Posted on 04/18/2022 9:51:12 PM PDT by Mariner
VIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched its long-feared, full-scale offensive to take control of Ukraine's east on Monday, attacking along a broad front over 300 miles (480 kilometers) long, Ukrainian officials said in what marked the opening of a new and potentially climactic phase of the war.
“The Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a video address. He said a "significant part of the entire Russian army is now concentrated on this offensive.”
The Donbas is Ukraine’s mostly Russian-speaking industrial heartland in the east, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces for the past eight years and have declared two independent republics that have been recognized by Russia.
In recent weeks, the Kremlin declared the capture of the Donbas its main goal of the war after its attempt to storm Kyiv failed. After withdrawing from the capital, Russia began regrouping and reinforcing its ground troops in the east for an all-out offensive.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
And this is the first article I've seen on it.
Anyone else? Are there status updates?
Russia is kicking his a**
The Donbas is Ukraine’s mostly Russian-speaking industrial heartland in the east, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces for the past eight years and have declared two independent republics that have been recognized by Russia.
Russian-speaking industrial heartland in the east,
no guns there...
Has Speedy from Texas been informed of this development?
Has Speedy from Texas been informed of this development?
Your a cold war Vet, what am I to believe?
Really cannot make heads nor tails of this....
It’s known and acknowledged that western media does not report on Ukrainian military losses.
That could be why we have heard nothing on this offensive until now.
Or, I’ve somehow missed it.
“Odd that the side “losing” would be able to go on the offensive.”
Like that’s never happened before.
Ignorant Freeper.
L
Finally. The sooner they take Donbass, the sooner this dumb ass war will be over, and Biden’s last fig leaf will be ripped away, leaving Democrats open for electoral destruction.
Appeal of the commander of the Azov Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Denis Prokopenko, to world leaders:
I am commander of Azov regiment, Denis Prokopenko.
I call to the leaders of the world. Right now, in Mariupol, at “Azovstal” steel factory hundreds of civilians are sheltering. Among them - people of all ages, women, children, families of Mariupol defenders. They are sheltering in the basements and bunkers from “russian world”.
They found their only available shelter next to the Ukrainian soldiers, who are still defending the city from russian invaders.
Russian occupational forces, and their proxy from “lnr/dnr” know that, they know about civilians, and they keep their fire on the factory willingly.
They use free fall bombs, rockets, bunker-buster bombs, all varieties of artillery, both ground and naval for indiscriminate attacks.
City theater, maternity hospital, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, houses were destroyed by those who now offers civilians evacuation and safety. But, these are the same people.
And nobody believe
Prayer from Ukraine:
“Father, I pray for Mariupol. Sometimes I wonder where You are amidst all this destruction and horror, and then I remember—You are right there, walking among the hurting and the frightened.
You are there beside the soldier fighting to defend the city.
You are there with the mother who mourns the loss of her child, with the orphaned, the widowed, the starving, the dying.
I don’t know why You stay Your hand when You could reach out and stop the missiles from falling.
I don’t know why You are waiting to save the people of Mariupol, to end this war and save Ukraine.
But I trust You. I know that You hold Ukraine in Your hands, that You weep with all who are suffering because of this unjust invasion.
Please, Father, let us see how You are working even now.
Please restore faith and hope among Your children in Mariupol!
Please strengthen the Ukrainian Army who are fighting to defend them!
Make that steel factory an unassailable fortress!”
2nd prayer
“I am praying and praying through tears and asking God to radically intervene. Our hearts are so broken over this evil.
God please do your supernatural miracles in this crisis. Please let the people of Mariupol live lord.
Lord please protect them with fighting angels.
Please deploy them now! In Jesus mighty name. Amen”
Please be considerate when posting. Each of us are legitimately entitled to freedom of thought & freedom of speech I have learned that even now we have dear freepers with family members trapped in Dombas [Donetsk and the Luhansk.] Freepers are intelligent, caring or we wouldn't be involved here. I know all of us can express our viewpoints sharing information and knowledge with grace and kindness.
I belong to a Facebook group “Pray for Ukraine”
These thoughts & prayers were shared from Ukrainians:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/490981587685791/?hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen&multi_permalinks=4882467148537191
VIDEO https://www.facebook.com/100004220324874/videos/g.490981587685791/5436052163143533
Nataliya Shandra
“How many? Dozens, hundreds, thousands? How many are being detained and tortured by Russian invaders?
They kill.
Criminals.
Olena Kushnir was a military doctor of the National Guard of Ukraine.
She saw the mutilated bodies of Mariupol residents and saved our soldiers. Having lost her beloved, but evacuated her son, Elena continued her work.
Unfortunately, while rescuing others, she did not save herself and died in the blockade of Mariupol.
Eternal memory to the heroes who died for the free Ukraine! We will repay the enemy for you!”
Actually, I was under the impression that the Russian military rolled right through the Donbas - without opposition - on Day One of the war.
That impression was based on published invasion maps that showed eastern Ukraine completely under Russian control from the very beginning of the war.
When I say eastern Ukraine, I do not include the extreme southeastern corridor between Rostov and Crimea, where there has always been heavy fighting.
Not gonna happen. This is 100 percent regime change in Russia. The Obama soros crowd installed zelensky and a deep state in 2014. They will sacrifice as many Ukrainians as needed to replace Putin with a globalist. Now it appears trump is supporting them just like he did masking and restrict ting travel for US citizens. Forgot mail in ballots. These people are serious and he looks more like them every day. But hey. His bumpstock ban and prison reforms have virtually eliminated crime here.
“Your a cold war Vet, what am I to believe?”
“Really cannot make heads nor tails of this....”
Historically it’s been back and forth between the Rus and the Slav... and the 500+ year old knife fight continues.
It is not unlike the middle east and the persistent tribal/religious conflicts that endure.
The stupidity in face of international attention, instant communications and data transfer astounds. Truly deep seated hatred with a dose of ethnic/cultural back handedness.
Trump did the bumpstock ban.. Maybe you’re just being sarcastic?
The biggest event of the war could have been
1. the invasion itself
2. the paratroopers landing in Kyiv, trying to take it over
3. the Russian retreat from Kyiv
4. the sinking of the Moskva
This is just the 2nd (or 3rd) offensive in the Donbas region.
Putin could still take it, but his main aim of regime change is not going to happen.
The fact that they speak Russian is not the indication of their country allegiances.
80% or more Irish speak only English - do you consider them English?
Similarly in Ukraine, the Russian speakers overwhelming do NOT want to be Russian - Crimea was an exception. Even in majority Russian speaking Mariupol they did not want to go under Muscowy.
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