The Ukraine Crisis Part 2 . The Battle for the Donbas

Kyrylo Budanov pointed out a long time ago that it would be extremely difficult to deal with the Russophile population in the liberated territories. Even more of a headache are traitors and those perceived to be traitors. Here is a small foretaste. I would have given Pasha Mercedes less time to proclaim his innocence. Subtitles are not very practical, but they are not a problem here. For historical comparison: Pursuit of Nazi collaborators - Wikipedia

 

59% increase in bankruptcies in ruSSia. the ruSSian economy looks "far from rosy". Putin needs to keep ruSSia in a 'permanent' state of war to stay in power, expert says.

Russia's economy appears resilient, but companies are going bankrupt by the hundreds

Putin needs to keep Russia in a 'permanent' state of war to stay in power, expert says

The US decided to deprive Russia of its last major foreign bank.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...l-delivers-warning-austria-russia-2024-03-06/

The first batch of 300,000 artillery shells for Ukraine has been funded.

Czech-led Collection Can Get Ukraine 300,000 Shells: PM

Only the first tranche: The Czech Republic has not completed fundraising for 800,000 artillery shells

Britain will fund more than 10,000 drones for Ukraine for a total amount of more than 325 million pounds, - said the British Defense Secretary in Kyiv.

UK to supply more than 10,000 drones to Ukraine

Pope Francis would rather see Ukrainians lay down and die than fight.

Pope Francis: Ukraine Should Have ‘Courage Of The White Flag,’ Negotiate Peace With Russia

CNN: "US prepared ‘rigorously’ for potential Russian nuclear strike in Ukraine in late 2022."

Exclusive: US prepared ‘rigorously’ for potential Russian nuclear strike in Ukraine in late 2022, officials say | CNN Politics

ISW: 1,555 ruSSian soldiers killed in two weeks. "Russian forces recently advanced northwest and west of Avdiivka amid continued positional fighting in the area."

Institute for the Study of War

A law might pass in the Ukrainian parliament that would make it possible to mobilize convicts from Ukrainian prisons.

Convict mobilisation bill to be submitted to Ukraine’s parliament next week

 

What exactly did the Pope say?

In the interview, the interviewer Lorenzo Buccella asks the Pope: “In Ukraine, some call for the courage of surrender, of the white flag. But others say that this would legitimize the stronger party. What do you think?”

Pope Francis replied: “That is one interpretation. But I believe that the stronger one is the one who sees the situation, who thinks of the people, who has the courage of the white flag, to negotiate. And today, negotiations are possible with the help of international powers. The word ‘negotiate’ is a couragous word. When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, it is necessary to have the courage to negotiate. You may feel ashamed, but with how many deaths will it end? Negotiate in time; look for some country that can mediate. Today, for example in the war in Ukraine, there are many who want to mediate. Turkey has offered itself for this. And others. Do not be ashamed to negotiate before things get worse.”

Thus, the Pope's words, taken from an image proposed by the interviewer, reiterate, among other things, what has already been stated in these two years of continuous appeals and public statements, namely the importance of dialogue against the "madness" of war and the primary concern for the fate of the civilian population.

“The Pope's hope," reaffirmed Mr. Bruni, “is and remains that which he has always repeated in these years, and reiterated recently on the occasion of the second anniversary of the conflict: ‘As I renew my very deep affection for the martyred Ukrainian people and pray for all, especially for the many innocent victims, I implore that a little bit of humanity can be found that allows the creation of the conditions for a diplomatic solution in search of a just and lasting peace'.”

‘Pope asks for the courage to negotiate for Ukraine’ - Vatican News​

This fits in well with widespread views among Italians:

Ukraine polls: one in two Italians want Zelensky at the negotiating table

Let us turn to foreign policy and developments in the Ukraine conflict. In the last few days, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has spoken of the possibility of NATO troops intervening on Ukrainian territory. A course of action that does not convince Italians at all: 49.8% think it is madness and that instead we should stop sending arms and get Ukraine to negotiate, even if it means conceding territory to Russia. 29.7% of the sample are against sending troops because of the risk of escalation, but confirm that they want to continue sending arms to Kiev.

On the other hand, 10.8% are in favour of direct NATO military intervention in Ukraine to prevent a Russian victory. Finally, 7.3% would choose a middle ground, preferring to send troops to countries closer to Ukraine that do not possess nuclear weapons.
Sondaggi TP: un italiano su due vuole fermare l'invio di armi all'Ucraina​

Tragically, support for a Ukrainian victory, however unlikely at the moment, is strongest in the neighbourhood, which has little to oppose Russia. The Eurosceptics and the Americans are also not keen on throwing money at a ‘sinking ship’:

“In Ukraine, as elsewhere, the United States is in the process of leaving behind a field of rubble for others to clear up. Anyone relying on it must realise that, especially after the end of the bipolarity of the Cold War, it has no reason to think twice before getting involved militarily: Its location on a continent-sized island with only two neighbouring states, both in its pocket, makes it invincible. This explains the recklessness with which it pursues its security and insecurity policy: Nothing can happen to it.” (Wolfgang Streeck)​

Mark Galeotti is insightful as usual:

Who is going to win?

MARK GALOETTI: Well, let's start with strategy again, Western and Ukrainian. The problem with strategy. And again, going back to the definition I threw out at the beginning, is you have to have a key end point that you're actually seeking to. And that's why there is no Western strategy, because there is no Western agreement on quite what the end and all this talk about. Well, we you know, basically ”it's for the Ukrainians to define victory and we're behind the Ukrainians as long as it takes”. Those are mantras that are used to avoid conversation rather than actually anything real. Because, of course it's not true. It's not true that we don't have our other our own interests is at stake here, and that we also have other interests. It's one of the reasons why. I mean, we all talk about the need to support the Ukrainians, but we are not militarizing our economies. No one's budget is suddenly saying, well, actually, no, you know, we need to basically crank up to 10% of GDP being spent on defense in order to create the orders, which will create the defense industry, which will allow us to properly support Ukraine.

There is a huge amount of hypocrisy on this. Now with the Ukrainians. Obviously it's it's a very different situation. But still, I think there is a problem in defining victory and defeat. Does defeat for Ukraine mean that Russia basically has rolled over the whole country and it has its forces on the Romanian border? Highly unlikely. Is defeat that essentially Ukraine becomes a sort of neutered country under Russia's shadow? Or if just simply, the Russians can hold on to all or most of what they've already conquered? Is that defeat? I mean, for some people, that would actually be victory if Ukraine can then develop democratically the way it wants on the other side of that frontline. So I think this is the problem until we have a clear sense, and even frankly, if one thinks of victory as meaning just pushing every Russian soldier out of every square centimeter of occupied territory. Again, quite an ask, but it doesn't end the war. It just simply moves the front line to the national border, behind which Putin can continue to reconstitute his forces, throw missiles across the border, etc. so in some ways.

I think the problem is no one really has a strategy because even the Russians, I know what Putin would like in terms of, again, sort of basically bringing Ukraine entirely under his dominion. But to be perfectly honest, I imagine that if as and when there is any kind of scope for any kind of a deal, it will just be aiming for the best deal he can get at the time.

So everyone is really just kind of slugging away, hoping that at some point, some notion of what is a plausible sort of outcome can happen. And in that context, and who's going to win?

I still, on the whole feel that Ukraine is going to win in some form. I just can't tell you what that form will be. And in part, it's to go back to your earlier point, because in many ways, Putin has been the father of the Ukrainian nation. But all the old divisions that had constantly, time and time again hampered Ukraine's attempts at nation building. Experiments actually had been swept away by the common experience of invasion. And whether it's, you know, it's Russian speaking or Ukrainian speaking, West or East, Catholic or Orthodox, all of these divisions matter so much less now.

But still, we also have to recognize that almost certainly Ukraine has proportionately taken more casualties than Russia has. You know, Russia still has the manpower advantage. And, well, certainly for this year, it's going to have all kinds of other advantages as well. I think we have to brace ourselves. There will be some further bad news coming in 2024 before hopefully combination of Ukrainian reconstitution and Western arms, more ammunition manufacturing sort of cranks up to scale.

So I mean, I honestly don't know. I wish, I wish I had some clear vision of how I think this is going to end out. I mean, I if I had to guess, I would say that this is going to end with a partial Ukrainian victory. Best example is the Finnish Winter War, in which, you know, Finland, when invaded by the Soviet Union, fought extraordinarily effectively and pushed the Soviets back. And the attempt to basically take over Finland failed. But nonetheless, as the price of peace, Finland lost about 10% of of its territory. […]

Whether it's actually something that is a genuine Russian victory in any terms, or whether just simply that's what something that they will spin with, with bare credibility. A majority of Russians will be happy to go along with that, in some cases, precisely because they just simply accept what they're being told by television. But in many cases, because this is not a popular war. The majority of Russians would not want this to continue, and therefore they will almost be a case of everyone conspiring to agree. If it'll just end the war, then yes, we'll say it was a great victory. And we, you know, we can put some statues to soldiers up in the squares as long as that means that, you know, our boys, our husbands and so forth do not face another mobilisation wave to be sent to the meat grinder.
​

Timothy Snyder is still upbeat:

​

 

This is utterly, utterly shameful for the west: "ruSSia producing three times more artillery shells than US and Europe for Ukraine".

Exclusive: Russia producing three times more artillery shells than US and Europe for Ukraine | CNN Politics

ruSSia has improvised a new, devastating weapon, the FAB-1500 aerial bomb.

Russia’s new guided bomb inflicts devastation and heavy casualties on the Ukrainian frontlines | CNN

Despite all this, the Ukrainians have still managed to stop ruSSia's progress.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/...e-halted-Ukraine-troop-situation-much-better-

Trump openly declares himself a traitor to the west.

Hungarian leader says Trump will end the war in Ukraine by not giving ‘a penny’ | CNN

ruSSia's oil processing plants taking a beating again.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/...ny-Novgorod-region-on-fire-after-drone-attack

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/...-at-Oryol-fuel-facility-other-regions-Russia-

Germans and Ukrainians give the Vatican's envoy a piece of their mind.

Ukraine updates: Germany criticizes pope over 'white flag' – DW – 03/11/2024

Ukraine summons Vatican envoy over pope remarks – DW – 03/11/2024

 

The current situation is briefly summarised in the two interviews with Oleksiy Danilov and Mykhailo Podolyak.
The third interview in the series, with Kyrylo Budanov, does not deserve much attention. I have therefore omitted it.





And what do the Russians currently think?

 

ruSSian money will now pay for Ukraine's ammunition. Confiscated ruSSian money will be used to buy Ukraine their ammo.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2477381/world

https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...bridge-european-divisions-ukraine-2024-03-15/

ruSSia's fake presidential "elections" have started. Numerous acts of sabotage occurred, including pouring cans of paint into the ballot box, setting off small explosives in voting places, and throwing Molotov cocktails.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...who-poured-liquid-into-ballot-box-2024-03-15/

Russia election: Nine arrested for vandalizing ballot boxes as voting starts

UN Security Council to meet over Russia’s illegal election in occupied Ukrainian territories.

UN Security Council to meet over Russia’s illegal election in occupied Ukrainian territories

Members of the pro-Ukraine Siberia, Freedom of Russia Legion and RDK battalions appear to have liberated Kozenka in the Belgorod from pro-putin troops.

Ukraine official: two Russian border regions are now active combat zones

Pro-Ukraine exiled Russian fighters launch cross-border raid into southern Russia

Anti-Putin Russian groups stage new cross-border raids into Russia

ruSSia continues to lure in more foreign mercenaries from impoverished countries.

Russia recruits more foreign mercenaries to fight in war, Ukraine says

20 people killed in a strike to Odessa by bastard putin.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...-two-ukraines-odesa-governor-says-2024-03-15/

Russian missile attack on Odesa kills at least 20 people

Mass evacuations in Sumy, Ukraine after ruSSian attacks intensify.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2477571/world

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/a...ies-launch-mass-evacuation-in-northern-region

 

Meet today's Hitler Jugend: The ruSSian Yunarmiya. To merely call them brainwashed would be an understatement.

Russia’s Frighteningly Fascist Youth





This is the ruSSia of future.

 

This is in part because the west pussyfooted too much with their aid. Too little too late, so the ruSSians had ample time to dig in and fortify. The behavior of the US republicans has also been extremely shameful.

The counteroffensive from last year was also just tragic. Lots of obvious bad planning and too much blind fate in their own bravado and to the idea that the western tanks were some sort of invincible wunderwaffen. Ukrainians should've just waited until this year, until the F-16s hopefully arrive so their attack would've had proper air support, and possibly even more tanks at their disposal. Now they just tragically lost quite a bit of hard-to-replace resources.

I'm still mad that Prigozhin didn't just go all out last summer during his mutiny. He chose to betray his master and he was a dead man the moment he made that choice. Surely he must've understood that putin is not gonna let it slide. He could've at least made his death mean something, attach value to it. Instead he died like a pussy.

Yes, the only sensible option now is to secure the lines and keep draining ruSSia's resources, until some sort of collapse a'la Afghanistan 1989 happens, and it's the responsibility of the west now to make sure that they help keeping Ukraine in the game. Trust me, letting this spread to NATO territory will just lead to an even more tragic and expensive war. It has to end in Ukraine. There is no acceptable alternative.

Luckily, the Czech initiative to purchase ammo for Ukraine is now showing results, with 300,000 rounds so far procured. Avdiivka, if nothing else, was at least a wake up call that the West can't just sit by idly and think that this is somehow gonna go away on it's own if they just close their eyes and pretend it's not there. putin is a delusional, mentally ill man. He will not stop while he's still alive. He must be made to stop, and only excessive, over-the-top violence, brutal use of deadly force will accomplish this. It's the only language ruSSians ever understand.

The Ukrainian's strategy of spreading real combat footage from the front online has, in ways, also worked against them. People see that footage, and all the painful ways you can use to destroy flesh, and they're immediately like: "Nope, not gonna go out like that. Nuh-uh, not me.". I've seen quite a bit of that footage myself, and trust me, it will strip away all and any glory from war. I've seen people die in ways I didn't think were possible. It's no wonder any sane people would rather just run away.

 

“Going on an assault feels like adrenaline, You just do the job, you have something to do to keep the people alive and avoid exposing us to bullets or shelling. But you start to realize what's going on only when it's already over. The assault … sometimes there is an unsuccessful assault, sometimes there are successful assaults. The subconscious knows what was happening literally 15-20 minutes later. In your subconscious, you start to understand what happened. When you're on adrenaline, you can't analyze your work, whether you did it right or wrong. Then the emotions go off the charts, and you just … whatever you have to do, you do.”

“Is there no fear before an assault? Doubts? Because I always have doubts. When the assault hasn't started yet, you sit in the windbreak, you are waiting for this order and something is scratching at your heart.”

“As they say, only a complete fool is not afraid, or I don't know how … Everyone has a sense of fear. We all understand this. Some people show it, some don't. But believe me, everyone's heart is beating much faster than usual. When you are on the defense or somewhere at the home front.” […]

“The problem is in the Verkhovna Rada?”

“Yes, I think so. They will not understand the situation that is happening in the war until they have been there themselves.”

 

putin wants them destroyed:

Путин приказал ФСБ найти всех «предателей» и не допустить «смуты» - Русская служба The Moscow Times

Relevant bit from the article, Google translated:

"The Federal Security Service should firmly suppress attempts to sow unrest in Russia, neutralize the activities of Western intelligence services, and also find and punish traitors in order to protect Russia from internal and external threats. Russian President Vladimir Putin set such tasks for the FSB, speaking on Tuesday at the department's board."

"He (=putin) added that the FSB should also “identify by name” traitors - in particular, members of sabotage and reconnaissance groups, which in the spring of 2024 increased attacks on regions bordering Ukraine and reported on the destruction of weapons depots and the capture of populated areas."

“We will punish them without a statute of limitations, wherever they are. And I ask you to pay enough attention to this area of activity so that no one will be discouraged,” putin said.

Copyright 2024 moscowtimes.ru

Also:

Ukrainian drones attacked ruSSian Engels air base overnight.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...r-base-overnight-kyiv-source-says-2024-03-20/

Ukraine drones attack Russian nuclear-capable aviation hub

Czech Republic can locate 700 000 extra shells, bringing the total to 1.5 million shells. Now it's just a matter of paying for 'em somehow.

Czech-led bulk ammunition buy for Ukraine picks up steam

Ukraine closes in on 1.5m NATO artillery shell boost

Desertions on the rise in the rus army.

Russian military hit by mass desertions

Germany announced a package of military aid (shells, armored/transport vehicles) to Ukraine worth €500 million

Germany to provide Ukraine with a new military aid package worth $543 million

Belgium, following in Germany's footsteps, unveils $445 million defense aid packages for Ukraine.

Belgium unveils $445 million defense aid packages for Ukraine

So hurry up with that ammo, West!

 

Crocus City Hall in Moscow becomes the target of a major terrorist attack, with so far 40 dead and over 140 injured, + a massive fire as unidentified gunmen opened fire and set the building ablaze. Ukraine denies any involvement. Terrorist organization Isis has claimed responsibility.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/russia-moscow-concert-attack-shooting-rcna144706

Moscow attack: Gunmen kill dozens at Crocus City Hall in Moscow

This might be good for the Ukrainians, assuming it really was Isis. ruSSia cannot close its eyes from this one without losing face, so they'll be forced to spread their resources thinner in order to retaliate. On the other hand, I'm worried that this might've been a ruSSian false flag to justify deploying even harsher measures. :/ putin would not be above something like that.

ruSSia is preparing to mobilize 300,000 to attack Kharkiv.

Kremlin Planning New Mobilization for Kharkiv Offensive – Vyorstka - The Moscow Times

Russian authorities plan to mobilize 300,000 people, high-ranking sources claim

ruSSian bastards launched the largest series of missile and drone attacks in a long while, damaging critical energy infrastructure in several places around Ukraine. kremlin has officially acknowledged that they're fighting a de facto war.

Russia launches huge attacks on Ukrainian electrical power facilities

Russian Attack Leaves Over a Million in Ukraine Without Electricity

Financial Times: "US urged Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries. Drone strikes risk driving up global oil prices. wah wah wah!"

https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...-energy-infrastructure-ft-reports-2024-03-22/

Ukraine finally found a way to make Russia suffer. The US seems to want it to stop.

Oil prices!!!!! What the fuck are you guys on about??!! There's a European genocide happening, a risk of WW3, and all you care about is the cents at the gas pump! US pump prices are not even that bad compared to what the Europeans pay, you don't know what expensive gas really is. Somebody needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror, because this attitude is just plain wrong!

 

Reprocessing Russian ammunition at home

 

Ukrainians are a nation of MacGyvers.

Anyway...

After a ruSSian missile recently, once again, violated Polish airspace, NATO is now considering just shooting them down in the future. Hundreds of thousands of people still without electricity all over Ukraine. ruSSia still tries to spin up a false narrative that Ukraine was somehow behind the Crocus city hall attack that killed 139 in moscow.

Russia-Ukraine war: 200,000 without power in Ukraine since Friday; Nato could ‘shoot down Russian missiles near borders’ – as it happened | Ukraine | The Guardian

RMF24, in Polish: Szejna: Ambasador Andriejew wykazał się dezercją dyplomatyczną

“NATO Considering Shooting Down Russian Missiles That Approach Its Borders” - WE News

Russia persists in blaming Ukraine for concert attack despite its denial and Islamic State's claim

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine recorded credible allegations of the execution of at least 32 Ukrainian POWs in 12 separate incidents between December 2023 to February 2024.

Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine, 1 December 2023 – 29 February 2024 [EN/UK] - Ukraine

Bloomberg: "Some in Putin’s Own Circle See No Ukraine Link to Moscow Attack"

Some in Putin’s Own Circle See No Ukraine Link to Moscow Attack

Putin’s inner circle does not believe Ukraine was behind terrorist attack near Moscow – Bloomberg

lukashenko of belarus discusses possible attack on Suwałki Gap.

Lukashenko discusses possible attack on Suwałki Gap

Rheinmetall to receive €130 million from EU to expand ammunition production.

Rheinmetall to receive €130 million from EU to expand ammunition production

Two Russian landing craft and tanker spotted in Spanish sovereign waters.

Two Russian landing craft and tanker spotted in Spanish sovereign waters

 

Andrew A. Michta

“We had two major powers, arming at speed and scale, and that was Germany and Japan at that time, and they were not arming in order to deter and defend, but in order to attack, right now you have China and Russia.” “Russia is not an acute thread, Russia is a chronic thread” “When it comes to Russia and China, there is a crisis of disbelief that the good times are over” “The Russian Federation is not a nation state, it is an empire with about 160 ‘nationalities’, as the Russians call them” “Yeltsin’s Russia was the Russian Weimar” “Putin is not fighting Ukraine, he is fighting the West, restoring the glory of the ‘Russian world’ (Russkiy mir): ‘We were betrayed, we were never defeated, the great Soviet Union was defeated by cowardly politicians’” “Ukrainian population: 51 million (1991), 40 million (2022) and today are only between 25 and 30 million people left, the Russians have about a 1:4 population advantage.” “The Russians fight with soldiers from their periphery against the best Ukrainian soldiers” “There is no single country solution to the security dilemmas of the flank in Eastern Europe” “I am advocating Ukraine returning to the former borders, and that includes Crimea” “I have been quite critical of this policy ‘for as long as it takes’, you don’t want to be fighting to the last Ukrainian” “Whatever it takes, give them what they need to achieve a strategic breakthrough to make sure that this war is a short as possible, causes as little damage as possible” “For the Chinese the Ukraine war is about American staying power and European staying power” “We have to relearn the realities of hard power” “We need permanent, not rotational, U.S. basing and NATO basing in either Finland or one of the Baltic states, we need two brigade combat teams in Poland and, should Moldova fall, also one brigade combat team in Romania” “Globalization was fundamentally greed masquerading as an ideology” “The Russian civilization is fundamentally different, but we only think in our own bubble”

 

ISW: "Ukrainian drone strikes against oil refineries in ruSSia are reportedly forcing ruSSia to import gasoline from belarus. Reuters reported on March 27 that ruSSia has significantly increased gasoline imports from belarus in March due to unscheduled repairs at oil refineries following Ukrainian drone strikes."

"Zelensky stated that Ukrainian forces are not prepared to defend against another major ruSSian offensive effort expected in May or June 2024."

Institute for the Study of War

"Even tomorrow, the missiles can fly to any state," the Ukrainian leader told CBS News on Wednesday. "This aggression, and Putin's army, can come to Europe, and then the citizens of the United States, the soldiers of the United States, will have to protect Europe because they're the NATO members."

Ukraine's Zelenskyy warns Putin will push Russia's war "very quickly" onto NATO soil if he's not stopped

NATO Admiral Rob Bauer, however, has this to say.

There are currently no signs that Russia is planning to invade any NATO country - NATO admiral

ruSSia withdraws 'most valuable' ships from occupied Crimea. Russian forces accidentally shot down their own Su-27 fighter jet over Crimea on March 29.

Navy: Russia withdraws 'most valuable' ships from occupied Crimea

Zmiiv Thermal Power Plant destroyed as result of ruSSian missile attack.

Largest thermal power plant in E. Ukraine destroyed in missile attack: Ukraine's power generating company

80% of DTEK's energy capacity damaged, destroyed after ruSSian March attacks.

80% of DTEK's energy capacity damaged, destroyed after Russian March attacks

France To Provide Armoured Vehicles, Missiles To Ukraine.

France To Provide Armoured Vehicles, Missiles To Ukraine

Kyiv fortifies with 10,000 ‘dragons teeth’ as putin targets power plants. Ukraine has sought to bolster its defensive lines by erecting anti-tank steel pyramids known as ‘dragon’s teeth’ in the Kyiv Oblast region.

Ukraine fortifies with 10,000 ‘dragons teeth’ as Putin targets power plants - live

Mediazona/BBC Russian: At least 49,281 confirmed russian military deaths from 24 Feb 2022 to 26 Mar 2024.

Russian casualties in Ukraine. Mediazona count, updated

Italian Eurofighters intercepted ruSSian aircraft over Baltic Sea twice within day.

Italian Eurofighters intercepted Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea twice within day

 

How the Kremlin pushes its «Russian world» using cinema

“The need for superiority, the need to feel better than others, to give you value precisely because you live in a system where you have no value. So the more you have a system that humiliates you, the more you want to feel superior to others. The legitimisation of sadism and the desire to be cruel, the normalisation of it. It is ok to hurt people, to kill people”

“An important line that is constantly being drawn through Russian cinema is the glorification of the power structures, the apparatus of oppression, whether in modern Russia or the Soviet Union. “This is a good KGB officer, a noble FSB officer who does nothing wrong. He is a patriot and protects the people from enemies.´He protects the country from destabilisation.”

“The will of the emperor is the law!” The goal of the regime using history is primarily to legitimise the authoritarian model of government, in which the state is everything. The state can commit lawlessness against its citizens with impunity, and the citizens themselves are nobody and have no rights.”

“If I were to characterise what Russian cinema tells us in one sentence, it is a story of a Russian person who is mysterious, who is incomprehensible to everyone in the world, but who is so truthful because the power is in the truth. The Russians don’t harm anyone, they only protect the whole world, fight, and they are always at war for some reason. They are fighting against evil and defending the whole word against evil in this world war. Although, in fact, without the Russians, there would be no war and everything would be fine.”

 

20 out of 48 ruϟϟian tanks and armored vehicles blasted to shit, wrecked, and obliterated completely in a failed effort to drive an armored convoy to Uman’ske. ruϟϟia's biggest loss of armor in a good, long while and they gained nothing from it.

The Russian Army Just Launched The Biggest Tank Assault Of The War

https://twitter.com/OSINTua/status/1774387800978100329

Another traitor was car bombed.

Pro-Russian collaborator killed in car explosion in occupied Starobilsk – photo

Ukraine has drones with a range of more than 1000km, - Minister of Digital Transformation Fedorov.

Ukraine has drones with range of over 1000 km - Minister of Digital Transformation