Russia's Invasion of Ukraine - Consolidated Thread

[shalom]

Here's a summary of the latest headlines; click on the link to go to each story for more details. Europe is still at EUCOM 2.



February 15, 2022 - The United States is reportedly currently evaluating whether or not Russia is in fact behind the cyberattack on the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense website, as well as a few Ukrainian banks. Read more


February 15, 2022 - Russian President Vladimir Putin stated During joint press conference with German Chancellor that "Russia can't turn away from the fact that US and NATO are interpreting the key principles of indivisibility of security that is stipulated in many pan-European documents". Read more


February 15, 2022 - Our intel channels confirm that the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense website is still down. It is now not showing any custom error message at all, just the white default connection timeout message, indicating the server is completely shut down. Read more


February 15, 2022 - Netblocks monitoring service confirms that the Ukrainian ministry of defense website is down, along with Ukraine's State Savings Bank which is impacting ATM and banking services in Ukraine. Suspected ongoing DDOS attack on the servers. Read more


February 15, 2022 - Ukrainian Ministry of Defense: "The MOD website was probably attacked by DDoS: an excessive number of requests per second was recorded. Technical works on restoration of regular functioning are carried out. Communication via FB and Twitter pages" Read more


February 15, 2022 - Ukrainian media reports say there are issues with some Ukrainian banks, in addition with the Defense Ministry site being down. Privat and Oschad apps are not working and people can't pay with their cards. Read more


February 15, 2022 - Russian State news TASS claimed that the LPR prevented a terrorist attack in Luhansk. TASS said the department announced 'possible' involvement in the attempted attack of 'sabotage'. Remember to always read Russian state news with a grain of salt. The report may be part of Russia's pretext for justifying an invasion on Ukraine. Read more


February 15, 2022 - The United States Embassy in Kyiv says "Today’s Duma vote on the “LPR/DPR” is yet another odious attempt to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and a clear violation of the Minsk agreements, which commit signatories to reintegrate these regions. Read more


February 15, 2022 - Russian State Duma reportedly passed resolution appealing to Putin to recognize independence of the DNR and LNR (Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republic) Read more


February 15, 2022 - Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs put out a statement saying "Russia's recognition of the so-called "L/DPR" will be tantamount to its deliberate withdrawal from the Minsk Agreements. Such a move will cause a blow to the politico-diplomatic settlement that Ukraine and its partners have been actively engaged to promote". Read more


February 15, 2022 - The Russian Defense Ministry says that they are withdrawing troops and have shown video footage of tanks moving back to their bases. They say Southern and Western Military District troops have completed their exercises and will return to their permanent bases. Read more Taken from Defcon Level Warning System: link

[maybetoday]

Cyberattack targets websites of Ukrainian MOD, banks

Last month, Ukrainian government websites were targeted by a cyberattack blamed on Russia.

By TZVI JOFFRE Published: FEBRUARY 15, 2022 18:53

Updated: FEBRUARY 16, 2022 00:04Email Twitter Facebook fb-messenger


A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) cyberattack reportedly targeted the websites of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and Armed Forces, as well as those of Ukrainian banks Privatbank and Oschadbank, on Tuesday, according to the Ukrainian government's Center for Strategic Communications. The attack comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine.



The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's website displays the message "The site is under maintenance."



Users of the two banks reported issues with the apps and certain internet banking operations. Privatbank assured customers that there is no threat to their funds. Later in the evening, the website for Ukraine's Security Service went down as well, reportedly due to a cyberattack.

Continued at link

[Pink Rose]

D-Day arrives in Ukraine: Biden says war 'still a risk' amid fears Putin is toying with the West by removing some tanks but deploying MORE troops to the border on the day intelligence agencies predicted invasion would begin


More Russian troops were seen advancing towards the Ukrainian border Tuesday

But President Vladimir Putin declared yesterday that he does not want a war

Russian tanks were pictured being loaded onto trains amid withdrawals

Western leaders have urged Russia to continue with military pullbacks

It comes as Ukrainian soldiers tested British-supplied NLAW anti-tank missiles

By MARK NICOL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL



PUBLISHED: 19:08 EST, 15 February 2022 | UPDATED: 21:10 EST, 15 February 2022


Russia was last night stepping up preparations to invade Ukraine – despite Vladimir Putin’s claims he favours further talks over military conflict.



Yesterday in a deeply alarming move, and against Russian proclamations, Western nations saw additional Russian troops advancing towards Ukraine’s border.



They will bolster the 130,000-strong invasion force. But in spite of Western evidence that Russians are strengthening frontline forces, President Putin insisted he does ‘not want a war’.


Meanwhile, Russian media agencies released footage showing tanks being withdrawn.



The clips appeared stage-managed but a spokesman insisted the ‘Southern and Western Military District troops’ had completed their exercises and would ‘return to their permanent bases’.



Kremlin spokesman Maria Zakharova mocked the UK and US, saying yesterday ‘would go down in history as the day Western war propaganda failed, humiliated and destroyed without a single shot fired’.



Boris Johnson said there were ‘mixed messages’ from Moscow and he urged further troop withdrawals.

Continued with videos at the link

[schwartzie]

There are conflicting reports as to whether or not war is imminent; keep in mind Putin is a master strategist who isn't about to show his hand. I read elsewhere that yes, Putin is withdrawing troops, but at the same time is bringing in more. Only time will tell what's going to happen, but we can be sure of one thing: the Ezekiel 38 war isn't far off. Meanwhile, Putin was probably wetting his pants after he heard the threats from Joe - not from fear, but from laughter! 😄


The Hoax Must Go On:

Big Joey Keeps Wagging Dog with Aggressive Speech Against Putin

Tough Guy POTUS Warns Russia Invasion Still Possible…
…Despite Both Ukraine *AND* Russia Indicating No War ’Imminent’


Joe Biden Warns Russia Invasion Still Possible in Aggressive Speech Against Vladimir Putin


CHARLIE SPIERING
15 Feb 20223,324


Joe Biden on Tuesday delivered an aggressive speech against Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning him again not to invade Ukraine.



Biden acknowledged messaging from the Russian defense minister that they would send troops home from the border of Ukraine but said he remained skeptical.



“That would be good, but we have not yet verified that,” Biden said during a speech at the White House.



Biden also spoke directly to the people of Russia, repeating that the United States and NATO were not a threat.



“To the citizens of Russia: you are not our enemy, and I don’t believe you want a bloody, destructive war against Ukraine,” Biden said, noting the deep ties of “family history and culture” between the two nations.



The president recalled that the United States fought with Russia in World War II in a “war of necessity” but warned them against choosing to pick a fight with a neighboring country.



“If Russia attacks Ukraine, it will be a war of choice or a war without cause or a reason,” Biden said.



He warned Putin of widespread condemnation from Western countries of any decision on his part to attack.



“It’s about standing what we believe in and the future we want for our world,” he said.



The president acknowledged that Americans could face higher energy costs if Russia did invade.



“I will not pretend this will be painless. There could be impact on our energy prices,” he said.



Biden promised not to send armed servicemen into Ukraine but said he would supply them with military equipment and supplies to help them defend themselves and bolster neighboring NATO countries.


Continued at link

[Midnight]

Latest headlines.  Links to each story are at the link at the bottom of this post.  

It looks like an attack is still likely, but for those who thought it would be today (Wednesday), well, did you really think Putin would reveal his plans? 


February 17, 2022 - Russian state news has accused Ukraine of firing mortar shells and grenades at four LPR locations. This may or may not be true, but as always never treat a story as fact until it's verified by multiple credible sources. Read more


February 16, 2022 - Nolan Peterson, a reporter on the ground in Ukraine who spoke with Ukrainian soldiers said that they were 'on edge last night' and are now taking 'concrete actions' to prepare for a Russian attack. Read more


February 16, 2022 - Despite suspected propaganda coming from the Russian media, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that Washington continues to see Russian forces in mass moving toward the Ukrainian border, not away from it, and Russia is building a bridge over the Pripyat river from Belarus to Ukraine.

Read more Taken from Defcon Level Warning System: link

[ExquisiteGerbil]

It's anybody's guess as to what's actually going on, but here are the latest headlines from EUCON, which seems to be pretty reliable - thanks to whoever found it. As Midnight said, click on the link below to read the full story behind each headline.


February 17, 2022 - Russian state news has reported that Russia has expelled United States Deputy Ambassador in Moscow Bart Gorman. The United States has allegedly promised a 'response'. Read more


February 17, 2022 - There has reportedly been shelling on a kindergarten in Stanytsia Luhanska, Ukraine. Russian state news agencies claim that the artillery fire came from the Ukrainian front and that Ukraine targeted a kindergarten within its own territory. Ukraine says that the artillery fire came from Russia and that it is 'a big provocation'. Read more


February 17, 2022 - There is currently smoke billowing out of the Russian embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine. The smoke is coming out of the chimney so it is controlled and does not seem to be accidental. This may indicate that Russia is burning sensitive documents within the embassy as a precaution to safeguard against another country obtaining them. Read more


February 17, 2022 - Al Jazeera reported the following message "Urgent | President of the separatist Lugansk Republic: We call on international observers to take urgent measures to prevent bloodshed in Donbass". Read more

Taken from Defcon Level Warning System: link

[ExquisiteGerbil]

17 Feb, 2022 10:14

Ukraine and Donbass accuse each other of heavy shelling




Heavy fire and explosions have been reported on the contact line in Ukraine’s war-torn Donbass region, with Kiev’s forces and those loyal to the two breakaway self-declared republics accusing each other of aggression hours after the Kremlin warned fresh fighting could be on the cards.



Leaders from the unrecognised separatist Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in the east of Ukraine reported on Thursday that government troops had attacked the outskirts of its territory. According to the DPR, units from Kiev fired at several towns and villages using 82 millimeter mortars, hand grenades, and rifles.



The Ukrainian Armed Forces subsequently reported that a settlement located near the Lugansk People’s Republic, the other breakaway territory in the region, had been attacked and photographs circulating online purport to show a kindergarten hit by a shell on the side controlled by government forces. Authorities stated that two civilians had been injured, missiles had hit the school, and half the area had lost electricity. The residents were evacuated.



Kiev has been locked in a civil war with the two breakaway territories since 2014, when separatists declared independent republics following the ousting of then-President Viktor Yanukovych during mass street protests. Ukrainian officials, along with Western countries, have accused Russia of supporting the rebels and fueling the conflict.

Continued at link

[ExquisiteGerbil]

The old fool is still at it! 


17 Feb, 2022 14:46

‘Every indication’ that Russia will invade Ukraine – Biden

Despite Russian troop drawdown, US president claims invasion is imminent “in several days”

‘Every indication’ that Russia will invade Ukraine – Biden

© AP / Patrick Semansky

Joe Biden told reporters on Thursday that Russia is “prepared to go into Ukraine, attack Ukraine,” and that such an invasion will come in “several days.

Previous US dates for an invasion have come and gone, and Moscow has withdrawn some of its troops from the area near its Ukrainian border.



Describing the risk of a Russian invasion as “very high,” Biden told reporters on Thursday that “Every indication that we have is that they are prepared to go into Ukraine, attack Ukraine.”



“My sense is it will happen within the next several days,” Biden added. Problem is, he has no sense! 😆

link

[ExquisiteGerbil]

7 Feb, 2022 14:29

Russian withdrawal claims 'false' – US media claim

Moscow has actually increased the number of soldiers near Ukraine, an anonymous official claimed

By Ailis Halligan







Russian withdrawal claims 'false' – US media claim


The units of the Southern Military District (SE), which have completed participation in tactical exercises at the ranges of the Crimean Peninsula, are marching to the points of permanent deployment by rail. © Sputnik / Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Russia’s claims that their armed forces are retreating from the border with Ukraine are untrue, and troop numbers in the area are, in fact, increasing, a customarily anonymous Washington official allegedly claimed on Wednesday.



Speaking to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, a senior US administration official insisted that Moscow had deployed thousands more troops to the Russia-Ukraine border, where it is alleged that more than 100,000 soldiers are already stationed.



The allegation contradicts an announcement from the Russian Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, which stated that some units had completed their training drills and were beginning to return to their bases.



WATCH Russian tanks pull back from Ukrainian border

Read more WATCH Russian tanks pull back from Ukrainian border

Furthermore, in the next few days, joint exercises being held between Russian and Belarusian troops are also due to come to an end. Some Western governments had previously suggested that the drills indicate a potential imminent invasion of Ukraine.



Despite Moscow’s announcement of withdrawal, the on-the-ground situation regarding de-escalation on the Ukrainian border, according to US President Joe Biden, remains “unverified.”

Continued at link

[ExquisiteGerbil]

17 Feb, 2022 13:47

Russia expels deputy US ambassador – media

The US is reportedly considering its response after Moscow showed senior diplomat Bartle Gorman the door

Russia expels deputy US ambassador – media


Russia has expelled a top diplomat serving in the US Embassy in Moscow, both RIA Novosti and TASS have reported on Thursday, citing the American mission.



Bart Gorman, who has been serving as deputy ambassador, was asked to leave the country, they claimed. The embassy told the news agencies that Washington is considering a tit-for-tat response.



NATO expansionism has suffered a major setbackREAD MORE: NATO expansionism has suffered a major setback

Gorman is a career US diplomat specializing in security, according to his bio. He previously served as the deputy assistant secretary and assistant director for Threat Investigations and Analysis (TIA) in the department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security


Continued at link

[OmegaMan]

Biden & Co. are still wagging the dog. They desperately need a war to detract from his complete failure as a "president."


US Secretary Of State Blinken Discusses Ukraine-Russia Threat At UN

BY TYLER DURDEN

THURSDAY, FEB 17, 2022 - 09:58 AM

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will deliver remarks on Russia's threat to peace and security, at a UN Security Council Meeting, from UN Headquarters in New York City.



"The evidence on the ground is that Russia is moving toward an imminent invasion. This is a crucial moment," said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who invited Blinken to speak at the UN before his trip to Europe this weekend.



Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a press conference in Munich on Thursday that the U.S. has observed Russian troops "inching closer" to Ukraine's border and "stocking up their blood supplies." Russia has also prepared field hospitals.


In response to the constant efforts by the U.S. to expose alleged Russian plots to attack Ukraine, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov accused the West on Thursday of "information terrorism."

Video at link

[PurplePuppy]

More war mongering to detract from the fact that Biden and his admin are a total failure?


US warns Putin might launch false flag chemical weapons attack before invading Ukraine: Russia expels America's deputy ambassador and demands Biden pull all troops out of Central and Eastern Europe


US has warned that Russia's Vladimir Putin might launch a chemical weapons attack before invading Ukraine

Russia dramatically upped price of de-escalating the Ukraine crisis, all-but dashing faint hopes of diplomacy

Moscow has demanded the US remove all weapons and troops in central and eastern Europe and the Baltics

It came as Putin kicked out the US deputy ambassador, prompting Biden to warn of invasion within 'days'

Russia-backed rebels also launched mortar attacks in eastern Ukraine, attempting to blame Kiev in what Boris Johnson said was a 'false flag' operation aimed at providing a 'spurious pretext' to invade

By CHRIS PLEASANCE and NICK CRAVEN IN KIEV and LAUREN LEWIS and WILL STEWART FOR MAILONLINE



PUBLISHED: 04:15 EST, 17 February 2022 | UPDATED: 14:33 EST, 17 February 2022




The US on Thursday warned that Vladimir Putin might launch a false flag chemical weapons attack before invading Ukraine after Russia expelled America's deputy ambassador and demanded Washington pull all of its troops out of Central and Eastern Europe.



Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia's plans for a false flag operation could include a chemical weapons attack on its own people as it tries to manufacture a pretext for invading Ukraine.



Addressing the United Nations Security Council, he gave the fullest account of what Washington knows of Russia's plans and he demanded that Russia immediately begin withdrawing troops from Ukraine's borders.





Blinken, who upended his travel plans to speak at the UN, said Russia was preparing for an invasion 'in the coming days.' 'We don't know exactly the formal take,' he said, explaining that he believes Putin will start an invasion by creating an excuse to attack.



'It could be a fabricated so-called terrorist bombing inside Russia, the invented discovery of the mass grave, a staged drone strike against civilians, or a fake - even a real - attack using chemical weapons.'



It came hours after Moscow's foreign ministry dashed what little hope remained for diplomacy in a lengthy document handed to the US ambassador to Russia demanding that all of Washington's weapons in central and eastern Europe and the Baltics be removed - along with all weapons already sent to Ukraine - and repeated demands that Ukraine is banned from joining NATO.



In the document, which the US is expected to reject, Moscow accused Washington of failing to respond constructively to the demands it presented in December, including for a halt to the eastern enlargement of NATO.



Russia's 'red lines' were still being ignored, it said in a riposte to US and NATO counter-proposals received last month.



At the same time, the US deputy ambassador to Moscow was expelled - prompting Joe Biden to say he now expects Russia to invade Ukraine in a 'matter of days' and that he will not be speaking to Putin in the meantime.



It comes after Boris Johnson accused Russia of staging a 'false flag' operation in eastern Ukraine by firing mortars at a kindergarten in order to give Putin a 'spurious pretext' to invade the country.



The UK Prime Minister, speaking during a visit to RAF Waddington, said he fears that more such attacks will take place in the coming days and that the picture on Ukraine's border 'continues to be very grim'.



He later announced in a tweet that he will travel to the Munich Security Conference, which Russia said last month it would not attend, for 'discussion with partners'. 'The West is united: De-escalation and dialogue is the only way forward,' he wrote.



Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, speaking after the talks with her Ukrainian counterpart on Thursday, said the Kremlin's demand the UK recognise the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk showed 'flagrant disregard' for Moscow's peace process commitments.



'The Duma's request that Vladimir Putin recognises the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent shows flagrant disregard for Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements, Truss said on Thursday.



'If this request were accepted, it would represent a further attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, signal an end to the Minsk process and demonstrate a Russian decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue.



'We urge Russia to end its pattern of destabilising behaviour against Ukraine and to implement the commitments it has freely signed up to, including the Minsk agreements.'



Blinken on Wednesday criticized the move by Russian lawmakers towards recognising the two Russian-backed breakaway regions as independent.



Meanwhile satellite images revealed a new pontoon bridge has been build across the Pripyat River in Belarus, close to Chernobyl and about 80 miles north of Kiev. It is feared the bridge, which has appeared close to areas where Russian tanks are stationed, could be used for an assault on the capital.



And on Thursday evening, Yaşar Halit Çevik, chief monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said that some 500 explosions had been recorded between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. In a sign that tensions could be easing, he said: 'After 11.20 (am) we have recorded about 30 explosions.'

Continued at link

[PurplePuppy]

Vladimir Putin's forces 'could keep up war games for months': West faces no let-up in threat to Ukraine even if invasion is put on hold, officials fear

US ambassador to Ukraine, Kristina Kvien, said an attack could come next week

Officials believe Russian troops will stay camped around its neighbor

There are fears war games, cyber attacks and disinformation will drag on

By MARK NICOL IN LONDON and JAMES FRANEY IN BRUSSELS FOR THE DAILY MAIL



PUBLISHED: 06:16 EST, 17 February 2022 | UPDATED: 14:16 EST, 17 February 2022


Russia's war games on the border with Ukraine could rumble on for months, Western officials fear.



The US ambassador to Ukraine, Kristina Kvien, last night said she was 'very concerned' the Kremlin could launch an attack 'within the next week'.



But after yesterday's predicted date for an invasion passed, Moscow was accused of creating a 'new normal', with military force being used to bully and intimidate – keeping up the pressure on Ukraine and keeping the West on high alert.


Intelligence officials said they were prepared for the long haul and fear there will be no let-up in Russia's war games, cyber-attacks and disinformation for many months.



They said President Vladimir Putin's 150,000-strong invasion force is to stay camped around its neighbor and may even launch ballistic missiles as part of its menacing military drills.

Continued at link

[PurplePuppy]

Belarus leader Lukashenko warns his country will host 'Russian super-nuclear and up-and-coming weapons if stupid and mindless steps are taken by our rivals'

Lukashenko due to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday

Ex-Soviet Belarus, which is not a nuclear power, will this month hold vote on constitutional reforms which could make it legal to host nuclear weapons

Lukashenko has previously offered to host Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus

Belarus last held nuclear warheads when it was part of the Soviet Union

But with the fall of the USSR, former Soviet states dismantled nuclear weapons

By CHRIS JEWERS FOR MAILONLINE and AFP



PUBLISHED: 11:04 EST, 17 February 2022 | UPDATED: 12:03 EST, 17 February 2022




Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko warned on Thursday his country could host 'super-nuclear' weapons if it faces any external threats, as tensions soar between his ally Russia and the West over Ukraine.



Lukashenko is due to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday. He has previously offered to host Russian nuclear weapons.



'If necessary, if such stupid and mindless steps are taken by our rivals and opponents, we will deploy not only nuclear weapons, but super-nuclear and up-and-coming ones to protect our territory,' Lukashenko said, according to the state-run Belta news agency.





'But if there are no threats to Belarus from unfriendly countries, then nuclear weapons are not needed here for a hundred years,' he added.



Ex-Soviet Belarus, which is not a nuclear power, will later this month hold a vote on constitutional reforms which could make it legal for Belarus to host nuclear weapons.



Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, promised the referendum in the wake of historic protests against his disputed re-election. The constitutional reforms would also allow Lukashenko to remain in office until 2035.


Continued at link

[PurplePuppy]

Liz Truss accuses Russia of a 'blatant' attempt to 'fabricate pretexts for invasion' as she arrives in Kiev condemning shell attack on Kindergarten - while PM warns of more 'false flag' operations to come

Liz Truss is visiting Ukraine to show solidarity amid continuing Russian threat with troops massed on border

Foreign Secretary urged the West not to be 'lulled' by Moscow's claims that some troops are withdrawing

Ms Truss said that Russia was engaging in 'blatant' attempts to 'fabricate pretexts for invasion' of Ukraine

Defence minister has voiced fears that the struggle with Russian aggression could last 'a generation or more'

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE



PUBLISHED: 06:14 EST, 17 February 2022 | UPDATED: 14:17 EST, 17 February 2022


Liz Truss accused Russia of 'blatant' efforts to 'fabricate pretexts for invasion' today as she arrived in Ukraine to show solidarity - with Boris Johnson warning of 'false flag operations'.



Amid rising fears that Vladimir Putin is preparing to send in forces, the Foreign Secretary said claims of 'abnormal' activity by Ukranian forces were 'straight out of the Kremlin playbook'.



She condemned the shelling of a kindergarten by pro-Russian forces, urging Moscow to pursue diplomatic channels - and cautioned that Nato allies might need to accept 'short-term pain for long-term gain' by opposing the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.





Truss, speaking after the talks with her Ukrainian counterpart, said the Kremlin's demand the UK recognise the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk showed 'flagrant disregard' for Moscow's peace process commitments.



Meanwhile, on a visit to an RAF base in Lincolnshire Mr Johnson has said the kindergarten attack was a 'false flag operation designed to discredit the Ukrainians', adding: 'We fear very much that that is a thing we will see more of over the next few days.'



The US has accused Russia of adding up to 7,000 troops near the Ukraine border despite Moscow insisting some units are returning to base after 'exercises'.



At a press conference alongside her Ukranian counterpart this afternoon, Ms Truss said she wanted to show the UK's 'steadfast support'.



'I'm very impressed that, despite the Russian aggression towards Ukraine, that life here in Kyiv goes on and I am impressed by the level of stoicism, both from the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian government,' she said.



'We admire your fortitude in the face of Russian aggression and we stand with you in defence of your right to determine your own future.'



Following talks in Kiev, she said: 'The [Russian parliament's] request that Vladimir Putin recognises the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent shows flagrant disregard for Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements, Truss said on Thursday.



'If this request were accepted, it would represent a further attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, signal an end to the Minsk process and demonstrate a Russian decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue.



'We urge Russia to end its pattern of destabilising behaviour against Ukraine and to implement the commitments it has freely signed up to, including the Minsk agreements.'



Despite it being a relatively mild 7 degrees C in Kiev, Ms Truss was again wearing the fur hat that was mocked by Russian propagandists on her trip to Moscow last week.



As she landed she tweeted: 'Very concerned about reports today of increased Russian aggression: over 7,000 extra troops near the Ukraine border and an attack by pro-Russian troops on a kindergarten in Ukraine.



'(The UK) calls on Russia to withdraw its troops - there is still time for diplomacy and de-escalation.' She vowed to keep calling out 'disinformation' from Moscow.



'Reports of alleged abnormal military activity by Ukraine in Donbas are a blatant attempt by the Russian government to fabricate pretexts for invasion,' Ms Truss added. 'This is straight out of the Kremlin playbook.'



The kindergarten was struck during clashes between Russian-backed separatists and state forces in east Ukraine.



Separatist authorities in the Luhansk region claimed there had been an increase in Ukrainian shelling along the tense line of contact, describing it as a 'large-scale provocation' and they then returned fire.



The Kyiv government disputed the claim, saying that separatists had shelled its forces but they did not fire back. A nursery building in Stanytsia Luhanska was hit, wounding two civilians, according to the Ukrainian military.



In other developments in the standoff today:



Mr Johnson - who is due to attend a security conference in Munich over the weekend - said the UK was working to strengthen the package of sanctions being readied in case Russia does go ahead with an invasion;

The premier said Russia would be 'mad' to invade and urged countries such as Germany to change gas supplies so it cannot be 'blackmailed' by Moscow any more;

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said it is believed Russia is planning to launch an attack against Ukraine in the coming days;

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has said Russia is continuing to send troops to the border zone with Ukraine, and warned that they would not be taking measures such as stocking up on blood supplies for 'no reason;

Defence minister James Heappey warned ahead of the shelling attack that a Russian invasion is now 'very, very imminent - if not inevitable' based on satellite images showing that forces continue to build at the border.

Images show a new pontoon bridge has been built hundreds of miles away across the Pripyat River in Belarus, close to Chernobyl and around 80 miles north of Kiev amid fears it could be used as an invasion route;

Video emerged purporting to show a thick column of smoke rising from the Russian embassy in Kiev, raising fears that sensitive documents are being burned before diplomats evacuate.


Continued at link

[schwartzie]

18 Feb, 2022 17:12

Kiev prepares for evacuation


Senior official in the Ukrainian capital says it will be evacuated if Russia invades

By Alexey Viryasov



Kiev prepares for evacuation

Kiev will be completely evacuated if Russian troops storm over the border and attempt to invade Ukraine, a senior city official revealed on Thursday.



Speaking to radio station Hromadske, Kiev’s municipal security director, Roman Tkachuk, stated that the city’s three million residents would be taken out of the capital in the event of war. However, the official did not specify where they would be evacuated to, or how.



“In the event of hostilities, an evacuation will be carried out, and only critical infrastructure workers and the Armed Forces of Ukraine will remain in the city,” Tkachuk said. However, those who choose to stay will not be forced out, he assured.



Ukraine to launch military operation via breakaway Lugansk republic — militia leader

Read more Ukraine to launch military operation via breakaway Lugansk republic — militia leader

The announcement comes amid rising tensions over the conflict on the border between Russia and Ukraine. Moscow stands accused of stationing over 100,000 Russian troops on the frontier, and Washington has accused the Kremlin of planning an invasion. 


Continued at link


The crisis i

[schwartzie]

18 Feb, 2022 13:24

Breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk republics order evacuation


Civilians must flee from the rebel-held Ukrainian regions to Russia, their heads say

Breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk republics order evacuation

The leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics told civilians on Friday to evacuate to Russia to avoid getting caught in the crossfire in case Ukraine starts an attack.



Donetsk People’s Republic head Denis Pushilin said in a statement that he expects military aggression by Ukrainian forces. The country’s troops have been bolstered with arms supplies from Western nations and “are now prepositioned for combat and ready to take Donbass by force,” Pushilin claimed in a statement, referring to his region and fellow breakaway entity, the Lugansk People’s Republic, by their collective name.



The Ukrainian rebels are expecting President Volodymyr Zelensky to order an offensive “in the nearest future.” Their military forces are prepared to fight, but civilians in rebel-controlled areas are at risk of being caught in the crossfire, the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic warned.



“That is why starting today, February 18, a mass evacuation of people to the Russian Federation has been organized,” he said, adding that vulnerable groups like women, children, and the elderly would be given priority.



The head of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), Leonid Pasechnik, also called on people to evacuate from the region.



Pushilin said Russian officials in the neighboring Rostov Region are expecting an inflow of evacuees and will provide them with what they need. There will be conditions at border crossings to expedite the process, he added. He urged people “to heed to the warning and take the right decision,” saying that the relocation would be temporary and would save lives.


Continued at link

[OmegaMan]

Russia-Ukraine live updates: Biden to speak about Ukraine amid unconfirmed reports of evacuations from separatist area

Andrew Jeong, Steve Hendrix, John Wagner, Mariana Alfaro

2/18/2022

Fears of an assault rose when the Russian-backed leader of a separatist-controlled area of eastern Ukraine said officials there were launching a mass evacuation of civilians into Russia, citing a threat of military action by Ukraine. But confusion surrounded the announcement by Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic in Ukraine’s Donbas region. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had “no information about what is happening,” while Russia’s Interfax news agency reported that officials were planning for the evacuation of “several hundreds of thousands of people.”



Here’s what to know



The Biden administration is “deeply concerned” that Putin has turned away from a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the Munich Security Conference.

The Biden administration said that the United States has reason to believe that Russian cyber actors targeted the Ukrainian government and banks during the past week with an attack of “limited impact.”

Blinken agreed to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov next week under the condition that Moscow refrains from attacking Ukraine.

Vice President Harris, in Munich for a major security conference, met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and representatives of NATO’s three Baltic states and will confer with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Saturday.



Zelensky weighing whether to travel to Munich Security Conference



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With tensions mounting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is weighing whether to travel to the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. Among other things, he is scheduled to meet with Vice President Harris while there.



Zelensky spokesman Sergei Nyfyforov said officials are monitoring the situation, “which is getting more and more dramatic.”



“The president is scheduled to depart tomorrow morning,” Nyfyforov told NBC. “If there is a dramatic escalation or some worrying messages then he might change his mind. As of now, we are still waiting to see what is going to happen.”



Meanwhile, Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s national security and defense council, said Zelensky is still planning to travel to Munich on Saturday.



“I can confirm for today once more that we do not see a full-scale invasion into the territory of our country,” Danilov said.



Pressed on whether the United States was concerned, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that it is for Zelensky to decide on whether to leave Ukraine for the conference.

Biden administration believes Russian government is responsible for cyber attacks on Ukrainian banks


Anne Neuberger, the Biden administration’s deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said Friday that the United States has reason to believe that Russian cyber actors targeted the Ukrainian government and banks during the past week with an attack of “limited impact.”

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[Berean]

Powerful Gas Pipeline Explosion Rocks Eastern Ukraine; Biden "Convinced By Intel" Putin Has Decided To Invade

BY TYLER DURDEN

FRIDAY, FEB 18, 2022 - 05:39 PM


(Update 5:30pm ET): Shortly after images of the gas pipeline explosion was reaching social media,  Biden appeared behind the lectern at The White House (an hour late) to tell the world that he's “convinced” that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to launch a further invasion in Ukraine, including an assault on its capital, Kyiv.



After weeks of saying the U.S. wasn’t sure if Putin had made the final decision to launch a widespread invasion, Biden said that assessment had changed, citing “significant intelligence capability.”



“As of this moment I’m convinced he’s made the decision,” Biden said.



“We have reason to believe that.” He reiterated that it could occur in the “coming days.”



"We believe they will target Ukraine's capital Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people," he said of Russian forces.



But with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken scheduled to speak with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday, Biden said there is still time for negotiations to defuse the crisis.



"Diplomacy is always a possibility," he said.



Meanwhile, US officials are also convinced that Russia was responsible for the DDOS attacks in Ukraine this week





Additionally, if any more FUD was needed, Foreign Policy reports that the US has obtained intelligence that Russia may target prominent political opponents, anti-corruption activists, and Belarusian and Russian dissidents living in exile should it move forward with plans to invade Ukraine.







* * *



(Update 4:48pm ET): In the overnight hours local time a massive gas pipeline explosion is being reported, with a fire raging at the site. Early unconfirmed reports suggest the powerful explosion rocked a part of the pipeline in the pro-Russian separatist region, in or near the city of Luhansk.



Interfax is also confirming a "pipeline fire in Eastern Ukraine after a powerful explosion"... Dramatic videos were quick to emerge showing a bright fireball on the horizon.





"An explosion has rocked the city of Lugansk in eastern Ukraine late on Friday, Sputnik news agency's correspondent has reported," according to Russian media.



And reports of a second explosion have come across the news wires:



RUSSIA'S INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY REPORTS SECOND EXPLOSION IN LUHANSK IN EAST UKRAINE


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[schwartzie]

Pro-Russia Separatists Mobilise, Alleging ‘Immediate Threat of Aggression’ from Ukraine Govt

BREITBART LONDON19 Feb 202217

8:06


MOSCOW (AP) – Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine ordered a full military mobilization Saturday amid a spike of violence in the war-torn region and fears in the West that Russia might use the strife as a pretext for an invasion.



Denis Pushilin, the head of the pro-Russia separatist government in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, cited an “immediate threat of aggression” from Ukrainian forces in his announcement. Ukrainian officials vehemently denied having plans to take rebel-controlled areas by force.



“I appeal to all the men in the republic who can hold weapons to defend their families, their children, wives, mothers,” Pushilin said. “Together we will achieve the coveted victory that we all need.”



A similar statement followed from his counterpart in the Luhansk region. With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops now posted around Ukraine’s borders, the long-simmering separatist conflict could provide the spark for a broader attack.



The separatists and Ukrainian forces have been fighting for almost eight years. But the violence along the line of contact separating the two sides, including a humanitarian convoy hit by shelling, has risen in recent days.



“They are uncoiling and are now poised to strike,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said during a visit to Lithuania, where he assured the three Baltic nations they would not be on their own if faced with security threats from Russia.



Ukraine’s military said shelling killed a soldier Saturday in the government-held part of the Donetsk region and that separatist forces were placing artillery in residential areas to try and provoke a response.



On Friday, the rebels began evacuating civilians to Russia with an announcement that appeared to be part of their and Moscow’s efforts to paint Ukraine as the aggressor.



U.S. President Joe Biden said late Friday that based on the latest American intelligence he was now “convinced” that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine and assault the capital, Kiev (Kyiv).



“As of this moment, I’m convinced he’s made the decision,” Biden said. “We have reason to believe that.” He reiterated that the assault could occur in the “coming days.”



In a sign of heightened worry about an invasion, the NATO military alliance relocated staff of its liaison office in Kyiv to a city in western Ukraine and to Brussels. A NATO official told The Associated Press that safety of its personnel was the top concern.



“We do not fully know what President Putin intends, but the omens are grim, and that is why we must stand strong together,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told officials attending the annual Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

Continued at link

[Pink Rose]

Yeah, right. A false flag by Biden is more believable! 


US warns Putin might launch false flag chemical weapons attack before invading Ukraine: Russia expels America's deputy ambassador and demands Biden pull all troops out of Central and Eastern Europe


US has warned that Russia's Vladimir Putin might launch a chemical weapons attack before invading Ukraine

Russia dramatically upped price of de-escalating the Ukraine crisis, all-but dashing faint hopes of diplomacy

Moscow has demanded the US remove all weapons and troops in central and eastern Europe and the Baltics

It came as Putin kicked out the US deputy ambassador, prompting Biden to warn of invasion within 'days'

Russia-backed rebels also launched mortar attacks in eastern Ukraine, attempting to blame Kiev in what Boris Johnson said was a 'false flag' operation aimed at providing a 'spurious pretext' to invade

By CHRIS PLEASANCE and NICK CRAVEN IN KIEV and LAUREN LEWIS and WILL STEWART FOR MAILONLINE



PUBLISHED: 04:15 EST, 17 February 2022 | UPDATED: 14:33 EST, 17 February 2022




The US on Thursday warned that Vladimir Putin might launch a false flag chemical weapons attack before invading Ukraine after Russia expelled America's deputy ambassador and demanded Washington pull all of its troops out of Central and Eastern Europe.



Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia's plans for a false flag operation could include a chemical weapons attack on its own people as it tries to manufacture a pretext for invading Ukraine.



Addressing the United Nations Security Council, he gave the fullest account of what Washington knows of Russia's plans and he demanded that Russia immediately begin withdrawing troops from Ukraine's borders.





Blinken, who upended his travel plans to speak at the UN, said Russia was preparing for an invasion 'in the coming days.' 'We don't know exactly the formal take,' he said, explaining that he believes Putin will start an invasion by creating an excuse to attack.



'It could be a fabricated so-called terrorist bombing inside Russia, the invented discovery of the mass grave, a staged drone strike against civilians, or a fake - even a real - attack using chemical weapons.'



It came hours after Moscow's foreign ministry dashed what little hope remained for diplomacy in a lengthy document handed to the US ambassador to Russia demanding that all of Washington's weapons in central and eastern Europe and the Baltics be removed - along with all weapons already sent to Ukraine - and repeated demands that Ukraine is banned from joining NATO.



In the document, which the US is expected to reject, Moscow accused Washington of failing to respond constructively to the demands it presented in December, including for a halt to the eastern enlargement of NATO.



Russia's 'red lines' were still being ignored, it said in a riposte to US and NATO counter-proposals received last month.



At the same time, the US deputy ambassador to Moscow was expelled - prompting Joe Biden to say he now expects Russia to invade Ukraine in a 'matter of days' and that he will not be speaking to Putin in the meantime.



It comes after Boris Johnson accused Russia of staging a 'false flag' operation in eastern Ukraine by firing mortars at a kindergarten in order to give Putin a 'spurious pretext' to invade the country.



The UK Prime Minister, speaking during a visit to RAF Waddington, said he fears that more such attacks will take place in the coming days and that the picture on Ukraine's border 'continues to be very grim'.



He later announced in a tweet that he will travel to the Munich Security Conference, which Russia said last month it would not attend, for 'discussion with partners'. 'The West is united: De-escalation and dialogue is the only way forward,' he wrote.



Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, speaking after the talks with her Ukrainian counterpart on Thursday, said the Kremlin's demand the UK recognise the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk showed 'flagrant disregard' for Moscow's peace process commitments.



'The Duma's request that Vladimir Putin recognises the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent shows flagrant disregard for Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements, Truss said on Thursday.



'If this request were accepted, it would represent a further attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, signal an end to the Minsk process and demonstrate a Russian decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue.



'We urge Russia to end its pattern of destabilising behaviour against Ukraine and to implement the commitments it has freely signed up to, including the Minsk agreements.'



Blinken on Wednesday criticized the move by Russian lawmakers towards recognising the two Russian-backed breakaway regions as independent.



Meanwhile satellite images revealed a new pontoon bridge has been build across the Pripyat River in Belarus, close to Chernobyl and about 80 miles north of Kiev. It is feared the bridge, which has appeared close to areas where Russian tanks are stationed, could be used for an assault on the capital.



And on Thursday evening, Yaşar Halit Çevik, chief monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said that some 500 explosions had been recorded between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. In a sign that tensions could be easing, he said: 'After 11.20 (am) we have recorded about 30 explosions.'


Full story at the link

[Pink Rose]

Liz Truss accuses Russia of a 'blatant' attempt to 'fabricate pretexts for invasion' as she arrives in Kiev condemning shell attack on Kindergarten - while PM warns of more 'false flag' operations to come


Liz Truss is visiting Ukraine to show solidarity amid continuing Russian threat with troops massed on border

Foreign Secretary urged the West not to be 'lulled' by Moscow's claims that some troops are withdrawing

Ms Truss said that Russia was engaging in 'blatant' attempts to 'fabricate pretexts for invasion' of Ukraine

Defence minister has voiced fears that the struggle with Russian aggression could last 'a generation or more'

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE



PUBLISHED: 06:14 EST, 17 February 2022 | UPDATED: 04:35 EST, 18 February 2022




Liz Truss accused Russia of 'blatant' efforts to 'fabricate pretexts for invasion' today as she arrived in Ukraine to show solidarity - with Boris Johnson warning of 'false flag operations'.



Amid rising fears that Vladimir Putin is preparing to send in forces, the Foreign Secretary said claims of 'abnormal' activity by Ukranian forces were 'straight out of the Kremlin playbook'.



She condemned the shelling of a kindergarten by pro-Russian forces, urging Moscow to pursue diplomatic channels - and cautioned that Nato allies might need to accept 'short-term pain for long-term gain' by opposing the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.





Truss, speaking after the talks with her Ukrainian counterpart, said the Kremlin's demand the UK recognise the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk showed 'flagrant disregard' for Moscow's peace process commitments.



Meanwhile, on a visit to an RAF base in Lincolnshire Mr Johnson has said the kindergarten attack was a 'false flag operation designed to discredit the Ukrainians', adding: 'We fear very much that that is a thing we will see more of over the next few days.'



The US has accused Russia of adding up to 7,000 troops near the Ukraine border despite Moscow insisting some units are returning to base after 'exercises'.



At a press conference alongside her Ukranian counterpart this afternoon, Ms Truss said she wanted to show the UK's 'steadfast support'.



'I'm very impressed that, despite the Russian aggression towards Ukraine, that life here in Kyiv goes on and I am impressed by the level of stoicism, both from the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian government,' she said.



'We admire your fortitude in the face of Russian aggression and we stand with you in defence of your right to determine your own future.'



Following talks in Kiev, she said: 'The [Russian parliament's] request that Vladimir Putin recognises the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent shows flagrant disregard for Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements, Truss said on Thursday.



'If this request were accepted, it would represent a further attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, signal an end to the Minsk process and demonstrate a Russian decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue.



'We urge Russia to end its pattern of destabilising behaviour against Ukraine and to implement the commitments it has freely signed up to, including the Minsk agreements.'



Despite it being a relatively mild 7 degrees C in Kiev, Ms Truss was again wearing the fur hat that was mocked by Russian propagandists on her trip to Moscow last week.



As she landed she tweeted: 'Very concerned about reports today of increased Russian aggression: over 7,000 extra troops near the Ukraine border and an attack by pro-Russian troops on a kindergarten in Ukraine.



'(The UK) calls on Russia to withdraw its troops - there is still time for diplomacy and de-escalation.' She vowed to keep calling out 'disinformation' from Moscow.



'Reports of alleged abnormal military activity by Ukraine in Donbas are a blatant attempt by the Russian government to fabricate pretexts for invasion,' Ms Truss added. 'This is straight out of the Kremlin playbook.'



The kindergarten was struck during clashes between Russian-backed separatists and state forces in east Ukraine.



Separatist authorities in the Luhansk region claimed there had been an increase in Ukrainian shelling along the tense line of contact, describing it as a 'large-scale provocation' and they then returned fire.



The Kyiv government disputed the claim, saying that separatists had shelled its forces but they did not fire back. A nursery building in Stanytsia Luhanska was hit, wounding two civilians, according to the Ukrainian military.



In other developments in the standoff today:



Mr Johnson - who is due to attend a security conference in Munich over the weekend - said the UK was working to strengthen the package of sanctions being readied in case Russia does go ahead with an invasion;

The premier said Russia would be 'mad' to invade and urged countries such as Germany to change gas supplies so it cannot be 'blackmailed' by Moscow any more;

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said it is believed Russia is planning to launch an attack against Ukraine in the coming days;

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has said Russia is continuing to send troops to the border zone with Ukraine, and warned that they would not be taking measures such as stocking up on blood supplies for 'no reason;

Defence minister James Heappey warned ahead of the shelling attack that a Russian invasion is now 'very, very imminent - if not inevitable' based on satellite images showing that forces continue to build at the border.

Images show a new pontoon bridge has been built hundreds of miles away across the Pripyat River in Belarus, close to Chernobyl and around 80 miles north of Kiev amid fears it could be used as an invasion route;

Video emerged purporting to show a thick column of smoke rising from the Russian embassy in Kiev, raising fears that sensitive documents are being burned before diplomats evacuate.

Continued at the link

[Pink Rose]

Belarus leader Lukashenko warns his country will host 'Russian super-nuclear and up-and-coming weapons if stupid and mindless steps are taken by our rivals'


Lukashenko due to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday

Ex-Soviet Belarus, which is not a nuclear power, will this month hold vote on constitutional reforms which could make it legal to host nuclear weapons

Lukashenko has previously offered to host Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus

Belarus last held nuclear warheads when it was part of the Soviet Union

But with the fall of the USSR, former Soviet states dismantled nuclear weapons

By CHRIS JEWERS FOR MAILONLINE and AFP



PUBLISHED: 11:04 EST, 17 February 2022 | UPDATED: 12:03 EST, 17 February 2022




Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko warned on Thursday his country could host 'super-nuclear' weapons if it faces any external threats, as tensions soar between his ally Russia and the West over Ukraine.



Lukashenko is due to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday. He has previously offered to host Russian nuclear weapons.



'If necessary, if such stupid and mindless steps are taken by our rivals and opponents, we will deploy not only nuclear weapons, but super-nuclear and up-and-coming ones to protect our territory,' Lukashenko said, according to the state-run Belta news agency.





'But if there are no threats to Belarus from unfriendly countries, then nuclear weapons are not needed here for a hundred years,' he added.



Ex-Soviet Belarus, which is not a nuclear power, will later this month hold a vote on constitutional reforms which could make it legal for Belarus to host nuclear weapons.



Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, promised the referendum in the wake of historic protests against his disputed re-election. The constitutional reforms would also allow Lukashenko to remain in office until 2035.



Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday his country could host nuclear weapons if it faces any external threats, as tensions soar between his ally Russia and the West over Ukraine. Pictured: Lukashenko speaks to journalists at the Osipovichi training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills near Osipovichi , Feb. 17, 2022

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View gallery

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday his country could host nuclear weapons if it faces any external threats, as tensions soar between his ally Russia and the West over Ukraine. Pictured: Lukashenko speaks to journalists at the Osipovichi training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills near Osipovichi , Feb. 17, 2022



Before the fall of the USSR, there were around 35,000 nuclear weapons scattered across the vast union, according to Harvard Kennedy School.



When the Soviet Union fell, the now-former Soviet states of Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus possessed 3,200 strategic warheads between them - most of which were attached to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) ready to fire at the US.



Since then, all of those 3,200 warheads were deactivated and returned to Russia. There, they were dismantled, with their materials being used for fuel.



Continued at the link

[Pink Rose]

Vladimir Putin's forces 'could keep up war games for months': West faces no let-up in threat to Ukraine even if invasion is put on hold, officials fear


US ambassador to Ukraine, Kristina Kvien, said an attack could come next week

Officials believe Russian troops will stay camped around its neighbor

There are fears war games, cyber attacks and disinformation will drag on

By MARK NICOL IN LONDON and JAMES FRANEY IN BRUSSELS FOR THE DAILY MAIL



PUBLISHED: 06:16 EST, 17 February 2022 | UPDATED: 14:16 EST, 17 February 2022




Russia's war games on the border with Ukraine could rumble on for months, Western officials fear.



The US ambassador to Ukraine, Kristina Kvien, last night said she was 'very concerned' the Kremlin could launch an attack 'within the next week'.



But after yesterday's predicted date for an invasion passed, Moscow was accused of creating a 'new normal', with military force being used to bully and intimidate – keeping up the pressure on Ukraine and keeping the West on high alert.


Intelligence officials said they were prepared for the long haul and fear there will be no let-up in Russia's war games, cyber-attacks and disinformation for many months.



They said President Vladimir Putin's 150,000-strong invasion force is to stay camped around its neighbor and may even launch ballistic missiles as part of its menacing military drills.

Continued at the link

[schwartzie]

Putin, Macron Agree To Hold Trilateral Talks "In The Next Few Hours" To Halt Escalation In Ukraine

BY TYLER DURDEN

SUNDAY, FEB 20, 2022 - 11:00 AM

French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to take urgent measures to deescalate the situation in eastern Ukraine, the Elysee said in a Sunday statement which followed a phone call between the two leaders in which Putin also discussed his intention to withdraw Russian troops from Belarus.


Putin and Macron agreed to resume work within the 'Normandy format' - which will also include German and Ukrainian leadership - and will begin discussions "in the next few hours" in order to "obtain a commitment from all the stakeholders" on a ceasefire on the line of contact.



Meanwhile, a meeting between French and Russian ministers of foreign affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian and Sergey Lavrov, will occur "in the coming days."



"This diplomatic work should make it possible to progress on the basis of the latest exchanges by involving all the stakeholders (Europeans, allies, Russians and Ukrainians) in order to achieve, if the conditions are met, a meeting at the highest level in to define a new order of peace and security in Europe."



The Kremlin has confirmed the statement, saying "it was agreed to continue contacts at various levels" but did not elaborate on specific details.



"Serious concern has been expressed over the sharp deterioration of the situation on the line of contact in Donbass. The President of Russia noted that the escalation has been caused by the provocations of the Ukrainian security forces," reads the Kremlin statement.



According to Russia's state-owned RT, Putin brought up "the ongoing pumping of Ukraine with modern weapons and ammunition" by NATO countries, which is pushing Kiev "toward a military solution to the so-called Donbass problem." Because of the "intensifying shelling," citizens in self-proclaimed breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine had to evacuate Russia.

Continued at link