Look no further than Scandinavia not perfect examples but they offer a good form of social market, much higher rates of taxation and the Greens and Social Democrats on the continent that want to temper the power of the markets, we have IMF and World Bank dictating to countries in the global south, African and Latin American states that for no fault of their own accumulated massive debts. The financial crisis of 2008 shows the negative consequences of capitalism.
Yes Lithuania holding firm on the embargo to Kaliningrad even though some pressure under the counter from Brussels to do otherwise. The lads in the Baltic countries and Poland know they are next if Putin is not put out of business. Mad thing is the rest of the incompetents in the West waited till now and Madrid to finally do the needful. Had they done this earlier then everyone would have had their feet up around a warm fire this winter.
Lyschansk will fall that is a given, Ukraine pulled out fighting some rear guard action though. They cannot afford the losses they suffered in Severodonetsk even though the Russians lost a hell of a lot more.I wonder are those reporters part of this organisation who tell a different story...
RSF urges the Ukrainian authorities to lift arbitrary restrictions on reporters in the field
As well as risking their lives at the front line, some 9,000 or so reporters covering the war in Ukraine have difficulties gaining access to certain places and difficulties filming or taking photos, and even are occasionally detained. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns these abuses and...rsf.org
Meanwhile this guy goes through the current situation around Lysychans'k, which is the current 'hotspot'
That video, even though posted only yesterday evening already seems to be outdated as reports are coming in that the Russians have totally encircled Lysychans'k and any Ukrainian Forces that managed to escape before getting trapped are moving westwards to Sivers'k.
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Deserting Kharkiv was odd as close to their supply lines and Kharkiv would traditionally have been more Russian leaning than say Kherson. Sure they may have managed to wipe out some over zealous Ukranian units who smelt blood and revenge but no sensical move as they are trying to force their way back there now.When you look back now to the start of May when the Russian Forces were advancing on Kharkov looking to lay siege and get ready for a prolonged battle for the city some things are starting to make sense.
In their way were these guys, the 'Kraken' unit:
Ukraine’s volunteer ‘Kraken’ unit takes the fight to the Russians
The Kraken unit operates somewhat in a gray zone — a force that answers to the Defense Ministry but is not part of Ukraine's armed forces.www.stripes.com
It was all looking like a major fight was about to happen then strangely the Russian Forces were ordered to pull back around May 15th or so, this lead to Ukraine smelling a victory, and here's where i think they made the big mistake, they left Kharkov to pursue the Russians who kept "retreating"
This made the Kraken unit now out in the open countryside and vulnerable to Russian artillery and daily bombardment. Eventually the losses started to mount up, the Russian Defence Ministry in one of their daily reports stated that in June
"Attack launched by Russian artillery near Pitomnik (Kharkov region) has resulted in the elimination of up to 100 militants from Kraken Nazi group and about 10 units of combat equipment. Commanders of the militants have decided to abandon the positions and to withdraw the rest of this unit to Kharkov.
...
High-precision attacks launched by Russian Aerospace Forces have resulted in the elimination of 4 command posts, including those of Kharkov-1 and Kharkov-2 Territorial Defence battalions near Kharkov, as well as a training base of mercenaries deployed near Nikolayev."
All of this means that the Kraken unit who were defending Kharkov fell for the trap and chased the Russians too far away from the city subjecting themselves to getting wiped out and suffering serious losses, now the Russians are looking likely to engage in a 'pincer' move with a third arm possible from the south-east from the Izium area.
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The next few weeks will tell a lot...
