Russia

Putin regime/Kremlin "Merry Christmas, Happy New Year" message sent out with a national TV ad. Shows "happy" Russians Christmas shopping and enjoying beautifully decorated city, Christmas tree in the town square, Christmas lights, joyful music, etc. Then appears a standard Santa Claus in his 8-reindeer sleigh, holding a can of Coca-Cola, and gifts stacked in the back. Among the gifts are NATO cruise missiles, with the logos clearly shown. Santa is saying "Happy Christmas!" when suddenly his sleigh explodes and crashes to the ground, no survivors. Then the video switches to a Russian soldier at the controls of an anti-aircraft missile battery and the Russian Santa, dressed in a blue and white suit, slapping the soldier on the back and congratulating him. Santa says, "We don't need any foreign aircraft flying in our airspace." This ad released the day after that Azerbaijan airliner was shot down by a Russian anti-aircraft missile, now confirmed.

Putin has issued an "apology" for the loss of life in that incident but stopped short for taking responsibility. It was a CONFIRMED Russian missile, the battery operated by Russian soldiers, since the Chechnya's army has not been trained in the operation of these missile sytems.

Here's the situation on the ground where the incident occurred. This happened in Grozny, Chechnya. The Ukrainians have routinely been attacking targets in Chechnya with drones, as I have documented in this thread. This was an accident waiting to happen. A nervous, under-trained Russian soldier, operating the missile system assumed the jet was another Ukrainian drone attacking targets near Grozny, and...tragic mistake.

As for the Santa Clause TV ad...best you can say it is in bad taste.

Russian general in command in the Kherson region has been recalled to Moscow after a second attempt to cross the Dnieper River ended in utter failure and a loss of hundreds more Russian soldiers. Apparently, according to sources, this general was trying to win favor from The Kremlin, and a medal, by launching a successful attack. He acted on his own authority, without proper support from other Russian assets/units, like artillery and/or air cover. This exposed the Russians to intense Ukrainian artillery and drone attacks. Best estimates of total losses from the two attempts are: 275 KIA, 350 wounded, and 140 captured.

The Kremlin had, officially, halted all offensive operations on the southern front (Kherson) and the northern front (Kharkiv) in favor of concentrating forces on the eastern front (Donbas). These local commanders get bored sitting around, in defensive positions, and take it on their own initiative to launch attacks. A similar incident occurred in Kharkiv several weeks ago, but the Russians were able to retreat with minimal losses.

Just watched a recruiting video by the Azov Brigade. They are openly advertising for soldiers, mercenaries, to come join their 'Foreign Legion' which is one battalion in the brigade. The commander, a Ukrainian with command of English, but also speaks German, French, and Spanish, says Ukraine is paying handsomely for veteran, skilled soldiers to come join "the best fighting unit on Earth." At last report, there are 130 Americans in that battalion, they are formed into one company with their own American commander, a captain, in charge. The total of the 'Foreign Legion' battalion is about 600 soldiers, from 8 different nations.

Of course, it's not all good news. There are growing concerns about Ukraine's declining numbers in their ranks. While the kill ratio remains about 8 to 1 in favor of Ukraine, nonetheless, Ukraine is suffering losses and many hundreds of their soldiers who refused to "re-up" when their term of enlistment ended. The US and several other NATO countries urged President Z to drop the draft age from its current 25. So far, Z has refused citing concerns of there not being any young men to work and lead Ukraine in the future, after the war. Due to an odd period of time, the birthrate in Ukraine dropped a lot about 20 years ago and lasted for some 6 years. Thus the numbers of men in the present age range of 18-24 is low. There are Ukran men, 18-24, in the army who have volunteered.

Russians tried to sneak to supply ships into the port of Sevastopol but the ever-wary Ukrans were ready, sending sea drones to attack and destroy both ships. The Russians sent two older attack helicopters, Mi-8's but both were shot down by an anti-aircraft Ukran sea drone firing missiles. One Mi-8 crashed into the sea, no survivors, the other managed to make it back to a Russian air base, the crew survived, but the helicopter burned up.

The Russians pulled off a sneak attack north of Chasiv Yar. Pretty clever and bold, but we'll see how it turns out for them. The 3rd Assault Brigade (Azov) had cleared the area of Russians, but that battalion of the 3rd was moved further northeast, pushing the retreating Russians further away. A militia unit, Ukraine National Guard, was placed to hold the ground. Which they mostly did, but the Russians commandeered a parked supply train, placed their own soldiers dressed in captured Ukrainian uniforms visible on the platforms, and then loaded the empty boxcars with soldiers. The Ukran militia, not knowing any better, allowed the train to pass a checkpoint, and then it stopped some 4 miles west of Chasiv Yar and unloaded about 400 Russian soldiers, who surprised Ukrainian guards at a rear supply depot and as of this morning are still holding the depot, some houses in a suburb, and about 1/2 mile of the railroad berm. The Russians then launched a concentrated attack along the RR tracks over-whelming the Ukrainian militia and connecting with those 400 Russians. Latest report is the Ukrainians are responding, and as the Russians are strung out some 5 miles along the tracks, it should be fairly easy to deal with this breakthrough.

This was the only significant action over night.

Poland is getting serious.

The Poles have been warning NATO about the threat that is Putin and his evil regime. Poland is next on the list of Putin's plan, after he takes Ukraine :rolleyes4:, which is not likely. Still, Poland knows that Putin will never stop. Even if Putin has to pause for years and years to rebuild his shattered military, he will, and he will resume his master plan to conquer and annex eastern Europe.

Poland has increased its national defense budget to $47 billion and by 2028 will have the third largest army in NATO, behind the US and Turkey. The Poles are deadly serious about protecting their border. Putin, together with Belarus, has been ferrying illegal immigrants to Poland's border and turning them loose. These are very poor, desolate souls from the Middle East and Africa. Well, not anymore. The Poles have built fences and walls and...Ya Gotta Love it!...placed MOTION-DETECTOR MACHINEGUNS along the border! The very thing I have been advocating for our southern border. Yes, stupid, commie organizations like the International Red Cross and Amnesty International have cried foul, lodging complaints with the U.N. calling this "inhumane." But the Poles simply responded, "Bite me."

The Poles are building a powerful, modern army, one that can easily defeat any Putin invasion attempt. The Poles have been made to suffer for over 600 years. Their country has been invaded, divided among various nations time and time again. But, no more. And good for them.

Finally! Ukraine shuts down Putin's gas pipeline passing thru their country. This will cost Putin many $billions in revenue. It will also cost Ukraine some money as Russia was paying Ukraine $800 million annually for "hosting" the pipeline. The two primary countries impacted by the loss of natural gas are Serbia and Hungary, and good! as both are pro-Russia/pro-Putin azzholes. Why did they wait so long to do this? Ukraine says there was a contract, which expired 12/31/24 and they felt the need to honor the contract but feel no need to renew it. It helps that the EU and US have now agreed to funnel Putin's frozen assets in western banks directly to Ukraine. The first installment from US banks will be $1.2 billion. Bear in mind this is NOT US taxpayer money, but rather were deposits made by Putin/Russia in US banks. The amount from European banks has not been determined yet, but it too is expected to be $1 billion+.

These amounts are mere drops in the bucket. Putin has $300 billion+ frozen in western banks, and one source says he has another $300 billion in gold, also being held in western banks and depositories. The west is trying to "bribe" Putin to agreeing to an end of the war by slowly releasing his funds to Ukraine. Look here, Vladimir, you have better end your war or we will shift another payment to Ukraine.

I say shift a huge wad to Ukraine and halt the transfer of US taxpayer money to Ukraine.

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Originally Posted by dawg80

Finally! Ukraine shuts down Putin's gas pipeline passing thru their country. This will cost Putin many $billions in revenue. It will also cost Ukraine some money as Russia was paying Ukraine $800 million annually for "hosting" the pipeline. The two primary countries impacted by the loss of natural gas are Serbia and Hungary, and good! as both are pro-Russia/pro-Putin azzholes. Why did they wait so long to do this? Ukraine says there was a contract, which expired 12/31/24 and they felt the need to honor the contract but feel no need to renew it. It helps that the EU and US have now agreed to funnel Putin's frozen assets in western banks directly to Ukraine. The first installment from US banks will be $1.2 billion. Bear in mind this is NOT US taxpayer money, but rather were deposits made by Putin/Russia in US banks. The amount from European banks has not been determined yet, but it too is expected to be $1 billion+.

These amounts are mere drops in the bucket. Putin has $300 billion+ frozen in western banks, and one source says he has another $300 billion in gold, also being held in western banks and depositories. The west is trying to "bribe" Putin to agreeing to an end of the war by slowly releasing his funds to Ukraine. Look here, Vladimir, you have better end your war or we will shift another payment to Ukraine.

I say shift a huge wad to Ukraine and halt the transfer of US taxpayer money to Ukraine.

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The EU agreed to transfer 14 billion EUROs from Putin's accounts to Ukraine, which is $14.4 billion USD. Nice.

Ukraine attacked an important Russian airbase at Khalino, Kursk Oblast, Russia. It is about 30 miles from the Kursk salient and is home to Russia's 14th Fighter-Bomb Regiment (Wing). There were close to 30 SU-30 and SU-27 jets. Ukraine had sent drones to attack it before, but those were launched from inside of Ukraine. This time, the Ukrans had moved a unit of FPV drone operators into Kursk, and they were able to use a variety of drones. They sent two waves of older, slower drones as decoys. As hoped, the Russians exhausted their defenses at the base engaging these decoys. The real drones, the latest, fastest, most powerful, were sent on a roundabout approach, attacking the base from the east, as the decoys approached from the west. The timing was perfect and the attack very successful. Waiting on confirmation of the results, but Ukran recon drones show at least 6 jets destroyed and probably another 6-8 damaged from shrapnel from the exploding kamikaze drones. There is also damage to buildings.

In not-so-good news the Russians continue to hold the railroad berm north of Chasiv Yar, and they have made more progress toward Prokrovsk. Yes, the Russians have suffered lots of casualties doing this. Best estimates say the Russians are losing 1,000+ daily in these operations on the Eastern Front. If Prokrovsk and the surrounding region fall then Russia will have occupied a second eastern Ukrainian province, along with Crimea. The Russians have advanced within five miles at one point to the provincial border with the next Ukraine province. This is the Donetsk Oblast (province). There are only two small farming towns and plenty of empty space left to capture if the Russians take the city of Prokrovsk. Thoughts are Ukraine will not attempt to defend the rest of Donetsk if Prokrovsk is taken.

Latest assumption is Putin wants to at least take all six of the eastern Ukrainian provinces, from Sumy in the north to Kherson in the south. Adding those to Crimea for a total of seven.

Ukran drones struck the large natural gas storage and transport center on the Baltic Sea, near St. Petersburg. Six drones were involved in the attack, early reports say two of them struck the intended target which is a pumping/power plant building at the facility.

Early reports, from several sources, say Ukraine is mounting a counterattack in the Kursk Oblast. Today marks five months since the incursion into Kursk has been ongoing. The Ukrans are holding about 70% of the original ground taken and are now apparently trying to increase that footprint again.

Limited action along the Eastern Front in Donbas, but the Russians have managed to seize some more acreage since yesterday. Biggest push continues to be at Prokrovsk.

Three days ago, it is now reported, the Ukrans utterly wiped out a "bunch" of Russian army officers when they met at a large house, a mansion, just north of the Kursk salient. Using HIMARS missiles Ukraine attacked and destroyed a significant number of commanders. Some have been identified, and they include the overall commander of Kursk region, his deputy commander, the chief of the engineering battalions, and various other brigade command staffers. One source says 20+ key Russian army officers, mostly with the ranks of major, colonel, and two generals, were kaputted. Then yesterday, it is now confirmed by both sides, the Ukrans have indeed launched two counterattacks pushing the Russians back, essentially on the northwest and northeast sectors of the Kursk salient. Most likely the Ukrans, ever opportunistic, are just trying to take advantage of the situation with the chaos in the Russian ranks due to the loss of their command structure. We will have to see how successful this offensive will be, how far the Ukrans can go.

Back in Ukraine, more not-so-good news as overnight the Russians gobble up more ground in three key places, most notably toward Prokrovsk.

In SUPPLY/EQUIPMENT news...

France has sent 6 of their Mirage-2000 fighter jets to Ukraine. This is the first of an expected transfer of at least 30 Mirage jets. Ukran pilots have been in France being trained in the operation of the sophisticated Mirage-2000 jets. The French-built Mirage-2000 jets are VERY fast and will be easily the fastest jets in the Ukraine-Russia war theater.

The UK transferred 40 of their Scorpion scout vehicles to Ukraine, but they have been assigned to the Ukrainian National Guard for now. The Scorpion is a small, fast, agile tracked vehicle armed with a 76mm cannon and machineguns; it has a three-man crew. But, the armor is too light for a modern battlefield. They were intended to be used as scouting vehicles on the battlefield, and can serve that purpose, but they are very vulnerable to any type of heavier weapons and especially drones, which have changed the modern battlefield forever. Ukraine thanked the Brits for the donation but recognize the limitations of the Scorpion thus they have been assigned to National Guard units, to be used away from the front lines.

In a stunning video shot by a Ukran recon drone, a Ukrainian Stryker, a US-built 8-wheel, rubber-tired armored vehicle, chased down and ran over three Russians trying to flee across a field. Brutal...Reportedly the Stryker had exhausted its ammo in a fight and was attempting to withdraw when 6 Russians armed with rifles and RPGs emerged from a woods line and attacked the Stryker. The RPGs missed and the rifle bullets just bounced off the vehicle's armor. Left with no other way to defend themselves, the crew of the Stryker decided to attack, turned 180 degrees and sped toward the pursuing Russian infantry. Thee of the Orcs (nickname for Russian soldiers) escaped back into the woods, but the other three got cut off and tried to run across the field toward another patch of woods. They didn't make it. Crunch!

The Ukrans are continuing to advance on both fronts in the Kursk Oblast, having broken through the Russian defensive line. The northeast advance has run square into the elite Russian unit the 177th Regiment, known as the Caspian Marines, who had been rushed in to halt the Ukrainian advance. This is not the first time Putin has committed an "elite" unit in a dire situation. Hasn't always worked out.

The Ukrans pushed about 7 miles on the northeast thrust out of the Kursk salient, but have paused at a river, where the Russians have built formidable defensive works. In these works, the vaunted 177th Regiment, the "Caspian Marines" joined the defenders already there. No way were the Ukrans going to try to force a river crossing in front of dug-in troops. Even without the 177th's presence that would have been stupid. Of course, the Putin propagandists are taking this opportunity to hail the elite Caspian Marines as heroes for "stopping" the Ukrainian advance. Ah, nope!

Reports are that 3,600 North Koreans have been wiped out in fighting on the northwest portion of the Kursk salient. And an entire battalion of Russians has ceased to exist, also as a result of fighting on the NW part of that line. The battalion, part of the Russian 111th Infantry Brigade lost a reported 600 soldiers in two days of fighting. That battalion had, on paper, at full strength 1,115 soldiers, which includes battalion HQ staff and supply. The survivors will be rolled into the other battalions of the brigade as replacements for those units.

Latest reports say the Russians, and the NK allies, have about 40,000 troops operating in the Kursk Oblast opposite about 12,000 Ukrainian troops. It's not clear, a real head-scratcher, why the Russians have been unable to push the Ukrans out of Kursk. Yes, the Russians have retaken close to 30% of the original ground taken by Ukraine in this incursion, but it has been 5+ months since this operation began, and Putin has committed elite units in this fight.

Meanwhile, on the Eastern Front in Donbas, Ukraine, the Russians continue daily to enjoy minor successes. The inclement winter weather has had little effect on operations.

In the BIG picture...

Putin's army, and his navy and air force as well, has been wrecked. Watched a very extensive video documenting the state of affairs for Putin and his depleted military. Video produced by the very dependable and credible Institute for the Study of War in conjunction with the BBC (British). Absent the use of nukes, which are Putin's only saving grace, Russia could easily be invaded by any number of larger countries with tremendous success. China could sweep across Russia's entire eastern oblast from the Pacific Ocean to the Ural Mountains with ridiculous ease. Putin has about 200,000 troops in total east of the Urals, and these are largely second-rate troops, mostly conscripts and they have very little in the way of usable equipment. One pundit says it would take China no more than two weeks to reach the Urals and about 4-6 months to totally wipe out the Russian troops, provided those Russians bothered to put up a fight, which most likely they wouldn't. Asian-Russia, all the land east of the Ural Mountains, and that is on the continent of Asia, as opposed to Europe, represents about 80% of Russia in terms of square miles.

Putin has nothing but his nukes left. His army is effectively gone. His navy was a joke to begin with and has either been sunk by the Ukrans are largely left to rust trapped in various ports. His air force has also been reduced, but mostly, the Ukrans have demonstrated to the world that the Russian air fleet is inferior to western aircraft and would stand very little chance in an all-out war with any real air force.

Poor ole Vladimir...

The pro-Putin propagandists are getting desperate. They are using paid trollers to post on numerous blogs and YouTube channels that "the war is over, Ukrainian soldiers are throwing down their weapons and either surrendering to "superior Russian forces" or fleeing for their lives." The lie that Russia has completely retaken the Kursk Oblast is being posted a lot. Just like the lies repeatedly told by the lamestream media and the democraps here, I guess they think if they state the lie often enough it'll become true.

Meanwhile, in the world of reality, two of Putin's elite units, the 810th Marine Brigade and the Achmat Brigade (this composed of mostly Muslims from Russia's Muslim provinces) have been withdrawn due to heavy casualties. Both of these units have been fighting in the Kursk region for several months.

In light of Putin's depleted army and his lack of troops east of the Ural Mountains, I did some quick research to refresh my memory. During World War II Stalin had 40 divisions, some 3 million troops, stationed in eastern USSR because as the war started, he feared Japan would invade Russia. He was originally Hitler's ally, they had signed a mutual non-aggression treaty, and never thought Hitler would betray him. Of course, we know better. When it became obvious Japan had other concerns, namely trying to deal with the US's advance across the Pacific region, Stalin transferred over 2 million of those troops to fight the Germans. These eastern Soviet troops were well-trained, well-equipped, including white winter uniforms, and they were unleashed in the staggering counterattack that halted the German push toward Moscow, Leningrad, and Stalingrad, and who led the assault all the way back to Berlin. Poor ole Putin has no such reserve to unleash against the Ukrainians.

Now it makes some sense. Have been having trouble understanding why the Russians are enjoying such success in the Pokrovsk region. The main Ukrainian defense force is the 155th Brigade known as "The Anne of Kyiv" and this unit was trained in France. OMG! Little wonder they retreat so easily; they are trained to! That is so French! :shocked2:

I'm presenting this like a joke, but it's the absolute truth. President Z sent an inspector general to inspect the troops and evaluate the situation in the Pokrovsk theater. The troops "run away" when things get hairy. As for their rifles they are still in good shape as "they have only been dropped once." (that's a joke).