RUNNING UPDATES ON THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE - 04.04.2023
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.
Please note: We will be in various locations in Uzbekistan for the next ten days. This will result in variations to the timing of updates and quite possibly their total absence on some days. Our apologies for this alteration to, and possible temporary loss of, our daily updates.
*** THE WORLD IS CHANGING AND NOT IN THE WEST’S FAVOUR ***
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“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.
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Lead feature:
ALEXANDER MERCOURIS
Russia Controls 85% Bakhmut, Missile Strikes, Rumours Kiev Counterattack, MSM Ukraine Morale Falling.
THE DURAN
BRICS rising as neocons destroy the west w/Jeffrey Sachs (Live).
THE SCOTT RITTER SHOW
⚡ Terrorist act in Saint Petersburg | Situation in Bakhmut | American journalist arrested.
VANESSA BEELEY
From Ukraine to Russia to China to Syria - what connects them all? Conversation with Brian Berletic.
THE ROUNDTABLE w/ GONZALO LIRA
The View from Russia, with RWA and Donbass Davushka.
GARLAND NIXON
UKRAINE ENDGAME NEARS - NATO RUNS FROM NORD STREAM ATTACK.
HINDUSTAN TIMES
Putin’s ally Belarus gets nuke-capable Iskander missile system as neighbour Finland joins NATO.
Russia unleashes 'hellbirds' to hunt down and destroy hidden Ukrainian posts | Watch:
Morning briefing of the Ministry of Defense of Russia (April 4, 2023)
DANNY HAIPHONG
US and China ON THE BRINK of War in Taiwan amid Tsai Ing-wen Visit.
RUSSIAN NEWS
Press conference of Vasily Nebenzya | Russia, Ukraine, Security Council, United Nations (UN).
COLONEL DOUGLAS MACGREGOR
Major Offense Actually Already Begun.
HINDUSTAN TIMES
Russian air defences decimate 10 HIMARS and Smerch rockets; Kyiv loses nearly 500 troops.
THE CONVO COUCH
Ukraine-Navalny Org Behind Murder of Russian War Reporter w/ Arnaud Develay, Rubio Exposes US.
SYRIANA ANALYSIS
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with the journalist who exposed UN Spokesperson's embarrassing mistake.
HENDRIK WEBER
Regis Tremblay on Crimea.
CGTN
Will the world ditch the dollar?
STEPHEN GARDNER
White House BEGS FOR HELP as Americans face financial HELL.
GEOPOLITICAL ECONOMY REPORT w/ BEN NORTON
Inside Russia: Economists describe impact of Western sanctions and Ukraine war.
RAY MCGOVERN
"They Aren't TELLING YOU THE FULL STORY, THIS IS SERIOUS".
ANTIWAR NEWS WITH DAVE DECAMP
NATO Officials Don't Talk About Nord Stream, Israeli Airstrikes in Syria Kill 2 Civilians, and More.
TECH REVOLUTION
China And Saudi Arabia JUST CONFIRMED This NEW Mega Deal | IGNORES The US.
CGTN
First direct freight train from Beijing to Europe arrives in Moscow.
PROFESSOR RICHARD WOLFF
U.S. FAILED SANCTIONS.
FIRSTPOST
Russia Ukraine War: Japan Ditches The West for Russian Oil.
How BRICS Is Coming Together To Challenge the US Dollar.
TARA READE
Steve Gray on Russophobia & FBI's Charlie McGonigal Convicted of Violating US Sanctions.
GONZALO LIRA
2023.04.03 The US HATES the Peace Breaking Out In The Middle East.
Dr. STEVE TURLEY
EU PANICS as Nationalist Right TAKES OVER Finland.
TELESUR ENGLISH
Japan distances itself from the US and buys Russian oil.
Americans want to use any leverage to weaken Iran, says analyst.
LIU SIVAYA
¿PMC WANGER HA TOMADO BAJMUT? ¿HABRÁ CONTRAATAQUE UCRANIANO?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
PROFESSOR JOHN J MEARSHEIMER: WAR, ELITIST LEADERS, AND NUKES.
Article published by Russia Today (RT) - 4th April 2023:
More countries may join oil production cut – Moscow.
Other OPEC+ members may want to further stabilize the market, Russian Deputy PM Aleksandr Novak suggests.
More oil-producing nations may slash their crude output, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak warned on Monday.
His comments follow the decision on Sunday by several members of the OPEC+ group to introduce voluntary additional cuts to their output starting from May until the end of 2023, in order to stabilize the oil market.
Some of the major producers, such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait, pledged a total of 1.66 million barrels per day (bpd) of cuts on top of the ones already introduced in November. The move sent oil prices roughly 6% higher on Monday, with US benchmark WTI Crude surpassing $80 a barrel.
“Since so far nine countries … have said that they would voluntarily cut [their oil output], and as you know, there are 23 members in OPEC+, there were discussions that other countries could also join and announce some additional cuts of their own, if they felt it was necessary in order to stabilize the market,” Novak said in an interview to the Rossiya 24 TV channel.
Novak’s comments were echoed by a report from Chief OPEC Correspondent Amena Bakr, who said on Twitter that more OPEC+ states were being encouraged to join the voluntary cuts.
The latest reductions come on top of the 2 million bpd cut introduced last year that’s set to run until the end of 2023. Russia also announced on Sunday that it would synchronize with OPEC+ and extend its own 500,000 bpd cut to the end of this year.
According to Novak, the measure is necessary to ensure predictability in the oil market in a period of high volatility due to the ongoing banking crisis in the US and Europe, general global economic uncertainty, and unpredictable and short-sighted energy policy decisions.
MAPPING/ANALYSIS CHANNELS
* Updates will be added here as and when they become available.
MILITARY SUMMARY UPDATE
No update posted so far today
KEEP IT SECRET NEWS UPDATE
No update posted so far today
NWE WAR REPORTS UPDATE
DOWNTOWN BAKHMUT COLLAPSES.
DEFENSE POLITICS ASIA UPDATE
No update posted so far today
DPA WAR UPDATE
No update posted so far today
THETI MAPPING UPDATE
WAR UPDATE: Russia FLANKING New Bakhmut Defense Line.
WAR IN UKRAINE UPDATE
No update posted so far today
BALKAN MAPPING UPDATE
No update posted so far today
PROJECT GREAT UPDATE
No update posted so far today
MILITARY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS NETWORK UPDATE
No update posted so far today
RYBAR UPDATE
❗️🇷🇺🇺🇦🎞 Rybar Daily Digest of the Special Military Operation: April 3, 2023
M MAPPING UPDATE
Ukraine: Day404 [ 4 April ] Russian Forces Breakthrough in Central Bakhmut.
FREE RUSSIA CHANNEL UPDATE
No update posted so far today
WEEB UNION UPDATE
Further Russian Advances Within Bakhmut 04/04/23.
Russian BREAKTHROUGH In Central Bakhmut 04/04/23
Enormous Number of Russian & Wagner Forces in Bakhmut | Surovikin in Charge | Full Update.
Detailed situation reports can be found on a daily basis concerning events in Ukraine over the past 24 hours at the ‘A SKEPTIC’ Substack account:
Link to 'A SKEPTIC' Substack channel.
***
SUPPORTING SCOTT RITTER
I've been listening to Scott Ritter describe how things are for him and I suspect have been for him for quite some time now.
He has been doing a LOT of unpaid work with a great many interview requests coming in that he has been ready and willing to agree to. But the work where receives some pay for have suffered due to this, being left until the wee small hours of the night to complete work on.
Scott, I think you will agree, has been one of the most influential voices out there on Russia and Ukraine.
I was moved by Scott's words to take an annual subscription to his Substack account that he runs in coordination with his colleague on 'U.S. Tour of Duty', Jeff Norman. This is the main way that Scott recommends to help him with finances with which to upgrade his delivery of comment on Russia and Ukraine, via a better microphone etc. and perhaps the creation of a recording studio in his basement to create a more professional and impressive look. To invest in these things he would like to be sure that this has a viable financial future.
Would you also like to help by subscribing at one of the various levels to Scott's Substack account? I hope so. If so the link is here:
Below you'll find the edited part of the video where Scott talks of his commitments to get the facts out on events in Ukraine and of the finances that would come in handy to enhance their delivery:
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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
CAN THE CREDIBILITY OF WESTERN POLITICAL & MEDIA ELITES SURVIVE UKRAINE?
There may be some reading this commentary who agree with the sentiments and style of reporting being exhibited by what is in effect virtually all western mainstream media news outlets on the events now taking place in Ukraine. However, I doubt that even the most enthusiastic proponents of this style of reporting would contend that the resulting coverage is an impartial assessment of the history, motivations, geopolitical factors and events on the ground there.
When a nation or coalition of nations go into war mode, or better said their elites do, then all objectivity tends to be lost in the collective desire to support 'their side' and demonise that of the other.
I would suppose that just as the war mode exhibited in a knee jerk fashion to almost all potential enemies after 9/11, and the subsequent regime change wars that took place and were arguably universally disastrous, most westerners will likely forgive the war mode subjectivity seen now as they did then. But I wonder.
It could be argued that all the bias exhibited by western mass media during such times has no long term effect. I suspect however that there are two long-term effects to this phenomenon.
The first effect is to create among a certain minority a solidifying effect on their prejudices against those portrayed as irredeemably evil (the effect most often sought for when in war mode in personifying the chosen enemy).
The second and generally opposite effect is to degrade the trust yet another minority have in what is said by western mass media news generation as a whole and subsequently to seek out the views of, and perhaps even support, those labelled 'the enemy'.
As the western powers press forward with what is surely by now a quite clear attempt to undermine and replace those leaders and systems of governance they disapprove of, it seems to me that both the minorities above will grow and be in increasing conflict.
As I see it the western elite project, ongoing since at least 9/11, has no reverse gear therefore its targets being many, including but not related only to Russia, China, Iran and Syria, this division engendered by western mass media will become an ever more prominent feature.
Naturally western MSM will be supported in its stance by western political elites. It will also continue to be supported by those in category one who implicitly believe (or choose/wish to believe) what they are being told by this source.
Those who wish to assess the historical context, motivations, behaviour and acts of 'the other side' not content to accept anything that smacks of subjective bias, jingoism or war mode partiality, are taking increasingly to social media to express their dismay at being misled by the war mode mentality of western mass media.
Though it is difficult to ascertain which is the faster growing minority of the two described above due to the largely silent majority I rather suspect that there is growing disenchantment with the state-supporting stance seen across western mainstream media news on Ukraine currently. On Twitter and Facebook in particular it is undeniable that over most of the past decade the number of those specialising in revealing uncomfortable facts for western political and media elites have grown exponentially and on Ukraine in particular.
This rise in the willingness and indeed desire, to show the 'other side of the coin' is naturally disturbing for western elites who have the goal of presenting a unified stand against 'the enemy', the norm in any war mode situation. This has initiated calls for changes and on social media changes in policy regarding freedom of speech whereby penalties, including exclusion for "inappropriate" words or images.
More than ever, many westerners now fear that the much-lauded freedom of speech they supposedly have as of right is not only under threat but being actively attacked.
Western political elites need every "enemy" leader to be portrayed as the next Hitler, Nazi Germany being the ideal example of 'pure evil' that war mode requires to be most effective. However, this need to portray the same and necessarily false picture is in conflict with the mythology of neutrality, impartiality and honesty that western elites also like (indeed need) to promote.
In total these conflicting societal influences cannot help but add yet another level of internal confusion, division and disquiet within western nations as the dynamic of supposedly increasing personal power meets the insistence of state authorities that they simply accept their word, do what they say and think as they desire them to.
With the 'forever war' as initiated by the USA having no end goal that does not reach its ultimate conclusion without some for of heavy surveillance oriented virtual prison planet of 'right thought' and 'right action', I would posit that the West is in for a tumultuous time ahead.