Russian Invasion of Ukraine - Page 10 - House of Blogs -- Two Plus Two Poker Forums

MILITARY AID

1. GOOD READ AP article "Some in Congress want to cut Ukraine aid and boost Taiwan’s. But Taiwan sees its fate tied to Kyiv’s"
2. Crenshaw on Republicans refusing to compromise just to hurt Biden
3. Comparison of what Poland has ordered vs what has been given to Ukraine

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN ECONOMY

1. Bloomberg article "Russia’s Novatek Halts Baltic Fuel-Making Plant After Fire"
2. Tracking the tankers halted outside

Spoiler:

EU

Bloomberg article "EU Proposes Revamp of $5 Billion Ukraine Military Aid Fund" on the problem with procuring new arms now that sending previous stockpiles isn't possible

Spoiler:

RECRUITMENT; ANGRY WIVES; SOLDIERS SPEAKING

1. short Meduza article "Seven contract soldiers in Russia’s Far East sent to prison for refusing to fight in Ukraine"
2. Video of soldiers complaining about lack of rotation; another video of wives at Putin's election HQ asking for their husbands to be returned

Spoiler:

STRIKES IN RUSSIA

1. Large explosion 200km south of Moscow
2. Drones attacking production facilities inside Russia

Spoiler:

ELECTIONS

1. Elderly Russians complaining about Putin
2. Russian state TV talking about how USA elections are rigged and using clips from Trump on Tucker Carlson as proof

Spoiler:

Kyiv Independent article "Recent campaigns against journalists raise concerns about press freedom in Ukraine"

Quote:

Investigative journalists in Ukraine came under two attacks in just the past week, one involving a threatening home visit and another using covert surveillance.

The two incidents are the latest in a series of discrediting campaigns against independent Ukrainian media, often supported by anonymous pro-government Telegram channels, raising concerns about increasing pressure on press freedom in wartime Ukraine.

Spoiler:

Newsweek article "Ukraine 'Blackjack' Hackers Hit Jackpot in Russia" on Ukrainian hackers stealing "more than 1.2 terabytes of classified data"

https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-bla...-sites-1862139

Quote

01-25-2024 , 02:41 AM

#227

Bluegrassplayer

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STRIKES IN RUSSIA

1. 6 minute CNN clip with Lt General Hertling discussing how Ukraine is using drones to spread out Russia's air defense systems and hit military production sites and oil depots where there are none
2. Oil refinery on fire in Russia

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

Germany considers sending Taurus missiles to UK so UK will send more Storm Shadows to Ukraine

Spoiler:

SANCTIONS

1. A look at some of the Greek ships skirting sanctions of Russian oil
2. A look at one of the ships from "Liberia" which is skirting sanctions
3. Analysis of the importance of the Ust-Luga terminal which was hit by Ukraine
4. Guardian article "UK sends UN experts photographs of North Korean shipments to Russia" on Russia ignoring UN sanctions it voted for

Spoiler:

NATO

1. Turkey votes in favor of Sweden's NATO application
2. NYT article "Orban Uses Sweden’s NATO Bid to Take Center Stage in Europe"
3. NATO article "NATO signs 1.1 billion euro contract for 155mm artillery ammunition"

Spoiler:

FICO

FT article "Slovakia’s prime minister U-turns on Ukraine support during visit" on Slovakia's PM's comments such as that Ukraine, claiming that it was under the “absolute influence of the United States”.

Spoiler:

Ukraine response to Russia claiming Ukraine shot down a passenger plane holding 65 Ukrainian POWs scheduled to be exchanged

Spoiler:

Meduza article "A bill on confiscation of property for “fakes” about the Russian army was introduced to the State Duma"

Spoiler:

Quote

01-25-2024 , 10:51 PM

#228

Bluegrassplayer

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POWs

1. Ukraine claims Russia has still not verified that any POWs were on board the downed transport plane
2. Gerashchenko that Russia transporting the POWs in such a manner is a war crime; Zelenskyy has asked for an international investigation; Russia is using this war crime for propaganda
3. BBC article "Downed plane: Still unanswered questions amid Ukraine and Russia claims"

Quote:

It also said that Russia usually provides information on the route and transport that's to be used for a swap, to make sure it's safe.

[...]

Russia has increased its missile attacks from Belgorod lately, especially on Kharkiv where it has killed and injured dozens of civilians. Transport planes like that one that crashed on Wednesday morning deliver the weapons that are then launched across the border.

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. Analysis of Trump trying to tank the Ukraine arms deal
2. Romney on Trump trying to ignore the border deal in order to use it as a platform to run on

Spoiler:

STRIKES IN RUSSIA

Analysis of the strike in St Petersburg

Quote:

It notes that the local air defence units are mainly equipped with longer-range systems such as the S-300, S-400 and Buk M1, which have difficulty engaging small, slow targets travelling at low altitudes.

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA

Russian military pundit claims UK orchestrated the downing of the flight carrying POWs.

Spoiler:

NORTH KOREA

1. Tatarigami on the N Korean ammunition being supplied to Russia
2. NYT article "https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/22/us/politics/russia-ukraine-north-korea.html"

Quote:

The bulk of the missiles being fired at Ukraine are still produced in Russia. But if North Korea steps up its supply, Ukraine could be forced to shoot off precious rounds of air defenses, a development that could be devastating to Ukraine if additional military funding is not approved by Congress, American officials said. The imports have especially alarmed leading members of NATO, who have declined to speak publicly but say they worry the infusion of the North Korean arms could prove particularly troublesome at a time when Ukraine is uncertain about when, or from whom, it will receive its next supplies.

Spoiler:

FICO

Mass protests in Slovakia against the new pro-Russian government (no idea how much being pro Russian factors into this)

Spoiler:

NATO

Reuters article "Turkey's Edrogan signs off on Sweden's NATO membership"

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle...on-2024-01-25/

Russian realtor shows a bombed Mariupol apartment to a potential buyer:

Spoiler:

Quote

01-27-2024 , 09:47 PM

#229

Bluegrassplayer

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GREAT READ WOTR article "HOLD, BUILD, AND STRIKE: A VISION FOR REBUILDING UKRAINE’S ADVANTAGE IN 2024" also looks at 2023

Quote:

The Bakhmut axis was overly resourced relative to the main axis of advance. Ultimately, rather than fixing Russian forces in a way that would enable Ukraine’s success, the Bakhmut offensive compounded the problem. Even with the forces committed to Bakhmut, Russia still retained sufficient reserves, including arguably its most elite unit, the 76th Air Assault Division, to prevent Ukraine’s tactical breakthrough in Robotyne in August from achieving operational or strategic effects. Given the strength of Russia’s defenses and airpower advantages, reaching the coast was probably a bridge too far, but the minimal goal, Tokmak, may have been achievable. Additionally, the transfer of cluster munitions and Army tactical missile systems, which were used to destroy or damage a number of helicopters in October, before the offensive could have given Ukrainian ground forces a temporary reprieve from Russian attack helicopters during the potentially decisive initial breaching attempt. This is not to say that a different approach would have resulted in success, but an overly deterministic reading of this history is also inaccurate because it denies agency to Ukraine and to the Western countries involved.

https://warontherocks.com/2024/01/ho...lmri8lfxnew6y6

BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS

1. Drone with ATGM
2. IFV and drones repelling Russian attack
3 BBC article "In Ukraine's river war, drones mean nowhere is safe" Covers a lot of about EW
4. Very short article on an EW backpack system
5. Medium length thread on the use of specialized engineering troops and equipment
6. War on the Rocks article "HOW THE WEST CAN MATCH RUSSIA IN DRONE INNOVATION" (The conclusion is fascinating if the article is too long)
7. Tank firing at close range

Quote:

In fact, some Ukrainian volunteers and military experts are concerned by several instances of Russia’s limited AI-enabled first-person-view drones that are already appearing at the front in early 2024. Today, Russia actively tests its commercial systems in live military operations, providing insights into their practical efficacy. While this allows for a review of advanced technology in combat, this approach is antithetical to American democratic values. In the United States, testing an AI-enabled system in combat directly violates the Department of Defense ethical AI principles and long-established international norms. Instead, the Department of Defense is playing the long game by conscientiously (though rather unwillingly) dedicating resources to a comprehensive expansion of its testing infrastructure, aimed at fostering a robust AI assurance framework and adherence to U.S. values and regulations, like Department of Defense Directive 3000.09.

Spoiler:

POWs

Reuters article "Russia says Ukraine had 15-minute warning on PoW flight; Kyiv denies this"

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...al-2024-01-25/

RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA

Der Spiegel article on 50k Russian bots spreading propaganda on Twitter

https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deuts...b-8fb9287a6948

COMPENSATION

Reuters article "US Senate panel backs 'big hammer' plan to seize Russian assets to help Ukraine"

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-sen...ne-2024-01-24/

RUSSIAN ECONOMY

1. UK MOD on Russia prioritizing military spending over infrastructure leading to 16 locations without heating
2. Reuters article "Exclusive: Russia struggles to sell Pacific oil, 14 tankers stuck - sources, data"
3. Atlantic Council article "Putin’s Achilles Heel: Ukraine targets Russia’s vital but vulnerable energy industry"
4. Bloomberg article "EU Prepares to Rule Out Ukraine Gas Transit Deal With Russia"

Spoiler:

AVDIIVKA

1. Tatarigami on the recent fighting Avdiivka
2. 47th Mechanized winter fighting
3. 2 minute CNN clip on the fighting, lack of ammo
4. Russian milblogger on the staggering losses here

Spoiler:

KHARKIV

WaPo article "Kharkiv’s air defense struggles to halt nonstop Russian missiles"

Spoiler:

Quote

01-29-2024 , 08:27 AM

#230

Bluegrassplayer

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RUSSIAN WAR CRIMES AND GENOCIDE

1. Occupational governor on outlawing Ukrainian in occupied territory
2. FT article "The last Russia-Ukraine border crossing"
3. Atlantic Council article "Putin accused of fast-tracking Russian citizenship for abducted Ukrainian kids"

Quote:

Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, has accused Moscow of implementing the new citizenship regulations so children abducted from Ukraine to Russia would no longer be regarded as Ukrainians. In an official appeal to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry claimed the decree served as further proof of Russia’s crimes against Ukraine, including “the forcible assimilation of Ukrainian children.”

[...]

Evidence continues to emerge that in addition to exposing Ukrainian children to a wide range of patriotic propaganda, Russia is also militarizing them by involving them in various paramilitary structures aimed at teenagers. This includes the Yunarmiya (“Young Army”) youth organization, which was established in 2015 and is funded by the Kremlin. Deported Ukrainian children have reportedly been obliged to undergo military training and coerced into writing supportive letters to Russian military personnel engaged in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN ECONOMY

ft article "Russia’s planned gas mega-pipeline to China hit by construction delay"

Spoiler:

RECRUITMENT

Long thread on convict soldiers

Spoiler:

ELECTIONS

AP article "An unlikely challenger to Putin brings a rare show of defiance, creating a dilemma for the Kremlin"

https://apnews.com/article/russia-pu...cad643ea20d196

NATO

1. GREAT WATCH Anders Puck Nielsen video "NATO-Russia war: Can it really happen?"
2. GOOD READ RUSI article "What Ukraine's Defeat Would Mean for the US, Europe and the World"

Spoiler:

UKRAINE CORRUPTION

Bloomberg article "Ukraine Foils $40 Million Artillery Shell Embezzlement Scam"

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-checkout=true

ORBAN

ft article "Brussels threatens to hit Hungary’s economy if Viktor Orbán vetoes Ukraine aid"

Spoiler:

FT article "The party’s over in Moscow as Putin punishes naked revellers" on the "almost naked" party from December

Spoiler:

Quote

01-30-2024 , 01:04 AM

#231

Bluegrassplayer

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ORBAN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluegrassplayer

ORBAN

ft article "Brussels threatens to hit Hungary’s economy if Viktor Orbán vetoes Ukraine aid"

Spoiler:

Reuters article "Hungary open to using EU budget for Ukraine aid package"

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...ys-2024-01-29/

WAR CRIMES

Russian allegedly involved in Bucha massacre adopts one of the kidnapped Ukrainian children

Spoiler:

EU

The Insider article "Exclusive: Latvian Member of European Parliament is an agent of Russian intelligence, leaked emails confirm"

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. Politico article "The huge wedge between McConnell and Johnson: Donald Trump" Covers the politics around the aid package in Congress
2. Rheinmetall graph showing estimated production rate of 155mm

Spoiler:

COMPENSATION

ft article "EU agrees to set aside profits from frozen Russian assets" 'profits' refers to money made from interest on the 300bln. At the bottom it discusses who is opposed to using the 300bln

Spoiler:

Rumor that Zaluzhny would be asked to resign; Zelenskyy denies

Spoiler:

Quote

01-31-2024 , 01:02 AM

#232

Bluegrassplayer

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WAR CLIPS AND ANALYSIS

1. UK MOD on Russian glide bombs strikining inside of Russia five times this year
2. Long thread on corruption in the Russian army

Spoiler:

RUSSIA'S WINTER STRIKE

Zelenskyy and u24 video on the winter strike and need for air defense

Spoiler:

WAR CRIMES

Russia accused of using chemical weapons (not mentioned in the tweet but these are being dropped by drones to force soldiers out of defensive positions

Spoiler:

ANGRY WIVES AND PROTESTS

1. DW video "Wives of Russian soldiers protest against 'endless war' in Ukraine | DW News"
2. Moscow Times article "Russia Jails Pensioner for Post About Army Casualties"; "A 72-year-old pensioner was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for allegedly sharing a post online about Russia's military casualties in Ukraine, rights groups said Monday."
3. BBC article "Bi-2: Russia anti-war band arrested in Thailand faces deportation" for unauthorized shows. HRW asking Thai authorities not to since they will face persecution for being antiwar

Spoiler:

STRIKES IN RUSSIA AND UNEXPLAINED FIRES

1. Electrical substation explodes outside Moscow
2. Large scale internet failure
3. PBS article "Ukrainian attacks within Russia challenge Putin’s war narrative"

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

A look at all USA weapon sales in 2023

Spoiler:

AVDIIVKA

1. Russian milblogger on Avdiivka

Spoiler:

Zaluzhny

ft article "Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to replace Ukraine’s top general"

Spoiler:

PUTIN

Long thread on Putin's new estate

Spoiler:

POWs

Defense Express article "Update on the Il-76 Aircraft Crash: russia Is Not Ready to Hand Over the Bodies and What Does It Mean"

https://en.defence-ua.com/news/updat...mean-9348.html

Quote

01-31-2024 , 10:21 PM

#233

Bluegrassplayer

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ZALUZHNY

1. GREAT LISTEN WOTR 22 minute episode; covers Avdiivka; military aid; mobilization; rumors that 300bln in frozen funds not being used; Zaluzhny rumored to be fired.
(First half is about Avdiivka, last 5 minutes is a must listen imo)

2. Economist article "The feud between Ukraine’s president and army chief boils over"

Spoiler:

BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS

1. Russian surrendering to a drone
2. Russian assault hit by multiple drones, destroying 15 vehicles (video is in comments)
3. Russian truck deploying smoke to protect against drone strikes
4. A look at visually confirmed drone strikes over the past few months (can safely assume Russia has a major advantage here due to the type of clips)
5. Analysis of visually confirmed drone strikes saying Ukraine currently has advantage but Russia will soon (I think Russia already has it and this is bias due to the type of clips that get released)
6. Russia started the war with 1 regiment using T-62, now has 22 (discontinued production of these in 1975)
7. Medium length thread on Russia creating more decoys to confuse drones at air bases

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN ECONOMY

1. ft article "Brazil’s imports of Russian oil products soar"

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. Johnson and NATO secretary general joint statement on needing to support Ukraine
2. Johnson now suggesting splitting the border bill and the Ukraine aid bill
3. Bloomberg article "EU Acknowledges Months of Delay for Ukraine Ammunition Pledge"

Spoiler:

ORBAN

Reuters article "Long road ahead before Orban-Zelenskiy meeting - Hungary foreign minister"

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...er-2024-01-30/

POWs

Another POW swap, 207 Ukrainians

Spoiler:

Last edited by Bluegrassplayer; 01-31-2024 at 10:31 PM.

Quote

02-01-2024 , 10:28 AM

#234

Bluegrassplayer

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MILITARY AID

NYT article "E.U. Reaches Deal on Fund for Ukraine"

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/01/w...aine-fund.html

BATTLE CLIPS

CRAZY FOOTAGE Sea drones take out Russian missile boat

Spoiler:

Quote

02-04-2024 , 02:50 AM

#235

Bluegrassplayer

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BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS

1. Different angle of the destroyed Russian column above
2. GRAPHIC Russians pinned down by cluster munition and Bradley fire, followed by drone strikes
3. UK MOD on Russia's airforce losses
4. Ukraine on why Russia is more cautious with their airforce
5. ISW on recent Russia advances on multiple fronts

Spoiler:

CRIMEA

1. Russia telegram claiming 3 planes were destroyed in Crimea
2. Satellite images before and after the strike
3. Analysis of the strike

Spoiler:

KRYNKY

1. Ukrainian and Russian sources both confirm second Ukrainian bridgehead and expanded area under Ukrainian control
2. Milblogger Romanov goes to Moscow MoD to tell them about how awful the situation is in Kyrnky

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. Forbes article "Joe Biden Is Arming Greece So Greece Can Arm Ukraine—And Pro-Russia Republicans Can’t Stop Him"
2. Politico article "Czechs want EU to shop abroad for Ukraine shells"

Quote:

[...] Prague is pushing EU countries to finance the purchase of what it estimates are 450,000 rounds of artillery available outside the bloc, four diplomats and a person familiar with the talks told POLITICO.

3. Bloomberg article "House to Vote on Israel Aid Without Ukraine Funds Next Week"

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidax...h=620d968a424e

https://www.politico.eu/article/czec...uropean-union/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...unds-next-week

SOLDIERS SPEAKING

1. Russian complaining about being issued antique guns
2. Russian complaining about bent sent to attack Avdiivka with no artillery support

Spoiler:

STRIKES IN RUSSIA

1. Video of the Lukoil refinery burning
2. Footage of when the drone hit

Spoiler:

ZALUZHNYI

1. Opinion piece for CNN on military technology
2. ISW's summary of the piece

Spoiler:

ORBAN

1. AP article "US lawmakers call on Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán to immediately approve Sweden’s NATO membership"
2. Bloomberg article "Orban Escalates Standoff Over Sweden’s Accession to NATO"
3. Bloomberg article "Swedish Leader Says He’ll Meet Orban in Budapest After NATO Vote"
4. Polish PM says there is no "Ukraine fatigue" there is "Orban fatigue"

Spoiler:

Quote

02-04-2024 , 11:37 PM

#236

Bluegrassplayer

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BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS

1. Near miss from artillery as Ukrainian is driving in Avdiivka
2. Footage from October in Avdiivka, cluster munition hits column
3. Ukrainian soldier recounting how he survived in a basement for 41 days

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN ECONOMY

1. GREAT READ Carnegie Endowment article "Russia’s Oil Industry Threatened by Ukrainian Drones, Western Sanctions"
2. Reuters article "Russia cuts gasoline, diesel exports to offset refinery outages"
2. Taiwan Times article "Taiwan tightens export controls after report of Russian arms use"

https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/91473

https://www.reuters.com/business/ene...es-2024-01-31/

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz.../03/2003813039

RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA

1. GREAT READ Kyiv Post article by Stephen Humphreys "OPINION: Decrease in US Support for Ukraine Tied to Russian Intelligence Operations"

Quote:

“According to the National Intelligence Council, Russian intelligence specifically targeted the MAGA audience, catering to the same audience carefully conditioned to be receptive to the message.”

2. Tucker Carlson in Moscow for some reason

Spoiler:

ELECTIONS

Guardian article "Russia finds ‘errors’ in paperwork of candidate hoping to stand against Putin"

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ezhdin-backers

SANCTIONS

WSJ article "Midair Fires and Malfunctions Surge on Russia’s Planes as Sanctions Bite"

https://www.wsj.com/business/airline...-bite-ba0df5df

MILITARY AID

1. Russia stops importing bananas from Ecuador the day after they agree to send Russian air defense to America
2. Tatarigami on Russia moving artillery up and into static positions since a lack of shells means Ukraine cannot hit them
3. GREAT READ Politico article "Why the World Is Betting Against American Democracy" and why this is dangerous for America

Quote:

The U.S. is a “fat buffalo trying to take a nap” as hungry wolves approach, the envoy mused. “I can hear those Champagne bottle corks popping in Moscow — like it’s Christmas every ****ing day.”

Quote:

The current and former diplomats said their countries are more reluctant to sign deals with Washington because of the partisan divide. There’s worry that a new administration will abandon past agreements purely to appease rowdy electoral bases and not for legitimate national security reasons. The fate of the Iran nuclear deal was one example some mentioned.

Spoiler:

ANGRY WIVES AND PROTESTORS

1. Protesting wives in Moscow being detained
2. 67 year old facing up to 3 years

Spoiler:

AVDIIVKA

1. Russian near Avdiivka complaining there's more burning vehicles than radios (similar complaint in Krynky)
2. Ukrainian reporters say Russia has entered Avdiivka and the situation is critical

Spoiler:

KRYNKY

1. Romanov on Krynky
2. Russian soldiers complaining about lack of communication

Spoiler:

POWs

Recently traded Russian POWs are all convicts

Spoiler:

SOLDIERS SPEAKING

Russian complaints about issued antique guns after making fun of how Ukraine was armed in 22-23

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN SPIES AND DIPLOMATS

Meduza article "Advisor to German lawmaker steps down after allegations of working for Russian FSB"

Spoiler:

WAGNER

1. UK MOD on Wagner units being absorbed by Russian national guard
2. UK MOD on less than 1k Wagner in Belarus

Spoiler:

Quote

02-06-2024 , 03:09 AM

#237

Bluegrassplayer

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BATTLE CLIPS

1. Bradley firing
2. Bradley firing before running over a mine, 2 of the crew members manage to run

Spoiler:

ELECTIONS

FT article "Russia moves to ban presidential candidate from running against Vladimir Putin"

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN ECONOMY

1. GREAT WATCH "RUSSIAN Economy Ravaged by Putin's Policies as Wartime Measures Inflict Serious Damage on Russia"
2. Reuters article "Yandex owner to exit Russia in $5.2 billion deal" This is Russia's Google

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. Reuters article "Biden threatens veto of U.S. House's 'political ploy' Israel bill"
2. Johnson refuses to put Senate bill on the floor
3. GREAT READ FT article "Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine"

Quote:

But European production lines are not yet ready to fill the munitions gap left by the Americans. That will take until at least 2025, and makes the second half of this year potentially very dangerous for Ukraine.

Watling believes that the consequences of the munitions shortage “will initially be felt slowly and then felt fast”. He warns that “when it reaches the point that the consequences are very obvious, it will already be too late”.

Trump and his Republican party supporters do not seem to care. They are apparently prepared to risk a Russian victory — if it even slightly increases Trump’s chance of defeating President Joe Biden in November.

Some of the Republican reluctance to pass new aid for Ukraine is driven by genuine scepticism about the war. But most of the foot-dragging is simply about Trump’s refusal to give Biden anything that looks like a “win” ahead of the presidential election.

Spoiler:

AVDIIVKA

1. Russia gains more ground in the north of the town
2. 22 minute video "Why Russia is So Desperate to Capture Avdiivka"
3. NYT article "‘They Come in Waves’: Ukraine Goes on Defense Against a Relentless Foe"

Spoiler:

ORBAN

1. Reuters article "US envoy piles pressure on Orban to ratify Sweden's NATO entry"
2. Orban's MPs do not show up to vote on Sweden's NATO entry

Spoiler:

Quote

02-06-2024 , 01:47 PM

#238

Mark_K

Fast Food Value KING

Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,325

https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/...01906323808469

LOL, Paid in gold! And lol at the deal being negotiated in US dollars.

Quote

02-07-2024 , 12:13 AM

#239

Bluegrassplayer

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MILITARY AID

1. NBC article "Senate Republicans knife bipartisan border security bill, declaring it dead"
2. Liz Cheney on the bill
3. CNN's chief congressional correspondent says Israel aid bill is most likely going to fail
4. EuroNews article "Stop exporting weapons and send them to Ukraine instead, Borrell urges EU countries"
5. Report on the quality of the Leopard 1s sent to Ukraine
6. Rheinmetall begins working Ukraine Defense Industry repairing vehicles in Kyiv

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA

1. Tucker Carlson has given an interview to Putin and attacks western media for their reporting of the invasion
2. GREAT READ Daily Beast article "Kremlin Cronies: Putin-Tucker Interview Will ‘Blow Up’ U.S. Election" on how Russian propagandists are spinning the interview

Spoiler:

STRIKES IN RUSSIA

Reuters article "Georgia accuses Ukraine of trying to spread war after explosives found at border"

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...er-2024-02-06/

RUSSIAN ECONOMY AND SANCTIONS

1. Bloomberg article "Russian Oil-Refining Drops as Drone Attacks Halt Two Plants"
2. Bloomberg article "US Pressure on Russian Oil Sees Dark Fleet Turn to Gabon’s Flag"
3. Bloomberg article "US Sanctions Halt Delivery of New Vessels to Russian LNG Plant"
4. Politco article "EU faces pressure to sanction Russian aluminum"

Spoiler:

AVDIIVKA

1. Butusov, Ukrainian reporter, on 110th sending everyone into the city to defend, including those without proper training
2. Short Kyiv Independent article "Official: Situation in Avdiivka becomes 'critical in some places'"

Spoiler:

Quote

02-08-2024 , 12:33 AM

#240

Bluegrassplayer

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BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS

1. Russian UAV drops grenades on abandoned tank, roof screen blocks first two attempts
2. Russian tank's roof screen protects it from drone
3. Russian tank with EW jammer
4. Russians hit by an automatic grenade launcher

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA

GREAT READ ft visual article "Inside Mariupol: Russia’s new Potemkin village" Covers the destruction of Mariupol, the Russification, the propaganda surrounding the rebuilding, the rushed rebuilding which was largely for show, and stolen or demolished homes

Quote:

In March 2023, Putin visited Mariupol. Widely reported in Russian and western media, the trip attempted to normalise Russian control of the region. He toured rebuilt sites, as well as the newly constructed Nevsky neighbourhood on the city’s western edge. A video published by the Kremlin showed Russia’s president meeting happy residents.

In the background, a woman can be heard shouting: “It’s not real! It’s all for show!” The shouting was quickly edited out.

Watching from afar, exiled Ukrainian civil servants were devastated. The Russian authorities boasting about new schools and kindergartens were putting the finishing touches to facilities constructed by the Ukrainians. The new buses and trams, with “Mariupol and St Petersburg, twin cities” on the side, were rebranded Ukrainian models bought just before the war. “It’s our tram, it’s even with our registration number,” says Mykyta Biriukov, Mariupol’s former deputy director of transport.

Quote:

Others have been even less fortunate. Some owners of historic sea-view apartments in the heart of the city have found their buildings demolished and replaced with upmarket housing. Russian construction companies advertise “luxury” apartments in the buildings, while the original owners are offered replacement housing on the outskirts of the city.

“A big event is taking place today,” a resident says in a video posted online showing a new complex in the city centre. “Apartments are being handed over to their new tenants . . . but not to the real ones.”

2. GREAT READ Debunking the main Russian talking points regarding Tucker's upcoming interview
3. How Russian propagandists are spinning Tucker's arrival in Moscow

Spoiler:

SANCTIONS
German government considering the nationalization of Russian owned Rosneft Deutschland to secure Germany's oil supplies

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. Back to passing military aid without the border bill attached
2. Some Republican senators still demanding border be dealt with before passing aid
3. Politico correspondent reports 41 no votes currently, needs at least 60/40 to pass
4. DOD article "5 Months With No Base Budget Affects Department's Modernization Efforts"

Quote:

"If the U.S. stops support to Ukraine, we should be clear-eyed about the repercussions," Singh said. "Putin is not going to stop in his quest for power and control beyond Ukraine's borders toward NATO. If Putin attacks a NATO ally, we will find ourselves in direct conflict as we are committed to defending every inch of NATO. So let's be clear. We can do the responsible thing and pay now to help Ukraine or we can pay much more later to counteract the gains we would hand Vladimir Putin and an emboldened Russia."

Spoiler:

STRIKES IN RUSSIA

Explosion at Russian missile production factory, 1300km from Ukraine border

Spoiler:

Quote

02-08-2024 , 11:40 PM

#241

Bluegrassplayer

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GREAT READ "On the Brink: Examining Ammo Shortages and the Overall Situation" Covers ammo, mobilization, casualties, Zaluzhnyi (this was posted before the announcement he was replaced) and alludes to Syrskyi

https://frontelligence.substack.com/...ammo-shortages

RECRUITMENT

1. GOOD READ Analysis of the mobilization problem in Ukraine
2. Russia wants to raise upper limit for mobilization to 65
3. Ukraine battalion commander on lack of infantry

Spoiler:

ZELENSKYY ZALUZHNYI SYRSKYI

1. Zelenskyy replaces Zaluzhnyi with Syrskyi
2. Tatarigami on Syrskyi
3. Reuters article "Five facts about Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's new army chief"

Spoiler:

Ukraine claims hackers took down Russian drones

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. StarLink allegedly being used by Russia
2. Donald Tusk, Poland's PM shaming congress
3. Senate passes foreign aid bill
4. Politico article "Europe’s arms production is in ‘deep ****,’ says Belgian ex-general"

Spoiler:

STRIKES IN RUSSIA AND FIRES

1. Gas pipeline explosion
2. Another refinery on fire

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA

1. Rolling Stone article "Kremlin All But Admits Tucker Carlson Is a Useful Idiot"
2. Russian youth singing about making bombs

Spoiler:

AVDIIVKA

1. Deepstate reports further Ukrainian losses in Avdiivka
2. UK MOD on the fighting there

Spoiler:

Quote

02-09-2024 , 11:24 PM

#242

Bluegrassplayer

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Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 39,174

BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS

1. Baba Yaga drone Russians brought down with EW
2. "Video of Ukrainian FPV strikes on Russian vehicles using night optics." (This has been a major development. Previously any movement was moved to night since drones couldn't fly)
3.GOOD READ Economist article "How cheap drones are transforming warfare in Ukraine" covers evolution of drone, how they're used, why they could become more expensive
4. Two videos of Russian bombs converted into glide bombs, showing they're not the most accurate but still devastating
5. Ukraine to begin manufacturing their own version of the lancet
6. The Times article "What the Russia-Ukraine war tells us about the future of conflict"
7. Defense Express article "Long-Range Ukrainian Strike Drones, Which are Hitting Targets Deep Inside russia"

Spoiler:

STRIKES IN RUSSIA AND UNEXPLAINED FIRES

1. Huge fire in Moscow
2. Another oil refinery on fire

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. German MOD says they have given all air defense they can
2. Kyiv Independent article "Pentagon spox hints US air defenses continue to flow to Ukraine"
3. FT article "Ukraine faces ‘gap in the hose’ as western ammunition dries up"
4. Nordic-Batlic delegration addresses Congress regarding military aid

Spoiler:

WAR CRIMES

ISW on Russia's attempts to ethnically cleanse Ukrainian territories

Spoiler:

SYRSKI

Syrskyi's first official message:

Spoiler:

PUTIN

1. Daily Beast's article "Putin Nearly Bores Tucker Carlson to Death With Two-Hour History Lesson"
2. One of Putin's many contradictions in the interview regarding whether Ukraine exists
3. Cold War Historian fact checks some of the interview
4. Kremlin edits out Tucker's negative remarks
5. BBC article "Tucker Carlson interview: Fact-checking Putin's 'nonsense' history"
6. Russian telegram on the interview
7. My cliffs on the interview (pretty long)

Spoiler:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/tucker...ity?ref=scroll

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68255302

My cliffs:

Spoiler:

The first half hour is spent recapping his essay "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians", which denies Ukrainian identity and recaps the Russian Empire.

Quote:

A report by 35 legal and genocide experts cited Putin's essay as part of "laying the groundwork for incitement to genocide: denying the existence of the Ukrainian group".

It is a bunch of bad history. The history is often true but completely lacking context, or trying to use modern concepts in times when they did not exist. Anyways it's not compelling and likely lost a good portion of his audience, I have no idea what he thought he was doing by spending a half hour on this. Tucker did ask some good questions here, especially “Do you believe Hungary has a right to take its land back from Ukraine, and that other nations have a right to go back to their 1654 borders?” Putin didn't seem to grasp that Tucker was making fun of the completely arbitrary logic that Putin was trying to sell, so Tucker even followed up with “Have you told Viktor Orbán that he can have part of Ukraine?” I don't think Putin ever got what was being said, he just said "No."

The strangest thing out of this segment was the WW2 "history" where he blamed Poland for getting invaded and starting WW2:

Quote:

Why was it Poland against whom the war started on 1st September 1939? Poland turned out to be uncompromising, and Hitler had nothing to do but start implementing his plans with Poland.

It's pretty easy to see why Putin would try to sell this narrative, although strange that he'd try to draw parallel between himself and Hitler. After that he gets into more modern things. There is little structure to the interview as it's pretty much Putin talking about whatever he wants with a few questions interjected by Tucker, mostly softballs.

Putin asked Clinton if he could join NATO. Clinton said he thought it might be possible, then said it wasn’t. He makes sure to say that he wasn’t bitter though, that it’s just that was clear USA didn’t want to work with Russia.
He complains that USA supported (militarily and financially) the terrorists in the Caucasus. He says the CIA sent him a note that they were doing it, so he should be believed.
Putin claims he wanted to make a missile defense system with Europe and USA, they agreed then walked it back. This meant he had to build the best hypersonic missile system in the world.
He was promised NATO would not expand East, then they had 5 waves of expansion. Bush was like a kindergarten bully, and forced everyone to keep the doors of NATO open for Ukraine and Georgia. They gave no guarantees that they wouldn’t join NATO so Putin had to invade them.
When Yanukovych originally won the election (the one Putin gave millions to his candidate to campaign, had the head of the church back, then poisoned the opposition when those failed, and finally just rigged the election), there was a “coup” to overthrow him by demanding peaceful protests requesting another round of elections that wasn’t rigged.
When Yanukovych actually won the election the issue of Ukraine joining EU came up. Putin claims:

USA said they’d calm the opposition, Putin should calm Yanukovych. They agreed. The police and the military did not kill anyone, yet the armed opposition committed a coup in Kyiv backed by the CIA. This created a threat to Crimea so Russia had to take it under their protection. Ukraine launched the war in Donbas in 2014 by using aircraft and artillery against civilians. Ukraine kept launching military operations.

Putin had to step in, it would have been negligent not to. Putin thinks he remembers some USA official admitted they spent 5 billion on the coup. It was successful, but they made a big mistake by attacking Crimea and Donbas, which forced Putin to act. If they had just let things handle themselves peacefully then Ukraine could have voted in their new president and things would have been great.
Ukraine backstabbed them with the Minsk agreements. Putin claims he would have slowly reintegrated the Donbas to Ukraine, but Ukraine wanted war, and he couldn’t let that happen so he had to go to war to stop the war. 2022's full scale invasion is another attempt to stop that war. Tucker asks if he achieved his goals, and he says no because there’s still Nazis in Ukraine. At the Istanbul peace talks, as a good faith measure Putin withdrew his troops from Kyiv so they could have peace. He was betrayed by Ukraine who insisted on war.
Tucker asks what is Denazification? Putin replies that since Ukraine had no identity they decided to build a false one based on Hitler collaborators. Bandera and others who exterminated Jews Poles and Russians for Nazi Germany and are hailed as heroes. He talks about the Canadian parliament incident. Putin dodges some questions about what he can do about fighting Nazism in a country he doesn’t control. He says at Istanbul they agreed no Nazism in the legislative branch.
If the West really wants peace then stop supplying weapons, it will be over in a few weeks and they can have peace.
Russia has no plans to invade Poland, Lithuania etc. Doesn’t USA have better things to do than fight in Ukraine?
CIA blew up Nordstream. He refuses to say if he has evidence. He claims that Ukraine is refusing the open the gas pipeline from Russia to Germany and he doesn’t understand why Germany won’t ask them to do it. He claims that they must be incompetent and it’s silly that Germany is the #2 provider of weapons to Ukraine but Ukraine won’t let Germany get Russian gas. (The fact that Germany doesn’t want Russian gas is apparently beyond his comprehension,)
rambling about the brain being split into 2 parts.
33 trillion in debt is bad. America using the dollar as a weapon was a blunder, they should lift sanctions . Prior to 2022 Russia did 80% of transactions in USD, now it’s 13%. This damages the US economy and undermines USA’s power.
1:23: China is a peaceful nation and the West is harming themselves by limiting trade with them. Russia’s trade with China is 230 billion and balanced with high tech and other things (blatantly false.)
BRICS share of the world economy is larger than G7. USA responded to this with sanctions, bombings and armed forces. Sanctions are an attempt to remain dominant while the world is adapting and moving past USA.. Despite the sanctions Russia is Europe’s #1 economy.
Ukraine said Russians were a non-titular entity, and was passing laws against non-titular entities, so Russia had to invade Crimea to stop the war the neo-Nazis started. Zelenskyy ran on peace, but when he got into power he realized the neo-nazis run the government and USA gives the neo-nazis aid. This prompts Tucker to ask if Zelenskyy has the power to end the war. Putin recognizes the contradiction and does some back and forth eventually saying has the power to end the war since he’s head of state, although the real power is held by neo-nazis who performed the coup in 2014. Boris Johnson stopped the peace talks. Russia has never refused peace talks, it was always Ukraine.
To Tucker’s credit he asks Putin for his version of what happened with Evan Gershkovich and if Putin would be willing to release him as a gesture of goodwill. Putin says he’s already made so many gestures of goodwill that he’s run out of them. Tucker says he’s clearly not a spy, so maybe it degrades Russia to demand a spy for him. Putin said he was engaged in espionage and was caught “red handed” receiving confidential information. He was working for the Special Services, so they need to come to an agreement.

POWs

Kyiv Independent article " (National Security and Defense Council Secretary) Danilov: No Ukrainian POWs on crashed Russian Il-76 aircraft"

Spoiler:

Quote

02-12-2024 , 07:41 AM

#243

Bluegrassplayer

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SYRSKYI

1. GREAT READ Euromaidan article "Syrskyi in, Zaluzhnyi out. What our army sources expect from Ukraine’s army reshuffle"

Quote:

What did Zaluzhnyi achieve, what did he not manage to do, and can Syrskyi break the stalemate at the front? Euromaidan Press talked to three Ukrainian officers, a sergeant, a seasoned army volunteer and sieved through the latest Ukrainian analyses to understand what’s next.

Quote:

However, the initial flexibility that gave Ukraine success in the first days of war was lost. According to Yuriy Butusov, this is because Zelenskyy started intruding into army affairs, fragmenting the army management. Several verticals of power were created, bypassing Zaluzhnyi. Zelenskyy appointed Special Forces leaders without consulting Zaluzhnyi and gave direct calls to the Air Forces, paratroopers, logistics forces, Butusov details. The military journalist believes that this absence of a full delegation of power to the Commander-in-Chief and external intrusions created conflicts and degraded the situation at the front.

Quote:

Moreover, commanders faced no scrutiny over how many subordinates they lost in operations. “If you see that one has many more privates killed than another under the same conditions, an audit should be conducted. Maybe he can’t be a commander at all,” the officer stresses.

Quote:

“Everybody trusted Zaluzhnyi,” another officer says. “If it was him ordering or asking to hold a position, then everybody would know there was some idea behind it. If it was Syrskyi, then it is some crazy defense for the sake of defending,” yet another officer says, invoking a contrast between the months-long controversial Syrsky-led operation to defend Bakhmut, and the flexible defense at the dawn of the Russian invasion when Ukrainians easily abandoned ground to stretch out a column of Russian tanks beyond their capacity to refuel.

However, Syrskyi was also in charge of the defense of Kyiv, the lightning-fast liberation of Kharkiv oblast in 2022, and the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas before Russia’s full-scale invasion, where his track record is fine.

2. Several of the replaced military commanders learned they were to be replaced from the media
3. Ukrainian soldiers on Syrskyi

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. McConnell on the senate bill
2. Reuters article "Senate advances Ukraine aid bill despite Trump opposition"
3. Threat to remove Johnson if he won't put the Ukraine/Israel aid bill on the floor

Spoiler:

RECRUITMENT

Soldier repots 15 men from his artillery group were sent to front line due to shortage of infantrymen

Spoiler:

STARLINK

1. Ukraine's Defense Intelligence confirms Starlink is being used by Russia
2. ft article "Russia using Elon Musk’s Starlink on Ukraine front line, says Kyiv"
3. Starlink's map shows it is active in occupied areas
4. Analysis of Russia using Starlink and the difficulty of determining which terminals belong to who

Spoiler:

AVDIIVKA

1. Infantry complaining of poorly prepared defenses
2. Current maps of Russian advances show them about to cut off the south of Avdiivka

Spoiler:

NATO

1. Trump encouraging Russia to attack NATO countries in Europe
2. The Atlantic article "Trump Encourages Putin to Attack NATO Members"

Spoiler:

Quote

02-12-2024 , 11:48 PM

#244

Bluegrassplayer

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BATTLE CLIPS

1. Wounded marines evacuated by boat from Krynky while under fire
2. First HIMARS sent out of Ukraine for repairs

Spoiler:

AVDIIVKA

EuroMaidan article "Frontline report: Ukraine reinforces Avdiivka direction, countering Russian encirclement attempts"

Spoiler:

PUTIN

Ex Mongolian president makes fun of Putin after watching Tucker's interview

Spoiler:

SANCTIONS

1. Bloomberg article "EU Proposes Curbs on Three Chinese Firms for Aiding Russia"
2. Pravda article "Siemens withdraws from Russia"

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA

1. GREAT READ Analysis of how Russia has used almost 200 "information" portals to target disinformation based on their target audiences
2. Russian propagandist agreeing that Russians are extremely evil, cruel people

Spoiler:

ELECTIONS

Reuters article "Russian anti-war Putin rival Nadezhdin plans court appeal after election ban"

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...rce=reddit.com

RUSSIAN WAR CRIMES AND HUMAN RIGHTS OFFENSES

1. ISW on Russians recently posting a video of executing Ukrainian POWs
2. BBC article "Ukraine's missing children tracked down in Russia by digital sleuths"
3. BBC article "The Ukrainians 'disappearing' in Russia's prisons"
4. Russia asks Armenia not to arrest Putin if he visits

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

Johnson has already said he will refuse the Senate foreign aid bill

Spoiler:

WAGNER

CNBC article "RussiaÂ’s Wagner Group expands into AfricaÂ’s Sahel with a new brand" on Wagner rebranding itself by changing name to a Nazi expeditionary force and seeking to destabilize Africa

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/12/russ...new-brand.html

Quote

02-14-2024 , 04:07 AM

#245

Bluegrassplayer

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BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS

1. Ukraine claims a Russian landing ship has been sunk by drones
2. Glide bombs striking Avdiivka

Spoiler:

RECRUITMENT

GREAT READ CNN article "Russia has recruited as many as 15,000 Nepalis to fight its war. Many returned traumatized. Some never came back"

Quote:

“We don’t understand Russian, but they have turned on Russian movies in our waiting room so that we can watch,” he explains.

Multiple Nepalis enlisting in the Russian army have stated that they don’t speak Russian but explain that instructors at Avangard seek to accommodate this by training the men in English.

That language barrier has played a large part in the deaths of many Nepalis on the front lines, said Khadka, the former fighter.

“Sometimes you can’t even understand where you’re supposed to be going or how to get there,” he said.

Khadka said he used to communicate with Russian officers by using a voice-translating app – and many times, just hand signals.

Several returned Nepali fighters who spoke with CNN blamed Russia for using them as cannon fodder in the war.

“It’s the Nepalis and other foreign fighters that are actually fighting in the front of war zones. The Russians position themselves a few hundred meters back as support,” said Suman Tamang, who returned from Russia last week.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/10/a...cmd/index.html

MILITARY PRODUCTION

Reuters article "Ukraine to produce thousands of long-range drones in 2024, minister says"

Quote:

"The category of long-range kamikaze drones is growing, with a range of 300, 500, 700, and 1,000 kilometres. Two years ago, this category did not exist ... at all," he told Reuters.

Quote:

In contrast with Russia where drone production is dominated by the state, the vast majority of manufacturers in Ukraine are private. Fedorov said only one of the 10 companies whose drones could fly as far as the regions around Moscow or St Petersburg was a state company.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aer...ys-2024-02-12/

MILITARY AID

1. Romney on the importance of the aid bill
2. Dems discuss removing Johnson from chair
3. Graham, an early leader for aid to Ukraine, voted no on the bill
4. Bloomberg article "Musk Says Putin Can’t Lose in Ukraine, Opposes Senate Bill"
5. CNN artticle "Senate passes $95 billion package with aid for Ukraine and Israel, setting up showdown with the House"
6. NYT article "How Congress Could Bypass Republican Opposition to Funding Ukraine"

Spoiler:

STRIKES IN RUSSIA AND UNEXPLAINED FIRES

Gazprom refinery on fire near Moscow

Spoiler:

SANCTIONS

Bloomberg article "Tankers Tied to the Russian Oil Trade Grind to a Halt Following US Sanctions"

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...g-us-sanctions

AVDIIVKA

1. Reports claim that the center of Avdiivka is controlled by Russia, but hasn't been geoconfirmed
2. Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade sent to Avdiivka

Spoiler:

SYRSKYI

Syrski says Ukraine is shifting to defense

Spoiler:

Politico article "Russia puts Estonian PM Kaja Kallas on wanted list"

https://www.politico.eu/article/russ...ian-pm-wanted/

Quote

02-15-2024 , 04:15 AM

#246

Bluegrassplayer

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BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS

1. The landing ship getting hit by drones
2. Clips showing the explosions
3. Analysis of the wreckage and those on board who are likely dead

Spoiler:

AVDIIVKA

1. Map shows the southern part of Avdiivka even closer to being completely cut off
2. Geolocated airstrikes from a single day

Spoiler:

STRIKES IN RUSSIA

1. Drones his oil depot in Kursk, Russia

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. Reuters article "US House speaker resists Ukraine, Israel bill"
2. Politico article "House lawmakers to offer their own Ukraine and border bill"
3. GOOD READ NYT article"Europe Wants to Stand on Its Own Militarily. Is It Too Little, Too Late?"
4. The Guardian article "Cameron urges US to aid Ukraine and not show ‘weakness displayed to Hitler’" to which MTG responded he can kiss her ass
5. Biden saying Johnson should put the bill on the floor and let the vote decide it
6. NATO article "NATO Defence Ministers to address defence spending, ammunition production, support to Ukraine"

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA

1. Putin claims to be upset Tucker went so easy on him in the interview
2. Tucker talking about how Moscow is much nicer than any American city
3. Tucker says that Putin isn't good at explaining himself
4. CNN article "Putin says a Biden presidency is better for Russia than a Trump one"

Spoiler:

ANTI SATELLITE WEAPONS

1. ABC article "GOP warning of 'national security threat' is about Russia wanting nuclear weapon in space: Sources"
2. NYT article "Russia’s Advances on Space-Based Nuclear Weapon Draw U.S. Concerns"
3. A look at what the weapon could be

Spoiler:

Newsweek article "Dozens of Russian Aircraft Have Mysteriously Disappeared"

Quote:

Russian authorities are investigating the mysterious disappearance of several aircraft, several of which ended up in the hands of Ukrainian forces battling Moscow's troops, according to Russian media.

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-heli...atsiya-1869107

Quote

02-15-2024 , 10:28 PM

#247

Bluegrassplayer

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MILITARY AID

1. NYT article "After Fighting Ukraine Aid, Trump Says Biden Will ‘Give’ Ukraine to Putin"
2. Bloomberg article "Musk Says Putin Can’t Lose in Ukraine, Opposes Senate Bill"

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/u...ine-biden.html
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...es-senate-bill

AVDIIVKA

1. Ukrainian reports they were given an ultimatum to flee was refused
2. Zenit falls, it is a Ukrainian hilltop fortress which is extremely important to the city's defense.
3. Map and analysis of the fighting
4. 3rd Assault Brigade on being deployed there (I can't believe they're still trying to hold on)
5. GREAT READ Tatarigami article "Avdiivka Dilemma: Analyzing Tactical Realities and Operational Necessities"

Spoiler:

ROBOTYNE

Russia amasses massive amount of troops near Robotyne

Spoiler:

STRIKES ON UKRAINE

Crater left by N Korean ballistic missile near Kyiv

Spoiler:

RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA

"Months after his neutralization in a storm shadow strike on the BSF HQ, the Russians are now reporting that Admiral Viktor Solov has been fired due to the sinking of the Caesar Kunikov..."

Spoiler:

Quote

02-16-2024 , 11:34 PM

#248

Bluegrassplayer

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RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA

1. Tucker on why he didn't ask Putin any difficult questions
2. Tucker shocked at amazing Russian grocery store technology. He went on to talk about how cheap things are in Russia without taking into account wage disparities
3. Chart showing cost of groceries compared to income
4. Putin on Tucker's lack of difficult questions
5. Funniest community note on an attempt at Russian propaganda that I've seen
6. AI generated video claiming to be France 24

Spoiler:

ELECTIONS

1. AP article "Alexei Navalny, galvanizing opposition leader and Putin’s fiercest foe, died in prison, Russia says"
2. Russian prisons on how he died
3. People arrested for having a memorial
4. Meduza article "Over 100 people arrested across Russia at memorial protests for Alexey Navalny"

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. “A study by AEI shows that 90% of the $68b the US has already sent to Ukraine supports weapons factories here in the US.”
2. "BREAKING — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has just announced a new military aid package worth ~ 1.13 billion euros to #Ukraine!"
3. Forbes article "Johnson Intended To Stop Ukraine Aid, Not Pass An Immigration Bill"
4. Johnson claims Putin must be met with "united opposition" after murdering Navalny
5. Politico article "Bipartisan lawmakers unveil $66B military aid and border alternative"

Spoiler:

NATO

1. ft article "Why Nato members are sounding the alarm on Russia’s aggressive posture"
2. NATO to supply Ukraine with 1 million drones
3. Anders Puck Nielsen video "How soon can a NATO-Russia war happen?" (Clickbaity title, covers a few topics)

Spoiler:

AVDIIVKA

1. Russia plants flag at western entrance
2. Chart showing G7 expenditures for military vs social
3. Ukraine general on situation there (complete nonsense imo)
4. Syrski announcing withdrawal from Avdiivka and a look at the fortifications (or lack of) nearby
5. UK MOD on Avdiivka
6. Awful recount of the withdrawal from Zenit
7. ISW on withdrawal from Avdiivka

Spoiler:

ORBAN

1. Massive protests in Hungary
2. Hungary stalling EU sanctions
3. EU News "Hungary's president resigns over child sexual abuse scandal"

Spoiler:

RECRUITMENT

WSJ article "How Russia Recruits Soldiers From Cuba to Fight in Ukraine"

https://www.wsj.com/world/how-russia...raine-709b5ac3

Quote

02-18-2024 , 07:14 AM

#249

Bluegrassplayer

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BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS

1. Russia loses 3 bombers yesterday
2. Lost another this morning
3. One of them after being hit

Spoiler:

WAR CRIMES

1. GRAPHIC Evidence that Ukrainian POWs were executed
2. Footage of villagers tied together and blindfolded being moved by Russia

Spoiler:

AVDIIVKA

1. Some clips from Avdiivka
2. Analysis of Russian tactics and losses
3. Vehicle losses
4. List of Russian units used to attack
5. Girkin's ally on the losses in Avdiivka
6. Another Russian on the cost for taking Avdiivka
7. Ukraine pull out of the Coke plant, which almost certainly means they've completely withdrawn

Spoiler:

STRIKES IN RUSSIA AND UNEXPLAINED FIRES

1. Large fire in Russia
2. Oil depot in Kursk hit
3. Factory on fire
4. Another
5. More clips of one of the factories

Spoiler:

MILITARY PRODUCTION

1. Rheinmetall to open a 155mm ammo factory in Ukraine
2. HIMARS production doubled ahead of schedule

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. France to supply 100 SCALP missiles
2. Denmark to supply all their artillery systems to Ukraine
3. Bloomberg article "UK, Allies Look to Arm Ukraine With AI-Enabled Swarm Drones"

Spoiler:

Quote

02-19-2024 , 02:57 AM

#250

Bluegrassplayer

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BATTLE CLIPS

1. Old footage of soldiers inside the coke plant of Avdiivka when it is hit

Spoiler:

SYRSKI

1. France24 article "Zelensky’s A-team: Who is who among Ukraine's new army commanders"

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/2...rmy-commanders

AVDIIVKA

1. Russian telegram channel states 16k Russian losses, 5-7k Ukrainian
2. NYT article "The Death Throes of a Ukrainian City"

Quote:

He estimated earlier this month that at least 800 guided bombs, each weighing between 550 and 3,300 pounds, had been dropped this year within the city limits. His claim could not be independently confirmed, but the British intelligence agency reported that in just four weeks, Russian warplanes dropped some 600 guided bombs on Avdiivka, with as many as 50 recorded in a single day.

3. Russian assaults begin on the next town
4. 3rd Assault Brigade's video on their role in the withdrawal

Spoiler:

MILITARY AID

1. BBC article "Biden 'confident' on $60bn Ukraine war aid package vote"
2. Newsweek article "Who Is Konstantin Nikolaev? Putin Ally Behind Mike Johnson Campaign Donation"
3. Worries at Munich that EU will not be able fill ammo gap if USA pulls out until 2025
4. Lithuania's foreign minister on his disappointment with Munich Conference
5. PEW research on how many feel Ukraine is important
6. GREAT READ American soldier serving with 3rd Assault Brigade on aid to Ukraine

Spoiler: