Ukraine Invasion: Part 50

[MagicFox]

Welcome, with love and thanks to all contributors and lurkers. Unbelievably, we’re on thread 50. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

Interesting thread just popped up in AIBU regarding Starmer’s commitment to funding Ukraine……

Is it the one about liking Keir?

No it’s literally about the commitment to multi-year funding of Ukraine.

There are some real agitators on there as well, repeating asking the same question.

Ah I've found it! Good on those of you fighting the good fight - it's exhausting

There are some real gems on there as well. Hamstersarse is a particularly good one.

Oh I've always thought the UK's many family ties to India is a plus. As far as I can see, it hasn't been making either country a client of the other, but might form a good basis for talking even when we disagree.

That might be in my imagination though.

I haven't looked at that thread, but recognise that name. That poster is a long-time contrarian. If you say black, they will say white, just for the hell of it. They brag about doing things to wind up their neighbours, just because.

They might genuinely believe things, but they make clear they've reached those positions by plumping for contrarian sources as a matter of principle.

Very much, "I was going to vote X, but the bloke in the carpark annoyed me and he's voting X, so I will vote Y."

I always think about this sort of thing: "Mm, OK, it's your own future you're voting for here, but you crack on and let others push you around so easily..."

Anyway, there is never any point arguing directly with them, because disagreement is what they feed on.

That thread is rather encouraging - quite a few different posters and almost all pro-funding Ukraine's fight, in the comments. The poll comes out a bit differently but I suspect some of the anti-funders are not good-faith posters.

I use MN on the app so I can't vote in the poll

With the NATO summit in the headlines we can expect lots of less than genuine engagement I expect.

I notice X keeps telling me that WWIII and Bidenisawarcriminal are trending. Bollocks, each has about 15k tweets (fucking Harry Kane has 147k!)

I use the app too (which also means you can't 'thank' people for posts which is a bit annoying) but you can sign in on the website, I just did and voted.
It currently stands at 56% YABU for disputing the need to support Ukraine vs
44% YANBU for questioning the funding.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

️⚡️F-16s from Netherlands, Denmark on their way to Ukraine https://kyivindependent.com/transfer-of-f-16s-from-netherlands-denmark-underway-to-ukraine-blinken-announces/ Blinken announces.

⚡️Netherlands allocates https://kyivindependent.com/netherlands-allocates-nearly-325-million-for-purchasing-f-16-munitions-for-ukraine/ * * nearly $325 million to F-16 munitions for Ukraine.

⚡️ 'China is a decisive enabler of Russia's illegal war against Ukraine,' Stoltenberg says. https://kyivindependent.com/china-is-a-decisive-enabler-of-russias-illegal-war-against-ukraine-stoltenberg-says/
NATO allies agree that Beijing is a "decisive enabler" of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on July 10 at the alliance's summit in Washington.
China as a threat to NATO's interests and security was mentioned in the joint member states' statement, which Stoltenberg called "the first time that all NATO members state this so clearly in an agreed document."

⚡️Russia faces 6th straight month of price growth https://kyivindependent.com/russia-faces-6th-straight-month-of-price-growth-bloomberg-reports/ Bloomberg reports.
Russia is facing its sixth straight month of growing prices that particularly impact the cost of food and fuel, Bloomberg reported on July 10, citing data from Russia's Federal Statistics Service.

⚡️NATO leadership affirms https://kyivindependent.com/nato-leadership-clarifies-ukraines-irreversible-path-toward-membership/ Ukraine's 'irreversible' path toward membership.

⚡️Poland won't shoot down Russian missiles https://kyivindependent.com/poland-will-not-comply-with-kyivs-request-to-shoot-down-russian-missiles-flying-towards-ukraine/ over Ukraine without NATO's decision.
Poland will not comply with Ukraine's request to shoot down Russian missiles heading for western Ukraine without a decision by the entire NATO, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on July 10.

⚡️ EU members blasted Orban https://kyivindependent.com/eu-members-blasted-orban-over-moscow-trip/ over rogue diplomacy but pitched no ways to rein him in, media reports.

⚡️ Ukraine wants to hold 2nd peace summit https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-wants-to-hold-2nd-peace-summit-with-russia-before-us-presidential-election-bloomberg-reports/ before US election, Bloomberg reports.

⚡️ Russia says it won't attend Ukraine's second peace summit. https://kyivindependent.com/russia-second-peace-summit/

⚡️ Orban to meet Trump https://kyivindependent.com/orban-to-meet-trump-in-florida-time-reports/ in Florida after NATO summit, Time reports.

⚡️Ukraine to receive 18 Denmark-funded Bohdana artillery https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-to-receive-18-denmark-funded-bohdana-artillery-units-within-months-copenhagen-says/ units 'within months,' Copenhagen says.

⚡️ Foreign partners have pledged $675 million https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-promised-675-million-for-defense/ to Ukraine for domestic arms production.
Kyiv has sought to convince allied countries to donate arms to Ukraine's military via direct purchases from Ukrainian companies, as Kyiv's defense budget does not match the capacities of domestic weapons production.

⚡️ Kyiv, US arms company agree to set up NATO-standard ammunition production. https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-us-arm-company-agree-to-set-up-nato-standard-shell-production/
Ukraine's state-owned company, Ukrainian Defense Industry (Ukroboronprom), signed an agreement with the U.S. weapons manufacturer Northrop Grumman on ammunition production, the Presidential Office said on July 11.

⚡️ Drone coalition plans to set up fund for Ukraine https://kyivindependent.com/drones-for-ukraine/ with first pledge of $49 million.

⚡️Canada pledges https://kyivindependent.com/canada-pledges-nearly-370-million-in-military-aid-for-ukraine/ nearly $370 million in military aid for Ukraine.

⚡️ Sweden open to sending Gripens https://kyivindependent.com/sweden-ready-to-send-gripen-fighter-jets/ to Ukraine after 'F-16 program completed,' FM says.

⚡️X marks Bellingcat investigation into Russian hospital strike on Kyiv as 'potentially spammy or unsafe https://kyivindependent.com/x-marks-bellingcat-investigation-into-russian-hospital-strike-on-kyiv-as-potentially-unsafe/

⚡️Ukraine foreign minister meets https://kyivindependent.com/kuleba-meets-hungarian-counterpart-after-orbans-peace-mission-to-kyiv-moscow/ Hungarian counterpart after Orban's 'peace mission' to Kyiv, Moscow.

⚡️ Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade says it halted Russian advance toward Borova https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-3rd-assault-brigade-says-it-halted-russian-advance-in-direction-of-kharkiv-oblasts-borova/ in Kharkiv Oblast.

⚡️ Kyiv detains cargo vessel for allegedly shipping Ukrainian grain from occupied Crimea. https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-detains-foreign-cargo-ship-shipping-ukrainian-grain-from-crimea/

⚡️More than 23,000 Ukrainians have illegally entered https://kyivindependent.com/more-than-23-000-ukrainians-have-illegally-entered-moldova-since-beginning-of-full-scale-invasion-rfe-rl-says/ Moldova since beginning of full-scale invasion, RFE/RL says.

⚡️Russia labels https://kyivindependent.com/russia-labels-moscow-times-an-undesirable-organization/ Moscow Times an 'undesirable organization.'

⚡️Ukrainians raise https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainians-raise-nearly-7-million-in-less-than-2-days-to-restore-childrens-hospital-damaged-in-russian-attack/ nearly $6 million in less than 2 days to restore children's hospital hit in Russian missile attack.

Ground zero: How a Ukrainian boy battling cancer and his mother survived Russia’s missile strike on children’s hospital https://kyivindependent.com/ground-zero-how-a-ukrainian-boy-battling-cancer-and-his-mother-survived-russias-missile-strike-on-kyivs-top-childrens-hospital/
At about 10:30 on the morning of July 8, just minutes before a Russian missile slammed into Kyiv’s main hospital for children, 4-year-old Dima Dorontsov was waiting to receive his final dose of chemotherapy at the oncology department with his mother Viktoria Zavoloka alongside

Opinion: How corrupt is public procurement https://kyivindependent.com/opinion-how-corrupt-is-public-procurement-in-ukraine/ in Ukraine?
Ukraine introduced Prozorro, an electronic procurement system implemented in 2016, as part of broader reforms to increase transparency and combat corruption.

⚡️Russia attacks city of Voznesensk in Mykolaiv Oblast, killing 1, injuring 8, including mayor.
⚡️Boy evacuated from Kyiv hospital hit by Russian missile attack dies https://kyivindependent.com/boy-dies-in-hospital-after-russian-july-8-attack-on-kyiv/
⚡️ Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 5, injure 14 over past day.

Nearly 60 artillery gone again.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
‪

• JUL 11, 2024

■ Combat engagements at 7-day average while casualties are below it ■ Equipment losses slightly above average; good artillery losses ■ Shelling stays at a high level & strike ratio in the double digits

⚡️Poland won't shoot down Russian missiles https://kyivindependent.com/poland-will-not-comply-with-kyivs-request-to-shoot-down-russian-missiles-flying-towards-ukraine/ over Ukraine without NATO's decision.
Poland will not comply with Ukraine's request to shoot down Russian missiles heading for western Ukraine without a decision by the entire NATO, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on July 10.

I'd be interested to know where this came from. The Poles seemed quite forward leaning and this feels like they're putting the breaks on a bit. Perhaps a rebuke from others within NATO?

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

The USA is discussing with Ukraine the possibility of permitting the use of American long-range weapons for strikes deep into Russia.

President Zelenskyy Met with Speaker Johnson and the US Senate Delegation

The NATO summit decided to establish the NATO Support and Training Unit for Ukraine (NSATU) to coordinate the provision of military equipment and training by member countries and partners of the Alliance.

Valerii Zaluzhnyi began work as ambassador to Great Britain, — Suspilne

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a security agreement in Washington with Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met for the first time with the newly appointed Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof.

"In the morning, I read about the permission to use Storm Shadow missiles against military facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation. Today, we had the opportunity to discuss the practical implementation of this decision." President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held his first meeting with the new Prime Minister of Great Britain, Keir Starmer, on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

The United States will deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles and other long-range weapons systems in Germany.

Norway will allocate $92.6 million to support Ukraine's air defense.
"Ukrainians need more air defenses to protect their population from Russian bombs and missiles," said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Lithuania announced that it sent a new batch of military aid to Ukraine, which included anti-drone equipment, 5.56x45 mm ammunition and folding beds.

🇺🇦 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that admitting new members to NATO requires consensus, but the steps currently being taken will facilitate Ukraine’s membership when the time is right.

Russia has been continuously using glide bombs against civilians, infrastructure, the military, and their positions in Ukraine. In the last month alone, it launched two FAB variants that had never been seen before in the war. What are they, and how can Ukraine defeat them?
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/fab-glide-bombs-one-of-russias-main-tools-of-aggression-1157

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

✈️The first F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands are "on their way" to Ukraine, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken says https://www.holosameryky.com/a/blinken-f-16/7692354.html The planes will arrive this summer
"As we speak, the transfer of F-16s is underway, coming from Denmark, coming from the Netherlands," the Secretary of State said.
A joint statement https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/07/10/joint-statement-on-f-16s-for-ukraine-from-u-s-president-joseph-r-biden-dutch-prime-minister-dick-schoof-and-danish-prime-minister-mette-frederiksen/ by the US president and the prime ministers of the Netherlands and Denmark also said that the F-16 transfer process is "underway."
▪️Also speaking at an event on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, Blinken said that over the next few days, he would present a "powerful package" for Ukraine that would build a "strong bridge" to Ukraine's NATO membership.

🤡Medvedev thinks https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2024/07/10/medvedev-prizval-gotovitsya-k-polnomu-zahvatu-ukraini-posle-podpisaniya-mira-s-kievom-a136344 Russia needs to prepare for a full capture of Ukraine after a peace deal

🇨🇦 Canada will provide Ukraine with a $367 million military aid package. The contents of the package are not disclosed.
The country is also ready to provide medical aid to those affected by the Russian attack on the Okhmatdyt hospital in Kyiv.

This is the menu of a UN luncheon hosted by Russia the day after Russian forces bombed a children's cancer hospital in Kyiv.

The Russian embassy in Washington D.C. was lit up with the message 'child killers'

The USA is discussing with Ukraine the possibility of permitting the use of American long-range weapons for strikes deep into Russia.

President Zelenskyy Met with Speaker Johnson and the US Senate Delegation

😁

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5102261-ukraine-invasion-part-50?reply=136672281&utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share&utm_source=copylink

Ive posted this on the other thread, but things are hotting up:

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/11/politics/us-germany-foiled-russian-assassination-plot/index.html

US intelligence discovered earlier this year that the Russian government planned to assassinate the chief executive of a powerful German arms manufacturer that has been producing artillery shells and military vehicles for Ukraine, according to five US and western officials familiar with the episode.
The plot was one of a series of Russian plans to assassinate defense industry executives across Europe who were supporting Ukraine’s war effort, these sources said. The plan to kill Armin Papperger, a white-haired goliath who has led the German manufacturing charge in support of Kyiv, was the most mature.
When the Americans learned of the effort, they informed Germany, whose security services were then able to protect Papperger and foil the plot. A high-level German government official confirmed that Berlin was warned about the plot by the US.

Rheinmetall. The CEO Papperger is a hero

Rheinmetall are working very closely with Ukraine. I imagine they'll be working even more closely with them from now on.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-10-2024

Key Takeaways:

• Ukrainian First Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General Ivan Havrylyuk stressed that robust Western security assistance will be crucial for Ukraine's ability to contest and seize the battlefield initiative. Havrylyuk also challenged the notion that Russian forces will be able to indefinitely sustain the consistent gradual creeping advances that support Russian President Vladimir Putin's theory of victory for winning a war of attrition in Ukraine.
• Ukrainian forces are already attempting to contest the battlefield initiative in limited and localized counterattacks at the tactical level — emphasizing that the current state of grinding positional warfare along the frontline is not an indefinitely stable one.
• Havrylyuk assessed that Russia will face medium- to long-term economic and equipment challenges that will impede the Russian military's ability to indefinitely retain the theater-wide initiative, sustain consistent offensive pressure that results in gradual creeping advances, and win a war of attrition.
• Putin's articulated theory of a slow, grinding victory in Ukraine is notably premised on accepting continuously high casualty rates, as exemplified by reported Russian losses accrued during two recent offensive efforts.
• NATO allies reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine and announced new security assistance packages for the Ukrainian war effort at the NATO summit in Washington, DC on July 9 and 10.
• Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev reaffirmed that Russia would not accept or uphold any negotiated peace settlements with Kyiv short of Ukrainian capitulation, the destruction of the entire Ukrainian state, and the full occupation of Ukraine.
• Servicemembers of a Russian motorized rifle regiment that was previously implicated in the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in late May 2024 reportedly executed two Ukrainian POWs in the same area in western Zaporizhia Oblast in June 2024.
• Select US military bases in Europe have instituted increased alert levels in response to intensified Russian sabotage and hybrid operations against NATO allies over the past several months.
• Russian forces recently advanced in Vovchansk, near Kreminna, and near Toretsk.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed on July 10 that the Russian military trained the first batch of Moscow Military District (MMD) counter-drone instructors at the Alabino training ground in Moscow Oblast.

No UK Ministry of Defence update today but I am loving the new UK secretary of state for Defence John Healey. He has jumped straight into Ukraine and put it front and centre. He gets it.

x.com/DefenceHQ

🙏🙏🙏

You predicted as much @MissConductUS !

There is an eyewitness statement from Monday’s attacks on the maternity and children’s hospitals on today’s Ukraine the Latest. Absolutely heartbreaking but feels very important to hear 💔

The latest Biden gaffe is excruciatingly bad. He just introduced Zelenskyy as “President Putin” at a NATO event. He quickly realised and Zelenskyy had the good grace to laugh it off but it was a serious clanger.