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Ukraine Invasion: Part 22

1000 replies

MagicFox · 23/04/2022 10:06

Here we are again

OP posts:
Thread gallery
34
Wrongkindofovercoat · 26/04/2022 21:21

Where does the pipeline to Bulgaria go on to ? All feels a bit divide and rule doesn't it ?

Anyone else missing the MN refresh button ?

BreadInCaptivity · 26/04/2022 21:21

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 26/04/2022 21:16

Why Bulgaria? They've always been quite sympathetic to Russia.

Odd.

A demonstration to Germany that they mean business (without yet forfeiting the Euros)?

RedToothBrush · 26/04/2022 21:22

INTEL:

Shashank Joshi AT shashj
Another incredibly detailed report by AT Jack_Watling
and Nick Reynolds drawing on extensive interviews with Western and Ukrainian officials. Zaluzhnyi advisor: "anti-tank missiles slowed the Russians down, but what killed them was our artillery." Intel=key.

"Eventually the Kremlin realised that pushing more forces south would not lead to progress. So long as they were moving along the same MSRs they would suffer heavily from artillery." Retreating forces "put under a withering and sustained barrage"

"Exact stockpiles of [cruise & ballistic missiles] are not available but as the war has progressed Ukrainian officials have noted a downgrading of the weapons systems employed for a range of mission sets, incl reversion to Grad-1 systems off the main axis"

"The authors physically inspected one of these computers recovered from a crashed 9M727 during fieldwork in April...Of the seven socket attachment points allowing data to be moved through the heat shield...six are all products of US companies."

"Institute of Radio-Engineering & Electronics...conducted an examination of communications architectures in Russian mil vehicles...In [IL-76] comms. suite alone it identified 80 components that could not be replaced with manufactured parts in Russia"

"Many components are dual-use...Russia has established mechanisms for laundering these through third countries. Restricting access...likely means preventing export to countries such as India of goods that are in some instances used for civilian purposes."

Michael Weiss AT Michaeldweiss
“The U.S. gave Ukrainian forces detailed intelligence about exactly when and where Russian missiles and bombs were intended to strike, prompting Ukraine to move air defenses and aircraft out of harm’s way, current and former U.S. officials told NBC News.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/us-intel-helped-ukraine-protect-air-defenses-shoot-russian-plane-carry-rcna26015

U.S. intel helped Ukraine protect air defenses, shoot down Russian plane carrying hundreds of troops
Ukrainian forces have used specific coordinates shared by the U.S. to direct fire on Russian positions and aircraft, current and former officials tell NBC News.

That near real-time intelligence-sharing also paved the way for Ukraine to shoot down a Russian transport plane carrying hundreds of troops in the early days of the war, the officials say, helping repel a Russian assault on a key airport near Kyiv.

It was part of what American officials call a massive and unprecedented intelligence-sharing operation with a non-NATO partner that they say has played a crucial role in Ukraine’s success to date against the larger and better-equipped Russian military.

and

“There has been a lot of real-time intelligence shared in terms of things that could be used for specific targeting of Russian forces,” said a former senior intelligence official familiar with the situation. The information includes commercial satellite images “but also a lot of other intelligence about, for example, where certain types of Russian units are active.”

Ukraine continues to move air defenses and aircraft nearly every day with the help of American intelligence, which is one reason Russia has not been able to establish air dominance. In some cases, Ukraine moved the targeted air defense systems or planes just in time, the officials said.

and

The CIA is also devoting significant resources, current and former officials say, to gathering intelligence with the aim of protecting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom the Russians want to kill. The agency is consulting with the Ukrainians on “how best to move him around, making sure that he’s not co-located with his entire chain of command, things like that,” a U.S. official said.

and

The U.S. military and the CIA began seeking to deepen their relationships with Ukrainian counterparts after Russia seized Crimea in 2014. The CIA first helped Ukrainian services root out Russian spies, the former senior official said, and then provided training and guidance. The U.S. military also trained Ukrainian soldiers.

and

One Western intelligence official noted that it’s not only the intelligence that has proven decisive — it’s the performance of the Ukrainians in using it. The source said Ukrainians have fought the Russians with agility and courage, and when they have received actionable intelligence, they have moved with astonishing speed.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 22
ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 26/04/2022 21:26

A demonstration to Germany that they mean business (without yet forfeiting the Euros

Why Bulgaria though?

It's a small country with no significance.

RedToothBrush · 26/04/2022 21:30

Wrongkindofovercoat · 26/04/2022 21:21

Where does the pipeline to Bulgaria go on to ? All feels a bit divide and rule doesn't it ?

Anyone else missing the MN refresh button ?

Greece.

RedToothBrush · 26/04/2022 21:34

BreadInCaptivity · 26/04/2022 21:21

A demonstration to Germany that they mean business (without yet forfeiting the Euros)?

Germany and Italy.

Its trying to break NATO / EU unity.

Ijsbear · 26/04/2022 21:34

@ChardonnaysBeastlyCat

Flexing without too many consequences ... but I suspect this is just the start. More countries will be cut off.

Oil has a lot of uses in manufacturing, including dual use/military manufacturing. It could be why Germany has been a bit slow in some ways, given the mistaken faith they had in Russian goodwill and how much they valued trade.

I'm mildly starting to wonder if Putin has actually been pushed into this paranoid mindset of his by others, though his own training and skills and talent very much started him on this path.

DuncinToffee · 26/04/2022 21:38

Olga Tokariuk @ olgatokariuk
Frankly, I am puzzled about Russia's decision to stop supplying gas to Bulgaria, of all countries. There is a strong pro-Russian sentiment in Bulgarian society and politics. Bulgaria refused to send air defence systems S-300 to Ukraine not to irritate Russia. Will it send it now?

EsmaCannonball · 26/04/2022 21:46

Perhaps Russia sees Bulgaria as a weak link. Punish Bulgaria in the hope it will weaken its tenuous solidarity with the rest of Europe. Get Bulgaria to align with Hungary and Serbia. Put pressure on it to pay for gas in roubles.

notimagain · 26/04/2022 21:49

FWIW with regard to Shashank Joshi's comment upthead, which in turn refers to Watlin & Reynolds comments about circuit boards and connectors on a Russian Missile- that comes straight out of the last RUSI article/analysis I posted here about two or three days back, so it's another example of some analysis and analysts perhaps going around in circles.

The whole RUSI article is probably for the techie minded but I'll post the link to it again...

static.rusi.org/special-report-202204-operation-z-web.pdf

There's a lot in it about technology transfer and the Annex provides as an example an inventory of the list of US, UK and other nations electronic components that were found within just one piece of Russian military equipment, an Army Mobile Electronic Warfare truck ( basically a jammer).

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 26/04/2022 21:51

EsmaCannonball · 26/04/2022 21:46

Perhaps Russia sees Bulgaria as a weak link. Punish Bulgaria in the hope it will weaken its tenuous solidarity with the rest of Europe. Get Bulgaria to align with Hungary and Serbia. Put pressure on it to pay for gas in roubles.

It's the other way round.

They have been sympathetic. They are as pro Russian as Hungary and Serbia.

Makes no fucking sense at all.

TiddyTidTwo · 26/04/2022 22:01

"Why Bulgaria though?

It's a small country with no significance"

I doubt the Bulgarians think that and this mindset is what will fracture the EU along with Germany in Putins pocket and a large proportion of France voting for Le Pen. Also the Eastern European states knowing what's at stake and being held back by western EU

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 26/04/2022 22:12

TiddyTidTwo · 26/04/2022 22:01

"Why Bulgaria though?

It's a small country with no significance"

I doubt the Bulgarians think that and this mindset is what will fracture the EU along with Germany in Putins pocket and a large proportion of France voting for Le Pen. Also the Eastern European states knowing what's at stake and being held back by western EU

Don't know what the Bulgarians are thinking, but this is what the Guardian says.

Bulgaria has remained one of the last hold-outs in the EU in turning down Ukraine’s requests for direct military aid.
This remained the case even after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba made a three-day visit to Sofia last week, urging the country “to make a choice” and provide military support.

Makes no fucking sense at all.

TiddyTidTwo · 26/04/2022 22:16

I do think this war is showing the have and have nots and the will and will nots. And it's not looking good. At least, although not part of the EU, the UK has put that aside and in fact, led through this and can be relied upon when it matters

Wrongkindofovercoat · 26/04/2022 22:19

Makes no fucking sense at all.

It might if you want to inflame previous and current tensions in the region ? Look at the countries who are close neighbours of Bulgaria.

RedToothBrush · 26/04/2022 22:20

Two days ago

Christo Grozev AT christogrozev
A Ukrainian heavy-transport Antonov plane just landed in Sofia... I wonder why..

Bulgaria has been secretly supplying ammo to Ukraine via a "third country", in an attempt to prevent disintegration if the coalition government due to the Socialists' adamant pro-Kremlin objection to arms exports. But Ukraine hasn't been happy with a tryst, wants a marriage.

Bulgaria has the all-important large caliber (152) shells in quantities that can support Ukraine's defense for months. But secret supplies can only get Ukraine a streak, so Ukraine has been pushing for official sales. Maybe it worked. We'll find out soon.

It's namely Bulgaria's stockpiles of upgraded 152mm (and 122mm) shells, and its 2014's will to export to Ukraine, that likely led to the 2015 GRU poisoning of Emilian Gebrev, owner of exporter Emco, and causing explosions at two weapons depots in Czechia.

Yesterday
US State Department backs ammunition sale for Ukraine
The US State Department has said it supported the approval of a possible sale of $165m worth of ammunition to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government had asked to buy various rounds of so-called non-standard ammunition, the department said in a statement, referring to ammunition that does not adhere to NATO standards.

Today
Christo Grozev AT christogrozev
Russia cut off gas supplies to Bulgaria, killing off the last available argument for the "let's stay neutral" lobby for why Bulgaria should not sell arms to Ukraine. It's like Putin is in self-harm mode.

Hmm.

Ok.

Wrongkindofovercoat · 26/04/2022 22:23

I do think this war is showing the have and have nots

Who will feel the impact of losing their gas supply soonest ? For North Macedonia, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia was the only source of natural gas supply in 2019.

DrBlackbird · 26/04/2022 22:28

Really bloody depressing if madman Putin is able to finally fracture the EU along with Germany in Putins pocket and a large proportion of France voting for Le Pen. Also the Eastern European states knowing what's at stake and being held back by western EU

Previously, I thought he was pleased / hoped that the mass Syrian immigration flow into the EU as a direct result of Russian forces/support of Assad would destabilise EU countries and the EU overall. Then I thought he’d be thrilled to bits at Brexit and the destabilising impact on the EU. Now the war on the Ukraine also seems the perfect ammunition to once again destabilise the EU by using his control over Russian gas and oil to pick off EU countries one by one.

If he can destabilise the EU now, this subsequently undermines nato. Then, if Trump or De Santis are elected in 2024 Russia has no more ‘enemies’ (despite Trump’s empty rhetoric he’d be absolutely no threat to Putin) and Putin has won.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 26/04/2022 22:28

RedToothBrush · 26/04/2022 22:20

Two days ago

Christo Grozev AT christogrozev
A Ukrainian heavy-transport Antonov plane just landed in Sofia... I wonder why..

Bulgaria has been secretly supplying ammo to Ukraine via a "third country", in an attempt to prevent disintegration if the coalition government due to the Socialists' adamant pro-Kremlin objection to arms exports. But Ukraine hasn't been happy with a tryst, wants a marriage.

Bulgaria has the all-important large caliber (152) shells in quantities that can support Ukraine's defense for months. But secret supplies can only get Ukraine a streak, so Ukraine has been pushing for official sales. Maybe it worked. We'll find out soon.

It's namely Bulgaria's stockpiles of upgraded 152mm (and 122mm) shells, and its 2014's will to export to Ukraine, that likely led to the 2015 GRU poisoning of Emilian Gebrev, owner of exporter Emco, and causing explosions at two weapons depots in Czechia.

Yesterday
US State Department backs ammunition sale for Ukraine
The US State Department has said it supported the approval of a possible sale of $165m worth of ammunition to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government had asked to buy various rounds of so-called non-standard ammunition, the department said in a statement, referring to ammunition that does not adhere to NATO standards.

Today
Christo Grozev AT christogrozev
Russia cut off gas supplies to Bulgaria, killing off the last available argument for the "let's stay neutral" lobby for why Bulgaria should not sell arms to Ukraine. It's like Putin is in self-harm mode.

Hmm.

Ok.

That makes perfect sense now.

TiddyTidTwo · 26/04/2022 22:40

If he does destabilise the EU, then how would it destabilise NATO? We aren't in the EU and very much at the forefront of NATO alongside the EU. If this was Putrids plan, with Brexit, it didn't work.

BreadInCaptivity · 26/04/2022 22:41

TiddyTidTwo · 26/04/2022 22:01

"Why Bulgaria though?

It's a small country with no significance"

I doubt the Bulgarians think that and this mindset is what will fracture the EU along with Germany in Putins pocket and a large proportion of France voting for Le Pen. Also the Eastern European states knowing what's at stake and being held back by western EU

Perhaps that's the point.

We cut off your gas and see how "your friends" in the West support you when that happens.

In other words "you backed the wrong horse" and other countries in the Russian orbit should take note.

BreadInCaptivity · 26/04/2022 22:43

Oops - just seen RTB's post.

Makes sense.

OwlsDance · 26/04/2022 22:48

They both said they aren't going to pay in rubles. Germany and Bulgaria that is. Russia is trying to make a point. By cutting off its nose to spite its face.

DuncinToffee · 26/04/2022 22:49

Well, I didn't see this coming: the vice-president of Gazprombank apparently left Russia, joined Ukraine's territorial defense forces, called the war an international crime and claimed that the recent death of former Gazprombank deputy president Vladislav Avayev was a murder.

twitter.com/NoYardstick/status/1519059715988328451?t=k_zJnw8GW3xuLiU__GtVhg&s=19

OwlsDance · 26/04/2022 22:50

Sorry, I meant Poland, not Germany. It's been a long day 😴

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