Alternatively it could be due to UN troops being pulled back (but still?) or it could be some deals have been made for aircraft parts. But I’ve seen repeated flights. They’re regular now.https://t.co/GXH0Lla7ko

— Woofers (@NotWoofers) May 12, 2022

Those Russophobic Nazi Fins.

Russian commentator Dmitry Kondrashov claims Finland has "always been a country with a high level of Russophobia" and is now using the opportunity to join Nato because it "no longer has anything to earn from Russia", presumably as a result of sanctions
(with subtitles) pic.twitter.com/3iDhXT7c10

— Francis Scarr (@francis_scarr) May 12, 2022

The black death cloud spreads over massive cook off after DIY drone drop on MRLS weapons cache.

https://funker530.com/video/punisher-drone-causes-entire-city-block-to-cookoff/

Ukraine has officially declared that it won’t transport Russian gas through territories occupied by Russia.

Over a third of Russian gas is transported trough Luhansk and eastern Kharkiv oblasts.

Ukraine should begin phasing out Russian gas transportation as soon as possible.

— Oleksiy Sorokin (@mrsorokaa) May 12, 2022

Wreckage of a Tu-141 Strizh UAV. https://t.co/9WKv8CnOuG pic.twitter.com/I9dOhd0HUR

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 12, 2022

lb3 said:

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🇷🇺Reports coming out of Ukraine that another Black Sea fleet ship has been sunk.

Working on getting more confirmation and the name of the ship lost.

More to follow.

— OSINT-1988 (@OSINT88) May 12, 2022

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This looks like a Grisha-III class anti-submarine corvette (https://t.co/lX501dcvgv), of which there are 3 in the black sea fleet (Povorino, Eysk, Kasimov, https://t.co/uCehyslXq6).

I think this is just how these look (pictured a Lithuanian one) – no damage. pic.twitter.com/vWVi2eS5o4

— Kaspar Metz (@kmetz) May 12, 2022

Interesting.

Ukraine: No realistic prospects of joining NATO in the near or intermediate term. Russia: NATO IS GOING TO PUT NUKES ON THE BORDER MAYBE SOME DAY WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE OR REASONABLE SUSPICION WE MUST ATTACK!

Finland: We're joining NATO very soon.
Russia: I suppose we'll wait and see what happens and maybe do something if NATO directly threatens us.

Peskov: Russian reaction to Finland joining NATO will depend on the degree of advancement of the alliance’s military infrastructure to Russia’s borders

This is key. Finland joining NATO is unpleasant but tolerable for Moscow if there is no NATO build up on their border

— Dmitri Alperovitch (@DAlperovitch) May 12, 2022

And then…

More details here from The Guardian, which is based on reports from Iltalehti. Russia has threatened a military-technical response to Finland's NATO membership decision but a coercive economic response could come first. pic.twitter.com/LtSVGXjULz

— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) May 12, 2022

Rossticus said:

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Wreckage of a Tu-141 Strizh UAV. https://t.co/9WKv8CnOuG pic.twitter.com/I9dOhd0HUR

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 12, 2022

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Wiki says Russia retired theirs 30 years ago but Ukraine brought some back into service in 2014

Agsuffering@bulaw said:

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The Russians are the most unaware people on earth. They look back at the USSR as some model of good governance. They forget how horribly the mostly Russian government treated the western Ukrainians, poles, Latvians, Estonians, and Lithuanians.

For that matter, the central government was not exactly good to the chechens or other asiatic peoples

They cannot figure out why all of Eastern Europe fears and hates them.

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Uh, the Russian / USSR government was not exactly good for 99% of Russians either.

In the 5/9 parade there was alot of old USSR imagery, flags, banners, hammer-sickle, etc. Also seen being flown by Russian troops in Ukraine. This falls in line with Putin and his ideals and basically trying to recreate the USSR.

Full thread (short): https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1524647901326024704.html

It is, of course, quite a challenge how to pivot from "we will be welcomed" to "we are being hammered" but Russia's propagandists are doing their best. Markov's article, linked in the first tweet, is a better example than most 2/

— Mark Galeotti (@MarkGaleotti) May 12, 2022

This statement builds on recent events. On May 9, Reuters reported that German officials were devising an emergency crisis plan in case Russia cut off gas and Germany had to import extra gas from Netherlands and Norway as Ukraine shut off pipes from Russia to Germany. pic.twitter.com/1WA3Gp4ToE

— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) May 12, 2022

Jay, the majority are stuck in a binary world view: current situation/ USSR

They think today sucks bc at least in the USSR they had jobs and stability. They blame their problems on Russians who were greedy and wanted to be westernized. Most of those living in Russia today are the ones who stfu and did what the govt told them. The political prisoners who survived the gulag were mostly disowned by their families or never reproduced. The later dissidents died in prison or emigrated west.

The average Russian has maybe a JR HS education. They just don't know better.

Not saying their world view is accurate, but it is not an accident that Putin is still in power. I regret that progress has left them behind. Maybe their society is just too Byzantine and backward for modernization. Who knows!

(2/6) Ukrainian forces are continuing to counter-attack to the north of Kharkiv, recapturing several towns and villages towards the Russian border.

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 12, 2022

(4/6) Despite Russia’s success in encircling Kharkiv in the initial stages of the conflict, it has reportedly withdrawn units from the region to reorganise and replenish its forces following heavy losses.

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 12, 2022

(6/6) The withdrawal of Russian forces from the Kharkiv Oblast is a tacit recognition of Russia’s inability to capture key Ukrainian cities where they expected limited resistance from the population.

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 12, 2022

Putin's War -- The Ukraine map briefing for May 12th.
Several significant changes in the past 2 days.
- Ukraine reached the Russian border near Kharkiv;
- Russia fully captured Rubizhne and most of Vojevodivka;
- Slight Russian advances near Popasna and Adiivka pic.twitter.com/EI38j7YYOI

— Nathan Ruser (@Nrg8000) May 12, 2022

Additionally, geolocated footage has shown that Russia has extended control in Kherson. This area has been very fluid over the past month-plus, with frontline villages changing hands almost weekly. pic.twitter.com/gyQSvKwApr

— Nathan Ruser (@Nrg8000) May 12, 2022

And, the full-Ukraine version for people who prefer that. pic.twitter.com/SuxtDVZAaM

— Nathan Ruser (@Nrg8000) May 12, 2022

Quote:

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it has reportedly withdrawn units from the region to reorganise and replenish its forces following heavy losses.

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Haven't seen any estimates lately on total, but I wonder if it's approaching KIA in the 30k range. It was at 20 a few weeks ago and it seems like they continue to lose a lot every day.

#Ukraine: Finally, we can take a look at the ground launching platform for Brimstone missiles - it was developed by Britain in a very short time especially for the Ukrainian army. The missiles are already used on the front line, however the event we see is likely to be training. pic.twitter.com/OhIJZNMiwZ

— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) May 12, 2022

Rossticus said:

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This statement builds on recent events. On May 9, Reuters reported that German officials were devising an emergency crisis plan in case Russia cut off gas and Germany had to import extra gas from Netherlands and Norway as Ukraine shut off pipes from Russia to Germany. pic.twitter.com/1WA3Gp4ToE

— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) May 12, 2022

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Complacent Europe entered last winter with its natural gas storage tanks only around half full, further exposing it to Russian energy blackmail.

Simply importing enough gas all summer to max out storage before next winter will go a long way towards facepalming Moscow.

We will give you 500 Billion more Russia, but after that you're cut off!!!!

It's a feint bro pic.twitter.com/jJtNmztnCB

— Alex 🌻 (@alexgarcialonso) May 12, 2022

BattleGrackle said:

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We will give you 500 Billion more Russia, but after that you're cut off!!!!

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If the EU meets its goal of eliminating Russian oil and coal imports by year's end and cutting Russian natural gas imports by two-thirds by end of year without slipping into recession, it will deserve major kudos.

Since those cuts will happen progressively throughout the year, they will also progressively cut Russian energy income month by month at a time when Russia needs every dollar it can get its hands on.

It's in no one's interest except Putin if the EU goes into recession by cutting Russian energy too fast.

Cutting our Russian energy in one fell swoop would be a huge disruption for Europe, but it would be Catastrophic for Russia.

IMO Europe made their bed when they got addicted to Russian oil.
Edit: Oil an Gas they are addicted to both

I always got the feeling the natural gas sins are worse than the oil.

BattleGrackle said:

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Cutting our Russian energy in one fell swoop would be a huge disruption for Europe, but it would be Catastrophic for Russia.

IMO Europe made their bed when they got addicted to Russian oil.

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Europe is not going to cut off its nose to spite its face.

Again, Europe in recession and the disunity it would likely bring only benefits Putin.

I can't imagine the hell it would be if the Ukes shelled Russia with enough artillery to destroy over 70 pieces of equipment. Had to be hundreds of incoming rockets.