Russian advance stalls in Ukraine's Bakhmut, think tank says

Goobers can’t desalinate a salt mine much less conquer Ukraine.

Russia’s assault will be difficult to sustain without more significant personnel losses.

Putin and the Kremlin care nothing about loss of lives, in the case of the many deaths in the Wagner Group, it's a plus for the Russian ruling caste, because they get rid of some of their worst criminals; Prigozhin and other gang leaders, don't care about losing some of their thugs know they can easily find other thugs to replace the ones killed. Now when will China and other authoritarian nations start sending their troops to help Putin?

Failing, yet another aspect Russian marauders are so good at!

Remember: Ukrainians are fighting for and defending their homeland.

Including Crimea and all other illegally occupied areas by Russian invaders.

To temporarily gain a couple of sqkm Russia experiences losses in the thousands.

They achieved little to nothing so far, except for:

killling civilians, raping, looting, deporting, abducting, destroying civilian infrastructore, and most of all being a pariah inter nations.

Glory to Ukraine!

Glory to the heroes!

Ukraine prevails!

They achieved little to nothing so far, except for:

killling civilians, raping, looting, deporting, abducting, destroying civilian infrastructore, and most of all being a pariah inter nations.

And a lot more risk to the people inside their own borders.

The Ministry of Education in Apatity, Murmansk Oblast included Wagner personnel at a career guidance lesson to tell “heroic stories” and promote the Wagneryonok [“little Wagner”] youth group and summer camp in Crimea. The Wagner Group likely aims to recruit more impressionable recruits through these youth-focused campaigns and instil in them Prigozhin’s extremist ideological brand of Russian ultranationalism.

Sound familiar? I wonder if they have brown shirts.

If any country is fascist it is the illegal Russian invasion.

Civilized people would say this disgusting warren of fascism is going down and so are it's backers, USA, Germany, France and UK.

I'd like you to define fascism in a way that includes the governments US, Germany, France, and the Uk, but excludes the government of Russia?

The Soviet Union/Russia has a long history of invading European and satellite countries including my grandfather's country in the Baltics from 1940 until 1991.

Russian schoolgirl, 13, is forced into an orphanage and her father 'violently interrogated' by Putin's men after she drew an anti-Ukrainian invasion picture in an art lesson.

Masha Moskaleva, 13, was removed from her father, Alexei Moskalev, 53, after officials decided the single father was raising his child 'incorrectly'.

Which country is fascist again?

Axel,

it's so easy to answer a question with a question, because it shows people don't know the answer.

So let me help you out:

*"Fascism is a way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government."*

Totally fits Russia,and Belarus I'd say. Definitely can't say this concerning the countries you are mentioning!

Glory to Ukraine!

Glory to the heroes!

Ukraine prevails!

Stay strong, defenders of Ukraine! Bakhmut holds!

Go Ukraine!

Putin needs to call a ceasefire.

U,do you think your naive post here are an answer too Ukraine problem,are you sending psychic messages to Ukrainain on the front lines,if not you look silly here

That post made someone look silly, but not who you thought.

Putin/Russia has no freedom of speech. You can go to prison for speaking out against the war. Thousands of citizens fled the country.

No word from Edward Snowden these days. Gone to ground. Snowden hasn't posted a tweet to his 5.1 million followers since Feb. 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia's invasion.

No word from Edward Snowden these days. Gone to ground. Snowden hasn't posted a tweet to his 5.1 million followers since Feb. 27, 2022, three days after the start of Russia's invasion.

Can you blame him? Getting arrested in Russia wouldn't exactly serve him well right now.

The war criminal Putin is using thermobaric bombs that rip the oxygen out of humans' lungs.

The Muscovite forces being bled in to the ground by their blind effort to take a strategically insignificant town, at least for them. It has become strategically important from the Ukrainian point of view as it allows them to inflict such casualties as to drain any reserves that could be used for an offensive, just as they have done in Vuledar.

I feel sorry for the fascist Muscovite apologists, it must be hard trying to positively spin such a total disaster A three day war that has lasted more than a year!

Quite certain MOST globally are NOT Pro UA or Pro Russia

Rather most are PRO peace/NO WWIII etc.

If one assumes above's true, one must examine carefully the history, especially since the fall of Soviet Union.

With every passing day Ukraine's being destroyed and world's becoming more and more dangerous causing everyone to lose. Biggest losers are those starving now because of food insecurity and food inflation. That'll be millions of additional people this year alone, totally innocent.

Battlefield losses in Ukraine are a drop in the bucket.

Conflict's not case of a madman waking up one day and simply deciding to randomly invade...EXACT opposite.

Helpful to understand well the money and power agenda, one must remember many global opportunists considered Russia the 'great prize' along with former Soviet countries, including Ukraine obviously.

Once it became clear Soviet Union would fall some 40 years ago, these opportunists set everything in motion. The 'great game' and why many missed the IT boom.

This is the historical context for everything taking place today, if you support these foreign/outsider opportunists and their proxies, well you're likely not a big fan of Putin. If you support this idea that outsiders meddling in the affairs with the CLEAR intent to seize control of power and wealth of other countries, you're probably not a big fan of this US led NATO led proxy war.

It's really about that simple, do we want stability or war? Finland and Norway historically understood stability meant neutrality, not being party to this NATO war machine etc. Obviously, facts on the ground have changed so they've been forced to pick a side.

All these innocents get killed and wounded, displaced, destruction of society etc. Matters not to those pursuing their true wealth and power agenda. The experience of Russians and their leadership is all in response to the historical context of these past 40 years, breaking point being the horrific treatment of ethnic Russian speaking Ukrainian citizens by the present Ukrainian leadership.

That's the WHY, so for most of us observers it's the HOW do we stop this madness rather than simply picking sides and in doing so only act to further escalate.

Because this war is by far greatest danger that humanity has ever faced, not simply out of control inflation, death and destruction, starvation, economic free-fall, markets collapsing but of course the biggest of all...Armagedón.

PS. I know NO Russians and NO Ukrainians, never been there, NO bias etc. Just calling balls and strikes unlike most here. Not an appropriate time for...I like my team, soccer hooligan mentality, this is life itself.

HOW do we stop this madness rather than simply picking sides and in doing so only act to further escalate.

Easy, the side that invaded goes home or gets destroyed. I am ok with either. Ukraine is not going to surrender, Clay. Sorry.

You don't have to believe anything. You are free to consider it (assuming you read the article) and do what you like. It's great right? ISW has been pretty good at confirming advances on both sides based on geolocated photos and videos.

ok so now we have to believe to words of some "thinktank".

let me LOL.

"Stop the madness"

Putin could do that today instead of dropping thermobaric bombs on the heads of little children.

"Because this war is by far the greatest danger that humanity has ever faced, "

Does not even come close to WW1 and WW2.

ISW also kindly lists and/or links to all of their first-hand OSINT sources on both sides of the conflict.

Clay, peace is easy to achieve, poo tin just needs to pull his shambolic army out of all Ukrainian lands and pay compensation for the war and crimes he initiated.

horrific treatment of ethnic Russian speaking Ukrainian citizens

There is no evidence to support this propaganda lie, there is a vast amount of evidence for the ongoing war crimes, murder, rape and torture of people in those areas temporarily occupied by poo tins fascist forces.

Status quo while not a 'surrender' results in a failed state, that's BEST case scenario, but of course we know the global spillover effects are happening, starvation, inflation, etc.

No path to 'military' victory for UA and as spillover costs rise globally, flow of weapons and foreign fighters to Ukraine will dry up fast. #46 need re-elected!

The clock is ticking, volatility rising along with inflation, and EMP weapons can be deployed instantly, we're just whistling past the graveyard.

Exiled Oligarchs never understood reality, still don't. Why is it so hard to understand that local folks don't like outsider parasites? It's well understood everywhere.

Clay - Ukraine will not surrender. They will continue to fight and kick the invaders out. You mentioned that you don't know any Ukrainians. You should try talking to some, and then come back here and tell us if they sound like they are going to surrender to Russia.

Clay

PS. I know NO Russians and NO Ukrainians, never been there, NO bias etc. Just calling balls and strikes unlike most here. Not an appropriate time for...I like my team, soccer hooligan mentality, this is life itself.

Another Putin shill.

tell us if they sound like they are going to surrender to Russia.

Not while the USA is funding them they don’t. After that, it’s time to negotiate.

Not while the USA is funding them they don’t. After that, it’s time to negotiate.

Ahh yes, the party of law and order loves pandering to the authoritarians!

You mentioned that you don't know any Ukrainians. You should try talking to some, and then come back here and tell us if they sound like they are going to surrender to Russia.

Today's video on telegram has demonstrated 4 ukrs with white proportion tried to surrender but were shot by their colleagues. You're lying and lying!

UChose, u are so boring! Change your manual

Blacklabel - the democracies will continue to support Ukraine as long as it takes and Ukraine will continue to fight as long as it takes.

Today's video on telegram has demonstrated 4 ukrs with white proportion tried to surrender but were shot by their colleagues.

That's what the Russian Propaganda machine wants people to believe.

Clay,

agree with some of your points - we all want peace, negotiations in accordance with President Zelenskyy's plan is the only option.

But this comment "#46 need re-elected!" makes me shake my head in disbelieve!

In addition: "...party to this NATO war machine etc." Quite some news here! When has NATO been a war machine? The ones who were planning to attack the West, reach the Rhine river within 24 hours was the Warsaw Pact. But even that pact is history, as will PUTAin be sooner than later!

Glory to Ukraine!

Glory to the heroes!

Ukraine prevails!

That's the WHY, so for most of us observers it's the HOW do we stop this madness rather than simply picking sides and in doing so only act to further escalate. 

We certainly don’t stop this madness by appeasing the invaders who threaten nuclear destruction unless they get what they want. That only sets it up to happen again, and again, and again.

If one assumes above's true, one must examine carefully the history, especially since the fall of Soviet Union.

No, we are going back further than that to the end of WW1 when the Russian Empire should have been left dismantled like all of the others. Unfortunately no one could stop them from stealing territory in WW2.

With every passing day Ukraine's being destroyed and world's becoming more and more dangerous causing everyone to lose. Biggest losers are those starving now because of food insecurity and food inflation. That'll be millions of additional people this year alone, totally innocent.

Surprise, surprise, illegal wars and warcrimes have consequences for lots of innocent people.

The experience of Russians and their leadership is all in response to the historical context of these past 40 years, breaking point being the horrific treatment of ethnic Russian speaking Ukrainian citizens by the present Ukrainian leadership.

Russia set itself up to be a fascist state long before 2014. They could have called in international observers and not been open thieving and warcriming bastards once the war started. The lie has been exposed and Russia should get zero compassion.

It's really about that simple, do we want stability or war?

It's time for a Not One Step Backwards directive in the West. Russia does not get to advance at the expense of others.

If anyone here expects an 'innocent war', probably not realistic. Enough war crimes to go around I'm sure and human rights violations, ethnic genocide.

Again, EU prior to invasion admonished numerous times publicly present Ukrainian leadership for anti-democratic behavior towards it's Russian speaking Ukrainian citizens.

EVERYONE knows Putin's no angel!

You're all playing zero-sum game, picking sides, when both have clear fault in entire affair. That outsiders like US led NATO and their proxies/influencers, are not important long-term pro Ukranian participants is pure fantasy.

Again, who CARES?! Let's just figure out a negotiated settlement, not an attribution of 'fault' calculation that has 4 decades of facts to analyze!

The clocks ticking, the tsunami of global death and damage and destruction is rapidly building and yes that's a BIG factor in favor of Mr. Putin, like it not.

both have clear fault in entire affair.

No. Russia invaded, Ukraine was invaded. There is only one side at any fault in the entire affair, and it's extremely clear that it is Russia.

This is literally 100% on Russia, and 0% on Ukraine. There is never justification for invading a foreign nation and war-criming it's innocent civilians.

You're all playing zero-sum game, picking sides, when both have clear fault in entire affair.

One side moved thousands of troops in a drive to the others capital. Not sure how it could be more clear who is at fault.

That outsiders like US led NATO and their proxies/influencers, are not important long-term pro Ukranian participants is pure fantasy.

Ukrainians are proving every day they want to kill Russians rather than be enslaved.

Russian soldiers and Wagner are doing the same thing, not that it makes it right (if true). Using this as evidence that Russia's invasion is justified is not logical though.

Today's video on telegram has demonstrated 4 ukrs with white proportion tried to surrender but were shot by their colleagues. You're lying and lying!

Clay - I don't care if Putin is Mother Theresa reincarnate and if Ukraine is Old Scratch himself. One country invaded the other and is attempting to erase them and steal their land, resources, and people. Of course, we can't let this stand. If you think things are unstable now, wait until other big countries get wind that they can swallow up smaller countries and get away with it. Better to deal with this kind of behavior now.

horrific treatment of ethnic Russian speaking Ukrainian citizens

There is no evidence to support this propaganda lie

So numerous official public EU statements over several years are no longer factual?

Again, war crimes are EVERYWHERE and in lead up to war, both sides guilty, anyone believing otherwise not hitting on all 'cylinders' (won't be able to say that much longer with EV happily!)

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has unplugged three television networks he accuses of spreading Kremlin-funded ‘propaganda’, a development the EU has reprimanded.

> Millions in Ukraine’s east and south are Russian speakers – without necessarily being pro-Kremlin – and their votes propelled Zelenskyy to the country's presidency against all political odds

By Mansur Mirovalev

Published On 5 Feb 2021, Al Jazeera

Again, war crimes are EVERYWHERE and in lead up to war, both sides guilty

Nope. There is no justification for invading a nation and war-criming it's citizens. This is 100% on Russia, zero on Ukraine.

It's why Russia must be quarantined from humanity like the virus it is.

Blacklabel - the democracies will continue to support Ukraine as long as it takes and Ukraine will continue to fight as long as it takes.

Yeah that’s the story, for now.

both have clear fault in entire affair

This is where your house of cards comes down.

Too obvious. You do see this, don’t you?

I can assure you others do. Not going to influence many with this.

Blacklabel - care to predict when the US would cut off support to Ukraine? Or is this just what you are hoping?

Blacklabel - care to predict when the US would cut off support to Ukraine? Or is this just what you are hoping?

Once the candidates for 2024 election are all confirmed as in or out.

Last week Russian troops captured an unarmed Ukrainian soldier and then shot him dead. They videoed it and put it on the internet.

Thanks for your prediction, Blacklabel. So, by early 2024, then?

Kuku,

would you please share with us where you got that information (today at 10:44hrs local Japanese time):

"Right now, the Wagner troopers have entered the underground communications of the Artemovsky Metalworking Plant (AZOM) and are making their way into the mine. The battles take place at a depth of up to 320 meters."

I must strongly assume you are either on the ground or have a direct "hot line" to one or more of those Russian marauders. If so, I'd (we'd???) highly appreciate more reliable information!

For the time being, however

Glory to Ukraine!

Glory to the heroes!

Ukraine prevails!

But this comment "#46 need re-elected!" makes me shake my head in disbelieve!

In addition: "...party to this NATO war machine etc." Quite some news here! When has NATO been a war machine?

You see the idealism here? #46/politics will be hugely important to arming and funding Ukraine, it'll be FAR harder to do as the 'spill-over' costs increase globally, especially insider the US, inflation and financial stability do matter to voters I'm told as do asset prices etc.

It's already starting to 'dry-up', as the UA issue is heading south in all serious objective polling.

Well, it so happens that US led NATO's been involved in MANY wars just since the fall of Soviet Union. I'd say most around the world do not view NATO as a 'defensive' military alliance by any stretch.

Also most believe NATO's now conducting a proxy war against Russia, that is if you believe independent Gallop polling in places like China, India, Indonesia, across the Middle East, most of southern hemisphere etc.

I repeat, forget this zero-sum game, let's find a durable path to peace and prosperity because unlike in the past, this situation can escalate so fast and in so many dimensions that it would make WWII look like a joke.

Blacklabel - If you really cared about Ukrainians, then you know why they can't surrender to Russia.

Not while the USA is funding them they don’t. After that, it’s time to negotiate.

So basically "never" because in spite of the narrative that the delusional would love to spin, support for Ukraine among both the general population and the political elite is broad, deep and bi-partisan.

The West is not giving a fascist a win in his efforts to redraw the map of Europe by force.

That is not going to happen.

But it is not surprising that a devotee of the world's worst negotiator does not know what negotiation really is or why a party would enter into a negotiation.

Also most believe NATO's now conducting a proxy war against Russia

No. That's just what the Russia propaganda machine tells it's people to hold them off from another Russian Revolution in retaliation against their immoral invasion of a sovereign nation who had not attacked them.

Clay - why don't you just tell us how much you think Ukraine should give to Russia so that they go home. And then under what guarantees you think Ukraine should accept that offer?

Let's just figure out a negotiated settlement, not an attribution of 'fault' calculation that has 4 decades of facts to analize.

Who are you going to figure out with? With this dozen Russophobic propagandons? Until you yourself delve into the study of the many reasons of the situation. you will never be able to come to the right choice. Your media give you one side information, so ....

Your media give you one side information, so ....

Wait, are you saying Russia didn't invade Ukraine and start executing civilians in the streets?

There is no proxy war. Ukraine was invaded and aggressively attacked. Other countries are helping it to defend itself.

Clay

Well, it so happens that US led NATO's been involved in MANY wars just since the fall of Soviet Union. I'd say most around the world do not view NATO as a 'defensive' military alliance by any stretch.

Nobody, especially Putin, ever thought that NATO would attack Russia.

The opposite was not true.

would you please share with us where you got that information (today at 10:44hr

bloomberg and other "credible" sources do not report such news. Telegram bien sur:)

There is no proxy war. Ukraine was invaded and aggressively attacked. Other countries are helping it to defend itself.

Gosh, it's almost like the entire basis for the Russian invasion was a lie.......

And that would make its continuing apologists "rubes".....

Kuku, "Telegram, bien sur"?

Well, you trust in Telegram, an instant messaging application developed by Russian engineers in 2013.

Others trust in more reliable sources! But it clearly indicate swhich side you're on!

Glory to Ukraine!

Glory to the heroes!

Ukraine prevails!

Blacklabel - do you ever wonder why your arguments are so similar to the Russians and their supporters on this site? 

I don't. It wants Putin to win because it is "authoritarian-curious".

Its lord loved (read "was owned by") Putin so it does too.

It's really that simple. Civilian deaths and tax dollars mean bunk. Those are just cat's paws to justify carrying water for a fascist dictator.

Again, war crimes are EVERYWHERE and in lead up to war, both sides guilty, anyone believing otherwise not hitting on all 'cylinders' (won't be able to say that much longer with EV happily!)

One side is shameless hitting power plants in winter with no attempt at hiding it. One side said it offers no apologies for its behavior ever.

Also most believe NATO's now conducting a proxy war against Russia, that is if you believe independent Gallop polling in places like China, India, Indonesia, across the Middle East, most of southern hemisphere etc.

Care to post this source or is this just your fantasy? 70% of Indians agree with the US position on Ukraine: https://egfound.org/2022/06/modeling-democracy-democracys-promise/

Let's just figure out a negotiated settlement, not an attribution of 'fault' calculation that has 4 decades of facts to analyze!

Here's a negotiated settlement: NATO gets to put all its jets and missiles on the border of Ukraine with Russia because it is proven to be untrustworthy. No deal? Sounds like you just want Russia to gain some territory with no consequences.

Kick the murderers out!

Go Ukraine!

 i disagree those that are fighting aren't doing it for a cause

and the civilians who are bearing the brunt of the deaths?

Did they sign up to die for "the cause"?

Or do they just want the fighting to stop?

Russians can't even take out a power generation/distribution network on a persistent basis.

But sure, they are going to break Ukraine's will......

Yeah, not so much.

Blacklabel - all indications are that Ukrainians want to continue fighting until the invaders go home. Just like you and I would want the same if the Russians or Chinese invaded the US, right?