The long-awaited Ukrainian offensive has officially started. President Zelenskyy announcing on 11 June that the operation is underway. However, it has been clear for a long time that Ukraine has been shaping conditions for the offensive; and last week the information battle significantly intensified. Although Ukrainian sources were; and remain tight-lipped, Russian sources are pumping out propaganda and disinformation designed to undermine Ukrainian operations and to bolster Russian morale. This situation, with Ukraine silent and lots of Russian information circulating makes it hard to assess what is really happening on the ground and this article is my assessment; based on public source information of what we can deduce about Ukraine’s offensive.
First, we know that Ukraine’s operations have changed. Previously, Ukrainian light forces were active across the frontlines, conducting wide ranging reconnaissance and probing Russian defence lines. This week things changed, with a switch to more significant Ukrainian operations that appear to be concentrated on the following axes:
- A southern axis involving three distinct attacks, each of brigade strength or greater (about 3- 5000 soldiers, 40-50 tanks, hundreds of other vehicles and artillery) at the following points on the Zaporizhian front:
- A thrust starting near Orkiv, probably aiming to advance to the major supply hub at the town of Tokmak 40km to the south. Tokmak is a potential step on the way to Melitopol and the force can use the T0408 highway as an axis of advance.
- Another thrust emanating from Huliapole, approximately 35-40 km east of Orkiv. This attack is probably also aimed at Tokmak, and using the T0401 highway as its axis of advance. Although a longer route to Tokmak than advancing from Orikiv it is through more open country and provides a second axis that mutually supports the advance from Orikiv.
- The Velyka Novosilka salient, a bulge pushing north into Ukrainian lines about 40km east of Huliapole. The aim here is likely to be capturing a force of a Russian soldiers in the salient; a clear victory.
- An eastern axis of advance the objective of which appears to be trying to encircle Bakhmut and involves two or more brigades (3-8000 soldiers, 40-80 tanks, artillery and a couple of hundred other vehicles). On 10 June, news services reported movement of Ukrainian troops and vehicles through the village of Chasiv Yar towards the battle around Bakhmut indicating a build-up of Ukrainian forces in this area.
At the time of writing there is little confirmed information about progress although most news agencies are reporting Ukrainian gains of a couple of kilometres on all axes. The BBC reports that Ukrainian units involved in the Zaporizhian operations include units from the country’s NATO trained reserve of nine brigades. Including units from 33rd and 47th Mechanised Brigades and 37th Marine Brigade. In the east, near Bakhmut the units involved are from existing Ukrainian units rather than the new NATO trained units, specifically tasked as the reserve for the offensive.
Although these attacks are large; and the southern attacks include units from Ukraine’s reserve, in my opinion they are not yet of a size and scale that indicates Ukraine’s main effort. Instead, my assessment is that these attacks are large probing operations the objective of which is to test Russian defences. It is likely that most of Ukraine’s NATO trained brigades will be in reserve. Probably located safely out of contact, somewhere within a rough triangle bounded by Bakhmut in the north, Orikiv in the south-west and Vuhledar in the south-east. The reserve held in this area ready to switch quickly between either of the two current axes depending on their success. The decision-point is likely to be if an attack manages to break through Russian lines at which point more force will be committed to widen the breach and penetrate deeper into Russia’s depth.
Russian propaganda is already making claims about defeating the offensive; destroying vast numbers of Ukrainian tanks, armoured vehicles and soldier. Do not put too much weight on these claims. It is a hard fact of war that Ukrainian soldiers will be killed, equipment lost and vehicles destroyed in this offensive. Further, this phase will also take a long time, the Ukrainians moving forwards slowly and deliberately and the Russians making their progress as difficult as possible. Expect to measure progress at this stage in 100s of metres or kilometres per day. Any measure of the offensive’s success or failure will take time to emerge as either; Ukraine’s momentum grinds to a halt or Russia’s defences fail.
Early reports from the frontline indicate that as expected the Russians are well-prepared, dug-in, with obstacles in place and well-rehearsed plans for local counter-attacks to block Ukrainian ‘break-ins;’ re-capturing lost Russian positions that Ukraine could use as a foothold to expand any hole in their defence lines. We can also see that Russia artillery has been practising and rehearsing ready for the battle. Defensive artillery fire is reported to be accurate and intense; reminiscent of Soviet doctrine that emphasised massive use of artillery in all phases of war including the defence. Russian depth artillery fire also appears to have improved with fire directed by drones achieving long-range damage on at least one Ukrainian column of vehicles far behind the frontline. The Russians have not often demonstrated the ability to hit moving targets behind the enemy’s frontline; and if they have developed this capability, it will make Ukraine’s advance much harder.
Movement will be slow even if the Russian’s break and retreat because the Ukrainians will need to move their air defence units forwards to cover their advance. Russia’s biggest current combat advantages are their numbers and their air power. The Ukrainians do not have air superiority fighters able to sweep Russia’s airpower out of the sky and able to range across the battlefield protecting a fast-moving advance. Instead, they are relying on ground based surface-to-air missiles to keep a protective ‘bubble’ over their forces. This means that for every step forward their forces need to stop and allow their air-defence missiles to move up behind them; a process that takes time and slows down the overall rate of advance. So do not expect sudden deep advances into Russian territory.
Further, the most troubling (and verified piece) of bad news produced this week by the Russian propaganda machine is that a German made TRML-4D radar system, part of an IRIS-T SLM surface-to-air missile battery was destroyed. This is a big blow for Ukraine, radar systems are used to track incoming attack aircraft and to guide surface-to-air missiles to their targets. The loss of a valuable and useful piece of equipment like this hurts Ukraine’s air defence capability. The fact that it was tracked down and destroyed is another indication of how Russian targeting capabilities have improved recently.
In summary, we are currently entering a phase of the battle that the Ancient Greeks called doratismos. The time when the opposing side’s formations, or phalanxes were closing with each other but not yet fully engaged. During this phase of the battle the men thrust their spears at the opposing side trying to create a weak spot. The Ukrainian brigades pushing south and east are modern versions of those spears. The doratismos takes time, soldiers are cautious and protect themselves, spears are broken and there are casualties on both sides. Ukraine’s large probes are likely to take weeks to see significant gains.
So, over the next few days and weeks expect to see Russia’s disinformation machine pump out lots of propaganda telling the world that Ukraine has failed. Mainstream Russian media churning out a narrative of Ukrainian failure. Russian bots will already be loading Western conspiracy theorist’s social media echo chambers with commentary about how the offensive is failing. The aim being to soak the offensive up and undermine Ukrainian achievements in order to convince NATO and its allies that they are ‘backing a loser.’
However, Ukraine’s response will be to provide evidence of its advances and although we are unlikely to see this evidence presented in the next few days, President Zelenskyy’s announcement today is possibly a sign that the offensive is moving in Ukraine’s favour. It seems likely that if Ukraine was not confident of success it would simply stay quiet and claim that the activity of the last few days was simply more reconnaissance and probing of Russian defences rather than the actual offensive. President Zelenskyy’s announcement also reduces concerns about Ukraine’s cross-border operations because it indicates that the focus of operations is in Ukraine; not on developing an asymmetric campaign along the border. A strategy that if continued raises the risk of uncontrolled escalation.
And; it is important to remember that the next phase of this battle will be what the Ancient Greeks called the othismos. The ‘pushing of the phalanx,’ or the phase of battle during which the two sides closed completely and a battle of physical strength and of each side’s will to win started. Soldiers hacking and slashing at each other with their swords as the two phalanxes twisted under pressure; until one side’s morale gave out and they broke. In coming days and weeks, we will see if the Ukrainian offensive is able to break the morale of the Russian defenders sufficiently to achieve a break through; or if Russia’s numbers will prevail.
Ben Morgan is a bored Gen Xer and TDBs military blogger
Further, the most troubling (and verified piece) of bad news produced this week by the Russian propaganda machine is that a German made TRML-4D radar system, part of an IRIS-T SLM surface-to-air missile battery was destroyed.
So a verified fact is propaganda. Talk about double talk.
If that’s Russian “propaganda” what the heck does he call the dozens of photos and videos of destroyed Ukrainian Leopard tanks?
Fingrin, Ben calls the NATO Wunderbar Tank destruction a glorious Ukrainian Victory?
It pales against Russian tank loses Ivan.
That is propaganda which a dunderhead like you is only too ready to believe Finngrin! One or two Leopards were hit I believe.
Try 15 numb nuts. Ovod my favourite stalker
Two tanks have been confirmed Finngrin. No others.
Your comment reads like double understanding since you obviously do not want to hear any bad news regarding the Russians. It seems that they blew up a tractor then claimed it was a tank if other sources on the internet are to be believed, this would suggest that we need to be cautious about any information available online.
One tractor destroyed by a missile from 10-15km away vs dozens of confirmed Western tanks, Meh.
But lets cherry pick.
Thats a funny one. i saw the first image of the “tank” blown up and it was indeed hazy; but it looked much more like a tank than the combine harvester i later saw presented as the agricultural machine/ tractor as if that was what was supposed to have been in the vid. Propaganda ?
D J S
Bit like the Russians claimed a Leopard tank destroyed after running over a mine. Mechanics bolted on two new road wheels, joined in a new section of track and sent it on its way. Two Bradleys were not so fortunate but by all accounts the troops riding inside all survived to fight on. Total number of Leapords lost by Ukraine according to the Russians is 120+. Not that many Leopard tanks in Ukraine but never mind.
Indeed be cautious Bonnie. I saw presented on the news Russian shelling of aid workers in flooded areas. Closer inspection showed the aid workers wore Russian badges. So who was doing the shelling?
My point is that a fact established is a fact. Then there is spin around it from both sides. As an observer all I want is accurate information, whether I like it or not.
Let me know if you find that reliable source of accurate information! All I hear in the NZ media is how badly Russia is doing and how many children they have killed, which guarantees it’s just propaganda.
Yes, it is not only propaganda.
Noise.
If what the Russians acknowledge, the Ukrainians say and international media confirm one can rely on it to reflect reality.
11-0 yeah right.
NickJ I wouldn’t trust your ‘close inspection’ if I fell over it!
Then please just fall over.
I hear the PhuD as you crash into the deck.
I hear the PHUD as he arrives late to pollute the thread as usual. Typical Ovod always a day late and a dollar short.
why do people assume Phud is male?
Phud always seems to need to have the last word.
You need constant correction Finngrin as your views are so adrift from reality!
Famous last words Nick no honours J.
It is super sad that it has come to this.
But it was inevitable.
Many more people will needlessly die to satisfy Putin’s failed ambition.
Thanks Ben. I am hoping it goes well for Ukraine.
Oh, I wish they’d done this with a couple of squadrons of F16s! The timid foot-dragging of many of the western powers is appalling.
why get nato to just declare war on Russia and stop with all this proxy war business
Well if this is” scared and tired Russia,”I’d like to see them after a good night’s sleep
Also where is the “imminent” Russian defeat touted by Ben months ago?
What does the word “imminent” mean to you Ben?
Perhaps the same as the immense t occupation of Kiev that was first quoted over a year ago . I am only a casual observor of the situation in the Ukraine situation but it seems a similar to the smoken mirrors being played by our own left wing government in their story of success .
Smoke n mirrors, dirty politics is the domain of the National party Trevor, ffs get it right, your tribalism is showing.
This is not a rugby match. The counter offensive started on 10 June.
This is war, people die.
The Russians will not win and Putin’s ambitions have been thwarted.
The war will continue to be a “spectacle “ but following the fallout inside Russia, the Kremlin and the old soviet states will be interesting.
Probably parked next to Europe freezing without Russian gas. How did that work out?
I like what you did there Wheel good work . .
“where is the “imminent” Russian defeat touted by Ben months ago?” Francesca
It’s on its way.
How about we do something you will never do Francesca. And that is, ask the Russian people, especially the serving soldiers, if they think Russia is winning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gep4147pJrQ&ab_channel=DWDocumentary
lol
imminent
meaning …:” ready to take place : happening soon.”
First mentioned months ago
Well I knew post modernism had infected academia, words no longer have meaning?
I hope that this offensive is a success and the war can end as soon as possible for everyone’s sake . . clearly too early to tell so far. Thanks again Ben for all your efforts to date.
“Although Ukrainian sources were; and remain tight-lipped, Russian sources are pumping out propaganda and disinformation designed to undermine Ukrainian operations and to bolster Russian morale.”
Ben Morgan the disinformation is also coming from westerner sources even yourself have promoted propaganda and disinformation that I’ve already motioned concerning your blogs.
“Russian propaganda is already making claims about defeating the offensive; destroying vast numbers of Ukrainian tanks, armoured vehicles and soldier. Do not put too much weight on these claims.”
The same could be said about western media biases as its well known that western propaganda has been a world beater for over a century but sadly this has come to an end mostly because of the internet thanks to real life journalist that are actually in the heart of the battle Patrick Lancaster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9i6ZicSCyk
“The Russians have not often demonstrated the ability to hit moving targets behind the enemy’s frontline; and if they have developed this capability, it will make Ukraine’s advance much harder.”
The Russian have taken out the feared Leopard tank units with their Shaheed Iranian type UAV this wasn’t even an issue again Patrick Lancaster has more details on his site about this failure of western weaponry against Russian weapon superiority.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4eyW_87Z74&pp=ygUPQnJpYW4gYmVybGVjdGlj
“The fact that it was tracked down and destroyed is another indication of how Russian targeting capabilities have improved recently.”
Brian Berlectic an ex-US Marine deployed 3 times to Iraq and Afghanistan also share his expertise online gives a comprehensive breakdown on how russia has militarily become stronger because of this SMO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDh3OTEi6P0&t=573s&pp=ygUeQnJpYW4gYmVybGVjdGljIHJ1c3NpYSBzeXN0ZW1z
The Russian are winning this SMO it’s a no brainer they’ve already won the hearts and minds in the M.E with the Syria being accepted back into the arab League which is also part of this geostrategic alliancing that puts Israel in a precarious position in the levant region.
Nope.
There is no way the Russians can win this war.
The failed Putin’s Special Military Objective spectacularly.
And this will come back to haunt Putin and his buddies.
Then again one may always redefine what a successful SMO may look like. IMO what I see is not what I would call a success.
The Counteroffensive has been a FAILURE, a utter DISASTER! Ukraine lost 7,000 men in the first 4 Days & 40 NATO Tanks & no amount of Ben-washing propaganda can alter that FACT, check out Telegram, it’s a horrendous defeat inflicted on Ukraine, the US & NATO!
Does shouting means it is the truth?
Yes, when people are so deaf to the truth.
Breaking news.
NATO has surrendered!!
Breaking news.
Yeah right.
Trevor, Ant Force works with artillery
YESSS!
Only to Antbrain!
Ant, at the moment I’d agree the Russians hold a decisive edge, but it’s early days. I’m holding judgement as it only takes either party one major cock up.
What has annoyed me from the start is Western chauvinism displayed by Ben and the NAFOs. Years of running commercial teams taught me that assumptions and inaccurate information are the kiss of death. Reality is a hard mistress. She is worth waiting for.
Russia more likely standing on a decisive edge.
Let’s hope the Russians do the George Bush manoeuvre, declare victory and leave Ukraine.
Lol divisive edge losing territory hand over foot, the Russians are buggered and I intend to holiday in Crimea next summer. Told the boss I want to save 6 weeks annual leave for it. Done burger.
You can believe that Antbrain …
Sane people wouldn’t.
Can anyone name me a war since WW2 where the invading country won and then secured an ongoing occupation?
I can’t think of any.
They all lose, every time and are forced to eventually leave, same will happen with Russia too, but the thing is will this turn into WW3? Then we all lose
Indeed occupying hostile space is too costly, Akmet the goat herder and Dien the rice farmer can attest. Maybe you might say Boris the Russian from Donetsk agrees, he’s been fighting to rid his home patch of belligerent Galicians from 500 kms to the West.
US in Korea. US in Europe. US in Iraq. US in Syria, anywhere with oil. Israel in Palestine.
Find another country which is “invading” a country with its own people that was abruptly split from the same country only 30 years ago.
This is more like North Vietnam “invading” South Vietnam. Some Ukrainians, particularly in the west, believe in the US and/or Nazi dream though. So a larger cultural divide has developed thanks to the US agenda. Russia had suffered enough CIA funded violence not to wait till it reached critical mass.
Putinism!!
THat’s a lot of words to say, “don’t worry all the news of Russian success is propaganda” (of course, claiming it is propaganda is the natural angle of Western propaganda).
Western media is so allergic to inconvenient facts and opposing views, how is a person in the anglo info bubble actually supposed to know what is going on?
It’s always Sunny in Proxy Ukraine.
There is that.
But this is Putin’s war to promote Putinism.
Not all Russians are not Putinistas.
Paul. If you have the background you claim to have, you can translate all the Russian sources on Telegram can’t you?
Some wit mentioned Russian washing machine manufacturing surged on supply of microchips taken from wrecked Leopards and Bradleys.
At least something good came from this special military operation.
This war is no laughing matter ‘no honours Nick’. You treat the whole thing as a game where you can play one up man ship. The difference is you don’t have to go back to a ruined Ukraine and a ruined Russia.
And you haven’t explained your infatuation with the Swedish neo-Nazis.
No honour among thieves.
The Wagner group is Russian imperialism’s version of the British Empire’s powerful and semi independent East India Company.
https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/what-russias-wagner-group-doing-africa
https://www.dw.com/en/pmc-russias-wagner-group-in-sudan-gold-military-junta/a-65439746
In latest developments in Ukraine Wagner boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, threatens Russian regular army.
https://news.yahoo.com/russian-mercenary-boss-vows-stage-145042254.html#:~:text=Wagner%20Group%20founder%20Yevgeny%20Prigozhin,build%20the%20mercenary%20group's%20ranks.
Ukraine’s counter offensive must be doing better than reported for Russia’s armed forces in Ukraine to turn on each other like this.
This internal infighting may see the Russian collapse come sooner than most predicted.
Pat stop sniffing that gas that’s coming out of your rear end, it’s frying what little brain cells you have left, your comments are becoming more unhinged & ludicrous!
You are labeling again you hypocrite. Who is the Swedish neo Nazi? Prove it or piss off.
As to your faux concern re the ruination of countries, you seem happy if Russia is made to suffer. More hypocrisy.
Do you need to be reminded that it was Putin that started the special military operation and that it is in his power to withdraw his troops.
Putin is the one that is threatening to use nukes.
Are you some sort of idiot NickJ? I want a Putinless Russia but one I can go back to and do my research.
How many times do I have to repeat myself? The Swedish Democrats have neo-Nazi links. Mikael Valtersson who you praised is an organiser for the Swedish Democrats. Are you being deliberately obtuse or does it come naturally?
So basically PhuD you are saying that a man who was a Defence Minister in a Swedish government is a Nazi….so Sweden had a Nazi in coalition government? Is that what you are saying PhuD? Or is it possible that the SDs are like ACT or NZ First and sections of the National party, all well known Nazis by your standards. You are both an idiot and bigot.
The quality of your research is appalling NickJ. You claim to have a degree but I am seriously beginning to doubt that. You claim that Valtersson was a minister in a Swedish government. He is nothing of the sort! More false information from you!
The Swedish paper Expressen says this about Valtersson’s neo-Nazi links:
When the Sweden Democrats entered the Riksdag, it was Mikael Valtersson who became head of the party’s Riksdag Chancellery.
Today, he is a heavy defense political SD representative with a seat on the state Air Defense Committee.
But Expressen can now reveal that Valtersson secretly sent Nazi propaganda, called himself Adolf Hitler’s nickname and repeatedly flirted with Nazi references.
– I think today that it is very embarrassing when I see this, says Mikael Valtersson.
David Baas
After the Sweden Democrats entered the Riksdag in 2010, Mikael Valtersson became a central figure when he was given the important job of head of the SD’s Riksdag Chancellery. In parallel with that, he devoted himself to external analysis and was part of the party’s defense policy group with, among others, Member of Parliament Mikael Jansson.
In 2012 he left his job at the Riksdag office and in the summer of 2013 also the party. Despite that, he has stuck to his commitment to defense policy, and last fall he got the Sweden Democrats’ seat on the state Air Defense Committee.
The committee’s task is to investigate the future Swedish air defense and its final report must be submitted to the government by Christmas.
The group of experts that prepares documents for the committee has been security tested because it handles confidential information. However, the test does not apply to the politicians in the committee.
Because behind the public facade with the former top post within the party and member of the state defense investigation, Valtersson has devoted himself to Nazi fury year after year.
Picture of Hitler
Expressen has obtained extensive material that shows how Valtersson repeatedly made references to Nazism and Adolf Hitler.
Before he started at the SD’s parliamentary office, he worked as a security guard at the educational radio station in Stockholm. From that work email address he then sent Nazi interpretations of advertisements for Absolut Vodka. An image with the vodka company’s slogan ” In an Absolut World” shows an image of the whole of Western Europe marked with ” DEUTSCHLAND” . Next to it stands Adolf Hitler.
In another image with the same slogan, a map of Greater Germany – including Poland, Denmark, Austria and the Benelux countries – is marked with a red Nazi flag.
In far-right circles, it is common to use rewritings, abbreviations and other symbols to be able to refer to Nazism without directly using the clearest markers of the German Nazis – not least to try to avoid the risk of going there for violating the law on incitement against ethnic groups. In an online context, Valtersson uses such paraphrases.
The Nazi leader’s initials
On several occasions he states the year ” 1889″ and the letters ” AH” in passwords . The year is Adolf Hitler’s year of birth and the letters are the Nazi leader’s initials.
Valtersson also uses the name ” Zillerthal” which has a special place in Nazi mythology. During the last days of the Second World War, local residents are said to have reported how an SS unit moved towards the Zillertal Alps on the border between Austria and Italy where they allegedly buried boxes near the Schleigeiss Glacier. Fortune seekers have since been drawn to the area in search of the Nazi treasure which, according to myth, is said to be hidden there.
But Mikael Valtersson’s references to Nazism do not stop there.
Online, he also goes by the name ” Uncle Wolf” – which was the nickname used by composer Richard Wagner’s family for Adolf Hitler.
When a relative of Valtersson registered a new email address for him, a check question was written in case he forgot his password:
“Favorite Person in History: Hitler”.
Explained the nickname
Last night Expressen met Mikael Valtersson and asked him to explain why he goes by the nickname ” Uncle Wolf” online.
– My name is ” Walther” , and I have had a wolf as a favorite animal.
“Uncle Wolf” is the nickname of Adolf Hitler.
– Yes, it has been that for him too.
Here you send a picture that says ” DEUTSCHLAND” with a picture of Hitler and a Greater Germany across Western Europe. Why did you send it?
– …Veneers. At the time I thought it was a bit of fun.
Explain what’s fun about this.
– No… this is really stupid.
– Maybe I have a bit of a sick sense of humor and have had it in the past when it comes to the Second World War. That has been my great interest.
– If I find something that is a bit sick and strange, then I send it.
About Adolf Hitler being stated, in response to the security question about who is his favorite person in history, when his email account was registered, he says:
– But it’s not a favorite person, but you have to say something that you remember.
Interested in World War
Mikael Valtersson tells us that his many references to Nazism and Adolf Hitler are based on a childhood interest in the Second World War.
– When I was 6-7 years old, I became interested in the Second World War. I bought a number of history books and devoted endless amounts of time when I was quite young to World War II.
When you were in the Sweden Democrats, did you tell them about your fascination with Nazism and Adolf Hitler?
– But… I have no pronounced fascination with Nazism and Adolf Hitler. On the other hand, I am interested in the Second World War, but that interest has now completely faded away. Now I am interested in Chinese defense.
Towards the end of the interview with Valtersson, he adds about the Nazi references:
– In some areas I was very immature.
Immature? Can you really be immature when it comes to Nazism and Adolf Hitler?
– It’s a hard question. Today I find it very embarrassing when I see this.
Surely the idea was that no one would ever see that it was stated that your favorite person in history is Hitler?
– Well… but there it is… that I wanted to find something that I would never forget, Valtersson says.
Not applicable for new assignments
Henrik Vinge is press secretary for Jimmie Åkesson and the SD leader’s deputy Mattias Karlsson. When he hears about Valtersson’s many Nazi references, he says:
– What to say? If this is true, it is terrible, says Henrik Vinge, who adds in a text message that Valtersson’s assignment in the Air Defense Committee ends in December and that it is not up to him to receive a new assignment in the future.
Valtersson is not the only one with connections to SD who has recently been exposed with Nazi expressions.
During the Almedal week at the beginning of July, Expressen together with the magazine Expo revealed how several SD candidates in the autumn elections had far-right connections. Among these were former members of the National Socialist Front and people who marched with the Nazis.
At the beginning of September, Expo revealed a picture of Catharina Strandqvist, then top candidate for SD in Halmstad, where she poses with a swastika armband. She then chose to drop out.’
Case proven
You are the idiot and bigot NickJ.
PhuD has it occurred to you who Valtersson is aligned with? As he is a right wing militarist I’d suggest not Russia. He’s politically closer to your Ukrainian and NATO hawkes, so when he Tweets the bad news I’m definitely going to relay it. What he said was accurate.
It beggars belief that you would go chasing dirt on Sweden’s right whilst refusing to accept that Ukraine has a neo Nazi problem. Maybe you could turn your investigative efforts to studying the European extreme Rights associations with Ukraine. That might be useful.
Nick J – wrong. The far right in France, Italy, Austria, Hungary and Sweden have close links with Putin’s Russia. You can spin it how you like but you were caught with your pants down!
What’s more you posted misinformation about Valtersson being or having been Swedish Minister of Defence. Wrong! Your research skills are poor and none of your information can be trusted.
Wiki The Sweden Democrats is a nationalist and right-wing populist political party in Sweden. As of 2022, it is the largest member of Sweden’s right-wing governing bloc to which it provides confidence and supply, and is the second largest party in the Riksdag
PhuD, you are describing a lot of Swedes as Nazis. Are you a special kind of moron?
NickJ. Your research skills are appalling. And stop swearing- that’s an indication of defeat.
You can’t research if you rely on confirmation bias and that is your problem Nick J.
Swearing? Moron.
Nick J You haven’t answered the charges against Valtersson that Expressen has made and you haven’t admitted that you were wrong over this gentleman being a Minister of Defence.
You have no interest in pursuing the truth. Why should we believe you on anything. Stick to your Putinist propaganda.
Johan, if you believe Russia had no reason to launch the SMO you obviously weren’t watching events, or you are just taking the piss.
PS find a direct quote from Putin threatening first use of Nukes as opposed to in response to nuclear attack.
Well you can’t refuse yourself from supporting Putin anymore can you NickJ? You are one of his biggest supporters on this thread. You must be an angry man to support a war criminal like that!
PhuD it surprises me how low your powers of observation and cognition are for somebody claiming to be academic. Your ability to make leaps of faith and label based upon presumptions is quite staggering.
If you cared to read accurately you would at no point found I support Putin, you may have found understanding of his motives and realism about these.
If you want my position it is totally anti the Kiev junta, the US neocons, the corrupt US imperial system, and resultant NATO aggression.
One does not need to be pro Putin to be that, unless you view the world as an uncomplicated black and white Manichean place for simpletons of limited intellect.
Nick J You are either for Putin or against him. You don’t sit on the fence with war criminals.
You repeat so much of Putin’s propaganda, including his speeches, that it is sheer effrontery to claim that you are no supporter of his.
You just proved my point PhuD, you are lost in a Manichean viewpoint a la George Bush “You are either with us or against us”.
If you believe that Putin had no other choice you are part of the fiat earth society. Putin and the Kremlin is the problem!
If you fight for justice you do not stop until you have overcame the bully.
Nick J yet again you are using epithets such as ‘neo con’ which are meaningless unless you define them!
What is a neo con Nick J?
What’s more NATO is a defensive alliance responding to Russian aggression.
The moment you realise that Putin and the Kremlin is the problem you may well start to understand the geopolitical rhetoric.
I quote Z speaking to the press after meeting with Ramaphosa. “Mandela did not stop!” Mandela did not stop fighting until the bully stopped being the aggressor. The South African defence force was not beaten……. not one little bit. Many who were allowed to vote realised that we were on the wrong side of history!!
Putin would have been successful in doing what he choose to do in absence of American geopolitics. May I remind you that NATO was not galvanised at the start of Putin’s war. Many NATO members were wavering.
So basically PhuD you are saying that a man who was a Defence Minister in a Swedish government is a Nazi….so Sweden had a Nazi in coalition government? Is that what you are saying PhuD? Or is it possible that the SDs are like ACT or NZ First and sections of the National party, all well known Nazis by your standards. You are both an idiot and bigot.
NickJ it is not possible that the Swedish Democrats are like rightist New Zealand parties because our parties have no links to neo-Nazis. The Swedish paper Espressen has proved these links and Owen Jones a doyen of the British left is well aware of these links.
You tar yourself by association Nick J – with Putin and Swedish neo-Nazis.
That proves that you are an extremist.
PhuD you really are pathetic. You fully support a regime who have nice Tottenkopf wearing Azov neoNazis in positions of power. I’d describe that as extremist.
And NickJ – I think the J stands for joke!
Pathetic Nick J pathetic.
You act like a jerk. Take a moment and reflect and even you will notice this.
Why do you not research what Ovod comments in response to your comments.
Look at the war and how it started, reflect on geopolitical rhetoric and only then one will make sense if the world.
Name calling reveals so weakness of argument.
I’m certain Johan that all here are bored with your innane nonsense and it’s lack of substance. I’m bored with it, and with PhuD. And I’m certain (because unlike yourself and PhuD I have circumspection) that the rest here are tired with our fight, me, you and PhuD. So on that note I will f. off. Please do the same, and when you get there, keep going.
Please don’t fuck off you’re an absolute tonic
Francesca, I will still comment, I just won’t engage with the two trolls. Events are moving fast and will prove them both wtong and delusional.
You can though Francesca!
Basically Nick J you have an inability to admit that you were wrong.
34 comments between the 4 faces of Ovid and the boring Boer Johan Thiart,,, I’ve been meaning to ask Johan the yappy yappie if he’s transferred his latent south African racism onto the Russian people,,,,
Johan, how come you’ve never cared about ethnic Russian Ukrainians, who were persecuted,burned alive, shot, bombed and generally murdered since the usa/NATO/Nuland coup from 2014 on wards ? ,,,, and would you care to repeat your BS stat’s regarding Russian language usage in Ukraine ,,, stat’s more shonky than John Key ,,, and about as honest. Repeat them and I’ll debunk them,,, and then we can discuss your motives….
Johans right and wrong about the same thing,,,, If the invaders and soldiers stopped fighting and went home it would all be over ,,,, That is if the Western Ukrainians and the NATO ‘volunteers’ fucked off back to where they came from ,,,,, and stopped trying to cleanse or ‘kick out’ as Ovod would say, the ethnic Russians who do not want to be persecuted and subjugated … Then this war which started in 2014 would be over. Eyewitness Donbas: Why the Majority Reject Ukraine’s Counter-Offensive https://youtu.be/sS4DwwsSIG4
Here’s a good compilation of primitive backwards ‘Orc’ technology failing against western superiority 😉 ….. An anti-Russian blogger reports on the effectiveness of the Russian “Lancet” drones https://www.bitchute.com/video/mJaA7VsqdZf3/
I made a point a few posts back about the callous indifference of the NATO backers/trainers to their Ukrainian proxy troops lives ,,,, expecting them to go on the offensive/fight without air-cover ,,, which no NATO army ever could or would …. Slava What-again?
Big Ka-52 compilation https://www.bitchute.com/video/WXFQUzpAstYO/
B, we’ve been feeding trolls, silly us.
Awesky Well I believe you about the air cover but all the rest of your stuff is the usual misinformed platitudes taken from the Putin propaganda playbook.
B, don’t feed the troll.
Stick in there Nick J, provide the info you want to in the threads ,,,,, don’t waste much time on 4faced Ovod and other bad faith idiots.
Drop in links and quotes with your observations,,, it was thanks to you or some-one like you, that put me onto Simplicis and other sources of information… I appreciate such things
Ovod seems to have written his “aha” thesis in Crayon ,,, Ted-Filth-Heath is only worth mocking ,,, but when they, jamesbrown, Andrew, Ada,Gerrit etc put up their misinformation and Propaganda it’s good to have others not let their lies be told 100X unchallenged.
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Always nice to hear someone is thinking of you 😉
And you should be called out for your racism Awakesky!
https://substack.com/@simplicius76