The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

BREAKTHROUGH: Ukrainian Forces Smash Russian Lines East of Kherson

(Click to see full-size map.) Wow — the Ukrainians are teaching the Russians a lesson in tactics, and every military leader in the world must be studying this lesson: Ukrainian forces achieved their biggest breakthrough in the south of the country since the war began, bursting through the front and advancing rapidly along the Dnipro […]

Russians Cut Off at Lyman UPDATE: Russia Announces ‘Withdrawal’

(Click to see full-size map.) The headlines say the Ukrainians have the Russians “surrounded” or “encircled” at Lyman, although from what I gather, the fact is that the Russians are cut off — can’t retreat, can’t get supplies or reinforcements — because the Ukrainians have all the routes into the town within artillery range, which […]

Ukraine Forces Cross Oskil River, Advancing Toward Svatove, Kreminna

Getting accurate and timely information about the war in Ukraine remains difficult, and it may be a few days before the tactical picture becomes clear, but (a) Ukraine now claims to control the east bank of the Oskril River across from Kupiansk, and (b) it has been confirmed that Ukrainian forces have taken Yarova, about […]

Ukraine Offensive Halts at Oskil River?

(Click to see full-size map.) I don’t like this. I don’t like it one bit. More than three days after Ukrainian forces claimed the capture of Kupiansk, they have not established bridgeheads on the east bank of the Oskil River, meaning that their ability to continue advancing eastward — i.e., to drive the Russians out […]

Ukraine Update: Smashing Success?

When I posted Friday evening about the push toward Kupiansk (“Ukraine: Better Late Than Never”), I was determined to err on the side of caution, not to be taken in by overly optimistic claims, but overnight saw more reports that indicate Ukraine has achieved a truly stunning breakthrough. Now, it seems confirmed that advance elements […]

Ukraine: Better Late Than Never

(Click to see full-size map.) Four months ago, after a Ukrainian counteroffensive drove the Russian invaders back from Kharkiv, I described how this had moved the Ukrainian front line “roughly 45 miles from Kupiansk, a crossroads on the supply line of the Russian forces at Izyum.” At the time, it appeared the Ukrainian advance might […]

Is @MaxBlumenthal on the Kremlin Payroll? (And Other Ukraine Questions)

We’ll get to the Max Blumenthal-as-Putin-puppet angle in just a minute, but first, Ace of Spades notices a shift in Bidenland: White House Stenographer Tom Friedman Throws Zelenskyy and Ukraine Under the Bus, Calling Both Corrupt. What Does It Mean? That question — “What does it mean?” — involves some reading of the tea leaves […]

Good-Bye, Severodonetsk!

Was this Ukrainian defeat unavoidable? Weeks of intense fighting has finally led to a full Russian occupation of the Eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk, according to the local mayor on Saturday. Russian forces have gained control and forced Ukrainian defenders to retreat the city that’s pretty much completely destroyed. “The Russians have fully occupied Severodonetsk, […]

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