Russia invades Ukraine

[Technics 1210]

Not sure what you are watching or reading but Snake Island story was a lie, proven now.

Russia is not losing this war lol.

In the last 24 hours alone they have destroyed dozens of Ukranian bases/missile launcher sites.

Have you seen the Nazi previous stronghold of Marioupol? Its rubble now, the Nazis are in hell.

Russia is just moping up now, the war was won a few weeks ago in terms of Russian objectives.

Its hillarious how people in the UK are wanting to believe Russia are losing while they are paying more and more for goods, with these sanctions backfiring into an economic recession.

Lets let our kids and elderly go hungry, lets pay more for everything, lets lose jobs...its worth if evil Russia are losing lol.

Ha ha! Nailed it.

West is willing to suffer double energy costs, higher food costs, higher fuel costs, higher interest rates, stock market decline - all so Russia can lose. Meanwhile Russian Rubel is on the up, selling oil to China and India, and they do not care about iPhones and BigMacs!

Superb summation! )

 

[KingKhanWC]

These are my posts on this topic, give them a read and tell me what you disagree on, that is if you have the time to!

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...es-Ukraine&p=11443142&highlight=#post11443142

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...es-Ukraine&p=11476886&highlight=#post11476886

If your take after these two posts is 'Western propaganda' then I can't help you, but I doubt you'd find many things to disagree from.

There is no need to help, because of social media there is plenty of evidence to show BBC/CNN and other MSM are simply lying.

My post was mainly responding to your snake island comment. I agree with most of what you wrote apart from the idea Russians couldnt take the capital, they never tried and it was never part of their mission to do so. The Russian planning was good but nobody expected Nato to risk nuclear war by joining in the fight, sending in mercenaries and even Nato commandos.

Under these circumstances Russia has done very well.

Our main concern as Brits should be the the welfare of our children and the future of their children. A new financial world order is emerging, meaning in the next couple of decades Europe and US will see a huge economic collapse, the currencies will possibly be go out of existence. A debt maintained society is now at risk of see poverty in Europe soon. We as Brits should be demanding mutual cooperation with Russia instead of poking the bear to war and trying to cling on to the Imperial advantages of the past.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Ha ha! Nailed it.

West is willing to suffer double energy costs, higher food costs, higher fuel costs, higher interest rates, stock market decline - all so Russia can lose. Meanwhile Russian Rubel is on the up, selling oil to China and India, and they do not care about iPhones and BigMacs!

Superb summation! )

Brit family

Chid - Mommy, Daddy why cant I have more pocket money.

Mom/Dad- Have you seen the fuel, groceries prices son?

Child - Why have they increased?

Mom/Dad - We have put sanctions on Russia which are backfiring.

Child- Why dont we be friends with Russia, I was taught in school Russians won the War with Nazis.

Mom/Dad - That was then son, we now support Nazis. So go hungry, because we will budget or even fast like Muslims if it means Russia will not win!

Child - Long live Putin, hate you mom and dad.

 

[Pakpak]

There is no need to help, because of social media there is plenty of evidence to show BBC/CNN and other MSM are simply lying.

My post was mainly responding to your snake island comment. I agree with most of what you wrote apart from the idea Russians couldnt take the capital, they never tried and it was never part of their mission to do so. The Russian planning was good but nobody expected Nato to risk nuclear war by joining in the fight, sending in mercenaries and even Nato commandos.

Under these circumstances Russia has done very well.

Our main concern as Brits should be the the welfare of our children and the future of their children. A new financial world order is emerging, meaning in the next couple of decades Europe and US will see a huge economic collapse, the currencies will possibly be go out of existence. A debt maintained society is now at risk of see poverty in Europe soon. We as Brits should be demanding mutual cooperation with Russia instead of poking the bear to war and trying to cling on to the Imperial advantages of the past.

Well, as is the case with Boris, it saved his government. Anytime there is an issue that comes up Boris cites Ukraine to deflect it.

I disagree that Russia has done well, their 40km huge convoy, paratroopers near Kyiv, the attempted encirclement was all plan of getting Kyiv. We are into month 4 and apart from Kherson there is no real progress. Kharkiv is still battered but free and the East is still a hotzone. Their rapid progress in the South has stalled. Most of their plans failed due to poor planning yes but much bigger was the West throwing weapons in Ukraine, giving UA intelligence daily every hour. Russia still doesn't have air superiority which is shocking in my opinion. Saying all this however the Russians have only their 10% of overall power in Ukraine.

The US has no interest in saving human lives. If they did this war would not be happening, the US officials admitted as much when they said their goal is to make Russia weak and incapable of war, so for the US this war is a God send. Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain did not want this war but were strong armed by the US. What the US should have done is encourage Ukraine to make responsible comments ie we, the Ukrainians, realise we are between Russia and the West so we will play a responsible role and be on good terms with both sides. What the West also did was fan the flames and encouraged the Ukrainians as much as they could. The result is thousands dead and the war going on into its 4th month soon.

I also don't agree with the shocking racism where Russian athletes are getting banned, even though they are not in the war, while we do not see any such bans for other nations. UEFA is banning Russia but is happy to have Israel.

I don't think we will agree on Russia's performance in the war but other things I am sure you'll agree are reasonable.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Well, as is the case with Boris, it saved his government. Anytime there is an issue that comes up Boris cites Ukraine to deflect it.

I disagree that Russia has done well, their 40km huge convoy, paratroopers near Kyiv, the attempted encirclement was all plan of getting Kyiv. We are into month 4 and apart from Kherson there is no real progress. Kharkiv is still battered but free and the East is still a hotzone. Their rapid progress in the South has stalled. Most of their plans failed due to poor planning yes but much bigger was the West throwing weapons in Ukraine, giving UA intelligence daily every hour. Russia still doesn't have air superiority which is shocking in my opinion. Saying all this however the Russians have only their 10% of overall power in Ukraine.

The US has no interest in saving human lives. If they did this war would not be happening, the US officials admitted as much when they said their goal is to make Russia weak and incapable of war, so for the US this war is a God send. Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain did not want this war but were strong armed by the US. What the US should have done is encourage Ukraine to make responsible comments ie we, the Ukrainians, realise we are between Russia and the West so we will play a responsible role and be on good terms with both sides. What the West also did was fan the flames and encouraged the Ukrainians as much as they could. The result is thousands dead and the war going on into its 4th month soon.

I also don't agree with the shocking racism where Russian athletes are getting banned, even though they are not in the war, while we do not see any such bans for other nations. UEFA is banning Russia but is happy to have Israel.

I don't think we will agree on Russia's performance in the war but other things I am sure you'll agree are reasonable.

If Russia planet to take Kyiv it would have bombed the hell out of it, it never did. Russia can send in its fighter jets anytime it wishes but Russia is mainly using precision missiles. They have managed to hit a target 15km from the Polish border, this is how strong their missile systems are. Its also good practice and testing of its missiles for any future war with Nato.

Its refreshing to read a neutral posters views, not just those who are so Pro-Nato and so Anti-Russia they cant see the woods from the trees.

What matters to you and I is the future for our family and their future offspring. Brits should be demanding a political solution, some compromise and to buy Russia oil/gas to help the country. But sadly most are brainwashed, simply following their criminal government and foolishly believing we are the good guys, when its clear we are not.

 

[Reddy]

There is no need to help, because of social media there is plenty of evidence to show BBC/CNN and other MSM are simply lying.

My post was mainly responding to your snake island comment. I agree with most of what you wrote apart from the idea Russians couldnt take the capital, they never tried and it was never part of their mission to do so. The Russian planning was good but nobody expected Nato to risk nuclear war by joining in the fight, sending in mercenaries and even Nato commandos.

Under these circumstances Russia has done very well.

Our main concern as Brits should be the the welfare of our children and the future of their children. A new financial world order is emerging, meaning in the next couple of decades Europe and US will see a huge economic collapse, the currencies will possibly be go out of existence. A debt maintained society is now at risk of see poverty in Europe soon. We as Brits should be demanding mutual cooperation with Russia instead of poking the bear to war and trying to cling on to the Imperial advantages of the past.

This time the West has not left the propaganda work only to their media, they are also banning social media accounts showing Ukrainian losses. The only place where you can get good information is Telegram channels, A good Telegram channel on this conflict:

https://t.me/s/intelslava

From the above, You can post the individual important Telegram message link on this forum to show reality.

 

[KingKhanWC]

This time the West has not left the propaganda work only to their media, they are also banning social media accounts showing Ukrainian losses. The only place where you can get good information is Telegram channels, A good Telegram channel on this conflict:

https://t.me/s/intelslava

From the above, You can post the individual important Telegram message link on this forum to show reality.

The Nato/Ukranian supporters seem to have little common sense. If Nato was winning, Russia was evil, weak etc, there would be no need to ban the likes of RT or the youtube channels. Western nations realise most of their population are far too stupid and will accept whatever is fed to them.

Just take a look at this thread, the Nato supporters are also supporting Nazis, who would murder them or their children in a heartbeat because of their colour.

 

[bones]

These are my posts on this topic, give them a read and tell me what you disagree on, that is if you have the time to!

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...es-Ukraine&p=11443142&highlight=#post11443142

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...es-Ukraine&p=11476886&highlight=#post11476886

If your take after these two posts is 'Western propaganda' then I can't help you, but I doubt you'd find many things to disagree from.

No mention of the fixing move or the fact Russia was/is outnumbered 3 to 1. So I agree with much of your posts.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Another embarrassment on Snake Island.

Ukrainian Mi-8 Helicopter attempts landing on Snake Island — gets destroyed. Ukrainian TB2 films the whole thing & Ukraine sells it as Russian Mi-8 attempting to put more soldiers on snake island and getting destroyed.

This is propaganda. That Mi-8 is Ukrainian. It was delivering special forces to the island. The soldiers lay on the ground and assume combat positions soon as they touch the ground, something russian soldiers would not do in russian held territory. Further more, another video shows what appears to be Su-34 Aviation strikes on snake island — suggesting that after the destruction of Russian short range air defence system on the island a few days ago, Russians pulled their forces out of the island and let Ukrainians take the bait.

The TB2 was later shot down as it was attempting to return to base near Odessa.

https://t.me/s/asbmil

 

[KingKhanWC]

For months MSM were praising a so called great sniper, Wal-i

His face shown on all media, saying Russians are scared of him etc.

Now...

Much-Hyped Sniper Wali Flees Ukraine, Says 'It Was Really Violent' In Donbas

https://www.ibtimes.com/much-hyped-...ine-says-it-was-really-violent-donbas-3499643

You can find his full return interview with a Canadian news outlet. But dont bother, Wali says he only shot at two windows. )

 

[Junaids]

It really is looking grim for Russia.


https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18522354/corpses-of-russian-troops-killed-javelin-missiles/

Running out of precision missiles, their best tanks already destroyed, 25,000 soldiers dead and probably 40,000 disabled for life. And now they have to call up untrained conscripts to replace their dead professional soldiers.

 

[cpleigh]

The Russian assault on kharkiv has collapsed. Been pushed back over the border

 

[bones]

It really is looking grim for Russia.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18522354/corpses-of-russian-troops-killed-javelin-missiles/
Running out of precision missiles, their best tanks already destroyed, 25,000 soldiers dead and probably 40,000 disabled for life. And now they have to call up untrained conscripts to replace their dead professional soldiers.

They are not running out of precision missiles. In fact just 2 days ago they used at least 7 when they hit Odessa. When you factor in that many precision missiles are often intercepted then we can assume many more than 7 were launched.

You say they have called up conscripts – where is the evidence of this? The Russians haven’t even gone through any mobilisation yet - contrary to western propaganda Putin did nothing of the sort on Victory day. You say 40k wounded and 25k dead. That would mean 65k. Since they started the war with 190-200k that would mean they have lost a third of their initial deployed units. Are you really naïve enough to believe this kind of nonsense?

If Russia lost a third of their forces they would have mobilised a long time ago. Since they haven’t mobilised it leads anyone with common sense to conclude those numbers are total lies.

If you think it’s grim for Russia have a read up on the recent events at Snake Island.

The Russian assault on kharkiv has collapsed. Been pushed back over the border

Looking at LiveUAMap there’s nothing of the sort. This is a very pro Ukrainian source and even they still have Russian forces around Kharkiv. Over and over again you continue to show your ignorance of warfare. The Russians were outnumbered by a ratio of 3 to 1, so they had to use manoeuvre warfare to gain an advantage in the areas they care about. They said from the outset Crimea and Donbas. They did not mention Kyiv, they did not mention Lviv and they did not mention Kharkov. So why do you and others seem to think Russia wants to control these areas?

Let’s assume Putin did want Kharkov and the Russians are being beaten back to the border. Why no mobilisation?

https://liveuamap.com

 

[James]

Disclaimer, I am not as well read/ as some of our users on this topic at all; I am a mere unremarkable layperson, and an observer.

My interpretation/assumption from this position before the Ukraine operation was that a Russian armed assault on the majority of its rival countries around the world (the likes of USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan aside) would be a rollover, and a decisive success to the Russian juggernaut within a couple of weeks.

My personal perception from this lay position as the scenario has developed is instead that the Ukrainians have put up an incredibly gutsy defence and that the Russians went in with an overconfident triumphalist approach but have significantly underperformed. The recent photographs of Putin depict a man under considerable stress who is not sleeping very well at the moment and who is beginning to age quite poorly.

I think regardless of the niche oneupmanship conversations on Internet forums and within the bubble of social media, the above will be the general public’s perception of events at large, certainly in western countries.

NB I also don’t think that Russia’s online supporters would be going in so hard and debating so fervently if the military successes actually were speaking for themselves, which would mean that these matters would not need to be argued over and talked up. A decisive victory is a decisive victory and is self-evident. But clearly this has not been such a Blitzkrieg, the conflict is being closely fought, and there is seemingly no shortage of ambiguity as to what is really going on over there.

I will continue to watch with interest.

 

[bones]

[MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION]

The issue many have is they see this operation in isolation. They do not understand the backstory and they do not understand warfare. Anyone who thinks Russia would waltz into Ukraine and conquer the country in a few days has no grasp of reality.

Ukraine have a well trained and well equiped army. NATO have bases inside Ukraine and have been training the AFU in Donbas for several years. Not only that but the AFU have fortified many positions in the Donbas.

Russia are winning politically, economically and most importantly militarily. The only way the Ukrainians can turn things around in their favour and prevent Odessa other other regions in the south and east from being taken is if America puts boots on the ground. But they aren't in a position to do this because the public do not support this.

We are at a dangerous stage right now, the west has invested a lot and failed to defeat Russia by any measure so far. The Biden administration is extremely unpopular right now and will have a devastating result in the mid-terms. So there is a huge risk to try and salvage the mid-terms they will plant some false flag to get involved in the war.

I really hope more and more people see this proxy war in a wider context and understand how bad it's going for the collective west politically, economically and militarily.

 

[cpleigh]

Looking at LiveUAMap there’s nothing of the sort. This is a very pro Ukrainian source and even they still have Russian forces around Kharkiv. Over and over again you continue to show your ignorance of warfare. The Russians were outnumbered by a ratio of 3 to 1, so they had to use manoeuvre warfare to gain an advantage in the areas they care about. They said from the outset Crimea and Donbas. They did not mention Kyiv, they did not mention Lviv and they did not mention Kharkov. So why do you and others seem to think Russia wants to control these areas?

Let’s assume Putin did want Kharkov and the Russians are being beaten back to the border. Why no mobilisation?

https://liveuamap.com

And you continue to show your blissful ignorance to reality. Ukraine have driven the Russians from Kyiv and now Kharkiv.

What would mobilisation do? it would take months for soldiers to be trained, and Russia don't have the weaponary reserves for it anyway. All they could give them is old relic equipment that would be coming up against new NATO gear. It would be a turkey shoot.

All that would be achieved is putting guns in the hands of thousands of angry young men looking for scapegoats. Thats how revolutions start.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1523036461595242498

 

[bones]

And you continue to show your blissful ignorance to reality. Ukraine have driven the Russians from Kyiv and now Kharkiv.

What would mobilisation do? it would take months for soldiers to be trained, and Russia don't have the weaponary reserves for it anyway. All they could give them is old relic equipment that would be coming up against new NATO gear. It would be a turkey shoot.

All that would be achieved is putting guns in the hands of thousands of angry young men looking for scapegoats. Thats how revolutions start.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1523036461595242498

Over and over again you keep saying the Ukranians have driven from Kyiv and Kharkiv without mentioning once manouvre warfare or the fact they are outnumbered 3 to 1.

Please continue to read/listen to your propaganda, I'm sure the "defeat of Russia/Putin" is imminent.

By the way what are your thoughts on the Snake Island fiasco?

 

[cpleigh]

Over and over again you keep saying the Ukranians have driven from Kyiv and Kharkiv without mentioning once manouvre warfare or the fact they are outnumbered 3 to 1.

Please continue to read/listen to your propaganda, I'm sure the "defeat of Russia/Putin" is imminent.

By the way what are your thoughts on the Snake Island fiasco?

What Snake island fiasco? Ukraine are trying to retake it. Destroyed a fair few Russians also.

BTW the link below is from the same Russian guy who wrote the article on the 3rd Feb, he seems to have predicted it very well.

https://russiandefpolicy.com/2022/02/07/mass-fire-strike-on-ukraine/

 

[cpleigh]

are you refering to videos of ukraine destroying a troop helicopter on snake island, and then Russia claimed it was a trap and ukraine actually destroyed their own Helicopter?

Sounds believable ha ha

 

[bones]

are you refering to videos of ukraine destroying a troop helicopter on snake island, and then Russia claimed it was a trap and ukraine actually destroyed their own Helicopter?

Sounds believable ha ha

The fact you think Russia lost the helicopter says it all. My guess is that you believe it was the ghost of Kyiv right?

 

[bones]

Still no reference to manoeuvre warfare cpleigh…

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

[MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION]

The issue many have is they see this operation in isolation. They do not understand the backstory and they do not understand warfare. Anyone who thinks Russia would waltz into Ukraine and conquer the country in a few days has no grasp of reality.

Ukraine have a well trained and well equiped army. NATO have bases inside Ukraine and have been training the AFU in Donbas for several years. Not only that but the AFU have fortified many positions in the Donbas.

Russia are winning politically, economically and most importantly militarily. The only way the Ukrainians can turn things around in their favour and prevent Odessa other other regions in the south and east from being taken is if America puts boots on the ground. But they aren't in a position to do this because the public do not support this.

We are at a dangerous stage right now, the west has invested a lot and failed to defeat Russia by any measure so far. The Biden administration is extremely unpopular right now and will have a devastating result in the mid-terms. So there is a huge risk to try and salvage the mid-terms they will plant some false flag to get involved in the war.

I really hope more and more people see this proxy war in a wider context and understand how bad it's going for the collective west politically, economically and militarily.

I don't know if it is going badly for one side or the other since I don't follow events that closely and find it hard to distinguish between fact and propaganda. But I agree it's a proxy war, I doubt very much it was a war that Putin wanted to initiate, my view is that it was basically a counter strike to prevent NATO encroach. No doubt the west will suffer economically, but unless we get directly involved, I don't see us losing lives, the body count will be paid by Russians and Ukranians.

 

[cpleigh]

Still no reference to manoeuvre warfare cpleigh…

no, because i don't have a clue bout it, like you

 

[bones]

no, because i don't have a clue bout it, like you

So why pretend you know what the Russian plans and strategy are?

 

[James]

I don't know if it is going badly for one side or the other since I don't follow events that closely and find it hard to distinguish between fact and propaganda. But I agree it's a proxy war, I doubt very much it was a war that Putin wanted to initiate, my view is that it was basically a counter strike to prevent NATO encroach. No doubt the west will suffer economically, but unless we get directly involved, I don't see us losing lives, the body count will be paid by Russians and Ukranians.

I agree, the majority of wars nowadays where the West is involved seem to be proxy wars of one sort or another — been the same since WW2, which was perhaps the final open and direct war fought on a mass scale where a majority of ordinary citizens across the globe were in mortal danger of some kind. Nowadays there are always a number of subtexts to conflict, with the wars being deeply political and also based in economic theory.

 

[bones]

For anyone interested in the alternative take about Snake Island it goes something like this. Russia evacuated the island a few days ago, there isn't much strategic value for them or for Ukraine for that matter. It's very small and very unprotected - easily attacked.The Russians prepared an ambush because their intelligence indicated to them that an attack was being planned for a propaganda win prior to May 9. British intelligence advised Zelensky to launch an assault even though the Ukranian military leaders were against it. The Ukranians fell for the trap and recorded their own aircraft and landing being destroyed.

 

[cpleigh]

For anyone interested in the alternative take about Snake Island it goes something like this. Russia evacuated the island a few days ago, there isn't much strategic value for them or for Ukraine for that matter. It's very small and very unprotected - easily attacked.The Russians prepared an ambush because their intelligence indicated to them that an attack was being planned for a propaganda win prior to May 9. British intelligence advised Zelensky to launch an assault even though the Ukranian military leaders were against it. The Ukranians fell for the trap and recorded their own aircraft and landing being destroyed.

Wrong. Its 271km from that island to Sevastapol, if Ukraine have it it puts the entire Black sea fleet in striking distance of the Neptune missile.

It's of huge importance.

Are you going to show any evidence for this apparent plot? Any pictures of Ukrainian wreckage?

 

[bones]

Wrong. Its 271km from that island to Sevastapol, if Ukraine have it it puts the entire Black sea fleet in striking distance of the Neptune missile.

It's of huge importance.

Are you going to show any evidence for this apparent plot? Any pictures of Ukrainian wreckage?

Covered by TheDuran recently and also Moon of Alabama.

The Russians are not like the Ukranians. They're not releasing all of their combat footage or even a small portion of it. Consider this, they've taken Popasnaya and we've seen hardly any footage of their sorties or artillery.

 

[Pakpak]

Disclaimer, I am not as well read/ as some of our users on this topic at all; I am a mere unremarkable layperson, and an observer.

My interpretation/assumption from this position before the Ukraine operation was that a Russian armed assault on the majority of its rival countries around the world (the likes of USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan aside) would be a rollover, and a decisive success to the Russian juggernaut within a couple of weeks.

My personal perception from this lay position as the scenario has developed is instead that the Ukrainians have put up an incredibly gutsy defence and that the Russians went in with an overconfident triumphalist approach but have significantly underperformed. The recent photographs of Putin depict a man under considerable stress who is not sleeping very well at the moment and who is beginning to age quite poorly.

I think regardless of the niche oneupmanship conversations on Internet forums and within the bubble of social media, the above will be the general public’s perception of events at large, certainly in western countries.

NB I also don’t think that Russia’s online supporters would be going in so hard and debating so fervently if the military successes actually were speaking for themselves, which would mean that these matters would not need to be argued over and talked up. A decisive victory is a decisive victory and is self-evident. But clearly this has not been such a Blitzkrieg, the conflict is being closely fought, and there is seemingly no shortage of ambiguity as to what is really going on over there.

I will continue to watch with interest.

Pretty much what I feel.

The cities and areas Russians want to win and end the war are still free, barring Kherson. Its been 3 months and the East is still contested. Those are undeniable facts.

 

[bones]

Many of the independent journalists (not MSM) are of the opinion that the west are on the verge of producing a false flag event to try and salvage the situation. They tried with Bucha but the public were not as outraged as they had hoped so they need something bigger or the result of the conflict is a done deal.

 

[silentkiller187]

Russia's invasion of Ukraine "opened a new chapter" in post-Cold War history, said Boris Johnson as he agreed defence pacts with Sweden and Finland.

The prime minister visited Stockholm and Helsinki to sign the agreements, which say the UK will come to the aid of Sweden and Finland if they are attacked, and vice-versa if the UK is attacked.

Speaking in Helsinki, Mr Johnson said that aid given to Ukraine and support pledged to Sweden and Finland were key to countering Russian president Vladimir Putin, otherwise "this would not be the end of his neo-imperialist revanchist ambitions".

Ukraine news live: Russia demands apology after diplomat doused in 'red paint'

Pressed on the rationale of supporting Ukraine while people in Britain are squeezed by the cost of living crisis, the PM pledged that "of course, there will be more support in the months ahead".

But Mr Johnson added: "It would be a huge, huge mistake to think that the economic answer is to let Putin get away with his barbaric behaviour in Ukraine."

The prime minister made the remarks at a news conference alongside Finland's president Sauli Niinisto.

It comes as both Sweden and Finland consider joining Nato amid Russia's ongoing military aggression in Ukraine.

That could be seen as provocative by the Kremlin, but Mr Niinisto placed the blame firmly with the Russians for becoming more aggressive in their insistence on the countries' neutrality - and because they had shown they were "ready to attack a neighbouring country".

"My response would be that you caused this - look at the mirror."

Mr Johnson said it was a "pivotal moment" in the UK and Finland's shared history.

He added: "The Russian invasion of Ukraine has changed the equation of European security and it has rewritten our reality and reshaped our future.

"We've seen the end of the post-Cold War period and the invasion of Ukraine sadly has opened a new chapter.

"Finland has traditionally been neutral but this [agreement] is formalising and making clear something that needs to be made explicit in the context of today.

"That is that, in the event of an attack on either of us we will come to each other's support."

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-...-deals-to-protect-sweden-and-finland-12610737

 

[sweep_shot]

As an outsider, this war doesn't affect me directly.

But, this war is causing petrol cost to rise where I live. So, I hope this conflict will be resolved soon.

Whether Ukraine wins or Russia wins, just finish it.

 

[bones]

Whether Ukraine wins or Russia wins, just finish it.

Sadly the west isn’t letting Ukraine. Instead of pushing for diplomacy they are pumping in money and weapons. This is dragging it on.

 

[Gilly]

Sadly the west isn’t letting Ukraine. Instead of pushing for diplomacy they are pumping in money and weapons. This is dragging it on.

Very much like how the east use Palestinians as fodder in their war against Israel.

 

[90MPH]

Putin can not be let off the hook, the idea that he had no choice to start this insane invasion is a pathetic indefensible position.

The rationale about Ukraine joining NATO was a massive propaganda lie because now Finland and Sweden are about to join it.

How did that work out for Putin ? He didn’t stop NATO expansion - he now has Finland right next door to it who will be joining the alliance by the end of the year.
And these 2 countries had no intention of joining it but as soon as Putin decided to invade Ukraine it was the populations of these countries that were demanding they join it when they were against joining it before.

Well played Putin. Not.

Regardless Putin is now trapped in a corner. The idea that Russia is winning this war is absolute nonsense. They have been taking heavy loses in the last few days and have now just being driven out of North of Kharkiv.

Not just that, Ukrainians will be able to attack Russian positions in the Donbas with the artillery they will be getting while the Russians will not be able to hit them back as don’t have the same range with their equipment.

This isn’t going to end well for the Russians, it will be probably one of their worst humiliations since their failed war against Finland in 1939.

 

[bones]

90mph continues to feast on BBC and CNN nonsense. I guess when he realises the reality of the military situation he’ll remove the Ukrainian flag from his social media like millions of others.

Further military analysis by experts suggests that Russia have deliberately left certain railway lines open. This was to force the Ukrainians to use them making it easier to track and destroy weapons. Ukraine and NATO have a huge problem in that they can’t drive the weapons to the frontline in Donbas without risking. So any heavy weapons that can be sent are being deployed near Odessa and Kharkiv. It’s a game of chess that Ukraine (Nato) are not in control of right now.

 

[Robert]

Finland, neutral for decades, announces that it will apply to join NATO.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-61404062

Finland of course has experience of invasion by Russia and being forced to concede territory, but was happy to maintain neutrality until the Russo-Ukraine War.

 

[cpleigh]

Finland to join NATO

 

[bones]

So the collective west have managed to manipulate Finland into picking a side.

The west are losing on all except 1 front. They are losing politically, economically and militarily but they are winning the propaganda war. Economically there is nothing more they can do without further damaging themselves. Militarily there is nothing more they can do without actually putting men on the ground and planes in the sky, in other words get involved in a war with Russia directly. They can and will continue to milk the propaganda war but eventually the public will get tired as standard of living continues downhill.

Politically Biden, Johnson and Scholz are in a terrible position along with others. Putin is as popular as he's ever been in Russia. The west could change this around but they'd need to defeat Russia militarily and to do that they need men on the ground and to do that they will need some sort of false flag.

 

[cpleigh]

I mean... i don't think i've read such a deluded post in my life.

Impressive

 

[bones]

I mean... i don't think i've read such a deluded post in my life.

Impressive

You still haven't bothered to read up on manouvre warfare and yet you claim to understand the military situation in Ukraine. You still did not provide any info on how you think western heavy weapons will reach the frontline in Donbas.

How can you call other opinions delusional when you are feasting on western MSM without bothered to do your own research.

 

[cpleigh]

You still haven't bothered to read up on manouvre warfare and yet you claim to understand the military situation in Ukraine. You still did not provide any info on how you think western heavy weapons will reach the frontline in Donbas.

How can you call other opinions delusional when you are feasting on western MSM without bothered to do your own research.

HA HA HA

Ukraine control all the roads and rail lines into the Donbas. Its all very simple really.
Howitzers from the US have already arrived into the Donbas area.
How am i feasting on anything? Yes i watch the news sometimes. The only person feasting on any propaganda is you. You believe all the tripe from RT (and before you say you don't... the report you believe about snake island was a story by RT)

 

[Robert]

This isn’t going to end well for the Russians, it will be probably one of their worst humiliations since their failed war against Finland in 1939.

USSR did manage to grab about 10% of Finnish territory which is still part of Russia today. But the Finns put a furious fight and exposed the Red Army in terms of badly trained troops, poorly maintained vehicles, inadequate comms, poor leadership and logistics failures. All very similar to Putin’s misadventure in Ukraine.

Putin has horribly miscalculated. I suspect that he is suffering from psychological impairment due to COVID isolation.

Once the master chess player, he corroded Western democratic institutions with oligarch money, fomented conspiracy theories, and enabled the far right groups across Europe. Everywhere across the West, his propaganda undermined faith in liberal democracy. For a long time, the West did not know how to counter this alternative warfare.

But he has failed spectacularly in the last three months: uniting his opponents, strengthening their resolve, building up their militaries and now bringing another 1300 km of the NATO front right to his border.

 

[bones]

(and before you say you don't... the report you believe about snake island was a story by RT)

I gave you both of my sources for the Snake Island story. One is The Locals, specifically Robert Barnes and the other was Moon of Alabama. RT doesn't even work in the UK...

 

[Pakpak]

Seeing pictures of 58 Russian armour destroyed after a failed bridging attempt across a river.

Western weapons pouring in now I feel Russia lost its chance when it should have steamrolled Ukraine during the early days in the war.

 

[bones]

The Mayor of Rubizhne near Severodonesk has confirmed it's been taken and the AFU retreated last night. It's not confirmed where they have retreated to but I assume from the maps it would be more logical to retreat to Lisichansk because it's the other side of the river. However that does place them more closer to the artillery in Popasnaya.

Military men feel that the units in Lisichansk can't retreat in large numbers - they lost that chance a few weeks ago. So it will continue to be a slow grind. The AFU in Lisichansk has more artillery but they are still only launching 1 shell for every 3 or 4 Russian shell. There are still around 8,000 soldiers in this small region of about 20-30 square miles.

 

[bones]

Here is the BBC's reporting on the war over the last few weeks.

Ukraine take a small village near Kharkiv > Ukraine are launching multiple successful counter offensives.

Russia take a small village in the Donbas or near Zaporizhia > Russia are stalled and unable to make any inroads.

Not one mention on the BBC or Sky about the fall of Popasnaya.

 

[90MPH]

Russian soldieres caught on CCTV killing civilians; Report by Sarah Rainsford

When Leonid Pliats and his boss were shot in the back by Russian soldiers, the killing was captured on CCTV cameras in clear and terrible detail. The footage, which was obtained by the BBC, is now being investigated by Ukrainian prosecutors as a suspected war crime.

It was the height of the fighting around Kyiv and the main roads into the capital were a battlefield, including around the bicycle shop where Leonid worked as a security guard.

But this was no firefight: the video clearly shows five heavily armed Russian soldiers shooting the two unarmed Ukrainians and then looting the business.

We have pieced together the full sequence of events, matching what was recorded on multiple CCTV cameras around the site with the testimony of people Leonid phoned that day, as well as the Ukrainian volunteer fighters who tried to rescue him.




Link below with the full article and video. But even with this much clear evidence the I am sure the contrarians will deny or defend this war crime as well.

Ukraine conflict: Russian soldiers seen shooting dead unarmed civilians https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61425025Y

 

[Technics 1210]

Russian War Crimes caught on CCTV? OK, I wonder what Western apologists have to say about US forces being caught on camera, killing innocent Iraqi lives, then the video leaked, and now Assange is about to be extradited for a life in prison? Go support Assange, I dare you. Speak up in defense of Assange, I dare you. Not happening as the MSM doesn't report in such way.

These Western apologists are more hypocritical than the MSM itself.

Yes it is sad that innocent lives are lost, but I will never be dictated by the MSM on who I should care about or when I should show solidarity, yet the anti Russian posters in this thread are doing exactly what the MSM commands them to by parroting the same MSM views in public. Where are the vehement cries against innocents lives lost in Yemen (for example) from these so called MSM parrots in this thread? That's right folks, those who support West/NATO, value a western life more than others. To hell with these lot.

 

[90MPH]

Seeing pictures of 58 Russian armour destroyed after a failed bridging attempt across a river.

Western weapons pouring in now I feel Russia lost its chance when it should have steamrolled Ukraine during the early days in the war.

Russian army “loses entire battalion” trying to cross Ukraine Bridge.

The Russian army has suffered heavy losses including the destruction of around three dozen tanks after the Ukrainian army blew up a pontoon bridge over the Siverskyi Donets river in the Luhansk region, according to reports.

Satellite images collected by geospatial intelligence firm BlackSky show that a pontoon bridge – used primarily but not invariably for military purposes – was destroyed on 10 May after Ukrainian artillery struck the bridge and surrounding area.

The images show smoke emanating from the half-sunken bridge with destroyed armoured vehicles lying on the shores of the Siverskyi Donets river, running west to east between Russian rebels-controlled provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.

On Wednesday, the Ukrainian defence ministry shared the same images, saying Ukrainian ground forces, artillerymen of the 17th tank brigade, “have opened the holiday season for ruscists”, referring to Russian soldiers.

“Some bathed in the Siverskyi Donets River, and some were burned by the May sun,” it said.

Serhii Haidai, head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, said the Russian army created a bridge to transfer military gear and personnel but all pontoons were destroyed along with equipment and troops.

“In Bilohorivka, where the enemy tried to create a solid crossing and transfer equipment and personnel to our side, he was partially successful, but now all pontoon crossings have been destroyed, all equipment has been destroyed and the remaining personnel have either been killed or have fled by swimming across to the other side.”

According to an estimate by Forbes, around 50 vehicles and up to a thousand troops were caught by Ukrainian artillery and were destroyed, effectively taking out an entire battalion, in what would be a major blow to the Russian army.

There were around three dozen tanks and other armoured vehicles lying destroyed along the river after the successful strike by the Ukrainian army, it reported.

The US defence department on Tuesday said that the movement of Russian ground forces in Donbas “is slow and uneven”.


https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-putin-soldiers-siverskyi-donets-b2077244.html

 

[bones]

Lol. A Russian BTG is about 800 soldiers. You’re telling me that many soldiers were lumped into 36 vehicles? That would mean there would be an average of 22 men per vehicle? 90mph do you bother to apply any logic?

Yes the Russians are losing equipment but there’s no way they have lost a BTG in one incident. It’s probably more like two possibly three company size units when you consider most tanks and armoured vehicles carry 4-6 soldiers.

 

[bones]

What exactly do you think the purpose of the Yavoriv “peacekeeping” centre was? I say was because it was one of bases taken out early on.

There are apparently others which they will never mention officially.

 

[mazkhan]

Told you once western artillery got there ukranians would use it to devastating effect .

All usa needs to do now is supply f16s and train the pilot's in Poland those f16s will knock out any russian junk we saw that in pakistan when abhinandan mig 21 and the su30 mki was shot down

 

[bones]

Told you once western artillery got there ukranians would use it to devastating effect .

All usa needs to do now is supply f16s and train the pilot's in Poland those f16s will knock out any russian junk we saw that in pakistan when abhinandan mig 21 and the su30 mki was shot down

Do you have evidence that the equipment has reached the frontline in Donbas?

 

[Pakpak]

Told you once western artillery got there ukranians would use it to devastating effect .

All usa needs to do now is supply f16s and train the pilot's in Poland those f16s will knock out any russian junk we saw that in pakistan when abhinandan mig 21 and the su30 mki was shot down

That isn't happening. F16 pilots even in the US take 9 months training.

This war has gone the same way for Russia as the winter war in 1939 for the Soviets.

 

[Pakpak]

I also read not long ago Indians are rethinking all their military doctorines. All of which is based on junk Russia sells.

To be fair some weapons they have are v good. The Armata tanks and their 5th generation plane. However both of them have only been produced to 15 or 16 in number.

 

[mazkhan]

I also read not long ago Indians are rethinking all their military doctorines. All of which is based on junk Russia sells.

To be fair some weapons they have are v good. The Armata tanks and their 5th generation plane. However both of them have only been produced to 15 or 16 in number.

Their t90m has been going up in smokes and destroyed in ukraine which is a very advanced tank
The armata would probably meat a similar fate due to the incompetent tactics of the russians and their lack of intelligence and planning on the battlefield they keep bumbling into one catastrophe after another on the field .

The stealth fighter has been ditched by the indians of all people who pulled out of the programme

 

[bones]

The amount of nonsense here from call of duty veterans is baffling.

If anyone wants to get some other opinions on how the war is going just refer to defence pk or defence ind forums.

Those guys know more than most Pakistanis and they don’t seem to think Russia are incompetent. Almost all of the actual fighting that the Russians are doing is not being filmed so we’re not getting even a remotely accurate picture of the situation. The Russians were smart enough to take phones from their soldiers.

Regarding the equipment the guys on those forums indicate that the Russians have the best artillery and anti air. The Russian anti air would have much success against all planes.

Let’s not forget the Russians have hypersonic missiles, the Americans do not.

 

[Pakpak]

Their t90m has been going up in smokes and destroyed in ukraine which is a very advanced tank
The armata would probably meat a similar fate due to the incompetent tactics of the russians and their lack of intelligence and planning on the battlefield they keep bumbling into one catastrophe after another on the field .

The stealth fighter has been ditched by the indians of all people who pulled out of the programme

I am talking about the Su15, which only 15 of them have been made so far. Armata is a very good toy, but not enough of them. As for Su15 now it seems like due to sanctions the program is going to be paused. The cost overrans affected the Indians as well.

Russia's equipment was much better than Ukraine at the start, its that their planning has been shoddy. Using heavy armour with no backing from artillery or air force, is such a bad mistake. No air superiority has pretty ruined a lot of battles for them in the war. If their air power was competent they would have wiped out all the Ukrainian artillery and targeted all these weapons pouring into Ukraine.

 

[mazkhan]

Bones you do know this war is gonna bankrupt russia.

Their military hardware has been hit really hard

Countries are gonna think twice in buying any Russian equipment

Pakistan itself is in a dilemma with the rd93 engines and ukranian tank engines

 

[Technics 1210]

LOL the war will bankrupt Russia. Such delusional horepukky.

Russia's currency is going from strength to strength! Bond obligation met in 30 days advance. Western sanctions have failed and over 90 nations abstained from condemning Russia.

Only Western nations are in on this, and we all know the world is bigger than North America and Europe. 5 eyes do not hold a candle.

 

[bones]

Bones you do know this war is gonna bankrupt russia.

Their military hardware has been hit really hard

Countries are gonna think twice in buying any Russian equipment

Pakistan itself is in a dilemma with the rd93 engines and ukranian tank engines

It won’t bankrupt them. No chance, they have many resources that the west is desperate for. German industry is highly dependent on it for example. Russia will suffer a recession for sure but they will recover.

In terms of the weapons, there is no evidence Russian equipment won’t sell in fact more and more of the SAMsswill be in demand and so will their artillery.

 

[Technics 1210]

It won’t bankrupt them. No chance, they have many resources that the west is desperate for. German industry is highly dependent on it for example. Russia will suffer a recession for sure but they will recover.

In terms of the weapons, there is no evidence Russian equipment won’t sell in fact more and more of the SAMsswill be in demand and so will their artillery.

The world is about to enter recession, not just Russia, and yes you are correct, Russia has ample natural resources, not just Oil, but metals too.

 

[90MPH]

Lol. A Russian BTG is about 800 soldiers. You’re telling me that many soldiers were lumped into 36 vehicles? That would mean there would be an average of 22 men per vehicle? 90mph do you bother to apply any logic?

Yes the Russians are losing equipment but there’s no way they have lost a BTG in one incident. It’s probably more like two possibly three company size units when you consider most tanks and armoured vehicles carry 4-6 soldiers.

Bones I know you ain’t the brightest in here but I will help you out.

My last post wasn’t my opinion. It was an article I posted from the Independent newspaper online with a link below it.

Now it’s obvious the Russian forces sustained very heavy loses in that encounter because they got caught in an ambush while crossing a makeshift bridge and they were all together - not very smart thinking on the of this particular blattalion as it became sitting ducks for Ukrainian artillery and they pulounded it to oblivion.

I don’t know how many Russians died but there was a minimum of 74 vehicles destroyed - those are the visuals tallies as they were counted with all the videos and photographs available.

 

[bones]

Bones I know you ain’t the brightest in here but I will help you out.

My last post wasn’t my opinion. It was an article I posted from the Independent newspaper online with a link below it.

Now it’s obvious the Russian forces sustained very heavy loses in that encounter because they got caught in an ambush while crossing a makeshift bridge and they were all together - not very smart thinking on the of this particular blattalion as it became sitting ducks for Ukrainian artillery and they pulounded it to oblivion.

I don’t know how many Russians died but there was a minimum of 74 vehicles destroyed - those are the visuals tallies as they were counted with all the videos and photographs available.

You were the one who typed in bold the Russians lost a BTG. I just explained how that is nonsense because the numbers don’t add up. If you/your source don’t know how many people died - then BBC why claim it to be a BTG? If an entire BTG was lost then huge moves would be made to shore up defences or replace them.

The units and vehicles lost appear to be of the LNR militia and according to the material I’m reading 12 of the vehicles were Ukrainian captured and the remaining were LNR. The pontoon bridge was destroyed, this is normal this is war. Plenty of pontoon bridges have been destroyed so far and plenty of normal bridges too.

Note that despite these so called “heavy” Russian losses it’s the Ukrainians who have gone through the 4th wave of mobilisation. The Russians don’t seem to be in any hurry to mobilise.

 

[mazkhan]

Bones why is russia leaving Syria?

 

[captain.hansolo]

LOL the war will bankrupt Russia. Such delusional horepukky.

Russia's currency is going from strength to strength! Bond obligation met in 30 days advance. Western sanctions have failed and over 90 nations abstained from condemning Russia.

Only Western nations are in on this, and we all know the world is bigger than North America and Europe. 5 eyes do not hold a candle.

Economics and you are alien to each other.

 

[captain.hansolo]

Bones why is russia leaving Syria?

Mission accomplished, special military action in Finland. Because what better way to refresh your tank fleet than to have it all destroyed by hobbyist drone operators?

 

[bones]

Bones why is russia leaving Syria?

I don’t know the answer will wait until I get some experts explain the situation. My initial thought is it might be related to Finland NATO move but it could also be because they sense some other form of escalation because the Americans have flooded troops and equipment into Europe.

 

[bones]

Mission accomplished, special military action in Finland. Because what better way to refresh your tank fleet than to have it all destroyed by hobbyist drone operators?

What do you think the Russians should have done about the fact Ukraine killed 14k ethnic Russians in the Donbas since 2014? What should they have f do one about the war supply that was cut off into Crimea?

Oh wait you don’t know about these things do you?

 

[bones]

The Russian economy "will collapse" meanwhile according to the BBC:

"Boris Johnson has demanded his cabinet comes up with a plan which could cut up to 91,000 civil service jobs to free up cash to tackle the cost of living."

 

[cpleigh]

What do you think the Russians should have done about the fact Ukraine killed 14k ethnic Russians in the Donbas since 2014? What should they have f do one about the war supply that was cut off into Crimea?

Oh wait you don’t know about these things do you?

Gone to the UN, demanded action from them.

But then again, they shouldn't have invaded Ukraine pre 2014 and caused it all.

How many ethnic Russians were dying before that? ZERO. They caused it.

 

[bones]

Gone to the UN, demanded action from them.

But then again, they shouldn't have invaded Ukraine pre 2014 and caused it all.

How many ethnic Russians were dying before that? ZERO. They caused it.

They tried the diplomatic solution, they tried over and over without success. Enough was enough.

Minsk 1 and 2 failed because of the Ukranians (America) not because of Russia.

 

[Robert]

I am talking about the Su15, which only 15 of them have been made so far. Armata is a very good toy, but not enough of them. As for Su15 now it seems like due to sanctions the program is going to be paused. The cost overrans affected the Indians as well.

Russia's equipment was much better than Ukraine at the start, its that their planning has been shoddy. Using heavy armour with no backing from artillery or air force, is such a bad mistake. No air superiority has pretty ruined a lot of battles for them in the war. If their air power was competent they would have wiped out all the Ukrainian artillery and targeted all these weapons pouring into Ukraine.

These Armatas and Su-35s and such look flash, but I wonder, given the Ukraine logistics failures and rumours of embezzlement on a massive scale in military procurement, how many of them actually work.

The Russian military has been shown to be critically lacking in basic competencies, not due to their equipment on the courage of their soldiers, but due to poor planning and leadership.

They are also fighting a 20th-century comms war against an opponent taking advantage of 21st-century command and control. USAF and RAF RC-135 surveillance aircraft are picking up Russian comms - much of which is not encrypted, astonishingly - and relaying it the UKR frontline units.

 

[cpleigh]

They tried the diplomatic solution, they tried over and over without success. Enough was enough.

Minsk 1 and 2 failed because of the Ukranians (America) not because of Russia.

Minsk 1 & 2 shouldn't even have happened. Lets get it correct shall we?

In 2014 the Pro Russian president backed off from a deal with the EU, much to the anger of the Ukranian population, thus resulted in an uprising. He was over thrown after he did a runner.

Russia didn't like that, and also feared its lease on Sevastapol (which was up in 2017) would be withdrawn. So Russia invaded Crimea and took it, upon that pro Russian forces started attacking Ukrainian forces in the Donbas area. These included Russian Military.

So... no they didn't try the diplomatic solution. They tried that AFTER

 

[bones]

Minsk 1 & 2 shouldn't even have happened. Lets get it correct shall we?

In 2014 the Pro Russian president backed off from a deal with the EU, much to the anger of the Ukranian population, thus resulted in an uprising. He was over thrown after he did a runner.

Russia didn't like that, and also feared its lease on Sevastapol (which was up in 2017) would be withdrawn. So Russia invaded Crimea and took it, upon that pro Russian forces started attacking Ukrainian forces in the Donbas area. These included Russian Military.

So... no they didn't try the diplomatic solution. They tried that AFTER

Not worth debating with you because you make no mention of who was being the regime change in 2014.

 

[cpleigh]

Not worth debating with you because you make no mention of who was being the regime change in 2014.

it was a peoples uprising, you may believe the US, NATO, Nazi's, Aliens or any other mythical forces were behind it, but the Ukranian people were the ones on the street, the ones camping out in Peoples Square in Kyiv.

Or maybe the British hired loads of actors and filmed it, because we're good at that according to the Kremlin.

 

[silentkiller187]

Russian agents 'believe Putin is terminally ill' after top-secret memo, report claims
Speculation around Vladimir Putin's health has circulated for several years, but has only intensified since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine.

Now, New Lines magazine reports it has obtained an audio recording of an oligarch close to the Kremlin who describes the Russian president as "very ill with blood cancer", although the type of blood cancer was not specified.

It says a "top-secret memo" was sent out by the headquarters of the FSB, Russia’s domestic security agency, to all its regional directors.

Christo Grozev, the head of investigations at Bellingcat, a well-respected forensic research website, said: "The memo instructed the regional chiefs not to trust rumours about the president's terminal condition.

"The directors were further instructed to dispel any rumors to this effect that may spread within the local FSB units. According to a source at one of the regional units who saw the memo, this unprecedented instruction had the opposite effect, with most FSB officers suddenly coming to believe that Putin indeed suffers from a serious medical condition."

The magazine goes on to detail evidence of apparent physical ailments suffered by the Russian leader, including observations about his walking - as mentioned in this story published by Sky News earlier this week.

It also refers to his changed appearance in recent times, including the fact his face now is significantly puffier - and suggests this could signify some form of medication for an illness.

Ashley Grossman, a professor of endocrinology at Oxford University, told New Lines: "Putin has always been a very fit-looking man with a slightly gaunt appearance.


"But over the last couple of years, he seems to have filled out in the face and neck. Cushingoid appearance, it's called, and it's compatible with steroid use."

Such claims around Mr Putin's health, of course, cannot be verified - and as noted by the magazine, those in Russia who may wish to topple the leader would have a vested interest in propagating rumours that he was vulnerable to being removed.

SKY NEWS

 

[cpleigh]

he does look ill. Defo on steroids, his face has swollen like mad. Looks like a tortoise now.

Probably why he's so angry

 

[silentkiller187]

Russian forces are conducting "highly risky" manoeuvres which suggest their military leaders are under pressure to make progress in their operations in eastern Ukraine, according to UK intelligence, after a battalion was wiped out trying to cross a river.

Footage released by Ukrainian forces appeared to show several burnt out military vehicles and segments of a bridge partially submerged in a river in the Donbas region.

The images showed many more damaged or abandoned vehicles, including tanks, in the woods and on the track leading to the river.

The UK Ministry of Defence said the footage suggested that Russia had lost almost an entire battalion and the pontoon bridging equipment deployed while crossing the Siverskyi Donets river west of Severodonetsk.

Ukraine news live: Russian agents 'believe Putin is terminally ill'

In its latest update on the situation on the ground in Ukraine, the MoD said Russia has failed to make "any significant advances" despite withdrawing and redeploying units from central and northern Ukraine to the east of the war-torn country.

"Russia is investing significant effort in the vicinity of Izium and Severodonetsk in an attempt to achieve a breakthrough towards Sloviansk and Kramatorsk," it said.

"The primary objective on this axis is to envelop Ukrainian forces in the Joint Forces Operation area, isolating them from support or reinforcement by units in the west of the country."

It added: "Conducting river crossings in a contested environment is a highly risky manoeuvre and speaks to the pressure the Russian commanders are under to make progress in their operations in eastern Ukraine."

It is the latest setback on the battlefield for the invading forces after Ukraine on Thursday claimed a Russian navy logistics ship near Snake Island in the Black Sea was set on fire as a result of a Ukrainian strike.

Satellite images captured by US-based company Maxar Technologies appeared to show the aftermath of what it said were probable missile attacks on a Russian Serna-class landing craft near the island.

Russia is focusing on "liberating" Donbas as part of its "special military operation" after facing stiff Ukrainian resistance in the north.

Russian-backed separatists control part of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions which jointly make up the Donbas and Russian leader Vladimir Putin wants it entirely in pro-Russian hands.

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-...tire-battalion-trying-to-cross-river-12611920