Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-24

[UnderOpenSky]

Hitting another flag ship seems quite a big deal.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet May Have Lost Another Flagship

The Black Sea Fleet isn’t safe in the western Black Sea. It isn’t safe in Sevastopol. The only place it might be safe is the only place where it’s totally irrelevant to the wider war: in ports in Russia proper.

www.forbes.com

 

[existentialist]

Hitting another flag ship seems quite a big deal.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet May Have Lost Another Flagship

The Black Sea Fleet isn’t safe in the western Black Sea. It isn’t safe in Sevastopol. The only place it might be safe is the only place where it’s totally irrelevant to the wider war: in ports in Russia proper.

www.forbes.com

I'm hanging on for some new satellite photos - between the feverish speculation on Twitter (and posting of old video), and Russia's traditional lie-your-arse-off approach to setbacks, the truth lies somewhere in the middle, and right now it's a big wide middle...

 

[Indeliblelink]

Yesterday Russia's Defence Ministry claimed the British Navy was behind the Nord Stream pipelines sabotage last month.

Russia says UK navy blew up Nord Stream, London denies involvement

Moscow did not give evidence for its claim that a leading NATO member had sabotaged critical Russian infrastructure amid the worst crisis in relations between the West and Russia since the depths of the Cold War.

www.reuters.com

The Russian ministry said that "British specialists" from the same unit directed Ukrainian drone attacks on ships of Russian Black Sea fleet in Crimea earlier on Saturday that it said were largely repelled by Russian forces, with minor damage to a Russian minesweeper.
"According to available information, representatives of this unit of the British Navy took part in the planning, provision and implementation of a terrorist attack in the Baltic Sea on September 26 this year - blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines," the ministry said.

 

[Flavour]

Still don't have any issue believing the US was behind nord stream attack. The UK a little less. But not beyond the realms of possibility.

 

[LDC]

Still don't have any issue believing the US was behind nord stream attack. The UK a little less. But not beyond the realms of possibility.

Really? The risks of being caught and the outcry and terrible politics that would ensue are absolutely huge. And for what? Absolutely would bet a load of money that it was neither the US or UK.

 

[Spymaster]

Still don't have any issue believing the US was behind nord stream attack. The UK a little less. But not beyond the realms of possibility.

 

[Pickman's model]

I know, you're thinking that sort of competence is beyond anything our government might organise

 

[tim]

.

Still don't have any issue believing the US was behind nord stream attack. The UK a little less. But not beyond the realms of possibility.

Why do your sort insist on talking Britain down? I'm sure we're just as capable of blowing up an undersea pipeline as the Americans, Russians or Estonians!

 

[Pickman's model]

Really? The risks of being caught and the outcry and terrible politics that would ensue are absolutely huge. And for what? Absolutely would bet a load of money that it was neither the US or UK.

Haven't you noticed how terrible uk politics have been for years?

 

[prunus]

Still don't have any issue believing the US was behind nord stream attack. The UK a little less. But not beyond the realms of possibility.

For what conceivable useful purpose?

 

[DaveCinzano]

For what conceivable useful purpose?

To bury the bodies of all the dead trafficked children, Hoover's wiretap collection, the unedited moon landing footage, overflow from Area 51 and a golden Willy Wonka ticket

 

[WhyLikeThis]

For what conceivable useful purpose?

What is Putin banking on this winter?

 

[StoneRoad]

nah, imo they did it themselves - in case someone managed to hack into the control system [or magically repair the turbine pumps] and take control away from what's-his-face in that place with the funny shaped towers.

what conceivable benefit would it be for UKR, USA, UK, or the EU to do it ?

 

[LDC]

What is Putin banking on this winter?

Expand on your theory then?

 

[DaveCinzano]

What is Putin banking on this winter?

The rank outsider to storm it at the Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton Park

 

[Supine]

What is Putin banking on this winter?

He had already turned the gas off. More likely he did it to try and make people think the USA did it. Plus he doesn’t need to make any excuses about fan maintenance as an excuse for not delivering against agreed supply contracts.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Expand on your theory then?

He was likely banking on driving a wedge between NATO countries over the cost of gas this winter.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

He had already turned the gas off.

Why do you think he turned off the gas when he did?

 

[Supine]

Why do you think he turned off the gas when he did?

To make europe cold this winter. To hurt economically. You?

 

[strung out]

It's possible it was aimed at internal Russian politics. By taking out Nordstream permanently, Putin reduces the risk that any internal opponents might decide to overthrow him and be able to do a deal with the west in return for turning the gas back on.

I think Putin was already resigned to losing Europe as a major customer of gas, so the sabotage firms up his own position at home.

 

[maomao]

what conceivable benefit would it be for UKR, USA, UK, or the EU to do it ?

To force the hands of those wanting the gas back on.

 

[A380]

[TINFOIL]Makes you wonder what 'science packages' that boeing space plane has been putting into orbit all these years...[/TINFOIL]

Transmitters to activate the nano bots in the the Covid vaccines obvs.

 

[Flavour]

The US clearly had lots to benefit from attacking nord stream and they spoke openly about wanting to end it.

I'll leave this here.

Those who've paid any attention to my posts on this subject and others should know I am not a conspiracy theorist. But to dismiss the idea of covert ops by NATO that damage Russia is a bit naive.

Wicked Leaks - Part 1: How The Media Quarantined Evidence On Nord Stream Sabotage

Last week, Alex Nunns, author of ‘The Candidate - Jeremy Corbyn’s Improbable Path To Power’ and former Corbyn speechwriter, described the current assault on democracy within the Labour Party: ‘What’s happening in the Labour Party is new. The Labour right, having had the shock of their lives in 20

www.medialens.org

 

[Supine]

The US clearly had lots to benefit from attacking nord stream and they spoke openly about wanting to end it.

I'll leave this here.

Those who've paid any attention to my posts on this subject and others should know I am not a conspiracy theorist. But to dismiss the idea of covert ops by NATO that damage Russia is a bit naive.

Wicked Leaks - Part 1: How The Media Quarantined Evidence On Nord Stream Sabotage

Last week, Alex Nunns, author of ‘The Candidate - Jeremy Corbyn’s Improbable Path To Power’ and former Corbyn speechwriter, described the current assault on democracy within the Labour Party: ‘What’s happening in the Labour Party is new. The Labour right, having had the shock of their lives in 20

www.medialens.org

fwiw i don’t think this lands in conspiracy theory. In war there are games. And games within games. It’ll be decades before we really know what has been going on.

 

[friedaweed]

Hitting another flag ship seems quite a big deal.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet May Have Lost Another Flagship

The Black Sea Fleet isn’t safe in the western Black Sea. It isn’t safe in Sevastopol. The only place it might be safe is the only place where it’s totally irrelevant to the wider war: in ports in Russia proper.

www.forbes.com

Jaws orca Model Wooden Fishing Boat 15 Inches - Etsy UK

This Figurines & Knick Knacks item by NumismaticsandFlight has 540 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from United States. Listed on 29 Jan, 2023

www.etsy.com

They're gonna need a bigger fleet looking at the footage.

Remote control boat enthusiasts will be out in full force on England's small boating lakes next weekend.

"Oh yeah well she's equipped with a 9 volt wifi enabled motor and programmed to avoid incoming 90mm cannon fire and depth charge munitions"

Lake Reaper Bait Boat Black | Howes Models

 

[strung out]

The grain shipments are suspended now for an indefinite period.

No they're not. Ukraine is sending the grain anyway.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Convoys. Fucking hell, it’s come to this again. Have I woken up in 1942? I warrant that if Ivan hits a convoy, there will be decimation of its rusting Black Sea fleet

 

[Dystopiary]

No they're not. Ukraine is sending the grain anyway.

What's it say? Can't see the tweet without signing in as it's age-restricted.

 

[Pickman's model]

What's it say? Can't see the tweet without signing in as it's age-restricted.

 

[MickiQ]

Is the convoy being escorted or is it just civilian ships? The burning question either way is whether Russia will try and stop it. Blatantly attacking a purely civilian convoy will turn world opinion (even currently neutral/supporting opinions) further against them. Attacking a convoy escorted by NATO warships will result in any Russian attackers going straight to the bottom plus an undoubted response.
The thing is now that someone has called their bluff do they do nothing and let the whole world know they were just making idle threats or do something and risk getting a kicking over it.
Props to the crews of those ships though I bet it must be squeaky bum time sailing out of Odessa at the moment.