maplenpg
Well-Known Member
It's such good news. The rhetoric has gradually been changing over here, so hopefully this will give other countries a bit of a new zest to provide aid again.
Purple and Black
Taking Independent and Unofficial Back
Taking Independent and Unofficial Back
Russia Launches Military Action in Ukraine
- Thread starter poppy
- Start date
barnswallow
Well-Known Member
Anne Applebaum on Substack
A reminder: Vladimir Putin could end the war in Ukraine right now, just by ordering his soldiers to go home. No need for treaties or negotiations.
substack.com
Anne Applebaum says the quiet part out loud.
barnswallow
Well-Known Member
Radosław Sikorski: Ukraine is not a "project", UN General Assembly, New York 24.02.2025 [Radislow Sikorski;2.24.25]
Blurb: “Radosław Sikorski: Ukraine is not a "project", UN General Assembly, New York 24.02.2025@RadoslawSikorski Radosław Sikorski: Ukraina to nie "project", Zgromadzenie Ogólne ONZ, 24.02.2025Ukraina to nie - jak powiedział rosyjski ambasador - „projekt”. Jej państwowość ma dłuższą historię niż Rosja. Jest członkiem ONZ dłużej niż Rosja. Ma historię, język, tożsamość i własne aspiracje. Polska popiera pokój, ale stabilny i z poszanowaniem praw ofiary agresji.Ukraine is not - as the Russian ambassador said - a "project".Its statehood has a longer history than Russia.It has been a member of the UN longer than Russia.It has a history, language, identity and its own aspirations.Poland supports peace, but stable and with respect for the rights of the victim of aggression____________Komentarze ministra spraw zagranicznych Radosława Sikorskiego. Zapraszam również na moją stronę na Facebooku, Twitter/X oraz Instagram. _______________________Zajrzyj na:
/ radeksikorski 
/ radek_sikorski 
/ sikorskiradek _____________________________Absolwent I Liceum Ogólnokształcącego w Bydgoszczy oraz Uniwersytetu Oksfordzkiego.Reporter wojenny w Afganistanie i Angoli (1986-1989). W latach 2002-2005 członek-rezydent American Enterprise Institute w Waszyngtonie, a także dyrektor wykonawczy Nowej Inicjatywy Atlantyckiej.Minister obrony w latach 2005-2007, minister spraw zagranicznych w latach 2007-2014 i Marszałek Sejmu (2014-2015). Od roku 2019 do 2023 poseł do Parlamentu Europejskiego, od 2023 roku Minister Spraw Zagranicznych. Wykładowca (Senior Fellow) Centrum Studiów Europejskich Uniwersytetu Harvardzkiego. Autor książek: „Prochy świętych – podróż do Heratu w czas wojny”, „Full circle. A homecoming to free Poland”, „The Polish House – an Intimate History of Poland”, „Strefa zdekomunizowana – wywiad rzeka”, „Polska może być lepsza. Kulisy polskiej dyplomacji” oraz „Polska. Stan Państwa”.Mąż pisarki i dziennikarki Anne Applebaum, ojciec dwóch synów. Pasjonuje się historią.
Radosław Sikorski - kanał oficjalny”
I can’t read or speak Polish so most of the blurb is incomprehensible to me.Recently, I’ve seen this statement round about the internet:
“If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends.”
barnswallow
Well-Known Member
Ukraine launched a drone attack on airfields and planes in Russia. Someone compared it to an Ocean's 11 plot, others to a real Trojan Horse-style ruse. Here's a discussion of that attack plus some other stuff.
Bannon Can’t Spin This! Calls For Lindsey Graham To Be Arrested! [The Bulwark; 6.3.2025]
Here Heather Cox Richardson describes the Operation Spiderweb in detail.
www.youtube.com
Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb: Changes the War, Changes War Itself [Heather Cox Richardson;6.3.25]
Here's another analysis of the drone attack and what it reveals about Russian forces and defenses. Because of Russia's essentially oligarchic government, no one is qualified for their positions (sound familiar??? ahem, US#47). The commentator refers to people in top positions as clowns. They have gotten those positions because of sycophancy and sucking up.
Russia’s Defense Collapse Exposed by Ukraine Strike [Kyiv Post;6.3.25]
Blurb:
"In this explosive Kyiv Post interview, Jason Jay Smart and former Navy SEAL Chuck Pfarrer break down Ukraine’s largest drone strike of the war—crippling Russia’s strategic airpower in a single night and signaling a dramatic shift in the Ukraine-Russia war.
"Ukraine’s deep strike drone operation targeted five Russian airbases, including Siberian and central facilities. The attack destroyed over 40 Russian bombers, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 nuclear-capable aircraft, and even eliminated A-50 radar planes—vital to Russia’s early warning and air command capabilities.
"This unprecedented Ukrainian drone strike exposes critical weaknesses in Russian air defense and suggests that Russia’s military collapse is accelerating faster than anticipated. The destruction of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet not only undermines its long-range nuclear deterrence but also sends shockwaves through the Kremlin’s military planning.
"Jason Jay Smart and Chuck Pfarrer explain how Ukraine’s military strategy, leveraging long-range drone warfare and advanced intelligence, has changed the nature of modern warfare—and why Russia’s air force disaster could mark the beginning of a broader unraveling of Putin’s war machine.
"This is more than a battlefield success. It’s a clear sign of Ukraine’s growing dominance in asymmetric warfare and Russia’s declining ability to project power."
Chapters: 00:00 Intro
00:45 Russia’s Pearl Harbor Moment
02:10 How Ukraine Played the Long Game
03:55 Logistics Sabotage from the Inside
05:20 Strategic Impact: 30% Aviation Loss
07:00 Ripple Effects Inside Russia
09:00 Military Blame Game and Scapegoating
10:30 Shocked Soldiers and Systemic Rot
12:00 Dysfunction at the Top
13:45 Russia’s Failed Military Culture
15:30 Incompetent Leadership on the Battlefield
17:00 No Path to Victory
18:20 Ukrainian Resistance and Partisan Warfare
20:00 Russia’s Summer Offensive?
22:10 Closing Thoughts
Connect with Chuck Pfarrer:X: https://x.com/ChuckPfarrerConnect with Dr. Jason Jay Smart: YouTube: @jasonjaysmart Substack: https://JasonJaySmart.substack.com X: https://x.com/OfficeJJSmart Facebook Personal: jasonjaysmart Facebook Work: officejjsmart LinkedIn: jasonjaysmart Mastodon: @OfficeJJSmart@DefenseOfLiberty.Social BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/JJSmart.bskyWebsite: https://JasonJaySmart.com
Bannon Can’t Spin This! Calls For Lindsey Graham To Be Arrested! [The Bulwark; 6.3.2025]
Here Heather Cox Richardson describes the Operation Spiderweb in detail.
Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb: Changes the War, Changes War Itself
From Politics Chat, June 3, 2025You can watch the full chat here: https://www.youtube.com/live/kO3WSmcrnDU?si=QFAMq7BPKAuhJEa4&t=43
www.youtube.com
Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb: Changes the War, Changes War Itself [Heather Cox Richardson;6.3.25]
Here's another analysis of the drone attack and what it reveals about Russian forces and defenses. Because of Russia's essentially oligarchic government, no one is qualified for their positions (sound familiar??? ahem, US#47). The commentator refers to people in top positions as clowns. They have gotten those positions because of sycophancy and sucking up.
Russia’s Defense Collapse Exposed by Ukraine Strike [Kyiv Post;6.3.25]
Blurb:
"In this explosive Kyiv Post interview, Jason Jay Smart and former Navy SEAL Chuck Pfarrer break down Ukraine’s largest drone strike of the war—crippling Russia’s strategic airpower in a single night and signaling a dramatic shift in the Ukraine-Russia war.
"Ukraine’s deep strike drone operation targeted five Russian airbases, including Siberian and central facilities. The attack destroyed over 40 Russian bombers, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 nuclear-capable aircraft, and even eliminated A-50 radar planes—vital to Russia’s early warning and air command capabilities.
"This unprecedented Ukrainian drone strike exposes critical weaknesses in Russian air defense and suggests that Russia’s military collapse is accelerating faster than anticipated. The destruction of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet not only undermines its long-range nuclear deterrence but also sends shockwaves through the Kremlin’s military planning.
"Jason Jay Smart and Chuck Pfarrer explain how Ukraine’s military strategy, leveraging long-range drone warfare and advanced intelligence, has changed the nature of modern warfare—and why Russia’s air force disaster could mark the beginning of a broader unraveling of Putin’s war machine.
"This is more than a battlefield success. It’s a clear sign of Ukraine’s growing dominance in asymmetric warfare and Russia’s declining ability to project power."
Chapters: 00:00 Intro
00:45 Russia’s Pearl Harbor Moment
02:10 How Ukraine Played the Long Game
03:55 Logistics Sabotage from the Inside
05:20 Strategic Impact: 30% Aviation Loss
07:00 Ripple Effects Inside Russia
09:00 Military Blame Game and Scapegoating
10:30 Shocked Soldiers and Systemic Rot
12:00 Dysfunction at the Top
13:45 Russia’s Failed Military Culture
15:30 Incompetent Leadership on the Battlefield
17:00 No Path to Victory
18:20 Ukrainian Resistance and Partisan Warfare
20:00 Russia’s Summer Offensive?
22:10 Closing Thoughts
Connect with Chuck Pfarrer:X: https://x.com/ChuckPfarrerConnect with Dr. Jason Jay Smart: YouTube: @jasonjaysmart Substack: https://JasonJaySmart.substack.com X: https://x.com/OfficeJJSmart Facebook Personal: jasonjaysmart Facebook Work: officejjsmart LinkedIn: jasonjaysmart Mastodon: @OfficeJJSmart@DefenseOfLiberty.Social BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/JJSmart.bskyWebsite: https://JasonJaySmart.com
Last edited:
barnswallow
Well-Known Member
That didn't seem like enough, so Ukraine launched a highly effective attack on the bridge Russia uses to access Crimea.
Ukraine Hits Kerch Bridge Again: Putin’s Regime on Edge [Jason Jay Smart; 6.3.25]
Blurb: "On June 3, 2025, at exactly 4:44 a.m., Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) executed a precise underwater demolition, detonating over 1,100 kg of explosives beneath the Kerch Bridge. This strategic attack marks the third successful strike on the bridge, a critical link between mainland Russia and occupied Crimea.In this video, Jason Jay Smart, PhD - special correspondent for the Kyiv Post and political scientist specializing in Russia, namely the Putin Regime - analyzes the implications of this attack. Dr Smart discusses the internal power struggles within the Kremlin, the blame game between the Russian military and the FSB, and the silence from President Putin amidst the crisis."
Check out Dr. Smart's full, FREE, SubStack article about the attack on the Crimean Kerch Bridge and why it is a gamechanger: https://open.substack.com/pub/jasonja...The video delves into how Ukraine's asymmetric warfare tactics are not only disrupting Russian military logistics but also exposing the vulnerabilities and corruption within Putin's regime.
Connect with Jason Jay Smart:YouTube: 
/ @jasonjaysmart Substack: JasonJaySmart.substack.comX (formerly Twitter): x.com/OfficeJJSmartFacebook Personal: Facebook.com/JasonJaySmartFacebook Work: Facebook.com/OfficeJJSmartLinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/JasonJaySmartMastodon: @OfficeJJSmart@DefenseOfLiberty.SocialBlueSky: Bsky.app/profile/JJSmart.bsky.socialWebsite: JasonJaySmart.com
I'd like to change the title of this forum to, 'Russia Launches Military Action in Ukraine . . . and Ukraine Fights Back!'
Ukraine Hits Kerch Bridge Again: Putin’s Regime on Edge [Jason Jay Smart; 6.3.25]
Blurb: "On June 3, 2025, at exactly 4:44 a.m., Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) executed a precise underwater demolition, detonating over 1,100 kg of explosives beneath the Kerch Bridge. This strategic attack marks the third successful strike on the bridge, a critical link between mainland Russia and occupied Crimea.In this video, Jason Jay Smart, PhD - special correspondent for the Kyiv Post and political scientist specializing in Russia, namely the Putin Regime - analyzes the implications of this attack. Dr Smart discusses the internal power struggles within the Kremlin, the blame game between the Russian military and the FSB, and the silence from President Putin amidst the crisis."
Check out Dr. Smart's full, FREE, SubStack article about the attack on the Crimean Kerch Bridge and why it is a gamechanger: https://open.substack.com/pub/jasonja...The video delves into how Ukraine's asymmetric warfare tactics are not only disrupting Russian military logistics but also exposing the vulnerabilities and corruption within Putin's regime. Connect with Jason Jay Smart:YouTube: / @jasonjaysmart Substack: JasonJaySmart.substack.comX (formerly Twitter): x.com/OfficeJJSmartFacebook Personal: Facebook.com/JasonJaySmartFacebook Work: Facebook.com/OfficeJJSmartLinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/JasonJaySmartMastodon: @OfficeJJSmart@DefenseOfLiberty.SocialBlueSky: Bsky.app/profile/JJSmart.bsky.socialWebsite: JasonJaySmart.comI'd like to change the title of this forum to, 'Russia Launches Military Action in Ukraine . . . and Ukraine Fights Back!'
Last edited: