Posted on 08/01/2023 6:46:17 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com
This is why maritime security in the Black Sea – or rather the lack thereof – has global repercussions.
The maritime blockade is:
-undermining Ukraine’s economic viability and, therefore, its sovereignty and independence
-increasing global famine and
-increasing global costs of living, which means increasing the risk of demonstrations, riots, extremism and fall of government
-if unchallenged, undermining universal Freedom of Navigation worldwide.
African nations and China are going to pay attention to those who help them get their grain shipments. Russia's attempt at backing out of the grain deal has put a dozen country's interests opposed to theirs.
Russia is running out of functional allies and gaining more enemies. While not directly benefiting Ukraine it is bad for Moscow, which is good enough.
The maritime blockade
As a technical matter, Russia has not proclaimed a blockade, but rather a Maritime Exclusion Zone (MEZ).
https://lieber.westpoint.edu/maritime-exclusion-zones-armed-conflicts/
Enemy Merchant VesselsBelligerents may capture enemy merchant ships anywhere outside neutral waters for adjudication as prize. Enemy merchant ships operating within or outside the MEZ may not, however, be attacked or destroyed unless the vessel:
(1) persistently refuses to heave to after being ordered to do so;
(2) actively resists visit and search or capture;
(3) sails under convoy of enemy warships;
(4) is armed with weapons systems beyond that required for self-defense against criminal threats;
(5) is incorporated into, or assists in any way, the enemy’s military intelligence system;
(6) acts in the any capacity as an enemy naval or military auxiliary; or
(7) is integrated into the enemy’s war-fighting/war-supporting/war-sustaining effort (NWP, § 8.6.2.2).
In destroying enemy merchant vessels, belligerents must first place passengers, crew, and the ship’s papers in a place of safety, unless an enemy merchant ship persistently refuses to stop when ordered to do so or actively resists visit and search or capture. This requirement does not apply, however, if under the circumstances at the time of the attack, the warship would be subject to imminent danger or would otherwise be precluded from accomplishing its mission (NWP, § 8.6.2.2).
Neutral Merchant Vessels
A neutral merchant ship that enters the MEZ is subject to the belligerent right of visit and search by Russian and Ukrainian warships to determine the enemy character of the ship or its cargo, but it may not be captured or attacked unless it engages in certain prohibited conduct.
VIDEO WITH SUMMARIZED COMMENTARY
1 Aug: IMPOSSIBLE SHOT! Ukrainians Wipe Out a Russian ISLAND BASE | War in Ukraine Explained
Reporting from Ukraine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6EJ5m9xpXQ
⚠️ Watch RFU in 18+ languages: https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/channels
I am Ukrainian. My country has been invaded by Russia. In this video I will tell you what happened on the five hundred twenty fourth day of the war.
Day 524: Aug 01
Today there is a lot of news from the south.
First of all, today, Ukrainian forces conducted a devastating HIMARS strike on 5 Russian camps on the Dzharylhach island, which is in front of Skadovsk. Apparently, the recent drone strike on Crimea revealed a weakness in Russian air space, and Ukrainians found out that they could operate in the sky in the deep rear quite freely. A Ukrainian reconnaissance drone operator flew by the southern shore of the Kherson region and identified a relatively big Russian base on the Dzharylhach island.
The operator found out that Russian forces felt quite comfortable and relaxed. And this is not surprising as the base is located more than 85 km from the contact line on the opposite side of the Kherson region. Even though they dug the trenched along the shore, nobody really expected a large-scale amphibious operation in this region. That is why Russian soldiers felt safe and accumulated a lot of trucks and equipment in plain sight.
But this is not the biggest mistake Russians made. Since the base is far from the front line, Russian commanders took a chance to exercise their authority at the expense of operational security by assembling everyone outside every morning. Ukrainian drone operator witnessed precisely that and marked the precise areas that all 5 Russian detachments used every morning to assemble in lines.
This was a fatal mistake as today in the morning, Ukrainians waited until all Russian detachments assembled outside and eliminated all 5 detachments virtually simultaneously. Next, it seems like Ukrainians decided to take out equipment as well. The total Russian losses are estimated to be up to 200 soldiers. Russian sources circulated the footage and blamed the Russian commanders for keeping their pre-war and bureaucratic mentality. Russian analysts viciously critiqued the responsible people who got everyone killed, including themselves.
Speaking about bad practices, Russian forces continue losing a lot of troops and equipment by continuing to use big columns near the front line. 2 weeks ago, Ukrainians spotted a Russian column near Ocheretuvate, which is only 15 km away from the hottest part of the front line. Ukrainians swiftly conducted a strike and destroyed the whole column. Russian sources published footage showing the aftermath of the strike and confirming that there was nothing left.
Interestingly, 2 weeks prior to that strike, Ukrainians destroyed another Russian column on the same front. Geolocated footage shows that Russians lost 7 trucks loaded with ammunition and possibly personnel. So, every 2 weeks, Russians lose their forces in bulk because of the refusal of Russian commanders to adjust to the realities of war. Some said that if 17 months of war and dozens of such cases did not teach them anything, then they are unlikely to adjust their practices in the future.
Today Russian sources also reported that Ukrainians conducted another marine drone strike on the Russian warships. This time the target of the strike became 2 Russian patrol ships that are blocking access to the Ukrainian harbors and preventing the export of grain.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Ukrainians attacked the ships with 3 drones and that Russians successfully destroyed them with machine guns. Some less prominent Russian sources mentioned that Russian soldiers on the ship claimed that catching drones was tricky, and one of them was shot down only 200 meters from the ship, so if they detected it half a minute later, there would have been a high chance that the kamikaze drone would hit the ship.
Finally, today another explosion happened in Sevastopol. If the previous explosion that happened several days ago was made by saboteurs who set explosives on the Russian ammunition depot, then today’s explosion happened in the aftermath of a successful drone strike. Russian military and media once again tried to restrict access to the area and reported that all drones were shot down.
Unfortunately for Russians, the mushroom of smoke from the explosion could be seen miles away. The head of Sevastopol claimed that the drone was intercepted and that all facilities are intact, and that the smoke that people saw was just from the burning grass. Ukrainian sources reported that, judging by the footage, Russian lost another ammunition depot.
*** Select the 3 horizontal dots to view the Complete Transcript [Below video/ top right corner]
“difference between “flaunted” and “flouted”.”
This may help your issue:
People confuse ‘flaunt’ and ‘flout’ so often that our dictionary includes ‘flout’ as a second definition for ‘flaunt’. However, if you use ‘flaunt’ to mean ‘flout’, most people will think you’ve made a mistake.
The use of these words is messy and complicated, the meanings are still in flux, and many people like to complain about the apparent misuse of them. What’s not to love?
https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/is-it-wrong-to-confuse-flaunt-and-flout
VIDEOS
1. Explosions seen over Kyiv amid reports of more Russian drone attacks across the country
The Sun
4.22M subscribers
Aug 2, 2023 7 MINUTES AGO [2:50 A.M. EDT]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMz8bH6wQT0
Explosions were seen over the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in the early hours of Wednesday (August 2), amid reports of Russian drone attacks across the country.
According to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko and military officials, anti-aircraft units shot down drones attacking the capital, with drone debris falling in three districts but causing no injuries.
Air raid alerts were lifted for the capital, the surrounding Kyiv region and most other parts of the country.
Authorities in the southern coastal region of Odesa reported that Russian drones attacked port and grain storage facilities on early Wednesday, setting some of them on fire. There have so far been no reports of casualties.
2. Russian army has several problems in Ukraine’s south
Kanal13
1.59M subscribers
8-2-2023 11:00 p.m. EDT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08IOcFxfuF8
3. Three civilian ships ran Russia’s blockade of Ukraine
Kanal13
1.59M subscribers
8-2-2023 2:00 a.m. EDT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYfK29oKMIs
UM - you have to stop, to that extent, lionising Zelenskyy.
The way I see it from here across the border from Ukraine - the ordinary Ukrainians are the heroes - if tomorrow Zelenskyy goes, the Ukrainians are still going to keep fighting for their loved ones.
This is not exactly Churchill who was calling out since the 1930s about the dangers of Hitler. And there were British politicians who were considering setting up spheres of interest with the Germans.
Zelenskyy has done great and his initial decision not to flee is what triggered the great Ukrainian sentiment, but let’s not lionize him to that extent.
Why? Because the Putinistas think this is “Zelenskyy’s war” or that “if Zelenskyy is gone, this war will end” — and I’m telling you it is nothing like that - this is Putin’s war v/s ordinary Ukrainian people
Wrong. He is "respected" mainly by globalists, leftists, Democrats, RINOs, the vile WEF, the UN, the execrable EU Parliament and leftist filth like George Soros, the Biden Crime Family, Obama and nearly every anti-West, pro LGBTQWERTY, anti-White and anti-Christian .org in the world.
Zelenskyyyyyy™ is a grifting lowlife and a phony beholden to the aforementioned dirtbags. It will be a fine day when his people chase him out of Youcrayne or capture and hang him for putting his interests, and the interests of his corrupt Western handlers, before those of Youcraynians.
Here's your "respected" boy acting like the sleazebag he truly is.
The reverence you have for the grifting midget Zelenskyyyyy™ is strange and gross.
Why are you so obsessed with him? You post about nothing except Youcrayne.
Why are you so obsessed with publishing Youcrayne propaganda from the lying, war profiteering, draft dodging scumbag Denys Davydov, who lives like a king in Switzerland, partying his ass off while his fellow countrymen fight and die?
“-Poland is said to be in talks with Latvia and Lithuania on how to respond to the presence of mercenaries, and the three countries may close their borders with Belarus if necessary.”
Then call of the closeted Putin Fanbois.
Your comment is amusing, and makes me think of why the "reverence you have for the grifting midget Zelenskyyyyy™" asked me to not again ping her with a comment.
Many days back, she'd trotted out the height comparison between Putin and Zelensky as if this was a measure of a man. In response, and by the rules she established in her "height game," I responded with a number of Christian sites including URLs, all speculating about the height of Jesus. She was not willing to further the "height game," after that for some obvious conclusions.
But, after having asked me not to ping her due to my playing her "height game" using a different individual but with her same "rules," and after I asked her not to ping me in response, she pinged me anyway. Such is the "game" on these "reverend" threads. Just too cute, and obsessive.
And so daily supportive of monetized YouTube channels for her friends, especially Denys Davydov, the pilot not flying sorties against the Russians even though Ukrainian pilots have been training to fly against Russians. He has something more profitable to do. You can click on that!
Mindless slavery to orthodoxy (”We’ve never done it that way before!”) has been the misery and downfall of many organizations that reward obedience and punish innovation.
“Why hasn’t this paid globohomo shill been zotted yet?
This account is abusing FR.”
Easy answer to your silly question: I am not paid, globohomo, a shill or abusive. Therefore, I am not zotted.
I don’t think you really want to identify with individuals that use the term: Globohomo. This term invented by people that represent the Alt-Right movements. The “alt-right” also broadly opposes the conservative establishment.
BTW, Richard Spencer coined the term “alternative right” [alt-right] which is nothing more than a marketing term that sounded acceptable to the conservative mainstream.”
White nationalists are part of the “alt-right,” but they’re also a group to themself. For many people, “white nationalism” is just another term for “white supremacist” or “neo-Nazi.
Comment #26 Removed by Moderator
Comment #27 Removed by Moderator
Comment #28 Removed by Moderator
Comment #54 Removed by Moderator
In a thread of 57 comments as of the moment, four have been removed. In almost all other Free Republic threads reviewed in these last weeks, NONE exhibit this behavior. Interesting. So it must be a "feature" of this particular thread, don't you think?
Seen such a nice collection of "removed by moderator" remarks on other threads?
“The sooner Ukraine loses this war, the better of average Americans will be.”
So you think we would be better off if we have to go fight Russia, is that it? I don’t think so.
Nope. While it’s a conservative badge of honor to have a post removed by RevMom’s Mod buddy, it’s surprising that they’re allowed to censor people like that on a site like FR.
One member of the consortium was making threats regarding Mods about a week ago, pretty much confirming our suspicions about a Uke-friendly Mod.
Shameful.
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