Massive strikes for several days on Kiev and other cities were reported after Ukraine attacked a Christmas market in Belgorod. Though the Russian attacks were listed as retaliation, they did not target Christmas markets or anything similar. They struck the Artem and Luch plants, where drones and missiles are made, they hit a fuel depot, and a workshop where uniforms and clothes for the military were produced, as well as command bunkers. Ukrainian bloggers revealing this information and publishing the images and videos to prove it were arrested. And in Lviv they hit a museum in commemoration of Roman Shukhevych, obviously to make a point of wanting to ‘de-Nazify’ Ukraine, on top of the other goals the Russians set for themselves.
Yes, civilian buildings were hit, as witnessed by all the videos emerging from Kiev, in particular. No official videos of the actual targets, but plenty of confirmation of the claims above, refuting statements that Ukrainian air defenses are near ‘air tight’. It is most likely that the damage to civilian infrastructure, except the museum, was not intended. Debris from explosions nearby, from intercepted missiles and drones, and from air defense missiles which missed their targets, ending up hitting high-rises, are the more likely explanation.
Meanwhile, all along the front the Russians are on the move, slowly but deliberately adding territory to what they already occupy. Some of it vacated by the Russians for tactical reasons during the Spring/Summer Offensive launched by Ukraine, which ended in a disaster for Ukraine and NATO. Earlier predictions by the ‘Usual Experts’ that both sides would refrain from launching any offensive during the winter are clearly not accurate, although there are no Russian ‘Big Arrow’ offensives, but there is progress if you happen to support the Russian side. By the looks of it, part of the problem is that NATO-equipment is not suitable for the terrain and general conditions prevailing in that part of Ukraine. Too heavy, mainly. And too complicated, high maintenance, or requiring fuel not readily available in positions where those Abrams tanks would normally be useful. While finding ammo for the stuff NATO delivered is becoming a serious headache, if reports from Ukrainian military sources, and the Spanish 'El Pais' newspaper about having to withdraw because they are running on empty are trustworthy.
Increasingly the leaders of the most ‘hawkish’ NATO-countries appear to be moving towards joining the fight directly, for whatever reason. In part that may be their ‘Get Out of Jail for Free’-ticket, if this entire war does go sideways, and they need others to blame for not pulling their weight. Because I can’t see how anybody not entirely obsessed can’t figure out that this thing is not going to fly. Not even with massive ‘hands-on’ NATO engagement, and already obvious weaknesses in our military preparedness, since that would bring other parties to the war as well, not least of which would be China. At this stage China has to understand that if they don’t commit when NATO engages Russia directly and openly, that they have no chance of surviving if Russia collapses. But as I stated previously they must have understood this ‘play’ by NATO from the very beginning, since Russia is not exactly improvising. They are working from a pre-scripted strategy, now ‘Plan-B’ after the ‘Istanbul gambit’ did not bear fruit, no doubt agreed to by China, and possibly even other BRICS-countries, including the recent arrivals.
NATO, in other words, is playing a game of chess against itself, stumbling from one mistake into the next one, feverishly trying to find out how they need to tie their shoe laces, after years of wearing loafers and trainers with zippers or stretch and only decorative laces. A serious fan of NATO’s effort to find a way to regime change Russia through war in Ukraine, the owner of the ‘Moscow Times’, published as a NATO propaganda outlet in Holland, was in a cheerful mood because there had been a huge ‘Prisoner of War’ exchange. It is my understanding that Russia does treat POW’s in line with prevailing international law, and even respect, while Ukraine is not really committed, to say it politely. If my information is correct, imagine what will happen if these POW’s return to Ukraine. I can see them ‘flip’ to support the position now held by Zelensky’s former head of propaganda Arestovych, who is now claiming that Ukraine was used, in line with what I’ve been saying from the beginning, together with people like John Mearsheimer and several others, ignored by the mainstream media. And that the time has come to stop this charade, and join Russia in a ‘J’Accuse’, after the famous novel by Emile Zola which laid bare the anti-semitism prevalent in France at the time.
Yes, I do understand that my information could not be accurate, and I’d hate to misinform you. But I feel strongly that I have every right to warn you based on what I’m seeing and hearing, and what I know, considering my track record. Certainly you would like to know in advance about developments which should not come as a surprise. Less so if our leaders will come knocking on your door, or that of your sons and daughters, because it is time for you to serve your country fighting the Russians. Don’t say that they wouldn’t be that stupid, because we elevated stupid people willingly, feeling strongly that they deserve a fair chance too, as we are rewarding each and everyone for participating, irrespective of results. Read about it HERE, where the author, an economics professor, concludes that if we ever went that way, our countries would go to Hell. Is that where you want to go?