30 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

There are still civilians inside too, I'm pretty sure one of the reasons he's decided to put in place a medieval siege is because the optics of slaughtering more civilians & not being able to blame Ukrainians. 

Unfortunately, I think if there's one thing Putin has demonstrated pretty conclusively in this war so far it's that he has no concern whatsoever about the optics of slaughtering civilians.

 

And they will always blame it on the Ukrainians, no matter how clear the evidence is (including video and satellite imagery) that proves it was the Russians.

48 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

No why would I, have only read BBC report saying Putin's ordered them to seal it so he can use the soldiers in other places.  

Then obviously the Russians have not yet sealed it.

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

Most of these look like mercenaries. Video, Kadyrov’s right-hand Delimkhanov literally says “the special operation to destroy and cleanse Mariupol” is completed. “Alllahu Akbar.” In front of destroyed, burning buildings.

 

VIDEO: Chechen Terrorists in Maripol

 

Hollow victory, won't last long before they are pushed back.

 

Just as well they failed miserably in their Plan A. Had they succeeded then all of Ukraine would have been taken over and annexed. 

 

There it is. As predicted for weeks. This follows announced plans for a "referendum" in Kherson, the forced "requalification" of teachers, and the attempt to switch to the Rouble, purges of freely elected local officials and more. Military victory over Russia is the only option.

 

United Russia Duma member Zatulin says that Ukrainian cities and territory Russia has occupied since Feb 24 will definitely not return to Kyiv control. According to him, they will either form new statelets like LNR and DNR, join them or be annexed by Russia outright

 

We’ve seen reports of purported Russian planning to execute such a plan to create a new statelet in Kherson soon

 

Ludmila Denisova, Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, says that the Russians are planning to hold an independence referendum in Kherson during May 1-May 10 to create another DNR and LNR like statelet in southern Ukraine. Ballots are reportedly being printed

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

Ludmila Denisova, Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, says that the Russians are planning to hold an independence referendum in Kherson during May 1-May 10 to create another DNR and LNR like statelet in southern Ukraine. Ballots are reportedly being printed

Are the results being printed at the same time?  ????????

 

 

Who knows , but one thing is sure this number's are close !

3 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Ballots are reportedly being printed

Let me guess: people can only vote “YES”? Or have the ballots already been filled out, and ‘voters’ (using that term loosely here) only have to deposit them in the ballot box. Saves a lot of time for everyone, that’s for sure.

6 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

Let me guess: people can only vote “YES”? Or have the ballots already been filled out, and ‘voters’ (using that term loosely here) only have to deposit them in the ballot box. Saves a lot of time for everyone, that’s for sure.

Unnecessary.  The people remaining in these depopulated areas will know how they are expected to vote.  If they don't vote as expected, the results will be declared to be flawed and will be ignored.

Video of Vladimir Putin gripping table during meeting sparks fresh concerns about his health

Vladimir Putin’s health has been called into question again after a video showed him tightly clutching a table throughout a meeting with Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu.

The clip has sparked fresh theories about his health, which has reportedly deteriorated since he launched Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.

In the footage posted online by the Kremlin, the 69-year-old Russian president grabs hold of the corner of the table with his right hand as soon as he sits down for the meeting, and keeps hold of it for the entirety of the 12 minute clip.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-putin-health-holding-table-russia-b2063102.html

 

Putin was visited by a cancer surgeon dozens of times in 4 years and takes rejuvenating baths in deer antler blood, says Russian investigative news outlet

Russian President Vladimir Putin was visited by a thyroid cancer doctor 35 times, new investigation claims.

Russian investigative news outlet Proekt revealed that a team of doctors frequently visited the 69-year-old Russian president at his residences or accompanied him on trips amid growing questions about his health.

Yevgeny Selivanov, an oncology surgeon, specializing in thyroid cancer, flew to visit Putin at his Black Sea residence 35 times and spent 166 days in his presence, the report said.

https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-health-cancer-fears-and-baths-in-deer-antler-blood-says-report-2022-4?r=US&IR=T

22 hours ago, Chris.B said:

 

VIDEO: Chechen Terrorists in Maripol

 

Hollow victory, won't last long before they are pushed back.

 

I saw that , I thought it would have been a good place and timing for dropping a bomb.

An off topic post has been removed

 

Daily Mail

 

France and Germany should hang their heads in shame!

 

Well done USA and UK.

 

 

 

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 23 April 2022

 

Despite increased activity, Russian forces have made no major gains in the last 24 hours as Ukrainian counter-attacks continue to hinder their efforts.

 

Russian air and maritime forces have not established control in either domain owing to the effectiveness of Ukraine’s air and sea defence reducing their ability to make notable progress.

 

Despite their stated conquest of Mariupol, heavy fighting continues to take place frustrating Russian attempts to capture the city thus further slowing their desired progress in the Donbas.

24 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

 

Daily Mail

 

France and Germany should hang their heads in shame!

 

Well done USA and UK.

 

Why doesn’t Germany and Herr Scholzov leave #NATO and join the Russian Federation? How can anyone trust Germany in a crisis? > Olaf Scholz says delivering tanks to Ukraine could spark nuclear war

 

Boris Johnson confirms Great Britain will hand over Challenger 2 tanks to Poland in a backfill that will allow Poland to send even more of its T-72s to Ukraine.

2 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 23 April 2022

 

Despite increased activity, Russian forces have made no major gains in the last 24 hours as Ukrainian counter-attacks continue to hinder their efforts.

 

Russian air and maritime forces have not established control in either domain owing to the effectiveness of Ukraine’s air and sea defence reducing their ability to make notable progress.

 

Despite their stated conquest of Mariupol, heavy fighting continues to take place frustrating Russian attempts to capture the city thus further slowing their desired progress in the Donbas.

I don't share that point of view.

 

Russian forces are approaching Kryvyi Rih as well as Zaporizhiza and in the north make gains near Izyum - Severodonetsk. The status of Rubizhne has been unclear for a couple of days already.

 

The Russians appear to make a double envelopment maneuver north and south around the eastern Ukrainian fortified line.

 

This worries me, as I don't know if the Ukrainians are ready to counter or not, because a counter would not only require strong mobile forces on the flanks, but also a strong center capable to defend from 3 fronts in a cauldron-type of battle.

4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Why doesn’t Germany and Herr Scholzov leave #NATO and join the Russian Federation? How can anyone trust Germany in a crisis? > Olaf Scholz says delivering tanks to Ukraine could spark nuclear war

because Germans have had their balls cut off in 1945.

Germany has not been known ever since for ballsy moves, and Putin knows that.

Putin knows that threatening Germany with "unforeseen consequences" and "escalation" would work to scare it off.

 

7 minutes ago, tgw said:

I don't share that point of view.

 

Russian forces are approaching Kryvyi Rih as well as Zaporizhiza and in the north make gains near Izyum - Severodonetsk. The status of Rubizhne has been unclear for a couple of days already.

 

The Russians appear to make a double envelopment maneuver north and south around the eastern Ukrainian fortified line.

 

This worries me, as I don't know if the Ukrainians are ready to counter or not, because a counter would not only require strong mobile forces on the flanks, but also a strong center capable to defend from 3 fronts in a cauldron-type of battle.

I don't know, UK intelligence have been pretty much on the mark since before this all started. Russia has made advances on some villages that I've seen but nothing significant.

Not that you can believe a word from the Russians but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

Russia says British SAS 'sabotage specialists' in Ukraine

 

According to the Ria Novosti news agency, at least two groups - or about 20 people in total - from the SAS have been deployed.

"These are no ordinary special forces," a Russian intelligence source is quoted as telling Novosti.

The source added that the SAS personnel are likely "co-ordinating the activities of sabotage groups" in Russian-controlled territory.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61185469

32 minutes ago, tgw said:

I don't share that point of view.

 

Russian forces are approaching Kryvyi Rih as well as Zaporizhiza and in the north make gains near Izyum - Severodonetsk. The status of Rubizhne has been unclear for a couple of days already.

 

The Russians appear to make a double envelopment maneuver north and south around the eastern Ukrainian fortified line.

 

This worries me, as I don't know if the Ukrainians are ready to counter or not, because a counter would not only require strong mobile forces on the flanks, but also a strong center capable to defend from 3 fronts in a cauldron-type of battle.

Looks to me Russia will keep pushing from east that said it looks to me Odessa will certainly be on their list. 

10 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Not that you can believe a word from the Russians but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

Russia says British SAS 'sabotage specialists' in Ukraine

 

According to the Ria Novosti news agency, at least two groups - or about 20 people in total - from the SAS have been deployed.

"These are no ordinary special forces," a Russian intelligence source is quoted as telling Novosti.

The source added that the SAS personnel are likely "co-ordinating the activities of sabotage groups" in Russian-controlled territory.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61185469

well yes, it's probable several countries currently have operatives helping the Ukrainian side.

 

let's not forget Russia had and still has hundreds of assassins and saboteurs in Ukraine.

3 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Looks to me Russia will keep pushing from east that said it looks to me Odessa will certainly be on their list. 

yes, they already made such objectives public, they want to link all the way to Transnistria.

 

I wonder if Ukraine and Moldova should go together and perform a pre-emptive invasion attack (not an invasion, since Transnistria is a Moldovan territory occupied by Russia) there and restore Moldovan power in Transnistria.

1 hour ago, Chris.B said:

 

Daily Mail

 

France and Germany should hang their heads in shame!

 

Well done USA and UK.

 

 

 

Australia is doing our bit too including sending 20 of these Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles

 

12 minutes ago, tgw said:

yes, they already made such objectives public, they want to link all the way to Transnistria.

 

I wonder if Ukraine and Moldova should go together and perform a pre-emptive invasion attack (not an invasion, since Transnistria is a Moldovan territory occupied by Russia) there and restore Moldovan power in Transnistria.

My take on that is Russia will stop at Moldova and give assurances if they able to get that far. 

16 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

My take on that is Russia will stop at Moldova and give assurances if they able to get that far. 

assurances that are worth nothing.

Russia has shown that it is not trustworthy, as it consistently ignores own promises.

9 hours ago, placeholder said:

Video of Vladimir Putin gripping table during meeting sparks fresh concerns about his health

Vladimir Putin’s health has been called into question again after a video showed him tightly clutching a table throughout a meeting with Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu.

The clip has sparked fresh theories about his health, which has reportedly deteriorated since he launched Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.

In the footage posted online by the Kremlin, the 69-year-old Russian president grabs hold of the corner of the table with his right hand as soon as he sits down for the meeting, and keeps hold of it for the entirety of the 12 minute clip.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-putin-health-holding-table-russia-b2063102.html

 

Putin was visited by a cancer surgeon dozens of times in 4 years and takes rejuvenating baths in deer antler blood, says Russian investigative news outlet

Russian President Vladimir Putin was visited by a thyroid cancer doctor 35 times, new investigation claims.

Russian investigative news outlet Proekt revealed that a team of doctors frequently visited the 69-year-old Russian president at his residences or accompanied him on trips amid growing questions about his health.

Yevgeny Selivanov, an oncology surgeon, specializing in thyroid cancer, flew to visit Putin at his Black Sea residence 35 times and spent 166 days in his presence, the report said.

https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-health-cancer-fears-and-baths-in-deer-antler-blood-says-report-2022-4?r=US&IR=T

Also lots of rumours that he has Parkinson's disease.

 

We’ve seen a lot of viral moments recently suggesting Vladimir Putin has Parkinson’s disease, this is nothing new, the story was broken in November, 2020, by Britain’s Sun newspaper, citing Moscow sources.

 

Later the same month, the same newspaper added that there were rumors going around that Putin had cancer, last month, as the invasion was imminent, I spoke to senior sources linked to the UK government and asked them about this. I was told that although these people did not know if Putin had cancer, they could confirm that he has Parkinson’s disease.

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

My take on that is Russia will stop at Moldova and give assurances if they able to get that far. 

My take is that Putin has gone bat-sh*t crazy and no one knows when or how this is going to end. The only thing I do know is that there is going to be an awful lot of death and suffering before this is over.  

1 hour ago, tgw said:

assurances that are worth nothing.

Russia has shown that it is not trustworthy, as it consistently ignores own promises.

Concur but what can Moldova do other than except which will amount to I'll make you an offer.

 

3 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Not that you can believe a word from the Russians but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

Russia says British SAS 'sabotage specialists' in Ukraine

 

According to the Ria Novosti news agency, at least two groups - or about 20 people in total - from the SAS have been deployed.

"These are no ordinary special forces," a Russian intelligence source is quoted as telling Novosti.

The source added that the SAS personnel are likely "co-ordinating the activities of sabotage groups" in Russian-controlled territory.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61185469

Hopefully some sabotage groups are successful in blowing up the Crimean bridge.

That would mess a lot with russian logistics.