Things are heating up in the Donbass

[Mosinitis]

Ukrainian counter offensive may have started.

‘Large-scale’ Ukrainian offensive repelled – Russian MOD

Ukraine has launched a large-scale offensive in Donbass, the Russian Defense Ministry said

www.rt.com

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

On paper I agree. So why are they struggling?

To be honest I have no idea there is so much propaganda out there. Ukraine could be killing 10 Russians for every troop they lose or it could be the exact opposite. Both side of the story are thick with propaganda. The truth is somewhere in the middle. It seems Russia is content to patiently grind along.


Plot twist.... What if Russia is using this situation as an opportunity to bleed NATO dry of their weapon reserves (on mostly a bunch of Wagner convicts and poorly trained conscripts) that Russia is starting to see a strategy of depleting NATOs weapons, causing internal conflict among the alliance.

And then perhaps they just keep slowly and methodically rolling to the Baltics after done with Ukraine. NATO might be so depleted and fractured in a year from now it's feasible.

 

[spat]

To be honest I have no idea there is so much propaganda out there. Ukraine could be killing 10 Russians for every troop they lose or it could be the exact opposite. Both side of the story are thick with propaganda. The truth is somewhere in the middle. It seems Russia is content to patiently grind along.


Plot twist.... What if Russia is using this situation as an opportunity to bleed NATO dry of their weapon reserves (on mostly a bunch of Wagner convicts and poorly trained conscripts) that Russia is starting to see a strategy of depleting NATOs weapons, causing internal conflict among the alliance.

And then perhaps they just keep slowly and methodically rolling to the Baltics after done with Ukraine. NATO might be so depleted and fractured in a year from now it's feasible.

About the only thing we can really be sure of is that the Russians were supposed to be holding a victory parade over a year ago in Kiev, and they still aren't able to.

So, on that metric, the Ukranians are winning.

 

[holdover]

About the only thing we can really be sure of is that the Russians were supposed to be holding a victory parade over a year ago in Kiev, and they still aren't able to.

So, on that metric, the Ukranians are winning.

Thats a pretty naive metric.

 

[tirwin1]

To be honest I have no idea there is so much propaganda out there. Ukraine could be killing 10 Russians for every troop they lose or it could be the exact opposite. Both side of the story are thick with propaganda. The truth is somewhere in the middle. It seems Russia is content to patiently grind along.


Plot twist.... What if Russia is using this situation as an opportunity to bleed NATO dry of their weapon reserves (on mostly a bunch of Wagner convicts and poorly trained conscripts) that Russia is starting to see a strategy of depleting NATOs weapons, causing internal conflict among the alliance.

And then perhaps they just keep slowly and methodically rolling to the Baltics after done with Ukraine. NATO might be so depleted and fractured in a year from now it's feasible.

I think that has as much credence as all the "trump is playing 4D chess" talk. Their game plan was a quick successful invasion. They have been forced into a war of attrition by the US. Russia is patiently grinding along because that's about all they can do.

I agree that we have little real reporting on this war since both sides are full of propaganda. I remain skeptical of any successful large scale counterattack by the Ukrainians. I think perpetual conflict is a likely outcome which is what the cynical bastards in this administration want.

 

[holdover]

How big was the Ukraine army before the war?
Upon their establishment in 1991, the Armed Forces of Ukraine included approximately 780,000 personnel, 7,000 armored vehicles, 6,500 tanks, .


SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2022, 11:12 AM

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that today Ukraine is being defended in the war by 700,000 military personnel.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview for Ukrainian journalists

Quote from the president: "As of today it is 700,000 – here you can see the result of the work of 700,000 people who are fighting. 700,000. This is at a time of war."



Estimates of Russian troop numbers in Ukraine have ranged from anywhere between 100,000 and 200,000 in recent weeks.

Ukraine's defence minister, Oleksiy Reznikov has put Russian forces surrounding the country at 149,000, while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy estimated the figure at around 200,000, in addition to thousands of combat vehicles, which include an estimated 2,840 battle tanks, outnumbering Ukraine’s armoured capability by three to one.

Reznikov’s estimate is in line with US calculations of around 150,000 Russian troops massed on Ukraine’s borders before the invasion began on Thursday. Russia keeps a static border presence of around 35,000 military personnel on the Ukraine frontier, from a total standing army – the Russian Ground Forces - of 280,000 active duty personnel. Overall, Russia maintains the fifth-largest armed forces in the world, with over one million active personnel and two million reservists split between the various branches, which includes air force, navy, space forces, strategic missile forces, airborne and special operations forces.

However, US intelligence believes that the bulk of the Russian forces around Ukraine – which depending on the accuracy of estimates represent some 50-60% of the total strength of the Russian Ground Forces – will not be involved in the initial phases of the attack. The US stated that Russia's invasion is designed to decapitate Ukraine's government: one of the three main axes of assault is directed at the capital Kyiv, a senior US defense official said.

"It is our assessment that they have every intention of basically decapitating the government and installing their own method of governance, which would explain these early moves.”

How many troops has Russia sent into invasion of Ukraine?

Estimates of the total number of Russian forces involved in the invasion of Ukraine vary but around 150,000 troops are thought to be deployed in total.

en.as.com

By Angela Dewan, CNN
Updated 3:11 PM EST, Fri February 25, 2022

Where Russia has 900,000 active personnel in its armed forces, and 2 million in reserve, Ukraine has 196,000 and 900,000 reservists. Ukraine on Wednesday began conscripting reservists aged 18-60, according to IISS.

In land forces alone, Russia has a twofold advantage, with 280,000 troops to Ukraine’s 125,600. And its air force is nearly five times as strong, with 165,00 to Ukraine’s 35,000.

But in terms of how many troops are in this particular operation, Yohann Michel, a research analyst who worked on the IISS report, said Russia had an estimated 200,000 personnel in and around Ukraine.

“That’s including around 60 battle groups. The situation is evolving rapidly and that number could change, but it’s very large, and that’s important. It’s one of the largest in eastern Europe that we’ve seen in years – in my lifetime,” Michel told CNN.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/25/europe/russia-ukraine-military-comparison-intl/index.html

 

[holdover]

I think that has as much credence as all the "trump is playing 4D chess" talk. Their game plan was a quick successful invasion. They have been forced into a war of attrition by the US. Russia is patiently grinding along because that's about all they can do.

I agree that we have little real reporting on this war since both sides are full of propaganda. I remain skeptical of any successful large scale counterattack by the Ukrainians. I think perpetual conflict is a likely outcome which is what the cynical bastards in this administration want.

I agree, the Russian game plan was a quick decapitation of the leadership in kiev. They expected at least half or more of the Ukrainian army to drop their arms and join them . the Russians sent between 150, to 200,000 troops into Ukraine against a far larger opponent. The only way this makes any sense is that they expected a short fight and Ukraine military to join them,

 

[Mosinitis]

Russia should have done this in 2014, before the West took over Ukrainian military. Before CIA made Ukraine a totalitarian state, killing all intellectual opposition. Ukraine is a country created on lies, hate and fear. It's a country created to serve the interests of outsiders.

 

[spat]

Thats a pretty naive metric.

It's about the only one we have that doesn't involve trusting data from untrustworthy sources.

 

[fresch]

They are waiting for the U.S. under bidong to just get tired and leave, of course leaving billions of dollars behind.
You know the thing

 

[Mosinitis]

Mariupol now.

 

[Mosinitis]

Mariupol by Neighborhoods.

 

[Mosinitis]

........... but how will these people go on without Lindsey Graham.

 

[Robin]

 

[holdover]

It's about the only one we have that doesn't involve trusting data from untrustworthy sources.

I cant help but laugh at that one. Were going to find out soon.

 

[GOPerfect]

 

[holdover]

Various pro west, pro Russian reports on the Ukraine counter offensive.​

​

​

Ukrainian offensive is ‘taking place in several directions,’ says official​

By Nathan Hodge, Sebastian Shukla, Olga Voitovych and Sana Noor Haq, CNN

CNN —
A Ukrainian offensive is “taking place in several directions,” Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar told Ukrainian television on Monday, heightening speculation that a major push by Kyiv to recapture land held by Russia’s occupying forces could be getting underway.

“It is not only about Bakhmut. The offensive is taking place in several directions. We are happy about every meter. Today is a successful day for our forces,” she said.

Recent weeks have seen Ukraine’s military stepping up shaping operations – attacks on Russian targets like fuel depots and weapons dumps far behind frontlines – which typically precede a major advance by ground forces. But government officials in Kyiv have been at pains to say the start of any counteroffensive would

In a post on its official Telegram feed, the Russian Defense ministry said the assault took place at “five section of the front in the southern Donetsk direction.”

The ministry claimed the goal of the Ukrainian operation was “to break through” Russian defenses in what it considered to be “the most vulnerable area of the front.”

Further south, a Russian-appointed official in Zaporizhzhia said Ukrainian troops were attempting to break through a defense line to reach the coast of the Sea of Azov.

“The goal of the [Ukraine Armed Forces] militants is to reach the Azov Sea coast and cut the land corridor,” Vladimir Rogov said, according to Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti.

In a Monday Telegram post, Maliar said the country’s troops were “carrying out offensive actions” on the eastern front and had “advanced in several directions” around the city of Bakhmut: near the settlements of Orikhovo-Vasylivka and Paraskoviivka to the north, and near Ivanivske and Klishchiivka to the southwest.

Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Eastern Grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, also spoke of “an offensive assault” by the Ukrainians “on the southern and northern flanks of Bakhmut” on national TV on Monday.

“These actions were successful,” Cherevatyi said. “Despite the enemy’s fierce resistance, our airborne assault and mechanised units managed to advance along the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas Canal in the direction of Klishchiivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Zaliznianske, and Bohdanivka to a distance of 300 meters to 1 km in various parts of the frontline.”

CNN cannot verify the battlefield reports.


US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan tells Fareed the US is supporting Ukraine on the battlefield to strengthen Ukraine's position at the negotiating table.
00:49 - Source: CNN

(Not to win but to negotiate, Do you see the train now?)

Russia says it thwarted major Ukrainian offensive, Kyiv says Moscow spreads lies

Russia says it thwarted major Ukrainian offensive, Kyiv says Moscow spreads lies

It was unclear whether the reported attack represented the formal start of a Ukrainian counteroffensive to recapture some of the territory taken by Russian forces after the invasion.

www.reuters.com

The defence ministry in Moscow said Ukraine had attacked with six mechanised and two tank battalions from two brigades in five sectors of the front in Donetsk.


Zelenskiy said Ukraine did not have all the western weapons it had wanted to start the counteroffensive but could no longer wait. He warned that “a large number of soldiers will die”.

Ukraine has readied 12 brigades, an estimated 60,000 troops, to spearhead an attack it hopes will show it can force the Russian invaders, who total about 300,000, from its territory, some of which has been occupied since 2014.

Ukraine: significant escalation in fighting reported in Donetsk region

Russia claims to have fought off ‘major offensive’ and killed hundreds of Ukrainian troops in attack

www.theguardian.com

Last Report by Russian Defense Ministry on Donbas Failed Attempt.​

UPDATE ON JUNE, 6, 2023 – 1 AM CET

The Russian armed forces have destroyed 1,500 Ukrainian troops that were attempting to attack and 8 German-made Leopard tanks, the Russian Defense Ministry (MOD) said on Tuesday, according to TASS Russia News Agency.

“Total losses of Ukrainian troops in the southern Donetsk Region area were more than 1,500 Ukrainian servicemen, 28 tanks, of them 8 German-made Leopard tanks, 3 wheeled French-made АМХ-10 tanks, and 109 armored fighting vehicles,” the ministry said (video on tanks destroyed below and full detailed statement at the bottom of this article).

Two ammunition depots of the 24th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU has been destroyed near Dzerzhinsk (Donetsk People’s Republic), one of the AFU 60th Motorised Infantry Brigade has been destroyed near Malinovka (Kharkiv region), and another of AFU 126th Brigade of the Territorial Defence of Ukraine near Nikolskoye (Kherson region).

This is the first Russian answer to the counter-offensive launch by the Kyiv regime in Donbas.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

This is a big deal

It's likely tied to Ukraines "counter offensive".

Either Russia is trying to stop the Ukrainians or the Ukrainians are trying to flood the Russians from their positions.

Regardless it's going to be a shit show of consequences.

 

[holdover]

 

[Mosinitis]

This is a big deal

It's likely tied to Ukraines "counter offensive".

Either Russia is trying to stop the Ukrainians or the Ukrainians are trying to flood the Russians from their positions.

Regardless it's going to be a shit show of consequences.

The threat of potential flood from Kakhovka Dam was the reason Russians left the city of Kherson and evacuated across Dnepr. It's Ukrainian held territory now. Whatever Ukrainian forces and equipment there will be flooded.

 

[Mosinitis]

I love the smell of burning Leopards tanks in the morning. Too bad my relative, who was T34 driver during WWII, recently past away. We would both enjoy the pictures.

 

[Robin]

Who blew the damn dam!?!?!?!?!?!? The Ruskies say it was the Ukes, The Ukes say it was the Ruskies! Well, seein's how most of this here is all speculation, lemme take a stab! It was the same folks that did in the Nord Stream Pipeline. One thing for sure, the innocents will once again reap the benefits of yet another debacle.
Robin Cayse

 

[speedkills27]

 

[GOPerfect]

Maybe this is where the Ammonia nitrate that was stolen off the train went.

 

[FrankenCub]

Who blew the damn dam!?!?!?!?!?!? The Ruskies say it was the Ukes, The Ukes say it was the Ruskies! Well, seein's how most of this here is all speculation, lemme take a stab! It was the same folks that did in the Nord Stream Pipeline. One thing for sure, the innocents will once again reap the benefits of yet another debacle.
Robin Cayse

Well there is this, IF there's any truth in it....

Topic

Breaking news from around the world.

www.disclose.tv

 

[holdover]

ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

www.zerohedge.com

The New York Times has been forced to very, very belatedly deal with something which had long been obvious and known to many independent analysts and media outlets, but which has been carefully shielded from the mainstream masses in the West for obvious reasons.

The surprising Monday Times headline said that "Nazi Symbols on Ukraine’s Front Lines Highlight Thorny Issues of History." This acknowledgement comes after literally years of primarily indy journalists and geopolitical commentators pointing out that yes indeed... Ukraine's military and paramilitary groups, especially those operating in the east since at least 2014, have a serious Nazi ideology problem. This has been exhaustively documented, again, going back years. But the report, which merely tries to downplay it as a "thorny issue" of Ukraine's "unique" "History" - suggests that the real problem for Western PR is fundamentally that it's being displayed so openly. Ukrainian troops are being asked to cover those Nazi symbols please!--as Matt Taibbi sarcastically quipped in commenting on the report.

The authors of the NYT report begin by expressing frustration over the optics of Nazi symbols being displayed so proudly on many Ukrainian soldiers' uniforms. Suggesting that many journalistic photographs which have in some cases been featured in newspapers and media outlets worldwide (typically coupled with generally positive articles on Ukraine's military) are merely 'unfortunate' or misleading, the NYT report says, "In each photograph, Ukrainians in uniform wore patches featuring symbols that were made notorious by Nazi Germany and have since become part of the iconography of far-right hate groups."

The report admits this has led to controversy wherein news rooms actually must delete some photos of Ukrainian soldiers and militants. "The photographs, and their deletions, highlight the Ukrainian military’s complicated relationship with Nazi imagery, a relationship forged under both Soviet and German occupation during World War II," continues the report.

So it's merely "thorny" and "complicated" we are told. Below is a small sampling of the kinds of patches that appear on Ukrainian military uniforms with "some regularity" - in the words of The New York Times:

 

[Mosinitis]

 

[holdover]

""Facts are stubborn things"" John Adams

 

[Mosinitis]

How dare Putin call Nazis "Nazis" and ruin our plans for Ukraine. It's not NATO who is using them, it's Putin who is using them!!!!!

Fucking idiots.

 

[Steal2B]

Who blew the damn dam!?!?!?!?!?!? The Ruskies say it was the Ukes, The Ukes say it was the Ruskies! Well, seein's how most of this here is all speculation, lemme take a stab! It was the same folks that did in the Nord Stream Pipeline. One thing for sure, the innocents will once again reap the benefits of yet another debacle.
Robin Cayse