[Politics] Russia invades Ukraine (24/02/2022)

raymondo said:

I am amazed that none have been arrested and trialled these two years. Not for:
- Petrol bombs
- drive by shooting
- internal drone activities
- hammerfest
- target identification.....
I guess it's possible they have but Russia won't publicize it. Never seen any news myself.

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Yes, in a similar way that western intelligence won't publish the kompromat Russia has on Trump, or the evidence of Russian involvement in the US election and Brexit, there's every likelihood that Russia will keep a lid on the justice meted out to their war 'heroes'.

raymondo said:

I am amazed that none have been arrested and trialled these two years. Not for:
- Petrol bombs
- drive by shooting
- internal drone activities
- hammerfest
- target identification.....
I guess it's possible they have but Russia won't publicize it. Never seen any news myself.

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Didn't Ukraine say recently they would seek out individual war criminals & kill them. Think it was after there was a video released of Russian's shooting dead a group a Ukrainian soldiers who were unarmed after they surrendered. Maybe, as you say, this is happening far more then we know.

I know Denys' videos are long but the first five minutes gives a detailed update on the Kursk region. Not great news for Ukraine in his opinion, here's a bullet summary:
- Russia throws many thousands of troops into pushing back Ukraine, with success sadly
- Russia loses lots of troops and vehicles but...
- Denys thinks Ukraine should pull back to try to keep hold of Sudhza, ... failing that
- ... Ukraine needs to build defensive lines on their own border, otherwise, with the troop and vehicle numbers Russia now has in the region, Russia may well try to push into the Sumy region over winter.

So, a negative view from Denys, but in my experience he's often correct

I think this latest Russian atrocity was first raised a few days ago, but here is a mainstream report on it.

Eric the meek said:

I think this latest Russian atrocity was first raised a few days ago, but here is a mainstream report on it.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/22/europe/russia-deliberately-attacking-civilians-drones-kherson-intl-cmd/index.html

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I didn't realise but apparently rain damages the electronics and can disable the drones. Obvious I suppose but it was news to me.

Eric the meek said:

I think this latest Russian atrocity was first raised a few days ago, but here is a mainstream report on it.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/22/europe/russia-deliberately-attacking-civilians-drones-kherson-intl-cmd/index.html

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Sickening. Completely and utterly sickening. I'm at a complete and utter loss for words here. Mr Genocide will never back down. I can't see an end to the suffering inflicted upon the innocent Ukrainian people. I know I'm stating the bleedin' obvious, but these really are the bleakest of times. Why won't NATO wake up and accept that we are all at war with Mr Genocide ? There can't be a single Ukrainian citizen who's life hasn't been turned upside down by the behaviour of this deranged psychopath. My heart goes out to each and every Ukrainian. In the meantime, one of my life's ambitions is to live long enough to watch Mr Genocide's funeral on the box. Slava Ukraini !

Binney on acid said:

Sickening. Completely and utterly sickening. I'm at a complete and utter loss for words here. Mr Genocide will never back down. I can't see an end to the suffering inflicted upon the innocent Ukrainian people. I know I'm stating the bleedin' obvious, but these really are the bleakest of times. Why won't NATO wake up and accept that we are all at war with Mr Genocide ? There can't be a single Ukrainian citizen who's life hasn't been turned upside down by the behaviour of this deranged psychopath. My heart goes out to each and every Ukrainian. In the meantime, one of my life's ambitions is to live long enough to watch Mr Genocide's funeral on the box. Slava Ukraini !

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I agree with you. But if you are able, take a step back, and see it for what it is. Absolute desperation. Soft targets. Because Russia cannot hit the hard targets. An attempt to break the resolve of the Ukrainians.

What it isn't, is aiming at military targets with the aim of weakening the Ukrainian defences. Therefore it stands little material chance of influencing the course of the war.
Yes, it's grim. Civilians being chased down by drones is grim. But it isn't going to help Russia win the war. It's a poor operational decision. I wonder who made it?

Here's the verdict of Ukrainian troops on North Koreans getting involved:

'Only death awaits them'.

https://kyivindependent.com/only-de...bout-north-korean-troops-fighting-for-russia/

Georgia 's parliamentary elections on October 26th.

Eric the meek said:

Here's the verdict of Ukrainian troops on North Koreans getting involved:

'Only death awaits them'.

https://kyivindependent.com/only-de...bout-north-korean-troops-fighting-for-russia/

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The replies from the Ukrainian troops are very interesting. I particularly liked:

"We must work with South Korea on this problem. We must create a special government program for soldiers to convince them to stop fighting and make a proposal that they can return to Korea, not to North Korea, but to South Korea.

"Because many people from North Korea try to run away from the regime to South Korea. This would be a really good program for them."

Always try and be positive here, and sadly I can't paste the article, but read something today saying a Challenger 2 tank has recorded a hit at 5km. The longest ever confirmed tank on tank hit

Sorry, some context, a Ukrainian brigade in Kursk

crookie said:

Always try and be positive here, and sadly I can't paste the article, but read something today saying a Challenger 2 tank has recorded a hit at 5km. The longest ever confirmed tank on tank hit

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I will take positive news with or without visual proof

raymondo said:

I know this is political economics, but the motley collection of countries, many harbouring tensions and grudges with one another, is quite interesting. There are now so many countries I won't ever be spending holidays in!
BBC News - Putin gathers allies to show West's pressure isn’t working

Vladimir Putin hosts Brics summit to show West pressure not working

Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcoming more than 20 world leaders to the Brics summit.

www.bbc.com

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I saw this on the news and was genuinely shocked how warmly the **** was greeted by many of them. Seems the killing and maiming of thousands of civilians is acceptable in too many countries

I live in hope that there are too many differences between most of the countries represented that no form of workable coalition is possible.

Flounce said:

I saw this on the news and was genuinely shocked how warmly the **** was greeted by many of them. Seems the killing and maiming of thousands of civilians is acceptable in too many countries

I live in hope that there are too many differences between most of the countries represented that no form of workable coalition is possible.

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Absolutely...it's the adoration (or fear?) of a mass murderer - horrible stuff

Flounce said:

I saw this on the news and was genuinely shocked how warmly the **** was greeted by many of them. Seems the killing and maiming of thousands of civilians is acceptable in too many countries

I live in hope that there are too many differences between most of the countries represented that no form of workable coalition is possible.

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Think if will be all about how much money and power they can get out of it.

I'm sure we've all read about the military vehicles supplied to Ukraine. So here's a short video of a Bradley and an Abrams in action in Kursk, defending Ukrainian gains against a Russian counter attack.

Oral statement to Parliament

Defence Secretary oral statement on war in Ukraine - 22 October 2024​

Defence Secretary John Healey, provided an update to the House of Commons on the war in Ukraine.
From:Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon John Healey MPPublished22 October 2024

Location:House of CommonsDelivered on:22 October 2024

Mr Speaker, I have just returned from three days of intense defence diplomacy.
First, at the NATO Defence Ministers meeting in Brussels where we welcomed President Zelenskyy and then, at the G7 Defence Ministers meeting in Naples where we had important updates from the battlefield, agreed this is a critical point in the conflict and stressed the need to step up and speed up support for Ukraine.
The G7 joint declaration strongly condemned Putin’s illegal invasion and reinforced our unwavering support for Ukraine. It also rightly stated:
“Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is posing a threat to international security, the purposes and principles of the United Nations, and the rules-based international order.”
This is what’s at stake for us all. And if President Putin prevails in Ukraine, he will not stop at Ukraine. And if big nations redraw international boundaries by force, the sovereignty and security of all nations is undermined.
That’s why the UK support, alongside allies, is so important. Military, economic, industrial, diplomatic.
But I can tell the House, Mr Speaker, I have returned to the UK knowing that NATO is united for Ukraine. The G7 is united for Ukraine. Just as the UK is united for Ukraine.
And our job now is to turn these talks into action, which is exactly what we are doing as a government. So, the Chancellor and I are today are announcing that the UK will provide an additional £2.26bn to Ukraine
This is new money, new money which will be delivered under the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans to Ukraine scheme. That’s part of the $50 billion loan package from G7 countries to support Ukraine’s military, budget, and reconstruction needs.
Loans, Mr Speaker, which will be repaid using the profits generated from immobilised Russian sovereign assets. Profits on frozen Russian money, supporting Ukraine’s fight against Putin. Turning the proceeds of Putin’s corrupt regime against that regime and putting it in the hands of Ukrainians.
And Mr Speaker, I want to be clear: Today’s new money is additional to the £3bn a year of military support this Government has committed to Ukraine each year for as long as it takes.
In addition to the £3.5bn Defence Industrial Support Treaty which I signed with Defence Minister Umerov in July, money that will be used by Ukraine to procure military equipment from British companies, boosting our British jobs and our British industry. And extra to the additional artillery, air defences, ammunition, and missiles we have announced in the first four months of this new Government.
Ukraine is a first order priority for me as Defence Secretary, it’s a first order priority for this Government. We will continue to step up support. We will continue to lead. We will stand with Ukraine as long as it takes.
Mr Speaker, today is now day 973 since Putin launched his full scale, illegal invasion of Ukraine. 973 days during which Ukrainians have been fighting with great courage – civilians and military alike. And there have been important battlefield developments in recent weeks. When I last updated the House, Ukrainian forces were one month into their remarkable offensive in Kursk.
Three months on, they continue to hold Russian territory and Ukraine’s strategic surprise has put Putin under pressure, forcing the diversion of some Russian troops and equipment.
And despite the increase in brutal Russian counter attacks and aerial bombardments, they have so far failed to dislodge that Ukrainian incursion. And it’s not just in Kursk where Ukraine is fighting back.
Ukrainian forces have launched long range attacks into Russian territory on military targets which are directly supporting Putin’s illegal invasion.
In September, Ukraine used long range drones to attack four ammunition storage facilities. These strikes successfully destroyed thousands of tonnes of ammunition.
Both the defensive thrust into Kursk, and the strategic defensive strikes into Russia, have had an impact on the battlefield.
Russia’s advance towards Pokrovsk in the East - Putin’s main line of effort - has been slowed. Russian losses continue to rise. Since the start of the conflict, Russia has likely suffered 675,000 casualties.
In September, the average casualty rate each date of Russians on the battlefield of Ukraine was 1271 - a record high and two and a half times the level this time last year.
And on equipment, Mr Speaker, they have now lost 3,400 tanks, 8,500 armoured vehicles and 26 Russian vessels in the Black Sea fleet have been destroyed or damaged.
But despite the incredible resilience Ukrainian forces have shown, they remain under great pressure from Russian forces across multiple fronts, and Russian troops continue to advance and continue to attack Ukraine infrastructure. Targeting the important port of Odessa and striking energy infrastructure.
So as we head into winter, Mr Speaker, Ukraine’s energy generation capacity has been reduced by up to two thirds of that of pre-war levels. Russian industry remains on a war footing. Russian artillery is outfiring Ukraine by at least 3 to 1, and Russia is also conscripting this year an additional 400,000 troops.
Defence will now account for 32%, one third of the total government budget in Russia next year.
And, Mr Speaker, in a concerning new development, it is now highly likely that the transfer and deployment of hundreds of combat troops from North Korea to Russia has begun. North Korean soldiers supporting Russia’s war of aggression on European soil – it is as shocking as it is desperate.
North Korea already sends significant munitions and arms to Russia in direct violation of multiple UN resolutions. And this developing military cooperation between Russia and DPRK has serious security implications for Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
It represents a wider growing alliance of aggression which NATO and the G7 nations must confront.
Mr Speaker, despite this dangerous development, Ukraine remains determined to fight on their frontline in the East and holding the territory in Kursk. President Zelensky will also continue to seek support for his Victory Plan, and we want to see this Plan succeed. We stand ready to work closely with the Ukrainians and with allies to make it succeed.
Mr Speaker, as we approach 1000 days of this war, this conflict is now at a really critical moment. And that’s why the UK continues to step up support for Ukraine.
Ukrainians are fighting to regain their sovereign territory, but they are also fighting to protect the peace, the democracy and the security for the rest of us in Europe.

Updates to this page​

Published 22 October 2024

The sheer, utter, twisted, self-righteousness of Russia.

TLDR: This bloke is Ukrainian, lives in occupied Crimea, and is obliged to hold a Russian passport. He refuses to fight against his own country, so is charged and convicted of treason against Russia. Sentence: 18 years.

Eric the meek said:

The sheer, utter, twisted, self-righteousness of Russia.

TLDR: This bloke is Ukrainian, lives in occupied Crimea, and is obliged to hold a Russian passport. He refuses to fight against his own country, so is charged and convicted of treason against Russia. Sentence: 18 years.

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Courageous young man.

The law of unintended consequences.

Watch Russia downplay North Korean involvement in the war, after it emerges that South Korea are considering getting involved.

I understand they have a lot of shells. A lot. The Miami Herald puts it at 3.4 million - one result of living next door to North Korea for 70 odd years.