"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (5 Viewers)

[SaparotRob]

View attachment 742993

This is a testament to how effective Putin's policies to make the Russians as apathetic as possible. The losses from their war in Afghanistan was a big factor in the collapse of the Soviet Union. Losses in Ukraine are far worse.

 

[J_P_C]

some russian sources keep spreading information that tsar had experienced heart attack yesterday - no confirmation so far - but in a case ive put bottle of champagne to the fridge...

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

some russian sources keep spreading information that tsar had experienced heart attack yesterday - no confirmation so far - but in a case ive put bottle of champagne to the fridge...

Let us hope.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

ANKARA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday submitted a bill approving Sweden's NATO membership bid to parliament for ratification, the presidency said, in a move welcomed by Stockholm that clears the way for it to join the Western defence alliance.

Erdogan pleased his NATO allies at a summit in July by promising to send the legislation to parliament when it reopened on Oct. 1, having previously raised objections over Sweden's alleged harbouring of terrorists.


Since parliament reopened, however, Turkish officials have repeatedly said Stockholm needed to take more concrete steps to clamp down on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militia before Ankara could ratify its membership bid. The PKK is deemed a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

On Monday the bill on approving Sweden finally moved forward.

"The Protocol on Sweden's NATO Accession was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 23, 2023 and referred to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey," the presidency said on social media platform X without elaborating.

Turkey's Erdogan submits Sweden's NATO bid to parliament for ratification -presidency

Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland's membership was sealed in April, but Sweden's bid had been held up by Turkey and Hungary.

www.reuters.com

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

Let us hope.

Beware of what you Desire, the devil is in the details.

 

[SaparotRob]

I'm hoping Putin is still in power when Russia suffers a truly humiliating defeat. No hint of martyrdom for Putinocracy.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Beware of what you Desire, the devil is in the details.

Perhaps. But he's a man who has completely earned a nice myocardial infarction.

 

[fubar57]

some russian sources keep spreading information that tsar had experienced heart attack yesterday - no confirmation so far - but in a case ive put bottle of champagne to the fridge...

I have a bottle of Jarritos "Mango"

 

[Greg Boeser]

I have a bottle of Jarritos "Mango"

Oooh! The hard stuff!

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

Is Avdiivka the new Bakhmut?

Ukraine Situation Report: Multiple Russian Attacks On Avdiivka Repulsed

Russian losses continue to mount, but they continue to press home relentless attacks on the critical eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka.

www.thedrive.com

 

[RogerdeLluria]

That is what I found:
"Russian premier Vladimir Putin suffered a "cardiac arrest" on Sunday evening according to a statement posted on a Telegram channel which regularly says the war-mongering leader is terminally ill."

 

[Admiral Beez]

That is what I found:
"Russian premier Vladimir Putin suffered a "cardiac arrest" on Sunday evening according to a statement posted on a Telegram channel which regularly says the war-mongering leader is terminally ill."

There are many examples of the inner guard executing their master when the man's failed in some fashion.

Edit, retracted.

Retracted

Admin correction: this story, originally titled “Putin may have suffered a heart attack,” has been retracted for misinformation relying on poor sourcing. Misinformation is prohibited here per our Rules of the Road.

www.dailykos.com

 

[Snowman]

The next step in F-16 pilot training process:

The first Ukrainian F-16 pilots are finally moving from training on flight simulators to real combat aircraft: report

The first group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots in training are moving towards getting in the cockpit of combat aircraft, Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson said.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[Greg Boeser]

There are many examples of the inner guard executing their master when the man's failed in some fashion.

Edit, retracted.

Retracted

Admin correction: this story, originally titled “Putin may have suffered a heart attack,” has been retracted for misinformation relying on poor sourcing. Misinformation is prohibited here per our Rules of the Road.

www.dailykos.com

Well I saw a story that he's been on life support for months and his public appearances are body doubles.
Then again, I also read that about the Pope.

 

[buffnut453]

Well I saw a story that he's been on life support for months and his public appearances are body doubles.
Then again, I also read that about the Pope.

Wait...Putin is the Pope?


It's alright...my coat is donned and I'm outta here!

 

[Admiral Beez]

As I read this I am eating a made in Ukraine Roshetto Dark chocolate bar that my wife's Ukrainian friends brought us.

 

[Snowman]

Ukraine's Siberian Battalion recruits Russians to help fight Moscow

At a simple shooting range outside Kyiv, a group of 20 Russian citizens clad in Ukrainian uniforms practiced firing assault rifles and machine guns. Their commander, a Ukrainian who introduced himself by the callsign Batya, said some of the recruits to Ukraine's newly-formed Siberian Battalion...

www.yahoo.com

I think if any of them are captured, the easiest thing that can await them in Russia is execution. And each of them knows this.
But nonetheless: "I think this will help the empire to collapse, the prison to be destroyed..."

 

[Denniss]

There are reports coming in that Ukraine lost control over the artifical hill in avdiivka. Not good if that's true.

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

There are reports coming in that Ukraine lost control over the artifical hill in avdiivka. Not good if that's true.

Seems so:

Ukraine Situation Report: Zelensky Vows To Up The Pressure On And Around Crimea

With drones in the air and on the sea, cruise missiles, sabotage teams, and now ATACMS, Russian-occupied Crimea remains in Kyiv's crosshairs.

www.thedrive.com

 

[Admiral Beez]

There are reports coming in that Ukraine lost control over the artifical hill in avdiivka. Not good if that's true.

The perception of the Russian high command, officers and soldiers as incompetent plays to their advantage as it lowers expectations. Meanwhile, it's been eight months since Ukraine's famed spring 2023 offensive, where the Western kit was going to smash through the Russians. Instead, we're seeing the Russians continue their offensive into Avdiivka to possibly create a repeat of Bahkmut, and Ukrainian vbloggers settling for celebratory vids about a few km gains in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and a river crossing in Kherson.

Hopefully we'll see Ukraine continue to upgrade over the winter and in 2024 gain control over the air with their F-16s and make more significant gains. I wonder if the new NATO member Finland is helping the Ukrainians with winter warfare tech and ideas. The Ukrainians need the kit to breach the minefields and the hold back the Russian air force, drones and artillery that would stop any de-mining or breakthrough attempts.

As it stands, to my civilian mind, Russia is winning. They're holding back or at least slowing the large, top priority AFU effort in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and gaining in the Donetsk Oblast. While seemingly huge to our Western eyes, Russian losses in men over after nearly two years of the war equal fewer than a fortnight's losses in 1941-45. Meanwhile, Russian oil flows into India, China and elsewhere, and Biden and the now dysfunctional US Congress are distracted by Israel. My hope is that perception of the war is not reality, and that once through the static defences the AFU will smash through to Tokmak and Melitipol, and that the crossings of the Dnipro River will grow into significant gains. But it's early days, and today, Russia is winning.