[RD] Russia Invades Ukraine: Eight

[Comrade Ceasefire]

Not the best of news from today's articles in Politico and the BBC.

Russia is bombing Ukraine into darkness — and leaving Europe short of power
The EU planned to lean on Kyiv for energy help, but has failed to answer Ukraine’s pleas for air defense systems to protect its infrastructure.
...
The results are distressing — and not just for Ukraine. Officials there are worried about how they’ll get through the winter with the lights and heating on. Ukraine’s air defenses are running low, they say, making it increasingly difficult to parry the missiles raining down on energy infrastructure. Nor are there many easy-to-access repair parts for those degraded power plants.

Then there’s the spillover to Europe. Last winter Ukraine offered its gas storage network to European traders as they frantically built up reserves in case Russia axed supplies when the temperature dropped. Now Russia is targeting that network, raising questions about whether the EU is prepared with alternatives.

Russia is bombing Ukraine into darkness — and leaving Europe short of power

The EU planned to lean on Kyiv for energy help, but has failed to answer Ukraine’s pleas for air defense systems to protect its infrastructure.

www.politico.eu

Ukraine warns of WW3 ahead of long-stalled Congress aid vote
Ukraine's prime minister has told the BBC there will be a "Third World War" if Ukraine loses its conflict with Russia, as he urged the US Congress to pass a long-stalled foreign aid bill.

Denys Shmyhal expressed "careful optimism" that US lawmakers would pass the hotly contested measure, which has $61bn (£49bn) earmarked for Kyiv.

The House of Representatives is set to vote on the package this Saturday.

The proposal includes funding for Israel as well as the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking to the BBC in Washington DC on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shmyhal said of the US security assistance: "We need this money yesterday, not tomorrow, not today."

"If we will not protect... Ukraine will fall," he added. "So the global, the global system of security will be destroyed... and all the world will need to find... a new system of security.

"Or, there will be many conflicts, many such kinds of wars, and in the end of the day, it could lead to the Third World War."

Ukraine warns of WW3 ahead of long-stalled Congress aid vote

Denys Shmyhal tells the BBC his country desperately needs the US to approve long-stalled security assistance.

www.bbc.com

 

[Snowygerry]

Politico is really just a collection of opinions, not really news is it ?

Everyone’s got one, as they say

 

[Comrade Ceasefire]

Politico is really just a collection of opinions, not really news is it ?

It is both news and opinions from the US, Europe, and Asia.

Better news for Ukraine. Maybe it will prevent fewer military age people to avoid enlisting during the latest mobilization.
Ukraine to receive $1.6 billion from EU next week in second tranche of financial aid
A second tranche of EU macro-financial assistance totaling 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) will be given to Ukraine next week, a European Commission official said on April 17.

The EU approved the four-year Ukraine Facility in February, allocating 33 billion euros ($35 billion) in loans and 17 billion euros ($18 billion) in grants.

The first tranche of 4.5 billion euros ($4.8 billion) was given to Ukraine on March 20.

Speaking at the U.S.-Ukraine Partnership Forum in Washington on April 17, Gert-Jan Koopman, the director general of the European Commission for Neighborhood Affairs and Enlargement Negotiations, confirmed the second tranche will arrive next week.

Ukraine to receive $1.6 billion from EU next week in second tranche of financial aid

The first tranche of 4.5 billion euros ($4.8 billion) was given to Ukraine on March 20.

kyivindependent.com

 

[Snowygerry]

Well that’s working as intended then.

 

[Gorbles]

Not me - it's a report from yesterday by an American in Kyiv. And yes it also relates to mobilisation.

How does it relate to mobilisation? You need to explain the link.

Like obviously, mobilising and avoiding signing up are related, but I'm asking how it relates to my reply.

It seems to me you shared one thing, I made a post about the hardship of willingess when being invaded, and then you shared another thing that had nothing to do with those hardships. The second link tried to paint Ukrainians are fleeing the war effort as a negative when that's a natural response to being forced into a war against their will.

Which is what Russia did, by invading Ukraine. Ukraine are responding to being invaded. Ukrainian mobilisation is not comparable to Russian mobilisation, and people trying to avoid the war effort in Ukraine are facing a fundamentally different situation to Russians trying to do the same.

The one thing they have in common, though, is that they have the Russian government to blame

 

[Verbose]

Not the best of news from today's articles in Politico and the BBC.

Russia is bombing Ukraine into darkness — and leaving Europe short of power
The EU planned to lean on Kyiv for energy help, but has failed to answer Ukraine’s pleas for air defense systems to protect its infrastructure.
...
The results are distressing — and not just for Ukraine. Officials there are worried about how they’ll get through the winter with the lights and heating on. Ukraine’s air defenses are running low, they say, making it increasingly difficult to parry the missiles raining down on energy infrastructure. Nor are there many easy-to-access repair parts for those degraded power plants.

Then there’s the spillover to Europe. Last winter Ukraine offered its gas storage network to European traders as they frantically built up reserves in case Russia axed supplies when the temperature dropped. Now Russia is targeting that network, raising questions about whether the EU is prepared with alternatives.

Russia is bombing Ukraine into darkness — and leaving Europe short of power

The EU planned to lean on Kyiv for energy help, but has failed to answer Ukraine’s pleas for air defense systems to protect its infrastructure.

www.politico.eu

Russia deliberately shooting up the both the Ukranian power generation and supply infrastructure is a thing. Which is why Ukraine needs more air defense asap. They also, like last time Russia tried to bomb Ukraine back to pre-modern times, about last year, need resources to keep repairing the distribution system, under fire.

Some remedial action being taken for now:

EU sends emergency aid to Ukraine after further attacks on energy infrastructure

Following a series of targeted missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure by Russia over the past weeks, Ukraine's power supply has suffered significant damage. Responding to this crisis, the EU has swiftly mobilised emergency energy assistance which is on its way to Ukraine.

neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu

But the idea the EU might running out of power hinted at in the title of that article is limp alarmism. The Ukranian pre-war annual energy consumption was 2,5 tWh. The EU annual power generation is 2600+ tWh. The EU could carry Ukraine on its own without really noticing. It's the screwyness of the energy market post-Russia-losing-it-marbles-and-going-on-a-rampage that is troublesome. Certainly not some kind of exorbitant extra cost due to insatiable Ukranian energy-hunger. The Russian gas (all types) currently accounts for less than 3% of the EU's energy production (about 7 tWh). And that's including the likes of Orban's Hungary still sucking the Russian pipe hard.

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/how-is-eu-electricity-produced-and-sold/

The article is seemingly quite right about the Ukranian downturn in prospects as an energy exporter. But for the rest its a bit of anti-EU tat. Which is common from both Russia and the US. It's where the disgusting people either side find common ground. Apart from whatever pleasure they derive from Russia trying to crucify Ukraine.

 

[Senethro]

Lots of gloating over Russian cruelty and Ukrainian suffering here. The implication seems to be that Ukraine should negotiate, but what conditions is Putin even offering?

What even were Putins goals and what are they now? Can they be fulfilled by negotiations?

I suspect not because Russia doesn't formally start or end wars. It just fights, takes as much as it can, and stops whenever it wants while giving no guarantees they won't be back next year.

The effort Russia is making to damage Ukraine is indicative they don't intend to make an acceptable deal.

 

[saamohod]

Lots of gloating over Russian cruelty and Ukrainian suffering here.

All the recent gloating is so far coming from a single freshly-created account engaged entirely in concern trolling. Muting it makes the thread much more sane and reasonable.

 

[Thorgalaeg]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1780607320130527327

New version of the turtle tank. The previous one was the deluxe variant apparently.

 

[Klaus Hergersheimer]

All the recent gloating is so far coming from a single freshly-created account engaged entirely in concern trolling. Muting it makes the thread much more sane and reasonable.

It's admittedly a very no-risk stance to take: demand a cessation of hostilities now; all disagreement is only supportive of continued death and destruction.

Perhaps I would find the poster more engaging if he explained how a ceasefire procedure was to work, but a.f.a.i.k. he doesn't seem particularly interested in doing that (or is simply clueless as to how it would go about).

 

[Birdjaguar]

Moderator Action: No need to discuss individual posters here. Posters tend to make their views clearly known by what they post. There are strong feelings on both sides.

 

[Gedemon]

It's time people realize it's not only Ukraine which is at stake here.

Mike Pence warns Putin will wage war on NATO if Ukraine loses

Former U.S. vice president calls on Congress to approve funding for Ukraine aid, saying that “isolation is never the answer.”

www.politico.eu

American troops will have no choice but to fight Russian invaders in Europe if Vladimir Putin defeats Ukraine, former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday.

The warning, from Donald Trump's former deputy during an event in the Belgian capital, is part of Pence's appeal to Congress to approve additional funding for military aid to Ukraine, which has been delayed for months.

"Isolationism is never the answer to tyrannical regimes with expansionist intent, and I believe the majority of members of Congress understand that," Pence said at the event, which was hosted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a think tank. "I believe they'll meet this moment."

If Putin defeats Ukraine, "I have no doubt in my mind the time would come that he would cross the border [into Europe], that our men and women in uniform would have to fight," Pence said. "It would not be very long before he crossed the border that our men would have to go fight under Article 5" of the NATO treaty, under which an attack on one member is an attack on all, Pence said.

He continued: "Number two, I think it would not be long before we [see] action in the Taiwan Strait or somewhere in the South China Sea."

Meanwhile Russia is still waging its hybrid war on Europe

Germany detains two over alleged plotting of attacks in complicity with Russia

The suspects targeted military infrastructure and industrial sites in Germany as well as facilities of the US forces, according to German prosecutors.

www.politico.eu

 

[saamohod]

Russia, Iran turning Israel and Ukraine into ‘battlefield laboratories,’ experts say​

Russia and Iran are using Ukraine and Israel as “battlefield laboratories” to probe at Western military vulnerabilities, experts told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee Wednesday.

“Together, Russia and Iran are using Ukraine and the Middle East as battlefield laboratories to improve their weapons and develop techniques to overcome U.S. and allied defensive systems,” Dana Stroul, director of research at the Washington Institute, told lawmakers at a hearing on the “Despotic Duo.”

“Iran is extracting from Russia lessons in combined strike packages as well as insights into the strengths and weaknesses of Western-origin air and missile defense systems,” Stroul said in her written statement.

The hearing comes just days after Iran launched an unprecedented aerial attack on Israel. The Israeli military said Iran fired approximately 170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles; nearly all were shot down.

According to Stroul and other witnesses, Iran’s attack on Israel was “remarkably similar to Russian-perpetrated attacks on Ukraine.”

“Russia has leveraged the military and political exchanges with Tehran during the Syrian civil war to its benefit,” said Rep. Tom Kean (R-N.J.).

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Iran’s attempted strike on Israel “the best way to punish the aggressor and a manifestation of the tact and rationality of Iran’s leaders.”

According to experts at Wednesday’s hearing, Russia’s reliance on Iranian weapons to continue its invasion of Ukraine has shifted the balance of power in the nations’ relationship, lessening Russia’s sway over the regime, with Iran extracting more capabilities in return.

“One of the most recent developments that we must disrupt is increased Russian and Iranian weapons and munitions products that will today help Russia overrun Ukraine, but tomorrow could help Iran overwhelm Israel,” said Gabriel Noronha of the Jewish Institute for the National Security of America.

“Recently, leadership at the U.S. Central Command expressed worry that Russia may soon provide Iran with Russian SU-35 aircraft in exchange for Iranian drones and weapons,” Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I.) said.

Russia, Iran turning Israel and Ukraine into ‘battlefield laboratories,’ experts say

Russia and Iran are using Ukraine and Israel as “battlefield laboratories” to probe at Western military vulnerabilities, experts told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee Wednesday. “Together…

thehill.com

 

[Birdjaguar]

Opinion

Here are the U.S. congressional districts benefiting from Ukraine aid​

April 18, 2024 at 10:35 a.m. EDT

[At the link there is a very nice map showing the congressional districts that directly benefit from money for Ukraine. I cannot copy it.]

If you knew that most of the military aid that Congress approves for Ukraine was being spent right here in the United States, quite possibly in your own congressional district — strengthening our defense production capacity and creating good manufacturing jobs for American workers — would you want your representatives in Washington to support it?

As the House prepares to vote on a new military aid package for Ukraine, the map above details the congressional districts that have been getting Ukraine aid money, including examples of the weapons systems being produced. As this map shows, military aid not only protects Ukrainian civilians and advances U.S. national security — it is also good for workers and manufacturing communities right here at home.

Providing military assistance to Ukraine is the right thing to do. American-made weapons are protecting Ukrainian civilians from Russian bombardment, stopping Russian forces from seizing Ukrainian cities and slaughtering their residents, and decimating the Russian military threat to NATO. It is in both our moral and national security interests to help Ukraine defeat Russia’s unjust aggression.

More at the link.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/18/ukraine-map-districts-weapons/

 

[saamohod]

Looks like the first downing of a Russian strategic bomber Tu-22M

https://twitter.com/x/status/1781177103511085459

 

[Gedemon]

far from the front from the reports I've seen, friendly fire? if so a consequence of long range strikes in Russia?

 

[Thorgalaeg]

Wow, the larger they are the harder they fall. Never expected to see such thing. This war never stop amazing me with Ukrainian audacity / Russian stupidity. This one was probably flying at pretty high altitude when was hit. It had time to lose all its horizontal speed and fall in spin like a stone.

far from the front from the reports I've seen, friendly fire? if so a consequence of long range strikes in Russia?

That would be a new tactic. Wait for Russian bombers to take off, then launch some long range drones into Russia air space and sit to wait for Russian AD to down his own bombers. Still it would be nice if the footage could be geolocated maybe it was too close to Ukrainian border.

 

[Yeekim]

Too funny.
Buryatian volunteer to SMO returns home... to find his toilet stolen. Asks: "where are morals??"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1781076199067820444

 

[saamohod]

Looks like the first downing of a Russian strategic bomber Tu-22M

https://twitter.com/x/status/1781177103511085459

UA Air Force claimed responsibility for the downing

One of the Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, which carried out a missile attack against Ukraine on the night of April 19, was shot down as a result of a special operation of the Main Directorate of Intelligence in cooperation with the Air Force.
The enemy Tu-22M3 aircraft was shot down at a distance of about 300 kilometers from the frontline by the same means that were previously used to shoot down the Russian A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft. As a result of the damage, the bomber was able to fly to the Stavropol region, where it fell and crashed.

 

[ConquestsMaster]

Russell Bentley, an American volunteer fighting for the DPR, has died in the occupied city of Donetsk. He had joined the separatists in 2014 to fight against fascism. He apparently also had obtained Russian citizenship. His wife says that he has been abducted by Russian forces a few days ago. There are rumors that he was raped and beheaded. We will have to wait for the independent Russian investigation to really know what happened.

Here's an old interview with the guy:

https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...rolled-donetsk-russian-journalist-2024-04-19/

U.S. national dies in Russian-controlled Donetsk - Russian journalist​

By Reuters
April 19, 202412:53 PM EDT Updated 3 hours ago


MOSCOW, April 19 (Reuters) - Russell Bentley, a U.S. national, has died in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in Ukraine, Margarita Simonyan, head of Russia's state media outlet RT, wrote on Telegram on Friday.

Simonyan said Bentley had been "fighting there for our guys" and working with Russia's Sputnik news service. She did not say how he died.

Bentley, born in 1960, a self-declared supporter of Russian-backed forces in Ukraine whom Russian state media had described as a war correspondent, reportedly went missing on April 8, police in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region said in a statement last Friday.