RUNNING UPDATES ON THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE - 16.12.2023
RUNNING UPDATES ON THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE - 16.12.2023
Including geopolitical issues affecting the balance of power in the ongoing end game war to establish our common future, a closely monitored prison planet or tolerance for diverse modes of governance.
THE ROAD TO THE ULTIMATE CONCLUSION OF WORLD WAR III RUNS THROUGH HERE.
*** UKRAINE: GENOCIDE JOE DEMENTED ENOUGH TO NUKE? ***
…………
“Ukraine. What is the truth...?
Why won’t western media tell both sides…?”
***
VIRTUALLY UNREPORTED ATROCITY IN LUGANSK, 2nd JUNE 2014
A lot has been said about atrocities in the western media claimed to have been perpetrated by the Russians, for example at Bucha and Mariupol among others. These assertions are conveyed on the say so of the Ukrainian authorities. How willing though are western news broadcasters to convey atrocities attributed to the Ukrainians? The following will I think provide the answer.
If anyone wonders if they are receiving accurate coverage of the conflict in Ukraine I would suggest watching the video below of an event which occurred on the 2nd of June 2014 and ask themselves if they recall hearing about it on any mainstream media news channel at the time.
The video is harrowing to watch. The bodies (five women and three men) are real. Yet across western media there was only one single news report that occurred a day later. This was from CNN and occurred only because a CNN team happened to be nearby at the time of the atrocity and so the network could hardly ignore it as all others so obviously did.
The video below shows the unvarnished truth that was not considered newsworthy in western mainstream news.
THE SINGLE WESTERN MSM REPORT ON THE LUGANSK ATROCITY, 3rd JUNE 2014
The video at the CNN link below is the crime scene sanitised by CNN, though played straight with honest reporting on the scene not playing things to Kiev’s tune.
(There was a time early in the war in the Donbass when CNN were not afraid to contradict the Ukrainian regime in Kiev.) Watch, because it's the first and last time you will see this.
5 women and 3 men died, all civilians.
Air attack on pro-Russian separatists in Luhansk kills 8, stuns residents.
…………
Lead feature:
ALEXANDER MERCOURIS of THE DURAN
Ukraine's Terrible Week: No US EU Funding; Rus Gains Avdeyevka, Marinka, Bakhmut, Ukr War Being Lost.
ALEX CHRISTOFOROU of THE DURAN
CNN; Ukraine failure, US & EU to blame. Macron tells Putin, you have my number. Red Sea cargo fears.
THE DURAN - ALEX CHRISTOFOROU & ALEXANDER MERCOURIS
Narrative construction; Ukraine's Black Sea naval victory.
Österreichs Bundesheer (Austrian Ministry of Defence)
The Ukraine offensive has failed - What´s next?
DANNY HAIPHONG
BEN NORTON AND CARL ZHA ON THE TRUTH ABOUT UKRAINE, GAZA, AND THE MULTIPOLAR MOMENT.
DANNY HAIPHONG - SCOTT RITTER
GAME OVER for Ukraine as Russia Destroys NATO Pawn Zelensky.
JUDGE ANDREW NAPOLITANO - RAY MCGOVERN (EX-CIA) & LARRY JOHNSON (EX-CIA)
INTEL-Roundtable with Ray McGovern & Larry Johnson: Why US Intel Lies About Ukraine.
GEORGE GALLOWAY
To the last drop of others’ blood.
EMIL COSMAN
Massive Russian Drone attack on Ukraine, 31 drones, the 15-16 December.
The Russians advance. Russia's 80 assaults a day for three days in a row on Tavria front.
Desperate Ukraine running out of troops. People's passports taken, try to recruit mentally disabled.
"US engineered Ukraine conflict." Says Putin.
Orban smacks EU. Vetoes EU's $54bn Ukraine Aid. Hungary can Block Ukraine 75 more times. Tricked?
NEUTRALITY STUDIES
Proof That Neocons Believing Their Own Lies Is Killing Ukraine | Kuleba VS Putin.
ShanghaiEye魔都眼
Putin unveils 10-year infrastructure plan of new railway lines and more connectivity with Asia.
CCTV VIDEO NEWS CHANNEL
China Vows to Enhance High-Quality Energy Cooperation with Russia.
THE JIMMY DORE SHOW
THIS Is How You Know Zelensky Is A Crook!
PROFESSOR JOHN J. MEARSHEIMER
There is no two-state solution.
BORZZIKMAN
RUSSIA Destroyed 8 Units of US Patriot Systems In KYIV┃Moscow Will Have To Bomb POLAND As A WARNING.
DEFENSE TV
Russia Fuses Suicide Drone With Thermobaric Warhead.
DEEP WEAPONS
6 Russian Hypersonic Missiles Strike Central Ukraine Targets, Ukraine air force says.
SEAN FOO
EU Recession Confirmed, Hungary Blocks $50B Ukraine Aid, Global Shipping Crisis Erupts.
THROUGH THE EYES OF... ANIA
"A NEW SCANDAL IN RELATIONS WITH UKRAINE."
HINDUSTAN TIMES
Putin's Minister Reveals West's Secret Appeals As Ukraine Failures Mount; USA & Allies Admit Defeat?
Ukraine Shocker: Councillor Detonates Grenades In Room Packed With Officials | Watch:
Israel's Iron Dome Fails To Stop Explosive-laden Drones Fired By Hezbollah | Four Soldiers Injured.
U.S. Troops Near Russian Border? Putin's Big Warning Over American Pact With Poland | Details:
Houthis Burn 'Israel-Bound' Ships With Drone, Ballistic Missile Attacks In Red Sea - Report.
JUDGE ANDREW NAPOLITANO - PROFESSOR JOHN J. MEARSHEIMER
Death and Destruction in Gaza: International Implications.
JUDGE ANDREW NAPOLITANO - COLONEL COLONEL WILKERSON
The Alarming Fallout of Indiscriminate Munitions.
JUDGE ANDREW NAPOLITANO - COLONEL TONY SHAFFER
How US and NATO Failed Ukraine.
SYRIANA ANALYSIS
Do not stop speaking about Palestine.
COMMUNITY CHURCH OF BOSTON
Max Blumenthal discusses the Israeli/US Genocide of Gaza.
NOVARA MEDIA
Husam Zomlot Responds To Outrageous Israeli Ambassador Admission.
THE CONVO COUCH
The Truth On Palestine: What if 20,000 People Died In The West.
MINTPRESS NEWS
The U.S. Hand in Japan and Korean Politics, with Tim Shorrock.
GEOPOLITICAL TRENDS
Are Houthis Igniting Resistance Against Israel?
TECH REVOLUTION
Saudi Arabia And Russia Just Dropped A Bombshell WARNING, Military Ties Takes Shape.
THE HILL
GOP Impeachment Inquiry Against Biden FINALIZED; Zelensky Leaves D.C. Empty Handed.
GLENN GREENWALD
"Neoliberalism has failed!" Tucker Carlson on Global Populism, Censorship, Ukraine, & More.
How Congress Just Destroyed Your Privacy Rights.
AFRICAN DIASPORA NEWS CHANNEL
How Western Multinational Corporations Are Exploiting The DR Congo.
LIU SIVAYA
I HAVE NEWS: after a lot of time and effort I finally have something to announce to you | liusivaya. (In Spanish, English subtitles.)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
SCOTT RITTER
Brutally unreralistic.
Article from Russia Today (RT) - 16th December 2023:
Ukraine living on borrowed time – ex-NATO commander.
Kiev’s limited resources could force its troops to retreat in the coming months, James Stavridis was warned.
Ukraine is unable to reclaim land taken by Russian forces and will likely have to accept territorial concessions before the conflict winds down, ex-NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis has argued.
Writing in a Bloomberg op-ed published on Thursday, Stavridis painted a gloomy picture for Ukrainian troops, saying there is little reason to expect “significant shifts” on the battlefield in the near future, even after months of costly offensive operations.
“Ultimately, Ukrainian forces seem unlikely to be able to expel Russia from much of the currently occupied portion of the nation,” he observed, proposing that Kiev “might consider temporarily or even permanently ceding Crimea” in exchange for Ukrainian membership in the European Union and NATO alliance.
However, Moscow has repeatedly stated that one of its top objectives in the current military operation is to ensure Ukraine remains neutral toward the US-led military bloc, making it unlikely the Kremlin would ever accept such an offer.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also stated that new territories gained during the conflict – including the Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions – can never be returned, a principle enshrined in Russia’s constitution. Putin has also ruled out handing back Crimea, which voted to reunify with the Russian Federation soon after Ukraine’s 2014 Euromaidan coup.
Though Stavridis said that renewed foreign military aid to Kiev could, at best, result in “fairly static battle lines through the spring” of 2024, he noted that Western reluctance to approve such support could mean a “far darker scenario” for Ukrainian forces.
“If the US and Europe draw down military assistance, Putin’s armies might gain the ability to return to the offensive. Without sufficient armaments, the smaller Ukrainian forces could be forced to retreat,” the former commander continued.
Stavridis’ dismal forecasts come on the heels of a six-month Ukrainian counteroffensive launched in June, which largely failed to reclaim lost territory despite exhausting large sums of arms and manpower.
READ MORE: Top MP reveals Russia planning major offensive
Last month, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced that Kiev’s forces would switch from attacking to building fortifications, acknowledging that the much-hyped offensive had ended without achieving its goals. According to Russian Defense Ministry estimates, Ukraine lost over 125,000 troops and 16,000 pieces of heavy equipment since June alone, including a long list of sophisticated weapons supplied by the West.
Unnamed US officials told the New York Times earlier this week that Washington and Kiev are working out “a new strategy,” with the Pentagon now urging Ukrainians to focus on consolidating the territory they still control rather than fighting for new battlefield gains.
Ukraine living on borrowed time – ex-NATO commander.
US has to ‘understand responsibility’ for Ukraine conflict – Kremlin.
Washington is basically telling Kiev’s soldiers to “go and die” while knowing they cannot win, Dmitry Peskov has told NBC.
The US has to review its current position on both the Ukraine conflict and relations with Russia if it wants to restore dialogue with Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told NBC in an interview published on Friday. Russia is ready to work with any American administration but would very much prefer a “more constructive” approach from Washington, he added.
The interview was published just a day after President Vladimir Putin accused the US and its allies of orchestrating the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev and essentially disrupting Russia’s years-long efforts to build normal relations with Ukraine. He also questioned the prospect of restoring relations between Russia and the West, saying that between NATO’s encroachment towards Russia’s borders and the role the US and its allies are playing in the standoff between the two neighbors, Moscow can hardly trust the Western nations.
Putin would be ready to work with “anyone who will understand that from now on you have to be more careful with Russia and you have to take into account its concerns,” Peskov told NBC’s Keir Simmons in Moscow, adding that the Russian leader would like to see a US president who is “more constructive” toward Russia and values dialogue more.
The Kremlin spokesman also criticized America’s current role in the Ukraine conflict by saying that Washington only throws taxpayer money “into the wind” and is unnecessarily prolonging the hostilities by sending conflicting signals to Kiev, which end up just leading to more Ukrainian deaths.
A much-touted Ukrainian counteroffensive has largely failed to bring about any notable changes to the front lines over some six months of the operation. According to Russian Defense Ministry estimates, Ukraine has lost over 125,000 troops and 16,000 pieces of heavy equipment in failed attempts to advance over the past half year.
“You have to understand your responsibility for this,” Peskov said. “You are telling them [Ukrainians] — go and die,” he continued, adding that “you know pretty well that they cannot win” but still offer Kiev more money and armaments.
Russia has repeatedly stated it was ready for peace talks with Kiev as long as “the reality on the ground” is taken into account. In the autumn of 2022, four former Ukrainian territories, including the two Donbass republics, joined Russia following a series of referendums.
Read more: Kiev sending its soldiers to die – Putin
Kiev declared the referendums “sham” and has been pushing for its own “peace formula” under which Russia would withdraw its troops not only from the four regions but from Crimea as well before any talks could even commence. Moscow dismissed Ukraine’s demands as being detached from reality.
“America is strongly involved in this conflict,” the Kremlin spokesman told NBC, adding that the standoff between the two neighbors is in fact a “hybrid war” against Russia launched by Washington. Such confrontational tactics have been detrimental to global security, Peskov warned, adding that the world is “less safe than it used to be’’ before dialogue between Moscow and Washington was “shut down.”
Contacts between the two nations were reduced to minimum after Russia launched its military operation in February 2022. The US and its allies openly supported Kiev in the conflict and slapped Moscow with an unprecedented number of sanctions. Western nations then also started supplying arms to Ukrainian forces.
The ties have not been severed entirely, though. On Thursday, Putin revealed that dialogue between the two nations continues, particularly about the Americans accused of espionage in Russia. When asked during his marathon press conference about US nationals Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, the president said that Russia was willing to exchange them but wanted to reach a deal with Washington that would be “mutually acceptable.”
US has to ‘understand responsibility’ for Ukraine conflict – Kremlin.
Russia’s shipments via Arctic to hit record high.
The Northern Sea Route is already a superior alternative to other major global trade waterways, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev says.
Russia is actively expanding trade via the Northern Sea Route (NSR), with shipments set to reach an all-time high in 2023, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Envoy to the Far East, Yuri Trutnev, announced on Friday.
Speaking at a meeting of the Russia-China intergovernmental commission in Beijing, he said that the freight turnover via the country’s Arctic waterway is expected to surge past 36 million tons by the end of the year, marking a ninefold increase since 2015. With numerous infrastructure projects underway, next year’s freight turnover is forecast to grow even further, to upwards of 50 million tons.
Trutnev noted that the NSR is rapidly becoming a major global trade passage and a superior alternative to other shipping corridors, like the Suez and Panama canals.
“[The Suez canal] is such a universal global artery, but with one ship stuck across it the canal would be blocked, which definitely is not the case with the NSR,” he stated.
Trutnev noted China’s interest in the development of the NSR, especially with regard to infrastructure projects.
“Our Chinese colleagues… are interested because a lot still needs to be done there to make the NSR truly comfortable and safe. New icebreakers and escort vessels need to be built, a satellite fleet, a system of emergency stations must be created,” he explained.
The official added that Russia and China are also currently discussing cooperation on insurance matters, as “one of the problems that currently exists in the development of the NSR is that representatives of unfriendly countries decided to suspend the insurance of ships traversing the waterway.”
READ MORE: Russia to launch year-round LNG shipments via Arctic – operator
He was referring to sanctions placed on Russian shippers by Western countries in connection with the conflict in Ukraine, which effectively deprived them of access to insurance coverage. He noted that Chinese companies could step in to provide alternative insurance for Russian vessels.
The NSR is a transport corridor in Russia’s exclusive economic zone stretching the entire length of Russia’s Arctic and Far East regions. Russia has been actively developing the corridor for the past eight years. Starting next year, Moscow plans to launch year-round navigation via the route using its current fleet of nuclear icebreakers, which is expected to propel freight turnover that typically is halted from December to May due to thick ice.
Russia’s shipments via Arctic to hit record high.
MAPPING/ANALYSIS CHANNELS
* Updates will be added here as and when they become available.
MILITARY SUMMARY CHANNEL UPDATE
SnowStorm | Strike On NATO officers | Battle For Novomykhailivka. Military Summary For 2023.12.16
No money, No F-16s, But There Is A Plan For A New Counteroffensive. Military summary For 2023.12.16
DEFENSE POLITICS ASIA UPDATE
UKRAINE LINES COLLAPSE SOUTH OF NOVOMYKHAILIVKA; Russia resumes Kupyansk Ops - Ukraine SITREP D660.
"Ukraine Offensive Has Failed" - Fake Expert react to Real Expert (Austrian Armed Forces)'s Report.
WAR ROOM MAPPING UPDATE
Ukraine War, Rybar Map for December 15th, 2023 Russian Forces Move Across Ukraine.
THETI MAPPING UPDATE
No update posted so far today
MILITARY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS NETWORK
Battlefield Earth and MORE lessons in Insanity.
NEW WORLD GEOPOLITICS
No update posted so far today
M MAPPING UPDATE
Russian Forces Successfully Advance South Of Novomykhailivka l Collapse Is Near.
RYBAR MAPPING UPDATE
No update posted so far today
HS MAPPING UPDATE
Russian Forces Reach The Outskirts Of Novomykhailivka And Ready To Storm.
FREE RUSSIA MAPPING CHANNEL
Russians Continue To Successfully Advance, As Desperate Ukrainian Counter Attacks Achieve Nothing.
WEEB UNION MAPPING UPDATE
Russian Forces Storm Multiple Streets In Avdiivka | "Ukraine Has Had A Terrible Week".
The End Is Near | The Final Stage.
VICTORY BELONGS TO RUSSIA: IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
Each day that passes makes a conclusive Russian victory in the Donbass and beyond more certain. As Russia bolsters her forces, and weaponry, those of Ukraine decrease. Russian forces gain ready access to rest and recuperation as troop numbers increase. The increasingly exhausted and demoralised Ukrainian troops have an ever decreasing prospect of such respite. This situation is likely to bring them to complete breakdown as Russia unleashes the firepower of the more modern and advanced weaponry that is arriving with the newly mobilised Russian troops.
The various Ukrainian offensives are now weak when confronted by the reinforced Russian lines. A few futile efforts achieve quite miserable results before fire reigns down on the Ukrainian troops and they are forced back to their starting positions.
And now, all this being said, we have arrived at the wet, and later, freezing conditions where these pathetic Ukrainian forces will be subject to myriad forms of abject misery with death and injury all around them while they lie sodden or frozen, abandoned to their fate by Kiev.
The pitiable young and old of Ukraine have been frogmarched to their deaths as cannon-fodder while the bestial elites of the collective West urge their "president" to add more to their number there at the gates of Hell and their doom. We must feel for the majority of them as they are not the Nazis we revile, in most part they are decent men, fathers, sons, brothers, husband and uncles, who no doubt saw through the coup of 2014 for what it was. But sadly, their fate seems sealed.
Nothing will stop Russia now. Every factor favours them. Victory will be Russia's. In Donbass and beyond and in due course across the world.
Victory belongs to Russia: It is now only a matter of time.
UPDATES TO BE ADDED HERE AS AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
UPDATES TO BE ADDED HERE AS AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
A MULTIPOLAR WORLD JUST CAME INTO GREATER FOCUS
What once seemed a somewhat distant prospect has now emerged as a future reality with much greater and speedier potential for realisation. The gravitational pull of the world in regard to political influence is now decided toward the east. Two primary factors besides the recent historical record of western belligerence and aggression point the way, the wars in Ukraine and in Gaza.
What was once an unassailable position of influence held by the USA and its allies is now perilously close to being lost forever. And who will be there to pick up the pieces, who else but the nations of the global majority in the south and east. The overlong era of western domination which has seen the world in almost constant turmoil is nearing its end. Wiser and far more peace-loving minds are more than ready to take over the reins of power.
The past few decades have seen a precipitous descent in the reputations of the USA and its like-minded allies. A litany of blatant lies to instigate disastrous wars has brought the reputation of these states to an all-time low. And now, with the unmitigated disasters for them in both Ukraine and Israel we see the ultimate nadir in respect of their combined reputation. The more sensible among us have already perceived the necessity to rid ourselves of those who have caused the vast majority of global strife in recent years.
The manic desire of the western powers to aggressively mould the rest of the world to their image has been patently obvious for far too long now without world populations rising en masse to object. Using mass media as their tool and foremost weapon along with the massive degree of political and military muscle accumulated by violence over the years the West has maintained its grip. But for how much longer?
The constant messianic urge of the West to constantly assert its power over others while at the same time exploiting them to the hilt has disgusted an ever-increasing number over the years. The obviousness concerning the instigators of constant turmoil is no secret now if it ever was. Posing as benign benefactors the open secret of their constant aggressive intent is now no longer the debatable issue of past years where excuses could be made for their behaviour. With Ukraine and Gaza we see their true and bloody colours exhibited clearly before every open eye.
A multipolar world is therefore approaching nearer with every passing day. The world outside the West sees the naked aggression and willingness to deceive plainly before it and the number of lips curled in disgust has massively increased. The demise of these overweening powers with all their arrogance, hubris and constantly cynical machinations bringing endless death and destruction is now an urgent desire felt by a growing majority. Why should this majority any longer tolerate this destructive force constantly emerging from the western world to inflict chaos on the world? The reasons why not of the past are gone. Now is the time to deliver every blow possible to end their cruel reign… forever.
