Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #4

[PommyMommy]

Thousands of American Volunteers To Fight Alongside Ukrainians

Ukrainians Show Defiance In The Street

 

[JerseyGirl]

U.S. in Talks With Poland, Slovakia on Fighter Jets

The Biden administration is considering backfilling any Soviet-era fighter jets Poland may send from its own fleet to Ukraine, a White House spokesperson said.

The decision is Poland’s to make, the spokesperson said, adding that there are logistical and other challenges, including how to transfer aircraft from Poland to Ukraine.

F-16 fighter jets are what the U.S. would likely send Poland, according to a person with the matter. The process would be time consuming and involve bidding for and awarding a contract, as well as building planes specific to the country and providing training.

A member of Congress said the U.S. is also in talks with Slovakia.

Ukraine Update: MasterCard, Visa Halted in Russia; More Musk Aid

 

[fred&edna]

The Russian diplomats have to leave the US before Monday, so they have until Monday to depart.

The US State Dept allowed Russia to send a large plane, a Iluysin II plane to land at Dulles Airport outside of DC.

The arrival has been documented. ( this is a stock photo, not at Dulles)

As Dulles is a busy airport, there are regular commercial flights scheduled as far out as I can see ( till Tuesday, March 8), but RSD88 is not yet listed.

They will have to list the departure in the next day or so for Dulles to keep up the regular schedule. I'll check back.

'gotcha! Thank you!

 

[MassGuy]

SAS & US special forces 'training for high-risk rescue of Ukrainian president'


SAS commandoes and US special forces are training for a high-risk rescue of hero Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sources say.

More than 70 UK elite soldiers are said to have joined 150 US Navy Seals at a remote base in Lithuania to plot the daring night mission.

They are understood to be training with elite Ukrainian soldiers.

Defiant President Zelenskyy has already turned down a US rescue offer — saying: “I need ammunition, not a ride”.

But the situation has deteriorated and Russian Spetsnaz special forces are said to be targeting the 44-year-old president.

A rescue mission could be launched if he requests it.

A senior UK source said: “The most likely sensible option could be to relocate Zelenskyy out of Kyiv where he could be picked up.

"We have aircraft but the distance is critical.”

An MoD spokesperson said: “We do not comment on special forces.”

 

[otto]

It's like there could be a game changer at any minute. He needs ammunition not a ride, then imminent danger within 10 days?

 

[otto]

Is the murder of the Ukraine president a game changer, or is he prepared for a change of leadership. From what I've read about Russia, if Putin falls there's a brawl between his advisors.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Don't fuel flames in Ukraine, China tells US

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told US secretary of state Antony Blinken during a phone call on Saturday that Beijing opposes any moves that "add fuel to the flames" in Ukraine.

Mr Wang called for negotiations to resolve the immediate crisis, as well as talks on creating a balanced European security mechanism. He said the US and Europe should pay attention to the negative impact of Nato's eastward expansion on Russia's security.

The US state department added that Blinken underscored that the world is acting in unison in response to Russian aggression and ensuring that Moscow will pay a high price.

Don’t underestimate the West, Wallace warns Putin – latest news

 

[MassGuy]

It's like there could be a game changer at any minute. He needs ammunition not a ride, then imminent danger within 10 days?

The walls are (probably) eventually going to close in, no matter the firepower and will of the Ukrainian people.

This is a British and US contingency plan for when and if that does happen (if it's even true).

I do think his death would be a horrible blow, but not fatal. The fight would continue, and he'd probably be seen as a martyr.

The counterpoint is that his survival would ensure the government could continue when this is all over.

And of course, the whole world is rooting for this guy, and he's largely responsible for how fast and overwhelming the response has been.

 

[otto]

Don't fuel flames in Ukraine, China tells US

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told US secretary of state Antony Blinken during a phone call on Saturday that Beijing opposes any moves that "add fuel to the flames" in Ukraine.

Mr Wang called for negotiations to resolve the immediate crisis, as well as talks on creating a balanced European security mechanism. He said the US and Europe should pay attention to the negative impact of Nato's eastward expansion on Russia's security.

The US state department added that Blinken underscored that the world is acting in unison in response to Russian aggression and ensuring that Moscow will pay a high price.

Don’t underestimate the West, Wallace warns Putin – latest news

Interesting. Is Mr Wang saying that USA and EU have pushed their political interests East, into Russia, and that it's time to back off and allow Russia to reclaim USSR territory?

 

[PommyMommy]

The Secretary of the US tweeted a video about Russian misinformation that says, "The Russian people deserve to know the truth."

Secretary Antony Blinken on Twitter - Video
The Russian government is blocking media outlets and restricting social media -- all to obscure the truth about what is happening on the ground in Ukraine. The Russian people deserve to know the truth about the death and destruction happening in their name.

 

[PommyMommy]

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 19 minutes ago
️Russian troops are headed towards the Kaniv Hydroelectric Power Plant, about 100 kilometers south of Kyiv, the General staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on March 5.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
WSJ: The U.S. is working with Poland on the possibility of Poland providing fighter jets to Ukraine in return for American F-16 jet fighters, U.S. officials said on March 5. The deal would require White House approval and congressional action, U.S. officials said

 

[JerseyGirl]

PM announces six-point plan to defeat Putin amid threats sanctions are almost declaration of WAR

In his action plan, Boris Johnson called for: the creation of an international humanitarian coalition for Ukraine; a boost to Kyiv's military self-defence; a ratcheting up of sanctions on Moscow; concerted diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis; and 'a rapid campaign to strengthen security and resilience across the Euro-Atlantic area'.

In addition, Mr Johnson wants to combat 'the creeping normalisation of what Russia is doing in Ukraine' as he fears that the shock value of Putin's actions will start to fade.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will be welcomed to No 10 tomorrow, followed by the leaders of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – the countries on the front line of the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict.

 

[PommyMommy]

[URL='https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/mar/05/russia-ukraine-war-latest-news-nato-gives-green-light-to-bombing-with-lack-of-no-fly-zone-says-zelenskiy']Russia-Ukraine war latest: UK sets out international ‘plan of action’ for crisis; Ukraine calls for more Nato help in meeting with US – live | World news | The Guardian[/URL]
11m ago 21:32

Russian forces in Ukraine may have entered a possibly brief operational pause as they prepare to resume operations against Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolayiv, and possibly Odesa in the next 24-48 hours, according to a US-based think tank and policy research organisation.

A recently published report by the Institute for the Study of War, claims:

Russian troops did not launch major ground offensive operations against Kyiv, Kharkiv, or Mykolayiv in the last 24 hours

Ukrainian forces near Kharkiv, on the other hand, conducted a counter-offensive that reportedly penetrated to the Ukrainian-Russian border.”

The institute adds that Russian troops continued to encircle, bomb, and shell Mariupol while Russian forces east of Kharkiv and in northern Luhansk Oblast appear to be trying to link up.

“Russian troops around Kherson city are likely preparing to resume offensive operations against Mykolayiv and ultimately Odesa and Russian naval infantry in Crimea continue to prepare for amphibious operations, which would most likely occur near Odesa,” the assessment adds.

ISW on Twitter

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 5 | Institute for the Study of War (understandingwar.org)

 

[Tiff23fr]

German Embassy in South Africa slams Russia's "de-Nazification" claim

The German Embassy hit back at the Russian tweet saying: “What [Russia] is doing in [Ukraine] is slaughtering innocent children, women and men for its own gain.
“It's definitely not ‘fighting Nazism.’ Shame on anyone who's falling for this. (Sadly, we're kinda experts on Nazism.)”

Live updates: Russia invades Ukraine

 

[PommyMommy]

More Than 600,000 Children Have Now Been Displaced By War

See moment that made Clarissa Ward stop reporting and help
(Approx 7:10 mark and again at 7:50)

 

[otto]

The Secretary of the US tweeted a video about Russian misinformation that says, "The Russian people deserve to know the truth."

Secretary Antony Blinken on Twitter - Video
The Russian government is blocking media outlets and restricting social media -- all to obscure the truth about what is happening on the ground in Ukraine. The Russian people deserve to know the truth about the death and destruction happening in their name.

Which is it though? Is Putin blocking media outlets and restricting social media, or is that the West blocking and removing services like Meta, twitter, visa and more?

How can the Russian people know the truth when the West has shut down their apple and facebook apps?

 

[otto]

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 19 minutes ago
️Russian troops are headed towards the Kaniv Hydroelectric Power Plant, about 100 kilometers south of Kyiv, the General staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on March 5.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
WSJ: The U.S. is working with Poland on the possibility of Poland providing fighter jets to Ukraine in return for American F-16 jet fighters, U.S. officials said on March 5. The deal would require White House approval and congressional action, U.S. officials said

I would expect that the USA would jump at the chance to have a fleet of Russian fighter jets to examine for military sophistication.

 

[PommyMommy]

Which is it though? Is Putin blocking media outlets and restricting social media, or is that the West blocking and removing services like Meta, twitter, visa and more?

How can the Russian people know the truth when the West has shut down their apple and facebook apps?

Russia-Ukraine live updates: Visa, Mastercard suspend operations in Russia (msn.com)

Russia blocks access to Facebook and Twitter
Russia has completely blocked access to Facebook in retaliation for the platform placing restrictions on state-owned media.

It was later reported that it had also blocked Twitter. The Russian state communications regulator said access had been restricted, according to the state-owned Ria news agency.

 

[mickey2942]

How to Talk to Kids About Ukraine

Unplugging from the 24x7 News about Ukraine might not be a bad idea for families with children. My own daughter called me today, quite upset about Ukraine/Russia. She had her life upended by Covid, now this...

 

[SouthAussie]

Which is it though? Is Putin blocking media outlets and restricting social media, or is that the West blocking and removing services like Meta, twitter, visa and more?

How can the Russian people know the truth when the West has shut down their apple and facebook apps?

BBC Radio (UK) brought back their shortwave radio service two days ago, so that Ukraine and parts of Russia could listen to their broadcasts - trying to get the facts to the people. They broadcast for several hours each night.

Though, one day later (yesterday) their website was blocked again by Russia.

As were Radio Liberty (US), and Meduza media (Russian independent media).


The BBC’s shortwave radio broadcast can be found on 15735 kHz from 4pm to 6pm and on 5875 kHz from 10pm to midnight, Ukraine time.
BBC website blocked in Russia as shortwave radio brought back to cover Ukraine war