Powered By Blogger

01 July, 2022

 

Historic decisions on strengthening NATO’s eastern flank made in Madrid

(Baltic Times)

"I am glad that for the first time since the Cold War this is exactly how Russia is perceived in the new strategy just approved by NATO," Kaja Kallas said. Estonia considers it vital that NATO’s collective defense is considerably reinforced. "We agreed that in response to Russia’s aggression, NATO would move to a new forward defense posture that makes it possible to defend every square centimeter of NATO territory from the very first moments of an attack. To achieve this, concrete decisions were taken today on strengthening the eastern flank," the prime minister added.”

—

“Kallas said it is crucial to begin implementing this change of direction immediately after the decision by NATO heads of state and government. "For Estonia, this means cooperating with allies on developing a division-sized unit and its leadership structure, which would be ready to defend Estonia in case of a conflict," she added.”

https://www.baltictimes.com/estonian_pm__historic_decisions_on_strengthening_nato_s_eastern_flank_made_in_madrid/




Eksperdid peavad NATO tippkohtumist Eestile edukaks

(ERR)

“Eesti sõjandus- ja julgeolekueksperdid peavad NATO tippkohtumisel saavutatud kokkuleppeid Eestile soodsaks, kuid rõhutavad, et poliitilised otsused tuleb nüüd ka ellu viia ning toovad esile rea murekohti.”

—

"Üldjoontes oli ju tulemus hea. Loomulikult tahaks alati midagi rohkemat, aga ma usun, et nüüd on see aeg, et neid verbaalseid otsuseid tegudesse viia. See saab olema keeruline ja seal on NATO riikidel, kes oma üksuste suurendamist idapiirkonnas lubasid, veel palju tööd ära teha," ütles endine kaitseväe juhataja kindral Riho Terras.”

https://www.err.ee/1608644320/eksperdid-peavad-nato-tippkohtumist-eestile-edukaks




Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on how the NATO summit went

(NPR)

“I would describe this summit as historic because of many things. First of all, Russia is the most imminent and direct threat to allied security. That was set out and put to the papers that everybody sees this this way, not only us, being the frontline states, but also the other allies. Due to this, that Russia is the most imminent and direct threat and has risen the level of aggression, the level of defense should comply with this. So we agreed to move from the deterrence poster to defense posture, which means that not only we would be able to, you know, liberate our country afterwards, but we are actually going to defend the country from the first minute so that the Article 5, which says that attack on one is attack on all, is also really working in practice so that we are able to push back the aggression from the first minute. …”

https://www.npr.org/2022/06/30/1109051151/estonias-prime-minister-kaja-kallas-on-how-the-nato-summit-went



Kaja Kallas speaking to reporters at the 29. June 2022 NATO Summit


“NATO agrees to divisional structure, brigade-sized unit in Estonia.” - ERR


“Martin Herem: loodavat diviisi staapi hakkab juhtima eestlane.” - ERR


“Kaja Kallas: There has been a significant shift in NATO's mindset.” - ERR


“Kallas: NATO mõtteviis on muutunud.” - ERR




Kusti Kantsler: saime NATO tippkohtumiselt pea kõik, mida küsisime

(ERR)

“Kaitseministeeriumi kantsleri Kusti Salmi sõnul sai Eesti Madridis toimuvalt NATO tippkohtumiselt enam-vähem kõik, mida küsima läks ehk et Eestit kaitstakse konflikti korral esimesest momendist alates. “Me tahtsime, et Eestit oleks võimalik kaitsta esimesest sekundist, esimesest meetrist ja seda meile ei tagaks mitte ainult kõmisevad sõnad, vaid seda tagaksid reaalsed väed, juhtimisstruktuurid, plaanid ning kõik muu, mis sinna juurde kuulub. Selle me täna kõik otsustena saime.”

https://www.err.ee/1608643810/kantsler-saime-nato-tippkohtumiselt-pea-koik-mida-kusisime



“Kusti Salm: vajadusel hakkab Eesti ja NATO sõdima sõja esimesest sekundist.“ - Kuku Raadio




Nato to increase forces to 300,000

(The Daily Beast | Financial Times)

“The U.S. military will now have permanent headquarters for the U.S. 5th Army Corps in Poland; will deploy an additional rotational combat brigade to Romania; “enhance” rotational deployments to the Baltics (where there will be a “persistent, heel-to-toe presence in the region”); deploy two more Navy destroyers to Spain; and two additional F-35 squadrons to the United Kingdom, according to the White House.”

—

“The alliance would “significantly reinforce” its defences in eastern Europe, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said, pledging that Russia would not be able to capture the Estonian capital Tallinn “just as they have not been able to seize the city of Kirkenes in northern Norway or West Berlin during the cold war.”

—

“NATO’s existing defense posture in the Baltics involves about 8,000 foreign troops -- led by the UK, Canada and Germany -- to deter any possible invasion and act as a so-called tripwire in the event of one. NATO officials agree that the approach is now untenable in light of the scale of Putin’s attack on Ukraine.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/us-to-boost-military-presence-in-europe-after-biden-says-putin-has-shattered-peace?via=ios




“Madrid Summit Declaration Document” - NATO


“NATO 2022 Strategic Concept.” - NATO [11 pages; pdf]


“NATO invites Finland, Sweden to join’.” - Reuters


“Putin plays down Finnish Nato accession.” - Yle


“Otseblogi: Teateid Madridi tippkohtumiselt.” - Postimees


“How was Turkey’s veto of Nordic NATO bid avoided?” - AP


“Putin condemns NATO’s ‘imperial ambitions’.” - Aljazeera


“NATO calls Russia its ‘most significant and direct threat’.” - AP


“Boris Johnson will send more British troops to Estonia.” - Metro


“The Path To NATO Is Clear For Sweden And Finland.” - 19fortyfive


“Britain to spend 2.5% of GDP on military. Urges allies to follow suit.” - Times


“Soome ja Rootsi liitumine NATO-ga nihutab jõudude tasakaalu.” - ERR


“Sweden ready for Russian retaliation over NATO decision.” - Politico


“European media gives extensive coverage to memorandum on Nordic countries' NATO bids.” - Anadolu Agency, Turkey


“Latvian minister: Russia will remain a threat for the next five decades.” - BNN


“The foreign ministers of Finland, Sweden and Türkiye signed a trilateral memorandum on cooperation on counter-terrorism.” - Finnish Government 


“Britain to commit 1,000 extra troops to Nato’s defence of Estonia.” - Guardian


“Invasion of Ukraine may cost Russia access to Baltic Sea.” - Forces Net


“The Greatest Threats to Alliance Unity Will Come After the Madrid Summit.” - Foreign Affairs


“The US fifth army corps to establish a permanent base in Poland, extra troops would be committed to the Baltic states.” - The Guardian


“Putin said there will be "some tension" with Sweden and Finland if they join NATO.” - Deutsche Welle


“The NATO alliance is one of the best bargains in geopolitics.” - Foreign Policy


“NATO Returns to Combat Stance to Counter a New and Hostile World.” - Bloomberg


“Rumors of NATO’s Brain Death Were Greatly Exaggerated.” - Bloomberg



__________


EstoNews will be taking a break.

Be back in 2 weeks or so. Aitäh!


__________





Friday 1. July


Mihkelson: Kaliningradi erisuse loomine annaks Venemaale väga vale signaali

(ERR)

“Me oleme näinud kogu aeg, et Venemaa ei ole vastanud ühelegi lääne poliitilisele katsele pingeid lõdvendada või neid vähendada sarnase vastusammuga. Vastupidi, me näeme Venemaa terroristlikku käitumist Ukrainas, kaubanduskeskuste ja elurajoonide pommitamist, justkui signaliseerides, et neid ei huvita absoluutselt maailma ja eeskätt lääne reageering.”

https://www.err.ee/1608645649/mihkelson-kaliningradi-erisuse-loomine-annaks-venemaale-vaga-vale-signaali




Butša massimõrva korraldasid Pihkva üksused

(Postimees)

“Kevadel avalikuks tulnud Butša veresauna Ukrainas panid toime Lõuna-Eesti naabruses paiknevad Pihkva dessantväelased, kelle suhtes kehtestas USA mõne päeva eest sanktsioonid, kirjutas Pihkva uudistekanal Pskovskaja Gubernija. Leht avaldas kolmapäeval viitega USA rahandusministeeriumile uudise, et Ühendriigid kehtestasid sanktsioonid Pihkva oblastis paikneva 76. õhudessantrügemendi ja 234. õhudessantrügemendi, samuti õhujõudude 64. motoriseeritud laskurbrigaadi vastu.”

https://lounapostimees.postimees.ee/7555414/butsa-massimorva-korraldasid-pihkva-uksused




Military Units Credibly Implicated in Human Rights Abuses in Ukraine

(US Department of State, 28. June 2022)

“According to credible reports, Russia’s 76th Guards Air Assault Division has been directly implicated in violence against unarmed civilians in Bucha, as well as beating detained persons.  A soldier of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division has stated his unit was tasked with “clean up” activities and this involved breaking into residential buildings where civilians lived.” [The 76th Guards Air Assault Division’s base is in Pskov - 50 km from Eesti’s southeastern border.]

https://www.state.gov/targeting-russias-war-machine-sanctions-evaders-military-units-credibly-implicated-in-human-rights-abuses-and-russian-federation-officials-involved-in-suppression-of-dissent/



“Russian divisions stationed in Pskov, such as the 76th Airborne Division, suffered heavy losses - around 1,000 casualties - and will take approximately a year to return to its former strength.” - Ministry of Defense Secretary-General Kusti Salm - ERR




Aita punamonumendid üles leida

(Postimees)

“Eestis puudub üldine monumentide register. Samuti ei ole teada, kui palju on meil punamonumente ja kus need asuvad. Kõige täpsemad andmed on olemas Lääne-Virumaa kohta, mille põhjal võib arvata, et Eestis võib olla 500 kuni 1000 punamonumenti. Postimees kutsub oma lugejaid üles märkama erinevaid punamonumente ja neist meile teada andma.”

https://www.postimees.ee/7541480/uleskutse-aita-punamonumendid-ules-leida




Putinjuugendi ja vene laste ajupesula tulek

Juku-Kalle Raid, Postimees

“Našid oli militaarne noorteorganisatsioon, mis tegutses primi-propaganda najal. Ja see teatas juba 17 aastat tagasi vaid üht: Lääs tahab Venemaa hävitada, mistap Venemaa peab hävitama Lääne. Seejärel teostati organisatsiooni poolt hüpe, mis pole sugugi ainult poliitiline, vaid ehk isegi geomeetriline. Toonased 13-aastased, keda «koolitati», on täna puhtaksnühitud ajudega 30-aastased. …”

https://elu24.postimees.ee/7555940/elu25-juku-kalle-raid-putinjuugendi-ja-vene-laste-ajupesula-tulek




A New Iron Curtain

(Fortune)

“A new Iron Curtain is descending between Russia and the West, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday. “From now on, we will trust neither the Americans nor the EU,” Lavrov said at a press conference after talks with his Belarusian counterpart, Vladimir Makei. “We will do everything necessary not to depend on them in critically important industries.”

https://fortune.com/2022/07/01/russia-iron-curtain-soviet-union-callback/








Thursday 30. June



Eesti plaanib keskmaaõhutõrje soetamist koos Lätiga

(ERR)

“Kaitseminister Kalle Laanet ja Läti kaitseminister Artis Pabriks allkirjastasid neljapäeval Madridis NATO tippkohtumisel kavatsuste protokolli, mis loob aluse Eesti ja Läti keskmaa õhutõrje süsteemide ühiseks hankeks.”

https://www.err.ee/1608644614/eesti-plaanib-keskmaaohutorje-soetamist-koos-latiga



“Latvia and Estonia sign letter of intent on purchase of medium-range air defense systems.” - Baltic Times




Estonia struggles to contain double-digit inflation and labor shortages

(Emerging Europe)

“A renewed focus on structural reforms would help drive stronger growth and sustain living standards in Estonia as rising inflation, exacerbated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has harmed its economic recovery and risks undermining its efforts to reduce poverty …”

https://emerging-europe.com/news/estonias-struggle-to-contain-rampant-inflation/



“Eesti inflatsioon oli juunis 22 protsendiga euroala kiireim.” - ERR




Russia has warned citizens against traveling to neighboring Estonia

(Anadolu Agency, Turkey)

“… where stringent curbs on the movement of goods and heavy penalties are set to kick in starting next week.”

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/russia-issues-estonia-travel-warning-over-goods-ban/2624786#



“Due to Estonia's openly hostile attitude toward Russia and its citizens, the Russian Foreign Ministry recommends that Russian citizens abstain from travelling to the Republic of Estonia.” - Baltic Times




Can the gloomy picture in Lithuania get any darker?

(BNN)

“Lithuania is still bracing itself for Russia’s response to its imposition of EU sanctions on the transit trade between Russia and its exclave of Kaliningrad. Moscow regards the ban on the transport of certain goods – notably steel and ferrous metal products – between parts of its territory as a violation of a 2002 agreement with the EU.”

https://bnn-news.com/bnn-analyses-can-the-gloomy-picture-in-lithuania-get-any-darker-235830




Experts present Latvian government list of 69 Soviet monuments to tear down

(BNN)

“On 16 June the Saeima passed in the last reading the Law on prohibition of display of objects praising the Soviet and Nazi regimes and their dismantling in the territory of the Republic of Latvia. This law provides for the removal of objects glorifying totalitarian regimes by 15 November 2022. The list of objects to be removed from Latvia’s territory will need to be composed by the government, which will make its decision based on recommendations from experts.”

https://bnn-news.com/experts-present-latvian-government-list-of-69-soviet-monuments-to-tear-down-235827



“Experts evaluate about 300 objects glorifying Soviet regime.” - BNN




Poland Finishes Construction Of Wall On Belarusian Border To Keep Migrants Out

(RFERL)

“Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said on June 30 that the construction of the 5.5 meter-high, 186 kilometer-long steel wall will "separate us from the bleak dictatorship of Belarusian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.”

https://www.rferl.org/a/poland-belarus-border-wall-completed-migrants/31923263.html







Wednesday 29. June



Kanada avab Eestis saatkonna

(ERR)

“Kanada välisminister Melanie Joly teatas, et muudab praegused esindused Eestis, Leedus ja Slovakkias suursaatkondadeks koos resideeruvate suursaadikutega.”

—

“Välisministeerium selgitas, et need muudatused suurendavad Kanada osalust piirkonnas ning aitavad võidelda Venemaa destabiliseeriva tegevusega.”

https://www.err.ee/1608643765/kanada-avab-eestis-saatkonna



“Canada is set to open embassies in Lithuania, Estonia, and Slovakia.” - Foreign Policy




Russian lawmaker: Baltic exclave blockade may fuel conflict

(AP)

“Vladimir Dzhabarov, a deputy head of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of Russia’s parliament, said that if the Kalingrad region faces blockade “it could lead to an armed conflict. … The Russian state must protect its territory and ensure its security,” Dzhabarov said in televised comments. “If we see that a threat to our security that is fraught with a loss of territory, we will certainly take extreme measures and nothing will stop us.”

https://apnews.com/article/nato-russia-ukraine-moscow-blockades-european-union-e3d1669e4a0b9992c413004a4c2378ce



“Venemaa paigutas Kaliningradi rannikule laevatõrje raketisüsteemid.” - ERR


“Russia has deployed advanced anti-ship missiles to firing positions in Kaliningrad.” - Naval News


"We must think of the unthinkable' - says former Estonian president.” - Sky News




Russia Hits Out at Norway Over Blocked Arctic Archipelago Access

(The Moscow Times)

“Russian officials have voiced outrage and threatened retaliation after they said Norway blocked a shipment of essential goods, including food and medical supplies, destined for Russian miners on the Svalbard archipelago. … The shipment was reportedly headed for Barentsburg, the Arctic archipelago’s second-largest settlement, where some 400 people work for Russian state-owned coal mining company Arktikugol.”

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/06/29/russia-hits-out-at-norway-over-blocked-arctic-archipelago-access-a78138



“Russian Lawmakers OK 'Foreign Agent' Amendment Making It Easier To Target Individual Critics.” - RFERL


"Does Putin’s ‘toxic masculinity’ really matter?” - by Mark Galeotti, The Spectator







Tuesday 28. June



Defense ministry: Estonia well protected

(ERR)

“Russian forces stationed near the country's border are in no position to launch an attack, Ministry of Defense Secretary-General Kusti Salm said, replying to comments made by the prime minister last week.”

—

“First, the official highlighted the Russian divisions stationed in Pskov, such as the 76th Airborne Division, suffered heavy losses - around 1,000 casualties - and will take approximately a year to return to its former strength. Secondly, Salm said Estonia has increased its own combat capabilities.”

—

[Note that Pskov is 50km from the Estonian border station in Koidula.]

https://news.err.ee/1608642196/defense-ministry-official-estonia-is-well-protected



“Sanctions turn Estonia's Koidula freight station into ghost station.” - ERR


“Two Less Obvious Lessons for Baltic Defense from Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine.” - FPRI


“The Estonian women preparing for war.” - The Guardian


“Canada sends 2 warships to Baltic Sea to bolster security.” - Defense Talk




NATO summit offers Estonia chance to make case for a permanent military base

By Colonel Jon Sweet (retd.), Washington Examiner

“Estonia's primary military concern is Russian artillery. It has seen the devastating impact those artillery forces are having in Ukraine. Every square inch of Estonia is within range. And having lived under Russian occupation before, Estonians have no intention of letting history repeat itself. The challenge is that Russia might be able to launch a blitzkrieg rush across Estonia, quickly seizing its territory. Without a good deal of advance warning, NATO would struggle to mobilize quickly enough to react to a Russian invasion.”

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/courage-strength-optimism/nato-summit-offers-estonia-chance-to-make-case-for-permanent-base



“NATO must focus on the long term.” - Politico Europe




Electricity firms agree plans for third line between Finland, Estonia

(Yle)

“Once completed the EstLink 3 connection beneath the Gulf of Finland will have an estimated capacity of between 700 to 1,000 megawatts, according to the company.”

https://yle.fi/news/3-12513671




Yandex Maps Makes Russia’s Borders with Ukraine and Other Countries Disappear

By Paul Goble

“Yandex Maps … has announced that its maps won’t be showing political borders anymore. … This represents a change of major dimensions and clearly sends a message about how Moscow now views the state border that were established in 1991. It tells Russians that as far as their country is concerned, political borders are no longer as important as other kinds, at least with regard to countries bordering the Russian Federation.”

http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/06/yandex-maps-makes-russias-borders-with.html




Zelensky Warns Belarusians: Don't Let Putin Drag You Into War

(Newsweek)

"You are being drawn into the war. The Kremlin has already decided everything for you," Zelensky said during a video address on Sunday night. "But you are not slaves and cannon fodder. You don't have to die."

https://www.newsweek.com/zelensky-warns-belarusians-putin-drag-war-ukraine-nuclear-missiles-1719367








Monday 27. June



Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania want extra troops on the ground

(Financial Review, 26. June)

“… because Ukraine has shown the first fight is the most important one.”

https://www.afr.com/world/europe/ukraine-war-underscores-need-for-permanent-nato-eastern-defences-20220626-p5awos



“For First Time, Putin says His Goal in Ukraine is 'Recovering' Russian Territory.” - by Paul Goble


“Ukraine war is a 1937 moment, says new army chief General Sir Patrick Sanders.” - The Times, UK




Opinion: It’s time to suspend the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act

(The Hill)

“The Founding Act contained two key assurances to show that NATO enlargement posed no military threat to Russia. First, NATO members reiterated that they had “no intention, no plan and no reason to deploy nuclear weapons on the territory of new members” (the “three no’s”). Second, the Alliance stated that “in the current and foreseeable security environment,” NATO defense did not require the “additional permanent stationing of substantial combat forces” in new members. Russia pledged to exercise similar restraint.”

—

“Following Russia’s initial assaults on Ukraine in 2014, the Alliance deployed, on a rotating basis, small battalion-sized battlegroups in the Baltic states and Poland, essentially as trip-wires …”

—

“Regardless of how the Russia-Ukraine war ends, NATO members must accept that they face a long-term military threat to their east. Ensuring that the Kremlin does not try something against a NATO member requires that the Alliance station, on a permanent basis, more robust combat forces in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. To deter today’s Russia, those forces should serve as more than trip-wires and have ground and air capabilities sufficient to hold off attacking forces until Allied reinforcements arrive.”

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3514801-nato-russia-its-time-to-suspend-the-founding-act/



“The NATO / Russia Founding Act” - NATO Official text




Commentary: NATO Must Free Itself from Its Promises to Russia

 (The Bulwark, March 2022)

“In retrospect, Vladimir Putin announced his intention to abrogate the NATO-Russia Founding Act in 2007, though of course, not in so many words. Two months after his bellicose speech at 2007 the Munich Security Conference, Russia conducted the first state-sponsored cyberattack against Estonia. The next year, Russia invaded Georgia, one-fifth of which remains under Russian occupation. Five years after that, Russia annexed Crimea and launched a proxy war in eastern Ukraine. … If, despite repeated hostility and aggression, the “current and foreseeable security environment” from 1997 still existed in January 2022, it ended in February, when Putin decided to try to force Ukraine to abandon its independence with a war the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War II.”

https://www.thebulwark.com/nato-must-free-itself-from-its-promises-to-russia-putin-ukraine/




Opinion: Now is the time to make NATO even stronger

By Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda

(Washington Post)

“The time has come to understand that Russia cannot be stopped by persuasion, cooperation, appeasement or concessions. Russia takes such gestures as a sign of weakness, as permission to expand and intensify its onslaught. When Putin hears Western leaders talk about the need to negotiate, the need for a cease-fire, the need to avoid “humiliating” Russia, he is only encouraged to increase his gamble for world conquest.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/06/23/lithuanian-president-gitanas-nauseda-strengthen-nato-russia-war-ukraine/



“Finland and Sweden joining NATO: A Strategic Win-Win.” - Internationale Politik Quarterly 


“Nato has no choice but to support Ukraine. Our future security depends upon it.” - The Times




Putin’s War has driven a wedge between Sámi in Russia and those in Nordic countries

(Foreign Policy)

“The Sámi are no strangers to division. The Indigenous people of Arctic Europe, they once freely moved across the northernmost lands of the continent, fishing its coasts, hunting in its forests, and herding reindeer over its tundra. … Now, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has split the Sámi again. Some leaders from the small Russian Sámi community have openly aligned with the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin, driving a schism with Sámi in Sweden, Finland, and Norway.”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/06/27/russia-ukraine-war-saami-indigenous-arctic-people-norway-sweden-finland/?tpcc=recirc_latest062921






__________


Putin’s War

__________



Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment: 30. June 2022

(ISW)

“Russian forces retreated from the Snake Island.”

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-30




The Catastrophic Environmental Costs Of Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

(RFERL)

“The lingering consequences felt by the population include lung diseases and various types of cancer due to the inhalation of heavy metals and carcinogens present in explosives, and also in the rubble of shelled buildings. Asbestos, a highly toxic substance that was only recently banned in Ukraine, is the main concern when it comes to human health.”

https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-environmental-catastrophe-russia-invasion-ecosystems/31919411.html




Putin’s archaic war: Russia’s newly outlawed professional class – and how it could one day return

By Kadri Liik, ECFR

“This month, Vladimir Putin made headlines by comparing his landgrabs to those of Peter the Great. … (This) immediately prompted questions about whether Putin is looking to seize further places, including NATO territory. This is hard to know, but one can say for certain that in a number of ways Putin’s deeds serve an agenda that is a direct opposite to that of Peter. Peter, after all, was Russia’s great moderniser, and the person who, it is often said, ‘opened a window into Europe.’ Putin’s landgrabs, in contrast, are closing the window to the West, and they have the effect of actively demodernising Russia. …”

https://ecfr.eu/article/putins-archaic-war-russias-newly-outlawed-professional-class-and-how-it-could-one-day-return/




What Does Russia Want?

By Tom Nichols, The Atlantic - 9. June

“First, brutality and cruelty is bred into Russian soldiers. Unlike the American military, where officers and NCOs (the sergeants and chiefs) think of the men and women under their command as their charges and responsibility, Russia has an old-school hierarchy in which younger enlisted men are at the mercy of veterans, and the veterans are under the command of senior officers who keep their distance and expect to be treated like royalty. … this is a problem ingrained in Russian military culture, and it predates even the Soviet experience.”

—

“Second, and more worrisome: For many Russians, life under Putin is miserable, and Russian military life is especially miserable. What we’re seeing now is the gleeful murder and destruction of innocent people by men who are taking out their own misery on others.”

https://newsletters.theatlantic.com/peacefield/62a249a20a81280021a6dbf8/russia-ukraine-war-outcome-putin-goal/










And Finally, Nukes:



Ukraine Wants NATO’s Help Against Russia’s WMDs

(Foreign Policy)

“Ukraine is calling out Russia’s “state nuclear terrorism.”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/06/28/ukraine-nato-russia-weapons-mass-destruction/



“Russian space chief and hardcore Putin loyalist Dmitry Rogozin’s nuclear threats are getting more unhinged.” - The Daily Beast


“Nato has to be ready for a Russian nuclear strike.” - The Telegraph




Russia to send Belarus nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles within months

(The Guardian | Defense News)

“In the coming months, we will transfer to Belarus Iskander-M tactical missile systems, which can use ballistic or cruise missiles, in their conventional and nuclear versions,” Putin said in a broadcast on Russian television at the start of his meeting with Lukashenko in St Petersburg.”

—

“We are very concerned about training flights by the U.S. and NATO airplanes, which practice carrying nuclear warheads and nuclear weapons,” Lukashenko said. “Therefore, I ask you to consider an equivalent response to these actions, without overdoing it.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/26/russia-to-send-belarus-nuclear-capable-missiles-within-months-as-g7-leaders-gather-in-germany?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

—

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/06/27/russia-to-provide-nuclear-capable-missiles-and-fighter-jets-to-belarus/



“Putin also said Russia would help Belarus upgrade its fleet of Su-25 fighter jets to make them capable of carrying nuclear weapons.” - Deutsche Welle


“Spiraling Putin Chooses Chaos in New Nuclear Provocation.” - Daily Beast


“Russia sent over 40 missiles towards various military targets in Ukraine from Belarusian territory.” - BNE


“Iskander-M missiles have been used heavily against Ukraine and have already been deployed to Belarus.” - The WarZone




_________

_______

___






24 June, 2022

 


European officials scramble to douse Kaliningrad / Lithuania tensions

(Politico Europe, 23. June)

“The European Commission worked overnight on plans to defuse the growing Kaliningrad crisis amid fears it could escalate quickly, according to several EU officials and diplomats. Tensions are running high over freight transport from the Russian mainland to its exclave which is sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland — with Moscow threatening “practical” retaliatory action if the EU doesn’t unblock metal goods stuck in transit. Senior EU diplomats on Wednesday warned the situation was serious and could rapidly get worse.”

—

“Officials and diplomats told POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook the crisis is an unintended consequence of the EU’s fourth sanctions package, under which the bloc banned imports from Russia of steel and ferrous materials. The train line supplying goods from Russia to Kaliningrad passes through Lithuania, an EU country, so customs agents have from Saturday been stopping freight trains for checks. Lithuania and the European Commission have insisted that this was not Vilnius’ unilateral decision, but that Lithuania was acting based on guidance issued by Brussels …”

https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-official-scramble-de-escalate-tension-kaliningrad-russia-lithuania/



“Kaliningrad standoff could reveal if Russia wants to escalate.” - AlJazeera


“Could the Kaliningrad Crisis Lead to War?” - Foreign Policy, 24. June


“Western Europe begins demonizing Lithuania.” - LRT, 24. June


“Russia blames U.S. for Kaliningrad transit restrictions.” - Reuters, 24. June


“Russia threatens retaliation as Lithuania bans some goods transit to Kaliningrad.” - The Guardian, 20. June


“Lithuania: We're ready if Russia cuts us out of common power grid over Kaliningrad disruptions.” - Reuters, 22. June


“Moscow fumes over Lithuania rail ban to Russian region.” - Reuters, 22. June


“Moscow: ‘Serious Consequences’ for Lithuania.” - Moscow Times, 20. June


“Russia Protests Transit Block To Kaliningrad, Threatens Retaliation Against Lithuania.” - RFERL, 21. June


“Row escalates over Vilnius’s refusal to allow steel and iron ore to cross Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.” - The Guardian, 21. June


“Moscow Threatens to Retaliate for Lithuania’s ‘Blockade of Kaliningrad’.” - Paul Goble, 21. June


“Transfer of materials on the EU sanctions list could continue via cargo ships from Saint Petersburg.” - National Interest, 21. June


“What is the strategic importance of Kaliningrad?” - The Times, 21. June









Friday 24. June



NATO praeguste plaanide järgi pühitaks Eesti riik ja kultuur kaardilt - Kallas

(Postimees)

“Peaminister Kaja Kallas sõnas Financial Timesile, et praegused NATO kaitseplaanid tähendavad seda, et kui Venemaa peaks Eestit ründama, oleksid kaardilt pühitud nii Eesti kui ka meie kultuur. Plaanid näevad ette, et NATO ei oleks suuteline Eestit esimesest sõjapäevast kaitsma.”

https://www.postimees.ee/7550837/kallas-valismeediale-nato-praeguste-plaanide-jargi-puhitaks-eesti-riik-ja-kultuur-kaardilt



“Estonia’s PM says country will be ‘wiped from map’ under existing Nato plans.” - Financial Times


“Eva-Maria Liimets: Kaitseplaane Financial Timesi veergudel kokku ei panda, see nõuab usaldust ja ühiseid arusaamu.” - Postimees


“Estonia’s Kallas Warns of Existential Russian Threat to Baltics.” - Bloomberg


“Former Russian prime minister revealed what he thinks the Kremlin’s next move will be if Ukraine falls - The Baltic States.” - The Daily Beast


“NATO Defense Leaders Set Stage for Alliance Decisions at Madrid Summit.” - US Department of Defense




Poola ja Baltimaad soovivad, et NATO tugevdaks ‘Suwalki’ koridori kaitset

(ERR)

“… ütles reedel Poola peaminister Mateusz Morawiecki.”

https://www.err.ee/1608639085/poola-ja-baltimaad-soovivad-et-nato-tugevdaks-suwalki-koridori-kaitset





The Suwałki Gap: 

The Most Dangerous Place On Earth

(Politico Europe)

“Nestled on Lithuania’s southeastern border, Druskininkai opens onto a narrow notch of strategic territory known as the Suwałki Gap. Stretching about 100 kilometers along the Lithuanian-Polish frontier, between Belarus in the east and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to the west, Western military planners warn the area would likely be one of the Russian president’s first targets were he ever to choose to escalate the war in Ukraine into a kinetic confrontation with NATO.”

—

“Former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said he came up with the name “Suwałki Gap” minutes before a meeting with then-German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen in 2015 in an effort to raise alarm about the hole in Western defenses. The worry is that in a conflict with the West, Russia could sweep into the corridor simultaneously from the east and the west, severing the European Union’s Baltic countries from their allies to the south. “It’s a huge vulnerability because an invasion would cut off Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from the rest of NATO,” said Ilves.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/suwalki-gap-russia-war-nato-lithuania-poland-border/




The EU should learn from the Baltic states in its dealings with Russia

(London School of Economics, 13. June)

“European leaders are divided over whether Ukraine should make territorial concessions to Russia to secure a peace deal. Drawing on the history of the Baltic states, Inese Zepa argues that ceding territory would enable future conflict and atrocities to take place in Ukraine and beyond.”

https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2022/06/13/the-eu-should-learn-from-the-baltic-states-in-its-dealings-with-russia/




NATO needs ‘visible’ counter to Russia threat via Belarus, Lithuania warns

(Politico Europe)

“Speaking ahead of the NATO summit (29. June), Nausėda told POLITICO that “very huge fundamental changes” in neighboring Belarus makes Lithuania more vulnerable to a quick Russian attack — and necessitate a shift in the region’s security arrangements. The Lithuanian leader said he would describe today’s Belarus as an “additional province” of Moscow, adding that the “Russian army can do what they want to move the forces, to deploy the equipment.”

—

“In the past, Nausėda said, NATO’s strategy relied on reinforcements. Relatively small forces were stationed on the alliance’s eastern edge, with allies expected to come to the region’s aid in case of attack. But the new reality, according to the Lithuanian leader, “leaves us no time for reaction,” because Russian troops “might be easily deployed very near to our border” and “there will be no time for reinforcement.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/gitanas-nauseda-lithuania-nato-russia-belarus-ukraine-invasion-counter/




Interview: Viljar Lubi, Estonian ambassador to the United Kingdom

(Postimees)

Question: “Does Estonia have a plan B for the situation if we are again occupied?”

Answer: “There is always a Plan B. .. This plan B must also always exist but we need not talk about it because we hope it never has to be implemented. .…“

—

Question: Have you talked about the war with any of your Russian colleagues?”

Answer: I have not! … I have not seen my Russian colleague at any event I have attended, and when viewing his statements or the Russian embassy’s statements on Twitter, for example, it is apparent that they repeat their narrative. There seems to be no point in talking to him.”

https://news.postimees.ee/7549560/ambassador-lubi-the-british-nuclear-deterrence-reaches-estonia




Allies Celebrated Estonian Victory Day

(US Army)

“Thousands of people crowded the streets of Kuressaare, watching with excitement as soldiers marched through their hometown for the Victory Day parade here, June 23, 2022. … The location of the parade alternates each year between the 15 Estonian counties. This year was Saaremaa Island's turn.”

https://www.army.mil/article/257890/allies_celebrate_estonian_victory_day








Thursday 23. June



President Alar Karis andis tänavu välja 148 teenetemärki

(Estonian World Review)

“President Alar Karis andis oma esimesel ametiaastal Iseseisvuspäeva tähistamiseks välja 148 teenetemärki. Väliseestlastest pälvis teenetemärgi tunnustuse aastakümned Stockholmi Eesti Maja püsimise eest seisnud Mart Nurk, New Yorgi Haridusseltsi juhatuse kauaaegne liige Peeter Teedla, Eesti Üliõpilaste Toetusfondi (USA) president Mari-Anne Teedla, VEMU ehk Väliseesti Muuseumi rajamise üks eestvedajaid ja muuseumi peaarhivaar Piret Noorhani ning eestluse hoidja Uus-Meremaal ja sealne kauane aukonsul Tõnu Loorpärg.

https://www.eesti.ca/president-alar-karis-andis-tanavu-valja-148-teenetemarki/article59366


Palju õnne, Peeter ja Mari!




Estonian PM: Russia not weary of war

(AP)

“The West should not underestimate Russia’s military capabilities in Ukraine, Estonia’s leader told AP, saying that as the war enters its fifth month, Moscow’s forces are in it for the long haul. … “I’ve heard talks that, you know, there is no threat anymore because they have exhausted themselves. No, they haven’t … They have plenty of troops still who can come (to fight) — They are not counting the lives that they are losing. They are not counting the artillery that they are losing there. So I don’t think that we should underestimate them in the longer term to still keep this up,” Kallas said.”

https://apnews.com/article/kaja-kallas-estonia-prime-minister-interview-5ad4bcc1fd76d9c5530129160fafa814




US ‘Brown Berets’ visited Estonia for the first time during Siil

(Postimees)

“The Brown Berets or officially the 6th Special Operations Squadron is a US Air Force elite unit established in 1994. Their business is to teach allies and partners in developing efficient cooperation between the local special units, air force and conventional ground forces. … They practiced in Estonia with PZL M28 Skytruck transport aircraft, locally referred to as simply M28. According to the commander of the Brown Berets unit, which visited Estonia, the M28s were especially suitable for them, because they specialize in this type of aircraft. “The M28 is a fantastic platform and the Estonian version is actually better than the ones we use back in the USA,” he said. “The Estonian version is multi-purpose, our aircraft are very simple.”

—

“The Estonians are ready for any mission NATO might require. They are ready for action,” the American commended. “It is a refreshing experience because the motto of my unit is “The Most Committed Wins” and we have seen here that Estonia is committed to helping NATO just like we are.”

https://news.postimees.ee/7546493/exercise-overshadowed-visit-of-us-brown-berets



More info: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104605/combat-aviation-advisor/



“France conducted a paratroop airdrop in Estonia.” - NATO




Beliefs and rituals of Jaanipäev

(Estonian World)

“Jaanipäev was celebrated long before the arrival of Christianity in Estonia, although the day was given its name by the crusaders. The arrival of Christianity, however, did not end the pagan beliefs and fertility rituals surrounding this holiday.”

https://estonianworld.com/life/it-is-this-time-of-the-year-again-jaanipaev/

—

https://estonianworld.com/life/fire-flower-crowns-and-fern-blossoms-midsummer-night-in-estonia-explained/




Helsinki Airport streamlines operations into one terminal

(Yle)

“As of Tuesday, check-in points, security checks, and baggage claims at Helsinki Airport have been centralised into a single terminal. State-owned airport operations firm Finavia said terminals 1 and 2, as well as the connecting walkway, have been decommissioned. The old departure and arrival halls have been closed. The single terminal will make getting around the airport and accessing services easier.”

https://yle.fi/news/3-12506026




Microsoft reveals extent of attacks by Russian hackers on Ukraine allies. Estonia is the striking exception

(Sky News)

“Russian hackers have launched cyber attacks on targets in 42 countries allied with Ukraine since Vladimir Putin's war began, Microsoft says. … Poland, the main conduit for military assistance flowing to Ukraine, was second, while in the past two months Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Turkey have seen increased targeting.”

—

“A striking exception was Estonia, where Microsoft said it had detected no Russian cyber intrusions since Mr Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February.

The company credited Estonia's adoption of cloud computing, where it is easier to detect intruders.”

https://news.sky.com/story/microsoft-reveals-extent-of-attacks-by-russian-hackers-on-ukraine-allies-and-why-estonia-is-striking-exception-12638773




Microsoft detected no Russian cyber intrusions into Estonia since 24. Feb.

(Microsoft report - Page 3)

“This focus on the United States has been followed closely by activity targeting NATO members that geographically are the closest to Ukraine. At the top of this list is Poland, with 8 % of intrusions, where the delivery of a majority of military and humanitarian aid is coordinated. The Baltic countries of Latvia and Lithuania represent a combined 14 % of total intrusions outside Ukraine.”

—

“In contrast, in Estonia, the third Baltic border country, where the country has adopted cloud services, we’ve detected no Russian cyber intrusions since the onset of the Ukraine war. Russian cyber activities have also actively targeted Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. These collectively represent nearly 16 % of all the observed Russian attacks globally.”

https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE50KOK

Or:

https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2022/06/22/defending-ukraine-early-lessons-from-the-cyber-war/







Wednesday 22. June



Venemaa simuleerib raketirünnakuid Eesti vastu

(Postimees)

“Venelased simuleerivad praegu raketirünnakuid Eesti territooriumi vastu, rääkis kaitseministeeriumi kantsler Kusti Salm Soome ajalehele Iltalehti. NATO allikate sõnul on Venemaa viimastel päevadel sooritanud simuleeritud raketirünnakuid Eesti ja teiste Balti riikide vastu. Salm kinnitas seda Iltalehtile: ‘Praegu on käimas õppused, kus venelased simuleerivad raketirünnakuid Eesti territooriumile.’ Lisaks simuleeritud raketirünnakutele on relvastatud Vene helikopterid Baltikumis piiririkkumisi toime pannud.”

https://maailm.postimees.ee/7550045/venemaa-simuleerib-raketirunnakuid-eesti-vastu



“Russia is conducting simulated missile attacks against Estonia.” - Estonian World


“NATO Member Estonia Says It’s Targeted by Russian Missile Simulations.” - Bloomberg


“Not the first time Russia has simulated attacks on NATO countries.” - ERR




NATO Member Estonia: Russian Helicopter Intruded Into Its Airspace

(The Drive)

“An Mi-8 Hip helicopter belonging to the Russian Border Guard intruded into its airspace for about two minutes on Saturday night. The helicopter flew above the Koidula region of south-eastern Estonia, along the border with Russia, Estonia’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement issued on Tuesday …”

—

“The latest incidents took place less than a week before a scheduled NATO summit in Madrid. By intruding into neighboring airspace, the Russians “are trying to create some sort of context ahead of the summit,” Kusti Salm, permanent secretary at Estonia's MoD, told journalists.”

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/nato-member-estonia-says-russian-helicopter-intruded-into-its-airspace



“The Mil Mi-8 (Hip) helicopter was introduced into the Soviet Air Force service sometime in 1967.” - Military Factory database




Estonia protests to Russia over helicopter airspace violation

(Reuters | Al Jazeera | Washington Post)

“Estonia’s military said in a statement that the Russian MI-8 helicopter entered the country’s airspace in southeastern Estonia in the Koidula area – not far from the Russian city of Pskov – without permission on Saturday evening. The helicopter was in Estonia’s airspace for almost two minutes, Estonia’s military said, adding that the helicopter had not presented a flight plan, had its transponder switched off, and failed to maintain radio contact with Estonian Air Navigation Services.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/estonia-protests-russia-over-airspace-violation-baltic-tensions-rise-2022-06-21/

—

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/21/estonia-protests-to-russia-over-helicopter-airspace-violation

—

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/russian-border-guard-helicopter-violates-estonias-airspace/2022/06/21/6a3d9c22-f150-11ec-ac16-8fbf7194cd78_story.html




Finns are ready to fight any Russian attack, says armed forces chief

(Reuters | The Guardian)

“Finland has prepared for decades for a Russian attack and would put up stiff resistance should one occur, its armed forces chief has said. The Nordic country has built up a substantial arsenal. But aside from the military hardware, Gen Timo Kivinen said, a crucial factor is that Finns would be motivated to fight.”

—

“The most important line of defence is between one’s ears, as the war in Ukraine proves at the moment,” Kivinen said in an interview.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/22/finns-are-ready-to-fight-any-russian-attack-says-its-armed-forces-chief?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

—

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/finland-is-ready-fight-russia-if-attacked-defence-chief-2022-06-22/



“Top general: Finland has spent decades preparing for a war like Ukraine’s.” - Yle


“US Army participates in Finland's exercise Arrow 22.” - US Army




Lithuania to purchase 197 acoustic warning sirens

(Delfi)

“Sirens would be installed within the 100 km potential impact zone of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in Astravyets … The implementation of the project would allow warning to more than 800,000 residents about potential threats using sirens in 17 Lithuanian municipalities …”

https://www.delfi.lt/en/politics/lithuania-to-purchase-nearly-200-warning-sirens-for-impact-zone-of-belarusian-n-plant.d?id=90477603




Equipment to decouple from Russian electricity system reaches Estonia

(Baltic Times)

“The arrival of the equipment provides further assurance that the first of the three synchronous compensator stations to be built in Estonia will be completed on schedule, despite the difficult global market situation, transmission system operator Elering said in a press release.”

—

"Synchronous compensator stations are critical for decoupling from the Russian synchronization grid and connecting to the continental European frequency area.”

https://www.baltictimes.com/equipment_necessary_to_decouple_from_russian_electricity_system_reach_estonia/




Russia declares gas war on EU

(Politico Europe)

“Putin is playing hardball with the European Union — cutting off gas deliveries to some of Russia's best customers in a howl of rage at the sanctions imposed after invading Ukraine. … an analyst with the Bruegel think tank calls Russia's policies "energy blackmail."

https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-declares-gas-war-on-eu/



“Ukraine Wants a Lend-Lease Plan for Energy to Escape Russian Chokehold.” - Foreign Policy


“Europe may need to return to coal as Russia reduces gas flows.” - CBC


“What’s next after Russia reduced gas to Europe?” - AP




Putin lajatas Lääne pihta, kõneles sanktsioonide tagasilöögist

(Postimees and WSJ)

“Idee oli ilmne: jõuliselt lömastada Vene majandus,’ ütles Venemaa president. ‘See ei õnnestunud.’ Oma võitluslikus kõnes kritiseeris Venemaa president Vladimir Putin läänt võimetuse pärast tunnustada uute võimublokkide tõusu pärast külma sõja lõppu. Ta hoiatas, et Venemaale kehtestatud sanktsioonid on andnud tagasilöögi ning vallandanud Euroopas süveneva majanduskriisi.”

https://wallstreetjournal.postimees.ee/7548647/wsj-putin-lajatas-laane-pihta-koneles-sanktsioonide-tagasiloogist




Interview: Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska

(The Guardian)

“On the first day of the war I had this weird smile on my face all day, because I was trying not to show the children panic.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/18/olena-zelenska-ukraine-first-lady-rare-interview-family-under-threat?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other



“Ukraine's first lady: “Giving up land is like conceding a freedom.” - ABC News


“Kyiv’s EU envoy says Ukraine candidate status would send clear signal to Russia.” - The Guardian








__________


Putin’s War

__________



Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment: 23. June 2022

(ISW)

“Ongoing Belarusian mobilization exercises will continue in Gomel Oblast until 1. July but are unlikely to be in preparation for direct Belarusian involvement in the war in Ukraine. … Russian forces have made substantial gains in the Severodonetsk-Lysychansk area. … Reinforced Russian air-defense systems in eastern Ukraine are increasingly limiting the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones. … Members of the Russian military community continue to comment on the shortcomings of Russian force generation capabilities”

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-23



“Ukraine orders troops to retreat from Severodonetsk.” - The Times, UK




Russia Pulls Out All the Stops to Find Fresh Troops due to High Casualties

(Spiegel)

“Putin wants to avoid a general mobilization, so the military is relying on other methods. … And new soldiers for the war effort aren’t just being recruited from Nizhny Novgorod in central Russia. Across the country, from Kaliningrad in the west to the eastern region of Amur, men of fighting age are being summoned. At least 2 million Russians are part of the country’s reserve force, though the precise number is classified.”

https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/high-casualties-russia-pulls-out-all-the-stops-to-find-fresh-troops-a-254bf9c2-c83b-4492-8dea-1f5cec53b03e



“Russian Troops in Ukraine Face ‘Extraordinary’ Casualty Rates: U.K. Intelligence.” - US News




Putin’s Ukraine template is simple: flatten cities, install satraps, rule by fear

(The Atlantic)

“The constant boom of artillery in the near distance is the defining feature of life in the Donbas today. As Russia presses its offensive to take the eastern part of Ukraine, the signs of conflict are everywhere: buildings smashed to ruins by cruise missiles, Ukrainian tanks and howitzers on the highway headed east. The Donbas region, encompassed by a front stretching hundreds of miles and currently the scene of the most extensive fighting in Europe since World War II, is in total war mode. The Russian military machine, which has overwhelming superiority in artillery, is grinding forward slowly …”

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/06/russia-ukraine-putin-chechnya/661321/




Hundreds of Photos of Weapons Reveals Russia’s Brutal War Strategy

(New York Times)

“Of the weapons identified by The Times, more than 210 were types that have been widely banned under international treaties. All but a handful were cluster munitions, including their submunitions, which can pose a grave risk to civilians for decades after war has ended. More than 330 other weapons appeared to have been used on or near civilian structures.”

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/06/19/world/europe/ukraine-munitions-war-crimes.html?referringSource=articleShare




Why Russia Keeps Turning to Mass Firepower

(Foreign Policy)

“There is an intangible dimension to the Russian feeling for their guns. According to legend, following the catastrophic loss at Narva in 1700 to the Swedish Empire, Peter the Great ordered every church in the country to give some of its bells to make new cannons to replace the artillery, which had all been lost to the Swedes. Ever since, Russian cannons have been considered holy, and Russian artillery has received special status. This is why, according to the story, 18th-century Russian cannon crews defended their pieces to the death. Cannons and bells were in fact made in the same way, often by the same factories; one can easily be melted down and recast into the other. A well-cast bronze or brass cannon hums when fired, like a tuning fork.”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/06/19/why-russia-keeps-turning-to-mass-firepower/







And Finally:



‘Most Dangerous Result’ of Putin’s War is What It has Told the World about Value of Having Nuclear Weapons

By Paul Goble

“… if your country has nuclear weapons, it can do what it likes regardless of international law.”

http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/06/most-dangerous-result-of-putins-war-is.html




What If Russia Uses Nukes In Ukraine?

A look at the grim scenarios - and the U.S. playbook for each

(The Atlantic)

“The 12th main directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense operates a dozen central storage facilities for nuclear weapons. Known as “Object S” sites and scattered across the Russian Federation, they contain thousands of nuclear warheads and hydrogen bombs with a wide variety of explosive yields. For the past three months, President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have been ominously threatening to use nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine. According to Pavel Podvig, the director of the Russian Nuclear Forces Project and a former research fellow at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, now based in Geneva, the long-range ballistic missiles deployed on land and on submarines are Russia’s only nuclear weapons available for immediate use. If Putin decides to attack Ukraine with shorter-range, “tactical” nuclear weapons, they will have to be removed from an Object S site—such as Belgorod-22, just 25 miles from the Ukrainian border—and transported to military bases. It will take hours for the weapons to be made combat-ready, for warheads to be mated with cruise missiles or ballistic missiles, for hydrogen bombs to be loaded on planes. The United States will most likely observe the movement of these weapons in real time: by means of satellite surveillance, cameras hidden beside the road, local agents with binoculars. And that will raise a question of existential importance: What should the United States do?”

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/06/russia-ukraine-nuclear-weapon-us-response/661315/



“Might Vladimir Putin use a nuclear weapon?” - CBC




_________

_______

___