Ukraine Invasion: Part 36

[MagicFox]

Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦 Thanks as usual to all contributors and lurkers

Definitely worth staying up for 🙂

He really is. His video address to the UK parliament early in the war quoted Churchill. He knows just what buttons to press.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

He is very good at connecting Ukraine to other countries, finding the points in history that fit this time.

The BBC television news just had a long interview with a Russian called Markov who said the USA is not helping UKraine, just using UKraine, that UKraine is full of Nazis who haven’t stopped attacking Russian people in the Donbas for eight treats, and Zelensky though Jewish is a YS puppet.

This chap? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Markov
He is probably fed up that Russia is being deprived of its right to use Ukraine instead of the USA using it. (I don't think one could really argue that Russia is helping Ukraine by bombing it as if it were Grozny in 1999.)

And yet when they were asked in an actual referendum in 1991, 83.90% of the votes cast in the Donetsk Oblast (64% of those eligible voted) and 83.86% of the votes cast in the Luhansk Oblast (68% of those eligible voted) were in favour of Ukraine becoming an independent country. Perhaps the Russian people in that region were constantly trying to make them change their minds, and they got fed up with it...

It's a funny thing how I don't believe Russian propagandists all that much.

I actually don’t think these sorts of people should be allowed airtime on the BBC. Free speech is one thing but these people just spout hate and lies.

Yes they do spout hate and lies. I thought it was going a bit far to have him too.

But perhaps the BBC did a favour as it made it seem as though they were giving both sides of the story while actually thus man was repellent because of the hectoring, aggressive way he spoke, and his difficult to understand accent. He did actually try to answer questions though, even if his answers were misleading.

twitter.com/S_Mikhailovich/status/1605602542393577473

Thoughts on all these things happening over the last few days?

Today's the day the Russians will break the 100,000 casualty barrier.

They reached 3,000 tanks yesterday.

To be honest I’m not sure I read too much into it. Each of these visits has a purpose in and of itself.

I didn't think much of it until reading all of the replies and Twitter and now I feel sick 🙃

Some pretty crazy people responding to that tweet. Including seeing non existent conspiracy links. Original tweet just stirring and not adding any further commentary.

twitter.com/Livelongandpr18
The offer is likely:

1. All Four new territories returned to Ukraine conceded to Russia
2. No RU UKR troops east of Dnieper
3. Large scale RU UKR demobilization
4. End of current RU UKR govt
5. UKR in neutral with no NATO with no RU presence in UKR at all Plus, verification measures

I’m not on Twitter but happy to fix that one bot tweet.

It’s Twitter - enough said! Please don’t worry about the ramblings of some of these people who know no more than anyone else.

@Greenshake Yes, you're right. I always do this!

ISW Key Takeaways

www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-updates

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu proposed a series of expansive reforms and goals for Russian force generation that Russia is highly unlikely to complete in time to be relevant to the current conflict.

Putin and Shoigu reiterated maximalist Russian aims for the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has intensified efforts to make peace with the critical pro-war nationalist community. Russian failures to achieve Putin’s stated goals jeopardize Kremlin efforts to regain control over the domestic narrative and to set conditions for the second year of the war.

Russian nuclear rhetoric is most likely an attempt to appease domestic audiences and intimidate Western audiences and not an indicator of preparation to use nuclear weapons.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Washington, DC on December 21. ISW will report on the details of Zelensky’s visit and Russian reactions to the visit on December 22.

Russian and Ukrainian forces continued counterattacks along the Svatove-Kreminna line.

Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Bakhmut and Donetsk City areas.

A Ukrainian official confirmed that Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to establish control over the Dnipro delta islands.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu boasted about the growing Russian Young Army Cadets National Movement (Yunarmia) movement.

Russian officials intensified law enforcement crackdowns to deter partisan activities and target partisan sympathizers.

+++

Kyiv Indep Telegram

⚡️Ukrenergo: Energy deficit in Kyiv remains ‘significant’ (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/ukrenergo-energy-deficit-in-kyiv-remains-significant-after-dec-19-drone-attack) after Dec. 19 drone attack.

⚡️Russia’s Medvedev meets (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/russias-medvedev-meets-with-chinas-xi-as-zelensky-visits-washington-for-talks-with-biden) with China’s Xi as Zelensky visits Washington for talks with Biden.
According to Reuters, Medvedev and Xi discussed the “no limits” strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing, as well as Russia’s war in Ukraine.

⚡️Putin threatens (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/putin-threatens-to-strengthen-nuclear-triad-pledges-unlimited-funds-for-russian-army) to strengthen nuclear triad, pledges 'unlimited' funds for Russian army.
In a speech to his defense chiefs, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized Russia's commitment to maintaining and developing its nuclear triad, calling it the "main guarantee of preserving our sovereignty and territorial integrity."

⚡️Russia plans to station (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/russia-plans-to-station-troops-near-border-with-finland) newly-formed military units near border with Finland. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the move is connected to Finland and Sweden's bid to join NATO.

⚡️CNN: US investigates (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/cnn-us-investigates-how-its-technology-ended-up-in-iranian-drones-used-by-russia-to-attack-ukraine) how its technology ended up in Iranian drones used by Russia to attack Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has established a task force to investigate how Western technology, including U.S. microelectronics, ended up in Iranian-made kamikaze drones that Russia has been using to attack Ukraine, CNN reported citing multiple officials.

⚡️UN to allocate (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/un-to-allocate-extra-20-million-to-aid-ukraines-public-organizations-volunteer-groups) extra $20 million to aid Ukraine's public organizations, volunteer groups.
The funding is aimed at supporting over 300 civil society organizations, community-based organizations, and volunteer groups in Ukraine.

Zelensky signs judicial bill that may block European integration, undermine Western support
(kyivindependent.com/national/zelensky-signs-judicial-bill-that-may-block-european-integration-undermine-western-support)
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 20 signed into law a bill on the Constitutional Court that may derail Ukraine’s European integration. The bill regulates the selection of Constitutional Court judges.
It has been criticized by Ukraine’s civil society and the West because it fails to give foreign experts a crucial role in assessing the integrity of candidates for Constitutional Court jobs.

⚡️Ex-CEO of Russian state space corporation Roscosmos Rogozin reportedly injured (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/ex-ceo-of-russian-state-space-corporation-roscosmos-rogozin-reportedly-injured-in-donetsk) in Donetsk.
Russian state space corporation Roscosmos ex-CEO Dmitry Rogozin was wounded in gunfire in Russian-occupied Donetsk on Dec. 21, his aide reportedly told Russian state-owned media RIA Novosti. He was staying with a group of military advisers when their hotel came under fire.

⚡️Defense News: US to scrutinize its control (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/defense-news-us-to-scrutinize-its-control-of-funds-allocation-to-ukraine) of funds allocation to Ukraine.
The U.S. Defense Criminal Investigation Service (DCIS) will strengthen oversight of contracts approved under an accelerated procedure to Ukraine's fight against Russia. The DCIS will also track the potential black market diversion of U.S. aid, according to James Ives, principal deputy director for DCIS, which falls under the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. No contracting fraud has become public so far.

According to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Russia has lost 100,400 troops since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

⚡️ NYT: Ukraine aid delayed (kyivindependent.com/uncategorized/nyt-ukraine-aid-delayed-in-us-senate-over-immigration-policy-dispute) in US Senate over immigration policy dispute.
U.S. lawmakers failed to vote on legislation containing nearly $50 billion in aid for Ukraine on Dec. 21 due to disagreements over prolonging pandemic-era border restrictions, New York Times reported.

⚡️ Reznikov thanks (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/reznikov-thanks-us-for-new-aid-package-elaborates-on-contents) US for new aid package, elaborates on contents.
The $1.85 billion package will include a Patriot air-defense system and munitions, HIMARS ammunition, artillery rounds, mortar rounds and systems, military vehicles, communication systems, grenade launchers and small arms, and “funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment," among other equipment, said Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.

⚡️Denmark to provide (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/denmark-to-provide-ukraine-with-42-million-in-military-assistance) Ukraine with $42 million in military assistance.

⚡️European Commission President: EU to send 900 generators (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/european-commission-president-eu-to-send-900-generators-to-ukraine) to Ukraine.
Ukraine will receive 900 generators for powering critical infrastructure as well as “millions” of energy-saving bulbs from the EU, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter.

⚡️Zelensky meets with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Rzeszów on return from historic trip to Washington.

⚡️AP: At least 10,300 new graves (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/ap-at-least-10-300-new-graves-dug-in-occupied-mariupol-since-march) dug in occupied Mariupol since March.

In haste, sorry for the late/truncated roundup

Over the 100k now.

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · Today 16:08
ISW Key Takeaways

Thank you as always.
About this:
Zelensky signs judicial bill that may block European integration, undermine Western support
(kyivindependent.com/national/zelensky-signs-judicial-bill-that-may-block-european-integration-undermine-western-support)

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 20 signed into law a bill on the Constitutional Court that may derail Ukraine’s European integration. The bill regulates the selection of Constitutional Court judges.

It has been criticized by Ukraine’s civil society and the West because it fails to give foreign experts a crucial role in assessing the integrity of candidates for Constitutional Court jobs.

That sounds a bit as though a mistake was made - do you think perhaps it was done without enough forethought because of all that’s happening?

What do others think on here? Could this decision be reverse or revised?

I suspect that when the time gets closer, then the bill will be amended/adjusted. It's odd that it hasn't been adjusted already - there were mutterings about this a few weeks ago - but it's unthinkable that Ukraine would let its application to the EU fall on this one hurdle. So I think that in time it will be sorted.

There have been several points when I have deconstructed every word, comma and paragraph but not anymore thank God. It was stressing me out so much. Plus, I do take real comfort from being in NATO and part of the collective response.

I think far more convincing than random nutters on Twitter I would look at the ISW which has played down any nuclear risk and the podcast flagged yesterday with Fiona Hill where she says she isn’t afraid of nuclear war and believes it’s more Putin playing with fear as a weapon.

@Greenshake Yes, I'm guilty of that too. I've never made a Twitter account in fear I'll get sucked in too deeply!

@Igotjelly You're right. I do find that reassuring and I am off to go and listen to that podcast!

Just to be aware it sounds a bit at the beginning like it’ll be alarming but then it really is quite reassuring.

@Igotjelly Thanks for the heads up

Paul Massaro
@apmassaro3
·
13m
HUGE: The US Senate just voted UNANIMOUSLY to send recovered oligarch assets to Ukraine! Russia will pay for the war!

Well there's a nice Christmas prezzie for Ukraine!

How much money are we talking?