sburke

As opposed to the plan they initially had to liquidate the entire Ukrainian leadership? Russia would always have loved to kill Zelensky, they just aren't capable of it. I think we are all still too gullible when it comes to Russian threats to escalate. They don't actually have any credible capability to escalate. They can lob a few more bombs at civilians, maybe try to increase their mobilization numbers, but that is about it. Nukes and other WMDs aren't credible. Their only significant ally, China, isn't going to abide that. Who planned the drone mission? No idea. Not sure I even really care. Just waiting for the counter offensive to start.

heh, wasn't Russia's original plan for the invasion to eliminate Zelensky in that first 3 days? Oh but NOW they are serious! Morons.

disappointing damage result, but for the Russians it likely means panic about basing those units there. Still a win. Kind of like the Russian navy backing off of Sevastopol.

What?! It is all going according to plan!

Putin Grooms Russians for Defeat in Leaked Crisis Manual (yahoo.com) After spending the last year reassuring Russians that victory is inevitable in the war against Ukraine, the Kremlin is now frantically working to lower expectations—and rolling out a contingency plan to lessen the impact of a humiliating defeat. A new manual prepared by Russia’s presidential administration and distributed to the Kremlin’s army of propagandists contains some surprising instructions: Do not “underestimate” Ukraine’s impending counter-offensive and do not spread the idea that Kyiv is somehow “not ready” for it. That’s according to the independent news outlet Meduza, which says it obtained a fresh copy of the manual and spoke to sources close to the Kremlin about it. “If the offensive is unsuccessful, it will be possible to say: the army [of Russia] skillfully fended off an attack that was superior in power,” making the “victory” that much more impressive, the sources were quoted saying. But perhaps more importantly, the sources explained, if the Ukrainian military manages to take back territories and claim battlefield victories “with the help of weapons from the U.S. and Europe,” Russia’s losses will be understandable—after all, they were up against the “entire West.” In that case, the sources said, the Russian military will also be seen as having “pulled through.” And just in case any Russian citizens begin to wonder about the colossal amount of funds the government is funneling to the very same Ukrainian territories it decimated before declaring them “part of Russia,” propagandists are advised to steer clear of the subject. Instead, Kremlin spin doctors want their mouthpieces to churn out material on Russia upgrading schools and kindergartens, or hospitals. “It’s clear there will be problems with the economy, and it’s clear why. Spending on the ‘special military operation’ isn’t going anywhere,” one source close to the presidential administration said, noting that funds will go towards the “new regions” rather than the old ones and people will inevitably feel neglected. “It is better not to show in specific amounts how much was taken [for the new regions].” The Kremlin’s new guidelines are a stunning reversal from just a year ago, when propagandists were still pushing the idea that Russia would soon be reborn as a mighty superpower taking control of huge swathes of Ukraine. At that time, the war was still a distant reality for many Russians—unlike now, when even residents in St. Petersburg and Moscow are on edge over drone attacks and even, in some cases, bomb-toting “Ukrainian pigeons.” Security concerns were cited as the reason for the cancellation of Russia’s beloved Victory Day celebrations in some cities on May 9. This Is Make or Break Time for Desperate Vladimir Putin “There will be no parade, so as not to provoke the enemy with a large concentration of equipment and military personnel in the center of Belgorod,” the governor of the border region said last month. Even in Moscow, the country’s biggest Victory Day parade this year will forego its traditional procession of the Immortal Regiment, which sees thousands march carrying portraits of loved ones who died fighting in World War II. Authorities reportedly feared some people might show up carrying portraits of troops killed in Ukraine, inadvertently calling attention to the staggering losses there. The Kremlin reportedly instructed its propagandists not to “play up” preparations for the parade. And Moscow officials are also on high alert over any potential embarrassing disruptions in the parade: Utility workers have been ordered to patrol the city in search of bombs or drones ahead of the event, according to Sota. That move came after a Ukrainian banker publicly offered 20 million hryvnias (about $545,000) to anyone who can design a drone—ideally painted with “Glory to Ukraine!”—that will land on Moscow’s Red Square in the middle of the parade.

Explosion in Melitopol: Russians claim it was attempted assassination of Russian Internal Affairs top-official (yahoo.com)

Putin calling everyone he knows and no one answers. Putin:"G*dd@mni1! Voicemail again!!!!"

he is the very model of a modern major general

American english language courses courtesy of battlefront. When I was taking Japanese classes they had the regular class, and a conversational class. i guess we could call this the Battlefront - "how to diss the Russian military" class.

Fire breaks out in sanctioned Russia's factory manufacturing MLRS (yahoo.com)

‘Robin Hood’ hacker steals rich Russian crypto funds, gives to poor Ukraine (yahoo.com)

on today's episode of Wild Kingdom from Mutual of Omaha..... Jim wrestles with the angry polecat

or he is a newly deployed Russian mine clearing device. It worked!

Videos appear to show the aftermath of a precision strike by US-supplied HIMARS missiles on officers' quarters at a Russian base in Ukraine (yahoo.com) Videos appear to show a Russian base in Ukraine destroyed by HIMARS missiles. A Russian officer said three missiles struck the building where 58th Army officers were stationed. Ukraine has not commented on the attack. Videos appear to show the aftermath of a HIMARS strike on a Russian base in Ukraine, roughly 12 miles from the contact line. Russian officer Oleg Marzoev said on Telegram that three US-supplied HIMARS missiles struck a building where officers of the Vladikavkaz garrison of the 58th Army were stationed. The GeoConfirmed account on Twitter, which compiles the geolocation of videos and images from the conflict, said the location of the videos had been confirmed. One of the videos shared by Marzoev is filmed by a Russian officer who was on the roof of the building when the strikes hit.

Brought to you by Benson and Hedges,,,,

When the hell are we going to get around to declaring Russia a state sponsor of terror. JFC

liberating a sizable chunk of occupied land and a long procession of prisoners being escorted to the rear could be enough. @The_Capt has spoken a lot about options space so thinking strictly in terms of ground taken etc is only part of the picture. A UA offensive that embarrasses Russia's military even further could have repercussions on the political front.

They sort of did in their concerted attempt tp destroy Ukraine's energy infrastructure - all stuff in fixed locations a lot easier to take out than a bridge... but.. err... FAIL

oh jeez, there just are no words Pro-War Russians Duped Into Torching Kremlin Military Offices (yahoo.com) and this one is even better. Russian army commander arrested for ‘selling tank engines’ (yahoo.com)

another purge? Russia’s ‘Butcher of Mariupol’ first to go in reported major Defense Ministry purge (yahoo.com)

This is the part that bugs me. They never ask - so when you said on x date that this was gonna happen and it didn't, what did you get wrong and how has this changed your perspective on how things may be going differently than you would expect? (and why should we believe you now?)

man the Homeland security internet vacuum is gonna go nuts seeing this info posted all over and reporting it. Umm Steve, you might get a knock on the door. I'd suggest maybe storing the uniforms and stuff somewhere safe that can't be connected to you.

some comedians become politicians and then have to lead their nation in a fight for survival, wait what?

IF there was actually something worth it to Kiev, it wouldn't be our decision. We'd have to support it. Do I expect China to ever propose anything acceptable to Kiev? About as much as I expect I'll pick the winning lottery ticket (hint: I don't play the lottery)

blonde stripper/porn stars? Like Brad Pitt? (yes he actually did have a gig as a stripper)