Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Skybird]

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/27/e...-ml/index.html


"Supportability trumps fire power".

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

Putin accused of using 'body-double' again as 'obvious' different spotted in photos

Vladimir Putin has been spotted wearing high heels on a trip to meet students in Moscow, but "Kremlin insiders" believe this could be a "body double." Telegram channel General SVR - which claims to be fed information by a Kremlin insider - claims that there are "obvious differences" in these photos of Putin compared with others.

The anonymous account also claimed that Ptin's change of mood could also indicate the use of a lookalike posing as the Russian President.

General SVR said: "During a public meeting with students...many noticed some oddities and physiological features of the 'president'.

"A person similar to Putin, unlike the original, was absolutely not afraid to be near a large number of little-known and completely unfamiliar people, which is not at all typical for the president in the past few years.

"Obvious differences were observed on the face of pseudo-Putin and in the manner his behaviour.

Vladimir Putin has incensed international and Russian communities since February, with his bloody invasion of Ukraine having killed thousands and courted extensive western sanctions.

"The left cheekbone of the understudy was swollen and moved unnaturally with the 'president's' facial expressions.

"An unnaturally hanging upper lip is the result of an unsuccessful 'fitting' of the understudy."

The account also claimed the alleged body double had used too much botox.

The channel added: "The stunt double's laughing style is different from Putin's while some movements appear constrained.

"This public appearance of the president's double was not the most successful, but nothing can be done because Putin is not able to take part in such events."

Accusations like this have been levelled against Putin on numerous occasions, including at a summit in Iran.

Last October, Ukraine's head of military made similar claims, suggesting that Putin's body doubles had plastic surgery to look more like the Russian President.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov told the Mail on Sunday : "We know specifically about three people that keep appearing, but how many there are, we don't know.

"The one thing that gives them away is their height. It's visible in videos and pictures. Also gesturing, body language and earlobes, since they are unique for every person."

Back in 2020, Putin dismissed the claims that he uses a body double to attend events, but did admit he was offered the chance to have one.

The suggestion of a body double has been linked to Putin's alleged health problems.

With many suspecting that Putin has cancer or Parkinson's, people have suggested that the Russian President could be using body doubles to allow the real Putin to rest.

The independent media outlet, Proekt, reported in April that Putin regularly travels with an oncologist.

They also claimed bathed in deer antlers in an attempt to improve his health.

But Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov denied the health rumours in May, saying that "Putin appears in public everyday" and adding "I don't think sane people can discern any sort of symptom of disease in this man."
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world...ukraine-russia

[Skybird]

Odd enough, I saw that scene with students on TV, too, and I was kind of alienated by his appearance and social behaviour, too. I attributed it to heavy drugs of any kind, paying tribute to rumours he were seriously ill. I did not think of a double.

Its not typical that he does not keep distance to people around him.

Maybe its time to give Kagemusha another show tonight.

[Jimbuna]

Orban tears into Scholz for tanks deployment to Ukraine and declares 'you are at war'

Germany's decision to send advanced armoured tanks to Ukraine has sparked the fury of EU and NATO ally Viktor Orban. From Washington to Berlin to Kyiv, a Western decision to send battle tanks to Ukraine was hailed enthusiastically. Moscow first shrugged it off - and later launched another barrage of attacks.

But in an interview with Hungarian state radio, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Germany's decision to send 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks to Ukraine was emblematic of the increasing role Western countries are playing in the war, now in its 12th month.

The Hungarian leader said on Friday that Hungary getting drawn into the war in Ukraine "is out of the question as long as I am prime minister" but he thinks it is too late for other countries in Europe.

He said: "The others are not only in danger, they have already been swept away.

"If you send weapons, if you finance the entire annual budget of one of the belligerents, if you promise more and more weapons, more and more modern weapons, then you can say whatever you want. No matter what you say, you are in the war."

Mr Orban, who has refused to send weapons to neighbouring Ukraine and has held up some European Union efforts to provide aid packages to Kyiv, has consistently argued against EU sanctions on Moscow and portrayed countries that assist Ukraine as being "on the side of war."

His right-wing populist government has pursued increasingly close economic and diplomatic ties with Russia over the last decade and concluded major agreements on purchasing Russian gas, oil and nuclear fuel.

He also threatened to veto any EU sanctions that would affect its access to Russian energy.

The Kremlin has previously warned that Western tank deliveries would be a dangerous escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, and it has strongly denounced the watershed move by Germany and the United States to send heavy weaponry to its foe.

Russia's ministry of defense has acquired thirty old T-34 tanks sparking speculation the Soviet medium tank that was introduced in 1940 could soon be reintroduced to the battlefields of Ukraine. Putin's military has been faced with the challenge of fielding tanks able to compete with the modern armour soon to be supplied to Ukraine such as the US Abrams and the British Challenger 2.

But it insists the new armour won't stop Russia from achieving its goals in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "The potential it gives to the Ukrainian armed forces is clearly exaggerated.

"Those tanks will burn just like any others."

Moscow played down the move right after the announcement in an apparent attempt to save face as the West raised the stakes in Ukraine. Some Russian experts also emphasised that the supply of the deadly armour will be relatively limited and could take months to reach the front.

On Thursday, Russia launched a new wave of missiles and self-exploding drones across Ukraine - the latest in a series of strikes, many of which have targeted power plants and other key infrastructure.

Russian military bloggers and commentators say that such attacks involve meticulous preparation - so the latest barrage was likely planned in advance and was not necessarily linked to the tank announcement.

Yohann Michel, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, observed that while Western arms supplies irk Russia, it can do nothing to stop them.

He said: "It's a problem that they can't necessarily address," noting that earlier decisions by the US and its allies to supply air-defence weapons to Ukraine could have been even more worrying for Moscow.

President Vladimir Putin, his diplomats and military leaders have repeatedly warned the West that supplying long-range weapons capable of striking deep inside Russia would mark a red line and trigger massive retaliation.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...8b914347fd066e

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Dargo]

Microchips made by Dutch companies are still arriving in Russia despite heavy sanctions. Many millions of units are involved since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine until December. Exports are through middlemen. Several hundred deliveries have gone to three Russian companies linked to defense firms. 'Dutch' chips have also been found in Russian weapons. There is a clear pattern of a small group of Chinese companies managing to get hold of Dutch chips and exporting them to Russia month after month. One such company is on the US sanctions list because of supplies to the Russian defense industry. Despite the increasingly severe sanctions, no decline in exports has been visible in recent months.

Dutch chips going to Russia are mainly from large chip producers such as Eindhoven-based NXP and Nijmegen-based Nexperia. The NOS/Nieuwsuur investigation shows that NXP microchips were recently found on the battlefield in Ukraine. They were found, among others, in a dismantled Russian armored howitzer, a cruise missile and a combat helicopter. EU sanctions against Russia are being massively circumvented. For example, by small companies shipping chips to Russia via parcel post. There are also mostly Asian traders who acquire Dutch chips and, unhindered by sanctions, resell the products to Russia at high profit margins.

For example, the largest middleman in Dutch chips, according to the data available to NOS and Nieuwsuur, is China-based Sinno Electronics. But unlike Washington, Brussels has not yet imposed punitive measures against Sinno. The company has been asked for a comment, but has not responded. Due to the large role played by Chinese exporters in particular, control is hardly effective. Beijing has not imposed sanctions against Moscow, so trade in chips from China is still possible as usual. The NOS/Nieuwsuur investigation therefore shows that very limited intervention was possible in the past period.

https://nos.nl/artikel/2461459-miljo...danks-sancties

[Dargo]

"Today, the ministerial council has decided to add a new package of 90 million euros ( $97.5 million) in military aid. That is the largest military aid package for Ukraine that our country has decided to date," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told journalists on Friday. "This new package is on top of the 146 million euros (around $158 million) Belgium has already donated in military assistance."

The military aid is part of a larger package that also contains humanitarian and civilian assistance.

The military aide will include anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank missiles, grenades and munitions, which will enable Ukraine to continue to "protect its citizens," Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said, adding that Belgium will also deliver military vehicles, trucks and light armored vehicles to Ukraine in the "coming weeks." Separate from the military aid, the package also contains 86 million euros ($93.3 million) in civilian aid, including 69 million euros ($74.9 million) dedicated towards humanitarian aid and 10.6 million euros ($11.5 million) dedicated towards the reconstruction of Ukraine. This civilian aid will include medical supplies and ambulance, De Croo added.

https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-...d922b2e53639bf

[Jimbuna]

EU on tanks for Ukraine: "Russia has begun to transfer war to another stage"

The Secretary General of the European Union External Action Service, Stefano Sannino, justified the supply of military equipment by Germany and the USA to Ukraine with the need for protection against Moscow’s barbaric actions.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

Sannino, speaking at a press conference in Tokyo as part of a tour of the Asia-Pacific region, said that Putin "has moved from the concept of a special operation to the concept of war against NATO and the West."

He said that the German and American tank reserves are intended to help Ukrainians defend themselves in war, not to turn them into aggressors.

"I think that this latest event from the point of view of arms supply is simply an evolution of the situation and how Russia has begun to move the war to another stage," Sannino said.

He added that Russia carries out "indiscriminate attacks" on civilians and cities, not on military targets.

The EU is not moving the war to another stage, but "simply provides an opportunity to save lives and allows Ukrainians to defend themselves from these barbaric attacks," Sannino said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3396128

We now need 300-500 tanks for offensive actions, - Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine needs 300-500 tanks for offensive operations.

As Censor.NET reports, the head of state said this in an interview with Sky News.

"We are building a certain number of tanks in parallel. We are repairing our tanks. I am not ready to talk about this in great detail, because they (the Russians. - Ed.) are hitting our logistics centers. Therefore, we need 300-500 tanks now. Here, why do I feel this way?

Tanks are needed for offensive actions on our land, on our land. Armored vehicles are needed to protect our people," the head of state emphasized.

The President thanked Germany, Great Britain, and the USA for the decision to supply tanks to Ukraine.

"I am grateful to the world for supporting Ukraine. But if we speak openly and honestly, the number of tanks and the time when they can reach us play an important role. We have weapons for which a decision was made, but they have not yet arrived. It happens, these weapons have been going for months. I'm not saying that anyone is to blame for this, I'm just saying that relief comes when what the partners give starts working to protect our army," Zelensky added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3396130

[Jimbuna]

F-16 fighter could be best option for Air Force, - Ihnat

The F-16 fighter could be the best option for the Air Force of Ukraine, and become the only type of multi-purpose aircraft.

This was stated by Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat, Censor.NET reports with reference to Ukrinform.

"This type of multi-role aircraft, which is the most common in the world, and the F-16 is one of those aircraft, could be the best option for the Air Force to become one main aircraft, a single type of multi-role aircraft," Ihnat said.

According to him, the F-16 fighter can strike ground targets with various types of weapons, as well as become part of air defense and protect the sky from air attacks.

He noted that Ukraine now has four types of aircraft: two types of fighters (Su-27 and MiG-29), an attack aircraft Su-25, and a bomber Su-24.

"This aircraft (F-16. - Ed.) could combine all these functions in itself, that is why more attention is being paid to it in terms of providing it to Ukraine," Ihnat added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3396144

Ukraine began preparing airfield infrastructure for F-16 fighters, - Air Force

F-16 fighter jets are the most considered for possible transfer to Ukraine due to their multi-functionality. Since the Ukrainian military could perform both combat tasks on them and strengthen the defense of the sky.

This was announced by the spokesman of the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Yuriy Ihnat during a briefing, Censor.NET reports with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

"This (handover of aircraft from allies - ed.) would greatly help Ukraine on the way to victory and the de-occupation of our lands. How long it will take - here we can speak quite conventionally, because there are extremely long deadlines, and in wartime, such deadlines are for training pilots and aviation engineers are not suitable in war conditions," Ihnat said.

According to him, the pilots say that they can master the planes in a few weeks. But, as Ihnat explained, flying and landing are one thing, but fighting on these fighters is another.

He also said that the list of pilots who, in the event of the transfer of the F-16s, will control them, has already been drawn up.

"This list has been ready for a long time. Maybe there will be some changes because we are at war. The commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleschuk has already approved it... And it is not only about the need for pilots, but also aviation engineers, etc.," Ihnat pointed out.

In addition, he added that it is necessary to prepare the airport infrastructure so that pilots can safely land on the runway, and "this work is already underway."

"In addition, it is necessary to prepare the airfield infrastructure so that pilots can land safely on runways. In this matter, work is already underway in various regions of Ukraine. In particular, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Infrastructure and other relevant departments are involved in order to help us make an airport network," the spokesman said.

According to Ignat, in the future, military airfields may become joint bases for civil and military aviation.

"Such a practice already exists in the world. This could be another push for Ukraine to a civilized world. Ukrainians could start flying within the country," added the spokesman of the Air Force. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3396148

[Jimbuna]

Orban said that "Ukraine is becoming Afghanistan" and "no man’s land"

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made a series of scandalous statements about Russia’s progress against Ukraine.

He stated this at a meeting with journalists in Budapest, Censor.NET reports with reference to Euro Integration.

Orbán received 15 journalists, one of whom is American Conservative editor-in-chief Rod Dreger. Dreger outlined the main theses of the Hungarian prime minister.

According to Dreger, Orbán said at the meeting that he thought the West should understand that Putin cannot afford to lose the war and will not lose it, because next year there will be elections in Russia and he cannot go to them as president. who lost the war.

In addition, according to him, Russia cannot allow the presence of NATO in Ukraine. Orban said that, in his opinion, the time when Russia could conquer Ukraine and install a pro-Russian government in the country has long passed.

"If Russia won a quick victory, it would be possible, but now it's hopeless." - said the Hungarian Prime Minister.

Therefore, according to Orban, Russia's goal is to turn Ukraine into an ungovernable ruin so that the West cannot claim it "as a prize." According to him, the Russians have already succeeded in this, since now Ukraine, like Afghanistan, is a "no man's land".

According to Orban, the West does not understand that time is in Russia's favor in the war in Ukraine, since it is a huge country and can mobilize a huge army. Ukraine, Orban said, cannot do this.

The Hungarian Prime Minister also noted that the direct participation of NATO troops in the war cannot be ruled out. Orban believes that if the upcoming spring offensive by the Russians is successful, NATO member states will have to consider sending troops to Ukraine.

"It sounds crazy today, but if you look at the trend of how we got here, it cannot be ruled out today... The West is at war with Russia. That's the reality. We're getting deeper and deeper every day," he said.

Orban believes that the West is only pretending not to be at war with Russia, but by sending more and more weapons and getting closer to actual military intervention, Western leaders are playing an extremely dangerous game with themselves, Russia, and Western public opinion, he believes Hungarian Prime Minister.

Orban himself opposes the direct participation of Western troops in the war, because "no one will come out of this war as a winner."

When asked whether Putin could use nuclear weapons, Orbán replied that he did not rule out such a possibility. He clarified that he was talking about tactical nuclear weapons on the battlefield, not mushroom clouds over Warsaw and Berlin.

He also said that if Ukrainians cross the Russian border with Western weapons, "the future will be so bright that the West will have to wear sunglasses."

Although Ukraine is making progress in the war, Orbán does not believe that this will continue in the long term. He points to the production capacity of the Russians and convinces that in wars the Russians are traditionally weaker at the beginning, but later they are "impossible to stop." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3396159