Darkness.

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"The center of Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv was plunged into darkness on Sunday evening by an electricity blackout," -Reuters.

Ukrainian counter-offensive the Kharkov sector unabated. Russian flees in disarray? It does sound all too good to be true. I guess only time will tell.

1. "From Advanced Orlan-10 UAV to T-80 tanks, Russian Army leaves “valuable gifts” for Ukraine in Kharkiv"

From www.defenceview.in September 11, 2022 | the tip from Freeper.

"The Russians are 'regrouping' so rapidly in the Kharkiv region that Ukrainian troops barely have time to captured all the weapons and equipment during the offensive in Kharkiv region but they manage to captured so many weapons abandon by Russian Army."

An entire arms depot captured intact. Plus Russian command vehicles as abandoned by commander and command staff?

Troops retiring from the battlefield in a disorderly manner bad. Troops retiring from the battlefield in a planned and orderly manner not so bad!

The brutal Russian however strikes back with vengeance. Target the city of Kharkov the electrical grid.

2. "Kharkiv, Ukraine's 2nd Largest City Plunged Into Total Darkness As Russia Strikes Key Infrastructure"

From Nation and State ^ | 09/11/2022 | Tyler Durden tip again from Freeper.

"Kharkiv, which is Ukraine's second largest city and is the biggest population center closest to Russia's border, has been plunged into total darkness Sunday night amid alleged Russian attacks on key infrastructure sites, including large power stations . . . It's further being reported that some city districts are also without water, creating a severe crisis for residents."

Russian prior to the Ukrainian counter-offensive skittish about attacking valuable infrastructure. Want to capture as much as possible, intact and still service-able. Less of burden for end-of-war reconstruction.

coolbert.

Surge.

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From Big Serge Sep 9 [2022] an analysis of the Ukrainian counter-offensive vicinity Kharkov. Serge [Sergei] his assessment generally favorable for the Russian.

"Ukraine Counterattacks!"

"Please Remain Calm"

"Ukraine plays to its audience"

"In the last 72 hours or so, the pro-Russian side of the internet has been sent into an [sic] tailspin of panic over a new Ukrainian counteroffensive which is currently being launched in the Kharkov region, with the intention of compromising the Russian army grouping at Izyum. The panic was triggered by claims that Ukraine was advancing unopposed, encircling - or perhaps even capturing - the city of Balakliya - and on the verge of cutting off supply lines to Izyum."

"If you will indulge me, I would like to revive a bit of optimism."

[....]

"My view is fairly simple: Ukraine cannot and will not reach meaningful objectives - what we call 'operational depth' - and has in fact thrown much of its carefully crafted premium reserves into a dangerous position. I believe it’s highly likely that these top rate Ukrainian formations are about to be savaged - but this is still an important learning moment for Russia."

Devoted readers to the blog are encouraged to read the entire article.

And as to what operational depth is:

"Operational Depth refers to the level of advance wherein the attacking force is no longer attacking the enemy’s frontline elements, but is instead directly assailing the enemy’s ability to sustain itself in combat."

Further with playing to the audience:

"play to the crowd: To act, behave, or perform in such a way as to receive as much approval from an audience or group of spectators as one can get, especially the lowest common denominator therein."

coolbert.

Suomi.

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NATO si, sisu no!

Hell, the shooting hasn't even started!

"Record Numbers Have Quit Finland Army Reserves Since Russia Invasion"

From www.breitbart.com the story by CHRIS TOMLINSON 10 Sep 2022.

"A record number of people in Finland’s army reserve have switched to civilian service this year following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Officials claim the trend does not pose difficulties for the country’s national defense."

"The number of requests to be transferred from the army reserve to civilian service has surged this year, from just 460 applications in 2021 to over 3,300 so far this year. The trend started at the beginning of the year but surged in March following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February."

Sir John Keegan rating the Finnish soldier as the BEST during the Second World War.

Sisu the Finnish national characteristic of courage and determination in the face of adversity.

"Sisu' in Finnish means strength, perseverance in a task that for some may seem crazy to undertake, almost hopeless"

The modern Finn lacking? I think not.

coolbert.

Torpedo.

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Torpedo los. The Ukraine Conflict could have been ended in April?

"torpedo: verb - 2: to destroy or nullify altogether : WRECK"

"Why Did US Torpedo The April Ukraine War Negotiated Settlement?"

From TFP Editor ^ | September 10, 2022 | TFP Editor that tip from Freeper.

"Most Americans are unaware how close Russia and Ukraine came to ending the current war in April. Last March 27, Ukraine president Zelensky told his people 'Our goal is obvious – peace and the restoration of normal life in our native state as soon as possible.' He was hinting at what went unsaid: Ukraine and Russia, brokered by NATO member Turkey, reached a tentative fifteen-point peace plan to end the month old war."

Consider among those fifteen-points: [thanks to the Internet web site Red State here]

* "Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine."

* "The Ukrainian armed forces will remain intact."

* "Ukraine agrees not to join NATO."

* " Ukraine is allowed to join the EU."

* "Ukraine can enter into bilateral 'security guarantees' with other countries; there are no limits on the countries or number of countries Ukraine can deal with."

* "Foreign troops cannot be stationed in Ukraine."

* "Foreign weapons systems cannot be deployed in Ukraine."

* "The Russian language is given official status within Ukraine."

Territorial concessions Donbass too on the agenda? Perhaps a binding plebiscite would have been warranted. Sounds rather fair and rational to me.

coolbert.

Push.

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Not so fast NATO, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan. Etc.

USA weapons military stockpile reduced to an alarmingly low level. Not even adequate to fight one regional war for an extended period?

It is going to take some while for the USA military to replenish depleted war munitions.

Just to get the assembly lines up to full or increased full capacity going to be an expensive and time-consuming business. 

"Allies push for US weaponry after seeing impact in Ukraine"

From Associated Press ^ | September 9, 2022 | LOLITA C. BALDOR the tip from Freeper.

"As other nations see the impact of U.S. weapons in the Ukraine war, the Pentagon is getting more requests for them, including the high-tech, multiple-launch rocket system that Ukrainian forces have successfully used against Russian ammunition depots and other supplies, Defense officials said Friday."

HIMARS in particular a highly sought weapons system. ATACMS rocket artillery fired from HIMARS even much more desirable I might think.

But in all cases, USA military first, then export sales. None of it going to be cheap. None of it done tomorrow.

coolbert.

Avalanche.

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We have here the real deal it seems. Not misleading and exaggerated headlines from the Ukraine Conflict. A pause in the combat action followed by an escalation of hostilities much to the detriment of the Russian.

1. "Ukrainian Counter-Offensive: Zelensky Claims 3,000 Square Km Recaptured from Russia"

From Breitbart ^ | 09/11/2022 | Peter Caddle that tip from Freeper.

"Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed his forces have taken back over 3,000 square kilometres [eighteen-hundred square miles] from Russia within the last two weeks."

"Ukrainian forces have reportedly recaptured 3,000 square kilometres . . . of lost territory from Russia since the start of September, President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed, in what appears to be the latest momentum shift in the conflict between the warring states."

2. "Russia's Disaster in Kharkiv Turns Into an Avalanche of Failure as Ukraine's Army Advances Without Opposition"

From Red State ^ | 09/10/2022 | Streiff the tip from Freeper.

"The Russian situation in the Kharkiv area of Ukraine is growing more desperate by the hour. A couple of days ago, the Ukrainian Army launched an ambitious offensive designed to force Russian forces from a large part of Kharkiv Oblast, which they’ve illegally occupied since February. I posted on the initial stage of the offensive yesterday in Putin’s War, Week 28. The Sitzkrieg Goes Blitzkrieg as Ukraine’s Army Moves 50 Kilometers [thirty miles] in Two Days. Since that post, things have changed radically."

Ukrainian counter-offensive to a large extent has succeeded. Russian troops demoralized, Vlad going to find it hard to continue his special military action. A truce or another pause in combat activity will now ensure. Stalemated and static warfare followed by some sort of negotiations?

coolbert.

F & F.

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MiG-29 = NATO code name Fulcrum. Su-27 = NATO code name Flanker.

Confirmation. American anti-radar missiles in use Ukraine.

From theaviationist.com the story by STEFANO D'URSO August 21, 2022. 

1. "Ukrainian MiG-29s [Fulcrum] Are Hunting Russian Radars With AGM-88 HARM Missiles"

"US officials confirmed that the AGM-88 has been integrated on the Fulcrum to enhance its SEAD capabilities."

"The United States announced another security assistance package to support Ukraine, worth $775 million. During the briefing with the press on August 19, 2022, to discuss the contents of the package . . . the officials confirmed that the U.S. delivered AGM-88 [High Speed Anti Radiation missiles] to Ukraine and that these are being employed by the MiG-29 Fulcrum."

SEAD = Suppression Enemy Air Defense. 

But not only Fulcrum. Flanker too.

2. "Ukrainian Su-27s [Flanker] Are Now Using AGM-88 HARM Missiles Too"

By STEFANO D'URSO September 9.

"After the video of the MiG-29 Fulcrum shooting HARMs, photos now show also the Flankers flying with the American anti-radiation missiles.

"Last week we got the visual confirmation of the Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter jets employing US-made AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missiles. Now we have photographic evidence of the missile being employed also by the Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker heavy fighters."

Missiles HARM to be used against Russian air defense radars. Also can be used [?] against counter-battery radars as associated with Russian artillery targeting?

coolbert.