It’s the one that’s been grounded since February, 2022, but not officially seized. The actual seizure, meaning that it’s now Canadian government property, happened by Cabinet order just a few days ago.
Dear Mr. Kadyrov:
One half of your friend can be found at: N:33.093723 and E:11.3232744
the other half was seen at: N:33.09322 and E:11.3232755
the third half (he was a big guy!) was seen at: N:33.09311 and E:11.3232733
Please deposit your reward here: ISupportTheUkrainianArmy@paypal.com
with warm regards,
'dimir
yeah … lemme fend off that pesky russian invasion and we will be right back with you …
.
For that very reason I am not filthy rich … Don’t get me wrong, I have moneys, but …
Remind me again, how many commercial airplanes has Russia stolen?
This article says ‘400’.
I can think of one. The AN225 they blew up. They certainly stole the value of that.
Exactly. Tell them they can have this one back when they return (in perfect condition) the 400 they stole.
Arrogant pricks.
This is why I am not cut out for the diplomatic corps. I would just tell them to fuck off.
“By coincidence, the precise items that fetch the highest prices on the black market! Luckily we don’t have one in Russia”, Putin concluded.
In this war the Ukrainians have helped a lot of Russian families on the other side locate the living or identify the remains of their loved ones, possibly more so than the Russians have.
Not the highest priority on the Ukrainian side, of course, but it’s happened more than once.
Russian families looking for regular soldiers who were initially lied to about what they were doing, and later all conscripts, is one thing. But this guy is a high-level leader, best buds with one of the main butchers on the Russian side. It’s utterly different.
Ukraine used a modified ‘thunder run’ style attack in their Kharkiv offensive last year when they basically recaptured the entire oblast. I can’t imagine they’ll make quite as much mileage this time around given all the efforts Russians have put into defensive works intended to slow such advances. I hope they continue to punch through, though.
I wouldn’t say utterly different, although yes, different. Nonetheless, he presumably has family and loved ones just as the most lowly conscript. In the end it’s Ukraine’s call, but I don’t see the Ukrainians telling the guy’s family what happened to be impossible.
Being decent to your captured enemy, or their next of kin, is a way to undercut your enemy’s home front. Ukraine could be making a play for the hearts and minds of the Russian people.
Given what we think about Putin and his government, I don’t know how much a groundswell of popular opposition would matter, but it seems to cost very little to try. And claiming the moral high ground is useful too.
ISW reported the attack on Russian soldiers standing in formation. I thought it was a rumor but apparently did happen.
Guardian blog
Israel has signed a deal to sell Merkava tanks to two countries, one of which is in Europe.
According to Israeli news sources, these are older tanks, Mark II and III, which were manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s, but which have been well maintained and upgraded over the years - and are still probably as good as anything the Russians have. About 200 will be sold; how many of those will be going to Europe, and to which country, is unknown. It won’t be Ukraine, but it will certainly free the recipient to send more of its own tanks there.
Military news: Mark Milley says the Russian army is in “disarray.”
Diplomatic news: Australia is blocking Russia from building a new embassy near Parliament House.
Can recommend the article “Why Are We in Ukraine? On the dangers of American Hubris” in June Harper’s, by Benjamin Schwarz and Christopher Layne. They are of the conservative neo-realist school and are not fans of NATO or the US support for Ukraine before the war. Layne is also interviewed on the podcast Behind the News episode of 6/8/2023. Nobody is defending Russia here but their context and sense of history is rather different from the “Putin is Evil!” school of thought.
There will always be apologists for dictators and invaders. History is replete with them.
off topic, please don’t reply. {WE?}
The Munich Agreement was popular . . . for a while.
Hitler accused Beneš of seeking to gradually exterminate the Sudeten Germans and claimed that since Czechoslovakia’s creation, over 600,000 Germans had been intentionally forced out of their homes under the threat of starvation if they did not leave.[29] He alleged that Beneš’s government was persecuting Germans along with Hungarians, Poles, and Slovaks and accused Beneš of threatening the nationalities with being branded traitors if they were not loyal to the country.[28] He stated that he, as the head of state of Germany, would support the right of the self-determination of fellow Germans in the Sudetenland.[28
Cite
Sound familiar?
The short translation omits the part at the end where the writer demands that the division commander be led out in front of the troops and shot. Which is kind of ironic, given that the division was wiped out. But, I guess it would boost the morale of the remaining soldiers to see the CO executed.