Europe at War

[Karl Henning]

How Putin's Latest Attempts to Escalate in Ukraine Have Backfired

[Todd]

Putin Could Be Replaced by More Extreme Leader, Former U.K. Spy Chief Warns

[drogulus]

     Putin is pressuring Lukashenko bigly. I don't think the Ukes are very worried about this because the Belo army is good for nothing but internal security, and Luka is probably right that they are more dangerous to the government in Minsk than to Kyiv. Even clowntators can recognize threats to themselves. In that sense meeting Putin half way is not unlike Putin meeting his ultras half way. They are both doing the "Monica missiles" thing.

[71 dB]

Russians have shot to death Ukrainian conductor Juri Kerpatenkon for refusing to work for Russian invaders.

[drogulus]

Russians have shot to death Ukrainian conductor Juri Kerpatenkon for refusing to work for Russian invaders.

     I know he was shot in his home. The report I read didn't say he was dead.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

How Putin's Latest Attempts to Escalate in Ukraine Have Backfired

Thanks for the link to that article Karl.  Quite interesting!  Can't believe what I read about that Russian newswoman....shocking, maddening, and sad.

I did find this part to be pleasantly(?) ironic....not certain how else to phrase it.  Maybe "bitterly ironic"?  In any event, I hope that karma prevails for the Ukrainians.

"What's more, an attempt to destroy or seriously undermine Ukraine's infrastructure may run into a rather karmic obstacle: According to expatriate Russian journalist Yulia Latynina, Ukrainian power stations were mostly built under the Soviet regime in the Cold War era, and they were built with a view to withstanding a possible nuclear attack from the United States. That means disabling them permanently with conventional strikes—or even a tactical nuclear weapon—would be extremely difficult. If this is indeed the case, Putin's attempt to rebuild the Soviet empire is being obstructed by the Soviet legacy itself."

PD

[drogulus]

     Russian government officials are evacuating from Kherson.

[71 dB]

     I know he was shot in his home. The report I read didn't say he was dead.

I'm afraid he really died in the incident:

https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/865760.html

[Herman]

I have a question for US Americans.

A friend of mine says she heard signs are being erected these days in public places "all over the USA" warning of nuclear radiation, as a sort of Putin alert.

I cannot imagine this happening. The cost and the logistics would be enormous, compared to just warnings by mail of TV. And of course it would no be great for the public mood.

So what about this story? Yet another example of fake news?

[SimonNZ]

Did you ask your friend where she got this "news" from?

[Que]

This is not the 1st report of widespread looting by Russian troops.
Looting signals a lack of discipline and low morale... not exactly the right setting for winning a war, or even a battle.


Russian President Vladimir Putin, expects that the Russian forces will "bite its teeth into Kherson", while they themselves are engaged in looting in anticipation of escape. That's according to Mykhailo Podolyak, the adviser to the head of the President's Office, who made the comment on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"Putin expects that ru-military will be fighting to the last for Kherson so that the leader can 'save its face.' But they are busy: dividing and taking away the loot, waiting for escape. When looting becomes part of the system, there is no room for discipline and fighting spirit," the adviser wrote.

[Herman]

Did you ask your friend where she got this "news" from?

My guess is this idea of these signs "all over the USA" was thought up by some guy living in a much smaller country in Europe, where this would logistically doable. And then put up on some place online, perhaps with a picture of some such sign from the 1950s as proof.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Russians have shot to death Ukrainian conductor Juri Kerpatenkon for refusing to work for Russian invaders.

😭
   

No words can express how despicable this act was.

And what a brave and honorable man he was.

PD

[Gurn Blanston]

I have a question for US Americans.

A friend of mine says she heard signs are being erected these days in public places "all over the USA" warning of nuclear radiation, as a sort of Putin alert.

I cannot imagine this happening. The cost and the logistics would be enormous, compared to just warnings by mail of TV. And of course it would no be great for the public mood.

So what about this story? Yet another example of fake news?

Yes,  fake news.

[Karl Henning]

Yes,  fake news.

Gosh, it's almost as if (to borrow/adapt Ernie's term) the preponderance of fake news comes from the TrumPutinistas ....

[71 dB]

Hungary is planning to ratify Nato memberships of Sweden and Finland in October 24. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Hungary is planning to ratify Nato memberships of Sweden and Finland in October 24. 

I had wondered whether or not that would go through there since the POB seems to be cozying up to Putin--while still trying to keep polite relations with the West.

PD

[drogulus]

Hungary is planning to ratify Nato memberships of Sweden and Finland in October 24. 

     If you want to stay on good terms with your new friends, don't invade Russia.

[Madiel]

     If you want to stay on good terms with your new friends, don't invade Russia.

It can be so hard to know where Russia is these days. The border keeps moving.

[Todd]

A good conference call recording from Bridgewater Associates (Ray Dalio's investment firm) with Daniel Yergin and Angela Stent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WpfdtTQlwU

Ms Stent maintains, contrary to most corporate press pronouncements, that regular Russians are not really impacted by sanctions right now, though next year will be different.  Mr and Mrs Yergin offer a more or less standard overall view on the war.

When it comes to next year (and after), it's not just Russia that will feel the sting of economic warfare:

European energy crisis likely to get worse as gas supplies remain tight

Germany forecasts 2023 recession as energy crisis bites


Recession, deindustrialization, expanded strikes in Ukrainian cities, escalation: nope, no reason to pursue negotiations.