Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

People are complicated. Love is not.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

You cannot shame the shameless.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Bark louder, little dog.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

The republican caucus is already covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

“woke” is the new caravan.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

Consistently wrong since 2002

Battle won, war still ongoing.

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 360: Almost a Full Year of Russia’s Genocidal War Against Ukraine and Ukrainianness

War for Ukraine Day 360: Almost a Full Year of Russia’s Genocidal War Against Ukraine and Ukrainianness

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(Image by NEIVANMADE)

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump:

Dear Ukrainians, I wish you health!

This day began with preventive power outages in some regions of our state. These outages were required to protect networks and generation facilities from another Russian missile attack.

And we end this Saturday without power outages in almost the entire territory of our state. Apart from Odesa, where the recovery continues after previous attacks and some areas where networks were damaged by wind gusts. Most of the territory of Ukraine has power. Most of our people have electricity.

And it is another confirmation of our resilience, the strength of Ukraine, and the colossal work that was and is being done by many people. By everyone who restores and protects energy. By all who work to strengthen our air defense. By all our partners who help. And, of course, by all our soldiers who defend Ukraine every day, every night as part of the Air Force and all our defense and security forces.

I thank everyone who contributed to the defense of the Ukrainian sky and the state’s power system! It is a very important result for Ukraine. The result we achieved together.

We will continue doing everything possible and impossible to give Ukraine more air defense, more guarantees of stability, and more protection against any Russian strikes.

Today in Germany, in Munich, the security conference continued. It is the second day of the conference. Not just the Ukrainian topic, but the topic of Ukrainian victory, which we are approaching, obviously dominated the discussions at the conference today. There are important statements by world leaders in support of our state, and there are signals about strengthening weapons for our defense. It applies, in particular, to long-range missiles, other weapons, and the long-term support of Ukraine.

I am grateful to all the leaders for their support and for what happened yesterday. And for the signals that were in Munich today, which confirm that Russian aggression will have only one final, namely the defeat of the terrorist state. And we must do everything to hasten the Russian defeat. The pressure of the world should be such that Russia does not have time to find new forms of terror.

By the way, our diplomatic work next week will be devoted to exactly this – the acceleration of our movement. We expect important news for Ukraine, and for our security.

Traditionally, I want to thank all those, who are currently defending the state on the battlefield. I especially want to note everyone, who defends Donetsk region. The most brutal and principled fighting is going on there. Confrontation, which a lot of what we are preparing for the near future depends on.

I thank the paratroopers of the 79th Separate Assault Brigade, the Marines of the 35th Separate Marine Brigade, the infantrymen of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, the soldiers of the 55th Separate and 27th Rocket Artillery Brigades. Thanks to all of you, warriors!

Today, there is something to celebrate with the fighters who fight near Zaporizhzhia. The 128th Separate Brigade of the territorial defense forces – thank you, guys, for repelling the attacks!

I would also like to thank all our signalmen today for their excellent service! To everyone who efficiently and timely provides logistics for our troops, and to all the Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine! Thank you!

Thank you to everyone for whom the stability of Ukraine and our positions are an unconditional personal, official, and professional priority!

And one more.

This week, we received strong signals from our partners, and concrete agreements regarding the inevitability of holding Russia accountable for aggression, for terror against Ukraine and its people.

Every Russian attack on the city of Kharkiv and the region, Sumy region and Donetsk region, Khmelnytsky, our Nikopol, and every corner of our state will have concrete legal consequences for the terrorist state.

It applies not only to the evil that Russia has brought since February 24 but also since 2014. We remember everything. We remember Ilovaisk, we remember the Donetsk airport. We remember the battles for Debaltseve – especially today – and every attack on our people.

We have to restore justice. We will do it. Let’s do it together with the whole world.

Glory to each and every one who is in battle today!

Eternal memory to all those, whose lives were taken by this war, this state – Russia – and its aggression!

Glory to Ukraine!

Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessments of the situations in Bakhmut and Kreminna:

 

Chaplynka:

Mariupol:

 

Yuzhnoukrainsk in Mykolaiv Oblast:

Not sure where this is, but it’s somewhere in eastern Ukraine:

Here’s what it looked like from the Ukrainian Soldier’s perspective:

The tweet machine translates as:

Impressive first-person combat. This is how the assault on positions takes place in small assault groups. Today the guy in the trench did it, tomorrow they might kill him already – the fight is literally hand-to-hand for every meter.

Somewhere in Dontesk:

Britain: Weapons free!

Poland – Tallyho!

Another milestone:

Secretary of State Blinken has concluded that some Russian military personnel have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine:

Crimes Against Humanity in Ukraine

PRESS STATEMENT

ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE

FEBRUARY 18, 2023

Based on a careful analysis of the law and available facts, I have determined that members of Russia’s forces and other Russian officials have committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine. Members of Russia’s forces have committed execution-style killings of Ukrainian men, women, and children; torture of civilians in detention through beatings, electrocution, and mock executions; rape; and, alongside other Russian officials, have deported hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians to Russia, including children who have been forcibly separated from their families. These acts are not random or spontaneous; they are part of the Kremlin’s widespread and systematic attack against Ukraine’s civilian population.

We reserve crimes against humanity determinations for the most egregious crimes. Today’s determination underlines staggering extent of the human suffering inflicted by Moscow on the Ukrainian civilian population. This determination also reflects the deep commitment of the United States to holding members of Russia’s forces and other Russian officials accountable for their atrocities against the people of Ukraine.

There can be no impunity for these crimes. All those responsible must be held accountable. As today’s determination shows, the United States will pursue justice for the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Ya think? What was your first clue?

Welcome To The Party Pal Die Hard GIF - Welcome To The Party Pal Welcome To The Party Die Hard GIFs

That’s enough for tonight, largely because any more naivete like Secretary Blinken’s and I’m liable to break something…

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Open thread!

Reader Interactions

54Comments

  2. 2.

    Omnes Omnibus

    Come on, Adam, there was no real naivety in Blinken’s statement. He knows what is and has been going on as well as you. A formal statement from a cabinet secretary carries a bit different weight than that of any of us here, no matter how expert. But you already know that, so I’ll just quit typing now.

  7. 7.

    YY_Sima Qian

    Nothing wrong w/ Blinken’s statement, but it could have been made nearly a year ago, but certainly after Bucha & other atrocities had came to light after the Russian Army withdrew from the Kyiv area.

  8. 8.

    CaseyL

    The Dutch have closed their embassy in St. Petersburg because Russia kept trying to plant spies there.  They’re also limiting the number of Russians at the Russian embassy in The Hague.  Story here.

  9. 9.

    Carlo Graziani

    That trench combat video is sphincter-puckering. I guess that Russian infantryman must have jumped out of the BMP (good idea), then demonstrated incredibly bad tactical judgment (not such a good idea).

    Adam, that’s basically a snuff film. You better post a warning over it.

    Do the infantrymen all wear some kind of GoPro rig, or cop-style shouldercam?

  10. 10.

    Jay

    I was surprised to discover that my whole family and I have all been banned by British police from attending this weekend's BAFTA awards where the documentary #Navalny is nominated. The reason stated: we "represent a public security risk". (1/3)— Christo Grozev (@christogrozev) February 17, 2023

    Bellingcat is banned in the UK.

  12. 12.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Jay: I read elsewhere that an MP had asked the security services, and they had said that it wasn’t Grozev or his family that was the security risk, but rather, that their presence would pose a danger to other attendees, b/c of Grozev and people close to him being targeted.  That is to say, that Britain is no longer safe against Russian attacks.  And I read yesterday that an Iranian news service based in London had had to close down, b/c of same: their London-based employees were in too much danger.

    And perhaps some remember when an Iranian journalist who took shelter in the US was targeted by Iranian agents; IIRC the FBI warned her, then protected her, and finally found the agents targeting her.

  14. 14.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Gin & Tonic: Hey, FWIW, I dug a good bit more, and I was wrong: Putin and those around him are on the record long before 24 Feb 2022, as saying they wanted to destroy Ukrainian culture and the Ukrainian nation.  It wasn’t just “decapitate the state and society”, but “erase it”.

  15. 15.

    Carlo Graziani

    @Jay: You would know better than I, but if the two videos (aerial shot and trench) are from the same action, that BMP was a loner, and moving along at a clip that would have forced any dismounts to jog along in a very unsafe manner. Also, no dismounts are visible in the aerial shot (you can see the guy in the trench around the time of the missile launch).

    Or are you saying that the dismount was scouting ahead of the BMP?

  17. 17.

    Jay

    A flash drive left behind by fleeing Russian forces in Ukraine contains hundreds of documents which identify key officials involved in handling, and allegedly torturing, civilians in occupied areas. @cxemu obtained the flash drive and has exclusive details ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/BPnLzOg9bD— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) February 14, 2023

  18. 18.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Gin & Tonic: Hey, I do want to know the truth.  And regardless, I want the Russian Empire taken apart, for the safety of the world, and the freedom of the subject peoples of Russia — that is, everybody who isn’t a Muscovite.

  19. 19.

    Jay

    @Carlo Graziani:

    the BMP would have had 6 to 4 “dismounts”,  who’s role is to scout ahead, protect the flanks and the rear of the vehicle. (Should have 8, but,…….. Russian Army).

    On paper, the BMP’s can fire on the move, but they really can’t, (training, service, sensors, but,……….Russian Army), so they  stop, shoot, move to a new firing position. The dismounts would use the firing portion of the sequence, to move forward, “scouting” the path the BMP will take and securing the new firing position, until the BMP get’s there.

    I would guess that when the BMP got smoked, one of the dismounts charged the rough position of the launch, (off by about 25 metres to the left), the others r-u-n-n-e-d-o-f-f, away from the Ukrainian position, thus the continued firing after the “meat” was “bagged” as the shooter repositioned in the trench line. Shoot and scoot isn’t just for arty.

  20. 20.

    Jay

    @Chetan Murthy:

    @Gin & Tonic:

    yeah I know. it’s just sad that the Brit’s are either unwilling, or unable, to provide protective services, and take the position that rather than “it will be dangerous to come here, but we will do the best we can”, have taken the position that “you can’t come here, because we won’t protect you, and us Brit’s could get hurt”.

  21. 21.

    Carlo Graziani

    I thought this was an interesting tidbit in today’s Intelligence Update from UK’s MOD:

    It is becoming increasingly difficult for the Kremlin to insulate the population from the war in Ukraine. A December 2022 Russian poll reported that 52% had either a friend or a relative who had served in the so-called Special Military Operation.

    It is of course impossible to obtain untainted tracking polls of Russian views on the wisdom of the SMO. But it seems likely that the needle is moving.

  22. 22.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Jay: Everybody is on a learning curve.  Everybody is on multiple learning curves.  I mean, you can read that Russian birth tourism to Argentina is skyrocketing.  That’s gonna have an impact, down the line: lots of legends being created right there.  And we’re still letting dirtbags like Intrater spend his money in our country, buy our legislators.

    Britain is going to have to learn that the price of all that money for Londongrad was too high.  I think eventually, they (and *we*) will have to learn the same about the Saudis and some of the other Gulf oil shiekhdoms.

  23. 23.

    Anonymous At Work

    Adam,
    Thanks for dealing with my worries yesterday. Right now, the human wave attacks are at their worst for UA. There are occasional signs that mobiks might be resisting orders, but until the officers fear their troops and until Putin’s cronies fear surviving sanctions and Russians more than Putin, I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel yet.

  24. 24.

    Bill Arnold

    Gin & Tonic, the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Ukrainian_parliamentary_election page was recently (Feb 10 2023) massively edited (by user “Number 57”). notably, a note was removed that said that there was a joint list that included “Svoboda[c] … [c] In electoral alliance with National Corps, Right Sector, Ukrainian Volunteer Army, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, and Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists”
    In this edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2019_Ukrainian_parliamentary_election&oldid=1138846137
    Is this an acceptable edit?
    As far as I can tell from eyeballing the numbers, that combination of (far-right) parties got about 2.25 percent of the vote total. This seems the important point.

  27. 27.

    Jay

    @Anoniminous:

    it’s part and parcel of the Soviet/Russian force structure, now amplified by “mobliks”.

    Dimitri, translated a rant by a V-blogger, who basically pointed out that in Mariupol, even with “trained” assault forces, the Russian Army was “%ucked”, as a BTG couldn’t take a building held by a UA Platoon, because even the basics of RU tactics for urban combat, only worked against “jihadi’s”.

    So the only viable Russian Army tactic against entrenched Ukrainian Forces is to destroy everything with arty and airpower first, before sending soldiers in.

  28. 28.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Bill Arnold: Between the weird formatting in your post and the difficulty of interpreting the Wikipedia edits page, I don’t really understand what was done and what your question is.

  30. 30.

    Jay

    @Gin & Tonic:

    the Wiki article was “edited” to remove references to the “Nationalist Far Right” parties membership in a “joint list” party.

    On the one hand, a “sanitizing” of the page, on the other hand, at 2.5% of the joint lists vote results, insignificant.

  31. 31.

    Carlo Graziani

    I also don’t really see the objection to Blinken’s statement. However, I do occasionally wish that Biden, or at least Austin, would state the obvious publicly in words to the following effect:

    “It is the policy of the United States government that Russia will lose this war. Therefore, Russia will lose. You can take that statement to the bank. The only policy choice open to the Russian government is whether it will acknowledge defeat sooner, at a lower cost to its national power, or later, at higher, potentially disastrous cost. This is, in a sense, a test of the Russian government’s capacity for making rational choices about its national security. To date, it has consistently failed that test.”

    To be sure, such a statement would be enraging to the Russians. But it could hardly provoke them into doing anything that they aren’t doing already. The benefit would be moving to establish psychological dominance over Putin and his cronies. And dominance is the only framework of power relations that they understand, in my opinion.

  33. 33.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Jay: That blogger, after giving the description you accurately cite, went on to then argue that because of this, it was sheer stupidity to send a detachment to secure a building with UA forces — equivalent to sending them to their deaths — so the only sensible thing was to destroy every building in their path.

    On one level, it’s logical reasoning.  On another, it’s barking madness: we don’t know how to actually make war efficiently, so we should make war in the least efficient way imaginable.

  34. 34.

    Anoniminous

    @HumboldtBlue: ​
     
    Minefields are absolutely the Go-To weapon for area denial and channeling attackers into kill zones. With those things it is possible to lay minefields dynamically, while the assault is in progress.

  35. 35.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Jay: Since those parties, other than Svoboda, received generally around 0.04%, and in total (with Svoboda) gained zero seats in the legislature, this seems like a point which would only matter to the real obsessive-compulsive.

  36. 36.

    Bill Arnold

    @Gin & Tonic:
    Sorry, I ended up editing that comment like 6 times; formatting kept getting messed up. Should be right now.
    Use to list
    “Svoboda[c]”
    in the table of election results.
    then a Note
    “[c] In electoral alliance with National Corps, Right Sector, Ukrainian Volunteer Army, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, and Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists”
    Now just says
    “Svoboda”

  37. 37.

    Jay

    @Anoniminous:

    “stupid” and “corruption” is in the Command Chain.

    6 months in to the CAF, your Sgnt Mgr doesn’t trust you to properly tie your shoe laces.

    It takes a year of training to get to Company level ops, 2 years to Brigaide level ops. You might be deployable at that time.

    The bulk of the conscripts will have 2 years in, before they are out, with what ever training they got, (mostly how to buy your way out of beatings),

    Mobliks have weeks.

    The “Reserve” for the RU “offensive” will at the most have 6 months or less.

  38. 38.

    Bill Arnold

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Since those parties, other than Svoboda, received generally around 0.04%, and in total (with Svoboda) gained zero seats in the legislature, this seems like a point which would only matter to the real obsessive-compulsive.

    OK. I wanted your take on this, and accept it.

  39. 39.

    Jay

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Rucists and tankies will seize on it and lie about it, which is probably the reason for the edit,……..

    on the other hand, it does hide “facts”,………

    which could be used as a counter, but Rucists and tankies are immune to “facts”, so all in all, I see it as a wash,……

  40. 40.

    Anoniminous

    @Jay: ​
     
    I’d feel sorry for the poor dumb bastards but … fuck ’em

    As Uncle Billy said, “war is the remedy that our enemies have chosen, and I say let us give them all they want.”

  41. 41.

    Ms. Deranged in AZ

    Look, everyone has to know that Blinken’s statement waited until this particular time not for enough proof and not because of naivete, but until the Biden administration felt secure enough politically perhaps here and abroad to make such a statement. Maybe he was waiting for more international buy-in.  More than likely Adam statement about naivete was sarcasm because I know he knows what the real deal is.

  42. 42.

    Bill Arnold

    @Jay:
    Yeah. A few weeks ago I was telling a tankie-curious relative in Vermont about that wikipedia page in response to a comment about “Nazis”, then saw a comment by Kos last week apparently referencing it, and noticed that it had been massively edited, and just got around to looking at the edit history to see if it was hostile.

  45. 45.

    glc

    @Bill Arnold: Looks to me like a normal edit, tightening up the page, and not massive. I make no claim about its net value, and the edit summary strikes me as thin, but it all looks perfectly normal. He eliminated some notes and folded others into the text, and did some other things as well.

    The specific information you mention is on the Svoboda page which is linked directly to the elections page, and that seems like a perfectly fine arrangement.

    Of course, the various editors of the page may have their own views of what its scope should be. You can put a query on the talk page associated with this page directly, if you think this is something that should be discussed.

  50. 50.

    Jay

    @billcinsd:

    a BMP can carry 8 dismounts.

    RU BTG “cost cutting” on manpower limited infantry support, to the point of 6 to 4 dismounts carried in a BMP.

  53. 53.

    bjacques

    The “DPR” locals are gonna farm the wallets of those poor bastards from Omsk Oblast and, after picking them clean, send them out as cannon fodder. I reckon someone over there has turned it into an industry as the mobiks roll in. Horrible.

    Anyway…

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