UK says: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has begun
LONDON — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has already begun so Britain will impose sanctions on Russia, a senior British minister said on Tuesday as Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired an emergency government response meeting over the Ukraine crisis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine after recognizing them as independent on Monday, accelerating a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war.
A Reuters witness saw tanks and other military hardware moving through the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk after Putin formally recognized the breakaway regions and ordered the deployment of Russian forces to “keep the peace”.
“You can conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has begun,” British Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Sky News. “The Russians, President Putin, has decided to attack the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity.”
“We will be introducing sanctions as we said we always will,” he said.
Britain has threatened to cut off Russian companies’ access to U.S. dollars and British pounds, blocking them from raising capital in London and to expose what Johnson calls the “Russian doll” of property and company ownership.
Britain has not yet spelled out who would fall under the sanctions, but has pledged that there would be nowhere for Russian oligarchs to hide. Johnson has said targets could include Russian banks.
Javid said sanctions will be announced in a statement to parliament by Johnson.
“I’m sure that we’ll make those sanctions as targeted as possible to the people that are responsible for this flagrant violation of international law,” Javid said.
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden said on Friday (Feb 18) that Russia President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, and that he continues to spread false information to try to build a pretext for a military strike that could happen in days.
"As of this moment I am convinced that he has made the decision (to invade)," Biden told reporters in Washington. "We have reason to believe that," he added, citing US intelligence assessments.
His comments came after a phone call with the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Britain, the European Union and NATO, the White House said.
The leaders pledged to continue pursuing diplomacy while preparing to impose swift, coordinated economic costs on Russia should it choose further conflict, according to a White House readout of the call.
They also discussed efforts to ensure the defense and security of NATO’s eastern flank, the White House said.
Biden's administration has said a diplomatic solution remains possible if Russia chooses, but that Washington and its European allies are prepared to enact harsh punishments if Moscow opts to invade.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov planned to meet Feb. 24 in Europe, Biden said, but he warned any Russian military action before that would show Russia has "slammed the door shut on diplomacy."
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, expressing concern amid the build-up and vowing to stay in close contact with NATO and U.S. allies.
"We feel very strongly about and will always be committed to the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty," Harris told reporters. "We remain of course supportive of diplomacy as it relates to the dialogue and discussions we've had with Russia, but we are also committed to taking corrective actions."
Blinken also addressed the conference on Friday, saying Washington remained "deeply concerned" that Russia was planning to attack Ukraine within days.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also urged de-escalation in a call with his Russian counterpart on Friday, the Pentagon said.
Singaporeans in Ukraine advised to leave as soon as possible: MFA
SINGAPORE: Singaporeans in Ukraine are advised to leave the country as soon as possible, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Sunday (Feb 13) night.
"Tensions have continued to heighten in Ukraine and the surrounding region," MFA said in a statement.
"In view of the current situation, Singaporeans in Ukraine are advised to leave the country as soon as possible via commercial means while it is still possible to do so."
Singapore does not have a diplomatic mission in Ukraine and there is "no guarantee" that MFA will be in a position to help Singaporeans leave the country if conflict occurs, the ministry added.
Those still in Ukraine should register with MFA immediately if they have not done so, it added.
Those who require consular assistance can contact the 24-hour MFA Duty Office at +65 6379 8800/8855.
There have been fears of an invasion by Russia, which has stationed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine.
The United States said on Friday that an invasion could start at any moment, although Russia denies such talk.
The US and other Western governments have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine, and Washington on Saturday said it was ordering most of its Kyiv embassy staff to do so.
After the interception off the coast of Crimea, the American B-52 made an emergency landing.
Russian footage 'shows fighter jets intercepting US B-52 as it flies towards Crimea'
The is the moment Moscow claims two Su-27s fighter jets intercepted a US B-52 bomber as it flew towards Crimea.
Russia released footage of its warplanes allegedly heading off the USAF jet, claiming there were two incidents over the Black and Baltic Seas.
Non-Russian accounts said that one of the B-52s subsequently made an emergency landing at RAF Mildenhall in Britain following an unrelated in-flight emergency.
One of the US strategic bombers was reportedly flying direct for the Crimean peninsula over the Black Sea.
RAF Typhoons were scrambled last Friday and again the following day as they intercepted Russian aircraft as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission. The British have intercepted the Russians on eight occasions since May.
Russia caused Western outcry by annexing Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
The B-52s are believed to have flown to Russia's borders direct from 5th Bomber Wing at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.
The former head of the Russian Black Sea fleet Vladimir Komoyedov claimed the US flight route had provoked Moscow into 'counter actions.'
'Crews of Russian Su-27 fighter jets that were on combat duty intercepted US B-52H bombers that were approaching Russia's state border from the Black and Baltic Seas,' a spokesman for the Russian MOD told TASS news agency.
They added that the interception was carried out in strict compliance with international law.
NATO carries out its Baltic Air Policing mission close to the Russian border, while the US and Romanian forces are currently involved in exercises in the Black Sea region.
Reports say three B-52s crossed the Atlantic and that two returned after their mission.
The third landed at RAF Mildenhall.
In recent days Russian and NATO jets have come into contact with one another over both the Baltic and the Black Sea.
The British Ministry of Defence said RAF Typhoon fighters were scrambled last Friday to intercept a Russian SU-30 Flanker fighter jet which was heading north of Estonia.
Fuck 'em B52s, Putin will probably just ride into Ukraine à la John Wayne and annex the whole damn country by himself without so much as suffering a scratch. ;)
The Big Ugly Fellas arrive in UK: US B-52 long-range bombers land in Britain to join Nato mission after practising airstrikes with British forward controllers as Putin's forces continue to menace Ukraine
Bombers from the US's flying forces jetted into RAF Fairford this morning in a thinly-veiled show of strength as Russia continued to mass near Ukraine.
The four B-52 Stratofortress aircraft - with call signs HATE 11, HATE 12, HATE 13 AND HATE 14 - arrived at the Gloucestershire grounds this morning.
They were accompanied by officers and personnel from America's 5th Bomb Wing from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.
Plane spotters were in raptures as the giant metal aircraft - nicknamed BUFFs for Big Ugly Fat Fellas - swooped down onto the tarmac to land.
Officially the £62million machines are here for a Bomber Task Force mission, a joint practice the US said had been 'long planned'.
But the sight of them - and their long-range bombing capability - may help focus the mind of Vladimir Putin as Russian forces continue to mass outside the Ukraine border.
Earlier today Boris Johnson warned Europe faces the 'most dangerous moment for decades' and the 'stakes are very high' as he urged Russia to back away from a 'disastrous' Ukraine invasion.
At a joint press conference with Nato general secretary Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, the PM said he did not believe Vladimir Putin had made a final decision on whether to send troops over the border.
But Mr Johnson admitted the signs were not good, insisting that Mr Putin will face a strong response if he does go ahead.
The four B-52s at Fairhead were joined by the Lockheed U-2, nicknamed the Dragon Lady after its CIA codename.
The planes were initially used by the CIA, first flown in 1955 during the Cold War and for top-secret missions over the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam and Cuba.
They feature a 63ft-long thin fuselage, two high-aspect, un-swept glider-like wings, and a powerful engine which is carefully designed to keep the plane higher than 70,000ft.
UK says: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has begun
LONDON — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has already begun so Britain will impose sanctions on Russia, a senior British minister said on Tuesday as Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired an emergency government response meeting over the Ukraine crisis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine after recognizing them as independent on Monday, accelerating a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war.
A Reuters witness saw tanks and other military hardware moving through the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk after Putin formally recognized the breakaway regions and ordered the deployment of Russian forces to “keep the peace”.
“You can conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has begun,” British Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Sky News. “The Russians, President Putin, has decided to attack the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity.”
“We will be introducing sanctions as we said we always will,” he said.
Britain has threatened to cut off Russian companies’ access to U.S. dollars and British pounds, blocking them from raising capital in London and to expose what Johnson calls the “Russian doll” of property and company ownership.
Britain has not yet spelled out who would fall under the sanctions, but has pledged that there would be nowhere for Russian oligarchs to hide. Johnson has said targets could include Russian banks.
Javid said sanctions will be announced in a statement to parliament by Johnson.
“I’m sure that we’ll make those sanctions as targeted as possible to the people that are responsible for this flagrant violation of international law,” Javid said.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1558366/uk-says-the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-has-begun
Real or fake news?
Biden says Putin has decided to invade Ukraine
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden said on Friday (Feb 18) that Russia President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, and that he continues to spread false information to try to build a pretext for a military strike that could happen in days.
"As of this moment I am convinced that he has made the decision (to invade)," Biden told reporters in Washington. "We have reason to believe that," he added, citing US intelligence assessments.
His comments came after a phone call with the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Britain, the European Union and NATO, the White House said.
The leaders pledged to continue pursuing diplomacy while preparing to impose swift, coordinated economic costs on Russia should it choose further conflict, according to a White House readout of the call.
They also discussed efforts to ensure the defense and security of NATO’s eastern flank, the White House said.
Biden's administration has said a diplomatic solution remains possible if Russia chooses, but that Washington and its European allies are prepared to enact harsh punishments if Moscow opts to invade.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov planned to meet Feb. 24 in Europe, Biden said, but he warned any Russian military action before that would show Russia has "slammed the door shut on diplomacy."
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, expressing concern amid the build-up and vowing to stay in close contact with NATO and U.S. allies.
"We feel very strongly about and will always be committed to the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty," Harris told reporters. "We remain of course supportive of diplomacy as it relates to the dialogue and discussions we've had with Russia, but we are also committed to taking corrective actions."
Blinken also addressed the conference on Friday, saying Washington remained "deeply concerned" that Russia was planning to attack Ukraine within days.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also urged de-escalation in a call with his Russian counterpart on Friday, the Pentagon said.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-steps-up-diplomacy-ukraine-amid-increased-alarm-2022-02-18/
Singaporeans in Ukraine advised to leave as soon as possible: MFA
SINGAPORE: Singaporeans in Ukraine are advised to leave the country as soon as possible, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Sunday (Feb 13) night.
"Tensions have continued to heighten in Ukraine and the surrounding region," MFA said in a statement.
"In view of the current situation, Singaporeans in Ukraine are advised to leave the country as soon as possible via commercial means while it is still possible to do so."
Singapore does not have a diplomatic mission in Ukraine and there is "no guarantee" that MFA will be in a position to help Singaporeans leave the country if conflict occurs, the ministry added.
Those still in Ukraine should register with MFA immediately if they have not done so, it added.
Those who require consular assistance can contact the 24-hour MFA Duty Office at +65 6379 8800/8855.
There have been fears of an invasion by Russia, which has stationed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine.
The United States said on Friday that an invasion could start at any moment, although Russia denies such talk.
The US and other Western governments have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine, and Washington on Saturday said it was ordering most of its Kyiv embassy staff to do so.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singaporeans-ukraine-advised-leave-soon-possible-mfa-2495906
Mere posturing by the US lah, you think that senile old Joe Biden got the balls to start WW3 meh?
Erm ICBMs anyone?
Fuck 'em B52s, Putin will probably just ride into Ukraine à la John Wayne and annex the whole damn country by himself without so much as suffering a scratch. ;)
Badass Putin will bring along his 17 Tupolev Tu-160s to the party, let's see who blinks first!
Putin is seriously fucked if he decides to move in on Ukraine.
The United States Air Force currently has 76 B-52 Stratofortress bombers in service today.
Designed and built by the Seattle-based Boeing Company, the B-52 is a long-range strategic bomber that has been used by the Air Force since the 1950s.
It is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds of weapons while flying at a combat range of more than 8,800 miles without aerial refueling.
This heavy bomber is powered by 8 turbofan engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney.
Each engine is capable of producing 17,000 pounds of thrust to propel the plane forward in the air.
The B-52 also boasts a wingspan of 185ft. Each aircraft has a length measuring 159ft4in.
The plane stands at a height of 40ft8in.
The aircraft weighs approximately 185,000 pounds. It can take off with a maximum weight of 488,000 pounds.
To fly its long-range bombing missions, it needs fuel - a lot of it.
Each B-52 has a fuel capacity of 312,197 pounds.
The plane is a subsonic aircraft that can reach speeds of 650mph.
It can also fly at a top altitude of 50,000ft.
https://www.boeing.com/defense/b-52-bomber/#/videos/new-b-52-engines-make-sense
The Big Ugly Fellas arrive in UK: US B-52 long-range bombers land in Britain to join Nato mission after practising airstrikes with British forward controllers as Putin's forces continue to menace Ukraine
Bombers from the US's flying forces jetted into RAF Fairford this morning in a thinly-veiled show of strength as Russia continued to mass near Ukraine.
The four B-52 Stratofortress aircraft - with call signs HATE 11, HATE 12, HATE 13 AND HATE 14 - arrived at the Gloucestershire grounds this morning.
They were accompanied by officers and personnel from America's 5th Bomb Wing from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.
Plane spotters were in raptures as the giant metal aircraft - nicknamed BUFFs for Big Ugly Fat Fellas - swooped down onto the tarmac to land.
Officially the £62million machines are here for a Bomber Task Force mission, a joint practice the US said had been 'long planned'.
But the sight of them - and their long-range bombing capability - may help focus the mind of Vladimir Putin as Russian forces continue to mass outside the Ukraine border.
Earlier today Boris Johnson warned Europe faces the 'most dangerous moment for decades' and the 'stakes are very high' as he urged Russia to back away from a 'disastrous' Ukraine invasion.
At a joint press conference with Nato general secretary Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, the PM said he did not believe Vladimir Putin had made a final decision on whether to send troops over the border.
But Mr Johnson admitted the signs were not good, insisting that Mr Putin will face a strong response if he does go ahead.
The four B-52s at Fairhead were joined by the Lockheed U-2, nicknamed the Dragon Lady after its CIA codename.
The planes were initially used by the CIA, first flown in 1955 during the Cold War and for top-secret missions over the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam and Cuba.
They feature a 63ft-long thin fuselage, two high-aspect, un-swept glider-like wings, and a powerful engine which is carefully designed to keep the plane higher than 70,000ft.
More at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10498635/The-Big-Ugly-Fellas-arrive-UK-B52-long-range-bombers-land-Britain-join-Nato-mission.html
Who dares to hoot first, wins.