Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #7

[sunshineray]

The next step in all of this will be China invading eastern Russia to recover the territories Russia took from them in the 1800s. This is actually a thing in China, most of their foreign policy over the last century has been based around correcting the loss of face in what they call the "Century of Humiliation". They want to reverse all of those losses from that period. They will see that Russia is weak, and that most of their fighting force is distracted in Ukraine and preparing for a potential broader war with NATO. This war could be the end of Russia as we know it, even if they do eventually defeat Ukraine.

Don't be surprised if you wake up one morning to the news that Chinese tanks are attacking Vladivostok.

And yet what China is doing is legally trying to set up a home dock for their warships right off the coast of Australia in Oceania.

The premier of China, Xi Jinping, describes Putin as his best friend...

"In the past six years, we have met nearly 30 times. Russia is the country that I have visited the most times, and President Putin is my best friend and colleague," Xi said

As Relations With U.S. Sour, Xi Describes Putin As 'Best Friend' At Moscow Meeting

 

[sds71]

The Ukrainian Snake Island sailors who told a Russian warship to “go f–k yourself” before they were captured a month ago have been freed in a prisoner swap with Moscow.

The 19 sailors were released from Russian captivity on Thursday, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereschuk revealed.
In exchange, Ukraine freed 11 Russian civilian sailors they had rescued from a sunken ship near Odessa, Vereschuk said. It wasn’t immediately clear when the Russian sailors were captured.

“As a result of this exchange, 19 Ukrainian civilian sailors are returning home from the rescue ship Sapphire, which was captured by the occupiers while trying to take our troops from the island of Snake,” the deputy PM said

Ірина Верещук

Snake Island sailors who told Russian ship ‘go f--k yourself’ freed

 

[Dontknow?]

Deborah Haynes
@haynesdeborah
48m

BREAKING: A Russian brigade commander has been killed deliberately by his own troops after his unit suffered many losses in Ukraine, a western official said. Colonel Medvechek, commander of 37 Motor Rifle Brigade, was run over by his soldiers, the official said

 

[CSIDreamer]

As a bit of back story, from 2012, this article is very informative to kind of set today's stage.

UPDATE 3-Putin sacks Russian defence minister amid scandal


This one tells the tales right now, IMO

The Sergei Shoigu Enigma, 'Last Man In The Bunker' With Putin

(...)

Putin's inner-circle

"The Financial Times names Putin's last five associates as foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, 72, foreign intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin, 67, secretary of Russia's security council Nikolai Patrushev, 70, chief executive of the energy company Rosneft Igor Sechin, 61, and defense minister Sergei Shoigu, 66."...


A system devouring itself

"The system is beginning to devour itself," Osechkin says. "It's even reaching the people closest to the director of the Rosgvardia [National Guard of Russia], which indicates that a personnel war is now taking place: who will agree with whom on what and who will set whom up."

According to the journalist, these personnel decisions mean the weakening of the power bloc, which evidently has people who are aware of the destructiveness of Putin's actions.

Yet Putin remains in power, and the war continues against all odds..."

It seems like a hopeless situation to save face. World needs to worry just how much blind loyalty is left and what those idiots and Putin will do in their insanity to say to the world, "You're not the boss of me!"

IMO that is the mentality the world is fighting...a tantrum from it's biggest and richest dictator. Don't forget, he wrestled and then rode a bear to prove his machismo.

AJMO

Good article. Snatches of viewpoints I hadn't considered. JMO

 

[Bit of hope]

I find this website interesting. 'Lead Stories' is a fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, deceptive or inaccurate stories (or media) making the rounds on the internet. They have a fact checker for outlets in the Russian and Ukrainian language. War | Lead Stories

Fact Check: This 'Witness' Account Of Theater Shelter Bombing Does NOT Match Mariupol's Geography | Lead Stories

This is false news spread by Russia about the bombing on the theater that they said was done by the Azov Nazi group of UKRAINE The claim appeared on Russian news websites and social media, but this shows it's not true.

Of course we already got that.

 

[Cool Cats]

Russia signals scaled-back war aims, Ukrainians advance near Kyiv

 

[Bit of hope]

Russia signals scaled-back war aims, Ukrainians advance near Kyiv

Strange wording if you ask me.

Moscow signaled (or is it signalled?) on Friday it was scaling back its ambitions in Ukraine to focus on territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists as Ukrainian forces went on the offensive, recapturing towns on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv.

 

[Bit of hope]

Quote from a Russian author, living in London: popular Russian joke (off course among people who are against the war or against the regime)

Russian author Akunin: Putin sees Ukraine as a threat to his rule

There is a popular joke in Russia: Tolstoy’s War and Peace should now be renamed Special Operation and Peace.

 

[Cool Cats]

'This is my land, I stay': These Ukrainian women are among thousands choosing to fight, not flee

Women veterans in Ukraine strengthen their movement amid the COVID-19 pandemic | UN Women – Europe and Central Asia

Alona Bushynska, an Odessa native who was once a makeup artist for 17 years, has traded in her brushes for medical supplies and weapons. A few months ago, her biggest worry was scheduling her next client. Today it's protecting her unit and partners in a civilians task force in Ukraine.

Kateryna Pryimak is the head of the Women's Veteran Movement, an organization that provides support for veterans, and has set up a headquarters in Kyiv. Dozens of women, many like Pryimak, are paramedics. They provide food, clothes and medical resources.

"Guns are not the only thing needed. Food, medical attention and even a smile, that's also what the women who have stayed behind provide to the soldiers and civilians," Pryimak said.

The Women's Veteran Movement organization is located in Kyiv, Ukraine and offers medical supplies and aid to local military forces in the city.

 

[LadyL]

Putin says Russia is a victim of cancel culture like J.K. Rowling — and Rowling responds

 

[Bit of hope]

'This is my land, I stay': These Ukrainian women are among thousands choosing to fight, not flee

Alona Bushynska, an Odessa native who was once a makeup artist for 17 years, has traded in her brushes for medical supplies and weapons. A few months ago, her biggest worry was scheduling her next client. Today it's protecting her unit and partners in a civilians task force in Ukraine.

Kateryna Pryimak is the head of the Women's Veteran Movement, an organization that provides support for veterans, and has set up a headquarters in Kyiv. Dozens of women, many like Pryimak, are paramedics. They provide food, clothes and medical resources.

"Guns are not the only thing needed. Food, medical attention and even a smile, that's also what the women who have stayed behind provide to the soldiers and civilians," Pryimak said.

The Women's Veteran Movement organization is located in Kyiv, Ukraine and offers medical supplies and aid to local military forces in the city.

I tip my hat for all of them and for all very good thoughts. Actually for every volunteer who is working so hard to be there for others. Huge respect. They totally make a difference.

 

[LadyL]

Hacking Russian sites, bringing Elon Musk’s Starlink to Ukraine: How software developers are fighting the war

 

[LadyL]

DOJ charges Russian officials over hacking that targeted critical infrastructure

 

[gitana1]

It really is such a small plant.

Thanks for posting that map. It’s interesting to see that.

 

[gitana1]

Deborah Haynes
@haynesdeborah
48m

BREAKING: A Russian brigade commander has been killed deliberately by his own troops after his unit suffered many losses in Ukraine, a western official said. Colonel Medvechek, commander of 37 Motor Rifle Brigade, was run over by his soldiers, the official said

Wow.

 

[gitana1]

Russia signals scaled-back war aims, Ukrainians advance near Kyiv

I was just coming to talk about this. It seems like relatively good news, right?

 

[Vern]

I found the quote in context. He was answering whether the US would use military force against Russia if they used chemical weapons. He then appeared to say he wasn’t sure if NATO would join. IMO.

“And to clarify, on chemical weapons: Could — if chemical weapons were used in Ukraine, would that trigger a military response from NATO?

THE PRESIDENT: It would re- — it would trigger a response in kind, whether or not — you’re asking whether NATO would cross; we’d make that decision at the time.”

We aren’t using chemical weapons against the enemy.

I agree.

I believe that NATO would certainly be up for discussions should Russia use chemical weapons on the population of Ukraine - I'm of the opinion that discussions would absolutely occur, but also agree with President Biden on the uncertainty of a response.

Like Syria, when that line was crossed appropriate responses were discussed and some, not all, NATO countries then began operations in Syria alongside the USofA. So, not a NATO operation per se, but some NATO nations (USofA, UK, Canada, France, Australia, Turkey, Holland) were willing to, and did, respond to that proverbial crossing of the line in the sand. And, notably, Jordan and Morocco, non-NATO partners, also actively responded and participated.

I think POTUS is foreshadowing similar response should Russia do the same in Ukraine - the precedent has been set.

I will say, that if that line is crossed in Ukraine, I will be extremely disappointed if NATO members of Europe do NOT respond (Hey Germany!!) as this is their turf and their backyard. They need to step it up this time IMO.

(And the military member inside of me, coupled with my humanity, is extremely disappointed that we are sitting back now watching these war crimes occur with nary a move to action and cease).

 

[Cool Cats]

I was just coming to talk about this. It seems like relatively good news, right?

I'm hoping this is true.

Moscow signalled on Friday it was scaling back its ambitions in Ukraine to focus on territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists as Ukrainian forces went on the offensive to recapture towns on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv.

 

[LadyL]

UN probes mass graves found in Mariupol, Ukraine after Russian bombing

 

[Vern]

Wow.

I agree! This is great news. Morale is down amongst the Russians and the best outcome we can hope for is, quite frankly, mutiny amongst their troops and refusal to advance.