"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (3 Viewers)

[SaparotRob]

re . . . 'Putin ally 'falls off boat into sea'

"At least eight Russian businessmen have died in apparent suicide or accidents in just six months"

and

"Another Russian energy boss dies mysteriously, as Putin ally 'falls off boat'"

makes 9.

I am thinking that Putin is going to have to sit at a long table and look over his shoulders (more than before the war) for the rest of his life.

Literally, with a friend like Putler, who needs enemies?

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Looks like things are getting even more complicated within the Russian "sphere of influence":

Armenia says 105 troops killed in Azerbaijan border clashes

World leaders are intensifying diplomatic efforts to stop a full-blown war.

www.bbc.com

When the cat's away ...

 

[SaparotRob]

The comments about peace negotiations by Lavrov are interesting. Putting on my "eternal optimist" hat, I'm wondering if renewed negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow might give Russia a way out of this debacle. If Russia can secure political assurances from Kyiv to improve the way in which Russian-leaning people in eastern Ukraine are being treated, then Moscow can claim to have achieved its goals. There might just be the vaguest glimmer of hope for a political situation right now.

Think about it...the Azov Battalion was destroyed at Mariupol so Moscow can claim to have "de-nazified" Ukraine's military. Assurances about better treatment of pro-Russian people in the east will address causal factors for the fighting there. Such agreements could enable a ceasefire to be brokered and for Russian forces to withdraw.

Now....removing the "eternal optimist" hat, I'm not naiive enough to think this will happen quickly. Such agreements would still leave Russia in control of Crimea which Ukraine won't want. Also, any negotiated withdrawal by Russia, despite whatever positive spin Moscow puts on it, will be seen as a humiliating defeat, with the big, bad bear backing down in the face of a much smaller adversary.

However, Ukrainian offensive successes have changed the context of the war and Moscow is under increasing pressure to either win decisively or find a way out. They can't order a general mobilization because they simply lack the resources to train and equip such a large force....plus it would take months before any decent forces could be sent into Ukraine. Other than nukes, there aren't many other good options on the table to bring about a Russian victory...and if you can't win, the best you can hope for is some sort of negotiated settlement that at least allows you to save face. At worst, it will be an all-out defeat which could cause Russia itself to implode, much as it did after the break-up of the Soviet Union.

If Ukraine can get into missile/artillery range of the Kerch Bridge, Putler might not have much choice about Crimea. Crimea is Ukrainian territory according to the nations arming Ukraine. The bridge is fair game. Taking out the bridge would be a game changer.

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

Interesting article about russian long range aviation in the war so far:

Russia’s Secretive Long-Range Bomber Operations Against Ukraine

An in-depth look at the obscured role played by Russia’s missile-armed long-range bomber triad in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

www.thedrive.com

 

[Admiral Beez]

The comments about peace negotiations by Lavrov are interesting. Putting on my "eternal optimist" hat, I'm wondering if renewed negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow might give Russia a way out of this debacle.

Now that they have the West on their side and the momentum, there's no way the Ukrainians will negotiate until all of Ukraine, especially including Crimea are back in Ukraine hands.

Zelenskyy - Feb. 22, "I don't need a ride. I need ammunition."

Russian soldier - Sept. 14, "I don't need ammunition. I need a ride."

 

[GTX]

Ukraine Calls for More Australian Weapons as Its Forces Retake Territory

Australia promises to continue military aid as officials praise Ukraine’s ‘inspiring’ fightback against Russian forces

www.voanews.com

 

[GTX]

Rheinmetall has restored 16 Marder IFVs for Ukraine but does not have the government permission to export them

 

[GTX]

Ukraine's Astronomers Say There Are Tons of UFOs Over Kyiv - Slashdot

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Motherboard: Ukraine's airspace has been busy this year -- that's the nature of war. But scientists in the country are looking to the skies and seeing something they didn't expect: An inordinate number of UFOs, according to a new preprint paper published...

entertainment.slashdot.org

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2208.11215.pdf

 

[GTX]

While world leaders gather in London, Putin and Xi have other plans

Putin’s war has not turned out the way he had hoped. When he last met Xi, the Russian leader thought he would seize Ukraine within a matter of days or weeks. Now his troops are on the run, writes David Speers.

www.abc.net.au

 

[GTX]

Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits retaken city as Ukrainian forces push frontline, retreating Russian forces abandon tanks

Ukrainian troops pile pressure on retreating Russian forces, pressing deeper into occupied territory.

www.abc.net.au

 

[J_P_C]

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

Just 7 months ago I could not imagine that the "spineless" EU bureaucracy will speak like that:

Press corner

Highlights, press releases and speeches

ec.europa.eu

Very nice words. Let's see how all of this come out. I don't trust the eurocrats.

 

[manta22]

Ukraine's Astronomers Say There Are Tons of UFOs Over Kyiv - Slashdot

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Motherboard: Ukraine's airspace has been busy this year -- that's the nature of war. But scientists in the country are looking to the skies and seeing something they didn't expect: An inordinate number of UFOs, according to a new preprint paper published...

entertainment.slashdot.org

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2208.11215.pdf

TOTAL BS

 

[Admiral Beez]

Ukraine Calls for More Australian Weapons as Its Forces Retake Territory

Australia promises to continue military aid as officials praise Ukraine’s ‘inspiring’ fightback against Russian forces

www.voanews.com

Australia is really showing up Canada. And we're a NATO member FFS. Canada produces one of the best AFV in the LAV series, but we send no armed variants to Ukraine? Apparently we sent 39 unarmed LAVs, without turrets, sights, etc. WTH?

Canada Supply Ukraine with Brand New Armoured Combat Support Vehicles, High-Resolution Cameras for Bayraktar TB2 UAV | Defense Express

Canada will send 39 LAV ACSV Super Bison infantry support combat vehicles for the Armed Forces of Ukraine as well as additional six high-resolution cameras for use on Turkish-built Bayraktar TB2 drones

en.defence-ua.com

How the hell can this thing defend itself?

This is what we should be sending!

Land Systems Canada | LAV 6.0

 

[at6]

Since the Russians are leaving mines everywhere, let captured Russians locate them.

 

[Snautzer01]

Australia is really showing up Canada. And we're a NATO member FFS. Canada produces one of the best AFV in the LAV series, but we send no armed variants to Ukraine? Apparently we sent 39 unarmed LAVs, without turrets, sights, etc. WTH?

Canada Supply Ukraine with Brand New Armoured Combat Support Vehicles, High-Resolution Cameras for Bayraktar TB2 UAV | Defense Express

Canada will send 39 LAV ACSV Super Bison infantry support combat vehicles for the Armed Forces of Ukraine as well as additional six high-resolution cameras for use on Turkish-built Bayraktar TB2 drones

en.defence-ua.com

How the hell can this thing defend itself?

View attachment 686943

This is what we should be sending!

Land Systems Canada | LAV 6.0

View attachment 686942

because it will be sent in back order?

 

[Admiral Beez]

because it will be sent in back order?

Perhaps.... I think Canada has yet to send a single armed vehicle to Ukraine.

 

[manta22]

Since the Russians are leaving mines everywhere, let captured Russians locate them.

Driving a herd of cattle through a minefield is the classic method of clearing it... besides preparing a next meal.

 

[SaparotRob]

TOTAL BS

But it does lighten the mood.

 

[swampyankee]

I've seen some reports of Russian forces in Ukraine mutinying (Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Express). Does anybody think that a) these are reliable and b), if reliable, does this make Putin more likely to escalate?