Ukraine Watch...

[clv101]

Of course, but the Russians are wise to Western ideas about their natural resources. They have no intention of a repeat of the Soviet collapse.

Worth watching Adam Curtis' most recent documentary on the Collapse of communism, and democracy in Russia.

[BritDownUnder]

On the other hand there is the naked use of withholding supply of resources as an economic weapon which the West is worried about.

Alternatives exist though. There are some resource projects in Australia including, rare earths, cobalt, potash, nickel, zirconium, magnetite, lithium and ......... medicinal cannabis.

[PS_RalphW]

It looks like Russia is making small gains in the Donetsk region, near Solidar, which is in danger of being surrounded.. the ground is now frozen to some extent which makes movement of heavy vehicles easier.

[PS_RalphW]

Soledar is now claimed captured by Russia, but heavy fighting continues. Heavy casualties on both sides. The town is an economic target for control of its salt mines, and the mine tunnel network itself will make control of the area easier, and threaten Donetsk city from the north.

Hard to see Ukraine holding on in this town.

[Vortex2]

Before & after

[RevdTess]

Putin was certainly surprised that despite all the West's concerns about Ukraine, Putin's Russia was seen as even worse. Perhaps far worse. After all, Ukraine wanted to join the EU which as Brexiteers know places a lot of restrictions on national autonomy.

[kenneal - lagger]

Soledar is now claimed captured by Russia, but heavy fighting continues. Heavy casualties on both sides. The town is an economic target for control of its salt mines, and the mine tunnel network itself will make control of the area easier, and threaten Donetsk city from the north.

Hard to see Ukraine holding on in this town.

I seen reports from reputable YouTube Channels that the Ukrainians have set up a defence line on a railway embankment to the west of the town and have two large defensive positions to the east of the embankment. There are also possibly a small number of troops cut off in the town who will fight while they have ammunition.

[PS_RalphW]

Gas pipeline explosion in Lithuania.

Expect Russia to be blamed..

[PS_RalphW]

Uk confirms it will send ten Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine. This is largely symbolic, but is designed to put pressure on Germany to allow German made Leopard tanks to be given to Ukraine by third parties, especially Poland

[PS_RalphW]

Lithuania is reporting that several Nato countries have agreed to send German made tanks to Ukraine, totalling "hundreds". To be announced tomorrow.

News of the front line is very quiet, suggesting Ukraine is not doing too well at the moment.

[UndercoverElephant]

News of the front line is very quiet, suggesting Ukraine is not doing too well at the moment.

I don't think it suggests that. Last time news went quiet it turned out Ukraine was launching a surprise offensive in the east. This time it might well be because it is the middle of winter.

[adam2]

I have seen a video that appears to show a small detachment of well armed russian troops wiped out by Ukrainian defenders. It is reported that NONE of the defenders were properly trained troops, but hastily armed civilians. Mainly armed with shotguns and a couple of crossbows. One defender had a captured machine gun, but only one belt of ammo.
Many of the defenders looked like children, and no I do not really approve of child soldiers, but it seems different when fighting not on foreign soil but defending ones home.

The dead russians looked half starved, and none had more than a few rounds of small arms ammo.

Ukrainian forces are very short of small arms ammunition, the amount captured is declining as the invaders run out.

[kenneal - lagger]

There is plenty of fighting going on with the Ukrainians moving forward near Kreminna and to the north near Svatove. The Ukrainians are pounding the Wagner troops who have been left to mop up in Soledar and the fighting is ongoing in Bahkmut with Russia making very small gains as Ukraine pulls back slowly to save troop losses, something that Russian doesn't bother about.

The Russians have launched a series of small assaults in the south in Zaporizhzhia which Ukraine claims to have contained. Ukraine also seems to be gaining the upper hand in the counterbattery fire around Kherson. The Ukrainians have roughly worked out where the Russians are firing from so wait for the Russian ranging fire to come in, locate the actual firing position and then fire back immediately and very accurately.

There is skirmishing going along along most of the line of contact designed to hold enemy troops in place and avoid the build up of concentrations. The Ukrainians seem to be good at locating concentrations of Russian troops and are probably aided by the local population reporting back to the Ukrainian armed forces. The Ukrainians are better at dispersing their troops both on active front lines and in future attacking positions.

There are three or four daily posters on YouTube who seem to be accurate in their reporting and have good sources of news who I consider worth listening to. There are also an awful lot of story tellers whose posts are pure fairy tails.

[Vortex2]

The Ukrainians seem to be good at locating concentrations of Russian troops and are probably aided by the local population reporting back to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Err .. aided by NATO more like,

The Ukraine is about to get 100 or more Leopard 2 tanks and maybe F16s.

This is a NATO v Russia war.

If NATO plus Ukraine end up threatening major damage to the Russian nation, then we could soon see a nuclear exchange.

I don't recollect voting for any of this.

[UndercoverElephant]

The Ukraine

You do realise that using that name is pro-Russian propaganda? It's a bit like the US refering to Canada as "the front porch". The Ukrainians have made clear their country should be called "Ukraine" in English, with no "the".