ALERT RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE - Consolidated Thread

northern watch

TB Fanatic
US Media Begins Calling To Expel Turkey From NATO As Finland, Sweden Seek Entry

BY TYLER DURDEN
ZERO HEDGE
TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022 - 06:05 PM

An op-ed in CNN this week has called on NATO to expel Turkey if it doesn't agree to admit new applicants Finland and Sweden into the Western military alliance. Ankara has so far appeared to slam the door on the prospect, calling the Scandinavian nations "terror supporters" over the outlawed Kurdish PKK issue.

The piece by David Andelman, a member of the influential Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), begins by lashing out at both Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Hungary's Viktor Orbán. "Russian President Vladimir Putin has just enough allies in just enough places to throw a wrench in the efforts of Western alliances to thwart his ambitions -- deepening the wedge between member states that suits his purposes to a tee," it begins.


Image via Reuters


Andelman argues that both these countries - with Turkey being NATO's second largest military behind the United States - threaten the West's unified front in standing up to Putin.

"With these kinds of useful friends in Orban and Erdogan, Putin may be perfectly positioned to continue on his current path in Ukraine or beyond -- with impunity," he writes, further calling them "lone strongmen" who have managed to "burrow their way deeply into democratic executions." It should be noted as an aside that we didn't see any anti-Erdogan arguments from Andelman as the Turkish strongman helped execute America's proxy war against Assad in Syria - in fact, quite the opposite.

Back to the present and US policy in Ukraine, Andelman questinos: "So, what to do about these toxic delays being forced by Hungary and Turkey? The answer is sadly simple -- play the same game Putin's been playing for years. When you can't win by traditional rules, go around them."

He argues for ignoring Erdogan and Orban until the inevitable diplomatic crisis among allies that is sure to ensue leads to their complete exit from NATO and the EU...

In this case, do carve-outs. Make Orban and Erdogan irrelevant. All 26 other EU members should simply implement the oil embargo. And NATO should simply pave the way for Sweden and Finland's accession.
What's the worst Hungary or Turkey could do -- sue? Pull out? There was a lot of thought given toward banishing Turkey from NATO anyway -- especially after Erdogan bought Russian S-400 air defense systems from Russia three years ago.

Quoting Harvard international relations professor Robert I. Rotberg, Andelman adds that "The 'unanimity' rule was foolish to begin with and now is the time to test it." Indeed all 30 NATO states would have to achieve consensus to admit a new member. But instead, Sweden and Finland seeking fast-tracked entry is more that likely going to result in tying NATO (and the EU, regarding the oil embargo question) up "in knots".

Some other prominent pundits, such as the below Toronto Sun columnist, have lately been arguing the same...

With Russia's war and aggression in Ukraine being increasingly presented to the Western public as an 'existential threat' to democracy and peace, it's likely calls for isolating Turkey especially in the context of the Finnish and Swedish membership bids will only grow.

US Media Begins Calling To Expel Turkey From NATO As Finland, Sweden Seek Entry | ZeroHedge
 

bobfall2005

Veteran Member
Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko tells Mariella Frostrup that Ukrainian troops have pushed Russian soldiers around Kharkiv back over the Russian border. --- Times Radio brings you the latest breaking news, expert analysis and well-informed discussion on the biggest stories of the day.

8:16
Ukraine Reaches the Russian Border | Lesia Vasylenko
182,415 views
May 16, 2022

View: https://youtu.be/YBOOluS2L6o
Ukrainian recon in small Russian village, a bit ago. (Sorry bad spelling.)
 
Last edited:

Walrus

Veteran Member
...in totally unrelated news...



Disclose.tv
@disclosetv


JUST IN - U.S. Air Force says it successfully test-fired a hypersonic weapon from a B-52 bomber off the Southern California coast.
Talking with a Lockheed Martin engineer this afternoon - after the first widely-publicized failure of the first flight (due to a "software sequencing issue" - this makes two subsequently successful tests since then. Something I didn't know - LM writes more lines of code in a year than Microsoft or Apple.
 

Walrus

Veteran Member
Azovstal has fallen, Russia now has it's land bridge to the Crimea

The above should be the world's headlines!
Russia had its land bridge anyway; a single steel plant in Mariupol wasn't going to block that when they were buried underground and the rest of the city was fallen. These journalists just need to learn to read a map instead of watching Twatter 24 hours a day.
 

Nowski

Let's Go Brandon!
I tried to copy the image, but was off the board for nearly 6 months,
and simply forgot many aspects of the board software.

This image really makes me sad, as it would anyone on this board.

The lady lost her husband, and the sons lost their father,
because of the ZUSA, not Russia, ZUSA.

The war between Russia and Ukraine, could have been avoided,
if the neocons, libcons, war mungers, and the military industrial
complex in Washington DC, had stayed out of the internal affairs
of Ukraine.

Russia was paying Ukraine transit fees on their gas lines,
that are in Ukraine, and also paying Ukraine lease fees for
their the home port in Sevastopol, for their Black Sea fleet,
which has been there for more than a hundred years.

A strong and neutral Ukraine, would have been the obvious
best solution, but it was not to be. NATO had to be extended
to the Ukraine border of Russia.

Always in some other nations business. Entire Middle East
has been set on fire, Sandbox and Rock Garden failed wars,
Serbia nearly destroyed, along with Libya.

There is no doubt, that the ZUSA, is the most war mongering
nation that has ever existed. How many military bases does
The Russian Federation have outside their territories,
and how many does the ZUSA have?

Just now, ZUSA troops being sent back into Somalia,
and for what reasons? ZUSA had no damned business,
being in Somalia.

Eventually and hopefully soon, the chickens will come home
to roost in the ZUSA, for the poor people in Ukraine,
and in Russia.

Presidents Washington and Eisenhower, spinning in their graves,
their profound advice, completely ignored by the American people.

May The Most High GOD, have mercy on our souls.

Please be safe everyone. Load and stack mags as best you can.

Regards to all.

Nowski
 

northern watch

TB Fanatic
I tried to copy the image, but was off the board for nearly 6 months,
and simply forgot many aspects of the board software.

This image really makes me sad, as it would anyone on this board.

The lady lost her husband, and the sons lost their father,
because of the ZUSA, not Russia, ZUSA.

The war between Russia and Ukraine, could have been avoided,
if the neocons, libcons, war mungers, and the military industrial
complex in Washington DC, had stayed out of the internal affairs
of Ukraine.

Russia was paying Ukraine transit fees on their gas lines,
that are in Ukraine, and also paying Ukraine lease fees for
their the home port in Sevastopol, for their Black Sea fleet,
which has been there for more than a hundred years.

A strong and neutral Ukraine, would have been the obvious
best solution, but it was not to be. NATO had to be extended
to the Ukraine border of Russia.

Always in some other nations business. Entire Middle East
has been set on fire, Sandbox and Rock Garden failed wars,
Serbia nearly destroyed, along with Libya.

There is no doubt, that the ZUSA, is the most war mongering
nation that has ever existed. How many military bases does
The Russian Federation have outside their territories,
and how many does the ZUSA have?

Just now, ZUSA troops being sent back into Somalia,
and for what reasons? ZUSA had no damned business,
being in Somalia.

Eventually and hopefully soon, the chickens will come home
to roost in the ZUSA, for the poor people in Ukraine,
and in Russia.

Presidents Washington and Eisenhower, spinning in their graves,
their profound advice, completely ignored by the American people.

May The Most High GOD, have mercy on our souls.

Please be safe everyone. Load and stack mags as best you can.

Regards to all.

Nowski
Now that you mention Serbia

Serbia's capital Belgrade paralyzed by numerous bomb threats
Belgrade has been targeted with a series of bomb threats, including threats against schools, bridges, restaurants and the airport
By The Associated Press
16 May 2022, 11:59

BELGRADE, Serbia -- Belgrade was targeted by a series of bomb threats on Monday, including threats against schools, bridges, restaurants and a soccer match, bringing rush hour traffic to a standstill in the Serbian capital.

Police said in a statement that no explosive devices were found after different searches. It was not immediately clear who was behind the purported emailed threats.

Nearly 100 elementary schools were evacuated after the threats, as well as several restaurants, including McDonald's and shopping malls, bridges, a zoo, the airport, a railway station and the water supply company.

A soccer premiership game was postponed as police searched the stadium.

Police have blocked traffic over the bridges during the rush hour, creating a huge gridlock.

“Even though the threats seem to be false, we should not take them lightly,” said Branko Ruzic, a Serbian government minister.

Authorities have not stipulated who is behind the threats that have been recorded over the past several days with gradually increased intensity.

Serbian tabloids said all the threats "came from abroad as a sign of pressure” for Serbia's refusal to introduce sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The reports could not be independently verified.

National airline Air Serbia has faced several bomb threats in the past months after being the only European company, besides Turkish carriers, to maintain regular flights to Russia despite a Western flight embargo
.

Serbia's pro-Russian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin said “Serbia is the target of a special warfare that comes from different European addresses.”

Serbia's capital Belgrade paralyzed by numerous bomb threats - ABC News (go.com)
 

jward

passin' thru
I put THE DRIVE's article on the Winds of War thread--- iirc he claimed this was the first success of three, though I don't recall definition of success, and my brain doesn't work when I have soup in front of me
..but yer lucky, only defense engineer I talk to is too busy tryin to lure me away to exotic locales to tell me anything actually useful or interesting :jstr:

Talking with a Lockheed Martin engineer this afternoon - after the first widely-publicized failure of the first flight (due to a "software sequencing issue" - this makes two subsequently successful tests since then. Something I didn't know - LM writes more lines of code in a year than Microsoft or Apple.
 

jward

passin' thru

jward

passin' thru
Samuel Ramani
@SamRamani2



Russia is moving to designate the Azov Regiment as a terrorist organization The Russian Supreme Court will hear the case on May 26



Russian MP Leonid Slutsky calls for the execution of Azov Battalion fighters in Mariupol: “They do not deserve to live after the monstrous crimes against humanity that they have committed and that are committed continuously against our prisoners"
 

jward

passin' thru
Samuel Ramani
@SamRamani2

15h

Nikolay Patrushev is now pushing the conspiracy that Russia invaded Ukraine to stop a Western-backed coup against Vladimir Putin Patrushev is ramping up the "colour revolution" regime change hysteria in Russia

~~~~~~

RT chief Margarita Simonyan on McDonalds withdrawal from Russia: “Somehow they knew how to fry cutlets in Russia a long time ago, long before your brilliant managers came here”
 

jward

passin' thru


@IcanArgue


Bloomberg reported that Turkey in exchange for supporting Sweden and Finland to join NATO has put out several demands, including:
1f53b.svg
re-entry into the F-35 program,
1f53b.svg
approval of a new package of purchases of US F-16 fighter jets, #NATO #Finland #Sweden Continued... 1/2
1f53b.svg
protection from sanctions over its purchase of Russia's S-400 air defense systems,
1f53b.svg
commitment from Sweden and Finland to declare the Kurdistan Workers' Party as a terrorist organization.


With enough finesse it's a win-win for Turkey; a nice pocketful o' 'carrots' from the west, and some good will from RU.
..not being a squeaky wheel here would, in effect, leave "$$$" on the table:shr:
 

jward

passin' thru
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 17

May 17, 2022 - Press ISW
ISW%20LOGO%20FINAL%20ACRONYM%20%20%20NAME_ISW%20LOGO%20FINAL%20ACRONYM%20NAME%20CMYK_412.png

Download the PDF

Kateryna Stepanenko, Frederick W. Kagan, and George Barros
May 17, 7:00 pm ET
Mariupol defenders trapped in the Azovstal Steel Plant likely surrendered after Ukrainian officials negotiated evacuation measures with the Kremlin. Russian forces began evacuating wounded Ukrainian forces to Russian-occupied settlements in Donetsk Oblast on May 16 after the Russian Defense Ministry proposed the agreement earlier in the day. Ukrainian officials said that they will seek to return the Mariupol defenders to Ukraine in a prisoner exchange and continue to undertake appropriate measures to rescue all Ukrainian servicemen from Azovstal.
The Kremlin might have agreed to the conditional surrender of the Azovstal defenders to accelerate Russia’s ability to declare Mariupol fully under its control. The Ukrainian Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported that the Russian Defense Ministry’s Department of Information and Mass Communications is hastily preparing a press tour of foreign journalists through occupied territories of Ukraine between May 18 and May 21.[1] The Kremlin also could have agreed to such a deal to secure a victory in order to deflect criticism on social media of the failed Russian Siverskyi Donets River crossings and the overall slow pace of the invasion.
The Kremlin might refuse to exchange the Mariupol defenders. Some Russian State Duma members are petitioning to pass laws that would prohibit prisoner exchanges for individuals accused of “Nazism.”[2] Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin claimed that the Mariupol defenders must be charged with war crimes and cannot be exchanged for Russian prisoners of war.[3] The Kremlin may ignore the Russian State Duma’s concerns or use them to sabotage negotiations with Ukraine.
The surrender agreement generated some outrage and confusion on pro-Russian social media, rather than the celebration of the full capitulation of Mariupol that the Kremlin likely expected—possibly undermining Russian information operations. Some Russian Telegram channels ridiculed the Russian Defense Ministry for negotiating with Ukrainian “terrorists” and “Nazis.”[4] Some bloggers criticized the Donetsk People’s Republic for organizing the evacuation proceedings and blamed negotiating authorities for creating conditions for Ukrainian martyrdom.[5] Several Russian bloggers also called for the imprisonment or murder of surrendered Ukrainian servicemen.[6] Russian audiences are likely dissatisfied with the surrender agreement because they expected Russian forces to destroy Ukrainian defenders at Azovstal. The Kremlin has created large amounts of propaganda that portrayed successful Russian assaults on Azovstal without clearly setting conditions for surrender negotiations. Some Russians may find it difficult to reconcile the triumphant messaging with the abrupt negotiations leading to a negotiated surrender.
Russian forces have intensified artillery fire on Ukrainian border settlements in Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts over the past few weeks. The Ukrainian Northern Operational Command reported that Russian forces shelled the border between Sumy Oblast and Russia over 70 times on May 17.[7] Sumy Oblast Administration Head Dmytro Zhyvytskyi said that Russian saboteurs unsuccessfully attempted to break through the Ukrainian border on May 17.[8]
Key Takeaways
  • The Ukrainian military command ordered the remaining defenders of Azovstal to surrender, likely conditionally, in hopes of returning them to Ukraine as part of yet-to-be-negotiated prisoner exchanges.
  • The announcement of the likely conditional surrender generated outrage in the Russian information space and demands in the Russian Duma for laws prohibiting exchanging the surrendered defenders of Azovstal.
  • Russian forces continued to make limited advances in Donbas, primarily focused on setting conditions for the Battle of Severodonetsk.

We do not report in detail on Russian war crimes because those activities are well-covered in Western media and do not directly affect the military operations we are assessing and forecasting. We will continue to evaluate and report on the effects of these criminal activities on the Ukrainian military and population and specifically on combat in Ukrainian urban areas. We utterly condemn these Russian violations of the laws of armed conflict, Geneva Conventions, and humanity even though we do not describe them in these reports.
ISW has updated its assessment of the four primary efforts Russian forces are engaged in at this time. We have stopped coverage of supporting effort 4, “Sumy and northeastern Ukraine,” because it is no longer an active effort.

  • Main effort—Eastern Ukraine (comprised of one subordinate and three supporting efforts);
  • Subordinate main effort- Encirclement of Ukrainian troops in the cauldron between Izyum and Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts
  • Supporting effort 1—Mariupol;
  • Supporting effort 2—Kharkiv City;
  • Supporting effort 3—Southern axis.
Main Effort—Eastern Ukraine
Subordinate Main Effort—Southern Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk Oblasts (Russian objective: Encircle Ukrainian forces in Eastern Ukraine and capture the entirety of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas)

Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to improve their tactical positions south of Izyum to resume offensive operations in that sector. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces are replenishing troops and accumulating reserves to renew their drive on Slovyansk.[9] Russian forces likely did not secure the highway east of Dovhenke—a village approximately 30 km south of Izyum; that highway is necessary to continue the advance toward Slovyansk. Russian aviation attacked Ukrainian positions near Izyum, and Russian ground forces made limited territorial advances in the Lyman district.[10] Ukrainian artillery reportedly destroyed Russian equipment just 15 km north of Izyum on May 17.[11]
Russian forces continued their efforts to secure highways to Lysychansk from the south and Bahmut from the east with insignificant progress. Russian forces advanced a small distance north of Popasna in an effort to reach a major road connection to Severodonetsk.[12] The Luhansk People’s Republic claimed to have seized Novozvanivka just southwest of Popasna on the way to the Bahmut-Lysychansk highway but have likely not entered the settlement judging from reports of Russian shelling in the area, which suggest that Ukrainian defenders are still there.[13] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted an unsuccessful assault on a settlement 6 km southeast of Severodonetsk on May 17.[14]
Russian forces may be pushing hard to win the Battle of Severodonetsk in part to forestall emerging criticism of the Russian military campaign in the domestic information space. Russian State Duma Deputy from the Communist Party Viktor Sobolev expressed surprise over the lack of significant victories in Donbas compared to a number of successful operations in 2014.[15] Sobolev said that Russian forces must finally finish up the “special military operation” in Donbas and at least create an effective cauldron (encirclement) in Severodonetsk. Sobolev also criticized the Russian command for initiating a large-scale offensive operation without destroying Ukrainian strike capabilities. Luhansk Oblast Head Serhiy Haidai claimed that Russian forces are committing most of their combat power to a shallow encirclement to reassure the Russian population of Russian successes in Ukraine.[16] Pro-Russian Telegram channels began celebrating the arrival of a BMPT “Terminator” urban warfare vehicle in Severodonetsk’s vicinity, portraying it as a Russian wonder weapon.[17]
Russian forces also conducted a series of unsuccessful ground assaults in western Donetsk Oblast on May 17. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to seize a segment of the N20 highway to Slovyansk east of Avdiivka.[18] Russian forces also reportedly attempted to advance in settlements east of Avdiivka but did not make any territorial gains.[19] Russian forces attempted to break Ukrainian defenses and reach the N15 highway to Zaporizhia without success.[20]

Supporting Effort #1—Mariupol (Russian objective: Capture Mariupol and reduce the Ukrainian defenders)
The Ukrainian military command ordered defenders at the Azovstal Steel Plant to surrender to Russian forces.[21] Russian officials likely accepted the Ukrainian surrender and evacuated over 260 wounded servicemen on May 16. The Ukrainian Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) announced that Ukrainian officials will attempt to negotiate prisoner exchanges for Mariupol defenders and undertake further unspecified measures to rescue the remaining servicemen.[22] The Russian Defense Ministry posted videos of a mass evacuation of the Azovstal on May 17, but ISW cannot confirm if all of Mariupol’s defenders left the plant.[23] Reuters reported that at least seven buses with Ukrainian servicemen who did not appear wounded left Mariupol on May 17.[24] Russian media also filmed the Donetsk People’s Republic forces reportedly demining Azovstal.[25]

Supporting Effort #2—Kharkiv City (Russian objective: Withdraw forces to the north and defend ground lines of communication (GLOCs) to Izyum)
Ukrainian forces continued to push the remaining Russian forces northeast of Kharkiv City on May 17. Kharkiv Oblast Administration Head Oleg Synegubov reported that Russian forces are attempting to repel Ukrainian counteroffensives in the direction of Vovchansk, a border settlement approximately 90 km northeast of Kharkiv City.[26] Ukrainian forces are continuing to threaten Russian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) to Izyum via Vovchansk. Pentagon officials noted that Russia may still hold positions close to Kharkiv City, likely referring to occupied settlements along the Belgorod-Kharkiv highway in the north.[27] Ukrainian forces downed a Russian attack helicopter just east of Kharkiv City on May 16.[28]

Supporting Effort #3—Southern Axis (Objective: Defend Kherson against Ukrainian counterattacks)
Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations throughout the southern axis on May 17.[29] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces continued to reinforce defense lines with concrete structures and fired on Ukrainian positions.[30] The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Russian forces prevented a large-scale Ukrainian counteroffensive in a settlement approximately 30 km west of the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, but ISW cannot independently verify these claims.[31]
Russian forces are continuing to pressure Ukrainian civilians into accepting Russian occupation in southern Ukraine. The Zaporizhia Military Administration reported that Russian forces are preparing for a referendum in Enerhodar.[32] The Ukrainian Southern Operational Command said that Russian forces are continuing to set information conditions to promote the creation of a proxy republic or a Russian province in occupied settlements of Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts.[33] The Ukrainian Resistance Center reported that locals found two Russian soldiers dead in Melitopol, likely due to Ukrainian partisan activity in the area.[34]
Russian forces continued to launch rocket- and airstrikes on Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts in an effort to disrupt transportation infrastructure in the region. The Ukrainian Southern Operational Command reported that Russian forces launched two cruise missiles at a bridge over the Dniester estuary on May 17.[35] The bridge connects Odesa Oblast with the highway to Romania and has reportedly been damaged and out of operation for over two weeks. Russian forces likely seek to destroy the bridge beyond the possibility of repair to disrupt Ukrainian supply lines from Romania. The Ukrainian Southern Operational Command also reported that Russian forces struck maritime infrastructure 70 km southwest of Mykolaiv Oblast.[36]

Immediate items to watch
  • Russian forces will likely complete their withdrawal from the vicinity of Kharkiv City but attempt to hold a line west of Vovchansk to defend their GLOCs from Belgorod to Izyum. It is unclear if they will succeed.
  • The Russians will continue efforts to encircle Severodonetsk and Lysychansk at least from the south, possibly by focusing on cutting off the last highway connecting Severodonetsk-Lysychansk with the rest of Ukraine.
 

jward

passin' thru
[1] View: https://www.facebook.com/DefenceIntelligenceofUkraine/posts/314082754236485

[2] Накануне.RU
[3] Vоенкор Котенок Z
[4] Стрелков Игорь Иванович; Стрелков Игорь Иванович Накануне.RU
[5] Стрелков Игорь Иванович
[6] Сладков +
[7] Политика Страны
[8] View: https://www.facebook.com/DPSUkraine/posts/340151164890427;
Дмитро Живицький (Dmytro Zhyvytskyy)
[9] View: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/319091590403926
; View: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/318752420437843

[10] View: https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1526209845837418498
Mash View: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/318752420437843;
Народная милиция ДНР ; https://dan-news dot info/defence/poselok-drobyshevo-na-severe-dnr-osvobozhden-ot-ukrainskih-okkupantov-zajavil/
[11] View: https://twitter.com/Blue_Sauron/status/1526531875744915457

[12] https://realist dot online/news/karta-boevykh-dejstvij-v-ukraine-po-sostojaniju-na-14-maja; https://voennoedelo dot com/posts/id23472-9z3emj9r2plahl9de7rn; Военный Осведомитель
[13] Сергій Гайдай/ Луганська ОДА (ОВА)
[14] View: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/318752420437843

[15] Накануне.RU
[16] Сергій Гайдай/ Луганська ОДА (ОВА)
[17] View: https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1525749683334922247
Форпост
[18] View: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/319091590403926

[19] View: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/318752420437843;
View: https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1526299474439684097;
View: https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1526497335903240193
Неофициальный Безсонов "Z"
[20] View: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/318752420437843;
View: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/319091590403926;
Log into Facebook

[21] Log into Facebook
[22] Facebook Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG5BxVuAo4Q&ab_channel=%D0%A3%D0%BA%D1%8...; https://hromadske dot ua/posts/inshogo-sposobu-poryatunku-vijskovih-z-azovstali-nizh-zdijsnyuyetsya-zaraz-nemaye-minoboroni
[23] Vоенкор Котенок Z Vоенкор Котенок Z; Vоенкор Котенок Z; Накануне.RU
[24] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/surrendered-ukrainian-fighters-leav...
[25] Военный Осведомитель
[26] Политика Страны
[27] https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3033452/pent...
[28] https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1526240874014855168 ; https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1526302579092869121 Нацгвардія – Війна за МИР⚡
[29] Log into Facebook

[30] Log into Facebook; Запорізька обласна військова адміністрація Запорізька обласна військова адміністрація Log into Facebook
[31] Минобороны России ; Vоенкор Котенок Z
[32] Запорізька обласна військова адміністрація
[33] Поточна оперативна обстановка на півдні України: опівдні 17.05.2022. https://youtu.be/dzOV2UwWRBA Окупанти продовжують тиснути на мирне населення зайнятих ними територій Миколаївщини та Херсонщини, агітуючи погодитись на життя в квазі-утворенні на кшталт ХНР або рашистської губернії. Загарбники запроваджують систему перепусток, щоб максимально обмежити можливості людей виїхати з області. А потужна інформаційно-психологічна операція окупантів спрямована на придушення спротиву місцевого населення, яке має міцну проукраїнську позицію. ⏸️ Загальна обстановка на лінії зіткнення залишається стабільно напруженою. Не маючи можливості вести активні наступальні дії, ворог продовжує підступні ракетні атаки. ⚡ Так, вночі зафіксовано ще 2️⃣ влучання крилатих ракет у вже понад два тижні непрацюючий міст через Дністровський лиман. Міст пошкоджений на стільки, що ремонтні роботи потребуватимуть тривалого часу і витрат. Але наразі їх проведення неможливе, як і експлуатація мосту. ⚡Над Миколаївщиною підрозділом зенітних ракетних військ збито російську крилату ракету, яка була випущена стратегічним бомбардувальником, що атакував Україну з Каспійського напрямку. Ворожа ціль рухалася у напрямку західних регіонів України. Влучність наших воїнів знищила підступні задуми противника. Всього за ніч нашими ракетно-артилерійськими підрозділами нанесено понад 6️⃣0️⃣ уражень по позиціях ворога. Попередньо безповоротні втрати склали щонайменше 2️⃣0️⃣ рашистів, броньовану техніку та мінометне озброєння. Корабельне угруповання ворога залишається без змін, продовжує контролювати північно-західну частину Чорного моря, блокувати судноплавство та погрожувати ракетними ударами з моря. Також високою залишається імовірність атак стратегічною авіацією. ‼️Дотримуйтесь заходів та алгоритмів безпеки. Пильнуйте ситуацію і дії підозрілих осіб, інформуйте компетентні органи, не розголошуйте відомостей про діяльність та переміщення наших підрозділів, не наражайте себе на небезпеку на узбережжі та в інших заборонених для відвідування зонах. Довіряйте силам оборони та робіть свій вклад у... - Оперативне командування "Південь"/Operational Command “South”
[34] https://sprotyv.mod.gov dot ua/2022/05/17/u-melitopoli-stalo-na-dvoh-okupantiv-menshe/
[35] Facebook Watch ⚔️БРАТЧУК
[36] Поточна оперативна обстановка на півдні України: на вечір 16.05.2022 https://youtu.be/D1QeOK2Rook Проукраїнські настрої на окупованих територіях Херсонщини і Миколаївщини залишаються високими. Місцеві продовжують відстоювати позицію та доводити, що Херсон - це Україна, а вони - українці. Незважаючи на терор та заборони, звитяжні люди руйнують плани ворога завдяки своїм переконанням і стійкості позицій. На бойових позиціях вздовж лінії зіткнення продовжується ведення бойових дій. Противник активності не проявляє, однак здійснює ракетні атаки, зокрема, по Миколаївщині та Одещині. ⚡️Ракетний удар було нанесено по морській інфраструктурі Очакова. А центральний район Миколаєва обстріляно реактивними системами залпового вогню із використанням заборонених міжнародними конвенціями касетних боєприпасів, що мають невибіркову дію. Пошкоджено зупинки громадського транспорту, розтрощено кілька приватних магазинів, уражено торгівельний центр, автотранспорт, газовід. Багато кластерних бомб не здетонували, ліквідацією наслідків обстрілу займаються фахівці ДСНС. Внаслідок ракетного удару по Одещині літаками стратегічної авіації, уражено об'єкт туристичної інфраструктури, зруйновано в тому числі і кілька сусідніх приватних будівель. Намагаючись влучити в той самий міст через Дністровський лиман, використовуючи застарілі зразки озброєння, рашисти влучають в цивільні об’єкти. Внаслідок чого страждають мирні мешканці регіонів. І в Миколаєві, і на Одещині є постраждалі, серед яких важко поранена 6-річна дитина. При повторному за добу ракетному ударі в напрямку Одеси ракету збито силами протиповітряної оборони. ⛴️ Корабельне угруповання ворога з 4️⃣ ракетних кораблів та 7️⃣ десантних продовжує тримати блокаду судноплавства, загрожувати ракетним ударом щонайменше 3️⃣0️⃣ крилатих ракет, зберігаючи імовірність висадки десанту. Тим часом наші підрозділи спільно з авіацією Повітряних сил нанесли за добу понад 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣уражень ворожих позицій. Вогнем реактивної артилерії знищено склад пально-мастильних матеріалів поблизу славнозвісної Чорнобаївки. «Вгамовано» 2️⃣9️⃣ рашистів, знищено зенітно-ракетний комплекс «Стріла-10», танк Т-72, та іншу броньовану техніку. ✊ Сили оборони півдня України продовжують виконання завдань за призначенням і нагадують, що свідоме ставлення до власної безпеки, дотримання алгоритму дій під час повітряної тривоги, обмежень щодо виходу на узбережжя та лісові масиви, - спосіб вберегти себе для ефективного вкладу в наближення... - Оперативне командування "Південь"/Operational Command “South”

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Kherson-Mykolaiv Battle Map Draft May 17,2022.png
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Doomer Doug

TB Fanatic
Watching the ukies call a military collapse surrender shows how pathetic this "ukie high command" has been with all the LIES the have told over the last two months.
Russia has now achieved ALL military goals in both donas and lugash. They will now unleash Staggering artillery and cruise missile salvos on the remaining ukie positions not already destroyed. At best the ukies have till Memorial Day before they are flushed out of lugash like a toilet.
The ukies are now in a salient, or bulge, with all their troops in counter offensives to the russian borders where they will be flanked from the south and east, with the 100, Russian troops, and from the north from belarus.
Zippy the piano penis guy playing hitler is going to get his trapped army completely destroyed or sent to siberia while zippy goes to his $35 million florida mansion and takes his 10% and $4 billion aid cut.

:kaid:
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
If Russia publically (rather than quietly) executes those POWs (which is what they are now) they will play right into the West's hands in terms of a narrative. They will become even more "the evil Russian butchers," even if they have a trial and try to make it look legal.

There are also serious stories of Ukrainian forces just executing Russian ones (on their own) so I am not defending them either - just saying the optics of this will play right into the hands of the Brits and the Americans/NATO if they execute these people (especially the injured).

Oh, and notice the "feeler" stories already going out on CNN (your Government channel in the USA) about just "going around" Turkey if they won't approve Finland and Sweden for NATO.

Given that Sweden is unlikely to ever declare the Kurds "terrorists" or the US to approve their buying major batches of Russian military equipment, I think the "work-around" is highly likely.

Either by a separate treaty that does everything NATO does but includes Sweden and Finland (but not Turkey) or by removing Turkey from NATO (or working them into enough of a snit that they leave on their own).
 

mecoastie

Veteran Member
Watching the ukies call a military collapse surrender shows how pathetic this "ukie high command" has been with all the LIES the have told over the last two months.
Russia has now achieved ALL military goals in both donas and lugash. They will now unleash Staggering artillery and cruise missile salvos on the remaining ukie positions not already destroyed. At best the ukies have till Memorial Day before they are flushed out of lugash like a toilet.
The ukies are now in a salient, or bulge, with all their troops in counter offensives to the russian borders where they will be flanked from the south and east, with the 100, Russian troops, and from the north from belarus.
Zippy the piano penis guy playing hitler is going to get his trapped army completely destroyed or sent to siberia while zippy goes to his $35 million florida mansion and takes his 10% and $4 billion aid cut.

:kaid:
Where are you seeing the Ukrainians collapsing or on the verge of collapsing? Russia still doesnt control all of the Donbass region including some of Luhansk and a fair amount of Donetsk. In Finland and Sweden they have helped further expand NATO. They managed to finally clean out the steel plant pocket of resistance in Maripol. They do have their land bridge to the Crimea. That seems like the one goal they have achieved.
 

bobfall2005

Veteran Member
Where are you seeing the Ukrainians collapsing or on the verge of collapsing? Russia still doesnt control all of the Donbass region including some of Luhansk and a fair amount of Donetsk. In Finland and Sweden they have helped further expand NATO. They managed to finally clean out the steel plant pocket of resistance in Maripol. They do have their land bridge to the Crimea. That seems like the one goal they have achieved.
Doug is confused. Seems to be getting worse.
 

Tex88

Veteran Member
Russia has now achieved ALL military goals in both donas and lugash. They will now unleash Staggering artillery and cruise missile salvos on the remaining ukie positions not already destroyed. At best the ukies have till Memorial Day before they are flushed out of lugash like a toilet.


:kaid:

Thought it was Easter?
 

thompson

Certa Bonum Certamen
Overture, curtain, lights
This is it, the night of nights
No more rehearsing and nursing a part
We know every part by heart
Overture, curtain, lights
This is it, we'll hit the heights
And oh what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it.


:rolleyes:


Zelensky opens Cannes Film Festival, links war and cinema

Associated Press
May 18, 2022 4:01am

CANNES, France — The 75th Cannes Film Festival kicked off Tuesday with an eye turned to Russia’s war in Ukraine and a live satellite video address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called on a new generation of filmmakers to confront dictators as Charlie Chaplin satirized Adolf Hitler.

After tributes and musical numbers, Zelensky was streamed live for the formally attired audience who had gathered for the premiere of Michel Hazanavicius’ zombie comedy “Final Cut.”

Zelensky, dressed in his signature olive green shirt, drew a thunderous standing ovation and and spoke at length about the connection between cinema and reality. He referenced films like Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” and Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” as not unlike Ukraine’s present circumstances.

Zelensky quoted Chaplin’s final speech in “The Great Dictator,” which was released in 1940, in the early days of World War II: “The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people.”

“We need a new Chaplin who will demonstrate that the cinema of our time is not silent,” implored Zelensky.

The Ukrainian president pushed filmmakers not to “stay silent” while hundreds continue to die in Ukraine, the largest war in Europe since WWII, and show that cinema “is always on the side of freedom.”

The war is to be a regular presence in Cannes, where the festival has barred Russians with ties to the government from attending this year. Set to screen are several films from prominent Ukrainian filmmakers, including Sergei Loznitsa’s documentary “The Natural History of Destruction.” Footage shot by Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravičius before he was killed in Mariupol in April will also be shown by his fiancée, Hanna Bilobrova.

Even “Final Cut,” the latest film from “The Artist” filmmaker Hazanavicius, was renamed from its original title, “Z,” after Ukrainian protesters noted that the letter Z to some symbolizes support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

/end snip
 

Cacheman

Ultra MAGA!
Weirdest war ever. Now you can contribute directly to the money laundering rather than going through your tax dollars. Wonder if there's any Azov Battalion branded swag?


Ukraine Government Sets Up Website to Sell Swag and T-Shirts While Accepting Donations and Corporate Sponsorships to Keep World Interested
May 17, 2022 | Sundance | 114 Comments

…We call it ‘World War Reddit‘ for a reason.

Oscar-Awards-Zelenskyy-1.jpg


In February the White House said strategic victory in Ukraine would be dependent on who can win the cultural war of social likeability {link}. In March the White House and State Dept recruited a battalion of TikTok influencers so they could dance and sing about Ukraine and Russia for their audiences in social media {link}. In April USAID announced they would coordinate entertainment resources to keep the public interested in Ukraine and Bono was recruited to sing in Kyiv {link}.

Following along with the coordinated scheduling, Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats took turns rotating through Kyiv with Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans. Boris Johnson from the U.K and Justin from Canada also took their entourages into Kyiv to hold media events and photo ops with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

All of the U.S. propaganda efforts originate from within the strategy teams at the U.S. State Dept. It is the Dept of State who coordinates with U.S. intelligence, Hollywood and big tech social media to frame the overall narrative. Big Tech and social media assist by blocking any platform content that does not fit the narrative created by the State Dept.

In totality, the scale of the effort is one big propaganda operation intended to influence public opinion while congress infuses over $60 billion directly into the military and indirectly into the propaganda effort of the State Dept. However, despite all of that the global crowd can become bored with the constant Ukraine bombardment effort.

To avoid losing global priority the Zelenskyy government has set up a website to take donations, selling Ukraine swag and t-shirts, and help keep the pop culture effort supported. AP has more:

UKRAINE (AP) – […] The Ukrainian government is marrying some digital marketing tools with crowdfunding and other incentives for giving to keep global attention trained on its war efforts against the Russian invasion.

“There is a wave and there is this kind of euphoria, but then it abates,” Mykhailo Fedorov, vice prime minister of Ukraine and minister of digital transformation, told The Associated Press. “We want to keep up this positive energy, the positive vibes.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tasked Fedorov, 31, the youngest member of the nation’s cabinet, with setting up a new fundraising campaign and website to encourage donations for the country’s defense, humanitarian aid and reconstruction.

That resulted in the United24 website and campaign that lets donors send funds via PayPal, cryptocurrency, credit card or direct bank transfer to the state’s accounts.

“It’s very important that people helping Ukraine are not paying money directly all the time, but that they have some fun,” said Yaroslava Gres, who runs a public relations company and is one of the coordinators of the project. (read more)


pelosi-and-schumer-Zelenskyy.jpg
Pelosi-Zelenskyy-1-PCH-Sweepstakes.jpg


This "war" is becoming nothing but a cash cow everyone seems to be milking any way possible. When I see crap like this I can't even take this war serious, everyone now seems to be using the BLM business strategy to enrich themselves while only the Ukranian civilians suffer.
 

inskanoot

Veteran Member
Samuel Ramani
@SamRamani2

15h

Nikolay Patrushev is now pushing the conspiracy that Russia invaded Ukraine to stop a Western-backed coup against Vladimir Putin Patrushev is ramping up the "colour revolution" regime change hysteria in Russia

~~~~~~

RT chief Margarita Simonyan on McDonalds withdrawal from Russia: “Somehow they knew how to fry cutlets in Russia a long time ago, long before your brilliant managers came here”
But McDonald’s brought the smile.
 

thompson

Certa Bonum Certamen
Weirdest war ever. Now you can contribute directly to the money laundering rather than going through your tax dollars. Wonder if there's any Azov Battalion branded swag?


Ukraine Government Sets Up Website to Sell Swag and T-Shirts While Accepting Donations and Corporate Sponsorships to Keep World Interested
May 17, 2022 | Sundance | 114 Comments

…We call it ‘World War Reddit‘ for a reason.

Oscar-Awards-Zelenskyy-1.jpg


In February the White House said strategic victory in Ukraine would be dependent on who can win the cultural war of social likeability {link}. In March the White House and State Dept recruited a battalion of TikTok influencers so they could dance and sing about Ukraine and Russia for their audiences in social media {link}. In April USAID announced they would coordinate entertainment resources to keep the public interested in Ukraine and Bono was recruited to sing in Kyiv {link}.

Following along with the coordinated scheduling, Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats took turns rotating through Kyiv with Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans. Boris Johnson from the U.K and Justin from Canada also took their entourages into Kyiv to hold media events and photo ops with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

All of the U.S. propaganda efforts originate from within the strategy teams at the U.S. State Dept. It is the Dept of State who coordinates with U.S. intelligence, Hollywood and big tech social media to frame the overall narrative. Big Tech and social media assist by blocking any platform content that does not fit the narrative created by the State Dept.

In totality, the scale of the effort is one big propaganda operation intended to influence public opinion while congress infuses over $60 billion directly into the military and indirectly into the propaganda effort of the State Dept. However, despite all of that the global crowd can become bored with the constant Ukraine bombardment effort.

To avoid losing global priority the Zelenskyy government has set up a website to take donations, selling Ukraine swag and t-shirts, and help keep the pop culture effort supported. AP has more:

UKRAINE (AP) – […] The Ukrainian government is marrying some digital marketing tools with crowdfunding and other incentives for giving to keep global attention trained on its war efforts against the Russian invasion.

“There is a wave and there is this kind of euphoria, but then it abates,” Mykhailo Fedorov, vice prime minister of Ukraine and minister of digital transformation, told The Associated Press. “We want to keep up this positive energy, the positive vibes.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tasked Fedorov, 31, the youngest member of the nation’s cabinet, with setting up a new fundraising campaign and website to encourage donations for the country’s defense, humanitarian aid and reconstruction.

That resulted in the United24 website and campaign that lets donors send funds via PayPal, cryptocurrency, credit card or direct bank transfer to the state’s accounts.

“It’s very important that people helping Ukraine are not paying money directly all the time, but that they have some fun,” said Yaroslava Gres, who runs a public relations company and is one of the coordinators of the project. (read more)


pelosi-and-schumer-Zelenskyy.jpg
Pelosi-Zelenskyy-1-PCH-Sweepstakes.jpg


This "war" is becoming nothing but a cash cow everyone seems to be milking any way possible. When I see crap like this I can't even take this war serious, everyone now seems to be using the BLM business strategy to enrich themselves while only the Ukranian civilians suffer.
FFS! :gaah:
 

jward

passin' thru
Erdogan Issues His Demands to NATO

AEIdeas

Foreign and Defense PolicyEurope and Eurasia


May 17, 2022


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has publicly rejected Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO. Because consensus governs NATO, every member has a veto. Privately, however, the negotiating is just beginning. Over at the national security and defense website 19FortyFive, I argue that the United States and European states should not bargain with Turkey but should instead play hardball.
Rubin-5_17-1.jpg
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during the 76th Session of the General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York on September 21, 2021. Via REUTERS/Mary Altaffer/Pool
A usually reliable source subsequently sent me a list of Turkish demands. While the State Department has not yet confirmed these, they appear consistent with past Turkish diplomatic démarches. In order to get Turkey to drop its objection to NATO enlargement, Erdogan demands the following:
  • NATO should classify not only the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) but also the Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in the alliance’s list of threats.
  • The United States should then extradite Pennsylvania-based dissident cleric Fethullah Gülen to Turkey.
  • All NATO members, including Sweden and Finland, must cease any activity by the PKK, SDF, or FETO on their territories.
  • The United States and other NATO bodies must lift all sanctions related to Turkey’s purchase of the S-400, including sanctions upon the Turkish Defense Industry Directorate.
  • Turkey would not only receive the new F-16s and upgrade kits for its existing fleet, but Turkey will also be able to rejoin the F-35 program from which it was expelled after activating the Russian S-400s.
  • Lastly, the United States would cease preventing Turkey from exporting military products containing Western components.
In short, Turkey’s demands are impossible to meet. A Belgian court, for example, has ruled that the PKK represents not a terrorist group but rather “a party in a non-international armed conflict.” Likewise, Turkey’s dossier of accusations against Gülen failed to convince US diplomats or the Justice Department. If anything, its sloppiness raised doubt on the capabilities of Turkish intelligence and the legitimacy of its products. Regardless, Erdogan beclowns himself with such demands as he appears not to realize that outside Turkey, NATO member presidents and prime ministers cannot order their judiciaries to change positions or strip rights away from their citizens or permanent residents. The same logic applies to Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions. Even if President Biden wanted to assuage Erdogan, he cannot run roughshod over US law. The Syrian Defense Forces, meanwhile, proved a far more reliable ally against the Islamic State than Turkey.

In some ways, the most interesting demand, however, is the last regarding re-exports of American components incorporated into Turkish military products. This likely reflects real concern in Ankara at congressional moves to restrict the sale of some electronics to Turkey after revelations that Turkey used American computer chips in drones that it subsequently deployed against Kurds or Armenians, or sold to Ethiopia for use in its genocidal campaign against the Tigrayans.

If these demands hold, it becomes clearer than ever that Turkey does not belong in NATO.
Learn more: Turkey Wants a Bribe for Allowing Sweden and Finland to Join NATO | Biden’s Erdogan Appeasement Shows He Learned Nothing from Nord Stream 2 | Sanction Turkish airlines over Russia business

 

jward

passin' thru
Neil Hauer
@NeilPHauer


Ukraine is having success with its Kharkiv offensive. But the sense in Donbas is that the situation is deteriorating significantly - and that this has accelerated in recent days. Russian troops have advanced on several axes in the past 24 hours and there's an ominous feeling here

Bombing on cities and targets across the region has also stepped up significantly in the past few days and continues to get worse. Distant artillery fire can be heard constantly from Kramatorsk now, and yesterday we heard anti-air systems working regularly - a new development.

Russia's army is significantly degraded, but it still has a lot of firepower - and it's all here


3:01 AM · May 18, 2022 from Ukraine·Twitter for Android





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3

7m

Update: Zakharova: Russia's response to Finland's decision to join NATO will be surprising, but the measures will be military.
 

jward

passin' thru
New York Times World
@nytimesworld

10h

They are hailed as heroes by Ukraine and condemned as terrorists by Russia. Now, hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who held out for weeks in a Mariupol steel plant are effectively prisoners of war, surrendering to an uncertain fate.
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