Current Affairs Ukraine

[Yarrgh]

Hard to think of a more overstated set of claims than that.

Telegram is not Engima, and it isnt the main means by which Russia influences the world. Russian citizens are not going to be blamed for not cooperating with the French authorities over drug trafficking or paedophilia either.

Durov's arrest is (hopefully) more about reminding the tech bros that they are legally responsible for the material they profit massively from and that if they wish to continue profitting massively from their sites then they will have to assist cops when their sites are used to facilitate or commit crimes.

Durov is also a French citizen, and not liked by the Russian authorities after supporting the Euromaiden coup and Nalvalny. A very peculiar character all round.

 

[tsubaki]

Durov is also a French citizen, and not liked by the Russian authorities after supporting the Euromaiden coup and Nalvalny. A very peculiar character all round.

A UAE citizen too, but I am not sure how disliked (by Russia) he is - I mean, they’ve not done anything serious to him other than having VK off him.

 

[Yarrgh]

A UAE citizen too, but I am not sure how disliked (by Russia) he is - I mean, they’ve not done anything serious to him other than having VK off him.

That's like taking Facebook off Zuckerberg and saying no hard feelings.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

A UAE citizen too, but I am not sure how disliked (by Russia) he is - I mean, they’ve not done anything serious to him other than having VK off him.

I think French authorities have until the end of today to charge him with something. If they let him walk then you could assume the French or another interested party have got what they want from him.

 

[tsubaki]

That's like taking Facebook off Zuckerberg and saying no hard feelings.

They could have done a lot worse to him.

 

[peteblue]

It's great news, however I think we need to be patient because it may not become operational soon. If they do get it working, I think some key factories will be hit.

It was just a matter of time tbh. Ukraine have shown themselves to be very capable hardware and software engineers, they had years of having Russian weapons, now they have NATO weapons and will no doubt be reverse engineering as fast as they can….

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

It was just a matter of time tbh. Ukraine have shown themselves to be very capable hardware and software engineers, they had years of having Russian weapons, now they have NATO weapons and will no doubt be reverse engineering as fast as they can….

They also have a history, honed during the Soviet Union era for design and production of missile technology. Kinda ironic that now these skills are being employed in designing weapon systems that can target Moscow itself.

 

[Yarrgh]

They could have done a lot worse to him.

GrandOldKremlin.com would suggest that he close and then open windows.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

 

[stipe]

They say that F-16 was destroyed (apparently in crash) this Monday. Pilot Oleksiy Mes dead.
It coincide with that massive Russian missile attack that hit cities and air bases all over Ukraine.

So either was plane hit on ground by missile or maybe he crashed while trying to escape air base before missile attack.
Americans saying pilot error while Ukrainian sources saying he died in action.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

 

[stipe]

Situation in Pokrovsk is not good, even Ukrainian aligned DeepState sounding alarm about Ukrainian forces disorganization there.
Seems Russian command decided to go all in on Pokrovsk front while (surprisingly) giving Kursk lower priority.
They assembled rag tag counter-invasion force of some 30 000 troops mostly only to contain Ukrainians there while simultaneously going all in at Donbas.

Hopefully Ukrainians can turn Pokrovsk in another Bakhmut.

 

[Yarrgh]

Situation in Pokrovsk is not good, even Ukrainian aligned DeepState sounding alarm about Ukrainian forces disorganization there.
Seems Russian command decided to go all in on Pokrovsk front while (surprisingly) giving Kursk lower priority.
They assembled rag tag counter-invasion force of some 30 000 troops mostly only to contain Ukrainians there while simultaneously going all in at Donbas.

Hopefully Ukrainians can turn Pokrovsk in another Bakhmut.

A number of reports on Ukrainian forces abandoning defensive positions to take better position in Pokrovsk itself. There's also been evacuation of the areas and curfew on civilians who won't leave. I expect that the Russians will lay siege to it as per Mauriupol and let winter do the fighting for them.

Toretsk looks like it will fall too and probably soon.

Ukraine has to decide what to do with its forces from Kursk. Accept the weakened position in the east or hold on the north. Russia have gone with forcing the east and trying to contain Kursk which probably is the correct strategy and now places the ball back in Ukraine's court.

Unfortunately this looks like carrying on for a long time.

 

[stipe]

A number of reports on Ukrainian forces abandoning defensive positions to take better position in Pokrovsk itself. There's also been evacuation of the areas and curfew on civilians who won't leave. I expect that the Russians will lay siege to it as per Mauriupol and let winter do the fighting for them.

Toretsk looks like it will fall too and probably soon.

Ukraine has to decide what to do with its forces from Kursk. Accept the weakened position in the east or hold on the north. Russia have gone with forcing the east and trying to contain Kursk which probably is the correct strategy and now places the ball back in Ukraine's court.

Unfortunately this looks like carrying on for a long time.

For Russians to take the bait and transfer more troops to Kursk, Ukrainians would need to threaten something meaningful (strategic) like serious push toward nuclear plant.
Of course that would also require for them to transfer even more troops there and even more weaken their already ailing Eastern front.

I guess Russian Command assessed situation not that critical, probably realizing Ukrainians don't have enough troops for serious push and satisfied themselves only to keep them at bay while simultaneously going all in at Pokrovsk. In short, Ukrainian push in Kursk opened chance for Russians in Donbas.

As you said ball is in Ukrainian court now, continue to try pushing in Kursk or try to stabilize situation in the East.

 

[davek]

For Russians to take the bait and transfer more troops to Kursk, Ukrainians would need to threaten something meaningful (strategic) like serious push toward nuclear plant.
Of course that would also require for them to transfer even more troops there and even more weaken their already ailing Eastern front.

I guess Russian Command assessed situation not that critical, probably realizing Ukrainians don't have enough troops for serious push and satisfied themselves only to keep them at bay while simultaneously going all in at Pokrovsk. In short, Ukrainian push in Kursk opened chance for Russians in Donbas.

As you said ball is in Ukrainian court now, continue to try pushing in Kursk or try to stabilize situation in the East.

Spot on.

When this war ends - as it will soon - the Kursk incursion will be seen for what it is: a desperate diversion whose gamble didn't come off and hastened the end of the war.


There's no way Zaluzhnyi would have taken that gamble. But the puppet Zelensky replaced him with thought it was a wise move.