re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

quote:

---

Oh wow, they didn’t make gains over one weekend? Damn, you got me

---

You said Russia is making gains now but it is not. It has not made any significant advances in almost 6 weeks. Yeah it moves a few hundred meters a day closer to the next line of Ukrainian defenses but nothing major.

quote:

---

Yeah it moves a few hundred meters a day closer to the next line of Ukrainian defenses but nothing major.

---

So that would still be *checks notes* the most gains made by either side since Ukraine got 155s and the lines solidified. Just like I said. Thanks for clarifying for everyone

quote:

---

I was told this is what sending all the money and guns to Ukraine was for?

---

Correct, my comments are in the conversation on if Russia were to succeed in Ukraine. The next logical roadblock is Poland as an individual nation.

quote:

---

Russian media is controlled by the Russian government. We can therefore extrapolate that the Russian government is telling the Russian population that they intend to "retake the Soviet Union" almost weekly.

It's therefore not crazy to think they intend to go as far as they can, including towards NATO countries.

---

Well, Putin has made no secret of his desire to be the reincarnation of Peter The Great to restore the Russian Empire.

ISW Update

quote:

---

Key Takeaways:

Russian forces appear to have increased the number and size of mechanized ground assaults on select sectors of the frontline within the past two weeks, marking a notable overall increase in Russian mechanized assaults across the theater.

Russian forces may be intensifying the overall tempo of their offensive operations in Ukraine.

Ukrainian sources continue to stress that the piecemeal and delayed arrival of new Western systems to Ukraine will allow Russian forces to adapt to and offset the likely operational benefits these systems would otherwise provide to Ukrainian forces.

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that the March 22 Crocus City Hall attack has caused a significant increase in Russian contract service applicants amid reported Russian efforts to increase force generation this spring.

Republic of Tatarstan Head Rustam Minnikhanov warned that Russian companies and local authorities must defend themselves against Ukrainian drone strikes and not rely on Russian air defenses following the April 2 Ukrainian strikes on Russian military production and oil refinery infrastructure in Tatarstan.

Russian-backed former Ukrainian separatist politician Oleg Tsaryov complained on April 3 that no current Russian political party adequately represents the political interests of Russian ultranationalists, highlighting a possible source of discontent between the pro-Russian ultranationalist community and the Kremlin.

Ukraine and Finland signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement on April 3.

Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Bakhmut and Donetsk City and in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area.

Russian authorities continue to expand social benefits for Russian military personnel.

---

This 108 billion "proposed" bond is over 5 years, is that supposed to change things, they have blown through 200 million in a couple of years, I dont think 20billion a year is gonna cover the kickbacks.

US House’s Ukraine War Aid Vote Is Likely Weeks or More Away

Speaker still trying to 'soften GOP opposition', officials say
Johnson had said Ukraine aid vote would come ‘right away’

quote:

---

A US House vote on Ukraine aid isn’t likely until at least mid-April and possibly later with Speaker Mike Johnson still searching for ways to soften opposition from Republican hardliners, multiple party leadership officials said. Johnson raised expectations for quick action in a Fox News interview Sunday saying the House would move forward with Ukraine assistance “right away” when lawmakers return next week from their two-week Easter break.

---

Well, that was fast. Speaker "Six Lies a Week" Johnson has pulled out again. This is the kind of psychopathic nutjob that gives Christianity a bad name.

It seems that Russia cannot get parts needed to repair damaged refineries.

quote:

---

Lukoil refinery struggles to repair gasoline unit
U.S. firm UOP says not helping Lukoil
All Russian refineries use Western technology, software
Ukrainian drones damage dozens of Russian plants

---

quote:

---

"They (the engineers) rushed around to find spare parts and they couldn't find anything," said a source close to Lukoil, who asked not to be named because he is not allowed to speak to the media. "Then the whole unit just stopped."
Four other sources said the unit - a catalytic cracker used to convert heavier hydrocarbons into gasoline - has been out of production since January and it was not clear when it could be repaired due to a lack of expertise inside Russia. The KK-1 unit is one of only two catalytic crackers at the plant.

---

LINK

The cat cracker breaks up the heavy feedstock into gases and liquids. Much of it is gasoline fraction, also much is diesel. Some of the gases are changed into octane boosters in alkylation and/or isomerization units. Ethane can be turned into ethyl alcohol, known on labels as SD Alcohol, used in mouthwashes. Same thing as 98% stronger than moonshine.

Funny story is that at a refinery in CA which had a chemical plant which made SD alcohol for Scope, any chronic alcoholic tried to get transferred to it. When the company started random drug testing of employees it also checked for alcohol.

State Emergency Service: Russian double-tap attacks have killed 91 first responders, injured 348

by Martin Fornusek and The Kyiv Independent news desk April 4, 2024 1:39 PM


A service vehicle of the State Emergency Service damaged in a Russian drone strike against Kharkiv on April 4, 2024. (State Emergency Service/Telegram)

Russia's "double-tap" attacks against Ukraine have killed 91 first responders and injured 348 since the start of the full-scale war, Suspilne reported on April 4, citing information from the State Emergency Service.

The Kyiv Independent has previously reported on Russia's use of so-called "double-tap" strikes, in which there is an initial strike followed by a second - with a delay - so that it can potentially wound or kill first responders.

Most recently, Russian forces used such a tactic in a drone attack against Kharkiv overnight on April 4, killing three State Emergency Service employees: 52-year-old Vladyslav Lohinov, 32-year-old Serhii Baidalinov, and 41-year-old Volodymyr Matiushenko.

Another rescue worker was injured and is in serious condition, the State Emergency Service said. The attack also killed one other resident and injured 12.

In March, first responders and police officers were among the killed and injured in a double-tap missile attack against the southern port city of Odesa.