This is getting interesting. Prigozhin is saying that Russian troops are fleeing in front of a Ukrainian offensive around Bakhmut...

The head of the Wagner Group of Russian mercenaries, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, says Ukraine’s promised counter-offensive ‘is going full steam ahead’ round Bakhmut. Russian soldiers are giving ground almost without a fight, he claims. Prigozhin’s aim is to damage his Kremlin rivals.

— John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) May 12, 2023

Wow.

This is beyond interesting.

This Prigozhin dude is either a master at disinformation or he's a useful tool for the allies against his own nation.

Can you imagine not telling your citizens that your forces have faced a setback on the field of battle but instead that they're fleeing in front of the enemy?  That sounds like a damn near rout!

But I have to wonder.

The Chechens are there.  Those dudes are some brutal bastards.  If I was fighting them and for some reason capture was imminent I'd consider using the last round on myself.

Fleeing in front of the enemy just don't sound like their style.

Real curious as to what's really going on.

Wagner chief Prigozhin says Moscow downplaying situation around Bakhmut

#BREAKING Wagner chief Prigozhin says Moscow downplaying situation around Bakhmut pic.twitter.com/ZEsZR2BVJ0

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 12, 2023

Open Comment Post. 12 May 23

Anytime, Anywhere | What do Marines do?

It's really a shame. Berger's total focus on only the Indo-Pac theater clouded his vision. It was obvious that he reduced the number of amphibs necessary to float Marines was just a bid to get his Landing Ship Mediums to transport his baby, the Marine Littoral Regiment. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Berger is going to leave the Marine Corps is worst shape than when he found it. He has taken the Marine Corps down an evolutionary dead end. As a change agent he failed. Instead of adding to our capabilities he's crippled the Corps. His legacy will be one of destruction. The destruction of the Marine Corps.

Ukraine's Planned Counteroffensive - force readiness, leaks, politics & expectations (another good one from Perun YouTube...Noble was right subscribe to this guy!)

AMPV: The Future of Battle

HDT Global’s Robotic and Autonomous Solutions

 

Our influence continues to wane in the Middle East...Egypt ignores US requests...

 

Egypt has ignored U.S. requests to close its airspace to Russian military flights, testing the limits of Washington’s ability to choke off Moscow’s supplies ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. (WSJ)

— Instant News Alerts (@InstaNewsAlerts) May 12, 2023

I keep saying it but no one is listening. The world outside of the West does not view the war in Ukraine the same way our leadership does. My biggest concern is that this war and the way we're conducting it is having unintended knock on effects. The most obvious to me is the "you're with us or against us" camps that are developing. The US/EU has only Japan, Australia, a little bit of S. Korea and I can't name many more on one side and on the other China, Russia and the rest of the world.

The terrible thing is that I don't think its the war itself that has caused this but the over the top sanctions, the seizing of assets and the SWIFT actions that has caused many former allies (along with numerous other issues on individual nation state basis) that is weakening us world wide.

This war won't end this year.  More fuel spikes are coming.  The food supply chain will remain fragile.

In short I expect more chaos ahead.

I'll never understand the "want" to self censor news on the war between Russia/Ukraine

See some proof that Ukraine’s army made some sudden advances somewhere? No you didn’t. It does t matter if something is already online, do not amplify it. Be quiet and I’ll buy you several craft beers in some of the best Kyiv’s bars after the victory. pic.twitter.com/i2YqBnbNYK

— NAFO Orwell🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@OrwellsShaddow) May 11, 2023

I find this interesting. Ukraine, Russia, the US, UK, NATO and EU (and all the countries that belong to NATO/EU) give updates on military activity on an ongoing basis. So why the desire by some bloggers/tweeters to self censor news on the war? I don't get it. On this blog we talked about advances today by both sides. Considering the time differences and the reporting from the lines back to their defense ministry and up to the civil govt and then the MSM, we're already seeing at least a day or two delay at best.

So what's my point?

By the time we read about it, its already old news.  If we read about it then its most likely being released for propaganda, because its assumed the other side will or both.

Self censorship of news is a disgrace. We supposedly have access to more information today than at anytime in history.  Sadly that info is so manipulated that its even more difficult to tell what's true, what's a lie and what's being used to manipulate opinion.

I wonder what Ukraine is up to

BREAKING:

Panic erupting on Russian Telegram after multiple reports of increased Ukrainian troop concentrations today in Beryslav

There is reportedly a large number of Ukrainian small boats gathering on the Dniepr river in the region & amphibious vehicles have been spotted too pic.twitter.com/rgzVuNN0kz

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) May 11, 2023