Millions of us might be **** if we ignore the Russian-Ukraine war

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Nope, because it has to be between combatants.
And for the same reason Ukraine can't go around blowing up Iranian Ministers.
And Germany wasn't justified in attacking the US in WW2, nor would Britain have been justified if it had decided to attack Sweden.

Look, just read the Geneva conventions for yourself.

https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/war-and-law ... ntions.htm

Then maybe you can start making valid comments.

[prospector]

I have perused the Geneva Conventions, it certainly would be a better world if they were complied with. But they are not. If any of the reports coming out about the treatment of prisoners, on both sides, are to be believed. That is just one example.

[boing]

Quite obviously the definition of "combatant" is inadequate. A government official who encourages any sort of aggression becomes a De Facto combatant whether it involves authorising any hostilities, approving attacks on civilians with the intent of reducing morale to make the job of the military forces more effective or even helping the job of the military by using propaganda. Ways of waging war have changed and the definition of combatant must change.

If I nuke a city it is ridiculous that I become a combatant but the political leader who approved of the attack is not. Simply because I wear a uniform and he wears a suit does not remove responsibility. TPTB are great at sliding the blame onto someone else and the victors decide what is moral.

.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

I'm pretty sure the cases you mention have always counted as combatant.
The main issue with regard to civilian leaders is not whether they are combatants, but whether or not they have committed war crimes. It can be hard to prove, but it's good to see Karadžić in prison for life.
A secondary issue is whether TPTB on one side wish to encourage targeting of themselves by targeting TPTB on the other side.
But then, in my opinion, most organised crime continues because the laws and actions needed to catch them would also catch politicians
Always worth remembering that the Allies decided post 1942 not to assassinate Hitler because his leadership was losing the war faster than any replacement would have!
And yes, it's always the victors who decide what is moral, and indeed expedient (e.g. Unit 731 in WW2).

Ukraine is claiming 32 Russian artillery system destroyed yesterday, double the usual. That would tally with the NASA-detected fires in the northern Luhansk and southern Kherson areas.

[PHXPhlyer]

Russia-backed officials say a freight train has derailed in Crimea

https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ru ... index.html

Trains between Crimea's two largest cities have been halted after a freight train derailed Thursday, according to Russia-backed authorities.

In a Telegram post, Crimean Railways announced the suspension of services on the Simferopol to Sevastopol line after the train was derailed by the "intervention of unauthorized persons.”

There were no casualties, it added.

Sergey Aksenov, the Moscow-appointed head of the peninsula, said on Telegram that wagons carrying grain "fell off the rails" in Simferopol. He later added that authorities were investigating.

Ukraine has not commented on the incident.
Some context: The Ukrainian military has in recent months carried out attacks in Crimea to harass the Russian Black Sea fleet and disrupt vital Russian supply lines. Ukrainian leaders have previously stated that their goal is to recapture Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

PP

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Large numbers and sizes of fires in the three areas mentioned recently, even more than yesterday.

Some rumours that the Russians are moving troops to reinforce the flanks in Bakhmut, in response to claims of significant Ukrainian advances.

One objective of the pre-attack phase is of course to get the Russians to do this. Ukraine has reportedly not increased their presence around Bakhmut.

Continued silence on things anywhere on the front line except Bakhmut.

There is an indirect implication that a Patriot battery whizzed up to the border was responsible for at least some of the 5 aircraft Russia lost over Bryansk a few days ago.
It would fit with the Russians suddenly deciding to target Patriot batteries.

[prospector]

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/1 ... rosecutors

Ukraine Supreme Court chief detained in $2.7m graft probe
Ukraine, while at war with Russia, reels from ‘biggest-ever case’ implicating the judiciary.

Ukraine's prosecutors.
Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau Semen Kryvonos and Director of the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office Oleksandr Klymenko attend a press conference dedicated to the detention of Ukraine's Supreme Court head, in Kyiv [Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters]
Published On 16 May 2023
16 May 2023
Ukrainian law enforcement has detained the head of the country’s Supreme Court in a $2.7m bribery inquiry, as Kyiv pursues anti-graft measures required for closer integration with the European Union.

“The head of the Supreme Court has been detained,” Oleksandr Omelchenko, a prosecutor with Ukraine’s Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), told reporters in Kyiv.""

. Must really impress the people fighting at the front in very tough conditions finding out how well those at the back are faring.
but then again it might be reassuring that nothing at home has changed.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Cloudy over most of Ukraine.
Still mostly clear over southern Kherson, where there are fresh fires today already in the Oleshky Sands.

WP reporting that the Biden Administration has decided to stop standing in the way of others donating F-16s to Ukraine.
This may be linked to the UK announcing last week it would be starting fast jet training for Ukrainians.
However, it could be a long, bumpy road until Ukes are actually flying them in combat.
One awaits further developments, but it's a start, if true.
The Swedes have effectively been prevented from donating Gripens due to the US engine. Wonder if things have changed here?

World's Worst Job.
"OK Ivan, I just need you to load up your MTLB with anti-tank mines and..."

At least it was quick.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Several fires now showing up in the heathlands N and NW of Luhansk, north of the Siverskyi-Donets river.
More fires than earlier in the Oleshky Sands area.
An officially released video clip showing Ukrainian artillery destroying another piece of Russian artillery in the Oleshky Sands area
This claims that Excaliber GPS artillery shells are being used, which makes sense.
All of the locations hit are the kinds of places that the Russians would hide artillery.
It would be sensible to do this just to stop the Russians shelling Kherson city, but it could also be the precursor to an attack.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

I have geolocated the freight train derailment PHX mentioned to here
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.8921411 ... a=!3m1!1e3

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Biden has officially said (at the G7) that the US will participate in training Ukrainian pilots on 4th gen aircraft (including F-16).

Pilot training required is assessed at 4 months.

Yahoo news has obtained the full write-up on the Uke assessment carried out in Feb/March
Details here
https://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-us-cou ... 36820.html

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Bakhmut.
After 9 months, Russian forces have finally occupied the rubble of what used to be the 54th largest city in Ukraine.
Well, a bunch of mercenaries working for a Russian did.

The Ukes always said they'd counterattack immediately after the Russians stopped attacking. We await developments.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

New fires today in the usual 3 places, plus more in the heathland N of Luhansk. There are more fires in an area NE of Luhansk, hit before, which appears to be outside HIMARS range.

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.7294762 ... a=!3m1!1e3

[Pontius Navigator]

Name 54 cities in UK

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Good point.
The equivalent status in the UK is held by Lincoln.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Ukrainian strikes continue in the usual 3 areas, as indicated by the NASA fire map.
Russian controlled and proxy media has gone nuts in the last couple of days, with huge lies and hyperbolic language. Look like they are getting panicky!

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Russian State media claiming that the Russian army has deliberately created a trap for saboteurs.

Saboteurs who appear to have several mortars and at least one T-72.

Obviously the citizens of the city of Belgorod, 40 miles away, are totally reassured by this!