What's going on in Ukraine?

[fishfoodie]

They'll have to leave the looted washing machines behind, if they want their trucks to get across that bridge

[Hellraiser]

The Russians have lost more territory in seven days than they managed to take in three months.

[Glaston]

All sorts of wild rumours flying about.
Russians reporting that Severnodonetsk and Lyschansk have fallen etc.

Must be pure chaos for the RUF ATM. Trying to keep up with what's really going on and where to try to send reserves ... They look in serious trouble.

No no, the Russian MOD says it's all part of a well planned Russian effort to regroup and focus on Donbas. The second Russian Lt-Col to be captured in this offensive (this one not having his trousers on), losing all their most modern radar systems, losing Izyum which took them over a month of fighting to take, having all the gains from their months long Donbas offensive reversed in a few days ... all just part of the plan from Putin the 4D chess grand master.

The more they lie, the worse the truth will turn out to be.

Gopnik is a great word

[Niegs]

Umm...





... on a less-serious note, us?

[Flockwitt]

Really wish I knew what the underlying sentiment is in Russia right now.

[fishfoodie]

Really wish I knew what the underlying sentiment is in Russia right now.

There a quote in the 2001 film about the Wannsee Conference, which seems particularly accurate, even today.

"My Friend, the Russian does not give a damn who runs things.
I have lived amoungst them.
The Russian only cares he has a bottle of vodka to suck & some form of domestic animal life to fuck.
He will happily sit in shit his whole life."

all he missed, was getting a Washing Machine for Mama, or a Lada, if he gets vaporized inside a tank.

[tabascoboy]

[tabascoboy]

Rumours regarding Donets'k Airport appear to be just that, or deliberate disinformation. Increased emphasis on OPSEC but possibly another front being opened in the south.

Meanwhile...

[tabascoboy]

Hopefully this initiative will work as well as it deserves to, press-ganging what are now likely to be majority pro-Ukrainians into the RU force could be "interesting"



and

[Calculon]

Really wish I knew what the underlying sentiment is in Russia right now.

There a quote in the 2001 film about the Wannsee Conference, which seems particularly accurate, even today.

"My Friend, the Russian does not give a damn who runs things.
I have lived amoungst them.
The Russian only cares he has a bottle of vodka to suck & some form of domestic animal life to fuck.
He will happily sit in shit his whole life."

all he missed, was getting a Washing Machine for Mama, or a Lada, if he gets vaporized inside a tank.

You can also exchange “Russian” for the Central Asian nationalities, except for the Kazakhs.

The result of complete saturation and control of culture and identity. A culture built on lies, hypocrisy and complete subservience to anybody in authority.
Well, anybody who speaks out gets boiled alive, with it being filmed and the film shown to their family. So, when this happens over successive generations as far back as their recorded history goes (not the filming part), those qualities probably become part of their genetic makeup that aids survival. Funnily enough, the Russian I knew there were the ones you could have a normal conversation with, unlike with most of the natives.

[tabascoboy]

[GogLais]

Any thoughts on the relative generosity of Putin’s message re the Queen’s death? Is he trying to be nice to us or am I reading too much into it? It’s just that he doesn’t seem to be the sort of chap that would worry much about the niceties of diplomatic protocol.

[redderneck]

Any thoughts on the relative generosity of Putin’s message re the Queen’s death? Is he trying to be nice to us or am I reading too much into it? It’s just that he doesn’t seem to be the sort of chap that would worry much about the niceties of diplomatic protocol.

His standard currying favour with Europe's fascist-leaning groupings. Putin 101.

[GogLais]

Where’s the Russian AF in this? It can’t have been effectively wiped out surely.

[tabascoboy]

Where’s the Russian AF in this? It can’t have been effectively wiped out surely.

They lost an SU-34 in Crimea earlier, not by Ukraine's doing - seems that it was targeted by their own anti-aircraft defence!

[GogLais]

Any thoughts on the relative generosity of Putin’s message re the Queen’s death? Is he trying to be nice to us or am I reading too much into it? It’s just that he doesn’t seem to be the sort of chap that would worry much about the niceties of diplomatic protocol.

His standard currying favour with Europe's fascist-leaning groupings. Putin 101.

Not that I know them well but would Europe’s fascists be great admirers of QE2?

[Slick]

Any thoughts on the relative generosity of Putin’s message re the Queen’s death? Is he trying to be nice to us or am I reading too much into it? It’s just that he doesn’t seem to be the sort of chap that would worry much about the niceties of diplomatic protocol.

His standard currying favour with Europe's fascist-leaning groupings. Putin 101.

Not that I know them well but would Europe’s fascists be great admirers of QE2?

I think that might be the joke old chap

[fishfoodie]

The generous donations of military equipment, to the Ukraine continue.



Ukrainian engineers taking possession of one, slightly used, MTB, from a Mr V.Putin

[Flockwitt]

Where’s the Russian AF in this? It can’t have been effectively wiped out surely.

NATO's new toys have kept them very very cautious. I think this is one aspect of the war where Russia is not prepared to accept ongoing attrition. Lost planes and pilots are irreplaceable and they've only used the full impact of them on occasions where they truly can make a difference. For the rout of Kharkiv it wouldn't have been a sensible loss/effectiveness equation.

[GogLais]

His standard currying favour with Europe's fascist-leaning groupings. Putin 101.

Not that I know them well but would Europe’s fascists be great admirers of QE2?

I think that might be the joke old chap

Ah, Rightyho.

[Hellraiser]

The generous donations of military equipment, to the Ukraine continue.



Ukrainian engineers taking possession of one, slightly used, MTB, from a Mr V.Putin

They got an entire company and more of T-80s in Izyum.

[Hellraiser]

Where’s the Russian AF in this? It can’t have been effectively wiped out surely.

NATO's new toys have kept them very very cautious. I think this is one aspect of the war where Russia is not prepared to accept ongoing attrition. Lost planes and pilots are irreplaceable and they've only used the full impact of them on occasions where they truly can make a difference. For the rout of Kharkiv it wouldn't have been a sensible loss/effectiveness equation.

The Ukrainians brought Buk systems right up to the line of contact in Kharkiv over the last week and by their own admission employed Gepards in the thunder run as well though no visual confirmation has been forthcoming, which is probably deliberate.

[dkm57]

Last few days have been quite staggering. The amount of kit the Orcs have left behind beggars belief. The Russian MOD continually releasing new statements which are increasingly comedic in their obfuscation.
Slava Ukraini.

[fishfoodie]

Last few days have been quite staggering. The amount of kit the Orcs have left behind beggars belief. The Russian MOD continually releasing new statements which are increasingly comedic in their obfuscation.
Slava Ukraini.

The Orcs are getting caught in a cycle of destruction, retreat, & then some reorganization of whatever made it out alive.

Next Vlad will fire another General, & try & press-gang some fresh meat for the grinder, & re-activate some more museum pieces; but he's always trying to replace the dead/destroyed,with inferior replacements. There's only so many times he can do this.

Even if he tries to call for a full mobilization; that would mean admitting how catastrophically things are going, & these new troops aren't going to be any better than those he's lost, & the cupboard is bare when it comes to equipment.

[dkm57]

And the Ukrainians now have the best of what the orcs had left.

[tabascoboy]

[tabascoboy]

From the independent Moscow Times

Kremlin postpones indefinitely referendums on annexation of Donbass

The Kremlin is postponing indefinitely referendums on the annexation of the occupied territories of Ukraine after the Russian army in the Kharkiv region suffered its biggest defeat since the start of the war.

Initially scheduled for May, then postponed to September, then once again postponed to November, the referendums have been put on hold, Meduza reports, citing sources close to the presidential administration.

The reason is the fiasco of the Russian army, which lost 3,000 square kilometers and in a few days left the territory that it had recaptured with thousands of victims over the course of three months. Following Balakleya, Russian troops were driven out of Kupyansk and Izyum, where the occupation administration and the headquarters of the group advancing on the Donbass from the north were located. According to a map by the Russian Defense Ministry shown at a briefing on Sunday, Russian forces also left Volchansk, Kazachya Lopan and other border settlements.

The political technologists sent to the Kharkiv and Zaporozhye regions to prepare the vote received an “order to go home,” the source says. However, they still remain in the Kherson region.

"It's a complete collapse," said Phillips O'Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St. “More troops were probably stationed there to fight for the Donbass than anywhere else, and now they seem to be unable to hold anything there.”

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Armed Forces of Ukraine have liberated more territories in five days than Russian troops have seized since April. In some places, the Ukrainian military broke through the positions of the Russian Federation to a depth of up to 70 kilometers.

Earlier, Secretary of the United Russia General Council, First Vice Speaker of the Federation Council Andrei Turchak said that it would be “correct and symbolic” to hold referendums on National Unity Day, November 4. AP sources said Putin was starting to lose patience and a new date was announced as a deadline.

Now the Russian authorities do not know when they will be able to return to the discussion of specific dates for a possible vote, it depends on how the Ukrainian counteroffensive develops.

Ukraine will no longer be satisfied with either the surrender of Crimea and Donbas by Russia, or reparations for the invasion, said Alexei Danilov, Secretary of the National Security Council. "Kyiv, together with the Western allies, will seek the complete surrender and demilitarization of Russia," he said.

https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2022/09/11/k ... a-2-a24145

[Ovals]

Amazing successes in the Ukrainian counter offensive. But I'm still not sure what the end game is here. Can the war ever be over whilst Putin is still in power. And, there doesn't, yet, seem to be a groundswell, against the war, in Russian public opinion. Those most vocal appear to be the ultra nationalists who want greater mobilisation and resources thrown at it.

[Guy Smiley]

Amazing successes in the Ukrainian counter offensive. But I'm still not sure what the end game is here. Can the war ever be over whilst Putin is still in power. And, there doesn't, yet, seem to be a groundswell, against the war, in Russian public opinion. Those most vocal appear to be the ultra nationalists who want greater mobilisation and resources thrown at it.

Seizing some Russian land and having a parade in Moscow would be nice.

[FalseBayFC]

Denis Pushilin - Head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)

[tabascoboy]

"Regrouping"

[tabascoboy]

Meanwhile, curiously identical posts on a channel in a short space of time from supposedly different accounts all saying "Volchansk was occupied by NATO troops. Exactly so and nothing else. They write from there that ..."

[tabascoboy]

[sockwithaticket]

Any thoughts on the relative generosity of Putin’s message re the Queen’s death? Is he trying to be nice to us or am I reading too much into it? It’s just that he doesn’t seem to be the sort of chap that would worry much about the niceties of diplomatic protocol.

His standard currying favour with Europe's fascist-leaning groupings. Putin 101.

Not that I know them well but would Europe’s fascists be great admirers of QE2?

Not Liz in particular, but support of monarchy is generally a more right wing thing.

Someone having a right to rule because of who they are rather than anything they've achieved; Tradition and maintenance of the status quo; Rigid hierarchy. These things tick some boxes for those people.

[Calculon]

me last night

[petej]

me last night

Was thinking in kherson that once the Ukrainians have cleared the west side of the Dnipro do they try to cross the river or shift a lot of those forces to another front (melitopol). Guess it depends how the Russians retreat.

[laurent]

me last night

Was thinking in kherson that once the Ukrainians have cleared the west side of the Dnipro do they try to cross the river or shift a lot of those forces to another front (melitopol). Guess it depends how the Russians retreat.

They can rob a decathlon for inflatable dinghies and paddle boards...

Anytime the bridges get some repair they get shelled.

there is no retreat

[TB63]

[Flockwitt]

A bit of housecleaning before they get on with the next major renovation.

[Niegs]

Speculation here about poor state of maintenance / over-worked equipment and pilots. Likely no time to punch out, gonna go sideways by the time he realized...?