Ukraine: Live Updates thread

[sneakypete]

You have a unique ability to miss the salient point @sneakypete

@Right_in_Virginia

Pleeze splain hit to pore dum ol me.

Ahma gussin dat hit be "Russians are gud,eberbodie else bees ebil!"?

[Kamaji]

Ukraine civilians evacuated from steel plant in Mariupol

By Jackie Salo
May 1, 2022

About 100 civilians were evacuated from Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant in a UN operation Sunday — in what Ukrainian officials warned was “one of the last real chances” to flee Russian aggression in the area.

UN humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu confirmed that the evacuation from the Azovstal plant was under way with the International Committee for the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky added in a tweet that the exodus of “about 100 people” would eventually head to Zaporizhzhia in the southeastern part of the country.

“Grateful to our team! Now they, together with #UN, are working on the evacuation of other civlians from the plant,” Zelensky wrote.

*  *  *

Source:  https://nypost.com/2022/05/01/ukraine-civilians-evacuated-from-steel-plant-in-mariupol/

[Right_in_Virginia]

"Russia's crackdown on basic civil liberties and war dissenters have received ample attention in the West, needless to say. Similar crackdowns by Ukraine has received virtually none. Here's a video from @AP of Ukrainian arrests of dissidents in action:'  (Video)

https://mobile.twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1520743706432782336

[libertybele]

This is a little lengthy, but worth the read (full charter at link).  Notice the consistent mention of NATO and continued reference to Russia.  Also, keep in mind that Joe gave money to Zelenskyy/Ukraine several times, months before this charter was renewed and signed and most importantly, Joe announced that he felt Russia was going to attack.  How did he know that?? What prompted him to make those comments BEFORE Putin even attacked? (Joe also had dealings with Zelenskyy's predecessor but that brings another scenario into this current mess).  I feel it is important to remember that this war has been on going, certainly since the last charter was signed in 2008 during the Bush administration. (I have not read that charter yet).

U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

November 10, 2021

https://www.state.gov/u-s-ukraine-charter-on-strategic-partnership/

[Kamaji]

This is a little lengthy, but worth the read (full charter at link).  Notice the consistent mention of NATO and continued reference to Russia.  Also, keep in mind that Joe gave money to Zelenskyy/Ukraine several times, months before this charter was renewed and signed and most importantly, Joe announced that he felt Russia was going to attack.  How did he know that?? What prompted him to make those comments BEFORE Putin even attacked? (Joe also had dealings with Zelenskyy's predecessor but that brings another scenario into this current mess).  I feel it is important to remember that this war has been on going, certainly since the last charter was signed in 2008 during the Bush administration. (I have not read that charter yet).

U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

November 10, 2021

https://www.state.gov/u-s-ukraine-charter-on-strategic-partnership/

Joe announced that he felt Russia was going to attack.  How did he know that?? What prompted him to make those comments BEFORE Putin even attacked?

Are you kidding?  Putin had more than 100,000 troops, with equipment and materiel, stationed on the Ukraine border for months.  They weren't just there for their health.

Biden, as U.S. president, also had access to U.S. intelligence - including internal communications and discussions of the Russian staff - that would have given a high indication that movement was imminent.

How did he know?  Seriously?

[Kamaji]

Russia attempting to legitimize control of Kherson with pro-Moscow administration, UK says

BY OLAFIMIHAN OSHIN
05/01/22

The United Kingdom’s defense ministry said on Sunday that Russia is attempting to legitimize its control of the Ukrainian city of Kherson by installing a pro-Moscow government.

The ministry also noted in a Twitter thread that Russian forces plan to transition the city’s currency to the ruble.

“Recent statements from this administration include declaring a return to Ukrainian control ‘impossible and announcing a four-month currency transition from the Ukrainian hryvnia to the Russian rouble,” the ministry said. “The Russian rouble is due to be used in Kherson from today.”

It added that Russia plans to implement a “strong political and economic influence” in the city.

“These statements are likely indicative of Russian intent to exert strong political and economic influence in Kherson over the long term,” the ministry said.


*  *  *

Source:  https://thehill.com/policy/3473080-russia-attempting-to-legitimize-control-of-kherson-with-pro-moscow-administration-uk-says/

[Hoodat]

Here's a video from @AP of Ukrainian arrests of dissidents in action:'  (Video)

https://mobile.twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1520743706432782336

No, it is a video of people being arrested for committing treason.  Stop lying already.

https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1520735279249862658

[Kamaji]

Kinzinger introduces AUMF to defend Ukraine if Russia uses chemical, biological, nuclear weapons

BY MYCHAEL SCHNELL
05/01/22

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) on Sunday introduced an authorization for use of military force (AUMF) resolution that, if passed, would authorize President Biden to utilize U.S. forces to defend Ukraine if Russia uses chemical, biological or nuclear weapons against its neighbor.

Kinzinger announced the joint resolution during an interview with moderator Margaret Brennan on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” Asked if it is too soon to be discussing potential use of force in Ukraine, Kinzinger said, “No, I don’t.”

“I don’t think we need to be using force in Ukraine right now. I just introduced an AUMF, an authorization for the use of military force, giving the president basically congressional leverage for permission to use it if WMDs, nuclear, biological or chemical are used in Ukraine,” Kinzinger said.

The congressman said the AUMF would give Biden leverage, adding that the resolution could serve as a deterrent to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Doesn’t compel the president to do it, it just says if it is used, he has that leverage. It gives him, you know, a better flexibility, but also it is a deterrent to Vladimir Putin,” Kinzinger said.

“If Vladimir Putin wants to escalate with the West, he will. It’s easy for him to do it. And I think right now what we’re doing with supplying, with lend-lease, with the financing is right,” he added.

The Illinois Republican said the U.S. “should be ready” if a situation unfolds in which America must get involved.

*  *  *

Source:  https://thehill.com/news/house/3473118-kinzinger-introduces-aumf-to-defend-ukraine-if-russia-uses-chemical-biological-nuclear-weapons/

[Kamaji]

Ex-NATO commander: Loss of top Russian officers amid invasion unprecedented in modern history

BY CHLOE FOLMAR
05/01/22

Retired Adm. James Stavridis, former NATO supreme allied commander for Europe, claims that the Russian military’s “amazing incompetence” in Ukraine has resulted in a loss of generals and other top officers that is unprecedented in modern history.

“In modern history, there is no situation comparable in terms of the deaths of generals. … Here, on the Russian side, in a two-month period, we’ve seen at least a dozen, if not more, Russian generals killed,” Stavridis told John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM in an interview that aired Sunday.

For comparison, Stavridis cited recent American conflicts, saying that “not a single general was lost in actual combat” in the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“It’s not just the generals being killed,” said Stavridis of the Russian military, additionally noting “their inability to conduct logistics,” “bad battle plan” and “loss of their flagship at sea.”

“It’s been a bad performance by the Russians thus far,” Stavridis said.

*  *  *

Source:  https://thehill.com/news/sunday-talk-shows/3472752-ex-nato-commander-loss-of-top-russian-officers-amid-invasion-unprecedented-in-modern-history/

[Kamaji]

US Artillery Delivered to Ukraine Is More Than Guns, It Is a Game-Winning Change From the Present

By streiff
Apr 30, 2022

On the night of February 11-12, 1951, three veteran Chinese Communist armies (39th, 40th, and 66th) and a North Korean corps kicked off the Chinese Army’s spring offensive against UN forces in Korea. The initial onslaught hit the green ROK Army 8th Division assigned to US X Corps and sent broken and reeling from the battlefield. The situation deteriorated, and X Corps was forced to withdraw and regroup. The Chinese advanced against the only allied force remaining in their path, the 23d Infantry Regimental Combat Team led by Colonel Paul Freeman, defending the high ground around the town of Chipyong-ni.

On the morning of 14 February, First Lieutenant Lee Hartell was riding as an artillery “air observer” in a Cessna O-1, called the L-19 Birddog by the US Army. During a Korean February, there isn’t a lot of greenery so Hartell became suspicious when he saw swaths of greenery in the river bottoms and along the ridgelines where he was flying. He ordered the pilot to drop down lower so he could take a look. Much to his surprise, or maybe not, he observed thousands of men and pack animals on the move. Most had bunches of tree branches strapped to their packs and affixed to the panniers carried by the animals for camouflage [no mention of camouflage is complete without this video]. He was looking at four Chinese divisions (119th, 120th, 197th, and 198th) fresh off their victory, moving south towards the Main Supply Route for X Corps. Hartell called for fire from his artillery battalion, the 15th Field Artillery. As the scope of the target became more evident, the Division Artillery, about 72 tubes of the 2d Infantry Division, joined the fray. The more they shot, the bigger the target became. Eventually, all the artillery in X Corps was firing as fast as humanely possible. When the last cannoneer keeled over from exhaustion, over 5,000 Chinese soldiers lay dead. Uncounted Chinese soldiers crawled off to die from their wounds or decided they had urgent business elsewhere.

The Chinese were taught a brutal lesson about the killing power of American artillery.

*  *  *

The reason for my literary prelude is that many people are making a big deal about supplying Ukraine with high-performance aircraft and modern tanks. Of course, those would all be nice and will, I’m sure, happen in time. But, for the battle Ukraine is fighting right now, the right weapons are being supplied: modern artillery and lots of ammunition.

*  *  *

Source:  https://redstate.com/streiff/2022/04/30/us-artillery-delivered-to-ukraine-is-more-than-guns-it-is-a-game-winning-change-from-the-present-n558218

[Right_in_Virginia]

@Right_in_Virginia

Pleeze splain hit to pore dum ol me.

Ahma gussin dat hit be "Russians are gud,eberbodie else bees ebil!"?

It would be a waste of my time, dear @sneakypete  A waste of my time.   But thanks for asking.

[libertybele]

Russia says Ukraine shells its own civilians

DOBROPILLIA/KYIV:

Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/91229594.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

[Kamaji]

Russia says Ukraine shells its own civilians

DOBROPILLIA/KYIV:

Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/91229594.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Russia says lots of things, most of them bald-faced lies.

[libertybele]

Russian–Ukrainian Friendship Treaty

The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was an agreement between Ukraine and Russia, signed in 1997, which fixed the principle of strategic partnership, the recognition of the inviolability of existing borders, and respect for territorial integrity and mutual commitment not to use its territory to harm the security of each other. The treaty prevents Ukraine and Russia from invading one another's country respectively, and declaring war.[2] Ukraine announced its intention not to renew the treaty in September 2018.[3] By doing so the treaty did expire on 31 March 2019.[4][3] The treaty was also known as the "Big Treaty".

Until 2019 the treaty was automatically renewed on each 10th anniversary of its signing, unless one party advised the other of its intention to end the treaty six months prior to the date of the renewal.

Russia–Ukraine relations have deteriorated since the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea and Russian support for separatist forces in the war in Ukraine's Donbass region. In response, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree not to extend the treaty................

...............On 19 September 2018, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree not to extend the treaty. On 3 December 2018, Poroshenko drafted a legislation to Parliament to end the Treaty of Friendship immediately; with support coming from Western allies within the United Nations Security Council. According to Poroshenko the non-renewal "does not require a vote" in the Ukrainian parliament. Ukraine announced that on 21 September 2018, it would notify the United Nations and other relevant organizations on the termination of the treaty.Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it was notified on 24 September 2018 of the treaty's termination by Ukraine, expressing regret.....

.....The agreement, among other things prematurely confirms the inviolability of borders of countries, regardless that Russia and Ukraine had not finalized a border between the two countries. The border was delineated in the 2003 Treaty on the Russian-Ukrainian State Border, but Ukraine has started the agreed-upon demarcation unilaterally after Russia dragged its feet.......

On 3 December 2018 Poroshenko did submit a bill on the termination of the treaty to parliament; 277 MPs supported the termination of the treaty, while 20 legislators voted against it...................

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian%E2%80%93Ukrainian_Friendship_Treaty

[Hoodat]

Counter-attacks push Russians back around Kharkiv - Ukrainian military

5:17


Air and artillery strikes on Kharkiv continued on Saturday, the Institute for War Studies said

The Ukrainian military said on Saturday it had recaptured four settlements to the north and east of the eastern city of Kharkiv - Upper Roganka, Ruska Lozova, Slobidske and Prelesne.

The Institute for War Studies says this has been part a series of successful counter-attacks out of the city in recent days.

Ukrainian forces have "recaptured a ring of suburbs north and east of the city" which it says may alleviate pressure on residential areas of the city that have faced intensive Russian shelling.

It also says these counter-attacks may force Russia to redeploy units which had been intended for operation in the region around Izyum to the south-east.

"Russian forces appear increasingly unlikely to achieve any major advances in eastern Ukraine, and Ukrainian forces may be able to conduct wider counter-attacks in the coming days," the ISW assessment says.



https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61252785?pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:3d85ac09-1b24-471d-8ded-1844aaf2cd7e

[libertybele]

Minsk agreements

he Minsk agreements were a series of international agreements which sought to end the war in the Donbas region of Ukraine. The first, known as the Minsk Protocol, was drafted in 2014 by the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine, consisting of Ukraine, Russia, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), with mediation by the leaders of France and Germany in the so-called Normandy Format. After extensive talks in Minsk, Belarus, the agreement was signed on 5 September 2014 by representatives of the Trilateral Contact Group and, without recognition of their status, by the then-leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). This agreement followed multiple previous attempts to stop the fighting in the region and aimed to implement an immediate ceasefire. ............

................While fighting subsided following the agreement's signing, it never ended completely, and the agreement's provisions were never fully implemented...............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk_agreements

[Hoodat]

...............On 19 September 2018, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree not to extend the treaty.

Can't say that I blame him considering that Russian troops had been occupying Ukrainian territory for over four years.  Clearly, Russia wasn't following it.

[libertybele]

Can't say that I blame him considering that Russian troops had been occupying Ukrainian territory for over four years.  Clearly, Russia wasn't following it.

.....OR Perhaps it was Ukraine not following

[Hoodat]

Minsk agreements

he Minsk agreements were a series of international agreements which sought to end the war in the Donbas region of Ukraine.  .  .

Russia was already violating the agreement before the ink was dry.

[Hoodat]

.....OR Perhaps it was Ukraine not following

Your basis?  Is this your feelings again?  Or do you have some factual information that justifies Russia's 2014 invasion.

[Hoodat]

Correction:  Story I posted yesterday described Major General Andrey Simonov as the tenth general killed.  He is only the ninth.

NINTH Russian general is 'killed in Ukraine': Kyiv claims to have taken out yet another senior officer as Putin tries to conquer the east

WILL STEWART and ADAM SOLOMONS  |  1 May 2022  |   07:06 EDT

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10772367/Is-NINTH-Russian-general-killed-Ukraine-Reports-blow-Putins-failed-war.html

[Kamaji]

Correction:  Story I posted yesterday described Major General Andrey Simonov as the tenth general killed.  He is only the ninth.

NINTH Russian general is 'killed in Ukraine': Kyiv claims to have taken out yet another senior officer as Putin tries to conquer the east

WILL STEWART and ADAM SOLOMONS  |  1 May 2022  |   07:06 EDT

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10772367/Is-NINTH-Russian-general-killed-Ukraine-Reports-blow-Putins-failed-war.html

The 10th will be along soon enough, particularly if Ukraine gets new U.S. artillery.

[Smokin Joe]

The history of the Azov Battalion is (or should be) well known by this point @DB   Those who do not know the particulars of this group and where they have operated for 8 years are missing what's really happening at that steel plant in Mariupol  --- beyond the Biden/Zelensky propaganda.  The time for attacking the messager should be over.


@Smokin Joe

Yeah, right. Because we just KNOW ol' DImitry, there, is going to give us a completely unbiased view of things.

How about they are holding out because they recognize there is an open trench waiting for them all for resisting the tender ministrations of their Russian "liberators"--civilian and combatant alike, and the trip to the pit will likely be a road to hell for the women.

The Russians have a long history of not treating kindly even those who were loyal to the Party but who were merely accused by some Zampolit of unfaithfulness to the regime. No one there can expect being treated so well as a child molester in an American Prison--all for fighting back.  And in truth, what would have awaited those folks when the Russians rolled in, even had they not resisted? The intellectuals, media folks and others who had less than kind comments about their new occupiers could expect to be rounded up and shipped off to internment (reeducation/labor/concentration) camps and would never see their families again. Why not fight to the last bullet? They are dead anyway if the Russians prevail.

But keep on pimping Putin, there. It's good to have balance.

[Hoodat]

The 10th will be along soon enough, particularly if Ukraine gets new U.S. artillery.

Two more were reported to have been killed in Kherson, but there has been no confirmation yet.

[libertybele]

Russia was already violating the agreement before the ink was dry.

Proof or is that just your feeling?