TheOldGuy @TheOldGuy@qoto.org
I am a Democrat who supports Ukraine in their battle against The Russian Z fascist invaders.
I am a 73 year old Covid hermit who
lives on 10 acres in a sparsely populated area of the Ozarks. I heat with wood that is leftover by the lumber industry. When cutting oak for lumber only the trunk is used.
The largest town is population 2992. The county is 13k people scattered over 713 square miles.
Joined Dec 2022
A 25 year old police Lieutenant died. She was home sick when her apartment was hit.
Wild speculation
Last count is 15 dead.
Yelyzaveta, callsign "Mala" ("Baby"), who recently turned 22, serves in Odesa border guard detachment at the front, Mykolaiv region.
Two years ago, "Baby" came to serve as a cynologist. Now she is a shooter in a mobile firing team that hunts down Shahed drones to prevent them from reaching civilians, according to Liza.
Most of the time, the group works at night, they often return in the morning. Yelyzaveta shoots down drones with an assault rifle, which she calls her "combat sister."
"The most difficult duty was when 23 Shahed drones passed over us, they came every two minutes. We didn't even have time to reload, it's very hard when you sit until the morning, until dawn. It is physically hard," she says.
After the victory, Yelyzaveta wants to work as a cynologist or serve in the army.
📹: Suspilne
Reflecting on History: Ukraine now Utilizes an Ancient Method to Disrupt Russian Logistics
The Russians are facing a new threat behind the front line: tire-popping metal obstacles called caltrops dropped by drones.
It is an ingenious new use of a very old weapon, which is causing problems for Russia’s already overstretched last-mile supply chain by halting vehicles so they can be hit by bomber drones.
Ukrainian drones are strewing the roads with four-pointed metal weapons designed so that whichever way they fall, one point is always upwards.
The name caltrop comes from the Latin for ‘heel trapper;’ the Romans also called them murex ferreus or ‘jagged iron,’ but they go back even further. Caltrops can be dated at least to 313 BC when Alexander the Great’s army used them against Persian cavalry.
In the 20th century the caltrop made a comeback for attacking rubber tires. During WWII American O.S.S. mass produced caltrops and distributed them to European resistance fighters.
Simpler and more reliable than explosives, they could be scattered on roads to stop German vehicles, either as harassment or as a prelude to an ambush.
Drones which can deliver payloads with precision are an obvious match for caltrops. A Chinese company showing off a new caltrop-dropping drone at a military expo in 2019.
While the Ukrainians went through a flurry of caltrop-making in 2022, these were larger versions which were mainly emplaced by hand. They have not been seen much until recently pictures emerged on social media.
One Russian blogger complained: “The enemy keeps coming up with new nasty things. Not only do they drop mines from the drones, but they literally cover dangerous sections of frontline roads with spikes. "
“For safety reasons we have to literally ‘fly through’ these areas and our vehicles.… drive at the maximum possible speed. And imagine what happens to a car when two (or more) wheels are immediately punctured by its spikes.”
💥 Huge explosions at the military airfield "Dzhankoy" in occupied Crimea
A fire started after a series of explosions. The ruzzian 39th helicopter regiment, air defense forces of the Southern Military District, 3 aviation squadrons and helicopters of the FSB border service are based there.
A section of the road from Dzhankoy to the village Victory, which passes near the airfield, is closed.
Local authorities report that the reason for the closure is probably the detonation of ammunition, which is still ongoing at the airfield.
Another dam gave way. In Tomsk.
https://t.me/warinukraineua/4194?single
Seems like he is trying to get locked up.
https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/donald-trump-just-made-a-huge-mistake/55553/
🇺🇦The man in the photo is our nickname "Zamok", but everyone calls him "Zamochek", because he is an optimist, a joker and, in general, the soul of the company.
🪖In some sense, it can be said that the Castle fights all conscious life. Large scale is his third war.
💬First there was Iraq. Even at the beginning of zero. At that time, I served in the first battalion in Ukraine, which was fully staffed by contract workers. Some of us who agreed to this offer were sent there. They performed various tasks there. There were funny moments. Once we were driving in a column around the city. I was sitting in the armor and now I understand that the bullets hit the armor from two sides. Then it turned out that two warring factions started a firefight, and we drove right between them. It was enough to give a turn from KPVT up, so that everyone ran away. Then there was the anti-terrorist operation - Mariupol, Pisky, "Zenith"... And from February 26 - I was at war again. Third time.
☝🏻The war did not catch "Castle" by surprise
💬I understood that there would be a war. I understood perfectly. I had prepared equipment. Not assembled, but everything sorted, adjusted. On the first day I was with my family. And 25 went to the TCC. I did not manage to break through the crowd of willing people that day. When I came home, I saw that my wife had already packed my things. The next day, I went directly to one of the Kyiv brigades and joined its ranks. All. Since then I have been on duty again.
🤝🏻As part of various "Castle" battalions, many hotspots have passed. Defense of Kyiv, Mykolaiv, beginning of the Kherson operation. But he remembered Bakhmut the most.
💬The fiercest battles were in Bakhmut. It was hot everywhere I was, but Bakhmut in this row takes a special place. Sometimes it happened that the enemy's positions were just behind the fence from yours... but the most memorable for me were the events at the position called "The Pit". It was on the 2nd of April, we were in this position, when we were asked from the command post if we had any communication with the adjacent unit which was standing to our right.
It turned out that they had moved back 400 meters. And then I felt sick. The fact is that at 12 o'clock - the enemy, the building at nine is also occupied by the enemy. And at three o'clock the building is empty. There is no one behind us either. I understand that we have every chance to get surrounded. It became a little calmer when an enemy reconnaissance group entered our building, with lanterns, talking loudly. Of course, they didn't get out of there alive, and besides, we heard their radio for about four hours, but we understood that we wouldn't be surrounded that night. The next guys who replaced us at the position almost made it. Needles slipped into the eye on the way out, they walked along a narrow path that the enemy had not yet controlled.
💪🏼For the second year of its "third war", the Castle does not lose its optimism and motivation.
I have only one motivation - family, children. They must be free men of a free country. That's all. I don't understand people who say "what should I fight for? Let others." Such a position drives me crazy, because in my opinion, family is an extraordinary reason to be in the ranks of the Armed Forces.
🇺🇦Plans for a peaceful life The castle is not yet under construction.
If tomorrow is Victory. Well, hypothetically. I don't really know what I'm going to do. What to do First of all, I will go around all the fallen comrades. And further, it will be seen later.
🫡 Public Relations Service of the 241st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces
note: Ukrainian «Замок» = English «castle»
translation picture: I have only one motivation - family, children. They must be free men of a free country.
.
@ukrainejournal
This is Oleg, a machine gunner of the Kherson anti-aircraft missile brigade of the "South" air command, a native of Donetsk. Before the full-scale invasion, he worked in Poland for a long time, but two weeks before February 24, he returned to Ukraine - to defend his own!
🔥 Tonight, Oleg destroyed another enemy "shahed". This is already the sixth strike drone on his account. Obviously, the warrior does not plan to stop!
And while Oleg is shooting down "martyrs", his own brother is fighting as part of one of the infantry units in Donetsk region.
It is on such people that our defense rests, thanks to such warriors we hold the sky!
🤝 Thank you, Oleg!
🇺🇦 Together to victory!
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
🇺🇦 Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk
What an honor to be mentioned like that by the Commander. Go ahead, Oleg! 💪🫡🇺🇦
@ukrainejournal
IRAN AND ISRAEL FACE DEFINING CHOICES
The Analyst
In Iran the leader of the IRGC Quds forces Brigadier General Ismail Qaani, has to decide what comes next. The government is pressing him to avoid anything that would induce the United States into launching the much feared super-strike - the only thing it could ever do to change things dramatically.
The government wants the whole thing to go away now, and return to normal.
Israel has three leaders in the war triumvirate of the cabinet, that hate each other and barely agree on anything. It’s been so bad the defence minister stops anything ordered by the prime minister unless he agrees with it. The right wing wants scathing revenge on Iran. America says it’s out, Israel if it attacks, is alone. The left wing is fed up with the war and afraid it’s about to spread into the region. Even so everyone thinks Israel will have to something. But what? An attack inside Iran is not wise or practical and could be disastrous - they are not without air defences.
That leaves Hezbollah. A massive strike on them would bring its own problems, they wouldn’t fail to retaliate.
In America the speaker has been forced to find a way to bring up aid for Ukraine and Israel and Taiwan because of what’s happened, yet the pro-russian traitors in congress led by Moscow Margery Traitor Greene, threaten his speakership. But they have just a 1 seat majority and if she pulls that trigger it could be enough to force others to resign and hand the chamber to the Democrats.
All three sides are juggling the odds and fragile egos sway this way and that. A handful of people hold world changing decisions in their hands. Most of them aren’t qualified to run a petrol station let alone a government.
@ukrainejournal
According to the "Center for Journalistic Investigations," the Russians have constructed over 100 kilometers of fortifications along the Black Sea coast in Crimea and the Kherson Region within a month.
In Crimea, the coastal defense line stretches from the village of Mykolaivka in the Simferopol district to Krasnoperekopsk (Yana Kapu) near the administrative border with the Kherson region. Additional fortifications extend northward along the coast, with a significant concentration around Cape Tarkhankut, where Russian air defense systems are stationed.
On the western coast of Crimea, the occupiers have erected fortifications in reserves, natural parks, archaeological sites, and tourist areas. For instance, near the Northern (Nemse Çağaltai) Black Sea District, coastal defense fortifications have been built on the ruins of an ancient settlement.
In February-March 2024, fortifications appeared in the occupied part of the Kherson region, particularly around the villages of Oleksandrivka, Oleksiivka, Prymorske, and Ozerne. Alongside these constructions, the Russians are actively restoring and expanding roads, enhancing military logistics in the area.
The head of European diplomacy, Borrell, emphasized that it is more cost-effective to provide Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine than to undertake the costly endeavor of rebuilding a thermal power plant destroyed by Russia.
"Before discussing the reconstruction of Ukraine, we must prevent its destruction. Investing in Patriot systems is more economical than reconstructing a power plant targeted by the Russians," he stated.
Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday night
On the night of April 14, Iran attacked Israeli territory with hundreds of drones and missiles. According to the IDF, 99% of them were shot down, minor damage was sustained to the Nevatim Air Force base, and no casualties were reported.
The attack was Iran's first-ever attack on Israel. The Iranian authorities called it a response to the Israeli strike on the Iranian diplomatic establishment in Damascus, which killed high-ranking representatives of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had boarded a ship in the Strait of Hormuz by helicopter assault and taken it into Iranian waters. The cargo ship, the MSC Aries, is Portugese-flagged but linked to an Israeli company.
US president Joe Biden says the US helped Israel "take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles." At the same time the US has urged Israel to restrain itself from retaliating to Iran's attack to avoid escalating the conflict.
Sunak claims "RAF jets shot down 'a number' of drones attacking Israel"
Very little damage was caused, according to Israeli statements. Israel's sophisticated Iron Dome and other air defences were seen intercepting drones and missiles - including parts of the disputed West Bank region.
So, I have some questions. Iran sends lots of Shahed 136, that need several hours to reach a highly armed and prewarned country which happens to have jammed GPS several days before in order to hinder targeting by Iran. The population has been warned well before the attack. And Iran targets the thinly populated Golan and the Negev desert, all far away from any population centers.
Nonetheless UK, US, France and I don't no who more are on their toes and help repel the attack almost at 100%. Now hey are calling for restraint... 🤔
At the same time bombs and drones are raining down civilians in Ukraine and US is refusing to help, even miffed about strike on Z-refineries. Nobody is even able/interested to secure the air space.
Another question. What would US do in case some country would target THEM with drones and bombs - even only a bit? Ouch...🙈
On the whole it remembers me again of Orwell - Animal Farm. Obviously some pigs are more equal than others.
*Just to be clear: I don't have anything against Israel citizens being protected against terrorist attacks, nor rogue countries to get what they deserve.
@freerussia_report
Lukoil vice-president Vitaly Robertus hanged himself in his office after a case was initiated by the FSB before he could be arrested.
His death became known on March 14, 2024. As follows from the case materials the investigation of Robertus and his subordinate started, the head of the department for work with customs authorities of PJSC Lukoil Alexey Stepanov, as well as three high-ranking employees of the Central Energy customs. On April 2, the Investigative Committee opened a case.
According to the investigation “in the period from February 1, 2023 to March 5, 2024, Robertus BB, Stepanov AA and other unidentified persons gave bribes to employees of the Central Energy Customs of the Federal Customs Service for committing obviously illegal actions in favor of the briber - transferring statistical data to the bribers materials from the CDB EAIS TO on foreign economic activity of oil producing organizations, constituting a tax secret protected by law.”
He didn't wait for them to get him.
@freerussia_report
An employee of the Central Security Service of the FSB in an official car, deliberately hit a girl. The story was hushed up in the most brazen manner and a case was not even opened. It didn't happen -Cheka-OGPU
In November 2023, realtor Yulia Marushina was in a hurry for an interview. The crossings across Tverskaya were blocked, the police sent pedestrians on a detour because VIP was passing. She made a mistake and crossed the cleared lanes. When Yulia stepped onto the empty roadway, a jeep jumped into the oncoming lane and hit her at full speed.
According to eyewitnesses, the Toyota had a flashing bucket light on, but no sound. The driver was FSB employee Oleg Pochitaev.
No information about the accident is recorded anywhere. Yulia spent long time in the hospital in very serious condition, she began to learn walking again only in January 2024.
On the second day after the accident, someone handed 50.000 rubles to her husband in the hospital.
@freerussia_report
I am a Democrat who supports Ukraine in their battle against The Russian Z fascist invaders.
I am a 73 year old Covid hermit who
lives on 10 acres in a sparsely populated area of the Ozarks. I heat with wood that is leftover by the lumber industry. When cutting oak for lumber only the trunk is used.
The largest town is population 2992. The county is 13k people scattered over 713 square miles.
Joined Dec 2022
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