Ukraine War Watch Thread

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

Ukrainian delegate punches Russian in scuffle at Black Sea summit

Ukrainian and Russian delegates have had to be separated after a scuffle during a meeting of Black Sea countries in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Oleksandr Marikovski, a Ukrainian member of parliament, landed several blows to the head of a Russian official after his Ukrainian flag was ripped from his hands during a summit at the Turkish parliament building on Thursday.

A video posted on Marikovski’s Facebook page shows him waving the flag behind Russian delegate Ola Timofeeva as she records a video on her phone. A man approaches, grabs the flag and is chased by Marikovski.

During a brief altercation in parliament’s hallway, Marikovski grabs the flag back, pushing the man in the face. Others separate the men and plead “please, no fighting.” Marikovski replies: “It’s our flag. We’re going to fight for this flag.”

In a caption to his Facebook video, Marikovski wrote: “Paws off our flag, paws off Ukraine, Russian filth!”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna83035

[wjfox]

More footage for The Hague to consider.

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Ukraine war: Russia accused of using phosphorus bombs in Bakhmut

1 hour ago

Ukraine has accused Russia of attacking the besieged city of Bakhmut with phosphorus munitions.

In drone footage released by Ukraine's military, Bakhmut can be seen ablaze as what appears to be white phosphorus rains down on the city.

White phosphorus weapons are not banned, but their use in civilian areas is considered a war crime.

They create fast-spreading fires that are very difficult to put out. Russia has been accused of using them before.

Russia has been trying to capture Bakhmut for months, despite its questionable strategic value. Western officials have estimated that thousands of Moscow's troops have died in the assault.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65506993

[weatheriscool]

Ukraine downs Russian hypersonic missile with US Patriot defense systems
Source: AP

By DAVID RISING 36 minutes ago

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s air force claimed Saturday to have downed a Russian hypersonic missile over Kyiv using newly acquired American Patriot defense systems, the first known time the country has been able to intercept one of Moscow’s most modern missiles.

Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said in a Telegram post that the Kinzhal-type ballistic missile had been intercepted in an overnight attack on the Ukrainian capital earlier in the week. It was also the first time Ukraine is known to have used the Patriot defense systems.

“Yes, we shot down the ‘unique’ Kinzhal,” Oleshchuk wrote. “It happened during the night time attack on May 4 in the skies of the Kyiv region.”

Oleshchuk said the Kh-47 missile was launched by a MiG-31K aircraft from the Russian territory and was shot down with a Patriot missile.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukrai ... osition_03

[weatheriscool]

Russia's Wagner mercenaries in Bakhmut to be replaced by Kadyrov's troops
Source: Euromaidan Press

Evgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the private Russian military company Wagner Group, announced that he would hand over the positions of his mercenaries in Bakhmut to the troops of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

In his video statement recorded yesterday, Prigozhin said that the Russian Ministry of Defense refused to provide them with enough artillery shells and gave only 10% of the needed amount. He also accused Russian military leadership of wanting to appropriate territorial gains in Bakhmut, thus artificially depriving the Wagner Group of shells. Therefore, Prigozhin warned that his units would withdraw from the frontline for recovery until they received a regular supply of ammunition.

The Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, reacted to Prigozhin’s ultimatum on the same day and assured in a video address that his troops would be ready to replace Wagner mercenaries in Bakhmut with no delay.

Ukraine’s Eastern Group of Forces spox, Serhiy Cherevatyi, claimed that the Wagner Group was running out of fighters, not shells.

Read more: https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/05/06/ ... vs-troops/

[wjfox]

Ukraine war: 'Mad panic' as Russia evacuates town near Zaporizhzhia plant

1 hour ago

Russia has sparked a "mad panic" as it evacuates a town near the contested Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, a Ukrainian official says.

Russia has told people to leave 18 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region, including Enerhodar near the plant, ahead of Kyiv's anticipated offensive.

The Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, said there were five-hour waits as thousands of cars left.

The UN's nuclear watchdog warned a "severe nuclear accident" could occur.

Rafael Grossi - the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - said the situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant was "becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65515443



Credit: Image source, Ivan Fedorov

[ibm9000]

Ukraine downs...

'Ukraine’s air force claimed...'

Mad panic...

'a Ukrainian official says....'

These are what we call "Western analysts".

[ibm9000]

With preparations still being made, Pavel had appealed to Ukraine’s prime minister during meetings last week not to be “pushed into a faster pace before they are fully prepared”, the Czech leader disclosed. “Because it might be a temptation to push them, for some, to demonstrate some results.”
“It will be extremely harmful to Ukraine if this counteroffensive fails, because they will not have another chance, at least not this year,” Pavel said in an interview during a visit to London for King Charles’s coronation.

...and the Czech President a "Russian propagandist".

[weatheriscool]

US set to announce $1.2 billion aid package to Ukraine with counteroffensive looming
Source: CNN

The US is set to announce a $1.2 billion aid package to Ukraine as early as Tuesday, according to a US official familiar with the package, with Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces looming.

The package will include drones, artillery ammunition and air defense missiles, the official said, as well as other capabilities.

The package, first reported by The Associated Press, will fall under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which means it will be contracted and purchased from manufacturers instead of pulled directly from Defense Department stocks in a drawdown. Instead of supplying Ukraine with the weapons it currently needs, USAI packages are intended to create a medium- and long-term supply for Ukraine.

With the new package announcement, the US will have committed $37.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration, including $36.9 billion since the beginning of the war in February 2022.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/08/politics ... index.html

[ibm9000]

KYIV. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said recently that Ukraine's military had shot down its 200th Russian aircraft. (May 2022).

Losses: Ukraine 60, Russia 70.
Then context:
If the casualty estimates are correct, Ukraine has lost 53% of its fighters and 28% of its combat helicopters.
The loss figures from the recent Pentagon leak would represent just more than 4% of Russia’s combat fixed-wing aircraft and only 5% of the country’s combat helicopters.

It is clear, anyway, that U. has been wining the war for the last 20 months...

[ibm9000]

"The expectation from our counteroffensive campaign is overestimated in the world, most people are waiting for something huge it may lead to emotional disappointment". Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in an interview this past week.
The planned counterattack made possible by donated Western weapons and training (and planning) could mark the most consequential phase of the war, as Ukraine seeks to snatch back significant territory and prove it is worthy of continued support.
Experts say it will be difficult, if not impossible, to push the Russians back to their positions before the invasion started.
Now, Russia may have the geographic advantage and stronger numbers. Some 500,000 Russian troops are currently focused in Ukraine, with at least 300,000 inside Ukrainian territory, Reznikov said. (The '97%' an American general was referring to).
But U.S. intelligence assessments disclosed in a massive leak of classified documents on the Discord forum revealed U.S. misgivings about Ukraine’s ability to make major progress this spring, in part due to assessed deficiencies in training and munitions supplies.

The Post.

[wjfox]

UK confirms supply of Storm Shadow long-range missiles in Ukraine

10 minutes ago

The UK has confirmed it is supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles it requested for its fight against invading Russian forces.

The Storm Shadow cruise missile has a range of over 250km (155 miles), according to the manufacturer.

By contrast, the US-supplied Himars missiles used by Ukraine only have a range of around 80 km (50 miles).

The weapons will give Ukraine the "best chance" of defending itself, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said.

They are fired from aircraft, so the longer range means Ukrainian pilots will be able to stay further from the frontlines.

Once launched, the Storm Shadow drops to low altitude to avoid detection by enemy radar, before latching onto its target with an infra-red seeker.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65558070

[weatheriscool]

Hey, Mr.fox,i f Russia declares war on the UK and starts firing missiles and flying jets would you support the UK going to war against Russia?

[Water]

Hey, Mr.fox,i f Russia declares war on the UK and starts firing missiles and flying jets would you support the UK going to war against Russia?

By now I think most agree that there's only reason to worry when Russia promises to not attack someone.

[Xyls]

Appears there is some sort of counterattack by Ukraine going on in Bakhmut right now and Russians are losing positions.



Russians are panicking.

Might be another sudden collapse scenario developing.

[ibm9000]

Readers should be cautios about taking at face value allegations that have the potential to spread disinformation.

UK MOD.

...a stern warning from Russia, threatening a "proportionate response".

Like... giving missiles to someone? What happened to (Monty Python's) "a kiss in the neck"? Straight to WW3? Where is, again, the threat to use nuclear weapons?

Georgiy Muradov, permanent representative of Crimea under the Russian president, told Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti in an interview published on Friday that the U.K. may be turned "into a devastated territory" following the delivery of the weapons to Ukraine.

Someone in Crimea talking to a Russian news agency. Maybe, not exactly the same thing.

Visegrad24

Maybe, you should check the integrity of your Visegrad24, maybe the size of their arrows...
In the past, their "news" tended to happen never or in the future.

[weatheriscool]

Germany Announces Its Biggest Military Aid Package Yet for Ukraine
Source: New York Times

Germany on Saturday sent the strongest signal yet of its commitment to backing Ukraine in its battle against Russian occupiers, promising more tanks, armored vehicles and substantial air defense systems in its largest weapons package for Kyiv.

The arms package, totaling 2.7 billion euros, or about $2.95 billion, amounted to roughly as much as Germany’s total military aid to Ukraine since the war began in February 2022.

The move was part of a budding effort by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to draw a line under a year of rocky relations over Germany’s hesitancy to provide weapons and solidify a partnership that may prove increasingly critical to maintaining European unity in backing the war.

With elections looming in the United States next year, concern is growing in European capitals that President Biden will become less willing to showcase support for Ukraine, given the potential for Republicans to use the issue against him during the presidential campaign. Europe fears an even sharper drop in support for Ukraine should a Republican win the presidency next year.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/13/worl ... apons.html

[Xyls]

The north flank of the Russians is collapsing on Bakhmut the Ukrainians are accelerating the advance:







Better send Perogi more ammunition so he can shoot Putin dead as he is now calling for oben rebellion. This is about to become the biggest military rout since Stalingrad.

[weatheriscool]

Russia's Air Force Has a Very Fiery Day at the Border as It Tries to Bomb Ukraine
Source: Yahoo

Apocalyptic scenes were on display in Russia’s Bryansk region Saturday as four military aircraft were apparently blown out of the sky near the border, killing nearly a dozen service members.

Officially, authorities blamed the Mi-8 helicopter crash on a mysterious engine fire, but video shared on social media by local residents appeared to show a missile hit the chopper just before it exploded.

Around the same time the chopper crashed, an Su-34 fighter jet also came crashing down from the sky engulfed in flames. Residents in the town of Klintsy could be seen gathering around to gaze in horror at the fiery wreckage of the jet in a nearby wooded area.

Separately, Russian media reported that ANOTHER Mi-8 helicopter and an Su-35 jet had been shot down in the region.

Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/russia-air-force ... 53925.html

[wjfox]