Be careful with that. This morning's news overview is that it was an accidental missile malfunction, but it's not yet clear whose missile.

The consensus tends to be leaning towards a Ukrainian surface-to-air (defensive) missile, but they are desperate to confirm that by forensic analysis.

If that's the final conclusion, it will be embarrassing, but not nearly as frightening as a pretext for invoking NATO's Article 5: "An attack on one [member] is an attack on all".

And it doesn't negate the fact that Ukraine shouldn't need to be using SAMs at all.

Be careful with that...

I never said whose missiles it was, but it was pretty strange timing between the 2 actions. ;-)

Fair enough, but other news outlets are not so nuanced.

The British 'Daily Express' (which prompted Mr. Kevvy's post in the Ukraine thread yesterday) has this absolutely categoric headline on the its front page today:

Russian missiles kill 2 in Poland

True, it's a grabber to get you to buy the paper in the first place: the full story is printed on pages 6 and 7. There may be more balance there - I'm not going to fall for the hook - but some people will take it as gospel. All the papers cover the story, but the better ones at least caveat it with quotation marks or phrases like "Russia blamed ..."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-63644195

News.....
Well possibly, but neither the Daily Excess or the Daily Wail are renowned for their accuracy.


Updates during the day on a number of news channels are indicating that it was a Ukraine air defence missile that either went astray or missed it's low flying target. The missile is believed to have been a member of the ex-Soviet AS300 family, which is used by both Russia and Ukraine..While designed as a ground-based air defence missile Russia has been using them in a ground-to-ground role, while it appears Ukraine has been using (mainly) for air defence.

---

Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

More bad news for PooTin.

Russia Banned From Munich Security Conference, Won't Be Given 'Platform'.

As those fires keep on erupting in Russia.

Videos Reportedly Shows Massive Fireball Blast Near Russia's St. Petersburg.

While a Russian B.S. TV Host gets Slammed by Pundit: 'It's Criminal To Bomb Peaceful Cities'.

PooTin is getting more pressure back at home to stop his moronic stupidity.

Russian Territory Officials Demand Putin Officially End His Mobilization.

PooTin and HIS Russia is at war with more than just the rest of the world:


Russia passes 'Answer to Blinken' gay propaganda law
wrote:

Russia's lower house of parliament has unanimously voted to extend its ban on so-called "gay propaganda".

Under the latest version of the law, any promotion of homosexuality - including in books, films and online - is illegal and carries heavy penalties...

After genocide and cultural eradication comes...

"Thought crimes"?


Stay safe folks...
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

‘Critically ill’ Vladimir PooTin filmed gasping for air during meeting with dead soldiers’ mothers.

There's a cut about half way through the video and I wonder if that was because he had 1 of his choking fits.

As the US Is Weighing a Terrorism Label for Russia’s Wagner Group Mercenaries, which should be a no brainer as they are, and 'Russia is playing games all over the place', with the aforementioned terrorist group leading the way, a Russian Mob Boss Warns 'There Is a Change of Power' in the Country.

PooTin's diplomats are also finding themselves on the outer with most of the world.

‘They grab their lunches and sit alone’: Russians shunned at global cyber confabs.

Meanwhile rich Russians are still dying under mysterious circumstances.

Billionaire With 'Enemies in Russia' Dies in Mysterious Helicopter Crash.

While across the border in Belarus PooTin's criminal buddy Lukashenko maybe showing his inner "PooTin".

Belarus' top diplomat buried as his death raises suspicions.

Jailed Belarus activist Kolesnikova in intensive care.

But will India be stupid enough to fill this order for goods?

PooTin's Sanction-Hit Russia Asks India For Over 500 Products To Keep Key Sectors Running.

It seems that PooTin is not happy with all the citizens that are leaving the country.

Explosive Leak of ‘Presidential Lockdown Order’ Roils Kremlin.

But you really can't blame them for leaving the country with a totally brain dead moron calling the stupid shots.

It seems that PooTin isn't happy about his canon fodder getting away.

Kremlin Planning Database To Track Movement of Conscripts Evading War.

But training to become canon fodder must be overcome 1st.

Russian Draftee Killed After Grenade Launcher Misfires.

While others take a much different step.

Manhunt in Russia for Armed 'Deserter' Who Shot Police.

And this must really be bad for PooTin.

Defected soldiers from Putin's army say they now kill former comrades.

Meanwhile a Russian Lawmaker Warns that Russia Risks Collapse Over Ukraine Debacle.

Sadly, this highlights the extremes across Russia's borders:


Nobel Peace Prize: Russian laureate 'told to turn down award'
wrote:

The Russian co-winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize [Mr Rachinsky] has said Kremlin authorities told him to turn down the award...

... Memorial is one of Russia's oldest civil rights groups, and was shut down by the government last year...

... Despite threats to his safety, Mr Rachinsky said the work of Memorial remained essential.

"In today's Russia, no-one's personal safety can be guaranteed," he said. "Yes, many have been killed. But we know what impunity of the state leads to… We need to get out of this pit somehow."...

... Announcing the prize winners, the Nobel Committee said that Memorial was founded on the idea that "confronting past crimes is essential in preventing new ones".

Mr Rachinsky called the committee's decision to award the prize to recipients in three different countries "remarkable".

He said it was proof "that civil society is not divided by national borders, that it is a single body working to solve common problems"...

... Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties - another of the prize-winners - refused to be interviewed alongside Mr Rachinsky. The BBC spoke to them separately in Oslo.

When asked why she wanted to do the interview separately, Oleksandra Matviichuk told HARDtalk: "Now we are in a war and we want to make the voice of Ukrainian human rights defenders tangible.

"So I am sure that regardless that we are doing separate interviews, we transmit and deliver the same messages."...

... Ms Matviichuk praised Mr Rachinsky's work and described Memorial as "our partner". Memorial had helped the Ukrainian group for years, she said, adding she had "huge respect for all [her] Russian human rights colleagues" who work in difficult conditions...

... The third Nobel winner, Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, has been in prison without trial in his home country since July last year ... Ms Matviichuk described her co-laureate as "an extremely brave person, so he will continue this battle even in prison".

Will such a prestigious prize make a positive difference?

Here's hoping so!


All in a deadly political world,
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

It seems that we down under have upset PooTin the Nazi.

Australia has been singled out and chastised by the Kremlin, just as Russian President Vladimir Putin backflipped on a nuclear promise.

Australia poses such a risk to Russia that it is rushing to build next-generation “victory” weapons in response. Or so the story goes.

“We are increasing production of the most powerful means of destruction, including those based on new principles,” former president Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday.

“Our enemy dug in not only in the Kyiv province of our native Malorossiya, it is in Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand – and a whole number of other places that pledged allegiance to the Nazis.”...

It's probably because we don't sell our vodka to them anymore.

Is PooTin's latest move a sign that he doesn't want people to see how crook he really is during an annual event that usually lasts for hours.

Canceling Event Sparks Rumors About His Health.

Russian agents caught trying to smuggle sensitive electronic components for military use.

Suspected Russian FSB officer charged in U.S. sanctions case.

A suspected officer with Russia’s Federal Security Service was among seven people charged by U.S. prosecutors Tuesday with smuggling sensitive electronic components to help Russia's military effort.

Prosecutors claimed the seven worked with two Moscow-based companies controlled by Russian intelligence services to acquire electronic components in the U.S. that have civilian uses, but can also be used to help make nuclear and hypersonic weapons and in quantum computing.

The exporting of the technology involved is heavily regulated and occurred in violation of U.S. sanctions, according to a 16-count indictment unsealed Monday in Brooklyn.

Five Russian nationals were charged, including Vadim Konoshchenok, a suspected officer with Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB. He was arrested in Estonia last week and will undergo extradition proceedings to the United States, U.S. authorities said.

“The Department of Justice and our international partners will not tolerate criminal schemes to bolster the Russian military’s war efforts,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement announcing the charges.

About 375 pounds of ammunition originating from the United States was found by Estonian authorities in a warehouse used by Konoshchenok, according to federal prosecutors....

I wonder if PooTin will want them back.

It seems that PooTin's purge is continuing.

Another Russian oligarch found dead in mysterious circumstances.

It's a shame that the full video wasn't shown, aside from showing PooTin keeping his voice down what it didn't show was PooTin's coughing fits when he started to show signs of vigorous speech.

PooTin Finally Says the Quiet Part Out Loud, "War".

PooTin's military facilities keep on spontaneously igniting.

Russian Military Unit Catches Fire Near Kremlin.

Another sudden death.
Head of major Russian shipyard dies suddenly, no cause given

Dec 24 (Reuters) - A major Russian shipyard that specialises in building non-nuclear submarines said its general director had died suddenly on Saturday after 11 years in the job, but gave no details.

Admiralty Shipyards, based in the western port of St Petersburg, announced the death of Alexander Buzakov in a statement. He had been in the job since August 2012.

PooTin is still at as another millionaire Russian politician has been found dead after publicly criticising Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

My advice to sensible Russians is to stay away from stairs and windows (even ground level 1's).

[edit] Meanwhile he's raging on (just like Donny).

PooTin reportedly preparing for new invasion in northern Ukraine.