Will Russia invade the Ukraine?

[Hoonercat]

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Saturday that troops would be regrouped from the Balakliya and Izyum areas to Ukraine’s Donetsk region.

A huge blow for Russia if it loses Izyum, given the effort they put into capturing it, but Ukraine regaining control of Kupiansk puts Izyum within HIMAR range. Social media videos are emerging that show Ukraine forces at checkpoints on the outskirts of Izyum today, which suggests they're either moving incredibly quickly with no resistance, or Ukraine are reporting their successes a day after they happen.

[irie]

Russia has lost Izium. Looks like a disorderly Russian rout.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uk ... 022-09-10/

Moscow abandoned its main bastion in northeastern Ukraine on Saturday, in a sudden collapse of one of the war's principal front lines after Ukrainian forces made a rapid advance.

The swift fall of Izium in Kharkiv province was Moscow's worst defeat since its troops were forced back from the capital Kyiv in March. This could prove a decisive turning point in the 6-month-old war, with thousands of Russian soldiers abandoning ammunition stockpiles and equipment as they fled.

[irie]

Blimey!

Russian soldiers 'literally running' for their lives as chain of command collapses.

Ukraine intelligence unit tells The Telegraph they are struggling to deal with the mountains of equipment left behind after rout.

Armoured fighting vehicles abandoned by Russian soldiers who changed into civilian clothing.

Panicked Russian soldiers are abandoning their tanks, weapons and even clothes as they "literally run from their positions" in the face of a shock Ukrainian offensive, soldiers have told The Telegraph.

A Ukrainian intelligence unit on the front line said the Russian chain of command was broken and soldiers were fleeing without putting up a fight, many of them changing into civilian clothes to avoid detection.

[Mussels]

That's what happens when resources are spread too thin, which might now be Ukraine's problem. At least Ukraine seems to have better logistics and will have a lot more civilian support.

[irie]

For at least 2 weeks Ukraine has publicly announced its intention to attack to the south in the Kherson area.

It's hard to believe that the Russian military were taken in solely by this, so there must have been a covert disinformation campaign to back it up such as fake communications, military movements, and so on.

Perhaps like Operation Bodyguard.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bodyguard

[irie]

https://www.politico.eu/article/scholz- ... ussia-war/

Scholz tells Putin to withdraw as Germany faces calls to send Ukraine tanks

German chancellor tells Russian president he must respect ‘the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

Yeah, that'll work won't it? Not.

Germany has delivered lighter weapons like anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles and grenades to Ukraine, and it has also supplied Kyiv with some heavier weapons, notably howitzers and anti-aircraft tanks. However, Scholz has repeatedly argued that he won’t deliver tanks as long as other allies are not sending similar Western tanks either, stressing that Berlin would not do any “solo runs.”

The U.S. embassy to Germany appeared to counter that argument in a rare, direct tweet on Tuesday, suggesting Berlin did not have to wait for its allies when it comes to weapon deliveries to Ukraine and could decide on its own.

“We call upon all allies and partners to support Ukraine in its fight for its democratic sovereignty as much as possible … The decision over the type of [military] aid ultimately lies with each country,” the embassy’s tweet said.

Germany hedging it's bets again. Bet they'll be first in line in the queue for juicy Ukraine reconstruction contracts. Words are cheap, as usual it's all about the money.

[Mussels]

Germany has had regular criticism but I believe France and Italy are doing less without, seems odd.

[irie]

https://odessa-journal.com/occupiers-fl ... ds-crimea/

Russian invaders are fleeing the captured Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, towards the occupied Crimea.

This was announced by the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, in his Telegram.

“The invaders fled from Melitopol towards the temporarily occupied Crimea. Columns of military equipment have already been fixed at the checkpoint in Chongar. This was expected – the rapid Ukrainian offensive leaves them no chance,” Fedorov stressed.

As yet unverified, but if Melitopol is truly being evacuated then given its location and strategic importance then this would perhaps indicate that Russian military has decided to regroup on the Crimean peninsula and try to hang onto it.

Wonder if/when the Kerch bridge will be made militarily unusable?

[Mr. Dazzle]

Probably depends on which way the traffic is flowing on said bridge?

[Kneerly Down]

Is it wrong that whenever I see Kakhovka I think of Tom Hanks playing the man from Krakozhia trapped at the airport in The Terminal?

[irie]

Is it wrong that whenever I see Kakhovka I think of Tom Hanks playing the man from Krakozhia trapped at the airport in The Terminal?

Of course it's not wrong, you see whatever you see.

[Mussels]

If regime change wasn't on the cards at the start of this it certainly is now, politicians have been promoting themselves for a few weeks and now there are open calls for a change of management at varying levels.
So far Putin has kept most Russians quiet, the nationalists were happy that Russia was showing the world how powerful it was, everyone else was happy they weren't involved. Now he needs to choose which side to keep happy.
Some people remember Putin saying he hadn't got started yet and think he has a secret stash of soldiers somewhere, some want WW3 but most still just don't want to be involved which means no conscripts fighting.
Putin has a reputation for coming out smelling of roses but it isn't going well for him

[Horse]

Puncture, or?

https://en.protothema.gr/putins-limousi ... l-reports/

According to the British news site Daily Mail, Vladimir Putin’s car was ‘attacked’ in what may have been an assassination attempt amid the Ukraine war, according to an unconfirmed claim.

The report claims his limousine was hit by a ‘loud bang’ on its ‘left front wheel followed by heavy smoke’.

The car drove to safety with Putin unharmed but there have been multiple arrests from his security service – while other bodyguards have vanished – amid claims that secret information about the 69-year-old ruler’s movements was compromised, says General SVR Telegram channel.

General SVR is a Russian Telegram channel which regularly posts alleged insider information about Putin and the Kremlin.

While some are sceptical of General SVR, others say it is one of the few prominent anti-Putin channels in Russia that provides an insight into the true goings-on at the Kremlin.

[Hoonercat]

Puncture, or?

https://en.protothema.gr/putins-limousi ... l-reports/

According to the British news site Daily Mail, Vladimir Putin’s car was ‘attacked’ in what may have been an assassination attempt amid the Ukraine war, according to an unconfirmed claim.

The report claims his limousine was hit by a ‘loud bang’ on its ‘left front wheel followed by heavy smoke’.

The car drove to safety with Putin unharmed but there have been multiple arrests from his security service – while other bodyguards have vanished – amid claims that secret information about the 69-year-old ruler’s movements was compromised, says General SVR Telegram channel.

General SVR is a Russian Telegram channel which regularly posts alleged insider information about Putin and the Kremlin.

While some are sceptical of General SVR, others say it is one of the few prominent anti-Putin channels in Russia that provides an insight into the true goings-on at the Kremlin.

Got to be careful driving around Russia these days, clumsy businessmen falling out of windows all over the place.
BBC reporting that Zelensky was involved in a car accident yesterday. That's his alibi sorted

[Horse]

the 69-year-old ruler’s movements

Of which.

While Googling for the car news story, there's some amazing suggestions that, during foreign trips, a bodyguard has to collect his faeces.

[Count Steer]

the 69-year-old ruler’s movements

Of which.

While Googling for the car news story, there's some amazing suggestions that, during foreign trips, a bodyguard has to collect his faeces.

I read that too! He doesn't want anyone testing to see if he has particular diseases. (Which sort of suggests he has?)

[MrLongbeard]

the 69-year-old ruler’s movements

Of which.

While Googling for the car news story, there's some amazing suggestions that, during foreign trips, a bodyguard has to collect his faeces.

So does the American President.

Edit, and according to Google same for the North Korean fella

[Horse]

Beats Winston's bogies!

[Mr. Dazzle]

the 69-year-old ruler’s movements

Of which.

While Googling for the car news story, there's some amazing suggestions that, during foreign trips, a bodyguard has to collect his faeces.

So does the American President.

Why would POTUS want Putin's faeces?

[Skub]

Why would POTUS want Putin's faeces?

He's into all that shit.