SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Literally, with a friend like Putler, who needs enemies?
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Literally, with a friend like Putler, who needs enemies?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.
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
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.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.
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.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.
Very nice words. Let's see how all of this come out. I don't trust the eurocrats.Just 7 months ago I could not imagine that the "spineless" EU bureaucracy will speak like that:
TOTAL BSUkraine'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
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?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 forceswww.voanews.com
because it will be sent in back order?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 dronesen.defence-ua.com
How the hell can this thing defend itself?
View attachment 686943
This is what we should be sending!
View attachment 686942
Perhaps.... I think Canada has yet to send a single armed vehicle to Ukraine.because it will be sent in back order?
Driving a herd of cattle through a minefield is the classic method of clearing it... besides preparing a next meal.Since the Russians are leaving mines everywhere, let captured Russians locate them.
But it does lighten the mood.TOTAL BS