupyan directions, but they did not succeed. The enemy also carried out several pretended missile and air strikes on the objects of the civil infrastructure of Ukraine.

Gromov emphasized the artillery and missile attacks on the populated areas of Ukraine from the territory of the Russian Federation. At the same time, according to him, armed provocations regarding violation of the state border are not excluded.

"We expect that the enemy will continue to maintain a military presence in the border areas to prevent the transfer of our troops to dangerous areas in the areas of active hostilities," said the representative of the General Staff. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384218

Jimbuna

12-01-22, 08:08 AM

Supporting Ukraine has high price for West, but we pay with money, and Ukrainians pay with blood, - Stoltenberg

The best way to ensure long-term peace and security in Europe and the world in general is to strengthen the collective efforts of the West to support Ukraine in its resistance to Russian aggression.

This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Censor.NET reports with reference to Ukrinform.

"President Putin's war of aggression has shattered the peace in Europe and caused lasting shock waves for global security.
I arrived after the meeting of our foreign ministers (NATO member countries. - Ed.) in Bucharest, where we pledged to continue strong support for Ukraine. There was a clear and strong signal from all allies that we will continue to help Ukraine and strengthen our defenses in this more dangerous and competitive world," he said.

At the same time, according to Stoltenberg, supporting Ukraine has a high price for the West. Many countries, including Germany, are going through tough times, with the cost of daily living rising, and food and energy prices rising.

"But the price we pay is only money. The price Ukrainians pay is blood. If authoritarian regimes see that the use of force is getting the results they want, we will all be forced to pay a much higher price, and the world will become a more dangerous place for everyone. If the aggressor wins, if persecution and autocracy prevail over freedom and democracy, any lasting peace will be impossible. Therefore, the best way to ensure lasting peace is to support Ukraine," the NATO Secretary General added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384212

British investor trying to sue Kyiv for $100 million is actually a Russian citizen

Tamaz Somkhishvili, a British investor in Ukraine and the beneficial owner of the Ukrainian company Kyiv-Terminal LLC, which is trying to sue Kyiv for $100 million, is in fact a Russian citizen.

The Kyiv City State Administration received the corresponding letter from the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

The document with reference to the data of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine informs that Tamaz Somkhishvili is a citizen of the Russian Federation. Ruslan Pavlov, the chief specialist of the department of legal support of the Department of Economics and Investment of the Kyiv City State Administration at a meeting of the Northern Economic Court of Appeal revealed this fact.

"The executive body has received a letter from the Department of Justice, which cites the following data from the Defense Intelligence Directorate General. According to the results of the inspection of Kyiv Terminal, it is found that the ultimate beneficiary of the company is a citizen of Russia. Relevant materials were sent to the court via the electronic system in order to attach them to the case, "Ukrainian News" quoted him as saying.

Due to this new data, the trial was postponed to December 20, 2022.

In 2007, the little-known company of Kyiv Terminal, whose beneficiary is Russian-Georgian businessman Tamaz Somkhishvili, won the tender for reconstruction of Kyiv's Kharkiv Square. Officials and human rights activists are convinced that the company originally did not plan to carry out construction work. According to the former Deputy Chief Architect of Kyiv, Victor Gleba, even the construction project of a transport interchange was not developed and approved, and the investment agreement was terminated due to violation of the law, forged signatures and false information. In 2013, the investment agreement was terminated with the consent of both parties.

However, at the end of 2018, when the limitation period for appealing this decision had long expired, Kyiv Terminal went to court with a claim against Kyiv authorities in the amount of $100 million. The judge of the first instance partially satisfied the claim. Meanwhile, the case is on appeal.

Tamaz Somkhishvili himself threatened to initiate arbitration proceedings against Ukraine if ‘it is not possible to reach an amicable settlement of the dispute,’ referring to the government agreement between Ukraine and Great Britain on promotion and mutual protection of investments. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384231

August

12-01-22, 09:33 AM

Great video Dave, makes you think!! :hmmm:
To summarize my thoughts/feelings: Three cheers for Poland! :Kaleun_Applaud:

Thanks I really like this guys videos. :salute:

Jimbuna

12-01-22, 09:50 AM

Negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to EU may begin soon, - German Minister for Europe and Climate Luhrmann

Ukraine has made great progress in carrying out the reforms necessary for joining the European Union, so negotiations on this issue can begin in the near future.

As reported by Censor.NET with reference to Suspilne, this was stated by the Minister of State for Climate and Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Anna Luhrmann.

"The prospects for Ukraine's accession are gaining momentum. It is quite possible that negotiations will begin soon. The pace will depend, first of all, on Ukraine's readiness for reforms," Luhrman explained.

She noted that during her visit to Kyiv, she was impressed by the progress that had been achieved, so now it is important that Ukraine preserve "this reforming momentum."

In the context of the visit to the Ukrainian capital, the minister also mentioned that it is very difficult for people there without heating and electricity, and Germany, in particular in cooperation with France, should organize winter aid for Ukraine.

Luhrmann added that the EU should supply Ukraine with more weapons in order to make Ukraine's defense performance "even better." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384251

G7 ambassadors call for resumption of work of Supreme Council of Justice

The G7 ambassadors publicly issued a statement about the criticality of the launch of the High Council of Justice.

This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to the official Twitter account of the G7 ambassadors.

"We expect that in January the Congress of Judges will appoint 8 new members of the High Council of Justice. This will restore the work of the Supreme Council of Justice, strengthen Ukraine's stability during the war and fulfill a key condition for Ukraine's path to the EU," the message says.

It will be recalled that Vitaly Shabunin, the head of the Communist Party of Ukraine, expressed his fear that the delegates of the congress of judges plan to fail the election of their representatives to the Supreme Council of Justice (HCJ). He noted that congress delegates will try to fail to elect their representatives to the VRP in sufficient numbers. And those who are elected will be representatives of the judicial mafia. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384255

Jimbuna

12-01-22, 10:45 AM

Ukraine is ready to accept German Patriot systems offered to Poland, - Kuleba

Ukraine supports the idea of deploying Patriot anti-aircraft missile complexes on its territory, which Germany promised to Poland.

This was announced by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, Censor.NET reports with reference to Ukrinform.

"We support the idea that Germany should transfer the Patriot system, which it is ready to provide to Poland, to Ukraine," Kuleba said.

According to him, yesterday, during the NATO ministerial meeting, and today in Lodz, he spoke with everyone who can positively influence the decision to transfer the first Patriot air defense system to Ukraine.

"But the key decision has to be made by Germany. If Germany makes a positive decision, we will build a structure by which this decision will be implemented," the Foreign Minister emphasized.

It will be recalled that earlier Poland asked Germany to transfer Patriot systems to Ukraine, which were previously offered to Warsaw.

The President of Poland Duda also stated that it is better to place German Patriot air defense systems in Ukraine.

At the same time, Polish Defense Minister Blaszczak insisted on transferring the Patriot to Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense of Poland said that the Armed Forces can quickly learn to work with Patriot.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also called on Germany to transfer Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine to help protect at least part of Ukrainian skies. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384282

28 allies demand in writing from Hungary to resume work of Ukraine-NATO Commission, - Stefanishyna

28 NATO allies demand in writing from Hungary to resume the work of the Ukraine-NATO Commission at the highest level.

This was stated by the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna, Censor.NET informs with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"Today, out of 30 allies, 28 demand in writing from Hungary to renew the work of the Commission. This is the official position recorded by the allies. There are several tools of political pressure, and they will be used by all," Stefanishyna said.

According to her, before the start of the war, this discussion consisted of bilateral relations between Ukraine and Hungary.

"Today it is obvious that such a position of Hungary cannot withstand any criticism, and it is completely incompatible with the challenges and issues that need to be discussed. Because the meetings of the Commission at the level of presidents or at least ministers are vital. It is not just about holding regular political meetings, this is a vital necessity - to hold official meetings, form official decisions and, accordingly, plan further defense, political support, and membership issues," the vice-prime minister stressed.

We remind you that since 2017, Hungary has been blocking meetings of the Ukraine-NATO Commission above the level of ambassadors. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384277

Jimbuna

12-01-22, 01:26 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55ta0dS7OUo

Jimbuna

12-01-22, 01:54 PM

Frozen assets of Russian Federation should be directed to reconstruction of Ukraine, - Borrell

The European Union will consider options for the transfer of frozen and confiscated assets of the Russian Federation for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Censor.NET reports.

"We have seized almost 20 billion euros from oligarchs and people who support Russia. In addition, we control about 300 billion euros of financial resources of the Central Bank of Russia. These funds should be directed to the reconstruction of Ukraine. So, I will meet with my colleagues, the foreign ministers affairs - today with far more ministers than those of the European Union. We will explore all legal options to make sure that Russia pays for the destruction it is causing to Ukraine.

These reserves are blocked, but there is a big difference between blocking and confiscation. There are legal procedures that need to be studied, but our proposal is on the table," he said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384296

All NATO countries support Ukraine’s membership in Alliance, - Stefanishyna

All 30 NATO member countries support the need for Ukraine’s future accession to the North Atlantic Alliance.

As Censor.NET reports, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna stated this during her speech at the Kyiv Security Forum.

"We have made progress in the issue of rapprochement with NATO. At the last ministerial meeting in Bucharest, all 30 NATO member countries agreed on the need to grant Ukraine membership in the Alliance... NATO members confirmed that the door is open to Ukraine," Stefanishyna emphasized.

According to her, such a decision differs from the one adopted by the leaders of the NATO countries at the summit in Bucharest in 2008. It is a "new powerful signal" and indicates the lack of fear of Russian pressure in the Alliance. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384313

Ex-CIA director Petraeus named conditions for ending war in Ukraine

Successes of Ukraine on the battlefield, combined with the effect of economic sanctions against Russia, could lead to the end of the war.

This was said by the director of the CIA in 2011-12, General David Petraeus, during the Kyiv Security Forum, Censor.NET reports.

"Of course, this war will not end soon, unless the Russian troops are completely defeated," said the ex-head of the CIA.

"Ultimately, Ukraine will continue to liberate its territories and at a certain point, the combination of the situation on the battlefield and economic sanctions and export controls will convince the majority in Russia that this war cannot be continued," Petraeus stressed.

The general noted that then Russia will have to withdraw its troops, which has already lost more people in 9 months than in 10 years of war in Afghanistan. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384320

Dargo

12-01-22, 05:06 PM

The Russian forces began to withdraw some of their units, as well as to evacuate collaborators from the front-line settlements of the Zaporizhzia region.

-General Staff of Ukraine https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1598394248583385095

Ukraine claims some Russian units in Zaporizhzhia are withdrawing as it strikes ammunition and troop depots The Ukrainian military claims that some Russian troops are withdrawing from their positions in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia.

It also says that the Russians are preparing the evacuation of "the personnel of the occupation administrations" in the Zaporizhzhia region.

In its daily update, the military's General Staff said that Russian units had left the settlements of Mykhailivka, Polohy and Inzhenerne, all towns south of the city of Zaporizhzhia. Front lines in the region run for 200 kilometers (about 124 miles) across rolling farmland. Geolocated footage posted on Wednesday shows the aftermath of strikes on buildings in Polohy.

The General Staff said that in the settlement of Burchak, the occupation authorities are conducting a census for the so-called voluntary evacuation of the population.

The Ukrainians appear to be repeating actions they undertook in Kherson — striking bridges, supply hubs and Russian troop concentrations behind the front lines. The General Staff said that in recent days strikes about half a dozen places had wounded more than 230 Russian soldiers and destroyed ammunition and equipment.

CNN is unable to confirm the claims made by the General Staff. Analysts have suggested that the next offensive front for the Ukrainians is likely to be a thrust southwards towards the occupied city of Melitopol.

The General Staff said that elsewhere Russian forces continued to defend their positions in eastern Luhansk region using tanks, mortars and artillery to prevent further advances of Ukrainian forces.

Russian units were also shelling several settlements in recently liberated parts of Kherson region. But Brig. Gen. Oleksii Hromov claimed that last week Russian forces had accidentally fired on their own unit near the village of Tsukury in Kherson, killing 14 servicemen. CNN cannot verify the claim.

Hromov said that Russian forces had gathered in the city of Dzankhoi in Crimea, which had "actually turned into the largest military base on the territory... from where the Russian occupation troops and weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces are redeployed."

Jimbuna

12-02-22, 04:33 AM

Total combat losses of Russian Federation since beginning of war - about 90 090 people, 2916 tanks, 1905 artillery systems, 5883 armored vehicles. INFOGRAPHICS

Russian invaders who invaded the territory of Ukraine continue to suffer losses. As of the morning of December 2, enemy personnel losses amounted to approximately 90,090 people.

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

Total enemy combat losses from 24.02 to 02.12 are estimated as follows

personnel - about 90090 (+ 650) people were eliminated,

tanks - 2916 (+1) units

armored combat vehicles - 5883 (+6) units,

artillery systems - 1905 (+1) units,

MLRS - 395 (+0) units,

air defense systems - 210 (+0) units

aircraft - 280 (+0) units,

helicopters - 262 (+1) units,

UAVs of operational and tactical level - 1564 (+2),

cruise missiles - 531 (+0),

ships / boats - 16 (+0) units,

motor vehicles and tanks - 4464 (+23) units,

special equipment - 163 (+0).

"The enemy suffered the biggest losses at the Bakhmut and Lyman directions. The data is being updated," the General Staff added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384396

Jimbuna

12-02-22, 04:35 AM

Bill for Ukraine’s recovery is growing, but there is no "donor fatigue" - World Bank

The amount of funds that will be needed for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine has already exceeded $ 350 billion, as previously estimated the damage caused to the country as a result of full-scale military aggression by the Russian Federation.

This was stated by the President of the World Bank David Malpass, reports Censor.NЕТ with reference to Reuters.

He said the expected cost of rebuilding Ukraine will "rise slightly" from the roughly $350 billion estimated earlier this year, given Russia's targeting of Ukraine's power grid and other infrastructure.

At the same time, Malpass noted that he did not detect any "donor fatigue" in the international community, despite the huge costs of the war.

At the same time, there was a "giant disappointment" with Russia because of its continued aggression against Ukraine.

"It's an exhausting war, and it's very disappointing," the World Bank President said, adding that Russian officials were now pariahs when they came to international meetings. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384378

Jimbuna

12-02-22, 04:37 AM

Russian plan to capture Ukraine: escape of state leadership, Ukrainian Armed Forces betrayal and mass executions of patriots - British analysts

The British Royal United Services Institute has published a plan according to which the Russians expected to capture Ukraine within 10 days.

Analytical report published on the site of Institute, reports Censor.NЕТ.

Its authors believe that the Kremlin planned to complete the active phase of the invasion within 10 days - at that time Kyiv was to be taken. The Russians planned to fully occupy Ukraine by August 2022.

For this purpose, at the beginning of the invasion, Russia created a group in the north of Kyiv, which had an advantage of about 12:1 over the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this direction. But it still failed to realize the advantage.

The plan ignored the possibility of tough retaliatory actions by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and proved to be completely unsuitable when the Russian forces met with strong resistance.

The Russians expected that Ukrainian government officials would flee or be captured, and that the command of the Armed Forces would betray their oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people.

In particular, in the first days of the invasion, most of Ukraine's generals received personal messages from Russian military commanders urging them to surrender and assuring them that Russia allegedly "does not intend to do Ukraine any harm." Almost all senior officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces received similar messages sent from anonymous phone numbers.

The Russians planned to capture or execute people involved in the Revolution of Dignity in 2014.

They planned to subject the civilian population to a filtering process and divide them into four main categories:

irreconcilable, to be physically eliminated;

disloyal, who could be persuaded or intimidated;

neutral, who can be persuaded to cooperate;

fully loyal, ready to cooperate;

Analysts point out that the FSB conducted exercises with the involvement of airborne troops to capture or destroy the "extremely disloyal".
The "moderately disloyal" were planned to be identified through door-to-door visits and then "processed" in filtration camps with the involvement of counterintelligence. Some of the disloyal were to be deported to Russia, others were to be used to control the underground resistance. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384389

Catfish

12-02-22, 06:08 AM

^ reading this thoroughly is hard not to succumb to the urge to see Moscow burn.

Commander Wallace

12-02-22, 08:35 AM

^ reading this thoroughly is hard not to succumb to the urge to see Moscow burn.

:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

les green01

12-02-22, 10:04 AM

^ reading this thoroughly is hard not to succumb to the urge to see Moscow burn.

:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Dargo

12-02-22, 11:15 AM

^ reading this thoroughly is hard not to succumb to the urge to see Moscow burn.With an advantage of about 12:1 and then losing is Russia burning, only thing is they realize it not yet what the former leaders build up is now destroyed and nobody will help them to rebuild Russia is on its own.

Dargo

12-02-22, 12:23 PM

British Intelligence update:

Russia's withdrawal from the west bank of the Dnipro River last month has provided the Ukrainian Armed Forces with opportunities to strike additional Russian logistics nodes and lines of communication.

This threat has highly likely prompted Russian logisticians to relocate supply nodes, including rail transfer points, further south and east. Russian logistics units will need to conduct extra labour-intensive loading and unloading from rail to road transport. Road moves will subsequently still be vulnerable to Ukrainian artillery as they move on to supply Russian forward defensive positions.

Russia's shortage of munitions (exacerbated by these logistics challenges) is likely one of the main factors currently limiting Russia's potential to restart effective, large scale offensive ground operations.

https://i.postimg.cc/5Nm9B21y/Fi-r71c-Xo-AAo0-Pw.jpg

mapuc

12-02-22, 02:05 PM

This < Made me remember the clip where the head of Russian intelligence stod in front of Putin and mumbled words-He was afraid saying the truth to Putin.

Markus

Dargo

12-02-22, 02:22 PM

This < Made me remember the clip where the head of Russian intelligence stod in front of Putin and mumbled words-He was afraid saying the truth to Putin.

MarkusIn general Russians do not listen, understand or learn:
How a small town in the eastern Donbas has been resisting the Russians for six months
The Russian army has been trying to take a town for six months: Bakhmut. But despite countless attacks and the many casualties, the capture is still far away. It is yet another example of Russia's military failure in Ukraine. The battle in and around the town of Bakhmut, which once had a population of 80 thousand, is constantly mentioned in the military bulletins of Russia and Ukraine. The Russians claim they are advancing in the eastern Donbas; the Ukrainians report they are holding out. Not much more is known.

The lack of Russian ground gains, and Moscow's almost desperate focus on Bakhmut, has by now become the big news. After months of setbacks on the Ukrainian battlefield, the Kremlin yearns for a military victory. And so the Russians are willing to pay a high price for the capture of the town. How many dead and wounded the months-long siege has already cost is unclear. Some reports speak of hundreds of casualties a day on both sides. 'A relentless, protracted war of attrition,' is how the U.S. military think tank Institute for the Study of War describes the bloody campaign in Donetsk province. Footage of the battle shows Ukrainian soldiers holed up in their trenches, which have turned into mud puddles. At the military hospital in the city, Ukrainian wounded are being brought in persistently.

'These are conditions in which the concept of 'living' is no longer possible,' the Ukrainian Defense Ministry tweeted Monday, accompanying a photo of an exhausted soldier displaying his shrapnel vest with bullet holes. Occasionally, Bachmoet is world news, such as recently when Dutch photographer Eddy van Wessel poignantly immortalized a wounded elderly couple. The capture of Bakhmut, which is located on two major highways, should not only ultimately give the Russians the dreamed-of victory, but also allow them to disrupt Ukrainian supply lines and push on to the more important cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.

If successful, Moscow hopes, the conquest of all of Donetsk will come closer. The region, still half in Ukrainian hands, together with Luhansk forms the Donbas, which was annexed by Russia in September. The Russian army has been making serious efforts since May, including heavy artillery shelling, to capture Bakhmut. The attacks intensified in July, after the Russians took control of the entire Luhansk region with the capture of the cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. They set their sights on Bakhmut and nearby villages as a springboard to the conquest of all of Donetsk.

But the attacks bogged down in a war of attrition that has been going on for months now. At the same time, the Russians were also coming under military pressure from the successful Ukrainian counteroffensives at Kharkiv and Kherson. Still, Moscow did not cease its siege of Bakhmut; quite the contrary. Mercenaries of the Wagner Army, who are leading the siege of the city, intensified shelling. After losing southern Kherson last month, the Russian high command directed some of the withdrawn troops toward Bakhmut to finally allow the capture there.

For Ukraine, the battle for the town and nearby villages has now become a prestige battle. Kyiv is eager to make Bakhmut yet another example of Russia's flawed military performance. The town is defended, among other things, by the First Presidential Brigade, the National Guard soldiers tasked with guarding the security of President Volodymyr Zelensky. In recent days, Russian units made slight ground gains 12 kilometers south of Bakhmut. From the northeast, too, they are said to be slowly advancing toward the outskirts of Bakhmut. The enormous military force that Russia has been releasing for six months to take the town amazes many a military expert. For even if Bakhut falls, that is no guarantee that the Russians will soon be able to take the other towns in the Donetsk region as well. 'The offensives around Bakhmut are costing Russia a significant portion of its available combat power,' the Institute for the Study of War concludes. 'All this makes the continuation of Ukrainian counteroffensives elsewhere possible. The Russian military has essentially failed to learn the lessons of previous campaigns, which resulted in many casualties.'

Catfish

12-02-22, 03:15 PM

I heard Russia plans a major attack, it has been preparing bombers and lots of freight planes. Anyone confirm? :hmmm:

Jimbuna

12-02-22, 03:22 PM

I heard Russia plans a major attack, it has been preparing bombers and lots of freight planes. Anyone confirm? :hmmm:

Yes, that was reported yesterday I believe.

Jimbuna

12-02-22, 03:23 PM

UN Commission for Investigation of War Crimes in Ukraine was unable to establish contact with Russia

The UN’s independent international commission to investigate violations in Ukraine failed to establish contact with Russia.

This was stated at the press conference of the commission in Kyiv by one of its members, Pablo de Greif, Censor.NET reports with reference to Ukrinform.

"We have tried to establish contact with the Russian Federation several times - and to no avail. We hope that interaction will be established, but without any access to the temporarily occupied territories, gathering evidence is very difficult, and we are trying to do it with the help of interviews with victims and witnesses, so this visit included a visit to Odesa," he said.

Members of the UN commission noted that their work is also complicated by the movement of people abroad, not only within Ukraine.

As reported, on March 4, the UN Human Rights Council adopted resolution 49/1 on the "situation in the field of human rights in Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression." In accordance with this resolution, the Human Rights Council established an independent international commission to investigate Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

In October, the Commission for Investigating Violations in Ukraine presented a detailed written report to the UN General Assembly, which recorded a large number of war crimes, violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by Russian troops in Ukraine. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384530

Jimbuna

12-02-22, 03:24 PM

Kremlin is ready to withdraw troops from Zaporizhzhia NPP in exchange for guarantees of uninterrupted transit of oil and gas through territory of Ukraine, - "Meduza"

The Kremlin and the Russian government are ready for an agreement on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to "Meduza".

A source close to the Kremlin, as well as an interlocutor close to the government of the Russian Federation, claim that Russia "does not plan" to completely leave the Zaporizhzhia region. However, according to these sources, Moscow is ready to withdraw from the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which Russian troops took control of at the beginning of the full-scale war. According to the Kremlin's plan, the NPP can allegedly be handed over to either Kyiv or the IAEA.

Sources close to the Kremlin and the government of the Russian Federation say that in exchange for the withdrawal of troops from the nuclear power plant, the Russian authorities allegedly expect to receive guarantees of uninterrupted transit of oil and gas through the territory of Ukraine. Interlocutors of "Meduza" claim that the Kremlin and the government "are ready for an agreement."

"Putting and selling [oil and gas] is very important for the Russian budget," a source close to the Kremlin explained to Meduza.

Putin's spokesman Dmytro Peskov in communication with "Meduza" rejected the possibility of such an "agreement" on the Zaporizhzhya NPP.

At the same time, "Meduza" sources close to the Kremlin say that the Russian army may launch a new large-scale offensive in Ukraine this winter.

"Moscow deliberately alludes more and more to possible negotiations and agreements with Ukraine in order to buy time and have time to prepare the maximum number of mobilized Russians by this deadline," the newspaper concluded.

We will remind, earlier in Energoatom stated that there are signs that the Russians may be planning to leave the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

At the same time, Putin's spokesman Dmytro Peskov said that the Russian troops do not plan to leave the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and Enerhodar.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi believes that a decision on the safety of the ZNPP can be reached by the end of the year. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384524

Catfish

12-02-22, 03:31 PM

I'd be content to disallow any of their ambassadors into the West; barred from the Security UN council [...]
Of course. But right now lots of russians think their armies gained territorial wins or even "won", and are content of what their "president" [sic! laughing my a$$ off) does. They probably need a drastic reality update.

Jimbuna

12-02-22, 03:32 PM

By spring, we will have clearer picture regarding ceasefire in Ukraine, - Turkish Foreign Ministry

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlt avuolu said Ankara expects a "clearer picture" on a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine or a return to the negotiating table by the spring of 2023.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to European Pravda.

"I think we also have to convince some Western allies to come back to the negotiating table now. Ukraine is advancing on the ground, retaking some territories, occupied territories, but Russia is responding by deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. So life is becoming difficult for Ukrainians in particular , and for us, for all of us," Çavuşoğlu said.

The head of Turkish diplomacy emphasized that "more complex new realities" appeared in the war in Ukraine.

"I think that by spring we will have a clearer picture of a ceasefire, or a truce, or a return to the negotiating table," he added.

Turkey has repeatedly tried to become a mediator in reaching a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia; the last face-to-face talks between the parties took place at the end of March in Istanbul. Ankara emphasizes support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, and also closed the Bosphorus Strait to Russian military vessels. At the same time, Turkey refuses to introduce sanctions against Russia and continues to conduct negotiations and trade relations with it. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384557

New EU military mission for Ukraine has reached full operational readiness, - Borrell

The new training mission of the European Union for the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) has reached full operational readiness.

This was stated by the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, at a briefing in the Polish city of Brzeg, Censor.NET reports with reference to "European Truth".

"I am happy to announce that the commander of the mission, Admiral Blejan, who accompanied me today, said that the mission has reached full operational readiness. The mission is already operational, the mission will allow training of 15 thousand Ukrainian soldiers. It will cost the EU budget 100 million euros," Borrell said.

According to him, at the moment, 1,100 Ukrainian soldiers are already undergoing training as part of the mission in various camps.

"20 EU countries are participating in the mission. This is the largest military mission the EU has ever created for any of its partners," Borrell said.

He also announced that the EU will provide an additional 16 million euros, which will be spent on training equipment. "In addition, Norway, which is not part of the EU, will provide 50 million euros to support the mission," Borrell added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384558

Skybird

12-02-22, 05:48 PM

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung:
----------------------------------------
Biden's Signal to Putin

What the U.S. president has now said about possible negotiations with Putin is remarkable in two respects. First, Biden has never been so open to negotiations on Ukraine. The fact that he said, restrictively, that Putin must have an interest in ending the war is not too high a hurdle, because one rarely knows the true intentions of an interlocutor anyway. On the other hand, it is striking that he only held out the prospect of coordination with NATO allies in this case. He did not mention the Ukrainian government. He also did not repeat the previous formula that without Ukraine nothing would be decided about Ukraine.

No change of course can yet be gleaned from these remarks. Biden himself, during his appearance with French President Macron in Washington, reiterated support for Ukraine and the will to confront Russia together with allies. But it is not the first signal in recent times that the White House does not want to block the option of a negotiated solution. Some time ago, Washington already demanded from Kiev more fundamental willingness to talk; and General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, publicly called for a diplomatic solution.

From the outset, the U.S. view of the war has been shaped by two very different factors. On the one hand, Biden does not want to allow a country that still counts America among its main rivals to gain geopolitical ground in Europe. On the other hand, he wants to avoid a direct military confrontation with Russia. The anxiety that prevails in Washington about a nuclear confrontation has been underestimated by many politicians, especially in Germany, though not by the chancellor.

Putin, who has always been a tactician, was quick to recognize the opportunity that might be presented to him, and on Friday he immediately set out his condition for talks: recognition of Russia's annexations in Ukraine. It is unlikely that Biden will go along with such a deal, especially at this point. The West has been too unequivocal in its condemnation of the land grab. Moreover, there is a distinct possibility that Ukraine may recapture additional Russian-occupied territory.

But the very fact that Biden is making a bilateral offer to talk changes the conflict in Russia's favor. Even before the invasion, Putin wanted to treat the matter as a great power deal between America and Russia, and he downgraded Ukraine to an object whose interests do not matter.

The Europeans, despite their remarkable unity, continue to have less influence in this game than they could wish for on their continent. At the press conference, it was Macron who stuck to the old Western position that it was legitimate for Ukraine to set conditions for negotiations and for it to decide when the time for talks had come.

But he himself would continue to talk to Putin, Macron assured - much like the German chancellor, who called the Russian president on Friday. The fact that Putin will be toppled, as Biden has already publicly demanded, and what many hope for from the Western sanctions, is obviously no longer a Western goal.
-----------------------------------

They keep saying they will support Ukraine as long as needed, but if I were the Ukraine, I would not be too sure of that. In total numbers, the US support is more than the support of all others together. If the Americans say enough is enough, Europe in no way is capable to compensate for that, even if it would want: it lacks the military potency. Finnish prime minister Marin just has reminded NATO of that, pointing out that without the US Europe would be unable to keep its security acts together, and concluding that Europe's own defensive abilities were in no way strong enough. She accused several states of having allowed too long to be blinded by illusions about the good-meaning posture of Russia and the value of economic ties to Russia in containing its military ambitions, and demanded more honesty of European states in perceiving the weak status quo they are in. She said the naivety of several European states was always beyond belief for Fins.

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

It got reported over the past 7-10 days that Putin plans to use the winter to train an additional 500,000 troops until Spring. If true, half a million ill-equipped but better trained soldiers might have an unwelcomed impact on Ukraine's attempt to retake its territories. China now seems to send peroisnal equipmment for troops, as Russia is reported to have established an airlift to China that sees transports with deactivated transponders shuttling back and forth between productions facilities in China and Russian bases. Eyes witnesses say they saw the planes being loaded with personal gear, helmets, uniforms, flak-jackets, small arms, technical gadgets for individual soldiers. News and articles in Western media on this were rare, but they were there in recent days.

Dargo

12-02-22, 06:04 PM

I heard Russia plans a major attack, it has been preparing bombers and lots of freight planes. Anyone confirm? :hmmm:Dunno if it is this

Surge In Russian Bombers At Air Base Not As Unusual As Reports Claim

A review of months worth of satellite imagery shows a recent uptick in Russian bombers at Engels Air Base in well in line with known trends. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/surge-in-bombers-at-russian-base-not-as-ominous-as-media-claims

mapuc

12-02-22, 06:35 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juPq8FdyC_g

Markus

Jimbuna

12-03-22, 05:34 AM

Russian troops mutiny as conscripts storm off military base and head home in protest

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/russian-troops-mutiny-as-conscripts-storm-off-military-base-and-head-home-in-protest/ar-AA14QR9L?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=7f2838d828424357a849f1aac1dee2be

Jimbuna

12-03-22, 05:52 AM

How the ‘Price Cap’ on Russian Oil Works

European Union diplomats have agreed on a $60-per-barrel limit on the price at which Russian oil can be traded outside the bloc, the latest effort by Western allies to try to deprive Moscow of revenue to finance its war in Ukraine.

But there are serious questions over whether such a plan can be enforced, and whether Russia and its main buyers, including China and India, will go along with the price set by the Group of 7 industrialized nations.

Here is a look at some key elements of the plan:

It aims to let Russia keep selling oil, but earn less from it.

Western allies don’t want Russia to stop selling oil, its main export. Doing so would put a big dent in the global supply and drive prices up at a time of already soaring global inflation. It would also affect countries such as India and Turkey — key buyers of Russian crude — whose support the West is hoping to leverage to maintain pressure on Moscow.

Instead, the United States and allies have negotiated a plan aimed at reducing the revenue Russia earns from each barrel that it ships. The effort is a reflection of how Western sanctions have failed to weaken Moscow’s energy exports: Russia is on track to earn more this year from oil sales than in 2021, buoyed by a surge in the global price after the war began, despite often selling to China and India at discounts.

It is not really a price cap; it’s a restriction on shipping and insurance companies.

The U.S. Treasury secretary, Janet L. Yellen, has described the plan as a price cap, but it’s nearly impossible to manipulate the price of a global commodity such as oil. Instead, the plan relies heavily on European dominance of the maritime insurance industry, a web of companies that provide coverage for ships and their cargo, liability for potential spills and reinsurance, a form of secondary insurance used to defray the risk of losses.

Most of the major shipping companies and insurers are based in Group of 7 countries. The plan prohibits those companies from handling Russian crude unless the shipment has been sold at or below the price set by the Group of 7. If it is not, they will be held liable for violating sanctions.

The price has been set higher than some of Ukraine’s closest allies had wanted.

The $60-per-barrel price is a disappointment for some European countries, including harder-line pro-Ukraine nations such as Poland, that wanted to see the Kremlin lose much more revenue from its oil sales. With Russia’s oil production costs estimated at $20 per barrel — and the benchmark for the price of Russian oil having traded at between $60 to $100 per barrel in the past three years — the agreed-upon price still allows Moscow to reap substantial profits.

E.U. diplomats involved in the negotiations were bothered by what they saw as an American-led process that left them with complex and difficult implementation costs without significantly altering Russian revenues.

U.S. officials argued that it would be better to set a price high enough that Russia would comply with it by continuing to ship much of its oil exports using European and American infrastructure, like ships and insurance.

Experts are skeptical, and Russia’s customers may find ways around the cap.

Industry officials have questioned the feasibility of the plan, which relies on each party in the supply chain of Russian oil to attest to the price of shipments. Insurers and shippers have warned that records could be falsified by Russia and trading partners intent on keeping oil flowing.

The Kremlin has said it will not sell to countries that comply with the pricing mechanism, meaning those intent on buying its oil may find ways around it. One method could be side payments — for example, overpaying Russia for wheat or other commodities not subject to sanctions — which occurred during the 1990s when the United Nations tried to impose a similar plan on Iraq.

China, India and others could buy Russian oil at any price if shipped or insured by non-European companies, which a senior U.S. Treasury official said would most likely be more expensive, but not subject to penalties. And guidance issued by the Treasury Department said Russian oil that had been sold under the pricing mechanism but then “substantially transformed” or refined outside Russia would not be subject to the sanctions.

Companies that are found to have knowingly violated the policy will be barred from offering services for Russian oil for three months — a penalty that critics say is far too lenient to make the policy effective.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/how-the-price-cap-on-russian-oil-works/ar-AA14QLVE?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=8c49d797793142bab72eb27c313cc5fd

Jimbuna

12-03-22, 07:08 AM

I heard Russia plans a major attack, it has been preparing bombers and lots of freight planes. Anyone confirm? :hmmm:

Yes, that was reported yesterday I believe.

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

Jimbuna

12-03-22, 07:13 AM

Total combat losses of Russian Federation since beginning of war - about 90.6 thousand people, 263 helicopters, 2917 tanks, 1906 artillery systems, 5886 armored vehicles. INFOGRAPHICS

The Russian invaders, who invaded the territory of Ukraine, continue to suffer losses. As of the morning of December 3, the loss of enemy personnel are approximately 90,600.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the press center of the General Staff.

As noted, the total combat losses of the enemy from 24/02 to 03/12 approximately amount to:

personnel - about 90,600 (+510) people were liquidated,
tanks - 2917 (+1) units,
armored fighting vehicles - 5886 (+3) units,
artillery systems - 1906 (+1) units,
MLRS - 395 (+0) units,
air defense equipment - 210 (+0) units,
aircraft - 280 (+0) units,
helicopters - 263 (+1) units,
UAVs of operational-tactical level - 1572 (+8),
cruise missiles - 531 (+0),
Warships/boats - 16 (+0) units,
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 4472 (+8) units,
special equipment - 163 (+0). Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384624

Jimbuna

12-03-22, 07:16 AM

For some types of weapons, Russia already uses strategic stockpile - Defence Intelligence

According to the military intelligence of Ukraine, the enemy is already using a strategic stockpile of some types of weapons, as well as missiles manufactured this year, in particular in August.

This was stated by the representative of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Vadym Skibitsky, Censor.NET informs.

"This suggests that some missiles are used directly from the assembly line. How many of them will be enough depends on the production. Yes, it has fallen compared to the pre-war period. But, unfortunately, due to the fact that it circumvents economic sanctions, the Russian Federation is still able to produce a certain number of cruise missiles and other weapons that are used against our state," the representative of military intelligence of Ukraine concluded.

For 2 months, Russia exported 122 mm, 152 mm artillery ammunition from Belarus.

Also, according to military intelligence, Russia's negotiations with other countries regarding the supply of ammunition and missile weapons for the "Smerch" and "Uragan" MLRS, which it has a shortage of, and the Russian Federation's negotiations with Iran regarding the replenishment of ballistic missile stocks, are ongoing. As Vadym Skibitsky noted, there are relevant draft agreements between these countries, but to date, no deliveries of such weapons have been recorded. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384668

Estonia has signed agreement with United States for purchase of HIMARS

Estonia signed an agreement on the purchase of HIMARS rocket launcher systems manufactured by Lockheed Martin in the United States. The relevant agreement was concluded between the State Defense Investment Center of Estonia (RKIK) and the US Defense and Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)

This is reported by the Estonian television and radio company Eesti Rahvusringhääling, Censor.NET informs.

It is said that the total value of the contract is more than 200 million dollars, which will be the largest defense contract in the history of Estonia.

"As part of the contract, in addition to rocket launchers, Estonia will also purchase ammunition and communication equipment.
The agreement also includes the resolution of issues related to training and logistics. In particular, the package includes various types of missiles with a range of 70 to 300 kilometers," said Ramil Lipp, head of the RKIK arms department.

"The HIMARS rocket launcher system is a new and important step in the development of Estonia's defense capabilities, which allows inflicting significant damage on the enemy even before he comes into contact with our infantry units. It is a standard NATO system that promotes comprehensive cooperation with other allies of the Alliance," said the representative of the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces, Lt. Col. Kaarel Mäesalu. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384640

Jimbuna

12-03-22, 09:59 AM

Air alarm in number of regions. Takeoff of three enemy Tu-95s was recorded (updated)

Currently, an air alert has been announced in a number of regions of Ukraine, in particular, in Kyiv, the region and the eastern and central regions.

This is reported by Censor.NET.

As reported by Telegram channels, in Russia, three Tu-95 MCs have been recorded taking off from the Engels military airfield, they are moving in the direction of Volgograd, and more takeoffs are expected. Source: https://censor.net/en/p3384691

Peskov announced Putin’s visit to occupied Donbas

The press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmytro Peskov, reported on Vladimir Putin’s plans to come to the occupied territories of Ukraine "later".

This is reported by the Russian propaganda agency TASS, Censor.NET reports.

"Putin will later visit Donbas," Peskov said.

He did not give any details or dates.

Peskov also says that "mobilization has been completed" in the Russian Federation, and the Russian authorities will not provide any additional information. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384701

Macron will call Putin to discuss situation at Zaporizhzhia NPP

French President Emmanuel Macron plans to call the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, to discuss the situation surrounding the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Before that, the French leader wants to contact the Director General of the IAEA.

French President Emmanuel Macron said this in an interview with TF1 and LCI TV channels, Censor.NET informs with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

He noted that among the issues causing concern is the nuclear "problem with the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which is at the center of hostilities."

"After the meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, I will speak again with President Putin, in particular regarding civil nuclear energy," announced Macron.

According to him, in this dialogue with Moscow, "it is necessary to focus on specific topics".

"As for the coming weeks, the task is to help Ukraine resist, continue to help militarily, avoid escalation and prepare the dialogue for the day when everyone is back at the negotiating table," Macron continued.

According to the French leader, during the trip to the USA and negotiations with President Joe Biden, the parties "discussed deeply and for a long time about the situation in Ukraine."

"Paris and Washington share the same vision of things to continue to help Ukraine resist in the face of the bombing of their civilian infrastructure and to do everything to put pressure on Russia to return to the negotiating table," Macron said.

At the same time, the press secretary of the Russian dictator Dmytro Peskov has already reacted to Macron's statement. He stated that the exact date of the telephone conversation is currently unknown. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384694

Dargo

12-03-22, 01:35 PM

Mariupol now. “Please help. We are freezing here. No heating, no gas, no electricity, no water …”

https://i.postimg.cc/rmKVhTqW/Fj-Ej-YWWYAADI2n.jpg

Shows Russians do not give **** about Ukrainians satellite images show mass graves growing rapidly in this occupied city

Jimbuna

12-03-22, 03:27 PM

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised a price cap set by his Western allies on Russian oil exports, calling it "weak".

The cap, approved on Friday, is aimed at stopping countries paying more than $60 (£48) for a barrel of seaborne Russian crude oil.

Russia says it will not accept a cap on prices for its oil exports.

The measure - due to come into force on Monday - intensifies Western pressure on Russia over the invasion.

But Mr Zelensky called the price cap "a weak position" and not "serious" enough to damage to the Russian economy.

"Russia has already caused huge losses to all countries of the world by deliberately destabilising the energy market," he said in his nightly address.

It is "only a matter of time when stronger tools will have to be used", he added.

The price cap was put forward in September by the G7 group of industrialised nations (the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the EU) in a bid to hit Moscow's ability to finance the war in Ukraine.

In a joint statement, the G7, the European Union and Australia said the decision was taken to "prevent Russia from profiting from its war of aggression against Ukraine".

On Saturday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow had prepared for the move but would "not accept" the cap.

Though the measures will most certainly be felt by Russia, the blow will be partially softened by its move to sell its oil to other markets such as India and China - which are currently the largest single buyers of Russian crude oil.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63848257

Jimbuna

12-03-22, 03:55 PM

Macron has said he wants "security guarantees" for Russia when it returns to talks

French President Emmanuel Macron believes that Russia should have its own "security guarantees" when it returns to the negotiating table. However, decisions on the terms of the negotiations should be made by Ukraine, not the West.

He said this in an interview with the French TV channel TF1, Censor.NET reports with reference to LigaBusinessInform.

Commenting on possible negotiations between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, Macron suggested that the topic of NATO expansion would be one of the issues discussed.

Macron said he would like to provide a "guarantee of its own security" to Russia when the aggressor country returns to the negotiating table.

However, the French leader stressed: it is up to Ukraine to decide when to hold negotiations and under what conditions.

"It is for the Ukrainian people to decide on their own, under what conditions, how, when - not for us. But we want to point out, although we are not involved in the conflict, that we do not accept it. But one thing depends on us - the security of the rest of Europe," he said Macron. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384710

Council of EU approved decision to limit price of Russian oil

On Saturday, the Council of the EU decided to set the maximum price for oil and oil products and oils originating from or exported from Russia at the level of 60 dollars per barrel.

As Censor.NET informs, "Euro Integration" writes about this with reference to the message of the Council of the EU.

The cap price level was set in close cooperation with the Oil Price Restraint Coalition and will take effect on December 5, 2022.

"Limiting the price of Russian oil will limit price spikes caused by extraordinary market conditions and will sharply reduce the revenues that Russia received from the sale of oil after it launched an illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. It will also contribute to the stabilization of world energy prices and the mitigation of negative consequences for the energy supply of third countries," the message says.

On October 6, 2022, the Council of the EU adopted a decision to ban the maritime transportation of Russian oil (from December 5, 2022) and oil products (from February 5, 2023) to third countries, as well as the related provision of technical assistance, brokerage services or financing or financial assistance. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384719

Skybird

12-03-22, 04:15 PM

The FT reports that Russie has bought over 100 old tankers, building a shadow fleet that would bypass sanctiosn and price caps on oil. Two implications: first, the oil will flow, second, these are old tankers. Old means: less safe tankers. The risk of oil spills is bigger than with new tankers.

The price cap will shorten the availability of oil in Europe, thus making it more expensive. Not for Russia - but us.

Dargo

12-03-22, 04:25 PM

Skybird

12-03-22, 05:12 PM

EU will buy them not knowing source it is already happening.yep, almost from beginning on. Including immense price boni India had added. LOL

Dargo

12-03-22, 05:17 PM

yep, almost from beginning on. Including immense price boni India had added. LOLIndia import of Russian oil has risen by over +500% Saudi Arabia also import large amount of oil from Russia they refine it to diesel that Europe needs badly for their own transport.

Dargo

12-03-22, 05:34 PM

Raytheon CEO to @JenGriffinFNC on U.S. weapon shortages after 9 months of war in Ukraine: "We've essentially used up 13 years worth of Stinger production and 5 years worth of Javelin production. So the question is, how are we going to resupply, restock the inventories?" https://twitter.com/LucasFoxNews/status/1599131898760298496

Skybird

12-03-22, 05:47 PM

So the question is, how are we going to resupply, restock the inventories?" https://twitter.com/LucasFoxNews/status/1599131898760298496Dear Mr. Griffin: by starting, and then producing day for day for day.

les green01

12-03-22, 07:00 PM

Dear Mr. Griffin: by starting, and then producing day for day for day.

:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up: not like they didn't get part of a 1.2 billion dollar package

Skybird

12-03-22, 07:28 PM

:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up: not like they didn't get part of a 1.2 billion dollar package
The German defence carricature Lambrecht may be stupid enough to let 6 months pass without ordering a single round of ammo from those infamous 100bn special budget Euros or the regular yearly defence budget - your defence ministry must not be stupid enough to copy the Germans, eh?
:03:

Skybird

12-03-22, 07:34 PM

Winter may kill more Russian soldiers than the ukrainians ever could, says a German ex-soldier and now defence expert. It already happens.

And Forbes:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/11/27/russian-soldiers-are-freezing-to-death-in-eastern-ukraine/?sh=4b5d93042541

Currently, it still is mud and rain on the ground, but it is freezing. Then the Ukrainains probably will launch a new offensive, if they have enough material.

All apparent signals from the Kremlin that it is ready to talk, must be seen in the nloight of this time of the years: they only want to buy time to get over the winter, and then restart with new reinforcements in spring. Recent signals by Scholz, Biden, Macron that they ar einterested in talks, imho are simpyl stupid, and we saw what they goit: Putin immedoately started to set up demands in a bid for forcing the West into the defensive over the hope that it could get tlaks if it accepts Russdian annexations form beginning on.

These signals and these offers to talk are worth nothing, the timing is completely wrong. They are counter-productive, for they feed other other hopes as well: the hopes of Putin.

Skybird

12-03-22, 08:01 PM

https://www-faz-net.translate.goog/aktuell/feuilleton/debatten/putins-ukraine-krieg-der-wahre-grund-ist-seine-kriminelle-natur-18502002.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp

This Frenchman understood a thing or two that Scholz or Macron haven't.

Jimbuna

12-04-22, 06:00 AM

Fighting set to slow for winter months, says US intelligence

By Emily McGarvey
BBC News

The fighting in Ukraine has been slowing down and this will likely continue in the coming winter months, US intelligence agencies believe.

However, there has been no evidence of fading resistance on the part of Ukrainian forces, US director of intelligence Avril Haines said.

She said both sides would try to "refit, resupply and reconstitute" for any counter-offensive in the spring.

It follows Russian attacks on Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure.

The war in Ukraine is now in its ninth month, but Russia has lost more than half the land it seized.

Ms Haines told a defence forum in California that most of the fighting is currently around the Bakhmut and Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.

She said fighting had slowed down following Russia's withdrawal of troops from the west of the Kherson region last month.

"We're seeing a kind of a reduced tempo already of the conflict... and we expect that's likely to be what we see in the coming months," she said.

She said both Ukraine and Russian militaries would be looking to to prepare for any counter-offensive after the winter.

"But we actually have a fair amount of scepticism as to whether or not the Russians will be, in fact, prepared to do that," she said.

"I think more optimistically for the Ukrainians in that time frame."

Ms Haines said US intelligence believes Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have a full picture at this stage of just how challenged his military are.

"We see shortages of ammunition, for morale, supply issues, logistics, a whole series of concerns that they're facing."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63849268

Jimbuna

12-04-22, 06:50 AM

Pentagon urged Congress to approve budget. Otherwise, there may be problems with aid to Ukraine, - Politico

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called on Congress not to delay the passage of the Pentagon spending bill for next year. Otherwise, further interim funding could affect aid to Ukraine and the purchase of a new B-21 Raider bomber.

Politico writes about this, Censor.NET reports with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

Austin warned that instead of a budget, congressmen can, as it happened before, adopt a "resolution on the continuation of funding", and immediately for a year, not for months.

It would freeze Pentagon spending at current levels. The armed forces will have to rely on old machinery and equipment, while the development of promising military technologies will be significantly reduced.

In October, President Joe Biden signed a law extending government funding until December 16, 2022. It includes support for Ukraine for an additional 12.4 billion dollars.

Congress must pass a defense budget by this time. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has previously hinted at the possibility of passing temporary funding for the entire year.

If Congress has to pass the document, the Pentagon will receive $29 billion less than the required amount.

Deputy Defense Secretary Michael McCord told Politico that he does not believe the Pentagon can operate under temporary funding for a full year. Sources of the publication claim that this may cause a crisis situation.

Politico notes that military aid to Ukraine goes through the Pentagon, including the supply of ammunition. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384776

Russia will not accept ceiling price for oil, - Peskov

The press secretary of the Kremlin, Dmytro Peskov, said that Moscow will not accept the ceiling price for oil, which was previously agreed upon by the EU and G7 countries.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the Russian mass media.

"Now we are analyzing. Certain preparations have been made for such a ceiling. We will not adopt this ceiling, but we will inform how the work will be organized after the analysis, which will be quickly conducted," said Peskov, commenting on this decision.

It was previously reported that after reaching an agreement between the 27 member states of the European Union, members of the Group of Seven, as well as Australia (together - the "Coalition for price restraints") introduced a price cap on oil shipped by sea from the Russian Federation at the level of 60 USD per barrel Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384779

Jimbuna

12-04-22, 06:53 AM

In Russian Federation, support for "special military operation" among population has significantly decreased, - British intelligence

In Russia, there is a significant decrease in support for the so-called "special military operation" among the population, and in the future, due to the lack of significant successes, it will be increasingly difficult for the Russian authorities to obtain consent for its continuation.

This is stated in the review of the intelligence community of Great Britain, Censor.NET reports.

British intelligence refers to the results of closed sociological surveys of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation published by the Russian publication "Meduza", according to which 55% of Russians are in favor of peace negotiations with Ukraine, and only 25% support the continuation of the conflict.

She adds that these data correspond to a similar independent survey for October 2022, in which 57% of respondents in Russia spoke in favor of negotiations. At the same time, in April 2022, about 80% of Russians claimed to support the war in Ukraine.

"Despite the efforts of the Russian authorities to ensure widespread control over the information environment, the conflict is becoming increasingly palpable for many Russians after the "partial mobilization" in September 2022," - noted the intelligence of Britain.

"Since Russia is unlikely to make significant gains on the battlefield in the next few months, it will probably become increasingly difficult for the Kremlin to maintain even tacit approval of the war among the population," it states. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384786

74% of Russians support actions of their military in Ukraine, while 53% are in favor of peace negotiations, - "Levada Center" survey. INFOGRAPHICS

42% of Russians "unequivocally support" the actions of the Russian military in Ukraine, 32% "rather support". At the same time, 53% of residents of the Russian Federation believe that peace negotiations should be started.

This is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by the Russian sociological "Levada Center", Censor.NET reports.

To the question "Do you personally support or not the actions of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine?" 42% answered "unequivocally yes", "rather yes" - 32%, "rather no" - 11%, "unequivocally no" - 9%. Another 7% could not answer this question. Russians over the age of 40 (75%) most actively support the actions of their military, the least support is among young people (62%). Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384796

Jimbuna

12-04-22, 06:56 AM

Danilov on security guarantees for the Russian Federation: After verdict in Hague, death penalty is not foreseen

The fact that the European judicial system is humane can be considered a guarantee of security for the Russian Federation, because the verdict in The Hague does not include the death penalty.

The Secretary of the National Security Council Oleksii Danilov expressed this opinion on Facebook, Censor.NET informs.

"Terrorist and killer countries want to provide security guarantees? Instead of Nuremberg - signing an agreement with the Russian Federation and shaking hands? Ukrainian blood on Putin's hands will not interfere with business as usual?
The strange logic of carpet diplomacy, the time of which is over. The question is to guarantee the safety of the world from so-called Russia, not the other way around. The experience of Budapest is useful to you. When you're unarmed, you're not a threat. Unfortunately, we know," he notes.

According to Danilov, the denuclearized and demilitarized so-called Russia is the best guarantee of peace for Europe and the world.

"P.S. The only guarantee is the humanism of the European judicial system, after the verdict in The Hague, the death penalty is not provided for," he summarizes.

Also remind, that on December 3, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Russia should have its own "security guarantees" when it returns to the negotiating table. In response to this, the head of the "Servants of the People" faction, David Arakhamia, announced the terms of negotiations on security guarantees for Russia. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384820

There are no problems with control of aid to Ukraine, - head of the specialized committee of US Congress, Smith

The chairman of the Armed Forces Committee of the US House of Representatives, Democrat Adam Smith, criticized the statement about insufficient control over the provision of American aid to Ukraine.

As informed by Censor.NET, Smith said this during the national defense forum named after Reagan on Saturday, European Pravda reports with reference to Politico.

According to the congressman, he is "a little mad" at the claims that tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine are not properly monitored.

"Firstly, the emphasis on this is part of Russian propaganda. All these stories are about how money is spent unwisely. Second, Ukraine spends this money very well. That's why they are winning," Smith emphasized.

The head of the special committee of the House of Representatives said at the same time that he is not against the supervision of aid as such, but stressed that "this should not be an excuse for not funding what we are doing in Ukraine."

As Politico points out, in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Congress allocated about $66 billion to finance military, economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as well as replenish the Pentagon's weapons stockpile. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384803

Jimbuna

12-04-22, 06:57 AM

Total combat losses of Russian Federation since beginning of war - about 91,150 people, 281 aircraft, 2,922 tanks, 1,908 artillery systems, 5,892 armored vehicles. INFOGRAPHICS

The Russian invaders, who invaded the territory of Ukraine, continue to suffer losses. As of the morning of December 4, the loss of enemy personnel are approximately 91,150 people.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the press center of the General Staff.

As noted, the total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 04.12 are approximately:

personnel - about 91,150 (+550) people were liquidated,
tanks - 2922 (+5) units,
armored combat vehicles - 5892 (+6) units,
artillery systems - 1908 (+2) units,
MLRS - 395 (+0) units,
air defense equipment - 210 (+0) units,
aircraft - 281 (+1) units,
helicopters - 263 (+0) units,
UAVs of operational-tactical level - 1573 (+1),
cruise missiles - 531 (+0),
Warships/boats - 16 (+0) units,
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 4479 (+7) units,
special equipment - 163 (+0). Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384813

Skybird

12-04-22, 08:19 AM

Not good. Remember the mysterious death of that Belarussian minister? Focus writes:
--------------------------
Expert does not rule out Belarusian entry into Ukraine war

Russia's defense minister and his Belarusian counterpart held an unannounced meeting in Misk on Saturday. An agreement on ensuring regional security in the military sphere was reportedly revised during the meeting. Could the new developments have implications for Belarus's role in Ukraine?

New developments in Belarus raise eyebrows: Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin held an unannounced meeting in Minsk on Saturday to further strengthen bilateral security ties between Russia and Belarus. At the meeting, an agreement on jointly ensuring regional security in the military sphere was reportedly reviewed, the U.S. think tank " Institute for the Study of War " (ISW) reported.

Another meeting is said to have followed between Shoigu and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Later, Lukashenko announced that Belarusian and Russian forces would continue to train together on Belarusian territory so that the "union state could repel any aggression," according to the ISW. Belarus would also provide trainers to the Russians.

Konrad Muzyka , defense analyst and director of the defense consulting firm "Rochan Consulting," sees this as an indication that Belarus could become more involved in the Ukraine war in the future.

Belarusian Armed Forces Fully Subordinated to Russian General Staff?

Konrad Muzyka writes on Twitter , that it is likely that cooperation between the two states will deepen further, even if the wording of the changes is not known.

Thus, Muzyka further writes "given the nature of the visit, we would not be surprised if the Belarusian Armed Forces were now fully subordinated to the Russian General Staff or the Western Russian Military Defense Command."

Belarusians checked addresses of conscripted citizens

The significance of it all is made clear above all by the context of the meeting: the Belarusian armed forces have been preparing for war since as early as the spring. In the process, they have spent months testing the capabilities of the armed forces: "They have tested everything from mobilization to rear support to maneuver warfare," the defense analyst said.

Still, the tests have been on a small scale, he said. While Minsk has established several territorial defense battalions, they are smaller companies, according to Muzyka. On the other hand, the Belarusians were already further along in another aspect: Minsk had carefully checked the accuracy of address data of citizens liable for military service, the defense analyst said.

Legislative changes could affect mobilization

In addition, the Belarusian defense minister already announced legislative changes that, according to Muzyka, could affect mobilization. Either way, the defense analyst expects serious repercussions for the further course of the Ukraine war.

Already, Russia's Belarusian support is having an impact on Ukraine: for the very fact that Belarus is available to the Russian army as a deployment area forces Ukraine to keep troops in reserve in the north. After all, Russian air strikes are flown from there, and tanks and other heavy weapons are now also provided.

Only by positioning troops on the border can Ukraine, in the event of a direct attack from Belarus, repel it. However, Muzyka does not consider the actions to be a mere attempt to tie up the Ukrainian armed forces on the border with Belarus even more.

Belarusian entry into Ukraine war not ruled out by expert

Thus, Muzyka concludes, "We do not know what the future holds, but one cannot rule out an attack on Ukraine from Belarus, or significant Belarusian military involvement in the war." For Muzyka, this scenario is not unlikely, he said.

ISW also believes in a deepening of Belarusian support: according to the report, Shoigu probably met with Khrenin and Lukashenko to put pressure on Belarus. Thus, the Russian offensive in Ukraine is said to be further supported by Belarus.

However, ISW assesses the likelihood of Belarus entering the war in Ukraine as unlikely. The reason is domestic political factors that would limit Lukashenko's willingness, ISW says. The ISW is referring to Belarus' politically divided society: on one side of the invisible barricade stands the protest movement, on the other, supporters of the regime. The presence of Russian troops in the country is also causing unrest.
---------------------------------

Jimbuna

12-04-22, 11:04 AM

More than 51,000 war crimes have been documented since beginning of full-scale invasion of Russian Federation

The Prosecutor General’s Office has documented more than 51,000 war crimes against Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Telegram channel of the Prosecutor General's Office.

As of December 4, 2022, documented:

51,161 war crimes,
18,585 crimes against the national security of Ukraine.
According to the official data of juvenile prosecutors, 1,295 children were injured as a result of the armed invasion of the Russian Federation into our country, of which:

443 children died,
852 were injured.
Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384838

Great Britain handed over batch of winter equipment to Ukrainian military. PHOTOS

Ukrainian military personnel undergoing training in Great Britain immediately receive sets of winter uniforms.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the Twitter of the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain.

"Ukrainian recruits studying in Great Britain are given a kit to prepare for their return to Ukraine, where they will fight for the liberation of their nation. When the temperature drops sharply, in addition to the usual kit, the recruits are given clothes for the cold," the report said.

Also, the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain reported that 1,000 military personnel from Ukraine received Altberg boots. Source: https://censor.net/en/p3384826

Jimbuna

12-04-22, 11:09 AM

France will continue military support to Ukraine to strengthen negotiating positions, - Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron promised to continue military support to Ukraine to strengthen Kyiv’s position in negotiations with Russia.

He said this in an interview with Le Parisien, Censor.NET reports with reference to Liga.net.

Macron noted that military support for Ukraine will continue because "if the Ukrainians become weaker on the battlefield, there will be no negotiations at all or they will be held on very bad terms for them."

The French president also emphasized that Ukraine will decide when and on what terms to make peace with Russia.

"Only Ukrainians will decide the fate of their territory within the framework of the negotiations, which have not yet taken place. There are 10,000 different formulas: more decentralized regions, as envisaged by the Minsk agreements, with the recognition, for example, of the official status of the Russian language, a territory under international protection, a formula of self-determination. .. But I don't want to engage in political fiction - it will be voiced by Ukrainians," Macron said.

At the same time, the French leader said that he is not going to give up his mediation efforts and soon plans to discuss the situation around the Zaporizhzhia NPP with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

Macron said that one of the goals of his trip to the US was to obtain a collective mandate for these talks.

The President of France also rejected the insinuations of opposition politician Marine Le Pen about the weakening of France's national security due to the supply of Caesar guns to Ukraine.

"As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I can assure you that every time we deliver, we do so while maintaining all our defense capabilities for our land, our critical facilities and our citizens," the French president said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384839

Russians stole spare parts from destroyed "Mriya", - defender of airport in Hostomel Iliukhin

During the stay at Hostomel airport, Russian forces managed to steal spare parts from the famous Ukrainian An-225 Mriya aircraft, which was destroyed in February.

Colonel Artem Iliukhin, commander of the 4th Rapid Response Brigade of the National Guard, told about this in an interview with Suspilne, Censor.NET reports. His brigade took part in hostilities on the runway of Hostomel airport.

Ilyukhin said that "Mriya" was destroyed during the fighting, but the main damage was inflicted by the units of the Russian Federation.

"It was specially set on fire in several places - later it was already visible," said the colonel.

According to him, representatives of the flight school of the Russian Federation came to Gostomel several times on a business trip: "It shows that the main components, which are the most valuable, were taken by the Russians from the plane. The boards, wires, etc. were pulled out with the "roots", - said the military man.

It will be recalled that on February 27, it became known that the world's largest transport plane - An-225 "Mriya" - burned down as a result of an air attack by Russian troops on the Hostomel airport near Kyiv. According to the calculations of "Ukroboronprom", its restoration will cost more than 3 billion dollars. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384848

Second ship with 30,000 tons of humanitarian cargo of wheat left Ukraine for Ethiopia. PHOTOS

The second vessel with Ukrainian wheat as part of the "GrainFromUkraine" initiative left for Ethiopia.

This is reported by Censor.NET with refrence to the Facebook page of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine.

"BC CALLISTO is the second ship within the framework of the program launched by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in partnership with the World Food Program (WFP) of the United Nations. The first ship NORD VIND arrived yesterday, December 3, at the port of Djibouti, from where 25 thousand tons of humanitarian wheat will be delivered to the people of Ethiopia," the message reads.

Also, two more NEVA and RUBYMAR bulkers are being loaded in the port of Chornomorsk, which will deliver 55,000 tons of humanitarian wheat for Somalia and Sudan.

In two days, the ports of Great Odesa sent 9 ships with 336,000 tons of agricultural products to the countries of Africa, Asia and Europe. Since the beginning of the implementation of the "grain initiative", the world has received 13 million tons of Ukrainian food. Source: https://censor.net/en/p3384851

Jimbuna

12-04-22, 01:09 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO1fb1mv-lQ

Jimbuna

12-04-22, 01:15 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcYPOfZ65LI

Skybird

12-04-22, 03:20 PM

Interesting tie the man wears! :D If he's a German doubleagent spying on British TV, he shouldn't give it away so easily.

(Its the German Federal Eagle he has on his camouflage-green tie LOL).

mapuc

12-04-22, 03:34 PM

Would you believe me if I said that there WILL be boots on the ground within the next half year...Not to fight the Russians...but to fight the Ukrainian to keep them apart.

Would you believe me if I said that there WILL be negotiation above the head of the Ukrainians

Would you believe me if I said that Ukraine WILL be divided whereof 55-60 becomes independent - pro west and the rest Crimea, Luhansk, Donbas will be part of Russia.

Markus

August

12-04-22, 05:40 PM

Skybird

12-04-22, 05:48 PM

Would you believe me if I said that there WILL be boots on the ground within the next half year...Not to fight the Russians...but to fight the Ukrainian to keep them apart.
No.

Would you believe me if I said that there WILL be negotiation above the head of the Ukrainians.
Yes.

Would you believe me if I said that Ukraine WILL be divided whereof 55-60 becomes independent - pro west and the rest Crimea, Luhansk, Donbas will be part of Russia.
Uncertain. But even ion the Eastern provinces, the vast majporit yof those who once were pro-Russian are said to now be anti-.Russian. Putin seems to have managed to kill support for Russia amongst pro-Russian Ukrainians in the rest of Ukraine by 90% or more. Most Ukrainians who before the war had sympathy or loyalty for Russia, now have no more. Thats is because the Russians have killed them in scores and annihilated their towns and villages as well. And now they let them freeze in the hope to kill them this way - or drive them out to send a new mass migration wave into Europe, destabilising it by that (so hopes Putin).

mapuc

12-04-22, 06:08 PM

I wrote
"Would you believe me if I said that there WILL be boots on the ground within the next half year...Not to fight the Russians...but to fight the Ukrainian to keep them apart."

And you said no.

Here's why I wrote these words-
EU, G7 and Australia have made some price limit 60 dollars-Russia is against this and may as you have indicated stop the oil flow to EU. From what I have read here is that EU is depended on this oil.
The weather people say we are in for a hard winter

I'm picturing following-We are in Jan-Feb. -23 Thousands of EU-citizens have died due to the hard winter and lack of oil and gas.

It's here I see an decrease of supporting the Ukrainians among the ordinary people-

The contact between Russia and EU/Nato/USA will take place in Feb. - March.
Here Putin will demand an Ukrainian ceasefire before he open up for the oil and gas.

These words written is based on what you have posted and what I've seen in the news

Markus

August

12-04-22, 07:50 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI3PpsM3NOI

MaDef

12-04-22, 08:02 PM

Jimbuna

12-05-22, 06:39 AM

Putin scrambles to shore up support with desperate visit to Ukraine frontline amid revolts

Vladimir Putin is expected to soon make his first trip to the frontline in the war with Ukraine since Russia's invasion in late February. The Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Putin will visit the Donbas in occupied eastern Ukraine "in due time". However, former CIA official Steve Hall suggested that the forthcoming visit is a desperate move from the Russian leader amid falling support for the war at home.

Earlier today, the latest intelligence briefing from the British Ministry of Defence revealed that public support in Russia for the war was "falling significantly".

Discussing the expected visit, the former CIA chief in Russia dismissed claims that it would show how Russia has secured parts of its annexed territories in Ukraine.

He told CNN: "I don't think it is an indication of his security, I think it is an indication of his really strong desire to show Russians that this is part of Russia.

"Remember, he told Russians that he had annexed this part of Ukraine but he does not really control the annexed territories."

Mr Hall continued: "Many Russians know they have lost control, or have questions about the Russian control.

"So Putin wants to show that this is indeed part of Russia."

As another reason, Mr Hall suggested that President Putin is "irritated to see a steady flow of Western visitors in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine when his military is not doing very well in the parts he claims to control".

Despite the Kremlin's pronouncement, it is not clear when the Russian president will visit the frontline, or how much of the Donbas his army will still hold when he gets there.

The current Russian frontline in the Donbas has been described as a "meat grinder" as offensives on Bakhmut lose a significant number of soldiers with minimal gains.

It is thought that Ukrainian special forces could pose a threat to President Putin during any visit to the front.

The Russian leader may also have to contend with Russian troops suffering low morale.

Meanwhile, the latest MoD briefing cited an independent Russian media outlet, which obtained a confidential opinion survey conducted by the Federal Protection Service in Russia.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/putin-scrambles-to-shore-up-support-with-desperate-visit-to-ukraine-frontline-amid-revolts/ar-AA14Tflp?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=0b7be0e16f764d3abaa23c41687f0d4d

Jimbuna

12-05-22, 07:01 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-WI-eCTgxk

Skybird

12-05-22, 07:25 AM

Mounting indicaitosn and signals that Belaruss is about to enter the war soon. Different to the Russians they have had nine months to watch, learn and train. I nevertheless would not expect too much of them, since their army is relatively small. Still, one significant problem more for Ukraine.

The mood is shifting further agai8nst Ukraine in the West, and also -a nd this is the relevant part - on goivenrment levels. France made ominous announcements of somewhat double-edged nature. Republicans in the US call increasingly for a limit or end of military support for Ukraine.

Remember the beginning phase of this war. I said the longer the war lasts, the greater the chance that the West will give Ukraine up and force it to accept Russia's terms. Slowly but surely things move at that direction, maybe with the exception of Poland and the Baltic states. But them alone, what can they do? Their defence industries are no heavy hitters, though the Poles aim at making it so, and do what they can to increase their defence industry in quantity and quality, technological know-how. - Meanewhile the Germans have put their buying of F-35s in doubt again and have so far not ordered one additional round of ammo for their ammo-depleted armed forces this year. :doh: Its reported they have enough ammo for TWO DAYS of fighting like we see in Ukraine.

Defence industries in the West also report they have problems to replace the quantities of ammo and weapons that gut sucked up by the ukraine war, due to breakdown of logistcs and supply chains, and the exploded demand of many militaries wanting to beef up and modernise their defences and replacing donated weapons (Germany so far just talking of that but not doing it: could be that when they finally maybe get started they find that the shelves are empty).

kraznyi_oktjabr

12-05-22, 07:43 AM

Explosions reported in Russian air bases nearby Ryazan and Saratov. Second explosion in Engels air base nearby Saratov reportedly destroyed two Tupolev Tu-95 bombers.

Saratov is about 600 km from Ukraine, so it will be interesting to hear what officially happened. Explanation for Ryazan seems to be an accidental explosion of fuel truck.

Here is one source:

https://theaviationist.com/2022/12/05/explosion-hits-engels-2-airbase-russia-reportedly-damaging-at-least-two-tu-95-bombers/

...but other medias have also noticed this incident.

Jimbuna

12-05-22, 08:46 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KjC6neVlbE

Jimbuna

12-05-22, 08:55 AM

USA will help Ukraine with protection from air attacks of Russian Federation and repair of infrastructure facilities, - Ambassador Brink

The U.S. will provide Ukraine with air defense and assistance in the energy sector to ensure the ability to defend against Russian attacks and repair civilian infrastructure.

US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink wrote about this on Twitter, Censor.NET reports.

"As Russia deprives every person in Ukraine of heat, water, electricity, including children, the elderly, we will provide air defense against Russia's increased barbaric attacks and help in the energy sector so that Ukraine can protect and repair civilian infrastructure," said Brink. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385003

Blinken: US Congress is working on alternative to recognizing Russia as state sponsor of terrorism

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the Congress is working on an alternative to recognizing Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism".

This is reported by Censor.NЕТ with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

"We are constantly looking at what measures we can take to increase the pressure. We're working with Congress right now on regulations that will help us with some of the controversy surrounding the use of the 'state sponsor of terrorism' designation, which would have unintended consequences. We are working to develop a way to achieve that goal," Blinken said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3384893

Jimbuna

12-05-22, 11:59 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ33ksPl5TE

Jimbuna

12-05-22, 12:31 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJW5Kfl4-lg

Jimbuna

12-05-22, 01:18 PM

Finnish Foreign Minister Haavisto did not support Macron: We need guarantees specifically against Russia

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto did not support French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement that Russia should allegedly have "its own security guarantees" when it returns to the negotiating table.

Haavisto emphasized that the guarantees should be directed against the Russian Federation, Censor.NET reports with reference to LigaBusinessInform.

"In the current situation, we need guarantees specifically against Russia. This applies to both Ukraine and other countries," said the head of the Finnish Foreign Ministry.

According to him, the Russian Federation is currently acting against the international order and acts as an invader of the territories of other countries.

He recalled the Russian invasion of Georgia, the occupation of Crimea, and the seizure of part of Donbas. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385071

Russian army has begun to save ammunition, front already has equipment from the 1960s, - Syrsky

The Russian occupiers began to save ammunition and brought to the front production equipment of the 1960s.

This was announced by the commander of the Ground Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, on the air of the national telethon, Censor.NET reports with reference to LigaBusinessInform.

According to him, the level of ammunition consumption is unprecedented, since the intensity of hostilities can be compared with the Second World War. He noted that the Russians began to experience a shortage of shells.

"If before we responded with one shot for six to ten shots, now it has changed. They started to feel the shortage," said Syrsky.

The general said that the enemy is forced to conserve ammunition due to strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on logistical arteries.

He also drew attention to the fact that old models of equipment began to appear at the front - you can see BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles from the 1960s, BTR-70 armored personnel carriers from the 1970s, and the BRDM armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicle.

"All equipment that was considered scrapped. Their defense industry is unable to restore damaged equipment, and the level of irreversible losses is so great that there is no capacity to produce new products," the military commander summarized. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385109

Jimbuna

12-05-22, 01:47 PM

Putin's not mad - he knows what he's doing and he's playing us for fools, John Bolton

Vladimir Putin is not mad he just "has his own logic" which the US, UK and EU countries failed to properly understand before the Ukraine invasion, John Bolton has claimed. Mr Bolton was part of the Trump administration's efforts to curtail Putin's power by bringing in sanction regimes but now says that western democracies did not go far enough.

A number of commentators and observers believe that Mr Putin is insane, but, speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, John Bolton, who has had one to one dealings with the Russian leader, disagreed.

He said: "I can't diagnose Putin medically, but I think it is a mistake to believe he is operating impaired in some state just because he is operating in way which we find hard to understand.

"On several occasions I met with him and we would talk about things we would disagree with and he would say through his interpreter 'well you have got your logic we have got ours. We will see which one prevails.'"

It's the "different logic" and a sense of anguish over the collapse of the Soviet Union which Mr Bolton believes is behind Mr Putin's continued push in Ukraine despite massive losses as well as economic and reputational damage.

"He's lost 100,000 casualties, his economy has been harmed, the question is how much longer can this go on?

"The question is: 'Can it go on a lot longer?' It can."

The Ukrainian commander of the Svoboda battalion, Petro Kuzyk, whose unit is one of those holding Bakhmut, said his soldiers are staying in trenches full of corpses, fighting in extremely cold conditions and in knee-deep water against Russia's attacks.

Mr Bolton spoke of his struggles to persuade Mr Trump to impose sanctions but insisted that the war in Ukraine represented a greater failure of the west.

He said: "The bottom line is that the Russians invaded Ukraine, Crimea, took part of the Donbas in 2014 and they didn't suffer significant consequences.

"Western sanctions were minimal. Then the chemical weapons attack in 2018, not a lot happened, we expelled some diplomats, you expelled some diplomats.

"As [former MI6 chief] Mark Sedwell, who was my British counterpart, said to Trump when he came to visit Theresa May in 2018: 'They have conducted a chemical weapons attack on a nuclear power and yet we didn't do that much in response.'

"If you think you can get away with it you are inclined to do it again.

"Those are failures in deterrence which means we should have done more before the war."

Mr Bolton went on: "In his mind and the mind of many Russians the break-up of the Soviet Union was illegitimate, the creation of the independent Republics was a western plot and they want to restore the Russian empire.

"If that is your objective and think we were wrong, you are willing to pay a different price."

Mr Bolton was part of the efforts in the Trump White House to try to ensure Putin did not launch any new invasions.

He warned that "deterrence is complicated" and that the stand-off in the Cold war between the USA and western allies and the Soviet Union and Iron Curtain bloc was "not as easy as it seemed".

He believes that the failure to tame Putin has proved that problem.

Mr Bolton also spoke of his efforts to force Mr Trump to impose sanctions on Putin who he got on well with personally.

"We imposed a lot of sanctions on Russia which he opposed and what would happen Pompeo and I and others would go and say this is what we want to do.

"He [Trump] would grumble and mull over Ukraine and conspiracy and then he would finally sign.

"He would complain about it later too.

"Then he would be criticised for being too friendly to Putin and he would say 'my government has put more sanctions on Russia than anyone else.'"
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/putin-s-not-mad-he-knows-what-he-s-doing-and-he-s-playing-us-for-fools-john-bolton/ar-AA14VaE7?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=22a71122467d4849b4ecb78c63e52c97

Jimbuna

12-05-22, 01:56 PM

Putin drives across repaired bridge to Crimea in bid to boost Russian morale

Russian President Vladimir Putin has tried to boost Russian morale by driving across a bridge to Crimea that a truck bomb damaged in October.

He took the wheel of a Mercedes to drive across the bridge linking Russia’s mainland with the peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Like other western car makers, Mercedes halted sales of vehicles to Russia and stopped production at its assembly factory near Moscow after the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Putin did not try to make a political point by driving the Mercedes and not a Russian-made Auris sedan, saying the president just used an available car.

While driving, Mr Putin discussed the repairs of the Crimean Bridge with Marat Khusnullin, a deputy prime minister in charge of the project, an exchange broadcast by Russian television.

The president also spoke to workers involved in restoring the 12-mile bridge, which has been the main conduit for ferrying supplies to Crimea, which has served as a key base for Russian military operations in Ukraine.

In view of Ukrainian threats to launch new attacks on the bridge, Mr Putin emphasised the need to build a motorway along the Sea of Azov coast to link Crimea with regions in southern Russia, the Kremlin said.

The truck bomb attack on October 8 disrupted travel on one of the two lanes of the bridge.

Russia blamed the attack on Ukrainian military intelligence and responded with several waves of strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities and other key infrastructure.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said last week widespread strikes targeting power, telecommunications and water infrastructure were intended to weaken Ukraine’s military potential and to derail shipments of western weapons.

Ukrainian authorities said there was another such barrage on Monday, hours after Russian media reported two explosions at air bases in Russia.

One reportedly happened at a base housing nuclear-capable strategic bombers which have been involved in launching strikes in Ukraine.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/putin-drives-across-repaired-bridge-to-crimea-in-bid-to-boost-russian-morale/ar-AA14VKVv?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=9fcb0f8953704e6ab7b1f2bae4365f5a

Skybird

12-05-22, 07:59 PM

What remains of Russian missiles: Charkiv.

https://static.dw.com/image/63985947_403.jpg

(Deutsche Welle)

I cant help but think that humans are strange beings.

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 05:02 AM

Mobilisation increases Russian military threat - Ukrainian general

KYIV (Reuters) - Russia's recent mobilisation has increased its military threat in Ukraine, with better trained soldiers now arriving at the front line, the commander of Ukrainian ground forces said on Monday.

But he said Russia was now using a lot of old equipment because it had no other way of replenishing supplies, and that Russian forces had made only slow progress around Bakhmut, one of the main battle zones in eastern Ukraine.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/mobilisation-increases-russian-military-threat-ukrainian-general/ar-AA14U8Tc?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=54f39aaf6c7d426d8f535e69c6e4d755

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 05:09 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyOrOu3I6DQ

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 05:30 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2r9wuAC3HE

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 05:43 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcDPg9L9GOI

Skybird

12-06-22, 06:07 AM

^ Ded Moroz is coming... Does he bring presents for the kids? Certainly he does. Very special ones. :down:

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 08:10 AM

Due to "Ukrainian attacks" on territory of Russian Federation, "necessary measures will be taken", - Peskov

The Russian authorities take into account the situation with "Ukrainian strikes" on the territory of the Russian Federation and take the necessary measures against them.

This was stated by Putin's spokesman Dmytro Peskov, Censor.NET informs with reference to Interfax.

The press secretary of the Russian dictator was asked whether the Kremlin does not see a danger in the recent intensification of Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.

"Certainly, the line declared by the Ukrainian regime for the continuation of such terrorist acts is, of course, a factor of danger, and of course it is taken into account and the necessary measures are taken," said Peskov.

Earlier on December 5, it was reported that explosions occurred at Russian military airfields in the Saratov region and near Ryazan, resulting in damage to aircraft.

The Russian Ministry of Defense blamed Ukraine for the attack. The Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine stated that the explosions were "confirmation of the degradation" of the military infrastructure of the Russian Federation.

According to ISW analysts, Ukraine attacked airports with the help of drones, and can thus disrupt Russian plans to strike Ukrainian infrastructure. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385231

Russia has missiles for several more large-scale attacks. Production of new ones is quite limited, - Budanov

The Russian invaders have low stocks of high-precision missile weapons, and they are nearing completion.

This was reported by the head of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Ministry of Education, Kyrylo Budanov, Censor.NET informs.

"Yes, in fact, the reserves of high-precision missile weapons in the Russian Federation are already nearing completion. They have long since reached a critical minimum. However, as we can see, they have decided to go to the end, that is, to zero. Which, in principle, is very bad for the Russian Federation itself," - he said.

According to Budanov, the production of new Russian missiles is there, but it is absolutely insignificant compared to the huge number they use during missile attacks.

"Realistically, they have (missiles - ed.) left for a few more large-scale attacks and they will come to a complete zero. As we can see, they are certainly going for it. The production of new ones is quite limited and only a few types of high-precision missile weapons are produced," the leader of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385245

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 08:17 AM

Russians may repeat missile attack on December 6, - Air Force

Russia may launch a new missile attack on the territory of Ukraine already on Tuesday, December 6.

Yuriy Ihnat, the spokesman of the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, announced this on the air of the telethon, Censor.NET informs with reference to Suspilne.

"They can repeat today. First, it is a holiday (Day of the Armed Forces. - Ed.). Second, we see such trends that on October 10-11, October 17-18, strikes were carried out on one day, on the second day they struck somewhat less, but they still attacked," the soldier recalled.

He urged Ukrainians to always remember the missile threat.

"We must be ready for this. The entire Ukrainian nation must live in such realities, without any panic, with a cold mind. And the Armed Forces will do what they do best - protect citizens, their state," the spokesman emphasized.

Ignat added that during the previous attack, the Ukrainian military destroyed more than 60 Russian missiles, but Ukraine needs more forces and means to effectively defend against threats from the air.

"On December 5, another Russian aggression was repelled from the air, more than 60 rockets of the occupiers were shot down. And this is the merit of all the Defense Forces, the Air Force, everyone who defends our skies today. Many lives were saved today, critical infrastructure objects were saved. From the beginning since October, the enemy is doing it methodically, it is not changing its basic tactical plans - they are using aircraft, ships, other means. nothing new. S-300 missiles are also being launched from the Caspian Sea, from the Volgodonsk region. The Air Force is doing what it always does - it is fighting back," he said.

He noted that the air defense forces consist of anti-aircraft missile forces, engaged aviation, as well as mobile fire groups armed with anti-aircraft missile systems.

"The results show the serious training of the defenders of the sky. And we will continue to do it, hit the enemy as much as we can. We count on the support of our partners, who supply us with the necessary and modern air defense equipment little by little - this is the German Gepard, and IRIS-T, and NASAMS. We need more such systems so that we can really protect and strengthen the existing air defense systems, the basis of which today still consists of the Soviet Buk-M1 and S-300 complexes," noted Yuriy Ihnat.

The spokesman of the Air Force expressed hope that, in particular, the American side would help Ukraine in this matter. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385216

Reznikov on military aid from West: I am convinced that we will have tanks of NATO standards and even combat aircraft

Ukraine can receive Western tanks and combat aircraft from partners. But it must be understood that this is not just a matter of political negotiations, but of technological and logistical ones.

The head of the Ministry of Defense, Oleksiy Reznikov, stated this on the telethon, Censor.NET informs with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

Reznikov also made a statement regarding Ukraine's prospects for obtaining Patriot air defense systems.

"The fact is that Patriot is a medium-range air defense system, and NASAMS or IRIS-T is short, and there are even more long-range defeats. Everything is gradual, Patriot systems are very complex, expensive, and very long to manufacture. Compare, we even NASAMS received and now an order for new systems is underway for us. We received the IRIS-T from Germany and the production of new systems is underway. Therefore, this is an evolutionary path. You and I could not even imagine a year ago that we would have HIMARS, M270 systems or 155- and caliber," explained Reznikov.

He emphasized that one thing must be understood, Ukraine's partners are very practical, pragmatic and realistic.

"That's why they clearly understand - if they give a new system, they will realize that they have ammunition for them in their warehouses, missiles, systems for repair, there are instructors and our guys are trained," says Reznikov.

The head of the Ministry of Defense explains that this all takes time, but the main thing is that the industry of the partners is capable of producing such things.

"The same applies to Leopard tanks. Since they are 1st, 2nd and have different prices and conditions. Giving us two such tanks is useless, but 100 will matter. So they must be in good technical condition. Therefore, these are not just political negotiations, they are also technological and logistical. But I remain an optimist and believe that tanks of NATO standards will appear on the battlefield. And not only Leopard, just as today our artillery is fighting more than 8 155-caliber systems from different countries. Therefore, I am convinced, we will have tanks and even combat aircraft," the minister concluded. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385206

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 08:22 AM

We should give weapons to Ukraine and not tell Armed Forces where they can hit and where not - Head of Foreign Ministry of Latvia Rinkevich

Ukraine needs to be given any weapon capable of destroying bases with missiles and long-range aircraft on the territory of Russia, and not to tell it where it can hit and where it cannot.

This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgar Rinkevich, Censor.NET informs with reference to LIGA.net.

According to the head of the Foreign Ministry, there is a discussion between NATO, the EU, and allied countries to transfer long-range artillery systems, tanks and "even more effective" air defense systems to the Armed Forces, but "there are colleagues who are worried": they say, "does this not mean that Ukraine will apply these weapons to penetrate Russian territory?"

Rinkevich emphasized that such Western weapons should be given to the Armed Forces and placed in such a way that Ukraine could effectively defend itself against the destruction of its energy system.

"We must give the Ukrainians weapons. They cannot be restricted in using these weapons. ... Russia is shelling all of Ukraine without worrying about escalation, but we always think - 'oh, if only we didn't escalate something!'" But Russia with the destruction of Ukrainian of the energy system has long gone on a much more serious escalation," he explained.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia emphasized once again - "it cannot be the case that the aggressor uses absolutely all opportunities, and we are constantly trying to point out something to the country that defends itself from this aggressor." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385204

24 EU countries are ready to take part in new military mission for Ukraine

24 countries of the European Union submitted their proposals for participation in the new mission to train the Ukrainian military

This was announced by the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, Censor.NET informs with reference to Euro Integration.

"The training will take place in different EU countries: 24 member states have put forward more than 100 proposals for training modules, which are currently being considered for their relevance to Ukrainian needs," Borrell wrote in a blog on the website of the European External Action Service.

As of December 5, 15 modules are ongoing with the participation of 1,125 Ukrainian servicemen, and nine modules have already been completed with the participation of 377 servicemen.

It was previously reported that Ukrainian servicemen are already undergoing training at the Libava training ground in the Czech Republic.

We will remind you that the new training mission of the European Union for the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) has reached full operational readiness.

The mandate of the mission will initially last for two years, and the financial benchmark for total costs for this period will be 106.7 million euros.

The mission will ensure coordination with bilateral measures of member states in support of Ukraine, as well as with other international partners, and will be open to the participation of third states. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385178

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 08:30 AM

Total combat losses of Russian Federation since beginning of war - about 92,200 people, 2929 tanks, 1915 artillery systems, 5905 armored vehicles. INFOGRAPHICS

The Russian invaders, who invaded the territory of Ukraine, continue to suffer losses. As of the morning of December 6, the loss of enemy personnel is approximately 92,200.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the press center of the General Staff.

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 06.12 approximately amount to:

personnel - about 92,200 (+510) people were eliminated,
tanks - 2929 (+5) units,
armored fighting vehicles - 5905 (+5) units,
artillery systems - 1915 (+1) units,
MLRS - 395 (+0) units,
air defense equipment - 211 (+0) units,
aircraft - 281 (+0) units,
helicopters - 264 (+0) units,
UAVs of operational-tactical level - 1587 (+5),
cruise missiles - 592 (+61),
ships/boats - 16 (+0) units,
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 4505 (+8) units,
special equipment - 163 (+0). Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385180

Skybird

12-06-22, 10:10 AM

^ two above:

It takes 24 countries - to train 1500 Ukrainian soldiers...?

:o

Skybird

12-06-22, 10:14 AM

Ukraine war is not all good news for arms industry:

https://www.dw.com/en/sipri-ukraine-war-is-not-all-good-news-for-arms-industry/a-63953221

les green01

12-06-22, 10:20 AM

Ukraine has every right to slam russia bases attack targets inside russia and more power to them."Certainly, the line declared by the Ukrainian regime for the continuation of such terrorist acts is, of course, a factor of danger, and of course it is taken into account and the necessary measures are taken," said Peskov." don't attack a country unrevoked and you won't have that problem honest putin and his lapdogs sounds like a 2-year-old bullies we can do it but don't do it back at us i swear we just as well send a subsim donation of diapers and baby bottles to them with a note that says if you going act like one just as well be treated like one

les green01

12-06-22, 10:31 AM

^ two above:

It takes 24 countries - to train 1500 Ukrainian soldiers...?

:o

sounds like EU though it would take one country to reteach the Ukrainian soldiers not to turn around and run after the french taught them to do that,now UK would teach them to say everything with bloody in it and stop for the afternoon tea Sky you know Germany so you can take over from here:03:

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 01:29 PM

Talks about "Abrams" and "Patriot" from US are moving, but at speed of tank, not airplane, - Kuleba

Ukraine continues to ask the US for "Patriot" air defense systems and "Abrams" tanks.

This was announced by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, Censor.NET informs with reference to LIGA.net.

According to the minister, the issue of the supply of American tanks and "Patriot" systems is raised by the Ukrainian side at every international meeting and during every contact with the US - both at the level of President Volodymyr Zelensky, at the level of the head of the President's Office Andrii Yermak, and at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"This conversation is not easy for a number of reasons, but it is moving.
I definitely wish she could move at the speed of a plane, but she moves at the speed of a tank. That's why it takes time," Kuleba said.

He emphasized that Ukraine will continue to resolve issues related to the supply of weapons, and "there are no prohibited topics for us."

"Even if, theoretically, someone asked us not to touch on this or that issue, we would still continue to press and look for solutions," Kuleba added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385279

We count on leadership of Germany in transfer of "Patriot", "Leopard-2" tanks and "Marder" IFVs to Ukraine, - Kuleba

Ukraine is counting on Germany’s leadership in the transfer of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, Leopard-2 tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles, as there can be no taboos in the matter of helping Ukraine with weapons to protect all of Europe from the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said this at a briefing today, Censor.NET informs with reference to "Interfax-Ukraine".

"I thank Germany for the decision to strengthen our air defense and to hand over seven additional Gepard anti-aircraft guns. At the same time, Ukrainian diplomats continue to make efforts in negotiations with the German side regarding the transfer of Leopard-2 tanks and the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine," said Kuleba.

He noted that the German side has already demonstrated leadership in the supply of Iris-T air defense systems and other important weapons.

"We count on leadership in the transfer of Patriot, Leopard-2 tanks, and Marder IFVs. There can be no taboos in helping Ukraine with weapons to protect the whole of Europe from the armed aggression of the Russian Federation," the minister emphasized.

In addition, he once again called on all partners to strengthen military support for Ukraine.

"There is no need to look for excuses and postpone key decisions. It is time to close the sky over Ukraine - to do it with the help of air defense systems, which should come to Ukraine in sufficient numbers," said Kuleba. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385273

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 01:48 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDPrrfvZAJ0

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 02:18 PM

There will be no attack from Belarus now, - Budanov

Only defensive weapons are currently accumulated on the territory of Belarus.

This was stated by the head of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov, Censor.NET informs with reference to Ukrinform.

"There will be no attack on Ukraine by Belarus now. They absolutely do not want to do this. Everything that is happening in our media space, related to the subject of Belarus, is an echo of the Russian special information operation.
The main purpose of this operation is to sow panic among society and to divert our forces and means from the actual combat operations on the front lines where the actual combat operations are taking place. Our offensive goes on. This is the only goal they are trying to achieve," he explained.

According to the head of the Defence Intelligence, "exclusively defensive weapons, which, in principle, cannot be used offensively" have been accumulated on the territory of Belarus. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385286

One state cannot be allowed to disrupt provision of aid to Ukraine, - European Commission

The executive vice-president of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, is convinced that a political solution that will allow Ukraine to allocate 18 billion macro-financial aid in 2023 will be found in the near future so that the funds will start arriving in January 2023.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"Member states are committed to working to ensure that these funds reach Ukraine as early as January. Ukraine is at war and desperately needs support. We cannot allow one member state to delay and disrupt EU financial support. We will do it one way or another," he said.

Dombrovskis made the statement after a meeting of the European Economic and Financial Affairs Council, where three amendments to EU economic legislation were scheduled to be voted on. The amendments will allow providing these funds to Ukraine. During the meeting, Hungary blocked the adoption of a necessary legislative amendment, which required a unanimous decision. At the same time, the Council was able to adopt two other amendments, which required a qualified majority.

Dombrovskis assured that the work to find a solution will continue in the coming days. "The EU must demonstrate unity and solidarity and restrain the promises made to Ukraine," he emphasized.

Speaking about the possible solutions, the executive vice president reminded that the commission had already outlined them. "These are two options - guaranteeing to borrow can be from the EU budget, or it can be guaranteed from member states. These are two possibilities," Dombrovskis added.

Czech Finance Minister Zbigniew Stanyura, who is chairing the meeting, assured that everything possible will be done to guarantee the allocation of these funds in early January 2023. "Everything is possible. Whether it's plan A or plan B. At any cost. We have to do it. We have 20 days for plan A or plan B," he said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385316

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 02:31 PM

Russian missile attacks on civilian infrastructure are unequivocally war crimes, - French Foreign Ministry

France strongly condemns the bombings carried out by Russia on December 5 across the territory of Ukraine, which again targeted energy infrastructure, resulting in blackouts of electricity and heating.

This is stated in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, Censor.NET reports with reference to Ukrinform.

"These bombings, which did not pursue any military objective, took the lives of new victims and destroyed numerous important civilian infrastructure facilities. This systematic attack on the population in the middle of winter reflects a clear desire on the part of Russia to make the Ukrainian people suffer, to deprive them of water, heating, and electricity to undermine their stability, while the Russian armed forces continue to be defeated by the Ukrainian army," the French Foreign Ministry stated.

At the same time, the foreign policy department emphasized that "these actions are unequivocally war crimes" and again emphasized the position that the rapid haste and the expected increase in crimes by Russia in no way weaken France's determination to support Ukraine and fight impunity.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that France will remain mobilized to ensure that those responsible for every violation of international law, for every war crime, are brought to justice. Therefore, France supports the investigations conducted by Ukrainian justice and the International Criminal Court, including with the help of specialized investigators.

It is also noted that France will continue to support Ukraine, together with which it is organizing an international conference on December 13 at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in Paris, the purpose of which is to provide concrete answers to the urgent needs of the Ukrainian population to meet the winter and strengthen the coordination of international aid. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385337

Jimbuna

12-06-22, 02:39 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLqnPvF2XJ0

Catfish

12-06-22, 02:48 PM

^^^ Hungary's Orban is blocking the help for Ukraine, this is possible since EU laws demand an unanimous vote.
Orban does it because he wants to remain friend with Putin, but also to blackmail the EU, which has denied financial help for Orban due to Hungary's violations on human rights.
Maybe change the EU laws for a majority vote for such decisions. Or get him out of the EU.

Skybird

12-06-22, 02:58 PM

Be careful what you wish for. Unanimous vote has saved us several times from getting led by the nose into a continental superstate where democratic legitimations at the national parliamentary level has not even remains of a role anymore, and where the net takers plow under the net payers. And the ewU parlimaent ha sno democratic legitimation since the candidates do not candidate on the whole continent, a Spaniard cannot vote for an Irishman (whom he would not know anyway), and the EU parliament thankfully has no further powers. Just that occasionally they say something that sounds smart does not make them smart in general. Mostly they are just noisy, and insane, very opportunistic, woke and climate-extreme.

Catfish

12-06-22, 02:59 PM

I know, i also want to see Moscow burn.

Skybird

12-06-22, 04:31 PM

Sort of an excursion: the Neue Zürcher Zeitung writes:
-----------------------------------------------

Rheinmetall questions Switzerland as a production location

¨ The tightened War Material Act prevents subsequent deliveries of ammunition in the event of war. Germany, as the largest customer, doubts the reliability of the Swiss arms industry. The German Rheinmetall Group is now taking action.

Countering threats from the air is one of the most important capabilities of modern armies. It is about protecting their own population and critical infrastructures from cruise missiles, rockets or drones. Ukraine will survive the winter politically and militarily only thanks to a strong ground-based air defense.

An industrial center in the development of advanced defense systems in this field is Rheinmetall Air Defence, formerly Oerlikon-Bührle. The group conducts research and production in Switzerland - and it continues to set standards in all elements. From sensor technology, i.e. target recognition, to digital networking of the fire control system, to the actual hardware: the guns and the ammunition that goes with them.

Actually, the German parent company Rheinmetall, headquartered in Düsseldorf, had wanted to expand the Swiss site. There was talk of up to 60 additional jobs. But this plan has now been halted, as two independent sources confirmed to the NZZ. Even more, Rheinmetall is starting to move production lines from Switzerland to other countries. This was reported yesterday by Radio SRF in its "Echo der Zeit" program, also based on solid sources.

No export in case of war

Rheinmetall itself remains silent: "Please understand that in view of the security policy implications, we cannot comment on the subject at present," writes media spokesman Oliver Hoffmann to the NZZ in response to a corresponding inquiry. In fact, the topic is highly explosive. For Rheinmetall's corporate management is apparently putting a thick question mark behind the reliability of Swiss operations, as well as politics.

More is at stake than the 12,400 rounds of ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft tank, which have caused rancor between Bern and Berlin in recent weeks. The political spectacle surrounding the question of whether Germany should be allowed to continue supplying Ukraine with a small residual stock of 35mm bullets has flushed the real problem to the surface: foreign customers have realized that the Swiss arms industry would no longer be able to deliver supplies, especially ammunition, in the event of war.

This is what the Swiss War Material Act, which was tightened up just over a year ago, wants. The majority in parliament clearly stipulated in Article 22 that foreign transactions will not be approved "if the country of destination is involved in an internal or international armed conflict." In concrete terms, this means that if a country is at war, the Federal Council can no longer supply ammunition. In the event of an emergency, supplies from Switzerland would dry up.

Ammunition as the largest export item

The NATO states would also be affected if Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty were to be used to declare an alliance emergency: If a country is attacked, it can count on the support of its partner states. After a major incident in the Baltic States or in Poland, Switzerland's neighboring countries - with the exception of Austria - could find themselves at war with Russia within a very short time.

This primarily alarms Germany, which has cut back its defense capability in recent years. The Bundeswehr's ammunition depots are yawning empty. According to German media reports, supplies will not last more than one to three days. That is why representatives of industry and politics met last weekend to negotiate liabilities.

For certain armaments, however, there are dependencies on production in Switzerland. The reverse is also true: Germany is the largest buyer of ammunition from Switzerland. This is confirmed by the latest figures from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) in Bern: from January 1 to September 30 of this year, Swiss industry delivered almost 27 million francs worth of bullets to Germany. It is the largest export item in the current statistics.

Swiss security policy takes center stage

Despite the importance of production, Swiss politics is giving the issue a wide berth. Although a specific proposal by the FDP to relax re-export regulations is pending, no one likes to address the core of the debate: The War Material Act threatens the existence of domestic arms manufacturers. However, there is currently no majority in parliament to amend the law, and there is even the threat of a blocking majority: the left is stubbornly sticking to its pre-war ideological course, and the SVP is now getting in the way of its own neutrality initiative.

This situation does not strengthen the confidence of trading partners in Swiss suppliers. The fact that Rheinmetall now apparently wants to review Switzerland as a production location is a direct consequence of this. The Group is not merely responding to the sensitivities of German politicians, who like to point the finger at Switzerland to justify their own reluctance to support Ukraine. Pressure is now apparently also being exerted by the Netherlands and Denmark, which until now have only been able to order certain types of ammunition from Rheinmetall Switzerland.

Although the defence industry is not a mainstay of the Swiss export economy, it remains central to security policy: on the one hand for the transfer of know-how with partners, and on the other for equipping the Swiss army. If domestic competition is lacking, prices for new procurements from abroad could skyrocket. It is therefore not only a question of Switzerland's foreign policy positioning, but also of elementary security issues.
-----------------------------------------

Of course it is not acceptable to demand Switzerland to break its laws. But the Swiss must ask themselves whether that law of theirs really is that legit and wise.

And customers rightfully ask themselves whether it is wise if they become customers of the Swiss. In the end they may find themselves in he situation that while they are in a need to fight a war - Russia attacks NATO for example - the Swiss claim the right to not deliver them the ammo for the weapons they sold. That is absurd.

I wrote weeks ago that the Germans only talk of the Gepard ammo so they must not talk about Leopard tanks. I seem to have been on the wrong track there, now that I learn that other nations also have issues with the Swiss, also the private industry in signficant parts, independent from poltical calls from Berlin. At least it is not just a typical German government showact running there.

The Germans now check whether they can buy some Spanish company capable to be prepared to manufacture Gepard ammo. And the Gepard is on good use in Ukraione, they love it, they say. Germany plans to deliver 30 more. And as I predicted back then: the Gepard also is used in ground combat, apparently. Some of you did not want to believe that to be clever. I have snapped up random news repeatedly now, indicating that the Gepards are also used against infantry and APCs.

Stupid that the politicians ordered the Bundeswehr to sort them out. Simply stupid.

Dargo

12-06-22, 04:36 PM

Sort of an excursion: the Neue Zürcher Zeitung writes:
-----------------------------------------------

Rheinmetall questions Switzerland as a production location

¨ The tightened War Material Act prevents subsequent deliveries of ammunition in the event of war. Germany, as the largest customer, doubts the reliability of the Swiss arms industry. The German Rheinmetall Group is now taking action.

Countering threats from the air is one of the most important capabilities of modern armies. It is about protecting their own population and critical infrastructures from cruise missiles, rockets or drones. Ukraine will survive the winter politically and militarily only thanks to a strong ground-based air defense.

An industrial center in the development of advanced defense systems in this field is Rheinmetall Air Defence, formerly Oerlikon-Bührle. The group conducts research and production in Switzerland - and it continues to set standards in all elements. From sensor technology, i.e. target recognition, to digital networking of the fire control system, to the actual hardware: the guns and the ammunition that goes with them.

Actually, the German parent company Rheinmetall, headquartered in Düsseldorf, had wanted to expand the Swiss site. There was talk of up to 60 additional jobs. But this plan has now been halted, as two independent sources confirmed to the NZZ. Even more, Rheinmetall is starting to move production lines from Switzerland to other countries. This was reported yesterday by Radio SRF in its "Echo der Zeit" program, also based on solid sources.

No export in case of war

Rheinmetall itself remains silent: "Please understand that in view of the security policy implications, we cannot comment on the subject at present," writes media spokesman Oliver Hoffmann to the NZZ in response to a corresponding inquiry. In fact, the topic is highly explosive. For Rheinmetall's corporate management is apparently putting a thick question mark behind the reliability of Swiss operations, as well as politics.

More is at stake than the 12,400 rounds of ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft tank, which have caused rancor between Bern and Berlin in recent weeks. The political spectacle surrounding the question of whether Germany should be allowed to continue supplying Ukraine with a small residual stock of 35mm bullets has flushed the real problem to the surface: foreign customers have realized that the Swiss arms industry would no longer be able to deliver supplies, especially ammunition, in the event of war.

This is what the Swiss War Material Act, which was tightened up just over a year ago, wants. The majority in parliament clearly stipulated in Article 22 that foreign transactions will not be approved "if the country of destination is involved in an internal or international armed conflict." In concrete terms, this means that if a country is at war, the Federal Council can no longer supply ammunition. In the event of an emergency, supplies from Switzerland would dry up.

Ammunition as the largest export item

The NATO states would also be affected if Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty were to be used to declare an alliance emergency: If a country is attacked, it can count on the support of its partner states. After a major incident in the Baltic States or in Poland, Switzerland's neighboring countries - with the exception of Austria - could find themselves at war with Russia within a very short time.

This primarily alarms Germany, which has cut back its defense capability in recent years. The Bundeswehr's ammunition depots are yawning empty. According to German media reports, supplies will not last more than one to three days. That is why representatives of industry and politics met last weekend to negotiate liabilities.

For certain armaments, however, there are dependencies on production in Switzerland. The reverse is also true: Germany is the largest buyer of ammunition from Switzerland. This is confirmed by the latest figures from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) in Bern: from January 1 to September 30 of this year, Swiss industry delivered almost 27 million francs worth of bullets to Germany. It is the largest export item in the current statistics.

Swiss security policy takes center stage

Despite the importance of production, Swiss politics is giving the issue a wide berth. Although a specific proposal by the FDP to relax re-export regulations is pending, no one likes to address the core of the debate: The War Material Act threatens the existence of domestic arms manufacturers. However, there is currently no majority in parliament to amend the law, and there is even the threat of a blocking majority: the left is stubbornly sticking to its pre-war ideological course, and the SVP is now getting in the way of its own neutrality initiative.

This situation does not strengthen the confidence of trading partners in Swiss suppliers. The fact that Rheinmetall now apparently wants to review Switzerland as a production location is a direct consequence of this. The Group is not merely responding to the sensitivities of German politicians, who like to point the finger at Switzerland to justify their own reluctance to support Ukraine. Pressure is now apparently also being exerted by the Netherlands and Denmark, which until now have only been able to order certain types of ammunition from Rheinmetall Switzerland.

Although the defence industry is not a mainstay of the Swiss export economy, it remains central to security policy: on the one hand for the transfer of know-how with partners, and on the other for equipping the Swiss army. If domestic competition is lacking, prices for new procurements from abroad could skyrocket. It is therefore not only a question of Switzerland's foreign policy positioning, but also of elementary security issues.
-----------------------------------------Deutschland will keine Schweizer Munition mehr kaufen: Bern ist aus Berliner Sicht kein verlässlicher Rüstungslieferant mehr. Der Streit um den Flugabwehrpanzer Gepard hat Folgen – weit über den Gepard hinaus. Meine Recherche. (€)

Germany no longer wants to buy Swiss ammunition: From Berlin's point of view, Bern is no longer a reliable armament's supplier. The dispute over the anti-aircraft tank Gepard has consequences - far beyond the Gepard. my research ( € ) https://twitter.com/eigenmannberlin/status/1599659840577581056

Skybird

12-06-22, 04:53 PM

Germany no longer wants to buy Swiss ammunition: From Berlin's point of view, Bern is no longer a reliable armament's supplier. The dispute over the anti-aircraft tank Gepard has consequences - far beyond the Gepard. my research
The Germans nevertheless are hypocrites, because they behave the same way regarding tanks and IFVs they have sold to other NATO states and that thes estates weanted to give to the ukraine. Germany prohibited that.

Many members of Babble-Olaf's SPD are still russophile allies-in-mind of their red buddies in Russia - or those the yimagine to be that - , and a significant part of them also are radical "pacifists" who even accept the victim being abused before giving it the right to defend itself against the attacker.

Which in my book is no pacifism, but barbaric and cold-hearted cynism.

Skybird

12-06-22, 06:14 PM

The U.S. secretly modified the advanced Himars rocket launchers (https://www.wsj.com/articles/himars-transform-battle-for-ukraine-modern-warfare-11665169716?mod=article_inline) it gave Ukraine so they can’t be used to fire long-range missiles into Russia, U.S. officials said, a precaution the Biden administration says is necessary to reduce the risk of a wider war (https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-walks-fine-line-sharing-intelligence-with-ukraine-in-war-with-russia-11651921201?mod=article_inline) with Moscow.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-altered-himars-rocket-launchers-to-keep-ukraine-from-firing-missiles-into-russia-11670214338

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

Poland is set to accept the Patriot air defense systems offered by Germany to defend its airspace after all. Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak wrote on Twitter on Tuesday that work was underway to station the Patriots on Polish territory and place them under Polish command.

However, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) had already insisted that the German air defense systems are part of NATO's integrated air defense. There had initially been no talk of placing the weapons systems under Polish command.

Maybe Poland would consider to rename into Provokeland...? And just in: since they are at it again, they have raised their demands for German reparations. They now want 1.3 trillion. I am sure they know the meaning of that certain phrase that begins with F.

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

ET2SN

12-06-22, 06:49 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLqnPvF2XJ0

So, some of you Cold War gamers might recognize Saratov. :hmmm:

It also has the NATO designation of Engals-2 and its the home base of Russian Strategic bombers. The large aircraft like Tu-95 Bears and what's left of the Tu-160s are based there.
This would be like hitting Barksdale AFB today if Barksdale sat next to Offut AFB in Nebraska.

This strike took some serious ##lls to pull off, however they did it. :yep::up:

August

12-06-22, 07:20 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI63wmnrxTY

Jimbuna

12-07-22, 06:05 AM

Vladimir Putin plans ‘necessary' measures after second Ukraine drone hits Russia

On Tuesday morning, reports came in that an oil storage tank had exploded near Kursk city in the Bryansk region of Russia. Roman Starovoyt, the Governor of Kursk, had blamed the attack on a Ukrainian drone, but Ukraine has not taken responsibility for the strike.

The Russian news outlet Baza reported that two drones "fell and exploded three meters from diesel fuel tanks."

The media organisation said: "At this point, the five-ton tanks were empty and a serious fire was avoided."

However, the explosion of the oil storage rank near an airbase did cause some fire, as video footage published on social media showed the area covered in thick black smoke.

Kursk's Governor, Mr Starovoyt, said there were no casualties but that fighters had been tackling a 500 square-meter blaze.

On Mr Starovoyton's Telegram channel, said: "The fire is localised. All emergency services working at the site."

On Tuesday afternoon, it was confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had met with his Security Council to ensure discuss Russia's "domestic security" after the drone strike.

Dmitry Peskov, Putin's official spokesman, said, officials were taking "necessary" measures to protect Russia from Ukrainian attacks.

When asked how the drone strikes by reporters, Mr Peskov said: "Of course, the line openly declared by the Ukrainian regime to continue such terrorist acts is a danger factor."

The drone strike on Tuesday is the second drone attack in Russia this week, as Russia's Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian drones had attacked two airbases on Monday.

Russia's Defense Ministry also reported that the drone strikes killed three servicemen while wounding four other men in south-central Russia.

The drone strikes are significant as they would be the farthest into Russian territory Ukraine has managed to attack since the war began.

The attacks took place at the Engels-2 and Dyagilevo airbases in Saratov and Ryazan, which caused two aircrafts to be damaged

Ukraine has also not claimed responsibility for the attack, however, a senior Ukrainian official spoke to the New York Times and said the drone attack had been launched from Ukraine's territory.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/vladimir-putin-plans-necessary-measures-after-second-ukraine-drone-hits-russia/ar-AA14ZR7f?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=7fd4015603ee464999f7c5c25b45fc07

Jimbuna

12-07-22, 06:08 AM

U.S. approves potential sale $3.75 billion of M1A1 Abrams tanks to Poland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department has approved a potential sale of 116 General Dynamics made M1A1 Abrams tanks, other vehicles and munitions to Poland in a deal valued at up to $3.75 billion, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

The sale comes just months after Poland was authorized to buy 250 M1A2 tanks by the same maker. With this new option, Poland could elect to buy a mix of the two tank versions as it seeks to modernize its military and adjust to new geopolitical realities following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The package would include vehicles to recover disabled tanks, eight assault bridges and other vehicles. It would also provide thousands of rounds of advanced munitions including armor-piercing rounds, spares and technical support, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale on Tuesday.

Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.

(Reporting by Mike Stone and Paul Grant; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Lisa Shumaker)
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/u-s-approves-potential-sale-3-75-billion-of-m1a1-abrams-tanks-to-poland/ar-AA14Z1Me?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=230e457b3f8d4e9f8d8c001ccdbc4720

Jimbuna

12-07-22, 06:15 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTG03spt3W0

Jimbuna

12-07-22, 06:23 AM

Rumors of possible invasion of AFU are spreading in Kursk region of Russian Federation, - General Staff

Rumors are spreading in Russia about an alleged possible invasion of Ukrainian troops into the territory of the Kursk region, and fortifications are being built in the border areas.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the data of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"The enemy continues to suffer losses. The number of dead occupiers among the mobilized Kursk region is increasing, as evidenced by the local mass media. In addition, due to information about human losses, the younger generation of Russians is less and less supporting the war in Ukraine," the department said.

Also in the Ukrainian General Staff, in the Russian city of Kursk and the region, rumors about a possible invasion of the AFU are spreading.

"In connection with this, the fortification equipment of defensive positions in the border areas with Ukraine is in progress," the message says. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385410

US approved defense budget with record aid to Ukraine: giving more than Biden wanted

The Senate of the US Congress approved a record defense budget of 847.3 billion dollars, including 800 million dollars for military aid to Ukraine.

This is stated in the draft law, Censor.NET reports with reference to Liga.net.

This assistance to Ukraine is billed as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). It has been held annually since the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine in 2014.

US lawmakers agreed to approve $45 billion more in total military spending than President Joe Biden had requested and to allocate $500 million more to Ukraine than the White House requested.

The total US defense budget for the 2023 fiscal year will thus amount to $857.9 billion, of which $816.7 billion will go specifically to the Pentagon, and $30.3 billion will go to Pentagon-led national security programs.

This amount includes:

ensuring strategic competition with China and Russia;
breakthrough technologies (hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, 5G, and quantum computing);
modernization of ships, planes, and vehicles;
raising the standard of living of servicemen and their families.
Lawmakers adopted a decision on periodic reports "on the plans of the Ministry of Defense to assist Ukraine in the short and medium term".

The document authorizes the temporary lifting of certain contract restrictions on munitions to support Ukraine or to increase Pentagon stockpiles and provides expanded authority to use NATO's rear support arrangements and provides for multi-year purchases of certain munitions.

The document emphasizes the "unwavering commitment of the United States to NATO," as well as the "importance of maintaining a unified response to Russia's unjust war against Ukraine and other common security challenges."

The bill "expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to assist Ukraine in combating an unjust and unprovoked attack by Russia," and transparency/audit of such assistance "is necessary to ensure effective and sustainable support."

It is assumed that the vote on the bill will take place in the House of Representatives by the end of the week. The bill will take effect immediately after President Biden signs it. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385426

Jimbuna

12-07-22, 06:31 AM

Total combat losses of Russian Federation since beginning of war - about 92,740 people, 2,935 tanks, 1,923 artillery systems, 5,909 armored vehicles. INFOGRAPHICS

The Russian occupiers, who invaded the territory of Ukraine, continue to suffer losses. As of the morning of December 7, the loss of enemy personnel are approximately 92,740 people.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the press center of the General Staff.

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24/02 to 07/12 are approximately:

personnel ‒ about 92,740 (+540) people were liquidated,
tanks ‒ 2935 (+6) units,
armored fighting vehicles ‒ 5909 (+4) units,
artillery systems - 1,923 (+8) units,
MLRS – 395 (+0) units,
anti-aircraft warfare systems ‒ 211 (+0) units,
aircraft – 281 (+0) units,
helicopters - 264 (+0) units,
UAVs of the operational-tactical level - 1601 (+14),
cruise missiles ‒ 592 (+0),
Warships/boats ‒ 16 (+0) units,
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 4526 (+21) units,
special equipment - 163 (+0).
"The data is being verified," the General Staff added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385427

Russia does not want negotiations, but "freezing" of war for new attack in spring, - Stoltenberg

There are currently no conditions for a peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine.

As reported by Censor.NET with reference to FT, this was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

According to him, although the conflict will likely enter a calmer phase in the winter, both sides will seek to regroup and rearm their forces, and therefore NATO countries should continue to provide support to Ukraine.

"There are no conditions (for a diplomatic settlement. - Ed.) now," Stoltenberg said and added that Russia has not shown any signs of wanting a peaceful end to the war.

"The more we want a peaceful solution, the more urgently we provide military support to Ukraine," the NATO Secretary General stressed.

Stoltenberg believes that Russia is trying to "freeze" the conflict before "the start of a bigger offensive in the spring."

"Now Ukraine has momentum," he said, adding that NATO countries are constantly considering which systems (weapons. - Ed.) to supply to Ukraine. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385454

Jimbuna

12-07-22, 09:01 AM

Russian Federation is ready to discuss proposals to end war in Ukraine, but our interests must be taken into account, - Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia is allegedly ready to discuss proposals to end the war in Ukraine.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the propaganda publication RIA Novosti.

"If there is a serious proposal on how to stop the conflict in Ukraine, we are ready to talk, but it must take into account the interests of Russia," said the head of the foreign ministry of the occupying country. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385474

Jimbuna

12-07-22, 02:26 PM

Putin: Nuclear risk is rising, but we are not mad

By Alys Davies
BBC News

Vladimir Putin has said the threat of a nuclear war was rising, but insisted Russia had not "gone mad" and would not use its nuclear weapons first.

The Russian president insisted that his country would only use weapons of mass destruction in response to an attack.

Speaking at Russia's annual human rights council meeting, he also said the war in Ukraine could be a "lengthy process".

Western officials believe Putin initially planned for a rapid victory.

Russia's capacity to use nuclear weapons has come under increased scrutiny since it invaded Ukraine in February.

"Such a threat is growing, it would be wrong to hide it," Putin warned while talking about the prospect of nuclear war via video link from Moscow.

But he asserted that Russia would "under no circumstances" use the weapons first, and would not threaten anyone with its nuclear arsenal.

"We have not gone mad, we are aware of what nuclear weapons are," he said, adding: "We aren't about to run around the world brandishing this weapon like a razor."

Putin also boasted that Russia had the most modern and advanced nuclear weapons in the world, and contrasted its nuclear strategy to the US - who he said had gone further than Russia by locating its nuclear weapons on other territories.

"We do not have nuclear weapons, including tactical ones, on the territory of other countries, but the Americans do - in Turkey, and in a number of other European countries," he said.

Putin has previously insisted that Russia's nuclear doctrine only allowed for the defensive use of nuclear arms.

Appearing to recognise that his plan to claim victory within days of invading Ukraine had failed, Putin admitted the war could be a "lengthy process".

However, he said the results had already been "significant" - for example, the new territories Russia has illegally claimed after sham-referendums in four regions of Ukraine.

He boasted that the annexations had made the Sea of Azov - which is bordered by south-east Ukraine and south-west Russia - an "internal sea" of Russia, adding that this was an aspiration of Russian Tsar Peter the Great. President Putin has compared himself to the 17th and 18th Century ruler before.

But - despite claiming the regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk as Russian territory - Russia does not control large parts of those areas.

Last month, Russian forces were forced to retreat from Kherson city, the only regional capital they had seized since the February invasion.

In the run-up to Wednesday's meeting, 10 members of the council who had expressed doubts about the war were removed. Pro-war replacements were brought in instead.

Subjects to be discussed during the meeting were also heavily vetted beforehand, according to the independent Russian news outlet Vertska.

In recent weeks, Russia's nuclear doctrine has come under close scrutiny on when nuclear arms could be used, in particular a "tactical" weapon that might be unleashed on the battlefield in Ukraine.

A tactical nuclear weapon is for use in combat, as opposed to the larger "strategic" weapons which are designed to cause massive destruction.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63893316

Jimbuna

12-07-22, 02:49 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6HeLSInp7c

Jimbuna

12-07-22, 02:58 PM

"The threat of nuclear war is growing, why hide the truth," - Putin

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin again mentioned nuclear weapons and assured the Russian Federation would never be the first to use them.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to RIA Novosti.

"Regarding the threat of nuclear war. Such a threat is growing. Regarding the fact that Russia will not use the first under any circumstances. It will not use the second, either. Because the possibility of use in the event of a nuclear strike on our territory is minimal. However, our strategy of using defense means, and we consider weapons of mass destruction as a means of protection, completely configured around the so-called counter-strike in response. If we are hit, we respond," Putin said.

According to the Russian dictator, Russia did not discuss the possibility of using nuclear weapons.

"We are not out of our minds; we are aware of nuclear weapons. But we are not going to swing these weapons like a razor around the world," he added.

We will remind, earlier the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, Dmytro Medvedev, stated that Ukraine's de-occupation of its territories is a "direct reason" for Russia's use of nuclear weapons. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385557

Rockstar

12-07-22, 03:35 PM

One year later he was killed by Russian assassins.

https://youtu.be/4cq2nnwH43M

Skybird

12-07-22, 03:53 PM

August

12-07-22, 11:16 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9dk2L9K1SU

Jimbuna

12-08-22, 06:29 AM

Putin makes extraordinary claim only Russia can protect Ukraine from Polish invasion

According to Vladimir Putin, Poland has grand designs on Ukraine and has made the bold claim that Russia is the country's only saving grace. According to Faytuks News, Putin claims that Russia is the only guarantor of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

It reported on its Twitter account: "Poland wants to seize territories in western Ukraine. Russia could be the only guarantor of Ukraine's territorial integrity, Putin says.

"Nationalist elements in Poland 'sleep and see' in order to take western Ukraine, which Ukraine received thanks to Stalin's decisions after WW2.

"This will be the case, the only real guarantor of Ukraine's territorial integrity within its current borders could be Russia - Putin."

It follows on from news on Tuesday morning, when reports came in that an oil storage tank had exploded near Kursk city in the Bryansk region of Russia.
Roman Starovoyt, the Governor of Kursk, had blamed the attack on a Ukrainian drone, but Ukraine has not taken responsibility for the strike.

The Russian news outlet Baza reported that two drones "fell and exploded three meters from diesel fuel tanks."

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/putin-makes-extraordinary-claim-only-russia-can-protect-ukraine-from-polish-invasion/ar-AA151KgX?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=eaf6e3cd7a194758bd6ddb7b7e47b058

Jimbuna

12-08-22, 07:07 AM

AFU do not agree with US on operations and strikes on territory of Russian Federation, - Pentagon

Ukraine does not coordinate with the US possible military operations and strikes on the territory of Russia.

This was stated by Pentagon representative Sabrina Singh at the briefing, Censor.NET reports with reference to Liga.net.

This is how she commented on the recent explosions at the airfields in Engels and Ryazan.

According to the representative of the Pentagon, she cannot say that Kyiv and Washington are constantly communicating about future attacks on the Russians. She noted that the contacts relate to the military aid that Ukraine needs.

"They make decisions on the ground, in terms of targeting, in terms of when they conduct the operation.
We assist in ensuring security. So no, we were not necessarily informed or aware of any strike in Russia," Singh said.

The representative of the Pentagon emphasized that it is worth contacting the Ukrainian military directly for details. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385696

Hungary opposed new package of EU sanctions against Russian Federation, - Financial Times

At a meeting of EU ambassadors, Hungary opposed the planned new package of anti-Russian sanctions.

As Censor.NET reports, this was reported by the Financial Times on Thursday with reference to sources.

"At the meeting of EU ambassadors held yesterday, Hungary, which already vetoed the 18 billion euro aid package for Ukraine on Tuesday, opposed the new package of sanctions against Russia and the proposal to double the EU fund for providing arms to Ukraine and other countries." - says the publication.

"They are behaving in a difficult way wherever they can. It is becoming quite predictable," commented a high-ranking EU official who was informed about the progress of the meetings. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385710

Jimbuna

12-08-22, 07:11 AM

On December 8, 3 ships with 78.6 thousand tons of agricultural products for Africa and Asia left ports of Odesa. PHOTOS

Since August 1, 531 ships left the ports of Odesa, which exported 13.3 million tons of Ukrainian food to the countries of Asia, Europe, and Africa.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine.

"Among them is the bulk carrier FULMAR S with 11,500 tons of agricultural products for Egypt," the message says.

Currently, 20 vessels are being processed in the ports of Greater Odessa. 557.4 thousand tons of Ukrainian agricultural products are loaded onto them.

4 vessels are moving along the "grain corridor" to load 80,000 tons of agricultural products. Source: https://censor.net/en/p3385720

Russian Federation can end war at least tomorrow if Zelensky wishes, - Peskov

Putin’s spokesman, Dmytro Peskov, said that the war could end tomorrow if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky desired so.

This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to Interfax.

"In this case, you can think about when it could all end. Zelensky knows when it can all end: it can all end tomorrow if he wants to," said the press secretary of the Russian dictator. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385727

Danilov replied to Merkel: "In order to end war, Ukraine does not need negotiating table. Putin’s capitulation can be accepted standing up."

Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security Council, commented on the statement of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said that the war in Ukraine "will end with negotiations" because "wars end at the negotiating table."

Danilov published the comment on Twitter, Censor.NET informs.

Merkel also didn't answer when and under what circumstances negotiations could begin.

"To end the war, Ukraine does not need a negotiating table, Putin's capitulation can be accepted standing up. P.S. Madame took part in the Minsk agreements, the results are known," the NSDC secretary emphasized. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385739

Jimbuna

12-08-22, 02:49 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbRMnJ3b5o0

Jimbuna

12-08-22, 02:59 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECCMRFK7FAs

Jimbuna

12-08-22, 03:03 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x56vy5Eyvk

Jimbuna

12-09-22, 05:18 AM

Putin vows to continue hitting Ukraine's power grid

Vladimir Putin has vowed to continue attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure despite millions being left without electricity or water.

"Yes, we do that. But who started it?" the Russian president said at an awards ceremony in the Kremlin.

He said that criticism of Russian strikes would "not interfere with our combat missions".

Moscow has been battering Ukraine's power grid since 10 October, following a string of heavy military defeats.

Some Western leaders have called the strategy a war crime, because of the huge amount of damage caused to civilian infrastructure.

But President Putin said that growing global criticism would not stop the strikes.

"There's a lot of noise about our strikes on the energy infrastructure of a neighbouring country. Yes, we do that. But who started it?" he said to recipients of state awards, including the "Hero of Russia" medal.

He said the strikes were in response to a blast on the Russian bridge to annexed Crimea on 8 October. He also accused Ukraine of blowing up power lines from the Kursk nuclear power plant and of cutting water supply to Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

"Not supplying water to a city of more than a million people is an act of genocide," Mr Putin said, accusing the West of "complete silence" on these claims and of bias against Russia.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63907803

Jimbuna

12-09-22, 05:19 AM

Risk of Russia using nuclear weapons has lessened, says Germany's Scholz

The risk of nuclear weapons being used in the Ukraine conflict has lessened "for the time being", says German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"Russia has stopped threatening to use nuclear weapons in response to the international community marking a red line," Mr Scholz said.

On Wednesday, Russia's Vladimir Putin suggested that Moscow would only use nuclear weapons in retaliation.

But the US denounced the comments as "loose talk".

Russia's capacity to use nuclear weapons has come under increased scrutiny since it invaded Ukraine in February. In an address to the nation in September, Mr Putin said his country had "various weapons of destruction" and would "use all the means available to us", adding: "I'm not bluffing."

In an interview on Thursday, Mr Scholz said that his recent visit to China had contributed to "putting a stop" to the threat of nuclear escalation.

He said that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping were in agreement that "nuclear weapons must not be used" and that the G20 countries had reaffirmed this position shortly afterwards.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63900195

Jimbuna

12-09-22, 05:20 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnS5-0ZCw3E

Reece

12-09-22, 05:27 AM

^ :yeah:

Vladimir Putin has vowed to continue attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure despite millions being left without electricity or water.

Putin is worse than Hitler in my opinion, what a miserable piece of crap, Slimy maggot!! :k_confused:

Skybird

12-09-22, 06:12 AM

Skybird

12-09-22, 07:57 AM

Looser.

Correction: drunk looser.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5oe6Lyzuq4

No matter the near and distant future: he is done, and he knows it.

This not necessarily is good news for Ukraine. He will be replaced with somebody from the very same gangster cartel that he stems from and has helped to establish further inside the Kremlin, and outside. His sucessor easily could be even worse than Putin was himself. So even if Putin is done", it does not mean the war is won for Ukraine - it can still get bombe dinto oblivionm, without Putin. There are wannabe-leaders standing behidnPutin who are much worse than Putin is. And Russia still has many bodies to donate to the "cause". And huge stockpiles of old, outdated but nevertheless boom-booming ammunition. That is no nice perspective for the civil population in Ukraine.

Macronman babbles of security guarantees for Russia. He parrots the Russian proganda narration there: Not Russia needs such guarantees, since nobody was threatening Russia with war and invasion, but the ukraine needs such guarantees.Question is: what would they be worth? They got guarantees when they gave up their nuclear weapons. They got guarantees again after the Russian invasion 2014. Now they wanz such guarantees again, especially and namely from Germany.

Germany...? With its hopelessly reduced numbers of soldiers and platforms, and plenty of ammo reserves that are capable to sustain a hot war for 48 hours, not longer...???

If there is one country whose security guarantees necessarily can only mean nothing, then Germany.

The ukraine, so I read, fires more ammo in 5-7 days than the whole forces of the UK have stored right now. The eimmense consummation rate of ammo means big troubles for NAOT countries and the US, for next year the rates at whioch it has been handed out hardly can be maintained any longer, not to speak of replacing the missiles and rounds given to ukraine: it will take many years to even replace what has been given away now. Thats is especially true for the US.

mapuc

12-09-22, 10:47 AM

You right he's done-The big question is:

Will he go peacefully or with a huge bang

Markus

Rockstar

12-09-22, 11:25 AM

Tuff call, I agree with Skybird that Putin most likely would be replaced by someone just like him, or worse. But how far would the new leaders power extend remains to be seen. Too many cracks in the Empires armor has been exposed for me to think it can stay together long enough to consolidate power.

mapuc

12-09-22, 12:46 PM

Dargo

12-09-22, 01:24 PM

We all expect a replacement by someone just like him, or worse

What if Russia gets a second Gorbachev.

I don't know to be honest, which is the most likely outcome after Putin is no more. Will he be replaced with someone like him or worse or...

MarkusI see no Andropov who was Gorbachev closest ally in the Politburo on his deathbed he indicated his desire that Gorbachev succeed him and there is no Gorbachev only a majority of hardliners that find that Putin is too soft.

mapuc

12-09-22, 02:14 PM

I see no Andropov who was Gorbachev closest ally in the Politburo on his deathbed he indicated his desire that Gorbachev succeed him and there is no Gorbachev only a majority of hardliners that find that Putin is too soft.

I was thinking on a person unknown for the ordinary people in the West. Who will be the second Gorbachev

Markus

Jimbuna

12-09-22, 03:42 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS0AKI_a3aw

Jimbuna

12-09-22, 03:44 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlX9nK_Szic

Jimbuna

12-09-22, 03:46 PM

Kremlin critic Yashin jailed for 8 years for 'fake news' on Russia war

One of Russia's most prominent opposition figures, Ilya Yashin, has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years for spreading "fake news" about the country's military.

One of few Kremlin critics to stay in Russia after it invaded Ukraine, Yashin continued to speak out against the war.

He was arrested after he condemned suspected Russian war crimes in the Ukrainian town of Bucha.

Soon after the invasion, Russia made reporting "false information" a crime.

Several Russians have since been given jail terms, but Yashin's sentence is the longest so far.

He denied the charge, but Judge Oksana Goryunova said he had knowingly disseminated fake information about the Russian armed forces.

Last April, he had spoken on his YouTube channel about the killing of hundreds of Ukrainian civilians by Russia's occupying forces in Bucha, outside the capital, Kyiv.

He told the court that he had given both the official Russian and Ukrainian versions of the story. During the video, he shared images and stories from the scene by the BBC and others. Russia's defence ministry has condemned the accusations as a fabricated "provocation" and images of dead civilians as "staged".

Prosecutors had called for a nine-year jail sentence. His lawyer Maria Eismont said they would appeal against the verdict.

In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Yashin told supporters there was no reason to be sad: "We told the truth about war crimes and called for an end to the bloodshed."

Russia's best-known opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, said the "shameless and lawless verdict by Putin's court will not silence Ilya", describing him as probably the first friend he had made in politics.

Interviewed by BBC Russian in July, Yashin said his arrest had not come as a surprise, as Russian authorities had made clear that there were only two alternatives for Kremlin opponents: emigration or jail.

Asked whether he could still challenge Russia's president from prison, he said it was important there were people in the opposition prepared to resist.

Speaking outside the court on Friday, Yashin's supporters condemned the jail sentence as unfair and a violation of the right to freedom of speech.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63915301

Jimbuna

12-09-22, 03:49 PM

Perhaps war should have started earlier - Putin

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is disappointed by the statement of former German chancellor Angela Merkel that the signed Minsk agreements gave Ukraine time to prepare for war with Russia.

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

In November, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her stance on Ukraine at the Minsk peace talks gave Kyiv time to defend itself against the Russian military better.

Putin said Merkel's statement was "unexpected" for him and "disappointed" him.

"Frankly speaking, I did not expect to hear this from the former federal chancellor. I always assumed that the leadership of the Federal Republic behaved sincerely with us. Yes, of course, it was on the side of Ukraine, supported Ukraine. But it still seemed to me that the leadership of the Federal Republic has always sincerely sought to settle the principles we agreed upon and which were achieved, including within the framework of the Minsk process," said the Russian dictator.

According to Putin, Merkel's statement "speaks only of what we all did right in launching a 'special military operation.'

The President of the Russian Federation also stated that Ukraine allegedly did not intend to comply with the Minsk agreements.

"I hoped the other participants in this process were sincere with us. It turns out that they were also deceiving us. The point was only to pump Ukraine with weapons and prepare for hostilities. We found our way late, to be honest. Maybe even earlier all this (the war. - Ed.) had to be started," Putin added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386026

Erdogan will hold talks with Putin and Zelensky: They will discuss "grain corridor"

The war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine is associated with serious political, economic and humanitarian damage to the entire world.

As reported by Censor.NET with reference to Anadolu, this was stated by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish leader emphasized that his country strongly supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

At the same time, Erdogan said, Turkey opposes inciting contradictions in the region through "unthinkable policies towards the Russian Federation."

He announced that on Sunday, December 11, he will hold negotiations with Russian dictator Putin on the topic of the grain corridor.

A conversation with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is also planned. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3385951

Dargo

12-09-22, 04:50 PM

The recent successes of Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv and Kherson offensive operations has given rise to countless speculations about the future course of Ukrainian actions. It is becoming more obvious that Ukraine will do its best to exploit to the fullest extent possible this window of opportunity that has been opened by the combination of Ukraine’s skillful defense, Western aid and Russian miscalculations. The Ukrainian top brass hope to make significant progress before Russia completes the process of integrating recently mobilized recruits into the fighting force and creates defense-in-depth along the major operational directions.

In their grand strategy, the Ukrainian authorities have made clear that Kyiv will not agree to any temporary ceasefire or truce (Svoboda, November 15). Such a stance reflects bitter lessons from the Minsk-1 and Minsk-2 agreements, which not only did not guarantee the return of the occupied parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to Ukraine but also ended with the initiation of Russia’s large-scale aggression on February 24. Moreover, unlike 2014 and 2015, when the Minsk agreements were forced onto Ukraine due to Russian successes on the battlefield and were treated as a means to alleviate Russia’s preponderance in firepower, today, the battlefield dynamics do not favor Russia, as Ukraine possesses Western-supplied long-range precision firepower.

Any speculation on future Ukrainian actions should proceed from analysis of the present operating environment and existing constraints. But first, it is necessary to recall the recent developments that have led to the current state of play. Ukraine’s military leadership skillfully exploited the fact that, even after withdrawal from northern Ukraine, the Russian side tried to do too much with too little—not only in attempting to hold a lengthy frontline (approximately 1,100 kilometers) but also in hoping to advance in eastern Ukraine with a grouping of forces numbering only 330,000 troops (Lb.ua, June 12; Liga.net June 16). Thus, Russian forces reached the culmination point of its military strategy in August 2022 without any major accomplishments. Then, Ukrainian actions further destabilized the front by baiting Russian formations toward the western part of Kherson region. This opened a window for the Balakliya-Kupyansk offensive operation (see EDM, September 13). Next, Russians were forced to withdraw from the western part of Kherson region due to a successful combination of Western-supplied long-range firepower targeting command-and-control nodes and vulnerable logistics links over the Dnipro River, complemented with frontal advances. In sum, Ukraine was successful in its operations at the extreme fringes of the Russian frontline.

As a result of these successful Ukrainian actions, the length of the Russian frontline decreased from 1,100 to 880 kilometers (km), of which 380 km constitute solid river barriers (Zaborona.com, November 25). Furthermore, the front-line configuration resembles a curved semicircle with a depth from 70 to 130 km on dry land. This brings three key developments. First, the Russian grouping must now maintain almost half the frontage it did in the summer, with forces that include a withdrawn contingent from Dnipro’s right bank plus recently mobilized units to create the proper density of troops for proportioning along the front. Second, this smaller frontage makes it easier for Russia to anticipate the directions of future Ukrainian offensive operations while making it harder for Ukraine to execute successful strategic deception in the direction of the real advance. At the moment, there are two possible directions for such an advance—Melitipol-Berdyansk and Svatove-Kreminna. Third, the current configuration of the front makes it impossible to achieve strategic effects with just one major flanking strike, which was the case in the First Gulf War and Second Karabakh War. In other words, a sequence of operations is still necessary to liberate the remaining occupied territories. And these operations will need to be conducted under different conditions compared to those in the Kherson or Kharkiv offensives. The Kherson offensive was based on exploitation of a unique geographical feature—vulnerable to precision-guided missile links over the Dnipro. The Kharkiv offensive was made possible by successful strategic deception resulting in a weakened Russian frontline with no reserves and true defense-in-depth. Moving into 2023, Ukraine must be prepared for more taxing offensive operations, as the price for both penetrating Russia’s tactical depth and exploiting its weaknesses will be much higher than in the Kharkiv and Kherson offensives.

All this leads to a simple but still important conclusion: Ukraine must improve both its capabilities and capacity in preparation of major offensives in 2023 through increased aid from Western partners. On this, in an article published on September 7, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhniy and former Air Assault Forces Chief Mykhailo Zabrodsky stated that, for successful offensives in 2023, Ukraine needs to create 10–20 new combined arms (presumably mechanized) brigades (Ukrinform, September 7). One such brigade by pre-2022 Ukrainian standards would consist of approximately 44 main battle tanks (MBTs), 132 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers (IFV/APC), 24 self-propelled artillery and 12 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS). Furthermore, recently, adviser to the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Mykhailo Podolyak, pointed out that Ukraine needs approximately 150–200 MBTs, 300 IFV/APC, 100 howitzers and 50–70 MLRSs (Pravda.com.ua, November 20).

In particular, Ukraine’s fire-power capabilities and capacity need to be strengthened. Despite the positive effect of Guided MLRS (GMLRS) shipments and utilization, Russia still fires four or five times more shells than Ukraine on a daily basis—approximately 20,000 on the Russian side compared to about 4,500 on the Ukrainian side (5.ua, November 6). While the rate of 20,000 shells a day is a massive decrease from the 40,000–60,000 rate of consumption by Russia, it is still a rather large amount, which could impede a possible large-scale Ukrainian offensive. To gain fire-power parity, Ukrainian forces need more howitzers and GMLRSs, along with the proper intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment.

Overall, this is the general environment Ukrainian forces will operate in during the 2023 campaign. Currently, large-scale Ukrainian offensive operations are highly unlikely due to two major factors: the strain on forces following the successful 2022 campaign coupled with an off-season coming before a major freezing of the ground along the frontlines in January and February of next year. But even such a pause will not prevent Ukraine from leveraging its GMLRS capabilities to target Russian logistics and to impact the resolve and morale of Russian forces. A minimalist Ukrainian goal during the coming winter is to ensure that Russian units move past the point of no return in terms of morale and resolve.

At any rate, it is obvious, at the moment, that the next stage of fighting in the Ukrainian-Russian all-out war will require more investments in terms of capability and capacity from Western partners to continue the streak of Ukrainian successes on the battlefield in the fall of 2022—a period when Ukraine exploited major Russian miscalculations at the operational level.

https://jamestown.org/program/future-prospects-for-ukrainian-forces-fighting-along-the-frontlines/

mapuc

12-09-22, 05:30 PM

As Skybird wrote in his latest comment

He's finish and he knows it

Fits in this article

Gallyamov revealed the plan yesterday morning via Telegram, quoting an anonymous source who assured he had information on the matter. The escape project, according to Gallyamov, was planned last spring and dubbed “Noah’s Ark.”

https://news.italy24.press/world/256593.html

Markus

August

12-09-22, 06:37 PM

Like I said I am impressed by the Ukrainians quiet resolve to defeat their invader. No bravado, just resolve. We should not abandon these people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBRMpsSeOhU&

Skybird

12-09-22, 07:39 PM

At any rate, it is obvious, at the moment, that the next stage of fighting in the Ukrainian-Russian all-out war will require more investments in terms of capability and capacity from Western partners
And that is where my scepticism sets in. NATO's ammunition dumbs are increasingly emptied. Production capacities are nwely openbe,d but cannot keep up with the demand. Wetsenr nations want to rebuild and replenish their oen forces, too. And the money will be increasingly debated over.

Ukraine may take it for granted that it will get all what it calls for. But I tend to think we have seen peek of supply, at least regarding the ammounts of weapons and ammo dleivered. European nations simply do not have much more left. And the US - is internally divided. Many Republicans and their voter audience question the huge committment.

But then, people notoriously call me a pessimist. I wonder why.

Putin may be done anyway - but Russia can hold out. It has sufficient bodies to plaster holes int he front with, and old wepaons to throw at the Ukrainians. That way, Ukraine runs the risk of more and more desintegrating: industrially, economically, financially, and the infrastructure.

The public mood for supporting Ukraine is already in delcine throughout much of the West, exclduing Pland and the Baltic states, maybe Finland, Sweden. That is true regarding military and financial support, and migrants as well.

And that is what Putler is calculating in.

Jimbuna

12-10-22, 06:03 AM

Pessimist :O:

Jimbuna

12-10-22, 06:06 AM

For once, the clown (Boris) speaks a little sense.

Boris Johnson has urged western countries to “look urgently” at what more they can do to support Ukraine in the hopes of ending the war against Russia as soon as next year.

The former UK prime minister, who was hailed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as a key ally in the country’s fight against Russia, used an article in the Wall Street Journal to argue that ending the war as soon as possible is “in everyone’s interest, including Russia”.

He said that while the significant financial commitment to Ukraine is “painful” during a period of budgetary constraints, “time is money, and the longer this goes on the more we will all end up paying in military support”.

Johnson has remained a vocal supporter of Ukrainian efforts since leaving office in September, PA Media reports. His successor Rishi Sunak, who visited Kyiv last month, has pledged to continue UK backing for Ukraine.

The former prime minister wrote:

There is no land-for-peace deal to be done, even if Mr Putin were offering it and even if he were to be trusted, which he is not. Since the war can end only one way, the question is how fast we get to the inevitable conclusion.

It’s in everyone’s interest, including Russia’s, that the curtain comes down as soon as possible on Mr Putin’s misadventure. Not in 2025, not in 2024, but in 2023.

Johnson warns that next winter could prove even more difficult than this one, as gas supplies run low for countries once reliant on Russian fuel. He said:

The longer Mr Putin continues with his senseless attacks, the longer the global economic haemorrhage will continue as well. Are we really going to wait and let this thing drift until Mr Putin has regained some of his leverage?

It is time to look urgently at what more the West can do to help the Ukrainians achieve their military objectives, or at least to kick the Russians out of all the territories invaded this year.

That’s the only plausible basis on which a conversation about the future could begin.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/russia-ukraine-war-live-jens-stoltenberg-warns-against-conflict-spiralling-into-russia-nato-war/ar-AA157ldU?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=64d0f7e6281546d185fa6750c99d0861

Jimbuna

12-10-22, 06:11 AM

Nato chief warns against conflict spiralling into Russia-Nato war

The head of Nato has expressed worry that the fighting in Ukraine could spin out of control and become a war between Russia and Nato, according to an interview released Friday.

“If things go wrong, they can go horribly wrong,” Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said in remarks to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

It is a terrible war in Ukraine. It is also a war that can become a full-fledged war that spreads into a major war between Nato and Russia. We are working on that every day to avoid that.

Associated Press also reported that the Stoltenberg said in the interview that “there is no doubt that a full-fledged war is a possibility”.

Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, added that it was important to avoid a conflict “that involves more countries in Europe and becomes a full-fledged war in Europe”.

Moscow has repeatedly accused Nato allies of effectively becoming a party to the conflict by providing Ukraine with weapons, training its troops and feeding military intelligence to attack Russian forces.

In comments that reflected soaring tensions between Russia and the west, President Vladimir Putin suggested Moscow might think about using what he described as the US concept of a preemptive strike.

"Speaking about a disarming strike, maybe it’s worth thinking about adopting the ideas developed by our U.S. counterparts, their ideas of ensuring their security."

Jimbuna

12-10-22, 06:43 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JexTu89bPpA

Jimbuna

12-10-22, 01:30 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fjSAXe4DgY

Jimbuna

12-10-22, 01:40 PM

Scholz stated about necessity to strengthen defense: Putin will not give up his imperialist plans. Every time I talk to him, he says he wants to conquer something

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sees no signs that Putin can abandon his imperialist plans, so he considers it necessary to increase investments in defense.

This was stated by the politician on Saturday during a meeting with citizens in his constituency in Potsdam, informs Censor.NЕТ referring to Ukrinform.

"Every time I talk to Putin, he says very clearly that he wants to conquer something... He just wants to conquer a part of Ukrainian territory by force," said Scholz, who called the Russian president a few days ago.

He considers such phone conversations necessary, because they can show whether there is at least some change in the Kremlin's attitude towards the war in Ukraine.

The Chancellor noted that Russian losses in the war could be very high.

"We do not know exactly how many Russian soldiers were killed. But it can be 100 thousand," he suggested.

Scholz also reminded that the Russian leadership in the past has already demonstrated the cruelty of its military. As an example, he cited Syria and Chechnya, where entire cities were "wiped out".

The German Chancellor reaffirmed the course on the increase of expenditures on the maintenance of the Bundeswehr. He stressed that NATO countries should be powerful enough that no one would dare to attack them. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386206

Jimbuna

12-10-22, 01:42 PM

EU reaches agreement on granting EUR 18 billion to Ukraine

EU countries have reached an agreement to provide Ukraine with a financial assistance package in amount of EUR 18 billion.

It was reported by EU Council press service, informs Censor.NЕТ referring to RBK-Ukraine.

The EU Council has reached an agreement on a package of legislation that will provide €18 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine through 2023. The proposal was adopted today and will be submitted to the European Parliament for possible adoption next week.

"Ukraine can count on the EU. We will continue to support Ukraine, including financially, as long as necessary. The legislation that we have adopted today means that Ukraine can count on regular financial assistance from the EU throughout 2023," Czech Finance Minister Zbyněk Staniura said.

The package provides structural solutions for financial support to Ukraine in 2023. The amount of the loan to be provided to Ukraine in 2023 will be EUR 18 billion, the loans will have a 10-year grace period. Member States will cover the bulk of the interest costs from externally assigned revenues. Guarantees for this borrowing will be provided either from the EU budget or by Member States. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386216

US and G7 countries support President Zelensky’s peace formula, - Brink

United States and other G7 countries support a peace plan by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.

As informs Censor.NЕТ, this was stated by US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink in interview with "Channel 24", published on December 9.

"It is now very clear who is on the side of peace and who is on the side of war. President Zelensky spoke about a 10-point peace plan. We, the United States and the G7 countries, support this plan because we believe it could be a potential plan to end the war," Brink said.

She reminded that only this Monday, December 5, Russia fired 70 missiles at Ukrainian cities again.

"It is now quite clear that the Russians are not willing to end the war. The United States supports peace. The peace that was proposed in Zelensky's plan," the diplomat said.

"It is very important for us to support your democratically elected president and the right of Ukrainians to defend themselves," the Ambassador added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386220

Skybird

12-10-22, 04:37 PM

Random find.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PWJ97KcnmA

"Three rounds from each barrel and the drone is downed." - Wowh, I read these things are precise, but I did not know they are THIS precise.

Radar range 16 km, engagement range 4 km, engagement altitude 3 km wide. - With that precision, that beats every autocannon on any IFV, and is in the maximum engagement range of tank cannons.

And the German politicians phased it out. :doh:

August

12-10-22, 06:19 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey2R5gJ2OT0

Jimbuna

12-11-22, 06:19 AM

Nobel Peace Prize: Russian laureate 'told to turn down award'

The Russian co-winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize has said Kremlin authorities told him to turn down the award.

Yan Rachinsky, who heads Memorial, said he was told not to accept the prize because the two other co-laureates - a Ukrainian human rights organisation and jailed Belarusian rights defender - were deemed "inappropriate".

Memorial is one of Russia's oldest civil rights groups, and was shut down by the government last year.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has been contacted for comment.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC's HARDtalk programme, Mr Rachinsky said his organisation had been advised to decline the award, but "naturally, we took no notice of this advice".

Despite threats to his safety, Mr Rachinsky said the work of Memorial remained essential.

"In today's Russia, no-one's personal safety can be guaranteed," he said. "Yes, many have been killed. But we know what impunity of the state leads to… We need to get out of this pit somehow."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63929130

Skybird

12-11-22, 07:11 AM

The German Chancellor reaffirmed the course on the increase of expenditures on the maintenance of the Bundeswehr. He stressed that NATO countries should be powerful enough that no one would dare to attack them.
Na da quatscht ja der Richtige.

Nine months have passed, almost. The volume of 100 bn in that credit-financed special budget has been reduced by inflation to 85 bn. 15 bn: gone. And with that remaining money until today not a single round of ammo has been bought and not one order for heavy equipment has been placed. Nothing. But this carricature of a chancellor tells others what they should do!?

I told you so earliert this year: do not trust his words. He is a Maulheld. I did not believe in that 100bn special budget for one minute. If they buy new stuff, than only for a fraction of that money. And late. And indirectly, by using this money to fill the holes in the regular yearly defence budget. Babble-Olaf did what he always does: He lights smoke candles and then lets himself be celebrated for the show. And if he's not celebrated, he just stands there alone and lectures the Germans with a grin about how great his reign is.

Skybird

12-11-22, 08:13 AM

Pentagon gives Ukraine green light for drone strikes inside Russia.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukraine-drone-warfare-russia-732jsshpx

I wanted this to happen from very early on. It makes no sense to defend the victim by destroying the victim's places. The war must be brought onto the soil of the aggressor who has started this mess, so that the civil society in Russia cannot escape from taking note of it and feeling affected from it. And by feeling affected I do not mean empty shelves in the supermarket, but the perception of bright lights, and loud sounds, and shaking grounds.

Every military Russian target and infrastructure supporting the Russian military is a valid target, all around the world, in the Ukraine, and inside Russia. OF COURSE. The fascists in the Kr melin say the Ukrainian attacks are terrorism. They label the self-defence of their victims that they want to erase from the history books, "terrorism". The only terrorism being committed here, is committed by Russian fascist against Ukrainians. The ambition to destroy civilian, non-military infrastructure to trigger a new wave of mass migration to Europe, is part fo the Russian genocide.

Every base in Russia from where long range attacks against Ukraine ghets launched, ever ybase and every logistical structure supplying the Russian war machine, are morally and legally valid targets for Ukrainian counter-attacks. And may it be in the centre of Moscow itself. Havent the fascists in the Kremlin struck into the centre of Kyiv first?

If Russia threatens the West, directly or indirectly, the West must reply the threats with warnings at same terms. At the ncentre of the cold war there lied a heart of darkness, it was called MAD. People in the West need to revive that understanding and attitude. I do not like it, but ther eis no way aroudn rebuilding this kind of unforgiving detemrination. Its the only thing that will stop the fascists. I do not see ukriane has th etime to wait for the eocnimic breakdown of the USSR 2.0 . Last time that happened, it took fourty years.

mapuc

12-11-22, 08:34 AM

:agree:

Markus

Jimbuna

12-11-22, 01:27 PM

Ukraine strikes Wagner HQ in Luhansk, governor says

Ukrainian forces have struck a headquarters of Russia's Wagner mercenary group in eastern Ukraine, Luhansk's Ukrainian governor has said.

Serhiy Haidai said a hotel where the group was based in Kadiivka, Luhansk region, was hit. He added there were major Russian losses.

The BBC was unable to independently verify Wagner's presence at the hotel.

Wagner are state-sponsored mercenaries who act in the Kremlin's interests, according to Western experts.

The private military company, set up by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former restaurateur and close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly been accused of war crimes and human rights abuses.

Wagner units have previously been deployed in Crimea, Syria, Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic.

In the Kadiivka strike, Mr Haidai said Russia had suffered "significant losses" and he expected "at least 50%" of the surviving forces to die due to a lack of medical treatment."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63933132

Jimbuna

12-11-22, 01:36 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h9D9fs_vkY

Jimbuna

12-11-22, 01:40 PM

Erdogan and Putin had telephone conversation: they discussed grain agreement and Ukraine

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a telephone conversation with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. The parties discussed bilateral relations, as well as Ukraine.

As Censor.NET informs, this was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the Turkish channel TRT Haber.

"Erdogan had a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Putin. Regional issues were discussed, including energy, Turkish-Russian relations, the grain corridor, and the fight against terrorism," the report said.

Thus, according to the Turkish mass media, the parties discussed the implementation of the grain agreement, thanks to which the export of Ukrainian food, which was blocked through Russia, is carried out.

The Turkish president expressed the initiative that within the framework of the "grain corridor" it is possible to start working on the export of various food products, and gradually also other goods.

In addition, in a conversation with Putin, Erdogan "expressed his sincere wishes for an early end to the war between Russia and Ukraine." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386309

Zelensky spoke by phone with Macron about peace formula and defense cooperation

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Zelensky announced this on Telegram, Censor.NET informs.

"We synchronized positions on the eve of the G7 online summit and the conference on supporting Ukraine in Paris. We discussed the implementation of our ten-step peace formula, cooperation on defense, and energy stability of Ukraine," the head of state said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386315

Jimbuna

12-11-22, 01:56 PM

Responsibility for crimes will be borne by everyone, from perpetrators to Putin, - head of British Foreign Ministry Cleverly

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will inevitably bear responsibility for the war unleashed in Ukraine along with those guilty of war crimes.

This was stated by the head of the Foreign Ministry of Great Britain, James Cleverley, in an interview with the BBC, Censor.NET reports.

According to Cleverley, it is necessary to convey to the whole world the understanding that aggression should not give the aggressor a benefit.

"Accountability must come, absolutely, and this applies both to the soldiers on the front who committed crimes, and to the entire chain of command up to the very top. Accountability must come for everyone, including Vladimir Putin," Cleverley said.

The minister said that Britain supports the work of the International Criminal Court, but does not rule out the creation of other mechanisms. He noted that London, together with Kyiv and other partners, will discuss how to effectively bring the perpetrators of the war to justice. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386326

NATO has never threatened Russia and is not doing this now - British Foreign Secretary Cleverly

NATO’s task is to defend its member states, not to threaten Russia or any other country.

This is stated by RBC-Ukraine with reference to The Guardian.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has tried to create a narrative that NATO countries are threatening Russia.

"NATO has made clear that we are a defensive alliance. NATO has never threatened Russia and is not doing so now," he said.

Cleverly stressed that countries that join NATO do so voluntarily and there is no coercion involved. Thus, the Alliance exists to defend its member states, not to threaten anyone else.

He added that there is no internal need for NATO to get involved in the conflict, and they are actually trying to make sure that this does not happen."

"In the end, it is Vladimir Putin who uses escalatory language. It is he who threatened further imperial expansion, referring to ... his focus on the historical empire of Russia. So he is the aggressor," Cleverly said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386329

Jimbuna

12-11-22, 02:11 PM

Oil sanctions are hurting Russia’s economy - Bloomberg

The almost complete ban on Russian oil imports to the European Union has painfully hit Russia’s oil revenues.

This is stated by Bloomberg, reports Censor.NЕТ with reference to Ukrinform.

As noted in the publication, earlier the US administration feared that the EU sanctions against Russian oil, which came into force on December 5, would lead to a sharp rise in energy prices. Of particular concern was the ban on logistics, insurance and financial services for the transportation of Russian oil by tankers.

In order to mitigate the consequences, it was proposed to set the upper limit of its price at $ 60 per barrel - in this case, the ban on supplies and services does not apply.

"But it seems that there is no need to worry - at least for now", - the newspaper notes.

According to him, Moscow has lost the European market - more than 1.5 million barrels per day. By the end of the year, it will lose another 500 thousand barrels per day if Poland and Germany fulfill their obligations to stop oil imports through pipelines.

At the same time, oil prices in the world fell. At the end of the week, Brent crude was selling at less than $77 per barrel, down 14% from the highs reached on Monday - after the sanctions came into force.

At the same time, Russian Urals oil fell even further and was sold for just over $40 per barrel (i.e. at cost) in the Baltic ports of the country.

EU sanctions not only did not create an oil shortage, but also led to oversaturation of markets, the publication says. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386333

Armed Forces of Ukraine told what propaganda narratives Russia promotes to justify aggression against Ukraine

Russia is waging not only an armed but also an information war against Ukraine. Thus, psychological operatons are integral components of Russian hybrid aggression to propagate its ideas.

This is stated by Censor.NЕТ with reference to the message of AFU.

"Russian narratives used to justify illegal armed aggression against Ukraine

Information operations and campaigns are an integral component of Russian hybrid aggression and are implemented to create a favorable information environment to support kinetic actions.

In order to absolve itself of the responsibility for waging an all-out war to destroy the Ukrainian people, Moscow is constantly trying to impose its own vision of the situation, to come up with a reason for its actions and to form the image of a "new enemy for world peace and security".

As part of a broad information campaign to justify Russia's illegal armed aggression against Ukraine, Moscow's propaganda machine promotes the following narratives:

-The "special operation" in Ukraine has prevented a "great world war".

-Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine is a response to the constant expansion of NATO and the growing threat to Russia.

-The US and the West are waging a hybrid war against Russia in Ukraine.

-In the war in Ukraine, Russia is the victim and NATO is the aggressor.

-Ukraine is the territory of Russia, it was created by Lenin in 1922, when the Bolsheviks created the USSR.

These narratives are designed for the Russian and pro-Russian audience, because they have no basis or confirmation. At the same time, their constant repetition creates the illusion of truthfulness and facilitates their use by Kremlin agents in different countries," the Armed Forces said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386336

South Africa suspects government of selling arms to Russia - The Telegraph

In South Africa, MPs suspect that the country’s authorities are selling weapons to Russia.

This is statеd by The Telegraph, reports Censor.NЕТ with reference to Suspilne.

This week, the Russian ship Lady R, which, according to the US, previously transported weapons for Russia, was spotted in a South African port at a naval base near Cape Town.

It is noted that the container ship Lady R docked in the port of Simonstown near Cape Town on December 6. Three days later, according to eyewitnesses, an unknown cargo was put on the ship. The work was carried out mainly at night, and the area around the ship was guarded by armed men.

While the ship was in Simonstown, its Automatic Identification System (AIS), which transmits the ship's coordinates, was turned off. On December 9, the container ship went to sea. And only after that the crew turned on the AIS. According to the Marine Traffic service, the ship is heading from Cameroon to Istanbul. The ship should be at its destination on January 15.

Member of the South African Parliament from the opposition Democratic Alliance Kobus Mare addressed a written request to the Minister of Defense of the country Thandi Modisi. The parliamentarian demands to explain what the sanctioned vessel was doing in the port of South Africa and why its cargo was kept secret.

"This behavior has alarmed local residents as the boat is under sanctions by the United States and the European Union following Russia's invasion of Ukraine," Kobus Marais said in a statement.

According to Marais, it is "obvious" that Armscor, the arms procurement agency of the South African Ministry of Defence, is connected to the situation. It was Armscor that issued the contract with the drivers who transported the cargo.

The South African Defense Ministry did not comment on the appearance of the Russian vessel in the country's port. The National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), to which local arms suppliers apply for permits, says it has no information about arms sales to Russia. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386347

Jimbuna

12-11-22, 02:31 PM

President of Finland Niiniste doubts that relations with Russia will be established in near future: "There is nothing to talk about now"

President of Finland Saule Niiniste believes that Helsinki should cooperate with Moscow given the large common border, but the normalization of Finnish-Russian relations in view of the war in Ukraine may take a long time.

Niiniste said this on the radio Yle, reports Censor.NET with reference to "European truth".

Answering the question about the future relations between Finland and Russia after the war in Ukraine, the Finnish President noted that it is difficult to talk about it now.

According to him, in the best case, it will take a long time to build trust between Helsinki and Moscow, and it is unlikely to happen during his term in office (the next presidential elections in Finland will be held in 2024).

At the same time, Niiniste added, Finland cannot forget that it has a long border with Russia.

"Russia will always be there in the future. Along this border, there will inevitably be almost daily practical administrative cooperation, which so far seems to be going smoothly in the border regions," he noted.

The President of Finland also mentioned navigation in the Gulf of Finland, the safety of which is also regulated by the system developed jointly with Estonia and Russia: "Of course, all these measures should be somehow adjusted so that there is no unnecessary disorder".

Niiniste later recalled that Finland was the first country to condemn the occupation of Crimea in 2014, and since May 2021, he has not been in touch with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Of course, it (the possibility of holding talks with Putin) would appear if there was a desire to do so. But now there is nothing to talk about," the Finnish President stated. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386351

Russians are trying to persuade population of occupied territories to collaborate using money - General Staff

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released information that Russian occupants are persuading the population of the occupied territories to collaborate with the help of money.

As reports Censor.NЕТ, this is stated in the statement of General Staff.

The report states: "The occupiers are also trying to financially encourage the local population to collaborate by providing financial assistance to persons of retirement age in the amount of 10 thousand rubles and charging higher salaries to loyal locals who agreed to work in the institutions of the so-called occupation authorities." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386353

mapuc

12-11-22, 05:55 PM

Need some help here.

A fb friend wrote that Zelenskyj shouldn't point fingers at Russia and their Wagner group cause Ukraine has their own nazi-group the AZOV-Group.

Another response and wrote-This is another of Krimlins propaganda.

Is it Russian propaganda or does Ukraine have this AZOV-group ?

It's kind of late now. After I had posted this comment a light came up above my head-Why not search for info on the web myself. So I did and found this

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azov_Regiment

Markus

ET2SN

12-11-22, 07:53 PM

Just ask yourself who would profit from setting up nazi/skinhead groups to dis-credit the Government with propaganda? :hmmm:

Reece

12-11-22, 08:22 PM

From your wiki post Markus:

The regiment's size was estimated to be around 900 to 2,500 combatants in 2017–2022. Most of the unit's members are Russian speakers and come from the Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine. It also includes members from other countries. In the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the regiment gained renewed attention, as one of the reasons given by Russian president Vladimir Putin for the invasion was the "denazification" of Ukraine, to remove the alleged control of the country by far-right forces such as Azov. During the Siege of Mariupol the regiment played a prominent role in the city's defense, and made its final stand at the Azovstal steel plant. Ending the siege a significant amount of regiment's fighters, including the regiment's commander since 2017, Denys Prokopenko, surrendered to Russian forces on orders from the Ukrainian high command.

Seems the "denazification" of Ukraine finished early in the war, so one wonders what the excuse is for carrying it on!! :hmmm:

Catfish

12-12-22, 03:19 AM

^ exactly. Though already this was a weak excuse for a war of aggression against another country. But Putin sure thought this was the easiest way to get through with it. He didn't.

Need some help here.
A fb friend wrote that Zelenskyj shouldn't point fingers at Russia and their Wagner group cause Ukraine has their own nazi-group the AZOV-Group.
[...]
Markus
The Azov battalion included some nationalists and has been killed or captured at Mariupol back then. Came out that there are more nazis in Russia, Kadyrov's tiktok batallion and this disgusting "Wagner" (lmao) group, than ever were in Ukraine.
The embleme of the Wagner group is directly derived from nazi symbols, these mercenaries bearing a lot of swastika and SS tattoos.

"Putin operates like a crime boss. Remember when Putin traded the Azov fighters for oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk? That seemed like an incredibly stupid move politically.
Loyal people like Bout and Medvedchuk are taken care of, regardless of how useful they are. Meanwhile disloyal people are punished harshly (much more so that simple regime critics).
If you think of Putin's regime as a criminal organization it all makes a lot of sense."

Putin has then widened his accusations to the the whole west or anyone non-russian; now the narrative is that all else are nazis and have to be "liberated".
He is also busy changing the russian doctrine to be "allowed" to strike first with nuclear weapons, for defense of course :03:

Since Dugin and others have publicly said that Putin should only stop at the atlantic, we can probably guess where the journey's going if we do not stop them.

Jimbuna

12-12-22, 06:21 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6FgIN37lcQ

Jimbuna

12-12-22, 06:24 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsrqH-4ZIAg

Jimbuna

12-12-22, 06:28 AM

Total combat losses of Russian Federation since beginning of war - about 94,760 people, 2,966 tanks, 1,929 artillery systems, 5,928 armored vehicles. INFOGRAPHICS

The Russian occupiers, who invaded the territory of Ukraine, continue to suffer losses. As of the morning of December 12, the loss of enemy personnel are approximately 94,760 people.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the press center of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As noted, the total combat losses of the enemy from 24/02 to 12/12 are approximately:

personnel - about 94,760 (+620) people were eliminated,
tanks - 2966 (+24) units,
armored combat vehicles - 5928(+8) units,
artillery systems - 1,929 (+1) units,
MLRS - 397 (+0) units,
Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 211 (+0) units,
aircraft - 281 (+0) units,
helicopters - 264 (+0) units,
UAVs of operational-tactical level - 1617 (+4),
cruise missiles - 592 (+0),
Warships/boats - 16 (+0) units,
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 4544 (+4) units,
special equipment - 169 (+2). Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386418

Jimbuna

12-12-22, 06:41 AM

In conversation with Zelensky, Biden confirmed commitment of US to continue providing security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, - White House

US President Joe Biden, in a conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasized continued support for Ukraine.

This is stated in the press release of the White House, Censor.NET informs.

"President Biden emphasized that the U.S. prioritizes efforts to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses through security assistance, including the December 9 announcement of $275 million in additional munitions and equipment, which included systems to counter the use of unmanned aerial vehicles by Russia," the report said.

The US president also recalled the allocation of $53 million in November to support energy infrastructure to strengthen the stability of Ukraine's energy network after Russia's attacks.

"Biden welcomed President Zelensky's declared openness to a just peace based on the fundamental principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. He reaffirmed the commitment of the US to continue providing Ukraine with security, economic and humanitarian assistance, to hold Russia accountable for its war crimes and atrocities, and to impose on Russia the costs of its aggression," the press release concluded. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386420

Families of defenders killed in battle are not paid compensation due to "disappearances", and salaries are not issued due to "undetermined reasons for disappearance", - Butusov

Relatives of Ukrainian defenders are asking to intervene in the bureaucratic showdown, as they are not being paid compensation for the death of a soldier, citing "disappearance".

Yurii Butusov, editor-in-chief of Censor.NET, announced this on Facebook.

"Families of those who died in battle do not receive compensation for their deaths because they are considered missing, and fighters do not receive salaries because the reasons for their disappearance have not been established, although there is a video of the battle.

After the publication of the video of the bloody attack by the soldiers of the 56th brigade on Pisky on September 5, Tetiana Lypytenko - the mother of one of the soldiers, 27-year-old Mykhailo Lypytenko, a scout of the brigade, a courageous and experienced soldier, turned to me. She asked to intervene in the bureaucratic showdown. The fighters who did not return from that attack, and whose bodies were not evacuated, are recognized as missing," the journalist said.

According to Butusov, families with children do not receive money, because a missing person in bureaucratic language means probable escape, because the status is not determined.

"And the families have neither money for the dead nor compensation for the living. I consider it necessary that the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine put an order in the work with the families of missing soldiers. They need attention and a special status must be determined - "disappeared while performing a combat mission due to the impossibility of evacuation ". Because you can't treat a soldier as one who voluntarily left the unit.

This should mean that the soldier went on a combat mission and the responsibility for returning rests with his commanders. And everything that should belong to the fighter and his family must be given out. After a certain time, for example, 6 months, if there is no information about the stay, the command must make a decision about the status of the fighter - whether to consider him dead. And so far there is no such solution - the family must receive funds," the editor-in-chief of Censor.NET emphasized.

Butusov also called on the People's Deputies to consider the issue and legally determine these procedures, since the number of missing persons is in the thousands.

"Glory to the Ukrainian soldiers who go to battle for their people, we must do everything right for their families, it is inadmissible to equate heroes with deserters, and to deprive families of help altogether," he concluded. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386441

Catfish

12-12-22, 08:14 AM

deleted, misunderstood.

mapuc

12-12-22, 10:38 AM

Skybird

12-12-22, 12:08 PM

Skybird mention this German weapon here:
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2841931&postcount=8665

Here is a short yt clip showing it in action somewhere in Ukraine

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UsIatO9O_IA

Markus
Sure it is no DCS clip or something like that? At that close range when the plane had passed overhead I would have expected TWO Gepards to hit it.

If this is real, then I would say all reports about the superior precision of the Gepoard were massively exaggerated. But Catfish seems to know it first hand and once said something like that it needs not more than one or two volleys to hit.

Also the camouflage pattern - the NV green makes it difficult but the pattern reminds suspiciously of older fashioned desert schemes. AFAIK all Gepards delivered were painted in uniform dark olive green.

And then TWO Gepards, and apparently this close to each other? If they have enough of them to have them running in pairs or trios, they would spread them out further, i would assume. It makes no sense to have Flak psoitiuons located so close to each other that they blend into just one - you want to give enemy pilots threats from different directions to be worried about.

Jimbuna

12-12-22, 12:23 PM

Odesa port reopens after energy network hit

Operations have resumed at the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa after Russia used Iranian-made drones to hit energy facilities in the city.

The port in the south of the country was closed after strikes on Saturday left 1.5 million people and all non-critical infrastructure without power.

Ukraine's president said it could take days to restore electricity, with sub-zero temperatures expected this week.

Odesa is one of three ports being used to ship grain under a UN-brokered deal.

The agreement, mediated by Turkey and the UN, allows Ukrainian products to be transported safely to the rest of the world. The deal has helped bring down soaring global food prices.

Although operations at Odesa port were briefly stopped on Sunday, Ukraine's agriculture minister said grain exports would not be suspended.

In total, Russia launched 15 Iranian-made drones at the regions of Odesa and neighbouring Mykolaiv, 10 of which were shot down, Ukraine's armed forces said.

"The situation in the Odesa region is very difficult," Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address. "Unfortunately the hits were critical, so it takes more than just time to restore electricity. It doesn't take hours, but a few days."

Thousands of people have made use of the region's "points of invincibility" - facilities which supply electricity and warmth to residents during blackouts.

Images posted on social media showed dozens of people crowding round power points charging their phones.

The strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which intensified in mid-October, have left millions of people in nearly all regions of the country without power, as temperatures drop below zero.

A complete blackout across the entire country is a now realistic scenario, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told German television on Sunday.

Russia's frequent attacks on Ukraine's power grid have led to calls for the West to supply Kyiv with better air defence weapons.

On Sunday, US President Joe Biden told President Zelensky that Ukraine's air defence was a priority for Washington.

The two spoke in a phone call before a meeting of G7 leaders on Monday, where further sanctions against Russia and Iran will be discussed.

The proposed measures would target Iran over its supply of drones to Russia, while EU foreign ministers are set to discuss a ninth package of sanctions which would place almost 200 more individuals and entities on its sanctions list.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63943162

Jimbuna

12-12-22, 12:30 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lanWbn7o0ZE

mapuc

12-12-22, 12:42 PM

Sure it is no DCS clip or something like that? At that close range when the plane had passed overhead I would have expected TWO Gepards to hit it.

If this is real, then I would say all reports about the superior precision of the Gepoard were massively exaggerated. But Catfish seems to know it first hand and once said something like that it needs not more than one or two volleys to hit.

Also the camouflage pattern - the NV green makes it difficult but the pattern reminds suspiciously of older fashioned desert schemes. AFAIK all Gepards delivered were painted in uniform dark olive green.

And then TWO Gepards, and apparently this close to each other? If they have enough of them to have them running in pairs or trios, they would spread them out further, i would assume. It makes no sense to have Flak psoitiuons located so close to each other that they blend into just one - you want to give enemy pilots threats from different directions to be worried about.

You are right I stand corrected and going to check future videos to see if they are from a game.

Markus

Jimbuna

12-12-22, 12:48 PM

An arm with blue and yellow bracelets from a burial in Izyum - a fragment of military man from Nikopol, a 36-year-old soldier of 93rd Brigade "Kholodny Yar" Serhiy Sova. PHOTOS

It became known that an arm with blue and yellow bracelets, which was pulled out during exhumation of Ukrainian martyrs’ bodies in Kharkiv region, is a remnant of Ukrainian soldier Serhiy Sova.

As informs Censor.NЕТ, it was reported by Dnipro Regional Information Center.

A photo from the exhumation procedure went around the world - a striking image of the hand remains with a blue-and-yellow bracelet.

Oksana Sova, a resident of Nikopol, recognized her husband by the tattoo on his body. Her loved one is a 36-year-old fighter of our glorious 93rd Brigade "Kholodny Yar" Serhiy Sova.

He had the qualification of candidate for master of sports (boxing), was the champion of Ukraine among juniors. He himself decided to go to compulsory service in the air forces of Ukraine.

During the ATO in the 93rd separate mechanized brigade "Cold Yar" man defended Pisky, delivered ammunition to Donetsk airport. For his exemplary service Serhiy Sova received numerous honors.

"I recognized my husband by his numerous tattoos and yellow and blue bracelets, which Serhiy hasn't parted with since 2014," recalled Oksana, the dead fighter's wife. His children gave him these bracelets as amulets.

His eldest son Marat wrote a letter to the President. The teenager asked to facilitate the faster return of his father's body to his hometown for a proper burial. He also notes that he would prefer his father to be honored as a Hero. Unfortunately, posthumously. Source: https://censor.net/en/p3368235

les green01

12-12-22, 12:52 PM

You are right I stand corrected and going to check future videos to see if they are from a game.

Markus

you sure got to be careful i seen some i though was real then notice it was from a game

Jimbuna

12-12-22, 12:57 PM

you sure got to be careful i seen some i though was real then notice it was from a game

Arma Dev Speaks Out About Game Being Used As Fake News Footage In Ukraine War

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/arma-dev-speaks-out-about-game-being-used-as-fake-news-footage-in-ukraine-war/1100-6509589/

mapuc

12-12-22, 01:07 PM

Zelenskyy's plan after the war-Go to the beach and have a beer.

"Until our victory I will definitely remain President. And afterwards – I don’t know. I’m not thinking about it now, not ready for it.

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/12/12/7380419/

Markus

Jimbuna

12-12-22, 01:14 PM

Ukraine-Russia news - live: Putin’s troops ‘unlikely to make notable gains in coming months’

Vladimir Putin’s ground forces are unlikely to make operationally significant advances within the next several months, the UK defence ministry has said in its latest intelligence update.

The ministry pointed to Russian presidential spokesperson Dimitry Peskov’s rearticulation of Moscow’s main goals of the ‘special military operation’.

“He said that one of Russia’s main objectives was the ‘protection’ of residents of the Donbas and south-eastern Ukraine but claimed there was still much work to be done regarding ‘liberation’ of those territories,” the ministry noted.

The remarks suggest that “Russia’s current minimum political objectives of the war remain unchanged.”

“Russia is likely still aiming to extend control over all of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts. Russian military planners likely still aim to prioritise advancing deeper into Donetsk oblast,” the MoD noted.

It added: “However, Russia’s strategy is currently unlikely to achieve its objectives: it is highly unlikely that the Russian military is currently able to generate an effective striking force capable of retaking these areas.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-latest-zelensky-b2243655.html

Jimbuna

12-12-22, 01:47 PM

British Ministry of Defense is open to supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons - Wallace

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said he is "open" to reconsidering the refusal to supply Ukraine with longer-range weapons if Russia continues to strike civilian infrastructure.

Wallace said this in the British Parliament, reports Sky News, informs Censor.NЕТ with reference to LeagueBusinessInform.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked Wallace in Parliament about the possible supply of longer-range missile systems to Ukraine to destroy drone launchers.

"I am constantly reviewing the weapons systems that we can provide. We have potential weapons systems that are more long-range. And if the Russians continue to strike civilian areas and try to violate the Geneva Conventions again, then I will be open and see what we do next," Wallace said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386557

EU Council increased by 2 billion euros fund to help Ukraine with weapons

The EU Council on Monday reached a political agreement to increase the European Peace Fund, from which the EU reimburses member states for arms supplies to Ukraine.

This was reported by the press service of the Council of the European Union, reports Censor.NЕТ with reference to "European truth".

The EU Council, in particular, decided to increase the overall financial ceiling by €2 billion (in 2018 prices) in 2023, with the possibility of further increases at a later stage.

The total increase in the overall financial ceiling of the European Peace Facility by 2027 will be up to €5.5 billion (in 2018 prices).

The agreement will be formalized in early 2023, when the EU High Representative will submit a proposal to amend Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509.

This decision sends a clear political signal of the EU's continued commitment to military support to Ukraine and other partners, the press service noted.

"Today's decision will provide us with funding to continue providing concrete military support to the armed forces of our partners. In less than two years, the European Peace Fund has proven its effectiveness. It has completely transformed the way we support our partners in the field of defence. It makes the EU and its partners stronger," commented Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Through the European Peace Facility, the EU has already supported the Armed Forces of Ukraine with six consecutive support packages (worth €3.1 billion), as well as many other countries such as Mozambique, Georgia, Moldova, Mali, Somalia, Niger, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lebanon and Mauritania, as well as military components of peace support operations. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386530

mapuc

12-12-22, 01:58 PM

Forgot to mentioned it when I heard it in the Swedish news.

Sweden will NOT become a member of NATO-When it comes to Finland I don't know, but Sweden...not after the the Attorney General in Sweden have refused to expel to person, who Turkey accuse for being member of the Gülan movement.

Sadly.

Markus

Aktungbby

12-12-22, 01:58 PM

YIPES! In today's paper: some Russian has claimed "Ukraine is being overaggressive"?? IE: in addition to rape, murder, torture, looting(of grain, museum artifacts, 6 John Deere tractors etc) the damn Ruskies now suffer from a double-standard issue...it's ok for them, just not their opponent?:shucks: Moreover they are now heard to say:"We have to win, or we'll be tried as war criminals...":doh:

Skybird

12-12-22, 02:25 PM

you sure got to be careful i seen some i though was real then notice it was from a game
Yes, you need sharp eyes these days. This looks dramatic, and realistic, but the shown action again is from DCS, and the events are totally unrealistic: from the behaviour of the pilot to the many misses of the Gepards its bollocks. But looks - wowh!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt7rkjJIFaQ

Skybird

12-12-22, 02:27 PM

mapuc

12-12-22, 02:43 PM

Is this confirmed news on the official Swedish government's position or just the usual noise fro Erdoghan?

From Swedish newspaper

SWEDEN'S NATO APPLICATION

The National Prosecutor:
Two on the list of demands must not be expelled
The Swedish public prosecutor says no in a statement to the High Court until the release of two of the persons that Turkey demands to be released in order to approve Sweden's NATO application, Expressen reports.

Among other things, the two men are said to have downloaded the encrypted mobile app Bylock, which is linked to the Gülen movement, which is classified as a terrorist by Turkey, which the public prosecutor believes is not criminal in Sweden.

The public prosecutor considers that the men have not committed a crime under Swedish law and that both risk prosecution in their home country. The National Prosecutor also does not consider that court proceedings are necessary.

So as I see it...Turkey are going to prevent Sweden from becoming a member of NATO.

Found an English Article about it

https://news.am/eng/news/734053.html

Markus

Markus

Skybird

12-12-22, 04:29 PM

mapuc

12-12-22, 04:59 PM

So its nevertheless no decision of the government to withdraw its bid for membership.

Erdoghan will do what Erdoghan will do. He may or ma ynot chnage his mind, in pricniple he gambles, there are upcomign elections. He also threatened yesterday to fire missiles into Athens. He threatened to invade Greek islands in the Aegean. He talks nationalistic garbage all day long.

There are two very big security threats now in NATO. Germany, and Turkey.

The rest of NATO should do like it does with Ukraine: deal with Finland and Sweden as if they already were members. Cooperation is very close already anyway. Let the Turks cry to the moon, who cares.

Oh I can see I have given the impression that it was the Swedish government who had withdrawn its bid...

I was sitting with my back to the TV when I heard in the Swedish news that the General attorney would not send these two person to Turkey.

It was then I said to myself aha there goes the Swedish membership..

You know Sweden have fulfilled almost 80-90 % of what Erdogan have demanded from Sweden from the list he made.

Markus

Rockstar

12-12-22, 05:14 PM

Speaking of Turkey thought ya’all might appreciate this average infantryman’s opinion

https://youtu.be/jdSr3RqkqYg

Catfish

12-13-22, 02:47 AM

^ I'd rather describe Erdoghan as a loose cannon on deck than a "wildcard" :haha:.
Seriously, threatening another Nato partner (Greece) with missiles :doh:

Of course he wants to be friend with Russia so the latter kills all the Kurds and solves the problem he has with terrorists/freedom fighters challenging his position.
Maybe easier to make Erdoghan go?

Jimbuna

12-13-22, 05:58 AM

Putin cancels annual conference for first time in 17 years as coup and health claims swirl

Vladimir Putin has pulled out of his "giant end of year press conference" this year, a Kremlin official has revealed, sparking rumours that he is "critically unwell". The Russian leader has held an annual press conference in December every year since 2012, with Russian news agency Tass reporting last year that it was the 17th time Putin had held the conference. On Monday, however, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that there will "not be a press conference before the New Year".

A report from The Sun questioned whether the Russian autocrat had withdrawn from the conference due to poor health.

In an article on Monday, they wrote that Putin was "battling cancer" and "faces a coup over Ukraine", adding that he was "critically unwell".

In November, the media reported that the press conference for this year had not been prepared but it had not been cancelled.

One of the reasons for the cancellation, as the media has now reported, was the "situation at the contact line".

One of the reasons for the cancellation, as the media has now reported, was the "situation at the contact line".

While Putin is not officially in charge of the war effort in Ukraine, which he calls a "special military operation", reports have suggested he is making direct decisions, such as the continued assault in Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast.

And social media users have taken the opportunity to throw punches at the Russian leader.

One user wrote: "Mind you, it's in DECEMBER! He knows that however bad it is, in weeks, it will be much, much worse."

One Twitter user said: "It'd be great if he could also cancel himself", while another asked if the leader was "too scared to leave his bunker".

There is growing dissatisfaction with the war effort in Russia, particularly following the autocrat's announcement of mass mobilisation in September.

Thousands of Russians fled the country following the announcement in a bid to avoid being called up.

The Finnish borders were forced to temporarily stop allowing holidaying Russians across the border, so seismic was the exodus.

And discontent with the "special military operation" extended beyond the public, affecting the Kremlin itself.

The likes of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov have spoken publicly against defence minister Sergei Shoigu and his fellow war leader Sergei Surovikin.

Vladimir Putin believed the "special military operation" in Ukraine would be concluded in a matter of days.

However, as the conflict nears its tenth month,, the scale of Russian losses is closing in on 100,000 soldiers.

The prospect of an annual closing press conference might now appear uninviting to the Russian President.

Fighting on the frontlines continues to be fierce but Ukrainian forces look set to advance towards Crimea, the loss of which would be a major humiliation for Putin.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/putin-cancels-annual-conference-for-first-time-in-17-years-as-coup-and-health-claims-swirl/ar-AA15byRV?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=109336bacb514abba919dc54bd9a2013

Jimbuna

12-13-22, 06:44 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqm2XVKdaio

Jimbuna

12-13-22, 06:58 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s00xZzUhFbo

Jimbuna

12-13-22, 08:07 AM

We will bring Putin to justice, - statement of G7

The leaders of the "Big Seven" have announced that they will bring Russian dictator Putin to justice for his war against Ukraine.

As reported by Censor.NET, this is stated in the joint statement of the G7 heads of state.

"War crimes and other atrocities cannot go unpunished. We will bring President Putin and those responsible to justice under international law. We reiterate that Russia's irresponsible nuclear rhetoric is unacceptable and that any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons will have serious consequences," the statement said.

G7 leaders stressed that Russia will have to pay to rebuild critical infrastructure damaged or destroyed by its brutal war.

Also, the heads of states of the G7 declared unwavering support for Ukraine as long as it is needed.

"Russia's war of aggression must end. To date, we have seen no evidence that Russia is committed to sustained peace efforts. Russia can end this war immediately by ceasing its attacks against Ukraine and fully and unconditionally withdrawing its troops from Ukrainian territory.

We welcome and support President Zelensky's initiative for a just peace," the G7 added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386667

Another 8 ships with 238.6 thousand tons of agricultural products for countries of Asia and Europe left ports of Odesa. PHOTOS

As part of the "Grain Initiative", 8 ships with 238.6 thousand tons of agricultural products left the ports of Odesa for Asia and Europe.

This was reported by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine on Telegram, Censor.NET reports.

It is noted that currently 23 vessels are being processed in the ports of Odesa. 690,000 tons of Ukrainian agricultural products are loaded onto them.

Since August 1, 550 ships have left the ports of Odesa, exporting 13.8 million tons of Ukrainian food to the countries of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Source: https://censor.net/en/p3386672

Jimbuna

12-13-22, 08:38 AM

Shmyhal discussed with head of IAEA Grossi demilitarization of ZNPP and sending of permanent missions to all nuclear plants in Ukraine. PHOTO

Demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhhia NPP is point 1 of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan. This issue was discussed by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal with the head of the IAEA, Raphael Grossi, during a meeting in Paris.

Shmyhal reported this on Facebook, Censor.NET informs.

"Rafael Grossi said that in the near future the IAEA will send technical permanent missions to all nuclear plants in Ukraine.
The organization's independent experts will work at the Zaporizhzhia, Rivne, Khmelnytsky, South Ukrainian, and Chornobyl NPPs. This will significantly increase technical and technological safety," the message reads.

According to Shmyhal, the missions are aimed at securing the stations and recording all possible attempts of external influence, in particular shelling by the Russian aggressor.

"They discussed the steps necessary for the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. He emphasized that it is necessary to stop Russia's illegal actions regarding the Ukrainian plant as soon as possible," Shmyhal adds. Source: https://censor.net/en/p3386673

Zelensky calls for EU missions to be sent to critical energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, calls on the European Union, by analogy with the permanent observation missions of the IAEA to all Ukrainian nuclear power plants, to send special missions to the objects of critical energy infrastructure, which are involved in the energy supply of Ukraine.

Zelensky said this at the international conference "Solidarity with the Ukrainian People" in Paris on Tuesday, Censor.NET informs with reference to "Interfax-Ukraine".

"Such EU missions can become a factor in stabilizing the situation and proper international control," the head of state said.

He emphasized that the stability of "our entire energy region" directly depends on these facilities.

As Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal previously noted, as a result of eight waves of Russian missile strikes, which also used kamikaze drones, all thermal and hydroelectric power plants in the country were damaged, as well as about 40% of high-voltage network facilities. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386687

Jimbuna

12-13-22, 08:48 AM

We have to help Ukrainian people to endure and survive this winter, - Macron

Ukraine needs to be helped to survive the winter, the help should be very prompt and concrete.

This was reported by French President Emmanuel Macron, Censor.NET reports with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

According to him, now, "first of all, we have to understand that we have to help the Ukrainian people to endure."

"We need to help Ukraine survive this winter... We want the results of the conference (International Conference on Solidarity with the People of Ukraine. - Ed.) to be very concrete," the French leader emphasized.

Macron explained that the conference will be about "mobilizing partners, friends of Ukraine and those who work in international humanitarian organizations, about organizing actions that will help the population get water, electricity, heat, clothes."

He also expressed hope that "our efforts will be at their best and we will help you survive the winter."

"Secondly, Volodymyr, we must together ensure that our assistance is very operational, concrete, and fast-acting...We need to have concrete answers, for this we need to coordinate very closely, and in each country there must be precise contacts to coordinate and help Ukraine arrive when needed," Macron said, addressing President Zelensky.

In addition, he noted that he had already told the Ukrainian government that more than 700 French companies would participate in long-term investments in Ukraine. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386688

There is no question of withdrawing troops from Ukraine by end of year, - Peskov

There is no question that Russia can start withdrawing troops from Ukraine by the end of this year.

This was stated by Putin's spokesman Dmytro Peskov, Censor.NET reports with reference to Interfax.

He was asked to comment on President Volodymyr Zelensky's proposal that Russia should start withdrawing troops from Ukraine before Christmas.

"This is out of the question," Peskov said. He explained that "the Ukrainian side needs to accept the realities that have developed over all this time."

"These are the realities that happened because of that line, that policy, which was carried out during the last fifteen or even twenty years by the leadership of Ukraine and today's Ukrainian regime," Peskov continued.

According to him, "these realities indicate that new subjects have appeared in the Russian Federation, they appeared as a result of referendums held in these territories."

"Without taking these new realities into account, any progress is impossible," Peskov concluded.

Also remind, that earlier Zelensky suggested that Russia begin the withdrawal of troops from the territory of Ukraine on Christmas. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386697

Jimbuna

12-13-22, 08:59 AM

Lukashenko instructed to start sudden check of combat readiness of Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus

Belarusian dictator Oleksandr Lukashenko instructed to start a sudden check of the combat readiness of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus.

Censor.NET informs about this with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus.

"By order of the President of the Republic of Belarus - the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus under the leadership of the State Secretariat of the Security Council, a sudden check of combat readiness has been launched," the message reads.

It is noted that the measures will have a complex nature, the troops must advance to the designated areas as soon as possible, implement their engineering equipment, organize security and defense, and also establish bridge crossings over the Niman and Berezina rivers.

"У цей період заплановано пересування військової техніки та особового складу, тимчасове обмеження руху громадян (транспорту) окремими дорогами загального користування та ділянками місцевості", - додали в Міноборони РБ.

The "Belarusian Hajun" monitoring group noted that the Niman and Berezina rivers are not near the border with Ukraine.

"The Niman flows in the northwestern part of the country, in the territories of Minsk and Grodno regions, and then goes to Lithuania. The Berezyna River is located entirely on the territory of Belarus and flows in 4 regions: Vitebsk, Minsk, Mogilev, and Gomel. The nearest point of this "The distance of the river to the border with Ukraine is its mouth, which is located in the village of Berehova Sloboda (Rechytsky District, Gomel Oblast). And even from that point, it is at least 80 km to the border with Ukraine," Belarusian Hajun explained.

They also published a map with the approximate location of rivers in the territory of Belarus and marked the landfills that are located nearby. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386645

Jimbuna

12-13-22, 02:00 PM

Plans to supply Patriot air defense systems from USA to Ukraine are now in final stage - CNN

The United States is finalizing plans to supply Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. The transfer may be announced this week.

As reports Censor.NЕТ, this is stated by RBC-Ukraine with reference to СNN.

According to the publication, several US officials confirm that plans for the supply are in the final stages.

CNN notes that the plan still has to be approved by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin before it is sent to US President Joe Biden for signature.

"Three officials said that approval is expected," the publication emphasizes.

It is unclear exactly how many units the US plans to transfer to Ukraine, but the standard Patriot battery includes a radar system that detects and tracks targets, computers, power generating equipment, a combat control station and up to eight launchers, each of which contains four ready-to-fire missiles. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386808

Britain will provide Ukraine with 125 anti-aircraft guns

Britain has announced a new package of military aid to Ukraine in the amount of 50 million pounds.

According to Censor.NЕТ, this was stated in Twitter of of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ukrainian military will receive 125 anti-aircraft guns and devices to counter kamikaze drones.

"The £50 million defence aid package includes 125 anti-aircraft guns and technology to counter deadly drones supplied by Iran, including dozens of radars and electronic warfare equipment," the statement said.

On December 12, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that the UK may reconsider refusing to supply Ukraine with longer-range weapons if Russia continues to shoot at civilian infrastructure. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386774

Skybird

12-13-22, 03:44 PM

FOCUS writes:
-----------------

Scholz opens a dangerous backdoor for Russia

In his recent government statement, Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned "imperialist" and aggressive Russia, with which trade relations no longer exist. Now, just a little later, the same Scholz says there could be trade relations with Russia again after the Ukraine war. How does that fit together?

You have to look at the place where Scholz spoke of cooperation with a country that Ukrainian President Volodomyr Selensky, like the European Parliament, classifies as a "terrorist" or "terrorist state." It was the East Committee of German Business, which is not to be offended if one understands it as the inventor of the later Social Democratic policy on Russia.

Change through trade was the doctrine

In 1970, the natural gas pipe deal was signed in Essen - Mannesmann supplies pipes through which Russian gas then flows to Germany, especially to its then still industrial powerhouse - the heavily industrial Ruhr area.  "If we connect through a gas pipeline, the political landscape in the Soviet Union will change for the better." So said the then chairman of the Ostausschuss, Otto Wolff von Amerongen.

Change through trade, that was the doctrine from now on. Business had invented it, first the Ruhr patron Bertold Beitz, followed by politics. The SPD's Russia doctrine cannot be explained without the pioneering role of the Ruhr industry. That it was invented in the Ruhr is no coincidence - here the Social Democrats ruled for 39 years straight - in a de facto grand coalition with industrialists and trade unions.

Change through trade - it never worked at any time. It was an illusion - at least. Rather, it was the legitimization of the business bosses to make fat deals with the Soviet dictatorship, unchallenged by politics, later even encouraged by it - the Social Democrats above all.

Signal of the Chancellor to Russia

And it was in front of this institution that the Social Democratic Chancellor now used his 70th anniversary speech to send this signal to industry: after the end of the war, Russia was still the greatest country on earth.

Scholz's green coalition partner wants nothing more to do with it. If the energy turnaround works, Germany will no longer need Russian gas, explains German Economics Minister Robert Habeck. And if the energy transition doesn't work? Then it won't either. Then the gas will come from Norway, Qatar and the USA, the world champion in fracking. Fracking is a technology that the Greens deplore, but only domestically.

Scholz's backdoor policy toward Russia is matched by the fact that the chancellor is not changing his weapons policy. Anti-aircraft guns and cheetah tanks - yes, more of them, too - but no leopards and no martens, either. "Mr. Scholz, what are you waiting for?" shouted former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh-Rasmussen at the SPD man.

Green man and FDP woman drive the chancellor

Scholz can still ignore the NATO ex. This becomes more difficult with the same voices from his own traffic light coalition. After a visit to the U.S., the chairwoman of the defense committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, says into every microphone how much her American interlocutors want Leo-Zwo deliveries to Ukraine.

Toni Hofreiter of the Green Party is also there again. He would like Germany to coordinate Leo deliveries from those 20 EU countries that are currently using it. In Ukraine, the ground is freezing at the moment, and delivering armored vehicles now would be just the thing. Scholz had already been too late once, with the "heavy weapons" that he refused to supply to Ukraine for a long time. That should not happen again, said the FDP expert from Düsseldorf.

Especially since Scholz has meanwhile taken his most important argument against further arms deliveries out of play himself. The Russians themselves, but above all the Chinese, have signed a summit declaration according to which not even threats of nuclear strikes are to be accepted.

Praise for Scholz from new ambassador

After the return of its ambassador Andrij Melnyk, Ukraine is now trying diplomacy as it is known. Ukraine is still asking for more and more weapons, but now it is thanking Scholz for what he has already delivered. And the new ambassador, Oleksij Makeiev, attests to Germany's "leadership role", which Scholz takes for granted - although the chancellor was alone in this internationally. It will be interesting to see what works better: A diplomacy of bad conscience plus name-calling or one of interest politics plus compliments.

The Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, long the Russia lobby par excellence, has since changed course. They are now concerned with the reconstruction of Ukraine and the development of new trading partners from the defunct Soviet empire - including Tashikistan. Finally, Scholz has already announced a "Marshall Plan" for Ukrainian reconstruction, which is also only in question if Ukraine passes on it.
There are hard economic and political interests at stake

Today there is a big donor conference, Scholz is going there, Selensky will be connected. Toasted by France's President Emanuel Macron, who has, originally, followed up with an all-French conference. With the crème de la crème of French industry. It's all about the Scholz Marshall Plan.

Macron wants to get as much as possible from it, which contrasts asymmetrically with France's aid to Ukraine to date. This is modest, and Macron's initiative can be seen as doubly selfish: The costs of the Russian bombardment are to be socialized at an international donor conference, while the profits from the subsequent reconstruction are to be privatized, or more precisely, nationalized.

So anyone who believes that this is primarily about human rights is naive. It is about hard economic and political interests. The Americans, Joe Biden has even said it publicly, want to keep a visibly weakened Russia down. The French, Macron in the lead, want to make money in Ukraine. And the Germans?

They don't really know yet.
-----------------------------------

Catfish

12-13-22, 04:07 PM

^ Scholz will never learn or accept that he is wrong since decades, he has to go.

mapuc

12-13-22, 04:13 PM

In this stream

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY2mpzpmmfY
(You have to subscribe and wait 10 minutes)

I'm in a discussion whether Putin would flee Russia if he lose the war and/or a coup is happening.
Or if he's gonna hide in some bunker near Ural mountain

Markus

Skybird

12-13-22, 05:04 PM

^ Scholz will never learn or accept that he is wrong since decades, he has to go.

Not as long as the socialist world revolution is not completed and not everyone feels as his and her neighbor's closest brother or sister or diverse and addresses him or her or it with "Du" or "Genossinnen und Genossen".

August

12-13-22, 09:16 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE6RINU8JLg

em2nought

12-14-22, 01:31 AM

Looks like he's moving to a higher authority for gifts. :D

https://media.babylonbee.com/articles/639769ba57c32639769ba57c33.jpg

Jimbuna

12-14-22, 06:06 AM

Royal Marines have taken part in 'high-risk' covert operations in Ukraine, general reveals

Royal Marines were deployed in Ukraine and took part in a series of 'high-risk' operations, a former commandant general has claimed.

The commandos were involved in 'discreet operations' and performed tasks in a 'hugely sensitive environment', according to Lieutenant General Robert Magowan - Britain's Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff and the former head of the Royal Marines.

The Ministry of Defence reported earlier this year that a small contingent of British military personnel was stationed in Ukraine to secure the British embassy in Kyiv and maintain the government's diplomatic presence there.

But Lt. Gen. Magowan's admission is the first time a senior military official has confirmed that British marines were deployed to Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

In comments published in the Globe and Laurel - the official magazine of the Royal Marines - Lt. Magowan said: 'In January this year, 45 Commando Group deployed at short notice — from the depths of a dark, north Norwegian winter, to evacuate the British embassy in Kyiv to Poland. The go-to 999 international emergency force, if you will.

'Then in April, they returned into the country to re-establish the diplomatic mission, providing protection to critical personnel. During both phases, the commandos supported other discreet operations in a hugely sensitive environment and with a high level of political and military risk.'

A Royal Navy Spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Royal Marines were deployed to Ukraine to support the UK's diplomatic presence in the country; they served no combat function.'

Prior to the Russian invasion on February 24, British defence minister Ben Wallace said that a small contingent of military personnel had been to Ukraine to deliver weapons and training as the threat of war increased.

And it was later reported that British military personnel, including SAS operators, had been sent to deliver weapons systems training to Ukrainian servicemen once the war had begun.

But the MoD at the time insisted no British servicemen were involved in combat operations, stating: 'British military personnel have been deployed to support discussions around the significant training being offered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine by the UK.

'They serve no combat function.'

The 45 Commando group are specialists in Arctic warfare and were deployed on a training exercise in Norway before being requisitioned and deployed to Ukraine to perform rapid evacuations of embassy staff.

Evacuations of key officials and diplomats took place from Kyiv took place just prior to Russia's invasion.

The marines then in March returned to Norway where they took part in the largest NATO military exercise since the 1980s.

Roughly 30,000 troops from 28 countries in Europe and North America were involved in the Cold Response 2022 drills.

The drills aimed to show how a unified multilateral force would defend Norway and Europe's northern flank from a modern adversary.

But Magowan's admission suggests several marines then returned to Kyiv just one month after the exercises to conduct covert operations amid the war in Ukraine.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/royal-marines-have-taken-part-in-high-risk-covert-operations-in-ukraine-general-reveals/ar-AA15eDfK?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=ab8c4e16405346c1800a36aeff30e515

Jimbuna

12-14-22, 06:11 AM

Disputes are raging among the Russian military about waging war against Ukraine, - British intelligence

The Russian military is arguing over the choice of strategy for waging war against Ukraine. Some believe that the management has chosen the wrong path.

This is evidenced by the data of British intelligence, Censor.NET reports with reference to the Twitter of the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain.

British intelligence refers to recent statements by terrorist and militant Igor Girkin (Strelkov). He claims that he spent two months on the front line as part of a battalion of the so-called "DPR". Girkin ridiculed the orders of the leadership of the Russian army to build large defensive structures, questioning their usefulness in modern warfare. The militant declared a "strategic planning crisis."

"His comments highlight the raging debate about the conduct of war that continues in Russia's military community," the intelligence said.

At the same time, British intelligence officers cannot confirm the rumors about the dismissal of the head of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov. However, it is known that the tension among the military has reached its peak. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386884

US Ambassador Brink on morning attack by kamikaze drones: "More aid for Ukraine is on way"

US Ambassador Bridget Brink commented on the morning attack by the Russian Federation with kamikaze drones and said that help for Ukraine is on the way.

She announced this on Twitter, Censor.NET reports.

"Drones are in Kyiv this morning, but I know that waking up to Russian bombs has already become too frequent a phenomenon that Ukrainians are experiencing with courage and dignity all over Ukraine. We are with you - even more, help is on the way," the diplomat said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386900

Russian Federation is trying to use kamikaze drones at night and scouting for air defense weaknesses, - Air Force

The Russian invaders conduct reconnaissance on the eve of the strike mission in order to avoid falling into the air defense zone.

This was announced by Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat during the telethon, Censor.NET informs.

"The tactics inherent in the use of these UAVs is night. Conditions of poor visibility, because at night it is difficult to detect them visually with the means by which they are shot down - these are small arms, anti-aircraft guns. That's why it's radar devices that detect them, and anti-aircraft missile systems and other weapons shoot them down," he explained.

"Using the riverbeds and those areas that the enemy scouts, where we may have certain weak points, strong points - this is all the enemy discovers. It conducts reconnaissance on the eve of the strike mission, thus trying to avoid falling into the range of our air defense systems," the Air Force spokesman added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386903

Jimbuna

12-14-22, 06:14 AM

Total combat losses of Russian Federation since beginning of war - about 96,000 people (+740 per day), 2,970 tanks, 1,931 artillery systems, 5,937 armored vehicles. INFOGRAPHICS

The Russian occupiers, who invaded the territory of Ukraine, continue to suffer losses. As of the morning of December 14, the loss of enemy personnel are approximately 96,000.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the press center of the General Staff.

As noted, the total combat losses of the enemy from 24/02 to 14/12 are approximately:

personnel - about 96,000 (+740) people were eliminated,
tanks - 2970 (+4) units,
armored combat vehicles - 5937 (+7) units,
MLRS - 404 (+0) units,
Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 211 (+0) units,
aircraft - 281 (+0) units,
helicopters - 264 (+0) units,
UAV of operational-tactical level - 1617 (+0),
cruise missiles - 592 (+0),
Warships/boats - 16 (+0) units,
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 4562 (+13) units,
special equipment - 171 (+1). Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386889

Jimbuna

12-14-22, 12:57 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qp0bnvBYPQ

Jimbuna

12-14-22, 01:00 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRaem744Rx8

Aktungbby

12-14-22, 01:00 PM

/\ I prefer "Vlad the Rapist" as a captain is held responsible for the conduct of his troops; as evidenced by the multiple executions of defeated Nazi and Japanese generals following WWII. Putin, after helping NATO win by his micro-mismanagement of the ground war in Ukraine, needs to be taken into custody and put on trial. Even Emperor Hirohito was considered for war crimes but MacArthur deemed him necessary to postwar harmony in the the Nipponese restoration; now proving useful in the impending deterioration of Chinese/puppet-state N.Korean sabre-rattling. That Russia is even allowed to function at the UN, much less on the Security Council, is utterly incomprehensible to me. We r well on course since my earlier post: https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2821999&postcount=5507 In this morning's paper: Russia was booted out of the League of Nations in 1939 for its invasion of Finland...so there is precedent for removing it again from the present successor, the United Nations....:hmmm: if nothing else, communist countries are particularly sensitive to "loss of face" on the international stage. In addition to the horrendous casualties and awful demonstration of military prowess that leaves even their Chinese allies wondering at the miscalculation of the 'snatch and grab' tactics of Hitler's 1939 lightning-war. IE: Grabbing Ukrainian territory is one thing; holding it is another; and copycat Putler doesn't have the rubles to build another "Iron Curtain" from northernmost Estonia to the Crimea this time around, alà Ol' Adolf's'' breeched 'Atlantic Wall'!??

Jimbuna

12-14-22, 01:04 PM

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

Jimbuna

12-14-22, 01:14 PM

German opposition leader Mertz called on German government to hand over tanks to Ukraine

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz demands that the federal government supply Ukraine with battle tanks and armored personnel carriers.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the EP.

"The more we help, the sooner this war will end," he said in response to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's statement in the Bundestag.

Mertz said that the government is being covered by NATO partners, but this is a mistake.

"It's mostly up to you," Mertz told the chancellor, adding that the government could easily provide heavy equipment. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386943

EU provided 500 million euros as part of exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine

The European Union allocated a tranche in the amount of 500 million euros as part of exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine

This was reported by the press service of the European Commission, Censor.NET reports.

"Today we paid out the 3rd tranche for €500 million as part of the exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine for €5 billion for 2022. This will contribute to the macroeconomic stability of Ukraine and strengthen its overall economic and financial stability," the message reads. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386952

Holiday truce is not on agenda, - Peskov

The Kremlin says it has not received any proposals from Kyiv to end hostilities in Ukraine for the upcoming holidays, and a ceasefire is not on Moscow’s agenda.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Radio Liberty.

"No, no proposals have been received from anyone, and no topic of this kind is on the agenda," said the spokesman of the Russian dictator, Dmytro Peskov, when asked if Russia would stop hostilities on New Year's or Christmas.

Peskov also said that "the primary task is to protect people in the LPR and the DPR." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386964

Zelenskyi called on European Parliament to adopt resolution on creation of special tribunal on Russia’s crimes in Ukraine

Ukraine calls on the European Parliament to adopt a separate resolution on creating a special tribunal on the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

This is stated in the address of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, delivered during an online speech in the European Parliament at the Andriy Sakharov award ceremony, Censor.NET reports.

"I am grateful to everyone who investigates and helps investigate the crimes of the occupiers in Ukraine, who are looking for information about Russian murderers and terrorists. I am grateful to the International Criminal Court, which works closely with Ukrainian prosecutors and has a clear intention to bring justice to what the occupiers have committed on the territory of our country." , - noted Zelenskyi.

The head of state expressed his gratitude to all countries, politicians, and international organizations that work together with Ukraine and make every possible effort to create a tribunal for the Russian Federation.

"I call on all of you, your parties, and states to support this work. The tribunal must work. The European Parliament has already supported this idea, it must be made a reality as soon as possible, in particular through the adoption of a different resolution of the European Parliament in support of the creation of the tribunal, through your support and your country's support for the corresponding resolution of the UN General Assembly," Zelenskyi urged. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3386997

Dargo

12-14-22, 02:15 PM

Ombudsman: Children's torture chamber found in liberated Kherson.

Ukrainian authorities discovered a room that Russians used to detain and torture children during the occupation of Kherson, Dmytro Lubinets, the Human Rights Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada, said on Dec. 14. According to testimonies from locals, other torture victims in the facility knew that Ukrainian children had been kept there by Russian security services, who had called the room “a children's cell.” https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1603037980817506315

Russians torture Ukrainian children and even "set up" separate torture chambers for this purpose, – the parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, – Dmytro Lubinets. In Kherson, one of the torture chambers had a cell for children. One 14-year-old boy was detained and tortured just for taking pictures of broken Russian equipment, – Dmytro Lubinets reports. https://twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1603041608756338690

Lubinets said that Russians kept a boy in one of the detention centers in Balakliya for 90 days. "He said that he was tortured: they cut him with a knife, heated metal and burned a part of his body, several times they took him to the execution and shot him over the head," - the Ombudsman said. In Kherson in one of the torture chambers there was a separate cell where children were kept. "It was recorded that children were given water every other day, almost no food. They used psychological pressure: they told them that their parents had abandoned them, that they would not return," Lubinets said. https://twitter.com/Lyla_lilas/status/1603042758729650178

Really have no words for this, how low can you be to torture children.

Dargo

12-14-22, 02:32 PM

74% of EU citizens approve of European Union support for Ukraine in the struggle against Putin’s Russia.

https://i.postimg.cc/LXMTzcPX/Fj8e-Xd-Xg-AAX4-C.jpg

mapuc

12-14-22, 04:18 PM

^^ I so truly hope it's false alarm-I can't fathom the fact that Russia should have tortured children.

Markus

Skybird

12-14-22, 05:15 PM

Dargo

12-14-22, 05:24 PM

Bubble-Olaf lies all the time about himself being in line with NATO and American positions. He also is full of praise for himself, uses speeches to tell the world how great and fantastic he is performing, and that all good things have come from him, he also already threatened to candidate again in three years. He is obsessed with raising a false and glorious image of himself and to hide his failure, his cowardice. I think he has a very deep-rooted inferiority complex that he tries to overcompensate by forcing the world to love and like him.
He will not easily send tanks for another reason: He is an SPD man, and these basterds since always think they have a special link to their "socialist" buddies" in the Sovjet Union, and then Russia. These people do not want to let go their life-long illusions, even not today. Bubble-Olaf just recently gave the German industry the idea that once the war is over they can go back to business as usual with Russia. He indicated that in a public speech in front of the yearly gathering of the association of German industry leaders! :doh:

DONT TRUST THE GERMANS.History tells us Germany more than 100 years done this dealing with Russia in the end of WWI and the years before WWII, only surprised they do it so public now.

August

12-14-22, 08:38 PM

Ooops!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SxI0D-eBiM

Buddahaid

12-14-22, 08:47 PM

I wouldn't doubt it. Ukraine has proven itself smarter and more determined with a moral high ground.

Commander Wallace

12-14-22, 09:24 PM

Robert Legare

Tue, December 13, 2022 at 8:55

Washington — A Russian man living in New Hampshire allegedly used his Merrimack home as a "transshipment point" to smuggle American-made military-grade equipment into Russia, part of a coordinated effort to evade U.S. export laws, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Alexey Brayman is one of seven defendants charged in a 16-count indictment, accused of participating an international scheme to transport American products to Russia through countries including Estonia, Finland, German and Hong Kong, in violation of federal law.

Brayman's co-defendants include a U.S. citizen from New Jersey, a technical director for a Moscow-based machinery company that contracts with Russian intelligence and a Russian national who once lived in Brooklyn.

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/.CK0brgyzt4W8ZeRiB31tA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTg0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/cbs_news_897/caeb48d863cf12d6aea05f91f0def221

Vadim Konoshchenok, defendant in Russian smuggling case. / Credit: Government exhibit

According to the indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of New York, since 2017 through at least the spring of 2022, Yevgeniy Grinin, Aleksey Ippolitov, Boris Liv****s, Svetlana Skvortsova, Vadim Konoshchenok, Vadim Yermolenko, and Brayman, used shell companies, fake addresses and counterfeit shipping labels to transport the equipment to Russia. The goods alleged to have been smuggled include "advanced electronics and sophisticated testing equipment" to be used in nuclear weapons development and other military and space-based military applications.

Investigators say the items were repackaged and shipped from several "intermediate locations" once they reached Europe and Asia before they were ultimately sent to Russia.

Prosecutors say the defendants coordinated their efforts to break U.S. export control laws that restrict commerce with Russia, specifically laws enacted in response to the Kremlin's invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Treasury Department sanctioned two of the Russian companies at the center of the alleged plan — Serniya and Sertal — and even targeted Grinin himself, describing the entire network as "instrumental to the Russian Federation's war machine."

The pipeline described in court papers allegedly began with companies in the Russian defense and technology industries making requests of Ippolitov for the American equipment, and he would then hand off the orders to Grinn and Skvortsovato to secure funding.

Liv****s is accused of communicating directly with the U.S. companies, often using the alias "David Wetksy" to purchase the desired military-grade equipment. In one example, prosecutors claimed Liv****s used the alias in the spring of 2022 — after Russia's invasion of Ukraine had begun — to contact an Illinois-based electronics distributor about purchasing a type of electric signal-monitoring system that is restricted by the Commerce Department for for anti-terrorism reasons.

The Russian national allegedly bought the equipment, known as a dual-use oscilloscope, from the American company for $25,000 and shipped it to Brayman's New Hampshire residence. There, Brayman sent the package to Hamburg, Germany. Yermolenko, who lives in New Jersey, joined Brayman in unlawfully exporting goods from the U.S., according to charging documents. Investigators say Liv****s — who also established and managed numerous shell companies in the U.S. — didn't tell the U.S. companies how the equipment was to be used or that Russian companies were waiting to receive it.

According to the indictment unsealed this month, Brayman and Liv****s allegedly discussed sending goods to Russia through Germany "by hook or by crook."
And as recently as Oct. 22, Konoshchenok, a Russian national living in Estonioa, was stopped by police on that country's border with Russia, where law enforcement allegedly found 35 types of semiconductors, thousands of 6.5mm bullets originally made in Nebraska, and ammunition for sniper riffles.
https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Jaw354f4ikoikZ9aicKvMA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0OTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/cbs_news_897/acfd7f9ed0baa94b431779db9dff8cbd

6.5mm bullets made in Nebraska and found in the possession of Russian defendant Vadim Konoshchenok / Credit: Government exhibit
Konoshchenok, a suspected Russian intelligence officer, is accused of smuggling numerous U.S.-made goods from Estonia to Russia, including dual-use electronics, military-grade tactical ammunition and other export-controlled items, the Justice Department said.

"With three of the defendants now in custody, we have disrupted the procurement network allegedly used by the defendants and Russian intelligence services to smuggle sniper rifle ammunition and sensitive electronic components into Russia," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. "The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce our economic sanctions and export controls against those who enable the Russian government to continue its unjust war in Ukraine.

The investigation into the smuggling scheme was coordinated by the department's Task Force Kleptocapture, an interagency response to Russia's invasion of Urkaine earlier this year led by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.

According to the Justice Department, Brayman surrendered to the FBI and was released Tuesday after posting $150,000 in bond. Yermolenko was arrested in New Jersey and also released on bond. Yermolenko pleaded not guilty.

Konoshchenok was taken into custody by Estonian authorities on Dec. 6 at the request of the U.S. and is now pending extradition. The other defendants remain at large.

"At this stage Mr. Brayman has only been charged, he has not been convicted of anything. Like all defendants, Mr. Brayman is entitled to the presumption of innocence," David Lazarus, his attorney, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Yermolenko's public defender, Nora Hirozawa, declined to comment further.
The pair is expected to be back in court in February.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/seven-charged-russian-smuggling-ring-015517642.html

It looks like the sanctions against Russia are biting their war machine where the sun doesn't shine. It looks like the U.S will have some new bargaining chips in prisoner exchanges. :yep:

Jimbuna

12-15-22, 06:58 AM

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

Jimbuna

12-15-22, 07:01 AM

Total combat losses of Russian Federation since beginning of war - about 96 590 people (+590 per day), 2975 tanks, 1943 artillery systems, 5946 armored vehicles. INFOGRAPHICS

As of the morning of December 15, the loss of enemy personnel are approximately 96,590.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to data from the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

The total losses of the Russian occupiers since 24/02 are approximately:

personnel - about 96,590 (+590) people were eliminated;
tanks - 2975 (+5) units;
armored fighting vehicles - 5946 (+9) units;
artillery systems - 1,943 (+12) units;
MLRS - 406 (+2) units;
anti-aircraft warfare systems - 211 (+0) units;
aircraft - 281 (+0) units;
helicopters - 264 (+0) units;
UAVs of operational-tactical level - 1644 (+27);
cruise missiles - 592 (+0);
Warships/boats - 16 (+0) units;
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 4563 (+1) units;
special equipment - 172 (+1). Source: https://censor.net/en/n3387131

Jimbuna

12-15-22, 07:06 AM

Kremlin is increasing production of military equipment, but sacrificing its quality - General Staff

The Russian invaders want to ensure a quantitative advantage in weapons, but sacrifice its quality.

This was stated by the Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksii Hromov, Censor.NET reports.

"To ensure a quantitative advantage in weapons and military equipment on the battlefield, the Kremlin is increasing the indicators of its own production of equipment, in particular at the expense of reducing the quality of products. It is also activating the conclusion of agreements with other countries on their supply," he noted. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3387161

Most of needs of Armed Forces of Ukraine in winter uniforms have been closed, - Ministry of Defense

The lion’s share of the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in military uniforms is closed, and the help that should come from partners will become an additional reserve.

This was reported by Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar during the briefing, Censor.NET informs.

"Between December 8 and 14, the Ministry of Defense handed over 11,000 body armor, over 10,000 helmets, and over 75,000 pairs of winter shoes to the Armed Forces. And during the week, more than 70,000 winter jackets, 65,000 winter pants, 73,000 sets of field suits, more than 118,000 winter hats, more than 104,000 insulation suit jackets (fleece), and almost 140,000 sets of underwear were transferred and accounted for demi-season and winter clothing," said Maliar.

The Deputy Minister of Defense cited the proportions of the total volume of winter jackets that have already been handed over to the army: 87.2% - purchased under Ministry of Defense contracts; 8.3% - material and technical assistance from partners; 4.4% - charitable assistance.

"The reserve of means of individual armor protection is at the level of about 200,000 body armor and more than 100,000 helmets. New batches of armor are arriving, at the same time, they are constantly being issued to replacement troops and new units," said Maliar. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3387164

United States will expand training program of Ukrainian military in Germany: instructors will train battalion of soldiers of Armed Forces for month, - New York Times

The Pentagon is expanding the training program for the Ukrainian military, which is conducted for them at the base in Germany.

As reported by Censor.NET, The New York Times reports this with reference to two American officials who commented on the condition of anonymity.

According to them, President Joe Biden has already approved the relevant decision this week, and from the beginning of 2023, about a battalion of Ukrainian soldiers, 600-800 people, will be able to receive training from American instructors every month.

Currently, approximately 300 people are trained monthly. Since the start of the full-scale war, American instructors have trained approximately 3,100 Ukrainians, mostly in small groups, to work with specific weapons systems, such as HIMARS.

The training program itself will also change somewhat: it is planned to train larger groups so that they practice advanced battle tactics, including joint exercises, when infantry learn to act in coordination with artillerymen.

The decision was made just now allegedly because previously the Ukrainian command was wary of releasing a larger number of people from the front line for training, but with the onset of winter, the intensity of hostilities may be lower.

The interlocutors said that the expansion of the program is to some extent a renewal of the training programs that the US and other allies conducted for the Ukrainian military from 2015 before the start of the full-scale war at the Yavoriv training ground. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3387167

Skybird

12-15-22, 09:53 AM

Deutsche Welle:

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

Some Ukrainian refugees keen to stay in Germany permanently

Around a third, or 37%, of the more than one million Ukrainians who fled to Germany after the Russian invasion would like to settle permanently or for several years, a government-backed survey said on Thursday.
A poll of 11,225 refugees (https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-to-create-10000-more-beds-for-ukrainian-refugees/a-63811862) conducted by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and other agencies, found that 2% of the refugees planned to leave within a year and 27% were undecided.
However, they have significantly lower life satisfaction than the German population, averaging 5.8 on a scale of ten, compared with 7.5 for Germans.
More than half of the refugees are enrolled in German language classes, but two out of every ten refugees said they had no or little understanding of German. The majority of children attend German schools and some attend daycare.
Some 17% of working-age Ukrainian refugees were employed.
Bar Poland, Germany has taken in more Ukrainians than any other European Union country. The majority who settled on the country cited the fact that family members, friends, or acquaintances already live there as a motive.
----------------
We also know that many more of those Ukrainians in Germany, predominantly women and their kids, would want to work, but are not allowed due to those damn overburdening bureaucratic rules in Germany. That is stupid by the Germans because many of these women are very well qulified, much specialised, are doctors, nurses, academically trained specialists - and this time that is for real and not just a propaganda lie Merkel told the Germans when she opened the floodgartes form the Middle East to germany 2015. If these Ukrainians want to stay in Germany, that is some of the best that could happen to Germany and the job market, migration-wise. This is right that kind of migration that we need, due to massive lack of employees and workers.

Skybird

12-15-22, 09:56 AM

I suspect somebody wants to play "Bridge Buster". :D

Deutsche Welle:
----------------------
US mulls smart bomb kits for Ukraine The United States is planning to provide Ukraine with electronics kits that convert unguided bombs into precision-guided aerial munitions, or smart bombs, The Washington Post reports.
This follows reports from Tuesday (https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-updates-us-nears-delivery-of-patriot-missiles/a-64085098) that the US is preparing to also send its sophisticated Patriot air defense system to Ukraine.
No official announcements have been made.
------------------

Jimbuna

12-15-22, 03:06 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G3HHNt50cA

Jimbuna

12-15-22, 03:07 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK6LIy0XnQ4

Jimbuna

12-15-22, 03:13 PM

Russians are training 200,000 soldiers. I have no doubt that they will go to Kyiv again, - Zaluzhny

Russia is stockpiling men and weapons for a new offensive.

This was stated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhnyi in an interview with The Economist, Censor.NET reports.

"The Russian mobilization worked. It is not true that their problems are so terrible that these people will not fight. They will fight. The Tsar tells them to fight and they fight. I studied the history of the two Chechen wars - everything was the same. Maybe they are not as well equipped but still a problem for us. We estimate they have a reserve of 1.2-1.5 million people...

The Russians are training about 200,000 new soldiers. I have no doubts they will go to Kyiv again," he said.

At the same time, The Economist notes that Russia is stockpiling people and weapons for a new offensive.

"Already in January, but most likely in the spring, it can launch a major attack from Donbas in the east, south, or even Belarus. Russian troops will seek to push back Ukrainian forces and may even make a second attempt to take Kyiv," the publication writes, referring to the words of Zaluzhny.

The publication also said that Zaluzhnyi, with President Zelenskyi and the commander of the Ground Forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, warned of a critical few months ahead.

"As in the Second World War, I have no doubt, most likely, somewhere beyond the Urals, new resources are being prepared. They are being prepared 100%. Ammunition is being prepared, not very good, but still. These will not be the resources that could b to be in two years of the armistice. It will be lousy, and the combat potential will be very, very low; even if he recruits another million men into the army to throw corpses like Zhukov (senior Soviet commander during World War II) did, it will still not bring the desired result," explained the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3387223

Zaluzhny about mobilization: We have enough people, we need heavy weapons and ammunition

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny explained whether Ukraine needs a new wave of mobilization.

He said this in an interview with The Economist, Censor.NET reports.

Journalists asked Zaluzhny whether Ukraine needs a new wave of mobilization.

"We are already conducting it as it is. We have enough people, and I see what I have. I have enough. I don't need hundreds of thousands more. We need tanks; we need armored personnel carriers, we need armored personnel carriers. And we need ammunition," replied the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.

We will remind, on December 6, the Minister of Defense Oleksiy Reznikov stated that it is not necessary to activate the conscription and recruit more people to the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the moment, since the number of personnel is sufficient.

On December 14, Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar noted that the mobilization "will depend on the needs of the war." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3387229

US imposes new sanctions against Russia

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the State Department announced sanctions against dozens of Russian financial institutions, oligarch Vladimir Potanin, his network of organizations, and other individuals associated with the Russian government.

This is noted in official statement of Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury, reports Censor.NЕТ with reference to Ukrinform.

"Today OFAC is adding 18 entities associated with the Russian financial services sector to the SDN sanctions list," the document says.

In addition, the U.S. Department of State simultaneously adds to the list of restrictions a well-known Russian oligarch Vladimir Potanin, his network of organizations, as well as more than 40 other individuals associated with the government of the Russian Federation. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3387254

August

12-15-22, 09:47 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5hYrBbZu2k

Skybird

12-16-22, 04:02 AM

These lectures should be hacked and pushed into the Russian media landscape, all channels, everywhere.

But also in the West many may be in need for these lessons.
I have seen just two so far, but this is a highly potent full broadside against Russian toxic ideoolgy and distorted wordview.
I have seen two so far, but the others will follow over time. Whether my memory will keep it all well-stored remains to be seen. :)

Very very recommended.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh9mgdi4rNewfxO7LhBoz_1Mx1MaO6sw_

Jimbuna

12-16-22, 05:04 AM

Russia has launched a fresh wave of air strikes across Ukraine.

"The enemy is massively attacking," says Oleksiy Kuleba, the head of the Kyiv regional military administration.

Two people have died in the central city of Kryvyi Rih after a residential building was hit, says the regional governor.

There have been explosions in Kyiv - where authorities say water supplies have been affected and metro services are suspended - as well as other cities including Odesa.

The whole of Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, is without power after civilian infrastructure was hit.

Russia - which has been targeting the Ukrainian energy grid as winter temperatures plummet - it is yet to comment on the latest strikes.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has accused its enemy of planning a wide-ranging ground offensive for early in the new year - despite recent setbacks on the battlefield.

Jimbuna

12-16-22, 05:13 AM

Total combat losses of Russian Federation since beginning of war - about 97,270 people (+680 per day), 2,980 tanks, 1,946 artillery systems, 5,952 armored vehicles. INFOGRAPHICS

The losses of the Russian occupiers as of the morning of December 16 are approximately 97,270.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to data from the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

The total losses of the Russian occupiers since 24/02 to 16/12 are approximately:

personnel - about 97,270 (+680) people were eliminated,
tanks - 2980 (+5) units,
armored combat vehicles - 5952 (+6) units,
artillery systems - 1,946 (+3) units,
MLRS- 410 (+4) units,
anti-aircraft warfare systems - 211 (+0) units,
aircraft - 281 (+0) units,
helicopters - 264 (+0) units,
UAVs of operational-tactical level - 1648 (+4),
cruise missiles - 592 (+0),
Warships/boats - 16 (+0) units,
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 4563 (+0) units,
special equipment - 172 (+0). Source: https://censor.net/en/n3387358

Skybird

12-16-22, 08:39 AM

Markus Reisner is commander of the Guard of the Austrian Armed Forces. Previously, he was head of the development department of the Military Academy in Vienna. His videos on Youtube, in which he explains the war in Ukraine, have also made him famous in Germany.

His videos are listed here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6Udnt8OH5-tuFBuYigic6mYE6_TfCqV7

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Colonel Markus Reisner very successfully explains the war in Ukraine on YouTube. How does he see the chances of negotiations and what does he expect this winter?

ZEIT ONLINE: Colonel, Olaf Scholz says Putin can no longer win the war. Is the German chancellor right about that?

Markus Reisner: I am very careful with such statements and do not think that the Russians have already lost militarily. According to the U.S. Chief of Staff, they have lost 100,000 men, and the Ukrainians have lost just as many. A lot of statements in the West are driven by the hope that the right side will win quickly. British intelligence also keeps giving the impression that Russia is already finished. But that is part of the information war. Russia has said goodbye to Europe in the long run. Here, on the other hand, it has already clearly lost. The battle is currently going on at various levels, not just militarily on the battlefield.

ZEIT ONLINE: What do you mean by that?

Reisner: The military conflict is accompanied by an economic war. The West has imposed sanctions on Russia and Putin is fighting with gas, oil and grain. In addition, there is the fight in cyberspace, with hacker attacks, but also an information war, which Ukraine is waging very successfully. It has to do so in order to show NATO countries again and again that it is worth supporting the country under attack.

ZEIT ONLINE: Ukraine has recently used drones to attack targets in Russia. What do you think about these strikes?

Reisner: The Ukrainians have tried to hit the perpetrators of the fierce attacks on their critical infrastructure. They have used long-range weapons and surprise strikes to attack strategic bomber airfields far in the Russian hinterland and the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea. Russian aircraft and warships repeatedly fire cruise missiles at Ukraine. Ukraine is doing exactly the right thing from a military standpoint, but has too limited resources to inflict major damage. Now the Russians are forewarned and can ramp up their defenses.

ZEIT ONLINE: In Russia, supporters of the regime blame the U.S. for the attacks on their territory.

Reisner: Ukraine has received considerable support from the West so far. Without information from the Americans, the sinking of the flagship Moskva, the targeted killing of so many Russian generals and now the strikes against Russia would not have been possible. At a minimum, the Ukrainians receive geospatial data and intelligence from the West. This is not secret; it is always reported publicly in the United States. But the United States is acting cautiously; it has no interest in an escalation of the conflict.

ZEIT ONLINE: Russia is currently trying to go on the offensive again, attacking in the Donbass, especially near Bachmut. How do you assess the situation?

Reisner: At Bachmut, the Russians seem to be using an old strategy from the First World War. On the Western Front, the Germans attacked Verdun at that time because they knew that France would never give up the place. Their goal was to force the enemy into a so-called bone mill, to bleed him dry in battles with high human casualties, to weaken him so that his morale and fighting strength collapsed. At that time, however, Germany had losses as great as those of the defenders. The plan did not work. Bachmut is not of great strategic importance; the city was a transportation hub before the massive shelling. But now it is completely destroyed. And both sides are fighting for a symbol. If Russia takes the city, the course of the war won't change much. Neither will it if the Ukrainians continue to hold the place. The Russians also used this approach with success in the summer, achieving a breakthrough at Popasna.

ZEIT ONLINE: Russia has lost a great many battle-hardened infantrymen, according to British figures. The idea of using a bone mill to wear down the enemy seems particularly cynical and unpromising.

Reisner: With the partial mobilization, Russia has gained many men with little combat experience. The Kremlin uses these reservists as cannon fodder. But the Russian army also has experienced fighters. The Russians managed to rescue 30,000 soldiers from encirclement before Kherson. After high-ranking Russian and American representatives met in Turkey, the troops left without a shot being fired. That looks like collusion or a concession to me. The troops that Russia pulled out of Kherson can now attack at Bachmut. I wonder why the Ukrainians allowed the Russians to pull their heads out of the noose.

ZEIT ONLINE: Russia's weakness has surprised many.

Reisner: That's true. Historians will probably later describe the whole course of events as compelling. But it wasn't like that. Russia made mistakes and completely miscalculated at the beginning of the war. The plan was to advance as quickly as possible, to take Kiev, to achieve military success in ten days. Ukraine quickly realized that it could prevent a quick victory of the enemy with help from the West. But the Russians have learned from setbacks. Now their strategy is to hold their defenses and wait for spring.

ZEIT ONLINE: How long can Russia hold out in this conflict?

Reisner: The Russian government is explaining to its own people that the attack was right, that the conflict makes sense. The government in Moscow will not give up. It has tremendous manpower reserves and can keep the war going for a long time. In the Kremlin's presentation, Russia is not fighting Ukraine, but the West. That appeals to the Russians.

ZEIT ONLINE: What does the government in Ukraine need most urgently?

Reisner: I already said in the summer that Ukraine needs to be supported with air defense. Now it is hitting the Ukrainians hard that they have too few air defense systems. Russia has been targeting infrastructure with cruise missiles, rockets and drones since the beginning of October. The big question for me is whether the Ukrainians are resilient enough to survive the winter without heating and electricity.

ZEIT ONLINE: Your analyses in the YouTube videos often go into great detail. How do you get your information?

Reisner: I have been monitoring the conflict intensively since 2014. Every day, I collect information, evaluate social media accounts and Messenger entries, save photos and videos. Every morning, I create a short situation report. That way I keep an overview and have material for my analyses.

ZEIT ONLINE: The Ukrainian defense minister has just announced a new offensive after the winter. Do you trust the Ukrainians to do that?

Reisner: Ukraine is trying to keep the momentum high. If they manage to advance further in the southeast toward Melitopol, then they could cut the link between Russian troops in the Donbass and Crimea. That would be a significant strategic advantage. But the Russians are digging in and letting the enemy come. The Ukrainians need military successes to keep the West in line. The war will not be decided in Ukraine, but in living rooms in Europe and North America. If the majority of the population here is no longer willing to support Ukraine, then it no longer has a chance.

ZEIT ONLINE: You explain to thousands of YouTube users what is happening in the war. How popular has that made you, are you recognized on the street?

Reisner: No, only rarely. But there is an immense interest in the war right now, thereby also in the military and in our videos. Until now, our army has been on the fringes of society, just as it is in Germany. This is changing, as we can see from the popularity of our films. We never expected this success. In our videos, we try to remain as objective as possible. At the moment, I don't have enough time for the project because I just became commander of the Guard in Vienna. But if the interest is so great, I'll probably have to get back in front of the camera.

ZEIT ONLINE: Absolutely. How do you personally view the war in Ukraine?

Reisner: Since the end of the Cold War, Europe has long succeeded in advancing the great common peace project. From my family history, I know how bad the war is. My great-grandfather fought on the Isonzo, my grandfather fought for the Wehrmacht in the West. I was repeatedly deployed abroad, in Afghanistan, Africa, served together with Italians and French. I don't want my three children to experience war personally. We need to learn from conflict and become more resilient. After almost 80 years of peace, people in Western Europe have forgotten what war means.

ZEIT ONLINE: In one of your videos, you mourn a comrade who died in Ukraine.

Reisner: The news of his death was a punch in the gut for me. The war suddenly had a face. I know who this one Ukrainian officer who was killed was, how he laughed, what his hope for the future was. He became a father for the first time before the end of January. In that one moment I could no longer be neutral.

ZEIT ONLINE: On Christmas Eve, the war has already been going on for ten months. What could an end to the fighting look like?

Reisner: If there is no surprising event, the slaughter will continue with varying degrees of success. Winter brings snow and ice, there will be no major attacks, rather skirmishes and limited advances. Only in spring will we see where we stand. Then there will be offensives on both sides again. The Russians continue to set up their economy for war. I don't see an end to this war.

ZEIT ONLINE: In the past few days, there has again been increased talk in the international arena about possible peace negotiations. What do you think about this?

Reisner: I don't think peace negotiations are very likely at this point in time. One of the two sides must be so worn out before negotiations that it has to give up. The conflict is reminiscent of a boxing match in which there is no knockout, and the fighters just keep going. Sometimes one lands a hit, sometimes the other. A collapse of one side is not in sight for the time being.

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

As a person, privately, Putin is done, and practically dead, I am certain of that. But that Russia is already loosing the war, will soon be forced to end it, cannot continue it, I do not see. They will need to fall back to simpler, older wepaons, ammo, may send untrained or badly trained unmotivated hordes of trolls - but they can find them and they will send them. The Russian war objective here is to exhaust and tire the West. Once the West is tired of supporting Ukraine with ammo and weapons, or can practically no longer do it, the Ukraine is lost. Courage does not shoot down cruise missiles or planes, will does not penetrate armour on the ground with nothing, urgent desire and orthodox prayers will not keep Diesels and tank engines running. Thats why Scholz and others are so very stupid to dose the ammount of support for calculating to have relations with Russia again afterwards. They actively help to stress Europe's patience and America's patience, and extend the war and increase the likelihood of Ukrainian defeat and Russian victory. It is in our interest to amass support to the Ukriane, accelerate and intensify the obliteration of Russian formations on Ukrainian soil, and drive the Russians out by force. The hope they will withdraw voluntarily, is completely unfounded. It will not happen. We must noit extend the wr, we must itnesfy it and hope to shorten it by decisively winning it. With every month going by, our chances and Ukraine's chances are shrinking. As the Austrian colonel put it, the war is being decided in European and American living rooms.

And Putin plays no role in all this. He can die tomorrow, and things will carry on being what they are. Maybe even become worse earlier than expected. It is said he actively intervenes in military decisions, like Hitler did, and that this causes many unneeded errors in the Russian military acting. So Putins death could worsten things for Ukraine just by Putin no longer ordering the military to do stupid things.