Ukraine 3

[Kamaji]

General Armageddon: The notoriously brutal commander who oversaw the destruction of Aleppo and has now been appointed by Putin to revive Russia's faltering invasion of Ukraine

By CHRIS JEWERS FOR MAILONLINE
11 October 2022

Russia's devastating airstrikes across Ukraine on Monday had all the hallmarks of General Sergei Surovikin, the notoriously brutal commander who has now taken charge of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Known as General Armageddon, Surovikin oversaw the destruction of Aleppo, having previously fought in the 1990s conflicts in Tajikistan and Chechnya.

Surovikin, 55, was appointed on Saturday, after Moscow's forces were pushed back by Kyiv in recent weeks in a series of embarrassing setbacks, and hours after the  blast on the Kerch Bridge joining Russian-occupied Crimea to the Russian mainland.

The Russian defence ministry said General Surovikin had been appointed 'commander of the Joint Grouping of Forces in the areas of the special military operation', using the Kremlin's term for Putin's on-going invasion.

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11302251/Ukraine-brutal-general-oversaw-destruction-Aleppo-controls-Putins-forces.html

[Kamaji]

'Desperate' Putin's double trouble: UK intelligence chief says Russian despot is losing support at home and his 'exhausted' troops are running out of supplies - as defiant Zelensky taunts Kremlin that missile barrage which killed 14 will not break Ukraine

By MATTHEW LODGE FOR MAILONLINE
10 October 2022

The head of GCHQ has said 'desperate' Russian president Vladimir Putin is losing the war with Ukraine both at home and abroad and faces a potential revolt against his leadership as 'exhausted' troops run out of supplies and munitions.

Sir Jeremy Fleming, the director of the UK's intelligence, cyber and security agency, is set to claim the war is badly backfiring in Putin's home country as fighting-age Russians desperately try to avoid being drafted into his 'war of choice'.

In a speech in London later today, Sir Jeremy will say that despite claims of an 'inevitable Russian military victory' at the start of the war, 'it's clear that Ukraine's courageous action on the battlefield and in cyberspace is turning the tide'.

The security chief will also suggest that 'Russia's forces are exhausted' and it has become reliant on prisoners and inexperienced conscripts to backup depleted numbers on the front line.

It comes a day after Russia launched its biggest missile barrage on Ukraine since its illegal invasion in February, killing 11 people and injuring scores more in strikes in cities, including the capital Kyiv.

A defiant Volodymyr Zelenksy branded Russia a 'terrorist state' after the attack and said it showed the Kremlin is desperate as it is 'not capable of opposing us on the battlefield'.

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11301055/Zelensky-hits-terrorist-state-Russia-video-filmed-bomb-site-missile-strikes.html

[Hoodat]

We're the ones funding and accelerating a World War using Ukraine.

More lies.

Are you saying World War is our national interest @sneakypete ??

Preventing WWIII is in our best interest.  And history teaches us that handing Czechoskovakia over to the aggressors won't achieve that.

[mountaineer]

Preventing WWIII is in our best interest.

Yeah, that would be nice. Unfortunately, the current administration seems intent on doing the opposite.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Peace has always been the US national interest. 

Then why is the US escalating this bordee dispute to a nuclear war?

[sneakypete]

We're the ones funding and accelerating a World War using Ukraine. Are you saying World War is our national interest @sneakypete ??

@Right_in_Virginia

WE are the ones that invaded Ukraine?

Have you lost your freaking mind?

WHAT could have possibly led to THAT brain fart? Are  you living in some alternate universe?

[sneakypete]

Then why is the US escalating this bordee dispute to a nuclear war?

@Right_in_Virginia

I used to think you were just a "peacenick" that was terrified of dying.

I now thing you are an actual "Pro Soviet". Nothing else explains your dedication to Putin and a neo-Soviet victory.

I will now start addressing you as "comrade",comrade.

[mountaineer]

Biden essentially is urging Russia to use nukes. Disagreement with the administration's blank check/no oversight/Armageddon approach to this entire conflict is hardly pro-Soviet. If anything, it's pro-sanity.  I certainly don't want Russia using nukes on Ukraine - or anyone else.

[Kamaji]

Biden essentially is urging Russia to use nukes. Disagreement with the administration's blank check/no oversight/Armageddon approach to this entire conflict is hardly pro-Soviet. If anything, it's pro-sanity.  I certainly don't want Russia using nukes on Ukraine - or anyone else.

How so?

[Right_in_Virginia]

@Right_in_Virginia

I used to think you were just a "peacenick" that was terrified of dying.

I now thing you are an actual "Pro Soviet". Nothing else explains your dedication to Putin and a neo-Soviet victory.

I will now start addressing you as "comrade",comrade.

Accepting the truth about your own government's actions can be very difficut @sneakypete  ----- and the government's long history in Ukraine is one of the most difficult.

I don't like that you're resorting to name calling as your defense  --- but, I do understand it's all you've got.  I hope your decision keeps your blinders firmly in place; you're going to need them.

[Elderberry]

G7 Leaders Pledge ‘Undeterred’ Support for Ukraine After Russian Strikes 

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/10/11/world/russia-ukraine-war-news

At an emergency summit, leaders from the Group of 7 nations warned of “severe consequences” if Russia uses chemical, biological or nuclear weapons in Ukraine. The Ukrainian military said it shot down numerous Russian cruise missiles, a day after Moscow’s broadest strikes in months.

KYIV, Ukraine — Following Russia’s intense aerial assault against civilian targets, the leaders of the Group of 7 nations on Tuesday pledged “undeterred and steadfast” financial and military support for Ukraine, and emphasized “severe consequences” for Russia if it were to use chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

In a broad statement of support for Ukraine following an emergency virtual summit, G7 leaders pledged “undeterred and steadfast” financial and military help for Kyiv, and reiterated there would be “severe consequences” if Russia were to use chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

More at link.

[bilo]

Russia launched this war with a fifteen day plan.  And nine months later, they are still operating off of that fifteen day plan.  Just dump more soldiers in, and the Ukrainians will be overwhelmed.

At no point have the Russians taken a step back and began preparations for an extended conflict.  They continue on as if Kyiv will capitulate any day now with zero contingency for replacements and equipment.

This kind of decision making seems to be typical of authoritarian regimes. Everyone's afraid to tell the guy in charge the plan has failed and that they need to rethink what they are doing.

[bilo]

G7 Leaders Pledge ‘Undeterred’ Support for Ukraine After Russian Strikes 

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/10/11/world/russia-ukraine-war-news

At an emergency summit, leaders from the Group of 7 nations warned of “severe consequences” if Russia uses chemical, biological or nuclear weapons in Ukraine. The Ukrainian military said it shot down numerous Russian cruise missiles, a day after Moscow’s broadest strikes in months.

KYIV, Ukraine — Following Russia’s intense aerial assault against civilian targets, the leaders of the Group of 7 nations on Tuesday pledged “undeterred and steadfast” financial and military support for Ukraine, and emphasized “severe consequences” for Russia if it were to use chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

In a broad statement of support for Ukraine following an emergency virtual summit, G7 leaders pledged “undeterred and steadfast” financial and military help for Kyiv, and reiterated there would be “severe consequences” if Russia were to use chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

More at link.

I believe only 2 of these countries has really stepped up, the USA and the UK. My view is the sooner Ukraine can expel the Orcs the sooner we can look at how to get out of NATO.

[240B]

[mystery-ak]

I am getting nothing but complaints about this thread...if the attacks don't stop I will shut this thread down...

[Elderberry]

Ukraine LIVE: 'Desperate' Putin warned of mutiny as 'dreadful' weapon shortage exposed

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1680961/Ukraine-live-vladimir-putin-russia-mutiny-crimea-kyiv-attack-counter-offensive-latest

Ukrainian officials believe more than 61,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the war since the invasion began on February 24.

Vladimir Putin has been warned the "tide is turning" as the Russian people start to turn on him amid a string of "dreadful" failures and chronic weapon supply issues. Sir Jeremy Fleming, the head of GCHQ, said it is becoming clear to the Russian people quite how badly Putin has “misjudged the situation".

The Director of GCHQ, Britain’s cyber security agency, will use a speech in London on Tuesday to highlight the ongoing threats from Russia and China. He is expected to explain that Putin now finds himself in a "desperate" situation as his population "flees the draft, realising they can no longer travel" and his recruits are forced onto the battlefield without adequate supplies.

In his keynote address, Sir Jeremy will add: “Their gains are being reversed. The costs to Russia – in people and equipment are staggering. We know – and Russian commanders on the ground know – that their supplies and munitions are running out.

More at link.

[Elderberry]

Elon Musk blocks Ukraine from using Starlink in Crimea over concern that Putin could use nuclear weapons: report

https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-blocks-starlink-in-crimea-amid-nuclear-fears-report-2022-10

•   Elon Musk denied a Ukrainian request to enable the use of Starlink in Russian-occupied Crimea.

•   Musk told political analyst Ian Bremmer he fears a Ukrainian offensive could start a nuclear war.

•   The SpaceX CEO denied that he recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Bremmer claims.

Elon Musk personally rejected a Ukrainian request to extend his satellite internet service to Crimea, the SpaceX CEO fearing that an effort to retake the peninsula from Russian forces could lead to a nuclear war, according to a report published Tuesday.

Following Russia's February invasion of Ukraine, Musk — and the US government — provided Kyiv with thousands of Starlink systems, enabling Ukrainian forces to communicate in what were previously dead zones. The low energy requirements of the service's satellite receivers have enabled it to be connected to reconnaissance drones, Yahoo News reported, providing valuable, real-time intelligence on Russian movements and the ability to target them.

But recently there have been problems. Last week, the Financial Times reported that the service was suffering "catastrophic" outages on the frontlines, prompting speculation that it had been shut off in areas controlled by Russia — perhaps to prevent the Kremlin from itself exploiting the network.

More at link.

[240B]

Several reports that China is getting tired of Putin's insanity.
Putin sold China a quick, clean war, which would be over in days.
Now that Putin is intentionally punitively bombing/killing civilians, China is afraid of guilt by association.

[Hoodat]

Yeah, that would be nice. Unfortunately, the current administration seems intent on doing the opposite.

This is true.  It is a sad state of affairs when Ukraine has accumulated more armor by capturing Russian equipment than it has received from all NATO countries combined.  Biden just needs to shut the hell up and stop flaunting cash around.  The statements he has made so far have pushed us closer to war than any weaponry he could ever give Ukraine.

[Hoodat]

Then why is the US escalating this bordee dispute to a nuclear war?

Because Joe Biden is a reckless idiot who does not care about American interests.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Rich Baris "The People's Pundit"
@Peoples_Pundit

Or, it suggests that they are not trying to inflict mass casualties as the @nytimes is clearly hoping they do.

Even at the start of the war, the targets were largely not about personnel, though of course people die in armed conflict.

New York Times World
@nytimesworld
·9h

The Russian missile attacks that killed at least 19 people across Ukraine on Monday were wide-ranging, but they were not as deadly as they could have been. That has renewed questions over the quality of Russia’s weapons. https://nyti.ms/3T8sFCB 

9:55 AM · Oct 11, 2022·Twitter Web App

[240B]

New York Times World
@nytimesworld
·9h

The Russian missile attacks that killed at least 19 people across Ukraine on Monday were wide-ranging, but they were not as deadly as they could have been. That has renewed questions over the quality of Russia’s weapons. https://nyti.ms/3T8sFCB

I agree. Most of the cities being bombed by missiles and drones have highly valuable military and infrastructure targets. If Russia could hit 'real' targets, they would. Since their technological munitions are nearly spent. They are now just lobbing over 'dumb bombs' to hit whatever they hit.

[Elderberry]

V FOR VICTORY Ukraine war could be over by CHRISTMAS as Russian army faces total collapse in humiliation for Putin

https://www.the-sun.com/news/6396587/ukraine-war-over-by-christmas-russian-army-total-collapse/

THE war in Ukraine could be over by Christmas as the Russian army faces total collapse in a massive humiliation for Vladimir Putin.

Mad Vlad's forces could be pushed back to the Russian border by the end of the year if Kyiv keeps up its counter-offensive, a senior British government source has claimed.

Ben Hodges, a former US military chief in charge of American forces in Europe, said Russian lines were collapsing fast.

"Based on all the things we are seeing it has the feeling of a collapse, at least in the Donbas area, and I do believe the Russians will be pushed beyond the February 23 line by the end of the year," Hodges told The Time, referring to the date before Russia's unwinnable invasion kicked off.

He said Putin's army - once dubbed the 'second best in the world' - was one "that's been defeated".

The experienced commander said it could take Ukraine until summer next year to recapture Crimea given the build-up of quality Russian forces near the peninsula.

But if they retake Kherson - the Black Sea port city being closed in on - then they could push within range of Crimea and shower Russian checkpoints with long-range rockets supplied by Britain and America that can hit targets 50 miles away.

"Once they do, the people in Crimea are trapped," said Hodges.

More at link.

[bilo]

Several reports that China is getting tired of Putin's insanity.
Putin sold China a quick, clean war, which would be over in days.
Now that Putin is intentionally punitively bombing/killing civilians, China is afraid of guilt by association.

China knows they are in serious trouble and Russia is only making thigs worse. I'm not talking about public opinion or politics. China imports 85% of their energy and Russia is one of their suppliers. Russia's oil output is down and the technical expertise to fix that left the country. Also, China can't produce enough food to feed their population and fertilizer production is way down as well as crop production because Ukraine is not able to produce, or export, grain the way they normally do. China worries about internal unrest more than anything and there's nothing like food shortages and energy blackouts to get people mad.

[Hoodat]

Rich Baris "The People's Pundit"
@Peoples_Pundit

Or, it suggests that they are not trying to inflict mass casualties as the @nytimes is clearly hoping they do.

No one is claiming that Russia is trying to inflict mass casualties.  No one.  This is a strawman, and a rather pathetic one at that.