It’s kicking off

Russian police arrest over 1000 protesters

Alexei Navalny, has been poisoned and arrested and still had this documentary released 

His wife has been arrested as well. 

Some serious minerals on this chap 

Edited February 27, 20224 yr by Rudy

2 hours ago, Marc505 said:

Wouldn't want to be cleaning up after the pair of Russians that ejected out of their bomber into the roof of the hangar they were parked in.

They'll do anything to avoid being shot at! 😀

Can only see this making peace less likely and possibly leading to escalation. 
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98nnd01g91o

They haven't done it yet!

It is very complicated, and even if Belgium gets the agreement of the EU to cover and court eventualities, it still doesn't mean it will happen. 

Some concerns the French may not "confiscate" their Russian assets neither- some article or other mentioning this the other day.

Perversely, what authority does a court in Russia- an aggressor, authoritarian state and terrorist one too- have internationally?

Some suggestions that Trump et al are lobbying the EU not to do it- make of that what you will.

A final point, if the Russian money was in Ukraine, then their use of the funds becomes justified- lots of complicated details around rules of war trumping international law etc.

If it happens, then great, but I won't hold my breath.

43 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Can only see this making peace less likely and possibly leading to escalation. 
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98nnd01g91o

I've been puzzling over this one for the past week, what jurisdiction does Queen Ursula and the EU have over Belgian banks?

They're talking about a sum one third the total annual Belgian GDP... in future years when everyone are buddies again, a  Belgian bank will be the one pursued by the Oligarchs for their money... could lead to a major banking crisis that could also spread across the globe.

US unexpectedly lifted sanctions on Belarus today, don't thing the EU expected that one.

 

Modern warfare Vs 1900s

 

 

Edited January 9Jan 9 by royal white

Been following all this closely.

Given the reported figures of Russian deaths, and the rapid increase in Ukrainian drone production, estimates suggest they will increase to over 60,000 per month fairly soon.

Absolutely bonkers. 

29 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Been following all this closely.

Given the reported figures of Russian deaths, and the rapid increase in Ukrainian drone production, estimates suggest they will increase to over 60,000 per month fairly soon.

Absolutely bonkers. 

We're supplying certain components to one drone manufacturer (not in Ukraine) who are expecting to ramp to c50K drones per month within a month or two, and that's just one company, they're not even the largest in the market. It's fucking huge business now. Long may it continue 😏

 

Edited January 9Jan 9 by Sweep

Who controls them?

Can on dude fly a whole fleet of them at once?

Surely there'll be specialist drone squadrons now?

Reports that cnut Putin has fired another hypersonic missile today

1 minute ago, gonzo said:

Who controls them?

Can on dude fly a whole fleet of them at once?

Surely there'll be specialist drone squadrons now?

One controller can control/fly multiple units. AI is also used a lot, so I'm told. 

A "swarm" system of up to 8000 units can be controlled by a single command system (I was told this a few weeks ago, as I was expecting a far, far larger order than I actually got)

Every night they hit Russian assets with numerous drones launched.

Many companies making them over there, in partnerships. 

Uk has now agreed to develop a new ballistic missile for Ukraine too.

Going to need even more tech.

Great this.

A Dim Ron Ron won't like it.

 

 

Aye.

Most of those gains were achieved in the first "light" invasion in 2014, then in the first months of the main conflict.

Since then they've gone essentially nowhere.

I follow it regularly, and their economy is buggered.

Oil and products earnings through the floor, military equipment stocks dwindling (drone production is obviously up) etc.

The state forces the debt onto the companies, so military manufacturers etc are essentially broke.

Manpower shortages, in a nation of low birth rate.

The whole thing has gone disastrously. 

26 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

I follow it regularly, and their economy is buggered.

Oil and products earnings through the floor, military equipment stocks dwindling (drone production is obviously up) etc.

The state forces the debt onto the companies, so military manufacturers etc are essentially broke.

Manpower shortages, in a nation of low birth rate.

The whole thing has gone disastrously. 

Talking of which, just had this little update with regards to some of my products.....the highlighted wasn't in there previously, but it seems that's where a lot of their drone manufacturing has moved to

 

XXXXXXXX products cannot be exported to Cuba, Crimea Region of Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, or Syria

Zelensky just nailing Trump here.

What a speech.

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

Zelensky just nailing Trump here.

What a speech.

I've seen a synopsis - but it sounded like he was more critical of Europe than of Trump. 

Is that not how it came across? 

I'll have to have a listen.....

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

Zelensky just nailing Trump here.

What a speech.

To be fair he nailed all of Europe for being weaker than a wet paper bag. I think he (and Carney who riffed on a similar theme) have a point that even waiting the 1000 or so days until Trump is out of office, everything isnt just going to go back to the post war agreement the west has relied on for the last 80 years - a change has happened and the continent need to acknolwedge this whilst not rattling the sabre but understanding the Nato - backed by the US - might not come running to help if Russia or China begin more expansionist moves.

5 hours ago, Sweep said:

Talking of which, just had this little update with regards to some of my products.....the highlighted wasn't in there previously, but it seems that's where a lot of their drone manufacturing has moved to

 

XXXXXXXX products cannot be exported to Cuba, Crimea Region of Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, or Syria

It will get twatted in good time.

Many an anti-aircraft system been taken out, especially in Crimea, paving the way for their new, medium range strike drones, and flamingo cruise missiles.

Just need to keep them supplied with adequate surface to air missiles to tackle the ballistic jobs.

They had a delivery of some for their patriot systems this week, and had a very good interception rate as a result.

 

3 minutes ago, kent_white said:

I've seen a synopsis - but it sounded like he was more critical of Europe than of Trump. 

Is that not how it came across? 

I'll have to have a listen.....

He's done that before, especially in the early days. A bit of a gamble, but keeps his allies on their toes, and don't faulter in their support.

And France has just nabbed a Russian shadow fleet tanker in the med, after uk intelligence was shared.

VZ will be well chuffed. 

In other news though looks like we’ve not been active enough in seizing “shadow fleet” tankers passing through the channel, despite legal authority to do so. Poor. Can understand zelensky’s frustration yesterday that we/others may talk tough but don’t act tough.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2d77rr51rko

1 hour ago, Bertie said:

In other news though looks like we’ve not been active enough in seizing “shadow fleet” tankers passing through the channel, despite legal authority to do so. Poor. Can understand zelensky’s frustration yesterday that we/others may talk tough but don’t act tough.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2d77rr51rko

It's been going on for years. Spineless. 

Something has now changed though; Finland, Sweden and Germany have now all intervened in some way or other and sent back or impounded a variety of vessels.

Like VZ said, NATO (or the European arm) hasn't been together on it, maybe through fear of repercussions, but the continued hybrid war conducted by Russia with those nations has escalated and has to stop. 

I reckon we'll see a good number more stopped.

This isn’t before time, and undoubtedly was what Trump wanted in his first term- justifiably so- yet perversely, has now bitten the purple handed, orange megalomaniac on his arse.

 

Fuck the Russians.

These Argentine Ants are the ones to watch.