What's going on in Ukraine?

[tabascoboy]

It's claimed that yet another RU jet was downed, this one being an SU-25 fighter near Avdiivka, making 9 losses in the last few days if confirmed. It's not from any official sources though as a caveat, and another report says instead it was an SU-34

[tabascoboy]

Complete series of tweets unrolled here: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1762 ... =topunroll

[tabascoboy]

Alexei Navalny: Putin critic about to be freed in prisoner swap when he died, says ally

Alexei Navalny was about to be freed in a prisoner swap when he died, according to his ally Maria Pevchikh. She said the Russian opposition leader was going to be exchanged for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian hitman who is serving a life sentence for murder in Germany. Two US citizens currently held in Russia were also going to be part of the deal, Ms Pevchikh claimed. She added that negotiations were at their final stage on 15 February.

The next day, Mr Navalny died in his cell in the prison colony in Siberia where he was being held on a 19-year sentence over charges that were widely seen as politically motivated. Prison officials said the 47-year-old had fallen ill following a "walk".

In a video posted on Mr Navalny's YouTube channel, Ms Pevchikh, who is the chairwoman of his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), said negotiations for a prisoner swap had been under way for two years.

She added that after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 "it was clear that Putin would stop at nothing" and that Mr Navalny "had to be freed from jail at any cost, and urgently". According to Ms Pevchik, Mr Navalny was going to be freed under a humanitarian exchange and American and German officials were involved in the talks. The process finally resulted in a concrete plan for a prisoner swap in December, she said.

Vadim Krasikov - a Russian who was found guilty of shooting former Chechen rebel commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in the head at close range in Germany in 2019 - was going to be part of the deal. Two US nationals currently held in Russia were also going to be exchanged, Ms Pevchikh said, although she did not name them.

However, earlier in February, President Putin told US host Tucker Carlson that talks were ongoing with the US about freeing American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is being held on espionage charges. President Putin hinted that in exchange Russia would accept a person who "due to patriotic sentiments, eliminated a bandit in one of the European capitals… during the events in the Caucasus" - almost certainly a reference to Krasikov.

According to Ms Pevchikh, Russian President Vladimir Putin changed his mind about the deal at the last minute. She said he "could not tolerate Navalny being free" - and since there was an agreement "in principle" for Krasikov's freeing, Mr Putin decided to "just get rid of the bargaining chip" and "offer someone else when the time comes."

"Putin has gone mad with hatred for Navalny," Ms Pevchikh said. "He knows Navalny could've defeated him."

As a former KGB officer, President Putin is used to saying - or promising - one thing, and then doing something completely different. It is a policy he and his government have been consistently implementing for almost a quarter of a century. Up until the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Putin and several Russian officials repeatedly denied there was a plan to invade the country.

Although we do not know what exactly happened to Navalny in prison, engaging in negotiations on his release without intending to set him free would fit the Kremlin's behaviour over the past years.

Within an hour of publication, Ms Pevchikh's video had had hundreds of thousands of views.

The Kremlin has not yet reacted to the claims put forward by Ms Pevchikh, but President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov has previously said allegations of government involvement into Navalny's death were "absurd".

Authorities initially refused to hand Navalny's body over to his mother, only relenting eight days after his death.

On Monday, Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmish posted a message on social media saying his allies were looking for a venue where supporters could hold a public farewell later this week.

Such an event is expected to be closely monitored by the authorities, provided it is allowed to go ahead at all.

A rights group said 400 Russians were arrested across the country for laying flower tributes to Navalny following his death.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68401873

[tabascoboy]

[Uncle fester]

Alexei Navalny: Putin critic about to be freed in prisoner swap when he died, says ally

Alexei Navalny was about to be freed in a prisoner swap when he died, according to his ally Maria Pevchikh. She said the Russian opposition leader was going to be exchanged for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian hitman who is serving a life sentence for murder in Germany. Two US citizens currently held in Russia were also going to be part of the deal, Ms Pevchikh claimed. She added that negotiations were at their final stage on 15 February.

The next day, Mr Navalny died in his cell in the prison colony in Siberia where he was being held on a 19-year sentence over charges that were widely seen as politically motivated. Prison officials said the 47-year-old had fallen ill following a "walk".

In a video posted on Mr Navalny's YouTube channel, Ms Pevchikh, who is the chairwoman of his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), said negotiations for a prisoner swap had been under way for two years.

She added that after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 "it was clear that Putin would stop at nothing" and that Mr Navalny "had to be freed from jail at any cost, and urgently". According to Ms Pevchik, Mr Navalny was going to be freed under a humanitarian exchange and American and German officials were involved in the talks. The process finally resulted in a concrete plan for a prisoner swap in December, she said.

Vadim Krasikov - a Russian who was found guilty of shooting former Chechen rebel commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in the head at close range in Germany in 2019 - was going to be part of the deal. Two US nationals currently held in Russia were also going to be exchanged, Ms Pevchikh said, although she did not name them.

However, earlier in February, President Putin told US host Tucker Carlson that talks were ongoing with the US about freeing American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is being held on espionage charges. President Putin hinted that in exchange Russia would accept a person who "due to patriotic sentiments, eliminated a bandit in one of the European capitals… during the events in the Caucasus" - almost certainly a reference to Krasikov.

According to Ms Pevchikh, Russian President Vladimir Putin changed his mind about the deal at the last minute. She said he "could not tolerate Navalny being free" - and since there was an agreement "in principle" for Krasikov's freeing, Mr Putin decided to "just get rid of the bargaining chip" and "offer someone else when the time comes."

"Putin has gone mad with hatred for Navalny," Ms Pevchikh said. "He knows Navalny could've defeated him."

As a former KGB officer, President Putin is used to saying - or promising - one thing, and then doing something completely different. It is a policy he and his government have been consistently implementing for almost a quarter of a century. Up until the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Putin and several Russian officials repeatedly denied there was a plan to invade the country.

Although we do not know what exactly happened to Navalny in prison, engaging in negotiations on his release without intending to set him free would fit the Kremlin's behaviour over the past years.

Within an hour of publication, Ms Pevchikh's video had had hundreds of thousands of views.

The Kremlin has not yet reacted to the claims put forward by Ms Pevchikh, but President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov has previously said allegations of government involvement into Navalny's death were "absurd".

Authorities initially refused to hand Navalny's body over to his mother, only relenting eight days after his death.

On Monday, Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmish posted a message on social media saying his allies were looking for a venue where supporters could hold a public farewell later this week.

Such an event is expected to be closely monitored by the authorities, provided it is allowed to go ahead at all.

A rights group said 400 Russians were arrested across the country for laying flower tributes to Navalny following his death.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68401873

Quick rule 1 for Maria.

[tabascoboy]

Official claims of yet another RU SU-34 downed today

EDIT and also a second one today as well...

[tabascoboy]

Sri Lanka ends visas for hundreds of thousands of Russians staying there to avoid war

Investigation launched into order asking Russians to leave country amid backlash over ‘whites only policy’:

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[petej]

Official claims of yet another RU SU-34 downed today

EDIT and also a second one today as well...

Considering the Ukrainians are having to carefully manage patriot missiles it is a bit suspicious that so many russian jets have been downed recently.

[Flockwitt]

Official claims of yet another RU SU-34 downed today

EDIT and also a second one today as well...

Considering the Ukrainians are having to carefully manage patriot missiles it is a bit suspicious that so many russian jets have been downed recently.

Yep. They’ve had the patriots for a while. It does seem to be that there is more to it than meets the eye now that they’re now suddenly knocking down Russian planes every other day. Unless of course it’s taken this long for them to use them properly ;)

[tabascoboy]

Warning from the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence

Statement of the Intelligence Committee under the President of Ukraine, — the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine

Dear Ukrainians and our international partners!

Two years after russia unleashed a full-scale war of aggression, Ukraine is facing an objective threat to its existence as a state, as a nation, as a community of free and equal people.

In the context of deliberate distraction of the world's attention from the ongoing and bloody russian-Ukrainian war, the leadership of the aggressor country has resorted to a plan of planned sabotage, information operations and outright provocations.

The main directions and goals of the enemy are to disrupt Ukrainian mobilisation, spread disinformation about Ukraine's inability to win, create and spread fakes about "fatigue from Ukraine" among our partners and allies in the world. The russians' global international goal is to reduce support for our country from the pro-Ukrainian coalition in the world.

The goal of the russians inside Ukraine is to demoralise Ukrainians, sow panic among the population, drive a wedge between the military and civilians, and put everyone at odds with everyone, including representatives of the country's political leadership and civil society. Russian special services have extensive experience in conducting hybrid wars. They spend no less on information attacks against Ukraine than on conventional warfare.

As reported by the Intelligence Committee under the President of Ukraine, in November last year, as part of the Maidan 3 special operation, russia spent almost $250 million on spreading anti-Ukrainian sentiment on the Telegram platform alone. The total budget of the operation was an astronomical $1.5 billion. This is the most expensive "action" of russian special services in history.

Special operation "Maidan-3" will reach its culmination in March-May 2024, and in the coming weeks, the enemy will make every effort to spread narratives destructive to global security and attempt to incite conflicts — both inside Ukraine and in other parts of the world where there is effective support for Ukraine.

The methodology of the campaign is traditional for russian special services: to question the legitimacy of government decisions made in Ukraine after 20 May, to spread panic and disbelief, to artificially oppose civilians and the military, to quarrel us with our allies, and to spread all sorts of "conspiracy theories" in society. This is happening against the backdrop of russia's public statements about the creation of new types of superweapons, which, according to the russians, should ensure russia's technical superiority over the West for the next decade. It follows that opposition to russia's goals in Ukraine is dangerous for the world, and therefore russia will push other countries to engage in direct dialogue on Ukraine without our participation.

Also, the russians, through their own agents of influence in Ukraine and around the world, will rely on organising various protest actions and deliberately discredit the prisoner of war exchange process.

According to the enemy's plan, in the first half of June, the situation in our country will be shaken and then, taking advantage of the situation, Ukraine will be defeated militarily in the East, which is the key idea of their operation.

In view of the above circumstances, we call on Ukrainian society, our international partners and allies to strengthen joint resistance and comprehensive security measures, especially in the information space, to effectively counter global threats and challenges of the new global hybrid war. The war waged by the russian federation and its criminal allies against the entire civilised world today.

Our society needs unity.

Glory to Ukraine!

[tabascoboy]

Extraordinary!

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, delivered a speech in which he totally torched Russia. He not only announced that Israel is going to provide an early warning systems against missiles for Ukraine but also called Ukraine an “ally”. He also equates Russia with Hamas and attacks Russia for hosting another visit of Hamas in Moscow.

You can be sure that this speech comes in coordination with the Israeli Prime Minister. It clearly marks the end of the relationship between Putin and Netanyahu. This whole instance reminds when Amir Weitmann delivered his viral statement in RussiaToday where he announced that “Russia is going to pay the price” (check out the repost). I think we are witnessing what this means.

Israel’s pro-Ukraine position will also have ramifications in the US and the ongoing discussion for military aid.

[Hellraiser]

Later generation Spike missiles would be the first thing I'd look for from Israel. You could double to quadruple your ATGM reach, and the Russians wouldn't have a fucking clue where the thing came from. Not to mention they are both ground and air-launched.

[fishfoodie]

Iron dome around strategic targets too would help cut down the ability of the Orcs to continue their terror tactics.

[tabascoboy]

Someone seems to get it, listen to the sound as the transcript on the tweet isn't all that good

[fishfoodie]

Someone seems to get it, listen to the sound as the transcript on the tweet isn't all that good

Oh the GOP understand all of this; in private; the problem is the cocksuckers are all hypocrites, & they'll rail against anything that would have them & the DNC reading from the same script.

There are two groups in the GOP, the morons who don't understand that not supporting Ukraine, makes direct conflict with Russia & China more likely MTG, et al; & the cocksuckers like Cruz, & others who know this, but don't give a fuck, as being contrarian is better for the ambitions, & fuck the rest of the world.

[Calculon]

In their defense those GOP politicians will argue that they are representing the views of their constituents. Admittedly the insular, xenophobic and moronic views of the MAGA and “libertarians”.

[Uncle fester]

In their defense those GOP politicians will argue that they are representing the views of their constituents. Admittedly the insular, xenophobic and moronic views of the MAGA and “libertarians”.

Nah. MAGA leadership are very deliberately playing to and inflaming their voter base.

[tabascoboy]

And again - although confirmation still needed

[tabascoboy]

[tabascoboy]

Rumours this morning of an Su-35 disappearing from the radar suddenly near Mariupol, as usual confirmation needed...
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[tabascoboy]

I will not comment on the contents of the leaked phone call conversation regarding the TAURUS missile. But there is something which needs attention:

Russians are terrified, not only by this missile system but more by the possible prospect that Germany might seriously go in. Moscow is extremely concerned about that Scholz might be persuaded (or rather forced) to change course. They want him to remain semi-idle as he has been.

Scholz and the SPD altogether do what that MAGA-Republican do in the US. Those two are the most important pawns in Russia's hands, and the only reason why the Russian army hasn't been turned to dust in Ukraine, yet.

Ukrainians can liberate their country when being equipped to do so. They did the impossible with the fraction of they have today. It is time to throw away all reservations and do the right thing.

Go all in!

[Uncle fester]

Sure Navalny was a Russian nationalist but it's quite remarkable that folks were prepared to defy Putin and face potentially serious consequences to turn out in numbers like this.

[tabascoboy]

Oh the ironing...doesn't this make it a Nazi aircraft carrier?

Russia Wants Its Old Aircraft Carrier Back from China

Russia’s last aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, has faced numerous operational failures since its inception, significantly limiting the country’s maritime power projection. Amidst the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the carrier's inefficiency is stark, prompting some Russian officials to suggest reacquiring the Soviet-era carrier Liaoning, which Ukraine sold to China.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ ... ina-209765
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AN UAV crashed into a civilian building in St. Petersburg last night. Russian sources stated the UAV was on its way to strike a nearby oil depot but missed by just a few hundred meters. No casualties among the civilian population. What is also curious is the launch location: some sources said it came from the east, that is, the Russian mainland, but this will be almost impossible to confirm.

[tabascoboy]

Sure Navalny was a Russian nationalist but it's quite remarkable that folks were prepared to defy Putin and face potentially serious consequences to turn out in numbers like this.

I am sure more than one will be getting their house door kicked in and being frog-marched out within the next couple of weeks

[tabascoboy]

[tabascoboy]

No sign that this is a general uprising, though we can hope...

[Hellraiser]

Report from the Lyman direction.

[Hellraiser]

[Hellraiser]

Looks like the funding for the 800k shells the Czechs found outside Europe is falling into place; 15 countries have agreed to chip in.

[Calculon]

good summary of the importance of the war in the last ten minutes

[tabascoboy]

[Hellraiser]

The Kalibr missile carrying patrol ship, Sergei Kotov, was sunk in an Ukrainian naval drone attack in the early hours of this morning.

[yermum]

The Kalibr missile carrying patrol ship, Sergei Kotov, was sunk in an Ukrainian naval drone attack in the early hours of this morning.

Holy shit they don’t seem to learn.

[laurent]

The Kalibr missile carrying patrol ship, Sergei Kotov, was sunk in an Ukrainian naval drone attack in the early hours of this morning.

Holy shit they don’t seem to learn.

Backtracked on this and apparently only seriously damaged let's see if they try to rescue it (this could lead to more opportunities for the sea babies)

[Hellraiser]

The Kalibr missile carrying patrol ship, Sergei Kotov, was sunk in an Ukrainian naval drone attack in the early hours of this morning.

Holy shit they don’t seem to learn.

Backtracked on this and apparently only seriously damaged let's see if they try to rescue it (this could lead to more opportunities for the sea babies)

I'd be shocked if it hadn't sunk. It was hit by two drones and the first one blasted a huge hole in the side.

[tabascoboy]

Not completely clear atm, but this from a RU Telegram source

Regarding the fate of the Sergei Kotov. Information provided by this source often finds confirmations later, but I still do not recommend to take all information at face value:

“Today, 03/05/2024, at about 00:50, the Project 22160 patrol ship “Sergey Kotov” was struck near Feodosia.

The attack was carried out using five Magura V5 naval drones.

The advance of the enemy boats was detected at about 00:15. The units of the Russian Black Sea Fleet were properly informed about the impending threat.

The strikes were inflicted on both sides of the ship.

According to the source, during the attack an AK-176 was blown up and an onboard Ka-29 helicopter was destroyed.

However, despite all the damage, the ship still remained afloat. Until an attempt was made to tow it to the port of Feodosia. During the movement, the Project 22160 patrol ship “Sergey Kotov” sank.

Nothing is known yet about the fate of the crew.”

[Flockwitt]

Gotta love this one from the fred

[laurent]

Well the Russian navy will be smaller than the irish navy (and the NZ one )

Apparently Romania has the biggest fleet in the area now.

[tabascoboy]

[inactionman]

For targeting civilians, and would think there's many, many more indictments to come on that front.

Full ICC press release here:

https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation- ... bylash-and