Amazingly, Kyiv Is Still Holding out, and Putin Is Reportedly Furious

Red State ^ | 02/26/2022 | Nick Arama

[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

 

[LouieFisk]

“Putin is walking a fine line”
—
Yes, I think one reason why Putin didn’t deliver an fast, blitzkrieg-like azzkicking is not just the bad worldwide PR & ill will it would generate, but he knows where the golden egg laying geese are in the region.

But I think people are so used to things being instant that for many a few days = eternity. They wouldn’t be able to process the time involved in the comeback after Pearl Harbor. And wait til they read about the Hundred Years war.

[Cecily]

“He does not have the support of his own people to prosecute this war.”

With few exceptions, he has also got the whole world demonstrating against him and this senseless war.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10557215/Ukraine-war-Russians-turn-Putin-Kremlin-threatens-jail-traitors-try-help-Ukraine.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10557167/World-rages-Putins-war-Hundreds-thousands-protestors-streets-Berlin-Madrid.html

[boxlunch]

I have photos from friends in Kiev. He is bombing the h-— out of it right now. It’s horrible. Putin is a demon and crazy. Those people are already so poor and now they have nothing, are sick, surviving in bomb shelters.

I’m not saying US should be over there, buy good grief, dont the Europeans know they are next?

[grey_whiskers]

[Svartalfiar]

They started out WW 2 pretty poorly, but by 1945 they were matching the Germans in strategic and operational planning and execution (not yet tactical skill at small unit levels). And their combined arms offensive in Manchuria in August 1945 was as important in forcing Japan’s surrender as the atomic bombs were - post-war Japanese testimony is pretty clear on this.

And that depending on support from these US, to the tune of what, 50-75% of their equipment? If there was no lend-lease, Japan would likely have a good sized chunk of the mainland, and there never would have been a Berlin wall, no Cold War, no Warsaw Pact. Eastern Europe would likely be just as socialistic as the rest of Europe nowadays, instead of mostly hating the Commies (Russians). Yea, they did help with Napolean, but again that was mostly the winter, not Russia, that did that. And back when everyone was around the same technological level.

And Russia is still the same today, albeit somewhat better supplied, but it's still crap. START inspections back in the 90s found that something like 70% (if I recall correctly) of Russian nuke silos were so badly flooded or had rusted out fuel tanks that they couldn't have even gotten out of the ground. Of the rest, they had similar maintenance issues that likely would have prevented fission (so just dirty bombs, not true nukes), or had hidden issues that would have mostly prevented successful launch/strike. Maybe 5% of their nukes could be expected to be useful.

Didn't their sole carrier on it's world tour require a tug to accompany it, and didn't even make it all the way?

Sure, Ruska may have a few well-equipped and well-trained Spetsnaz groups, maybe some decent sub crews, but as a whole their military is a job program, not a real force to be reckoned with. China is probably somewhat better than they are, despite Chinese requirements for Russian engines or spying on US projects. Russia is a partial threat to tribes in Muslim-land or Tiny countries with little equipment/regular military, but that's about it. Their only real way to fight anyone is to cut off their hydrocarbon exports, but that hurts themselves just as much.

[Svartalfiar]

The Russian killed literally most of the Germans who stepped foot in Russia and you’re asking if they’ve ver been successful at war?

Meh. 50-75% of German casualties were from the Russian winter, not from Russian actions.

[Elsie]

Didn’t they defeat Hitler’s soldiers in his assault from the East?

I think it was just one Old Man: a relative of THIS fella...

[Basket_of_Deplorables]

Thanks for that Lee Smith link. He knows his stuff. So much propaganda from the US and Ukraine on this site these days. And the sheep fall for it.

No actual sources. Videos faked, or from years ago. Recycled “victims.” Fake “heroes.”

I thought freepers were smarter than this.

Nope!

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/02/26/stunning-discovery-evidence-suggests-u-s-intel-baited-russia-in-december-by-telling-china-ukraine-was-c

[JimRed]

Comrade Xi is taking notice and taking pause. The people of Taiwan owe the heroic Ukrainian people a great debt.

The difference is that Xi has less concern for the deaths of even half a billion Chinese; in fact he NEEDS his population reduced.

[happyathome]

Yep all good points. Their current military is in pretty poos shape and this war is making that clear. I think the Chinese must be licking their lips and planning a move on Siberia at some point.

My point was that in their past the Russians have had some success, in answer to your original question.

[Elsie]

...But they were the decisive factor in defeating Napoleon...

THE???

---

[Levy78]

Uhhh yeah because they couldn’t egress because they were surrounded.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: The difference is that Xi has less concern for the deaths of even half a billion Chinese.

Am I understanding this right? You’re saying that Putin is less of a butcher than Xi and will seriously reconsider when enough people have been killed?

[MinuteGal]

From now on, I'm referring to Vladimir Putin as "Vlad the Impaler".

The original Vlad the Impaler was a Romanian despot who reigned in the middle-ages and who used impalement as his favorite method of executing his enemies.

Leni

[JimRed]

You’re saying that Putin is less of a butcher than Xi and will seriously reconsider when enough people have been killed?

No, if both of them assumed room temperature today I'd not shed a tear. But Xi NEEDS to be rid of a lot of people. Putin does not NEED that.

[Dalberg-Acton]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlad_the_Impaler#Ottoman_war

[CarolinaReaganFan]

I’m so glad that Putin is furious.
I hope you realize that this is a diaper load of BS

[wiseprince]

It was weeks before the fall of Baghdad. Even Kabul didn’t fall in 3 days. I do t actually know what’s going on and I suspect not many do but FR is posting all of the globalist propaganda anyways. Does this mean the other fake story is finally over?

[wiseprince]

You talk as if you are on the ground. It’s quite hilarious (and sad) that after being lied to for 2 years straight about the “pandemic” everyone jumps back into the hands of the globalist and propagandists and don’t really seem to notice what they’re doing. 4 years of hearing that Putin put Trump In power, 2 years of it came from a bat, a couple of months of, The truckers are white supremacist being guided by Putin and you STILL accept their word as gospel. What will come of this world?

[bankwalker]

You talk as if you are on the ground. It’s quite hilarious (and sad) that after being lied to for 2 years straight about the “pandemic” everyone jumps back into the hands of the globalist and propagandists and don’t really seem to notice what they’re doing. 4 years of hearing that Putin put Trump In power, 2 years of it came from a bat, a couple of months of, The truckers are white supremacist being guided by Putin and you STILL accept their word as gospel.

worth repeating ...