Ukraine Invasion: Part 24

[MagicFox]

Welcome one and all and thanks again to everyone contributing

14mins ago Sky News reporting that Zelensky is working in a diplomatic effort to save the Mariupol defenders. He said the efforts include influential intermediaries and states.

Praying for the defenders to come out, especially the wounded and dying. I know the priority is and should be civilians but my hope against hope is that the brave Ukrainian defenders who have been living through hell without respite also have a chance to live, breathe fresh air again and go home to their families once the war is won.

Italy have just seized Putin's 700 million pound yacht

@minsmum that has cheered me up just before bed time.

Oooh linky? :) They were trying to establish if it really was owned by him for a while weren't they.

from the ISW:

Key Takeaways

The Ukrainian counteroffensive along a broad arc north and east of Kharkiv city took further terrain and will likely push Russian forces out of tube artillery range of the city in the coming days. The ability—and willingness—of the Ukrainian military to concentrate the forces in Kharkiv necessary to conduct this operation indicates Ukrainian confidence in repelling ongoing Russian attacks with their existing forces in the region.

Russian forces did not make any progress on the Izyum axis.

Russian forces likely secured small gains on the outskirts of Severodonetsk in the last 24 hours but are unlikely to successfully surround the town.

Russian forces continued assaults on the Azovstal plant, but ISW cannot confirm any specific advances. Likely widespread civilian resistance to the Russian occupation may additionally be disrupting previously announced Russian plans to conduct a Victory Day exhibition in Mariupol.

There were no significant changes on the southern axis in the last 24 hours and Russian forces continued to reinforce their forward positions.

ISW cannot confirm reports of a Ukrainian anti-ship missile strike on the Admiral Makarov at this time.

Link re: Putin's Yacht:

www.bbc.com/news/61357256.amp

Taras AT tarasmi
Berlin decided to ban Ukrainian flag from 6:00 May 8 to 22:00 May 9 to not provoke Russian fascists. This is insane.

Everyone who writes that Berlin also banned the Russian flag: it doesn't matter. Russia is an aggressor country that has destroyed everything that Europe has achieved since World War II. Its flag should not be in Europe.

Ukraine defends freedom and democracy, defends the values on which modern European society is built. The flag of Ukraine cannot be banned or restricted in any European country. Unless this country is against freedom and democracy.

www.politico.eu/article/berlin-ban-russia-ukraine-flag-memorial-world-war-ii/

That's not a good look for Germany.

Let's treat the aggressors in war (with proven evidence of war crimes) on the same level as the country they have invaded......

Germany are a bloody let down. Again

The Pentagon has said that they so far have received No Intelligence that the Russian Frigate Admiral Makarov has been struck by Ukrainian Anti-Ship Missiles and is sinking near Odessa, though they have been paying very close attention to the Claims over the last 24 hours

Well something has happened there....wonder what?

Dispute? DISPUTE?!??!

You see, this is appeasement because you have a mole in the camp.

Genocide and warm crimes are not "disputes"

This pathetic wording to not rock the boat too much os an insult to all those innocents who have died and survived 🤬

https://twitter.com/ap/status/1522698489012133888?s=21&t=naneAe9ZIo66_5lKsW1WnQ

Peaceful talks...Jesus wept

The UN statement is disappointing in its bland wording but not surprising. I wonder if it’s significant that at the same time Zelensky has openly said that he considers diplomatic bridges with Russia to still be open and has said he would want Russia to pull back to pre 23rd Feb positions - so not saying they need to be pushed right out of Ukraine.

That’s just appalling of Germany re the flag.

We have a friend from Belarus. His brother is still there and has taken to walking through the streets with a Ukrainian flag. My Ukrainian guest was telling me this, he clearly thinks it is important.

Who are the pro Putin groups in Germany who defend this war? Are there similar groups in other countries?

Do they see themselves as “neo nazis” - ie of the same persuasion that Putin is trying to cleanse Ukraine of?

With regard to the German story it's maybe not being made clear by some that it's a prohibition on certain flags (plural) - as the politico article linked upthread says:

"The police said that as well as a ban on Russian and Ukrainian flags near such sites, the playing of military music is also prohibited.

“We will protect dignified commemoration at 15 memorials and monuments through comprehensive regulations designed to prevent any confrontation at these sites,” said police chief Barbara Slowik. “At the same time, we are taking action against any form of support, approval, or even glorification of Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, especially in gatherings.”

Not saying I agree with the ban but if the Politico piece is correct then the prohibition is not as one sided as some commentators elsewhere are trying to make out.

Reference the Berlin police prohibiting the flying of flags near war memorials this weekend, its precisely to prevent opposing factions from clashing over the current war leading to civil disorder.
They wish the ceremonies to remain peaceful, reflecting on the history and human cost of conflict, whilst preventing the occasion from descending into running street battles.
It's a temporary measure, and seems eminently sensible to me.

If they want to ban flags they can ban all flags not single out Russia and Ukraine with the equivalence that implies.

Please ignore the awful title but this podcast is all about geopolitical issues generally, focus currently on Ukraine obvs. Might be of interest and offers good analysis.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/doomsday-watch-with-arthur-snell/id1593634121

Who are the pro Putin groups in Germany who defend this war? Are there similar groups in other countries?

There's a pro-Putin group marching in Helsinki tomorrow, Russian-Finns (the official Russian-Finnish society is distancing themselves from them), and apparently in their discussion forums they've been talking about bringing weapons to the march in case there are counter protesters, pictures of them posing with guns etc. Its very worrying, and the police are still allowing the march to go ahead.

Interesting Twitter post on the subject of 'BULLSHINT"..

twitter.com/nixintel/status/1522694594483347456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1522694594483347456%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

@notimagain · 07/05/2022 09:43

Interesting Twitter post on the subject of 'BULLSHINT"

twitter.com/nixintel/status/1522694594483347456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1522694594483347456%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

That is very interesting, and for me especially helpful. Before this war I never saw anything but official news accounts, so find the sifting of other information confusing.

Thanks so much for this thread, Im finding that the newspapers and some news channels seem to be letting this war slide from the headlines, so it helps me keep up

⚡️ UN urges reopening of Odesa ports to abate global hunger crisis.

The UN World Food Programme said in a statement on May 6 that “mountains” of grain are going to waste in Ukraine, as Russia’s war inhibits the export of food from Ukraine around the world.

Well, yes but how exactly is the going to be achieved?

Re: The German policy about no Russian or Ukrainian flag on 9th May.

This might be wise and pragmatic.

Russians are the third largest migrant group in Germany. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russians_in_Germany

Then there may be some Germans brought up in Soviet era East Germany with sympathy for Russia.

When Russia annexed Crimea it was a massive, polarising subject of debate like Brexit was for us. There was a surprising amount of sympathy for Russia over that.
www.spiegel.de/international/germany/prominent-germans-have-understanding-for-russian-annexation-of-crimea-a-961711.html

Then there was that motorcade of 400 cars (at the very time Bucha atrocities were being found) supporting Russians, which turned up part as of what was originally a demonstration in support of UKraine.
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/05/motorcade-of-shame-outrage-over-pro-russia-displays-at-berlin-rally