Summary:
* China sees this as very bad for them, as it increases the stature of the US and the unity of Atlantic Alliances.
* China has attempted to maintain neutrality but will likely have to choose sides. They are probably skewing away from Russia because an alliance would forever harm the world-wide prestige they seek.
https://uscnpm.org/2022/03/12/hu-wei-russia-ukraine-war-china-choice/
US Officials says Russia has asked China for military help. (China has denied this.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwIknv0eMQA
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense released video footage from a Ukrainian mortar unit in action during combat in the battle of Moschun in the direction of Hostomel.
The small village is located in the are of Kyiv and has seen constant shelling by Russian forces.
This led to the evacuation of almost all of the 800 residents.
Currently the Ukrainian military is defending the area against Russian advances.
(statues wrapped to prevent damage in case of bombing)
— “You all won’t take us [into NATO and the European Union].”
— “There’s no use in wasting time on empty talk. Whereas Russia would love to bring us into a new Warsaw Pact.”
— “[The United States uses Ukraine to wage] War against Russia … to the last Ukrainian.”
I didn’t realize Kolomoisky had this change of heart. His influence was important in limiting the Russian annexations in 2014. He was protecting his business interests then. Since then, Privat Bank was (appropriately) taking away from him because of massive corruption, and surprisingly, wasn’t returned despite his big effort and seeming ability to bribe judges.
Probably he made these statements because he was angry at losing assets in Ukraine’s anti-corruption initiatives.
This is probably necessary domestic propaganda. The Orcs need to believe they are strong.
This is still hard for me to comprehend. I’ve driven through Bucha hundreds of times. My wife and I speculated about buying a home there. My daughter was born not far away. It was an affluent suburb of Kyiv, with relatively quick access to the city, and trendy new shops opening every month. A luxury apartment complex was under construction.
Today, I caught myself day dreaming about places, and thinking about visiting them again. Then I woke up to the realizations – oh, there’s a war, and destruction, and it’s different now, and will never be the same again.
Lesya Vakulyuk, a professional journalist, wrote that the bodies were collected on the streets. She says that Russian soldiers keep civilians as hostages now.
I’m impressed (among countless other things) by the clean Ukrainian language spoken by all the public facing Azov figures.
Another intercept:
– When will it end?
– Don’t know. My regiment is gone. Commander of regiment is gone. They say they’ll evacuate us March 14-15.
Every day they bring lots of dead, two hundred wounded.
After that I go & quit army.
– Your dad and I agree. It was a stupid idea anyway.
Ukrainian marines are guarding the mosque. More than 100 turkish citizens are currently taking shelter in the mosque, following the destruction of their homes by the Russians. 🇺🇦
#Khmelnytsky oblast
At least 14 private jets from Russia landed in Israel in the past 10 days, per The Times of Israel.
The planes reportedly took off from St. Petersburg and landed at Ben Gurion Airport.
Israel hasn’t issued yet sanctions on oligarchs, according to reports.At least 14 private jets from Russia have landed at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, per a report by The Times of Israel.
The report cited a broadcast by Israel’s Channel 12, which said that a number of rented private planes were coming from Russia and were landing in Israel. The owners were unidentified and this has led to speculation that oligarchs may be looking at ways to slip around sanctions.
Sarcasm about pro-Russia propaganda in conservative pro-Trump circle:
