Assault on Kiev: Russian helicopters swoop above Ukraine's capital

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[Denim]

Following on from the first interview with a returned British Legionnaire on page 247.  Part 2.

 

 

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the eastern city of Bakhmut, the scene of some of the most intense combat since Russia invaded the country, on Tuesday.

During his trip he met with troops and praised their "courage, resilience and strength" as artillery boomed in the background.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also hailed the "courage and self-denial" of his forces in Ukraine, but he did so at a ceremony in an opulent hall at the Kremlin.

 

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Well worth a listen on the events and story of Snake Island in the Blacksea.

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, Black Ops said:

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the eastern city of Bakhmut, the scene of some of the most intense combat since Russia invaded the country, on Tuesday.

During his trip he met with troops and praised their "courage, resilience and strength" as artillery boomed in the background.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also hailed the "courage and self-denial" of his forces in Ukraine, but he did so at a ceremony in an opulent hall at the Kremlin.

 

Meanwhile the little one was back in Russia handing out an award to chief barbarian Margo Simonyan head of RT News, who then went on to thank Putin for "slaying all the cannibals."

 

 

[ozimoron]

Zelensky will visit the US Capitol tomorrow.

 

https://thehill.com/policy/international/3782717-zelensky-planning-to-visit-us-capitol-in-person-on-wednesday/

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Chris Parry told Sky News in an update from Ukraine, that the 4x4 vehicle used to evacuate the most vulnerable citizens was written-off after being hit by a Russian tank round.

[bannork]

The very welcome sound of a generator on Ukraine's streets .

 

[Mavideol]

Russians still unhappy about the whole war with Ukraine, troops moral at lowest

‘We’re Just Meat’: Russian Military Keeps Killing Its Own Troops

https://www.yahoo.com/news/just-meat-russian-military-keeps-191349406.html

[Mavideol]

Traitors/Russian sympathizers are not easy to find lately... solution??? in shear desperation bring Siberians (more cannon meat feeders) down to Ukraine

 

Russians bring officials from Novosibirsk to temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russians-bring-officials-novosibirsk-temporarily-111629931.html

 

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The prospects for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in the near future remain dim, António Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, said on Monday, adding that he expected the war to rage on as Moscow escalates its attacks on Ukraine’s already decimated infrastructure.

“I am not optimistic about the possibility of effective peace talks at the immediate future,” Mr. Guterres said in a year-end news conference. “I do believe that the military confrontation will go on, and I think we’ll have to still wait a moment in which serious negotiations for peace will be possible.”

[rudi49jr]

Putin to give “important and lengthy” speech at Defense Ministry board meeting - Kremlin.

https://tass.com/politics/1553575

 

Expect a lot of war mongering rhetoric, rants against the depraved West which is out to either conquer or destroy Russia, threats to use nuclear missiles, lies, misinformation, and lots and lots of deranged propaganda. I’m willing to bet that’s more or less what this speech will entail.

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[ozimoron]

The Biden administration wants to know how American-made microelectronics and other western components are winding up in Iranian-made drones launched by Russia into Ukraine.

 

Multiple officials familiar with the effort told CNN the administration has authorized a task force to investigate the potential violations of stiff export control restrictions and sanctions intended to prevent Iran from obtaining those materials, whose presence in the drones was confirmed by UK-based investigative organization Conflict Armament Research.

 

https://www.rawstory.com/ukraine-drones-russia/

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^ The power company manager had barely begun explaining how his workmen were restoring service, when a residents’ representative from a nearby housing block interrupted to give thanks. Gesturing to the workmen repairing buried power lines, the middle-aged woman declared they were heroes.

“I want to say that all the workers of communal services, electric companies and others are all our soldiers: heroes in the rear,” she told the Telegraph, before walking off.

[thaibeachlovers]

13 hours ago, Black Ops said:

 

Re the Patriots, before anyone starts claiming it is a winner in the war, according to what I saw on Al Jazeera, one Patriot missile is 4 million US$ and one Iranian drone is 250,000 US$, so all Russia has to do is use up all the Patriot missiles in attacks with massed drones. Depends on how many new missiles the US is prepared to pay for, and from the 3rd of January the GOP control the money. Apparently they are somewhat reluctant to have a blank cheque policy for Ukraine.

There was a comparison with WW2 when the US loaned Britain weapons, which had to be paid for after the war, but I don't know if that is the same with Ukraine, or if the US taxpayer is going to pay.

[ozimoron]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

Re the Patriots, before anyone starts claiming it is a winner in the war, according to what I saw on Al Jazeera, one Patriot missile is 4 million US$ and one Iranian drone is 250,000 US$, so all Russia has to do is use up all the Patriot missiles in attacks with massed drones. Depends on how many new missiles the US is prepared to pay for, and from the 3rd of January the GOP control the money. Apparently they are somewhat reluctant to have a blank cheque policy for Ukraine.

There was a comparison with WW2 when the US loaned Britain weapons, which had to be paid for after the war, but I don't know if that is the same with Ukraine, or if the US taxpayer is going to pay.

I have read they won't be used against the drones for that reason unless they are protecting something vital. The US is concerned that Iranian made missiles will start arriving in Russia very soon.

[thaibeachlovers]

5 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

I have read they won't be used against the drones for that reason unless they are protecting something vital. The US is concerned that Iranian made missiles will start arriving in Russia very soon.

Something else to think about is that the US will not be manning the Patriots for obvious reasons, and the Ukrainians need to be trained. So now that the Russians know they have a window before the Patriots are functional they are IMO likely to launch even more drone and missile attacks on infrastructure, just as winter is getting really cold.

 

Given the offensive on Russians in the east seems to be stalled, the possibility of a winter offensive by the Russians and the possibility of a new front on the Belorussian border towards Kiev, it could be getting even worse for the Ukrainian people.

[ozimoron]

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Something else to think about is that the US will not be manning the Patriots for obvious reasons, and the Ukrainians need to be trained. So now that the Russians know they have a window before the Patriots are functional they are IMO likely to launch even more drone and missile attacks on infrastructure, just as winter is getting really cold.

I just saw an interview on CNN where the guy said that they have likely already been trained in Germany.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

I just saw an interview on CNN where the guy said that they have likely already been trained in Germany.

Not according to the Ukrainian person ( I think an ex Ukrainian politician ) interviewed on Al Jazeera who was complaining that the training had not already taken place. However, we shall see in due course which version is correct.

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4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Something else to think about is that the US will not be manning the Patriots for obvious reasons, and the Ukrainians need to be trained. So now that the Russians know they have a window before the Patriots are functional they are IMO likely to launch even more drone and missile attacks on infrastructure, just as winter is getting really cold.

 

Given the offensive on Russians in the east seems to be stalled, the possibility of a winter offensive by the Russians and the possibility of a new front on the Belorussian border towards Kiev, it could be getting even worse for the Ukrainian people.

Likely to launch more drones? Because they're not launching as many as they can now? How do you know that?

[Hellfire]

Zelenskyy’s address to Congress

 

 

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[ExpatOilWorker]

[Bkk Brian]

The most detailed investigation so far carried out on the Bucha murders. NYT's has identified with photos all the soldiers responsible. New exclusive video evidence and reporting. Excellent watch and read.

 

Caught on Camera, Traced by Phone.

Vehicle numbers and symbols that @ckoettl identified in CCTV along the street also implicate the 234th. They enabled him to trace those vehicles to training exercises of the 234th in 2020, and again as they amassed in Feb. 2022 to invade Ukraine. Critical evidence were the cell phones of Ukrainian victims — which Russian soldiers used to call home within hours of executions. @YousurAlhlou and @MashaFroliak got call logs, and used the Russian numbers dialed to identify soldiers, speak to some and their family members.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/22/video/russia-ukraine-bucha-massacre-takeaways.html

[ozimoron]

Security video shows the moment Russian forces showed up to take children from Ukrainian orphanage

 

https://www.rawstory.com/russian-war-crimes-2659001733/

[Bkk Brian]

Wagner becoming a formidable force of barbarians within Ukraine. Now receiving military equipment direct from North Korea

 

“In certain instances, Russian military officials are actually subordinate to Wagner's command,” said John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator at the National Security Council. “It's pretty apparent to us that Wagner is emerging as a rival power center to the Russian military and other Russian ministries.”

 

US believes Russian mercenary firm Wagner Group is expanding influence and took delivery of North Korean arms

Kirby said the US estimates Wager currently has about 50,000 personnel deployed inside Ukraine, of which 40,000 could be convicts recruited from Russian prisons. He said the group was spending $100 million per month to fund its operations in Ukraine. 

Last month, Wagner received a delivery of infantry rockets and missiles from North Korea, Kirby said, an indication of how Russia and its military partners continue to seek ways around Western sanctions and export controls.

https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-12-22-22/h_436bd7e67edbcf6307b6432165f9bffa