What's going on in Ukraine?

[tabascoboy]

The audacity of this, it's clear that it's completely in UAs interest for the visit to take place and absolutely against Ru interests, yet still they try the con with no regard for safety

[Flockwitt]

Sláva Ukrayíni!

Come on, they can do this!

[tabascoboy]

Despite the best efforts of RU, let's hope the technicians and engineers at the plant will be able to say exactly what has been happening, but that may be difficult if as reported they are being coerced into staying away or force to spout what the RU tells them to through blackmail and threats to family). We need the truth, wherever the chips may fall.

Inspectors arrive at nuclear power plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have arrived at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine, the Reuters news agency reports.

A reporter from the news agency observed the UN team arrive at the plant in a large convoy with a heavy Russian military presence nearby.

Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom also confirms the IAEA mission has arrived at the complex.

[tabascoboy]

Graham Phillips, Patrick Lancaster, Anne-Laure Bonnel, Sonja van den Ende, Adrien Bocquet: open and honest reporters or just tools?

Meet the foreign journalists promoting Russia’s war propaganda[

Several foreign journalists in Ukraine are promoting Russian narratives on the war. Although portraying themselves as independent reporters in search of truth, scrutinizing their content and background reveals their own biases, fabulations, and in some cases, connections to the Russian state.

Journalism plays a key role in the war in Ukraine. On-site reporting of the devastation and causalities wrought by the invading forces is vital in keeping the world’s attention on the conflict and rallying international support.
Foreign reporters have a unique position – they bring news to international audiences in their native languages and their foreign nationality lends them at least an appearance of impartiality.

Yet, a vocal minority of Western reporters portray Ukraine as extremist and warmongering while whitewashing Russia’s invasion. Positioning themselves as independent voices who do not conform to “Western mainstream propaganda,” their depiction of the war mirrors the Kremlin’s narrative.

Their reach is not limited to the pro-Russian media bubble. This content is gaining traction on social networks and on alternative media outlets, pandering to the growing demand for anti-system voices.

However, scrutinizing their content and background reveals their own biases, fabulations, and in some cases, connections to the Russian state, uprooting their image as objective and impartial journalists.
.....
Concluding paragraph:
It would be naïve and dangerous to discard any scrutiny of the Ukrainian leadership or military. However, one needs to examine the source of criticism, to distinguish between honest, critical journalism and amplifiers of Russian narratives. Lancaster, Phillips, Bocquet, and others display pro-Russian biases and parrot already debunked disinformation, identifying them clearly as the latter of the two.

Read whole article at https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/09/01/ ... /?swcfpc=1

[Glaston]

The Lukoil chairman thinking he could fly, is a bit weird.
Another in a growing list of unexplained deaths of Russians both home and abroad.

[tabascoboy]

ICYMI, RU claims 60 UA saboteurs tried to capture the plant earlier but were all killed, and no doubt UA was shelling the area to assist in killing their own....and that UA security forces tried to stop IAEA group from visiting...

So, now IAEA chief Grossi leaves Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, 5 representatives remain- Ukraine's Energoatom. Energoatom also insist that the power plant cannot be transferred onto the Russian grid

[laurent]

Graham Phillips, Patrick Lancaster, Anne-Laure Bonnel, Sonja van den Ende, Adrien Bocquet: open and honest reporters or just tools?

Meet the foreign journalists promoting Russia’s war propaganda[

Several foreign journalists in Ukraine are promoting Russian narratives on the war. Although portraying themselves as independent reporters in search of truth, scrutinizing their content and background reveals their own biases, fabulations, and in some cases, connections to the Russian state.

Journalism plays a key role in the war in Ukraine. On-site reporting of the devastation and causalities wrought by the invading forces is vital in keeping the world’s attention on the conflict and rallying international support.
Foreign reporters have a unique position – they bring news to international audiences in their native languages and their foreign nationality lends them at least an appearance of impartiality.

Yet, a vocal minority of Western reporters portray Ukraine as extremist and warmongering while whitewashing Russia’s invasion. Positioning themselves as independent voices who do not conform to “Western mainstream propaganda,” their depiction of the war mirrors the Kremlin’s narrative.

Their reach is not limited to the pro-Russian media bubble. This content is gaining traction on social networks and on alternative media outlets, pandering to the growing demand for anti-system voices.

However, scrutinizing their content and background reveals their own biases, fabulations, and in some cases, connections to the Russian state, uprooting their image as objective and impartial journalists.
.....
Concluding paragraph:
It would be naïve and dangerous to discard any scrutiny of the Ukrainian leadership or military. However, one needs to examine the source of criticism, to distinguish between honest, critical journalism and amplifiers of Russian narratives. Lancaster, Phillips, Bocquet, and others display pro-Russian biases and parrot already debunked disinformation, identifying them clearly as the latter of the two.

Read whole article at https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/09/01/ ... /?swcfpc=1

Adrien Bocquet is so discredited now in France it's laughable: ex army he was thrown out I believe.
He claims he was Special forces (debunqued by the army)
He claimed he was in bucha when the ukrainians perpertrated massacre on their own population. (his passport tells he was not in ukraine at the time of the massacres) ...
He is Walter Mitty.

[tabascoboy]

Adrien Bocquet is so discredited now in France it's laughable: ex army he was thrown out I believe.
He claims he was Special forces (debunqued by the army)
He claimed he was in bucha when the ukrainians perpertrated massacre on their own population. (his passport tells he was not in ukraine at the time of the massacres) ...
He is Walter Mitty.

You have to wonder why people will make claims that are so easily disproven, but unfortunately some readers will not know any of this and believe the lies, or they know but don't care...

[Hellraiser]

Adrien Bocquet is so discredited now in France it's laughable: ex army he was thrown out I believe.
He claims he was Special forces (debunqued by the army)
He claimed he was in bucha when the ukrainians perpertrated massacre on their own population. (his passport tells he was not in ukraine at the time of the massacres) ...
He is Walter Mitty.

You have to wonder why people will make claims that are so easily disproven, but unfortunately some readers will not know any of this and believe the lies, or they know but don't care...

To misquote Mencken, no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of gullible morons.

[Gumboot]

The chairman of Russian oil and gas giant Lukoil — which spoke out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine — has died after falling out of a hospital window, state news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS reported Thursday.

So clumsy.

[Ovals]

The chairman of Russian oil and gas giant Lukoil — which spoke out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine — has died after falling out of a hospital window, state news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS reported Thursday.

So clumsy.

Reminds me of Blackadder and the voter in the Rotten Borough - "accidentally brutally cut his head off while combing his hair".

[Guy Smiley]

The chairman of Russian oil and gas giant Lukoil — which spoke out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine — has died after falling out of a hospital window, state news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS reported Thursday.

So clumsy.

I've lost count now... there's been an absolute epidemic of powerful Russian businessmen falling off buildings this year.

[tabascoboy]

[FalseBayFC]

In South Africa we talk about 'boere krag' and 'boer maak 'n plan". 'Farmer power' and 'farmer makes a plan'. Its a reference to the toughness and resilience of farmers. Those Ukrainian 'boertjies' look like tough buggers!

[Blake]

In South Africa we talk about 'boere krag' and 'boer maak 'n plan". 'Farmer power' and 'farmer makes a plan'. Its a reference to the toughness and resilience of farmers. Those Ukrainian 'boertjies' look like tough buggers!

I recall a documentary from a decade or so ago (might have been a Carte Blanche episode) about a number of South African farmers that moved to Ukraine and Georgia. I wonder if they are still there. From the interviews they mention that despite the language and cultural barrier they felt right at home with them as they had a similar work ethic and pragmatic approach to problem solving.

[tabascoboy]

They have 13 Days to complete what they have failed to do in 8 weeks

Putin ordered the occupiers to fully invade the Donetsk region by 15 September, Ukrayinska Pravda reports, citing Oleksii Hromov, the Deputy Head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of Ukraine. “The Russians continue to keep hold of the occupied territories of Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts and are also trying to create favourable conditions for the resumption of the offensive. The Russian occupying forces are once again altering their plans and actions in accordance with Putin’s order to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk Oblast by 15 September.

Hromov also reported that the Russians are continuing to regroup the formations and military units of the 3rd Army Corps to the occupied territories, presumably to increase the staffing of Russian forces and create conditions for the resumption of the offensive in the Donetsk operational district.

According to the received information, due to considerable losses of personnel, the high command of the Armed Forces of Russia made a decision to disband the 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade and 22nd Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade. Due to losses, less than 20% of personnel are left in these brigades, Hromov added.”

[Hellraiser]

Seeing some assessed casualty figures from OSINT sources as follows:

Russia:

KIA - at least 50,000 and possibly as high as 65,000
WIA - 80-90,000

Total - 130-140,000 at least

Killed to wounded ratio of almost 1:2 which is insane. Basically 19th Century battlefield stats.

Ukraine:

KIA - 9-10,000
WIA - 40,000

Total - 50,000

Killed to wounded ratio is approximately 1:4.5, which is NATO standard.

Essentially six Russians are dying for every Ukrainian and it's partly down to Stone Age battlefield triage on the Russian side.

[tabascoboy]

A long series of tweets but worth reading. In a nutshell explaining why initially Russian energy deals with Western Europe were more an act of economic cooperation of mutual benefit while those with the Baltics and Balkans became much more coercive and one-sided in nature.

[Blackmac]

Seeing some assessed casualty figures from OSINT sources as follows:

Russia:

KIA - at least 50,000 and possibly as high as 65,000
WIA - 80-90,000

Total - 130-140,000 at least

Killed to wounded ratio of almost 1:2 which is insane. Basically 19th Century battlefield stats.

Ukraine:

KIA - 9-10,000
WIA - 40,000

Total - 50,000

Killed to wounded ratio is approximately 1:4.5, which is NATO standard.

Essentially six Russians are dying for every Ukrainian and it's partly down to Stone Age battlefield triage on the Russian side.

That's insane. Russians losing troops at a rate equivalent to the worst of World war 11.

[tabascoboy]

[Ymx]

Class

[tabascoboy]

[Uncle fester]

Wtf is up with his legs?



Also, the director is a cert to fall out a window for panning out like that.

[MungoMan]

Class

Yeah, gotta say that is legit chucklesome

[Hellraiser]

Wtf is up with his legs?



Also, the director is a cert to fall out a window for panning out like that.

Willis-Ekbom, usually the sign of an underlying condition. There has been rumours for a few years that he has some form of Parkinsonism.

[tabascoboy]

The propaganda war continues, could there be any truth in it - well there are plenty it seems who are convinced by this

There's a video on Twitter showing residents of Enerhodar talking to the IAEA chief Grossi and allegedly handing over a petition of 20 000 signatures blaming Ukraine for the shelling at the power plant and surrounding area. Also repeated claims about now not one but three UA assaults in an attempt to take control of the plant (without any proof provided), that the delegation are "grateful" to their Russian military escorts for their protection from UA aggression...

But





Meanwhile, the "expert" who led the IAEA delegation around the plant has also reportedly been ID'd as Renat Karchaa, actually an expert in Primatology with a somewhat shady past. He was the one showing the purported shell casing at the plant that somehow turned 180° after firing

[tabascoboy]

[tabascoboy]

[fishfoodie]

Putin going to try and end it soon alright. He is goosed militarily

If their morale is shit now, imagine what it'll be like at the depths of winter.

[tabascoboy]

The lack of self-awareness from Peskov is quite something



And here, even the Wagner Group confirm there was no assault attempted by UA near the power plant last week

[MungoMan]

The key question is: are watches like that available from Amazon?

[tabascoboy]

Need more of this

[Hellraiser]

Need more of this

There are more and more pictures and videos of Russian POWs emerging in the last few days. March was the last time I saw as many being posted to social media.

[tabascoboy]

Some scepticism may be in order, but if true

[_Os_]

There are more and more pictures and videos of Russian POWs emerging in the last few days. March was the last time I saw as many being posted to social media.

There's a big increase in the amount of TB2 drone footage also, hasn't been this much for months. Also the odd vid/photo of captured vehicles. Points to Russia being in very big trouble in Kherson, and in parts of that front Ukraine having a lot of ground and air control, some maps of territory Ukraine has taken are now well past the first and second lines of defence in places. Anyone's guess why Russia haven't withdrawn yet, but if the rumours of Putin being personally in overall command of Russian forces are true he's not going to allow further retreat.

[laurent]

There are more and more pictures and videos of Russian POWs emerging in the last few days. March was the last time I saw as many being posted to social media.

There's a big increase in the amount of TB2 drone footage also, hasn't been this much for months. Also the odd vid/photo of captured vehicles. Points to Russia being in very big trouble in Kherson, and in parts of that front Ukraine having a lot of ground and air control, some maps of territory Ukraine has taken are now well past the first and second lines of defence in places. Anyone's guess why Russia haven't withdrawn yet, but if the rumours of Putin being personally in overall command of Russian forces are true he's not going to allow further retreat.

They are taking swimming lessons before the next goodwill gesture...

[tabascoboy]

There are more and more pictures and videos of Russian POWs emerging in the last few days. March was the last time I saw as many being posted to social media.

There's a big increase in the amount of TB2 drone footage also, hasn't been this much for months. Also the odd vid/photo of captured vehicles. Points to Russia being in very big trouble in Kherson, and in parts of that front Ukraine having a lot of ground and air control, some maps of territory Ukraine has taken are now well past the first and second lines of defence in places. Anyone's guess why Russia haven't withdrawn yet, but if the rumours of Putin being personally in overall command of Russian forces are true he's not going to allow further retreat.

They are taking swimming lessons before the next goodwill gesture...

Hoping for the comedy gold of Russian forces paddling lilos across the Dnipro

[Hellraiser]

There are more and more pictures and videos of Russian POWs emerging in the last few days. March was the last time I saw as many being posted to social media.

There's a big increase in the amount of TB2 drone footage also, hasn't been this much for months. Also the odd vid/photo of captured vehicles. Points to Russia being in very big trouble in Kherson, and in parts of that front Ukraine having a lot of ground and air control, some maps of territory Ukraine has taken are now well past the first and second lines of defence in places. Anyone's guess why Russia haven't withdrawn yet, but if the rumours of Putin being personally in overall command of Russian forces are true he's not going to allow further retreat.

A reverse Stalingrad.

[_Os_]

There's quite a bit of video of the current ground fighting about. Probably does give an insight into the current state of things. Russians seem to be hunkered down in entrenched positions, Ukrainians literally walking/driving up to them in broad daylight and slotting them.

Kostromka in Kherson, Ukrainian MRAP vehicles and a tank drive right up to the Russian trench line and destroy a Russian vehicle.



Video of Ukrainian forces looking around captured Russian "defences" in Kherson. Gives a good idea of what Ukrainians are clearing out, trenches in the treeline messily filled with loot and military equipment.



Bit of a crazy video of Ukrainians clearing a Russian trench system in Donetsk.



No location on this one, but I haven't seen much Ukrainian special forces video. Operators walk up to a concealed Russian vehicle and destroy it.

[tabascoboy]

Seen quite a lot at "the other place" referring to successful attacks and sorties from UA, while they seem small in scale the momentum may well be building as RU forces start to / increasingly get cut off from resupplies and morale must be sinking fast. Not just the expected Kherson area but parts of Donbass too.