TheOldGuy @TheOldGuy@qoto.org
I am a Democrat who supports Ukraine in their battle against The Russian 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 2993. The county is 13k people scattered over 713 square miles.
Joined Dec 2022
Good morning Resisters everywhere. Breezy and cool right now. Hot later. Rose of Sharon are blooming.
From "The Analyst":
VOVCHANSK UPDATE
Despite being pushed back, Russia has continued to use its attack to defend tactics in Vovchansk, a system that’s repeatedly proven to be costly in lives, which of course they don’t care about, but longer term leads to poorly trained troops and low morale, let alone short life expectancy.
These Russian attacks appear to have been manipulated by the Ukrainians into over extending themselves in a very thin corridor, which drew them into the aggregate plant - a target easily cut off with preparation but far too attractive for the Russians to ignore the opportunity. It was simply too much of a strategic target to ignore, offering up dominance over the whole town.
The only problem was that the access to it came from an already narrow strip of Russian controlled land by the river.
The Russians have used these spike infiltration tactics before and Ukrainian commanders have become familiar with how they operate and their motivations.
Ukraine still holds a manpower advantage here of 3:1, but the Russians have 5:1 in artillery which, along with endless glide bomb attacks, they have, in six weeks, destroyed completely this previously unharmed town. It’s little more than wreckage and rubble now.
The Russian storm troopers did their thing, as the Ukrainians sheltered, observing their actions, waiting until they over-extended their supply lines from their narrow point of origin.
At this point, with the Russians shelling and glide bombs temporarily backed off to avoid hitting their own troops, the Ukrainians launched a swift counter attack, quickly cutting the Russians off in the aggregate plant and closing down any means of retreat. The Russians, some 400 of them, were trapped.
The Russians sent in drones with food, water and ammunition to try and sustain the trapped troops. However the Ukrainians, able to deploy their airforce having destroyed Russian radars and anti-air systems, dropped GBU-39 bombs into the plant to make their lives the misery they deserve.
This battle has been raging for six days. The Russians have failed to breakthrough to relieve the trapped troops - or anywhere else for that matter despite the relentless use of poorly trained infantry.
Ukrainian aircraft destroyed the remains of the hospital being used as a Russian concentration point and ensured no relief was ever coming through.
With casualties mounting in the heat of summer averaging 21-25C and no means of evacuating the dead or wounded the Russians are expected to either kill themselves as their indoctrination tries to get them to do, or surrender which some reports say has already occurred.
The effort Russia has expended to mount this operation and its imminent failure will prove even more detrimental over time. Their chances of holding on to the remains of Vochansk will be greatly diminished.
Without it there’s almost no point to this section of the front which has few defence positions and is mostly open ground.
In other news the Ukrainians announced that a month ago they shot down one of Russia’s latest hypersonic missiles. This is not the aero-ballistic Kinzhal, but the true hypersonic 3M22-Zircon with ramjets and cruise-terminal glide variability systems. It marks the first time in history that such a missile has been shot down.
It took a month to admit it because they were uncertain if the claim was true, but forensic evidence gathered enough parts to prove it. Presumably this was shot down with a Patriot, but they haven’t said. This is a very significant development because such weapons were considered largely invulnerable.
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦!
From "The Analyst":
PEACE CONFERENCE: RUSSIAN INFLUENCE STILL WEIGHS HEAVY
The Peace Conference in Switzerland at which Russia wasn’t present, had a primary purpose. 91 nations came together to work out a way to communicate to both sides a way forward to end the war.
It achieved what it was likely to achieve: nothing of value. In the end it tried to come up with a final communique - and it did. But only 80 of the 91 signed it. Those that did not, including India, South Africa and Brasil, all have long standing and yet largely political historic relationships with the old Soviet Union they cannot let go of. South African ANC leaders were almost all educated in the Soviet Union and supported by Moscow as they worked for the fall of Apartheid. India saw the Soviets as anti-imperialist and have long standing weapons trades with Russia they may well now regret. It’s also about India saying no to either of the blocs when it suits it and carving its own path. Brazil’s socialism and India-like desire to break away from either East or Western domination influenced them.
But their combined reasoning frankly disgusts me. The excuse they and the others - including Indonesia - stated was that, ‘it was unhelpful to blame Russia for the war’.
By which the mean that Ukraine is to blame for not giving in when the Russians occupied Crimea and the Donbas, and if they had just accepted it the war would never have happened.
They also imply that if you accuse Russia of responsibility then its sensitive president won’t be able to cope with being told it’s his fault and will sulk in the corner. After all you don’t want to tell him the truth.
So the conference achieved very little except that those who support Ukraine - 80 nations - made it clear that they continue to do so.
Zelensky made it clear that all Russia has to do is withdraw from the occupied territory and peace talks can start straight away.
Russia of course is set on the path Putin decided on. He’s stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. He can’t be seen to lose and he can’t win.
The people of Russia are literally paying for his designs on Ukraine. Facing rises of 7% in taxation on already high taxes, almost every category of income from personal to corporate will pay the extra from July 1st. The money has to come from somewhere as sanctions grip ever more deeply.
All I want to say is be careful of Donald. In the past he liked to grab women by the p**sy. Now he seems interested in perfectly handsome men. It might be painful if he grabs your sack.
🔴 IDF: The IDF eliminated the terrorist Muhammad Mustafa Ayoub, a key operative in the Rocket and Missile Department of the Nasser Unit of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in southern Lebanon
An IAF aircraft struck and eliminated the terrorist Muhammad Mustafa Ayoub, a key operative in the Rocket and Missile Department of Hezbollah's Nasser Unit in the area of Selaa in southern Lebanon.
Over the past few months, Ayoub was involved in promoting terror attacks against Israeli civilians and communities, he promoted and planned terror attacks from southern Lebanon against the State of Israel.
His elimination is part of the IDF and Israeli security forces' activity to impede Hezbollah's military build-up in terms of weaponry and its stockpiling of weapons designated for use in terror attacks against Israeli civilians and communities.
Moreover, earlier today (Monday), IAF fighter jets struck Hezbollah terror infrastructure and a military structure in the area of Meiss El Jabal in southern Lebanon.
The one who got away. If they were actually starving, would it have got away?
What use are security guards who don't shoot?
⚪ Footage showing the Moments right before as well as right after the Liberian-Flagged, Greek-Owned Bulk Cargo Ship, M/V Tutor was Struck on June 10th by a Houthi One-Way Surface Attack Drone while Transiting the Southern Red Sea. Armed Security Guards can be seen Observing the Boat right before it Exploded, causing Massive Damage and Severe Flooding to the Engine Room.
I am a Democrat who supports Ukraine in their battle against The Russian 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 2993. The county is 13k people scattered over 713 square miles.
Joined Dec 2022
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