hcrof

I believe that the actual objective is in fact to ensure Russia's defeat, but it's a goal that cannot be stated publicly for diplomatic reasons.
It would be a major boost to Putin's popularity if the US openly declared that they were plotting Russia's humiliating defeat.
Imagine if during the US stay in Afghanistan, Pakistan had come out and said "Our objective is to ensure American defeat - thwarting their aims to hold on to Afghanistan and smashing its armed forces in a convincing and humiliating way".

Let’s Use Chicago Rules to Beat Russia
Why the U.S. adversary is a lot like Al Capone
By Eliot A. Cohen
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/07/madrid-nato-summit-2022-russia-ukraine/661494/
 
 

Civilian "Girkin" (Nesmyan) about future of RU Liquefied natural gas export
 

Sorry but why do the Russian speaking members of this forum have to be held up to a higher standard than anyone else? They are not obliged to provide anything, although I am very grateful they do. 
Can we just keep it civil please? Disagreement is ok, and being disrespectful to people who you disagree with is not a good way of encouraging a free conversation. 
Edit: just to be clear this is not aimed at only you, it's just I don't want this thread turning into a self-reinforcing echo chamber and I want to hear the "russian" narrative as long as it is expressed respectfully 

It's a historic necessity, so it has to be a bit scary  What's funny is that in comparison to these countries, Poland, Baltics, Czechia etc. etc are "OId Europe" too, or at least "Middle". All potential new EU members add to about 65M people. It's a lot but its not that dramatic, on par with the 2004 enlargement, and to be done more gradually this time.
And now, more trains! The idea of mobile hospital on tracks sound really good, in fact it's strange nobody implemented it yet. I'd specify it so that it's easy to switch to broad gauge if I was ordering it. I'm also not sure about the "high speed" requirement, in fact having it modular might make more sense. Also, have a battery bank and cover the roof with solar panels - I bet it could support itself without generators, baring maybe AC/ heating of the whole thing. A great idea:
 

FSB is cleaning up RU Police
It does not look like they were plotting something. Otherwise, they would be dead. Tea leaves tell me two scenarios:
They become too loyal to local authorities (decentralized Party clan)   FSB is preparing for brutal repressions and takes out those who would not shoot at people.

"Dozens of columns of smoke rise above Siversk, pounded by Russian troops who took Lysychansk. LAURENT VAN DER STOCKT FOR “LE MONDE”"


"Paratroopers from the 81st Battalion take shelter in a trench as a salvo from rocket launchers has just set fire to a nearby house. LAURENT VAN DER STOCKT FOR “LE MONDE”"
* 81st Battalion ? 81st Air Assault Brigade !


"Equipment, including an anti-tank missile launcher and a PKM 7.62 heavy machine gun, belonging to the paratroopers of the 81st Airmobile Battalion. LAURENT VAN DER STOCKT FOR “LE MONDE”"
* 81st Air Assault Brigade


"A paratrooper from the 81st Airmobile Battalion arrived in Siversk after fighting against Russian troops advancing towards Lyssytchansk, July 5, 2022. LAURENT VAN DER STOCKT FOR “THE WORLD”"
* 81st Air Assault Brigade

Civilian "Girkin" (Nesmyan] view on Kremlin endgame regarding Europe
 

About actions on Dnieper left bank bridgehead (Kherson oblast)
Maybe this is just my imagination, but Ukrainian crossing of Inhulets river at the end of May had an objectives not so the offensive on Kherson, but foiling of Russian plans of offensive on Zaporizhzhia. Before our General Staff reported about our troops crossed Inhulets, they claimed Russians were concentrating own forces in area Vasylivka - Polohy. Alsmost simultainously, like this became knowingly now, UKR artillery conducted mass preventive strike on this group (and maybe for this some part of artillery was distracted from Donbas to Zaporizhzhia axis or ammunitions were delivering first of all, causing lack of ammunitions in other places, I don't know) and UKR forces became to cross Inhulets. 
Thus, Russians, having lost some ground behind Inhulets were forced to gather in the haste reserves to throw Ukrainians down in the river. Ukrainain command then, began pressure on all frontline of Russian bridgehead on the left bank of Dnieper. But this wasn't something like big offensive. This was "random" activation of different sections of front, so Russians moved own "fireteams" in different places and couldn't concentrate them all against Inhulets group only. 
But Russian advantage in artillery and moving more reserves, for the month of heavy and bloody fights did own work - they could stop UKR advance behind Inhulets and take back most of UKR bridghead, so in present time UKR forces still control small part of bridgehead between Lozove (allegedly under UKR control) and Davydiv Brid (gray zone ot Russian control). 
Except bridgehead, UKR forces also conducted heavy and bloody fight, trying to liberate important Snihurivka town. In some days even were reports that UKR troops already in the town outskirts, but looks like Russians could repell theese atatcks, but the clashes are still ongoing. 
So, in present time Kherson direction has four local subdirections:
- SE area aside of M14 road Mykolaiv - Kherson. UKR troops trying to push enemy forces from the heavy fortified Pravdyne area as well as from Kyselivka. 
- Snihurivka
- Inhulets bridgehead and around
- Northern Kherson oblast: Arkanhelske - Vysokopillia - Novovoznesenske.
Both sides are conducting small tactical actions (from this tree plant to the next tree-plant) with varied success on background of artillery strikes. 
As I wrote in previous post now UKR command "activated" more the latter and achieved some success, liberating Potimkyne and Ivanivka on the flanks of Vysokopillia, so Russians are moving there new portion of reinforcements. Except BTGs of 34th MRB (mountain) and 11th air-assault brigade (main "fireteam" of Kherson oblast), now Russians are moving hastly on this diretion BTG of 83rd air-assault brigade from Zaporizhzhia direction and tired in heavy battles on Popasna - Bakhmut direction BTG of 106th VDV division.   
Other directions from Russian side defend grouping of 126th coastal defense brigade, 255 MRR of 20th MRD and 127th recon brigade. More deep lines probably secured by LDPR conscripts (at least they were in that place 1,5-2 months ago). 
Also Russians are moving now to M14 road area where UKR reportedly has same gains next reinforcements: BTG of 429th MRR of 19th MRD from Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia oblast and combined BTG from other uits of this division. Probably they will try to push UKR troops back and take Posad-Pokrovske village - the main stronghold of UKR presense in this area. Already now Russians with forces of 255th MRR elements are trying to attack in our right flank here in area Shmidtove - Liubomyrivka to come to the rear of our grouping, which try to advance along M14 road  
So, in this way Russians are waekening more and more own Zaporizhzhia grouping, their offensive on Zaporizhzhia was foiled and Ukrainain pressure there also is growing, but about this in next time.
The map just for illustration, its too hard to depict small scale villages on Google map.
 

I so get that. My grandfather was a partisan in WW2 and part of Prague Uprising. I am now trying to become part of our Active Reserves - turns out I need to get somewhat fitter first  
Before this all happened, I thought this is only for "weirdo nationalist people". It is incredible how easily a world turn upside down.
 
EDIT: I am sure this is something a lot of people share. At the same time, we're the lucky ones who can chose whether to join instead of having to.

All right guys, this is a post where I spill my guts in quite an emotional manner, please move along if your're not up for it.
I'll start with stating that I'm really fond of this community that I accidentally found thanks to @Der Zeitgeist. While we differ in perception of some minutiae of the events unraveling in front of us, we all seem to share the same view on whats right and moral in this context. And that is really a lot, more that I could expect from most of my average 'real', 'physical' acquaintances.
For my whole life, since I was an 8 years old kid listening to my grandpa's war tales, I was deeply interested in all things military related. It is easy to get a young boy interested  in this kind of stuff - the power, the agency, the feeling of purpose this provides is unmatched by anything else in the world. Of course  when you're still an adolescent, your understanding of what war/ armed conflict means cannot be deep enough. As I was entering my adulthood, even studying military history academically, I grew to hate the very notion of armed conflict and violence. I guess getting the real grasp of what war means to a regular person was too much to me at this point. I retained my interest, but didn't really pursue it apart from theoretical knowledge. Especially, I dodged the last years of draft i Poland - neither me, nor Polish civil society in general was really ready for it in early 2000's. I was living my life happily since then, like if "The End of History" was and undisputed fact of life.
And it really changed with the start of war in Ukraine. I could easily picture myself in the position of average Kyiv or Kharkiv citizen, a guy in his late 30s, with a reasonable career in IT, concentrated on making a living for his wife and young kids, who is suddenly confronted with the need to physically fight for all that is important for him. 
Of course, in this great community we mostly  concentrate of relatively coldly analysing what is going on, trying to get a grasp of events the way a historian narrates the Battle of Kursk - it is of course THE WAY to practically understand the events and be able to draw conclusions. That's how a commander should look at it, putting his feeling aside. This however isn't the only way to talk about war, especially it isn't the only "right" way to do so. 
On a personal or local society level, what this war is is the fight between right and wrong, between liberty and slavery, between good and evil. Of course, if you are a mature individual, you understand that the good and bad are very relative terms, and it's best to avoid such violent situations at all. Yet, it if comes to the conflict like this, for me the only true way to talk about the people on the very front line, in the trenches facing The Enemy, is poetry and epic prose. The cold analysis is of course important to practical understanding of the situation, yet it doesn't do justice to a person giving his or her life for a greater cause. Having said that, I run at a few videos kept very much in the spirit I outlined here:
A music video to Sabaton's 40:1 song, really fitting the evens of the first few weeks of war. We might've forget it already, but the first days were about the grassroots citizen resistance that in many cases stopped the orcs. Videos from February and March are really reminding of what it is all about:
Here's an Azov oath from 2015, it's as powerful as it gets:
And a subtitled Ukrainian anthem:
There's a conclusion to this rant - today I sent a letter to my local Territorial Defense brigade. They are overflowing with volunteers at the moment, but I'll should be able to join in the winter, early next year at the latest.
It's OK, I'll have the time to get used to morning jogs I guess.

Various shell shortages during a war are the norm. LDNR had their own shortage at the end of April beginning of May. What is important is that RU started to talk about their Shell Famine which means not only they have second shell shortage (and very bad) but that trust in competence of RU high command is broken. Shell Famine is a synonym of war losing military incompetence in RU milhistory circles (from where majority of volunteers are). 

I don't like Arestovich, but he told in last interview, we passed sharp shell famine in the end of May - beginnng of June, when our artillery shortened own fire missions to minimum. Arestovich said "10 days didn't shot at all", but this is just to dramatize. Though this is the case, when he doesn't tell fairy-tales. I read our soldiers or those, who have familiars in army and many of them asked "were the f..g hell artillery gone?" Especially bad situation was from Siverodonetsk to Popasna and near Avdiivka. The latter saved only that, Russian command threw on Popasna - Bakhmut - Lysychansk direction most of regular DPR troops and those who remained stopped own advance on Avdiivka.   
In June first 155 mm howitzers and ammunition have been coming to Ukraine and probably 152 mm shells for Soviet barrels from ex-Warsaw pact countries, so the work of artillery was gradually renewed

There is another Murz rant. I think he is extremely upset about something happening recently. He ranted about West, RU politicians but what is interesting is a part about RU military and warehouses strikes. 
It is time for nice Ukrainian song about Artillery - Vse Budet Ukraina!

Sorry but why do the Russian speaking members of this forum have to be held up to a higher standard than anyone else? They are not obliged to provide anything, although I am very grateful they do. 
Can we just keep it civil please? Disagreement is ok, and being disrespectful to people who you disagree with is not a good way of encouraging a free conversation. 
Edit: just to be clear this is not aimed at only you, it's just I don't want this thread turning into a self-reinforcing echo chamber and I want to hear the "russian" narrative as long as it is expressed respectfully 

I got a feel that KGB clan is starting an operation to replace Putin with Patrushev. He is being portrait as kind of sane version of Putin. Putin right now is like old man living in fantasy land and Patrushev is emerging like straight-talker-problem-solver guy you need in crisis.
For example, while Putin was discussing with Shoigu victory of liberating LDNR and giving awards Patrushev made straight talk that there is still job to be done.
 
And here he talks about issues of Far East
Here you see him warning local authorities about their indifference to local regional needs (as if it is not his boss who put them there and tolerated their behavior). He talks like he is sure they will not be able to appeal to Putin himself. 
So, I am reading tea leaves that they are isolating Old Man rerouting decision making processes to Patrushev like do not bother Glorious Old Man with unnecessary boring details, respect his age and health. 
Fun Fact - Lenin was always portraited as Glorious Old Man. He was like an Orthodox saint elder. But Lenin was just 53 years old and young energetic politician Putin is 69 years old now.

Sorry but why do the Russian speaking members of this forum have to be held up to a higher standard than anyone else? They are not obliged to provide anything, although I am very grateful they do. 
Can we just keep it civil please? Disagreement is ok, and being disrespectful to people who you disagree with is not a good way of encouraging a free conversation. 
Edit: just to be clear this is not aimed at only you, it's just I don't want this thread turning into a self-reinforcing echo chamber and I want to hear the "russian" narrative as long as it is expressed respectfully 

Sorry but why do the Russian speaking members of this forum have to be held up to a higher standard than anyone else? They are not obliged to provide anything, although I am very grateful they do. 
Can we just keep it civil please? Disagreement is ok, and being disrespectful to people who you disagree with is not a good way of encouraging a free conversation. 
Edit: just to be clear this is not aimed at only you, it's just I don't want this thread turning into a self-reinforcing echo chamber and I want to hear the "russian" narrative as long as it is expressed respectfully 

Sorry but why do the Russian speaking members of this forum have to be held up to a higher standard than anyone else? They are not obliged to provide anything, although I am very grateful they do. 
Can we just keep it civil please? Disagreement is ok, and being disrespectful to people who you disagree with is not a good way of encouraging a free conversation. 
Edit: just to be clear this is not aimed at only you, it's just I don't want this thread turning into a self-reinforcing echo chamber and I want to hear the "russian" narrative as long as it is expressed respectfully 

Sorry but why do the Russian speaking members of this forum have to be held up to a higher standard than anyone else? They are not obliged to provide anything, although I am very grateful they do. 
Can we just keep it civil please? Disagreement is ok, and being disrespectful to people who you disagree with is not a good way of encouraging a free conversation. 
Edit: just to be clear this is not aimed at only you, it's just I don't want this thread turning into a self-reinforcing echo chamber and I want to hear the "russian" narrative as long as it is expressed respectfully 

Sorry but why do the Russian speaking members of this forum have to be held up to a higher standard than anyone else? They are not obliged to provide anything, although I am very grateful they do. 
Can we just keep it civil please? Disagreement is ok, and being disrespectful to people who you disagree with is not a good way of encouraging a free conversation. 
Edit: just to be clear this is not aimed at only you, it's just I don't want this thread turning into a self-reinforcing echo chamber and I want to hear the "russian" narrative as long as it is expressed respectfully 

Sorry for spamming so much, but that's worth mentioning. Imagine how pissed off this guy has to be. A tragic character indeed, I hope he finds his peace.
 

RU budget is to be sequestered - civilian Girkin (Nesmyan)
 

Impact on Ru industry - civilian Girkin (Nesmyan)
 

To be fair, I think English speakers like me can make our own decisions based on the multiple russian speaking sources here. I am personally interested in what the pro russian arguments are so I know how people think (and also to feel like I am not in an echo chamber!)