Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

[RoseMorninStar]

[elengil]

[N.E. Brigand]

Vice reports that "Elon Musk Spoke to Putin Before Tweeting Ukraine Peace Plan."

I'd just like to add that a so-called "Ukraine peace plan" was a big part of the clandestine interactions between Donald Trump's team and members of the Russian government that was investigated by Robert Mueller. And in both cases, the plan involved Ukraine permanently giving up territory seized by Russia.

What kind of dirt does the richest man in the world have on the second richest man in the world?

Edit: Musk says the story is false.

[Frelga]

But Musk won't say that he didn't speak with someone other than putin in the Russian government. And Medvedev straight up called Musk a Russian asset. Of course, everything Medvedev says is either a lie or drunken rambling that is also a lie.

I gotta say, I'm impressed with Dnipro fixing the missile crater overnight. I've seen bigger potholes go unfixed for many months, back when I lived there.

But dammit, there's nothing in that neighborhood other than apartment buildings.

[N.E. Brigand]

In video here, Vladimir Putin's puppet in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine, Pavel Gubarev, tells other Ukrainians that: "We aren't coming to kill you, but to convince you. But if you don't want to be convinced, we'll kill you. We'll kill as many as we have to: 1 million, 5 million, or exterminate all of you."

[RoseMorninStar]

While it doesn't relate directly to Russia/Putin/Ukraine, I highly recommend listening to Rachel Maddow's podcast 'Ultra'. Thus far there are only 2 episodes but one cannot help but see the striking similarities in the run-up to WWII and how Hitler/Nazi's had their tentacles in American society, religion, and politics and the disinformation/propaganda and how cozy Putin is with many with power or money in the US (and possibly other countries) and the situation (war) with Ukraine.

[N.E. Brigand]

But Musk won't say that he didn't speak with someone other than Putin in the Russian government. And Medvedev straight up called Musk a Russian asset. Of course, everything Medvedev says is either a lie or drunken rambling that is also a lie.

The story's source, Ian Bremmer, stands by his claim that Musk told him he spoke with Putin. In response, Musk issued another non-denial denial: "Nobody should trust Bremmer."

[N.E. Brigand]

But Musk won't say that he didn't speak with someone other than Putin in the Russian government. And Medvedev straight up called Musk a Russian asset. Of course, everything Medvedev says is either a lie or drunken rambling that is also a lie.

The story's source, Ian Bremmer, stands by his claim that Musk told him he spoke with Putin. In response, Musk issued another non-denial denial: "Nobody should trust Bremmer."

And Elon Musk is now complaining that he's being unjustly persecuted, comparing himself in that regard to (double murderer) O.J. Simpson.

[N.E. Brigand]

CNN: "Elon Musk’s SpaceX says it can no longer pay for critical satellite services in Ukraine, asks Pentagon to pick up the tab."

It was good of SpaceX to do this in the first place, and the Pentagon should absolutely pick up the tab if that's what it takes to keep the service going during Russia's invasion.

[N.E. Brigand]

I appreciate Josh Marshall's take on the Starlink issue:

We can agree or disagree about U.S. policy in Ukraine. But for the moment the U.S. government has decided that it is in the U.S. interest to support Ukraine's war effort against Russia. That is a sovereign decision. Whether the Ukrainian military can have regular internet access can't be a matter of the whim of one rich guy in the U.S. and his U.S.-based company. It certainly can't be a chit he uses because he's mad that he's being investigated for securities fraud over his attempted purchase of Twitter. That is too much power. Starlink is clearly a powerful product. It is helping Ukraine's war effort a lot. Musk wants the free publicity without picking up the tab. He's not obligated to fund part of the Ukraine war effort himself if that's really happening. If he's footing a bill, he should be paid. But these basic questions of war and peace can't be left to one mercurial weirdo who's having tantrums on Twitter.

[Frelga]

NEB, that's a good take.

Meanwhile, Musk had another mood swing. Or possibly was reminded that most of the cost of Starlink is picked up by the US MOD and Ukraine. I couldn't get a definite answer for how much of the cost is picked up by SpaceX.

Elon Musk abruptly reversed himself on Saturday by saying that his company would continue to fund the operation of the Starlink internet service in Ukraine, where it has become a digital lifeline for soldiers and civilians. "The hell with it," he said.

[Sunsilver]

He can certainly afford it!

[RoseMorninStar]

I believe the Starlink service is worth/costs about $30 Million a month. I have no idea about how that cost is affected &/or offset by other deals.

[Frelga]

Meanwhile in Russia, the mobilization continues to go horribly. Russian media reports men grabbed off the street, in bars, at work. Not just in the ethnic minority areas beyond the Ural Mountains, but in large cities. Even Moscow, which is normally the only place putin cares about. (He appears to hate St. Petersburg as much as every tyrant before him.)

It's reported that these mobiks are badly treated, trained, and equipped. Bodies are already coming back, even to Moscow. Some lasted less than two weeks from conscription. Ukraine is saying that others are surrendering in whole units.

Yesterday in Belgorod (Russian city on Ukrainian border, used by Russia as a staging ground for the invasion) someone opened fire on the training ground, killing and injuring more than a dozen "volunteers".

Official reports put blame on two men from Tajikistan whom may have been among the volunteers. This comes right behind the head of the Tajik government snapping at putin to treat Tajikistan with respect. Russian mil bloggers went on a predictable racist rant, and one suggested that officers should carry weapons with a chambered round to protect against further incidents.

Finally, Iran is said to offer balisitc missiles to Russia. This may have gotten Israel to finally get off the fence and publicly offer aid. Israel is said to provide Ukraine with intelligence. I suspect they do more than that, as I've never seen official Ukrainian sources lash out at Israel as they've done at other allies.

[Sunsilver]

Here is something I wasn't aware of:

(Go to NPR.org for the full article. I can't link to it without getting a popup for an audio link, which I don't want.)

The European Union will train thousands of Ukrainian soldiers on its own soil starting as early as next month under a plan that is expected to be approved Monday by EU foreign ministers....

The EU may coordinate its training with the United Kingdom, which has already put an estimated 6,000 Ukrainian civilians through basic training on British soil.

U.K.-based training missions have become especially important for Kyiv, given how dangerous training large numbers of people inside Ukraine has become. In March, for example, a Russian missile attack on a military training base close to Ukraine's western border near Poland killed at least 35 people.

Hoorah for the U.K.!

[Dave_LF]

Seems poignant. Though at least for now, the scale of death and destruction is not even on the same order of magnitude.
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Twitter link

[Frelga]

Yes, it's pretty wild. The senseless destruction and lost lives is devastating. And yet, Kiyiv, Dnipro, Odessa, are all largely standing.

Mom calls her friends, and they more or less go on with their lives, once the all-clear sounds.

One of the targets last Monday was Kiyiv's iconic Glass Bridge. It's still standing. Ukrainian Twitter pointed out that Ukraine (presumably it was them) took down a heavily reinforced and defended Kerch Bridge, while Russia couldn't even destroy a bridge made of literal glass.

[Sunsilver]

N.E. so I assume the first picture is one of the infamous 'buzz bombs' that Hitler used to attack London in 1944?

Frelga, the incompetence is mind-boggling! Was the Kerch Bridge the one with all the holes in it from the missiles?

[N.E. Brigand]

What is the deal with American tech executives and venture capitalists taking up Vladimir Putin's cause?

[N.E. Brigand]

What is the deal with American tech executives and venture capitalists taking up Vladimir Putin's cause?

Seems about right (source):



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Also, that was Dave not me who posted the picture of the V1 bomb falling on London.