Current Affairs Ukraine

[Martin Alvito]

There are very few people, fewer media outlets, and vanishingly small numbers of politicians who will took for sources from all sides and make their minds up - information isn't presented to us in that way any more, we either get what the algorithm thinks we will like or from the papers / TV channels that we agree with or support. There is no better example of this than the free-thinkers, who thanks to the internet admire the same people, believe the same things and have the same moral flexibility whenever circumstances demand they believe something else.

Plus it is really difficult to find independent and trustworthy news that covers all sides nowadays; everything is either propagandised or put out for financial reasons rather than public spirited journalism of the sort that used to be quite common.

The algorithms are an enormous problem. I remember a year or two back, one morning you all were talking about some political scandal that (as usual) involved Boris. I had just left the BBC's website, and there was nothing. I think somebody posted a screenshot of the homepage, and it looked nothing like what I get.

The research on media bias will tell you that 'independent and trustworthy news that covers all sides' always was something of a myth. It was without a doubt better than the garbage we get today. The bias back then was more of the editorial variety (what gets covered and what doesn't) and less the framing variety. As you say, everything today is packaged to sell. Most of it is opinion pieces, rather than Joe Friday "just the facts, ma'am" hard news. The Internet making retractions and updates easy has led to far less fact-checking, in the same way that the advent of software patches led to the buggy garbage we get today.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

ISW Key Takeaways October 12, 2023:

• Russian forces likely launched a significant and ongoing offensive effort around Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast on October 10, and ISW is revising its initial assessment these attacks are a limited effort to fix Ukrainian forces.
• Russian forces have not secured any major breakthroughs near Avdiivka as of October 12 and are unlikely to immediately cut off Ukrainian forces in the city.
• Geolocated footage indicates that Russian forces have likely lost at least a battalion tactical group’s (BTG’s) worth of armored vehicles in offensive operations around Avdiivka.
• The Russian information space is likely exaggerating the degree of Russian successes on the Avdiivka front and will continue to do so despite military failures or a slow pace of advance.
• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations near Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and reportedly advanced in both sectors of the front on October 12.
• Russian “Vostok” Battalion Commander Alexander Khodakovsky advocated for Russian forces to freeze the frontlines in Ukraine in order to replace exhausted mobilized personnel with fresh contract servicemen and launch a renewed offensive effort.
• Russian forces conducted a series of drone strikes across Ukraine, targeting port infrastructure in southern Ukraine and critical infrastructure in Kharkiv Oblast on the night of October 11 to 12.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Kupyansk, along the Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, around Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizha Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and advanced in some areas.
• Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev stated on October 12 that the Russian military has recruited more than 357,000 contract, volunteer, and conscripted military personnel since January 1, 2023.
• Russian authorities continue to persecute religious communities in occupied Ukraine as part of ongoing Russian efforts to destroy the Ukrainian identity.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Russian forces pushed back from the elevated position they captured a few days ago north of Avdiivka (The slag heap overlooking the coke plant).



This photo shows the position they were fighting for

---

 

[ramacca]

According to Geroman on twitter, In the last 24 hours, not one single shell has landed on Donetsk city. The first time in 2 years. This is due to the Russian advances around Avdiivka.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Bakhmut Axis update.

Lots of chatter (all unconfirmed at this time) that Uke forces are in direct contact with Ru defensive elements at Yakolivka, Soledar, Krasna Hora, East Bakhmut, Klischiivka and Andriivka.

If confirmed - this would indicate that Uke forces have achieved multiple breakthroughs on the both North and South flanks of Bakhmut including the railway line (the main Ru defensive line).

Here is the reported picture

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

According to Geroman on twitter, In the last 24 hours, not one single shell has landed on Donetsk city. The first time in 2 years. This is due to the Russian advances around Avdiivka.

That’s because all Uke artillery is being directed down into the Russia forces trying to capture Avdiivka. Not hard to figure out

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Looks like the Ukes have themselves fully working under-sea drones

 

[ramacca]

According to Geroman on twitter, the Russian Vostok battalion are entering the Aydeyebskiy Coke plant complex, north Avdiivka and west of the railway lines.

 

[Noisy noise annoys]

According to Geroman on twitter, the Russian Vostok battalion are entering the Aydeyebskiy Coke plant complex, north Avdiivka and west of the railway lines.

Is this like the Azov situation in that huge refinery in Mariupol(?) ?

 

[ramacca]

Is this like the Azov situation in that huge refinery in Mariupol(?) ?

Yes. It looks like the standard Soviet plant construction for these type of plant. According to information they both employed just over 12 000. It may well have the same underground tunnelling system as in Mariupol.

 

[dublinbluenose]

Synopsis of the last few days across the front line.

Long story short, not a great few days to be a Russian soldier

 

[Goat]

According to Geroman on twitter, the Russian Vostok battalion are entering the Aydeyebskiy Coke plant complex, north Avdiivka and west of the railway lines.

How hard is it to link the tweets?

Cos quite frankly I don't believe a word you say, you have constantly made things up in this thread.

 

[davek]

Synopsis of the last few days across the front line.

Long story short, not a great few days to be a Russian soldier

The same feller is claiming that the attack on Israel wasn't Hamas...it was Wagner...

 

[dublinbluenose]

The same feller is claiming that the attack on Israel wasn't Hamas...it was Wagner...

Do you mean the tweet he quotes with a ? about whether the person speaking Russian is a wagner fighter?

The video has since been debunked.

What has that got to do with the price of turkeys btw