Ukraine Invasion: Part 41

[MagicFox]

Welcome to thread 41 with new guidance thrashed out with regular posters to keep us on track :-) Hope you all approve!

1. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

1. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content

1. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful

Good article from CSIS, ducks. One part I thought was worth quoting as a historical comparison.

Weakness of Defensive Forces
Fortifications are only as good as the forces defending them. In the 1930s, France constructed the Maginot Line, which included concrete fortifications, machine guns, anti-tank emplacements, and even underground railways. The Maginot Line had state-of-the-art living conditions for specialist units of infantry, artillery, and engineers—even including air conditioning. But the French military was relatively weak. It had a debilitated air force and a large army that was unprepared for offensive operations, though it had a reasonably strong navy.[19] Germany exploited these French weaknesses during its invasion of France in 1940.

Didn't the German army just go to the North (and south?) of the Maginot Line? Ie through Belgium/Holland?

I'm sure that's what I was taught in History at school but admittedly that was a loooong time ago

They largely avoided it by going around it or through wooded areas that the French wrongly assumed would be impenetrable. The probing the Ukrainians are doing at the moment is similarly looking for weak spots that are not manned, under observation or fire control.

More Bradleys lost.

Yep, not that unusual..

The Northern RAF interceptor wing based at Leuchars could occasionally get very busy with multiple interceptions a day if some of the Soviet Long Range Bomber came out to play in the Iceland-Faroes-UK chunk of airspace.

The Norwegian Air Force used to get a lot of trade off the North Cape…

Different aircraft these days but not much has changed.

@notimagain Thanks for that!

These are relatively common off the coast of Alaska as well. There was one in the news a few weeks ago.

https://alaskapublic.org/2023/05/15/u-s-fighter-jets-intercept-escort-russian-aircraft-off-alaskas-coast/

Here we go again

Welcome to Mumsnet SkaffenSma.

https://twitter.com/OzKaterji/status/1667209052898615299 I am a natural pessimist and the loss of the Bradley's was getting my stomach in knots. Then I saw this tweet from Oz Katerji and he is right Ukraine won't win by keeping the Bradley's in a warehouse. Then someone else pointed there are no bodies, they did their job and so long as Ukraine is advancing they can be repaired. I feel much better. Slava Ukraini

It's way too early to make any judgment about how the offensive is going. You have to look at losses in the light of what's been accomplished tactically. There seems to be real progress in the drives towards Tokmak and from Vuldehar.

Thanks, minsmum. I try to keep my tendency to catastophise in check so appreciate that link. Godspeed, Ukraine.

MissConductUS, thanks for linking to Ben Hodge's piece in the Telegraph below about Russia having panicked and jumped the gun in destroying Nova Khakova dam so early on in the offensive.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/08/ukraine-counter-offensive-armour-committed-fight-on-hodges/

Timothy Snyder's done an excellent thread on who to donate to, other than UNITED24. It is US-based, perhaps some of the organisations also work in pounds/euros.

https://twitter.com/TimothyDSnyder/status/1667154187786887169

202 views

Timothy Snyder
AT TimothyDSnyder
6h • 12 tweets • 4 min read Read on Twitter

0/10 After Russia's destruction of the dam at Nova Kakhovka, Ukrainians face a manmade calamity amidst the other horrors of Russia's invasion. Ukrainians are at work rescuing their fellow citizens from high waters, often braving Russian fire to do it. Here are ten ways to help.

1. Ukraïner have a small group on the scene who have been evacuating people right from the beginning. Your donation would mean a lot to them. You can support them on Paypal by following this link:

QuickNote Record any thoughts, note or todo list and share it in seconds. Everything you type autosaves automatically. https://quicknote.io/23a881c0-e810-11ed-a77e-e9fc5a76b1c5

1. Rescue Now UA is a Ukrainian evacuation organization founded when this invasion began, now active in Kherson. They are constituted as a US 501(c)3 so donations by Americans are tax-deductible. You can consult the donation link here:

Help Kherson region with Rescue Now | RescueNOW Donate now to make a difference in the lives of those affected by the flooding crisis in Kherson Oblast! https://app.rescuenow.com.ua/en/campaigns/support-kherson-region

1. The Ukrainian Firefighters Foundation is raising money to buy pumps for the Kherson Emergency Services. You can help by going to this page and hitting the Paypal button:

Donate | FireFighters https://www.firefighters.com.ua/donate

1. Vostok SOS is a Ukrainian evacuation organization working in the flooded Kherson region now to move people with limited mobility, children, and animals. You can use this donation link:

https://vostok-sos.org/en/i-wanna-help/rekvizyty-dlia-hroshovoho-perekazu/

1. The Prytula Foundation is an established Ukrainian NGO specializing in matching equipment to local needs. They are already delivering boats and other gear. You can follow this donation link:

https://prytulafoundation.org/en/support-humanitarian-direction

1. UAnimals has been evacuating and caring for animals throughout the war and is raising funds to do so now in Kherson region. As you might have noticed, Ukraine is a country that cares for its land and its animals. Donation link is here:

Fundraising for animals affected by the explosion at Kakhovka Hydro Power Plant - UAnimals The UAnimals team has already mobilized to evacuate animals from the dangerous areas. We will do everything possible to help those in need.Your financial support is urgently needed. Every contribution… https://uanimals.org/en/zbir/kakhovskaheshelp/

1. Razom is an American NGO that cooperates with local Ukrainian NGOs. If you donate to Razom, they will make sure your support is appropriately directed. It is a US 501(c)3. You can donate here:

https://www.razomforukraine.org/Donate/

1. World Central Kitchen is an international NGO that has done extraordinary work in Ukraine during this war. They are providing excellent nutritious food in the flooded Kherson region right now. You can support them here:

https://donate.wck.org/give/398293/?_gl=112sbbqd_gaNTQ4MDQ1ODY4LjE2ODYyNjk2NzI._ga_5WKVY8503C*MTY4NjI2OTY3MS4xLjAuMTY4NjI2OTY3MS42MC4wLjA.#!/donation/checkout

1. United24 is President Volodymyr Zelens'kyi's official fundraising platform (I am an ambassador). Their "Lifeboat Ukraine" project is raising money for gear for rescue operations. Follow this link and look for the Help button:

Lifeboat for Ukraine On the night of June 6, the russian military blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam, causing one of the largest water reservoirs in Ukraine to flood into the nearby region. This terrorist act has caused the bi… https://u24.gov.ua/lifeboat
10. ComeBackAlive is a trusted NGO that supports Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian troops are now using their drones to deliver water to people stranded on rooftops. Rescue operations are hindered by Russian artillery and snipers. Here's a link:

https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate-en/#donate-army-card-once
11/10 A catastrophic manmade flood as part of a war of atrocity is not an everyday calamity. Ukrainians are on the scene doing what they can with remarkable calm, risking lives to save lives. A moment at a keyboard right now will make a tremendous difference to them. Please help

_

Do want to say that there have been reports of some Russian volunteers tryign to help the Left Bank.

Unfortunately the soldiers don't let them in either.

Does the recent new poster mean we need to donate extra?

It must be a covert operation by Ukrainian intelligence to boost fundraising on MN. 😀

Yes, it does. Thanks for the timely reminder prettybird.

I have donated to 2 of the links below, one for Skandminsk and the other for SkaffenSma.

On the humanitarian side, I know from UA local facebook pages that World Central Kitchen has been doing excellent work on the ground delivering food to Ukrainian communities.

Since our new visitors have been at pains to argue that Ukraine is stuggling militarily, I made sure that one of my donations is for Ukrainian soldiers. Slave Ukraini!

Agree. But then I’ve agreed since about April last year. ‘Never again’ feel the most useless words after the last 15 months.

https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1667232411917119494 Ukrainians have started evacuating people from the illegally occupied Russian side of the river

Just donated to Rescue Now

Slava Ukraini

Yup!

@MagicFox ... just a thought. in the opening post is it worth putting a comment about UNITED24 and maybe 2-3 others being the best to donate to? plus an animal one.