The Ukraine war thread

[Renauda]

Election comedy in occupied Ukraine:

"Pro-Russian locals visit households with ballot boxes, accompanied by armed military men. If they knock and no one opens, they move on to the next house. They don't break into houses, but they do visit," the local resident said.

They added: "This is ridiculous. What kind of election is it when there are two locals - one holding a list of voters and the other a ballot box - and a military man with a machine gun? This isn't democracy. It's a comedy show."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68535301

[George K]

Another refinery goes boom.

[Renauda]

Ukraine targets refineries, Russia continues to terrorize and target civilians:

The tactic of firing a second missile at the same location, aiming to hit rescuers, is known in military terms as a "double tap." Such strikes often hit civilians.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-russia-double-tap-missile-strike-odesa-1.7144818

[George K]

Another refinery - 1000 km from Ukraine.

[Mik]

Nice.

[George K]

[George K]

The Russians are jamming GPS for commercial flights.

Something bad is going to happen.

[George K]

Another refinery yesterday.

[Renauda]

[taiwan_girl]

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/ukraines-survival-in-danger-pentagon-chief-warns

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday warned that Ukraine's survival was in danger and sought to convince allies that the United States was committed to Kyiv, even as Washington has essentially run out of money to continue arming Ukrainian forces.

Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to call a vote on a bill that would provide $60 billion more for Ukraine and the White House has been scrambling to find ways to send assistance to Kyiv, which has been battling Russian forces for more than two years.

Why is Rep. Johnson refusing to hold the vote?

[Wim]

Aeroflot in trouble

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/29805

[taiwan_girl]

@Wim said in The Ukraine war thread:

Aeroflot in trouble

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/29805

from the article:

While Teheran is also sanctioned, at least (from Aeroflot’s perspective) it is able to get its hands on either smuggled or counterfeit components and keep at least some of its foreign aircraft flying.

I wonder why it would be easier for Iran to get airplane parts than Russia?

[George K]

Oof…

[Mik]

Awwww

[Renauda]

US allegedly cautions Ukraine about targeting Russian oil refineries:

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/29929

FT is a reliably credible source. Will have to see how this plays out over time. Don’t see how hitting Russian refineries affects the global price all that much. Russia primarily produces refined fuel for its own domestic use. About 24% of refined product including LNG is exported - primarily to Turkey, Brazil, China and India. Some is also exported to Belarus. FWIW, the Kremlin has been cutting its oil production during the last several months. That would have an impact on oil prices, not taking out refineries.

[George K]

@Renauda perhaps Senator Schumer will call for a cease-fire as well!

[Renauda]

Am sure Putin will veto that..

In the meantime, Ukrainian fighter pilots graduate RAF training school:

https://www.forces.net/services/raf/raf-take-ukrainians-under-their-wing-intensive-combat-flying-training?utm_source=Forces+Newsletter&utm_campaign=5a651f173a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_03_22_11_33&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-5a651f173a-[LIST_EMAIL_ID]

[George K]

The Russian Black Sea submarine fleet got bigger last night:

[George K]

And three more planes:

[Mik]

Good news on a sunny Sunday!