Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

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

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!


DONT TRUST THE GERMANS.

[Dargo]

Originally Posted by Skybird

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!


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]

Ooops!

[Buddahaid]

I wouldn't doubt it. Ukraine has proven itself smarter and more determined with a moral high ground.

[Commander Wallace]

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.



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.



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-cha...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.

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

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]

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]

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 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.
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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]

I suspect somebody wants to play "Bridge Buster".

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 that the US is preparing to also send its sophisticated Patriot air defense system to Ukraine.
No official announcements have been made.
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[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

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]

[Skybird]

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?lis...oz_1Mx1MaO6sw_