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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Day 2: Ukrainian Su27 jet shot down over Kyiv as capital comes under attack from 'cruise missiles', Putin's tanks move within 20 MILES of city: Zelensky rages at Biden for leaving his country 'alone', says Kremlin marked him 'target No.1' UPDATED
2022-02-25
See also Day 2, Part II. Also scattered articles around Rantburg. Lots of Day 1 articles can be seen here — just keep scrolling down. Also a few articles on Page 4: Opinion and Page 6: Seedy Politics.
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news]
  • Kyiv came under intense bombardment at around 4am local time on Friday, with the sky ablaze

  • Ukraine's government said that one missile was intercepted by the city's defense systems, but another hit a residential building

  • A Ukrainian SU-27 jet was shot down over the capital by a surface-to-air missile, a source told CNN

  • US security officials fear Kyiv will fall in 96 hours and the government will be toppled within a week

  • Russian forces have sized control of Chernobyl, with video revealing tanks parked in front of the reactor

  • Came after 'fierce' battle with condition of nuclear waste storage facilities 'unknown', Ukraine said

  • Meanwhile NATO-member Turkey said one of its ships was hit by a 'bomb' near Odessa - underlining fears that the alliance could easily get sucked into the conflict and spark all-out war in Europe

  • Citizens in Kyiv have been rushed to shelters, after the government warned Russia will soon bomb the city


Russia's mobile crematoriums designed to 'evaporate' dead soldiers and hide true scale of war - as distraught mothers say their sons were tricked into joining Putin's army and told they were going to Ukraine for practice drills

'Russian warship, go f*** yourselves': Final words of Ukrainian border guards protecting Snake Island – just 40 miles from Romanian border in the Black Sea – before Kremlin navy opened fire killing all 13 of them when they refused to surrender
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news]
  • Contingent of soldiers, allegedly 13 in number, were posted on Snake Island

  • It sits in off the coast of Ukraine and Romania and was controlled by Ukraine

  • Recording relayed the ultimatum sent by Russian sailors on nearby warship

  • They warned the guards to surrender 'otherwise you will be shelled'

  • The men defiantly refused and all were subsequently killed


Courtesy of Besoeker:
Ukrainian ambassador says Russian platoon surrendered to Ukrainian forces
[The Hill] Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said Thursday that a platoon of Russian soldiers surrendered to the Ukrainian military, saying they "didn't know that they were brought to Ukraine to kill Ukrainians."

At a press briefing, Markarova said, "Just before I came here, we got information from our chief commander that one of the platoons of the 74th motorized brigade from Kemerovo Oblast surrendered."

"They didn't know that they were brought to Ukraine to kill Ukrainians. They thought they were doing something else there," she added.

Markarova was unable to say how many troops were in the platoon and did not say whether they were being detained by Ukraine.

Markarova said that the "combat spirit" of the Ukrainian military is "high."

The ambassador called on leaders of the free world to form an "anti-Putin coalition" to stop Russia's attack against Ukraine.

"Ukraine is defending our home. We will defend our home and it's time for all free and democratic nations who value the principles and the territorial integrity and the right of any country for peace to stand together with us, but not only stand together with us, act together with us to stop the war in Europe," said Markarova.

From The Times of Israel:
Zelensky said that 137 "heroes," including 10 military officers, had been killed and 316 people maimed. The dead included all border guards on the Zmiinyi Island in the Odesa region, which was taken over by Russians.

Zelensky also said that Russian "sabotage groups" had entered the capital Kyiv, and urged the city’s citizens to remain vigilant and observe a curfew.

The invasion began early Thursday with a series of missile strikes, many on key government and military installations, quickly followed by a three-pronged ground assault. Ukrainian and US officials said Russian forces were attacking from the east toward Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city; from the southern region of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014; and from Belarus to the north.

Both sides claimed to have destroyed some of the other’s aircraft and military hardware, though little of that could be confirmed.

Hours after the invasion began, Russian forces seized control of the now-unused Chernobyl plant and its surrounding exclusion zone after a fierce battle, presidential adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named.

The US sanctions will target Russian banks, oligarchs, state-controlled companies and high-tech sectors, Biden said, but they were designed not to disrupt global energy markets. Russian oil and natural gas exports are vital energy sources for Europe.

Israeli satellite images show large Russian military buildup on Ukraine invasion route
Images can be seen at the link.
[IsraelTimes] Private Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat International (ISI) publishes satellite images of Russian forces deployed in the city of Belgorod, close to the border with Ukraine.

ISI says this is one of Russia’s main routes of invasion of Ukraine, going through the city of Kharkiv.

The photos show helicopters and delivery trucks, as well as a field hospital. ISI says the trucks are resupplying the helicopters before they take off.

Update at 8:40 a.m. ET courtesy of Angaiper Ulavins1210:
Russians disguised in Ukrainian uniforms and trucks shot dead trying to storm Kyiv as defenders dig in for bloody siege
[Sun UK] KYIV is under attack by groups of Russian troops wearing Ukrainian uniforms in the latest ploy by mad tyrant Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian troops are reported to have killed a number of disguised soldiers as the capital prepares for a long bloody siege.

It comes as citizens were urged to take up arms, make up Molotov cocktail fire bombs, and to use commercial drones to defend their homes.

Some 18,000 assault rifles have been handed out to residents and general mobilisation has been ordered in a bid to protect their homes.

And meanwhile, Russia claims it has retaken the key airfield of Gostomel close to the city after a back-and-forth battle.

Putin's forces boasted they had swooped in with 200 helicopters and paratroopers to seize the location.

Gunfire has reportedly been heard around Kyiv amid a flurry of skirmishes in the Oblonon district and the city centre.

Pictures also showed a Ukrainian military truck and dead men wearing Ukrainian military uniforms who were allegedly actually disguised Russians.

It is feared that Russian special forces could be attempting to sow chaos and take out key officials - potentially Zelenskyy himself - to pave the way for the invasion.

Other attackers may have been Russian "saboteurs" or "sleeper cells" who are loyal to Putin and who have been lying in wait in Ukraine for the assault.

And video showed a tank rampaging around the district of Obolon, crushing a civilian car, though the circumstances remain unclear.

Kyiv's deputy defence minister Anna Maliar said Russian forces had seized Ukrainian army trucks and uniforms earlier on Friday.

She said they were acting as an advanced guard for a larger convoy of Putin's forces heading "at speed" for Kyiv.

Strategy Page: Interesting Ukraine invasion bits
Go to the link to read it in full.
As expected, not a lot of the nearly 200,000 Russian troops now near the Ukraine borders actually entered Ukraine. All, or most appeared to be volunteers, rather than the one-year conscripts that comprise half the strength of the armed forces. Few of the conscripts and even fewer of their parents are eager for the conscripts to be fighting neighbors.

Russian airborne forces managed to take an airport ten kilometers outside Kyiv. Efforts to use that airport to bring in additional troops were disrupted by the Ukrainian use of Stinger portable anti-aircraft missiles as well as rifle and machine-gun fire at low flying aircraft. The airport was quickly attacked by a Ukrainian army rapid reaction force organized and trained for retaking key locations seized by Russian airborne forces. While the area around the airport was soon surrounded by regular reservists and armed volunteers, the Rapid Reaction unit retook the airport before the Russians could use larger transport aircraft to bring in more troops. Russia appears to have underestimated the preparations Ukraine have made since 2014 to deal with this kind of invasion.

An amphibious assault on the major Black Sea port of Odessa failed and most ground advances appear to have stalled as well. One Russian column that did not encounter any resistance was the one into the Chernobyl radioactive zone.

Ukraine claims it has RECAPTURED airport on outskirts of Kyiv from Russian special forces, claims defense minister, as President Zelensky says 137 of his soldiers have been killed fighting Putin's troops
[Daily Mail UK]
  • Antonov Airport, 20 miles north of Kyiv in the town of Hostomel, was being patrolled by Russian airborne troops on Thursday

  • The airport is seen as a vital asset for Moscow to bring more troops and military equipment into the capital

  • While a CNN team was at the airport, they saw Ukrainian servicemen trying to push the Russians back from the site

  • On Thursday evening, the Ukrainian government said that they had retaken the airport and repelled the elite Russian troops

  • Ukraine's National Guard posted a photo to social media of three soldiers holding a bullet-riddled Ukrainian flag, and said they were heroes of the battle

  • Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, on Thursday night barred all men aged 18-60 from leaving the country, and a full mobilization of troops

  • He said that at least 137 Ukrainians are dead, and 300 injured


also UK SUN:
Ukrainian troops RECAPTURE Kyiv airport in major blow to Vladimir Putin after day of fierce fighting

But despite elite Russian airborne forces capturing the airport, by Friday, Ukraine's government declared they had seized it back.

Deputy Minister Anton Herashchenko made the announcement, according to The Kyiv Independent.

Ukraine's National Guard tweeted a photo of three young soldiers holding up a Ukrainian flag filled with bullet holes.

"Guardsmen with their flag, torn to pieces after today's battle," it wrote. "Congratulations to all of you and say that we will win!"

But despite the recapture of the airport, Russia has made gains elsewhere, reportedly encircling the city of Konotop in eastern Ukraine as they head towards Kyiv.

Ukrainian forces have clashed with Russian tanks in Ivankiv, not far from Kyiv, as they make their way from the border with Belarus via the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

At around 4.20am local time (2.20am GMT), reports came through of blasts in the city.

Vladimir Putin's tanks are less than 20 miles from Ukraine's capital, as thousands try desperately to escape to the west and flee the onrushing army.
Posted by:Skidmark

#21  Also my heartfelt thanks to Angaiper Ulavins1210, who dropped a bunch of articles in the hopper overnight, allowing this morning’s update.
Posted by: trailing wife   2022-02-25 19:21  

#20  Yes, thank you.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-02-25 18:56  

#19  #9 BTW:
Skidmark and Besoeker,
Thank you both for the information y'all posted.


Don't forget badanov.
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2022-02-25 18:50  

#18  From Ukrainian journalist Yuri Butusov:
My remarks are italicized

7:07 a.m., the Armed Forces are fighting in the Dymer and Ivankiv districts. Defense forces hold Gostomel airfield. The Air Force is protecting the sky over Kyiv.

08:00 - The overwhelming forces of the Russian army were stopped on the border of the river Teteriv in Kyiv region. The bridge was destroyed to block the way for Russian tanks.

08:40 , enemy DRGs that were trying to enter the rear in the area of ​​Shchastya, Stanytsia Luhanska, Lobachevo and Belovodsk were destroyed.
DRGs are special task forces, not elites but group of men select to perform a job typical of special forces

9:57 a.m. - Antonivsky Bridge near Kherson remains under Ukrainian control.

10:29 a.m. - Russian IL-76s with paratroopers landed in Gomel. Konotop has been lost, the battle for Melitopol is underway, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.
Russian airborne commanders got tired of waiting for the main Kiev airport to fall.
12:55 - The most dangerous situation is in the north-west of Kyiv. The enemy's offensive was stopped in Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv

2:54 p.m. , Russian troops have lost more than a thousand servicemen in Ukraine.
I'd wager a fair number of them died trying to take the airport at Gostomel, and in the breakaway republics.
14:58 - Our soldiers gave battle to the Russian occupiers in the area of ​​Belovodsk in the Luhansk region. The enemy is fleeing in the direction of Russia.

16:12 - Losses of the occupiers: 2800 people, up to 80 tanks, 516 armored vehicles, 10 aircraft, 7 helicopters.
They're gonna keep coming anyway
7:15 p.m. The landing party of the aggressor tried to land in Nikolaev, there was a fight.

Russian authorities restrict access to Facebook.
Truth hurts, I guess.
Posted by: badanov   2022-02-25 16:37  

#17  ..we have freelancers.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2022-02-25 13:39  

#16  US troops are there to secure the border and prevent partisan actions basing from a NATO member, namely Poland. judging by the markets and lead up behaviour, Ukraine was negotiated away a while ago. US and other NATO members don't want anything testing the fragile NATO resolve and unity. The publicized loss of Germany would be catastrophic, even though they are already gone. The dow seems to like the war and Russian control of all gas lines into Europe.
A cyber war would be very complex, we no longer have "American" tech comapnies, it would be hard to identify origin and how/who would you retaliate against?
Posted by: jefe101   2022-02-25 11:06  

#15  CNN has just hired me to assure All Ukrainians worldwide, that Russia has not invaded your country, what you are seeing are Russian Tourists, very bad and impolite Russian Tourists on Hunting Safaris. They have no manners and will shoot at anything that moves. Please stay in your homes, or if you can head West as fast as you can, the speed limits in the Ukraine have been lifted - Please stay tuned to CNN, for further, honest reporting, by CNN & me Kiev Bob.
Posted by: BagdadBob2-25-22   2022-02-25 10:34  

#14  The truly valuable part of this crisis, for America, is that opinionators on the right as well as the left who have no business opining when we should spray for bugs, let alone when we should go to war, are all out in the open now.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-02-25 09:32  

#13  P.S. - Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Posted by: DooDahMan   2022-02-25 09:03  

#12  Reparations....where have I heard that before?
Posted by: DooDahMan   2022-02-25 09:02  

#11  ^ If US gummint can't do anything about Ukraine, which is totally an "affairs of men" scenario, where do they come off claiming they can do anything about the climate or COVID?
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-02-25 07:46  

#10  /\ I still think Biden was and is in it for the deflection that it allows him and the LSD's from the problems he and they caused here at home.

Russian bogeyman and tyrant seizes the news. Bad economy and high gasoline prices are now "the cost of freedom we must pay." Hunter is forgotten. Infrastructure is forgotten. Green New Deal is forgotten. US continues to buy high priced crude oil from Russia. Trump is pushed off the stage. Brandon gets a series of 3-5 minute presser Ukraine updates. John Durham investigation is forgotten. Afghan withdrawal swirls around memory hole.

What's not to like for Brandon ?

Future: Putin discloses US weapons cache. Demands UN financial assistance for clean-up of Chernobyl and other research sites. Levies cost of Ukrainian military operations on Euro and US oil sales. Demands US military augmentation leave the region. Begins importation of new, Russian speaking people.


Posted by: Besoeker   2022-02-25 07:23  

#9  BTW:
Skidmark and Besoeker,
Thank you both for the information y'all posted.

Posted by: NN2N1   2022-02-25 07:15  

#8  OK, Russia has invaded Ukraine.
I see Biden protected that border as well as he did the USA Southern Border.☻

SERIOUS NOW.
The US vs. USSR Saber rattling is pretty taken the next step and Biden's Admin handlers have Screwed the Pooch again, as usual, or possibly as as planned?

However, I don't see a USA-NATO vs. USSR ground war scenario.

What envision, is "civilian" raiders conducting hit and run operations on high profile and key targets. Much like the VC did in Nam against the USA. Then, the USSR will likely use the raids as justification for more territorial expansions plans to secure people.

Remember the USSR & CCP are allied.
If we take on the USSR, the CCP can cut off roughly 30+% of our important life or death medications or the key ingredients and can cause all types of shortages and price increases on consumer goods here in the USA and the EU.

WHY?
The CCP knows USSR has its back when the CCP decides it wants Taiwan back. Given we are already hearing rumbles to that effect.

Where I see this going
I am leaning towards a USSR/CCP vs the USA/EU Cyber-War.
Having noted the numerous, the increased number of CCP spies outed in key industries and national security areas. Plus a major ramp-up of Cyber probes and Lessons Learned practice attacks on key US & EU industries and infrastructures over the last 2+ years.

Whether Russia goes for a total win (all of Ukraine) or calls a halt after establishing itself a Demilitarized buffer zone for its 2 new acquisitions. The Global Military Complex & certain elitists will make a wad of $$$$$ off this.

Either way,
I still think Biden was and is in it for the deflection that it allows him and the LSD's from the problems he and tey caused here at home.

Posted by: NN2N1   2022-02-25 07:13  

#7  Russian forces have sized control of Chernobyl

It's right near the Belarus border and from there the armored push into Kiev will come.
Posted by: Angaiper Ulavins1210   2022-02-25 07:08  

#6  Russian forces have sized control of Chernobyl,

Hmm. Which way is the wind blowing? Asking for a friend....
Posted by: Mercutio   2022-02-25 06:46  

#5  Set as today’s headline.
Posted by: trailing wife   2022-02-25 03:43  

#4  Of course Hunter isn't picking up.
Posted by: Angaiper Ulavins1210   2022-02-25 03:21  

#3  Of course Hunter is picking up. It was Putie Poot's Puppets paying off Hunter and the Big Guy. Photos and piss videos available at 2 Bolshaya Lubyanka Street.
Posted by: Angaiper Ulavins1210   2022-02-25 03:21  

#2  Translation: Zelensky has been calling Hunter non-stop but he is not picking up.
Posted by: Airandee   2022-02-25 02:16  

#1  "We stand with Ukraine" LOL

You're not standing with the Ukrainians. You're sitting on your cowardly woke ass in your condo off Dupont Circle, tweeting and bloviating your bullshit
Posted by: Modus Ponens6729   2022-02-25 01:03  

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