Sanctions against Russia

[kgwilson]

I think there are plenty of older age group Russians who yearn for the old Soviet days when everyone was poor but they had a roof over their head and were well fed. I agree though that there are probably few if any of the Putin worshipers who have the appropriate skills or balls to pick up his mantle.

 

The younger generation who have embraced Western culture and its trappings are mostly keeping quiet to stay out of jail but will pretty quickly jump back on the freedom wagon if the wheels fall off Putins. The wealthy will have a bob each way. Whatever comes to pass they like corruption as it enables them to stay rich & get even richer.

[facthunter]

Beware the Revolution. There's More Poor than rich by a long way. Nev

[willedoo]

The Soviet Union, particularly under Stalin, was run similar to how Putin runs things today in the Kremlin. The KGB instilled fear was central to the iron grip of the USSR. Nobody knew who they could trust; neighbours were encouraged to dob in neighbours and most people kept to themselves. It might have a bit to do with the Russian culture of generally not smiling in public. To smile or appear happy in those days would have put people under immediate suspicion.

 

It seems evident that Putin has gathered a very loyal group of security people around him, no doubt kept loyal by privilege and enrichment, with that loyalty enforced by realisation of their fate if they betray him or the group. That shadowy group keeps Putin's sycophants in line so they know their place. The same enrichment and privilege provides incentive for the drongos in the Kremlin to remain loyal, and therefore alive. Typical KGB tactics to maintain power.

 

It is hard to see it perpetuating after Putin is gone. Getting rid of him wouldn't solve every problem, but it would solve most. It seems to be the only way out of the craziness that has engulfed that country. A lot of the regional people probably don't see much change in their lives, but the educated, urban people of whom there are many millions, will soon get sick of sliding towards a North Korea style existence.

[facthunter]

He's surrounded by people who say only what HE wants to hear to keep their jobs and privilege. That's the cause of the present situation. Not realistic advice at all, PLUS he regards himself as some sort of God Emperor that's saving a NOBLE civilisation (and his chosen lifestyle) Glaring self Interest abounds OPPOSE him and you're likely to disappear. Nev

Edited August 18, 2022 by facthunter

[willedoo]

This is a good article centered around General Valeriy Zaluzhnyy, commander in chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It gives a good understanding of the NATO based reform of Ukraine's military since 2014, and the stark contrast with the outdated, Soviet legacy of Russia's armed forces.

 

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/08/ukraines-iron-general-zaluzhnyy-00023901

 

[willedoo]

I'm not sure what that shoulder patch in his photo represents. Crossed mace perhaps, but from a distance it looks like the army badminton team. Just an observation; no disrespect intended.

[willedoo]

No confirmed news at this stage, but there's talk of multiple explosions across Crimea today, possibly an air base near Sevastopol and over in the east at Kerch. It's looking like the Ukrainian tactic is now to destabilise the Russian back yard before launching the Kherson counteroffensive. After the attacks earlier in the week, a 24hr. traffic record was set on the Crimea to Russian mainland Kerch Bridge with 40,000 vehicles heading east back to Russia . There were reports of hundreds of people stuck at train stations with their suitcases after the train line was temporally put out of action. The Ruskies in Crimea are getting a bit skittish.

 

[willedoo]

If this is confirmed as Belbek Air Base under attack, it will be a huge physical and psychological blow to the Russians. Belbek is the air base at Sevastopol, only a few kilometers north of the city (and the North Sea Fleet). The obvious message to the Russians is that nowhere in Crimea is secure. Another Guy Fawkes Night video:

 

https://twitter.com/TpyxaNews/status/1560355507860389888

 

What's next on the list? Another high value target is the Black Sea Fleet main fuel storage depot, only 20klm south of Belbek.

Edited August 19, 2022 by willedoo

[willedoo]

[willedoo]

This one is at Belgorod, in Russia, just east of Kharkiv last night:

 

https://t.me/Postovo/15077

[willedoo]

But wait, there's more. At the same time, Stary Oskol Air Base in Russia, east of Belgorod. This one is about 100klm inside the Russian border. Putler will be getting very p*ssed off very soon.

 

https://t.me/supernova_plus/9202

 

 

Edited August 19, 2022 by willedoo

[pmccarthy]

Woo Hoo!

[pmccarthy]

But nothing in the news this morning?

[Old Koreelah]

Such destruction. Let’s remember the enormous investment in energy, materials and intellect that is snuffed out by each fireball.

After this abomination is over, what will get priority: rebuilding a civil society, or acumulating even more destructive weaponry?

[willedoo]

6 hours ago, pmccarthy said:

But nothing in the news this morning?

We'll have to see what pans out today. The MSM is usually a day behind most social media reporting/speculation, justifiably to wait for confirmation. The alleged Belbek Air Base attack at Sevastopol should be confirmed or debunked fairly soon. Maxar Technologies have been providing daily satellite images which should clear it up. Images taken a few hours before the alleged attack showed around forty fighter jets parked at the base. One image showed Sukhoi Flankers parked wing to wing. If fire got amongst that lot, it could take out quite a few planes.

 

There were quite a few Telegram videos posted by civilians in Crimea of what they thought were incoming missiles. That poses quite a few questions, as the nearest Ukrainian held ground they could launch from is over 200klm from Crimea's east coast. It's more likely undercover Ukrainian special service teams carrying out sabotage in my opinion. Unless of course the Americans have finally supplied the HIMARS longer range ammunition, which has a range around the 300klm mark. Up until this point, they haven't supplied them due to fear the Ukrainians will use them to strike Russian ground and drag the U.S. into a broader conflict. But there are some news reports that the U.S. has ok'd Crimea as a target on the basis of it being occupied Ukrainian land.

 

The Crimean governor has issued press statements saying their air defences have been active shooting at Ukrainian drones across Crimea. Air defence missiles might possibly be what the public were filming. Crimean authorities have said they have been shooting at Ukrainian reconnaissance drones around the Crimean Bridge. They must be serious about wanting to knock the bridge out. The train line is out until repaired. If they keep this up, Russia will have a big ammunition problem. They have heaps in Russia but Ukraine is doing a good job of wrecking their supply lines.

Edited August 20, 2022 by willedoo

[willedoo]

Just having a search online for some news. There's plenty of phone videos appearing showing Pantsir air defence units firing into the air at Sevastopol last night. No sign in the videos of missiles, so they're most likely shooting at drones.

[willedoo]

6 hours ago, pmccarthy said:

But nothing in the news this morning?

Today's satellite images show the Belbek air base intact, so it looks like that one was wrong. The explosion footage was probably an ammo dump somewhere else. The authorities are saying they shot a drone down over the base.

Next time maybe. It would be a target that would have a lot of morale destroying value, being only 20klm from the Black Sea fleet base.

[Old Koreelah]

4 hours ago, willedoo said:

Just having a search online for some news. There's plenty of phone videos appearing showing Pantsir air defence units firing into the air at Sevastopol last night.

What goes up has to come down. I’ve read that during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour, all 64 civilian deaths were caused by American anti-aircraft fire.

[facthunter]

All about Darwin and Broome was kept very quiet at the time . I do find your deaths attributed to be a bit incredible. The is footage of the bombing about. I'm an eternal sceptic about claims like that. Nev

[Old Koreelah]

2 hours ago, facthunter said:

All about Darwin and Broome was kept very quiet at the time . I do find your deaths attributed to be a bit incredible. The is footage of the bombing about. I'm an eternal sceptic about claims like that. Nev

Nev that statistic appeared in a very well-researched book I’m currently reading. It was claimed that the Japanese attacks concentrated on military targets, far from civilians, but all civil casualties were the result of falling AA fire, of which there was lots.

 

1942   Year the War Came to Australia, by Peter Grose.

The book’s account of the Darwin and Sydney raids includes lots of info suppressed for generations. 

 

[willedoo]

This is a screen grab from yesterday's drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea. Russian officials are saying they shot it down and it landed on the roof. It's the second time the headquarters has been damaged; a small one hit it a couple of weeks ago.

 

Edited August 20, 2022 by willedoo

[Bruce Tuncks]

I would have thought the black sea naval headquarters was a valid HIMARS target.

[Bruce Tuncks]

About the Darwin attacks...  I grew up in Alice Springs in the 1950's and I thought there was just one attack. They sure kept us in the dark. AND I only found out recently that the planes actually came from Rabaul, so they had an awful long way to come and go.

If I had been a pilot on one of those Japanese planes, I reckon one engine would show a nasty high CHT from just after take-off.

About 800 miles round trip , over New Guinea mountains, the whole thing was awful.

 

[Old Koreelah]

8 hours ago, Bruce Tuncks said:

About the Darwin attacks...  I grew up in Alice Springs in the 1950's and I thought there was just one attack. They sure kept us in the dark.

They sure did, Bruce. Actually, Darwin copped more bombers and bombs than Pearl Harbour.
From Wikipedia: 

 

The two Japanese air raids were the first, and largest, of more than 100 air raids against Australia during 1942–43. 
…the number of bombs dropped on Darwin (681 bombs weighing 114,100 kilograms by 205 bombers) exceeded those dropped on Pearl Harbor (457 bombs [including 40 torpedoes]) weighing 133,560 kilograms.

8 hours ago, Bruce Tuncks said:

…I only found out recently that the planes actually came from Rabaul,

That would greatly surprise me. Although Rabaul was a major base, the Japanese had much closer airfields:

 

In addition to the carrier-based aircraft, 54 land-based bombers also struck Darwin in a high-level bombing raid nearly two hours after the first one struck at 0956. These comprised 27 G3M "Nell"bombers flying from Ambon and another 27 G4M "Betty" bombers operating from Kendari in the Celebes.

 

The IJN threw their big stuff at Darwin, only to lose them soon after.

 

Darwin was attacked by aircraft flying from aircraft carriers and land bases in the NEI. The main force involved in the raid was the 1st Carrier Air Fleet which was commanded by Vice-Admiral Chūichi Nagumo. This force comprised the aircraft carriers Akagi, Kaga, Hiryū, and Sōryū and a powerful force of escorting surface ships. All four carriers had participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor at the start of the Pacific War.

 

The four IJN aircraft carriers (Akagi, Kaga, Hiryū, and Sōryū) that participated in the Bombing of Darwin were later sunk during the Battle of Midway in June 1942.

 

.

 

 

[pmccarthy]

Revolver drone