Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #8

[PommyMommy]

Snipped by me...I'm without words, just feel devestated

That is because you are a kind and compassionate soul who values human life. The invaders are nothing but rabid animals and they should be treated accordingly.

 

[Mo Thuairim]

Russian State TV simulates nuclear attack on Ireland

A television programme shown in Russian appears to demonstrate how Ireland would be completely destroyed by an underwater nuclear drone launched by one of its navy’s submarines.

It claims an explosion from the 100 megatonne warhead would cause a “gigantic tsunami wave up to 500m high”.

The Russian State TV programme, which is presented by Dmitry Kiselyov, showed a simulation of a nuclear attack on Europe, which it claims would decimate Ireland and the UK.

The simulation shows an underwater missile being set off just off the coast of Donegal.

Showing the simulation, the presenter says: “Another option is to plunge Britain into the depths of the sea using Russia's unmanned underwater vehicle Poisedon.

"It approaches its target at a depth of 1km at a speed of 200km/h. There's no way of stopping this underwater drone. The warhead on it has a yield of up to 100 megatonnes.

"The explosion of this thermonuclear torpedo by Britain's coastline will cause a gigantic tsunami wave up to 500m high.

"Such a barrage alone also carries extreme doses of radiation. Having passed over the British Isles, it will turn what might be left of them into a radioactive desert.”

The Russian Embassy in Ireland responded to the programme by saying it was “the views” of TV editors and that nuclear war “must never be unleashed.”

(...)

Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond tweeted: “Casually discussing detonating a nuclear device off the coast of Donegal, a chilling insight into the Russian state mindset, yet we still allow Russia’s ambassador to spread their state disinformation here from the embassy on Orwell Road.”

Former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, added: “Russian State TV casually illustrating the obliteration of Ireland with a Russian nuke. This is not some independent TV station. Time to call in and dress down Russian ambassador again and this time, threaten expulsion.”

(...)

 

[scandinavian girl]

Astrid Lindgren, the author of Pippi Longstocking, is called a Nazi on Russian posters
We (Russia) are against Nazism, but they are not (Sweden) ", is the headline of pictures of Lindgren, Ingmar Bergman, Ingvar Kamprad and King Gustav V.

Astrid Lindgren kallas nazist på ryska affischer

Astrid Lindgren

I added author of Pippi Longstocking for clarification.

 

[sds71]

The U.S. government now considers WNBA star Brittney Griner to be wrongfully detained by the Russian government, signaling a significant shift in how officials will try to get her home, sources familiar with her case told ESPN.

The officials and other sources close to Griner's case declined to say what led to the shift or whether there have been any discussions about what it would take to secure her release.

But the change in official designation means that the U.S. government will no longer wait for Griner's case to play out through the Russian legal system and will seek to negotiate her return. It also means that Griner's fellow WNBA players and supporters in Congress will be told they have the family's blessing to bring as much attention to her case as they wish....

The official said that does not mean that Griner is considered a hostage, which is a different legal classification than wrongful detainee.

Sources close to Griner said they were not told why she was reclassified, but they were informed Saturday morning that her case had been moved to the special envoy's office.

U.S. reclassifies WNBA star Brittney Griner as 'wrongfully detained' by Russia, sources say (espn.com)

 

[sds71]

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has told an Italian newspaper that he has offered to travel to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin to try to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, but that he hasn’t yet heard back.

Francis said he made the offer about three weeks into Russia’s invasion, via the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Popes for decades have sought to visit Moscow as part of the longstanding effort to heal relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, which split with Rome more than 1,000 years ago. But an invitation has never been forthcoming.

“Of course, it would be necessary for the leader of the Kremlin to make available some window of opportunity. But we still have not had a response and we are still pushing, even if I fear that Putin cannot and does not want to have this meeting at this moment,” Francis was quoted as saying by the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Pope offers to meet Putin, still waiting to hear back

 

[PommyMommy]

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 2 hrs ago
Russian forces begin to storm Azovstal. Russian troops are trying to break into Mariupol’s Azovstal plant after a night of intense shelling that killed two civilians, Ukrainian defenders told Ukrainska Pravda on May 3.

Mariupol: enemy storms Azovstal | Ukrayinska Pravda
[...]

Source: Deputy Commander of the Regiment "Azov" Svyatoslav Palamar ("Kalina") in comments to UP

Direct speech: "All night we were bombed with bombs, two civilian women were killed, and now there is an assault on Azovstal."

Details: According to Palamar, the occupiers are just now trying to break into the territory of the plant. Before the assault, Russian aircraft bombed the plant.

[...]

There was a huge fire that was visible from all parts of the city.

"AZOVSTAL": PHOTO FROM TELEGRAM "AZOV"

 

[Sundog]

Push to arm Ukraine putting strain on US weapons stockpile

Cancian, the former government specialist on defense budget strategy, said the fact that Stingers and Javelins were not included in the most recent tranche of weapons the Biden administration announced it was sending to Ukraine could be a sign that Pentagon officials are mindful about inventory as they conduct contingency planning for other possible conflicts.

 

[PommyMommy]

NEXTA on Twitter - 7 hrs ago, Video
An explosion occurred in the center of #Russian-occupied #Melitopol. It is reported that a booby-trapped scooter exploded. According to eyewitnesses, there were three loud bangs. There is no information about casualties at the moment, reports local media.

NEXTA on Twitter
#NATO sets up a battlegroup in #Romania to strengthen protection of the alliance's borders.

NEXTA on Twitter - 6 hrs ago
A lonely grandfather from #Kharkiv refused to be evacuated. He leaves a sheet on the door to let everyone know that he lived one more night.

NEXTA on Twitter - 4 hrs ago
#Russia launched an artillery strike on the village of #Zheleznodorozhny in the #Zaporozhye region. 12 houses were damaged, a school was destroyed.

NEXTA on Twitter - 3 hrs ago
The occupiers disconnected the #Kherson region from the #Ukrainian Internet. Now the traffic goes through #Russia and is fully controlled.

NEXTA on Twitter - 2 hrs ago, Video
The #Ukrainian military and more than 200 civilians remain at the "#Azovstal" plant in #Mariupol.

NEXTA on Twitter
In two days, the Armed Forces of #Ukraine destroyed about 20 enemy drones with a total value of $2 million.

NEXTA on Twitter - 1 hr ago, Video
#Russian occupiers captured the head of #Chernobaivka, #Kherson region, Igor Dudar. They also hung the Russian flag yesterday and destroyed signs in the #Ukrainian language.

NEXTA on Twitter
#Belarusian volunteers from the Kastus Kalinouski Battalion continue to fight for #Ukraine.

 

[Charlot123]

Russian State TV simulates nuclear attack on Ireland

A television programme shown in Russian appears to demonstrate how Ireland would be completely destroyed by an underwater nuclear drone launched by one of its navy’s submarines.

It claims an explosion from the 100 megatonne warhead would cause a “gigantic tsunami wave up to 500m high”.

The Russian State TV programme, which is presented by Dmitry Kiselyov, showed a simulation of a nuclear attack on Europe, which it claims would decimate Ireland and the UK.

The simulation shows an underwater missile being set off just off the coast of Donegal.

Showing the simulation, the presenter says: “Another option is to plunge Britain into the depths of the sea using Russia's unmanned underwater vehicle Poisedon.

"It approaches its target at a depth of 1km at a speed of 200km/h. There's no way of stopping this underwater drone. The warhead on it has a yield of up to 100 megatonnes.

"The explosion of this thermonuclear torpedo by Britain's coastline will cause a gigantic tsunami wave up to 500m high.

"Such a barrage alone also carries extreme doses of radiation. Having passed over the British Isles, it will turn what might be left of them into a radioactive desert.”

The Russian Embassy in Ireland responded to the programme by saying it was “the views” of TV editors and that nuclear war “must never be unleashed.”

(...)

Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond tweeted: “Casually discussing detonating a nuclear device off the coast of Donegal, a chilling insight into the Russian state mindset, yet we still allow Russia’s ambassador to spread their state disinformation here from the embassy on Orwell Road.”

Former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, added: “Russian State TV casually illustrating the obliteration of Ireland with a Russian nuke. This is not some independent TV station. Time to call in and dress down Russian ambassador again and this time, threaten expulsion.”

(...)

I don’t care what happens with Russian ambassador, but are we all, countries threatened, taking any measures? It should be at the governors’ level, yet I heard nothing from mine.

 

[Niner]

 

[dotr]

Mariupol evacuees from steel plant reach Ukrainian-held city, UN says | CBC News
''The first convoy of civilians to escape a decimated steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine, reached relative safety in a Ukrainian-controlled city on Tuesday.

The United Nations said 127 civilians evacuated from the plant and a nearby town arrived in Zaporizhzhia.

Osnat Lubriani, the UN's humanitarian co-ordinator for Ukraine, said Tuesday that those evacuated included 101 people who "could finally leave the bunkers below the Azovstal steelworks and see the daylight after two months."

Another 58 people joined the convoy in Manhush, a town on the outskirts of Mariupol.

"Today, we brought people safely to Zaporizhzhia," Lubriani said. "However, I worry that there may be more civilians who remain trapped."

 

[dotr]

Hmm, kind of weird, imo. rbbm.
Pope Says NATO Might Have Provoked Russian Invasion of Ukraine (wsj.com)
''ROME⁠—Pope Francis said that the “barking of NATO at the door of Russia” might have led to the invasion of Ukraine and that he didn't know whether other countries should supply Ukraine with more arms.

The pope at the same time deplored the brutality of the war and criticized the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church for defending the invasion in religious terms, warning that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow “cannot turn himself into Putin’s altar boy.”

''Meanwhile, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow delivered a sermon Tuesday at the Kremlin's Cathedral of the Archangel, falsely claiming that Russia never attacked another country.

“We don’t want to go to war with anyone, Russia has never attacked anyone," he said, in remarks carried by the Interfax news agency.''

''Since February, Pope Francis has deplored the suffering of Ukrainians and denounced the invasion but refrained from explicitly naming Russia as the aggressor, reflecting both a Vatican tradition of neutrality and his own agenda of better relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as a reluctance to align the Vatican with U.S. foreign policy.

“In Ukraine, it was other states that created the conflict,” Pope Francis said in the interview, without identifying which states.''

“I don’t know how to answer—I am too far away—whether it is right to supply the Ukrainians” with weapons, the pope said. “What’s clear is that in this land arms are being tested… Wars are fought for this: to test the arms we have made.”

 

[Sundog]

Hmm, kind of weird, imo. rbbm.
Pope Says NATO Might Have Provoked Russian Invasion of Ukraine (wsj.com)
''ROME⁠—Pope Francis said that the “barking of NATO at the door of Russia” might have led to the invasion of Ukraine and that he didn't know whether other countries should supply Ukraine with more arms.

The pope at the same time deplored the brutality of the war and criticized the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church for defending the invasion in religious terms, warning that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow “cannot turn himself into Putin’s altar boy.”

''Meanwhile, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow delivered a sermon Tuesday at the Kremlin's Cathedral of the Archangel, falsely claiming that Russia never attacked another country.

“We don’t want to go to war with anyone, Russia has never attacked anyone," he said, in remarks carried by the Interfax news agency.''

''Since February, Pope Francis has deplored the suffering of Ukrainians and denounced the invasion but refrained from explicitly naming Russia as the aggressor, reflecting both a Vatican tradition of neutrality and his own agenda of better relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as a reluctance to align the Vatican with U.S. foreign policy.

“In Ukraine, it was other states that created the conflict,” Pope Francis said in the interview, without identifying which states.''

“I don’t know how to answer—I am too far away—whether it is right to supply the Ukrainians” with weapons, the pope said. “What’s clear is that in this land arms are being tested… Wars are fought for this: to test the arms we have made.”

Wish we could read the original source and not the WSJ's use of the Pope's comments without their context.

I don't have a problem with the Pope's neutrality, or with his saying that he doesn't know if other countries should be supplying arms to Ukraine, in response to a question by a journalist on what he thinks about this. It is an honest response, ie. he doesn't know.

He also says that perhaps Ukraine becoming a NATO country on Russia's doorstop may have "facilitated" Russia's invasion, but not necessarily "provoked" it. We don't know the questions that the Pope was asked to respond to, if we did, then we would have the full context of his remarks.

In the WSJ article we only have the responses, not the questions, so context isn't clear. This makes a huge difference.

The Vatican is trying to uphold its neutrality policy but has consistenly spoken out against what is happening in Ukraine, from a pastoral and not a political perspective.

 

[Sundog]

NEXTA on Twitter - 6 hrs ago

A lonely grandfather from #Kharkiv refused to be evacuated. He leaves a sheet on the door to let everyone know that he lived one more night.

Extremely moving and heartbreaking image of this elderly man's last testament.

 

[sunshineray]

Russian State TV simulates nuclear attack on Ireland

A television programme shown in Russian appears to demonstrate how Ireland would be completely destroyed by an underwater nuclear drone launched by one of its navy’s submarines.

It claims an explosion from the 100 megatonne warhead would cause a “gigantic tsunami wave up to 500m high”.

The Russian State TV programme, which is presented by Dmitry Kiselyov, showed a simulation of a nuclear attack on Europe, which it claims would decimate Ireland and the UK.

The simulation shows an underwater missile being set off just off the coast of Donegal.

Showing the simulation, the presenter says: “Another option is to plunge Britain into the depths of the sea using Russia's unmanned underwater vehicle Poisedon.

"It approaches its target at a depth of 1km at a speed of 200km/h. There's no way of stopping this underwater drone. The warhead on it has a yield of up to 100 megatonnes.

"The explosion of this thermonuclear torpedo by Britain's coastline will cause a gigantic tsunami wave up to 500m high.

"Such a barrage alone also carries extreme doses of radiation. Having passed over the British Isles, it will turn what might be left of them into a radioactive desert.”

The Russian Embassy in Ireland responded to the programme by saying it was “the views” of TV editors and that nuclear war “must never be unleashed.”

(...)

Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond tweeted: “Casually discussing detonating a nuclear device off the coast of Donegal, a chilling insight into the Russian state mindset, yet we still allow Russia’s ambassador to spread their state disinformation here from the embassy on Orwell Road.”

Former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, added: “Russian State TV casually illustrating the obliteration of Ireland with a Russian nuke. This is not some independent TV station. Time to call in and dress down Russian ambassador again and this time, threaten expulsion.”

(...)

I guess he gets paid well for a job well done Who are these people who live in such a place? How do rational people watch these "simulations" on their tv's and not figure something is very very wrong in my country...on my planet? Praying hard </3

A day after reporting a simulated nuke attack on Ireland, Dmitry Kiselyov is sunning himself in Dubai

 

[CSIDreamer]

Push to arm Ukraine putting strain on US weapons stockpile

Cancian, the former government specialist on defense budget strategy, said the fact that Stingers and Javelins were not included in the most recent tranche of weapons the Biden administration announced it was sending to Ukraine could be a sign that Pentagon officials are mindful about inventory as they conduct contingency planning for other possible conflicts.

As well they should be. This has been worrying me. JMO

 

[sunshineray]

Wish we could read the original source and not the WSJ's use of the Pope's comments without their context.

I don't have a problem with the Pope's neutrality, or with his saying that he doesn't know if other countries should be supplying arms to Ukraine, in response to a question by a journalist on what he thinks about this. It is an honest response, ie. he doesn't know.

He also says that perhaps Ukraine becoming a NATO country on Russia's doorstop may have "facilitated" Russia's invasion, but not necessarily "provoked" it. We don't know the questions that the Pope was asked to respond to, if we did, then we would have the full context of his remarks.

In the WSJ article we only have the responses, not the questions, so context isn't clear. This makes a huge difference.

The Vatican is trying to uphold its neutrality policy but has consistenly spoken out against what is happening in Ukraine, from a pastoral and not a political perspective.

Honestly and as a Catholic, if he can't condemn fully what should at this moment be condemned FULLY without any interruption of just that one purpose, he should say nothing at all except he's praying for an end to war, death and suffering. AJMO

 

[dotr]

Live updates: Russia's war in Ukraine (cnn.com)
May 3 2022

• ''The Azovstal steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol is under "constant fire," officials say as they race to evacuate more civilians from the complex.
• US intelligence reports suggest Russia will try to annex the separatist-occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk by mid-May. US and Western officials believe Russia could formally declare war on Ukraine as soon as May 9.
• A missile strike hit a dormitory in the southern city of Odesa, with teenagers among those dead and wounded, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Meanwhile, Russian forces press into the east, as Ukraine claims more success in taking territory around Kharkiv.''

 

[Mo Thuairim]

I don’t care what happens with Russian ambassador, but are we all, countries threatened, taking any measures? It should be at the governors’ level, yet I heard nothing from mine.

Our Taoiseach (prime minister) has condemned it and asked for an apology but I highly doubt one will be forthcoming. Ridiculous posturing from a Putin mouthpiece, but still highly offensive that they casually 'entertain' Russian TV viewers with a simulation of wiping out millions of people like it's no big deal.

Russian mock-up of attack on Ireland condemned

The Taoiseach has described the mock-up of a Russian nuclear attack destroying Ireland and Britain as "very sinister, intimidatory-type tactics by the Russian Federation".

(...)

Micheál Martin said while he does not think anyone is going to be intimidated by the imagery depicting the outcome of such an assault, he said "it reflects a mindset that is worrying and not in touch with reality".

He said "there should be an apology forthcoming" in relation to the incident from "whoever instigated this".

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said there has been a lot of comment about the "trash video on Russian State TV".

"Let's not allow ourselves be distracted from the real atrocities being committed by Russian Forces in #Ukraine by disinformation like this," he said.

Meanwhile, former army captain turned senator Tom Clonan has dismissed the piece as utter nonsense.

"Fantasy, farce, such an attack could not happen," he said.

"They haven't developed such a weapon and even if they did, they would have needed thousands of them to create a shockwave to generate any movement," he said.

"It just really is propaganda. It's also a further example of Putin weaponising TV as part of this war - spreading misinformation, trying to create fear," added Mr Clonan.

(...)

 

[sunshineray]

Our Taoiseach (prime minister) has condemned it and asked for an apology but I highly doubt one will be forthcoming. Ridiculous posturing from a Putin mouthpiece, but still highly offensive that they casually 'entertain' Russian TV viewers with a simulation of wiping out millions of people like it's no big deal.

Russian mock-up of attack on Ireland condemned

The Taoiseach has described the mock-up of a Russian nuclear attack destroying Ireland and Britain as "very sinister, intimidatory-type tactics by the Russian Federation".

(...)

Micheál Martin said while he does not think anyone is going to be intimidated by the imagery depicting the outcome of such an assault, he said "it reflects a mindset that is worrying and not in touch with reality".

He said "there should be an apology forthcoming" in relation to the incident from "whoever instigated this".

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said there has been a lot of comment about the "trash video on Russian State TV".

"Let's not allow ourselves be distracted from the real atrocities being committed by Russian Forces in #Ukraine by disinformation like this," he said.

Meanwhile, former army captain turned senator Tom Clonan has dismissed the piece as utter nonsense.

"Fantasy, farce, such an attack could not happen," he said.

"They haven't developed such a weapon and even if they did, they would have needed thousands of them to create a shockwave to generate any movement," he said.

"It just really is propaganda. It's also a further example of Putin weaponising TV as part of this war - spreading misinformation, trying to create fear," added Mr Clonan.

(...)

Where's the UN Security Council condemning such actions...oh yeah that's right...I forgot... China's Xi Jinping is Putin's best buddy....so veto vote, no censure.

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