Ukraine Invasion: Part 31

[MagicFox]

31st thread, welcome all and thanks as usual.

@MagicFox thanks for the round up on Putin's speech (can barely type that without spitting), the US and NATO statements.

Pleasure @blueshoes

Fuck me imagine Trump was still in power

I can't, I mean I literally can't. It's such a horrible thought that my brain won't even let me take it there.

Is there another Ukraine thread running?

L1ttledrummer means the Truss, formely Johnson, thread.

-Mb76 · Today 17:03
I’ve been working (hiding from the news) today, just caught up herself thank you for all the updates everyone.

im really not doing so well, as some of you may know I’m from Donetsk, my grandparents are from Olenivka, my other grandparents are from around Bachmut, and Russia is not our “motherland” . I’m so angry sad and frustrated 😩

It must be terrible for you and your family. I remember some of your earlier posts describing what it was like there, going back to your childhood, then all that had developed since. Your perspective has contributed greater understanding and nuance to discussions on this thread. I am so sorry🌻🌻🌻🌻🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦Long live the whole of Ukraine and may your relatives be freed.

MB76, I'm so sorry that you and you and your family has been put through this horrible experience.

Today's Ukraine: The Latest had an interview with a Latvian journalist (Kristaps Andrejsons) who is embedded with a Ukrainian Army unit, in the Kharkiv area if I recall correctly. The question of winter combat came up and he said that the Ukrainians felt they were ready. He also said that the Russian units in the area used to have winter uniforms, but they were all stolen.

In discussing Putin's nuclear threats, he pointed out that Putin always lies. "We're not going to invade, Ukraine is run by Nazis, etc." . So he would be more worried if Putin said that he would never use nuclear weapons. And he pointed out that the far right military bloggers are dead set against using nukes because they see Ukraine as part of Russia, and you don't nuke your own territory.

A different graphical take on the encirclement of Lyman.

vk.com/video-192615048_456241345

Posted on a pro-Russian thread of 'Resistance 2.0' who 'support Russia, Syria and Donbass'.

R 2.0 posts a stream of heavily nationalist pro-Putin images and commentary. Like many other Ru streams though they are circulating fairly plausible summaries of the situation on the ground.

Thank you so much for your kind words of support everyone ❤️

The reason I don’t post too much hers is because it’s very painful. My earliest happiest memories are from my childhood spent in Olenivka and Pokrovske, a village near Bakhmut. Where my grandparents lived, I would spend many summers there. this is where I learned my first Ukrainian words. This is where I learned my first Ukrainian folk songs. I can not imagine how this is not Ukraine anymore just because a crazy ruler from another country declared so.
And I can’t imagine how the world will know Olenivka as the place where Azov fighters were tortured and killed. How my childhood happy place has been turned into this nightmare?

And as for the speech of the little Poo about how these lands were governed by Russians in the past and therefore they must be Russian, he forgot to mention that Ukrainians were never willing subjects, the whole history of Ukraine is fighting against Mongols, Turks and Russians. And where did Russia come from originally? Maybe he will be wanting Alaska back next.

Once again, I am very thankful to everyone who keeps us up to date by posting updates. I am thankful for the support to Ukraine and my fellow Ukrainians here.

Maybe he will be wanting Alaska back next.

This threat is taken very seriously in the US. Billions have been spent upgrading the many US Army and Air Force bases there.

Alaska's Strategic Importance: US Bolsters 'Last Frontier' Bases on NATO's Western Flank

It is one of the most well defended places on earth.

Thank you for continuing these threads for so long, they have been a source of huge comfort and information. These are worrying times and I cannot wait until that poisonous little man and his gang get what they so richly deserve.

Strong words from Biden. They feel measured though.

China, India and Brazil have abstained on a UN vote around condemning Moscow’s annexations. Predictably any action was vetoed by Moscow.

How did UAE and Saudi Arabia vote?

Think it’s just been the SC at this stage, will go to the GA next.

Although UAE are on the Security Council at the moment and voted in favour.

More thorough translation of Putin's speech: twitter.com/konstantinkisin/status/1575853684852150272?s=46&t=fWs3FeI7AnQann3ul-ZGcQ

@Mb76 I can't even begin to imagine how you must be feeling. You are being very measured in your description which must be difficult. You and your people are in my thoughts.

"The base operates year-round, even in skin-burning minus 50-degree weather, when airmen can withstand the frigidity for only minutes at a time."

Yikes!

mobile.twitter.com/ianbremmer/status/1575922929321361409 borders of Ukraine before and after the annexation

mobile.twitter.com/saintjavelin/status/1575802341655465984 this made me cry today, nothing graphic just heartbreaking

That's -50 degrees F, which is about -45 degrees C. Still a bit chilly! Strangely, the article hardly mentions the Alaska National Guard.

minsmum · Today 00:32
mobile.twitter.com/saintjavelin/status/1575802341655465984 this made me cry today, nothing graphic just heartbreaking

It is heartbreaking. Those children.

And then there must be hundreds of bereaved Russians too.

The US is now supplying Ukraine with the M30A missile for the HIMARS and M270 platforms. Previously, we were supplying the M31 missile, which has a high explosive warhead designed to be used against hard targets like buildings or bridges. The M30A missile has a blast fragmentation warhead designed for use against troop concentrations. The M30A has a range of 92km v. 80km for the M31 due to having a somewhat lighter warhead.

One could speculate that the M30A's would be used in offensive operations to retake territory. The video in the tweet illustrates their effect in use.

twitter.com/noclador/status/1573418550450323456