Ukraine Invasion: Part 47

[MagicFox]

Welcome to thread 47. Thanks as usual to all for the information, guidance and solidarity.

**
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

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

Thanks for that, really helpful. To be honest I’m just god he didn’t commit any major faux pas!

Interesting reporting of a potential terror attack in Moscow imminently.

How is Grant Shapps shaping up in the UK? Ben Wallace was a hell of a hard act to follow but Shapps is in Kyiv at the moment and making the right noises. Is he genuinely as effective and pro-Ukraine as Wallace?

Biden spoke cogently and coherently for an hour or so, and without getting any notable figure confused with any other.

Can anyone imagine Trump managing that? Even at his political best, back in 2015 or so, he rambled off onto irrelevancies, and of late he's had trouble remembering which year it is or who is the current president (two of the basic questions they ask people after they have had a stroke and may have got brain-damage).

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

Sweden officially joins NATO https://kyivindependent.com/sweden-officially-joins-nato/

Czech President Petr Pavel said on March 7 that after Norway had joined the Czech-led allied initiative on purchasing 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine, the required funds were collected, Czech outlet CT24 reported. https://kyivindependent.com/czech-president-ukraines-allies-collected-required-funding-to-purchase-800-000-shells/

⚡️Top Chinese envoy visits https://kyivindependent.com/top-chinese-envoy-visits-ukraine/ Kyiv, meets Ukrainian officials.

⚡️Lithuania transfers (https://kyivindependent.com/lithuania-transfers-155-mm-artillery-shells-to-ukraine/) 155-mm artillery shells to Ukraine. https://kyivindependent.com/lithuania-transfers-155-mm-artillery-shells-to-ukraine/

⚡️Military: Russian forces intensify attacks near Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. https://kyivindependent.com/military-russia-resumes-activity-in-orikhiv-sector-in-zaporizhzhia-oblast/

⚡️Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov announced on March 7 that local authorities would conduct mandatory evacuation of residents living in communities near Kupiansk. https://kyivindependent.com/governor-announces-mandatory-evacuation-kupiansk/
All residents will be evacuated from 57 settlements, Syniehubov said. All children along with a parent or legal guardian will be evacuated from 18 settlements in Velykoburlutska and Vilkhuvatska communities. * *

⚡️ US Embassy in Russia warns of potential terror attack in Moscow over next 48 hours.
The U.S. Embassy in Russia issued a warning on March 7 that "extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow" and urged American citizens to stay away from concentrations of people over the next 48 hours.
The embassy did not specify what kind of threats they referred to, or who might be behind them. The U.K.'s Embassy in Russia also repeated the advisory issued by the U.S.

⚡️India identifies 'major human trafficking network' luring Indians https://kyivindependent.com/india-identifies-major-human-trafficking-network-luring-indians-to-fight-for-russia-in-ukraine/ to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
The news came after multiple media reports said that Indian men who came to Russia for work or tourism were then coerced into joining the war against Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on March 7 that it had summoned U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy and warned against "attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation," ahead of Russia's presidential election. https://kyivindependent.com/russia-summons-us-ambassador-threatens-diplomats-with-expulsion/

Zaluzhnyi appointed as Ukrainian ambassador to UK https://kyivindependent.com/zaluzhnyi-to-become-ukrainian-ambassador-to-uk/

⚡️UK pledges $416 million to buy 10,000 drones for Ukraine. https://kyivindependent.com/uk-pledges-416-million-to-purchase-over-10-000-drones-for-ukrainian-forces/

⚡️ European Parliament committee passes extension of tariff-free access to EU https://kyivindependent.com/european-parliament-committee-passes-extension-of-tariff-free-access-to-eu-for-ukrainian-food-producers/ for Ukrainian food producers.
At the same time, an "emergency brake" was added that would impose tariffs if the export of poultry, sugar, and eggs exceeded the level of exports in 2022 and 2023, the press release from the European Parliament said.

Zelensky will meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on March 8 in Turkey, the Turkish Presidency said on X. The two leaders will discuss Russia’s war, the Black Sea grain deal, and bilateral relations, according to the announcement.

⚡️Moldova signs defense deal with France https://kyivindependent.com/moldova-signs-defense-deal-with-france-macron-pledges-unwavering-support-against-russian-threat/ Macron pledges 'unwavering support' against Russian threat.
The bilateral defense pact lays the groundwork for future military training, intelligence sharing, and increased defense consultation between the two countries. [Macron's suddenly got a real fire for holding Russia at bay]

⚡️ Norway pledges over $150 million https://kyivindependent.com/norway-contributes-153-million-to-czech-led-ammunition-initiative-for-ukraine/ to Czech ammunition initiative for Ukraine.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that while the deployment of combat troops is not currently being discussed, there is the possibility that France will send military personnel to Ukraine to train Ukrainian troops or participate in mine-clearing operations. https://kyivindependent.com/french-troops-in-ukraine/

⚡️ US Democratic congressmen open investigation into Musk's SpaceXhttps://kyivindependent.com/us-democratic-congressmen-open-investigation-into-musks-spacex-russian-alleged-usage-of-starlink/ demanding information on Russian alleged usage of Starlink.

⚡️ Governor: Explosions reported in Russian-occupied cities in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. https://kyivindependent.com/governor-explosions-reported-in-russian-occupied-cities-in-zaporizhzhia-oblast/

⚡️Zelensky signs decree on transferring some conscripts to reserve https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-signed-decree-on-transferring-conscripts-to-reserve-in-spring-2024/ in spring 2024.

⚡️Finland sentences businessman https://kyivindependent.com/finland-sentences-businessman-to-9-months-probation-for-evading-sanctions/ to 9 months probation for evading sanctions.

Ragnar Gudmundsson

WAR IN #UKRAINE - MAR 8, 2024
■ Fewerstrikes reported but more settlements under artillery fire
■ Weekly casualties 18% above previous week, equipment 41% above
■ Most vehicle losses in 2024 so far
■ Oryx: 3215added; 30-day ratio at 2.1x

fecking brilliant news about the 800,000 shells finally being funded.

He’s utterly hopeless. He’s had at least 5 Cabinet roles that I can remember and is the definition of Jack of all trades master of none. He’s a classic politician, knows what noises to make and sucks up the arses of the right people.

Ugh. An ooze then.

Yes agree he's awful

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Istanbul for a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Poland has record exports to Belarus. Part of it goes to Russia, — Weekly Chart.
According to UN Comtrade, Poland shipped $2.9 billion worth of goods to Belarus and $3.7 billion to Russia in 2023. If in the case of the aggressor country exports collapsed, the volume of goods sales to Belarus, after a slight slump in early 2022, gradually grew and reached a record level at least since 2000.

Most Russian and Belarusian citizens in Lithuania work for Russian special services.
"Most Russian and Belarusian citizens who own companies in Lithuania have direct business contacts in Russia and Belarus. Their firms purchase equipment manufactured in the West and supply it to Russian or Belarusian companies, institutions and research organizations operating in strategic spheres,"the report of the counterintelligence Department of State Security and the Military Intelligence and Security Service under the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania.
Sanctions circumvention schemes have also been organized by Russian citizens who do not conduct business in Lithuania but have received a residence permit. They usually act as intermediaries, trying to establish contacts with Lithuanian companies that sell or manufacture equipment needed by Russia. Russian special services are involved in organizing the import of sanctioned goods," the report says.

Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis has arrived in Kyiv.

Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home are set to return to Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the temporarily occupied Mariupol, Russians plan to open a "Museum of Liberation" dedicated to the "modern history of Donbas and Novorossiya."
They will narrate about the liberation of the city from the Nazis and display trophies collected in the occupied Ukrainian regions.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Congress's failure to approve additional aid to Ukraine is "nothing but a gift" to Putin, Iran and other Washington adversaries

Today, Ukrainians honor the memory of Hero of Ukraine Dmytro "Da Vinci" Kotsiubailo.
He spent his youth on the barricades and in the trenches, and was one of the first to go to the front in 2014, defending his land from the Russian occupiers. He became the first volunteer to be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.
Dmytro Kotsiubailo, the commander of the Da Vinci Wolves battalion, was killed on March 7, 2023, while executing a combat mission. His death was an irreparable loss for Ukraine.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇨🇭The upper house of the Swiss parliament supported the government's proposal to provide Ukraine with frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank. The amount is more than $8 billion. The lower house approved this project last year.

Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleshchuk said that after significant losses in aviation, Russians have significantly reduced the number of strikes with guided bombs and the Ukrainian military has not seen an A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft near the Ukrainian border for more than a week

🇨🇦🇺🇦 Canada has joined the Drone Coalition and will improve Ukraine's drone capabilities. https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-defense-nationale/nouvelles/2024/03/le-ministre-blair-accueille-au-canada-le-ministre-de-la-defense-de-la-lettonie-andris-spruds-et-se-joint-a-la-coalition-visant-a-fournir-des-drones.html
The Drone Coalition for Ukraine is led by Latvia and the United Kingdom. It will provide thousands of drones worth $250 million.

Yesterday morning a drone hit the Severstal plant in the city of Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast, Russia
Earlier, the company's CEO said that a "technological incident" had occurred at the plant. https://t.me/liveukraine_media/18867

🇺🇸🇨🇳 In the United States, military sergeant Korbein Schultz was detained on charges of selling classified information to China
Counterintelligence believes https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdtn/pr/us-army-intelligence-analyst-arrested-and-charged-conspiracy-obtain-and-disclose that since June 2022, he has been passing on to his contact in Hong Kong information about US plans in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, data on hypersonic weapons and US technical capabilities, as well as the war in Ukraine. Schultz received $42,000 for dozens of secret recordings.

This is what the "Women Changing the World Forum" looks like in Russia

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-7-2024

Key Takeaways:

• Lithuanian intelligence assessed that Russia has the capability to continue sustaining the current tempo of its war in Ukraine and will likely have the capability to gradually expand its military capabilities in the near term.
• Lithuanian intelligence also assessed that Russia is unlikely to abandon its long-term objectives of subjugating Ukraine even if Russian fails to achieve these objectives through military means.
• Lithuanian intelligence assessed that Russia is preparing for confrontation with NATO in the long term while also waging its war in Ukraine.
• Sweden formally joined NATO on March 7, becoming the 32nd member of the alliance. [welcome!]
• The governor of the pro-Russian Moldovan autonomous region Gagauzia, Yevgenia Gutsul, met with Russian Presidential Administration Deputy Head Sergei Kiriyenko in Russia on March 7 as Moldovan authorities announced that a criminal case against Gutsul will soon go to court.
• Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated Chinese calls for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on March 7; Russia will likely continue to use such calls to promote long-standing information operations aimed at prompting Western concessions.
• The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on March 7 that it neutralized an Islamic State (IS) terrorist cell that had been preparing an attack on synagogues in Moscow.
• Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Kupyansk and Donetsk City amid continued positional engagements along the entire line of contact on March 7.
• Russian intelligence services likely continue to source and operate sanctioned precision machine tools and dual-use components to produce Russian military equipment.

I had to laugh at the Russian "Women Changing the World Forum".

Just to repeat yet again - brilliant news about the Czech shells being funded!

Ducks, Shapps is best described as distinctly average and instantly forgettable. He is no Ben Wallace 😢

and for all.

I'm sorry I'm not adding any value at the moment, but I still check in daily and really appreciate all your work.

Yes beige is definitely the colour of Grant Schapps.

Given however that the Tories are about to get their arses handed to them in the next General Election we should probably be reflecting on the Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey. His latest speech on defence issues can be found here John Healey's speech: 'Labour's plan for defence in a more dangerous world' – read and watch in full - LabourList

Good to hear you're still around :)

Don't always say much either - the pity and awfulness of it are dragging me down a bit, so im being careful sometimes.

"Macron's suddenly got a real fire for holding Russia at bay"

There's always been more going on in the background than I think many are prepared to give him credit for..what's changed recently is he (or his advisors) have realised more openly supporting Ukraine/being anti-Putin has the potential for making life difficult for the likes of LePen and also many on the political left in France.

Oh goodness, got to look after your mental and emotional health, Ducks. And everyone.

Marathon not a sprint, and all that. Breaks are a necessity.

And with that in mind, have another

The breakdown of the State of the Union address by the DSR Netowrk (apologies won’t let me link) is really good and I’d recommend listening to it. Takeaway is they feel the speech set just the right tone and hit all the key points. They also reiterated what we said earlier about just how on it Biden was considering he spoke for 70 mins and often ad-libbed. They particularly liked the fact he has now lent into the age issue and acknowledged that yes he’s old but age comes with experience.

On the flip side they suggested Katie Britt’s response was a grotesque mix of the stepford wives and the handmaids tale and pointed out Mike Johnson’s response has been to insult the back of Biden’s head (essentially his hair isn’t as good from the back 😂)

Johnson gurning made him look a lot worse than it made Biden look, I feel. Has the man no dignity whatever?

I believe grumpy elf on a booster seat was what the DSR guys compared Mike J to 😂

Sorry, I'm losing track and probably being dense, but what's DSR?

Deep state radio podcast

The Deep State Radio. It’s an American based podcast, you can find it on Spotify or Apple I think 😊 sorry my linking wasn’t working.