Russian Invasion of Ukraine

[Larry]

Didn't get paid, huh?  

 

[China]

Russia forces may go to Ukraine’s Kyiv or Lviv cities: Official

 

Russian forces may have to advance as far as Kyiv or Lviv in Ukraine, Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev says, amid reports Moscow was losing momentum in the war-torn city of Bakhmut.

 

Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has issued a barrage of strongly worded statements in the past, blasting the United States and its NATO allies for what he described as their efforts to break up and destroy Russia.

 

“Nothing can be ruled out here. If you need to get to Kyiv, then you need to go to Kyiv, if to Lviv, then you need to go to Lviv in order to destroy this infection,” Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted Medvedev as saying on Friday.

 

Click on the link for the full article

[China]

Xi snubbed Putin after their summit, calling a meeting of Central Asian countries as part of an audacious power play

 

China's leader, Xi Jinping, has called a meeting of former-Soviet Central Asian countries, in an audacious power play in Russia's backyard the week of his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

Xi invited the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to the first China-Central Asia summit on Wednesday, the AFP news agency reported. It remains unclear whether the reclusive state of Turkmenistan has been invited.

 

The states are all former members of the Soviet Union, and Moscow has long regarded them as being in its sphere of influence after the then-Russian Empire conquered them in the 19th century.

 

The move came as Xi was visiting Putin in Moscow as part of a 3-day-summit which concluded Wednesday, in which the nations pledged to deepen and extend their cooperation — and Xi signaled that Russia would have continued Chinese backing in its invasion of Ukraine.

 

Analysts say that China has secured significant leverage over Russia in return for its diplomatic and economic support, and that in calling the meeting of Central Asian nations it is seeking to exploit that advantage.

 

Click on the link for the full article

[The Sisko]

This could potentially be a good thing in that if Russia breaks apart, a strong relationship with China might help keep these republics stable and hopefully, not warring with each other. OTOH, one has to wonder how much these Muslim republics can trust China given the way it has treated the Uighurs. OTOH, the political model for how to treat Muslims under Putin was the puppet Kadirov in Chechnya so maybe it’s a low bar for the Central Asian Republics.

And Business Insider should know better. It’s actually Uzbeckybeckybeckystan.

Edited March 25, 2023 by The Sisko

[Larry]

Yeah, I didn't think we had to worry too much about China looking at the events, and deciding to become equal partners with Russia.  

 

China no doubt a bigger threat to Russia than the US is.  How long's their border, 3,000 miles?  And what's the ratio between their GDPs?  

 

Might even be to our advantage to try to prop Russia up.  If we could get some reforms out of them.  But probably wouldn't work.  

 

[DCSaints_fan]

18 hours ago, China said:

Russia forces may go to Ukraine’s Kyiv or Lviv cities: Official

 

Russian forces may have to advance as far as Kyiv or Lviv in Ukraine, Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev says, amid reports Moscow was losing momentum in the war-torn city of Bakhmut.

 

Click on the link for the full article

And I might start dating Gidsele Bundchen or MacKenzie Scott

[China]

Vladimir Putin sends tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus on the border with Nato in major escalation of Ukraine tensions

 

VLADIMIR Putin is sending tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus on the border with Nato, in a major escalation of tensions over Ukraine.

 

The Russian President today claimed it will not violate non-proliferation agreements, after the two countries struck a deal.

 

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had long raised the issue of stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which borders Poland, Putin told state television.

 

"There is nothing unusual here either: firstly, the United States has been doing this for decades. They have long deployed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allied countries," he said.

 

"We agreed that we will do the same - without violating our obligations, I emphasise, without violating our international obligations on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons."

 

Russia will have completed the construction of a storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus by July 1, Putin said, adding that Moscow would not actually be transferring control of the arms to Minsk.

 

Click on the link for the full article

[Larry]

Seemed like big news, and this is the best thread.  

 

Yahoo:Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark struck a deal to run their 200+ advanced fighter jets as a single fleet, creating a new headache for Russia

 

Quote

 

*  The four Nordic countries agreed to operate their roughly 250 fighter jets in one fleet.

 

*  Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark, have modern air forces that include F-35s.

 

*  They joined forces hoping to deter Russia.

 

The air forces of four Nordic countries agreed to operate their fleets of around 250 fighter jets as a combined force, hoping to deter Russia by working together.

 

Air force commanders of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark said Friday that they have signed a letter of intent to establish a unified Nordic air defense, Reuters reported.

 

"The ultimate goal is to be able to operate seamlessly together as one force by developing a Nordic concept for joint air operations based on already known NATO methodology," Denmark's air force said in a statement, per Bloomberg.

 

 

[Riggo-toni]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2023/03/24/russia-braces-for-attack-by-50000-ukrainian-kamikaze-drones-seeks-shotguns/amp/

 

Russia Braces For Attack By 50,000 Ukrainian Kamikaze Drones, Seeks Shotguns

 

Since then, FPV attacks have proliferated, with numerous videos of strikes on trenches, tanks, personnel carriers and other targets. One compilation video shows a series of FPV drones diving into the open hatches of Russian tanks; another shows a Russian tank sheltering under a bridge before FPV drones stalk and strike. The success rate is usually quoted at something over 50%.

 

The key point about the FPV attack drones is that, compared to other guided weapons and loitering munitions, they are cheap and easily available. In a previous blog post, Russian Engineer listed the components needed to assemble an FPV attack drone, with a total cost of $355, or $421 with digital communications rather than analog. Others quote similar prices in the range of hundreds of dollars depending on the exact specification – notably less than the $2,000+ price tag for a Mavic 3 Pro quadcopter.

[China]

Weekend Update #21: A Defense of the Ukrainian Defense of Bakhmut

 

Well, here we are back for another discussion of what is happening in Bakhmut. I hope this will be the last for a while, but considering the fascinating change in tone over the last week about what is/has happening/happened there, I thought it would be worth returning again to why I have always given the Ukrainian government/military the benefit of the doubt with their Bakhmut strategy, and why I believe that had they listened to those who were saying it was now a bad place to fight and should pull out, it would most likely have been extremely counterproductive.

 

As you might have heard, outside of Bahkmut (where the line really didnt move) much of the fighting went on around the town of Avdviika. There, over the last two weeks there have been some incremental advances made by Russian forces. Indeed its just interesting to note that some of the most prominent twitter supporters of the Russian government have started to say that Avdviika always was more important than Bakhmut.

 

This is probably read more as a commentary about how the Battle of Bakhmut is going, but still, the Russians have made some advances around Avdiivka. There has been some excellent reporting of the terrible situation for the Ukrainian population there, and the fighting does seem pretty constant.

 

For now, Avdiivka does seem like a rerun of Bakhmut. For now the Ukrainians, like at Bakhmut are holding the line and inflicting significant casualties on the Russians. Indeed, going forward more attention might be paid here than to Bakhmut.

 

Overall though, the extraordinary thing looking at the line between Russian and Ukrainian forces for the past week is how little has changed. From a macro perspective it is basically the same.

 

Intelligence and Range: A Hopeful Sign

In many ways the most hopeful operation from a Ukrainian point of view was the reported attack on a Russian logistics facility in Crimea which was storing a supply of Kalibr Missiles. Details of the attack are patchy, its not clear what exactly was destroyed and what did the attacking, but if this is happening, its all for the good for two major reasons.

 

Click on the link for the full reporting

 

[China]

New Russian campaign tries to entice men to fight in Ukraine

 

Advertisements promise cash bonuses and enticing benefits. Recruiters are making cold calls to eligible men. Enlistment offices are working with universities and social service agencies to lure students and the unemployed.

 

A new campaign is underway this spring across Russia, seeking recruits to replenish its troops for the war in Ukraine.

 

As fighting grinds on in Ukrainian battlegrounds like Bakhmut and both sides prepare for counteroffensives that could cost even more lives, the Kremlin’s war machine badly needs new recruits.

 

 

A mobilization in September of 300,000 reservists — billed as a “partial” call-up — sent panic throughout the country, since most men under 65 are formally part of the reserve. Tens of thousands fled Russia rather than report to recruiting stations.

 

The Kremlin denies that another call-up is planned for what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine, now more than a year old.

 

But amid widespread uncertainty of whether such a move will eventually happen, the government is enticing men to volunteer, either at makeshift recruiting centers popping up in various regions, or with phone calls from enlistment officials. That way, it can “avoid declaring a formal second mobilization wave” after the first one proved so unpopular, according to a recent report by the U.S.-based think tank Institute of the Study of War.

 

Click on the link for the full article

[Gurgeh]

20 hours ago, China said:

Vladimir Putin sends tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus on the border with Nato in major escalation of Ukraine tensions

 

...

 

Russia will have completed the construction of a storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus by July 1, Putin said, adding that Moscow would not actually be transferring control of the arms to Minsk.

 

Click on the link for the full article

 

Dates are always the weak link in Putin's lies. There's no evidence the Russians have even started work on nuclear weapons storage facilities in Belarus. The one they started building in Kaliningrad seven years ago isn't finished yet.

 

Of course, Russians being Russians with regard to nuclear safety, they might just put some tactical warheads in a bunker and call it done.

 

I wouldn't call it a major escalation though - Putin mentions nukes every chance he gets, because there's nothing else left for him to threaten the west with.

[China]

Germany prepared to expel dozens of Russian diplomats on suspicion of espionage

 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock  plans to expel more than 30 Russian diplomats after they are suspected of being involved in the creation of a network of agents, Focus writes , citing security sources.

 

The security forces came to the conclusion that the diplomatic missions use their diplomatic immunity to recruit German informants from political, military, business and scientific circles for the purpose of sabotage and disinformation.

 

Security officials believe there are about 160 Russian intelligence officers operating in Germany under the guise of diplomats, more than during the Cold War. If Burbock's intentions come true, this expulsion will be one of the largest since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine - in April 2022, 40 Russian diplomats were declared persona non grata in Germany. 

 

In turn, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Burbock of spy mania and  told TASS that a “tough response” to the possible expulsion of diplomats was already ready, without specifying the details. 

 

Click on the link for the full article

[China]

Russia threatens US with "unique weapon" capable of destroying it

 

The Security Council of Russia claimed that Russia has a unique weapon capable of destroying even the US.

 

Source: Russian Kremlin-aligned media outlets RIA Novosti and TASS with reference to Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Security Council

 

Quote from Patrushev: "Russia has a unique weapon, which is capable of destroying any opponent, mainly the US, in case there is a threat to Russia’s existence."

 

Details: He also added that "American politicians’ certainty that Russia will not be able to respond to a preventive strike by the US is a short-sighted and dangerous foolishness."

 

Click on the link for the full article

 

So if it can destroy the US, why don't they use it on Ukraine?  Or, are they posturing about nukes again?

 

Sounds like corbomite to me.

[China]

Bear Grylls accused of trying to poison Ukrainian President Zelensky with chocolate bar

 

Bear Grylls has revealed Volodymyr Zelensky's security team were not pleased with the adventurist when he offered the Ukrainian President a bar of chocolate.

 

The survival expert, 48, travelled to Ukraine to meet with Zelensky, 45, and interview him as they walked through the streets of Kiev.

 

Quizzing Grylls about the encounter, Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid said: "When you say they take nothing for granted, they literally take nothing for granted.

 

"One of the ways you thought about breaking the ice was to offer him some chocolate, 'Let's just sit on a park bench like two friends and have a bar of chocolate.'"

 

"When I offered it to Zelensky, one of his guys stepped in and said he shouldn’t be eating it,’ recalled Grylls.

 

"I said, 'Ok, I’ll go first, to show I’m not out to poison him,' and we all laughed. I gave some to the security guys, because everyone likes a little square of Dairy Milk, right?"

 

Click on the link for the full article

[Jabbyrwock]

2 hours ago, China said:

So if it can destroy the US, why don't they use it on Ukraine?

 

Trump can't be elected president of Ukraine.

[CousinsCowgirl84]

2 hours ago, China said:

Russia threatens US with "unique weapon" capable of destroying it

 

The Security Council of Russia claimed that Russia has a unique weapon capable of destroying even the US.

 

Source: Russian Kremlin-aligned media outlets RIA Novosti and TASS with reference to Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Security Council

 

Quote from Patrushev: "Russia has a unique weapon, which is capable of destroying any opponent, mainly the US, in case there is a threat to Russia’s existence."

 

Details: He also added that "American politicians’ certainty that Russia will not be able to respond to a preventive strike by the US is a short-sighted and dangerous foolishness."

 

Click on the link for the full article

 

So if it can destroy the US, why don't they use it on Ukraine?  Or, are they posturing about nukes again?

 

Sounds like corbomite to me.

They already deployed it once

 

Edited March 28, 2023 by CousinsCowgirl84

[Larry]

3 hours ago, China said:

So if it can destroy the US, why don't they use it on Ukraine?  Or, are they posturing about nukes again?

 

Sounds like corbomite to me.

 

 

[PleaseBlitz]

Wait. Bear Grylls is interviewing Zelensky?  When did Bear Grylls become Connie Chung?

[CobraCommander]

16 minutes ago, PleaseBlitz said:

Wait. Bear Grylls is interviewing Zelensky?  When did Bear Grylls become Connie Chung?

[Die Hard]

14 hours ago, China said:

"I said, 'Ok, I’ll go first, to show I’m not out to poison him,' and we all laughed. I gave some to the security guys, because everyone likes a little square of Dairy Milk, right?

 

What tipped off security was the fact it was a Dairy Milk chocolate bar. Friends don’t give friends Dairy Milk. Dead give away.

 

Kit Kat, you fool!!

Edited March 28, 2023 by Die Hard

[China]

German Leopard 2 tanks have reached Ukraine

 

The 18 Leopard 2 battle tanks pledged by Germany to support Ukraine in its war against Russia have arrived in Ukraine, the German Defence Ministry said on Monday.

 

Germany agreed in January to supply the tanks, regarded as among the best in the West's arsenal, overcoming misgivings about sending heavy weaponry that Kyiv says is crucial to defeat Russia's invasion but Moscow casts as a dangerous provocation.

 

"I'm sure that they can make a decisive contribution on the front," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in a tweet.

 

Besides the 18 tanks, 40 German Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and two armoured recovery vehicles had also reached Ukraine, a security source said.

 

The German army trained the Ukrainian tank crews as well as the troops assigned to operate the Marder vehicles for several weeks in Muenster and Bergen in northern Germany.

 

As well as the German vehicles, three Leopard tanks donated by Portugal also reached Ukraine, the security source said.

 

Click on the link for the full article

[The Sisko]

3 hours ago, Die Hard said:

 

What tipped off security was the fact it was a Dairy Milk chocolate bar. Friends don’t give friends Dairy Milk. Dead give away.

 

Kit Kat, Theo or Alter Eco dark chocolate you fool!!

You forced my hand on this one.

[Long n Left]

31 minutes ago, The Sisko said:

You forced my hand on this one.

****ing woke chocoholic!

[China]

Russian whose child drew anti-war image gets jail term but flees

 

A Russian man whose daughter drew an anti-war picture at school has been sentenced to two years in a penal colony on charges of discrediting the armed forces.

 

Court officials, however, said that Alexei Moskalyov was not present for the sentencing on Tuesday as he had fled from house arrest overnight. The 54-year-old had been wearing a bracelet that tracked his movements but apparently had taken it off, and his whereabouts remained unclear.

 

His lawyer, Vladimir Biliyenko, said he had not seen his client since Monday and did not know whether he had fled.

 

“At the moment, to be honest, I’m in a state of shock,” Biliyenko told Reuters news agency. He added the defence would appeal against the verdict and Masha would remain in the children’s home for the time being.

 

Moskalyov was accused of repeatedly discrediting the Russian army, an act that was outlawed shortly after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine and that carries a jail sentence of several years.

 

The investigation started after Masha drew a picture last April showing Russian missiles raining down on a Ukrainian mother and child.

 

Click on the link for the full article