Seems the russian military is "a bit" confused, and the higher ranks are slaughtering each other :rolleyes:

"Since the full-scale invasion began, Putin has changed commanders of the Russian army in Ukraine at least four times - it still remains unclear who led the invasion in its first weeks, ISW remarks. It's possible Putin wanted to take all credit for the dramatic victory he expected, experts believe."

"Since April 2022 Aleksandr Dvornikov headed Russian troops in Ukraine, to be replaced by Gennadiy Zhidko two months later. Zhidko was replaced in October, after the Russian troops retreated from Kharkiv region. Sergey Surovikin took his place and engaged in mass strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Surovikin lasted until January, and was replaced by Gerasimov. Now, it seems, Gerasimov had to make way for Teplinsky."

Day 500 in the russian plan to take Kyyiv in 5 days.
I wonder why this war was started at all. Seems no one cares anyway in the Rodina. And Putin had some bad advisors. Senseless and useless, just a lot of people dying and Russia will not get out of this anymore.
Maybe there will be a war extending to Moscow but whatever happens, no way to let them ever take a seat on the international table again. That ship has sailed.

This is an interesting video about a book (published appx. 2016), comprising the history of Russia from Yeltsin to Putin, and what went wrong –
hint: the west has completely misunderstood what was going on in Russia from 1989 to now.

The 1999 apartment 'terrorist' bombings and the "re"action that made Putin so popular (and gave him a reason for war in Dagestan and Chechenia) were obviously staged by the successor organisation of the KGB, the FSB.

"The less you know, the better you sleep"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBD3LzbGrYU

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is now tying Sweden's accession to NATO to his country's further rapprochement with the European Union - up to and including full membership.

I have a good - and the only conceivable - answer to that. "No." Instead: an ongoing intensified isolation of Turkey by the other NATO members, up to and including non-invitations to NATO meetings, unproclaimed exclusion from the flow of intelligence and satellite data, and interruption of deliveries of military goods and military repair parts under pretextual reasons. Further, a de facto treatment of Sweden as if it were a member, the treatment of Swedish military units as if they were members, and an ignoring of Turkish traraas and carping, without comment, and simply ignoring Turkey.

Turkey with access to EU money pots - and influence (including blocking rights and blackmailing) on decision making processes. That would have just been missing. A worst case scenario.

At least he has now exposed himself that the accusations that Sweden provides terror assistance to the PKK, were only opportunistic pretext.

Makes one wonder where Erdogan stands in this.

Have no prof that he is helping Russia, 'cause if Sweden becomes a member Russia would lose a major strategic position in the Baltic. NATO will have access to Gotland. Gotland is a very important strategic island.

Markus

Totally agree but I think we all know the answer will be a definitive 'NO'

The Russioans should have gotten theior hands on a Storm Shadow. Too bad if thats true, this missile will now be carefully studied - to jam it more effectively in the future better in the future by also messing up not just its GPS link, but also its inertia navigation system that lets it hitting its target even if GPS connection got jammed.

Turkey does not have so many protocols in order on that base EU will always say no think Ukraine will get an ok earlier than Turkey. And taking Sweden hostage over an EU membership is no go, so contradicting EU founding standards.

Erdoghan probably wants the EU to come up for the costs of his messy economics, and probably eyes a customs union and visa freedom. Especially to the latter I again say "No".

Sadly NATO does not have an article that exclude a member state.

Could be handy now in these days.

Ukraine is closer to a membership than Sweden is.

Markus

German arms manufacturer will build and repair tanks in Ukraine

German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall wants to open a factory in Ukraine within three months, director Armin Papperger tells US news channel CNN. At the factory, Rheinmetall will build and repair tanks and armoured vehicles. The German company also wants to train Ukrainians in maintaining the vehicles.

Ukraine has long been trying to convince Western arms manufacturers to start producing and repairing weapons and ammunition on Ukrainian territory. However, many companies are reluctant to open factories in Ukraine as long as the war continues. For security reasons, the Rheinmetall plant will be located in the west of the country, at a relatively long distance from the front. The German company will cooperate with Ukrainian state-owned Ukroboronprom, which will also own the complex.

Can't see the Russians allowing it to operate for more than a few days at best before they've destroyed it.

I would build it in Poland, Russia than can not bomb it.