Russian invasion of Ukraine imminent, BBC reports

[sene5hos]

Russian 'incendiary phosphorus bombs' rain down on Azovstal steelworks

An aerial video posted to social media on Sunday showed the attack on the plant, where Ukrainian soldiers have been making a final stand against the Russian onslaught in Mariupol.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Putin continues brutal assault on Azovstal steelworks: Footage show Russian 'incendiary phosphorous bombs' raining down on last Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol.

An aerial video showing the Russian attack on the steel plant was posted to social media channels Sunday.

It showed Russian incendiary munitions raining fire down onto the already heavily damaged buildings below.

Ukrainian soldiers, trapped inside the plant, are making a final stand for Mariupol in the sprawling complex.

Their wives and mothers have said they believe their fight is coming to an end, and fear for the worst.

 

[cloudsurf]

Most of the Ukraine soldiers fighting in the Azovstal network are from the Neo-Nazi Azov brigade , So I don`t feel that bad for them. I do feel bad for the thousands of civilians being killed as collateral damage in this inhumane war.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Most of the Ukraine soldiers fighting in the Azovstal network are from the Neo-Nazi Azov brigade ,

This is what Putin is talking about when he says Russia is fighting against Nazism.

Azov Brigade - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Putin maintains moral high ground (or tries to) by pointing out that the Russians are trying to cleanse the country of these Nazis.

 

[cloudsurf]

This is what Putin is talking about when he says Russia is fighting against Nazism.

Unfortunately that is a smokescreen. I wouldn`t be surprised if Russia had more home grown neo-Nazi`s than Ukraine. The Ukraine citizens who voted for fascist or neo-Nazi parties in the last election , make up 2% of the population.

 

[sene5hos]

Russian 'incendiary phosphorus bombs' rain down on Azovstal steelworks

An aerial video posted to social media on Sunday showed the attack on the plant, where Ukrainian soldiers have been making a final stand against the Russian onslaught in Mariupol.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Putin continues brutal assault on Azovstal steelworks: Footage show Russian 'incendiary phosphorous bombs' raining down on last Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol.

An aerial video showing the Russian attack on the steel plant was posted to social media channels Sunday.

It showed Russian incendiary munitions raining fire down onto the already heavily damaged buildings below.

Ukrainian soldiers, trapped inside the plant, are making a final stand for Mariupol in the sprawling complex.

Their wives and mothers have said they believe their fight is coming to an end, and fear for the worst.

What a phosphorus bomb is and what damage they can do as MoD warns of use in Mariupol

It is illegal to use phosphorus bombs on civilian areas due to their incendiary effects and ability to cause significant burns

inews.co.uk

It's illegal to use phosphorus bombs on civilian areas due to their incendiary effects and ability to cause significant burns.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Unfortunately that is a smokescreen.

Maybe so, but perhaps the one positive to come out of this war is that some of these Nazis are "cleansed."

 

[sene5hos]

Ali Velshi reports on significant setbacks for Russia in its war on Ukraine, not the least of which is that Finland and Sweden are poised to join NATO.
Michael McFaul remarks on Vladimir Putin's failure to achieve his own major military objectives.

 

[wetnose]

Most of the Ukraine soldiers fighting in the Azovstal network are from the Neo-Nazi Azov brigade , So I don`t feel that bad for them. I do feel bad for the thousands of civilians being killed as collateral damage in this inhumane war.

The founder of the Azov brigade did have some Neo-Nazi connections but the group later disavowed him. The Azov brigade stood up to Russia's aggression in 2014, so Putin wanted to use them to turn international opinion against Ukraine.

A far-right battalion has a key role in Ukraine's resistance. Its neo-Nazi history has been exploited by Putin

President Vladimir Putin framed the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a "special mission" to protect Russian speakers from genocide at the hands of "neo-Nazis."

www.cnn.com

 

[sene5hos]

Finland, Sweden Move Closer To Joining NATO Amid Russian Aggression

Finland and Sweden have moved closer to joining NATO, ending decades of neutrality, amid growing concern at home over Russia’s military aggression.

www.rferl.org

Sweden has repeatedly accused Russia of violating its airspace over the years.

Finland shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia and has remained militarily nonaligned for 75 years.

But political and public opinion within Finland swung dramatically in favor of membership after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in late February.

Putin's actions have raised fears among his neighbors that he may seek to further redraw Europe's borders.
Moscow invaded Finland in 1939, seizing part of its territory.

 

[sene5hos]

McDonald's to leave Russia for good after 30 years

The chain opened in Moscow in 1990 as the Soviet Union was opening its economy to Western brands.

www.bbc.com

McDonald's has said it will permanently leave Russia after more than 30 years and has started to sell its restaurants.

The move comes after it temporarily closed its 850 outlets in March.

+ 60,000 employees.

The fast food giant said it made the decision because of the "humanitarian crisis" and "unpredictable operating environment" caused by the Ukraine war.

The opening of McDonald's first restaurant in Moscow in 1990 came to symbolise a thaw in Cold War tensions.

A year later, the Soviet Union collapsed and Russia opened up its economy to companies from the West. More than three decades later, however, it is one of a growing number of corporations pulling out.

"This is a complicated issue that's without precedent and with profound consequences," said McDonald's chief executive Chris Kempczinski in a message to staff and suppliers.

 

[sene5hos]

McDonald's to leave Russia for good after 30 years

The chain opened in Moscow in 1990 as the Soviet Union was opening its economy to Western brands.

www.bbc.com

McDonald's has said it will permanently leave Russia after more than 30 years and has started to sell its restaurants.

The move comes after it temporarily closed its 850 outlets in March.

+ 60,000 employees.

The fast food giant said it made the decision because of the "humanitarian crisis" and "unpredictable operating environment" caused by the Ukraine war.

The opening of McDonald's first restaurant in Moscow in 1990 came to symbolise a thaw in Cold War tensions.

A year later, the Soviet Union collapsed and Russia opened up its economy to companies from the West. More than three decades later, however, it is one of a growing number of corporations pulling out.

"This is a complicated issue that's without precedent and with profound consequences," said McDonald's chief executive Chris Kempczinski in a message to staff and suppliers.

It's an economic tragedy

 

[gaby]

oui.....et c'est le peuple qui en paye le prix....au moins si de telles fermetures pouvaient leur ouvrir les yeux..MAIS sont tellement endoctrinés...sauf que peut-être qu'avec le temps la population va exiger qu'on lui rende des comptes....wishful thinking????...
probablement que oui.

 

[wetnose]

Intercepted audio from Russian sympathizing regions - when a grandmother learns of the true face of Russia occupation

"Where should I hide Sonya, when these men come to houses to rape and do what they want???"

"Now, who should I hate?"

 

[sene5hos]

Ed Arnold, former British Army Officer and Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute has more on the situation in Ukraine.

He said the battle is "effectively over" in Kharkiv, and that Ukraine has won the fight in the city.

The UK Ministry of Defence has said that Russia has "lost a third of their forces deployed in Ukraine" and is "unlikely to accelerate their rate of advance in the next 30 days."

Their latest statement came as Russia's offensive in Donbas "lost momentum" and has "fallen significantly behind schedule."

 

[EagerBeaver]

Erdogan Says Turkey Will Not Accept Sweden and Finland Into NATO, Claims They Harbor Kurdish "Terrorists"

Turkish president says he will not approve Sweden and Finland's NATO membership if they sanction Turkey

As fighting continues in the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, Ukrainian forces say they are making headway in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Meanwhile, Sweden and Finland may soon be applying to join NATO. Follow here for live news updates.

www.cnn.com

 

[sene5hos]

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-05-17/russias-lavrov-says-finland-sweden-joining-nato-makes-no-big-difference

(Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Finland and Sweden joining NATO would probably make "not much difference" as the two countries had long participated in the alliance's military drills.

"Finland and Sweden, as well as other neutral countries, have been participating in NATO military exercises for many years," Lavrov said.

 

[minutemenX]

Russian tanks are evolving into a species of Salmon. They spend their lives growing up in the plains of Russia and then migrate to Ukraine to meet their fate in the region ruled by St. Stugna, St. Javelin and St. NLAW. They meet their fate by ejecting their turrets while mating (borrowed)

 

[sene5hos]

Sweden, Finland submit applications to join NATO

Military alliance boss Jens Stoltenberg ‘warmly’ welcomes the Nordic countries’ membership requests.

www.politico.eu

Sweden and Finland on Wednesday formally applied to join NATO at the military alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg gave a short address alongside the Swedish and Finnish ambassadors to NATO, Axel Wernhoff and Klaus Korhonen.

“I warmly welcome requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO,” Stoltenberg said. “You are our closest partners, and your membership in NATO will increase our shared security.”

 

[gaby]

La TURQUIE pourrait opposer son véto à ces adhésions....et comme elle est la 2ème puissance militaire de l'OTAN....cela pourrait compliquer les choses......cependant les ETATS-UNIS sont militairement très présent en TURQUIE....cela pourrait très bien servir
à des négos favorables...MAIS ERDOGAN est un drôle de numéro/imprévisible....pas du tout easy to deal with....à suivre.

 

[sene5hos]

Russian soldier pleads guilty in first trial for war crimes in Ukraine

A 21-year-old Russian soldier, Vadim Shishimarin, has pleaded guilty to deliberately killing a civilian who was riding a bicycle. The hearing, due to begin on Wednesday in the Ukrainian capital, is a testament to the judicial frenzy that has gripped the country.

www.lemonde.fr

A 21-year-old Russian soldier, Vadim Shishimarin, has pleaded guilty to deliberately killing a civilian who was riding a bicycle.
The hearing, due to begin on Wednesday in the Ukrainian capital, is a testament to the judicial frenzy that has gripped the country.

War crimes now have a face in Ukraine: that of a thin-featured, almost beardless kid.

He's Russian Sergeant Vadim Chichimarine, 21. With a burst of his AK-74 fire, he killed a shopkeeper pushing his bicycle in a Ukrainian village near Soumy, in the northeast of the country. The man was unarmed and died a few meters from his home.

He was 62 years old, according to Iryna Venediktova, the prosecutor general. Sergeant Chichimarine was arrested while trying to escape with four other military personnel. It was February 28, 2022. The war was in its fourth day.

Less than three months after the start of the invasion, the complex Chichimarin case was finalized. The first war crime trial is being held this Wednesday, May 18, in a Kyiv district court, as Ukraine does not have a special court.