Ukraine Invasion: Part 37

[MagicFox]

Welcome all to thread 37. Thanks to everybody contributing to the backbone of these threads (extra hat tip to Ducks and Desdemona for posting daily updates) and to all lurkers too.

I totally ♥️ Biden. The man is fearless. What a powerful message this sends to Putin, Xi and the ROTW.

UNITED24 Media Telegram

For the first time in a month, the Czech Republic did not import Russian gas at all, the Ministry of Industry said.

❗️ On March 6-7, there will be an extraordinary meeting of the heads of foreign affairs of the European Union, at which we will discuss the provision of all available ammunition to Ukraine, — the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.

France will hand over AMX-10 RC light tanks to Ukraine at the end of next week

The Ukrainian delegation will not take part in the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which is scheduled for February 23-24, due to the admission of representatives of the Russian Federation to it, – People's Deputy Yevhenia Kravchuk reported

❗️Russia begins large-scale exercises of strategic nuclear forces, reports the Main Directorate of Intelligence.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Russians are preparing components of the strategic nuclear forces to launch sea- and land-based ballistic missiles, as well as air-based cruise missiles.
The Russians have checked the channels of combat control, and the forces and means of the strategic nuclear forces have been brought to the highest level of combat readiness.
Also, the crew of the strategic missile submarine cruiser was given a combat order to leave the launch area. Currently, Russia supports the 24-hour combat readiness of strategic nuclear forces for use.

In Germany, the Ukrainian refugees helped reduce the burden on the labor market
About 90,000 Ukrainians found work in Germany after the start of the full-scale invasion.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a targeted attack on the composition of the warehouse of the Russians in the temporarily occupied Tavriysk of the Kherson region.
Local authorities report that the detonation of ammunition has been going on for more than an hour.

The Ukrainian authorities have asked Spotify to exclude from its catalogs Russian artists who support the Russian authorities, said the head of the President's Office Yermak in an interview with the British newspaper The Sunday Times.

The G7 and the European Union are looking at ways to track Russian diamonds, which could pave the way for restrictions on their trade in the future, – Bloomberg

Iran has enriched uranium to 84% and may be very close to creating a nuclear weapon, – Bloomberg

❗️ The Russians are closing the exit from Berdyansk, – reports the Center of National Resistance
In effect, this means an exit ban on anyone the Russians consider disloyal.

⚡️The European Parliament recommended that the EU countries refuse any cooperation with Rosatom

⚡️ Today, an Israeli parliamentary delegation arrived in Kyiv, — Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk

Well done Joe Biden!

It seems that we couldn't be more united against Russia and Putin must be absolutely livid about it. Let's see what this week brings.

Live: Ukraine Telegram

The cause of death of Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makei in November last year was suicide - Belarusian opposition publication Nasha Niva

❗️In the temporarily occupied Melitopol, representatives of the occupation authorities force children to write letters to Russian soldiers

repeated post about the interview with the deputy head of Azov

Blimey, I wake up on a bank holiday (Washington's Birthday) to hear that Biden is in Kyiv, and you've all scooped me on it. I heard bits of the speech on NPR while feeding the felines.

I've learned a new Britishism, "squeaky bum". Thanks Katem98.

@MissConductUS One of our many

That was Sir Alex Ferguson, wasn't it: a great one for coining words and phrases really well.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime Yes! My partner likes to use the term often so it had always stuck in our household

"Squeaky bum time" is a common expression in our household too.

Maybe it's originally a Scottish expression (and not Alex Ferguson per se ). Describes our experiences perfectly of watching the Scottish national teams playing - especially on the rare occasions we have a lead

Fully expecting a flurry of tankie posts on twitter (and maybe even here) which is the usual reaction to positive Ukrainian news

Although one journo I follow said that when Putin petulantly launched planes resulting in air raid alerts, while Biden was walking through Kyiv - who looked strong and who looked weak.

Pretty sure Ferguson coined it, to describe the managerial squirming in a plastic seat when Arsenal were fighting it out with Man United for the 2003 Premiership (and Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were fighting it out for the "strangest description of a feeling" title). He was quoted in the Daily Express of 18th March 2003, and I don't think anyone has found an earlier citation. That's the one in the OED, anyway, and they are fairly good at hunting down references.

Fully expecting a flurry of tankie posts on twitter (and maybe even here) which is the usual reaction to positive Ukrainian news

I'm already excited.

CNN reporting that the US informed Russia in advance of the meeting for “deconfliction” purposes. Whilst I really love the thought of the big fuck you to Putin I am glad it’s a grownup in the White House.

Do you remember this? It still seems the bravest and most moving visit to Ukraine.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/15/ukraine-european-leaders-visit/

The Pentagon has revealed the details of the $460 million military aid package announced today in conjunction with President Bidens visit to Kyiv. The article correctly points out the significance of the night vision systems being supplied. This is critical kit for the coming Ukrainian offensive. The Bradley IFVs have outstanding night vision equipment built into their sights and targeting systems. Supplying night vision gear to the Ukrainian infantry will enable night time...(wait for it)...combined arms operations.

I expect that most of the attacks on Russian troop concentrations and defensive positions will happen at night and that the Ukrainian troops in Europe are receiving night operations training.

Pentagon Unveils Details of Ukraine Aid Package

WASHINGTON—Hours after President Biden made on Monday a historic trip to Ukraine, the Pentagon announced another military aid package for Kyiv of about $460 million, as battlefield operations in Ukraine intensify.

The latest batch of military aid, Washington’s 32nd such package, includes more ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, a critical rocket launching system; thousands more 155 mm Howitzer artillery rounds and 120 mm mortar rounds; as well as more Javelin anti-armor systems; four air surveillance radars; and about 2,000 anti-armor rockets.

The list also includes four Bradley Infantry Fire Support Team vehicles, Claymore anti-personnel munitions, tactical secure communication sets, medical supplies and additional spare parts and field equipment and other vehicles.

The new aid package provided by the Pentagon doesn’t offer Ukraine much in the way of new capabilities. Instead it mostly builds out the weaponry and equipment the U.S. has already provided to Kyiv, as a Russian offensive and a Ukrainian counter-offensive gets underway.

One small but significant addition to the military aid package: night vision goggles. The Pentagon is providing thousands more night vision goggles to give Ukrainians additional capability to fight in darkness.

Russia's mercenary force, the Wagner Group, also has night vision goggles. However, Russian infantry forces are more limited after sundown. U.S. and allied officials believe the more Ukraine is supplied with capabilities to help them fight at night, the better Ukraine’s chances are at pushing the Russians back.

In addition to the $450 million in military assistance, the State Department authorized another $10 million in assistance to help provide emergency assistance to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has been repeatedly targeted by Russian missiles and drones.

This is the Bradley Infantry Fire Support Team vehicle that we're sending four of. It's a recon and target designation platform.

www.military-today.com/apc/m7_bradley.htm

Iran has enriched uranium to 84% and may be very close to creating a nuclear weapon, – Bloomberg

Well that's worrying!

Impressed by Biden going to Kyiv, sends a strong message to Putin.

Judging by this section on Sky News it seems unlikely that China will provide assistance to Russia in any way?

"China is "deeply worried" the Ukraine conflict could spiral out of control, the country's foreign minister has said, as he called on certain countries to "stop fuelling the fire".
Beijing, which struck a "no limits" partnership with Moscow last year, has refrained from condemning Russia's invasion of
Ukraine.
The United States has warned of consequences if China
provides military support to Russia, which Beijing says it is
not doing.
"China is deeply worried that the Ukraine conflict will continue to escalate or even spiral out of control,"" Qin Gang said.
"We urge certain countries to immediately stop fuelling the fire," he added, in comments apparently directed at the US.
Qin's comments came as Russia's news agency TASS said China's top diplomat Wang Yi was due to arrive in Moscow later today.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Wang's visit to Russia would be an opportunity to further promote ties between the two countries."

I'd say that was more of an anticipatory laying of blame on the US for if China do decide to provide lethal aid. China will do what suits it best, however. And we have to hope that the financial implications of providing that kind of help will continue to dissuade it. I think the danger would come if Ukraine moved on Crimea at any point or the fight came to Russia

i feel I missed something in the news but where did it come from about China supplying lethal aid? It just suddenly seemed to appear after the bit about China and Peace negotiations. Is it just something the US has suggested in the hopes they don’t do it?

Fortifying myself with coffee for Vlad’s upcoming speech/ rant/barrage of threats

@autumn1610 The US reported that their intelligence suggests the Chinese are considering providing lethal aid

I'm gonna wait for the summary from you guys on here as I feel too delicate today to track it in real time :-(

The US have said they believe China is on the verge of supplying lethal military aid. Iirc Russia is already buying non-lethal aid from state companies and from private ones eg vests, food etc.