8 Apr, 2022 09:02

Dozens reported killed in rocket strike in Donbass

Warring parties accused each other of hitting a railroad station in Kramatorsk

A presumed airstrike that hit a train station in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, has reportedly killed at least 30 people. Ukraine accused Russia of delivering the strike while Russia-aligned local forces blamed Ukrainian troops for the deaths.

Images from the scene show emergency services dealing with a fire near the contested city’s central station, with what appeared to be bodies of people scattered around.

A photo of what appears to be part of a missile lying on the ground was circulated on social media. The projectile had a note “for the children” painted on it.

Ukraine’s state rail operator said at least 30 people were killed and over 100 injured in the incident. The head of the Kiev-appointed Donetsk Region administration, Pavel Kirilenko, claimed the deaths were caused by a Russian Iskander missile. He said the projectile had a clustered munition warhead.

Ukrainian presidential advisor Alexey Arestovich likewise claimed the weapon to be an Iskander missile.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, on his turn, said that the missile was a Tochka U, but claimed it was fired by “Russian monsters”. He alleged Ukraine’s opponents deliberately targeted civilians in Kramatorsk and said that thousands of people were at the station waiting for evacuation.

The Donetsk militia, which consider Kramatorsk as part of the Donetsk People’s Republic, claimed the missile was a Tochka U of the Ukrainian forces. The militia said Ukraine has a long record of deploying the weapon system that neither Russia nor the DPR forces use.

Mikhail Khodarenok, a retired Russian Armed Forces colonel and military commentator for RT, said the images from the scene do not resemble the impact of a Tochka U. “Its armament section weighs more than 400 kilograms (881 pounds),” he said, adding that such a powerful missile would have caused a lot more damage to the surrounding area.

Kramatorsk remained under Kiev’s control in 2014, when the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine flared after an armed coup in Ukraine. Last week, DPR head Denis Pushilin called on residents of Kramatorks to flee the city. He said Ukrainian nationalist forces could block all evacuation attempts at any moment.

https://www.rt.com/russia/553512-dozens-reported-killed-rocket-donbass/

>>16035116

8 Apr, 2022 09:53

HomeRussia & FSU

Russia denies striking train station in Ukraine

Kiev’s claims that a Russian missile hit Kramatorsk are not true, the Russian defense ministry said

The Russian defense ministry has denied claims coming from Kiev that one of its missiles targeted a train station in eastern Ukraine. At least 30 civilians were reportedly killed and over 100 injured in the incident on Friday in Kramatorsk.

Ukrainian officials immediately claimed the strike involved a Russian missile, either an Iskander or a Tochka U. The Russian ministry stated it had no operations planned for the Kramatorsk area for Friday and called the accusations “a provocation that has absolutely no relation to reality.”

The Russian military added that images shared by witnesses show debris from aTochka U missile, a weapon system that “only the Ukrainian forces use,” according to the statement.

A missile of a similar type hit the city of Donetsk on March 14, the ministry pointed out. The attack, which Moscow attributed to a Ukrainian missile unit, killed 17 people and injured 36 others, it said.

Karmatorsk is a city in the northern part of Donetsk region and is claimed by the Donetsk People’s Republic as part of its territory. When hostilities flared in eastern Ukraine in the wake of the 2014 armed coup, the city remained under Kiev’s control.

Ukrainian officials claimed without evidence that Russia attacked the train station deliberately to kill civilians preparing to evacuate from the city. Moscow stated from the start of its offensive against Ukraine that it seeks to minimize casualties and only attack military targets as part of its stated goal of demilitarizing the country.

https://www.rt.com/russia/553516-russia-denies-striking-train-station-ukraine/

8 Apr, 2022 09:10

China weighs in on root cause of 'Ukraine issue’

Beijing has said that the primary reason fro the conflict is the “security imbalance” in Europe

China said on Thursday that the fault lines of European security have caused the current Russian-Ukraine conflict. Moscow has insisted that one of the goals of its ongoing military campaign against Kiev is to make Ukraine declare itself a neutral country which will never join NATO.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed his country’s view on the matter during a phone call with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron.

“The Ukraine issue originates from Europe’s security imbalance,” Wang said, according to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

“[A] balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture should be rebuilt on the basis of the principle of indivisible security. Only by doing so can Europe truly achieve lasting peace and stability.”

Wang added that all parties should work to “create the necessary environment and conditions for advancing peace talks,” instead of “fanning the flames.”

One should not call for reaching a ceasefire and stopping the conflict while sending large quantities of advanced weapons and equipment to further escalate the fighting.

NATO member states have been increasingly arming Kiev with weapons, including anti-tank and air defense missile systems. Moscow has said that flooding Ukraine with weapons undermines the peace process.

Beijing refused to condemn Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine and, unlike many countries, has not imposed sanctions on Moscow, insisting that such measures disrupt global trade and do not contribute to a resolution of the conflict.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman warned China on Wednesday of “a response from the international community” should Beijing support Russia “in any material fashion.”

https://www.rt.com/news/553511-china-origin-ukraine-issue/

8 Apr, 2022 08:50

Divisions in Germany over military aid to Ukraine – media

Chancellor Scholz reportedly reluctant to deliver 100 old armored vehicles as demanded by coalition partners

There is division in the German government over a proposal to restore and deliver to Ukraine some 100 old Marder infantry fighting vehicles. Politicians from the Green Party are pushing for the move, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz remains reluctant, according to a Politico report published on Thursday.

Scholz’s delay of the final decision, which was expected this week, has frustrated its backers, including Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, according to the report.

Cabinet members have so far refrained from publicly criticizing the Social Democrat leader, but some lawmakers were more open about their frustration. Anton Hofreiter of the Greens, who chairs the parliamentary committee on European affairs, told Politico that Germany should show leadership and not hide behind other nations.

Like many other NATO members, Germany supplied Ukraine with military equipment, but refused to deliver any heavy weapons. Scholz told the parliament this week that he wanted to coordinate the proposed delivery of armor with the EU and NATO, arguing “it would be a grave mistake for Germany to take a special role and a special path.”

The proposed shipment involves decommissioned Marder infantry fighting vehicles that are stored by its producer, Rheinmetall. Most of the armor will have to be refurbished before it could be of any use to the Ukrainian military.

Kiev’s forces will also need to be trained on how to use and maintain them and Germany will have to supply munitions and spare parts. Berlin is concerned that the proposed transfer could drag it into a war with Russia.

Proponents of arming Ukraine suggest speeding things up by supplying Marders that are currently on active duty and using the decommissioned vehicles as replacement further down the road. They also call for delivering Leopard main battle tanks and other heavy weapons to Ukraine.

Politico quoted Thorsten Benner, director of the Global Public Policy Institute think tank in Berlin, who argued that by supplying armor to Ukraine Germany could tone down criticism over its continued reliance on Russian natural gas.

“I think it’s of central importance for German credibility that we don’t put the brakes on everywhere, but that there is also an area where we lead,” he said. “And especially if it is currently impossible for Germany to stop the gas payments, which bring [Russian President Vladimir] Putin billions, in the foreseeable future, then battle tanks would be a good alternative.”

https://www.rt.com/news/553509-germany-armor-ukraine-division/

8 Apr, 2022 05:56

US sanctions ‘world’s largest diamond mining firm’

The latest round of penalties targeted state-run companies in Russia, including a major diamond mining concern

The United States has imposed another layer of sanctions on Moscow, this time targeting state-owned enterprises, including one of the world’s largest mining companies and Russia’s top shipbuilding firm.

The Treasury and State Departments unveiled the new penalties on Thursday, saying they would hit Russia’s Alrosa mining company and the United Shipbuilding Corporation, citing the ongoing attack on Ukraine.

“These sanctions will continue to apply pressure to key entities that enable and fund Russia’s unprovoked war,” senior Treasury official Brian Nelson said, also vowing to continue efforts to “restrict the Kremlin’s access to assets.”

Alrosa is the world’s largest diamond mining operation by volume and is responsible for around 90% of Russia’s capacity, with its exports totaling more than $4.5 billion last year alone. It was previously identified as a potential candidate for sanctions under an executive order issued a little over one year ago.

The United Shipbuilding Corporation, meanwhile, was said to produce “almost all of Russia’s warships” and was penalized separately by the State Department alongside 28 subsidiary firms and eight individuals on its board.

As a result, all US-based properties belonging to the two companies and their subsidiaries will be seized, the Treasury Department continued, noting that American citizens will also be barred from doing business with the targeted entities.

The measures follow a flurry of recent sanctions on Moscow from the Biden administration and a long line of Western allies, designed to “cripple” and “isolate” Russia’s economy. Earlier on Thursday, the European Union voted for a full embargo on Russian energy, though the non-binding resolution may allow some member states to skirt the penalties, namely countries that remain dependent on Russian oil, coal, or gas. The proposal passed overwhelmingly in a 513-22 vote, with 19 abstentions.

Washington previously imposed an outright ban on imports of Russian coal, gas, and oil, with the White House declaring that the US should “reduce [its] collective dependence on Russian energy and keep the pressure mounting” on President Vladimir Putin. The ban was codified by lawmakers on Thursday in two separate votes.

Alrosa shares lost over 6% on the Moscow Exchange by 07:00 GMT on Friday, trading data shows.

https://www.rt.com/news/553504-sanctions-diamond-mining-russia/

7 Apr, 2022 16:30

'All Russians are enemies' – Ukrainian ambassador

Ambassador to Germany told media outlet that he sees all Russians as enemies

The new Russia, Russia, Russia hoax, they couldnt prove Russia rigged the election for Trump, so they had to create generational hatred toward Russians. These people are truly sick!

Ukraine’s envoy to Berlin, Andrey Melnik, has sparked criticism after calling all Russians “enemies” in an interview on Wednesday with a German newspaper, and later doubling down on his words. His comments triggered accusations that the statement is “nothing short of fascism.”

“I will say it very clearly: Russia is an enemy state for us. And all Russians are enemies for Ukraine at the moment,” Melnik told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) in an interview published on Tuesday. He went on to say that it’s not his “concern” to “distinguish” between “good” Russians and bad ones.

The ambassador was responding to a question on why he snubbed a charity concert organized by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier that featured both Russian and Ukrainian musicians in late March. Melnik called the event a “provocation,” adding that he cannot imagine Russians and Ukrainians “celebrating together” and “enjoying culture” as long as war is raging in his homeland.

Known for his tough talk, Melnik also accused the Germans and their president of insensitivity, arguing that they simply “cannot understand” the nature of the predicament since they are not “on the receiving end” of the conflict.

The diplomat, who said he has never had any Russian friends and has “no illusions” about the future, added that “Ukraine has been, is, and likely will remain an enemy of Russian society for a long time to come,” while Russia will remain Ukraine’s enemy “even after the war.”

The interview drew a wave of criticism from readers. “With all due respect, Mr. Ambassador, that is a disgrace for a diplomat of your rank,” one person wrote. Another said, “according to the article, Mr. Melnik is a racist and must be barred [from speaking] on social networks and in the media.”

Melnik, however, appeared unrepentant. On Wednesday, he published a picture of his interview in the printed FAZ edition on Twitter, and accompanied it with a caption in capital letters reading: “All Russians are our enemies.”

The barrage of criticism, however, apparentlyfailed to change the ambassador’s mind. In a recent tweet, he blasted another German music event that saw a Russian violinist awarded a prize. “I will never visit [the German city of] Osnabrück again,” Melnik wrote, denouncing the “hypocritical bridge-builders” whose musical bridges “lead straight to hell.”

The German authorities have not commented on the ambassador’s statements, although the magazine Stern called his words “drastic.”

https://www.rt.com/russia/553482-ukaine-abmassador-germany-russia-enemies/

Kekkity

https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/1512201897343561739?s=20&t=ynUGJKkazmRP2F6ltxKlyQ

https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/1512114972481839109?s=20&t=ynUGJKkazmRP2F6ltxKlyQ

https://twitter.com/AllanRicharz/status/1512068021661016078?s=20&t=ynUGJKkazmRP2F6ltxKlyQ

Jesse is amusing

https://twitter.com/JesseKellyDC/status/1511495084663091207?s=20&t=ynUGJKkazmRP2F6ltxKlyQ

Virtue Signaling Cox, doesn’t understand he’s stupid. Tucker did the country a favor by highlighting what a leftist weirdo he is, no one would have heard of him otherwise

https://twitter.com/fox13/status/1512114770740011021?s=20&t=CoZiPxmD83Aq-kSvH1P0mQ

>>16034567, >>16034613, >>16034629, >>16034638 US government diagnosing chickens with bird flu using fraudulent PCR tests, then slaughtering them

Theory they couldn’t kill enough people with Covid lockdowns, Pharma jabs, stopping education so they are going to a state created WW food shortage, war with Russia, gigantic self imposed inflation, stopping oil production in US and more. They are trying to drive the population crazy and really want a civil war for more killing. The WEF forum and cabal really hate all people. What will they pull put of their ass next?

Australian MP Outlines Concerning School Lesson, Sexual Assignment for 10-Year-Old, “What the Hell Is Going On Here”

April 7, 2022 | Sundance | 161 Comments

The issue of inappropriate education topics surrounding the sexualization of children has been in the headlines recently, as Florida and other states initiate laws to stop young students (K-3) from being exposed to sexual material promoted by leftist educators. However, the issue is not isolated to the United States.

A state legislator in Victoria, Australia, recently outlined an education program where young 10-year-old girls are being told to ask their fathers about “erections and ejaculation” as homework. Bernie Finn, a member of the upper house of the Victorian state parliament in Australia, reads the concerns from a constituent parent in his district, then explodes,”What the hell is going on here?” WATCH:

“How the hell are we supposed to protect our kids when this sort of perversion is in our schools? This is what is being dished up to them on a daily basis in a primary school – not even a secondary school – a primary school. This is just unbelievable. It’s staggering.”

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/04/07/australian-mp-outlines-concerning-school-lesson-sexual-assignment-for-10-year-old-what-the-hell-is-going-on-here/#more-231372