The recent destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam has unleashed an ecological disaster and driven tens of thousands of Ukrainians from their homes. It is an important action that indicates significant issues within the Russian military. For all their denials it is almost certain that the Russian’s blew up the dam. Any dam is hard to destroy because they are built out of millions of tonnes of reinforced concrete so it takes plenty of effort and know how to ‘knock over’ even a small dam. And; Nova Kakhovka is an enormous dam held and protected by the Russians. Destroying it would require 100s of tones of explosive, carefully sited and set to detonate in a planned sequence. It is clearly not a Ukrainian air or missile attack. Nor is it the work of saboteurs.
Clearly the Russians blew it up, but what does this tell us about the Russians and how will this action effect the war?
Blowing up the dam has damaged many civilians lives and the local environment; but it will have little impact on Ukrainian operations. It is highly unlikely that the Ukrainians ever planned to attack across the Dnipro River because it is so wide and deep. Making an opposed crossing of the Dnipro would be beyond the capabilities of most armies. The Americans or NATO would be the only militaries on earth able to force a crossing of a river this large. Therefore, it is safe to say that the Ukrainians were not planning to attack on this axis, so flooding the Dnipro delta is not going to stop the Ukrainian offensive.
Instead, this action speaks of military desperation. The Nova Kakhovka Dam is the last remaining bridge over the southern section of the Dnipro River. And; herein lies the military reason the dam has been blown up. The dam’s bridge becomes important if Russia withdraws. While it existed, the bridge could not be used by Ukraine because it was defended by Russian forces. However, if Russia withdraws and the dam falls into Ukrainian hands then it can be used to cross the river allowing any advance into southern Zaporizihia to be supported from the west.
Blowing the dam up indicates that the Russians are not confident that they can hold southern Zaporizihia and are getting ready to withdraw into Crimea. By blowing up the dam they also ‘punish’ the local population of eastern Kherson and southern Zaporizihia who rely on water from the dam to irrigate their fields. Further, the dam provides a reservoir for the Zaporizihia nuclear powerplant creating the possibility of a nuclear disaster. I think that this is unlikely to happen though because the reactors are already operating at a very low capacity and plans have been made to manage the plant. A risk is that Russia blows the plant up; spreading nuclear waste far and wide. However, this seems highly unlikely because it would trigger a significant international response; similar to using nuclear weapons. A response that would see an immediate and catastrophic escalation for instance; NATO sinking the Black Sea Fleet, imposing a ‘no-fly’ zone or even committing NATO airpower to the campaign in support of Ukraine. All situations that would immediately end Russia’s chance of success in this war.
A question is where the decision was made. Did a local commander give an instruction to blow up the dam on their own initiative? Or; was the decision made in the Kremlin? Retired United States general David Petraeus, speaking on Deutsch’s World today raised the possibility of simple Russian incompetence. He theorised that the act may not have been a well-thought through and deliberate action; but rather a dumb decision made in the heat of the moment by a relatively junior commander. Hanlon’s Razor, states that we should not assume maliciousness in an act that could be the product of incompetence. In this case the situation is hard to judge because Russia has demonstrated plenty of both.
The incompetence versus maliciousness debate is important because it provides insight into the strength of Russian command. If the decision to blow the dam up was not made at the highest levels and was instead made by a panicked junior commander; it tells us that Russia’s chain of command is weak. That junior commanders are not supported and do not feel safe; so we are likely to see more bad decisions in coming days and weeks. A situation that does not bode well for Russia’s ability to hold its defensive line.
In summary, blowing up the Nova Kakhovka dam is almost certain to be a Russian act. Although it has a terrible human and ecological impact its effect on the campaign is likely to be minimal. Instead, it is more likely to be an indication of Russian weakness and that they are planning to withdraw into Crimea, behind the defensive lines that they have spent months preparing. An admission that they are unlikely to hold the Crimean Land Corridor and, on their way out so are protecting their western flank by destroying the last large bridge over the Dnipro; and are making the Ukrainian’s suffer for having the temerity to defend their country.
And; as the Dnipro bursts its banks in the west, far away in the east we are seeing indications of a transition from small attacks by Ukraine designed to ‘close’ the gaps; towards larger probing attacks. There is movement afoot; and I believe that we will be surprised by Russia’s response. The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam is an example of an army ready to retreat. So, let’s keep watching and see how the campaign develops.
Ben Morgan is a bored Gen Xer and TDBs military blogger
Clutching at straws Ben.
Ditto Orc
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Mikael Valtersson
@MikaelValterss1
NEWS UPDATE NOVA KAKHOVKA EVENING JUNE 7
I don’t know who’s responsible for destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, but if you do what you can to worsen the situation and destroy the remnants of the dam, you’re the prime suspect, not the victim. Ukraine keeps the gates at Dnipro HDD open (video) and the water streams southward. The already undermined remnants of the Novo Kakhovka dam risk to totally collapse from the water pressure and later on, the flooding of Kherson oblast are worsened.
That’s an clear indication that Ukraine on purpose worsen the situation and are also a clear indication that Ukraine was the original culprit. The fact that the ukrainians also increased the level of water in the reservoir before the destruction of the dam are not an proof of their guilt. They couldn’t know that the russians wouldn’t open the gates of the Novo Kakhovka dam. There could be some natural cause for opening the gates at Dnipro HDD before the destruction of the Novo Kakhovka dam, but afterwards nothing could be more important than to lessen the flooding in Kherson oblast.
So the dam is under the control of the Ukrainians?
Interesting….
So the theory that the Russians was in charge has been debunked by you, Nick+j.
Who is in charge of the nuclear plant? The Ukrainians?
Fairy dust?
The only dust’s between your ears mate.
Biden knew the Ukranians blew up Nord Stream.
The Guardian.
Biden ‘knew of Ukrainian plan to attack Nord Stream’ three months before explosion
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jun/06/biden-knew-of-plan-to-attack-nord-stream-three-months-before-explosion
And let’s not forget NATO sticking its nose into Russia along the Russia / Ukraine border.
The Conversation
Ukraine war follows decades of warnings that NATO expansion into Eastern Europe could provoke Russia
https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-follows-decades-of-warnings-that-nato-expansion-into-eastern-europe-could-provoke-russia-177999
“This was … always about naked aggression, about Putin’s desire for empire by any means necessary,” President Joe Biden said on Feb. 24, 2022.
The opposing view argues that Russia’s security concerns are in fact genuine, and that NATO expansion eastward is seen by Russians as directed against their country. Putin has been clear for many years that if continued, the expansion would likely be met with serious resistance by the Russians, even with military action. ”
This today on the ever fabulous Russell Brand.
“As Joe Biden boasts about bringing both parties together to “work together” Democrats and Republicans have found an ingenious way to raise military spending – aren’t we glad they somehow found a way of working together! ”
https://youtu.be/d9zR2zdnNdI
Johan Thiart seems to have plenty to say on multiple Daily Blog stories with sarcasm ( the lowest form of wit)but contributing little in the way of substance.
Well argued.
You have convinced me….
Brilliant sarcasm.
On the contrary, Johan has made a worthwhile contribution to the debate. Unlike you Putinist troll!
And you are better MHK? People in glasshouses!
Ovod who?
Speaking of dust is eyes.
By the way my hearing is fine.
But I must congratulate you on your tactics. Diversion is a well used tactic, as is name calling.
Not effective when trying to dispute fact. You can do better.
So you reply with little substance, as suspected.
Keep up.
Johan stop getting your boyfriend Ovod to protect you.
BE are you sure it’s not BS? Total bullshit! You are so misinformed!
And you have the temerity to criticise Johan’s post! You are intellectually bankrupt!
What a load of bollocks Nick, Third Class Honours, J.
Nobody knows who did it. It could be Russian incompetence.
Stick your conspiracy theories where the sun don’t shine Nick J!
Wow you are very thoughtful Ovod, not very intelligent, just thoughtful.
You tell a different story to the pictures we see Ben. Russia is in complete control of this war and still they haven’t used the full extent of their military.
Charles, Nick et al.
The Russian federation have committed a vile act of “Ecocide”.
Apologists for this latest in a long line of Russian atrocities committed against the people of Ukraine by the Russian Federation are the modern Holocaust deniers.
Pat no one is denying but facts are facts, Russia is a powerhouse and portraying Ukraine as “winning” is disingenuous at best. We are on the same team Pat.
Yes, indeed the Russians are bad. The Russians has not been in control of this war since they failed to liberate Kiev.
Don’t think you’ve been in control of your grammar since you’ve joined the daily blog site.
The Russians “have” been in control of this war and you imply it’s out of control because they failed to liberate Kiev.
You have so much to learn about the long game of war.
I have experienced a long war.. just saying.
Indeed in South Africa which explains your presence in NZ. Ive previously asked how you reconcile the laws in Ukraine against Russian language, literature etc and you have denied the reality.
U did not get what I said.
I’d say apartheid is seared deep into your soul Johan. How else would you support racist laws in Ukraine which you refuse to see?
You are playing a dirty game NickJ which borders on racism. Lay off Johan!
Putin invaded Ukraine. The facts speak for themselves.
The harm caused by apartheid is indeed seared into my soul.
Ovod do you need a tissue for Johan?
Troll!
Russia liberate Kyiv? I didnt realise it was occupied.
“…Russia is a powerhouse and portraying Ukraine as “winning” is disingenuous at best. We are on the same team Pat.” Charles
As my late father used to say; “It is not the size of the man in the fight. It is the size of the fight in the man.”
Russia may be a powerhouse. America is a powerhouse, but the US proved no match for the Vietnamese. Whether this war is long or short, just like the Vietnamese, the Ukrainian people will not stop fighting the invader until they drive them out of their country.
P.S. You have produced no evidence that you and I are on the same team. Until you do I must consider you to be an apologist for might is right imperialism.
Pat, you are on the same side as the military industrial complex. You are on the same side as Fox News, cnn, msnbc, nyt, wapo. You are on the same side as bush, Obama and Biden. You were all in for the establishment and the government during Covid. I doubt you’ve ever stood up to the man, only been a shield for him.
It’s very easy to fight on behalf of the government and the corporates – and I admit, you do it well.
“Pat, you are on the same side as the military industrial complex. You are on the same side as Fox News, cnn, msnbc, nyt, wapo.” Off white
Boy have you got it wrong.
First of all, Off white, the Wapo and NYT are pay walled, so I seldom get to read what they have to say. And I certainly don’t get my views shaped by Fox News. Though I hear that Fox News’ Tucker Carson was a big cheer leader for the Russian invasion and blood letting in Ukraine, so I would count Fox News on your side.
As for, CNN, msnbc. Yes I do read them, and sometimes quote from them. But then I also read RT and quote from them too.
But mainly my views have been shaped by my personal activism against imperialism starting with protesting against the US invasion of Vietnam, and US nuclear ship visits. I have also marched and protested against the US invasion of iraq and Afghanistan. More recently my time spent in Syria and Gaza facing down the guns of the Russian backed Assad regime and the guns of the Israeli Zionist regime and the US backed Mubarak regime.
Other than that I regularly tune in to Democracy Now. I have never been to Ukraine. But for reporting on Ukraine, I go to Left wing websites and bloggers, to get the view of Russian and Ukrainian socialists and leftists, who universally oppose the Russian imperialists and back the Ukraine resistance.
“..More recently my time spent in Syria ..facing down the guns of the Russian backed Assad regime..”
Please describe.
In 2010 I entered Syria from Turkey as part of the Kia Ora Gaza mission to break the siege of Gaza imposed by Israel and Egypt.
When we were in Turkey, (then) President Mubarak of Egypt issued a public statement that our mission would not be let into Gaza. In Istanbul I was interviewed by CNN who asked me, “What do you think of Mubarak saying that you will not be allowed to enter Gaza. I replied, “We will enter Gaza. We will accept nothing less”
By which I meant we would stay at the border and demand entry and stay there for as long as it took.
On entering Syria Mubarak made a new statement that we would not even be allowed to enter Egypt.
We were stuck in Syria.
We weren’t turning back or giving up. The Syrian authorities didn’t know what to do with us. Every night the crowds of Syrians gathered round our encampment. The crowds grew bigger and bigger.
Eventually Assad and Mubarak came to an agreement. We were to be allowed to travel on to Egypt under armed guard, with guns trained on us the whole time.
In Latakia and Al Arish and Gaza i can say that I was privileged that I got to witness the first stirrings of the Arab Spring.
thanks
Pat, such big but empty words as you seek further escalation in Ukraine. No doubt you only protested Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan once it became popular to do so. You say you only seek out lefties who universally oppose Russia. I guess at least you admit your bias. It’s a shame you don’t see this war as an extension of the previous wars you were ‘against’. Maybe once cnn gives you permission to do so.
Russia is losing and Ukraine is winning
No one is denying what Charles? Please specify. There are deniers on this site. Would you like me to mention names? The modern holocaust deniers.
Pat, desires and reality are different. You desire to blame Russia for everything. That’s fine go ahead. Reality is different, at some point you will have to face up to your desires and emotions leading you to conclusions at odds with reality.
This from NickJ (third class honours) a contrarian conspiracy theorist who is so fond of bandying round meaningless epithets such as ‘neo con’ to smear his enemies. To call Yale historian Timothy Snyder a ‘neo con’ is one of the most brain dead things I have ever heard! You are a joke NickJ – but a nasty one!
PhuD, I judge myself and others with the Polonius test. ‘This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.’
You fail very badly.
Ovod, anything constructive to say or just nasty trolling on behalf of Johan?
Hear hear Pat. They are holocaust deniers!
Yet another delusional Putinist! Give me strength!
‘Russia is in complete control of this war’ according to Charles. Talk about mindless Putinists. Do you honestly believe that Charles?
Azoz Wannabe Benlensky is at it again? According to Ben, Russia blew up NS1-2, attacked itself in Moscow & Belgrod & now blew up a Dam flooding ethnic Russians & endangering the Nuclear Power Station! UKRAINE DID THIS BEN, in a act of desperation just as their Terrorist attacks on Belgrod, their losing Ben, the Counteroffensive they recently launched was obliterated? Now they’ve got nothing left but Terrorist attacks! Putin should NUKE them all to Hell, starting with Kiev!
I have friends in Kyiv and you want them nuked. You are nothing more then a deluded scumbag. To you this is some fucking game not a real event where civilians are dying.
It makes me vomit that I live in the same country as people like you
Dickhead, whose trying to bomb the ZP Nuclear Power Station? Ukraine! Who blew up the Dam to cut off water to ZP? Ukraine! Who was going to use depleted Uranium shells? Ukraine! If Ukraine wants to be destroyed by Nuclear Terrorism, Russia should give to them!
Seriously you have problems. You actually get off on people dying.
Antbrain is high on hallucinogenic substances I believe.
“…Who blew up the Dam to cut off water to ZP? Ukraine!” Ant Force
Ant Force and the other bloodthirsty pro-Putin trolls on this site have been calling for Russia; “To pull out all the stops”. When Russia does exactly that, instead of owning it, they switch to denial.
Case in point:
“If Ukraine wants to be destroyed by Nuclear Terrorism, Russia should give to them!” Ant Force
When Russia blows up the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, irradiating Ukraine, Ant Force will and the other trolls will blame the Ukrainians.
His comment leaves me speechless.
It has been clear for some time that Antforce is nuttier than squirrel shit and now clearly also an arsehole.
A few sandwiches short of a picnic, no the whole hamper.
Agreed gentlemen. Antbrain is probably the worst of the Putinists and that’s saying something!
but not wordless
Vlad I am totally with you. Keep standing up to the Orc supporters!
I was going to tell you to fuck off back to your own country (where you would be if you patriotic) but like Russia I will be civil and fair. If you want to blame anyone for the current state of your homeland then blame your country’s leadership, blame your violent, racist, intolerant countrymen, and blame the US for fueling the conflict and using the lives of your people to colonise and destroy another part of the world where they are not wanted. Russia is Ukraine’s only hope; America does not care about your country.
I’m not from Ukraine, I’m a Kiwi. My family has been here for generations. If I was going to “fuck off” back to anywhere it’d be Scotland or Ireland, but after over 100 years away from there I’m not sure I would know where to go.
Just unlike most people here I know people who are on the receiving end of missiles being fired at them. People who are scared at night when the sirens go off. People for whom this is a little more then an academic exercise.
And a long comes antforce and his solution: nuke Kyiv. Kill my friends. And from your comment I can only assume you think the same.
You can argue the geopolitics all you like but when someone calls for genocide they are nothing more then a scumbag, and as I said above they want to make me vomit.
So you can be on Russia’s side and god bless you. I don’t care. But take some pleasure in people dying like antforce et al (he’s not the only one) seem to do whenever they posts here? Nah, I think I’ll just call that for what it is.
Ethan Woke – another mad Putinist! Crawl back to your rathole where you belong.
E W, correct, plus I would add stupidity as a word to be used in referencing the Ukraine “government” and its supporters.
Ethan Woke these are deplorable comments which border on racism. You should be ashamed of yourself!
The nuclear retaliation on St Petersberg and Moscow would leave the Russian “victory” be ashes in their mouths.
Well to remember John F Kennedy quote;
“We will not prematurely or unnecessarily risk the costs of a worldwide nuclear war in which even the fruits of victory would be ashes in our mouth — but neither shall we shrink from that risk any time it must be faced.”
There are no winners in a nuclear war, least of all Russia.
The drone “attack” on the Kremlin was absolute bollocks or incredibly embarrassing. You guys all say how strong Russia is so I find it hard to believe, with Russia on a war footing, that the Ukrainians just flew a drone as easy as you like to the Kremlin.
Charles you sound like Comical Ali with “Russia is in complete control of this war”. Looks like a Russian retreat is underway plus civil unrest in Russia.
Proof Trev proof?
“Looks like” is not evidence.
The Russian say as much.
Do they Johan, do they really, or just you commenting for the sake of it. Or are you on the hot line to the Russian?
Yes they do.
At least that is what the interpreter says Shoigu said. Who can trust either, right?
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/06/10/ukraine-facing-stiff-russian-resistance-kyiv-counteroffensive-pleitgen-dnt-ebof-vpx.cnn
I simply disagree with your post Trevor. I believe the powerhouse that is Russia continue to have control over Ukraine.
But you certainly have me wrong, I’m a realist yet I completely despise Putin and what he is doing. He should be given life imprisonment for his war crimes.
It is a relief to hear that Charles but I don’t think that it is particularly relevant to argue about who is control. To be sure Russia or the separatists control Crimea and the Donbas but do they control Belgorod? And they certainly don’t control Kyiv or Kharkiv.
SABOTAGE: Ukraine Kakhovka Dam Destroyed, Who Did It? Richard Medhurst https://youtu.be/g1h-HSLOxtM?t=1115
Ukraine releasing water from upstream sources that they control,,, increasing flooding damage/effects,,, seems very strange actions, ones not matching their ‘Look what those evil Russian bastards have done’ rhetoric.
Boo.
Dam level control is pretty low level science. Inflow matched to outflow.
This was deliberate, an accident caused by those in control of the dam or an “act of god”.
I have my opinion who caused this catastrophe.
The satellite photos are pretty easy to analyse and rainfall, dam levels and river flows are well recorded. Some will continue to speculate whatever the outcome of the investigation.
B Awakesky * – Agreed …The Ukraine Leadership are a combination of Nazi’s and Con Artists
That says so much about Putin, his regime and the current state of the Russian “special operations” team active in Ukraine.
Nathan you are in cloud cuckoo land if you believe that!
Ben you are deluded
Of course the Russians led by the evil b*stard Putin did it! Water supply from the Crimean canal is cut to a trickle destroying agriculture and drinking water supplies. Same b*stard blew up the Russian built Nordstream pipeline. With allies like that the Ukes can sit back and piss themselves laughing. Keep the good work Ben! 🙂
Maybe not. He is probably responsible, but this could have been an accident and not a deliberate act.
One good thing is that the tactical value of any strategy associated with this “weapon” has flooded downstream areas. Either way, this is an awful tragedy.
Cut out the racist epithets jay11!
Clearly it was Martyn’s UFOs.
Sure. The Russians, once again after the Nordstream 2, are definitely destroying infrastructure they built (and in this case, territory they occupy). It’s not like Ukriane was planning this since December and it was covered in the MSM.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/29/ukraine-offensive-kharkiv-kherson-donetsk/
Kovalchuk considered flooding the river. The Ukrainians, he said, even conducted a test strike with a HIMARS launcher on one of the floodgates at the Nova Kakhovka dam, making three holes in the metal to see if the Dnieper’s water could be raised enough to stymie Russian crossings but not flood nearby villages.
But sure. The Russians totally did it.
https://babylonbee.com/news/the-russians-blew-up-our-dam-says-zelensky-while-still-holding-detonation-plunger-thingy
Ben why would Russia take out their own fortifications which are along the left bank of the Dneiper River? You also fail to mention that the Ukrainians have been shelling this very dam. There is no benefit to Russia militarily in destroying this dam, just like there was no benefit to them blowing up their own gas pipeline. Suggest you check you sources or read more widely with an open mind.
Furthermore – Russia actually published a letter at the UN Security Council in October warning of the risks of this dam being a target following the Ukrainian forces shelling of it (including use if American HIMARS rockets) and concluding they could take this structure down if required. Ukraine did this and any forensic examination of this will prove that.
Salacious Crumb – bollocks!
You have no idea who did this any more than anybody else.
The SBU claims to have intercepted a conversation between two Russian speakers admitting culpability. Whether this is genuine evidence or not is difficult to say.
That correct the Russian could have bombed this dam long ago. Ben is parrioting western discourse. He cites sources that are close to Washington like the War institution founded by the Kagan family related to Victoria Nuland currently serving as under secretary of state for political affairs. She was instrumental in overthrowing the last democratic elected govt of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.
Stephen, bollocks. Nuland was not instrumental in overthrowing Yanukovych. She gave a speech at the Maidan and that was all period. If you want to believe conspiracy theories about the Maidan that is your problem but you are ill informed. I know that the Poles were far more involved than the Americans. Alexander Kwaśniewski Polish president from 1995 to 2005 mentioned this when he visited New Zealand. I even asked him a question about it.
@SC you are correct. What’s more the latest analysis seems to be that the HIMARS attack from last November damaged the dam and it has been leaking for months before the breach. The superstructure itself is intact for now. This suggests potential misadventure rather than deliberate attack or demolition. While not yet confirmed, more facts will emerge over time, but this is supported by both sides being caught unawares and having to evacuate at short notice.
Not an endorsement for Russia or NATO (if that needed to be said), but this is a typical article from Ben. Making geopolitical analysis out of a whole cloth of one-sided presumptions. To use the a facade of intellectualism for raising partisan ire rather than encourage informed and clear thinking.
Thanks Tui
A rare non-partisan contribution.
Russia is winning and with its massive resources and state of the art weaponry it will prevail socially, economically, politically, militarily also every nation has the right to defend itself and the Russians gave enough warning to the Ukrainians with the Minsk 1-2 agreements to no avail. If anyone believes that the Ukrainians weren’t warned are delusional, there was enough time to sort out this issue before the Russian invasion.
The Americans are still illegally occupying Syrian oil and wheat grained territories. It sells Syrian oil and wheat to the Syrian govt to keep its people alive for now!! Where’s the pearl clutching western media singing this hypocrisy?
What is your Minsk 2 agreement source?
There appears to be much mischief doing the rounds regarding these agreements.
The Russians always maintained that they are not part of the Minsk agreements.
You must have access to sources not available to me. I rely on the OSCE monitoring group reports, Chatham House analysis and other sources available on the internet.
Johan Thiart , You need to research more you’re limiting yourself promoting Russia-phobia exhibited on TDB. Try harder chump?
Thanks for the help.
I do not promote Russian phobia. I do not rate Putin or the Kremlin for the care that they demonstrate towards Russians. I object to Putinism, oppression and wars in general and this one in particular.
I enjoy Russian literature and western philosophy.
Bollocks Stephen he is using the right sources.
A pattern is emerging Johan posts and Ovod immediately after. A new tag team. And to boot, very nasty personal attacks by Ovod.
Really Charles? You should see the shit I have to put up with!
Sorry Ovod, I hadn’t seen, you don’t go by another non de plume do you? Even so I’d suggest, don’t lower yourself to their standards.
Charles when they support war criminals and post untruths about the country where my grandmother was born, I reserve the right of reply!
bwa ha ha – russia isn’t trying to win.. they’re just playing games and psyching up the middle class peasants to work harder – lol – putin is toast, he’s been pretty average, ruthless, but average. pointless war, pointless arguments. rather be holidaying in vietnam.
Thanks Ben
I see they also blew up an ammonia pipeline overnight, poising everything the vicinity.
As well as the defensive measure you mentioned, I am reminded of a man murdering is ex, along the lines of “If I can’t have her, nobody can”.
So, to me this is largely about plain old spite.
Hi PhuD, Johan. I said that I would keep the powder dry and not call the result of the “offensive” so I will stick to that. I would point out however that if this was a game of soccer you are 5 goals down so far.
The 10 of June is approaching.
Suspect by then it will be 11 nil.
Football to you cretin. You’ve obviously never played the game! In the Soviet era the USSR football team drew most of their players from – Ukraine and Georgia. Yes Dynamo Kyiv and Dynamo Tbilisi used to clean up the Russian teams regularly.
PhuD I doubt you ever played for fear of tripping over yourself, or tying your own laces together.
I captained a university team you twat Nick J.
Congratulations, Im really impressed, really.
Ovod do you want a medal or a chest to pin it on?
Well constructed argument based on reason.
It is a refreshing change.
Johan and Ovod a love match made in heaven.
‘Clearly the Russians blew up the dam’. Excuse me, what?
The bile that spews forth.
This dude belongs on fox or cnn.
What’s the first casualty of war? Nothing is clear.
you should pop over and have a look – see if the ordinance was nato or kremlin branded.
Dr. Doom, how about status quo? Just make assumptions without evidence and then cry about it on the internet.
Thank you for your bile Off White.
https://twitter.com/MikaelValterss1/status/1666648209081475073?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Kursk, all over again mayhaps.
Thanks for sharing your source. It explains much.
It is reasonable to gather intelligence from multiple sources to mitigate bias.
For some “rationality” and “reason” and synonymous. But it is not…
Reasonable people do not often go down rabbit holes, but it is rational that people end up going down rabbit holes. Many do it for fun.
Mikhael is a good source eh Johan, a former officer Swedish Armed Forces/Air Defence, former defence politician and chief of staff Sweden Democrats. Kind of guy you can rely upon for facts and considered opinions. You seem adept at sticking your foot in rabbit holes.
There are a number of other sources with different views.
He says that Ukraine will probably be defeated by Russia. I say he is wrong.
I will add that the official NATO rhetoric is that Putin will only be stopped by means of force. Even Macron is now solidly in that camp.
Sweden is still on course to join NATO. And we all know why they and Finland joined NATO.
I hope that the Ukrainians force the Russians out of Ukraine before NATO steps in.
There are now credible analysts claiming that all is not well in the Kremlin.
Even in our own Parliament we have differences of interpreting events that happen in front of our eyes.
The Swedish Democrats are a far right populist party with fascist links. Hardly a reputable source.
If you spend time researching these far right ‘experts’ it explains a lot NickJ. The reference to the ‘Third Reich’ was particularly telling.
I refer you to comments made by left wing commentator Owen Jones that the Swedish Democrats have links to neo-Nazis in Sweden. If you respect the opinions of a Swedish neo-Nazi, that tells us a lot about you Nick.J.
Keep the tinfoil on your head PhuD. PS it’s no longer a soccer score, more like a rugby score. Still I won’t call it yet, early days.
I will call it right now as I have called it before, this is a needless disaster and it will not advance the cause of the Russian people.
Football to you Nick (third class honours)J. You obviously know nothing about the game!
I would not be seen dead relying on commentators with neo-Nazi links.
Is it not the ultimate in hypocrisy in praising such a commentator from Sweden and yet accusing Ukraine for their far right links?
Lowest of the low.
it is by no means certain the russians burst the dam but if they did you expect terrorist raids within russia to have no comeback….do please grow up
About to break!
Child sex trafficking in Ukraine by Ukraine and NATO(again).
Remember what happened in Balkans War. It’s happening again in Ukraine.
Cuckoo
The Lettuce Strikes Again!
Remember Liz Truss’s message to Blinken within seconds after the Nordstream II gas pipe getting blown up??
Then the bridge in Crimea?
And now the Dam(s).
Same crew, MO and skillset. UK & US Marines.
Ssssh! Don’t leak this to anybody
Russian soldiers reported Ukrainian forces moving heavy weapons out of their lower reach positions of Kherson, at midnight,
two hours BEFORE the damn exploded/ ruptured.
Other reports now from the two massive hydro dams upstream from the breach, controlled by Ukraine, have let go their water in massive releases just to help break the spillway, increasing the flood damage south.
This suggests the Kiev terrorists with their NATO masters behind this atrocity.
In breaking news: Trolls at the Daily Blog reveal Japanese dropped atomic bomb on themselves.
There are multiple ways to spin the consequences of the destruction of the 1 Russian held dam.
But the facts about what led up to it seem to inconvenience you.
“…the facts about what led up to it seem to inconvenience you.” Paul
Maybe then you need to enlighten me Paul, and actually tell me some of your “facts”.
It would make a change from your usual vacuous, fact free, take it from me this is true, pro-war commentary.
Being part of the effort to legitimise the NATO.US/UK/EU/AZOV regime change operation against Russia, makes fools of all of us.
‘The other big elephant in the room that those on the Ukrainian side are conveniently ignoring, and which ‘sort of’ fits under the ‘natural but unnatural’ category, is the known fact that for a month or two now, Ukraine had begun filling up the Kakhovka reservoir, putting immense pressure on the dam.’ ‘Ukraine controls several other dams upriver, such as a hydro plant in Zaporozhye city and in Dnipro city, and by playing with their water levels, they can pass more or less water down river to the Kakhovka dam. I had posted this very tweet and corresponding video a month ago in a report:As you can see, he states that Russia was unable to open the dam to relieve the pressure due to the dam locks having suffered previous damage from Ukrainian strikes. So Zoka predicted a month ago the dam would soon collapse.”
‘https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/portmortem-analysis-on-kakhovka-dam
It is fair to say, the reality of this reporting has very quickly made itself obvious. Which is perhaps why media have begun to hedge so blatantly. One way or another, the gates at the Kakhovka dam were damaged. The pressure, broke them. Given the propensity for the outright lie, the likelihood is; by Ukrainian forces for reasons Shoigu stated.
Hell that is a long bow. How about arguing it was an “act of god” event?
It is common knowledge that the Russian army was in control of the dam.
“Kovalchuk [Maj. Gen. Andriy Kovalchuk, initial commander of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson region/Ukrainian Operative Commandment South] considered flooding the river. (WaPo/2022) The Ukrainians, he said, even conducted a test strike with a HIMARS launcher on one of the floodgates at the Nova Kakhovka dam, making three holes in the metal to see if the Dnieper’s water could be raised enough to stymie Russian crossings but not flood nearby villages. The test was a success, Kovalchuk said, but the step remained a last resort. He held off.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/29/ukraine-offensive-kharkiv-kherson-donetsk/
“A threat to the Kakhovka dam first entered the discourse last autumn, when General Surovikin made the stunning decision to withdraw Russian forces from west bank Kherson – a decision which he said was prompted by the fear that Ukraine might destroy the dam and create a flood which would trap Russian troops on the far shore. That decision certainly looks prescient now, but thanks to this earlier discussion there was already a bevy of analysis conducted predicting what the flood path might look like.”
To repeat: “The other big elephant in the room that those on the Ukrainian side are conveniently ignoring and which sort of fits under the ‘natural’ but unnatural category is the known fact that for a month or two now, Ukraine had begun filling up the Kakhovka reservoir, (up 17mtrs) putting immense pressure on the dam. You see, Ukraine controls several other dams upriver, such as a hydro plant in Zaporozhye city and in Dnipro city, and by playing with their water levels, they can pass more or less water down river to the Kakhovka dam.” Thus inexorably straining the already damaged gates.
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/portmortem-analysis-on-kakhovka-dam
What part of control over the dam do you not understand?
Russia was in control of the dam.
very astute.
You have no idea Remo. Not a shred of evidence!
“ If you tell a lie big enough, and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” Who said that ?
And how does the NZ ‘disinformationProject’ apply to it as part of the repression of dissent? You could fire any answer to that question, at these ideas: Russia did not destroy the pipeline and did not destroy the dam. It is not shelling the Nuclear power plant. It did not train up generations of Galician youth to be shock troops for NATO. Nor did the RF attack their own bridge nor massacre Bucha nor bring down MH17 nor poison Skripal with ‘novichok.’
Nor did it start this war.
But they ARE going to finish it, no matter what the MOCKINGBIRD tweeters and their ridiculous enablers have to say; and until we understand the perfidy of western deepstate toward their warmongering hatred of Russia – racist hatred; as a ‘regime change operation’…until then, we are in thrall to the big lie.
According to the Kremlin propaganda mouthpiece RT, the Kakhovka Dam, which was under Russian control, was breached by Ukrainian shelling.
https://www.rt.com/russia/577570-kakhovka-dam-destruction-explainer/
The Kakhovka Dam was built during the Cold War by the Soviet Union. It was designed by the Soviet engineers to withstand a nuclear blast. No amount of Ukrainian conventional shelling could have breached the dam in the manner shown in the photos and video.
From the photos and video the dam has been breached in more than one place, all on the same night and about the same time. That would be some pretty crazy accurate pin point night time artillery fire.
https://texty.org.ua/fragments/109844/kakhovka-hpp-was-designed-withstand-nuclear-attack-there-no-question-its-self-destruction/
According to Pat and Ovod any news source not pre approved by our honest and moral Governments is “Russian propaganda” Goebbels sends his approval.
According to Pat and Ovod any comments raising Russian security concerns you support “Imperialism” The British and their 1 Trillion rape of Indian resources sends their approval.
According to Ovod any comment that doesn’t support his paid talking points you are the “Orc” and you’re the racist.
According to Ovod he has a PHD, speaks Russian and Ukrainian, was the captain of the University football team and is an expert on Ukraine, the delusional homeless person sends his approval.
fingrin, you missed out Ovod scaling Everest and K2 on the same afternoon. He hasn’t claimed it yet, I’m sure he will.
Sorry Nick, Ovod didn’t scale Everest or K2 he was to busy captaining his all girl university team.
And you are a sexist idiot NASC. Stay off the turps!
I don’t speak Ukrainian although I am learning it. Although my grandmother was born in the Poltava region she was ethnically Russian. Minor nobility actually. She was forced out by the Bolsheviks.
“Goebbels sends his approval.
According to Pat and Ovod any comments raising Russian security concerns you support “Imperialism” The British and their 1 Trillion rape of Indian resources sends their approval.” fingrinn
To justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fingrin cites Goebbels and the rape of 1 Trillion of Indian resources by the British Empire. Like fingrin, the British Empire’s atrocities in India were a big talking point of Goebbels and Hitler. Hitler and Goebbels promising the world that the new multilateral Axis of Germany, Italy and Japan would be a more humane global system than the British Empire global hegemon.
fingrin makes the same argument as Goebbels and Hitler but for Russian imperialism
This column remains a stain on the reputation of The Daily Blog in my view. The language and jargon (e.g. “shaping”) used is identical to that on the BBC and any number of other pro US/NATO media channels and military fan sites.
Lets see some proper investigation into this damn busting, not everything can be solved in 24hrs by online armchair generals. It seems that some Russian troops were caught unawares too, and there are now landmines floating around!
Thank you, Tiger Mountain. Here on TDB we seem to have 2 sets of equally partisan bigots hurling abuse at each other.
The best analysis of how the dam went that I have seen goes like this:
There are 3 possibilities:
1) Russians did it – and reasons why they might hope to benefit.
2) Ukrainians did it – and ditto. Both have possible reasons..
3) The dam failed because it is an old Cold War structure that has not been well-maintained by anybody; it has recently suffered minor damage from shelling, and water levels have recently been excessively high.
If option 3 turns out to be the case, all the idiots here who made up childish insults to apply those they disagree with are going to have to apply those very insults to themselves.
The level of debate here is worse than in Parliament!
The Russian army was in charge of the dam.
The only way they will escape culpability for this man made ecocide is by beating Europe to a pulp.
Bollocks. Holland was in charge of Indonesia when Krakatoa erupted. Therefore Holland is responsible for all the damage caused by that eruption.
Are you trying extra-hard to appear stupid?
No, both sides are not as bad as the other.
Position 1 – Ra ra everything Ukraine is golden. Perfectly in line with the umbrella of Western media. This column is always 100% right, 100% proof from any evidence or question to the contrary.
Position 2 – Any plea for uncertainty and sanity and critical thinking here is declaimed as “Putinist”. Challenge the column, you are a “putinist”.
Anything that pierces or challenges the selected fabrication of events: Putinist.
Then people taking the second position get shitty and personal because position 1 is so absolutist.
If the debate was about geopolitics rather than a special military operation you will no doubt have seen very different comments.
Wrong Paul! Position 2 participants are not critically thinking at all! They are buying into the Russian propaganda gravy train. Being mostly contrarian by nature they pat themselves on the back for being anti-US and it doesn’t matter what an anti-US country does – it must be good. So we see supporters of Iran, Syria, China and Russia/Belarus on this blog.
I tend to be anti-US under Republican presidents and more pro with Democrats in power. This is a far more nuanced position than many here. I don’t like American pop culture and far prefer Russian music and literature.
In Tchaikovsky’s opera Пиковая Дама (Queen of Spades) young kids are playing at soldiers in St Petersburg’s летний сад (Summer Garden):
‘We are here to defeat the enemies of Russia
The foe is wicked be on your guard!
And his designs are criminal
Flee or surrender! Hurrah!’
If only Russia’s military had left it at that – playing at soldiers -instead of the murderous escapades they are now engaged in, the world would be a better place.
Option 3 is the least likely In Vino. The facts seem to be hardening in favour of some Russian saboteur group blowing the dam although this is not yet proven.
Like it or not Tiger Mountain there is a war going on. Ben is a soldier and he naturally uses the jargon. As an historian myself I prefer to wait before a definitive version emerges from the fog of war. Sometimes that can take 50 years or more until the official papers are released so be it.
We do know, however, that Putin is a murderous thug and those who cannot see that are delusional. Who knows what these people’s agenda is particularly here in New Zealand. Provocateurs, contrarians, conspiracy theorists, racists, propagandists they are all here on this site. Are there any paid posts by Russian troll factories? I rather think there are as some unusual names pop up from time to time.
Geezus you must be like …. 90. You probly still think the US “saved us all” in WW2, it was a damn shame they didn’t finish off Charlie, “because we’re the good guys” is enough “historical” rational to ignore all all evidence to the contrary.
I also object, In that silly Ovod claims that he is ‘an historian’. Quel poseur! Why would any literate English-speaker put ‘an’ before a word like ‘historian”?
It is quite correct to put ‘an’ before words like ‘hour’ and ‘heir’, where the letter ‘h’ is actually silent. But only stupid old pedants persist in putting ‘an’ before words that came into English with a silent ‘h’ from French. Like ‘heroic’. But once English speakers started to pronounce the ‘h’ on those words, only stupid old pedants kept putting ‘an’ in front of them, pretending to a linguistic knowledge that they do not have.
Because In Vino I consider that ‘a historian’ is an Americanism and I avoid Americanisms if I can. A short ‘a’ sound before historian sounds ugly as does a long ‘a’ before the word which requires a glottal stop. ‘An historian’ flows much better than the alternatives.
You really are venting your spleen aren’t you? As a representative of Anglo academia I am proud to continue the correct usage. It is not ‘stupid pedantry’ as you term it. If you don’t like it – tough!
Paul, your comment is completely indecipherable. Kindly translate. In English preferably.
Provocateurs, contrarians, conspiracy theorists, racists, propagandists…
You sound like a reactionary nutjob PhuD. Those are terms routinely used by authoritarians when they can’t raise a fact based rational argument.
As Charles says, look in the mirror NickJ. At least I don’t post links and praise Swedish neo-Nazis!
Swedish neo Nazis?? Prove it.
PS whilst you are at it prove that there are no neoNazis in Ukraine and no neocons in Washington. And prove you are not aligned to either.
You are a bonehead NickJ! You praised to the high heavens Mikael Valtersson( whose name you misspelled by the way) who is chief of staff for the Swedish Democrats, a far right party which has neo-Nazi links. Owen Jones, whose opinion I respect, recently commented that the Swedish Democrats are a particularly nasty party! You are hoisted by your own petard!
Your propensity to bandy around a meaningless term ‘neo-con’ is the height of stupidity. I challenge you to define ‘neo-con’ but I bet you won’t!
Provocateurs, seems you need a mirror.
Shaping is what we would call Probing in old money, send Fighting Patrols or larger Force Units like Recon in strength/ advance guard at Battalion Group size finding a weak spot in the enemy’s defensive line to allow the main assault group to come up & punch their way forward.
This is going to be an old school/ old fashion punch up as both sides don’t have Air Superiority of the Battlespace & it’s going come down to which side is more adaptable & flexibility at achieving its opportunity to dominate the Battlespace & ultimately win.
Remember it took over a mth for the Allies to finally breakout from the beaches after D Day,-
It took nearly 3wks for the 8th Army to Breakout at the Battle of El Alamain.
If you want my two bob’s worth on the Dam? The Russians did it!
Why?
The Russian Defence System there was actually their weakest out of the entire front, if the Ukrainian Armed Forces did managed to cross Dnipro River & establish Bridgehead before breaking out? It would suit there Armoured, Mech & Motorised Units as its good Tank country & providing the Ukrainian Logistics System held up, they could’ve quite easily been knocking on the back door to the Crimea, with the left flank of the advance turning Nth via 2 land bridges (which is no that wide btw) and in behind the main Russian Defence System the Ukrainians are currently punching through
Anyway that’s my theory at why the Russians blew the Dam, but also I think they over cooked it as well! In other words used to much bang as it should’ve been a controlled release of water, which means they will eventually screw themselves up in the medium to long term militarily & probably economically as well.
I’m Ex RNZAC & Ex Airfield Defence in service with another country with 20yrs service from Peacekeeping to Warlike Ops.
@TM agreed. The latest, yet to be confirmed, analysis is that the dam was damaged last year by the Ukrainian forces and has been leaking water for months before breaching. The underlying superstructure is intact for now. This could be a callous misadventure rather than deliberate destruction, time will tell, Ben’s blog will not.
“Lets see some proper investigation into this damn busting, not everything can be solved in 24hrs by online armchair generals.” Tiger Mountain
There will be no proper investigation into this dam busting because the Russian authorities will not allow it.
A week before they blew the dam, the Russian Federation government enacted a law repealing a previous Russian law that all accidents at hazardous sites must be investigated.
https://news.yahoo.com/russia-decided-accidents-hazardous-facilities-084159995.html
The document was signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and came into force on the day of its publication, 31 May
……
Quote from the document: “Until 1 January 2028, technical investigations shall not be carried out into accidents at hazardous production facilities and accidents at hydraulic structures that occurred as a result of military operations, sabotage and acts of terrorism.”
If an anonymous commentator who hides their identity actually has a reputation then with this following comment you have stained yours in my view.
“This column remains a stain on the reputation of The Daily Blog in my view. Tiger Mountain
The outrageous shelling of Ukrainian rescue efforts by Russian forces and the refusal to rescue civilians under Russian control is completely unacceptable and shows the complete disregard for human rights which is typical of Putin’s army. This is yet another war crime committed by Putin and co.
Will the Russians support humanitarian aid to enter the flood affected areas.
The Red Cross would have been all over this by now if it was not for the “Special Military Operation”.
Are you there? Or just bleating from the “kNews”?
“A question is where the decision was made. Did a local commander give an instruction to blow up the dam on their own initiative? Or; was the decision made in the Kremlin?” Ben Morgan
The order signed by Prime Minister of the Russian Federation not to allow any investigation of the destruction due to an act of war of “Hydraulic Structures” (read dams), which was enacted only days before they destroyed the dam is proof positive that that the decision to blow up the Karkhova Dam was made at the highest levels in the Kremlin.
https://news.yahoo.com/russia-decided-accidents-hazardous-facilities-084159995.html
Russia decided accidents at hazardous facilities would not be investigated shortly before blowing up Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant
The document was signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and came into force on the day of its publication, 31 May.
….
“Until 1 January 2028, technical investigations shall not be carried out into accidents at hazardous production facilities and accidents at hydraulic structures that occurred as a result of military operations, sabotage and acts of terrorism.”
Despite citing zero references, even from Kremlin sources, for their conviction that Ukraine destroyed their own dam. The pained squealing from the pro-Putin quislings can not stop the tide of mounting proof disproving your vile lies and denials of Russian culpability.
The Lettuce Strikes Again!
Remember Liz Truss’s message to Blinken within seconds after the Nordstream II has pipe got blown up??
Then the bridge in Crimea?
And now the Dam(s).
Same crew, MO and skillset. UK & US Marines.
Ssssh! Don’t leak this to anybody.
Again zero references. Zero citations. No sources given.
Pro-war trolls keep spewing their fact free shit all over this blog site.
100% Pat!
Cuckoo
Despite the Russians not allowing any international or even Russian investigation into the cause of the dam’s collapse. According to a preliminary untranslated Ukrainian report, cited by Yahoo, the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was blown up by the 205th Motorised Rifle Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and some of the names of those involved are known.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2023/06/6/7405536/
It’s a war zone. We live inside a Western propaganda infobubble. Cui bono is up for debate. Who did it is up for debate.
From the Russia point of view, the West are renowned for sneaking arms and militants in through aid.
Of course you are entrenched with the view that Putin is some sort of murderous vampire, instead of a benign knucklehead like Bush, Obama, Blair, whoever you choose to excuse, so you can’t see anything clearly. Hate Russia going into Ukraine to meet its objectives however much you like, but they are only acting in their interests in perfect concert with the “failed state” doctrine the West created.
Bollocks Paul you are supporting war criminals!
Putin is a murderous war criminal no better than Mladic, Milosevic et al. If you support Putin then you have big, big problems Paul.
Even if everything said about them was true,
How are they worse than Bush and Blair?
Russia has caused far less destruction on death, on stronger terms, tried everything it could to avoid it, compared to the West in Iraq. Saying otherwise just buys into the deliberate demonisation of “official enemies”.
You have no moral compass Paul! You are supporting war criminals here. That is akin to holocaust denial. You are aligning yourself with very evil people.
“A risk is that Russia blows the [nuclear] plant up; spreading nuclear waste far and wide. However, this seems highly unlikely because it would trigger a significant international response; similar to using nuclear weapons.” Ben Morgan
Hardly likely, just look at the muted international response to the Russians blowing up the Karkhova Dam.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/06/7/7405825/
Zelenskyy shocked by reaction of UN and Red Cross
IRYNA BALACHUK — WEDNESDAY, 7 JUNE 2023, 22:10
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he is shocked by the reaction of the UN and the Red Cross to the blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) by the Russian occupiers.
Source: Zelenskyy in an interview for BILD
Quote: “We have not received a single response [to Ukraine’s requests for help – ed.]. I am shocked.”
Details: He added that if there was a reaction, it was “very diplomatic”
Zelenskyy stressed that despite the tragedy that occurred many hours ago, neither the UN nor the Red Cross “are there”, although they “should be the first to save lives”, as this is what these structures were created for.
Quote: “What is happening right now is a tragedy. An environmental disaster and human tragedy…People and animals have died. People stuck on the roofs of their houses can see those who have drowned flowing past them. It can be seen on the other side. It is extremely hard to evacuate people from the occupied part of Kherson Oblast. When our people try to save them, the occupiers launch attacks,” Zelesnkyy added.
“A question is where the decision was made. Did a local commander give an instruction to blow up the dam on their own initiative? Or; was the decision made in the Kremlin?” Ben Morgan
The order signed by Prime Minister of the Russian Federation not to allow any investigation of the destruction due to an act of war of “Hydraulic Structures” (read dams), which was enacted only days before they destroyed the dam is proof positive that that the decision to blow up the Karkhova Dam was made at the highest levels in the Kremlin.
https://news.yahoo.com/russia-decided-accidents-hazardous-facilities-084159995.html
Russia decided accidents at hazardous facilities would not be investigated shortly before blowing up Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant
The document was signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and came into force on the day of its publication, 31 May.
….
“Until 1 January 2028, technical investigations shall not be carried out into accidents at hazardous production facilities and accidents at hydraulic structures that occurred as a result of military operations, sabotage and acts of terrorism.”
Pat talking to his own echo chamber again, the issue with pat’s little rabbit droppings he and Ovod scatter around is they are so one dimensional.
Yahoo news sounds like a fictional news source on the Micky mouse show, it really tells me all i need to know about “Warrior” pat.
Really amazing. Don’t even try to deny the facts, just straight into ad hominin personal attack.
Our blood thirsty pro-war trolls are desperately in need of some quality control from their handlers.
Well Finngrin, a typically brain dead comment from you! How many books have you read on Russia and Ukraine? I would suspect nada! Zilch!
Don’t dispute the message, shoot the messenger, eh fingrinn?
You can deride the Yahoo news site all you like, but they quote directly from the original Russian government website document of the Russian government legislation passed only a few days before they destroyed the Karkhova dam officially making it illegal to investigate who did it.
And you don’t dispute that, you attack the messenger instead. And remain stubbournly silent on the substance of their report.
I fully support the aims of the Congress for Free Russia recently held in Lithuania and I would lay down a challenge to the ‘pro-Russianists’ on this blog – do they support Russia or do they support the despotic Putin? If they do support the current regime then they do not have a democratic bone in their bodies let alone a complete disregard for human rights!
Pat o Dea has been the biggest pusher of Ukraine propaganda one could ever have the misfortune to read.
A while ago he was pushing for the Russian ambassador here in AoNz to be expelled ,,,, due to Pat trumpeting a (Ukraine reported)Russian missile attack on a busy shopping mall killing hundreds of civilians ,,,, which was all a big steaming pile of bullshit.
If Pat bites back at my observation of him pumping out ‘ghost of Kiev’ level propaganda,, then I’ll devote the effort towards a post showing what a hyperbolic bullshit pusher Pat was in that specific instance.
By Pat’s own words he’s shown he is EXTREMELY untrustworthy.
And never mind his dishonestly co-opting and abusing by association great men of peace like Martin Luther King….. which deserves a post of it’s own.
Well I find you equally untrustworthy Awakesky! So what?
Pat has a good grip of the situation- unlike someone like you who is keen to parrot the latest Kremlin propaganda!
If Pat bites back at my observation of him pumping out ‘ghost of Kiev’ level propaganda,, then I’ll devote the effort towards a post showing what a hyperbolic bullshit pusher Pat was in that specific instance. Awakesky
Go for it.
But I doubt you have the courage. Anonymous trolls don’t get to publish posts. And you are far too cowardly to post under your own name, or stand behind your own words. Far better to anonymously snipe from the sidelines, Eh Awakesky.
But I could be wrong. If so, I look forward to tearing up your pro-war post for shit paper.
On the news that a some Putin fanboy/girl at RNZ has been inserting pro-war Russian propaganda into the RNZ overseas newsfeed in support in the Russian invasion and conquest of Ukraine.
Twisting the facts to fit the Russian pro-war narrative is not a new thing.
Putin’s ‘Human Rights Council’ Accidentally Posts Real Crimean Election Results
Official Kremlin results: 97 percent of polled voters for annexation, turnout 83 percent, and 82 percent of total Crimean population voting in favor.
President’s Human Rights Council mid-point estimate: 55 percent of polled voters for annexation, turnout 40 percent, 22.5 percent of total Crimean population voting in favor.
A member of the Human Rights Council, Svetlana Gannushkina, talked about election fraud on Kanal 24 (as replayed on Ukrainian television), declaring that the Crimean vote “discredited Russia more than could be dreamed up by a foreign agent.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2014/05/05/putins-human-rights-council-accidentally-posts-real-crimean-election-results-only-15-voted-for-annexation
The original Reuters plug-out, was: “The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraine’s Maidan revolution and Russia annexed Crimea, with Russian backed separatist forces fighting Ukraine’s armed forces.”
It was changed to: “The conflict in Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian elected Government was toppled during Ukraine’s violent Maidan colour revolution. Russia annexed Crimea after a referendum, as the new pro-western Government suppressed ethnic Russians in eastern and southern Ukraine, sending in its armed forces to the Donbas.’
So what part of that changed text, was wrong ??
-The conflict began in 2014 . This part of it did. Yes. Thats true. We are not mentioning OSS/CIA operations beginning post WW2, protecting hundreds-if not thousands of nationalist (nazi) Ukrainian Hitlerian Collaborators – those having murdered hundreds of thousands of UKRAINIANS during nazi occupation.
A western intelligence operation protected these monsters as part of the long planned ‘allied’ fight against Russia. Which is unfolding toward WW3.,
right
now.
-It was a Pro-Russian ELECTED government toppled ….true.
-In a violent Maidan colour revolution. True. It could legitimately have read ‘CIA/USAID/MI6 Coup”, reporting the specific proof of CIA/NATO command and control of that violence (Nuland/Obama/McCain) and the part UkrainNazi nationalists (Yaroush/Paruby/Yatsenyuk etal) played in it; by broadcast of NULAND/PYATT’s infamous phone call (“you know…f*ck the EU”) establishing, as a fact, US decision making in the Maidan violence and the post coup Govt.
-Russia annexed Crimea in a referendum…true. Crimea was Russian. Black sea fleet and all that. The population did’t want to be ruled by a racist cabal. If you think your forbes Svetlana link cannot be argued part of the greater disinformationProject.con, well…
-the pro western nationalist Ukrainazi govt put into place BY the western deepstate regime change operation, went to work brutally suppressing ethnic Russians in the east by artillery strikes lasting 8 years; killing 14,000+ civilians in civilian areas of the east as retribution for daring to go against the Kiev coup govt….
true.
-sending in its armed forces to the Donbas with the stated aim of cleansing it of all Russian leaning peoples. A pogrom. True. Unsaid; trained and armed to the teeth by NATO/UK/US/UU in a long planned regime change operation against Russia; that was building in the east to invade; when the SMO preempted it. Not mentioned were the DARPA biolabs dotting the east nor zelenski’s uttering the need for placement of Nuclear weapons on Russia’s border.
Reuters cut out the USAMO/western C&C part in the entire operation. It’s simple, nuanced, propaganda-made-obvious by radnz.props part exposed feeding off it.
Wow! Just Wow! The pro-Putinist lunatics on this page are really scary! I truly hope there is nobody as mad as this with their finger on the button in that once respected country Russia.
Not even close. Pro Putin activism isn’t even close to what’s going on here. On the whole we are all using our current environment each of us occupy to evaluate the system that Putin occupies and making best guesses to that which will succeed. Us or Russia. You’ve made the claim of pro Putin and I’m going to push you to justify that or you can just run away like a little bitch.
I am more anti-fascist than pro-Putin. Although that said; judged alongside the liverish, decrepit, corrupt Biden and his neoconazionist inner advisory determined to create WAR (Nuland/Sullivan/Blinken etal);
Putin is by far the more intelligent, reliable, and moral man.
No. What I am, is for balanced reporting. And when that reporting is proven unbalanced; it is BIASED. And when that BIAS is toward a world war, built on propagandised narratives, in collaboration with European Nazi values, against a created ‘enemy’ who would be our friends and lovers,
I feel very strongly against it.
What this single textual exchange establishes, is that Reuters is, at bed-rock, propagandising for Empire. BIASED. They have ‘skin in the game’. Like BBCNN and the entire mainstream western media machine referred to in CIA operation MOCKINGBIRD by it’s creator, Frank Wisner, as ‘the mighty Wurlitzer’ : a global dis/Information machine of specialists, long practiced in the dark arts of ‘The big lie’. Deceiving you and I into WW3.
Reuters original reporting is nuanced away from facts establishing the war is a direct result of Western Deepstate covert operations against Russia. Provably begun, in this instance, by CIA/MI6 and their Ukrainian Nationalist (Nazi) enablers in Kiev In 2014. So, that is what propagandists, do. They fib. They omit. They direct. They ‘disinform’ and then pretend to be against disinformation. They pretend to be the sole news provider. They get people calling each other names. They create ‘DisinformationProjects’ all of their own.
RadioNZ, admits to plugging in to that bias without doubt or question of it. Calling them (Reuters) one of their ‘trusted voices’ (An operation MOCKINGBIRD term btw) A narrative source considered, apriori, accurate and balanced. Which it obviously is not. Which begs the question; why Radnz so abjectly argues for it.
Mark Lanskey, voicing the concerns of an Ukrainian diaspora in NZ, to no surprise, exhibits the same BIAS in his complaint. He and his group support the regime change war against Russia for all their own reasons. That is fair enough. But that he does not want that narrative disturbed by any balancing of it with unreported facts ; is not. In failing to recognise the rôle of the USA cia/uk deepstate in this regime change war against Russia, their opinions swing us away from balanced judgment – into a war camp. Which is the central concern here. Without balance, we are being convinced toward WAR. And this must not be allowed to happen.
What the exchange reveals and establishes, is RadioNZ, in their haste to identify with it’s global partners, have failed in their quintessential role as a balanced, un-favouring, news provider.
Instead, ‘they’ have openly become just another MOCKINGBIRD, tweeting out WAR propaganda pretending to be ‘News’. Which has to be considered a crime against the peoples of the Russian Federation who, like the peoples of Crimea and Donbas, do NOT WANT to be lead, ruled nor Governed by a sincerely corrupt western hegemony determined upon their destruction.
Ed: Should read ‘led’, not ‘lead’. Last sentence.
I don’t like to engage with anonymous conspiracy wafflers like yourself but in this case I feel it could be important to give you a bit of advice. Here it is; get off the internet and read some serious histories published by reputable publishers and professional peer reviewed historians. I say this because you show a disturbing lack of moral judgement, no doubt from filling your mind with misinformed claptrap that has no basis in reality.
“No basis in reality’
In that single phrase., you expose yourself as the very man you accuse me of being. Congratulations.
You would do well to follow your own advice…except reverse it; since this is the time of ORWELL. Get ON the internet and BEGIN to doubt your ‘reputable publishers’ and ‘professional peer reviewed historians’ and ‘trusted news sources’ who are the very status quo sqwafflers like yourself leading us to this precipice of world war…
again.
As Karl ROVE infamously said of that ‘reality’ you self satisfyingly suggest you are on top of: “We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you’re studying that reality — judiciously, as you will — we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out. We’re history’s actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.”
Paul Judge – Hear!Hear!
Great advice but the Putinists could never follow such sensible advice!
lol this filthy crackhead sucking on american dick for dimes was still pretending that the Russians blew up Nordstream just a month ago
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2023/04/03/guest-blog-ben-morgan-putin-dangerous-as-defeat-in-ukraine-looms-ever-closer/