Ukraine - Superthread

[medic5]

Cyberattack in Ukraine targets government websites

A cyberattack left a number of Ukrainian government websites temporarily unavailable Friday, officials said.

www.ctvnews.ca

"Moscow had previously denied involvement in cyberattacks against Ukraine.

The websites of the country's cabinet, seven ministries, the Treasury, the National Emergency Service and the state services website, where Ukrainians' electronic passports and vaccination certificates are stored, were temporarily unavailable Friday as a result of the hack.

The websites contained a message in Ukrainian, Russian and Polish, saying that Ukrainians' personal data has been leaked into the public domain. "Be afraid and expect the worst. This is for your past, present and future," the message read, in part."

 

[Czech_pivo]

Cyberattack in Ukraine targets government websites

A cyberattack left a number of Ukrainian government websites temporarily unavailable Friday, officials said.

www.ctvnews.ca

"Moscow had previously denied involvement in cyberattacks against Ukraine.

The websites of the country's cabinet, seven ministries, the Treasury, the National Emergency Service and the state services website, where Ukrainians' electronic passports and vaccination certificates are stored, were temporarily unavailable Friday as a result of the hack.

The websites contained a message in Ukrainian, Russian and Polish, saying that Ukrainians' personal data has been leaked into the public domain. "Be afraid and expect the worst. This is for your past, present and future," the message read, in part."

A subtle reminder to the Polish, know which side to butter your bread.

Today is also 'Novy God' in Russia (and the Ukraine?), its Orthodox New Year's Day, so there is some symbolism in doing this.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Its a paywall which I don't have access to but the headline is interesting.

Russia Moves More Weaponry Toward Ukraine, Keeps the West Guessing​

Tanks, missile launchers and other materiel are seen being shifted westward from bases in the Russian Far East​

Russia Moves More Weaponry Toward Ukraine, Keeps the West Guessing

As diplomats held talks over the Ukraine crisis this week, the Kremlin began shifting tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, rocket launchers and other military equipment westward from bases in the Russian Far East.

www.wsj.com

 

[tomydoom]

Its a paywall which I don't have access to but the headline is interesting.

Russia Moves More Weaponry Toward Ukraine, Keeps the West Guessing​

Tanks, missile launchers and other materiel are seen being shifted westward from bases in the Russian Far East​

Russia Moves More Weaponry Toward Ukraine, Keeps the West Guessing

As diplomats held talks over the Ukraine crisis this week, the Kremlin began shifting tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, rocket launchers and other military equipment westward from bases in the Russian Far East.

www.wsj.com

It has occurred to me and likely others on this forum, that Russia moving military resources out of the far east, plays into the medium term strategic goals of China. I fully expect that one day, while he is busy playing silly bugger with the west, Vlad will wake up to find his eastern frontier is the Urals and the Peoples Republic extends from there to the Pacific. It mystifies me, that Putin does not see China as the true threat.

 

[daftandbarmy]

It has occurred to me and likely others on this forum, that Russia moving military resources out of the far east, plays into the medium term strategic goals of China. I fully expect that one day, while he is busy playing silly bugger with the west, Vlad will wake up to find his eastern frontier is the Urals and the Peoples Republic extends from there to the Pacific. It mystifies me, that Putin does not see China as the true threat.

Who says they've haven't made some kind of deal with each other to divide the spoils?

China Deepens Informal Alliance With Russia​

China and Russia have strengthened their political, economic and military relations this year, despite their uneasy history in the past, as both countries say they resent what they call growing pressure from the West.

So far this year, the two have held a series of military exercises and issued joint diplomatic statements aimed at Western countries. On November 27, for example, an essay by both countries’ ambassadors to Washington protested the upcoming U.S.-led Summit for Democracy for creating divisions in the world. Neither Russia nor China appeared on the list of 110 invitees.

Russia depends on China’s massive industrial economy for oil and gas exports as environmental rules in the European Union complicate energy imports there, said Vassily Kashin, senior fellow at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

He said two-way relations were at their strongest since the 1950s.

“Most importantly, we have a common position concerning the global order, which is that we don’t like the U.S. global order, so this close partnership is based on common opposition to the U.S.-led global order,” Kashin said.

Western democracies from the United States to Australia and throughout Europe have strengthened their own ties this year at a time of concern about China’s policies. Western governments have signaled opposition to Beijing’s aggressive language on Taiwan, its crackdown on dissenters in Hong Kong and its policies targeting a Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang region.

China Deepens Informal Alliance With Russia

Russia, for its part, wants a stronger role in Asian affairs

www.voanews.com

 

[tomydoom]

Who says they've haven't made some kind of deal with each other to divide the spoils?

China Deepens Informal Alliance With Russia​

China and Russia have strengthened their political, economic and military relations this year, despite their uneasy history in the past, as both countries say they resent what they call growing pressure from the West.

So far this year, the two have held a series of military exercises and issued joint diplomatic statements aimed at Western countries. On November 27, for example, an essay by both countries’ ambassadors to Washington protested the upcoming U.S.-led Summit for Democracy for creating divisions in the world. Neither Russia nor China appeared on the list of 110 invitees.

Russia depends on China’s massive industrial economy for oil and gas exports as environmental rules in the European Union complicate energy imports there, said Vassily Kashin, senior fellow at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

He said two-way relations were at their strongest since the 1950s.

“Most importantly, we have a common position concerning the global order, which is that we don’t like the U.S. global order, so this close partnership is based on common opposition to the U.S.-led global order,” Kashin said.

Western democracies from the United States to Australia and throughout Europe have strengthened their own ties this year at a time of concern about China’s policies. Western governments have signaled opposition to Beijing’s aggressive language on Taiwan, its crackdown on dissenters in Hong Kong and its policies targeting a Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang region.

China Deepens Informal Alliance With Russia

Russia, for its part, wants a stronger role in Asian affairs

www.voanews.com

I am aware of the "deepening friendship and amity" between China and Russia; however it always looks to me like China is playing games with Russia and one day will swallow the parts they're interested in. Putin just appears to be China's "useful fool".

 

[Czech_pivo]

I am aware of the "deepening friendship and amity" between China and Russia; however it always looks to me like China is playing games with Russia and one day will swallow the parts they're interested in. Putin just appears to be China's "useful fool".

I think that Putin wouldn't lose much sleep if China 'lost' 6-800 million people 'somehow'.

 

[McG]

Here's a bit of interesting news. I've not read anything previously saying that any of our 200+/- troops were 'outside the wire' from their main base outside of Lvov. That turns out to not be the case.

Op UNIFIER has been spread across multiple locations from its inception. The number of locations has also grown over the life of the mission.

I am aware of the "deepening friendship and amity" between China and Russia; however it always looks to me like China is playing games with Russia and one day will swallow the parts they're interested in. Putin just appears to be China's "useful fool".

It's not like this would be Russia's first Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact with a likely threat nation.

 

[Czech_pivo]

US claims Russia planning ‘false-flag’ operation to justify Ukraine invasion​

US claims Russia planning ‘false-flag’ operation to justify Ukraine invasion

Officials say Moscow has already positioned saboteurs in Ukraine, on day Ukraine hit by ‘massive’ cyber-attack

www.theguardian.com

 

[Czech_pivo]

Op UNIFIER has been spread across multiple locations from its inception. The number of locations has also grown over the life of the mission.


It's not like this would be Russia's first Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact with a likely threat nation.

I've not read previously any articles saying that our troops were located anywhere but at the main base outside of Lvov. I have no issues with it.

 

[CBH99]

I am aware of the "deepening friendship and amity" between China and Russia; however it always looks to me like China is playing games with Russia and one day will swallow the parts they're interested in. Putin just appears to be China's "useful fool".

That is the rub though. Putin isn’t a fool, he’s the furthest thing from. However, neither is Xi.

Could China use some more territory, given its population? Ofcourse. But there are a few places already well within China’s geographical sphere of influence that would be far less contested if suddenly annexed.


Russia is a useful ally in that they have legitimate concerns about their western borders, and posture accordingly. This causes western nations to take notice, and reinforce their posturing even further, etc etc

China is in turn a useful ally in that they have the ability to easily distract those same western nations by causing problems in the SCS, and beyond. And when western nations respond to those concerns, they tend to be asset and manpower intensive just due to the nature of the deployment.


Are China and Russia lovers, destined to be rock solid allies for the rest of time? No.

Are they embracing each other’s geographic & military usefulness to each other, due to a perceived common enemy? Absolutely.


It’s like dangling a toy or string for your cat. You bounce it in the air, making all kinds of absurd noises to get it’s attention. And then just as he’s about to smack it with his paw or pounce on it - wait, what’s this!? The other hand starts up, and distracts him completely.

The west is very much the cat.

 

[JLB50]

If the Russians decide to conduct a “false flag” operation, they will have taken a page from the Nazis in 1939 (the Gleiwitz Incident). The Germans staged an attack on one of their own radio stations on the German/Polish border and made it seem like it was the Poles who had done so. The attac was then used as a pretext to justify an invasion of Poland.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Op UNIFIER has been spread across multiple locations from its inception. The number of locations has also grown over the life of the mission.


It's not like this would be Russia's first Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact with a likely threat nation.

what's interesting is in this set of pics on the Ukrainian site - Ukrinform.net - which shows the change of leadership pics to the current Canadian operation leader, LCol Sarah Heer, is all of the pics showing the awarding of plaques/books and such are in front of the Ukrainian flag and the NATO flag......
Is Op UNIFIER sanctioned/supported/approved by NATO? If Swedish troops are under Canadian supervision for Op UNIFIER, why does their Ambassador agree to have their picture taken under the Ukrainian and NATO flags, does that make sense?

Lieutenant-Colonel Sarah Heer takes command of Operation UNIFIER in Ukraine

Lieutenant-Colonel Ryan Stimpson transferred command of Operation UNIFIER to Lieutenant-Colonel Sarah Heer. — Ukrinform.

www.ukrinform.net

- Swedish Ambassador to Ukraine, right in front of a NATO flag.

\

From an optics point of view, its no wonder that pics like this totally set the Russians off. All Russians drink 'paranoia' straight from their mother's breast when they are born and this continues until the day they die.

 

[Altair]

I am aware of the "deepening friendship and amity" between China and Russia; however it always looks to me like China is playing games with Russia and one day will swallow the parts they're interested in. Putin just appears to be China's "useful fool".

Same reason why the USA hasn't invaded Alberta yet.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

Who says they've haven't made some kind of deal with each other to divide the spoils?

China Deepens Informal Alliance With Russia​

China and Russia have strengthened their political, economic and military relations this year, despite their uneasy history in the past, as both countries say they resent what they call growing pressure from the West.

So far this year, the two have held a series of military exercises and issued joint diplomatic statements aimed at Western countries. On November 27, for example, an essay by both countries’ ambassadors to Washington protested the upcoming U.S.-led Summit for Democracy for creating divisions in the world. Neither Russia nor China appeared on the list of 110 invitees.

Russia depends on China’s massive industrial economy for oil and gas exports as environmental rules in the European Union complicate energy imports there, said Vassily Kashin, senior fellow at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

He said two-way relations were at their strongest since the 1950s.

“Most importantly, we have a common position concerning the global order, which is that we don’t like the U.S. global order, so this close partnership is based on common opposition to the U.S.-led global order,” Kashin said.

Western democracies from the United States to Australia and throughout Europe have strengthened their own ties this year at a time of concern about China’s policies. Western governments have signaled opposition to Beijing’s aggressive language on Taiwan, its crackdown on dissenters in Hong Kong and its policies targeting a Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang region.

China Deepens Informal Alliance With Russia

Russia, for its part, wants a stronger role in Asian affairs

www.voanews.com

If the United States and the United Kingdom can form an Alliance with the Soviet Union to defeat Nazi Germany, after the Soviet Union made a deal with Nazi Germany to divide Poland, why is a Chinese-Russian Alliance so hard to imagine?

Countries don't have permanent friends, they have permanent interests.

 

[armrdsoul77]

Same reason why the USA hasn't invaded Alberta yet.

 

[KevinB]

Who says they've haven't made some kind of deal with each other to divide the spoils?

China Deepens Informal Alliance With Russia​

China and Russia have strengthened their political, economic and military relations this year, despite their uneasy history in the past, as both countries say they resent what they call growing pressure from the West.

So far this year, the two have held a series of military exercises and issued joint diplomatic statements aimed at Western countries. On November 27, for example, an essay by both countries’ ambassadors to Washington protested the upcoming U.S.-led Summit for Democracy for creating divisions in the world. Neither Russia nor China appeared on the list of 110 invitees.

Russia depends on China’s massive industrial economy for oil and gas exports as environmental rules in the European Union complicate energy imports there, said Vassily Kashin, senior fellow at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

He said two-way relations were at their strongest since the 1950s.

“Most importantly, we have a common position concerning the global order, which is that we don’t like the U.S. global order, so this close partnership is based on common opposition to the U.S.-led global order,” Kashin said.

Western democracies from the United States to Australia and throughout Europe have strengthened their own ties this year at a time of concern about China’s policies. Western governments have signaled opposition to Beijing’s aggressive language on Taiwan, its crackdown on dissenters in Hong Kong and its policies targeting a Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang region.

China Deepens Informal Alliance With Russia

Russia, for its part, wants a stronger role in Asian affairs

www.voanews.com

Which is easier for China? Cross into Taiwan - against the USN and USAF, Australians as well as Japanese, and SK and of course Taiwanese forces - or make an overland venture against an occupied Russia?
Keep in mind Russia and China have had sparring Div Arty matches across their border for years.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Which is easier for China? Cross into Taiwan - against the USN and USAF, Australians as well as Japanese, and SK and of course Taiwanese forces - or make an overland venture against an occupied Russia?
Keep in mind Russia and China have had sparring Div Arty matches across their border for years.

And then there's India and Pakistan, of course

 

[GR66]

Which is easier for China? Cross into Taiwan - against the USN and USAF, Australians as well as Japanese, and SK and of course Taiwanese forces - or make an overland venture against an occupied Russia?
Keep in mind Russia and China have had sparring Div Arty matches across their border for years.

How many nuclear weapons does Taiwan have?

 

[KevinB]

How many nuclear weapons does Taiwan have?

You should ask them?

But lets think about one aspect -- Israel and Pakistan had nukes long before they went public with them, and Taiwan isn't exactly technologically challenged.