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Ukraine should not have agreed to the Black Sea ceasefire deal. Of course, Putin will violate the agreement, and all bets will be off. Still, Ukraine should agree to only one thing: the complete defeat of Putin's evil plans, the complete withdrawal of all Russians out of Ukraine, including Crimea, which obummer handed to Putin.
Noted a change in YouTube, have to register and be approved to comment on it and especially on the pro-Putin sites. They are controlling the narrative. Propaganda and censorship at its worst.
Ukraine is advancing in Belgorod. Goofy Russians lost 4 attack-helicopters leaving them parked in clear view on a makeshift airfield in Belgorod. Ukrans used the US-made HIMARS missiles, now advanced to the border and extending its range, and destroyed the copters and a building housing ammo, supplies, and fuel for the copters. Ukran troops are advancing in Belgorod and in Donbas. Four straight days of nothing but wins for Ukraine.
The Netherlands sent more F-16s to Ukraine. Exact numbers not confirmed but one YouTuber surmised it was a complete squadron, which should be 18 planes, based on Dutch air force doctrine. That's keeping 15 operational planes with three in repair-mode/reserve.
Trump is lifting sanctions on his good buddy, Putin. This is a horrible deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
First, the stupid Black Sea ceasefire only benefits Russia. Ukraine controls the western portion of the Black Sea and has enjoyed free navigation from the critical port of Odesa for its grain shipments and both import/export traffic. Only Russia has been stymied by the war...THEY FRICKIN' STARTED!!!.. in the Black Sea. This ceasefire is nothing but a gift to Putin.
LOL! :laugh: That didn't last long. Putin violated the Black Sea ceasefire deal in less than 12 hours! Russian attack helicopters attacked Ukrainian sea drones, which have provided cover for Ukrainian, and international shipping, in the western Black Sea. Putin also sent cruise missiles to strike a Ukran navy base, where some of the sea drones operate from. Ukraine has immediately retaliated with strikes of their own.Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
Those trying to salvage the ceasefire deal are claiming these attacks occurred prior to the official start time of the agreement. Other sources are poo-poohing that idea, some saying Putin knew the start time and ordered and/or allowed the attacks to occur anyway, even if technically they MIGHT have beaten the time. Other sources say the Black Sea agreement was only one in principle and no concrete time had been set yet. Bottom line is Putin cannot be trusted to honor any agreements. If he does it will only be until such time he sees an advantage to do what he wants.Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
Germany is stepping up! German navy ships, probably frigates or corvettes, stopped, retained and then impounded in a German port two of Putin's "Ghost Fleet" oil tankers. Good job!
About two weeks ago the UN voted to authorize any nation to seize these unlicensed, unregistered, no-flag oil tankers, and hold them in port. Only a few nations voted against this measure: Russia, China, Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, Iran...and the USA. Yep! Trump ordered the US UN ambassador to veto the measure, which the US holds veto power. Of course, Trump is trying to support his good buddy Putin. Well, it appears Germany gave a big giant "f**k you" to Trump and Putin. Australia and Japan said they were also willing to seize these "ghost" ships, but China threatened to intervene to rescue the ships should any Pacific region nation do so. Knowing they can't depend on the US for support (really, Trump) Australia and Japan have backed off for now. Anyway, good for Germany!
Yes Germany has been a great friend to America…oh your main concern is Ukraine isn’t it.
It’s about time the cowardly socialist bastards in Europe began to step up
Agreed.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Germany has announced they are likely to release one of the ships. It belongs to a Greek shipping company, a tanker ship company, and they want their ship back. It was NOT registered, and it was NOT flying a Greek flag or any other verified flag. It was acting as part of Putin's ghost or shadow fleet carrying Russian oil to avoid the sanctions. So! the Germans are saying to Greece, fine you can have your ship back, but first we're going to the lighten the load by pumping all the oil out of its tanks. Hah! The other taken ship apparently belongs to an Indonesian firm, according to records found in the captain's quarters, but that Indonesian tanker company is denying it, saying, it ain't our ship. Well, it ain't your oil either, since the Germans will pump it dry too.
ALL good nations around the world should immediately seize all of Putin's ghost (shadow) fleet ships.
Reports coming out that someone hacked into a Moscow hospital's records and have published Putin's health records. Putin is dying, is the conclusion. Well, heck, we are all dying, just a matter of when. But, if these records are true and accurate Putin is in ill-health, which we have known about for several years. There were rumors about 2 years ago that Putin had passed away. He didn't, but he had been laid up for months dealing with a health issue. He is 72, so not too old, but younger people than him have died from "health issues." His death would solve a lot of problems, provided the right person assumed the fascist leadership role in Russia. Someone willing to admit the mistake and withdraw all Russian occupiers from Ukraine, including Crimea.
I'm back in all the YouTube channels, they required registration and verification I am not a BOT. (I don't think I am...)
In the Zaporia region Russia's much-ballyhooed offensive has grounded to a halt. They did seize about a 12-mile swath, about 3 miles deep, so about 36 square miles. But they have reached a small river and have been stopped. The river has no bridges in this area so the Russians will need to build pontoons, which never works since the Ukrans easily destroy them daily with drone/artillery strikes. In the meantime, the Ukrainians have rallied and reinforced the meager forces they had there.
The propagandists on both sides are stupidly ridiculous. I looked at two YouTube channels, one very Putinite, the other very Ukrainian. Laughable. What's even worse are the comments posted on those sites. Do those people really believe the blatant, obvious lies????
Basically, here's all anyone needs to know about reports from the front: neither side enjoys any HUGE breakthroughs. Any gains, by either side, or small and often quickly reversed with a counterattack. If either sides attacks and is still holding that ground 72 hours later...that is considered a big success. Ukraine is still holding ground in Kursk and is still holding all the ground they have taken in Belgorod.
The attacks on infrastructure, especially on O&G facilities, have grown quiet the past 48 hours. Is this the result of the agreed-upon ceasefire? Guess we'll see.
Great video of Ukrainian F-16s taking out three bridges in Belgorod region. F-16s were designed for ground attack missions and are perfectly suited for the role. Using US-made "glide" bombs the F-16s released their bombs about 20-25 miles away from their targets, and Ukran recon drones were hovering nearby to video it all. Perfect strikes, dead center on the bridges. These are important highways Russian units will have to use to get at the Ukrainians dug in in Belgorod. Too bad, Putin, bring up your pontoon bridges...and watch them get kaboomed too!
Ukraine has launched a third incursion into Russia, the latest in the Bryansk Oblast. No details yet as it just occurred overnight. The best defense is a good offense, they say. Well, looks like Ukraine is embracing that strategy.
Just read a report that CLAIMS President Z said yesterday that Ukraine will not view US aid as a loan, needing to be paid back. First, the news agency reporting this is biased against Ukraine (and Trump/US) so it's probably not true. But also, even in this article it is referring to the aid already received, under the Biden administration, and not any recent or future aid. Of course, the headline is meant to stir the pot, and the writer hopes most people will read only the headline and the short, first paragraph.
On this matter, the Biden administration clearly never, not once, labeled US aid as a loan, as did most European countries. The Europeans were smart enough to make it perfectly clear that some, not all, of their aid is considered a loan. The stupid Bidenites just handed over $billion without any strings attached. That is on Biden et al, so need to be mad at President Z, as he is right in this matter.
Now, I support a deal going forward. Trump/US should tie future aid to some kind of financial deal, like our having access to Ukraine's REMs. Perfectly fine and acceptable.
The Azov "division" completely routed the Russians south of Toretsk, in less than a week of fighting. It took the Russians three months to seize that ground and now it is all back in Ukrainian hands. Nothing but good news on the frontlines for the 6th straight day.
And I just love this. Putin is growing so desperate that he is trotting out his tired, old rhetoric that the Azov unit(s) is Nazis. He actually, embarrassingly, went on Russian national TV, with worldwide feeds, pleading with Trump...yes specifically called on Trump...and the rest of the world to stop supporting the Azov unit. He looked lost, pathetic, weak, and of course is a stark, raving lunatic. First, countries supporting Ukraine are SUPPORTING UKRAINE, not any one military unit. Of course, Ukraine is smart enough to channel all the support the Azov "division" needs, but they also support other elite units, such as the 47th Armored Brigade, and others.
Reminder: the fellow for whom the "Wagner Group" is named was an actual Nazi. When they recovered his body from that plane crash, they discovered swastika tattoos on his arm and chest. It was later revealed there are documents proving his ideological ties to Nazism.
Anyway, the original Azov Battalion leaders were cleared of any true ties to Nazism. And besides, none of them are affiliated with the Azov "division" any longer. The whole unit was made over after the return of those officers captured defending the nuclear power plant, sent to Turkey as part of an agreement, then released back to Ukraine when President Erdogan (Turkey) got pissed at Putin for violating that deal.
In case you are new here or just forgot, Ukraine does not have a military organization that includes "divisions" or "corps." The largest official organized units are "brigades." That is an issue that needs correcting, but for now, Ukraine is too busy fighting a war to try to reorganize its military. The Azov "division" is an agreement between separate independent brigades, which includes the 3rd Assault Brigade (Azov), the 12th Home Defense (national guard) Brigade, and a loose affiliation with an armored brigade, a drone battalion, and a special forces battalion. Those commanders got together and decided to closely coordinate and cooperate in support of each other. And they chose "Azov" as the name of this "division" knowing it would piss off Putin.
Anyway, according to a YouTuber I follow, the Azov "division" has completed its original assignment to clear the flanks of Toretsk. They might remain in that area or be deployed to another trouble spot elsewhere.