Putin's desperation to stave off his imminent failure in Ukraine.

The current war between Israel and Hamas, that almost immediately tipped the Middle East into a conflagration that would have set off WW3, has only marginally subsided.

Putin's war with Ukraine, and Hamas' war with Israel, still balances the world on a 'knife edge' in setting off  WW3.

In the words of US President Biden,

"You know, the assault on Israel echoes nearly 20 months of war, tragedy and brutality inflicted on the people of Ukraine. People that were very badly hurt since Putin launched his all-out invasion. We’ve not forgotten the mass graves, the bodies found bearing signs of torture, rape used as a weapon by the Russians, and thousands and thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly taken into Russia, stolen from their parents. It’s sick.

Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate it. Hamas’ stated purpose for existing is the destruction of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people.  (CNN : 19 October 2023) (my emphasis) 

CNN : 20 October 2023 : YouTube

Against the backdrop of the war between Israel and Hamas, Charlie Bradley (left) informs us that,

"Russia has suffered another huge setback after a weapons depot supplying the country's Black Sea Fleet was hit by a missile strike.

Images circulating on social media show a thick plume of smoke billowing into the sky following the devastating strike in Tsukrovaya Golovka, near occupied-Sevastopol." (Daily Express on MSN.com : 20 October 2023) (my emphasis)

 

 More significantly, 

"Ukrainian forces have advanced on the Dnipro River onto the opposite bank, crossing into Russian-occupied territory, Russian sources have claimed.

A prominent Russian milblogger ‘Rybar’, aka Mikhail Zvinchuk, claimed Ukrainian troops pushed through Russian defences as they landed on the east bank of the Dnipro river.

He claimed they temporarily occupied the village of Poyma and positions on the northern outskirts of Pishchanivka on the afternoon of 17 October." (Holly Evans,Maryam Zakir-Hussain and Tara Cobham : The Independent : 21 October 2023) (my emphasis)

Hindustan Times : 2o October 2023 : YouTube

As also reported by Matthew Sedacca,

"Ukrainian forces ramped up their attacks on Russian-held territory in the south while holding off Moscow’s assaults on the eastern town of Avdiivka, according to military experts and officials.

The Ukrainian military broke through the enemy lines after intensified assaults across the Dnipro River, near the southern city of Kherson.  
...
“Ukrainian actions appear to be larger than previously observed tactical raids,” the think tank Institute for the Study of War said in a report. (New York Post on MSN.com : 21 October 2023) (my emphasis)

More disconcerting for Putin, Martin Fornusek reports that,

"Germany is allocating an additional 200 million euros ($210 million) for the reconstruction of Ukraine, the German Press Agency (DPA) reported on Oct. 21, citing Germany's State Secretary for Development Jochen Flasbarth. " (Kyiv Independent : 21 October 2023) (my emphasis)

This follows on from US President Biden re-affirming that,

"On Ukraine, I’m asking Congress to make sure we can continue to send Ukraine the weapons they need to defend themselves and their country, without interruption. So Ukraine can stop Putin’s brutality in Ukraine. They are succeeding." (ibid : CNN : 19 October 2023)

Is it any wonder, as reported by Connor Surmonte, that,

"Vladimir Putin sparked fresh World War 3 concerns this week after the Russian leader was spotted with a nuclear briefcase during a rare visit to China, RadarOnline.com can report.

In a concerning development to come as tensions between Russia and the world remain at an all-time high due to Putin’s ongoing war in Ukraine, footage surfaced from Wednesday that showed the Russian leader with a nuclear briefcase as he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing." (Radar Online on MSN.com : 21 October 2023) (my emphasis)

What message was Putin trying to convey to the world and to President Xi Jinping by this public display of his 'nuclear button'?

CRUX : 19 October 2023 : YouTube

Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury is correct when he states that,

 "Russia should adopt a cautious approach towards China as Beijing is attempting to take advantage to become the senior partner in the relationship, a concept that Moscow has never been comfortable with.

Russia’s strategic dependence on China has only grown since the war...." (The Economic Times : 19 October 2023) (my emphasis)

Underscoring the fact that Xi Jinping is now the senior partner in the Russia/China duet, Simone McCarthy and Nectar Gan report that,

"Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed the conflict in the Middle East during a meeting on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing Wednesday, according to the Russian leader – who said “common threats” brought the two countries closer.
...
“We discussed in detail the situation in the Middle East,” Putin said in a press conference. “I informed Chairman (Xi) about the situation that is developing on the Ukrainian track, also quite in detail.”

“All these external factors are common threats, and they strengthen Russian-Chinese interaction,” Putin added." (CNN on MSN.com : 19 October 2023) (my emphasis)

Putin's desperation to 'put on a brave face' in light of the current successful counter attacks of Ukraine's forces against the Russian army is on full public display.

Showing the world his 'nuclear' button will not diminish Putin's desperation to stave off his imminent failure in Ukraine.   

 

 

 

(to be continued)

Putin fails to deflect the eyes of the world from his war with Ukraine

 Alexander Motyl (left) writes that,

"In the past, wars divided Ukrainians and Jews. Today, war has made Ukraine and Israel into natural allies and friends.

And not just because the enemy of my enemy is supposedly my friend. But because both nations face similar existential threats from equally hostile forces — Russia in the Ukrainian case, and the unholy coalition of Hamas, Iran, Syria, and Russia in the Israeli case.
.....
Both Ukraine and Israel face identical existential threats from terrorist states and organizations. And Russia is central to both wars. It is of course Russia that re-invaded Ukraine and launched an all-out war on Feb. 24, 2022, and it is Russia that maintains good-neighborly relations with Hamas, Iran and Syria. " (Daily News : 16 October 2023) (my emphasis) 

 

CNN : 11 October 2023: YouTube

 As Pjotr Sauer (left) reports,

"Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has long portrayed himself as a friend of Vladimir Putin.
....
Putin, too, has over the years cast himself as a loyal ally of the Israeli state, promoting cultural ties and visa-free travel between the two countries.
....
But after the worst attack on Israel in decades, the much-touted friendship appears to have vanished.

....
Four days after the start of Hamas’s surprise attack, Putin is yet to call Netanyahu, while the Kremlin has not published a message of condolence to the country, a diplomatic gesture of goodwill that Russia routinely sends out to global leaders following deadly incidents on their soil." (The Guardian : 12 October 2023) (my emphasis)

And whilst Putin has yet to send a message of condolence to Israel, Volodomyr Zelensky issued a video message after Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on the 7 October.

"Today the whole world has seen the horrific footage from Israel - footage of terrorists abusing women and men, taking even the elderly hostage without mercy.
.....
When such a terrorist attack occurs, everyone who values life must stand in solidarity. We in Ukraine are prticularly sensitive to what has happened.
.....
Let the value of human life and the intolerance of terror, be the principles that will finally unite the whole world." (cf video below)

 Hindustan Times : 8 October 2023 : YouTube

As also reported by Alice Scarsi (right),

"Russia has been accused of helping Hamas terrorists by providing them with tactical knowledge and weapons.

Kyrylo Budanov (left), the chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine's Defence Ministry, argued Tehran and Moscow's involvement in the conflict between Hamas and Israel mirrors their role in the war in Ukraine.
....
He also noted how Palestinian militants employed tactics reminiscent of the Ukrainian war during their assault on the weekend, using for example FPV drones against armoured vehicles." (Express : 13 October 2023) (my emphasis)

Against the backdrop of Israel's war against Hamas, Vishwam Sankaran and Alex Ross report that,

"Russia has lost 127 tanks, 239 armoured personnel vehicles (APVs) and 161 artillery systems in a week, Kyiv has said as Vladimir Putin launches a sustained assault in the east of Ukraine.

Moscow’s forces lost eight tanks, 25 APVs and 33 artillery systems in the past day, Ukraine’s General Staff said on Sunday." (The Independent : 16 October 2023) (my emphasis)

As also reported by David Brennan (right),

"The attempted Russian offensive on the fortified eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka appears to have been a costly failure for Moscow, with the Ukrainian military claiming to have killed thousands of Moscow's troops and destroyed hundreds of pieces of military equipment in several days of intense fighting.

The spokesperson for Ukraine's eastern force grouping—known as the Tavriisk Group—said this weekend that Russian offensive activity around the strategic Donetsk city had eased after last week's failed encirclement effort there." (Newsweek : 16 October 2023) (my emphasis)

Could this be why, as reported by Yohannes Lowe and Sammy Gecsoyler,

"Russia’s foreign minister [Lavrov (left)] is in Beijing ahead of a visit by Vladimir Putin to the Chinese capital and will then go to North Korea." ? (Microsoft Start (Guardian article) : 16 October 2023) (my emphasis)

As reported by Matt Murphy,

"US officials have accused North Korea of supplying vast amounts of military hardware to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Pyongyang has supplied up to 1,000 containers of "equipment and munitions" in "recent weeks", National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said.
...
Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia to discuss potential military cooperation." (BBC News : 14 October 2023) (my emphasis)

For all his bluster about Ukraine's counter-offensive 'failing', Putin seems now to be running cap-in-hand to Chinese president Xi Jinping and North Korea's president Kim Jon Un for more help with military supplies.

This will not stem his defeats on the battleground of his war with Ukraine.

Underscoring this failure of Putin,  Katelyn Caralle (left) reports that,

"'Are the wars in Israel and Ukraine more than the United States can take on at the same time?' CBS News' Scott Pelley asks Biden in a clip released ahead of the program airing.

'We're the United States of America for God's sake. The most powerful nation in the history – not in the world – in the history of the world, the history of the world,' the president replied.

'We can take care of both of these and maintain our overall international defense,' Biden said. 'We have the capacity to do this and we have an obligation to.'

'We are the essential nation,' he said, adding: 'And if we don't, who does?' " (Mail Online : 15 October 2023) (my emphasis)

No matter how much he tries, Putin will not deflect the eyes of the world from his war with Ukraine.

 

 

 

(to be continued)

Putin now throwing 'everything' at Ukraine as a last resort.

In my blog entry of  20 February 2015 I wrote that,

"Two words rather sums it up viz. "Russlandversteher or Putinversteher"

As the Economist (May 10th 2014) pointed out many months ago,

"When Germans add the word Versteher (one who understands) to a term, they generally mix flattery with irony. So a Frauenversteher (one who understands women) is usually a man who boasts excessively about his knowledge of the opposite sex. The label is now being attached to so-called Russlandversteher or Putinversteher: members of the [German] elite or intelligentsia who gush with empathy for Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, on talk shows, in journals and at dinner parties." (my emphasis)" (blog entry : 20 February 2015)

I also reported that,

"German Chancellor Angela Merkel told supporters that "Germany and France together, will not ease off on doing everything so that Ukraine can go its way and have its territorial integrity -- but we want to do it with Russia, not against Russia." (Fox News : February 20, 2015) (my emphasis)" (ibid blog entry : 20 February 2015)

Fast forward to October 7 2023 and an essay in the Times argues that,

"Revival of the Danube axis spells trouble for Ukraine.

"Unjust peace with Putin is becoming increasingly attractive to central European leaders who are allowing economic anxiety and latent Russophilia [ read: 'Putinversteher']  to drive a wedge between them and the Zelensky government." (Times : 7 October 2023) (my emphasis) (cf also: Piotr H. Kosicki : The Atlantic : 4 October 2023)

As Kate Nicholson (left) also reports,

"A pro-Kremlin nationalist, Robert Fico, has just been voted into power in Slovakia ...
...
Fico wants “immediate peace negotiations”, too and end economic sanctions against Moscow.

[Robert Fico (right)] ... is known to be particularly friendly with Russia, and has made it clear that his role model is the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban." (Microsoft Start (HuffPost article)) : 6 October 2023) (my emphasis)

As Kate Nicholson further reports,

"But in mid-September, things started to go south as Warsaw prepared for its parliamentary elections in October 15.

On September 19, Zelenskyy accused some unnamed EU members of “feigning solidarity while directly supporting Russia”.

Warsaw summoned Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland – shortly afterwards, Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki announced his country would not be sending arms to Ukraine anymore.

He claimed Poland needed the arms for himself." (ibid Kate Nicholson)

More disconcerting for Ukraine's president Zelensky, Hans von der Burchard reports that,

"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sought to justify his reluctance to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles on Thursday by naming constitutional constraints and the risk of an “escalation of the war.”
...
Yet Christian Mölling, the deputy director of the German Council on Foreign Relations and a renowned security expert, argued on X, formerly Twitter, that Germany would not take an active role in the war once it hands the cruise missiles over to Ukraine, and denounced Scholz’s concerns as “smoke grenades.” (Politico : 5 October 2023) (my emphasis)

CRUX : 3 October 2023 : YouTube

Let us not forget that pre-unification, Germany was comprised of TWO independent political states viz. Soviet East Germany and West Germany.

With unification, those Germans who lived in East Germany and were culturally, politically, and socially inculcated with the ideology that today is the very foundation of Putin's rationale for his war with Ukraine, are now fully incorporated into the body politic of Germany.

Consequently, as the Economist article of 2014 explained,

"... Russlandversteher or Putinversteher: members of the [German] elite or intelligentsia who gush with empathy for Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, on talk shows, in journals and at dinner parties .. " (Economist (May 10th 2014))

The political 'brouhaha' about continuing to finacially support President Zelensky in Ukraine's war with Putin in the US Congress is also cause for concern.

As reported by Steve Holland (left),

"President Joe Biden expressed fears on Wednesday that U.S. aid to Ukraine could be hurt by congressional chaos and said he will give a major speech soon to make the case for why it is necessary to help Ukraine repel Russian invaders.

Republican infighting in the House of Representatives has complicated budget negotiations and prompted Biden to go from confidence that an agreement will be made on Ukraine aid to now expressing worries about funding his top foreign policy priority." (Reuters : 4 October 2023) (my emphasis)

Reuters : 4 October 2023

As also reported by Tom Porter,

"At the Valdai Club conference Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin gloated over the potential impact of Western support for Ukraine ebbing.

"Imagine, if the supply is cut off tomorrow, you'll have a week to live, when the ammunition runs out," Putin told the conference.  (Yahoo News (Business Insider article) : 6 October 2023) (my emphasis) 

Against the backdrop of this political 'wobble' in support for Ukraine, Alessandra Scotto di Santolo (right) reports that,

"Russian officers are evacuating their families from the southern town of Tokmak as Ukrainian forces make advances.

In response, Vladimir Putin's troops are rapidly building bunkers and concrete trenches near the frontline in Zaporizhzhia, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The fortifications are aimed at protecting Russian soldiers and command centres from heavy Ukrainian artillery and drone attacks, reflecting Russia's concerns about a possible Ukrainian breakthrough in the ongoing conflict." (Express : 7 October 2023) (my emphasis)

Putin will now throw 'everything' at Ukraine as his defeat on the battleground looms large.

UPDATE 1 : 9 October 2023

Max Hunder reports that,

"Ukraine's air force expects a record number of Russian drone attacks on its soil this winter, its spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said on Sunday, as Kyiv girds for a second winter of mass bombardment of its energy facilities. (Reuters : 8 October 2023) (my emphasis)

As also reported by James Callery and Will Stewart and Matt Strudwick,

"President Vladimir Putin has threatened the West with total nuclear destruction, leaving 'no chance of survival' in the event of a strike on Russia.

In a ranting anti-US speech, the dictator said his powerful 'Satan-2' and 'Flying Chernobyl' missiles are ready for deployment in an ominous doomsday warning. (Mail Online : 5 October 2023) (my emphasis)

BANG Showbiz : Microsoft Start : 8 October 2023

Tom Malley and Ellie Doughty also report that,

"Speculation over the Russian president's health has hit an all-time high amid rampant rumours of body doubles, cancer treatment, and even a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease." (The Sun : 8 October 2023) (my emphasis)

It would be foolish to ignore Putin's latest threats of 'nuclear armageddon'. 

 

 

 

(to be continued)

"Is Putin on the brink of collapsing?"

In my blog post of 23 August 2023 I reported that,

"It is now flooding the internet ether that the "Privileged Apartheid Reared South African (PARSA)", Elon Musk, 

" ... considered [last year] pulling Starlink satellite internet from Ukraine after having a “great conversation with Putin,” according to a former Pentagon official" (Josh Salisbury: Evening Standard: 22 August 2023) (my emphasis) (cf also: Kate Nicholson: Huffington Post : 22 August 2023)."

Chris Jewers (right) now reports that,

"Elon Musk escalated his feud with Ukraine last night with a tweet mocking the country's president Volodymyr Zelensky for his pleas for wartime assistance as the future of US aid to Kyiv hangs in the balance.

In a post on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk posted a meme showing a photoshopped image of the Ukrainian leader and the caption: 'When it's been 5 minutes and you haven't asked for a billion dollars in aid'.
...
Outrage quickly built over Musk's tweet, and Kyiv was quick to hit back at the billionaire by posting a derisive reply of its own." (Mail Online : 2 )ctober 2023) (my emphasis)

 Putin's Russian TV mouthpieces are 'cock-a-hoop" with joy at Musk's derisory tweet about Ukraine's president Zelensky.

Indeed, in the words  of  Olga Skabeeva (left with Elon Musk as Russian General),

"Against the backdrop of American squabbles, the wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk, who is now known as "Elon Moskal", added more fuel to the fire and Zelensky is aflame.
...
 Elon Musk is magnificent, he in wonderful. Perhaps Elon Musk really is our agent" (Russian Media Monitor : 3 October 2023) (my emphasis)

Russian Media Monitor : 3 October 2023 : YouTube

Elon Musk's 'tweet' has given Putin some respite from his furious and anxious pacing around in his bunker.

News from the Ukrainian front has, however, evaporated this momentary respite and given Putin nightmares.

As reported by Alice Scarsi (left),

"The war against Ukraine, addressed by the Kremlin and Russian propagandists as a "special military operation", is getting closer to civilians in Russia through rounds of conscriptions, campaigns to join the war and drone attacks.
...
"Society is becoming more militarised as Russia’s situation worsens. Civilian volunteers are being asked to patrol an air base." (Express : 2 October 2023) (my emphasis)

As also reported by Thibault Spirlet (right),

"Ukraine's "army of drones" has ramped up its attacks on Russian positions, hitting a record number of Russian tanks, trucks, and artillery last week, a Ukrainian official said.

Between September 25 and October 2, Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles hit a record 220 pieces of Russian military equipment, Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, said in a post on Telegram.

Drones damaged or destroyed 69 guns, 17 self-propelled artillery, 33 tanks, and 41 trucks, he said, citing data from Ukraine's Army of Drones government initiative." (Thibault Spirlet :Microsoft Start (Business Insider) : 2 October 2023) (my emphasis)

Microsoft Start (Business Insider) : 2 October 2023

More significantly, as reported by David Axe (left),

"We knew the Ukrainian air force was firing 1960s-vintage 5V28 air-defense missiles at targets on the ground in Russia.

What’s most telling is where the launcher is located: apparently in the middle of nowhere, presumably somewhere on the Ukrainian side of the front line. That strongly implies the Ukrainians have adapted the launcher to be more mobile.
...
Now, for the first time, we’ve seen one of the do-it-yourself deep-strike missiles at the moment of launch. A video that circulated on social media on Monday depicts an eight-ton 5V28 blasting off from its fixed launcher then quickly popping off its side-mounted solid rocket boosters.
...
Deployed near the front line, the 5V28 possesses the range to threaten Russian forces across occupied Ukraine as well as deep into Russia proper." (Forbes : 2 October 2023) (my emphasis) 

 

Dmitri on 'X' (Formerly Twitter) : 2 October 2023

It is therefore no wonder that the clamour inside Putin's propaganda machine is, once again, hysterically calling for the unleashing of a 'nuclear armageddon'.

As reported by Paul Withers (left),

"A key Kremlin and Vladimir Putin ally has warned the threat of using nuclear weapons is becoming "increasingly uncontested" after claiming an "attack drone" fell near her home.

Margarita Simonyan (right) editor-in-chief of RT state-controlled television channel Russia Today (RT), is the latest Putin ally to make a chilling nuclear threat during her country's war with Ukraine.
...
The increased use of drones from Ukraine as a form of attack in the war has seen Russia ramp up such threats.

Now Simonyan has now issued a chilling warning, suggesting a "nuclear ultimatum" may be inevitable." (Express : 2 October 2023) (my emphasis)

This follows on from Putin's glove-puppet, Dmitri Medvedev who, as reported by Iona Cleave (left),

"Vladimir Putin's closest ally has threatened to unleash World War 3 on the West if UK sends troops on to Ukrainian soil.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday that any Brit soldiers training soldiers inside Ukraine would be legitimate targets for Russian forces and "ruthlessly destroyed"." (The Sun : 1 October 2023) (my emphasis)

The Sun : 1 October 2023

And let us not forget that, as reported by Jen Kirby (left),

“In the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and to defend Russia and our people, we will certainly make use of all weapon systems available to us,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a speech Wednesday [20 September 2023]. “This is not a bluff.”

When a nuclear-armed state says it’s willing to use “all weapon systems available to us,” it is impossible not to take the threat seriously. For everyone involved in the war in Ukraine — Russia, Ukraine, and the West — Putin, at least rhetorically, raised the stakes of the conflict he started." (Vox : 22 September 2023) (my emphasis)

The critical question now is :-

"Is Putin on the brink of collapsing?" 

UPDATE 1 : 3 October @ 20.56

Matthew Dooley (left) reports that,

"Russia is set to hold nationwide nuclear drills today (October 3) in preparation for "the danger of armed conflicts involving nuclear powers".
...
This is the first time nationwide drills have been held, though there have been similar, smaller drills in specific regions.

It will also imagine there is possible widespread radioactive contamination after a general mobilization ended. Leaders across Russia, including "from civil defence leaders to heads of state corporations", will take part in the drill. The occupied Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson will be exempt." (Express : 3 October 2023) (my emphasis)

These drills that are being held tells us that Putin's military chain-of-command are themselves now preparing to unleash a nuclear war that will inevitably lead to WW3.

What these drills also tell us is that Putin simply cannot come to terms with the fact that Ukraine's counter-offensive is about overwhelm his army of occupation. 

UPDATE 2 : 4 October 2023 @ 07.39

Alessandra Scotto di Santolo and Tim McNulty inform us that,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin might be on the verge of unleashing his fearsome Burevestnik nuclear missile—a weapon with an ominous reputation, often dubbed the "flying Chernobyl" by experts.

The missile, powered by nuclear energy and boasting an allegedly unlimited range, has the capability to remain airborne for weeks, making it a highly unsettling prospect for the international community.

Despite a track record of 13 previous failed tests, recent satellite imagery and aviation data have raised concerns about Putin's intentions.

The indicators strongly suggest that the Russian leader, who is set to celebrate his 71st birthday this Saturday, might be preparing to launch this doomsday device." (Express : 3 October 2023) (my emphasis)

 As Jen Kirby recently reported (Vox : 22 September 2023),

" ... we will certainly make use of all weapon systems available to us,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a speech Wednesday [20 September 2023]. “This is not a bluff.”

n 

 

 

(to be continued)

Putin's "Day of Reunification" is doomed to be short lived.

In 1938,

"The military occupation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany began with the German annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938, continued with the creation of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, and by the end of 1944 extended to all parts of Czechoslovakia." (Wikipedia)

Hitler Archive on YouTube and  Microsoft Start (CNN) : 30 September 2023

Fast forward to 2022 and, as reported by Aljazeera,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has proclaimed the annexation of four partially occupied Ukrainian regions at a signing ceremony in the Kremlin.
...
At the ceremony on Friday, Putin said Russia has “four new regions”, calling the residents of Ukraine’s occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions “our citizens forever”." (Aljazeera : 30 September 2022) (my emphasis)

 Recently,  Ryan Fahey (left) reported that,

"While promising that "nothing and no-one" will stop him, he addressed the Russian people to mark his newly declared Day of Reunification and remember the day last year when he illegally incorporated the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics into Russia. Parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions were also seized in a move he today hailed as “a defining and truly historic event”. All are legally part of a Ukraine's sovereign territory under international law." (Mirror : 30 September 2023) (my emphasis)

Mirror : Ryan Fahey : 30 September 2023

Putin's warmongering mood against Ukraine in his recent TV address has now been given  unexpected and direct political support by,

 "The populist party of former Prime Minister Robert Fico (left) that wants to stop military aid to Ukraine and is critical of the European Union and NATO has won Slovakia’s election, results showed on Sunday.
...
The 59-year-old Fico has promised that Slovakia, one of Europe’s biggest donors to Ukraine as a share of its gross domestic product (GDP), will not send “a single round of ammunition” to Ukraine and has called for better relations with Russia." (Aljazeera : 1 October 2023) (my emphasis)

As also reported by Tim McNulty (right),

"Slovakia's election has sent shockwaves through the Western alliance as the victory of pro-Russian former Prime Minister Robert Fico's populist SMER party threatens the crack Europe's united front in support of Ukraine.
...
Moscow is likely looking at the results with glee though despite the results of the election whether SMER can cobble together the coalition to enter government is yet to be confirmed." (Express : 2 October 2023) (my emphasis)

Furthermore, as reported by Jeff Mason,

"U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday pressed congressional Republicans to back a bill to provide more aid to Ukraine, saying he was “sick and tired” of the political brinkmanship that nearly led to a government shutdown."

Reuters :1 October 2023

" .... The bill, which lasts through Nov. 17, did not include aid for Kyiv.
...
“We cannot under any circumstances allow America’s support for Ukraine to be interrupted. I fully expect the speaker to keep his commitment to secure the passage and support needed to help Ukraine as they defend themselves against aggression and brutality,” he told reporters at the White House." (Reuters :1 October 2023) (my emphasis) 

Fred Pleitgen : CNN report : 2 October 2023

Putin's gleeful euphoria over the election of Slovakia’s Robert Fico, and the US delay in aid for Ukraine, thanks to the Republican Party in Congress, will be rather short-lived.

As reported by Aurora Bosotti (left),

"Russia's gas production has suffered yet another collapse this year, reaching numbers not seen since before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Gazprom announced.
...
The drop comes as European nations continue on their path to find alternatives to Russian supplies following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and amid a swathe of sanctions seeking to cripple Moscow's finances.
...
Russian-language news outlet Agentstvo said the state energy company "has never had such a low production rate in its entire history", noting that "the last time there was a similar figure was in the Soviet Union in 1978." "(Express : 30 September 2023) (my emphasis)

Amplifying the panic at Gazprom, Aurora Bosotti further reports that

"Concerns about gas appear to be at the forefront of the Kremlin's mind, as a key ally of Putin earlier in the week appeared to suggest Moscow is prepared to target refineries in The Netherlands to cut off European supplies.

Appearing on state TV, Russian Parliament member Andrey Gurulyov said he was "surprised" to learn that "almost 50 percent of oil refining is in the Netherlands," and that the distribution of the refineries is "very dense and very close to each other. Very dense."

His assessment prompted propagandist Vladimir Solovyov to point out that the Netherlands would be "a perfect target for a cluster munition." (ibid Aurora Bosotti)

Like Putin's glove puppet Dmitry Medvedev, Andrey Gurulyov and Vladimir Solovyov are also reduced to threatening 'armageddon' against the UK, NATO, the EU, and the US. 

However, soon to be headed for Ukraine, as reported by Norman Hermant (right),

"A replica cannon mounted on the back of a pick-up truck tracks its target, part of a weapons system that launches "hard kill" strikes to blow drones out of the sky.

It is called Slinger and it is designed to counter drones at a cost that countries like Ukraine can afford." (ABC News Australia : 2 October 2023) (my emphasis)

ABC News Australia : 2 October 2023

 And as CNN's Radina Gigova (left) reports,

"Ukraine is ready to offer special conditions to companies that are willing to develop weapons production jointly with Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday.

He made the comments as he met with representatives from defense companies from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Turkey, Sweden and the Czech Republic." (CNN : 2 October 2023) (my emphasis)

Like a drowning man clutching at straws, Putin declaration that his occupation of parts of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions signifies a "Day of Reunification" is a rather hollow celebration.

Notwithstanding that he now has Robert Fico of Slovakia to add to Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán as his stalwart supporters in the EU, the fact remains that the inexorable march of Zelensky's army towards to Sea of Azov continues apace.

Putin's "Day of Reunification", it seems, is doomed to be short-lived.

 

 

 

(to be continued)