Russia building up its forces in the Crimea
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I do not watch this TV channel (RT) and cannot judge. These are facts (easily verifiable if you are able to go beyond the BBC propaganda), except for the last sentence which is just my guess.
Do not mean to change anybody's mind, all are grown ups and some are pretty old :-) Just wanted to advise to study different points of view and sources of data and information. I look through Russian (gov and opposition) sources, Ukrainian ones, also can read/watch TV programming in English and French . I understand that it's difficult for those who speak English only, but why rejecting other point of view immediately...
Do not mean to change anybody's mind, all are grown ups and some are pretty old :-) Just wanted to advise to study different points of view and sources of data and information. I look through Russian (gov and opposition) sources, Ukrainian ones, also can read/watch TV programming in English and French . I understand that it's difficult for those who speak English only, but why rejecting other point of view immediately...
I lived many years in a country in the Soviet block and that taught me few lessons how they dominated the area. If someone says that 97% of population voted to leave but there are only 58 to 65% Russian (depends on the source of information) and the rest are mostly Ukrainians and Tatars than I would call it bollocks.
I guess to get back on topic we should discuss what , if anything, would be done to support Ukraine if there was an incursion - or perhaps somewhere like Moldova???
By whom? Who are Ukraine's friends and allies?
ORAC: When has criticism ever gotten Mr Putin to change his course? He seems to be very much a "my way or the highway" sort of leader.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Just incredibly surprised any paper had the nerve to print the piece - and that the columnist hasn’t been arrested.
Although he he could be found to have thrown himself off his roof or out his window in remirsevover the next few days......
Although he he could be found to have thrown himself off his roof or out his window in remirsevover the next few days......
Poroshenko declaring War if he is relected. Wonder how many stuffed ballot boxes there will be. I want the comedian to win.
https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-pol...-election.html
https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-pol...-election.html
In The Times today.
US sends warships to Black Sea in Nato warning to Russia over Ukraine
US sends warships to Black Sea in Nato warning to Russia over Ukraine
The US navy has increased its presence in the Black Sea days after President Biden warned Moscow that he would “act firmly” against Russian aggression in the region.
The USS Porter, a guided missile destroyer, entered the sea late last week, joining another, the USS Donald Cook, and a refuelling ship, the USNS Laramie. The vessels have joined Nato patrols and exercises in the area.
It is the largest deployment of the US navy in the Black Sea since 2017, and it has prompted Russia to deploy a Bastion missile defence system to Crimea, the peninsula it annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The Russian navy also deployed one of its warships, the Admiral Makarov, to conduct its own exercises in the area, including locking onto air targets and jamming electronic communications.
In a statement, the US sixth fleet said: “The ultimate goal of these operations is to refine joint air defence procedures to better defend US navy ships.”
A Nato spokesman said that the alliance had increased its presence in the Black Sea “in response to Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its ongoing military build-up”.
Three of the six states with coastlines on the Black Sea — Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria — are Nato members, while Ukraine and Georgia co-operate with the alliance, regularly joining its military exercises in the region.
Russia, the sixth state bordering the sea, began expanding its footprint in 2008 when it annexed two regions of Georgia, including the Abkhazia, a coastal province. Moscow’s seizure of Crimea has allowed it to build up the strength of its Black Sea fleet, which is based in the city of Sevastopol, and which it has used to support its military operations in Syria.
Russia has also militarised the Crimean peninsula, stationing more than 30,000 troops there since 2014, a nearly threefold increase. It has also built a bridge across the Kerch Strait connecting the east of the peninsula to the Russian mainland, which has restricted shipping access into the Sea of Azov despite a 2003 treaty between Moscow and Kiev that guarantees unimpeded access.
In November 2018, Russia captured three Ukrainian naval vessels in the strait, holding their 24 crew for eight months until they were returned to Ukraine in a prisoner swap. The ships were handed back to Ukraine in November 2019.
Biden spoke with President Putin by telephone last Tuesday for the first time since he entered the White House. According to a readout of the conversation, Biden raised concerns about a number of alleged Russian actions, including interference in the 2020 US election, and restated Washington’s backing for Ukraine. It marks a departure from the presidency of Donald Trump, who often appeared willing to overlook Putin’s aggressions in the region.
Nato has been increasing its patrols and exercises in the Black Sea in recent years, and has deployed fighter jets to the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase close to the Romanian city of Constanta.
However, Turkey’s warming relationship with Russia in recent years has caused headaches for the alliance, particularly with its purchase of the S-400 missile defence system, which Ankara tested in Sinop, a city on the Black Sea coast, in October.
The USS Porter, a guided missile destroyer, entered the sea late last week, joining another, the USS Donald Cook, and a refuelling ship, the USNS Laramie. The vessels have joined Nato patrols and exercises in the area.
It is the largest deployment of the US navy in the Black Sea since 2017, and it has prompted Russia to deploy a Bastion missile defence system to Crimea, the peninsula it annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The Russian navy also deployed one of its warships, the Admiral Makarov, to conduct its own exercises in the area, including locking onto air targets and jamming electronic communications.
In a statement, the US sixth fleet said: “The ultimate goal of these operations is to refine joint air defence procedures to better defend US navy ships.”
A Nato spokesman said that the alliance had increased its presence in the Black Sea “in response to Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its ongoing military build-up”.
Three of the six states with coastlines on the Black Sea — Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria — are Nato members, while Ukraine and Georgia co-operate with the alliance, regularly joining its military exercises in the region.
Russia, the sixth state bordering the sea, began expanding its footprint in 2008 when it annexed two regions of Georgia, including the Abkhazia, a coastal province. Moscow’s seizure of Crimea has allowed it to build up the strength of its Black Sea fleet, which is based in the city of Sevastopol, and which it has used to support its military operations in Syria.
Russia has also militarised the Crimean peninsula, stationing more than 30,000 troops there since 2014, a nearly threefold increase. It has also built a bridge across the Kerch Strait connecting the east of the peninsula to the Russian mainland, which has restricted shipping access into the Sea of Azov despite a 2003 treaty between Moscow and Kiev that guarantees unimpeded access.
In November 2018, Russia captured three Ukrainian naval vessels in the strait, holding their 24 crew for eight months until they were returned to Ukraine in a prisoner swap. The ships were handed back to Ukraine in November 2019.
Biden spoke with President Putin by telephone last Tuesday for the first time since he entered the White House. According to a readout of the conversation, Biden raised concerns about a number of alleged Russian actions, including interference in the 2020 US election, and restated Washington’s backing for Ukraine. It marks a departure from the presidency of Donald Trump, who often appeared willing to overlook Putin’s aggressions in the region.
Nato has been increasing its patrols and exercises in the Black Sea in recent years, and has deployed fighter jets to the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase close to the Romanian city of Constanta.
However, Turkey’s warming relationship with Russia in recent years has caused headaches for the alliance, particularly with its purchase of the S-400 missile defence system, which Ankara tested in Sinop, a city on the Black Sea coast, in October.
Probably going to take a look at the palace that VV Putin doesn't own on the Black Sea Coast....................
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It seems that Donald (Cook, DDG-75) is still scared and "invited his twin" DDG-78 to join the party. Some years ago an old Su-24 played tricks on him :-)
What frightened the USS Donald Cook so much in the Black Sea? (wildboar.net)
"....The Russian Su-24 then simulated a missile attack against the USS Donald Cook, which was left literally deaf and blind. As if carrying out a training exercise, the Russian aircraft — unarmed — repeated the same maneuver 12 times, before flying away. After that the 4th-generation destroyer immediately set sail towards a port in Romania.
...."
What frightened the USS Donald Cook so much in the Black Sea? (wildboar.net)
"....The Russian Su-24 then simulated a missile attack against the USS Donald Cook, which was left literally deaf and blind. As if carrying out a training exercise, the Russian aircraft — unarmed — repeated the same maneuver 12 times, before flying away. After that the 4th-generation destroyer immediately set sail towards a port in Romania.
...."
It seems that Donald (Cook, DDG-75) is still scared and "invited his twin" DDG-78 to join the party. Some years ago an old Su-24 played tricks on him :-)
What frightened the USS Donald Cook so much in the Black Sea? (wildboar.net)
"....The Russian Su-24 then simulated a missile attack against the USS Donald Cook, which was left literally deaf and blind. As if carrying out a training exercise, the Russian aircraft — unarmed — repeated the same maneuver 12 times, before flying away. After that the 4th-generation destroyer immediately set sail towards a port in Romania.
...."
What frightened the USS Donald Cook so much in the Black Sea? (wildboar.net)
"....The Russian Su-24 then simulated a missile attack against the USS Donald Cook, which was left literally deaf and blind. As if carrying out a training exercise, the Russian aircraft — unarmed — repeated the same maneuver 12 times, before flying away. After that the 4th-generation destroyer immediately set sail towards a port in Romania.
...."
The propaganda runs strong in this one. Even if the article has any truth, both sides would see value in keeping it to themselves I would imagine.
In The Times today.
US sends warships to Black Sea in Nato warning to Russia over Ukraine
US sends warships to Black Sea in Nato warning to Russia over Ukraine
US sending more warships into Black Sea in trying to ignore Montreux Convention which controls amount of military shipping in Black Sea.
Guess Hunter's friends in Ukraine are pleased.
The Turks have always been flexible on interpretation - they allow "helicopter carrying cruisers" if they are Russian as they do Russian Submarines both of wish are stretching the Convention as written 100 years ago to its limits
It seems that Donald (Cook, DDG-75) is still scared and "invited his twin" DDG-78 to join the party. Some years ago an old Su-24 played tricks on him :-)
What frightened the USS Donald Cook so much in the Black Sea? (wildboar.net)
"....The Russian Su-24 then simulated a missile attack against the USS Donald Cook, which was left literally deaf and blind. As if carrying out a training exercise, the Russian aircraft — unarmed — repeated the same maneuver 12 times, before flying away. After that the 4th-generation destroyer immediately set sail towards a port in Romania.
...."
What frightened the USS Donald Cook so much in the Black Sea? (wildboar.net)
"....The Russian Su-24 then simulated a missile attack against the USS Donald Cook, which was left literally deaf and blind. As if carrying out a training exercise, the Russian aircraft — unarmed — repeated the same maneuver 12 times, before flying away. After that the 4th-generation destroyer immediately set sail towards a port in Romania.
...."
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Sure, I have no doubt that the situation was largely exaggerated in that article. I just gave a reference to a source an English because in Russian media it sounded more unbelievable.
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Another flyby on the Donald Cook on CNN
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world...tl-ldn-vpx.cnn
A Russian fighter jet flew low over the Black Sea on January 31, near the USS Donald Cook, a naval missile destroyer operating in the Black Sea, according to a tweet from US Naval Forces Europe-Africa/US 6th Fleet, which tweeted video of the incident.
Source: CNN
Source: CNN