(See the politicians standing up to Vladimir Putin)
Quote:
CNN's Matthew Chance speaks to two Russian local councilors who are taking risks to criticize President Vladimir Putin, as the costs of the war in Ukraine create new opposition.
(Russia accused of torture and murder after 450 graves found in east Ukraine - BBC News)
Quote:
Ukraine has accused Russia of committing war crimes and torture after around 450 graves were found in territory re-taken by Ukrainian forces in the north-east of the country.
Officials say the graves contain the remains of civilians and around 20 soldiers who are said to have had their hands bound. The claims have not been independently verified.
The bodies were discovered in the city of Izyum which was captured by Russia forces following their invasion. It is back under Ukrainian control after a major new offensive.
Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Orla Guerin in Izyum region and from international editor Jeremy Bowen.
Big issue for Ukraine is do they have enough troops to hold the expanded front line. The Russians should have more success with a smaller front, but not sure they have the ability to exploit the thinness of the Ukrainian lines.
I think it was more of an issue for Russia as the invading force - some experts felt Russia needed 3to 4 times as many troops as they have to hold the line. Ukraine has (potentially) a million locals in reserve that they can raise to support their front line troops.
Putin didn't expect Ukraine's home field advantage to hold up . . . funny how this parallels the false reads that America had in Gulf War II. Very few invaders are welcomed. _________________ On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".
Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 67619 Location: In a world where admitting to not knowing something is considered a great way to learn.
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2022 10:21 am Post subject:
Dr. Laker wrote:
Omar Little wrote:
Big issue for Ukraine is do they have enough troops to hold the expanded front line. The Russians should have more success with a smaller front, but not sure they have the ability to exploit the thinness of the Ukrainian lines.
I think it was more of an issue for Russia as the invading force - some experts felt Russia needed 3to 4 times as many troops as they have to hold the line. Ukraine has (potentially) a million locals in reserve that they can raise to support their front line troops.
Putin didn't expect Ukraine's home field advantage to hold up . . . funny how this parallels the false reads that America had in Gulf War II. Very few invaders are welcomed.
Is it known how well trained and armed the reserves are? _________________ Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
Big issue for Ukraine is do they have enough troops to hold the expanded front line. The Russians should have more success with a smaller front, but not sure they have the ability to exploit the thinness of the Ukrainian lines.
I think it was more of an issue for Russia as the invading force - some experts felt Russia needed 3to 4 times as many troops as they have to hold the line. Ukraine has (potentially) a million locals in reserve that they can raise to support their front line troops.
Putin didn't expect Ukraine's home field advantage to hold up . . . funny how this parallels the false reads that America had in Gulf War II. Very few invaders are welcomed.
Is it known how well trained and armed the reserves are?
The answer, of course, is "unknown" until they hit the battlefield, but since 2014 Ukraine has been intentional in training a reserve.
Reserve service is a kind of voluntary duty status to be discharged by the citizens of Ukraine. It is established to provide the systematic training of army reservists for the purpose of procuring the Ukrainian Armed Forces with military personnel in a special period of time.
As of 2022, by 2025, Ukraine will be able to significantly build up the army and increase its mobilization reserves - up to approximately 2-3 million people.
paywalled: The lieutenant’s platoon is part of Ukraine’s 900,000-strong volunteer reserve force, highly motivated to defend their homeland. But some men are on the brink of leaving the army because they are disgusted with the corruption they have encountered, the lieutenant told The Times, requesting anonymity as a whistleblower.
With all of that, however, Ukraine's reserves appear to be in much better shape than Russia's reserves. _________________ On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".
Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 67619 Location: In a world where admitting to not knowing something is considered a great way to learn.
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:09 am Post subject:
Dr. Laker wrote:
jodeke wrote:
Dr. Laker wrote:
Omar Little wrote:
Big issue for Ukraine is do they have enough troops to hold the expanded front line. The Russians should have more success with a smaller front, but not sure they have the ability to exploit the thinness of the Ukrainian lines.
I think it was more of an issue for Russia as the invading force - some experts felt Russia needed 3to 4 times as many troops as they have to hold the line. Ukraine has (potentially) a million locals in reserve that they can raise to support their front line troops.
Putin didn't expect Ukraine's home field advantage to hold up . . . funny how this parallels the false reads that America had in Gulf War II. Very few invaders are welcomed.
Is it known how well trained and armed the reserves are?
The answer, of course, is "unknown" until they hit the battlefield, but since 2014 Ukraine has been intentional in training a reserve.
Reserve service is a kind of voluntary duty status to be discharged by the citizens of Ukraine. It is established to provide the systematic training of army reservists for the purpose of procuring the Ukrainian Armed Forces with military personnel in a special period of time.
As of 2022, by 2025, Ukraine will be able to significantly build up the army and increase its mobilization reserves - up to approximately 2-3 million people.
paywalled: The lieutenant’s platoon is part of Ukraine’s 900,000-strong volunteer reserve force, highly motivated to defend their homeland. But some men are on the brink of leaving the army because they are disgusted with the corruption they have encountered, the lieutenant told The Times, requesting anonymity as a whistleblower.
With all of that, however, Ukraine's reserves appear to be in much better shape than Russia's reserves.
Thanks Doc. I couldn't read the Times article. I found another. Is it similar to the Times article?
How Corruption Guts Militaries: The Ukraine Case Study
LINK _________________ Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
(Video shows Russian missile strike near nuclear reactor in Ukraine)
Quote:
Russian troops carried out a missile attack on the industrial site of the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant in the southern Mykolaiv region, but all three power units are operating normally, according to nuclear operator Energoatom. A “powerful explosion” occurred just 300 meters (984 feet) from the reactors, and the shock wave damaged the power plant buildings, Energoatom said in a statement.
Big issue for Ukraine is do they have enough troops to hold the expanded front line. The Russians should have more success with a smaller front, but not sure they have the ability to exploit the thinness of the Ukrainian lines.
I think it was more of an issue for Russia as the invading force - some experts felt Russia needed 3to 4 times as many troops as they have to hold the line. Ukraine has (potentially) a million locals in reserve that they can raise to support their front line troops.
Putin didn't expect Ukraine's home field advantage to hold up . . . funny how this parallels the false reads that America had in Gulf War II. Very few invaders are welcomed.
Is it known how well trained and armed the reserves are?
The answer, of course, is "unknown" until they hit the battlefield, but since 2014 Ukraine has been intentional in training a reserve.
Reserve service is a kind of voluntary duty status to be discharged by the citizens of Ukraine. It is established to provide the systematic training of army reservists for the purpose of procuring the Ukrainian Armed Forces with military personnel in a special period of time.
As of 2022, by 2025, Ukraine will be able to significantly build up the army and increase its mobilization reserves - up to approximately 2-3 million people.
paywalled: The lieutenant’s platoon is part of Ukraine’s 900,000-strong volunteer reserve force, highly motivated to defend their homeland. But some men are on the brink of leaving the army because they are disgusted with the corruption they have encountered, the lieutenant told The Times, requesting anonymity as a whistleblower.
With all of that, however, Ukraine's reserves appear to be in much better shape than Russia's reserves.
Thanks Doc. I couldn't read the Times article. I found another. Is it similar to the Times article?
How Corruption Guts Militaries: The Ukraine Case Study
Well, the one you link is 8 years old - hopefully Ukraine has gotten better since the annexation of Crimea. Certainly, corruption in Ukraine was a concern for the Obama administration. From what I've read, NATO countries have been working with Ukraine to tighten up all aspects of their military - including the integrity part.
I'm careful when looking at stuff on the internet because many of the recent stories on corruption in the Ukrainian Armed Forces seem to be of Russian origin.
THIS ARTICLE indicates that the 2014 embarassment in being unable to protect Crimea prompted changes:
Quote:
Corruption had been rampant in the Ukrainian defense industry until 2014, leaving the military unable to function effectively that year as Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and helped pro-Russian separatists seize parts of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region.
U.S. Ambassador Kurt Volker, who served as U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from 2017 to 2019, told VOA there was an improvement after 2014 as the U.S., Canada and other nations advised Kyiv in fighting corruption within its defense establishment.
But Ukraine still had much work to do to improve its global reputation prior to February 24. It ranked a lowly 122 out of 180 countries in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International, a Berlin-based research group whose annual corruption rankings are among the world’s most influential. Ukraine’s CPI ranking had been even lower at 144 in 2013.
_________________ On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".
Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 67619 Location: In a world where admitting to not knowing something is considered a great way to learn.
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:47 am Post subject:
Dr. Laker wrote:
jodeke wrote:
Dr. Laker wrote:
jodeke wrote:
Dr. Laker wrote:
Omar Little wrote:
Big issue for Ukraine is do they have enough troops to hold the expanded front line. The Russians should have more success with a smaller front, but not sure they have the ability to exploit the thinness of the Ukrainian lines.
I think it was more of an issue for Russia as the invading force - some experts felt Russia needed 3to 4 times as many troops as they have to hold the line. Ukraine has (potentially) a million locals in reserve that they can raise to support their front line troops.
Putin didn't expect Ukraine's home field advantage to hold up . . . funny how this parallels the false reads that America had in Gulf War II. Very few invaders are welcomed.
Is it known how well trained and armed the reserves are?
The answer, of course, is "unknown" until they hit the battlefield, but since 2014 Ukraine has been intentional in training a reserve.
Reserve service is a kind of voluntary duty status to be discharged by the citizens of Ukraine. It is established to provide the systematic training of army reservists for the purpose of procuring the Ukrainian Armed Forces with military personnel in a special period of time.
As of 2022, by 2025, Ukraine will be able to significantly build up the army and increase its mobilization reserves - up to approximately 2-3 million people.
paywalled: The lieutenant’s platoon is part of Ukraine’s 900,000-strong volunteer reserve force, highly motivated to defend their homeland. But some men are on the brink of leaving the army because they are disgusted with the corruption they have encountered, the lieutenant told The Times, requesting anonymity as a whistleblower.
With all of that, however, Ukraine's reserves appear to be in much better shape than Russia's reserves.
Thanks Doc. I couldn't read the Times article. I found another. Is it similar to the Times article?
How Corruption Guts Militaries: The Ukraine Case Study
Well, the one you link is 8 years old - hopefully Ukraine has gotten better since the annexation of Crimea. Certainly, corruption in Ukraine was a concern for the Obama administration. From what I've read, NATO countries have been working with Ukraine to tighten up all aspects of their military - including the integrity part.
I'm careful when looking at stuff on the internet because many of the recent stories on corruption in the Ukrainian Armed Forces seem to be of Russian origin.
THIS ARTICLE indicates that the 2014 embarassment in being unable to protect Crimea prompted changes:
Quote:
Corruption had been rampant in the Ukrainian defense industry until 2014, leaving the military unable to function effectively that year as Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and helped pro-Russian separatists seize parts of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region.
U.S. Ambassador Kurt Volker, who served as U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from 2017 to 2019, told VOA there was an improvement after 2014 as the U.S., Canada and other nations advised Kyiv in fighting corruption within its defense establishment.
But Ukraine still had much work to do to improve its global reputation prior to February 24. It ranked a lowly 122 out of 180 countries in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International, a Berlin-based research group whose annual corruption rankings are among the world’s most influential. Ukraine’s CPI ranking had been even lower at 144 in 2013.
Again thanks Doc. I still haven't broken the bad, bad, horribly bad habit of not checking article dates. I'll look for one more current.
EDIT; I found an article I believe to be similar to the one you posted.
dated 5/2/2022 6:30:00 PM
Source
The Times
Is this similar to the article you posted? I'm not familiar with the source.
LINK _________________ Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
(Russians leave behind odd message after abandoning Ukraine prison building)
Quote:
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh goes inside a recently abandoned building in Kupiansk, Ukraine, where Russians tortured Ukrainian prisoners, and speaks with a recently freed Ukrainian about his experience.
It's the same one. _________________ On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".
('60-ton beast': Ret. General on tank US might send to Ukraine)
Quote:
A senior military official says US tanks are on the table to send to Ukraine. Brig. Gen. Steve Anderson (Ret.) explains why he thinks the US should continue meeting Ukraine’s requirements and whether the country should put contractors on the ground to help with logistics.
(The World Has To Stay The Course On Ukraine: NATO Secretary General)
Quote:
World leaders are gathering in New York for the UN General Assembly, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg joins Morning Joe to discuss why he says the world has to stay the course on Ukraine and if Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in ending the war in Ukraine as soon as possible.
Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 90306 Location: Formerly Known As 24
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2022 1:05 pm Post subject:
The Kyiv Independent
@KyivIndependent
⚡️ Poll: Most Ukrainians want to join EU, NATO.
Ninety-two percent of Ukrainians would like to see their country in the European Union, while 79% want it to join NATO by 2030, according to a poll conducted by the KIIS and the National Democratic Institute on Aug. 2-9.
7:58 AM · Sep 20, 2022
·Twitter Web App
Before the invasion, support for joining NATO was around or just below 50% _________________ “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel
The Kyiv Independent
@KyivIndependent
⚡️ Poll: Most Ukrainians want to join EU, NATO.
Ninety-two percent of Ukrainians would like to see their country in the European Union, while 79% want it to join NATO by 2030, according to a poll conducted by the KIIS and the National Democratic Institute on Aug. 2-9.
7:58 AM · Sep 20, 2022
·Twitter Web App
Before the invasion, support for joining NATO was around or just below 50%
Before the war, the polling showed many Ukrainians - including Zelensky - didn't think Russia would go to war and wanted the US/Biden to stop fanning the flames.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed to his American counterpart to dial back his appraisals of the threat Russia poses to the former Soviet state, also criticizing President Joe Biden for his dramatic decision to remove the families of U.S. diplomats from Kyiv this month.
Quote:
Other reports indicate Zelenskiy told Biden in their phone call that the Russian military threat is not “imminent,” while Biden reportedly warned an invasion could come as soon as February when the ground freezes.
_________________ On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".
(Lawmaker predicts likely next step for Putin in Ukraine)
Quote:
CNN's Brianna Keilar asks Sen. Angus King (I-ME) about the specific weapons the US is providing to Ukrainian forces and the paradox of their success against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(CNN gets access to eastern Ukrainian town under constant shelling)
Quote:
CNN International Security Editor Nick Paton Walsh got access to an eastern Ukrainian town under constant shelling as Russia, desperate for soldiers, recruits convicted felons to their ranks.
'Almost an exact copy of Stalin's amendments' How politicians, journalists, and analysts reacted to Russia's new 'mobilization' laws
On September 20, the Russian State Duma unanimously passed a set of amendments to the Criminal Code that introduced the concepts of “mobilization,” “martial law,” and “wartime.” New articles about “voluntary surrender” (punishable by up to 10 years in prison) and “looting” (punishable by up to 15 years in prison) were also added, while the penalty for unauthorized abandonment of a unit during mobilization or martial law was raised to 10 years. Despite the Russian authorities’ repeated denials that there will be a general mobilization, Russian officials, lawmakers, and propagandists have increasingly begun calling for one — and the new legislation makes the prospect seem likelier than ever. Meduza has compiled a brief list of some of the initial reactions from Russian politicians, political scientists, and journalists to the new amendments.
[snip]
Tatyana Stanovaya
Political scientist
[In Putin’s mind,] events will unfold like this: (1) Immediate annexation; (2) the fighting intensifies, which the Kremlin will regard as an attack on Russian territory; (3) mobilization; (4) [the Kremlin] threatens to use nuclear weapons if Ukraine doesn’t retreat.
Dmitry Kolezev
Editor-in-chief of the outlet Republic
I think it’s more likely that Putin is just threatening mobilization and “total war” than it is that he’ll actually declare it. We can’t rule anything out at this point, of course, but it looks that option will be the Kremlin's last resort. And even if they do it, that doesn’t guarantee that it will help win the war
Putin is backed into a corner and has no way out. He is sending more fresh meat to the front lines. Of course the only way for the Russian people to exit this crisis is for them to take Putin out of power by any means.
TBILISI (Reuters) -Russia's opposition on Wednesday called for protests against President Vladimir Putin after he ordered the mobilisation of 300,000 reservists for what Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny said was a failing criminal war.
. . .
"It is clear that the criminal war is getting worse, deepening, and Putin is trying to involve as many people as possible in this," Navalny said in a video message from jail recorded and published by his lawyers.
_________________ On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".
Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 67619 Location: In a world where admitting to not knowing something is considered a great way to learn.
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2022 9:47 am Post subject:
Russia has an impeachment policy in place. It's been used 3 times, all against Boris Yeltsin. All 3 failed. Putin may be next to be impeached. Can 4 be a charm?
I don't think Alexei Navalny will live to serve the 9-year sentence imposed on him. I'm actually surprised he's still alive. He's already been poisoned once. _________________ Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
(Vladimir Putin announces partial military mobilisation to fight Ukraine war – BBC News)
Quote:
In a televised address to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced military reservists will be sent to Ukraine as part of a "partial mobilisation" of Russian forces.
He said this was a necessary step to ensure territorial integrity and protect people in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin has also accused the West of engaging in nuclear blackmail against Russia.
Meanwhile, Western nations have condemned Moscow's plans to hold urgent so-called referendums in parts of Ukraine that are currently under Russian control.
(Biden responds to Putin threats during UN speech)
Quote:
President Joe Biden speaks before the UN General Assembly about Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing a partial mobilization of Russian citizens and making an ominous nuclear threat after losses in Ukraine.
(Retired Colonel on the potential impact of 300,000 more Russian troops)
Quote:
Russia is launching a partial mobilization of its citizens, President Vladimir Putin announced during a highly anticipated speech to the nation. Russia will call up 300,000 reservists as part of its partial mobilization, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Russian television. Retired Colonel Cedric Leighton discusses the potential impact of Putin’s move.
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