Kherson offensive distraction. Borrell refutes travel ban. UK media, Putin shuns Shoigu. Update 1

I loved the interlude with the turtle. Such a humane gesture.

Double plus good on the turtle timeout.

The UK defence ministry is obviously not on the same planet as the rest of us. I know it is just propaganda but I am sure the UK could do better than this dribble.

I too am Team Turtle, thank you so much for helping him!

Russia could advertise holidays to its country as an “Energy getaway for Europeans”. This would include guaranteed warm hotel rooms with endless hot showers. Combine this with a hire car package with a free tank of fuel thrown in. And circulate photos and videos of the Russian towns and cities with festive Christmas lights as opposed to European blackouts in town centres.

Please allow me to pose something really cynical. Perhaps this moving of conflict zones about is a means of allowing armaments to be slipped into the black market (fantasy dialogue: weapons inspector_ What happened to those Howitzers? Ukrainian official_:They had to be abandoned in Donetsk.) or to existing hidden markets which have important trade emissaries (fantasy dialog: Mr. Big to Ukrainian official- The deal is on, Sultan Bishar’s people can pick-up the artillery shells between 8/29 and 8/31. Make sure they are left at the appointed location and move your troops out of the area and coax the Russians to… Read more »

Much of actual battle and campaign planning is done by Captains and Colonels. Generals make sure the money is available, production and procurement schedules are adequate and coordinated and political ‘go ahead’ avenues are open.. Shoigu has those abilities.