Putin starts “military operation” on Ukraine

[Sosaria]

Situation looks grim for ukraine, honestly. Their offensives have been blunted by russian ability to absorb and replace huge losses in manpower and equipment.

In the US, they have been sacrificed for the sake of domestic politics and not even talking about f-16 but other weapons aid is drying up. Ukraine especially needs to continue keeping up their air defence systems to protect from onslaught of russian drones and cruise missiles. How much longer can it hold out with US turning off the tap?

EU nations also showing fatigue at continuing to funnel aid to ukraine. In the near term, most of their govts are going to be taken over by right-leaning parties. It's a big question mark what will happen after that.

Putin and the russian armed forces don't need to do anything better or improve their operations, they just need to wait and outlast the opposition. By the way it's not as if Putin will be unseated any time soon. Surveys, even by those NGO not exactly sympathetic to him, have shown that most russians still support him. There is a certain extent of belief that Ukraine and NATO pose an existential threat to russia and Putin is forced to act first. It's strange but true. Patriotism is still strong among russians in general despite high casualties and inept military leadership.

Edited December 19, 2023 by Sosaria

[Kb27]

they just won't give up no matter how many dead bodies.

 

Ukrainian general reports Russian advances on multiple fronts

Russian invasion forces have been intensifying their offensive operations on several fronts, focusing on the Kupyansk, Lyman, and Bakhmut fronts, Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi disclosed on Telegram on Dec. 19.

According to Syrskyi, the Bakhmut front has been a particular locus for Russian activity and the direction of their primary efforts on the eastern front. To achieve their goals, the Russian military has been deploying airborne troops, marine infantry, and penal slave brigades "Storm Z" and "Storm V" for assault operations, Syrskyi noted.

 

The commander highlighted that the enemy's clear objective in this direction is to advance towards Chasiv Yar, Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Sloviansk, and Kramatorsk — ultimately aiming to reach the borders of Donetsk Oblast.

On the Lyman front, the general revealed that Russian forces have shifted to conduct continuous attacks on defense positions in the directions of Makiivka and Terniv. Additionally, combat operations are ongoing on the Siversk front.

 

Acknowledging the challenging situation, Syrskyi said that Ukrainian forces are compelled to confront the enemy's advantage in both armament and personnel. However, he added that Ukraine’s strategists are aware of this disparity and are continuously monitoring the situation, analyzing the enemy's actions and forces, and make effective decisions to strengthen Ukraine's defenses.

"Some decisions regarding ways to destroy the enemy were made directly in the combat zones," he added.

Despite these adversities, Syrskyi highlighted that Ukrainian forces have successfully held the line and are eliminating a significant amount of Russian troops on all three fronts.

 

The general reported that, during the first half of December, over 500 units of enemy materiel had been destroyed or damaged, including 67 tanks, over a hundred combat armored vehicles, and 77 artillery pieces and mortars of various calibers.

He noted that, unlike the Russians, Ukrainian forces prioritize success through thoughtful planning of combat actions and the effective use of artillery, mortars, strike drones, and small arms – instead of mass assaults.

"The most valuable thing for us is the lives of our soldiers,” he stated.

“Minimizing losses is always a priority during operational planning,”

[Sosaria]

On 12/19/2023 at 10:38 PM, Singa said:

Ukraine is currently facing acute shortage of Soviet-era 122/152mm shells, not NATO 155mm. so they are being forced to ration shells and will have to give up robust defense of lower priority frontline and focus more on important places like Avdiivka.

Hopefully production of 155mm shells in Ukraine can begin quickly in 2024.

There was a back-story as to why only the former soviet union or russia now created and used these weird calibres of ammo  Nobody uses 122 or 152. Story goes that in WW2 some soviet unit engaged in battle radioed for resupply of 9mm cartridges for their submachine guns, but somebody mistakenly sent them crates of 9mm for pistol

So it was decided later that some odd-size calibres need to be created for certain types of ammo to minimize possibility of confusion.

 

Edited December 19, 2023 by Sosaria

[Ender]

Interesting read on one of the battle under heavy fog and both sides were using smoke too..  UKraine , low on ammo, arty shells and mortar were using drones to compensate.

 

 

[Beregond]

On 12/19/2023 at 12:29 PM, Sosaria said:

Situation looks grim for ukraine, honestly. Their offensives have been blunted by russian ability to absorb and replace huge losses in manpower and equipment.

In the US, they have been sacrificed for the sake of domestic politics and not even talking about f-16 but other weapons aid is drying up. Ukraine especially needs to continue keeping up their air defence systems to protect from onslaught of russian drones and cruise missiles. How much longer can it hold out with US turning off the tap?

EU nations also showing fatigue at continuing to funnel aid to ukraine. In the near term, most of their govts are going to be taken over by right-leaning parties. It's a big question mark what will happen after that.

Putin and the russian armed forces don't need to do anything better or improve their operations, they just need to wait and outlast the opposition. By the way it's not as if Putin will be unseated any time soon. Surveys, even by those NGO not exactly sympathetic to him, have shown that most russians still support him. There is a certain extent of belief that Ukraine and NATO pose an existential threat to russia and Putin is forced to act first. It's strange but true. Patriotism is still strong among russians in general despite high casualties and inept military leadership.

Zelensky is mobilising another 500000 man to fight.🤫

I suspect a major ukraine counter attacking is coming. Making up of younger and stronger 💪 force.😂

Their current average age is 43 I think 🤔

[Didu]

Sports retailer Decathlon secretly supplying Russia: Report

French sports retail giant Decathlon has secretly continued selling clothes in Russia despite officially pulling out in protest at Russia's war in Ukraine, a media report published Tuesday (Dec 19) said.

The multinational retailer, which posted sales of 15.4 billion euros (US$16.9 billion) last year, announced within weeks of Russia's invasion of Ukraine that it would withdraw from the Russian market.

In October of this year, it sold its 60 local Russian outlets to Desport, the report in investigative media site Disclose said, a move that was presented as marking the end of its Russian presence.

"Except it wasn't," the report said.

In recent weeks, "very discreetly", Decathlon had continued to supply Desport with products carrying its flagship brands Quechua, Wedze and Kalenji, Disclose said.

Citing internal documents, open-source videos and statements from former staff, Disclose said that Decathlon had put in place "a vast system to conceal its exports as part of a supply agreement with Desport" which it said was worth at least US$12 million, using a shell company in Dubai and a Singapore-based subsidiary.

The operation, Disclose said, took Decathlon "to the limits of legality".

"I learned in the summer of 2023 that Decathlon wanted to continue selling its products in Russia," the media quoted an unnamed source who recently left the company as saying.

"I immediately understood that it was a secret project."

To meet Russian demand, Decathlon diverted part of its production originally earmarked for EU markets, and boosted output at Asian production sites, the report said.

EU sanctions following Russia's attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, made it illegal to deliver weapons, luxury goods or equipment that could strengthen industrial capacity to Russia.

Sports articles are not on the list.

Asked for comment by AFP, Decathlon said that it "operates no stores in the Russian Federation, employs no staff and owns no stakes in active companies in the country".

It added that Decathlon was doing "everything to stop the resale on Russian Federation territory of products purchased in Europe by third parties".

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/sports-retailer-decathlon-secretly-supplying-russia-3999176

[Ghgan]

 

[Kb27]

Anyone wants russian passport ? Very easy to get one. 😁

Your next stop ? Ukraine. 😄

 

Eleven men granted Russian citizenship along with summonses to military draft office in St Petersburg

A group of eleven applicants for Russian citizenship originally from ex-Soviet republics received summonses to a military draft office along with the Russian passports they had sought.

This was reported by Current Time with reference to the St Petersburg police.

At the ceremony where the men formally obtained Russian citizenship, military recruiters handed the naturalized Russian nationals the relevant summonses. It is noted that military investigative department officials were also present at the event.

As reported earlier, the Investigative Committee in Moscow launched 22 criminal cases for draft evasion by natives of Central Asian countries who had obtained Russian citizenship. At the same time, some 80 naturalized citizens were enrolled in the army ranks.

Edited December 21, 2023 by Kb27

[Jamesc]

And Putin is not?

Who is the one that says he will take Ukraine in 3 days!

On 12/15/2023 at 3:42 PM, Ghgan said:

 

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by Jamesc

[Jamesc]

Why don't all the immigrants at the Mexico border trying to get into lousy USA go to the nice USSR?

On 12/21/2023 at 1:15 PM, Kb27 said:

Anyone wants russian passport ? Very easy to get one. 😁

Your next stop ? Ukraine. 😄

 

Eleven men granted Russian citizenship along with summonses to military draft office in St Petersburg

A group of eleven applicants for Russian citizenship originally from ex-Soviet republics received summonses to a military draft office along with the Russian passports they had sought.

This was reported by Current Time with reference to the St Petersburg police.

At the ceremony where the men formally obtained Russian citizenship, military recruiters handed the naturalized Russian nationals the relevant summonses. It is noted that military investigative department officials were also present at the event.

As reported earlier, the Investigative Committee in Moscow launched 22 criminal cases for draft evasion by natives of Central Asian countries who had obtained Russian citizenship. At the same time, some 80 naturalized citizens were enrolled in the army ranks.

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by Jamesc

[Jamesc]

Every idiots thinks he is expert and post on Youtube these days!

On 12/20/2023 at 9:38 PM, Singa said:

and russia only need a few days to take Kyiv. china just fire missiles can take Taiwan in a matter of days. still pushing for china 12 point peace plan for Ukraine?

so called social media military expert 🤦‍♂️

how come only russia open for peace talk now? is it russia very comfortable now? 😁

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by Jamesc

[Ct3833]

 

 

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/19/7433719/

[Ct3833]

On 12/21/2023 at 2:05 PM, Jamesc said:

And Putin is not?

Who is the one that says he will take Ukraine in 3 days!

 

Who says 3 days, actually they are promised 2 days only 😁

National Guard captures Russian occupier promised "only 2 days on front line" by his command

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/19/7433719/

 

[Jamesc]

On 12/21/2023 at 2:42 PM, Ct3833 said:

Who says 3 days, actually they are promised 2 days only 😁

National Guard captures Russian occupier promised "only 2 days on front line" by his command

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/19/7433719/

 

He is delusional!

[Ghgan]

signs of throwing ukr under the bus.....

 

[Ender]

On 12/21/2023 at 1:15 PM, Kb27 said:

Anyone wants russian passport ? Very easy to get one. 😁

Your next stop ? Ukraine. 😄

 

Eleven men granted Russian citizenship along with summonses to military draft office in St Petersburg

A group of eleven applicants for Russian citizenship originally from ex-Soviet republics received summonses to a military draft office along with the Russian passports they had sought.

This was reported by Current Time with reference to the St Petersburg police.

At the ceremony where the men formally obtained Russian citizenship, military recruiters handed the naturalized Russian nationals the relevant summonses. It is noted that military investigative department officials were also present at the event.

As reported earlier, the Investigative Committee in Moscow launched 22 criminal cases for draft evasion by natives of Central Asian countries who had obtained Russian citizenship. At the same time, some 80 naturalized citizens were enrolled in the army ranks.

Die for Putin's re-election trophy in Adiivka.

 

[Ender]

Interesting video of a surgeon using a magnet to bring the bullet closer for extraction. The Ukrainian soldier survived. 

 

Warning: Graphic video of open heart surgery.

 

Spoiler

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by Ender

[Ender]

I don't know how much truth there is to this article, but it's an investigative report from WSJ.  Interesting read, on real life Games of Throne. 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/putins-oldest-ally-mastermind-behind-162006588.html

Putin's oldest ally was the mastermind behind the assassination of Wagner warlord Prigozhin, report says