Russia

Mercenaries...

The Ukrainian International Legion was formed Feb 27, 2022 and has now grown into a force of an estimated 10,000 with soldiers from 27 countries. The Georgian National Legion, formed in the former Soviet state of Georgia, is operating in Ukraine with an estimated 5,000 soldiers, including 200 Japanese mercenaries who just joined this week.

As for the latest news...take your pick! You can find a "report" that says anything you want from Putin is finished, his thug legions in full retreat from Ukraine, to the Ukran offensive has been a total disaster, complete failure. The truth is somewhere in-between. The pro-Ukrainian spin masters are having a field day, putting out tons of videos on YouTube proclaiming all kind of successes, while the Pro-Putin spinsters have grown VERY quiet. Only one YouTube pro-thug channel has remained somewhat active with no more than a weekly BS video of how dozens of Ukran tanks, Bradley's etc have been destroyed. This tells me the truth leans toward the Ukrans enjoying momentum, albeit exaggerated by those YouTubers,

Best I can gather is the Ukrans are being very careful, probing the Russian defenses and making small gains, having some small victories.

Russians launched three attacks today. One north of Bakhmut, one south of the city and a third attack way down in Southern Ukraine, unrelated to the other two. On the latter, the Ukrans were rotating a brigade off the line for some R&R and the replacements were slow to occupy the defenses. Seeing an opportunity, the Russians attacked and gained about 300 meters of ground. But now they have been driven back, both sides settling in their original positions. The attacks near Bakhmut were part of the back and forth fighting raging near the city. Latest reports say the Russians have been pushed back south of the town, while up north it is unclear what is happening. Combat has continued past dark with the two sides gaining/losing/and then regaining ground. It is occurring in wooded hills.

And, as usual, the spin continues from both sides!

Leak: reports that Putin has admitted to his advisors, general staff, that China's President Xi has issued a very stiff warning against the use of nukes, including tactical nukes in Ukraine, or anywhere else. Xi reportedly told Putin the use of nukes will completely isolate Russia and China will "disown" Russia/Putin cutting off supplies and even the relationship. Xi has made public statements "urging" all sides to practice the utmost restraint in regards to nukes. But now, apparently, Xi got even sterner with Putin telling him China would be forced to not only sever relations with Russia but also side with the forces aligned against him in Ukraine. Xi then issued a warning to NATO about not taking this as an invitation to deploy nukes against Russia.

In the past two weeks Putin has gone public with statements he was ready to order the deployment of his Satan 2 missiles, which carry tactical nukes.

Putin is getting desperate because he is losing the war.

Stooooooopid!

Russian spokesman says war would end in days if the West stopped supplying Ukraine. Hmmm...how about this, you evil sacks of chit, the war would end in days if you would depart Ukraine.

No thanks, Russkie POS.

Two of Ukraine's best units are the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade and the 3rd Azov Assault Brigade. Both had been pulled off the line, over a month ago, for some R&R, to refit, and to take on replacements. Well, according to one source, a pro-Ukrainian YouTube channel called Oracle Eyes, both units are back in the fight, the 10th north of Bakhmut and the 3rd south of the city. And they are kicking ass. Of course, the spinsters of this pro-Ukran channel are going to put out the best news possible and play down any negative news. That said, there are independent sources reporting movement by Ukran forces in the Bakhmut area. So, there is likely some truth to it.

One YouTuber I like and trust to offer real "news" is a Ukrainian fellow. He has given all the news, good and bad, and seems to have the most honest, accurate channel. Now, when something goes wrong for the Ukrans he does report it, but does so in a sad way, saying things like "unfortunately we suffered a setback today..." He also questions reports that seem to be too good to be true. He'll say, "I hope this is true, but I have to wait for confirmation." That said, he is reporting movement by the Ukrans both north and south of Bakhmut. Ukrainian forces seized more high ground south of the city, part of a long ridge that runs roughly north-south with its northern end overlooking the suburbs of southern Bakhmut. Was this accomplished by the Azov Brigade? He didn't give a unit identification, so maybe.

For nearly a year the two sides have fought over Bakhmut. The Russkies suffered well over 100,000 casualties trying to take it and are suffering more losses trying to hold it. Ukrainian losses have not been reported but NATO observers estimate the Ukrans have lost 25,000 in the fight for the city, most of those wounded, some captured, and perhaps 4,000 KIA. Yet, the city holds ZERO strategic value. It has become a symbol and both sides are determined to win there. Both sides have established strong defenses lines "behind" the city, the Ukrans in the hills to the west and the Russians on a ridge east of the city. It is at those defensive lines that the REAL battle will be fought. Who holds Bakhmut is irrelevant...yet, here we are.

Prigozhin is in deep doo-doo. President Lukashenko of Belarus has rejected Prigozhin seeking asylum, or refuge, whatever. The Prig was in St. Petersburg but Putin's police raided Prig's office/headquarters and his house seizing records/documents and tons of cash, most of it in $US dollars. Guess Sudan's offer is looking better and better to him. Assad of Syria would probably welcome him, along with the bulk of his thugs. Couldn't happen to a nicer fellow.

In somewhat related news, kind of, it appears George Soros' organization is having huge financial issues. Two countries have seized Soros' assets, bank accounts, etc. in their homelands. India has done something similar with the Soros Crisis Foundation housed there. Dr. Steve Turley joyfully announced 6 out of 6 of Soros' backed candidates lost elections recently, from Germany to Indonesia, and points between. Turley says the world is rejecting Soros' vision of a one-world order, his atheist, secular globalism. More and more "nationalist" candidates are winning elections.

So, maybe Prigozhin and Soros need to relocate to central Africa where they can exploit the peasants (tribes) having them labor in dangerous mines.

The attack last week on the pizza restaurant was no accident, rather it was targeted with a Russian spy on the ground sending coordinates and a message when the pizza place and surrounding businesses were very busy. The spy has been arrested and he admitted to his role in the attack. Yesterday the evil criminal Putinite thugs targeted civilians in Lyman, killing 13 and wounding 60. These are deliberate terrorist acts.

Some of you have expressed some very anti-Ukrainian sentiments on this board, rooting for Putin's evil invaders. Well, you have blood on your hands.

Which country is supplying the most equipment to Ukraine? Is it the US? Germany? Poland? Nope! it is Russia! Thanks to hundreds of captured vehicles and those abandoned by fleeing Russian soldiers, it is Russian equipment that is flooding to the Ukrainians. Unfortunately, most of it is inferior Soviet crap. But, some good has come from it and the ammo captured by the Ukrans is being given back to the Russians, one howitzer shot at a time! :D

Cluster bombs:

By Syria: horrific, criminal
By the US: necessary for holy democracy

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FOTyddxXsAkaQgX.jpg

Several of the original Azov commanders are back!!!

Captured by the Russkie invaders after their heroic defense of the nuclear power plant and the thousands of civilians who sought refuge there, the heroes have returned. Putin didn't want to hold them as POWs so he transferred them to the Turks, who agreed to host them. After about a year, the Turks released them back to the Ukrainians. They were well treated in Turkey and are fit and ready to return to duty. President Z personally attended a ceremony restoring them to active duty. A tremendous boost to the morale of the Azov Brigade. Not that they needed a boost since they are winning!

Meanwhile, Ukrainian units continue to make progress flanking Bakhmut. They have captured more of the high ground south of the city and in doing so trapped thousands of Russian soldiers who were holding the valley opening through the ridge. Latest, up to the minute news shows those Russians have yet to surrender, but they are expected to or risk total annihilation.

On the subject of POWs. Recent prisoner exchanges clearly show the huge difference on how each side treats prisoners. Video of Russian soldiers being released, in great health, fatter than when they were taken prisoner, properly treated vs. images of Ukrainian soldiers looking like they haven't been fed in weeks.

The Putinites are evil. And anyone who supports Putin and his thugs, even in spirit, is on the wrong side of history.

Erdogan is really pissing off Putin! Good, about time Erdogan (Turkey) stepped up. Actually, they already have with their support for Ukraine in several ways. The return of the Azov officers ticked Putin off, big time! And now Erdogan has removed his opposition to Sweden joining NATO which has been blocking that happening. Putin is fuming. But, as with most things political, there is a catch...

Erdogan agreed to allow Sweden admission into NATO in exchange for help with his "Kurdish problem," and that presents a problem for NATO, the West, and the US in particular. No details have been released on exactly what kind of help Erdogan wants, expects. But, given his track record, it's fairly easy to guess. For those of you with short memories, Erdogan sent two divisions supported by attack helicopters and fighter jets into northern Syria to attack the Kurds and in about three weeks, slaughtered 19,000 Kurds, mostly elderly, women & children. The only reason that assault halted and wasn't worse was thanks to the heroic stand of US troops, namely some of our Special Forces, who were on the ground with the Kurds. Erdogan assumed all US soldiers had been removed from the region, but when he learned we still had boots on the ground, the Turks backed off out of fear of harming our guys. Our Special Forces heroes had been ordered to evacuate the day before, but they refused, they disobeyed orders knowing full well the Turks were about to launch the invasion into Syria. Unfortunately, the Turks worked around our guys and still managed to murder 19,000 Kurds. It would have been much worse though.

So, what is Erdogan asking for in exchange for his support of Sweden joining NATO? I guess he expects NATO, namely the US, to turn a blind eye toward Syria and Iraq and allow the Turks to invade and wipe out the Kurds. It won't be that easy for the Turks though, not now. The Turks did attack the Kurds in eastern Syria and got quite the bloody nose for it. Of course, they weren't attacking elderly, women & children but rather well-trained, well-armed Kurdish soldiers. The Kurds kicked their ass and the Turks have stayed out of Syria since. The US has boots on the ground with the Kurds, as a recent incident demonstrated when Assad's thugs tried their luck. They got their asses kicked too. If the Turks try to wipe out the Kurds, it will be a full-scale war and Erdogan may find himself in the same situation Putin is in now...losing. Is there a catch? Yep, and that is US support for the Kurds. The Kurds don't have an air force to speak of, while Turkey has a large and powerful air force. We are providing air cover for the Kurds and drone and satellite surveillance. Without either the Kurds will be hard-pressed to stem off a full-scale Turk invasion.

Sweden joining NATO is a good thing...sacrificing our good friends, the Kurds, is too high a price tag.

Just watched a Putin propagandist, some chick, go bonkers fussing about Erdogan's "betrayal" with the return of the "Nazis" to Ukraine. LOL! Who gives a chit what Putin or his evil host think!?

Chechen regiment loyal to Putin is trapped in Bakhmut. They are getting clobbered by drone and artillery strikes. One pro-Ukrainian YouTuber claims there are 100,000 Russian, and allied, soldiers trapped in Bakhmut. Ah, no. Why make such silly wild claims? The truth is good enough. There are perhaps 10,000 Russkies in Bakhmut, and maybe not that many.

Confirmed: earlier reports placed a new Russian brigade on the front lines in Ukraine, in the southern part. This brigade has been on the Russian-Chinese border for over a decade, actually part of a division assigned to the border. Pundits speculate Putin has gotten desperate and is moving troops from the east because he is running out of veteran troops in Ukraine. No reports if that whole division has been moved or is currently enroute to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy just figured out that the pretty girl only wanted to be his friend so he'd do her homework.

Its interesting that NATO views the "special operation" the same basic way Putin does. Both sides refuse to commit to an actual on-paper war, even though the actual conflict is still horrific and brutal, and even though they both are committing troops and equipment to it.

This is nothing new nor is it aimed at Ukraine. NATO has always had the policy that a nation presently at war cannot be admitted to the organization. Which makes sense because then NATO would be committed to actively join that war. The main purpose of NATO is to be a deterrent to war...if you attack one of us, you attack all of us, so don't do it.

What NATO troops are being committed to it, Blue Dawg? The most accurate and latest reports I have seen is that exactly ZERO NATO member soldiers have been involved in combat. But, maybe you have another source, if so, what is it? Yes, NATO advisors and trainers are actively involved...far away from the combat zone...and if that is what you meant, then okay.

As for NATO equipment, yes, and not enough of it nor fast enough IMO. I understand that Ukran soldiers need to be trained on some of the systems, and how to pilot an F-16, etc...but NATO (including the US) has been holding back. Not a single Abrams tank has seen combat in Ukraine. According to a reliable source I have, exactly THREE Abrams tanks are in Ukraine being used to train Ukran tankers in anticipation of the US making good on our promise to send 31 Abrams tanks. Why 31? I think 30 represents a tank platoon, or maybe a company, with one spare, I guess. The Brits have not made good on the number of Challenger tanks they promised, nor has Germany on their Leopard tanks. Poland and Israel have provided more tanks and armored vehicles to Ukraine then the US, Britain, and Germany have.

In the bigger picture, I find it hard to fathom why everyone doesn't see Putin's invasion for what it is: blatant, naked aggression against a sovereign nation. The whole world...except China and North Korea...should have immediately banned together and crushed Putin's thugs sending a clear message that bullies will not be tolerated. The world is acting just like the Soros' DAs and woke police departments in blue cities, looking the other way while crimes are being committed.

I'm not the one being mugged so I will just walk by... :(

We adopted from Russia in 1997. My daughter has duel citizenship Russian and American. I harbor no ill will toward the Russian people, per se. Their government, specifically PUTIN, is wrong (evil) and must be stopped, terminated. The Ukranian people are good folks. One family of which I know personally, they have been to my house for dinner when they were traveling America a few years ago. One of their daughters attended NSU on a tennis scholarship and my wife was her academic advisor. BOTH peoples, Russian and Ukrainian, deserve to have this madness ended.