Russia invades Ukraine

[silentkiller187]

Death sentence 'not applicable' to condemned Britons because they would have signed documentation when joining Ukrainian army

The governor of the Luhansk region of Ukraine, Serhiy Haidai, has said that Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner would have signed official documentation when joining the Ukrainian army and that the death sentence they have been condemned to was therefore "not applicable to them, even if they are not Ukrainians".

"All the people who come to fight on the Ukrainian side sign documents with the armed forces of Ukraine, hence they acquire official status," he told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme through a translator.

"That's why they are subject to the Geneva Convention if they're taken as prisoners of war.

"This kind of verdict is not applicable to them, even if they are not Ukrainians."

He added: "From what I know the lawyers already appealed against this verdict and I believe what is happening is just political pressure coming from Russia."

SKY

 

[Robert]

During desert storm, the Americans did exactly the same. They put a huge force (relatively) in a spot and the Iraqis and most of the world thought the Americans were planning something. It turns out later on the military leaders said it was just a fixing move. To make it seem real to everyone they had to launch some small company level attacks here and there. They also had to move vehicles and troops around to make it look real too.

Soldiers who fought in that war are the ones who told us what the Russians were doing around Kyiv was the same, it was a fixing move. I didn't get any of my info from RT, here in the UK we can't even watch that channel anymore, not without using some VPN online.

The Russians haven't been perfect during this conflict, far from it, but they have been significantly better than Ukraine (NATO). This is showing by the grinding down of the AFU in Donbas.

You talk about what NATO would have done, like the Russians had the same objective. Russia does not want to flatten the regions of Ukraine they are fighting for. Unlike NATO and the evil American empire in particular, the Russians do care about the population of Donbas, that is why they are fighting for it.

Russia is sacking many commanders, just 2 days ago I heard they replaced one in the Izyum region. This is good and bad, this is good because they're able to do this so easily in a live conflict, this is bad because some sections of their army are underperforming. The Russian source who stated this said he was sacked because he took 2 weeks to do what they had hoped would take 5 days.

Look at the cities that are blasted to ruin by massed artillery, and the vast numbers of refugees fleeing to Poland. It's turned into another Battle of Berlin.

I honestly don't give the Russian army commanders any credit - at least the ones in the initial weeks. I think they wanted to take Kyiv, capture Zelenskiy and put him on show trial. They were operating under the delusion that they would be welcomed as liberators instead of furiously resisted. Now the objective has changed and the bad officers have been replaced with competent commanders. With the massive artillery superiority the Russians enjoy, they are gaining ground.

 

[Technics 1210]

The longer Russia prolongs the war, the longer the price of energy stays high, the more Russia profits.

It's a war of economics.

MSM being fooled by the movement of troops on the ground.

Classic case of bait and switch happening right now.

 

[Technics 1210]

57.84 Rubles to 1 USD.

This after Russia DROPPED interest rates by 3%

 

[bones]

Look at the cities that are blasted to ruin by massed artillery, and the vast numbers of refugees fleeing to Poland. It's turned into another Battle of Berlin.

I honestly don't give the Russian army commanders any credit - at least the ones in the initial weeks. I think they wanted to take Kyiv, capture Zelenskiy and put him on show trial. They were operating under the delusion that they would be welcomed as liberators instead of furiously resisted. Now the objective has changed and the bad officers have been replaced with competent commanders. With the massive artillery superiority the Russians enjoy, they are gaining ground.

If that's what you believe then that's what you believe.

The Russians are running circles around Ukraine and the west right now. They're doing this despite not using indiscriminate force, the likes of which America used in Iraq & Afghanistan. The Russians have taken territory equivalent to the area of England and Wales inside 3 months using just 200k soldiers. That is quite the accomplishment when you consider they are fighting against well trained soldiers in heavily fortified areas. Just think of what Russia could do if they decided to flatten entire cities.

The places that are in ruins are in ruins because the Ukranians forces are hiding in civilian centres. Why would any army just bomb civilian areas, wasting hundreds of thousands of rounds and God knows how much £££ blowing up civilian infrastructure? If the AFU stopped hiding behind civilians then there would be less destruction.

As I said many times, it is impossible to take a city of 3 million like Kyiv with just 40-50k soldiers. I heard a lot of comments like "Russia's convoy has stalled", "Ukraine has successfully mounted counter offensives around Kyiv" or better still "Russia's northern forces have collapsed". None of these are factual. Do they really think that the Russians wouldn't have planned their logistics months in advance? Do you really think that the Russians wouldn't have ensured there was enough fuel and military engineering for this conflict?

As for Ukrainian counter offensives and pushing Russia back, there was none, it was a tactical withdrawal by the Russians who left once the land corridor had been established. To back this up, can anyone provide any evidence that the Ukranians launched any assault on that 40 mile convoy? Let me put it another way, a 40 mile convoy sat 20km from Ukraine for more than 2 weeks! This clearly means Ukraine weren't able to launch any counter offensive - how could they? They couldn't even get close.

The mood in the west is changing, it's not because Russia are winning, because they were winning from day 1. The mood in the west is changing because they are losing militarily, politically and economically.

 

[Robert]

If that's what you believe then that's what you believe.

The Russians are running circles around Ukraine and the west right now. They're doing this despite not using indiscriminate force, the likes of which America used in Iraq & Afghanistan. The Russians have taken territory equivalent to the area of England and Wales inside 3 months using just 200k soldiers. That is quite the accomplishment when you consider they are fighting against well trained soldiers in heavily fortified areas. Just think of what Russia could do if they decided to flatten entire cities.

The places that are in ruins are in ruins because the Ukranians forces are hiding in civilian centres. Why would any army just bomb civilian areas, wasting hundreds of thousands of rounds and God knows how much £££ blowing up civilian infrastructure? If the AFU stopped hiding behind civilians then there would be less destruction.

As I said many times, it is impossible to take a city of 3 million like Kyiv with just 40-50k soldiers. I heard a lot of comments like "Russia's convoy has stalled", "Ukraine has successfully mounted counter offensives around Kyiv" or better still "Russia's northern forces have collapsed". None of these are factual. Do they really think that the Russians wouldn't have planned their logistics months in advance? Do you really think that the Russians wouldn't have ensured there was enough fuel and military engineering for this conflict?

As for Ukrainian counter offensives and pushing Russia back, there was none, it was a tactical withdrawal by the Russians who left once the land corridor had been established. To back this up, can anyone provide any evidence that the Ukranians launched any assault on that 40 mile convoy? Let me put it another way, a 40 mile convoy sat 20km from Ukraine for more than 2 weeks! This clearly means Ukraine weren't able to launch any counter offensive - how could they? They couldn't even get close.

The mood in the west is changing, it's not because Russia are winning, because they were winning from day 1. The mood in the west is changing because they are losing militarily, politically and economically.

They have already flattened entire cities. Of course the defenders will defend. These are fierce patriots. If London was under attack I wouldn't pull out, I'd fight to the last ruined street.

Yes, I do believe that they didn't plan their logistics months in advance. I think they didn't plan them at all. That's why we saw tanks run out of diesel, and infantry run out of ammo and rations and walk home. Their performance in the first month was shockingly bad. I could scarcely believe how bad they were.

UKR didn't have to attack the Kviv-bound convoy much. Of course they chopped away at it with their shoulder-fired ATMs, but it stalled due to a combination of mass mechanical failure and lack of diesel resupply. It was never going hell-for-leather down the Kyiv road, it was crawling due to constant breakdowns and fuel shortages.

What you have to remember is that this is a corrupt culture from the very top, where funding for materials such as truck tyres just disappear, and where yes-men go up the ladder. Putin has realised this and purged the incompetent leaders and now his troops are advancing slowly. But the Ukrainian army will fight for every inch, and if part of the country falls then will carry fighting as guerillas, like the Latvian 'forest brothers" who fought the Soviet occupation for decades.

 

[Reddy]

The western newspapers are paring down the propaganda a bit lest they lose all the trust by their readers, The British Independent, citing an intelligence report says:

Ukrainian troops are 20 times inferior to Russian troops in artillery, 40 times in ammunition, and 12 times in range.

The Ukrainian side has almost completely run out of missiles for the Smerch and Uragan MLRS.

Ukraine still has the Grad MLRS and howitzers that hit a maximum of 20-30 km.

Anti-tank Javelins and NLAW were very useful in the first phase of the war, they are useful now, but they cannot hit the enemy's long-range artillery.

The Russians can hit the concentrations of Ukrainian troops with rockets from a distance of many tens and even hundreds of kilometers. There is a situation of "absolute inequality on the battlefield, not to mention the complete dominance of enemy aircraft in the air." It is rare to shoot down Russian planes and helicopters.

"Heavy fighting" has a serious demoralizing effect on Ukrainian troops, in connection with which the number of cases of desertion among Ukrainian soldiers is growing.

The Russians are well aware that the number of powerful weapons sent by Western countries is still quite small, and it reaches the front slowly. So they try to use their (overwhelming) advantage while it lasts.

After a series of exchanges, Ukraine has 550 captured Russians, while the Russians have more than 5,600 Ukrainians, and Moscow demands a 1:1 exchange. Note that according to the authorities of Russia and the LDNR, more than 7,000 people are in captivity.

 

[cpleigh]

I see putin has admitted this is an invasion of conquest and likened himself to Peter the great
So.... putins finally come clean...

Are you all still going to go along with he nazi garbage?

 

[Technics 1210]

I am creasing up here.

These 2 mercenaries were Ukrainian patriots when fighting with Ukrainian army, got their backside handed to them, now when caught, they are British.

Make your mind up MSM.

)

 

[Reddy]

It seems that BROSINT experts and mainstream media have finally stopped making predictions that Russia is running out of drones, missiles, tanks, vehicles, now they just seem to ignore Russian videos and pretend there’s no material to post

1st stage of grief is denial.

 

[KingKhanWC]

I am creasing up here.

These 2 mercenaries were Ukrainian patriots when fighting with Ukrainian army, got their backside handed to them, now when caught, they are British.

Make your mind up MSM.

)

Its very confusing. They sound British, have British nationalities, families in Britain but were Ukranians and now Brits, give it a week they will be Russian.

If they are Brits now, Liz Truss should be on the phone to Lavrov, not to Zelensky who has failed to mention them properly? I think Liz and UK want them quickly vanished, the more they are in the news the worse they will look.

 

[Pakpak]

You can't have Ukraine sentencing Russian soldiers in an active war then complain if the other side does the same, to mercenaries.

There are countless videos online of embedded US and Canadian mercenaries fighting for the Ukrainians. However good the cause is, if you get involved as a mercenary then you have to expect the other side won't play nice.

 

[Robert]

You can't have Ukraine sentencing Russian soldiers in an active war then complain if the other side does the same, to mercenaries.

UKR are within their rights to try war criminals. And as pointed out, these two Britons are Ukraininan military personnel, not mercs.

 

[KingKhanWC]

You can't have Ukraine sentencing Russian soldiers in an active war then complain if the other side does the same, to mercenaries.

There are countless videos online of embedded US and Canadian mercenaries fighting for the Ukrainians. However good the cause is, if you get involved as a mercenary then you have to expect the other side won't play nice.

It always double standards by Nato and its lapdogs. They will bend the rules to fit their narrative.

Some believe they are Ukranian military person but this hasnt been confirmed by Ukranians or their leader.

 

[Pakpak]

UKR are within their rights to try war criminals. And as pointed out, these two Britons are Ukraininan military personnel, not mercs.

They aren't really. He's been in Ukraine since 2014 I believe, when the conflict started. I doubt he's been tending to his back garden since. Nor are UKR within any power to try war criminals. During an active war any enemy solider is a prisoner of war. When a conflict ends then trials are brought up or prisoners are exchanged. I'd be holding Russians and exchanging them for thousands of Ukrainains in Russian custody.

This isn't the only time, numerous videos out there of 'soldiers' with US and Canadian accents walking along with UKR units.

As brutal and inhumane the invasion has been and while UKR is legitimate to defend themselves, any mercenary getting involved and then everyone begging for their release is hypocritical.

 

[Reddy]

As estimated, real losses of Ukraine being around 4-5x the admitted number of 200 soldiers A day— the Brits just estimated the same numbers.

“Ukrainian losses range from 600 to 1,000 people a day. This is a colossal reduction in the combat capability of Ukraine due to the unsuccessful attempt by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to hold the defense of Severodonetsk.”

"The total number of casualties - more than 20,000 a month - raises questions about what state the Ukrainian army will be in if the war drags on until the autumn. The Russian army already controls large parts of Ukraine, and they can suspend hostilities with a territorial advantage." - The Guardian citing its sources

 

[Robert]

They aren't really. He's been in Ukraine since 2014 I believe, when the conflict started. I doubt he's been tending to his back garden since. Nor are UKR within any power to try war criminals. During an active war any enemy solider is a prisoner of war. When a conflict ends then trials are brought up or prisoners are exchanged. I'd be holding Russians and exchanging them for thousands of Ukrainains in Russian custody.

This isn't the only time, numerous videos out there of 'soldiers' with US and Canadian accents walking along with UKR units.

As brutal and inhumane the invasion has been and while UKR is legitimate to defend themselves, any mercenary getting involved and then everyone begging for their release is hypocritical.

This is an interesting question.

Post-WW2 the Nuremberg Trials were held because the crimes of the Nazi state were so monstrous. More recently the perpetrators of genocide such as Milosevic were tried at the ICC Court.

In WW2 there were POW camps and prisoner exchanges following the end of hostilities.

But if a shot-down WW2 airman (for example) started shooting farm workers, he would have faced a military court and immediate execution. I think this is analogous to the Russian soldier tried for murder for shooting a civilian.

As for your definition of “mercenary”, I think of these guys as akin to the International Brigade who went to Spain to fight the fascists and uphold democracy.

 

[Junaids]

You can't have Ukraine sentencing Russian soldiers in an active war then complain if the other side does the same, to mercenaries.

There are countless videos online of embedded US and Canadian mercenaries fighting for the Ukrainians. However good the cause is, if you get involved as a mercenary then you have to expect the other side won't play nice.

Yes you can.

Ukraine is the legally sovereign power in that territory. They can legally recruit people of any nationality to fight in their armed forces on their own sovereign territory, and those foreign soldiers comply with and are legally protected by the Geneva Convemtion.

But any soldier fighting on Ukrainian territory against the legal government of Ukraine is unlawfully present and unlawfully armed in Ukraine - which includes Crimea and Donbas - and can legally be detained and tried for his crimes.

The Russian forces and the Donbas separatists cannot legally detain or put on trial anyone they arrest on Ukrainian territory, indeed the act of arresting Ukrainians or Ukraine-invited foreigners in Ukraine by Russia or Russian-aligned separatists is a criminal act of kidnapping.

 

[Pakpak]

Yes you can.

Ukraine is the legally sovereign power in that territory. They can legally recruit people of any nationality to fight in their armed forces on their own sovereign territory, and those foreign soldiers comply with and are legally protected by the Geneva Convemtion.

But any soldier fighting on Ukrainian territory against the legal government of Ukraine is unlawfully present and unlawfully armed in Ukraine - which includes Crimea and Donbas - and can legally be detained and tried for his crimes.

The Russian forces and the Donbas separatists cannot legally detain or put on trial anyone they arrest on Ukrainian territory, indeed the act of arresting Ukrainians or Ukraine-invited foreigners in Ukraine by Russia or Russian-aligned separatists is a criminal act of kidnapping.

Good luck on the Ukrainians getting any of their thousands of prisoners back in exchanges.

 

[Reddy]

NATO Secretary General: Peace in Ukraine is possible. The question is what will be its price. How much territory, freedom and democracy we are willing to pay for this world. NATO intends to help Ukraine to give it the strongest position at the negotiating table with Russia, which should end the hostilities.

Stoltenberg added that the NATO military does not participate in hostilities, and the Alliance itself opposes the spread of the conflict outside the country.

 

[Reddy]

In Nikolaev, Ukraine lost three ammunition depots at once.

Aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out air strikes on ammunition depots and the accumulation of Ukrainian military equipment near Nikolaev.

 

[James]

<b>Ukraine war: Former British soldier Jordan Gatley killed in fighting</b>

A former British soldier has been killed fighting for the Ukrainian armed forces, his family has said.

Jordan Gatley, who left the British army in March and travelled to Ukraine, was described as "a hero" by his father Dean in a tribute on social media.

He died in the battle for the eastern city of Severodonetsk, which has seen intense fighting in recent days.

The Foreign Office has said it is "supporting the family of a British man who has died in Ukraine".

Mr Gatley's father wrote in a Facebook post that his son had been helping train local forces.

He added that Jordan was fatally shot on the front line while defending the city and they were informed of his death on Friday.

He had gone to Ukraine to help "after careful consideration", he said.

According to the Facebook post, the family "had several messages from his team out there telling us of his wealth of knowledge, his skills as a soldier and his love of his job".

"His team say they all loved him, as did we, and he made a massive difference to many people's lives, not only soldiering, but also by training the Ukrainian forces," the statement continued.

"Jordan and his team were so proud of the work they were doing and he often told me that the missions they were going on were dangerous, but necessary.

"He loved his job and we are so proud of him," Mr Gatley wrote, adding: "He truly was a hero and will forever be in our hearts."

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted that Jordan Gatley was a "true hero".

"We will always remember his contribution to the protection of Ukraine and the free world," Mr Podolyak wrote.

The BBC understands Mr Gatley served in the British army as a rifleman with the Edinburgh-based third battalion of The Rifles and was discharged from the forces in March before travelling to Ukraine.

There has been fierce street fighting in Severodonetsk with heavy artillery said to be causing huge casualties for both Russian and Ukrainian forces.

The region's governor Serhiy Haidai has told Ukrainian TV that Russian shelling has caused a huge fire at a chemical plant in the city. Up to 800 civilians are hiding in underground bomb shelters at the plant, Ukrainian officials have estimated.

Fighting around Severodonetsk has lasted for more than three months, as Russia shifted its focus from trying to take the capital Kyiv to capturing the Luhansk and the Donetsk regions of eastern Ukraine - a mostly industrial area known as Donbas.

Seizing Severodonetsk and its twin city of Lysychansk would move Russia closer to its goal as it would give them control over Luhansk.

Mr Gatley is the second Briton to be killed in the conflict after the death of Scott Sibley in April.

Mr Sibley was described as a "friend like no other".

A post on the Logistics Support Squadron Facebook page described him as a "former serving soldier" of the squadron and said he had "showed Commando spirit until the end".

The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Ukraine and the Ministry of Defence has said that Britons who go to join the fighting following the Russian invasion may be committing a criminal offence and would be liable to prosecution.

In March, the head of the British armed forces said that Britons should not go to Ukraine to fight and should find other ways to help.

Adm Sir Tony Radakin told the BBC the "sound of gunfire" was not "something you want to rush to".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61777224

 

[Reddy]

Breaking News: British mercenary fighting for the Ukraine has been killed in Severodonetsk.

During the battle for Severodonetsk, British mercenary Jordan Gatley was destroyed. He previously served in the British Army, presumably ex Spec Ops given his role in the AFU. The liquidation of the mercenary was confirmed by the Independent newspaper, citing his father.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Breaking News: British mercenary fighting for the Ukraine has been killed in Severodonetsk.

During the battle for Severodonetsk, British mercenary Jordan Gatley was destroyed. He previously served in the British Army, presumably ex Spec Ops given his role in the AFU. The liquidation of the mercenary was confirmed by the Independent newspaper, citing his father.

What an idiot gave up his life for nothing apart from Nato imperialism. No Britain is at risky from the Russians and no the world will not collapse when Russia completes its military operations.

 

[Firebat]

BBC Summary

- Severodonetsk will be "cut off" from the rest of Ukraine if Russia destroys the last remaining bridge to the city, regional governor Serhiy Haidai says

- The battle is continuing in the key eastern city, with fighting for "literally every metre", Ukraine's President Zelensky says

- Ukraine says its forces have been "pushed out of the city centre", due to a significant advantage in artillery

- Meanwhile, Zelensky has called for modern missile defence systems, saying more than 2,600 cruise missiles have landed in Ukraine since the start of the war

- Up to 1,200 bodies found across Ukraine, including some found in mass graves, have not yet been identified, the head of the national police says

- Russia is continuing to earn huge amounts by selling oil and gas, despite facing tighter sanctions around the world since the invasion, research suggests

 

[Reddy]

India And China Take In Russian Oil Unwanted In The West


* So far this year, India has now imported five times the amount of all the Russian crude it bought in the whole of 2021.

* China, however, overtook Germany as the largest importer of Russian crude oil anywhere in the world.

* Russia is getting more revenues from oil and gas now than before the war in Ukraine.


https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/India-And-China-Take-In-Russian-Oil-Unwanted-In-The-West.html

 

[KingKhanWC]

Disgusting the Ukranian forces arent allowing civilians to leave Azot plant in Severodonetsk. It seems the Ukranians are using these people as human shields.

 

[Technics 1210]

India And China Take In Russian Oil Unwanted In The West


* So far this year, India has now imported five times the amount of all the Russian crude it bought in the whole of 2021.

* China, however, overtook Germany as the largest importer of Russian crude oil anywhere in the world.

* Russia is getting more revenues from oil and gas now than before the war in Ukraine.


https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/India-And-China-Take-In-Russian-Oil-Unwanted-In-The-West.html

Masterstroke.

NATO apologists thought Russia would crumble woth Western sanctions when the reverse is true.

Russia raking it, strong currency, bypassed SWIFT, selling more oil pre war, meanwhile the West is suffering from cost of living crisis, sending the Western hemisphere into a full blown recession.

Two words - Check & Mate.

 

[Reddy]

Bloomberg: Corporate ‘self-sanctioning’ of Russia has US fearing economic blowback

"The collateral damage from the sanctions has been wider than expected.

When the invasion began, the Biden administration believed that if penalties exempted food and energy, the impact on inflation at home would be minimal. Since then, energy and food have become key drivers of the highest US inflation rates in 40 years, a huge political liability for President Joe Biden and the Democratic party heading into November’s mid-term elections.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said that she “was wrong” in believing last year that inflationary pressures would pass. One of the results that she’s now seeing is related to the spike in prices due to unexpected self-sanctioning"

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...ng-of-russia-has-us-fearing-economic-blowback

 

[Reddy]

Two American military officials have been captured by the Russians near Kharkov, Time for another trial and death sentence for these lowlife mercenaries.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Two American military officials have been captured by the Russians near Kharkov, Time for another trial and death sentence for these lowlife mercenaries.

Any link? Are these high ranking colonels or generals or normal foot soldiers?

 

[cpleigh]

Any link? Are these high ranking colonels or generals or normal foot soldiers?

Neither are 'officials'. Both ex soldiers, not in the US military

 

[Robert]

Neither are 'officials'. Both ex soldiers, not in the US military

There's no point engaging. There are several posters on this thread who are might as well by Putin spokesmen, if not actual paid St Petersburg trolls. Just ignore them.

 

[Technics 1210]

56.65 Rubles to 1 USD!

Putin has out played NATO by pegging the Ruble to Gold, which is pegged to the USD.

As USD strengthens, so does Ruble!

Brilliant.

Genius mind.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Neither are 'officials'. Both ex soldiers, not in the US military

American citizens fighting for Ukraine as mercenaries. Hold that firing squad Russia, two Yanks added to the two Brits for execution.

Their families should be blaming the US government for encouraging people to fight for the Ukrainians, no point crying now saying there are better ways for people to help.

 

[KingKhanWC]

56.65 Rubles to 1 USD!

Putin has out played NATO by pegging the Ruble to Gold, which is pegged to the USD.

As USD strengthens, so does Ruble!

Brilliant.

Genius mind.

The US $ will blow up and then explode when Oil is soon sold in various currencies but Gold will remain the ulimtate standard keeping the rouble strong for many years to come.

Russia earned $100 billion in 100 days of war. With the sanctions, attacks, propaganda, Putin has slapped his enemies.

Will go down as a genius leader, game changer and initiator of the collapse of the US empire.

 

[Technics 1210]

The US $ will blow up and then explode when Oil is soon sold in various currencies but Gold will remain the ulimtate standard keeping the rouble strong for many years to come.

Russia earned $100 billion in 100 days of war. With the sanctions, attacks, propaganda, Putin has slapped his enemies.

Will go down as a genius leader, game changer and initiator of the collapse of the US empire.

Putin is already considered a genius leader, which is why over 90 countries abstained from condemning Russia!

Only the West and their social media puppets are on a rampage to discredit Putin using nothing but propaganda and MSM, because the West/NATO doesn't have the balls to go toe to toe with Russia.

Notice how every single pro West/NATO apologist has refrained from commenting on Russia's currency and its strength; it's because MSM hasn't programmed the robots on how to.

Meanwhile China has affrimed support for Russia, while Biden is looking for his meds.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Putin is already considered a genius leader, which is why over 90 countries abstained from condemning Russia!

Only the West and their social media puppets are on a rampage to discredit Putin using nothing but propaganda and MSM, because the West/NATO doesn't have the balls to go toe to toe with Russia.

Notice how every single pro West/NATO apologist has refrained from commenting on Russia's currency and its strength; it's because MSM hasn't programmed the robots on how to.

Meanwhile China has affrimed support for Russia, while Biden is looking for his meds.

Yep, the Russian economy going to potts seems like decade old news by MSM.

Meanwhile, no condemnation from liberals for Neo Nazi flags being paraded by Ukranian boxers.

Ukrainian heroine raises the flag of the extremist Azov Battalion

The attendees were surprised at the medal ceremony for the winners and winners of the International Youth Boxing Championship in Hungary, Diana Petrenko, the 50-kilogram runner-up, who was raising the flag of the Ukrainian ultranationalist “Azov” battalion. One of the organizers approached her and told her something, to fold the flag and hide it. .
It is known that the “Azov” battalion is a far-right, neo-Nazi militia of the Ukrainian National Guard, based in Mariupol, and it was merged with the Ukrainian National Guard in 2014, after it played an important role in Donetsk region.
Some wonder whether Petrenko will be subject to penalties similar to what happened with the Russian gymnast Ivan Kulyak, who was suspended for a year after putting the letter (Z) on his shirt, after he became a symbol of the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

https://news.middleeast-24.com/sports/263531.html

 

[Technics 1210]

Yep, the Russian economy going to potts seems like decade old news by MSM.

Meanwhile, no condemnation from liberals for Neo Nazi flags being paraded by Ukranian boxers.




https://news.middleeast-24.com/sports/263531.html

View attachment 116252

We know why there is no condemnation, because such news is not MSM!

 

[Pakpak]

Russians making progress and I reckon East will fall in a month or so. Then I expect they will pause and regroup and have more ''referendums'' I suppose. I think the West's weapons will make only a limited impact as losing the East will be a big blow. And when they go for Odesa it will be a big problem for Ukraine.

Expect the conflict to rumble on for quite some time I expect. Which suits every stakeholder except Ukrainian civilians.

 

[cpleigh]

Putin is already considered a genius leader, which is why over 90 countries abstained from condemning Russia!

Only the West and their social media puppets are on a rampage to discredit Putin using nothing but propaganda and MSM, because the West/NATO doesn't have the balls to go toe to toe with Russia.

Notice how every single pro West/NATO apologist has refrained from commenting on Russia's currency and its strength; it's because MSM hasn't programmed the robots on how to.

Meanwhile China has affrimed support for Russia, while Biden is looking for his meds.

35 countries abstained. Not over 90.. so yet more lies.

The Russian economy is goosed. The % of Russians under the poverty line has nearly doubled since last year, 21%.

Bet thats not on RT or in Putins speeches. But carry on lying to yourself and telling yourself the western world is on the verge of collapse and Putins a genius.. blah blah blah

 

[cpleigh]

Russians making progress and I reckon East will fall in a month or so. Then I expect they will pause and regroup and have more ''referendums'' I suppose. I think the West's weapons will make only a limited impact as losing the East will be a big blow. And when they go for Odesa it will be a big problem for Ukraine.

Expect the conflict to rumble on for quite some time I expect. Which suits every stakeholder except Ukrainian civilians.

The lines have hardly moved, I wouldn't call that progress

 

[cpleigh]

American citizens fighting for Ukraine as mercenaries. Hold that firing squad Russia, two Yanks added to the two Brits for execution.

Their families should be blaming the US government for encouraging people to fight for the Ukrainians, no point crying now saying there are better ways for people to help.

who is crying? They chose to go and fight, they knew the risks. Wonder if you think Ukraine should shoot all the mercs Russia are using?

But please don't call them 'officials' etc because they are not. They have nothing to do with the US military

 

[KingKhanWC]

35 countries abstained. Not over 90.. so yet more lies.

The Russian economy is goosed. The % of Russians under the poverty line has nearly doubled since last year, 21%.

Bet thats not on RT or in Putins speeches. But carry on lying to yourself and telling yourself the western world is on the verge of collapse and Putins a genius.. blah blah blah

You need to provide some evidence Mr Leigh, as nobody takes Nato or their supporters seriously any longer.

I also assume you think the Yanks captured should be freed because they are nice people ya know?

 

[cpleigh]

You need to provide some evidence Mr Leigh, as nobody takes Nato or their supporters seriously any longer.

I also assume you think the Yanks captured should be freed because they are nice people ya know?

it was in the Times this week and alsohttps://www.statista.com/statistics/1033016/russia-number-of-people-under-poverty/

No, i think they should be treat in accordance with the Geneva convention. Soldiers can only be put on trial if accused of war crimes

 

[Technics 1210]

35 countries abstained. Not over 90.. so yet more lies.

The Russian economy is goosed. The % of Russians under the poverty line has nearly doubled since last year, 21%.

Bet thats not on RT or in Putins speeches. But carry on lying to yourself and telling yourself the western world is on the verge of collapse and Putins a genius.. blah blah blah

Nope. It was over half of the 191 or so voting.

Your economic figures are also wrong.

Typical MSM nonsense.

Economic figures proving Russia economy is on the up are reported by Bloomberg etc, and reflected in the FX markets.

If you think living below the poverty line means no McDonalds then I pity you.

 

[cpleigh]

60% Russians don't even have a toilet... i'd call that poverty.

Economic figures are doing no such thing, please stop lying.

I'm more than happy to discuss the war etc, but drop the ridiculous propaganda please

 

[Technics 1210]

Seems to me this poster is refering to India?

MSM narrative : if you don't have access to McDonalds or Starbuck, then you're 3rd world.

Ruble is the best performing currency this year. FACT.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...asses-brazilian-real-as-world-s-best-currency

)

 

[cpleigh]

thanks for posting that link... did you read it?

'Strategists say the rally isn’t credible as many currency-trading shops have stopped dealing in the ruble on the grounds that its value seen on monitors is not the price it can be traded at in the real world.'

 

[Pakpak]

The lines have hardly moved, I wouldn't call that progress

????????

I am no Russian shill infact if you care to read my posts in this thread almost all are anti-Russian.
But one look at Wikipedia's day to day maps or BBC's day to day maps show slow but steady progress, in the East anyway.

 

[Technics 1210]

thanks for posting that link... did you read it?

'Strategists say the rally isn’t credible as many currency-trading shops have stopped dealing in the ruble on the grounds that its value seen on monitors is not the price it can be traded at in the real world.'

The Ruble is traded in the real world, your boys in the West are paying for Russian Oil/Gas in Rubles, China and India too, bypassing SWIFT.

Read the full article.

Western Economic sanctions my foot.

)

 

[cpleigh]

https://liveuamap.com/

looks almost identical to last month, think they've made a bit around severdonestk but not huge, certainly not like they would have hoped

 

[cpleigh]

The Ruble is traded in the real world, your boys in the West are paying for Russian Oil/Gas in Rubles, China and India too, bypassing SWIFT.

Read the full article.

Western Economic sanctions my foot.

)

I don't understand what yo are saying. The 'west' aren't paying in Rubles, they are paying in Euros and then a Russian bank in converting. Its not the same.

India and china arent part of the sanctions, they can chose to deal with Russia how they wish, China has an alternitive to SWYFT.

But unfortunately for Russia, they are burning their foreign currency, which in turn will make the Ruble wothless.

Don't be so niave to believe a country can effectively be banned from buying goods, banned from dealing in Dollars, have all the western world pull out of it, losing customers for its oil and gas and still somehow BOOM economically.

Its a fantasy, that even the Russian government don't believe

 

[Technics 1210]

I don't understand what yo are saying. The 'west' aren't paying in Rubles, they are paying in Euros and then a Russian bank in converting. Its not the same.

India and china arent part of the sanctions, they can chose to deal with Russia how they wish, China has an alternitive to SWYFT.

But unfortunately for Russia, they are burning their foreign currency, which in turn will make the Ruble wothless.

Don't be so niave to believe a country can effectively be banned from buying goods, banned from dealing in Dollars, have all the western world pull out of it, losing customers for its oil and gas and still somehow BOOM economically.

Its a fantasy, that even the Russian government don't believe

Please stop lying.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...uyers-made-ruble-payments-to-russia#xj4y7vzkg

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...n-gas-buyers-open-ruble-accounts-for-payments

https://www.reuters.com/business/en...-russian-roubles-proposal-without-2022-04-22/

Funny thing is EU approved the payments.

Yes I used MSM links, which you are not even aware of!

)

 

[KingKhanWC]

it was in the Times this week and alsohttps://www.statista.com/statistics/1033016/russia-number-of-people-under-poverty/

No, i think they should be treat in accordance with the Geneva convention. Soldiers can only be put on trial if accused of war crimes

The Times is pro west.

22% according to stats in the UK are under the poverty line. Children are higher at 31%. So according to your logic, UK is way worse than Russia.

They are US citizens who are fighting as mercenaries , no protection under Geneva conventions. Btw you want Russia to abide by laws but also support a proxy war against them. lol.

 

[cpleigh]

Please stop lying.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...uyers-made-ruble-payments-to-russia#xj4y7vzkg

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...n-gas-buyers-open-ruble-accounts-for-payments

https://www.reuters.com/business/en...-russian-roubles-proposal-without-2022-04-22/

Funny thing is EU approved the payments.

Yes I used MSM links, which you are not even aware of!

)

Sadly, you are getting a bit excited and confused. They are NOT paying in Rubles. They needed to open 2 accounts for a transaction in Euros to Rubles. They are paying in Euros. Thats what the EU agreed.

'Russia's payment scheme, which involves setting up accounts that would be paid in euros and then swapped for roubles'
Uniper and RWE, two major German importers of Russian gas, have said they would establish accounts in Russia in line with current sanction laws to make sure gas flows continue.

"Like other German and European companies, Uniper has changed the payment method for gas deliveries from Russia. Uniper pays in euros in accordance with the new payment mechanism," Uniper said in e-mailed comments.
"The first of these payments was made at the end of May. Uniper is therefore acting in compliance with sanctions and can continue to ensure timely fulfilment of the contract."

A spokesperson for RWE, too, confirmed that euros had been transferred to the Russian account that was set up to enable payments.

 

[Technics 1210]

Sadly, you are getting a bit excited and confused. They are NOT paying in Rubles. They needed to open 2 accounts for a transaction in Euros to Rubles. They are paying in Euros. Thats what the EU agreed.

'Russia's payment scheme, which involves setting up accounts that would be paid in euros and then swapped for roubles'
Uniper and RWE, two major German importers of Russian gas, have said they would establish accounts in Russia in line with current sanction laws to make sure gas flows continue.

"Like other German and European companies, Uniper has changed the payment method for gas deliveries from Russia. Uniper pays in euros in accordance with the new payment mechanism," Uniper said in e-mailed comments.
"The first of these payments was made at the end of May. Uniper is therefore acting in compliance with sanctions and can continue to ensure timely fulfilment of the contract."

A spokesperson for RWE, too, confirmed that euros had been transferred to the Russian account that was set up to enable payments.

You have not read the links, I don't blame you.

If Nations are not paying in Rubles then why is the Ruble on the up despite a rate cut?

Are Bloomberg and Reuters lying too?

)

 

[cpleigh]

The Times is pro west.

22% according to stats in the UK are under the poverty line. Children are higher at 31%. So according to your logic, UK is way worse than Russia.

They are US citizens who are fighting as mercenaries , no protection under Geneva conventions. Btw you want Russia to abide by laws but also support a proxy war against them. lol.

The UK has been around 22-25% since the early 90's. Stayed very flat. Russia's has jumped 60% in 5 months.

Who says they are fighting as mercenaries? If they signed a contract to become part of the Ukranian army, that means they have legal rights under the Geneva convention.

If they are just for hire ie not part of the army then you are correct.

Much like the Wagner group

 

[cpleigh]

You have not read the links, I don't blame you.

If Nations are not paying in Rubles then why is the Ruble on the up despite a rate cut?

Are Bloomberg and Reuters lying too?

)

its 9.30pm, i really cant be arsed explaining to you how a Country artifically infaltes its currency, but just a little.

Russia demanded that its population exchanged all its $$$ into rubles, its now made the same demand for its Gas, which in the short term will prop up the currency as it creates demand for it, but soon as countries stop buying the gas Russia will be left with large amounts of a currency it can't exchange. It would soon become worthless.

Plus companies can't import goods from abroad, so have to use Rubles. Its created a false short term picture

 

[Technics 1210]

its 9.30pm, i really cant be arsed explaining to you how a Country artifically infaltes its currency, but just a little.

Russia demanded that its population exchanged all its $$$ into rubles, its now made the same demand for its Gas, which in the short term will prop up the currency as it creates demand for it, but soon as countries stop buying the gas Russia will be left with large amounts of a currency it can't exchange. It would soon become worthless.

Plus companies can't import goods from abroad, so have to use Rubles. Its created a false short term picture

Please don't bother explaining anything.

I'm so glad I used MSM to correct your lies and ignorance, otherwise you'd come out with the link source excuse.

Honestly, according to you Bloomberg and Reuters are lying. That's a new one!

)

 

[cpleigh]

Please don't bother explaining anything.

I'm so glad I used MSM to correct your lies and ignorance, otherwise you'd come out with the link source excuse.

Honestly, according to you Bloomberg and Reuters are lying. That's a new one!

)

I've explained to you and given you quotes. The Bloomberg and Reuters articles say The have opened Ruble accounts. They have.

I've also explained what that means, but you choose to ignore it. I'm out for now

 

[KingKhanWC]

The UK has been around 22-25% since the early 90's. Stayed very flat. Russia's has jumped 60% in 5 months.

Who says they are fighting as mercenaries? If they signed a contract to become part of the Ukranian army, that means they have legal rights under the Geneva convention.

If they are just for hire ie not part of the army then you are correct.

Much like the Wagner group

500,000 rise for kids in poverty in the last 5 years in the UK.

Where do you live Mr Leigh as you seem clueless about the UK?

The two Americans travelled to Ukraine after the invasion. They can claim to in list in an international legion which cannot be recognised as not part of the normal Ukrainian forces. They will be classed as mercenaries and punished by firing squad, unless you want to go rescue them.

 

[Reddy]

Germany and Canada are negotiating how to circumvent their own sanctions imposed on Russia and organize the supply of Siemens equipment to Russia in order to increase the supply of gas from Russia to Germany

 

[Reddy]

500,000 rise for kids in poverty in the last 5 years in the UK.

Where do you live Mr Leigh as you seem clueless about the UK?

The two Americans travelled to Ukraine after the invasion. They can claim to in list in an international legion which cannot be recognised as not part of the normal Ukrainian forces. They will be classed as mercenaries and punished by firing squad, unless you want to go rescue them.

The US State Department announced the loss of the 3rd American in Ukraine. Looks like many Americans are getting killed but nobody
is there to id the bodies.

The mercenary went to Ukraine to fight against Russia and disappeared a few weeks ago: “I can’t talk about the specifics of this case. Unfortunately, we don’t know all the details,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

"We continue to urge US citizens in every possible way not to travel to Ukraine due to the great dangers posed by Russia," Price said.

 

[bones]

Have you guys noticed how the tune in the west has changed? Maybe the public are starting to see the truth that Russia will win the military, economic and political wars ongoing.

It seems to me like whereas earlier Russia would have been happy to negotiate, things are going so well they may decide to go for even more than their original objectives.

 

[cpleigh]

Have you guys noticed how the tune in the west has changed? Maybe the public are starting to see the truth that Russia will win the military, economic and political wars ongoing.

It seems to me like whereas earlier Russia would have been happy to negotiate, things are going so well they may decide to go for even more than their original objectives.

Seriously... what are you talking about? The tune in the west hasn't changed at all. What are you seeing??? Only yesterday Russia said they are willing to start peace talks again... it was refused.

Things going so well Lost 30% of their forces, failed in Kyiv... failed in Kharkiv and now into the 5 month still haven't taken the Donbas or Luhansk.

Delusion

 

[cpleigh]

500,000 rise for kids in poverty in the last 5 years in the UK.

Where do you live Mr Leigh as you seem clueless about the UK?

The two Americans travelled to Ukraine after the invasion. They can claim to in list in an international legion which cannot be recognised as not part of the normal Ukrainian forces. They will be classed as mercenaries and punished by firing squad, unless you want to go rescue them.

I'm from Lancashire. So in the uk. So i'm not clueless. Where are you from?

 

[cpleigh]

How weird is this picture... Russians captured Ukrainians.

Just the Russians are fighting for Ukraine... the Ukrainians for Russia

 

[cpleigh]

500,000 rise for kids in poverty in the last 5 years in the UK.

Where do you live Mr Leigh as you seem clueless about the UK?

The two Americans travelled to Ukraine after the invasion. They can claim to in list in an international legion which cannot be recognised as not part of the normal Ukrainian forces. They will be classed as mercenaries and punished by firing squad, unless you want to go rescue them.

Yes it can. Many Armies have foreign legions. The Uk has the Gurkhas. If you are in a countries army, and fighting for that army you are protected under the Geneva convention.

Even Lavrov admitted that yesterday in a BBC interview. The only way they can be prosecuted is if they either commit war crimes or are mercenaries.

 

[Robert]

Have you guys noticed how the tune in the west has changed? Maybe the public are starting to see the truth that Russia will win the military, economic and political wars ongoing.

It seems to me like whereas earlier Russia would have been happy to negotiate, things are going so well they may decide to go for even more than their original objectives.

It hasn’t changed, it’s just no longer news.

I think “the West” was shocked by the ineptitude of Putin’s adventuring (let’s stop calling it a Russian operation as it is all about one man) as “the West” expected Ukraine to fall very quickly, but now the expectation is slowly coming true as overwhelming artillery power is brought to bear.

 

[bones]

It hasn’t changed, it’s just no longer news.

I think “the West” was shocked by the ineptitude of Putin’s adventuring (let’s stop calling it a Russian operation as it is all about one man) as “the West” expected Ukraine to fall very quickly, but now the expectation is slowly coming true as overwhelming artillery power is brought to bear.

So much wrong with this post.

Isn't the fact it's no longer main news, ie. front headline 24/7 a changing of the tune itself? In other words the MSM and public are starting to care less.

I was watching a video recently where they covered the opinion of Russians across all classes and ages, whereas at the start a lot were confused and didn't know about the goal. As the conflict as waged on, the opinion has shifted to generally "let's get it done". Note that is exactly how the Russians phrased it, let's get it done, or let's see it through.

Regarding the artillery power being utilised, has it ever occured to anyone in the west that maybe the Russians set out to do that, maybe all of the early phases were to lay the foundations for tjhe artillery dual.

 

[cpleigh]

bONES... Do you live in the West?

 

[Robert]

So much wrong with this post.

Isn't the fact it's no longer main news, ie. front headline 24/7 a changing of the tune itself? In other words the MSM and public are starting to care less.

I was watching a video recently where they covered the opinion of Russians across all classes and ages, whereas at the start a lot were confused and didn't know about the goal. As the conflict as waged on, the opinion has shifted to generally "let's get it done". Note that is exactly how the Russians phrased it, let's get it done, or let's see it through.

Regarding the artillery power being utilised, has it ever occured to anyone in the west that maybe the Russians set out to do that, maybe all of the early phases were to lay the foundations for tjhe artillery dual.

No. All news eventually gets old.

You seem to think that “the West” has or had a narrative that UA can somehow stand up to Putin. I don’t think it ever had that.

As for your third point - that makes no sense. You start every battle with massive artillery bombardment to soften up defences and avoid taking infantry casualties. So they would have rolled up the big guns immediately. Faulty intel and Putin’s own COVID-isolation thinking combined into the fallacy that UA would be easily absorbed with minimal resistance like Crimea was in 2014 by the “green men”. But this time UA was prepared and has fought much harder than expected, so Putin has been forced into escalating with the big artillery.

 

[bones]

No. All news eventually gets old.

You seem to think that “the West” has or had a narrative that UA can somehow stand up to Putin. I don’t think it ever had that.

Let's agree to disagree on the first point. You say it's yesterday's news, I say the tone of the coverage has changed. There's less coverage and the coverage that we do get it more bleak. From nonsense like "Brave Ukranians are holding out" we are getting comments like "Ukraine under heavy bombardment".

In terms of the west's narrative. Do you really want to me to dig up the quotes by Blinken, Biden, Scholz, Van Der Loyen, Macron, Truss, Johnson etc etc? They wanted to "defeat" and "humiliate" Putin, but they ended up uniting Russia and confirming the view that the collective west hates Russia.

 

[bones]

As for your third point - that makes no sense. You start every battle with massive artillery bombardment to soften up defences and avoid taking infantry casualties. So they would have rolled up the big guns immediately. Faulty intel and Putin’s own COVID-isolation thinking combined into the fallacy that UA would be easily absorbed with minimal resistance like Crimea was in 2014 by the “green men”. But this time UA was prepared and has fought much harder than expected, so Putin has been forced into escalating with the big artillery.

So basically the military experts who said Russia didn't want to flatten parts of Ukraine are true then aren't they? They didn't do what the cowardly Americans and NATO have done historically, which is bomb for weeks on end before a single soldiers puts a foot inside the territory being attacked.

 

[silentkiller187]

Russia has "strategically lost" the war in Ukraine and is a "more diminished power", the head of the UK's armed forces has said.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said Vladimir Putin had used 25% of Russia's army for only "tiny" gains.

And although Russia may achieve "tactical successes" in the coming weeks, he said any notion the war had been a success was "nonsense".

Sir Tony, who is the UK's chief of defence staff, said Russia was running out of troops and advanced missiles and would never be able to take over all of Ukraine.

His comments come as Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, told Sky News it is "highly likely" that the UK will add many hundreds more troops to a NATO force in Estonia tasked with further deterring Russia.

Sir Tony said: "This is a dreadful mistake by Russia. Russia will never take control of Ukraine.

"Russia has strategically lost already. NATO is stronger, Finland and Sweden are looking to join."

He said Moscow had been forced to give up its objectives of taking over most Ukrainian cities and was now engaged in a tactical battle in which fighting is "tough".

Sir Tony said: "The Russian machine is grinding away, and it's gaining a couple of - two, three, five - kilometres every day.

"And that's tough for Ukraine, but this is going to be a long fight. And we're supporting Ukraine, Ukraine has shown how courageous it really is.

"And Russia has vulnerabilities because it's running out of people, it's running out of hi-tech missiles."

He continued: "President Putin has used about 25% of his army's power to gain a tiny amount of territory and 50,000 people either dead or injured."

Russia is now a "more diminished power" diplomatically and economically than several months ago, he said.

"Any notion that this is a success for Russia is nonsense. Russia is failing.

"It might be getting some tactical successes over the last few weeks. And those might continue for the next few weeks.

"But Russia is losing strategically."

Sir Tony said he was in touch with his Ukrainian counterpart, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who recognised they were in a "tough battle" in the east.

The defence secretary admitted on Thursday that Russia outnumbered Ukraine in artillery fire by 20 to one in some areas.

But Mr Wallace told Sky's defence and security correspondent Deborah Haynes that, because allies were starting to give Ukraine long-range artillery and rocket systems, they would soon be able to make "significant progress in the east of the country".

Sir Tony paid tribute to Ukrainians. "They're courageous people," he said. "They're ingenious people in terms of how they're taking the fight to the Russians.

"But they're also honest people, with saying actually they need some help."

He said the UK would continue its support for Ukraine and "we're in this for the long haul".

Earlier this week Mykhailo Podolyak, Ukrainian presidential adviser, urged the West to help his country achieve "heavy weapons parity" with Russia in the war, calling for more heavy artillery, rocket systems and vehicles.

Sir Tony said he was "wary" of phrases such as parity as no single capability would determine the outcome of the war.

The UK is providing MLRS rocket systems and has recently delivered 120 armoured fighting vehicles, he said.

"We've been providing anti-tank weapons, there are other elements that we're providing and that will continue," he said.

"But it's the mass that's provided by the whole of the international community - and it's putting that alongside the courage and the resolve of the Ukrainian armed forces to fight for their territory.

"That is where the real parity lies, and where the real strength of Ukraine lies."

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-...-is-nonsense-top-military-chief-says-12635312

 

[Robert]

The Head of HM Armed Forces says Putin has used up 25% of Russia's conventional capability to make tiny territorial gains, and is a diminished power as a result.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/dreadful-mistake-russia-has-strategically-lost-ukraine-war-uk-armed-forces-chief-says/ar-AAYz4M2?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=0e32ddeae234410e802d4e4012d7b0d3

Edit: Oops, same story as above!

 

[Robert]

So basically the military experts who said Russia didn't want to flatten parts of Ukraine are true then aren't they? They didn't do what the cowardly Americans and NATO have done historically, which is bomb for weeks on end before a single soldiers puts a foot inside the territory being attacked.

I'm sure they didn't want to flatten Donbas cities originally, but have had to fall back on that option due to the unexpected organisation and ferocity of the Ukrainian defenders, supported by NATO listening planes feeding them Russian comms.

 

[James]

I thought Ukraine would already have been flattened and fully absorbed. The Ukrainians have fought with a lot of heart. Russia may be in control of things now but overall they have undershot vis-a-vis the bombast and chest beating espoused by Putinists.

 

[Reddy]

British media: Nearly 500 Ukrainian families left to live on the streets in the UK after refugee sponsors kicked them out of their houses.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-refugees-left-homeless-in-england-data-shows

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/17/homes-for-ukraine-refugees-being-left-homeless-uk