Defection?
Fake news apparently
4 Russian servicemen wounded as result of shelling in Belgorod region of Russia
If this is reflective of Kremlin thinking, then the strategy behind the retreat from Kherson is "reculer pour mieux sauter" (move backwards to make a longer jump) i.e. they plan to return for another go once they've unfcuked themselves. "The whole of Ukraine still needs to be liberated". This is a warning that should be heeded, lest the western counties soften their stances in the wake of Ukrainian gains.
you left out an 'a'
Well, both require an evacuation 😄
The White House: At meeting in Ankara The Director of the CIA conveyed a warning message of the consequences of Russia's use of nuclear weapons to his Russian counterpart
Russia has been forewarned
Not quite
Bali Governor I Wayan Koster told Reuters that Lavrov had briefly visited Sanglah Hospital in Bali for a "check-up" but that the minister was in good health.
"He was in good health and after the check-up he immediately left," the governor said.
Russia might hope for a longer jump but it's not going to happen this side of 20 years.
Retaking of Kherson is a "significant victory for Ukraine," says @POTUS, adding it's hard to tell at this point what it means about the outcome of the Ukraine-Russia War
its one less concession they will have to make when the time comes
Not a bad assessment of the current situation and how things could go in relation to Crimea.
I'm still hesitant to say Ukraine will get Crimea back though. Don't get me wrong, I want to see it happening, just not sure it can be done as its a very defensible location. If Russia can sort out logistics to supply it, their forces could hold out there indefinitely IMHO
(The Guardian)
Zambia has asked Russia to explain how one of its citizens who had been serving a prison sentence in Moscow ended up on the battlefield in Ukraine where he was killed, Zambia’s foreign affairs minister said on Monday, Reuters reports.
Kremlin minion: "Boss, the prez of Zambia is on the phone..."
Putin: "Oy, as if I don't have enough to be doing. Tell him I'll call him back.... Wait, they vote for us or against us at the UN ?"
Kremlin minion: "They voted against"
Putin: "Tell him to f-off!"
My head aches listening to that stuff.
I know it is propaganda but the delusions underlying it are just infuriating and exactly opposite to reality.
Russia is the country that doesn't seem to know where its borders should be (it is a revanchist/revisionist state). Keeps laying claim to neighbours, invades to try and enforce those claims, the regime mouthpieces are aggrieved it is resisted + then claim Russia is being "attacked" etc!
Noone to the West of Russia is coveting their territory. If any land-grabs are ever made on Russia it will be the Asian neighbours doing it.
After all the evil Putin has done this year it really could not happen to a nicer regime if China (or others?) ever start serious meddling & stirring up troubles for them among the growing Asian population of their Far East! (e.g. inciting demands for more federalism/self-determination, or increasing ties to China)
Putin's regime may have a tough job trying to quell that with their usual goto violence and brutality when their military is decimated after Ukraine, they would want to tread quite carefully.
Russian loses his camera-
One of the most bizarre aspects of this year is how they sought to engage in expansionism and to regain "lost" territory. Extraordinary, given the sheer size of the country. They seem to have a massive chip on their shoulder and an inferiority complex, despite all their bluster.
According to local Telegram channel, - explosions in Belgorod as result of failed missile launches towards Kharkiv
Darwin award being presented this evening
Fairly balanced assessment ,
But I don't see how it's a fairly defenseable position the main russian road supply routes are all in occupied territory of Ukraine,if the Ukrainans make a sudden push for meltipol that's thousands of Russian forces tied cut off from supplies and support and re forcement ,but that in turn cuts the road supply routes to Crimea,the same also applies to Mariupol,cut one or both off their is no roads to support or supply Crimea,the kirsch bridge is off line until July at least and that's only if it isn't hit multiple times over again,
Crimea is in very procarious position,if Russia has any sense they would evacuate as much of the population as possible back to the mainland, Russia can't hold Crimea indefinitely they know this , essentially the newly planted population must be thinking were about to be cut off from escape with the Ukrainans seeing the crown jewels ready for the taking
Aye I agree with all that, my point was if they can maintain logistical supply routes (road/rail or sea) they'll hold it, if they can't they won't.
But, in terms of Ukraine rolling into Crimea, it is very defensible as there are natural choke points that would be very costly to traverse. The Isthmus of Perekop (1) is a funnel and other than that you are looking at using a bridge (2) which likely won't last another week or two, or an amphibious assault.
As I said, I hope Ukraine do take Crimea, would fk'ing love to see it, I'm just not seeing how its a realistic possibility without insane loss of life.
Now they could close the Melitopol gap (3) and just keep hitting the Kerch bridge (4).
That would kill the road & rail supply routes, leaving only sea & air routes, which Russia is terrified to use and not practical (air supply routes) for a lot of supplies. If the Ukranians can do that, who knows, maybe the Russians would withdraw, but here's the issue with that scenario.....how would they withdraw if the land routes and sea routes are closed to them and air travel is unsafe too?
Like Kherson, there has to be a way out otherwise you'd be left hoping for them to surrender, which I don't see as a realistic possibility for an area of that size with the amount of personnel that would be there.
But I could be wrong. Same as everyone, I'm just guessing based on the info I have.
The Kerch bridge can take light traffic on the damaged span as far as I know. Ferries can take plenty of people. They'd just have to leave their equipment and washing machines behind, the same as in Kherson.
Very interesting. I never realised that that's what the connection between Crimea and the rest of Ukraine looked like.
Well given what we know about Ukrainian tactics they will probably try and use HIMARs to take out targets of strategic value in Crimea - ammo dumps, barracks, air fields etc. They'll need to get a good deal closer to do that though given the 80km range of the GLMRs.
With all of the units freed up in Kherson perhaps they can bolster Bakhmut with some of them and open a new attack in Zaporizhzhia with the help of the rest, in order to split the Russian zone of control and reach the Sea of Azov.
Russian-appointed head of Yakymivka village Maksym Zubarev was killed in an explosion of unknown device planted at his car.
From liveuamap.com
Melitopol area. There were some explosions reported yesterday.
Something's cooking there
The San Antonio guy in the linked vid above said that resistance in Melitopol was very active.
I'm hoping there's more good news before the cold winter set's in up north around Svatove. Taking that area would really hurt Russian logistics Over the winter.
Ukraine reckon the winter will exaggerate the difference in quality between their and Russias army as they're far better equipped so could be an opportunity for the Ukrainians to push them back further.
Seems like there was a reason for capturing the Kinburn peninsula afterall
Russian-appointed head of Yakymivka village Maksym Zubarev was killed in an explosion of unknown device planted at his car
he fell out the car's window too by all accounts
Yes that region has been relatively static recently. It would be absolutely fantastic if they could get to Starobilsk as that's a real hub and would cut off some supply routes to the likes of Luhansk city and Sieverodonestk. it's outside of the area that has been recently fortified by the Russians too.
Crazy if true but nothing would surprise me with the некультурный russkis
Some more rumors of territory being taken back by Ukraine. Hola Prystan south of Kharkiv now supposed to be liberated.
https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1592220614290714624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1592220614290714624%7Ctwgr%5E24bf6759024464b98202574591ec36a76ccda43e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2Fyv7zln%3Fresponsive%3Dtrueis_nightmode%3Dfalse
A 23 year-old student from Zambia who was supposed to be serving a prison sentence in Russia was killed on the front lines in Ukraine. Now Zambia's foreign ministry is demanding answers from Moscow on how he could have been recruited to fight in Ukraine
Out of Africa
Different priorities...
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