Ukraine Invasion: Part 26

[MagicFox]

Here we are, on top of our rock

Wow, it's really something!

Another brave Russian I wish that statement of resignation could be printed and air dropped into every corner of Russia.

Oustandingly brave. His career is in shreds and he must be very worried for his family.

In a way I think his bravery is even greater than Ukranians' soldiers', because they know what they are fighting for and have comrades in arms. This guy is going to have a deluge of shit landing on him and might be in fear for his life.

Hopefully a workable plan led by Lithuania to lift the blockade on the Black Sea to allow export of grain.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/23/lithuania-calls-for-joint-effort-on-russia-black-sea-blockade?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Boris Bondarev: “Never have I been so ashamed of my country.”
That takes an incredible amount of courage. A very brave man.

Reposting the statement here

Times article

He is very brave but I don’t think that comparison is one we should be making.
When the Russian newsreader (?) criticized the war at the beginning and the West was celebrating her courage I read some quite trenchant things by Ukrainians saying ‘she’s benefited from the regime for her entire career, it would have been nice if she’d stopped earlier.’

This man might never be completely safe again but he also might have a very pleasant retirement in the west, after a long and comfortable life. Many Ukrainians have chosen to fight knowing they might never have that privilege.

https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/05/23/7347987/

max seddon AT maxseddon
The head of Ukrainian military intelligence says "representatives of the Caucasus" carried out a "completely unsuccessful" assassination attempt on Putin two months ago

There are all sorts of rumours flying around today.

There are suggestions that Putin went for surgery last week and that he had filmed clips to make it look like he was still in control, but his No2 (a real hardliner) has been holding the fort.

Others have suggested they they think Putin will be effectively 'pensioned' off and sent to a 'hospital' for the rest of his life.

And others still have said that there are attempts in motion to try and oust him by the end of the year.

These all seem to be from all sorts of multiple sources.

Its interesting...

Yeah the number 2 sounds bloody awful, and legally I think it should be the PM that's in charge not him

Drilling down a bit the story here seems to be somewhat cloudy to say the least, but the rumour is the very senior office killed was in his early sixties and no longer serving with the Russian airforce... FWIW it is worth he seems to have rather interesting history whilst he actually was serving.

He was killed a couple of days back whilst flying as an irregular (i.e. mercenary) with in a unit that was affiliated in some way to the Wagner Group....

This whole story seems to have originated from Social Media posts so what the reality is/was...who knows?

A retired general makes a lot more sense than a serving one.

...about time! been wondering when the 'west would start thinking about this.

Will be risky as Russia wont agree but Its an international sea and whilst there are access issues, the West cannot allow 100s of millions to starve and all that entails for their countries because Putin says so.
But only the USA has the naval power now in the region to do this.

Retired and acting as a mercenary would explain it

RTB those are some interesting rumours indeed, wonder how many, if any, grains of truth are in any of them.

There are a couple of anomalies in this report. Firstly, he is talking about a non-military operation and then about sufficient naval 'power' to protect the shipping, but 'not NATO'.

In principle it sounds good. Egypt, Tunisia, Morrocco, South Africa, Oman, Indonesia, etc put a collection of military ships together to escort a fleet of merchant ships registered under flags of passive countries. Would Putin allow it? Would those countries even dare it? Would the merchant sailors? I suggest the answer is no.

So maybe the merchant ships just sail in unprotected. On the basis as civilians and Russia has everything to lose. That will appease Putin surely? Again, I suggest the answer is no. He will just seize the vessels or blockade Odesa on the basis the crew are western spies.

So then you have to make it happen. Which means principally the US, UK and/or France getting involved. That would be interesting. Sailing US, UK and French warships and vessels into the Western part of the Black Sea up to Odesa. Putin might not want to let that happen. But it comes back to the heirarchy of escalation. Firstly there has to be an overwhelming reason to sail US and UK warships into the Black Sea. That reason has to be caused by Russia and probably needs to be in the middle of a global famine with 50 million or so deaths. That has not happened yet, so no escalation. Its drip, drip, drip once again.

Uk and France do not have the overwhelming naval power to take on Russia... and thats what we are talking about... Uk has very little naval capacity to deploy 6 or 7 frigates? the rest elsewhere or in dock, not sure on French capacity.

So forget NATO, US navy goes in and says to Russia "This is what we are doing, like it or lump it" other nations stay out and support the US else where in the Med.

Its going to happen eventually, the west, indeed the world, cannot deal with the political instability that food shortages will bring..... Arab Spring was a walk in the park to what will happen if we do nothing.

Nobody is talking about taking on Russia in a naval campaign. Those were your words.

The least likely thing ever to happen in the Black Sea is the US Navy going in alone and saying 'like it or lump it'.

I do not understand the conclusions you are reaching, but would like to do so if you could elaborate.

Do read his full statement.

He is spot on. On a side note, I hope this is not patronising to say, his use of English is impeccable and surgically precise whilst also conveying his anguish and dismay.

"Those who conceived this war want only one thing - to remain in power forever, live in pompous tasteless palaces, sail on yachts comparable in tonnage and cost to the entire Russian Navy, enjoying unlimited power and complete impunity. To achieve that they are willing to sacrifice as many lives as it takes. Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have already died just for this."

I meant the resignation statement of Boris Bondarev, Russia’s Counsellor to the United Nations in Geneva:

twitter.com/HillelNeuer/status/1528668629482541057

Wouldnt it be grim if Putin was already dead / dying / sidelined and someone else already in charge (not Patrushev pls). I realise this is vindictive and unpleasant but there would be a certain dark satisfaction in the thought that Putin died consumed with chagrin.

... chagrin would be getting off lightly for Putin.

I want fear, humiliation and unceasing pain, in his heart, in his body and very soul. I want him to feel utter and absolute horror at what will happen to him and for him to feel and watch it happening to him slowly and inexorably.

I'm done now. That was cathartic.

Actually I want Putin to suffer his greatest nightmare ... to die like Gaddafi. At the hand (and bayonet) of his own people.

Thanks for new thread. Would Russia really deliberately starve millions? it sounds beyond belief in the 21stC.

Yes, sadly, I believe Russia would starve millions as a bargaining chip to get sanctions against it lifted (amongst other things).