Putin starts “military operation” on Ukraine

[Ender]

Syrians stand with Ukraine. But Russia is not Assad.

 

[Kb27]

'poor NK soldiers; their lives are just as worthless as the russians.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-korean-soldiers-suicide-avoid-capture-ukraine-russia-rcna185625

North Korean soldiers kill themselves to avoid capture in Ukraine, U.S. says

Russia is deploying “human waves” of North Korean soldiers, the U.S. said Friday, and at least one soldier captured by Ukraine died of his injuries.

According to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, some North Korean soldiers have taken their own lives rather than surrendering to Ukrainian forces.

These suicides, he said, were “likely out of fear of reprisal against their families in North Korea in the event that they’re captured.”

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service had confirmed on Friday that the North Korean soldier captured the previous day had died.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram Friday that at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers have died or been wounded in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces mounted a lightning incursion in August.

But Russia has since amassed thousands of troops in a counterattack

Kirby quoted a lower death toll among North Koreans, saying more than 1,000 soldiers have died just in the past week.

That’s on top of the more than 1,500 Russian soldiers being wounded or killed each day, according to Britain’s defense ministry, which estimated that there were over 45,000 casualties in November, the highest since the start of the war, adding that the number “is likely reflective of the higher tempo of Russian operations and offensives.”

To supplement its counterattack, Moscow turned toward its ally Pyongyang, which, according to estimates by the U.S. and its allies, has deployed an estimated 11,000 soldiers in Ukraine.

Kirby said the North Koreans are conducting “massed, dismounted assaults against Ukrainian positions in Kursk.” While these “human wave tactics” were ineffective, he acknowledged that Russia’s grinding assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was making it difficult for Ukrainians to weather the winter.

Neither Russia nor North Korea has publicly acknowledged the troop deployment.

The North Korean troops are being treated as “expendable” and ordered by their leadership on “hopeless assaults against Ukrainian defenses,” Kirby said.

“These North Korean soldiers appear to be highly indoctrinated, pushing attacks even when it is clear that those attacks are futile,” he said.

The exact number of North Korean soldiers who killed themselves to avoid capture is unclear. Zelenskyy said Friday that while “several” North Korean soldiers were captured, they were “seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated,” suggesting that some of them may have also been killed by comrades.

These troops were being sent to fight with “minimal protection,” he said, and were suffering a “great deal” of losses.

Still, Ukrainians have been unable to capture them as prisoners, he added. “Their own people are executing them.”

[macrosszero]

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/putin-apologises-to-azerbaijans-aliyev-over-tragic-incident-with-plane-in-russian-airspace
 

“I’m sorry an airliner had been shot down, but I’m not saying we’re responsible!”

 

[Ender]

Official accusations. Just when Russia was mending their relationship with Azerbaijian , after neglecting Armenia and not honoring their csto commitment.

 

[Ender]

Ukranian flag in Damascus.

 

 

[Kb27]

be afraid, be very afraid ! 😁

now sea drones armed with missiles.

 

[Playtime]

Sigh..... should chop off putins arms and legs as retribution. 

 

Oleksandra Pascal, a gymnast from Chornomorsk who lost her leg due to a Russian missile attack, performed at the Rizatdinova Cup tournament. Her routine became one of the main highlights of the competition. As a result, the gymnast was awarded the title of "Miss Unbreakable."

 

 

[Ender]

On 1/1/2025 at 9:25 PM, Playtime said:

Sigh..... should chop off putins arms and legs as retribution. 

 

Oleksandra Pascal, a gymnast from Chornomorsk who lost her leg due to a Russian missile attack, performed at the Rizatdinova Cup tournament. Her routine became one of the main highlights of the competition. As a result, the gymnast was awarded the title of "Miss Unbreakable."

 

 

When civilians are considered military targets to those to read Russian propaganda.

[macrosszero]

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/01/business/ukraine-russia-gas-eu-halted-hnk-intl/index.html

I'm surprised Ukraine was still handling Russian natural gas up till now. 

[Ender]

Can't make out if this would be a good thing yet for Ukraine. Glide bombs,, like the FAB/KAB gave Russia a huge advantage in advancing across most of the front lines. Ukraine had a bad 2024 year because of this, ontop of other issues from the USA

 

Edited January 1 by Ender

[Ender]

Russia missile hit Ukranian military target on New Year day.

 

Edited January 1 by Ender

[Kb27]

Ukraine stopped the flow of russian gas, 1 Jan 2025. Collateral damage is Transnistria. 

Now no gas, industries shut down. Feel the winter cold yet ? 😁

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/02/moldovan-region-transnistria-shuts-down-its-industries-after-loss-of-russian-gas

Russian gas shutdown forces closure of almost all industry in Transnistria

Russian gas shutdown forces closure of almost all industry in Transnistria

Pro-Russia Moldovan region suffers major hit after Ukraine ends transit agreement, with only food producers functioning

Reuters

Thu 2 Jan 2025 20.29 GMT

Share

The shutdown of Russian gas supplies to Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region has forced the closure of all industrial companies except food producers.

The mainly Russian-speaking territory of about 450,000 people, which split from Moldova in the 1990s as the Soviet Union collapsed, has suffered a painful and immediate hit from Wednesday’s cut-off of Russian gas supplies to central and eastern Europe via Ukraine.

“All industrial enterprises are idle, with the exception of those engaged in food production – that is, directly ensuring food security for Transdnistria,” Sergei Obolonik, first deputy prime minister of the region, told a local news channel.

“It is too early to judge how the situation will develop ... The problem is so extensive that if it is not resolved for a long time, we will already have irreversible changes – that is, enterprises will lose their ability to start up.“

Ukraine had allowed Russia to keep pumping gas across its territory despite nearly three years of war, and was earning up to $1bn a year in transit fees. But Kyiv refused to renew a five-year deal that expired on Wednesday.

 

European gas buyers such as Slovakia and Austria had prepared for the cut-off by securing alternative supplies. But Transnistria – despite its ties to Moscow and the presence of 1,500 Russian troops there – has been crippled.

The local energy company cut heating and hot water to households on Wednesday and urged families to keep warm by gathering in a single room, covering windows with curtains or blankets and using electric heaters.

The pro-Russian leader of Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky, said the region had gas reserves that could last for 10 days of limited usage in northern parts and twice as long in the south.

He said the main power plant had switched from gas to coal and should be able to supply electricity to residents in January and February.

Russia had been pumping about 2bn cubic metres of gas a year to Transnistria – including the power plant which also provided energy for the whole of Moldova, a country of 2.5 million people that wants to join the EU.

Moldova has a long history of gas payment disputes and tense relations with Russia. The ex-Soviet republic is trying to cut energy consumption by at least a third and import more than 60% of its needs from neighbouring Romania.

The head of the Moldovan national gas company Moldovagaz, Vadim Ceban, said his company had told the gas distribution company in the separatist enclave, Tiraspoltransgaz, that it was willing to help buy gas from European countries to ease shortages.

But any gas supplied to the region would have to be paid for at market prices, he told TV8 television. Transnistria has for several years paid nothing for supplies from the Russian gas giant Gazprom under a tacit understanding with Moscow.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has described the end of Russian gas transit as “one of Moscow’s biggest defeats” and urged the US to supply more gas to Europe.

Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe has reduced its dependence on Russian energy and increased imports from other sources including piped gas from Norway and liquefied natural gas from the US and Qatar.

The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the loss of Russian gas was hurting Europe economically, and the US was the beneficiary.

“Responsibility for the cessation of Russian gas supplies lies entirely with the United States, the puppet Kyiv regime, as well as the authorities of European states that sacrificed the wellbeing of their citizens for the sake of providing financial support for the American economy,” she said.

[inlinesix]

On 1/3/2025 at 10:09 AM, Kb27 said:

Ukraine stopped the flow of russian gas, 1 Jan 2025. Collateral damage is Transnistria. 

Now no gas, industries shut down. Feel the winter cold yet ? 😁

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/02/moldovan-region-transnistria-shuts-down-its-industries-after-loss-of-russian-gas

Russian gas shutdown forces closure of almost all industry in Transnistria

Russian gas shutdown forces closure of almost all industry in Transnistria

Pro-Russia Moldovan region suffers major hit after Ukraine ends transit agreement, with only food producers functioning

Reuters

Thu 2 Jan 2025 20.29 GMT

Share

The shutdown of Russian gas supplies to Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region has forced the closure of all industrial companies except food producers.

The mainly Russian-speaking territory of about 450,000 people, which split from Moldova in the 1990s as the Soviet Union collapsed, has suffered a painful and immediate hit from Wednesday’s cut-off of Russian gas supplies to central and eastern Europe via Ukraine.

“All industrial enterprises are idle, with the exception of those engaged in food production – that is, directly ensuring food security for Transdnistria,” Sergei Obolonik, first deputy prime minister of the region, told a local news channel.

“It is too early to judge how the situation will develop ... The problem is so extensive that if it is not resolved for a long time, we will already have irreversible changes – that is, enterprises will lose their ability to start up.“

Ukraine had allowed Russia to keep pumping gas across its territory despite nearly three years of war, and was earning up to $1bn a year in transit fees. But Kyiv refused to renew a five-year deal that expired on Wednesday.

 

European gas buyers such as Slovakia and Austria had prepared for the cut-off by securing alternative supplies. But Transnistria – despite its ties to Moscow and the presence of 1,500 Russian troops there – has been crippled.

The local energy company cut heating and hot water to households on Wednesday and urged families to keep warm by gathering in a single room, covering windows with curtains or blankets and using electric heaters.

The pro-Russian leader of Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky, said the region had gas reserves that could last for 10 days of limited usage in northern parts and twice as long in the south.

He said the main power plant had switched from gas to coal and should be able to supply electricity to residents in January and February.

Russia had been pumping about 2bn cubic metres of gas a year to Transnistria – including the power plant which also provided energy for the whole of Moldova, a country of 2.5 million people that wants to join the EU.

Moldova has a long history of gas payment disputes and tense relations with Russia. The ex-Soviet republic is trying to cut energy consumption by at least a third and import more than 60% of its needs from neighbouring Romania.

The head of the Moldovan national gas company Moldovagaz, Vadim Ceban, said his company had told the gas distribution company in the separatist enclave, Tiraspoltransgaz, that it was willing to help buy gas from European countries to ease shortages.

But any gas supplied to the region would have to be paid for at market prices, he told TV8 television. Transnistria has for several years paid nothing for supplies from the Russian gas giant Gazprom under a tacit understanding with Moscow.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has described the end of Russian gas transit as “one of Moscow’s biggest defeats” and urged the US to supply more gas to Europe.

Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe has reduced its dependence on Russian energy and increased imports from other sources including piped gas from Norway and liquefied natural gas from the US and Qatar.

The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the loss of Russian gas was hurting Europe economically, and the US was the beneficiary.

“Responsibility for the cessation of Russian gas supplies lies entirely with the United States, the puppet Kyiv regime, as well as the authorities of European states that sacrificed the wellbeing of their citizens for the sake of providing financial support for the American economy,” she said.

Ukraine Gas Transport Company gave 3-year Notice to all affected countries.

[Kb27]

On 1/3/2025 at 10:09 AM, Kb27 said:

Ukraine stopped the flow of russian gas, 1 Jan 2025. Collateral damage is Transnistria. 

Now no gas, industries shut down. Feel the winter cold yet ? 😁

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/02/moldovan-region-transnistria-shuts-down-its-industries-after-loss-of-russian-gas

Russian gas shutdown forces closure of almost all industry in Transnistria

Russian gas shutdown forces closure of almost all industry in Transnistria

Pro-Russia Moldovan region suffers major hit after Ukraine ends transit agreement, with only food producers functioning

Reuters

Thu 2 Jan 2025 20.29 GMT

Share

The shutdown of Russian gas supplies to Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region has forced the closure of all industrial companies except food producers.

The mainly Russian-speaking territory of about 450,000 people, which split from Moldova in the 1990s as the Soviet Union collapsed, has suffered a painful and immediate hit from Wednesday’s cut-off of Russian gas supplies to central and eastern Europe via Ukraine.

“All industrial enterprises are idle, with the exception of those engaged in food production – that is, directly ensuring food security for Transdnistria,” Sergei Obolonik, first deputy prime minister of the region, told a local news channel.

“It is too early to judge how the situation will develop ... The problem is so extensive that if it is not resolved for a long time, we will already have irreversible changes – that is, enterprises will lose their ability to start up.“

Ukraine had allowed Russia to keep pumping gas across its territory despite nearly three years of war, and was earning up to $1bn a year in transit fees. But Kyiv refused to renew a five-year deal that expired on Wednesday.

 

European gas buyers such as Slovakia and Austria had prepared for the cut-off by securing alternative supplies. But Transnistria – despite its ties to Moscow and the presence of 1,500 Russian troops there – has been crippled.

The local energy company cut heating and hot water to households on Wednesday and urged families to keep warm by gathering in a single room, covering windows with curtains or blankets and using electric heaters.

The pro-Russian leader of Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky, said the region had gas reserves that could last for 10 days of limited usage in northern parts and twice as long in the south.

He said the main power plant had switched from gas to coal and should be able to supply electricity to residents in January and February.

Russia had been pumping about 2bn cubic metres of gas a year to Transnistria – including the power plant which also provided energy for the whole of Moldova, a country of 2.5 million people that wants to join the EU.

Moldova has a long history of gas payment disputes and tense relations with Russia. The ex-Soviet republic is trying to cut energy consumption by at least a third and import more than 60% of its needs from neighbouring Romania.

The head of the Moldovan national gas company Moldovagaz, Vadim Ceban, said his company had told the gas distribution company in the separatist enclave, Tiraspoltransgaz, that it was willing to help buy gas from European countries to ease shortages.

But any gas supplied to the region would have to be paid for at market prices, he told TV8 television. Transnistria has for several years paid nothing for supplies from the Russian gas giant Gazprom under a tacit understanding with Moscow.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has described the end of Russian gas transit as “one of Moscow’s biggest defeats” and urged the US to supply more gas to Europe.

Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe has reduced its dependence on Russian energy and increased imports from other sources including piped gas from Norway and liquefied natural gas from the US and Qatar.

The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the loss of Russian gas was hurting Europe economically, and the US was the beneficiary.

“Responsibility for the cessation of Russian gas supplies lies entirely with the United States, the puppet Kyiv regime, as well as the authorities of European states that sacrificed the wellbeing of their citizens for the sake of providing financial support for the American economy,” she said.

😁

[Ender]

This is really bad for Ukraine. Already short of manpower issues, front lines not holding. Incase you guys don't follow the frontline at Kursk, Ukraine already lost half the size of Kursk they initially occupied.  I already saw the tweets on this MASS AWOL a few days ago, but wanted to wait for more verified sources. There is really a big issue with Ukraine's command structure at the highest level. I don't know if Syrskyi is the right choice for command chief. France has invested alot to train this well equipped brigade.

Only the new offensive by Russia at the south is holding, because of the Dnipro river which is a suicide to cross for the Russians

 

Major blow here. Ukraine has to lower their drafting age to 18 which Zelensky has resisted. Not enough man power. Also perhaps the front line is just too huge for them.

https://sg.yahoo.com/news/ukrainian-soldiers-trained-french-army-134140427.html

Flagship Ukrainian brigade trained in France goes AWOL

 

 

 

[Ghgan]

With a leader like Ursula von der Leyen, who need enemies? Well, it looks like Ukraine is going to miss out on Hungarian and Slovakian electricity this winter. The pressure goes both ways.

 

[inlinesix]

On 1/3/2025 at 8:37 PM, Ghgan said:

With a leader like Ursula von der Leyen, who need enemies? Well, it looks like Ukraine is going to miss out on Hungarian and Slovakian electricity this winter. The pressure goes both ways.

 

Ukrainian Gas Transport Company gave 3 years notice to affected countries.

These countries had been told that contract with Gazprom will not be renewed 

[Ghgan]

On 1/3/2025 at 9:05 PM, inlinesix said:

Ukrainian Gas Transport Company gave 3 years notice to affected countries.

These countries had been told that contract with Gazprom will not be renewed 

Good then, Europe will enjoy cheap gas from US like Ursula said. Hope Qatar will not stop gas sales to Europe, otherwise Europe will enjoy even more cheap gas from US.