Posted on 02/26/2022 8:45:12 PM PST by SeekAndFind
We anticipated the main attack on Kyiv on Friday night and the likelihood that it might fall.
But it’s day three, and the Ukrainians are still hanging in there, giving Putin far more difficulty than he ever expected, with Russians reportedlytaking heavy losses. Kyiv is still standing.
We fought through this night. Good morning. Kyiv is ours
— Anastasiia Lapatina (@lapatina_) February 26, 2022
According to the British Defence Ministry, Reuters reports, they’re under fire but haven’t fallen yet.
“Russian forces have continued their advance on Kyiv with the bulk of their forces now 30 km from the centre of the city,” the defence ministry said in an intelligence update posted on Twitter.
“Russia has yet to gain control of the airspace over Ukraine greatly reducing the effectiveness of the Russian Air Force. Russian casualties are likely to be heavy and greater than anticipated or acknowledged by the Kremlin,” it said.
Kyiv remains under Ukrainian control, as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky refuses to leave his country on the third day of Russia’s invasion. Zelensky has been posting videos from Kyiv, letting his citizens and the world know that he’s still there and standing up for his people. He’s refused the offer from the U.S. to get him out of here and instead has asked for ammo to help him fight.
Не вірте фейкам. pic.twitter.com/wiLqmCuz1p
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2022
I am here.We will not lay down our arms.We will defend our state.A lot of fake information has appeared on the Internet claiming that I asked our army to lay down arms.The truth is that this is our country, our land, our children, and we will protect all of this.Glory to Ukraine.
— Simon Vaut (@simonvaut) February 26, 2022
There have also been conflicting reports about Turkey shutting off the Black Sea, a critical move and something that would severely hurt Russia if true. Zelensky is thanking Turkey for it.
I thank my friend Mr. President of 🇹🇷 @RTErdogan and the people of 🇹🇷 for their strong support. The ban on the passage of 🇷🇺 warships to the Black Sea and significant military and humanitarian support for 🇺🇦 are extremely important today. The people of 🇺🇦 will never forget that!
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2022
Turkey, although close to Russia, has been very supportive of Ukraine, and is now calling for a ceasefire. One of the ships that Russia hit in the Black Sea was a Turkish warship, so Turkey can’t be happy about what is happening from Russia. Turkey is a NATO nation.
⚡️After failure, Russia is changing tactics, says Ukraine’s Defense Minister.
He said that the attempted attack with heavy armor columns had stalled, and that the attacker was now switching to sabotage and paratroop assaults.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 26, 2022
According to intel from Riho Terras, a member of the EU Parliament and a former defense minister for Estonia, Putin is furious that it hasn’t gone as quickly or as well as he thought it would.
THREAD 1/7 Intel from a Ukrainian officer about a meeting in Putin’s lair in Urals. Oligarchs convened there so no one would flee. Putin is furious, he thought that the whole war would be easy and everything would be done in 1-4 days. @EPPGroup @general_ben @edwardlucas @politico pic.twitter.com/8AoelUDWM9
— Riho Terras (@RihoTerras) February 26, 2022
2/7 Russians didn’t have a tactical plan. The war costs about $20 bln/day. There are rockets for 3-4 days at most, they use them sparingly. They lack weapons, the Tula and 2 Rotenberg plants can’t physically fulfil the orders for weapons. Rifles and ammo are the most they can do.
— Riho Terras (@RihoTerras) February 26, 2022
4/7 If Ukraine manages to hold the Russians off for 10 days, then the Russians will have to enter negotiations. Because they have no money, weapons, or resources. Nevertheless, they are indifferent about the sanctions.
— Riho Terras (@RihoTerras) February 26, 2022
Terras said the plan was to sow panic among the citizenry, so they and Zelensky would flee, and then Russia would try to install a puppet government which the panicked citizens will agree to. That doesn’t sound like, if this is true, that Putin has sized the Ukrainians up right — most appear willing to fight to the death and Zelensky is staying put. So, this seems to be a very poorly thought-out plan.
Now, there are even reports that Ukraine is not only defending itself but hitting back at the Russians, in Russia, hitting an airbase in Rostov. That’s stunning, if true, and the reporter from Kyiv Independent is calling it “confirmed.”
It is now confirmed — Ukrainian military has delivered a strike on a Russian airfield in Millerovo, Rostov Oblast
A number of enemy aircraft have been destroyed. pic.twitter.com/xwex4z5ryg— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) February 25, 2022
Meanwhile, Putin is still facing a lot of protests at home, with thousands still coming out in the streets against the invasion, and a lot of anger from around the world.
Protestors out in St Petersburg #Russia for second night to say no to war in #Ukraine. Protests in Putin’s hometown continue despite mass arrests yesterday, & a ban: pic.twitter.com/VVSeTuWBuS
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) February 25, 2022
If Ukraine can hold out, it might be the most amazing feat against far greater numbers, and a testament to the strength of will and resistance.
Warning for graphic (but appropriate) language:
On this pic all directions read “go fuck yourselves”. Except for the one that reads “go fuck yourselves in Russia”. #StandWithUkraine #RussiaGoHome pic.twitter.com/tj9g7jnyRB
— olexander scherba🇺🇦 (@olex_scherba) February 26, 2022
These reports are farcical.
Russia has been at this for 3 days. They have not launched a serious assault on Kiev.
But they’ve destroyed nearly every Ukrainian military installation. Have established air dominance. And move at will.
CNN/Leftist media are on their knees right now thanking God for this war. They have a chance at ratings again and they are going to make the most of it!
Senate Intelligence Committee Acting Chairman Marco Rubio on Twitter an hour ago:
**********************
Marco Rubio
@marcorubio
·
1h
We know what #Putin’s plan was:
- air dominance in first 12 hours
- Destroy #Ukraine military comms in 36 hours
- Bypass major urban areas,cut off Eastern Army,encircle #Kyiv & get govt to flee within 48 hours
-Install puppet govt within 72 hours
He is still 0 for 4
*************************
For a number of reasons, I actually do believe this was Putin’s plan.
It is exceedingly easy to indiscriminately wipe out a city using MOABs, chemical, or nuclear weapons. Russia has these.
NO source for the “Putin raging” story that is circling the globe today...a Latvian dude who once met Putin is the only “source.” And Zelensky’s claim that Turkey agreed to bar Russian warships from the Black Sea is not confirmed by Ankara or NATO and is prohibited by a treaty. The media is not distinguishing itself in this war.
Read this article explains this completely. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/ukraines-deadly-gamble
Don’t expect US or EU to do anything more than talk and sanctions; all will go back to normal once operation is over; Ukraine Leader is an idiot so is Biden that is what caused all this.
also, for any posters here who were assuring everyone ten days ago that the notion that Putin would invade Ukraine was all a big hoax, maybe sit this one out a while until you have immersed yourselves in Russia and Ukraine and begin to understand what has been going on over there
Biden’s primary goal is to keep the Ukrainian bribe money flowing to his crime family.
“ According to intel from Riho Terras, a member of the EU Parliament and a former defense minister for Estonia, Putin is furious that it hasn’t gone as quickly or as well as he thought it would.”
And how exactly would this guy know Putin’s state of mind?
State of “reporting” these days.
When Russia had a hard time trying to subdue the Chechen rebels, they went berserk and just bombed the hell out of Chechnya and flattened the entire place. No concern abut women and children — Just DESTROY EVERYTHING.
I’m afraid this will be Putin’s last straw if he can’t subdue Ukraine in a timely fashion.
Let’s hope Putin is not even contemplating the use of nukes,tactical or otherwise.
Most people here probably know more than you do.
Kind of sad you had to post that nonsense to yourself. LOL
The same folks that gave us the COVID narrative the last two years have moved on to provide the same BS in their reporting of the happenings in Ukraine!
“NO source for the “Putin raging” story that is circling the globe today”
He was on TV yesterday, and quite clearly raging.
This is not going well for Russia. Putin has made a catastrophic decision. He does not have the support of his own people to prosecute this war. Russian troop morale is low as their logistics are lacking, especially food, fuel and sophisticated weaponry, they are taking inordinate casualties and have been unable to take major objectives. Putin knows he will be held accountable, deserted by his cronies and will be deposed. Comrade Xi is taking notice and taking pause. The people of Taiwan owe the heroic Ukrainian people a great debt.
The Ukrainians could hit a nerve with some propaganda of their own. They can offer a safe surrender to any Russian soldier. They can announce to the Russian people, especially the parents of the conscripts how sad they are about the necessity of killing and maiming their sons who are forced to follow Putin’s lunacy..
“But they’ve destroyed nearly every Ukrainian military installation. Have established air dominance.”
With what? Their missiles and planes that don’t work?
Even the Russians don’t dispute that Ukraine has taken only a few hundred casualties at this point. How has every military site been destroyed if almost none of the military have been harmed?
Alleged Russian wreckage from a Ukrainian airstrike:
https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1497541956318212097
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