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Ukraine Invasion: Part 33

990 replies

MagicFox · 11/10/2022 21:24

Starting this at 980 on the other thread because it's late and I might miss the tipping point. We're moving fast at the moment, thanks all for the analysis, insight and company

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Ijsbear · 18/10/2022 12:46

Fucking hell

⚡️ Energoatom: Russia again kidnaps Zaporizhzhia plant workers.

Russian forces in occupied Enerhodar have kidnapped Oleh Kostiukov, the head of information technology service at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and Oleh Osheka, the assistant director general, according to state nuclear company Energoatom.

The officials said nothing is known about the workers' whereabouts and how they are treated.

also:

⚡️ SBU: Antonov company's management 'did not take adequate measures' to save Mriya aircraft.

According to Ukraine's Security Service, unnamed employees of state company Antonov prevented Ukraine's authorities from organizing anti-aircraft and ground protection of the airfield. This led to the destruction of the world's largest cargo aircraft AN-225 Mriya by Russian forces on Feb. 27.

"(They) did not take adequate measures to preserve the plane, despite warnings from authorities," the SBU reported

I now have a fluffy Mriya soft toy and read up about it a bit. It was an amazing aircraft. It's a tragic waste, its destruction. Just so needless.

Greenshake · 18/10/2022 12:46

@Igotjelly Twitter seems to be a cess pit!

Igotjelly · 18/10/2022 12:47

Greenshake · 18/10/2022 12:46

@Igotjelly Twitter seems to be a cess pit!

It’s a shame as it can be such a good source of information but so easy to fall down a rabbit hole.

Greenshake · 18/10/2022 12:49

Interesting about BW potentially pursing the NATO job as well.

MagicFox · 18/10/2022 12:53

Any thoughts from those with military knowledge on this? twitter.com/gdarkconrad/status/1582327649170386945?s=46&t=FcxmS6Sk6MswWHeNu9rnkg

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notimagain · 18/10/2022 13:07

MagicFox · 18/10/2022 12:53

Any thoughts from those with military knowledge on this? twitter.com/gdarkconrad/status/1582327649170386945?s=46&t=FcxmS6Sk6MswWHeNu9rnkg

Thoughts from me:

RAF Rivet Joint (intelligence gatherer) in that part of the world...not significant in itself.

Pair of Typhoons - again, not that significant.

The interesting thing to my eye is they've put the two elements together and then the really interesting factor is they have made it very visible to the world by leaving everybody's ADS, the datalink that feeds ATC and the tracker sites, switched on.

This sort of operation might have been happening every day since February but we haven't seen it before....maybe somebody is trying to make a point, but I wouldn't like to speculate on what that might be.

wonderfullife123 · 18/10/2022 13:10

Problem with Twitter is it isn't just a source of information it's being used as a weapon in info wars so have to be really careful with sources.

MagicFox · 18/10/2022 13:11

Thanks @notimagain

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notimagain · 18/10/2022 13:24

wonderfullife123 · 18/10/2022 13:10

Problem with Twitter is it isn't just a source of information it's being used as a weapon in info wars so have to be really careful with sources.

Very true, but FWIW if you cut out Twitter, go to the Flightradar site directly and run playback for this morning the Rivet Joint and two Typhoons are clearly visible doing whatever they were up to..

In fact as I type this at 1223 UTC ish they are just south east of Constanta heading south eastwards again..

MagicFox · 18/10/2022 13:36

Putin calling a security council meeting tomorrow at which Mevedev will make a presentation.

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MMBaranova · 18/10/2022 13:39

Probably not a drunken presentation. Might depend on the time of day.

Igotjelly · 18/10/2022 13:43

Presentation?

MMBaranova · 18/10/2022 13:46

The main Medvedev chatter is still his statement over Israel getting a blanking from Russia if it arms Ukraine.

I won't post it here, but someone has gone to the length of creating a composite flag that is part Imperial German, part Nazi, Israeli, Ukrainian...

RedToothBrush · 18/10/2022 13:53

Igotjelly · 18/10/2022 12:40

Twitter seems rife with speculation that something has fundamentally changed in the past few days. Seem to be linking messages to citizens to leave, Liz Truss being missing from Parliament yesterday and now Ben Wallace’s urgent trip to Washington.

I will categorically say its twitter being in one of its over excited moments.

Nothing I am seeing is making me panic.

Igotjelly · 18/10/2022 13:53

RedToothBrush · 18/10/2022 13:53

I will categorically say its twitter being in one of its over excited moments.

Nothing I am seeing is making me panic.

And I trust you. Thanks @RedToothBrush

MissConductUS · 18/10/2022 14:05

Ben Wallace visiting here doesn't greatly disturb me. Trips like this are not generally announced in advance for security reasons. Zoom is okay for a quick meeting, but it's important for him to meet face to face with lots of people in Washington, especially in the Pentagon. He's likely brought some of his staff with him, and they will also meet with their counterparts. There's no substitute for breaking bread with people and going out for a pint.

He may also be lobbying for the US to release more types of weapons, given the terror bombings on Ukrainian civilians.

thereisonlyoneofme · 18/10/2022 14:33

A third of Ukraines power stations destroyed, what is this going to mean with winter coming on. May all the devils of hell descend on Putin and his evil mob

wonderfullife123 · 18/10/2022 14:37

notimagain · 18/10/2022 13:24

Very true, but FWIW if you cut out Twitter, go to the Flightradar site directly and run playback for this morning the Rivet Joint and two Typhoons are clearly visible doing whatever they were up to..

In fact as I type this at 1223 UTC ish they are just south east of Constanta heading south eastwards again..

Interesting @notimagain . Was more a general comment re Twitter I find it very hard to parse the noise so prefer this thread.

RedToothBrush · 18/10/2022 15:04

Doing a such on Kherson and Svatove. Interesting finds this afternoon.

(((Tendar))) AT Tendar
Something very peculiar happened. Russia moved a S-400 battery into Kherson Oblast. That S-400 was later wiped out (imho using HIMARS). I can only speculate why Russia took that risk, but it could relate that many other air defense system have been lost.
defence-blog.com/russia-lost-its-most-advanced-air-defense-system-in-ukraine/

Iuliia Mendel AT IuliiaMendel
There is the rumour from the Ukrainian partisans in the occupied Kherson region say that up to 20 instructors from Iran were spotted in there

www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/10/18/7372390/
Russians are mining roads leading to Svatove and Kreminna

Ijsbear · 18/10/2022 15:13

wonderfullife123 · 18/10/2022 13:10

Problem with Twitter is it isn't just a source of information it's being used as a weapon in info wars so have to be really careful with sources.

Yup :/

it's one of the things that is good about the Ukrainian figures for Russian losses. I believe that as far as is possible, they are relatively accurate. It's nice to have someone whose figures you can provisionally trust.

Also people like Mark Hertling, etc who assess as objectively as possible

MissConductUS · 18/10/2022 15:35

Ben Hodges is very good too. He served as commander US Army Europe before retiring. Here's one of his recent tweets.

twitter.com/general_ben/status/1581983746894442497

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 18/10/2022 15:41

thereisonlyoneofme · 18/10/2022 14:33

A third of Ukraines power stations destroyed, what is this going to mean with winter coming on. May all the devils of hell descend on Putin and his evil mob

Someone my son used to work with in the solar energy business has gone back to Ukraine to install solar panels which may provide at least some energy this winter, but it seems a small help given the vandalism Putin is encouraging.

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 18/10/2022 15:41

A Round-Up published today by war translated.com:

Battlefield update:
Same directions, same sides, same success. Both sides are accumulating power. Not expecting changes for next days, perhaps weeks.

🔥 Kreminna:
🇷🇺 attempted 2 counterattacks, no success

🔥 Bakhmut:
Attacks from north by new recruits of Akhmat regiment (Kadyrovytes), from east by Wagner and drafted prisoners. Most modest estimates are that 🇷🇺 is loosing a company (75-100 solders) per day there, new waves coming over bodies of fallen. This area has two layers of barrier troops to prevent deserting.

🔥 Avdiivka:
unsuccessful 🇷🇺 attempts at north and south.

🔥 Marinka, Novomykhailivka:
same routine 🇷🇺 attempts

🔥 Kherson:
fire exchange, 🇺🇦 fires more, hits on warehouses and 2 concentrations of newly mobilized troops (approx. 150-200 killed).

🔥 Mobilized:
There is huge amount of mobilized everywhere (by announcement of Putin – 30k). New attack waves are related to mobilized troops, they are not only used for defense.

🔥 Weather:
There is more impact from rain, than from snow, however frozen ground and rivers would increase passability for vehicles and infantry. About 2 weeks until rain season starts.

🔥 Drone attacks:
Today 36 out of 62 drones destroyed. First wave on Kyiv 23 out of 28 destroyed, second wave all 16 destroyed. Right now another wave of 8 on Kyiv, launched from Crimea. Drones have range of 1000+ km. 🇷🇺 also launched 16 missiles today, some 2-3 did hit their targets. This uses air-defense missiles a lot, such usage is not sustainable in long term. 🇺🇦 needs more AA guns, like 🇩🇪 Rheinmetall has. Even 10-15 shells from AA gun are cheaper than drone they destroy, while missiles are much more expensive.
🇷🇺 has 2400 such drones, if using 100 per day, they can continue for a month, more realistically some 2-3 months with some pauses. If they are used in front-line, it will be complicated.

🔥 Iran:
Rumors of 🇮🇷 Iran preparing to supply ballistic missiles with range of 500-800km to 🇷🇺. Some information of Mohajer-6, similar to Bayraktar TB2, being sent to 🇷🇺.
🇮🇱 Israel, 🇺🇸 U.S. , 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia have means to destroy 🇮🇷 warehouses and factories, but unlikely they are prepared to start large scale conflict with 🇮🇷. So far all nations participating in 🇮🇷 nuclear hold-off deal have avoided escalations.

🔥 Second phase of war:
🇺🇦 was somehow relaxed, now enemy has found means to cause significant problems, doing mobilization. Next phase is not going to be easy. If 🇷🇺 mobilizes million solders, 🇺🇦 will need to mobilize their own citizens, that’s why borders remain closed for males.

🔥 Girkin:
Reports of Igor Girkin being assigned in 🇺🇦. Reward for his capture is being increased by crowdfunding. He understands war, and likely will find a way out. If not, he would probably do suicide, before getting captured. However front-line is perfect place for his enemies to kill him, without raising suspicion.

🔥 Prisoner exchange:
108 women released from 🇷🇺 captivity in exchange to 🇷🇺 sailors from arrested ships.

🔥 Belarus:
Lukashenka is forced to maneuver in his speech, however the louder his announcements, the less actions he takes.
Announcement of new battle group consisting of 170 tanks and 100 howitzers, which is very unusual ratio. Normally in 🇷🇺 model for 100 vehicles there would be 250-300 howitzers. This group is created with intent to endanger Kyiv, and at some conditions it could be sent into battle and destroyed, but still would cause problems for 🇺🇦.

🔥 G20 summit:
Putin would want to create maximally favourable position before summit – which means maximum damage to 🇺🇦 energy infrastructure, minimum gas suppleis to 🇪🇺, possibly conquering new territories and attack attempt on Kyiv. War might be longer, and have higher cost, but Putin has already lost.

🔥 Xi speech:
🇨🇳 Xi Kinping wants to see bi-polar world, which means there is no place for 🇷🇺 influence, and definitely no place for nuclear war.

Ijsbear · 18/10/2022 15:58

I wonder if Xi Jinping is at the stage of refusing to take Putin's calls whistles

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 18/10/2022 16:12

Ijsbear · 18/10/2022 15:58

I wonder if Xi Jinping is at the stage of refusing to take Putin's calls whistles

God I hope so 🤞

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