Ukraine Watch...

[kenneal - lagger]

I had read that it was still being run by the usual Ukrainian technicians which means that it is probably being run as correctly as they are allowed to run it by the Russians.

[PS_RalphW]

There are reports that Russia wants to redirect power from the nuclear plant to Crimea. To do this, all 4 main power lines west need to be physically disconnected, before one or more heading south can be connected, because the grids are not compatible. This will result in the plant running on ba ckup generators until the new connection is made, to avoid the cores overheating and going China syndrome. What could possibly go wrong?

One report is that the attack on the Crimea airbase was by special forces, not missiles. Either way, not a good day for the Russian Air force

[adam2]

Ukraine appears to have hit a large Russian airbase on Crimea 200km behind the front lines, causing large explosions of ammunition stores. This suggests that they now have access to long range rockets for their Himars from the US, and that Russian Air defences have been weakened significantly. Russia will be a lot less able to provide air support to their front line troops if they have to defend against long range missile attacks like this. However, both sides probably limited ability to make major advances in the near future

Here is a later report including before and after satellite views. The damage looks extensive.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62500560

[BritDownUnder]

Crimean partisans maybe.

Looks a bit of a mess.

[Catweazle]

Ukraine appears to have hit a large Russian airbase on Crimea 200km behind the front lines, causing large explosions of ammunition stores. This suggests that they now have access to long range rockets for their Himars from the US, and that Russian Air defences have been weakened significantly. Russia will be a lot less able to provide air support to their front line troops if they have to defend against long range missile attacks like this. However, both sides probably limited ability to make major advances in the near future

Here is a later report including before and after satellite views. The damage looks extensive.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62500560

The satellite photos show what look to be very accurate strikes, I can't believe the Russian line that this was an accident.

[adam2]

I had read that it was still being run by the usual Ukrainian technicians which means that it is probably being run as correctly as they are allowed to run it by the Russians.

Yes, but this report states that the Ukrainian power station workers are being held at gunpoint, which hardly encourages a safety culture.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62509638

A nuclear accident is looking increasingly likely.

[Vortex2]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Sunday that Russians who do not speak out against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine are complicit in it.

The Two Minutes Hate in 1984 is a daily ritual where Party members vent their rage and pent-up energy toward Emmanuel Goldstein and the enemies of Big Brother. It is a method of directing Party members' negative feelings toward an outside enemy while simultaneously solidifying Big Brother's role as their savior and benevolent leader.

[PS_RalphW]

And this compares to Russia, where even using the word war can land you in jail?

There is a report in the Guardian that the UK cabinet office is going to trawl the social media history of guest speakers at ministry sponsored events and anyone who has ever been critical of government policy will not be invited to speak. That is Chinese levels of censorship by our Tory government, and just what I would expect from a Truss premiership.

[Vortex2]

That is Chinese levels of censorship

I agree - censorship seems to be the name of the game worlwide at the moment.

Self-censorship too, in the face of the rabid woke hoardes.

[adam2]

"Explosions at Russian base in occupied Crimea"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62560041

[kenneal - lagger]

Maybe the Russians aren't as popular in Crimea as they would like us to think. It only takes a few people to plant bombs like this but there must also be another "few" turning a blind eye to suspicious goings on.

This is going to remove quite a few Russian troops from the front line to guard the many now dispersed stores and barracks which will help the Ukrainian advance no end.

[adam2]

Russia now admits that explosions were due to sabotage and not an accident.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62560041

[PS_RalphW]

They may be due to Ukraine using long range cluster munitions in their US himars rocket launchers. The blast and damage pattern at the airfield attack was consistent with their use.

[kenneal - lagger]

The photos l saw showed quite precise explosions at each aircraft position which would suggest individually placed explosives rather than randomly scattered bomblets.

[adam2]

The UN have expressed growing concern at the russian occupation of the nuclear power station.
Widely reported on TV news this evening.