Russia's Invasion of Ukraine - Consolidated Thread

[ExquisiteGerbil]

UK: Russia Hitting Ukraine with Old Nuclear Missiles – Minus the Warheads

nuclearRussian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP

JACK MONTGOMERY
26 Nov 2022

Russian forces are striking Ukraine with Cold War-era nuclear missiles – with the nuclear warheads removed, crucially – according to British intelligence.



“Russia is likely removing the nuclear warheads from aging nuclear cruise missiles and firing the unarmed munitions at Ukraine,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) claimed in its Saturday update on the course of the Russo-Ukrainian war, citing “[o]pen source imagery show[ing] wreckage of an apparently shot-down AS-15 KENT air launched cruise missile (ALCM), designed in the 1980s exclusively as a nuclear delivery system. ”



AS-15 “Kent” is the NATO reporting name for what Russia refers to as the Kh-55, with the MoD suggesting that even without its nuclear payload “an inert system will still produce some damage through the missile’s kinetic energy and any unspent fuel” — although they added that it “unlikely to achieve reliable effects against intended targets” in this disarmed state.



“Russia almost certainly hopes such missiles will function as decoys and divert Ukrainian air defences,” the British suggested — an errant Ukrainian air defence missile is believed to have struck Poland in recent weeks, killing two civilians in the NATO country — but that “[w]hatever Russia’s intent, this improvisation highlights the level of depletion in Russia’s stock of long-range missiles.”

The narrative that Russia is running out of missiles has been peddled for months, however, with the Ministry of Defence stating in mid-October that “Russia’s defence industry is probably incapable of producing advanced munitions at the rate they are being expended” and that a major bombardment of Ukraine around that time represented a “further degradation of Russia’s long-range missile stocks… likely to constrain their ability to strike the volume of targets they desire in future.”



Nevertheless, Russian forces went on the carry out their largest missile bombardment of Ukraine to date a month later, further devastating the nation’s power grid and, according to Kyiv (Kiev) mayor Vitali Klitschko, leaving many Ukrainians “without electricity, without heating, without water” and “freezing” as winter begins to take hold.



The New York Times, citing analysis by Janes, suggested a number of possible reasons Russia has been able to increase the scale of such strikes at a time when Western and Ukrainian officials believed they should have been running out of weapons, speculating that more missiles “are likely being produced as we speak, since the [Russian] economy is on a near war footing and many plants associated with the Russian military industrial complex are working in three shifts and even on weekends” and that key components such as microchips could have been stockpiled prior to the invasion, for example.

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[ExquisiteGerbil]

The Russians captured Spirne, Andreevka, Ozaryanovka, Zelenopolye: They broke the Ukrainian defenses at Bakhmut and are advancing towards Chasiv Yar!

The Ukrainians are in a very difficult position - They are leaving the southern suburbs

28/11/2022 - 23:16 in Main topics , Ukraine

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The Russians captured Spirne, Andreevka, Ozaryanovka, Zelenopolye: They broke the Ukrainian defenses at Bakhmut and are advancing towards Chasiv Yar!


The Russian Armed Forces are making their biggest advance in months in the Donbass, registering significant territorial gains and laying the foundations for a major Ukrainian defeat in the Donbass.



Within 24 hours Russian and allied forces captured the town of Spirne/Spornoye and the settlements of Andreevka, Ozaryanovka, Zelenopolye while the settlement of Kurdyumivka also fell. Ukrainian forces withdraw from the southern suburbs of Bakhmut as a result of the Russian advance.



As WarNews247 had noted, the entire southern Ukrainian defensive line (maps at the end of the text) collapsed. The Russians are preparing for the final blow by advancing towards Chasiv Yar rather than the city of Bakhmut itself with the aim of a complete operational encirclement.



Read also: The Russians in front of a triumph: The largest defensive fortress of the Ukrainians in the Donbas is collapsing! – Incendiary barrage burned the Ukrainian positions



In the town of Spirne/Spornoye, Russian clearance operations are underway in the outskirts after the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Army from the town center.



Spirne is between Artyomovsk and Lisichansk: The area has been literally leveled with corpses of Ukrainian soldiers lying everywhere. The 4th Brigade of the 2nd Lugansk Army Corps is fighting in the area.


Russian troops occupied Andreevka - Why it is a "key" location!

Yesterday PMC Wagner forces captured the settlements of Ozaryanovka and Zelenopolye, located west of the highway leading to Artyomovsk from Donetsk and Gorlovka.



A little while ago the "Musicians" also occupied the Andreevka area, a village located about 7 kilometers from the southern suburbs of Bakhmut (Artyomovsk).



The capture of the Ozaryanovka, Andreevka and Zelenopolye districts allows Russian and allied forces to develop new offensive energy covering Bakhmut from the south.



At the same time by capturing the Andreevka area, the Russians can attempt a new advance to the north and northwest to reach the Kleshcheevka area and establish artillery control of the Konstantinovka-Artemovsk road.



This is the main supply route for Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut!



Along this road, the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is trying to send reinforcements to the city. At the same time, Ukrainians inside the city report that the shooting from automatic weapons in the southern suburbs of the city can now be heard very clearly. The Russians are getting dangerously close.



It is also important to note that by capturing these settlements, Russian troops are pushing Ukrainian forces away from Gorlovka in the northern direction.

Videos at link

[ExquisiteGerbil]

Russia: "More than 700 Ukrainian commandos are preparing to attack the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant"

Fierce battles are expected

28/11/2022 - 23:45 in Ukraine

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Borel: We are discussing the formation of a mission for the military training of Ukrainians


More than 700 Ukrainian commandos are currently in the Kyiv-controlled part of the Zaporizhia region, Moscow-appointed regional commander Vladimir Rogov said.



“More than 700 soldiers from the Ukrainian special operations forces have been deployed in the Zaporizhia region. They have been trained to cross the Dnieper River, land an assault force and seize large industrial facilities and the nuclear power plant, ” the Russian official said.



However, he argued that Russia's strikes on Ukrainian ammunition depots "disrupt these plans of the Ukrainian military."



For their part, Ukrainian forces destroyed a railway bridge near the village of Starobohdanivka in the Zaporizhia region, which the Russians were using to deliver military equipment and weapons to Russian troops stationed in the rest of Ukraine's occupied territories, according to the Ukrainian National Security Service.



Yesterday, the adviser to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that he has no doubt that Russian forces will withdraw from the nuclear plant. Moscow denied these claims and stated that the nuclear plant remains under Russian control and has no plans to withdraw from Enerhodar and abandon the nuclear plant.

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[ExquisiteGerbil]

Nightmare admission from the German ZDF: "Ukraine will be plunged into total darkness in a short time"

"All critical infrastructure will cease to operate"

28/11/2022 - 23:52 in Ukraine

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Latest: All Ukraine nuclear and most thermal power plants out of service – WarNews247 Confirmation


The colonel of the Austrian Ministry of Defense, Colonel Markus Reisner, said that Ukraine will be completely cut off from electricity in a few weeks if the West stops helping Kyiv!



"If a strong air defense system is not developed here, Ukraine will be plunged into total darkness in a few weeks," said Markus Reisner in an interview with ZDF.



The military noted that despite supplies from the West, "due to the enormous size of the country and the large number of objects that require protection, it is almost impossible to do anything about it."



"If large-scale air defense systems are not provided, then in a few weeks there will be total darkness in Ukraine, because all critical infrastructure will stop working," he underlined.



According to the colonel, Kyiv was vulnerable to infrastructure attacks after the Russian Armed Forces destroyed a third of Ukraine's air defense systems.



The West also underestimated Moscow's capabilities , Reisner believes.



Meanwhile, the dramatic situation in which Ukraine has fallen was confirmed by the mayor of Kyiv, Vitaly Klitschko, who after asserting that it is very likely that the blackouts will continue until next spring, while he did not rule out the worst scenarios, such as the partial evacuation of Kiev.



Speaking to the RBC-Ukraine agency, Klitschko urged the city's residents to be ready for all scenarios.



"We have to be prepared for different scenarios, even the bad ones.



In this case, each of us has an algorithm of actions, even evacuation.



I am not ruling out the worst case scenario which is evacuation. There will not be a complete evacuation, maybe there will be a partial evacuation," he noted.


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[Pink Rose]

Putin will 'use winter as a weapon of war' and spark a wave of Ukrainian refugees by targeting 'heating, light, water and gas', NATO warns

Putin will use winter as a weapon as war against Ukraine fails, NATO chief says

Kremlin hopes to flood Europe with refugees by making cities uninhabitable

Jens Stoltenberg said NATO allies will help Ukraine 'for as long as necessary'

By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE and WIRES



PUBLISHED: 07:31 EST, 29 November 2022 | UPDATED: 09:05 EST, 29 November 2022


Vladimir Putin is using winter as a weapon against Ukraine because his army cannot beat Kyiv's forces on the battlefield, the head of NATO has said.



Jens Stoltenberg said the Kremlin is hoping to send a fresh wave of refugees fleeing into Europe by attacking Ukraine's 'heating, light, water, [and] gas'.



But he vowed that members of the alliance will continue supporting the country 'for as long as necessary', including rebuilding its destroyed infrastructure.



Stoltenberg spoke as NATO ambassadors gathered in Romania to discuss their next support package for Ukraine and the possibility of it one-day becoming a member.



'NATO's door is open,' Stoltenberg said, adding that Russia 'does not get a veto' on who can apply to join the military pact.



Putin 'will get Finland and Sweden as NATO members' soon, he added, after both countries applied to join following the invasion of Ukraine.



Only Hungary and Turkey now need to ratify the application for the two nations - which have long-standing neutrality pacts with Russia - to be accepted.



Viktor Orban, Hungary's leader, has signaled that his country will approve the application soon. Turkey's Recep Erdogan is expected to follow suit soon after.



'President Putin cannot deny sovereign nations to make their own sovereign decisions that are not a threat to Russia,' Stoltenberg said.



'I think what he's afraid of is democracy and freedom, and that's the main challenge for him.'



Never-the-less, Ukraine is unlikely to be admitted to the alliance any time soon - largely because of the war Russia is waging.



NATO's Article 5 means that allies are treaty-bound to come to the aid of any member that is attacked, which would see them dragging into a war with Moscow.



Stoltenberg has been clear since the start of the invasion back in February that avoiding all-out conflict between the West and Russia is his main goal.



He added: 'We are in the midst of a war and therefore we should do nothing that can undermine the unity of allies to provide military, humanitarian, financial support to Ukraine, because we must prevent President Putin from winning.



'We are all paying a price for Russia's war against Ukraine. But the price we pay is in money, while the price Ukrainians pay is a price paid in blood.'



Discussions are instead likely to focus on what weapons Ukraine needs to win the war, and what humanitarian support is needed to help civilians outlast the winter.

Continued at the link

[ExquisiteGerbil]

Mate S.Surovikin's movement: The Ukrainian Army is in a state of emergency - All elite units are being moved to Liman, Kupyansk, Bakhmut

The Russians have entered Vodiane and are clearing Nevelskoye

03/12/2022 - 00:28 in Main topics , Ukraine

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The Czech Republic was left defenseless because it sent all its weapons to Ukraine!


The Ukrainian Army has entered a state of emergency in the Donbass as Russian forces advance on several fronts. The Russians have entered Vodiane and are very close to clearing Nevelskoye as well, shielding the Donetsk perimeter.



Under the brunt of the Russian advance, the Ukrainian military command is moving the 80th, 81st Airborne Brigade and the 95th Separate Airborne Brigade to Donbass.



At the same time, the 65th Brigade and the 16th Battalion of the 58th Independent Motorized Brigade leave Zaporizhia and rush to Bakhmut.



All indications are that the Ukrainian offensive towards Melitopol and Berdyansk has been called off. Their primary purpose now is to strengthen the defense of Bakhmut. But for how much and at what cost?



We can say that S.Surovikin put the gun to the temple of V.Zelensky and the Ukrainian generals.



And this is because the Ukrainian military command is faced with a nightmarish choice:



Which areas to reinforce with military forces and which to abandon. Even with existing forces and not counting the 250,000 Russian reservists who have not yet moved to the Ukrainian fronts, the Ukrainians cannot hold out.



Therefore very soon Kyiv will have to decide which areas it will surrender and which it will defend to the end.



Video: Russian artillery hits Ukrainian positions in Bakhmut


According to information, the Ukrainian administration has decided to strengthen its forces in certain areas in Donbas by sending elite units.



These are mainly the Krasnolimansk and Kupyansk directions. The reason for the hasty transfer of forces is the fear of the Ukrainians that the Russian troops will break their defense arrangement.



Under the weight of adverse developments, the Ukrainian military command is moving the 80th, 81st Airborne Brigade and the 95th Separate Airborne Brigade to the Krasny Liman and Kupyansk regions.



We are talking about additional reserve formations of these brigades, left for emergencies.



Read also: Big risk V. Zelensky: Moves all available reserves to Bakhmut - Russian offensive begins towards Chasiv Yar and Toretsk



The recent successful actions of the Russian military forced the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to take these measures in order to prevent a possible collapse.



We remind that the Armed Forces of Ukraine continuously carried out attacks for two months near the cities of Svatovo and Kremennaya in order to break the front in the Lugansk zone of responsibility.



As a result of the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the cities of Kupyansk and Krasny Liman were recaptured by the Armed Forces of Ukraine – the former in mid-September and the latter in early October.

The Russian army entered Vodiane

Donetsk forces entered the town of Vodiane. The stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is now a thing of the past.



The "Sparta" and "Somalia" forces have been operating in the area for months with T-80 tanks together with the "Storm" unit of the 1st Slavic Brigade of the Donetsk People's Militia.



Vodiane, together with the settlement "Experience" were strongholds of the Ukrainians for many years. From there, the Ukrainian attacks against Donetsk and Makeevka began.



The Ukrainian forces, due to losses and strong pressure, are forced to abandon their positions.



The losses they have suffered are great. The images show the leveling of the area along with the Ukrainian positions.



Watch video of Russian forces in the city


The Ukrainian stronghold in Nevelskoye also falls

In addition to Vodiane, the situation of Ukrainians has worsened in both Pervomayskoye and Nevelskoye.



Russian troops are constantly pounding Ukrainian positions. According to the Russians, Nevelskoye will be cleared very soon.



Forces of the 100th Guards Brigade of the 1st Army Corps of Donetsk are operating in the area under the cover of the Russian Air Force.



"This village was turned by the Armed Forces of Ukraine into a strong fortified area, but our attack has destroyed the enemy's defenses," the Russians said.



"Our troops continue to advance, tightening the ring around Avdiivka," said Denis Pushilin, deputy head of Donetsk.



He also mentioned the successes of the forces in the Maryinsky and Artemovsky directions, where a number of settlements were captured in recent days.



Videos at link

[schwartzie]

Airbases Deep Inside Russia Rocked By Explosions; New Wave Of Airstrikes Pummel Ukraine

BY TYLER DURDEN

MONDAY, DEC 05, 2022 - 09:45 AM


Monday saw another major escalation in the Ukraine war as Russian media reported that explosions rocked two air bases in Russia, suggesting Ukrainian forces could be seeking to launch missiles deep into Russian territory, though the exact cause or type of weapon behind the explosions are unknown. It could also possibly be another "sabotage attack" such that was previously seen in the Crimea.



One of the Russian bases struck reportedly hosts nuclear-capable strategic bombers being utilized in airstrikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The Associated Press details in the aftermath of the blasts, "Russian state RIA Novosti news agency said three servicemen were killed and six others injured, and a plane was damaged, early Monday when a fuel truck exploded at an air base in Ryazan, in western Russia."

The report underscored that "The base houses long-range flight tankers that serve to refuel bombers in the air." The other base that was hit is being identified as in the Saratov region. The Saratov base lies some 600 kilometers east of Ukraine, so both the bases are relatively deep inside Russian territory.



Moscow meanwhile has taken quick, decisive action - once again launching a barrage of major airstrikes on Ukrainian cities, targeting particularly energy infrastructure as part of the stated purpose of degrading Ukraine's power supply going into winter. For days Ukrainian officials have been warning the population to brace for new major attacks.



Air raid alert sirens sounded Monday across the country. "The enemy is again attacking the territory of Ukraine with missiles!" Kyrylo Tymoshenko, an official with the Ukrainian president's office, wrote on Telegram.



According to more from the AP:



Media reports referred to explosions in several parts of the country, including the cities of Odesa, Cherkasy and Kryvyi Rih. In Odesa, the local water supply company said a missile strike cut power to pumping stations, leaving the entire city without water.



Civilians are sheltering in underground places like metro stations, especially in the populous Ukrainian capital...

Ukraine has so far counted a handful of deaths from Monday's fresh round of Russian strikes. It's expected that power and water access in many parts will be impacted more severely given most estimates have already put the national energy grid at 40% disabled.

"Zelenskyy’s office said three rocket strikes hit the president’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih in south-central Ukraine, killing a factory worker and injuring three others," the AP continues. "In the northeastern region of Kharkiv, a person was killed in strikes by S-300 missiles on civilian infrastructure in the town of Kupyansk, it said."



The two Russian airbases rocked by explosions on Monday were deep inside the country, suggesting the possibility of either a long-range Ukrainian strikes or also a sabotage operation on the ground...







And further there are emerging reports that a downed rocket has been found just long the border with Moldova, suggesting like the last wave of attacks Russia is targeting ever further West in Ukraine. Likely as a result Ukraine forces will try to continue hitting targets inside Russia, also as their capability grows given they have been supplied with ever-longer range rockets from the US and NATO countries.


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[ExquisiteGerbil]

The first Russian wave with more than 100 missiles is gone: Odessa is leveled – Ukraine is without water and electricity (video)

Anti-aircraft alert throughout the country

05/12/2022 - 18:52 in Main topics , Ukraine

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The first Russian wave with more than 100 missiles is gone: Odessa is leveled – Ukraine is without water and electricity (video)


Russia launched the first wave with more than 100 missiles being fired at targets across the territory of Ukraine. Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv and across Ukraine.



The Ukrainian Air Force Command reported that 38 Kh-101/Kh-555 missiles were fired from 8 Tu-95MS strategic bombers, 22 Kalibr, 3 Kh-22 missiles from Tu-22M3 strategic bombers while Su-35S fighters fired Kh-31P missiles and 6 Kh-59.



A little while ago, another 30 rockets were launched.



Read also : Russia gives Ukraine a free shot: Loads 300 cruise missiles on 18 bombers for the largest mass missile attack to date! (pictures)



"The missiles have been fired, " Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ikhnat said.



"Do not ignore the alarm," urged the head of services of the presidency of Ukraine Andriy Germak.



Russian troops continue to strike the military-energy structure of Ukraine. The Russians hit targets in the Kirovograd, Odessa, Zaporizhzhya and Vinnitsa regions, as well as the Lozovsky and Volchansky regions of the Kharkiv region.



A number of important facilities were hit, in particular, the station, CHPP-2, electrical substations and other targets.



There is no electricity in Kharkiv region, Zhytomyr and Odessa, residents of Nikolaev and Sumy region are in the dark. In Zaporozhye, Odessa, Sumy and Zhytomyr there are interruptions in water supply.



In Odessa, traffic jams and queues at gas stations are multiplying. A real panic prevailed in the city. In Zaporizhia, one of the missile attacks of the RF Armed Forces hit a high-voltage equipment factory.



In summary, targets were hit in:



— Kirovograd

— Odessa

— Zaporizhia

— Vinnitsa

— Kharkiv (Lozovsky and Volchansky regions)



Blackouts exist in the following areas:



— Sumy

— Nikolaev

— Kharkiv (partial blackout)

— Zhytomyr (partial blackout)

— Odessa (partial blackout)



Water supply interruption exists in the following areas:



— Zaporizhia

— Zhytomyr

— Odessa

— Sumy



Watch the video

More than 100 rockets were fired

Russian bombers fired more than 100 missiles in a massive retaliatory strike.



Explosions occurred in Odessa, in the regions of Kirovograd, Zaporozhye, Cherkasy, Vinnitsa, Kyiv, Nikolaev



Power outages are recorded in Kyiv, Odessa and Moldova.



The Sumy region is also without electricity.



Ukrenergo reported that missiles hit critical infrastructure facilities in Odesa and Krivoy Rog.



In Odessa, all pumping stations and backup lines have been disabled, there is no water supply everywhere in the city, Infoksvodokanal reported. The city council announced the suspension of public transport.



Ukrainian Railways reported train delays due to power outages.



Watch video

The map of objectives



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[ExquisiteGerbil]

Surprise in NATO-Ukraine: 150,000 Russians entered Donetsk with 300 new(!) T-90M and T-72B4 tanks – Russian industry in full swing

Incredible development - What penalties?

07/12/2022 - 23:37 in Main topics , Ukraine

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The Russians captured Spirne, Andreevka, Ozaryanovka, Zelenopolye: They broke the Ukrainian defenses at Bakhmut and are advancing towards Chasiv Yar!


December began with bad omens for Ukraine as the Russian Army prepares for large-scale offensive operations. 200 state-of-the-art T-90M tanks arrived in Lugansk for the Russian Army along with hundreds more upgraded T-72B3M or T-72B4!



In total, it is estimated that 300 tanks were delivered to the Russian Army!



200 T-90M are new tanks that just rolled out of the Uralvagonzavod factory!



This means that the Russians have not only not been affected by Western sanctions to the extent expected by Ukrainians and NATO but are proceeding normally with the construction of new units.



Along with the T-90M, the Russian factory Uralvagonzavod also published a video of 72B4 tanks (model 2022) leaving for delivery to the Russian Army!



In just one Russian phalanx heading towards Donetsk, 40 armored personnel carriers and tanks such as BMPT Terminators and T-80BVs were spotted. Later, Rostec released videos from Uralvagonzavod, producing BMPT “Terminator”. Russian factories now work in triple shifts.



This fact is also confirmed by the British.



"The Kremlin has decided to increase the production of military equipment for the Russian army and reduce arms exports. According to the British intelligence services, the Russian Federation is building up forces for the active military phase in Ukraine in 2023.



B. Putin confirmed today that the 150,000 reserves were transferred to the conflict zone. The Russian president specifically stated:



"Of the 300,000 mobilized, only 150,000 are in the special operation zone, of which 77,000 are in combat units and the rest are in the second or third line or undergoing additional training.



Another 150,000 are still in training fields and training centers – this is the so-called combat reserve.”



Of course, the Russian president denied the Russian Minister of Defense S. Soigu, who had emphasized that no reserve will be transferred to combat units.


200 modern T-90M tanks entered Donetsk!

The Russian army received new T-90M tanks which will strengthen the existing units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.



A batch of the latest Russian T-90M “Proryv” main battle tanks was assembled at Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil. The tanks are equipped with an intelligent protection system against the American Javelin anti-tank missiles. When the missile is detected, the tank will automatically turn the turret towards the enemy.



According to military experts, the new tanks can play a decisive role not only in maintaining the defensive line but also in conducting offensive operations.



The Russians emphasize that the tanks arrived on time. Due to the autumn weather, the use of tanks in recent weeks has been difficult. However, with the onset of cold weather, the ground will freeze and tanks will operate normally.



According to Russian sources, deliveries of modern military equipment to the Russian Army will continue in the near future.


Transfer of new T-72B4 to Donetsk

In addition to the T-90M, the Russians are bringing to Donetsk upgraded T-72B3M main battle tanks, which recently left the Uralvagonzavod factories. These tanks are equipped with improved protection according to the standards of the most modern T-90M.



The new T-72B3 upgrade package has significantly increased the tank's level of protection. The biggest changes were made to the side armor. There is also new mesh under the tank turret and smoke grenades.



In general, the appearance of the tank, which will be called T-72B4 or T-72B3M2, resembles the T-90M.



It is obvious that the changes in the design were made based on the experience gained during the war. The additional protection will significantly increase the survivability of the T-72B3M in contact line battles.



If the upgrade package proves effective, then Russia will be able to quickly install it on more than a thousand T-72 tanks. If these tanks approach the T-90M in performance, then the Russian Army will gain an advantage on the battlefield.

Videos at link

[ExquisiteGerbil]

Scene of devastation in Donbass: Ukrainian units withdraw from Soledar and Marinka – Russians eliminated 80% of their personnel!

The Russians in front of a triumph

10/12/2022 - 00:10 in Main topics , Ukraine

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Trumpeting retreat from the Americans: "Surovikin will make Ukraine scream - He will reach Kiev & take Kharkiv, Kherson, Donbass!"


Ahead of a very big victory is the Russian Army as the Ukrainian Command under the burden of losses withdraws Units from Soledar and Marinka. Evolution is pivotal for Bakhmut as well.



48 hours ago the Ukrainians lost the Yakovlevka settlement in Soledar with the Russians also launching an attack on Vessele.



Once the Vessele is also lost, the Russians will be able to control the last supply route of the Ukrainian forces at Soledar as the second map in the text shows.



This means the countdown to the fall of Bakhmut has begun. Ukrainian forces will not be able to stay in the city with Soledar under Russian control.



However, Ukrainian losses are devastating along the Seversk-Soledar-Bakhmut line. This is also broadcast by international media and especially in the West. They are talking about 600-800 dead and wounded every day with the hospitals full.



According to fairly reliable sources, the Ukrainian units have lost 70-80% of their personnel!



Read also : The Russian Army at the gate of Soledar: Captured Yakovlevka after months of fighting! – Crash of the Ukrainians with 200 dead & 600 injured


Russian military sources say:



"According to incoming information, the Ukrainian command plans to withdraw units to Slavyansk for reconstruction.



Two Battalions of the 93rd OMBR of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are withdrawn.



The "Aidara" force was sent there as part of the 53rd mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 112th brigade of the territorial defense of Kyiv.



The withdrawal is associated with catastrophic losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine along the Seversk – Soledar – Bakhmut (Artemovsk) line.



It is still impossible to talk about the complete withdrawal of troops from Soledar at this time:



Parts of the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 71st Jaeger Brigade and the remnants of the 65th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine remain in the city."


Withdrawal of Ukrainian units from Marinka!

At the same time, the Ukrainian Command is withdrawing several units from the town of Marinka, next to the eastern part of Donetsk. The Russians report that the withdrawal of units took place from several neighborhoods of Marinka, including the southern part of the city.



We remind you that the Russian Army has entered the city but does not control it entirely.



In this context, there are reports that the advance of Russian forces in the city has intensified. Ukrainian forces remain in the urban neighborhoods mainly west of Druzhba Avenue, which, running from north to south, divides Marinka into two parts.



The important territories of the eastern part are controlled by the Russian troops.



According to the Russians, there are two versions why the Ukrainian military command is withdrawing its units from the city.



First: these units have suffered significant losses and are withdrawing to replenish their forces with enlisted Ukrainians with subsequent plans to return to the western part of Maryinka.



Second: the advance of Russian troops does not allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to stay on the current defense lines, and therefore the Ukrainian command is preemptively withdrawing forces and resources to the new defense lines towards Maximilianovka and Kurakhovo.



Since the beginning of the week, Russian units, including Donetsk units, have advanced by capturing Ukrainian positions on several streets of Maryinka. Battles are taking place in the industrial zone of the city.

Continued with videos at link

[schwartzie]

Ukraine's Odesa Plunged Into Darkness After 'Kamikaze Drone' Attacks

BY TYLER DURDEN

SUNDAY, DEC 11, 2022 - 11:00 AM


Over 1.5 million people in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa are without power following Saturday nighttime "kamikaze drones" pummeling electricity infrastructure in the region, also as blackouts continue surrounding the capital of Kiev and other cities.



"As of now, the city is without electricity," the Ukrainian presidency's office said of Odessa. "The situation remains difficult, but is under control," spokesman Kyrylo Tymoshenko said, but while acknowledging that hospitals and maternity wards do have access to electricity at this point.


Odesa plunged into darkness, via Reuters

"As a result of the strike, there is no electricity in almost all districts and communities of our region," Maksym Marchenko, governor of the Odesa region said while pointing to suicide drones as the chief Russian weapon in the fresh attacks.



Starting Friday, the Ukrainian government said Odesa and southern regions were in the midst of suffering the worst and most sustained power outages due to the latest wave of major Russian aerial attacks. The biggest of these attacks started Monday and particularly targeted much of the south and its power grid.



National grid operator Ukrenergo said "Because of damage caused by missile strikes to power plants and the high-voltage network, the system has a significant shortage of electricity."



According to the latest on Sunday:



The situation has been made worse by severe frost, rain, snow and strong winds, which are causing wires to ice over in western regions.



But the east, where fighting has been fiercest, is suffering most. Zaporizhzhia governor Oleksandr Starukh said: "There is a lack of energy - up to a third of what is needed."


Russian President Vladimir Putin has meanwhile accused the Ukrainians of waging their own cross-border attacks on Russia's own energy and resources, alleging in a speech days ago its forces sabotaged power lines rom the Kursk nuclear power plant, as well as cutting off water supplies to Russian-controlled Donetsk, which he called an attempt at "genocide".



Also last week, Ukrainian authorities said that Russian forces have continued to play a game of nuclear chicken due their installing multiple rocket launchers at the shut-down Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.


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[PurplePuppy]

Ukraine Struggles to Restore Power, Water After Devastating Missile Bombardment


BREITBART LONDON
17 Dec 2022

(AFP) – Ukraine worked Saturday to restore electricity and water supplies after Russia’s latest wave of attacks pitched multiple cities into darkness and forced people to endure sub-zero temperatures without heating or running water.



The volley of missiles unleashed Friday came as President Vladimir Putin held extensive meetings with the military top brass overseeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where Moscow has stepped up bombardments.



In the capital Kyiv, the metro had stopped running so that people wrapped in winter coats could take shelter at underground stations after air raid sirens rang out on Friday morning.



Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said the metro service was relaunched early Saturday and water supply had been restored.



Power was also restored throughout the eastern city of Kharkiv on Saturday, regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said, after the strikes left Ukraine’s second city without electricity.



Ukraine’s national energy provider imposed emergency blackouts, saying on Saturday that the energy system “continues to recover”.



Ukrenergo had warned the extent of the damage in the north, south and centre of the country meant it could take longer to restore supplies than after previous attacks.



During a visit to the army staff Friday, Putin sought out proposals from his military commanders on how Russia should proceed with the Ukraine offensive, according to the Kremlin.



The Kremlin released footage of Putin presiding over a round-table meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov among other top brass.

‘Inhumane attacks’



After a series of humiliating battlefield defeats, Russia since October has pursued an aerial onslaught against what Moscow says are military-linked facilities.



But France and the European Union have said the suffering inflicted on freezing civilians constitutes war crimes, with the bloc’s foreign policy chief calling the bombings “barbaric”.



Russia fired 74 missiles — mainly cruise missiles — on Friday, 60 of which were shot down by anti-aircraft defences, according to the Ukrainian army.



Kyiv withstood one of the biggest missile attacks since the start of the invasion. Regional officials said their air defence forces had shot down 37 out of 40 missiles.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes left hit power and water supplies in Kyiv and 14 regions.



In the central city of Kryvyi Rig, where Zelensky was born, the air strikes hit a residential building.



A 64-year-old woman and a young couple with a little son died, governor Valentyn Reznichenko said Saturday, adding that 13 others had been wounded.



In the south, fresh Russian shelling in Kherson, recently recaptured by Ukraine, killed a 36-year-old man and injured a 70-year-old woman, governor Yaroslav Yanushevich said.



Kherson has been subjected to persistent Russian shelling since Moscow’s forces retreated in November, and power was cut in the city earlier this week.

Protracted war



Moscow has said the strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure are a response to an explosion on the Kerch bridge connecting the Russian mainland to the Crimean peninsula, annexed from Ukraine in 2014.



Ukrainian defence officials said this week that their forces had downed over a dozen Iranian-made attack drones launched at Kyiv, a sign that Western-supplied systems are having an impact.



Ukrainian military leaders have warned Moscow is preparing for a major winter offensive, including a fresh attempt to take Kyiv.



Aiming to push Moscow to the negotiating table, the EU on Friday imposed further sanctions, adding restrictions on the export of drone engines to Russia or countries like Iran looking to supply Moscow with weapons.



NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told AFP that Russia was readying for a protracted war.



“We see that they are mobilising more forces, that they are willing to suffer also a lot of casualties, that they are trying to get access to more weapons and ammunition,” he said.

link

[Berean]

Russian City Suffers Casualties - 14,000 Without Power After Ukraine Cross Border Attack

TUESDAY, DEC 20, 2022 - 02:00 AM

Authored by Dave DeCamp via AntiWar.com,



One civilian was killed, another eight people were wounded, and a poultry farm was damaged in Ukrainian shelling in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, the region’s governor said on Sunday.



"One person died. It is known that the man came to us from Tambov and worked as a contractor on the construction of a poultry farm," Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram.



CCTV footage of Ukrainian missile attack in Belgorod, Russia.#UkraineRussiaWar #Ukraine #Putin #Moscow #Ukraina pic.twitter.com/AukZo2h7pm



— WORLD ANALYSIS (@_WorldAnalysis) December 18, 2022

Further he said, "An estimated 14,000 residents are still without power supply. Emergency crews are starting to reconnect the grid to backup power sources."



Belgorod borders Ukraine and has come under attack throughout the war. Sunday’s shelling came after The Times reported that the Pentagon now tacitly backs Ukrainian strikes inside Russian territory, although there’s no indication US weapons were used in the attack on Belgorod.



When the US provided the HIMARS rocket launch systems to Ukraine, the Biden administration said it received "assurances" that Ukrainian forces won’t use them inside Russian territory. But the US no longer appears to be concerned about how the weapons are used.



Another Video of Explosion in #Belgorod, Russia.

Initially looks like a missile attack.#UkraineRussiaWar #Russia #Moscow #RussiaUkraineWar #UkrainianArmy #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/VtNJEkNNjS



— WORLD ANALYSIS (@_WorldAnalysis) December 18, 2022

"When we give them a weapon system, it belongs to them, where they use it, how they use it, how much ammunition they use to use that system. I mean, those are Ukrainian decisions, and we respect that," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last week.



The Times report said that the US was no longer concerned about Ukrainian attacks inside Russia leading to a major escalation based only on the fact that Moscow hasn’t yet responded with nuclear weapons or attacks on NATO countries.


link

[ExquisiteGerbil]

Russia Is Training Belarusian Combat Pilots As Ukraine Fears New Assault


WEDNESDAY, DEC 21, 2022 - 02:00 AM

By Michael Kern of OilPrice.com



Russia is training Belarussian pilots to fly combat jets with “special warhead” capabilities, Belarusian state-controlled media announced during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the country on Monday, his first in three years.


The meeting comes amid heightened concerns that Russia is planning a new assault on Ukraine, possibly from Belarusian territory, despite the fact that Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko late last week declared his country was not a puppet of Putin’s.



Late on Monday, Belarus’ official news agency BeITA, stated that an agreement had been reached over training for Belarussian army aircraft, “which have already been refitted to carry and possibly use air-launched ammunition with special warheads”.



To sweeten the deal, Putin has appointed Belarus head of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) beginning in January 2023.



“Taking into account the situation evolving along the border perimeter, we discussed some important details of cooperation in the sphere of military security. I thank you, Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] for our finding mutual understanding and support [...],” Lukashenko was quoted as saying.



What worries Ukraine and Western officials most, however, was Lukashenko’s statement that “Today we've commissioned an S-400 [air defense missile] complex that you have handed over to Belarus. And most importantly the Iskander complex, which you've also handed over to us after promising it half a year ago.”



Lukashenko continued: “You've just touched upon a very sensitive matter (we are not its authors) concerning the training of our crews [for the aircraft] capable of carrying special weapons and special ammunition. I have to tell you that we've prepared the aircraft. It turned out we've had such aircraft since the Soviet times. We tested them in the Russian Federation. We are now working with Russians to train the crews able to fly these aircraft that carry special ammunition.”



Lukashenko appeared to be suggesting that the training and the “special warheads” were not directed at Ukraine and were not meant to pose a threat to Ukraine.



The Belarusian leader’s statements of thanks to Putin come after his assertions last week that his country remains completely sovereign from Russia.

link

[ExquisiteGerbil]

80% Of Kiev Region Without Power Amid Rolling Emergency Blackouts

BY TYLER DURDEN

WEDNESDAY, DEC 21, 2022 - 02:45 AM


Ukraine is bracing for yet more Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, and has accused Moscow of intentionally unleashing additional suffering on the population headed into Christmas.



"Repairs continue but the situation remains really difficult," Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in a briefing before other government ministers.



"Russian terrorists will do everything to leave Ukrainians without electricity for the New Year," he claimed.



"It is important for them for Christmas and the New Year to take place in darkness in Ukraine," and then warned:



"That's why we should prepare for new attacks."



Kyiv Governor Oleksiy Kuleba has described the power crisis as being at its worst since the war began, with some 80% of the entire capital region being without electricity for a second day in a row, after drone strikes hit power stations Monday.


Capital plunged into near total darkness, via AFP.

"The situation with electricity supplies remains critical," Kuleba said in a written announcement. "I want to stress that with every shelling by the enemy, the complexity and duration of the repairs increase."



Meanwhile Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of trying to "steal" Christmas, on a day where drones continued to hit the national power grid:



Kyiv officials on Monday illuminated a Christmas tree in the city center, refusing to let Russia "steal" the festive season from Ukrainian children.



The day, which started with swarms of attacks on critical infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital, ended with the unveiling of the 12-meter (40-feet) high artificial tree decorated with white peace doves.



A few dozen residents braved the sub-zero temperatures to admire the tree located next to the Saint Sophia Cathedral and its emblematic golden domes — and take selfies.



National energy operator Ukrenergo said it is fast working to restore services but initially this will allow power to less than half the population.



"Supplies to critical infrastructure are a priority. We expect that today we will be able to turn on equipment to enable the security of supplies to be increased, reduce the capacity deficit and connect more consumers," it said Tuesday. There were reports that many neighborhoods saw power restored later in the day and into night hours, amid rolling emergency blackouts.

Across the border, in Russia's Belgorod region, emergency crews are also working to restore power after a rare Sunday cross-border attack launched by the Ukrainian military left thousands in the dark. At the same time, temperatures continue to plunge headed into the colder winter months in both countries.

link

[schwartzie]

Huge Death Toll After US-Supplied Himars Leveled Russian Barracks In Donetsk, Possibly Hundreds Killed

BY TYLER DURDEN

MONDAY, JAN 02, 2023 - 02:15 PM


Russian forces have just suffered what may be their single biggest loss of the war in an attack, after a Ukrainian strike killed multiple dozens, or possibly hundreds, of newly mobilized troops in the east of the country. Moscow is now pointing to a US role in the devastating attack.



"Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday that Ukrainian forces used a U.S.-supplied Himars rocket system to destroy a facility used as a base for mobilized troops in the city of Makiivka," The Wall Street Journal reports of the attack in Russian-occupied Donbas.





The leveled Russian troop facilities, described as a training school for conscripts, in Makiivka. RIA Novosti/Sputnik via AP

The defense ministry confirmed that 63 Russian troops died in the blast, saying that a wave of HIMARS rockets delivering "high-explosive warheads" struck the facility that housed the troops.



A statement by top Russian commanders carried in state-run TASS reads: "The Kiev regime delivered a strike firing six projectiles from the US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher on a Russian unit near Makeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). The attack left 63 Russian service members killed."



Though only revealed for the first time Monday, the strike reportedly took place soon after midnight on Sunday, New Year's Day. Some Russian sources are suggesting an ammunition depot was next to the targeted facility, which likely resulted in a deadlier, expanded blast.



The Ukrainian side is meanwhile claiming the true numbers among the Russian dead is much higher, with the Ukrainian military asserting that some 400 were killed and other 300 wounded - though Kiev didn't directly take responsibility in the immediate aftermath.



Western media, including CNN and Reuters, have acknowledged being unable to independently verify the casualty numbers, however, some notable pro-Russian separatist officials have suggested it is more that the 63 dead officially cited by the Kremlin:



Igor Girkin, a former Federal Security Service officer who helped Russia annex the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014 and then organize pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, said on Monday that "the number of dead and wounded runs into many hundreds."





That same official is one among several Russian military commentators who lashed out at top commanders for the apparent lack of protection for the hundreds of personnel staying in a small area. Russian sources say at least two of the inbound missiles among the six fired by the Ukrainians were shot down by anti-air defenses.



Girkin said on Telegram: "This is not the only such [extremely dense] deployment of personnel and equipment in the destruction zone of HIMARS missiles," also in reference to reports of ammunition stored dangerously close.



Other pundits are saying troops' use of cellular phones or other possible open source communications could have tipped off the Ukrainians as to the presence and location of the base, given the potential for intercepted signals...

Additionally, Reuters references the following source from the Russian side:



One Russian pro-war military blogger known as Rybar, who has more than one million subscribers on the Telegram messaging app, said more than 100 people had been wounded in the strike and that rubble was still being cleared.



Rybar said there had been about 600 people in the building, and that ammunition had been stored in the same facility.



And The Telegraph points out this could surpass the prior single most disastrous event from early on in the invasion:



Ukraine estimated the death toll at “about 400”, with some pro-Russian separatists in the region agreeing “hundreds” had died. The Kremlin, in a rare admission, said 63 men had been killed - far outweighing the official death toll from the sinking of the flagship Moskva.

Beyond the issue of the disputed death toll, another question is whether the Ukrainians had targeting assistance from US intelligence.



Interestingly, Ukraine's defense ministry on the same day as the attack posted footage of what appears to be Himars system launching a strike in the dark.

In the past months, mainstream US press has increasingly acknowledged that the Ukrainians are receiving direct battlefield targeting help, based on the admissions of anonymous Pentagon and US intelligence officials.



However, there's currently no confirmation or clear evidence that US-supplied HIMARS were indeed used, as the Russians allege. But the fact that the facility struck was significantly behind the front lines may point to a longer range weapon being used, such as has been supplied by Western powers. Ukraine also seems to now be openly boasting of its US-supplied capabilities in the wake of the mass casualty attack on Makiivka.

link

[schwartzie]

Zelensky Says Russian "New Mobilization Process" For Major Offensive Imminent

BY TYLER DURDEN

THURSDAY, JAN 05, 2023 - 12:05 PM


Ukraine says it's bracing for a major new Russian offensive, which will involve a large influx of new ground forces at a time Russian forces are under pressure and reportedly lacking enough manpower to maintain front lines, but did not give a timeline for the expected push.



In fresh statements widely circulated Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is planning a major "new offensive" which will involve a planned "new mobilization processes."


He suggested the new mobilization is imminent given recent Russian battlefield losses in the east, which includes the devastating strike on a barracks in the city of Makiivka, resulting an a huge Russian troop death toll.



"We have no doubt that the current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can muster to try to turn the tide of the war and at least postpone their defeat," Zelensky said. "We have to disrupt this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this. The terrorists must lose."



Kiev had begun issuing these warnings of a major escalation by Moscow shortly after last month Putin referred to the Ukraine special operation as a "war" for the first time. As the The Hill also details:



Some Ukrainian officials also warned last month about a potential new Russian offensive in January or February, including Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, a top commander in the Ukrainian army who told The Economist that Russia is preparing some 200,000 troops and could have another go at Kyiv.



Previously, Ukraine’s defense minister Oleksii Reznikov also issued a New Year message, and in it appealed to the Russian people, warning that Putin his about to declare martial law and close borders to men, in preparation for a new wave of mobilization.



Reznikov called for Russians to resist these efforts and stand for peace in the video address...







Within Russia, public opinion appears increasingly divided on how military and Kremlin leadership is executing the war, particularly in the wake of the Makiivka barracks attack, which left up to hundreds of Russian conscripts killed.



Hawks within Russia in the meantime have continued pushing for a more muscular escalation in order to achieve the military objectives laid out since the start of the invasion. Others are calling for both sides to implement a Christmas truce this weekend in observation of Orthodox Christmas (Jan.7 according to the Julian calendar).



* * *



Is an offensive from the north coming? Is this what Putin was recently in Belarus to negotiate?


link

[Midnight]

Russia warns that arms shipments to Ukraine will lead to «global catastrophe»

Story by Daniel Stewart • 30m ago




The speaker of Russia's State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, said Sunday via his Telegram channel that delivering offensive weapons to Kiev will lead to a "global catastrophe."


"Given the technological superiority of Russian weapons, foreign politicians making such decisions should understand that this could end in a global catastrophe that would destroy their countries," Volodin announced via a message on Telegram.


In addition, Volodin warned that if Washington and NATO member countries supply weapons "that will be used to attack peaceful cities and try to seize our territories" it will lead to a "retaliation with more powerful weapons."



Volodin finally stressed the role of the governments of Germany and France, as well as other European parliaments, in "being aware of their responsibility before humanity".



Source: (EUROPA PRESS)

link

[Pink Rose]

'Russia is preparing for maximum escalation', Ukraine warns with Putin possibly planning another simultaneous attack from north, south and east on February 24 - the anniversary of last triple-strike

Ukrainian official Oleksiy Danilov warned bloodiest battles are 'yet to come'

Ukraine is not excluding possibility of Russia launching offensive in three weeks

By RACHAEL BUNYAN FOR MAILONLINE



PUBLISHED: 03:37 EST, 1 February 2023 | UPDATED: 10:05 EST, 1 February 2023


Ukraine today warned Russia is preparing for a 'maximum escalation' of the war as Kyiv braces itself for Moscow's highly-anticipated springtime three-pronged offensive.



Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, said Vladimir Putin could be planning another simultaneous attack on the country from the north, south and east on February 24 to coicincide with the anniversary of the war's beginning.



Danilov warned that the bloodiest battles are 'yet to come' and they will happen within the next few months, in what will be a 'defining' moment of the war.



He told Sky News: 'Russia is preparing for maximum escalation. It is gathering everything possible, doing drills and training.

Full story at the link

[Pink Rose]

Russian troops are sending Ukrainian civilians into MINEFIELDS to find a safe path through, Kyiv claims

The National Resistance Centre claims it received the reports from Zaporizhzhia

Russian troops were surveilling terrified civilians to find a way past the mines

Ukraine's PM believes up to 40 percent of the land is littered with explosives

By DAVID AVERRE


Russian commanders are forcing Ukrainian civilians to wade through minefields to determine safe routes for their troops, a new report has claimed.



Ukraine's National Resistance Centre - an online resource curated by the nation's armed forces to inform civilian resistance groups - declared on Monday it had received reports that citizens in parts of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia region were instructed to walk through mine-littered fields.



It claimed Russian troops would observe the terrified civilians and trace their steps to find a path through the lethal maze, though did not cite the source of the information which is yet to be verified.



Huge swathes of Ukrainian land have been littered with mines since Russian forces invaded on February 24, 2022 - up to an eye-watering 40 percent, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.



Both sides are accused of placing mines throughout Ukrainian territory.


Antipersonnel mines are capable of maiming or killing victims who step on them

Up to 40 percent of Ukrainian territory is said to contain mines after almost a year of war

Antipersonnel mines are capable of maiming or killing victims who step on them. Up to 40 percent of Ukrainian territory is said to contain mines after almost a year of war

The 1997 Mine Ban Treaty bans antipersonnel mines and mandates that nations must move to destroy mine stocks, participate in the clearance of mined areas in conflict zones and distribute assistance to victims.



Ukraine signed the Mine Ban Treaty on February 24, 1999, and ratified it on December 27, 2005. Russia has not joined the treaty, but it is still in violation of international law when it comes to its use of antipersonnel mines due to their indiscriminate nature in targeting combatants and civilians alike.


Earlier in the war Britain's Ministry of Defence warned that Russian forces were scattering anti-personnel mines throughout occupied territory, a move which was widely condemned by the international community.



But Human Rights Watch also notified Ukraine of evidence it received suggesting its armed forces distributed the explosive devices in civilian regions in and around occupied Izyum.



The city has since been liberated, but many of the dangerous explosive devices, powerful enough to sever limbs and even kill, still remain.



'Ukrainian forces appear to have extensively scattered landmines around the Izyum area, causing civilian casualties and posing an ongoing risk,' said Steve Goose, Arms Division director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement last month.



'Russian forces have repeatedly used antipersonnel mines and committed atrocities across the country, but this doesn't justify Ukrainian use of these prohibited weapons.'



A response from Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said the details of the HRW's report had been received and were being investigated, but called on the international community to 'exert pressure on the Russian Federation with the aim of immediately ending the criminal war against Ukraine and its use of the entire spectrum of inhumane weapons.'

Full story at the link

[OmegaMan]

FORCED CONSCRIPTION: Ukrainian troops are KIDNAPPING ethnic Hungarians to be deployed to the front lines

Wednesday, February 01, 2023 by: Belle Carter

Tags: big government, chaos, conflict, evil, forced conscription, Hungary, insanity, minorities, national security, Russia, Russia-Ukraine war, Trans-Carpathia, Treaty of Trianon, Tyranny, Ukraine, Viktor Orban, WWIII



This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author


(Natural News) Hungarian men in the Trans-Carpathia area of Ukraine are being terrorized by brutal and forced conscriptions by Ukrainian police and recruiting officers to go into war against Russia



According to reports of M1, Hungary’s broadcasting network, Kyiv officers are “kidnapping” ethnic Hungarian men between the age of 18 to 60 from highly frequented locations such as train stations, petrol stations and near shopping centers and markets. They also go into homes.



In the video clip that was translated by RAIR Foundation USA, a grassroots activist organization, it was revealed that 100 locations are raided every day in Trans-Carpathia alone. Soldiers and policemen point guns, kick and tackle down those who resist.



A large group of people has already been forcibly taken from the said area of Ukraine, which is bordering Hungary. Allegedly, many of them already died or were wounded as most were deployed at the war front line.



Some reports said hundreds of soldiers’ bodies are being stored in specially designed refrigerated goods wagon by Ukrainian authorities near the Hungarian border.



Kyiv reportedly wants to recruit thousands of civilians to replace losses in the Ukrainian army. It is unknown whether Ukrainian authorities are also forcibly conscripting Romanian, Moldovan, Slovak and Polish ethnic minorities.



There are approximately 150,000 ethnic Hungarians in the Trans-Carpathia region, the area which is the legacy of the non-negotiable Treaty of Trianon signed by Hungary on June 4, 1920, following loss in the first world war. Trianon dismembered the thousand-year-old Kingdom of Hungary, costing it 70 percent of its territory and three million of its population. President Woodrow Wilson later referred to the treaty as “absurd.”



Hungary, Austria not sending weapons to Ukraine

Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky and his Austrian counterpart Klaudia Tanner announced at a meeting in Budapest on Monday, Jan. 30, that they agreed not to send ammunition to neighboring country Ukraine. However, both Hungary and Austria are accepting refugees and are sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine. (Related: No more! European countries call for end to Ukraine funding.)



Szalay-Bobrovniczky and Tanner stated during a joint press conference that both countries do not want further war escalation and would want to be on the side of peace.



According to Tanner, the greatest danger is that the war could spread to Europe, which would not only be a matter of conventional war but also of an interplay with hybrid warfare and an increase in migration in general.



“The effects are not only enormously felt in Austria, but also in Hungary. Eventually, the routes run through our neighboring country to us,” Tanner stressed.



One solution, she said, is to strengthen the Western Balkans and help these countries integrate into the European Union.



Meanwhile, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged Ukraine to give up as Russia has already succeeded in making Ukraine an ungovernable wreck.



“It’s Afghanistan now,” Orban said during a roundtable discussion. Vladimir Putin will not lose and time is on Russia’s side, he argued, calling Ukraine “the land of nobody.”



Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Hungarian Ambassador Istvan Ijgyarto on Tuesday, Ja. 31, to express a strong protest over the comments made by Orban.



Visit WWIII.news for more updates on the conflict in Ukraine.



Watch the video below where  Joe Biden admits that he sent tanks to Ukraine.

www.brighteon.com/d17241f0-fcf1-4e14-9130-c0d9786befab

link

[OmegaMan]

Horrific video appears to show Ukrainians using chemical weapons against Russian troops

Monday, February 13, 2023 by: JD Heyes

Tags: chemical violence, chemical weapons, Dangerous, deception, killings, military tech, Russia, Russian POWs, Russian soldiers, Social media, Ukraine, Ukrainian troops, video, violence, War crimes, weapons tech, WWIII



This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author



Bypass censorship by sharing this link:

New

citizens.news/697130.html



(Natural News) A highly disturbing video obtained by popular pro-Russia Twitter user Donbass Devushka and posted on social media appears to show the Ukrainian armed forces using small chemical weapons against Russian soldiers, which, if true, is an international war crime.



An accompanying report from Valiant News noted that the report is “unconfirmed,” but the video “appears to show a Russian soldier descend into involuntary convulsions and drowning after being hit with what seems to be a chemical gas.”



“Ukrainians allegedly dropping chemical weapons onto Russian soldiers. Unpunished warcrime,” the Twitter blogger noted.



Warning: Extremely graphic



Ukrainians allegedly dropping chemical weapons onto Russian soldiers. Unpunished warcrime #16363733 pic.twitter.com/hy3CBlQxyF



— Donbass Devushka (@peimenipusha) February 7, 2023



The report noted further:



In the same thread, Devushka highlights a separate tweet featuring a video originally posted by Ukrainian military blogger Yuriy Madyar that appears to reveal a stockpile of Ukrainian “chemical munitions” that would be deployed against Russian forces by drones.



“Ukranian ‘military blogger’ Yuriy Madyar posted a video showing chemical munitions and ‘hinted’ that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were preparing to use drone delivered chemical weapons [sic] in Bakhmut,” user @namelss_cynic wrote.



Ukrainian “military blogger” Yuriy Madyar posted a video showing chemical munitions and “hinted” that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were preparing to use drone delivered chemical weapons Bakhmut. #DefundUkraine pic.twitter.com/wORwiOuszA



— Nameless Cynic (@nameless_cynic) February 6, 2023



In yet another video in the threat, personnel who may belong to the Ukrainian military are seen configuring the drones to carry and then drop the alleged chemical bombs. According to the user who posted the video, @rybar_en, the men in the video are part of an “air reconnaissance group” known as “Magyar’s Birds,” led by Ukrainian “Magyar,” Robert Iosifovich Brovdi.



“The footage shows Ukrainian fighters preparing small drones that are designed to drop very interesting homemade munitions, which are very likely to be equipped with chemical weapons,” Rybar noted in a separate tweet.



Another confirmation emerged that some units of the AFU on the Bakhmut direction are using chemical weapons. The video was filmed, reportedly, by the commander of a separate air reconnaissance group called “Magyar’s Birds”.

[Yarem] pic.twitter.com/AQPyL2Xz1M



— Rybar in English (@rybar_en) January 13, 2023



Granted, we cannot say for certain that these munitions contain chemical weapons, but based on the video above of the convulsing person in the creek believed to be a Russian soldier, it is hard to imagine some other sort of munition caused that.



“According to Rybar, the shell canisters observed in Magyar’s video appear to be homemade, 700 gram, thin-walled cylinders,” Valiant News reported.



“The head fuse looks less like an accumulated detonation device and more like a device for mixing or atomizing chemicals,” noted Rybar, who added that the canisters being stored in a refrigerator likely means they are very likely chemical weapons being chilled to “prevent the thermal expansion of the substance, which would breach the shell’s hermetic seal. Ordinary shells are not stored in a refrigerator.”



The news site noted further:



The use of chemical weapons in is a practice that has been banned by the Geneva Convention and classified as a war crime. If authenticated, this particular instance would not be the first time that the Ukrainian armed forces have been accused of committing crimes of war. In April of 2022, the New York Times confirmed the authenticity of previous video showing Ukrainian soldiers brutally executing captured Russian soldiers.



A video posted online on Monday and verified by The New York Times appears to show a group of Ukrainian soldiers killing captured Russian troops outside a village west of Kyiv. t.co/Wog3JdR8l7



— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 6, 2022



According to reports, the killings took place near the town of Bucha, “where mainstream media outlets, in lockstep with both western and Ukrainian governments, have accused Russia of killing 300 civilians in an apparent series of ‘war crimes,'” Valiant News added.



Meanwhile, U.S. taxpayer money is being used to equip Ukraine.

link

[Midnight]

Most Ukrainian Soldiers On Bakhmut Front-Line Killed 'Within 4 Hours'


WEDNESDAY, MAR 01, 2023 - 02:00 AM

Authored by Kyle Anzalone via The Libertarian Institute,



A retired American Marine fighting in Ukraine told ABC News the frontlines are a “meat grinder” where soldiers survive an average of “four hours.”



Troy Offenbecker is fighting alongside Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region. Moscow and Kiev have been battling around Bakhmut for several months as Russia’s forces have slowly made gains around the city.


In January, Germany estimated Kiev was losing a “three-digit number” of soldiers daily fighting for Bakhmut. At that time, the White House believed President Volodymyr Zelensky was committing too many lives and resources to defend the city.



Offenbecker’s commentary suggests that the situation may be getting worse for Ukrainian soldiers. “It’s been pretty bad on the ground. A lot of casualties.” He assessed, “the life expectancy is around four hours on the frontline.”



He said the Russian attack on the city is not letting up and had turned into a “meat grinder.” “[The artillery] is nonstop.” Offenbecker explained the Russian forces are fighting around the clock. “[The Russians] have maybe run into a shortage of shells lately, but the past couple of weeks, it’s been nonstop. All day and night,” he told ABC.



Meanwhile, Kiev’s Western backers have expressed to Zelensky in recent weeks that NATO countries are struggling to find artillery shells to send to Ukraine. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the US will train Ukrainian forces on fighting methods that use fewer munitions.



The Kremlin ordered a mobilization of 300,000 troops last year. Western leaders have anticipated Moscow will order an offensive this winter. Ukrainian officials say that the Russian offensive is now underway, and Offenbecker agrees. “With the amount of shelling, the amount of armor that they’ve brought in, I think it’s started,” he explained to ABC.


Due to Moscow’s and Kiev’s tight control over their countries’ presses, it is unclear how substantial the death toll is for each country. Since the start of the war, Zelensky has nationalized Ukraine’s media, outlawed his political opposition and jailed citizens who opposed his administration.



Commenting on the state of journalism in Ukraine, press-union leader Serhiy Guz explained, “We never know what’s the basis of these accusations, what’s the pro-Russian link…It starts to look like a political accusation rather than a genuine crime.”



“A lot of journalists self-censor now,” he added.



 link

[schwartzie]

Zelensky Floats 'Strategic Pullback' From Bakhmut After Pouring In Huge Amount Of Reserve Forces

BY TYLER DURDEN

WEDNESDAY, MAR 01, 2023 - 01:25 PM


Zelensky officials are now openly talking about a possible 'strategic pullback' from the besieged eastern city of Bakhmut. This comes after Zelensky himself said he's not ready to order a continued defense of the city at all costs. By all accounts both sides are suffering huge casualties, but Russia has the superior artillery fire, which has been sustained around the clock, also as Kremlin forces have the city almost completely surrounded. According to The Hill:



A Ukrainian presidential adviser on Tuesday said troops may "strategically pull back" from the town of Bakhmut, the focus of intense and brutal fighting for the past few months.



Alexander Rodnyansky told CNN the Ukrainian army has not yet pulled out of the city, but Kyiv may soon decide the cost of holding Bakhmut “outweighs the benefits.”




"Our military is obviously going to weigh all of the options," the Zelensky aide told CNN. "So far they’ve held the city, but if need be, they will strategically pull back because we’re not going to sacrifice all of our people just for nothing."



President Zelensky has also admitted defense of the town has proven "most difficult" for his forces. However, in rare comments, Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said Ukrainian forces continue putting up a fierce resistance on Wednesday. So far they've been throwing an immense amount of manpower into Bakhmut, he said.



"The Ukrainian army is throwing extra reserves into Artyomovsk and trying to hold the town with all their strength," Prigozhin said, using the Russian name for Bakhmut, in an audio message published by Wagner's press service. "Tens of thousands of Ukrainian army fighters are putting up furious resistance. The bloodiness of the battles is growing by the day."



Indeed recent footage from inside the city shows a war-torn wasteland of rubble...

As we reported previously, a retired American Marine fighting in Ukraine told ABC News this week that the frontlines are a "meat grinder" where soldiers survive an average of "four hours."



In a Tuesday address Zelensky said something similar of the Russian side: "Russia does not count people at all, sending them to constantly storm our positions," and acknowledged, "The intensity of fighting is only increasing."



A variety of updated battle maps circulating among war monitors have consistently shown the Russians have the Ukrainians nearly surrounded...



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[Honoria]

Pentagon Admits Russia Captured American Weapons In Ukraine

]by Kari Donovan

March 2, 2023




Disasterous Democrat Joe Biden administration has allowed Russia to capture American weapons and sell them as if the administration’s breech on American weapons and its technology, according to one source.



As if it isn’t bad in the Middle East that Biden abandoned Afghanistan, leaving behind billions of dollars of top American military equipment, now the situation is even worse if true.



The Pentagon admitted that Russia had captured American weapons In Ukraine, according to one whistleblower, as the media is reporting that Congress is suspicious of fraud in the gifting of American weapons to Ukraine, making the situation in the region even more confusing.



Breitbart News reported on the most up-to-date status of a Congressional inquiry into the whereabouts of American weapons on Thursday:



“There is no evidence any of the billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars spent on weapons and aid sent to Ukraine has been lost to corruption or diverted into criminal hands, the Pentagon’s inspector general said Tuesday, before adding investigations are still at an early stage.



The assurance came after members of Congress persistently questioned how closely the U.S. is tracking its aid to ensure it is not subject to fraud.”



AP reports Robert P. Storch was pressed by House members several times about any fraud findings. He said several tips and allegations have come into a new hotline, but there have been “limited findings” to date, with many reports pending.



And the bad news about the alleged Russian capture and sale of American weapons comes at the same time as news that Russia is planning on an escalated attack on energy systems:





Kyle Anzalone via The Libertarian Institute reported the following details:



“American weapons provided to Ukraine have been captured by Russia on the battlefield, a top Department of Defense official told Congress on Tuesday. Over the past year, Washington has provided Kyiv with nearly $45 billion in military aid.



Undersecretary of Kyivnr Policy Colin Kahl claimed Moscow was capturing American weapons and selling them on the black market. “Our assessment is if some of these systems have been diverted it’s by Russians who have captured things on the battlefield, which always happens.”



Zerohedge reported on the details:



After Russian forces invaded Ukraine just over a year ago, the Joe Biden administration began providing Kyiv with unprecedented weapons transfers. The US has provided UKyivne with $44.3 billion in military assistance from January 24, 2022, to January 15, 2023, according to The Kiel Institute for the World Economy.



Kahl went on to assert that “no evidence” has surfaced to suggest Kieasserted for the weapons finding their way to the black market.



In the early months of the war, CNN reported that the US lacked oversight over the arms sent to Ukraine. A source told the outlet in April, “we have fidelity for a short time, but when it enters the fog of war, we have almost zero. It drops into a big black hole, and you have almost no sense of it at all after a short period of time.”



That same month, Jonas Ohman, founder and CEO of Blue-Yellow, a Lithuania-based organization that has been meeting with and supplying frontline units with military aid in Ukraine told CBS News, “All of this stuff goes across the border, and t, when something happens, kind of like 30% of it reaches its final destination.”



In May, the Washington Post reported Ukraine is infamous for black market weapon sales. “The US government is well aware of the country’s challenges with weapons proliferation, though it has been vague in describing the precautions it’s taking,” the outlet wrote.



Kahl was confronted by Congressman Matt Gaetz over the weapons congressman Matt Gaetz confronted Kahled in a 2018 article from Global Times that found American arms were being used by the Azov Battalion, a neo-Nazi militia that was absorbed into Ukraine’s national guard. Kahl dismissed Gaetz’s question by asserting the claim was “Beijing’s propaganda.”



The Azov Battalion has been photographed with Western-made anti-tank weapons. In March, NEXTA tweeted, “A shipment of NLAW grenade launchers and instructors from #NATO countries arrived in Kharkiv. The Azov regiment was the first to learn about new weaponry.” The post included photos of Ukrainian soldiers wearing Nazi patches on their uniforms.



In July, the Stimson Center – an American organization – warned US arms could flow to “avowed neo-Nazis.” “[The Azov Battalion’s] role in key Ukrainian theatres creates risks that arms could be diverted to Azov troops in contravention of US law,” the report said.



Kahl claimed Ukraine tracks the weapons with scanners provided by WasUkraine following the weapons to American officials at the embassy in Kyiv. However, he added the officials complete some inspections outside the Kyiv embassy.



Additionally, Kahl discussed the White House’s strategy for its proxy war in Ukraine. He said the Department of Defense does not believe Russian forces will make significant territorial gains in the coming months. “You may see small portions of territory change hands in the coming weeks and months.” But, he told Congress, “I do not think that there’s anything I see that suggests the Russians can sweep across Ukraine and make significant territorial gains anytime in the next year or so.”



He explained that the Biden administration was committed to arming Ukraine, though the timetable for providing fighter jets was at least a year and a half. Kahl added that the price tag to give Kyiv F-16s was $11 billion and the fighter jet was given KieKyiv’s “top three priorities.”


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