Ukraine Invasion: Part 23

[MagicFox]

Welcome all, thanks for the company

My brother works for a company that has production facilities in the West of Ukraine. The have reduced production from two shifts to one and it is virtually just women working now.

@EsmaCannonball 12:07
The Vatican ship was an actually useful suggestion for relieving Azovstal. Unfortunately Putin has invested so much in mythologising and then defeating the Azov Battalion that no merciful outcome would be allowed. I'd like the Pope to do something as symbolic and worthy of modern sainthood as actually leading a Vatican delegation into Azovstal and accompanying an evacuation out, daring Putin to do something. Short of a military solution, some kind of big gesture is needed for that place. Something a bit Maximilian Kolbe.

What about the civilians though? Why aren’t they allowed out and into safe hands?

Angela Jolie is apparently running around Lviv mind

Yes she has been visiting some orphanages, some light relief for the kids, which surely a good thing isn't it?

Christo Grozev AT christogrozev
"That's what you get for always staring at your phone"

I wonder if she ever turned around and noticed!!!!

The UK out of the EU was always going to help the EU progress, we often halted progress :(

The EU having significant armed forces has to happen, in 2024, Trump or similar may well be POTUS and NATO could be back in the firing line, we certainly couldn't depend on Trump like we have with Biden.

where that would leave the UK?

I just had someone, in a facebook group, refer to the EU giving aid to Ukraine as "humanitarian imperialism" and I am lost for words.

I have a friend who has colleagues based I Ukraine.
I haven't seen her for nearly two months (thanks covid) but when we spoke about this she said that out of the small team there:
One was about to get military training
One was trying to organise getting the family out
One was staying put to help.

Their boss was doing what he could for them and importantly was continuing to pay their salaries. They were still going into the office each day and doing what they could.

Jimmy AT JimmySecUk
A Russian soldier - deployed in the East of Ukraine around Iyzium - talking to his mother about the conflict.

He reveals that some Russian troops - including himself - have simply have refused orders to advance, with levied LNR/DNR auxiliaries being used instead.

Audio with subtitles on original tweet

It's called care of one human to another, respecting the right of the country to determine its own future.

It's something the West should have done more of, in fairness.

But leaving Ukraine without help is called heartlessness.

The Telegraph AT telegraph
Poland is ready to guard Slovakia's air space when its MiG-29 jets are grounded, defence ministers of the two NATO member countries said on Friday, opening the way for a possible delivery of the Soviet-made planes to Ukraine

Jimmy AT JimmySecUk
The Slovakian government had previously indicated they would be willing to transfer their fleet of MiG-29s if another country stepped in to defend Slovakian airspace until they receive US F-16s in 2024, so this could be a very significant development...

Whereas invading another country, attempting rule it as a vassal, and killing the population, is called...?

The longer this war goes on, the more I marvel at Putin's antistrategic genius. This looks like a partial resurrection of the Visegrad alliance.

I’m a reader but not a commenter here … has anyone seen the Fail’s article that Putin is set to undergo cancer surgery in the near future, also has Parkinsons and ‘Schizophrenic symptoms’ and that Patrushev will hold the fort. Apparently reported on General SVR Telegram channel so no idea whether any truth in it.

Let's hope the anaesthetists 'forget' to intubate him 🙏

"Hold the fort"

Is that code for being yet another stooge who can be scapegoated at a later date?

Sorry … ‘hold the fort’ is just the expression that came to mind.

From what I've read of Patrushev, he's the "hawks' hawk" so if Putin is out of the equation - either temporarily or permanently - it might be a case of "out of the frying pan into the fire"

He's another example of the KGB trained geritocracy stuck in the past, wanting a return of the Russian/Soviet Empire.

Whereas invading another country, attempting rule it as a vassal, and killing the population, is called...?

Indeed. Every time I push this person on this point he'll admit Russia's actions are wrong but soon enough he's engaging in whataboutery again, and constantly posting articles about the West being to blame, or that Ukraine has to negotiate for peace. I'd think he was a Russian troll except several people have met him.

I bet he comes out with lines like "Zelenskyy needs to be the bigger person"

As it happens, I think he is the bigger person - but that doesn't mean that he should trust Putin one iota in Ukraine's desire for peace.

I'd rather have an imperialistic pork joint on my table than an imperialistic bullet in my ribs, thank you.

Or an imperialistic set of buns than an imperialistic raped child.

Can I just ask…why are all these men so desperate to re-live the Soviet Union days, what was so great back then?

Definitely something to watch in the Black Sea....
Kilo sub(s) has been armed and allies are watching closely from the air.

Amphibious attack possibly.

I'm listening to groups on Twitter outside of MSM, across the board with knowledge and experience

https://twitter.com/walterreport/status/1520419519071760384?s=21&t=bq6YgUhKHKOdd_baDrH4P2Q

They are on 24/7 with lots of speakers

@TiddyTidTwopotential attacks on Odesa?