26 Dec, 2023

Ukrainian MP explains why Kiev needs 500,000 more conscripts

The head of the parliamentary national security committee says the number will cover losses and the need for new units

The Ukrainian military needs 500,000 new conscripts to cover casualties and man new units created during the next 12 months, the secretary of Ukraine’s parliamentary national security committee, Roman Kostenko, has said. The lawmaker also warned that eligible Ukrainians would not escape the ongoing mobilization.

President Vladimir Zelensky claimed last week that the military leadership had requested the mobilization of “450,000-500,000 individuals” amid the conflict with Russia. Earlier this month, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu estimated that Kiev had lost more than 383,000 troops, both killed and wounded, since the start of hostilities in February 2022.

In an interview with the Ukrinform media outlet published on Monday, Kostenko lamented that his compatriots “thought that we would win soon,” which instilled the belief in Ukrainians that “they could live quietly [and] not prepare for mobilization.”

“And now the words about an additional 450,000-500,000 mobilized have become a cold shower for everyone,” the lawmaker said. He added that the figure roughly reflects the armed forces’ needs in terms ofreplenishing “sanitary losses during the year” as well as forming new units. The military, according to Kostenko, must plan years ahead as the conflict “can… drag on for a long time.”(Do they consider killing their soldiers, “sanitary losses”, what freaking strange propaganda they use!)

The national security committee chief added that the Ukrainian government should shift the focus ofits information policyfrom the promise of a quick victory and a vacation in Crimea to a more solemn message that “everyone must protect the Motherland. No one will evade it.” (“Information policy”, is their propaganda and lies they told citizens, designed and created by Nina Jankowitz.)

Several Ukrainian media outlets reported on Monday that the legislation currently being considered by the Verkhovna Rada calls for the conscription age to be lowered from 27 to 25. The draft law is also said to include the introduction of electronic military draft notices, which would be sent via email and other means.

According to reports, draft dodgers will be banned from receiving certain benefits and services from the state, obtaining loans, traveling abroad, and carrying out property transactions.

MP Vadim Ivchenko told the Strana.ua news outlet that men hiding from mobilization abroad could be denied consular services, including the issuance of new IDs.

https://www.rt.com/news/589708-ukraine-mobilization-target-explained/

26 Dec, 2023

First Ukrainian pilots complete F-16 training – UK

The airmen moved to Denmark after doing the initial course in the UK, according to the DM

Six experienced Ukrainian fighter jet pilots have completed their F-16 training course in the UK, the British Defense Ministry has said.

The first group of Kiev’s airmen began receiving flying and English language lessons from the Royal Air Force (RAF) in August, as part of London’s contribution to the international coalition aimed at providing Ukraine with fourth generation US-made aircraft, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Those pilots are already in Denmark, where they’ll continue to learn to operate the F-16s, it added.

During their stay in Britain, Ukrainian forces only took to the skies in a Grob Tutor aircraft, as the RAF has no F-16s in service, the statement read. The British instructors told the Kiev pilots about general handling procedures, instrument flying, navigation and formation flying in line with NATO standards, it noted.

Ten more Ukrainian aviators will continue their training in the UK, along with dozens of technicians from the country, the ministry said.

UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said that he was “proud of the support the Royal Air Force is providing to the next generation of Ukraine’s combat air pilots and ground crew, who will be the first line of defense in protecting Ukraine’s skies.” The use of the F-16s by Kiev, “combined with training from the world-leading RAF … is a significant step forward from Ukraine’s current Soviet-era capabilities,” he claimed.

The statement also cited Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who described the training provided by Britain as “a rapid and effective programmer to equip Ukrainian pilots with the skills they need in the war against Russia.”

Last week, the Netherlands, which is one of the key members of the coalition, announced that it was about to start preparing the first delivery of F-16s fighter jets to Ukraine.

According to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the “initial” shipment would include 18 aircrafts.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky claimed in August that the Netherlands and Belgium together pledged to provide 42 jets to his country, although a joint statement by the two EU nations didn’t mention any specific numbers.

In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the F-16s would “burn” once they were delivered to Ukraine, just like the Leopard-2 tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, and other Western-made weapons that had been previously supplied to Kiev.

https://www.rt.com/news/589707-ukraine-uk-f16-training/

26 Dec, 2023

British home secretary apologizes for date rape drug joke

James Cleverly made the remark on the same day that parliament discussed tightening laws against drink spiking

The UK home secretary has apologized for his “ironic joke” about giving his wife a date rape drug. The Sunday Mirror earlier reported that James Cleverly made the off-color remark just hours after announcing measures to tackle a drink spiking epidemic.

The cabinet minister allegedly told female guests at a December 18 private receptionthat “a little bit of Rohypnol in [his wife’s] drink every night,” was “not really illegal if it’s only a little bit.”

He reportedly joked that the secret to a long marriage was making sure your spouse is “someone who is always mildly sedated so she can never realize there are better men out there,” according to the tabloid.

Senior government figures, as well as numerous campaigners and charities, have expressed outrage.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday that “spiking is a serious & devastating crime.” The Labour politician found it “unbelievable that the Home Secretary in charge of tackling violence against women & girls” could make the joke. “How can victims trust him to take this vile crime seriously?”

Rohypnol, one of a number of drugs colloquially known as “roofies,” has gained notoriety as a date-rape drug. Legally it is used for medical sedation, but regularly figures as a weapon in rape and other serious crimes. Almost 6,800 drink spiking offenses were reported in the UK between June 2022 and May 2023, according to official statistics. One in 10 women and one in 20 men said they had their drinks tampered with, according to a national survey last year.

On December 18, the UK government set out to update language in legislation to clearly outline what constitutes spiking under the Criminal Justice Bill. The maximum sentence for perpetrators will be 10 years in prison.

A spokesman for Cleverly said on Saturday the home secretary’s words came “in what was always understood as a private conversation,”and were “clearly meant to be an ironic joke – for which he apologises.”

The incident happened at a private reception at Downing Street 10, the residence of the prime minister. While conversations at these events are usually understood to be “off the record,” the Sunday Mirror explained, they decided to publish Mr Cleverly’s words due to the “exceptional circumstances” given his role, and the joke related to a specific crime he is tasked with fighting.

(UK leaders are pervs!)

https://www.rt.com/news/589706-james-cleverly-rape-drug/