France accelerates F-16 and Mirage training

A while back, the US announced that Patriot systems and missiles would go to Ukraine first and foremost and that other countries would simply have to wait.

Well, we're seeing that play out with Switzerland having its order delayed because it's going to Ukraine instead

Imo, this policy is a no-brainer since obviously, Ukraine is in deepest need, certainly more in need than a country surrounded by friendly countries like Switzerland is - though I do think that Taiwan (real China) should qualify as a close second due to its own dangerous situation.

Russia's desperate alliance with North Korea causes South Korea to reconsider its ban on sending military aid to Ukraine

Aid and comfort our enemy?  Aid and comfort your enemy.

Quote from: Hydra009 on June 20, 2024, 02:25:04 PMRussia's desperate alliance with North Korea causes South Korea to reconsider its ban on sending military aid to Ukraine

Aid and comfort our enemy?  Aid and comfort your enemy.

Good. Must be humiliating for Putler to have go and kiss Kim's fat ass.

Quote from: Cassia on June 20, 2024, 02:58:20 PMGood. Must be humiliating for Putler to have go and kiss Kim's fat ass.

Not as humiliating as Lavrov and company being led to a conference room and promptly sitting down only to be told that no one can be there before Dear Leader so they all have to get up and leave LOL

Romania agrees to send a Patriot system to Ukraine

Russian bases near Finland virtually deserted  This has been going on throughout the war - Russia's border with China is also poorly manned and Russians have moved hardware and troops from Syria and Africa to Ukraine.  Putin is all in with Ukraine, everything else is of a lower priority.

Ukraine hits four Russian refineries

And a shahed drone storage site and radar stations and electronic intelligence centers in occupied Crimea and Russia's Bryansk Oblast

They're busy!

What air defense doing: Russia reports that it downed its own helicopter over the Black Sea

All four crew members cargo 200

QuoteAccording to preliminary estimates of the Russians, the shooting down of their own helicopter allegedly occurred due to the error of the operators of the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile system, who confused the helicopter with the Ukrainian drone.

What are these guys, FIFA refs?  A drone is nothing like a helicopter!  And haven't they heard of IFF?  Tape one of those on the dash next to the GPS, sheesh!

In your base: Partisans (Atesh) claim to have infiltrated a Russian airbase and left "surprises" for them

Broadcasting the exact name of the base was probably a mistake.  Usually the Russians are messing up opsec, but sometimes, it's the Ukrainians screwing up.  My advice: S.U.B. - silence until boom.  After the damage is done, then you can boast and celebrate all you want, not before.

This is a mistake unless this is a complete fabrication made to feed paranoia, causing unwarranted fear and possible hesitation.  In that case, ignore my earlier advice.

Quote⚡️🇰🇷South Korea will not observe any restrictions on the supply of weapons to 🇺🇦Ukraine if Russia transfers modern military technology to North Korea,
 — Chief of the National Security Department of the Administration of the President of South Korea, Jang Ho-jin

Translated: F around and find out.

This puts Putin in a bind because he's desperate enough to seek help from North Korea, but the fallout from such a move could outweigh the benefits.

Meanwhile, Serbia is making bank selling its ammo to those in need:

QuoteSerbia sold ammunition worth almost €800+ million to Western countries, and then they ended up in Ukraine, — President Aleksandar Vučić

"Yes, we export our ammunition. We cannot export them to Ukraine or Russia, but we had many contracts with Americans, Spaniards, Czechs and others. What they will do with it next is their business," said the Serbian president.

He noted that even if he knows where the ammunition eventually ended up, "it's none of his business."

Dictatorships love amoral business dealings but only when it's in their favor.  When it's not, they cry and stomp their feet and plead for peace.  But who is the one at war?  If the Russian soldiers were still in Russia, there wouldn't be a problem.  So whoever told them to invade is truly the one at fault.

And all countries of the world should be equally blaise about Russia's anger.  Putin can be mad all he wants and he can cry and threaten all he wants as well.  But he can no longer dictate other countries and maybe will no longer dictate his own sooner than he thinks.

Quote from: Hydra009 on June 23, 2024, 12:43:32 PMMeanwhile, Serbia is making bank selling its ammo to those in need:
Dictatorships love amoral business dealings but only when it's in their favor.  When it's not, they cry and stomp their feet and plead for peace.  But who is the one at war?  If the Russian soldiers were still in Russia, there wouldn't be a problem.  So whoever told them to invade is truly the one at fault.

And all countries of the world should be equally blaise about Russia's anger.  Putin can be mad all he wants and he can cry and threaten all he wants as well.  But he can no longer dictate other countries and maybe will no longer dictate his own sooner than he thinks.

If you don't stand up against your dictators, you really should expect to die for them at some point. It's not exactly a new lesson or rocket science.

Muslim terrorists are at work again in Russia. Not that surprising now that Putler and company are slightly preoccupied. Also, not surprising is the violent crime wave caused by returning war vets. Well damn, many of them were criminals to start with.