OT/ Optimitc noises from both sides..

[Dubbag]

Russia caught lieing again.

https://theins.ru/en/news/254677

[Dubbag]

That is a serious admission to be making...

The Russian defence ministry is in the process of buying millions of rockets and artillery shells from North Korea to support its invasion of Ukraine, according to a newly downgraded US intelligence finding. A US official said the fact Russia was turning to North Korea demonstrated that “the Russian military continues to suffer from severe supply shortages in Ukraine, due in part to export controls and sanctions”.

But bare in mind it is from The Pentagon so not to be trusted either.

[Dubbag]

This conflict has taken a change on the ground. While a blackout is enforce and disinformation doing the rounds, it's interesting to read that many on the Russian side seem to be coming to the conclusion that all is not as the Kremlin are telling....

The Guardian piece is from their website..
“The war in Ukraine will continue until the complete defeat of Russia,” Igor Girkin, a far-right nationalist, grumbled in a video address to his 430,000 followers on Telegram on Monday. “We have already lost, the rest is just a matter of time.”
Girkin, a former Russian intelligence colonel who became a commander of the pro-Russian separatist forces in 2014, is arguably the most prominent voice within an increasingly loud and angry group of ultra-nationalist and pro-war bloggers who have taken to berating the Kremlin for its failure to achieve its tactical objectives as the fighting in Ukraine has entered its seventh month.

With winter approaching both sides want to push for ground on the battle field and things seem not to be going the way of the Russian forces.

[Omegstrat6]

Be nice to think that this may be a turning point in the war and that Ukraine can continue to push back. Despite current economic hardships it's more important than ever that western powers remain united now in their resolve to back Ukraine against Putin.

[Albionic68]

Can't help but think that Girkin fellas' going to find himself in a pickle before too long.

[Dubbag]

If this turns out to be true then it is a lightening pace advance by the Ukrainian forces. That along side a poorly disciplined Russian army, with in field commanders that are proving inept against an enemy that appears to be gaining the momentum.

Russia confirms Izium retreat

The Russian ministry of defence has confirmed the retreat of Russian forces from Izium and Balakliya.

In a statement published by state media outlet RIA Novosti, the ministry claimed a decision had been made to “regroup the Russian troops stationed in the Balakliya and Izium regions” and “step up efforts in Donetsk” so as to “achieve the stated goals of the special military operation” and “liberate” the Donbas.

It also claimed that a number of “distraction and demonstration events” had been staged in order to conceal the “real actions of the troops” and allow the withdrawal.

[Omegstrat6]

Latest reports seem to have seen Ukrainian forces make quite staggering advances in the East, mostly due to good military planning and Western supplied weapons with Russian forces fleeing due to poor command structure and morale. Hardly Putin's planned "re-grouping"! Now is the time for NATO countries to really ramp up military aid and support to enable Ukraine to hold on to what they have re-taken and continue to push Russian forces out so that momentum is not lost.

The cracks in support for Putin at home are beginning to appear and widen and full advantage of this needs to be taken. The sooner the better, both for Ukraine and the rest of Europe as defeat for Putin may also lessen the current financial crisis driven by the war as well as restore some stability.

[Dubbag]

It does seem to be getting worse for Putin....

Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-appointed leader of Chechnya, has criticised the Russian army’s leadership after it appeared to be caught off guard by Ukraine’s fightback against the Russian invasion in the north-east.
In a sign that the Kremlin may face serious fallout over the loss of territory that the Russian occupation administrations had repeatedly stated they planned to keep “for ever”, Kadyrov also suggested that Vladimir Putin might not be aware of the real state of affairs.
“They have made mistakes and I think they will draw the necessary conclusions,” Kadyrov said in an audio message posted to his Telegram channel on Sunday.
“If today or tomorrow no changes in strategy are made, I will be forced to speak with the leadership of the defence ministry and the leadership of the country to explain the real situation on the ground to them. It’s a very interesting situation. It’s astounding, I would say,” said Kadyrov

[Dubbag]

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his senior officials have said nothing as Russia's forces face their worst defeat since the war's early weeks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to answer directly when asked by a reporter if Mr Putin still had confidence in the military leadership.

"The special military operation continues. And it will continue until the goals that were originally set are achieved," Mr Peskov said.

[kettering_baggie]

The worry is that if the Russian troops continue to take a pasting, Putin will order the use of tactical nuclear weapons. Then there would be an almost certain escalation of the conflict; dangerous times.