Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

Another failed Russian offensive

The pattern is clear now

• Russian bots hype it up “Kiev, Kharkiv, Sumi in X days”
• Meat advances few hundred meters
• Attack culminates as there’s no armor left and men are exposed to drones
• Counterattack mops up
• Some general falls out of window for yet another failure

One (Ukrainian) YouTuber the other day offered an explanation the other day for this kind of operation : when the Ukrainians get wind of a planned "major offensive" at some point along the front line, they arrange a strategic "collapse" of their own defensive line that encourages the Russians to push further and further into a convenient salient.

The Ukrainians then pick off the advancing troops at just enough of a rate to limit the risk of them gaining a real foothold, but leaving it look to the Russian commanders like there's ground (and medals) to be gained, so they keep pouring resources into the space. The Ukrainians follow the supply lines back to their point of origin, identify command posts and logistical hubs, and when the time is right, drop a few Hammers on them and put an end to the campaign.

That's somewhat speculative, but it does match almost exactly how the Ukrainians dealt with that 40km convoy to Kyiv back at the start of the "Special Military Operation" - which reinforces the point that the Russians haven't really evolved their offensive strategy in any meaningful way.

Busy in parallel thread discussing colonial invasions without a shred of irony

And admiring how in the “12 day war” air superiority was achieved on day one

While Russia is 1200+ days into its special military operation having lost its Black Sea fleet to a country without navy and instead of achieving air superiority lost at third of its strategic bombers

Russians set fire to 5 Bunderswehr trucks … In Germany itself

and of course filmed themselves doing it

I guess that's why we also get the usual "Ukrainian lines are collapsing, very worrying" and "Russia has taken control of this place you'll only see if I keep zooming in on the map".

They're still creeping in Donetsk I think. Having been pushed back a few settlements around Pokrovsk earlier in the year its back to a few thousand lives for field gained there. They reached the border of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast at one point.

It's probably better for Ukraine if he forgets about them rather than making promises and pulling the rug whenever he feels like it. It might seem like a disadvantage to not have the attention of the US but in this case there's at least some consistency.

All EU countries, except Hungary, supported €30.6 billion in aid to Ukraine

"In 2025, the European Union will provide Ukraine with €30.6 billion, of which €3.5 billion has already been allocated under the Facility for Ukraine, and €7 billion under the G7 ERA initiative, which is repaid through extraordinary revenues from frozen Russian assets," the document says.

It is worth noting that Hungary is not able to block the actions of the rest of the EU states on this issue. Because of this, despite the Hungarian veto, aid to Ukraine continues to arrive.

Earlier it was reported that all EU leaders, except Orban, were in favor of opening accession talks with Ukraine.

Notice yet another use of frozen Orc assets.

The opposition is ahead in polls in Hugary for the first time. If Orban wins again because its rigged, the EU really needs to extract the digit and solve the problem.

Over the past year, the number of Hungarians who consider opposition leader Péter Magyar fit to govern the country has increased markedly, while Viktor Orbán, on the contrary, has fallen.

This is evidenced by a survey by the Medián agency commissioned by the HVG.hu portal, writes European Pravda.

According to the survey, more people consider Magyar "completely" or "rather" suitable to lead Hungary (53%) than Viktor Orbán (44%).

This atrocious crime among the most disturbing things the Russian scum have done during this war

A strong man. How or why he was released I don't know but it seems kudos to Kellogg.

More background on him.

One of the most well-known Belarusian political prisoners, blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski, was released on June 21 following a visit to Belarus by Keith Kellogg, President Trump's special envoy for Ukraine.

Tsikhanouski gave his first big interview since being freed to DW's Alexandra Boguslawskaja, who had also interviewed him five years ago in Belarus, shortly before his arrest.

Tsikhanouski was detained in May 2020, after being denied registration as a presidential candidate challenging Alexander Lukashenko and later convicted to 18 years in prison. His wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, assumed the candidacy and ran for presidency in his stead. She was forced to flee Belarus after Lukashenko claimed victory in an election, which observers label as rigged.  Tsikhaniuskaya has been living in Vilnius ever since and became the leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition in exile.

Belarus: Tsikhanouski says his release gives people hope – DW – 06/26/2025

Note the before and after photos of his interviews in the article.

EDIT: Delete… poxy Boards quote function strikes again

When I saw satellite photos of the factory building these, I thought the accommodation blocks might be the best target for strikes because Orcistans labour shortage is such they might be the hardest element to replace. At that point I thought the labour was local. Despite the likely condemnation, I still think they might be the best target and the effort they must go to get these women from Africa must be significant and time consuming, amplifying my original assessment of the value of the workers as targets.

Things never change, this is like the Nazis in WW2 using slave labour to build the V2s

I never cease to be sickened by Ireland's miserly contributions to Ukraine. Under €500m in 3 years.