Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #7

[worldwatcher]

4m ago20:25
Russia-Ukraine war latest: Putin demands Mariupol surrender; US promises financial support for Ukraine – live | World news | The Guardian
''Russian hackers attempted to penetrate the network of Nato and militaries in some eastern European countries, reports Reuters.

Russian hackers have recently attempted to penetrate the networks of NATO and the militaries of some eastern European countries, Google’s Threat Analysis Group said in a report published on Wednesday.

The report did not say which militaries had been targeted in what Google described as “credential phishing campaigns” launched by a Russian-based group called Coldriver, or Callisto. “These campaigns were sent using newly created Gmail accounts to non-Google accounts, so the success rate of these campaigns is unknown,” the report said.

NATO was not immediately available for comment on the report.
Russia, which is now under heavy Western economic sanctions following its decision to invade Ukraine on Feb. 24, regularly denies accusations of mounting cyber attacks on Western targets.''

In 2019, Finnish cybersecurity firm F-Secure Labs described Callisto as an unidentified and advanced threat actor “interested in intelligence gathering related to foreign and security policy” in Europe.

The group also targeted a NATO Centre of Excellence, Wednesday’s Google report said, without elaborating. In a statement, the centre did not directly address Google’s report but said: “We see malicious cyber activity on a daily basis.”

Yesterday,I was reading into hackers - “ghostwriter”
There are also Russian forums,where hacking is discussed and hacking monitored.

Unprotected Russian soldiers disturbed radioactive dust in Chernobyl's 'Red Forest', workers say

Unprotected Russian soldiers disturbed radioactive dust in Chernobyl's 'Red Forest', workers say


Radioactive material stolen from Chernobyl monitoring lab: Here's what that means.

By Nicoletta Lanese published about 5 hours ago

Some of the materials could be used in dirty bombs

Radioactive material stolen from Chernobyl monitoring lab: Here's what that means.

10,000 hectares of contaminated forest burning

More than 10,000 hectares of forest burning in Chernobyl exclusion zone, Ukraine says

Omg,this is not good, getting worse by the minute..- bet they got orders?!

I am no scientist, but today I read about the poison:

“According to Bellingcat, experts concluded that the symptoms were likely the result of poisoning by chemical weapons, though the exact type of chemical is unknown. Another possibility, though less likely, is microwave irradiation. Bellingcat reported that none of the men had consumed anything except water and chocolate before the onset of symptoms.”

Everything we know about the alleged poisoning on March 3 According to Bellingcat, the BBC, and the Wall Street Journal, Roman Abramovich and two other negotiators suffered symptoms that point to chemical attacks. — Meduza

“If this was indeed a chemical weapons attack, the person responsible most likely wanted to scare the men without causing lasting damage, an expert told Bellingcat, citing the symptoms and the types of toxin likely to cause them. The symptoms suggest poisoning by A class of organic compounds that includes, among other things, heme, chlorophyll, and many other naturally-occurring molecules. It’s unclear exactly what toxic compounds of the porphyrin class might be pertinent to this case.”

 

[worldwatcher]

Putin and his minions need to answer for these unfathomable war crimes.

Dump all the poison chemicals in his bunker! Just my thought.. popping up!

 

[LadyL]

Ukrainians try to rescue exotic animals from abandoned zoo

 

[dotr]

March 30 2022
Ukraine war: Russian troops have accidentally shot down own aircraft and refused to carry out orders, UK spy chief to reveal | World News | Sky News
''Demoralised Russian soldiers in Ukraine have accidentally shot down their own aircraft, sabotaged their own kit, and refused to carry out orders, a British spy chief will reveal.

Sir Jeremy Fleming, the head of GCHQ, is set to use a rare public speech to say it increasingly looks like Russia's President Vladimir Putin "has massively misjudged the situation" in Ukraine.

• Wagner, the private military company with suspected links to the Kremlin, is understood to be prepared to "send large numbers of personnel into Ukraine to fight alongside Russians"
• Wagner mercenaries would likely to be used as "cannon fodder" to try to limit Russian military losses
• Risks are greater for China than Russia of the two authoritarian states being too closely aligned with each other
• There are indications that Russian cyber attackers are "looking for targets" in the countries that oppose Moscow's actions''

Cyber operations against Ukraine
''Turning to the cyber dimension of Russia's invasion, Sir Jeremy will say his agency never thought a catastrophic cyber attack was central to Moscow's use of cyber in a war.
Instead, he said there have been lots of cyber operations against Ukraine.
"And we've certainly seen indicators which suggests Russia's cyber actors are looking for targets in the countries that oppose their actions," he adds.''

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Germany and Austria take step towards gas rationing

Germany gets about half its gas and a third of its oil from Russia and has warned that it could face a recession if supplies suddenly stopped.

Neighbouring Austria relies on Russia much more for gas, with the country getting about 80% from the country…. Under an existing gas emergency plan, the "early warning phase", which both Germany and Austria have begun, is the first of three steps designed to prepare the country for a potential supply shortage. In its final stage, the governments would bring in gas rationing.


What are other European countries doing?

• France gets around 20% of its gas from Russia and the head of the country's CRE regulatory body said it did not expect any supply issues
• Bulgaria gets 90% of its gas via imports from Russian company Gazprom. Its natural gas grid operator has opened a tender for underground drilling as part of plans to almost double the country's gas storage capacity and prepare for any supply disruptions
• Poland gets around 50% of its gas per year from Russia but says it has no current plans to limit gas use
• Greece receives about 40% of its gas via a pipeline that bypasses Ukraine. Its government will meet to assess supply security if Russia switches the tap off
• Italy gets around 40% of its gas supply from Russia and is monitoring the situation. It will wait to see if Gazprom sends contract amendments to operators before it takes any further decisions
• The Netherlands gets between 15%-20% of its gas from Russia. The Dutch government said it will ask people to use less gas but it is not yet activating its gas crisis plan
• Britain gets around 3% of gas from Russia and says it has a range of sources to ensure supply

 

[worldwatcher]

Germany and Austria take step towards gas rationing

What are other European countries doing?

• France gets around 20% of its gas from Russia and the head of the country's CRE regulatory body said it did not expect any supply issues
• Bulgaria gets 90% of its gas via imports from Russian company Gazprom. Its natural gas grid operator has opened a tender for underground drilling as part of plans to almost double the country's gas storage capacity and prepare for any supply disruptions
• Poland gets around 50% of its gas per year from Russia but says it has no current plans to limit gas use
• Greece receives about 40% of its gas via a pipeline that bypasses Ukraine. Its government will meet to assess supply security if Russia switches the tap off
• Italy gets around 40% of its gas supply from Russia and is monitoring the situation. It will wait to see if Gazprom sends contract amendments to operators before it takes any further decisions
• The Netherlands gets between 15%-20% of its gas from Russia. The Dutch government said it will ask people to use less gas but it is not yet activating its gas crisis plan
• Britain gets around 3% of gas from Russia and says it has a range of sources to ensure supply

Thank you,I was thinking about other countries as well, like Switzerland. And while I did some googling,it seems like we also import, uranium from Russia..

“Russia is a significant supplier of natural gas and uranium to Switzerland and the rest of Europe. So, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how the rest of the world, including Switzerland, reacted with sanctions against Russia have destabilised the energy supply,” says Aya Kachi, professor of energy policy at the University of Basel.”

What the Ukraine war means for Switzerland’s energy policy

Recent info -21 March 2022:
Weekly data: Cutting nuclear links with Russia may be harder than cutting fossil fuel imports

That doesn’t sound - reassuring!

 

[Ray_of_hope]

Putin is being "misinformed" by his advisors!? What the heck is that all about? First thing comes to my mind, war crimes charges. Oh I didn't know, they lied to me. AJMO

US works to gauge peace prospects as it warns Putin 'misinformed' by advisers - CNNPolitics

I wondered too if they were trying to give Putin a face-saving way to stop the war. To think that he would be misled by people who could be killed for less is so hard to believe.

 

[CrimeAway]

CNN report on sugar shortages in Russia and the greater concern of global food security because of this conflict:

 

[Kavya01]

I thought these russians have quite the sweet tooth but was told no, they need all these pounds of sugar to make their moonshine Vodka.

 

[PommyMommy]

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 3 hrs ago
Pentagon: Russian occupiers start to withdraw from Chornobyl nuclear power plant. AFP reported, citing an unnamed U.S. defense official, that Russia has begun pulling its troops out of the defunct nuclear power site after seizing control of the facility on Feb. 24.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
“Chornobyl is (an) area where they are beginning to reposition some of their troops — leaving, walking away from the Chornobyl facility and moving into Belarus,” the official said.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 1 hr ago
Russia-Ukraine talks will resume on April 1st in Turkey. A senior Ukrainian official announced the date after the latest round of negotiations ended in Turkey on March 30th, Reuters reports.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Russia announces ceasefire to evacuate residents of Mariupol. The Russian Ministry of Defense said a humanitarian corridor from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia, via the Russian-controlled port of Berdiansk, will begin at 10 a.m. on March 31st.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
UK GCHQ spy chief says Russian troops in Ukraine refused to carry out commands. Head of Britain’s GCHQ spy service Jeremy Fleming said on Mar. 30 that intelligence revealed Russian troops had low morale, were poorly equipped, and accidentally downed one of their own aircraft.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Fleming added that “Putin has massively misjudged the situation” in Ukraine.

 

[CrimeAway]

Former US Marine interviewed on Amanpour and Company:

 

[PommyMommy]

NEXTA on Twitter - 7 hrs ago
#Russian troops have used banned anti-personnel mines in eastern #Kharkiv Region, Human Rights Watch has reported. Human Rights Watch said that #Russia has such mines at its disposal: they can kill and wound people within a radius of 16 meters.

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 4 hrs ago
Ukrainian negotiator Arakhamiya:
- In the beginning, there were very harsh ultimatums
- Now Russia listens but does not agree
- Arakhamiya thinks now Russia needs either to really talk or abandon negotiations and go to war
–and get reaction from the world
Zelensky's first task in negotiations with Russia has been fulfilled and progress is being made – Arakhamia | Ukrayinska Pravda

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 3 hrs ago
Russia is relocating additional units to Ukraine. It is moving artillery to the area of the city of Izium towards Donbas, creating offensive groups, incl from the previously withdrawn. Some units from Kyiv Obl to move to other directions - General Staff of the Armed Forces of Uk (facebook.com)

NEXTA on Twitter
#Ukraine is negotiating with #Poland on the complete closure of the border with #Belarus - Ambassador Deshchytsia.

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 3 hrs ago
Reportedly, Ukraine has submitted a list of needs to Congress. Among else: tactical radars

• air defense systems
• aircraft (Su-25)
• drones

"We don’t have time... What we need is action,” Ukrainian MP said during todays visit of Congress Congress hears sirens wail as Ukraine legislators visit | AP News

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
Pentagon said the first six of “around 30 or so” total shipments of the latest round of US security assistance to Ukraine have been moved into the region. Switchblade drones promised to Ukraine will begin shipping in “relatively soon.”
Russia invades Ukraine, images confirm Mariupol explosions (cnn.com)

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Ukraine's military: Ukrainian forces regain control over southeastern Orlove, Zahradivka, Kochubeyivka. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine made the announcement on Facebook on March 30.

Orlove | Zahradivka | Kochubeivka - Google Maps

 

[Arkay]

In a rare move, Putin speaks English

Earlier I saw a clip on CNN where years ago, Putin and an American reporter spoke briefly in English. I really wasn’t sure how much of a command Putin actually has of English, so then I found this from 2019 or 2020. Thick accent but clearly fluent or near fluent, apparently reading from a teleprompter easily.

Then I found this BERSERK clip from long ago, Putin singing “Blueberry Hill” in English, to an audience of American celebrities at a charity event in St. Petersburg.

Apparently he doesn’t need a translator for negotiations in English, but feels it’s advantageous to him to conduct all negotiations in Russian. Even though he knows enough English to correct his translators.

All gamesmanship, all the time.

IMO

 

[sunshineray]

NEXTA on Twitter - 7 hrs ago
#Russian troops have used banned anti-personnel mines in eastern #Kharkiv Region, Human Rights Watch has reported. Human Rights Watch said that #Russia has such mines at its disposal: they can kill and wound people within a radius of 16 meters.

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 4 hrs ago
Ukrainian negotiator Arakhamiya:
- In the beginning, there were very harsh ultimatums
- Now Russia listens but does not agree
- Arakhamiya thinks now Russia needs either to really talk or abandon negotiations and go to war
–and get reaction from the world
Zelensky's first task in negotiations with Russia has been fulfilled and progress is being made – Arakhamia | Ukrayinska Pravda

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 3 hrs ago
Russia is relocating additional units to Ukraine. It is moving artillery to the area of the city of Izium towards Donbas, creating offensive groups, incl from the previously withdrawn. Some units from Kyiv Obl to move to other directions - General Staff of the Armed Forces of Uk (facebook.com)

NEXTA on Twitter
#Ukraine is negotiating with #Poland on the complete closure of the border with #Belarus - Ambassador Deshchytsia.

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 3 hrs ago
Reportedly, Ukraine has submitted a list of needs to Congress. Among else: tactical radars

• air defense systems
• aircraft (Su-25)
• drones

"We don’t have time... What we need is action,” Ukrainian MP said during todays visit of Congress Congress hears sirens wail as Ukraine legislators visit | AP News

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
Pentagon said the first six of “around 30 or so” total shipments of the latest round of US security assistance to Ukraine have been moved into the region. Switchblade drones promised to Ukraine will begin shipping in “relatively soon.”
Russia invades Ukraine, images confirm Mariupol explosions (cnn.com)

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Ukraine's military: Ukrainian forces regain control over southeastern Orlove, Zahradivka, Kochubeyivka. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine made the announcement on Facebook on March 30.

Orlove | Zahradivka | Kochubeivka - Google Maps

"The visiting legislators, all women, with family back home, were warning the U.S. that they do not trust negotiations underway with Russian President Vladimir Putin over ending the monthlong war."

Congress hears sirens wail as Ukraine legislators visit

 

[CrimeAway]

BBC video about the death of Boris Nemtsov:

 

[sunshineray]

Vladimir Putin believes conditions for ceasefire in Ukraine 'not mature' yet, Italian PM says
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes the conditions for a ceasefire in Ukraine are "not mature" yet, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi told a news conference today.

Speaking about a telephone call he had with the Kremlin leader the previous day, Mr Draghi said Mr Putin also told him that current gas contracts remained in force and that European firms would continue to pay in euros and dollars.

"What I understood, but I may be wrong, is that the conversion of the payment is an internal matter of the Russian Federation," Mr Draghi said.

During the phone call, Mr Putin also told the Italian prime minister it was "premature" for a meeting with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ukraine live news: 'Butcher of Mariupol' among those hit by new UK sanctions; Russian troops 'being pushed back, not withdrawing'; Putin 'massively misjudged' military

 

[PommyMommy]

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 5 hrs ago
Vereshchuk: Ukraine allowed to evacuate people from Mariupol. According to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, Russia had agreed to open a humanitarian corridor from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine sent 45 buses to evacuate people from the besieged city.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
US won't provide security guarantees to Ukraine. White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said at a briefing that President Joe Biden doesn’t intend to participate in a direct military confrontation with Russia.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 4 hrs ago
UK Intelligence: Russia shells Chernihiv, continues fighting near Kyiv. According to a report released by the U.K. Ministry of Defense, heavy fighting will likely continue near Kyiv in the coming days, despite a Russian official statement to withdraw from the region.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Heavy shelling continues in Donetsk Oblast. Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said that Russian forces overnight continued shelling the region using white phosphorus munitions.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 1 hr ago
Ground Forces: Five villages in Zaporizhzhia Oblast liberated. The Ukrainian Ground Forces wrote that Ukrainian troops are back in control of villages – Zatyshshia, Malynivka, Vesele, Zelenyi Hai, and Chervone – east of Zaporizhzhia.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
UK sanctions Russian media, propagandists. The U.K. government announced “sanctions on Putin’s propaganda.” Those sanctioned are — the Kremlin-funded TV-Novosti which owns RT, and Rossiya Segodnya which controls Sputnik.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 5 min ago
Stoltenberg: Russia repositioning to eastern Donbas region, not withdrawing. NATO secretary told reporters in Brussels that "Russia is trying to regroup, resupply and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas region" and "Russia has repeatedly lied about its intentions."

 

[PommyMommy]

NEXTA on Twitter - 6 hrs ago
The head of the #Luhansk regional state administration, Serhiy Haidai, reported that shelling of the territory continued on the night of March 31. One of the targets was an oil storage facility in #Lysychansk, where a large fire broke out. Rescuers are now working at the scene.

NEXTA on Twitter
This was the kit found on one of the killed #Russian servicemen.

NEXTA on Twitter - 5 hrs ago
#Japan has once again called the Southern #Kurils "illegally occupied". J#apanese authorities have decided to return harsh language stating that the Southern Kurils "are an integral part of Japan and are currently illegally occupied by #Russia."

NEXTA on Twitter
A "rail war" has broken out in #Belarus. In order to slow down the movement of #Russian military equipment to #Ukraine, #Belarusians are taking equipment out of service.

NEXTA on Twitter
#Russian troops again used phosphorus shells in #Donetsk region. This was reported by the head of the regional administration Pavel Kirilenko.

NEXTA on Twitter - 3 hrs ago
The #UN has announced the composition of the commission that will investigate war crimes in #Ukraine. The commissioners are to present an oral report on their work at the 51st session of the #UNHRC in September 2022. A full written report is due in March 2023.

NEXTA on Twitter - 2 hrs ago
The #Italian prime minister said that both #Russia and #Ukraine have asked #Rome to become the guarantor of peace in Ukraine, RIA Novosti reported

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
Russia's Admiral Makarov frigate has replenished its Caliber cruise missiles, which are hard to shoot down, in Sevastopol. This increases risk of naval missile strikes on Odesa Obl & neighboring regions. -Serhiy Bratchuk, Odesa RegAdministr spox

NEXTA on Twitter - 1 hr ago
#Spanish government has sent a total of ten planes with offensive weapons to #Ukraine This was announced by Defense Minister Margarita Robles.

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
"It is often said that unpunished evil returns. I would add: unpunished evil returns winged, with a sense of omnipotence. If world punished Russia for 2014, there would be no horrors of invasion of Ukraine in 2022" - Zelenskyy in Australian parliament Speech by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Australian Parliament — Official website of the President of Ukraine

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
@Polk_Azov reports it eliminated 3 Russian tanks &64 infantry troops, incl GRU Swat team, in battle for Mariupol on 30 Mar, shows trophies One Russian occupier was carrying looted dollars&gold; Azov says all looted goods will be returned to owners or used to help Mariupol refugees

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 10 min ago
A loud explosion heard in central Kyiv. Explosions can mean either that an incoming Russian missile was taken down by air defense forces, or that it hit the target.

 

[dotr]

March 31, 2022, 9:23 AM EDT
Russia-Ukraine war live updates: Kremlin rejects U.S. claims Putin being misled by advisers (nbcnews.com)
''The Kremlin rejected U.S. claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin is being misled by his advisers about Russia's failures on the battlefield.

In a daily news briefing on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "neither the State Department nor the Pentagon have real information about what is happening in the Kremlin."


"They just don’t understand what’s going on in the Kremlin," he said, warning that "such a complete misunderstanding leads to erroneous and rash decisions that cause very bad consequences."

It comes after declassified U.S. intelligence claimed that Putin's senior advisers have been "too afraid to tell him the truth" about the situation on the ground.''

 

[Bit of hope]

President Zelensky addresses the House of Representatives

On Thursday 31 March President Zelensky addressed the Dutch House of Representatives live via video link. The Ukrainian Ambassador to the Netherlands Maksym Kononenko and the Dutch ambassador to Ukraine Jennes de Mol were among those present.

Today was the first time in history a foreign president (Zelensky) hold a speech for the Dutch House of Representatives. As could be expected he asking for help. In short.....Zelensky asked for more weapons, asked them to totally stop buying gas from Russia, helping Ukraine with rebuilding the destroyed cities and help with strengthen Ukraine's agricultural sector when the time is there, advocating for Ukraine with organizations preoccupied with war crimes.

Looking at the life stream at the end of Zelensky's speech the House applauded....and I felt very sad....because applauding is easy....but not substantial. I felt a kind of vicarious shame.