Forwarded from The Washington Post
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Devastation of Mariupol captured in drone video of burned buildings, blown-out windows
Russian shelling and siege tactics have devastated Mariupol’s residential neighborhoods, drone video published Wednesday by Ukraine’s far-right Azov Battalion revealed. The video was verified by The Washington Post.
The majority of the structures visible sustained some amount of damage, from blown-out windows to entire multistory buildings burned ashen gray. Smoke rose from at least four areas in the minute-long clip.
Amid a communication blackout, the Azov Battalion has been one of the few sources of videos and information coming out of the city that has served as its primary base for years.
The paramilitary group with ties to extremists across Europe has been fighting for Ukraine since 2014, when it was absorbed into Ukraine’s national guard. Its presence has been used by Russian President Vladimir Putin to falsely claim that the Ukrainian government is run by neo-Nazis.
Read the full story here.
Russian shelling and siege tactics have devastated Mariupol’s residential neighborhoods, drone video published Wednesday by Ukraine’s far-right Azov Battalion revealed. The video was verified by The Washington Post.
The majority of the structures visible sustained some amount of damage, from blown-out windows to entire multistory buildings burned ashen gray. Smoke rose from at least four areas in the minute-long clip.
Amid a communication blackout, the Azov Battalion has been one of the few sources of videos and information coming out of the city that has served as its primary base for years.
The paramilitary group with ties to extremists across Europe has been fighting for Ukraine since 2014, when it was absorbed into Ukraine’s national guard. Its presence has been used by Russian President Vladimir Putin to falsely claim that the Ukrainian government is run by neo-Nazis.
Read the full story here.
Forwarded from The Washington Post
Biden says Putin ‘cannot remain in power’ as he ends European trip
President Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power” in a forceful speech Saturday wrapping up a trip to Europe meant to bolster NATO’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The president’s remark initially seemed to suggest support for regime change — something the Biden administration has taken pains to avoid — though the White House later said Biden only meant Putin should not be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region.
His words capped a fiery speech in which Biden also called Putin a “dictator,” warning him not to encroach on NATO territory and urging Ukrainians to steel themselves for a long battle. He framed the Kremlin’s invasion as the “test of all time” for democracy.
Read the full story here.
President Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power” in a forceful speech Saturday wrapping up a trip to Europe meant to bolster NATO’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The president’s remark initially seemed to suggest support for regime change — something the Biden administration has taken pains to avoid — though the White House later said Biden only meant Putin should not be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region.
His words capped a fiery speech in which Biden also called Putin a “dictator,” warning him not to encroach on NATO territory and urging Ukrainians to steel themselves for a long battle. He framed the Kremlin’s invasion as the “test of all time” for democracy.
Read the full story here.
Forwarded from The Washington Post
Why Russian troops are using tree branches for camouflage in Ukraine
Russian troops in Ukraine have scrambled to avoid detection and attack by using tree branches and straw, even swaths of carpeting, to conceal tanks and other armored vehicles, in what analysts call a surprising lack of sophistication for such an advanced military and further evidence of how ill-prepared some commanders were for the sustained fight that has unfolded.
Camouflage, whether for personnel or equipment, is a fundamental part of warfighting, even as technological advances such as drones, satellite imagery and infrared scopes have made it harder to hide on modern battlefields. It works by distorting shapes and reducing heat signatures, in effect fooling the eye to create doubt and confusion.
Yet to some observers who’ve closely tracked the conflict in Ukraine, Russian forces, despite their military superiority, have exhibited a breathtaking degree of amateurism.
Read the full story here.
Russian troops in Ukraine have scrambled to avoid detection and attack by using tree branches and straw, even swaths of carpeting, to conceal tanks and other armored vehicles, in what analysts call a surprising lack of sophistication for such an advanced military and further evidence of how ill-prepared some commanders were for the sustained fight that has unfolded.
Camouflage, whether for personnel or equipment, is a fundamental part of warfighting, even as technological advances such as drones, satellite imagery and infrared scopes have made it harder to hide on modern battlefields. It works by distorting shapes and reducing heat signatures, in effect fooling the eye to create doubt and confusion.
Yet to some observers who’ve closely tracked the conflict in Ukraine, Russian forces, despite their military superiority, have exhibited a breathtaking degree of amateurism.
Read the full story here.
Forwarded from Khazar Dictionary
Sergei Guriev argues that ruble's return to its pre-war exchange rate should not be mistaken as a sign of strength or resilience.
Rather, the currency has benefited from factors that will eventually become major drags on the federal budget and the real economy.
Guriev's argument makes perfect sense. It is not clear what the real value of ruble is because of numerous restrictions put in place by the Bank of Russia.
Russian exporters, for example, are not able to sell 80% of foreign currency inside the country. There is simply no demand because of the imports downfall.
Embargo on oil and gas will effectively kill Russian economy. This is still EU's nuclear option.
Rather, the currency has benefited from factors that will eventually become major drags on the federal budget and the real economy.
Guriev's argument makes perfect sense. It is not clear what the real value of ruble is because of numerous restrictions put in place by the Bank of Russia.
Russian exporters, for example, are not able to sell 80% of foreign currency inside the country. There is simply no demand because of the imports downfall.
Embargo on oil and gas will effectively kill Russian economy. This is still EU's nuclear option.
Forwarded from The Washington Post
Russia broke international humanitarian law in Ukraine, says OSCE report
Russia committed human rights abuses and broke international humanitarian law during its invasion of Ukraine, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe found.
The report from the Vienna-based security body, released Wednesday, dives into attacks on civilian targets in the battered port city of Mariupol and follows President Biden’s declaration for the first time that Russia was carrying out a “genocide” in Ukraine.
“Taken as a whole, the report documents the catalogue of inhumanity perpetrated by Russia’s forces in Ukraine,” said Michael Carpenter, U.S. ambassador to the OSCE, in a speech.
“This includes evidence of direct targeting of civilians, attacks on medical facilities, rape, executions, looting, and forced deportation of civilians to Russia.”
More live updates here.
Russia committed human rights abuses and broke international humanitarian law during its invasion of Ukraine, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe found.
The report from the Vienna-based security body, released Wednesday, dives into attacks on civilian targets in the battered port city of Mariupol and follows President Biden’s declaration for the first time that Russia was carrying out a “genocide” in Ukraine.
“Taken as a whole, the report documents the catalogue of inhumanity perpetrated by Russia’s forces in Ukraine,” said Michael Carpenter, U.S. ambassador to the OSCE, in a speech.
“This includes evidence of direct targeting of civilians, attacks on medical facilities, rape, executions, looting, and forced deportation of civilians to Russia.”
More live updates here.
Forwarded from The Washington Post
Italy freezes $700-million megayacht linked to Putin
ROME — Italian financial authorities said Friday that they have frozen a $700-million megayacht that has been linked in media reports and by anti-Kremlin groups to Russian President Vladimir Putin. But an element of mystery remains: Italy, in its decree, did not say who the owner might be.
The move comes after Italian investigators had raced to investigate the vessel and prevent it from leaving the Tuscan port of Marina di Carrara. The yacht, known as the Scheherazade, had been undergoing repairs since before the Russia-launched war in Ukraine. But earlier this week, it had returned to the water, according to a New York Times reporter who visited the marina, prompting fears the vessel might depart and evade sanctions.
The ship, until the measures imposed Friday evening, would have been free to leave.
Read the full story here.
ROME — Italian financial authorities said Friday that they have frozen a $700-million megayacht that has been linked in media reports and by anti-Kremlin groups to Russian President Vladimir Putin. But an element of mystery remains: Italy, in its decree, did not say who the owner might be.
The move comes after Italian investigators had raced to investigate the vessel and prevent it from leaving the Tuscan port of Marina di Carrara. The yacht, known as the Scheherazade, had been undergoing repairs since before the Russia-launched war in Ukraine. But earlier this week, it had returned to the water, according to a New York Times reporter who visited the marina, prompting fears the vessel might depart and evade sanctions.
The ship, until the measures imposed Friday evening, would have been free to leave.
Read the full story here.
Joseph Ward Clark will go down in history as the first and the only US soldier killed twice in Ukraine 😂
Russian military propaganda 'killed' non-existened US mercenary for the second time! 'First killing' was a month ago in Mariupol where he 'fought' for Azov and yesterday in Rubezhnoe 'along with 6 other US mercenaries'. Russian fakes are so stoopid, a schoolboy can spot them!)))
Russian military propaganda 'killed' non-existened US mercenary for the second time! 'First killing' was a month ago in Mariupol where he 'fought' for Azov and yesterday in Rubezhnoe 'along with 6 other US mercenaries'. Russian fakes are so stoopid, a schoolboy can spot them!)))