"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (45 Viewers)

[Thumpalumpacus]

Forbes isn't too bad, but yeah. It's not the NYT or BBC.

Another Russian Warship Is Burning In The Black Sea

Ukrainian missiles may have hit another Russian warship.

www.forbes.com

I hadn't seen that, but I'm up against my free limit.

ETA: My son tells me Jerusalem Times is reporting this too.

 

[Admiral Beez]

 

[buffnut453]

Still no reports from any major outlets about the frigate allegedly hit this morning.

The BBC mentioned it but it has t been included in their daily summary of events. It seems odd that there's so little info about this event.

 

[wlewisiii]

 

[Glider]

Is there no hope of a Ukrainian offensive to rescue the forces in Mariupol? It must feel like Von Paulus being left behind in Stalingrad.

I think there is one significant difference. Von Paulus was left behind and his men died for nothing albeit they did divert some Russian troops from other tasks. The actual fighting on the front would have continued pretty much as it did, due to the overwhelming balance of forces in favour of the Russians.

The forces in Mariupol are draining scarce Russian forces and material at a time when Russia desperately needs them elsewhere. When the history of this conflict is written, I fully expect Historians to say that these incredibly brave men and women saved Odessa which is the ultimate Russian prize in the South of Ukraine.

It isn't just the physical damage being done in the fighting it's the impact on morale for both the Ukraine and Russia. Its in some ways a continuation on a much larger scale of those few men and women who told the Russian Navy to go ---- themselves. It's also the political damage. Putin is doing all he can to get a 'Win' broadcast on May 9th. If he cannot capture a few square miles in an area he has surrounded for so long, it's not much of a win.

 

[Jagdflieger]

The forces in Mariupol are draining scarce Russian forces and material at a time when Russia desperately needs them elsewhere. When the history of this conflict is written, I fully expect Historians to say that these incredibly brave men and women saved Odessa which is the ultimate Russian prize in the South of Ukraine.

It isn't just the physical damage being done in the fighting it's the impact on morale for both the Ukraine and Russia. Its in some ways a continuation on a much larger scale of those few men and women who told the Russian Navy to go ---- themselves. It's also the political damage. Putin is doing all he can to get a 'Win' broadcast on May 9th. If he cannot capture a few square miles in an area he has surrounded for so long, it's not much of a win.

In the broader picture regarding attacking towards Odessa and "liberating" the north-eastern regions, the existence of some 100's or initially 2-3000 men dug in and confined to an area less then 2km2 is of no tactical value/significance. But it certainly is good for propaganda and thus lifting Ukrainian spirits.
Since Putin announced that "Russian" forces have stopped their assault on to Azov steel-plant - all photos shown in regards to troops committed towards taking out the plant are DNLR or pro-Russia militias. (Doesn't exclude the possibility of some 100's Russian "specialists" supporting the takeout)
I think the reason being that Putin rightfully is not wiling to commit Russian troops in numbers - which are needed and can be placed to a much better effect elsewhere and not witnessing or suffering losses that would only add to the low moral that Russian units are already being plagued with. - just my 5 cents.

 

[RogerdeLluria]

Institute for the Study of War

The Ukrainian counteroffensive north and east of Kharkiv city secured further gains in the last 24 hours and may successfully push Russian forces out of artillery range of Kharkiv in the coming days. Ukrainian forces captured several settlements north

www.understandingwar.org

A couple takeaways, Ukrania is on the counter ofensive in Kharkiv and no confirmation of anti-ship missile strike

 

[RogerdeLluria]

Maybe another ship was too good to be true. Although this picture is still no proof that it didn't happen.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

May 7 (Reuters) - Russia's most senior lawmaker on Saturday accused Washington of coordinating military operations in Ukraine, which he said amounted to direct U.S. involvement in military action against Russia.

"Washington is essentially coordinating and developing military operations, thereby directly participating in military actions against our country," Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel.

Washington and European members of the transatlantic NATO alliance have supplied Kyiv with heavy weapons to help it resist a Russian offensive that has resulted in the occupation of parts of eastern and southern Ukraine but failed to take Kyiv.


However, the United States and its NATO allies have repeatedly said they will not take part in fighting themselves, in order to avoid becoming parties to the conflict.

U.S. officials have said the United States has provided intelligence to Ukraine to help counter the Russian assault, but have denied that this intelligence includes precise targeting data.

Volodin, speaker of the lower house of parliament, the Duma, is a prominent advocate of what Moscow calls its "special operation" in Ukraine to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities and root out what it calls fascist elements holding sway over the government and military.

Senior Russian lawmaker says U.S. directly involved in Ukraine fighting

Russia's most senior lawmaker on Saturday accused Washington of coordinating military operations in Ukraine, which he said amounted to direct U.S. involvement in military action against Russia.

www.reuters.com

As we say in my family, "if you're feeling froggy, jump."

 

[SaparotRob]

Well, I just spent a while looking for anything on the sinking of the Makarov. I watched a YouTube video from "Denys Davydov". He is a Ukrainian International Airlines pilot and has some time on his hands. He posted a video about his looking for info on the Makarov. He shows a Bayraktar strike on a landing craft, type unknown at Snake Island. He believes that was what was hit.

 

[Macandy]

One of Russias Frigates is 'at sea'.
It will remain 'at sea' until after the May Day Parade.

 

[Jagdflieger]

Well, I just spent a while looking for anything on the sinking of the Makarov. I watched a YouTube video from "Denys Davydov". He is a Ukrainian International Airlines pilot and has some time on his hands. He posted a video about his looking for info on the Makarov. He shows a Bayraktar strike on a landing craft, type unknown at Snake Island. He believes that was what was hit.

I read that too, but the supposed fire on the Makarov was reported the day before - no?
As for today's sinking of a "small" landing craft - seems confirmed, but a 2nd one being hit or sunk was reported as well.

 

[buffnut453]

I think the Makarov and the landing craft are separate events. Ukraine claimed the Makarov was hit by Neptune missiles while the LC was hit by the Bayraktar. Tough to confuse the two weapons systems or the different types of vessel.

 

[GTX]

May 7 (Reuters) - Russia's most senior lawmaker on Saturday accused Washington of coordinating military operations in Ukraine, which he said amounted to direct U.S. involvement in military action against Russia.

"Washington is essentially coordinating and developing military operations, thereby directly participating in military actions against our country," Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel.

Washington and European members of the transatlantic NATO alliance have supplied Kyiv with heavy weapons to help it resist a Russian offensive that has resulted in the occupation of parts of eastern and southern Ukraine but failed to take Kyiv.


However, the United States and its NATO allies have repeatedly said they will not take part in fighting themselves, in order to avoid becoming parties to the conflict.

U.S. officials have said the United States has provided intelligence to Ukraine to help counter the Russian assault, but have denied that this intelligence includes precise targeting data.

Volodin, speaker of the lower house of parliament, the Duma, is a prominent advocate of what Moscow calls its "special operation" in Ukraine to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities and root out what it calls fascist elements holding sway over the government and military.

Senior Russian lawmaker says U.S. directly involved in Ukraine fighting

Russia's most senior lawmaker on Saturday accused Washington of coordinating military operations in Ukraine, which he said amounted to direct U.S. involvement in military action against Russia.

www.reuters.com

As we say in my family, "if you're feeling froggy, jump."

Well comrade there is a simple way to address this: pull out of Ukraine and apologies for invading in the first place!

 

[Greg Boeser]

Well comrade there is a simple way to address this: pull out of Ukraine and apologies for invading in the first place!

And pay damages.

 

[wlewisiii]

 

[Admiral Beez]

"Washington is…directly participating in military actions against our country," Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel

Then get out of Ukraine's country. You dummy.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Then get out of Ukraine's country. You dummy.

And pay damages.

 

[buffnut453]

Pretty good analysis of the situation by Michael Clarke of Kings College London (they know their stuff when it comes to War Studies):

Viewpoint: Putin now faces only different kinds of defeat

Russia's Victory Day parade won't represent any sort of victory over Ukraine, writes defence analyst Michael Clarke.

www.bbc.com

 

[MiTasol]

The Molotov Cocktail: The home-made flammable liquid bomb-in-a-bottle, which has been around since the Spanish Civil War (1930s), wasn't named for Soviet Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Vyacheslav Molotov until the Winter War in Finland (Nov. 1939 to March 1940). That invasion by the Soviet Union was in part repelled thanks to Alko, a distillery in Finland, which made 450,000 of them. Why call it Molotov? His propaganda included the outrageous claim that the Soviet's incendiary and cluster bombing missions over Finland were actually "airborne humanitarian food deliveries." The Finns called their defensive weapon after him as it was "a drink to go with his food parcels." Molotov did not appreciate the honor.

Vladimir Putin's assertion that he's trying to liberate Ukraine from "Nazis" is just as laughable — at least when you're not on the receiving end of his war crimes and hopefully will soon lead to a new Ukrainian weapon named after him. And I hope he is honoured - NOT.