For Those Who Might Be Wondering Why We Might Be In Ukraine

[ChloeTzang]

Chloe(who VOTED FOR TRUMP) is too cowardly (or ashamed) to quote my ENTIRE post…

I'm not going to debate Trump here. That would derail the focus on Ukraine and their fight to defeat Russia

 

[ChloeTzang]

Putin Arrests Critics As Ukraine Crushes The Russian Economy​

Putin ramps up arrests of critics and musicians as the Russian regime grows more desperate by the day. From jailing women for joining Telegram channels to expanding censorship programs, the Kremlin is tightening its grip on a collapsing system.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues its powerful campaign of strikes against Russia’s oil industry — destroying refineries, depots, and pipelines that once financed Moscow’s war. The results are visible: Russia’s oil and gas revenues have fallen off a cliff, and the federal budget deficit is exploding.

All this unfolds as Ukraine marks the anniversary of the liberation of Kherson — a reminder that occupation can be defeated, and freedom endures.

Watch the full breakdown of how Russia’s economic collapse and growing repression reveal a regime running out of time.

 

[Lazaran]

I'm not going to debate Trump here. That would derail the focus on Ukraine and their fight to defeat Russia

IT IS ALL “OF A PIECE”.



Hope that ^ helps.



Chloe



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Ukraine takes out Saratov Oil Refinery and other hits on Russia

 

[ChloeTzang]

Zelensky Walks Into the Kill Zone​

Zelensky has done something few leaders would dare — walking straight into the danger, within drone range, to speak to his people.

No armor. No hesitation. Just resolve.

This moment isn’t staged; it’s a portrait of courage when it matters most.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Russan Convoy Was Ambushed Moving into Pokrovsk

 

[ChloeTzang]

Putin’s Pokrovsk operation is ‘bleeding Russia dry’

 

[ChloeTzang]

ST. PETERSBURG: INTERNET DOWN,

The Russian city of St. Petersburg, with a population of 5.6 million, has been almost completely cut off from mobile internet. Residents report that websites, messengers, banks, delivery apps, and taxis are all unavailable.

Russia: Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile with a 1 ton warhead struck the Port of Tuapse on the Black Sea coast in Krasnodar region. Key hub for Russian oil export.

 

[Philthy_Phil]

I'm not going to debate Trump here. That would derail the focus on Ukraine and their fight to defeat Russia

Yes, Ukaire cannot win if your focus on the matter is disrupted.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Yes, Ukaire cannot win if your focus on the matter is disrupted.

Without my unremitting focus, Ukraine will lose. This is why I sacrifice chickens to Perun at midnight on every full moon and use blood as a libation in which I bathe my voodoo doll of Putin before sitting it down and feeding it polonium tea before ritually blasting it to pieces with 9mm. Without this, Ukraine would be sure to lose.

rotflmao

Don't be a duck all your life, Phil. Anything related to the T-man is going to take this thread sideways faster than you can make more asinine comments. There are a hundred threads dedicated to that subject and only one to Ukraine - and I note this is one of the few times you popped in here and it's NOT to talk about Ukraine and the war.

 

[ChloeTzang]

 

[ChloeTzang]

Autumn leaves, steel hearts, modern technologies.

: 127th Mechanized Brigade, 43rd Artillery Brigade
What an amazing difference from 4 years ago. Slava Ukraini!

 

[ChloeTzang]

 

[ChloeTzang]

Vintage Yak-52 Aircraft Is Being Reborn as a Drone-Hunting Platform on Ukraine's Front Lines

Once used for air shows in Britain, a Soviet-era Yak-52 aircraft is now joining Ukraine's battle against russian drones, marking another creative step in low-cost air defense
Ukrainian forces have found a creative way to counter russian drones, by using vintage Soviet Yak-52 propeller aircraft. What began as a 1970s-era training plane is now being repurposed into a nimble, low-cost interceptor against the wave of the Shahed and Orlan UAVs launched by russia.

A recent initiative from the Netherlands has given this idea a boost. As reported by EenVandaag, the Dutch volunteer foundation Protect Ukraine purchased the Yak-52 aircraft in the United Kingdom for €78,000. The aircraft, which was previously used for aerobatic shows, has now been transferred to Ukraine to help defend its skies. The foundation, which has already supplied motorcycles, cars, medical equipment, and even maritime drones to Ukrainian defenders, says it plans to acquire additional Yak-52 systems if suitable offers can be found. Originally designed in the Soviet Union for sport and training, the Yak-52 system was produced until 1998, with over 1,700 units built. Its simplicity, durability, and low operating cost made it a popular aircraft not only among state air forces but also private collectors across Europe and North America.

This legacy means that a relatively large pool of airworthy Yak-52 systems still exists on the civilian market, a potential source of low-cost assets for Ukraine's evolving air defense tactics.
However, not every Yak-52 system is suitable for military adaptation. Many are privately owned, in varying technical condition, and some owners raise prices upon learning the aircraft's intended destination. Despite these challenges, volunteers believe more aircraft can be sourced and modified. Interestingly, a few Yak-52 units also remain in service with the air forces of former Warsaw Pact nations. While political reasons make a transfer from Hungary unlikely, Lithuania's small remaining fleet could be of potential interest to Kyiv.

For Ukraine, the Yak-52 aircraft is not a high-tech solution, it is a symbol of ingenuity and adaptation. The use of old yet reliable platforms reflects the country's pragmatic approach to asymmetric warfare. When expensive missile interceptors are in short supply, even a low-cost, prop-driven aircraft can fill a tactical gap. As Protect Ukraine emphasizes, every "small" contribution matters.

https://en.defence-ua.com/news/vint...g_platform_on_ukraines_front_lines-16457.html

 

[LLCox]

Vintage Yak-52 Aircraft Is Being Reborn as a Drone-Hunting Platform on Ukraine's Front Lines

Once used for air shows in Britain, a Soviet-era Yak-52 aircraft is now joining Ukraine's battle against russian drones, marking another creative step in low-cost air defense
Ukrainian forces have found a creative way to counter russian drones, by using vintage Soviet Yak-52 propeller aircraft. What began as a 1970s-era training plane is now being repurposed into a nimble, low-cost interceptor against the wave of the Shahed and Orlan UAVs launched by russia.

A recent initiative from the Netherlands has given this idea a boost. As reported by EenVandaag, the Dutch volunteer foundation Protect Ukraine purchased the Yak-52 aircraft in the United Kingdom for €78,000. The aircraft, which was previously used for aerobatic shows, has now been transferred to Ukraine to help defend its skies. The foundation, which has already supplied motorcycles, cars, medical equipment, and even maritime drones to Ukrainian defenders, says it plans to acquire additional Yak-52 systems if suitable offers can be found. Originally designed in the Soviet Union for sport and training, the Yak-52 system was produced until 1998, with over 1,700 units built. Its simplicity, durability, and low operating cost made it a popular aircraft not only among state air forces but also private collectors across Europe and North America.

This legacy means that a relatively large pool of airworthy Yak-52 systems still exists on the civilian market, a potential source of low-cost assets for Ukraine's evolving air defense tactics.
However, not every Yak-52 system is suitable for military adaptation. Many are privately owned, in varying technical condition, and some owners raise prices upon learning the aircraft's intended destination. Despite these challenges, volunteers believe more aircraft can be sourced and modified. Interestingly, a few Yak-52 units also remain in service with the air forces of former Warsaw Pact nations. While political reasons make a transfer from Hungary unlikely, Lithuania's small remaining fleet could be of potential interest to Kyiv.

For Ukraine, the Yak-52 aircraft is not a high-tech solution, it is a symbol of ingenuity and adaptation. The use of old yet reliable platforms reflects the country's pragmatic approach to asymmetric warfare. When expensive missile interceptors are in short supply, even a low-cost, prop-driven aircraft can fill a tactical gap. As Protect Ukraine emphasizes, every "small" contribution matters.

https://en.defence-ua.com/news/vint...g_platform_on_ukraines_front_lines-16457.html

View attachment 2577094

I like how they camouflage it with a red star.

 

[Lazaran]

Without my unremitting focus, Ukraine will lose. This is why I sacrifice chickens to Perun at midnight on every full moon and use blood as a libation in which I bathe my voodoo doll of Putin before sitting it down and feeding it polonium tea before ritually blasting it to pieces with 9mm. Without this, Ukraine would be sure to lose.

rotflmao

Don't be a duck all your life, Phil. Anything related to the T-man is going to take this thread sideways faster than you can make more asinine comments. There are a hundred threads dedicated to that subject and only one to Ukraine - and I note this is one of the few times you popped in here and it's NOT to talk about Ukraine and the war.

The problem with people like you, Chloe, is the same problem that the pro - "Palestine" crowd has: You both care more about saving those countries / territories than saving America from racist, fascistic, misogynistic, sexually predatory (pedophilic?), corrupt, traitorous, authoritarian wannabes like DonOld & the MAGAt republicans.

Save Ukraine / Gaza, but lose America???



Fuck that ^ !!!

I can easily focus my vitriol on Putin AND Hamas, Iran, etc, AND DonOld & the MAGAt republicans - because they are all the same kind of evil scum.

You should try doing that ^ - it really isn’t that hard.





We. Told. Them. So.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Major corruption scandal engulfs top Zelensky allies​

$100,000,000 corruption scandle uncovered. This is a HUGE deal in Ukraine, Ukrainians are furious, this scandal will not go away and a lot of heads at the top levels of the government will roll - possibly including Zelensky's. On Monday anti-corruption bodies accused several people of orchestrating a embezzlement scheme in the energy sector worth about $100m (£76m), including at the national nuclear operator Enerhoatom. Some of those implicated in the scandal are - or have been - close associates of Zelensky's. The leader of the crime syndicate, Tymur Minchin, has close ties to Zelensky and is a co-owner of Zelensky's former TV studio Kvartal95. Among those alleged to be involved are former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov and Timur Mindich - a businessman and one of Zelensky's closets associates. He has since reportedly fled the country.

The country has been plagued by corruption since gaining independence, and Zelenskyy was elected on a mandate to eliminate graft. Military procurement scandals led to the ouster of Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov in 2023. Ukraine's energy and justice ministers have resigned in the wake of a major investigation into corruption in the country's energy sector. President Volodymyr Zelensky called for Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko's removal on Wednesday. Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said they submitted their resignations. She also said the cabinet submitted proposals to apply sanctions against Timur Mindich, a close Zelenskyy associate, and businessman Alexander Tsukerman. That has raised questions about what the country's highest officials knew of the scheme, especially with war powers concentrated in the president’s office. Zelenskyy tried to curtail Ukraine’s anti-corruption watchdogs last summer but reversed course after widespread protests.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap) said the investigation - which was 15 months in the making and involved 1,000 hours of audio recordings - uncovered the participation of several members of the Ukrainian government. According to Nabu, the people involved systematically collected kickbacks from Enerhoatom contractors worth between 10% and 15% of contract values. The anti-corruption bodies also said the huge sums had been laundered in the scheme and published photographs of bags full of cash. The funds were then transferred outside Ukraine, including to Russia, Nabu said. Prosecutors alleged that the scheme's proceeds were laundered through an office in Kyiv linked to the family of former Ukrainian lawmaker and current Russian senator Andriy Derkach. Nabu has been releasing new snippets of its investigation and wiretaps and on Tuesday it promised more would come.

Nabu is seperate from the government and not under government control despite a previous attempt ny Zelensky to strip their independance and bring them under government control - we now know why. Zelensky's personal response was a comment praising Nabu's effort but not naming Mindich. This is a serious erosion of trust in the government, especially as Mindich is closely associated with Zelensky. This is no time for Zelensky to be vague. The timing of this one couldn’t be much worse. “Internally this scandal will be used to undermine unity and stability within the country. Externally, our enemies will use it as an argument to stop aid to Ukraine,” said Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker with Zelenskyy’s party. “It looks really bad in the eyes of our European and American partners. While Russians destroy our power grid and people have to endure blackouts, someone at the top was stealing money during the war.”

The scandal is unfolding against the backdrop of escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, including substations that supply electricity to nuclear power plants. It will also shine a spotlight on corruption in Ukraine, which continues to be endemic despite work by Nabu and Sap in the 10 years since they were created. In July, nationwide protests broke out over changes curbing the independence of Nabu and Sap. Ukrainians feared the nation could lose the coveted status of EU candidate country which it was granted on condition it mounted a credible fight against corruption. Kyiv's European partners also expressed severe alarm at the decision, with ambassadors from the G7 group of nations expressing the desire to discuss the issue with the Ukrainian leadership. The backlash was the most severe to hit the Ukrainian government since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 and was only quelled by Zelensky's decision to reinstate the freedom of the two anti-corruption bodies.

Yet for some that crisis brought into question Zelensky's dedication to anti-corruption reforms. The investigation into Myndich was allegedly one of the factors that led to attempts by the government to eliminate nabu's independance back in July. The latest scandal threatens to lead to more awkward questions for the Ukrainian president given he was instrumental in the ealier attempt to shut down Nabu and he has close ties to the leader of the crime syndidate, Timur Minchin, who stole the money. Besides Monchn, there are also links to Firepoint, the drone and missile production company owned by associates of Zelensky.

The allegation is that Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and other key ministers and officials received payments from contractors building fortifications against Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. The outrage in Ukraine is so huge because the majority of Ukraine population were plunged into darkness because there was no defense infrastructure protecting the thermal power plants that Russia attacked - as it turns out, a big posrtion of the money intended for the defense of these thermal power plans was stolen by an inncer circle include Minchin and other. Nabu has placed an accusation against him of leading an organized crime syndicate.
NABU has investigated his alleged connection with Fire Point, a drone manufacturer that has risen to prominence by securing government contracts. NABU investigated the company over concerns it misled the government on weapons prices. “It looks like Zelensky distanced himself from Mindich long ago and when the scandal broke out, Zelensky didn’t start to cover Mindich,” Merezkho said. “But I don’t rule out that someone from his entourage might have succumbed to temptation to make a quick buck.” The AP gained access to the company’s factory in August. Its executives deny connections to Mindich. “The key issue here is that the company supposedly affiliated to Mindich is getting government contracts outside the competition, because of the personal relationship to the administration," said Ukrainian investigative journalist Yurii Nikolov, who looked into the businessman's dealings with Fire Point. “The silver lining in this story is that we have effective and truly independent anti-corruption bodies which have shown concrete results,” Merezkho said. “As it turns out, no one is above the law and no one is immune.”

Political analyst Oleh Saakian said the scheme involved “millions, tens of millions of dollars,” but he also cautioned that its full scale is not known. While not the largest corruption scandal in Ukraine’s history, he noted it took place during wartime and is connected to “key players” in the government.

Discussions about delays fortifying energy sites

In the tapes from NABU, two discussions involved delays to building defensive fortifications for energy sites and waiting for a more profitable alternative before shielding them from Russian attacks. The talk mentioned giving contracts to build defensive protections to a known company, and later to increase kickbacks up to 15%. An AP investigation this year revealed that despite over a year of warnings from Ukrainian officials about vulnerabilities near nuclear sites, the Energy Ministry failed to act quickly. Particularly at risk were unprotected switchyards outside the perimeter of Ukraine’s three active nuclear plants — vital for generating power. Lawmakers highlighted this failure in a resolution calling for the removal of Haluschenko as energy minister and criticized him for alleged corruption and poor oversight.

Many politicians linked the attack on NABU to the presidential office learning that Mindich was under surveillance. Analysts say the failed attempt to limit the bureau’s powers ultimately freed NABU to continue the investigation. “I don’t know, of course, what Zelensky should do now to restore legitimacy even to the level of July’s rollback of anti-NABU laws… The weaker his position inside the country, the more indecent for our sovereignty the proposals some of our dear ‘allies’ will start pressing him with. It’s so obvious I can’t believe he doesn’t understand it. And I also can’t believe no one knew what these devils were up to. Because an adequate reaction is almost nonexistent,” notes Viktor Datsko.

The main question now is whether Zelensky will take decisive steps to hold Mindich’s group accountable – or appear to shield his allies.

So far, the president’s office has reacted weakly, and some Telegram channels linked to it continue to accuse NABU and SAPO of destabilizing Ukraine and even of “working with Russia.”

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/64120

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...-moscow-friedrich-merz-american-b2864076.html

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/...ignations-as-major-corruption-scandal-unfolds

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8vw62j3g9o

 

[ll74]

Major corruption scandal engulfs top Zelensky allies​

$100,000,000 corruption scandle uncovered. This is a HUGE deal in Ukraine, Ukrainians are furious, this scandal will not go away and a lot of heads at the top levels of the government will roll - possibly including Zelensky's. On Monday anti-corruption bodies accused several people of orchestrating a embezzlement scheme in the energy sector worth about $100m (£76m), including at the national nuclear operator Enerhoatom. Some of those implicated in the scandal are - or have been - close associates of Zelensky's. The leader of the crime syndicate, Tymur Minchin, has close ties to Zelensky and is a co-owner of Zelensky's former TV studio Kvartal95. Among those alleged to be involved are former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov and Timur Mindich - a businessman and one of Zelensky's closets associates. He has since reportedly fled the country.

The country has been plagued by corruption since gaining independence, and Zelenskyy was elected on a mandate to eliminate graft. Military procurement scandals led to the ouster of Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov in 2023. Ukraine's energy and justice ministers have resigned in the wake of a major investigation into corruption in the country's energy sector. President Volodymyr Zelensky called for Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko's removal on Wednesday. Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said they submitted their resignations. She also said the cabinet submitted proposals to apply sanctions against Timur Mindich, a close Zelenskyy associate, and businessman Alexander Tsukerman. That has raised questions about what the country's highest officials knew of the scheme, especially with war powers concentrated in the president’s office. Zelenskyy tried to curtail Ukraine’s anti-corruption watchdogs last summer but reversed course after widespread protests.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap) said the investigation - which was 15 months in the making and involved 1,000 hours of audio recordings - uncovered the participation of several members of the Ukrainian government. According to Nabu, the people involved systematically collected kickbacks from Enerhoatom contractors worth between 10% and 15% of contract values. The anti-corruption bodies also said the huge sums had been laundered in the scheme and published photographs of bags full of cash. The funds were then transferred outside Ukraine, including to Russia, Nabu said. Prosecutors alleged that the scheme's proceeds were laundered through an office in Kyiv linked to the family of former Ukrainian lawmaker and current Russian senator Andriy Derkach. Nabu has been releasing new snippets of its investigation and wiretaps and on Tuesday it promised more would come.

Nabu is seperate from the government and not under government control despite a previous attempt ny Zelensky to strip their independance and bring them under government control - we now know why. Zelensky's personal response was a comment praising Nabu's effort but not naming Mindich. This is a serious erosion of trust in the government, especially as Mindich is closely associated with Zelensky. This is no time for Zelensky to be vague. The timing of this one couldn’t be much worse. “Internally this scandal will be used to undermine unity and stability within the country. Externally, our enemies will use it as an argument to stop aid to Ukraine,” said Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker with Zelenskyy’s party. “It looks really bad in the eyes of our European and American partners. While Russians destroy our power grid and people have to endure blackouts, someone at the top was stealing money during the war.”

The scandal is unfolding against the backdrop of escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, including substations that supply electricity to nuclear power plants. It will also shine a spotlight on corruption in Ukraine, which continues to be endemic despite work by Nabu and Sap in the 10 years since they were created. In July, nationwide protests broke out over changes curbing the independence of Nabu and Sap. Ukrainians feared the nation could lose the coveted status of EU candidate country which it was granted on condition it mounted a credible fight against corruption. Kyiv's European partners also expressed severe alarm at the decision, with ambassadors from the G7 group of nations expressing the desire to discuss the issue with the Ukrainian leadership. The backlash was the most severe to hit the Ukrainian government since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 and was only quelled by Zelensky's decision to reinstate the freedom of the two anti-corruption bodies.

Yet for some that crisis brought into question Zelensky's dedication to anti-corruption reforms. The investigation into Myndich was allegedly one of the factors that led to attempts by the government to eliminate nabu's independance back in July. The latest scandal threatens to lead to more awkward questions for the Ukrainian president given he was instrumental in the ealier attempt to shut down Nabu and he has close ties to the leader of the crime syndidate, Timur Minchin, who stole the money. Besides Monchn, there are also links to Firepoint, the drone and missile production company owned by associates of Zelensky.

The allegation is that Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and other key ministers and officials received payments from contractors building fortifications against Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. The outrage in Ukraine is so huge because the majority of Ukraine population were plunged into darkness because there was no defense infrastructure protecting the thermal power plants that Russia attacked - as it turns out, a big posrtion of the money intended for the defense of these thermal power plans was stolen by an inncer circle include Minchin and other. Nabu has placed an accusation against him of leading an organized crime syndicate.
NABU has investigated his alleged connection with Fire Point, a drone manufacturer that has risen to prominence by securing government contracts. NABU investigated the company over concerns it misled the government on weapons prices. “It looks like Zelensky distanced himself from Mindich long ago and when the scandal broke out, Zelensky didn’t start to cover Mindich,” Merezkho said. “But I don’t rule out that someone from his entourage might have succumbed to temptation to make a quick buck.” The AP gained access to the company’s factory in August. Its executives deny connections to Mindich. “The key issue here is that the company supposedly affiliated to Mindich is getting government contracts outside the competition, because of the personal relationship to the administration," said Ukrainian investigative journalist Yurii Nikolov, who looked into the businessman's dealings with Fire Point. “The silver lining in this story is that we have effective and truly independent anti-corruption bodies which have shown concrete results,” Merezkho said. “As it turns out, no one is above the law and no one is immune.”

Political analyst Oleh Saakian said the scheme involved “millions, tens of millions of dollars,” but he also cautioned that its full scale is not known. While not the largest corruption scandal in Ukraine’s history, he noted it took place during wartime and is connected to “key players” in the government.

Discussions about delays fortifying energy sites

At a certain point, resignation might be something to consider for Zelensky. The last thing Ukranians need is for this to overshadow their defense.

I'm not yet calling for it, myself, but since elections aren't viable ..getting someone else to keep things on track might be the best.

 

[Lazaran]

Major corruption scandal engulfs top Zelensky allies​

$100,000,000 corruption scandle uncovered

100 million??? In wartime???



That is a fucking pittance.



Definitely NOT optimal, but in the grand scheme of things???

*yawn*



Now DonOld & the MAGAt republicans’ TRILLIONS in graft and crony capitalism???



THAT ^ SHOULD result in SEVERE consequences.



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[ChloeTzang]

At a certain point, resignation might be something to consider for Zelensky. The last thing Ukranians need is for this to overshadow their defense.

I'm not yet calling for it, myself, but since elections aren't viable ..getting someone else to keep things on track might be the best.

Agreed - the article said he had seerated himself from Myndich quite some time ago - but the attempt to shut down Nabu is suspicious - altho that might not have come from him.

Personally I suspect Zelensky is straight up and this has just blind-sided him. He needs to come out really strongly on this and really push and support Nabu and the anti-corruption drive now.

Any sucessor would be Zaluzhyny - who is about as incorruptible as they come. Early in the war some American guy who passed away left him a million dollars and he donated it all to the war effort.

 

[ChloeTzang]

100 million??? In wartime???

That is a fucking pittance.

It's a 100 million where units are struggling to fund used pickup trucks and drones and it was needed for critical defence infrastructure. Families and little kids are freezing because of this.

They shoukd bring back the death penalty for those guilty.

 

[Lazaran]

It's a 100 million where units are struggling to fund used pickup trucks and drones and it was needed for critical defence infrastructure. Families and little kids are freezing because of this.

They shoukd bring back the death penalty for those guilty.

I stand by my ENTIRE post.

100 million??? In wartime???



That is a fucking pittance.



Definitely NOT optimal, but in the grand scheme of things???

*yawn*



Now DonOld & the MAGAt republicans’ TRILLIONS in graft and crony capitalism???



THAT ^ SHOULD result in SEVERE consequences.



We. Told. Them. So.

The report definitely suggests there should be consequences for those involved - and it appears there HAVE BEEN consequences (with future / further consequences pending).



And, once again: In a multi-TRILLION dollar wartime effort, 100 million dollars is equal to administrative costs or a rounding error.

Do NOT make it more than it is.

That ^ is helping Putin & the Russians (and “DonOld the traitor”).



Slava Ukraini!!!

 

[ChloeTzang]

Corruption Scandal Shocks Ukraine | President's Friends Involved

$100,000,000 is the initial number based on one investigation
Apparently this may only be the tip of the iceberg and the total amount may run into billions
Blackmail of contractors extorting 15% on top
Threatened to mobilize all personnel of companies onto Army if they did not pay
Defense sector is also implicated, more details coming out every day
Already mutiple arrests of multiple officials
Timur Myndich has an Israeli passport and is now in Tel Aviv - most of those who fled the country are now in Israel
His partner in crime, Tsukerman, is also under investigatioin in the US by the FBI in a money laundering case - Tsukerman is apparently also now in Israel
Investigation has been going for 15 months. Ex-Defense Minister Umerov may also be involved.
Most of the people involved at the senior levels hold Israeli passports.
Not just Energoatom - other companies were involved - Energoatom is only the first company that information is being released on

Zelensky's attempt to remove NABU's independance now looks very very suspicious. A lot of the cabinet ministers who are being arrested were appointed by Zelensky.
Ukrainians are understandably rather upset.
According to Denys, this has destroyed trust by Ukrainians in the government. If Zelensky is implicated, he needs to go.
Current Government and Army leadership need to be changed. Major cleanup and reforms needed.
Denys frustration and anger really comes through in this one.

 

[Lazaran]

Corruption Scandal Shocks Ukraine | President's Friends Involved

$100,000,000 is the initial number based on one investigation
Apparently this may only be the tip of the iceberg and the total amount may run into billions
Blackmail of contractors extorting 15% on top
Threatened to mobilize all personnel of companies onto Army if they did not pay
Defense sector is also implicated, more details coming out every day
Already mutiple arrests of multiple officials
Timur Myndich has an Israeli passport and is now in Tel Aviv - most of those who fled the country are now in Israel
His partner in crime, Tsukerman, is also under investigatioin in the US by the FBI in a money laundering case - Tsukerman is apparently also now in Israel
Investigation has been going for 15 months. Ex-Defense Minister Umerov may also be involved.
Not just Energoatom - other companies were involved - Energoatom is only the first company that information is being released on

Zelensky's attempt to remove NABU's independance now looks very very suspicious. A lot of the cabinet ministers who are being arrested were appointed by Zelensky.

The strange thing is that this seems to stem from a premium that was being charged to local power stations due to the Russians targeting Ukrainian power substations - which makes sense.

If the bigwigs were skimming some of the premiums being paid for extra defense of those power substations, then that number may be substantially less than the total amounts being discussed.

Now did those substations receive ANY additional protection (money spent)??? Or did the bigwigs take ALL the money and provide no additional protection to those substations???



I suspect this isn’t as outrageous as some people (media outlets - including Russian, Chinese, and right wing U.S. propaganda) are making it out to be, as even the Ukrainian anti-corruption unit hasn’t made a final determination on how significant the corruption was / is.

It certainly isn’t as significant and widespread as Russian corruption or DonOld & the MAGAt republicans’ corruption - based on currently available information.



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[Chernosoth]

Whoever eventually wins that war could increase Lada Niva production. I never had the budget for an offroad vehicle, but I get the impression there is a hole in the market. The new Bronco and all the recent Jeeps seem to be very overpriced toys without the basic ruggedness needed for offroading.