Russia says it holds all of Ukraine’s Luhansk with capture of last city

CNBC ^ | July 3, 2022 | Reuters

[AmericaFirst101]

Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin on Sunday that Moscow and its allies now controlled all of Ukraine’s Luhansk region after capturing the last major city, Lysychansk.

(cut)

The ministry had said earlier on Sunday that its troops had captured the villages surrounding Lysychansk, encircling the area, and were fighting inside the city.

Calls to the Ukrainian General Staff and Defence Ministry went unanswered. The ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

[AmericaFirst101]

Before the beginning of the conflict, separatists controlled around 40% of the territory of Luhansk. A map of the pre-conflict situation can be seen here (scroll to middle of article):

https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/a-visit-to-donetsk

[AmericaFirst101]

Here’s the live version of the link from above (map of the pre-conflict regions of control in the 2 Donbass oblasts):

https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/a-visit-to-donetsk

[Travis McGee]

Defense Politics Asia:
Ukraine SITREP ] Day 129 (2/7) Summary - Lysychansk encircled; Only Bilohorivka left in Luhansk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivRQBqLSjCI&ab_channel=DefensePoliticsAsia

[ Luhansk Front ] RF captured Bilohorivka, Verkhnokamyanske and Maloryazantseve; Encirclement closed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN-xYPNeJYY&ab_channel=DefensePoliticsAsia

[bte]

Thats what $100+ billion spent by NATO gets you.

[Tom Tetroxide]

As the Ukraine myth shatters, new alliances sprout
by TFI Global
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg8NuDph_ow&ab_channel=TFIglobal

[Travis McGee]

[Travis McGee]

Link to damning short video above:

https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1543426648753807360

[Travis McGee]

Massive Implications, Saudi Arabia in Discussion to Join BRICS Coalition – The Outcome Would be Global Energy and Economic Cleaving

July 2, 2022 | sundance | 454 Comments

It is very curious timing in this article from Newsweek, containing massive geopolitical implications, using identified Saudi Arabia sources, would come in advance of Joe Biden’s visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Is this strategic geopolitical pressure from Saudi leader Mohamed Bin Salman (MbS) ahead of the meeting with Biden; or is this a genuine possibility that looms as likely? If the former, then Joe Biden is being geopolitically slow roasted by Saudi Arabia for his previous disparagements and ideological hypocrisy in his visit. If it is the latter, well, then the tectonic plates of international trade, banking and economics are about to shift directly under our American feet.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/07/02/massive-implications-saudi-arabia-in-discussion-to-join-brics-coalition-the-outcome-would-be-global-energy-and-economic-cleaving/

[AmericaFirst101]

Thanks for the info

[AmericaFirst101]

Good video. Pretty much sums it up.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

*

[Alas Babylon!]

This is the time for Russia to declare victory and cease all offensive operations.

They’ve gained what they wanted.

Forcing Ukraine to attack instead of defend will make them see how senseless continued fighting will be, and we all can climb off the brink.

I think attacking Ukraine in the first place was wrong, but reality bites.

[Travis McGee]

“The Ukrainian’s disorganized retreat from the city has played havoc with their ability to set up a coherent fallback defensive line. A VERY good explanation of this is contained at the following link.”

Hat tip to House Atreides. It is an EXCELLENT video.

[Even when the superb analyst mispronounces valley as wally.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rletgA5I4I4&t=01s

[dforest]

I think they are waiting on Zelensky to surrender and work the negotiations at the table. Zelensky is a puppet of the US, UK and needs permission to end it. Must be why he and people in his regime have bought luxury places in other countries when the end of this happens.

There will probably be some very pissed off Ukrainians.

Just declaring victory isn’t going to do it if the other side is still wanting to fight.

[Travis McGee]

The Russians won’t stop until they reach the Dnepr River.

After this point, if Zelensky can’t get permission to negotiate (from his U.S. State Dept. bosses and paymasters), Ukraine will lose Kharkiv (majority ethnic Russian) and Odessa (ditto).

If Ukraine loses Odessa, it will be a land-locked rump state.

[Travis McGee]

Zelensky is going from TV comedian to millionaire to mega-millionaire, with mansions and villas in several other countries.

While he fed his countrymen into doomed cauldrons, instead of evacuating them to set up more defensible defensive lines.

Ukrainians will not forgive him for this.

[Alas Babylon!]

The Russians won’t stop until they reach the Dnepr River.

Maybe, but that's not a worthy goal for them in my opinion. Of course I'm not Putin, but he still has a public image that requires maintenance and upkeep. Some may laugh at my suggestion that he cares about that, but I do believe he has to watch his six over political rivals that may arise.

What would be the point of making Ukraine pay more except vengeance for fighting bravely against them?

The Russians have already shown they have huge weaknesses and problems, primarily with weapons systems and corruption in the military.

No one can doubt the bravery of the average Russian soldier, but way too many have died when they should not have. Those deaths are on the shoulders of their leaders, not the Ukes.

In our military, we're supposed to care about troop casualties, some say too much. However, casualties resulting from actual corruption and graft should be one of the most mortal sins a military officer can commit.

You and I would rightly be court martialed and sent to Leavenworth for even 1/10 of the graft and corruption their chain of command showed.

The whole thing needs to be investigated and people shot.

To let it continue due to the urgency of the battle at hand just perpetuates the problem.

I really think trying to take Kharkiv and Odessa--which is not a given with the forces they have--is a worse deal than the victory they can declare right now.

In any case, anything either of us says about what happens next is just speculation. Regards.

[El Cid]

Self ping

[teevolt]

One thing that has been shown in this conflict is crossing a river is hard with modern surveillance systems. If I were Russia, I’d assume NATO will want another run at this in near future, so would prefer to halt at a defensible barrier like the dnieper river.

[NorseViking]

There are also parts of Donetsk oblast to liberate. And given that quite some efforts were invested, it doesn’t make sense than leave Ukraine Odessa and Nikolaev.