Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Skybird]

There are increasing indications that Germany will supply Marder infantry fighting vehicles. How many is unknown. As before, Bubble-Olaf seems to categorically refuse to supply battle tanks of any type. But something substantial he must do, the pressure is mounting now after Macronman sending light tanks and Biden considering sending Bradleys.

Marders are 50 years old, however, they are a proven reliable design, and are still surprisingly well armoured. Their 20mm cannon is considered a bit weak in callibre by now, but is said to be extremely precise. They can carry Milan missiles, however the loader must expose himself to reload the launcher in battle. 3 crew, 7 troops.

The problem with the Marder is the handling under combat conditions. Many technical issues that routinely occure, also reloading procedures, demand the crew to leave the protected armour ahead and expose itself to the threats around. Also, internal handling routines and fighting interactions of the crew are as designed half a century ago, are not as ergonomical and streamlined as in new vehicles. This commands longer training for the crews. Its complicated working kit, by modern standards at least. Well armoured complicated kit, but complicated kit. I think the Ukrainians need to really learn well how to handle these IFVs right, else the Marder will work against their interests and cause them losses they maybe do not expect right now. They wanted the Marder from beginning on, maybe they have too high expectations there. However, it certainly is better than MTBLs and BMPs - these are rolling coffins, the insiders say, difficult to escape from, and easily burning..

I would prefer if they are being given Leopard-2A4s.

[Jimbuna]

Redeployment of Marder IFV to Ukraine should begin, - Head of Defense Committee of Bundestag Strack-Zimmerman

The head of the defense committee of the German Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, supported the idea of transferring Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.

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

"We should start redeploying the Marder infantry fighting vehicle to Ukraine now and immediately begin training to operate it... We definitely need to move now," Strack-Zimmerman said.

A representative of the German parliament spoke favorably of France's decision to hand over wheeled tanks to Ukraine.

"It is important that our Western partners are again the first to take the step they could expect from us," said the deputy.

She added that the Marder is in sufficient quantity in the warehouses of the Bundeswehr, as well as spare parts for them. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3391490

Cooperation between Russia and Iran can threaten not only Ukraine, but also national security of United States, - Kirby

Cooperation between Russia and Iran can threaten not only Ukraine, but also the national security of the United States. Therefore, the States look forward to working with the new Israeli government to jointly face these challenges.

This was stated by the coordinator of strategic communications of the White House, John Kirby, Censor.NET informs with reference to the Voice of America.

"We continue to see a deepening defense relationship between Iran and Russia. And that worries us not only because of the war in Ukraine but because of what it could mean for our national security interests in the Middle East and the interests of our partners there." Kirby said.

He recalled the hundreds of drones provided by Iran to Russia. He also noted that the US government is looking forward to working with the new Israeli government, including to counter the challenges posed by Iran: "We are confident that we will be able to continue working toward these common goals." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3391494

Personnel and equipment of Russian army continue to arrive in Belarus

Personnel, weapons, military and special equipment of the armed forces of the Russian Federation will continue to arrive in the Republic of Belarus.

This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, Censor.NET informs.

It is noted that in this way the regional grouping of the troops of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation to "ensure the military security of the Union State" continues.

With the units of the Russian Federation arriving at the Belarusian training grounds, further combat coordination activities are planned.

In addition, it is planned to hold a joint flight and tactical training in order to increase the level of combat training of the aviation units of both countries. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3391505

[mapuc]

It's breaking news here in Denmark

Following is taken from the Danish news channel

Russian President Vladimir Putin declares a ceasefire in Ukraine on Friday and Saturday. It happens in connection with the celebration of the Russian Orthodox Christmas.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Putin instructed Shoigu to introduce ceasefire along entire line of combat in Ukraine from 12:00 on January 6 to 24:00 on January 7, - Kremlin

The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, instructed the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Serhiy Shoigu, to introduce a cease-fire regime from 12:00 on January 6 to 24:00 on January 7 along the entire line of combat of the parties in Ukraine.

As Censor.NET informs, this was reported by the Russian propaganda publication "RIA-Novosti" with reference to the Kremlin.

More details are currently unknown. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3391513

[August]

Russkies didn't cease fire when the Ukrainians had their Christmas. Unless they have agreed to this they should not give the Russians a break.

[Jimbuna]

US does not expect war to end in near future, because Russia really wants to capture Bakhmut, - Sky News

The US does not expect the end of the war in eastern Ukraine in the near future. It is important for Russia to gain control over Bakhmut.

This is reported by Sky News, Censor.NET reports with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

According to a high-ranking American official, intense fighting in the east of Ukraine will continue for several more months. In his opinion, what is happening in Bakhmut can be expected in other areas of the front as well.

"The fighting is still quite hot (in the Donetsk region. - Ed.). What we see in Bakhmut, we should expect in other parts of the front as well, that the fighting will continue in the coming months," said an anonymous official.

Russia pays special attention to Bakhmut, as it is located on a strategic supply line between Donetsk and Luhansk regions. If the enemy manages to gain control over the city, he can use it as a bridgehead to advance to larger cities - Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3391520

Turkey is ready to participate in implementation of our peace formula, - Zelensky

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, had a telephone conversation with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

As Censor.NET informs about this with reference to Zelensky's Facebook page.

"We discussed with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the security cooperation of our countries, the issue of nuclear safety, in particular the situation at the ZNPP. There should be no invaders there.

They also discussed the exchange of prisoners of war under Turkish mediation, the development of the grain agreement. We appreciate Turkey's readiness to take part in the implementation of our peace formula," said the President of Ukraine. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3391517

[Jimbuna]

By supplying missiles to Russia, Iran will cross "red line", - Kuleba

The supply of missiles by Iran to Russia will be a "red line", the crossing of which will cause the use of all available instruments of pressure on Tehran.

As reported by Censor.NET, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, stated this in an interview with the Arab TV channel Akhbar Al Aan.

"Iran supplies Russia with drones that Russia uses to attack our cities and critical infrastructure. We have also heard that Russia and Iran are likely negotiating an agreement to supply certain types of missiles from Iran to Russia. We are following this process very closely. . This will become a "red line" that Iran should not cross, because then the entire tool of pressure will be used to force Iran to stop doing this," he said.

According to Kuleba, Iran's message "should be very simple": "Whatever the benefits for Iran from cooperation with Russia in these arms deliveries, the negative consequences of this cooperation will be much greater and painful." And that is why Tehran should proceed from these very pragmatic considerations.

The minister also pointed out that by supplying Russia with drones, Iran is participating in Russia's terrorist campaign directed "against the civilian population of the country, which has always been very friendly to the Iranian people."

"And finally, I want to say that this, in fact, also goes against the will of God - to use weapons against the civilian population. And this is exactly what Iranian drones are used for: they are not used to attack our military positions, but Iranian drones kill civilians and are destroying our energy infrastructure, which works in the interests of the civilian population during the war," said the Ukrainian Foreign Minister. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3391528

Russian Commanders Encourage Sexual Violence Against Ukrainian Civilians, New York Times

Journalists of the American publication The New York Times published an investigation of sexual violence against peaceful Ukrainian residents in the de-occupied territories by Russian soldiers.

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

In particular, there is evidence that Russian commanders knew about the rapes or even encouraged them, the NYT writes with reference to Iryna Didenko, a representative of the prosecutor's office handling cases of sexual violence. In some cases, they gave, as Didenko claims, orders to rape or gave instructions to "go and relax."

Didenko says that there is a clear pattern of behavior when Russian troops occupy a territory: "The ground troops arrive, and on the second or third day the rapes begin."

In one of the cases described in the investigation, the commander allowed the soldiers to enter the apartment building, while he himself remained outside. At the same time, the soldier could be heard saying: "We'll just beat this one, and we'll rape this one." In another case, eight Russian soldiers raped a man who was stopped at a checkpoint.

According to Didenko, a total of 154 cases of rape have been officially established. However, the prosecutor believes that in reality there are many more such cases. For example, in one of the previously occupied villages of the Kyiv region, psychologists found that every ninth woman had experienced sexual violence.

According to prosecutors and city authorities, rape victims are reluctant to talk about what happened, and the situation worsens amid the war, as they may be accused of collaborating with the Russian army.

A special mobile group recorded 64 cases of sexual violence by the Russian occupiers in the de-occupied part of the Kherson region. This is more than in other liberated regions of Ukraine.

There are known cases when Russian servicemen raped a woman in the Kherson region for four months. Another local resident has been systematically exposed and tortured since March - she was doused with boiling water. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3391523

[Jimbuna]

[Skybird]

https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/...AMX-10-RC.html


Video only in German, sorry. But the general's words make a lot of sense.

[Jimbuna]

This video could not be played. Please try again later.

[mapuc]

Same here couldn't play

The text below said

The french AMX-10 lightweight armoured tank can be useful, it is however no match for the T72 heavy tank.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Skybird]

Its official: Germany delivers "several dozens" of Marders, and one Patriot battery to Ukraine.



The video. The interviewed ex-general says that due to the mild temperatures any polanned spring offensiove probbaly will come earlier, but that the temps, while some frost will come, will allow muddy underground much sooner again, and so the Ukraine being given tracked combat vehicles is a must to allow the Ukraine to push the counter-.attacks in muddy terrain.

He further says that that AMX is a lightly armoured recce tank that despite its 105mm is no real match for a modern T-72.

He elaborate son the over 2000 Leopard-2 tanks in Europe, that they all use different ammo standards and that the firing control systems are individualised for every nation's individual ammos, and that is why the Leo-2 can only be given to Ukriane in an united Europe-wide project. He said the Leopard-2 verisons are pronbbaly th ebest tnaks in the world, best protected and with tremedous firepower and highest level of crew survival, and that their nature of tanks as being "duel-weapons" that take it out in one-on-one situations and eye to eye with the enemy makes them different to delivery of satellite and HIMARS. He indicated he assumes that this is the fear of politicians: that it would make the difference for Putin to see NAOT entering the war formally: when two tanks are staring at each other and then firing at each other. He idnicated that eh does nto agree with this vie,w since in his words it is exclsuioevly Putin'S decison wheer or not to form a narration in such way that NAOT is seen as inside or outside the war, and that NATO decisions have no influence on this his decision making. I fully agree with that view.

Finally he said the Puma were an overdeveloped vehicle that maybe one day will be the best of its kind, but currently is so complicated to operate and maintainand is so complex that crews simpyl are overburdened and need way more training time. That the Puma is this way he said is not the fault of the iondutsry, which is capable to deliver and dveloe whatever is demanded. He compolained about germany never beign satisfied with develping kit according to need, reliably and trustworthy but that they always plan to do it in the absolutely "best" way possible, that it must be the most modenr, most sophisticated, most superior, most new-deining gold-standard design imaginable. The result thus is failures over failures in such projects when the high flying plans collide with profane realities. Several Pumas recently failed due to crew simply not operating them correctly, and not knowing how to replace for exmaple an electric fuse that burnt through.
Plain reason the man speaks, speaking a grounded, simple language.

[Skybird]

What about a little Dollittle raid into Moscow on orthodox christmas, just to celebrate with Putin?