Ukraine war mega thread

[bsnub]

Ex-US Marine General Among Russia's Wagner Mercenaries: Founder

he Defense Department’s top spokesman has called bullshit on a recent claim by Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russia’s Wagner Group, that a former Marine Corps general officer works for the private mercenary company. Prigozhin made his dubious claim on Nov. 25 to the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, when he said that about 20 Finnish citizens are fighting with Wagner in Ukraine.

“I have a very good opinion about the Finns on the battlefield,” the French wire service Agence France-Presse quoted Prigozhin as saying. “They are fighting in a British battalion (as part of Wagner PMC), which is commanded by a US citizen, a former general of the Marine Corps.”

Notably, Prigozhin did not identify this alleged Marine officer whom he claimed to have on the payroll. It was also far from clear why a former Marine general officer would opt to work for Wagner instead of embracing the bosom of America’s defense industrial base (F-35s, after all, cannot sell themselves).

On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder dismissed Prigozhin’s comments as Russian disinformation.

“We have seen those press reports; we’ve seen no names associated with those press reports; we’re not aware of any names associated with those,” Ryder said at a Pentagon news briefing.

“And so, I think, again, very likely that this is – not surprisingly – propaganda. I would refer you to the Marine Corps, but I don’t know how much credibility I would put into the Wagner Group.”

The Marine Corps had nothing to add beyond Ryder’s comments on Tuesday. Task & Purpose also asked two retired Marine general officers if they had heard of any of their colleagues joining Wagner, and the answer was a resounding nyet.

To most Americans, it is not surprising to hear that the head of the Wagner Group, which has been accused of committing war crimes in Ukraine and elsewhere, is not the most trustworthy source of information. In fact, Prigozhin has about as much credibility as a James Bond villain.

A video posted in September shows a man who looks a lot like Prigozhin recruiting Russian prisoners to fight in Ukraine. The man in the video says that while Wagner is careful about accepting prisoners convicted of sex crimes into its ranks, the company also understands that “mistakes happen.”

If Wagner actually employed a former Marine general officer, the Russians would have certainly published this person’s picture, military records, and other personal information to humiliate the U.S. military, said Olga Lautman, an expert on Russia and Ukraine at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, DC.

Lautman noted that in June, Russian television showed two American military veterans who had been captured in Ukraine. Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh were eventually released after 104 days in Russian captivity thanks to a chance call to the VA’s crisis hotline.

Prigozhin’s claim about having a Marine general officer on his company’s payroll was likely intended for a Russian audience, Lautman told Task & Purpose on Tuesday.

“I think it’s more for internal purposes, domestic propaganda, to show: Look, we can buy former U.S. military members, to show the weakness of the U.S. military; and also to pollute social media, like western audiences, with more garbage,” Lautman said.

Prigozhin’s dubious claim about having a Marine general officer leading a Wagner battalion is emblematic of how the Russians approach propaganda campaigns, said Marek Posard, an expert on disinformation with the RAND Corporation.

“Typically, the Russians will try to cook up falsehoods that are ripped from recent headlines,” Posard told Task & Purpose. “Earlier this month, there were reports of former allied personnel aiding foreign adversaries. I wouldn’t be surprised if Russia is trying to piggyback on this story to undermine the perceived legitimacy of the U.S. military.”

So, remember: Whenever Russian President Vladimir Putin or one of his allies or subordinates make outlandish claims about American military personnel, you can always smell a big, fat rat.


https://taskandpurpose.com/news/mari...ussia-ukraine/

[sabang]

Reality on the Ground in Ukraine

Russia is accomplishing its military objectives in Ukraine.

Its long-range, high-precision, hypersonic munitions cannot be intercepted by US/Western air defense systems used by Kiev.

“The goal of (Russia’s) strikes (is being) accomplished, its Defense Ministry explained.

“All designated targets have been hit.”

Military ones exclusively, no civilian ones.

Damage or destruction of nonmilitary sites in Kiev and elsewhere were caused by regime munitions falling in residential areas.

Deployment of regime troops, weapons, munitions and equipment to areas of combat by rail has been significantly disrupted.

The scourge of made-in-the USA/Nazi-infested Ukraine is already defeated.

Only its obituary remains to be written.

Propaganda by US/Western regimes, Kiev Nazis and their MSM press agents can’t change reality on the ground.

Continuing a lost cause as ordered by US-dominated NATO assures greater destruction and mass casualties.

Russia won. Kiev lost with zero chance to turn things around.

Sensible leadership would capitulate to cut its losses.

Ukraine is virtually owned and controlled by the empire of lies and forever wars on invented enemies.

Having long ago abandoned the rule of law in pursuit of its diabolical aims, its ruling regimes — especially undemocratic Dems — are indifferent toward the lives, rights, and well-being of ordinary people at home and worldwide.

At this time, most of Ukraine lacks electricity, heat, tap water, santitation and ability to communicate electronically.

The cost of restoring what’s lost will require billions of dollars, what the regime lacks, what US/Western regimes won’t likely keep supplying for a lost cause.

And Russia’s super-weapons are technologically superior to the best in the US/West — developed, produced and deployed at a tiny fraction of what hegemon USA pours down a black hole of waste, fraud and abuse to enrich its merchants of death and human misery.

On the issue of most Ukrainians without electricity, heat and tap water, without sanitation, without the ability to flush toilets, normally in their lives lost, Russia’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, stressed the following:

Months after the Obama/Biden regime’s Kiev coup, no one in the West expressed concern after Ukrainian Nazis cut off electricity and tap water in Crimea.

Their regimes supported years of Kiev’s aggression against Donbass residential communities.

They and their MSM press agents consistently blame Russia for Ukrainian war crimes.

Instead of denouncing the scourge of Nazi-infested Ukraine, US/Western regimes actively support it, while suppressing information about its widespread use of torture and mass-murder of Russian POWs, Russian nationals in Ukraine and others suspected of being sympathetic toward the Russian Federation.

Separately ahead of Russia’s winter offensive getting underway in earnest, Eurasian expert, Gordon M. Hahn, said the following about what’s upcoming:
Russia’s “hammer is about to” come down much harder on Ukraine than already.

“The gloves are coming off.”

“Electric energy stations, bridges, and ‘decision centers…are being targeted,” significantly damaged and destroyed.

“After (the regime’s) infrastructure (is) completely destroyed or incapacitated, Russia’s reinforcements of 380,000 regular and newly mobilized troops will have been fully (deployed) across (frontline positions in) southeastern Ukraine.”

“A winter offensive (with) half a million troops will make substantial gains…”

They’ll “multiply Ukrainian losses in personnel (arms) and materiel.”

“(C)ollapse of” regime troops along front line positions will likely follow.

And at this time, “the West is suffering from Ukraine fatigue.”

Arms supplies of NATO regimes are fast depleting.

It’s at a time of greatly eroded “social cohesion…in the face of double-digit inflation and (deepening) economic recession.”

Largely self-sufficient Russia is strategically defeating hegemon USA-dominated NATO’s agenda.

At some point ahead, the empire of lies and its European vassals will be forced “to seek at least a breathing spell by way of a ceasefire.”

Yet as ordered by his US master, puppet Zelensky, an out-of-touch with reality buffoon, keeps “pushing Ukraine’s (military) commander, Viktor Zalyuzhy, to” continue pursuing a lost cause.

Things are approaching “a watershed moment” at a time when most of Ukrainians are suffering, when its military and society are unravelling.

Russia’s winter offensive may prove to an endgame in what began last February.

Dominant Ukrainian Nazis must choose between capitulation or annihilation.

It’s their choice.

https://stephenlendman.org/about-me/

Recent Articles – The Stephen Lendman Blog


You guys should get a room.

[pickel]

^
You know there is a way to preview your drivel first right?

[sabang]

The guy has a Harvard BA, Wharton MBA, served in the US army, and his (apparently wealthy) family owns the Lendman Group. Not your average commie, or 'putin apologist'. But he still calls the US the 'Empire of Lies'.


Growing Desperation in the Empire of Lies – The Stephen Lendman Blog

[harrybarracuda]

Russia is accomplishing its military objectives in Ukraine.

Thanks for that. I had no idea Russia's military objectives were totally embarrassing itself.

[harrybarracuda]

The guy has a Harvard BA, Wharton MBA, served in the US army, and his (apparently wealthy) family owns the Lendman Group. Not your average commie, or 'putin apologist'. But he still calls the US the 'Empire of Lies'.


Growing Desperation in the Empire of Lies – The Stephen Lendman Blog

You're right, he's not your average snivelling Putin brown noser.

He's a special kind of snivelling Putin brown noser, as demonstrated by his cretinism in the very first line:

Russia’s liberating SMO

[bsnub]

Hey snubski- check this guy out!

You really are a moron. That is total shit propaganda.

Wharton MBA

The orange moron went there too.

[sabang]

I think time and events will work out who the moron is between you two snubski. One of you will be proven totally wrong, and I'm afraid juvenile cheerleading, and NAFO shitposting makes absolutely no difference to actual events on the ground..

[Loy Toy]

What the fuck!

Does anyone realise that the funding of the Ukraine defence is a waste of money and time?

Yes, Russia is the demon invader and basically the cause of this global disaster but things could change if a resolution can be reached.

I am still at odds with who is at fault here and expect the Ukrainian's do have things to answer if Nato had the balls to ask them.

But anyway lets pile heaps of money at the defence of a country without really knowing what the fuck we are doing.

The Septics have to back off and let regional conflicts take their course as is the case over many centuries before they were even a entity.

[sabang]

But anyway lets pile heaps of money at the defence of a country without really knowing what the fuck we are doing.

And screw the world economy, and Europe in particular, at the same time. Not very enlightened.

[Loy Toy]

I cannot believe the stance people are taking because the stronger nation is taking their position over a weaker nation.

Must be about time that these cocks realise that power rules, much the same as what happens daily for our fellow inhabitants in the wild kingdom.

When I watch the discovery channel and see a lovely deer being brought down by a Lion I am sad but realise this is the way things occur in the real world.

Fuck Ukraine..........Fuck Russia...........The rest of us want this shit to stop and let things settle.

[bsnub]

Does anyone realise that the funding of the Ukraine defence is a waste of money and time?

It is not a waste of time. If Australia was invaded by China how would you feel if America said fuck it, defending Australia is a waste of time and money?

Absolutely unbelievable.

Fuck Ukraine..........Fuck Russia...........The rest of us want this shit to stop and let things settle.

Exactly who is "the rest of us"?

Not very enlightened.

You really are not. You have proven to be one of the most blinkered, propagandized morons in the history of TD.

[bsnub]

Just waiting for the ground to freeze over, and then the Ukrainian winter offensive will begin. Keep your eyes on Melitopol.

HANGING BY 3 THREADS: The keys to the control of Crimea’s logistical, fuel and food supplies are the highly vulnerable Kerch Straits Bridge, and the occupied city of Melitopol. The liberation of Melitopol would cut off Crimea from reinforcement and supply from the UKR mainland.

[Hugh Cow]

I cannot believe the stance people are taking because the stronger nation is taking their position over a weaker nation.

Must be about time that these cocks realise that power rules, much the same as what happens daily for our fellow inhabitants in the wild kingdom.

When I watch the discovery channel and see a lovely deer being brought down by a Lion I am sad but realise this is the way things occur in the real world.

Fuck Ukraine..........Fuck Russia...........The rest of us want this shit to stop and let things settle.

I am shocked. I always had respect for you as a poster LT. Your post was worthy of Sabang, with a complete lack of humanity.

[hallelujah]

When there are depths to plumb, TD certainly makes sure it plumbs.

[Takeovers]

Your post was worthy of Sabang, with a complete lack of humanity.

Even worse. If Putin is not put down now, we will come to regret it later. It is in our own interest to help Ukraine win. We are paying with some money, Ukraine people pay with their blood.

[bsnub]

It is in our own interest to help Ukraine win.

Ukraine has to win and it will win.

[bsnub]

Crossing the Dnipro has already been done by Ukrainian trained SOF units. Trained both by UK SBS and US Navy SEALs. Both the crème de la crème. This is a video showing the 59th brigade not the SOF units but still a good watch. Turn on the subtitles, they are in English.

[Loy Toy]

In response to Snub's post, if China invaded Australia I would expect that America would put troupes on the ground and not sit on the fence throwing trillions of dollars on to a bonfire.

There is only 1 way that this war will end and that is for Nato + America + others, including Australia, to go to war with Russia and kill off the beast once and for all.

Yes, there is the real possibility that Nuclear weapons will be used, but enough is enough. If this war happens and Russia falls it will send a real message to China also who pose a bigger long term threat.

And to those that feel I lack humanity I am only being a realist.

[NamPikToot]

^ wow!

[bsnub]

There is only 1 way that this war will end and that is for Nato + America + others, including Australia, to go to war with Russia and kill off the beast once and for all.

You just went from one extreme to the next with that post.

[Loy Toy]

^ How's that?

[sabang]

Reading the Chicago Tribune’s November 21st editorial ‘Memo to the new Congress: Ukraine needs your help, not your grandstanding’, one might surmise Ukraine is winning the Russo-Ukraine war. As proof the Trib offers “Ukraine just carried out one of the most significant battlefield victories in the nearly nine-month war, with its triumph in the southern city of Kherson. Russia’s defeat in Kherson added strong evidence to the notion that Ukraine has the upper hand against Putin’s illegal, ruinous invasion.”

The reverse is true. Ukraine is being systematically annihilated by the Russian military. Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson is primarily tactical. Kherson will be reversed as Ukraine collapses. It is being grasped by the Trib, and all promoters of current US weapons support, as proof of eventual Ukraine victory.

The Trib does allude to the destruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure which has plunged much of the country into cold and darkness on the cusp of winter. But then the Trib reverts to its feelgood delusion that “What will assist Ukraine through this perilous period is an unwavering commitment from the U.S. and Europe to provide military and economic aid.” Let’s see, upwards of $100 billion in weapons aid with the upcoming $37 billion from the Lame Duck Congress, has done nothing but extend Ukraine’s death and destruction for 9 months now. Much of the destruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure did not occur till US weapons needlessly prolonged the war. Had the US signed on to fellow NATO member Turkey’s brokered 15-point peace agreement in March, the war would have ended by April. US torpedoing that peace agreement was a dastardly betrayal of Ukraine’s people. With the exception of the Iraq-Iran war of 1980-88, the US has always worked to end foreign conflict thru diplomacy, not prolonging it with endless weapons.

Instead of castigating conservative Republicans, some of whom plan to end the US weapons transfers in the 118th Congress in January, the Trib should be supporting their efforts to curtail more weapons which will set the stage for sensible negotiations.

The Trib should also cease telling its readership Ukraine is winning this war. Doing so congers up the ghost of Baghdad Bob, the infamous Iraqi Minister of Information, who popped up daily on TV to tell the world that Iraq was vanquishing Great Satan America in its criminal 2003 US war there.

Is Chicago Tribune Channeling ‘Baghdad Bob’ on Ukraine War? - Antiwar.com Blog

[Norton]

You just went from one extreme to the next with that post.

I don't think so. LT just pointing out another option. There are really only 3 options.
1. Do nothing and let Vlad have the Ukraine.
2. Do what the "west" is now doing and in LT's opinion will be an endless unwinable war. I tend to agree especially if a win includes the Ukraine retaking and holding all Russian occupied territory including Crimea.
3. Now LT saying to prevent 2 above, go balls to the walls with "west's" troops on the ground in Ukraine to retake all Russian occupied territory. Aka a "win".

[sabang]

I will allude to another, hybrid option too- being to keep supplying Ukraine with essential weaponry "for now" but make it clear to clownboy that this isn't forever. Basically, try to push him to the negotiating table with some deterrent credibility left. Or push him aside and let US/Nato do the job. This current "as long as they want" scenario is ruining us all, and military arsenals are becoming severely depleted- especially in Europe.