Ukraine Invasion: Part 20

[HappyWinter]

Thanks to everyone for taking part in the thread.

@TargusEasting

Klimovo is to the North close to Chernihiv. It apparently also has an airbase. It is now unused. But looking at a Maxar image on GE, (which states 2022, but is most likely late Summer 2021) the runway is disused but from the image taken their are 250 assorted trucks and what appear to be MLRS vehicles. These are outside. What is inside the newly constructed sheds is not clear. There is no visible accommodation. I suspect this is a staging point today, but how much equipment is there and in what shape, who knows.

It's no secret how the Allies (UK in particular) used all manner of deception techniques (some of which I would imagine are still beyond-top-secret) to bamboozle the Nazis. As a Fortean Follower, the stories of Maskelyne (who may have been a deception himself) are legendary.

Where's Aleister Crowley when you need him ?

I can't help hoping UA will manage to actually kick the Russian military right out of Ukraine, especially when they have successes like the disabling of such an important Russian military asset as their flagship. But I also incline to think we hear more about Ukrainian military successes than failures?

The thought of military action going on and on and on is awful. Does anyone think there's a realistic chance of Ukraine actually militarily winning?

@mibbelucieachwell

I can't help hoping UA will manage to actually kick the Russian military right out of Ukraine, especially when they have successes like the disabling of such an important Russian military asset as their flagship. But I also incline to think we hear more about Ukrainian military successes than failures?

The thought of military action going on and on and on is awful. Does anyone think there's a realistic chance of Ukraine actually militarily winning?

It would be richly ironic and symbolic if they retook Crimea. Shades of Israel coming away from the attack by Egypt with more land than they had before. Again, something China might reflect on.

Visegrad24 @visegrad24
Rumors are swirling in Russia about Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu having suffered a massive heart attack.

Leonid Nevzlin, a former co-head of the oil giant Yukos, claims that Shoigu is in critical condition.

He also says that 20 top generals have been arrested.

Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.

Who would be a Russian General in 2022. Either dead, arrested or in a position where death or jail looks like your career progression options.

@DuncinToffee

AFP News Kyiv says 30 people, including eight civilians, returned to Ukraine in new prisoner swap with Russia

I wonder how many people they can exchange viktor medvedchuk for.

Where's Aleister Crowley when you need him ?

... His boss is running the Kremlin, no?

The Institute for the Study of War thinks there may be a dangerous moment coming: an offer of a ceasefire.

www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/risks-russian-ceasefire-offer

Ukraine and Eastern European countries will see the dangers Im sure but I hope that the supporting Western ones will see it too. Putin's pattern of behaviour is extremely clear and his 'ceasefires' are actually 're-group moments'. But doves might put apparent-peace above all, not seeing or by now more likely not wanting to see the poison currents running a few millimeters below the surface.

I wonder how many people they can exchange viktor medvedchuk for.

It seems that despite his wife's pleas, the Kremlin isn't too keen on taking him back

@Ijsbear

The Institute for the Study of War thinks there may be a dangerous moment coming: an offer of a ceasefire.

www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/risks-russian-ceasefire-offer

Ukraine and Eastern European countries will see the dangers Im sure but I hope that the supporting Western ones will see it too. Putin's pattern of behaviour is extremely clear and his 'ceasefires' are actually 're-group moments'. But doves might put apparent-peace above all, not seeing or by now more likely not wanting to see the poison currents running a few millimeters below the surface.

Putin: "In the interest of promoting peace, we will offer a ceasefire."

Ukraine: "President of Russia, Supreme Head of State of the Russian Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, go fuck yourself."

Whatever happened to the plan to send Trump over to "do the deal" with Putin in return for a (US) presidential pardon ?

Admittedly I only just had it myself, but as a bear of very little brain surely someone else has thought of it first ?

No outcome of that scenario is worse than where we are now.

A thread suggesting the Kremlin has shifted its attention from the US to Britain as its worst enemy. Certainly references to the UK have been pretty consistent in Russian media in the last few days.

twitter.com/samramani2/status/1514611038934560773?s=21&t=kbFa25Hzhfe650abfvzgmA

jaw drops

wow. Never knew we lived in such a machiavellian state.

The fact that the invasion of Ukraine, targetting civilians and utter savagery of some of the Russian occupiers is part of Russia's pattern of behaviour and not the UK's ... doesn't actually occur to them does it?

Really is a case of Putin looking at the Uk but seeing his own image superimposed on it looking right back.

A thread suggesting the Kremlin has shifted its attention from the US to Britain as its worst enemy

You always feel more hurt when someone you’ve long seen as a good friend that you invite to parties and was easy to manipulate/bribe to doing what you wanted etc turns on you and suddenly starts to set boundaries.

[quote MagicFox]A thread suggesting the Kremlin has shifted its attention from the US to Britain as its worst enemy. Certainly references to the UK have been pretty consistent in Russian media in the last few days.

twitter.com/samramani2/status/1514611038934560773?s=21&t=kbFa25Hzhfe650abfvzgmA[/quote]
Understandable really. I'd be pretty pissed off if an asset I'd bought and paid for didn't roll over when I invaded my neighbours territory. I guess it's the silver linning of the very dark cloud that is De Spaffle, he's so morally bankrupt that even linning his pockets with Russian money won't buy his loyalty.

More sabre-rattling from The Kremlin.

LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) - One of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies warned NATO on Thursday that if Sweden and Finland joined the U.S.-led military alliance then Russia would deploy nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles in an exclave in the heart of Europe.

VILNIUS, April 14 (Reuters) - Russia already has nuclear weapons in the Baltic region, Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said on Thursday. "The current Russian threats look quite strange, when we know that, even without the present security situation, they keep the weapon 100 km from Lithuania's border," the minister was quoted by the wire on Thursday.

To put it into context, a hypersonic missile travels at about 8,000 kmh. If the Kremlin relocated them 50 km closer in the direction of my seat as I type this now, I might die in 9 minutes and 38 seconds rather than 10 minutes 48 seconds. Not worth worrying about - I can't even make another brew in that time.

Honestly... I'm kind of proud that they're talking like we're their worst enemy now.

It means we're doing something right!

If Putin wants a ceasefire then it's easy. He pulls all of his troops from all of Ukraine.
Nor sure whats particularly hard for him to figure out.

@HappyMaltesers

Honestly... I'm kind of proud that they're talking like we're their worst enemy now.

It means we're doing something right!

Me too. Bring it on.

In the Atlantic article previously, the authors didn't have much time for old Europe (France, Germany) but praised the "magnificently assertive British" and (quite fucking rightly) the heroic Polish.

@HappyMaltesers

Honestly... I'm kind of proud that they're talking like we're their worst enemy now.

It means we're doing something right!

Like when he issued his list of unfriendly countries a while back and Sweden wasn't on it. I was furious. Put us on that bloody list now, we're not your friends!

@BringBackCoffeeCreams lol. It makes you feel as if you're dirty, if you aren't hated by Putin? :D

Pentagon press secretary says that Moskva still afloat and making its way to Sevastapol

Kirby said the damaged Russian warship was afloat and "making her own way across the Black Sea" - "probably" for repairs at Sevastopol in Crimea.

www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61101906

I guess it's the silver lining of the very dark cloud that is De Spaffle, he's so morally bankrupt that even lining his pockets with Russian money won't buy his loyalty.

Who remembers the suggestion a couple of years back that if Boris didn't deliver Brexit, he'd be swimming with the fishes ?

Of course, Tory lickophants will claim that getting rid of Boris is exactly what the Russians want (and therefore is exactly what they won't be doing).

It's a shame that the Russians didn't want the UK to be run by a competent, egalitarian and trustworthy party really.

Jack Detsch @jackdetsch
NEW: Russia has begun deploying aviation support, command and control, and artillery units from Russian towns of Rovenki and Valuyki around Ukraine's Donbas for coming offensive: senior U.S. defense official

Russia is putting in support for ground operations to come in Donbas.

Sounds like this is aircraft moved from Belarus.

Matt Dathan @matt_dathan

Latest Home Office data on Ukraine refugee schemes:

• 12,500 visas issued under Homes for Ukraine scheme
• 28,500 under family scheme

Applications:

• 43,600 under Homes for Ukraine scheme
• 36,300 under family scheme

Total of 40,900 visas granted, 39,000 waiting in backlog

Arrival figures:

• 10,800 have arrived in the UK under the family scheme
• 1,200 have arrived under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

So 37% of those issued visas under the family scheme have arrived and just 9.6% have arrived under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) - One of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies warned NATO on Thursday that if Sweden and Finland joined the U.S.-led military alliance then Russia would deploy nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles in an exclave in the heart of Europe.

That'll be Eaton Square and quite a lot of Chelsea.