It’s been a long day. I did not need a second shooting war in the trans-caucuses today! So I’m basically going to post President Zelenskyy’s address, the on the record press briefing by BrigGen Ryder – the Pentagon spokesman – from late today, one or two other things, and, of course, Patron.
But before I forget, here’s the Russian railway map. One of our commenters, whose commenting nym I can’t remember, emailed me this map of the lines and hub in Rostov.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump:
Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!
Today I held another meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The participants, as before, are Reznikov, Zaluzhny, Syrsky, Kovalchuk, Litvinov, Yermak, Monastyrskyi, Kubrakov, Danilov, Lebid and others.
The first and most important issue is the reports of commanders by direction. Oleksandr Syrsky reported on the successes in the Kharkiv region, Andriy Kovalchuk – on the movement of our troops in the south.
We considered the draft budget for defense and security for the next year.
The situation in the liberated territory of our state was analyzed in detail. As of now, stabilization measures have been completed in the districts with a total area of more than 4,000 square kilometers. Stabilization continues in the liberated territory of approximately the same size. Remnants of occupiers and sabotage groups are being detected, collaborators are being detained and full security is being restored.
Border guards are tasked with protecting the state border in the liberated territory.
Once again, I thank all our fighters who ensured such a large-scale and quick defeat of the invaders in the territory of the Kharkiv region!
By the way, today I signed another decree on awarding our warriors. 153 combatants were awarded state awards, 12 of them posthumously. All – for bravery in the battles in the east of our country – in the Kharkiv region, in Donbas.
It is very important that together with our troops, with our flag, ordinary normal life comes to the de-occupied territory. As an example, in Balakliya, in Hrakove, the payment of pensions for five months at once, for the time when we simply could not make payments due to the occupation, has already been started. And all Ukrainian pensioners in the liberated territory will receive payments. Ukraine always fulfills its social obligations to people.
Today I held a meeting with the Defense Ministers of Denmark and Estonia who arrived in Kyiv. Of course, we talked about further support for our state, about further pressure on Russia. I thanked them for the principled and consistent help in protecting people’s freedom and life.
I held negotiations with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. I thanked her for the allocation of $1.4 billion in additional support for our state. We discussed a new program of cooperation and, in general, the preservation of Ukraine’s financial stability.
We have a result in our work on security guarantees for our state. Today, a package of recommendations was presented by the international group led by Andriy Yermak and Anders Fogh Rasmussen – these are the recommendations that should form the basis of the future system of security treaties that will give Ukrainians peace of mind and guarantee the prevention of any war against Ukraine.
We are working to ensure that the strongest subjects of the free world become guarantors of the security of our state. So that at the multilateral and bilateral level, it is stipulated in detail who, how and when should react in case of any threat to the state security of Ukraine. React with sanctions, arms supply, all the necessary material and financial support.
The main thing is clear and legally binding steps, specific and timely actions, in particular, preventive actions aimed at preventing war and cooling the aggressor’s intentions. That is, everything that our country did not have before and because of which Russia had the illusion it could go unpunished for the war against Ukraine.
Together with our partners, we have already built a powerful anti-war coalition, which includes dozens of different states. And now we are working to ensure that the most powerful states that are already helping us become a coalition of peace that will last forever.
I spoke today with Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi. I informed him about the situation on the frontline, about the successes of our state. We always note: in every victory of Ukraine there is also a victory of those who, together with us, defend freedom and European values. Italy is among the strongest.
Mr. Draghi and I discussed the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the Russian provocations in great detail. Thank you for understanding that the demilitarization of the ZNPP is a fundamental condition for the return of radiation safety to all of us in Europe.
I am grateful to everyone who helps our country expel the occupiers!
I am grateful to each of our warriors who do everything to bring victory closer!
Glory to Ukraine!
BrigGen Ryder gave an on the record briefing today. Here it is with the relevant Q&A, though you may want to click through if you’re interested in the question about the issues with the Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL (BUD/S) course:
BRIGADIER GENERAL PAT RYDER: All right, good afternoon, everybody. So thank you very much for being here today. I have several items to provide at the top, and then I will be happy to take your questions.
First, as you’re aware, Secretary Austin and General Milley participated in the fifth Ukraine Defense Contact Group Meeting at Ramstein Air Base last week, along with senior defense leaders from nearly 50 countries from around the world. As Secretary Austin highlighted, these international leaders came into the meeting with a lot of momentum and concluded the session even more united and resolved to keep up the shared support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself.
During the meeting, Secretary Austin also announced the authorization of a presidential drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $675 million to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs, bringing the total amount of U.S. security assistance to $17.2 billion since 2014. And as we’ve seen this week, Ukraine continues to use this aid and that provided by other international partners to great effect on the battlefield in their fight to defend their country.
Separately, I want to highlight a couple of operations-related items. The Department of Defense is in support of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s efforts to provide assistance to Pakistan in the wake of massive flooding and the humanitarian assistance crisis there, and our condolences certainly go out to those who’ve been impacted by this terrible natural disaster. To date, the DOD has supported the U.S. government’s USAID-led response by providing critical airlift and staging support. U.S. Air Force C-17 and C-130 aircraft assigned to U.S. Air Forces Central Command have so far flown 10 missions into Pakistan, delivering over one million pounds of critical humanitarian supplies and equipment to aid the Pakistani people, and we expect this pace to continue over the next several days. Humanitarian relief supplies being transported include emergency food, drinking water, sanitation supplies and equipment, portable shelters, bedding, hygiene supplies and kitchen sets.
Also, on the DOD operations and exercise front, the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command are conducting Operation Noble Defender this week from September 12th through the 14th over Alaska and Canada’s Northwest Territories. This iteration of Noble Defender is a long-planned Arctic operation that will demonstrate the ability of Canadian and U.S. forces to integrate with defense and security partners for a holistic 360-degree defense of North America. This exercise has been conducted quarterly since 2019.
During the operation, NORAD aircraft, in part — excuse me — in partnership with U.S. Strategic Command, will conduct defensive maneuvers to demonstrate the ability to rapidly deploy military assets and conduct operations in defense of North America’s northern and western approaches.
In addition, UNITAS LXIII began last week in Rio de Janeiro. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running maritime exercises, which highlights our focus on strengthening our existing regional partnerships and encouraging the establishment of new relationships through the exchange of maritime mission-focused knowledge and expertise. More than 5,500 military personnel from 20 partner nations kicked off the exercise during an opening ceremony September 8th, which was hosted by Brazil. This year’s exercise includes 19 warships, vessels, one submarine and 21 aircraft, and is scheduled to run through September 22nd.
Also, here in Washington, D.C. this Thursday, as part of the U.S. Air Force and Department of the Air Force 75th Anniversary Commemoration, the U.S. Air Force will host a 75th Anniversary Tattoo at Audi Field which will include a scheduled flyover of current and historical aircraft representative of our nation’s air power advantage over time. Flyovers are scheduled between 6:45 and 6:55 P.M. Eastern time, and will include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and a variety of fifth- and fourth-generation aircraft, plus several historic planes, to include a B-17, B-25 and P-51.
And then finally, earlier this morning, Secretary Austin visited the British Embassy here in Washington, D.C. to sign a condolence book following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. As the secretary said in his statement last week, our thoughts are with Queen Elizabeth’s family, King Charles III, all those who loved her and with our stalwart British allies during this difficult time.
And with that, I’m happy to take your questions. We’ll start with Lita.
Q: Thanks, Pat. Two things, one — on the NASAMS, can you — my understanding was that none had been delivered yet to Ukraine. Is that still accurate? And do you have any sort of ETA on how long it will take before they get their first one?
And then second: This question has come up sort of intermittently over time. The Russian battalion tactical groups that are in Ukraine, we’ve heard over time, they’ve got up to over 100 that were in Ukraine. And I’m wondering, even if you can’t give us a very specific total, can you give us a sense of the number of Russian battalion groups or whatever the — the U.S. believes are still in Ukraine, considering the reports that obviously some have left, gone back into Russia?
GEN. RYDER: Sure. Your first question on the NASAMS, I don’t have a delivery time, you know, as part of the USAI process working with industry to have them manufacture that capability and provide it to Ukraine, so certainly, we’ll keep you updated on that front.
In terms of the number of Russian battalions and forces in Ukraine, I’m not going to have a — a high-level of granularity to provide here from the podium other than to say obviously, Russian forces do exist en masse in Ukraine. Certainly this week, we’ve seen a number of Russian forces especially in the northeast, in the Kharkiv region cross over the border back into Russia as they’ve retreated from the Ukrainian counteroffensive. But in terms of specific numbers, I’m not going to be able to provide that.
Q: Well, [inaudible] says, “Do you have a sense that, is this three years down the road, or is it maybe sometime — ” — even a general idea?
GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I don’t — I don’t want to put a timeline on it. I know that it is certainly a priority, but I don’t want to put a timeline on it. Thank you.
Idrees?
Q: Do you have any evidence that Russia has now used Iranian drones in Ukraine?
GEN. RYDER: We’ve seen the press reporting, and certainly seen comments by Ukrainian officials, but I don’t have any information with me right now to corroborate those reports.
Q: And the counteroffensive, would you describe sort of the pace of the counteroffensive as something the department found surprising and unexpected, or is this the timeline you expected it would sort of play out on?
GEN. RYDER: Well certainly, since the beginning of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, we’ve seen the Ukrainians demonstrate a remarkable adaptability in their ability to use their warfighting capabilities to great effect, so it’s not surprising to us that they have pushed as quickly as they have. They’ve also, again, shown a remarkable ability to take advantages of opportunities that present themselves on the battlefield, and the current counteroffensive in Kharkiv is no exception to that. I think if anyone was surprised, just based on the reports that we’ve seen in terms of the — the Russian military’s response, it was probably the Russians.
Ma’am?
Q: Does the Ukrainians’ ongoing offensive make the case to step up the speed and scale of the ongoing weapons deliveries from the U.S., but also from its partners?
GEN. RYDER: Well, I think from the very beginning, you know, as highlighted in my opening remarks, we have been working very closely with Ukraine and the international community to get aid to Ukraine as quickly as we can. And so I do not anticipate that we will let up on the throttle.
Sylvie?
Q: The Lithuanian Foreign Minister tweeted some harsh critics to — toward the U.S. recently. He said that Ukraine could have thrown Russia out months ago if they had been provided the right equipment right away. And he said that now, U.S. and the West in general should send them, as fast as possible, all their — their stockpiles of ATACMS and fighter jets. Do you agree with that assessment?
GEN. RYDER: Sylvie, I don’t — I don’t have anything to say in regards to the — the Minister’s particular comments. I will say that Secretary Austin and other U.S. government leaders continue to regularly engage with our Ukrainian counterparts.
I think last week’s meeting at — at Ramstein is a good example of how seriously we’re taking this and that we are constantly engaged in a dialogue to determine what are the needs of our Ukrainian partners, based on the conditions on the ground.
And as we’ve seen and as it — as evidenced by this counter-offensive, they are using the equipment they have to great effect to change the dynamics on the battlefield.
Q: They also ask for ATACMS.
GEN. RYDER: And we’ll continue to have those conversations with them to look at what they need immediately and into the long term.
Yeah, go ahead, Jim.
Q: To follow up on that a little bit. So it’s been six months since these weapons shipments have come on — been going in and the Ukrainians seem to be getting far better at the use and in like the combined use of that. Is that the feeling you got when you were in — in Ramstein?
GEN. RYDER: Well, again, since the beginning — I mean, if you go back in time and you look at the situation that the Ukrainians found themselves in February and you look at the situation that they find themselves in today, it is just that remarkable adaptability on the battlefield to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that exist, to use not only equipment that they’ve already had in their inventory but the equipment that has been provided to them by the U.S. and other international partners.
And so it is very evident that they continue to figure out ways to — to fight and to do it well. Thank you.
Yes, sir?
Q: So it’s been reported that the Ukrainians see — seized several thousand square kilometers of territory previously held by the Russians. Is the DOD, however, concerned that if there is not a decisive victory by the Ukrainians in this counter-offensive that Russia might seek to escalate the conflict, namely by, say, declaring a war and mobilizing its forces fully?
GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so I don’t want to speculate on what Russia might do next. Clearly, they’ve demonstrated their intent to keep fighting in — in Ukraine and to prolong their illegal occupation. We obviously, on our end, will continue to monitor the situation and — and our focus will continue to be on working with the Ukrainians and the international community to provide them with the support that they need.
But I will highlight that it is — you know, that President Putin could deescalate the situation tomorrow by withdrawing Russian forces, but as long as that doesn’t happen, we’ll continue to stand behind Ukraine.
Q: I just want to follow up on the — the aid shipment that was discussed. So specifically on those longer range munitions, has the successes that Ukraine has seen in this counter-offensive changed any perspectives within this building on what Ukraine might need for the successive offenses.
GEN. RYDER: Well, I think it’s — it’s an ongoing dialogue, right? And, you know, a couple of weeks ago, we had Dr. Kahl in here, who — he talked to the fact that part of those discussions are looking at the medium and long term for the — for the needs that the Ukrainians will have in order to defend their territory and their sovereignty long term.
And so — so that will be an area that we’ll just continue having that dialogue, in terms of what does that include and how best can we support them.
And let me do one more from the phone here. Jeff Seldin, VOA.
Q: Hi, thank you very much. Two questions, one on — on Ukraine and one on — on Afghanistan.
On Ukraine, we’ve heard from a number of — of senior Ukrainian officials warning Russia’s likely to launch a new wave of cyber-attacks, again going after Ukraine’s energy sector, financial sector, and that Russia is preparing some new cyber weapons that could be used beyond Ukraine. I’m wondering what the U.S. has seen on this front and — and — and what the Pentagon is doing to support both Ukraine and other allies who might become targets?
On Afghanistan, CENTCOM earlier put out a release about Exercise Eager Lion 22, noted participation of troops from Kazakhstan. I’m wondering, have there been any developments in — in the negotiations we heard about so long ago with Central Asian nations for possible basing agreements or permissions to help the U.S. counter-terrorism mission now that troops are no longer in Afghanistan?
GEN. RYDER: Jeff, on your second question, I’ll come back to it because I was having a hard time hearing specifically what you were asking about.
On your first question, in terms of Russian tactics in Ukraine, beyond what we’ve already seen both in Ukraine and elsewhere certainly cyber is a capability that Russia maintains. I don’t have any specifics to provide from the podium in terms of what exactly we’re seeing on the battlefield in Ukraine other than to say they have — that it is a TTP that they’ve employed, as you well know.
And then, I’m sorry, your second question about Afghanistan. What was the specific question?
Q: Thank you. First, can you give us sense of the Ukrainian casualties and how much equipment they’ve lost? I know we’ve heard some reports about how many have casualties the Russians have had. But which really interested in the Ukrainian side in this phase of the conflict?
GEN. RYDER: Sure.
Q: And then — and then also, my second question is can you comment on reports that Ukraine has captured several Russian generals?
GEN. RYDER: So on your first question, no, I’m not going to be able to provide details on Ukrainian casualty numbers nor lost equipment, especially while they’re engaged in — in active combat, nor — you know, as I’m sure you can appreciate, I — I don’t want to provide an intelligence assessment from here.
We have seen the reports, you know, in — in social media, on — in media about captured Russian generals. I don’t have anything to provide, again, to corroborate that information from here. Thank you.
Let me go to Tom and then back out to the phone.
Q: Thank you, sir. Two questions. One is a follow up on a briefing yesterday. Lara asked a question regarding Pentagon, Defense Department, U.S. support of Ukraine if they would go into Crimea and the response was “we support” — I’m paraphrasing slightly — “we support any areas the sovereignty of Ukraine.” I just want to make sure that Ukraine — I’m sorry — if it’s — Crimea is considered sovereign Ukraine.
GEN. RYDER: Well, again — yeah, so, I mean, Crimea was part of the — part of Ukraine that was invaded by Russia back in 2014, so certainly Crimea is part of Ukraine.
Q: I thought so. I just wanted to make sure cause that’s what had been said before, so thanks for that clarification.
Q: Over the course of the past six months, we’ve seen, on occasion, a reshuffling of — of Russian military leadership in Ukraine. For example, General Aleksandr Dvornikov was made the Theater Commander a couple of months ago, give or take. I was wondering, first, is he still the Theater Commander? And second, have you seen continued or more reshuffling of leadership as Russia tries to figure it out or — or improve its battlefield success or tactics?
GEN. RYDER: Yeah. Thanks, Oren. So as I’m sure you can appreciate, I’m — I’m not going to discuss the chain of command of Ukraine here. I think that’s really more appropriate for — I’m sorry — for Russia, same thing. I’d — I’d refer you to Russia to talk about their military and their staff and how they choose to organize. But thank you.
OK, Tara?
Q: Thank you. If Ukraine maintains this kind of shift in momentum and stays on the offensive, does that change the equation as to what types of weapons the U.S. might offer in future rounds? And what types of weapons would that maybe expand to?
GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so, you know, I’m not going to speculate, but certainly we will continue to have that open dialogue with Ukraine, in terms of what their needs are. And so certainly, I — I think — I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think that as the situation on the ground changes — and — and, you know, on that point, Ukraine has made some progress but there’s still a very tough fight and — a tough fight ahead. So I think we also need to keep that in mind.
But to answer your question, I think it is reasonable over time to continue, as we have that dialogue, to — to hear what their needs are, to work with the International Community — because, again, it’s not just the U.S. that’s providing assistance — to make sure that they have what they need, not only in the immediate term but also the — the middle and the — the long term. So…
Q: Could you give us a sense of what types of weapons that might include? Is that, you know, possibly tanks or — what other types of weapons?
GEN. RYDER: Again, I don’t want to do that from the podium right now, other than to say that will be an area for continued dialogue. And as we have updates, we’ll make sure to — to provide those.
So — OK, I’ll — you know what, it’s — let me take a few more. All right. OK, let me go to Luis and then we’ll go to the back of the room here. Luis?
Q: Thank you, sir. Can you confirm that the United States held tabletop exercises with the Ukrainian military about this counter — counteroffensive over the summer and provide us some input about what would work, what would not work?
And also, with regards to the current situation there on the ground, is it the — the assessment that the Ukrainians would need a larger force in order to retain the — the gains that they’ve made territorially up in the northeast?
GEN. RYDER: So on the first question, what I would tell you, Luis, is that we do engage with the Ukrainians, you know, at a — at a variety of levels on the military side. As we’ve said previously, we do provide time-sensitive information to enable them to conduct operations and defend their — their homeland. I’m not going to get into the specifics of — of what that might look like.
In terms of the Ukrainians and their ability to hold the territory that they’ve taken, you know, certainly that is a question for the Ukrainians. I will say that the battlefield — as always, any battlefield, is a dynamic and fluid place.
We’ll continue to — to monitor from our end and continue to keep our focus on supporting them, in terms of the equipment and the resources that they need, but really, they should be the ones to talk about what their game plan is to secure and hold the territory that they’ve gained.
OK. Yes, sir?
Q: Thank you, sir. Two questions. One, there is a debate going on as far as who is a winner and who is a — a — who is a loser in Ukraine. But my question is that always innocent people, whether they are military or civilians, are the losers always and there are — they pay the price, like here. Thousands have been killed and millions are now homeless. So what do we learn as — for in the future if a superpower like Russia invades a smaller, tiny nation? So where do — where do we go or what we learn? What is the message, sir?
GEN. RYDER: Well, certainly, as it — in the case of Ukraine, as has been said by many, this invasion was unprovoked, illegal, and to your point, many innocent people have died, and — and that’s a tragedy. And so, again, from a Department of Defense standpoint, we’ll continue to do our part to work with our international partners and our allies to support Ukraine in their fight to defend their country.
And as I mentioned before, President Putin has the ability to end this conflict tomorrow by withdrawing his forces, but if he chooses not to, then we’ll continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.
OK, last one.
Professor Gundmundsson is an Icelandic political scientist/data scientist who is doing yeoman’s work tracking and performing data analysis on losses in Ukraine. From casualties to KIAs to equipment.
⚡️ COUNTER-OFFENSIVE: 🇺🇦 LOSSES AS OF SEP 13
65 🇺🇦 equipment losses have been visually confirmed in the counter-offensive, compared to 541 🇷🇺 ones
+3 equipment losses added between days
📈 https://t.co/28XHp1CcEu pic.twitter.com/pL3HOUyids
— Ragnar Gudmundsson 🇮🇸🇺🇦 (@ragnarbjartur) September 13, 2022
Here’s the link to his site with all the fancy tables and charts and graphs, oh my!
Here’s yesterday’s translations from Russian media that were posted today by Dmitri:
Day 201, September 12. Summary of Arestovych and Feygin daily broadcast. This is provided by @savaadaak https://t.co/YX3tD06AZF
Battlefield update:
🇺🇦 officials reporting liberating over 6000 km², which is understatement due to reporting only verified and cleaned areas.— Dmitri (@wartranslated) September 13, 2022
🔥 Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi:
🇷🇺 did not manage to set up defense along river, the same did happen near Borova.
🔥 Izium:
🇷🇺 did retreat past Oskil, and set up defenses just behind river. One of main lessons in this war, is that defensive line along natural obstacles is great, especially if they go along settlements. There are photos of 🇺🇦 forces near Sviatohirsk, this creates dangerous situation for 🇷🇺 forces near Oskil.
🔥 Lyman:
🇷🇺 sources reporting that 🇺🇦 has crossed Siverskyi donets river near Zakitne, other sources mentioning that Lyman is barely holding. If that is true, and Lyman falls to 🇺🇦, then it opens road to Kremina and later Sievierodonetsk.
🔥 Siversk:
🇷🇺 and separatist forces complaining of bad situation near Spirne and near Bilohorivka
🔥 Horlivka-Marinka:
🇷🇺 holding defense, even attempting some useless probing attacks, thus destroying their infantry.
🔥 Vuhledar:
rumors of 🇷🇺 doing bad near Yehorivka
🔥 Zaporozhye:
🇷🇺 very afraid of offensive to Melitopol, it’s constantly getting reinforcements. Recently 4-6 BTGs have arrived there, setting up defenses. For 🇺🇦 to attack there, it would need a lot of forces, but it’s not impossible scenario.
🔥 Kherson:
Oleksandrivka near sea is already confirmed in 🇺🇦 control. Posad-Pokrovske also appears to be in 🇺🇦 control. Most interesting is situation near Davydiv Brid, new ground seems to be gained by 🇺🇦. From official reports, there are also advances at norther most part (Vysokopillia)
🔥 Kharkiv operation
continues, but it’s not going to be fast and easy anymore, more like Kherson, using natural borders. 🇺🇦 has resources to continue.
🔥 Internal conflicts:
[ audio recording, where 🇷🇺 military blaming LNR forces for fleeing and leaving equipment – 20 tanks, while generals begging to defend ].
However, intel reports that those were not LNR forces, but 11th corps from Kaliningrad. Now there is conflict between regular 🇷🇺 army and LNR.
In another report, Kadyrovites got in conflict with regular 🇷🇺 army near Kherson.🔥 Ukraine bombings:
🇺🇦 keeps attacking warehouses and command posts. Recently high level headquarters of 🇷🇺 VDV were hit in Kherson.
🔥 Russian military:
Leaked intel shows 🇷🇺 ceasing to send new units to 🇺🇦, many refusing. Top 3 reasons are: disbelief in command, huge losses, not understanding perspective of war.
Commander of 🇷🇺 Western military district replaced after 15 days in position. Position now taken by Lapin. This illustrates collapse of command chain, and previous chaos in Kharkiv direction.🔥 Kharkiv Thermal Power Plant:
As usual, when 🇷🇺 cant win in battlefield, they take revenge on civilians. Light was restored in 2 hours at some areas. 🇺🇦 has created HQ on fixing emergency energy issues, there are significant reserves available. This attack won’t stay without response.
West reacted strongly, expecting tightening of sanctions, including responsible persons, increased speed of weapons delivery.🔥 War crimes:
Newly liberated territories have war crimes already discovered.
🔥 Collaborators
Collaborators and immigrants in occupied territories can face up to 12-15 years in prison, and they do not get exchanged in POW exchange. Best action for them, is to flee to 🇷🇺 now. Let everyone remember – there won’t be 🇷🇺 here.
🔥 Kadyrov sends more troops
They don’t participate in battles, but try to catch deserters, participate in filtration, harass local population while searching for artillery spotters. Right now some are located on West bank of Dnipro river, uncertain if they will make out of there.
Each day fewer Russians continue buying the Russian Ministry of Defence crap and appear to be opening their eyes. This text has been shared by a bunch of channels, it blames MoD for reporting single strikes while the army is retreating, and is financed by regular citizens. pic.twitter.com/jqzLYcqxIc
— Dmitri (@wartranslated) September 13, 2022
The video in this tweet below shows just how messed up the Russian military is:
-Where were you going?
-…Near Izyum.
-Advancing or retreating?
-No clue.
-Why are you in Ukraine?
-I am a dumbfuck.
-Rank?
-Seaman First Class
-F L O A T I N G T A N K S???
-I was reasigned to a tank, given a week of training.
-Fleet?
-Baltic Fleet.
-You are lucky to be alive. pic.twitter.com/NzMOA6n8xB— Horesmi🚩🇺🇦 (@Horesmi) September 12, 2022
I have no adequate words.
But it does explain this:
This regiment takes part in the invasion since the very beginning, and has tens of confirmed POWs and God knows how many KIAs.
— Mark Krutov (@kromark) September 12, 2022
Nearly all reports contain "physical and mental fatigue" as a reason to leave "special military operation" area. No wonder – this unit (31135) is known for "unique practice of after-lunch nap for soldiers". (https://t.co/U6Zg5avgHL) pic.twitter.com/fSJY0KoOpD
— Mark Krutov (@kromark) September 12, 2022
I showed these reports to my Ru mil source and he says they look pretty authentic to him: "It's alright, common practice in the army. Some clerk can sit down and write a report for many". pic.twitter.com/rJ3mlH5nVZ
— Mark Krutov (@kromark) September 13, 2022
Ukrainian partisans are on the hunt!
“Be ready! We know the paths that you patrol! Kherson – it is Ukraine 🇺🇦.”
Partisans against occupation. pic.twitter.com/G7RgAuZ0Ko
— Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) September 13, 2022
Here’s former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessment of the situation in Kharkiv:
IZIUM/1330 UTC 13 SEP/ UK Intel discloses that the prestigious Russian 1st Guards’ Tank Army has been destroyed. This top-teir force is the largest single unit lost by Russia since World War II. Information is evolving, but captured RU troops may number in 10s of thousands. pic.twitter.com/QhXUgCHtzr
— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) September 13, 2022
My understanding is that after the Kharkiv offensive over 50% of the remaining tanks in the 1st Guards Tank Army had been destroyed. The British MOD’s assessment for today has more details:
It is important to remember that the “Guard” part of their name is there because one of their primary mission essential tasks is guarding Moscow. Which they won’t be doing much of anytime soon.
Your daily Patron!
A new video from Patron’s official TikTok account. Wait for it, wait for it!
@patron__dsns
Here’s the caption:
Open thread!
ssdd
There’s a report they aren’t only raiding the navy for boots on the ground but the strategic rocket forces as well: https://twitter.com/trenttelenko/status/1569834731944177667?s=21&t=84xn-EIymetQIzbBZI00eA
Jeffro
It is mind-boggling to think about what conducting ‘war’ looks like in the third decade of the 21st century.
The sheer amount of battlefield data flowing out to…well…essentially the world, through all of these open sources…it’s just <mind blown>
zhena gogolia
In the video of the sailor, I don’t hear him say he’s a dumbfuck. I hear him say he’s a Tatar from Kazan. If anyone here can hear what they’re translating as “I’m a dumbfuck,” please let me know. It’s hard to understand.
Adam L Silverman
@zhena gogolia: That may be editorializing?
cain
@zhena gogolia:
I wouldn’t state he was a dumbfuck, just a soldier following orders.
What a fucking mess – and I feel bad for everyone in this situation. Putin is going to lose his shirt, arousing the GOP for sure. But there is going to be political consequences for the man – if the populace finds out that he’s losing – he himself will likely get defenestrated.
My bet is that the UKRs are gonna take back everything and be sitting on a ton of captured soldiers and then they’ll demand a peace treaty. I don’t think they’ll attempt to go into Russia and into Moscow.
Anonymous At Work
Who handles supplying Ukraine with winter survival gear and rationing for troops? Is that a DoD thing or a general humanitarian thing that gets spread to the military?
Gin & Tonic
@zhena gogolia: I’m not getting it either, but my hearing isn’t so hot anymore, especially when there’s crosstalk.
Frankensteinbeck
The question about what if Putin declares war and orders a general mobilization felt odd to me. It’s the same as instructing the oligarchs to raise armies. Who will be the troops? Who will train them? What equipment will they use? How will they be transported anywhere useful? Putin is already scraping the bottom of the barrel on all of these issues with his existing military.
Gin & Tonic
@cain:
I don’t.
zhena gogolia
@cain: No, there is no chance they are going into Russia except for defensive purposes along the border. Why would they want to invade Russia? They just want to be left the fuck alone in their own country.
The stupidity, the tragedy, the horror of this whole thing.
zhena gogolia
@Adam L Silverman: I guess so. But I have trouble hearing mumbling, so I thought maybe I missed something.
Michael Cain
Thanks for the railroad map. Dang, that’s a long way around if they have to reinforce/resupply Kherson and the land bridge by way of Crimea to stay out of range of HIMARS and Excalibur rounds.
dr. luba
@zhena gogolia: I can’t her it, either, but I have old ears…..I don’t hear the question of “Why are you in Ukraine?” either.
YY_Sima Qian
I thought “Guards” was an honorific dating to Imperial Russia, given to military formations that had shown outstanding performance on the battlefield. It was re-instituted during WW II by Stalin to boost morale & unity in face of the German invasion (like other symbolisms from imperial days, including the sudden tolerance for Orthodox Christianity). Please of “Guards” formations are stationed far from Moscow.
Michael Cain
@Anonymous At Work:
If NATO hasn’t been digging into winter weather and other gear and started it moving towards Ukraine, I’d be really surprised.
zhena gogolia
@dr. luba: Me either.
Alison Rose 💙🌻💛
In my head, I read ATACMS at Attackmas, so it’s like Christmas, but WAR. Which as a Jew, works fine for me.
Am I overly cynical if I read the accounts of russian citizens starting to wake up to the bullshit they’re being told and I just think……………..this is just more disinfo?? I just feel like we can’t trust a dang thing that comes out of that country.
Thank you as always, Adam.
dr. luba
@zhena gogolia: Maybe the tweeter was adding his own commentary/trying for a laugh? No one following him seems to know Russian. No comments on this there.
dmsilev
@Alison Rose 💙🌻💛: I always read the acronym as ‘attack-ems’. Seems a bit generic I guess, since that would fit most weapons.
Gin & Tonic
@zhena gogolia: Thirded.
zhena gogolia
@dr. luba: Yeah, I guess that’s it.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@Frankensteinbeck: Not to mention the Russian said their volunteers are refusing to go now.
Ishiyama
A significant gap in technological achievement between forces can alter the situation on the ground rapidly. If the modern Western precision weapons were the key to the recent Ukrainian successes, it might prove decisive in short order.
Alison Rose 💙🌻💛
@dmsilev: Haha, that’s good, though. Kinda sounds like if someone didn’t know the proper military word for a certain weapon so they were like “Uh, you know…….those uhhh…..attack-ems? Yeah, those!”
Adam L Silverman
@Alison Rose 💙🌻💛: Read it as attackems.
Calouste
Russia has been recruiting prisoners as soldiers. Not surprising for minimally trained troops, casualty rates have been extremely high.
Wapiti
@YY_Sima Qian: That was my understanding, too. The units might be considered elites, but the honors go back to WWII.
JanieM
Adam: “I did not need a second shooting war in the trans-caucuses today! ” — What does this mean? I can’t find any headlines….. Am I missing a joke somehow?
jonas
@Anonymous At Work:
The Finns, Norwegians, and Swedes can probably help with that.
Calouste
@Alison Rose 💙🌻💛: Russian casualties (killed/wounded) and POWs are now estimated to be around 100,000. That means that there are a lot of Russians who know one of those killed, wounded, or captured soldiers personally.
Wapiti
@Anonymous At Work: I’m not sure who would handle it; I’d expect DoD might be involved in winter rations for military forces. Reflexively, I think the humanitarian aid is never supposed to go to military. It might be able to be used to feed enemy prisoners, but I’m not sure on that.
YY_Sima Qian
@JanieM: Fighting between Azerbaijan & Armenia has resumed.
Peale
@Alison Rose 💙🌻💛: I always know its Attackmas season when my friends and relatives start sending me greeting cards. Well, not really cards, per se. More like a blue envelop with the ace of spades inside with the traditional “You’ve been warned, asshole” written on it in a sharpie. Warms my heart that soon Attackmas Eve will arrive and my Great Aunt Pearl will soon be jumping out the hedges to club me with a 9 iron like she’s done since I was a kid.
Calouste
@JanieM:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/13/deadly-clashes-erupt-in-disputed-territory-between-azerbaijan-and-armenia?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Wapiti
(deleted comment as repetitive)
Lyrebird
@zhena gogolia: Thanks, what you said makes more sense with the audio and video. I Played it a couple times even before I saw your comment, trying to find that part, because I didn’t see any big difference in his manner. No twinge or air of regret.
@dr. luba:
I agree, tweeter may be trying to be witty or didn’t understand that part.
I only understand a few words, but with Zhena Gogolia’s translation, it’s really clear – some question about his identity, he’s a Khazansky, are you a Tatar?, yes clearly.
jonas
@YY_Sima Qian:
“The Guard dies. It does not surrender.”
Alison Rose 💙🌻💛
@Peale: LOLOL
JanieM
@Calouste:
@Wapiti:
Thank you.
Alison Rose 💙🌻💛
@Adam L Silverman: Now that I’ve seen it that way, it does make more sense.
a thousand flouncing lurkers (was fidelio)
Adam, many thanks for all this, whether it’s one war or two.
But were you trying to say Trans-Caucasus, with FYACOWRECK trying to turn the mountains into a political meeting?
Alison Rose 💙🌻💛
BTW if there are any others here in/near Sonoma County, hope you’re all okay. That felt way fucking bigger than a 4.4, I’m just saying. Yikes.
jonas
@Calouste:
Even if it’s half that, it’s absolutely insane. Those are WWI/WWII-level casualties, not anything that’s typically seen in 21st century conflicts. Russia was already in a demographic death spiral. If that many soldiers have been done in already, it’s game over. I don’t see how the Russian military or the country as a whole recovers for this in my, or any of our, lifetimes.
Edmund Dantes
https://twitter.com/scooperon7/status/1569849563644674048?s=46&t=zFycqDZKJPBwCFKFuYDFEQ
at least one bomb went off at northeastern university. One person to hospital.
Lyrebird
@dr. luba: So is “bez panyatna” the no clue part?
My medium ears agree with your ears. There is nothing except machine noise between no clue and the question that gets the Kazanski answer.
Barbara
@Peale: Like Festivus but with actual weapons?
dmsilev
@Edmund Dantes: I have family members who work there, though from what I know of the campus they’re not immediately adjacent to the building that was attacked. Not fun.
Origuy
I clicked on the link to russiantrains.com to see the railway network. The page is in English for me. I saw that they had a connection to Odessa (Odesa), so I tried to book a ticket from Moscow. I got the message: We have temporarily suspended processing new bookings of Russian train tickets. If you are an existing customer and need to modify or cancel your tickets, please Log in to My profile. For any other questions, please contact our Support team
I tried Moscow to St Petersburg, same thing. I switched to Russian and selected EUR instead of USD. This time I got: We did not find any trains But we can try harder, just click the search button again
Have they suspended passenger train service or just not selling outside Russia?
Ksmiami
@YY_Sima Qian: because it’s 2022, let’s just add more crap on crap… this fucking decade man
dr. luba
@Lyrebird: Yes. Basically “I have no idea.”
Another Scott
@Peale: I saw a neighbor has some of their Halloween decorations up in their yard today.
:-/
Early on Kamil Galeev was saying on his gigantic Twitter threads that VVP’s strongest support for the war was coming from the babushkas. Maybe he expects them to volunteer next??
Cheers,
Scott.
phdesmond
@Edmund Dantes:
been a while since Boston had a bomb.
Urza
The FBI seems to have seized Lindel’s phone at a random Arby’s. Adding to a great day with Starr dying. I really want video of the phone seizure. And all the other accomplices if possible.
dmsilev
@Urza: Please please please tell me that the phone seizure included the phrase ‘Sir, this is an Arby’s’.
kalakal
@Edmund Dantes: So no warning then? That’s evil.
kalakal
@Another Scott: And I thought all those idiot pensioners in the UK wibbling on about how wonderful Brexit is were bad.
Carlo Graziani
Thanks for the railroad maps. There’s an excellent collection of detailed maps included at this site of railroad maps of Europe at the University of Michigan, broken up by region of Russia, as well as a separate map for Ukraine (including Crimea).
My question, however, which I probably did not state clearly, is this: what railroad depots are the Russians using currently to support their war effort in Ukraine? Where are the other nodes analogous to the Belgorod terminus?
This is significant in light of documented Russian logistical practice of relying on rail to move materiel long distances, and only relying on their crappy, unreliable trucks for short hauls to the front lines. Knowing where those other terminuses are probably tells us something about what the Ukrainian General Staff is thinking about future developments in the war.
I think that the reason the Ukrainians decided it was worth the gamble of the Kharkhiv offensive despite their commitments around Kherson is that they saw the Russians turning the area into an economy of force region, and realized that for the cost of detaching a few battalions (Kofman estimates 4-5) they could totally sever the Russian Western theater from its main base of supply at Belgorod, which was a brilliant stroke (and an asinine and arrogant lapse by the Russians). The Russian collapse that resulted must have come as a bit of a (not unwelcome) surprise to them. Nonetheless, there’s evidence (see this article from the Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies) that the Ukrainian army has been focusing on Russian logistical weakness since the earliest days of the war, so I think it’s much more likely that they were aiming for a logistical interdiction than for the kind of WWII “Achtung Panzer” blitzkrieg that they wound up pulling off (on a smaller scale than the original).
So there’s the motivation. There’s certainly a railhead in Crimea, fed over the Kerch Straits bridge, which I’m sure is going to get some attention one of these days, and is probably an important reason the Ukrainians would like a brace of ATACMS with 500lb warheads. Are there other ones? Is Rostov-on-Don (seems obvious) one, or is it becoming one now?
Calouste
@kalakal: Thing was that the British pensioners who were old enough to have experienced WWII were majority against Brexit. The pensioners who were slightly younger and only grew up with the heroic stories of WWII were the ones who voted for Brexit.
Pappenheimer
@jonas: I think the actual phrase, untranslated from the French, was “merde”
phdesmond
@Pappenheimer:
a useful euphemism: https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/mot_de_Cambronne
YY_Sima Qian
@Calouste: It’s the self-serving national mythologies that get countries into trouble.
Omnes Omnibus
@Pappenheimer: Which is up there with “Nuts!” as a response to a demand for surrender.
Spadizzly
@zhena gogolia: He said ” я долбоеб” and repeated it for emphasis.
ETA: spelling
Feathers
The bomb at Northeastern was a package bomb that injured the staff member who opened it. It was at Holmes Hall, which houses the journalism as well as the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies programs.
FBI is reporting that there were two packages that exploded Tweet from Boston TV reporter
Priest
Cancel culture at work.
Frankensteinbeck
@Another Scott:
I find the main argument of that thread very interesting: That Putin isn’t just using up his regular army in this war, he’s using up his siloviki, his police and internal security and all-around thug enforcers. Putin’s terror hold on the upper as well as lower ranks of Russia’s society is weakening, because he’s running out of jackbooted thugs to drag dissenters away. If this keeps up and mobs and oligarchs and everyone in-between start thinking there’s no one to make them obey, Putin could become a ruler without a country. Or just dead.
I do remember that early on, when Kiev didn’t instantly crumble, Putin sent in his paratroopers – and they got slaughtered, shot to pieces, because they’re not actual soldiers. They’re riot police, chosen to look impressive and trained to terrorize civilians. Their elite troops rep was bullshit, but maybe more importantly, they’re dead and they ain’t available to quell riots no more.
Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]
@Frankensteinbeck: I find it insane that Putin is ordering the oligarchs to raise armies. how does he reliably insure that the oligarchs don’t get fed up and say “March on Putin’s Dacha”.
MobiusKlein
@Feathers:
Yikes – my daughter goes to the college out west Northeastern took over – Mills College in Oakland. I was remembering recently how much bomb threats were a thing at high schools when I was young, and commented how it never actually happens.
Wrong, again.
Jay
How’s your morale?
Medicine Man
@Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]:
I’m not sure I believe the rumours that Putin wants the oligarchs to build private armies. I cannot see him giving up the monopoly of force in Russia, especially not to a class of people he has terrorized in the past.
Tim J
Given all the talk about how Russia is reliant on railheads for the bulk of its logistics, it seems like one of the biggest things we can do to improve the future security of Ukraine and Eastern Europe would be to pay for the conversion of the rail gauge from 1520mm/1524mm to 1435mm in all the friendly countries that use 1520mm/1524mm (Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland).
If the Russians have to convert the rail gauge as they go, or transfer supplies between trains at the border then that’s going to exacerbate their logistical problems.
Hopefully as they retake each area, the Ukrainians are destroying all tracks between the Russian border and the last town/village in Ukraine.
Jesse
Does anyone remember what the feeling was in the mil-vet community back in 2011 with the killing of OBL?
Context: I got into Chuck Pfarrer through his book Warrior Soul shortly before the war in Ukraine broke out. I found it pretty interesting, and found myself liking the guy. I read No Easy Day about the killing of OBL by a Navy SEAL who was there. Only later did I learn that Pfarrer also has a book, offering an alternative account of the killing. The Department of Defense rejects Pfarrer’s telling of the OBL story, which, amazingly, has zero references to anything. I wonder: did Pfarrer go off the deep end, feeling the need to offer “alternative facts” about the OBL killing, to spite Obama? The No Easy Day book I mentioned earlier ends with a very much off-color account of how pissed some SEALs were about Obama. Not for any substantive reason, just that, well, it’s Obama. He shouldn’t get any credit for the OBL thing (goes the thinking).
Anyway, after learning that about Pfarrer, I certainly think of him differently, and view his Ukraine tweets differently.
Amir Khalid
@Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]:
I had that same thought. If that idea succeeded, Putin would risk turning his oligarchs into warlords and maybe Russia into a new Afghanistan.
Grey Michael
@cain: While I like where you’re coming from as a general attitude towards others; in this case I don’t agree.
Many of these soldiers/sailors/airmen or airwomen, have been enticed by sign-up bonuses and promises of even more to come as a result of their tour of duty. Personally, I can’t feel sorry for what are essentially mercs to me.
Another thing to consider, what war crimes will be uncovered in these newly freed cities and towns? How many civilians might this person have tortured or worse, like in Bucha?
The Russian war machine is a horde of criminals, whose crimes will never be fully counted; its depth of depravity, never fully understood, and whose leadership will most likely never be fully held to account. I can’t stand the people who have done this, whether it’s in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Chechnya, Georgia, and countless other countries. I don’t believe any Russian service member is completely ignorant of all of the things done in all of these places covering decades of time. On some level, they know wha will be asked of them beyond fighting, and still sign up to serve.
Tony Jay
@kalakal:
How does the phrase go? Porky Noz Doss?
As long as both sides of the conflict show proper respect by refraining from shooting, running, walking, driving, supplying, resupplying, aiming, ducking, advancing, retreating, living, dying or otherwise existing outside of the choking bubble of fusty paralysis surrounding the death of Earth’s Beloved Grandmama, I don’t see a problem. /s
Chetan Murthy
Jokes from Russia: http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/09/ukrainians-are-different-than-russians.html
zhena gogolia
@Spadizzly: Thank you!
zhena gogolia
@Spadizzly: That really could become the slogan of the Russian army.
lowtechcyclist
@Frankensteinbeck:
After we’d been in Iraq a year or two, Bush of course didn’t want to reinstate the draft even though he really needed to, to sustain our manpower levels. Remember how he went through every trick in the book to avoid that? Making massive use of the reserves and National Guard units, putting naval troops on land duty in Iraq, even dragging people back up from the Individual Ready Reserve. Plus several other things I’ve forgotten in the past 17-18 years.
What Putin’s done reminds me very much of that. And just like Bush didn’t have anywhere near enough troops to pacify Iraq, Putin doesn’t have enough troops to hold onto his territorial gains, and has pretty much emptied the well in terms of capable troops. He can get more warm bodies if he mobilizes, but that’s all they’d be. He’s screwed.
Anonymous At Work
@Michael Cain: Probably be lost for reply but the military probably won’t take direct civilian donations from a foreign national. Charitable relief organizations will. Trying to figure where to direct my money to make sure winter supplies are properly had by all Ukrainians.
Torrey
@Anonymous At Work:
I’ll try to find the link to the interview, but I heard a member of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada recommend “Come Back Alive” as a good place to donate. I’ve heard it from others as well. You can also donate to the military (or for humanitarian or rebuilding purposes) via United24, which is a Ukrainian government organization. Wingmen for Ukraine is an American charity run by pilots and focused on getting supplies to members of the Ukrainian Air Force. I see none of those are on Gin & Tonic’s list, and there may be a reason for that. But I recall Gin & Tonic’s list was put together early in the war, and United24 was founded later, as was, I think, Wingmen for Ukraine. “Come Back Alive” however, has been around for a while.
Speaking of Gin & Tonic’s list, under the BJ heading “War in Ukraine,” there’s a link to “Ways to Help Ukraine.” Which is Gin & Tonic’s list
lee
@Anonymous At Work:
List of Ukrainian charities. Check the thread I think most have been vetted.
lowtechcyclist
@Jesse:
That attitude on their part galls me. If all it took was giving the order, then why didn’t the Shrub do it? He had seven years and four months to have bin Laden killed. (After ignoring increasingly frantic warnings from our intel community for the first eight months of his administration. Fuck Bush, and fuck Dick Cheney.)
Jinchi
I remember one of Bush’s cabinet members was asked in an interview about how we could find bin Laden. The response being “We know where he is” with the implication being he was in Pakistan.
John Stewart reporting it on the Daily Show retorted “Then why don’t you go get him.”
Bush didn’t go after him, because they didn’t think it was a priority and didn’t want blowback from the Pakistanis. They were bored with Afghanistan. They wanted to conquer Iraq, instead.
lowtechcyclist
@Jinchi:
When it was clear that Bush had basically abandoned the hunt for bin Laden, I often thought about the soliloquy that Bogart as Sam Spade has at the end of The Maltese Falcon:
In fact, I posted that quote several times over the years, at the forum I hung out at back in those days. And I’d add on:
Enhanced Voting Techniques
Wow, The Cold War on You Tube was talking about Homo Sovieticus, in one of their videos. And this all sounds Putin is the ultimate expression of this way of thinking
Wiki on Homo Sovietcus
That fascination with B-List celibs sure explains Steven Segal and even Donald Trump.
There is also a quip about the Homo Sovieticus would prefer to live in the West if he could, but the West really needs to ban all liberal parties and become a police state. That’s what the Russian Oligarchs have been trying for decades with their money.
So basically this whole mess is because of some kind of weird zombie Communists Cosplayers who can’t stop.
StringOnAStick
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: Interesting, thanks for posting this. I had recently been thinking about the quite in your first paragraph regarding “work” vs “pay”.
Chris Johnson
@Alison Rose 💙🌻💛: The problem is that it’s all quite plausible but they’re mad that their army isn’t WINNING. It’s not good.
The thing we don’t want to see is Putin replaced with a crazier guy who, along with too many of the Russian people, is just like ‘fuck it. EVERYBODY DIES. Glory to russia! If we can’t have the world nobody can! Nuke everything!’
This is what we don’t want. Mind you they may well not have working nukes, not like the rest of the military is working either. But we don’t want Russia with that mindset, and they’re converging on that mindset, which is bad.
Spadizzly
@zhena gogolia: Any time! Apologies for the extremely late reply; I was called away all day.
Spadizzly
@zhena gogolia:
A Tatar from Kazan complained
That his unit was utterly untrained
“Now I’m just a dumbfuck
who’s just shit outta luck
And there’s no way this can be sustained.
Spadizzly
@Gin & Tonic: @dr. luba: @zhena gogolia:
Usually I read through all comments if I post anything, but this time I didn’t. (Note to self: Read the comments)
These 71 yo ears heard the audio as follows:
0:22-0:23 very slurred question “why did you come here?”
responds @ 0:25 “долбоёб”
0:26 “Haah?”
0:27 “я долбоёб” (distinct, IMO)
HTH
Слава Україні!