Ukraine Invasion: Part 19

[MagicFox]

Welcome friends, still going

Boris Johnson reports that the “we” (without confirming exactly who we is) will ensure that Ukraine is never invaded again.

Bit premature no? Surely we need to get rid of this invasion first, or is he suggesting that Ukraine just give up a good chunk of its territory 🤨

@MMBaranova

>Before the Russian invasion, British troops (and others?) Were training with the Ukraine military.

Since 2015 really. It is nothing new. The links between UK and Ua are well developed.

What further steps realistically can UK and other countries now take to militarily support Ukraine?

The aid announced today by the UK showed that it is an ongoing process. 120 armoured vehicles, anti-ship Harpoon missiles and so on.

And meanwhile... I had a worrying interaction with the relatives behind the lines today. I'll mull and probably post something later. Those elsewhere remain upbeat.

Oh no I hope you don’t mean worrying as in they are no longer “safe” (whatever that means these days). Thoughts are with them 💐

I found this article very interesting. It's by a military historian, putting the conflict in Ukraine into the context of the nuclear threat. It certainly helped me understand why both sides are doing (and not doing) some things.

acoup.blog/2022/03/11/collections-nuclear-deterrence-101/

Before the Russian invasion, British troops (and others?) Were training with the Ukraine military.

Since 2015 really. It is nothing new. The links between UK and Ua are well developed.

Thats what I was trying to say in a round about way to those saying that the Ukraine forces will have to be trained on the equipment.
They probably already are.

MMBaranova I hope they are still as safe as possible right now.

Hi fernsandlilies,

Thanks so much for your posts - we're so sorry to hear how tough things are in Ukraine right now but we wanted to check you're happy for these posts to remain? We wouldn't want to make you a target for the Russian troops.

Do let us know if you'd like them taken down and we'll do that right away.

What are the chances of these new weapons being offensive weapons rather than defensive weapons. Are we thinking Russia itself is still safe?

@Shuuu

What are the chances of these new weapons being offensive weapons rather than defensive weapons. Are we thinking Russia itself is still safe?

I’d be very surprised if anything provided couldn’t be passed off as defensive.

What are the chances of these new weapons being offensive weapons rather than defensive weapons. Are we thinking Russia itself is still safe?

How do you mean ?

If you launch a 'defensive' weapon against an 'offensive' weapon of the other side, is it seen as defensive or offensive by the other side ?

Hi MN

The original author of those posts asked for them to be posted on social media, so I guess they didn't think it would lead to any problems. But as a pp has mentioned, it's true that they contain a lot of identifying information, all of which the original author put into the public domain.

If it's thought that the people concerned could be left vulnerable, perhaps it would be better for the posts to be at least edited to remove the name and town and photos showing faces? Failing that, do go ahead and remove them.

@fernsandlilies

Very moving detail there from that poor, poor man.
Everything about this atrocity is heart breaking but hearing these details, make shift oven, the joy of a freezer, making the rubber tight on an old gas mask....

Apparently the general in charge of chemical attacks has been put in charge of dombas.

Let's hope these amazing sniper's get him soon.

Latest round of weapons, trucks etc sounds more promising.

I wonder if there is a better way of getting rid of mines.

apple.news/AF4MlY4aISs2PAhMUXa8DuA

Not sure if this will work. It’s from Business Insider about refugees having to return to UA because their visas are non existent. How do we complain about this? My MP is worse than useless.

Igot

I'm sure Ukrainan will make sure they are never invaded again if they can get rid of the beast.

So Imran Khan ousted....

@Shuuu

What are the chances of these new weapons being offensive weapons rather than defensive weapons. Are we thinking Russia itself is still safe?

The UA now need to usurp the Russian army in the Donbas. That is a 180 degree turn from being an army defending Kiyv. They will need close contact tank support, forward observation and reconnaissance kit and attack drones. There will be an emphasis on destroying Russian positions that will be dug in and defending. The weapons will be lethal yet precise.

Don't be surprised if 1-2 years down the line we hear of new equipment tested by the US in the Donbas that has not been seen in any ware arena before. I am picking up those vibes from obiter comments in the press.

So I've been skimming/detailed reading these threads and was wondering what people thought of Dmitry Medvedev comments the other day about pro Russia empire from Vladivostok to Lisbon. I assume just propaganda bs but does it mean anything more? Everything? Something? Nothing? I've just seen people saying "chilling" but nothing further. I'm just "huh?"

Sorry @Shuuu - to answer your question fully, I believe there will be no strategic attack on Russian land and 100% probability that offensive weapons will be used against Russian troops in the Donbas and the Black Sea littoral region. I also believe a low chance of Russian troops leaving that region. It will be a long war of attrition on land without the casualty numbers of the Iran/Iraq war.

Everything I believe could turn out to be wrong.

MFA of Ukraine @mfa_ukraine
On the kitchen cabinet that remained mounted after the shelling of #Borodianka and became a symbol of inviolability, a ceramic rooster made by #Ukrainian artist Prokip Bidasiuk was recognized. Today @ZelenskyyUa & @BorisJohnson were presented with this roosters.

I love this. The shelves staying on the wall several stories high became some weird Ukrainian meme that I don't think made it onto twitter and English language social media. The look on Johnson's face going 'wtf is this' is just priceless.

@tobee

So I've been skimming/detailed reading these threads and was wondering what people thought of Dmitry Medvedev comments the other day about pro Russia empire from Vladivostok to Lisbon. I assume just propaganda bs but does it mean anything more? Everything? Something? Nothing? I've just seen people saying "chilling" but nothing further. I'm just "huh?"

I think Medvedev really should lay off the vodka tbh.

Oooo intriguing.

Faisal Islam @faisalislam
Extraordinary images of Zelenskyy and the PM walking around Kyiv…

This bit - PM having walked through Maidan explains to Zelenskyy something was a “good idea for the UK in 1973 - the right thing at the right time” … which logically suggests he no longer thinks it is, which rather points towards EU membership, which Ukraine actively seeks…

not a particularly material detail, in context of clear effectiveness of early UK arms/training for Ukraine’s army, and Zelenskyy’s gratitude for it to PM and UK, but it is an intriguing one considering peace negotiations with Russia include Ukraine advancing with EU membership..

Raises 2nd or 3rd order question as to whether the UK backs and encourages Ukraine’s EU aspirations, which is a key Zelenskyy aim, firmed up with Von der Leyen’s visit yesterday… certainly appears they talked about it…

Bigger question would be nature of UK security guarantee

@RedToothBrush

Euromaidan Press @euromaidenpress
The UK has responded to the request of the Ukrainian government by liberalizing all tariffs on imports from Ukraine and providing customs easements.

Today Johnson visited Kyiv city center, incl Heavenly Hundread (2014) Memorial

"Could Moscow think that such events [like🇬🇧&🇦🇹 visits] would take place in Kyiv on the 45th day of their invasion? No, they couldn't imagine it. And we made it a reality"–Zelenskyy. He also said🇬🇧is ready to take patronage over restoration of Kyiv &Oblast

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent
4,532 people evacuated on April 9.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that buses to evacuate people from Berdiansk, Tokmak and Enerhodar had to return empty because they were blocked by Russian forces. People from these cities could only evacuate by cars.

@RedToothBrush

People from these cities could only evacuate by cars.

Do you k ow why buses aren’t allowed?