Russia widens Ukraine war aims as gas pipeline restart tests nerves

One might inquire with what rag-tag group of "soldiers", with which jack-in-the-box tanks, with which magically disappearing air "farce" will the Red Army be accomplishing these additional "tasks" (as we seem to have taken to calling blowing up civilian targets)?

The army is spent, the air force doesn't fly and missiles and artillery advantages are ephemeral.

The Russians are spent. To be fair, both sides are exhausted and yes, Ukraine has been pushed back. But bent ain't "broken" and the weapons that Ukraine is getting compare quite favorably with the T-62s the Russians are pulling out of moth-balls and the 2nd rate drones that they suddenly are so eager to purchase from Iran.

Lavrov can huff and puff all he wants. The Ukraine's will to fight seems undiminished.

Moscow's military "tasks" in Ukraine now go beyond the eastern Donbas region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday, as the Kremlin's forces shelled eastern and southern Ukraine.

Why quote Lavrov? Is there a more lying Russian in the world?

Keep up the resistance Ukraine. Evil cannot be allowed to win.

Ukraine is sinking like a stone,they sold 13 billion in their gold reserves,I can even understand why you people support Ukraine,but you should not support Zelensky appointment of Pro Russian corrupt officials

I can even understand why you people support Ukraine

I think you mean "I can't" but here goes - an abbreviated list. Um, because they are not murdering expansionist jerks? They don't threaten nuclear escalation? They don't use fuel shut offs and starvation as a weapon? They don't come up with idiotic conspiracies about Nazis? They don't threaten their neighbors? They don't intentionally target children (remember when that building that had the giant word "Children!" written in the ground got bombed?)? They don't tie people's hands behind their backs and then shoot them in the knee caps before shooting them in the head and leaving their bodies in the street? They are an actual democracy with an elected government? Their president is not a walking-talking (when he does either, which isn't much anymore) mini-me from Austin Powers?

(What do you think, rational observers? Am I missing anything?)

One hopes this will clear up your confusion.

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

-Archbishop Desmond Tutu -Michael Scott

Russia widens war with what? 1950's era tanks? Untrained conscripted cannon fodder? Lieutenants posing as Generals?

Russia is running out of missiles - its forced to use its S-300 air defense missiles to strike ground targets...

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/russia-now-firing-s-300-surface-to-air-missiles-at-land-targets-in-ukraine-official

Putin flies to Iran to rub elbows with the Mullahs - the only leaders not embarrassed enough to be seen with him...

And the poor Russian people are again forced to pay the price for a tyrannical, ego-maniac leader, taking his country to ruin...

"Russia is blackmailing us. Russia is using energy as a weapon," Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said

Really ? What do you expect when you try to destroy Russia with sanctions and steal their assets around the world ?

If you not an American,your country probably cannot do nothing,the same with you, Ukrainain are not the only people catching hell, people in Palestine have been enduring for 50 years,lots of other countries are experiencing the hell of war,it do not stop Ukraine from contributing too their misery

Why quote Lavrov? Is there a more lying Russian in the world?

Putin

Keep up the resistance Ukraine. Evil cannot be allowed to win.

Hear! Hear!

Really ? What do you expect when you try to destroy Russia with sanctions and steal their assets around the world ?

oh man… I wonder if there was something Russia could do to put an end to all that. I’m at a complete loss. It’s not like they’re invading a foreign nation or anything… oh hang on… yes it is… but I digress… what could Russia do to end the sanctions? The longer it goes on, the harder it’s gonna be.

I mentioned this 3 months ago:

Putin didn7T and won't stop after his 3-day-limited operation to de-nazify Ukraine.

He will keep on going, not just for Ukrainian territory but even further, if - and I have to stress - IF he doesn't get stopped one way or another. Next would be the former USSR republics, countries like Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and so on. The sooner those Russian aggressors and their master(s) are taken out, the better not just for Ukraine! Besides, with more sophisticated military hardware given to the defenders, their chances are looking better and better to regain lost (Ukrainian!!) territory.

"Russia is blackmailing us. Russia is using energy as a weapon," Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, describing a full cut-off of Russian gas flows as "a likely scenario" for which "Europe needs to be ready".

hypocrites

oh man… I wonder if there was something Russia could do to put an end to all that. I’m at a complete loss. It’s not like they’re invading a foreign nation or anything… oh hang on… yes it is… but I digress… what could Russia do to end the sanctions? The longer it goes on, the harder it’s gonna be.

yup, Russia know whats coming to them. thats why they pursue their decisions until now. but all nations that chooses or decides to counter and sanction a nation, will be firm on the path he chooses.

So Putin intends to occupy as much of Ukraine has he can. Very different than his pre-invasion statements.

Russian military getting to breaking point, even forming “volunteer Battalions” made up of prisoners given amnesty if they fight. Ukrainians as much as they have lost continue to get stronger with the use of weapons not made in 1960.

Really ? What do you expect when you try to destroy Russia with sanctions and steal their assets around the world ?

Really? What do you expect when you try to destroy Ukraine and steal their land and resources?

Just so people understand, like any gas pipeline, the Nordstrom pipeline that is the main supply line from Russia to the EU has a series of pumping stations along it.

The pumps need routine maintenance, usually contracted to the manufacturer as part of the purchase, and involving the pump being shut down, removed, a spare pump installed, and the removed pump being shipped to the manufacturer for overhaul, then returned to be the spare pump swapped in for a pump due for its maintenance.

So what happens if the pump isn't returned? Well, the next pump due for maintenance is shut down on schedule to prevent damaging it, and international safety practice is to reduce the operating pressure of the pipeline to prevent dangerous surges in the pipeline, which reduces the volume flowing through the pipeline.

Which is what happened when the pump that Siemens was repairing wasn't shipped back on time. But the return of that pump, if it happens, doesn't change the fact that the pump it was due to replace was itself going to be needed to replace the next pump due for maintenance on a fixed schedule, and won't be available in time, because it hasn't started being repaired yet, and the time until the pipeline is TWO pumping stations short is approaching. And arranging for someone else to overhaul the pump takes time and the cooperation of the manufacturer in giving the new maintenance contractor the specifications of what needs to be done, which means that the pipeline will inevitably be THREE pumping stations short in a few months.

Breaking News, Ukrainain do not want the war to last till winter Google Ukraine Winter War

I look at the "mighty" red army and wonder "This is what I lost sleep over in the 80s at the height of the Cold War? THIS?"

Now to be fair, that was the Soviet Red Army not just the Russians, and yes, US equipment and tactics are better now, but the Russians, er..."Soviets" used the same crappy weapons, had the same crappy leadership and the same undertrained soldiers.

They are not going to move against NATO because the CANNOT. Their armaments are depleted, their "least crappy" weapons smoldering ruin, their air "farce" a non-factor.

This war is not just hard on Ukraine (my apologies for the unnecessary noun marker "the" in a previous comment on this thread.). It has exhausted and depleted the red "army" and has laid bare all its weaknesses and I guarantee that every planner in NATO has been watching and taking very close notes.

Thus Putie's threats to escalate with tactical nukes. His army loses and loses badly in a conventional war vs. a re-invigorated NATO.

More HIMARS from the USA and Putin will use the hundreds of drones gifted from Iran to use against them

@Nemo

Um, because they are not murdering expansionist jerks?

NATO began expansion to the East in 90s, in complete violation of its promises. Now hundreds of NATO expansionist jerks (advisers, instructors and simple mercenaries from the Ukrainian Foreign Legion) are dead. More to come.

They don't use fuel shut offs and starvation as a weapon?

False claim. What fuel shut off, what starvation? All contracts on fuel and food are being fulfilled. All fuel and food shortages in the West are the result of its own politicians' stupidity and mismanagement.

They don't come up with idiotic conspiracies about Nazis?

Such idiotic conspiracies are MSM thing ("no Nazis in Ukraine, just some good rightist types"). Meanwhile the official state heroes of Ukraine are WWII Nazi collaborators, official greetings ("Heil to Ukraine") are the copy of Nazi Germany' greetings, Nazi emblems and other paraphernalia are widely used in the armed forces. And, most important, Ukrainian methods are purely Nazi, to begin with the mass burning of people in Odessa in 2014 and artillery shellings of cities in Donbass.

They don't intentionally target children

Ukrainians intentionally use civilians as human shields and civilian infrastructure as places to hide troops and military hardware, just like ISIS terrorists. Birds of feather.

They don't tie people's hands behind their backs and then shoot them in the knee caps before shooting them in the head and leaving their bodies in the street?

Staged incident in Bucha? A sudden discovery of bodies on the streets three days after Russian forces left the area? Don't worry, after the war a war crimes trial will deal with it, and Ukrainian officials who did that would be brought to justice.

Ukraine will pay the price for all its crimes since it unleashed its army on Donbass in 2014, for all people it killed there.

Yrral

I can even understand why you people support Ukraine.

Because the are defending themselves from imperialism.

Lavrov also told state news agency RIA Novosti that Russia's objectives will expand still further if the West keeps supplying Kyiv with long-range weapons such as the U.S.-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).

Unfortunately for Russia, they don't have the forces to do it. They are pretty much spent. And now they are trying to recruit from far away territories that are poor, enticing them with money. (Nobody in Moscow will sign up.) They will get 30 days training. Not sure what use they will be other than cannon fodder.

NATO began expansion to the East in 90s, in complete violation of its promises. 

That is completely false. If an independent country wants to join NATO, it can. It’s not an attack on Russia just insurance, turns out not a bad idea. Rather have multiple friends than one overlord. At a party is it the inclusive group that attracts you or that sinister dude in the corner?

Cricky

NATO began expansion to the East in 90s, in complete violation of its promises. 

That is completely false. If an independent country wants to join NATO, it can.

Yeah, this expanding narrative sounds like a troup advance, or that they are moving nuclear missiles nearer Russia, when the fact is it just let sovereign countries to join.

And the other thing to call out, is that NATO never promised anything.

@2020hindsights

Because the are defending themselves from imperialism

People of Donbass are defending themselves from nazism.

Unfortunately for Russia, they don't have the forces to do it. They are pretty much spent. And now they are trying to recruit from far away territories that are poor

They have more than enough local volunteers, very eager to pay Ukraine back for all its crimes against the people of Donbass.

@Cricky

It’s not an attack on Russia just insurance

In 90s the deal was that Germany unites, the Warsaw pact disbands and NATO will not come to its territory. NATO broke the deal. Period. And after NATO aggressions against Iraq and Libya what idiot will believe its promises and other sweet words?

Asakaze, of course .....

... have you looked at Russian troops?

Have you seen the Wagner mercenaries? Most of them displaying some kind of Nazi symbols.

But NO, they are the good ones, fighting those Nazis in Ukraine, and as a "side-effect" killing civilians, children (more than 300 so far), destroying infrastructure, raping, looting, deporting ... but guess I've mentioned this often enough (like your comments) and only those who are willing to accept the facts will agree.

ok1517

... have you looked at Russian troops?

Have you seen the Wagner mercenaries? Most of them displaying some kind of Nazi symbols

Wagner is a private security company, not a part of the regular army. Anyway, can you share their Nazi symbols? In Russia one can get a real prison term for displaying Nazi symbols.

By the way, do you know how the Russians detect Ukrosoldiers after they shed their uniforms and put on civilian clothes? They ask the Ukrainians to show their bodies, these idiots usually cover themselves with swastikas, SS emblems, portraits of Hitler etc. In Ukraine it is A NORM.

"side-effect" killing civilians, children (more than 300 so far)

Compare it with side effects ("collateral damage") in Iraq and Afghanistan. Or the number of people killed intentionally by Ukroforces.

Donbas is a region of Ukraine, not Russia, and will remain so until the Ukrainian people decide it is not.

Asakaze

Because the are defending themselves from imperialism

People of Donbass are defending themselves from nazism.

No they aren't. And Putin started that war in the Dombas in 2014.

Unfortunately for Russia, they don't have the forces to do it. They are pretty much spent. And now they are trying to recruit from far away territories that are poor

They have more than enough local volunteers, very eager to pay Ukraine back for all its crimes against the people of Donbass.

Yeah, I feel sorry for the locals shanghaied into the Russian army. It does boost Russia's numbers, but these soldiers are poorly equipped and trained. And Russia still don't have enough for Putin's ambitions.

Asakaze

And the coup d'etat plotters of 2014 uleashed the army and gangs of street nazis against Donbass, not vice versa.

No they didn't. the Azov Battalion formed after Putin sent troops into the Dombas as a reaction to it. Not the other way around.

I just saw the video of Putin looking all annoyed and twitchy after Erdogan left him hanging in front of the camera for a few minutes.

No one would have dared done that to Putin a few years ago. He's clearly weakened himself with this whole Ukraine mess he created.

He shouldn't have tried to encroach Russia's borders on NATO territory.

as well as self-identifies as a NATO information agent

An agent of facts and truth in opposition to a murder and a thug. Guilty as charged.

But don't worry. Nobody here takes you seriously.

Seems the idea of an “Independent country” able to make its own decisions is just too much of a mind bender for some. But invading and putting subservient non elected people in charge is OK. So what do you do make friends that will help you, or bend over and accept subservience to a power you never asked for?

well actually that would be the 30% who didn’t vote for him wouldn’t it?

Ahh yes, because there are no other reasons one may not support Zelensky, the only reason 30% of people didn't vote for Zelensky is because they're Nazis. What an absurd claim to make.

well actually that would be the 30% who didn’t vote for him wouldn’t it?

So leave the other 70% to die, right?

It's only relevant that the presidential candidate received a majority of votes but in this case, 70% is high.