badgerx16

Russian mouthpiece on BBC R4 a few minutes ago, saying Russia needs to go with a partial mobilisation to counter the "terrorist state" that is forcibly conscripting men in shopping centres and off the street. Didn't realise that Putin had declared war on LPR.

People feel alienated by the whole circus; the second and third parties in safe seats cannot be arsed to chase them, it is only voters in marginal swing constituencies that either of the 2 major parties care about. As a result you get voter apathy, and minority pressure groups gain a disproportionate level of influence.

Well, in the main they're the ones dying in Ukraine.

Zelensky tonight; ""Do you still think we are one people? Do you still think you can scare us, break us, force us to make concessions? Don't you really get it? Don't you understand who we are? What we stand for? What we are all about? Read my lips: Without gas or without you? Without you. Without light or without you? Without you. Without water or without you. Without you. Without food or without you? Without you. Cold, hunger, darkness and thirst are not as frightening and deadly for us as your friendship and brotherhood. But history will put everything in its place. And we will be with gas, light, water and food...and WITHOUT you!""

For those that love unsubstantiated rumours : "There is chatter on #Ukraine 🇺🇦 channels that I stress is unconfirmed: 1. Russian 🇷🇺 units in Kherson began negotiations to surrender. 2. Fighting has broken out between RU & Kadyrov units in the area." ( Kadyrov means mercenary Chechens ).

Bit of a joke if Putin declares all out war whilst his army is running away. It would also remove the self-imposed restriction on Ukrainian forces striking across the border.

Are any of these 'reports' on non pro-Russian social media channels ? There are a lot of Putin lovers creaming themselves because Russia has launched rockets at power stations - and seem to have blacked out Belgorod as a consequence.

UA have reached the border at Kudiivka, north of Kharkiv.

Could it be that all those senior officers that were getting tagged earlier in the conflict have not been effectively replaced ?

The obvious is to maintain the momentum in the NE and swing round to the northern border of Lugansk. I wonder how the approach of an avenging UA would affect the LPR Government and militias. However, playing clever, they may watch whether the Russians shift the troops moved to reinforce Kherson back East, and then counter punch in the south to keep them off balance and renew the threat to Crimea.

Do you think the Ukrainians need to be told that they are losing ?

What, last night's curry ?

The comments underneath suggest not. However, it sure looks like it has been abandoned rather than parked.

Carolingian or Carolean.

Christmas presents to make. Bank holiday makes no difference when your workshop is at the back of your house.

Looking at pictures from the Accession Council there look to be a few interesting conversations going on; David Cameron and Teresa May, Tony Blair and Keir Starmer, those are fair enough, but Gordon Brown and Boris Johnson ?

To be honest, a minute's silence followed by YNWA would be a tremendous tribute.

Overwhelm

The most important weapon is morale. One side is confident in their abilities, is well equipped, and is motivated, the other is not. One of the best historical examples is the first North African campaign by the British against the Italians in WW2; 30 thousand British attacked and routed ten times their number, taking over 120 thousand prisoners.

Surely The Pope would be a better target for your ire ?

#typicaltrousers

I don't know. Try asking the people on here who will tell me my views on the Royals are wrong. Or those that call me a Remainer, pinko, traitor.

I do not need every company on who's mailing lists I have ended up spamming me with their message of condolence and sympathy to the Royal Family. It is starting to read like Evita: "Mourning all day and mourning all night Falling over ourselves to get all of the misery right"

I had respect for Queen Elizabeth II in terms of her commitment to adapting the Monarchy in a changing World, despite thinking that the Establishment has long since passed it's "sell by date". And nobody could fail to have been moved by the images of her sitting alone at Prince Philip's funeral, ( except perhaps Boris Johnson ) However, I see no point in the Nation being consumed in imposed faux grief and hand wringing. The football authorities have got this one totally wrong.

Ukraine "War Gamed" the current operations with NATO for weeks before any offensive moves commenced. Part of the training Ukrainian troops and commanders have received is on flexibility and opportunity.