https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-putin-news-04-17-22/h_c2789afaa290f5311aee5f14371ab176

 

Putin believes he’s winning the war, Austrian chancellor says

“I think he is now in his own war logic. He thinks the war is necessary for security guarantees for the Russian Federation. He doesn’t trust the international community. He blames the Ukrainians for genocide in the Donbas region. So, um, well, he is now in his world, but I think he knows what is going on now in Ukraine," Nehammer said.

 

so that confirms that Putin has some kind of a mental condition.

"not batting off a full wicket" would some British friends say.

Mykolaiv Oblast governor reports shootout between Russian troops, Russia's proxies in neighboring region.

According to Vitaliy Kim, shooting between the Russian military and forces of the Russian-occupied territories in Donbas took place in the Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka, Kherson Oblast, on April 16. 

https://kyivindependent.com/

 

good news.

if they start shooting each other among themselves, it will be less work and spare many lives of Ukrainian soldiers.

13 hours ago, tgw said:

I am really in no position to recommend anything.

 

But I remember this:

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

 

https://www.newsweek.com/2014/11/14/battle-ilovaisk-details-massacre-inside-rebel-held-eastern-ukraine-282003.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49426724

 

also known as the "massacre of Ilovaisk"

 

Russians can be 100% trusted to not respect any agreements.

Well, what you see in Ukraine is daily cud for talking heads on the news day in, day out, year after year, decade upon decade. . . but now it's white Europeans, so now we care, right?. . .

27 minutes ago, Led Lolly Yellow Lolly said:

Well, what you see in Ukraine is daily cud for talking heads on the news day in, day out, year after year, decade upon decade. . . but now it's white Europeans, so now we care, right?. . .

Yes, there is hypocrisy and double standards. That observation is painfully unoriginal. It is a reason that a large part of the world is rejecting taking sides on this, even though this really is a case where the one side Russia has a dictator leader behaving like Hitler.

The last two world wars started in Europe. 

Back to the topic which is the Russian war of choice vs. Ukraine and the west, the west MUST prevail and the enemies of the west include not only Russia but also pro Putin and Putin adjacent forces in the far right wing within the west. War criminal Putin clearly thought the no doubt very real DIVISIONS and too strong pro authoritarian populist factions in the west, especially in the U.S., were his trump card to pull this off. He's right that is a major weakness, but the spirit of the Ukrainian resistance and the surprisingly quick unification of the west in response gives a lot of room for hope. But much more needs to be done. Western Europe needs to give up Russian energy in a significant way. 

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Western Europe needs to give up Russian energy in a significant way. 

Don't hold your breath.

10 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Don't hold your breath.

I actually think there will be an effort. Might be too little too late but we'll see. 

Off topic deflection "whataboutery" posts and replies have been removed.

Ukraine vows to 'fight to the end' in Mariupol as Russian ultimatum expires

 

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Sunday that the strategic port city of Mariupol “has not fallen” and that the encircled forces defending the city from Russian attack will “fight to the end.” Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has invited French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Ukraine to see for himself evidence that Russian forces have committed “genocide”. 

 

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220417-live-blasts-heard-in-kyiv-mayor-says-residents-who-fled-should-not-return-yet

Allegedly the Moskva before it sank. Looks like it's completely blown open several places, if the picture are real.

What is interesting is that there are no signs of any rough sea as the Russians claimed.

 

 

6 hours ago, Led Lolly Yellow Lolly said:

Well, what you see in Ukraine is daily cud for talking heads on the news day in, day out, year after year, decade upon decade. . . but now it's white Europeans, so now we care, right?. . .

I replied to that kind of argument earlier:

 

 

Some off topic posts and replies removed

May 9th is looming on the horizon for the criminal Putin, there all sorts of tricks up his sleeve to create a false narrative to his attack on Ukraine and call for celebrations.

 

RIA Novosti is calling for a total ideological, economic and military mobilization of Russia against Ukraine and the West A prelude to the message that Putin is likely to communicate on May 9 Victory Day

 

BREAKING: Ukraine says that Russia is planning a referendum in Kherson, which will create a Donetsk and Luhansk style people's republic. The referendum will likely be held from May 1 to 10.

 

Ukraine's human rights Ombudsman describes how the Kherson referendum might take place. Anti-Russian protests persist in Kherson, but the timing of this referendum could give Putin a small victory to coincide with the end with the end of World War II anniversary on May 9

 

Video: Meanwhile on Russian state TV: a potpourri of propaganda, reminiscent of both the USSR and North Korea. State Duma Defense Committee's head Andrei Kartapolov tells fellow citizens how very lucky they are that their genius president got them into this history-making war.

 

Video: Deputy of the State Duma Vyacheslav Nikonov (a grandson of Vyacheslav Molotov) claimed: “In the modern world, we are the embodiment of the forces of good. This is a metaphysical clash between the forces of good and evil... This is truly a holy war we're waging and we must win.”

 

 

 

 

Judge for yourself but I would say the pictures are genuine when compared to recent other pictures from the same angle 

 

2 minutes ago, CatCage said:

Judge for yourself but I would say the pictures are genuine when compared to recent other pictures from the same angle 

Needs to be rebranded as submarine?

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Back to the topic which is the Russian war of choice vs. Ukraine and the west, the west MUST prevail and the enemies of the west include not only Russia but also pro Putin and Putin adjacent forces in the far right wing within the west. War criminal Putin clearly thought the no doubt very real DIVISIONS and too strong pro authoritarian populist factions in the west, especially in the U.S., were his trump card to pull this off. He's right that is a major weakness, but the spirit of the Ukrainian resistance and the surprisingly quick unification of the west in response gives a lot of room for hope. But much more needs to be done. Western Europe needs to give up Russian energy in a significant way. 

Don't see as that doing any good Putin has already said he will cut cut gas if not paid in Rubals.

Just now, Kwasaki said:

Don't see as that doing any good Putin has already said he will cut cut gas if not paid in Rubals.

Rubles......

The reality of whats really going on:

 

In recently liberated Trostyanets in Sumy, Bel Trew speaks to torture victims and uncovers fresh evidence of possible war crimes in northeast Ukraine

 

Blindfolded, arms and legs bound, and lying in the corner of the torture room, Dima could only hear his fellow prisoner scream and his ribs crack, as the man was beaten to death next to him.

 

Three of the detainees are dead or missing: Koyla was killed, and two others, including a military veteran, were beaten almost unconscious before they were taken away. 

Andrei – prisoner number six – says he was stabbed in his left leg, stripped, and threatened with genital mutilation and rape.

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-torture-chamber-killing-murder-b2059421.html

No Paywall

https://web.archive.org/web/20220417153428/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-torture-chamber-killing-murder-b2059421.html

 

 

 

Mass civilian graves have been found in most towns. In Bordyanka, Vorzel, Moshchun and Makariv, Post reporters have documented cases of indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, torture and summary executions.

 

There were bullet holes in his calves and his arms were stretched out at strange angles between slats of wood with nails through them. 

 

Among the filth they found condoms and a woman’s black bralette. Police say that the bodies of women and some minors bearing signs of sexual violence have been recovered from other parts of the town.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2022/bucha-atrocities-civilian-killings/

No Paywall

https://web.archive.org/web/20220416180115/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2022/bucha-atrocities-civilian-killings/

4 minutes ago, petermik said:

Rubles......

???? thanks spell check not working, it was close. 

10 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Don't see as that doing any good Putin has already said he will cut cut gas if not paid in Rubals.

Really, didn't he say that would happen on the 1st April? Taking a little longer than expected much like his war on Ukraine

16 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Don't see as that doing any good Putin has already said he will cut cut gas if not paid in Rubals.

He's a liar.

Of course it would help.

That's the money to mass murder Ukrainians.

16 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Really, didn't he say that would happen on the 1st April? Taking a little longer than expected much like his war on Ukraine

They came to an agreement . 

The  $ can exchanged for Roubles at Central banks in Moscow .

So the Western Governments pay in $ to a Russian bank and the Bank gives the Russian Government roubles for the gas

19 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

He's a liar.

Of course it would help.

That's the money to mass murder Ukrainians.

I've seen it mentioned a few times by a Ukraine rep that something like 35 billion Russia has received since the war and in aid and arms Ukraine has only received 1 billion. 

 

That is being addressed I guess but not quick enough. 

 

9 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

They came to an agreement . 

The  $ can exchanged for Roubles at Central banks in Moscow .

So the Western Governments pay in $ to a Russian bank and the Bank gives the Russian Government roubles for the gas

Thanks for the update, sounds more like plan B to me as Europe refused to his demands. It also looks like plan C will soon have to be implemented:

 

New EU sanctions on Russia to target Sberbank, Commission head tells paper

 

"We are looking further at the banking sector, especially Sberbank, which accounts for 37% of the Russian banking sector. And, of course, there are energy issues," she said.

 

The EU has so far spared Russia's largest bank from previous sanctions rounds because it, along with Gazprombank, is one of the main channels for payments for Russian oil and gas, which EU countries have been buying despite the conflict in Ukraine.

 

She also said that the EU was working on "clever mechanisms" so that oil could also be included in the next sanctions.

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/new-eu-sanctions-russia-target-sberbank-commission-head-tells-paper-2022-04-16/

2 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

I've seen it mentioned a few times by a Ukraine rep that something like 35 billion Russia has received since the war and in aid and arms Ukraine has only received 1 billion. 

 

That is being addressed I guess but not quick enough. 

 

Yes.

The struggle continues.

 

 

 

Just now, Jingthing said:

Yes.

The struggle continues.

 

 

 

Have you joined the struggle as well ?

 

8 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yes.

The struggle continues.

 

 

 

As usual a lot of talk from experts but as Ukrainians keep saying we need arms now. 

3 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

As usual a lot of talk from experts but as Ukrainians keep saying we need arms now. 

Is that your expert opinion ?

13 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Have you joined the struggle as well ?

 

Have you joined the baiting brigade?

6 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

As usual a lot of talk from experts but as Ukrainians keep saying we need arms now. 

They need them a month ago.