Ukraine war mega thread

[harrybarracuda]

^^
And his right hand gripped the table for the whole meeting. Perhaps he's a bit embarrassed of the uncontrolled trembling incident when he met Lukashenko.

Parkinsons maybe?

Let's hope it's something that will kill him more quickly and more painfully.

[harrybarracuda]

This is an example of more hoohoo cut and paste retarded bollocks.

FTBFY

[David48atTD]

Conclusion:
You know nothing about ant Russian military plans.

Maybe ... but Putin didn't know just how crap the 'Russian military plans' were either.

Hence the mass sackings and occasional jailings since the

[panama hat]

You are seriously not suggesting that the recent spike in energy prices has nothing to do with Ukraine are you?

You'd make more sense if you stopped waffling and spouting abstract questions

[OhOh]

Hence the mass sackings and occasional jailings

Failure to deliver on promises has consequences in every well run organisation, if proven.

Yes?

[David48atTD]

How Ukraine’s mud became a secret weapon in its defense against Russia

A member of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces stands on a damaged Russian tank on the outskirts of Nova Basan village in Ukraine on April 01, 2022.
Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24 coincided with what’s known locally as the “muddy road season,” or “Rasputitsa” in Russian.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Key Points

• When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, its military commanders were widely seen to have discounted one very unconventional but effective weapon in Ukraine’s arsenal.
• The timing of Russia’s invasion, which began on Feb. 24, coincided with what is known locally as the “muddy road season,” or “Rasputitsa” in Russian.
• Mud can make Ukraine’s terrain and unpaved roads virtually unpassable.

It’s a phenomenon familiar in the history books: Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Russia in 1812 was famously slowed by the mud, as were Hitler’s armies, which invaded the then-Soviet Union in 1941 and encountered the same logistical problems posed by the mud and inhospitable terrain that Russian troops have faced in the last few weeks.

How Ukraine'''s mud became a secret weapon in its defense against Russia

But, not a problem, Russia can still attack from the Sea!

Oh Oh ... hang on ... any seen the Moskva, which was a guided missile cruiser

was ... glug, glug, glug


Black, alluvial Ukrainian soil, great for growing crops, lousy to drive your Russian Tank over

[Shutree]

How Ukraine’s mud became a secret weapon

When this kicked off in February it was all frozen. Unfortunately for Putin his "3-day special operation" dragged on a bit longer than planned. Now they are literally bogged down. Shame. Not.

[YourDaddy]

Hmmmm but why....you gotta ask why

Staircase in Ukraine mall decorated with giant swastika | The Times of Israel

[Neverna]

Black, alluvial Ukrainian soil, great for growing crops, lousy to drive your Russian Tank over

The mud will certainly hinder trucks and maybe some armoured vehicles but I doubt very much it will stop tanks. Tanks are designed for such terrain. That's why they have tracks and not wheels with tyres.

But whatever, the mud/terraine will hinder Ukrainian vehicles just as much as Russian vehicles.

[OhOh]

Unfortunately for Putin his "3-day special operation" dragged on a bit longer than planned. Now they are literally bogged down

Post your informed source for your allegations.

[OhOh]

Now they are literally bogged down

The Russians have a cunning solution:

BREM-1M design and features

"The BREM-1 is based on the modified chassis of the T-72A main battle tank. The vehicle integrates a new superstructure in place of T-72A’s turret. The hull accommodates driver’s position at forward, commander and handler’s seating in the centre and power pack at the rear. The crew enter and exit the vehicle through hatch covers located on top of the hull.

The vehicle is equipped with a front-mounted dozer blade, crane, winch and other specialised equipment to support recovery operations."

BREM-1M Armoured Recovery Vehicle - Army Technology


I'm surprised our TD military modeller doesn't have one:

<em>

[David48atTD]

The Russians have a cunning solution:

Meh

The reality below. Feb 12, 2022




In this video in the page, from about the 2min mark ... Russians Get T-90 Tank Stuck in the Mud | Military.com

[misskit]

UN Documents ‘Unlawful’ Killings in Ukraine as Russia Vows Bigger Campaign


Russia said Friday it intended a full-bore assault to carve out a sizeable slice of Ukraine but risked intensified world outrage as the UN documented the killing of dozens of civilians in one town.


Ukraine's government, emboldened by a fresh influx of high-grade Western weaponry, said its beleaguered forces were still holding out inside a sprawling, seaside steelworks in the razed city of Mariupol.


The Kremlin has claimed the "liberation" of Mariupol, whose control is pivotal to its war plans nearly two months after President Vladimir Putin ordered the shock invasion of Russia's Western-leaning neighbor.


"Since the start of the second phase of the special operation... one of the tasks of the Russian army is to establish full control over the Donbas and southern Ukraine," Major General Rustam Minnekaev said.

This will provide a land corridor to Crimea," he added, according to Russian news agencies, referring to the peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.


Minnekaev's comments were the most detailed description yet of Russia's goals in the "second phase" of its operation, which was forced on the Kremlin after Ukraine's dogged resistance around the capital Kyiv.


Russia's Defense Ministry said it was ready for a ceasefire at Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant, to allow out hundreds of trapped civilians — but only if Ukraine's soldiers surrendered.


The defenders have refused to yield, and Russia stands accused of serial violations of other humanitarian offers.


"The enemy's offensive operation in the south hinges on Mariupol. The enemy is trying to focus all its efforts on it," Ukrainian regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko told AFP.


Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, dismissed the Russian military plan outlined by Minnekaev.


"We have our own scenarios to defend Ukraine and I would point out that plenty of Kremlin plans have already been ruined by the work of our army and our people," he said on social media.


Russia's change of strategic focus to southern and eastern Ukraine saw invading forces leave behind a trail of indiscriminate destruction and civilian bodies around Kyiv, including in the commuter town of Bucha.


'Mass grave'
A United Nations mission to Bucha documented "the unlawful killing, including by summary execution, of some 50 civilians there," the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said.


Its spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said Russian forces had "indiscriminately shelled and bombed populated areas, killing civilians and wrecking hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure, actions that may amount to war crimes."

The UN mission was sent on April 9, a week after an AFP team found bodies of people dressed in civilian clothing lining the streets of Bucha, after the town had been under Russian occupation for over a month.


U.S. satellite imagery company Maxar released photos that it said showed a "mass grave" on the northwestern edge of Manhush, west of Mariupol.


U.K. police said they had received "around 50" referrals relating to alleged war crimes in Ukraine, in support of an investigation by the International Criminal Court at The Hague.


Ukrainian officials say the bodies of more than 1,000 civilians have been retrieved from areas around Kyiv, and they are working with French investigators to document alleged war crimes.


Forensic experts are now examining the bodies, Oleksandr Pavliuk, head of the Kyiv regional military administration, told reporters.


"But what we saw was hands tied behind the back, their legs tied and shot through the limbs and in the back of the head," he said.


Referendum for 'show'
President Zelensky maintained a defiant tone in his latest video address.


With its claims about taking control of Mariupol, Russia was "doing everything to have a reason to talk about at least some victories," he said.


Zelensky accused Russia of laying the groundwork for a referendum to cement its control of separatist areas in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, urging locals to avoid giving personal data to Moscow's forces.


"This is aimed to falsify the so-called referendum on your land, if an order comes from Moscow to stage such a show," he warned.

Separately, Zelensky told leaders of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank that Ukraine now needs $7 billion a month to function, accusing Russia of "destroying all objects in Ukraine that can serve as an economic base for life."


He also said Russia had rejected a proposed truce over the Orthodox Christian Easter holiday this weekend, while the head of Ukraine's Moscow-affiliated branch of the Orthodox Church called for an Easter procession to the Mariupol steel plant.

On Thursday, three school buses carrying evacuees arrived in the city of Zaporizhzhia after leaving Mariupol and crossing through Russian-held territory.


"I don't want to hear any more bombing," said Tatiana Dorash, 34, who arrived with her six-year-old son Maxim.


She said all they wanted now was a quiet night and "a bed to sleep in."


Ukrainian officials had hoped to evacuate many more civilians, but called off evacuations on Friday because of "insecurity" on the roads.


'Critical window'
Zelensky meanwhile welcomed the latest promises of Western military aid, including, howitzers, armoured vehicles, 144,000 rounds of ammunition and tactical drones from the United States.


"We're in a critical window now... where they're going to set the stage for the next phase of this war," U.S. President Joe Biden said, pledging Putin would "never succeed in dominating and occupying all of Ukraine."


The U.K. government said more than 20 Ukrainian soldiers had travelled to Britain for training in operating some 120 U.K.-supplied armored vehicles.


Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain was joining other Western countries in reopening its embassy in Kyiv.


He warned that the conflict could drag on until the end of next year, and that Russia could ultimately prevail militarily given Putin's "huge army."


But, on a visit to India, Johnson said that Putin "will not be able to conquer the spirit of the Ukrainian people."

UN Documents ‘Unlawful’ Killings in Ukraine as Russia Vows Bigger Campaign - The Moscow Times

[OhOh]

Meh

Thank you for the video.

[Norton]

second phase of the special operation

aka retreat, put up a flag and claim victory phase.

[harrybarracuda]

aka retreat, put up a flag and claim victory phase.

I would prefer that to him launching nukes and then absurdly trying to claim he was forced into it.

[Backspin]

I do not think things are going quite as badly for Putin and the Russian military as the dominant, near monopolistic, mainstream western narrative would have you believe. The Kool aid fix is just too enthusiastic, desperate even.

Do you really believe, for example, that Putin thought he would overrun Ukraine, with a population of over 40mm, in 72 hours- as is routinely alleged? The Russian military weren't even in most of the country, and still aren't. Focus on the East.

It's insane. Regardless of what happens , the Western narrative will be that Russia is losing.

Anyways Russia just took control of the biggeat arms depot in Ukraine.

❗️65 Arsenal - a storage base for artillery and rocket ammunition of the Central Rocket and Artillery Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The amazing history of the arsenal. It was built in 1918 in Balakleya to supply the Red Army. Our army was supplied with ammunition from here during the Second World War. After the collapse of the USSR, the arsenal was handed over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. And it became the largest BC warehouse in the country. Since 2014, the arsenal has been supplying cannon and rocket artillery shells to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbass. These shells killed people who live in the DPR and LPR. Now the Russian Army has taken the arsenal.

[Backspin]

Getting desperate.

�������� France supplied ammunition to the Ukrainian military by diplomatic mail on board, possibly civilian aircraft.

At one of the positions of the Ukrainian security forces in the Donbas, boxes with 12.7-mm cartridges were found, where the French embassy in Kiev is listed as the addressee.

Telegram: Contact @intelslava

[Backspin]

Russian MOD statement on Mariupol

[misskit]

Remember the Chilean-American, Gonzales Lira, who was missing and “rumored” to have been beheaded by Nazis on the dark web?

Dang if he didn’t show up with his head on his shoulders. Maybe he just needed a little attention.


Fate of missing American Zelensky critic revealed


Gonzalo Lira said he had been taken by the Ukrainian Security Service last Friday

Chilean-American blogger Gonzalo Lira, who went missing in the Ukrainian city of Kharkov a week ago, has appeared online on Friday, revealing that he had been held by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU).


“I’m in Kharkov. I’m OK. I just want to say that I’m back online.” Lira said in short video chat with journalist Alex Christoforou on The Duran's YouTube channel.


“I was picked up by the SBU on Friday, April 15,” the blogger revealed.


Speaking about his condition, the 54-year-old said that he was “fine physically,” but “a little rattled” and “a little bit discombobulated.” Lira made it clear that he was forbidden from revealing any details about what had happened to him in detention.

MORE Fate of missing American Zelensky critic revealed — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union

[misskit]

^^ Put links in your posts, dammit.

Russia says Ukrainian fighters '&#39;'securely blockaded'&#39;' at Mariupol steel plant | Reuters

[pickel]

Russian MOD statement on Mariupol

Utter fucking bullshit. Ukraine forces in avostal have asked many times for a ceasefire to let the civilians in the plant leave.

There is no artillery in the plant, and the rest of Mariopol is out of range from other Ukraine artillery. It's the Russians shelling civilians, as is their standard operating procedure.

[misskit]

Russia's ailing command: 'Bloated and slouching' Putin is seen gripping a table amid cancer battle rumours as he meets 'slurring' defence minister Shoigu - who needs to read from notes 'following heart attack'


A bloated Vladimir Putin has been seen gripping a table whilst slouching in his chair during a televised meeting with his defence minister amid rumours the Russian strongman is battling cancer.


In a rare live appearance, Putin claimed Russia had 'liberated' the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, as he savagely ordered Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to seal off all routes out of the Azovstal steelworks where defiant Ukrainians are holed up 'so that even a fly cannot pass through'.


But Putin's poor posture and his apparently bloated face and neck sparked speculation about the Russian leader's health, which has reportedly been in decline since his invasion of Ukraine.

Video showed Putin speaking to Shoigu whilst gripping the edge of the table with his right hand - so hard that it appears white - and tapping his foot consistently.


Shoigu does not appear to have fared any better in the eight weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, with the defence minister slurring his words and reading from his notes following an apparent heart attack.

MORE/VIDEO. Putin is seen gripping a table amid cancer battle rumours as he meets 'slurring' defence minister | Daily Mail Online

[bsnub]

Utter fucking bullshit.

This thread is a waste of time. Just a dumping ground for the Three Stooges propaganda lies.

[sabang]

This is a pretty good primer on the various atrocities being committed by the Ukrainians. Criminally under reported in our MSM, so it is my duty as a citizen of a free nation to inform you.



Ukraine’s “pro-democracy” president has outlawed his opposition, ordered rivals arrested and presided over the disappearance and assassination of dissidents, Max Blumenthal and Esha Krishnaswamy report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has framed his country’s war against Russia as a battle for democracy itself. In a carefully choreographed address to U.S. Congress on March 16, Zelensky stated,

“Right now, the destiny of our country is being decided. The destiny of our people, whether Ukrainians will be free, whether they will be able to preserve their democracy.”

U.S. corporate media has responded by showering Zelensky with fawning press, driving a campaign for his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize and inspiring a flamboyant musical tribute to himself and the Ukrainian military during the 2022 Grammy awards ceremony on April 3.


Western media has looked the other way, however, as Zelensky and top officials in his administration have sanctioned a campaign of kidnapping, torture, and assassination of local Ukrainian lawmakers accused of collaborating with Russia.


Several mayors and other Ukrainian officials have been killed since the outbreak of war, many reportedly by Ukrainian state agents after engaging in de-escalation talks with Russia.


“There is one less traitor in Ukraine,” Internal Affairs Ministry adviser Anton Geraschenko stated in an endorsement of the murder of a Ukrainian mayor accused of collaborating with Russia.


Zelensky has further exploited the atmosphere of war to outlaw an array of opposition parties and order the arrest of his leading rivals. His authoritarian decrees have triggered the disappearance, torture and even murder of an array of human rights activists, communist and leftist organizers, journalists and government officials accused of “pro-Russian” sympathies.


The Ukrainian SBU security services have served as the enforcement arm of the officially authorized campaign of repression. With training from the C.I.A. and close coordination with Ukraine’s state-backed neo-Nazi paramilitaries, the SBU has spent the past weeks filling its vast archipelago of torture dungeons with political dissidents.


On the battlefield, meanwhile, the Ukrainian military has engaged in a series of atrocities against captured Russian troops and proudly exhibited its sadistic acts on social media. Here too, the perpetrators of human rights abuses appear to have received approval from the upper echelons of Ukrainian leadership.


While Zelensky spouts bromides about the defense of democracy before worshipful Western audiences, he is using the war as a theater for enacting a blood-drenched purge of political rivals, dissidents and critics.


“The war is being used to kidnap, imprison and even kill opposition members who express themselves critical of the government,” a left-wing activist beaten and persecuted by Ukraine’s security services commented this April. “We must all fear for our freedom and our lives.”

Details and Plenty more- Zelensky’s Hardline Internal Purge – Consortium News


We choose some lovely friends.