Russia - threadbanned users in OP

I was just wondering, is there any evidence of the heavy artillery that's being delivered to the Ukrainian troops being deployed yet?

A quickie on Transnitria from the Guardian:

Fears that the tiny former Soviet republic of Moldova could be sucked into the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine are mounting after several explosions in the breakaway Moscow-backed region of Transnistria.

The mysterious blasts, which targeted the state security ministry, a radio tower and military unit, happened days after a senior Russian commander claimed Russian speakers in Moldova were being oppressed – the same argument used by Russia to justify its invasion of Ukraine.

Rustam Minnekayev, the deputy commander of Russia’s central military district, said gaining control over southern Ukraine would help Russia link up with Transnistria, which lies just across the border from the Black Sea port of Odesa.

Where is Transnistria and what is its status?

The predominantly Russian-speaking region wedged between the Dniester River and the Ukraine border seceded from Moldova after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In 1992, the separatists fought a war with Moldova’s pro-western government, which ended in hundreds of deaths and the intervention of the Russian army on the rebels’ side.

In a 2006 referendum that was not recognised by the international community, 97.1% of voters backed joining Russia, dealing a blow to Moldova’s hopes of following Romania and other ex-communist eastern European states into the EU.

Transnistria is controlled by pro-Russian separatists and permanently hosts 1,500 Russian troops as well as a large arms depot.

How closely tied are Transnistria and Russia?

Transnistria still uses the Cyrillic alphabet and has its own currency (the Transnistrian ruble), security forces and passport, although most of its estimated 465,000 residents have dual or triple Moldovan, Russian or Ukrainian nationality.

The majority of the population is Russian-speaking, while the rest of Moldova is dominated by Romanian speakers.

The House of Soviets, the seat of the city council in Tiraspol, Transnistria, Moldova. Photograph: REX/Shutterstock

Moscow props up Transnistria’s economy, supplying free gas and keeping troops stationed there, in effect creating a Russian satellite on the borders of the EU.

Transnistria is also awash with Soviet symbols.

Its flag is emblazoned with a hammer and sickle, a huge statue of Lenin looms over the centre of its main city, Tiraspol, and a bust of the Bolshevik leader sits outside the town hall, or House of Soviets.

Maybe that's the plan now. Slow consistent gains? Their supply chains and logistics have been **** so far. Maybe they intend to spend a year or two slowly slogging their way across.

That would all depend on how they project their losses going forward.

BTW, Someone mentioned that Ukrainians have more reserves. "Technically" Russia has 1 million active personal and 2 million reservists. I've put quotes around technically because it's not known how good those forces would be and also how the Russian people would react to the reserves being called up.

I've even wondered if it could be the Ukrainian diaspora in Russia.

Truth is we just don't know.

Obviously Putin isn't personally subjected to the same diet, environmental conditions, health system, occupational safety protocols, road safety framework, et. etc. that result in his subjects' lower life expectancy.

This again. Looks like Bulgaria/Poland was a warning shot. Well, if it's real, then countries are going to have to haul ass to switch.

"The SBU neutralized the enemy agency, which collected intelligence on the defensive boundaries of the Ukrainian troops and the deployment of aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

🔹 In Zhytomyr region:

military counterintelligence of the SBU exposed the official of the defense facility at the collection of secret information about Ukrainian warplanes and the infrastructure of the air force.

🔹 In Dnipropetrovsk region:

detained an enemy agent, whom the FSB instructed to join the ranks of the theroboron of the Dnieper. Another Russian agent was detained in Kryvyi Rih.

🔹 In Mykolaiv oblast: the

head of one of the territorial communities was exposed, who gave the occupiers information about the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

🔹 In Chernihiv region:

SBU officers detained a local resident who voluntarily cooperated with the aggressor during the temporary occupation.

🔹 In Khmelnitsky:

exposed a local resident who gave the "curators" coordinates of military and strategic objects.

🔹 In Cherkasy region:

THE SBU detained a truck with military components that were transported to Russia."

What a job they are doing; off the battlefield as well as on it.

loved this

strong words from poland about european energy and food security:

Polish PM accuses Russia of ‘direct attack’ by cutting gas supplies

Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, has called Russia’s halt of gas deliveries “a direct attack” on Poland.

Speaking in Poland’s lower house of parliament, the Sejm, Morawiecki said Russia has pushed the boundaries of its “gas imperialism” and accused Moscow of attacking the European economy through inflationary measures.

He sought to reassure lawmakers that Poland has enough gas in storage, adding:

Russia not only carried out a brutal, murderous attack on Ukraine... but Russia also attacked all of Europe’s energy security and food security.

It is a direct attack on Poland... We’ll deal with this blackmail, this pistol to the head in such a way that it doesn’t affect Poles.

Poland will not need Russian gas.

Educate a simpleton. If Ukraine have gear there now that can fire accurate missiles and things a good distance, including into Russia itself, how come they aren't dismantling the troops surrounding Mariupol and other similar congregations knocking around the country?

Ouch!

The Ukrainian view: 'They do not need to fight, just give the pigs weapons.'

If you are of a sensitive disposition, don't watch.

Well I'm glad you think so, but my understanding is that they do have concerns about their relationship with the EU and how much that continues to seriously deteriorate due to the Swiss annoying proclivity for wanting their cake and eating it too, which the EU has been very patient with but has had a gutful of now.

PS: What sort of dividend do Swiss watch companies pay out? With some experince of Swiss financial institutions, I'd be pleasantly surprised to find a Swiss company that would actually part with funds rather than maintain their usual attitude that you owe them a living and be grateful if they let you fork out to maintain their accustomed living standards and high opinion of their self-worth.

It appears from my not so keen eye that they were trying to push the front vehicle out of a rut. It was probably stopping everything behind it from advancing. So they put a tree in the back door to act as as a blocker between the rear tank and the vehicle in front so they didn't destroy the back door of the front vehicle with the force of the tank behind

Unfortunately for him the tank has a tappered edge and pushed the log upwards and out . And the driver doesn't know when to get off the gas