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He won’t respond. He’s run this gambit before where he flat out lies and denies he said something. Then I quote him and he pretends it didn’t happen a month later
International Russia/Ukraine Megathread V13
- Thread starter Strychnine
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"I am not but you are"....how original...
At least you didn't regail me with some battle from 1280 and how it lines up perfectly with the events of the Ukraine/Russia war.....baby steps?
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Putin wants his hitman back from Germany. Hitman killed two Chechnya men at different times. One asked for assylum an this killer was sent to kill them in Germany on a bike.
Anyone questioning that Putin runs Russia like a mob boss here you go more evidence.
"Krasikov denied both killing Khangoshvili and working for Russian security services. Asked by a judge if he had anything to tell the court before his conviction, he said, “No, thank you.” A German court found him guilty of murder in December 2021, describing the fatal shooting as an act of state terrorism"
https://www.wsj.com/world/putin-wants-his-hit-man-back-5bd759f8
Anyone questioning that Putin runs Russia like a mob boss here you go more evidence.
"Krasikov denied both killing Khangoshvili and working for Russian security services. Asked by a judge if he had anything to tell the court before his conviction, he said, “No, thank you.” A German court found him guilty of murder in December 2021, describing the fatal shooting as an act of state terrorism"
https://www.wsj.com/world/putin-wants-his-hit-man-back-5bd759f8
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April 2022:
"Let us see how the Ukrainian Army is doing 12 months from now. How many soldiers will they have to fight the Russian Army. Russia can keep this up for years - Ukraine cannot. Round #1 of a 12 round fight. Ukraine wins round #1. Plus, the Russian people are behind Putin in this war."
https://forums.sherdog.com/posts/168009493/
April 2022:
"Indeed. Within the next 12 months Putin (Russia) will most likely be using chemical weapons and tactical nukes - in Ukraine. The West (NATO) will still not get involved in a conflict in Ukraine."
https://forums.sherdog.com/posts/167997760/
April 2022
"Those (unqualified) that make it 'in' and to the front are usually dying there. Volunteers will stop showing up after another 12 months. US supply of anti-tank weapons is also drying up. Ukraine is burning through them faster than they can be manufactured and we need to keep many for our own defense. ...and another 12 to 24 months to go. It has only been 2 months."
https://forums.sherdog.com/posts/168108761/
April 2022:
You have political and military analysts on the other side of the table saying Ukraine cannot sustain this conflict for 12 months.
https://forums.sherdog.com/posts/168115603/
Not quite a year
October 2022:
No. They are all going to die over the next 12 months and not be replaced.
They know their numbers are shrinking and death is imminent.
Does the Ukrainian Army have enough soldiers to keep this war up for another 5 years?"
https://forums.sherdog.com/posts/169375748
November 2022:
The big exodus to Europe. The majority probably to Poland. What will the Ukrainian population look like in another 12 months?
The US Southern border is open to anyone, they just have to cross the pond.
https://forums.sherdog.com/posts/169799161/
Search works fine if you know how to use it.
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True, but the USSR also had Ukrainians at the top, in government. 7 million Ukrainians served in the Red Army in ww2, including the very highest ranks, whereas the nationalist partisans popular in Ukraine today only had thousands of fighters. On balance, more Ukrainians participated in the Soviet Union than fought against it- its a kind of forgetting, an attempt to dissociate. I don't blame them for wanting nothing to do with the legacy of the USSR, but it was not a Russian ethnic project.
Ofc they fought against Hitler. Not only in frontline. Partisans and diversants in Hitler's occupied areas too.
We all know this and know why.
Hitler wanted to deUkrainize Ukraine + was merciless with POVs, had concentration camps and torture chambers for POVs in occupied areas.
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Lol I’d be alright with him owning it and apologizing for gaslighting people. He doesn’t have the integrity for that though
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Musk in more hot water it turns out Putin overruled Pentagon request not to turn Ukrainian access off in Crimea. More details say Elon had talked with Putin over the Starlink use in Crimea. Elon talked to the Pentagon after his talk with Putin. He then got personally involved shutting of the satellites over Ukraine.
OneWeb UK based 600 satellite group could step in if needed. Funny thing many OneWeb satellites were put in space by SpaceX.
OneWeb UK based 600 satellite group could step in if needed. Funny thing many OneWeb satellites were put in space by SpaceX.
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They might use OneWeb and also Intelsat...
Musk looks that is dangerous, CIA and FBI should take him under scope because risk that some high tech secrets leakage to China, Russia, North Korea or Iran looks that maybe might be possible in future IF he supports Bejing or / and Kremlin.
Sweden looks that will " re activate " their old Bill type anti tank missiles stockpile.
These are top attack wire guided missiles so IR flares or IR signature reducing and conventional radioeletronic warfare will not impact their ability to hit tank.
These are top attack wire guided missiles so IR flares or IR signature reducing and conventional radioeletronic warfare will not impact their ability to hit tank.
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LMAO - can't believe you actually did all that legwork to prove how much of a lying tool Spin Marino is.
I predict he will tuck tail for a bit and then come back and completely ignore that he got exposed.
He's here to cause irritation, argue and and get a reaction - not honestly discuss events. I really am doubting his claims he's a retired veteran. Can someone really have had a long career like that in the military and be that immature? Idk.
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After his post about possibility to inject large paratroopers group far behind frontline .... I really doubt that he had any interest about anti aircraft defense....
This had been confirmed also with his arguing with me that AEGIS can't be installed as land based SAM system while it is technially possible. With little investments BTW.
Also systems designed for ships initially are tested in ground poligons.
Next stuff is his ignorance how devastating and productive are modern weapons .... so low number of soldiers might kill a lot of people and quickly.... even from long distance...
Imagine how well developed are modern tools to kill ppl?
From spear and bow till crossbow and muzzle loaded smoothbore guns...
And then...bolt action rifle with 5-7-8 cartridges in magazine... plus bayonet...
Now...
Well equipped soldier does have assault rifle with 20-30-40 cartridges in magazine, to change magazine is quick job. Single shot or automatic fire modes awailable.
Grenade launcher 25 - 30 - 40 mm might be attached under barrel...
Modern sights might be attached....
Damn....
Semi automatic weapons like revolvers with 5-6-7 cartridges and black gunpowder ...
Now common are pistols with 7-8-9-10-12-13-14-15-17-19-20 cartridges in magazine and ofc smokeless gunpowder...
From spear and bow till crossbow and muzzle loaded smoothbore guns...
And then...bolt action rifle with 5-7-8 cartridges in magazine... plus bayonet...
Now...
Well equipped soldier does have assault rifle with 20-30-40 cartridges in magazine, to change magazine is quick job. Single shot or automatic fire modes awailable.
Grenade launcher 25 - 30 - 40 mm might be attached under barrel...
Modern sights might be attached....
Damn....
Semi automatic weapons like revolvers with 5-6-7 cartridges and black gunpowder ...
Now common are pistols with 7-8-9-10-12-13-14-15-17-19-20 cartridges in magazine and ofc smokeless gunpowder...
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https://www.yahoo.com/news/sneaky-move-kremlin-meeting-may-213301886.html
A sneaky move at a Kremlin meeting may show why Putin took his time in eliminating Prigozhin
A sneaky move at a Kremlin meeting may show why Putin took his time in eliminating Prigozhin
"
A sneaky move at a Kremlin meeting may show why Putin took his time in eliminating Prigozhin
Paul Iddon
Sun, September 17, 2023 at 2:33 PM
Portraits of Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin at a makeshift memorial at the Wagner office in Novosibirsk on August 24.Vladimir Nikolayev/AFP via Getty Images
While the cause is still unclear, Russian President Vladimir Putin is strongly suspected of orchestrating the death of the mercenary leader who had been challenging Moscow for months. A dramatic meeting at the Kremlin shortly after the failed rebellion suggests Putin was biding his time until he could ensure a smooth takeover of Wagner, which had become an important player in Russian foreign policy.
On June 29, five days after the rebellion was called off, Putin gathered Prigozhin and his commanders in the Kremlin, according to a report in the Russian outlet Kommersant.
Putin asked the group if they would serve under a new leader, Alexei Troshev. The commanders nodded affirmatively, but Prigozhin, who couldn't see their response since they were behind him, was adamant: "No, the guys won't agree to that," he said, according to Kommersant.
That meeting may have sealed Prigozhin's fate.
Emergency responders carry a body bag from the wreckage of a jet linked to Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin at a crash site in the Tver region on August 24.Reuters
"The June 29 meeting between Putin and Wagner leaders and Prigozhin was intended to show the disagreement between Prigozhin and the group's commanders about the organization's future and thereby prepare experienced leaders of the group for Prigozhin's elimination," Matthew Orr, a Eurasia analyst at the risk-intelligence company RANE, told Insider.
"Reports of the meeting — and the lack of notable cases of dissension following Prigozhin's death — suggest that the meeting likely achieved its goals," Orr said.
Two other key Wagner figures, Dmitry Utkin and Valery Chekalov, also died in the August 23 crash. Utkin, believed to be the group's cofounder, was immensely popular among its old guard and much of the rank-and-file. Chekalov, a senior deputy to Prigozhin, oversaw logistics, coordinating numerous Wagner activities and operations in Libya and Syria.
With these three men out of the picture it could be easier to bring Wagner more firmly under state control, as Putin can now prevent commanders who are more aligned with their views from assuming control amid the turmoil of the reorganization.
Orr said Moscow will most likely use its security and intelligence services, primarily the GRU and FSB, to "solidify control over" Wagner commanders and regional leaders to ensure their operations align with Russian state interests while "technically remaining a private organization."
An undated photo of Russian mercenaries boarding a helicopter in northern Mali.French Army via Associated Press
"Wagner's operations in Africa in the medium- to long-term may face increased competition from — or eventual absorption by — other PMCs closely associated with Russia's Ministry of Defense, such as PMC Convoy and PMC Redut," Orr said, referring to private military companies.
Reports suggest those other groups recently began "recruiting for potential operations in Africa, where they could compete with Wagner and eventually have the option of phasing out Wagner entirely — which would further serve the purpose of reinforcing the Kremlin's control," Orr added.
Other reporting indicates Russian military officials began moving to assume control of Wagner operations and shore up relations with partners in the Middle East and Africa weeks before Prigozhin's death, doing so even as Prigozhin toured the region to assert control of his organization.
Anton Mardasov, a non-resident scholar with the Middle East Institute's Syria program, said it was "obvious" the Kremlin would not side with Prigozhin in his dispute with the Ministry of Defense for several reasons, including "the specific alignment" of Russia elites, "which a priori was not" with Prigozhin.
"Wagner's autonomous existence was ruled out because, together with Prigozhin, the group posed a serious danger to Moscow," Mardasov told Insider.
"Moreover, Prigozhin violated the agreement from the very beginning, leaving himself many loopholes in business, and it was clear that he would not sit quietly," Mardasov said, pointing to videos Prigozhin released from Belarus and Africa in the weeks before his death as confirmation.
Putin with African leaders and heads of delegations at the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg on July 28.ALEXEY DANICHEV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Under Prigozhin, Wagner amassed a business empire using lucrative concessions from governments and backers in the countries where it operated. The group's profitability allowed it to sustain its operations in sub-Saharan Africa, a huge benefit for the organization and something Moscow will likely seek to preserve.
Orr said Wagner's new leaders, or the group's replacement, will likely be "even more keen to demonstrate their activities" are beneficial to the Russian state instead of "serving (the) parochial economic interests of its owners."
The Kremlin sought to portray Prigozhin's "alleged greed and selfishness" as the reason for his downfall, Orr said, and consequently, "replacement groups may further emphasize their commitment to the common task of furthering the interests of the Russian state."
Despite the Kremlin's years of denials, officials in the Middle East and Africa saw Wagner as a valuable partner because of perceptions that the Russian government backed its operations, Orr said.
Moscow will now be keen to show "strong backing" for whichever organizations replace Wagner, but it is likely to avoid assuming formal control of their missions, which could entail deploying Russian troops to replace the mercenaries, as doing so would be "politically undesirable" amid the war in Ukraine, Orr added.
Mardasov, who is also a military affairs analyst, said the Kremlin likely believed it was extremely unrealistic that Wagner's senior leaders would work under closer government oversight, with attempts to create such an arrangement meeting "serious resistance" from Prigozhin and his closest people.
A Wagner Group member conducts trains Belarusian soldiers at a range near the town of Osipovichi in Belarus on July 14.Voen Tv/Belarusian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
"Moreover, the Wagner PMC is not just a group of mercenaries. It is a structure based on a number of Prigozhin's business assets, which has political strategists, consulting, intelligence, and so on," Mardasov said. "It is impossible to simply change the owner since military intelligence will not engage in consulting and political technologies, and for the SVR [Russia's foreign intelligence service], such a huge power tool is redundant."
Prigozhin's death has already affected Russia's position in Syria and other countries, including in Libya, a hub for Wagner's operations in Africa and where Russian military leaders are reportedly seeking naval access.
For now, the mercenaries have some leverage, as their departure would create a gap that Moscow is still unsure how to fill "since there is essentially no real working plan to replace Wagner with an expeditionary force" from PMCs over which the military has more influence, Mardasov said.
But Wagner and other PMCs rely on Russia's Ministry of Defense for transportation and other support, and the recent moves by Russian officials suggest they are trying to ensure no such gap opens.
"Among the Wagner Group, there is still hope for an autonomous existence under the leadership of Prigozhin's son Pavel and commanders who really control the situation," Mardasov said. "But this situation cannot last long, especially since the MoD issues
ultimatums and the department has leverage over mercenaries."
Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history. His articles have appeared in a variety of publications focused on the region.
"
A sneaky move at a Kremlin meeting may show why Putin took his time in eliminating Prigozhin
Paul Iddon
Sun, September 17, 2023 at 2:33 PM
Portraits of Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin at a makeshift memorial at the Wagner office in Novosibirsk on August 24.Vladimir Nikolayev/AFP via Getty Images
- On August 23, two months after his brief rebellion, Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash.
- The cause is unclear, but Russian President Vladimir Putin is suspected of orchestrated the crash.
- If so, the process of removing Prigozhin may have begun at a Kremlin meeting days after his uprising.
While the cause is still unclear, Russian President Vladimir Putin is strongly suspected of orchestrating the death of the mercenary leader who had been challenging Moscow for months. A dramatic meeting at the Kremlin shortly after the failed rebellion suggests Putin was biding his time until he could ensure a smooth takeover of Wagner, which had become an important player in Russian foreign policy.
On June 29, five days after the rebellion was called off, Putin gathered Prigozhin and his commanders in the Kremlin, according to a report in the Russian outlet Kommersant.
Putin asked the group if they would serve under a new leader, Alexei Troshev. The commanders nodded affirmatively, but Prigozhin, who couldn't see their response since they were behind him, was adamant: "No, the guys won't agree to that," he said, according to Kommersant.
That meeting may have sealed Prigozhin's fate.
Emergency responders carry a body bag from the wreckage of a jet linked to Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin at a crash site in the Tver region on August 24.Reuters
"The June 29 meeting between Putin and Wagner leaders and Prigozhin was intended to show the disagreement between Prigozhin and the group's commanders about the organization's future and thereby prepare experienced leaders of the group for Prigozhin's elimination," Matthew Orr, a Eurasia analyst at the risk-intelligence company RANE, told Insider.
"Reports of the meeting — and the lack of notable cases of dissension following Prigozhin's death — suggest that the meeting likely achieved its goals," Orr said.
Two other key Wagner figures, Dmitry Utkin and Valery Chekalov, also died in the August 23 crash. Utkin, believed to be the group's cofounder, was immensely popular among its old guard and much of the rank-and-file. Chekalov, a senior deputy to Prigozhin, oversaw logistics, coordinating numerous Wagner activities and operations in Libya and Syria.
With these three men out of the picture it could be easier to bring Wagner more firmly under state control, as Putin can now prevent commanders who are more aligned with their views from assuming control amid the turmoil of the reorganization.
Orr said Moscow will most likely use its security and intelligence services, primarily the GRU and FSB, to "solidify control over" Wagner commanders and regional leaders to ensure their operations align with Russian state interests while "technically remaining a private organization."
An undated photo of Russian mercenaries boarding a helicopter in northern Mali.French Army via Associated Press
"Wagner's operations in Africa in the medium- to long-term may face increased competition from — or eventual absorption by — other PMCs closely associated with Russia's Ministry of Defense, such as PMC Convoy and PMC Redut," Orr said, referring to private military companies.
Reports suggest those other groups recently began "recruiting for potential operations in Africa, where they could compete with Wagner and eventually have the option of phasing out Wagner entirely — which would further serve the purpose of reinforcing the Kremlin's control," Orr added.
Other reporting indicates Russian military officials began moving to assume control of Wagner operations and shore up relations with partners in the Middle East and Africa weeks before Prigozhin's death, doing so even as Prigozhin toured the region to assert control of his organization.
Anton Mardasov, a non-resident scholar with the Middle East Institute's Syria program, said it was "obvious" the Kremlin would not side with Prigozhin in his dispute with the Ministry of Defense for several reasons, including "the specific alignment" of Russia elites, "which a priori was not" with Prigozhin.
"Wagner's autonomous existence was ruled out because, together with Prigozhin, the group posed a serious danger to Moscow," Mardasov told Insider.
"Moreover, Prigozhin violated the agreement from the very beginning, leaving himself many loopholes in business, and it was clear that he would not sit quietly," Mardasov said, pointing to videos Prigozhin released from Belarus and Africa in the weeks before his death as confirmation.
Putin with African leaders and heads of delegations at the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg on July 28.ALEXEY DANICHEV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Under Prigozhin, Wagner amassed a business empire using lucrative concessions from governments and backers in the countries where it operated. The group's profitability allowed it to sustain its operations in sub-Saharan Africa, a huge benefit for the organization and something Moscow will likely seek to preserve.
Orr said Wagner's new leaders, or the group's replacement, will likely be "even more keen to demonstrate their activities" are beneficial to the Russian state instead of "serving (the) parochial economic interests of its owners."
The Kremlin sought to portray Prigozhin's "alleged greed and selfishness" as the reason for his downfall, Orr said, and consequently, "replacement groups may further emphasize their commitment to the common task of furthering the interests of the Russian state."
Despite the Kremlin's years of denials, officials in the Middle East and Africa saw Wagner as a valuable partner because of perceptions that the Russian government backed its operations, Orr said.
Moscow will now be keen to show "strong backing" for whichever organizations replace Wagner, but it is likely to avoid assuming formal control of their missions, which could entail deploying Russian troops to replace the mercenaries, as doing so would be "politically undesirable" amid the war in Ukraine, Orr added.
Mardasov, who is also a military affairs analyst, said the Kremlin likely believed it was extremely unrealistic that Wagner's senior leaders would work under closer government oversight, with attempts to create such an arrangement meeting "serious resistance" from Prigozhin and his closest people.
A Wagner Group member conducts trains Belarusian soldiers at a range near the town of Osipovichi in Belarus on July 14.Voen Tv/Belarusian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
"Moreover, the Wagner PMC is not just a group of mercenaries. It is a structure based on a number of Prigozhin's business assets, which has political strategists, consulting, intelligence, and so on," Mardasov said. "It is impossible to simply change the owner since military intelligence will not engage in consulting and political technologies, and for the SVR [Russia's foreign intelligence service], such a huge power tool is redundant."
Prigozhin's death has already affected Russia's position in Syria and other countries, including in Libya, a hub for Wagner's operations in Africa and where Russian military leaders are reportedly seeking naval access.
For now, the mercenaries have some leverage, as their departure would create a gap that Moscow is still unsure how to fill "since there is essentially no real working plan to replace Wagner with an expeditionary force" from PMCs over which the military has more influence, Mardasov said.
But Wagner and other PMCs rely on Russia's Ministry of Defense for transportation and other support, and the recent moves by Russian officials suggest they are trying to ensure no such gap opens.
"Among the Wagner Group, there is still hope for an autonomous existence under the leadership of Prigozhin's son Pavel and commanders who really control the situation," Mardasov said. "But this situation cannot last long, especially since the MoD issues
ultimatums and the department has leverage over mercenaries."
Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history. His articles have appeared in a variety of publications focused on the region.
"
Lukashenko impact is underrated cos Kremlin needs him.
Like Putin he is hugging with Iran and North Korea.
Belarssian MIC might refresh USSR era equipment and ammuniton and produce new ammo etc.
Belorussia is USSR era ammo warehouse.
Belorussia is producing high quality production in 2 large oil refineries.
Belorussia is offering medicaments and treatment. Medicaments btw are really cheap and high quality.
Belorussia does have border not only with Ukraine, also with 3 EU & NATO countries...
So IF Lukashenko will ask, Prigi might be DONE. Easy peasy.
Ofc IF he didn't opt for " ilnesses developed, bad health and vuala, some comrade died.
Like Putin he is hugging with Iran and North Korea.
Belarssian MIC might refresh USSR era equipment and ammuniton and produce new ammo etc.
Belorussia is USSR era ammo warehouse.
Belorussia is producing high quality production in 2 large oil refineries.
Belorussia is offering medicaments and treatment. Medicaments btw are really cheap and high quality.
Belorussia does have border not only with Ukraine, also with 3 EU & NATO countries...
So IF Lukashenko will ask, Prigi might be DONE. Easy peasy.
Ofc IF he didn't opt for " ilnesses developed, bad health and vuala, some comrade died.
- Status
