Blood for the Baron!

Seems Kuznetsov battle-group branding exercise will finally participate in the Aleppo humanitarian operation after a few days idling in their Ottoman safe harbour (Seljuks were thrilled to have CJCS fly in last weekend and tell them that if they intervened against the US-Syrian Kurd op against IS in Raqqa they'd be steamrollered ... how long ago that already seems). The also had the chance to chase off a Dutch sub once they were north east of Cyprus.

Kuznetsov group approaching Malta



Some historical footage

Recent - if basic- overview of life on the frontline near Avdiivka.



Harder to get good footage, one tv channel got arrested for posting interesting material online, lost frontline accreditation, can only post now post-censor review. Result is often anodyne content.

Quickfire wrote:

paul463 wrote:What's your take on the unfolding disaster in the US?

Neo-Yanukovich redux ad infernum.

Thinking about posting a few more items today as we wait for ButthurtMeinTrump to call Putin then Merkel. EO to lift sanctions is prepared, question is whether the Diaper-in-Chief burns Theresa Maybe as he did the Mexican President after visiting Mexico personally before the elections - Mattis seemed sanguine about gasoline being poured all over his former troops' Afghan and Iraqi translators yesterday (inc. Kurds) so might have a similar attitude on other matters.

Considerable amount of fighting along the frontline recently, pressure is on as Russia expands Southern Military District's numbers (the hub for Ukraine ops) and runs the Zapad 17 exercises inc. Belarus - more troops in Ukraine's vicinity than usual c. 44000 in total. All Russian airborne forces and armoured units in the Western Military District were put on full alert from 23rd to 28th, waiting to see if extended.

One place in Ukraine that was fairly quiet after 2014 was Stanitsya Lugansk in the north of the Russian-occupied territories, big crossing point for civilians and humanitarians, but fighting has started there in last weeks. OSCE monitoring mission captured some of it on 21st via a static camera.



OSCE also caught Russian forces shelling Svitlodarsk in mid-January, a 'bulge'/-arc/-salient that has been the focus of significant fighting for over a month, first part of Russian offensive caught Ukraine short and they lost a number of Marines, have pushed back since but heavy fighting continues.



Some pics from Svitlodarsk at the beginning of the month



And footage a bit later, not in English but gives you an idea of the current situation.

Big uptick in fighting since Diaper-in-Chief called Putin on Saturday, albeit after Merkel rather than the other way round. Current fighting round Avdiivka of similar intensity to final stages of battle for Donetsk airport.

Ukraine's 72nd Brigade already liquidated the lead Russian GRU unit led by 'Givi'. Givi self-inflicted a wound to get out, his 2-i-c 'Consul' already terminated.

Nighttime temperatures c. -15C, no water or electricity, 12000 civilians in immediate area, with UN agencies and ICRC Ukrainians trying to get 9000 out ASAP.

One point of Avdiivka got 160 GRAD hits alone this morning.

Update to follow if time allows.

Situation as of midnight last night.

Outgoing from Russian occupied Donetsk at 0500HRS this morning.

Filed this morning, gives you an idea of life around Avdiivka about two days ago.

Outgoing from Russian occupied Donetsk suburb around noon as Avdiivka battle continued.

EDIT - so ... the Russians got these taken down as well ....

Ukrainian front line two or three days ago.

EDIT: Footage from battle last year ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAjRqLOsujY

Report from around the same time (no subtitles but worth the watch)