Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 **Media Thread** NO DISCUSSION #3

[PommyMommy]

MAR 25, 2022
FedEx flight planned to ship medical supplies for Ukrainians | AP News
The aid includes an emergency field hospital containing 50 beds, IV poles and kits, defibrillators, tourniquets and oxygen supplies, said Direct Relief, which is providing the supplies.

Also included on the flight will be COVID-19 treatments, antibiotics, inhalers, wound dressings and medicines for heart, thyroid and respiratory conditions, Direct Relief said.

Ukraine says Moscow is forcibly taking civilians to Russia | AP News
Lyudmyla Denisova, Ukraine’s ombudsperson, said 402,000 people, including 84,000 children, had been taken to Russia.

The Kremlin gave nearly identical numbers for those who have been relocated, but said they wanted to go to Russia. Ukraine’s rebel-controlled eastern regions are predominantly Russian-speaking, and many people there have supported close ties to Moscow.

Putin's war in Ukraine nearing possibly more dangerous phase | AP News
The human tragedy unfolding in Ukraine has overshadowed a worry across Europe that Putin could, by miscalculation if not by intent, escalate the conflict by using chemical or nuclear weapons in Ukraine or attempt to punish neighboring NATO nations for their support for Ukraine by attacking them militarily.

“Unfortunately there is now not a single country that can live with the illusion that they are safe and secure,” Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said, referring to his fellow European members of NATO.

With that threat in mind, the United States and other allied countries have begun assembling combat forces in Bulgaria and other Eastern European NATO countries — not to enter the war directly but to send Putin the message that if he were to widen his war he would face allied resistance.

 

[PommyMommy]

March 25 2022
Putin's war in Ukraine nearing possibly more dangerous phase | CP24.com
''Russian shortcomings in Ukraine might be the biggest shock of the war so far. After two decades of modernization and professionalization, Putin’s forces have proved to be ill-prepared, poorly coordinated and surprisingly stoppable. The extent of Russian troop losses is not known in detail, although NATO estimates that between 7,000 and 15,000 have died in the first four weeks — potentially as many as Russia lost in a decade of war in Afghanistan.

Robert Gates, the former CIA director and defense secretary, said Putin “has got to be stunningly disappointed” in his military's performance.

“Here we are in Ukraine seeing conscripts not knowing why they’re there, not being very well trained, and just huge problems with command and control, and incredibly lousy tactics,” Gates said at a forum sponsored by The OSS Society, a group honoring the World War II-era intelligence agency known as the Office of Strategic Services.

Battlefield trends are difficult to reliably discern from the outside, but some Western officials say they see potentially significant shifts. Air Vice-Marshal Mick Smeath, London's defense attaché in Washington, says British intelligence assesses that Ukrainian forces probably have retaken two towns west of Kyiv, the capital.

“It is likely that successful counterattacks by Ukraine will disrupt the ability of Russian forces to reorganize and resume their own offensive towards Kyiv,” Smeath said in a brief statement Wednesday.''

 

[PommyMommy]

Erdoğan: Ukraine and Russia nearing 'consensus' on 4 of 6 key issues to ending the war

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan claimed on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are nearing "consensus" on key issues to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war. Turkey has been hosting diplomatic talks between the nations.

<snipped>

"As is known, there is almost a consensus regarding such issues as NATO, disarmament, collective security and using Russian as official language in the technical infrastructure works during the ongoing process in Belarus," the Turkish president added. "However, there is the issue of Crimea and Donbass, which is impossible for Ukraine to consent to."

"I think Mr. Zelensky has displayed wise leadership with an understanding to take the issue to referendum by saying ‘That is a decision that must be made by the entire Ukrainian people'," Erdoğan added.

 

[PommyMommy]

Fox News' Benjamin Hall transferred to Texas after suffering serious injuries reporting from Ukraine
Benjamin Hall, Fox war correspondent who was seriously injured in Ukraine, is now recovering in Texas military hospital following several surgeries in Germany.

 

[Vern]

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 24 | Institute for the Study of War (understandingwar.org)

March 24, 6:30 pm ET

Russian forces continue to make slow but steady progress in Mariupol, entering the city center on March 24, but conducted few offensive operations elsewhere in the country. Ukrainian counterattacks northwest of Kyiv in the past several days continue to relieve pressure on the city, and Russian forces continued to dig in. Ukrainian forces repelled limited Russian attacks northeast of the city and around Kharkiv.

Key Takeaways

• Russian forces entered central Mariupol on March 24 and continued to take ground across the city. Local Ukrainian authorities left the city in order to better coordinate regional operations amid the deteriorating situation in Mariupol itself.
• Ukrainian forces conducted a successful attack on Russian ships docked at the occupied port of Berdyansk, likely sinking a landing ship and damaging or sinking another. Ukraine’s demonstrated ability to inflict serious damage on Berdyansk may disrupt Russian forces from renewing attempts to reinforce operations in Mariupol and around Kherson by sea.
• Ukrainian forces did not retake any territory in continuing counterattacks northwest of Kyiv but forced Russian troops onto the defensive.
• Ukrainian forces repelled renewed Russian attempts to advance toward Brovary from the northeast and complete the encirclement of Chernihiv.
• Russian forces continue to shell Kharkiv and struck a humanitarian aid delivery point, killing six and wounding 15.
• Russian forces secured several minor advances in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in the last 24 hours.

The Ukrainian government and military directly stated for the first time on March 24 that the Kremlin believes its invasion of Ukraine has entered a second, “protracted” phase.

Russian forces are engaged in four primary efforts at this time:

• Main effort—Kyiv (comprised of three subordinate supporting efforts);
• Supporting effort 1—Kharkiv;
  • Supporting effort 1a—Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts;
• Supporting effort 2—Mariupol; and
• Supporting effort 3—Kherson and advances northward and westward.

Main effort—Kyiv axis: Russian operations on the Kyiv axis are aimed at encircling the city from the northwest, west, and east.

Subordinate main effort along the west bank of the Dnipro

Social media users geolocated footage released by Chechen forces on March 24 to a street in Borodyanka, confirming the presence of Chechen Rosgvardia units in ongoing fighting northwest of Kyiv.

Subordinate supporting effort — Chernihiv and Sumy axis

Immediate items to watch

• 
  
  • Russian forces will likely capture Mariupol or force the city to capitulate within the coming weeks and have entered the city center;
  • Russia will expand its air, missile, and artillery bombardments of Ukrainian cities;
  • Ukrainian officials suggest that Ukrainian forces may launch a larger counter-attack in western Kyiv Oblast in the coming days;
  • The continued involvement of the Black Sea Fleet in the Battle of Mariupol reduces the likelihood of an amphibious landing near Odesa, Russian naval shelling of Odesa in recent days notwithstanding.

 

[PommyMommy]

2012
UPDATE 3-Putin sacks Russian defence minister amid scandal

MAR 23, 2022
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."...

(...)

"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."

 

[PommyMommy]

Putin lapdog's party-loving stepdaughter hit with U.K. sanctions | Toronto Sun
''The vodka is now on ice for the luxury-loving stepdaughter of Vladimir Putin lapdog Sergei Lavrov.''

''The U.K. has now punished the 26-year-old party girl in a new round of sanctions targeting Russian oligarchs and their families.
Also hit were the notorious mercenaries described as “Putin’s private army,” The Wagner Group.
Polina Kovaleva reportedly lives in London in a posh $7-million home in trendy Kensington. The jet-setting graduate of the Imperial College is the most prominent target of the latest sanctions.
Her mother is reportedly Svetlana Polyakova, 51, a member of the Russian Foreign Ministry who accompanies Lavrov on every foreign trip.''

''Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “These oligarchs, businesses and hired thugs are complicit in the murder of innocent civilians and it is right that they pay the price. Putin should be under no illusions – we are united with our allies and will keep tightening the screw on the Russian economy to help ensure he fails in Ukraine. There will be no let-up.''

“All those sanctioned today will have their assets in the U.K. frozen which means no U.K. citizen or company can do business with them, and individuals subject to travel bans are also prohibited from travelling to or from the U.K.”
Maria Pevchikh, the head of investigations at the Anti-Corruption Foundation said Kovaleva’s cash comes from stepdaddy.''

 

[PommyMommy]

"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

 

[PommyMommy]

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

 

[PommyMommy]

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

 

[PommyMommy]

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.

 

[PommyMommy]

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

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

 

[PommyMommy]

'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.

 

[PommyMommy]

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

Ukraine War 'Unmitigated Disaster' for Putin: Former U.S. Ambassador

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

DOJ charges Russian officials over hacking that targeted critical infrastructure

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

 

[PommyMommy]

Ostap Yarysh@OstapYarysh
3m

A senior Pentagon official: Russian forces no longer have full control of Kherson in #Ukraine. The city is "contested territory again".

 

[PommyMommy]

N.S. fisherman trapped by Russian shelling as he tries to drive Ukrainians to safety (msn.com)

Russia Releases Its Forces’ Death Toll in Ukraine, Revealing Staggering Losses

 

[PommyMommy]

The Russian military said it’s focusing efforts on taking full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region after a month of fighting that’s yielded limited territorial gains, potentially a sign Moscow may be backing away from hopes of taking larger swathes of the country.

With Kyiv-led forces having halted the invasion in many areas amid mounting Russian losses, a Ukrainian official also signaled that Russia is shifting tactics in stalled peace negotiations.

Michael Kofman, a specialist on the Russian military at CNA, a Washington think tank, said Russia appears to be “revising war aims” in an effort “to prioritize where they can actually achieve some military success.”

“That gives Moscow an option to end this war in a way so that they can claim the victory for domestic audiences,” he said. “Politically Russia is losing. Militarily it is less clear. Russian forces have lost momentum and couldn’t achieve most of their objectives. But this is the first chapter of the war. It is hard to say if we’re near the beginning, middle or end of the conflict.”

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

 

[PommyMommy]

Ukraine war: JK Rowling hits back at Putin's 'cancel culture' comment - BBC News
''JK Rowling has hit back at Vladimir Putin, after the Russian president cited her in a wide-ranging speech that saw him criticise "cancel culture".

At a televised meeting on Friday, Mr Putin compared recent criticism of the Harry Potter author to that faced by pro-war Russian composers and writers.

In response, Ms Rowling denounced the invasion of Ukraine in which she said Russia was "slaughtering civilians".

Rowling has been criticised for her views on transgender issues.

"Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics," the Harry Potter author wrote on Twitter.

In the lengthy speech, which was given to the winners of various cultural prizes, President Putin claimed Russian composers and writers were being discriminated against.''

 

[PommyMommy]

Russia-Ukraine war: hope for Mariupol evacuation as France negotiates plan; Moscow says first phase of invasion complete – live | World news | The Guardian
''Over the last month, Russian forces have repeatedly attacked Ukrainian hospitals, ambulances, medics, patients and newborns, according to the Associated Press, which is now reporting that it has independently documented 34 assaults.

More details from the AP on the growing calls for war crimes prosecutions against Putin, his generals and top Kremlin advisers:

To convict, prosecutors will need to show that the attacks are not merely accidents or collateral damage. The emerging pattern, tracked day by day by the AP, shows evidence of a consistent and relentless onslaught against the very civilian infrastructure designed to save lives and provide safe haven to Ukraine’s most vulnerable.

AP journalists in Ukraine have seen the deadly results of Russian strikes on civilian targets first hand: the final moments of children whose tiny bodies were shredded by shrapnel or had limbs blown off; dozens of corpses, including those of children, heaped into mass graves.

Deliberate attacks on hospitals will likely be a top priority for war crimes prosecutors.”

 

[PommyMommy]

Bear Rescued in War-Torn Ukraine and Taken to Sanctuary

Adopted from Russia, raised in America, now watching a war in Ukraine

Russian Missiles Target Ukrainian Air Force Command in Vinnytsia, Military Says

Ukrainian families escape the war in their country by coming to Spokane - YakTriNews.com