Ukraine

[AnBr]

www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/07/pink-floyd-reform-to-support-ukraine

[LFC]

Equipment destruction update:

3/18 : 1574 (244) 20.3%
3/19 : --
3/20 : 1616 (254) 21.7%
3/21 : 1662 (263) 21.9%
3/22 : 1676 (268) 22.3%
3/23 : 1721 (271) 22.6%
3/24 : 1785 (280) 23.3%
3/25 : 1831 (289) 24.1%
-- 7 days --

3/26 : 1920 (300) 25.0%
3/27 : --
3/28 : 2015 (318) 26.5%
3/29 : 2059 (331) 27.6%
3/30 : 2104 (345) 28.8%
3/31 : --
4/01 : 2175 (359) 30.0%
-- 14 days --

4/02 : --
4/03: 2394 (410)
4/04: 2414 (416)
4/05: 2433 (425)
4/06: 2516 (434)
4/06: 2573 (450)
4/07: 2614 (449)
-- 21 days --

Looks like they slipped a tank but over 1,000 pieces of heavy equipment in just 3 weeks is a lot of losing. I wonder how many casualties Russia has experienced including the poor soldiers they irradiated.

[LFC]

Slovakia transferred a Russian made S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. In return President Biden is replacing it with a Patriot missile defense system.

Slovakia has transferred an S-300 missile defense system to Ukraine, fulfilling one of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's top requests to help the country defend itself against Russia's bombing campaign.

Why it matters: Zelensky pleaded in an address to the U.S. Congress last month for the U.S. and its European allies to impose a no-fly zone or give Ukraine the ability to "close the skies" itself by facilitating the transfer of Soviet-era fighter jets or anti-aircraft systems.

The latest: President Biden thanked the Slovakian government in a statement Friday and said the U.S. will reposition a Patriot missile system to Slovakia.

• The Patriot missile system will be manned by U.S. service members at the invitation of the Slovakian government.

• "This deployment of Patriot capabilities to Slovakia aligns perfectly with our previous efforts to bolster NATO’s defensive capabilities and to demonstrate our collective security requirements under Article 5 of the NATO treaty," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

[LFC]

I'd be interested in reading the WSJ article if any of you can get to it. The descent from decent people who are soldiers in a difficult situation to paranoid, sadistic, pathological monsters in such a short time is a horrific story.

I want to strongly commend this article in The Wall Street Journal on Bucha to your attention. It’s very hard to read and also a near masterpiece of narrative reporting. We’ve all seen the pictures and the horrors of this town. And there’s been claims of organized mass killing and even a plan of organized genocide. This account provides a more complicated but no less horrifying account. As we’ve heard from other towns, Russian soldiers were initially reasonably behaved and even polite to Ukrainian civilians in the town. Some confided with locals that they weren’t sure why there were or what the point of the war was. But over time discipline began to break down. And Russian soldiers became increasingly suspicious that Ukrainian civilians were communicating their positions to Ukrainian soldiers and irregulars. This became a bigger concern as the Russian offensive bogged down. “They saw a spotter in every person who lived on the fifth floor,” one Bucha resident told the Journal, “They saw a commando in each of us.”

The Russian occupiers began ordering curfews and threatening to shoot anyone on the street on sight, which they increasingly did. Locals reported smelling alcohol on the breath of Russian soldiers at checkpoints. Sometimes they would simply shoot people after they showed their documents. What they describe can best be described as a descent into rage, paranoia and indiscipline in which Russian soldiers became paranoid that all the civilians were reporting their positions to the Ukrainian Army (which in some cases they likely were) and also taking out their anger over the growing failure of the invasion on the civilian population. Men of military age were stripped naked to look for military tattoos or the kinds of bruising that could indicate recent use of firearms. Men they suspected of being involved in the military resistance would be found dead on the street in the morning. By the end they were simply killing people to instill terror.

This may seem like in some ways exonerating the Russian soldiers, like well, they just got scared and acted out. Believe me, it’s not that. But what you can see most clearly is that the same lack of professionalism and training, endemic corruption and dehumanizing propaganda about Ukraine and Ukrainians that led to the failure of the Russian invasion also led to the mass killings of civilians when the mission began to fail.

Really, if you have a subscription, read this one.

[LFC]

They intentionally slaughtered civilians at a train station as they tried to flee. They're little more than sadistic butchers at this point. Clearly any military discipline they might have had is gone.

A few minutes before it became clear that women, children and elderly people were among the at least 39 dead and nearly 100 known to be injured when a missile struck the Kramatorsk train station in eastern Ukraine, Russian soldiers were bragging about the hit on Telegram.

The missile struck the main evacuation center in the area and seemed to herald the beginning of an intensified offensive that Russia warned was coming.

Minutes later, the messages, which included claims to have successfully obliterated “a crowd of Ukrainian militants at the Kramatorsk railway station,” were edited or disappeared altogether, according to several accounts by journalists in the region.

[andydp]

How about a "feel good" story ?


Meet the 1,300 librarians racing to back up Ukraine’s digital archives

In early March, two weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Carrie Pirmann stumbled upon a website dedicated to Ivan Mazepa, a 16th century Ukrainian politician and patron of the arts. A 44-year-old librarian at Bucknell University, Pirmann had joined an international effort of fellow archivists to preserve the digital history of a country under siege, and the contents of Mazepa’s website, though obscure, seemed worth saving.

The site held a number of things: Lord Byron poems written about Mazepa’s life and a catalogue of centuries-old articles detailing his various conquests. Pirmann opened her website scraping tool, backing up the site and preserving its content.

Now, the original website is lost, its server space likely gone to cyberattacks, power outages or Russian shelling. But thanks to her, it still remains intact on server space rented by an international group of librarians and archivists.

“We’re trying to save as much as possible,” Pirmann said. “Otherwise, we lose that connection to the past.”


unitednewspost.com/news/technology/meet-the-1300-librarians-racing-to-back-up-ukraines-digital-archives/

PS:  Based on their track record, I wonder if the Hobby Lobby folks are sending out "agents" to pick up stray pieces...

[LFC]

It was bad enough that Russian soldiers metaphorically dug their own graves around Chernobyl but it also looks like a bunch of them decided to bring death and illness back home.

Russian soldiers that ransacked the Chernobyl nuclear site after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine took “souvenirs” with them from laboratories that were highly radioactive and deadly, Ukraine’s state nuclear company said Saturday. “These ‘heroes’ take the Darwin award from those doomed Russians who breathed in dust in the Red Forest,” Energoatom said in a statement on Telegram. In addition to looting computers and equipment, the Russian troops “unauthorizedly entered a repository of ionizing radiation sources” and “stole and damaged 133 sources with a total activity of about 7 million becquerels,” the nuclear company said, noting that “this is comparable to 700 kg of radioactive waste with the presence of beta and gamma radiation.” Citing the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management, the company said it was believed the Russian soldiers took the “deadly” items “as souvenirs.” But if they were hoping to bring these souvenirs back home to impress their friends, they’re in for a surprise, as “carrying such a souvenir with you for two weeks will inevitably lead to radiation burns, radiation sickness and irreversible processes in the body,” according to Energoatom.

[LFC]

Putin has changed commanders.

After a series of tactical failures in his unprovoked war against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has named a new general to lead his war efforts. Army General Alexander Dvornikov, who commands Russia’s Southern Military District, has been assigned the task of leading the so-far failing war, according to CNN. The move comes after Russia’s failure to capture the capital city Kyiv, according to various sources quoted by CNN. It is unclear whether Russia will make a second attempt on the capital or concentrate efforts on the Donbas region. The 60-year-old combat veteran led Russia’s efforts in Syria, where they saw considerable success.

The amount of troop loss has taken a real toll. They're trying to find troops wherever they can.

Russia is bungling its war against Ukraine so badly that they may call up retired troops to replace them, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence. “In response to mounting losses, the Russian armed forces seek to bolster troop numbers with personnel discharged from military service since 2012,” the ministry’s daily readout read. Russia may also try and bolster its flailing numbers by using troops from a Moldova region, the ministry said. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted on Friday that the country faced “significant” losses in Ukraine in what he called “a tragedy for us.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian citizens have been digging mass graves for the thousands of civilian casualties killed by Russian troops.

[goldenvalley]

Apr 11, 2022 17:23:02 GMT LFC said:

Putin has changed commanders.

After a series of tactical failures in his unprovoked war against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has named a new general to lead his war efforts. Army General Alexander Dvornikov, who commands Russia’s Southern Military District, has been assigned the task of leading the so-far failing war, according to CNN. The move comes after Russia’s failure to capture the capital city Kyiv, according to various sources quoted by CNN. It is unclear whether Russia will make a second attempt on the capital or concentrate efforts on the Donbas region. The 60-year-old combat veteran led Russia’s efforts in Syria, where they saw considerable success.

The amount of troop loss has taken a real toll. They're trying to find troops wherever they can.

Russia is bungling its war against Ukraine so badly that they may call up retired troops to replace them, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence. “In response to mounting losses, the Russian armed forces seek to bolster troop numbers with personnel discharged from military service since 2012,” the ministry’s daily readout read. Russia may also try and bolster its flailing numbers by using troops from a Moldova region, the ministry said. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted on Friday that the country faced “significant” losses in Ukraine in what he called “a tragedy for us.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian citizens have been digging mass graves for the thousands of civilian casualties killed by Russian troops.

Putin will end up destroying both Ukraine and Russia economically.

[jackd]

If his experience in Syria presages anything, it will likely involve massive bombardment of cities even worse than has already been experienced. Ukraine needs offensive weapons to take out the fire bases that are the source of the bombardments including ships and airfields.

[LFC]

Apr 11, 2022 18:32:45 GMT jackd said:

If his experience in Syria presages anything, it will likely involve massive bombardment of cities even worse than has already been experienced. Ukraine needs offensive weapons to take out the fire bases that are the source of the bombardments including ships and airfields.

At which point Putin will freak that Russia is under threat of invasion by Ukraine or some such nonsense. Remember how they howled because Ukraine managed to take out one fuel depot inside Russia?

This is how a world war or major WMD assault end up happening. Putin built this and the options for other countries are all bad. Meanwhile Republicans still have trouble calling out this monster. Once the dust settles on what could end up being tens if not hundreds of thousands of bodies the GOP will be all about sucking up to him again.

[jackd]

The alternative is to let Putin have whatever he wants.

[LFC]

Apr 11, 2022 19:30:14 GMT jackd said:

The alternative is to let Putin have whatever he wants.

That's AN alternative. There are lots of alternatives that involve varying degrees of support. They all suck, including going hands-off. That one in particular sucks because as the old book title goes, "If You Give Mooscow a Muffin"...

[jackd]

The alternative is to let Putin have whatever he wants.

[indy]

Apr 11, 2022 19:06:04 GMT LFC said:

Apr 11, 2022 18:32:45 GMT jackd said:

If his experience in Syria presages anything, it will likely involve massive bombardment of cities even worse than has already been experienced. Ukraine needs offensive weapons to take out the fire bases that are the source of the bombardments including ships and airfields.

At which point Putin will freak that Russia is under threat of invasion by Ukraine or some such nonsense. Remember how they howled because Ukraine managed to take out one fuel depot inside Russia?

This is how a world war or major WMD assault end up happening. Putin built this and the options for other countries are all bad. Meanwhile Republicans still have trouble calling out this monster. Once the dust settles on what could end up being tens if not hundreds of thousands of bodies the GOP will be all about sucking up to him again.

It is how world wars start. People never quite comprehend how quickly wars escalate. Here's to hoping that once the dust settles it isn't radioactive.

[jackd]

Since all alternatives suck, any opinion out there as to what alternative is the least sucky? We do have to choose something.

[LFC]

Apr 11, 2022 20:10:10 GMT jackd said:

Since all alternatives suck, any opinion out there as to what alternative is the least sucky? We do have to choose something.

I think we're on as good a path as we can be at this juncture. Ship Ukraine piles of military supplies and give them any support we can without actually sending troops onto the battlefield. I'd be afraid of going any further than that because Putin is nuckin' futs.

[jackd]

How about offensive weapons to let them attack fire bases?

[indy]

Actually NATO has begun to supply offensive weapons. I'm not so convinced of the wisdom of it.

[LFC]

Apr 11, 2022 22:06:26 GMT jackd said:

How about offensive weapons to let them attack fire bases?

I would if they are reasonable to send. Some systems are too complex without a lot of training but if they can be workably deployed then yes. Did you see my post that Slovakia sent a Russian anti-missile system to Ukraine, which they already know how to use, and we're replacing it with a Patriot Missile system and training? I'd like to see more deals like that to help Ukraine quickly and efficiently.

[jackd]

Yes, and my point is that, like the attack on the fuel depot inside Russia, Ukraine should have the capability to attack Russian targets that are war related. The notion that an invading country gets immunity from counterattacks cannot be allowed to stand.

[LFC]

Equipment destruction update:

3/18 : 1574 (244) - start
--
3/25 : 1831 (289) -  7 days
4/01 : 2175 (359) - 14 days
4/07 : 2614 (449) - 21 days
--
4/12 : 2770 (479) - 26 days

[indy]

[andydp]

Apr 12, 2022 20:17:20 GMT indy said:

It’s nice to read intelligent comments. I have friends who think the US is “not doing much”. Oh well.
I saw that railroad sabotage. Very well done. Notice how the tracks are knocked out but the abutments and other structures are still intact.
As I’ve said, this has got to be a big playground for every NATO special ops command.

[andydp]

I'm putting this here because it references a lot of Ukrainian issues.  Then again, we see the amazing pivot from Russia is wonderful to Ukraine is the new "evil empire".  Mostly because, supporting war crimes and blatant aggression is not good PR for your cause.

Right-wing switchback: "National conservatives" dump Putin, want to claim Ukraine


www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/right-wing-switchback-national-conservatives-dump-putin-want-to-claim-ukraine/ar-AAWaMbt?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=87f196dee6e04349a9edbde5ec3732bf