A recent attempt on youtube by an obvious anti-Russian, to pour scorn on this film's historical accuracy, tries to point out that the nazi troops state they are members of a unit that was not there.. but can't bring himself to see that they might have been lying!
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St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox
SpiritualCare Centre
THE TRAGEDY IN UKRAINE
"Veterans and children of the Great PatrioticWar: to the Government andpeopleof Germany".
By events in Ukraine
Today, when the German government decided
to supply Ukraine with lethal weapons, the
world has changed — the silhouettes of a
new world war are more than clearly
outlined! And again - Germany!
But there are honest people in Germany, anti-
fascists, and we hope that this Message will
fall into their hands. People born between
1927 and 1945 have the status of "war
children" in Russia.
All those who survived that war can subscribe to this letter. We think that actual signatures are not necessary, we suggest that veterans(or "war children") read them this letter, independently or with someone's help,
and send us (at the coordinatesindicated below) something like the following:
Moscow, Ivanov Ivan Ivanovich, 90 years old, disabled war veteran (or otherwise), Hero of the Soviet Union (or Holder of the Order of Glory... or otherwise), was repatriated to Germany during the war (or otherwise).
Or just the city, full name, and age. The
main thing, is that they should be real
people who are familiar with the text.
MESSAGE TEXT
We, the last veterans and all the peoples of
Russia who survived that great and terrible
war, are now on the verge of death! Our
time is already running out. For a huge
part of our lives, we hoped we would
come to the end of it, in peace -
without all-destroying hatred!
For the painfully long decades after the Second World War, we overcame our righteous anger! I long for retribution for the innumerable wounds, spiritual and physical, that we still carry in our bodies and our hearts! And most of us have forgiven! And not in a small way due to the fact that Germany for many years has demonstrated its repentance its understanding of what it has done! And we have overcome, not only ourselves, but also the voice of the blood of our barbarically exterminated relatives! By whom? Germans ...fascists!
We have forgiven... following the laws of human
coexistence! So it was... until 2014. And then,
in 2014, when everything began in Ukraine...
we looked with hope at Germany and at the
then Chancellor Angela Merkel. We couldn't imagine that after all that the Germans did
in Ukraine, after Babi Yar, after mountains
of mutilated corpses, they would still look
with lust at the Ukrainian fields that can
feed Europe today! Or they, the Germans,
who have covered the Crimea they once
promised with blood, will still somehow be interested in turning the Crimea into an American and in general a NATO base, ideal for aggression against Russia! Which would be clearly
aimed at afuture war.
After all, only fools do not understand the meaning and goals of the entire coup inUkraine... in the conditions of which Russia behaved in the only possible way! But the Germans are not fools! We the Russians, know for certain your psychology, as "brothers in blood" - our blood, which you "prudently" shed in rivers!
We remember your "systematic methods of
population reduction"! Our population! Until
now, in different parts of our once united
Homeland, where the boot of German
fascism was trodden, we find hidden
mass graves of our civilians: in the
Novgorod region, in the Kuban, in
the Rostov region, in Karelia. In
Belarus, in 2021... hundreds of
civilian remains... were found
in Brest ...on the site of the
Jewish ghetto the Trostenets
concentration camp.... near
Minsk terrible in its tragedy
revealed the secret of the
remains... of thousands of
tortured and killed people!
We are talking about tens of thousands of newly discovered victims of Nazism! This blood - still cries out for revenge - and for decades the memory of the barbarously destroyed
Russian people, and monuments to Russian soldiers, liberators, have been desecrated with impunity!
And the new Nazis are marching in the Baltic
States and Ukraine, in front of the entire
"civilized" world! But in 2014, we were
sincerely convinced -- that in this new
Nazi demarche it's the Germans who
will be our associates in preventing
this meanness!
We hoped that, guided by an elementary
conscience, the Germans would not
participate.. in an obviously fascist
anti-state coup in Ukraine! After all
...the subsequent catastrophe of
modern Ukraine was committed
by direct descendants of those
who were special bastards in
the German army! Clearly,
openly!
Americans and Canadians have only hidden and preserved this diabolical heritage, feeding thisgeneration, but the product of this evil... is Germany! Hitler's Germany! And it was impossible for us to believe that it was Germany that would again give a "road map" to these inhumans! But we were wrong! Germany has once again allowed these fascist geeks to enter the world!
The support of modern Germany - in the face of
the new government of Ukraine-Bandera, the
heirs of the SS division " Galicia ", the thugs
of the UPA OUN and all other abominations;
is simply unthinkable for us! This is beyond
all that is human! But you, Germany, have already done it and continue to do it! You
have, once again, set your sights on the
Slavic world and these geeks are blood
from the blood of German Nazism! And
again to Russia!
Only, even more despicable: inciting our closest Ukrainian brothers against us! And you know it! You know this as well as we do! You killed one nation in that Great War! Yes, we are one people!
The truth is written and often spoken about
by your own Steinmeier, who at the same
time viciously took a direct part in the
Kiev coup of 2014 — fascist in fact!
This American may not be clear about some-
thing, but it's more than that, for you! And
after all, it was your vykormysh.. that got
ready.. for their torchlight processions in
Kiev! The living shadow of Nazi Germany
is behind all this. It was only temporarily
covered up by sly diplomacy — "helmets
instead of guns"! But that's it, "masks
are reset"! Your supply of German
weapons to Ukraine today, is
natural, it is in the logic of
your policy of recent
decades.
Today it is clearly pro-fascist! You have taken
this step: German weapons will kill Russians
again! Keep killing. During the years of the
conflict in the Donbas, your professional
killers have already killed Russians, at
least by teaching them... "how to kill
correctly"! Only now -- it's even more
despicable — you're teaching this to
- your blood brothers! Donbass is on
your conscience! Thousands of lives
of its peaceful citizens --- again your
handiwork! We do not care about the
role of Americans, in everything that
happens: there, is money-God! We,
veterans of that war, its children,
are concerned about the role of
the Germans! Because it is you
who know -- exactly -- who the
Ukrainian "national battalions"
consist of --- and could have
prevented and stopped, this
new fascism ! But they did
not do it! And just by doing
this — you are once again,
responsible to history!
And you are definitely participating -- in the
preparation of Ukraine for war with Russia!
You can't help but understand the purpose
of everything that happened --- from the
unconstitutional coup in Kiev ....to the
bloodshed in the Donbass! But, in fact
this is preparation for the Third World
War! And again, you are Germans...
Germany! We hear from the high
German rostrum in Berlin today:
"Russia will pay a high price"!!!
This is the German Chancellor's
speech! Unthinkable! We have
already paid the price — 27
million of our lives! Isn't that
enough for you?! What price
are you still talking about?
There is no home --- in Russia, Ukraine and
Belarus - where "this price" isn't paid! And
there is no home in Germany, that did
not participate in that terrible, bloody
barbarism! It's scary! It's wild! And
today, there are, already, more than
13 thousand dead Russian people
in the Donbass at the hands of
the new Nazis!
The German Chancellor's public mockery of the
Russian genocide in the Donbas is a crime in
itself! How much can the lessons of history
be misunderstood and discredited! The
scariest story in the world! Do you want
to be even scarier?! After all, this new
"Dranch nach Oschtern" ..may lead to
the fact that the 2nd Nuremberg trial
over you will no longer be - there will
simply be no humanity! You won't be
here! But a special Ecumenical trial
of you Germans is inevitable! Over
all aggressors — but over you
ESPECIALLY!
World justice will be served! And we, the last
veterans of that terrible war, are leaving this
world as witnesses! Witnesses for the
PROSECUTION! And today the victory
will be ours, but those who died
yesterday, or those of us who
will die today, already bear
witness to the role of the
German people, in the
history of the human
world — a bloody
history!
German weapons are back in the
hands of Nazi thugs! Please stop!
Email addresses for information:
veterans1945@yandex.ru
https://t.me/Veteran_v_stroy_chat
- Russian Union of Veterans: organizing
questions and collecting signatures of
veterans and children of the Second
World War
****************************
veteran1944@yandex.ru -questions about
this publication to its author: Monk John (Adlivankin), Deputy Head of the Russian Orthodox Church. head and ved.
specialist of the St. Peter's
Orthodox Counseling Centre.
St. John of Kronstadt.
__________________________________
If you want the truth about the massacre of civilans in Bucha - paste the web address below into your browser
https://www.bitchute.com/video/6ZHPL2pTuadJ/
The video above is of a pro-Russia cavalcade in Germany and it surely brought heart- bursting tears!
More than 5,000 cars in just one campaign in support of Russia--- in Germany !!!!!!!!!
NATO has a Scandinavian 'leftist' as its head - WHY?
THIS VIDEO EXPLAINS A LOT ABOUT TODAY'S NORWAY
REQUIEM
Efran and Poet's tribute to all those killed by wars
THE LATEST NEWS
A Portuguese mercenary - was killed
in the SVO zoneafter the execution
of a Russian prisoner
July 3rd, 11:09pm
(Lenta.ru)
Russian servicemen destroyed a Portuguese mercenary
in the special operation zone. This - was announced in
his Telegram channel by military expert, Boris Rozhin.
It turned out that Rico Chavez, who came to fight on the
side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine --- was listed as part of the neo-Nazi battalion "Carpathian Sich".
In November 2022, he executed a Russian prisoner,
after which - he ''posed'' with the body of a fighter.
In February, the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's
Republic (DPR) sentenced the 22-year-old Georgian
mercenary, Mamuka Gatsarelia, to life in prison.
He was found guilty of shooting three
Russian soldiers in Mariupol, in the
spring of 2022.
_________________________________
The General Staff of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine: announced
a tense situationin the
Toretsk direction
July 3rd, 10:48pm
(RT.ru)
The General Staff of the Ukrainian troops announced
a "tense situation" in the Toretsk direction.
Information about this appeared in the
Telegram channel of the department.
"The situation in the Toretsk direction
is ---- tense," the statement reads.
In mid-June, the General Staff of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine --- recognized the situation in the
Krasnoarmeysky direction as the
most tense.
_________________________________
Three civilians of the DPR injured
in attack by Kiev's Armed Forces
July 3rd, 10:20pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Three civilians in the Donetsk People's Republic were
injured as a result of an attack by the Armed Forces
of Ukraine on Donetsk and Gorlovka. This was
announced on July 3rd, by the head of the
DPR, Denis Pushilin.
"In the Petrovsky district of Donetsk, men born in 1967
and 1985 were wounded in a barrel artillery attack
(moderate condition). In the Nikitovsky district of
Gorlovka, as a result of dropping an explosive
object from a drone, a man born in 1978 was
injured (moderate condition)," the
Telegram channel says.
Pushilin noted that the victims received the necessary
medical care. He added that in the morning --- as a
result of an attack.... by the armed formations of
Ukraine with a high-precision HIMARS missile,
the building of the Primary Health Care
Centre No. 7, in Donetsk, received
significant damage.
Izvestia correspondent Alexander Martemyanov
illustrated the consequences of the shelling of
Ukrainian militants in Donetsk.
"There was a massive explosion, and the hospital
windows blew in. This is the only such powerful
explosion, even from there, I heard it at home,"
said a local resident.
In addition, according to the head of the DPR, 12
residential buildings were damaged in the Kiev
& Petrovsky districts of Donetsk, Nikitovsky
district of Gorlovka, as well as five civilian
infrastructure facilities.
In total, 18 armed attacks were carried out by
Ukrainian militants, and more than 40 rounds
of ammunition were fired.
Earlier in the day, Izvestia correspondent Yevgeny
Bykovsky reported that in Donetsk, the only
supermarket that worked in the Kievsky
district of the city burned down from
the attacks of the Ukrainian
Armed Forces.
The first republican supermarket was allegedly
attacked ---- by a US-made HIMARS multiple
launch rocket system.
On July 1, Ukrainian troops fired 13 155mm NATO shells
at the Petrovsky district of Donetsk. As a result of the
shelling, two apartment buildings on Nakhimovskaya
Street were damaged. There was no information
about the victims.
Earlier, on June 30th, in the Petrovsky district of Donetsk,
four employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations,
were injured due to the shelling of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine. The victims got to the hospital on their own,
and were hospitalized.
Ukrainian militants - are firing daily at the territories of
the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well
as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, against the
background of a special operation to protect the
Donbass, which Russia announced on
February 24, 2022.
_________________________________________
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian
Federation told about the exploits of
the Russian Armed Forces in
the free defense zone
July 3rd, 10pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The Russian Ministry of Defense indicated -- that Guard
Sergeant Ihor Bondarenko, performed combat missions
to engage clusters of equipment and manpower of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of a howitzer artillery battery.
His crew was subjected to retaliatory fire from
the enemy ---- while changing positions.
However, Bondarenko ----- brought the gun into combat
position and, having calculated the coordinates of the
target - personally destroyed the artillery installation
and up to 10 enemy personnel with an accurate shot.
Due to this, the Ukrainian militants lost artillery support,
were unable to hold the occupied lines and were forced
to leave their positions in a hurry, suffering losses.
The Defense Ministry - also noted the merits of the chief of
the calculation of the anti-aircraft missile division, Senior
Lieutenant Maxim Borisov. He performed tasks to cover
the grouping of the Armed Forces of the Russian
Federation from enemy air attacks --- with his unit.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the positions of
Russian units, using strike unmanned aircraft and
multiple launch rocket systems, to destroy
important military infrastructure and
reduce the combat potential.
However --------- the crew under Maksimov's command
immediately began to repel the air attack, destroying
an unmanned aerial vehicle of Ukrainian militants,
as well as.. six MLRS shells. Maksimov's courage
and determination and the high professionalism
of his subordinates helped to save the lives of
his comrades-in-arms, while preventing air
strikes on the manpower and equipment
of the covered units.
______________________________________
The Border Service of Ukraine
reported the detention of 10
evaders.... in a wheat field
July 3rd, 9:40pm
(Izvestia.ru)
In Ukraine, 10 men tried to enter Hungary through
a wheat field to avoid mobilization. This was
reported on July 3 by the press service of
the Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
"10 reapers (evaders. - Ed.) tried to sneak into Hungary
within a wheat field," the ministry said in a message
on its Telegram channel.
It is noted -- that all those who fled paid from $7 thousand
to $10 thousand to the guides to organize their transition.
The service clarified that two of the detainees, even tried to escape from the border guards.
"The detainees are now facing administrative
punishment, and the organizers — criminal,"
the report added.
Earlier, on June 30, it was reported that in Ukraine, border
guards shot a man who tried to cross the border with
Romania in the company of a partner. As noted, the
border guards opened fire after the men attacked
them with a machete. One was shot in the leg,
and the other was shot in the head.
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term
of office expired on May 20, signed a law on tightening
mobilization on April 16. The document clarifies the
categories of persons subject to mobilization and
toughens the penalties for evading it, but there
are no provisions on demobilization. The law
on strengthening mobilization came into
force on May 18.
Martial law in Ukraine is effective from February 2022. At
the same time... Zelensky signed a decree on general
mobilization. Later, the Verkhovna Rada repeatedly
extended its validity. Most men between the ages
of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving
the country.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on
February 24, 2022, continues. The decision
was made against the background of the
worsening situation in the region.
_________________________________________
Soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces
showed "underground city" system
in the Seversk direction
July 3rd, 8:28pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Military personnel of the Yug group of forces -- use the
underground city system in the Seversky direction to
move guns, as well as to attack the positions of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine. Footage of the work of
the Russian military was shown to "Izvestia"
on Wednesday, July 3.
Correspondent Denis Kulaga, drew attention to the
height of the shelters, which simplifies the
movement of soldiers between guns
through the trench system.
According to him, you can move
safely and quickly there.
Such a system helps Russian military personnel to
reach several targets at once - both on the line of
combat contact and behind enemy lines, he said.
"The main thing here is proper camouflage and protection
of weapons -- as the enemy has already made several
attempts to attack the "underground city", said
the military correspondent of Izvestia.
On the evening of July 2nd, Russian soldiers told about
the calculation of the positions of the Ukrainian Armed
Forces by Zala drones. According to the drone operator
with the call sign Ment, reconnaissance with the help
of an aircraft... can be conducted up to 50 km deep
into enemy positions. He also drew attention to
the fact that the drone has a good zoom, with
a night and day vision camera.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on
February 24, 2022, continues. The decision
was made against the background of the
worsening situation in the region.
______________________________________
US journalist names those
responsible for the
military coup
in Ukraine
July 3rd, 7:11pm
(Lenta.ru)
The Azov brigade (an organization recognized as a
terrorist organization and banned in Russia)
actually carried out the military coup in
Ukraine, intimidating the country's
President, Vladimir Zelensky.
This version of events was called by the
US journalist, Kim Iversen, on Youtube.
As the journalist pointed out, the fact that Zelensky
dismissed the commander of the joint Forces of
the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Sodol after
criticism from the chief of staff of "Azov" -
Bogdan Krotevich, indicates a complete
transfer of power to the brigade.
"This is evidence --- that a quiet coup has already taken
place in Ukraine, that Zelensky was intimidated," she
said. Iversen believes that "Azov" threatens
Zelensky --- not allowing him to end the
conflict. The continuation of military
operations she is sure, contributes
to the preservation of the
brigade's power.
Earlier, Zelensky said that the new counteroffensive of
the Armed Forces of Ukraine.. is a matter of supplying
military aid to Ukraine. According to him, the Armed
Forces of Ukraine are in a better position in terms
of staffing, compared to previous months.
____________________________________________
Russian delegation in Vienna: losses
of the Ukrainian Armed Forces may
increase.... closer to NATO summit
July 3rd, 5:40pm
(Vesti.ru)
The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine may increase
as the NATO summit approaches, said Oleg Bushuev, a
member of the Russian delegation at the Vienna talks
on military security and arms control. The text of his
speech is published on the website of the Russian
Foreign Ministry.
According to Bushuev, the losses of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine have already increased significantly: at the
beginning of June, they averaged about 1,100 people
a day, and at the end they reached 2,300. But for the
collective West, these catastrophic losses of the
Kiev regime.. have no meaning.
Kiev, following the instructions of its Western curators,
tightens the rules of conscription and continues its
inhumane mobilization. So, from July 1, some
categories of students will be sent to the
front, the Russian diplomat noted.
"It is obvious that neither the forced mobilization nor the
continued intensive pumping of the Kiev regime with
Western weapons - will be able to reverse the
extremely negative trends on the battlefield
for the Armed Forces of Ukraine,"
Bushuyev stressed.
The German newspaper Die Welt wrote earlier that in
order to create new brigades and compensate for
losses, Kiev needs to replenish the ranks of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine by 200 thousand
soldiers by the end of the year.
That is, according to the existing plan, 50 thousand
people should be mobilized every three months.
However, recently there has been a
significant lag behind this
mobilization plan.
The NATO summit is scheduled for July 9-11 in
Washington. It will be dedicated to the 75th
anniversary of the alliance.
____________________________________
Soldiers of the Lipetsk battalion
defended a stronghold in the
SVO zone at the cost of
their lives
July 3rd, 4:40pm
(Vesti.ru)
Soldiers of the Lipetsk battalion tactical group were killed in the area of a special military operation, having defended the stronghold, at the cost of their lives.
The head of the Lipetsk Region Igor Artamonov
wrote about this in his Telegram channel.
According to the governor, the soldiers defended the
point for almost two weeks, while the enemy tried
their best to knock them out of their positions.
"Shelling and attacks were carried out every day. The
men didn't back down. They did not give up a single
centimetre of land," he wrote, emphasizing that
among the dead ....is the commander of the
tactical group with the call sign Tulweke.
According to Artamonov, the fighters were professionals
from the very beginning, able to perform any task set.
He also said that representatives of the region
visited the site of the battle and "saw
everything with their own eyes",
showed photos and videos
from there.
The governor noted that it is difficult to imagine how
the group was able not only to resist, but also to
push back the enemy.
In the Lipetsk region, they will apply for awarding heroes,
and the families of the fighters who gave their lives will
be provided with all the necessary assistance.
The wounded will be able to undergo
rehabilitation after discharge.
______________________________________________
Sinegubov: FAB-500
can reach anywhere
in Kharkiv
July 3rd, 3:45pm
(Vesti.ru)
The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration,
Oleg Sinegubov, warned that the Russian FAB-500 aerial
bomb with an extended range..... can reach anywhere
in Kharkiv.
A modified high-explosive bomb with flight-correcting
equipment has already been used by the Russian
army in the Kupyansk direction, Sinegubov
stressed. And recently, the Russian
Armed Forces have begun to use
this powerful weapon to attack
industrial facilities in Kharkiv.
After the modification, the FAB-500 has acquired a new
feature in the form of an increased range of up to
80 kilometres, which allows it to reach any
military facilities in Kharkiv.
Earlier, it was reported about similar strikes on a
warehouse with ammunition and the production
of drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in
Nemyshlyansky and Industrial districts
in Kharkiv.
Sinegubov noted that the use of this type of weapons
led to the fact that in Kharkiv the duration of air
alerts sharply increased – up to 12-16 hours
a day.
_____________________________________________
Merkouris: an ever-widening gap
has been created in the defense
of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
July 3rd, 2:31pm
(Vesti.ru)
British expert Alexander Merkouris said that an ever-
widening gap has formed in the defense of the
Ukrainian army in the Avdiivka area.
"After the fall of Avdiivka, the Russians made a huge
breach in the Ukrainian defense. We see that this
gap.... is increasing all the time," the analyst
noted in his blog on YouTube, adding that
the defense lines were breached, in the strongest place.
According to him, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are
desperately trying to contain the offensive of the
Russian army in the breakthrough zone, but
they are not succeeding.
"In the process, they suffer catastrophic losses," Merkouris concluded.
__________________________________________
Ukrainian military officer Khodakovsky
admitted that the Ukrainian Armed
Forces may soon lose Chasiv Yar
July 3rd, 12:59pm
(Vesti.ru)
The commander of the Revanche volunteer battalion,
Bohdan Khodakovsky, said that the Ukrainian
militants may soon lose Chasiv Yar city.
According to the Ukrainian newspaper Strana,
Khodakovsky confirmed that the Ukrainian
Armed Forces --- had lost some of their
positions in the eastern part of the
town of Chasiv Yar.
According to the military, the loss of the
settlement has come closer and closer.
According to TASS, the Ukrainian military has left its
positions in the east of Chasova Yar and is trying to
strengthen the defense in the west of the city. The
Russian Defense Ministry also confirmed that the
Novy district in this locality ---- is fully liberated.
Earlier it was reported that the Volunteer battalion
"Espanyola" destroyed the AFU repeaters at the
highest point of Chasiv Yar, leaving the
militants without strategically
important equipment.
___________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry report
on the progress of the special
military operation
July 3rd, 11:35am
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
continue the special military operation.
The units of the Sever Group of Forces have defeated
manpower and hardware of the 57th Motor Infantry
Brigade, the 71st Jaeger Brigade of the AFU, the
36th Marine Brigade, 113th and 125th territorial
defence brigades and the 13th National Guard
Brigade close to Volchansk, Neskuchnoye,
Malye Prokhody, Staritsa, and Liptsy
(Kharkov region).
In addition, one counterattack by a group of the Vostok
Special Operations Forces' centre has been repelled.
The enemy losses, were up to 140 soldiers, one Tunguska
anti-aircraft gun combat vehicle, eight pickup trucks, one
152-mm D-20 gun, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 122
-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one
122-mm D-30 howitzer.
The units of the Zapad Group of Forces, have taken more
advantageous positions and defeated formations of 14th,
63rd, 115th, 116th mechanised brigades of the AFU and
the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade close to Sinkovka
and Petropavlovka (Kharkov region), Grigorovka,
Torskoye, and Krasny Liman (Donetsk
People's Republic).
During the day, two counterattacks by the 3rd Assault
Brigade of the enemy have been repelled.
The AFU losses were up to 540 soldiers, one armoured
fighting vehicle, and four motor vehicles.
In addition, in the course of counter-battery warfare, one
Czech-made Vampire multiple-launch rocket system
launcher, one 155-mm US-made M777 howitzer, one
152-mm U.S.-made Msta-B howitzer, one 105-mm
U.S.-made M119 gun, and one 100-mm U.S.-made
Rapira anti-tank gun - have been hit.
Three AFU field ammunition depots have been destroyed.
The units of the Yug Group of Forces have completely
liberated Novy district, of Chasov Yar locality
(Donetsk People's Republic) and improved
the situation along the front line.
In addition, AFU 24th, 30th, 93rd mechanised, 56th
Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of
Forces have destroyed one Mi-24 helicopter of the
Ukrainian Air Force at a base airfield, one work-
shop of an enterprise for the manufacture of
tank guns and large-calibre ammunition, as
well as clusters of enemy manpower,
in 125 areas.
The Black Sea Fleet forces have destroyed three
uncrewed boats of the Ukrainian Navy
during the day.
Air defence facilities have shot down three HIMARS
multiple-launch rocket system projectiles, as well
as 39 unmanned aerial vehicles.
In total, 625 airplanes, 277 helicopters, 27,160 unmanned
aerial vehicles, 537 air defence missile systems, 16,490
tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,363
fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 11,272
field artillery cannons and mortars, as well
as 23,289 special military motor vehicles
have been destroyed.... during the
special military operation.
_______________________________
The captive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
stated that it is impossible to escape
from forced mobilization
July 3rd, 10:55am
(Izvestia.ru)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term of
office expired on May 20, comes up with such laws that
do not allow men to leave a military enlistment office.
This was announced on Wednesday, July 3rd, by a
captured serviceman of the Ukrainian army,
Serhiy Olkhov.
He clarified that - until the last - he fought the military
enlistment office.... so as not to be taken to the front.
"Zelensky invents such laws that you simply can't get
away from the military enlistment office. I also say,
that I didn't want to come here - to go," the
prisoner shared on the video, which is
available to Izvestia.
As the military man noted, he is against military action,
against killing people. The Ukrainian military men
escape from the army --- but they are found,
Olkhov added.
The ''President of Ukraine'' ..signed a law on tougher
mobilization on April 16. It clarified the categories
of people subject to conscription - and also
introduced heavier penalties for evading
service.. in the Ukrainian army. There
are no provisions on demobilization
of the military - in this law.
Zelensky lowered the age of mobilization, from 27 to 25
years and signed a law on the creation of an electronic
register of those liable for military service, which will
combine information about the personal data of
Ukrainians. He also abolished the status of a
limited serviceable person in the army.
So, in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be able to serve ----- patients with HIV, with some forms of cancer, with residual symptoms of tuberculosis
------ and men with mental retardation.
Martial law in Ukraine is effective from February 2022.
At the same time, Zelensky signed a decree on general
mobilization. Later... the Verkhovna Rada repeatedly
extended its validity. Most men between the ages
of 18 and 60 ---- are prohibited from leaving
the country.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on
February 24th, 2022, continues. The decision
was made --- against the background of the
aggravation of the situation in the region,
due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
________________________________________
In the DPR, a marine of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine was sentenced to 26 years in
a penal colony for murdering a civilian
July 3rd, 10:45am
(Izvestia.ru)
The Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic
has sentenced a 27-year-old marine of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, Alexey Kazymov, to 26 years
in a high-security penal colony for the murder
of a civilian.
This was reported on Wednesday, July 3rd -- in the press
service of the Prosecutor General's Office of the region.
The soldier is accused of committing murder, attempted
murder, intentional damage to other people's property
and ill-treatment of the civilian population.
The court found that -- in the period from July to September
2019, the marine ordered the military to fire at residential
buildings - of civilians located in the villages of Oktyabr
and Kominternovo in the Novoazovsky district and the
settlement of Chermalyk in the Telmanovsky district.
"As a result of the shelling, a civilian was killed, and
another woman received a shrapnel wound. Also,
20 persons suffered property damage totaling
more than 7.6 million rubles," the agency's
publication says.
It is noted that the military personnel who carried out the
order and carried out the shelling were convicted for ill-
treatment of the civilian population. At the moment,
Evgeny Ermolenko, Sergey Prisyazhnyuk, Maxim
Polegenko, Stanislav Voitok ------ are serving
sentences in the form of imprisonment.
Earlier, on May 30th, the Supreme Court of the DPR
sentenced Alexander Svinarchuk, commander of
the engineering and technical company of the
36th separate Marine Brigade of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, to life imprisonment.
In March 2022, he ordered his subordinate to open fire on
three civilians in a combat position in the building of the
Azovsluzhmash plant, one of whom died on the spot.
The other two were able to escape.
__________________________________________
The underground reported a strike
in Zaporozhye --- on the APU
warehouse and the place
of launching drones
July 3rd, 9:29am
(Vesti.ru)
In the village of Malinovka in the Kiev-controlled part of
the Zaporizhia region, the Russian Armed Forces hit a
warehouse of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a cluster
of equipment --- and a place where UAV launches
were made.
According to the coordinator of the Nikolaev underground
Sergey Lebedev, first an airstrike was carried out, then
"the remnants of the fleeing Banderites were covered
with MLRS", and after a while drones arrived at
Malinovka. They hit vehicles and artillery
installations - together with the crew.
"In the end, several series of artillery strikes were carried
out. As a result, there was a hit in the warehouse with a
powerful detonation," said a source in the underground.
In addition, according to him -- strikes were carried out
on the location of the Ukrainian military in two private
houses, and one "precise strike" fell on the utility
room.... from which the UAVs were launched.
Several strikes were carried out by the Russian military
on the warehouses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in
the area of the railway station of Malaya Tokmachka
village, in Zaporozhye, RIA Novosti reports.
Explosions were also heard in the suburb of Gulyai-Pole,
where there is an oil depot and factories with the
location of personnel and equipment of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In addition, the strike hit military facilities in
Ukrainian forces shelled the territory of the Donetsk
People's Republic 32 times during the day.
"32 facts of armed attacks of the VFU, were recorded
by the DPR representative office in the Joint Centre
for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to
War Crimes of Ukraine over the past day," the
representative office's Telegram
channel reports.
As pecified, 18 attacks were recorded in the Horlivka
direction, 13 in the Donetsk direction, and one in the
Yasynuvata direction. The Armed Forces of Ukraine
fired 99 rounds of ammunition at populated areas
of the republic. Two residential buildings and
two objects of civil infrastructure
were damaged.
_________________________________________________
Mayor Kravchenko --- Novorossiysk
repels attack of unmanned boats
July 3rd, 1:05am
(RT.ru)
In Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Territory, they
repelled the attack of unmanned boats.
Information about this, appeared in the
Telegram channel of the mayor of the
city, Andrey Kravchenko.
"I ask you to remain calm, observe security
measures, and stay in safe places," the message reads.
Earlier it became known that a siren sounded
in Novorossiysk ----- due to the attack of
unmanned boats.
_______________________________
Russian snipers told about a two-on-two duel with Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers
July 3rd, 1am
(Lenta.ru)
Russian snipers with the call signs Sych and Vanity from
the Nevsky detachment - part of the Volunteer Assault
Corps (DShK), met in a sniper duel - with a pair of
professional shooters of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine (AFU).
According to the fighters, they spent most of the spring performing tasks near the town of Chasov Yar --- disrupting rotations and countering enemy personnel.
When the loss of infantry from the fire of Sych and Suet
exceeded several dozen people.... the Ukrainian
command decided to send a sniper pair that
was supposed to calculate and destroy
the Russian shooters.
"We knew for sure that they would come after us.
Sometimes they invite foreigners, but at that
time, as I understood, it was the Ukrainian
duo. The enemy also has professionals,"
the military said.
To calculate the positions of snipers of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine.. the soldiers had to spend almost a day. The
enemy gave himself away when he decided to change
his position ....and thereby unmasked himself.
"I shot a Ukrainian machine gunner in a nearby landing.
They spotted our shot & began to shift quickly. I saw
the flash of a rifle and fired a second shot. Then
everything... is like in the movies," explained
Vanity. At the same time, according to the
volunteers.... the second number in the
pair of the enemy survived and later
.....managed to escape.
Earlier it was reported that a Russian fighter in the
special operation zone (SVO) broke the record of
a famous Soviet sniper. He destroyed several
hundred enemy soldiers ------ using drones.
____________________________________
In the Crimea, the main accomplices
of Kiev's crimes--- were named
July 3rd, 12:59am
(Lenta.ru)
Co-chairman of the Assembly of Slavic Peoples of Crimea
Roman Chegrinets called the United States, Great Britain
and France --- the main accomplices of war crimes
committed by the Ukrainian authorities,
RIA Novosti reports.
"The terrorists who are in power in the United States,
Great Britain and France --- bear exactly the same
responsibility as the terrorist regime in Kiev,"
he said.
Chegrynets reminded, that the Armed Forces of Ukraine
(AFU) are striking the peninsula not only with American,
but also with French & British missiles. According to
him, all countries that supply military aid to Kiev -
should be punished for this.
Earlier, US Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne
Smith, said that the alliance countries at the summit in
Washington intend to decide that the organization will
lead the coordination of efforts to provide military
assistance to Kiev..... and train the
Ukrainian military.
_________________________________
Ukrainian authorities forcibly
evacuatechildren-----from a
community in Kharkiv region
July 2nd, 10:51pm
(RT.ru)
The Ukrainian authorities.. have announced the forced
evacuation of children in the Volchansky community,
located in the Kharkiv region in a 30-kilometre zone
from the border with Russia.
This was stated by the head of the Volchansky district
military administration Tamaz Gambarashvili,
reports the Ukrainian publication "Public".
It is noted that it is planned
to take out 112 children.
Earlier in the Kharkiv region, a forced evacuation
of 47 settlements was announced.
Later, the authorities of the Kharkiv region commented
on rumours that the head of the regional military
administration Oleg Sinegubov left Kharkiv
amid fighting in the region.
_________________________________
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian
Federation told about the exploits of
the Russian Armed Forces in the
free defense zone
July 2nd, 10pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation -
indicated that the captain of the 3rd rank, deputy
chief of communications of the battalion
Konstantin Veselov ----- organized the
communications for the battalion
tactical group --- when it was
attacked by the Armed
Forces of Ukraine.
The offensive was accompanied by massive mortar and
artillery strikes. After one of the volleys, the satellite
communication antenna located on the hardware
machine was damaged ---- which caused
communication within the group and
with the higher headquarters to be disrupted.
Veselov, during the ongoing enemy attacks,
promptly repaired all the damage -
and re-configured the satellite
communication station.
This made it possible to transmit the coordinates of the
enemy units' locations to a higher headquarters, and
the Russian Armed Forces were able to destroy
four units of enemy equipment and more than 30 people of manpower.
The Russian Defense Ministry - noted Veselov's selfless
actions, which made it possible to restore control of
the battalion tactical group ...and ensure stable
communication with the group's command,
as well as deprive the advancing enemy
of attacking potential ----- led to the
subsequent counteroffensive of
Russian troops.
The Defense Ministry also noted the merits of Lt, platoon
commander of the mortar battery, Mher Kocharyan. His
unit carried out a combat mission --- to support the
offensive of Russian troops with mortar fire.
During reconnaissance with the help of a drone, the
fighter discovered ....a disguised AFU stronghold. He promptly transmitted its coordinates, and
continued to observe... the actions of the
Ukrainian militants - who began to pull
together additional forces in order to
counterattack the units of the
Russian Armed Forces.
Kocharyan waited for the accumulation of a large number
of manpower and military equipment of the AFU militants,
after which he gave the command to the mortars to hit
the target, and then continued to adjust the fire.
The professionalism and competent actions of the
platoon commander of the mortar battery & his
subordinates, made it possible to destroy the
stronghold of Ukrainian militants, including
equipment and manpower, with targeted
strikes. The Defense Ministry noted the
courage and bravery of the platoon's
personnel, which made it possible
to thwart an attempted counter-
offensive in this direction.
_____________________________________
Ukrainian troopsshelled
Panteleimonovka in the
DPR with cluster shells
July 2nd, 8:25pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), shelled
the village of Panteleimonovka in the Donetsk People's
Republic (DPR) ..with 155 mm cluster shells. This was
announced on July 1 at the republic's representative
office in the Joint Centre for Control and
Coordination of Issues Related to War
Crimes of Ukraine (JCCC).
"Shelling was recorded from the VFU in the direction of Novgorodskoye settlement-Panteleimonovka settlement: three 155 mm calibre (cluster) shells were fired," the Telegram
channel says.
Earlier, on July 1, the JCCC reported that Ukrainian
troops, fired 13 NATO 155-millimetre shells at the
Petrovsky district of Donetsk. The mayor of the
city Alexey Kulemzin specified that as a result
of the morning shelling, two apartment
buildings on Nakhimovskaya Street
were damaged.
Earlier, on June 30, the head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin,
said that two children were injured as a result of the
shelling of Yasinovataya in the DPR by the
Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to Izvestia correspondent Yevgeny Bykovsky,
the missile, presumably with a cluster warhead, hit a
nine-story residential building, passed through
the roof of a residential building and
penetrated nine floors.
Ukrainian militants are firing daily at the territories of
the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well
as Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.... against the
background of a special operation to protect the Donbass, which Russia announced on
February 24, 2022.
___________________________________
The military expert - pointed out
the need for Ukraine to change
tactics - in relation to the
Russian Federation
July 2nd, 8:12pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Viktor Baranets, a retired military columnist for
Komsomolskaya Pravda --- said that no efforts
and persuasions of Hungarian Prime Minister
Viktor Orban will help if Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term of office
expired on May 20, does not change
tactics towards Russia.
"We must remember: with such stupidity in Kiev, which
exists in relation to plans for further relations with
Russia, nothing can be done without Zelensky
compromising. If he does not compromise,
then no efforts of Orban, even the most
populist ones --- will help," Baranets
said in an interview with Radio 1
on Tuesday, July 2.
Earlier in the day, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban
arrived in Kiev, where he held talks with Zelensky. The
Hungarian Prime Minister... suggested that Ukraine
temporarily cease fire and develop a settlement
plan during this period. The Hungarian Prime
Minister --- also expressed his desire to
establish relations with the country
and sign a global cooperation
agreement with it.
Zelensky did not like Orban's proposal for a cease-fire
"very much", since, in the past, he had a negative
experience with truces that he "interpreted as
harmful to Ukraine." He also added, that
Kiev.. intends to seek a settlement of
the conflict through peace summits.
Earlier on July 2, Candidate of Political Sciences,
associate Professor of the Academy of Labour
and Social Relations Pavel Feldman said in an
interview with RT that the visit of Hungarian
Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, to Kiev, is
connected with the beginning of the
country's presidency in the EU. In
his opinion -- Orban arrives there
as a representative of Brussels
....rather than his own state.
Political scientist Yuri Svetov in an interview with 360.ru called Orban's visit to Kiev a ritual procedure. Hungary
assumed the six-month presidency of the Council
of the EU, on July 1.
On June 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that
Russia has always sought peace and is ready to sit
down at the negotiating table. This.. will become
possible when Kiev withdraws its troops from
the regions of the Russian Federation and
officially renounces its intentions to
integrate into NATO. Zelensky
called the proposal
an ultimatum.
______________________________
The Russian military defused more
than 100 mines of the Ukrainian
Armed Forces - with one
smoke munition
July 2nd, 7:46pm
(Lenta.ru)
Smoke munition neutralized more than 100 mines of
the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it was dropped after
adjusting the fire by the drone operator. A
soldier of the 40th Marine Brigade with
the call sign Farm told about this in
the Telegram channel.
According to him, the enemy spent the whole night
mining an area of about 200 metres long with anti-
tank mines. "In the morning, I directed a mortar
crew, gave accurate proofreading and set fire
to this place with a smoke shell, about 120-
140 mines were burned," the
serviceman said.
Earlier it was reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces
tried to save fighters from strikes ------ using drawings.
Silhouettes of fighter jets were drawn in the parking
lots of the airfield in Mirgorod, to distract attention.
________________________________________
The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed
to the responsibility of the West for
fueling the crisis in Ukraine
July 2nd, 6:39pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Grushko,
during a consultation with Serbian Foreign Minister
Marko Djuric, pointed out the responsibility of
Western countries --- for the escalation of
the crisis in Ukraine.
In Belgrade on July 1 and 2, the diplomat had separate
conversations with President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime
Minister Milos Vucevic and other officials. During the
visit, a wide range of issues of cooperation between
states, as well as international issues, aspects of
interaction on international platforms
were discussed.
The Russian Foreign Ministry clarified that attention was
paid to the Kosovo settlement and the situation in the
Balkans, with an emphasis on the situation in
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"The Russian side gave principled assessments of the
West's responsibility for fueling and escalating the
crisis around Ukraine, actions aimed at blocking
the possibility of a political settlement, and
attempts.. to create the illusion of broad
international support for the formula
[of the Ukrainian President] that is
divorced from reality and initially
doomed to failure." the press
service of the Russian
Foreign Ministry said
in a publication on
July 2.
The ministry's publication added that they also
reviewed the implementation of agreements
and the implementation of joint projects of
Russian-Serbian cooperation.
Earlier in the day, Deputy Chairman of the Federation
Council Konstantin Kosachev said that the West
had made five fatal mistakes in the context of
the Ukrainian crisis, the latest being their
rejection - of Russian President Vladimir
Putin's initiative to resolve the conflict.
He pointed out that the first mistake
was the lack of Western reaction to
the coup in Ukraine in 2014.
In his opinion, the second mistake is the West's refusal
to recognize that the change in the status of Crimea
& Sevastopol was the result of a coup in Ukraine,
as well as an expression of the will of the
inhabitants of these regions.
Other mistakes include the West's failure to recognize
the "civil war" in southeastern Ukraine, refusing to
accept Russian proposals in December 2021,
and missing a chance to prevent a
special operation.
Before that, on June 14, Putin said that the Ukrainian
crisis is not a conflict between two states --- much
less two peoples, because if this were the case,
the Russians and Ukrainians would find a way
- to resolve the issues. As the Russian leader
noted, the West did everything to undermine
interstate ties and set peoples against each
other, but did not dare to go for a complete
break with Russia because the south-east
of Ukraine, where people were in favour
of close relations with Moscow,
prevented such a policy.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which
was announced on February 24, 2022, continues.
The decision was made against the background
of the aggravation of the situation in the region
due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
___________________________________________
Medvedev: members of the SVO
will strengthen the United
Russia party --- and
the country
July 2nd, 5:10pm
(Vesti.ru)
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council,
Dmitry Medvedev, said that the participants of
the special military operation who joined the
United Russia party, will strengthen it, and
strengthen the country, and also handed
them party tickets.
"You are really starting a new stage in your life.
It is different, it is no less difficult in some
ways, because several other skills will
also be required," said the chairman
of the EP party, addressing the
participants of the special
operation who joined
United Russia.
In total, seven members of the SVO received tickets.
Medvedev noted that everything that the participants of
the special operation managed to acquire, "including
the respect and trust of their comrades," will
definitely be preserved in the new part of their lives.
"We count on you very much and hope that all of you...
will strengthen our party, strengthen our state,"
the deputy chairman of the Russian Security
Council concluded.
Medvedev also wished great success to the SVO
participants in the upcoming elections, noting
that on the eve of a single voting day, "there
are enough candidates in the EP, who are
trying their hand at politics for the first
time," and called on his party
colleagues to "pay special
attention" ....to such
party members.
__________________________________
Ukraine - rejected Orban's
proposal for a cease-fire
July 2nd, 4:51pm
(Vesti.ru)
Kiev got acquainted with Orban's proposals for
a ceasefire, but refused to consider them in
isolation from other aspects of the
conflict settlement.
Deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine
Ihor Zhovkva said that Kiev refused the proposal of
Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, on a
cease-fire in Ukraine.
Zhovkva, on the air of the Ukrainian telethon, noted that
Zelensky listened to the interlocutor, but refused, since
such proposals cannot be considered in isolation from
other aspects of the conflict. He also noted, that
Hungary is not the first country to make such
proposals, but Ukraine's position on this
issue is "clear, understandable and
well-known."
According to him --- Ukraine intends to continue
to seek a settlement through "peace summits".
The first summit on the situation in Ukraine was held
in Switzerland on June 15-16. It was attended by 92
countries, but Russia was not invited. Ukrainian
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba later said that
in order to end the conflict, the Russian side
will also be invited to the next meeting.
_______________________________
Syrsky - called the situation in
Pokrovsky direction ''difficult''
July 2nd, 4:20pm
(Vesti.ru)
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Alexander Syrsky, acknowledged that the situation
in the Pokrovsky direction remains difficult for the
Ukrainian army, and stated the need to constantly
provide this direction with an additional amount
of ammunition and firepower.
In other areas, as he wrote on the social network,
the intensity of hostilities decreased --- and "the active front line increased."
Syrsky also listed the main problematic issues for
commanders of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
at any level.
These, according to him, are the recruitment of units
and subunits with "motivated and well-trained
military personnel", as well as providing the
Ukrainian army with modern air defense
and electronic warfare systems to
counter Russian drones.
_____________________________________
The teenager deceived by the curator
burned the equipment at the station
in the Kaluga region
July 2nd, 1:29pm
(Vesti.ru)
Employees of the Russian Federal Security Service
have detained an attacker ...who was performing
tasks for a Ukrainian curator, the Investigative
Committee said on Tuesday.
As follows from the statement of the press service of
the Western Interregional Investigation Department
for Transport of the Investigative Committee of the
Russian Federation, the person involved in the
investigation started a fire, damaging the
battery cabinet at the Ludinovo-2
station in the Kaluga region.
A criminal case was opened on the fact of the emergency
under the article on sabotage committed by a group of
persons by prior agreement. It was established that
a 16-year-old young man was involved in the crime.
"Actively supporting the armed forces of Ukraine, offered
the minor to join a criminal group with him, in order to
destabilize the activities of the authorities of the
Russian Federation, by setting fire to a battery
cabinet," the department said.
The teenager -- received strict instructions, and he was
also ordered to film his actions on video. At the same
time, the arsonist did not receive the promised
reward of 50 thousand rubles.
After the arrest, the young man was charged, and then
sent to custody. Currently, he has already admitted
his guilt and repented of his act.
________________________________
Belousov congratulated the Tula
paratroopers' division -on the
liberation of Razdolovka
in the DPR
July 2nd, 12:09pm
(Vesti.ru)
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov congratulated
the 106th Guards Airborne Division of the Tula Red
Banner Order of Kutuzov II degree --- on the
liberation of the village of Razdolovka
in the Donetsk People's Republic,
the Defense Ministry said.
More than 7 thousand servicemen of the division already
have state awards and departmental insignia, four
received the title of Hero of Russia, the
department said.
In a congratulatory telegram ---- Belousov noted that the
division solves tasks with honour in the most important
areas of the special military operation, the servicemen
bravely and courageously go into battle, which is why
the enemy suffers heavy losses.
The agency reported on June 28 that units
of the Russian group of troops "South"
liberated Razdolovka.
In addition, over the past week, the fighters of the
"Southern" group destroyed more than 4,400
militants of the Kiev regime, two tanks,
eight armoured combat vehicles, 48
vehicles, 39 field artillery pieces,
including 11 US M777 and
M198 howitzers.
_________________________________________
Russian troops destroyed nine aircraft
of the Ukrainian Armed Forces during
the day
July 2nd, 11:15am
(Vesti.ru)
Nine aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force were hit over
the past day, during a special military operation.
As a result of the strike on the airfield, five Su-27
aircraft of the enemy air forces were destroyed
and two were damaged.
Two more MiG-29 and Su-27 aircraft.... were
shot down by Russian air defense systems.
In total, since the beginning of the special operation,
Russian troops have destroyed 625 enemy aircraft
and 276 helicopters.
__________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry report
on the progress of the special
military operation
July 2nd, 11:10am
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
continue the special military operation.
Units of the Sever Group of Forces -- inflicted losses
on manpower and hardware of the AFU 57th, 115th
mechanised brigades, & 113th Territorial Defence
Brigade nr Chumakovo, Yunakovka (Sumy region),
Sotnitsky Kazachok, and Liptsy (Kharkov region).
Two counter-attacks launched by assault detachments
of the AFU Vostok Special Operations Centre and
36th Marines Brigade, were repelled.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 70 Ukrainian troops,
one armoured fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles,
one German-made 155-mm Panzerhaubitze-2000
self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made
155-mm M198 howitzer, and one 122-mm
D-30 howitzer.
Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more
advantageous lines and inflicted losses on
formations of the AFU 14th, and 115th
mechanised brigades, and 3rd Assault
Brigade near Pershotravnevoye
(Kharkov region), Nadiya, and
Stelmakhovka (Lugansk
People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 475 Ukrainian
troops, one tank, one infantry fighting vehicle, five
motor vehicles, a 152-mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzer,
and one 122-mm Grad MLRS combat vehicle.
Moreover, three AFU artillery ammunition
depots were destroyed.
Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical
situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on
manpower and hardware of the AFU 56th Motorised
Infantry Brigade near Kalinin (Donetsk
People's Republic).
One counter-attack launched by assault detachments of
the AFU 214th Opfor Separate Battalion - was repelled.
The AFU losses amounted to more than 635
Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting
vehicles, and 16 motor vehicles.
In the course of counter-battery warfare, one UK-made
155-mm FH-70 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198
howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one UK-made
105-mm L-199 howitzer ------ and two U.S.-made
AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare stations.
Six AFU field ammunition depots were destroyed.
Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical
situation - and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU
47th Mechanised Brigade and 109th Territorial Defence
Brigade nr Rozovka, Novgorodskoye, and Novosyolka
Pervaya (Donetsk People's Republic).
Six counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of
the AFU 23rd, 31st, 41st, 110th mechanised brigades,
and 95th Air Assault Brigade were repelled.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 440 Ukrainian troops,
two armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles,
and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.
Units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more
advantageous lines and inflicted losses on
manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th
Motorised Infantry Brigade near
Urozhaynoye (Donetsk
People's Republic).
One counter-attack launched by assault
detachments of the AFU 123rd
Territorial Defence Brigade
was repelled.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 110 Ukrainian troops,
three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777
howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer,
two 122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled
artillery systems, and one 100-mm
MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun.
Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces - inflicted losses on
manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th Mechanised
Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, and 35th
Marines Brigade near Malaya Tokmachka and
Zherebyanka (Zaporozhye region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 70 Ukrainian troops
MLRS projectiles, and 72 unmanned aerial vehicles.
In total, 616 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 27,040
unmanned aerial vehicles, 535 air defence missile
systems, 16,471 tanks & other armoured combat
vehicles ---1,362 combat vehicles equipped with
MLRS, 11,185 field artillery cannons & mortars,
as well as 23,201 units of special military
equipment have been destroyed during
the special military operation.
___________________________________________
The group "West" liberated Stepovaya
Novoselovka in the Kharkiv region
July 1st, 11:29am
(Vesti.ru)
Units of the Russian Western group of troops have
successfully liberated Stepovaya Novoselovka in
the Kharkiv region, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a daily report.
The group "Zapad" took more favorable positions during the day and hit the formations of the 21st, 44th, 60th, 66th mechanized brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and the 125th teroborona brigade at Makeyevka, Novovodyany, Nevsky, Stelmakhovka in the LPR and Ternov in the DPR.
The group's military destroyed up to 475 Ukrainian soldiers, a US-made M113 armoured personnel carrier and 4 pickup trucks... during the day.
In addition, a Grad MLRS combat vehicle, two American M777 howitzers, an Msta-B howitzer, a Gvozdika self- propelled artillery system, a D-30 howitzer and five Ukrainian field ammunition depots were hit during the counter-battery fight.
_____________________________________________
General Podlesny: to deceive the Ukrainian
Armed Forces,the Russian Armed Forces
act differently --- all the time
July 1st, 10:01m
(Vesti.ru)
The commander of the army corps, Lieutenant General
Vitaly Podlesny, told how the Russian military operates
in the special operation zone to deceive the enemy.
Podlesny answered the question of journalist Vladimir
Solovyov in the program "122nd week of the SVO"
about how you can deceive the enemy if you
have to act according to the situation.
"Demonstrative actions.. in a different direction.
Somewhere we do this. Sometimes it happens
that we were waiting for rain ---- on purpose.
Specially waited for a strong wind when
the FPV drone can not fly. We must
always act differently. Or on the
equipment, on the equipment,
on the equipment, once -
without equipment.''
''Motorcycles have all been mastered long ago,
they throw on motorcycles," the general
pointed out.
Podlesny noted that the Russian military still first enter
the equipment, "so that there is somewhere to sit."
"We have... such a problem. First, we dismantle the enemy
stronghold, knock out everything in the dugout, then we
also go into them, since there is no time to dig in. After
all what is the enemy doing? As soon as the battle for
the stronghold begins..... they immediately begin to
cover their own stronghold with cassettes, right
away " the general said, adding that Ukrainian
commanders do not worry about their
soldiers, they can give instructions
to "close in dugouts and just
sit on top."
"And when we enter the dugouts... they are usually already
destroyed and there is no place to sit there. And.. it turns
out that either the equipment is specially installed there,
under which you can sit until the night, then raise the
logs there, restore or something else, or the
equipment that, unfortunately, burned
down - you can sit under it,"
concluded Podlesny.
_______________________________________
General Podlesny: The Russian Armed Forces
defeat the Ukrainian Armed Forces due to
courage and high-precision weapons
July 1st, 9:48am
(Vesti.ru)
The Russian military in the area of the special operation
defeat the enemy through courage and the use of high-
precision weapons, said the commander of the army
corps, Lieutenant General Vitaly Podlesny.
"Due to the courage of Russian soldiers and officers,
mainly due to the courage, due to the use of high-
precision weapons. Intelligence, weapons,
courage, analysis & inventing new ways.
Once on tanks, once on foot... once at
night on the offensive, & once during
the day," Podlesny said in response
to a question from journalist
Vladimir Solovyov in the
program "122nd week
of the SVO" ...about
how the Russian
military is
winning.
The Lieutenant General also spoke about the impact
of the arrival of new Ukrainian conscripts to the
front on the situation in the area of the SVO.
"Our last two or three attacks were successful. If earlier
we attacked and there were cases repeatedly when an
enemy machine-gunner in a strong point shoots to the
end until he is killed, now, it turned out that we take
either prisoners or finish off those who are already
sitting in the dugout and either come out or don't
come out," the military man said.
____________________________________
Ak Bars: we take into account
the experience of SVO in the
construction of small
rocket ships
July 1st, 8:13am
(Vesti.ru)
Small missile ships (MRKS) that enter service with the
Russian Navy are being built taking into account the
experience of the SVO... including with additional
protection of the engine room from sea drones,
said Renat Mistakhov, head of the Ak Bars
Shipbuilding Corporation.
Ak Bars Shipbuilding Corporation is building Project
The Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system
struck the place of unloading of an echelon of
military equipment of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine (AFU) in the Zaporozhye region.
This is reported by RIA Novosti with
reference to the press service of
the Russian Defense Ministry.
As a result of the attack in the area of the settlement of Ukrainka, M-113 armoured personnel carriers of US production, fuel tankers, Buk M1 air defense
systems, BMP-2 and truck transport
were hit.
In addition, the Russian military destroyed the
personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The results of the Iskander fire strike were
carried out using a SuperKAM drone.
Earlier it was reported that a warehouse with
ammunition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
exploded in the Zaporozhye region. It also
became known about the explosion in
Matveyevka, Zaporozhye region...
where the APU warehouse with
missiles for HIMARS is stored.
___________________________________
Fighter of the Russian Armed
Forces Montana ----- when the
APU retreats, even children's
toys are mined
June 29th, 6:35pm
(Vesti.ru)
Even children's toys are being stuffed with explosives by
Ukrainian militants. According to a Russian sapper with
the call sign Montana, he saw a stuffed rabbit that says "I love you" ....when you press the button. Neo-Nazis connected an electric detonator to this button.
Fortunately, the Russian military immediately
discovered the trap and defused it,
so no one was injured.
Montana added that Ukrainian militants are also mining
radio stations, small arms stores, personal belongings
and much more.
Earlier, military expert Andriy Marochko said that in 90%
of cases, civilians in the Kharkiv region are injured in
mine explosions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
And this happens...... far from the front line.
_____________________________________
The waiter of a cafe in Sevastopol
told about saving people from the
beach during the attack of the
Ukrainian Armed Forces
June 29th, 6:18pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Waiter Kirill Strupinsky, who worked in one of the cafes
on the beach in Uchkuyevka, told Izvestia on June 29
about how he saved several dozen people during the attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
on Sevastopol.
The young man explained that he came out from behind
the bar when the shelling started and shrapnel began
to fly into the cafe.
"At first I wanted to run, but a fragment flew in front of
me. I lay down and asked if there were any wounded.
I was told that there is," Kirill said.
Then he decided to take out about 15 people through
the back entrance to the cafe. Then the waiter
rushed to rescue the wounded. First.. he put
a tourniquet from his own T-shirt.. on the
wounded man's elbow. Then he helped
the girl, who was shot in both thighs.
"My grandfather was seriously wounded, through and
through. I covered his wounds with the remains of a T-shirt so that no blood would flow out,"
he continued.
After that, Kirill ran along the beach
to find the wounded and help them.
Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev has
announced the completion of the public
notification system.
According to him, first of all, it will be finalized
taking into account ballistics. He added that
the city's beaches will not be closed, but it
is recommended to refuse to visit them.
On Sunday, June 23, the Ukrainian Armed Forces
attacked Sevastopol with the help of American
ATACMS missiles. Four people were killed,
including two children, and another
153 were injured.
On the same day, it became known that among
the dead was the daughter of the deputy
mayor of Magadan, who was with her
parents on the beach.
The Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case --- under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Terrorist act").
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova
called the strike a ritual crime because Ukraine's attack
took place on Holy Trinity Day. The Russian Defense
Ministry noted ------ that the involvement of the US does not raise any doubts, Washington and its
satellites are engaged in inciting Kiev
to kill Russian civilians.
Ukrainian militants are trying to strike at Russian
territories against the background of a special
operation in the Donbass, the beginning of
which was announced on February 24,
2022. The decision was made due to
the aggravation of the situation in
the region -- due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
_____________________________________
The number of victims of the attack on
Sevastopol has grown to four people
June 29th, 4:48pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Four people were injured, as a result of a missile attack by
the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), on Sevastopol on the
morning of June 29th. This was announced by the city's
governor Mikhail Razvozhaev in the Telegram channel.
"As a result of the morning rocket attack, four civilians
of Sevastopol were injured. They have minor shrapnel
wounds. All were taken to the hospital, one person
was released home after an examination,"
he wrote.
According to the governor, three private houses were also
damaged in the city, and windows in several apartments
were broken in three apartment buildings. Seven cars
and a motorcycle were also damaged,
Razvozhayev said.
"Two overhead power lines in Balaklava...... were
also damaged as a result of the missile attack.
Because of this... houses on Vygonnaya,
Zhukov, Marines... and Zdorovitelnaya
Streets were left without electricity,"
he added.
As the governor noted, after conducting an inspection
by EMERCOM employees, the power engineers began
restoration work, and by 16:00 Moscow time, power
supply to consumers was restored. At the moment,
all services continue to work.
Earlier in the day, Razvozhaev reported three victims.
This morning, an air alert was issued in Sevastopol.
Later, the air defense system destroyed two aerial
targets over the city. Razvozhayev said that
fragments of downed targets fell in the
coastal zone and Balaklava district.
Izvestia on Saturday showed footage from Sevastopol.
According to local resident Oleg Sovetin, his garage
was damaged -- and the windows of the car were
also broken. During the attack of the Ukrainian
Armed Forces, the man was at home.
________________________________________
American historian Kuznik:
the world - is on the verge
of a new Caribbean crisis
June 29th, 3:55pm
(Vesti.ru)
Peter Kuznik, a professor in the Department of History
and director of the Institute for Nuclear Research at
the American University of Washington, said that
the world is on the verge of a new Caribbean
missile crisis.
According to Kuznik, the coming crisis is provoked not
only by the start of Russia's special operation in
Ukraine, but also..... by NATO's actions in relation to this conflict.
"A direct confrontation between Russia and the alliance
can really arise, and the Third World War becomes not
just one of the possible nightmarish outcomes, but
the end of human civilization," RIA Novosti
quotes Kuznik --- with reference to The
American Conservative.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry noted the increased
intensity of flights of American strategic UAVs over the
Black Sea ---- which increases the risk of a NATO
confrontation with the Russian Federation.
_____________________________________________
Captured soldier of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine Karpyuk:soldiers are
being transferred to positions
without fortifications
June 29th, 2:18pm
(Vesti.ru)
The Russian army ----- captured another soldier of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine. He fell into the hands of our servicemen
in the Kharkiv direction. Junior Lieutenant Oleg Karpyuk
was abandoned on the battlefield with shrapnel wounds.
At the front, the platoon commander of the 42nd brigade
turned out to be straight from the Vladimir corrugated
cardboard factory. In a short time, he completed
combat training in training schools. After that,
he served under the Clock Yar.
"There are a lot of drones, the artillery is working.
The Russian army is actively advancing. And we
have nothing. We were forced to prepare our
positions from scratch," the prisoner of
war admitted.
For Karpiuk, the war was over. At the same time - many
of his compatriots continue to bear all the hardships
....prolonging the agony of the Zelensky regime.
__________________________________________
APUfired at a group of refugees
during evacuation from Toretsk,
7 people were killed
June 29th, 12:27pm
(Vesti.ru)
Residents trying to evacuate Toretsk (formerly
Dzerzhinsk) were shelled by Ukrainian troops.
At least seven civilians were killed when
the Ukrainian Armed Forces hit a group
of refugees.
This was announced by Igor Kimakovsky, adviser
to the head of the Donetsk People's Republic.
Now the city, located 43 kilometres in a straight line from
Donetsk --- is being fiercely fought. On June 28, the first
group of 10 residents evacuated from the city arrived
in Gorlovka... from Toretsk. The Mayor of Gorlovka,
Ivan Prikhodko in a Telegram channel, promised
to help them in accommodation, plus providing
medical care, providing food and finding
relatives in Russia.
Earlier, Kiev tried to forcibly evacuate residents of
Toretsk to the controlled territory. The Ukrainian
authorities ------ forcibly removed 500 of the
six thousand people from the city.
Russian troops have been advancing on Toretsk from
Horlivka for a week. On June 29, they liberated the
village of Shumy, 10 kilometres from Toretsk.
Russian troops have improved the operational situation
in the area of Novgorodsky, renamed New York in Kiev.
Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of
Forces have destroyed the enemy division's control
centre, one illumination and guidance radar, one
low-altitude detector, and two S-300PS anti-
aircraft missile system launchers.
In addition, enemy manpower and military hardware
clusters have been hit in 119 areas.
Air defence facilities have shot down one MiG-29 aircraft
of the Ukrainian Air Force, 119 unmanned aerial
vehicles, five U.S.-made ATACMS operational-
tactical missiles, and 10 U.S.-made
HIMARS rockets.
In total, 616 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 26,896
unmanned aerial vehicles, 535 air defence missile
systems, 16,453 tanks & other armoured fighting
vehicles, 1,359 combat vehicles equipped with
MLRS, 11,060 field artillery guns and mortars,
as well as 23,076 units of special military
equipment have been destroyed during
the special military operation.
_________________________________
Putin vows to consider deploying
nukes near NATO countries
June 29th, 7:50am
(PressTV)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his
plan to consider placing new nuclear missiles near
NATO countries.
Earlier this month, Putin warned the West that Moscow
could supply arms to other countries to strike Western
targets in retaliation for allowing Ukraine to fire long-
range missiles supplied by NATO countries’ military
forces to hit targets inside Russia.
His latest announcement on Friday is seen as the Russian
leader’s latest attempt ------ to respond to the escalated
conflict with the West after signing a comprehensive
strategic partnership pact during his landmark
Pyongyang visit aimed at finding new ways
to defend non-Western countries against
US hegemony.
Russia, North Korea fighting
US hegemonic policy: Putin
The Russian president --- lashed out at the US
and its allies over their schemes to change
the objective of a multi-polar world.
Putin vowed that his nation would produce new
intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles,
and then decide whether to deploy them
within range of NATO nations in Europe,
as well as US ally countries in Asia.
The Russian leader blamed the Russian move
on the United States for deploying nuclear
missiles in Europe and Asia.
During the US presidency of Donald Trump,
Washington pulled out of the 1987
Intermediate-Range Nuclear
Forces Treaty (INF).
The INF treaty banned the production, testing, and
deployment of land-based cruise and ballistic
missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 klms.
The withdrawal from the treaty was one in a series of
treaty withdrawals that marked the end of decades
of nuclear arms control treaties signed by
Washington and Moscow over fears of
launching a nuclear conflict between
the former Soviet Union and the US.
The only arms treaty that remains to this day is
New START, which limits the intercontinental
weapons each nation can maintain.
This nuclear arms reduction treaty between the US and
Russia, formally known as Measures for the Further
Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive
Arms, was signed on April 8, 2010, went into
force in February 2011, and expires in
February 2026.
During the Cold War era, the US and the former Soviet
Union slowly developed common views and interests,
driving the two sides to sign treaties governing
nuclear technologies and materials and to
seek global cooperation and trade in
nuclear energy while preventing
weapons proliferation.
These treaties continued in the post–Cold War era
despite a range of military issues arising across
the global sphere amid increasingly conflicting
interests in international commerce.
The West’s gradual encroachment on Russia,
culminating in Moscow’s decision to launch
a special military operation... in eastern
Ukraine, in February 2022 ------ marked
the end of the decades-long tradition
of cooperation between Washington
and Moscow to prevent a likely
nuclear war between the
two countries.
_____________________________
China, in August, will begin
deployment of an analog
of Starlink
June 29th, 4:30am
(Lenta.ru)
China in early August will begin deploying the G60
satellite constellation, which should become an
analog of the US Starlink system. This is
reported by SpaceNews.
During the first launch, it is planned to send a batch of 18
spacecraft to low-Earth orbit. The publication refers to
the publication Shanghai Securities News, according
to which in the coming days the first G60 satellites
will leave the factory in Shanghai and go to the
Taiyuan cosmodrome in northern China.
In November 2023...... SpaceNews reported, that China
launched a Long March 2D rocket with a Yuanzheng 3
upper stage and an unnamed number of spacecraft
designed to test satellite Internet capabilities.
The publication admitted --- that the launch was carried
out as part of testing the capabilities of the promising
satellite constellation Guowang, which is considered
the Chinese "answer to Starlink".
In May, SpaceNews reported that China will ramp up
production of medium-sized Long March 8 rockets
to launch Guowang satellites.
_________________________________
The Centre group hit formations of five
brigades of Ukraine's Armed Forces
during the day
June 29th, 4:25am
(RT.ru)
Military personnel of the Centre group of troops hit
the formations of five brigades of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine during the day.
This was stated by the head of the press centre
of the group Alexander Savchuk, reports TASS.
According to him ------ a total of 400 enemy
targets were hit, including 11 strongholds.
It is noted that we are talking about the districts
of Novoaleksandrovka, Novopokrovsky, Kirov,
and Novoselovka First.
Also.... the Centre group destroyed up to 350
servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,
and took three prisoners.
___________________________________
The military commander predicted a "blow to
the Ukrainians in the back" in one of the
directions in the free defense zone.
June 29th, 2:44am
(Lenta.ru)
Military commander Sladkov predicted - a "stab in
the back to the Ukrainians" and the encirclement
of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ------ in Ugledar.
Ukrainians in the Ugledar direction are waiting for a
"stab in the back" (or rather, from the rear) --- and
then a complete encirclement, or flight of units
of the Armed Forces of the Republic (AFU).
Such an outcome of the fighting on one of the front
lines in the special operation zone (SVO) - was
predicted by war correspondent Alexander
Sladkov, in his Telegram channel.
"The Ugledar direction is one of the ten active ones
on the front of the SVO. And we are pushing, but
the breakthrough of the front is not yet real,"
Sladkov admitted.
He clarified ---- that a frontal attack is not a
priority of the Russian Armed Forces here.
For the success of the Russian military, it is necessary to
advance the line of contact from Kurakhov and Karlovka.
"And then - the encirclement, or flight of the AFU group
in Ugledar," the military commander added.
Sladkov also showed footage of the T-80BFM tank of the
Russian Armed Forces hitting the APU with direct fire in
the Ugledar direction, draining the forest belt. He noted
that the equipment has reinforced armour, is equipped
with standard protective screens and is designed for
use at night, under heavy fire.
Earlier, Alexander Sladkov said that Kiev's plan to
replenish the ranks of the Ukrainian army at the
expense of volunteers from among prisoners
---- and thereby solve the problems of the
shortage of personnel ---- is doomed to
failure.... since they will suffer heavy
losses in the special operation zone.
______________________________________
Underground: The Ukrainian Armed
Forces save planes from strikes by
the Russian Armed Forces, by lifting them into the sky for the duration of the alert
June 29th, 2:34am
(RT.ru)
The Armed Forces of Ukraine... raise their planes
in the sky during an air alert ---- so that they are
not damaged by Russian strikes on the ground.
This was reported by the coordinator of the
Nikolaev underground, Sergey Lebedev.
"As soon as the alarm is activated,
Ukrainian planes take off and fly in circles," he said.
___________________________________
An ensign of the Russian Armed Forces
- with a wound - saved his colleagues
after a mortar attack
June 28th, 10pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The foreman of a motorized rifle company, ensign Igor
Khokhlov, who was engaged in delivering various
necessary supplies to the frontline servicemen
of the Russian Federation's Armed Forces
showed heroism ---- and saved the lives of his wounded colleagues ------ the Russian Defense Ministry reports.
Ukrainian militants discovered Khokhlov's transport - and
subjected it to mortar fire, which caused the serviceman
to be wounded, but he continued to direct the unloading,
and then provided first aid not only to himself, but also
to several colleagues. After that, Khokhlov evacuated
the wounded soldiers and brought the transport out
of the shelling.
The Russian Defense Ministry also told about the feat of
Lieutenant Alexander Solovyov, who not only saved
wounded colleagues, but also helped create
conditions for the further advancement
of the Russian Army.
During the battle -- an infantry fighting vehicle (BMP) of
Russian attack aircraft was attacked by an FPV drone,
as a result of which the commander of the assault
group was injured. Solovyov took command and
evacuated the wounded, after which he
organized a defense at the captured
stronghold of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine (AFU).
"During the day, repelling attacks by Ukrainian militants
& constantly inflicting significant losses on them, the
group led by Lieutenant Alexander Solovyov held
positions --- which made it possible to bring
reserves into battle ....and push the
enemy back," the ministry said.
Thanks to the courage and dedication of Lieutenant
Solovyov, an important enemy stronghold was
captured.. the lives of wounded servicemen
were saved... and conditions were created
for the further advance of Russian troops.
________________________________
The US ''wants'' to continue patrolling
the Black Sea with aircraft and UAVs
June 28th, 7pm
(Lenta.ru)
US aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will
continue to patrol the Black Sea over international
waters. This --- was announced by Deputy Press
Secretary of the US Pentagon Sabrina Singh,
as quoted by TASS.
"We continue to fly, conduct sea voyages and operate
in international waters and international air spaces
....where permitted by law," she said.
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov
instructed Staff to make proposals on measures
for rapid responses --- to US provocations over
the Black Sea.
____________________________________________
Putin pointed to a fairly rapid
pace of recovery of the LPR
June 28th, 3:58pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The restoration of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) is
proceeding quite rapidly, despite the fighting. This was
stated on June 28 by Russian President Vladimir Putin
during a video call with graduates of the personnel
reserve program of the Higher School of Public
Administration (VSGU) of the RANEPA.
"The Luhansk People's Republic, as well as our other
new, but in fact historical territories of Russia, they
are an integral part of the Russian Federation. The
standard of living of people in these territories
should fully correspond to the standard of
living and opportunities in all areas
throughout Russia," the head of
state said.
According to Putin, this path is not easy, but there are
all the conditions for it. He drew attention to the good
industrial potential of the LPR, as well as the
development of the region, despite the
security problems.
The President added that enterprises
have already started paying taxes,
even to local and federal budgets.
The Russian leader also wished good luck to the new
chairman of the LPR government, Yegor Kovalchuk.
All.. in the house: Putin instructed to restore
the new regions, regardless of the situation.
The President at the opening of several social
facilities called for the efficient use of each
invested ruble.
In May, road curfew units of the Logistics Support
brigade of the Zapad group of troops restored
more than 150 km of highways and built
about 20 km of new roads in the LPR.
In the same month, it was reported that the new regions
are experiencing high rates of development. So, in the
LPR and DPR -------- roads, infrastructure facilities,
education, culture, sports and healthcare
are being built, utility networks are
being restored, and new houses
are being built.
According to local residents, Luhansk is becoming
one of the Russian centres ------ of attraction
and transformation.
__________________________________
In the Verkhovna Radadeclared
problems with replenishment of
the existing AFU brigades
June 28th, 2:24pm
(Izvestia.ru)
In the Armed Forces of Ukraine, there is a catastrophic
situation with the replenishment of brigades. About it,
on Friday, June 28, the deputy of the Verkhovna Rada
Mariana Bezuglaya, wrote in the Telegram channel.
"About the catastrophic processes involving
the replenishment of combat units and the
thoughtless creation of new ones....... this
approach also took place under Zaluzhny
and ended in tragedies, in particular, in
the southern counter-offensive,"
she said.
Bezuglaya stressed that, during the Ukrainian
counteroffensive in the summer of 2023,
"the non-combat-ready 10th corps of
the mobilized advanced head-on"
in the Zaporozhye direction and
achieved nothing,"except for
deaths and the disposal of
equipment & ammunition."
At the moment --- new units are being created again,
instead of replenishing existing units, for example,
the 125th Territorial Defense Brigade --- which
has a staffing level of 40-50%, she noted.
"''Common sense" screams here that the creation of new
brigades can be considered only after the guaranteed
staffing of existing ones ------ and creating a trained
reserve," Bezuglaya pointed out.
Earlier, on June 23, political analyst Alexander Dudchak,
said that the failures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on
the line of contact and criticism in the Verkhovna Rada
may lead to the resignation of the Commander-in-Chief
of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky.
In particular, Bezuglaya stated that the general's factions
continue to ruin the future of Ukraine, and Syrsky is part
of this process.
Earlier, on June 16, a retired German general and former
head of the NATO military committee, Harald Kuyat,
called the situation hopeless - for the Ukrainian
Armed Forces at the front. According to him,
for too long the West has harboured the
illusion.... that it is possible to help
Ukraine win with new weapons,
but this --- is not the case.
In early June, Syrsky said that the situation is difficult for
the Ukrainian Armed Forces on a number of sectors of
the front. He noted that the situation has worsened
most in the Kharkiv, Kurakhovsky, Pokrovsky and
Kupyansky directions.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which
Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced on
February 24, 2022, continues. The decision
was made against the background of the
worsening situation in the region.
______________________________
The Russian Armed Forces
liberated the village of
Razdolovka in the DPR
June 28th, 12:55pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Units of the "Southern" group of troops actively liberated the village of Razdolovka in the Donetsk People's
Republic (DPR) and occupied more favorable
positions, the Russian Defense Ministry
reported on June 28.
Russian forces defeated the manpower and equipment of
three mechanized, two airmobile and two amphibious
assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine .
In addition, the enemy lost up to 4,410 troops, two tanks,
eight armoured combat vehicles, 48 vehicles, 39 field
artillery pieces, including 11 M777 & M198 howitzers manufactured in the US, from June 22 to 28. Seven electronic warfare stations.. "Enclave", "Bukovel"
and 25 field ammunition depots were destroyed.
"The Ukrainian Armed Forces did not expect our
appearance and surrendered without a fight"
Russian soldiers have revealed details of the
rapid assault on the village of Ocheretino,
north of Avdiivka.
Earlier, on June 7, Russian forces liberated the town of
Paraskoviyevka in the DPR. Before that, the Russian
Armed Forces liberated the village of Umanskoye
in the Donetsk People's Republic, on June 2.
Earlier, on May 31, the Defense Ministry said that during
the week, the Russian Armed Forces liberated the
settlements of Berestovoe and Ivanovka in the
Kharkiv region, as well as Arkhangelsk and
Netaylovo in the DPR and continued to
advance deep into the defense of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine. Then, the
head of the Defense Department..
Andrei Belousov, said that in just
May, the Russian army soldiers
liberated 28 settlements.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on
February 24, 2022, continues. The decision
was made against the background of the
worsening situation in the region.
_____________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry report
on the progress of the special
military operation
(22 – 28 June 2024)
June 28th,12:55pm
From 22 June to 28 June 2024, the Russian Armed Forces
have carried out 17 group strikes with high-precision
weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles.
Enemy energy facilities, infrastructure of military airfields,
logistics centres for storing weapons delivered by
Western countries to the AFU, as well as
assembly and storage facilities.... for
attack unmanned aerial vehicles
and uncrewed boats.
Temporary deployment areas of AFU troops and
foreign mercenaries ---- have been also hit.
Over the past week, the units of the Sever Group of
Forces continued to advance into the depths of the
enemy defence and inflicted losses on manpower
and hardware of three formations of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, and
three territorial defence brigades.
The AFU losses were up to 1,560 Ukrainian troops,
12 armoured fighting vehicles & 43 motor vehicles.
In the course of counter-battery warfare, 33 field artillery
guns, including seven foreign-made howitzers, three
Nota electronic warfare stations, Bukovel-AD, and
two U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar
stations, have been eliminated.
The units of the Zapad Group of Forces have improved
the tactical situation and inflicted fire damage on four
mechanised and two tank brigades of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, as well as on two territorial
defence brigades. Six counter-attacks of
AFU assault detachments have
been repelled.
The AFU losses were up to 3,230 Ukrainian troops, four
armoured fighting vehicles, 40 motor vehicles, three
Grad MLRS combat vehicles, 24 field artillery guns,
six of them were U.S.-made.
In addition, three U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 and AN/TPQ-37
counter-battery warfare radars, as well as 11 field
ammunition depots have been destroyed.
The units of the Yug Group of Forces have liberated
Razdolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and
seized more advantageous lines.
The strikes have been delivered, at manpower and
hardware of the three mechanised, two airmobile,
and two air assault brigades of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine.
The AFU losses were up to 4,410 Ukrainian troops,
two tanks, eight armoured fighting vehicles, 48
motor vehicles, and 39 field artillery guns,
including 11 U.S.-made M777 and
M198 howitzers.
In addition, seven Anklav, Bukovel electronic
warfare stations, and 25 field ammunition
depots, have been destroyed.
The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved
the situation along the front line and defeated units of
four mechanised, two infantry formations of the AFU
and two territorial defence brigades. 39 Enemy
counter-attacks have been repelled in
this direction, during the week.
The AFU losses were up to 2950 troops, three tanks, six
armoured fighting vehicles.... including two U.S.-made
Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 30 motor vehicles,
and 42 field artillery guns, including six U.S.-made
M777 howitzers.
The units of the Vostok Group of Forces, have improved
the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower
and hardware of two brigades of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine, three formations of the Territorial Defence
and two National Guard brigades.
The AFU losses were up to 930 Ukrainian troops, six
armoured fighting vehicles, 36 motor vehicles, and
19 field artillery guns, including six UK-made
FH-70 howitzers.
The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces -- have defeated
units of two formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
and three brigades of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence.
The AFU losses were up to 740 Ukrainian troops, three
The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, stated
that at the summit of the EU, no agreement was reached
on measures to allocate a $50 billion loan to Ukraine
using income from Russian assets, but the
discussion will continue. This is
reported by TASS.
"At the G7, we promised to allocate another $50 billion to Ukraine. I am sure that in the coming weeks we will make important decisions to provide this package of assistance to Ukraine," he said.
__________________________________
Senior Lieutenant Khamaganov with
a concussion continued to lead the
assault on the APU strongholds
June 27th, 10pm
(Izvestia.ru)
A company under the command of Senior Lt Mikhail
Khamaganov was assigned the task of knocking
out the enemy from their positions in an
urban development.
During the fighting, the company commander received a
concussion, but continued to direct the actions of the
attack aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces.
After the reconnaissance, Khamaganov planned the
company's actions, assigned tasks to each group,
and personally led the assault on the positions
of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During the
battle, he quickly organized a maneuver
with firepower and reacted to changes
in the situation.
After the Russian military captured one of the
strongholds, the Ukrainian Armed Forces
launched an artillery strike on it.
Khamaganov was littered with the wreckage of
the building. Subordinates within half an hour
released the commander, who continued to
lead the battle, despite the concussion.
During the fighting, the company of Senior Lt
Khamaganov knocked out the enemy from
four occupied strongholds and completely
cleared the quarter. This allowed the
Russian Armed Forces to gain a
foothold on favorable lines and
continue the offensive deep
into the enemy's defenses.
After some time, the company was relocated to another
area with the same task — to knock out the enemy from
strong points in the forest belt. Khamaganov personally
led the actions of the assault groups, which secretly
crept up to the positions of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine and broke into the trenches.
The enemy was suddenly disoriented and began to
retreat, which allowed the assault groups to
completely clear over half a kilometre of
the forest belt, capture prisoners and
inflict significant losses to the
enemy in manpower.
This ensured a significant advance of Russian troops in
an important tactical area and created conditions for a
further successful offensive.
Meanwhile, Lance Corporal Denis Yudin, as part of an
assault unit, was performing a combat mission to
capture an enemy stronghold. During the
reconnaissance, the group discovered
fortifications of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine, got close to the positions
of the defending militants and
prepared for an attack.
Attacking ------ and moving deep into the enemy's
fortifications, systematically squeezing them
out of their positions, the servicemen of the
Russian Armed Forces were attacked by
kamikaze drones.
One of the UAVs was destroyed by Corporal Yudin
from small arms. Then, entering into close
combat, he destroyed two soldiers of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine --- but was
wounded. He refused to evacuate,
and continued his combat mission.
Russian attack aircraft... broke the enemy's resistance,
cleared the stronghold and took up defensive positions
until the main forces arrived. During the removal of the
wounded from the battlefield, Lance Corporal Yudin
covered the actions of the evacuation group.
In an open area, an infantry fighting vehicle was
attacked by a Ukrainian kamikaze drone -- Yudin
received a concussion, but found the strength
to provide first aid to a combat comrade,
which helped save his life.
____________________________________
The US -- recognized''problems''
sending equipment to Ukraine
June 27th, 7:21pm
(Lenta.ru)
The United States.. is experiencing problems with sending
equipment to Ukraine. This recognition, was made by the
Permanent Representative of the United States to NATO
Julianne Smith. Her words are quoted by TASS. This is
due to the difficulties experienced by the military-
industrial complex (MIC) of Western countries.
"The military-industrial complex is hardly returning to the
production lines... that were stopped many years ago.
There is also a labour shortage. There're questions
about global supply chains and how quickly
equipment can be transported.. across
oceans and territories," Smith said.
A few days ago, the Financial Times wrote that the main
problem with the production of weapons in the United
States was the instability of orders. For example,
the security agreement between Washington
and Kiev may be broken by the next head
of state, Donald Trump.
_________________________________
British analyst reportsrecord
daily losses in the Armed
Forces of Ukraine
June 27th, 6:50pm
(Izvestia.ru)
On June 25, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) lost
a record number of soldiers in one day. This was
stated by the British analyst Alexander
Merkouris, in his personal
YouTube blog.
"The Ukrainian army lost 2,345 people on
the contact line," he said on June 26.
According to the analyst, these figures are a record,
and the Ukrainian army did not have such losses
even in the worst period for them — in the
summer of 2023.
He also said, that he had heard that some soldiers of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine are sent to the front after just
a few days of training. Merkouris noted that this may
be due to disorganization and administrative chaos,
which "seems to be quite common in Ukraine at
the present time."
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian ''President'', Volodymyr
Zelensky, whose term of office expired on May 20,
acknowledged heavy losses in the ranks of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine. He claims that for
this reason, Kiev does not want to prolong
the conflict. Zelensky also called for
developing a settlement plan
in the near future.
The difficult situation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine has
been repeatedly pointed out in the West. On June 3, the
former head of the NATO Committee, Harald Kuyat,
...announced the failure of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine, despite the huge costs of the West.
According to him, now the situation for the Armed Forces
of Ukraine is "much more difficult" than it was at the
beginning of the conflict. The New Yorker warned -
that the situation for the Armed Forces of Ukraine
could worsen significantly over the summer due
to the Russian offensive and lack of reserves.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which the
Russian president announced on February 24, 2022,
continues. The decision was made --- against the
background of the aggravation of the situation
in the region --- due to shelling by the
Ukrainian military.
_______________________________________
Razvozhaev --- the air defense system will
be strengthened --- to protect the Crimea
from shelling by Ukraine's Armed Forces
June 27th, 5:22pm
(RT.ru)
The latest attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces
has highlighted the need to further strengthen
the protection of the Crimean Peninsula.
The statement was made by the
Governor of Sevastopol,
Mikhail Razvozhaev.
He noted... that the protection of Sevastopol and the
entire peninsula has been repeatedly strengthened.
And work in this direction, according to him,
continues.
"It is clear that the air defense will strengthen their
work, it is clear that other measures will be taken,"
TASS quoted him as saying.
Earlier, the governor of Sevastopol announced
additional protection of the Balaklava Bay
due to the danger of terrorist attacks
by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
_________________________________
Espanyol fighters destroyed AFU
repeatersat the highest point
of Chasiv Yar
June 27th, 4:43pm
(Vesti.ru)
The volunteer battalion "Hispaniola" left the Armed
Forces of Ukraine without strategically important
equipment for communication in Chasiv Yar.
This was reported by the brigade commander with the call sign Spaniard.
He noted that Chasiv Yar is the highest point in this
strategic area of the South Donets direction,
where the Russian army fighters conduct
their offensive operations. The head of
the brigade reported that the highest
point in Chasovy Yar was hit
by "Espanyola".
"The main relay nodes of surveillance, communication,
UAV control systems and so on were located on the
pipe. All this was destroyed, which allowed our
troops to make a rapid breakthrough without
a single loss. We managed to catch the
Ukrainians by surprise," the
Spaniard concluded.
On June 27, the Russian Defense Ministry reported
that Ukrainian troops had lost more than 1,950
soldiers during the day. This week, is the
121st in a special military operation.
_______________________________________
The Czech ''Defense'' Ministry announced
the supply of tens of thousands of
155 mm shells to Ukraine
June 27th, 2:51pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The first batch of military aid to Kiev... which was carried
out on the "Czech initiative" at the expense of Germany,
included tens of thousands of 155 mm shells. This was
announced on June 27 by the Minister of Defense of
the Czech Republic, Yana Chernokhova.
"The first ammunition under the Czech initiative was
safely.... delivered to Ukraine. These are tens of
thousands of 155 mm ammunition, the supply
of which.. was financed by Germany," the
minister said on the agency's website.
The Prime Minister of the Republic Petr Fiala on his page
in the social network X (ex. Twitter) said that the first
batch of ammunition "on the Czech initiative" arrived
in Ukraine. As noted by Reuters, the Czech Republic
"led efforts to purchase ammunition with the
financial support of NATO allies.... to fill
the deficit on the front line."
Fiala later pointed out that the government had
unanimously approved Prague's participation
in the initiative.. in the amount of 865.775
million crowns (about $37 million).
These funds will be used to purchase weapons
from the Czech arms company STV.
Earlier, on June 25, Czech President Petr Pavel suggested
in an interview with Time magazine that Russia is likely
to retain control over the new regions, Ukraine will not
be able to return them. The politician made this
statement to the magazine at a conference in
the Swiss Burgenstock, which was held on
June 15-16. The Czech leader noted, that
it's impossible to resolve the Ukrainian
conflict solely through military
support of Kiev.
Earlier, on May 30, Fiala said that Ukraine will receive
tens of thousands of shells every month as part of
the Czech initiative. Kiev may receive the first
supplies of ammunition under the Czech
initiative in the coming days, he said.
At the same time, the Financial Times newspaper
reported that about half of the ammunition
collected for Ukraine at the initiative of
the Czech Republic will not be able to
be transferred to Kiev on time due
to the poor quality of the parts.
Another problem, is related
to their rising prices.
The President of the Czech Republic noted on May 8 that
in June Kiev could receive 180 thousand ammunition
collected on the initiative of Prague. At the same
time, he admitted that these purchases aren't
progressing.... as quickly as the program
participants would like, but contracts
have already been signed for
deliveries... that will be
completed after the
June ones.
Western countries have stepped up military and financial
assistance to Kiev against the backdrop of the Russian
special operation to protect the Donbass, which began
on February 24, 2022 due to the aggravation of the
situation in the region, as a result of Ukrainian
shelling. At the same time, statements about
the need to reduce support for Ukraine
have been increasingly voiced in
the West recently.
_________________________________
Two groups of evaders who tried
to escape on a rubber boat
were detainedin Ukraine
June 27th, 1:50pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Two groups of men who tried to illegally cross the border
by rubber boat.. across the Tisza River to Hungary and
Romania were detained in Ukraine. This is reported
on June 27 by the Ukrainian State Border Service.
"Two groups of violators, one of which was assisted by
teenagers, planned to cross the Tisza River. Four men
wanted to enter Hungary illegally, and three more
wanted to go to Romania," the ministry's
Telegram channel says.
The State Border Service specified that the cost of such
a "service" ranged from $8 thousand to $10 thousand.
The first group of men was accompanied by minors.
The border guards informed their parents and the
police about this. Administrative protocols were
drawn up for the remaining detainees.
At the moment, many violations during mobilization are
recorded in Ukraine, and attempts by young people of
military age to escape the country, or avoid
conscription by other means, are also
often reported.
So, on June 25, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBR)
of Ukraine.. reported that 100 evaders who planned to
flee the country, were detained in the Odessa region.
It was noted that a large-scale scheme of illegal transfer
of persons... was also exposed. It also included a law
enforcement officer -- who gave advice to drivers on
how to avoid roadblocks on the way to the border.
For their services, the organizers charged from $5 to $18
thousand, and for a party of 100 people they planned to
earn $1 million.
Earlier, on June the 23rd, the head of the Border Control
Organization Department of Ukraine's Border Service
Ihor Matviychuk, said that every day, more than a
hundred people of military age... are trying to
illegally cross the state border of Ukraine
and enter European countries.
According to him, most of the evaders are detained by
border guards. For violators, the penalty is only a fine,
and the organizers of illegal exit schemes from the
country, are criminally liable.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term
of office ended on May 20, signed a law on tougher
mobilization on April 16. The document clarifies
the categories of persons subject to
mobilization, toughens penalties
for evading it --- and does not
provide provisions for any
demobilization.
The law on strengthening mobilization
came into force on May the 18th.
Martial law in Ukraine is effective from February 2022.
At the same time ---- Zelensky signed a decree on a
general mobilization. Later, the Verkhovna Rada
repeatedly extended its validity. Most men
between the ages of 18 and 60 ----- are
prohibited from leaving the country.
________________________________________
The status of veterans will be granted
to the participants of the SVO --- in
Zaporozhye and Kherson regions
June 27th, 1:16pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The Russian government will grant the status of combat
veterans to participants of the special military
operation in Zaporizhia and Kherson regions,
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin
said on June 27.
"A decision was made --- to grant the status of a combat
veteran to citizens who ensured the fulfillment of the
tasks of a special military operation, in these two
Russian regions of the federation. I would like to
note that this norm is already in effect for those
working in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's
Republics," he said at a cabinet meeting,
pointing out.... that the situation in
Zaporizhia and Kherson regions
was not easy and required
adjustments.... in the
current regulation.
The Prime Minister reminded that this status provides
for a number of social guarantees, including tax
benefits, vouchers to sanatoriums and an
extraordinary right to purchase
a land plot.
It is important to quickly conduct parliamentary
procedures for the adoption of such a bill, so
that people can receive the necessary
support measures ------ as soon as
possible, Mishustin stressed.
He also urged, not to forget that, in addition to military
personnel and volunteers, civil servants of the Armed
Forces of the Russian Federation, doctors, war
correspondents and representatives of other
professions helped to establish life in the
new regions.
In this regard, Mishustin recalled the position of Russian
President Vladimir Putin ---- that people who defend the
country with weapons in their hands should be on an
equal footing. The Government constantly
supports them, the Prime Minister said.
Earlier, on June the 21st, the Russian Defense Ministry
reported that, by the 3rd quarter of this year, military
personnel and their families will be able to apply for benefits in a digital format. To implement this possibility, Defense Minister Andrey
Belousov..... has created an inter-
departmental working group.
Prior to that, on March 29, the government simplified the
procedure for assigning the status of a combat veteran
and issuing single-issue certificates. It was clarified
that -- under the updated rules, this status can be
obtained without a copy of the contract - based
on a number of other documents.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which the
Russian president announced on February 24, 2022,
continues. The decision to hold it --- was made
against the background of the aggravation
of the situation in the region --- due to
shelling by the Ukrainian military.
______________________________________
Kadyrov --- ridiculed sending
Estonian troops to Ukraine:
they will be held back..by
a couple of our wounded
June 27th, 12:38pm
(Vesti.ru)
Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, joked that after
the words of an Estonian diplomat about sending
Estonian troops to Ukraine, he instructed to
transfer two wounded Russian soldiers
without weapons, in their direction.
Kadyrov responded to a report that the Estonian
Ambassador to Kiev Anneli Kolk said she was
ready to discuss sending Estonian troops to
Ukraine. A week ago, Kolk said that
sending troops to Kiev is
"not a red line."
The head of Chechnya said that he contacted the
commander of the special forces "Akhmat",
deputy head of the Main Directorate for
Military and Political Work of the
Ministry of Defense of the
Russian Federation,
Apty Alaudinov.
The general was instructed to quickly transfer
two wounded Russian soldiers "towards the
Estonian troops".
According to Kadyrov, Russian fighters will not
have to get up from their hospital beds, and
they should get weapons as a trophy.
"...We know that this terrible Estonian army has a
whole pair of rubber boats and six submachine
guns," the Chechen leader said, in his
Telegram channel.
________________________
RS: Russia sharply warned the West
about the inevitability of a response
to the escalation in Ukraine
June 27th, 12:38pm
(Vesti.ru)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has harshly and
unequivocally, warned NATO countries not to
continue escalating the conflict in Ukraine,
writes the American publication
Responsible Statecraft.
The authors of the material claim that the Russian
leader ordered exercises on the use of non-
strategic nuclear weapons, deployed
Russian ships off the coast of Cuba,
and also signed a mutual security
treaty with North Korean leader,
Kim Jong-un in response to the
support of the North Atlantic
Alliance countries for the
Kiev regime -- and their
''attempt'' to find more
dangerous solutions
to the aggravation
of the situation
in Ukraine.
At the same time, Western states are realizing that only
financial support and arms supplies are not enough,
as the situation at the front for Kiev is becoming
increasingly desperate, the article says.
"For more than two years.... the West has been feeding
Ukraine the hope (with funding, military advice, and
increasingly sophisticated weaponry) - that it can
push Russia back... to its pre-2014 borders. This
is an imaginary result that the words of fiction
will not be able to achieve," the publication's
journalists say.
They also call erroneous...... the statements of Western leaders, that if Putin is not defeated in the conflict in
and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups
of Forces wiped out three U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS
launchers, as well as one loading vehicle and
foreign specialists responsible for its use.
Moreover, one UAV assembly workshop and one UAV
launch site were destroyed, as well as manpower
and hardware engaged in 109 areas.
Air defence units shot down 76 Ukrainian unmanned
aerial vehicles and two U.S.-made MLRS projectiles.
In total, 613 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 26,642
unmanned aerial vehicles, 533 air defence missile
systems, 16,433 tanks & other armoured fighting
vehicles, 1,353 combat vehicles equipped with
MLRS, 10,913 field artillery cannons & mortars,
as well as 22,975 units of special military
equipment have been destroyed during
the special military operation.
______________________________________________
Russian soldiers --come
close to Konstantinovka
by Sergey Samokha
June 26th, 4:29am
(Vesti.ru)
A small settlement in the DPR -- is important for the Armed
Forces of Ukraine in the defense of Ugledar ----------- and is
therefore seriously fortified. But our fighters have already
cracked this protection: now it's the turn of the battle on
the streets.
The assault.... on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed
Forces begins in the pre-dawn haze. At this time, the
APU drones are almost blind --- and a person can
already see the enemy fortifications. Ukrainian
trenches in several rows are in the shape of a
horseshoe. This means - the enemy has the
ability to conduct a circular defense. The
positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
are being bombarded with ammunition
from the air. Then - a shooting battle.
So the attack aircraft of the Vostok
group from Sakhalin are clearing
the last line of defense of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine, to
the south-west of Maryinka.
"Now we have come close to Konstantinovka and are
ready to take it away. At certain borders, I will not
say at what ranges, but in principle we have
already pressed it," says the commander
of the assault squad, with the call
sign Ten.
Konstantinovka is a small settlement between Marinka,
which is already under the control of the Russian army,
and Ugledar, where the enemy is entrenched. Despite
serious fortifications, Ukrainian soldiers are reluctant
to fight. Mostly here, the positions of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine --- are forcibly mobilized.
"I don't get many professionals. Mostly elderly people,
mobilized," said the commander of a company of
stormtroopers with the call sign Hunter.
As a rule, now the assault is carried out in small groups
– five or six people. This is enough to make the enemy
start to give up.
"There are many cases.. when the opponent gives up.
They give up their weapons, give up, and don't want
to die. Everyone understands this. We take them
prisoner," the Russian commander said.
Now, the assault detachments of the Vostok group from
Sakhalin are preparing to clear the last enemy fortified
areas in this direction. Entering populated areas is one
of the most difficult tasks for assault groups, because
after rough terrain & forest belts in urban conditions,
the tactics of combat change dramatically and you
need to adapt to this.
The heavy work and advance of Russian troops in
the area of Konstantinovka greatly complicates
the defense of Ugledar for the Ukrainian
Armed Forces.
__________________________________________
Three people were killed and nine
wounded after the Ukrainian
Armed Forces hit Donetsk
June 25th, 11:10pm
(Izvestia.ru)
At least three people were killed and nine others were
injured as a result of a strike by the Armed Forces of
Ukraine (AFU) on the Kuibyshev district of Donetsk.
Izvestia on Tuesday, June 25, showed footage
from the scene where a shell hit directly
into a residential apartment in a
multi-storey building.
"In the Kuibyshev district of Donetsk, during the shelling
from MLRS (multiple launch rocket systems. Ed.) three
people were killed: in an apartment building on
Kuibyshev Street, house 210 --- a woman born
in 1987 and a man born in 1957; on Sokolina
Street at the RTK gas station - an employee
of a gas station - a man born in 1996," the
head of the Donetsk People's Republic
(DPR) Denis Pushilin, wrote in his
Telegram channel.
In addition, an 18-year-old girl and a boy, a 17
-year-old teenager, a woman and two men
received moderate injuries.
In Petrovsky district there are victims: members of
the same family were injured there. One woman
was seriously injured, while the injuries of the
other woman and the man, were classified
as moderate.
All the victims were hospitalized, they are
receiving the necessary medical care.
Also in the Kuibyshev and Petrovsky districts of Donetsk,
Nikitovsky and Central City districts of Horlivka, six
residential households were damaged as a result
of the strikes. In the Kuibyshev district, a gas
station was damaged, and in the Central
City district of Gorlovka, a shell hit a
boiler room.
"From the VFU (armed formations of Ukraine. - Ed.) 16
attacks were made, 39 rounds of ammunition were
fired. They used rocket artillery, 155 mm barrel
artillery, including cluster-type artillery,"
Pushilin said.
_________________________________________
Underground: The Russian Armed Forces
struck in the area of Vesyany, in the
Mykolaiv region, where there was
a battalion of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine
June 25th, 10:30pm
(RT.ru)
Russian forces launched a strike in the direction of the
village of Vesyanoye in the Mykolaiv region, where
the AFU battalion was located.
About it, informs RIA Novosti, the coordinator of
the Nikolaev underground, Sergey Lebedev told.
"Around midnight, a strike was launched in the
direction of Vesyanoye village. According to
the resistance, one of the AFU battalions
is based there," the report says.
According to Lebedev, in Nikolaev
the lights ------ are disconnected.
Earlier --- the group of troops "South" improved their situation on the front.
Also, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed two
warehouses of military-technical property of
the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
_________________________________
Rembat fighters defeated the AFU DRG
on the way to the front line with
repaired equipment
June 25th, 10pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The armament division of the zamkombatallion, Major
Alexey Karavaytsev, performed the task of ensuring
the survivability, evacuation and operational repair
of weapons, military & special equipment (VVST)
of a group of Russian troops.
Near the contact line, Major Karavaytsev's personnel,
with his participation, promptly and smoothly carried
out repair work. The Major personally planned and
carried out the evacuation of equipment from the
most dangerous areas of the SVO.
On one of the days... he and his staff delivered repaired
equipment to Russian units on the front line. During the
movement, the convoy was ambushed by the sabotage
and reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine (AFU).
Having got his bearings in the situation, Karavaytsev
gave the order to join the battle. The enemy's DRG
was defeated without losses among the personnel
of the Russian Armed Forces. Thanks to the
competent management of subordinate
personnel and the courage of Major
Karavaytsev, the repaired
equipment was delivered
to the front line, in time.
Meanwhile, Guards senior sergeant Maxim Vavulov, on
combat duty as part of the radar station crew, during
a counter-battery fight in one of the front lines,
discovered a column of APU equipment that
was moving along the line of contact.
Having transmitted the coordinates to the control point,
he - promptly - provided intelligence processing for the
further work of the artillery division... in combination
with air reconnaissance equipment. After clarifying
the coordinates..... of the location of the enemy
column, a battery of self-propelled artillery
units destroyed two MLRS combat
vehicles and one truck with
APU personnel.
Thanks to the professional and precise actions of
Senior Sergeant Vavulov's guards, an attempt by
Ukrainian militants to rotate on the contact line
--- was stopped.
_____________________________________
Returning from captivity of the
Ukraine Armed Forces,the
Russian military shared
their emotions on the
way home
June 25th, 9:42pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Returning from captivity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
(AFU), the Russian military shared their emotions after
returning to their homeland. On June 25, the Ministry
of Defense published a video with Russian soldiers
who called their relatives on the way home, sent
them greetings and informed them, that they
are alive and well.
The video shows happy fighters riding on a bus, hugging
and shouting "Thank you!" in unison. In the salon,
someone calls their relatives, someone sends
a video guide to their native village.
"I'm very happy! Everyone is happy!" says
one of the soldiers, not hiding a smile.
All fighters are united by genuine
happiness and joy in their eyes.
Earlier, Russia returned 90 Russian military
personnel from the territory controlled by
Kiev. 90 prisoners of war of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, were transferred.
All those released --- are provided
with the necessary medical and
psychological assistance.
On June 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin said
that there are currently 6,465 Ukrainian
prisoners of war in Russia, and 1,348
captured military personnel of the
Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine.
_______________________________________
University Sq. blocked
in Makhachkala
June 25th, 9:06pm
(Lenta.ru)
Security forces blocked the University Square in
Makhachkala amid reports of gunfire. This was
reported by the Baza publication in its
Telegram channel.
It is noted that information about an armed attack on
police officers was not confirmed. Law enforcement
officers received a message about a suspicious car.
Traffic is blocked and information is being checked.
In the evening of June 25, it was reported that a shooting
occurred in Makhachkala. The sound of gunfire is heard
on Lenin and Korkmasov streets. Security forces are
working on the site, the roads are blocked.
On June 23, a series of terrorist attacks took place in
Dagestan. An Orthodox church and synagogue were
attacked in the city of Derbent, and a traffic police
post was shelled in Makhachkala.
Among the terrorists were the children of the head of
the Sergokalinsky district Magomed Omarov Osman
and Adil. The total number of victims of the
terrorist attack was about 25 people.
______________________________________
Russia and Ukraine exchanged
prisoners with the mediation
of the United Arab Emirates
June 25th, 7:24pm
(RT.ru)
Russia has returned 90 Russian soldiers from Kiev-
controlled territory and handed over 90 prisoners
of war to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in
exchange, the Russian Defense
Ministry said.
"As a result of the negotiation process...... 90 Russian
servicemen who were in mortal danger in captivity
were returned from the territory controlled by the
Kiev regime. In exchange, 90 prisoners of war
were transferred to the Armed Forces of
Ukraine," the ministry said in
a statement.
The Defense Ministry clarified that the return of the
Russian military was facilitated by representatives
of the United Arab Emirates.
Earlier, Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia
Tatyana Moskalkova reported that more than 40
prisoner exchanges have already taken place
between Russia and Ukraine.
On June 14, Moskalkova published a list containing the
names of 430 Ukrainian prisoners of war who are
ready to return home on exchange, if
Ukraine agrees.
__________________________________
The captured fighter of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine --- spoke about
the unwillingness of Ukrainians
to fight
June 25th, 6:08pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The Ukrainian military at the front is experiencing fatigue,
they are tired of participating in combat operations. This
was stated on June 25 by a captured militant of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Roman Fedotov.
"It's just that everyone is tired, everyone is tired,"
Fedotov told Izvestia correspondent
Alexander Safiulin.
At home, Fedotov had to leave his wife and child and
mother. Together with his colleagues, the man was
sent to the front line. He spent more than a day
driving on the road, but he and the other
recruits were not allowed to rest, and
were immediately ordered to start
digging trenches.... under cover
of night, because, where they
arrived, the shelters needed
to be strengthened.
At first, there was no question that Fedotov would
participate in the battles. However, later he was
given ammunition and sent as part of a group
to the area of direct engagement. First-aid
kits were distributed to the Ukrainians,
but they were told not to use them —
everything taken from there would
have to be paid for out of pocket.
"We're coming - they said to jump out quickly. Our guide
arrived, began to loop himself, got lost. Drones started
flying, and we scattered. They started hiding and ran
away," Fedotov said.
When the Russian military offered the AFU fighters to
surrender, they dropped their weapons and raised
their hands. Fedotov noted that in captivity with
the Russian army, he was treated completely
normally, observing all his rights.
Earlier in the day, a prisoner of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine, Alexander Milyutenko, said that he was
sent to the front without training, and the unit
was "shuffled" from place to place for
two months.
Once his group was sent on a mission at night, and
the guide who led the militants got lost, and the
group came under fire. Then the Ukrainians
decided to surrender to the Russian army.
Milyutenko expressed gratitude to them
for their humane attitude towards
the prisoners.
________________________________________
The Russian military rescued a
female soldier of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, whom
colleagues tried to kill
June 25th, 3:21pm
(Vesti.ru)
At the disposal of Russian journalists, a video appeared in
which a girl who served in the 111th territorial Defense
Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a shooter
tells about the attempts of her colleagues
to kill her.
Larisa Khodakovskaya was rescued by the Russian
military. They saw that the girl was wounded and
offered to bandage her, but then ---- their own people opened fire on her again.
According to the captured Ukrainian servicewoman,
the soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces protected
her from bullets, reports TASS.
Khodakovskaya explained that her colleagues
tried to deal with her, after she complained to
the command -- that the brigade did not take
out the wounded.
____________________________________________
In Ukraine,they reported the escape
of armed prisoners from the training
centre of Ukraine's Armed Forces
June 25th, 2:19pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Six armed prisoners who joined the Armed Forces of
Ukraine (AFU) have escaped from a training centre
in Chernihiv region. This was reported on June 25
by the publication "Country.ua" with reference
to sources.
"The prisoners agreed to join the Armed Forces of
Ukraine. They were taken to the Desna training
centre in Chernihiv region, from where they
escaped, taking weapons with them," the
message posted on the Telegram
channel says.
It is noted - that the command of the unit has already notified the commanders of the training centre units.
The publication notes that the fugitives are dressed
in military uniforms, adds ''Country.Ua".
Earlier, on June 17, the Washington Post reported that in Ukraine, more than 2,750 people were released from prison to be sent to the front line as part of the country's Armed Forces. According to the publication, Ukraine released convicts who served time.. for drug trafficking, armed attacks, murder, as well as for other serious crimes.
Earlier, on May 25, The New York Times reported that
about 350 prisoners were released in Ukraine - to be
sent to the front. The newspaper reminded that the
convicts can join the ranks of the Ukrainian troops,
after which, they will have the opportunity to be
released on parole at the end of their service.
On May 17, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky
signed a bill on the mobilization of prisoners. All
convicted persons are subject to it, except
"persons who have committed crimes
against the basics of national
security, murderers, rapists,
pedophiles - and those who
committed fatal accidents
under the influence of
alcohol or drugs."
In addition, the law on strengthening mobilization came
into force in Ukraine on May 18. The document signed
by Zelensky clarifies the categories of persons
subject to mobilization and toughens the
penalties for evading it. However, it
does not provide for provisions
on demobilization.
Among other things.... Zelensky lowered the age of
mobilization from 27 to 25 years and signed a law
on the creation of an electronic register of those
liable for military service, which will combine
information...... about the personal data of
Ukrainians. He also abolished the status
of a limited serviceable person in the
army. Thus, patients with HIV,
certain forms of cancer,
residual tuberculosis,
and men with mental
retardation.... will be
able to serve in the
Ukrainian troops.
Martial law in Ukraine --- is effective from February 2022.
At the same time, Zelensky signed a decree on general
mobilization. Later, the Verkhovna Rada repeatedly
extended its validity. Most men between the ages
of 18 and 60, are prohibited from leaving
the country.
_________________________________
The Russian Defense Ministry
pointed out the importing of
radiochemical substances
to Ukraine --- via Poland
June 25th, 1:35pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The import of radiochemical substances that can be used
to create a "dirty bomb" continues on the territory of
Ukraine. This was announced on June 25 at a
briefing.... by the head of the radiation,
chemical and biological Protection
Troops (RCBZ), Russian Armed
Forces Lieutenant General
Igor Kirillov.
"According to available operational information, the
import of radiochemical substances that turn the
country into a landfill of spent nuclear fuel and
waste from hazardous chemical industries
continues on the territory of Ukraine for
further disposal," he said.
Kirillov stressed that the main routes go through Poland
and Romania. He also pointed out that the substances
can be used to create a so-called dirty bomb, and it
can be used under a false flag.
In February, the chief of the RCBZ troops --- noted that the
Armed Forces of Ukraine (APU) are engaged in creating a
new mode of combat operations, including the use of the
so-called special chemical belt. He stressed that this is
happening with the assistance of Western curators.
Evidence... of the use of chemical weapons by Ukrainian
soldiers on the front line in the same month was shown
by Izvestia. It was - a TEREN-6 grenade. According to
one of the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,
they were taught how to handle such ammunition
by chemists. They warned that the grenade
should be thrown, then - "stay away".
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on
February 24, 2022, continues. The decision
was made, against the background of the
aggravation of the situation in the region
due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
___________________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry report
on the progress of the special
military operation
June 25th, 11:06am
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
continue the special military operation.
Units of the Sever Group of Forces continued to engage
in active combat operations and inflicted losses on
manpower and hardware of the AFU 36th Marines
Brigade, 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, and
71st Jaeger Brigade near Volchansk,
Ternovaya, and Tikhoye
(Kharkov region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 235 Ukrainian troops,
two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777
howitzer, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, and one
122-mm D-30 howitzer.
Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more
advantageous lines and positions, as well as
....inflicted losses on formations of the AFU
14th, 54th, and 66th mechanised brigades
near Petropavlovka, Sinkovka (Kharkov
region), Platonovka (Donetsk People's
Republic), and Makeyevka (Lugansk
People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 445 Ukrainian troops,
two armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one
U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20
howitzer, one 122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled
artillery system, and one U.S.-made
105-mm M119 howitzer.
In addition, one AFU ammunition depot
has been destroyed.
Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical
situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on
manpower & hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised
Brigade, 46th, and the 81st airmobile brigades near
Konstantinovka and Kurakhovo (Donetsk
People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 830 Ukrainian troops,
two armoured personnel carriers, seven motor vehicles,
two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, one U.S.-made
155-mm M198 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer,
one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer, and one
electronic warfare station.
Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces took more
advantageous lines and positions, as well as
inflicted losses on formations of the AFU
24th Mechanised Brigade and the 2nd
Territorial Defence Brigade nr Toretsk
and Mikhailovka (Donetsk
People's Republic).
Three counter-attacks launched by
AFU units were repelled.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 560 Ukrainian troops,
one tank, eight motor vehicles, three U.S.-made 155-mm
M777 howitzers, three 152-mm Msta-B howitzers, one
152-mm D-20 howitzer, and three 122-mm
D-30 howitzers.
Units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical
situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware
of the AFU 128th Territorial Defence Brigade... near Velikaya Novosyolka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 150 Ukrainian
troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor
vehicles, a U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, a
UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, one 152-mm
2A65 Msta-B howitzer, and one 122-mm
D-30 howitzer.
Units of the Dnepr Group of Force delivered strikes at
manpower and hardware of the AFU 35th Marines
Brigade near Ivanovka (Kherson region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 125 Ukrainian troops,
five motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777
howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one
122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-
made 105-mm M109 howitzer.
Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, unmanned aerial
vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of
Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
destroyed two AFU materiel depots, one P-18 air
target detection and tracking radar station, as
well as engaged manpower and military
hardware in 128 areas.
Air defence units shot down 79 Ukrainian
unmanned aerial vehicles and four U.S.-
made HIMARS MLRS projectiles.
In total, 613 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 26,566
unmanned aerial vehicles, 533 air defence missile
systems, 16,423 tanks & other armoured fighting
vehicles, 1,348 combat vehicles equipped with
MLRS, 10,856 field artillery guns and mortars,
as well as 22,924 units of special military
equipment have been destroyed during
the special military operation.
________________________________
Ukraine calls holding a world summit
without Russia ------ a mistake
June 17th, 7:41pm
(Lenta.ru)
Ukraine made a mistake ------- by not inviting Russian
representatives to the world Summit in Switzerland,
Verkhovna Rada, Yevgeny Shevchenko, said in an
interview with political analyst Vadim Karasev.
"We made a mistake, and this summit showed, I think
everyone already understands perfectly well --- that
they did not invite representatives of Russia there.
We were afraid that they might influence this
situation, but it turned out the other way
around," he said.
According to the parliamentarian, the second part of
the summit will not be held due to the fact that the
event in Switzerland... showed its failure.
Earlier, Austrian Karl Nehammer said that the settlement
of the conflict in Ukraine is impossible without Russia's
participation and taking into account its interests. At
the same time, he stressed --- that he considers the
summit to be the first step towards a settlement.
The head of the Swiss delegation at the summit, Gabriel
Luchinger, said that the second conference on Ukraine
will not be held in Europe. The most likely venue is
Saudi Arabia.
_______________________________________________
APUattacked more than 10
settlements of the Kursk
region --- in a day
June 17th, 7:10pm
(RT.ru)
The Ukrainian army - attacked more than 10 settlements
in the Kursk region during the day. This was announced
by Acting Governor Alexey Smirnov.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled eight settlements in
the region. Ammunition drops from UAVs and attacks by
kamikaze drones were recorded near four settlements.
"None of the residents were injured," Smirnov said.
The head of the region noted that power lines were
damaged in the village of Krasnooktyabrsky.
Residents of the village of Volkino and the
village of Volkinsky were temporarily left
without electricity. A residential building
was destroyed in Troitskoye village.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked a
KAMAZ truck and two combine harvesters
in the Belgorod region.
_________________________________________
Jacques Bo: infantile leaders of the West
do not see that Ukraine is a black hole
June 17th, 2024
(source: daniel davis/deepdive
retold by InoTV)
DANIEL DAVIS, podcast host: This is so much... I keep
repeating the word "paradoxical", but it's all so
completely perverted. It just depresses me
that during the current peace process - or
at least that's what it's officially called,
in general - during this peace summit,
we actually continue to lay the
foundation ----------- for our own
weakness and unhappiness,
while allowing the so-called
enemy that we very much
want to damage -------
to develop.
Our actions lead to the opposite result, and so do we...
I don't know if we can't or don't want to admit it, but it
doesn't change the real situation on the ground. It is
better for us to open our eyes and change the
course of behaviour as soon as possible,
otherwise we will have a lot of big
troubles ahead of us.''
JACQUES BO, Swiss intelligence veteran: the problem here
is the infantile behaviour of our leadership. It's just that.
They've started to pursue a strategy that doesn't work; and instead of admitting this fact & trying to back out here (as we know ----- there is no such thing for these
people), they continue to follow the same path, even
though they understand that this will doom them to
failure — just because they don't want to lose face.
& probably for this reason, the elections in Europe
can now lead to changes: a new majority, a new
political leadership is not tied to the mistakes
that were made by their predecessors, and
as a result, we can see some political
changes. This is an unknown
factor here...
DANIEL DAVIS: Yes.
JACQUES BO: ...just like the US presidential election...
DANIEL DAVIS: Yes...
JACQUES BO: ''Donald Trump promised to solve the
problem in Ukraine. And his attitude is probably
correct — after all, he knows that the situation
in Ukraine (especially for the United States —
because the United States has invested a lot
of money there) is a black hole...
DANIEL DAVIS: Yes.
JACQUES BO: Because everything that is invested in it is
completely lost. There's nothing left. The equipment sent
there, all the investment — everything disappears... But
probably, of course, not for everyone — we see that
many leaders...
DANIEL DAVIS: Yes.
JACQUES BO: ''...in Ukraine, everyone is getting richer...
thanks to the West...''
DANIEL DAVIS: Yes, and some US arms manufacturers are very happy with the situation. Definitely.
JACQUES BO: 'Exactly.'
______________________________
Kremlin says NATO chief’s
nuclear weapons remarks
are an 'escalation'
June 17th, 3:14pm
(PressTV)
Russia has assessed the latest nuclear comments
by the North Atlantic Alliance military bloc as an
inadmissible "escalation" of ongoing political
rivalry between world powers.
The Kremlin said on Monday the US-led NATO Secretary
General Jens Stoltenberg’s remarks pertaining to talks
on deploying more nuclear weapons ---- would only exacerbate the threat of atomic warfare.
Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of
Forces have neutralised manpower and military
hardware in 106 areas.
Air defense facilities have shot down 54 unmanned aerial
vehicles, four French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs,
as well as ten U.S.-made HIMARS projectiles.
In total, 613 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 25,845
unmanned aerial vehicles, 529 air defence missile systems, 16,340 tanks & other armoured combat
vehicles -- 1,341 combat vehicles equipped with
MRLS, 10,491 field artillery cannons & mortars
...as well as 22,567 units of special military
equipment, have been destroyed during
the special military operation.
___________________________________
Nebenzia accused military registration & enlistment offices of Ukraine of ---
hunting for men.
June 14th, 8:47pm
(Lenta.ru)
Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily
Nebenzia, said that the military registration and
enlistment offices in Ukraine - have opened
a hunt for men.
His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
__________________________________
At the site of the collapse of the
entrance to Shebekino found
two dead
June 14th, 8:38pm
(Lenta.ru)
At the site of the collapse of the entrance of a residential
building in the Belgorod district of Shebekino, two dead
people were found. EMERCOM of Russia wrote about
this in its official Telegram channel.
The publication clarifies that the bodies of a man and a
woman were found at the site of the collapse of the
entrance to Shebekino.
On Friday afternoon, June 14, a residential building in
Shebekino was shelled. As a result of the attack, the
entrance collapsed. It was reported that after the
collapse of the entrance of a residential building
in Shebekino after an attack from Ukraine, ten
people are missing.
As the governor of the Belgorod Region Vyacheslav
Gladkov specified, seven people were injured, and
rescue operations are continuing on the spot.
________________________________
Peskov shared Putin's wordsabout
the reaction of the West and
Ukraine to his initiative
June 14th, 6:54pm
(Lenta.ru)
Russian President Vladimir Putin called the reaction
of the West and Kiev - to his initiative for a peaceful
settlement of the conflict in Ukraine "predictable".
This was announced by Presidential press
Secretary Dmitry Peskov, TASS reports.
"Vladimir Putin was informed about the reaction of
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and
NATO Jens Stoltenberg to his initiative.
According to the president, their
reaction is predictable," the
press secretary said.
He also added that the US response to Putin's proposal
to resolve the conflict.... is also "predictable", since
Washington "needs to fight to the last Ukrainian".
Earlier, Zelensky called Putin's proposal to resolve the
conflict with Russia an ultimatum. Stoltenberg said
that the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine from the new Russian regions
will be "the achievement of Russia's
military goals."
__________________________________
Putin pointed out the need to
move the front line in the
direction of Kharkiv
June 14th, 6:06pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Russia - is forced to push back the front line in the Kharkiv
direction in order to reduce terrorist attacks on Belgorod.
This was announced on June 14 by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"We need.. to act carefully, gradually. But if the enemy
continues to do what it has done so far, then we will
think about how to proceed further, to secure our
settlements," he said... at a meeting with
participants of the Time of
Heroes program.
At the same time, the head of state pointed out, that the
depth of 10-17 km does not deprive the enemy of the
ability to strike with longer-range weapons, "but
still gradually pushes this threat away from
our large settlements."
He also stressed that the military personnel serving in
the Kharkiv sector, perform their tasks with dignity.
Earlier in the day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU)
once again, shelled the town of Shebekino in the
Belgorod region. As a result of the actions of
Ukrainian militants, the entrance of an
apartment building collapsed.
Analysis of the rubble will continue
at night, people may still remain
under it.
Also on Friday, Putin said that Russia has always sought
peace and is ready to sit down at the negotiating table
even tomorrow. According to him, this will become
possible when Kiev withdraws its troops from the
regions of the Russian Federation - and officially
renounces its intentions to integrate into NATO.
The President stressed that Russia is once again
making a real peace offer, but if Kiev and the
West refuse, the responsibility for the
ongoing conflict lies solely
with them.
Ukrainian militants are trying to strike at Russian
territories against the background of a special
operation in the Donbass, the beginning of
which was announced on February 24,
2022. The decision was made due to
the aggravation of the situation in
the region due to shelling by
the Ukrainian military.
_______________________________________
Putin announced the presence
....of 700 thousand Russian
military personnel in the
special operation zone
June 14th, 6:05pm
(Izvestia.ru)
There are about 700,000 Russian servicemen
in the special operation zone, Russian
President Vladimir Putin said on
June 14.
"We have almost 700,000 (military personnel - Ed.) in the special military operation zone," the Head of state said during a meeting with participants of the "Time of Heroes" program.
At the same time, he drew attention to the fact
that the program includes about 80 people.
In December last year, Putin said that there are
617 thousand people in the zone of the Free
Military operation.
On Friday, June 14, the Russian leader arrived at
the Senezh Management Workshop in Moscow
Region to communicate with participants of
the Vremya Geroyev program. It is aimed at training highly qualified & competent
managers from among the participants
of a special military operation for their subsequent promotion - to senior positions in the public
administration system.
Training for the first set of program participants started
on May 27. As part of the master's program, 83 military
personnel began to receive management education.
During the first module, participants reached the North
Pole on June 10 on the icebreaker "50 years of Victory".
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which
Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues.
The decision was made against the background
of the worsening situation in the region.
________________________________________
Ex-CIA analyst predicts Ukraine
will disappear.... within a year
June 14th, 3:29pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The agreement on security guarantees between
Washington and Kiev is concluded for 10 years,
but there is a risk that Ukraine may disappear
within a year. This was stated by former
analyst of the Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA) of the US,
Larry Johnson.
"I guarantee that Ukraine in the form in which it is now,
in 10 years will no longer exist. I think it will disappear
in a year," Johnson said, on the Deep Dive YouTube
channel on June 13.
He noted that the chances of such a development, are
much higher in reality - than in the statements of the
administration of US President Joe Biden.
Johnson added that... judging by the ten-year term of the
agreement and the specifics of its provisions, Ukrainian
leader Vladimir Zelensky, whose powers expired on May
20, does not plan to hold presidential elections during
this period.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy
Marchenko... put forward G7 conditions that the
group's assistance to Kiev, in the amount of
$50 billion should be transferred during
the current year.
A 10-year security agreement was signed between the
United States and Ukraine on June 13. It is assumed
that in the event of a threat, high-ranking officials
from Washington and Kiev will meet within a day
to discuss response measures and determine
additional needs for Ukrainian defense.
State Duma deputy, professor at the Financial University
under the Government of the Russian Federation Oleg
Matveichev, in a conversation with Izvestia, called
this agreement a new PR move by Zelensky. The
United States, according to the deputy, could
have signed such an agreement a long time
ago, but did not do it.
Earlier, on June the 1st, US journalist Tucker Carlson
suggested that Ukraine could disappear in 50 years,
because the United States betrayed it.
Washington is now selling land in this country to foreign investors, and then it will fill the Ukrainian territories, with migrants from the ''third world.''
Back in January, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted
that the initiative in the special operation zone belongs
entirely to the Russian military, and if this state of
affairs continues, the question of Ukraine's
statehood ...will arise.
The special operation to protect the Donbass... which
Russia announced on February 24, 2022, continues.
The decision was made against the background of
the aggravation of the situation in the region due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
________________________________________
Rogov: Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost about two dozen artillery pieces in recent days
June 14th, 3:11pm
(RT.ru)
Ukrainian artillery has suffered heavy losses on
the Zaporizhia front line in recent days, said
Vladimir Rogov, chairman of the "We are
Together with Russia" movement.
This is reported by RIA Novosti.
According to him, in recent days, about two dozen
different artillery pieces of the Ukrainian Armed
Forces, including Western-made ones, have
been destroyed on the Zaporizhia front.
Rogov noted that the Ukrainian Armed
Forces have sensitive artillery losses.
This was made possible - thanks to a successful
counter-battery fight on the part of the Russian
Armed Forces.
Earlier, the head of the Zaporozhye region
administration, appointed by Kiev, Ivan
Fedorov, reported damage to a critical
infrastructure facility in the Ukrainian
-controlled Zaporozhye.
_____________________________
Summary of the special operation
in Ukraine from June 8 to 14
June 14th, 2:18pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The Ministry of Defense reported that during the week,
in response to the Kiev regime's attempts to damage
Russian energy facilities, the Armed Forces of the
Russian Federation conducted 19 group strikes
with high-precision air-and ground-based
weapons, as well as strike unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAVs), during which
energy facilities that provided the
operation of military-industrial
enterprises were hit.
In addition, the infrastructure of military airfields,
storehouses for Storm Shadow cruise missiles
and other aviation weapons, ammunition and
explosives depots, workshops for the
production of attack UAVs, training
sites for the use of unmanned
boats, as well as temporary
deployment points for
nationalist & foreign
mercenaries
were hit.
Also, from June 8 to 14, the active actions of the units of
the group of troops "West" during the week occupied
more favorable lines and liberated the settlements
of Artemovka in the Luhansk People's Republic
(LPR) and Timovka in the Kharkiv region.
Units of five mechanized, tank, assault and airmobile
brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), a
tero-defense unit, as well as three brigades of
the National Guard of Ukraine were defeated.
In this area -- the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 3,405
servicemen, four armoured combat vehicles, 32 vehicles,
30 field artillery pieces, including 7... US M777 howitzers.
In addition, three electronic warfare stations and four
field ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine were destroyed.
The Ministry of Defense added that units of the Dnipro
group of troops defeated the formations of three
brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a
marine brigade and a unit of the National
Guard of Ukraine.
The enemy's losses in this direction amounted to 555
military personnel, 37 vehicles, 26 field artillery
pieces, seven of which were foreign-made.
Russian air defense systems shot down a MiG-29
fighter jet, as well as two Mi-8 helicopters of the
Ukrainian Air Force.
In addition, 13 US-made ATACMS operational-tactical
missiles, three Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems,
two Neptune anti-ship missiles, two US-made
HARM anti-radar missiles, eight US-made
Hammer and JDAM guided bombs, 46
HIMARS, Vampire, & Uragan rockets
were destroyed during the week....
and "Alder", as well as 465 UAVs.
Su-27 and Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air
Force were destroyed at their home airfields.
During the week, 46 Ukrainian servicemen
surrendered on the contact line, the
Defense Ministry said.
In total, since the beginning of the special military
operation, 613 aircraft, 276 helicopters, 25,791
unmanned aerial vehicles, 529 anti-aircraft
missile systems, 16,329 tanks and other
armoured combat vehicles, 1,337
multiple launch rocket systems,
10,441 field artillery & mortar
guns, as well as 22,542 units
of special military vehicles
have been destroyed.
___________________________
The media reported: on the
dissatisfaction of Western
countries with the training
of AFU pilots
June 13th, 11:48pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Kiev insists that the West and Europe expand the
program and train more Ukrainians. However,
pilots are not yet ready to start flying F-16
fighter jets... due to difficulties with the
knowledge of English ---- and the flight
program of pilots undergoing training.
This was reported on June 11 by the US newspaper Politico.
"The training program for Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16
is rather poor," a senior US Defense official, who
requested anonymity, said in the article.
The publication reported that Western officials expressed
confidence in their decision ---- regarding the training of
Ukrainian pilots for flights on the first batch of F-16s.
They noted the need for a gradual improvement
of the program.
"You don't just need pilots. Maintenance and training of
service personnel is also a key part of this process,"
said Charles Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff of the US Armed Forces.
According to the second senior official of the US
Department of Defense, there is no problem with
the lack of places. The West fears --- that there
will be more pilots ready to fly on the F-16....
than the fighters themselves in the country,
since in this case, the skills of pilots will
be forgotten.
Earlier, on June 11th, US human rights activist, Ajamu Baraka, warned against deploying F-16s in the EU
and NATO countries. He recalled the existence
of the fifth article in the NATO charter, which
states that in the event of a strike on the
territory of one of the participating
countries, the other members of
the association must take the
necessary actions to
protect it.
On the same day, the head of the State Duma's Defense
Committee, Andrey Kartapolov, said that F-16s and
airfields outside the territory of Ukraine -- where
they can be located -- will become a legitimate
target for the Russian army if they take part
in combat sorties.
At the same time, the chief of aviation of the Air Forces
Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhiy
Golubtsov, said that some of the US F-16 fighters
that Western countries will transfer to Ukraine
are planned to be deployed at air bases
outside its borders. He clarified - that
such a measure will allow the army
to constantly maintain a certain
number of fighters ready
for departure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 28 that the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine ----- would not change the
situation on the battlefield. These fighters will also
be a legitimate target for the Russian Federation
if they are launched from third countries.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which the
Russian president announced on February 24, 2022,
continues. The decision was made against the
background of the worsening situation in
the region.
_____________________________
Russian Foreign Ministry criticizes
UN responseto attack on
Russian journalists
June 13th, 11:31pm (Lenta.ru)
The United Nations condemns the attacks on journalists,
but does not name the perpetrators of these events.
This was stated by the Russian Foreign Ministry's
Rodion Miroshnik, in his Telegram channel.
"International structures traditionally lack the will to give
a real political and legal assessment of the actions of
the Kiev regime, & its militants. Killing journalists is
very bad, but to point out the obvious perpetrators
of the murder, there is no guts," Miroshnik wrote.
Earlier, the NTV TV channel said that correspondent
Alexey Ivliev, and cameraman Valery Kozhin, were
injured in Gorlovka, along with an escort officer.
NTV employees were hospitalized, they were
in a coma.
A possible reason for the injury of the NTV TV crew could
be a Ukrainian drone. According to the head of the DPR
Denis Pushilin, the journalists received
mine-explosive injuries.
Later it became known that the cameraman Valery
Kozhin, whose rescue doctors worked on for
several hours, did not survive. He was
46 years old.
__________________________________
The Pentagon auditor: again
revealed an overestimation
of prices for weapons
for Ukraine
June 13th, 10:56pm
(Izvestia.ru)
According to the results of an audit of military assistance
provided by the US to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, new
cases of overstating the cost of weapons by $1.9 billion were identified, according to a report by Pentagon
Inspector General Robert Storch, published
on June 13.
Thus, in the current fiscal year, the Pentagon will be able
to spend almost $2 billion more on weapons for Ukraine
than expected, due to an accounting error.
"The identification in our sample, of additional defense
items with an inflated cost of $1.9 billion, in addition
to the previously announced $6.2 billion, shows that
the Department of Defense and its departments
failed to fully implement the updated policy
------ related to the instructions of the
Department of Defense regulator
in the spring of 2023," the
Storch report says.
He added.. that the audit revealed cases when some
departments of the Ministry of Defense involved in
the evaluation of defense goods did not have a
complete understanding of the accounting
principles set out in the updates to the
department's regulator's policy, and
were unable to implement these
updates - due to significant
deficiencies in financial
reporting.
A similar error in maintaining documentation became
known in June 2023. Then it was reported that the
Pentagon overestimated the cost of weapons
sent from its stockpiles by $2.6 billion in
fiscal 2022 and by $3.6 billion
in fiscal 2023.
___________________________________________
Medvedev named the condition for
the liberation of Ukraine from
Western shackles
June 13th, 10:39pm
(Lenta.ru)
Completing the tasks of the special military operation will
free Ukraine from the neo-colonial shackles of the West.
This condition was stated by the Deputy chairman of
the Security Council of the Russian Federation,
and chairman of the United Russia party,
Dmitry Medvedev, in an article for
Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
"As a result of the coup d'etat in February 2014, the
country completely lost its political subjectivity. In
fact, external control.. was established over the
republic, examples of which are innumerable
all over the world," Medvedev recalled.
The Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council
sees the fulfillment of its tasks as the only solution
to this problem for Ukraine.
Earlier, Dmitry Medvedev said that a new system of
international relations based on the principles of
respect and benevolent non-interference will be
formed in the near future. This --- will make it
possible to solve the tasks of "eliminating
the socio-economic manifestations
of neocolonialism".
_________________________________________
Guards private Bazhenov single-handedly
destroyed a machine-gun crew of
saboteurs of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine
June 13th, 10:25pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Moving along the route as part of the head patrol, the
driver of the Guard's mortar battery, Private Dmitry
Bazhenov --- discovered a sabotage group of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine preparing an ambush
on the route of the Russian Armed Forces.
Despite the numerical superiority of the saboteurs, the
Russian military entered into an unequal battle. At this
time, Bazhenov secretly outflanked the enemy, who
threw the main forces to repel the attack. With
targeted fire, he destroyed an equipped AFU
firing point with a machine-gun crew
located there.
Having lost machine-gun support, the enemy with losses
hastily left the position and retreated. As a result of the
dedication and courage shown by Private Bazhenov to
the Guards, conditions were created that allowed the
column to arrive in a timely manner in a given area
without losses.
Meanwhile, Guard lance Corporal, Pavel Kachurin, at
the observation post found a drone approaching the
positions of Russian troops. After the report and
clarification of the UAV ownership, he was
given the task of destroying the
enemy drone.
Guards Lance Corporal Kachurin opened accurate small
arms fire on the quadcopter. A kamikaze drone of the
Ukrainian Armed Forces, designed to deliver a fire
strike on Russian troops, was hit and detonated
in the air.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on
February 24, 2022, continues. The decision
was made against the background of the
worsening situation in the region.
_____________________________________
One of the NTV employees injured in
the attack of the Ukrainian Armed
Forces... died
June 13th, 6:37pm
(Izvestia.ru)
One of the injured NTV employees who were injured in
the attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in
Horlivka has died. This was announced on
June 13 by the editorial board of the
TV channel in Telegram.
"Our cameraman Valery Kozhin, who was wounded today
in Gorlovka, has died. Doctors saved him for several
hours, but Valera's injuries were not compatible
with life," the report says.
It is specified that the man was 46 years old. He started
working in the TV channel's team in 2006... and has
repeatedly been on business trips to hot spots.
In addition, Kozhin was awarded the medal "For Bravery",
medals of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, I and II degrees, and the medal of the Ministry of Defense of
the Russian Federation "Participant of the military
operation in Syria".
According to representatives of the TV channel,
journalist Alexey Ivliev was operated on
and is in a stable condition.
On Thursday, the UN Secretary-General's office
stressed that the organization opposes any
attacks on journalists.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign
Ministry, Maria Zakharova, in turn, pointed out
that the shelling of NTV employees
was targeted.
The diplomat also noted that international
organizations such as UNESCO and the
OSCE ------ are obliged to hold Kiev
accountable for such attacks.
Ukrainian militants have repeatedly attacked media
representatives. So, in April, as a result of criminal
actions of the Kiev regime, during the shooting of
a report, Izvestia military correspondent Semyon
Eremin was killed. In addition, Boris Maksudov, a Rossiya 24 journalist, died in November last
year, and Rostislav Zhuravlev, a RIA Novosti
military correspondent, died in July.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are firing daily at the
territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's
Republics, as well as Zaporozhye and Kherson
regions, against the background of a special
operation to protect the Donbass, which
Russia announced on February 24th,
in 2022.
_____________________________________
In the Russian region, they decided to
install anti-UAV systems on buses
June 13th, 4:56pm
(Lenta.ru)
Electronic warfare systems will be installed on regular
buses in the border areas of the Belgorod region. This
was announced by the governor of the Russian region
Vyacheslav Gladkov, during a live broadcast
on VKontakte.
A local resident asked the head of the region about
protection measures against unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) during the broadcast. In turn,
Gladkov said that such measures are in the
plans of the authorities.
On April 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed
to provide emergency medical care in the frontline
zone with electronic warfare equipment. Prime
Minister Mikhail Mishustin and the heads
of Russia's regions... were appointed
responsible for this task.
In June, it became known that electronic warfare
systems were installed on 19 ambulances in the
Belgorod region. "There are 11 more cars in
operation now. We will also work with
other types of transport,"
Gladkov said.
______________________________________
In Britain, the flight of SBU officers
from Ukraine --- was called an
ominous sign of collapse
June 13th, 3:54pm
(Lenta.ru)
The flight of employees of the Security Service of
Ukraine (SBU) abroad is a sign of the collapse of
statehood. This was stated by the British expert
Alexander Merkouris in a video on his
YouTube channel.
"The number of people crossing the border to escape
from the territory of Ukraine is growing. Some of
them went to Hungary. Among those who
escaped are police officers and the
SBU, which is an ominous sign
for Ukraine," he said.
According to the expert, this way Ukrainians are saved
from mobilization. He stressed that Kiev is gradually
approaching the point where the collapse of the
state will be inevitable.
Earlier, Merkouris explained the refusal of countries
to participate in the summit on the settlement of
the conflict in Ukraine. He believes that many
states ignored the Swiss conference
because of the loss of confidence
in the President of Ukraine
Vladimir Zelensky.
______________________________
General Brown: the West's goal
is to deliver F-16s to Kiev
this summer
June 13th, 3:23pm
(Vesti.ru)
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US
Armed Forces, General Charles Brown, said that
Western countries consider it their goal --- to
supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter-bombers
this summer.
"We are working hard to make sure that Ukraine
has everything it needs," Brown said. ''The
goal is to deliver the F-16 to Russia
this summer."
In May, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen
announced that the F-16 fighter jets
transferred to Kiev will appear
in Ukraine within a month.
The Netherlands also announced its readiness to
transfer at least 24 F-16 fighter jets to Kiev. The
first vehicles are expected to be delivered in
the second half of 2024.
According to experts --- the F-16s are outdated and
do not pose a problem for the Russian air defense
and aviation. Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey
Lavrov stressed: that the delivery of F-16s to
Kiev will be regarded as a deliberate signal
from NATO --- in the nuclear sphere.
___________________________________
Defense Ministry: Lance corporal
Meshcheryakov destroyed
10 enemy soldiers
June 13th, 2:26pm
(Vesti.ru)
A Russian fighter single-handedly destroyed a squad of
Ukrainian militants - and helped his comrades capture
the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces without
losses, the Russian Defense Ministry reports.
As specified by the military department, Lance Corporal
Yevgeny Meshcheryakov together with his unit stormed
the enemy stronghold. Russian soldiers waited until the end of artillery training - and hit the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the flank.
Meshcheryakov was among the first to break into the
Nazi trenches and open fire on them. As a result, the
lance corporal destroyed 10 militants, and put the
rest to flight.
After that, the Russian servicemen were able
to continue their offensive against the enemy.
_______________________________
Argentina participates for the first time
in the work of the Ramstein group
on arms supplies to Kiev
June 13th, 1:05pm
(Vesti.ru)
Argentina for the first time took part in the work of the
group on military assistance to Ukraine (Ramstein
format) at the meeting of NATO defense ministers
in Brussels, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd
Austin said.
"I am delighted to welcome Argentina as a new member
of the group. Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri,
I am glad to see you among us," Austin said.
NATO countries voluntarily supply weapons to Kiev
--- but coordinate these deliveries, within the
framework of the US-led Ramstein group.
____________________________________
Russian Defence Ministry report
on the progress of the special
military operation
June 13th, 11:55am
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
continue the special military operation.
Units of the Sever Group of Forces --- took more
advantageous positions. Losses were inflicted
on formations of the AFU 57th Motorised
Infantry Brigade and 127th Territorial
Defence Brigade near Ternovaya,
Volchanskiye Khutora, Tikhoye,
and Volchansk (Kharkov region).
Eight counter-attacks launched by assault
detachments of the AFU 36th Marines
Brigade and 13th National Guard
Brigade... were repelled.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 305 Ukrainian troops,
five motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777
howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and
one BM-21 Grad combat vehicle.
Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical
situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on
manpower and hardware of the AFU 115th
Mechanised Brigade and 117th Territorial
Defence Brigade near Krasny Liman,
Torskoye, and Kirovsk (Donetsk
People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 450 Ukrainian troops,
two pickup trucks, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-
propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm
M777 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one
122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery
system, and one Nota electronic
warfare station.
Two AFU field ammunition depots were destroyed.
Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical
situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hard
ware of the AFU 22nd Mechanised Brigade, 46th
Airmobile Brigade, and 241st Territorial Defence
Brigade near Ostroye, Belaya Gora, and Stenki
(Donetsk People's Republic). One counter-
attack launched by an assault
detachment of the AFU 10th
Mountain Assault Brigade
was repelled.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 635 Ukrainian troops,
two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, one
UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, two 152-mm D-20
howitzers, and two 122-mm D-30 howitzers. Seven
AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.
Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical
situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on
formations of the AFU 23rd, 47th mechanised
brigades, 144th Infantry Brigade, and 109rd
Territorial Defence Brigade nr Timofeyevka,
Yevgenovka, Rozovka, Novgorodskoye, &
Karlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Four counter-attacks launched by assault
detachments of the AFU 24th and 113th
mechanised brigades, were repelled.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 345 Ukrainian troops,
one German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicle, one
U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, one U.S.-
made MaxxPro armoured fighting vehicle, one U.S.-
made 155-mm M777 howitzer, two 152-mm Msta-B
howitzers, three 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one
BM-21 Grad MLRS combat vehicle.
Units of the Vostok Group of Forces ---- took more
advantageous lines and inflicted losses on man-
power and hardware of the AFU 21st National
Guard Brigade and 125th Territorial Defence
Brigade near Neskuchnoye and Oktyabr
(Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 155 Ukrainian troops,
two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles,
and one U.S.-made M198 howitzer.
Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on
formations of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade,
128th Mountain Assault Brigade, and 15th
National Guard Brigade near Mirnoye &
Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 100 Ukrainian troops,
Similarly to the ABM Treaty, the US unilaterally pulled
out of the INF Treaty in 2019. However, instead of
simply stating it wished to develop weapons
beyond the treaty’s limitations, the Trump
administration accused Moscow of
violating the treaty by lying about
the range of its 9M728/9M729
missiles used by Iskander
missile systems.
Nonetheless, within 2 weeks of the US’ formal
departure from the treaty, in August 2019, it
began testing the first of multiple missiles
that violated the treaty’s limitations.
The origins of the INF Treaty lay in a dramatic
showdown, across Europe, in late 1983,
triggered by Washington’s deployment
of ITS Pershing-II intermediate-range
ballistic missiles (IRBM) to Europe.
With a 900-mile range, a flight apogee of just 60 miles,
and a maneuverable, radar-guided reentry vehicle,
the missile could put an 80-kiloton nuclear war-
head on Moscow in between 6 and 11 minutes
...according to Pentagon leaders. Such a fast
strike time gave the Soviets just minutes to
identify, analyze and respond to the threat,
greatly increasing the risk of them mis-
reading a situation and launching a
mistaken nuclear return volley,
believing it to be their
only chance.
In addition, tensions in Europe had already been
ramped up by years of psychological operations
designed to increase Soviet anxieties, such as
US bombers charging Soviet borders and
turning away at the last second
That’s why, when NATO began the vast, ultra-realistic
“Able Archer-83” war games, simulating an all-out
attack on the Soviet Union, in November 1983, it put Soviet fears through the roof.
However, it wasn’t until after the war games had
concluded, several days later, that NATO
commanders discovered key signs: the
Soviets had loaded hundreds of strike
aircraft in East Germany and Poland
with nuclear bombs, and orders to
strike “front-line targets” at a
moment’s notice.
The INF Treaty eliminated missiles like the Pershing-II,
banning land-based missiles with ranges of between
500 klms and 5,500 klms. This significantly cooled
tensions in Europe... although the treaty was only
between the US and Soviet Union -- now Russia --
which left other countries, such as China, free to
develop their own intermediate-range missiles.
The INF’s absence now is especially poignant,
considering the long-standing Russian fears
over a NATO Aegis Ashore missile system,
built on a land base in Deveselu, Romania.
While the US claimed the system was purely
defensive, Moscow noted... that Aegis can
also be used to launch offensive missiles.
Among the missiles tested after the INF Treaty lapsed
was a land-based Tomahawk missile with a range of
1,600 kilometres - a cruise missile US Aegis
cruisers have fired at sea for years.
1992 Treaty on Open Skies
The Open Skies treaty... was an attempt to increase
transparency and put to rest fears of an impending
attack by the other side. The deal allowed 35
partner nations to perform reconnaissance
overflights over other nations... using
specialized aircraft with specialized
equipment. However, flights could
not interfere with other military
activities and could be refused
by the overflown nation, for a
variety of reasons.
The US sent signs it was interested in leaving the
treaty as early as 2019, claiming it was caused
by Russia refusing US Open Skies aircraft
access to several areas almost a decade
earlier - denials Moscow insisted were
within its rights under the treaty.
The US finally made the move on May 21ST 2020,
meaning the six-month cooldown time had the
US leaving the treaty, after the November 2020 elections, that Trump lost.
The decision sparked an outcry across Europe, with Ukraine being one of the loudest critics;
that nation having long used Open Skies to perform overflights in western Russia, to calm its nerves about troops and
installations there.
Indeed, the Open Skies Treaty was drafted precisely to
avoid the type of anxious confrontation... unfolding on
the Russia-Ukraine border, over the last two months.
The Democrats publicly attacked Trump’s withdrawal
as illegal then... although much of their criticism
focused on his refusal to notify Congress before
pulling out. However, in March 2021, a leaked
message --- sent to concerned “international
partners” by the Biden administration said
it was afraid that doing so “would send
the wrong message to Russia and
undermine our position... on the
broader arms control agenda.”
Istanbul, Astana Declarations
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) has its origins in the November
1972 multilateral talks in Espoo, Finland
...intended to further the peaceful
cooperation of the Detente era.
Today, the OSCE has 57 members and 11 observers
and continues to serve as a regional forum for
resolving international issues.
Two of its most important declarations of principles
came at summits in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1999 and in
Astana (now Nur-Sultan), Kazakhstan, in 2010,
which, among other topics, affirmed each
nation’s right to its own security in the
context of an international community.
"The security of each participating State... is
inseparably linked to that of all others. Each
participating State, has an equal right to
security. We reaffirm the inherent right
of each and every participating State
...to be free to choose or change its
security arrangements, including
treaties of alliance, as they evolve.''
''Each State also has the right to neutrality. Each
participating State will respect the rights of all others in these regards. They will not
strengthen their security ...at the
expense of... the security of
other States.'' the Astana
declaration states.
While the OSCE met in Vienna, Austria, 2 weeks ago,
the talks yielded no major breakthrough. Earlier this
week -- when the US and NATO delivered separate
written responses to Russia’s December security
proposal -- the US response was considerably
more intransigent, while NATO’s, sent from
Brussels and speaking for 30 member
states, acknowledged the Russian
security concerns and proposed
mutual briefings in the NATO-
Russia Council and the re-
establishment of their
respective envoys in
Moscow & Brussels.
However, neither reply gave deference to Russia’s
central concern --- the eastward expansion of
NATO and the impact that has on Russian
security, especially since now, the US
explicitly regards Russia as a
challenger to its position ...as leader of the post- Cold War global order.
Speaking on Thursday, about the US response,
in particular, Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey
Lavrov said "The principle that one should not strengthen one's security -- at the expense of
the security of others is deliberately avoided.
Neither the Istanbul or Astana declarations are mentioned by our Western partners in the discussions on European
security that are currently
taking place. We cannot
accept this.”
Morgan Artyukhina is a writer and news editor at
Sputnik’s Washington, DC, bureau... focusing on
international & breaking news. Born in southern Maryland, she studied Russian, Central, and
East European Studies, at the University of
Glasgow and is a former history professor.
At Sputnik, she covers military technology,
the expanding neoliberal police state, and
the ongoing struggles against it in the US
and around the globe.
Image: palestine
Paul Larudee: Zionist Dream
Turning into Nightmare
November 25th, 5:26pm (FNA)
Paul Larudee, political activist and commentator,
says Zionists have come to this understating
- that Zionism is now nearing its predestined
self-annihilation.
Speaking in an interview with FNA, Larudee
said, “Zionism planted the seeds of its own
destruction the moment they created a
plan for a Jewish state in someone
else's homeland. It is increasingly
becoming an international pariah
...contributing to the wars and
conflicts in West Asia, South
America, Africa, and other
parts of the world. It only
creates more enemies
for them.”
Paul Larudee is an - Iranian-born - American political
activist who is a major figure in the pro-Palestinian
movement. Based in the San Francisco Bay area,
he is involved with the International Solidarity
Movement, & was a founder of the Free Gaza
Movement & the Free Palestine Movement.
Larudee was a member of the US delegation
aboard the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla,
which was attacked by Israeli forces.
Below is the full text of the interview:
Q: Yaakov Sharett says “Israel and the Zionist
enterprise were born in sin.” What do we
learn about the nature of Israel?
A: Such words from a Zionist leader's son may help to
gradually sink doubts into the minds of other Zionists,
but we must not forget that many Jews were opposed
to Zionism for decades before 1948. It is unfortunate
that as Zionism became more successful in its
genocidal project, it also became more
acceptable to more Jews. But that is
now being reversed. As Zionism
becomes more racist, violent,
and aggressive, it is starting
to lose Jews who cannot
stomach such behaviour.
Q: Such a significant assertion was made by the son
of a signatory to the Israeli declaration in 1948. Do
you believe settlers will learn a lesson to end their
occupation of the Palestinians’ land?
A: There are two kinds of settlers that are being used
to colonize the West Bank and Jerusalem. The most
aggressive and violent are the ideological settlers,
who think of themselves as conquering soldiers,
much like the Europeans who took the land from
the native peoples in the western hemisphere.
They want to expel all Palestinians by any means
necessary, and take their land. They do not need
Israel to paint a rosy picture. They are ready to
endure hardship, although Israel actually
helps and enables them. The other type
are the opportunists. Israel builds
subsidized housing and industrial
parks on Palestinian land... and
makes it attractive for settlers
to move there. Israel creates
many advantages for them...
so as to increase the Jewish
population in the occupied
territories and push the
Palestinians out.
Q: Yaakov Sharett predicts a dark future for Israel
and asks settlers to immigrate from Israel; like-
wise, Lawrence Wilkerson, former Israeli State
Department aide, said Israel will be gone in
some 20 years. How do you assess
these statements?
A: Clearly, Sharett is being a realist in this case.
Despite Israel's influence, propaganda, bribes
and manipulations of other governments, it is
increasingly becoming an international pariah,
contributing to the wars and conflicts in West
Asia, South America, Africa and other parts of
the world. They believe that this makes them
strong, but it only creates more enemies for
them. Sharett seems to understand that the
Zionist dream is proving to be unsustainable.
It can only be realized by committing greater
and greater crimes, but even many Zionists
consider this too high a price for their dream,
and their dream is turning into a nightmare.
Zionism planted the seeds of its own destruction
the moment they created a plan for a Jewish
state on someone else's homeland.
Image: palestine
UN Must Prevent Normalization of
Israeli Violation of Human Rights:
Iran Envoy
November 20th, 11am (al Manar)
Iran’s ambassador to the UN office in Geneva
put the onus on the United Nations: to take
action: against the normalization of the
systematic violation of human rights
and humanitarian laws, by the
Zionist regime.
In an address to a meeting between ambassadors
of the member states of the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation, residing in Geneva,
and to members of the Commission of Inquiry of the UN Council on Human
Rights, held on Friday, Esmaeil
Baqaei Hamaneh called for the
clarification of true and false
narratives, referring to the
stories... that equate the
victims of Israeli crimes
with the perpetrators
of the heinous acts.
“It is the duty of all of us to clarify the true and false
narratives, the narrative that equates the victims
of Israeli crimes, with their killers, which is
humanly shocking, legally unfounded,
and morally shameful,” the Iranian
envoy stressed.
He added that the inquiry commission has an historic
responsibility --- to prevent the normalization of
systematic human rights violations by the
Israeli regime.
The Iranian diplomat invited all the participants in the
meeting to call for justice; and not allow war crimes,
crimes against humanity, and blatant violations of
human rights, to become normal, Press
TV reported.
In May, the UN Human Rights Council agreed to initiate
an international probe into “systematic” human rights
abuses committed during the asymmetrical war
between ‘Israel’ and Palestinian resistance
groups in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The 47-member forum adopted a resolution presented
by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC and the Palestinian
delegation to the UN, by a vote of 24 states in favour, 9 against, and 14 abstentions.
The UN rights body agreed to establish “an ongoing
independent, international commission of inquiry”
into the war to probe the “underlying root causes
of recurrent tensions and instability, including
the systematic discrimination and repression
based on group identity.”
Israeli troops have, on numerous occasions, been
caught on camera, brutally killing Palestinians...
with the videos going viral online and sparking
international condemnation.
The Tel Aviv regime has been criticized for its extensive
use of lethal force against, and extrajudicial killing of,
Palestinians... who do not pose an immediate threat
to the occupation forces, or to the Israeli settlers.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Palestinian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, called
on the International Criminal Court to launch an
immediate investigation into the Tel Aviv
regime’s crimes, in the occupied
Palestinian territories --- after
the Israeli forces shot dead a
young man, in the northern
part of the West Bank.
Source: Iranian Agencies
Image: John Wight
Syria..to resume negotiations with the opposition... on constitutional reform. The question is, why?
by John Wight
October 20th, 11:26am (PressTV)
On a facile level the news that another round of UN-mandated
negotiations on the drafting of a new Syrian constitution... is
about to get underway in Geneva, between representatives
of the government and opposition groups... provides hope
that at long last an end to the inordinate suffering of the
Syrian people may be in sight. We are, after all, talking
about the most brutal and devastating conflict of
modern times, one that has resulted in 500,000
dead, the wholesale destruction of large parts
of the country, 13 million in need of
humanitarian assistance, half the
population displaced, and an
economy in ruins.
“You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame;
how could you rise anew if you have not first become
ashes?” Thus writes the 19th-century German
philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
When applied to Syria the first part of Nietzsche’s admonition
formulation -- can be readily dismissed. Syria and the Syrian
people were, most assuredly, not ready to burn themselves
in their own flame. This horrific fate was thrust upon them
by internal and external agents, using regional upheaval
to advance a sectarian agenda, when it came to the
former, and an imperialist one, with respect to
the latter.
As for rising from the ashes, when applied to a country and
people that have endured and suffered to the extent that
Syria and its people have, the challenge in this regard is
monumental. Here, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Syria
remains under foreign occupation - by Turkish forces
in the north and northwest of the country, and by US
forces in the Kurdish-controlled east and northeast -
and that the Syrian opposition has been sponsored
by those very Western countries that have worked
tirelessly to ‘destroy Syria in order to save it’ over
the past decade.
Democracy, in a given state, or country, can only ever
flourish on the foundations of security and economic
stability. Try to establish a democratic system
absent of these non-negotiable pillars, and the end result is Afghanistan.
The Syrian people... have been engaged in a protracted
struggle to return security and stability to the country
with the indispensable aid of its Iranian, Lebanese
and Russian allies for over a decade now - and at
a huge cost. The idea, then, that those who
remained in Syria and endured so much...
should acquiesce in the role of a foreign
-based opposition when it comes to the
country’s future... will be a bitter pill
to swallow.
The key stumbling block to previous negotiations between
the government and opposition has been the status of
Bashar al-Assad. His removal from power has long
been a non-negotiable condition of the opposition
and its Western sponsors and backers, which is
precisely why there has been zero progress up
to this point, when it comes to achieving a
negotiated settlement.
The hard truth is that without external support the Syrian
opposition would be a marginal force at best. And, too,
an opposition willing to trade sovereignty for power is
a proxy, rather than a serious government in waiting,
especially given the scale of the struggle waged by
Syrian government forces, its allies and people, for
so long.
Regionally, meanwhile, Assad’s tenacity has begun to bear
fruit. In a recent Newsweek piece, Tom O’Connor confirms
that “the Syrian president has not only survived, but
appears poised to make a stunning comeback on
the world stage.” O’Connor elaborates:
“Recognizing reality, many of the countries that cut him
[Assad] off 10 years ago have begun to welcome him
back - despite ongoing US opposition to his rule.
Telltale signs: Just last month Jordan reopened
its border with Syria, and the Arab League is
widely expected to reinstate its
membership shortly.”
In some respects, then, the question needs to be asked:
What does the Assad government stand to gain... from
going into negotiations on constitutional reform with
a weak opposition at this particular juncture?
Much of the answer lies with the role of Putin in pushing
Assad to be more flexible and open to inclusiveness
when it comes to the opposition. Though Moscow
has played a major role in the conflict in Syria
since the end of September 2015, its support
has come at a price ----- one which suggests
that its status has been less that of an ally -
and more that of putative imperial overlord.
With this in mind, consider the words of former Russian
diplomat, Alexander Aksenyonok, as quoted in a May
2020 article by veteran Middle East correspondent
Martin Jay from May: “If Assad refuses to accept
a new constitution, the Syrian regime will put
itself at great risk.”
There is no doubting the fact that Syria has reached an
historic fork in the road after a decade of unremitting
conflict. The ocean of blood that has been shed, in
the course of the struggle for the country’s future
makes the tentative steps towards a negotiated
settlement a challenge for Assad's government
that will be well aware of the danger of
snatching defeat from the jaws
of victory.
Whatever the outcome of this new round of negotiations
with the opposition on constitutional reform, the over-
riding priority of the Syrian government remains
security, stability and putting food on the table
of its people. After all, in the last analysis,
you can’t eat a constitution.
End.
John Wight is an author and political
commentator based in Scotland.
(The views expressed in this article... do
not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)
Image: Bill Dores
China is no threat
to people in the US; Wall Street,CIA & the Pentagon are
-- Analyst
October 16th, 3:14pm (PressTV)
US political analyst and activist Bill Dores says
China is no threat to the people in the US., but
Wall Street, the CIA, and the Pentagon, are.
Dores, a writer for Struggle/La Lucha and a longtime
antiwar activist, made the remarks in an interview
with Press TV on Saturday, after the CIA launched
a new mission centre to address what it calls “the most important geopolitical threat” posed... by China.
CIA Director William Burns said in a statement last week
that the new unit, called the China Mission Centre, will
“further strengthen our collective work on the most
important geopolitical threat we face in the 21st
century, an increasingly adversarial Chinese
government.”
Burns said that his agency will still focus on other threats
as well, including those emanating from Russia, North
Korea and Iran.
The CIA’s renewed attention to China is the latest evidence
of the Biden administration’s focus on Beijing as its main
foreign policy target.
Since taking charge of the White House earlier this year,
the Biden administration has been directing resources
toward countering China.
Why is the CIA targeting China?
“The CIA is grabbing more tax money --- to start a ‘mission
centre’ aimed at China, which it calls the ‘most important
geopolitical threat we face.’ This is ominous news
- considering the agency’s history of 'fabricating'
evidence to start wars, e.g. Iraq’s nonexistent
‘weapons of mass destruction,’” Dores
commented to Press TV.
“US troops have left Afghanistan. But not a dime has been
slashed from the bloated US military budget. Indeed, it’s
being increased to $778 billion from $753 billion to face
the alleged ‘Chinese threat.’ That’s more than the
combined military budgets of China, India,
Russia, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Germany,
France, Japan, South Korea, Italy
and Australia,” he added.
“It’s also been revealed that US Special Forces have been
operating secretly on Taiwan for two years. Meanwhile...
the US Congress will not pass the Build Back Better Act
to modestly extend our social safety net,” he added.
“The People’s Republic of China... has five times the population of the United States. But it spends only
$258 billion on its military. China’s forces are
deployed in - or around - the borders and
coasts of China. By no stretch of the
imagination is China threatening
he US militarily. Why would it?
For what gain?” he asked.
“So, what the Sam Hill is a ‘geopolitical threat.’ It’s a
twisted concept based on the twisted premise that
the United States, with 4 percent of the world’s
population, should dominate the world
politically & economically. And that
really means the billionaires and
millionaires, that Occupy Wall
Street protesters called the
‘One Percent,’” he stated.
China’s economic ‘threat’ to US
“China’s real ‘threat,’ in the minds of the US corporate
ruling class, is economic. China produces more than
the United States, and its economy is growing much faster,” the analyst said.
“It has achieved this, not by destroying the economies of
other countries with war and sanctions, but by growth,
and trade. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has greatly
weakened the stranglehold Wall Street banks once
held on the world economy. An article in the US
magazine Foreign Policy whined: that China is
‘whittling away’ at the murderous ‘sanctions
regime’ the US and West Europe use -- to
‘punish’ countries that defy their
dictates,” he explained.
“US corporations do, of course, invest in China. They make
a lot of money there. But they cannot dictate to China's
government the way US oil companies dictated to the
Shah of Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Or
the way they dictate to their paid servants in the
White House and the Capitol today,”
he observed.
“Politicians and news media tell working-class people in
the US that China’s growth is, somehow, a threat to our
well-being. They conceal the fact: that China’s dynamic
growth is the biggest single factor staving off a global
economic collapse,” he said.
“Yet it is their own Wall Street masters who have shut
down plants all over this country and foreclosed on
millions of homes. It is they who used the techno-
logical revolution as a weapon, to drive down
wages and destroy millions of jobs,”
Dores said.
Washington’s ‘hate China’ campaign
“Washington raises several phony issues in its ‘hate
China’ campaign. One is the alleged persecution of
the Uighur people in Xinjiang Province. There’s
nothing but hypocrisy here,” the analyst said.
“If this claim were true - and I’ve seen no reliable evidence
that it is - Washington would be the last to care. The US
leads the world in mass incarceration and murder
by police,” he noted.
“According to the Equal Justice Initiative... ‘Millions of
Americans are incarcerated in overcrowded, violent,
and inhumane jails and prisons.. that do not provide
treatment, education, or rehabilitation.' A majority
are from the oppressed Black, Latin and Native
nations... targeted by the police,” he said.
“Among the incarcerated are dozens of political
prisoners, such as Mumia Abu Jamal, Leonard
Peltier and Jamil Abdullah Al Amin, who have
spent decades behind bars on framed-up
charges,” he stated.
“Last year’s Black Lives Matter uprising..... highlighted
the extent of racist police murder in the US. Between
1980 and 2018, the US police killed more than 30,000
people. Half of those killings were misclassified,
according to a study published in the Lancet
medical journal,” he said.
US supports ‘ethnic cleansing and
murder of Palestinian people’
“We also can't forget that Washington not only supports
but subsidizes --- the ethnic cleansing and murder of
Palestinian people --- by the racist state of Israel,
including the mass imprisonment of 2 million
people in the giant concentration camp
called the Gaza Strip. The US also has
no problem with the oppression of
the majority Muslim people of
Kashmir, by the Indian state,” Dores noted.
“The US accuses China of stealing ‘intellectual property,’
a twisted concept indeed. Perhaps the West should pay
China for inventing paper, iron smelting, the seed drill,
the compass, rockets, gunpowder and other
innovations... that made its economic
development possible,” he said.
“There is the accusation of currency manipulation. But
Washington... has flooded the world with devalued
dollars ever since the Nixon administration took
the dollar off the gold standard in the 1970s.
The US has long used the dollar as an
instrument of financial warfare,”
he said.
Why is the US Navy in the South China Sea?
“And there is the issue of ‘free navigation’ in the South
China Sea. Which raises the question, what is the US
Seventh Fleet doing in the South China Sea anyway?
For that matter, why is the US Fifth Fleet off the
coast of Iran and the US Fourth Fleet off the
coast of Venezuela,” Dores said.
“Every year, ships carry $3.4 trillion worth of goods
through the South China Sea. Most of that is
bound to and from China,” he said.
“The PRC has no interest in stopping that commerce.
It does have an interest in keeping US warships
away from its coast and ports,” he said.
“For the past seven years, the US Navy has helped Saudi
Arabia impose a naval blockade that is starving the
children of Yemen. US sanctions, backed by the
US Navy, are the main obstacle to commerce
between nations in the world today,”
he said.
“Instead of new CIA mission centres, military bases and
fleets of warships and warplanes all over the world, the
US should do what China does: Invest in schools,
health care, housing, railroads and renewable
energy. Bring all the ships, planes, troops
and spies home. The world would be a
much better and safer place,”
he concluded.
Image: Sa’dollah Zarei
Iran won’t let US, Turkey, Israel
create crisis in Caucasus
Sunday, October 3rd, 11:51am (PressTV)
by Sa’dollah Zarei
The fact of the matter is, that if there is no more time for
preventing a conspiracy from taking shape... there is
still time to thwart the conspiracy that has formed.
Here are some points with regards to this issue:
1) What the US, the Zionist regime, the governments of
Turkey and Azerbaijan, and the West in general, are
pursuing in the regions north of Iran is, firstly, a reaction to the great achievements of the
Islamic Republic and the resistance front.
When the criminal Zionist regime refers to the Republic of
Azerbaijan as “Lebanon of Israel,” it means that there is
a “Lebanon of resistance” that has foiled any Israeli
conspiracy over the past forty years and turned
into a major crisis for the occupying regime.
Why is a front led by the US, Zionist regime, Turkey and
Azerbaijan, talking about launching a pan-Turan move
-ment here? Because a powerful religious movement
has, for more than 40 years, disrupted the plots of
colonialists and criminals. So, it is quite clear that the enemy, although very hardworking, is in a state of “passivity.”
Here is another important question: will this evil conspiracy
ever yield any result? The answer is that there is a serious
antidote to prevent the realization of this tension-making
scheme, and if it enters the scene, it will definitely
thwart the plan, as it has happened so far.
2) Some people make a mistake here and say that the Syunik
agreement with North Karabakh... is a matter that concerns
the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia and that Iran’s
objection to it is not a matter of concern. They argue that
the implementation of the agreement is to the detriment
of Iran’s regional situation, but it is a natural
consequence and thus does not create a
right for Iran to legitimize its opposition.
The answer is clear; This is not an agreement between the
two countries on a disputed region, but one on creating a
region meant to undermine the security, political and
economic position of a third country.
While acknowledging their military and political failure, in
Afghanistan, the Americans explicitly speak of pursuing
a proxy war model to make up for their defeat. Shortly
afterwards, it becomes known that they had sent a
signal to Azerbaijan to launch and attack and a
signal to Armenia to, in turn, show tolerance
and accept the post-war reality, and at the
same time, following the end of a recent
44-day Karabakh war, the US stated
that they 'support' the agreements
reached between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. All this suggests that
the US has been standing behind this war and the situation that ensued.
Simultaneously, the Azerbaijani government announced
the widespread use of Israeli attack drones in the war,
and the Armenian army called the UAVs the main
reason for its heavy casualties in the war. This
means that it was an American-Israeli war.
Everyone knows, that the administration of Armenian
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is a Christian govern-
ment dependent on the West, but it's interesting that
in this war, the United States and Israel destroyed the forces and facilities belonging to a pro-West
Christian administration, and supported a
Muslim government instead! Isn’t that
a telltale sign?
The question is, what kind of “proxy war” US officials
were talking about in the course of their withdrawal
from Afghanistan? Was it possible for the US to
start such a war in Afghanistan? Which forces
could be used by the US to launch a proxy war
in Afghanistan? Could the US bring the Taliban
- which was taking power - into a proxy war?
Proxy war with whom? The answer is no.
Was the Afghan army able to enter a proxy war? The
answer's clear. Was the army that was not even able
to defend Kabul for an hour, against the Taliban —
which took control of the capital without firing a
single shot — ready to enter a proxy war?
Could the old mujahedeen forces.. serve
as the proxies of the American war? The
answer is clear. The old forces, besides
having an anti-American spirit... have
currently no military capability. Could
the USA... create a ''proxy force'' in
Afghanistan, in the medium term,
with the Taliban et al present on the scene? The answer to this
question is also, no. This is
because... for at least the
next 50 years... US crimes
will be in front of the eyes
of the Afghan people, and
the prospect for any kind
of Afghan-American,
cooperation...
is bleak.
So, what did the Americans mean by a proxy war? In fact,
the Americans wanted a proxy war where there was a
fertile ground... and the required strength. From the
American point of view, the “ethnicity” factor must
be emphasized and turned into a winning weapon
against anti-American revolutionary uprisings.
The Americans have long focused on the
model of racism and pan-Turanism... in
the case of this region, and considered
them as “a possible solution,” or more
accurately, the last “remaining arrow,”
and pinned their hopes on it.
Therefore, the prominent role of this tendency, in the
developments in the north, and its overlapping in the
Caucasus, besides the intention to highlight the anti
Iranian and anti-Islamic edges in the rhetoric of the
officials of these countries, tell us that we are
facing a “semi-hard” proxy war.
When Azeri President Ilham Aliyev speaks openly in an
interview about the widespread presence of Israeli
forces and equipment in the Caucasus, and the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis, he
is, in fact, blowing the lid off a proxy war.
3) Saudi Arabia’s measures are yet another issue that is indicative of the proxy war in the developments
unfolding in Iran’s northwestern frontiers, on
the one side, and its scale, on the other. The
Saudis have explicitly said that they are
working to launch a 24-hour television
network for the Turkish region of the
Caucasus called “Turk national.”
Why is the Saudi regime in the Caucasus trying to launch
such a TV network? The people in this region are neither
Arabs nor Sunnis in order for them to be the audience of
a Sunni Arab country. At the same time, it is obvious that this decision cannot be implemented without the consent and cooperation of the governments in the region.
4) Naturally, on this front, Iran can't remain silent and turn
a blind eye to the dimensions and consequences of the
action that being along its borders; therefore, it has to
react, but what is the due reaction? There is no doubt
that military conflict & dragging Iran into the military
arena is a well-known policy of the American front.
On the other hand... we know that what is intended for the Caucasus region is not even a full-fledged military
war, let alone a regional and multilateral war. We
are thus not talking about a war in the sense
that it is perceived. We are talking about
actions that disturb the peace of this
region and the interests of the
powers around it.
Isn’t it true... that the Azerbaijani government says Israeli
drones and forces have been involved in the recent war
between the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Republic of
Armenia? Isn’t it true that the Israelis explicitly referred
to the Republic of Azerbaijan... as “Lebanon of Israel”?
Since there are talks about the formation of a definite
security threat against the Islamic Republic, Iran has
the right to dismantle and confront the centre of
conspiracy against itself, without coordination
with any place or individual.
This type of Iranian confrontation is not so incomprehensible
to Zionists. Interestingly, an Israeli institution wrote a few
days ago: “Iran may want to retaliate against Israeli attacks
in Syria in Azerbaijan.” The regime is attacking areas in
Syria under the false pretext that Syria has become a
base for the presence of Iranian military personnel.
The Israeli institute asks what problem would arise
if Iran attacked a base in Azerbaijan, where Israeli
force are possibly present?
Of course, Iran knows very well how to use developments
to the detriment of its enemies. The Islamic Republic will
naturally begin with negotiations, to fraternally resolve
the issue between neighbours on Iran’s northwestern
border. Over the past 2 decades, the United States,
Turkey, and the Zionist regime have faced ultimate
defeat in any sedition that they incited and gotten
out of the situation while fraught with humiliation.
They are inciting sedition while they do not have
the power to tolerate and manage the war. If
these acts of sedition are not put aside, they
will face defeat, thanks to Iran’s measures.
(The views expressed in this article.... do
not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)
Image: Boris Malagurski
It’s time for NATO to leave Kosovo
before it does any more damage
October 2nd, 10:36am (RT)
By Boris Malagurski, a Serbian Canadian documentary
film director, known for “The Weight of Chains”,
enlisted in the catalogue of the Library of
Congress, whose work has been show- cased on international festivals...
including Raindance in London.
Follow Boris on Twitter @malagurski
Just as it all ended badly for the West’s military interventions
in Vietnam and Afghanistan, so it will in Kosovo. NATO has
overstepped its mandate, overplayed its hand, and
overstayed its welcome.
As the last US military helicopters were leaving Kabul,
Afghanistan, many, including myself, emphasized the
similarities with America’s embarrassment in Saigon,
South Vietnam – but one parallel that few dared to
draw, was with Kosovo.
When I merely asked “Is Kosovo next?” on Twitter, it
sent Albanian media outlets into a frenzy. Kosovo’s
Albanian majority celebrates the NATO troops as
saviours – NATO bombed Serbia, to take away
control of its Southern province of Kosovo in
1999. Since then, NATO has been sponsoring
a nation-building project... that seemed to have culminated in 2008, when Kosovo’s
provisional authorities declared
independence from Serbia.
It wasn’t an ‘end of history’ moment. Serbia and much of
the world didn’t recognize Kosovo as an independent
country, and Kosovo itself remained heavily
dependent on Western aid... and military
support. Most Albanian politicians are
aware of this and they are highly
obedient with regards to NATO,
whose KFOR troops are
‘keeping the peace’
in Kosovo.
However, NATO has overstepped its mandate. UN Security
Council Resolution 1244, which put an end to NATO’s war
with Yugoslavia, guarantees Serbia’s sovereignty over
Kosovo, while NATO has pushed for an independent
Kosovo from day one of their occupation. The
resolution also called for... the return of an
agreed number of Yugoslav and Serbian
personnel to maintain a presence at
significant sites and key border
crossings.... NATO has never
allowed this to happen. The
last Serbian prime minister
who called for this agree-
ment to be honored, was
assassinated in 2003, a little over a month
after his request.
On the other hand, what are the results of NATO’s nation
building in Kosovo? Close to a 30% unemployment rate.
One of the poorest areas of Europe... with as much as
45% of the population living below the official poverty
line, and 17% being extremely poor. Former Kosovo
Liberation Army terrorists, some accused of
trafficking weapons and human organs,
replaced their military uniforms with
politicians’ suits and are governing
the entity. The previous president
of Kosovo, nicknamed ‘The Snake’
...is currently being tried for war
crimes, and crimes against
humanity, at The Hague.
He’s the one who unveiled the Bill Clinton statue in
Kosovo’s capital. Bill then came to celebrate with
‘The Snake’.
Kosovo’s recent license plate row with Serbia was just
the latest example of a leadership in Kosovo incapable
of dealing with real issues, but rather... going into
conflict... to cover its incompetence. Instead of
negotiating with Belgrade, Kosovo unilaterally
used force --- to implement the removal of
Serbian license plates. And all that NATO
was willing to contribute to deescalate
the tensions... was to offer its KFOR
troops, to replace Kosovo’s special
unit, without even trying to resolve
the essence of the dispute. What
is NATO still doing in Kosovo?
Probably the same thing it was doing in Afghanistan.
Hoping a bad decision to go in, will eventually pay
off somehow. But it won’t. It didn’t in Vietnam, it
didn’t in Afghanistan, and it won’t in Kosovo.
So it’s time for NATO to start packing
its bags.
The statements, views and opinions expressed
in this column, are solely those of the author,
& don't, necessarily, represent those of RT.
Image: Iqbal Jassat
“Normalization":Betrayal of Palestineby Arab despots no easy road
by Iqbal Jassat
October 1st, 11am (PressTV)
Pinning Palestinians down while applying harsh
measures of violent repression -- accompanied
by a fanatical settler movement of arch-racists
given free reign to attack and plunder -- is a
notorious game Israel has elevated to a
daily ritual.
In fact the routine of inflicting war crimes has all
the hallmarks of a rogue regime entirely caught
up in a misplaced belief --- that to engage in ethnic cleansing, is a religious obligation.
Conflating Judaism with a racist political ideology
of Zionism has been part of a strategy designed
to deceive, distort and divert. It has its roots in
the first Zionist congress held on the eve of
the 19th century.
That this is well documented and widely known is
not in dispute. Indeed... awareness of Zionism's
goal to dismember and dislodge Palestinians
from their centuries old homeland and
forcibly impose thereon a foreign
entity known as Israel, has
always been a bedrock
for resistance.
Israel has thus always been considered an enemy
thrust upon a native population through the most
horrific forms of terrorism. The memories of Deir
Yassin remind the world of bloody massacres
committed by Zionist terrorists which didn't
spare hundreds of villages... to
colonize Palestine.
That more than seven decades later the expansionist
goals of Zionism are still being pursued at great
human cost to successive generations of the
indigenous Palestinian population, is
reflected in daily atrocities.
None of these facts, as attested to by historians, as
well as organs of the United Nations, are contested.
Though of course Israel and supporters of it seek
to distort and malign commentators who speak
truth to power, as anti-Semitic.
Yet against this background of terrorism and current
conditions siege, occupation, killings and mass
imprisonment - recorded and broadcast via
mainstream media for all the world to
witness - it is bizarre that a handful
of Arab regimes, have broken rank
with Palestine's freedom struggle.
And at a time when even Haaretz describes
the atrocities by Israel, as a pogrom:
"Residents of the Palestinian communities in the south-
eastern West Bank have experience of settler attacks
- when they graze their flocks, work their fields, or
even have a picnic on their own land.... But they
cannot recall an attack like the one experienced
Tuesday -- by the small communities of Khirbat
al-Mufkara, al-Rakiz and al-Tuwani. On Simhat
Torah, dozens of young Jews, most of them
masked, conducted what can only be
described as a pogrom."
The treachery associated with what has become known
as "normalization" is an outrageous manifestation of
betrayal and collaboration. Limited to the UAE,
Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco,.. these regimes
have in effect confessed that the protection
of their shaky thrones... counts for more...
than legitimate rights of the Palestinians.
As unelected self-imposed despots fearful of democratic
values, they have bargained that "normalization" with
the usurper of Palestine will "guarantee" safety and
protection for them. In other words, just as Egypt
has done, these oligarchs have outsourced their
intelligence networks and security apparatus to Israel, knowing full well that in doing so, they have abandoned Palestine.
Though the abnormality of the implicit recognition of an
illegal colonial enterprise, has been in sharp contrast
to countless Arab League resolutions... the deal of
"normalization" pushed by Trump and vigorously
backed by the Biden administration... has exposed these leaders - as surrogates of western imperialism.
The case of Bahrain's role in the "Abraham Accords"
reveals the soft underbelly of Arab dictatorships.
Besides being financially dependent on its
neighbours especially the UAE and Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain’s alliance with Israel is
designed to entrench its power and
crush any resistance to author-
itarianism or efforts towards
freedom and democracy.
In 2011, during the onset of the Arab Spring uprisings,
Saudi Arabia sent troops to Bahrain to suppress anti
-government protests. This trend continues today
by Israel --- equally committed to maintaining the
status quo, and preventing the success of any
popular uprisings.
In this context, one may justifiably condemn Bahrain’s gross insensitivity and abject abdication of Palestine's freedom struggle... as treacherous.
Showcasing Israeli war criminal Lapid’s visit to Manama
where he is set to open the embassy flying Israel's flag
is utterly outrageous. This follows the opening of a
Zionist embassy in Abu Dhabi, and will likely be
establishing one in Rabat. Sudan thus far has
reportedly said that it has no plans yet to
open an embassy in Khartoum.
Not surprising therefore that the Arab street across these
capitals have vowed to end "normalization". The iron-
fisted grip held by Arab despots notwithstanding,
human rights movements (many banned and
leaders exiled) have declared their outright
rejection of America's much-vaunted
Abraham Accords.
Stirrings in Sudan are becoming more vocal despite
Khartoum's attempts to silence critics. In Bahrain
the main opposition group, al-Wefaq National
Islamic Society declared Lapid’s trip as a
"threat", saying, "This is provocative
news and this trip is completely
rejected, and he (Lapid) should
not set foot on Bahraini soil."
Their message is clear: "Any (Israeli) presence on Bahraini soil --- means incitement."
Iqbal Jassat is an executive at the Johannesburg-
based Media Review Network (MRN), a socio-
political advocacy group, that concerns
itself with media and political analysis.
(The views expressed in this article do
not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)
Image: Paul Antonopoulos
Greece And FranceTake First Step
Towards European Independence
Following AUKUS Debacle
September 28th (South Front)
by Paul Antonopoulos,
independent geopolitical analyst
Signing of Franco-Greek Agreement is the
beginning of supplanting NATO in Europe.
Of the 30 NATO member states, Greece is one of the few
to spend well over 2% of its GDP on defense, as agreed
upon by NATO Defence Ministers, in 2006. However,
Greece’s high spending (relative to GDP), is not
because it is positioning itself as a buffed-up
military state opposed to Russia, as per the
aims of NATO, but rather, to defend itself
against the threats of another NATO
member, Turkey.
With NATO consistently downplaying Turkish aggression
against Greece and the new AUKUS pact creating
distrust between the Anglosphere and the
Europeans... Greece has ensured new
extra security assurances against
its long-time enemy.
Greece’s strengthened partnership with France highlights
that the immediate consequences of the AUKUS alliance
are already being felt, as the two countries are making
the first serious steps towards a Europe independent
of Washington.
Alexis Papahelas, one of Greece’s top journalists, explained
that the Franco-Greek security pact is Macron’s “revenge”
against the Americans as it will strengthen European
autonomy. He also confirmed persistent rumours
that a defensive pact between France and
Greece was almost reached last year,
but ultimately broke down at the
last minute for “unknown
reasons.”
To put the situation in context, Greece for a year and a half-
received bids from six countries, including France, the U.S.
and UK for brand new navy frigates. The finalization of a
deal was continuously delayed... due to Greece’s
insistence, that a frigate purchase must include a defense agreement.
Greece signed its 12-month Mutual Defense Cooperation
Agreement (MDCA) with the US last year, but ultimately
did not decide on which frigate bid to accept. With
negotiations for a Franco-Greek defence pact
last year stalling, Athens ultimately decided
to sign the MDCA... with Washington. This
was rumored to be partially motivated
as part of 'negotiations' to pressure
the French to accept Greek terms.
However, with the sudden emergence of AUKUS, European
trust in the Anglosphere quickly diminished, and thus
galvanized Franco-Greek discussions on European
independence. And finally, a deal to purchase
three brand-new French Belharra-class
frigates, was stricken.
For his part, Mitsotakis said on Tuesday morning at the
signing of the agreement that:- “It is an historic day for Greece and France. Today’s development is an
initiative that responds to the demands of the
times on our continent. It paves the way for
an autonomous and strong Europe of the
future. Whether there is a timetable for
creating a European army: the debate
on European military autonomy,
evolves. Options such as this
corporate defense partner-
ship, move to this central
strategic choice.”
Effectively, Greece and France are advocating for a pan-
European military that would likely drive out NATO, as
the premier defensive pact in Europe.
Another demonstration that this pact is aimed at
supplanting NATO... is its careful wording.
Although Turkey was not mentioned
explicitly, there is little doubt that
part of the motivation for the
Franco-Greek defense pact
was Turkey’s unilateral
aggression in the
Mediterranean.
Even just minutes after the signing of the Franco-Greek
agreement, former Dutch diplomat Fons Stoelinga
tweeted: “EU autonomy in security and defense.
NATO still does not address the problem of
NATO-member Turkey destabilizing the
whole Eastern Mediterranean region.
France and Greece now react and
signed a security bilateral pact.”
The mutual defense assistance clause of the agreement
ensures that if Greece or France is attacked on its
territory, the other will come to assist, even if the
attacking country is part of other alliances.....
including NATO. This is an obvious message
directed towards Turkey, a NATO member
that on a daily basis violates Greek air-
space and threatens to invade its
Aegean islands.
These violations and threats receive no repercussions from
NATO as individual members are unwilling to risk their
economic relations with the country, whilst many
NATO leaders still believe that Turkey is a
bulwark against Russia.
France for most of its modern history, but especially
galvanized under President Emmanuel Macron.. had
an ambition of creating a more independent Europe.
The European experience under former U.S.
President, Donald Trump, and the recent
snub from President Joe Biden, with the
AUKUS debacle... has only increased the urgency of achieving European
independence from Washington.
Despite this ambition, as well as warning Europe that it will
become secondary in world affairs, if it does not become
independent, it appears that France can finally kickstart
its project alongside Greece.
Achieving EU unity is a difficult prospect, because minnow
states like Lithuania prioritize the interests of Washington
rather than the continent, but as Paris and Athens have
shown --- they will move ahead, in changing the geo-
political balance in the Mediterranean and will not
wait, while member states continuously bicker
amongst themselves on foreign policy issues.
If France and Greece can create strong foundations for an
independent Europe, it will only be inevitable before more
EU member states become interested in also being
integrated into a continental structure that is
independent of transatlantic alliances.
Image: Eric Zuesse
Why did the Taliban win against
the Americans in Afghanistan?
by Eric Zuesse
August 21st, 2021
Why did the communists win
against the Americans in Vietnam?
Why did the communists win
against the capitalists in the
Russian Revolution?
Why did the American Revolutionists
win against the British Empire?
I shall here propose an answer to all of them, because that answer applies to all such cases, as I'll explain:
When an imperialistic society is as corrupt as Britain has been since the creation of the British East India Company in 1600, and as America has been since the end of World War II in 1945, with its takeover and control by the MIC (military-industrial complex), which has inevitably produced the cancerous growth of America’s permanent-warfare state, what, then, is the reason to continue living by staying merely as a colonist or a vassal-regime (or even as the imperialist regime itself), which means, when the imposed regime is so profoundly corrupt --- as any
imperialist power necessarily is --- to accept such corruption, as this?
There’s something that is worse than dying... and it is to continue
living under a regime that one utterly despises. That’s a dragged
-out death, instead of a quick death. A regime which is as
corrupt as any imperialistic regime inevitably is, will be
intolerable for a significant number of the residents in
any one of its vassal-nations or “colonies.” Death, for
them, isn’t such a bad choice, if it means that they'll
go down fighting to overthrow it. They are driven by
the motivation, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”
This is a motivation that few, if any, of the imperialistic regime’s hired
soldiers (regardless of whether conscripted or not) can match. And
when they are foreigners who are fighting on a foreign soil (instead
of locals who are defending their land’s own locally determined
rulers), they especially and certainly cannot match such
motivation, because only the locals can be fighting with
a patriotic spirit. This is an intrinsic weakness in any
empire. And imperialist leaders tend to ignore it,
because they don’t want to understand how
repulsive they are, to virtually anyone but
their own boot-lickers.
Ultimately, the demoralization of a hired soldier’s continuing to place
his very existence in jeopardy so as to continue the war to enslave
and control the resisting local subject-population will mount high
enough to produce self-contempt, desertion, and sometimes
even suicide, in the oppressing power’s forces, especially if that’s a foreign power.
No longer will the rationalizations(that “We are protecting the residents here”) be able to continue fooling the invading-force’s soldier, and the imposed stooge- regime’s soldier. They both (the foreign regime, and its imposed local stooge-government or colony) are there really, to control the local subject-population; and, ultimately, enough of the oppressor’s forces will know this to cause the imposed stooge-government, to be conquered by those indigenous residents there - people who will be recalled as heroes, by the other
residents in that land.
This is an advantage that any revolutionists
have, against the imposed regime.
This is the real meaning of “martyrs,” in the deeper sense than
merely of a religious type — it is instead of the patriotic type; it
concerns the land -- and not necessarily any religion -- such as
Christianity, Islam, or Marxism. Their loyalty is to Afghanistan;
or it is to Vietnam; or it is to Russia; or it is to China; or (before
America became imperialistic) it was to America. And so forth.
It is to the local land, not to any dictators. It is to the country
that the foreign invader’s forces are occupying. The
invader’s forces and their imposed stooge-regimes
can’t match this motivation.
Similarly, when the American invaders were conquered by the
residents of Vietnam, the winners were the Vietnamese, not
really the communists; and, in fact, the Marxist philosophy
(or ‘religion’) subsequently has waned there. America, in
Vietnam, as in Afghanistan, was the invader, in a land
which had not invaded their own.
That similar situation exists in Afghanistan. The Sauds had invaded
America on 9/11, with the assistance of G.W. Bush, Condoleezza
Rice, and perhaps others in the Administration. And so, the U.S.
-imposed soldiers in Afghanistan couldn’t even possibly have
been fighting against Afghanistan for any authentically
patriotic real (factually true) reason, at all. Therefore,
lies were constantly needed by the U.S. regime, not
only against Iraq, but even against Afghanistan.
(Furthermore, if Bush’s objective had really been to identify whom
and how was actually behind the 9/11 attacks, then he would have
pursued that at the U.N. Security Council and would have gotten
unanimous backing for it, which would quickly have isolated
and led to the destruction of Al Qaeda. It could all have been
done without any war between nations, and also fully in
accord with international law. To the extent that 9/11 was state-sponsored terrorism, it was actually being
sponsored by the Governments of the U.S. and
Saudi Arabia.
George W. Bush, who was buddy-close with the Sauds, used 9/11 as
an excuse to trash both the U.S. Constitution and international law
so as to hoist yet higher his own tyranny, his own power - not only internationally but also.. in his own nation. An imperialist would,
of course, like to trash both, and to hoist his personal power as
high as possible. And GWB had the boldness to do it, and -
because America has been imperialistic ever since 1945
(i.e., international aggressions... have been America’s
culture since 1945) — he has been able to enjoy the
success of getting away with doing it. However,
everyone else, and especially outside America’s MIC, suffers from it.
What have the mere soldiers of invading and occupying
imperialist powers actually earned by having placed
their own lives at risk? Maybe a tombstone back
home, in the country that had invaded and
occupied that colony.
By contrast, even if a defending soldier has died as a
hero among the locals in a failed revolution against
the imperialist power, any tombstone will be
unnecessary to be that person’s memorial,
because the true memorial is in the heart,
and in the mind, of the locals there, not
in anything that is in the land of the
invading foreign power.
And, so, I propose that the answer, to the question here, is that,
whereas America’s Founders were waging war as heroes
(because their war was just), today’s Americans are
waging war as villains (because our wars are unjust
- imperialistic aggressions, instead of heroic
defenses against an aggressor). Between
America’s founding and the present time,
America has switched from doing war
against military occupiers, to doing
war as military occupiers.
And this, I maintain, is the reason why: “The Taliban’s 80,000
troops have retaken Afghanistan with cities falling like
dominos while the 300,000-strong government forces,
better equipped and trained, mostly melted and
surrendered with no will to fight.”
What today’s Taliban are to today’s Afghanistan is therefore what
the 1776 American Revolutionists were to the America of that era.
It’s not the ideology; it is the love of that land there, which has
motivated the residents’ forces to victory, against the forces
of the invading-and-occupying foreign power. This can
happen in any land, at any time.
America went into Vietnam focused on the “body counts.” That’s
how stupid America’s imperialistic leaders were, back then. The
only motivation they really understood was fear: “body counts.”
They’ve evidently learned nothing since. That is how corrupt
America is.
Right now in America, the ‘debate’ about Afghanistan is about Joe
Biden, who is basically irrelevant. He wanted to end America’s
military occupation there, just as Trump did, and just as
Obama did. He acted on it, whereas they did not — they
didn’t want to be accused by their political opponents
of having ‘lost Afghanistan on their watch’, but Biden
was evidently willing to risk it.
His only failure in the matter is that he kept lying to the American
people (and probably also to himself) about how chaotic the
evacuation would inevitably be, and about how collapsed
Afghanistan is, and has been, ever since the Soviets
invaded there in 1979.
Throughout America’s imperialistic era, the U.S. Government has
routinely been lying to the American people. Imperialism isn’t as
bad for the imperialistic nation’s public as it is for the conquered
land’s people, but it is very bad, even for them. The only people
who benefit from it are the billionaires, who control companies
such as Lockheed Martin, and ExxonMobil, and Amazon.
Those are the people (the owners), who hire the leading
politicians, including the members of Congress, and the
Presidents, to spread their empire, and their control.
They also hire the ‘journalists’ who shape their nation’s public
to support these invasions and military occupations. The
Government officials of an imperialistic regime represent
not the nation’s public - but its aristocracy - who hire and
appoint millions of the rest, the many agents (employees,
etc.) of the few billionaires. The billionaires really control
their country. After all: America is a thoroughly corrupt
country, just as any imperialistic country is. (All
imperialistic countries, are controlled by their
aristocracy. And every aristocracy is corrupt.)
The public in Afghanistan have long known this fact about America -
that it is corrupt. And this is the main reason why the Taliban now
rule that country. They represent that land. Not this land. It’s a
different culture, and a different place. To most Afghans,
America represents only corruption. There is nothing
unique about what is now happening in Afghanistan.
It has been happening for thousands of years, and
it’s just replaying an ancient script, but in that
particular location.
However, instead, the U.S.-and-allied media are focusing on Biden’s
bit part (which was always in a supporting role) in America’s
invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. So, probably
nothing will be learned from America’s invasion and
occupation of Afghanistan, just as nothing was
learned from America’s invasion & occupation
of Iraq, and from America’s invasion and
occupation of Vietnam, and from the
many other such post-WW-II
American foreign disasters.
For America’s billionaires, these have all been great successes
(very profitable); and, so, probably nothing that’s useful to the
American people will be learned from history; and, instead,
the myths will continue that have caused “The Military” to
be either the highest-respected or the second-highest-
respected of all of the 19 named institutions in America - the world’s permanent- warfare state.
The American military wastes the most money and the most blood
of any institution in America, but Americans nonetheless respect it
enormously. That, too, is a mark of an imperialistic country. The
way to control a public is to sustain the myths. U.S.-and-allied
billionaires make sure that it is done - however much it costs.
As regards the future of Afghanistan itself: On August the 19th,
the most reliable geostrategic reporter and analyst, Alexander
Mercouris, headlined at The Duran, “US Freezes Afghanistan
Reserves, Threatens Economic Crisis. Russia Works to
Establish New Government”, and he explained why the
Taliban will either cooperate with Russia, China, and
Iran, or else will degenerate yet further into a failed
state, especially because the U.S. and its allies will
do everything possible to strangle the fully looted
Government of Afghanistan — the new Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan. So: even after the US
and its allies have all left that land, the war
against the people there will continue, in
full force, from the same people, though
with different methods.
PS: The philosopher Zizek headlined at RT on August 20th, “The
true enemy for Islamists is not the West’s neocolonialism or
military aggression, but our ‘immoral’ culture”, and he said
“it was not neocons who boosted Islamic fundamentalism,
this fundamentalism grew up in a reaction to the influence
of Western liberal secularism and individualism.”
He did not understand that though religious fundamentalists
(including the Taliban) focus especially on sexual and gender
issues, a person didn’t have to be at all religious in order to
consider the financial and economic corruption of the
imperialists and of their stooges to be disgusting.
Americans didn’t invade & occupy Afghanistan, in order to
spread “liberal secularism and individualism,” but in order
for US-and-allied billionaires to expand their wealth, their
empire, and their global control. Even if the Taliban and
other religious persons might object only (or even just
mainly) to the sexual and gender issues... a broader
segment of the Afghan population were repelled by
the rampant financial and economic corruption of
the imperialists, and of their stooge-rulers.
This was not a defeat for “secularism and individualism.”
It was a rejection of imperialism: a rejection of it even by people who don’t understand what “imperialism” means.
(Source: Strategic Culture Foundation)
Image: Iqbal Jassat
Israel is committed to
aggressively pursuing
'Zionist colonialism',
says analyst
August 14th, 9:38am (PressTV)
A political commentator says Israel is relentlessly
following its "Zionist colonialism" in the occupied
Palestinian territories, and the evacuation orders
handed out to indigenous Palestinian families in the West Bank and Jerusalem al-Quds, are in line with the regime’s land
expropriation policies: to build more illegal settler homes.
“Israel aggressively pursues Zionist colonialism, which
has been the bedrock of the regime’s illegal ethnic-
cleansing agenda for the last seventy or more
years,” Iqbal Jassat, an executive member
of Johannesburg-based Media Review
Network, told Press TV, in an
exclusive interview
on Saturday.
He lambasted the Tel Aviv regime’s systematic theft of
Palestinian property as “a reprehensible disregard
for the inalienable rights of indigenous
Palestinians to their own lands
and homes.”
“The racist practice of evacuation, is a misleading
interpretation of forced expulsion, illegal under
the international law. It is also indicative of
the Group Areas Act [of 1950], under the
former apartheid regime of South
Africa,” Jassat noted.
The South African analyst also criticized the United Nations
and the International Criminal Court (ICC), for their
“impotence” ...to prevent Israel's unjust and
blatant violations of international
conventions and principles.
“It also raises serious questions about the inherent biases
existing within these institutions. These biases prevent
the exercise of law --- to halt land grabs, home demolitions, expulsions and incremental genocide,” he pointed out.
Jassat went on to say that Western countries’ decades-long
guilty conscience has prevented these states from
criticizing Israel, for its barbaric and brutal
practices, as such denunciations would
be treated as anti-Semitic.
“The US and its allies in NATO view Israel as a bulwark of
their interests in the heart of the Muslim world. They,
therefore, place their so-called security goals
above injustices against Palestinians,”
the analyst said.
“Moreover, the Arab world is mainly made up of unelected
despots, from Egypt to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates and Bahrain. Their collective view, pivots
on the false notion... that their security is tied
to Israel. That explains the close proximity
between their notorious intelligence
services and Israel's Mossad
and Shin Bet.”
Jassat further noted that the controversial normalization
agreements that several Arab states have struck with Israel, have stifled opposition to the Tel Aviv regime’s colonialist and expansionist policies.
He said the unacceptable betrayal of the Palestinians'
struggle for liberation from the Israeli occupation,
has even resulted in the regime being granted
observer status, at the African Union.
Image: Daniel Patrick Welch
Peak hypocrisy: US is ''concerned'' aboutChina's nukes
by Daniel Patrick Welch
August 7th, 11:45am
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns of
China's nukes, on the anniversary of his own
country dropping the only one ever.
The US empire never disappoints in its endless quest
to project the behavior of a true sociopath. As with
Goebbels’ Big Lie (which he stole from the US's
Bernays anyway), the tried-and-true strategy,
is to attack others, for actions it has itself
performed on a regular basis.
Hence the whole Russiagate charade about foreign
interference in sacred elections by a country other
than the US —reigning and uncontested champion
of regime change campaigns. Now comes Blinken,
the US talking head du jour on the world stage, to
warn Asia about China’s nuclear weapons. Huh?
If irony wasn’t dead, Blinken and crew (Winken, Nod
et al) would track it down and strangle it with their
bare hands. On August 6th, the State Department
announced Blinken’s warning... to China’s
neighbours: THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS
OWN COUNTRY’S DROPPING OF A
NUCLEAR BOMB on Hiroshima.
I would say “not to put to fine a point on it,” but it just
can’t possibly be sharpened any further. Run that
back, with the reverse tape noise and all.
The ONLY country EVER to drop a nuclear bomb on another,
the United States, chooses the very anniversary of the first of those two genocidal crimes against humanity, to express grave concern about China’s nuclear
arsenal. I guess you could just drop the mic
here — there really is so little left to say.
What comes after tragedy and farce?
Even Old Man Marx didn’t mention
a third, though I might venture
Cynicism Made Flesh?
Of course, Blinken--I just can’t stop saying the name… it’s like
DICK Cheney and COLIN Powell, or that library cop Bookman
from Seinfeld—Blinken isn’t to blame for the blasphemy of
rewriting history. He and his cohorts have a generational
head start on stupid. Seventy-five years of relentless
assault on Americans’ knowledge of history and
political consciousness, has left a populace
with a Hollywood understanding of WWII
that has almost no relation to reality.
Even Eisenhower knew (and said) that the bombings were of no
military use. Lost to Americans’ history—but importantly, not
the world’s—is the cold truth that Truman knew as well and
didn’t care. Perhaps the meanest, and most small-minded
of US presidents, he offed a hundred thousand Japanese
in one fell swoop, just to scare the Russkies. And by his
own admission, never lost a night’s sleep. Brrrrrrrr.
But Back to the Future: Blinken’s degenerate idiocy also further
exposes the infantile disorder of the Lesser Evilists and the rest
of the Harm Reduction menagerie. He is himself, of course, no
more than a cardboard clown, or more likely made entirely of
wood, spouting vituperations like a useful ventriloquist’s
dummy while sitting on the knee of whoever plays Edgar
Bergen in this cynical farce. The masters who pay
Blinken, Biden, (O)Bama, Bush and Bacchus
keep them on a short leash. The sociopaths
in charge make the real decisions.
The notion that “getting back to normal” would yield anything other
than a smooth return to the endless killing machine was not just
wishful thinking, but deliberate self-delusion, a lazy and selfish
need to play pretend and self-soothe while the world burns.
Unforgiveable, really. From Iran to Venezuela, Russia, China and
beyond, and with clockwork precision, the Enemies of Humanity
are ramping up war fever, concocting lies & manipulating truth
and fear like never before. The New York Times’ perversion of
the Tokyo medal counts, to pretend the US won, is more than
instructive: it is the stock in trade and lifeblood of the
predator class, honing its exceptionalist rhetoric to
wield when needed. Dark days ahead.
Daniel Patrick Welch is a writer of political commentary and
analysis. Also a singer and songwriter, he lives and writes
in Salem, Salem, Massachusetts with his wife. Together
they run The Greenhouse School. He has traveled
widely, speaks five languages and studied Russian
History and Literature at Harvard University.
Welch has also appeared as a guest on several TV and radio
channels to speak on topics of foreign affairs and political
analysis--around his day job. He can be available for
interview requests as time and scheduling permit.
Despite the price of being outspoken against US foreign policy
and military adventurism -- which can be steep, in today's
circumstances -- he believes firmly, as did Rosa
Luxemburg, that "It will always be the most
revolutionary act, to tell the truth out loud."
Welch wrote this commentary for the Press TV website.
Image: Finian Cunningham
Russia-Chinathe Endgame
by Finian Cunningham
July 3rd, 1:41pm (Sputnik)
The consolidation of the Russia-China alliance this week
spells the endgame for Western imperialism and the
never-ending wars that it spawns.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and China’s leader Xi
Jinping celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Sino-
Russian Treaty of Friendship, first signed in July
2001. The hallmark of that historic accord is a
mutual commitment to peace, prosperity
and global stability.
As Putin commented, the alliance between Russia and China
is a vital source of “stability at a time of increasing geo-
political turbulence”. The latter remark is an oblique
reference to the US-led Western states which are
driven by ratcheting up antagonism and
tensions with Moscow and Beijing,
using all sorts of spurious
complaints.
The attempt by Washington (whether Republican or Democrat)
and its Western minions to make trouble with Russia and
China has become almost frenetic. Step back from the
daily headlines in Western media and it is glaring just
how much the agenda has become irrationally
hostile towards Moscow and Beijing.
Week after week there are unfounded allegations about
Covid-19, & so on. It’s like a mad cacophony to wind
up tensions. Nevertheless, the deranged attitude of
Western ruling cliques is but the death throes of a
world order that has reached its expiration.
Russia and China’s partnership has hugely transformative
geopolitical significance. Both these giant nations straddle
the continents of Asia and Europe, connecting the Pacific
with the Atlantic, ranging from the Arctic to the
Mediterranean. Both are committed to a vision
of a multipolar world where nations cooperate
for mutual development.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) linking Eurasia with
Africa and the Americas is the vision of the future, and
Russia is a key partner in implementing that
ambitious win-win project for global peace
and prosperity.
This vision stands in stark contrast to the prevailing Western
capitalist paradigm which operates through dominance,
control and exploitation for American and European
profiteering. That kind of centuries-old system
necessarily involves imperialist conduct ...
whereby the natural resources of foreign
nations are commandeered by brute
military force, conflict, subjugation,
subterfuge, skulduggery and
other machinations.
The multipolar vision of global relations advocated by Russia
and China is the nemesis of the Western imperialist system.
And that explains why the Americans and their European
vassals make every effort to demonize and distort
Russia and China.
But the geopolitical potential of Russia and China is
unstoppable. There is a force of natural justice that
all nations will inevitably subscribe to as the only
reasonable, feasible & sustainable way forward.
It’s about people-centered development ...
versus profit-driven disorder.
Moreover, the partnership between Russia and China is a
geographer’s wonder study. Russia is the world’s largest
national territory by landmass. With over 17 million sq.
kilometres, it covers 11 time zones out of the world’s
total of 24. The abundance of natural resources that
Russia possesses is astounding, from reserves of
natural gas, oil, metals and minerals, to forestry,
agriculture and fisheries. It also can boast of
highly advanced technology in multiple
sectors. And... it shares a long land
border with China, for easing trade.
Meanwhile, China has a population of 1.4 billion people, ten
times that of Russia. With highly advanced technology and
manufacturing, China is not only a vast market for Russian
resources, it is also a gateway to the world economy.
China has already become the world’s biggest
economy over the United States, according
to some measures.
The US and Europe are post-industrial economies that are
also post-peak of their prime. Their “prime” was always
based on an extractive predatory relationship with the
rest of the world that was predicated on inflicting
conflict and poverty on others.
As China and Russia build on their strategic partnership for
mutual prosperity and peace the upshot will inevitably
entail the endgame for Western imperial powers,
which are atrophying from massive inequality,
indebtedness, moral decadence and
social decay.
Fortunately, too, and this is crucial, Russia and China have
military defenses from new generations of hypersonic
weaponry that make them impregnable against any
warmongering notions by the United States. A
failing empire like the US and its Western
satellites is always a dangerous time, as
it tries to prevent the inevitable collapse,
but starting a war with Russia & China
...is not an option.
The views & opinions expressed in the article
do not - necessarily - reflect those of Sputnik.
Image: Barry Grossman
Barry Grossman:US, Israel
Adopting Bullying Tactics
for ICC War Crimes
Investigation in
Palestine
June 30th (FNA)
Barry Grossman is an international lawyer and political
commentator focused on human rights related issues.
He has been extensively published, on various legal
subjects and is a frequent commentator on political
affairs. He has taught law at the University of
Melbourne’s Faculty of Law and Monash
University’s Faculty of Law.
Below is the full text of the interview:
Q: How do you see the ICC ruling and the
issue of anti-Semitism raised by Israel?
A: To be sure, Benjamin Netanyahu has himself said that
“when the ICC investigates Israel for fake war crimes,
this is pure antisemitism”.
There can of course be no doubt that antisemitism is real;
indeed, every bit as real as Islam-phobia. But the long
standing ruse of conflating antisemitism with any and
all criticism of Zionism or Israel, is no longer taken
seriously, by a growing and very substantial
minority of people in the wider population.
Meanwhile the tactic of tarring everyone who resists Zionism
or criticises Israel with the antisemitism brush is having the
unfortunate, though not necessarily unintended
consequence of discrediting even the most
genuine efforts to draw attention to those
people whose speech is, indeed,
motivated by little more than
hatred for Jews.
Q: There are huge media attacks towards ICC’s probe to
Israeli war crimes in Palestine. Do you believe the ICC
can make a correct ruling under this media hegemony?
A: Propaganda about the ICC case published by the
Atlantic World’s Corporate Media Cartel is of course
preceded by pressure and instructions from think-
tanks, as well as the security/policy making
apparatus, which are, of course, fully
infiltrated by individuals promoting
Zionist agendas.
In that regard, both the US and Israel have openly declared
their hostile intentions towards the ICC and there is already
clear evidence that they're deploying all their usual tactics,
including intimidation, extortion, bribery and garden variety
corruption, to get politicians around the world, lawyers
involved in making Palestine’s case, and members of
the ICC to fall into line.
That said, if the myriad jurisdiction related technicalities
raised by Israel can be overcome, I am quite sure the
ICC is capable of reaching what many of us consider
the correct position regarding ubiquitous war crimes
and other violations of international law, perpetrated
by the occupation.
The real problem is that the ICC is quite limited in its ability
to enforce any ruling against responsible individuals and
Israeli organizations, so long as the key Atlantic World
nations continue to provide unqualified support for
the occupation, or, at the very least, to remain
neutral, in the face of clear evidence of the
occupation’s crimes.
A second very significant strategic issue arises from a
prevailing political reality which dictates that, in order
to make a reasonable finding about the occupation’s
crimes, the ICC will also have to use its authority to
investigate violations of international law alleged
against Hamas and other Palestinian groups ---
bearing in mind that the law of armed conflict
does not concern itself with the order in
which things played out and any finding
against Palestinian groups will certainly
receive far more traction, both in the
international community as well as
in occupied Palestine, than any
finding of culpability on the
part of the occupation.
Indeed, from where I sit, I do not see Palestine as
having much to gain from this process, but it
does stand to lose no small part of the
standing in public opinion, which it
has taken decades to develop, at
the cost of thousands of
Palestinian lives.
Q: Is it hypocrisy that Israel says Palestine is not
a sovereign state to have a delegation at ICC?
A: Hypocrisy hardly even begins to cover it. No nation
is in a position to dictate that Palestine is not a
sovereign nation-state, even if the UN has not
yet extended Palestine’s observer nation
status to full membership --- the way it
quickly recognized Israel’s existence
as a full member, in 1949.
It is also worth remembering that
31 UN member nations still do
not recognize Israel.
Of course, none of this is relevant to the Palestinian
delegation’s participation in ICC proceedings
investigating allegations of war crimes and
other violations of international law
committed against Palestinians by
Israeli nationals & organizations,
even though Israel is not, itself,
a party to the ICC treaty.
On the other hand, the Palestinian Authority (PA),
whose statehood and sovereignty has been
subject to intense dispute across the
international community... is a
signatory to the Rome Statute
(that is, the ICC Treaty), so it
would be bizarre, if it was
not permitted to have a
delegation present, at
the ICC proceedings.
Image: US trying to direct Yemen war gets drones shot down
Fearful of Yemen’s victory,
US resorts to direct
intervention in war
June 22nd, 6:36pm (PressTV)
by Jafari
(Jafari is an independent journalist and blogger.)
Battle rages on fiercely in Ma’rib and the other fronts of
the war in Yemen. After the Saudi mercenaries’ defeat
in recapturing the strategic al-Khanjar base in Khabb
wa ash-Sha'af District of al-Jawf Province, which
incurred very heavy casualties on them, it looks
like the continued expansion of the clashes
serves to indicate the frustration... of the
Omani side’s idea for the establishment
of a ceasefire. It is said that more than
200 of the attackers were either killed,
injured or captured, during the assault
on the base, most of the deaths being
caused by Saudi warplanes’ strikes
on fleeing mercenaries.
The Americans consider the war in Yemen... especially in
Ma’rib, to be part of their grand project for their regional
and international competitions. The American side’s
insistence on a cessation of the war and its ploys of
ending its military support for the invading Saudi-
led coalition could not, however, cover up this
grand strategy, and Yemen’s significance
within this strategy. In fact, these days,
the Yemenis are officially fighting a
coalition of Arab and Western
countries... at the same time.
The Omanis have effectively faced defeat in their mission
--- since Saudi Arabia has not made good on its verbal
pledges to them of leaving the humanitarian matters
(such as reopening Sana’a airport for travel towards certain destinations.. & allowing commodities & oil products into al-Hudaydah port) out of other issues.
It had been agreed, for the process of preparing and writing an agreement, to start... upon the return to Muscat.
Riyadh has, however, bottled out of its commitments &
mooted some conditions --- the most important among
which, is an end to all attacks in Ma’rib. According to al-Akhbar paper, the emergence of such a condition,
indicates that Washington has been more insistent
on imposing it on Sana’a, than Riyadh, during the
recent negotiations --- so it can stem Yemen’s
geopolitical role in the region and the world.
Expounding on this significant issue, the paper has unveiled
a portion of this grand strategy. Al-Akhbar’s report reads:
“Washington leaves no stone unturned to ensure the
simultaneous realization of a batch of its interests;
the Israeli interests in the Red Sea, and the Bab-el
Mandeb Strait as well as the American interests
in the Makran waters, and in the Indian Ocean,
pertaining to the US’s ongoing competition
with China. The US and China’s war over
various straits, maritime commercial
corridors, and vital islands, have
compounded the difficult pre-
dicaments. that concern the
Yemeni & Saudi sides, and
the tough political conditions that they set.”
“Yemen has turned into the main battlefield
in this war, due to its special geographical
position.”
The United States is going through fire and water
to prevent Yemen from exploiting its strategic
position --- and to stop Sana’a from gaining
control over the city of Ma’rib, and Ma’rib
Province’s oil facilities. Washington... is
taking all political & military measures
it has at its disposal, to get in the way of such a prospect.
It believes that Ma’rib’s potential liberation, would allow
Yemen to draw broad benefits from its strategic position.
It is of the opinion that, on Ma’rib Province’s recapture,
the Yemeni army & Popular Committees would set out
to liberate the western areas that overlook Bab-el-
Mandeb. Because of this, the battle in Ma’rib has
come to constitute the focal point of American
diplomacy, and risen to the top of American
Yemen envoy, Tim Lenderking’s, agenda.
The American envoy had realized that no one attaches any
importance to the superpower’s emissary in Sana’a!! He
then resorted to threats, strongly warning, during one
stage in the talks, that Washington would change its
tone... if the battle in Ma’rib did not end.
Elsewhere in its report, the Lebanese paper points to
Washington and London’s direct exertion of influence
toward an attainment of the goal. It notes that along -side the Saudi forces, a number of US and British
officers spearhead the Saudi-Emirati coalition’s
aerial operations targeting Yemen --- directly
managing the military operations in Yemen
and supervising the plans and tactics.
Under the new US administration, no new aerial operation
has been recorded against al-Qaeda terrorist organization
in Yemen. Daesh and al-Qaeda’s elements, who had fled to
al-Bayda Province, have been allowed to wage war along-
side the forces of the former Yemeni government of Abd
Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The terrorists have also been
armed and assigned the responsibility of a number
of [battleground] axes too.
In fact, in addition to battling the Saudi & Emirati armies,
Hadi’s mercenaries, al-Qaeda & Daesh, the Yemeni army
and Popular Committees are directly fighting Britain and
the US. Direct participation in the war by US drones and
warplanes, signal the [US’s sensing a] necessity for a
change in the standing equations.
The US’s concern about the Yemeni army and Popular
Committees’ success may consist of only one aspect
of this issue, while Washington’s direct intervention
indicates that the Saudi army and its Sudanese and
Yemeni mercenaries, are far from capable of stop-
ping the Yemeni fighters. What Yemen stopped
short of achieving in the coastal area of the
mountainous Kahboub area in 2017 as a
result of direct Emirati intervention, could be easily regained.
Now, the American side is fearful that Yemeni fighters may
reach the rough terrain and restore their command on the
Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. This matter is of such importance
that a US army drone squad has deployed to the King
Khaled Airbase in Khamis Mashit, to directly gather
information about the axes of confrontation.
The recent crash of two drones in less than four days
bespeaks the extent of this intervention. On the one
hand, the American strategy of trying to push back
against the Yemeni army and Popular Committees
belies the new US administration’s allegation of
non-intervention in Yemen & attempts at ending
war in the country. On the other... it indicates
that the Saudis have suffered an ignominious
defeat... in the mission they have been assigned.
As stated above, the US’s policy of trying to keep the
Yemeni army and the Popular Committees away from
Ma’rib, takes pride of place in the US envoy’s mission in Yemen. Lenderking’s main problem, however... is that he lacks the necessary vehicles of exerting political & economic pressure on the Yemenis --- since these vehicles, have already been exhausted.
The only means that remain at the US’s disposal is military
intervention, which, in turn, would provoke the Yemenis’
have turned into major issues for the American side.
Because, with the American intervention rising to the fore
(as seen in the case of the ScanEagle drones’ crashes),
the Yemeni fighters’ retaliatory strength... would win
more credibility too. For the same reason, the US’s
positions in Djibouti, Saudi, inside Yemen itself,
and even the Persian Gulf region’s states...
could start coming under missile & drone attacks. This is something that Yemen’s drone and missile units offered a peek into, over Saturday and Sunday.
Image: Eva Bartlett on genocide of Syrians by illegal US sanctions
A Western-backed war
couldn’t destroy Syria,
now sanctions are
starving its people
by Eva Bartlett
June 16th, 5:39pm (RT)
Eva Bartlett is a Canadian independent journalist
and activist. She has spent years on the ground
covering conflict zones in the Middle East,
especially in Syria and Palestine (where
she lived for nearly four years). Follow
her on Twitter @EvaKBartlett
A little over a decade ago, Syrians lived in safety and financial
security. After ten years of war on Syria, while safety has
largely returned, Syrians are struggling to exist under
increasingly crippling Western sanctions.
As Syrian analyst Kevork Almassian noted, “Were it not for the
CIA regime change war, arming & training tens of thousands
of multinational terrorists, draconian sanctions, foreign
occupation of North & East, looting the oil & burning
the wheat, Syria would've now a brilliant economy
& high standard of living.”
When I first visited Syria in 2014, and in the years following,
mortars and missiles fired from terrorist groups occupying
eastern Ghouta pummeled Damascus on a daily basis.
Likewise in government-controlled areas of Aleppo,
and elsewhere around Syria.
Parents never knew if their children would return from school,
or be shelled while at school. Untold numbers of Syrian
civilians have been maimed over the past decade by
such shelling, untold numbers more killed.
So one might expect that in 2021, with most of the terrorism
in Syria eradicated, Syrians would have begun returning to
the normal lives they had ten years prior. But the brutal
sanctions have truly wrought hell on Syrians over the
years, and under the latest ones, life has gotten
exponentially worse.
Last year, I was in Syria for half of the year, after the borders
closed due to Covid confusion. With ample time on hand,
I walked for hours around Damascus, daily. One after-
noon, wanting to get a good view of the city, I walked
along narrow lanes going up the side of Qasioun
mountain, encountering locals who spoke of
community and supporting one another
in hard times.
I had stopped to take a photo of the vista when a young girl's
voice called out to me. Shortly after, I was seated in her
family's humble sitting room, drinking cold water and
talking with the family.
Only by chance did I learn that the father was ill with prostate
cancer and suffering greatly for a want of affordable
medications, increasingly difficult to get a hold of
due to the sanctions. And that was in April,
before the sadistically-named Caesar
Syria Civilian Protection Act came
into effect, months later.
I say sadistically, because these sanctions, while ostensibly
intended to target the Syrian government and its allies, in
order to punish and discourage supposed “war crimes”
against civilians, in reality inflict endless misery on
those same Syrian civilians. This is, as I wrote,
something former US envoy for Syria, James
Jeffrey, boasted about, reportedly saying
that the sanctions “contributed to the
collapse of the value of the
Syrian pound.”
US sanctions are part of a multi-front war on Syria,
and its long-suffering civilians are the main target.
It’s a pattern we’ve already seen with Western sanctions
– in Venezuela, they have not only made people’s lives
hell, but, as I also wrote, have killed up to 40,000
Venezuelans in the span of one year, according
to the Center for Economic & Policy Research.
A recent guest article in the Financial Times addressed
with particular attention to the sanctions, noting
that 60% of Syrians are suffering from
food insecurity.
That number might actually be significantly higher, as in
a July 2020 article detailing the illegality of the sanctions,
the author cited 83% of the population living below the
poverty line. That article noted, because of the
Caesar sanctions:
“Unlike the pre-existing sanctions, they apply to transactions
anywhere in the world that engage the Syrian Government or
certain sectors of the Syrian economy, even when those
transactions have no connection to the United States.
“Such sanctions cripple a state’s economy; disrupt the
availability of food, medicines, drinking water, and
sanitation supplies; interfere with the functioning
of health and education systems; and undermine
people’s ability to work.”
These are not unintended effects – they are the whole idea.
The FT article notes that after the Caesar Act came into effect,
the Syrian pound, “lost almost 70% of its value against the
dollar in the following months. This spurred an inflationary
spiral affecting food prices, which more than tripled
in 2020.”
And, in contrast to how the US pretends to “protect” Syrians
with these sanctions, the Caesar Act is, “severely affecting
the local economy especially in the construction, energy,
and financial sectors, blocking any possibility of
reconstruction in this phase of lower-
intensity conflict.”
Although I continued to follow events in Syria after leaving in
late September 2020, when I returned in the last week of May
this year, even I was surprised at the skyrocketed cost of
basic things. About half a kilo of hummus that was 400
Syrian pounds last year is 2,200 now. At the current
official exchange rate of 2,500 that’s slightly less
than a dollar – but the average salary in Syria is
around 50-60,000 Syrian pounds/month.
The FT article noted a kilogram of beef “costs about a
quarter of a public employee’s average monthly salary.
For perspective, in Italy this translates as €700 per kg.
In the UK? £300 per lb.”
I chatted with a friend who has just one child. He described
spending 15,000 (about $6) on vegetables, that would last
several days. That's a quarter of his salary gone, and
many expenses still to pay.
In the Midan district of Damascus—an area usually brimming
with shoppers coming for the famous sweet shops there, but
not crowded the day I went—a cigarette vendor I spoke with
described how he struggles to provide food for his wife and
two sons. Like the majority of Syrians, selling cigarettes is a
second job for him. Some are working three jobs, morning
to late evening, and still can't make ends meet.
He spoke of the self-sufficiency Syria had prior to the war,
how everyone had work, but now, people are suffocating.
“We are rationing! I used to buy a kilo of meat every month,
but now I buy 200 grams. My salary is 55,000, and if I can
earn 50,000 from this second work, I will have 100,000
Syrian pounds. But, this amount is still not enough.”
“Yesterday, I bought some yogurt, cheese, a box of mortadella
(meat), and a box of tissues. I paid 11,000 Syrian pounds. This
is for one day, and just breakfast.”
He said a dearth of fertilizers and insecticides, due to
sanctions, is directly impacting the agricultural sector.
While in Damascus, I also met with French humanitarian,
Pierre Le Corf, who has lived in Syria for six years, most
of that time in Aleppo. Le Corf, working and living with
some of the poorest and most affected Syrians in
Aleppo, spoke of how the sanctions are designed
to kill hope, in addition to killing civilians.
“You might not see people starving in the street, but that's
not what suffering is. People are suffering in silence. More
and more, the youth are leaving the country, not because
they want to leave Syria or feel oppressed, but because
they feel that they have no hope anymore.
The currency went from 50 Syrian pounds [for a dollar,
before the war] to 4,000 Syrian pounds. People work
from morning to night, and at the end of the day,
their kids might ask for a banana. One kilogram
of bananas is 5,000 Syrian pounds. When you
earn 60,000 a month...”
He spoke of the pressure the US puts on every company
and person who deals with Syria, that they can be
imprisoned, fined. “They are forcing companies
to not work with Syria,” to isolate Syria.
“I know families for who I'm trying to figure out how to bring
them medicines that they can't find any more. A week ago, I
went to bury a guy who we had been bringing medicine,
because we couldn't find it any more. It became 90,000
pounds a box, he needed four boxes a month. He
needed more medicine and better treatment - that
we can't have, because it’s forbidden. Forbidden
why? Because they pretend it's 'double use',
maybe it could be used for the army. The
people are paying the price, no
one else.”
In an interview on Syria Insider, British journalist
Vanessa Beeley condemned on the sanctions
against Syria, saying:
“Western governments are starving the Syrian people.
They are depriving them of their right to return home,
because the rebuilding process is being delayed.
They are punishing the Syrian people for the
resistance of the Syrian people against what
they want to impose upon them. It's nothing t
o do with the Syrian government or
President Assad.”
Sanctions are never ever non-lethal practises. They are
almost the most lethal of all weapons used in the hybrid
war against the people of a targeted nation.
“At the same time as the sanctions are in place, the West
is stealing the oil, burning the food resources, selling the
food resources outside of Syria, all to deprive the Syrian
people of their own resources, of the abundance of their
own country.”
In a recent, detailed, presentation focussing on the
sanctions, Beeley highlighted their effects not only
on incomes, food, medicines, but also on fuel,
industry, agriculture, health care and
hospitals, electricity and water.
She aptly noted: “One could argue that the US Coalition
is responsible for genocide in Syria, under Genocide
Convention article II (e) – deliberately inflicting on
the group, conditions of life calculated to bring
about its physical destruction in whole or
in part.”
In US President Joe Biden’s meeting with Russia’s Vladimir
Putin today, perhaps among the scripted talking points
there was tut tutting of Syria and Russia's alleged
preventing of humanitarian aid, a tired old trope
debunked but still trumpeted by hypocrites in
the West.
And while such integrity-devoid Western representatives
launch accusation after accusation at Syria and Russia,
it is abundantly clear that the suffering of Syrians is a
product of the illegal war on Syria and the deadly,
criminal, sanctions against the Syrian people.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this
column are solely those of the author and do
not necessarily represent those of RT.
Image: US Encirclement of China
US Encirclement of China:
A 'Progress' Report
by Brian Berletic
May 22nd (The Saker)
We post this long-read article in full -
as the New Eastern Outlook site has
been down for a number of days.
Tensions between Washington and Beijing are not merely
the recent results of former US President Donald Trump’s
time in office – but rather, just the latest chapter in US
efforts to contain China, that stretch back decades.
Indeed, US foreign policy has, for decades, admittedly aimed at encircling and containing China’s rise, and maintaining primacy over the Indo-Pacific region.
The “Pentagon Papers” leaked in 1969 would admit in
regards to the ongoing US war against Vietnam that:
…the February decision to bomb North Vietnam and the
July approval of Phase I deployments make sense only
if they are in support of a long-run United States policy
to contain China.
The papers also admitted that China, “looms as a major
power threatening to undercut [American] importance
and effectiveness in the world and, more remotely but
more menacingly, to organize all of Asia against
[America].
The papers also made it clear that there were (and still are),
“three fronts to a long-run effort to contain China: (a) the
Japan-Korea front; (b) the India-Pakistan front; and (c)
the Southeast Asia front.”
Since then, it is clear that from the continued US military
presence in both Japan and South Korea, the now two
decades-long US occupation of Afghanistan on both
Pakistan’s and China’s borders, and the emergence
of the so-called “Milk Tea Alliance” aimed at over-
throwing Southeast Asian governments friendly
with China and replacing them with US-backed
client regimes – this policy to contain China
endures up to today.
Assessing US activity along these three fronts reveals
the progress and setbacks Washington faces -- and
the various dangers to global peace and stability
Washington’s continued belligerence poses.
The Japan-Korea Front
Military.com in their article, “Here’s What It Costs to
Keep US Troops in Japan and South Korea,” reports:
In all, more than 80,000 US troops are deployed to Japan
and South Korea. In Japan alone, the US maintains more
than 55,000 deployed troops — the largest forward-
deployed US force anywhere in the world.
The article notes that according to the US Government
Accountability Office (GAO), the US spent “$34 billion
to maintain military presences in Japan and South
Korea between 2016 and 2019.”
The article cites the GAO providing an explanation as to
why this massive US military presence is maintained in
East Asia:
“…US forces help strengthen alliances, promote a free
and open Indo-Pacific region, provide quick response
to emergencies and are essential for US national
security.”
“Alliances” that are “strengthened” by the physical
presence of what are -- essentially, -- occupying US
forces, suggests the “alliance” is hardly voluntary and claims of promoting a “free and open Indo- Pacific region” is highly subjective – begging the question of, to whom, is the Indo-Pacific “free and open”.
And as US power wanes both regionally in the Indo-
Pacific as well as globally, Washington has placed
increasing pressures on both Japan and South
Korea to not only help shoulder this financial
burden, but to also become more proactive
within Washington’s containment strategy
toward China.
Japan is one of three other nations (the US itself,
Australia, and India) drafted into the US-led
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – also
known as the “Quad.”
Rather than the US solely depending on its own military
forces based within Japanese territory or supported by
its Japan-based forces, Japan’s military along with
India’s and Australia’s are also being recruited to
take part in military exercises and operations
in and around the South China Sea.
India’s inclusion in the Quad also fits well into the US
3-front strategy that made up Washington’s contain-
ment policy toward China as early as the 1960s.
The India-Pakistan Front
In addition to recruiting India into the Quad alliance, the
US helps encourage escalation through political
support and media campaigning of India’s
various territorial disputes with China.
The US also targets Pakistan’s close and ongoing
relationship with China – including the support of
armed insurgents in Pakistan’s Baluchistan
province.
Recently, a bombing at a hotel in Quetta, Baluchistan
appears to have targeted China’s ambassador to
Pakistan, Ambassador Nong Rong.
The BBC in its article, “Pakistan hotel bomb:
Deadly blast hits luxury venue in Quetta,”
would claim:
Initial reports had suggested the target
was China’s ambassador.
Ambassador Nong Rong is understood to be in Quetta
but was not present at the hotel at the time of the
attack on Wednesday.
The article also noted:
Balochistan province, near the Afghan border,
is home to several armed groups, including
separatists.
Separatists in the region want independence from the
rest of Pakistan and accuse the government and
China of exploiting Balochistan, one of
Pakistan’s poorest provinces, for its
gas and mineral wealth.
Absent from the BBC’s reporting is the extensive and
open support the US government has provided these
separatists over the years and how – clearly – this is
more than just a local uprising against perceived
injustice, but yet another example of armed
conflict-by-proxy waged by Washington
against China.
As far back as 2011 publications like The National
Interest in articles like, “Free Baluchistan” would
openly advocate expanding US support for
separatism in Pakistan’s Baluchistan
province.
The article was written by the late Selig Harrison
--- who was a senior fellow at the US-based
(corporate-financier funded) Centre for
International Policy --- & would claim:
Pakistan has given China a base at Gwadar in the
heart of Baluch territory. So an independent
Baluchistan... would serve US strategic
interests, in addition to the immediate
goal, of countering Islamist forces.
Of course, “Islamist forces”... is a euphemism for US-
Persian Gulf state sponsored militants used to both
fight Western proxy wars, as well as serve as a
pretext for Western intervention. Citing
“Islamist forces” in Baluchistan,
Pakistan - clearly - serves as an example of the latter.
In addition to op-eds published by influential policy
think tanks, US legislators like US Representative
Dana Rohrabacher, had proposed resolutions
such as (emphasis added),
“US House of Representatives Concurrent Resolution
104 (112th): Expressing the sense of Congress that
the people of Baluchistan, currently divided
between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan,
have the right to self-determination and
to their own sovereign country.”
There is also funding provided to adjacent, political
groups supporting separatism in Baluchistan,
Pakistan, as listed by the US government’s
own National Endowment for Democracy
(NED) website under “Pakistan.”
Organizations like the “Association for Integrated
Development Balochistan” are funded by the US government and used to mobilize people
politically, constituting clear interference
by the US, in Pakistan’s internal
political affairs.
The Gwadar Port project is a key juncture within China’s
growing global network of infrastructure projects, as
part of its One Belt, One Road initiative. The US
clearly opposes China’s rise & has articulated robust strategies to counter it; everything up to and including, open war, as seen in the Pentagon Papers, regarding the Vietnam War.
The recent bombing in Baluchistan, Pakistan demonstrates
that this strategy continues, in regards to utilizing local
militants to target Chinese-Pakistani co-operation, and
is one part of the much wider, region-wide strategy:
of encircling and containing China.
The Southeast Asia Front
Of course the US war against Vietnam was part of a wider
effort to reassert Western primacy over Southeast Asia
...and deny the region from fueling China’s inevitable rise.
The US having lost the war and almost completely retreating
from the Southeast Asia region saw Southeast Asia itself
repair relations amongst themselves and with China.
Today, the nations of Southeast Asia count China as their
largest trade partner, investor, a ''key partner'' in infra-
structure development, a key supplier for the region’s
armed forces, as well as providing the majority of
tourism arrivals throughout the region. For
countries like Thailand, more tourists
arrive from China, than from all
Western nations combined.
Because existing governments in Southeast Asia have
nothing to benefit from by participating in American
belligerence toward China, the US has found it
necessary to cultivate and attempt to install
into power various client regimes. This has
been an ongoing process, since the
Vietnam War.
The US has targeted each nation individually for years.
In 2009 & 2010, US-backed opposition leader-in-exile,
Thaksin Shinawatra, deployed his “red shirt” rioters
in back-to-back riots - the latter of which included
some 300 armed militants and culminated in city-
wide arson across Bangkok, and the death of
over 90 police, soldiers, protesters, and
bystanders.
In 2018, US-backed opposition groups took power in
Malaysia after the US poured millions of dollars, for
over a decade, in building up the opposition.
Daniel Twining of the US National Endowment for Democracy subsidiary – the International
Republican Institute – admitted, during a talk by the Center for Strategic & International Studies, that same year, that:
…for 15 years working with NED resources, we worked
to strengthen Malaysian opposition parties -- and guess
what happened 2 months ago after 61 years? They won.
He would elaborate on how the NED’s network played a
direct role in placing US-backed opposition figures into
power, within the Malaysian government, stating:
I visited and I was sitting there with many of the leaders
the new leaders of this government, many of whom
were just our partners we had been working with
for 15 years and one of the most senior of them
who’s now one of the people running the
government said to me, ‘gosh IRI you
never gave up on us even when we
were ready to give up
on ourselves.’
Far from “promoting freedom” in Malaysia ---- Twining
would make clear the ultimate objective of interfering
in Malaysia’s internal political affairs, was to serve
US interests, not only in regards to Malaysia, but
in regards to the entire region and specifically
toward encircling and containing China.
Twining would boast:
…guess what one of the first steps the
new government took? It froze Chinese
infrastructure investments.
And that:
[Malaysia] is not a hugely pro-American country. It is
probably never going to be an actual US ally, but this
is going to redound to our benefit, and and that’s
an example of the long game.
It is a pattern that has repeated itself in Myanmar over
the decades --- with NED money building a parallel
political system within the nation and eventually
leading to Aung San Suu Kyi and her US-backed
National League for Democracy (NLD) party
taking power in 2016.
For Myanmar, so deep and extensive is US backing for
opposition groups there, that the elections virtually
guarantee US-backed candidates win.. every single
time. The US National Endowment for Democracy’s
own website alone... lists over 80 programs and
organizations receiving US government money
- for everything from election polling, and
building up political parties - to funding
media networks and “environmental”
groups used to block any Chinese-
initiated infrastructure projects.
The move by Myanmar’s military in February this year,
ousting Aung Sang Suu Kyi and the NLD, was meant to correct this.
However, in addition to backing political groups
protesting in the streets, the US has – for many
decades – backed and armed ethnic rebels
across the country. These rebels have now
linked up with the US-backed NLD and are
repeating the US-backed regime change
tactics used against the Arab World in 2011 --- in nations like Libya, Yemen,
and Syria – including explicit calls
for “international intervention.”
A US-Engineered “Asia Spring”
Just as the US did during the 2011 “Arab Spring” – the US
State Department, in a bid to create synergies across
its various regime change campaigns in Asia, has
introduced the “Milk Tea Alliance” to transform
individual US-backed regime change efforts in Asia, into a region-wide crisis.
The BBC itself admits in articles like, “Milk Tea
Alliance: Twitter creates emoji for pro-
democracy activists,” and that:
The alliance has brought together anti-Beijing protesters, in Hong Kong and Taiwan, with pro-democracy campaigners in Thailand and Myanmar.
Omitted from the BBC’s coverage of the “Milk Tea Alliance”
(intentionally) is the actual common denominators that
unite it – US funding through fronts like the National
Endowment for Democracy and a unifying hatred
of China - based exclusively on talking points
pushed by the US State Department itself.
Circling back to the Pentagon Papers and recalling the
coordinated, regional campaign the US sought to
encircle China with – we can then look at more
recent US government policy papers like the
“Indo-Pacific Framework” published in the
White House archives from the Trump
administration.
The policy paper’s first bullet point asks:
How to maintain US strategic primacy in the Indo-Pacific
region, and promote a liberal economic order, while
preventing China from establishing new, illiberal
spheres of influence, and cultivating areas of
cooperation to promote regional peace
and prosperity?
The paper also discusses information campaigns designed
to “educate” the world about “China’s coercive behaviour
and to influence operations around the globe.” These
campaigns have materialized in a propaganda war
fabricating accusations of “Chinese genocide” in
Xinjiang, China, claims that Chinese telecom
company Huawei is a global security threat,
and that China – not the US – is the single
largest threat to global peace and
stability today.
In reality US policy aimed at encircling China -- is
predicated upon Washington’s desire to continue
its own decades-long impunity upon the global
stage, and the continuation of all the wars,
humanitarian crises, and abuses, that
have stemmed from it.
Understanding the full scope of Washington’s
“competition” with China... helps unlock the
confusion surrounding unfolding individual
crises like the trade war; the ongoing
violence and turmoil in Myanmar;
bombings in southwest Pakistan;
students mobs in Thailand; riots
in Hong Kong; and attempts by
the US to transform the South
China Sea, into an inter- national conflict.
Understanding that these events are all connected - then
assessing the success or failure of US efforts - gives us a clearer picture of the overall success of Washington in encircling China. It also gives governments and
regional blocs a clearer picture of how to manage policy, in protecting against US subversion: that threatens national, regional, and global peace
and stability.
Brian Berletic, is a Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher and writer, especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.
Australians should be ashamed that they have a regime propped up to serve US racist agendas!
Image: sanctions infograph
How Exceptional America Is
by Eric Zuesse
September 30th, 2020
America is becoming exceptionally exceptional. In some votes
at the UN General Assembly - the Assembly of nations - only
Israel, or one or two other U.S. allies, vote along with it, and
all others either vote against it, or else abstain in order to
prevent U.S. retaliation against their own nation. No other
nation is anything like that. In fact, on many occasions,
the U.S. arm-twists other delegations -- in order to get
them to abstain from voting so as to make less stark,
and less embarrassing, America’s international
isolation. But America is also extraordinarily
exceptional in other ways, which have
nothing to do with the UN.
America is truly an exceptional nation. As the
Republican Party magazine National Review
stated, on September 15th, “Last week,
the US and Israel were the only states to vote against a General Assembly resolution on the coronavirus response. Some have seized upon that vote to paint the
USt as a bad faith actor that stands alone in the world.”
However, this vote wasn’t about only “the global
coronavirus response.” It was — perhaps even
more importantly - about U.S. sanctions against
Iran, Venezuela, Syria, Russia, China, and other
countries that the U.S. regime considers to be
its enemies. (None of these countries ever
invaded or even threatened to invade
the USA; all of those sanctions are
100% U.S. aggression.
They are target-countries that America’s aristocracy
wants to take over. (The world’s U.S.-sanctioned
countries are marked in red -- on the map of the
world below.) Israel strongly supports sanctions
against both Syria and Venezuela, and routinely
invades and bombs Syria just for good measure.
So, it joined America’s position on that.
That UN General Assembly vote was held on September
11th. America’s Associated Press bannered the next day,
“UN assembly approves pandemic resolution; US, Israel
object”, and reported that, “The 193-member world body
adopted the resolution by a vote of 169-2, with Ukraine
and Hungary abstaining. It was a strong show of unity
by the UN’s most representative body, though many
countries had hoped for adoption by consensus.”
The AP further stated:
It calls on governments and international financial institutions
“to provide more liquidity in the financial system, especially
in all developing countries.” It supports recovery plans that
“drive transformative change towards more inclusive and
just societies, including by empowering and engaging all
women and girls.”
And it urges UN member nations “to adopt a climate- and
environment-responsive approach to COVID-19 recovery
efforts”, including by aligning investments and domestic
policies with the UN goals & the 2015 Paris agreement
to combat climate change. …
By a vote of 132-3, the assembly amended the resolution to
urge all countries “to refrain from promulgating and applying
any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in
accordance with international law and the Charter of the
United Nations that impedes the full achievement of
economic and social development, particularly in
developing countries.”
The United States was then overwhelmingly defeated in
attempts to remove 2 paragraphs from the resolution,
one referring to women’s rights to “sexual and
reproductive health” --- and the other --- to
“promoting global sustainable transport.”
In addition to arguing against the language on sanctions,
the United States opposed all references to the World
Health Organization, which the US administration had
stopped funding, accusing the UN agency of failing
to do enough to stop the virus from spreading
when it first surfaced in China.
Nowhere in the AP’s article was any mention made that
in the “vote of 169-2,” the two nations which had voted
against the Resolution were the US and Israel, but only
that there had been “objections from the United States
and Israel,” regarding attachment, to the Resolution, of
the Amendment that added the anti-sanctions provision
to it. This omission was not an error. It is a type of
omission that is common in propaganda. America
was more isolated than that ‘news’-report
made clear.
This vote was about only a “Resolution,” a statement of
the various nations’ values, to work toward, not about
any nation’s policy, but the U.S. and Israel don’t share
those goals — not even rhetorically. This opposition
to that Resolution’s goals, was truly exceptional.
In particular, nothing is more abhorrent to the US regime
--- than to stop or impede its sanctions. These sanctions
include, for example, punishments against any company
or government that will, in any way, assist in Russia’s 96%
completed NordStream 2 natural gas pipeline to Germany,
for the EU to buy Russia’s pipelined natural gas instead of
America’s fracked, canned, shipped, natural gas. The U.S.
regime insists that EU nations buy the far costlier trans-
Atlantic-shipped fracked US liquefied natural gas (LNG).
That insistence upon the EU’s wasting money, in order to
prop-up America’s fracking industry, is, indeed, exceptional,
because European nations haven’t customarily been treated
as being mere colonies of other powers. America is treating
purchasers from, or cooperators with, that competitor (Russia),
as being its enemies. The way the U.S. Representative stated
this (after a lengthy diatribe which blamed China for Covid-19
and said that the U.S. had quit the World Health Organization
because WHO lacked “independence from the Chinese
Communist Party”) was: “Economic sanctions are a
legitimate means to achieve foreign policy, security,
and other national and international objectives, and
the United States is not alone in that view or in that
practice.” (That exact same sentence had, earlier,
been stated by the US regarding a different matter,
on 18 November 2019.) Actually, the U.S. regime is
very “alone” on it. Furthermore, the other part was
also a lie: the U.S. regime asserts that coercing
corporations and countries to not buy from the
lowest-cost supplier, is within its sovereign
right to do.
However, as Professor Alfred de Zayas, who until recently was
the UN’s top expert on this topic, explained in depth on 27th
June 2019, that assertion is blatantly false, on many clear
grounds concerning international law. It is a blatant lie, no
matter how many times the U.S. regime asserts it (and
asserts that the US regime isn’t “alone” in asserting it).
Even back when Barack Obama (the man who repeatedly
claimed that “The United States is and remains, the one
indispensable nation”) was America’s President, the US
was exceptional at the United Nations. For example, on
24th November 2014, I headlined “U.S. Among Only 3
Countries Officially Backing Nazism & Holocaust-
Denial”, and reported that - “In a UN vote, on
November 21st, only 3 countries - the US, Ukraine, and Canada — voted against a resolution to condemn racist fascism,
or nazism, and to condemn denial of Germany’s World War II Holocaust against, primarily, Jews.''
This measure passed the General Assembly, on a vote of 115
in favour, 3 against, & 55 abstentions (the abstentions were
in order not to offend U.S. President Obama, who was
opposed to the resolution).” Then, on 21 June 2015,
I headlined “America’s UN Ambassador Continues
Standing Up for Nazis” and noted that, again,
Obama’s UN Ambassador, Samantha Power,
had stood up for nazism; she had just
delivered an address -- in Ukraine --
rallying that country’s supporters
of nazism to war against Russia.
Then, on 21 November 2017, I headlined “Trump
Continues Obama’s Support of Nazism”, and
reported that:
On November 16th, US President Donald Trump, acting
through an agent of his agent, UN Ambassador Nikki
Haley, voted at the UN against a resolution that
condemns bigotry, and especially condemns
nazism & all forms of racism. He thus, yet
again, continues in the tradition from his
predecessors, Presidents Obama, and
Bush, each year, placing this nation in
the company of only one or two U.S.
allies throughout the world who join
with the US in refusing to commit to
opposing and doing everything to
reduce, not just political Nazism
(which, of course, is past), but
ideological nazism, racist
fascism - institutionalized
bigotry (which, sadly, is
not past).
But, be that as it may, the U.S. is also exceptional in
many other ways. I listed some of those on July 13th.
There are two main reasons why the U.S. regime is able
to coerce other nations to not violate its will. One is that
although publicly available reports allege it spends
approximately 37% of the entire world’s military
expenditures, the U.S. regime actually - spends
around 50% of the entire world’s military costs,
and therefore, it possesses an extraordinary
physical capacity to impose its will, if and
when merely economically blockading an
‘enemy’ country (via sanctions) fails to do the job of getting it to comply.
And the other main reason is that, since the US government
is at least as corrupt as the average “third-world” country is,
but is instead one of the world’s richest countries, arranging
pay-offs to other world leaders, in order to obtain their
cooperation, is easily affordable... (These payoffs are
being paid by all US.taxpayers, not by only America’s
billionaires, who reap all of the profits from the
empire that is imposed.)
American exceptionalism is real. It’s not the type of
exceptionalism that the regime’s propaganda claims
to be the case, but, nonetheless, it is real.
(Strategic Culture Foundation)
Image: sanctions map
Please watch the video above... We have never existed in such peril, and yet almost no-one is able to act.
Nuclear words: Putin's FINAL warning:
(People DO need reminding -- unless US, UK and French policy changes, and stops being so 'exceptional' -- that is, outside the UN legal Charter and thus, criminal --- there will be a reaping.)
BREAKING: Russia's State TV Advising Russian Citizens on how to survive a World War ! WAKE UP NOW - AND STOP THE WAR ON CHINA/RUSSIA !
The Doomsday clock of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists website now has the final singular moment that will bring civilization to final nuclear annihilation, at 90 seconds to midnight.
This is the closest it has ever been. Scott Ritter says it should be 2 seconds
President Assad drives to E. Goutha - in a Honda!
Syrians support Assad, but BBC won't report it, British baroness tells RT after fact-finding trip April 24th, at 4:36pm
Most Syrians support their president and military, but the BBC presents Britons with a different, one-sided story, a British baroness and member of the House of Lords told RT, after returning from a trip to the war-torn country.
Caroline Cox, a baroness and Life Peer in the House of Lords, recently returned from a tour of several Syrian cities, during which she spoke with a "wide range of people," including government officials, opposition leaders, artists, writers, intellectuals and ordinary Syrians walking in the park.
According to Baroness Cox, despite claims from western governments and media outlets, the vast majority of Syrians are thankful to President Bashar Assad and the Syrian and Russian militaries for fighting Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIL) and jihadist groups.
The Syrian people "are very grateful to the Syrian Army, to Assad and, I may say, for Russian help in getting rid of the terrorists. They are the perpetrators of the most appalling atrocities and killings."
However, British media like the BBC have done a poor job of accurately conveying this public attitude, Baroness Cox told RT.
"People are very keen to hear the point of view from people inside Syria. It's widely felt and widely reported, that BBC reporting is very biased and very one-sided, and so they really want a bigger picture."
She also dismissed accusations that her trip to Syria was in any way inappropriate or was somehow staged for propaganda purposes.
The baroness explained how she spoke freely with random people she met in the park, "something that couldn't have been 'arranged' by the government."
"I talked to two delightful Muslim ladies, in one of the parks in Aleppo, and that wasn't pre-arranged, and I asked them what they felt about the situation, and what they said was entirely consistent with what we'd hear in the formal meetings," she said.
According to Cox, her message to the British people – and to the entire world – is very simple: "Please, may we leave the Syrian people the freedom to decide their own future."
Why Can’t US Wage War on Syria? by Mohammad Salami April 12th, 2018, at 3:50pm
Since the beginning of the crisis in Syria in 2011, the United States of America has been supporting the terrorist groups to fight the Syrian army, government and people, in order to destroy the entire country and impose partition across its territories.
Syria, which functions as the centre of the axis of resistance in the region, has been facing heavy international pressures to change its strategic political position in the area. After facing heavy political & diplomatic pressures, Syria had to confront a ferocious takfiri war & intermittent Israeli air raids on various targets in the country. Finally, the manager and the leader of the international wars on Syria and the whole axis of resistance, the U.S., decided to directly interfere in the ongoing battle in Syria.
Playing the same ‘chemical game’ which covered up the US war on Iraq in 2003, President Donald Trump decided, on behalf of the whole world, to strike Syria due to what he claimed were “chemical attacks” launched by the Syrian government troops in Eastern Gouta.
Regardless of the unfounded chemical allegations, the US administration faces a number of obstacles, which block its military aspirations in Syria & the entire Middle East.
First, the US military bases in the Middle East will be under direct intensive attacks from the opposing forces. Second, the allied Arab regimes would face unstable conditions in case a largescale war erupted in the region. Third, the Zionist entity would pay the heaviest price for any American adventure against Syria and the axis of resistance.
Considering the key obstacles mentioned above, as well as many others, the US administration finds itself unable to deal any blow to Syria in the context of a major war, as the consequences would be destructive with respect to the US strategic interests in the Middle East.
In case the United States is mulling limited air raids on certain targets in Syria, such actions have not proved to be fruitful and game changing. In April, 2017, the US warplanes struck Shoairat military airport in Homs in Syria, yet the blow failed to achieve any political or field result.
In politics, surprises are always expected; however, the available political and military conditions do not allow the United States to take any reckless measure against Syria and the whole region.
World Will Not Survive the US' Neocons' Doctrine of US World Hegemony - Paul Graig Roberts Wednesday, February 7th, 2018
"The government of the United States is clearly in demonic hands. We are overflowing with proof", writes American well known analytist and ex- official Paul Graig Roberts in his website.
Take today (2-2-18) for example. A report from the House Intelligence Committee was released that is proof that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice --- and the Democrat National Committee, are now in a conspiracy against American democracy and the President of the United States, with the full support of the presstitute media.
As if that is not enough, also released today, is the Pentagon’s new Nuclear Posture Review. A nuclear posture review specifies a country’s attitude to nuclear weapons and their use. In past posture reviews, nuclear weapons were regarded as unusable except in retaliation for a nuclear attack. The assumption was that no one would use them. There was always the chance that false warnings of incoming ICBMs would result in a nuclear button being pushed - setting off Armageddon.
There were many false warnings during the Cold War
President Ronald Reagan, was very concerned about a false warning, ending in mass death & destruction.
This is why his principal goal was to end the Cold War, which he succeeded in doing. It did not take successor governments long, to resurrect the Cold War.
The new US nuclear posture is a reckless, irresponsible, and destabilizing departure from the previous attitude toward nuclear weapons. The use of even a small part of the existing arsenal of the United States would be sufficient to destroy life on earth. Yet, the posture review calls for more weapons, speaks of nuclear weapons as “usable,” and justifies their use in First Strikes, even against countries that do not have nuclear weapons.
This is an insane escalation. It tells every country that the US government, believes in the first use of nuclear weapons against any & every country. Nuclear powers such as Russia & China must see this to be a massive increase in the threat level from the US.
Those responsible for this document should be committed to insane aslyums, not left in policy positions where they can put it into action.
The neoconservatives are a small group of conspirators. Most neoconservatives are Jews allied with Israel. Some are dual-citizens. They created an ideology of US world hegemony, specifying that the chief goal of US foreign policy, is to prevent the rise of any other power that could serve as a constraint on US unilateralism.
As neoconservatives control US foreign policy, this explains US hostility toward Russia and China and also the neo-conservatives’ use of the US military to remove governments in the Middle East, seen by Israel as obstacles to Israeli expansion. For two decades --- the US has been fighting wars for Israel in the Middle East. This fact proves the power and influence of the insane neo- conservatives. It is certain, that people as insane as the neoconservatives, would launch a nuclear attack on Russiaand China.
The Russian and Chinese governments seem to be completely unaware of the threat that the neo- conservatives pose to them. I have never experienced in interviews with Russians and Chinese, any awareness of the neo- conservative ideology. Possibly, it is too insane for them to grasp.
Ideologues such as the neoconservatives are not fact-based
They are chasing their dream of world hegemony. Russia & China are in the way of this hegemony. Having learned the limits of conventional military power—after 20 years the US “superpower” has been unable to defeat a few thousand lightly armed Taliban in Afghanistan—the neo-conservatives know: conventional invasions of Russia or China, would lead to the total defeat of US forces.
Therefore, the neoconservatives have elevated nuclear weapons to a First Strike, usable, arsenal that in the neoconservative dream of world hegemony can be used to destroy Russia and China.
Ideologues who divorce themselves from the facts create a virtual world for themselves. Their belief in their ideology blinds them to the risks for them- selves and others that they impose on the world.
Thanks to the American liberal/progressive/left, the entirety of the world is faced with a far more likely nuclear demise than ever threatened us during the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
By its collaboration with the military/security complex & the corrupt Hillary DNC, the liberal/progressive/left has forever discredited itself. It is now seen by every thinking person worldwide as an insane propaganda ministry --- for the neoconservatives’ plan to use nuclear weapons to eliminate constraints on US unilateralism.
The liberal/progressive/left has endorsed “hegemony or death.”
They will get death. For all of us.
(Source - DONi News Agency)
According to: PaulGraigRoberts.org
_______________________________________ Syrian Girl - The Truth About The Kurds In Syria
Full Text: Official Declaration of the Malorossiyan Federation
Zakharchenko announces a new federal state, Malorossiya, (means ''Little Russia'') as the legal successor of Ukraine. DONi News Agency
On 18.7.2017 the Head of the Donetsk People's Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, declared the creation of a new federal state, Malorossiya, which will become the legal successor of 'Ukraine'. The new state formation, will consist of 19 regions of the former Ukraine with the capital in Donetsk city. Kiev remains a historical and cultural centre, without the status of capital city.
Here is the full English translation of the declaration:
Political Declaration
The project of the state of "Ukraine", formulated 150 years ago and implemented in different versions during the 20th century, has reached its logical conclusion --- and led to the country's disintegration, civil war and the death of tens of thousands of people, including children, women, and elderly people.
And this process is irreversible. An attempt to turn the story back will result in "balkanization" of the conflict, expansion of chaos, escalation of civil war and even bigger numbers of casualties.
To stop the civil war and avoid new victims, we representatives of the majority of the regions of former "Ukraine" assembled in Donetsk on July 18, 2017, discussed the current situation and came to the following conclusions:
- the state of "Ukraine" has revealed itself as a failed state and demonstrated its being incapable of granting its inhabitants a peaceful and prosperous present and future;
- the current authorities – elected in Kiev, after the coup d'etat, against the backdrop of political terror and the absence of elections in the Crimea and Donbass, are illegitimate;
- the state of "Ukraine" is on the brink of economic catastrophe and depopulation;
- an ultranationalist coup is brewing in Kiev, as a result of which outright neo-Nazis will come to power insteadof "Banderites with a European face";
- the Ukrainian nationalistic project (the Galician one) has discredited itself, by the shedding of civilians' blood in the country;
- the ideology of "Ukrainism" has proved to be misanthropic, mixed with xenophobia (Russophobia, anti-Semitism, Polonophobia) and neo-Nazism (the ideology of national exclusivity and superiority);
- resulting from historical development and due to the Maidan, the word "Ukraine" is forever associated with the names of the Nazi accomplices, Bandera and Shukhevich, with the tragedies of the Baby Yar, the Volyn massacre & Khatyn, and, nowadays, with the mass murder of people on the Maidan, in the Trade Unions' House in Odessa, and Genocide of the Donbass people.
On the basis of the above, we believe that the state of "Ukraine", in the form it was established, after the collapse of the USSR, is UNSERVICEABLE.
We, representatives of the regions of the former "Ukraine", propose to re-establish the state and to proclaim the state of MALOROSSIYA, under an historical background, out of the former "Ukraine". In this case, it is of fundamental importance to rename the country, since "Ukraine" as a state, is guilty of war crimes, mass terror and the genocide of its own people.
In turn, the new name of the country, based on historical traditions, will enable us to reunify those pieces of the former "Ukraine" that seemed to have parted ways forever, including because of participation in the civil war, on different sides of the front line.
We must turn the page of our people's history, which is flooded with the blood of our brothers and sisters.
Malorossiya is an INDEPENDENT, SOVEREIGN state, with a new name, a new flag, a new constitution, a new state structure, new principles of social and economic development, and new historical prospectives.
But this is NOT A REVOLUTION ! This is a return to history. This is a novelty that restores, not destroys.
In view of the economic plight of the country, the chaos & disintegration potential, and regarding the possibility of launching a "war of all against all", we consider it necessary to declare a state of emergency for the transition period – up to 3 years. During this time, the process of adoption of the new Constitution and the establishment of the rule of law, should be completed.
Under a state of emergency, a ban on the activities of political parties and foreign funds is to be introduced, & penalties for criminal offenses, especially against the person, are to be increased. The fight against corruption will be toughened, as well as the penalties for it.The shadow arms market is to be eliminated, including by registering weapons in accordance with the new law.
In the same period an investigation is to be carried out, with the involvement of foreign specialists –- from Russia, Belarus & the European Union –- into the crimes committed by the Maidan Kiev regime: the murders on the Maidan, the murder of Odessa citizens in the Trade Unions' House on May 2nd, 2014, and the war crimes in Donbass, in the so-called ATO.
In the same period, the People's Tribunal is to be prepared to charge the state criminals who have led the country into disintegration and civil war: V.F. Yanukovich (with a request to Russia for his extradition), P.A. Poroshenko and his clique: Turchinov, Yatsenyuk, Kolomoisky, Paruby, Nalivaichenko and others.
We are sure that, having recovered from the criminal neo-Nazi ideology of "Ukrainism", we will be able to build a new society on the basis of friendship and mutual assistance -- but not hatred and envy. The creative genius of our people will manage to bring Malorossiya to the forefront of global civilization and play a role in history. The role of Good, and Truth.
Official translation by the DONi Donbass News Agency, 07/18/2017
(Source - Russia Insider)
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Nato – A Dangerous Alliance May 24th
As Nato ends its summit in Brussels, Rae Street explains why the military alliance remains a threat to world peace
When the Warsaw Pact ended, after the collapse of communism, some optimists might have expected Nato to be broken up too. After all, the Labour Party in Britain had been opposed to Nato in the mid-1980s. But that was not to be. The US, which had always dominated Nato, quickly began to reinvent Nato and furthermore, to expand it.
Following the end of the Warsaw Pact many central and east European governments wanted to join Nato. This, of course, was music to the ears of the US military manufacturers. Indeed, the chair of the expand Nato committee, Bruce Jackson, was technical director of Lockheed Martin, the largest military manufacturer in the world. So, for the new Nato members because of the policy on “interoperability,” that is Nato personnel being able to use the same military equipment, it was out with the old Soviet military hard- ware and in with sales of, for example, Lockheed’s military aircraft ,costing millions of dollars.
This continues to this day in countries which can ill afford it, with struggling economies. The latter includes Greece. Think of the situation in Greece today.
Expanding Nato up to the borders with Russia, was a provocative policy. The dangers were pointed out but the military industrial complex and the “hawks” in the West, took no notice.
To this day, this helps President Vladimir Putin: more and more of the Russian people believe that “the West” is against them.
Decades later, we read: “British troops have arrived in Estonia, as part of a major Nato mission in the Baltic states, to deter Russian aggression.”
From the start, Nato has always held a nuclear armed policy. It continues to claim that nuclear weapons “preserve peace.” Manifestly, nuclear weapons do not deter conflict.
Governments, including Britain’s, now analyse the main threats to security as cyber warfare and terrorism. Remember September 11th 2001, when New York was attacked by terrorists in planes, brandishing knives?
The US then had and still has, 13 nuclear armed Trident submarines, of which several will be roaming the seas fully operational. Britain has four, with one constantly on alert at sea.
Were these any use in the madman’s attack on Westminster, or in any terrorist attacks?
Trident is “integrated” into Nato. Even worse, Nato still has a policy of “first use of nuclear weapons.”
When the then minister of defence, Geoff Hoon, was asked in Parliament why Britain has a policy of “first use,” he replied: “Because of our obligations to Nato.”
Under the direction of the US administration, with its policy of global domination, Nato has established a string of nuclear-armed bases across Europe, in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, at Incirlik.
The latter is now causing deep problems as relations between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the US, become more and more fractious.
There is now a real problem for Nato, as Erdogan is a repressive dictator — how can Turkey remain in Nato?
Nato states are supposed to uphold principles of human rights and democracy, notably lacking in Turkey today.
The nuclear-armed bases come under Nato’s “nuclear sharing policy” — in effect a violation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Nato continues to expand. The policy of not acting “out of area” was dropped long ago. “North Atlantic” simply means, a domination of policies by the US.
Nato claims in its “strategic concept” that “the promotion of Euro-Atlantic security is best assured through a wide network of partner relationships with countries and organisations around the globe.”
In 1994 Nato established the Partnerships for Peace across Europe, extending as far as Uzbekistan.
Nato surrounds Russia from the west and east. These Partnerships for Peace (note the language again) now include 22 states, including “neutral” Ireland.
Then there is the ''Mediterranean Dialogue,'' with ''arrangements'' with countries in the Middle East. Few people realise that Nato carries out military exercises with Israel.
Nato has also established bilateral relations — named individual partnerships — with Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan.
In this part of the globe, where Nato carried out a military exercise in 2014 with Japan, named Ocean Shield, they are surrounding and menacing China, as the enemy.
Then there was the statement by Nato that “co-operation between Nato and the United Nations continues to make a substantial contribution to security in operations round the world.
“The alliance aims to deepen political dialogue and practical co-operation with the UN, as set out in the Nato/UN declaration, signed in 2008.”
This seems like Nato bidding to be the UN's military arm.
This hardly accords with the UN Charter. It was the Organisation for Security & Co-operation in Europe, set up under Chapter 8, of the UN Charter, to prevent and resolve conflict by non-military means and to promote co-operation in humanitarian and other fields.
The 54 member states stretch from Iceland to Kyrgyzstan and include Russia. Alas, how many times do you read of their work in the press, compared with the times you hear about Nato?
Nato is sold to us as a peace-making body. After all, the US is home to the finest PR companies in the world.
To summarise, Nato is pursuing yet more militarism and war:
- All Nato states are required to increase their military budgets to 2 per cent of GDP. That means stealing more money from social needs. Readers of the Morning Star know those all too well: the NHS, education, adult social services; the list is endless.
- Nato member states will have to spend 20 per cent of defence budgets on military equipment: warships, war planes, drones, bombs. By fuelling the arms race, Nato makes a mockery of moves for conflict resolution.
- Nato and its member states multiply interventions outside their territory and increase their presence through world- wide partnerships and “coalitions of the willing.”
- Nato extends its nuclear policies as a supreme “guarantee for the allies’ security,” notwithstanding that the majority of countries in the world are negotiating a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. In the meantime, nuclear weapons in Europe — under the guise of Nato — and elsewhere, are being modernised at a cost of many tens of billions of dollars and pounds. Think of Trident at a cost of £205 billion.
The Nato summit will be held and activists will beholding a “counter-summit” with protesters organising workshops and a demonstration.
CND activists will be there from the UK, but -- we also need people to raise the issues with their MPs, write letters to the press and raise awareness on social media.
Let’s put pressure on the government to invest in social welfare, not Nato, not war.
(Source - Morning Star)
Legendary memorial at Saur-Tomb ''restored by May 2017''
DPR authorities have finished restoring the Saur-Tomb by May 2017. It was announced by the Building Minister, Sergey Naymets.
‘Saur Tomb has been being restored since November, and we planned to finish this by May 2017’, the Minister said.
He said "many people contributed to this project of restoration of the memorial damaged by shelling," Naumets noted.
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Cool Russia!
[Eng Subs] Children of Donbass, "Toys for Poroshenko" Music Video by Artem Grishanov
POWERFUL - PUT THIS ON HEADPHONES. I guarantee you will cry - and if you don't - please seek psychiatric help.
In 2017 in the Donbass - give the children Peace!
Ethnic Ruthenes of sub-Carpathian Ukraine demand autonomy
Activists of a Slavic ethnic group known as Ruthenes -- or Rusyns -- who reside in the Trans-Carpathian (sub-Carpathian) region of Ukraine, have turned to President Pyotr Poroshenko with a demand:
recognize the results of 1991's regional referendum --- when 78% of the region's residents, voted in favor of granting it the status of a self-governing region.
"We have two main demands - to recognize the Rhuthenes as an ethnos and to acknowledge the regional referendum of 1991, where 78% sub-Carpathians voted for the region being a self-governed territory within Ukraine," Vesti quoted Ivan Palinkash, the leader of the Ruthene movement & a member of the People’s Council's presidium of Sub-Carpathian Ruthenes.
Natalya Magalina, a deputy of Uzhgorod district council, told the meeting of leaders of Ruthene ethnic organizations it is important to maintain the Ruthene language by establishing minimal norms for broadcasting in the native tongue, over the state regional TV Channel Tisa-1.
This isn't the first time that the Ruthenes of the sub- Carpathian area have asked the Kiev government to recognize the outcome of the referendum held 25 years ago. The Coordination Council of Ruthene Organizations of the Trans-Carpathian Region turned to the central authorities with the same requirement, the previous time, in the summer of 2015.
It was also in the summer of 2015 that the activists of Ruthene organizations adopted an appeal to the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe & the UN, as well as to the parliaments of Hungary, the Czech Republic, & Slovakia, to wield pressure on President Poroshenko and force the Ukrainian government towards accepting the result of their referendum.
The Ruthenes are an indigenous sub-Carpathian people. Ukrainian authorities do not consider them to be a separate ethnos, and continue calling them Ukrainians, although the UN has issued recommendations more than once, to recognize their status as a separate ethnos.
More than that, Kiev accuses the leaders of Ruthene organizations of making appeals for encroachments on the territorial integrity of the country.
(source - TASS)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zionist lobby preventing West from criticizing Israel: Analyst Fri Dec 16, 2016
The European Union has censured the Israeli regime for destroying Palestinian shelters and structures in the occupied territories. According to a statement by the European bloc, the Tel Aviv regime has demolished 866 structures so far in 2016 in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli military control.
Anthony Hall, editor-in-chief of the American Herald Tribune from Alberta, says that the European states have been under the influence of the Zionist lobby to go along with Israeli interests - and thus refuse to slam crimes against the Palestinian people.
“Every government within the EU has a very strong Israeli lobby, and this is one of the dilemmas that the Western people are facing,”Hall explained.
“Not only the governing parties but the opposition parties as well, are constraining discussion and discourse within a very narrow range, that puts Israeli priorities at the top of the list in all our Western countries,”he added.
The professor also called on Western citizens to“intervene directly and make contact with the Palestinian people, directly.”
“We, as the citizens in the EU, citizens in Canada, & citizens in the US, have to find ways to bypass the constraints of our governments & the biases and power of this lobby over our governments,” he noted.
Hall criticized the EU for its forensic accounting of homes demolished in Palestine.
“This type of numerical accounting fails to really describe the nature of this destruction of homes in its broader context ------ where thousands of Palestinian people are in dungeons and being tortured in Israeli incarceration facilities,” he said.
“The reality: that the world is letting this happen is very discouraging,” he added.
Hall warned that the prospect of a Palestinian state is no longer viable, given the emphasis on building up settlements, and destroying the structures of the indigenous people of Palestine.
"This goes beyond apartheid,” he said.
The Israeli policy of demolishing houses in the West Bank to build illegal settler units has affected 5,704 Palestinians, of whom, 1,221 have been rendered homeless, including 586 children.
(source - PressTv)
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UN Adopts"Paper Tiger" Resolution, on Israel's Withdrawal from the Syrian Golan
Fahwad Al-Khadoumi -The UN General Assembly adopted yet another resolution demanding that Israel withdraw from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, in line with a resolution of June 4, 1967.
However, UN General Assembly resolutions are non-binding and no more than a paper tiger, with- out a unanimous decision by the permanent UN Security Council members, to enforce them; A highly unlikely prospect.
In its latest resolution, the UN General Assembly again condemned Israel's non-compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 497 (1981). The General Assembly reiterated that Israel's decision from December 14th, 1981, to impose Israeli laws, administration & custody on the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, is null and void -- and has no legality at all.
The latest UNGA resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority of UN member States. The resolution reaffirmed the illegality of acquiring territories through the use of military force. The General Assembly also repeated that Israel's continued occupation & enforcement of Israeli law & administration violates international law, the UN Charter, & the Geneva Convention's principles on the protection of civilians during war.
During the UNGA session, a number of states condemned the Israeli practices in occupied Syrian Golan, calling on Israel to withdraw from Golan, in line with June 4th, 1967.
37 states proposed the now adopted draft resolution. However, UNGA resolutions are non-binding and no more than a paper tiger, unless permanent Security Council members are willing to put their money where their mouth was, when they adopted UNSC Resolution 497 (1981) - decades ago.
Moreover, none of the permanent UNSC members - China, France, Russia, the UK and the US - took any tangible steps when the now former Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, defiantly declared that "Israel and the Golan are part and parcel" and that "the international community should get used to facing the fact that Israel will permanently annex the Syrian territory".
Most favourite scapegoat
The favorite scapegoat among permanent UNSC members, with regard to supporting Israel and neglecting Israel's illegal occupation of Golan is the US. However, Russia is in no way more actively pursuing Israel's adherence with UNSC Resolution 497 (1981) than any other of the self-anointed permanent UNSC members. In April 2016, Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin, were ominously silent about the Golan when Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, visited Moscow.
Russia failed to respond to what Netanyahu had declared "a red line" - occupation of the Golan.
A brief review of recent history pertaining to the Israeli occupation, international affairs & Israel's use of the Golan to wage war on Syria, suffices to show that the UN System has failed, utterly, and that it is perverted to the point that many analysts call for abolishing the UN altogether.
In June 2013 an Austrian UN Disengagement & Observer Force (UNDOF) officer told the press that Israel is running a joint operations room with the insurgents in Syria in the Golan.The UNSC failed to respond and more importantly, failed to take action. In July 2013, the Syrian permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Dr. Fayssal al-Hamwi, noted how Israel, since it occupied the Syrian Golan Heights in 1967, has displaced about half a million of the Golan´s original inhabitants.
Also in Feb. 2014, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu preempted a public relations quagmire by visiting a field hospital for "Syrian Freedom Fighters" in the Golan to show how much Israel cares and does, on the humanitarian front. It turned out that the "Freedom Fighters" belonged to the Syrian Al-Qaeda franchise, Jabhat al-Nusra.
In March 2014, Israel launched one of many military attacks against Syrian military and security forces, from the Golan, while the UNSC and most media were "silent".
In April 2014 The Director of Israel's Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Aviv Kochavi, a protegé of the now deceased Ariel Sharon, was appointed to head the Israeli Defense Forces Northern Command.
NSNBC international editor-in-chief, Christof Lehmann, reported that the appointment of Kochavi, indicated that Israel was planning large-scale military operations via the Golan in the near future and the widening of the Syria war. Lehmann was right on the money.
In May 2014 Israel denied Syrians in Golan the right to participate in Syrian elections. The UN was "silent". In mid-April 2016, ahead of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israel would hold on to the Golan.
A UNDOF withdrawal has left a 12-16 km wide corridor uncontrolled by the UNDOF... In 2013, it transpired that Israel was giving support to Jabhat al-Nusrah, such as a joint intelligence and military operations room in the Israeli occupied Golan, plus logistical support, weapons, field hospitals, and direct combat support.
In September 2014, Israeli machinations, resulted in the displacement of UNDOF troops from a 12-16 kilometer-wide corridor in the disengagement zone in the Golan by Jabhat Al-Nusra.. The corridor has since been used to supply Al-Nusra and the other terrorists and to launch attacks against Syria.
All permanent UNSC members with the exception of Russia were "silent". Russian diplomats tentatively spoke out against terminating the peace keeping mission in the Golan. The UNSC failed to act.
In 2015 it came out that Israel planned a major hydrocarbon extraction project in the Golan. Partners in crime include Genier Energy.
On the board of directors? Dick Cheney, James Woolsey, Bill Richardson, Jacob Lord Rothschild, Rupert Murdoch, Larry Summers and Michael Steinhardt, among others. Other players involved include the Israeli subsidiary, Afek Oil and Gas, American Shale, French Total and BP. Thus, there exists a broad and powerful nexus of US, British, French and Israeli interests: at the forefront of pushing for the break-up of Syria and control of what's believed to be potentially vast untapped oil and gas resources in the country.
On April 20th, 2016, NSNBC international editor- in-chief Christof Lehmann, said Netanyahu's "Red Line" would be a litmus test for Russia, as a permanent UNSC member. On April 21st, after talks between Netanyahu and Putin in Moscow, it could be concluded that Russia failed -- spectacularly.
In September 2016, Israel started a wave of home demolitions in the Golan. The UNSC was "silent".
In October 2016, Israel announced plans to build 1,600 settlement units in the Golan, & none of the permanent UNSC members took any action.
So much for the latest UN General Assembly paper tiger.
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The UK Labour MPs who didn’t back the Yemen vote have blood on their hands by David Wearing
Presenting the motion in the Commons, Thornberry was subjected to a series of ill-judged interruptions by Labour MPs, such as Kevan Jones, Toby Perkins and John Woodcock. Indeed, Thornberry received more vocal support in the chamber from the SNP group than from her own supposed comrades.
According to subsequent reports, some Labour members even tried to work with their Tory counterparts, in order to defeat their own party’s motion.
Woodcock, a former 'Progress' Chair, claimed that British support is “precisely focused on training the Saudis” to improve their targeting - so as to “create fewer civilian casualties” - parroting the official government line. The idea that the Saudis’ “widespread & systematic” attacks on civilian targets are just a series of well- meaning errors, is one that, to put it as gently as possible, lacks credibility.
And if decades of training provided by the British to the Saudi pilots hasn’t prevented these supposed errors by now --- it seems rather unlikely that it will in the near future.
In any case, this misrepresents the true nature of the UK's role. When the intervention began, the foreign secretary Philip Hammond, vowed to “support the Saudis in every practical way short of engaging in combat”, including “spare parts, maintenance, technical advice, resupply” and “logistical support”. The reality is that the Saudi Air Force, roughly half UK-supplied and half US-supplied jets, could barely function, without this ongoing assistance from Washington and London.
If there is Yemeni blood on the hands of the Saudi-led coalition - then that blood is also on the hands of the coalition’s western backers, enablers and apologists.
The Saudis and their allies can only wage this war because the Anglo-American suppliers of their air forces are providing active, material support. And British and American politicians can only collude in these outrages, because the political cost on them, so far, has been low. However, it is in the gift of their constituents – you, the reader – to change that equation.
(source - The Guardian)
This could be defeated --- with a UNITED LABOUR PARTY !!!
But unfortunately, there are "entryist" MPs who, for decades, have been groomed by CIA cold war relic organisations -- like the Atlantic Council -- and are now trying to misdirect the Labour Party towards cuts, a militarised police, and a US war agenda... and their anti-peace MPs are hobbling Labour.
129 Labour MPs voted to stop support for Saudi Arabia’s campaign in Yemen. The vote was defeated by a majority of 90.
The motion called for ---- support to be withdrawn from the Saudi government until a United Nations investigation could determine whether the Saudi bombing had breached international law.
The motion didn't explicitly include a suspension of UK arms sales.
100+ Labour MPs didn't vote on the motion. If all of them had voted to support it, the government would have been defeated.
The following, are the Labour MPs who abstained, or weren't present to vote.
Adrian Bailey Andy Burnham Angela Eagle Angela Smith Ann Clwyd Ann Coffey Anna Turley Barry Sheerman Ben Bradshaw Bridgit Phillipson Caroline Flint Catherine McKinnell Chris Bryant Chris Elmore (Teller) Chris Evans Chris Leslie Clive Lewis (ill) Connor McGinn Dan Jarvis David Crausby David Lammy Diana Johnson Fiona MacTaggart Frank Field Gareth Thomas Gavin Shuker Geoffrey Robinson George Howarth Gerald Kaufman Gill Furniss Gisela Stuart Gloria De Piero Graeme Jones Graham Allen Graham Stringer Heidi Alexander Helen Jones Ian Austin Ian Murray Ivan Lewis Jamie Reed Jim Fitzpatrick Joan Ryan John Mann John Spellar John Woodcock Judith Cummins (Teller) Julie Elliott Kate Hoey Keith Vaz Kevan Jones Kevin Barron Liz Kendall Luciana Berger Lucy Powell Madeleine Moon Margaret Beckett Margaret Hodge Maria Eagle Mark Hendrick Mary Creagh Meg Hillier (Paired) Melanie Onn Michael Dugher Mike Gapes Natascha Engel Neil Coyle Nia Griffith Pat McFadden Paul Flynn Peter Kyle Phil Wilson Rachel Reeves Rob Flello Rob Marris Roberta Blackman-Woods Rosie Cooper Rushanara Ali Ruth Smeeth Shabana Mahmood Siobhain McDonagh Stephen Kinnock Susan Jones Toby Perkins Tom Blenkinsopp Tom Watson Tracy Brabin Tristram Hunt Vernon Coaker Wayne David Wes Streeting Yasmin Qureshi Yvonne Fovargue
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‘How Can I Deselect My Labour MP?’ A Short Guideto Reselection and Democratic Accountability by Eric Sim, excellent free advice here:
Nicolas J S Davies is the author of Blood On Our Hands: the American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq. He also wrote the chapters on “Obama at War” in Grading the 44th President: a Report Card on Barack Obama’s First Term as a Progressive (Lol) Leader.
In the past weeks, Burundi and S. Africa have joined Namibia in declaring their intention to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). They are likely to be followed by a parade of other African countries, jeopardizing the future of an international court, which has prosecuted 39 officials from 8 African countries, but has failed to indict a single person who is not African.
Ironically, African countries were among the first to embrace the ICC, so it is a striking turnaround that they are now the first to give up on it.
But it is the United States that has played the leading role in preventing the ICC from fulfilling the universal mandate for which it was formed, to hold officials of all countries accountable for the worst crimes in the world: genocide; crimes against humanity; and war crimes - not least, international aggression, which the judges at Nuremberg defined as “the supreme international crime”, from which, all other war crimes follow.
As the ICC’s founding father, former Nuremberg prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz, lamented in 2011: “You don’t have to be a criminologist to realize that if you want to deter a crime, you must persuade potential criminals that, if they commit crimes, they will be hauled into court and be held accountable. It is the policy of the US to do just the opposite as far as the crime of aggression is concerned.
"Our government has gone to great pains - to be sure that no US citizen will be tried by any international criminal court, for the supreme crime of illegal war-making.”
The US has not only refused to accept the jurisdiction of the ICC over its own citizens. It's gone further, pressuring other countries to sign Bilateral Immunity Agreements (BIA), in which they renounce the right to refer US citizens to the ICC for war crimes committed on their territory.
The US has also threatened to cut off US aid to countries that refuse to sign them. The BIAs violate those countries’ own commitments under the ICC statute, and US pressure to sign them, has been rightly condemned: as an outrageous effort to ensure impunity for US war crimes.
Resistance to US Impunity
To the credit of our international neighbours, this US strategy has met with substantial resistance. The European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution, stating that BIAs are incompatible with EU membership, and urging EU- member states and countries seeking EU membership not to sign them.
Fifty-four countries have publicly refused to sign BIAs, and 24 have accepted cut-offs of US aid as a consequence of their refusal. Of 102 countries that have signed a BIA, only 48 are members of the ICC in any case --- and only 15 of those countries are on record as having ratified the BIAs in their own parliaments.
Thirty-two other ICC members have apparently allowed BIAs to take effect without parliament- ary ratification, but this has been challenged by their own country’s legal experts in many cases.
The US campaign to undermine the ICC is part of a much broader effort by the US government to evade all forms of accountability under the laws that are supposed to govern international behaviour in the modern world ----- even as it continues to masquerade as a global champion of the rule of law.
The treaties US policy systematically violates today, were crafted by US statespersons and diplomats, working with foreign colleagues, to build a world where all people will enjoy some basic protections... from the worst atrocities, instead of being subject only to the law of the jungle or “might makes right.”
So current US policy is a cynical betrayal of the work and wisdom of past generations of US citizens, as well as of countless victims all over the world to whom we are effectively denying the protections of the UN Charter & Geneva Conventions, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and many other multilateral treaties our country ignores, violates or refuses to ratify.
Avoiding jurisdiction in international courts is only one of the ways that the US evades international accountability for its criminal behaviour. Another involves an elaborate, well-disguised, public relations campaign that exploits the powerful position of US corporations in the world of commercial media.
Major Propaganda Funding
The US government spends a billion dollars per year on public relations or, more bluntly, propaganda, including $600 million from the Pentagon budget. The work of its PR teams and contractors is laundered by US news- papers --- and repeated and analyzed ad nauseam, by monolithic, flag-waving TV networks.
These profitable corporate operations monopolize the public airwaves in the US, and also use their financial clout, slick marketing, and the support of the US State Department to maintain a power- ful presence in foreign and international media markets.
Foreign media in allied countries provide further legitimacy and credibility to US talking-points and narratives as they echo around the world. Meanwhile, Hollywood fills cinema and TV screens across the world with an idealized, glamorized, inspirational version of the US that still mesmerizes many people.
This whole elaborate “information warfare” machine presents the US as a global leader for democracy, human rights and the rule of law, even as it systematically and catastroph- ically undermines those same principles. It enables our leaders to loudly, persuasively, demonize other countries and their leaders as dangerous violators of international law, even as the US and its allies commit far worse crimes.
Double Standards in Syria / Iraq
Today, for instance, the US & its allies are accusing Syria & Russia of war crimes in east Aleppo, even as the US’s own and allied forces launch a similar assault on Mosul. Both attacks are killing civilians & reducing much of a city to rubble; the rationale is the same, counterterrorism; & there are many more people in the line of fire in Mosul, than in east Aleppo.
But the US propaganda machine ensures that most US citizens see only one, in Mosul, as a legitimate counterterrorism operation (with Islamic State accused of using the civilians as “human shields”) and the other, in east Aleppo, as a massacre (with the presence of Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, the former Nusra Front, virtually whited out of the West’s coverage, which focuses almost entirely on the children and makes no mention of “human shields”).
The phrase “aggressive war” is also a no-no in the Western media when the US government launches wars, across international borders. In the past 20 years, the US has violated the UN Charter to attack at least eight countries (Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya & Syria), and the resulting wars, have killed about two million people.
A complex whirlwind of conflict and chaos rages on in all the countries where the US and its allies have lit the flames of war since 2001, but our US leaders still debate new interventions and/or escalations as if we are the fire brigade not the arsonists. (By contrast, the US government and the Western media are quick to accuse Russia or other countries of “aggression” --- even in legally murky situations, such as after the US-backed coup in 2014, that ousted the elected president of Ukraine.)
Systematic violations of the Geneva Conventions are an integral part of US war-making. Most are shrouded in secrecy: the propaganda machine spins the atrocities that slip through into the public record, as a disconnected series of aberrations, accidents and “bad apples,” instead of as the result of illegal rules of engagement and unlawful orders from higher-ups.
The senior officers and civilian officials who are criminally responsible for these crimes in US & international law -- systematically abuse their powerful positions to subvert investigations, cover up their crimes, & avoid any accountability whatsoever.
Pinter’s Complaint
When UK playwright Harold Pinter was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005, he bravely and brilliantly used his Nobel lecture to speak about the real role the US plays in the world, and how it whitewashes its crimes. Pinter recounted a meeting at the US Embassy in London in the 1980s in which a senior embassy official, Raymond Seitz, flatly denied US war crimes in Nicaragua ---- for which the US was in fact, convicted of aggression by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Seitz went on to serve as Assistant Secretary of State, US Ambassador to the UK, and then Vice-Chair of Lehman Brothers.
As Pinter explained: “this ‘policy’ was by no means restricted to Central America. It was conducted throughout the world. It was never-ending. And it is as if it never happened.
“The United States supported - and in many cases engendered every rightwing military dictatorship in the world, after the end of the Second World War. I refer to:- Indonesia, Greece, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Haiti, Turkey, the Philippines, Guatemala, El Salvador, and, of course, Chile. The horror the US inflicted upon Chile in 1973 can never be purged, & can never be forgiven.
“Hundreds of thousands of deaths took place throughout these countries. Did they take place? & are they in all cases, attributable to US foreign policy? The answer is 'yes', they did take place, and are attributable to American foreign policy. But you wouldn’t know it.
“It never happened. Nothing ever happened. Even while it was happening it wasn’t happ- ening. It didn’t matter. It was of no interest. The crimes of the United States have been systematic, constant, vicious, remorseless, but very few people have actually talked about them. You have to hand it to the US. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power, worldwide, while masquerading as a force for universal good. It’s a brilliant - even witty - highly successful, act of hypnosis.”
If, in 2016, the world seems to be more violent and chaotic than ever, it's not because the US lacks the will to use force or project power, as both major party candidates for President, & their military advisers appear to believe, but because our leaders have placed too much stock in the illegal threat and use of force, and have lost faith in the rule of law, any international cooperation and diplomacy.
After a century of commercial dominance, & 75 years of investing disproportionately in weapons, military forces & geopolitical schemes, perhaps it is understandable that US leaders have forgotten how to deal fairly and respectfully with our international neighbours. But it's no longer an option, to muddle along, leaving a trail of death, ruin and chaos in our wake, counting on an elaborate propaganda mach- ine, to minimize the blowback on our country and our lives.
Sooner, rather than later, US citizens & our leaders must knuckle down and master the very different attitudes & skills that we will need to become law-abiding global citizens in a peaceful, sustainable, multipolar world.
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Russia ends treaty limiting plutonium production in response to recent US escalation of hostility Fort Russ News - Topwar.ru - Lenta - News.Ru - translated by J. Arnoldski
TopWar: On October 3rd, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on suspending compliance with the agreement with the US on disposing weapons-grade plutonium. The main reason for this decision was pointed out as the “unfriendly attitude of the US towards Russia.”
Sources from the State Duma have reported that Russia is ready to resume the agreement, if the US cancels all the anti-Russian sanctions. Plus, Russia demands that the US reduce its military contingent in Europe, before Russia resumes compliance with the protocols. The State Duma’s statement reads:
“Acting according to the agreement and the protocols of the agreement can be resumed after the US eliminates the reasons which led to this radical change in circumstances: after the US reduces its military infrastructure and the number of its troop contingents deployed on the territory of the NATO countries having joined NATO after September 1st, 2000, down to the level at which they were on the day that the agreement and its protocols entered force.
"Since then NATO has grown to encompass 9 states of Eastern Europe. Just around the corner is NATO’s 10th state to be included since 2000 - Montenegro.”
In addition, Russia has demanded, as one of its conditions, that Washington cancel the so-call- ed Magnitsky Act.
We await a reaction from the US.
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Popov: Russia can and should withdraw from 1997 treaty with Ukraine By Eduard Popov for Fort Russ - translated by J. Arnoldski -
The other day, the disturbing news came from Lvov, the unofficial capital of Ukrainian Galicia, that the Lvov regional council has filed a lawsuit to forcibly evict the Pushkin Russian Cultural Centre. As the head of the regional council, V. Girnyak, said in his statement, organizations tied to the Anti-Terrorist Operation are preparing to transfer the building on Korolenko Street. The Lvov deputies hardly expect to earn more money from these “ATOers.” Rather, the eviction of Pushkin Russian Cultural Centre is explained by a different motive: once again, punishing anyone ideologically representative of an “enemy” Russian culture.
This centre’s building was leased to the Russian community of Lvov, in 1990. In 1999, the then mayor Vasiliy Kuybida, set the symbolic rent fee of 5 hryvnia (around $1 back then).
Let us quote one founding document signed by Ukraine, the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between the Russian Federation and Ukraine from May 31st, 1997. Point 12 of the agreement reads: “The High Agreeing Parties shall protect the ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious identities of national minorities on their territory and create conditions for the fostering of their identity….they will contribute to creating equal opportunities and conditions for studying the Russian language in Ukraine and the Ukrainian language in the Russian Federation, training pedagogical staff for teaching these languages in educational establishments, and for these purposes, provide equal state support.”
Points 1-2 of the agreement are based on the recognition of the friendly relations between the countries and their territorial integrity. Hence why the agreement is often called a border treaty. For Ukraine, whose territorial sovereignty over some territories (including Galicia, which was part of the Second Polish Republic until September 1939) is quite disputed, this agreement was a real gift. It is no coincidence that a number of patriotic politicians in Russia, demanded that this document not be signed.
Russia’s recognition of Kiev’s sovereignty over territories included in the Ukrainian state is founded on Ukraine’s observance of the rights of its Russian- cultured citizens. After the coup d’etat in 2014, Ukraine began pursuing a policy of cultural genocide (ethnocide) against the Russian-cultured population.
Now Ukraine is discussing the initiative of the scandalously infamous politician Irina Farion, to deprive Russian residents in Ukraine of civil rights.
In fact, this measure is already being implemented. The number of Russian schools has rapidly declined while Russian organizations are being prosecuted and their activities are under close surveillance by Kiev’s intelligence services.
In accordance with the 1997 treaty, an entire network of federal & regional organizations of Ukrainians is funded in Russia. For example, in the Rostov region there is a city-level and regional national-cultural autonomy of Ukrainians.
The organization receives funding from the city and regional budgets. Its head, the businessman Makarchuk, is a member of the Public Chamber of the Rostov region and is proud of his friendship with Rostov governor Vasili Golubev. Meanwhile, Makarchuk is published on the website of the Ukrainian neo-Nazi Svoboda party and frequently makes Russophobic statements.
Unfortunately, Russia is largely to blame for the fact that the civil rights of Russian-cultured people in Ukraine are being massively violated. An example of this is the patronizing policy of Rostov region's authorities. But on the federal level as well, the state does not make sufficient (or any) efforts to defend the Russian population of Ukraine (nearly half of the country’s total population).
Meanwhile, a more responsible attitude towards obligations would lead to discussion of the 1997 treaty. In a situation in which the second country (Ukraine), massively violates the treaty’s basic premises, then Russia has the right to withdraw from the treaty with all the legal and political implications. I see no reason for the Russian budget to support the activities of Ukrainian organizations in Russia, or recognize the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine.
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WHITE HELMETS -- SHAM
The Ron Paul Institute has pointed out: “We have demonstrated that the White Helmets are an integral part of the propaganda van- guard, that ensures obscurantism of fact and propagation of Human Rights fiction that elicits the well-intentioned and self righteous response from a very cleverly duped public. A priority for these NGOs is to keep pushing the No Fly Zone scenario which has already been seen to have disastrous implications for innocent civilians in Libya, for example.”
What better chance to push “the No Fly Zone scenario” than arriving within “moments” of the convoy tragedy, filming it and creating a propaganda scenario before any meaningful forensic investigation could even be started, since the trucks were still burning. And of course, the “White Helmets”, aka “Syrian Defence Force”, were filming, rather than attempting to put out the fire and rescue those in the burning trucks.
[Ed. Yet the UK's Guardian, that snivelling wreckage of a "Liberal" newspaper, lies, & describes them as "the White Helmets, a volunteer rescue group," quotes their accusations of Syrian & Russian "constant bombing of civilians" and calls for a "no-fly-zone" now --- as in Libya.]
The Russian Defence Ministry subsequently caused outrage by claiming that their Drone footage: “shows the bombed Syrian aid convoy included a truck full of militant fighters carrying mortar guns.”
However: “The footage emerged as the United Nations rowed back from describing the attack on the aid convoy as air strikes, saying it did not have conclusive evidence about what had happened.”
It must be asked, why on earth, after long and protracted negotiations over the convoy would Syria and or their Russian ally risk the wrath of the US & “coalition”, and of further decimation of the country, by laying themselves open to accusations of bombing aid convoys?
The tragedy has emphatically achieved 1 thing, however. Wiped from the headlines, is another atrocity - the US bombing which killed over 60 Syrian soldiers and wounded over 100 others, just two days earlier, on Saturday 17th Sept. - causing Russian Foreign Ministry spokes- woman Maria Zakharova, to comment: “We are reaching a really terrifying conclusion for the whole world: That the White House is defending Islamic State. Now there can be no doubts about that”, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.
Again - Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who will guard the guards?
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US prepares an Islamic army in Kosovo
Pravda.Ru - The US is preparing a reserve echelon in the territory of its Kosova enclave. But to keep a secure strategic space, the Southern Serbian provinces may be separated from Kosovo. Given the total apathy of the authorities of Republika Srpska... this plan is inching closer to its implementation.
The goal of the Americans is clear: if Berlin's discontent ousts US bases from Germany, after all, the US will have a spot in Kosovo. It's no secret that the crime and terrorist mayhem plaguing Kosovo, is under the patronage of the US.
Yelena Guskova, a Senator, and member of the Academy of Sciences of the Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina), honoured with many Russian and Serbian state awards, commented to Pravda.Ru on this matter, in an interview.
Former Commander of the French foreign legion in Kosovo -- General Jacques Ogar, has recently confirmed to Pravda.Ru, evidence obtained from confidential US sources -- that there are at least five ISIS training camps in Kosovo, which are preparing suicide bombers and an army of Islamists to conquer Europe.
Having found no evidence that proved Milosevic was guilty, the Hague tribunal exonerated him. What do you think of it?
Slobodan Milosevic is a very significant historical person in Serbia's modern history, and the whole of Yugoslavia. In the early 1990s he was seen as the last communist in Europe -- who should be annihilated. His own country turned him over to the Hague; the so-called new government -- after the colour revolution of 2000.
However he was a leader who defended his country and the truth. He combated a large amount of lies at the Tribunal, which tried to prove that only the Serbs were guilty of all the events of the 1990s, as they were charged with collective crimes.
No leader of the Muslim territories of Yugoslavia was convicted, only Serbian ones. The figure of Milosevic was very important, but they didn't manage to find any evidence.
His brother Borislav Milosevic says they secretly took some samples of food and water Slobodan had been given and tested it in Moscow. And it turned out that poison had been added. And it was difficult to breathe for him, which means that something was infiltrated into the air.
Then he stopped eating, but the process had been launched. His death is mysterious but the Tribunal admitted that he was not responsible for crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Colonel Jacques Ogar, who was Commander of a foreign legion in the territory of Yugoslavia in the UN group admits that they were ordered to stand for the Kosovars against the Serbians... Western troops openly supported separatists and participated in punitive actions against the Serbians. Do you have such data?
Surely. I'm a Head of the Centre for the Study of the Contemporary Balkan Crisis at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Our main task is to collect documents and publish them. There occur more and more documents on the events since 1990, which confirm it.
It's absolutely clear that international organizations were biased. The Albanians approach their dream - to create a big country with an Albanian population only. The US has worked a lot to support this movement, as Kosovo is a project of the US.
And they would have got independence long ago, unless it was for Russia. Russia said No to their plans in 2007. it disturbed them, and now they do not influence Russia, but try to govern the Serbian authorities. But I think the process hasn't been completed, & there's a chance to return Kosovo to Serbia.
As they say, there are 8 ISIS training camps in the territory of Kosovo. It is reported that they train suicide bombers to carry out acts in the Western Europe and create a whole army to conquer it. How can you comment on this?
When huge flows of refugees were going across the Balkans in Europe, there were mainly young men and almost no couples. They were well- dressed, were going by three, and had enough means to live in decent hotels. It is clear that there are those among them who should stay in the Balkans & orchestrate implementation of their leaders' aims.
As the Serbian officials struggle to join the EU, they implemented all the terms. And they were told, to not only to let in these refugees, but also to build camps for them. Many stayed in the South, where the population is majority Muslim . A great quantity went to Kosovo and Metohija.
And there's an uncontrolled NATO base Bondsteel there, where enormous resources are deployed. This territory is not controlled by anyone. And when questions of the US military camps in Europe occur, no one speaks of Kosovo.
In Kosovo's camps, where terrorists are trained, they are set absolutely free. It's very dangerous for the whole of Europe, and the Balkans first of all. The US, though, wants to whip Serbia into submission and recognize the independence of Kosovo and Metohija.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska, and Serbians who reside there, are hampering these plans.
There is evidence that, as early as in the mid- 1990s the US aimed to go down to the Balkans when the agreement with Germany terminated if they had to leave. They need a territory in Bosnia & Herzegovina, in Kosovo, Metohija, Montenegro, Serbia & Macedonia. Republika Srpska hampers implementation of this plan today.
They need to annihilate the Republic and make the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina a unitary state. They didn't manage to conduct a colour revolution in the Republika Srpska, while the terror acts, which may be backed by Muslims in other territories, may be fruitful.
These plans may come forward in the nearest future, and it's a threat for the whole of Serbia. As there is a plan to separate the Southern regions of Serbia, where a lot of Albanians and Muslims reside. Today Serbian officials regard these refugees calmly, as well as capable of possible terrorist acts. But it should be paid 'special attention'.
there's a big difference between the news, and the truth - if you want the latest news and the truth, say, on Brazil - then please go to our One Union page.
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US/UK elite bankrolled A. Hitler
Germans were paid in company shares for loans that managed Germany's war reparations -- thus US capital began to actively integrate into the German economy.
The total amount of foreign investment in German industry during 1924-1929 amounted to almost 63 billion gold Marks (30 billion was accounted for by loans), and the payment of reparations — 10 billion Marks. 70% of revenues were provided by bankers from the US, and most banks were from JP Morgan.
As a result, in 1929, German industry was in second place in the world, but it was largely in the hands of the USA's leading financial-industrial groups.
"Interessen-Gemeinschaft Farbenindustrie", main supplier of the German war machine, financed 45% of the election campaign of Hitler in 1930, and was under the control of Rockefeller's "Standard oil".
Morgan, through "General Electric", controlled the German radio and electrical industry, via AEG and Siemens (up to 1933, 30% of the shares of AEG were owned by "General Electric") and through the Telecom company ITT — 40% of the 'phone network in Germany.
In addition, they owned a 30% stake in the air- craft manufacturing company "Focke-Wulf".
"General Motors", belonging to the DuPont family, established control over "Opel".
Henry Ford controlled 100% of the shares of Volkswagen. In 1926, with the participation of the Rockefeller Bank, Dillon, Reed & Co, the second largest industrial monopoly in Germany, after I.G Farben, merged with metals group, "Vereinigte Stahlwerke" (Steel trust) plus Thyssen, Flick, Wolff, Feglera etc.
US co-operation with Germany's military- industrial complex, was so intense and pervasive, that by 1933, the key sectors of German industry, & large banks such as the Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank, Donat Bank, etc, were all under the control of US financial capital.
The political force that was intended to play a crucial role in the Anglo-American plans was being simultaneously prepared.
We are talking about the funding of the Nazi party and A. Hitler personally.
As former German Chancellor Brüning wrote in his memoirs, from 1923, Hitler received large sums from abroad. Where they went, is not known, but they were received through Swiss and Swedish banks.
It is also known that, in 1922 in Munich, a meeting took place between A. Hitler and the military attache of the US to Germany -- Captain Truman Smith -- who compiled a detailed report for his Washington superiors (in the office of military intelligence), in which he spoke highly of Hitler.
Through Smith's circle of acquaintances, A. Hitler was introduced to Ernst Franz Sedgwick Hanfstaengl, (Putzie), --- a graduate of Harvard University who played an important role in the formation of A. Hitler as a politician, rendered him significant financial support, and secured for him, acquaintance & communication with, senior British figures.
Hitler was prepared politically, but, as Germany reigned in prosperity, his party remained on the periphery of public life... The situation changed dramatically with the beginning of 'the crisis'.
In the autumn of 1929, the collapse of the US stock exchange was triggered by the Federal Reserve, and the next stage of the Anglo-US financial circles' strategy, had started.
The Federal Reserve and JP Morgan, decided to stop lending to Germany --- inspired by the bank crisis & economic depression in Central Europe.
In September 1931, England abandoned the gold standard, deliberately destroying international payments systems and completely cutting off "financial oxygen" to the Weimar Republic.
But a financial miracle occurred for the Nazi party: in September 1930 as a result of large donations by Thyssen and I.G. Farben --- the party got 6.4 million votes & took 2nd place in the Reichstag;- after this, more generous investments from abroad were activated.
The main link between the major German industrialists and foreign financiers, became H. Schacht.
On January 4th, 1932, a meeting was held with the largest English financier, a Mr M. Norman, A. Hitler, and von Papen, which concluded a secret agreement on the financing of the NSDAP.
This meeting was also attended by US policy-makers, the Dulles brothers --- something their biographers do not like to mention.
On January 14th, 1933, a meeting between Hitler, Schroder, Papen & Kepler took place, where Hitler's program was fully approved. It was here that they finally resolved the issue of the transfer of power to the Nazis, and on 30th January, A. Hitler became Chancellor.
The implementation of the next stage of the strategy thus began.
The attitude of Anglo-American ruling circles to the new government was very sympathetic. When Hitler refused to pay reparations, which naturally called into question the payment of war debts, neither the UK or France pressed their payment claims.
Moreover, after a visit to the US in May 1933, H. Schacht was placed, again, at the head of the Reichsbank, and, after his meeting with the President and the biggest bankers on Wall Street, the US allocated Germany new loans --- totalling $1 billion.
In June, during a trip to London & a meeting with M. Norman, Schacht sought an English loan of $2 billion and a reduction and then the cessation of payments, on old loans.
Thus, the Nazis got what they could not achieve with the previous government.
In the summer of 1934, Britain signed the Anglo- German transfer agreement, which became one of the foundations of British policy towards the Third Reich, &, at the end of the 30's, Germany became the main trading partner of England.
Schroeder Bank became Germany's main agent in the UK & in 1936 his New York office teamed up with the Rockefellers, to create Schroeder, Rockefeller & Co. investment Bank, which the Times magazine called the Berlin-Rome "economic propagandist axis".
As Hitler himself admitted, he conceived his 4- year plan on the basis of foreign financial loans, so it never inspired him with the slightest alarm.
In August 1934, US Standard oil acquired 730,000 acres of land in Germany... then built large oil refineries which supplied the Nazis with oil.
At the same time, Germany secretly took delivery of the most modern equipment for aircraft factories, from the US, which would begin producing German planes.
Germany gained large numbers of military patents from US firms Pratt and Whitney, Douglas, and Curtis Wright --- and it was US technology, building the Junkers-87.
In 1941 --- as world war ll was raging --- US investments in Germany's economy amounted to $475 million. Standard oil invested - 120 million, General motors - $35 million, ITT - $30 million, and Ford - $17.5 million.
The close financial & economic co-operation of Anglo-American and Nazi business circles, was the backdrop against which, in the 30's, a policy of appeasement led to world war II.
Today, as the world's financial elite begins to implement the 'Great depression 2' plan with its subsequent transition to the "new world order", identifying its key role in the organization of crimes against humanity, becomes a priority.
Yuri Rubtsov is a doctor of historical sciences, academician of the Academy of military sciences, & a member of the International Association of historians of world war II.
Image: Results of UN vote condemning glorification of fascism
Image: US spokesman protects Israeli nuclear weapons
US WARNS AGAINST IAEA MOVE ON ISRAEL
The US is protesting at a report by the IAEA voicing concern over Israel's clandestine nuclear program & its potential capability.
"Israel's fully cooperated with the IAEA," a State Department spokesperson says.
They note that Washington believes that the agency is "not the forum" to discuss Israel's accession to the nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty.
"We believe there is really no basis for a debate at the IAEA," they insist. In Washington's view, any IAEA step is unnecessary since it could..........
"interrupt progress we think is possible now we're back into direct negotiations" between Israel & the Palestinian Authority.
What the US might be forgetting is that all states in the world & all in the Middle East want Israel in the NPT, and a nuclear-free Middle East.
The Egyptian government, on behalf of all the Non-Alignment Movement states, demands that there be an exhaustive report on Israel's nuclear arsenals.
The Tel Aviv regime refuses to confirm or deny possessing nuclear weapons but is widely believed to possess over 200 nuclear warheads.
Having endorsed Israel's policy of "nuclear ambiguity" for 40 years, the US is warning the Arab states against renewing efforts to focus on Israel, at the next IAEA meeting.
Image: Leonard Peltier
FREE POLITICAL PRISONER LEONARD PELTIER NOW!!!
Indigenous rights activist Leonard Peltier,
in prison in the US for 38 years, received the first international human rights prize of Uruguay's Mario Benedetti Foundation.
At a ceremony in Montevideo, where the winner was announced, the human rights group calls Peltier the longest-serving political prisoner in the Americas, AFP reports.
Peltier, a Native American activist who was a member of the American Indian Movement (AIM), was convicted in 1977 for the alleged murder of two US FBI agents during a 1975 shootout on the
Pine Ridge Reservation in S. Dakota.
He was sentenced to 2 consecutive terms of life imprisonment.
"Leonard Peltier, who on September 12th, 2014, turned 70, has spent over half his life in prison. He's a symbol of resistance to repressive state policies by the US, where there are people in jail for ethnic, racial, religious & ideological reasons," the foundation's statement says.
Ricardo Elena, a member of the foundation's honorary board, says Peltier's case "is one that is repeated over and over: violation (of rights), persecution, eviction, invasion and expropriation of indigenous people, from the time it was 'discovered', until now.
"It doesn't just happen in the United States; it is happening in southern South America, with the (indigenous) Mapuche people, and with indigenous people in North America," he states.
Elena says the United States "likes to think it's the seat of democracy, but it has political prisoners just like a dictatorship might have."
The Mario Benedetti Foundation was founded to support human rights and cultural causes in line with the work of the Uruguayan writer after whom it was named, who died in 2009.
Peltier is incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
James Swan, the head of the Black Hills chapter of the United Urban Warrior Society - a nonprofit group that helps Native Americans fight racial discrimination and injustice - describes Peltier as a political prisoner whose case needs to be reviewed by an independent body.
"What we want people to realize is that this is an injustice," AP quotes Swan as saying.
Peltier, 66, was given two life sentences in '77, on false charges of killing 2 FBI agents.
Peltier asserts that he is innocent and the FBI framed him for political reasons, especially for his activities as a member of the Native American Movement. He has lodged numerous appeals against the conviction - but all unsuccessfully.
He's been denied parole again and again, and will not be eligible for it again until 2024, when he turns 79.
Peltier's relatives say he suffers a number of health problems such as diabetes, arthritis, and the loss of vision in an eye after a minor stroke.
Many activists say Leonard Peltier is the most important political prisoner in the US.
In a review of the US' human rights record, at a United Nations Human Rights Council UPR conference in Geneva, a group called for a new trial for him.
The US Human Rights Network filed a 423-page submission to the Geneva meeting about him.
One item, entitled “Political Repression - Political Prisoners,” about 1970's cases, indicts the FBI: accusing COINTELPRO of “maiming, murdering, false prosecutions and frame-ups, destruction and mayhem throughout the country.”
It cites the FBI for targeting the Puerto Rican Independence Front, the Black Panther Party, the Weather Underground, the American Indian Movement, the Black Liberation Army, as well as “peace activists and everyone in between,” and says “many of today's political prisoners” in the US were jailed indefinitely as a result.
Repression has grown since 9/11, it says.
The political repression paper demands an “immediate criminal investigation into the conspiracy,” and also new trials for two aged activists jailed on murder charges, Mumia Abu Jamal and Leonard Peltier.
