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Ukraine Invasion: Part 45

981 replies

MagicFox · 26/09/2023 20:14

Thanks to all: contributors, lurkers and those in-between

**
Agreed thread guidance:

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

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

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OP posts:
Thread gallery
398
Mb76 · 18/11/2023 12:00

🔶 Russian pro-life campaign

Protect me and tomorrow i will defend you” (Photo 1)
[Protect me and tomorrow I can be thrown into meat grinder attacks by self interested megalomaniacs, more like ]

it says “sign the petition in your nearest temple” - church = state in modern Russia. Everything is exactly like ussr except you can keep your religion this time around, as long as religion backs up the state.

Mb76 · 18/11/2023 12:10

blueshoes · 17/11/2023 21:00

@Mb76 I hope you don't mind me asking and feel free to ignore if it is too upsetting to explain. What on earth could be the twisted basis for drawing parallels between Hamas/Israel and Ukraine/Russia?

The mind boggles. You are not sensitive at all.

I see this every time someone says “what about Ukraine” when talking about the current situation in Israel/ Gaza. Usually in the context of comparing the government response, drawing parallels how Ukraine got help straight away (they really didn't, it was a really slow process as we know)… or the amount of protests, I really don’t think pro Ukrainian protests were in the same numbers as the pro- Palestine ones.
Someone said it’s because Ukrainian people are mostly white. This nonsense…. I really try to not get involved but it is impossible not to see or hear these kind of comments, there is no escaping it at the moment.
Sorry if I’m not making much sense. The thread that triggered me was the school protest one from yesterday.

notimagain · 18/11/2023 12:28

@MB76

Re your previous.."

“what about Ukraine” when talking about the current situation in Israel/ Gaza. Usually in the context of comparing the government response, drawing parallels how Ukraine got help straight away (they really didn't, it was a really slow process as we know)…2and " Someone said it’s because Ukrainian people are mostly white"

[controversial comment]
It maybe worth being aware that when it come to those sorts of arguments one of the most visible backers of pro-palestinian protests in the UK (as in their name is on many a banner seen in places like the London marches) would have little to no interest whatsoever in rocking the boat with Russia.

There's a lot of cognitive warfare going on but many are blind to it...
[/controversial comment]

blueshoes · 18/11/2023 12:49

@Mb76 thank you for explaining. The unfair comparisons with Ukraine and knee jerk rascist claims are just infuriating.

I generally stay out of the Hamas/Gaza threads for this reason. The horror and misinformation (including notimagain's reference to 'cognitive warfare' [great word]) is through the roof. Any attempt to make sense of this seething cauldron of activists, dimwits, wind up merchants and bad actors would probably shortcircuit my brain. Truly tragic because there is real suffering going on.

blueshoes · 18/11/2023 12:57

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-17-2023

Key Takeaways:

  • Ukrainian officials stated that Ukrainian forces have established bridgeheads on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast and are conducting ground operations aimed at pushing Russian forces out of artillery range of the west (right) bank of the Dnipro River.
  • Russian forces appear to be applying lessons learned from attempts to man Russian multilayered defenses in western Zaporizhia Oblast during the Ukrainian counteroffensive to current Russian defensive operations in Kherson Oblast.
  • Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces have suffered roughly a brigade’s worth of casualties since Ukrainian forces started ground operations on the east bank of Kherson Oblast on October 17, reportedly forcing Russian forces to transfer combat power from elsewhere in Ukraine to Kherson Oblast.
  • Russian forces conducted a series of drone and missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of November 16 to 17.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the Israel-Hamas war has negatively affected Ukraine’s shell supplies.
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitri Peskov attempted to dismiss criticisms of the Russian government and the war in Ukraine as inevitable yet unfounded and urged Russian citizens to self-censor.
  • Russian authorities detained several Federal Security Service (FSB) employees on November 16 for accepting a five-billion-ruble ($55.6 million) bribe in connection with the dismissal of a corruption case.
  • Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and advanced in several sectors of the front.
  • The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (UK MoD) reported on November 17 that the Russian military is likely using updated surveillance aircraft due to concerns over Ukraine deploying Western-provided combat aircraft.
  • Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (Yale HRL) reported on November 16 that Russian and Belarusian authorities have forcibly deported at least 2,442 Ukrainian children between the ages of six and 17 to Belarus via Russia since February 24, 2022.
Ukraine Invasion: Part 45
PerkingFaintly · 18/11/2023 13:01

🔷 🇫🇮Finland is closing four out of five checkpoints on the border with Russia, - the Finnish Prime Minister.

Citizens of Iraq, Yemen and other countries have begun to come to Finland via Russia to seek asylum. Finland believes that Russia is doing this on purpose and even is sponsoring it financially.

That's horrible and also not at all surprising. We've seen the success Russia has had with creating large numbers of refugees and then herding them towards borders before. The poor Iraqis and Syrians in the forest on the Belarus-Polish border. The arrival of so many Syrians through the Mediterranean.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/13/far-from-the-border-forest-minsk-and-moscow-dictate-refugees-fate

It's Putin's cynical use of civilians who are just trying to stay alive, to undermine EU countries and "the West" in multiple ways. Partly by putting pressure on local services. Partly by creating an influx of "forriners" which can be used by nationalists within the destination countries as a recruiting tool. And many of the nationalists, of all stripes, seem to be really very friendly towards Russia.

Of course, this is the reason why so many countries made plans to share the refugee load when it became clear Russia would invade Ukraine.

Far from the border forest, Minsk and Moscow dictate refugees’ fate

President Lukashenko is using a humanitarian crisis to further his own ends – but his success depends on which path Putin follows

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/13/far-from-the-border-forest-minsk-and-moscow-dictate-refugees-fate

blueshoes · 18/11/2023 13:07

Kyiv Independent Telegram highlights

⚡️Russia accused (https://kyivindependent.com/russia-accused-of-halting-pow-exchanges/) of halting POW exchanges.

⚡️Nearly 4,000 cyberattacks reported (https://kyivindependent.com/nearly-4-000-cyberattacks-reported-in-ukraine-since-start-of-war/) in Ukraine since start of war.

⚡️The Royal Norwegian Air Force scrambled F-35 fighter jets from Evenes, Norway (https://kyivindependent.com/norway-scrambles-fighter-jets-to-intercept-russian-bombers/) fighter jets to intercept Russian bombers. Russia's planes were reportedly flying close to NATO airspace.

⚡Ukrainian air defense shoots down (https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-air-defense-shoots-down-all-drones-near-kyiv/) nearly a dozen Shahed drones near Kyiv launched by Russian forces from multiple directions.

⚡Air Force reports (https://kyivindependent.com/air-force-reports-downing-29-out-of-38-russian-shahed-drones-overnight/) downing 29 out of 38 Russian Shahed kamikaze drones overnight launched in waves from south and southeastern directions.

⚡Russia seeks to ban (https://kyivindependent.com/russia-seeks-to-ban-lgbtq-movement-as-extremist/) LGBTQ movement as 'extremist' and causing "social and religious discord."

⚡Military: Russia prepares (https://kyivindependent.com/military-russia-prepares-another-avdiivka-offensive/) another Avdiivka offensive in an attempt to encircle the town.

⚡Ukrainian athlete Svitnala Samuliak 20 wins (https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-athlete-wins-3-gold-medals-at-world-junior-championships/) gold medals at women's weightlifting World Junior Championships.

⚡Border guards (https://kyivindependent.com/border-guard-service-2-800-trucks-blocked-due-to-strikes-on-polish-ukraine-border/): 2,800 trucks blocked due to strikes on Polish-Ukrainian border.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 45
TheABC · 18/11/2023 13:55

Phillip O'Brien published a good piece today about the Dnipro bridgehead.
https://open.substack.com/pub/phillipspobrien/p/weekend-update-55-ukrainian-forces?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=615mx

TL:DR; it's good stuff but the game changer will be a fixed bridge for supplies. Obviously that would be difficult to maintain because it would be the first thing the Russians target. Also: depressingly, the USA is hanging back on supplies that would actually end the war because either they don't understand what's required to win, or else they want to descalate to prevent Russia losing face.

My take: Either way, Europe needs to look to it's own defences instead of the USA and redevelop military tech and factories. Ukraine's admission to the EU will accelerate that process.

I bloody well wish I could say the same for the UK.

Weekend Update #55 Ukrainian Forces Across the Dnipro

Also: Do we want Ukraine to "win" is the real question; Ukraine-Russia War Talk returning very soon.

https://open.substack.com/pub/phillipspobrien/p/weekend-update-55-ukrainian-forces?r=615mx

TheABC · 18/11/2023 13:58

Also here is a 🌺with my thanks for the calm, civil discussions on this thread. It's such a contrast to the mess on the Gaza/Israel threads.

RedToothBrush · 18/11/2023 15:56

TheABC · 18/11/2023 13:58

Also here is a 🌺with my thanks for the calm, civil discussions on this thread. It's such a contrast to the mess on the Gaza/Israel threads.

I gave up on them.

Too many fuck nuggets of all persuasions.

PerkingFaintly · 18/11/2023 16:31

Just posted this elsewhere, but I think it's relevant for this thread too.

While politicians made comparisons with Nazi-era graffiti to "out" Jews in their homes, investigators pointed out the Stars of David were randomly distributed, with no obvious Jewish connection in the choice of buildings.
Also the message in the medium was confusing. Conceivably a blue Israeli flag, or what immediately evokes it, could be seen as a pro-Jewish sign. Surely any genuine antisemite would have found a clearer way of expressing their hate.
Having caught and questioned two Moldovan nationals in connection with the first wave of stencils, French police and intelligence services now suspect the operation may be a classic piece of Russian dezinformatsiya(disinformation).
[...]
According to Le Monde newspaper, the graffiti operation is linked to a longstanding Russian propaganda network known as Doppelgänger.
In June Le Monde wrote a series of articles about Doppelgänger, which it said used computer bots to deluge social media with fake news postings. At the time the main purpose was to undermine faith in Western policy on Ukraine.
According to Le Monde, both couples who stencilled the Star of David graffiti were accompanied by a photographer whose job was to put the images straightaway online. The newspaper says the images first appeared only on accounts linked to the Doppelgänger network.
[...]
As for the purpose of Operation Star of David, like all dezinformatsiya it seems to have been to sow confusion and anxiety. The fact that the symbol could be either pro- or anti-Israeli made it all the more interesting: that way both sides would be suspicious.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67360768

A woman walks past a building tagged with Stars of David in Paris

Star of David graffiti in Paris - the Russian connection

Around 250 blue Stars of David - similar to the one on the Israeli flag - appeared on Paris buildings.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67360768

MissConductUS · 18/11/2023 18:39

Also: depressingly, the USA is hanging back on supplies that would actually end the war because either they don't understand what's required to win, or else they want to descalate to prevent Russia losing face.

It's a good article, but he misses the point here. The Pentagon does know how to win wars. When they get screwed up, it's because of the political constraints and objectives that are imposed by whoever is commander in chief at the moment. The US Army wanted to withdraw from Afghanistan after Al Queda was largely destroyed. They had the Taliban where they wanted them - defending fixed positions. The decision to stay was political, as has been the drip, drip, drip of weapons into Ukraine.

I don't think anyone in the US armed forces gives a rat's ass about Russia losing face.

Crispedia · 18/11/2023 18:56

The decision to stay was political, as has been the drip, drip, drip of weapons into Ukraine.

What are the political reasons? Thank you.

MissConductUS · 18/11/2023 19:54

Crispedia · 18/11/2023 18:56

The decision to stay was political, as has been the drip, drip, drip of weapons into Ukraine.

What are the political reasons? Thank you.

The decision to stay in Afghanistan was I think, mainly down to concern by the public and, hence, politicians, that if the government there fell back in the hands of the Taliban, it would be the base for future terrorist attacks on the US. This made no sense militarily. Afghanistan could be closely monitored and dealt with if it became threatening again. Americans at the time were deeply shocked by the 9/11 attacks, and neither Bush nor Obama considered withdrawing for that reason. It wasn't until 2011, when Bin Laden was killed that it became possible politically.

Regarding Ukraine, the ostensible reason was to avoid Russian escalation elsewhere, but this also never made sense militarily. Russia needed all of its conventional capabilities in Ukraine. It had nothing to spare to attack Europe, and doing so would have ended the war in short order with the destruction of the Russian Army. And I don't think that Putin wanted Ukraine badly enough to risk nuclear war over it. He is, above all, a survivor.

I think that the American people are also weary of armed conflict after Iraq and Afghanistan and a feeling that Europe should be taking the lead in Ukraine, given the geographic proximity. But Europe was unprepared to do so, having let its military forces and industrial base atrophy after the fall of the Soviet Union. There's some understandable resentment in the US about Europe being overly reliant on the US militarily, so that's also a factor politically.

You're welcome. 😁

Crispedia · 18/11/2023 21:03

Thanks @MissConductUS, v helpful answers.

blueshoes · 18/11/2023 23:38

Kyiv Independent Telegram highlights

⚡Armenian PM warns (https://kyivindependent.com/armenian-pm-warns-against-further-azerbaijans-aggression/) of threat of military aggression from Azerbaijan.

⚡Media: Kazakhstan blocks (https://kyivindependent.com/media-kazakhstan-blocks-russian-tv-portal/) Russian TV portal Russia's Sputnik24 service, which broadcasts Russian state-controlled television channels. The reason given by authorities was that the Russian television channels didn't have a license to operate in Kazakhstan.

⚡Media: Another Georgian volunteer fighter killed (https://kyivindependent.com/media-another-georgian-volunteer-killed-in-ukraine/) in combat near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast.

⚡️EU mulls plan to ban sale (https://kyivindependent.com/eu-mulls-plan-to-make-oil-tankers-harder-to-get-for-moscow/) of oil tankers to Russia.

⚡️Military intelligence denies (https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-intelligence-scoffs-at-russias-claim-that-ukrainian-ka-52-pilot-defected-with-helicopter/) Russia's claim that Ukrainian pilot defected to Russia with his aircraft. Earlier the same day, Russian state news agency TASS claimed that a Ukrainian Ka-52 helicopter pilot named Oleksiy Voyevoda supposedly flew over into Russian territory.

⚡️Russian Shahed drones strike (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-shahed-drones-strike-from-the-north/) from the north threatening Sumy and Poltava oblasts. Alerts were also activated in Chernihiv, Kyiv and Cherkasy oblasts after drones were observed moving westward.

⚡️Ukrainian government delivers (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-drone-program-delivers-new-batch-of-2000-units-to-front-lines/) 2,000 Ukrainian-produced drones to front lines. These include varied fixed wing and copter designs for reconnaissance, dropping bombs and kamikaze missions.

⚡️Orban rails against Ukraine, says Kyiv is 'light years' away from EU membership (https://kyivindependent.com/orban-rails-against-ukraines-eu-membership-says-country-is-light-years-away/).

⚡️Explosions heard in Kyiv.
⚡️Air defense units engage (https://kyivindependent.com/kyiv-oblast-air-defenses-engaged-russian-shahed-drones/) Russian drones in Kyiv Oblast.

⚡️Media: Convicted war criminal Girkin, a warlord who is currently in pre-trial detention in Russia, announces (https://kyivindependent.com/meduza-arrested-operative-and-milblogger-girkin-preparing-presidential-run-in-russia/) intention to run for president. However, it would be impossible for Girkin to be registered as a candidate in the 2024 presidential election without the Kremlin's approval.

DancesWithDucks · 19/11/2023 11:40

@MMBaranova from the bottom of my heart I hope against hope that they have survived; or at the least, that you find out what happened.

DancesWithDucks · 19/11/2023 12:16

@Blueshoes and @Desdemona, thank you so much for taking over the info thing.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Dutch defense minister announces https://kyivindependent.com/dutch-defense-minister-vows-2-2-billion-worth-of-new-military-aid-for-ukraine-in-2024/ $2 billion of military aid for Ukraine in 2024.

Finland will send Ukraine 100 million euros worth of military aid in its 20th package to the country since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the Finnish Defense Ministry said in a statement on its website. https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-thanks-finland-for-new-military-aid/

⚡️Nearly 4,000 cyberattacks reported https://kyivindependent.com/nearly-4-000-cyberattacks-reported-in-ukraine-since-start-of-war/ in Ukraine since start of war.

⚡️Border guardshttps://kyivindependent.com/border-guard-service-2-800-trucks-blocked-due-to-strikes-on-polish-ukraine-border/ 2,800 trucks blocked due to strikes on Polish-Ukrainian border.

⚡️Zelensky: Kremlin is plotting a destabilization campaign against Ukraine known as "Maidan 3," aimed at sowing chaos and ultimately fomenting a coup https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-kremlin-planning-campaign-to-destabilize-ukraine-potential-coup/

The Ukrainian government has distributed more than 2,000 Ukrainian-produced drones among troops on the hottest parts of the front, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on Nov. 18. https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-drone-program-delivers-new-batch-of-2000-units-to-front-lines/

Russian forces have lost almost 3,500 soldiers, including more than 1,200 killed, as well as dozens of pieces of military hardware, in battles on the Dnipro River near Kherson, the Ukrainian Marines said on Nov. 17. https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-marines-russia-has-suffered-close-to-3-500-casualties-in-dnipro-river-battles/

⚡️Politico: Ukraine has evidence https://kyivindependent.com/politico-ukraine-has-evidence-of-109-000-russian-war-crimes-prosecutor-general-says/ of 109,000 Russian war crimes, Prosecutor General says. [and that's not including the occupied zones]

The Royal Norwegian Air Force scrambled F-35 fighter jets from Evenes, Norway on Nov. 16 in response to Russian aircraft, NATO Air Command reported on Nov. 17. https://kyivindependent.com/norway-scrambles-fighter-jets-to-intercept-russian-bombers/ [here we go again]

Belarus Weekly: Poland deploys a tank battalion near its border with Belarus https://kyivindependent.com/belarus-weekly-poland-deploys-a-tank-battalion-near-its-border-with-belarus/ Meanwhile, Belarus develops a new system that would allow it to inspect all mail coming from the European Union.

⚡️EU mulls plan to ban sale https://kyivindependent.com/eu-mulls-plan-to-make-oil-tankers-harder-to-get-for-moscow/ of oil tankers to Russia.

Bulgaria's Soviet stockpiles and large defense industry key to Ukraine's success (https://kyivindependent.com/despite-strong-russian-influence-bulgaria-to-provide-ukraine-with-arms/

Kazakh authorities have blocked Russia's Sputnik24 service, which broadcasts Russian state-controlled television channels in Kazakhstan, Kazakh media outlet Arbat Media reported on Nov. 18. https://kyivindependent.com/media-kazakhstan-blocks-russian-tv-portal/

⚡️Armenian PM warns https://kyivindependent.com/armenian-pm-warns-against-further-azerbaijans-aggression/ of threat of military aggression from Azerbaijan.

⚡️Russia calls https://kyivindependent.com/kremlin-calls-finlands-decision-to-restrict-border-with-russia-big-mistake/ Finland's decision to restrict border crossings 'big mistake.'

Ukraine's military intelligence on Nov. 18 dismissed Russia's claim that a Ukrainian military pilot fled to Russia with his aircraft. https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-intelligence-scoffs-at-russias-claim-that-ukrainian-ka-52-pilot-defected-with-helicopter/

⚡️Russia seeks to ban https://kyivindependent.com/russia-seeks-to-ban-lgbtq-movement-as-extremist/ LGBTQ movement as 'extremist'. [ bloody hell]

⚡️Energy giant DTEK calls for more air defense systems https://kyivindependent.com/energy-giant-dtek-calls-for-more-air-defense-systems-as-harsh-winter-looms/ as winter looms.

Zelensky dismissed Oleksandr Tarasovsky from his post as deputy head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service on Nov. 17, according to a presidential decree. https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-fires-foreign-intelligence-service-official/ [he does change his staff often]

⚡️French engineering company Alstom will leave https://kyivindependent.com/french-engineering-company-alstom-will-leave-russia-before-2024/ Russia before 2024.

Igor Girkin, a warlord who is currently in pre-trial detention in Russia, has told his allies to prepare a campaign for his intended run for president, Oleg Nelzin, head of a pro-Girkin political group, saidhttps://kyivindependent.com/meduza-arrested-operative-and-milblogger-girkin-preparing-presidential-run-in-russia/

⚡️New natural gas deposit discovered https://kyivindependent.com/naftogaz-says-it-discovered-new-natural-gas-site-in-western-zakarpattia-oblast/ in Carpathians, Naftogaz says.

Over 200 Russian doctors signed an open letter Nov. 18 demanding imprisoned Russian anti-war artist Alexandra Skochilenko be released due to her declining health. https://kyivindependent.com/over-100-russian-doctors-call-for-imprisoned-artists-release/ [brave men]

⚡️SBU sniper claims world record after successful 3.8 km shot. https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-sniper-claims-world-record-after-successful-3-8km-shot/

⚡️Alcohol sales banned https://kyivindependent.com/alcohol-sales-ban-announced-in-kherson-oblast/ in parts of Kherson Oblast.

⚡️15 Russian warships destroyed https://kyivindependent.com/15-russian-ships-destroyed-12-damaged-ukraines-navy-says/ 12 damaged, Ukraine's navy says.

I see the huge losses of personnel and hardware have not diminished in the last few days.

Ragnar Gudmundsson
AT ragnarbjartur

WAR IN #UKRAINE - NOV 19
■strikes & combat engagements above 7-day average,strikes below
■ 3rd highest troop losses so far, equipment losses above average
■ KIU: +61 officers (reported 2 days ago)

Ukraine Invasion: Part 45
DancesWithDucks · 19/11/2023 12:43

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

A two-day Ukrainian-American conference focusing on defense-industrial matters is scheduled to take place in Washington from December 6-7, as confirmed by Adrienne Watson, the spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council.
The conference aims to bring together representatives from American and Ukrainian industries and governments to deliberate on potential collaborations, including joint production and other forms of industrial cooperation within Ukraine.

Since August 10, 151 vessels have utilized the Ukrainian sea corridor, as mentioned by Deputy Minister of Community Development, Territories, and Infrastructure Yuriy Vaskov.
Of these ships, 121 have departed through the corridor, carrying approximately 4.4 million tons of export cargo, with 3.2 million tons comprising grain shipments.
Vaskov further highlighted that 67 vessels have been declared to enter Ukrainian ports through the maritime corridor. Among these, 46 vessels (totaling 1.7 million tons) are intended for grain exports, while 21 ships (0.6 million tons) are scheduled to transport other goods.

Finland, as a NATO member, is set to assume leadership in significant military exercises for the first time in the Baltic Sea. The exercises, titled "Freezing Winds 23," will be conducted in the Gulf of Finland and the Archipelago Sea. They are scheduled to commence on November 20 and will span a duration of 10 days.

Chancellor Scholz expressed his openness to engage in new negotiations with Putin, emphasizing the importance of initiating steps towards a potential peaceful resolution in Ukraine. [ in context, he has also supported huge amounts of German military and other aid to Ukraine]

The Pentagon has confirmed the participation of the Ministry of Defense in training Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 aircraft in the United States. This initiative involves preparing Ukrainian pilots to skillfully fly F-16 jets.

A kid is doing his homework at a Kyiv metro station during an air raid alert.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 45
DancesWithDucks · 19/11/2023 13:01

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

❗️More than 4,000 Ukrainians, including 3,574 military, are still in captivity - Ministry of Reintegration.

The Guardian reported https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/14/german-journalist-putin-hubert-seipel that Hubert Seipel, a German journalist, received €600,000 from Alexei Mordashov, an oligarch close to Vladimir Putin.
The German publishing house Hoffmann and Campe is stopping the sale of books by journalist Hubert Seipel about Vladimir Putin after an investigation revealed that the books were funded by Russia.

🇪🇺EU proposes https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-15/eu-takes-aim-at-key-machine-exports-to-russia-in-new-sanctions?srnd=europe-politics** ban on exports of machinery and parts used by Russia to make weapons used in war against Ukraine - Bloomberg

Russian oil products are bypassing the embargo and entering Greece's main refinery through Turkey.
This is Motor Oil Hellas, which also supplies fuel to the Pentagon.
The Washington Post writes https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/11/14/russian-oil-sanctions-us-greece-turkey/ about oil flows between the refinery and the Turkish oil depot in the town of Dirtol. Turkey has not imposed sanctions against Russia, so its companies have the right to accept Russian fuel, but the Greek refinery is prohibited from doing so.

Ukraine is actively increasing the production of new surface UAVs with "surprises" for Russians, - said the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

🇫🇮 Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo admits the possibility of a complete closure of the border with Russia due to the growing number of asylum seekers

Putin may receive https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/putin-grain-theft-ukraine-russia-latest-b2447644.html** another wanted list from the International Criminal Court - for trying to organize an artificial famine in Ukraine –The Independent
GRC found evidence that in December 2021, Russia purchased three huge 170-meter grain carriers to export grain by sea. The export of grain from the occupied territories also began in the first week of the occupation. At times, 12,000 tons were exported per day.
There are other signs of preparations for the export of grain.

🇸🇰Slovakia will finance https://www.sme.sk/minuta/23243899/blanar-zopakoval-ze-vlada-vojensky-ukrajine-nepomoze-firmam-branit-nebude the production of two Bozena-4 mine clearance vehicles for Ukraine. They will be delivered to the Kherson region in early 2024. Slovakia will also provide humanitarian assistance for the winter period and share its experience in demining.

🇩🇪🇺🇦 Ukraine has started negotiations on bilateral security commitments with Germany, which has become the sixth country with which they will be held - the President's Office.

Citizens of Iraq, Yemen and other countries have begun to come to Finland via Russia to seek asylum. Finland believes that Russia is doing this on purpose and even is sponsoring it financially.

🇭🇺 Hungary and Russia have signed a schedule for the construction of the Paks II nuclear power plant, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited Ukraine.

◾️Yes, you've heard that the US was confident that Kyiv would fall in 3 days. The journalist writes that Jake Sullivan even argued about it with Polish presidential secretary Jakub Kumoch, who was convinced of a Ukrainian victory. Washington finally agreed to hand over the tanks after a meeting between Biden and Duda.
◾️But the situation with the fighter jets was "not so clear". Then the Poles decided to act on their own. They disassembled 10 MiG-29s and left them in a wooded area near the border. Kyiv was informed about the "orphan" parts, which were quickly collected by our military. This happened several months before the official handover of the aircraft by the international coalition. For more details, see the thread https://twitter.com/FilippDM/status/1724171496552063182 by Filip Dąb-Mirowski, a publicist who retold these fragments.

🇷🇸 Serbia would like to take part in the reconstruction of Ukraine after the end of the war unleashed by Russia, said Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic. [why? hoping to manage to steal some of the money channeled for the reconstruction to himself and his friends?]

Struggle for resources
When Ukrainians say that we need more weapons, the West often thinks that it is a sign of ingratitude.
In fact, Ukrainians are grateful, but there is another side - how many weapons your enemy supplies to the front.

The 10 largest donors to Ukraine: EU, USA, Germany, UK, Norway, Japan, Canada, Poland, Netherlands, Denmark.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 45
Ukraine Invasion: Part 45
RosaGallica · 19/11/2023 13:08

If lurkers can ask questions of you knowledgeable types: how serious do you think the Kazakh flexings are, and where do you think that might lead? Thanks.

Im so sorry for all civilians in war.

DancesWithDucks · 19/11/2023 13:15

Good that David Cameron visited Ukraine. I wonder if anything will come out of it.

The situation with the refugees being directed towards Finland is just awful. It's horrendous that Russia deliberately puts them in this position.

blueshoes · 19/11/2023 14:48

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-18-2023

Key Takeaways:

  • Russian forces conducted a series of drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of November 17 to 18.
  • A Kyrgyzstan government official called on the Russian government to help Kyrgyz migrants in Russia against the backdrop of recent proposals from Russian government officials to decrease migrant work opportunities in Russia.
  • Courts in the Republic of Dagestan reportedly continue to charge participants of the October 29 antisemitic riots with minor administrative crimes, while select Russian ultranationalists call for increased government control in order to curb the alleged spread of Islamic extremism in Dagestan.
  • The Russian government continues efforts to restrict citizens’ access to the internet and to strengthen its control over the Russian information space.
  • The European Commission will reportedly include sanctions on the sale of petroleum tankers to Russia in an upcoming sanctions package in an effort to curb Russian schemes to skirt the G7 price cap on Russian crude oil and petroleum products.
  • Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and advanced near Avdiivka and Donetsk City.
  • Russia has reportedly frozen prisoner of war (POW) exchanges with Ukraine since the summer of 2023. [Inhumane but not surprising considering how little Russia cares for its soldiers. Is Russia trying to discourage defections or surrender by their troops by sending the message you won't come back?]
Ukraine Invasion: Part 45
blueshoes · 19/11/2023 14:59

@DancesWithDucks No worries at all. Welcome back. Always good to be reminded how much work you put into the daily takeaways, so thank you my feathered friend.

That homework kid Flowers. He is doing what he can at his age. My own dcs don't know they are born.

MagicFox · 20/11/2023 09:23

Struggled to not get very cross with this interview with Mearsheimer who is wedded to his position end of. Posting in case it's of interest. Host does nothing to push against JM's position on Putin and Russia: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lex-fridman-podcast/id1434243584?i=1000635266947

OP posts: