[Sticky] Russia-Ukraine War Geopolitical Analysis

"Russian Security Council deputy head and former president Dmitry Medvedev. [Photo credit:] Vyacheslav Viktorov / Roscongress Photobank"

 

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'It seems like Kyiv scumbags and their Western patrons are ready to orchestrate a new Chernobyl. Rockets and shells are falling closer and closer to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant reactor,' Medvedev said in (a Telegram) post.
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'What can one say,' Medevdev concluded. 'Don’t forget that there are nuclear sites in the European Union, too. And incidents are possible there as well.'
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Full article in The Moscow Times

"Hazmat-suited workers hose down the body of a volunteer on a stretcher to rehearse what they would do in the event of a disaster at the nearby Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russia" The photo and its caption were both posted within the article linked to below.

 

• Ukrainian emergency workers in city of Zaporizhzhia held drills to rehearse for a nuclear disaster Wednesday
• Hazmat-suited men and women practiced hosing down volunteers posing as irradiated victims of fallout
• Came hours before Russian military issued grim warning of 'provocation' at nearby nuclear plant tomorrow
• Russia claims Ukraine will cause 'man-made catastrophe' to discredit Moscow, while Kyiv says Putin's troops - who occupy the plant - have put explosives inside reactors and are shelling it in a 'false flag' operation

 

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... Ukraine's nuclear regulator says the Russian commander in charge of the plant has told his troops they must be ready to blow it up rather than let Ukraine re-take it.
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Full story in the Daily Mail

This photo of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station was posted at siasat.com.

 

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — Russia has allegedly told workers at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant not to show up to work Friday, Ukrainian military intelligence has exclusively confirmed to NBC News.

This comes amid allegations and speculation from both Russia and Ukraine that an incident is being planned Friday at the plant.

On Thursday, Russia threatened to shut down the plant, warning that there was a risk of a human-made disaster due to alleged continued shelling by Ukraine.

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“There is new information ... that for tomorrow, August 19, there is an order for the majority of the staff not to go to work,” Yusov told NBC News. ("Yusov" refers to "Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate".)
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Full article at NBC News

 
To the left is a photo of Admiral Igor Osipov, who has commanded the Russian Black Sea Fleet. To the right is a photo of Vice Admiral Viktor Sokolov; it is said that he has been named to replace Osipov. The photos of both were posted to the Wiki articles about them.

 

The Kremlin has reportedly ousted the head of its Black Sea Fleet after a series of apparent Ukrainian attacks on occupied Crimea, where the fleet is based.

Vice-Admiral Viktor Sokolov was made head of the fleet Wednesday, Russian state-run outlet RIA reported, citing unnamed sources. Sokolov ousts Admiral Igor Osipov, who’s commanded the fleet since 2019.

The leadership change comes as Russian momentum in Ukraine had reached a crawl, and a series of explosions in Crimea hint at the start of a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
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The fleet gained a black eye in April after Ukrainian anti-ship missiles sank its flagship, the Moskva.
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Full story in the New York Post