Ukrainian Helicopters Reportedly Strike Fuel Depot Over Border In Russia
Apr 1, 2022,04:48am EDT Robert Hart, Forbes Staff Forbes link
TOPLINE A fuel depot in the Russian city of Belgorod is on fire Friday after Ukrainian helicopters reportedly crossed the border and attacked the facility, the governor of the region said on social media, claims that have not been independently verified but if true would mark the first Ukrainian airstrike on Russian territory and a major embarrassment to Moscow.
KEY FACTS Two low-flying military helicopters conducted an airstrike on the oil depot, setting the facility ablaze and injuring two workers, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram.
Gladkov did not provide evidence for the claims and they have not yet been independently verified or claimed by Ukrainian officials.
If true, the attack would mark the first Ukrainian airstrike on Russian territory since the war began and comes after Moscow claimed to have “practically” destroyed Ukraine’s air force last week.
The reports add to growing indications of strong resistance against Russian forces, with Ukraine continuing to “make successful but limited counter attacks to the east and north east of Kyiv” and retaking two villages south of Chernihiv, according to the latest update from the British defense ministry on Friday.
Late on Thursday, the defense ministry said Russia is “redeploying elements” of forces stationed in Georgia to reinforce the invasion.
The ministry said it was “highly unlikely” Moscow planned to generate reinforcements like this, which is “indicative of the unexpected losses it has sustained during the invasion.”
WHAT TO WATCH FOR Russian attacks switching focus. Moscow vowed to reduce military activity in northern Ukraine this week and claimed it would now focus on securing the eastern Donbas region. Analysts and officials are skeptical of Russia’s claims, which they suggest could be an effort to regroup and conceal military failures. Reports suggest attacks in eastern Ukraine are intensifying and also show few signs of reprieve for western Ukraine, where cities including Kyiv have still been subject to airstrikes. In addition to redeploying Georgian troops, Russian forces have also been forced to return to Belarus and Russia to resupply and reorganize, according to the British defense ministry, adding pressure to already “strained logistics” of its military operation.
TANGENT Russian soldiers have reportedly left the Chernobyl power station after receiving high doses of radiation while digging trenches in the surrounding area, according to Ukraine’s nuclear agency Energoatom, which said the plant has been placed back under Ukrainian control. The reports have not been independently verified and the UN atomic watchdog said on Friday it is investigating the matter.
FURTHER READING Russian regional governor says Ukraine strikes fuel depot in Russia's Belgorod (Reuters)
IAEA investigates claim Russians fled Chernobyl with radiation sickness (Guardian)
The possibility of the Russians War on the Ukraine could be taking step toward expanding beyond the Ukraine's borders with this strike in Russia. It might not be what the United States wants to see, an expansion of the war, but putting ourselves in the shoes of the Ukrainian military..THEY ARE AT WAR..!!
Where is it written that it's ok for Russia to launch attacks from Russia and Belarus but the Ukrainians can't strike targets in Russia and Belarus..?
The possibility of the Russians War on the Ukraine could be taking step toward expanding beyond the Ukraine's borders with this strike in Russia. It might not be what the United States wants to see, an expansion of the war, but putting ourselves in the shoes of the Ukrainian military..THEY ARE AT WAR..!!
Where is it written that it's ok for Russia to launch attacks from Russia and Belarus but the Ukrainians can't strike targets in Russia and Belarus..?
Seems that the rules HAVE CHANGED...
this is probably a worst-case scenario. Ukraine just gave mother Russia has a reason to fight.
Blocking those who argue to argue, eliminates the argument.
Damn, Russia and environmental disasters go together like PB&J
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
When vodka doesn’t warm the soul up anymore, gimme that pixie dust.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
I think that it is a bit presumptuous for anyone to suggest that Putin places the same value on soldiers lives as western countries do.
As going back to Eisenhowers Military Industrial Complex, the perfect war is one where no lives are lost, and large amounts of money is expended.
It fits the past with Iraq and Afghanistan.
Pawns in a real game of Risk.
There will be no playoffs. Can’t play with who we have out there and compounding it with garbage playcalling and worse execution. We don’t have good skill players on offense period. Browns 20 - Bears 17.
A former Russian official now working with an opposition leader says Putin could lose his grasp on power in a few months
A former Russian deputy energy minister who is now an adviser to opposition leader Alexy Navalny said Russian President Vladimir Putin's time in office is numbered.
Vladimir Milov told CNN's Erin Burnett on Saturday that top officials in the Russian government are "personally devastated" by Putin's aggression in Ukraine.
"For the first time ever, we are moving in a backwards direction. We had a lot of difficulties in the 70s, and the 80s, and the 90s, but we were still somewhat opening to the world and the direction was very different," Milov said. "Now Russia is being disconnected from global markets, global financial architecture, technology, logistics, and so on."
Milov said this disconnection isn't something that's happened before and those in positions of power recognize that.
"So, when I say devastated, I mean it," Milov said.
In a March 18, op-ed in the Journal of Democracy, Milov wrote that Putin's "days are numbered."
He told Burnett on Saturday, that Putin still maintains a strong grip on power but most likely not for long.
"He can hang on for some time, but few weeks, months, down the road, many more people inside the system will begin questioning what he's doing, ordinary Russians will express discontent with deteriorating economic situation, huge losses in the war. This is something Putin never experienced," Milov said.
Milov said Russian elites will start questioning the direction of the country and if Putin is the right leader.
Right now, however, he said communication between government officials is monitored significantly, possibly even greater than surveillance of opposition. Opponents are afraid to speak up about Putin's policies in Ukraine.
"If like two people, three people, or more will start to discuss that Putin is taking the country in the wrong direction, this is with large certain going to be recorded and reported to Putin," Milov said.
Russian people are feeling the affects of Putin's personal pursuit to take over the Ukraine by force.
Some updates below...
Given the direction Putin's War is heading, the Russian people will turn on him as news such as below reaches the Russian public. At some point I would expect Putin to become a target for arrest by The Hague and put on trial for War Crimes.
...that is, if Putin is not brought to justice by his own people, first.
Live updates | Ukraine: 410 civilian bodies found near Kyiv
By ASSOCIATED PRESS | PUBLISHED: April 3, 2022 at 2:50 p.m. | UPDATED: April 3, 2022 at 2:50 p.m. link
By The Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s prosecutor-general says the bodies of 410 civilians have been removed from Kyiv-area towns that were recently retaken from Russian troops.
Iryna Venediktova says on Facebook that the bodies were recovered Friday, Saturday and Sunday. She says 140 of them have undergone examination by prosecutors and other specialists.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk says the mayor of the village of Motyzhyn in the Kyiv region was murdered while being held by Russian forces. Vereshchuk adds that there are 11 mayors and community heads in Russian captivity across Ukraine.
In a video address Sunday, Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the allegedly targeted killings of civilians in towns that the Russians occupied, calling the killers “freaks who do not know how to do otherwise.” He warns that more atrocities may be revealed if Russian forces are driven out of other occupied areas.
International leaders have condemned the reported attacks in the Kyiv-area towns after harrowing accounts from civilians and graphic images of bodies with hands tied behind their backs.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has rejected the claims of atrocities against civilians in Bucha and other suburbs of Kyiv.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Ukraine accuses Russia of massacre, city strewn with bodies
— US, UK secret intelligence has unusually public role in Ukraine war
— Lithuania weans itself completely off Russian gas, 1st EU nation to do so
— Drug shortages persist in Russia after start of Ukraine war
— Pope still working on meeting Russian Orthodox patriarch
BALAKLIYA, Ukraine — The governor of the Kharkiv region says Russian troops fired on a convoy of buses that was trying to evacuate patients from a hospital that had been heavily damaged in shelling a day earlier.
The governor, Oleh Synyehubov, said Sunday that about 70 patients needed to be taken away from the damaged hospital in the town of Balakliya but that the buses were not able to enter the town.
He said there was preliminary information that one of the bus drivers was killed.
Balakliya is about 75 kilometers (45 miles) southeast of the city of Kharkiv, which has been heavily hit by Russian attacks.
__
BERLIN — Germany’s defense minister says European officials should talk about halting gas supplies from Russia in light of the alleged attacks on civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha.
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said Sunday night on German public broadcaster ARD that “there must be a reaction. Such crimes must not go unanswered.”
So far, Germany and several other European governments have shied away from an immediate boycott of Russian natural gas over fears of the impact it would have on their economies.
Europe gets 40% of its gas and 25% of its oil from Russia, and since the war, has scrambled to set out proposals to reduce its dependency. Russia is just as reliant on Europe, with oil and gas its dominant sector and paying for government operations.
Estimates of the impact of a gas boycott or embargo on Europe vary but most involve a substantial loss of economic output.
__
JERUSALEM __ Israel’s foreign minister is condemning the reported atrocities in Ukraine, saying deliberate harm to civilians is a war crime.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid wrote on Twitter that one “cannot remain indifferent” after seeing images from the town of Bucha near Ukraine capital.
Israel has walked a tightrope since Russia invaded Ukraine, simultaneously denouncing the invasion while avoiding taking too strident a stance out of concern of angering Moscow, with whom it has security coordination in neighboring Syria. Israel has good relations with both countries and has mediated between them since the invasion on Feb. 24.
Lapid says that intentionally harming a civilian population is a war crime and strongly condemned it.
___
MOTYZHYN, Ukraine — A resident says the mayor of the Ukrainian town of Motyzhyn was killed in an execution-style slaying along with her husband and son.
Another resident of the town 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of Kyiv told the The Associated Press on Sunday that Russian troops targeted local officials in a bid to win them over and killed them if they did not collaborate. That man, Oleg, declined to give his full name for security reasons.
The mayor, Olga Sukhenko, and her family were shot and thrown into a pit in a forest behind a plot of land with three houses where Russian forces had slept. A fourth body was not yet identified.
The mayor and her family had been reported by others as kidnapped by Russians on March 23 and taken in an unknown direction.
I guess we’ll see. Russia is an awfully hard nut to crack. They’ve been used to isolation and despotic brutality - often extreme - for over 100 years. Unfortunately, it’s not like Ukraine where people got a taste of what it’s like to control the government and now cling to that ideal.
In my eyes, it’s more close to North Korea on the spectrum of “no matter how bad it gets, we need to grin and bear it” vs what we are accustomed to from our lens.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
In Putin we have a modern day Hitler. People are saying he has mental problems. We have backed him into a corner with sanctions, all but destroying his economy. His army has been completely embarrassed. He will be charged as a war criminal when this is over. His ego badly bruised. What does he have left in order to save face?
What would Hitler have done, when he was going down, if he had Nukes?
I actually agree with you up until the nukes part. I guard against the use of sensationalism, although I don’t believe your point there to be extreme or far-fetched. I just depart from it because 1) Firing off a nuke is actually far more complicated than people realize, both functionally and practically and 2) I think right now it’s about putting the horse before the cart to focus on the next phase.
Like you said, the initial plan has failed, to a horrible proportion. His military, thought to be second best in the world, has shown itself so far to actually be the second best in Ukraine.
He has pivoted now to consolidating his forces in the east the separate Ukraine. It’s a much more attainable goal for him where he can still say it was the plan all along if he wins. I think Ukraine will take more of an offensive role in this portion, which is also more difficult for their military. If they have success at retaking the occupied eastern territory, I fully expect things to get horrifically brutal, albeit not nuclear. Chemical and biological? That would seem more likely.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
Haven't they already been successful in retaking territory they previously lost?
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
Putin came out threatening nukes at the beginning. Since then, it has been all bad news and the world has ganged up on him with sanctions. And he is desperate, but there are others under him that would have to follow his orders to launch nukes. From the looks of his army, men are losing confidence in his orders/leadership at a rapid rate. I'd say, because it's all conjecture at this point, that Putin ends up ousted or dead as Russia tries to claw its way back to a civilized form of government and a modicum of world respect. The Russian people might be ruled by a dictator, but they are still a very proud people, and I can't see a way Putin's regime survives these sanctions. Of course Putin is brutal af, so it could go absolutely any way, including the worst possible way too.
Last edited by OldColdDawg; 04/05/2204:55 PM.
Your feelings and opinions do not add up to facts.
Haven't they already been successful in retaking territory they previously lost?
Great question. They did and that was awesome. Most of their ability to do so, however was based on Russia’s inability to advance and “culminating” in those regions (say around Kiev). Ukraine had a very asymmetrical and advantageous defensive strategy in those fronts. They were also more overextended from their own location and had to work the logistics through Belarus at that point.
In the East, they’re working with more of a strong base, with the separatist region that Ukraine has already been having its own issues with since 2014, in combination with the annexed Crimea region and the fact it buts up against Russia’s own border. That combined with the fact that their forces are now consolidated gives them a greater strategic advantage than their initial strategy of trying to win everywhere and winning nowhere.
That all being said, I sure as hell was wrong when it came to the initial invasion’s chances of success and the Ukrainians are one hell of a scrappy bunch, so I hope they can somehow retake the whole damn country.
Last edited by dawglover05; 04/06/2212:21 AM.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
Imagine thinking that Ukraine should roll over for clowns like this. Imagine thinking Ukraine shouldn’t have pursued NATO or EU membership because of clowns like this.
Imagine thinking Russia has a point in anything.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
But, it was Ukraine’s fault Russia invaded because they wanted to join NATO. Russia justifiably was threatened there. We should have just stayed out of it from the get-go to save more Ukrainian lives.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
Imagine if Russia is regrouping, fixing their problems, reinforcing, and preparing to attack again in force.
Imagine if we do not do everything possible by supplying Ukraine the weapons needed to keep Russia in retreat.
Imagine if this war drags on for years giving Putin time to slowly grind Ukraine down, firing missiles and artillery, dropping bombs and laying waste to one city at a time.
Imagine the West not stepping it up in hopes of a negotiated peace.
Imagine if Russia is regrouping, fixing their problems, reinforcing, and preparing to attack again in force.
Imagine if we do not do everything possible by supplying Ukraine the weapons needed to keep Russia in retreat.
Imagine if this war drags on for years giving Putin time to slowly grind Ukraine down, firing missiles and artillery, dropping bombs and laying waste to one city at a time.
Imagine the West not stepping it up in hopes of a negotiated peace.
Imagine senate and house republicans voting against bills in congress that punish Putin more. Wait, you don’t have to imagine it. That’s exactly what’s happening. There is a GOP Putin caucus on Capitol Hill right now.
I sincerely hope this isn’t true, as far as the words and international strike on the train station.
Because if so, I think there’s more than enough justification for NATO to completely drop the hammer on the Russian military.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Swish, I hope this helps-I think it will Looking up the S300, it can fire missiles hundreds of miles, take down cruise missiles and if this is the defense system they were talking about on the news when I was coming home last night from work, it can reach planes up to 80,000 feet in the air
Biden says U.S. facilitated Slovakia's transfer of air defense system to Ukraine
Zachary Basu
Slovakia has transferred an S-300 missile defense system to Ukraine, fulfilling one of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's top requests to help the country defend itself against Russia's bombing campaign.
Why it matters: Zelensky pleaded in an address to the U.S. Congress last month for the U.S. and its European allies to impose a no-fly zone or give Ukraine the ability to "close the skies" itself by facilitating the transfer of Soviet-era fighter jets or anti-aircraft systems.
The latest: President Biden thanked the Slovakian government in a statement Friday and said the U.S. will reposition a Patriot missile system to Slovakia.
The Patriot missile system will be manned by U.S. service members at the invitation of the Slovakian government. "This deployment of Patriot capabilities to Slovakia aligns perfectly with our previous efforts to bolster NATO’s defensive capabilities and to demonstrate our collective security requirements under Article 5 of the NATO treaty," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. What they're saying: "I would like to confirm that Slovakia has provided #Ukraine with an air-defence system S-300. Ukrainian nation is bravely defending its sovereign country and us too. It is our duty to help, not to stay put and be ignorant to the loss of human lives under Russia’s aggression," Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger tweeted.
The big picture: In addition to the S-300, Ukraine has received tanks and infantry fighting vehicles from the Czech Republic, as the Donbas region braced for a major Russian offensive.
"As the Russian military repositions for the next phase of this war, I have directed my Administration to continue to spare no effort to identify and provide to the Ukrainian military the advanced weapons capabilities it needs to defend its country," Biden said in his statement Friday. U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told reporters Thursday that NATO countries had expressed support for providing "new and heavier equipment" to Ukraine as outrage builds over Russia's atrocities against civilians. "The battle for Donbas will remind you of the Second World War with large operations, thousands of tanks, armored vehicles, planes, artillery," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at the NATO meeting Thursday, pleading for allies to accelerate their military aid.
Slovakia confirms Patriot, S-300 air defense systems are heading to Ukraine By The Associated Press Apr 8, 12:55 PM
An S-300 missile launches during a Greek military exercise in 2013. Slovakia has confirmed it sent Ukraine an S-300 air defense system (Costas Metaxakis/AFP via Getty Images) BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad says the United States will deploy a Patriot air defense system in his country next week.
Friday’s announcement came shortly after Slovakia donated its Soviet-era S-300 air defense system to Ukraine at its request. Nad previously said his country was willing to provide its S-300 to Ukraine on condition it has a proper replacement.
Additionally, Germany and the Netherlands have agreed to send troops armed with Patriot missiles to Slovakia as part of 2,100-strong force made up of soldiers from several NATO members states, including the U.S. The force will form a battlegroup on Slovak territory to boost NATO defenses on the alliance’s eastern flank.
NATO members Bulgaria, Slovakia and Greece have S-300s, which can fire missiles hundreds of miles and knock out cruise missiles as well as aircraft.
Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger recently visited the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv with top European Union officials, ahead of a planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.
Zelenskyy had mentioned S-300s by name when he spoke to U.S. lawmakers by video last month, appealing for defense systems that would allow Ukraine to “close the skies” to Russian planes and missiles.
The S-300 is a very good SAM. The Russians also have an S-400. But - for whatever reason - they weren’t able to bar the Ukrainians from flying or attacking by UAV. I hope it stays that way.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
WH says they know what to expect in Ukraine based on Putin's choice of new general Russian Gen. Alexander Dvornikov known as 'Butcher of Syria'
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reported appointment of a new general known as the "Butcher of Syria" to oversee the invasion of Ukraine is a choice that shows the Biden administration exactly what to expect as Moscow’s bloody aggression continues, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Sunday.
Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, commander of Russia’s southern military district (SMD), was reported to be Putin’s pick as the new commander to lead operations in Ukraine. U.S. officials have said the 60-year-old general has a record of brutality against civilians in Syria and other theaters of war.
Ukraine War: Russia's flagship crippled in the Black Sea
Former Chief of Defence Intelligence and a Director at Universal Defence and Security Solutions, Air Marshal Phil Osborn takes a look at the claims Ukrainian forces hit and badly damaged the flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet with cruise missiles.
Russia acknowledged the crew was forced to evacuate, but said this was as a result of a fire, after onboard ammunition detonated.
Analysts say Russia continues to consolidate its forces ahead of an expected assault in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
