Russia, Ukraine and the West

[kompir]

Originally Posted by Risto the Great

That was shut down very fast.

What was shut down?

[Risto the Great]

The admission of Ukranian casualties.

[Vangelovski]

"Admission". People are constantly mixing up their info. Politicians especially. I agree with Phoenix - if the Ukrainians really had 100,000 dead, then the number of wounded would probably be around 300,000. That's 400,000 men. If that were the case, there's no way the Ukrainians could have achieved the victories they have. One hundred thousand casualties rather than dead, is much more plausible, and has been reported by numerous sources lately.

I also think the Ukrainians are creating a foothold on the east bank. It was previously reported the Russians had withdrawn from the river front and moved back a few kilometers.

Ukrainian forces reportedly reached the east (left) bank of the Dnipro River across from Kherson City. The Ukrainian “Carlson” volunteer special air intelligence unit posted footage on December 3 of Ukrainian servicemen traversing the Dnipro River in boats, reaching a wooden marina-like structure on the east bank, and raising a Ukrainian flag on a tower toward near the shore.[1] Special Unit “Carlson” reported that this is the first instance of a Ukrainian flag flying over the east bank of the Dnipro River and emphasized this operation will provide a springboard for subsequent Ukrainian operations on the east bank.[2] If confirmed, this limited Ukrainian incursion onto the east bank could open avenues for Ukrainian forces to begin to operate on the east bank. As ISW has previously reported, observed Russian fortifications on the left bank indicate Russian forces are anticipating Ukrainian offensive actions on the east bank and have been constructing defensive lines south of the Dnipro River.[3] The establishment of positions along the eastern riverbank will likely set conditions for future Ukrainian offensive operations into occupied Kherson Oblast, if Ukrainian troops choose to pursue this line of advance in the south.

https://www.understandingwar.org/bac...ent-december-3

[Carlin]

Newsweek:

Ukraine's power grid could completely collapse within weeks if Russian strikes continue.

According to the American edition at the moment about 50% of energy infrastructure facilities have been seriously damaged. In this regard the collapse can be expected by Christmas.

[Carlin]

Merkel reveals the Minsk Agreement was a stalling tactic that allowed the West to militarize Ukraine as an anti-Russian proxy and fortify it for an inevitable war.

https://mobile.twitter.com/MaxBlumen...CtlZ36_rYsAAAA

[Risto the Great]

Originally Posted by Carlin

Merkel reveals the Minsk Agreement was a stalling tactic that allowed the West to militarize Ukraine as an anti-Russian proxy and fortify it for an inevitable war.

Putin on Merkel's words about Minsk agreements:

To be honest, it was absolutely unexpected for me. It's disappointing. Frankly speaking, I did not expect to hear this from the former chancellor, because I have always assumed that the German leadership behaves sincerely with us. Yes, of course, it was on the side of Ukraine, supported it, but it still seemed to me that the German leadership has always sincerely sought a settlement on the principles that we agreed on, within the framework of the Minsk process.

This only shows that launching the SMO was the right decision. It turns out that no one was going to fulfill these Minsk agreements. The point was only to pump Ukraine with weapons and prepare for combat operations. Maybe we should have started all this earlier.
Trust almost dropped to 0. How to negotiate? About what? And is it possible to negotiate with them? Where are the guarantees? I have said many times that we are ready to sign agreements, but this makes us think about who we are dealing with.

This democracy stuff is a hoot.

[Dejan]

Seems all the world powers are pro-war. It's a money spinner

[Carlin]

From "Russians with Attitude" channel:

There are reports coming in that the north-eastern industrial zone in Bakhmut has been fully captured by Russian forces, including SINIAT cement plant & Artwinery.

[Carlin]

The amount of loss of Ukrainian life in Bakmut is unprecedented and shocking. Russian losses are relatively lower because of their very slow approach and their priority to ensure minimal losses.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Carlin

The amount of loss of Ukrainian life in Bakmut is unprecedented and shocking. Russian losses are relatively lower because of their very slow approach and their priority to ensure minimal losses.

Apparently Ukrainian sources are reporting losses of up to 70%…