Ukraine Watch...

[PS_RalphW]

Kremlin installed puppet administrator in Kherson is reported to be requesting Kherson be annexed by Russia.

The pipeline situation in Ukraine seems to be an attempt to starve Russian held areas of NG by shutting down a section of pipeline that they control. Unfortunately this also cuts off a large quantity of the gas heading west. With summer coming demand will be lower, but seems to be big risk of biting the hand that is currently feeding them heavy weapons

[PS_RalphW]

Reports that 27,000 tonnes of stolen Ukrainian grain has docked in Syria, after Egypt refused to buy it.

[Vortex2]

Reports that 27,000 tonnes of stolen Ukrainian grain has docked in Syria, after Egypt refused to buy it.

At least it will be eaten by someone and not just wasted.

Also the U.S. has passed a $40 billion Ukraine aid package, so Ukraine will be able to import luxury cakes etc with that money.

[BritDownUnder]

Reports that 27,000 tonnes of stolen Ukrainian grain has docked in Syria, after Egypt refused to buy it.

At least it will be eaten by someone and not just wasted.

Also the U.S. has passed a $40 billion Ukraine aid package, so Ukraine will be able to import luxury cakes etc with that money.

Not sure what is defined by being wasted. If it was stolen from the farm or short term storage then maybe it would have spoiled if left. If it was in temperature and humidity controlled long term storage it would have probably lasted a while.

One might argue keeping Syrians alive is waste in itself.

[adam2]

This report shows russian troops murdering unarmed civilians in cold blood.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61425025

There are many similar reports, but this one has good quality CCTV. Also suggests that the russians are EITHER too dumb to understand that their actions might be filmed and broadcast, OR so arrogant that they dont care.

[PS_RalphW]

Probably a bit of both. A lot of the conscripts come from remote corners that don't have the Orwellian levels of cctv that is now ubiquitous in Western countries.

Just met my first Ukrainian refugee. A 50+ female mechanical engineer who used an inheritance to buy a holiday chalet village on the Black Sea coast. She has lost everything.

Ukraine claims to have destroyed 50 tanks as they retreated East near Karkiv. I have not yet seen independent assessment of satellite images of destroyed hardware.

However, this is small scale in the overall battlefront.

Also analysis that until Russia declares war or general mobilisation, Russian professional soldiers cannot face legal sanction if they refuse to deploy to Ukraine, simply dismissal. Soldiers who survived the first failed attacks and withdrew, are walking away rather than face redeployment. Existing infantry on deployment are becoming exhausted and need to be rotated out, but there are not enough trained soldiers to replace them.
As always, estimating the numbers involved is hard.

Channel 4 reports that Ukraine has 130 unidentified bodies of Russian soldiers, but Russia will not cooperate in identifying or repatriating them

[adam2]

Various reports, backed up by satellite images state that russian troops tried three times to cross an important river, failing each time.

The satellite images show impressive destruction of russian tanks, and a lot of other wreckage, possibly remains of temporary bridge sections.

https://www.businessinsider.com/photos- ... ?r=US&IR=T

I have seen images from the area that appear to show Ukrainian children using shotguns to kill russian troops swimming ashore.

[adam2]

Another report on the three times failed river crossing.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-61404062

[UndercoverElephant]

Another report on the three times failed river crossing.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-61404062

This is really interesting. It tells us the Russians were/are absolutely desperate to establish that river crossing - and you can see from the location exactly why: it was an attempt to surround the most stubborn section of Ukrainian resistance. That they failed three times is also interesting, because presumably they understood what went wrong the first time, then the second time, and presumably returned with greater force and/or a better plan...and still failed the third time. If they have now given up then maybe this is an important turning point in the war. It is unlikely they will succeed on a fourth attempt - the Ukrainians will be waiting for them.

[adam2]

I have moved from this thread, several posts about Finland and Sweden as I felt that they merited a dedicated thread, rather than being buried in this long thread about Ukraine. The moved posts may be found here.

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=28156

[mr brightside]

This report shows russian troops murdering unarmed civilians in cold blood.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61425025

There are many similar reports, but this one has good quality CCTV. Also suggests that the russians are EITHER too dumb to understand that their actions might be filmed and broadcast, OR so arrogant that they dont care.

Saw it. Personally I thought it was chilling.

[UndercoverElephant]

So the UK is winning Eurovision, having come last with null points every previous year since brexit. The reason? Because of our very substantial support for Ukraine in this war. None of it has anything to do with the actual music.

[UndercoverElephant]

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/e ... -1.4878801

Russia has lost about third of ground force, says UK intelligence

[adam2]

Losses on that scale will seriously affect the morale of the survivors. The scale of the losses is no doubt meant to be a state secret, but cant be kept a secret from the survivors who have their comrades blown up, shot, burnt to death and killed by drinking looted booze.

And of course some officers have reportedly been killed by their own men, one squashed by a tank. And another killed by a child with a pitchfork, poor kid not not even have a shotgun like his mates did.

[UndercoverElephant]

Excellent article arguing that Russia is trapped in a war it cannot win but cannot extricate itself from either:

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/05/put ... n-ukraine/