Ukraine..What's the Next Step?

Putin, Raisi, and Erdogan holding hands in Iran for a photo op. 

What a complete failure Biden has been.

U.S. has already supplied twelve sets of M142 HIMARS to Ukraine, these long-range multiple launch rocket systems have helped Ukraine to withstand it's defensive lines in the battle of Donbass against the Russians.

According to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, more M142 are on the way to the Ukraine forces. 

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/19/russia-ukraine-live-updates.html

The head of MI6 (formally British Secret Intelligence Service), Richard Moore has said the Russians would be looking for a way to pause their offensive, while the Ukrainians were seeking to counter-attack.*

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHyKJwYHS5c&ab_channel=Channel4News

Russia is about to "run out of stream" in Ukraine. Incurred by heavy military casualty and attrition, severe Western economic sanctions, and domestic economy slump, Russia is about to run out of stream from the unprovoked war against Ukraine.  

When Russia doesn’t run out of steam will you start questioning your sources or just continue on as if you weren’t just 100% wrong? 

Biden has signed a new $270 million military aid package for Ukraine

The packages are getting smaller and smaller 

Pretty soon they’ll be jerking off the dog to feed the cat like Obama’s Syria project 

Russian energy giant Gazprom has said it plans to reduce gas supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany to just 20 percent capacity later this week, as Moscow tightens its squeeze on Europe.

Politicians in Europe have said Russia could cut off gas flows this winter, which would thrust Germany into recession and lead to soaring prices for consumers already grappling with higher prices for food and energy.

Germany was forced last week to announce a $15bn bailout of Uniper, its biggest company importing gas from Russia.

The avoidable pissing match continues with Ukraine cities in ruins, economies everywhere suffering, people suffering needlessly, the majority of Ukraine refugees having to use the open Mexican border just to get to the US. 

Unbelievable!

Gun laws in Ukraine. 

Ukraine is the only country in Europe where firearms are not regulated by statute. Everything related to firearms is regulated by Order ?622 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Citizens are permitted to own non-fully automatic rifles and shotguns as long as they are stored properly when not in use.

Handguns are illegal except for target shooting, those who hold concealed carry permits, and handguns awarded for service.[1] Concealed carry licenses are available, but are not normally issued unless a threat to life is present and can be proven.[2]

A license is required to own firearms, and a citizen may be issued a license if that person:

is 25 years of age for rifle ownership, 21 years of age for smoothbore weapon ownership, 18 years of age for cold or pneumatic weapon ownership;
has no criminal record;
has no history of domestic violence;
has no mental illness or history of mental illness;
has a good reason (target shooting, hunting, collection).
Once a license is issued, all guns must be kept unloaded and in a safe.

Because of the lack of statutes regarding firearm ownership, authorities have great discretion when giving firearm licenses. The president and ministers often give guns to members of the elite, while making it hard for ordinary people to obtain them. It is estimated that more than 50,000 guns have been issued as presents from authorities.[3]

Gun owners are required by order to renew their licenses and registration of their guns every three years. Failure to comply will result in revocation of the license, as well as confiscation of guns. There is a 10-round magazine limit for rifles.[4]

Limited categories of citizens like People's Deputies of Ukraine, judges, journalists and some others may own trauma pistols that fire rubber bullets.

Laws change

On February 23, 2022, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and a declaration of a state of emergency the Ukrainian parliament approved a law which gives citizens the right to carry weapons outside their homes for the purpose of self defense [5][6][7]

Laws change ....

On February 24, 2022 Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said "We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities" in a tweet. As of February 26, 2022 over 25,000 automatic rifles, 10 million rounds of ammunition and unknown numbers RPGs have been handed out to civilians according to Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky. All one needs to get a rifle is an I.D. card. Open training has been organized for civilians by war veterans throughout the country.

The foreign fighter in Ukraine are not illegal.

From an argument of the neutrality laws of 1794.

That stated. The United States’ law is similar to British and Canadian law albeit older. The Neutrality Act 1794 (as amended) imposes a three year prison sentence on persons undertaking a military expedition against a foreign state. However, the law does not prevent individuals from leaving the United States to do so.

A statement by US Attorney General Robert Kennedy, following the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, confirms that:

“...the neutrality laws were never designed to prevent individuals from leaving the United States to fight for a cause in which they believed. There is nothing in the neutrality laws which prevents refugees from Cuba from returning to that country to engage in the fight for freedom. Nor is an individual prohibited from departing from the United States, with others of like belief, to join still others in a second country for an expedition against a third country.

There is nothing criminal in an individual leaving the United States with the intent of joining an insurgent group. There is nothing criminal in his urging others to do so. There is nothing criminal in several persons departing at the same time. What the law does prohibit is a group organized as a military expedition from departing from the United States to take action as a military force against a nation with whom the United States is at peace”.

Germany has delivered three multiple rocket-launch MARS II systems to Ukraine, according to the German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht. 

https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/07/26/germany-supplied-to-ukraine-three-mlrs-mars-ii/

Germany has previously promised Ukraine four MARS II, likely one more has yet to deliver. Due to its base tracked mobility, MARS II lacks the high mobility of HIMARS. But it can load up 12 high precision rockets, double than HIMARS, with fire range of 80 kms. 

The same Germany that is now crying because Russia cut natgas to them? 

Russian forces have suffered 75,000 casualties from their invasion of Ukraine since Feb. 24 of this year. 

"...over 80% of their land forces are bogged down, and they're tired,”(*1)

(*1) https://twitter.com/NatashaBertrand/status/1552399068722257920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1552399068722257920%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.ltn.com.tw%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fbreakingnews%2F4006476

It seems that Russian military have incurred heavier losses than previous estimate. Also, Russian economy has been hit pretty hard by the invasion of  Ukraine(*2). 

‘Crippling’ Western sanctions are hitting Russia much harder than Putin is letting on, say Yale economists

(*2) https://inews.co.uk/news/world/crippling-western-sanctions-are-hitting-russia-much-harder-that-putin-is-letting-on-say-yale-economists-1760832 

"No one won the last war, and no one will win the next war." Eleanor Roosevelt 

What is seen in war can never be forgotten. Sounds cannot be forgotten either. Fear is always present. The future is unknown. War is indeed hell on earth.

Look at how Russia has isolated itself from invading Ukraine. North Macedonia from former Soviet Union has decided to donate T-72 tanks to Ukraine. 

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1552975117336076290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1552975117336076290%7Ctwgr%5E953baa41f10adf538f37167c185c283df5212290%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.ltn.com.tw%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fbreakingnews%2F4008445

Ukraine is mounting an offensive to liberate Pearson from the foreign agressors. Fighting is fierce as they have the 49th of infinity pinned down.....

The Ukrainian military said on Saturday it had killed scores of Russian soldiers and destroyed two ammunition dumps in fighting in the Kherson region, the focus of Kyiv’s counter-offensive in the south and a key link in Moscow’s supply lines.
Ukraine has used Western-supplied long-range missile systems to badly damage three bridges across the Dnipro in recent weeks, cutting off Kherson city and — in the assessment of British defense officials — leaving Russia’s 49th Army stationed on the west bank of the river highly vulnerable.
A U.N.-brokered deal to restart shipping grain from Ukraine and ease a worldwide food crisis was discussed by the top diplomats of the United States and Russia on Friday in their first phone call since before Russia’s invasion of its neighbor began on Feb. 24

49th history and update.

To current.

On 6 August 1941, a Stavka directive ordered the formation of the 49th Army. One day later the army was formed as part of the Reserve Front, based on the 35th Rifle Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Ivan Zakharkin. The army initially comprised 194th Mountain Rifle Division, 220th, 248th, 298th Rifle Divisions, the 4th People's Militia Division, 396th Corps Artillery Regiment, and other units. By 17 August 1941 the army was deployed in the rear of the Western Front, concentrated in the Dorogobuzh area with the task of manning the reserve defensive line of the front. On 1 October, the army was transferred to the direct subordination of Stavka and renamed the "49th Reserve Army," but was moved back to the Reserve Front on 7 October.[1]

World war 2.

From 13 January to 25 April 1945, the 49th Army fought in the East Prussian Offensive. Between 10 February and 4 April, it participated in the East Pomeranian Offensive. The army captured Czersk on 21 February and Berent on 8 March. The army continued its advance towards Danzig, which was taken on 30 March alongside the 2nd Shock Army, the 65th Army, and the 70th Army. The army's last operation was the Berlin Offensive, from 16 April to 8 May, during which it advanced in the main shock group of the front. At the end of the war, the 49th Army reached the Elbe in the Ludwigslust area, where it met troops of the British Second Army. It ended the war as part of the 2nd Belorussian Front, with the 42nd Rifle Division being among its units.[3] The army became part of the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany when it was formed on 9 June, with headquarters at Wittenburg.[4] Between July and August 1945, the army was relocated to Gorky Oblast and disbanded there in August. Its headquarters was used to form the headquarters of the Gorky Military District.[1]

After the 2008 Russian military reforms, 49th Army was formed in 2010 as part of the Southern Military District, headquartered at Stavropol.[8] Its headquarters was established in the former Stavropol Institute of Communications of the Strategic Rocket Forces.[9] Major General Sergey Kuralenko was appointed commander by a decree of January 9, 2011, with Major General Viktor Astapov as first deputy commander.[10]

According to warfare.ru, 49th Army (listed at Stavropol/Maikop) had under control in late 2011 the 4th Guards and 7th Military Bases (South Ossetia and Abkhazia) and the 8th (former Taman Guards Motor Rifle Division), 33rd and 34th separate Mountain Motor Rifle Brigades (Borzoi, Chechnya, Maikop, and Storozhevaya-2), as well as the 66th Communications Brigade.[11] In May 2012, Army deputy commander Viktor Astapov became the commander of the 49th Army.[12] On 30 December 2013, Army deputy commander Major General Sergey Sevryukov became commander of the 49th Army.[13]

Commander. commander
Yakov Rezantsev. 

According to Ukrainian officials, he was killed in Chornobaivka near Kherson (Ukraine) during the 2022 Chornobaivka attacks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine; Russian sources have not confirmed his death.

POLITICO. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022. Ukrainian presidential spokesman Oleksiy Arestovych earlier named the lieutenant general as Yakov Ryazantsev, and said he had been killed at the Chernobaevka aerodrome outside the southern city of Kherson — where Russian forces have repeatedly suffered losses in their campaign to break out from the Crimean peninsula to the northwest.

Source Wikipedia.

USA today.

Editor's note: This page recaps the news from Ukraine on Thursday, July 28. Follow here for the latest updates and news from Friday, July 29, as Russia's invasion continues.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive is gathering momentum and the occupied southern city of Kherson is virtually cut off from the other territories held by Russia, according to an assessment released Thursday by the British Defense Ministry.

Ukraine has recently used its new long-range artillery to damage at least three of the bridges across the Dnipro River – bridges Russia relies upon to supply the areas under its control, the assessment said.

"Russia’s 49th Army is stationed on the west bank of the Dnipro River and now looks highly vulnerable," the assessment said.

"We will not stop until we liberate the last meter of our Ukrainian land," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "We won’t rest until we liberate our last village."

Causulty lists.

Personnel – 40670 (+170),

Tanks ? 1759 (+10) units,

APV ? 3995 (+8) units,

Artillery systems – 906 (+6) units,

MLRS – 258 (+0) units,

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 117 (+0) units,

Aircraft – 222 (+0) units,

Helicopters – 190 (+0) units,

UAV operational-tactical level – 733 (+2) units,

Cruise missiles - 174 (+0),

Boats / cutters – 15 (+0) units,

Special equipment – 78 (+1),

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 2889 (+19) units.

Today as heavy shelling of Russian head quarters continue in the southern region 

The southern command said more than 100 Russian soldiers were killed and seven tanks were destroyed in fighting on Friday in Kherson, the first major town captured by Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Yuri Sobolevsky, deputy head of the Kherson regional council, told residents to stay away from Russian ammunition dumps.

Ukraine loading grain cargo . 

War-torn Ukraine is ready to ship out grain for the first time since Russia invaded.

The country is a key global exporter of wheat, barley, corn and sunflower oil – and the conflict has sparked fears of major food shortages.

But Chornomorsk is one of three ports now preparing to ship grain to nations hit hard by the halt on exports.

President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Black Sea site and said: “The first ship is being loaded since the beginning of the war.”

Days ago, Russian missiles hit the nearby port of Odesa, threatening to scupper the deal ­brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to let Ukraine start ­exporting grain.

Royal Marines have been sent to guard the British Embassy in Ukraine amid fears diplomats could be targeted by Russian special forces.

Up to 30 British commandos are believed to be stationed inside the building in the capital, Kyiv.

It is understood British spooks received intelligence that either the embassy building or staff could be targeted by Russian agents or special forces.

The troops are thought to be trained in counter-terrorist operations and hostage rescue tactics. But the Ministry of Defence stressed they would not take part in combat.

They will also provide close protection to senior diplomats on trips around the country.

Source.https://www.mirror.co.uk

Russia won't win this unjust war.--U.K. Ministry of Defence

https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1553040194680623104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1553040194680623104%7Ctwgr%5Eccbee9e5f751c46eb6afb9824c5e273c2a75c936%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.ltn.com.tw%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fbreakingnews%2F4009564

Russia will pay dear price for Putin's cruel war against Ukraine. 

Elements of the Russian army’s 34th Independent Mountain Motor Rifle Brigade reportedly were on the rail bridge across the Dnipro River on the southern edge of Kherson, in southern Ukraine, when Ukrainian artillery struck the bridge on or around Thursday.

The entire 49th is under constant shelling as it cut off from its supply lines in crimerea. Causulty count after engagement could exceed 60% dead 20% wounded .

UN.

Procedural motions into the castration of a Ukrainian prisoner and the bombing of the prison that was holding him come to light as full tribunal arises in war crimes international court proceedings.

Did the Russians bomb it to cover up evidence or did Ukrainians bomb it to stop that from happening any furthur?

Skibitsky told Britain's Telegraph newspaper there was consultation between U.S. and Ukrainian intelligence officials before strikes and that Washington had an effective veto on intended targets.

How long before Russia and China declare war on United States? Throw in Iran and North Korea to name a few.

@UNIMAN

 Some of your favorite countries, huh?

To the dismay of Vladimir Putin & other fans of his in here, President Biden has successfully led the U.S. Senate to approve Finland and Sweden’s entry into NATO. Senatratior Josh Whorely was the only one to vote NO!

Way to go Joe!

“Their accession (Finland and Sweden) will make NATO stronger and America more secure. If any senator is looking for a defensible excuse to vote no, I wish them good luck,” Mitch McConnell.*

*https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-biden-congress-ee1c295fc0e33c832b764a04570fb460

For doing Putin's bidding, Josh, the most ardent supporters of former President Donald Trump, votes "NO". And this dude is likely to run POTUS campaign in 2024, seriously GOP?