Putin is in trouble. "Russia's men are showing the world that Putin's "partial mobilization" demonstrates that they don't believe in his war, and thus in his government. And it demonstrates that they don't believe the mobilization is partial at all."

PUTIN'S WAR

China is steadily becoming Russia's daddy. "While Beijing publicly expresses its continued friendship with Russia, actions speak even louder. China is taking every opportunity to make Russia more dependent on it, and extracting further concessions from its strategic partner."

LOSER

CondensedFoggyAggie said:

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NEW - Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, proclaimed in his sermon today that soldiers dying in Ukraine would have all their sins washed away.pic.twitter.com/Uscc1zmiXZ

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) September 25, 2022

Kind of pissed to read this on a Sunday. This guy isn't going to live forever. Not to get religious, but is he not afraid of the consequences??

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The guy sold his soul long ago.

Quote:

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As Russia's invasion of Ukraine unfolded, Patriarch Kirill I, the leader of the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church, had an awkward Zoom meeting with Pope Francis.

The two religious leaders had previously worked together to bridge a 1,000-year-old schism between the Christian churches of the East and West. But the meeting, in March, found them on opposing sides of a chasm. Kirill spent 20 minutes reading prepared remarks, echoing the arguments of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia that the war in Ukraine was necessary to purge Nazis and oppose NATO expansion.

Francis was evidently flummoxed. "Brother, we are not clerics of the state," the pontiff told Kirill, he later recounted to the Corriere della Sera newspaper, adding that "the patriarch cannot transform himself into Putin's altar boy."

Today, Kirill stands apart not merely from Francis, but from much of the world. The leader of about 100 million faithful, Kirill, 75, has staked the fortunes of his branch of Orthodox Christianity on a close and mutually beneficial alliance with Mr. Putin, offering him spiritual cover while his church and possibly he himself receives vast resources in return from the Kremlin, allowing him to extend his influence in the Orthodox world.

To his critics, the arrangement has made Kirill far more than another apparatchik, oligarch or enabler of Mr. Putin, but an essential part of the nationalist ideology at the heart of the Kremlin's expansionist designs.

---

Quote:

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Like practically all elite Russian clerics of the era, Kirill is believed to have collaborated with the K.G.B., where Mr. Putin learned his early trade.

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Quote:

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Soon afterward, reports of luxurious apartments owned by Kirill and his family surfaced in the Russian media. Other unconfirmed rumors of billions of dollars in secret bank accounts, Swiss chalets and yachts began to swirl.

A news website dug up a photograph from 2009 in which Kirill wore a Breguet Rveil du Tsar model watch, worth about $30,000, a marker of membership to the Russian elite.

After his church sought to airbrush the timepiece out of existence, and Kirill denied ever wearing it, its remaining reflection on a polished table prompted an embarrassing apology from the church.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/21/world/europe/kirill-putin-russian-orthodox-church.html

74OA said:

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China is steadily becoming Russia's daddy. "While Beijing publicly expresses its continued friendship with Russia, actions speak even louder. China is taking every opportunity to make Russia more dependent on it, and extracting further concessions from its strategic partner."

LOSER

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Putin gambled big and lost big. We are witnessing the crumbling of an empire that terrified the world for generations. Now we get to see what snake slithers into that power vacuum. Probably China as mentioned but not sure how much real benefit they are really going to get in the end if they continue to leech off the dying corpse of Putins Russia.

A few hundred pages back, someone posted a link that talked about how Russian states might separate themselves before any overthrow of Putin because of how Russian politics work at the national and local levels. I could see that happening with this mobilization pissing off localities.

agent-maroon said:

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He's the head of the "church" by appointment from the Russian government. He should not be confused with the spiritual leader of a Christian church. Literally a totalitarian tool.

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Thanks, looks like Bartholomew 1, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Christians and equivalent to the Pope is against Russia and the war.

CondensedFoggyAggie said:

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First units of NASAMS, one of the best anti-air defence systems in the world, arrived to Ukraine!
Thanks, US and Norway ✊#UkraineWillWin pic.twitter.com/tG7LFh2k8V

— Sinitar Gaming 🇺🇦 (@SinitarGaming) September 25, 2022

President Zelensky confirms in an interview with CBS News that the first NASAMS advanced air defence system has been delivered to Ukraine.

🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦https://t.co/48bML458ed

— Jimmy (@JimmySecUK) September 25, 2022

Quote:

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NASAMS (National/Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System) is a distributed and networked short- to medium-range ground-based air defense system developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) and Raytheon. The system defends against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), and aircraft

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They received 2 batteries. Not near enough, but a start.

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I wonder which AIM-120 version and illuminating radar went with it?

NATO members will hold an 'extraordinary meeting' on weapons production.

Quote:

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Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, has called for a special meeting of arms directors of the alliance on Tuesday to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine and ways to replenish the stockpiles of member nations that have been supplied Ukraine with weapons, an official at the organization said.

And on Wednesday, arms directors from the Ukraine Defense Contact Group are scheduled to meet, said the NATO official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the planning. The group is made up of about 50 nations that have promised to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.

The aim of the meeting on Wednesday is to look at ways to further support Ukraine with ammunition and equipment deliveries, the official said. The U.S. government will host the meeting in Brussels.

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https://archive.ph/Doi5o#selection-1333.0-1333.287

I'm beginning to wonder if civil unrest followed by martial law is Putin's imagined off ramp. Have to pull the troops back to quell some sort of BS Western supported rebellion. Lame attempt to save face with his own government. I don't think that this saves him from a coup induced suicide, but it would give his replacement cover to crack down and pull out of Ukraine.

agent-maroon said:

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Putin about to get his pretext for declaring martial law.

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One wonders how much manpower and state resources are they now expending on this mobilization effort. Good lord, is anyone doing anything of value in Russia currently. Looks like the wheels are starting to wobble to me. Video and after video of protests. Putin may have pulled the pin and thrown it away this time.

CondensedFoggyAggie said:

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Russia, your incompetence is Ukraines gain I suppose.

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Additionally, the US and Germany have put billions into an account for Ukraine so it can buy new weapons directly from manufacturers.

What would happen if a coup by a pro democracy/pro west faction was successful and took over with the new Russia wanting to join nato? Is that even possible? Or is it a foregone conclusion that any coup would be by hardliners who want to keep the anti west attitude?

Those aren't for use against drones, or even SU-25s. If they have only two batteries, they will likely rush them to the northern border and try to take down the strategic bombers lobbing cruise missiles into Ukraine.

Seven more ships with agricultural products leave Ukrainian ports

Quote:

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"On September 25, as part of the implementation of the grain initiative, seven ships loaded with 146,200 tonnes of agricultural products left the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi bound for the countries of Africa, Asia, and Europe," the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine posted on Facebook.

It is noted that MOONLIGHT, CHIOS FREEDOM left Odesa port. Bulk carriers HERMES, BLUE STAR, SUPER MARTINELLI departed from Chornomorsk port. ATA 2, ASPASIA LUCK left Pivdennyi port.

According to the Infrastructure Ministry data, 4.85 million tonnes of agricultural products have already been exported since the departure of the first ship with Ukrainian foodstuffs.

A total of 218 ships loaded with agricultural products have left Ukrainian ports bound for countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa.

As reported, Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres signed the initiative on the safe transportation of grain and foodstuffs from the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi at the proposal of the United Nations in Istanbul on July 22.

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https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/3579220-seven-more-ships-with-agricultural-products-leave-ukrainian-ports.html

On Sunday morning, #Odesa was again attacked by kamikaze drones. The drones hit an administrative building in the city center three times.

One of the four drones was shot down by air defense. pic.twitter.com/PS4uu9rCtG

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 25, 2022

Appears that it targeted the Ukrainian Operational Command South building. pic.twitter.com/hLHGLFABh1

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) September 25, 2022

Ukraine Military Southern command HQ in Odessa after been hit. pic.twitter.com/1SiJEdsort

— Aldin 🇧🇦 (@tinso_ww) September 25, 2022

“Barrels that usually take 🇺🇸 troops years to wear down have taken weeks in 🇺🇦 , because fighters are firing rounds so frequently. That info is going back to defense manufacturers, to determine which parts need to be made fastest 🇺🇸 officials said”https://t.co/xNoVpwQOGo

— CJ (@CasualArtyFan) September 24, 2022

Private PoopyPants said:

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On Sunday morning, #Odesa was again attacked by kamikaze drones. The drones hit an administrative building in the city center three times.

One of the four drones was shot down by air defense. pic.twitter.com/PS4uu9rCtG

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 25, 2022

Appears that it targeted the Ukrainian Operational Command South building. pic.twitter.com/hLHGLFABh1

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) September 25, 2022

Ukraine Military Southern command HQ in Odessa after been hit. pic.twitter.com/1SiJEdsort

— Aldin 🇧🇦 (@tinso_ww) September 25, 2022

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At this point in the war, hard to believe any government function is still using known peacetime office buildings, unless there's also a bunker underneath.

lb3 said:

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Those aren't for use against drones, or even SU-25s. If they have only two batteries, they will likely rush them to the northern border and try to take down the strategic bombers lobbing cruise missiles into Ukraine.

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They don't have the range for that.

They're for Su-25's, other tactical jets and UAV's. And potentially the cruise missiles themselves

Battlefield Hotlines Let U.S. Military Keep Ukraine's Weapons Firing

https://www.wsj.com/articles/battlefield-hotlines-let-u-s-military-keep-ukraines-weapons-firing-11664009094

Quote:

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ON A MILITARY BASE, PolandNear where weapons and equipment donated by the U.S. and other alliescross the border into Ukraine, a group of 55 U.S. troops and translators on iPads fielded repair queries about weapons that are already on the battlefield, via secure chat apps.

There are 14 chats for each major weapon system, forming a makeshift wartime telemaintenance network for fighters who are using weapons well beyond the limits for which they were designed.

Photos of barrels worn down by repeated firings arrived over chat from Ukrainians asking how to make the ordnance more accurate even with rifling stripped away. Front-line soldiers sent videos asking how to salvage weapons that otherwise would be considered irreparable and what fixes were needed to keep them working.

.

Mr. Reznikov said that Ukraine has begun carrying out some complex repairs of Western-style armaments in Ukraine and mastered the production of around 10% of needed spare parts, sometimes even without technical documentation.

.

The chats began unofficially after the first nine Ukrainian troops who were trained to keep the weapons running returned to Ukraine and started contacting their teachers for advice via text messages. By June, the U.S. military codified the chats, arranging for troops from Army Materiel Command, which is responsible for the U.S. Army's equipment, and Ukrainian translators to talk to Ukrainian fighters from inside a building near where the donated weapons entered Ukraine.

.

As of earlier this month, the U.S. said all 16 Himarsthe mobile rocket systems that Ukrainians have said were key in their reclaiming of territoryremain operational. One reason, soldiers here said, is that through the chats they have saved damaged Himars that otherwise would have come off the battlefield.

.

During a recent firing mission, the advanced weapon system's computer displayed an error message that the Ukrainian didn't know how to resolve. The army lieutenant initiated a video chat with a U.S. instructor, who then used Google Translate to send back instructions in Ukrainian.

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Fascinating article, highly recommend reading. Can someone paste a free link?

Yeah, I don't think that's how it works.

I get they're looking for buy-in, but that's a little too far. It's up there with the 72 virgins.

Keep the war memorial. Lose its display of tanks and artillery. Their purpose is not to commemorate Russian war dead, but to remind Germany what happens if it screws with Moscow. BERLIN

Ok Lyman looks like the old bait and switch.

Drive flanks north and east of Lyman causing the Russians to reinforce this critical railroad junction (1).

Then drive a much bigger encircling movement to trap the whole lot (2). pic.twitter.com/sSSaGosmr5

— Dr Mike Martin 🔶 (@ThreshedThought) September 25, 2022

Eliminatus said:

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74OA said:

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China is steadily becoming Russia's daddy. "While Beijing publicly expresses its continued friendship with Russia, actions speak even louder. China is taking every opportunity to make Russia more dependent on it, and extracting further concessions from its strategic partner."

LOSER

---

Putin gambled big and lost big. We are witnessing the crumbling of an empire that terrified the world for generations. Now we get to see what snake slithers into that power vacuum. Probably China as mentioned but not sure how much real benefit they are really going to get in the end if they continue to leech off the dying corpse of Putins Russia.

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If Russia loses badly they are for a better fit for Europe than they are for Asia. Once western Germany was tamed they have been an asset for the West. If Russia collapses, Europe and the US better magnanimously step in to help fill the political vacuum with pro-West reformers and try to bring the warm embrace of free speech and capitalism to the Russian people. A boy can dream.

Malibu2 said:

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Eliminatus said:

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74OA said:

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China is steadily becoming Russia's daddy. "While Beijing publicly expresses its continued friendship with Russia, actions speak even louder. China is taking every opportunity to make Russia more dependent on it, and extracting further concessions from its strategic partner."

LOSER

---

Putin gambled big and lost big. We are witnessing the crumbling of an empire that terrified the world for generations. Now we get to see what snake slithers into that power vacuum. Probably China as mentioned but not sure how much real benefit they are really going to get in the end if they continue to leech off the dying corpse of Putins Russia.

---

If Russia loses badly they are for a better fit for Europe than they are for Asia. Once western Germany was tamed they have been an asset for the West. If Russia collapses, Europe and the US better magnanimously step in to help fill the political vacuum with pro-West reformers and try to bring the warm embrace of free speech and capitalism to the Russian people. A boy can dream.

---

Aye. We can hope. One way or another I just don't see Putin being alive in the long term. Much less in power. Just not sure what his country will look like. Like you, hope someone puts a bullet in him and a sane and reasonable leader takes over. If this drags on for years yet, does Russia even stay together? Coin toss IMO.

Either way, I, along with so many other far smarter and more versed, don't think Russias current actions are sustainable in the least and are probably hastening the end. Whatever that may be.

I've been expecting a mobilization for some time now but now that it is here my initial assumed outputs from this have changed somewhat. Putin is erratic and that leaves soooo many variables up to chance. Because let us be honest. At this point it is almost a one man show. I and the rest of us are just left holding our breath and waiting.

God Putin needs to hurry up and die.

74OA said:

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CondensedFoggyAggie said:

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Russia, your incompetence is Ukraines gain I suppose.

---

Additionally, the US and Germany have put billions into an account for Ukraine so it can buy new weapons directly from manufacturers.

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Tacit admission that buying things through the DoD procurement process would make the weapons way more expensive than they need to be. With Ukraine able to pick up the phone and tell them what they want, they can probably get the weapons at 1/3-1/2 the cost that DoD pays for them.

Malibu2 said:

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Eliminatus said:

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74OA said:

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China is steadily becoming Russia's daddy. "While Beijing publicly expresses its continued friendship with Russia, actions speak even louder. China is taking every opportunity to make Russia more dependent on it, and extracting further concessions from its strategic partner."

LOSER

---

Putin gambled big and lost big. We are witnessing the crumbling of an empire that terrified the world for generations. Now we get to see what snake slithers into that power vacuum. Probably China as mentioned but not sure how much real benefit they are really going to get in the end if they continue to leech off the dying corpse of Putins Russia.

---

If Russia loses badly they are for a better fit for Europe than they are for Asia. Once western Germany was tamed they have been an asset for the West. If Russia collapses, Europe and the US better magnanimously step in to help fill the political vacuum with pro-West reformers and try to bring the warm embrace of free speech and capitalism to the Russian people. A boy can dream.

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Feels impossible that it doesn't splinter.

agent-maroon said:

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I did watch that video and even commented on him being used as bait in a previous post. Guess I was thinking that there might be some semblance of camaraderie in the trenches vs what one would see from their command, but y'all are probably right that there wouldn't be. Having to fight an enemy and the people surrounding you on your own side in battle is such a foreign way of thinking to me.

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ever since the war began

there are videos of tanks taking off with men dropping and falling into the road,

or trucks taking off leaving guys running after them,

or guys running away from the trenches leaving others behind,

or masses of dead Russians being left in ditches and in the fields as their "tovarisch" head for the hills.

2wealfth Man said:

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ouch, still smoking. Assuming NLAW's or Javelins. 2nd one is tipped sideways in a pond. Must be around Kupyansk

Yesterday we spotted two abounded Russian T-90A after the fail counter-attack.

Kharkiv oblast, 24/09/2022. pic.twitter.com/1NRcUycGFJ

— Kriegsforscher (@OSINTua) September 25, 2022

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anyone else notice the tracks and bogey wheels on the first tank are still spinning?!?!

These were from last night.

/2
Video with sounds of explosions claimed to be from night strikes on Russian ammunition depot in Alchevsk tonight pic.twitter.com/G7LhvDRyXy

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 25, 2022