Ukraine Invasion: Part 17

[MagicFox]

A new place for us to convene, thread 17.

@EsmaCannonball

Very frustrating that the British broadcast media is focused on what Russia is saying and not on what Russia is doing. Very much the 'One person says it is raining and one person says it is sunny' strand of journalism. (Where, instead of reporting what people are saying, it should be a journalist's duty to look out of the window and report on what the weather is actually doing.)

100% - every one deliberately distracted and consumed with the words and plot twists - all this “noise” and vanity speculative chatter.

Lazy and grandiose.

Step back and step up. Document the actions and anticipate his next steps - we have plenty of previous performance to know his form.

@Hillsmakeyoustrong

Any more stories from *@TargusEasting*? I loved The Lost Key featuring Lavs 😂

My intel is sweeping those bunkers in Siberia as we speak.

I hear that Rishi is going to up the fizzy drinks tax and introduce a new sugar levy. Not only will it raise revenue for the war effort, but it will hamper planned Russian exports of sugar made from beets in the Donbass. There is going to be a shortage of the stuff and it will be the new gold. Moscow heard about it following a leak from London and the middle class Muscovites went onto the streets and swept the shelves of the sweet white stuff.

At the same time Guy Fawkes hacked the RCB, so the Muscovites had to send the sugar to their private banks in Switzerland. The sugar was laundered by cutting with cocoa powder before moulding into triangular bars wrapped in silver and stamped with a bear hidden in the mountain side. Meanwhile, a Roman took a private stash with him to a house party and gorged on it. He got sick.

The Rouble is dead. Toblerone is the new currency. Just in time for Easter.

Mothers look at cream eggs on the shelves and shudder. A memory of a small egg placed in the palm of the hand spawns a remembrance of grenades. And many sons will never be back for Easter.

@EsmaCannonball

Very frustrating that the British broadcast media is focused on what Russia is saying and not on what Russia is doing. Very much the 'One person says it is raining and one person says it is sunny' strand of journalism. (Where, instead of reporting what people are saying, it should be a journalist's duty to look out of the window and report on what the weather is actually doing.)

Really? I had BBC News channel on earlier and the presenter was so openly sceptical about Russian claims I thought he'd get done for lack of impartiality. He couldn't have made his opinion more plain if he'd worn a seaside hat emblazoned "Putin is a lying arsehole".

I think it was a magazine programme rather than straight news, though, and TBF could he rightly claim to just be summarising the views of his guests from around the world. The words "bad faith actors" got repeated a lot re the Russian negotiators.

Placemark

[quote Onceuponatimeinalandfaraway]Here is the full interview c4 news did with the Russian diplomat in the USA (why we don’t send all these bastards home to Russia and leave them there I don’t know).
There is a transcript popped up when I first opened the video but I can’t find that (comment?) now

[/quote] I missed this when it was on so thanks for the link

Wow. He really believes what he's saying

Thanks for the link to the C4 interview.

So, how long do we think it will be till that Russian diplomat applies for asylum? He did not look a happy bunny even as he trotted out the lies.

Plus, is that his own office? He has Sam Toft prints on the wall. Can't see him lasting long...

Good cross-post!

I think he sincerely believes he has to say those things. But I'm not convinced he sincerely believes them...

Who knows, though. Being a diplomat for a murderous dictator is a tricky place to be.

Belarusian railworkers have continued with acts of sabotage but there are reports of arrests and interrogations.

I wonder what's up with Lukashenko? He knows that if the Kremlin falls he also falls, but he might also be thinking that if he sends in troops it could inspire rebellion within Belarus. Is Putin pissed off with him or is he keeping the Belarusians in reserve for the next phase?

Very interesting interview with former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lord Richards, on Newsnight (starts about 20 minutes in)
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0015xrz

Tim White @TWMCltd
A strange tale from #Sumy in NE #Ukraine.

According to numerous witnesses, Russian troops attacked their own armoured personnel carrier.
Of course it was being filmed - a provocation.

Soon after Russia burned down the Ukrainian border checkpoint. All for TV and likes?

#Russia says #Ukraine has laid mines in the Black Sea endangering commercial vessels.

Ukraine hits back saying 🇷🇺 is using mines stolen when occupying Crimea in 2014, making it look like 🇺🇦 is responsible.

Also when could Ukraine have done it? RU controlled Black Sea from Day 1

Zarina Zabrisky @zarinazabrisky
#Kharkiv The Ukrainian military liberate the route between Kharkiv and Chuguev, controlled by the Russian military for several weeks. Russian equipment was seized/destroyed partially. On the roadsides: the bodies of civilians killed and broken bottles of champagne and cognac.

#Kharkiv "Kharkiv is alive, but the situation remains tense. It is still dangerous to return to the liberated villages in the suburbs of Kharkiv due to mines and unpredictable shelling. Residents started to clean the city. - Mayor Terekhov

I can find nothing further this morning on the Belgorod incidents as to what it was or who was responsible.

[quote Onceuponatimeinalandfaraway]Here is the full interview c4 news did with the Russian diplomat in the USA (why we don’t send all these bastards home to Russia and leave them there I don’t know).
There is a transcript popped up when I first opened the video but I can’t find that (comment?) now

[/quote] I think the interviewer is mistaken. The evidence on the ground is that there wasn't really a plan for the invasion of Ukraine. If there had of been a coherent plan then the Russians would not be withdrawing some troops from Kviv.

Governor of Chernihiv region says he sees no let-up in Russian attacks despite their pledge to scale down their offensive in the area.

@EsmaCannonball

I wonder if the expulsion of diplomats is related to the massive leak of the names and details of FSB agents?

Probably and no

Host countries will probably have a very good idea who the spooks are, and therefore some idea of what they're up to. They might however not want to let the Russians know they know (because they might start wondering how)

But a find of information gives the pretext to boot out loads without compromising your sources, and at a time when it's harder to send in replacements.

@RedToothBrush

Governor of Chernihiv region says he sees no let-up in Russian attacks despite their pledge to scale down their offensive in the area.

My guess is that Russians see all forms of talks as an opportunity to tie up military/diplomatic time and effort of the Ukranians and of the international community

If Putin's aim all along was to divide Ukraine, because he wanted the east and south, then it looks like he's going to get what he wants.

Do we have any real understanding of what he really wanted and how much is posturing to support the winning of the core aims?

I had BBC News channel on earlier and the presenter was so openly sceptical about Russian claims I thought he'd get done for lack of impartiality. He couldn't have made his opinion more plain if he'd worn a seaside hat emblazoned "Putin is a lying arsehole".

Was it this, Perking? www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0bx9slf/ros-atkins-on-ros-atkins-on

Another very good BBC News programme for a wide and unbiased take is Dateline London
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m93g

Afp news agency @afp
#BREAKING US advises that Moscow may 'detain' Americans in Russia: State Dept

#UPDATE US State Department issues travel warning saying Moscow "may single out and detain US citizens in Russia".

Citing the potential for harassment of US citizens by Russian authorities, the warning repeats calls for Americans not to travel to Russia or to leave "immediately"

I think this is a step up. They had previously warned to leave but saying Americans may be detained is stronger than I've seen before

Has anyone heard anything from Zelensky in the last day or two?

Maybe having "time off" but I've not been aware of any meetings or messages directly from him.

@CailleachGranda

Has anyone heard anything from Zelensky in the last day or two?

Maybe having "time off" but I've not been aware of any meetings or messages directly from him.

He’s going to be talking to the Australian Parliament soon I think.

@CailleachGranda

Has anyone heard anything from Zelensky in the last day or two?

Maybe having "time off" but I've not been aware of any meetings or messages directly from him.

Yes addressed the Dutch Parliament I believe.

Financial Times @financialtimes
Breaking news: Germany has taken the first formal step towards gas rationing after a payment dispute with Russia

Just seen a video of Zelensky now on twitter. Glad he is still active

“Has anyone heard anything from Zelensky in the last day or two?”

I wish.

Poor man must be absolutely exhausted!

Oliver Moody
twitter.com/olivernmoody/status/1509065487484952584?s=21

The Germany energy ministry has just urged every household and business in the country to use as little gas as possible ahead of a Kremlin deadline for EU firms to pay their bills in rubles by tomorrow. /1

There is no sign that Germany will comply with Putin's ultimatum, even though Russia has explicitly said it will turn off the taps unless Gazprom and other state-owned energy companies receive payment in rubles. /2

On Monday Christian Lindner, the German finance minister, said: "We won't accept any blackmail ... Whatever happens, we are ready and will find solutions." faz.net/aktuell/wirtsc… /3

This morning Germany activated the "early warning" level of its emergency gas plan. The govt insists supplies are "guaranteed for the time being" but it has set up a crisis unit to monitor the situation. /4

@Verysadatwork

“Has anyone heard anything from Zelensky in the last day or two?”

I wish.

🤣 same!

He posts more on instagram than on twitter. He posts an address to people every evening, plus any other talks he has given that day.