Tasty one in Kursk tonight. Must be worrying for the Russians the frequency at which their depots and refineries are going up in flames. It will be interesting to see what sort of impact this has on exports especially when Russia will need to use a lot anyway for the war machine.
Well well well...
Russians electing a new pope
Possibly 400k tomorrow
When Ukraine creep forward, metre-by-metre in an offensive, the commentary is that the offensive is failing. When Russia do it, the commentary is 'is this the beginning of the end for Ukraine?'
In one sentence you cut to the quick of the double standards at play through the entire conversation: Ukraine's speed a sure sign of failure, Russia's same velocity a guarantee of an inevitable victory. It simply doesn't compute, unless you consider how for some there's an unshakable, fatalistic mindset driving even those who are otherwise cheering for an Ukrainian victory
Just shows too how much we've let our mindsets get corrupted by the false myth Russia is this looming superpower who are bigger and badder than us: we cowered in fear that if the gas was turned off, Europe wuld freeze and collapse; it didn't. We assume Moscow will win out 'cos they're the big bad powerhouse invading tiny Ukraine; they haven't, and may not. They're only in the game 'cos Europe's enduring hesitancy & allergy to war thanks to the 20th Century, coupled with the morally (and actually) corrupt GOP/MAGA in America holding up funds.
Even to this day, we have intermittent posters glibly assuming Moscow can only win here and Ukraine should say buh-bye to the 20% (Connacht) already lost 'cos what else can happen here? The bigger dog must always win, it seems.
"Out of 4,000 people, a brigade, 30% remain".
Russian soldiers film the battlefield just east of Krasnohorivka, to the northeast of Avdiivka.
"Corpses everywhere. They're all ours."
"There's war, but this... it was a meatgrinder here."
Won't embed the vid as there are glances of corpses
https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1757919262889685150?t=HZDZj_O_dY3MYDlxL2i_kA&s=19
Even a load of ball bearings released from a rocket would do it. Kessler syndrome - Wikipedia
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/15/vladimir-putin-tucker-carlson-interview-footage-sharp-questions
“Elsewhere in his interview with Zarubin, Putin said that he preferred Joe Biden to Donald Trump but was willing to work with any US president.
Zarubin asked the president who was “better for us” out of Biden, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican.
Putin replied without hesitation: “Biden. He is a more experienced, predictable person, a politician of the old school,” but added “we will work with any US president who the American people have confidence in.”
Ha ha ha.
Uh, Jesus. Russian mindfúckery is such that my immediate reaction was to wonder what angle Putin could be playing here. Maybe he just sees the stats beneath the headlines and realises TRump's a busted flush at this stage.
I’d read it as the opposite. Biden is a politician, he’ll work politically. Whereas Trump is more in the mould of Putin/NKs dictator and is liable to do anything.
Do the stats not show that Herr Drumpf is way out in front?
The stats also show that he's only attracting the MAGA base, and little else. IIRC he has still underperformed in the Primaries despite the nominally giant victories over Haley, and he isn't winning over independent or wavering voters. Indeed polls of Haley voters have shown 50% of them will give Biden their vote in the national election.
It's not a sure thing, and Biden's age is its own problem, but when you dig underneath the headlines of Trump's primary victories, the numbers aren't that encouraging it'll transfer to national success. Manys a slip twixt cup and lip n' all that, but Trump ain't storming anywhere ATM (except out of courtrooms)
Yeah, but you know, Putin is winning, bigger Country, more resources, unlimited supply of cannon fodder etc.
It's a bluff by Putin.
He realises he's now heir Hitler in the world's eyes so what he says people will do and go the opposite. By saying he prefers Biden means he has never waived in his support of Trump.
The dope Putin is not as clever as he thinks he is.
The dopiest dictator Russia has ever had.
very interesting thanks. what would happen if say a year into a new biden presidency he decided to do a cardinal ratzinger and throw in the towel? do they have to have another election or does the veep take over?
VP takes over AFAIK
And that's why whenever they do a spacewalk for external repairs etc, all their tools are attached to a restraining cable. Because they are spinning at 17'500 miles per hour, and if even a small screw escapes, its travelling at 17'500 MPH too.
I hope the EU gets its act together and starts providing Ukraine with more weapons, so that even if the USA stops its support, Ukraine has a good chance of winning. And I mean winning -- time works for Ukraine, as long as they can keep Russia from getting too much territory, Putin will lose. He is burning through Russia's financial reserves at a blistering rate, the money saved for the last 20 years are paying for the war. Without money, Putin's support base that gets rich on the back of the war will dissipate.
The EU doesn't have any arms to provide, though if you mean individual states then yes, that would be ideal but they are all realising (not for the first time alas) that they are running incredibly tightly on things like ammunition. But the fight in Ukraine is the one that is here right now so you would hope it is prioritised.
I saw a video about this story pop up on my Youtube feed the other night.
So after burning through:
They are now scouring poorer nations for mercenaries to feed into the meat grinder.
It just shows the incredible lengths they go to to protect and insulate the middle classes in Moscow and St Petersburg from having to fight in this war.
I wonder, after Putin has won the rigged election next month will they change tack and go for a full mobilisation.
What the EU can provide is some coordination. For example, Ireland has no weapons to give, but it has a huge pharma/medical device industry -- can the EU pay for the production of medical stuff needed in Ukraine? Sure, the EU can just give money to Ukraine to buy stuff from China, but wouldn't be better for the EU's own security to produce what needs to be produced for a warring nation?
Why wait though? As you say if the election's rigged in the first place, why throw up the facade if Putin's gonna be warming the chair after the "count"?
I dunno, Ukraine probably knows best what it needs. Giving them financial support seems like it might be the best use of the EU's resources and allow the member states to funnel them with arms.
You'd want to be illiterate, desperate and/or mad surely to go fight for the Russians?
True but sadly there is no shortage of such people around the world.
The thing is, there's. no mention of having to actual fight during the recruitment process, it's always support type work, but once they sign on the dotted line and taken to the military barracks, thats all gone out the window. There's 200 Nepalese soldiers currently serving. There has been 7 confirmed killed, and 100 missing / injured, and the Nepalese Govt has requested the Russian Govt to return all Nepalese nationals immediately, but so far there has not been any reply from the Russians.
The wait is because Putin would like to keep up the facade of a "Normal" society, with everything above board. Even though it's all decided, Putin is still afraid of anything going wrong.
Yes. It's similar tactics to young women from poorer nations who get told that they can get work in another country working in an office or restaurant but then as soon as they arrive their passport gets taken from them and they're forced into prostitution by unscrupulous criminals. Putin is no different to a pimp.
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