Running Newsticker for the War in Ukraine

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Business Insider
Wagner boss Prigozhin says Putin's plan to 'demilitarize' Ukraine has been a bust as Ukraine now has one of the 'strongest' armies

 

Ukraine Conflict Updates
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 24, 2023

Click here to read the full report.
Key Takeaways

• Discussions regarding reported Russian losses in Bakhmut have saturated the pro-war information space and are drowning out any remaining positive informational effect resulting from the city’s capture.
• The overall Russian information space response to the capture of Bakhmut has fixated on attributing responsibility for its capture and speculating on the associated costs of the operation, thus depriving the Russian MoD of the oxygen necessary to positively frame the city’s capture.
• Prigozhin is likely using his heightened profile following the capture of Bakhmut to intensify his attacks against the Russian military establishment and elites. Pri . .ozhin is also using the perception that Wagner is responsible for the capture of Bakhmut to advocate for a preposterous level of influence over the Russian war effort in Ukraine.
• The Kremlin continues efforts to portray Russia as having significant diplomatic partnerships.
• Russian sources continued to respond to the limited all-Russian pro-Ukrainian Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) and the Freedom of Russia Legion (LSR) raid into Belgorod Oblast.
• Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk and along the Svatove-Kreminna line.
• Russian forces continued limited ground attacks on the outskirts of Bakhmut and along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.
• Russian forces continue to target Ukrainian positions in southern Ukraine with FAB-500 aerial bombs.
• Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed on May 24 that more than 120,000 Russian personnel have undergone training since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• The Russian Federation Council approved a law on holding elections in territories under martial law on. . . . .

The Ukrainian Resistance Center stated on May 25 that Russian cadets from higher military academies are undergoing training near the Ukrainian border in Kursk and Bryansk oblasts.[60] The Resistance Center reported that the cadets are undergoing training at the deployment points of elements of the 4th Tank Division (1st Guards Tank Army, Western Military District) and the 76th Air Assault Division in Kursk and Bryansk oblasts.[61] Russian graduates from higher military academies recently graduated several months ahead of schedule, and Russian forces are likely expediting the normal education path for cadets to generate new lower and medium-level commanders.[62] ISW has yet to observe visual confirmation of recent Russian graduates serving in Ukraine or current cadets training near the Ukrainian border. . . . .

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (MoD) reported that research by independent Russian journalists suggests that more Russian personnel have gone absent without leave (AWOL) since January 2023 than in all of 2022.[65] The UK MoD reported that 1,053 Russian personnel have gone AWOL between January and May of 2023. The UK MoD also reported that Russian court data suggests that Russian personnel found guilty of going AWOL have received suspended sentences, allowing them to redeploy to Ukraine. . . . .

 

Yep....Chechens looked to establish Ichkeria??....

 

nteresting
Germany Buys Tanks, Howitzers in Jumbo Defense Order

One of the consquences of this war, NATO countries join now to place larger orders of tanks etc. lowering the price and allow the industry to expand its production. Putin is a master strategist.

By the way gas price in Germany has reached a new low, it is now a 2021 level. The reason the market is flooded, and the underground storage are now at 75% capacity. That is normally a September figure. Now comes the time for solar and wind, already they produce over 50% of the energy mix.

Who is the poster that was writing about rationing, which never happened, and the next winter gas shortage.

 

Yes, only the "lowered" gas price is two or three times higher than the one that has been for a long time until you wanted to spoil relations with Russia.

 

Until Russia became a fascist dictatorship and started an illegal unprovoked invasion in form of the biggest land war since the end of WWII and murdering thousands of civilians claiming it's defending itself from a planned NATO invasion that was lurking round the corner. Don't worry, end consumers are doing fine.

 

I know the modern calendar has not arrived in Russia. 2021 is pre- war and in Germany the price is now at and below pre-war, without Russian natural gas. 2021, Germany still received nearly 40% of its natural gas from Russia.
The question is who needs Russia, nobody. This is where Russia fooked itself into the knee. Russia seamed to be important, because of its natural gas and oil and everybody was kissing its ars and Putin where ever he showed up was treated like a king. Now the world has adjusted and found out, nobody needs Russian natural gas and oil, the market is flooded and prices have gone down so fast and hard that they are now below 30 cents, from a all time high, July 2022, of 300 cents per kwh.
Nope, not 2 or 3 times as much, its less then pre-war and dropping.
The Master Strategist has shown us that not even the Russian military is 3. class, but it is even a 3. class energy power in the world, which is now begging countries to buy its energy products.
Lesson for you, markets adjust, if 1 supplier fails it opens the door for other suppliers and they earn the money to increase their production and take over the hole Russia left and that's what happened and now the European natural gas market is flooded, without Russian NG and the prices drop and drop.
Tja

 

Ukraine Conflict Updates
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 25, 2023

Click here to read the full report
Key Takeaways

• Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin announced on May 25 that the Wagner Group began handing over its positions in Bakhmut to the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and claimed Wagner will entirely withdraw from the city on June 1. It remains unclear if Wagner will be able to withdraw the entirety of its contingent by June 1 and if Russian MoD troops will execute a successful relief in place.
• Russia and Belarus signed agreements formally advancing preparations to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus as part of a longstanding effort to cement Russia’s de facto military control over Belarus, though Russia has not yet deployed nuclear weapons to Belarus and their possible deployment is highly unlikely to presage any Russian escalation.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union member states and several other post-Soviet heads of state at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Moscow on May 25, likely to expand sanctions evasion opportunities.
• Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced that Russian officials have created seven territorial defense battalions in Belgorod Oblast as of May 24, likely in order to posture his engagement in the defense of Russian border areas following the May 22 all-Russian pro-Ukrainian raid into Belgorod Oblast.
• Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin held a meeting with representatives of Russian oblasts bordering Ukraine to discuss fortifying border areas on May 24.
• Wagner and Russian forces have notably engaged in previous efforts to fortify border areas, and the recent Belgorod Oblast raid exposed major shortcomings in these efforts.
• Russian political strategist Konstantin Dolgov claimed on May 25 that he was fired as a result of his May 23 interview with Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin.
• Russia conducted another massive Shahed-131/136 drone strike across Ukraine on the night of May 24 to 25.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin continued attempts to portray Russia as an effective international mediator by mediating negotiations between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
• Russian forces continued limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk and south of Kreminna.
• Russian forces continued limited ground attacks around Bakhmut as Wagner Group forces reportedly began their withdrawal from frontline areas the city.
• Russian forces continued ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.
• Russian sources claimed that Russian forces shot down six drones over Crimea.
• Russian forces are reportedly continuing to recruit personnel with various diseases.
• Russian occupation officials continue to announce partnerships with various local Russian officials to improve the standard of living in occupied territories. . . . .

Russian forces are reportedly continuing to recruit personnel with various diseases as part of an ongoing crypto-mobilization campaign. BBC’s Russian service reported on May 5 that the Russian MoD refused to expand the list of diseases that would exempt an individual from mobilization.[63] Russian independent news outlet Verstka reported that Russian forces recruit personnel who are HIV positive, have tuberculosis, and hepatitis.[64] Verstka reported that a minimum of hundreds of Russian military personnel, including contract soldiers, mobilized personnel, and volunteers, have HIV. ISW has previously reported on Russian forces and the Wagner Group recruiting personnel with various diseases.[65]

The Russian defense industrial base (DIB) continues to face production challenges due to personnel shortages. Russian First Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Vasily Osmakov reportedly stated that the main challenge facing Russian industry is a lack of personnel, not sanctions.[66] Director for Special Assignments of Concern at Uralvagonzavod (Russia’s sole tank factory) Kirill Fedorov reportedly claimed that one of Uralvagonzavod’s manufacturers ChTZ-Uraltrak increased the number of its employees by 30 percent in order to increase production for the war, however.[67] ISW has previously reported on Russian defense firms struggling with personnel and specialist shortages.[68] . . . .

 

Sunny weather in southern Ukraine suggests new fighting season has begun
With Ukrainian soldiers wearing warm-weather uniforms, a much-anticipated counterattack against occupying Russian forces seems imminent.
By Adam Taylor and Anastacia Galouchka

(Heidi Levine for The Post)

 

Ukraine Counteroffensive Is Primed, Warns Kyiv Intel Chief

 

Russian armed resistance group tells CBS News the Ukraine war is helping it attack Putin on his own soil

 

Ukraine war: Russia destroys hospital in latest missile attack

 

Video shows Russian reconnaissance ship seemingly hit by unmanned

 

Yeah....any whereabouts on this Ivan Khurs ship?....when UAF drone had a date with it?

Everything's been under tight wraps and hushy hushy since then?.....or is it underwater scuba diving attraction now?

 

Zelensky is surprise speaker at Johns Hopkins commencement ceremony
By Susan Svrluga19 hours ago

 

Russians snitch on Russians who oppose war with Soviet-style denunciations
President Vladimir Putin urged Russians to purge traitors. Now, neighbors and coworkers are informing on each other, and thousands have been arrested.
By Robyn Dixon

 

Ukraine Conflict Updates
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 26, 2023

Click here to read the full report
Key Takeaways

• Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed that Wagner forces continue to hand over positions in Bakhmut to the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and withdraw from the city.
• Ukrainian sources claim that Wagner forces are still present in Bakhmut and that the tempo of Russian offensive operations around the city continues to decrease.
• Continued successful limited Ukrainian counterattacks on Bakhmut’s flanks may complicate the Russian relief in place operation in Bakhmut.
• Russian forces conducted a large-scale missile and drone strike across Ukraine on May 25 and 26.
• The Kremlin is likely reviving its information campaign to coerce the West into forcing Ukraine to accept concessions and negotiate on terms favorable to Russia.
• The Wagner Group reportedly exchanged 106 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) for an unspecified number of Russian POWs on May 25, suggesting that Wagner may have conducted the exchange independently of the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD).
• Russian forces continued limited offensive operations northeast of Kupyansk and along the Svatove-Kreminna line.
• Russian forces continued limited offensive operations along the Avdiivka-Donetsk front.
• Russian forces continued to target Ukrainian positions in southern Ukraine.
• Russian officials are continuing to form new volunteer formations to defend Russian regions that border Ukraine.
• Russian occupation officials continuing attempts to erase Ukrainian cultural heritage by looting Ukrainian artifacts. . . . .

BBC’s Russian Service established the names of 24,005 Russian servicemen who have died in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion.[58] BBC estimated that at least 48,000 Russian servicemen may have died in the war and that Russia may have suffered more than 216,000 casualties in total. . . . .

Russian occupation officials continuing attempts to erase Ukrainian cultural heritage by looting Ukrainian artifacts. The Ukrainian Resistance Center reported that Russian officials exhibited 120 artifacts stolen from historical and archeological reserve “Kamyana Mohyla” (Stone Tomb) in Zaporizhia Oblast in the Crimean museum-reserve “Khersones Tavriyskyi.”[59] The Ukrainian Resistance Center noted that Russians are stealing valuable paintings from the Berdyansk Art Museum. ISW has previously reported on Russian forces looting the Kherson Art Museum and its branch in Nova Kakhovka.[60] . . . .

 

Al Jazeera
Russia-Ukraine live news: Drones damage Russia oil facility

 

Yep....not much different than back in the day of Koba Stalin ....Lenin....Beria...where even children snitched on the parents.....then parents got deported....kids tossed into some "program" to become assassins,spies,etc.

 

What a lovely part of the world. Russian containment was never more appropriate.

 

Most ReadUkrayinska Pravda
President of Belarus hospitalised after meeting with Putin

 

Ukraine Conflict Updates
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 27, 2023

Click here to read the full report
Key Takeaways

• Wagner Group mercenaries appear to be withdrawing from Bakhmut city to reconstitute and regroup in the rear as Russian offensive operations decrease in and around the city.
• The Russian military command may be transferring Donetsk People’s Republic’s (DNR) forces to relieve Wagner Group forces in Bakhmut city.
• The Russian transfer of DNR elements to Bakhmut may decrease the tempo of Russian offensive operations on the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.
• The Russian military command appears to be reinforcing Bakhmut’s flanks with regular formations, however.
• Former Russian officer and ardent nationalist Igor Girkin accused Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin of planning a coup against the current Russian leadership.
• Ukrainian officials denied Western reporting that suggested that a Chinese diplomat expressed interest in a negotiated ceasefire in Ukraine amidst the likely renewal of Russia’s information campaign surrounding negotiations.
• Russian forces continued limited offensive operations northeast of Kupyansk and south of Kreminna.
• Russian forces continued to launch unsuccessful offensive operations on the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.
• Ukrainian forces continued to strike rear logistics nodes in southern Zaporizhia oblast.
• The Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) warned on May 26 that Russian forces are preparing to conduct large scale provocations to create radiological danger at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
• The Russian Ministry of Justice registered the civil society group “Council of Mothers of Wives” as a foreign agent on May 26, likely to curb resistance to ongoing and future Russian force generation efforts.
• Russian authorities are escalating efforts to portray Russia as a safe guardian of Ukrainian children. . . . .

Ukrainian forces continued to strike rear logistical nodes in Zaporizhia Oblast on May 27. Russian and Ukrainian sources reported that Ukrainian forces struck Polohy and Berdyansk, Zaporizhia Oblast on May 27.[51] Some Russian sources claimed that Russian air defenses intercepted Ukrainian Storm Shadow missiles targeting Berdyansk on May 26, on which ISW has recently reported.[52]

The Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) warned on May 26 that Russian forces are preparing to conduct large scale provocations to create radiological danger at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).[53] The GUR published audio intercepts on May 27 in which Russian military personnel claimed that unknown drones dropped chemical weapons in Enerhodar.[54] The GUR stated that Russia intends to falsely blame Ukraine for the attacks and aims to undermine the coming Ukrainian counteroffensive.[55] ISW has no independent confirmation that Russia is preparing to conduct a nuclear or chemical false flag attack in occupied Zaporizhia Oblast, but GUR’s reports are consistent with longstanding debunked Kremlin information operations. ISW has notably reported on prior Kremlin efforts to set conditions for false flag attacks as pretexts for the 2022 full scale invasion of Ukraine and to undermine Western support for Ukraine, and US officials have previously debunked claims that Ukraine was preparing to conduct chemical attacks.[56] The Kremlin has also previously accused Syrian opposition groups of conducting chemical attacks that the Syrian government had actually conducted themselves.[57] . . . .

Russian convict recruits reportedly continue to desert their positions in frontline areas of Ukraine. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that 20 convict recruits who recently arrived to strengthen Russian units near Svatove, Luhansk Oblast stole a Russian military vehicle and fled their positions on May 25.[64] Russian sources reported on May 26 that Russian authorities are searching for 39-armed convict recruits who deserted their positions near Lysychansk, Luhansk Oblast.[65] . . . .

 

Never have tea with Putler?

 

Seeding distrust is a great way to help tear a society apart.

 

And it has....SU was torn apart. Warsaw Pact.