Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #7

[Bit of hope]

Is Shoigu ill? In hiding? ??

Questions have been raised about the whereabouts of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu following reports that he has not been seen in public for nearly two weeks, despite being in charge of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

On Tuesday, Dmitry Treschanin, a Russian journalist at independent outlet Mediazona, also noted that the last article about Shoigu to appear on Russian state news agency RIA was on March 11.

"Listen, the great PR minister Shoigu has been out of public space since March 11th. ELEVEN DAYS OF WAR, we do not have the head of the Ministry of Defense," Treschanin tweeted.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu Not Seen for 12 Days

Russian defence chief Sergei Shoigu not seen in public for two weeks | News | The Times

Sergei Shoigu, who has previously been tipped to succeed President Putin, was last seen on March 11, when he held talks with his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar. He also visited a military hospital in Moscow to present medals to injured soldiers.

General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of Russia’s general staff, was also last seen on the same day.

Could this by any chance be the other people Putin needs to push the "nuclear button"?

 

[sds71]

@JacquiHeinrich

Ukrainian Pres Zelenskyy addressed 30 NATO leaders - saying the Budapest memorandum did not work (1994 agreement where Ukraine gave up nuke arsenal in return for security assurances, signed by Russia, US, UK) - now asking countries to send 1% of their planes, tanks, missiles.

ZELENSKYY: "I'm sure you understand that Russia doesn't want to stop on Ukraine. It wants to go further against the eastern members of Nature Baltic countries Poland, that's for sure. If we'll need to stop thinking and worrying about this, how Russia will react, who can be sure?"

He did not repeat his request for a no-fly zone or NATO membership, according to a senior US official.

 

[dotr]

rbbm.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu Not Seen for 12 Days (newsweek.com)

''Agentstvo [The Agency], a Russian independent investigative news outlet which aims to expose government corruption, reported on Telegram how one of Vladimir Putin's closest allies last appeared on state-run television on March 11.

Agentstvo, citing an unnamed official, speculated that Shoigu may be unwell and suffering from heart problems although the agency could not confirm that.''

"Not seen in public for 12 days, not seen with Putin since *that* meeting on 27 Feb where he was ordered to put the nukes on high alert," Cordell tweeted before sharing an image of Shoigu and Putin "from happier times" where the pair are on vacation together.

It is also reported that Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia's armed forces, has not been seen in public since March 11.''

 

[PommyMommy]

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 5 hrs ago
Russian deputy ambassador to the UN: Russia retains right to use nuclear weapons if “provoked” by NATO. In an interview with Sky News on March 24, Dmitry Polyanskiy said that Putin could use nuclear weapons if the country feels it is facing an “existential” threat.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Polyanskiy also denied that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 1 hr ago
Zelensky to NATO: Don't say Ukraine's army doesn't meet Alliance's standards. In a virtual address to NATO, President Zelensky said that he has one demand. “After such a war against Russia… Please, never, never again tell us that our army does not meet NATO standards.”

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 35 min ago
Mariupol city council: Russian occupiers forcibly move 6, 000 Mariupol residents to Russia. The local authorities in the besieged seaport said on March 24 that Russian occupiers are now forcibly moving more of its residents to Russia, confiscating their Ukrainian passports.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 10 min ago
Reuters: US to accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing Russian invasion. Reuters reported citing anonymous sources that the announcement is “forthcoming.”

 

[PommyMommy]

rbbm.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu Not Seen for 12 Days (newsweek.com)

''Agentstvo [The Agency], a Russian independent investigative news outlet which aims to expose government corruption, reported on Telegram how one of Vladimir Putin's closest allies last appeared on state-run television on March 11.

Agentstvo, citing an unnamed official, speculated that Shoigu may be unwell and suffering from heart problems although the agency could not confirm that.''

"Not seen in public for 12 days, not seen with Putin since *that* meeting on 27 Feb where he was ordered to put the nukes on high alert," Cordell tweeted before sharing an image of Shoigu and Putin "from happier times" where the pair are on vacation together.

It is also reported that Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia's armed forces, has not been seen in public since March 11.''

They are apparently not taking phone calls either, from US officials anyway...

This article is from yesterday:

Russia-Ukraine war latest news: concern for trapped Chernihiv residents as Russians ‘bomb bridge’ – live | World news | The Guardian
Repeated attempts by the United States’ top defence and military leaders to speak with their Russian counterparts have been rejected by Moscow, leaving officials in the dark about explanations for military movements and raising fears of a major miscalculation or battlefield accident, the Washington Post reports.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, defense secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, have tried to set up phone calls with Russia’s defense minister Sergei Shoigu and Gen. Valery Gerasimov but the Russians “have so far declined to engage,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement Wednesday.

James Stavridis, who served as the supreme allied commander at Nato from 2009 to 2013, said:

There is a high risk of escalation without the firebreak of direct contact between the most senior officials.

Very young people are flying in jets, operating warships, and conducting combat operations in the Ukrainian war. They are not seasoned diplomats, and their actions in the heat of operations can be misunderstood.

We must avoid a scenario of Nato and Russia sleepwalking into war because senior leaders can’t pick up a phone and explain to each other what is happening.”

 

[CSIDreamer]

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 5 hrs ago
Russian deputy ambassador to the UN: Russia retains right to use nuclear weapons if “provoked” by NATO. In an interview with Sky News on March 24, Dmitry Polyanskiy said that Putin could use nuclear weapons if the country feels it is facing an “existential” threat.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Polyanskiy also denied that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 1 hr ago
Zelensky to NATO: Don't say Ukraine's army doesn't meet Alliance's standards. In a virtual address to NATO, President Zelensky said that he has one demand. “After such a war against Russia… Please, never, never again tell us that our army does not meet NATO standards.”

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 35 min ago
Mariupol city council: Russian occupiers forcibly move 6, 000 Mariupol residents to Russia. The local authorities in the besieged seaport said on March 24 that Russian occupiers are now forcibly moving more of its residents to Russia, confiscating their Ukrainian passports.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 10 min ago
Reuters: US to accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing Russian invasion. Reuters reported citing anonymous sources that the announcement is “forthcoming.”

With these reports of Mariupol residents being kidnapped by Russians, it's got to be next to impossible to estimate how many living souls are still in need of evacuation. JMO

I haven't seen any updates on the theater that was bombed. Has anyone?

 

[Bit of hope]

Reminds me of the meme going around:

A man in Moscow goes up to a newsstand and buys a newspaper… he then glances at the front page, then turns aside and tosses the whole newspaper straight into the trash.

Next day, he turns up, and does the same thing. Buys it, glances at the front page, throws it in the trash.

Next day, same thing. The newsstand worker is increasingly puzzled, but doesn't say anything.

But eventually, after a couple of weeks of this, he can't take it. "I'm sorry, friend, but I must ask: why do you buy the paper every day and then just look at the front page and throw it out?"

"Oh, I'm just checking for something."

"OK, but: what are you checking for?"

"I'm checking for a particular obituary."

"But sir, you don't even open the newspaper! The obituaries aren't even on the front page!"

"Oh, believe me, the one I'm waiting for will be."

Great joke! <3

 

[PommyMommy]

With these reports of Mariupol residents being kidnapped by Russians, it's got to be next to impossible to estimate how many living souls are still in need of evacuation. JMO

I haven't seen any updates on the theater that was bombed. Has anyone?

No, not recently - I think Friday and Saturday they were reporting 1,000 or 1,300 still trapped in the basement. Also, that there are no journalists left in Maripoul. Moo

 

[dotr]

Russia-Ukraine live updates: US slams Russia's plans to partially reopen stock market - ABC News (go.com)
Mar 24, 8:30 am
''Zelenskyy addresses NATO virtually: Never tell us our army doesn't meet your standards
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned NATO leaders on Thursday that Russia's offensive will ultimately go beyond Ukraine, unless the Western defense alliance takes stronger action.

"Ukraine never wanted this war and does not want to fight for years. We just want to save our people," Zelenskyy said in an impassioned speech via video link from the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. "I am sure you already understand that Russia does not intend to stop in Ukraine -- does not intend and will not. It wants to go further."

As all 30 NATO heads of state meet in Brussels for an emergency summit to discuss their response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Zelenskyy lamented that "the worst thing during the war is not having clear answers to requests for help."

 

[PommyMommy]

MAR 3, 2022 - Some background on Shoigu and Gerasimov
Shoigu and Gerasimov: Masters of Putin's wars (france24.com)
The two are extremely close to Putin. They were, for example, Putin's military cortège during his television announcement on February 28 about having put Russia's nuclear forces on heightened alert.

It is not surprising that the Kremlin decided to put Shoigu and Gerasimov in the spotlight. In Putin’s eyes, they are the architects of the successful campaign to annex Crimea in 2014, Russia's military strategy in Syria as well as the support for the pro-Russian rebels in the Donbas region.

MAR 8, 2022 - Gerasimov possibly killed
Russian generals risk themselves to motivate troops after sluggish advance | The Times of Israel
[...]

Ukrainian military intelligence said late Monday that Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, the deputy commander of the 41st army of Russia’s central military district, had been killed outside Kharkiv.

[...]

An audio recording also surfaced on social media purportedly of the moment the unit’s commander in Russia was informed of Gerasimov’s death by a subordinate in Ukraine. Its veracity could not be immediately verified.

His death has not been confirmed or denied by Russia, although pro-Kremlin Telegram channels on Tuesday insisted that Gerasimov was alive, well, and carrying out his military duties.

[...]

NEXTA on Twitter - Video, 22 min ago
After long rumors that Putin decided to remove Shoigu forever, they decided to show him on TV as participant of the government meeting. However, viewers noticed oddities during the broadcast. Pay attention to the top left corner.

 

[Bit of hope]

Who is Russia's top field commander in Ukraine? The US isn't sure.

Without a top, theater-wide commander on the ground in or near Ukraine, units from different Russian military districts operating in different parts of Ukraine appear to be competing for resources rather than coordinating their efforts, according to two US defense officials.

Units participating in different Russian offensives across Ukraine have failed to connect, these sources say, and in fact, appear to be acting independently with no overarching operational design.

Video: Under Fire, Out of Fuel, No Air Support: What Intercepted Russian Radio Chatter Reveals

The interference at the 1:00 - 1:10 mark is great.

Thanks for the video. Total chaos.

 

[Bit of hope]

Anonymous claims it has hacked Russia's Central Bank | Daily Mail Online

International hacking collective Anonymous claims to have exploited Russia's Central Bank - and is threatening to release 35,000 files which include 'secret agreements' in the next 48 hours.

The bank is responsible for protecting and ensuring the safety of the ruble, the Russian currency which has plummeted in value since the invasion of Ukraine began last month.

Go boys and girls!!

 

[PommyMommy]

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 4 hrs ago
In temporarily occupied Melitopol, the Russian military is visiting every school and forcing educators to start the Russian-language educational process on April 1 under an incomprehensible program,–Melitopol City Mayor https://facebook.com/IvanFedorovMelitopol/videos/718355179323007

Oleg Nikolenko on Twitter - Spokesperson for @MFA_Ukraine, 2 hrs ago
By forcibly deporting Mariupol citizens to its territory, Russia moves to the next level of terror. 6k Ukrainians already now in Russian camps where they may be used as hostages. Humanitarian convoys fleeing to non-occupied parts of Ukraine still being shelled. This barbarity must end

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
Only 3% of Belarusians approve the deployment of Belarusian troops in Ukraine. Most Belarusians don't support - the concentration of Russian troops in Belarus - helping Russia in military action in any way Chatham House poll conducted on 5–14 Mar 2022 https://reform.by/304685-opros-chatham-house-belarusy-razdeleny-v-svoih-simpatijah-no-ediny-v-glavnom

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 40 min ago
Ukrainians in Kherson hung the Ukrainian flag on the city council again despite the city being occupied by Russia. The flag was destroyed during the first days of war. PHOTOS by the city council

NEXTA on Twitter
80% of the city of #Irpen was liberated by the Ukrainian army, reports the Armed Forces of #Ukraine

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
Russian leadership has decided to adjust its plans for further hostilities in Ukraine because goals were not met in time, acc to info received by Gen.Staff, 12:00 EET Russia is transferring weapons to Belarus and Crimea to make an attempt to encircle of Kyiv https://facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/279600371019715

 

[Bit of hope]

NEXTA on Twitter - Video, 22 min ago
After long rumors that Putin decided to remove Shoigu forever, they decided to show him on TV as participant of the government meeting. However, viewers noticed oddities during the broadcast. Pay attention to the top left corner.

I'm almost sure this is faked and Shoigu isn't there at all. Picture/footage seems to be on repeat...a Russian response on the tweet said that the first 4 seconds and the last 4 seconds of the video are the SAME frames.

 

[dotr]

This is very sweet, hoping the concert will be available to watch everywhere! rbbm.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Ukraine band Antytila appeal to Ed Sheeran to let them join charity concert - Irish Mirror Online
''Ukrainian band Antytila have urged Ed Sheeran to let them join a huge benefit concert that is raising funds to help those fleeing the conflict in the war-torn country.
The MTV EMA nominated band, which consists of singer Taras Topolya, keyboardist Serhiy Vusyk, bassist Mykhailo Chirko, guitarist Dmitry Acorn, and drummer Dmitry Vodovozov, want to take part at the upcoming Concert For Ukraine in Birmingham next week by performing remotely from Kyiv.''
''The two-hour benefit concert is due to air on Tuesday 29 March on ITV in aid of the Disasters Emergency Committee‘s (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.''

''The band wrote: “Hello Ed Sheeran, greetings from Kyiv!
“We are musicians of the Ukrainian band Antytila – one of the most popular Ukrainian bands with a lot of fans in Ukraine and all over the world. In peacetime, our concerts gathered stadiums.

“The war has changed our lives and now we are fighting with weapons against the Russian occupiers. We thank you, and all the British people for their support. Believe me, we are grateful, and we will always, always remember this.

They added: “Today we learned about your charity concert for Ukraine, which will take place in Birmingham. And we offer to make a live broadcast between Kyiv and Birmingham with Antytila temporary joining the gig remotely.

“Our band will play our music in Kyiv, a city that has not surrendered and will never surrender to the Russian occupiers. You will play in Birmingham.

“We are not afraid to play under the bombs. Through music, we want to show the world that Ukraine is strong and unconquered. We will fight and sing for victory in front of the whole world that supports us.''

 

[PommyMommy]

I'm almost sure this is faked and Shoigu isn't there at all. Picture/footage seems to be on repeat...

Same. Super sketchy....! MOO

 

[sunshineray]

Vladimir Putin's defence minister 'vanishes with heart problems' as war stalls

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/vladimir-putins-defence-minister-vanishes-26536281

Wow...Kremlin witch hunt going on for whomever is responsible for leaking information to Ukraine via the US!? Then your vakay buddy and Minister of Defense disappears, they use old footage of him on state TV and papers, he's got heart problems.

Sounding like someone's real thoughts about the invasion may have been hidden. Sounds like Putin's inner circle are on the chopping block?

That chaos can either be a good thing or a very bad thing if some random and equally insane middle man wants to shine...nuclear or biologically.

AJMO

 

[sunshineray]

@JacquiHeinrich

Ukrainian Pres Zelenskyy addressed 30 NATO leaders - saying the Budapest memorandum did not work (1994 agreement where Ukraine gave up nuke arsenal in return for security assurances, signed by Russia, US, UK) - now asking countries to send 1% of their planes, tanks, missiles.

ZELENSKYY: "I'm sure you understand that Russia doesn't want to stop on Ukraine. It wants to go further against the eastern members of Nature Baltic countries Poland, that's for sure. If we'll need to stop thinking and worrying about this, how Russia will react, who can be sure?"

He did not repeat his request for a no-fly zone or NATO membership, according to a senior US official.

Planes are making a difference, he needs planes, give Ukraine more planes, JMHO

 

[sunshineray]

I'm almost sure this is faked and Shoigu isn't there at all. Picture/footage seems to be on repeat...a Russian response on the tweet said that the first 4 seconds and the last 4 seconds of the video are the SAME frames.

Yeah he's gone away with heart problems

 

[Bit of hope]

Nieuwe Amerikaanse sancties tegen Rusland • Russisch oorlogsschip in brand

NOS = Dutch national broadcast/Dutch public broadcaster

AN HOUR AGO
Stoltenberg: Four New Combat Units to Eastern Member States
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg announced in a press conference after the summit in Brussels to continue to exert pressure on Russia and to provide further military support to Ukraine. For example, Ukraine will receive more drones and anti-aircraft systems from NATO countries. The countries also want to provide Ukraine with more humanitarian aid and cyber security.

NATO countries are sending four new combat units to eastern member states, in addition to the four battle groups already stationed in Poland and the Baltic States. The troops are going to Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia. NATO's military presence is also being strengthened in the air and at sea with jet fighters, combat ships and submarines, among other things.

Stoltenberg emphasized that the war has made it clear that security cannot be taken for granted and that more military investment is needed for the longer term. He said NATO countries are now coming up with plans to free up more money for military spending.