Penrhys, Rhondda Page
A page telling the story of a unique magical village - Penrhys, in the Rhondda !
Poet's Page
music and opinion from Wales' wandering poet.
Peace Page
(only on youtube)
'come and see'
- a partisan film
Watch this film --- and you
will - finally - understand.
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=NJYOg4ORc1w
Some in the West are fond
of a loose use of words...
''stunning'', for example, to describe
a work of art... but believe me
when I say - this film about a
lad of 14 - made me laugh
and cry and - by the end
- I was left stunned.
A recent attempt on youtube by an obvious anti-Russian, to pour scorn on this film's historical accuracy, tries to point out that the nazi troops state they are members of a unit that was not there.. but can't bring himself to see that they might have been lying!
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St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox
SpiritualCare Centre
THE TRAGEDY IN UKRAINE
"Veterans and children of the Great PatrioticWar: to the Government andpeopleof Germany".
By events in Ukraine
Today, when the German government decided
to supply Ukraine with lethal weapons, the
world has changed — the silhouettes of a
new world war are more than clearly
outlined! And again - Germany!
But there are honest people in Germany, anti-
fascists, and we hope that this Message will
fall into their hands. People born between
1927 and 1945 have the status of "war
children" in Russia.
All those who survived that war can subscribe to this letter. We think that actual signatures are not necessary, we suggest that veterans(or "war children") read them this letter, independently or with someone's help,
and send us (at the coordinatesindicated below) something like the following:
Moscow, Ivanov Ivan Ivanovich, 90 years old, disabled war veteran (or otherwise), Hero of the Soviet Union (or Holder of the Order of Glory... or otherwise), was repatriated to Germany during the war (or otherwise).
Or just the city, full name, and age. The
main thing, is that they should be real
people who are familiar with the text.
MESSAGE TEXT
We, the last veterans and all the peoples of
Russia who survived that great and terrible
war, are now on the verge of death! Our
time is already running out. For a huge
part of our lives, we hoped we would
come to the end of it, in peace -
without all-destroying hatred!
For the painfully long decades after the Second World War, we overcame our righteous anger! I long for retribution for the innumerable wounds, spiritual and physical, that we still carry in our bodies and our hearts! And most of us have forgiven! And not in a small way due to the fact that Germany for many years has demonstrated its repentance its understanding of what it has done! And we have overcome, not only ourselves, but also the voice of the blood of our barbarically exterminated relatives! By whom? Germans ...fascists!
We have forgiven... following the laws of human
coexistence! So it was... until 2014. And then,
in 2014, when everything began in Ukraine...
we looked with hope at Germany and at the
then Chancellor Angela Merkel. We couldn't imagine that after all that the Germans did
in Ukraine, after Babi Yar, after mountains
of mutilated corpses, they would still look
with lust at the Ukrainian fields that can
feed Europe today! Or they, the Germans,
who have covered the Crimea they once
promised with blood, will still somehow be interested in turning the Crimea into an American and in general a NATO base, ideal for aggression against Russia! Which would be clearly
aimed at afuture war.
After all, only fools do not understand the meaning and goals of the entire coup inUkraine... in the conditions of which Russia behaved in the only possible way! But the Germans are not fools! We the Russians, know for certain your psychology, as "brothers in blood" - our blood, which you "prudently" shed in rivers!
We remember your "systematic methods of
population reduction"! Our population! Until
now, in different parts of our once united
Homeland, where the boot of German
fascism was trodden, we find hidden
mass graves of our civilians: in the
Novgorod region, in the Kuban, in
the Rostov region, in Karelia. In
Belarus, in 2021... hundreds of
civilian remains... were found
in Brest ...on the site of the
Jewish ghetto the Trostenets
concentration camp.... near
Minsk terrible in its tragedy
revealed the secret of the
remains... of thousands of
tortured and killed people!
We are talking about tens of thousands of newly discovered victims of Nazism! This blood - still cries out for revenge - and for decades the memory of the barbarously destroyed
Russian people, and monuments to Russian soldiers, liberators, have been desecrated with impunity!
And the new Nazis are marching in the Baltic
States and Ukraine, in front of the entire
"civilized" world! But in 2014, we were
sincerely convinced -- that in this new
Nazi demarche it's the Germans who
will be our associates in preventing
this meanness!
We hoped that, guided by an elementary
conscience, the Germans would not
participate.. in an obviously fascist
anti-state coup in Ukraine! After all
...the subsequent catastrophe of
modern Ukraine was committed
by direct descendants of those
who were special bastards in
the German army! Clearly,
openly!
Americans and Canadians have only hidden and preserved this diabolical heritage, feeding thisgeneration, but the product of this evil... is Germany! Hitler's Germany! And it was impossible for us to believe that it was Germany that would again give a "road map" to these inhumans! But we were wrong! Germany has once again allowed these fascist geeks to enter the world!
The support of modern Germany - in the face of
the new government of Ukraine-Bandera, the
heirs of the SS division " Galicia ", the thugs
of the UPA OUN and all other abominations;
is simply unthinkable for us! This is beyond
all that is human! But you, Germany, have already done it and continue to do it! You
have, once again, set your sights on the
Slavic world and these geeks are blood
from the blood of German Nazism! And
again to Russia!
Only, even more despicable: inciting our closest Ukrainian brothers against us! And you know it! You know this as well as we do! You killed one nation in that Great War! Yes, we are one people!
The truth is written and often spoken about
by your own Steinmeier, who at the same
time viciously took a direct part in the
Kiev coup of 2014 — fascist in fact!
This American may not be clear about some-
thing, but it's more than that, for you! And
after all, it was your vykormysh.. that got
ready.. for their torchlight processions in
Kiev! The living shadow of Nazi Germany
is behind all this. It was only temporarily
covered up by sly diplomacy — "helmets
instead of guns"! But that's it, "masks
are reset"! Your supply of German
weapons to Ukraine today, is
natural, it is in the logic of
your policy of recent
decades.
Today it is clearly pro-fascist! You have taken
this step: German weapons will kill Russians
again! Keep killing. During the years of the
conflict in the Donbas, your professional
killers have already killed Russians, at
least by teaching them... "how to kill
correctly"! Only now -- it's even more
despicable — you're teaching this to
- your blood brothers! Donbass is on
your conscience! Thousands of lives
of its peaceful citizens --- again your
handiwork! We do not care about the
role of Americans, in everything that
happens: there, is money-God! We,
veterans of that war, its children,
are concerned about the role of
the Germans! Because it is you
who know -- exactly -- who the
Ukrainian "national battalions"
consist of --- and could have
prevented and stopped, this
new fascism ! But they did
not do it! And just by doing
this — you are once again,
responsible to history!
And you are definitely participating -- in the
preparation of Ukraine for war with Russia!
You can't help but understand the purpose
of everything that happened --- from the
unconstitutional coup in Kiev ....to the
bloodshed in the Donbass! But, in fact
this is preparation for the Third World
War! And again, you are Germans...
Germany! We hear from the high
German rostrum in Berlin today:
"Russia will pay a high price"!!!
This is the German Chancellor's
speech! Unthinkable! We have
already paid the price — 27
million of our lives! Isn't that
enough for you?! What price
are you still talking about?
There is no home --- in Russia, Ukraine and
Belarus - where "this price" isn't paid! And
there is no home in Germany, that did
not participate in that terrible, bloody
barbarism! It's scary! It's wild! And
today, there are, already, more than
13 thousand dead Russian people
in the Donbass at the hands of
the new Nazis!
The German Chancellor's public mockery of the
Russian genocide in the Donbas is a crime in
itself! How much can the lessons of history
be misunderstood and discredited! The
scariest story in the world! Do you want
to be even scarier?! After all, this new
"Dranch nach Oschtern" ..may lead to
the fact that the 2nd Nuremberg trial
over you will no longer be - there will
simply be no humanity! You won't be
here! But a special Ecumenical trial
of you Germans is inevitable! Over
all aggressors — but over you
ESPECIALLY!
World justice will be served! And we, the last
veterans of that terrible war, are leaving this
world as witnesses! Witnesses for the
PROSECUTION! And today the victory
will be ours, but those who died
yesterday, or those of us who
will die today, already bear
witness to the role of the
German people, in the
history of the human
world — a bloody
history!
German weapons are back in the
hands of Nazi thugs! Please stop!
Email addresses for information:
veterans1945@yandex.ru
https://t.me/Veteran_v_stroy_chat
- Russian Union of Veterans: organizing
questions and collecting signatures of
veterans and children of the Second
World War
****************************
veteran1944@yandex.ru -questions about
this publication to its author: Monk John (Adlivankin), Deputy Head of the Russian Orthodox Church. head and ved.
specialist of the St. Peter's
Orthodox Counseling Centre.
St. John of Kronstadt.
__________________________________
If you want the truth about the massacre of civilans in Bucha - paste the web address below into your browser
https://www.bitchute.com/video/6ZHPL2pTuadJ/
REQUIEM
Efran and Poet's tribute to all those killed by wars
THE LATEST NEWS
IAEA Chief urges restraint.. after
Ukrainian Armed Forces attack
on Zaporizhia NPP
April 18th, 12:12am
(Izvestia.ru)
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), Rafael Grossi, called for military restraint
after Ukraine's strike on the Zaporizhia nuclear
power plant (ZAES). The corresponding
statement was published on the
organization's website
on April 17th.
"Any attempt to attack a nuclear facility, using drones
can have serious consequences. Although offensive
drones can be relatively small, they can have
serious consequences for nuclear safety,
such as causing fires or structural
damage. I continue to call ...for
maximum military restraint -
in the vicinity of all nuclear
facilities," Grossi said.
The report also clarifies that --- after the incident, the
IAEA requested access to the alleged crash site of
the Ukrainian drone. At the same time, the
agency's representatives were shown
the consequences of the Ukrainian
attack on the facility.
It is reported that as a result of the attack, a fire
started at the crash site. At the same time,
both victims and damage to buildings,
were avoided.
On April 17, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched three
drone strikes - on the satellite city of Zaporizhia NPP
Energodar, in the Zaporizhia region. According to
the mayor, one of the drones was shot down by
military police officers, the second drone was
suppressed by an electronic warfare system
(EW), the 3rd exploded in the treetops. As
a result of the attack, a vehicle
was damaged.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria
Zakharova said on February 13 ------ that the
Ukrainian Armed Forces were terrorizing
the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant.
According to her, the Russian side is doing
everything possible to ensure security
at the station.
_______________________________________
In the DPR, a child was killed
in a kamikaze UAV attack
April 18th, 12:07am
(RT.ru)
The boy was killed in a kamikaze UAV attack
on the village of Volodarskoye in the DPR.
Information about this appeared in the Telegram
channel of the Department of the Government
of the Republic for documenting war crimes
of Ukraine.
"As a result of a kamikaze UAV attack on Volodarsky
Street, a child — a boy born in 2015 - was killed,"
the report says.
On April 16th, two people were injured,
in a UAV attack on the Ivanovo region.
________________________________________
Nebenzia: called the possibility of
a ceasefire in Ukraineunrealistic
April 17th, 11pm
(Izvestia.ru)
A ceasefire in Ukraine, currently, does not seem
realistic. This was stated on April 17th, by
Russia's Permanent Representative to
the United Nations (UN) -
Vasily Nebenzya.
According to the diplomat, the conflict settlement
process is complicated ---- by Kiev's violation of
agreements on the mutual cessation of strikes
on energy infrastructure.
"We had an attempt at a limited cease-fire --- on the
energy infrastructure, which was not respected
by the Ukrainian side," he told reporters,
after closed UN consultations.
On March 27th, Vasily Nebenzya -- declared Russia's
unwavering authority in the UN. He noted that the
respect of the UN member states for the Russian
Federation has only grown due to Moscow's firm
and independent position in defending
its interests.
Russia is perceived as the guardian of the foundations
of the organization - and a just defender of weak and
oppressed peoples.
___________________________________________
Senior Lieutenant Popenkov commanded
the assault on the AFU observation post
April 17th, 10:54pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Senior Lieutenant Alexey Popenkov commanded a unit
of the Russian Armed Forces during the battle for the
liberation of a settlement in the zone of a special
military operation (SVO).
The unit was advancing..... deep into the defense of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine, when Popenkov discovered a camouflaged observation post and an enemy machine-
gun crew. Two assault groups were immediately sent
to them, one of which was personally led by a senior
lieutenant. As a result of the successful attack from
the flanks, the enemy was forced to retreat.
Popenkov ordered to continue advancing. The Armed
Forces of Ukraine - having lost a favorable position, continued to retreat and lost a significant part of
their personnel. As a result ---- Popenkov's
competent actions --- contributed to
the liberation of the settlement.
The Russian Defense Ministry also noted the courage
and professionalism of the Guards private Sergei
Stepanov --- who organized communication
between the regiment's command and
the assault units of the Russian
Armed Forces.
During the advance of the Russian troops -- the enemy
opened mortar fire, trying to return to the abandoned
positions. The communication line was damaged.
Stepanov, realizing the need for an urgent resumption of
communication between the units --- and the command,
moved to the damage site despite the ongoing shelling
and attacks by Ukrainian FPV drones. Guards private
quickly restored the communication line, replacing
the damaged equipment.
___________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry reports
on the progress of the special
military operation
April 17th, 1pm
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,
continue the special military operation.
In Belgorod direction, units of the Sever Group of
Forces engaged formations of two mechanised
brigades, one air assault brigade of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, & three territorial defence
brigades close to Miropolskoye, Prokhody,
Ryasnoye, and Novodmitrovka
(Sumy region).
The AFU losses were up to 65 troops, one tank, three
armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and
six field artillery guns. Two ammunition depots
were destroyed.
Units of the Zapad Group of Forces ------- took more
advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops
delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of
two mechanised brigades.. and one assault
brigade near Yampol (Donetsk People's
Republic), Olgovka, and Borovaya
(Kharkov region).
The AFU losses - were up to 240 troops, one tank, three
armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, three
field artillery guns, and one Kvertus electronic
warfare station. Three enemy ammunition
depots, were destroyed.
The Yug Group of Forces' units improved the tactical
situation. Russian troops hit clusters of the enemy's
manpower - & hardware of 4 mechanised brigades
of the AFU, 1 territorial defence brigade, and one
National Guard brigade, near Katerinovka,
Poltavka, Seversk, and Yablonovka
(Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses -- were up to 320 troops, five armoured
fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, and six field
artillery guns. Six ammunition depots -----
were neutralised.
As a result of active actions, units of the Tsentr
Group of Forces --- liberated Preobrazhenka
(Donetsk People's Republic).
Russian troops launched attacks on the formations of
three mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, one
unmanned aerial defence brigade of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine --- and two National Guard
brigades - close to Ulyanovka, Uspenovka,
Krasnoarmeysk, Novoekonomicheskoye,
and Mirolyubovka (Donetsk
People's Republic).
The AFU losses were more than 385 troops, three
armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles,
and five field artillery guns.
Units of the Vostok Group of Forces ----- continued
advancing --- into the depth of enemy defences.
Russian troops delivered strikes at manpower
and hardware of two mechanised brigades
and one air assault brigade, near Karla
Marksa, Zelyonoye Pole, Zeleny Kut,
and Shevchenko (Donetsk
People's Republic).
The AFU losses -- were up to 130 troops, one armoured
fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, two field artillery
guns, and two electronic warfare stations.
Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces engaged formations
of two mechanised brigades of the AFU ....and two
territorial defence brigades - by Novodanilovka,
Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region), Tomarino,
and Nikolskoye (Kherson region).
The AFU losses were more than 90 troops, nine motor
vehicles, an artillery gun, and one electronic warfare
vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian
Groups of Forces engaged the infrastructure of a
military airfield, an unmanned aerial vehicle
manufacturing enterprise, an uncrewed
surface vehicle depot as well as AFU
temporary deployment areas and
foreign mercenaries.... in
143 areas.
Air defence systems shot down five JDAM guided
bombs and three HIMARS MLRS projectiles as
well as 204 fixed-wing UAVs.
In total ---- since the beginning of the special military operation, the AFU losses, amounted to 661 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 52,293 unmanned aerial vehicles -
601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,876 tanks &
other armoured fighting vehicles... 1,536 MLRS
combat vehicles, 23,741 field artillery guns
and mortars, and 34,203 units of special
military vehicles.
_______________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry reports on
--- repelling AFU attempt. to invade
Russian territory in Kursk region
April 17th, 12:30pm
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
continue the operation ---- to neutralise AFU
formations on the territory of Kursk region.
During offensive actions --- units of the Sever Group of Forces defeated formations of 1 mechanised brigade, one air assault brigade, and five territorial defence
brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to
Gornal, Velikaya Rybitsa, Zapselye, Miropolye,
Sadki, Yunakovka, and Yablonovka, in the
Sumy region.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned
aerial vehicles, and artillery fire, engaged AFU
manpower and hardware ....close to Belovody,
Vladimirovka, Novaya Sech, Osoyevka, Sadki,
Yunakovka, and Yablonovka, in Sumy region.
During the past 24 hours, the AFU losses were up to
165 troops, two tanks, one infantry fighting vehicle,
five armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles,
and three artillery guns.
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the
AFU losses amounted to more than 74,780 troops, 410
2,734 motor vehicles..... 618 artillery guns, 57 MLRS launchers including 15 of HIMARS & seven of MLRS
made by the US, 28 anti-aircraft missile launchers,
1 self-propelled anti-aircraft system, 10 transport -loading vehicles... 125 EW stations, 18 counter-
battery warfare radars, 12 air defence radars,
57 units of engineering and other materiel,
including 23 counter-obstacle vehicles,
one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five
bridge launchers, one engineering
reconnaissance vehicle ------ plus
15 armoured recovery vehicles,
and a command post vehicle.
The operation to neutralise the AFU units ---- is in progress.
______________________________________________
Klitschko's assistant Prokopov is
accused of sending evaders
from Ukraine to Europe
April 17th, 7:55am
(Vesti.ru)
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National
Police --- have filed charges against the suspended
deputy Mayor of Kiev, Vladimir Prokopov. He is
suspected of sending evaders to Europe.
The official is suspected of organizing schemes for
the illegal transfer of conscripts to Europe, the
RBC-Ukraine news agency reports,
citing sources.
Novosti also informs -- that this information
is confirmed by law enforcement agencies.
Prokopov served as deputy mayor, but - in October 2024,
the head of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, suspended him from
his duties -- after the publication of an investigation
by journalists about the real estate of Prokopov's
relatives.... which appeared during his years in
the administration.
In December last year, the SBU detained in Kiev,
the politician Alexander Sukhanov - head of the
Odessa cell of the Udar party, of the mayor of
Kiev, Vitali Klitschko. He is suspected.... of
receiving a $ 1 million bribe.
_____________________________________
Vodolatsky: The Ukrainian Armed Forces carry
away the bodies of mercenaries from the
battlefield......to hide the fact of
their participation
April 17th, 7:51am
(Vesti.ru)
The First Deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee
on CIS Affairs, Viktor Vodolatsky, said that the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, first of all, take out the bodies of
dead mercenaries from the battlefield ------ while
leaving their wounded soldiers.
The reason for this, is the desire to hide the fact of
the participation of foreign military personnel in
the fighting on the side of Kiev.
The parliamentarian told TASS about this.
According to him, the peak of the arrival of foreign
mercenaries occurred at the beginning of 2022,
when foreign speech was heard on the entire
contact line. Currently, the main forces of
mercenaries ---- are concentrated in the
Krasnoarmeysky and chasovoyarsky
directions.
"The Ukrainian so-called sonderkommands --- they
leave their wounded and dead, but they take out
the wounded and killed mercenaries, from the
battlefield, so that we don't record the fact
that mercenaries ---- are coming here in
droves -- from all over the world,"
Vodolatsky stressed.
In addition, the deputy reported on the situation in the
St. Nicholas Belogorsky monastery -- in the village of
Gornal, Kursk region, where about 300 mercenaries
fighting on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
were blocked. They refused to surrender, as they
came.... "to hunt people".
"About 300 terrorists who are there, have no desire to
give up, because they are punishers who have more
than one ruined life of civilians on their hands,
and they understand what awaits them,"
Vodolatsky said.
Vodolatsky noted that this practice of the Ukrainian
command, demonstrates rigidity and cynicism in
the conduct of hostilities.
____________________________
Odessa resident, Stoyanov -who arrived
in Russia by boat - called on Ukrainians
---- to flee from mobilization
April 17th, 7:39am
(Vesti.ru)
Odessa resident, Vladislav Stoyanov, who escaped
from Ukraine, by crossing the Dnieper River on a
boat, called on his compatriots ----- to leave the
country, in order to avoid violent mobilization.
In the summer of 2024, Stoyanov and his friend, swam
across the Dnieper River in a rubber boat, and ended
up on the Kinburn Spit, where they surrendered to
Russian army soldiers.
"Ukraine Citizens, try by all means to avoid mobilization
and get to neighbouring countries as soon as possible,
because every day you have less chances to get out
of this situation - at least alive and unharmed," the
Odessa resident told RIA Novosti.
At the moment, both Ukrainians are in a penal colony, in
Adygea. There they are serving a nine-month sentence
for illegally crossing the Russian border, by a group of persons, by prior agreement.
A General mobilization in Ukraine was announced, on February 24, 2022. On April 16, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada ---- voted to extend general mobilization, and
martial law in the country - until August 6, 2025.
__________________________________
Sub fighter: a mercenary from Mexico escaped,
leaving subordinate soldiers of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine ...to die
April 17th, 6:52am
(Vesti.ru)
The Mexican mercenary escaped ------ leaving the
subordinates of the Ukrainian soldiers to die in
their positions. This --- was stated by the
commander of the assault platoon of
the 5th Guards separate motorized
rifle brigade, named after A.V.
Zakharchenko --- of the 51st
Guards Army of the central
group of troops with the
call sign Sab.
The fighter said - that the mercenaries were
stationed in the village of Krasnogorovka
in the Donetsk People's Republic.
"They usually have ------ the most senior(commander –
Editor's note)as a mercenary. In one of the houses
there, they held a position. It turns out, that the
eldest of them was a Mexican, and --- it turns
out, five riders. This Mexican, he ran away,"
the soldier told RIA Novosti.
According to him, the Russian soldiers could not take
the house for a long time where Ukrainian militants
and a Mexican mercenary -- organized a defense,
but, in the end, the soldiers abandoned by the
group commander were destroyed, and one was taken prisoner.
"Their(mercenaries. Editor's note)are appointed senior.
Foreigners come here in the hope that they will have
a sweet life here. After they encounter us, they immediately start running away. They run ---
even faster than the riders themselves,"
the stormtrooper concluded.
Krasnogorovka was an important logistics hub for
the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 20
kilometres from Donetsk. On September 10th,
2024, the Russian Defense Ministry
announced the liberation of
the settlement.
__________________________
MP Kamelchuk: advertising of contracts
for 2 million hryvnias in the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, is a direct
deception
April 17th, 1:30am
(Vesti.ru)
The advertising campaign of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine, with the help of which Ukrainians aged
18-24 are lured... to serve under a contract,
misleads young people. This, was stated
by the deputy of the Verkhovna Rada
Yuriy Kamelchuk.
According to him ---- the promised reward of 2 million
hryvnias is not paid immediately, but in parts, if the
serviceman survives until the end of the contract.
"This is a video about insanity. I am sure that they spent money on sociology, on some kind of
advertising campaign, which told them
that this is the way to shoot and say
it in such words," the deputy is
quoted by "Country.na".
Kamelchuk added that he did not see in the
advertisement --- an example that young
people should be guided by.
Earlier.... in Ukraine, the first girl signed a military contract for people under the age of mobilization.
Military expert, and program director of the Academy of
Political Sciences, Alexander Stepanov - said that Kiev
is preparing its youngest, most active and able-bodied
population for slaughter by conducting an advertising
campaign --- aimed at raising the military's prestige.
Military observer Vasiliev: new army corps of Ukraine -- forge of Nazism
April 16th, 7:40pm
(Vesti.ru)
The new army corps of the National Guard of Ukraine --- is
an attempt to introduce the Nazi ideology. This opinion
was expressed by the military commentator, Alexey
Vasiliev, in an exclusive interview with the
Rossiya 24 TV channel.
The Ukrainian army has switched to the corps structure of
the organization of its troops. The press service of the
National Guard announced the formation of a new army corps based on "Azov" (an organization recognized as a terrorist organization and banned in Russia) .....and "Charter" brigades.
"This -- is primarily a blacksmith shop, where they try to
pump as many people as possible with Nazi ideology.
To do this, they need to save the lives of the core of
Ukrainian Nazis, who are concentrated in the Azov thereby increasing the number of well-motivated
fighters, who do not run away -- just like that,"
Vasilyev said.
Earlier --- it became known that the first corps of the
National Guard.. will be commanded by the Azov
brigade commander, Denis Prokopenko, with
the call sign Radis.
"As for Prokopenko, they essentially use him, as a
symbol ---- they say that he passed the tests. He
doesn't have any special managerial, personal,
or leadership talents. In combat operations..
he - somehow - did not show himself very
well," the military observer believes.
Earlier, military commander Yevhen Poddubny
announced the elimination of a Ukrainian
militant -- one of the founders of the
terrorist group "Right Sector"
(banned in Russia) Vasily
"Croat" Malkovich.
Also....... by the active actions of units of
the Southern groupthe Russian military liberated the village of Preobrazhenka, in the DPR, the Defense Ministry said.
__________________________
"SV": the troops of the "North" destroyed
the 47th mechanized brigade -- of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine --- on the
border of the Russian Federation
April 15th, 11:54pm
(Vesti.ru)
Fighters of the group of troops "North" of the Armed
Forces of Russia ------ neutralized the 47th separate
mechanized brigade (OMBr) of the Ukrainian army.
This is reported by the Telegram channel "North Wind".
The article clarifies that the liquidation of the AFU
unit occurred on the border of the Belgorod and
Sumy regions.
"Where did the 47th Separate Infantry Division of the# Armed Forces of Ukraine go?!It was ---- destroyed,"
the publication says.
According to the channel, the same fate befell the
"1.5 thousand invaders" who tried to enter the
Krasnoyaruzhsky district of the
Belgorod region.
Shortly before that, the Pacer drone of the Sever group
of troops destroyed military equipment and a cluster
of Ukrainian servicemen in the border areas of the
Kursk region.
Representatives of the group of troops "North" said
that the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
continue to try to get into the territory of the
Belgorod region, but are destroyed by the
Russian military.
______________________________________
Lieutenant Mil --- opened the calculation
of the AFU artillery gun in the SVO zone
April 15th, 10:35pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Guards Junior Sergeant Pavel Tymchuk -- commanded
the calculation of the multiple launch rocket system combat vehicle & received the coordinates of the
concentration of equipment and reserves of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine, which were going to attack Russian positions.
Tymchuk, recognizing the enemy's plan to attack from
the flank, imperceptibly moved the combat vehicle to
a new firing position, aimed -- and fired. The MLRS
salvo caused serious damage to the enemy, and
the Ukrainian Armed Forces were forced to
abandon the idea of attacking Russian
positions and hastily retreated.
The Russian Defense Ministry ---also noted the
professionalism of Lieutenant Maxim Mil, who
performed combat tasks of conducting aerial
reconnaissance and correcting artillery fire
using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
He conducted surveillance at night - and the visibility
was worsened by increased cloud cover. The Armed
Forces of Ukraine used electronic warfare, which
also interfered with intelligence.
Despite all the difficulties, the lieutenant found the
position of an artillery piece with the calculation
of the APU. Mil determined the coordinates of
the target's location and passed them on to
the Russian gunners -- and then adjusted
the fire. As a result, the combat vehicle
and the AFU crew were destroyed.
Earlier on April the 15th, the Russian Defense Ministry
reported ---- that Senior Sergeant Vladimir Ukhanev
provided uninterrupted and stable communication
in the battalion tactical group of the Armed
Forces of the Russian Federation and
restored the communications
equipment... damaged by
enemy mortar fire.
_______________________________________
Norway ----- allowed Odessa to come
under the control of Russian troops
by Marina Sovina (night editor)
April 15th, 10:12pm
(Lenta.ru)
Odessa may come under the control of Russian troops,
and the United States will not prevent this, writes the
Norwegian website Steigan.
"US President Donald Trump - has not yet specified the
contours of the peace agreement on the ground, and
he will willingly agree with such a decision -- if he
considers that he will receive the compensation
due, in other areas," the journalist admitted.
According to the author of the article, the reunification
of Odessa with Russia ------- will make military and
commercial navigation in the Black Sea safer.
Earlier, the former chief of staff of the US Secretary of
State Lawrence Wilkerson said that Russia should
take control of Odessa - and cut off Ukraine from the Black Sea.
_______________________________________
The Ukrainian woman -chased the car
of military commissars and beat them
off her husband, the skirmish was
caught on video
by Anatoly Kazantsev
April 15th, 8:35pm
(Rossiyskaya Gazeta)
In Kharkiv, a woman saved her husband from
employees of the territorial recruitment
centre ----- who tried to mobilize him.
The corresponding video was published
by the news source - "Country.na".
The skirmish occurred in the courtyard
of one of the houses.
Military commissars noticed the man, tied him up
and loaded him into their car. The incident was
witnessed by local residents, among whom,
was the wife of the Ukrainian.
The woman chased the car and beat off her husband
from the employees of the shopping centre.
The man was released, and the military
commissars ....preferred to leave.
__________________________________
The Azov brigade - became a corps
of the National Guard of Ukraine
April 15th, 1:17pm
(RT.ru)
The Azov brigade* was re-formed into the
corps of the National Guard of Ukraine.
"The National Guard of Ukraine - has created two corps
headed by the commander of the 12th special purpose
brigade "Azov" Colonel Denis Prokopenko (Radis) and
In March, the Ukrainian formation of the 3rd Assault
Brigade (formerly the Azov National Regiment)
announced that it was now called the
3rd Army Corps.
* "Azov" - the organization is recognized as a terrorist
organization by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated 02.08.2022.
______________________________________________
Russian Defense Ministry: during the day,
the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost about
1,215 servicemen
April 15th, 11:48am
(Vesti.ru)
The total losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU)
in the special military operation zone over the past
day amounted to 1,215 people, the Russian
Defense Ministry said.
According to the ministry, in the Belgorod direction, the
AFU units were defeated by fighters of the North group
of Troops. The enemy lost up to 90 servicemen, three
armoured combat vehicles, four vehicles and the
same number of field artillery pieces.
Units of the Zapad group of forces ------- improved their
tactical position, destroying more than 250 Ukrainian
soldiers, a Snatch armoured combat vehicle, four
vehicles and five field artillery pieces produced
by NATO countries, the Russian Defense
Ministry said.
"Four electronic warfare stations and three
ammunition depots were destroyed," the
Defense Ministry said, in a summary.
It is noted ------ that units of the Yug group of forces
destroyed a Swedish-made CV-90 infantry fighting
vehicle, an M113 armoured personnel carrier and
a US-made HMMWV armoured car, plus 10 field
artillery pieces, as well as two warehouses
of materiel --- and a fuel depot.
The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
amounted to more than 285 servicemen.
The Russian Defense Ministry clarified... that the troops
of the "Central" group.. continued to delve deeper into
the enemy's defenses. As a result of their coordinated
actions, Ukrainian units lost more than 335 personnel,
four armoured combat vehicles, two pickup trucks
and seven field artillery pieces.
The report also says that units of the "Eastern" group
of troops destroyed up to 155 militants of the Kiev
regime army, two armoured vehicles, a pickup
truck and two field artillery pieces.
Units of the Dnipro group of forces ---- hit nine vehicles,
three artillery pieces, two electronic warfare stations,
AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station, and three
ammunition depots.
Also in this area, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost
up to 100 servicemen, according to the report.
On the night of April 15th, Russian air defense systems
eliminated 115 drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
(AFU). over the territory of the Moscow Region,
Kursk, Voronezh, Bryansk and Orel regions.
Telegram channel SHOT reported that a series of
explosions occurred in Kursk. According to local
residents, one of the Ukrainian drones --- hit a
residential building. An 85-year-old woman
was killed and nine other people were
injured in an attack on the Kursk
region, the Kursk Regional
Police Department said.
__________________________
MOD: The Russian Armed Forces attacked
the infrastructure of the military airfield
of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
April 15th, 11:37am
(Vesti.ru)
Over the past 24 hours, Russian troops have attacked
the military airfield facilities of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine (AFU), as well as enemy concentrations of
manpower and equipment in 144 districts, the
Russian Defense Ministry said.
According to the report of the Defense Ministry, tactical
aircraft, attack drones, rocket troops and artillery
were used to destroy military facilities.
At the same time, the Russian military hit the assembly
shops of multiple launch rocket systems and attack
UAVs, the training centre for drone operators, as
well as the temporary deployment points of
Ukrainian militants.
Russian air defense systems shot down four JDAM
guided aerial bombs, five HIMARS multiple launch
rocket systems, and 304 aircraft-type drones,
the ministry said.
Earlier it became known that over the past day, the
Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked Russian energy
infrastructure facilities six times --- in violation of
agreements. So, in the Bryansk region, due to
damage --- as a result of shelling, the
Solovyovka complete transformer
substation of the Bryanskenergo
branch of PJSC Rosseti Centre
& the 10 kV high-voltage line
of the Khvoshchevskaya
complete transformer
substation.... were
disconnected.
Residents of Sevsky district
were left without electricity.
In addition, as a result of the repeated attack of
a Ukrainian UAV on the Vinogradovo electric
substation in the Kherson region, about
56,000people in 108 settlements ---
were left without electricity.
______________________________________
The APU drone hit the house in Kursk,
where the military commander of the
VGTRK, Bernwald, was located
April 15th, 11:15am
(Vesti.ru)
One of the drones that attacked Kursk --- hit the house
where VGTRK war correspondent Stanislav Bernwald
was staying. This was announced on the air of the
program "60 minutes" --- on the TV channel
"Russia", by the journalist himself.
He said that Kursk was attacked by a large number of
drones and it was not possible to intercept them all,
but despite this, the fighters of the air defense
forces performed their work perfectly.
"I was getting ready for bed, practically, before leaving,
but it turned out that ---- at that moment I heard a characteristic buzzing and a blow to our house.
That is, this is straight. I immediately jumped
down, looked, the fire started below. Well,
accordingly, people began to go down to
the basement in order to hide. And so a
whole series of blows began. We heard
at least 15-20," the military
commander said.
Footage of the consequences of the attack
on the Kursk high-rise buildings of
Ukrainian UAVs has already
been published.
__________________________________________
TASS: militants from the elite brigade of
the Armed Forces of Ukraineare trying
to escape from the Gornal monastery
April 15th, 10:45am
(Vesti.ru)
In the Kursk region, the tense situation continues
around the St. Nicholas Belogorsky Monastery
in the village of Gornal.
According to Russian law enforcement agencies,
the Ukrainian military stationed on the territory
of the monastery are suffering significant
losses and are trying to leave
their positions.
"In the area of the monastery, the Ukrainian Armed
Forces are suffering significant losses. Scattered
groups of the enemy --- voluntarily leave their
positions and try to escape to the territory
of the Sumy region," a source in the
security forces told TASS.
The source clarified --- that we are talking about
servicemen of the elite 82nd separate airborne
assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In addition, former prisoners from the 129th
separate territorial defense Brigade, are
used as detachments.
Earlier, it was reported, that Russian troops are storming
the monastery -- which became the last fortified area of
the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the region. According
to available information, about 300 Ukrainian soldiers
are blocked in the monastery. All the roads leading to
the complex, are under fire control of Russian units.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine refused to negotiate.
The monastery is located near the border with Ukraine,
about 14 kilometres from Sudzha city. According to
sources, the religious site is connected to the
Sumy region... by an underground tunnel,
which is used for evacuations and the
delivery of ammunition.
________________________________________
TASS: the Russian army --- destroyed the
assault troops of the Ukrainian Armed
Forces deployed to Oleshna
April 15th, 9:23am
(Vesti.ru)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation eliminated Ukrainian assault troops ---- during their transfer from
Yunakovka, Sumy region, to Oleshna, Kursk region.
This has not happened on the territory of
Ukraine - yet.
This is reported by TASS. According to the agency, the
elimination of the enemy was made just during the
transportation of servicemen of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine.
"The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine tried
to transfer several assault groups of Ukrainian
paratroopers from Yunakovka, Sumy region,
in the direction of the Oleshnya farm.
''Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were
destroyed on the territory of Ukraine," the
resource --- quotes the statement of an
interlocutor from the security forces
of the Russian Federation.
Before dawn, the Russian Armed Forces launched a
strike on Sumy, as a result of which, according to
the Russian side, about 200 Ukrainian soldiers
were killed. This happened at the moment of their solemn awarding.
It is noted that among those who were at the place
of arrival was, among others, the command of the
operational-tactical group "Seversk".
__________________________________________
Mayor of Kursk Kotlyarov: we determine
the number of defeats: from the attack
of drones by Ukraine's Armed Forces
April 15th, 7:47am
(Vesti.ru)
In Kursk, the consequences of a massive attack by
UAVs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ----- are being
eliminated. The authorities determine the number
of defeats, said the acting mayor of Kursk , Sergey Kotlyarov, on the air of the TV channel "Russia 24".
The enemy sent dozens of drones --- to residential
buildings in Kursk. As a result, one woman was
killed and nine others were injured.
"We are now determined, by the number... of defeats,"
said Sergey Kotlyarov. ''All our services, when it is
light, will go to the place, according to residents
...describe the affected places, damage, and
everything will be recorded. All necessary
assistance will be provided to residents
- we are working. We have deployed
temporary accommodation points."
Ukrainian UAV strikes resulted in fires in several
houses. One of the attacks hit an ambulance
garage, where 11 cars were damaged.
The Prosecutor's Office of the Kursk region --- opened
a telephone hotline after the attack of UAVs by the
Armed Forces of Ukraine.
_____________________________
Three scouts of the Russian Armed Forces
....put to flight the special forces of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine --- in the
Zaporozhye direction
April 15th, 6:14am
(Vesti.ru)
Three scouts ---- from the 392nd regiment of the 19th
division of the Dnepr group of the Russian Armed
Forces forced a unit of the 11th brigade of
special forces of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine to leave their positions near
the village of Pyatikhatki in the
Zaporozhye region.
This was reported by Russian soldiers
who took part in the operation.
According to the scout with the call sign "Ponura", a
group of three people — "Lot"," Sokol "and" Ponura "
- discovered the enemy and engaged him in battle.
"We threw grenades at them. I can't say for sure -- about
the two-hundredth, but we heard the wheezing. There
were some wounded. I think it's pretty hard. This,
was our fight. We won," the fighter with the call
sign Ponura, told RIA Novosti.
The scout with the call sign Sokol noted that the
decision to attack was made within the group.
When the battle began, and the Russian
military... began to throw grenades at
the enemy dugout, the AFU fighters
tried to throw them back.
"They offered to surrender, but then they started shooting
at us. It turned out that there were far from mobilized
people working there. These grenades, they threw
back. A day later, we went there and there was
no one there," Sokol added.
Earlier it was reported that Russian UAVs isolated
groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the
Zaporozhye direction.
______________________________
Air defense forces destroyed 115 APU drones
in the sky over the regions of the Russian
Federation overnight
April 15th, 5:28am
(Vesti.ru)
Russian air defense systems, eliminated 115 drones of
the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the sky over five
Russian regions over the past night, most of them,
were shot down in the sky over the Kursk region,
the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The Russian Defense Ministry clarifies in its Telegram
channel that 109 drones - were shot down over the
Kursk region. Three more drones were destroyed
over the Voronezh Region, and air defense
systems intercepted - and destroyed one
drone each in the sky over the territory
of the Moscow Region, Bryansk and
Orel regions.
Telegram channel SHOT reported that, on the night of
April 15th, a series of explosions occurred in Kursk.
According to local residents, one of the Ukrainian
drones hit a residential building.
An 85-year-old woman was killed and nine other people
were injured in an attack on the Kursk region, the
Kursk Regional Police Department said.
Telegram channel Baza, in turn, reports that at least
five high-rise buildings were affected by drone
attacks in this region, and fires started in
some houses. In addition, one of the
strikes hit an ambulance garage in
Kursk: 11 cars were damaged.
The Prosecutor's Office of the Kursk region
on Tuesday morning..... launched a hotline.
A day earlier, Russian air defense systems destroyed
52 Ukrainian drones overnight. Most of them were
shot down over the Bryansk region - 33.
___________________________________
Another region of Ukraine - asked for
the wing of the Russian Federation
April 15th, 4:41am
(onura.news)
The head of the Kharkiv region, Vitaly Ganchev,
expressed his support for the idea of holding a referendum on joining Russia.
He also stressed the need
for a thorough study of
public opinion on
this issue.
"For residents of the Kharkiv region, citizenship.... does
not matter now, it will be decided not only by citizens
who have already received Russian citizenship....
there are people who now live in Kharkiv, they
are under occupation. I am sure that not all
of them - but many people - if they could
ask us this question, they would also
ask it," Ganchev said.
By the way, as the head of the Russian administration
pointed out, such questions and requests are
constantly addressed to him. And the
answer he gives ---- is just one.
"I'm totally on their side. Everything will depend on the
real desire of people, the residents, it should be their
political will. Of course --- we will refer to public
opinion, and such are the wishes of citizens
— this is the very public opinion that I am
talking about. It will be necessary.. to
study it in more detail --- and on a
large scale," Vitaly Ganchev
summed up.
REFERENDUM ON JOINING RUSSIA:
GANCHEV EXPRESSED SUPPORT
FOR KHARKIV RESIDENTS
Earlier it became known about the forced evacuation
of residents of the Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian
security forces took such measures: because
of the approach...... of the front line.
_____________________________________________
A civilian was injured --- due to the shelling of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Selidovo in the DPR
April 14th, 11:07pm
(RT.ru)
A civilian was injured as a result of the shelling of the
Ukrainian Armed Forces ---- in Selidovo, in the DPR.
Information about this - appeared in the Telegram
channel of the Department of the administration
of the head and government of the DPR -- for
documenting the war crimes of Ukraine.
"Selidovo locality (Krasnoarmeysky Municipal District):
A man born in 1967 was wounded on Gaidar Street,"
the report says.
Earlier, a resident of Selidovo told about cases
of the rape of women - by AFU militants.
In addition, an evacuated resident of the city named
Alexander, told about the shooting of civilians by
Ukrainian servicemen.
__________________________________________
Junior Sergeant Nurseitov - took out
two wounded comrades from under
the fire of Ukraine's Armed Forces
April 15th, 10:04pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Senior Sergeant Vladimir Ukhanev -------- provided
uninterrupted and stable communications in the
battalion tactical group of the Armed Forces of
the Russian Federation (AFR) and restored the
communications equipment damaged by
enemy mortar fire.
During their retreat, the Armed Forces of Ukraine
fired mortars at Russian units ---- and damaged
communications equipment, which disrupted
communication in the group.
Ukhanev, realizing the need for an immediate restoration of communication, moved to the place of damage.
The senior sergeant, having all the necessary skills,
quickly got to the right point and restored the radio
network. Thanks to this, the Russian servicemen
were able to transmit the coordinates of the
AFU firing positions --- and successfully
eliminate them.
The Russian Defense Ministry also noted ------- the
steadfastness and professionalism - of the guard
of junior Sergeant Kairat Nurseitov who, acting
as part of the battalion tactical group of the
Russian Armed Forces - participated in the
liberation of a settlement in the SVO zone.
During the clash, a group under Nurseitov's command
came under artillery fire from the Ukrainian Armed
Forces, and several Russian servicemen received
shrapnel wounds. Two of the injured were unable
to get out of the fire themselves, and a junior
sergeant carried them to safety, after which
he provided first aid and ensured their
evacuation to a field hospital for
further treatment.
Then Nurseitov returned to the battle, as a result
of which ----------- the settlement was liberated.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported --- that
Guard Lieutenant Alexander Roslik carried out aerial
reconnaissance of enemy targets using an Orlan-10
unmanned aerial vehicle, ensuring the correction
of artillery fire ---- and transmitting information
about the AFU objects to the command post.
___________________________________________
In Odessa,employees of the military
enlistment officeforcibly mobilized
a man
April 14th, 9:40pm
(RT.ru)
Employees of the military enlistment office in Odessa
mobilized a man --- and used force against a girl
who tried to stand up for him.
This was reported by the Ukrainian
edition of "Country.na".
"Employees of the shopping centre "packed" the guy in
a bus, after which they "twisted" the girl who tried to
help him out," the report says.
Earlier ---- the commander of the 93rd brigade of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine Shamil Krutkov said that
Ukraine........ will be forced to start the forced
mobilization of 18-year-olds.
_____________________________________
Due to the attack of the APU drone
in Selidovo, a woman was injured
April 14th, 7:57pm
(DAN)
A 38-year-old woman was injured today
as a result of the Kiev aggression.
This was announced by the
Head of the DPR,
Denis Pushilin.
"In the town of Selidovo - of the Krasnoarmeysky
Municipal District, a woman born in 1987 was
injured ---- when an explosive object was
dropped from a VFU drone, and she
received the necessary medical
assistance," he wrote in his
telegram channel.
In total, on April 14, Ukrainian neo-Nazis committed
more than 10 armed attacks. They used 155 mm
barrel artillery and a shock UAV.
A day earlier, the Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled the
Kiev district of Donetsk. The enemy used MLRS
M-142 "Himars". There were --- no civilian
casualties. Buildings and other civilian
infrastructure, were damaged.
_________________________________
VH: the elimination of the Ukrainian
Armed Forces militant Yula --- is
a response to the shelling of
the Russian border region
April 14th, 1:05pm
(RT.ru)
"Military Chronicle" states ----- that the elimination of
Colonel Yuri Yula, who commanded the 27th rocket
Artillery Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,
could be a targeted response to the regular
shelling of Belgorod and Kursk.
According to the "Military Chronicle", there is evidence
that it was Yula who commanded the 27th rocket
artillery brigade, which regularly shelled
Belgorod and Kursk — the militants
shelled these peaceful cities
"demonstratively --- under
information channels".
"The elimination of a commander of this level ----- is not
even revenge in the usual sense of the word. This is
more of a clean-up.... of border terror mechanics.
This is the elimination of a carrier of practical
experience and connections - that directly
affects the organization of shelling deep
into Russian territory," the article says.
It is noted that this "personalized signal" could be a
demonstration of the ability of the Russian forces
to pinpoint and neutralize the key perpetrators
of terrorist attacks.
"This is a message -- not only to the officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but also to their supervisors -------- no depth of the rear, no status, no formal withdrawal from the state can save you, if you continued to play a role
in organizing military operations," the article notes.
Earlier.. it became known that Colonel Yuri Yula, who
previously served as deputy commander of the 26th
Artillery Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,
was killed in a missile strike on military
facilities in Sumy.
___________________________________________
The Russian Armed Forces attacked
the command post of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine in the Sumy
region - with an Iskander.
April 14th, 12:44pm
(Vesti.ru)
The Russian Armed Forces launched a strike with two
Iskander-M missiles --- on the site of a meeting of the
command staff of the Seversk operational-tactical
group of the Ukrainian army in the city of Sumy.
This was reported in the Ministry of Defense
of the Russian Federation.
The ministry clarified that as a result of the strike,
more than 60 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were killed.
"The armed forces of the Russian Federation -- in Sumy
city, struck with two Iskander-M operational-tactical missiles ------ at the venue of the meeting of the
command staff of the Seversk operational
-tactical group," the report says.
According to the Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian
Armed Forces --- continue to use the civilian
Ukrainian population as human shields...
placing military facilities in the centre
of a densely populated city.
On April 4th,, Russian troops launched a high-precision
Iskander missile attack on the Magellan restaurant
..in Kryvyi Rih. According to the Russian Defense
Ministry, the target of the attack was the place
where the meeting of the commanders of the
AFU formations and Western instructors,
was held.
As a result of the strike - the enemy's losses
amounted to up to 85 servicemen,
including foreign officers.
_________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry reports
on the progress of the special
military operation
April 14th, 12:35pm
Yesterday --- the Russian Armed Forces launched
two Iskander-M operational-tactical missiles in
conditions of heavy electronic warfare
countermeasures and foreign-made
air defence systems in action, to
hit the site in Sumy where the
commanding officers of the
Seversk task force had
a meeting.
More than 60 servicemen of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine ---------- have been eliminated.
The Kiev regime continues to use the Ukrainian
population as a human shield ---- by deploying
military facilities and carrying out activities
involving servicemen ---- in the centre of
the densely populated city.
In Belgorod direction ------ units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted damage on 1 mechanised brigade,
1 coastal brigade of the AFU, and two territorial
defence brigades, by Lesnoye, Miropolskoye,
Petrushevka, and Prokhody (Sumy region).
The AFU -- lost up to 95 troops, one armoured fighting
vehicle, three motor vehicles, one field artillery gun,
an MLRS gun and three electronic warfare stations.
The Zapad Group of Forces ---- took more advantageous
lines and positions and defeated the formations of two
mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, one artillery
brigade of the AFU, and 2 territorial defence brigades
close to Kupyansk, Borovaya, Kamenka (Kharkov
region), Kirovsk, Karpovka, and Krasny Liman
(Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU lost up to 240 troops, three armoured fighting
vehicles, including two U.S.-made M113 armoured
personnel carriers, five motor vehicles, and two
artillery guns. One Kvertus electronic warfare
station, as well as two ammunition depots,
were neutralised.
The Yug Group of Forces units improved the tactical
situation and inflicted losses on manpower and
hardware of two mechanised brigades, one
airmobile brigade, one UAV regiment, one
territorial defence brigade and one
National Guard brigade close to
Petrovka, Kalinovo, Tarasovka,
Chasov Yar... and Kleban-Byk
(Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy lost up to 315 troops, four armoured fighting
vehicles, including one U.S.-made HMMWV armoured
vehicle, 13 motor vehicles, and a field artillery gun.
2 electronic warfare stations and 6 ammunition
depots - were neutralised.
The Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous
lines and positions. The Russian troops ---- hit three mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, a UAV
brigade, 1 assault regiment of the AFU, 1 marine
brigade, and two National Guard brigades near
Mirolyubovka, Lysovka, Zverevo, Rodinskoye,
Krasnoarmeysk, Kotlino, Udachnoye,
Alekseyevka, and Preobrazhenka
(Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU lost up to 420 troops, five armoured fighting
vehicles, including four U.S.-made M113 armoured
personnel carriers, six motor vehicles, and four
artillery guns.
The Vostok Group of Forces continued to advance to the depths of the enemy's defence ------- and engaged the manpower & hardware of 2 mechanised brigades,
one air assault brigade of the AFU, one marine
brigade, and two territorial defence brigades
near Shevchenko, Zeleny Kut, Zelenoye
Pole, Bogatyr, Voskresenka (Donetsk
People's Republic) and Gulyaipole
(Zaporozhye region).
The AFU - lost up to 165 troops, one tank, five
motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns.
The Dnepr Group of Forces units hit one mechanised
2,704 motor vehicles.... 610 artillery guns, 55 MLRS launchers - including 13 of HIMARS and 7 of MLRS
made by the US, 26 anti-aircraft missile launchers,
1 self-propelled anti-aircraft system, 10 transport -loading vehicles... 123 EW stations, 18 counter-
battery warfare radars, ten air defence radars,
57 units of engineering and other materiel,
including.. 23 counterobstacle vehicles,
one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five
bridge launchers, one engineering
reconnaissance vehicle as well
as.... 15 armoured recovery
vehicles, & 1 command
post vehicle.
The operation to neutralise the AFU units
is in progress.
______________________________________
Russia’s import-substituted SJ-100 plane
rises to 12,200 metres during test flight
The flight lasted about three hours
April 12th, 10:12pm
(TASS)
The first test prototype of the SJ-100 aircraft built
under the import substitution program, but with
Russian-French engines - rose to its maximum
altitude of 12,200 metres during a test flight,
the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said on Telegram.
"On World Aviation and Cosmonautics Day [April the 12th],
our Superjet overcome gravity ...and rose to the stars,
to its maximum altitude of 12,200 metres: this is the
so-called practical ceiling, for this type of aircraft,"
the UAC said.
The plane took off from Zhukovsky Airport near
Moscow. The flight lasted about three hours
and was aimed at testing the plane’s
control systems, communication
and navigation equipment,
and other systems.
The crew described the results
of the tests ....as positive.
_____________________________
The Russian Defense Ministry reported - on
the exploits of soldiers of Russia's Armed
Forces in the special operation zone
April 12th, 10pm
(Izvestia.ru)
So, the Guards senior ensign Denis Galakhov performed
the task of delivering ammunition to the military of the
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation -- in the area
located in the immediate vicinity of the contact line.
En route, the vehicle driven by Galakhov was subjected
to massive artillery fire - and an attack by FPV drones
from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). As a result
of the drone hit, Galakhov's car was damaged and
caught fire.
The Guards senior ensign, despite the fact that the
detonation of ammunition is tantamount to death,
decided to take the car out of the zone of
destruction of enemy artillery.
Hiding from enemy fire -- and attacks by FPV drones in
the forest, he began to extinguish the car. After that,
Galakhov delivered ammunition to the positions of
Russian servicemen, which made it possible to
increase the onslaught on the enemy's
defensive lines ..and force a retreat.
In addition, the ministry reported that the Guard - Lance
Corporal Ivan Fedorovsky performed tasks to evacuate
wounded Russian army servicemen from the line of
contact. He regularly made flights to areas of
intense fighting.
Several Russian servicemen received shrapnel wounds
of varying severity as a result of shelling in one of the
directions of the Northern Military District.
Fedorovsky, without waiting for a cease-fire from the
Ukrainian militants - moved to the evacuation site.
However, his transport was subjected to mortar
fire ------ and a raid by enemy FPV drones.
Guards Lance Corporal Fedorovsky, skillfully
maneuvering on dangerous terrain, brought
the transport out of the fire of the APU.
He also delivered his comrades to the point of medical
assistance in the shortest possible time, which saved
their lives. Thanks to the bold and decisive actions of
Fedorovsky, it was repeatedly possible to save the
lives of Russian servicemen --- and provide them
with qualified medical care, in a timely manner,
which contributed --- to reducing the time for
their return to service, the ministry added.
Earlier today, the Russian Defense Ministry reported
that the D-30 howitzer crew of the artillery unit of
the motorized rifle brigade of the 25th Combined
Arms Army of the Zapad group of Forces -----
eliminated camouflaged positions, an
82-mm mortar and APU manpower.
"300 Zaporozhye citizens who did not submit to the
fascists": how a handful of people stood shoulder
to shoulder, surrounded by a mob of nationalists.
by Yulia Andrienko
April 12th, 9:43pm
(Komsomolskaya Pravda)
]Photos: Alexander Lyutoy Archive]
Alexander Agapov told the story ----- of 300
Zaporozhye citizens who survived in 2014.
11 years ago, a "second Odessa" could have happened
in the centre of Zaporozhye. More precisely, the first one, because the fire in the House of Trade Unions
will happen only in a few weeks…
Then, on April 13th, in 2014, the residents of the city of
Zaporozhye went to a coordinated (!) pro-Russian rally,
but found themselves in the ring of Ukrainian radicals. Boulders, eggs, bags of flour and curses were thrown
at them --------- and they stood and sang: "Get up, the
country is huge!"
Years later, I managed to find a
participant in those events.
LIKE THE SPARTANS
Today Alexander Agapov lives in the Moscow region.
In 2014, he worked in a mine, but the Maidan and
the coup --- forced him to go out on the street.
The photo of that rally in Zaporizhia, spread all over the
media. It was taken by a local photographer -- Maksim
Shcherbina and called "300 Zaporozhye citizens who
did not submit to the fascists": a handful of people
standing shoulder to shoulder, surrounded by a
crowd of nationalists who throw bricks and
eggs at them, while the police watch.
Alexander is in the front row, his face full of confidence
and not a drop of fear. Later, when Sasha joined the
militia, he was given the call sign - "Fierce".
"It was Palm Sunday, April 13," he recalls. ''Residents
of Zaporizhia then went out under different flags but
the common denominator was one ---- not to let the
nationalists take over, as it was in Kiev. The rally
peaceful -- and the people have already started
to disperse, there are about 300 people left…''
And that's when they started getting calls: "A crowd of Nazis is moving towards you!'' Later, it turned out that
it was the oligarch Kolomoisky, who paid for 7 buses,
filling them with thugs from Dnepropetrovsk.
As they walked, they were joined by Zaporozhye maidanutye, as well as a crowd of onlookers
who wanted spectacles and adrenaline.
''The militants were armed with bats, rebar -- and axes.
The power ratio is one to ten. We received conflicting
signals, to go to one or another street. They wanted
to pull us apart. Fortunately, we didn't leave, and
that's what saved us. Otherwise, it would have
been like later in Odessa, where people were
driven to the House of Trade Unions ...and
burned," Alexander is sure.
Alexander Agapov was standing in the first row and
it helped to see from which side the boulders were
flying and dodge.
ODESSA REHEARSAL
A whole delegation came to deal with the conflict: the
prosecutor, the mayor. They called for no bloodshed.
Police intervened ---- between the Cossacks and
the militants.
A priest came out to the frenzied crowd of nationalists,
but eggs were thrown at him, and they spat at the
icon - shouting: "You are a Moscow priest!"
"We're in a ring. The police are all around us, followed
by the nationalists. And this flimsy ring.. could crack
at any moment,'' Alexander admits. ''We were hit by cobblestones, eggs, bottles of green paint, bags of
flour. They were shouting: "Muscovites! Get back
to Russia!" They tried to prove to us, the locals,
that we came from Russia.''
The confrontation lasted six hours! The militants
demanded that the "Cossacks" kneel down and
remove the St. George's ribbons. But they only
grew closer to each other.
''It started to rain, it became very cold, I was already
feeling tired. I was standing in the front row facing
the militants, not hiding behind anyone, so I
dodged the cobblestones in time.''
- How did you feel at that moment?
''Some otherworldly calm, even detachment…''
Only later, did it become clear that this was an act
of intimidation, so that everyone could see what
would happen to anyone who tried to defend
their pro-Russian views.
At that time, there was no command to kill - the head
of the "Right Sector*", (banned in Russia as terrorist organization ed.) said don't touch the "Zaporozhye".
They were going to kill them quietly, and not make
them heroes and a symbol of the Russian spring.
But what didn't occur on April 13 in Zaporozhye, happened in Odessa - on May 2. Only there, the
Nazis arrived no longer with firecrackers and
bats, but with military weapons. It turns out
--- that Zaporozhye was a preparation…
THE PASSPORT WAS HANDED
OVER RIGHT IN THE WARD
That skirmish ended --- with the fact that all the
Zaporozhtzi were taken through the formation
to the police station. At least a 100 people ---
had their heads smashed and stab wounds,
but they were still forced to give evidence
and get their fingerprints taken. And then
the participants of that rally ------ were
rounded up.
Alexander - managed to escape. He arrived in Donetsk and joined the Vostok battalion. Passed the Donetsk airport, Staromikhailovka, Krasny Partizan, Uglegorsk.
After a severe concussion he had to go to civilian life. And so on, until the start of the special operation…
''As part of a sabotage and reconnaissance detachment,
I fought in the Kharkiv direction, where I was hooked
in the so-called "Sherwood" forest --- on the border
with the Donbass. A tank shell landed and hit a
tree two metres away from me. It saved me,"
he says.
''A fragment caught my leg ---- terrible pain, blurred
consciousness... left fragments: we got out of the forest on potholes, loaded them onto a
helicopter --- an operation in a hospital
in Valuiki, and then --------- the military
medical Academy of St. Petersburg.''
In total -- Lyuty underwent 13 operations.
At one point, doctors feared - that the leg would have to be amputated.
''The most interesting thing is that all this time I had
only a Ukrainian passport. I applied for Russian
citizenship in Donetsk and then they call me:
"Come! My passport is ready! " And how will
I arrive? I can't walk. Then a lot of people
joined in - including the correspondent of
Komsomolskaya Pravda, Alexander Kots.
And now - the passport was handed to
me, right in the hospital room. I was
incredibly proud -- even my throat
felt tight" he smiles.
Now Alexander lives in the Moscow region
and is recovering from his injury.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE REWARD
Already in the hospital, fate sent Alexander a meeting
with Victoria. She came to help as a volunteer,
collected humanitarian aid.
'' I was so tired of visitors then - often curious people
came. But Victoria very quickly became a native
person. We started to communicate - and
eventually realized, that we couldn't
live without each other," for the
first time in the conversation..
the warrior sounds confused.
Alexander Agapov will soon have the final operation,
then a difficult rehabilitation, and then... he doesn't
want to think any further. He says that since the
Lord has helped him stay alive so many times,
it means that he is needed for something.
*A terrorist organization banned in Russia
___________________________________________
The deputy Head of Zelensky's office said
that everyone, including women, should
serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
April 12th, 7:50pm
(RT.ru)
Deputy head of Volodymyr Zelensky's office, Pavel
Palisa, called for the mandatory conscription of
women into the army, following the example
of Israel.
His words are quoted by "Country.na".
"We need to think through the transition period
in order for citizens to have a clear idea that
everyone should serve," Palisa said.
In his opinion, to do this, Ukraine needs to learn
from the experience... of Israel, where military
duty applies to all citizens, including women.
He also stated that those who did not serve in the
military.. may be denied access to a number of
public services and opportunities, such as
working in the civil service.
Earlier, the Command of the Forces of Unmanned Systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the recruitment of a female unit.
_______________________________
RIA Novosti: The Russian Armed Forces entered the vicinity of Gornal of the Kursk region - and are fighting
April 12th, 6:07pm
(Vest.ru)
Fighters of the Russian military group "North" entered
the vicinity of the village of Gornal near Kursk. This
was reported to RIA Novosti by the group.
According to the agency, now the military personnel
of the Armed Forces of Russia are fighting there.
In addition, it is noted that currently Ukrainian militants
are trying to prevent the advance of Russian troops
with the help of drones and artillery.
"The enemy is defending itself and trying to hold
its positions - at any cost," the group stressed.
Earlier.. it was reported that the Russian Armed Forces
plan to create a demilitarized zone in the Sumy region
of Ukraine .....and surround the regional centre.
_____________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry reports on the progress of the special
military operation
April 12th, 11:59am
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,
continue the special military operation.
In Belgorod direction, units of the Sever Group of
Forces engaged formations of two mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and
two territorial defence brigades close to
Malaya Rybitsa... Mikhailovskoye,
Miropolskoye, Krasnopolye, &
Ugroyedy (Sumy region).
In Kharkov direction, Russian troops inflicted fire
damage on the manpower and hardware of one
mechanised brigade and 1 motorised infantry
brigade of the AFU close to Kazachya Lopan
and Volchansk (Kharkov region).
The AFU losses were up to 75 troops, one armoured
fighting vehicle, five motor vehicles, and five field
artillery guns.
The Zapad Group of Forces' units ----- improved the tactical
situation along the front line. Russian troops - have hit the formations of 2 mechanised brigades. plus one mountain
assault brigade of the AFU ----- and 1 territorial defence
brigade by Kupyansk, Radkovka, Novaya Kruglyakovka
The Russian Defense Ministry reports on the exploits
of Russian servicemen in the zone of a special
military operation (SVO).
The ministry said that Guard Lieutenant Georgy Garanin
commanded the calculation of the multiple launch
rocket system (MLRS) combat vehicle. During
the battle, he received the coordinates of
the concentration of equipment and
reserves of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine (AFU), preparing to
attack the positions of
Russian troops from
the flank.
Then he quickly and secretly moved the combat vehicle
to a new firing position, made calculations, aimed at
the target and attacked the enemy forces. The
enemy suffered significant losses
and retreated.
The Russian Defense Ministry also noted the feat
of Sergeant Eduard Yakupov. So, while at the
observation post.... he discovered an
unmanned aerial vehicle --- (UAV)
...approaching the positions
of Russian troops.
Sergeant Yakupov made sure that there were no
Russian drones in the given sector --- took the
target for tracking and destroyed the enemy
copter with small arms, when the enemy
UAV entered the affected area.
On April 11th, the Russian Defense Ministry reported
that the calculations of FPV drones of the Aleysky
motorized rifle unit of the Center group of troops,
destroyed dugouts, strong points, weapons and
personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in
the Krasnoarmeysky direction of the
special operation.
The ministry clarified - that the military personnel,
in the course of combat work, detect Ukrainian
positions, in any area.
_______________________________
Kremlin: the topic of the meeting
between Putin and Whitkoff was
aspects of the Ukrainian settlement
April 11th, 8:25pm
(RT.ru)
The meeting between Russian Leader Vladimir Putin
and US President's special envoy Stephen Whitkoff
focused on aspects of the Ukrainian settlement,
the Kremlin said.
Earlier it became known that the negotiations
ended,; they lasted... more than four hours.
___________________________________________
Kallas stated --- that there are no
security guarantees for Ukraine
from the EU
April 11th, 4:01pm
(Izvestia.ru)
European countries have not taken the necessary steps
to ensure Ukraine's security. This was stated on April
11, by the head of EU Diplomacy..... Kaya Callas.
Her words are quoted by the British newspaper, The Guardian.
"No," Kallas said when asked by reporters if there
is any clarity about specific security guarantees
for Ukraine.
The head of EU diplomacy stressed ---------- that the EU
countries do not have a clear plan on how to achieve
an end to the conflict -- without putting pressure on
Russia. According to her, different Member States
hold different opinions ------ and the discussions,
are still ongoing.
Earlier, on April 9th, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov said that European countries were "elated"
with Russia. The Russian Foreign Minister.. also
recalled: that all world tragedies began -- with
aggressive actions on the part of Europeans.
A day earlier, US President, Donald Trump, said that
the United States is holding talks with the Russian
and Ukrainian sides ---- approaching the goal of
resolving the conflict. According to him, the
discussions are progressing ----- with
positive results.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs, on
the Russian-US dialogue
and Europe's attitude
to the conflict:
"Ukraine needs peace most of all,
otherwise - it will be destroyed."
______________________________________
Military commander Razin: the
Russian Armed Forces are as
close as possible: to Gornal
village in the Kursk region
April 11th, 11:16am
(Vesti.ru)
Russian troops have come as close as possible to the Gornal village in the Kursk region, which is still held
by the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
This was stated on the air of the program "60 minutes"
on the TV channel "Russia" by military correspondent
Vladimir Razin.
However, the advance of the Russian Armed Forces is
a little difficult due to the fact that Gornal is located
on a hill, the military commander noted.
"Our assault operations... continue in the area of
the Gornal settlement and we are as close as
possible to the settlement. Every day our
assault units.. are moving closer and
closer directly to the village --- in
order to knock out the enemy,"
Razin said.
_______________________________
Russian Defence Ministry reports
on progress of special military
operation 5–11 April 2025
April 11th, at 11:15am
From 5 to 11 April 2025, the Russian Armed Forces have
carried out 8 group strikes by air- and sea-based high- precision aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles ---- to hit Ukrainian military airfields infrastructure, defence industry enterprises, assembly workshops and
the storage areas of attack unmanned aerial
vehicles and ammunition depots, as well as
temporary deployment areas, of Ukrainian
armed formations & foreign mercenaries.
Over the past week - units of the Sever Group of Forces continued to eliminate AFU formations on the territory of Kursk region.
The Sever Group of Forces liberated Guyevo (Kurskoye
region), Basovka, and Zhuravka in Sumy region.
Aircraft, drones, and artillery hit the manpower and
hardware of a mechanised brigade, 3 air assault
brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and
a territorial defence brigade.
In Kharkov and Belgorod directions, units of three
mechanised brigades... two motorised infantry
brigades, two assault regiments of the AFU,
and three territorial defence brigades
were hit.
During the week, in the Sever Group of Forces area of
responsibility, the enemy lost over 2,345 troops, four
tanks, 41 armoured fighting vehicles, and 79 motor
vehicles. Twenty field artillery guns.... and five
ammunition depots have been neutralised.
The Zapad Group of Forces liberated Katerinovka
(Donetsk People's Republic).
Russian units --- hit the materiel and manpower of two
mechanised brigades, an assault brigade of the AFU,
two territorial defence brigades, and a border
guard detachment.
The enemy lost over 1,585 troops, six armoured fighting
vehicles including two M113 armoured personnel
carriers and three MaxxPro armoured vehicles
produced in the US, and a Polish-made Dzik
armoured vehicle. 21 motor vehicles, 28
field artillery guns including 10 Western
-made artillery pieces, 4 electronic and
counter-fire stations...... and nine field
ammunition depots were eliminated.
The Yug Group of Forces - improved the tactical
situation. Russian troops hit formations of five
mechanised brigades.. an airmobile brigade,
an assault brigade of the AFU, a territorial
defence brigade, and two national
guard brigades.
The AFU losses - amounted to up to 2,085 troops, five
tanks, and 19 armoured fighting vehicles including a
U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, during
the week. 104 four motor vehicles, 19 field artillery
guns, six electronic warfare stations, and seven
field ammunition depots - were eliminated.
The Tsentr Group of Forces -- took more advantageous lines and positions. The Russian Armed Forces inflicted losses on the manpower and hardware - of three mechanised
brigades, 2 assault brigades, two infantry brigades,
two airborne brigades.... two jaeger brigades, an
assault regiment of the AFU, a marine brigade,
a territorial defence brigade, a national guard
brigade ------ and the Omega special forces
detachment.
The AFU losses amounted to more than 3,005 troops,
34 armoured fighting vehicles, including five M113
armoured personnel carriers, four MaxxPro
armoured vehicles, and three U.S.-made
HMMWV armoured fighting vehicles.
38 motor vehicles, and 29 artillery
guns.... have been neutralised.
Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued
advancing into the depth of enemy defence.
Russian forces damaged formations of two
mechanised brigades, 1 jaeger brigade, 1
air assault brigade, an airmobile brigade,
a mountain assault brigade, a marine
brigade, and a territorial
defence brigade.
The enemy lost -- over 1,060 troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, 26 motor vehicles... and 15 field
artillery guns including six Western-made pieces.
The Dnepr Group of Forces' units ------- took more
advantageous lines and positions. The Russian
Armed Forces inflicted losses on manpower
and hardware of a mechanised brigade, a
mountain assault brigade.... two coastal
defence brigades of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine, and one territorial
defence brigade.
The AFU lost -- over 555 troops, 13 armoured fighting
vehicles, including three U.S.-made M113 armoured
personnel carriers, 41 motor vehicles, & five field
artillery guns. 15 electronic and counter-fire
stations as well as 9 ammunition depots,
have been eliminated.
Over the past week, the air defence systems have shot
down 27 JDAM guided bombs and 19 HIMARS MLRS
projectiles, as well as 1,200 fixed-wing unmanned
aerial vehicles.
In total ---- since the beginning of the special military
operation the AFU lost 660 aircraft, 283 helicopters,
Vitaliy Matsegora ---- a serviceman of the 17th separate
tank brigade of the armed formations of Ukraine -- was
sentenced: to 16 years in prison, for crimes committed
in Sudzha, Kursk region. This.. is reported by the Main
Military Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation.
According to the case file --------- the 31-year-old militant
illegally entered the territory of the Russian region on
the evening of September 25th, 2024. In the forests
near Sudzha, he set up firing positions ---- from
where he fired at the Russian military and
the civilian population.
"Macegora, together with other militants, participated in blocking the Sudzha settlement, held observation
and firing positions equipped in adjacent forest
plantations, intimidated civilians --- and
prevented their evacuation,"
the ministry said.
Fighters of the Russian Armed Forces captured
the militant on October 1 of the same year.
Macegora was convicted under the article on terrorism.
He will serve the first 3 years of his sentence in prison,
after which he will be transferred to a high-security
penal colony.
____________________________________________
Ukrainian militantssuffer huge
losses in Kursk's Oleshna
April 11th, 6:37am
(Vesti.ru)
The armed forces of Ukraine are suffering huge losses
in Oleshna, in the Kursk border region, the Russian
security forces reported.
The Russian military - broke up a group of Ukrainian
paratroopers moving to Oleshnya to reinforce their
colleagues. It is noted that the enemy suffered a
fire defeat - and the manpower was destroyed.
"The Ukrainian Armed Forces are suffering colossal
losses here," security officials told TASS.
Earlier, law enforcement agencies reported that the
Russian Armed Forces continue to oust the Armed
Forces of Ukraine.. from the border areas of the
Kursk region.
Fierce fighting is taking place in the Gornal
and Oleshnya villages. Ukrainian militants
unsuccessfully tried to counterattack in
the vicinity of Veselovka, Sumy region.
The enemy's manpower - was
destroyed by Russian troops.
______________________________
APU withdraws troopsfrom
Gornalsky Monastery
in Kursk region
April 11th, 5:32am
(Vesti.ru)
Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - began withdrawing from the Gornalsky St. Nicholas
Belogorsky Monastery, fearing encirclement.
This was reported by a source from the 22nd
motorized rifle Regiment of the 44th Army
Corps of the Northern Group of Forces.
As the source clarified in a conversation with RIA
Novosti, the movements of enemy units were
revealed during aerial reconnaissance.
Ukrainian militants are moving in
the direction of Gornal village.
"Apparently, the enemy understands that he is now
in a firing bag, since units of the Armed Forces of
the Russian Federation blocked this monastery
from three directions," the source explained.
According to him, if the Ukrainian troops do not have
time to withdraw to the neighbouring village in the
near future, they will be completely surrounded.
In this case, they will either have to surrender
or be destroyed.
Soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces have previously
said that Ukrainian forces used the monastery in the
village of Gornal in the Sudzhansky district of the
Kursk region as a combat position, since the
building has thick walls and basements.
_________________________________________
The pilot appreciated the
transition of Zubritsky
to the Russian side
by Marina Sovina
(night editor)
April 10th, 11:09pm
(Lenta.ru)
Honoured Military Pilot, Major General Vladimir Popov
stated to Aif.ru... that Russian cosmonaut Alexey
Zubritsky --- who previously served in the
Ukrainian Air Force - and is sentenced
there to 15 years in prison - made
his own choice, in 2014: to
stay in Russia.
"The personnel... all had the right to choose whether
to continue their service in that state --- or return
to their homeland. This principle, turned out to
be identical for decision-making after 2014,"
Popov said.
Earlier, it was reported that the territorial recruitment centre (analogous to the military enlistment office in Ukraine) is looking for Zubritsky to be sent to serve
in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The cosmonaut has been on the ISS
space station... since April the 8th.
In Ukraine ------ the court called him a state traitor
and a deserter and sentenced him, in absentia,
to 15 years and confiscation of property.
_____________________________________
Military expert Onufrienko: plant in
Shostka tried to produce shells
of NATO calibre
April 10th, 10:31pm
(RT.ru)
Military expert Mykhailo Onufriyenko... said that
Ukrainian specialists tried to produce 155-mm
NATO-calibre shells... at the disabled
ammunition production plant in
the Sumy city of Shostka.
This is what he said to NEWS.ru.
"(In Ukraine. - RT) ..in mass quantities, shells were
not produced at all. This is a huge problem. The
Ukrainian Armed Forces live on ammunition
from the West --- which is not enough,"
Onufrienko added.
Earlier, the newspaper Le Monde, referring to the
Ukrainian officer Anton Serbin, reported that
the main production facility of Ukraine for
the manufacture of ammunition was
destroyed near Sumy.
A few days ago... the Russian Armed Forces
hit the central artillery base of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine.
___________________________________
The Russian Defense Ministry ----- told about
the exploits - of servicemen of the Russian
Armed Forces in a special operation zone
April 10th, 10pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The Ministry noted the actions of the Guard of Private
Viktor Dubin, who acted as part of the artillery gun
crew and performed a combat mission to destroy
equipment & personnel of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine (AFU) - and conduct counter-battery
combat on an important sector of the front.
Dubin's unit - managed to dislodge the enemy from
fortified positions, but the Ukrainian militants, not wanting to retreat, requested reinforcements.
The calculation of the private guard received
coordinates - about the accumulation of
the manpower and equipment of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine, which
were ready to move to the aid
of the militants in distress.
Dubin aimed the gun and completed the firing task,
thereby.... destroying most of the Ukrainian
armoured vehicles and personnel.
Thanks to his successful actions, the enemy gave up
trying to regain their positions and retreated, which
in turn helped the Russian military gain a foothold
at the point.
In addition --- the Ministry of Defense drew attention
to the actions of the operator of the calculation of
unmanned aerial vehicles of the Guard, Private
Yaroslav Razvarov - who performed a combat
mission to search for targets, adjust the fire
of artillery and mortar crews, and also
monitored the destruction of objects,
manpower and equipment, of
the enemy.
In the course... of conducting aerial reconnaissance
the operator discovered camouflaged strong points
and enemy manpower, after which he transmitted
the coordinates to the gunners, who fired at the
targets ...and destroyed them.
Thanks to his professional actions, the enemy was hit,
which, in turn, helped the Russian military advance.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that
the crew of the Msta-B towed howitzer of the 42nd
motorized rifle division of the Dnipro group of
troops destroyed an observation post with
five AFU militants --- in the Zaporozhye
region in the Orekhovsky direction.
____________________________________
Military expert Kazanin: Kiev currently
has no obvious candidates to
replace Syrsky
April 10th, 8:33pm
(Vesti.ru)
The leadership of the Kiev regime currently
has no clear candidates to replace the
commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine (AFU) -
Alexander Syrsky.
This was stated in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV
channel by Maxim Kazanin, a military expert,
and associate professor at the Faculty of
International Economic Relations of the Financial University, under
the Government of the
Russian Federation.
Syrsky blames his failures on lower-ranking officers,
which allows him to maintain a stable position,
Kazanin noted.
"Syrsky has mastered the art of undercover warfare
and writes off his unsuccessful decisions on the
organization of offensive actions, defensive
actions in various directions.. to lower-
ranking officers, quite high-ranking.
And so, he remains a fairly stable
figure for now. So far, there are
no obvious candidates.... to
replace Syrsky ----- on the
Ukrainian military field,"
the expert believes.
In November 2024, the former Deputy Secretary of
the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC)
of Ukraine, General Serhiy Kryvonos, said that
the office of Volodymyr Zelensky ......was
preparing the resignation of Syrsky.
A few days ago..... the former commander of the 12th
special forces brigade "Azov" (terrorist organization
banned in Russia) of the National Guard of Ukraine,
Bohdan Krotevich..... said in an interview with The Guardian newspaper that the commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Syrsky,
should resign.
A similar statement was made by
Rada deputy Mariana Bezuglaya.
__________________________________
Military expert, Kazanin: Syrsky prepares
Ukrainians to surrender Sumy & Kharkiv
April 10th, 8:19pm
(Vesti.ru)
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Syrsky, with his calm statements about
the advance of Russian troops --- deep into the
country, is preparing the population for the
idea of surrendering the Sumy and
Kharkiv regions.
This opinion was expressed by Maxim Kazanin, a
military expert and associate professor at the
Faculty of International Economic Relations
of the Financial University... under
the Government of the Russian
Federation --- in an interview
with Rossiya 24 TV channel.
The speaker recalled that, earlier, Syrsky officially
recognized: that Russia is conducting successful
offensive operations in the Sumy and Kharkiv
directions.
"This suggests..... that Syrsky is not panicking, that is,
he is preparing the public for the fact that Sumy will
probably have to be left as a district centre and,
probably, Kharkiv will also have to be handed
over. He is already preparing the ground in
advance - for the fact that the Ukrainian
Armed Forces will retreat from these
regions," Kazanin said.
Earlier, Syrsky told Ukrainian media that the US began
to send less aid to Ukraine, so the Kiev regime now
relies ..on Europe.
________________________________________
Kallas: EU and NATO consider
sending troops to Ukraine
after ceasefire
April 10th, 2:40pm
(Vesti.ru)
The countries of the EU and NAto are... considering the
possibility of sending a military contingent to Ukraine
after reaching a truce in the format of a "coalition of
those who want". This was stated by the head of
EU ''diplomacy'' -- Kaja Kallas.
According to her, the troops can perform both
monitoring or peacekeeping functions, and
contribute to deterring or strengthening
the Ukrainian armed forces.
"The discussion.. continues. A number of countries are
ready to participate, and some are not. But the main
question is.... if there is peace, what forces and
capabilities we will need. We are considering
a monitoring mission, a peacekeeping
mission, a deterrence mission, a
reinforcement mission," TASS
quoted Kallas as saying.
Earlier, on April 4th, the head of the Kiev regime,
Vladimir Zelenski, said that weekly meetings of
military representatives from Kiev, London and
Paris will be held in Ukraine. The main issue of the meetings, will be the deployment
of the military contingent.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova,
stressed that the Russian Federation will consider the
appearance of foreign contingents - of any country in Ukraine, as a threat that could lead to a direct clash between the Russian army and the armed forces of
vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian
Groups of Forces ------- engaged the military airfield
infrastructure, missile artillery, ammunition, and
military hardware depots as well as clusters of
manpower and hardware of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine and foreign mercenaries
in 144 areas.
Air defence systems shot down nine JDAM guided
bombs, one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectile
as well as 200 fixed-wing drones.
In total --- since the beginning of the special military
operation, the AFU losses amounted to 660 aircraft,
283 helicopters, 50,812 unmanned aerial vehicles,
601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,752 tanks &
other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,534 MLRS
combat vehicles.... 23,434 field artillery guns
and mortars, and 33,876 units of special
military vehicles.
_______________________________
APU forces 18-year-olds to sign
a contract for military service
April 10th, 4:50am
(Vesti.ru)
Young Ukrainians are forced to sign a contract for
military service and sent to the front line. This
was told by a captured soldier of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, Nikolai Chebanov.
According to the Ukrainian, when he was 18 years old,
he wanted to go through military service, since this
gives him the right to go abroad in the future.
''But I got rejected.''
"They did not take on conscripts – just a contract
and mobilization," Chebanov stated, in a
conversation with RIA Novosti.
He also noted: he was promised that he would serve in
the unit. However, after signing the contract, he was
sent --- on a combat mission. His entire platoon
consisted of the same 18-year-old contract
soldiers, none of them expected to be
on the front line.
Earlier, a captured militant of the Ukrainian Armed
Forces --- accused the head of the Kiev regime,
Vladimir Zelensky, of bloodshed, and called
for a stop.
Another admitted that he gave a bribe in the amount of
2,500 dollars to be sent to the rear, but was still sent
to the Kursk region, as part of an assault unit.
________________________________________________
Carlson: The US lost the war against Russia,
while simultaneously destroying Ukraine
April 9th, 11:29pm
(RT.ru)
US journalist Tucker Carlson expressed his belief in an
interview with US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones that
the United States lost the war against Russia, while
simultaneously destroying Ukraine.
He stressed that this war was waged by the US military,
the Pentagon, the State Department and the CIA. At the
same time, says Carlson, despite this defeat, no one in
the United States --- will openly declare this.
"I'm really afraid of this. Why can't we know that we
couldn't win a conventional war against Russia,
period? What does this say about our strength,
maybe we should adjust our expectations
a bit?" - the journalist asked.
Myśl Polska previously stated that Ukraine
has become a burden for the United States.
Chairman of the Federation Council Commission on
Information Policy and Media Relations --- Alexey
Pushkov, in turn, noted that the United States
continues a proxy war against Russia,
supplying Kiev with weapons.
_______________________________________________
Fico ---- spoke about the EU's plan
to resolve the conflict in Ukraine
April 10th, 10:20pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The EU should have its own plan for resolving
the conflict in Ukraine, Slovak Prime Minister
Robert Fico said in an interview with Izvestia.
"Europe, should have its own peace plan. Europe,
with its resources ---- should not have looked at
the administration of former US President Joe
Biden, what Biden wants or does not want in
Ukraine --- but should have acted from the
very beginning. And ------- it should have
influenced the Russian Federation - &
Ukraine ---- from the very beginning:
let's negotiate look for some peace
plan --- that would suit everyone,"
Robert Fico told Izvestia.
He noted that the US and Russian sides
are skeptical of the EU, because of its bellicose rhetoric.
Earlier, the EU Commission announced
the allocation of €1 billion to Kiev...
as part of a G7 loan.
___________________________________
The Russian Defense Ministry told about
the exploits of Russian soldiers in the
special operation zone
April 9th, 10pm
(Izvestia.ru)
On April 10th, Moscow time, the Ministry
of Defense of the Russian Federation
celebrated the feats of soldiers of
the Armed Forces of the Russian
Federation -------- in the zone of a
special military operation (SVO).
According to the ministry, a unit, which included Guard
Sergeant Sergei Golub, performed a combat mission to
defend its positions at an important tactical line.
Thus, while conducting aerial reconnaissance using an
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a complex electronic
environment, Golub discovered an accumulation of
enemy manpower and a camouflaged strong point
with an equipped mortar crew position.
Then he transmitted the coordinates of the opened
targets to an artillery unit, after which the enemy
positions were suppressed. Thanks to the brave
and professional actions of the Guard Sergeant
Serhiy Golub, a stronghold of Ukrainian
militants was destroyed, which
contributed to the advance
of Russian troops in
this direction.
Also, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
reported that the foreman of the 2nd article, Naiman
Vaisov -- was on combat duty, in one of the difficult
sections of the front, performing a combat task to organize stable, uninterrupted communication
between control points.
During an artillery attack --- by the Armed Forces of
Ukraine (AFU), an antenna device and a repeater
were damaged, as a result of which part of the
main radio network of the unit was disabled.
Vaisov, despite the ongoing shelling, began to identify
the damage and eliminate it. Communication was
restored, which contributed to the successful
implementation of the combat mission
of the Russian army.
________________________________
Ukrainian prosecutor -evader got a job
.....at the military enlistment office
Evgeny Silaev (Night Line Editor)
April 9th, 8:27pm
(Lenta.ru)
Prosecutor-evader Rostislav Ilyinsky, who was detained
in 2024... got a job in the territorial recruitment centre (TCK, the Ukrainian equivalent of military enlistment
offices) in Transcarpathia. This was reported by
the Telegram channel "Sputnik Near Abroad".
This became known - from the declaration of income of
Ilyinsky, in which he indicated the shopping centre of
Transcarpathia, as his place of work.
The prosecutor was detained in the attic of his mother-
in-law's house. He was suspected of forging
documents to evade mobilization.
Earlier, the deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, Artem
Dmytruk accused the employees of the shopping
centre, of the genocide of the Ukrainian people.
According to him, military commissars are ruining
the lives of Ukrainians, terrorizing the population
--- on Zelensky's instructions.
_______________________________________________
Military commander Poddubny
announced ----- the seizure of
Zhuravki in the Sumy region
April 9th, 7:28pm
(Vesti.ru)
Ussuri paratroopers managed to capture the village of
Zhuravka in the Sumy region. This was reported on
the air of the TV channel "Russia" by the military
correspondent of VGTRK, Hero of Russia,
Evgeny Poddubny.
According to him, Zhuravka is the fourth settlement
of the Sumy region after Basovka, liberated by the
Russian Armed Forces recently.
"Indeed, the Ussuri paratroopers managed to push
backthe enemy, advance in the Sumy region, and
capture the village of Zhuravka," Poddubny said.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian
Federation reported on the liberation of the
village of Basovka, Sumy region.
________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry reports on
repelling AFU attempt.... to invade
Russian territory in Kursk region
April 9th, 12:55pm
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue
the operation to neutralise AFU formations on the
territory of Kursk region.
During offensive actions -- units of the Sever Group of
Forces inflicted fire damage - on the formations of 1 mechanised brigade, one tank brigade, 3 air assault brigades, and one territorial defence brigade of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Gornal
and Oleshnya.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery
strikes engaged AFU manpower and hardware close
to... Gornal, Oleshnya, Aleksandriya, Belovody,
Vladimirovka, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, Loknya,
Miropolye, Sadki, Yunakovka, and
Yablonovka, in Sumy region.
The AFU losses - were over 230 troops, eight motor
vehicles, two artillery guns, 2 mortars, four UAV
command posts, and one ammunition depot.
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the
AFU losses amounted to more than 72,990 troops, 405
vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian
Groups of Forces engaged an operational-tactical
missile manufacture enterprise, production
plants for unmanned aerial vehicles and
their storage areas as well as clusters
of manpower and hardware of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine and
foreign mercenaries.... in
149 areas.
Air defence systems shot down six U.S.-made JDAM
guided bombs and 333 fixed-wing unmanned aerial
vehicles, including 158 drones out of the special
military operation zone.
In total --- since the beginning of the special military
operation, the AFU losses amounted to 660 aircraft,
283 helicopters, 50,612 unmanned aerial vehicles,
601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,739 tanks
and other armoured fighting vehicles --- 1,534
MLRS combat vehicles, 23,395 field artillery
guns and mortars, 33,827 units of special
military vehicles.
________________________________________
Russian troops blocked the supply routes
of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near
Katerynivka in the DPR
April 9th, 4:03am
(Vesti.ru)
The Russian army took under fire control, a section of
the highway near Katerynivka, which was liberated
on April 7 - in the Donetsk People's Republic,
military expert Andrey Marochko said.
Thus, the segment of the Novoe-Petrovskoye highway
(Ukrainian name – Grekovka) is closed for supplying
units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
"This, will significantly complicate the supply of Ukrainian militants in Petrovsky ---- from the Izyum direction," TASS quoted Marochko
as saying.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled the
territory of the DPR --- 31 times, over the past day.
It took only one hour for Russian troops to clear
the village of Dneproenergia in the DPR
from AFU units... on April the 8th.
______________________________________
Lavrov said that Odessa, like many
other cities, was built by Russians
April 9th, 3:03am
(RT.ru)
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, recalled in an interview for the TASS Children project about the Russian "roots" of Odessa ----- emphasizing that the city was built ...by Russians.
"Namely, the Russians -- Catherine II, Potemkin, and our
other glorious ancestors - developed these territories,
built Odessa, other cities, ports, and factories,"
the diplomat said.
At the same time, he stressed that the West indulged
the actions of the Kiev regime - to exterminate the
entire Russian part of the history of these lands.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, said earlier, that Europe has its
eyes on Odessa and Lviv.
"One gets the impression that the Europeans have already
set their sights on these cities --- and are hatching their
own plans for them. This is reminiscent of the military
intervention of the Entente forces -- during the Civil
War in our country -- in 1917-1922," TASS quoted
Zakharova as saying.
She stressed: that a number of European countries
are hatching the appropriate plans.. hiding behind
"Russian aggression".
____________________________________
Lavrov:Europe's leaders - have
taken up arms against Russia
in an insane state of elation
Artem Vereykin (Night Line Editor)
April 9th, 12:29am
(Lenta.ru)
Europe is "elated" by waging war on Russia,
and all major world conflicts began with
Europe in this psychotic state.
Russia's Foreign Minister, Lavrov, said
this, in an interview with TASS.
"Speaking about Europe --- we are now witnessing
another wave, when Europe has taken up arms,
and, looking at some of their leaders' faces, I
want to say "elated" -- about attacking our
country. Before the victory in the Great
Patriotic War all the world's tragedies
began with the aggressive actions of the Europeans," he said.
The Minister stressed that.. after the Second World War,
Europe was weakened and therefore the main initiator of conflicts, was the United States, as the "so-called leader of the free world."
Lavrov also recalled that, during World War II -- almost
all European countries fought on the side of Germany.
Earlier... Lavrov spoke about Russia's attempts to "shake
up" the West, in the fight against their desire to rewrite
history. Long before the start of the special operation
in Ukraine, they made attempts to undermine and
denigrate the role of the USSR ------- and put the
winners and losers on the same level, he said.
________________________________________________
Nebenzia:The strike on Kryvyi Rih caused
damage to the command staff of the
Armed Forces of Ukraineand
NATO armies
by Roman Otradnov
April 8th, 11:41pm
(Rossiyskaya Gazeta)
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to
the UN Vasily Nebenzia commented on the strike of the
Russian Armed Forces on an AFU facility in Kryvyi Rih,
where not only Ukrainian military personnel, but also
Western instructors - were killed.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that
a missile was fired at the site of a meeting with
the commanders of formations -- and Western
instructors. According to preliminary data,
about 85 foreign military personnel
were killed.
"We have repeatedly warned --- that clusters of military
personnel, as well as Western officers and instructors
sent to help the Kiev regime, are a legitimate target
for the Russian army," Nebenzia said at a meeting
of the UN Security Council (quoted by TASS).
Recall: that the Armed Forces of Ukraine arranged a
meeting of commanders of formations and Western
instructors in one of the restaurants in Kryvyi Rih.
The object - was hit with a high-precision
strike, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Analysis of the rubble of the hotel, with dozens
of bodies of ''mercenaries'' --- in Kryvyi Rih
- was filmed on video.
__________________________________________
Poddubny: APU pulls together
the most combat-ready units:
to Sumy & Kharkiv regions
April 8th, 5:14pm
(Vesti.ru)
The Armed Forces of Ukraine (APU) are currently
pulling together the most combat-ready units to
the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, VGTRK military
correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny said on the
60 Minutes program - on Rossiya TV channel.
According to the military commander, active
military operations continue in the Kursk
border area - and on the state border
with Ukraine.
"The enemy continues to defend itself, and - in the Sumy
& Kharkiv regions, the enemy is still pulling together
the most combat-ready units -- units that cover the grouping of the Kiev regime, which operates in
the Slobozhanshchina, Sumy region, and
Kursk region," Poddubny said.
He added that in this area, Ukrainian troops actively
use long-range artillery; as a rule, Western-made
cluster munitions are used.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported - that
Russian troops liberated the village of Guevo in the
Kursk region. Currently, no more than 36 square
kilometres of the territory of the Kursk region
remain under the control of Ukrainian armed
formations. The Russian military has only to
liberate two settlements in Kursk-Oleshki
and Gornal.
Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine invaded the
territory of Russia on August 6, 2024. They tried
to break through - to the Kursk nuclear power
plant, captured Suja, and later destroyed
the only one --- of the five working gas
measuring stations on the pipeline
that supplied gas from Russia
to Europe.
Yevgeny Poddubny considers the main result of the
Kursk adventure started by Kiev --- to be the loss
of part of the Sumy region of Ukraine.
__________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry reports
on the progress of the special
military operation
April 8th, 1pm
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,
continue the special military operation.
In Belgorod direction, the Sever Group of Forces
engaged formations of a mechanised brigade,
an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine and 2 territorial defence brigades
close to Krasnopolye, Prokhody, Turya,
and Miropolskoye (Sumy region).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 110 troops,
two motor vehicles, and two field artillery guns.
Two field ammunition depots were eliminated.
The Zapad Group of Forces' units took more
advantageous positions. Russian units
damaged materiel and manpower of
two mechanised brigades of the
AFU, and a territorial defence
brigade close to Redkodub,
Drobyshevo, Novoye, and
Kirovsk, in the Donetsk
People's Republic.
The AFU lost up to 220 troops, a U.S.-made M113
armoured personnel carrier, two motor vehicles,
and six artillery guns. One ammunition depot
was destroyed.
The Yug Group of Forces' units improved the tactical
situation. Russian troops engaged formations of a
heavy mechanised brigade, two mechanised
brigades.. an assault brigade of the AFU
near Novodmitrovka, Konstantinovka,
Kleban-Byk, and Novoolenovka
(Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy lost up to 270 troops, two U.S.-made M113
armoured personnel carriers, 17 motor vehicles, and
two field artillery guns.
The Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous
lines and positions. Russian units hit manpower and
materiel of two mechanised brigades, an infantry
brigade, an air assault brigade of the AFU, a
marine brigade, and a territorial defence
brigade near Bogdanovka, Dmitrov,
Yelizavetovka, Novosergeyevka,
Kotlyarovka.... Kotlino, and
Zverevo (in the Donetsk
People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 410 troops, three
A sniper of the Russian Armed Forces with the call sign
Maga spent three days waiting for his Ukrainian
"colleague" to eliminate him.
A fighter of the Russian Armed Forces -- said in an
interview with the newspaper "Red Star" that the
Ukrainian sniper... had to take a position in a
certain place. For three days, the Magician
and his companions waited in ambush,
but the enemy did not appear.
"We were really nervous and angry. We were just
about to leave when he showed up. It was luck!"
- shared the soldier.
He noted that he completed the task by all 500%.
According to him, this is the very case ---- when
"the sheepskin coat was really worth donning."
According to the newspaper, the Ukrainian military
appointed a serious reward for the Maga, and the
sniper has more than one hundred AFU fighters
on his account. During the battles in the
Kurakhovsky direction, he destroyed
seven enemy machine-gun points,
and when Ugledar was liberated,
he was the first to enter the city.
___________________________________
Balance: the Russian military blocked
seaports of the Nikolaev area
April 4th, 1:11am
(RT.ru)
The Governor of the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said that the commercial seaports of the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine --- are blocked by Russia's military.
"The exit of ships from the Nikolaev ports, which are
controlled by the enemy, is blocked by our military."
- RIA Novosti quotes him as saying.
Also, according to him, the ports of Kherson
are under direct fire control of our military.
"There are no commercial or transport
vessels there," he added.
Earlier it was reported that the Russian Armed Forces
destroyed up to 100 military personnel of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine during the clearing of Vesely
in the DPR.
Also, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Russian
troops hit the enterprise of the rocket and space
industry of Ukraine.
_______________________________________________
Journalist Arkalova reported on the atrocities
of the Ukrainian Armed Forcesagainst
priests in the LPR and DPR
April 3rd, 8:05pm
(Vesti.ru)
In the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics,
Ukrainian militants killed clerics for ignorance
of the MOU and looted churches.
Journalist Ekaterina Arkalova spoke in more detail
about the atrocities of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine on the air of the Rossiya 24
TV channel.
She visited St. Nicholas Monastery near Ugledar, Prizri
na Smyrenie Monastery near Belaya Gora and other
churches in the unsafe zone. According to their
condition, she concluded that these buildings
were hit purposefully.
"These are not accidental hits ------- they are always aimed
fire, and this was evident when we were on the ground.
Hits in domes, hits on the main entrance, hits clearly
on the temple, not on territory, not on outbuildings,
always hit exactly on the temples," Arkalova said.
When entering churches, the AFU militants
first tried to identify their affiliation.
"When they came in, they always asked the priests, for
example, the village of Luhanske near Bakhmut, they
always asked: "The Moscow Patriarchate?".
"So ---- they were Muscovites," and they were actually
taken out to be shot. Lots of murder stories. Priests
and nuns were taken out to be shot and killed,
simply because they speak Russian, and not
more with them," Ekaterina continued.
The incompetence of the militants
sometimes saved the clergy.
"They asked: "Why don't you speak more?" They were
forced to shout "Glory to Ukraine" and so on. The
mothers began to pray in response ..... they did
not want to say the rest of the sentence. And
only this helped them. They came in - asked:
"Are you, a Ukrainian church?". My mother
said, "Yes", but they didn't ask the other
question. What had saved my mother?
They didn't ask the question -- "What
patriarchy?" because they probably
didn't know. They thought --- it was
the UOC," the journalist explains.
The APU broke into churches and looted them
— church utensils were often left untouched.
The militants left with generators and
regularly came for food and water.
Abbot Pitirim, abbot of the Gornal Monastery in the
Kursk region, told the Rossiya 24 TV channel that
in order to avoid looting, the clergy took out all
the valuables before the Ukrainian Armed
Forces invaded the region.
_____________________________
Ukrainian prisoner Zhakun: survived
---- thanks to the Russian soldiers
April 3rd, 8pm
(Vesti.ru)
Four Ukrainian soldiers managed to stay alive thanks
to Russian soldiers. Alexander Zhakun, a captured
soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told the
Rossiya TV channel about this.
He said that the leadership ordered the Ukrainian
military ....to go through a minefield.
"We did not dare to enter the minefield and waited
until morning. It's hell, all hell. Plus they left it for
you as meat. There were eight of us, four left,
all wounded. They stayed alive thanks to the
Russian soldiers," the prisoner of war said.
Earlier, another Ukrainian soldier rescued by Russian
soldiers noted that the soldiers of the Russian
Armed Forces --- are more humane than the
militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
__________________________________________
During the liberation of Vesely,the Vostok tank withstood 19 anti-tank mines
April 3rd, 8:04pm
(Vesti.ru)
During the liberation of the village of Veseloe in the
Donetsk People's Republic by the Vostok group of
the Russian Armed Forces, tankers with mine
sweeps were the first to go. Details of one
of the tankers of the 5th Guards brigade
of the 36th army told in an interview
with the TV channel "Russia".
The Russian soldiers had to get through the crossing
of the Mokry Yaly River, a tributary of the Dnieper,
before the enemy bombed the bridge. Mine
sweeps cleared the road, despite
enemy drones.
"My car withstood 19 anti-tank mines. Plus, there were
FPV drones, "Baba Yaga" made a reset from above – "
the tanker said. "But our armour held up, because
we prepared, we tried."
Another tankman of the 5th brigade said that during
the liberation of Vesely, our military attacked the
enemy ......right on the move.
_______________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry reports on
repelling AFU attempt... to invade
Russian territory in Kursk region
April 3rd, 12:55pm
In the course of offensive actions, the Sever Group of
Forces' units inflicted fire damage on formations of
one mechanised brigade, 3 air assault brigades,
and one territorial defence brigade of the AFU
near Gornal, Guyevo, and Oleshnya. One AFU
counter-attack was repelled.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation -- and Artillery
Assault troops of the "Centre" captured a group of
the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the liberation
of Zaporozhye in the DPR
April 1st, 3:18am
(Vesti.ru)
Assault troops of the Centre group surrounded and captured
five servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the
liberation of Zaporozhye in the Donetsk People's Republic,
the Defense Ministry reports.
The Ukrainian sabotage group was entrenched in a house in
an open area, the distance from the Russian position to the
house was 200 m. Russian servicemen approached the
house under the control of UAV crews.
"It was very difficult to approach. Cinder block house. After
the work of our "kamikazes", FPV drones, the Ukrainians
were a little "lost". Assault groups approached and
occupied these positions," RIA Novosti quotes
the words of a Russian serviceman with the
call sign Artem.
At the beginning of the battle, Ukrainian militants
fired indiscriminately, but soon surrendered.
"They threw their weapons through the windows - and came
out with their hands up. They gave up. The weapons were
taken away, they were taken to the basement, so that
their own people would not work on them with a
mortar, they were tied up there," Artyom said.
The video from the Ministry of Defense shows five prisoners
who served in the 153rd Brigade of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine. At the same time, when Ukrainian militants
are captured, they begin to speak pure Russian.
__________________________
A chicken that survived the siege in
the Kursk region --- stopped eating
by Yulia Miskevich (Night Line Editor)
March 31st, 10:15pm April 1st, 12:15am (Moscow time)
(Lenta.ru)
Two animals - a cat and a chicken - survived for more
than six months. After that, they were separated —
the chicken began to experience stress... and
stopped eating.
Then they were brought together again - and now the
animals are friends, and share a shelter and bread
in the shelter.
_______________________________________
President of the Republika Srpska
Dodik.... visits the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier in Moscow
by Anatoly Kazantsev
March 31st, 9:50pm
(Rossiyskaya Gazeta)
President of the Republika Srpska (Entity of Bosnia and
Herzegovina) Milorad Dodik has arrived in Moscow. The
politician announced this on the social network X (ex-Twitter, blocked in the Russian Federation).
"I arrived in Moscow. Each of my visits here begins with
a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," he writes.
Dodik noted that he is doing this, in order to "honour
the memory of the 28 million Russians who died in
World War II."
The politician also added that on May 9th, he will attend
the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory
over fascism.
______________________________________
Russian Defense Ministry: conscripts
will not be sent to Donbass
and Novorossiya
March 31st, 3:23pm
(Vesti.ru)
Conscripts.... will not be sent for military service to the
locations of units of the Armed Forces of the Russian
Federation in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's
Republics... or the Kherson and Zaporozhye
regions. This was reported by the Russian
Defense Ministry.
On April the 1st, spring conscription begins in the Russian
Federation. The corresponding decree was previously
signed by President Vladimir Putin.
"To the points of deployment of units of the Armed Forces
of the Russian Federation ---- in the new regions of the
Russian Federation (Donetsk and Luhansk People's
Republics, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions) the conscripted military personnel will not be sent,"said Vice Admiral, Vladimir Tsimlyansky, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the State Border Guard Service
by Ukraine.
It is noted - that conscripts will not participate in the
implementation of the tasks of the special military
operation (SVO) in the territory of Donbass and
Novorossiya. The conscription company has
nothing to do with the conduct of the SVO
in Ukraine, the Russian Defense
Ministry stressed.
Starting from November 1, 2024, the Unified Register of
Military Registration is operating in Russia. It contains
personal and passport data, SNILS, TIN, information
about citizenship and other data for the conscripts.
_________________________________
Three Ukrainian soldiers------- received
15 yearsfor invading the Kursk region
March 31st, 11:32am
(Izvestia.ru)
A military court.. has sentenced three militants of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to 15 years in prison
for illegally invading the Kursk region. This was
reported on March 31 on the website of the
Prosecutor General's Office of the
Russian Federation.
"The court --- issued a verdict in the criminal case against
three soldiers of the 17th separate tank brigade of the
armed formations of Ukraine. They were found guilty
under paragraphs "a" and "b" of Part 2 of Article
205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian
Federation - ("Commission by a group
of persons - by prior agreement, of a
terrorist act that entailed the onset
of serious consequences")" ---- was stated in the message.
It is specified that the defendants invaded the territory of
the Sudzhansky district of the Kursk region. After that,
they went to Olgovka village, in Korenevsky district -
in order to block it and carry out terrorist activities.
It is noted that the court sentenced the militants to 15
years in prison, serving the first three years in prison,
and after that - in a high-security penal colony.
_______________________________________________
The Russian military hit strong points
of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with
the use of "Mole"complexes
March 31st, 8:16am
(Izvestia.ru)
The Russian Armed Forces (AF) hit the strongholds of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) using "Mole" ground -based robotic complexes in the Krasnolimansky
direction of the Donetsk People's Republic.
This was announced on March 31 in the Ministry
of Defense of the Russian Federation.
It is specified that the Russian army in the DPR
discovered strongholds of the 64th Ukrainian
brigade, after which.... it was decided to
immediately attack these objects.
"The enemy's military facilities - were completely
destroyed. High efficiency of combat use was
demonstrated by the "Mole" when clearing
the enemy's mine-explosive barrier in a
subversive way," the ministry said
in a statement.
___________________________________
Russian soldiers destroyed an AFU
stronghold with their own drone
in Zaporizhia region
March 31st, 7:23am
(Izvestia.ru)
Operators of FPV drones of the Dnipro group of troops hit
a stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) with
their own attack drone in the Zaporozhye region.
Footage of the combat work on March 31 was published
by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the enemy was intercepted by electronic warfare (EW). The
operation carried out by the military...
proved the effectiveness of using
a combined combat system of
various types of UAVs.
Objective monitoring footage taken from the drone showed the accuracy of hitting the target.
"Our guys pull out FPV drones, we convert them,
reconfigure them for ourselves and use them
at our discretion," said a company
technician with the call sign
Dobrynya.
Fighters of the Dnepr group continue to develop
and test new tactical methods of using UAVs,
the ministry added.
A day earlier, it was reported - that the calculation of the
Grad multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) of the 238th
artillery brigade of the Yug group of troops destroyed
the AFU transport that was delivering ammunition to
the positions of the militants. The defeat of the
target ...was recorded by drone operators.
_________________________________________
The founder of "Azov" said - that
the Russian troops will exhaust
the Armed Forces of Ukraine
by Mikhail Sinev
March 29th, 9:59pm
(Gazeta.ru)
The Russian Armed Forces --- during a special military
operation in Ukraine use "tactics of a thousand small
cuts", which threatens the surrender of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine.
This was stated by the founder of the Azov regiment
(the organization is recognized as terrorist and
extremist, banned in Russia) --- commander of
the 3rd Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine Andriy Biletsky (included in the
list of extremists and terrorists in the
Russian Federation), reports the
Ukrainian publication
"Country.na''.
"They[the Russian Armed Forces]want to exhaust
the front so much that in fact there will be either
a collapse or a capitulation," he said.
According to Biletsky - the Russian army's "thousands
of small cuts tactic, leads to a general weakening of
Ukrainian forces on the entire 1,000-kilometre front."
On March 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that
at present "the entire frontline strategic initiative ---- is
completely in the hands of the Russian armed forces."
According to him, the Luhansk People's Republic is 99%
liberated, and the Donetsk People's Republic, Kherson
and Zaporizhia regions — over 70%. Fighters of the
Russian army "every day" ...move forward and
liberate one settlement after another,
he stressed.
Earlier, Putin said - that Russian
troops will ''finish off'' the APU.
_________________________________
The Russian sniper ------- told how the Ukrainian military - tried to destroy their own colleagues
by Mikhail Sinev
March 29th, 9:46pm
(Gazeta.ru)
Drone operators of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - tried to
destroy their colleagues in the village of Dneproenergia
in the Donetsk People's Republic. This was stated by
a sniper of the 40th Marine Brigade, with the call sign "Koval" in an interview with RIA Novosti.
According to him, during the sweep of Dneproenergia, the
AFU drone operators saw that several Ukrainian soldiers
in the basement would be captured by the Russian
servicemen. After that, the Ukrainian Armed
Forces... began attacking the basement
with kamikaze drones, Koval said.
As a result, assault troops of the Russian Armed
Forces - had to pull out Ukrainian servicemen
who had surrendered - under the blows of
Ukrainian drones, he added.
On March 25th, it was reported that Russian servicemen
rescued an AFU soldier who had been lying under
rubble for eight days in the Kursk region.
According to RT, the Ukrainian soldier was captured by
soldiers of the 30th motorized Rifle Regiment of the
Russian Armed Forces. According to the captured
soldier, he was sent for rotation to the Kursk
region in early March.
He noted that almost all of his colleagues were destroyed
by Russian strikes. The soldier of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine shared that, before being sent to the line of contact, he was trained in the UK.
_____________________________________
Rada Deputy predicts Zelensky's end
because of refusal to make a deal
with the United States
by Pavel Khrushchev
March 29th, 9:39pm
(Gazeta.ru)
Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexander Dubinsky, who is in jail
on suspicion of treason, said that Vladimir Zelensky's
refusal to sign a "resource deal" with the United
States....... will lead to the collapse of his
administration. He wrote about this
in his Telegram channel.
"The main question is: how long did the United States
take to sign the minerals treaty? After the refusal,
Washington will consider Zelensky incompetent,
and this --- will be the end of his rule,"
Dubinsky stressed.
According to him, relations between Kiev and
Washington will remain stable, only until a
decision is made on the deal.
Kiev intends to seek a review of the terms of the
agreement proposed by Donald Trump - which
provides for full US control over investments
in Ukrainian infrastructure and resources.
Ukrainian officials fear that the deal will negatively affect
the country's accession to the EU and, in fact, oblige
Kiev to return all previously received aid. On the
eve, President Zelensky refused to recognize
the aid received from the United States as a
debt that requires repayment. According to
media reports, the Ukrainian government
compared the agreement proposed by
Washington to reparations after a
lost war.
Earlier, billionaire Sachs said
that Zelensky faces oblivion.
______________________________
In the DPR, as a result of attacks by
the Ukrainian Armed Forces,
six civilians were injured
March 29th, 6:31pm
(RT.ru)
Six civilians were injured on March 29
as a result of attacks by the Armed
Forces of Ukraine ------ on the
Donetsk People's Republic.
As the head of the DPR Denis Pushilin reported in his
Telegram channel, five people, including a child,
were injured during the shelling of Horlivka
by Ukrainian troops.
Another person was injured as a result of the detonation
of an explosive object in the village of Dneproenergia.
"The victims are provided with the necessary
assistance," Pushilin wrote.
Earlier, Acting Governor of the Kursk Region, Alexander
Khinshtein, reported on a tractor driver who was
injured - in an attack by the Ukrainian
Armed Forces.
________________________________________
The Russian military seized an arsenal
of Western weapons in Kursk region
March 29th, 5:55pm
(Vesti.ru)
Stormtroopers of the Russian 22nd motorized rifle
regiment seized an arsenal of weapons of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine in the village of
Guevo, Kursk region - which included
small arms from Belgium, Germany
and the Czech Republic.
This was reported to RIA Novosti by an
officer of the group of troops "North".
The footage published by the agency shows the
Czech Bren 2 assault rifle and the German
Haenel MK 556 A2 ----- as well as the
Belgian FN MAG machine gun.
"Previously, such weapons were still exotic, now - they are
found in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, en masse. But - as
we can see, it did not help the Kiev Nazis and occupiers
--- just as the Schmeissers did not help Hitler's Nazis,"
the officer commented.
Earlier, Russian paratroopers seized Western weapons
of the AFU militants while advancing to the town of
Sudzha, in the Kursk region. Weapons produced
in the US, Poland, and Germany ------ were
found among the trophies.
_____________________________
Report by Russian Defence Ministry on
repelling AFU attempt.... to invade
Russian territory in Kursk region
March 29th, 11:10am
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
continue the operation --- to neutralise AFU
formations on the territory of Kursk region.
The Sever Group of Forces liberated
Veselovka (Sumy region) during
the offensive.
Moreover, strikes were delivered at a mechanised
brigade, two air assault brigades, the president's
brigade, and a territorial defence brigade of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Gornal,
Guyevo, and Oleshnya.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation ----- and Artillery
strikes engaged AFU manpower and hardware close to
Gornal, Guyevo, and Oleshnya ....as well as Basovka,
Belovody, Varachino, Velikaya Rybitsa, Veselovka,
Vladimirovka, Vodolagi, Grunovka, Zhuravka,
Zapselye, Kiyanitsa, Loknya, Mogritsa,
Novonikolayevka, Obody, Sadki,
Khrapovshchina, Yunakovka,
and Yablonovka...
(Sumy region).
For the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more
than 190 troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, an
armoured fighting vehicle, eight motor vehicles,
an artillery gun, three mortars as well as
six UAV command posts, and an
ammunition depot.
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the
AFU losses amounted to more than 70,890 troops, 402
Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces
delivered strikes at infrastructure objects of military
airfields, UAV depots, ammunition & material depots
----- as well as engaged manpower and hardware
clusters of AFU formations and foreign
mercenaries --- in 146 areas.
Air defence and electronic warfare units shot down
and suppressed 142 fixed-wing UAVs --- with 61 of
them outside the special military operation zone.
In total --- since the beginning of the special military
operation, the AFU losses amounted to 658 aircraft,
283 helicopters, 47,353 unmanned aerial vehicles,
601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,344 tanks &
other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,529 MLRS
combat vehicles, 22,700 field artillery guns
and mortars - and 33,050 units of support
military vehicles have been neutralised.
___________________________________________
Zakharova ridiculed Zelensky's
response to the words about
Ukraine on Putin's menu
by Margarita Pimenova
(Night Line Editor)
March 18th, 9:10pm
(Lenta.ru)
The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) of Russia, Maria Zakharova, ridiculed
the response of the Ukrainian President Vladimir
Zelensky, who sharply reacted to the words
that Ukraine is "on the menu" of Russian
President Vladimir Putin. The diplomat
commented on the politician's
statement... in Telegram.
Zelensky said that Ukraine is "not a salad or compote
to be on Putin's menu, despite his appetites."
"I didn't lie this time. The Kiev regime is not a salad
or compote, but what the contents of the menu
turn into... after digestion," Zakharova wrote.
Earlier, military analyst Michael Clarke in an interview
with Sky News spoke about the absence of Ukraine
at the negotiating table saying. "There's an old
saying in diplomatic circles: 'If you're not at
the table, you're on the menu.' And believe
me, Ukraine is on the menu," he said.
______________________________________
Rogov ----- called the attempt by
the Ukrainian Armed Forces to
break into Belgorod region...
the despair of Kiev
March 18th, 8:46pm
(RT.ru)
Vladimir Rogov, Chairman of the Russian Public Chamber's
Commission on Sovereignty -- called the attempt of the
Ukrainian Armed Forces to break into the Belgorod
region, the Kiev regime's desperation.
"This is the despair of the Zelensky regime,"
RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
Rogov said that Kiev's attack on the Belgorod region ---
wanted to "distract attention from the defeat of the
AFU group in the Kursk region, and defeats on the Zaporozhye and Donetsk fronts."
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Kiev, on the
morning of March 18 made an attempt to wedge units
of the Armed Forces of Ukraine into the territory of
Russia in the western part of the Belgorod region
-- in order to create a "negative background"
around the telephone conversations
between the leaders of Russia
and the United States.
In total, during the day, the Ukrainian army carried out
five attacks on the western part of the Belgorod
region, up to 200 Ukrainian militants and 29
pieces of military equipment.. including
five tanks and 16 armoured vehicles,
were involved in the provocation.
DAN adds: the total losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
were to up to 60 personnel, 1 tank, 7 armoured combat
vehicles, 3 engineering vehicles of the barrier and
a car. The remaining militants retreated.
"30 air and missile strikes, as well as 13 strikes by army
aviation, an Iskander missile & MLRS missile systems
were carried out on the revealed places of the
accumulation of personnel and military
equipment of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine in the 8-10 kilometre
zone in the Sumy region,"
the Ministry said.
''Tornado-S“, two strikes with heavy flamethrower
systems. and 40 UMPK FAB-500 aircraft bombs
were used. The enemy - suffered significant
losses," Russia's Defense Ministry added.
The provocation of the Kiev regime against the
background of Russia-US negotiations was
thwarted -- thanks to the actions of the
group of troops "North". No state
border crossings are allowed.
_______________________________
In Belarus, they announced plans to
transfer cars for Oreshnik to the
Russian Federation in the
near future
March 18th, 7:57pm
(Izvestia.ru)
In the near future, Belarus plans to transfer vehicles to Russia to install the Oreshnik missile system on them. This was announced on Tuesday, March 18, by State Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic Alexander Volfovich.
"We are completing the production of the required
number of these vehicles, which will soon be
handed over to the Russian Federation in
order to install weapons on them," he
said on the Belarus 1 TV channel.
In addition, Volfovich said - that Belarus has
already prepared places for the placement
of the"Hazel Tree".
"I think that by the end of the year we will fulfill the
instructions that the heads of state [Russian
President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian
leader Alexander Lukashenko] set for
us," the State Secretary of the
Security Council of Belarus,
summed up.
Earlier, on March 14th, Lukashenko said that the "Hazel Tree" will soon enter service with the Belarusian army.
According to him, the launch part for this rocket is
produced in Belarus. He added ---- that Minsk
expects to receive several missiles from
the Russian Federation, in the near
future, and the launchers.. will
be made in Belarus.
________________________________
White House: movement towards peace in Ukraine --- will begin with a cease-fire on energy
March 18th, 6:01pm
(RT.ru)
The movement towards peace in Ukraine will begin
with a cease-fire on energy and infrastructure
facilities, the White House said after talks
between the Russian & US Presidents
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
"The leaders agreed that the movement towards
peace will begin with a cease-fire on energy
and infrastructure," the statement said.
It is also noted, that negotiations will
begin immediately in the Middle East.
The Kremlin said that Putin gave the military
the command to suspend strikes on
Ukraine's energy sector.
In addition, Moscow considers it important to
completely stop foreign military assistance
to Ukraine and... providing it with
intelligence information.
________________________________________
The participants of Operation Potok
spoke Ukrainian to deceive
the enemy
March 18th, 1:31pm
(Vesti.ru)
Russian military personnel participating in Operation
Potok spoke Ukrainian to deceive the enemy after
exiting the gas pipeline near Sudzha.
According to the RT TV channel, the soldiers presented
themselves as military personnel from the elite 80th
Airborne Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine, which operated in the Kursk region.
Some of the soldiers of this brigade later
surrendered..... after the start of
Operation Potok.
The Ukrainians noticed the Russian soldiers who came
out of the pipe only an hour and a half after the start
of the active phase of the operation, the
stormtroopers said.
Russian military personnel entered Suja via a gas pipeline
on March 8th. They covered a distance of 15 kilometres
along a narrow pipe to make a detour. As a result,
Sudzha of the Kursk region was released.
More than 800 fighters participated
in Operation Potok.
____________________________________
Alaudinov: almost the entire
Kursk region --- is liberated
March 18th, 12:33pm
(Vesti.ru)
Lieutenant-General Apty Alaudinov, deputy head of the
Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian
Armed Forces and commander of the special
forces "Akhmat", told TASS news agency
that almost the entire Kursk region has
been liberated from the Armed Forces
of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"We can now state the fact that almost the entire territory
of the Kursk region has been liberated," Alaudinov said.
According to the general, the offensive of the Russian
army has brought serious results. He clarified that
almost all settlements were taken under control
- and the enemy suffered significant losses
in manpower.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry reported that
Similarly to the ABM Treaty, the US unilaterally pulled
out of the INF Treaty in 2019. However, instead of
simply stating it wished to develop weapons
beyond the treaty’s limitations, the Trump
administration accused Moscow of
violating the treaty by lying about
the range of its 9M728/9M729
missiles used by Iskander
missile systems.
Nonetheless, within 2 weeks of the US’ formal
departure from the treaty, in August 2019, it
began testing the first of multiple missiles
that violated the treaty’s limitations.
The origins of the INF Treaty lay in a dramatic
showdown, across Europe, in late 1983,
triggered by Washington’s deployment
of ITS Pershing-II intermediate-range
ballistic missiles (IRBM) to Europe.
With a 900-mile range, a flight apogee of just 60 miles,
and a maneuverable, radar-guided reentry vehicle,
the missile could put an 80-kiloton nuclear war-
head on Moscow in between 6 and 11 minutes
...according to Pentagon leaders. Such a fast
strike time gave the Soviets just minutes to
identify, analyze and respond to the threat,
greatly increasing the risk of them mis-
reading a situation and launching a
mistaken nuclear return volley,
believing it to be their
only chance.
In addition, tensions in Europe had already been
ramped up by years of psychological operations
designed to increase Soviet anxieties, such as
US bombers charging Soviet borders and
turning away at the last second
That’s why, when NATO began the vast, ultra-realistic
“Able Archer-83” war games, simulating an all-out
attack on the Soviet Union, in November 1983, it put Soviet fears through the roof.
However, it wasn’t until after the war games had
concluded, several days later, that NATO
commanders discovered key signs: the
Soviets had loaded hundreds of strike
aircraft in East Germany and Poland
with nuclear bombs, and orders to
strike “front-line targets” at a
moment’s notice.
The INF Treaty eliminated missiles like the Pershing-II,
banning land-based missiles with ranges of between
500 klms and 5,500 klms. This significantly cooled
tensions in Europe... although the treaty was only
between the US and Soviet Union -- now Russia --
which left other countries, such as China, free to
develop their own intermediate-range missiles.
The INF’s absence now is especially poignant,
considering the long-standing Russian fears
over a NATO Aegis Ashore missile system,
built on a land base in Deveselu, Romania.
While the US claimed the system was purely
defensive, Moscow noted... that Aegis can
also be used to launch offensive missiles.
Among the missiles tested after the INF Treaty lapsed
was a land-based Tomahawk missile with a range of
1,600 kilometres - a cruise missile US Aegis
cruisers have fired at sea for years.
1992 Treaty on Open Skies
The Open Skies treaty... was an attempt to increase
transparency and put to rest fears of an impending
attack by the other side. The deal allowed 35
partner nations to perform reconnaissance
overflights over other nations... using
specialized aircraft with specialized
equipment. However, flights could
not interfere with other military
activities and could be refused
by the overflown nation, for a
variety of reasons.
The US sent signs it was interested in leaving the
treaty as early as 2019, claiming it was caused
by Russia refusing US Open Skies aircraft
access to several areas almost a decade
earlier - denials Moscow insisted were
within its rights under the treaty.
The US finally made the move on May 21ST 2020,
meaning the six-month cooldown time had the
US leaving the treaty, after the November 2020 elections, that Trump lost.
The decision sparked an outcry across Europe, with Ukraine being one of the loudest critics;
that nation having long used Open Skies to perform overflights in western Russia, to calm its nerves about troops and
installations there.
Indeed, the Open Skies Treaty was drafted precisely to
avoid the type of anxious confrontation... unfolding on
the Russia-Ukraine border, over the last two months.
The Democrats publicly attacked Trump’s withdrawal
as illegal then... although much of their criticism
focused on his refusal to notify Congress before
pulling out. However, in March 2021, a leaked
message --- sent to concerned “international
partners” by the Biden administration said
it was afraid that doing so “would send
the wrong message to Russia and
undermine our position... on the
broader arms control agenda.”
Istanbul, Astana Declarations
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) has its origins in the November
1972 multilateral talks in Espoo, Finland
...intended to further the peaceful
cooperation of the Detente era.
Today, the OSCE has 57 members and 11 observers
and continues to serve as a regional forum for
resolving international issues.
Two of its most important declarations of principles
came at summits in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1999 and in
Astana (now Nur-Sultan), Kazakhstan, in 2010,
which, among other topics, affirmed each
nation’s right to its own security in the
context of an international community.
"The security of each participating State... is
inseparably linked to that of all others. Each
participating State, has an equal right to
security. We reaffirm the inherent right
of each and every participating State
...to be free to choose or change its
security arrangements, including
treaties of alliance, as they evolve.''
''Each State also has the right to neutrality. Each
participating State will respect the rights of all others in these regards. They will not
strengthen their security ...at the
expense of... the security of
other States.'' the Astana
declaration states.
While the OSCE met in Vienna, Austria, 2 weeks ago,
the talks yielded no major breakthrough. Earlier this
week -- when the US and NATO delivered separate
written responses to Russia’s December security
proposal -- the US response was considerably
more intransigent, while NATO’s, sent from
Brussels and speaking for 30 member
states, acknowledged the Russian
security concerns and proposed
mutual briefings in the NATO-
Russia Council and the re-
establishment of their
respective envoys in
Moscow & Brussels.
However, neither reply gave deference to Russia’s
central concern --- the eastward expansion of
NATO and the impact that has on Russian
security, especially since now, the US
explicitly regards Russia as a
challenger to its position ...as leader of the post- Cold War global order.
Speaking on Thursday, about the US response,
in particular, Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey
Lavrov said "The principle that one should not strengthen one's security -- at the expense of
the security of others is deliberately avoided.
Neither the Istanbul or Astana declarations are mentioned by our Western partners in the discussions on European
security that are currently
taking place. We cannot
accept this.”
Morgan Artyukhina is a writer and news editor at
Sputnik’s Washington, DC, bureau... focusing on
international & breaking news. Born in southern Maryland, she studied Russian, Central, and
East European Studies, at the University of
Glasgow and is a former history professor.
At Sputnik, she covers military technology,
the expanding neoliberal police state, and
the ongoing struggles against it in the US
and around the globe.
Paul Larudee: Zionist Dream
Turning into Nightmare
November 25th, 5:26pm (FNA)
Paul Larudee, political activist and commentator,
says Zionists have come to this understating
- that Zionism is now nearing its predestined
self-annihilation.
Speaking in an interview with FNA, Larudee
said, “Zionism planted the seeds of its own
destruction the moment they created a
plan for a Jewish state in someone
else's homeland. It is increasingly
becoming an international pariah
...contributing to the wars and
conflicts in West Asia, South
America, Africa, and other
parts of the world. It only
creates more enemies
for them.”
Paul Larudee is an - Iranian-born - American political
activist who is a major figure in the pro-Palestinian
movement. Based in the San Francisco Bay area,
he is involved with the International Solidarity
Movement, & was a founder of the Free Gaza
Movement & the Free Palestine Movement.
Larudee was a member of the US delegation
aboard the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla,
which was attacked by Israeli forces.
Below is the full text of the interview:
Q: Yaakov Sharett says “Israel and the Zionist
enterprise were born in sin.” What do we
learn about the nature of Israel?
A: Such words from a Zionist leader's son may help to
gradually sink doubts into the minds of other Zionists,
but we must not forget that many Jews were opposed
to Zionism for decades before 1948. It is unfortunate
that as Zionism became more successful in its
genocidal project, it also became more
acceptable to more Jews. But that is
now being reversed. As Zionism
becomes more racist, violent,
and aggressive, it is starting
to lose Jews who cannot
stomach such behaviour.
Q: Such a significant assertion was made by the son
of a signatory to the Israeli declaration in 1948. Do
you believe settlers will learn a lesson to end their
occupation of the Palestinians’ land?
A: There are two kinds of settlers that are being used
to colonize the West Bank and Jerusalem. The most
aggressive and violent are the ideological settlers,
who think of themselves as conquering soldiers,
much like the Europeans who took the land from
the native peoples in the western hemisphere.
They want to expel all Palestinians by any means
necessary, and take their land. They do not need
Israel to paint a rosy picture. They are ready to
endure hardship, although Israel actually
helps and enables them. The other type
are the opportunists. Israel builds
subsidized housing and industrial
parks on Palestinian land... and
makes it attractive for settlers
to move there. Israel creates
many advantages for them...
so as to increase the Jewish
population in the occupied
territories and push the
Palestinians out.
Q: Yaakov Sharett predicts a dark future for Israel
and asks settlers to immigrate from Israel; like-
wise, Lawrence Wilkerson, former Israeli State
Department aide, said Israel will be gone in
some 20 years. How do you assess
these statements?
A: Clearly, Sharett is being a realist in this case.
Despite Israel's influence, propaganda, bribes
and manipulations of other governments, it is
increasingly becoming an international pariah,
contributing to the wars and conflicts in West
Asia, South America, Africa and other parts of
the world. They believe that this makes them
strong, but it only creates more enemies for
them. Sharett seems to understand that the
Zionist dream is proving to be unsustainable.
It can only be realized by committing greater
and greater crimes, but even many Zionists
consider this too high a price for their dream,
and their dream is turning into a nightmare.
Zionism planted the seeds of its own destruction
the moment they created a plan for a Jewish
state on someone else's homeland.
UN Must Prevent Normalization of
Israeli Violation of Human Rights:
Iran Envoy
November 20th, 11am (al Manar)
Iran’s ambassador to the UN office in Geneva
put the onus on the United Nations: to take
action: against the normalization of the
systematic violation of human rights
and humanitarian laws, by the
Zionist regime.
In an address to a meeting between ambassadors
of the member states of the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation, residing in Geneva,
and to members of the Commission of Inquiry of the UN Council on Human
Rights, held on Friday, Esmaeil
Baqaei Hamaneh called for the
clarification of true and false
narratives, referring to the
stories... that equate the
victims of Israeli crimes
with the perpetrators
of the heinous acts.
“It is the duty of all of us to clarify the true and false
narratives, the narrative that equates the victims
of Israeli crimes, with their killers, which is
humanly shocking, legally unfounded,
and morally shameful,” the Iranian
envoy stressed.
He added that the inquiry commission has an historic
responsibility --- to prevent the normalization of
systematic human rights violations by the
Israeli regime.
The Iranian diplomat invited all the participants in the
meeting to call for justice; and not allow war crimes,
crimes against humanity, and blatant violations of
human rights, to become normal, Press
TV reported.
In May, the UN Human Rights Council agreed to initiate
an international probe into “systematic” human rights
abuses committed during the asymmetrical war
between ‘Israel’ and Palestinian resistance
groups in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The 47-member forum adopted a resolution presented
by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC and the Palestinian
delegation to the UN, by a vote of 24 states in favour, 9 against, and 14 abstentions.
The UN rights body agreed to establish “an ongoing
independent, international commission of inquiry”
into the war to probe the “underlying root causes
of recurrent tensions and instability, including
the systematic discrimination and repression
based on group identity.”
Israeli troops have, on numerous occasions, been
caught on camera, brutally killing Palestinians...
with the videos going viral online and sparking
international condemnation.
The Tel Aviv regime has been criticized for its extensive
use of lethal force against, and extrajudicial killing of,
Palestinians... who do not pose an immediate threat
to the occupation forces, or to the Israeli settlers.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Palestinian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, called
on the International Criminal Court to launch an
immediate investigation into the Tel Aviv
regime’s crimes, in the occupied
Palestinian territories --- after
the Israeli forces shot dead a
young man, in the northern
part of the West Bank.
Source: Iranian Agencies
China is no threat
to people in the US; Wall Street,CIA & the Pentagon are
-- Analyst
October 16th, 3:14pm (PressTV)
US political analyst and activist Bill Dores says
China is no threat to the people in the US., but
Wall Street, the CIA, and the Pentagon, are.
Dores, a writer for Struggle/La Lucha and a longtime
antiwar activist, made the remarks in an interview
with Press TV on Saturday, after the CIA launched
a new mission centre to address what it calls “the most important geopolitical threat” posed... by China.
CIA Director William Burns said in a statement last week
that the new unit, called the China Mission Centre, will
“further strengthen our collective work on the most
important geopolitical threat we face in the 21st
century, an increasingly adversarial Chinese
government.”
Burns said that his agency will still focus on other threats
as well, including those emanating from Russia, North
Korea and Iran.
The CIA’s renewed attention to China is the latest evidence
of the Biden administration’s focus on Beijing as its main
foreign policy target.
Since taking charge of the White House earlier this year,
the Biden administration has been directing resources
toward countering China.
Why is the CIA targeting China?
“The CIA is grabbing more tax money --- to start a ‘mission
centre’ aimed at China, which it calls the ‘most important
geopolitical threat we face.’ This is ominous news
- considering the agency’s history of 'fabricating'
evidence to start wars, e.g. Iraq’s nonexistent
‘weapons of mass destruction,’” Dores
commented to Press TV.
“US troops have left Afghanistan. But not a dime has been
slashed from the bloated US military budget. Indeed, it’s
being increased to $778 billion from $753 billion to face
the alleged ‘Chinese threat.’ That’s more than the
combined military budgets of China, India,
Russia, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Germany,
France, Japan, South Korea, Italy
and Australia,” he added.
“It’s also been revealed that US Special Forces have been
operating secretly on Taiwan for two years. Meanwhile...
the US Congress will not pass the Build Back Better Act
to modestly extend our social safety net,” he added.
“The People’s Republic of China... has five times the population of the United States. But it spends only
$258 billion on its military. China’s forces are
deployed in - or around - the borders and
coasts of China. By no stretch of the
imagination is China threatening
he US militarily. Why would it?
For what gain?” he asked.
“So, what the Sam Hill is a ‘geopolitical threat.’ It’s a
twisted concept based on the twisted premise that
the United States, with 4 percent of the world’s
population, should dominate the world
politically & economically. And that
really means the billionaires and
millionaires, that Occupy Wall
Street protesters called the
‘One Percent,’” he stated.
China’s economic ‘threat’ to US
“China’s real ‘threat,’ in the minds of the US corporate
ruling class, is economic. China produces more than
the United States, and its economy is growing much faster,” the analyst said.
“It has achieved this, not by destroying the economies of
other countries with war and sanctions, but by growth,
and trade. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has greatly
weakened the stranglehold Wall Street banks once
held on the world economy. An article in the US
magazine Foreign Policy whined: that China is
‘whittling away’ at the murderous ‘sanctions
regime’ the US and West Europe use -- to
‘punish’ countries that defy their
dictates,” he explained.
“US corporations do, of course, invest in China. They make
a lot of money there. But they cannot dictate to China's
government the way US oil companies dictated to the
Shah of Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Or
the way they dictate to their paid servants in the
White House and the Capitol today,”
he observed.
“Politicians and news media tell working-class people in
the US that China’s growth is, somehow, a threat to our
well-being. They conceal the fact: that China’s dynamic
growth is the biggest single factor staving off a global
economic collapse,” he said.
“Yet it is their own Wall Street masters who have shut
down plants all over this country and foreclosed on
millions of homes. It is they who used the techno-
logical revolution as a weapon, to drive down
wages and destroy millions of jobs,”
Dores said.
Washington’s ‘hate China’ campaign
“Washington raises several phony issues in its ‘hate
China’ campaign. One is the alleged persecution of
the Uighur people in Xinjiang Province. There’s
nothing but hypocrisy here,” the analyst said.
“If this claim were true - and I’ve seen no reliable evidence
that it is - Washington would be the last to care. The US
leads the world in mass incarceration and murder
by police,” he noted.
“According to the Equal Justice Initiative... ‘Millions of
Americans are incarcerated in overcrowded, violent,
and inhumane jails and prisons.. that do not provide
treatment, education, or rehabilitation.' A majority
are from the oppressed Black, Latin and Native
nations... targeted by the police,” he said.
“Among the incarcerated are dozens of political
prisoners, such as Mumia Abu Jamal, Leonard
Peltier and Jamil Abdullah Al Amin, who have
spent decades behind bars on framed-up
charges,” he stated.
“Last year’s Black Lives Matter uprising..... highlighted
the extent of racist police murder in the US. Between
1980 and 2018, the US police killed more than 30,000
people. Half of those killings were misclassified,
according to a study published in the Lancet
medical journal,” he said.
US supports ‘ethnic cleansing and
murder of Palestinian people’
“We also can't forget that Washington not only supports
but subsidizes --- the ethnic cleansing and murder of
Palestinian people --- by the racist state of Israel,
including the mass imprisonment of 2 million
people in the giant concentration camp
called the Gaza Strip. The US also has
no problem with the oppression of
the majority Muslim people of
Kashmir, by the Indian state,” Dores noted.
“The US accuses China of stealing ‘intellectual property,’
a twisted concept indeed. Perhaps the West should pay
China for inventing paper, iron smelting, the seed drill,
the compass, rockets, gunpowder and other
innovations... that made its economic
development possible,” he said.
“There is the accusation of currency manipulation. But
Washington... has flooded the world with devalued
dollars ever since the Nixon administration took
the dollar off the gold standard in the 1970s.
The US has long used the dollar as an
instrument of financial warfare,”
he said.
Why is the US Navy in the South China Sea?
“And there is the issue of ‘free navigation’ in the South
China Sea. Which raises the question, what is the US
Seventh Fleet doing in the South China Sea anyway?
For that matter, why is the US Fifth Fleet off the
coast of Iran and the US Fourth Fleet off the
coast of Venezuela,” Dores said.
“Every year, ships carry $3.4 trillion worth of goods
through the South China Sea. Most of that is
bound to and from China,” he said.
“The PRC has no interest in stopping that commerce.
It does have an interest in keeping US warships
away from its coast and ports,” he said.
“For the past seven years, the US Navy has helped Saudi
Arabia impose a naval blockade that is starving the
children of Yemen. US sanctions, backed by the
US Navy, are the main obstacle to commerce
between nations in the world today,”
he said.
“Instead of new CIA mission centres, military bases and
fleets of warships and warplanes all over the world, the
US should do what China does: Invest in schools,
health care, housing, railroads and renewable
energy. Bring all the ships, planes, troops
and spies home. The world would be a
much better and safer place,”
he concluded.
Iran won’t let US, Turkey, Israel
create crisis in Caucasus
Sunday, October 3rd, 11:51am (PressTV)
by Sa’dollah Zarei
The fact of the matter is, that if there is no more time for
preventing a conspiracy from taking shape... there is
still time to thwart the conspiracy that has formed.
Here are some points with regards to this issue:
1) What the US, the Zionist regime, the governments of
Turkey and Azerbaijan, and the West in general, are
pursuing in the regions north of Iran is, firstly, a reaction to the great achievements of the
Islamic Republic and the resistance front.
When the criminal Zionist regime refers to the Republic of
Azerbaijan as “Lebanon of Israel,” it means that there is
a “Lebanon of resistance” that has foiled any Israeli
conspiracy over the past forty years and turned
into a major crisis for the occupying regime.
Why is a front led by the US, Zionist regime, Turkey and
Azerbaijan, talking about launching a pan-Turan move
-ment here? Because a powerful religious movement
has, for more than 40 years, disrupted the plots of
colonialists and criminals. So, it is quite clear that the enemy, although very hardworking, is in a state of “passivity.”
Here is another important question: will this evil conspiracy
ever yield any result? The answer is that there is a serious
antidote to prevent the realization of this tension-making
scheme, and if it enters the scene, it will definitely
thwart the plan, as it has happened so far.
2) Some people make a mistake here and say that the Syunik
agreement with North Karabakh... is a matter that concerns
the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia and that Iran’s
objection to it is not a matter of concern. They argue that
the implementation of the agreement is to the detriment
of Iran’s regional situation, but it is a natural
consequence and thus does not create a
right for Iran to legitimize its opposition.
The answer is clear; This is not an agreement between the
two countries on a disputed region, but one on creating a
region meant to undermine the security, political and
economic position of a third country.
While acknowledging their military and political failure, in
Afghanistan, the Americans explicitly speak of pursuing
a proxy war model to make up for their defeat. Shortly
afterwards, it becomes known that they had sent a
signal to Azerbaijan to launch and attack and a
signal to Armenia to, in turn, show tolerance
and accept the post-war reality, and at the
same time, following the end of a recent
44-day Karabakh war, the US stated
that they 'support' the agreements
reached between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. All this suggests that
the US has been standing behind this war and the situation that ensued.
Simultaneously, the Azerbaijani government announced
the widespread use of Israeli attack drones in the war,
and the Armenian army called the UAVs the main
reason for its heavy casualties in the war. This
means that it was an American-Israeli war.
Everyone knows, that the administration of Armenian
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is a Christian govern-
ment dependent on the West, but it's interesting that
in this war, the United States and Israel destroyed the forces and facilities belonging to a pro-West
Christian administration, and supported a
Muslim government instead! Isn’t that
a telltale sign?
The question is, what kind of “proxy war” US officials
were talking about in the course of their withdrawal
from Afghanistan? Was it possible for the US to
start such a war in Afghanistan? Which forces
could be used by the US to launch a proxy war
in Afghanistan? Could the US bring the Taliban
- which was taking power - into a proxy war?
Proxy war with whom? The answer is no.
Was the Afghan army able to enter a proxy war? The
answer's clear. Was the army that was not even able
to defend Kabul for an hour, against the Taliban —
which took control of the capital without firing a
single shot — ready to enter a proxy war?
Could the old mujahedeen forces.. serve
as the proxies of the American war? The
answer is clear. The old forces, besides
having an anti-American spirit... have
currently no military capability. Could
the USA... create a ''proxy force'' in
Afghanistan, in the medium term,
with the Taliban et al present on the scene? The answer to this
question is also, no. This is
because... for at least the
next 50 years... US crimes
will be in front of the eyes
of the Afghan people, and
the prospect for any kind
of Afghan-American,
cooperation...
is bleak.
So, what did the Americans mean by a proxy war? In fact,
the Americans wanted a proxy war where there was a
fertile ground... and the required strength. From the
American point of view, the “ethnicity” factor must
be emphasized and turned into a winning weapon
against anti-American revolutionary uprisings.
The Americans have long focused on the
model of racism and pan-Turanism... in
the case of this region, and considered
them as “a possible solution,” or more
accurately, the last “remaining arrow,”
and pinned their hopes on it.
Therefore, the prominent role of this tendency, in the
developments in the north, and its overlapping in the
Caucasus, besides the intention to highlight the anti
Iranian and anti-Islamic edges in the rhetoric of the
officials of these countries, tell us that we are
facing a “semi-hard” proxy war.
When Azeri President Ilham Aliyev speaks openly in an
interview about the widespread presence of Israeli
forces and equipment in the Caucasus, and the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis, he
is, in fact, blowing the lid off a proxy war.
3) Saudi Arabia’s measures are yet another issue that is indicative of the proxy war in the developments
unfolding in Iran’s northwestern frontiers, on
the one side, and its scale, on the other. The
Saudis have explicitly said that they are
working to launch a 24-hour television
network for the Turkish region of the
Caucasus called “Turk national.”
Why is the Saudi regime in the Caucasus trying to launch
such a TV network? The people in this region are neither
Arabs nor Sunnis in order for them to be the audience of
a Sunni Arab country. At the same time, it is obvious that this decision cannot be implemented without the consent and cooperation of the governments in the region.
4) Naturally, on this front, Iran can't remain silent and turn
a blind eye to the dimensions and consequences of the
action that being along its borders; therefore, it has to
react, but what is the due reaction? There is no doubt
that military conflict & dragging Iran into the military
arena is a well-known policy of the American front.
On the other hand... we know that what is intended for the Caucasus region is not even a full-fledged military
war, let alone a regional and multilateral war. We
are thus not talking about a war in the sense
that it is perceived. We are talking about
actions that disturb the peace of this
region and the interests of the
powers around it.
Isn’t it true... that the Azerbaijani government says Israeli
drones and forces have been involved in the recent war
between the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Republic of
Armenia? Isn’t it true that the Israelis explicitly referred
to the Republic of Azerbaijan... as “Lebanon of Israel”?
Since there are talks about the formation of a definite
security threat against the Islamic Republic, Iran has
the right to dismantle and confront the centre of
conspiracy against itself, without coordination
with any place or individual.
This type of Iranian confrontation is not so incomprehensible
to Zionists. Interestingly, an Israeli institution wrote a few
days ago: “Iran may want to retaliate against Israeli attacks
in Syria in Azerbaijan.” The regime is attacking areas in
Syria under the false pretext that Syria has become a
base for the presence of Iranian military personnel.
The Israeli institute asks what problem would arise
if Iran attacked a base in Azerbaijan, where Israeli
force are possibly present?
Of course, Iran knows very well how to use developments
to the detriment of its enemies. The Islamic Republic will
naturally begin with negotiations, to fraternally resolve
the issue between neighbours on Iran’s northwestern
border. Over the past 2 decades, the United States,
Turkey, and the Zionist regime have faced ultimate
defeat in any sedition that they incited and gotten
out of the situation while fraught with humiliation.
They are inciting sedition while they do not have
the power to tolerate and manage the war. If
these acts of sedition are not put aside, they
will face defeat, thanks to Iran’s measures.
(The views expressed in this article.... do
not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)
It’s time for NATO to leave Kosovo
before it does any more damage
October 2nd, 10:36am (RT)
By Boris Malagurski, a Serbian Canadian documentary
film director, known for “The Weight of Chains”,
enlisted in the catalogue of the Library of
Congress, whose work has been show- cased on international festivals...
including Raindance in London.
Follow Boris on Twitter @malagurski
Just as it all ended badly for the West’s military interventions
in Vietnam and Afghanistan, so it will in Kosovo. NATO has
overstepped its mandate, overplayed its hand, and
overstayed its welcome.
As the last US military helicopters were leaving Kabul,
Afghanistan, many, including myself, emphasized the
similarities with America’s embarrassment in Saigon,
South Vietnam – but one parallel that few dared to
draw, was with Kosovo.
When I merely asked “Is Kosovo next?” on Twitter, it
sent Albanian media outlets into a frenzy. Kosovo’s
Albanian majority celebrates the NATO troops as
saviours – NATO bombed Serbia, to take away
control of its Southern province of Kosovo in
1999. Since then, NATO has been sponsoring
a nation-building project... that seemed to have culminated in 2008, when Kosovo’s
provisional authorities declared
independence from Serbia.
It wasn’t an ‘end of history’ moment. Serbia and much of
the world didn’t recognize Kosovo as an independent
country, and Kosovo itself remained heavily
dependent on Western aid... and military
support. Most Albanian politicians are
aware of this and they are highly
obedient with regards to NATO,
whose KFOR troops are
‘keeping the peace’
in Kosovo.
However, NATO has overstepped its mandate. UN Security
Council Resolution 1244, which put an end to NATO’s war
with Yugoslavia, guarantees Serbia’s sovereignty over
Kosovo, while NATO has pushed for an independent
Kosovo from day one of their occupation. The
resolution also called for... the return of an
agreed number of Yugoslav and Serbian
personnel to maintain a presence at
significant sites and key border
crossings.... NATO has never
allowed this to happen. The
last Serbian prime minister
who called for this agree-
ment to be honored, was
assassinated in 2003, a little over a month
after his request.
On the other hand, what are the results of NATO’s nation
building in Kosovo? Close to a 30% unemployment rate.
One of the poorest areas of Europe... with as much as
45% of the population living below the official poverty
line, and 17% being extremely poor. Former Kosovo
Liberation Army terrorists, some accused of
trafficking weapons and human organs,
replaced their military uniforms with
politicians’ suits and are governing
the entity. The previous president
of Kosovo, nicknamed ‘The Snake’
...is currently being tried for war
crimes, and crimes against
humanity, at The Hague.
He’s the one who unveiled the Bill Clinton statue in
Kosovo’s capital. Bill then came to celebrate with
‘The Snake’.
Kosovo’s recent license plate row with Serbia was just
the latest example of a leadership in Kosovo incapable
of dealing with real issues, but rather... going into
conflict... to cover its incompetence. Instead of
negotiating with Belgrade, Kosovo unilaterally
used force --- to implement the removal of
Serbian license plates. And all that NATO
was willing to contribute to deescalate
the tensions... was to offer its KFOR
troops, to replace Kosovo’s special
unit, without even trying to resolve
the essence of the dispute. What
is NATO still doing in Kosovo?
Probably the same thing it was doing in Afghanistan.
Hoping a bad decision to go in, will eventually pay
off somehow. But it won’t. It didn’t in Vietnam, it
didn’t in Afghanistan, and it won’t in Kosovo.
So it’s time for NATO to start packing
its bags.
The statements, views and opinions expressed
in this column, are solely those of the author,
& don't, necessarily, represent those of RT.
“Normalization":Betrayal of Palestineby Arab despots no easy road
by Iqbal Jassat
October 1st, 11am (PressTV)
Pinning Palestinians down while applying harsh
measures of violent repression -- accompanied
by a fanatical settler movement of arch-racists
given free reign to attack and plunder -- is a
notorious game Israel has elevated to a
daily ritual.
In fact the routine of inflicting war crimes has all
the hallmarks of a rogue regime entirely caught
up in a misplaced belief --- that to engage in ethnic cleansing, is a religious obligation.
Conflating Judaism with a racist political ideology
of Zionism has been part of a strategy designed
to deceive, distort and divert. It has its roots in
the first Zionist congress held on the eve of
the 19th century.
That this is well documented and widely known is
not in dispute. Indeed... awareness of Zionism's
goal to dismember and dislodge Palestinians
from their centuries old homeland and
forcibly impose thereon a foreign
entity known as Israel, has
always been a bedrock
for resistance.
Israel has thus always been considered an enemy
thrust upon a native population through the most
horrific forms of terrorism. The memories of Deir
Yassin remind the world of bloody massacres
committed by Zionist terrorists which didn't
spare hundreds of villages... to
colonize Palestine.
That more than seven decades later the expansionist
goals of Zionism are still being pursued at great
human cost to successive generations of the
indigenous Palestinian population, is
reflected in daily atrocities.
None of these facts, as attested to by historians, as
well as organs of the United Nations, are contested.
Though of course Israel and supporters of it seek
to distort and malign commentators who speak
truth to power, as anti-Semitic.
Yet against this background of terrorism and current
conditions siege, occupation, killings and mass
imprisonment - recorded and broadcast via
mainstream media for all the world to
witness - it is bizarre that a handful
of Arab regimes, have broken rank
with Palestine's freedom struggle.
And at a time when even Haaretz describes
the atrocities by Israel, as a pogrom:
"Residents of the Palestinian communities in the south-
eastern West Bank have experience of settler attacks
- when they graze their flocks, work their fields, or
even have a picnic on their own land.... But they
cannot recall an attack like the one experienced
Tuesday -- by the small communities of Khirbat
al-Mufkara, al-Rakiz and al-Tuwani. On Simhat
Torah, dozens of young Jews, most of them
masked, conducted what can only be
described as a pogrom."
The treachery associated with what has become known
as "normalization" is an outrageous manifestation of
betrayal and collaboration. Limited to the UAE,
Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco,.. these regimes
have in effect confessed that the protection
of their shaky thrones... counts for more...
than legitimate rights of the Palestinians.
As unelected self-imposed despots fearful of democratic
values, they have bargained that "normalization" with
the usurper of Palestine will "guarantee" safety and
protection for them. In other words, just as Egypt
has done, these oligarchs have outsourced their
intelligence networks and security apparatus to Israel, knowing full well that in doing so, they have abandoned Palestine.
Though the abnormality of the implicit recognition of an
illegal colonial enterprise, has been in sharp contrast
to countless Arab League resolutions... the deal of
"normalization" pushed by Trump and vigorously
backed by the Biden administration... has exposed these leaders - as surrogates of western imperialism.
The case of Bahrain's role in the "Abraham Accords"
reveals the soft underbelly of Arab dictatorships.
Besides being financially dependent on its
neighbours especially the UAE and Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain’s alliance with Israel is
designed to entrench its power and
crush any resistance to author-
itarianism or efforts towards
freedom and democracy.
In 2011, during the onset of the Arab Spring uprisings,
Saudi Arabia sent troops to Bahrain to suppress anti
-government protests. This trend continues today
by Israel --- equally committed to maintaining the
status quo, and preventing the success of any
popular uprisings.
In this context, one may justifiably condemn Bahrain’s gross insensitivity and abject abdication of Palestine's freedom struggle... as treacherous.
Showcasing Israeli war criminal Lapid’s visit to Manama
where he is set to open the embassy flying Israel's flag
is utterly outrageous. This follows the opening of a
Zionist embassy in Abu Dhabi, and will likely be
establishing one in Rabat. Sudan thus far has
reportedly said that it has no plans yet to
open an embassy in Khartoum.
Not surprising therefore that the Arab street across these
capitals have vowed to end "normalization". The iron-
fisted grip held by Arab despots notwithstanding,
human rights movements (many banned and
leaders exiled) have declared their outright
rejection of America's much-vaunted
Abraham Accords.
Stirrings in Sudan are becoming more vocal despite
Khartoum's attempts to silence critics. In Bahrain
the main opposition group, al-Wefaq National
Islamic Society declared Lapid’s trip as a
"threat", saying, "This is provocative
news and this trip is completely
rejected, and he (Lapid) should
not set foot on Bahraini soil."
Their message is clear: "Any (Israeli) presence on Bahraini soil --- means incitement."
Iqbal Jassat is an executive at the Johannesburg-
based Media Review Network (MRN), a socio-
political advocacy group, that concerns
itself with media and political analysis.
(The views expressed in this article do
not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)
Greece And FranceTake First Step
Towards European Independence
Following AUKUS Debacle
September 28th (South Front)
by Paul Antonopoulos,
independent geopolitical analyst
Signing of Franco-Greek Agreement is the
beginning of supplanting NATO in Europe.
Of the 30 NATO member states, Greece is one of the few
to spend well over 2% of its GDP on defense, as agreed
upon by NATO Defence Ministers, in 2006. However,
Greece’s high spending (relative to GDP), is not
because it is positioning itself as a buffed-up
military state opposed to Russia, as per the
aims of NATO, but rather, to defend itself
against the threats of another NATO
member, Turkey.
With NATO consistently downplaying Turkish aggression
against Greece and the new AUKUS pact creating
distrust between the Anglosphere and the
Europeans... Greece has ensured new
extra security assurances against
its long-time enemy.
Greece’s strengthened partnership with France highlights
that the immediate consequences of the AUKUS alliance
are already being felt, as the two countries are making
the first serious steps towards a Europe independent
of Washington.
Alexis Papahelas, one of Greece’s top journalists, explained
that the Franco-Greek security pact is Macron’s “revenge”
against the Americans as it will strengthen European
autonomy. He also confirmed persistent rumours
that a defensive pact between France and
Greece was almost reached last year,
but ultimately broke down at the
last minute for “unknown
reasons.”
To put the situation in context, Greece for a year and a half-
received bids from six countries, including France, the U.S.
and UK for brand new navy frigates. The finalization of a
deal was continuously delayed... due to Greece’s
insistence, that a frigate purchase must include a defense agreement.
Greece signed its 12-month Mutual Defense Cooperation
Agreement (MDCA) with the US last year, but ultimately
did not decide on which frigate bid to accept. With
negotiations for a Franco-Greek defence pact
last year stalling, Athens ultimately decided
to sign the MDCA... with Washington. This
was rumored to be partially motivated
as part of 'negotiations' to pressure
the French to accept Greek terms.
However, with the sudden emergence of AUKUS, European
trust in the Anglosphere quickly diminished, and thus
galvanized Franco-Greek discussions on European
independence. And finally, a deal to purchase
three brand-new French Belharra-class
frigates, was stricken.
For his part, Mitsotakis said on Tuesday morning at the
signing of the agreement that:- “It is an historic day for Greece and France. Today’s development is an
initiative that responds to the demands of the
times on our continent. It paves the way for
an autonomous and strong Europe of the
future. Whether there is a timetable for
creating a European army: the debate
on European military autonomy,
evolves. Options such as this
corporate defense partner-
ship, move to this central
strategic choice.”
Effectively, Greece and France are advocating for a pan-
European military that would likely drive out NATO, as
the premier defensive pact in Europe.
Another demonstration that this pact is aimed at
supplanting NATO... is its careful wording.
Although Turkey was not mentioned
explicitly, there is little doubt that
part of the motivation for the
Franco-Greek defense pact
was Turkey’s unilateral
aggression in the
Mediterranean.
Even just minutes after the signing of the Franco-Greek
agreement, former Dutch diplomat Fons Stoelinga
tweeted: “EU autonomy in security and defense.
NATO still does not address the problem of
NATO-member Turkey destabilizing the
whole Eastern Mediterranean region.
France and Greece now react and
signed a security bilateral pact.”
The mutual defense assistance clause of the agreement
ensures that if Greece or France is attacked on its
territory, the other will come to assist, even if the
attacking country is part of other alliances.....
including NATO. This is an obvious message
directed towards Turkey, a NATO member
that on a daily basis violates Greek air-
space and threatens to invade its
Aegean islands.
These violations and threats receive no repercussions from
NATO as individual members are unwilling to risk their
economic relations with the country, whilst many
NATO leaders still believe that Turkey is a
bulwark against Russia.
France for most of its modern history, but especially
galvanized under President Emmanuel Macron.. had
an ambition of creating a more independent Europe.
The European experience under former U.S.
President, Donald Trump, and the recent
snub from President Joe Biden, with the
AUKUS debacle... has only increased the urgency of achieving European
independence from Washington.
Despite this ambition, as well as warning Europe that it will
become secondary in world affairs, if it does not become
independent, it appears that France can finally kickstart
its project alongside Greece.
Achieving EU unity is a difficult prospect, because minnow
states like Lithuania prioritize the interests of Washington
rather than the continent, but as Paris and Athens have
shown --- they will move ahead, in changing the geo-
political balance in the Mediterranean and will not
wait, while member states continuously bicker
amongst themselves on foreign policy issues.
If France and Greece can create strong foundations for an
independent Europe, it will only be inevitable before more
EU member states become interested in also being
integrated into a continental structure that is
independent of transatlantic alliances.
Why did the Taliban win against
the Americans in Afghanistan?
by Eric Zuesse
August 21st, 2021
Why did the communists win
against the Americans in Vietnam?
Why did the communists win
against the capitalists in the
Russian Revolution?
Why did the American Revolutionists
win against the British Empire?
I shall here propose an answer to all of them, because that answer applies to all such cases, as I'll explain:
When an imperialistic society is as corrupt as Britain has been since the creation of the British East India Company in 1600, and as America has been since the end of World War II in 1945, with its takeover and control by the MIC (military-industrial complex), which has inevitably produced the cancerous growth of America’s permanent-warfare state, what, then, is the reason to continue living by staying merely as a colonist or a vassal-regime (or even as the imperialist regime itself), which means, when the imposed regime is so profoundly corrupt --- as any
imperialist power necessarily is --- to accept such corruption, as this?
There’s something that is worse than dying... and it is to continue
living under a regime that one utterly despises. That’s a dragged
-out death, instead of a quick death. A regime which is as
corrupt as any imperialistic regime inevitably is, will be
intolerable for a significant number of the residents in
any one of its vassal-nations or “colonies.” Death, for
them, isn’t such a bad choice, if it means that they'll
go down fighting to overthrow it. They are driven by
the motivation, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”
This is a motivation that few, if any, of the imperialistic regime’s hired
soldiers (regardless of whether conscripted or not) can match. And
when they are foreigners who are fighting on a foreign soil (instead
of locals who are defending their land’s own locally determined
rulers), they especially and certainly cannot match such
motivation, because only the locals can be fighting with
a patriotic spirit. This is an intrinsic weakness in any
empire. And imperialist leaders tend to ignore it,
because they don’t want to understand how
repulsive they are, to virtually anyone but
their own boot-lickers.
Ultimately, the demoralization of a hired soldier’s continuing to place
his very existence in jeopardy so as to continue the war to enslave
and control the resisting local subject-population will mount high
enough to produce self-contempt, desertion, and sometimes
even suicide, in the oppressing power’s forces, especially if that’s a foreign power.
No longer will the rationalizations(that “We are protecting the residents here”) be able to continue fooling the invading-force’s soldier, and the imposed stooge- regime’s soldier. They both (the foreign regime, and its imposed local stooge-government or colony) are there really, to control the local subject-population; and, ultimately, enough of the oppressor’s forces will know this to cause the imposed stooge-government, to be conquered by those indigenous residents there - people who will be recalled as heroes, by the other
residents in that land.
This is an advantage that any revolutionists
have, against the imposed regime.
This is the real meaning of “martyrs,” in the deeper sense than
merely of a religious type — it is instead of the patriotic type; it
concerns the land -- and not necessarily any religion -- such as
Christianity, Islam, or Marxism. Their loyalty is to Afghanistan;
or it is to Vietnam; or it is to Russia; or it is to China; or (before
America became imperialistic) it was to America. And so forth.
It is to the local land, not to any dictators. It is to the country
that the foreign invader’s forces are occupying. The
invader’s forces and their imposed stooge-regimes
can’t match this motivation.
Similarly, when the American invaders were conquered by the
residents of Vietnam, the winners were the Vietnamese, not
really the communists; and, in fact, the Marxist philosophy
(or ‘religion’) subsequently has waned there. America, in
Vietnam, as in Afghanistan, was the invader, in a land
which had not invaded their own.
That similar situation exists in Afghanistan. The Sauds had invaded
America on 9/11, with the assistance of G.W. Bush, Condoleezza
Rice, and perhaps others in the Administration. And so, the U.S.
-imposed soldiers in Afghanistan couldn’t even possibly have
been fighting against Afghanistan for any authentically
patriotic real (factually true) reason, at all. Therefore,
lies were constantly needed by the U.S. regime, not
only against Iraq, but even against Afghanistan.
(Furthermore, if Bush’s objective had really been to identify whom
and how was actually behind the 9/11 attacks, then he would have
pursued that at the U.N. Security Council and would have gotten
unanimous backing for it, which would quickly have isolated
and led to the destruction of Al Qaeda. It could all have been
done without any war between nations, and also fully in
accord with international law. To the extent that 9/11 was state-sponsored terrorism, it was actually being
sponsored by the Governments of the U.S. and
Saudi Arabia.
George W. Bush, who was buddy-close with the Sauds, used 9/11 as
an excuse to trash both the U.S. Constitution and international law
so as to hoist yet higher his own tyranny, his own power - not only internationally but also.. in his own nation. An imperialist would,
of course, like to trash both, and to hoist his personal power as
high as possible. And GWB had the boldness to do it, and -
because America has been imperialistic ever since 1945
(i.e., international aggressions... have been America’s
culture since 1945) — he has been able to enjoy the
success of getting away with doing it. However,
everyone else, and especially outside America’s MIC, suffers from it.
What have the mere soldiers of invading and occupying
imperialist powers actually earned by having placed
their own lives at risk? Maybe a tombstone back
home, in the country that had invaded and
occupied that colony.
By contrast, even if a defending soldier has died as a
hero among the locals in a failed revolution against
the imperialist power, any tombstone will be
unnecessary to be that person’s memorial,
because the true memorial is in the heart,
and in the mind, of the locals there, not
in anything that is in the land of the
invading foreign power.
And, so, I propose that the answer, to the question here, is that,
whereas America’s Founders were waging war as heroes
(because their war was just), today’s Americans are
waging war as villains (because our wars are unjust
- imperialistic aggressions, instead of heroic
defenses against an aggressor). Between
America’s founding and the present time,
America has switched from doing war
against military occupiers, to doing
war as military occupiers.
And this, I maintain, is the reason why: “The Taliban’s 80,000
troops have retaken Afghanistan with cities falling like
dominos while the 300,000-strong government forces,
better equipped and trained, mostly melted and
surrendered with no will to fight.”
What today’s Taliban are to today’s Afghanistan is therefore what
the 1776 American Revolutionists were to the America of that era.
It’s not the ideology; it is the love of that land there, which has
motivated the residents’ forces to victory, against the forces
of the invading-and-occupying foreign power. This can
happen in any land, at any time.
America went into Vietnam focused on the “body counts.” That’s
how stupid America’s imperialistic leaders were, back then. The
only motivation they really understood was fear: “body counts.”
They’ve evidently learned nothing since. That is how corrupt
America is.
Right now in America, the ‘debate’ about Afghanistan is about Joe
Biden, who is basically irrelevant. He wanted to end America’s
military occupation there, just as Trump did, and just as
Obama did. He acted on it, whereas they did not — they
didn’t want to be accused by their political opponents
of having ‘lost Afghanistan on their watch’, but Biden
was evidently willing to risk it.
His only failure in the matter is that he kept lying to the American
people (and probably also to himself) about how chaotic the
evacuation would inevitably be, and about how collapsed
Afghanistan is, and has been, ever since the Soviets
invaded there in 1979.
Throughout America’s imperialistic era, the U.S. Government has
routinely been lying to the American people. Imperialism isn’t as
bad for the imperialistic nation’s public as it is for the conquered
land’s people, but it is very bad, even for them. The only people
who benefit from it are the billionaires, who control companies
such as Lockheed Martin, and ExxonMobil, and Amazon.
Those are the people (the owners), who hire the leading
politicians, including the members of Congress, and the
Presidents, to spread their empire, and their control.
They also hire the ‘journalists’ who shape their nation’s public
to support these invasions and military occupations. The
Government officials of an imperialistic regime represent
not the nation’s public - but its aristocracy - who hire and
appoint millions of the rest, the many agents (employees,
etc.) of the few billionaires. The billionaires really control
their country. After all: America is a thoroughly corrupt
country, just as any imperialistic country is. (All
imperialistic countries, are controlled by their
aristocracy. And every aristocracy is corrupt.)
The public in Afghanistan have long known this fact about America -
that it is corrupt. And this is the main reason why the Taliban now
rule that country. They represent that land. Not this land. It’s a
different culture, and a different place. To most Afghans,
America represents only corruption. There is nothing
unique about what is now happening in Afghanistan.
It has been happening for thousands of years, and
it’s just replaying an ancient script, but in that
particular location.
However, instead, the U.S.-and-allied media are focusing on Biden’s
bit part (which was always in a supporting role) in America’s
invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. So, probably
nothing will be learned from America’s invasion and
occupation of Afghanistan, just as nothing was
learned from America’s invasion & occupation
of Iraq, and from America’s invasion and
occupation of Vietnam, and from the
many other such post-WW-II
American foreign disasters.
For America’s billionaires, these have all been great successes
(very profitable); and, so, probably nothing that’s useful to the
American people will be learned from history; and, instead,
the myths will continue that have caused “The Military” to
be either the highest-respected or the second-highest-
respected of all of the 19 named institutions in America - the world’s permanent- warfare state.
The American military wastes the most money and the most blood
of any institution in America, but Americans nonetheless respect it
enormously. That, too, is a mark of an imperialistic country. The
way to control a public is to sustain the myths. U.S.-and-allied
billionaires make sure that it is done - however much it costs.
As regards the future of Afghanistan itself: On August the 19th,
the most reliable geostrategic reporter and analyst, Alexander
Mercouris, headlined at The Duran, “US Freezes Afghanistan
Reserves, Threatens Economic Crisis. Russia Works to
Establish New Government”, and he explained why the
Taliban will either cooperate with Russia, China, and
Iran, or else will degenerate yet further into a failed
state, especially because the U.S. and its allies will
do everything possible to strangle the fully looted
Government of Afghanistan — the new Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan. So: even after the US
and its allies have all left that land, the war
against the people there will continue, in
full force, from the same people, though
with different methods.
PS: The philosopher Zizek headlined at RT on August 20th, “The
true enemy for Islamists is not the West’s neocolonialism or
military aggression, but our ‘immoral’ culture”, and he said
“it was not neocons who boosted Islamic fundamentalism,
this fundamentalism grew up in a reaction to the influence
of Western liberal secularism and individualism.”
He did not understand that though religious fundamentalists
(including the Taliban) focus especially on sexual and gender
issues, a person didn’t have to be at all religious in order to
consider the financial and economic corruption of the
imperialists and of their stooges to be disgusting.
Americans didn’t invade & occupy Afghanistan, in order to
spread “liberal secularism and individualism,” but in order
for US-and-allied billionaires to expand their wealth, their
empire, and their global control. Even if the Taliban and
other religious persons might object only (or even just
mainly) to the sexual and gender issues... a broader
segment of the Afghan population were repelled by
the rampant financial and economic corruption of
the imperialists, and of their stooge-rulers.
This was not a defeat for “secularism and individualism.”
It was a rejection of imperialism: a rejection of it even by people who don’t understand what “imperialism” means.
(Source: Strategic Culture Foundation)
Israel is committed to
aggressively pursuing
'Zionist colonialism',
says analyst
August 14th, 9:38am (PressTV)
A political commentator says Israel is relentlessly
following its "Zionist colonialism" in the occupied
Palestinian territories, and the evacuation orders
handed out to indigenous Palestinian families in the West Bank and Jerusalem al-Quds, are in line with the regime’s land
expropriation policies: to build more illegal settler homes.
“Israel aggressively pursues Zionist colonialism, which
has been the bedrock of the regime’s illegal ethnic-
cleansing agenda for the last seventy or more
years,” Iqbal Jassat, an executive member
of Johannesburg-based Media Review
Network, told Press TV, in an
exclusive interview
on Saturday.
He lambasted the Tel Aviv regime’s systematic theft of
Palestinian property as “a reprehensible disregard
for the inalienable rights of indigenous
Palestinians to their own lands
and homes.”
“The racist practice of evacuation, is a misleading
interpretation of forced expulsion, illegal under
the international law. It is also indicative of
the Group Areas Act [of 1950], under the
former apartheid regime of South
Africa,” Jassat noted.
The South African analyst also criticized the United Nations
and the International Criminal Court (ICC), for their
“impotence” ...to prevent Israel's unjust and
blatant violations of international
conventions and principles.
“It also raises serious questions about the inherent biases
existing within these institutions. These biases prevent
the exercise of law --- to halt land grabs, home demolitions, expulsions and incremental genocide,” he pointed out.
Jassat went on to say that Western countries’ decades-long
guilty conscience has prevented these states from
criticizing Israel, for its barbaric and brutal
practices, as such denunciations would
be treated as anti-Semitic.
“The US and its allies in NATO view Israel as a bulwark of
their interests in the heart of the Muslim world. They,
therefore, place their so-called security goals
above injustices against Palestinians,”
the analyst said.
“Moreover, the Arab world is mainly made up of unelected
despots, from Egypt to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates and Bahrain. Their collective view, pivots
on the false notion... that their security is tied
to Israel. That explains the close proximity
between their notorious intelligence
services and Israel's Mossad
and Shin Bet.”
Jassat further noted that the controversial normalization
agreements that several Arab states have struck with Israel, have stifled opposition to the Tel Aviv regime’s colonialist and expansionist policies.
He said the unacceptable betrayal of the Palestinians'
struggle for liberation from the Israeli occupation,
has even resulted in the regime being granted
observer status, at the African Union.
Peak hypocrisy: US is ''concerned'' aboutChina's nukes
by Daniel Patrick Welch
August 7th, 11:45am
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns of
China's nukes, on the anniversary of his own
country dropping the only one ever.
The US empire never disappoints in its endless quest
to project the behavior of a true sociopath. As with
Goebbels’ Big Lie (which he stole from the US's
Bernays anyway), the tried-and-true strategy,
is to attack others, for actions it has itself
performed on a regular basis.
Hence the whole Russiagate charade about foreign
interference in sacred elections by a country other
than the US —reigning and uncontested champion
of regime change campaigns. Now comes Blinken,
the US talking head du jour on the world stage, to
warn Asia about China’s nuclear weapons. Huh?
If irony wasn’t dead, Blinken and crew (Winken, Nod
et al) would track it down and strangle it with their
bare hands. On August 6th, the State Department
announced Blinken’s warning... to China’s
neighbours: THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS
OWN COUNTRY’S DROPPING OF A
NUCLEAR BOMB on Hiroshima.
I would say “not to put to fine a point on it,” but it just
can’t possibly be sharpened any further. Run that
back, with the reverse tape noise and all.
The ONLY country EVER to drop a nuclear bomb on another,
the United States, chooses the very anniversary of the first of those two genocidal crimes against humanity, to express grave concern about China’s nuclear
arsenal. I guess you could just drop the mic
here — there really is so little left to say.
What comes after tragedy and farce?
Even Old Man Marx didn’t mention
a third, though I might venture
Cynicism Made Flesh?
Of course, Blinken--I just can’t stop saying the name… it’s like
DICK Cheney and COLIN Powell, or that library cop Bookman
from Seinfeld—Blinken isn’t to blame for the blasphemy of
rewriting history. He and his cohorts have a generational
head start on stupid. Seventy-five years of relentless
assault on Americans’ knowledge of history and
political consciousness, has left a populace
with a Hollywood understanding of WWII
that has almost no relation to reality.
Even Eisenhower knew (and said) that the bombings were of no
military use. Lost to Americans’ history—but importantly, not
the world’s—is the cold truth that Truman knew as well and
didn’t care. Perhaps the meanest, and most small-minded
of US presidents, he offed a hundred thousand Japanese
in one fell swoop, just to scare the Russkies. And by his
own admission, never lost a night’s sleep. Brrrrrrrr.
But Back to the Future: Blinken’s degenerate idiocy also further
exposes the infantile disorder of the Lesser Evilists and the rest
of the Harm Reduction menagerie. He is himself, of course, no
more than a cardboard clown, or more likely made entirely of
wood, spouting vituperations like a useful ventriloquist’s
dummy while sitting on the knee of whoever plays Edgar
Bergen in this cynical farce. The masters who pay
Blinken, Biden, (O)Bama, Bush and Bacchus
keep them on a short leash. The sociopaths
in charge make the real decisions.
The notion that “getting back to normal” would yield anything other
than a smooth return to the endless killing machine was not just
wishful thinking, but deliberate self-delusion, a lazy and selfish
need to play pretend and self-soothe while the world burns.
Unforgiveable, really. From Iran to Venezuela, Russia, China and
beyond, and with clockwork precision, the Enemies of Humanity
are ramping up war fever, concocting lies & manipulating truth
and fear like never before. The New York Times’ perversion of
the Tokyo medal counts, to pretend the US won, is more than
instructive: it is the stock in trade and lifeblood of the
predator class, honing its exceptionalist rhetoric to
wield when needed. Dark days ahead.
Daniel Patrick Welch is a writer of political commentary and
analysis. Also a singer and songwriter, he lives and writes
in Salem, Salem, Massachusetts with his wife. Together
they run The Greenhouse School. He has traveled
widely, speaks five languages and studied Russian
History and Literature at Harvard University.
Welch has also appeared as a guest on several TV and radio
channels to speak on topics of foreign affairs and political
analysis--around his day job. He can be available for
interview requests as time and scheduling permit.
Despite the price of being outspoken against US foreign policy
and military adventurism -- which can be steep, in today's
circumstances -- he believes firmly, as did Rosa
Luxemburg, that "It will always be the most
revolutionary act, to tell the truth out loud."
Welch wrote this commentary for the Press TV website.
Russia-Chinathe Endgame
by Finian Cunningham
July 3rd, 1:41pm (Sputnik)
The consolidation of the Russia-China alliance this week
spells the endgame for Western imperialism and the
never-ending wars that it spawns.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and China’s leader Xi
Jinping celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Sino-
Russian Treaty of Friendship, first signed in July
2001. The hallmark of that historic accord is a
mutual commitment to peace, prosperity
and global stability.
As Putin commented, the alliance between Russia and China
is a vital source of “stability at a time of increasing geo-
political turbulence”. The latter remark is an oblique
reference to the US-led Western states which are
driven by ratcheting up antagonism and
tensions with Moscow and Beijing,
using all sorts of spurious
complaints.
The attempt by Washington (whether Republican or Democrat)
and its Western minions to make trouble with Russia and
China has become almost frenetic. Step back from the
daily headlines in Western media and it is glaring just
how much the agenda has become irrationally
hostile towards Moscow and Beijing.
Week after week there are unfounded allegations about
Covid-19, & so on. It’s like a mad cacophony to wind
up tensions. Nevertheless, the deranged attitude of
Western ruling cliques is but the death throes of a
world order that has reached its expiration.
Russia and China’s partnership has hugely transformative
geopolitical significance. Both these giant nations straddle
the continents of Asia and Europe, connecting the Pacific
with the Atlantic, ranging from the Arctic to the
Mediterranean. Both are committed to a vision
of a multipolar world where nations cooperate
for mutual development.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) linking Eurasia with
Africa and the Americas is the vision of the future, and
Russia is a key partner in implementing that
ambitious win-win project for global peace
and prosperity.
This vision stands in stark contrast to the prevailing Western
capitalist paradigm which operates through dominance,
control and exploitation for American and European
profiteering. That kind of centuries-old system
necessarily involves imperialist conduct ...
whereby the natural resources of foreign
nations are commandeered by brute
military force, conflict, subjugation,
subterfuge, skulduggery and
other machinations.
The multipolar vision of global relations advocated by Russia
and China is the nemesis of the Western imperialist system.
And that explains why the Americans and their European
vassals make every effort to demonize and distort
Russia and China.
But the geopolitical potential of Russia and China is
unstoppable. There is a force of natural justice that
all nations will inevitably subscribe to as the only
reasonable, feasible & sustainable way forward.
It’s about people-centered development ...
versus profit-driven disorder.
Moreover, the partnership between Russia and China is a
geographer’s wonder study. Russia is the world’s largest
national territory by landmass. With over 17 million sq.
kilometres, it covers 11 time zones out of the world’s
total of 24. The abundance of natural resources that
Russia possesses is astounding, from reserves of
natural gas, oil, metals and minerals, to forestry,
agriculture and fisheries. It also can boast of
highly advanced technology in multiple
sectors. And... it shares a long land
border with China, for easing trade.
Meanwhile, China has a population of 1.4 billion people, ten
times that of Russia. With highly advanced technology and
manufacturing, China is not only a vast market for Russian
resources, it is also a gateway to the world economy.
China has already become the world’s biggest
economy over the United States, according
to some measures.
The US and Europe are post-industrial economies that are
also post-peak of their prime. Their “prime” was always
based on an extractive predatory relationship with the
rest of the world that was predicated on inflicting
conflict and poverty on others.
As China and Russia build on their strategic partnership for
mutual prosperity and peace the upshot will inevitably
entail the endgame for Western imperial powers,
which are atrophying from massive inequality,
indebtedness, moral decadence and
social decay.
Fortunately, too, and this is crucial, Russia and China have
military defenses from new generations of hypersonic
weaponry that make them impregnable against any
warmongering notions by the United States. A
failing empire like the US and its Western
satellites is always a dangerous time, as
it tries to prevent the inevitable collapse,
but starting a war with Russia & China
...is not an option.
The views & opinions expressed in the article
do not - necessarily - reflect those of Sputnik.
Barry Grossman:US, Israel
Adopting Bullying Tactics
for ICC War Crimes
Investigation in
Palestine
June 30th (FNA)
Barry Grossman is an international lawyer and political
commentator focused on human rights related issues.
He has been extensively published, on various legal
subjects and is a frequent commentator on political
affairs. He has taught law at the University of
Melbourne’s Faculty of Law and Monash
University’s Faculty of Law.
Below is the full text of the interview:
Q: How do you see the ICC ruling and the
issue of anti-Semitism raised by Israel?
A: To be sure, Benjamin Netanyahu has himself said that
“when the ICC investigates Israel for fake war crimes,
this is pure antisemitism”.
There can of course be no doubt that antisemitism is real;
indeed, every bit as real as Islam-phobia. But the long
standing ruse of conflating antisemitism with any and
all criticism of Zionism or Israel, is no longer taken
seriously, by a growing and very substantial
minority of people in the wider population.
Meanwhile the tactic of tarring everyone who resists Zionism
or criticises Israel with the antisemitism brush is having the
unfortunate, though not necessarily unintended
consequence of discrediting even the most
genuine efforts to draw attention to those
people whose speech is, indeed,
motivated by little more than
hatred for Jews.
Q: There are huge media attacks towards ICC’s probe to
Israeli war crimes in Palestine. Do you believe the ICC
can make a correct ruling under this media hegemony?
A: Propaganda about the ICC case published by the
Atlantic World’s Corporate Media Cartel is of course
preceded by pressure and instructions from think-
tanks, as well as the security/policy making
apparatus, which are, of course, fully
infiltrated by individuals promoting
Zionist agendas.
In that regard, both the US and Israel have openly declared
their hostile intentions towards the ICC and there is already
clear evidence that they're deploying all their usual tactics,
including intimidation, extortion, bribery and garden variety
corruption, to get politicians around the world, lawyers
involved in making Palestine’s case, and members of
the ICC to fall into line.
That said, if the myriad jurisdiction related technicalities
raised by Israel can be overcome, I am quite sure the
ICC is capable of reaching what many of us consider
the correct position regarding ubiquitous war crimes
and other violations of international law, perpetrated
by the occupation.
The real problem is that the ICC is quite limited in its ability
to enforce any ruling against responsible individuals and
Israeli organizations, so long as the key Atlantic World
nations continue to provide unqualified support for
the occupation, or, at the very least, to remain
neutral, in the face of clear evidence of the
occupation’s crimes.
A second very significant strategic issue arises from a
prevailing political reality which dictates that, in order
to make a reasonable finding about the occupation’s
crimes, the ICC will also have to use its authority to
investigate violations of international law alleged
against Hamas and other Palestinian groups ---
bearing in mind that the law of armed conflict
does not concern itself with the order in
which things played out and any finding
against Palestinian groups will certainly
receive far more traction, both in the
international community as well as
in occupied Palestine, than any
finding of culpability on the
part of the occupation.
Indeed, from where I sit, I do not see Palestine as
having much to gain from this process, but it
does stand to lose no small part of the
standing in public opinion, which it
has taken decades to develop, at
the cost of thousands of
Palestinian lives.
Q: Is it hypocrisy that Israel says Palestine is not
a sovereign state to have a delegation at ICC?
A: Hypocrisy hardly even begins to cover it. No nation
is in a position to dictate that Palestine is not a
sovereign nation-state, even if the UN has not
yet extended Palestine’s observer nation
status to full membership --- the way it
quickly recognized Israel’s existence
as a full member, in 1949.
It is also worth remembering that
31 UN member nations still do
not recognize Israel.
Of course, none of this is relevant to the Palestinian
delegation’s participation in ICC proceedings
investigating allegations of war crimes and
other violations of international law
committed against Palestinians by
Israeli nationals & organizations,
even though Israel is not, itself,
a party to the ICC treaty.
On the other hand, the Palestinian Authority (PA),
whose statehood and sovereignty has been
subject to intense dispute across the
international community... is a
signatory to the Rome Statute
(that is, the ICC Treaty), so it
would be bizarre, if it was
not permitted to have a
delegation present, at
the ICC proceedings.
US Encirclement of China:
A 'Progress' Report
by Brian Berletic
May 22nd (The Saker)
We post this long-read article in full -
as the New Eastern Outlook site has
been down for a number of days.
Tensions between Washington and Beijing are not merely
the recent results of former US President Donald Trump’s
time in office – but rather, just the latest chapter in US
efforts to contain China, that stretch back decades.
Indeed, US foreign policy has, for decades, admittedly aimed at encircling and containing China’s rise, and maintaining primacy over the Indo-Pacific region.
The “Pentagon Papers” leaked in 1969 would admit in
regards to the ongoing US war against Vietnam that:
…the February decision to bomb North Vietnam and the
July approval of Phase I deployments make sense only
if they are in support of a long-run United States policy
to contain China.
The papers also admitted that China, “looms as a major
power threatening to undercut [American] importance
and effectiveness in the world and, more remotely but
more menacingly, to organize all of Asia against
[America].
The papers also made it clear that there were (and still are),
“three fronts to a long-run effort to contain China: (a) the
Japan-Korea front; (b) the India-Pakistan front; and (c)
the Southeast Asia front.”
Since then, it is clear that from the continued US military
presence in both Japan and South Korea, the now two
decades-long US occupation of Afghanistan on both
Pakistan’s and China’s borders, and the emergence
of the so-called “Milk Tea Alliance” aimed at over-
throwing Southeast Asian governments friendly
with China and replacing them with US-backed
client regimes – this policy to contain China
endures up to today.
Assessing US activity along these three fronts reveals
the progress and setbacks Washington faces -- and
the various dangers to global peace and stability
Washington’s continued belligerence poses.
The Japan-Korea Front
Military.com in their article, “Here’s What It Costs to
Keep US Troops in Japan and South Korea,” reports:
In all, more than 80,000 US troops are deployed to Japan
and South Korea. In Japan alone, the US maintains more
than 55,000 deployed troops — the largest forward-
deployed US force anywhere in the world.
The article notes that according to the US Government
Accountability Office (GAO), the US spent “$34 billion
to maintain military presences in Japan and South
Korea between 2016 and 2019.”
The article cites the GAO providing an explanation as to
why this massive US military presence is maintained in
East Asia:
“…US forces help strengthen alliances, promote a free
and open Indo-Pacific region, provide quick response
to emergencies and are essential for US national
security.”
“Alliances” that are “strengthened” by the physical
presence of what are -- essentially, -- occupying US
forces, suggests the “alliance” is hardly voluntary and claims of promoting a “free and open Indo- Pacific region” is highly subjective – begging the question of, to whom, is the Indo-Pacific “free and open”.
And as US power wanes both regionally in the Indo-
Pacific as well as globally, Washington has placed
increasing pressures on both Japan and South
Korea to not only help shoulder this financial
burden, but to also become more proactive
within Washington’s containment strategy
toward China.
Japan is one of three other nations (the US itself,
Australia, and India) drafted into the US-led
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – also
known as the “Quad.”
Rather than the US solely depending on its own military
forces based within Japanese territory or supported by
its Japan-based forces, Japan’s military along with
India’s and Australia’s are also being recruited to
take part in military exercises and operations
in and around the South China Sea.
India’s inclusion in the Quad also fits well into the US
3-front strategy that made up Washington’s contain-
ment policy toward China as early as the 1960s.
The India-Pakistan Front
In addition to recruiting India into the Quad alliance, the
US helps encourage escalation through political
support and media campaigning of India’s
various territorial disputes with China.
The US also targets Pakistan’s close and ongoing
relationship with China – including the support of
armed insurgents in Pakistan’s Baluchistan
province.
Recently, a bombing at a hotel in Quetta, Baluchistan
appears to have targeted China’s ambassador to
Pakistan, Ambassador Nong Rong.
The BBC in its article, “Pakistan hotel bomb:
Deadly blast hits luxury venue in Quetta,”
would claim:
Initial reports had suggested the target
was China’s ambassador.
Ambassador Nong Rong is understood to be in Quetta
but was not present at the hotel at the time of the
attack on Wednesday.
The article also noted:
Balochistan province, near the Afghan border,
is home to several armed groups, including
separatists.
Separatists in the region want independence from the
rest of Pakistan and accuse the government and
China of exploiting Balochistan, one of
Pakistan’s poorest provinces, for its
gas and mineral wealth.
Absent from the BBC’s reporting is the extensive and
open support the US government has provided these
separatists over the years and how – clearly – this is
more than just a local uprising against perceived
injustice, but yet another example of armed
conflict-by-proxy waged by Washington
against China.
As far back as 2011 publications like The National
Interest in articles like, “Free Baluchistan” would
openly advocate expanding US support for
separatism in Pakistan’s Baluchistan
province.
The article was written by the late Selig Harrison
--- who was a senior fellow at the US-based
(corporate-financier funded) Centre for
International Policy --- & would claim:
Pakistan has given China a base at Gwadar in the
heart of Baluch territory. So an independent
Baluchistan... would serve US strategic
interests, in addition to the immediate
goal, of countering Islamist forces.
Of course, “Islamist forces”... is a euphemism for US-
Persian Gulf state sponsored militants used to both
fight Western proxy wars, as well as serve as a
pretext for Western intervention. Citing
“Islamist forces” in Baluchistan,
Pakistan - clearly - serves as an example of the latter.
In addition to op-eds published by influential policy
think tanks, US legislators like US Representative
Dana Rohrabacher, had proposed resolutions
such as (emphasis added),
“US House of Representatives Concurrent Resolution
104 (112th): Expressing the sense of Congress that
the people of Baluchistan, currently divided
between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan,
have the right to self-determination and
to their own sovereign country.”
There is also funding provided to adjacent, political
groups supporting separatism in Baluchistan,
Pakistan, as listed by the US government’s
own National Endowment for Democracy
(NED) website under “Pakistan.”
Organizations like the “Association for Integrated
Development Balochistan” are funded by the US government and used to mobilize people
politically, constituting clear interference
by the US, in Pakistan’s internal
political affairs.
The Gwadar Port project is a key juncture within China’s
growing global network of infrastructure projects, as
part of its One Belt, One Road initiative. The US
clearly opposes China’s rise & has articulated robust strategies to counter it; everything up to and including, open war, as seen in the Pentagon Papers, regarding the Vietnam War.
The recent bombing in Baluchistan, Pakistan demonstrates
that this strategy continues, in regards to utilizing local
militants to target Chinese-Pakistani co-operation, and
is one part of the much wider, region-wide strategy:
of encircling and containing China.
The Southeast Asia Front
Of course the US war against Vietnam was part of a wider
effort to reassert Western primacy over Southeast Asia
...and deny the region from fueling China’s inevitable rise.
The US having lost the war and almost completely retreating
from the Southeast Asia region saw Southeast Asia itself
repair relations amongst themselves and with China.
Today, the nations of Southeast Asia count China as their
largest trade partner, investor, a ''key partner'' in infra-
structure development, a key supplier for the region’s
armed forces, as well as providing the majority of
tourism arrivals throughout the region. For
countries like Thailand, more tourists
arrive from China, than from all
Western nations combined.
Because existing governments in Southeast Asia have
nothing to benefit from by participating in American
belligerence toward China, the US has found it
necessary to cultivate and attempt to install
into power various client regimes. This has
been an ongoing process, since the
Vietnam War.
The US has targeted each nation individually for years.
In 2009 & 2010, US-backed opposition leader-in-exile,
Thaksin Shinawatra, deployed his “red shirt” rioters
in back-to-back riots - the latter of which included
some 300 armed militants and culminated in city-
wide arson across Bangkok, and the death of
over 90 police, soldiers, protesters, and
bystanders.
In 2018, US-backed opposition groups took power in
Malaysia after the US poured millions of dollars, for
over a decade, in building up the opposition.
Daniel Twining of the US National Endowment for Democracy subsidiary – the International
Republican Institute – admitted, during a talk by the Center for Strategic & International Studies, that same year, that:
…for 15 years working with NED resources, we worked
to strengthen Malaysian opposition parties -- and guess
what happened 2 months ago after 61 years? They won.
He would elaborate on how the NED’s network played a
direct role in placing US-backed opposition figures into
power, within the Malaysian government, stating:
I visited and I was sitting there with many of the leaders
the new leaders of this government, many of whom
were just our partners we had been working with
for 15 years and one of the most senior of them
who’s now one of the people running the
government said to me, ‘gosh IRI you
never gave up on us even when we
were ready to give up
on ourselves.’
Far from “promoting freedom” in Malaysia ---- Twining
would make clear the ultimate objective of interfering
in Malaysia’s internal political affairs, was to serve
US interests, not only in regards to Malaysia, but
in regards to the entire region and specifically
toward encircling and containing China.
Twining would boast:
…guess what one of the first steps the
new government took? It froze Chinese
infrastructure investments.
And that:
[Malaysia] is not a hugely pro-American country. It is
probably never going to be an actual US ally, but this
is going to redound to our benefit, and and that’s
an example of the long game.
It is a pattern that has repeated itself in Myanmar over
the decades --- with NED money building a parallel
political system within the nation and eventually
leading to Aung San Suu Kyi and her US-backed
National League for Democracy (NLD) party
taking power in 2016.
For Myanmar, so deep and extensive is US backing for
opposition groups there, that the elections virtually
guarantee US-backed candidates win.. every single
time. The US National Endowment for Democracy’s
own website alone... lists over 80 programs and
organizations receiving US government money
- for everything from election polling, and
building up political parties - to funding
media networks and “environmental”
groups used to block any Chinese-
initiated infrastructure projects.
The move by Myanmar’s military in February this year,
ousting Aung Sang Suu Kyi and the NLD, was meant to correct this.
However, in addition to backing political groups
protesting in the streets, the US has – for many
decades – backed and armed ethnic rebels
across the country. These rebels have now
linked up with the US-backed NLD and are
repeating the US-backed regime change
tactics used against the Arab World in 2011 --- in nations like Libya, Yemen,
and Syria – including explicit calls
for “international intervention.”
A US-Engineered “Asia Spring”
Just as the US did during the 2011 “Arab Spring” – the US
State Department, in a bid to create synergies across
its various regime change campaigns in Asia, has
introduced the “Milk Tea Alliance” to transform
individual US-backed regime change efforts in Asia, into a region-wide crisis.
The BBC itself admits in articles like, “Milk Tea
Alliance: Twitter creates emoji for pro-
democracy activists,” and that:
The alliance has brought together anti-Beijing protesters, in Hong Kong and Taiwan, with pro-democracy campaigners in Thailand and Myanmar.
Omitted from the BBC’s coverage of the “Milk Tea Alliance”
(intentionally) is the actual common denominators that
unite it – US funding through fronts like the National
Endowment for Democracy and a unifying hatred
of China - based exclusively on talking points
pushed by the US State Department itself.
Circling back to the Pentagon Papers and recalling the
coordinated, regional campaign the US sought to
encircle China with – we can then look at more
recent US government policy papers like the
“Indo-Pacific Framework” published in the
White House archives from the Trump
administration.
The policy paper’s first bullet point asks:
How to maintain US strategic primacy in the Indo-Pacific
region, and promote a liberal economic order, while
preventing China from establishing new, illiberal
spheres of influence, and cultivating areas of
cooperation to promote regional peace
and prosperity?
The paper also discusses information campaigns designed
to “educate” the world about “China’s coercive behaviour
and to influence operations around the globe.” These
campaigns have materialized in a propaganda war
fabricating accusations of “Chinese genocide” in
Xinjiang, China, claims that Chinese telecom
company Huawei is a global security threat,
and that China – not the US – is the single
largest threat to global peace and
stability today.
In reality US policy aimed at encircling China -- is
predicated upon Washington’s desire to continue
its own decades-long impunity upon the global
stage, and the continuation of all the wars,
humanitarian crises, and abuses, that
have stemmed from it.
Understanding the full scope of Washington’s
“competition” with China... helps unlock the
confusion surrounding unfolding individual
crises like the trade war; the ongoing
violence and turmoil in Myanmar;
bombings in southwest Pakistan;
students mobs in Thailand; riots
in Hong Kong; and attempts by
the US to transform the South
China Sea, into an inter- national conflict.
Understanding that these events are all connected - then
assessing the success or failure of US efforts - gives us a clearer picture of the overall success of Washington in encircling China. It also gives governments and
regional blocs a clearer picture of how to manage policy, in protecting against US subversion: that threatens national, regional, and global peace
and stability.
Brian Berletic, is a Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher and writer, especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.
Australians should be ashamed that they have a regime propped up to serve US racist agendas!
How Exceptional America Is
by Eric Zuesse
September 30th, 2020
America is becoming exceptionally exceptional. In some votes
at the UN General Assembly - the Assembly of nations - only
Israel, or one or two other U.S. allies, vote along with it, and
all others either vote against it, or else abstain in order to
prevent U.S. retaliation against their own nation. No other
nation is anything like that. In fact, on many occasions,
the U.S. arm-twists other delegations -- in order to get
them to abstain from voting so as to make less stark,
and less embarrassing, America’s international
isolation. But America is also extraordinarily
exceptional in other ways, which have
nothing to do with the UN.
America is truly an exceptional nation. As the
Republican Party magazine National Review
stated, on September 15th, “Last week,
the US and Israel were the only states to vote against a General Assembly resolution on the coronavirus response. Some have seized upon that vote to paint the
USt as a bad faith actor that stands alone in the world.”
However, this vote wasn’t about only “the global
coronavirus response.” It was — perhaps even
more importantly - about U.S. sanctions against
Iran, Venezuela, Syria, Russia, China, and other
countries that the U.S. regime considers to be
its enemies. (None of these countries ever
invaded or even threatened to invade
the USA; all of those sanctions are
100% U.S. aggression.
They are target-countries that America’s aristocracy
wants to take over. (The world’s U.S.-sanctioned
countries are marked in red -- on the map of the
world below.) Israel strongly supports sanctions
against both Syria and Venezuela, and routinely
invades and bombs Syria just for good measure.
So, it joined America’s position on that.
That UN General Assembly vote was held on September
11th. America’s Associated Press bannered the next day,
“UN assembly approves pandemic resolution; US, Israel
object”, and reported that, “The 193-member world body
adopted the resolution by a vote of 169-2, with Ukraine
and Hungary abstaining. It was a strong show of unity
by the UN’s most representative body, though many
countries had hoped for adoption by consensus.”
The AP further stated:
It calls on governments and international financial institutions
“to provide more liquidity in the financial system, especially
in all developing countries.” It supports recovery plans that
“drive transformative change towards more inclusive and
just societies, including by empowering and engaging all
women and girls.”
And it urges UN member nations “to adopt a climate- and
environment-responsive approach to COVID-19 recovery
efforts”, including by aligning investments and domestic
policies with the UN goals & the 2015 Paris agreement
to combat climate change. …
By a vote of 132-3, the assembly amended the resolution to
urge all countries “to refrain from promulgating and applying
any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in
accordance with international law and the Charter of the
United Nations that impedes the full achievement of
economic and social development, particularly in
developing countries.”
The United States was then overwhelmingly defeated in
attempts to remove 2 paragraphs from the resolution,
one referring to women’s rights to “sexual and
reproductive health” --- and the other --- to
“promoting global sustainable transport.”
In addition to arguing against the language on sanctions,
the United States opposed all references to the World
Health Organization, which the US administration had
stopped funding, accusing the UN agency of failing
to do enough to stop the virus from spreading
when it first surfaced in China.
Nowhere in the AP’s article was any mention made that
in the “vote of 169-2,” the two nations which had voted
against the Resolution were the US and Israel, but only
that there had been “objections from the United States
and Israel,” regarding attachment, to the Resolution, of
the Amendment that added the anti-sanctions provision
to it. This omission was not an error. It is a type of
omission that is common in propaganda. America
was more isolated than that ‘news’-report
made clear.
This vote was about only a “Resolution,” a statement of
the various nations’ values, to work toward, not about
any nation’s policy, but the U.S. and Israel don’t share
those goals — not even rhetorically. This opposition
to that Resolution’s goals, was truly exceptional.
In particular, nothing is more abhorrent to the US regime
--- than to stop or impede its sanctions. These sanctions
include, for example, punishments against any company
or government that will, in any way, assist in Russia’s 96%
completed NordStream 2 natural gas pipeline to Germany,
for the EU to buy Russia’s pipelined natural gas instead of
America’s fracked, canned, shipped, natural gas. The U.S.
regime insists that EU nations buy the far costlier trans-
Atlantic-shipped fracked US liquefied natural gas (LNG).
That insistence upon the EU’s wasting money, in order to
prop-up America’s fracking industry, is, indeed, exceptional,
because European nations haven’t customarily been treated
as being mere colonies of other powers. America is treating
purchasers from, or cooperators with, that competitor (Russia),
as being its enemies. The way the U.S. Representative stated
this (after a lengthy diatribe which blamed China for Covid-19
and said that the U.S. had quit the World Health Organization
because WHO lacked “independence from the Chinese
Communist Party”) was: “Economic sanctions are a
legitimate means to achieve foreign policy, security,
and other national and international objectives, and
the United States is not alone in that view or in that
practice.” (That exact same sentence had, earlier,
been stated by the US regarding a different matter,
on 18 November 2019.) Actually, the U.S. regime is
very “alone” on it. Furthermore, the other part was
also a lie: the U.S. regime asserts that coercing
corporations and countries to not buy from the
lowest-cost supplier, is within its sovereign
right to do.
However, as Professor Alfred de Zayas, who until recently was
the UN’s top expert on this topic, explained in depth on 27th
June 2019, that assertion is blatantly false, on many clear
grounds concerning international law. It is a blatant lie, no
matter how many times the U.S. regime asserts it (and
asserts that the US regime isn’t “alone” in asserting it).
Even back when Barack Obama (the man who repeatedly
claimed that “The United States is and remains, the one
indispensable nation”) was America’s President, the US
was exceptional at the United Nations. For example, on
24th November 2014, I headlined “U.S. Among Only 3
Countries Officially Backing Nazism & Holocaust-
Denial”, and reported that - “In a UN vote, on
November 21st, only 3 countries - the US, Ukraine, and Canada — voted against a resolution to condemn racist fascism,
or nazism, and to condemn denial of Germany’s World War II Holocaust against, primarily, Jews.''
This measure passed the General Assembly, on a vote of 115
in favour, 3 against, & 55 abstentions (the abstentions were
in order not to offend U.S. President Obama, who was
opposed to the resolution).” Then, on 21 June 2015,
I headlined “America’s UN Ambassador Continues
Standing Up for Nazis” and noted that, again,
Obama’s UN Ambassador, Samantha Power,
had stood up for nazism; she had just
delivered an address -- in Ukraine --
rallying that country’s supporters
of nazism to war against Russia.
Then, on 21 November 2017, I headlined “Trump
Continues Obama’s Support of Nazism”, and
reported that:
On November 16th, US President Donald Trump, acting
through an agent of his agent, UN Ambassador Nikki
Haley, voted at the UN against a resolution that
condemns bigotry, and especially condemns
nazism & all forms of racism. He thus, yet
again, continues in the tradition from his
predecessors, Presidents Obama, and
Bush, each year, placing this nation in
the company of only one or two U.S.
allies throughout the world who join
with the US in refusing to commit to
opposing and doing everything to
reduce, not just political Nazism
(which, of course, is past), but
ideological nazism, racist
fascism - institutionalized
bigotry (which, sadly, is
not past).
But, be that as it may, the U.S. is also exceptional in
many other ways. I listed some of those on July 13th.
There are two main reasons why the U.S. regime is able
to coerce other nations to not violate its will. One is that
although publicly available reports allege it spends
approximately 37% of the entire world’s military
expenditures, the U.S. regime actually - spends
around 50% of the entire world’s military costs,
and therefore, it possesses an extraordinary
physical capacity to impose its will, if and
when merely economically blockading an
‘enemy’ country (via sanctions) fails to do the job of getting it to comply.
And the other main reason is that, since the US government
is at least as corrupt as the average “third-world” country is,
but is instead one of the world’s richest countries, arranging
pay-offs to other world leaders, in order to obtain their
cooperation, is easily affordable... (These payoffs are
being paid by all US.taxpayers, not by only America’s
billionaires, who reap all of the profits from the
empire that is imposed.)
American exceptionalism is real. It’s not the type of
exceptionalism that the regime’s propaganda claims
to be the case, but, nonetheless, it is real.
(Strategic Culture Foundation)
Please watch the video above... We have never existed in such peril, and yet almost no-one is able to act.
Nuclear words: Putin's FINAL warning:
(People DO need reminding -- unless US, UK and French policy changes, and stops being so 'exceptional' -- that is, outside the UN legal Charter and thus, criminal --- there will be a reaping.)
BREAKING: Russia's State TV Advising Russian Citizens on how to survive a World War ! WAKE UP NOW - AND STOP THE WAR ON CHINA/RUSSIA !
The Doomsday clock of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists website now has the final singular moment that will bring civilization to final nuclear annihilation, at 90 seconds to midnight.
This is the closest it has ever been. Scott Ritter says it should be 2 seconds
World Will Not Survive the US' Neocons' Doctrine of US World Hegemony - Paul Graig Roberts Wednesday, February 7th, 2018
"The government of the United States is clearly in demonic hands. We are overflowing with proof", writes American well known analytist and ex- official Paul Graig Roberts in his website.
Take today (2-2-18) for example. A report from the House Intelligence Committee was released that is proof that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice --- and the Democrat National Committee, are now in a conspiracy against American democracy and the President of the United States, with the full support of the presstitute media.
As if that is not enough, also released today, is the Pentagon’s new Nuclear Posture Review. A nuclear posture review specifies a country’s attitude to nuclear weapons and their use. In past posture reviews, nuclear weapons were regarded as unusable except in retaliation for a nuclear attack. The assumption was that no one would use them. There was always the chance that false warnings of incoming ICBMs would result in a nuclear button being pushed - setting off Armageddon.
There were many false warnings during the Cold War
President Ronald Reagan, was very concerned about a false warning, ending in mass death & destruction.
This is why his principal goal was to end the Cold War, which he succeeded in doing. It did not take successor governments long, to resurrect the Cold War.
The new US nuclear posture is a reckless, irresponsible, and destabilizing departure from the previous attitude toward nuclear weapons. The use of even a small part of the existing arsenal of the United States would be sufficient to destroy life on earth. Yet, the posture review calls for more weapons, speaks of nuclear weapons as “usable,” and justifies their use in First Strikes, even against countries that do not have nuclear weapons.
This is an insane escalation. It tells every country that the US government, believes in the first use of nuclear weapons against any & every country. Nuclear powers such as Russia & China must see this to be a massive increase in the threat level from the US.
Those responsible for this document should be committed to insane aslyums, not left in policy positions where they can put it into action.
The neoconservatives are a small group of conspirators. Most neoconservatives are Jews allied with Israel. Some are dual-citizens. They created an ideology of US world hegemony, specifying that the chief goal of US foreign policy, is to prevent the rise of any other power that could serve as a constraint on US unilateralism.
As neoconservatives control US foreign policy, this explains US hostility toward Russia and China and also the neo-conservatives’ use of the US military to remove governments in the Middle East, seen by Israel as obstacles to Israeli expansion. For two decades --- the US has been fighting wars for Israel in the Middle East. This fact proves the power and influence of the insane neo- conservatives. It is certain, that people as insane as the neoconservatives, would launch a nuclear attack on Russiaand China.
The Russian and Chinese governments seem to be completely unaware of the threat that the neo- conservatives pose to them. I have never experienced in interviews with Russians and Chinese, any awareness of the neo- conservative ideology. Possibly, it is too insane for them to grasp.
Ideologues such as the neoconservatives are not fact-based
They are chasing their dream of world hegemony. Russia & China are in the way of this hegemony. Having learned the limits of conventional military power—after 20 years the US “superpower” has been unable to defeat a few thousand lightly armed Taliban in Afghanistan—the neo-conservatives know: conventional invasions of Russia or China, would lead to the total defeat of US forces.
Therefore, the neoconservatives have elevated nuclear weapons to a First Strike, usable, arsenal that in the neoconservative dream of world hegemony can be used to destroy Russia and China.
Ideologues who divorce themselves from the facts create a virtual world for themselves. Their belief in their ideology blinds them to the risks for them- selves and others that they impose on the world.
Thanks to the American liberal/progressive/left, the entirety of the world is faced with a far more likely nuclear demise than ever threatened us during the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
By its collaboration with the military/security complex & the corrupt Hillary DNC, the liberal/progressive/left has forever discredited itself. It is now seen by every thinking person worldwide as an insane propaganda ministry --- for the neoconservatives’ plan to use nuclear weapons to eliminate constraints on US unilateralism.
The liberal/progressive/left has endorsed “hegemony or death.”
They will get death. For all of us.
(Source - DONi News Agency)
According to: PaulGraigRoberts.org
_______________________________________ Syrian Girl - The Truth About The Kurds In Syria
Full Text: Official Declaration of the Malorossiyan Federation
Zakharchenko announces a new federal state, Malorossiya, (means ''Little Russia'') as the legal successor of Ukraine. DONi News Agency
On 18.7.2017 the Head of the Donetsk People's Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, declared the creation of a new federal state, Malorossiya, which will become the legal successor of 'Ukraine'. The new state formation, will consist of 19 regions of the former Ukraine with the capital in Donetsk city. Kiev remains a historical and cultural centre, without the status of capital city.
Here is the full English translation of the declaration:
Political Declaration
The project of the state of "Ukraine", formulated 150 years ago and implemented in different versions during the 20th century, has reached its logical conclusion --- and led to the country's disintegration, civil war and the death of tens of thousands of people, including children, women, and elderly people.
And this process is irreversible. An attempt to turn the story back will result in "balkanization" of the conflict, expansion of chaos, escalation of civil war and even bigger numbers of casualties.
To stop the civil war and avoid new victims, we representatives of the majority of the regions of former "Ukraine" assembled in Donetsk on July 18, 2017, discussed the current situation and came to the following conclusions:
- the state of "Ukraine" has revealed itself as a failed state and demonstrated its being incapable of granting its inhabitants a peaceful and prosperous present and future;
- the current authorities – elected in Kiev, after the coup d'etat, against the backdrop of political terror and the absence of elections in the Crimea and Donbass, are illegitimate;
- the state of "Ukraine" is on the brink of economic catastrophe and depopulation;
- an ultranationalist coup is brewing in Kiev, as a result of which outright neo-Nazis will come to power insteadof "Banderites with a European face";
- the Ukrainian nationalistic project (the Galician one) has discredited itself, by the shedding of civilians' blood in the country;
- the ideology of "Ukrainism" has proved to be misanthropic, mixed with xenophobia (Russophobia, anti-Semitism, Polonophobia) and neo-Nazism (the ideology of national exclusivity and superiority);
- resulting from historical development and due to the Maidan, the word "Ukraine" is forever associated with the names of the Nazi accomplices, Bandera and Shukhevich, with the tragedies of the Baby Yar, the Volyn massacre & Khatyn, and, nowadays, with the mass murder of people on the Maidan, in the Trade Unions' House in Odessa, and Genocide of the Donbass people.
On the basis of the above, we believe that the state of "Ukraine", in the form it was established, after the collapse of the USSR, is UNSERVICEABLE.
We, representatives of the regions of the former "Ukraine", propose to re-establish the state and to proclaim the state of MALOROSSIYA, under an historical background, out of the former "Ukraine". In this case, it is of fundamental importance to rename the country, since "Ukraine" as a state, is guilty of war crimes, mass terror and the genocide of its own people.
In turn, the new name of the country, based on historical traditions, will enable us to reunify those pieces of the former "Ukraine" that seemed to have parted ways forever, including because of participation in the civil war, on different sides of the front line.
We must turn the page of our people's history, which is flooded with the blood of our brothers and sisters.
Malorossiya is an INDEPENDENT, SOVEREIGN state, with a new name, a new flag, a new constitution, a new state structure, new principles of social and economic development, and new historical prospectives.
But this is NOT A REVOLUTION ! This is a return to history. This is a novelty that restores, not destroys.
In view of the economic plight of the country, the chaos & disintegration potential, and regarding the possibility of launching a "war of all against all", we consider it necessary to declare a state of emergency for the transition period – up to 3 years. During this time, the process of adoption of the new Constitution and the establishment of the rule of law, should be completed.
Under a state of emergency, a ban on the activities of political parties and foreign funds is to be introduced, & penalties for criminal offenses, especially against the person, are to be increased. The fight against corruption will be toughened, as well as the penalties for it.The shadow arms market is to be eliminated, including by registering weapons in accordance with the new law.
In the same period an investigation is to be carried out, with the involvement of foreign specialists –- from Russia, Belarus & the European Union –- into the crimes committed by the Maidan Kiev regime: the murders on the Maidan, the murder of Odessa citizens in the Trade Unions' House on May 2nd, 2014, and the war crimes in Donbass, in the so-called ATO.
In the same period, the People's Tribunal is to be prepared to charge the state criminals who have led the country into disintegration and civil war: V.F. Yanukovich (with a request to Russia for his extradition), P.A. Poroshenko and his clique: Turchinov, Yatsenyuk, Kolomoisky, Paruby, Nalivaichenko and others.
We are sure that, having recovered from the criminal neo-Nazi ideology of "Ukrainism", we will be able to build a new society on the basis of friendship and mutual assistance -- but not hatred and envy. The creative genius of our people will manage to bring Malorossiya to the forefront of global civilization and play a role in history. The role of Good, and Truth.
Official translation by the DONi Donbass News Agency, 07/18/2017
(Source - Russia Insider)
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Nato – A Dangerous Alliance May 24th
As Nato ends its summit in Brussels, Rae Street explains why the military alliance remains a threat to world peace
When the Warsaw Pact ended, after the collapse of communism, some optimists might have expected Nato to be broken up too. After all, the Labour Party in Britain had been opposed to Nato in the mid-1980s. But that was not to be. The US, which had always dominated Nato, quickly began to reinvent Nato and furthermore, to expand it.
Following the end of the Warsaw Pact many central and east European governments wanted to join Nato. This, of course, was music to the ears of the US military manufacturers. Indeed, the chair of the expand Nato committee, Bruce Jackson, was technical director of Lockheed Martin, the largest military manufacturer in the world. So, for the new Nato members because of the policy on “interoperability,” that is Nato personnel being able to use the same military equipment, it was out with the old Soviet military hard- ware and in with sales of, for example, Lockheed’s military aircraft ,costing millions of dollars.
This continues to this day in countries which can ill afford it, with struggling economies. The latter includes Greece. Think of the situation in Greece today.
Expanding Nato up to the borders with Russia, was a provocative policy. The dangers were pointed out but the military industrial complex and the “hawks” in the West, took no notice.
To this day, this helps President Vladimir Putin: more and more of the Russian people believe that “the West” is against them.
Decades later, we read: “British troops have arrived in Estonia, as part of a major Nato mission in the Baltic states, to deter Russian aggression.”
From the start, Nato has always held a nuclear armed policy. It continues to claim that nuclear weapons “preserve peace.” Manifestly, nuclear weapons do not deter conflict.
Governments, including Britain’s, now analyse the main threats to security as cyber warfare and terrorism. Remember September 11th 2001, when New York was attacked by terrorists in planes, brandishing knives?
The US then had and still has, 13 nuclear armed Trident submarines, of which several will be roaming the seas fully operational. Britain has four, with one constantly on alert at sea.
Were these any use in the madman’s attack on Westminster, or in any terrorist attacks?
Trident is “integrated” into Nato. Even worse, Nato still has a policy of “first use of nuclear weapons.”
When the then minister of defence, Geoff Hoon, was asked in Parliament why Britain has a policy of “first use,” he replied: “Because of our obligations to Nato.”
Under the direction of the US administration, with its policy of global domination, Nato has established a string of nuclear-armed bases across Europe, in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, at Incirlik.
The latter is now causing deep problems as relations between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the US, become more and more fractious.
There is now a real problem for Nato, as Erdogan is a repressive dictator — how can Turkey remain in Nato?
Nato states are supposed to uphold principles of human rights and democracy, notably lacking in Turkey today.
The nuclear-armed bases come under Nato’s “nuclear sharing policy” — in effect a violation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Nato continues to expand. The policy of not acting “out of area” was dropped long ago. “North Atlantic” simply means, a domination of policies by the US.
Nato claims in its “strategic concept” that “the promotion of Euro-Atlantic security is best assured through a wide network of partner relationships with countries and organisations around the globe.”
In 1994 Nato established the Partnerships for Peace across Europe, extending as far as Uzbekistan.
Nato surrounds Russia from the west and east. These Partnerships for Peace (note the language again) now include 22 states, including “neutral” Ireland.
Then there is the ''Mediterranean Dialogue,'' with ''arrangements'' with countries in the Middle East. Few people realise that Nato carries out military exercises with Israel.
Nato has also established bilateral relations — named individual partnerships — with Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan.
In this part of the globe, where Nato carried out a military exercise in 2014 with Japan, named Ocean Shield, they are surrounding and menacing China, as the enemy.
Then there was the statement by Nato that “co-operation between Nato and the United Nations continues to make a substantial contribution to security in operations round the world.
“The alliance aims to deepen political dialogue and practical co-operation with the UN, as set out in the Nato/UN declaration, signed in 2008.”
This seems like Nato bidding to be the UN's military arm.
This hardly accords with the UN Charter. It was the Organisation for Security & Co-operation in Europe, set up under Chapter 8, of the UN Charter, to prevent and resolve conflict by non-military means and to promote co-operation in humanitarian and other fields.
The 54 member states stretch from Iceland to Kyrgyzstan and include Russia. Alas, how many times do you read of their work in the press, compared with the times you hear about Nato?
Nato is sold to us as a peace-making body. After all, the US is home to the finest PR companies in the world.
To summarise, Nato is pursuing yet more militarism and war:
- All Nato states are required to increase their military budgets to 2 per cent of GDP. That means stealing more money from social needs. Readers of the Morning Star know those all too well: the NHS, education, adult social services; the list is endless.
- Nato member states will have to spend 20 per cent of defence budgets on military equipment: warships, war planes, drones, bombs. By fuelling the arms race, Nato makes a mockery of moves for conflict resolution.
- Nato and its member states multiply interventions outside their territory and increase their presence through world- wide partnerships and “coalitions of the willing.”
- Nato extends its nuclear policies as a supreme “guarantee for the allies’ security,” notwithstanding that the majority of countries in the world are negotiating a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. In the meantime, nuclear weapons in Europe — under the guise of Nato — and elsewhere, are being modernised at a cost of many tens of billions of dollars and pounds. Think of Trident at a cost of £205 billion.
The Nato summit will be held and activists will beholding a “counter-summit” with protesters organising workshops and a demonstration.
CND activists will be there from the UK, but -- we also need people to raise the issues with their MPs, write letters to the press and raise awareness on social media.
Let’s put pressure on the government to invest in social welfare, not Nato, not war.
(Source - Morning Star)
Legendary memorial at Saur-Tomb ''restored by May 2017''
DPR authorities have finished restoring the Saur-Tomb by May 2017. It was announced by the Building Minister, Sergey Naymets.
‘Saur Tomb has been being restored since November, and we planned to finish this by May 2017’, the Minister said.
He said "many people contributed to this project of restoration of the memorial damaged by shelling," Naumets noted.
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Cool Russia!
[Eng Subs] Children of Donbass, "Toys for Poroshenko" Music Video by Artem Grishanov
POWERFUL - PUT THIS ON HEADPHONES. I guarantee you will cry - and if you don't - please seek psychiatric help.
In 2017 in the Donbass - give the children Peace!
Ethnic Ruthenes of sub-Carpathian Ukraine demand autonomy
Activists of a Slavic ethnic group known as Ruthenes -- or Rusyns -- who reside in the Trans-Carpathian (sub-Carpathian) region of Ukraine, have turned to President Pyotr Poroshenko with a demand:
recognize the results of 1991's regional referendum --- when 78% of the region's residents, voted in favor of granting it the status of a self-governing region.
"We have two main demands - to recognize the Rhuthenes as an ethnos and to acknowledge the regional referendum of 1991, where 78% sub-Carpathians voted for the region being a self-governed territory within Ukraine," Vesti quoted Ivan Palinkash, the leader of the Ruthene movement & a member of the People’s Council's presidium of Sub-Carpathian Ruthenes.
Natalya Magalina, a deputy of Uzhgorod district council, told the meeting of leaders of Ruthene ethnic organizations it is important to maintain the Ruthene language by establishing minimal norms for broadcasting in the native tongue, over the state regional TV Channel Tisa-1.
This isn't the first time that the Ruthenes of the sub- Carpathian area have asked the Kiev government to recognize the outcome of the referendum held 25 years ago. The Coordination Council of Ruthene Organizations of the Trans-Carpathian Region turned to the central authorities with the same requirement, the previous time, in the summer of 2015.
It was also in the summer of 2015 that the activists of Ruthene organizations adopted an appeal to the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe & the UN, as well as to the parliaments of Hungary, the Czech Republic, & Slovakia, to wield pressure on President Poroshenko and force the Ukrainian government towards accepting the result of their referendum.
The Ruthenes are an indigenous sub-Carpathian people. Ukrainian authorities do not consider them to be a separate ethnos, and continue calling them Ukrainians, although the UN has issued recommendations more than once, to recognize their status as a separate ethnos.
More than that, Kiev accuses the leaders of Ruthene organizations of making appeals for encroachments on the territorial integrity of the country.
(source - TASS)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zionist lobby preventing West from criticizing Israel: Analyst Fri Dec 16, 2016
The European Union has censured the Israeli regime for destroying Palestinian shelters and structures in the occupied territories. According to a statement by the European bloc, the Tel Aviv regime has demolished 866 structures so far in 2016 in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli military control.
Anthony Hall, editor-in-chief of the American Herald Tribune from Alberta, says that the European states have been under the influence of the Zionist lobby to go along with Israeli interests - and thus refuse to slam crimes against the Palestinian people.
“Every government within the EU has a very strong Israeli lobby, and this is one of the dilemmas that the Western people are facing,”Hall explained.
“Not only the governing parties but the opposition parties as well, are constraining discussion and discourse within a very narrow range, that puts Israeli priorities at the top of the list in all our Western countries,”he added.
The professor also called on Western citizens to“intervene directly and make contact with the Palestinian people, directly.”
“We, as the citizens in the EU, citizens in Canada, & citizens in the US, have to find ways to bypass the constraints of our governments & the biases and power of this lobby over our governments,” he noted.
Hall criticized the EU for its forensic accounting of homes demolished in Palestine.
“This type of numerical accounting fails to really describe the nature of this destruction of homes in its broader context ------ where thousands of Palestinian people are in dungeons and being tortured in Israeli incarceration facilities,” he said.
“The reality: that the world is letting this happen is very discouraging,” he added.
Hall warned that the prospect of a Palestinian state is no longer viable, given the emphasis on building up settlements, and destroying the structures of the indigenous people of Palestine.
"This goes beyond apartheid,” he said.
The Israeli policy of demolishing houses in the West Bank to build illegal settler units has affected 5,704 Palestinians, of whom, 1,221 have been rendered homeless, including 586 children.
(source - PressTv)
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UN Adopts"Paper Tiger" Resolution, on Israel's Withdrawal from the Syrian Golan
Fahwad Al-Khadoumi -The UN General Assembly adopted yet another resolution demanding that Israel withdraw from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, in line with a resolution of June 4, 1967.
However, UN General Assembly resolutions are non-binding and no more than a paper tiger, with- out a unanimous decision by the permanent UN Security Council members, to enforce them; A highly unlikely prospect.
In its latest resolution, the UN General Assembly again condemned Israel's non-compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 497 (1981).
The General Assembly reiterated that Israel's decision from December 14th, 1981, to impose Israeli laws, administration & custody on the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, is null and void -- and has no legality at all.
The latest UNGA resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority of UN member States.
The resolution --- reaffirmed the illegality of acquiring territories ----- through the use of military force. The General Assembly also repeated that Israel's continued occupation & enforcement of Israeli law & administration violates international law, the UN Charter, & the Geneva Convention's principles on the protection of civilians during war.
During the UNGA session, a number of states condemned the Israeli practices in occupied Syrian Golan, calling on Israel to withdraw from Golan, in line with June 4th, 1967.
37 states proposed the now adopted draft resolution. However, UNGA resolutions are non-binding and no more than a paper tiger, unless permanent Security Council members are willing to put their money where their mouth was, when they adopted UNSC Resolution 497 (1981) - decades ago.
Moreover, none of the permanent UNSC members - China, France, Russia, the UK and the US - took any tangible steps when the now former Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, defiantly declared that "Israel and the Golan are part and parcel" and that "the international community should get used to facing the fact that Israel will permanently annex the Syrian territory".
Most favourite scapegoat
The favorite scapegoat among permanent UNSC members, with regard to supporting Israel and neglecting Israel's illegal occupation of Golan is the US. However, Russia is in no way more actively pursuing Israel's adherence with UNSC Resolution 497 (1981) -- than any other -- of the self-anointed permanent UNSC members. In April 2016, Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin, were ominously silent about the Golan when Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, visited Moscow.
Russia failed to respond to what Netanyahu had declared "a red line" - occupation of the Golan.
A brief review of recent history pertaining to the Israeli occupation, international affairs & Israel's use of the Golan to wage war on Syria, suffices to show that the UN System has failed, utterly, and that it is perverted to the point that many analysts call for abolishing the UN altogether.
In June 2013 an Austrian UN Disengagement & Observer Force (UNDOF) officer told the press that Israel is -- running a joint operations room with the insurgents in Syria in the Golan.The UNSC failed to respond and more importantly, failed to take action. In July 2013, the Syrian permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Dr. Fayssal al-Hamwi, noted how Israel, since it occupied the Syrian Golan Heights in 1967, has displaced about half a million of the Golan´s original inhabitants.
Also in Feb. 2014, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu preempted a public relations quagmire by visiting a field hospital for "Syrian Freedom Fighters" in the Golan to show how much Israel cares and does, on the humanitarian front. It turned out that the "Freedom Fighters" belonged to the Syrian Al-Qaeda franchise, Jabhat al-Nusra.
In March 2014, Israel launched one of many military attacks against Syrian military and security forces, from the Golan, while the UNSC and most media were "silent".
In April 2014 The Director of Israel's Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Aviv Kochavi, a protegé of the now deceased Ariel Sharon, was appointed to head the Israeli Defense Forces Northern Command.
NSNBC international editor-in-chief, Christof Lehmann, reported that the appointment of Kochavi, indicated that Israel was planning large-scale military operations in the Golan in the near future and the widening of the Syria war. Lehmann was right on the money.
In May 2014 Israel denied Syrians in Golan the right to participate in Syrian elections. The UN was "silent". In mid-April 2016, ahead of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israel would hold on to the Golan.
A UNDOF withdrawal has left a 12-16 km wide corridor uncontrolled by the UNDOF... In 2013, it transpired that Israel was giving support to Jabhat al-Nusrah, such as a joint intelligence and military operations room in the Israeli occupied Golan, plus logistical support, weapons, field hospitals, and direct combat support.
In September 2014, Israeli machinations, resulted in the displacement of UNDOF troops from a 12-16 kilometer-wide corridor in the disengagement zone in the Golan by Jabhat Al-Nusra.. The corridor has since been used to supply Al-Nusra and the other terrorists and to launch attacks against Syria.
All permanent UNSC members with the exception of Russia were "silent". Russian diplomats tentatively spoke out against terminating the peace keeping mission in the Golan. The UNSC failed to act.
In 2015 it came out that Israel planned a major hydrocarbon extraction project in the Golan. Partners in crime include Genier Energy.
On the board of directors? Dick Cheney, James Woolsey, Bill Richardson, Jacob Lord Rothschild, Rupert Murdoch, Larry Summers and Michael Steinhardt, among others. Other players involved include the Israeli subsidiary, Afek Oil and Gas, American Shale, French Total and BP. Thus, there exists a broad and powerful nexus of US, British, French and Israeli interests: at the forefront of pushing for the break-up of Syria and control of what's believed to be potentially vast untapped oil and gas resources in the country.
On April 20th, 2016, NSNBC international editor- in-chief Christof Lehmann -- said Netanyahu's "Red Line" would be a litmus test for Russia, as a permanent UNSC member. On April 21st, after talks between Netanyahu and Putin in Moscow, it could be concluded that Russia failed -- spectacularly.
In September 2016, Israel started a wave of home demolitions in the Golan. The UNSC was "silent".
In October 2016, Israel announced plans to build 1,600 settlement units in the Golan, & none of the permanent UNSC members took any action.
So much for the latest UN General Assembly paper tiger.
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The UK Labour MPs who didn’t back the Yemen vote have blood on their hands by David Wearing
Presenting the motion in the Commons, Thornberry was subjected to a series of ill-judged interruptions by Labour MPs, such as Kevan Jones, Toby Perkins and John Woodcock. Indeed, Thornberry received more vocal support in the chamber from the SNP group than from her own supposed comrades.
According to subsequent reports, some Labour members even tried to work with their Tory counterparts, in order to defeat their own party’s motion.
Woodcock, a former 'Progress' Chair, claimed that British support is “precisely focused on training the Saudis” to improve their targeting - so as to “create fewer civilian casualties” - parroting the official government line. The idea that the Saudis’ “widespread & systematic” attacks on civilian targets are just a series of well- meaning errors, is one that, to put it as gently as possible, lacks credibility.
And if decades of training provided by the British to the Saudi pilots hasn’t prevented these supposed errors by now --- it seems rather unlikely that it will in the near future.
In any case, this misrepresents the true nature of the UK's role. When the intervention began, the foreign secretary Philip Hammond, vowed to “support the Saudis in every practical way short of engaging in combat”, including “spare parts, maintenance, technical advice, resupply” and “logistical support”. The reality is that the Saudi Air Force, roughly half UK-supplied and half US-supplied jets, could barely function, without this ongoing assistance from Washington and London.
If there is Yemeni blood on the hands of the Saudi-led coalition - then that blood is also on the hands of the coalition’s western backers, enablers and apologists.
The Saudis and their allies can only wage this war because the Anglo-American suppliers of their air forces are providing active, material support. And British and American politicians can only collude in these outrages, because the political cost on them, so far, has been low. However, it is in the gift of their constituents – you, the reader – to change that equation.
(source - The Guardian)
This could be defeated --- with a UNITED LABOUR PARTY !!!
But unfortunately, there are "entryist" MPs who, for decades, have been groomed by CIA cold war relic organisations -- like the Atlantic Council -- and are now trying to misdirect the Labour Party towards cuts, a militarised police, and a US war agenda... and their anti-peace MPs are hobbling Labour.
129 Labour MPs voted to stop support for Saudi Arabia’s campaign in Yemen. The vote was defeated by a majority of 90.
The motion called for ---- support to be withdrawn from the Saudi government until a United Nations investigation could determine whether the Saudi bombing had breached international law.
The motion didn't explicitly include a suspension of UK arms sales.
100+ Labour MPs didn't vote on the motion. If all of them had voted to support it, the government would have been defeated.
The following, are the Labour MPs who abstained, or weren't present to vote.
Adrian Bailey Andy Burnham Angela Eagle Angela Smith Ann Clwyd Ann Coffey Anna Turley Barry Sheerman Ben Bradshaw Bridgit Phillipson Caroline Flint Catherine McKinnell Chris Bryant Chris Elmore (Teller) Chris Evans Chris Leslie Clive Lewis (ill) Connor McGinn Dan Jarvis David Crausby David Lammy Diana Johnson Fiona MacTaggart Frank Field Gareth Thomas Gavin Shuker Geoffrey Robinson George Howarth Gerald Kaufman Gill Furniss Gisela Stuart Gloria De Piero Graeme Jones Graham Allen Graham Stringer Heidi Alexander Helen Jones Ian Austin Ian Murray Ivan Lewis Jamie Reed Jim Fitzpatrick Joan Ryan John Mann John Spellar John Woodcock Judith Cummins (Teller) Julie Elliott Kate Hoey Keith Vaz Kevan Jones Kevin Barron Liz Kendall Luciana Berger Lucy Powell Madeleine Moon Margaret Beckett Margaret Hodge Maria Eagle Mark Hendrick Mary Creagh Meg Hillier (Paired) Melanie Onn Michael Dugher Mike Gapes Natascha Engel Neil Coyle Nia Griffith Pat McFadden Paul Flynn Peter Kyle Phil Wilson Rachel Reeves Rob Flello Rob Marris Roberta Blackman-Woods Rosie Cooper Rushanara Ali Ruth Smeeth Shabana Mahmood Siobhain McDonagh Stephen Kinnock Susan Jones Toby Perkins Tom Blenkinsopp Tom Watson Tracy Brabin Tristram Hunt Vernon Coaker Wayne David Wes Streeting Yasmin Qureshi Yvonne Fovargue
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‘How Can I Deselect My Labour MP?’ A Short Guideto Reselection and Democratic Accountability by Eric Sim, excellent free advice here:
Nicolas J S Davies is the author of Blood On Our Hands: the American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq. He also wrote the chapters on “Obama at War” in Grading the 44th President: a Report Card on Barack Obama’s First Term as a Progressive (Lol) Leader.
In the past weeks, Burundi and S. Africa have joined Namibia in declaring their intention to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). They are likely to be followed by a parade of other African countries, jeopardizing the future of an international court, which has prosecuted 39 officials from 8 African countries, but has failed to indict a single person who is not African.
Ironically, African countries were among the first to embrace the ICC, so it is a striking turnaround that they are now the first to give up on it.
But it is the United States that has played the leading role in preventing the ICC from fulfilling the universal mandate for which it was formed, to hold officials of all countries accountable for the worst crimes in the world: genocide; crimes against humanity; and war crimes - not least, international aggression, which the judges at Nuremberg defined as “the supreme international crime”, from which, all other war crimes follow.
As the ICC’s founding father, former Nuremberg prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz, lamented in 2011: “You don’t have to be a criminologist to realize that if you want to deter a crime, you must persuade potential criminals that, if they commit crimes, they will be hauled into court and be held accountable. It is the policy of the US to do just the opposite as far as the crime of aggression is concerned.
"Our government has gone to great pains --- to be sure that no US citizen will be tried by any international criminal court, for the supreme crime of illegal war-making.”
The US has not only refused to accept the jurisdiction of the ICC over its own citizens. It's gone further, pressuring other countries to sign Bilateral Immunity Agreements (BIA), in which they renounce the right to refer US citizens to the ICC for war crimes committed on their territory.
The US has also threatened to cut off US aid to countries that refuse to sign them. The BIAs violate those countries’ own commitments under the ICC statute, and US pressure to sign them, has been rightly condemned: as an outrageous effort to ensure impunity for US war crimes.
Resistance to US Impunity
To the credit of our international neighbours, this US strategy has met with substantial resistance. The European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution, stating that BIAs are incompatible with EU membership, and urging EU- member states and countries seeking EU membership not to sign them.
Fifty-four countries have publicly refused to sign BIAs, and 24 have accepted cut-offs of US aid as a consequence of their refusal. Of 102 countries that have signed a BIA, only 48 are members of the ICC in any case ----- and only 15 of those countries are on record as having ratified the BIAs in their own parliaments.
Thirty-two other ICC members have apparently allowed BIAs to take effect without parliament- ary ratification, but this has been challenged by their own country’s legal experts in many cases.
The US campaign to undermine the ICC is part of a much broader effort by the US government to evade all forms of accountability under the laws that are supposed to govern international behaviour in the modern world --- even as it continues to masquerade as a global champion of the rule of law.
The treaties US policy systematically violates today, were crafted by US statespersons and diplomats, working with foreign colleagues, to build a world where all people will enjoy some basic protections... from the worst atrocities, instead of being subject only to the law of the jungle or “might makes right.”
So current US policy is a cynical betrayal of the work and wisdom of past generations of US citizens, as well as of countless victims over the world to whom we are effectively denying the protections of the UN Charter & Geneva Conventions, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and many other multilateral treaties our country ignores, violates or refuses to ratify.
Avoiding jurisdiction in international courts is only one of the ways that the US evades international accountability for its criminal behaviour. Another involves an elaborate, well-disguised, public relations campaign that exploits the powerful position of US corporations in the world of commercial media.
Major Propaganda Funding
The US government spends a billion dollars per year on public relations or, more bluntly, propaganda, including $600 million from the Pentagon budget. The work of its PR teams and contractors is laundered by US news- papers --- and repeated and analyzed ad nauseam, by monolithic, flag-waving TV networks.
These profitable corporate operations monopolize the public airwaves in the US, and also use their financial clout, slick marketing, and the support of the US State Department to maintain a power- ful presence in foreign and international media markets.
Foreign media in allied countries provide further legitimacy and credibility to US talking-points and narratives as they echo around the world. Meanwhile, Hollywood fills cinema and TV screens across the world with an idealized, glamorized, inspirational version of the US that still mesmerizes many people.
This whole elaborate “information warfare” machine presents the US as a global leader for democracy, human rights and the rule of law, even as it systematically and catastroph- ically undermines those same principles. It enables our leaders to loudly, persuasively, demonize other countries and their leaders as dangerous violators of international law, even as the US and its allies commit far worse crimes.
Double Standards
The phrase “aggressive war” is also a no-no in the Western media - when the US government launches wars, across international borders. In the past 20 years, the US has violated the UN Charter to attack at least eight countries (Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya & Syria), and the resulting wars, have killed about two million people.
A complex whirlwind of conflict and chaos rages on in all the countries where the US and its allies have lit the flames of war since 2001, but our US leaders still debate new interventions ---- and/or escalations as if we are the fire brigade not the arsonists. (By contrast, the US government and the Western media are quick to accuse Russia or other countries of “aggression” --- even in legally murky situations, such as after the US-backed coup in 2014, that ousted the elected president of Ukraine.)
Systematic violations of the Geneva Conventions are an integral part of US war-making. Most are shrouded in secrecy: the propaganda machine spins the atrocities that slip through into the public record, as a disconnected series of aberrations, accidents and “bad apples,” instead of as the result of illegal rules of engagement and unlawful orders from higher-ups.
The senior officers and civilian officials who are criminally responsible for these crimes in US & international law -- systematically abuse their powerful positions to subvert investigations, cover up their crimes, & avoid any accountability whatsoever.
Pinter’s Complaint
When UK playwright Harold Pinter was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005, he bravely and brilliantly used his Nobel lecture to speak about the real role the US plays in the world, and how it whitewashes its crimes. Pinter recounted a meeting at the US Embassy in London in the 1980s in which a senior embassy official, Raymond Seitz, flatly denied US war crimes in Nicaragua ---- for which the US was in fact, convicted of aggression by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Seitz went on to serve as Assistant Secretary of State, US Ambassador to the UK, and then Vice-Chair of Lehman Brothers.
As Pinter explained: “this ‘policy’ was by no means restricted to Central America. It was conducted throughout the world. It was never-ending. And it is --- as if it never happened.
“The United States supported - and in many cases engendered every rightwing military dictatorship in the world, after the end of the Second World War. I refer to:- Indonesia, Greece, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Haiti, Turkey, the Philippines, Guatemala, El Salvador, and, of course, Chile. The horror the US inflicted upon Chile in 1973 can never be purged, & can never be forgiven.
“Hundreds of thousands of deaths took place throughout these countries. Did... they take place? & are they in all cases, attributable to US foreign policy? The answer is 'yes', they did take place, and are attributable to American foreign policy. But you wouldn’t know it.
“It never happened. Nothing ever happened. Even while it was happening it wasn’t happ- ening. It didn’t matter. It was of no interest. The crimes of the United States have been systematic, constant, vicious, remorseless, but very few people have actually talked about them. You have to hand it to the US. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power, worldwide, while masquerading... as a force for universal good. It’s a brilliant - even witty - highly successful, act of hypnosis.”
If, in 2016, the world seems to be more violent and chaotic than ever, it's not because the US lacks the will to use force or project power, as both major party candidates for President, & their military advisers appear to believe, but because our leaders have placed too much stock in the illegal threat and use of force, and have lost faith in the rule of law, any international cooperation and diplomacy.
After a century of commercial dominance, & 75 years of investing disproportionately in weapons, military forces & geopolitical schemes, perhaps it is understandable that US leaders have forgotten how to deal fairly and respectfully with our international neighbours. But it's no longer an option, to muddle along, leaving a trail of death, ruin and chaos in our wake, counting on an elaborate propaganda mach- ine, to minimize the blowback on our country and our lives.
Sooner, rather than later, US citizens & our leaders must knuckle down and master the very different attitudes & skills that we will need to become law-abiding global citizens in a peaceful, sustainable, multipolar world.
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Russia ends treaty limiting plutonium production in response to recent US escalation of hostility Fort Russ News - Topwar.ru - Lenta - News.Ru - translated by J. Arnoldski
TopWar: On October 3rd, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on suspending compliance with the agreement with the US on disposing weapons-grade plutonium. The main reason for this decision was pointed out as the “unfriendly attitude of the US towards Russia.”
Sources from the State Duma have reported that Russia is ready to resume the agreement, if the US cancels all the anti-Russian sanctions. Plus, Russia demands that the US reduce its military contingent in Europe, before Russia resumes compliance with the protocols. The State Duma’s statement reads:
“Acting according to the agreement and the protocols of the agreement can be resumed after the US eliminates the reasons which led to this radical change in circumstances: after the US reduces its military infrastructure and the number of its troop contingents deployed on the territory of the NATO countries having joined NATO after September 1st, 2000, down to the level at which they were on the day that the agreement and its protocols entered force.
"Since then NATO has grown to encompass 9 states of Eastern Europe. Just around the corner is NATO’s 10th state to be included since 2000 - Montenegro.”
In addition, Russia has demanded, as one of its conditions, that Washington cancel the so-call- ed Magnitsky Act.
We await a reaction from the US.
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Popov: Russia can and should withdraw from 1997 treaty with Ukraine By Eduard Popov for Fort Russ - translated by J. Arnoldski -
The other day, the disturbing news came from Lvov, the unofficial capital of Ukrainian Galicia, that the Lvov regional council has filed a lawsuit to forcibly evict the Pushkin Russian Cultural Centre. As the head of the regional council, V. Girnyak, said in his statement, organizations tied to the Anti-Terrorist Operation are preparing to transfer the building on Korolenko Street. The Lvov deputies hardly expect to earn more money from these “ATOers.” Rather, the eviction of Pushkin Russian Cultural Centre is explained by a different motive: once again, punishing anyone ideologically representative of an “enemy” Russian culture.
This centre’s building was leased to the Russian community of Lvov, in 1990. In 1999, the then mayor Vasiliy Kuybida, set the symbolic rent fee of 5 hryvnia (around $1 back then).
Let us quote one founding document signed by Ukraine, the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between the Russian Federation and Ukraine from May 31st, 1997. Point 12 of the agreement reads: “The High Agreeing Parties shall protect the ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious identities of national minorities on their territory and create conditions for the fostering of their identity….they will contribute to creating equal opportunities and conditions for studying the Russian language in Ukraine and the Ukrainian language in the Russian Federation, training pedagogical staff for teaching these languages in educational establishments, and for these purposes, provide equal state support.”
Points 1-2 of the agreement are based on the recognition of the friendly relations between the countries and their territorial integrity. Hence why the agreement is often called a border treaty. For Ukraine, whose territorial sovereignty over some territories (including Galicia, which was part of the Second Polish Republic until September 1939) is quite disputed, this agreement was a real gift. It is no coincidence that a number of patriotic politicians in Russia, demanded that this document not be signed.
Russia’s recognition of Kiev’s sovereignty over territories included in the Ukrainian state is founded on Ukraine’s observance of the rights of its Russian- cultured citizens. After the coup d’etat in 2014, Ukraine began pursuing a policy of cultural genocide (ethnocide) against the Russian-cultured population.
Now Ukraine is discussing the initiative of the scandalously infamous politician Irina Farion, to deprive Russian residents in Ukraine of civil rights.
In fact, this measure is already being implemented. The number of Russian schools has rapidly declined while Russian organizations are being prosecuted and their activities are under close surveillance by Kiev’s intelligence services.
In accordance with the 1997 treaty, an entire network of federal & regional organizations of Ukrainians is funded in Russia. For example, in the Rostov region there is a city-level and regional national-cultural autonomy of Ukrainians.
The organization receives funding from the city and regional budgets. Its head, the businessman Makarchuk, is a member of the Public Chamber of the Rostov region and is proud of his friendship with Rostov governor Vasili Golubev. Meanwhile, Makarchuk is published on the website of the Ukrainian neo-Nazi Svoboda party and frequently makes Russophobic statements.
Unfortunately, Russia is largely to blame for the fact that the civil rights of Russian-cultured people in Ukraine are being massively violated. An example of this is the patronizing policy of Rostov region's authorities. But on the federal level as well, the state does not make sufficient (or any) efforts to defend the Russian population of Ukraine (nearly half of the country’s total population).
Meanwhile, a more responsible attitude towards obligations would lead to discussion of the 1997 treaty. In a situation in which the second country (Ukraine), massively violates the treaty’s basic premises, then Russia has the right to withdraw from the treaty with all the legal and political implications. I see no reason for the Russian budget to support the activities of Ukrainian organizations in Russia, or recognize the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine.
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WHITE HELMETS -- SHAM
The Ron Paul Institute has pointed out: “We have demonstrated that the White Helmets are an integral part of the propaganda van- guard, that ensures obscurantism of fact and propagation of Human Rights fiction that elicits the well-intentioned and self righteous response from a very cleverly duped public. A priority for these NGOs is to keep pushing the No Fly Zone scenario which has already been seen to have disastrous implications for innocent civilians in Libya, for example.”
What better chance to push “the No Fly Zone scenario” than arriving within “moments” of the convoy tragedy, filming it and creating a propaganda scenario before any meaningful forensic investigation could even be started, since the trucks were still burning. And of course, the “White Helmets”, aka “Syrian Defence Force”, were filming, rather than attempting to put out the fire and rescue those in the burning trucks.
[Ed. Yet the UK's Guardian, that snivelling wreckage of a "Liberal" newspaper, lies, & describes them as "the White Helmets, a volunteer rescue group," quotes their accusations of Syrian & Russian "constant bombing of civilians" and calls for a "no-fly-zone" now --- as in Libya.]
The Russian Defence Ministry subsequently caused outrage by claiming that their Drone footage: “shows the bombed Syrian aid convoy included a truck full of militant fighters carrying mortar guns.”
However: “The footage emerged as the United Nations rowed back from describing the attack on the aid convoy as air strikes, saying it did not have conclusive evidence about what had happened.”
It must be asked, why on earth, after long and protracted negotiations over the convoy would Syria and or their Russian ally risk the wrath of the US & “coalition”, and of further decimation of the country, by laying themselves open to accusations of bombing aid convoys?
The tragedy has emphatically achieved 1 thing, however. Wiped from the headlines, is another atrocity - the US bombing which killed over 60 Syrian soldiers and wounded over 100 others, just two days earlier, on Saturday 17th Sept. - causing Russian Foreign Ministry spokes- woman Maria Zakharova, to comment: “We are reaching a really terrifying conclusion for the whole world: That the White House is defending Islamic State. Now there can be no doubts about that”, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.
Again - Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who will guard the guards?
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US prepares an Islamic army in Kosovo
Pravda.Ru - The US is preparing a reserve echelon in the territory of its Kosova enclave. But to keep a secure strategic space, the Southern Serbian provinces may be separated from Kosovo. Given the total apathy of the authorities of Republika Srpska... this plan is inching closer to its implementation.
The goal of the Americans is clear: if Berlin's discontent ousts US bases from Germany, after all, the US will have a spot in Kosovo. It's no secret that the crime and terrorist mayhem plaguing Kosovo, is under the patronage of the US.
Yelena Guskova, a Senator, and member of the Academy of Sciences of the Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina), honoured with many Russian and Serbian state awards, commented to Pravda.Ru on this matter, in an interview.
Former Commander of the French foreign legion in Kosovo -- General Jacques Ogar, has recently confirmed to Pravda.Ru, evidence obtained from confidential US sources -- that there are at least five ISIS training camps in Kosovo, which are preparing suicide bombers and an army of Islamists to conquer Europe.
Having found no evidence that proved Milosevic was guilty, the Hague tribunal exonerated him. What do you think of it?
Slobodan Milosevic is a very significant historical person in Serbia's modern history, and the whole of Yugoslavia. In the early 1990s he was seen as the last communist in Europe -- who should be annihilated. His own country turned him over to the Hague; the so-called new government -- after the colour revolution of 2000.
However he was a leader who defended his country and the truth. He combated a large amount of lies at the Tribunal, which tried to prove that only the Serbs were guilty of all the events of the 1990s, as they were charged with collective crimes.
No leader of the Muslim territories of Yugoslavia was convicted, only Serbian ones. The figure of Milosevic was very important, but they didn't manage to find any evidence.
His brother Borislav Milosevic says they secretly took some samples of food and water Slobodan had been given and tested it in Moscow. And it turned out that poison had been added. And it was difficult to breathe for him, which means that something was infiltrated into the air.
Then he stopped eating, but the process had been launched. His death is mysterious but the Tribunal admitted that he was not responsible for crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Colonel Jacques Ogar, who was Commander of a foreign legion in the territory of Yugoslavia in the UN group admits that they were ordered to stand for the Kosovars against the Serbians... Western troops openly supported separatists and participated in punitive actions against the Serbians. Do you have such data?
Surely. I'm a Head of the Centre for the Study of the Contemporary Balkan Crisis at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Our main task is to collect documents and publish them. There occur more and more documents on the events since 1990, which confirm it.
It's absolutely clear that international organizations were biased. The Albanians approach their dream - to create a big country with an Albanian population only. The US has worked a lot to support this movement, as Kosovo is a project of the US.
And they would have got independence long ago, unless it was for Russia. Russia said No to their plans in 2007. it disturbed them, and now they do not influence Russia, but try to govern the Serbian authorities. But I think the process hasn't been completed, & there's a chance to return Kosovo to Serbia.
As they say, there are 8 ISIS training camps in the territory of Kosovo. It is reported that they train suicide bombers to carry out acts in the Western Europe and create a whole army to conquer it. How can you comment on this?
When huge flows of refugees were going across the Balkans in Europe, there were mainly young men and almost no couples. They were well- dressed, were going by three, and had enough means to live in decent hotels. It is clear that there are those among them who should stay in the Balkans & orchestrate implementation of their leaders' aims.
As the Serbian officials struggle to join the EU, they implemented all the terms. And they were told, to not only to let in these refugees, but also to build camps for them. Many stayed in the South, where the population is majority Muslim . A great quantity went to Kosovo and Metohija.
And there's an uncontrolled NATO base Bondsteel there, where enormous resources are deployed. This territory is not controlled by anyone. And when questions of the US military camps in Europe occur, no one speaks of Kosovo.
In Kosovo's camps, where terrorists are trained, they are set absolutely free. It's very dangerous for the whole of Europe, and the Balkans first of all. The US, though, wants to whip Serbia into submission and recognize the independence of Kosovo and Metohija.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska, and Serbians who reside there, are hampering these plans.
There is evidence that, as early as in the mid- 1990s the US aimed to go down to the Balkans when the agreement with Germany terminated if they had to leave. They need a territory in Bosnia & Herzegovina, in Kosovo, Metohija, Montenegro, Serbia & Macedonia. Republika Srpska hampers implementation of this plan today.
They need to annihilate the Republic and make the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina a unitary state. They didn't manage to conduct a colour revolution in the Republika Srpska, while the terror acts, which may be backed by Muslims in other territories, may be fruitful.
These plans may come forward in the nearest future, and it's a threat for the whole of Serbia. As there is a plan to separate the Southern regions of Serbia, where a lot of Albanians and Muslims reside. Today Serbian officials regard these refugees calmly, as well as capable of possible terrorist acts. But it should be paid 'special attention'.
there's a big difference between the news, and the truth - if you want the latest news and the truth, say, on Brazil - then please go to our One Union page.
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US/UK elite bankrolled A. Hitler
Germans were paid in company shares for loans that managed Germany's war reparations -- thus US capital began to actively integrate into the German economy.
The total amount of foreign investment in German industry during 1924-1929 amounted to almost 63 billion gold Marks (30 billion was accounted for by loans), and the payment of reparations — 10 billion Marks. 70% of revenues were provided by bankers from the US, and most banks were from JP Morgan.
As a result, in 1929, German industry was in second place in the world, but it was largely in the hands of the USA's leading financial-industrial groups.
"Interessen-Gemeinschaft Farbenindustrie", main supplier of the German war machine, financed 45% of the election campaign of Hitler in 1930, and was under the control of Rockefeller's "Standard oil".
Morgan, through "General Electric", controlled the German radio and electrical industry, via AEG and Siemens (up to 1933, 30% of the shares of AEG were owned by "General Electric") and through the Telecom company ITT — 40% of the 'phone network in Germany.
In addition, they owned a 30% stake in the air- craft manufacturing company "Focke-Wulf".
"General Motors", belonging to the DuPont family, established control over "Opel".
Henry Ford controlled 100% of the shares of Volkswagen. In 1926, with the participation of the Rockefeller Bank, Dillon, Reed & Co, the second largest industrial monopoly in Germany, after I.G Farben, merged with metals group, "Vereinigte Stahlwerke" (Steel trust) plus Thyssen, Flick, Wolff, Feglera etc.
US co-operation with Germany's military- industrial complex, was so intense and pervasive, that by 1933, the key sectors of German industry, & large banks such as the Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank, Donat Bank, etc, were all under the control of US financial capital.
The political force that was intended to play a crucial role in the Anglo-American plans was being simultaneously prepared.
We are talking about the funding of the Nazi party and A. Hitler personally.
As former German Chancellor Brüning wrote in his memoirs, from 1923, Hitler received large sums from abroad. Where they went, is not known, but they were received through Swiss and Swedish banks.
It is also known that, in 1922 in Munich, a meeting took place between A. Hitler and the military attache of the US to Germany -- Captain Truman Smith -- who compiled a detailed report for his Washington superiors (in the office of military intelligence), in which he spoke highly of Hitler.
Through Smith's circle of acquaintances, A. Hitler was introduced to Ernst Franz Sedgwick Hanfstaengl, (Putzie), --- a graduate of Harvard University who played an important role in the formation of A. Hitler as a politician, rendered him significant financial support, and secured for him, acquaintance & communication with, senior British figures.
Hitler was prepared politically, but, as Germany reigned in prosperity, his party remained on the periphery of public life... The situation changed dramatically with the beginning of 'the crisis'.
In the autumn of 1929, the collapse of the US stock exchange was triggered by the Federal Reserve, and the next stage of the Anglo-US financial circles' strategy, had started.
The Federal Reserve and JP Morgan, decided to stop lending to Germany --- inspired by the bank crisis & economic depression in Central Europe.
In September 1931, England abandoned the gold standard, deliberately destroying international payments systems and completely cutting off "financial oxygen" to the Weimar Republic.
But a financial miracle occurred for the Nazi party: in September 1930 as a result of large donations by Thyssen and I.G. Farben --- the party got 6.4 million votes & took 2nd place in the Reichstag;- after this, more generous investments from abroad were activated.
The main link between the major German industrialists and foreign financiers, became H. Schacht.
On January 4th, 1932, a meeting was held with the largest English financier, a Mr M. Norman, A. Hitler, and von Papen, which concluded a secret agreement on the financing of the NSDAP.
This meeting was also attended by US policy-makers, the Dulles brothers --- something their biographers do not like to mention.
On January 14th, 1933, a meeting between Hitler, Schroder, Papen & Kepler took place, where Hitler's program was fully approved. It was here that they finally resolved the issue of the transfer of power to the Nazis, and on 30th January, A. Hitler became Chancellor.
The implementation of the next stage of the strategy thus began.
The attitude of Anglo-American ruling circles to the new government was very sympathetic. When Hitler refused to pay reparations, which naturally called into question the payment of war debts, neither the UK or France pressed their payment claims.
Moreover, after a visit to the US in May 1933, H. Schacht was placed, again, at the head of the Reichsbank, and, after his meeting with the President and the biggest bankers on Wall Street, the US allocated Germany new loans --- totalling $1 billion.
In June, during a trip to London & a meeting with M. Norman, Schacht sought an English loan of $2 billion and a reduction and then the cessation of payments, on old loans.
Thus, the Nazis got what they could not achieve with the previous government.
In the summer of 1934, Britain signed the Anglo- German transfer agreement, which became one of the foundations of British policy towards the Third Reich, &, at the end of the 30's, Germany became the main trading partner of England.
Schroeder Bank became Germany's main agent in the UK & in 1936 his New York office teamed up with the Rockefellers, to create Schroeder, Rockefeller & Co. investment Bank, which the Times magazine called the Berlin-Rome "economic propagandist axis".
As Hitler himself admitted, he conceived his 4- year plan on the basis of foreign financial loans, so it never inspired him with the slightest alarm.
In August 1934, US Standard oil acquired 730,000 acres of land in Germany... then built large oil refineries which supplied the Nazis with oil.
At the same time, Germany secretly took delivery of the most modern equipment for aircraft factories, from the US, which would begin producing German planes.
Germany gained large numbers of military patents from US firms Pratt and Whitney, Douglas, and Curtis Wright --- and it was US technology, building the Junkers-87.
In 1941 --- as world war ll was raging --- US investments in Germany's economy amounted to $475 million. Standard oil invested - 120 million, General motors - $35 million, ITT - $30 million, and Ford - $17.5 million.
The close financial & economic co-operation of Anglo-American and Nazi business circles, was the backdrop against which, in the 30's, a policy of appeasement led to world war II.
Today, as the world's financial elite begins to implement the 'Great depression 2' plan with its subsequent transition to the "new world order", identifying its key role in the organization of crimes against humanity, becomes a priority.
Yuri Rubtsov is a doctor of historical sciences, academician of the Academy of military sciences, & a member of the International Association of historians of world war II.
FREE POLITICAL PRISONER LEONARD PELTIER NOW!!!
Indigenous rights activist Leonard Peltier,
in prison in the US for 38 years, received the first international human rights prize of Uruguay's Mario Benedetti Foundation.
At a ceremony in Montevideo, where the winner was announced, the human rights group calls Peltier the longest-serving political prisoner in the Americas, AFP reports.
Peltier, a Native American activist who was a member of the American Indian Movement (AIM), was convicted in 1977 for the alleged murder of two US FBI agents during a 1975 shootout on the
Pine Ridge Reservation in S. Dakota.
He was sentenced to 2 consecutive terms of life imprisonment.
"Leonard Peltier, who on September 12th, 2014, turned 70, has spent over half his life in prison. He's a symbol of resistance to repressive state policies by the US, where there are people in jail for ethnic, racial, religious & ideological reasons," the foundation's statement says.
Ricardo Elena, a member of the foundation's honorary board, says Peltier's case "is one that is repeated over and over: violation (of rights), persecution, eviction, invasion and expropriation of indigenous people, from the time it was 'discovered', until now.
"It doesn't just happen in the United States; it is happening in southern South America, with the (indigenous) Mapuche people, and with indigenous people in North America," he states.
Elena says the United States "likes to think it's the seat of democracy, but it has political prisoners just like a dictatorship might have."
The Mario Benedetti Foundation was founded to support human rights and cultural causes in line with the work of the Uruguayan writer after whom it was named, who died in 2009.
Peltier is incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
James Swan, the head of the Black Hills chapter of the United Urban Warrior Society - a nonprofit group that helps Native Americans fight racial discrimination and injustice - describes Peltier as a political prisoner whose case needs to be reviewed by an independent body.
"What we want people to realize is that this is an injustice," AP quotes Swan as saying.
Peltier, 66, was given two life sentences in '77, on false charges of killing 2 FBI agents.
Peltier asserts that he is innocent and the FBI framed him for political reasons, especially for his activities as a member of the Native American Movement. He has lodged numerous appeals against the conviction - but all unsuccessfully.
He's been denied parole again and again, and will not be eligible for it again until 2024, when he turns 79.
Peltier's relatives say he suffers a number of health problems such as diabetes, arthritis, and the loss of vision in an eye after a minor stroke.
Many activists say Leonard Peltier is the most important political prisoner in the US.
In a review of the US' human rights record, at a United Nations Human Rights Council UPR conference in Geneva, a group called for a new trial for him.
The US Human Rights Network filed a 423-page submission to the Geneva meeting about him.
One item, entitled “Political Repression - Political Prisoners,” about 1970's cases, indicts the FBI: accusing COINTELPRO of “maiming, murdering, false prosecutions and frame-ups, destruction and mayhem throughout the country.”
It cites the FBI for targeting the Puerto Rican Independence Front, the Black Panther Party, the Weather Underground, the American Indian Movement, the Black Liberation Army, as well as “peace activists and everyone in between,” and says “many of today's political prisoners” in the US were jailed indefinitely as a result.
Repression has grown since 9/11, it says.
The political repression paper demands an “immediate criminal investigation into the conspiracy,” and also new trials for two aged activists jailed on murder charges, Mumia Abu Jamal and Leonard Peltier.
