14 hours ago, kwonitoy said:

Keep bombing the refineries, keep sinking ships, keep downing planes

The invaders country is slowly being hollowed out.

No one saw the Soviet Union collapse coming and I think the next one will be the same

For those who don't know, the catalytic cracking unit at Lukoil's Nizhny Novgorod plant has been under repair since 10 January. The plant produces 349 thousand barrels per day, while Russians consume 829. That is, part of the largest plant, which provides 42% of domestic consumption, is under repair. It should be said that the price of gasoline is a very worrying issue for Russians, if no one cares about Navalny's death, increase in price can cause a real riot, so when the price rose from 47-50 rubles to 55-60 rubles, of course the government was forced to ban exports for six months.

 

https://www.energyintel.com/0000018d-16d2-d6b1-a9bf-b6f706a60000

 

That said sanctions on some of the service providers involved in the upgrading of this very old installation will be having an effect but in time Chinese and others will replace these western companies that provided these services. After all it's not rocket science.

 

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/lukoil-nizhny-novgorod-refinery/

 

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

31 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

For those who don't know, the catalytic cracking unit at Lukoil's Nizhny Novgorod plant has been under repair since 10 January. The plant produces 349 thousand barrels per day, while Russians consume 829. That is, part of the largest plant, which provides 42% of domestic consumption, is under repair. It should be said that the price of gasoline is a very worrying issue for Russians, if no one cares about Navalny's death, increase in price can cause a real riot, so when the price rose from 47-50 rubles to 55-60 rubles, of course the government was forced to ban exports for six months.

 

https://www.energyintel.com/0000018d-16d2-d6b1-a9bf-b6f706a60000

 

That said sanctions on some of the service providers involved in the upgrading of this very old installation will be having an effect but in time Chinese and others will replace these western companies that provided these services. After all it's not rocket science.

 

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/lukoil-nizhny-novgorod-refinery/

 

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

And of course when Russia constricts exports, the impact on prices in a tight market leads to an increase in diesel prices globally. In Europe farmers are protesting all over the place and fuel prices are part of that mix and no-one needs reminding that gas prices in the run-up to an election are critically important. Putin's stooge Trump will be making hay with them if they stay high.

 

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/these-4-economic-variables-could-easily-flip-the-2024-election-for-biden-or-trump-moodys-164335231.html?guccounter=1

Different economic variables at play

Any of those factors could flip the election results, but the price of fuel is at the top of the list with its outsized impact on voter perceptions. "All else equal, if gas prices surge back close to $4 per gallon, Trump will win," they write.

The challenge for Biden is that he has limited options to push the needle one way or another.

"Given the cross-currents in global oil demand and supply, it is very difficult to gauge the outlook for gas prices, and such an increase in prices cannot be ruled out," the economists note, but they currently project that prices will sit at around $3.50 a gallon on election day.

On 3/9/2024 at 5:34 AM, Bkk Brian said:

Thanks Putin, NATO's most proficient recruiter.

 

Sweden formally joins Nato military alliance

Sweden has officially become the 32nd member of Nato after it completed its accession process in Washington.

The handover of documents took place at a ceremony two years after Sweden applied to join the military alliance following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that "unity and solidarity" would be Sweden's "guiding lights".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68506223

Hurrah, hurrah..........

 

36 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

For those who don't know, the catalytic cracking unit at Lukoil's Nizhny Novgorod plant has been under repair since 10 January. The plant produces 349 thousand barrels per day, while Russians consume 829. That is, part of the largest plant, which provides 42% of domestic consumption, is under repair. It should be said that the price of gasoline is a very worrying issue for Russians, if no one cares about Navalny's death, increase in price can cause a real riot, so when the price rose from 47-50 rubles to 55-60 rubles, of course the government was forced to ban exports for six months.

 

https://www.energyintel.com/0000018d-16d2-d6b1-a9bf-b6f706a60000

 

That said sanctions on some of the service providers involved in the upgrading of this very old installation will be having an effect but in time Chinese and others will replace these western companies that provided these services. After all it's not rocket science.

 

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/lukoil-nizhny-novgorod-refinery/

 

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

So.................

The reports that Ukrainian AD effectiveness have been seriously degraded seem to be borne out on the battlefield. And why 2 Patriot systems would be co-located together to be taken out by one missile suggests incompetence. My guess is they wanted advanced AD near the front to combat the deadly FAB bombs being deployed by Russian planes behind their front and were spotted by drones/satellite and they are not effective against hypersonic Iskanders. The Patriots literally didn't see them coming.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13179327/Dramatic-moment-Russians-destroys-two-400m-Patriot-surface-air-missile-systems-one-hypersonic-Iskander-strike-costly-blow-Ukraine.html

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/10/europe/russian-guided-bomb-ukraine-frontline-intl/index.html

 

Well, it seems like Ukraine will be getting its own convict Wagner-esque Dirlewanger Brigade.

 

“Not all military commanders are ready to take convicts and prisoners, but we will not and do not plan to impose such mobilized people on anyone. Most likely, these will be separate units,” the official explained.

 

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ministry-of-justice-announces-upcoming-submission-of-a-draft-law-on-mobilization-of-convicts-to-the-parliament/

A brilliant documentary made at great risk to VICE inside Russia as to the truth of the situation. Well worth an hour of your time. Putin's invasion of Ukraine was a tragedy for Ukraine, for Russia and the whole world. There is no escaping that.

 

 

3 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Well, it seems like Ukraine will be getting its own convict Wagner-esque Dirlewanger Brigade.

 

“Not all military commanders are ready to take convicts and prisoners, but we will not and do not plan to impose such mobilized people on anyone. Most likely, these will be separate units,” the official explained.

 

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ministry-of-justice-announces-upcoming-submission-of-a-draft-law-on-mobilization-of-convicts-to-the-parliament/

If they are intending to use convict soldiers it doesn't present a convincing argument that Ukraine is doing well.

IMO only convicts that think the chance of avoiding being blown up is a better option than the prison they are incarcerated in will be willing to volunteer. I can see that in the case of Russian convicts in Siberia, but does Ukraine treat their prisoners as badly?

 

Russian oil depot hit by Ukraine as Kremlin bans fuel exports

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-oil-depot-hit-ukraine-155413533.html

9 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If they are intending to use convict soldiers it doesn't present a convincing argument that Ukraine is doing well.

IMO only convicts that think the chance of avoiding being blown up is a better option than the prison they are incarcerated in will be willing to volunteer. I can see that in the case of Russian convicts in Siberia, but does Ukraine treat their prisoners as badly?

 

To any seasoned observer, that looks like the last roll of the dice. It is certainly nothing that any NATO army would ever contemplate. Giving arms to convicted sociopathic criminals and expecting it to go well. But it bears out what the Pope and Macron are highlighting that Ukraine is losing, and the front threatens to turn into a rout, and if they are recklessly gambling multiple Patriot batteries and getting them destroyed it points to a breakdown in competency as well.

3 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

To any seasoned observer, that looks like the last roll of the dice. It is certainly nothing that any NATO army would ever contemplate. Giving arms to convicted sociopathic criminals and expecting it to go well.

 

I think you totally overlooked purposely ignored the list of exclusions of the proposed draft bill to post your usual misrepresentation of facts with the goal of discrediting Ukraine.

 

In the very article you linked, it says:

Quote

However, it will not apply to all categories of people with a criminal record and those still serving their sentences.

...

“The military asked us to exclude from possible mobilization those who violated military discipline and committed crimes while performing their military duty. They also do not want to see those who committed crimes against the state. Therefore, such categories will probably not be subject to mobilization,”

 

In comparison, Russia took several times murders and cannibals into the army.

 

8 minutes ago, tgw said:

 

I think you totally overlooked purposely ignored the list of exclusions of the proposed draft bill to post your usual misrepresentation of facts with the goal of discrediting Ukraine.

 

In the very article you linked, it says:

 

In comparison, Russia took several times murders and cannibals into the army.

 

"Crimes against the state" is suitably vague. The other category is miliary personnel convicted of crimes whilst serving, and as there is no other link in English that I can find the point remains. Britain has never done that, and the US has to go back to the Confederacy for something similar.

1 minute ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

"Crimes against the state" is suitably vague. The other category is miliary personnel convicted of crimes whilst serving, and as there is no other link in English that I can find the point remains. Britain has never done that, and the US has to go back to the Confederacy for something similar.

 

So what you mean is, because you don't know the exact exclusions, you go on to publicly defame Ukraine, despite the measure not having been decided yet and there being clear signs that not all convicts and prisoners will qualify.

1 minute ago, tgw said:

 

So what you mean is, because you don't know the exact exclusions, you go on to publicly defame Ukraine, despite the measure not having been decided yet and there being clear signs that not all convicts and prisoners will qualify.

I am not a propagandist for Ukraine or Russia for that matter, I found the reference on ARSS The British Army Rumour Service, a more pro-Ukraine forum you won't find.  And it was them that made the Wagner /Nazi allusion.

19 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

I am not a propagandist for Ukraine or Russia for that matter, I found the reference on ARSS The British Army Rumour Service, a more pro-Ukraine forum you won't find.  And it was them that made the Wagner /Nazi allusion.

 

I won't display my paranoia, but when you post and somehow equate Ukraine's actions with those of Russia, could you please before posting ask yourself objectively "are they really doing the same, is it really comparable? "

 

Dirlewanger's was a bunch of really bad people, whereas I suppose Ukraine would want to draft cigarette and alcohol smugglers, corrupt officials, tax evaders, maybe non-violent burglars, car thieves, forgers, etc. I might be wrong of course, but let's see the final bill as it is adopted by Verkhovna Rada.

British Intelligence: Russian losses reach war lime peak in February...

 

https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/british-intelligence-russian-daily-losses-1709470888.html

16 hours ago, simple1 said:

British Intelligence: Russian losses reach war lime peak in February...

 

https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/british-intelligence-russian-daily-losses-1709470888.html

and? Russia has more cannon fodder than Ukraine.

Britain lost hundreds of thousands to Germany in WW1 trench warfare and still went on to defeat Germany.

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

and? Russia has more cannon fodder than Ukraine.

Britain lost hundreds of thousands to Germany in WW1 trench warfare and still went on to defeat Germany.

What a very strange comment but i know you are a putin boy.

How can you even compare these wars?

I know ,it can all be over in a day if the Ukraine would just stop fighting and give putin what he wants.You have a strange way of thinking.

 

Putin's Aide Backs Calls For Peace In Ukraine – And Issues Strange Warning Over West's 'Mistake'

https://au.yahoo.com/news/putins-aide-backs-calls-peace-154052229.html

After Russia lost 2 prized A-50 planes, Ukraine struck a factory that's replacing them, reports say

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-lost-2-prized-50-100935017.html

the pope should mind his own business, stick to religion and stay out of stupid comments, it's not his country thus easy to open his mouth

Nato chief slaps down Pope's claim that Ukraine should show 'courage of the white flag' to end Putin war

https://au.yahoo.com/news/britain-gives-full-support-ukraine-073537651.html

 

Power plant on fire

Refinery on fire

2nd Refinery on fire

 

Military plane crashes

Ukraine knocks out Russian refinery in major attack

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-launches-drones-oryol-fuel-012710801.html

nice BDay gift to Vlad, he may be wetting his pants 555

Ukraine and proxy groups strike Russia days before vote

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-proxy-groups-strike-russia-204953451.html

it was about time these anti Vlad groups started to help Ukraine, well done

Anti-Kremlin fighters launch cross-border attacks into Russia from Ukraine

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-based-russian-armed-groups-081125554.html

 

23 hours ago, Mavideol said:

the pope should mind his own business, stick to religion and stay out of stupid comments, it's not his country thus easy to open his mouth

Nato chief slaps down Pope's claim that Ukraine should show 'courage of the white flag' to end Putin war

https://au.yahoo.com/news/britain-gives-full-support-ukraine-073537651.html

Jake Broe roasts Pope.

 

8:25

 

 

 

and more good news .... 15 less to worry about 

Russia plane crash: Cargo aircraft carrying 15 people plummets to ground shortly after take off

https://au.yahoo.com/news/russia-plane-crash-cargo-aircraft-115729105.html