Ukraine says it has shot down a second Russian A-50 plane. This is Russia’s version of an AWACs airborne command and control plane. This one was apparently downed over Russian territory near the Sea of Azov.
As President Biden would say, this is a BFD.
Russia has confirmed the loss of the plane but claims it was due to friendly fire. They have to say that to prevent pilots from balking about flying missions close to the front.
Here is a Thread Reader scroll of the tweets from the author below:
This shows the approximate location of where the plane may have been downed.
Tomorrow is the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There are rallies and marches scheduled all over the world to show support for Ukraine. A list of locations can be found here.
It’s good to see that there are so many in the United States.
Just about 2 years. 730 days. We all know where we were when it happened. We all haven’t slept. We have all lost loved ones in the process.
2 years of trying to live a “normal” life while many spent nights interrupted with air raid sirens and checking updates of friends and family.
2 years of saying goodbyes to people who had no right to be taken from us. Вікторія. Роман. Андрій (Джус). Дмитро (ДаВінчі).
But what would they tell us if they could? That this is #Ukraine. This is what we’re fighting for. This is who we are.
Our legacy is so beautiful, so creative and loving and proud; our legacy isn’t war.
Don’t let the noise of propaganda, social media arguments, political dramas, media spin get to you. Every minute you spend on nonsense, that’s a minute spent ignoring the fact that people are dying and need our voices, our donations, our support, our positivity, our fearlessness, to build #Ukraine’s future.
Russia has now lost at least 1,000 officers of the senior lieutenant rank. This site compiles the deaths of officers confirmed by obituaries, memorials and other means.
Russian armor making a dash across open ground with infantry riding on top. Guess what happened next?
I’m afraid I’m all out of fucks to give about this guy.
Eyewitnesses reported that the house was probably pelted with Molotov cocktails. Local media reported that Dejan Beric was recognized as a mercenary in Serbia and convicted - he now lives in Russia. Previously, he was also at the center of a scandal - after publishing a statement that Serbs taking part in the war against Ukraine were treated poorly in Russia. According to media reports, after the conflict the Serbs were sent to Akhmat.
This is a heartbreaking video report from Radio Free Europe about Ukrainian soldiers returning to the front after leave on the train to Kramatorsk.
And here is a RFE report on a Russian bikers club deemed a terrorist cell for criticizing the war.
This is just an unconscionable act. As is the fact that the Polish government doesn’t stop it. Polish farmers are apparently the tail that wags the dog.
The Peoples Republic of Texas? 😂😂
Audio on or you’ll miss the dog howling to the sound of the air raid siren.
Let’s see Domino’s do this.
They probably all smell like mothballs.
This is an excellent summary of the escalating situation in Moldova and its breakaway pro-Russian region of Transnistria. The current conflict seems to have been triggered by new customs regulations that the Moldovan government is implementing to better integrate its economy with the EU. These would also be imposed upon Transnistria, which relies heavily on EU imports and the EU as an export market.
The alternative to the situation in which Tiraspol will refuse to comply with the unconditional implementation of the new Moldovan customs rigors is the escalation of pre-existing tensions, in which the greatest risk for the separatist regime may be the justified reaction, including of a military nature from the side of Ukraine.
The essay engages in some game theory and examines the possibilities going forward, including some kind of negotiated agreement. It’s worst-case scenario
The scenario of a “war” or escalation is unlikely due to external and internal constraints: the Ukrainian propensity to act preemptively against threats coming from the Transnistria region and the electoral costs for Moldovan political actors. There is a speculation that the thawing of the Transnistria conflict could make it easier for the current Moldovan president to win a second term. However, any destabilizing situation could be penalized by the electorate on both banks of the Dniester River, including Western partners, who advocate a peaceful status quo. Furthermore, the destabilization scenario will have a negative effect on Moldova’s European integration agenda. Finally, the escalation scenario may develop worse events, if Russia recognizes the independence of the Transnistria region and its annexation to Russia, similar to Russian actions against Ukrainian territorial integrity: Crimea in 2014 and the occupied territories in 2022. In this case, Moldovan territory under the control of the constitutional authorities could become a target for Russian missiles, which have already crossed Moldovan airspace on several occasions in 2022-2023, as well as kamikaze drones.
The essay was published a few days ago and doesn’t address the current news about officials in Transnistria meeting on Feb. 28 to possibly ask Russia to annex the region. The author addresses that in later tweets.
Meanwhile, the administration of the separatist regime asked the EUBAM mission to intervene and reduce tension, convincing Chisinau to remove urgent points (focusing on customs duties). The Feb 28 event of local deputies at all levels in the Transnistria region was presented as an emergency meeting to discuss an eventual looming humanitarian crisis (as depicted by the separatist regime). It seems to be cry for attention of a (separatist) regime for its survival in conditions of falling budget revenues in the region and greater control of different functions by constitutional authorities (trade, banking, transportation, etc.). It may yet become part of a broader Russian hybrid operation to save the collapsing status quo around the breakaway region. At the moment, we are within Scenario 2, in which the Transnistrian region attempts to obtain concessions through increasing escalation.
Then there is this view from Ukraine:
I think I need to visit Moldova.
Trump would probably accept this offer, but his bone spurs have been acting up lately.
I’m going to start a fundraiser for a drone that can drop a grenade into that hole in the hood.
I hope they survive too, Iris.
They should be singing in a school choir instead of a pile of rubble.
I had a pet goat once. I named her Nanny. Yeah, I know, not very creative.
I missed the cat crashing the Fox interview with Zelenskyy yesterday.
