Initial reports of church attack in Sumy City, 32 dead, including children, and 100+ injured. Death toll is expected to rise.Originally Posted by dawg80
|
|
|
|
|
Initial reports of church attack in Sumy City, 32 dead, including children, and 100+ injured. Death toll is expected to rise.
A Ukranian F-16 was shot down, marking the second loss of an F-16 in this war. The first loss is reported as the pilot experiencing a medical issue, perhaps a heart attack, and he attempted to land but missed the runway, he and the plane were lost. This second one appears to be a legit combat loss. No details yet, but of course the Putinites are crowing. OMG! they are acting like they just won World War III. All we do know is an F-16 and its pilot were lost. Pro-Ukrainian sources are reminding everyone that these F-16s are older models, most without the advanced electronics later models have. They will also remind the world that Ukrainian F-16s are enjoying a 90% success rate shooting down Russian drones and cruise missiles, that their F-16s have 5 confirmed air-to-air kills of Russian jets, and have been very successful, 100%, in attacks against Russian key targets, like anti-aircraft missile batteries. Ukraine has been very tightlipped not providing details about any combat losses, so don't expect any in this case.
This is a war, losses will occur.
Death toll reached 34.
Trump called this attack "a mistake." The world media is now claiming he means it was a true accident, that Putin did not intend to strike a purely civilian target, and of course they are mocking Trump and painting him as a stupid fool, since Putin has been routinely attacking civilian targets for over 3 years. I don't think that is what Trump meant. I think (and hope) he meant Putin just "effed up" and this changes how Trump/US will now approach our actions.
Trump doesn't listen to his advisors, he just shoots off his mouth on impulse. Trump still hasn't learned that words mean things, especially when uttered by the POTUS. Again, I will repeat: THE WHOLE WORLD HANGS ON EVERY SINGLE THING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SAYS!!!!!
Now the world media is showing a montage of Trump boasting he will end the war before inauguration day. He repeated that dozens of times, at every rally. The world is laughing at him, and by extension, at the US. One pundit on an Australian TV network defended "the average American" by saying the American people are not stupid and don't agree with Trump nor believe what he says about the Ukrainian war. PawDawg does!! He is one of the very, very few who blindly follow Trump in this matter.
Such as:
Putin is good.
President Z is bad.
Russia is right.
Ukraine is wrong.
Russia is the victim.
Ukraine started this war.
Back to the front...
Ukraine has retaken the town of Kotelyn, which sits on the major highway to the southwest of Pokrosk. There are an estimated 80-100 Russian soldiers held up in a Cold War era bomb shelter in the town. Ukran officials say they will not attempt to storm it but have cut off the power and the water to the shelter and are offering the Russians trapped inside a chance to surrender. If they don't, then the shelter will become their tomb.
Elsewhere the Russians are trying to advance along places in the now 600-mile active front and have enjoyed some minor successes. Mostly, the Russians "test" the Ukrainian defenses with suicide charges and if any Russian soldier survives, then they send in reinforcements. Ukraine lacks the manpower to properly man/defend the entire front, so there are places where there are literally only a handful of Ukran soldiers, just a picket post. These are usually 5-6 soldiers guarding a section of the line up to a quarter mile in length. Russia sends 100+ soldiers charging against the line and all the Ukrans can do is report the attack and extricate themselves out. The Russians capture that segment of the line and Ukraine then decides if it is worth taking it back. Sometimes they do but often the Ukrainians find it better just to defend the next defensive line usually a hundred+ yards back. These "victories" are celebrated by the Putin propaganda machine and fools like Tucker Carlson cite this as evidence "Ukraine cannot win."
The active front was 900 miles long, but Russia has concentrated their forces more, abandoning offensive operations in Kharkiv, most of Sumy, and in the Kherson oblasts. This has shortened the battle front to about 600 miles.
Ukraine claims destroying a third Russian TU-22 nuclear bomber. This one was actually shot down by a drone-toting air-to-air missile. If confirmed, and it hasn't been yet by independent sources, this would mark a very first in world history. Would be the very first jet (fighter or bomber) downed by a drone launching a missile. It is possible since Ukraine does indeed have drones with this capability. The other two destroyed TU-22 bombers, confirmed, were taken out by drones but both of those were sitting on the ground at an airbase. Russian sources are saying the TU-22 experienced mechanical problems and the pilot "heroically" guided the plane away from population centers and crashed in a forest. The plane is a total loss and there are no reports if any of the crew survived. The Ukrans are saying "BS!" the bomber was struck by a missile, launched from a drone, and that is what caused the TU-22's "problems." Regardless of the actual cause, this is the third TU-22 lost, Putin's most advanced bomber, capable of reaching targets on the west coast, from Alaska to California, and launching nuclear cruise missiles. Russia reportedly had 24 operational TU-22s when the war started in 2022. Guess they are down to 21 now.
Keep on depleting the evil one's military, Ukraine!
Ukrainian partisans, a group known as Atesh, successfully destroyed an important railroad switching station, and track for about 40 feet in all four directions. The track can be quickly replaced. In fact, the Russians have gotten really, really good at replacing destroyed railroad track since they have to so often. But the computerized switching station is another matter. With sanctions Russia has been deprived of critical western-made electronics, including computer hardware. The attack occurred at the occupied city of Melitopol, in the "Zaporia" oblast. There two critical rail lines cross, important to Russian operations: moving supplies, ammo, reinforcements, equipment.
Atesh came into existence in 2014 when Putin seized Crimea and invaded portions of Donbas. It is composed of loyal Ukrainians from the Donbas region, who have had to live under Russian occupation. Recently their numbers have increased, and now supported by Ukrainian Special Ops, have become way more effective. They benefit from shared intelligence and have been supplied with advanced weapons and explosive devices.
Ukraine has AGAIN filed a formal complaint with the Geneva Convention and other international organizations, including the UN (ahem...) that Russia is using illegal chemical weapons. Russia used chemical weapons in 2022, artillery shells carrying a form of mustard gas. They ceased when they were outed, and the use was confirmed by an independent organization. But now Putin is at it again, this time using the Shahed drones carrying chemical warheads in random attacks against both Ukrainian military and civilian targets. Chemical weapons have been banned in international agreements. Of course, a criminal thug like Putin doesn't give a rat's ass about any agreements. What a great guy!
The Russian base, specifically the missile HQ, barracks, and warehouse storing missiles and the launchers, that attacked Sumy City on Palm Sunday was struck by Ukrainian drones overnight. "We got 'em, we got 'em good!" said the Ukrainian commander of the 60th Special Brigade. The base is located inside of Russia about 45 miles from the border. The base has been struck before, but these missile batteries were recently moved to the base, bringing them in range of numerous Ukrainian cities. But of course, that also put them in easy range of Ukran drones. According to one YouTube channel, Kanal 13, which has proven to be reliable in its reporting of facts, Ukraine sent 60 large drones, each carrying two rockets with 250-pound warheads. Not all of the drones launched their rockets because they were not needed. The Russians had not placed the mobile missile launchers in hardened bunkers and both the HQ building and warehouse lacked any special protection. None of the 60 drones, large drones with 8-foot wingspans, were lost and can be seen circling over the base in released video footage. Reminds one of buzzards circling over a carcass. A Ukran recon drone remained hovering over the base to verify the damage once the smoke cleared. There is nothing left of the Russian thugs or their missiles.
Also, last night, Putin ordered a strike on Odesa, the port city on the Black Sea, and yes, it was against strictly civilian targets. First reports are 3 dead and dozens injured in the attack.
No words...
Stupid Russians launched an attack across open ground, through a minefield, with 100 motorcycles, 40 Ladas (the Lada is a Russian-made family car, I think it does have 4-wheel drive though), 6 commercial trucks carrying soldiers, one tank, a T-72, and two IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). By confirmed count 320 Russians were KIA, the survivors were wounded and captured. This occurred in the "Zaporia" region, the sector said to be Putin's planned "Battle of the Bulge." The whole affair lasted less than 20 minutes as the Ukrainians used artillery and drones to wipe out the attackers.
One site, a paid-subscription, I follow has the gory details. Ukraine always has recon drones hovering around video recording everything that happens. Some of those Russian soldiers were literally blown to pieces. I doubt that even a forensic scientist/doctor could identify the bodies, except by DNA I suppose. It was so bad that the Ukrainian drone operators sitting in their bunkers watching a screen...all drones carry cameras, even the kamikaze drones...were shaking their heads in disbelief. At one point you can hear (dubbed into English) one operator pleading with the stupid Russians to turn around, leave, withdraw! Of course the Russians could not hear him, he was really hoping he would not have to slaughter them.
And to show how powerful the mines are, one truck, carrying about 20 soldiers packed inside, a big truck, a 10-wheeler, hit an anti-tank mine. Kaboom! The truck literally was lifted 15 feet into the air, turning upside down, one of the doors of the truck is seen flying 70+ feet up and landing over 50 yards from the explosion site. The channel replayed this video in super slow-motion and using graphics had arrows pointing out the bodies of the Russians as they fly apart and in different directions.
War is brutal. No sense trying to glorify it or pretend it's all about heroics. It is just brutal.
And as numerous pundits have questioned, what compels these stupid Russians to continue doing this? Surely they know, they can see, what happens to their comrades in these suicide attacks.
Make the effing deal! Close the effing deal! Come on, Mr. "Art of the Deal," make it happen. What? the mineral deal with Ukraine.
Some of you need a reason for this deal; okay, try this. For purely selfish reasons, for purely self-serving reasons, the mineral deal is good...no, not just good, IMPERATIVE! for the US, for we Americans. Ukraine has 20% of the world's mineable lithium. Ukraine has enormous reserves of nickel, cobalt, copper, and titanium. What is titanium used for? Oh, nothing too important, just the skin of our advanced fighters like the F-35. Not to mention the protective box on A-10 Warthogs which make them so damn tough to shoot down.
This mineral deal with Ukraine should be priority 1 for the Trump administration. You don't have to give a damn about Ukraine, but if you care about America's future, you should also want this deal done.
Germany's new prime minister, Merz, wants to send Ukraine the Taurus cruise missile. Immediately upon hearing this news pundits began speculating Ukraine would deploy it against the Kerch Bridge. The German-made Taurus has two warheads, the first punches a hole in reinforced concrete and the second, a 1,100-pounder, explodes inside. These cruise missiles can be fitted on Ukraine's SU-27 fighter-bombers, and with a range of 300+ miles, can be used against some important Russian targets. This could be a game changer.
Now, there is political opposition inside of Germany's government as some fear escalating the war, or escalating Germany's involvement in the war, more accurately. Of course, the goofy Putinites are issuing warnings...stupid-azz warnings, like "Russian tanks will be seen parading through the streets of Berlin." They live in a delusional dream world. The only Russian tanks parading through German streets will be captured equipment and put on display for the German people to laugh at Putin.
Merz wants to send 100 Taurus cruise missiles of Germany's inventory of 600. Merz will have to win approval of such a donation from his parliament. Hopefully, he can.
Germany has recently sent Ukraine some "latest generation" drones. Called H1 "loitering" drones, these little bastards operate with AI, can be sent into an area and just "hang around" until detecting a target and attack on its own. These are a "send 'em and forget 'em" weapon. The modern battlefield is changing rapidly, and Ukraine is the proving ground for innovations. Already these new drones have proven to be effective.
UK is sending 5,000 more Martlet missiles and, more importantly, UK is entering into a joint development/manufacturing deal with Ukraine to provide both countries with a steady supply of the anti-aircraft/anti-drone missiles. To date the UK has sent only 220 Martlet missiles, all tailored to be launched by a MANPAD, a hand-held missile launcher. And it has been enormously effective. Going forward the Martlets will be engineered to be launched by aircraft, jets and helicopters, and from mobile launchers on tracked or wheeled vehicles. The Martlet missile, or rocket, weighs just 25 pounds and is less than 4 feet long.
UK is also sending three RapidRanger missile systems, these mounted on a Humvee or some such vehicle. The system has its own radar/tracking system and can launch 4 missiles in rapid succession, and then quickly and easily reloaded.
UK Defense Ministry was asked, why now? Why after three years is the UK turning up the heat on Russia and making such commitments? Easy:
1. Because of Trump "Washington" cannot be depended on.
2. Three years ago, everyone thought Russia would walk over Ukraine and it was no sense agitating Putin in a losing cause.
3. UK wants a piece of the Ukraine rare minerals pie.
Germany and other European nations share this view. Which, Trump and all his followers should applaud, right? Europe is becoming self-sufficient and will soon enter into agreements with China for joint-defense and trade agreements. After all, no sense aggravating the Chicoms.
Ukraine is still holding a piece of Kursk and has strengthened its hold in Belgorod, albeit a small area. In Kursk Ukraine holds about 80 square miles and it resembles World War I trench warfare. Both sides are dug in and neither wants to attack the other. In Belgorod Ukraine holds a much small piece of ground, about 2 miles across and 5 miles deep in one place, and two even smaller pieces of land, each less than 2 square miles and right on the border. Ukraine has destroyed the bridges over all major creeks/rivers extending into Belgorod 20+ miles. This is causing the Russians a logistical nightmare trying to move convoys toward the front line. But, the Ukrans always one step ahead of their clumsy opponents, allowed a pontoon bridge to be built and have not molested it (even though they could with ease anytime). The Russians thinking they had gotten one past the Ukrans stacked up convoys on that highway. Ukranian recon drones monitored the road and days passed. And more days passed, and the Russians did not attempt to cross the pontoon and advance up that narrow highway, a true killing zone. Several weeks went by and the Ukrans debated about attacking the Russian convoys where they sat. There were some anti-drone Russian weapons guarding the parked convoys, so Ukraine decided to wait.
Meanwhile Russia was piling up troops/equipment on the Sumy Oblast border, some 62,000 troops. This buildup was in conjunction with a similar one in the "Zaporia" region, one, or both, will be the site of Putin's "Battle of the Bulge" summer offensive, pundits surmise.
Then, before daylight on Easter Sunday, Putin ordered the Belgorod units to move. They began crossing the pontoon bridge, which was only a one-lane structure, and Ukranian recon drones were watching it all. Several tanks and IFVs led the way, followed by 20 civilian vehicles, trucks and cars (Ladas) carrying troops and supplies. At the same time, about 15 miles north, the Russians launched a surprise incursion across the border into Sumy, about 40 motorcycles, supported by some infantry that were hunkered down in a patch of woods. The local Ukran commander sent most of his attack drones to deal with the Sumy attack...which they did with devastating effect. The Russian column in Belgorod then picked up the pace and were speeding along the highway toward the Ukranian defensive line. This was a well-coordinated advance by the Russians, and it appeared it might work. Except... patrolling back across the border were 4 Ukrainian F-16s, loaded with JDAM guided bombs, 500-pounders. Taking a chance the Ukrainian commander ordered the Falcons to strike the convoy. Kaboom! many times, no more convoy to speak of. Nothing was fired at the Falcons by the Russians, so a 100% successful mission.
Cha ching!
Times Radio has a YouTube channel, it's a British news network, and have always found their reporting to be accurate and honest. In this world of SPIN and PROPAGANDA it's refreshing to find an outlet that simply provides the truth. There are some others as well that I follow. Took me months, many months, to weed though the BS and stop watching/listening to many of the outlets; these are both pro-Putin and pro-Ukrainian.
Max Tucker is one the Times Radio reporters. He is a retired British soldier who served in active combat in Afghanistan, doing two tours for a total of 16 months there. His report this morning is from the front at Toretsk. The Russians have made a breakthrough in the intense urban combat going on. Russian engineers dug through concrete walls in the city sewers, gained access to a series of basements, and then the Russians sent about 100 soldiers through, getting behind Ukrainian positions. This represents a setback for Ukraine trying to liberate the city.
Tucker spoke about the departure of the 3rd Assault Brigade (Azov) which had punched a hole through the Russian defenses and broke into central Toretsk, some months ago. The 3rd was re-deployed to another trouble spot. The Russians, upon learning of the 3rd's departure, grew bolder and began piling reinforcements into the fight there. Tucker says the Ukrainian units there are actually inflicting more casualties on the Russians than the 3rd did, but that's because the Russians tend to withdraw when the Azov Brigade appears. The fight for Toretsk just passed its 8th month and during this time Russia has lost 13,500 killed and at least half that number in wounded and captured.
Tucker also spoke on the use of illegal chemical weapons by Russia. When he arrived the Ukrans gave him a gas mask and was told to always have it hand, never go off without it.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote