It’s been an eventful week overall, especially for Russians who celebrated Russian Orthodox Easter on Sunday the 5th May and the defeat of the Nazis on the 9th May. In between, on the 7th May, Vladimir Putin was inaugurated as President of the Russian Federation for the 5th time. Phew! Fortunately, the Ukrainians didn’t manage a high profile terror attack during the course of the whole celebratory week. Perhaps that says more about Russia’s security than it does about Ukraine’s terroristic ambitions.
This week the Russians launched another large missile attack which devastated Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure and a large gas storage facility. On the fronts, the movement we saw last week slowed considerably as the Ukrainians filled gaps with reinforcements and the weather worsened. However, as I write news is coming in of a huge artillery and air strike on Volchansk (northern Kharkov) where bridges and crossings are being destroyed. It appears that a Russian offensive in north Kharkov is underway and I wish it were Wednesday rather than Friday.
The feared attack on Rafah has begun and the hoped for ceasefire has not materialised. The Houthis continue to attack Israeli shipping and Hezbollah continues to attack the IDF. In the Hague, the credibility of the ICC, which may or may not call for Netanyahu’s arrest, is very much on the line.
In Washington, Sleepy Joe is publicly trying to distance himself from Israeli operations in Rafah while privately he is probably urging them on. Rumours that the US may withhold ammunition from Israel could all be part of the show. Time will tell. Donald J has managed to slay another dragon as the latest attempt to put him in jail appears to have failed.
Meanwhile in Europe, Xi Jinping visited Macron before meeting with Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić on the 25th anniversary of the bombing of China’s embassy in Belgrade. Many Chinese were killed, including three journalists and it has bonded the two countries which have now made a commitment to strengthen their alliance.
Finally, the Kremlin has given stern warnings to French and British diplomats for bellicose remarks they made about sending troops to Ukraine and allowing their long range missiles to target civilians deep in the heart of Russia. Russia used an announcement that it plans to conduct ‘non-strategic nuclear exercises’ to underline the seriousness of the situation as Russia’s sees it. Scary stuff!
Russian Matters
Orthodox Easter
Sunday 5th May is Easter Sunday according to the Russian Orthodox Church and in a speech President Putin congratulated the orthodox Christians on this important celebration and praised the role of orthodox pastors:
Spiritual pastors have always been together with the people. And today, amid serious challenges, Christian religious organizations provide effective, selfless help to those who need support and attention.
In Ukraine the celebrations were interrupted by thugs of the new Schismatic Church who threw worshipers out of churches - as you can see here.
Putin’s Inauguration - 7th May
On the 7th May, Putin took his 5th Presidential oath and told fellow Russians: ‘We are one great nation and together we will overcome hurdles: together we win’ (paraphrasing).
He also offered an olive branch to the West when he said:
The choice is theirs: do they intend to continue trying to contain Russia, continue the policy of aggression and continuous pressure on our country for years, or look for a path to cooperation and peace?
Steven Seagal, who was at the inauguration, called Putin ‘The greatest world leader’ and the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov (also there), said: ‘With a leader like Putin, we have nothing to worry about'.
Victory Day - 9th May
Russia’s celebration of its very costly victory over the Nazis is a huge event for the country which it should be for the whole world. Unfriendly countries were not invited. It is now 79 years since the Germans surrendered to the Russians. Although Ukrainian drones attacked some major Russian cities while the parade was being conducted there were no high profile attacks that the Ukrainians could boast about.
Willie Oam on The North Group Offensive?
There have been rumours of a Russian offensive from the north for a long time. This, it has been assumed, would emanate from Belgorod, slicing through Sumy and to the west of Kharkiv, cutting these places off from the rest of Ukraine. There has been some disagreement about what the Russians would do afterwards. But if this were achieved, it may a) Provide the foundations for creating the much discussed ‘buffer zone’ to protect border areas b) Pull Ukrainian troops from the Donbass c) Provide a strategic threat to the rear of the Ukrainian army. I am sure that the experts will provide more possibilities.
Not necessarily one of the ‘experts’, Ozzie Willy Oam, discusses the ‘offensive’ at length here. If you want detail, such as the geo located confirmation of the locations of the Ukrainian latrines west of Ocheretino, you will enjoy his stuff. Seriously, if you want a detailed, well analyzed Sitrep, with a hint of speculation, Willy could do it for you.1
Geroman is reporting that 50,000 Russian troops are stationed in the area shown by the above map. This group, it is said, will not be able to capture Kharkov but it could draw Ukrainian forces from the Donbass - as I have suggested. Head of the Ukraine’s Kraken regiment, Konstantin Nemichev has said that he is preparing for a Russian offensive in the middle of May that will cut off Kharkov thereby creating a buffer zone to protect Belgorod. Dima also talks about a Kharkov offensive to begin on May 15th - according to his Military Summary Channel (13 mins). But others are saying that it has started already. You can watch Daniel Davis’ take on the ‘Northern’ offensive here.
Z & Co On Russian Wanted List
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has placed Zelensky, Poroshenko (former President) and Alexander Pavlyuk (Commander of Ukraine’s ground forces) on a wanted list. The Russians now regard these people as criminals who are part of an illegal government - so they are making it clear that they will not negotiate with those against whom a criminal case has been opened. Z himself loses legitimacy on May 20th when his term of office runs out.
How Far Will Russia Go?
In my last Update, I suggested that Russia would not want the Western and very Westernised part of Ukraine - partly because the people there would not fit with Russia’s ethos. Richard Steven Hack, commenting on this Update, said that he thought the Russians would take all of Ukraine. And he could be right. Scott Ritter seems to think so and introduces the possibility that Russia will ask Ukraine to become part of a political and economic union with Belarus and Russia. Wow! Anyway - time will tell.
Warning - Kremlin to French and British Ambassadors
This week, a huge drama was played out at a diplomatic level between Russia and the West following bellicose statements from certain imperialists who haven’t come to terms with their own deaths. Post imperialist, Emmanuel Macron, said he wants French troops to be sent to Ukraine and fellow ex-imperialist David Cameron has broken with Britain’s previous assurance that British missiles would not be launched against Russian soil or Russian civilians. In response to this, the Kremlin called for the ambassadors of France and the UK. They met for about 40 minutes and the ambassadors said nothing to the press when they left. Shortly after, the French Foreign Office announced that French troops would not be sent to Ukraine. Other warnings came from the Russians thereafter. Including:
Warning - Medvedev - Nuclear Exercises Coming
Dmitry Medvedev has been exercising his acid tongue of late having become annoyed at Western stupidity (along with the rest of us). The French, the British, the Poles, the US Congress and the Baltic states are either wanting to send their troops into Ukraine or are encouraging the Ukrainians to kill civilians on Russian territory with weapons they have provided. If Western troops are sent into Ukraine, Medvedev warned, this would mean that NATO would have become directly involved in the war. Russia may then find itself obliged to respond outside of Ukrainian territory - i.e. by hitting European air bases etc. This could lead to a World catastrophe, he said. In view of the threat posed by Westerners, Russia is now preparing for non-strategic nuclear exercises. The Russian Foreign Ministry has made it clear that this is being done in response to threats from Western leaders.
This is probably the strongest warning I have seen coming from the Russians. It seems to me that the Kremlin is saying at least two things to the West. First, you are dealing with a nuclear power which is facing an existential threat. Neither Europe nor the US face an existential threat even though the legacy media will be trying to create the impression that they are. Putin has already warned that if Russia faces an existential threat it will use nuclear weapons. This is confirmation of that commitment. But the statement could also be a warning that Russia is prepared to employ battlefield - or tactical - nuclear weapons in this conflict or in a European conflict provoked by the West.
Even though there are escalatory dangers in Russia’s warning, I think it was needed. NATO and the West have influenced the conflict enormously - by providing operators for different military systems (e.g. Patriots), by providing intelligence personnel and people who guide Ukrainian missiles onto their civilian targets. This means that they are de facto at war with Russia.
Much has changed since the people of the DPR and LPR resisted the Ukrainian army’s attempts to suppress and oppress them. The Ukrainian army with which the Russians first engaged in 2014 no longer exists. The one they face is very much an army that owes it existence to the West and NATO. The pretense that Ukraine is fighting Russia rather than NATO is becoming less believable by the hour. The West needed a reality check and maybe this will do it.
Warning - Kremlin to UK
The UK is one of those countries that have been sanctioning attacks by Ukrainians on civilians in Russia using weapons they have provided. The UK’s ambassador was called to the Kremlin and told in no uncertain terms that if this happens then British bases in the UK or mainland Europe could become legitimate targets:
Ambassador’s told in no uncertain terms that any UK army bases and equipment, in Ukraine or abroad, could become legitimate targets if Kiev uses British weapons on targets deep inside Russia.
Russian soil has been attacked frequently with Western supplied missiles but this is the first time the Russians have threatened retaliatory attacks on Western soil, so it represents another step up the escalatory ladder, as I have said. Perhaps it is the fact that David Cameron announced that the UK’s missiles would be used on Russian soil that has prompted this response even though it has been known for some time that Western weapons have been used for this purpose. In the past, Britain has given assurances that the long range missiles it supplies would not be used to attack Russian soil - so Cameron appears to have stepped out of line. Italy’s Foreign Minister has reassured the Russians that they do not allow the weapons they supply to be used on Russian soil. A number of European countries, along with the US, have said that they will not send troops to Ukraine. There is no unity here at all among Europeans: they are all over the place as anyone who is paying close attention can see.
French Foreign Legion in Slavyansk?
According to Geroman, Russian forces have hit the positions of the French Foreign Legion in Slavyansk but I have no way of confirming this. The French Foreign Office has denied that it has sent Foreign Legion soldiers to Ukraine but Alexander Mercouris has seen a report that says otherwise. If France has sent troops, it has done so without NATO’s official approval and some European countries, such as Italy, are distancing themselves from Macron’s bellicosity. Italy is now calling for negotiations and a ceasefire since sanctions against Russia have failed.
Some say that stories of the romantic French Foreign Legion being deployed to Ukraine could be designed to ‘test the water’ if you know what I mean. Well - the water is Hot!
Macron has created a strategic ambiguity with regard to these Foreign Legion Troops since none of them is French. Alex Christoforou provides more detail here.
But Mercouris wisely observes that what we are seeing through this mixed reaction from the West - is - panic! It happens in war. After the German forces lost heavily in the ‘Falaise Pocket’ (1944 France) there was panic - but the Germans recovered to keep the war going for another year. But the West hasn’t the resources (economically, politically, militarily, culturally, psychologically/emotionally, morally etc.) to recover from its panic. Its ‘time’ has been and gone. And I say that as a Westerner born and bred on the myth of The Great British Empire.
Later, NATO released a statement saying that no NATO troops would be sent to Ukraine - according to RT. b on the MoA has a piece on this dated May 9th.
(Note - France sent a representative to Putin’s inauguration on May 7th but Germany did not.)
Ukrainian Woes
There is talk of the once great Z being replaced by his Western Masters - which could mean ‘retired’ or something less pleasant. He looks washed out in this photo and I do feel for him. For all his wealth and maybe the promise of a future life of luxury, I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes. I try not to be judgmental - it’s a philosophical thing. He’s made some bad choices, been badly advised and he’s been selfish, greedy etc. But he also has serious charges to answer. It appears that he could be accused of terrorism and the Russians will put him on trial for this if they catch him. There have been rumours that the Russians attempted to assassinate him but I didn’t find the story credible enough to report on it. Alex Christoforou talks about it here for anyone who is interested.
Send Our Boys Home - Podoliak Tells EU
Zelensky adviser, Mikhail Podoliak, has called on the EU to make a unified decision on ‘draft dodgers’ - i.e. to send them home. But there is no unanimity on this among EU members and some Europeans believe that forcing people back to their own country may be against the law. It is estimated that 860,000 men of military age are living in the EU. The recent withdrawal of consular support to those not registered with the military has angered many Ukrainians living in the EU, some of whom have been there since before the SMO began and have married, had children and are settled in EU countries.
Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker at Russia’s Duma, has warned the European Union that deporting hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians could cause problems though the refugees are draining European economies.
Some Ukrainian men in Ireland have been protesting about the withdrawal of consular support and the misuse of Ukrainians as cannon fodder. It must be scary for them knowing that they could be sent to their deaths. It’s a pity they didn’t have greater numbers for the protest. As it is, they don’t look that convincing.
Zaluzhny Honoured
Zaluzhny received the ‘honorary citizen of Kiev’ award on May 9th. Z had already dismissed him from the military ‘on health grounds’ and will be hoping he can be sent to the UK as ambassador before Z’s term of office expires on May 20th. Z will become more vulnerable after this.
Rich Avoid Press Gangs
According to some Ukrainians talking to the Guardian, people in rich areas are not targeted by the TCC (i.e. territorial recruitment agency) and some Ukrainians seeking to avoid ‘recruitment’ are moving into these areas. Some are saying that to be poor in Ukraine is to be dead. One Ukrainian man told the Guardian: ‘I feel like a slave, you have one life and if its a choice between life and a flag, I choose life’. There is a growing barrier between conscripts and draft dodgers where the latter are ashamed to talk with the former.
Grave Problems
Bankova has ordered the removal of flags from graves because they highlight the numbers of dead (have you only just noticed that!). Due to the land shortage Bankova has said that burials should preferably be done in mass graves. This suggestion stirs me emotionally because my family was part of the Senghenydd (South Wales) coal mining pit disaster of 1913, when more than four hundred men were killed by an explosion in the mine. The authorities wanted to bury the men in a communal grave but the people would not have it - ‘no burial en masse for the town of drawn blinds’, they said, according to a poet. And the remains of their loved ones were interred individually allowing them to maintain an individual tribute to their kin.
God’s On Our Side - Z
There’s that old cliche again: many nations at war claim that God is on their side and now it’s Z’s turn. But hey, I don’t think God will be too pleased with Z’s crackdown on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church or his terror attacks on civilians in Russia and the Donbass, or the assassinations in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Maria Zakharova mocked his comments which, she suggested, could have been a product of overdosing on white powder.
But this reminds me of Bob Dylan’s lyrics in his song ‘With God on our side’: so relevant in the current Russophobic climate:
I learned to hate the Russians all through my whole life
If another war comes, it's them we must fight
To hate them and fear them, to run and to hide
And accept it all bravely with God on my side
By the way, American exceptionalism assumes that God is on its side.
Ukrainian Terror Attacks
3rd/4th May
Villages in Belgorod were attacked overnight damaging a car, a bus and a commercial enterprise where two people were injured. Kursk was also attacked and a lorry damaged by shrapnel from a drone near the Sudzha checkpoint - according to the Two Majors.
5th/6th May
In the Borisov region of Belgorod, Ukrainian drones attacked a bus carrying pig farm workers. Seven people were killed and another 35 injured in a huge local tragedy. Bryansk was shelled along with the DPR which received 75 projectiles injuring two civilians. Later on May 6th, air defences shot down 7 drones but one man was killed and an eight year old girl was injured by shrapnel.
7th/8th May
Gorlovka in the DPR was shelled overnight injuring two civilians while 39 rounds were launched at the DPR injuring one man.
9th May
In the morning, Belgorod suffered heavy shelling that injured 8 civilians. Many villages in the oblast were also attacked with kamikaze drones. Kursk region was attacked by drones, one of which injured a man driving a tractor while Bryansk suffered drone attacks and shelling. In the DPR, one woman was killed and four others injured by Ukrainian strikes.
10th May
Kursk suffered shelling and drone strikes which set three houses on fire. In Tyotkino, two civilians were wounded by shelling and one killed by a direct hit on his house. An electric substation and five houses were also damaged by shelling. Villages in Belgorod also came under shelling killing one civilian, while Bryansk was also attacked. The DPR wasn’t spared either. One civilian was killed and another two injured by shelling. A drone was also shot down over Moscow, according to Sputnik.
The Sea War
3rd/4th May Overnight
Four ATACMS missiles were destroyed at night over Crimea, according to the Russian
4th/5th May
A number of ATACMS missiles were destroyed over Crimea at night.
5th/6th May
Five drone boats aimed at Russian military vessels were destroyed off the west coast of Crimea overnight. You can read more here.
The Air War
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks
3rd/4th May Overnight
Geraniums were on the wing again overnight at Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Pavolograd and other places, according to Slavyangrad. A drone warehouse in Kharkov was set on fire - see above.
4th/5th May
Targets in Dnepropetrovsk (including the Pavlogradskaya - 330 substation) and Odessa were attacked overnight, according to the Two Majors.
5th/6th May
Explosions were heard overnight in Sumy, Kharkov and Nikolaev. A Ukrainian source is claiming that there is no electricity or water in Sumy.
7th/8th May
According to Zelensky, 50 missiles and 20 ‘Geraniums’ have attacked infrastructure at Lvov, Vinnitsa, Kiev, Poltava, Kharkov, Kirovograd, Zaporozhye and Ivano Frankovsk regions. Three thermal plants were among the targets (i.e. Burshtyn, Dobrotvirska and Ladyzhyn). Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk and Nikolaev were also attacked. Kinzhal missiles were among those used. You can see more detail here if you have Telegram or at the Military Chronicle which gave this brief report:
At night, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a new massive strike on several thermal power plants. The Burshtyn TPP, Ivano-Frankivsk region, the Dobrotvorska TPP near Lviv, the Ladyzhynska TPP, and the Srednedniprovska HPP were hit again. There are 6 regions in total. After the end of the missile alarms at 6 a.m., there were arrivals of "Kinzhals" in the Ternopil region.
The Russian MoD has announced that these attacks were in retaliation against Ukrainian assaults on Russian infrastructure - according to RT. But this could have been for public consumption: I do not believe that Russia engages very much in revenge attacks. A massive gas storage facility near Lvov was also attacked. I think this is the biggest attack in a wee while. I wonder whether there was any connection between this and the Northern Offensive which some say is underway?
9th May
Russian Iskander missiles and Kh-69 aircraft missiles were used to attack ‘military targets’ in Chernigov and Nikolaev regions.
Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks
7th May
Ukrainian shelling damaged an oil depot in Lugansk setting it alight, according to Slavyangrad.
The Ground War
Russian MoD Reports
w/e 19th April 7225 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 319.
w/e 26th April 8280 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 331.
w/e 3rd May 6665 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 283.
w/e 10th May 6460 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 237.
I have found myself out of sync with the Russian MoD who used to publish their weekly report on a Friday. I will update this tomorrow. I think casualties have been around 1,000 a day (killed and wounded).
The Fronts
Front Line Cats
Kherson
There have been no significant changes this week with both sides conducting artillery strikes and the Ukrainians using lots of drones.
Chasiv Yar
The once great Z called Chasiv Yar an ‘impenetrable fortress’ - so its loss will be felt as a huge psychological blow for Ukrainians. But the capture of the fortress will pave the way for an attack on Konstantinovka and then onto Kramatorsk and Slavyansk - according to Sputnik. But it could also lead to the collapse of the Donbass front. Some have compared this battle to Kursk (1943) - as a ‘turning point’ in the war. By the end of the week the Russians were increasing pressure on the northern and southern flanks and heavy fighting is going in the eastern outskirts of the city. Ukrainian reinforcements have managed to prevent a collapse so far.
Zaporozhye - Verbove - Rabotino
By the end of the week, Ukrainian assault groups were attacking north west of Verbove and the Russians had some success advancing north of Rabotino.
Vremyevka Ledge
Heavy fighting continues around Staromayorskoye where the Russians have taken losses this week. The Russians have resisted Ukrainian attacks and are now advancing on the southern outskirts of Urozhaynoye - according to the Two Majors.
Ocheretine Direction
The village of Arkhangelskoe was cleared by Russians on May 4th. On the 9th, the Two Majors gave this short report:
In the Pokrovskoye direction west of Avdeyevka, the RFAF are developing success south of Pervomayskoye with flanking strikes, cutting the front bulge. An offensive is under way in Netaylovo. The zone of control in the villages on the Ochertino ledge is expanding.
On the 9th May, the village of Umanskoye was liberated. On May 9th, Dima at the Military Summary Channel provided this report.
Kharkov - Kupyansk
The Russians broke through the Ukrainian defences at Berestovoye on the 7th May having already captured Kislovka and Kotlyarovka previously.
Krasnohorivka
By the evening of the 8th May Russian troops made breakthrough into the northeastern part of the city. On the 10th May, the Russians had virtually surrounded Ukrainian forces in the east of the city - according to the Military Chronicle.
Siversk
The Russians have advanced in the area if Vesele, south of Siversk this week.
The Economic War
Russian Economy Doing Well
The Russian economy grew by 5.4% during the first quarter of 2024. The US grew by 1.6%, the EU by 0% while China grew 5.3%. The increase was not due to increased war production alone because retail turnover increased by 10.5%, services by 5.4% and construction by 3.5%. Unemployment dropped by 2.7% and real wages rose by 10.8%. That’s not bad for a country whose economy should have been trashed by now.
The strength of Russian aviation is consistent with this view since civic air travel in Russia has increased in spite of sanctions designed to prevent this.
Russian Sanctions Backfire on Boeing
The aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, has had some ‘difficulties’ of late as you may know but now it can’t deliver new 787 ‘Dreamliner’ aircraft because sanctions against Russia have affected the production of the heat exchangers needed for the aircraft to function. Oops!
Latvia - Can We Be Excused Please
Latvia has asked that it be allowed to buy train parts from Russia even though this would break sanctions. These are Soviet era trains. If I were Putin, I would tell them to take a hike.
World Politics
Xi Visits Europe
Xi Jinping met with President Macron on his short whistle stop tour of Europe. But the meeting which will be most important to him emotionally will be that which he had with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. They met in Belgrade on the 25th anniversary of NATO’s bombing of the Chinese embassy. Both these men have good reason to want NATO disbanded. Referring to the bombing, Xi said:
We must never forget this. The Chinese people cherish peace, but we will never allow the repetition of such a tragic history.
This appears to show a commitment to preventing further NATO ‘adventures’ in the future. The Chinese - Serbian friendship, he said, ‘is cemented in blood’ and the bombing ‘will live in the collective memory of both peoples’. Both leaders made a commitment to developing the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative together.
Xi also visited Orban in Hungary. ‘We are living in a Multi-Polar World Order’, Orban said:
One of the pillars of this new world order is the People’s Republic of China. The country that is now setting the course of the world economy and world politics.
Eurovision Song Contest
Protesters gathered in Denmark to denounce the whitewashing of Israeli crimes and object to Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song context held in Sweden on the 8th May. At the event itself, hecklers could be heard shouting ‘free Palestine’ while the Israeli entrant (Eden Golan) was performing the song ‘hurricane’. Both the name of the performer and her song sound as if they could have been chosen by Netanyahu.
Western Idiots - ‘Jungle Josep’
Josep (‘Jungle’) Borrell has announced that Europe could stop the Ukraine war in a couple of weeks by cutting off supplies but he won’t do this because it would mean that Russia will win. Surely our dear Josep must know that Ukraine can’t win and that the only achievements gained by prolonging the inevitable will be the deaths of thousands more soldiers and civilians while allowing a fascist regime to kill off a generation of young men. Josep is also allowing criminals to remain in charge of this country and is propping up Sleepy Joe’s flagging election hopes. But poor old Jungle Joe’s famous comments show that he is still saddled with the myth of the ‘white man’s burden’ when in fact the white man is the burden.
Western Idiots - Jake Sullivan
The reality is that Ukraine has suffered huge casualties, its forces have not been rotated and the construction, training and equipping of new brigades cannot be achieved in time to prevent a collapse in the fall, so they won’t be around to launch an offensive next year. Brian Berletic talks about the problem here (10 mins).
ICC To Be Sanctioned?
According to Slavyangrad, US Senators have vowed to place sanctions on the International Criminal Court if it decides to issue warrants for the arrest of Netanyahu and co. This is like holding a pistol to a judge’s head as he is about to announce his guilty verdict and telling him ‘the defendant is innocent’. If the court backs down, it may as well pack its bags and leave the Hague.
The emerging Multi-Polar World Order
Putin At The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council
On May 8th Putin hosted a meeting as part of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) which was formed ten years ago to increase economic cooperation between Asian countries close to Russia. The meeting was attended by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia, as well as the heads of observer states, Uzbekistan and Cuba - according to Sputnik.
BRICS Countries Buying Gold
BRICS countries such as Russia, China, Brazil, India and South Africa are buying gold in preparation for the collapse of the dollar and maybe to speed up its collapse. The group plans to provide an alternative to the dollar based upon the currencies of all five countries, according to Sputnik.
That’s it for another eventful week. Many thanks for your views, subscriptions, likes, shares and comments. I am grateful to one of my subscribers for information regarding ‘archive’. From now on, the links I provide for RT and Sputnik should work because they derive from their archives and can’t be censored. I am also working on alternatives to Telegram but this may take me some time. I am aware that not everyone wants to use Telegram but for me this is an important resource especially for Ukrainian sources. Good wishes to you all - Rob
Non subscribers can view Updates on Telegram: https://t.me/UWUupdate.
Willy OAM - YouTube
Thanks for the shout-out, Rob! Appreciated!
"Russia will ask Ukraine to become part of a political and economic union with Belarus and Russia."
I'd say it's likely to be more Russia TELLING Ukraine to become part of the CSTO. :-)
That also assumes that Russia will continue to want a separate state entity called "Ukraine". That may be probable, but I could see Russia just deciding to incorporate all of the previous entity called "Ukraine" into the Russian Federation. They might go through the motions of holding referendums in each oblast as they did the eastern oblasts, since the Russians are sticklers about legality. Ukraine was recognized as a sovereign state previously which would complicate relations with the UN based on the fact that nations aren't supposed to acquire territory by conquest any more (although Russia already has - not to mention Israel.)
But I suspect that most Ukrainians, regardless of their brainwashing, given the choice between living in a broken, economically dead "Ukraine" and being part of the Russian Federation economy and government will choose to go along with being incorporated into Russia.
In any event, based on my view that the goal of the war is for Russia to secure the far borders of Ukraine against NATO, it's fairly obvious that putting a Military District in western Ukraine is pretty much going to require Russia telling, rather than asking, Ukraine to go along with whatever arrangement Russia wants.
Since the current Ukraine government are "wanted criminals", and since Russia will have to capture and control Kiev at some point, regardless of how the Ukraine military surrenders (also at some point), it's likely that Russia will appoint an occupation government - military or civilian - in Kiev immediately after that surrender. Then they can either appoint a new civilian Ukraine government or even hold elections at some point.
Since the Ukrainian political scene is in disarray due to many parties being banned by the Zelensky regime, organizing the latter will be a challenge and take time. How many of those parties would be interested in joining the victorious Russian side out of self-interest will be interesting.
Depending on how far down the line that point occurs, the Russian Military District is likely to already be underway. All of this will likely take months well into 2025.
Just to drop a note about the Gaza situation and the Iran attack... I watched this interview with MIT Professor Theodore Postol yesterday on Colonel Daniel Davis' Deep Dive Youtube channel (recommend the channel as he has people like Colonel Macgregor on frequently). Postol explains why the Israeli Iron Dome system is total crap and probably has a 6% intercept capability, So all the US/Israeli claims of "all Iranian missiles shot down" are utter garbage. Postol is well known as a critic of the Patriot as well as the Iron Dome. Very informative interview.
Israel's Iron Dome: NOT What You Think w/MIT professor Ted Postol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIZJb0dWHho
Katyusha is perhaps the greatest patriotic song of all...worthy of the sacrifice the Soviets made. I'm surprised by the Ukrainian attacks during the great war celebrations. I don't know if you have ever followed the military artefact collectors on the eastern front. Many of the German and Soviet dead are basically still lying where they fell. I still disagree with the Russians taking over the whole of Ukraine. Your previous post showed an abundance of Bandera statues in the West and the Western Ukrainians hate the Russians. As i said before they have convinced themselves that the Russians were responsible for the famines and what they call the Holodomor. They'll open the border to the Poles before the Russians get there. They might even form a unified entity between Poland and Western Ukraine. The Germans mystify me with their tolerance towards their Atlanticist political elite. The political class is completely acting against the national interest and as surveys show the Germans generally speaking are well disposed towards the Russians , the Ostdeutsch in particular,, which seems counterintuitive, but is true.