WW3? Ukraine/US vs. Donbass/Russia

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
Boris Johnson travelled to Venezuela, threatened Nicolás Maduro to “embrace democracy” and support Ukraine

The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom made a secret trip to Venezuela in February for unofficial talks with President Nicolás Maduro, The Times reported.

According to the newspaper, the former PM spoke with the President about the Ukraine crisis and normalizing relations with Britain, which still questions the legitimacy of Maduro’s administration.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1766659078493733354

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Posted by Ravenlocke (here)
https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1766845270677926205

Text:

Pope Francis urges Zelensky to save lives, find “courage of the white flag” to end Donbass conflict

Pope Francis said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should resume negotiations with Russia, urging the leader to work with international mediators to negotiate an end to fighting in the Donbass.

“The word negotiate is a courageous word,” said the Pope in an excerpt from an interview recorded last month. “When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate.”

“I think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates,” the cleric insisted.

On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia, a prospect that’s undermined by a decree issued by Zelensky in late 2022 forbidding negotiations with Russia. Zelensky instantly rejected Erdogan's idea.

The development took place after at least two attempts by Putin to negotiate an end to hostilities early in the conflict. Both rounds of negotiations were scuttled by the United States, which intervened to end separate diplomatic efforts involving then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in 2022. The US role came to light in media reports emerging shortly after.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1766645001591599438

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
US President Joe Biden has admitted that American invasions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine (!) were mistakes.

“But we shouldn't have gone into Ukraine. I mean, we shouldn't have gone into the whole thing in Iraq and Afghanistan,” muttered Biden in an interview with liberal news outlet MSNBC.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1766617395534123302

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1766788352315982278

[Ravenlocke]

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What does the US have to do to end the Ukraine conflict? Stop supporting Kiev

At least that's what former adviser to the head of the Pentagon, Colonel Douglas McGregor, wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

McGregor said that to stop the fighting, the United States must stop supplying Ukraine with any aid. Also, according to him, Washington must inform Moscow of its desire to resolve the conflict as quickly as possible and notify its allies about this. He argued that negotiations between Moscow and Kiev will bring an end to the conflict.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1766529134501429529

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Why Poland is seeking to strip Ukraine of EU trade benefits

"The fact that Poland has changed its attitude to [Ukraine's] agricultural benefits at a state level is an indicator of the effectiveness of the farmer protests," Peter Kolchin, a political analyst, told Sputnik.

Polish farmers have been protesting against the import of products from Ukraine since late January. They are also demanding that the EU's climate policies be reverted. Thousands of Polish farmers have been seen blockading the border with Ukraine, throwing away Ukrainian grain and even carrying slogans urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to "put things in order" in Brussels and Warsaw.

In response, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has proposed stripping Ukraine of EU trade benefits and modulating Brussels' climate policies.

The chances of Brussels okaying Warsaw's ideas are very low, according to Josep-Maria Arauzo-Carod, professor of economics at the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Spain. Kolchin argued that Brussels may only lend a sympathetic ear to Tusk's ideas given that farmer protests have engulfed the whole EU.

The experts agreed that Warsaw's protectionist measures could create a precedent for the rest of the EU. If Ukraine's trade benefits are canceled, that could deal a heavy blow to the Kiev regime.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1766495840397332671

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
▪️Ukraine is suffering huge losses due to the blocking of border checkpoints by Polish farmers - Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Taras Kachka.

According to him, the country needs imports in the form of fuel, medicines, cars, but the volume of imports by road transport decreased by 14% over the month.

@ukr_leaks_eng

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766745229690851818

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🇵🇱 Polish protesters have unblocked the Krakoviec checkpoint, but...

only until March 13. A representative of the Ukrainian Border Guard Service, Andriy Demchenko, complains about it on the air of the telethon.

At the same time the blocking of checkpoints in five directions continues. 1700 trucks are standing in queues.

They took pity on the poor neighbours for three whole days.

@ukraine_watch

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766745370023891263

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Important news for Sunday morning, March 10:

🔷 At night, air defense systems on duty destroyed four Ukrainian UAVs over the territory of the Belgorod region, the Ministry of Defense reported.

🔷 Ukrainian prisoner Alexander Guprin told RIA Novosti that since September, one third of the battalion in the 58th separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces remained, and 14 soldiers remained of the company of 106 people.

🔷 The Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled the village of Kulbaki in the Kursk region early in the morning, said the regional governor, Roman Starovoyt. As a result of a direct hit from a shell, a residential building caught fire, killing a woman inside, and her husband received serious burns. He is receiving medical care.

🔷 Also, a Ukrainian drone fell and caught fire on the territory of an oil depot in the Kursk region.

🔷 The air defense of the "South" group destroyed 49 UAVs and three HIMARS shells in the DPR. In addition, Russian fighters shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 and destroyed a Hammer guided bomb. - FRWL reports

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766756975226810499

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🇷🇺🇺🇦 An epic moment when the air defense system intercepted a Ukrainian drone in the Volgograd region yesterday morning.

In total, the region was attacked by 15 drones from Ukrainian territory at night and in the morning; the Ministry of Defense announced the successful destruction of all threats. - ISZ reports


https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766783151349596601

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🇷🇺 Russian forces shot down 130 Ukrainian UAVs and three HIMARS multiple rocket launchers — Russian Defence Ministry briefing.

☑️ On the Avdeevka direction, the Ukrainian side lost up to 310 servicemen, a tank, M109 Paladin and Gvozdika self-propelled artillery and two D-30 howitzers;

☑️ On the Donetsk direction, up to 280 troops and a tank were eliminated, and an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery, a D-30 howitzer and two ammunition depots were also destroyed;

☑️ On the South Donetsk direction, the Ukrainian side lost more than 150 soldiers, armoured combat vehicles and cars, two D-20 howitzers, and an AFU ammunition depot was also destroyed;

☑️ In the Kupyansk direction, three enemy counterattacks were repelled, with losses totalling over 110 soldiers. In addition, a Krab and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery pieces were destroyed.

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766785450121765249

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
🇷🇺🇺🇦 A Ukrainian soldier who surrendered took care of a Russian soldier for three days.

Sergey was seriously wounded during the capture of Avdeevka and, hiding, awaited evacuation. He was found by Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman Alexander. The 25-year-old guy voluntarily surrendered and waited with the wounded man for our soldiers to come for Sergey.

For three days Alexander took care about Sergey. It turned out that he was caught at the bus stop and sent to the battle field soon.

Sergey's wife thanked him so much for rescuing her husband. She says that Russia and Ukraine were always brotherly people, and there are good people even among our enemies. - FRWL reports

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766759980315623475

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766780431326650536

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766809067035488331

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
‼️🇪🇺🇺🇦The delay in Western aid forces Ukraine to consider not only plan B, but also plan C, - head of the Verkhovna Rada Budget Committee Roksolana Pidlasa

▪️ “We have actually reached the limit of our capabilities - all internal resources are used to finance the army,” said Pidlasa.
▪️According to her, Ukraine’s plan A was that new financial assistance from the US and EU would begin to arrive in January.
▪️ “Funding delays mean that Kyiv has begun to consider plan B and even plan C,” noted the head of the committee.
▪️At the same time, she did not disclose the content of these plans, but noted that Kyiv “is negotiating additional budgetary support with other G7 countries, especially Japan and Canada, and the possibility of significant reductions in non-military spending and tax increases is also being considered.”
- RVvoenkor

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766810707440316866

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⚡️ Ukraine's credit rating was cut by S&P Global Ratings, which said it's "virtually certain" that the government will include Eurobond holders in its debt-relief efforts, writes Bloomberg.

The agency cut Ukraine's credit rating by two notches to "CC", which is the second-lowest level above default.

"Ukraine faces bond payments of $4.5 billion this year,"
Bloomberg stresses.

It should be noted that Ukraine already restructured its external debt in 2022. According to the memorandum with the IMF published in December 2023, Kiev intends to carry out a new restructuring in 2024. Ukraine will seek to restructure the debt of its creditors in the form of a moratorium on debt payments for the entire duration of the work programme with the IMF. That is, until 2027.

@ukraine_watch

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766841388912545965

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
❗️Russian artillery has destroyed an AFU stronghold on the right bank of the Dnieper estuary. From there, Ukrainian troops have been monitoring the Russian forces.

The stronghold in the village of Dmitrovka in the Ochakovsky district was used by Ukrainian fighters to conduct reconnaissance and monitor the movements of the Russian Armed Forces. Now it is impossible to do this, because a powerful 122 calibre artillery barrage from the Russian D-30 howitzers has hit the AFU positions.

@ukraine_watch

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766873733468217462

Text:

📹🚁Russian specialists of the search and rescue group are conducting combat operations in the Kupyansk region.

The combat group of the Army aviation consisting of the Mi-35 attack helicopter and the Mi-8 helicopter carried out another combat mission. The specialists of the search and rescue group on the Mi-8 helicopter escorted the Army aviation attack helicopters during the combat mission.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1766839769458164007

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https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1766872149636079645

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1766788909973774584

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Text:
From smoke to smother: HMS Queen Elizabeth on fire in latest malfunction

A minor fire broke out onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in a new embarrassment for the UK Royal Navy flagship worth a whopping £3.5 billion ($4.5 billion).

The incident occurred while the 65,000-ton aircraft carrier was in dock at Glenmallan in Scotland awaiting repairs.

A Royal Navy spokesperson confirmed it was a "small, isolated" fire that was "quickly brought under control and extinguished," with no injuries and ordnance involved in the blaze. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

This comes shortly after the flagship - nicknamed Big Lizzie - withdrew from a NATO drill after a coupling on the vessel’s 33-ton starboard propeller malfunctioned. The vessel was replaced with its sister ship HMS Prince of Wales, which, however, faced the same malfunctioning.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1766839534724018682

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https://x.com/RussianEmbassy/status/1766526287223382038

[Ravenlocke]

Text:

Pope Francis urges Zelensky to save lives, find “courage of the white flag” to end Donbass conflict

Pope Francis said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should resume negotiations with Russia, urging the leader to work with international mediators to negotiate an end to fighting in the Donbass.

“The word negotiate is a courageous word,” said the Pope in an excerpt from an interview recorded last month. “When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate.”

“I think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates,” the cleric insisted.

On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia, a prospect that’s undermined by a decree issued by Zelensky in late 2022 forbidding negotiations with Russia. Zelensky instantly rejected Erdogan's idea.

The development took place after at least two attempts by Putin to negotiate an end to hostilities early in the conflict. Both rounds of negotiations were scuttled by the United States, which intervened to end separate diplomatic efforts involving then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in 2022. The US role came to light in media reports emerging shortly after.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1766645001591599438

https://x.com/narrative_hole/status/1766618200148443254

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[Ravenlocke]

Text:
CNN: “This is hell” - New Russian guided bomb undermined the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, changed the balance of power and leads to heavy casualties
▪️Russia began using a powerful air bomb, which undermined the Ukrainian defense and changed the balance of power at the front. The Russian Federation has turned a basic Soviet-era weapon into a glide bomb that can leave a crater 15 meters wide. It is guided towards its target using a guidance system and retractable wings that allow it to glide towards the target.
▪️The bomb is a FAB-1500, essentially a 1.5-ton military weapon, almost half of which consists of high explosives. It is applied from above by fighters from a distance of up to 70 km, beyond the reach of many Ukrainian air defense systems.
▪️The Russian FAB-1500 with UMPC, which is massively used by the Russian Aerospace Forces, “destroyed the Ukrainian defense and changed the balance at the front,” CNN reports, citing interviewed military personnel and experts.
▪️A soldier of the 46th airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces told CNN in Krasnogorovka: “Previously, we were only fired at from artillery. Now the Russians are taking over the city more aggressively [and] have begun using air force assets, particularly the FAB-1500.”
▪️“Why do they use FAB-1500? Because the damage it causes is very serious. If you survive, you are guaranteed shell shock.”
💀“This puts a lot of pressure on the morale of the soldiers. Not all of our guys can withstand this. Although they are already more or less accustomed to the FAB-500, the FAB-1500 IS HELL.”

Source:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/10/e...ntl/index.html

https://x.com/OlgaBazova/status/1766869001232167013

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766472886737347060

[Ravenlocke]

The Duran discuss,

Nuland resigns.
China hawks take over

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=fEmm_Xd3Z0Q

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
Masterful takedown by Dominique de Villepin, former French Prime Minister, of Macron's utterly irresponsible rhetoric on sending NATO ground troops to Ukraine (Villepin himself calls it irresponsible).

I translated it in full, because I think it's so important people are aware of the extreme danger behind Macron's (and some other NATO leaders) attempt to escalate the conflict:

"For this debate [over sending ground troops] to have been useful, it would have first been necessary for us to be able to answer 5 questions. Five risks associated with this escalation, this step we would be taking if we were to send ground troops, send fighters. Five risks.

The first is the expansion of the conflict. If we send ground troops, do we know if on the Russian side others will send, on the other side, ground troops? Will we face African fighters, will we face Asian fighters, will we face Middle Eastern fighters in this global south that also wants to take on the West? First risk.

[Host comments: This does not seem to me a favored scenario...]

If Westerners, Europeans, French send troops there, don't you think that solidarity will also play on the Russian side? I think we still need to ask ourselves that question. In any case, our diplomacy has not done what it should have to isolate Russia. If Russia were isolated, we would know it... I think, by the way, that we are more isolated, unfortunately, than Russia.

Second major question: new front. Risk of a new front. I warned, I was among the few voices to say 'be careful, Ukraine is a dangerous situation but what happens if another front opens?'. The front in Gaza and the Middle East has opened. But there are other fronts that can open: in Korea, in Africa... And so, are we going to wage war like this on all 5 continents? This reality must be taken into account: the world is not limited to the drama and tragedy of Ukraine. It turns out that America is a global power and that we claim to be a global power too, so we are concerned by the major balances and the order of the world, and unfortunately our diplomacy does not sufficiently take into account these disorders which concern the Congolese, the Sudanese, etc.

Third risk which is important: the terrorist risk. I am not thinking of terrorism that would come from our opponents in Ukraine, I am thinking of opportunistic terrorism. When there are situations of this type of disorder, terrorism strikes. And I remind you: we have planned here in France not a year of war, but a year of celebrations. In a few months, we will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and delegations will come from all over the world. We are going to spend several months celebrating the Olympics. If we need to mobilize, let's mobilize, but maybe it should have been done a bit more: I don't see a war economy, the preparation of minds in terms of civil defense and hybrid warfare, I see nothing... You don't just pull the idea of going to war in Ukraine out of a hat without having prepared a little...

Fourth risk: we are on the eve of an American election that will determine the new world order. It's a safe bet that we are heading for a new era of isolationism and protectionism like the world has never seen. We are seeing a split in this new world order between Trump and a China that has just celebrated the reunion of its parliament and is becoming more introverted, more focused on its security than ever. This is a general global context that must be taken into account.

And then there's one last element that may be one of the most important, which is the nuclear risk. I know the good experts, the great experts who speak on this subject and I respect them immensely. But sending ground troops, fighters, places us in a situation in terms of deterrence that we have never known. Forty years of Cold War: the forces of the Warsaw Pact and NATO forces never clashed. And it's not by chance: it's because of a reality that relates to the grammar of nuclear.

The rule of deterrence is based on the principle of mutual assured destruction. That is, if one uses the bomb and the other responds, we're all dead. [...] I think the nuclear grammar means that today the risk of NATO ground troops in Ukraine presents a risk and that this risk, for responsible powers, is unacceptable. I travel enough around the world to have observed something for 15 years: the use of nuclear weapons is based on political cultures, societal cultures, and civilizations. The world is changing and what seemed unthinkable 10 or 15 years ago appears today differently: the rhetoric of the enemy, the hatred of the other, has developed to a point where we live in an international community that may want to settle scores with the other. [...] Today, and I'm not just thinking of the Russians, let's not forget nuclear proliferation with countries like Pakistan and many others that now have nuclear weapons.

And it is in this that the principle of responsibility is essential, and there is a rule that must be drawn from all this: the logic of force, when not controlled, leads to an escalation that can be deadly. This is what makes the situation in Ukraine a real danger and it's also what makes - because this principle of the logic of uncontrolled force I would gladly apply to the situation in Gaza - it's what makes the Israeli policy applied today to Gaza a real danger. Because there is no control over the use of force. And when you look [...] all fronts are linked, all crises are linked."
https://x.com/RnaudBertrand/status/1766689428121297314

https://x.com/RnaudBertrand/status/1766837774752403921

[ExomatrixTV]

• Ex-CIA: This Will Trigger WW3 In Russia-Ukraine War!

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=SlAQvpA_cjM

The conversation revolves around the intensifying war dynamics between Russia and Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. It delves into the revelation of foreign troop presence, notably from the UK, within Ukraine, raising concerns of a potential escalation towards a broader conflict, including World War III, as hinted by Russian assertions. Preceding the leak, strategic disclosures, such as the identification of CIA bases in Ukraine and hints of possible French and US military interventions, further heightened tensions. Putin's State of Russia address underscored warnings to NATO about crossing red lines, setting a backdrop for the leaked revelation of UK troop presence on Ukrainian soil. The leak, seen as deliberate, aimed to embarrass NATO nations and emphasize Putin's admonitions regarding Ukraine. The discussion also criticizes the imprudence of publicly warning of potential terrorist attacks, contrasting it with past diplomatic approaches, such as the Boston Marathon bombing case. The speaker warns against the peril of such actions escalating tensions and potentially leading to severe consequences, highlighting a perceived lack of control by the Biden administration and its allies over the situation. The dialogue stresses the need for caution and professionalism in handling sensitive geopolitical matters, especially concerning Russia and Ukraine. Larry Johnson advises staying informed through Sonar21.com, emphasizing the importance of understanding the complexities of the Russia-Ukraine conflict for informed analysis. The host expresses gratitude for Johnson's insights and encourages viewers to engage with his platform for further exploration of the topic. The conversation concludes with mutual appreciation for the discussion and a shared hope for a peaceful resolution amidst the prevailing uncertainties surrounding Russia, Ukraine, and the ongoing conflict.

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
🇬🇧 British mercenary Harry Greg, who fought in Ukraine in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, committed suicide upon returning to the UK, the Telegraph newspaper reports.

He went to the Ukrainian conflict zone after the statement of former British Prime Minister Liz Truss that everyone who did this would join the “battle for democracy,” the publication noted.

According to the soldier's mother, after his return he suffered from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and in December 2023, he took his own life the day before his 25th birthday. - FRWL reports

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1767105277835223503

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
📹 Footage has emerged online of a fourth destroyed US Abrams tank

The tank was destroyed by the village of Berdychi near Avdeevka, according to Igor Kimakovsky, adviser to the head of the DPR, as quoted by Russian media.

Kimakovsky specified that Russian troops hit the tank using an anti-tank grenade launcher. Along with the armored vehicle, its entire crew was eliminated.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1767102849685520743

[Bill Ryan]

An astonishing and inspiring human story. I wanted to draw attention to it because in a fast-moving news thread it could easily be missed.

Posted by Ravenlocke (here)
Text:

🇷🇺🇺🇦 A Ukrainian soldier who surrendered took care of a Russian soldier for three days.

Sergey was seriously wounded during the capture of Avdeevka and, hiding, awaited evacuation. He was found by Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman Alexander. The 25-year-old guy voluntarily surrendered and waited with the wounded man for our soldiers to come for Sergey.

For three days Alexander took care about Sergey. It turned out that he was caught at the bus stop and sent to the battle field soon.

Sergey's wife thanked him so much for rescuing her husband. She says that Russia and Ukraine were always brotherly people, and there are good people even among our enemies. - FRWL reports

https://x.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1766759980315623475

[Vicus]

Russian forces repel ‘Ukrainian incursion attempt’ 11 Mar, 2024

An elite unit attempted a raid into Russia’s Belgorod Region but was foiled, according to a report

The Russian military has repelled a largescale Ukrainian incursion into Belgorod Region, Evgeny Poddubny, a correspondent for the Russia 1 TV broadcaster, has reported. The Defense Ministry in Moscow has not yet officially commented on the claims.

The purported attack, said to have taken place on Sunday and involving tanks and artillery, targeted the region’s Grayvoronsky District on the border with Ukraine, Poddubny wrote in a post on Telegram.

It was carried out by the Artan special forces unit of the Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR), the reporter added. Troops were supported by five tanks, ten armored personnel carriers, pickup trucks with mounted heavy machine guns, self-propelled guns and multiple rocket launchers, he claimed.

The armed group tried to use the woods for cover as they moved forward, but could not avoid detection by the Russian military, Poddubny wrote. Kiev’s troops were hit by artillery, aviation and drones as soon as they began assembling into battle formation, the report read.

As a result of intense fire, around 70 Ukrainian troops were either killed or severely wounded, while five tanks, three howitzers, one multiple rocket launcher and several pickups and APCs were destroyed, according to Poddubny.

The correspondent published an almost four-minute-long video which he said showed the hardware being struck.

Russian forces used weapons including Lancet loitering munitions and FAB guided aviation bombs to repel the incursion, Poddubny wrote, adding that the clip contained footage of “Islander ballistic missiles striking French [Caesar] howitzers.”

“The enemy’s plan was thwarted. The elite GUR unit screwed up big time,” Poddubny added.

He described the attempted raid as a “military adventure” aimed at “creating panic [in Russia], discrediting the military and political leadership, and disrupting preparations for the [presidential] election.” According to Poddubny, more Ukrainian attempts to destabilize Russia can be expected in the run-up to the vote on March 15-17.

https://swentr.site/russia/594068-be...ursion-lancet/

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/OlgaBazova/status/1766950253171786055

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
What's wrong with the Ukrainian film that won the Oscar for best documentary?

Mstyslav Chernov's documentary "20 Days in Mariupol" winning the Oscar on Sunday raises eyebrows over its questionable authenticity. In particular, it tells a story of a March 9, 2022 'fatal Russian airstrike' on Mariupol Maternity Hospital №3 that never actually happened.

To start with, patients and medical staff had been driven away from the hospital days before the alleged strike: because of its advantageous tactical location, the maternal hospital had been turned into the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion stronghold.

Photographs of the hospital's territory show evidence of two separate staged explosions near the medical institution, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Then-pregnant local resident Marianna Vyshemirskaya, who was featured in emotion-filled pictures captured by AP correspondents on March 9, later confirmed that there had not been an air raid. She recalled that she was brought to the site afterwards, and that a man approached her to film her.

"In a video interview, they later asked me a specific question: was there an air raid on the maternity hospital? I answered clearly: 'No, there wasn’t.' They cut up my interview and cut out the answer about the airstrike," Vyshemirskaya said.

The authors of the hoax, the AP's Evgeniy Maloletka and Mstyslav Chernov, are well-known Ukrainian propagandists who have worked for the Western mainstream press for years. During the Euromaidan unrest in Kiev a decade ago, Maloletka took pictures of elusive snipers ahead of their indiscriminate shooting spree in February 2014.

It's not the first time that the Oscar ceremony has been used for propaganda purposes: in 2017 the award was given to the controversial White Helmets, accused by Syrian civilians of being an al-Qaeda offshoot and of staging false flag chemical attacks.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1767262275319070982