Ukraine 2

[Kamaji]

I agree with you about Finland. I'm not so sure about Ukraine. I think it will be more likely that they will be NATO compliant, but not in NATO in name. Another thought, Belarus may be the next domino to fall. The current govt., is a puppet of Russia but they won't stay in power forever and as Ukraine rebuilds, becomes more connected to the West, and prospers I would imagine the people of Belarus will want the same.

[bilo]

It's a matter of degree.  What compels a person to remain and shelter-in-place?  Finances?  Their own personal neutrality in the matter?

The Mariupol citizenry had MORE than enough warning to GTFO!  And "...where to?" won't play after the first waves back in January.

Why should they get out. It's their country!

The Russians are the invaders.

Apply your thinking to 1812. Should the Americans have fled and just ceded DC to the British?

[Kamaji]

Elon Musk is threatened by the head of Russia's space agency for providing internet to Ukrainians: SpaceX CEO jokes 'if I die under mysterious circumstances, it's been nice knowin' ya' - but his mom Maye doesn't find it funny

By STEPHEN M. LEPORE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
9 May 2022

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been threatened by the head of Russia's space agency over his attempts to provide Ukraine with internet service.

Musk, 50, has been using Starlink - a constellation of more than 2,000 satellites in low Earth orbit - to  beam internet connections to dishes around the world.

The service has a large presence in Ukraine, introduced with the explicit intention of keeping the country online amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

The billionaire said they had 'resisted hacking and jamming attempts' from the Russians back in April and were focusing SpaceX efforts on counter measures - at the expense of other projects.

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10796113/Elon-Musk-claims-hes-threatened-Russian-space-agency-head-providing-Ukraine-internet.html

[bilo]

But silence doesn't goad Russia into a wider war or open a false flag chemical attack window for the US to use.   

Remember, removing Putin is our goal and we are prepared to fight to the last Ukrainian --- and if need be, the last American ---- to make this happen.

There's no going back now.

This is just another talking point of an isolationalist perspective.

1. No one supports American troops getting into the war.

2. Putin can stay in power as long as Russians allow it.

3. No one is supporting an invasion of Russia.

I realize that a lot of isolationists think supporting Ukraine will lead to an expansion of globalization. The opposite is what is occurring. European nations have been awakened to the reality that they are far too dependent on the good graces of the USA for their defense and too easily blackmailed by Russia because of their energy dependence. These European nations are now starting to look to expand their defense spending and are looking to other sources than Russia for energy. The issues following this invasion by Russia involving food shortages and supply chain disruptions will further increase individual nations desire to become more self sufficient. NATO will become more of a peace keeping pact among it's members than a counter weight to potential Russian expansion because Russia is going to die as a result of this war.

[Kamaji]

This is just another talking point of an isolationalist perspective.

1. No one supports American troops getting into the war.

2. Putin can stay in power as long as Russians allow it.

3. No one is supporting an invasion of Russia.

I realize that a lot of isolationists think supporting Ukraine will lead to an expansion of globalization. The opposite is what is occurring. European nations have been awakened to the reality that they are far too dependent on the good graces of the USA for their defense and too easily blackmailed by Russia because of their energy dependence. These European nations are now starting to look to expand their defense spending and are looking to other sources than Russia for energy. The issues following this invasion by Russia involving food shortages and supply chain disruptions will further increase individual nations desire to become more self sufficient. NATO will become more of a peace keeping pact among it's members than a counter weight to potential Russian expansion because Russia is going to die as a result of this war.

[DCPatriot]

IMO, if they have camera lens capability to read your wrist watch from orbit, they also have the capability to send a laser beam to your center mass to 'disrupt your internal rhythm'...aka heart attack...brain aneurysm.

Let's ask Andrew Breitbart.   /s

[sneakypete]

"It was a threat we couldn't accept, it was a threat directly to our border. Everything showed that we are dealing with Nazis and we have to do something about it," Putin said, circling back to his rhetoric that one of the Kremlin's key goals is to "de-nazify" Ukraine.

I honestly don't know which is scarier. That fool,who just happens to be THE fool in charge of Russia's military would spout such nonsense,or that the rest of the Russian leadership SEEMS to be going along with it.

I capitalized "seems" because none of us ever know what is going on in secret in the background,and for all we know,the big boys in the Politburo are planning on removing him from office. I sincerely hope this paragraph is the one that applies to what is happening in the real world,behind the scenes.

[txradioguy]

IMO, if they have camera lens capability to read your wrist watch from orbit, they also have the capability to send a laser beam to your center mass to 'disrupt your internal rhythm'...aka heart attack...brain aneurysm.

Let's ask Andrew Breitbart.   /s

Staffers at our embassies in Cuba Russia and China have been complaining of headaches, nausea, memory loss and other cognitive difficulties. It's referred to as the "Havana Syndrome".

[Cyber Liberty]

I agree with you about Finland. I'm not so sure about Ukraine. I think it will be more likely that they will be NATO compliant, but not in NATO in name. Another thought, Belarus may be the next domino to fall. The current govt., is a puppet of Russia but they won't stay in power forever and as Ukraine rebuilds, becomes more connected to the West, and prospers I would imagine the people of Belarus will want the same.

If Ukraine wins this and kicks Russia out of Crimea too, then yes, Belarus comes into play.  And other satellites as well.  A blunder is in progress....

[mystery-ak]

 Pentagon: Russian military continues to struggle with poor morale, refusal to obey orders
by TheHill.com - 05/09/22 1:42 PM ET

Russian forces have not made any significant progress in Moscow’s new offensive in eastern Ukraine, a situation partly due to poor morale and some troops “refusing to obey orders,” a senior U.S. defense official said Monday.

“We still see anecdotal reports of poor morale of troops, indeed officers, refusing to obey orders and move and not really sound command and control from a leadership perspective,” the official told reporters.

The official later said “midgrade officers at various levels, even up to the battalion level” either have refused to obey orders “or are not obeying them with the same measure of alacrity that you would expect an officer to obey.”

Russian forces have struggled to make major gains in the Donbas region of Ukraine since beginning a new offensive in the area last month. 

On top of dealing with morale issues that have lingered since the start of the war on Feb. 24, the Kremlin also is struggling to resupply its troops and move its weapons and equipment in muddy spring weather, the official said. 

more
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3481944-pentagon-russian-military-continues-to-struggle-with-poor-morale-refusal-to-obey-orders/

[Kamaji]

Hackers hijack Russian TV to say country has ‘blood on your hands’ for Ukraine war

By Lee Brown
May 9, 2022

Hackers disrupted Russia’s Victory Day parade Monday by hijacking TV stations to accuse the nation’s citizens of having “blood on your hands” over the Ukraine war.

The country’s strictly censored cable and satellite TV stations flashed the “No to war” messages Monday just before warmongering President Vladimir Putin made a bloated show of strength in Red Square.

“You have the blood of thousands of Ukrainians and hundreds of dead children on your hands,” one of the various slogans also read.

“The TV and the authorities are lying. No to war.”

A Russian news website also showed anti-war material that was deeply critical of Putin, which swiftly disappeared.

*  *  *

Source:  https://nypost.com/2022/05/09/hackers-hijack-russian-tv-to-say-country-has-blood-on-hands/

[Kamaji]

Putin sparks more health speculation by covering legs with blanket at parade

By Yaron Steinbuch
May 9, 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin sat with a heavy blanket across his legs and appeared to be limping during a massive Victory Parade on Monday — renewing speculation about the strongman’s health.

Putin, 69, appeared to be the only one covering his knees with the blanket while surrounded by far older World War II vets, the Mirror reported.

“President Vladimir Putin throws aside his Russian Wool blanket to stride manfully to the unknown,” one user commented on Twitter.

Another quipped that Putin “stole a blanket from a veteran.”

*  *  *

Source:  https://nypost.com/2022/05/09/putin-sparks-health-speculation-for-covering-legs-with-blanket/

[Kamaji]

Putin sparks more health speculation by covering legs with blanket at parade

By Yaron Steinbuch
May 9, 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin sat with a heavy blanket across his legs and appeared to be limping during a massive Victory Parade on Monday — renewing speculation about the strongman’s health.

Putin, 69, appeared to be the only one covering his knees with the blanket while surrounded by far older World War II vets, the Mirror reported.

“President Vladimir Putin throws aside his Russian Wool blanket to stride manfully to the unknown,” one user commented on Twitter.

Another quipped that Putin “stole a blanket from a veteran.”

*  *  *

Source:  https://nypost.com/2022/05/09/putin-sparks-health-speculation-for-covering-legs-with-blanket/

(A) That certainly isn't the same Putin who used to ride around on a horse bare-chested, and

(B) His face looks a little puffy and swollen; he doesnt' look well.

[mountaineer]

What happened with the surgery Poot was supposed to have? Did we miss it?

[Smokin Joe]

Elon Musk is threatened by the head of Russia's space agency for providing internet to Ukrainians: SpaceX CEO jokes 'if I die under mysterious circumstances, it's been nice knowin' ya' - but his mom Maye doesn't find it funny

By STEPHEN M. LEPORE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
9 May 2022

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been threatened by the head of Russia's space agency over his attempts to provide Ukraine with internet service.

Musk, 50, has been using Starlink - a constellation of more than 2,000 satellites in low Earth orbit - to  beam internet connections to dishes around the world.

The service has a large presence in Ukraine, introduced with the explicit intention of keeping the country online amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

The billionaire said they had 'resisted hacking and jamming attempts' from the Russians back in April and were focusing SpaceX efforts on counter measures - at the expense of other projects.

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10796113/Elon-Musk-claims-hes-threatened-Russian-space-agency-head-providing-Ukraine-internet.html

Musk also has the benefit of testing his security against hostile hackers who really want to be successful (at least officially) at breaching security. How many social media/internet platforms will be able to say they've been tested against weapons grade hackers?

[Kamaji]

Musk also has the benefit of testing his security against hostile hackers who really want to be successful (at least officially) at breaching security. How many social media/internet platforms will be able to say they've been tested against weapons grade hackers?

[Smokin Joe]

Pentagon: Russian military continues to struggle with poor morale, refusal to obey orders
by TheHill.com - 05/09/22 1:42 PM ET

Russian forces have not made any significant progress in Moscow’s new offensive in eastern Ukraine, a situation partly due to poor morale and some troops “refusing to obey orders,” a senior U.S. defense official said Monday.

“We still see anecdotal reports of poor morale of troops, indeed officers, refusing to obey orders and move and not really sound command and control from a leadership perspective,” the official told reporters.

The official later said “midgrade officers at various levels, even up to the battalion level” either have refused to obey orders “or are not obeying them with the same measure of alacrity that you would expect an officer to obey.”

Russian forces have struggled to make major gains in the Donbas region of Ukraine since beginning a new offensive in the area last month. 

On top of dealing with morale issues that have lingered since the start of the war on Feb. 24, the Kremlin also is struggling to resupply its troops and move its weapons and equipment in muddy spring weather, the official said. 

more
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3481944-pentagon-russian-military-continues-to-struggle-with-poor-morale-refusal-to-obey-orders/

Ukraine would be wise to find ways to keep the ground muddy, to keep the Russian advance (literally) bogged down. Dry ground corridors would allow Russians to advance into kill zones as well.

[Right_in_Virginia]

To insinuate that Ukrainian-speaking Ukrainians were nazis while Russian-speaking Ukrainians were patriots to Mother Russia is a total fabrication with no basis in truth.

In WW2, Western Ukraine sided with nazi Germany, fought along side them and considered nazi German the Ukranian liberator.  Eastern Ukraine sided with Russia, fought with them and considered Russia to be Ukraine's liberator.

You see this same pro/anti Russia geographical spllt in Ukraine today.

Another split you still see in Ukraine today is language.  Western Ukraine today, as in WW2, speaks Ukrainian and  Eastern Ukraine speaks Russian.  Kiev's removal of Russian as an official language in Ukraine was in the mix of triggers for Donbas declaring its separation from Kiev and the start of Ukraine's battle with the region back in 2014.

@txradioguy

[mystery-ak]

 Biden signs bill to expedite military aid to Ukraine
by Morgan Chalfant - 05/09/22 3:22 PM ET

President Biden on Monday signed legislation that will make it easier for the U.S. to send military equipment to Ukraine as the Eastern European country battles the ongoing Russian invasion.

Biden signed the bill in the Oval Office at a ceremony with Vice President Harris. The bill, formally known as the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, passed Congress with bipartisan support last month. 

The bill was introduced by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and allows the U.S. to lend or lease military equipment to Ukraine and other allies in Eastern Europe while streamlining the process to make it easier to do so. The bill revives a World War II-era policy that helped defeat Nazi Germany. 

The bill passed the Senate in a voice vote and later passed the House in a bipartisan vote of 417-10 last month. All 10 of the “no” votes in the House came from Republicans. 

more
https://thehill.com/news/administration/3482064-biden-signs-bill-to-expedite-military-aid-to-ukraine/

[240B]

[Elderberry]

Russian army files most of its KIAs as missing not to pay families compensation

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3479187-russian-army-files-most-of-its-kias-as-missing-not-to-pay-families-compensation.html

In late April, Putin signed a decree obliging the government to pay RUB 3 million to families of wounded soldiers and RUB 5 million – to those of the servicemen killed in action. However, Russia's military leadership files most of its KIAs as missing, therefore their families will not receive any compensation.

The Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) at the National Security and Defense Council wrote about this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"These grand promises should have had a positive effect on mobilization because for such money many ruscists are willing to risk their lives. But these statements are a bitter reality where Russia files most of the fallen soldiers as missing, so as not to pay compensation," the officials note.

Yegor Shkrebets, a conscript who was killed on the Moskva Cruiser before being officially declared missing by the Russian prosecutor's office is a bright example of such practices.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, from February 24 to May 9, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liquidated about 25,650 (+150) Russian servicemen.

[mystery-ak]

Democrats want to boost Biden Ukraine aid plan to near $40B
By ALAN FRAMan hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Democrats are preparing a plan that would boost President Joe Biden’s requested $33 billion Ukraine aid package to nearly $40 billion, and a House vote is possible as soon as Tuesday, two people familiar with lawmakers’ thinking said.

In a retreat, Biden conceded that the package should not contain any of the additional billions he’s requested to combat COVID-19. Republicans, whose backing would be crucial to pushing legislation through the evenly divided Senate, have opposed adding that money to the Ukraine aid.

“We cannot afford delay in this vital war effort,” Biden said in a written statement. “Hence, I am prepared to accept that these two measures move separately, so that the Ukrainian aid bill can get to my desk right away.”

Biden said he has “nearly exhausted” his authority to continue shipping military aid to Ukraine, adding, “We are approximately ten days from hitting this critical deadline.”

Democrats have already offered their latest proposal to the GOP.

more
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-europe-congress-6ac9e6bfcb99fd7cbc02cad1445d36c2

[Right_in_Virginia]

OSINT Aggregator
@AggregateOsint

#Mariupol Update - #Russia & #Ukraine report that #Russian troops are inside the plant and taking more territory. #Russian's posted videos and the #Azov Regimental Commander Denis Prokopenko reported the breach of the main buildings. All civilians have been evacuated by the #UN.



1:11 AM · May 9, 2022  Twitter Web App

[Kamaji]

Russian army files most of its KIAs as missing not to pay families compensation

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3479187-russian-army-files-most-of-its-kias-as-missing-not-to-pay-families-compensation.html

Figures.  And with their portable crematoria, those "missing" KIAs will never be found.  How very Nazi of the Russians.

[Smokin Joe]

Russian army files most of its KIAs as missing not to pay families compensation

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3479187-russian-army-files-most-of-its-kias-as-missing-not-to-pay-families-compensation.html

Considering this, photographing dead soldiers and sending those images to next of kin becomes a kindness, not the horror some characterized it as.