"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (12 Viewers)

[GTX]

Ukrainians reveal what life is like in Russian-occupied cities

Residents of the cities taken and held by the invading forces reveal what life is like under Russian occupation, where the supermarket shelves are bare and masked foreign soldiers roam the streets.

www.abc.net.au

 

[XBe02Drvr]

Putler's problem: how to obtain Ukraine at minimum cost and without queering the pitch for future "liberation" operations?

one 45's ex-officials said that Putin would not have invaded Ukraine as 45's policies regarding NATO and Europe were very much to Putin's liking

Aha! Creeping infiltration and subversion.

he wouldn't have marched tanks towards Kyiv, but regime change and attacks from the puppet republics in the Dombas would have likely been on the agenda.

Easy does it, we've got an ally in the White House.

He was Putin's employee of the year at the time.

He'll get elected in a landslide. Those American nazis love him. Keep digging and keep a low profile.

But then that nasty thing of the election loss interfered with things...

Holy Crap! They moved the goalposts on us! Gotta wake the Red Army up and get it rolling. Time's a wasting! Time to annunciate the "Putler Doctrine" to show we mean business.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Turkey is not allowing any warships through - any, meaning none.

Russian, Georgian, Romanian, Bulgarian, French, Canadian South Korean, etc., etc., etc.

They have done this to maintain absolute neutrality. Allowing Russian warships through would be an indication of supporting Russia.
Allowing any NATO ships through would indicate favoritism (Bulgaria and Romania are NATO members).
Allowing any other warships passage may be seen as political.

So they've decided to enforce Artical 19 with sub-Artical 23 caveats.

Nothing to do with "dictators", "lawyers" or whatever.

... and without trying to be too crass, possession is 9/10 of the law anyway.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

... and without trying to be too crass, possession is 9/10 of the law anyway.

Viva crass! Reality isn't always pretty.

 

[buffnut453]

After the Admiral Makarov kerfuffle last week, hopefully this reporting is more accurate:

Ukrainian forces have damaged a Russian navy logistics ship in the Black Sea, setting it on fire, Reuters has reported a spokesman for Odesa's military as saying.

Spokesman Serhiy Bratchuk says the Vsevolod Bobrov has been struck near Snake Island, according to Reuters.

The tiny island is located near Ukraine's sea border with Romania.

There are also reports of a Russian Mi-24 helicopter gunship being shot down in Luhansk Region.

"Ukraine detected a group of four enemy helicopters and shot down the leader of the second pair," a Ukrainian air assault forces commander said on Facebook.

The BBC has not verified the claims

 

[Denniss]

Hehe, another Snake bite although not fatal this time.

 

[RogerdeLluria]

I like this part....

Kallas fundamentally rejects the idea that an end to the conflict should be sought at any price. "I think what everybody has to understand is that peace is not an ultimate goal if it means that the aggression pays off," she says. "What I mean by this is that when you say 'OK, let it be peace and everybody stays where they are', it still means that Russia has taken a big part of Ukraine's territory, Ukraine being a sovereign, independent country.

My worry is that the US and much of the western world outside of Europe doesn't share this POV, that they may tire and lose interest, fall into domestic distractions (Nov's Congressional elections, abortion/culture war debates, etc. and especially the lead up to a new POTUS in Jan 2025), and seize upon any ceasefire called by Putin as a start of the negotiations and a return to business. But I must reject that line of thinking and remain optimistic that the US, NATO and likeminded countries have the backbone to see this through.

I think that even in Europe only Eastern Europe shares this view. Basically I think that countries that were formerly part of Soviet Union like Baltic states or Warsaw pact like Poland had suffered being on the sphere of influence of the Russians and don't want to go back.

Its just anecdotic, but I've been in Prague a few weeks ago, and I had the feeling that Czechs showed much stronger support for Ukraine than Western Europe

 

[Greg Boeser]

I like this part....

Kallas fundamentally rejects the idea that an end to the conflict should be sought at any price. "I think what everybody has to understand is that peace is not an ultimate goal if it means that the aggression pays off," she says. "What I mean by this is that when you say 'OK, let it be peace and everybody stays where they are', it still means that Russia has taken a big part of Ukraine's territory, Ukraine being a sovereign, independent country.

My worry is that the US and much of the western world outside of Europe doesn't share this POV, that they may tire and lose interest, fall into domestic distractions (Nov's Congressional elections, abortion/culture war debates, etc. and especially the lead up to a new POTUS in Jan 2025), and seize upon any ceasefire called by Putin as a start of the negotiations and a return to business. But I must reject that line of thinking and remain optimistic that the US, NATO and likeminded countries have the backbone to see this through.

I share your concern. Especially considering the US first reaction to Russia's aggression was to offer Zelensky a nice safe airplane ride into exile and obscurity. I credit Zelensky's defiance in the face of Russia's invasion as the spark that galvanized the West into action. Currently Ukraine is the darling, but as this drags on, and people begin to tire of the economic drain (those billions on aid don't just materialize out of thin air) and the burden of taking care of all those refugees, as well as the global effects of the disruptions in trade hit home people are going to be looking for scapegoats.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

[sarcasm mode=on]

If its not reported in the Moscow Times or RT, can it be trusted???

Asking for a friend.

[/sarcasm mode= off]

 

[RogerdeLluria]

Not sure if it has been posted before.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/11/russia-sanctions-effect-military/

 

[Wildcat]

After the Admiral Makarov kerfuffle last week, hopefully this reporting is more accurate:

Ukrainian forces have damaged a Russian navy logistics ship in the Black Sea, setting it on fire, Reuters has reported a spokesman for Odesa's military as saying.

Spokesman Serhiy Bratchuk says the Vsevolod Bobrov has been struck near Snake Island, according to Reuters.

The tiny island is located near Ukraine's sea border with Romania.

There are also reports of a Russian Mi-24 helicopter gunship being shot down in Luhansk Region.

"Ukraine detected a group of four enemy helicopters and shot down the leader of the second pair," a Ukrainian air assault forces commander said on Facebook.

The BBC has not verified the claims

This article states the ship as the Vsevolod Bobrov.
Russian logistics ship 'on fire in Black Sea after Ukrainian strike'

 

[Jabberwocky]

Interesting open source intelligence post about users of Russian mobile/cellular networks inside Ukraine.



Data reportedly from the end of March or early April.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Couple of sources also reporting Ukraine's northern counterattack around Kharkiv has reached the Russian border in a few places. Russian troops appear to have gone over to the defense and are withdrawing over the border or east to shorten their lines.

Reports are that up to 20 BTGs are withdrawing into Belgorod and positions to the west of the Seversky Donets to lick their wounds, including the entirety of the 1st Guards Tank Army. That's about 20% of Russia's total combat power in Ukraine. UK MoD expects them to take up blocking positions to prevent further eastward expansion.

Speculation is that the eastward drive will likely turn southeast, potentially moving towards Balakliya. This could relieve some pressure on Ukrainian forces defending against the drive from Izyum (which has slowed considerably anyway).

 

[SaparotRob]

Interesting open source intelligence post about users of Russian mobile/cellular networks inside Ukraine.



Data reportedly from the end of March or early April.

Looks like great targeting information for M-777s.

 

[Greg Boeser]

They would need something more current.

 

[SaparotRob]

Anybody know the Russian C.O.'s phone number?

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Anybody know the Russian C.O.'s phone number?

867-5309

 

[Jagdflieger]

... and without trying to be too crass, possession is 9/10 of the law anyway.

Can I say, that China is very appreciative about yours and Graugeist's opinion and conviction towards freedom of passage and access towards controlled/possessed waters?

Being the USA, I would be very concerned at the least about Turkey's disregard for the Montreux Convention - especially if hindering NATO war-vessels from traveling to other threatened NATO countries. and being the USA I couldn't give a rats ass about Turkeys - unproven - claim of fearing an imminent war with Russia. Since the Baltic states are far closer to Russia and are willing to support NATO respectively the Ukrainian government and even Finland willing to take the Russian threats by applying to join NATO.

Daily Intel and NATO surveillance has not come up with any indications about Russia preparing for a war with Turkey on or near it's border. (especially since they do not even share a common land border). And in words or in regards to possession of missiles, Putin has made already enough threats towards all those supporting the Ukraine.

Erdogan is just another lame dictator and war-criminal helping Putin to solidify Russia's naval advantage in the Black Sea.

Nuff said, and I will retire now from this specific topic......

 

[Admiral Beez]

Its just anecdotic, but I've been in Prague a few weeks ago, and I had the feeling that Czechs showed much stronger support for Ukraine than Western Europe

Because they remember being under Russian rule, and fear they're next.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Can I say, that China is very appreciative about yours and Graugeist's opinion and conviction towards freedom of passage and access towards controlled/possessed waters?

Not sure about your point here. Perhaps you could explicate?