Russia's unjustifiable war of aggression in Ukraine

[an liathroid beag]

Putin uniting Europe
Danes vote overwhelmingly in a referendum to join the EU's common defence policy 30 years after the NATO member opted out.

Almost 67 percent of people in the traditionally eurosceptic country back the move, which comes hot on the heels of neighbouring Finland's and Sweden's historic applications for NATO membership.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says Denmark is "showing that when Putin invades a free country and threatens the stability in Europe, we others pull together."

 

[Barry K O Bama]

Of course, it's disappointing to see some of the comments and actions by leaders in France, Italy and Germany. But things could be much worse - in the past, Germany and Italy were led by Putin Stooges ( 2 crooks - Schroder and Berlusconi) and the runner-up in the French election is another Putin Stooge (Marine Le Pen)

Orban is also a Putin Stooge but EU must always deal with some difficult national leaders - that's the way the cookie crumbles.

There is Bipartisan Support for Ukraine in US and that's the most crucial thing of all - the French, Italians and Germans can posture all they want but Uncle Sam has the Nuclear Deterrent and ultimately calls the shots.

Partygate has increased BoJo's commitment and Liz Truss sees herself as a future PM (lol) so the Brits are full on here

The delay in getting proper amounts of the right artillery and rocket launchers has cost Ukraine dear in terms of territory, casualties and mass destruction of cities but at least they will get the assistance and have shown the competence and determination that augers well for the fight ahead.

I think the glass is half full

 

[catcha]

Hey Everyone, did you know that there was a beauty contest in Crimea? Me neither, but here is the photo of the girl who is the most beautiful Crimean girl under the Russian occupation! Enjoy!

Ukrainian, Russian and Tatars inhabited the Crimea. Until 2014, when Russia annexed this part of Ukrainian land. At that time, almost all the inhabitants of Russia were transported there, the rest fled or were forced to leave the peninsula. This year, the Queen of Crimea competition, i.e. Spring 2022, took place.

I am not sure if I will post any more updates today after this... I need to recover

Here is the last year's:

and just to be sure, no one is making silly jokes on sexual minorities. In Russia being non-hetero is punishable with prison.

edit: a winner from the last year (the one in the blue dress above):

 

[catcha]

Today a lot of information from the world. To begin with, the statements of three German women:

• In the first public speech in about six months, the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel described Russia's attack on Ukraine as a "deep turning point". She said she supported all efforts by the German, EU, US, NATO, G7 and UN governments "to stop this barbaric war of aggression by Russia."
• Ukraine must win the war against Russian aggression, and Putin must suffer a severe strategic defeat, said the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Bratislava at the GLOBSEC 2022 forum. Ukrinform quotes her words on Twitter.
• "German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Russia should not win the war, so Ukraine needs help."

and in addition to the above:

• 18 countries have launched investigations related to the war in Ukraine. Six of them (Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia) are part of the Eurojust joint investigation team , with which a cooperation agreement was signed by the prosecutor's office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the end of April. The European Agency for Judicial Cooperation (Eurojust) associates prosecutors from European countries, incl. Poland who investigate war crimes committed in Ukraine. Eurojust is cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which plans to open an office in Kiev.
• Reuters reports that Ukraine is working with international partners to create a UN-backed mission that would restore shipping lanes in the Black Sea and the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.
• France is discreet about the supply of weapons due to its diplomatic position as a "country of equilibrium"; Despite the assurances of the heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about increasing the supply of weapons, hardware support for Ukraine remains modest compared to the supplies of other European partners, writes the daily Le Monde on Thursday.
• During the inauguration of the construction of warfare storage facilities in Powidz, Poland, the chairman of the NATO investment committee emphasized that "equipment that will be used by the US military will be stored here in order to be able to react quickly if the situation requires it." The warfare warehouses in Powidz will be an element of deterrence. We are sending a clear message that, if necessary, both Poland and the United States are ready to respond to any threat together - said the US ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski.
• Lithuania needs a modern air defense system, as the territory of neighboring Belarus is completely accessible to Russian troops, said President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday during the opening of a new training ground in the Rudnik Forest, near the Belarusian border.
• The Swedish government announced on Thursday the transfer to Ukraine of Robot 17 anti-ship missiles, 90 automatic rifles with ammunition and another 5,000. anti-tank grenade launchers. - We are dealing with a new phase of the war, Russian troops are concentrating their forces in eastern and south-eastern Ukraine - said the Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist during a press conference convened.
• Russia has changed its combat strategy in Ukraine. "I've never seen such a hell," says a wounded Ukrainian sergeant who fought at the front. In the east of the country there is a shortage of weapons and hands to fight, which is why teachers, computer programmers and taxi drivers, i.e. people who have never had experience in combat before, volunteered to defend their homeland a moment after the Russian invasion.
• The head of the German arms group Rheinmetall Armin Papperger expects a significant increase in sales due to the increased demand for weapons as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. - In the coming years, 20% should be possible. pace of growth - Papperger told Handelsblatt on Thursday.
• Turkey has just agreed to give Ukraine Bayraktars (unmanned combat and reconnaissance aircraft - ed.) For free, for which Lithuania raised money. Meanwhile, for the collected amount, we will buy the necessary ammunition for the Bayraktars, and the rest of the money will also go to support Ukraine. Thank you, Turkey! ", We read in the entry by Arvydas Anušauskas, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
  
  
  https://twitter.com/x/status/1532318260833705984
  
  
• Since March, the Spanish government has supported the Ukrainian forces fighting the Russian invasion with six shipments of weapons and ammunition, the daily "El Periodico" reported on Thursday, citing sources in the Spanish Ministry of Defense. The transports were to include, among others mortars, rifles, grenade launchers and anti-tank missiles. The daily specified that among the equipment sent to Ukraine was the C90 grenade launcher, as well as the G36 automatic rifle, produced in Spanish armaments plants.
• The members of OPEC + (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries - ed.) Agree to increase oil production above market expectations, reports The Spectator Index.
• We discussed issues related to the new US military aid package and provided the Americans with information about the needs of the Ukrainian army. We also discussed future surprises, which our enemies will definitely not like, "wrote the head of the chancellery of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram on Thursday. Apart from Yermak, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valery Zaluzhny, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, also took part in the conversation. US General Mark Milley and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan "It is important that this is not the last such support from the US" - assured Jermak.

 

[catcha]

An extremely rare video showing fighting Ukrainian SOF in Ukraine.

 

[Barry K O Bama]

It's nigh on impossible to understand exactly what's going on with the War in Ukraine.

The US, UK, Baltic, Scandinavian and Eastern European States (Hungary aside) all appreciate that Russia/Putin needs to be seriously weakened now but the other large EU States, France, Germany & Italy appear more prepared to appease Putin and effectively 'kick the can further down the road'

Russia is now applying it's superior numerical and equipment advantage more effectively and the artillery/rocket fire power seems to be causing huge casualties for Ukraine - possibly 100 dead and 500 wounded soldiers per day. It's been suggested that these are the best soldiers they have.


We don't know exactly how much artillery has been supplied to Ukraine but the figures I've seen from US seem to be whooly inadequate - circa 100 M777 Howitzers for a 1000 mile front - that's 1 every 10 miles. Biden has just announced an intention to supply MLRS - these will take a huge amount of time for delivery to Donbas and training.

Lloyd Austin said that US needs to move at the speed of war - 100 days to make a decision on MLRS ????? I'd hate to think how long it'd take if they were moving slowly.

It'll probably take 2 months to get the MLRS operational and Ukraine might suffer 36,000 military casualties, if the Russians can maintain it's current momentum.

But Democratic Leaders need popular support so it's not easy to move at the required speed. Throw in scumbags like Trump & Orban and the task gets ever harder.

UK is in favour of a rules based world order but is prepared to rip up an international treaty to appease Tory Brexit Hard Liners and DUP. So Putin has the incentive to stay going and see of his opponents blink first.

But the Ukrainians have got considerable support and avoided a capitulation as happened in the Invasion of Crimea - They must hold out until the necessary equipment arrives. No choice.

On a level playing field, Ukraine will probably force Putin to make a deal, for now. One hopes that the US will use it's nuclear leverage to force France, Germany & Italy to keep the economic pressure on Putin.

 

[Swanforthelough]

It's nigh on impossible to understand exactly what's going on with the War in Ukraine.

The US, UK, Baltic, Scandinavian and Eastern European States (Hungary aside) all appreciate that Russia/Putin needs to be seriously weakened now but the other large EU States, France, Germany & Italy appear more prepared to appease Putin and effectively 'kick the can further down the road'

Russia is now applying it's superior numerical and equipment advantage more effectively and the artillery/rocket fire power seems to be causing huge casualties for Ukraine - possibly 100 dead and 500 wounded soldiers per day. It's been suggested that these are the best soldiers they have.


We don't know exactly how much artillery has been supplied to Ukraine but the figures I've seen from US seem to be whooly inadequate - circa 100 M777 Howitzers for a 1000 mile front - that's 1 every 10 miles. Biden has just announced an intention to supply MLRS - these will take a huge amount of time for delivery to Donbas and training.

Lloyd Austin said that US needs to move at the speed of war - 100 days to make a decision on MLRS ????? I'd hate to think how long it'd take if they were moving slowly.

It'll probably take 2 months to get the MLRS operational and Ukraine might suffer 36,000 military casualties, if the Russians can maintain it's current momentum.

But Democratic Leaders need popular support so it's not easy to move at the required speed. Throw in scumbags like Trump & Orban and the task gets ever harder.

UK is in favour of a rules based world order but is prepared to rip up an international treaty to appease Tory Brexit Hard Liners and DUP. So Putin has the incentive to stay going and see of his opponents blink first.

But the Ukrainians have got considerable support and avoided a capitulation as happened in the Invasion of Crimea - They must hold out until the necessary equipment arrives. No choice.

On a level playing field, Ukraine will probably force Putin to make a deal, for now. One hopes that the US will use it's nuclear leverage to force France, Germany & Italy to keep the economic pressure on Putin.

The reality is that everyone knew after 2 weeks the Russian plan was in a mess and they war would revert to the East where we had the Worlds biggest tank battles in WW2 due to the terrain. This time not enough tanks for a WW2 battle but troops digging in and an artillery battle ensuing. Biden has never made a good foreign policy decision in his 40 years and is well known to be anti US military.

It will be End of July before this equipment is effective on the battle field. Long Time for the lads on the front to survive, only positives is that the Russians have put their best troops in the Donbas and now they have a problem in Kherson even though the Ukranians are outgunned.Ukranians need to open up in Kharkiv and Kherson in a meaningful way to stretch Ivan. Sad thing is with a bit of forward planning Ivan would have buckled by now.

 

[stan ogden]

Russia winning the war militarily and (and an even bigger surprise to the west) economically now. This small lip service delivery of weapons only serves to keep the Ukraine military on life support for the next couple of months.

There’s no rush for the Russians to negotiate. Like any negotiation where you have the absolute upper hand, you don’t really negotiate, you just dictate the terms. You can bet those terms will be significantly harsher than what was on offer in Istanbul in March, when the US/UK demanded Ukraine not acquiesce.

What was it all for? A stupid war for Ukraine that should never have happened.

 

[an liathroid beag]

Russia winning the war militarily and (and an even bigger surprise to the west) economically now. This small lip service delivery of weapons only serves to keep the Ukraine military on life support for the next couple of months.

There’s no rush for the Russians to negotiate. Like any negotiation where you have the absolute upper hand, you don’t really negotiate, you just dictate the terms. You can bet those terms will be significantly harsher than what was on offer in Istanbul in March, when the US/UK demanded Ukraine not acquiesce.

What was it all for? A stupid war for Ukraine that should never have happened.

They should have rolled over to a dictator who believes that they no right to even exist as an independent nation and is now trying to destroy and eradicate the Ukrainian Nation

 

[Stacky]

They should have rolled over to a dictator who believes that they no right to even exist as an independent nation and is now trying to destroy and eradicate the Ukrainian Nation

Shove him on "ignore" as he is simply stupid.