Russian Invasion of Ukraine[In Progress]

[paxmao]

Two sources have confirmed that a Ruzzian ship has been damaged, but this time in the Baltic fleet port of Kaliningrad (Konigsberg). The ships name is Sherpukov. This is a missile ship built recently. Apparently, Ukrainian operatives were able to gain access to the interior of the ship and started a fire in one of the interior rooms, targeting the expensive and difficult to replace electronics and control systems. There are unconfirmed news of some other two ships being targets.

https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1777343588323442924?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

[Branko]

"Challenger 2 tanks can penetrate Russian fortified positions." - David Axe, Forbes, 31.05.2023.
"British Challenger 2 is the wrong tank for Ukraine. Heavy, unprotected and difficult to maintain." - David Axe, Forbes, 27.03.2024.

[paxmao]

"Challenger 2 tanks can penetrate Russian fortified positions." - David Axe, Forbes, 31.05.2023.
"British Challenger 2 is the wrong tank for Ukraine. Heavy, unprotected and difficult to maintain." - David Axe, Forbes, 27.03.2024.

50 F-35, 20 more patriot batteries, 1000 Taurus, 500 tanks of any modern type, 2000 IFV & APCs of any type, 10M 155MM shells and 500 artillery pieces are the "right tank" for Ukraine - paxmao

It has been confirmed that another Ruzzian ship has suffered some "problems", this time it has been an Ice Breaker. To be fighting a country without a navy worth mentioning, Ruzzia is having quite a few waterways.

[tvbcof]

"Challenger 2 tanks can penetrate Russian fortified positions." - David Axe, Forbes, 31.05.2023.
"British Challenger 2 is the wrong tank for Ukraine. Heavy, unprotected and difficult to maintain." - David Axe, Forbes, 27.03.2024.

50 F-35, 20 more patriot batteries, 1000 Taurus, 500 tanks of any modern type, 2000 IFV & APCs of any type, 10M 155MM shells and 500 artillery pieces are the "right tank" for Ukraine - paxmao

Gotta send at least twice that many in order to overcome the corruption whereby pilferage is a feature at pretty much every point in the pipeline.

It has been confirmed that another Ruzzian ship has suffered some "problems", this time it has been an Ice Breaker. To be fighting a country without a navy worth mentioning, Ruzzia is having quite a few waterways.

Your cope is actually an interesting and amusing study in psychology.  Or analysis of AI technology.  Hard to say which, and the technology is in a state of flux.

[BADecker]

How to get out of being a drafted soldier in Ukraine. I wonder if this includes drafted women marrying disabled men. After all, there are many disabled men in Ukraine... disabled from the war. In addition, what would happen if this law could include same-sex marriage?


(Maybe, even though she is in a wheelchair, she is only disabled from the waist to the armpits.)


Ukrainian men paying DISABLED WOMEN for marriage to escape the draft


https://www.naturalnews.com/2024-04-09-ukrainian-men-paying-disabled-women-escape-draft.html
As the Ukrainian government is desperately pulling out all the stops to address its shortage of manpower, Ukrainian men have resorted to paying disabled women for marriage to escape Kyiv's mandatory conscription.

Ukrainian outlet NGL Media disclosed details of this scheme in a March 15 report. According to the piece, fighting-age men can defer mandatory military service if they have a disabled dependent. They are also permitted to leave Ukraine's borders, which many do so for good as per the news outlet.

This scheme, which many draft dodgers are exploiting, is actually included in the country's martial law legislation. NGL Media nevertheless acknowledged that such fake marriages "are not treated as against the law" and that the scheme "is completely legal."

The anti-corruption outlet's investigation found scores of groups on Facebook and Telegram that facilitate this practice. There were able-bodied men looking for a disabled wife to marry and disabled women looking for a military-age husband. Also present in these groups were intermediaries who would "arrange" the fake marriages for a price.

"In my experience, out of 100 cases of servicemen who apply for discharge for family reasons, 95 cases use that topic – i.e. if their wife, their parents or their wife's parents have a disability. To get an exemption, it is enough to have such a marriage," said Ukrainian lawyer Yevhen Filipets.

"It is almost impossible to prove the marriage is fake; it is possible only through a court decision. And one of the spouses has the right to go to court to recognize such a marriage as fake. Will [they] apply in these circumstances? I don't think so. Ukrainian people are very resourceful."
...

[paxmao]

Latest news, Ukraine is discussing the possibility of sending sentenced criminals as soldiers in exchange for sentence reductions and the like. This would not be available for the most serious crimes though. I guess they liked the Ruzzian experiment on this regard.

Also, Greece and denmark have approved the transfer of F-16 to Ukraine, although it may require some time unfortunately. This should be of help to stop the FAB bombing that is becoming a problem in Kharkiv -  as Ruzzia is again playing the war criminal / mafia cards by trying to make life impossible for civilians by simply bombing over and over. This is also an issue along the front in general, but it will eventually be stopped.

There are signs of massive assaults from Ruzzia resulting in tank cementeries all over. There are 90 vehicles abandoned in just one section of the front, all in the last couple of weeks. Chinese "golfcarts" are being used to transport troops in assault operations. There seems to be some desperation signs in all this.

[BADecker]

Now we'll see how aggressive Russia really is. Looks like they could easily take Ukraine out any time they wanted... if that's what they wanted.


Ukraine runs out of air defense missiles giving Russia a ‘free pass’ to Kyiv, warns Bild security analyst


https://www.rmx.news/ukraine/ukraine-runs-out-of-air-defense-missiles-giving-russia-a-free-pass-to-kyiv-warns-bild-security-analyst/
Ukraine has run out of missiles for use in Western air defense systems, and nearly all stock for other air defense means has either been depleted or destroyed, the senior editor for security policy at Germany’s best-selling newspaper has warned.

Bild analyst Julian Röpcke took to X on Thursday to claim that Kyiv no longer has access to Patriot and IRIS-T missiles to operate its ground-to-air defense systems and repel Russian attacks.

“This, while we have hundreds of systems and thousands of missiles in our depots. No words. Just anger,” the German journalist wrote.

“Kyiv’s airspace is a free pass for [Russian fighter jets] now,” Röpcke added, claiming that Ukrainian troops had been running on empty regarding ammunition stocks for some time and the remaining arsenal had surely now run dry.

“A source told me the alleged exact current number [of remaining missiles] two weeks ago. I won’t reveal it, of course. But the number was so small, it must be close to nothing now,” he wrote.

Ukraine’s limited ability to defend itself was taken full advantage of by Russian forces on Thursday as more than 40 attack drones and missiles rained down on key infrastructure in major cities including Kharkiv, Lviv, Kyiv, and Odesa.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, ground troops were unable to shoot down all cruise missiles while none of the six Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles launched by Russia were intercepted.

Zelensky had warned last week of the need for greater provisions from allies, calling on NATO members to help with further military support.
...

[be.open]

There seems to be some desperation signs in all this.

You need to reconsider your position on the topic of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict to a more realistic one in order to stop looking like a complete idiot. It is obvious that Ukraine is losing in this confrontation and nothing can be done about it, and US financial assistance is not able to significantly change the balance of power.

[BADecker]

The only people who don't think that this war is a game, are the drafted soldiers of Ukraine. Certainly the leaders of these countries are kinda laughing.


Macron First Threatens Russia With Troops, Then Buys €600 Million Of Gas From Moscow In Q1 2024


https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/macron-first-threatens-russia-troops-then-buys-eu600-million-gas-moscow-q1-2024
According to new data, France is quietly paying more and more for Russian gas, even as France uses increasingly harsh rhetoric towards Russia.

In fact, the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) think tank indicates that Russian liquefied natural gas shipments saw a bigger increase in France than any other EU country last year. The €600 million France paid will undoubtedly help fuel Russia's war effort in Ukraine.

[VIDEO]

Last month, Macron said France could not rule out sending troops to Ukraine, with the announcement sparking fierce debate across Europe.

Macron went so far as to call on fellow NATO allies to not be “cowards.”

Many European leaders reacted harshly to Macron’s statements, including several nations stating plainly they would not send any of their own troops to participate in the conflict.

France has continuously tried to justify its gas and oil purchases from Russia by arguing that it is locked into long-term contracts with Russia that are difficult to cancel.

Critics say that Macron could be doing more to reduce France’s reliance on natural gas from Russia, especially when he is claiming that France is one of Ukraine’s greatest allies.
...

[paxmao]

There seems to be some desperation signs in all this.

You need to reconsider your position on the topic of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict to a more realistic one in order to stop looking like a complete idiot. It is obvious that Ukraine is losing in this confrontation and nothing can be done about it, and US financial assistance is not able to significantly change the balance of power.

Look, I know you feel like all going well and "winning" whatever, but your army is sending their infantry troops to take positions sitting on top of tanks and in unarmoured vehicles ("Chinese golfcarts"). Near Tonenke, there are above a 100 Ruzzian vehicles destroyed without even reaching an Ukrainian position.

So yes, Ukraine is lacking sufficient air defence and has limited 155MM, but may no mistake, you are just a few US senator's votes away from a massive military disaster. Just pray that someone in the US does not decide to trade something in exchange, because you'll be getting 60 billion worth high-explosive sent to anything that has any value in Ruzzia.

[Pidgeon]

Is it still 3 days to Kiyv or it has change to 3 cm a day till Kharkiv?
Just asking for a friend, I want to know if I can spend my summer relax in Portugal since the red army is definitely on the verge of crossing the Alps!

Your cope is actually an interesting and amusing study in psychology.

This coming from a guy who has seen Russia conquering everything in sight for two years, learn what cope is first, you copium addict!

[BADecker]

More and more people are seeing through the lie that the US warmongers are broadcasting. Because of the US financing Ukraine, possibly 400,000 soldiers have died in that war. Millions have been displaced, or have migrated just to stay out of the war. Young men from both countries are fleeing conscription. Many are winding up in Bulgaria.

The thing that Russia had meant to simply be a short-term police action against the Ukraine government for killing their own people, has been turned into a bloodbath by warmongers in the US and Nato.


A Word to the UNSC


https://www.lewrockwell.com/2024/04/karen-kwiatkowski/a-word-to-the-unsc/
Over 20 years ago I was present in that same building listening to something, I can't remember what.  I recalled the vastness of the chamber, and it was certainly disconcerting on Friday to be on a big screen that reminded me of this scene in V for Vendetta.  My husband told me afterwards I should have thrown away my papers, and told the body what I really think!

Below is the video of what I did say to them. It is also what I really think, of course.  The rest of the meeting was eye opening.  For what it is worth:

Madam President, thank you for allowing me to speak.  I am a retired Air Force Lt Col, who began to question the government I served in 2002 as I watched my organization within the Pentagon manipulate information to sell an unnecessary and unjustified war, in that case, the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.

I want to make 3 points concerning how Western supplies to Ukraine have been, and remain, a barrier to peace.

First, Western aid and support has enabled war, and opposed peace.  It is not sent there for Ukrainians, but for a government in Kiev initially chosen via a State Department and CIA influenced coup in 2014, to militarily confront Russia. This proxy embraced a kind of Ukrainian nationalism that relied heavily on Ukrainian Nazi ideology.  Nazism is publicly rare and always condemned.  But in Ukraine, it unified the kind of people who would do what the US and NATO desired.  Therefore, history was forgotten, truth ignored, and Ukrainian culture denigrated – because a proxy war to weaken Russia, politically and economically, was desired by some in the west.   US Senators and NATO leadership continue to celebrate this "good investment."

Western assistance in weapons, surveillance and intelligence, as well as diplomatic "help" enabled 8 years of Kiev's assault on the Donbass. The Russian military response —  no doubt violent, deadly, and in violation of international law — reminds me of several US military operations I supported when in uniform – except when the US invaded, we discovered later that we were not really there to stop a war, to liberate anyone, to increase their freedom, or ensure their prosperity.
...

[paxmao]

Ukraine will be getting a few F-16 this year, around 16. A total of 56 are now effectively pledged by European countries, with not much to be shown from the US. While 56 planes will not guarantee air superiority, these are certainly going to make life more difficult for the SU-24 & SU-25 that are launching the glide bombs. Ukraine is likely to keep hitting refineries, as the support from the US is not arriving anyway and there are not that many alternatives to make sure Ruzzia costs far exceed anything resonable for this war.

Edited to add: Three Ruzzian S-400 launchers and the critically expensive radar has been destroyed by a strike in dzhankoy airbase, some jets may have also been hit with what appears to be ATACMS. Also military installations deep in Ruzzia (Tatarstan) are under drone attacks.

The damage is significant, but the fact that there may be ATACAMS in Ukraine is even more important. May have the US traded ATACAMS for a ban in attacks to oil refineries?

https://metro.co.uk/video/ukraine-strikes-dzhankoy-military-airfield-occupied-crimea-3169469/

[BADecker]

When this year will Ukraine be getting F-16s? December 31? Do you think Ukraine will even e around by then? Do you even think that the US and Nato will be around by then?


West fears Ukrainian front line could collapse soon – Bloomberg


https://www.rt.com/russia/596199-ukraine-us-eu-breakthrough/
The US and the EU are concerned that Russian forces may punch through Ukrainian defensive lines in the coming weeks, people familiar with the matter have told Bloomberg.

Russian troops are continuing to advance thanks to an advantage in ammunition, the agency acknowledged in an article on Thursday.

At the same time, Ukrainian forces “struggle because of delays in US and European military aid and personnel shortages,” it added.

Ukraine also faces daily Russian missile, drone and bomb attacks that are knocking out key energy infrastructure and striking military positions, due to its lack of air defenses, according to Bloomberg.

Because of this, “concerns are mounting that Russia may make major gains in the coming weeks by punching through overstretched Ukrainian lines,” sources in the US and Europe told the agency.

Russian forces have now reached the outskirts of Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People’s Republic, a crucial town for Ukraine’s defenses in the area due to its elevated position, the article continued.

...

In early April, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that the country’s forces have captured another 403 square kilometers of land from Ukraine since the start of the year. The Ukrainian army has been losing around 800 personnel and some 120 units of equipment on a daily basis during the period, he said.
...

[paxmao]

A few interesting news. Firstly, the aid to Ukraine along with other bills for Israel and Taiwan are going to be voted in the US. It is likely that the Biden admin has managed to get enough support while ensuring that the Speaker (Republican) is not impeached by the extreme Trumpists in Congress, but everything at the moment is just a glimpse of hope rather than a certainty.

The aid would be a blow to the Ruzzian chances of presenting a clear win in Ukraine, perhaps to presenting anything win-like.

On the front, a Ruzzia strategic bomber (with capacity to carry nukes) has been downed by a missile. This is super expensive and very difficult to replace - perhaps even impossible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwTAK0v5OPk

There is satellite confirmation of the loss of an S-400 battery due to the Ukrainian attack a couple of days ago with ATACAMS, used at maximum range probably.

[LTU_btc]

On the front, a Ruzzia strategic bomber (with capacity to carry nukes) has been downed by a missile. This is super expensive and very difficult to replace - perhaps even impossible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwTAK0v5OPk

These bombers is huge headache for Ukraine as they're used for all these massive missile attacks against Ukraine. They release rockets being far way from front line. Nothing surprising that so far it's only 2nd loss of such bomber. And it's first time when it was hit in the air, first one was hit standing in air base. It was confirmed that S-200 was used in this operation, same like they used to hit A-50 deep in Russia.
Unfortunately, Russia have huge number of such and different bombers. But there is things that I can watch forever - flowing water, burning fire and falling Russian planes.
And yeah, waiting now for Congress voting.

[DaRude]

A few interesting news. Firstly, the aid to Ukraine along with other bills for Israel and Taiwan are going to be voted in the US. It is likely that the Biden admin has managed to get enough support while ensuring that the Speaker (Republican) is not impeached by the extreme Trumpists in Congress, but everything at the moment is just a glimpse of hope rather than a certainty.

The aid would be a blow to the Ruzzian chances of presenting a clear win in Ukraine, perhaps to presenting anything win-like.

On the front, a Ruzzia strategic bomber (with capacity to carry nukes) has been downed by a missile. This is super expensive and very difficult to replace - perhaps even impossible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwTAK0v5OPk

There is satellite confirmation of the loss of an S-400 battery due to the Ukrainian attack a couple of days ago with ATACAMS, used at maximum range probably.

Warning signs of frontline collapse amid Russian offensive — Ukrainian officer
...In a recent interview with NV Radio on April 18, major Maksym Zhorin, Deputy Commander of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, acknowledged the possibility of a frontline collapse due to increasing Russian military pressure.

"It is indeed possible [to imagine the front collapsing]," Zhorin stated, emphasizing the importance of preparing for the worst-case scenario. He reported a notable escalation in Russian operations, extending their reach beyond traditional front lines and increasing covert activities.

“I really do believe the intel and the briefings that we’ve gotten” -Johnson

Do you think the aid is to help Ukraine get back to 1991 borders, or just enough to try and keep it from a complete collapse, to keep it fighting for few more months? The timing and the sudden change of heart of the speaker after he got the intel surely must sound suspect, no? Like all the previous deliveries, that is, not to win but barely enough to keep it in the fight just a bit longer. Or of course it's all just a coincidence...

[BADecker]

A few interesting news. Firstly, the aid to Ukraine along with other bills for Israel and Taiwan are going to be voted in the US. It is likely that the Biden admin has managed to get enough support while ensuring that the Speaker (Republican) is not impeached by the extreme Trumpists in Congress, but everything at the moment is just a glimpse of hope rather than a certainty.

The aid would be a blow to the Ruzzian chances of presenting a clear win in Ukraine, perhaps to presenting anything win-like.

On the front, a Ruzzia strategic bomber (with capacity to carry nukes) has been downed by a missile. This is super expensive and very difficult to replace - perhaps even impossible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwTAK0v5OPk

There is satellite confirmation of the loss of an S-400 battery due to the Ukrainian attack a couple of days ago with ATACAMS, used at maximum range probably.

Warning signs of frontline collapse amid Russian offensive — Ukrainian officer
...In a recent interview with NV Radio on April 18, major Maksym Zhorin, Deputy Commander of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, acknowledged the possibility of a frontline collapse due to increasing Russian military pressure.

"It is indeed possible [to imagine the front collapsing]," Zhorin stated, emphasizing the importance of preparing for the worst-case scenario. He reported a notable escalation in Russian operations, extending their reach beyond traditional front lines and increasing covert activities.

“I really do believe the intel and the briefings that we’ve gotten” -Johnson

Do you think the aid is to help Ukraine get back to 1991 borders, or just enough to try and keep it from a complete collapse, to keep it fighting for few more months? The timing and the sudden change of heart of the speaker after he got the intel surely must sound suspect, no? Like all the previous deliveries, that is, not to win but barely enough to keep it in the fight just a bit longer. Or of course it's all just a coincidence...

Depending on who you are, aid to Ukraine is for one of two things, basically:
1. To help the US and Nato destroy Russia without having to send their own troops to fight Russia;
2. To strengthen the Russia/China/BRICS alliances so that the US banking system will crash.

The foolish Ukrainian people who think they are fighting for their homeland, don't understand that they are fighting and dying for profits for the US and Nato banking systems. The banks want Russia to collapse so they can get their hands on the raw materials in both Russia and Siberia. And they are using Ukraine troops to attempt to do this.

Other profiteers recognize that there are loads of options for Russia. Some of these options are the cementing of the relationships of Russia, China, the BRICS nations, and many ME nations, like Iran.

The question is, what will hold out longer? The American and Europe free people letting their governments/banking-systems drive them into poverty through inflation, etc., just so the banks can conquer Russia? Or the very technologically capable nations that are not part of the US and Nato?

It's an interesting question... if one can watch it being played out from a safe position.

[paxmao]

A few interesting news. Firstly, the aid to Ukraine along with other bills for Israel and Taiwan are going to be voted in the US. It is likely that the Biden admin has managed to get enough support while ensuring that the Speaker (Republican) is not impeached by the extreme Trumpists in Congress, but everything at the moment is just a glimpse of hope rather than a certainty.

The aid would be a blow to the Ruzzian chances of presenting a clear win in Ukraine, perhaps to presenting anything win-like.

On the front, a Ruzzia strategic bomber (with capacity to carry nukes) has been downed by a missile. This is super expensive and very difficult to replace - perhaps even impossible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwTAK0v5OPk

There is satellite confirmation of the loss of an S-400 battery due to the Ukrainian attack a couple of days ago with ATACAMS, used at maximum range probably.

Warning signs of frontline collapse amid Russian offensive — Ukrainian officer
...In a recent interview with NV Radio on April 18, major Maksym Zhorin, Deputy Commander of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, acknowledged the possibility of a frontline collapse due to increasing Russian military pressure.

"It is indeed possible [to imagine the front collapsing]," Zhorin stated, emphasizing the importance of preparing for the worst-case scenario. He reported a notable escalation in Russian operations, extending their reach beyond traditional front lines and increasing covert activities.

“I really do believe the intel and the briefings that we’ve gotten” -Johnson

Do you think the aid is to help Ukraine get back to 1991 borders, or just enough to try and keep it from a complete collapse, to keep it fighting for few more months? The timing and the sudden change of heart of the speaker after he got the intel surely must sound suspect, no? Like all the previous deliveries, that is, not to win but barely enough to keep it in the fight just a bit longer. Or of course it's all just a coincidence...

...

Yet the collapse has not happened, we are seeing pictures of Ruzzian soldiers on "golfcarts" trying to advance, the US is far closer to approving 60 billion in aid ...

The aid to Ukraine is to fight Ruzzia. This means that Ukraine will be able to either stop Ruzzian advances, recover some ground or keep on hitting the targets that are more valuable, thus achieving a further demilitarisation of Ruzzia - hopefully will take a couple of decades to build what they have and will keep on loosing.

In any of those cases, Ukraine keeps being an independent nation, potentially can join the EU and/or NATO with nothing that Putin can do to avoid it and Ruzzia cannot present all the waste of money and human lives of Ruzzians as anything remotely close to a victory.

Look, the sooner the Orcs are clearly stopped and choose to starting thinking about a reasonable proposal instead of joke-like stuff, the better for the world's economy.

Hey, dumBAss, I hope you are not to old.... one can spend a whole life waiting for a dollar collapse and die before it happens still thinking that is "very close". I am sure you know what I am talking about.

[DaRude]

Yet the collapse has not happened, we are seeing pictures of Ruzzian soldiers on "golfcarts" trying to advance, the US is far closer to approving 60 billion in aid ...

The aid to Ukraine is to fight Ruzzia. This means that Ukraine will be able to either stop Ruzzian advances, recover some ground or keep on hitting the targets that are more valuable, thus achieving a further demilitarisation of Ruzzia - hopefully will take a couple of decades to build what they have and will keep on loosing.

In any of those cases, Ukraine keeps being an independent nation, potentially can join the EU and/or NATO with nothing that Putin can do to avoid it and Ruzzia cannot present all the waste of money and human lives of Ruzzians as anything remotely close to a victory.

Look, the sooner the Orcs are clearly stopped and choose to starting thinking about a reasonable proposal instead of joke-like stuff, the better for the world's economy.

Hey, dumBAss, I hope you are not to old.... one can spend a whole life waiting for a dollar collapse and die before it happens still thinking that is "very close". I am sure you know what I am talking about.

Surely you must agree that if US really wanted Ukraine to either stop Russia or recover some ground then stopping the aid for 4 months, and not sending tech until it's too late (M777, HIMARS, PATRIOT, ATACMS, F16 etc etc etc...) just sounds like a cruel joke and wouldn't make any sense at all. Now the last point (highlighted) is totally logical. Prolonging the conflict just to annoy Russia a bit longer, little downside for US except some $$. Unfortunately the downside for Ukraine on the other hand, might be unrecoverable, but no one is counting or really seems to care about that now, lets just wave some flags to keep them in the fight a bit longer. Yes, yes, orcs on golfcarts probably without weapons too, just with some slingshots, and Ukraine will totally join NATO any day now, just need to keep the Ukrainian population hanging in there a bit longer...