Ukraine 3

[Kamaji]

Putin's spokesman admits the 70-year-old is 'definitely not up to it now' when asked if Vladimir is ready to decide if he will run for president next year

By WILL STEWART FOR MAILONLINE
28 February 2023

Vladimir Putin's spokesman has admitted the 70-year-old is 'definitely not up to' deciding whether he will run for a new presidential term next year. The Kremlin leader has been dogged by rumors of ill health, including cancer, and is embroiled in a brutal war he unleashed in Ukraine which is not going according to plan.

His spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that elections would go ahead despite the military conflict, even though they had been 'called into question.' But Putin, 70, has failed to indicate if he will stand. 'So far, there are no pre-election or electoral moods — Putin has a lot to do. He's definitely not up to it now,' Peskov said. Several elections are due in Russia, including the presidential poll — the first round of which should be in March 2024, little over one year away.

Peskov (pictured left) told Izvestia: 'There is a decision that there will be elections. Under the conditions of the SVO [Putin's 'special military operation'], the prospects for holding elections — both in September and then presidential ones — were called into question. But we heard in the message that these and other elections should happen. That it is an integral part of the development of our society and political system.' Peskov added: 'We have not heard from him so far any statements where he would speak about nominating or not nominating his candidacy. That is, it is still a little premature. We just need to be patient.' Peskov did not elaborate further on what he meant by saying Putin was 'not up to it now.' If he stands, it would be his fifth term as president. Additionally he was acting president for several months in early 2000.

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Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/galleries/article-11802075/Putins-aide-says-leader-isnt-running-president-again.html

[Kamaji]

Putin's spokesman admits the 70-year-old is 'definitely not up to it now' when asked if Vladimir is ready to decide if he will run for president next year

By WILL STEWART FOR MAILONLINE
28 February 2023

Vladimir Putin's spokesman has admitted the 70-year-old is 'definitely not up to' deciding whether he will run for a new presidential term next year. The Kremlin leader has been dogged by rumors of ill health, including cancer, and is embroiled in a brutal war he unleashed in Ukraine which is not going according to plan.

His spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that elections would go ahead despite the military conflict, even though they had been 'called into question.' But Putin, 70, has failed to indicate if he will stand. 'So far, there are no pre-election or electoral moods — Putin has a lot to do. He's definitely not up to it now,' Peskov said. Several elections are due in Russia, including the presidential poll — the first round of which should be in March 2024, little over one year away.

Peskov (pictured left) told Izvestia: 'There is a decision that there will be elections. Under the conditions of the SVO [Putin's 'special military operation'], the prospects for holding elections — both in September and then presidential ones — were called into question. But we heard in the message that these and other elections should happen. That it is an integral part of the development of our society and political system.' Peskov added: 'We have not heard from him so far any statements where he would speak about nominating or not nominating his candidacy. That is, it is still a little premature. We just need to be patient.' Peskov did not elaborate further on what he meant by saying Putin was 'not up to it now.' If he stands, it would be his fifth term as president. Additionally he was acting president for several months in early 2000.

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Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/galleries/article-11802075/Putins-aide-says-leader-isnt-running-president-again.html

And there you have the timeline for the end of the Orcs' invasion of Ukraine - March 2024.  Putin will carry on his misbegotten thuggery until then, will announce his retirement, and will then fade away with his stolen billions, leaving a catastrophic mess for his successor to try and clean up.

[Kamaji]

All flights are suspended at Russian airport 'as fighter jets are sent to investigate unidentified flying object'

City government said it had halted all flights at the airport until 1200 local time
Unconfirmed reports said an unidentified object, such as a drone, was in the air

By CHRIS JEWERS FOR MAILONLINE and REUTERS
28 February 2023

Russia's Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg temporarily suspended all flights on Tuesday, the city government said, amid unconfirmed Russian media reports of an unidentified object such as a drone above the city.

The government of Russia's second city and birthplace of Vladimir Putin said on its official Telegram channel that it had halted all flights at the airport until 1200 local time (0900 GMT), at which point the suspension was lifted.

The state-run TASS news agency said that airspace within a 124-mile radius of Pulkovo had been closed until 1320 local time, citing an unnamed source.

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Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11801843/All-flights-suspended-Russian-airport-fighter-jets-sent-investigate.html

[sneakypete]

Putin's spokesman admits the 70-year-old is 'definitely not up to it now' when asked if Vladimir is ready to decide if he will run for president next year

By WILL STEWART FOR MAILONLINE
28 February 2023

Vladimir Putin's spokesman has admitted the 70-year-old is 'definitely not up to' deciding whether he will run for a new presidential term next year. The Kremlin leader has been dogged by rumors of ill health, including cancer, and is embroiled in a brutal war he unleashed in Ukraine which is not going according to plan.

His spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that elections would go ahead despite the military conflict, even though they had been 'called into question.' But Putin, 70, has failed to indicate if he will stand. 'So far, there are no pre-election or electoral moods — Putin has a lot to do. He's definitely not up to it now,' Peskov said. Several elections are due in Russia, including the presidential poll — the first round of which should be in March 2024, little over one year away.

Peskov (pictured left) told Izvestia: 'There is a decision that there will be elections. Under the conditions of the SVO [Putin's 'special military operation'], the prospects for holding elections — both in September and then presidential ones — were called into question. But we heard in the message that these and other elections should happen. That it is an integral part of the development of our society and political system.' Peskov added: 'We have not heard from him so far any statements where he would speak about nominating or not nominating his candidacy. That is, it is still a little premature. We just need to be patient.' Peskov did not elaborate further on what he meant by saying Putin was 'not up to it now.' If he stands, it would be his fifth term as president. Additionally he was acting president for several months in early 2000.

*  *  *

Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/galleries/article-11802075/Putins-aide-says-leader-isnt-running-president-again.html

@Kamaji

If he does step down,it will be to be replaced by some flunkie who will follow his orders. Putin will still be in charge,but not officially.

Dictators do NOT give up their power.

They can't afford to.

[Kamaji]

@Kamaji

If he does step down,it will be to be replaced by some flunkie who will follow his orders. Putin will still be in charge,but not officially.

Dictators do NOT give up their power.

They can't afford to.

They do if they engineer their departure correctly.  Putin has the money to do so, and there are plenty of places he could move to.

[sneakypete]

They do if they engineer their departure correctly.  Putin has the money to do so, and there are plenty of places he could move to.

@Kamaji

He has spent his entire life focusing on gaining power. Do you really think he is ready to give it up?

Or even emotionally able to give it up?

[Kamaji]

@Kamaji

He has spent his entire life focusing on gaining power. Do you really think he is ready to give it up?

Or even emotionally able to give it up?

All I know is what's published, and what's published definitely points to an end-game by March of 2024.

[Hoodat]

All I know is what's published, and what's published definitely points to an end-game by March of 2024.

It won't be over until Sevastopol is in Ukrainian hands.

[Kamaji]

It won't be over until Sevastopol is in Ukrainian hands.

We shall see; that all depends on the Russians and the Ukrainians.

[Kamaji]

'Ukrainian kamikaze drone' crashes down near gas plant just 68 miles from the Kremlin as Putin demands tighter security

Images appear to depict a UJ-31 'loitering munitions' kamikaze flying bomb
The drone came down near the village of Kolomna

By JAMES CALLERY FOR MAILONLINE
28 February 2023

A drone crashed just 68 miles from the Kremlin today in a suspected 'failed attack' by Ukraine.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered officials to tighten control of the border with Ukraine after a spate of drone attacks delivered a new challenge to Moscow more than a year after the invasion of its neighbour.

While Putin did not refer to any specific attacks in a speech in Moscow, his comments came hours after drones targeted several areas in southern and western Russia and authorities closed the airspace over St Petersburg in response to what some reports said was a drone.

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Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11803571/Ukrainian-kamikaze-drone-crashes-near-gas-plant-just-68-miles-Kremlin.html

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[Timber Rattler]

Moldova: Anti-government protest stirs fears of more unrest


https://apnews.com/article/moldova-protest-0ba8c2e7f4c681d077598e7713110fab

A new anti-government protest in Moldova’s capital Tuesday stirred fears of more unrest after thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to demand that the country’s new pro-Western government fully subsidize citizens’ winter energy bills and to “not involve the country in war.”

The protest in Chisinau was organized by a group calling itself Movement for the People and supported by members of Moldova’s Russia-friendly Shor Party, which holds six seats in the country’s 101-seat legislature.

Demonstrators waved Moldovan flags and honked horns, with many calling for the country’s president to step down. “Down with Maia Sandu!” they chanted, “Down with the dictatorship!”

Dozens of coaches had bussed in protesters from around the country, temporarily causing traffic jams as hundreds of police deployed to bolster security checked vehicles entering the capital. Shor Party leader, the exiled Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor, accused police of trying to “thwart the peaceful rally.”

“Fighting one’s own people is the last refuge of tyrants and the beginning of their downfall,” Shor, who is named on a U.S. State Department sanctions list as working for Russian interests, said in a statement Tuesday.

Putin's fingerprints are all over this.

[Kamaji]

Moldova: Anti-government protest stirs fears of more unrest


https://apnews.com/article/moldova-protest-0ba8c2e7f4c681d077598e7713110fab

Putin's fingerprints are all over this.

Yup.

[Timber Rattler]

Russia tries to close ring on Bakhmut as Ukrainians mount 'furious resistance'

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russians-intensify-assault-bakhmut-ukrainian-forces-try-dig-2023-03-01/

Russian forces carried out relentless attacks on Bakhmut on Wednesday, trying to encircle the small eastern Ukrainian city and claim their first major prize for more than half a year after some of the bloodiest fighting of the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Moscow of throwing waves of men into battle in Bakhmut with no regard for their lives. The leader of Russia's Wagner mercenary group said the Ukrainians were putting up "furious resistance" trying to hold the city at all costs.

Russia also said it had repelled a massive drone attack on Crimea, the peninsula its forces seized and claimed to annex in 2014. That came a day after Moscow accused Kyiv of launching a series of drone strikes on targets in Russia itself.

Reuters was able to reach Bakhmut from the west on Monday, proof that the city was not yet surrounded despite Russian forces pressing from north and south to close the last routes in.

The Mobiki are now being used in the Wagner-style human wave attacks.

[Kamaji]

Ukraine 'hits major Russian air base in fresh strike' a day after kamikaze drone crashed down just 68 miles from the Kremlin

By WILL STEWART and CHRIS JEWERS FOR MAILONLINE
1 March 2023

Ukraine is suspected to have struck a major Russian air base in Yeysk after massive explosions at the site, in yet another attack deep behind Moscow's frontlines. Russian war channel Rybar admitted a hit on Telegram, claiming it was by a Ukrainian long range Tu-141 Strizh drone.

Ukrainian sources also claimed the strike at the military airfield in Krasnodar region, and a picture appeared to show an explosion. 'Residents assume that it could even be missiles hitting the airfield,' said one account. Russian officials have denied a strike but locals reported two loud explosions. Then black smoke (pictured here) was seen billowing from the airfield which is a base for strike aircraft used against Ukraine in Vladimir Putin's war.

One local news group carried a message saying: 'Something exploded twice, and there was fire. There was an explosion at the airfield,' stated Rybar channel, admitting a Ukrainian attempt on the Yeysk base. 'According to preliminary data, a Tu-141 Swift UAV was struck down. There was a strike on the territory of the base but none of the aircraft were hit. However, this attack is unlikely to be the only one. With a high degree of probability, attempts will continue.' Pictured: A Ukrainian combat drone that crashed near Moscow, close to the the Voskresensk gas compressor station in the Kolomensky district.

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Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/galleries/article-11807057/Ukraine-reportedly-strikes-major-Russian-air-base-fresh-strike.html

[Kamaji]

How did Russia lose HALF of its 45,000 elite paratroopers in just seven months?

CHRIS PLEASANCE explains how Putin's generals' blunders saw thousands of crack VDV soldiers slaughtered... and what that means for the Ukraine war

By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 02:21 EST, 1 March 2023

Russia’s paratroopers – the VDV – are supposed to be the best of the best.

The 45,000-strong elite and experienced force has a reputation for ingenuity, toughness, and violence. What's more, its soldiers are among Moscow’s best equipped and best trained fighters.

This makes it all the more shocking that, seven months after Vladimir Putin ordered his armies to invade Ukraine in February 2022, half of them were dead.


Here, Chris Pleasance examines how 50 percent of Putin’s elite fighting force were wiped out as Ukraine put up a fierce defence of its country, and what that means for the Kremlin’s remaining army.

Watch the video here:

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Source:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11803095/Ukraine-did-Russia-lose-HALF-45-000-elite-paratroopers-just-seven-months.html

[Timber Rattler]

Breakaway Transnistria to hold 3-month military exercise amid military provocation claims

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/breakaway-transnistria-to-hold-3-month-military-exercise-amid-military-provocation-claims/2833725

The Defense Ministry of the breakaway Transnistria region of Moldova said on Tuesday that the next military exercise by the “peacekeeping contingent” in the region will begin on March 1.

"The peacekeeping contingent of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic continues to accept applications for participation in the next three-month training camp from March 1," the ministry said in a statement.

The statement came a day after the head of the breakaway Transnistria region, Vadim Krasnoselsky, said there is “no real danger” in the region, amid claims by Russia that Ukraine is preparing an "armed provocation" in the region.

The Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday claimed that Ukraine is preparing an "armed provocation" against Transnistria, an unrecognized breakaway region internationally recognized as part of Moldova but currently controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

The statement claimed that an offensive against Russian troops in the breakaway region is planned to be staged, with Ukrainian forces allegedly being dressed in the uniform of the Russian Armed Forces.

In response, the Moldovan government said in a statement that authorities do not confirm the claims made by the Russian Defense Ministry.​​​​​​​

[Kamaji]

Breakaway Transnistria to hold 3-month military exercise amid military provocation claims

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/breakaway-transnistria-to-hold-3-month-military-exercise-amid-military-provocation-claims/2833725

Russia is clearly trying to foment a violent military coup in Moldova.

[Timber Rattler]

Russia is clearly trying to foment a violent military coup in Moldova.

Yeah, pretty obvious what they are trying to do...outflank Ukraine by toppling the current government and installing a new pro-Russian government backed by whatever troops are in Transnistria, with reinforcements flown in from Crimea.  At the same time, Putin also wants Lukashenko to hit Ukraine from the north, but Lukashenko knows his military would revolt, but Putin doesn't care.

Putin's also been trying to stir up trouble for NATO in the Balkans but few are paying attention: 

West gains advantage as it vies with Russia for influence in Serbia

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/west-gains-advantage-it-vies-with-russia-influence-serbia-2023-03-01/

[Hoodat]

Russia is clearly trying to foment a violent military coup in Moldova.

This would be the point where an American President with even a modicum of leadership ability would throw their backing to the current government and helping prevent such a coup.  Unfortunately, the United States does not have such a President.

[Kamaji]

This would be the point where an American President with even a modicum of leadership ability would throw their backing to the current government and helping prevent such a coup.  Unfortunately, the United States does not have such a President.

[Hoodat]

Partisans at work in Crimea.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

This would be the point where an American President with even a modicum of leadership ability would throw their backing to the current government and helping prevent such a coup.  Unfortunately, the United States does not have such a President.

Absolutely right.

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