Ukraine Invasion: Part 23

[MagicFox]

Welcome all, thanks for the company

Article about Kherson, including interview with Kherson's Ukrainian mayor, Ihor Kolykhaiev, who has been replaced with a pro-Russian mayor.

Ukraine war: Resistance to Russian rouble in Kherson
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61286505

Just a couple of minutes of light relief courtesy of Russian TV propaganda. It's hilarious. I think some FSB spies are trolling their bosses 😆

@Natsku The old style Mumsnet emojis are under the 'M' in the emoji section

Or you can just type them using square brackets and no spaces, e.g. [ smile ]

Footage of the first evacuees from the Steelworks

twitter.com/nexta_tv

Natsku · 01/05/2022 19:34
Hmm first time using an emoji since the update. I don't like it.

You can get the proper Mumsnet ones if you click on the smiley face for emojis, then on the M for Mumsnet in the bar across the top. But they've got rid of the useful explanations.

That's a very revealing article, Scrolling!

Russia’s trolling on Ukraine gets ‘incredible traction’ on TikTok
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/01/russia-trolling-ukraine-traction-tiktok
He has identified the sharing of faked factchecking posts and accounts which amplify disinformation by linking between platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Telegram as current tactics
[...]
UK government claimed it has identified a former factory in St Petersburg as a new base for trolling operations where “cyber soldiers are ruthlessly targeting politicians and audiences across a number of countries including the UK, South Africa and India”.
[...]
It said the Russian operation was searching for “organic content” posted by genuine users consistent with its messaging, and then working to amplify these messages.
“This means that, provided the content they post is not too offensive, they are unlikely to be subject to de-platforming interventions,” an official said.

He went on board alive and well....let’s see how ‘alive and well’ he is when he gets to wherever he’s going. I don’t imagine his boss is very pleased with him.

You know you've lowered your (moral) standards when you're disappointed someone didn't die

Guilty. 😑

Breaking :

"U.S Congressional Representative Adam Kinzinger today introduced a Joint-Resolution authorizing the use of Military Force to secure the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine in the case that Russian Forces use Chemical, Biological, or Nuclear Weapons against the Country"

This is a good thread on how this

increasingly dangerous crisis should now be managed: twitter.com/iankearns_/status/1520843089627295745?s=21&t=WlckOImmqVyUbIwd47qrEg

Does this mean boots on the ground?

Hasn’t there already been chemical weapons used?

I think it's a proposal? I'm not sure twitter.com/repkinzinger/status/1520784954967269376?s=21&t=peJodlBaSL8AcVLNjVW06A

So sad. Even with the UN and Redcross on site they could not freely choose to go to a safe harbour. I cannot imagine their mental state and understand if they felt this was the best option after being trapped underground with little food, water, medicine, sunshine or fresh air for many weeks. I hope they eventually do make it to freedom.
Shocking they've been captured without any choice after all this time waiting to be saved.
I only hope they're treated okay until they find freedom.

Another fuel depot fire, this time in Mytishchi, near Moscow. Incidentally, when I googled where that was, I discovered there are some very cheap hotel stays going in the region, if anyone is interested. Might be cheaper staying in a nice hotel in Moscow than paying all your bills here.

TargusEasting

Do you have a comprehensive link to the Russian hybrid war theory because things that pop-up on Google are limited. What you are describing in very generic terms - economic, political, informational - are theories that are tried, tested and very old.

[Snip]

But if the Kremlin is backing Gerasimov's doctrine as correct, this explains a lot. Because it is how the US have operated for the last 70 years, only getting more savvy. No wonder Russia is so out of date on the battlefield. It is trying to adapt theory now that is 1970's.

So far as I can tell Gerasimov was noticed outlining these ideas in this article which was in the light of developments in the Arab world (page 2, two right-most columns):

vpk-news.ru/sites/default/files/pdf/VPK_08_476.pdf

It can't be classed as comprehensive. What you find through Google searches is possibly as good as it gets because, well see reference to Galeotti later. No doubt there are Russian manuals outlining things but so much seems to be smoke and mirrors. It is easier to find western manuals and reports seeking to counter Russian hybrid war than to pin it down.

For instance here, where sources of Russian doctrine are mentioned on pages 14 and 15:

www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/Russian%20Hybrid%20Warfare%20ISW%20Report%202020.pdf

This report does try hard to pull everything together. The End Notes from page 28+ include links to the Russian and other sources, including some by Gerasimov.

As you say, Gerasimov's ideas are essentially nothing new and build on former Soviet and other ideas. Of course in the current information age there will be the need for modifications and I think Gerasimov was particularly interested in the way the Arab Spring developed.

Whatever, Gerasimov has been seen as a key thinker within the Russian elite, even if it he might not be having particularly original thoughts. Younger Gerasimov was a handsome man. It probably helped him become a poster boy.

Mark Galeotti has apologised for creating the term Gerasimov Doctrine and now doesn't think it really exists as a profound new way of war:

foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/05/im-sorry-for-creating-the-gerasimov-doctrine/

In case we think Azovstal means the Russians are getting soft, they also fired on buses going to evacuate people in Popasna and kidnapped a history teacher who was driving one of the vehicles. Elsewhere - and the Ukrainian MoD has confirmed this story - they killed a mother and tied her young child to her, along with an explosive device. When somebody went to rescue the child the device exploded.

Fionna O'Leary AT Fascinatorfun
Russian troops have stolen $5 million worth of new farm equipment but it was equipped with GPS, meant that its travel could be tracked. It was last tracked to the village of Zakhan Yurt in Chechnya.

The equipment ferried to Chechnya, which included combine harvesters -- can also be controlled remotely. "When the invaders drove the stolen harvesters to Chechnya, they realized that they could not even turn them on, because the harvesters were locked remotely," the contact said

Imagine. Going to the effort of stealing a combine harvester, only to find its remotely locked when you have transportted it thousands of miles away!

There is literally no limits to the evil is there.

Antonella Guerrera AT antoguerrera
Russia's Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov told Mediaset something important, despite all his propaganda v rarely challenged by the journalist.

"May 9th is not an important date for Russia regarding military gains" in Ukraine. This gives the sense of how badly Putin's war is going.

Another essential take: Lavrov admits that "Russia was surprised by Italy's stance against the war of Ukraine. Sadly, now it's a reality".

This tells 2 things:
1) How Russia hoped to split the West
2) How Italy was considered close to Moscow, especially under Conte's govern ment

The mother and the child, pure horror. Whoever could have set this up thinks exactly like a religious terrorist. The same person who would send a child suicide bomber strapped to explosives detonated remotely. Designed to deceive for maximum terror. Absolute depravity. It is impossible to comprehend.

I believe so tills. Phosphorous which is a contravention when used in civilian areas

@EsmaCannonball · 01/05/2022 22:32
Another fuel depot fire, this time in Mytishchi, near Moscow. Incidentally, when I googled where that was, I discovered there are some very cheap hotel stays going in the region, if anyone is interested. Might be cheaper staying in a nice hotel in Moscow than paying all your bills here..

I don’t know exactly why, but your idea of making life cheaper by moving to a Moscow hotel has really made me laugh to myself tonight!

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-uk-government-prioritising-recent-claims-from-refugees-leaving-others-in-limbo-families-claim-12601533?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter
Uk government prioritising recent claims from refugees leaving others in limbo, families claim
"There are people waiting five weeks for a visa… and there are people who have applied last week and they are getting visas in four days," a woman seeking to host refugees says.

Families still waiting to welcome Ukrainian refugees into their homes claim the government is prioritising recent, easier applications rather than those first submitted.
It is nearly five weeks since Rebecca Lucas put in a visa application to bring Ilona Oleksiuk and her daughter Marta to Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex and away from the terror in their home town of Ternopil.
But the seven-year-old's document still has not been issued despite her passport details being uploaded twice when requested.

"I want the truth," said Rebecca. "If their documents have been lost, I want to know they have been lost and how have they been lost.

"There are people waiting five weeks for a visa… and there are people who have applied last week and they are getting visas in four days.

The above article is carbon copy of what i know first hand from people i know.