ALERT RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE - Consolidated Thread
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wait-n-see
Veteran Member
Ukrainian Army DECIMATED Need 500,000 New Soldiers
Run time - 24:03
Apr 10, 2024
Ukraine's new round mobilization law aims at enlisting 500,000 men in 2024.
Looks like the gas station with Nukes is still producing and selling oil.
Russian oil flows are sidestepping sanctions and trading above the G-7 price cap all over the world
Russian oil flows are sidestepping sanctions and trading above the G-7 price cap all over the world
Bloomberg reported that Urals grade crude is selling at around $75 a barrel, exceeding the G7 nations' $60 price cap on Russian oil.
markets.businessinsider.com
Urals crude reaching India trades at $88 a barrel, while oil leaving from eastern Russia sells for $84 a barrel.
Spiking oil prices helped Russia energy-tax revenue double last month
The amount of tax that Russia collected on oil and gas rose by 90% on a year-over-year basis in March.
markets.businessinsider.com
jward
passin' thru
S p r i n t e r F a c t o r y
@Sprinterfactory
The French President plans to send the 126th Infantry Regiment, which fought in Africa and Afghanistan, to Odessa
This is reported by the French publication Le Monde, which found out that Macron’s “plan” to send troops to Ukraine has been discussed for several months.
Le Monde writes that the 126th Infantry Regiment, stationed in Brive-la-Gaillarde (a city in the south of France), should go to fight the Russians. This regiment participated in all of France's colonial wars - the invasion of Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, the Unicorn special operation in Côte d'Ivoire and Barkhane in Mali.
The 126th Infantry Regiment of the French Army was first formed in 1810, and in 1812 it took part in the invasion of Russia as part of Napoleonic army.
@Sprinterfactory
The French President plans to send the 126th Infantry Regiment, which fought in Africa and Afghanistan, to Odessa
This is reported by the French publication Le Monde, which found out that Macron’s “plan” to send troops to Ukraine has been discussed for several months.
Le Monde writes that the 126th Infantry Regiment, stationed in Brive-la-Gaillarde (a city in the south of France), should go to fight the Russians. This regiment participated in all of France's colonial wars - the invasion of Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, the Unicorn special operation in Côte d'Ivoire and Barkhane in Mali.
The 126th Infantry Regiment of the French Army was first formed in 1810, and in 1812 it took part in the invasion of Russia as part of Napoleonic army.
wait-n-see
Veteran Member
Cameron meets Trump. Russia claims Burisma links. Annalena, no more Patriots. Elensky, new offensive
Run time - 34:13
Apr 10, 2024
US warns it will hold China responsible if Russia makes gains in Ukraine, after Beijing renews Moscow support
US will hold China responsible if Russia makes gains in Ukraine
The United States warned on Tuesday that it will hold China responsible if Moscow makes gains in Ukraine.
hongkongfp.com
“We will see this not as just a Russian unique set of activities but a conjoined set of activities backed by China but also North Korea. This is antithetical to our interests,”
Beijing ‘does not accept criticism or pressure’ over ties with Russia, Chinese foreign ministry says
China won't accept 'criticism or pressure' over Russian ties
China said it would not accept criticism of its Russian ties after the US said it would blame Beijing for Moscow's gains in Ukraine.
hongkongfp.com
China vowed Wednesday it would not accept “criticism or pressure” over its ties with Russia, after Washington warned that it will hold Beijing responsible if Moscow makes gains in Ukraine.
In response, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning insisted that “China and Russia have the right to engage in normal economic and trade cooperation”.
“This kind of cooperation should not be interfered with or limited, and China also does not accept criticism or pressure,” she added on Wednesday.
China and Russia pledged Tuesday they would strengthen strategic cooperation as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with President Xi Jinping and top diplomat Wang Yi.
Beijing to ‘strengthen strategic cooperation’ with Moscow, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi says
Beijing to 'strengthen strategic cooperation' with Moscow
China's top diplomat said that Beijing would strengthen strategic cooperation with Moscow as he met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
hongkongfp.com
Beijing to 'strengthen strategic cooperation' with Moscow
China's top diplomat said that Beijing would strengthen strategic cooperation with Moscow as he met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
hongkongfp.com
jward
passin' thru
Status-6 (Military & Conflict News)
@Archer83Able
The main target of today's Russian large-scale missile attack was Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Energy infrastructure objects in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Lviv Oblasts of Ukraine came under attack, according to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, German Galushchenko.
During today's attack, Russia used around 50 missiles (Kh-55/101, Kinzhal, S-300, Iskander-M) + similar number of Shahed 136/131 attack drones. That was reported by Nikolaevsky Vanek, a channel affiliated with the Ukrainian military.
t.me
t.me
Quote
Status-6 (Military & Con
@Archer83Able
The main target of today's Russian large-scale missile attack was Ukrainian energy infrastructure.Energy infrastructure objects in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Lviv Oblasts of Ukraine came under attack, according to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, German Galushchenko.During today's attack, Russia used around 50 missiles (Kh-55/101, Kinzhal, S-300, Iskander-M) + similar number of Shahed 136/131 attack drones. That was reported by Nikolaevsky Vanek, a channel affiliated with the Ukrainian military.
СУСПІЛЬНЕ НОВИНИ
Уночі армія РФ атакувала енергетичну інфраструктуру у Харківській, Запорізькій, Львівській, Київській областях, повідомив міністр енергетики Герман Галущенко. За його даними, енергетики вже працюють над усуненням наслідків.
t.me
Николаевский Ванёк
кстати хто спав вы в принципе ниче такого не пропустили кроме там 50 ракет разного типа и примерно такого же количества мопедов нормально, прорвёмся
t.me
Status-6 (Military & Con
US warns it will hold China responsible if Russia makes gains in Ukraine, after Beijing renews Moscow support
“We have told China directly, if this continues, it will have an impact on the US-China relationship. We will not sit by and say everything is fine,” Campbell said.US will hold China responsible if Russia makes gains in Ukraine
The United States warned on Tuesday that it will hold China responsible if Moscow makes gains in Ukraine.
“We will see this not as just a Russian unique set of activities but a conjoined set of activities backed by China but also North Korea. This is antithetical to our interests,”
Beijing ‘does not accept criticism or pressure’ over ties with Russia, Chinese foreign ministry says
China won't accept 'criticism or pressure' over Russian ties
China said it would not accept criticism of its Russian ties after the US said it would blame Beijing for Moscow's gains in Ukraine.
China vowed Wednesday it would not accept “criticism or pressure” over its ties with Russia, after Washington warned that it will hold Beijing responsible if Moscow makes gains in Ukraine.
In response, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning insisted that “China and Russia have the right to engage in normal economic and trade cooperation”.
“This kind of cooperation should not be interfered with or limited, and China also does not accept criticism or pressure,” she added on Wednesday.
China and Russia pledged Tuesday they would strengthen strategic cooperation as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with President Xi Jinping and top diplomat Wang Yi.
Beijing to ‘strengthen strategic cooperation’ with Moscow, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi says
Beijing to 'strengthen strategic cooperation' with Moscow
China's top diplomat said that Beijing would strengthen strategic cooperation with Moscow as he met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Hummmm......
von Koehler
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Status-6 (Military & Conflict News)
@Archer83Able
СУСПІЛЬНЕ НОВИНИ
Уночі армія РФ атакувала енергетичну інфраструктуру у Харківській, Запорізькій, Львівській, Київській областях, повідомив міністр енергетики Герман Галущенко. За його даними, енергетики вже працюють над усуненням наслідків.
QuoteНиколаевский Ванёк
кстати хто спав вы в принципе ниче такого не пропустили кроме там 50 ракет разного типа и примерно такого же количества мопедов нормально, прорвёмся
Status-6 (Military & Con
More proof Russia is a terrorist state.
Throughout history energy infrastructure has always been a valid target. What makes these actions terrorist?
WTSR
Veteran Member
What are they going to do stop importing cheap Chinese Goods?
Old Greek
Veteran Member
Yep - what the US did on the first night attacks in Iraq!
wait-n-see
Veteran Member
US Artillery Capabilities Fall Victim to "Profit Over Purpose," No Solution in Sight
Run time - 14:55
Apr 11, 2024
Link to the article: https://journal-neo.su/2024/03/26/the...
- The US Army has cancelled a long-range artillery prototype because barrels were wearing out too quickly;
- The US seeks to evaluate existing Western artillery systems to extend the range of American artillery systems;
- This is done supposedly after learning lessons from the ongoing fighting in Ukraine;
- The real problem is the collective West's inability to mass produce weapons and ammunition;
- Longer-range systems may not make them more effective on modern battlefields where counter-battery operations is conducted using long-range drones;
- Russia and China are no longer lagging in terms of military capabilities or the technology associated with them, the determining factor is quantity;
- America's for-profit arms industry prefers small numbers of expensive weapons over large quantities of simple but effective systems, creating these shortcomings in Western artillery systems;
References:
Defenses News - US Army scraps Extended Range Cannon Artillery prototype effort (March 12, 2024): https://www.defensenews.com/land/2024...
Defense News - US Army readies new artillery strategy spurred by war in Ukraine (August 2023): https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023...
CNN - Exclusive: Russia producing three times more artillery shells than US and Europe for Ukraine (March 11, 2024): https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/10/po...
True - but the difference is we are the GOOD Guys - anything we do is OK - Such as the food sanctions on Iraq that resulted it the deaths of some 500,000 children - a war crime? - an attack on civilians?
NO per Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's answer about the intentional deaths - "I think that is a very hard choice," Albright answered, "but the price, we think, the price is worth it." The US gets the benefit - others pay the price.
Another excellent example of Quality vs Quantity is taking place in the Red Sea - US ships armed with state of the art - $2 million each - Standard Missile-2 interceptor missiles are being used to intercept $2,000 Houthi drones.
But not a problem for our MIC - they just got a $27 million R&D contract awarded to develop a microwave EW system for ships to protect from drones. And the navy 'hopes" to have a prototype developed in about 3 years, Naturally changes in specs will turn this into another never ending project likely generating several times the original award.
For the US arms industry R&D pays a lot better than anything else - no expensive factories to build no massive production and related work crews. Just a never ending flow of $$$.
Good overview in MoA on the destruction of the Ukrainian energy sector
Link: https://www.moonofalabama.org/2024/04/ukraine-to-hurt-russia-means-pain-for-ukraine.html#more
Ukraine - To Hurt Russia Means Pain For Ukraine
Ukraine is trying to hurt Russia by hitting its refineries. But the attacks fail to have the desired effects on Russia. The Russian response though, in form of de-energization attacks on Ukraine, seriously endanger the state.Link: https://www.moonofalabama.org/2024/04/ukraine-to-hurt-russia-means-pain-for-ukraine.html#more
Another good article on the destruction of the Ukrainian energy sector
www.nakedcapitalism.com
Let me say it clear: Ukraine’s power production is close to collapse.
1) Coal and gas power stations are vital for balancing the demand-and-supply problem in a large network, as they can increase and decrease production.
2) Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants cannot work without this balancing.
3) And Ukraine’s hydro power plants are too few (and also targeted by the Russians, several damaged).
4) So effectively, Russia provokes not only a blackout in a 40-million-people country, amid a war, but also a nuclear disaster (or Ukraine’s nuclear power plants must be shut down, without a perspective to be launched soon again).
5) Coal and gas plants also supply heat for larger cities, this will be another huge problem in just 6 months.
6) All because someone in the White House and in the Chancellory decided to play “escalation management”.
Russia Delivers Major Blow to Ukraine by Destroying Kiev’s Biggest Power Plant
Russia Delivers Major Blow to Ukraine by Destroying Kiev's Biggest Power Plant | naked capitalism
Russia's dismantling of Ukraine's ability to function accelerates with the destruction of Kiev's largest power facility.
Let me say it clear: Ukraine’s power production is close to collapse.
1) Coal and gas power stations are vital for balancing the demand-and-supply problem in a large network, as they can increase and decrease production.
2) Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants cannot work without this balancing.
3) And Ukraine’s hydro power plants are too few (and also targeted by the Russians, several damaged).
4) So effectively, Russia provokes not only a blackout in a 40-million-people country, amid a war, but also a nuclear disaster (or Ukraine’s nuclear power plants must be shut down, without a perspective to be launched soon again).
5) Coal and gas plants also supply heat for larger cities, this will be another huge problem in just 6 months.
6) All because someone in the White House and in the Chancellory decided to play “escalation management”.
Ukraine war: Key power plant near Kyiv destroyed by Russian strikes
Key power plant near Kyiv destroyed by Russian strikes - BBC News
One of Ukraine's main electricity providers says the Trypillya plant can no longer generate power.
www.bbc.com
Trypillya power plant was the largest electricity provider for three regions, including Kyiv, officials said.
"The scale of destruction is terrifying," said Centrenergo chairman Andriy Hota.
Cedar Lake
Connecticut Yankee
Hmmm.....France, Old Europa, = Clownworld.
France has increased its purchases of Russian gas more than the other 9 European countries -
Paris has already paid Moscow more than 600 million euros for gas in the first 3 months of this year, despite Macron's harsh statements on the situation in Ukraine.
Gas purchases are necessary for France to supply households across Europe, and it is difficult for France to get out of a long-term agreement with Russia.
t.me
www.politico.eu
France has increased its purchases of Russian gas more than the other 9 European countries -
Paris has already paid Moscow more than 600 million euros for gas in the first 3 months of this year, despite Macron's harsh statements on the situation in Ukraine.
Gas purchases are necessary for France to supply households across Europe, and it is difficult for France to get out of a long-term agreement with Russia.
Lord Of War
France has increased its purchases of Russian gas more than other European countries - Paris has already paid Moscow more than 600 million euros for gas in the first 3 months of this year, despite Macron's harsh statements on the situation in Ukraine. Gas purchases are necessary for France...
t.me
France talks tough on Ukraine while gobbling up more Russian gas
France has paid Russia over €600 million this year for liquefied natural gas, new data shows. That’s an EU-leading rise from last year.
www.politico.eu
What I've recently discovered is that these ballyhooed sanctions are not so rigid as we of the masses are repeatedly told. A good example of this is the sanction regime against Russian oil and gas. I got curious about this when I read that Russia had been paid something like 600 million Euros so far this year by the French for gas, which is presently being stored in western Ukraine.Looks like the gas station with Nukes is still producing and selling oil.
Russian oil flows are sidestepping sanctions and trading above the G-7 price cap all over the world
Russia's benchmark crude is fetching roughly $75 a barrel, well above the G-7's $60 price cap, Bloomberg reported.
Russian oil flows are sidestepping sanctions and trading above the G-7 price cap all over the world
Bloomberg reported that Urals grade crude is selling at around $75 a barrel, exceeding the G7 nations' $60 price cap on Russian oil.
Urals crude reaching India trades at $88 a barrel, while oil leaving from eastern Russia sells for $84 a barrel.
Spiking oil prices helped Russia energy-tax revenue double last month
The amount of tax that Russia collected on oil and gas rose by 90% on a year-over-year basis in March.
Those sanctions apply to crude oil and natural gas in their unrefined states, it turns out. Bear with me on this as it's really some classic smoke & mirrors obfuscation.
Once said oil or gas been through a refining process of some sort, they lose their signature characteristics and can no longer be as easily definable as having a certain origin. What that means as a practical matter is that any western country is free to buy Russian-owned asphalt, bunker fuel, diesel, kerosene (or jet fuel) or gasoline because they're not violating the sanctions on purchases of Russian crude oil. So once the crude has made its way through various refining processes - such as coking units, catalytic crackers, hydrocrackers, light ends units or some version of a powerformer, it's all good to pay up and settle up with Russia in their preferred currency, which is of course rubles.
The same thing happens for gas in its natural state. In order to make for more efficient transportation, natural gas will be sent through a cryogenic plant, which turns it into a much-safer-to-transport liquid form, which we call LNG (Liquified Natural Gas).
So lots of western countries (or their national oil/gas companies, actually) are buying what used to be Russian hydrocarbon products but as long as they're buying diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, LNG - or even motor oil - they're not evading the sanctions.
And Russia, of course, is hearing the loud ka-CHINGs every month and not having to pay currency exchange premiums, because they're getting payments in their own currency.
One wonders 'How could this be?" and then one realizes that these sanctions are authored by political science majors and lawyers. It's like any major law which is passed - there's always loopholes for the big boys to breeze through as the authors are enriched during the entire process, while we uneducated masses just stare in awe at the incredible bravery and diplomatic skills of our Ivy League elites.
wait-n-see
Veteran Member
Looks like both sides can play the seizure game, eh?
Guess there are still quite a lot of western assets located in Russia.
@@@@
Russia Seizes Over 650,000 Acres Of Farmland And Other Assets From Company With Ties To 'Unfriendly' Country
Benzinga
Kevin Vandenboss
Wed, April 10, 2024
In a significant escalation of its retaliatory measures against “unfriendly” states amid heightened geopolitical tensions, Russia has seized assets of the agricultural holdings company AgroTerra Group. The move, announced on April 8, 2024, has sent shockwaves through the agricultural sector and raised concerns over food security and international trade relations.
President Vladimir Putin’s decree places Dutch-registered firms AgroTerra Investments B.V. and AgroTerra Holdings B.V. under the “temporary management” of Rosimushchestvo, Russia’s federal property management agency. This action follows a series of similar asset seizures targeting Western companies, including multinational brewer Carlsberg and dairy giant Danone, which have sought to divest their Russian operations in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Don’t miss: Gold has long been considered the ultimate safe-haven asset, but a growing number of investors are now turning to farmland for better returns and greater protection against inflation. See how farmland is becoming easier than ever to invest in.
AgroTerra, founded in 2008, is a major player in the agricultural industry, specializing in the production and supply of commodities such as soybeans, wheat and sugar beet. The company is recognized as one of the top 20 largest owners of agricultural land in Russia, with a cultivated area of approximately 265,000 hectares (654,829 acres).
The decree’s impact on AgroTerra’s operations remains uncertain. A spokesperson for the company stated, “As of now, the Company has not yet received any further details regarding the decree on the transfer of shares within the authorized capital of the AgroTerra Group to the temporary management of Rosimushchestvo.” Despite the lack of clarity, the company has assured that it is continuing its operations as usual, with a primary focus on the ongoing sowing campaign.
This seizure is part of a broader trend of Russia targeting foreign-owned assets in retaliation for sanctions and other measures taken against Russian companies abroad. In April 2023, Putin signed an executive order allowing Russia to take over real estate, securities, property rights and other assets from foreign companies with ties to “unfriendly countries.”
The implications of these actions extend beyond the affected companies and their shareholders. They pose a threat to the global agricultural supply chain, potentially disrupting food production and exports. Furthermore, the move could exacerbate tensions between Russia and Western countries, further complicating efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and stabilize international relations.
As the situation unfolds, the agricultural industry and global markets will be closely monitoring the repercussions of Russia’s asset seizures and their impact on food security, trade and diplomatic relations.
Guess there are still quite a lot of western assets located in Russia.
@@@@
Russia Seizes Over 650,000 Acres Of Farmland And Other Assets From Company With Ties To 'Unfriendly' Country
Benzinga
Kevin Vandenboss
Wed, April 10, 2024
In a significant escalation of its retaliatory measures against “unfriendly” states amid heightened geopolitical tensions, Russia has seized assets of the agricultural holdings company AgroTerra Group. The move, announced on April 8, 2024, has sent shockwaves through the agricultural sector and raised concerns over food security and international trade relations.
President Vladimir Putin’s decree places Dutch-registered firms AgroTerra Investments B.V. and AgroTerra Holdings B.V. under the “temporary management” of Rosimushchestvo, Russia’s federal property management agency. This action follows a series of similar asset seizures targeting Western companies, including multinational brewer Carlsberg and dairy giant Danone, which have sought to divest their Russian operations in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Don’t miss: Gold has long been considered the ultimate safe-haven asset, but a growing number of investors are now turning to farmland for better returns and greater protection against inflation. See how farmland is becoming easier than ever to invest in.
AgroTerra, founded in 2008, is a major player in the agricultural industry, specializing in the production and supply of commodities such as soybeans, wheat and sugar beet. The company is recognized as one of the top 20 largest owners of agricultural land in Russia, with a cultivated area of approximately 265,000 hectares (654,829 acres).
The decree’s impact on AgroTerra’s operations remains uncertain. A spokesperson for the company stated, “As of now, the Company has not yet received any further details regarding the decree on the transfer of shares within the authorized capital of the AgroTerra Group to the temporary management of Rosimushchestvo.” Despite the lack of clarity, the company has assured that it is continuing its operations as usual, with a primary focus on the ongoing sowing campaign.
This seizure is part of a broader trend of Russia targeting foreign-owned assets in retaliation for sanctions and other measures taken against Russian companies abroad. In April 2023, Putin signed an executive order allowing Russia to take over real estate, securities, property rights and other assets from foreign companies with ties to “unfriendly countries.”
The implications of these actions extend beyond the affected companies and their shareholders. They pose a threat to the global agricultural supply chain, potentially disrupting food production and exports. Furthermore, the move could exacerbate tensions between Russia and Western countries, further complicating efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and stabilize international relations.
As the situation unfolds, the agricultural industry and global markets will be closely monitoring the repercussions of Russia’s asset seizures and their impact on food security, trade and diplomatic relations.
wait-n-see
Veteran Member
How thousands of Ukrainian men are trying to dodge the conflict | Ukraine War
Run time - 6:10
Apr 11, 2024
Thousands of Ukrainian men are trying to flee the country to avoid getting drafted into the war with Russia.
It comes as the country lowers the conscription age from 27 to 25 due to a lack of soldiers fighting on the frontline.
Sky’s John Sparks spoke to a draft-dodger who is preparing to flee Ukraine through the mountains and the smuggler who’s helping men out before they get conscripted.
Cedar Lake
Connecticut Yankee
Multiple Telegram sources have mentioned that the German Police are ''helping the Moldavians'' capture and return the Ukrainian men fleeing the Kiev Democracy. However, the ''Underground'' is continuing to expand & is escalating the run for life.
von Koehler
Has No Life - Lives on TB
29:28 minutes
Impassioned analysis of America's failure to honor it's promises to Ukraine.
Trump favoring Russia is directly responsible for many Ukrainian deaths and country wide destruction. If Russia succeeds, wider war is inevitable.
Hummmm........
Posted for fair use.......
www.bbc.com
By Ashraf Padanna,Reporter, Trivandrum, Kerala
In October last year, David Moothappan saw a Facebook advertisement offering jobs as security guards in Russia.
The promised monthly salary - 204,000 roubles ($2,201; £1,739) - seemed a huge amount to the school-dropout fisherman from the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Weeks later, Mr Moothappan, 23, found himself on the warfront in the Russian-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
"It's death and destruction everywhere," he says, when asked about his time there.
He and another man from Kerala managed to return home last week. They are among several Indians who were duped by agents into fighting for Russian forces in the country's war with Ukraine over the past few months.
A few have managed to make their way back home but others are still stuck in Russia. Most of them are from poor families and were lured with the promise of jobs, sometimes as "helpers" in the Russian army. At least two Indians have died so far in the war.
India's foreign ministry has said it is "pressing very hard with the Russian authorities" to bring back its citizens who have been tricked into fighting in the war. Last week, foreign minister S Jaishankar called this "a matter of very, very deep concern" for India. The BBC has emailed the Russian embassy in India for comment.
Warning: This article contains details some readers may find distressing.
Mr Moothappan is relieved to be back home in the fishing village of Pozhiyoor in Kerala, but says he can't forget what he saw in the war.
"There were body parts strewn all over the ground," he says. Distraught, he started vomiting and almost fainted.
"Soon, the Russian officer commanding us told me to return to the camp. It took hours for me to recover," he says.
Mr Moothappan spent two and a half months in different hospitals in Luhansk, Volgograd and Rostov before recovering partially.
In March, a group of Indians helped him reach the country's embassy in Moscow, which then arranged for him to travel back home.
Some 61km away in Anchuthengu, another fishing hamlet in Kerala, Prince Sebastian has a similar story of escape - and trauma - to tell.
Duped by a local agent, he was deployed in a group of 30 fighters in the Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian town of Lysychansk. After just three weeks of training, he says he was sent to the frontline with several weapons including an RPG-30 (a handheld, disposable rocket-propelled grenade launcher) and bombs, which prevented him from moving quickly.
Fifteen minutes after he reached the front, he says a bullet fired from close range deflected off the tank he was in and pierced below his left ear. He fell - on to what he realised was a dead Russian soldier.
"I was shocked and I couldn't move. After an hour, as the night fell, another bomb exploded. It badly injured my left leg."
He spent the night in a trench, bleeding. He escaped the next morning and subsequently spent weeks in different hospitals.
He then got a month's leave to rest. During this time, a priest helped him contact the Indian embassy which then issued him a temporary passport and arranged for his return home.
He says two of his friends who went with him, also fishermen, are still missing. Neither he nor their families have heard from them in weeks.
Officials in Kerala say they have so far received complaints from the families of four men - Mr Moothappan, Mr Sebastian and his two friends - about being duped by agents.
Mr Sebastian says he and his friends went to a local agent in their village to check if they could find jobs somewhere in Europe (the man is currently absconding).
The agent suggested Russia, speaking of a "golden opportunity" to work as a security guard for a monthly salary of 200,000 rupees ($2,402; £1,898). They agreed instantly.
The friends paid 700,000 rupees each to him for a Russian visa. On 4 January, they reached Moscow, where an Indian agent identified as Alex, who spoke their language, Malayalam, welcomed them.
They spent the night in a flat, following which a man took them to a military officer in the city of Kostroma, 336km (208 miles) away, where they were made to sign a contract in Russian, a language they couldn't read, Mr Sebastian said.
Three Sri Lankan recruits also joined them there. Then the six men were taken to a military camp in the Rostov region, which borders Ukraine. The officers took their passports and mobile phones.
The training started on 10 January. In the following days, they learnt how to use handheld anti-tank grenades and what to do if they were injured.
After this, they were taken to a secondary base known as the Alabino Polygon. There, the training continued for 10 days, "day and night".
"All kinds of armaments were waiting for us there," Mr Sebastian said. "I started enjoying the weapons like toys."
But the brutal reality of the war hit him on the battlefield.
Now, he is hoping to resume fishing. "I have to repay the money I borrowed from lenders and restart my life," he says.
In Pozhiyoor, Mr Moothappan hopes to do the same.
"I was engaged to a girl in my village when I left. I told her I'll return with money and build a house before our marriage," he said.
Now the couple have decided to wait for two more years as Mr Moothappan tries to rebuild his life.
But he's happy that at least he didn't kill anyone in his time on the battlefield.
"One time, the Ukrainians were some 200m away. We were asked to go on the offensive but I didn't fire a single shot at them," he said. "I can't kill anybody."
Posted for fair use.......
Ukraine war: The Indian men traumatised by fighting for Russia
Two men who were duped by agents into joining the war against Ukraine speak about their experiences.
www.bbc.com
Ukraine war: The Indian men traumatised by fighting for Russia
1 day agoBy Ashraf Padanna,Reporter, Trivandrum, Kerala
In October last year, David Moothappan saw a Facebook advertisement offering jobs as security guards in Russia.
The promised monthly salary - 204,000 roubles ($2,201; £1,739) - seemed a huge amount to the school-dropout fisherman from the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Weeks later, Mr Moothappan, 23, found himself on the warfront in the Russian-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
"It's death and destruction everywhere," he says, when asked about his time there.
He and another man from Kerala managed to return home last week. They are among several Indians who were duped by agents into fighting for Russian forces in the country's war with Ukraine over the past few months.
A few have managed to make their way back home but others are still stuck in Russia. Most of them are from poor families and were lured with the promise of jobs, sometimes as "helpers" in the Russian army. At least two Indians have died so far in the war.
India's foreign ministry has said it is "pressing very hard with the Russian authorities" to bring back its citizens who have been tricked into fighting in the war. Last week, foreign minister S Jaishankar called this "a matter of very, very deep concern" for India. The BBC has emailed the Russian embassy in India for comment.
Warning: This article contains details some readers may find distressing.
Mr Moothappan is relieved to be back home in the fishing village of Pozhiyoor in Kerala, but says he can't forget what he saw in the war.
"There were body parts strewn all over the ground," he says. Distraught, he started vomiting and almost fainted.
"Soon, the Russian officer commanding us told me to return to the camp. It took hours for me to recover," he says.
- What in the World: Were Indian men tricked into fighting for Russia?
- The Indians ‘duped’ into fighting for Russia in Ukraine
- India busts 'major' network trafficking people to Russia
Mr Moothappan spent two and a half months in different hospitals in Luhansk, Volgograd and Rostov before recovering partially.
In March, a group of Indians helped him reach the country's embassy in Moscow, which then arranged for him to travel back home.
Some 61km away in Anchuthengu, another fishing hamlet in Kerala, Prince Sebastian has a similar story of escape - and trauma - to tell.
Duped by a local agent, he was deployed in a group of 30 fighters in the Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian town of Lysychansk. After just three weeks of training, he says he was sent to the frontline with several weapons including an RPG-30 (a handheld, disposable rocket-propelled grenade launcher) and bombs, which prevented him from moving quickly.
Fifteen minutes after he reached the front, he says a bullet fired from close range deflected off the tank he was in and pierced below his left ear. He fell - on to what he realised was a dead Russian soldier.
"I was shocked and I couldn't move. After an hour, as the night fell, another bomb exploded. It badly injured my left leg."
He spent the night in a trench, bleeding. He escaped the next morning and subsequently spent weeks in different hospitals.
He then got a month's leave to rest. During this time, a priest helped him contact the Indian embassy which then issued him a temporary passport and arranged for his return home.
He says two of his friends who went with him, also fishermen, are still missing. Neither he nor their families have heard from them in weeks.
Officials in Kerala say they have so far received complaints from the families of four men - Mr Moothappan, Mr Sebastian and his two friends - about being duped by agents.
Mr Sebastian says he and his friends went to a local agent in their village to check if they could find jobs somewhere in Europe (the man is currently absconding).
The agent suggested Russia, speaking of a "golden opportunity" to work as a security guard for a monthly salary of 200,000 rupees ($2,402; £1,898). They agreed instantly.
The friends paid 700,000 rupees each to him for a Russian visa. On 4 January, they reached Moscow, where an Indian agent identified as Alex, who spoke their language, Malayalam, welcomed them.
They spent the night in a flat, following which a man took them to a military officer in the city of Kostroma, 336km (208 miles) away, where they were made to sign a contract in Russian, a language they couldn't read, Mr Sebastian said.
Three Sri Lankan recruits also joined them there. Then the six men were taken to a military camp in the Rostov region, which borders Ukraine. The officers took their passports and mobile phones.
The training started on 10 January. In the following days, they learnt how to use handheld anti-tank grenades and what to do if they were injured.
After this, they were taken to a secondary base known as the Alabino Polygon. There, the training continued for 10 days, "day and night".
"All kinds of armaments were waiting for us there," Mr Sebastian said. "I started enjoying the weapons like toys."
But the brutal reality of the war hit him on the battlefield.
Now, he is hoping to resume fishing. "I have to repay the money I borrowed from lenders and restart my life," he says.
In Pozhiyoor, Mr Moothappan hopes to do the same.
"I was engaged to a girl in my village when I left. I told her I'll return with money and build a house before our marriage," he said.
Now the couple have decided to wait for two more years as Mr Moothappan tries to rebuild his life.
But he's happy that at least he didn't kill anyone in his time on the battlefield.
"One time, the Ukrainians were some 200m away. We were asked to go on the offensive but I didn't fire a single shot at them," he said. "I can't kill anybody."
wait-n-see
Veteran Member
Russian Military Boosts FAB-3000 Production: The Most Destructive Bomb
Run time - 8:08
Apr 11, 2024
Russia's air force has significantly bolstered its capabilities in the Ukraine conflict by employing glide bombs. These specialized munitions, dropped from fighter jets, pack a devastating punch, posing a formidable challenge to counter. These glide bombs have demonstrated their effectiveness since their deployment last year, allowing the Russians to strike from greater distances and evade Ukrainian air defenses and certain fighter planes.
Amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russia has developed and deployed a variety of guided bombs, including the powerful FAB-1500, the most potent bomb in the Soviet-era explosive family. However, Russia has an even more potent option in its bomb arsenal.
The weapon is the FAB-3000, now in production and considered one of the world's most powerful aerial bombs. Weighing three tonnes and carrying a 1,400-kilogram payload. This high-explosive weapon was revealed by Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu during his visit to an aviation bomb production site in the Nizhny Novgorod region on March 21, 2024. The sheer power of this bomb raises the question: just how formidable is it?
von Koehler
Has No Life - Lives on TB
If Russia has a nearly unlimited pool of men to conscript, why are they interested in Indian men?
Almost TOO BIG! Something like this will likely be used for a few specific targets. The "smaller" 250 > 1500kg bombs are all that is needed to attack trench lines with little reinforcement. 12 FAB-250's spaced along a trench line is a lot more effective than one FAB-3000 - BTW - I still have a hard time imagining a 3 Ton Bomb GLIDING
This story has been floating around for some time - BBC Source??Hummmm........
Posted for fair use.......
Ukraine war: The Indian men traumatised by fighting for Russia
Two men who were duped by agents into joining the war against Ukraine speak about their experiences.
Ukraine war: The Indian men traumatised by fighting for Russia
1 day ago
By Ashraf Padanna,Reporter, Trivandrum, Kerala
In October last year, David Moothappan saw a Facebook advertisement offering jobs as security guards in Russia.
The promised monthly salary - 204,000 roubles ($2,201; £1,739) - seemed a huge amount to the school-dropout fisherman from the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Weeks later, Mr Moothappan, 23, found himself on the warfront in the Russian-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
"It's death and destruction everywhere," he says, when asked about his time there.
He and another man from Kerala managed to return home last week. They are among several Indians who were duped by agents into fighting for Russian forces in the country's war with Ukraine over the past few months.
A few have managed to make their way back home but others are still stuck in Russia. Most of them are from poor families and were lured with the promise of jobs, sometimes as "helpers" in the Russian army. At least two Indians have died so far in the war.
India's foreign ministry has said it is "pressing very hard with the Russian authorities" to bring back its citizens who have been tricked into fighting in the war. Last week, foreign minister S Jaishankar called this "a matter of very, very deep concern" for India. The BBC has emailed the Russian embassy in India for comment.
Warning: This article contains details some readers may find distressing.
Mr Moothappan is relieved to be back home in the fishing village of Pozhiyoor in Kerala, but says he can't forget what he saw in the war.
"There were body parts strewn all over the ground," he says. Distraught, he started vomiting and almost fainted.
"Soon, the Russian officer commanding us told me to return to the camp. It took hours for me to recover," he says.
He says he broke his leg around Christmas while fighting in a "remote place" - his family, he says, didn't know about his situation at that time.
- What in the World: Were Indian men tricked into fighting for Russia?
- The Indians ‘duped’ into fighting for Russia in Ukraine
- India busts 'major' network trafficking people to Russia
Mr Moothappan spent two and a half months in different hospitals in Luhansk, Volgograd and Rostov before recovering partially.
In March, a group of Indians helped him reach the country's embassy in Moscow, which then arranged for him to travel back home.
Some 61km away in Anchuthengu, another fishing hamlet in Kerala, Prince Sebastian has a similar story of escape - and trauma - to tell.
Duped by a local agent, he was deployed in a group of 30 fighters in the Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian town of Lysychansk. After just three weeks of training, he says he was sent to the frontline with several weapons including an RPG-30 (a handheld, disposable rocket-propelled grenade launcher) and bombs, which prevented him from moving quickly.
Fifteen minutes after he reached the front, he says a bullet fired from close range deflected off the tank he was in and pierced below his left ear. He fell - on to what he realised was a dead Russian soldier.
"I was shocked and I couldn't move. After an hour, as the night fell, another bomb exploded. It badly injured my left leg."
He spent the night in a trench, bleeding. He escaped the next morning and subsequently spent weeks in different hospitals.
He then got a month's leave to rest. During this time, a priest helped him contact the Indian embassy which then issued him a temporary passport and arranged for his return home.
He says two of his friends who went with him, also fishermen, are still missing. Neither he nor their families have heard from them in weeks.
Officials in Kerala say they have so far received complaints from the families of four men - Mr Moothappan, Mr Sebastian and his two friends - about being duped by agents.
Mr Sebastian says he and his friends went to a local agent in their village to check if they could find jobs somewhere in Europe (the man is currently absconding).
The agent suggested Russia, speaking of a "golden opportunity" to work as a security guard for a monthly salary of 200,000 rupees ($2,402; £1,898). They agreed instantly.
The friends paid 700,000 rupees each to him for a Russian visa. On 4 January, they reached Moscow, where an Indian agent identified as Alex, who spoke their language, Malayalam, welcomed them.
They spent the night in a flat, following which a man took them to a military officer in the city of Kostroma, 336km (208 miles) away, where they were made to sign a contract in Russian, a language they couldn't read, Mr Sebastian said.
Three Sri Lankan recruits also joined them there. Then the six men were taken to a military camp in the Rostov region, which borders Ukraine. The officers took their passports and mobile phones.
The training started on 10 January. In the following days, they learnt how to use handheld anti-tank grenades and what to do if they were injured.
After this, they were taken to a secondary base known as the Alabino Polygon. There, the training continued for 10 days, "day and night".
"All kinds of armaments were waiting for us there," Mr Sebastian said. "I started enjoying the weapons like toys."
But the brutal reality of the war hit him on the battlefield.
Now, he is hoping to resume fishing. "I have to repay the money I borrowed from lenders and restart my life," he says.
In Pozhiyoor, Mr Moothappan hopes to do the same.
"I was engaged to a girl in my village when I left. I told her I'll return with money and build a house before our marriage," he said.
Now the couple have decided to wait for two more years as Mr Moothappan tries to rebuild his life.
But he's happy that at least he didn't kill anyone in his time on the battlefield.
"One time, the Ukrainians were some 200m away. We were asked to go on the offensive but I didn't fire a single shot at them," he said. "I can't kill anybody."
May be true - maybe not - but considering the Russian Army has several hundred thousand troop in Ukraine hard to see any significance to these two. If we were talking hundreds or thousands that would be something different. Or if maybe NK sent in 100k or so. That would be something. When operations like the BBC drop down to low level events like this to report on it is because they want to avoid reporting on the major issues.
Anyway - glad they made it out alive - unlike the 1000's dying (on both sides) each day.
jward
passin' thru
Indo-Pacific News - Geo-Politics & Defense
@IndoPac_Info
#Russia and #China Warn #NATO To Stay out of Asia
Moscow and Beijing's top diplomats on Tuesday accused NATO of seeking ways to enter the Asia Pacific and warned the trans-Atlantic alliance against "stretching its hands to our common home."
At the press conference following his meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said the two had mooted a "new security architecture in Eurasia as Euro-Atlantic mechanisms continue to decay and destroy themselves," Russia's state-owned TASS news outlet reported.
Beijing views the prospect of NATO, a Western military alliance, extending its reach into Asia as a direct challenge to its regional influence, as well as a security concerns. It is also concerned about encirclement, a fear already shared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who cited alleged NATO encroachment as a justification for launching his invasion of Ukraine.
"We have talked a lot about the need to ensure security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, where the U.S. continues to pursue a policy of private military and political alliances with limited membership that are clearly directed against China and Russia," Lavrov said.
He said the U.S. and its allies also are "promoting their bloc-based approaches here, particularly emphasizing the need for the North Atlantic Alliance to enter the region."
In their meeting, Wang had proposed a policy of "dual opposition" to Western obstruction of "a multipolar world order and "democratization and justice," according to Lavrov.
"Any remarks or deeds that cause division or add up to confrontation are not welcome in the Asia-Pacific, and they have no future," Wang told reporters.
Wang said both countries also oppose hegemonism, power politics, and monopolies on global affairs by only a few nations, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout.
Newsweek reached out to NATO and the U.S. State Department with a written request for comment.
Lavrov was in the Chinese capital to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the People's Republic of China and Russia (then the Soviet Union). Later on Tuesday, he also met with President Xi Jinping.
China has previously bristled over the perceived implications of engagement between U.S.-allied countries in its neighborhood and NATO.
When the leaders of four non-NATO countries—Japan, Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand, were invited to attend a NATO summit in Lithuania last summer, the Chinese diplomatic mission to the European Union said Beijing opposed the 32-member alliance's "eastward movement into the Asia-Pacific region."
Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been moving ever closer to China, which has provided its neighbor an economic lifeline to help it weather the West's crushing sanctions in retaliation for the war.
Drones and components made by Chinese companies have also reportedly found their way onto the battlefield in Ukraine.
@IndoPac_Info
#Russia and #China Warn #NATO To Stay out of Asia
Moscow and Beijing's top diplomats on Tuesday accused NATO of seeking ways to enter the Asia Pacific and warned the trans-Atlantic alliance against "stretching its hands to our common home."
At the press conference following his meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said the two had mooted a "new security architecture in Eurasia as Euro-Atlantic mechanisms continue to decay and destroy themselves," Russia's state-owned TASS news outlet reported.
Beijing views the prospect of NATO, a Western military alliance, extending its reach into Asia as a direct challenge to its regional influence, as well as a security concerns. It is also concerned about encirclement, a fear already shared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who cited alleged NATO encroachment as a justification for launching his invasion of Ukraine.
"We have talked a lot about the need to ensure security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, where the U.S. continues to pursue a policy of private military and political alliances with limited membership that are clearly directed against China and Russia," Lavrov said.
He said the U.S. and its allies also are "promoting their bloc-based approaches here, particularly emphasizing the need for the North Atlantic Alliance to enter the region."
In their meeting, Wang had proposed a policy of "dual opposition" to Western obstruction of "a multipolar world order and "democratization and justice," according to Lavrov.
"Any remarks or deeds that cause division or add up to confrontation are not welcome in the Asia-Pacific, and they have no future," Wang told reporters.
Wang said both countries also oppose hegemonism, power politics, and monopolies on global affairs by only a few nations, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout.
Newsweek reached out to NATO and the U.S. State Department with a written request for comment.
Lavrov was in the Chinese capital to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the People's Republic of China and Russia (then the Soviet Union). Later on Tuesday, he also met with President Xi Jinping.
China has previously bristled over the perceived implications of engagement between U.S.-allied countries in its neighborhood and NATO.
When the leaders of four non-NATO countries—Japan, Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand, were invited to attend a NATO summit in Lithuania last summer, the Chinese diplomatic mission to the European Union said Beijing opposed the 32-member alliance's "eastward movement into the Asia-Pacific region."
Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been moving ever closer to China, which has provided its neighbor an economic lifeline to help it weather the West's crushing sanctions in retaliation for the war.
Drones and components made by Chinese companies have also reportedly found their way onto the battlefield in Ukraine.
Yes - the new Narrative - Trump & Republicans - Putin Puppets
But it is important to note that Biden still has around $4 BILLION in military draw down authority he can use - anytime.
$4 Billion can supply a lot - but the US has effectively slowed the shipments.
With the massive arms shipments to the Mid East and NATO looking worldwide for a source of some artillery shells - it is very likely the US just does not have the material to send. What remains in US stocks is being held for US use.
As for hanging this on Trump - it started under Biden - 100's of Billions sent to Ukraine over the last two+ years and the results - a loss of some 20% of their land - 100% under Biden. The FAILED Counter Offensive was 100% funded by the US and NATO - under Biden. Yes Russia is advancing and the end is clear to any objective viewer.
So we are going to see a LOT of Narratives going forward
Ukraine COULD have WON - except .......
Russian Attacks on Ukraine Stoke Fears Army Near Breaking Point
Russian Attacks on Ukraine Stoke Fears Army Near Breaking Point
(Bloomberg) -- Russia’s missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy system, the bombardment of its second-largest city and advances along the front are stoking worries that Kyiv’s military effort is nearing breaking point. Most Read from BloombergUS Sees Imminent Missile Strike on Israel by Iran...
A dire shortage of ammunition and manpower along the 1,200-kilometer (930 mile) front and gaps in air defense show that Ukraine is at its most fragile moment in over two years of war, according to Western officials with knowledge of the situation.
The risk is a collapse of Ukrainian defenses, an event that would give Kremlin an opening to make a major advance for the first time since the initial stages of the conflict, at least one official said.
I was introduced to the head of Russia's Weatherford subsidiary years ago. He told me that there were 84,000 Weatherford employees in their Russian subdivision at the time. I don't know if they're still operating in Russia but suspect they are. Weatherford is a multiple-product line and oilfield service company like Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, etc. They're like remoras, feeding off the big sharks' leftovers like the national companies such as Rosneft, Gazprom, Lukoil and so on.
I'd noticed recently that some oilfield companies had bailed out of Russia like Halliburton as well as Shell and BP (Shell with a big share in the Sakhalin Islands project and BP with their TNK-BP operating company). I think Exxon Mobil is still running the Sakhalin operation, though, and I notice that Schlumberger has kept their operation going in Russia as well.
The recent missile hits on the underground gas storage south of Lvov caught my eye. I wonder who's operating those surface facilities for Ukraine. If they've been constructed and maintained properly, there won't be any big blowouts. Those injection wells are supposed to have redundant SCSSVs (Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valves) which close automatically when bad things are happening at the surface.
IF they've been tested and maintained properly. No guarantees there, for sure.
Last edited:
The RCS on the Russian AF aircraft to deliver these blivets are akin to a drive-in theater screen. Russian SEAD is likely only going to be effective for so long if NATO/EU gets their act together.
Tom McDowell
BAMN
SITREP 4/11/24: Zelensky in Shock as Kiev's Largest Power Plant Wrecked in Massive Strikes
The day starts with a massive Russian missile strike that has wiped out another chunk of the remaining Ukrainian energy capacity. It’s now confirmed that Russia is hitting precisely the turbine rooms causing long-lasting, if not permanent, damage. Here’s Ukraine’s own Centernergo energy concern...
simplicius76.substack.com
snip
The day starts with a massive Russian missile strike that has wiped out another chunk of the remaining Ukrainian energy capacity. It’s now confirmed that Russia is hitting precisely the turbine rooms causing long-lasting, if not permanent, damage.
Here’s Ukraine’s own Centernergo energy concern declaring it to be the worst day in their history, as the Trypil Thermal Power Plant in the Kiev region was wiped out:
Here’s a before and after:
The regime apologists are in conniptions over this:
The Kharkov plant and several others were struck as well. Full report:
It’s difficult to truly estimate how catastrophic the situation is becoming because every ‘expert’s’ opinion seems to differ, and many were disappointed with last year’s energy grid strikes. However, one thing that can be objectively said is Russia has demonstrably been hitting engine rooms, as we’ve seen in actual video from the Dnipro HES hydroelectric station. In the Centernergo note above, they also admit a ‘large fire’ in the ‘turbine workshop’.Missile attack on the territory of Ukraine on April 11: details
Tu-95MS missile carriers and Geran-2 loitering ammunition hit many targets, including both military and infrastructure/energy facilities.
What objects were hit?
It is noteworthy that during attacks on electricity generation facilities, eyewitnesses recorded multiple arrivals, as in the case of the recent finishing off of the Dnieper Hydroelectric Power Station. Indirectly, this indicates that the Russian Aerospace Forces have been tasked with completely destroying or critically damaging ALL large non-nuclear generation facilities on the territory of Ukraine.
Taking into account the fact that the attacks on Ukraine’s energy system are systemic in nature (and some facilities, such as CHPP-3 and substations in Odessa, have been hit not for the first time), the cumulative effect of a sharp shortage of electricity generation may appear in the near future.
And by the way, for those wondering why Russia didn’t begin such a devastating campaign in winter, here’s what Putin is alleged to have told Lukashenko at their soiree today:
If only Netanyahu had 0.01% the compassion.
Now that things are heating up in this way, Ukraine is in a froth over those Patriot systems:
In fact, Bild’s Roepcke appears to claim that Ukraine has completely run out of the flagship AD missiles:
Update:
Unfortunately, here’s Germany’s Annalena Baerbock’s response:
Patriot reserves exhausted – German FM
If you want to see how truly desperate the situation has gotten, get a load of this unhinged rant by EU lunatic Guy Verhofstadt:
During all these urgent calls for new Patriots to be sent has anyone bothered to ask where the previously delivered Patriots have gone, by any chance? We were told they were totally unscratched after stopping all those Kinzhals. It seems perhaps that wasn’t entirely accurate.
=====
more -
But here’s where it starts getting interesting. What began as mere improbable rumor weeks ago is slowly starting to spin into a common thread of something going on in the Kharkov direction. My readers know I’m very open and honest about these things—when something feels speculative and merely ‘rumor’-based, I readily say so, as I hate clickbait and groundless rumorbait just as much as you do.
But when a certain critical mass of rumors and information is reached, sometimes our ears perk up and we’re forced to pay attention. Kharkov is a particularly sore spot in this regard merely because we’ve heard rumors for so long about all the possible “big arrow” offensives that could come down from the north. However, we must objectively admit that Russia has never gone after the Ukrainian energy infrastructure with as much commitment as is happening now.
So, to dress the table, here’s head of the Kharkov administration announcing they’ve made their decision on evacuating nearly 50 settlements and villages in the north Kharkov region close to the Russian border:
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more-
Russia appears to know something—here’s UN rep Nebenzya’s latest statement to the committee:
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more -
A few other interesting adjacent items:
U.S. Congressmen appeared to admit that the U.S. has thus far spent a mindblowing $300 billion on Ukraine since 2014:
The rest of the exchange is fascinating too, particularly the admission of 12 CIA bases in Ukraine.
And on the note of congressional antics, a big uproar ensued in the Ukrainian commentariat after it was finally revealed definitively by Biden’s administration that they apparently do not support Ukraine hitting Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure due to the fear of affecting “global energy markets”:
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more-
And speaking of corrupt congresses, the Ukrainian one reportedly finally approved a revamped mobilization bill to much furor and tooth-gnashing:
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more-
Just as the Lancet was the star of last year’s show, it seems now the glide-bomb has moved into the spotlight. The reason is simple: Ukraine hardly uses armor or vehicles anymore, given that they’ve bunkered up and gone fully on the defensive. Thus there’s not much for Lancets to do at the moment. But glide-bombs are precisely the remedy for Ukraine’s defensive, trench-heavy posture, as they shred trenches and cave them in even from non-direct impacts. And given Ukraine’s frontline air defense depletion, Russian fighter-bombers are able to operate with full impunity, launching the glide-bombs at any and all times and directions.
I wrote this on X, but I’ll say it here again as a final point. Now that Russia is mass-producing heavy glide-bombs, there is almost no possible way for Ukraine to hold ground. Only in places like Avdeevka, with massive fortified underground structures, were they able to withstand the onslaught. But nearly everywhere else that’s left, such as Chasov-Yar now, glide-bombs will wreck top-ground fortifications and trenches, crumpling them even from some distance away. Ukrainians have reported that the Fab-500 rips doors off hinges from 1km away. There is simply no way to hold trenches when the Fabs start arriving on top of them. And as of this writing, there’s said to be a massive Kab/Fab assault on Chasov Yar ongoing. Here’s what it looks like over the city:
====
even more omitted from this post, however illuminating video at end of sitrep...
Lastly, for those interested, here’s an illuminating new episode from Uralvagonzavod’s famed 130th workshop now mass producing the T-90M ‘Proryv’ (“Breakthrough”) tanks.
===
..
Tom McDowell
BAMN
We Turn To Dust
11 April 2024 by Larry Johnson 13 Comments
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One of my readers sent along the following video he and his wife just completed. The artist is Jan Weckström and he has produced a powerful anti-war anthem. Enjoy.
RT: 03:57
Red Rumble - Turn To Dust (Official Video)
3K views 4 days agoTURN TO DUST is a powerful rock anthem reflecting the world on the brink of nuclear war. The corrupt powers that be engineer crises to enrich themselves and to strip away people’s rights, freedoms and opportunities. Citizens, misled by a complicit mainstream media and bought-off experts, are manipulated and silenced, accelerating a sinister agenda. TURN TO DUST warns of the consequences of blindly trusting those in power: to become worth nothing, or worse, global annihilation of humankind.
===
.
vector7
Dot Collector
Panhandler Zelensky Invites Trump to Visit Ukraine in Push For Military Aid
View: https://twitter.com/TexasTrump2024/status/1778770352081932458?t=Uy5CuNOD-5Ewv1-wXx5W8A&s=19
View: https://twitter.com/TexasTrump2024/status/1778770352081932458?t=Uy5CuNOD-5Ewv1-wXx5W8A&s=19