Russian Invasion of Ukraine
More purges in Russia for being too patriotic:
Public humiliation for perceived sleights against Russia/Putin (probably won't be posting more of these for obvious reasons):
More explosions on Kerch Bridge; drone hits building in Moscow; CNN article on the drones and Ukraine's propaganda around them:
New fronts and Romanov confirming Urozhaine captured (probably happened a few days ago imo), Russia moving around troops:
Interesting read on the 50 Leopards recently purchased, and why 50 need to be bought in order to field 30. (WARNING TO THOSE TRIGGERED BY DOGS: THIS VILE MISCREANT HAS A DOG AS HIS AVATAR AND THEREFORE IS LIKELY A NAFO MEMBER. If all NAFO posts are this good, then it's really a solid organization):
More Russians begging for proper support; Russians forced to clear a minefield because their commander already reported it as taken. Commander shoots soldiers if they don't attack when told to, 80% casualties for those who do attack:
*****
Edit/MH:
Key:
ALCM: Air launched cruise missile
AFU: Armed Forces of Ukraine
ATACMS: Army Tactical Missile System
CEPA: Center for European Policy Analysis
HIMARS: High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System
ISW: Institute for the Study of War
KA-52: Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator" attack helicopter used by Russia
MOD: Ministry of Defense
Prig: Yevgeny Prigozhin, deceased leader of Wagner
PMC: Private military companies
SBU: Security Services of Ukraine (The law enforcement authority and main intelligence and security agency of the Ukrainian government)
UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, commonly referred to as drones.
WAPO: Washington Post
Bluegrassplayer
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WAR CLIPS AND ANALYSIS
1. UK MOD on Russian glide bombs strikining inside of Russia five times this year
2. Long thread on corruption in the Russian army
RUSSIA'S WINTER STRIKE
Zelenskyy and u24 video on the winter strike and need for air defense
WAR CRIMES
Russia accused of using chemical weapons (not mentioned in the tweet but these are being dropped by drones to force soldiers out of defensive positions
ANGRY WIVES AND PROTESTS
1. DW video "Wives of Russian soldiers protest against 'endless war' in Ukraine | DW News"
2. Moscow Times article "Russia Jails Pensioner for Post About Army Casualties"; "A 72-year-old pensioner was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for allegedly sharing a post online about Russia's military casualties in Ukraine, rights groups said Monday."
3. BBC article "Bi-2: Russia anti-war band arrested in Thailand faces deportation" for unauthorized shows. HRW asking Thai authorities not to since they will face persecution for being antiwar
STRIKES IN RUSSIA AND UNEXPLAINED FIRES
1. Electrical substation explodes outside Moscow
2. Large scale internet failure
3. PBS article "Ukrainian attacks within Russia challenge Putin’s war narrative"
MILITARY AID
A look at all USA weapon sales in 2023
AVDIIVKA
1. Russian milblogger on Avdiivka
Zaluzhny
ft article "Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to replace Ukraine’s top general"
PUTIN
Long thread on Putin's new estate
POWs
Defense Express article "Update on the Il-76 Aircraft Crash: russia Is Not Ready to Hand Over the Bodies and What Does It Mean"
ZALUZHNY
1. GREAT LISTEN WOTR 22 minute episode; covers Avdiivka; military aid; mobilization; rumors that 300bln in frozen funds not being used; Zaluzhny rumored to be fired.
(First half is about Avdiivka, last 5 minutes is a must listen imo)
2. Economist article "The feud between Ukraine’s president and army chief boils over"
BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS
1. Russian surrendering to a drone
2. Russian assault hit by multiple drones, destroying 15 vehicles (video is in comments)
3. Russian truck deploying smoke to protect against drone strikes
4. A look at visually confirmed drone strikes over the past few months (can safely assume Russia has a major advantage here due to the type of clips)
5. Analysis of visually confirmed drone strikes saying Ukraine currently has advantage but Russia will soon (I think Russia already has it and this is bias due to the type of clips that get released)
6. Russia started the war with 1 regiment using T-62, now has 22 (discontinued production of these in 1975)
7. Medium length thread on Russia creating more decoys to confuse drones at air bases
RUSSIAN ECONOMY
1. ft article "Brazil’s imports of Russian oil products soar"
MILITARY AID
1. Johnson and NATO secretary general joint statement on needing to support Ukraine
2. Johnson now suggesting splitting the border bill and the Ukraine aid bill
3. Bloomberg article "EU Acknowledges Months of Delay for Ukraine Ammunition Pledge"
ORBAN
Reuters article "Long road ahead before Orban-Zelenskiy meeting - Hungary foreign minister"
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/lon...
POWs
Another POW swap, 207 Ukrainians
MILITARY AID
NYT article "E.U. Reaches Deal on Fund for Ukraine"
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/01/world...
BATTLE CLIPS
CRAZY FOOTAGE Sea drones take out Russian missile boat
BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS
1. Different angle of the destroyed Russian column above
2. GRAPHIC Russians pinned down by cluster munition and Bradley fire, followed by drone strikes
3. UK MOD on Russia's airforce losses
4. Ukraine on why Russia is more cautious with their airforce
5. ISW on recent Russia advances on multiple fronts
CRIMEA
1. Russia telegram claiming 3 planes were destroyed in Crimea
2. Satellite images before and after the strike
3. Analysis of the strike
KRYNKY
1. Ukrainian and Russian sources both confirm second Ukrainian bridgehead and expanded area under Ukrainian control
2. Milblogger Romanov goes to Moscow MoD to tell them about how awful the situation is in Kyrnky
MILITARY AID
1. Forbes article "Joe Biden Is Arming Greece So Greece Can Arm Ukraine—And Pro-Russia Republicans Can’t Stop Him"
2. Politico article "Czechs want EU to shop abroad for Ukraine shells"
[...] Prague is pushing EU countries to finance the purchase of what it estimates are 450,000 rounds of artillery available outside the bloc, four diplomats and a person familiar with the talks told POLITICO.
3. Bloomberg article "House to Vote on Israel Aid Without Ukraine Funds Next Week"
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/20...
https://www.politico.eu/article/czech-re...
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/...
SOLDIERS SPEAKING
1. Russian complaining about being issued antique guns
2. Russian complaining about bent sent to attack Avdiivka with no artillery support
STRIKES IN RUSSIA
1. Video of the Lukoil refinery burning
2. Footage of when the drone hit
ZALUZHNYI
1. Opinion piece for CNN on military technology
2. ISW's summary of the piece
ORBAN
1. AP article "US lawmakers call on Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán to immediately approve Sweden’s NATO membership"
2. Bloomberg article "Orban Escalates Standoff Over Sweden’s Accession to NATO"
3. Bloomberg article "Swedish Leader Says He’ll Meet Orban in Budapest After NATO Vote"
4. Polish PM says there is no "Ukraine fatigue" there is "Orban fatigue"
BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS
1. Near miss from artillery as Ukrainian is driving in Avdiivka
2. Footage from October in Avdiivka, cluster munition hits column
3. Ukrainian soldier recounting how he survived in a basement for 41 days
RUSSIAN ECONOMY
1. GREAT READ Carnegie Endowment article "Russia’s Oil Industry Threatened by Ukrainian Drones, Western Sanctions"
2. Reuters article "Russia cuts gasoline, diesel exports to offset refinery outages"
2. Taiwan Times article "Taiwan tightens export controls after report of Russian arms use"
https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/9...
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/...
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/arc...
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
1. GREAT READ Kyiv Post article by Stephen Humphreys "OPINION: Decrease in US Support for Ukraine Tied to Russian Intelligence Operations"
“According to the National Intelligence Council, Russian intelligence specifically targeted the MAGA audience, catering to the same audience carefully conditioned to be receptive to the message.”
2. Tucker Carlson in Moscow for some reason
ELECTIONS
Guardian article "Russia finds ‘errors’ in paperwork of candidate hoping to stand against Putin"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/f...
SANCTIONS
WSJ article "Midair Fires and Malfunctions Surge on Russia’s Planes as Sanctions Bite"
https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/mi...
MILITARY AID
1. Russia stops importing bananas from Ecuador the day after they agree to send Russian air defense to America
2. Tatarigami on Russia moving artillery up and into static positions since a lack of shells means Ukraine cannot hit them
3. GREAT READ Politico article "Why the World Is Betting Against American Democracy" and why this is dangerous for America
The U.S. is a “fat buffalo trying to take a nap” as hungry wolves approach, the envoy mused. “I can hear those Champagne bottle corks popping in Moscow — like it’s Christmas every ****ing day.”
The current and former diplomats said their countries are more reluctant to sign deals with Washington because of the partisan divide. There’s worry that a new administration will abandon past agreements purely to appease rowdy electoral bases and not for legitimate national security reasons. The fate of the Iran nuclear deal was one example some mentioned.
ANGRY WIVES AND PROTESTORS
1. Protesting wives in Moscow being detained
2. 67 year old facing up to 3 years
AVDIIVKA
1. Russian near Avdiivka complaining there's more burning vehicles than radios (similar complaint in Krynky)
2. Ukrainian reporters say Russia has entered Avdiivka and the situation is critical
KRYNKY
1. Romanov on Krynky
2. Russian soldiers complaining about lack of communication
POWs
Recently traded Russian POWs are all convicts
SOLDIERS SPEAKING
Russian complaints about issued antique guns after making fun of how Ukraine was armed in 22-23
RUSSIAN SPIES AND DIPLOMATS
Meduza article "Advisor to German lawmaker steps down after allegations of working for Russian FSB"
WAGNER
1. UK MOD on Wagner units being absorbed by Russian national guard
2. UK MOD on less than 1k Wagner in Belarus
BATTLE CLIPS
1. Bradley firing
2. Bradley firing before running over a mine, 2 of the crew members manage to run
ELECTIONS
FT article "Russia moves to ban presidential candidate from running against Vladimir Putin"
RUSSIAN ECONOMY
1. GREAT WATCH "RUSSIAN Economy Ravaged by Putin's Policies as Wartime Measures Inflict Serious Damage on Russia"
2. Reuters article "Yandex owner to exit Russia in $5.2 billion deal" This is Russia's Google
MILITARY AID
1. Reuters article "Biden threatens veto of U.S. House's 'political ploy' Israel bill"
2. Johnson refuses to put Senate bill on the floor
3. GREAT READ FT article "Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine"
But European production lines are not yet ready to fill the munitions gap left by the Americans. That will take until at least 2025, and makes the second half of this year potentially very dangerous for Ukraine.
Watling believes that the consequences of the munitions shortage “will initially be felt slowly and then felt fast”. He warns that “when it reaches the point that the consequences are very obvious, it will already be too late”.
Trump and his Republican party supporters do not seem to care. They are apparently prepared to risk a Russian victory — if it even slightly increases Trump’s chance of defeating President Joe Biden in November.
Some of the Republican reluctance to pass new aid for Ukraine is driven by genuine scepticism about the war. But most of the foot-dragging is simply about Trump’s refusal to give Biden anything that looks like a “win” ahead of the presidential election.
AVDIIVKA
1. Russia gains more ground in the north of the town
2. 22 minute video "Why Russia is So Desperate to Capture Avdiivka"
3. NYT article "‘They Come in Waves’: Ukraine Goes on Defense Against a Relentless Foe"
ORBAN
1. Reuters article "US envoy piles pressure on Orban to ratify Sweden's NATO entry"
2. Orban's MPs do not show up to vote on Sweden's NATO entry
https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/stat...
LOL, Paid in gold! And lol at the deal being negotiated in US dollars.
MILITARY AID
1. NBC article "Senate Republicans knife bipartisan border security bill, declaring it dead"
2. Liz Cheney on the bill
3. CNN's chief congressional correspondent says Israel aid bill is most likely going to fail
4. EuroNews article "Stop exporting weapons and send them to Ukraine instead, Borrell urges EU countries"
5. Report on the quality of the Leopard 1s sent to Ukraine
6. Rheinmetall begins working Ukraine Defense Industry repairing vehicles in Kyiv
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
1. Tucker Carlson has given an interview to Putin and attacks western media for their reporting of the invasion
2. GREAT READ Daily Beast article "Kremlin Cronies: Putin-Tucker Interview Will ‘Blow Up’ U.S. Election" on how Russian propagandists are spinning the interview
STRIKES IN RUSSIA
Reuters article "Georgia accuses Ukraine of trying to spread war after explosives found at border"
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/geo...
RUSSIAN ECONOMY AND SANCTIONS
1. Bloomberg article "Russian Oil-Refining Drops as Drone Attacks Halt Two Plants"
2. Bloomberg article "US Pressure on Russian Oil Sees Dark Fleet Turn to Gabon’s Flag"
3. Bloomberg article "US Sanctions Halt Delivery of New Vessels to Russian LNG Plant"
4. Politco article "EU faces pressure to sanction Russian aluminum"
AVDIIVKA
1. Butusov, Ukrainian reporter, on 110th sending everyone into the city to defend, including those without proper training
2. Short Kyiv Independent article "Official: Situation in Avdiivka becomes 'critical in some places'"
BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS
1. Russian UAV drops grenades on abandoned tank, roof screen blocks first two attempts
2. Russian tank's roof screen protects it from drone
3. Russian tank with EW jammer
4. Russians hit by an automatic grenade launcher
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
GREAT READ ft visual article "Inside Mariupol: Russia’s new Potemkin village" Covers the destruction of Mariupol, the Russification, the propaganda surrounding the rebuilding, the rushed rebuilding which was largely for show, and stolen or demolished homes
In March 2023, Putin visited Mariupol. Widely reported in Russian and western media, the trip attempted to normalise Russian control of the region. He toured rebuilt sites, as well as the newly constructed Nevsky neighbourhood on the city’s western edge. A video published by the Kremlin showed Russia’s president meeting happy residents.
In the background, a woman can be heard shouting: “It’s not real! It’s all for show!” The shouting was quickly edited out.
Watching from afar, exiled Ukrainian civil servants were devastated. The Russian authorities boasting about new schools and kindergartens were putting the finishing touches to facilities constructed by the Ukrainians. The new buses and trams, with “Mariupol and St Petersburg, twin cities” on the side, were rebranded Ukrainian models bought just before the war. “It’s our tram, it’s even with our registration number,” says Mykyta Biriukov, Mariupol’s former deputy director of transport.
Others have been even less fortunate. Some owners of historic sea-view apartments in the heart of the city have found their buildings demolished and replaced with upmarket housing. Russian construction companies advertise “luxury” apartments in the buildings, while the original owners are offered replacement housing on the outskirts of the city.
“A big event is taking place today,” a resident says in a video posted online showing a new complex in the city centre. “Apartments are being handed over to their new tenants . . . but not to the real ones.”
2. GREAT READ Debunking the main Russian talking points regarding Tucker's upcoming interview
3. How Russian propagandists are spinning Tucker's arrival in Moscow
SANCTIONS
German government considering the nationalization of Russian owned Rosneft Deutschland to secure Germany's oil supplies
MILITARY AID
1. Back to passing military aid without the border bill attached
2. Some Republican senators still demanding border be dealt with before passing aid
3. Politico correspondent reports 41 no votes currently, needs at least 60/40 to pass
4. DOD article "5 Months With No Base Budget Affects Department's Modernization Efforts"
"If the U.S. stops support to Ukraine, we should be clear-eyed about the repercussions," Singh said. "Putin is not going to stop in his quest for power and control beyond Ukraine's borders toward NATO. If Putin attacks a NATO ally, we will find ourselves in direct conflict as we are committed to defending every inch of NATO. So let's be clear. We can do the responsible thing and pay now to help Ukraine or we can pay much more later to counteract the gains we would hand Vladimir Putin and an emboldened Russia."
STRIKES IN RUSSIA
Explosion at Russian missile production factory, 1300km from Ukraine border
GREAT READ "On the Brink: Examining Ammo Shortages and the Overall Situation" Covers ammo, mobilization, casualties, Zaluzhnyi (this was posted before the announcement he was replaced) and alludes to Syrskyi
https://frontelligence.substack.com/p/on...
RECRUITMENT
1. GOOD READ Analysis of the mobilization problem in Ukraine
2. Russia wants to raise upper limit for mobilization to 65
3. Ukraine battalion commander on lack of infantry
ZELENSKYY ZALUZHNYI SYRSKYI
1. Zelenskyy replaces Zaluzhnyi with Syrskyi
2. Tatarigami on Syrskyi
3. Reuters article "Five facts about Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's new army chief"
Ukraine claims hackers took down Russian drones
MILITARY AID
1. StarLink allegedly being used by Russia
2. Donald Tusk, Poland's PM shaming congress
3. Senate passes foreign aid bill
4. Politico article "Europe’s arms production is in ‘deep ****,’ says Belgian ex-general"
STRIKES IN RUSSIA AND FIRES
1. Gas pipeline explosion
2. Another refinery on fire
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
1. Rolling Stone article "Kremlin All But Admits Tucker Carlson Is a Useful Idiot"
2. Russian youth singing about making bombs
AVDIIVKA
1. Deepstate reports further Ukrainian losses in Avdiivka
2. UK MOD on the fighting there
BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS
1. Baba Yaga drone Russians brought down with EW
2. "Video of Ukrainian FPV strikes on Russian vehicles using night optics." (This has been a major development. Previously any movement was moved to night since drones couldn't fly)
3.GOOD READ Economist article "How cheap drones are transforming warfare in Ukraine" covers evolution of drone, how they're used, why they could become more expensive
4. Two videos of Russian bombs converted into glide bombs, showing they're not the most accurate but still devastating
5. Ukraine to begin manufacturing their own version of the lancet
6. The Times article "What the Russia-Ukraine war tells us about the future of conflict"
7. Defense Express article "Long-Range Ukrainian Strike Drones, Which are Hitting Targets Deep Inside russia"
STRIKES IN RUSSIA AND UNEXPLAINED FIRES
1. Huge fire in Moscow
2. Another oil refinery on fire
MILITARY AID
1. German MOD says they have given all air defense they can
2. Kyiv Independent article "Pentagon spox hints US air defenses continue to flow to Ukraine"
3. FT article "Ukraine faces ‘gap in the hose’ as western ammunition dries up"
4. Nordic-Batlic delegration addresses Congress regarding military aid
WAR CRIMES
ISW on Russia's attempts to ethnically cleanse Ukrainian territories
SYRSKI
Syrskyi's first official message:
PUTIN
1. Daily Beast's article "Putin Nearly Bores Tucker Carlson to Death With Two-Hour History Lesson"
2. One of Putin's many contradictions in the interview regarding whether Ukraine exists
3. Cold War Historian fact checks some of the interview
4. Kremlin edits out Tucker's negative remarks
5. BBC article "Tucker Carlson interview: Fact-checking Putin's 'nonsense' history"
6. Russian telegram on the interview
7. My cliffs on the interview (pretty long)
POWs
Kyiv Independent article " (National Security and Defense Council Secretary) Danilov: No Ukrainian POWs on crashed Russian Il-76 aircraft"
SYRSKYI
1. GREAT READ Euromaidan article "Syrskyi in, Zaluzhnyi out. What our army sources expect from Ukraine’s army reshuffle"
What did Zaluzhnyi achieve, what did he not manage to do, and can Syrskyi break the stalemate at the front? Euromaidan Press talked to three Ukrainian officers, a sergeant, a seasoned army volunteer and sieved through the latest Ukrainian analyses to understand what’s next.
However, the initial flexibility that gave Ukraine success in the first days of war was lost. According to Yuriy Butusov, this is because Zelenskyy started intruding into army affairs, fragmenting the army management. Several verticals of power were created, bypassing Zaluzhnyi. Zelenskyy appointed Special Forces leaders without consulting Zaluzhnyi and gave direct calls to the Air Forces, paratroopers, logistics forces, Butusov details. The military journalist believes that this absence of a full delegation of power to the Commander-in-Chief and external intrusions created conflicts and degraded the situation at the front.
Moreover, commanders faced no scrutiny over how many subordinates they lost in operations. “If you see that one has many more privates killed than another under the same conditions, an audit should be conducted. Maybe he can’t be a commander at all,” the officer stresses.
“Everybody trusted Zaluzhnyi,” another officer says. “If it was him ordering or asking to hold a position, then everybody would know there was some idea behind it. If it was Syrskyi, then it is some crazy defense for the sake of defending,” yet another officer says, invoking a contrast between the months-long controversial Syrsky-led operation to defend Bakhmut, and the flexible defense at the dawn of the Russian invasion when Ukrainians easily abandoned ground to stretch out a column of Russian tanks beyond their capacity to refuel.
However, Syrskyi was also in charge of the defense of Kyiv, the lightning-fast liberation of Kharkiv oblast in 2022, and the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas before Russia’s full-scale invasion, where his track record is fine.
2. Several of the replaced military commanders learned they were to be replaced from the media
3. Ukrainian soldiers on Syrskyi
MILITARY AID
1. McConnell on the senate bill
2. Reuters article "Senate advances Ukraine aid bill despite Trump opposition"
3. Threat to remove Johnson if he won't put the Ukraine/Israel aid bill on the floor
RECRUITMENT
Soldier repots 15 men from his artillery group were sent to front line due to shortage of infantrymen
STARLINK
1. Ukraine's Defense Intelligence confirms Starlink is being used by Russia
2. ft article "Russia using Elon Musk’s Starlink on Ukraine front line, says Kyiv"
3. Starlink's map shows it is active in occupied areas
4. Analysis of Russia using Starlink and the difficulty of determining which terminals belong to who
AVDIIVKA
1. Infantry complaining of poorly prepared defenses
2. Current maps of Russian advances show them about to cut off the south of Avdiivka
NATO
1. Trump encouraging Russia to attack NATO countries in Europe
2. The Atlantic article "Trump Encourages Putin to Attack NATO Members"
BATTLE CLIPS
1. Wounded marines evacuated by boat from Krynky while under fire
2. First HIMARS sent out of Ukraine for repairs
AVDIIVKA
EuroMaidan article "Frontline report: Ukraine reinforces Avdiivka direction, countering Russian encirclement attempts"
PUTIN
Ex Mongolian president makes fun of Putin after watching Tucker's interview
SANCTIONS
1. Bloomberg article "EU Proposes Curbs on Three Chinese Firms for Aiding Russia"
2. Pravda article "Siemens withdraws from Russia"
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
1. GREAT READ Analysis of how Russia has used almost 200 "information" portals to target disinformation based on their target audiences
2. Russian propagandist agreeing that Russians are extremely evil, cruel people
ELECTIONS
Reuters article "Russian anti-war Putin rival Nadezhdin plans court appeal after election ban"
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/rus...
RUSSIAN WAR CRIMES AND HUMAN RIGHTS OFFENSES
1. ISW on Russians recently posting a video of executing Ukrainian POWs
2. BBC article "Ukraine's missing children tracked down in Russia by digital sleuths"
3. BBC article "The Ukrainians 'disappearing' in Russia's prisons"
4. Russia asks Armenia not to arrest Putin if he visits
MILITARY AID
Johnson has already said he will refuse the Senate foreign aid bill
WAGNER
CNBC article "RussiaÂ’s Wagner Group expands into AfricaÂ’s Sahel with a new brand" on Wagner rebranding itself by changing name to a Nazi expeditionary force and seeking to destabilize Africa
BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS
1. Ukraine claims a Russian landing ship has been sunk by drones
2. Glide bombs striking Avdiivka
RECRUITMENT
GREAT READ CNN article "Russia has recruited as many as 15,000 Nepalis to fight its war. Many returned traumatized. Some never came back"
“We don’t understand Russian, but they have turned on Russian movies in our waiting room so that we can watch,” he explains.
Multiple Nepalis enlisting in the Russian army have stated that they don’t speak Russian but explain that instructors at Avangard seek to accommodate this by training the men in English.
That language barrier has played a large part in the deaths of many Nepalis on the front lines, said Khadka, the former fighter.
“Sometimes you can’t even understand where you’re supposed to be going or how to get there,” he said.
Khadka said he used to communicate with Russian officers by using a voice-translating app – and many times, just hand signals.
Several returned Nepali fighters who spoke with CNN blamed Russia for using them as cannon fodder in the war.
“It’s the Nepalis and other foreign fighters that are actually fighting in the front of war zones. The Russians position themselves a few hundred meters back as support,” said Suman Tamang, who returned from Russia last week.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/10/asia/...
MILITARY PRODUCTION
Reuters article "Ukraine to produce thousands of long-range drones in 2024, minister says"
"The category of long-range kamikaze drones is growing, with a range of 300, 500, 700, and 1,000 kilometres. Two years ago, this category did not exist ... at all," he told Reuters.
In contrast with Russia where drone production is dominated by the state, the vast majority of manufacturers in Ukraine are private. Fedorov said only one of the 10 companies whose drones could fly as far as the regions around Moscow or St Petersburg was a state company.
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospa...
MILITARY AID
1. Romney on the importance of the aid bill
2. Dems discuss removing Johnson from chair
3. Graham, an early leader for aid to Ukraine, voted no on the bill
4. Bloomberg article "Musk Says Putin Can’t Lose in Ukraine, Opposes Senate Bill"
5. CNN artticle "Senate passes $95 billion package with aid for Ukraine and Israel, setting up showdown with the House"
6. NYT article "How Congress Could Bypass Republican Opposition to Funding Ukraine"
STRIKES IN RUSSIA AND UNEXPLAINED FIRES
Gazprom refinery on fire near Moscow
SANCTIONS
Bloomberg article "Tankers Tied to the Russian Oil Trade Grind to a Halt Following US Sanctions"
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/...
AVDIIVKA
1. Reports claim that the center of Avdiivka is controlled by Russia, but hasn't been geoconfirmed
2. Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade sent to Avdiivka
SYRSKYI
Syrski says Ukraine is shifting to defense
Politico article "Russia puts Estonian PM Kaja Kallas on wanted list"
BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS
1. The landing ship getting hit by drones
2. Clips showing the explosions
3. Analysis of the wreckage and those on board who are likely dead
AVDIIVKA
1. Map shows the southern part of Avdiivka even closer to being completely cut off
2. Geolocated airstrikes from a single day
STRIKES IN RUSSIA
1. Drones his oil depot in Kursk, Russia
MILITARY AID
1. Reuters article "US House speaker resists Ukraine, Israel bill"
2. Politico article "House lawmakers to offer their own Ukraine and border bill"
3. GOOD READ NYT article"Europe Wants to Stand on Its Own Militarily. Is It Too Little, Too Late?"
4. The Guardian article "Cameron urges US to aid Ukraine and not show ‘weakness displayed to Hitler’" to which MTG responded he can kiss her ass
5. Biden saying Johnson should put the bill on the floor and let the vote decide it
6. NATO article "NATO Defence Ministers to address defence spending, ammunition production, support to Ukraine"
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
1. Putin claims to be upset Tucker went so easy on him in the interview
2. Tucker talking about how Moscow is much nicer than any American city
3. Tucker says that Putin isn't good at explaining himself
4. CNN article "Putin says a Biden presidency is better for Russia than a Trump one"
ANTI SATELLITE WEAPONS
1. ABC article "GOP warning of 'national security threat' is about Russia wanting nuclear weapon in space: Sources"
2. NYT article "Russia’s Advances on Space-Based Nuclear Weapon Draw U.S. Concerns"
3. A look at what the weapon could be
Newsweek article "Dozens of Russian Aircraft Have Mysteriously Disappeared"
Russian authorities are investigating the mysterious disappearance of several aircraft, several of which ended up in the hands of Ukrainian forces battling Moscow's troops, according to Russian media.
MILITARY AID
1. NYT article "After Fighting Ukraine Aid, Trump Says Biden Will ‘Give’ Ukraine to Putin"
2. Bloomberg article "Musk Says Putin Can’t Lose in Ukraine, Opposes Senate Bill"
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/us/po...
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/...
AVDIIVKA
1. Ukrainian reports they were given an ultimatum to flee was refused
2. Zenit falls, it is a Ukrainian hilltop fortress which is extremely important to the city's defense.
3. Map and analysis of the fighting
4. 3rd Assault Brigade on being deployed there (I can't believe they're still trying to hold on)
5. GREAT READ Tatarigami article "Avdiivka Dilemma: Analyzing Tactical Realities and Operational Necessities"
ROBOTYNE
Russia amasses massive amount of troops near Robotyne
STRIKES ON UKRAINE
Crater left by N Korean ballistic missile near Kyiv
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
"Months after his neutralization in a storm shadow strike on the BSF HQ, the Russians are now reporting that Admiral Viktor Solov has been fired due to the sinking of the Caesar Kunikov..."
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
1. Tucker on why he didn't ask Putin any difficult questions
2. Tucker shocked at amazing Russian grocery store technology. He went on to talk about how cheap things are in Russia without taking into account wage disparities
3. Chart showing cost of groceries compared to income
4. Putin on Tucker's lack of difficult questions
5. Funniest community note on an attempt at Russian propaganda that I've seen
6. AI generated video claiming to be France 24
ELECTIONS
1. AP article "Alexei Navalny, galvanizing opposition leader and Putin’s fiercest foe, died in prison, Russia says"
2. Russian prisons on how he died
3. People arrested for having a memorial
4. Meduza article "Over 100 people arrested across Russia at memorial protests for Alexey Navalny"
MILITARY AID
1. “A study by AEI shows that 90% of the $68b the US has already sent to Ukraine supports weapons factories here in the US.”
2. "BREAKING — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has just announced a new military aid package worth ~ 1.13 billion euros to #Ukraine!"
3. Forbes article "Johnson Intended To Stop Ukraine Aid, Not Pass An Immigration Bill"
4. Johnson claims Putin must be met with "united opposition" after murdering Navalny
5. Politico article "Bipartisan lawmakers unveil $66B military aid and border alternative"
NATO
1. ft article "Why Nato members are sounding the alarm on Russia’s aggressive posture"
2. NATO to supply Ukraine with 1 million drones
3. Anders Puck Nielsen video "How soon can a NATO-Russia war happen?" (Clickbaity title, covers a few topics)
AVDIIVKA
1. Russia plants flag at western entrance
2. Chart showing G7 expenditures for military vs social
3. Ukraine general on situation there (complete nonsense imo)
4. Syrski announcing withdrawal from Avdiivka and a look at the fortifications (or lack of) nearby
5. UK MOD on Avdiivka
6. Awful recount of the withdrawal from Zenit
7. ISW on withdrawal from Avdiivka
ORBAN
1. Massive protests in Hungary
2. Hungary stalling EU sanctions
3. EU News "Hungary's president resigns over child sexual abuse scandal"
RECRUITMENT
WSJ article "How Russia Recruits Soldiers From Cuba to Fight in Ukraine"
BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS
1. Russia loses 3 bombers yesterday
2. Lost another this morning
3. One of them after being hit
WAR CRIMES
1. GRAPHIC Evidence that Ukrainian POWs were executed
2. Footage of villagers tied together and blindfolded being moved by Russia
AVDIIVKA
1. Some clips from Avdiivka
2. Analysis of Russian tactics and losses
3. Vehicle losses
4. List of Russian units used to attack
5. Girkin's ally on the losses in Avdiivka
6. Another Russian on the cost for taking Avdiivka
7. Ukraine pull out of the Coke plant, which almost certainly means they've completely withdrawn
STRIKES IN RUSSIA AND UNEXPLAINED FIRES
1. Large fire in Russia
2. Oil depot in Kursk hit
3. Factory on fire
4. Another
5. More clips of one of the factories
MILITARY PRODUCTION
1. Rheinmetall to open a 155mm ammo factory in Ukraine
2. HIMARS production doubled ahead of schedule
MILITARY AID
1. France to supply 100 SCALP missiles
2. Denmark to supply all their artillery systems to Ukraine
3. Bloomberg article "UK, Allies Look to Arm Ukraine With AI-Enabled Swarm Drones"
BATTLE CLIPS
1. Old footage of soldiers inside the coke plant of Avdiivka when it is hit
SYRSKI
1. France24 article "Zelensky’s A-team: Who is who among Ukraine's new army commanders"
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240...
AVDIIVKA
1. Russian telegram channel states 16k Russian losses, 5-7k Ukrainian
2. NYT article "The Death Throes of a Ukrainian City"
He estimated earlier this month that at least 800 guided bombs, each weighing between 550 and 3,300 pounds, had been dropped this year within the city limits. His claim could not be independently confirmed, but the British intelligence agency reported that in just four weeks, Russian warplanes dropped some 600 guided bombs on Avdiivka, with as many as 50 recorded in a single day.
3. Russian assaults begin on the next town
4. 3rd Assault Brigade's video on their role in the withdrawal
MILITARY AID
1. BBC article "Biden 'confident' on $60bn Ukraine war aid package vote"
2. Newsweek article "Who Is Konstantin Nikolaev? Putin Ally Behind Mike Johnson Campaign Donation"
3. Worries at Munich that EU will not be able fill ammo gap if USA pulls out until 2025
4. Lithuania's foreign minister on his disappointment with Munich Conference
5. PEW research on how many feel Ukraine is important
6. GREAT READ American soldier serving with 3rd Assault Brigade on aid to Ukraine
ZAPORIZHZHIA
1. Russian tank firing at positions near Robotyne
2. Russia retakes an area here
PROPAGANDA
Putin corrects AI brain scan (English in the comments)
ORBAN
Orban saying he wants Trump elected so there can be peace in Europe
BATTLE CLIPS
1. ATGM followed by 25mm cannon from Bradley
2. HIMARS strike on Russian UAV team
3. Ukrainian FPV stopped by a fishing net
MAJOR LOSSES
1. Russia has 2 more planes shot down
RECRUITMENT
1. Ukrainian talks about the realities of being undermanned
2. CNN video on Nepalese mercenaries used by Russia
SANCTIONS
1. 20 minute video on what has happened to the 50 tankers sanctioned for carrying Russian oil
2. ft article "Gazprom grapples with collapse in sales to Europe"
3. European natural gas prices continue falling
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
1. GREAT READ WaPo article "Kremlin runs disinformation campaign to undermine Zelensky, documents show"
2. GREAT READ EU vs Disinfo article "Hate speech and calls for genocide in Putin’s Russia"
3. UK MOD on high profile Russians being forced to do Russian propaganda. Includes one of the people from the "Almost naked" party.
MILITARY AID
1. Sweden announced they will send a $7 billion aid package
ASSASSINATIONS
The pilot who defected to Russia with the helicopter found dead in Spain
BATTLE CLIPS AND ANALYSIS
1. GRAPHIC Another strike on grouped Russian soldiers (insane footage)
2. Geolocation of the 4 strikes
3. Drone takes out fixed wing drone
MILITARY AID
Reuters article "Exclusive: Iran sends Russia hundreds of ballistic missiles"
RECRUITMENT
1. WSJ article "Ukraine’s Military Spy Chief Says Russia Will Struggle to Keep Up the Fight" but also says Russia is able to recruit more in 2 months than Ukraine killed at Avdiivka
SANCTIONS
1. How much heavy equipment and car sales from UK to Russia fell after sanctions
2. How much heavy equipment and car sales from UK to Kyrgyzstan rose after sanctions
3. ft article "EU agrees first sanctions on Chinese and Indian companies for Russia war links"
4. Western sanctions against head of the penal colony where Navalny was killed after Putin promoted them
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
1. This guy was a very vocal milblogger before Girkin was arrested for being too pro-Russian regarding soldiers. After making his remarks on Avdiivka about the losses and casualties there, Murz was forced to delete it. he wrote a long post complaining about how he was threatened that if he didn't remove the post then his unit would stop receiving supplies and essentially be sent on suicide missions. He then committed suicide.
HYBIRD WARFARE
1. BBC article "Alexander Smirnov: FBI source accused of Biden lies 'linked to Russian intelligence'"
2. (Not really Russian hybrid warfare but the absurdity is too much to not bring up) NBC article "Hunter Biden's lawyers say prosecutors confused a picture of sawdust with cocaine" The pic in the article is clearly sawdust
BATTLE CLIPS
Ukrainian CASEVAC of wounded soldiers using M113 armored vehicle (mentioned below that they're to receive hundreds more of these)
RUSSIAN ECONOMY
1. GREAT READ The Telegraph article "Russia is losing the economic war: the West must not lose its nerve now" covers Russia's economy and the West's defense production
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
WAR CRIMES AND HUMAN RIGHTS OFFENSES
1. NBC article "Russian troops raped and tortured children in Ukraine, U.N. panel says"
2. Public hearing on Russian war crimes
3. Foreign Policy article "There Must Be a Reckoning for Russian War Crimes"
It is important to understand what Russian occupation means in Ukraine. It is not merely a question of switching the language from Ukrainian to Russian in schools or Ukrainian flags being replaced by Russian flags. Occupation means oppression, torture, disappearances, indoctrination, and kidnapped children. It means the eradication of one’s culture and identity.
MILITARY AID
1. ABC article "US estimates Ukraine military shortages could grow catastrophic by late March"
2. Ukraine expected to receive many more M 113s, shown in the battle clip above
ROBOTYNE, AVDIIVKA AND OTHER BATTLEFRONTS
1. UK MOD on Russia's renewed efforts in Robotyne
2. ISW on Russia's 4 main operations
3. GOOD READ Pravda article "The last days of Avdiivka. What led to the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the city and how it happened" Covers the pipe used to attack Avdiivka and assault on Zenit
SANCTIONS
1. CNN article "Justice Department announces criminal and civil actions against sanctioned Russian oligarchs"
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/22/polit...
PROPAGANDA
1. Zelenskyy interview with Fox News
NAVALNY
1. CNN article on Navalny's mother being shown the body and asked to have a "secret burial" for it
2. Over 500 people who attended Navalny memorials forced to enlist
France's Defense Minister claims "Russian operators threatened to shoot down manned French aircraft on patrol over the Black Sea, in international airspace"
Transnistria supposedly to vote on whether or not to ask Moscow to annex them on Feb 28th (I've hardly followed this)
1. Russian telegram claims another A-50 was shot down
2. Video of a plane deploying flares then getting hit. Scroll down for video of burning wreckage and map of where it fell, a different angle, another tg channel saying it was an A 50
RUSSIAN ECONOMY
1. Joe Blogs video "RUSSIAN Wartime Measures & Technology Sanctions Inflicting Long Term Damage on Russian Economy" the portion dealing with the title has been summarized elsewhere, but this is also a good summary of it. The part of Yandex, Russia's Google, is great.
MILITARY AID
1. ABC article "War-weary Ukraine shows renewed interest in Australia's aging Abrams tanks"
2. Discharge petition to force Ukraine aid bill being threatened
3. NBC article "Republican dysfunction drives a wave of House retirements"
4. ft article "European capitals seek $1.5bn in fallback plan to arm Ukraine"
Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba told EU counterparts on Monday that Ukraine needed 2.5mn artillery shells this year but that the bloc had only sent 400,000. He pleaded with them to find a solution fast.
Europe has been slow to ramp up its artillery production because national governments and EU and Nato entities were slow to sign contracts with manufacturers, making it harder for companies to access finance to expand their facilities.
In a paper for the International Institute for Strategic Studies, analysts, Franz-Stefan Gady and Michael Kofman concluded that Ukraine would need 75,000-90,000 artillery shells a month “to sustain the war defensively, and more than double that — 200,000-250,000 — for a major offensive”.
SOLDIERS SPEAKING
Long thread on the extrajudicial punishments and torture mobiks receive, rising desertion, and suicide charges
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/17611...
STRIKES IN RUSSIA
1. Drones hit Russia's largest steel mill
NAVALNY
CNN article "Navalny’s mother told to agree to secret funeral or have her son buried at penal colony, spokesperson says"
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/23/europ...
HYBRID WARFARE
ISW article "WARNING: TRANSNISTRIA MAY ORGANIZE A REFERENDUM ON ANNEXATION TO RUSSIA TO SUPPORT RUSSIAN HYBRID OPERATION AGAINST MOLDOVA"
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgro...
RANDOM
I decided to start including some random things that didn't quite fit in the previous week.
1. This is a diary/blog post of someone discussing life 2 years when Russia invaded vs today. It's a really heartfelt look at life away from the frontlines where the author is full of both hope and fear.
2. Politico article "Roiled by scandal, Hungary names new president"
3. Volunteer in Ukraine giving an angry video message about Ukraine aid
4. Daily KOS article "A right-wing family moved to Russia to escape 'LGBTQ, trans,' but now they're 'ready' to 'get out'"
5. Timothy Snyder on the parallels between Ukraine and WW2
6. Le Monde article "Ukraine's war widows: 'None of us was prepared to pay such a high price for our country'"
7. Grenade launcher goes off in Melitopol
8. NYT article "Trump Again Compares Himself to Navalny While Discussing Legal Woes"
9. Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs on the various treaties which failed to protect Ukraine
10. Estonian intelligence service on Russian propaganda narratives