pmp10

Is it really any worse than remotely blowing-up an unwitting Russian truck driver?

If NYT is to be believed the bomb was truck-borne and strike organized by Ukrainian intelligence service. We can't be sure the driver was aware of his cargo, but yes - many in the west will not like the similarity.

Russians reopening the road traffic already: Not about to help their reputation for lax safety standards. Must be really sure there is no follow-up coming either.

Bridge strike as a late gift for Putin's birthday. I understand the sentiment but you'd really think Ukrainians would have bigger priorities.

It's really interesting that this is reported only now. You'd think that US found that out soon after the assassination. People have been speculating that it's a deliberate leak to send a message to Kiev over something.

I don't think we are in the 'good old days' just yet. For all the shouting and rhetoric I think few in Moscow or Kiev think that owning Kherson is for them existential.

Two interesting US developments likely in response to mobilization and annexations: New US Army command to coordinate Ukraine assistance will be build in Germany. US is planning to move to constant financial aid and pushes EU to do the same. They are clearly willing to take this long term, but placing command structures in Germany is a little surprising if they can see that EU is stalling on assistance.

Maybe so, but in a way they are a logical escalation of his views. He already claimed to be fighting the 'unipolar world order' made by the US. Blaming 'Anglo-Saxons' for imperialism of past centuries was just an appeal for support to any like-minded countries and peoples worldwide.

Gazprom cuts gas supply to Italy. Reminder of Yamal–Europe gas flow is likely only a matter of time.

Sure but I was more surprised by the legality of it. But I see Ukraine like US and Russia never signed the relevant convention banning the thing.

Isn't that effectively cluster munition banned by international treaties? I thought that's the reason it was withdrawn in the US.

Well, it's done. After 30 minutes of anti-western ranting Putin singed the deals with separatists. Russia is now officially claiming Luhansk , Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as their own. No going back now to any discussions with Ukraine now. Chances for any long term peace until one side is completely defeated are likely also dead.

You know we could hair-split these excuses all day long. Fundamentally one side is conscripting thousands and the other thinks western made 25mm auto-cannon is an unacceptable escalation. The point being that if wars are won on willpower then Ukraine is looking at a rough future.

The key-word being 'western', same as with tanks. It's true that BMP-1s and its variants have been delivered but let's not kid over selves, that is Khrushchev-era design. AFAIK that was one of industry proposals that German government blocked. In which case why doesn't this apply to APCs? They can somehow support American M113s, British Spartans, Finish XA-185s, Dutch YPR-765s and more.

That's the funny thing about it. Western APCs are okay and have been delivered but IFVs are not. This limitation seems especially arbitrary.

Fair enough but doesn't this also apply to HIMARS? They were also undeliverable until it seemed that Ukraine will collapse without them. If supply chains are really an issue then there is whole winter to build them up.

US couldn't even get rid of Maduro and that guy practically wrecked the economy of his country. I'm sure they'd love a neutral regime but I doubt they have any power in the matter.

If that is the whole response then not even US is willing to violate the no-tanks taboo.

Also possible that this one line was deliberately left intact. That remaining NS2 line can still supply Germany. I bet that if other pipelines are stopped this will be the first one Gazprom will be willing to restart. At a price of course.

They could have multiple reasons: warn the west about things to come if they don't force Ukraine to the negotiating table pretend to be the first victim of the upcoming pipeline ripper (definitely not the perpetrator, no sir) divide NATO with accusations and conspiracy theories (was it US? was it Poland?) panic the EU markets to rally the slowly dropping gas prices punish Germany for taking over Russian energy assets And it's not like the pipelines were looking to be of much use in the short term anyway. Doesn't mean they did it of course, but the benefits are there.

We will almost certainly find out in time. If it's Russia it won't be an isolated case, incidentally Baltic pipe is set to open soon. If it isn't Russia the news will leak sooner or later.

Over the last 24 hours both Nord Stream pipelines have sprung mysterious leaks. Plenty of vulnerable gas pipelines in the area, especially the ones from Norway. Energy war escalates.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I doubt anything will happen over Kherson or Zaporizhzhia that Russians have never taken. Threaten Sevastopol however and we might just see tactical nukes deployed.

Interesting reactions to Putin's nuclear saber rattling: Zelenskyy thinks that Putin isn't bluffing. US warns Russia over nuclear weapons use via private channels. So what options do they have except let him win?

A good RUSI commentary on western response to mobilization. That response will be a even better indication of the future than the handling of upcoming energy squeeze.