“claims”

Anonymous wrote:A big "oof" from the Guardian this AM:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/24/i-know-we-will-win-and-how-ukraines-top-general-on-turning-the-tables-against-russia
"Two and half years into Vladimir Putin’s full-scale onslaught, he acknowledges the Russians are much better resourced. They have more of everything: tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, soldiers. Their original 100,000-strong invasion force has grown to 520,000, he said, with a goal by the end of 2024 of 690,000 men"

“When it comes to equipment, there is a ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 in their favour,” he said. Since 2022 the number of Russian tanks has “doubled” – from 1,700 to 3,500. Artillery systems have tripled, and armoured personnel carriers gone up from 4,500 to 8,900. “The enemy has a significant advantage in force and resources,” Syrskyi said.

And yet somehow he has to defend the official narrative:
Russia’s successes, meanwhile, came at a staggering human cost. The Kremlin’s casualties were “three times” higher than Ukraine’s, and “even more” in certain directions, Syrskyi said. “Their number of killed is much bigger,” he emphasised. In February Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 31,000 Ukrainian service personnel had died since 2022. Could Syrskyi update this figure? He declined, saying losses were “sensitive” and a topic Moscow could exploit.

Officially Ukraine claims to have killed almost 600,000 Russians and destroyed 8,000+ tanks.

Fixed the bad link.

A big "oof" from the Guardian this AM:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/24/i-know-we-will-win-and-how-ukraines-top-general-on-turning-the-tables-against-russia
"Two and half years into Vladimir Putin’s full-scale onslaught, he acknowledges the Russians are much better resourced. They have more of everything: tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, soldiers. Their original 100,000-strong invasion force has grown to 520,000, he said, with a goal by the end of 2024 of 690,000 men"

“When it comes to equipment, there is a ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 in their favour,” he said. Since 2022 the number of Russian tanks has “doubled” – from 1,700 to 3,500. Artillery systems have tripled, and armoured personnel carriers gone up from 4,500 to 8,900. “The enemy has a significant advantage in force and resources,” Syrskyi said.

And yet somehow he has to defend the official narrative:
Russia’s successes, meanwhile, came at a staggering human cost. The Kremlin’s casualties were “three times” higher than Ukraine’s, and “even more” in certain directions, Syrskyi said. “Their number of killed is much bigger,” he emphasised. In February Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 31,000 Ukrainian service personnel had died since 2022. Could Syrskyi update this figure? He declined, saying losses were “sensitive” and a topic Moscow could exploit.

Officially Ukraine claims to have killed almost 600,000 Russians and destroyed 8,000+ tanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it any wonder people don't want to fight for a national like this?

It's well known that the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine is on the Kremlin's FSB payroll. If they aren't eating, that's Putin's problem.

They share the same religion.
Zelensky is punishing Christians as Pay back because he’s Jewish

When will the victory be “inevitable”? This thread started a year and a half ago.

I swear I’ve heard Ukraine is “closing in on Russia any day now” for the entirety of the war.

I’m not trying to be funny here either but don’t you think it’s your side that’s propagandized? Zelensky will never “close in” on the war because he needs more and more money. It’s never going to get “close”.

Similarly, Assad isn’t going away any time soon. The US derailed that train long ago when it funded ISIS and Nusra and other rebel groups that were even fighting each other. The CIA and Pentagon were at one point funding two different “rebel groups” that were sparring with each other and became distracted from fighting Assad. That was the civil war in Syria: proxy war by superpowers and their satellite groups, it was never the Syrian people fighting each other. At this point, they have low confidence rightfully so in any alternative to Assad proposed by the US so Assad will stay.

The proxy war has left Syria for Sudan these days with Russian and American proxies fighting each other.

Anonymous wrote:This now rivals the "Assad must go" curse:

I remember years ago Anne Marie slaughter (remember her 😂) defiantly said Assad had limited time

Anonymous wrote:For those of you arguing (hoping?) that Ukrainians would be irreconcilable with Russia, there was an important development over the weekend. One of the biggest "anti-Russian" people in Ukraine was assassinated: https://kyivindependent.com/former-ukrainian-mp-iryna-farion-dies-in-lviv-after-assassination-attempt/

Just one of her many quotes:
"“I cannot call them Ukrainians. If they don't speak Ukrainian, let them call themselves ‘Russians.’ Why are they so crazy? If they are such great patriots, show your patriotism,” Farion said."
This was aimed at the military by the way.

At the ground level, many Ukrainians don't really buy into the anti-Russia narrative anymore.

Sure, sure. Russian soldiers murder, rape, pillage, use thermobaric weapons to burn civilians in their homes and it's all good, right? That's what Ukrainians love the most about Russia - being treated like pigs. Pfft. What magical thinking you have! But keep believing it. It will make the harsh reality even sweeter as it sets in and shatters that arrogance of yours. But since you wish to live in a magical kingdom, let me help guide you.

The love of Russian patriots has even spread to Moscow itself!

"A car bomb injured an officer from Russia's military intelligence agency in northern Moscow"
"the injured man served in the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, widely referred to as GRU"
https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-military-intelligence-officer-injured-072300511.html

With more love of Russians spreading in all directions around the Globe!

"This year in Paris, International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials say Russia will field scarcely more than a dozen athletes."
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/22/nx-s1-5048559/russia-summer-olympic-paris-team-small-scandal

"Russia is spending over twice as much on expanding its cemeteries than in 2020"
https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-cemetery-expansion-doubled-cost-start-of-ukraine-war-report-2024-7#:~:text=Russia%20is%20spending%20over%20twice,this%20trend%2C%20a%20demographer%20said.

And this winter will be a special one in Crimea, where Russians are so loved for displacing native Ukrainians from their homes.

"“the third and last railway ferry that Russia had in that area” as it published a blurry image of a dark plume of smoke rising from a burning ship."
"used this ferry to transport railway wagons, motor vehicles and containers"
"Russian forces routinely use ferries in the area to relieve pressures on the Russian ground line of communication connecting Krasnodar Krai and occupied Crimea across the Kerch Strait Bridge,”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-destroys-putin-last-railway-143622152.html

And Russia won't even need to sell oil to the West since it's economy is so robust!

"Oil exports from Russia dropped to their lowest level in seven months."
"exports from Primorsk and Ust-Luga, two of the country's main ports, are down 41% in the last month and are on track to keep falling."
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/russian-oil-exports-drop-lowest-031816269.html

So how will Russia make international payments?

"On July 23, Russia’s parliament will review legislation on whether to permit crypto payments for international transactions"
https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/russia-considers-greenlighting-crypto-for-international-payments

What other countries think converting their national currency into valueless databits that can be completely wiped out with an EMP is a good idea?

"Two countries have officially adopted Bitcoin as a legal tender: El Salvador* and the Central African Republic (CAR)**"
https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/what-does-cryptocurrency-decline-mean-bitcoin-countries

* = Inflation in El Salvador in 2022 was around 7.20%
** = one of the poorest countries in the world

Keep living in your magical kingdom though. We're approaching -10 months, so enjoy.

In case anyone thought they would ever get to the bottom of the Nord Stream terrorism:

Ukraine deputy had phone hacked releasing pictures of the male deputy in a dress.

Russian services working the LGBt narrative.

“ Thierry Breton, the European commissioner...said EU producers would reach an annual capacity of 1.7m 155 mm shells by the end of this year...according to a high-ranking European arms industry source, the current capacity is about one-third of this." https://t.co/Ptjbrms3E8

Shashank Joshi (@shashj) July 20, 2024”


Even if trump wins, Russia will lose. The EU will not tolerate anything short of a total expulsion of Putin’s forces from all of Ukraine.

Not sure if this is more hilarious or heartbreaking. A little bit of both?
600,000 users is plenty for an insurrection. SBU might have got them just in time.

Wonder if his punishment will involve being sent to the front.

Olive branch from Lavrov, and a hint at what this conflict really is about:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you arguing (hoping?) that Ukrainians would be irreconcilable with Russia, there was an important development over the weekend. One of the biggest "anti-Russian" people in Ukraine was assassinated: https://kyivindependent.com/former-ukrainian-mp-iryna-farion-dies-in-lviv-after-assassination-attempt/

Just one of her many quotes:
"“I cannot call them Ukrainians. If they don't speak Ukrainian, let them call themselves ‘Russians.’ Why are they so crazy? If they are such great patriots, show your patriotism,” Farion said."
This was aimed at the military by the way.

At the ground level, many Ukrainians don't really buy into the anti-Russia narrative anymore.

I don’t think she was very influential though

Tank nerd time:

In short, the Abrams got too heavy to be of much use in Europe. Looks like the critical weight gain happened during the desert dust-ups. Somebody took their eyes off the ball.

Short thread on why the reality on the ground and Ukrainian claims seem to differ: