Tag: Ukraine invasion

When Ukraine Was Invaded 700 Years Ago… Another Superpower Was in Decline

Via Sovereign Man

In the autumn of 1362, on the banks of Syniukha River in eastern Europe, General Algirdas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was about to do something that would have been unthinkable only a few decades before.

He was going to invade Ukraine and take over the Principality of Kiev.

Kiev at the time was a client state of the Mongolian Empire which had long been the world’s dominant superpower. But Mongolia was in obvious decline.

In the early 1200s under Genghis Khan, everyone in the known world was terrified of the Mongols. No one would have dared to antagonize them.

Genghis’s successors, including his grandson Kublai Khan, continued to wield this immense power into the early 1300s, a century after the empire’s formation.

But then things started to change.

Continue reading “When Ukraine Was Invaded 700 Years Ago… Another Superpower Was in Decline”

Russia Invasion Meets Ukrainian Resistance

Guest Post by Alex Berenson

Ukraine's SECOND Tiananmen moment: Local man climbs on top of Russian tank | Daily Mail Online

You’ll never guess who thinks Ukraine is worth fighting for.

The Ukrainians.

While the West simultaneously whines about Vlad and loads up on Russian natural gas, the good citizens of the UKR are putting their blood where their polling data is.

Fair to say this fight was unexpected. I did have a flash on Wednesday – did the Russians really expect to take Ukraine with 30,000 soldiers, a force smaller than the NYPD? – but I assumed that the consensus had to be right.

Maybe not.

Continue reading “Russia Invasion Meets Ukrainian Resistance”

PUTIN HAS WON

Guest Post by Paul Craig Roberts

Update on the Ukrainian situation

Ukrainian resistance seems to have ceased as its infrastructure was put out of operation. Only a few neo-Nazi militias trapped within the Donbass territories continue to offer resistance.

Russian paratroopers captured Kiev airport. Hours ago the Russian forces had reached the Dnieper and approached the suburbs of Kiev. Ukraine has lost its air force, air defense, navy, and all military airports.  With the destruction of 83 military facilities, the infrastructure of the Ukraine military has been wiped out.

The neo-Nazis will be held accountable.  Ukraine will be required to renounce NATO membership, demilitarize, and renounce all claims to Crimea and the independent republics. Ukrainian soldiers will be permitted to return home to their families.

Unlike the Americans and NATO, the Russians have avoided attacking any civilian areas and the barracks and residences of military units.

Continue reading “PUTIN HAS WON”

Order Out Of Chaos: How The Ukraine Conflict Is Designed To Benefit Globalists

Authored by Brandon Smith via Alt-Market.us,

Within the next couple of months it is likely that there will be direct US military involvement in Ukraine, with Russia now openly supporting and recognizing separatist groups in the Donbass region on the eastern edge of the country and apparently moving to aid them militarily in separation. This is not the first time Russia has sent military units into Ukraine, but it is the first time since 2014 and the annexation of Crimea that the threat of military action has been overt rather than covert.

When conflict erupts, you are going to see a swarm of media stories in western nations trying to outline the complexity of the relationship between Russia and Ukraine since the fall of the Soviet Union, while ignoring certain inconvenient truths. You will see many of these stories construct a narrative which then oversimplifies the situation and paints Russia as the monstrous aggressor. The goal will be to convince the public that our involvement in Ukraine is a moral and geopolitical necessity. There will be attempts to gain American favor and a call for US boots on the ground. Joe Biden will be at the forefront of this push.

The surface trigger for the confrontation is obviously rooted in the 2009 decision by western powers and Ukrainian officials to consider the country for membership in NATO. Most of Russia’s actions when dealing with Ukraine can be owed to NATO involvement in the region, including the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014. Strategically, it makes sense. Imagine if Mexico suddenly announced it was joining a military alliance with China and that Chinese military assets were going to be transferred near the US southern border? It probably would not end well.

Continue reading “Order Out Of Chaos: How The Ukraine Conflict Is Designed To Benefit Globalists”

White House Says Russian Forces 20 Miles Outside Ukraine’s Capital

Via ZeroHedge

Update(10:50pmET): Possible cruise or ballistic missiles have reportedly hit targets in or around the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. It’s unclear the degree to which the strikes are sustained at this point.

The White House has informed lawmakers in Congress that it believes Russian forces are now a mere 20 miles from Kiev.

Continue reading “White House Says Russian Forces 20 Miles Outside Ukraine’s Capital”

Did We Provoke Putin’s War in Ukraine?

Guest Post by Pat Buchanan

Did We Provoke Putin's War in Ukraine? By Patrick Buchanan

Whatever we may think of Putin, he is no Stalin. He has not murdered millions or created a gulag archipelago. Nor is he “irrational,” as some pundits rail. He does not want a war with us, which would be worse than ruinous to us both. Putin is a Russian nationalist, patriot, traditionalist and a cold and ruthless realist looking out to preserve Russia as the great and respected power it once was and he believes it can be again.

When Russia’s Vladimir Putin demanded that the U.S. rule out Ukraine as a future member of the NATO alliance, the U.S. archly replied: NATO has an open-door policy. Any nation, including Ukraine, may apply for membership and be admitted. We’re not changing that.

In the Bucharest declaration of 2008, NATO had put Ukraine and Georgia, ever farther east in the Caucasus, on a path to membership in NATO and coverage under Article 5 of the treaty, which declares that an attack on any one member is an attack on all.

Continue reading “Did We Provoke Putin’s War in Ukraine?”

Putin’s “Shock & Awe” War On Ukraine Unfolds In “Dark Day For Europe”

Via ZeroHedge

Now many hours into Russia’s attack that started around 5am Kiev time, it’s become clear that a full-scale ‘shock and awe’ type invasion is clearly on – which is not just limited to Donbas in the east. Stunning videos from on the ground show what can be described as an ongoing air war on Kiev and several other cities across the country. Tanks have also been seen speeding across Ukraine’s border from Belarus, with widespread reports that Belarusian soldiers are mounting the attack alongside Russian troops.

Russia’s military had announced within just a couple hours into the offensive that all of Ukraine’s air defense systems have been taken out. A massive Russian aerial presence, including fighter jets and helicopters, has been confirmed over much of the country.

Soon after the initial attack which also included cruise missile launches, which likely came from Russia’s Black Sea fleet, Kiev authorities cited “hundreds” of Ukrainians killed, including civilians.

Continue reading “Putin’s “Shock & Awe” War On Ukraine Unfolds In “Dark Day For Europe””

All-Out War Begins in Ukraine

Guest Post by Martin Armstrong

We are getting reports that Russia has begun to invade Ukraine. Sources are reporting that explosions can be heard around Kyiv.  Putin announced that Russia is undertaking a “special military operation” intended to demilitarize the country. In all honesty, it is hard to imagine that the West actually made an honest diplomatic effort when you reject every request of Putin. Even Zelinsky could have agreed to democratic elections where there are more than 720,000 people living in Donetsk and Luhansk. No concession had been made which is not how you engage in diplomatic relations.

Continue reading “All-Out War Begins in Ukraine”

Putin Launches “Special Military Operation” In Ukraine, Kiev Calls It “Full-Scale Invasion”

Via ZeroHedge

LIVE FEED from Kiev:

Russian Ministry of Defense: “Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are being put out of action by high-precision means of destruction.”

  • RUSSIA IS ATTACKING UKRAINE’S MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE WITH HIGH-PRECISION WEAPONS – RIA CITES RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY
  • RUSSIA SAYS IT’S TARGETING UKRAINE ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS: IFX
  • RUSSIA: USING HIGH PRECISION STRIKES ON UKRAINE MILITARY: IFX
  • ZELENSKIY: UKRAINE IS INTRODUCING MARTIAL LAW
  • UKRAINE IMPOSES MARTIAL LAW ACROSS THE COUNTRY: ZELENSKIY
  • RUSSIAN DEFMIN: NO THREAT TO UKRAINE POPULATION: TASS
  • UKRAINE PRESIDENT SAYS RUSSIA CARRIED OUT MISSILE STRIKES ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ON OUR BORDER GUARDS
  • RUSSIAN-BACKED REBELS SAY START ATTACK ON UKRAINE-CONTROLLED TOWN NEAR LUHANSK – IFAX

Continue reading “Putin Launches “Special Military Operation” In Ukraine, Kiev Calls It “Full-Scale Invasion””

The West’s Desperate Effort to Switch the Enemy from COVID to Putin

Guest Post by Martin Armstrong

From the outset, my position was that Ukraine should have been split according to language. Borders have been drawn by politicians, and this policy has given us so many problems over the years. It is language and culture that should define a national border. Ukraine is exerting old-world imperialistic philosophy. While Putin ordered Russian troops Monday to “maintain peace” in two separatist territories in eastern Ukraine shortly after recognizing the Russian-backed areas as independent, naturally the West and Ukraine are claiming this is illegal. Putin has often referred to Ukraine as “little Russia.”

Continue reading “The West’s Desperate Effort to Switch the Enemy from COVID to Putin”

“Joe Biden” Wins World War Three

Guest Post by Jim Kunstler

Woo-wee, that was a close call, huh? But remind me: what was the war supposedly about? Protecting Ukraine’s hallowed border? Bwahahahaha…! Borders? We don’t care about no steenkin’ borders (especially our own border). Upholding the sacred honor of NATO? Really? Who exactly would be punished if the US tries to shut down the Nord Stream-2 pipeline that will send much-needed Russian natgas to gasless Germany? (Did you guess our NATO ally, Germany?) Would Germany suddenly discover that the pipeline is none of America’s business? I think so.

Anyway, what’s the beef in Ukraine? Its easternmost Donbas region has rebelled against administration by Kiev. At America’s direction, Kiev harasses the majority ethnic Russian population there with US-made weaponry. Yet Ukraine’s president Zelensky claims he doesn’t want to antagonize Russia, and certainly wants his much-stomped-upon country — the doormat of Europe — to not get stomped-on all over again in any hypothetical war. Ukraine is already an economic basket-case, supported only by CIA-sponsored grifting operations.

Continue reading ““Joe Biden” Wins World War Three”

Russia Says It Killed 5 “Saboteurs” After Ukrainian Armored Vehicles Breached Its Territory

Via ZeroHedge

In what provides Russia an ‘opportunity’ to pull the trigger on overt intervention in eastern Ukraine (assuming it’s actually desiring to do so), rebel leaders in the breakaway Donetsk region on Monday urged Moscow’s urgent military help amid worsening shelling from Ukrainian national forces, and as fighting escalates along the line of contact.

This as Interfax in a breaking report cites Russian defense officials who say five “saboteurs” were killed by border guards as they attempted to enter Russia’s territory. Though details are as yet unconfirmed at this early point, Russia’s military says Ukrainian army vehicles attempted to breach sovereign Russian territory. Ukraine is disputing the entire narrative, however, calling it fake news and that its forces are not in the Rostov area.

RUSSIA SAYS KILLED FIVE PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO VIOLATE BORDER: IFX

And Bloomberg details of the breaking report:

Continue reading “Russia Says It Killed 5 “Saboteurs” After Ukrainian Armored Vehicles Breached Its Territory”

NATO No Longer a Defensive Alliance Is a Tool of Aggression

Guest Post by Paul Craig Roberts

Do We Really Want War with Russia? | Русская весна

Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO who answers to Washington declared today (Feb 19) at the Munich Security Conference that “if the Kremlin’s aim is to have less NATO on its borders, it will only get more NATO.” He says NATO is beefing up its forces “across the alliance,” that is, in the NATO countries on Russia’s borders. https://www.rt.com/russia/549979-nato-chief-reply-russia/

This is an extremely aggressive response to Russia’s concern about missile bases placed on her borders. To speak frankly, Stoltenberg is inviting a Russian attack before she finds herself with more missile bases on her borders.

Continue reading “NATO No Longer a Defensive Alliance Is a Tool of Aggression”

Donbas Separatists Announce Mass Evacuation To Russia; Putin Sees “Situation Deteriorating”

Via ZeroHedge

Update (0845ET): During a press conference in Moscow with Belarus leader Lukashenko, Putin appeared to offer (perhaps) a slightly less rancorous tone…

  • *PUTIN: RUSSIA ISN’T AGAINST TALKS ON U.S. SECURITY PRPOPOSALS
  • *PUTIN: KYIV JUST NEEDS TO DISCUSS CONFLICT WITH SEPARATISTS
  • *PUTIN: BELARUS DRILLS ARE DEFENSIVE, DON’T THREATEN ANYONE

Meanwhile the narratives continue to duel: 

  • U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE BLINKEN SAYS WE ARE SEEING SCENARIOS OF RUSSIA CREATING FALSE PROVOCATIONS IN UKRAINE
  • PUTIN SAYS WE ARE SEEING RISING TENSION IN DONBASS, NEED TO IMPLEMENT MINSK PEACE AGREEMENTS

Additionally Putin says:

“Right now we are seeing a deterioration of the situation” in eastern Ukraine.

While blame-scaping is obvious in the narratives, they both agree that ‘tensions are rising’.

*  *  *

As we detailed earlier, citing the risk of ‘conflict escalation’, separatists in Donbas (Eastern Ukraine) have announced the evacuation of women, children, and the elderly at the contact line to Russia, according to Interfax.

The leader of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin says, claims to have agreement with government of Russian Rostov region to host people.

Continue reading “Donbas Separatists Announce Mass Evacuation To Russia; Putin Sees “Situation Deteriorating””

Washington Has Prepared an Invasion Narrative

Guest Post by Paul Craig Roberts

The other day I asked, “What is Washington up to?”  It is already time to ask that question again.

While writing my article suggesting that only a judicious use of Russian force would sober up the West, Washington doubled down on its anti-Russian position, predicting in two news venues–the Secretary of State’s UN speech and the State Department spokesman’s press briefing–that Russia was about to launch a false flag attack that Russia would use as the excuse to invade Ukraine.

The State Department claims are pure fantasy.  Why after just rejecting the Russian’s proposal for a mutual security agreement does the Biden regime keep fanning the flames of war?

Continue reading “Washington Has Prepared an Invasion Narrative”

US Warns Russia Preparing For “Imminent” Attack As Shelling Between Ukraine, Rebels Has Begun

Via ZeroHedge

Update (0845ET): Russia has expelled the deputy US ambassador from Moscow in the latest hostile development of the day.

  • BREAKING: Russia expels US Deputy Ambassador Bartle Gorman

* * *

Update (0800ET): The US envoy to the UN is turning up the hysterical warmongering rhetoric up to ’11’ by insisting that Russian troop movements within their own country suggest an attack on Ukraine is “imminent”, with not additional evidence to back that up.

  • U.S. ENVOY TO U.N. SAYS EVIDENCE ON THE GROUND IS THAT RUSSIA IS MOVING TOWARD AN ‘IMMINENT INVASION’, SAYS ‘THIS IS A CRUCIAL MOMENT’

Sound familiar?

And just like that, futures are tumbling, as EU diplomats break up today’s Ukraine talks to shift their focus on a G-20 summit with the African Union.

Continue reading “US Warns Russia Preparing For “Imminent” Attack As Shelling Between Ukraine, Rebels Has Begun”