Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Jimbuna]

Putin did not threaten me or Germany, - Scholz

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Russian President Vladimir Putin had never threatened Germany or him personally, as he did with then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He said this in an interview with Bild, Censor.NET reports with reference to Euro Integration.

"No, Putin did not threaten me or Germany. In our phone conversations, our very different points of view on the war in Ukraine are very clearly visible," Scholz said.

"I made it very clear to Putin that Russia bears full responsibility for the war. For no reason at all, Russia invaded its neighbor to take parts of Ukraine or the whole country. We cannot simply accept this because it fundamentally violates the European peace order. It is therefore, we support Ukraine financially, humanitarianly, as well as with weapons," the chancellor added.

It will be recalled that earlier the former Prime Minister of Great Britain Boris Johnson told the BBC that Putin threatened him with a missile strike on the eve of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin denied this. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3397882

France will transfer modern Ground Master 200 radars to Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers will receive another French weapon - modern Ground Master 200 radars.

This was announced by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov during a press conference, Censor.NET informs with reference to ArmiyaInform.

"We have positive developments. In Paris, a contract was concluded with a French company for the supply of a modern Ground Master 200 radar, which can see fast forces at any height," he said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3397878

In March, Poland will start building electronic fence on border with Russia

Construction of an electronic fence on the border with the Kaliningrad region. Poland plans to start construction in March.

This is reported by Polskie Radio, Censor.NET informs.

"The electronic system on the section from the Kaliningrad region should cover approximately 200 km of the land border. The contractor has already received the project, which is being submitted to the border service for approval," the message says.

It is noted that, thanks to the system of sensors and cameras, the monitoring of the border will be carried out around the clock, regardless of weather conditions. At the same time, it is not necessary to be directly on the borderline. Algorithms are designed so that the border guard can only respond to real attempts by people to cross the border.

Last year, Polish border guards recorded 11 cases of illegal crossings with Russia. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3397867

[tonschk]

zelensky Terrorist Regime complaining about receiving few German Leopard 2 Tanks and very few M1 Abrams Tanks, very few and too late

[mapuc]

Are watching Sky News and in the bottom I can read.

Sky News understands British army unable to fight for more than a few days unless weapons given to Ukraine are replaced.

Same story was told to us some month ago here in Denmark.

We should send a thank you to our former government in the 90's and in the 00's their eager to cut down on the military thing is now showing it's failure.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Kremlin insiders warn pro-war 'ultra-patriots' could overthrow 'weak and tired' Putin

Aleading Russian MP has warned Vladimir Putin's days at the head of the Kremlin could be numbered as "ultra-patriots" are more likely to topple him amid the army's repeated losses in Ukraine. The Russian leader has so far run the Federation with an iron fist by jailing all opponents, including Alexei Navalny, or having them exiled. But his inability to make any significant gains in eastern Ukraine where fighting has been raging on has reportedly angered members of the State Duma who could try to topple the Russian leader. Oleg Matveychev, a member of the pro-Putin United Russia Party, believes the biggest challenge to Putin's power comes from fervent supporters of the conflict in Ukraine.

In an online interview with The Times, Matveychev said: "The situation is not so critical yet but 2023 will be very dangerous.

"We will not be pushed out [onto the streets] of Maidan," he added, in reference to the Maidan Revolution, a wave of large-scale protests which culminated in the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine in 2014.

Given "liberals" and opposition have either fled or been imprisoned, Matveychev said the only danger Putin faces now is what he called "turbo" or "ultra patriots".

Some well-known nationalist and "patriotic" personalities have become enraged due to a disorganised mobilisation of reserves, bad tactics, and setbacks on the front line. One of them is Igor Girkin, a 52-year-old former commander of rebel forces in eastern Ukraine, who has asked for the resignation of Sergey Shoigu, the defence minister, and accused him of "criminal negligence."

Yevgeny Prigozhin, 61, the entrepreneur who oversees the Wagner mercenary company, is still a supporter of Putin but has criticised other Kremlin-aligned oligarchs for their lack of commitment to the war effort. He is also rumoured to be preparing to launch a new conservative political movement.

Matveychev predicts that the "ultra-patriots" will field a candidate in next year's presidential elections when Putin is expected to run for a fifth term. That candidate would complain about tainted election results and "follow the Maidan scenario," he said.

In 2013, deadly clashes broke out in Ukraine after former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign an association agreement with the EU and instead chose closer ties to Russia.

Protesters were outraged by widespread government corruption and abuse of power, oligarchic influence, police brutality, and human rights violations. Repressive anti-protest legislation fuelled even more rage, with protesters clashing with police force in Kyiv.

Months of protests led the Ukrainian Parliament to vote to topple Mr Yanukovych who had already fled the country and claimed the vote was illegal. Russia condemned the move as "coup".

In response, pro-Russian, counterrevolutionary demonstrations broke out in the east and south of Ukraine. While armed pro-Russian rebels took control of government facilities and declared Donetsk and Luhansk separate states, Russia invaded and eventually annexed Crimea, setting off the Donbas War.

Almost a decade after the war started, Ukrainians and Russian forces are engaged in fierce fighting in the same Eastern region of Donbas - each side trying to cling to pieces of territory.

It has given rise to conflicting statements about troops' advances in the cities of Bakhmut Vuhledar and Lyman, with Russia and Ukraine claiming control over the strategic city.

Ukraine's outgoing Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said his country is anticipating a new wave of Russian offensives later this month, which officials fear could come from the south, east and northwest.

In a speech celebrating the 80th anniversary of Russia's victory over Germany at Stalingrad - now known as Volgograd, Putin warned the Russian Federation has the military capacity to respond.

He said: "Those who hope to defeat Russia on the battlefield do not understand, it seems, that a modern war with Russia will be very different for them. We are not sending our tanks to their borders, but we have the means to respond. It won't be limited to the use of armoured hardware. Everyone must understand this."

According to the Telegram channel General SVR, which claims to be fed information by a Kremlin insider, Putin has been visited by doctors after becoming "weak and tired" at his speech in Volgograd.

Putin "did not have fun" while attending meetings and making public appearances while in the country, according to General SVR. "By evening, Putin was very tired and felt weak, doctors were invited to see him," it reported.

"After the next course of therapy, the president has not yet come into shape, and it is not yet clear whether he will come at all."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...ff9912f9dae687

[Jimbuna]

[Skybird]

Putin, a KGB-man, after the Yeltzin years has driven the FSB's fangs and claws deep into the military apparatus again, like it was with the KGB and the Red Army. The army feared the KGB. It is not different today. Whoever succeeds Putin, most likely will and must be an FSB man or somebody who is good friends with the FSB' establishment. I cannot imagine that somebdy will gain control at the state'S top against the FSB. Thats why I di do not have Prigoshin or Kadyrow on my list of likely candidates.

[tonschk]

Ukraine Military is a Defeated Army

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Putin, a KGB-man, after the Yeltzin years has driven the FSB's fangs and claws deep into the military apparatus again, like it was with the KGB and the Red Army. The army feared the KGB. It is not different today. Whoever succeeds Putin, most likely will and must be an FSB man or somebody who is good friends with the FSB' establishment. I cannot imagine that somebdy will gain control at the state'S top against the FSB. Thats why I di do not have Prigoshin or Kadyrow on my list of likely candidates.

Whoever eventually gets into the top seat will nevertheless still be a dictator.

[Jimbuna]

"Wagner" recruiters began to come to Russian colonies in second round, - Russian media

From the end of 2022, the recruiters of "Wagner’s Communist Party" began to visit Russian colonies for the second time, from where they had already recruited prisoners to participate in the war in the spring and autumn.

As reported by Censor.NET, the Russian publication "Mediazona" writes about this.

Convicts told the publication that now recruitment takes place in a less solemn atmosphere: the entire colony no longer lines up on the square, and Prigozhin does not fly in by helicopter.

So, in December, prisoners went to a meeting with a recruiter in the Bashkir VK-16 of their own accord.

"When he began to tell that now yours are being released and they need a replacement, a discussion began between him and the inmates. And one particular one, as they say in prison, hit him in the eyes and asked: "How many percent of ours are left alive, who went?" At this he began to be puzzled, could not answer anything and ended his speech altogether," says the interlocutor. According to him, if the first time more than a thousand people left the entire region, then the second time - only 340.

In VK-4 in Plavsk near Tula, the second recruitment of volunteers took place in November, another convict said. According to his assessment, the first time about 300 people signed up for the war, and the second time - half as many.

Human rights defender and former political prisoner Ivan Astashin wrote that recruiters are again coming to the camps in Mordovia: "For the second time, representatives of the "Wagner" PMC visited VK-10 of the special regime, where this time about 60 convicts enrolled in the ranks of Prigozhin's army."

"Last time (at the end of last year), a person who is near Bakhmut contacted me. He said that he regretted going there. He said that 20% of those who left here are alive," says one of the interlocutors of "Mediazona".

Against this background, the media associated with Prigozhin began to talk about prisoners who survived in Ukraine and returned to freedom. In some colonies, recruiters promised to bring inmates for agitation. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3398042

Government of Norway proposes to allocate 6.5 billion euros for aid to Ukraine within 5 years

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Haar Stre wants the Storting (parliament) to allocate 75 billion Norwegian kroner (6.5 billion euros) to Ukraine as part of the anti-crisis package over five years.

As reported by Censor.NET with a reference to Euro Integration, this was reported by NRK.

Storting leaders meet on Monday to discuss the aid package. Prime Minister Jonas Gar Støre and Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum will present the package to the leaders of the parliament.

It includes both monetary aid and arms aid to Ukraine, as well as aid to other countries affected by the consequences of the war. The package is the result of a budget agreement between the ruling parties - the Labor Party and the Center Party and SV - last autumn. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3398035

Germany will hand over Leopard-2 tanks to Ukraine as soon as possible - government of Germany

Germany will fulfill its promise regarding the tanks and hand them over as soon as possible.

This was stated by the Deputy Spokesman of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, Wolfgang Buchner, Censor.NET reports with reference to Ukrinform.

"The federal government is assuming that the promised Leopard tanks will be delivered quickly," he said.

Buchner added that this will be regardless of when the other partners do it. Germany will fulfill its promise, but at the same time hopes that it will be possible to do it together with other countries.

He confirmed that "intense negotiations" with other countries that plan to transfer tanks of this type are ongoing, but did not disclose details. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3398077

Due to Western sanctions, Russian army receives weapons of reduced quality and accuracy, - Danilov

The Russian army began to receive weapons of reduced quality and accuracy - this is the result of Western sanctions against the aggressor country.

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, wrote about this on Twitter, Censor.NET reports.

"As a result of Western sanctions, the Russian army began to receive weapons of reduced quality and accuracy, trying to maintain quantitative indicators. Ukraine's strategy is to bet on the quality of advanced technologies, not on the mass of mobilized ones," he said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3398126

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

Turnaround in relations with Russia will be possible only after Putin, - Morawiecki

Russia will not pose a threat to peace and security in Europe only when Vladimir Putin leaves and democratic elections are held there.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said this in an interview with El Mundo, Censor.NET reports with reference to LigaBusinessInform.

"The solution is to democratize Russia and put an end to Putin's authoritarian rule. This should be decided by the Russian people in democratic elections," he said.

Moravetsky believes that democratization is Russia's only chance to restore and end the rule of the special services.

"In Europe, we must completely get rid of any Russian influence and become completely independent from Russia. Then and only then will there be a chance for a new turnaround in relations with a completely different Russia. But this is a matter of years, not months," he said Morawiecki. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3398142

Pope Francis is unequivocally on side of Ukraine, - Ambassador Yurash

Ambassador of Ukraine to the Vatican Andriy Yurash is sure that the position of Pope Francis regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war is unambiguous - he is on the side of Ukraine.

Yurash said this in an interview with Ukrinform, Censor.NET reports.

"The Pope is unequivocally on the side of Ukraine, and even his models and ways of self-expression, which are not fully understood by the Ukrainian community, are dictated by his love for Ukraine and the desire to help. We can debate whether these models suit us, but the fact that his motivation is positive, there can be no doubt," Yurash said.

He reminded that the Pope is not only the head of the Catholic Church, but also the head of the Vatican State, which Ukraine previously considered as a possible platform for negotiations with Russia.

And the Vatican wants to preserve opportunities for communication to become such a platform if necessary.

"Somewhere at the intersection of such intentions, the Pope's position is modeled," Yuras said.

He reminded that last year, because of the war, the Pope canceled the already scheduled meeting with the Russian party archbishop Kirill (Gundyaev). According to Yuras, this was a very serious gesture.

"The Pope is the head of the church, for him a meeting with, relatively speaking, an equal spiritual representative from Russia was very important. The first meeting between Patriarch Kirill and the Pope was in Havana in 2016. And there was a desire from the Russian side to develop these relations. The Pope demolished this site , he said that there is no reason for the meeting," the ambassador said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3398148

[Skybird]

For the first time, Moscow sold foreign exchange reserves and gold stocks to make up for budget deficits during the war. This may be annoying from the Kremlin's point of view, but one should not read too much into this economic malaise - especially not that the Russian economy is now "collapsing" just because they are selling some gold: just over half a percent of their stock. So far Russia has been buying gold during the war and despite the sanctions.
FOCUS writes:
----------------------

To cover gaps in the state budget, Moscow resorted to its gold and foreign currency reserves in Chinese yuan in January. A total of 2.27 billion yuan (about 309 million euros) and 3.6 tons of gold were sold, the Russian Finance Ministry said Monday, according to state news agency Tass. "The funds thus obtained were transferred to the state budget account to cover the deficit," it said in a statement. The January hole in the state budget was put at 1.76 trillion rubles (23 billion euros).

A total of 3.1 trillion rubles (about 40 billion euros) had been spent, up 59 percent from January of last year, it said. The ministry did not give reasons for the extra spending. Russia has been waging a war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine since February 2022. The West has imposed heavy economic and also financial sanctions on Moscow because of it.

The state budget's oil and gas revenues have fallen 46 percent compared to January 2022, it said. Russia currently has reserves of 10.4 billion euros, 307.4 billion yuan and 551.2 tons of gold, according to the Finance Ministry.
-----------------
My guess is that the extra spending is due to direct investment in new weapons purchases in friendly foreign countries. Apart from that, please no one should believe that the officially published figures on Russian annual military expenditures were ever even close to the truth, yes? You don't maintain armed forces with such huge numbers and the largest nuclear arsenal in the world with an official defense budget that 2021 was a little bit bigger than that of France and slightly smaller than that of Great Britain, even if Russia produces cheaper.

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]