Putin Recognizes Donbass Republics, Sends Russian Military to 'Denazify' Ukraine

[Ellipse]

The Red Cross stops the supply of food and medicine to Ukraine. The reason: officials are stealing humanitarian aid.

The Red Cross announces the termination of part of the supply of humanitarian aid to the territory of Ukraine due to corruption of local officials

The Romanian branch of the Red Cross announced the cessation of humanitarian aid supplies to Odessa and the Odessa region in connection with the facts received about the theft of the supplied food and medicine.
According to the Romanians, high-ranking officials of the military administration are involved in this.

Corrupt officials, taking advantage of their official position, send the Romanian humanitarian aid to warehouses under their control, and then do not give it to the population, but sell it through retail trade networks.

Odessa: Romanian Red Cross Pulls Plug in Ukraine! (14.4.2022)

Red Cross Stops Humanitarian Aid Due to Neo-Nazi Corruption! ‼️🇬🇴 The Red Cross announces the termination of part of the supply of humanitarian aid to the territory of Ukraine due to corruption of …

thesanghakommune.org

 

[thorbiorn]

Regarding the ship Moscow being lost, is the name a coincidence? There has been sabotage before, but I also think that NATO would not mind making such a statement through their proxies, and then claim they know nothing. Add to this the possibility of a third actor, Israel, which recently bombed Damascus.

No matter what happened, whether by accident, or intentionally, or as an accident plus a storm (4D STS?), there is also the interpretation.
This is a comment from a Russian TG channel with 65,000+ subscribers

The collective West refused to negotiate peace with Moscow. This topic is closed. A total war has been declared against Russia, the goal of which is complete military, economic and, as a consequence, political defeat.

The strike on the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, which was obviously carried out using NATO's intelligence and technical resources, leaves no chance that Moscow will be able to avoid a large-scale collision and reduce the military campaign to a truce.

On the night of April 14-15, 2022, the non-missile cruiser "Moscow" sank to the bottom of the Black Sea. It sank the very idea of a "special military operation" - the usual and victorious format of a hybrid war that Russia has successfully waged over the past 15 years.

But those hybrid wars were fought on the periphery of the global American empire and did not bother it any more than Rome was worried about the raids of nomads on distant provinces.

Ukraine turned out to be a Rubicon that Russia voluntarily or involuntarily crossed and now there is no way back for us.

They write that in the next 48 hours a large-scale army operation of the Russian Armed Forces against the Ukrainian army will begin. We'll see...

War will be declared on Ukraine or not, it does not matter. The APU today is just mercenaries of the United States.

So we will fight with a very serious and deadly enemy. It would be nice for us all to remember this.

Regarding the validity of the above interpretation, all we have to do is wait a bit longer. I don't think it will get to really "Total" which could mean nuclear, but other than that it could certainly spread in location and cost both in terms of lost lives and lost material.

 

[iamthatis]

George Webb confirms that it was NATO who sank the Moskva.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1514865783259734024

The video attached to this tweet has nothing to do with the Moskva...

 

[Cosmos]

And you know they let it happen? What source do you have for that? Just because Russia has advanced technology and good intelligence services does not make them immune to attacks or sabotage. Or any of us for that matter.

Indeed! My first thought was that it was a NATO sabotage, or, since it was mentioned here, maybe a Mossad sabotage. If any of the two are correct the russians obviously have to cover it up to prevent escalation. It also could just have been an accident.

 

[siftingmaterials]

It makes me wonder if a coin had been flipped on the Moskva in the moments before the incident. It may have landed heads or tails, and we may have to wait for reports back from Moscow on that - but i suppose I'm more interested in knowing if it was a commemorative or standard issue coin. That would be telling. I suppose the real question is - in the eventuality of a commemorative coin - will it be Vladimir Vysotsky on the face? i know it seems irrelevant, but Vysotsky's father was born in Kiev. Coincidence? Pay close attention to the media on this one - an absence of coverage could be a coverup.

 

[Eboard10]

A FB post made by independent Italian reporter Giorgio Bianchi who has been on the ground in Donbass, sharing a conversation he had with a source he deems to be qualified on how the situation has reached a point where it doesn't make sense for Russia to fight with their hands tied behind their back any longer and how they will likely up the ante as defeat is not an option.

Today I spoke to a very qualified source that has literally left me frozen on the chair.
You have to take seriously what I am about to write.
The point from which we need to start before facing any reasoning about the conflict in Ukraine is that in this war, on the Russian side, defeat is absolutely not considered.
This means that the surrender of Kiev can only be painful, very painful, catastrophic, or, ultimately, a temporary failure.
The special operation was the last call for a solution that fell into the first two options.
Given the degree of irrationality of Ukrainian and European hypocrites, given the level reached by propaganda and sanctions, given the price of blood paid by Russia this month, at this point, in the Russian perspective, it makes no more sense to fight with their hands tied behind their back.
The concrete risk right now, is therefore that a fire storm is falling down on that martyred land, like never before seen in history. Something so terrible, that it should be monitored for everyone.
One way to make a concept that apparently escaped to most: Russia has gone all-in and raised the stakes to a colossal level.
The highest conceivable.
Right now Nato and Moscow are the two cars that are roaring towards the cliff in the "chicken run" of burnt childhood.
Putin has clearly said that they won't press the brake first. And if you know a bit about the history of that country, you have to believe it.
The other car, the one driven by Nato, seems to be intended to lead the Russia one step away from that asshole to see if there's really any intention to go to the end.
Europe and Ukraine, meant as a population, are sitting on the back sofa of this car and assist them in the race, unable to jump down because of the closed doors.
The only possibility of salvation for them is therefore to submit to the crazy driver, take control of the vehicle and pull the brake first.
The alternative is, at best, the destruction of Ukraine.
Worst, the destruction of Europe.
Tertium non datur.

 

[youlik]

It was not a supporting frigate, it was the largest ship in the Black sea and the flag ship, so it does strongly suggest sabotage.

I've been reading the history of this ship and related events here, and I'd rather agree with you. It turns out that fires on ships are not so rare and in the history accompanying this ship, starting with its original name (originally it was called Slava), there are THREE! fire. One ship was decommissioned as a result. So I'm leaning towards the version of the fire, whether it was the result of deliberate sabotage or accidental negligence.

Spoiler: Russian spelling

Я тут почитал историю этого корабля и сопутствующие события и скорее соглашусь с вами. Оказывается, что пожары на кораблях не такая уж и редкость и в истории сопутствующей этому кораблю, начиная с его первоначального названия (изначально он назывался Слава), присутствуют ТРИ! пожара. Один корабль в результате был списан. Так что я склоняюсь к версии пожара, будь он результатом намеренного саботажа или случайной халатности.

 

[Joe]

The video attached to this tweet has nothing to do with the Moskva...

My thoughts exactly at the time.

 

[Benjamin]

Sputniknews:

Russia’s Electronic Warfare Troops Catch NATO Spying on Russian Cellphones, Create Countermeasures​

Apr. 15, 2022

The use of civilian telephony for military and intelligence purposes has long been a major concern for counterintelligence services. The Russian military has implemented a special system aimed at preventing unauthorised access to the information of Russia-based cellular subscribers.

NATO intelligence services have deployed a capability allowing them to listen in on or block the communications of Russian cellular subscribers, forcing Moscow to create countermeasures, Russian Electronic Warfare Troops chief Yuri Lastochkin has revealed.

“The widespread use of cellular communications systems to support the activities of the Russian Defence Ministry and various organs of executive power have contributed to the formation of a new area of activity for foreign intelligence. Already today, the special services of NATO countries are actively using false base stations to forcibly connect cellular subscribers. By doing so, specialists of foreign intelligence services receive the opportunity to not only listen to cell phones and view text messages, but also selectively block subscribers and deceive them by sending false messages,” the officer said in an interview with the military’s official newspaper, Krasnaya Zvezda, on Friday.

To counter this threat, specialists from the Electronic Warfare Troops’ Research Center have developed technology to counter such unauthorized access, Lastochkin said.

“The system detects the false base station, determines its location, blocks the technical channel through which information is leaked and restores communication with a legitimate base station of a cellular operator of the 2G, 3G or 4G standard,” the commander said. A similar system is said to be being developed for 5G, he noted.

The system’s use is expected to significantly increase the security of critical MoD facilities from foreign snooping, Lastochkin said.
The extent to which cellular and internet communications can be compromised by intelligence services was first detailed by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden in 2013. The whistleblower revealed that in addition to targeted snooping of potential adversaries and security threats, the NSA had developed the capability to engage in the bulk collection of cellphone data of ordinary Americans, and even the ability to track cellphone locations worldwide.

Last year, media reported that Pegasus, an Israeli-made military-grade spyware capable of taking control of phones without users knowing it, was used extensively to target over 50,000 people worldwide, including multiple heads of state, opposition leaders, journalists and activists. The scandal once again brought to the forefront the theme of information security in an increasingly interconnected, digital world.

Mass Rally in Support of Russia Taking Place in Serbian Capital - Video​

Apr. 15, 2022

BELGRADE (Sputnik) - A mass protest action "Not on my behalf" over Serbia's vote for Russia's suspension from the UN Human Rights Council began on Friday evening in the center of Belgrade, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

Last week, the UN General Assembly suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council in a 93-24 vote, with 58 countries abstaining. The move deprived Moscow of the right to vote and to speak in the council. In response, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Gennady Kuzmin said that Russia is ending its membership in the UN body.

Hundreds of protesters with banners, Serbian and Russian flags gathered at the monument to Russian Emperor Nicholas II at around 17:00 GMT. The monument is located near the building of the election commission and across the road from the residence of the Serbian president. The protesters have blocked the main street, but the police are not interfering.

On 24 February, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian forces. In response to Russia’s operation, Western countries and their allies have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow, including an assets freeze on Russian politicians and oligarchs.

On 4 and 24 March, mass actions of patriotic organisations in support of Russia and against NATO took place in Serbia under the slogan "Serbs and Russians - brothers forever!".

RT:

NATO warships arrive to Baltic Sea​

A group of NATO vessels are set to carry out exercises in the region

Apr. 15, 2022

A group of NATO warships belonging to the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) have started arriving in the Baltic Sea to take part in joint exercises, with some having already docked in a port in Tallinn, Estonia, according to a NATO press release published on Thursday.

The SNMG1 consists of flagships from the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom, while the SNMCMG1 is composed of Norwegian, Belgian, German, Estonian, British and Dutch mine layers and minesweepers.

The bloc announced the move on Monday, saying “NATO regularly deploys maritime forces in the Baltic Sea in order to maintain a credible and capable defensive capability in accordance with treaty obligations.”

These are two of a total of four task groups comprising ships from various allied countries that are continuously available to NATO to perform different tasks ranging from participation in exercises to operational missions.

Four ships from the SNMG1 group arrived at the Port of Tallinn on Thursday, where they were joined by the Canadian frigate HMCS Halifax (FFH 330).

I am very pleased to welcome the SNMG1 teams in Tallinn," said commodore Jüri Saska, commander of the Estonian Navy. "The call is especially important in the current security situation, in which our neighbor to the east has taken up arms against the freedom and independence of the people of Ukraine."

Saska added that a strong maritime presence on NATO’s eastern border showcased the speed, flexibility and determination of the alliance to defend member states on land, by air and at sea.

The group is set to conduct routine operations and joint exercises with the Estonian Navy next week, which are intended to “improve interoperability among NATO forces and increase shared knowledge of maritime tactics, while promoting professionalism among sailors, cultural understanding and trust,” according to the NATO press release.

 

[Cosmos]

So I'm leaning towards the version of the fire, whether it was the result of deliberate sabotage or accidental negligence.

Same here.

 

[iamthatis]

Yes, it feels like Russia's military operation in Ukraine is like a worldwide open declaration of opposition against the PTB'S global takeover and the coup de grace most probably will be given to the West by China herself, most probably it will happen rather soon.

I may wishfully thinking here but I have this impression that China is preparing for this clash with the West for a while now, probably since the times of the Opium wars onwards, little by little rebuilding herself from western plundering, racketeering, destruction, humiliation, death and suffering, getting stronger and stronger to the point when it will be able to stand against the West hegemon and give it the final coup de grace.

The time has come it seems and I get the feeling that the West won't see it coming by the longest due their own hubris and their underestimating of China, as a consequence the whole western house of cards will come crashing down.

I could see China responding to a CIA provocation in Taiwan for instance. But would it be a military response? Is that what you mean by a coup de grace? Or would it be an economic response?

China has been modelled on Western values since the late Qing dynasty though, ever since Neo-Confucian scholars decided that the reason China lost the Opium wars was because of "backward Chinese traditions", which meant the wholesale destruction of actual Chinese culture long before the Long March or the Cultural Revolution. Sure, the Chinese have been on a revenge track since long, but it has cost it its own essence.
The outcome of this is the mixing of the worst from the West (Capitalism, Materialism, Communism "with Chinese characteristics", technocratic and bureaucratic nightmare, concrete hellscapes) with the worst from the East (strong emphasis on hierarchies, obedience, extreme denial of mistakes).
We might cheer at the American house of cards crashing down, but will we enjoy living under an alternative, perhaps even more brutal scenario?

That's quite the damning claim. My research suggests otherwise. The worst of the West would include Wall Street style unfettered financial parasitism, which China has gone to great lengths to curtail through its industrial socialist market-based model, discussed at length by economist Michael Hudson.

The worst of the East would be something like the Great Leap forward, ie. the blind imposition of (and obedience to) irrational policies that lead to the starvation of millions. China has lifted about 700 million out of poverty.

For all of China's issues, I think these nuances are important to remember, lest we fall into an 'OMG the Chicoms!' mentality.

 

[Voyageur]

There is an article up on SOTT.net with video attached (it is from a 2018 talk at the Potomac by Dr. Philip Karber).

At least one American briefing West Point cadets understands Russia -- Sott.net

I stumbled across a video of Dr. Philip Karber, a former U.S. Marine and founder of the Potomac Foundation, briefing West Point cadets in April 2018 on the war in the Donbas and Russian capabilities. It is remarkable and worth your time because...

www.sott.net

From the article, and just to cite the following 'key' points made by Karber in the words of Andrei Raevsky (remember this is 2018):

• Russia has the most advanced and dense, data-linked air defense on earth.
• In a war against Russia, U.S. army cannot expect much air assistance for at least the first several weeks. Even stealth aircraft will not be of much use because of the distance they must fly in order to reach targets in Ukraine and/or Russia. {he cites only one sortie a day for stealth because of fuelling}
• Russian EW (electronic warfare) is much more advanced and more 'combat-ized' than in the U.S. RF utilizes it in combat squads whereas U.S. barely has any and only at the divisional level
• Russian EW shuts down all communications in huge areas along the front, no cellphones, military radios etc. They break GPS links with drones, making them useless and can even fry the fuses on artillery shells midflight.
• U.S. army produces 10x the frequency emissions of a Ukrainian brigade, which would make it extremely visible to all sorts of Russian EW, drones, advanced weapons.
• Russia has far more artillery than U.S. and far greater variety of munition types.

Well back on this tread there was GPS talk, and it is funny as Karber makes note to the Cadets, that if you can't use a compass and a map on the battle field, you're hooped. The Russians will take out all networks by electronic countermeasures at the drop of a pin, basically, GPS included (see above quote).

Karber was in Kiev in 2014 with the seven countries in five years guy, Wesley Clark (a lot has been made of Clark, however IMO he is sketchy having meddled in NATO's (US) Kosovo war with friends such as Hashim Thaci and who knows what else and who with - and there was Joe). Karber is also connected to top brass since many of us were in diapers. Karber makes mention of being in the 1973 Israel conflict with Egypt (Russia backing) and seems to know a heck of a lot about international weapons systems and tactics. Here, he takes the listener through the Ukraine Maidan and the post Maidan build up to 2018. And although the talk it is from a western military perspective (leaves things out and down plays western training), it is an interesting talk to watch.

 

[Andrian]

I could see China responding to a CIA provocation in Taiwan for instance. But would it be a military response? Is that what you mean by a coup de grace? Or would it be an economic response?



That's quite the damning claim. My research suggests otherwise. The worst of the West would include Wall Street style unfettered financial parasitism, which China has gone to great lengths to curtail through its industrial socialist market-based model, discussed at length by economist Michael Hudson.

The worst of the East would be something like the Great Leap forward, ie. the blind imposition of (and obedience to) irrational policies that lead to the starvation of millions. China has lifted about 700 million out of poverty.

For all of China's issues, I think these nuances are important to remember, lest we fall into an 'OMG the Chicoms!' mentality.

Yes, I was thinking of an economic response from China towards the West.

Though, I agree that it's better to not jump to assumptions, which I did, and just to wait and see how things will develop in the near future.

 

[Joan]

This from Serbia, despite the governments stance.

Not in my name

https://www.rt.com/russia/553965-serbia-belgrade-protest-vucic/

Several thousand Serbs gathered on Friday evening in downtown Belgrade, carrying Russian flags and declaring Serbia and Russia “brothers forever.” The rally, dubbed ‘Not in My Name’, protested last week’s vote of the Serbian envoy to the UN to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, which President Aleksandar Vucic said came only after immense pressure from the West.

Protesters gathered around 7pm local time at the monument to Nicholas II, the last Russian emperor, and marched through downtown Belgrade to the Russian embassy chanting, “Serbs and Russians – brothers forever!” and “Kosovo is Serbia, Crimea is Russia!”

Officially, the rally was in protest of last week’s vote at the UN General Assembly, when Serbia joined a total of 93 countries favoring Moscow’s suspension from the UN Human Rights Council. Russia subsequently left the panel. Vucic appeared on national television after the vote and said his government originally intended to abstain, but was then subjected to “countless and difficult pressure.”

At one point, demonstrators unfurled a 20-meter tricolor, which from one angle looked like the flag of Russia, and from the other like the flag of Serbia, minus the official coat of arms.

Among the banners spotted at the rally by local and foreign correspondents were the flags of Donetsk and Lugansk – the two Donbass Republics that Moscow recognized as independent in February – as well as the St. Andrew’s Cross of Novorossiya and even the Russian Empire tricolor, though without USSR insignia.
Some of the demonstrators also carried signs with the slogan “No Surrender” and the outline of Kosovo, the Serbian province occupied by NATO in 1999 and declared an independent state in 2008 – something Belgrade has so far refused to recognize.

Serbia has since held a general election on April 3, in which Vucic’s SNS party ended up being the largest bloc in the parliament, but six seats short of a majority. Parliamentary parties are currently negotiating a post-electoral coalition that could form a cabinet.

One British-owned TV outlet cited anonymous sources to claim this week that the West expects a new government by August at the latest, and that its first act would be imposing sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, liberal politician Dragan Djilas told the weekly Vreme that his party wants Serbia “in the West, not in the East” and that Belgrade would “have to show which part of the world it belongs to.”

 

[seek10]

It looks Indian govt. is not keeping quite for the West's threats.