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quote:

Vinnytsia transferred 2000 FPV drones to the Ukrainian Defense Forces

^{FPV drones from Vinnytsia for the 3rd Assault Brigade. September 2024. Photo credits: Interregional Humanitarian Coordination Center}

The Vinnytsia community transferred a batch of aid consisting of 2,000 FPV drones to Ukrainian soldiers.

The Interregional Humanitarian Coordination Center announced this on September 12.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces will use these drones to engage the invaders’ equipment and manpower using various combat units.

It’s worth noting that Vinnytsia regularly sends drones and other equipment to the Ukrainian military on the front line.

This applies to drones used for combat missions, reconnaissance, and artillery fire adjustment. The Defense Forces also receive vehicles from time to time.

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^{FPV drones from Vinnytsia. September 2024. Photo credits: Interregional Humanitarian Coordination Center}

Recently, the Interregional Humanitarian Coordination Center transferred 50 FPV drones to the soldiers of the International Legion under the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the 66th Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Mstyslav.

Previously, they also received Mavic 3T quadcopters and FPV drones, so this is the third time the Vinnytsia community has helped these military units.

“The soldiers are currently performing tasks in the eastern part of Ukraine, so they really need this support,” the humanitarian center reported.

^{FPV drones from Vinnytsia for the International Legion under the DIU and the 66th Brigade. September 2024. Photo credits: Interregional Humanitarian Coordination Center}

When receiving the drones, the soldiers explained that today, the advantage on the battlefield belongs to those who have more drones and are more skilled at flying them.

They note that it is better to lose a few drones than to risk their own lives and health.

^{FPV drones from Vinnytsia for the 3rd Assault Brigade. September 2024. Photo credits: Interregional Humanitarian Coordination Center}

Last week, the 3rd Assault Brigade received 200 FPV drones with improved technical characteristics.

The Interregional Humanitarian Coordination Center noted that this was the eighth transfer to the 3rd Assault Brigade, which is supported on a regular basis.

quote:

Lithuania calls on NATO to shoot down Russian drones over the Baltic States

^{Illustrative image of Shahed 136. Image from open sources}

Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas called for a review of the algorithm of NATO’s Baltic air policing mission after the recent downing of a Russian drone in Latvia.

He was quoted by the Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT.

According to the Minister, the Alliance’s aircraft “should not only patrol but, if necessary, if time permits, shorten the decision-making chain at the NATO level so that they can take off immediately and destroy the drones.”

Kasčiūnas believes that if a threat of a drone violating NATO airspace is detected, information about it should be quickly transmitted to the headquarters of the North Atlantic Alliance.

“NATO Headquarters assesses the situation, whether there is sufficient evidence that it is an enemy drone and not some other lost aircraft, and then a quick decision is made to deploy air police aircraft. This is a certain algorithm, and it needs to be accelerated,” the Lithuanian Minister said.

At the same time, answering a question about Lithuania’s response in the event of an enemy drone violating the country’s airspace, Kasčiūnas said that it should be a collective decision by NATO.

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Shahed drone in Latvia

^{Rēzekne district. Photo credits: Google Earth}

On September 7, the Latvian Ministry of Defense reported that a Russian military drone had crashed in the east of the country in the Rēzekne district.

The Latvian Armed Forces tracked the drone’s flight and determined its crash site.

On September 9, it was confirmed that the Russian UAV that took off from Belarus and crashed was a Shahed kamikaze drone.

^{The wreckage of the Russian Shahed kamikaze drone in Latvia. September 2024. Photo credits: Latvian Ministry of Defense}

Latvian defense officials stated that, based on available information, the drone’s entry into Latvia cannot be viewed as an open military escalation against the country, as Latvia was not its intended target.

On September 8, Militarnyi reported on the incident and suggested that the drone might be a Shahed drone.

^{Routes infographic. Source: Belarusian Hajun project}

On the night of September 6-7, a large group of drones flew into Belarus. One of them entered the Hrodna region and flew as far as Korelichi and Novogrudok, heading towards the border with Lithuania.

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Moscow importing western aircraft tyres despite ban, says Ukraine agency
Exclusive: Michelin, Dunlop, Goodyear and Bridgestone products have found way to Russia via intermediaries

More than $30m (�23m) worth of aircraft tyres made by western manufacturers including the French firm Michelin and Britain’s Dunlop were imported into Russia last year via intermediaries despite attempts to ban the trade, according to a Ukrainian government agency.

Russian aviation is critically dependent on foreign-made tyres and, according to the available customs records, the vast majority imported into the country in 2023 were produced by companies headquartered in France, Britain, the US and Japan.

After Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the US and the EU imposed a ban on the sale of aviation tyres to Russia in February and April 2022, respectively. The UK brought in specific restrictions in December 2023 while Japan acted in July of that year, but customs records indicate widespread and successful attempts to circumvent controls.

Tyres from the French manufacturer Michelin accounted for the largest share of imports last year (70%), worth $28m. The products sold included a type of tyre used on the airbus used by the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. But supplies were also said to have been received of products made by the US company Goodyear, the British company Dunlop and Japan’s Bridgestone.

According to an internal report by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, seen by the Guardian, most western supplies that entered Russia last year arrived via China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and central Asian countries, but there was also evidence of tyres arriving directly from the west.

The direct exports were carried out by companies registered in third countries, which the NACP said “may indicate the use of false transit schemes or change of destination and recipient at transit points after the goods have been shopped [bought] from such countries”.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Michelin, Goodyear, Dunlop or Bridgestone.

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A spokesperson for Michelin said the company had launched an investigation into the findings.

He said: “First, we would like to remind you that Michelin has ceased all exports to Russia since March 15, 2022. The group has also permanently closed all its commercial and industrial activities in the country.

“Furthermore, Michelin is committed to scrupulously complying with applicable economic and financial sanctions and has established a dedicated internal organisation to ensure this compliance.

“In relation to the report, Michelin is fully committed and takes this information very seriously. The group will naturally investigate all elements brought to its attention and will take all urgent and appropriate measures when necessary.”

Of the nearly $1.2m worth of Dunlop tyres imported to Russia, the agency report claims that 70% arrived directly from the UK. Dunlop, which is based in Birmingham, did not respond to a request for comment.

Around $5.7m worth of Goodyear tyres were imported to Russia in 2023, of which half arrived via China. A spokesman said: “Goodyear suspended tyre shipments to Russia in March 2022. Given the global nature of our business, we have strict import and export controls in place, and we actively monitor our operations to ensure compliance regarding trade restrictions with certain countries, entities and individuals around the world. We will review the information that you have provided as part of our standard compliance process.”

According to the NACP report, 200 aircraft tyres manufactured by Bridgestone were imported to Russia for $800,000 via the UK, India, Maldives and Turkey.

A spokesperson for Bridgestone said: “Given the protections in place and after conducting an internal review, Bridgestone is not aware of any shipment of Bridgestone aircraft tyres to Russia.

“If shipments to Russia were made by Bridgestone customers, this would violate the export restrictions established by Bridgestone and included in BAE’s general terms and conditions. However, Bridgestone will continue to review this matter with its customers and take appropriate action to ensure compliance.”

Russia has been trying to develop its own tyre manufacturing base but its efforts remain at an early stage, with only one such factory in operation, Yaroslavl Tyre Plant, 300 miles north-east of Moscow.

Chinese manufacturers accounted for 10% of Russian imports of aircraft tyres in 2023, the NACP report says.

A UK government spokesperson said Whitehall was working with the industry to close down attempts to circumvent the sanctions.

“We have sanctioned every item that Ukraine has found Russia using on the battlefield and, alongside our allies, we have banned the sale of aircraft tyres to Russia,” he said. “UK businesses must undertake due diligence to ensure Russia is not the end destination of these products, and non-compliance with these tough sanctions is a serious offence and punishable through large financial penalties or criminal prosecution.”

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:12 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://www.theguardian.c(...)-says-ukraine-agency
[..]

SPOILER

A spokesperson for Michelin said the company had launched an investigation into the findings.

He said: “First, we would like to remind you that Michelin has ceased all exports to Russia since March 15, 2022. The group has also permanently closed all its commercial and industrial activities in the country.

“Furthermore, Michelin is committed to scrupulously complying with applicable economic and financial sanctions and has established a dedicated internal organisation to ensure this compliance.

“In relation to the report, Michelin is fully committed and takes this information very seriously. The group will naturally investigate all elements brought to its attention and will take all urgent and appropriate measures when necessary.”

Of the nearly $1.2m worth of Dunlop tyres imported to Russia, the agency report claims that 70% arrived directly from the UK. Dunlop, which is based in Birmingham, did not respond to a request for comment.

Around $5.7m worth of Goodyear tyres were imported to Russia in 2023, of which half arrived via China. A spokesman said: “Goodyear suspended tyre shipments to Russia in March 2022. Given the global nature of our business, we have strict import and export controls in place, and we actively monitor our operations to ensure compliance regarding trade restrictions with certain countries, entities and individuals around the world. We will review the information that you have provided as part of our standard compliance process.”

According to the NACP report, 200 aircraft tyres manufactured by Bridgestone were imported to Russia for $800,000 via the UK, India, Maldives and Turkey.

A spokesperson for Bridgestone said: “Given the protections in place and after conducting an internal review, Bridgestone is not aware of any shipment of Bridgestone aircraft tyres to Russia.

“If shipments to Russia were made by Bridgestone customers, this would violate the export restrictions established by Bridgestone and included in BAE’s general terms and conditions. However, Bridgestone will continue to review this matter with its customers and take appropriate action to ensure compliance.”

Russia has been trying to develop its own tyre manufacturing base but its efforts remain at an early stage, with only one such factory in operation, Yaroslavl Tyre Plant, 300 miles north-east of Moscow.

Chinese manufacturers accounted for 10% of Russian imports of aircraft tyres in 2023, the NACP report says.

A UK government spokesperson said Whitehall was working with the industry to close down attempts to circumvent the sanctions.

“We have sanctioned every item that Ukraine has found Russia using on the battlefield and, alongside our allies, we have banned the sale of aircraft tyres to Russia,” he said. “UK businesses must undertake due diligence to ensure Russia is not the end destination of these products, and non-compliance with these tough sanctions is a serious offence and punishable through large financial penalties or criminal prosecution.”

quote:

Zelenskyy calls China-Brazil 'peace plan' destructive
Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the initiative of China and Brazil a political statement that was not discussed with Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the initiative of Brazil and China to resolve the war in Ukraine, calling it destructive.

In an interview with Brazilian channel Metr�poles, Zelenskyy recalled his meeting with Brazilian President Luiz In�cio Lula da Silva, expressing hope that Lula understood his position.

"I was very upfront with him. What I was looking for was an understanding from his experience of what's really happening, not just a push for political compromise," he said.

The Ukrainian leader rejected the proposal to negotiate with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

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"He [Putin] must take steps, show that he wants the war to end. You can't just say that we have to make steps towards each other. What do you mean, "towards each other"? He came in, killed people, seized territory, and now Lula [Brazilian President] says let's let them talk," Zelenskyy added.

He noted that if Lula supported Ukraine, he could help stop the war, given Brazil's significant global influence.

"We're at war with Russia. You either support the war or you don't. If you don't, then help us stop Russia. What compromise? Just give up our land, forget they're killing our people? What's the compromise? These are simply unacceptable things. Forget the killings, forget everything. That's why I think it's destructive," the President said.

Zelenskyy also called the China-Brazil proposal destructive.

"It's just a political statement. I told Lula, and we told the Chinese side, let's sit down, let's talk. You're not our enemies, and we're not yours. Why have you suddenly decided to take Russia's side or to be somewhere in the middle? Why should you be somewhere in the middle? In the middle of what?" he said.

The President added that Brazil and China must stop the Russians and demonstrate that they are strong countries. At the same time, he asked how it was possible to propose something without asking the Ukrainian side's opinion.

"That is, you talked to Russia about an initiative, put forward this initiative, and say, 'let's have this initiative.' It is definitely not about justice, it is not about values, it is definitely not about respect for Ukraine, it is definitely not about respect for the territorial integrity that both China and Brazil talk about so much," Zelenskyy emphasized.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:14 schreef Idisrom het volgende:
Vandaag zijn er 1.217 Russische militairen uitgeschakeld. De Oekra�ners beginnen nu aan schijnnauwkeurigheid te doen.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:18 schreef Delenlill het volgende:

[..]
1270 volgens de dagelijkse cijfers van het Ministerie van Defensie van Oekra�ne.
[ afbeelding ]

En dat was gister, de cijfers van vandaag krijgen wij morgen, daar de dag nog niet voorbij is.

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A trial begins for lawyers who once represented the Kremlin’s late foe Alexei Navalny

^{Former Navalny’s lawyers Igor Sergunin, left, Alexei Liptser, center, and Vadim Kobzev, right, appear in the cage during a court session in Petushki, Vladimir region, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)}

Three lawyers who once represented the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny went on trial Thursday in Russia, part of the Kremlin’s unrelenting crackdown on dissent that has reached levels unseen since Soviet times.

Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin and Alexei Liptser were arrested in October 2023 on charges of involvement with extremist groups, as Navalny’s networks were deemed by authorities.

The case was widely seen as a way to increase pressure on the opposition to discourage defense lawyers from taking political cases.

At the time, Navalny already was serving a 19-year prison term on several criminal convictions, including extremism. That charge stemmed from a 2021 ruling that outlawed his organizations — the Foundation for Fighting Corruption and a network of regional offices — as extremist groups.

That ruling, which exposed anyone involved with the organizations to prosecution, was condemned by Kremlin critics as politically motivated and designed to stifle Navalny’s activities.

According to Navalny’s allies, authorities accused the lawyers of using their position to pass information from him to his team.

SPOILER

Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner and outspoken opponent of President Vladimir Putin, was arrested in 2021 upon his return from Germany, where he was recuperating from a nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He was ordered to serve 2 1/2 years in prison.

After two more trials, his sentence was extended to 19 years. He and his allies said the charges were politically motivated and accused the Kremlin of seeking to jail him for life.

In December 2023, Navalny was moved from a penal colony in the Vladimir region east of Moscow to one above the Arctic Circle, where he died in February at the age of 47 under still-unexplained circumstances. His widow Yulia Navalnaya and members of his team alleged he was killed on orders by the Kremlin. Officials have rejected the accusations.

The trial of the three lawyers, who face up to six years in prison, also is taking place in the Vladimir region, in the town of Petushki, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Moscow. The court refused a request to hold the proceedings in the capital, where the three were held in pre-trial detention.

Russian media and rights activists reported in June that the three were transferred to a detention center in the Vladimir region.

The judge in the Petushki District Court on Thursday ordered the proceedings closed to the public, overruling objections from defense attorneys. Before the session was closed, the three appeared in a defendants’ cage in the courtroom.

Two other Navalny lawyers, Olga Mikhailova and Alexander Fedulov, are on a wanted list but no longer live in Russia. Mikhailova, who had defended him for a decade, said she was charged in absentia with extremism.

For many Russian political prisoners, regular visits from lawyers — especially in remote regions — are a lifeline that keeps their loved ones informed about their well-being, as well as enabling them to push back against abuse by prison officials.

Kobzev, Liptser and Sergunin have been deemed to be political prisoners, according to human rights advocates from Memorial, Russia’s most prominent rights group that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. The group demands their immediate release.

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Op donderdag 12 september 2024 10:09 schreef BEFEM het volgende:
Licht off-topic vraag voor jou. Hoe kan het dat het bereik van de Russische en Westerse luchtverdediging zo gigantisch verschillend is? Van ~60 km patriot tot s400 met ~400 km. Als je dan wat bij patriot optelt en van de s400 afhaalt omdat wij onszelf undersellen en Russen bluffen dan zit er nog een groot verschil in.

Heeft dit met doctrine, tactiek, technische mogelijkheden te maken? Wekt onze gelaagde verdediging heel anders?

Mijn logische brein zegt dat hoe verder je kan schieten hoe beter het is.

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Russian Federation fired at an airplane, mistaking it for a drone

^{BRM Aero Bristell NG5 light aircraft. Illustration photo}

Russians fired at a civilian light aircraft in the Murmansk region, confusing it for a Ukrainian attack drone.

Baza Telegram channel reported this, citing its own sources.

A pair of ATEC 321 Faeta (RA-3363G) and BRM Aero Bristell (RA-2661G) light sport aircraft were fired upon during a routine flight in the Murmansk region.

Five minutes after takeoff, the pilot of the first aircraft reported problems with the second plane and sent a MAYDAY signal. The crew of the Bristell NG5 reported that small arms fire had been opened in their direction.

The pilots of both aircraft requested a change of flight plan: the first decided to land at the Apatity airfield, and the second decided to return to the place of departure. As a result, their flight lasted about 20 minutes.

According to the Baza channel’s source, after landing, Bristell’s commander reported that bullets had damaged the wing and headlights of the plane.

SPOILER

Політ BRM Aero Bristell NG5 [Вересень 2024]

On September 11, the Russian government imposed restrictions on the use of airspace near the Murmansk and Apatity airports, where hostile attack drones were detected.

Andrei Chibis, governor of the region, later claimed that three drones had been shot down. At the same time, the Russian pro-government telegram channel Mash reported the alleged use of drones made on the basis of A-22 light aircraft.

In early April, a similar drone struck a Russian industrial complex near the city of Alabuga in Tatarstan, where Russian Shahed-136 attack drones are assembled.
https://mil.in.ua/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GKJCIbJWIAE2UaL.jpg
^{UAV attack in Russian Tatarstan. April 2, 2024. Footage from a video on social media}

Back then, to hit a Russian military facility, the drones had to travel about 1,200 kilometers from the border with Ukraine.

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Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:29 schreef AchJa het volgende:

[..]
Je kunt niet en/en hebben. Je ziet dat ook de Russen gelaagde luverd hebben. Ze hebben echt een mix van systemen van Tunguska's t/m de S400's.

Het is nou eenmaal zo dat luverd systemen voor de lange afstand ongeschikt zijn voor de korte afstand en omgekeerd. Systemen voor de lange afstand hebben radars die ver moeten kijken en dus een lagere frequentie (discriminerend vermogen is een stuk minder) en een grotere luistertijd hebben waardoor het inwendig dode volume aanzienlijk is. Ook de missiles hebben even nodig voordat de sturing etc. volledig benut kan worden dus dan ben je ook alweer een kilometer of wat verder.

En de Patiot is dan ook een medium range systeem, de THAAD is meer vergelijkbaar met de S400. Daarbij is het ook een financiele trade-off. Luverd is een dure hobby en blijkbaar boeit de Russen dat niet zo. De westerse wereld heeft de luverd gewoon maximaal lopen verwaarlozen want was toch niet nodig in landen als Irak en Afghanistan...

quote:

Ukraine resumes production of ammunition for small arms

^{5.45�39mm cartridges of Ukrainian production, September 2024. Photo credits: t.me/prozbroyu}

The Ukrainian defense industry has launched the production of 5.45�39 and 5.56�45mm ammunition for the Ukrainian army.

The Pro Zbroyu Telegram channel published the photos of the ammunition.

The blog authors published a photo from the range where they fired 5.45�39mm ammunition of Ukrainian production. According to the information on the packaging, it was manufactured in June of this year.

According to the labeling, the ammunition is equipped with a 4-gram full metal jacketed bullet. Its tail part has a rounded conical shape, which should positively impact ballistic characteristics and shot accuracy.

SPOILER

^{A pack of Ukrainian-made cartridges, September 2024. Photo credits: t.me/prozbroyu}

In the post, the authors of the photo mentioned that the ballistics of Ukrainian ammunition at a distance of 400 meters is similar to that of Soviet 7N6 (5.45 PS) army ammunition.

In the comments, the subscribers also noted that the bullet is equipped with a steel core, which ensures proper penetration. They posted a photo of the cut, where steel is visible under the copper shell.

^{Ukrainian bullet. Photo credits: t.me/prozbroyu}

The commentators also posted photos of identical packages of Ukrainian-made ammunition in the NATO 5.56�45mm caliber.

Some of the packages are labeled with the SS109 cartridge standard. They are equipped with an all-metal bullet with a lead core and a non-hardened steel tip.

The photo’s author shared that Ukrainian-made ammunition of this caliber has been in service for a long time.

^{A pack of Ukrainian-made 5.56�45mm cartridges. Photo credits: t.me/prozbroyu}

A cartridge factory in Ukraine
After the Russian occupation of the Luhansk Ammunition Plant in 2014, Ukroboronprom lost its capacity to produce ammunition for small arms. The resumption of production is a significant event for the Ukrainian defense industry.

It is currently unclear how localized the production of ammunition is. Most likely, cartridge cases are manufactured in the country, and ammunition is assembled from ready-made components. However, such intricate processes as the manufacture of powders, capsules, and bullets of complex design are unlikely to be mastered by the Ukrainian defense industry.

^{Production of cartridges at the Sellier & Bellot enterprise. Photo from the company page}

Back in 2023, it was reported that Ukraine’s defense industry would cooperate with the Czech company Sellier & Bellot, which specializes in manufacturing ammunition for firearms.

quote:

Over 150 miners trapped underground at Donetsk Oblast mine due to Russian attacks
One hundred and fifty-one miners have been trapped underground at the Dobropillia mine due to a blackout caused by Russian attacks in Donetsk Oblast, Mykhailo Volynets, chairman of the Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine, reported on Sept. 12.

The city of Dobropillia, with a pre-war population of about 28,000 people, is located in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk Oblast, nearly 20 kilometers (13 miles) north of Pokrovsk, which has been a key target of Russian forces over the past few months.

Russian strikes have cut off power to Dobropillia and nearby settlements, including coal mines. The blackout caused gassing and flooding of the mines. There is also a threat of flooding of mining equipment, according to Volynets.

The chairman added that the situation in the region remains "difficult."

At least one person was killed, while six others were injured due to Russian strikes in Donetsk Oblast over the past day, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported on Sept. 12.

The number of attacks and casualties increased in the Donetsk sector of the front line after Russian forces intensified their offensive in the area.

Russian troops recently slowed down their assault on the city of Pokrovsk but advanced in the areas of Vuhledar and Kurakhove.

quote:

Putin's Top Priest Suddenly Falls Ill While Ranting Against the West
The invasion-supporting leader of the Russian Orthodox Church needed medical treatment after giving a speech condemning the West.

Known for his close ties to the Russian president, Patriarch Kirill has been internationally criticized for providing a religious justification for Vladimir Putin's war on his neighbor and refusing to unequivocally condemn the killing of people in Ukraine.

In March, he approved a document deeming the full-scale invasion a "Holy War" during a congress of the World Russian People's Council at the site of Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

^{Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill at the State Kremlin Palace on November 28, 2023, in Moscow, Russia. He fell ill during a speech in St Petersburg, Russian media reported on September 12, 2024}

SPOILER

He revisited his anti-Western theme during a speech in Alexander Nevsky Square in St. Petersburg, where a religious procession had been held in honor of the transfer of relics of Nevsky, a 13th century prince who is a key figure in Russian history and was canonized in 1547.

The idea that in other countries "there are better shops, more fun," and that life was "better" was an "illusion," he told the faithful, but history shows that "the truth is on our side."

But after the religious procession, the patriarch fell ill due to the heat and had to be escorted to an ambulance, according to St Petersburg news outlet Fontanka.

"Everything is fine, doctors helped him and he left in his car," a source told the publication. Newsweek has contacted the Moscow Patriarchate for comment.

Patriarch Kirill has been condemned globally for his backing of the invasion. At the start of the war, he said Ukraine and Belarus were part of "Russian lands" and called the Ukrainians who were defending themselves against Russian aggression "forces of evil."

The U.S.-based Orthodox Public Affairs Committee (OPAC), has previously condemned Putin's invasion and the primate's "un-Christian support" of it, calling in 2023 for church leaders, clergy and the faithful of the Moscow Patriarchate "to resist Kirill's slavish submission to the Putin regime."

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has also cut ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. However, last month Ukraine's parliament banned the UOC which it has accused of spreading pro-Moscow propaganda.

UOC spokesman Metropolitan Klymenthas denied the church had any links with "foreign centers and told Ukrainian media it would "continue to live as a true church, recognized by the vast majority of practicing Ukrainian believers and churches of the world."

quote:

Ukraine has made a request for decommissioned Italian equipment

^{A storage base for decommissioned Italian military equipment near the city of Vercelli, Italy. 2015. Photo credits: lespresso.it}

Ukraine has expressed interest in receiving decommissioned military equipment from the Italian Defense Ministry’s stockpiles.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha discussed this issue with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

“A friendly conversation with Antonio Tajani. I thanked Italy for its strong G7 presidency and support for Ukraine. We discussed accelerating the next package of military assistance to Italy and strengthening Ukraine’s air shield,” Andrii Sybiha said.

One of Europe’s largest storage sites for decommissioned military equipment is located in Italy near the city of Vercelli.

In 2015, it was reported that the base housed over 3,000 units of decommissioned military equipment.

SPOILER

^{Storage base for decommissioned Italian military equipment near Vercelli, Italy. 2015. Photo credits: lespresso.it}

Leopard 1 tanks, M109L self-propelled howitzers, M113 and VSS-1 armored personnel carriers, support vehicles, and other equipment were brought to the storage base.

Previously, part of the M109L howitzers for Ukraine were taken from this storage base and sent for restoration.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Italy has been providing significant support to Ukraine.

Rome supplied Kyiv with various types of weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank missiles, machine guns, mortars, and armored vehicles.

During the NATO meeting, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that in 2025, the country would increase military aid to Ukraine to �1.7 billion.

^{M109L self-propelled howitzers in Ukraine. 2023 year. Photo credits: Twitter/@BuschModelar}

According to the media, this amount is a record for Italy, as last year, the country allocated $1.2 billion, intended to be used over 12 months.

Italy will also produce a new SAMP/T air defense system battery for Ukraine instead of transferring a ready-made system from its stockpiles.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:29 schreef AchJa het volgende:

[..]
Je kunt niet en/en hebben. Je ziet dat ook de Russen gelaagde luverd hebben. Ze hebben echt een mix van systemen van Tunguska's t/m de S400's.

Het is nou eenmaal zo dat luverd systemen voor de lange afstand ongeschikt zijn voor de korte afstand en omgekeerd. Systemen voor de lange afstand hebben radars die ver moeten kijken en dus een lagere frequentie (discriminerend vermogen is een stuk minder) en een grotere luistertijd hebben waardoor het inwendig dode volume aanzienlijk is. Ook de missiles hebben even nodig voordat de sturing etc. volledig benut kan worden dus dan ben je ook alweer een kilometer of wat verder.

En de Patiot is dan ook een medium range systeem, de THAAD is meer vergelijkbaar met de S400. Daarbij is het ook een financiele trade-off. Luverd is een dure hobby en blijkbaar boeit de Russen dat niet zo. De westerse wereld heeft de luverd gewoon maximaal lopen verwaarlozen want was toch niet nodig in landen als Irak en Afghanistan...

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:14 schreef BEFEM het volgende:

[..]
Denk je nog steeds dat Hongarije een uitzondering is?

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:49 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:
Vraag me af wat Oekra�ne nu met Koersk gaat doen nu het de soep in loopt. Heeft het zin om te blijven vechten? Of trek je je terug om naar de Donbass te gaan? Wat was het strategische belang �berhaupt?

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:47 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:
THAAD is toch voor ICBM's?

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:52 schreef AchJa het volgende:

[..]
Je kunt er ook prima vliegtuigen mee neerschieten.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:52 schreef Delenlill het volgende:

[..]
Zij zullen elke meter die Rusland terug gaat veroveren (of proberen te veroveren) verdedigen om Rusland zo veel mogelijk verliezen toe te brengen.

Zij gaan zich zeker niet zomaar terug trekken.

Zo doen ze dat langs het gehele front.

quote:

First Russian textbook teaching school children about drones published

^{Russian school children study a drone. Photo: donetsk-news.ru}

Russian drone manufacturer Geoscan has partnered with Russian educational publishing house Prosveshcheniye to publish the first textbook on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) — better known as drones — for school children, according to a press release issued by Geoscan on Tuesday.

The textbook, which is aimed at school children in the eighth and ninth grades (aged 14–15), will be used as part of technology lessons in Russian high schools, which have been introduced starting this academic year, Geoscan said.

“It is important to guide students towards making an informed choice of engineering professions. All the necessary conditions have been created for this — today most schools in the Russian Federation are equipped with modern teaching methods, advanced material and technical equipment, including classrooms for conducting classes on studying unmanned aerial vehicles,” said Victoria Kopylova, vice president for publishing at Prosveshcheniye, which means “enlightenment” in Russian.

SPOILER

^{An excerpt from the text book. Photo: Geoscan}

The textbook consists of six chapters: a general introduction to unmanned aviation, classification and structure of drones, electronic components of unmanned aerial vehicles, basics of manual piloting, programming autonomous flights, trends and professions in the world of drones. The material is designed for 34 hours of study in total.

Drone warfare has become a daily reality for millions of people in Ukraine and southwestern Russia, where hundreds of civilians have been killed in the past two and a half years of the war in almost nightly cross-border drone strikes.

The introduction of a course on drones to Russian high schools is the latest attempt by the Kremlin to expose children to government messaging from a young age. Also introduced this school year was an optional extracurricular course aimed at students aged 11–15 promoting “traditional family values” and encouraging “pro-family values and attitudes”.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:49 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:
Vraag me af wat Oekra�ne nu met Koersk gaat doen nu het de soep in loopt. Heeft het zin om te blijven vechten? Of trek je je terug om naar de Donbass te gaan? Wat was het strategische belang �berhaupt?

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:54 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:

Maar als er een hoop ICBM's door de lucht zouden vliegen worden die door THAADs uit de lucht geschoten toch? Voor zo ver dat mogelijk is, want die ICBM's zijn heel erg lastig de lucht uit te krijgen.

Of hebben we ook andere systemen voor ICBM's?

quote:

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine blows up Russian soldiers involved in torturing Ukrainians

^{Russian policemen at the scene of the explosion, September 11, 2024. Photo credits: DIU}

In Russia, soldiers of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, who were involved in organizing torture camps in the occupied territories of Ukraine, were neutralized.

The press service of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported on this.

On September 11, an explosion occurred in Yekaterinburg near the checkpoint of a military unit where soldiers of the National Guard of the Russian Federation are based.

An explosive device with a total weight of 6 kg was used for sabotage, and it was placed near the checkpoint.

It is reported that the detonation resulted in the deaths of Russian military personnel involved in war crimes and torture in the occupied territories.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine conducted the operation in cooperation with “representatives of the resistance movement acting against the Putin regime on the territory of the aggressor state.”

SPOILER

^{Russian police officers at the site of the explosion, September 11, 2024. Photo credits: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine}

Russian media reported that the explosion in Yekaterinburg took place at around 6 a.m. A few minutes later, police and ambulances arrived at the scene.

The explosion damaged three cars and injured one person. Glass fragments were scattered at the scene, and brown stains, presumably blood, were seen on the asphalt.

Near the explosion site is military unit 3728, where the 214th Battalion of the National Guard of the Russian Federation is based.

^{Satellite image of the Russian Guard military unit (military unit 3728) in Yekaterinburg}

Last month, as part of the Ocheret (Reeds -Ed.) special operation, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine lured a Russian military to its side and blew up the Storm Z headquarters with officers with his own hands.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:49 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:
Vraag me af wat Oekra�ne nu met Koersk gaat doen nu het de soep in loopt. Heeft het zin om te blijven vechten? Of trek je je terug om naar de Donbass te gaan? Wat was het strategische belang �berhaupt?

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:55 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:

[..]
Nou ja dat is dus de grote vraag.

quote:

Ukrainian military hit Russians with cluster munitions


The Ukrainian army has launched a missile attack on a large gathering of Russian military personnel on Russian territory during an attempt to force a river.

Russian units were preparing for an assault on Ukrainian positions, but did not manage to engage.

Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance spotted the Russians’ movements and tracked them, then passed the coordinates to the artillerymen.

The Russians tried to operate under the cover of night, but the drone’s thermal imaging camera tracked all their actions.

The Ukrainian military then fired several rockets with cluster warheads from HIMARS multiple rocket launchers.

The fired missiles covered a large area where Russian units were concentrated.

After the first strike, the Russians began to flee, but all this time the AFU controlled their movement.

When they concentrated at a new point, the Ukrainian military launched another missile strike.

The published footage clearly shows metal fragments flying over a large area, hitting the Russians.

The cluster part of the warhead contains thousands of sharp tungsten fragments.

According to preliminary estimates, the Russian casualties could amount to more than a hundred people.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 19:59 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://mil.in.ua/en/news(...)r-the-baltic-states/
[..]

SPOILER

Shahed drone in Latvia
[ afbeelding ]
^{Rēzekne district. Photo credits: Google Earth}

On September 7, the Latvian Ministry of Defense reported that a Russian military drone had crashed in the east of the country in the Rēzekne district.

The Latvian Armed Forces tracked the drone’s flight and determined its crash site.

On September 9, it was confirmed that the Russian UAV that took off from Belarus and crashed was a Shahed kamikaze drone.
[ afbeelding ]
^{The wreckage of the Russian Shahed kamikaze drone in Latvia. September 2024. Photo credits: Latvian Ministry of Defense}

Latvian defense officials stated that, based on available information, the drone’s entry into Latvia cannot be viewed as an open military escalation against the country, as Latvia was not its intended target.

On September 8, Militarnyi reported on the incident and suggested that the drone might be a Shahed drone.
[ afbeelding ]
^{Routes infographic. Source: Belarusian Hajun project}

On the night of September 6-7, a large group of drones flew into Belarus. One of them entered the Hrodna region and flew as far as Korelichi and Novogrudok, heading towards the border with Lithuania.

Ik ben het er geheel mee eens dat indien gestationeerde NAVO vliegtuigen en luchtafweer deze Russische drones boven NAVO grondgebied neer kunnen halen zij dit gewoon moeten doen. Maar het is wel heel gemakkelijk om dit compleet op de NAVO af te schuiven natuurlijk. De landen waar dit om gaan moeten dit ook zelf doen als dat mogelijk is.

Polen: Ik durf het niet, want stel dat er gewonden of doden onder de burgers vallen. Of dat het opeens een civiel iets blijkt te zijn.
Roemeni�: De Russische drones krijgen een escort van F-16s terug Oekra�ne in, want zolang zij geen schade aan ons grondgebied veroorzaken is het prima
Baltische Staten: Er moet een consensus komen vanuit de NAVO om drones en zo boven ons grondgebied neer te halen.

Ondertussen.....

Wit-Rusland heeft al verschillende Russische drones boven hun grondgebied neergehaald.

quote:

Putin Warns West Risks ‘War’ if It Backs Ukraine Long-Range Strikes
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Thursday that letting Ukraine use longer-range weapons to strike targets inside his country would put NATO "at war" with Russia.

The stark warning came as U.S. and U.K. officials discussed Kyiv's demand for them to ease rules on firing Western weapons into Russia, more than two and a half years into Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow meanwhile also claimed to have recaptured a swath of territory in its western Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces had made advances in recent weeks.

Putin spoke after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised that Washington would quickly review Kyiv's long-standing request for more leeway to use Western-supplied weapons to strike Russian targets.

"This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict," Putin told a state television reporter.

"It would mean that NATO countries, the U.S., European countries, are at war with Russia," he said.

"If that's the case, then taking into account the change of nature of the conflict, we will take the appropriate decisions based on the threats that we will face."

Speaking at a press conference in Warsaw on Thursday, Blinken said the United States would "adjust, we'll adapt as necessary, including with regard to the means that are at Ukraine's disposal to effectively defend against the Russian aggression."

SPOILER

Kursk counteroffensive
Kyiv launched a shock incursion into Russia's Kursk border region on Aug. 6, advancing kilometers into Russian territory and seizing dozens of settlements.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that Moscow's troops were striking back.

Ukraine's attack — the biggest by a foreign army on Russian territory since World War II — caught Moscow off guard as its invasion drags through its third year.

Russia has insisted from the start that it would expel Ukrainian troops from the region.

But until now it had appeared to be on the back foot, marshaling a humanitarian response and evacuating around 150,000 people.

"Units of the 'North' group of troops liberated 10 settlements within two days," Russia's Defense Ministry said on Telegram.

Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky said "Russians have launched counteroffensive actions."

He did not provide details on the extent of Russian operations, but said the incursion was still "going in line with our Ukrainian plan."

Ukraine's commander-in-chief of armed forces Oleksandr Syrsky said in late August that Kyiv had seized 100 settlements and almost 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian territory.

Kyiv says it does not want to annex parts of Russia — as Moscow has done in eastern Ukraine — but hopes it can force its enemy to divert troops and make the territory gains a bargaining chip in any negotiations.

Longer-range strikes
Kyiv wants more flexibility to hit Russian airfields and other military targets further from the front lines that it says are crucial to Moscow's invasion.

Washington currently authorizes Ukraine to only hit Russian targets in the occupied parts of Ukraine and some in Russian border regions directly related to Moscow's combat operations.

"The delay in this process leads to Russia moving these military targets deeper into Russia," Zelensky said.

The Kremlin said Wednesday that it would respond "appropriately" if the restrictions were lifted.

President Joe Biden is expected to review the Ukrainian requests Friday in a White House meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Biden has been hesitant to take actions that risk triggering direct conflict between nuclear-armed Russia and the United States.

Speaking in Poland after a trip to Kyiv, Blinken was also set to discuss an appeal by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga for neighboring countries to help shoot down missiles over its western region.

Russia has increased its air attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks amid the Kursk offensive, including targeting the country's energy infrastructure as winter looms.

'Another war crime'
Moscow's forces are also ramping up the pressure on the battlefield in the eastern Donetsk region, where the most intense fighting is taking place.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and Ukrainian officials said Thursday that three Ukrainian aid workers were killed by shelling in eastern Ukraine.

Zelensky said ICRC vehicles were hit in the Donetsk region, calling it "another Russian war crime."

The city administration in the key eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk said Russia had cut off the water supply to the city, around 10 kilometers (six miles) from the front line.

Zelensky also said an Egypt-bound cargo ship carrying wheat was hit by a Russian missile in the Black Sea, shortly after leaving Ukrainian waters.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 22:03 schreef ExTec het volgende:
[ afbeelding ]

quote:

HIMARS Destroys Russian Zemledeliye Minelaying System in Kursk Oblast

^{Russian Zemledeliye minelaying system. Photo from open sources}

The Ukrainian military managed to detect and destroy a Russian Zemledeliye minelaying system in the Kursk oblast.

The footage of the attack on the Russian position was shared by Special Kherson Cat on the social media “X”.

The Russian vehicle was detected by Ukrainian drones near the pontoon crossing of the Seym River. The Ukrainian military used the American HIMARS system to destroy the Russian unit.

“The 413th Battalion, together with the 78th Airborne Assault Regiment “Herts”, destroyed a rare state-of-the-art minelaying system near the Russian pontoon crossing on the Seim River,” the military said.

SPOILER

На Курщині HIMARS знищив російську машину мінування "Земледелие"

The GMLRS rocket struck a Russian position containing a minelaying vehicle, causing its ammunition to detonate and scatter in various directions.

This Russian mobile mining system is designed to quickly create minefields in particularly dangerous areas.

^{Destruction of the Russian Zemledeliye minelaying system in Kurshchyna. September 2024. Russia. Footage from the video Special Kherson Cat}

Presumably, the Russians planned to block the paths of the Ukrainian military in the Kursk oblast by these minefields.

Zemledeliye is capable of creating minefields at a distance of 5 to 15 km.

This system launches rockets to place mines in a designated area and can create minefields of varying complexity, including those with passages for its own troops.

Externally, the artillery part of the engineering vehicle resembles the launchers of the Grad MRL.

^{Russian Zemledeliye minelaying system at the landfill. Photo from open sources}

The system uses 122mm ammunition, but for mining operations, it employs ammunition with a warhead containing ready-to-use mines.

In 2023, the Zemledeliye was destroyed by Ukrainian National Guard soldiers who managed to hit the system with an attack drone.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 22:21 schreef Joppiez het volgende:

[..]
Tja, al zal die toestemming er uiteindelijk wel komen, een significant verschil gaat het niet maken vermoed ik.

quote:

Ukrainian Pilots Start Training on F-16s in Romania

^{F-16 Fighting Falcon of the Air Force of Romania. August 2020. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Romania}

A group of Ukrainian Air Force pilots begin training on F-16 fighter jets in Romania.

Following a phone conversation with Romanian Defense Minister Angel T�lvăr, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umierov stated on September 12 that “there would be more F-16s in Ukrainian skies.”

According to Umierov, Ukraine will soon receive a new Patriot air defense system from its Romanian partners. The minister also added that he plans to visit Romania.

Having received the first F-16 fighter jets, Ukraine is preparing for the further deployment of new squadrons.

However, in addition to technical problems, the country also needs to address human resources issues, including training new pilots for these aircraft.

SPOILER

^{F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets of the Romanian Air Force with the numbers 1613 and 1617. October 2020. Photo credits: Romanian Ministry of Defense}

Back in June, it was announced that Romania will finance the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets at the Feteşti air base.

The country will use the Ministry of Defense budget to cover the costs incurred by Ukrainian pilots and technical personnel while staying at the Romanian air base.

In November 2023, the F-16 training center was opened at the Feteşti Air Base, where, in addition to Ukrainian pilots, Romanian pilots will also be trained.

The center was set up jointly with other allies and Lockheed Martin, which is the manufacturer of these U.S. fighter jets. It meets the training requirements of NATO pilots.

^{European F-16 training center for pilots. July 2024. Romania. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Romania}

In July, it became known that a regional center for training pilots on F-16 fighter jets would be established in Romania.

Thus, Romania will join the Aviation Coalition that supports the training of Ukrainian pilots and ground personnel, as well as the transfer of modern multifunctional fighter jets as part of military assistance.

As previously reported, Ukraine plans to hire retired foreign pilots to fly Western fighter jets and fight against Russia.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 22:21 schreef Joppiez het volgende:

[..]
Tja, al zal die toestemming er uiteindelijk wel komen, een significant verschil gaat het niet maken vermoed ik.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 22:20 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://www.themoscowtime(...)range-strikes-a86355
[..]

SPOILER

Kursk counteroffensive
Kyiv launched a shock incursion into Russia's Kursk border region on Aug. 6, advancing kilometers into Russian territory and seizing dozens of settlements.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that Moscow's troops were striking back.

Ukraine's attack — the biggest by a foreign army on Russian territory since World War II — caught Moscow off guard as its invasion drags through its third year.

Russia has insisted from the start that it would expel Ukrainian troops from the region.

But until now it had appeared to be on the back foot, marshaling a humanitarian response and evacuating around 150,000 people.

"Units of the 'North' group of troops liberated 10 settlements within two days," Russia's Defense Ministry said on Telegram.

Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky said "Russians have launched counteroffensive actions."

He did not provide details on the extent of Russian operations, but said the incursion was still "going in line with our Ukrainian plan."

Ukraine's commander-in-chief of armed forces Oleksandr Syrsky said in late August that Kyiv had seized 100 settlements and almost 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian territory.

Kyiv says it does not want to annex parts of Russia — as Moscow has done in eastern Ukraine — but hopes it can force its enemy to divert troops and make the territory gains a bargaining chip in any negotiations.

Longer-range strikes
Kyiv wants more flexibility to hit Russian airfields and other military targets further from the front lines that it says are crucial to Moscow's invasion.

Washington currently authorizes Ukraine to only hit Russian targets in the occupied parts of Ukraine and some in Russian border regions directly related to Moscow's combat operations.

"The delay in this process leads to Russia moving these military targets deeper into Russia," Zelensky said.

The Kremlin said Wednesday that it would respond "appropriately" if the restrictions were lifted.

President Joe Biden is expected to review the Ukrainian requests Friday in a White House meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Biden has been hesitant to take actions that risk triggering direct conflict between nuclear-armed Russia and the United States.

Speaking in Poland after a trip to Kyiv, Blinken was also set to discuss an appeal by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga for neighboring countries to help shoot down missiles over its western region.

Russia has increased its air attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks amid the Kursk offensive, including targeting the country's energy infrastructure as winter looms.

'Another war crime'
Moscow's forces are also ramping up the pressure on the battlefield in the eastern Donetsk region, where the most intense fighting is taking place.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and Ukrainian officials said Thursday that three Ukrainian aid workers were killed by shelling in eastern Ukraine.

Zelensky said ICRC vehicles were hit in the Donetsk region, calling it "another Russian war crime."

The city administration in the key eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk said Russia had cut off the water supply to the city, around 10 kilometers (six miles) from the front line.

Zelensky also said an Egypt-bound cargo ship carrying wheat was hit by a Russian missile in the Black Sea, shortly after leaving Ukrainian waters.

quote:

Ukrainian Paratroopers Destroy 15 Russian Vehicles in Massive Assault Repelled by 46th Brigade

^{Russian IFV in FPV sights. Source: 46th Brigade}

Paratroopers of the 46th Airmobile Brigade repelled a massive mechanized assault by the enemy, which involved 46 units of equipment.

The brigade’s press service reported on this.

It is reported that the Russians divided the assault operation into four waves, during which 46 units of equipment in total attacked the paratroopers’ positions.

The Russians began the assault on September 12 at 05:45 a.m., and it lasted until noon.

SPOILER

^{A Russian BMP-3 in the FPV drone sight. Source: 46th Brigade}

To repel the assaults, the paratroopers used the entire range of weapons available and destroyed 9 infantry fighting vehicles, 2 tanks, 2 armored personnel carriers and 2 motorcycles.

In addition, 11 infantry fighting vehicles were disabled as a result of fire damage.

IMG 6439

The brigade says it has never seen such a number of destroyed and damaged vehicles in one day in the area of the paratroopers’ responsibility.

“Those of the enemies who managed to run away in time are lucky – they will live on. But not for long, until the next hot meeting,” the paratroopers say.

According to the published footage, artillery, bomber drones and FPV drones were actively used to repel the assault.

^{A Russian infantry fighting vehicle in the FPV sight. Source: 46th Brigade.}

On September 4, Militarnyi reported that paratroopers of the 46th Airmobile Brigade captured a unit of Russian invaders in the Kurakhove sector.

The brigade said that recently the paratroopers captured 9 Russian invaders, thus replenishing the exchange fund.

According to the military, they managed to detect a hideout where the Russian advanced unit was located in time due to intelligence.

quote:

Petro Poroshenko Sends Batch of EW Equipment and Drones to Pokrovsk

^{Electronic warfare systems and drones for the Ukrainian military. September 2024. Ukraine. Photo credits: Petro Poroshenko}

Petro Poroshenko has sent electronic warfare systems and drones to the Defense Forces in the Pokrovsk sector.

The Ukrainian MP said that the new batch of aid also included ATVs capable of evacuating the wounded.

In total, the Defense Forces will receive 1,800 FPV drones, Mavic, 15 ATVs, trench electronic warfare equipment and charging stations.

“Last week we were in Pokrovsk and now we are going to Pokrovsk again. These are 15 ATVs, they are very effective. That’s why we have equipped everything we could buy and are urgently going to Pokrovsk,” Poroshenko said.

FPV drones from this batch have undergone modernization, which should increase protection against Russian electronic warfare systems.

SPOILER

^{Electronic warfare systems and drones for the Ukrainian military. September 2024. Ukraine. Photo credits: Petro Poroshenko}

“We have installed a board that changes frequencies so that Russian electronic warfare systems cannot stop our FPVs,” said the MP.

Low-frequency electronic warfare equipment is also being brought to the front. It is stated that the new antenna allows electronic warfare equipment to operate in the low frequency range.

“Those who have already received electronic warfare equipment from us before, and these are dozens of units, will be equipped with such low-frequency antennas,” Poroshenko added.

Two years ago, it was unthinkable to the military that electronic warfare (EW) equipment would need to be installed in nearly every pickup truck or carried in a backpack.

^{Drones for the Ukrainian military. September 2024. Ukraine. Photo credits: Petro Poroshenko}

The emergence of FPV drones made us rethink this technology. It has just become clear that the only way to stop an enemy drone is to cut off its communication with the operator.

Ukraine and Russia are now actively trying to develop as many electronic warfare systems as possible and at the same time find weaknesses in the systems.

^{Drones for the Ukrainian military. September 2024. Ukraine. Photo credits: Petro Poroshenko}

As Militarnyi reported previously, soldiers from the 10th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recently received almost 100 electronic warfare devices.

quote:

Putin warns that lifting Ukraine missile restrictions will put Nato at war with Russia – video

Putin warns NATO will be 'at war' with Russia if Ukraine is allowed to use longer-range missiles

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 22:59 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

[..]

Putin warns NATO will be 'at war' with Russia if Ukraine is allowed to use longer-range missiles

Bluf, ik zeg doen.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 23:03 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
OH NEE, EEN "RODE LIJN!"

Kill It With Fire - [100% FULL GAME WALKTHROUGH + DLC] - [XBOX ONE GAMEPLAY] - No Commentary

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 22:27 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:

[..]
Weinig iig

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 20:49 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:
Vraag me af wat Oekra�ne nu met Koersk gaat doen nu het de soep in loopt. Heeft het zin om te blijven vechten? Of trek je je terug om naar de Donbass te gaan? Wat was het strategische belang �berhaupt?

SPOILER

"Just saw a wounded guy who has come back for rehab. He says that in Kursk region there is a shitload of Georgians, Poles, and Frenchmen. Says that when they were clearing the area, they found 8 children hanged in the barn. Cunts are hanging children! Let it be known what kind of war is going on now..."

SPOILER

""
Well, dear friends. Here’s another example of human stupidity – those who thought they could defeat the great, invincible Russia. This will happen to everyone, this will happen to everything. Everything will turn to ashes.
""

It’s hard to translate because this soldier most likely hasn’t read a single book, and his speech is all over the place – pretty incoherent.

He believes it's a Ukrainian vehicle.

P.S. Corrected, I missed that the last sentence was in future tense at first.

SPOILER

The SBU and the National Police detained 5 arsonists-provocateurs who were carrying out "orders" of the Russian special services in Kyiv

The Security Service and the National Police detained five more henchmen of the Russian special services in Kyiv who committed arson attacks in the capital. The main "targets" of the participants were SUVs and minibuses of the Armed Forces.

At the behest of rioters, the perpetrators set fire to 5 official cars of Ukrainian defenders in three districts of the city. Next to the damaged vehicle, the perpetrators left provocative leaflets aimed at discrediting the Defense Forces.

In this way, the enemy hoped to destabilize the socio-political situation in the capital region, issuing commissioned arsonists for money from the Russian Federation under the guise of "work" of the allegedly anti-Ukrainian underground.

As the investigation established, the perpetrators acted in two groups of two, one more "worked" independently. They are residents of Sumy, Poltava, and Mykolaiv regions aged 21 to 29. The persons involved came to Kyiv to earn money.

During the search for "easy money" in Telegram channels, representatives of the special services of the Russian Federation appeared on the young men and offered cooperation.

Under the instructions of the occupiers, the perpetrators first found potential targets and sent relevant photos to their Russian curators for approval.

Then they arrived at the parking lots of military vehicles, set them on fire with a flammable mixture and recorded the fires on the cameras of their own phones for "reporting" to the aggressor.

After that, they hoped to receive a reward from the occupiers, but they never saw the promised money.

Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police detained all those involved "on hot pursuit" in various districts of Kyiv. Incendiary devices, homemade anti-Ukrainian leaflets and mobile phones with evidence of crimes were seized from them.

Investigators of the Security Service informed the suspects of the suspicion under part 2 of Art. 28, Part 1 of Art. 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations during a special period, committed by a group of persons following a prior conspiracy). The perpetrators are in custody. They face up to 8 years in prison.

Complex measures were carried out by SBU employees in the city of Kyiv and the Kyiv region together with the National Police under the procedural guidance of the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office.

SPOILER

quote:

RAF jets scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft near UK as Navy shadows Kremlin boats
The RAF jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian aircraft 'operating near the UK' , the MoD confirmed, just days after the Royal Navy followed submarines which had entered the English Channel

^{A photo from the MoD shows the Russian plane}

RAF jets were quickly scrambled to intercept a Russian aircraft 'operating near the UK', the Government has confirmed.

Two Typhoons were scrambled from the RAF air base at Lossiemouth yesterday, supported by a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton. The Ministry of Defence said in a statement that the the aircraft had been deployed to intercept two Russian Bear-F aircraft found flying near the UK.

The RAF jets were launched under NATO command, and the aircraft continued to be monitored as it passed through international airspace. Typhoon fighters escorted the aircraft out of the UK’s Flight Information Region and "at no time did the Russian aircraft enter UK sovereign airspace", said the MoD.

SPOILER

^{It comes after HMS Iron Duke followed Russian Navy Steregushchiy-class corvette RFS Stoiky out of the English Channel}

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: "This government is committed to making the UK secure at home and strong abroad. Efforts by the Royal Navy and RAF over the last two weeks demonstrate their selfless commitment to protecting our national security. I’d like to thank those members of our armed forces who took part in this operation, their professionalism and skill was on full display while working seamlessly with our NATO allies to uphold international standards."

It comes after the Royal Navy stepped in to track and deter two Russian submarines which sailed through the English Channel and North Sea. In a six-day operation led in conjunction with NATO allies, the Portsmouth-based frigate HMS Iron Duke shadowed the Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk and its supporting tug Evgeny Churov before it left through the Dover Strait and into the Atlantic.

The carefully-choreographed operation to follow the Russian subs began at the start of September, when Canadian warship HMCS Shawinigan escorted the diesel-powered submarine and support vessel as they sailed from the Baltic and across the North Sea. The Canadian patrol ship handed over monitoring duties to the Royal Navy as the Russian vessels approached the Dover Strait, a busy shipping route. It followed a period of intense training by the Royal Navy over the summer.

Commanding Officer of HMS Iron Duke Commander David Armstrong said: "These were the fourth and fifth such operations for HMS Iron Duke since we emerged from a period of intense training in July, and I am extremely proud of the professionalism and selfless dedication that my ship’s company consistently display as they perform their duty. Maritime security operations of this nature are a fundamental capability of the Royal Navy, with the protection of our sovereign waters and critical national infrastructure a key focus."

quote:

Starmer tells Putin he started Ukraine war and can end it any time

UK PM responds to Putin’s threat that use of long-range British missiles inside Russia would put it at war with Nato

quote:

Starmer was speaking on a plane to Washington DC as he headed for a special foreign policy summit with Biden on Friday. The prime minister said that he would not comment on Storm Shadow directly, but added he wanted to ensure that "all the decisions we made are within the strategic context" by discussing the issues with his US counterpart at the White House on Friday afternoon.

"There are really important developments likely in the next few weeks and months, both in Ukraine and the Middle East, and therefore a number of tactical decisions ought to be taken," the prime minister said.

quote:

On Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that Tehran has not sent any missiles to Russia. Araghchi wrote in a post on X: "Once again, US and E3 act on faulty intelligence and flawed logic - Iran has NOT delivered ballistic missiles to Russia. Period - Sanction addicts should ask themselves: how is Iran able to make & supposedly sell sophisticated arms? Sanctions are NOT a solution, but part of problem."

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202409127912

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 00:33 schreef Aether het volgende:
Putin hosts Iran's security chief as West sanctions Tehran over missile transfer
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202409124787

[ afbeelding ]

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 06:08 schreef 3rr0r het volgende:

[..]
Is dit wel de echte? De echte zou aan het uiteinde zitten en de hele lengte van de tafel als bufferzone aanhouden tegen covid, mpox en andere ongein.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 06:08 schreef 3rr0r het volgende:

[..]
Is dit wel de echte? De echte zou aan het uiteinde zitten en de hele lengte van de tafel als bufferzone aanhouden tegen covid, mpox en andere ongein.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 22:59 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

[..]

Putin warns NATO will be 'at war' with Russia if Ukraine is allowed to use longer-range missiles

Bluf, ik zeg doen.

quote:

Op donderdag 12 september 2024 23:18 schreef Kukelecucktsju10 het volgende:

[..]
Interessante vragen. Krijg er wel een deja vu van.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 12:03 schreef Ulx het volgende:
[ x ]

Oeps.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 12:31 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

[..]
Dat zou een mooie omsingeling zijn. Al heb ik er een hard hoofd in.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 13:48 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
Daarvoor is het veel te westelijk. Gat tussen nieuwe pocket en oude is makkelijk 100+ KM, als niet veel meer.

Maar je confronteert rus wel met whack-a-mole. Daar verjaag je ze, daar komen ze weer terug. Wat weer alleen op te lossen is door overal genoeg troepen te hebben, niet alleen tegenover de kursk pocket.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 12:03 schreef Ulx het volgende:
[ x ]

Oeps.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 13:48 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
Daarvoor is het veel te westelijk. Gat tussen nieuwe pocket en oude is makkelijk 100+ KM, als niet veel meer.

Maar je confronteert rus wel met whack-a-mole. Daar verjaag je ze, daar komen ze weer terug. Wat weer alleen op te lossen is door overal genoeg troepen te hebben, niet alleen tegenover de kursk pocket.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 12:03 schreef Ulx het volgende:
[ x ]

Oeps.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 15:13 schreef Idisrom het volgende:

[..]
Zolang Glushkovo niet bereikt wordt, gaat het alleen maar wat om graangebieden en eventuele flutdorpjes.

quote:

Russia expels 6 British diplomats amid spat over long-range weapons
Russia has revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats and accused them of spying on Moscow, it emerged Friday, a fresh geopolitical escalation that was publicized in Russian state media just as London and the US consider allowing Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia.

Moscow’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed without providing evidence that it had detected “signs of intelligence and subversive work” by the diplomats, and said it considered their actions “threatening the security of the Russian Federation.”

Britain later said the expulsion occurred last month, and described the accusations as “completely baseless.” The diplomats left Russia weeks ago, and the British government is in the process of replacing them.

The move was revealed hours after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Washington DC for meetings with US President Joe Biden about easing restrictions on Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian territory with Western weapons.

Russia claimed Britain’s Foreign Office had transformed since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine into a body whose “main task is to inflict a strategic defeat on our country.”

SPOILER

Russian state media later reported the identities of the six diplomats the country had expelled.

The Foreign Office said in a statement on Friday that the expulsions were made in response to new measures announced by Britain’s previous government in May. That month, Rishi Sunak’s administration summoned the Russian ambassador and expelled the Russian defense attach�, describing him as “an undeclared military intelligence officer.”

“The accusations made today by the FSB against our staff are completely baseless,” Britain’s Foreign Office said Friday.

“We are unapologetic about protecting our national interests,” it added.

The delayed publicization of the move in Russia appeared timed to coincide with Starmer’s meeting with Biden, which itself follows a visit by Britain’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, to Kyiv, where he and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky’s government has been pressing both countries to allow the Ukrainian military to fire long-range Western weapons deep into Russian territory, after Kyiv’s surprise incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk.

Biden has signaled a new openness in allowing Ukraine to fire missiles provided by the West on targets deep inside Russia.

Ahead of the meeting between Starmer and Biden, US officials said they did not expect Biden would immediately sign-off on allowing US-provided Army Tactical Missile Systems — known as ATACMS — to be launched on targets inside Russia far from the Ukrainian border. Under discussion is whether the US could give the go ahead to Ukraine using similar systems provided by Britain and France.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned NATO alliance leaders on Thursday that a move to lift the restrictions would be considered an act of war.

“This will mean that NATO countries – the United States and European countries – are at war with Russia. And if this is the case, then, bearing in mind the change in the essence of the conflict, we will make appropriate decisions in response to the threats that will be posed to us,” Putin told reporters.

Britain and Russia have traded diplomatic curbs and sanctions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow frequently making tit-for-tat moves at critical junctures in its war with Ukraine. Russia has banned a number of British lawmakers, officials and journalists from entering its territory in the past two years.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 11:43 schreef ExTec het volgende:
Dingen zijn ondertussen SINO, Stealth In Name Only.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 11:57 schreef LethalNinja het volgende:
https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws(...)lag-lijkt-aanstaande

Haterz zullen het wel weer pro putin vinden ik vind het zelf een interessante samenvatting van de huidige situatie.

[ afbeelding ]

Hier zie je ook duidelijk dat het niet echt op schiet, zover zitten ze niet van Adivkaa

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 11:57 schreef LethalNinja het volgende:
https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws(...)lag-lijkt-aanstaande

Haterz zullen het wel weer pro putin vinden ik vind het zelf een interessante samenvatting van de huidige situatie.

[ afbeelding ]

Hier zie je ook duidelijk dat het niet echt op schiet, zover zitten ze niet van Adivkaa

quote:

TIFF suspends screening of film on Russian soldiers after threats
Russians at War screenings paused over 'significant threats to festival operations and public safety'

^{Protesters take part in a demonstration against a screening of the documentary Russians at War at the Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday. TIFF announced on Thursday that the film's public premiere has been cancelled.}

The Toronto International Film Festival has announced it will pause all upcoming screenings of the film Russians at War.

The first-person documentary by Russian Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova spurred protest from Ukrainian officials and community groups who say the film amounts to propaganda. The feature was set to have its North American premiere at the Scotiabank Theatre at 2:30 p.m ET Friday. Additional screenings scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will be paused.

The move is a reversal for the festival, which said earlier this week the film was "in no way" Russian propaganda and that screenings would go ahead as planned.

Organizers on Thursday blamed "significant threats to festival operations and public safety," in a statement.

"This is an unprecedented move for TIFF," they said.

SPOILER

"This has been an incredibly difficult decision. When we select films, we're guided by TIFF's mission, our values, and our programming principles. We believe this film has earned a place in our festival's lineup, and we are committed to screening it when it is safe to do so."

The film's consulting producer, Sean Farnel, called the move "heartbreaking."

He called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to "fully investigate this affront, from within a sovereign government, to our democratic values in a free media.

"We had assumed those risks would originate within Russia, not Canada."

The Toronto Police Service said the decision was made independently by event organizers, and was not based on any recommendation.

twitter

What's the film about?
In Russians at War, Trofimova follows soldiers and medics on the front lines of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which the United Nations estimates has killed more than 11,700 civilians and injured another 24,600 since February 2022.

Trofimova told Metro Morning's David Common she filmed a Russian battalion over seven months without Moscow's permission — putting her at risk of criminal prosecution.

She said her attempt to focus on and humanize Russian soldiers was a way to combat further anger and violence.

"In this war, which is full of this complete fog where both sides don't see each other, I had the chance to lift the veil a little bit on the reality of one of the sides that no one, especially Canadians, has heard from for the last two-and-a-half years," she said Wednesday.

"I would appreciate everyone who is levelling these accusations to first of all see the film because, from what I understand, none of the protesters that we saw has seen the film."

A 2023 UN-backed inquiry found Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine amount to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations of atrocities.

Throughout the documentary, some of those profiled express doubts about the war and question their roles in it even as they proceed to follow orders and assert their patriotism. The film shows Russian soldiers being killed.

"As Russia's unjust war on Ukraine rages on, it is critical to understand the long history of colonization that has led to this current moment," reads the official description of the movie on TIFF's website.

^{A still from the documentary Russians At War, directed by Anastasia Trofimova. The film follows Russian soldiers and medics on the front lines of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (TIFF/The Canadian Press)}

It goes on to say that Russians at War "takes us beyond the headlines to join Russian soldiers as they place themselves in a battle for reasons that become only more obscure with each gruelling day, each confusing command, each gut-wrenching casualty."

The joint Canadian-French production received $340,000 through the Canada Media Fund in association with TVOntario. TVO said earlier it was no longer supporting the film and would not air it as planned.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is of Ukrainian heritage and has been banned from visiting Russia since 2014, said Wednesday she has "grave concerns" about the movie and that Canadian public money shouldn't be used to fund the production and screening of such films. It's unclear whether Freeland has seen the documentary.

Protest outside media screening
Large crowds gathered outside a Tuesday screening for media and industry members to take part in a protest organized by Ukrainian community groups and attended by officials, including Ukrainian Consul General Oleh Nikolenko.

Demonstrators handed out pamphlets that criticized the film's attempts to "'humanize' the military of the aggressor country."

TIFF staff did not allow attendees to carry those pamphlets inside, though during the screening at least one woman handed them out to audience members in the theatre. Midway through the film, a man forced his way inside, shouting "You're watching a f--king propaganda film" before he was escorted out by security.

In a Monday letter to TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey, Nikolenko described TIFF's inclusion of the film as "irresponsible."

In a social media post on Thursday, he said TIFF's about-face was "the only right decision."

It is not the first time a film has seen last-minute changes in TIFF's lineup. Both The People's Joker and Punjab '95 were removed by their filmmaking teams last year, while organizers pulled 2022's Sparta the same day it was to have its world premiere due to allegations of child abuse on set.

quote:

Russia Discharges 45 Indians Led to Fight in Its Army Against Ukraine
Approximately 45 Indian nationals have been discharged from the Russian army, with ongoing efforts to secure the release of an additional 50, according to a spokesperson for the Indian Foreign Ministry.

During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow in July, Russia had pledged to release any Indians who were misled into joining its military and forced into active combat in Ukraine.

Several fighters of Indian nationals have been confirmed dead while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

In May of this year, India’s federal investigation agency announced the arrest of four individuals associated with a human trafficking network. They were accused of enticing young men to Russia under false pretenses of lucrative employment opportunities or university admissions.

quote:

SBU nabs Russian accomplice spying on HIMARS, air defense systems in Zaporizhzia
The Security Service of Ukraine detained in Zaporizhzhia a Russian informant, who turned his apartment into an "observation post" to spy on Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

That’s according to the agency’s press service, Ukrinform reports.

"Counterintelligence thwarted the attempts by Russia’s military intelligence to obtain sensitive data on Zaporizhzhia defenses. As a result of a special operation, a Russian informant was detained, who had been spying on Ukraine’s Army units," the statement reads.

The culprit is a local IT expert who had been recruited by Russia’s military intelligence and set up on their instructions an “observation post” in his own apartment to covertly monitor the movement and locations of Ukraine’s military and equipment.

To this end, the perpetrator purchased and installed high-zoom tactical binoculars, a rangefinder, and a compass in his apartment located in a local high-rise block.

SPOILER

The suspect planned to use optical equipment to locate the positions of air defense systems and Ukrainian artillery, including HIMARS.

The Russian asset is also believed to have been tracked the routes of military convoys and identifying fortifications.

As the suspect transferred data to his handler via a chat messenger, the Russians intended to launch missile and drone strikes using that information.

The SBU exposed the perpetrator before any actual damage was incurred.

The Russian spy is now in custody, facing up to eight years in prison.

As reported, earlier this September, the SBU detained a Kharkiv banker recruited by Russian military intelligence.

quote:

Russia to invest over half a billion US dollars in its battle against VPN usage
The current system lacks the power to effectively block VPN apps

Russia wants to boost its censorship infrastructure and plans to spend almost 60 billion rubles (around $650 million) over the next five years to update its internet-blocking system.

This is the strategy outlined in the federal project 'Cybersecurity Infrastructure' as reported by Forbes. The Russian censor body, Roskomnadzor, aims to build a more effective filtering system for blocking VPN services in particular.

The Kremlin has long been battling against VPN usage across the country. That's because a VPN (virtual private network) is security software that encrypts internet connections and spoofs user IP addresses, granting access to otherwise geo-restricted content – exactly what Russian authorities seek to prevent.

SPOILER

The end of VPN usage in Russia?
For the likes of Russia, China, Myanmar, and Iran – countries infamous for imposing strict restrictions on the internet – VPN usage has been a longstanding target. Over time, this has created an endless cat-and-mouse game between authorities and VPN providers to find a way to elude VPN censorship.

Technologies like VPN obfuscation and IP rotation are particularly useful at bypassing these blocks, with companies like Proton VPN continuing to invest in new anti-censorship tools. Now, the Kremlin appears ready to invest big money into reversing this trend.

"Russian authorities seem to be attempting to implement the Iranian model of internet censorship (even though we previously expected the Chinese model), which involves categorizing IP addresses into white, grey, and blacklists," Stanislav Shakirov, CTO of Russian digital rights group Roskomsvoboda and founder of Privacy Accelerator, told me. "However, they have not yet been able to achieve this with the current infrastructure."

Currently, Russia's technical approach to countering threats (TSPU in Russian) filters all Internet traffic to block or slow down certain resources. Yet, as Shakirov explained, the implementation of DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) has technical limitations. For instance, "it lacks sufficient computational power to block VPN protocols and throttle YouTube simultaneously," said Shakirov.

This is where the new strategy comes in. Between 2025 and 2030, Roskomnadzor plans to both modernize the current TSPU and install new ones. Censors expect this will increase the efficiency of VPN blocking by 96%.

Since 2019, all Russian telecom operators have been required by law to install TSPU software to allow Roskomnadzor censors to filter out unwanted online resources. The grip on the RuNet (Russian internet) became even stricter following the invasion of Ukraine. More than 100,000 resources were blocked in 2022 alone compared to around 7,000 during the previous year.

As censorship levels went up, VPN usage in Russia has been skyrocketing as well. Authorities then intensified the VPN crackdown that started back in 2017. The most recent move includes forcing Apple to remove at least 29 VPN apps from its local App Store. Plus, a law enforced in March now criminalizes the spread of information about ways to circumvent internet restrictions.

As data from the DPIDetector project suggests, major VPN providers are currently blocked by IP addresses and service domains – something that can be bypassed with an IP rotation feature.

Shakirov explained that, over the past year, authorities have also targeted VPN apps at a protocol level. WireGuard, for instance, is now blocked by mobile operators and, since August, on home internet connections. OpenVPN has also become challenging to use, but the blocking remains inconsistent. Plus, VPN software using more sophisticated anti-censorship technologies like Roskomsvoboda-developed Amnezia VPN continues to work well in Russia.

He said: "It is clear that the current technical resources are insufficient to block even a basic VPN protocol like OpenVPN, let alone more complex technologies. This is why these equipment purchases are a necessary step for Roskomnadzor, although we cannot say if they will be enough."

quote:

Air defense forces shot down 24 of 26 enemy Shahed UAVs overnight
The Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed 24 enemy Shahed attack UAVs within the Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions on the night of September 13.

The press service of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

“On the night of September 13, 2024, the enemy attacked [Ukraine] with 26 Shahed UAVs (launch areas: Russia’s Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Crimea’s Chauda),” the report says.

The Air Force, anti-aircraft missile troops, the units of mobile fire groups, and EW capabilities of the Ukrainian Defense Forces were involved in repelling the enemy air attack. As many as 24 attack UAVs were shot down over the Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Russian army’s total combat losses in Ukraine from February 24, 2022 to September 13, 2024 reached nearly 631,420 troops, including 1,220 invaders killed or wounded in the past day.

quote:

Japan scrambled jets after Russian military aircraft circled country
Japan scrambled fighter jets after Russian military aircraft flew around the archipelago for the first time in five years, Tokyo said Friday.

From Thursday morning to afternoon, two Russian Tu-142 aircraft flew from the sea between Japan and South Korea toward Okinawa Prefecture, according to a Defense Ministry statement.

They then went northward over the Pacific Ocean to finish their journey off northern Hokkaido, it added.

The planes did not enter Japanese airspace but flew over an area subject to a territorial dispute between Japan and Russia, an official said.

"In response, we mobilized Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets on an emergency basis," the ministry statement said.

The last time Russian military aircraft circled Japan was in 2019, a ministry official said on Friday, but that incident involved bombers that did enter the nation's airspace.

SPOILER

Earlier this week, Russian and Chinese warships began joint drills in the Sea of Japan.

The drills are part of a major naval exercise that Russian President Vladimir Putin has described as the largest of its kind in three decades.

Russia and China have ramped up military cooperation in recent years, with both railing against what they see as the U.S. domination of global affairs.

They declared a "no limits" partnership shortly before Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Japan also scrambled fighter jets in late August when a Chinese military aircraft "violated" its airspace, according to the Defense Ministry.

The two-minute incursion into Japanese airspace by the Y-9 surveillance aircraft was the first ever by a Chinese military plane, local media reported at the time.

Since the start of the Ukraine war, relations have sharply deteriorated between Japan and Russia, which both claim the Kuril Islands — known in Japan as the Northern Territories.

The Soviet Union seized the strategically located volcanic archipelago north of Hokkaido in the final days of World War II and has maintained a military presence there ever since.

quote:

Russian central bank hikes rates to fight inflation fuelled by military spending
Russia’s central bank hiked interest rates to their highest since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine more than 2 1/2 years ago, a step aimed at combatting the inflation fuelled by massive government outlays for the military — and by robust spending from Russian consumers in shops.

The bank raised its key rate to 19%, just below the level from late February 2022. Then the policy rate reached an unprecedented 20% in a desperate bid by the bank to shore up the ruble and ward off a financial collapse amid sanctions imposed by Western governments.

Today’s situation is different: inflation is a sign of an economy overheating from government outlays and consumer demand that are outpacing the economy’s capacity to produce goods and services.

Muscovites shopping Thursday on Bolshaya Dorogomilovskaya Street in western Moscow were well aware of the pace of price increases.

“I wish wages would grow as much as prices in stores,” said Natalya, who like others declined to give a last name. “Everything is expensive. Eggs, bread, flour, sugar, salt, everything is expensive.”

Andrei said that “half of the salary goes on food alone. And if you take into account that 70 percent of ordinary people have a mortgage and large consumer loans in the form of car loans and so on, so the people, one could say, are starving.”

“What to do?” said Irina. “I do not know what to do, it is not my business to decide what to do. They need to stop the prices increase and, perhaps, stop some political actions that entail inflation.”

SPOILER

Factories are running at full speed to produce goods including clothing and vehicles for the military. As a result, many workers are seeing rising pay and consumer demand has been robust, adding more fuel to the inflation fire.

Despite sanctions and shoppers disgruntled over their grocery bills, Russia’s economy remains in solid shape in many ways. The economy grew 4.4% in the second quarter. The ruble has been stable recently, after losing some 40% of its value against the dollar and the euro since 2022. Government finances, boosted by oil exports, are in good shape despite increased spending, with modest deficits easily covered by borrowing from Russian banks.

Over the longer term, inflation, loss of foreign markets and foreign investments because of sanctions can mean lower growth and income.

And there’s a risk that high borrowing costs will hurt Russian companies and growth in the coming months.

Central bank head Elvira Nabiullina said however that more rate hikes could be forthcoming to return inflation from the current 9.1% to the bank’s target of 4% in 2025.

“We feel this is achievable next year and we are pursuing the policy to make that happen,” Nabiullina said at a news conference following the rate decision. “We are ready to maintain tight monetary conditions for as long as needed, we are also ready to raise the key rate further.”

She cited the corrosive effects of too-high inflation, including the erosion of people’s savings, high borrowing rates on longer-term loans and mortgages, and the risk of inflationary expectations becoming entrenched in wages and prices.

Higher interest rates make it more expensive to borrow and spend on goods, in theory relieving pressure on prices. Higher interest on savings can also convince people to set their disposable income aside rather than splurge. So far the central bank has been fighting a losing battle, and economists say that at some point tight credit may slow growth.

Rising wages and a strong jobs market have helped shoppers compensate for inflation and as a result “consumer activity remains high,” the central bank said.

“The reason they have raised the rate is because they want to cool what is a very fast growing consumer market,” said Chris Weafer, CEO at Macro-Advisory Ltd. consultancy. “And their fear is that unless they can slow down the consumer market, then that will lead to a bubble which will then burst and leave the economy in a much worse situation.”

Government revenues are supported by economic growth and by continuing exports of oil and gas with less than airtight sanctions and a $60 price cap imposed by Western governments on Russian oil. The cap is enforced by barring Western insurers and shippers from handling oil priced over the cap. But Russia has been able to evade the price cap by lining up its own fleet of tankers without Western insurance and earned some $17 billion in oil revenues in July.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 12:31 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

[..]
Dat zou een mooie omsingeling zijn. Al heb ik er een hard hoofd in.

quote:

SOF operators ambushed invaders in the Kursk region


^{Operators of the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine. Frame from the video of the Ukrainian SOF}

A Ukrainian unit of the Special Operations Forces ambushed Russian soldiers in the Kursk region.

The press service of the SOF of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released footage of combat operations.

A group of Russian infantrymen were moving through the woods when they came under the fire of small arms of operators of the SOF.

One Russian soldier was killed in action and two were wounded.

SPOILER

^{Operators of the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine during an operation in the Kursk region. September, 2024. Frame from the video of the SOF of the Armed Forces of Ukraine}

“This video, filmed in the Kursk region, is one of the few opportunities to see from the inside how our combat groups work in the enemy’s territory,” the SOF of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasized.

� ідкісні кадри роботи ССО у Курській області (ENG SUBS)

It is noted that after completing the combat mission, a group of Ukrainian soldiers of the Special Operations Forces had withdrawn without losses.

Previously, a Ukrainian Special Operations Forces unit destroyed the detected invader’s float bridge unit in the Kursk region.

Operators of the 8th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces discovered and destroyed seven units of enemy equipment: five PPS-84 pontoon bridges on KrAZ-255 truck chassis and two other trucks.

ССО знищили підрозділ понтонерів ЗС � Ф на Курщині [Вересень 2024]

The convoy was hit by artillery systems, after which the abandoned vehicles were sought by unmanned systems operators using FPV drones.

A unit of Russian pontoniers was involved in constructing a pontoon crossing of the Seim River near the village of Zvane in the Kursk region. However, due to timely detection, the Russian operation was foiled.

На Курщині біля села Снагість ЗСУ уразили російську техніку [10.09.2024]

Previously, Ukrainian troops inflicted casualties on a Russian armored group that was advancing on the village of Snagost.

The Lost_warinua Telegram channel released a video showing a damaged Russian T-80BV tank near the village in the Kursk region.

quote:

‘Dragon-Bear’: How China and Russia’s spy operations overlap in Europe
Beijing is recruiting agents among EU politicians who have demonstrated fealty to Moscow, underscoring their alignment, according to a senior European intelligence official.

^{China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's President Vladimir Putin announced a “no limits” friendship for their countries. | Pavel Volkov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images}

China and Russia’s “no limits” friendship is getting a trial run in Europe.

Beijing and Moscow's spy operations, including the recruitment of agents, are increasingly overlapping within the European Union, a senior European intelligence official told POLITICO, as security analysts point to growing attempts by Beijing to influence EU affairs.

The two powers, which have pledged a far-reaching partnership, but aren’t formally allies, share similar aims of undermining the West, weakening support for Ukraine and dividing liberal democracies, said the official, Michal Koudelka, head of the Czech Republic’s domestic intelligence agency.

“It is not a coincidence that the same entities might serve the interests of both the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China,” said Koudelka in written responses to questions from POLITICO.

There was evidence that the two nations were looking to recruit agents from the same pool of fringe anti-Western politicians in Europe, added Koudelka — though formal collaboration between their intelligence agencies remains limited.

“However, the reason behind this is not collaboration and coordination of intelligence services of these countries, but simply the fact that they are both antagonistic to the 'collective West' of today,” he said.

POLITICO did not receive any response to requests for comment from the embassies of China or Russia in Belgium.

SPOILER

Koudelka’s comments mark the first time a top European intelligence official has spoken publicly about Chinese and Russian spy operations in Europe since his agency uncovered a major Russian influence campaign in March.

Revealed jointly by the Czech Republic’s intelligence agency and the Belgian prime minister, the operation targeted members of the European Parliament who were invited to participate in a TV show called “Voice of Europe” — which was later revealed to be bankrolled by pro-Kremlin operatives. Several participants on Voice of Europe programs were subsequently reported to be receiving payments from Chinese interests.

^{Filip Dewinter carried out election observation missions for Russia. | Belga Mag/Getty Images}

This “overlap” is the hidden underbelly of a warming relationship between Moscow and Beijing, security analysts said.

Indeed, President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have been playing up their relationship ever since the two countries announced a “no limits” friendship shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A year later, Xi told Putin that, together, their countries would bring changes to the world “not seen in 100 years.”

“Both countries know that they cannot defeat EU or NATO countries economically or by force, so they are trying their best to disrupt their unity, cohesion and readiness by any means available,” Koudelka said.

Security analysts said that Chinese and Russian state-backed media outlets were now echoing and amplifying one another’s speaking points, a form of indirect collaboration.

“The risk of [Chinese] intelligence influencing European politics through Russia-cultivated networks that have penetrated the EU’s extreme political parties on the far right and the far left is continuously rising,” Gunnar Wiegand, a former top Asia official at the EU’s diplomatic service, told POLITICO.

“This could also be observed recently in the context of the European Parliament elections,” he added.

So far, European leaders have been more cautious about pointing fingers at Beijing than their U.S. counterparts. Asked whether China was providing help to Moscow for its war against Ukraine, top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said in June he’d seen no evidence that China was supplying weapons to Russia.

But this seems to have emboldened China’s spymasters who were looking for profiles of politicians having already voiced support for foreign powers, namely Russia.

A recent example of how this cross-recruitment might work is Frank Creyelman, a Flemish nationalist politician.

Creyelman was excluded from his Vlaams Belaang party following a bombshell 2023 media report asserting that he accepted payments from a Chinese spy in exchange for carrying out various tasks helpful to Beijing. Creyelman had previously been known for pro-Russian positions, having traveled to Moscow and publicly opposing Western aid for Ukraine.

Creyelman did not respond to several attempts to reach him for comment.

^{German police arrested the parliamentary assistant of far-right German EU lawmaker Maximilian Krah on suspicion that he was spying for China. | Sean Gallup/Getty Images}

Another case: Filip Dewinter, a leading member of the same party. Dewinter carried out election observation missions for Russia before he was sought out by a Chinese spymaster posing as a think tanker, according to an investigation by Belgian media.

The Belgian report alleged that Dewinter had accepted payments from shell companies and think tanks backed by the Chinese Communist party, including the China Association for International Friendly Contact (CAIFC) — an organization that is a front for Chinese intelligence.

Dewinter forcefully denies allegations that he knowingly acted as an intelligence asset for China.

An investigation by the ethics committee of the Flemish parliament found no grounds to sanction him. Contacted by POLITICO, Dewinter denied knowingly working for the Chinese state or its intelligence agencies. He wrote that he had not been in contact with CAIFC in Belgium, and that his only contacts in Belgium were with the European Cultural and Educational Foundation.

(POLITICO was not able to verify the existence of this foundation. Dewinter has been linked to a similar-sounding one: the Netherlands-based China Europe Foundation of Culture and Education, whose website describes its mission as being to “strengthen the connection between China and Europe especially on cultural and educational aspects.”)

He remains a leading member of Vlaams Belang, while Creyelman was ousted following the media report about his links to China.

“It is a necessity to pay increased attention to such cooperation — notably in the context of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, but also more generally, when doubts about our democracies are spread,” added Wiegand, who recently co-authored a report on China-Russia alignment in his capacity as a visiting distinguished fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. think tank.

A rich talent pool
China is looking to further exploit Russia’s extensive spy network in Europe to advance its own goals, namely splitting EU countries and weakening their relationship with Washington, according to security experts.

“These are basically people who for a long time have been coopted by the Russians and then, of late, the Chinese step in,” said Filip Jirous, an independent analyst focusing on China. “This may be because they viewed these people as being susceptible to whatever promises they were able to make.”

“Ideology is definitely a factor, more so than money,” he added.

Earlier this year German police arrested the parliamentary assistant of far-right German EU lawmaker Maximilian Krah on suspicion that he was spying for China. The arrest came days after Krah was named as a key participant in the Voice of Europe network.

"As [China] and Russia continue to align, individual cooptees will more likely work for both authoritarian states," Jirous wrote in an article for the Jamestown Foundation.

^{Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said in June he’d seen no evidence that China was supplying weapons to Russia. | Ali Moustafa/Getty Images}

An added bonus: If these politicians have put “skin in the game” by personally participating in a mission to serve Moscow’s interests, such as joining an election observation mission in a contested territory, like Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine, or inside Russia itself.

Dozens of far-right and far-left politicians from multiple EU countries have already joined in such missions, creating a rich pool of potential recruits. (A quick look through this searchable database turned up serving members of Alternative for Germany, France’s National Rally and Vlaams Belang, among others.) Spokespeople for these parties did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

That may well be how Frank Creyelman got on the radar of a Chinese spy working to build a network of agents in Europe.

According to reporting by Le Monde, Spiegel and the Financial Times, Creyelman spent years taking payments from a spymaster known as “Daniel Woo,” who ran a Europe-based network of assets. In one text message obtained by the outlets, Woo spelled out that “our main objective is to divide the Europe / United States relationship.”

Thanks to his work recruiting Creyelman and other European politicians, Woo was able to "successfully influence debates in the German Bundestag and ... disseminate propaganda,” Le Monde wrote.

Woo’s European network was dismantled in December of last year.

But Jirous warned that Woo was unlikely to be the last Chinese handler to try to reel in European lawmakers, parliamentary staffers or ex-legislators.

“Concrete action against this can only be taken at national level, since (counter-) intelligence operations are at the heart of national competences. But with an EU-wide dimension, the EU can promote increased awareness among national intelligence services and it does tackle foreign information manipulation operations,” Wiegand added.

quote:

Russia chooses 60-year-old SVD rifle instead of the latest SVCh

^{Dragunov sniper rifle. Photo from open sources}

Russia is increasing the production of Dragunov sniper rifles, forgetting about the latest developments and the promising SVCh rifle.

The news was made public by the Russian concern Kalashnikov.

The company’s press service announced the shipment of all Dragunov sniper rifles ordered this year and the conclusion of the first contracts for 2025.

The concern said that production volumes of SVD rifles would be increased several times, which might indicate a growing demand from the warring Russian army.

The SVD is a 7.62x54Rmm sniper rifle developed by Soviet designer Yevgeny Dragunov in 1958-1963. At the same time, it was put into mass production at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant and is still in production today.

Despite its inherent potential, the rifle is considered obsolete, so in 2017, the Russian concern Kalashnikov introduced its successor, the Chukavin sniper rifle (SVCh).

SPOILER

^{Russian SVCh (above) and SVD (below) sniper rifles}

The rifle’s developer, Andrii Chukavin, noted that his product outperformed the Dragunov rifle by 25-30 percent in terms of accuracy. This is achieved due to the optimal design of the rifle itself, as well as better quality ammunition.

“The SVCh is superior to the old rifle [SVD] primarily in ergonomics. You need to understand that the cartridge remains the same, so there is no need to say that the penetration or range has changed,” he explained.

The new rifle, in particular, has a modern interface for attaching equipment that allows the use of modern sighting systems, including those made in the West. At the same time, the SVD is largely limited to Soviet- or Russian-made sights with dovetail mounts.

In 2022, Kalashnikov Concern President Alan Lushnikov announced the completion of testing of the new rifle and the start of deliveries to replace the archaic SVD by the end of the same year. However, since then, their massive appearance in the army has not been noticed.

It was reported that a certain number of SVCh rifles in the basic 7.62x54R caliber had been tested in combat conditions as part of Special Forces units that had been engaged in combat operations on the territory of Ukraine. At the same time, it was said to had received positive feedback from users.

^{Chukavin sniper rifle (SVCh), 2017}

However, based on the concern’s announcement, it is clear that the supply of microwave in commercial quantities for the next year and their mass production should be forgotten.

The reasons for the abandonment of this promising development are unknown. This may be due to the presence of unresolved “childhood diseases” of the product, or its too high cost, which may be typical for new products. Finally, difficulties in setting up a new production line under international sanctions should not be ruled out.

quote:

American Hawkeye howitzers are already in Ukraine

^{2-CT Hawkeye in service with the Ukrainian Defense Forces, spring 2024. Photo credits: AM General}

The Ukrainian military is already using the American 2-CT Hawkeye experimental artillery system.

A photo of the artillery system was published by the Tyschok news agency.

For the first time, the American Hawkeye 105 mm self-propelled howitzer, which was previously reported to had been delivered to the Ukrainian military, was seen in service with the Ukrainian military.

The artillery system was handed over by the American company AM General back in April of this year, but the actual confirmation of this has only now appeared.

Development manager Mike Evans noted that it had taken two weeks to train the crew of the artillery system.

“We recently delivered a 105mm system to Ukraine. We shipped it in April. This system is destined to become one of the first soft recoil systems in combat. It’s going into combat to test on live targets,” said Mike Evans.

SPOILER

<sup>2-CT Hawkeye in service with the Ukrainian Defense Forces, spring 2024. Photo credits: AM General


2-CT Hawkeye in service with the Ukrainian Defense Forces, spring 2024. Photo credits: AM General


2-CT Hawkeye in service with the Ukrainian Defense Forces, spring 2024. Photo credits: AM General


2-CT Hawkeye in service with the Ukrainian Defense Forces, spring 2024. Photo credits: AM General</sup>

Hawkeye air defense system
Hawkeye was developed by AM General and Mandus Group in 2019. It is a M20 lightweight 105 mm howitzer on the HMMWV M1152 chassis.

The system is equipped with the Soft Recoil system, which reduces the load and weight of stabilizing structures by 50% compared to conventional systems.

The lightweight vehicle has high mobility and can be transported by transport aircraft and helicopters, including transportation by slings and parachute landing.

HUMVEE 2-CT Hawkeye MHS

Four hydraulic stabilizers ensure the stability of the platform. The gun can be aimed horizontally at 180˚ (360˚ if necessary) and vertically from -5 to +72 degrees.

The crew consists of four people, but if necessary, two people can also fire.

The range of the gun is 11.6 km with standard ammunition and 19.5 km with active-reactive ammunition. The maximum rate of fire of the gun is eight shots per minute for three minutes, the usual rate is three shots per minute. The entire range of 105mm ammunition of the US Army can be used for firing.

The weight of the self-propelled artillery unit does not exceed 4.4 tons. It is about 5 meters long, 2.4 meters wide, and 2.3 meters high in the stowed position. The maximum speed is up to 100 km/h, the highway range is 400 km.

quote:

Berlin signs agreement on permanent deployment of German brigade in Lithuania

^{Leopard 2A5 of the Bundeswehr during exercises, September 2010. Photo from open sources}

Lithuania and Germany sign an intergovernmental agreement on the permanent deployment of German troops on Lithuanian territory.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense reported about this on Friday, September 13.

The agreement was signed in Berlin by Lithuanian National Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. However, it still needs to be ratified by the parliaments of both countries.

The agreement on defense cooperation between the two countries regulates the legal status of German military forces, civilian employees and their families in Lithuania, as well as the provision of civilian services such as health care, transportation and education for children of military personnel.

The document establishes the procedure for the use of designated military territories, the procedure for the arrival and departure of German armed forces, and their movement in the Republic of Lithuania. It also sets out rules for the distribution of jurisdiction, security measures, and the possibility of establishing educational institutions for the German armed forces in Lithuania. As well as the possibility for German soldiers and civil servants to receive medical services, etc.

SPOILER

^{Laurynas Kasčiūnas and Boris Pistorius. September 13, 2024. Photo credits: Lithuanian Ministry of Defense}

The intergovernmental agreement also provides for the possibility for German soldiers to set up military warehouses and canteens, a military post office, a radio station, driving schools, and military medical facilities.

It is noted that the military facilities provided to the German brigade would be used only with the consent of the Republic of Lithuania, in compliance with the country’s sovereignty and the requirements of legal acts.

In December last year, Lithuania and Germany signed an action plan that remains the main focus of this project.

^{Construction of the German base in Rudninkai, Lithuania, August 20, 2024. Photo: Reuters}

In April, the main body of the German brigade was stationed in Vilnius, and in August, construction of a military base began at the Rūdninkai training ground.

It is intended to permanently deploy the 45th Brigade of the German armed forces. It includes three battalions and logistics units.

^{Soldiers of the 122nd Mechanized Battalion. Photo credits: Panzergrenadierbataillon 122}

When completed in 2027, the new military facility is expected to accommodate up to 4,000 combat-ready German troops and their equipment.

Other work on preparing military and civilian infrastructure continued in Lithuania as part of this project.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 18:36 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://mil.in.ua/en/news(...)-of-the-latest-svch/
[..]

SPOILER

[ afbeelding ]
^{Russian SVCh (above) and SVD (below) sniper rifles}

The rifle’s developer, Andrii Chukavin, noted that his product outperformed the Dragunov rifle by 25-30 percent in terms of accuracy. This is achieved due to the optimal design of the rifle itself, as well as better quality ammunition.

“The SVCh is superior to the old rifle [SVD] primarily in ergonomics. You need to understand that the cartridge remains the same, so there is no need to say that the penetration or range has changed,” he explained.

The new rifle, in particular, has a modern interface for attaching equipment that allows the use of modern sighting systems, including those made in the West. At the same time, the SVD is largely limited to Soviet- or Russian-made sights with dovetail mounts.

In 2022, Kalashnikov Concern President Alan Lushnikov announced the completion of testing of the new rifle and the start of deliveries to replace the archaic SVD by the end of the same year. However, since then, their massive appearance in the army has not been noticed.

It was reported that a certain number of SVCh rifles in the basic 7.62x54R caliber had been tested in combat conditions as part of Special Forces units that had been engaged in combat operations on the territory of Ukraine. At the same time, it was said to had received positive feedback from users.
[ afbeelding ]
^{Chukavin sniper rifle (SVCh), 2017}

However, based on the concern’s announcement, it is clear that the supply of microwave in commercial quantities for the next year and their mass production should be forgotten.

The reasons for the abandonment of this promising development are unknown. This may be due to the presence of unresolved “childhood diseases” of the product, or its too high cost, which may be typical for new products. Finally, difficulties in setting up a new production line under international sanctions should not be ruled out.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 18:47 schreef AchJa het volgende:

[..]
De Dragunov is dan ook een prima wapen, heb er wel eens mee geschoten, niks mis mee.

En nogmaals, hoe oud iets is zegt niet zoveel over de effectiviteit, de M2HB is in WW1 ontwikkeld en nog steeds volop in gebruik.

[ afbeelding ]

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 18:47 schreef AchJa het volgende:
De Dragunov is dan ook een prima wapen, heb er wel eens mee geschoten,

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 18:18 schreef BlaZ het volgende:

[..]
Na de inname van Snagost zijn er weer nieuwe wegverbinding beschikbaar, de Oekra�ners zouden de brug bij Snagost kunnen bestoken, dat gebied blijft last te verdedigen voor de Russen.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 19:39 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Heb je al een filmpje van Russen die triomfantelijk de vlag hijsen in Snagost gezien? Ik niet. Ik zie ook nergens foto's. En goed nieuws lijkt me wel handig voor het thuisfront.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 19:29 schreef ExTec het volgende:
Ik ook! In video games

Enige directe nadeel is geen picatinny rail, of 'modern interface for attaching equipment', zoals rus het noemt.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 19:39 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Heb je al een filmpje van Russen die triomfantelijk de vlag hijsen in Snagost gezien? Ik niet. Ik zie ook nergens foto's. En goed nieuws lijkt me wel handig voor het thuisfront.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 19:59 schreef Ulx het volgende:
[ x ]

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 20:01 schreef inslagenreuring het volgende:

[..]
Covid-19 protestors weer he. Die wappies ook met hun vrede.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 17:52 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://www.techradar.com(...)le-against-vpn-usage
[..]

SPOILER

The end of VPN usage in Russia?
For the likes of Russia, China, Myanmar, and Iran – countries infamous for imposing strict restrictions on the internet – VPN usage has been a longstanding target. Over time, this has created an endless cat-and-mouse game between authorities and VPN providers to find a way to elude VPN censorship.

Technologies like VPN obfuscation and IP rotation are particularly useful at bypassing these blocks, with companies like Proton VPN continuing to invest in new anti-censorship tools. Now, the Kremlin appears ready to invest big money into reversing this trend.

"Russian authorities seem to be attempting to implement the Iranian model of internet censorship (even though we previously expected the Chinese model), which involves categorizing IP addresses into white, grey, and blacklists," Stanislav Shakirov, CTO of Russian digital rights group Roskomsvoboda and founder of Privacy Accelerator, told me. "However, they have not yet been able to achieve this with the current infrastructure."

Currently, Russia's technical approach to countering threats (TSPU in Russian) filters all Internet traffic to block or slow down certain resources. Yet, as Shakirov explained, the implementation of DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) has technical limitations. For instance, "it lacks sufficient computational power to block VPN protocols and throttle YouTube simultaneously," said Shakirov.

This is where the new strategy comes in. Between 2025 and 2030, Roskomnadzor plans to both modernize the current TSPU and install new ones. Censors expect this will increase the efficiency of VPN blocking by 96%.

Since 2019, all Russian telecom operators have been required by law to install TSPU software to allow Roskomnadzor censors to filter out unwanted online resources. The grip on the RuNet (Russian internet) became even stricter following the invasion of Ukraine. More than 100,000 resources were blocked in 2022 alone compared to around 7,000 during the previous year.

As censorship levels went up, VPN usage in Russia has been skyrocketing as well. Authorities then intensified the VPN crackdown that started back in 2017. The most recent move includes forcing Apple to remove at least 29 VPN apps from its local App Store. Plus, a law enforced in March now criminalizes the spread of information about ways to circumvent internet restrictions.

As data from the DPIDetector project suggests, major VPN providers are currently blocked by IP addresses and service domains – something that can be bypassed with an IP rotation feature.

Shakirov explained that, over the past year, authorities have also targeted VPN apps at a protocol level. WireGuard, for instance, is now blocked by mobile operators and, since August, on home internet connections. OpenVPN has also become challenging to use, but the blocking remains inconsistent. Plus, VPN software using more sophisticated anti-censorship technologies like Roskomsvoboda-developed Amnezia VPN continues to work well in Russia.

He said: "It is clear that the current technical resources are insufficient to block even a basic VPN protocol like OpenVPN, let alone more complex technologies. This is why these equipment purchases are a necessary step for Roskomnadzor, although we cannot say if they will be enough."

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 20:27 schreef Zwoerd het volgende:

[..]
Nee, een poster waar je Rusland de hand schudt na hun wandaden de afgelopen 2.5 jaar heeft helemaal niets met vredelievend zijn te maken.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 21:46 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

[..]
Wel met een laag IQ en/of gebrek aan empathie en geopolitiek inzicht wanneer je een westerling bent.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 21:46 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

[..]
Wel met een laag IQ en/of gebrek aan empathie en geopolitiek inzicht wanneer je een westerling bent.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 16:52 schreef sp3c het volgende:

[..]
Zit je jezelf daar nu iedere dag over op te winden of wat?

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 20:01 schreef inslagenreuring het volgende:

[..]
Covid-19 protestors weer he. Die wappies ook met hun vrede.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 01:36 schreef Elan het volgende:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZIJWLgVQf/

BIEM

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 22:15 schreef spicymchaggis het volgende:

[..]
In 2024 nog over Covid lopen janken.

quote:

UAV Attack by Ukrainian Military Hits Russian Oil Train in Zaporizhzhia Region

^{The burning of a damaged train with oil products. Photo credits: Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief}

The Ukrainian military struck a train carrying oil products in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region near Tokmak using a UAV.

This was reported by the Telegram channel of the self-proclaimed “Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Zaporizhzhia region.”

“In Chernihiv district, officials of the Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief of the Russian Federation extinguished the fire of three oil tanks as a result of UAV strikes,” they said.

“52 specialists and 18 units of equipment were working at the scene. … A fire train was involved [in the firefighting].”

SPOILER

Ураження потяга з паливом

They also claim that there were no casualties.

^{The burning of a damaged train with oil products. Photo credits: Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief}

According to the photos and videos, the train was struck at night, but the fire could not be completely extinguished until the morning.

^{Fire the next morning after the attack. Photo credits: Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief}

This is not the first attempt to attack Russian railroad logistics in the area using UAVs. In late June, the Attack Drone Company “Ronins” of the 65th Mechanized Brigade published a video of them trying to struck a train using a long-range FPV drone.

OSINT analyst EjShahid then geolocated the site of the strike about 30 kilometers from the front line near Tokmak.

^{The Attack Drone Company “Ronins” of the 65th Brigade attacks a train using FPV. Photo credits: EjShahid}

And in early August, the same unit repeated an attack on railroad logistics, targeting a train again.

In both cases, the trains were pushing empty railroad platforms in front of them. This was probably intended to protect the train from railroad mines, so that in the event of an explosion, an empty platform would be damaged, not an expensive locomotive or valuable cargo.

^{A locomotive pushes an empty platform in front of it. A freeze-frame from the video of the Attack Drone Company “Ronins”}

At the end of August in Zaporizhzhia, the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed the Russian 1L260 Zoopark-M1 radar.

Operators of the Shark reconnaissance drone from the 15th Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade “Black Forest” discovered a Russian counter-battery station 1L260 Zoopark-M1 in the Zaporizhzhia region. The soldiers adjusted their fire, after which they struck the object with high-precision weapons. A GMLRS shell destroyed the Russian counter-battery station with a direct hit.

quote:

RT running covert military supply operation for Russian forces, State Dept. says
The state-backed media outlet has been sending weapons to Russian units, including sniper rifles and suppressors, body armor, night vision equipment and drones, according to State.

The State Department on Friday accused RT of having transformed from a state-backed propaganda outlet into a sophisticated arm of Russian intelligence, secretly operating a vast military procurement network to supply Russian forces in Ukraine.

RT, formerly Russia Today, has been pulling this off by using a large online crowdfunding platform, promoted through social media, to buy military equipment and then channel it to Russian units in Ukraine, according to the State Department. The administration said the operations were administered by RT deputy editor-in-chief and head of international broadcasting for Sputnik Anton Anisimov and had avoided detection by importing small orders of weaponry and supplies.

That shopping list, according to State, includes sniper rifles and suppressors, personal weapon sights, body armor and tactical clothing, night vision equipment, drones, radio equipment and diesel generators.

New evidence from the State Department also linked some of the equipment — particularly recon drones — directly to China-based entities. The department also alleges that RT is facilitating production in coordination with the Russian Ministry of Defense.

“I’ve instructed U.S. diplomats around the world to share the evidence that we’ve gathered on RT’s expanded capabilities and the ways it’s being used to target individual countries and the information ecosystem that we share,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a Friday briefing.

SPOILER

To camouflage and obscure its evolved mission, State said, RT has even developed previously unknown cyber capabilities while deploying a network of fake news websites, social media accounts and online personas on a global scale. Since spring 2023, the department said, RT has harbored a cyber unit with direct ties to Russian intelligence that it uses to funnel information to spies, mercenaries and Kremlin proxies worldwide. The network has also expanded influence operations globally, with a particular focus on Europe, Africa and the Americas, including an ongoing effort to destabilize the government of Argentina.

Some covert influence fronts secretly run by RT include online platform “African Stream,” which boasts 460,000 YouTube subscribers, and “Red,” a Berlin-based English language platform with over 80,000 followers on X, the State Department said. A Paris-based journalist was also hired to run influence projects targeting French speakers, according to the State Department.

But one of the most notable influence campaigns the department said was run by RT involves Moldova’s October election, with State accusing RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan of being in direct coordination with the Kremlin to sway the results toward a pro-Russian candidate.

When reached for comment, RT shared a Russian-language post on Telegram on Friday from Simonyan with a brash admission. “American intelligence services have found out that we are helping the front,” a translated version of Simonyan’s post reads. “We are doing it openly, idiots.”

The news comes weeks after the Justice Department unsealed an indictment against senior employees of RT accusing them of using shell companies and fake identities to pay millions of dollars to a Tennessee-based media outlet to create pro-Russia content.

Simonyan had already been a target of Treasury sanctions earlier in September, and went on Russian state TV over the weekend to brag that RT runs covert operations in the United States.

quote:

Sweden, Finland will not prohibit Ukraine from striking Russia with its weapons amid Putin's threats to NATO
Helsinki and Stockholm declared on Sept. 13 that they would not prohibit Ukraine from attacking Russia with their weapons amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent threats against NATO.

The day before, Putin said that Ukraine's use of Western long-range weapons against Russia would mean that NATO countries were directly involved in the full-scale war. According to Putin, allowing Ukraine to use such weapons would change the "nature of the conflict," meaning that NATO countries would be fighting against Russia.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, during a joint press conference with her Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard, said that the only restriction for Ukraine is that Western weapons supplied by Finland must be used in accordance with international law, the media outlet YLE reported.

Malmer Stenergard echoed Valtonen's stance, adding that the use of Swedish-provided weapons is not limited to the territory of Ukraine and can be used to strike Russia.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who held a press conference on the same day, said that Canada "fully supports Ukraine using long-range weaponry to prevent and interdict Russia's continued ability to degrade Ukrainian civilian infrastructure" and kill civilians, the Canadian public broadcaster CBC News reported.

"(Putin) is trying to extremely destabilize the rules-based international order that protects all of us, not just in every democracy in the world, but in every country in the world," Trudeau said.

Ukraine has received shipments of long-range U.S.-made ATACMS and U.K.-made Storm Shadow missiles, but the two countries have not permitted their use inside Russian territory so far.

While Western countries eased restrictions on the use of certain arms just across the border after a Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast in May, limits on long-range strikes deep inside Russia remained in place.

Multiple Western outlets, such as Politico and the Guardian, recently wrote that this position may be shifting as U.S. and U.K. officials are preparing plans to ease the restrictions further.

quote:

Ukraine Receives 1,400 Senator Armored Vehicles Since War’s Outset

^{Roshel enterprise. Canada. Photo from the company's website}

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has received 1400 Senator armored vehicles.

Roman Shimonov, Founder and CEO of Roshel Inc., told this in his interview with Army Recognition during MSPO 2024.

“As I said, we have delivered fourteen hundred vehicles to Ukraine,” he said.

The transfer of these armored vehicles first became known on April 13, 2022, when the Canadian government announced $500 million in aid to Ukraine. The first contract was for only 8 vehicles.

SPOILER

^{Senator APC in Ukraine. May 2022. Photo credits: Ukraine Weapons Tracker}

However, this number has been gradually increasing, and in January 2013, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand announced the provision of 200 Roshel Senator armored vehicles.

In her conversation with journalists, Anita Anand discussed plans to transfer 200 more Senator armored personnel carriers to Ukraine as part of international military assistance. The announced equipment has an estimated value of more than $90 million.

^{Canadian Roshel Senator armored vehicles}

In December 2023, it became known that the Canadian company Roshel handed over the 1000th Senator armored vehicles to Ukraine. Roman Shimonov, Founder and CEO of Roshel Inc., hailed the achievement.

The last time the number of transferred vehicles was reported was on June 5. Then, during an interview with Economic Pravda, Roman Shimonov said that except for the decision to open a plant in Ukraine, Roshel had already delivered 1140 armored vehicles to Ukraine.

Thus, in three summer months, Ukraine received 360 new Roshel Senator armored vehicles.

Roshel Senator
The Senator armored vehicle is built on a Ford heavy-duty truck base. The company’s specialists are carrying out a major modernization of the civilian base to enable the armored vehicle to be used in the near-front and frontline areas. The ballistic protection provides the ability to withstand 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm caliber bullets at a distance of 30 meters at a speed of 695 m/s.

In the MRAP version, the armored vehicle received STANAG lvl 2b protection, which provides protection against 6 kg of explosives and anti-tank mines.

With this level of protection, the vehicle is equipped with a 400-horsepower engine that provides excellent off-road performance. The vehicle is also equipped with a central tire inflation system.

quote:

Poland to Fund �100M Loan for Ukrainian Equipment Repairs and Purchases

^{Repair of armored vehicles in Poland. Photo credits: polska-zbrojna.pl}

The Polish government has offered Ukraine an intergovernmental loan of more than �100 million for the purchase and repair of equipment.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that the offer pertains to equipment that can be repaired at Polish defense companies.

“The finance ministers have already agreed on the loan. The loan can be used at any time,” Sikorski emphasized.

According to the head of Polish diplomacy, “to date, Poland has handed over about 400 T-72, PT-92 and Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, which are defending Ukraine’s eastern borders, and some of them are involved in operations in the Kursk region.”

Warsaw also handed over nearly 50 Krab self-propelled tracked gun-howitzers, Piorun man-portable air defense systems, and air defense systems to Ukraine.

SPOILER

^{Radosław Sikorski. Photo credits: pap.pl}

Radosław Sikorski also said that the Polish government promised to allocate �100 million for the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

According to him, half of the funds will be provided this year. Warsaw will allocate the remaining �50 million in 2025.

Sikorski also admitted that Poland had delayed a payment to the fund for the purchase of ammunition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine because the official responsible for coordinating this process was detained under an international arrest warrant.

“But we will solve this problem, and the transfer of funds will take place this year,” the minister assured.

The day before, the media reported that Poland is the only country that has promised to allocate funding for the Czech initiative to purchase shells for Ukraine, but has not yet done so.

^{Illustrative photo of 155-mm ammunition. Photo from open sources}

The first batches of shells from the Czech initiative were delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in mid-July. Later, it became known that the Czech Republic also intends to use part of the interest earned from frozen Russian assets to purchase ammunition for Ukraine.

As of August, 18 countries have joined the Czech initiative to search for and purchase ammunition for the Ukrainian Defense Forces outside the European Union.

quote:

Is 'Russians at War' propaganda? We asked 7 people in film who saw it
The filmmakers behind “Russians at War” have argued that a lot of the negative press surrounding the documentary comes from people who haven’t seen it. We asked the opinion of people in the film industry who have.

^{Director Anastasia Trofimova attends the photocall of the movie 'Russians at War' presented out of competition during the 81st International Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido, on Sep. 5, 2024. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP via Getty Images)}

The documentary “Russians at War” has sparked controversy since its debut on the festival circuit, with many accusing it of whitewashing Russian soldiers and their crimes in Ukraine.

Canadian-Russian director Anastasia Trofimova has defended the film, calling it “anti-war.”

After facing backlash, the Toronto International Film Festival pulled screenings of the film, with both the festival and filmmakers citing concerns over potential violence. Toronto police said they were not aware of any serious threats, according to Canadian media reports.

The filmmakers behind “Russians at War” have argued that a lot of the negative press surrounding the documentary comes from people who haven’t seen it.

The Kyiv Independent requested a press copy of the film for review, but we were not provided with one, so we asked the opinion of seven people in the film industry who attended screenings of “Russians at War.”

Some testimonies have been shortened and edited for clarity.

SPOILER

^{"Russians at War" documentary promo material. (TIFF/YouTube)}

Tetiana Mala, Ukrainian, communications manager
“Do you believe the Russian army commits war crimes?” Anastasia Trofimova asks one of her protagonists. He confidently responds, "No." Throughout the film, I kept hoping that somewhere before the credits rolled, we would see a slide showing crime statistics and explaining the truth about this war. But the director chooses an approach in which she doesn’t question a single fact or word in her film. Even though she actively uses voiceover, she could have used it to explain to the audience that everything they see and hear is disinformation and a repetition of Kremlin propaganda. Instead, she repeats it herself. By putting on the Russian military uniform, which she claims was given to her "to save her life," Anastasia broke all journalistic rules of objectivity and took a side. Spoiler: it's not the side of truth.

Throughout the film, I couldn't shake the feeling that every person on the screen was there for a reason. She speaks with an elderly civilian woman who confidently states that she fears the arrival of the Ukrainian army because they will kill her for speaking Russian. The main character of the film is a Ukrainian who claims that a “civil war” began in 2014, and the Ukrainian army started bombing its own cities, which is why he fled to Russia with his family. You will see many destroyed cities, but thanks to the director, you will never once doubt that this is all Ukraine's fault.

And if all of this could have just been a documentation of her surrounding reality, there is another aspect that makes it clear that the director is manipulating the viewer's perception and whitewashing Russian criminals. You will hear a lot of emotional music, see many tears over fallen comrades, and even a marriage proposal. Trofimova goes to great lengths to assure us that they are “just like us,” and we should sympathize with them, even though most of them joined the army voluntarily, which they acknowledge in the film.

Hugo Emmerzael, Dutch, film critic
At my most generous I’d describe “Russians At War” as a subpar documentary, which has trouble hiding its amateurish approach to the urgent subject matter. You might be even more generous and say that Anastasia Trofimova’s project comes from a place of sincere curiosity, which is often not a bad thing when it comes to non-fiction filmmaking. Her voiceovers structuring the material have the kind of wide-eyed naivety that has the potential to open up an interesting space for personal connections, as a kind of exercise in empathic filmmaking. This is already illustrated in the opening sequences of the film, in which Trofimova’s voiceover explains that without a press accreditation or permission from the Russian Defense Ministry, she’s wholly underprepared to undertake this journey — something that foreshadows my essential gripes with this film.

Ultimately, it’s hard to be generous to a film that doesn’t feel empathy at all to the matters being covered. Because in its conception, “Russians at War” is incredibly ill-advised. By being so consciously murky in its actual intent, and obscuring the most critical aspect of the narrative — the Ukrainian perspective on the war — all the possible ways you could forgive this film evaporate. As a result, the way Trofimova inserts herself in the film feels manipulative at best, and evil at worst. By blurring the boundaries between the capturing of reality at the front and constructing a narrative at this very same site of conflict, the film becomes an extension of the war apparatus it pretends to examine. As such, it’s an extremely upsetting and dangerous film, especially when it’s presented in the context of film festivals as a way to engage with “the other side” of the story of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

^{Anastasia Trofimova, the director of the "Russians at War" documentary, spent seven months living with Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. (TIFF/YouTube)}

Volodymyr Chernyshev, Ukrainian, film critic
The primary problem and danger of “Russians at War” lies in the fact that director Anastasia Trofimova essentially substitutes dialectics for rhetoric. At the beginning of the film, against a backdrop of solemnly dramatic music, Anastasia proclaims in a voiceover, “I'm going to the military front to understand what is happening.” However, instead of "discovering the truth," we witness a lousy attempt to justify and humanize the aggressors over the course of the next two hours, in which the hazardously inconsistent sophistry of drunken Russian soldiers is presented as an attribute of the “mysterious and eternally hapless Russian soul.”

By depicting the private lives of the occupiers — their families, front-line love stories, and “heartfelt” singalongs to (Russian singer) Andrey Gubin’s songs — the director tries to familiarize the audience with her characters and evoke sympathy for them. Moreover, Anastasia endeavors to empathize with Russians not only diegetically but also cinematically. For instance, throughout the film, images of the characters are interspersed with observational footage of kittens in the military camp's interiors. By the film's narrative conclusion, one of the "protagonists" declares: "They are sending us out, like blind kittens.”

Anna Hints, Estonian, film director
There's nothing inherently wrong with portraying a different side to the story, but as a filmmaker, it's essential to put things into context.

​​Trofimova uses narration as a cinematic tool and by analyzing it we get a very clear directorial standpoint. While stepping onto the soil of the land where she is going to film, we hear her say that this is either eastern Ukraine, part of the new Russian territories, or the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, depending on the point of view. With this kind of narrative, she establishes her stance: for the director, there is a “fog of war” and ambiguity, where she avoids clearly stating that this is Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia since 2014. Trofimova's film also conveniently avoids any anti-Putin statements.

Peace and empathy are very important, but when they are preached together with violating the right for existence for a free Ukraine, it becomes highly problematic. The film shows the pointlessness of war without acknowledging the truth of the Russian invasion and the Russian military’s war crimes. So it’s just empathy for the soldiers without any critical context.

^{People cross a destroyed bridge as they evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling and bombing, 10 days after Russia launched a military invasion on Ukraine, on March 5, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)}


Destroyed buildings are seen on March 3, 2022, in Irpin, Kyiv Oblast. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)


An aerial view of crosses, floral tributes and photographs of the victims of the battles for Irpin and Bucha that mark the graves in Irpin cemetery on May 16, 2022 in Irpin, Ukraine. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Darya Bassel, Ukrainian, film producer
“Russians at War” may mislead you into believing that it is an anti-war film, one that questions the current regime in Russia. However, what I witnessed is a prime example of pure Russian propaganda.

The filmmaker begins by expressing her surprise at the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. She does not mention that Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea in 2014 – these two events seem to not exist. The filmmaker also states that her country hasn’t participated in wars for many years and that she has only read about wars in books. It's interesting how the filmmaker seems to overlook her country's deep involvement in numerous wars and occupation over the past 30 years, including the Transnistrian War (1992-93), the Abkhazian War, both Chechen Wars (1994-96 and 1999-2009), the 2008 war in Georgia, and the 2015-2022 war in Syria.

Throughout the film, all characters express their confusion about their actions in Ukraine, stating they want the war to end and that most of them are fighting for money. In the final part of the film, the battalion is moved to Bakhmut, and most of the characters die in battle. We then see their brothers-in-arms and relatives grieving at their graves. All of them repeat that they don’t understand why this war is happening and who needs it. In the end, the filmmaker concludes that these are poor, ordinary Russian people who are being manipulated into war by larger political games. I found this perspective amusing because the filmmaker — like Putin and his regime — plays an interesting game with these people. They deny them the simple ability to possess dignity and to think and decide for themselves. To her, these people are merely powerless objects. If those engaged in a war that has lasted over 10 years were not powerless, it would imply that they, in the majority, actually support this war, wouldn’t it?

You will feel pity for the people depicted as dying in the film and for those we see crying for their loved ones. And you should — if you are a normal human being, you should feel pity, sadness, and emotion. However, it is also important to remember that these individuals joined the army that invaded an independent country, many of them willingly, as we learn from the film.

Anna Malgina, Russian, film critic
According to Trofimova, her film is anti-war, but it is unclear what the author has in mind – the war is presented in the film as a kind of natural disaster. It is unclear from the film who started this war, and where the soldiers are shooting. Considering that the director did not see any war crimes (according to her statement at the press conference), the soldiers are apparently shooting into the stratosphere, and the main occupation of these “poor things” on the occupied territories is bringing humanitarian aid to pensioners and caring for homeless animals.

We see how soldiers fall in love, doubt the purpose of their presence at war, and mourn the dead soldiers. The fact that almost all the characters of the film went to kill voluntarily for big money is not reflected upon by the filmmaker. Also, the film does not criticize the current regime or the president. And Putin's face appears for a couple of seconds closer to the end of the film in passing on TV without any author's commentary.

Any commentary from the author, who claims that she spent seven months at the front without permission from the Defense Ministry, does not inspire confidence.

Sonya Vseliubska, Ukrainian, film critic
The main issue with “Russians at War” lies in the inherently subjective nature of the documentary style the filmmaker employs. This approach, known in documentary theory as the "Participatory" mode, is characterized by the director’s personal involvement in the events, shaping the narrative with a deeply subjective perspective. When watching this type of documentary, it’s important to remember that its portrayal can sometimes be far from objective, even bordering on wishful thinking.

This becomes clear within the first few minutes of “Russians at War.” One of the opening lines, which sets the tone for the entire film, is: “It’s been a year since I woke up to the realization that my country started the war.” With these words, the director drives to the "Kievskaya" railway station, where she meets a soldier who escorts her to the front lines.

As Trofimova approaches her subjects, her cinematic style becomes more lyrical. She relies heavily on hand-held cameras, close-ups, and somber music, all enhanced by her narrative voiceover, which reflects her confined, personal observations. Through this cinematic language, combined with her ambiguous political beliefs, Trofimova’s film draws viewers into mediation from the very beginning, aiming to evoke sympathy and empathy for Russian soldiers and the difficult conditions they face.

quote:

Vance Describes Plan to End Ukraine War That Sounds a Lot Like Putin’s
Former President Donald J. Trump would tell the Russians, Ukrainians and Europeans to “figure out what a peaceful settlement looks like,” Senator JD Vance, his running mate, says.

Senator JD Vance outlined a peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. But objectively, it sounds a lot like Vladimir Putin’s.

Mr. Vance’s critics immediately said he had described a Russian victory, while his supporters said he had offered the only realistic path to peace.

In an interview with “The Shawn Ryan Show” that was posted on Thursday, Mr. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, was asked about former President Donald J. Trump’s plans to end the war.

Mr. Vance said Mr. Trump would sit down with Russians, Ukrainians and Europeans and say, “You guys need to figure out what a peaceful settlement looks like.” He went on to outline what he thinks a deal would entail: The Russians would retain the land they have taken and a demilitarized zone would be established along the current battle lines, with the Ukrainian side heavily fortified to prevent another Russian invasion.

While the remainder of Ukraine would remain an independent sovereign state, Mr. Vance said, Russia would get a “guarantee of neutrality” from Ukraine.

“It doesn’t join NATO, it doesn’t join some of these sort of allied institutions,” Mr. Vance said. “I think that’s ultimately what this looks like.”

SPOILER

Victoria J. Nuland, a former senior State Department official who helped shape the Biden administration’s Ukraine policy, said Mr. Vance’s plan was very similar to what Mr. Putin had repeatedly offered as peace terms.

“This is essentially the proposal put forward in February,” she said. “And why? Because it is a great gift to him.”

The Kremlin’s terms for ending the war have focused on Russia keeping the territory it has captured and forcing Ukraine to become neutral, meaning it would not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Biden administration officials have long insisted those demands amount to capitulation, not negotiation.

Ms. Nuland questioned who would enforce a demilitarized zone, given that there was little appetite for a large international peacekeeping force. Absent that or other robust security guarantees, Mr. Putin would simply bide his time and then restart the war, she said.

“Putin will just wait, rest, refit and come for the rest,” Ms. Nuland said.

Another problem with Mr. Vance’s vision is that it ignores the will of the Ukrainians, who insist they want to keep fighting to regain their lost territory, said Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank.

“I don’t think he offered a realistic proposal for peace,” Mr. Coffey said. “He offered a plan for a Russian victory.”

Mr. Vance’s plan has worried Ukrainians. Oleksandr Merezhko, the chairman of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, called the proposal “election rhetoric which will hardly stand the test of political reality.”

He said what was “conspicuously absent” from Mr. Vance’s description of Mr. Trump’s peace plan was “the issue of reliable security guarantees for Ukraine.”

But Elbridge A. Colby, who was a Pentagon official during the Trump administration, said Mr. Vance’s plan was based on a realistic assessment of the current status of the war, which began in February 2022.

Mr. Colby said Russia was continuing to make significant progress in eastern Ukraine and counterattacking in Kursk, a Russian region that the Ukrainian military has occupied since last month. Wars usually end roughly along the line of contact between two opposing armies. And he said there was no plausible basis for thinking Ukraine would gain the upper hand.

Mr. Colby said Mr. Vance’s statement ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine was the right policy choice, and that an expansion of the alliance farther east was not in America’s security interests. But he said Mr. Vance’s comments do not rule out economic and social ties with Europe, or even other security contributions.

“Senator Vance is being realistic and putting out forthrightly a realistic basis for ending the conflict,” he said, “while other people are engaged in a kind of irresponsible fantasy.”

Of course, it is not entirely clear that Mr. Vance was speaking for Mr. Trump. At times Mr. Trump has embraced Mr. Vance’s policy positions and other times pushed back on them. Mr. Coffey said that during his presidency, Mr. Trump showed that he often ignores advice from top officials, and there is no guarantee that Mr. Vance’s plan will be adopted. Still, he added, the two men appear in alignment.

“Listening to what Trump has said, and listening to what Vance has said, I would say Vance is probably in the ballpark,” Mr. Coffey said. “But what matters at the end of the day is what Trump does or does not want to do.”

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 18:04 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://www.japantimes.co(...)rcraft-circle-japan/
[..]

SPOILER

Earlier this week, Russian and Chinese warships began joint drills in the Sea of Japan.

The drills are part of a major naval exercise that Russian President Vladimir Putin has described as the largest of its kind in three decades.

Russia and China have ramped up military cooperation in recent years, with both railing against what they see as the U.S. domination of global affairs.

They declared a "no limits" partnership shortly before Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Japan also scrambled fighter jets in late August when a Chinese military aircraft "violated" its airspace, according to the Defense Ministry.

The two-minute incursion into Japanese airspace by the Y-9 surveillance aircraft was the first ever by a Chinese military plane, local media reported at the time.

Since the start of the Ukraine war, relations have sharply deteriorated between Japan and Russia, which both claim the Kuril Islands — known in Japan as the Northern Territories.

The Soviet Union seized the strategically located volcanic archipelago north of Hokkaido in the final days of World War II and has maintained a military presence there ever since.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 04:37 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
[ x ]

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 04:12 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://www.nytimes.com/2(...)uJG75&smid=url-share
[..]

SPOILER

Victoria J. Nuland, a former senior State Department official who helped shape the Biden administration’s Ukraine policy, said Mr. Vance’s plan was very similar to what Mr. Putin had repeatedly offered as peace terms.

“This is essentially the proposal put forward in February,” she said. “And why? Because it is a great gift to him.”

The Kremlin’s terms for ending the war have focused on Russia keeping the territory it has captured and forcing Ukraine to become neutral, meaning it would not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Biden administration officials have long insisted those demands amount to capitulation, not negotiation.

Ms. Nuland questioned who would enforce a demilitarized zone, given that there was little appetite for a large international peacekeeping force. Absent that or other robust security guarantees, Mr. Putin would simply bide his time and then restart the war, she said.

“Putin will just wait, rest, refit and come for the rest,” Ms. Nuland said.

Another problem with Mr. Vance’s vision is that it ignores the will of the Ukrainians, who insist they want to keep fighting to regain their lost territory, said Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank.

“I don’t think he offered a realistic proposal for peace,” Mr. Coffey said. “He offered a plan for a Russian victory.”

Mr. Vance’s plan has worried Ukrainians. Oleksandr Merezhko, the chairman of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, called the proposal “election rhetoric which will hardly stand the test of political reality.”

He said what was “conspicuously absent” from Mr. Vance’s description of Mr. Trump’s peace plan was “the issue of reliable security guarantees for Ukraine.”

But Elbridge A. Colby, who was a Pentagon official during the Trump administration, said Mr. Vance’s plan was based on a realistic assessment of the current status of the war, which began in February 2022.

Mr. Colby said Russia was continuing to make significant progress in eastern Ukraine and counterattacking in Kursk, a Russian region that the Ukrainian military has occupied since last month. Wars usually end roughly along the line of contact between two opposing armies. And he said there was no plausible basis for thinking Ukraine would gain the upper hand.

Mr. Colby said Mr. Vance’s statement ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine was the right policy choice, and that an expansion of the alliance farther east was not in America’s security interests. But he said Mr. Vance’s comments do not rule out economic and social ties with Europe, or even other security contributions.

“Senator Vance is being realistic and putting out forthrightly a realistic basis for ending the conflict,” he said, “while other people are engaged in a kind of irresponsible fantasy.”

Of course, it is not entirely clear that Mr. Vance was speaking for Mr. Trump. At times Mr. Trump has embraced Mr. Vance’s policy positions and other times pushed back on them. Mr. Coffey said that during his presidency, Mr. Trump showed that he often ignores advice from top officials, and there is no guarantee that Mr. Vance’s plan will be adopted. Still, he added, the two men appear in alignment.

“Listening to what Trump has said, and listening to what Vance has said, I would say Vance is probably in the ballpark,” Mr. Coffey said. “But what matters at the end of the day is what Trump does or does not want to do.”

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 04:59 schreef 3rr0r het volgende:

[..]
Ja dat was ook wel duidelijk uit het antwoord van Trump tijdens het debat van de week. Hij draaide om de hete brei heen maar indirect was duidelijk dat wat hem betreft dan Rusland dat stuk Oekraine mag houden.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 07:00 schreef -XOR- het volgende:
Het is in ieder geval een plan. Dat kun je van het beleid van Biden niet zeggen.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 03:58 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
[ x ]

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 09:04 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

[..]
Wat dit is dit nu weer voor onzin.

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 11:57 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
"Een beetje wapens geven zodat Oekraine het een tijdje kan volhouden en als ze uiteindelijk verliezen hebben we het in ieder geval geprobeerd" is geen plan. Winnen zal Oekraine toch niet op deze manier maar het kost ze wel enorm veel levens.

quote:

Dit is wel een goed punt. Ik snap wel dat daarover nagedacht wordt. Je ziet Rusland nu al technologie aan Noord-Korea en Iran geven in ruil voor granaten en raketten. En dat kan een probleem veroorzaken. Meerdere. Hele grote problemen zelfs. Maar aan de andere kant kan Rusland dat ook gaan doen als Oekra�ne ze blijft raken met eigen fabricaat drones.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 07:00 schreef -XOR- het volgende:
Het is in ieder geval een plan. Dat kun je van het beleid van Biden niet zeggen.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 12:33 schreef AFA2022 het volgende:

[..]
Denk dat je dat station al gepasseerd bent. Rusland zal zowiezo Iran aan kernwapens helpen en dan heb je pas een echt probleem...

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 12:53 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Ik denk dat je dit ook meer moet zien als een weerlegging van het 'het westen kan gewoon wat raketten in Oekra�ne dumpen en verder hoeven ze zich er niet mee te bemoeien' argument dat regelmatig voorbij komt. Iemand zal ook exacte data moeten leveren over doelen diep in Rusland. Als je een raket op een meter nauwkeurig wil laten inslaan is dat wel zo handig. Met een kaart, een geodriehoek en een notitieblok gaat het je niet lukken.

Nukes leveren weet ik niet. Rakettech naar China, NK en Iran inclusief hoe ze vanaf onderzee�rs te lanceren zijn zie ik wel gebeuren/schijnt al gebeurd te zijn.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 12:53 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Ik denk dat je dit ook meer moet zien als een weerlegging van het 'het westen kan gewoon wat raketten in Oekra�ne dumpen en verder hoeven ze zich er niet mee te bemoeien' argument dat regelmatig voorbij komt. Iemand zal ook exacte data moeten leveren over doelen diep in Rusland. Als je een raket op een meter nauwkeurig wil laten inslaan is dat wel zo handig. Met een kaart, een geodriehoek en een notitieblok gaat het je niet lukken.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 12:15 schreef Idisrom het volgende:

[..]
Er zijn weinig mensen hier, die denken dat de hele Donbas terug aan Oekra�ne, misschien niet de ideale oplossing is.
Ik denk wel, dat het loslaten van de Donbas en de Krim Oekra�ne op termijn verder brengt, en veel minder verdeeld. En op die manier wel vrij vlot bij de NAVO en de EU kan komen.
Laat Rusland de (economische) problemen in de Donbas zelf maar oplossen.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 11:57 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
"Een beetje wapens geven zodat Oekraine het een tijdje kan volhouden en als ze uiteindelijk verliezen hebben we het in ieder geval geprobeerd" is geen plan. Winnen zal Oekraine toch niet op deze manier maar het kost ze wel enorm veel levens.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 13:10 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
En hoe moeten we dit voor de rest interpreteren:

- Dat leveren van gegevens, dat hebben ze tot nu toe nog niet gedaan, ook al zijn er ATACMS en SS ingezet?

quote:

- russia stronk, die zijn zo goed die weten bij alles wat inslaat ook instant of het westen de doelgegevens heeft aangeleverd, of niet?

quote:

- Oekrainers zijn net als in de eerste week van de oorlog natuurlijk allemaal dom, die kunnen dat zelf heus niet?

quote:

- Dat tot op een meter nauwkeurig lijkt ze voor de rest prima te lukken als het een destillatie kolom betreft, met een drone, 1900KM bij oekraine vandaan, maar levert het westen die gegevens dan wel, of zijn ze dan ineens weer niet dom?

Of combinatie van bovenstaande, afhankelijk van hoe ons petje vandaag staat?

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 13:30 schreef Kukelecucktsju10 het volgende:

[..]
Het plan is de Russen uitputten zodat die mongolen het de komende dertig, veertig jaar het niet nog een keer proberen.

En dat gaat tot nu toe heel aardig.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 13:38 schreef Cherni het volgende:

[..]
Ik geloof daar niet meer in. Rusland word natuurlijk ook gesteund door bijvoorbeeld China, NK, Iran en mogelijk nog wat andere landen.

Of het gaat compleet uit de hand lopen of deze strijd gaat nog 10 tot 20 jaar duren in de hoop dat Rusland het opgeeft. Vergeet niet dat dit al is begonnen in 2014 waar rebellen zwaar gesteund door Rusland zijn begonnen met die ellende. Dan spreek je dus al over een 10 jarige durende ellende.

Zonder steun kan Oekra�ne dit niet alleen aan. En die steun zal wel niet wegvallen want het westen zegt dat Rusland niet mag winnen. Maar wat dat niet winnen inhoud is wazig.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 13:31 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Ik neem aan dat niet iedereen in Rusland volslagen achterlijk is en dat er mensen rondlopen die geavanceerde logica als '��n plus �n is twee' begrijpen'.

quote:

Zo'n enorm doelwit is al uit te schakelen als je drone er enkele meters naast explodeert. Raffinaderijen zijn tenslotte niet gepantserd. Die zijn niet gemaakt van gewapend beton en gehard staal. De gemiddelde bunker wel. En laat je daar nou die stormshadows voor willen gebruiken.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 13:42 schreef Kukelecucktsju10 het volgende:

[..]
China heeft meer baat bij het ompleuren van Rusland dan ellende in Europa of gedonder met de VS, dus die "steun" is vrij relatief.

Iran en Noord-Korea mogen dan wel allerlei troep verkopen, maar als bondgenoot heeft Rusland daar verder geen hol aan.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 13:42 schreef Kukelecucktsju10 het volgende:

[..]
China heeft meer baat bij het ompleuren van Rusland dan ellende in Europa of gedonder met de VS, dus die "steun" is vrij relatief.

Iran en Noord-Korea mogen dan wel allerlei troep verkopen, maar als bondgenoot heeft Rusland daar verder geen hol aan.

quote:

Op vrijdag 13 september 2024 21:56 schreef voetbalmanager2 het volgende:

[..]
Gewoon AI tegen gebruiken
https://nos.nl/artikel/25(...)rekje-met-ai-chatbot

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 13:48 schreef Peppert het volgende:
Nee, daar heeft Beijing totaal geen baat bij.

quote:

China heeft meer baat bij het ompleuren van Rusland dan ellende in Europa of gedonder met de VS

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 13:53 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
Er staat 'dan' he?
[..]
Zoek maar eens op hoeveel % van china's export naar de EU, VS gaan en hoeveel naar rus.

China kan zichzelf wel rijk rekenen, maar als het westen hun spul niet meer koopt is het snel over. Zit je met je grondstoffen. Maar niemand koopt je eindproduct.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 13:58 schreef ExTec het volgende:
Leuke voor @:Sp3c

[ x ]

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 14:06 schreef sp3c het volgende:

[..]
wait for it ...

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 14:03 schreef Cherni het volgende:

[..]
Ga jij net zoals ik maar hier het volk zeggen geen goedkoop spul uit China te kopen.

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 14:07 schreef sp3c het volgende:

[..]
[ afbeelding ]

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 13:30 schreef Kukelecucktsju10 het volgende:

[..]
Het plan is de Russen uitputten zodat die mongolen het de komende dertig, veertig jaar het niet nog een keer proberen.

En dat gaat tot nu toe heel aardig.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 14:33 schreef Idisrom het volgende:

[..]
De Mongolen zijn al 700 jaar uitgeput (destijds ook door de Russen), en dat blijft ook nog wel eeuwen zo.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 14:13 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
Nog dit decennium, denk je?

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 14:23 schreef Ulx het volgende:
De Zulu Cobra deal was toch geregeld omdat Slowakije hun MiG-29's doneerde aan Oekra�ne?

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 14:55 schreef sp3c het volgende:

[..]
Ja maar volgens mij willen ze nu f16

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 15:00 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Ik las het. Ze willen de korting die ze bedongen hadden op de Viper nu gebruiken voor de Viper. Natuurlijk is de Viper ook duur, maar zouden ze de korting op de Viper kunnen gebruiken voor de Viper wordt de Viper weer goedkoper. Alleen dan wordt de Viper weer te duur.

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 15:23 schreef LethalNinja het volgende:
https://nos.nl/collectie/(...)pens-diep-in-rusland

Ik begrijp Putin zijn verhaal niet goed wat uiteraard bedoeld is als de zoveelste “kijk uit”

Door de toestemming zou de Navo ineens mee doen maar de Navo deed al mee voor de eerste Russische soldaat begon met de oorlog/ speciale operatie los van de Donbas. Door real time/ live intel via satellieten kon Oekraine voorkomen dat ze in een paar dagen waren onderlopen. En dan uiteraard alle militaire voertuigen, geld, trainingen ofwel miljarden aan hulp.

Maar volgens Putin doet Navo pas mee na toestemming voor de lange afstandsraketten?

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 14:53 schreef ExTec het volgende:
Blijft spannond.

[ x ]

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 14:53 schreef ExTec het volgende:
Blijft spannond.

[ x ]

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 07:00 schreef -XOR- het volgende:
Het is in ieder geval een plan. Dat kun je van het beleid van Biden niet zeggen.

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 15:31 schreef Ulx het volgende:
[ x ]

Ach jee, kunnen ze nu niet gewoon even alles helder aan de grote klok hangen? Elke keer hetzelfde gedonder.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 16:14 schreef Parafernalia het volgende:

[..]
Een slecht plan is in elk geval een plan?

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 14:53 schreef ExTec het volgende:
Blijft spannond.

[ x ]

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 16:37 schreef Idisrom het volgende:

[..]
Het lijkt indrukwekkend, die colonne oprukkende Oekra�ense tanks. Maar is het ook daadwerkelijk?
Ze zijn door een smalle doorgang van weggehaalde drakentanden gekomen, en kunnen straks ook klem komen te zitten in dat gebied ten zuiden van de rivier Seym.
Als de plaats Gushkovo niet bereikt wordt, dan zal het een zinloze actie zijn.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 16:15 schreef stavromulabeta het volgende:

[..]
Vrij logisch toch. Rusland wil je niet wijzer maken dan nodig.

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 16:45 schreef BEFEM het volgende:

[..]
Ja zo'n filmpje zegt niet zoveel. Voor hetzelfde geld zijn ze 10 seconden later allemaal kapot.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 07:00 schreef -XOR- het volgende:
Het is in ieder geval een plan. Dat kun je van het beleid van Biden niet zeggen.

quote:

France to deliver 19,000 t of railway rails to Ukraine
As part of bilateral cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the French Republic, Ukrzaliznytsia JSC will receive 19,000 tonnes of railway rails to upgrade 150 kilometers of its railroad tracks.

The relevant statement was made by the Ukrainian Communities and Territories Development Ministry, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Joint projects on Ukraine’s recovery were discussed by Special Envoy of the President of the French Republic for Ukraine’s Relief and Reconstruction Pierre Heilbronn and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration - Communities and Territories Development Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. In particular, the parties spoke about the development of railway infrastructure, cooperation in the field of air transport, reconstruction efforts in the Chernihiv region, etc.

“According to the preliminary agreement, the French side will deliver 19,000 tonnes of railway rails, allowing for 150 kilometers of tracks to be upgraded. The first shipment has been scheduled for January 2025,” the report states.

Within the framework of the Grant Agreement with the French Republic, a total of EUR 200 million is expected to be provided through the Fund for the support of critical infrastructure and priority economic sectors of Ukraine.

Kuleba emphasized Ukraine’s interest in continuing the implementation of two joint projects: water supply in the city of Kyiv and cooperation in the field of air transport. In particular, the Ukrainian side is interested in supporting the restoration of the air navigation system and expanding the personnel training programme of Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise (UkSATSE).

In his turn, Heilbronn noted that all joint projects were progressing dynamically and constantly developing. In terms of bilateral cooperation, France is focusing on providing support for Ukrainian regions and local self-government development, as well as specific critical infrastructure projects.

A reminder that Ukraine and France determined the key areas of cooperation as part of the EUR 200 million Grant Agreement, focusing on the restoration of Ukraine’s energy sector and critical infrastructure.

quote:

In Belarus, the native language is vanishing as Russian takes prominence
When school started this year for Mikalay in Belarus, the 15-year-old discovered that his teachers and administrators no longer called him by that name. Instead, they referred to him as Nikolai, its Russian equivalent.

What’s more, classes at his school — one of the country’s best — are now taught in Russian, not Belarusian, which he has spoken for most of his life.

Belarusians like Mikalay are experiencing a new wave of Russification as Moscow expands its economic, political and cultural dominance to overtake the identity of its neighbor.

It’s not the first time. Russia under the czars and in the era of the Soviet Union imposed its language, symbols and cultural institutions on Belarus. But with the demise of the USSR in 1991, the country began to assert its identity, and Belarusian briefly became the official language, with the white-red-white national flag replacing a version of the red hammer and sickle.

But all that changed in 1994, after Alexander Lukashenko, a former Soviet collective farm official, came to power. The authoritarian leader made Russian an official language, alongside Belarusian, and did away with the nationalist symbols.

Now, with Lukashenko in control of the country for over three decades, he has allowed Russia to dominate all aspects of life in Belarus, a country of 9.5 million people. Belarusian, which like Russian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, is hardly heard on the streets of Minsk and other large cities anymore.

Official business is conducted in Russian, which dominates the majority of the media. Lukashenko speaks only Russian, and government officials often don’t use their native tongue.

The country depends on Russian loans and cheap energy and has created a political and military alliance with Moscow, allowing President Vladimir Putin to deploy troops and missiles on its soil, which was used as a staging area for the war in Ukraine.

“I understand that our Belarus is occupied. … And who is the president there? Not Lukashenko. The president is Putin,” said Svetlana Alexievich, who won the 2015 Nobel Prize for literature and lives in Germany in effective exile. “The nation has been humiliated and it will be very difficult for Belarusians to recover from this.”

SPOILER

Belarusian cultural figures have been persecuted and hundreds of its nationalist organizations have been closed. Experts say Moscow is seeking to implement in Belarus what the Kremlin intended to do in neighboring Ukraine when the war there began in 2022.

“It is obvious that our children are being deliberately deprived of their native language, history and Belarusian identity, but parents have been strongly advised not to ask questions about Russification,” said Mikalay’s father, Anatoly, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition his last name not be used, for fear of retribution.

“We were informed about the synchronization of the curriculum with Russia this year and were shown a propaganda film about how the Ukrainian special services are allegedly recruiting our teenagers and forcing them to commit sabotage in Belarus,” he said.

Mikalay’s school was one of the few where paperwork and some courses were conducted in Belarusian. In recent years, however, dozens of teachers were fired and the Belarusian-language section of its website vanished.

Human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski, convicted in 2023 on charges stemming from his Nobel Peace Prize-winning work, demanded his trial be conducted in Belarusian. The court rejected it and sentenced him to 10 years.

Lukashenko derides his native language, saying “nothing great can be expressed in Belarusian. … There are only two great languages in the world: Russian and English.”

Speaking to Russian state media, Lukashenko recounted how Putin once thanked him for making Russian the dominant language in Belarus.

“I said, ‘Wait, what are you thanking me for? ... The Russian language is my language, we were part of one empire, and we’re taking part in (helping) that language develop,’” Lukashenko said.

Belarus was part of the Russian empire for centuries and became one of 15 Soviet republics after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Daily use of the Belarusian language decreased and continued only in the country’s west and north and in rural areas.

In 1994, about 40% of students were taught in Belarusian; it’s now down to under 9%.

Although Belarusian, like Russian, is an eastern Slavic language, its vocabulary is considerably different. In 1517, Belarusian publisher Francysk Skaryna was one of the first in eastern Europe to translate the Bible into his native language.

Even speaking Belarusian is seen as a show of opposition to Lukashenko and a declaration of national identity. That played a key role in the mass protests after the disputed 2020 election gave the authoritarian leader a sixth term. In the harsh crackdown that followed, a half-million people fled the country.

“The Belarusian language is increasingly perceived as a sign of political disloyalty and is being abandoned in favor of Russian in the public administration, education, culture and the mass media, upon orders from the hierarchy or out of fear of discrimination,” said Ana�s Marin, the United Nations special rapporteur for human rights in Belarus.

At the same time, “more people want to speak Belarusian, which has become one of the symbols of freedom, but they’re afraid to do it in public,” said Alina Nahornaja, author of “Language 404,” a book about Belarusians who experienced discrimination for speaking their native language.

Like Ukraine, Belarusians had a desire for rapprochement with Europe that accompanied their nationalist sentiment, said Belarusian analyst Valery Karbalevich.

“But the Kremlin quickly realized the danger and began the process of creeping Russification in Belarus,” he added.

That prompted pro-Russian organizations, joint educational programs and cultural projects to spring up “like mushrooms after the rain — against the backdrop of harsh repressions against everything Belarusian,” Karbalevich said.

Censorship and bans affect not only contemporary Belarusian literature but also its classics. In 2023, the prosecutor’s office declared as extremist the 19th-century poems of Vincent Dunin-Martsinkyevich, who opposed the Russian Empire.

When the Kremlin began supporting Lukashenko against the anti-government protests in 2020, it ensured his loyalty and received carte blanche in Belarus.

“Today, Lukashenko is paying Putin with our sovereignty,” said exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. “Belarusian national identity, cultures and language are our strongest weapons against the Russian world and Russification.”

Four cities in Belarus now host a “Russia House” to promote its culture and influence, offering seminars, film clubs, exhibitions and competitions.

“The goal is to plant Russian narratives so that as many Belarusians as possible view Russian as their own,” said analyst Alexander Friedman. “The Kremlin spares no expense and acts on a grand scale, which could be especially effective and dangerous in a situation where Belarus has found itself in information isolation, and there is almost no one left inside the country to resist the Russian world.”

Almost the entire troupe of the Yanka Kupala Theater, the country’s oldest, fled Belarus amid the political crackdown. Its former director, Pavel Latushka, now an opposition figure abroad, said the new management couldn’t recruit enough new actors, and had to invite Russians, “but it turned out that no one knew the Belarusian language.”

“Putin published an article denying the existence of an independent Ukraine back in 2021, and even then we understood perfectly well that he was pursuing similar goals in Belarus,” Latushka said.

“The main course was supposed to be Ukraine,” he added, with a Russified Belarus “as a dessert.”

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 17:27 schreef RotatoR het volgende:

[..]
Want stukken land afstaan aan een megalomane dictator heeft in het verleden ook zo goed gewerkt?

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 17:41 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Die stukken zijn ze met het huidige beleid toch wel kwijt.

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 09:54 schreef Ulx het volgende:
[ x ]

Dit is wel een goed punt. Ik snap wel dat daarover nagedacht wordt. Je ziet Rusland nu al technologie aan Noord-Korea en Iran geven in ruil voor granaten en raketten. En dat kan een probleem veroorzaken. Meerdere. Hele grote problemen zelfs. Maar aan de andere kant kan Rusland dat ook gaan doen als Oekra�ne ze blijft raken met eigen fabricaat drones.

quote:

There’s intelligence support in their operations.

quote:

Ukrainian Presidential Brigade Repels Russian Assault

^{Destroyed Russian BMP-2 by the 4th Mechanized Battalion. Photo credits: Ci4 Team}

A unit of a Separate Presidential Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled a Russian assault in the Kupiansk sector.

The press service of the Ci4 Team published the video of the repulsion of the assault on Telegram.

The 4th Mechanized Battalion was involved in repelling the assault, and its aerial reconnaissance detected the advancing enemy in time.

For the offensive, the enemy allocated two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, which were equipped with additional protection against drones with ammunition and FPV drones.

SPOILER

Відбиття ворожого штурму підрозділом Ci4 Team (4МБ ОПБр).

The offensive was carried out using small groups of infantry to storm the battalion’s positions.

To repel the assault, the Ci4 Team unit of the 4th Mechanized Battalion used FPV drones, which destroyed Russian combat vehicles before they even approached the defenders’ positions.

In addition to the loss of combat vehicles, the enemy also suffered losses in military personnel who were on the IFV during the offensive.

It is worth noting that the assault attempt was made in the early morning hours of September 13, 2024.

^{The moment a Russian BMP-2 is hit by a Ci4 Team FPV drone. Photo credits: Ci4 Team}

Militarnyi previously reported that the soldiers of the 92nd Assault Brigade fought off an attempt by Russian invaders to attack Ukrainian positions in the Kharkiv region.

The 92nd Assault Brigade reported that the invaders moved from the territory of the Russian Federation in the direction of Ukraine with three armored vehicles – two BMP-2s and one T-72 tank early in the morning.

Ukrainian artillery, including cluster munitions, FPV drones, and drones with ammunition, were firing on the invaders’ armored vehicles.

As a result of successful coordinated combat work, Ukrainian defenders defeated an armored group of Russian invaders.

quote:

Air defense forces shoot down 72 of 76 Russian kamikaze drones overnight
On the night of September 14, the Air Defense Forces shot down 72 Shahed attack drones launched by Russia at Ukraine.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in a post on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

Russia attacked Ukraine with Shahed attack drones on the night of September 14.

In total, the Air Force's radio engineering troops detected and tracked 76 drones launched from Russia’s Kursk and Yeysk directions and Cape Chauda in temporarily occupied Crimea.

The Air Force, anti-aircraft missile troops, mobile fire groups, and EW units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces were involved in repelling the enemy air attack.

As many as 72 attack UAVs were shot down over the Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Dnipro, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, and Sumy regions.

The Air Force added that it lost track of two more drones on the territory of Ukraine, while two more returned to Russia.

As reported by Ukrinform, debris fell on the territory of a utility company in the Obolonskyi district of Kyiv during a Russian drone attack on the city on the night of September 14.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 12:15 schreef Idisrom het volgende:

[..]
Er zijn weinig mensen hier, die denken dat de hele Donbas terug aan Oekra�ne, misschien niet de ideale oplossing is.
Ik denk wel, dat het loslaten van de Donbas en de Krim Oekra�ne op termijn verder brengt, en veel minder verdeeld. En op die manier wel vrij vlot bij de NAVO en de EU kan komen.
Laat Rusland de (economische) problemen in de Donbas zelf maar oplossen.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 17:49 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

[..]
[..]
De Ukrainers krijgen al hulp in de vorm van inlichtingen, dus dat is geen goed punt. Ook als ze NATO-personeel in Ukraine nodig hebben is dat geen goed punt want dat is al gebeurd of nog steeds zo.

quote:

Ukraine Welcomes Back 103 POWs in Latest Exchange

^{Ukrainian POWs returned from Russian captivity. 14.09.2024. Ukraine. Photo credits: Volodymyr Zelensky}

Ukraine has secured the return of 103 more prisoners of war from Russian captivity.

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated that the list includes Ukrainian soldiers of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, Special Forces, the State Border Guard Service, the State Transport Special Service, the State Emergency Service, and the Police.

All of those released this time are men: 82 soldiers and sergeants, and 21 officers.

Among those released this time are: 38 soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine, 28 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (two of the Kraken Regiment, two of the International Legion, three of the Special Operations Forces, and one of the Territorial Defense Forces).

Eight border guards, four policemen, twenty-one sailors, three representatives of the State Transport Special Service, and one representative of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine were released.

SPOILER

Україна повернула 103 захисників [14.09.2024]

The released soldiers participated in the defense against Russian invaders in Mariupol (69 soldiers, including Azovstal defenders—31 soldiers), Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Kyiv regions. There are also two Chornobyl NPP guards among them.

“Today, 23 soldiers of the Azov Brigade returned home after more than two years of captivity,” stated military spokeswoman Olena Tolkacheva.

Most of them have been seriously injured or wounded, have serious illnesses, and need immediate medical attention.

Ukraine has been working for a long time to organize their return.

^{Ukrainian POWs returned from Russian captivity. 14.09.2024. Ukraine. Photo credits: Volodymyr Zelensky}

The United Arab Emirates helped with the exchange.

“Ukraine expresses its gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for its help in organizing another exchange,” the Coordination Headquarters said.

^{Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity. 14.09.2024. Ukraine. Photo credits: Volodymyr Zelensky}

On August 13, Ukraine secured the return of 49 prisoners of war from Russian captivity, including defenders of Azovstal for the first time in a long period.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 17:41 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Die stukken zijn ze met het huidige beleid toch wel kwijt.

quote:

Ukrainian Paratroopers Repel Russian Airborne Forces Assault in Kursk Oblast

^{Explosion of an airborne infantry fighting vehicles on an anti-tank mine, Kursk region. Freeze frame from the video of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces}

On September 13, 2024, units of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces repelled a mechanized assault by the Russian Airborne Forces in the Kursk oblast.

The Ukrainian Air Assault Forces shared this news on its official Telegram channel.

“The troops of the aggressor state are making desperate attempts to push out the Ukrainian Defense Forces from the Kursk region,” stated the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.

The enemy engaged 14 units of military equipment, including two tanks, eleven airborne infantry fighting vehicles, and one armored personnel carrier. The vehicles were also equipped with additional protection against drones.

SPOILER

Українські десантники відбили на Курщині штурм російських ВДВ

The involvement of airborne infantry fighting vehicles in the battle suggests that a unit of the Airborne Forces attempted to carry out the attack.

^{Collage from the video of repulsing an assault in the Kursk region. Frames from the video of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces}

According to the video, FPV drones were used to repel the assault, as well as pre-placed anti-tank mines. The quality of the video does not allow us to clearly identify some of the destroyed vehicles. However, the video shows that at least six Russian vehicles were destroyed.

“As a result, five airborne infantry fighting vehicles, a tank and an armored personnel carrier of the Russian troops, as well as several dozen 200th Russian soldiers remained on the battlefield. The rest of the surviving Russian servicemen of the Airborne Forces fled,” the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces reported.

As previously reported, on September 10, 2024, Russian troops launched an offensive in the Kursk oblast to push the Ukrainian Defense Forces out of Russia.

A Russian armored group attacked the village of Snagost from the side of the village of Korenevo.

In response, the Ukrainian Defense Forces made a breakthrough on a new section of the front in the Kursk oblast, threatening the flank of the advancing Russian group.

^{The direction of the new breakthrough of the Defense Forces. Photo: Special Kherson Cat}

The breakthrough of the Russian border occurred in the area towards the village of Vesele. Due to engineering reconnaissance, the offensive routes were prepared, allowing the troops to cross the border unhindered and safely continue to move through enemy territory.

“We have entered a new place, kilometers into Russia… a group of Russian conscripts numbering at least a thousand people is under the threat of encirclement,” reported the Khorne Group.

quote:

Russia’s Medvedev threatens to turn Kyiv into ‘giant melted spot’
UK and US are deliberating giving Kyiv permission to use Western weapons against targets deep inside Russia.

Moscow on Saturday threatened to reduce Kyiv to a "giant melted spot" if Ukraine is allowed by its allies to use Western long-range missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia.

The threat by Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, came as the U.S. and the U.K. are deliberating giving Kyiv permission to use Western weapons to attack strategic targets farther into Russian territory.

Medvedev, who likes to rattle nuclear sabers, said the Kremlin already has "formal" grounds to use nuclear weapons after Ukraine's cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk region, but could instead utilize newer technologies to create a "giant melted spot" on the site of the Ukrainian capital.

Moscow has been "showing patience," Medvedev said in a post on Telegram. "However, the pompous Anglo-Saxon imbeciles do not want to admit one thing: any patience comes to an end."

At the same time, Medvedev said "a nuclear conflict is really not needed by anyone," adding that: "It is obvious that a nuclear response is an extremely difficult decision with irreversible consequences."

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden, at a meeting in Washington on Friday, deliberated over Ukraine’s possible use of British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles on Russian soil, without announcing any decision.

Ahead of that meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin late Thursday said giving Kyiv such permission would put NATO countries “at war with Russia." Biden dismissed the threat, telling reporters: “I don't think much about Vladimir Putin."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday renewed Kyiv's pleas for expanded use of Western weapons. "We are making progress on the battlefield. But we need permission to use long-range weapons," Zelenskyy said. "I hope that the U.S. political community understands this clearly and that the relevant decision will be made.”

Speaking after Friday's meeting with Biden, Starmer said no final decision had been taken on the Storm Shadow missiles. He suggested that further developments may follow at the gathering of the U.N. General Assembly later this month.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 17:25 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
twee vragen:

• Zou Oekra�ne dit filmpje dan tonen?
• Zou Rusland dan geen beelden van 15 seconden later tonen?

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 15:37 schreef AFA2022 het volgende:

[..]
Hopelijk werkt de tactiek en moet Rusland alsnog troepen weghalen bij het front. Want tot nu toe weigerde ze troepen van het front weg te halen jammer genoeg.

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 18:23 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
U vraagt, oekraine draait?

[ x ]

Het zou mij niet verbazen, tenzij rus op magische wijze hun meat recruitment heeft op kunnen hogen, en dat lijkt niet waarschijnlijk als ze met roebel bedragen in de miljoenen moeten gaan adverteren om vers meat te werven, kan er nu eenmaal minder meat dan voorheen naar het oostfront.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 15:31 schreef Ulx het volgende:
[ x ]

Ach jee, kunnen ze nu niet gewoon even alles helder aan de grote klok hangen? Elke keer hetzelfde gedonder.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 16:37 schreef Idisrom het volgende:

[..]
Het lijkt indrukwekkend, die colonne oprukkende Oekra�ense tanks. Maar is het ook daadwerkelijk?

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 18:29 schreef BEFEM het volgende:
De vraag is of dit klopt.....

SPOILER

Grapje

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 18:23 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
U vraagt, oekraine draait?

[ x ]

Het zou mij niet verbazen, tenzij rus op magische wijze hun meat recruitment heeft op kunnen hogen, en dat lijkt niet waarschijnlijk als ze met roebel bedragen in de miljoenen moeten gaan adverteren om vers meat te werven, kan er nu eenmaal minder meat dan voorheen naar het oostfront.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 19:13 schreef halfway het volgende:

[..]
De term "Meat" is nogal denigrerend het zijn nog altijd mensen, vrijwillig of niet niemand heeft gekozen voor deze oorlog en zouden maar wat graag thuis aan de soep zitten.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 19:13 schreef halfway het volgende:

[..]
De term "Meat" is nogal denigrerend het zijn nog altijd mensen, vrijwillig of niet niemand heeft gekozen voor deze oorlog en zouden maar wat graag thuis aan de soep zitten.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 19:36 schreef Wantie het volgende:

[..]
Rusland heeft gekozen voor deze oorlog.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 19:13 schreef halfway het volgende:
vrijwillig of niet niemand heeft gekozen voor deze oorlog en zouden maar wat graag thuis aan de soep zitten.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 19:13 schreef halfway het volgende:

[..]
De term "Meat" is nogal denigrerend het zijn nog altijd mensen, vrijwillig of niet niemand heeft gekozen voor deze oorlog en zouden maar wat graag thuis aan de soep zitten.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 19:40 schreef halfway het volgende:

[..]
Putin heeft gekozen.

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 20:01 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
Ja, en het is ook putin persoonlijk, die babies verkracht, die al die mensen in bucha heeft vermoord, die al die mensen in die martelkamers aan het martelen is.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 20:40 schreef halfway het volgende:

[..]
Hij is verantwoordelijk.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 19:40 schreef halfway het volgende:

[..]
Putin heeft gekozen.

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 20:45 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
Trappen we sinds 1945 al niet meer in.

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 14:29 schreef ExTec het volgende:
En deze nog even, gewoon omdat het kan:

[ x ]

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 21:06 schreef halfway het volgende:

[..]
Biden
Kim
Putin
Xi
Etc.
En straks ook onze ex staatsmongool Rutte zijn verantwoordelijk voor al deze shit

quote:

Europese regeringen zouden een eind moeten maken aan de financi�le steun voor Oekra�ense mannen die in Europa zijn opgevangen en de leeftijd hebben om in militaire dienst te treden. Dat heeft de Poolse minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Radoslaw Sikorski zaterdag gezegd tijdens een bezoek aan Kiev, de hoofdstad die nog altijd regelmatig onder Russisch vuur ligt.

Het afschaffen van de bijdragen zou Oekra�ne helpen meer manschappen te mobiliseren in de strijd tegen de Russische invasietroepen, aldus de bewindsman uit het buurland.

Sikorski stelde voor om een eind te maken aan de gunstige positie van gevluchte Oekra�ense mannen in West-Europa, bijvoorbeeld door hun uitkering in te trekken. Daar zou ook de staatskas van de gastlanden profijt van hebben. Ruim 4,1 miljoen Oekra�ners hebben volgens het statistiekbureau van de EU, cijfers van juli, momenteel de vluchtelingenstatus. Ongeveer 22 procent zijn volwassen mannen.

quote:

Ukraine launched production of 155-mm artillery shells, official says
Ukraine already produces its own 155 mm artillery ammunition, said Oleksandr Kamyshin, newly appointed by President Zelensky as external adviser for strategic issues.

Kamishyn, who resigned from his post as Strategic Industries Minister during the biggest wartime government reshuffle on Sept. 4, told Norwegian media Nettavisen that Ukraine's production of defense material doubled under his leadership.

"By the end of the year, it will have tripled. We continue to drive on," Kamishyn added.

Ukraine has long tried to ramp up domestic ammunition production to become more independent from Western partners. In the summer of 2023, Ukroboronprom said that it had already mastered the production of 82 mm mortar mines, 122 mm, and 152 mm artillery rounds, as well as 125 mm tank shells.

Earlier media reports cited Ukrainian officials hoping to begin producing "desperately needed" NATO-standard 155 mm artillery rounds in the 'second half' of 2024 at the earliest.

"This is a very complicated process. This is something that Ukraine has never done before," Kamyshin said, adding that he "can't say much" on the matter.

Despite domestic efforts, the Ukrainian army still mainly depends on supplying 155 mm shells from partners, as European countries join forces to buy the rounds outside Europe.

The U.S. also opened a new factory last May to produce 155 mm munitions for Ukraine and significantly increased production in some existing factories.

quote:

NATO military committee chair, others back Ukraine’s use of long range weapons to hit Russia
The head of NATO’s military committee said Saturday that Ukraine has the solid legal and military right to strike deep inside Russia to gain combat advantage — reflecting the beliefs of a number of U.S. allies — even as the Biden administration balks at allowing Kyiv to do so using American-made weapons.

“Every nation that is attacked has the right to defend itself. And that right doesn’t stop at the border of your own nation,” said Adm. Rob Bauer, speaking at the close of the committee’s annual meeting, also attended by U.S. Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Bauer, of Netherlands, also added that nations have the sovereign right to put limits on the weapons they send to Ukraine. But, standing next to him at a press briefing, Lt. Gen. Karel Řehka, chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, made it clear his nation places no such weapons restrictions on Kyiv.

“We believe that the Ukrainians should decide themselves how to use it,” Řehka said.

Their comments came as U.S. President Joe Biden is weighing whether to allow Ukraine to use American-provided long-range weapons to hit deep into Russia. And they hint at the divisions over the issue.

SPOILER

Biden met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday, after this week’s visit to Kyiv by their top diplomats, who came under fresh pressure to loosen weapons restrictions. U.S. officials familiar with discussions said they believed Starmer was seeking Biden’s approval to allow Ukraine to use British Storm Shadow missiles for expanded strikes in Russia.

Biden’s approval may be needed because Storm Shadow components are made in the U.S. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to share the status of private conversations, said they believed Biden would be amenable, but there has been no decision announced yet.

Providing additional support and training for Ukraine was a key topic at the NATO chiefs’ meeting, but it wasn’t clear Saturday if the debate over the U.S. restrictions was discussed.

Many of the European nations have been vigorously supportive of Ukraine in part because they worry about being the next victim of an empowered Russia.

At the opening of the meeting, Czech Republic President Petr Pavel broadly urged the military chiefs gathered in the room to be ”bold and open in articulating your assessments and recommendations. The rounder and the softer they are, the less they will be understood by the political level.”

The allies, he said, must “take the right steps and the right decisions to protect our countries and our way of life.”

The military leaders routinely develop plans and recommendations that are then sent to the civilian NATO defense secretaries for discussion and then on to the nations’ leaders in the alliance.

The U.S. allows Ukraine to use American-provided weapons in cross-border strikes to counter attacks by Russian forces. But it doesn’t allow Kyiv to fire long-range missiles, such as the ATACMS, deep into Russia. The U.S. has argued that Ukraine has drones that can strike far and should use ATACMS judiciously because they only have a limited number.

Ukraine has increased its pleas with Washington to lift the restrictions, particularly as winter looms and Kyiv worries about Russian gains during the colder months.

“You want to weaken the enemy that attacks you in order to not only fight the arrows that come your way, but also attack the archer that is, as we see, very often operating from Russia proper into Ukraine,” said Bauer. “So militarily, there’s a good reason to do that, to weaken the enemy, to weaken its logistic lines, fuel, ammunition that comes to the front. That is what you want to stop, if at all possible.”

Brown, for his part, told reporters traveling with him to the meeting that the U.S. policy on long-range weapons remains in place.

But, he added, “by the same token, what we want to do is — regardless of that policy — we want to continue to make Ukraine successful with the capabilities that have been provided” by the U.S. and other nations in the coalition, as well as the weapons Kyiv has been able to build itself.

“They’ve proven themselves fairly effective in building out uncrewed aerial vehicles, in building out drones,” Brown told reporters traveling with him to meetings in Europe.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has made similar points, arguing that one weapons system won’t determine success in the war.

“There are a number of things that go into the overall equation as to whether or not you know you want to provide one capability or another,” Austin said Friday. “There is no silver bullet when it comes to things like this.”

He also noted that Ukraine has already been able to strike inside Russia with its own internally produced systems, including drones.

quote:

Belarus wants to avoid participation in hostilities against Ukraine
The military and political leadership of Belarus wants to avoid taking part in hostilities against Ukraine. Such sentiments are shared at almost all levels, reports the Center for National Resistance.

In particular, Belarusian representatives of the security forces admit in informal conversations that the Belarusian army is unable to confront the Ukrainian armed forces in the event of a direct military clash.

The reason for this is the lack of sufficient numbers of people and weapons. In addition, the situation is exacerbated by the fact that the country has transferred significant amounts of weapons and ammunition inherited from the USSR to Russia. Another factor is the lack of experience in modern warfare and the unwillingness of the Belarusian Armed Forces to fight against Ukraine.

The successful operation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the Kursk region of Russia has further strengthened the lack of confidence in their own capabilities.

“In off-the-record conversations, direct parallels are drawn between the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and those Russian units that provided border defense in the Kursk region,” the CNR noted.

In addition, Belarusians are afraid for their refineries, as they realize that they are completely within the range of Ukrainian missiles and drones, and the Belarusian air defense forces, in turn, have no combat experience. The fear is also caused by the fact that even the Russian air defense forces cannot protect their own refineries from Ukrainian strikes.

A few weeks ago, Belarus began to mass troops to the border with Ukraine. According to the State Border Guard Service, self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is doing this under the guise of exercises. In response, Ukrainian border guards are stepping up their defense in the Chernihiv region.

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 18:16 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Poetin heeft direct na de inval bevolen dat de AFU uiterlijk 1 oktober uit Rusland moet zijn getrapt. Dat gaat Rusland denk ik niet meer lukken tenzij er echt iets heel geks gebeurd.

Dat zou heel pijnlijk voor hem zijn.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 06:09 schreef Delenlill het volgende:

Update from Ukraine | Amazing! Ruzzian Army Fell for the Trap in Kursk and up to be Encircled

quote:

Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 11:57 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
"Een beetje wapens geven zodat Oekraine het een tijdje kan volhouden en als ze uiteindelijk verliezen hebben we het in ieder geval geprobeerd" is geen plan. Winnen zal Oekraine toch niet op deze manier maar het kost ze wel enorm veel levens.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 09:08 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

[..]
Gemodereerde wapentoevoer is wel een plan om langzaamaan uit te breiden zonder all in te gaan. Het is naar mijn mening geen goed plan maar niettemin een plan.

En nog steeds een beter plan dan geef je maar over en stik er maar in.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 11:42 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Verlies bijna gegarandeerd.

Je kunt ook een eeuwig bestand afspreken met de huidige frontlinie als gedemilitariseerd gebied, met daarbij de disclaimer dat Rusland een internationale paria blijft tot ze de veroverde gebieden teruggeven aan Oekraine.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 11:59 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

[..]
Dat is ook geen oplossing. Alleen volop wapens leveren doet wat. En rode lijnen trekken die je daadwerkelijk wilt en kunt handhaven. Dat beteken bijvoorbeeld dat de NATO zich moet voorbereiden om de Russische troepen in Ukraine te decimeren.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 08:45 schreef Idisrom het volgende:

[..]
Zo, onze vriend is wel weer heel voorbarig over Russische 'Amazing!, Trap, to be Encircled and big Mistakes'.
De Oekra�ners zijn nog steeds zo'n 8 kilometer van Glushkovo vandaan, en het is de vraag of ze Veseloe al geheel bezet hebben. Glushkovo heeft altijd al zo'n 10 kilometer van de grens gelegen, en het lijkt er bij mij meer op dat de Oekra�ense tanks alleen wat kriskras crossen over wat graanvelden op een paar vierkante kilometer.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:05 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Dan moeten er wel daadwerkelijk NAVO-troepen naar Oekraine, maar daarvoor zijn we te laf slim.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:05 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Dan moeten er wel daadwerkelijk NAVO-troepen naar Oekraine, maar daarvoor zijn we te laf.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:12 schreef VEM2012 het volgende:

[..]

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:23 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Ja lekker slim om Oekraine langzaam zien te verliezen en honderdduizenden mensenlevens zien te verspillen.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:32 schreef VEM2012 het volgende:

[..]
Ja, dat heeft een beetje te maken met dat het Westen met grote woorden Oekra�ne beloftes heeft gedaan die praktisch niet waar te maken zijn.

Wat dat betreft heeft de VS een heel gemeen spel gespeeld. Uit alles blijkt dat ze geen moment geprobeerd hebben om de oorlog in het voordeel van Oekra�ne te beslechten, laat staan hebben geprobeerd te voorkomen.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 11:42 schreef -XOR- het volgende:
Je kunt ook een eeuwig bestand afspreken met de huidige frontlinie als gedemilitariseerd gebied

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:38 schreef voetbalmanager2 het volgende:

[..]
Net zoals de belofte van Poetin kort voor de oorlog dat hij Oekra�ne niet binnen zou vallen, maar slechts wat troepen naar de grens had verplaatst om te oefenen? Of zijn belofte dat de Krim gewoon Oekra�ens zou blijven?

Of willekeurig de helft van al zijn uitspraken die leugens en bedrog bleken te zijn?
Ik denk niet dat Oekra�ne veel waarde hecht aan zo'n bestand.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:05 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Dan moeten er wel daadwerkelijk NAVO-troepen naar Oekraine, maar daarvoor zijn we te laf.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:37 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Dat was mijn punt een beetje. Daar kunnen we dan maar beter eerlijk in zijn en aansturen op een bestand dan voort blijven borduren op deze heilloze weg die alleen maar meer mensenlevens kost en Oekraine geen steek dichter bij een overwinning brengt.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:39 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Als Rusland het bestand dan schendt kan Oekraine ook verder vechten.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:37 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Dat was mijn punt een beetje. Daar kunnen we dan maar beter eerlijk in zijn en aansturen op een bestand dan voort blijven borduren op deze heilloze weg die alleen maar meer mensenlevens kost en Oekraine geen steek dichter bij een overwinning brengt.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:47 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

[..]
Je kan ook van je kont komen om je beloftes waar te maken.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:05 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Dan moeten er wel daadwerkelijk NAVO-troepen naar Oekraine, maar daarvoor zijn we te laf.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:47 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

[..]
Je kan ook van je kont komen om je beloftes waar te maken.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:49 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Dat heeft niet zoveel zin. Als de militaire steun niet meer behelst dan wapenleveranties gaat Oekraine het niet winnen.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 13:02 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:

[..]
Gaan ze nu ook niet hoor. Dus zeg het maar: Wil je verliezen met relatief weinig doden of verliezen met gigantisch veel doden?

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 13:15 schreef Opnaarutrecht het volgende:

[..]
Een schoolvoorbeeld van de drogreden 'vals dilemma' en dezelfde onzin die een Ewald Engelen of Marianne Thieme verkondigt.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 11:42 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Verlies bijna gegarandeerd.

Je kunt ook een eeuwig bestand afspreken met de huidige frontlinie als gedemilitariseerd gebied, met daarbij de disclaimer dat Rusland een internationale paria blijft tot ze de veroverde gebieden teruggeven aan Oekraine.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 13:40 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:

[..]
Nou ja, we gaan zien wat er uit komt de komende jaren. Winnen als in alle Russen het land uit gaat niet gebeuren.

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Op zaterdag 14 september 2024 21:23 schreef Red_85 het volgende:

[..]
Scholz is weer aan het scholzen.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:16 schreef Zwoerd het volgende:

[..]
Met wat vliegtuigen in de lucht en schepen in de Zwarte Zee zou je genoeg moeten hebben aan de Oekra�ense troepen.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:06 schreef skysherrif het volgende:
In rusland zijn in de gebieden Voronezh, bryansk en met name rostov echt enorme branden uitgebroken. Meerdere dorpen staan totaal in de fik en het vuur kmt ook in de buurt bij grotere steden. Niet genoeg brandweerautos om het op te lossen.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 12:37 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Dat was mijn punt een beetje. Daar kunnen we dan maar beter eerlijk in zijn en aansturen op een bestand dan voort blijven borduren op deze heilloze weg die alleen maar meer mensenlevens kost en Oekraine geen steek dichter bij een overwinning brengt.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:18 schreef RotatoR het volgende:

[..]
Bang zijn voor kernwapens en daarom Poetin zijn willen geven is pas een heilloze weg.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:06 schreef skysherrif het volgende:
In rusland zijn in de gebieden Voronezh, bryansk en met name rostov echt enorme branden uitgebroken. Meerdere dorpen staan totaal in de fik en het vuur kmt ook in de buurt bij grotere steden. Niet genoeg brandweerautos om het op te lossen.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:21 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Zoals nu gebeurt bedoel je?

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:22 schreef RotatoR het volgende:

[..]
Als dat zo was dan vlogen er nu geen F16's boven Oekra�ne.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:23 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

we zijn ik ben doodsbang voor EsCaLaTiE

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:23 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Nee hoor, we zijn doodsbang voor EsCaLaTiE

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:27 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:23 schreef -XOR- het volgende:

[..]
Nee hoor, we zijn doodsbang voor EsCaLaTiE

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:29 schreef RotatoR het volgende:

[..]
Jij ja. Je loopt hier de Chamberlain uit te hangen.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:31 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
Je kunt pro-oekraine zijn, en commentaar hebben op het laffe beleid van VS/DE.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:33 schreef RotatoR het volgende:

[..]
Zekers net als dat de oproep tot een vredesbestand laf is.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:49 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Over die oproep van Scholz gesproken.
Ik las een zooi tweets waarin men zei dat Scholz zoiets wilde, maar ik hoor daar niets meer over. Geen statements van regeringen. Zelenskyy zegt niets. Scholz zegt niets. Geen enorme discussie op de opiniepagina's. Er is geen enorme shitstorm tussen de leiders van de westerse landen. Fico en Orban roepen er ook niets over. En van die twee zou je echt wel verwachten dat ze luidkeels hun steun zouden uitspreken voor zoiets.

Heb ik nieuwsberichten gemist? Is de discussie volledig langs me heen gegaan?

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:55 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
Maar in de grote mensen wereld is er ook nog zoiets als: via niet offici�le kanalen een ballonnetje loslaten, om te testen hoe de goegemeente er op reageert.

En als er dan een shitstorm uitbreekt, hou je daarna je snaveltje toe, en doe je alsof je shaggy bent: it wasn't me!

En als ik een fico of orban zou zijn, zou ik sowieso me mond houden. Want endorsement van hun kant, is voor het verstandiger deel van europa sowieso the kiss of death.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 16:00 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 13:02 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:

[..]
Gaan ze nu ook niet hoor. Dus zeg het maar: Wil je verliezen met relatief weinig doden of verliezen met gigantisch veel doden?

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 16:34 schreef LXIV het volgende:
Onderhandelen is niet hetzelfde als verliezen. Praktisch iedere oorlog eindigt met onderhandelen, deze oorlog zeker want Rusland als geheel zal niet verslagen worden.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 16:34 schreef LXIV het volgende:

[..]
Onderhandelen is niet hetzelfde als verliezen. Praktisch iedere oorlog eindigt met onderhandelen, deze oorlog zeker want Rusland als geheel zal niet verslagen worden.
Het enige doel van oorlog voeren is het verbeteren van je onderhandelingspositie. Als je die positie niet significant meer kan verbeteren of als de prijs daarvoor te hoog is moet je stoppen met oorlog voeren.
Ik denk trouwens niet dat Rusland er zo goed voorstaat, maar goed. Een uitkomst die voor een van beide partijen volstrekt onacceptabel is, is ook een garantie op het later weer losbarsten van het conflict.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 16:34 schreef LXIV het volgende:

[..]
Onderhandelen is niet hetzelfde als verliezen. Praktisch iedere oorlog eindigt met onderhandelen, deze oorlog zeker want Rusland als geheel zal niet verslagen worden.
Het enige doel van oorlog voeren is het verbeteren van je onderhandelingspositie. Als je die positie niet significant meer kan verbeteren of als de prijs daarvoor te hoog is moet je stoppen met oorlog voeren.
Ik denk trouwens niet dat Rusland er zo goed voorstaat, maar goed. Een uitkomst die voor een van beide partijen volstrekt onacceptabel is, is ook een garantie op het later weer losbarsten van het conflict.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 17:34 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:

[..]
Beide partijen verliezen, maar Oekra�ne gaat de grotere verliezer zijn. Dat is een beetje wat ik verwwcht.

quote:

Ukrainian troops received 18 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers financed by Denmark

^{2S22 Bohdana wheeled 155mm self-propelled gun on the Tatra T815 chassis, November 2023. Photo credits: press service of the Joint Forces Command}

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have received 18 new Bohdana self-propelled howitzers, which the Kingdom of Denmark financed.

Troels Lund Poulsen, Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Denmark, announced this at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum.

According to the Minister of Defense, the Bohdana self-propelled howitzers, the purchase of which Denmark financed, are now in service.

He also noted that the transfer of all the ordered systems took place two months after this deal was financed.

SPOILER

^{Ukrainian 2S22 Bohdana wheeled howitzer on the Tatra T815 chassis, April 29, 2024. Photo credits: Oleksandr Kamyshin}

“This was the first deal we signed. In July, we placed an order to produce 18 Bohdana artillery systems, and this weekend, they were transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Poulsen said.

In addition, the Minister noted that it is much easier to purchase weapons and provide technical and material support for them, as it requires much less money.

“Now we are calling on more European countries to fund weapons production here in Ukraine,” the Minister added.

Oleksandr Kamyshin, former Minister of Strategic Industries, noted that Ukraine is capable of producing and implementing more projects that would help the country in the war, but the only pressing issue is sufficient funding.

^{Workshop for the production of armored vehicles and chassis for Bohdana self-propelled guns}

In July 2024, the government of the Kingdom of Denmark announced that it would fund the production of 18 Ukrainian 2S22 Bohdana wheeled howitzers.

Denmark’s representatives chose this particular artillery system as military aid based on an official recommendation from Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Strategic Industries.

Denmark’s order of Ukrainian-made heavy weapons for the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces was the first such precedent. This was part of an official agreement between the two countries on defense cooperation signed in June this year.

According to official statements, in May of this year, the Ukrainian defense industry reached the monthly production rate of 10 Bogdan self-propelled howitzers.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 17:34 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:
Dat is een beetje wat ik verwwcht.

quote:

Russian Black Sea Fleet grouping leaves the base in Novorossiysk

^{Russian amphibious ships at sea. The photo is illustrative}

On September 14, 2024, the naval grouping of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation left the base in Novorossiysk.

Analyst @CovertShores reported on this with reference to satellite images on his page on social media X.

“Probably in response to Ukrainian air threats, possibly the news that Storm Shadow missiles could be used in Russia. Today, Russian Navy ships have completed the evacuation of Novorossiysk,” he wrote.

The released satellite image shows completely empty berths, with the exception of one on the far left, where Black Sea Fleet ships used to be based.

SPOILER

^{Satellite image of the naval base in Novorossiysk on September 14, 2024. Photo credits: @CovertShores}

Other OSINTERs confirm his words. In particular, @HUJINSYOUJO published satellite images for September 9 and 14, 2024, which allow us to see changes in ship basing.

^{Satellite imagery of Novorossiysk on September 9 (left) and 14 (right). Photo credits: @HUJINSYOUJO}

It is not yet clear where the Black Sea Fleet ships went. However, OSINTER @MT_Anderson found two groups of ships using satellite imagery that are likely to belong to the Black Sea Fleet grouping. However, they were not heading north towards the Azov Sea and the Volga-Don Canal but south, passing by Gelendzhik.

^{A possible grouping of Black Sea Fleet ships moving south. Photo credits: @MT_Anderson}

It is also unclear whether this is a permanent relocation or temporary maneuvers.

Withdrawal of the Black Sea Fleet from Novorossiysk
This is not Russia’s first withdrawal of Black Sea Fleet ships from Novorossiysk. In early June 2024, it already withdrew a large group from there. At that time, Russian dock landing ships with a powerful escort left the port of Novorossiysk, where they had previously been hiding from Ukrainian attacks for an extended period.

However, there was still a significant grouping in the port at the time, including two frigates, a medium-sized reconnaissance ship, a small anti-submarine ship, a landing boat, a corvette, and one project patrol ship.

Later, some of the ships that were then withdrawn from Novorossiysk were spotted in Sevastopol and the Sea of Azov.

At the beginning of August, the Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed a Russian submarine and an S-400 air defense system in temporarily occupied Crimea.

On August 2, 2024, units of the missile forces, in cooperation with units of the Ukrainian Navy, significantly damaged four launchers of the S-400 Triumf air defense system. In addition, according to the Ukrainian military, a Rostov-na-Donu submarine of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was successfully hit in the port of temporarily occupied Sevastopol.

quote:

Op zondag 15 september 2024 17:34 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:

[..]
Beide partijen verliezen, maar Oekra�ne gaat de grotere verliezer zijn. Dat is een beetje wat ik verwwcht.

quote:

HALO Ukraine trains 600 humanitarian demining instructors

^{A man learns demining on a course from The HALO Trust. Photo credits: Suspilne Mykolaiv/Fedir Bondar}

The HALO Trust Ukraine has trained 600 certified humanitarian demining instructors.

The Foundation reported that the instructors were trained within the “Training of Trainers” project, which HALO Ukraine launched a year and a half ago.

Graduates of the course are rescuers, police officers, volunteers, teachers, farmers, and government employees.

They are already training people in their communities to recognize and respond to explosive threats.

Thanks to their work, over 75,000 Ukrainians have gained life-saving knowledge.

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^{A representative of The HALO Trust trains humanitarian demining instructors. 2024, Ukraine. Photo credits: The HALO Trust}

The HALO Trust is the largest humanitarian demining organization in the world, headquartered in the United Kingdom.

HALO fulfills its mission by clearing areas of landmines and other explosive ordnance, allowing people to safely rebuild their lives after conflict.

The Halo TRUST is currently active in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv regions.

The organization works in Ukraine to inform the public about the risks associated with explosive ordnance, clearing territories and further transferring land to communities.

^{Humanitarian demining instructors who have completed a course from The HALO Trust. 2024, Ukraine. Photo credits: The HALO Trust}

In 2023, members of the organization developed a course that provides an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills as an instructor.

After completing the course, the instructor will be able to independently conduct information sessions on mine risk in communities and raise awareness of these issues among the Ukrainian population.

^{Humanitarian demining instructors who have completed a course from The HALO Trust. 2024, Ukraine. Photo credits: The HALO Trust}

In August, the National Qualifications Agency approved a new professional standard for deminers.

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Special forces commander says Chechens who surrender to Ukraine ‘don’t deserve to live’
Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Chechen Akhmat special forces battalion, on Sunday castigated the Chechen soldiers who had voluntarily surrendered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), commenting in a video message on his Telegram channel that they didn’t “deserve to live”.

Alaudinov said he had been “furious” upon seeing videos of Chechen fighters taken prisoner by the AFU and would not make any efforts to secure their return to Russia as surrendering was a “disgrace” that couldn’t “be washed away with anything other than one’s own blood”.

“I don’t think you even deserve to live. I'm amazed at how you plan to live after you held your hands up and surrendered like little girls”, Alaudinov said, before encouraging Chechens who had surrendered to the AFU to attack those holding them captive and “do everything you can to get yourselves killed”.

Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin joked that Alaudinov’s message showed that Akhmat “doesn’t abandon its own” and said any Chechens tempted to join the battalion because of “attractive advertising” should “take note” of the commander’s remarks.

In August, Alaudinov denied that the AFU had captured several Akhmat fighters amid ongoing clashes in Russia’s western Kursk region.

Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets later said that the AFU’s capture of Akhmat soldiers had prompted Russia to initiate talks on a prisoner exchange between the two countries, which was confirmed in late August.

Alaudinov, who is seen as a potential future candidate to head Chechnya in light of strongman Ramzan Kadyrov’s failing health, is known for his impassioned video messages, in which he frequently berates those he considers insufficiently patriotic.

Following his denial that Akhmat troops had been taken prisoner in August, he criticised those who complained about conditions faced by conscripts called up to fight for Russia in Ukraine, saying that “everyone in our country should be queuing up to serve”.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 17:26 schreef Peppert het volgende:

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Precies. Je moet niet vergeten aan te geven dat oorlogen niet van het een op andere moment beginnen. Daar gaan vaak jaren aan bewuste politieke keuzes aan vooraf die de spanningen tussen partijen opdrijven. Een proces aan politieke beleidskeuzes die het grote publiek vaak niet door heeft (men heeft een heel korte aandachtspanne of de media geeft weinig tot geen aandacht aan) maar die de politieke klasse wel doorziet, doordenkt en bewust doorzet.

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Five people killed in Russian airstrikes on Ukraine’s Odesa and Zaporizhzhia regions

Damage caused by a Russian missile strike on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, 15 September 2024. Photo: Ivan Fedorov

Two people were killed in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa and three in the country’s central Zaporizhzhia region as Russia launched aerial attacks on the two areas on Saturday, local authorities reported.

A married couple were killed and a 65-year-old woman was hospitalised with shrapnel wounds following a Russian strike on the outskirts of Odesa on Saturday evening, Odesa region Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram.

Law enforcement agencies in the area were “documenting the consequences of another terrorist act by the Russians”, Kiper said. He added that the attack had been carried out with cluster munitions, the use of which is banned under international law.

Zaporizhzhia region Governor Ivan Fedorov said that three men aged 41, 59 and 61 had been killed in a Russian missile strike on a farm near the town of Hulyaipole on Saturday afternoon, arguing that Russia had no “right to exist” after it carried out a total of 275 missile, drone and artillery strikes on the region on Saturday.

The Ukrainian Air Force said on Sunday morning that Russia had launched three missiles and 14 drones at the Odesa region overnight, with one missile and 10 drones intercepted by the country’s air defences.

“Ukraine needs strong support from our partners to defend lives against Russian terror — air defence, long-range capabilities, support for our warriors. Everything that will help force Russia to end this war”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X on Sunday, adding that Russia had attacked Ukraine with around 30 missiles, more than 800 guided aerial bombs and almost 300 drones over the past week.

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The 68th Jaeger Brigade destroyed 5 IFVs of the invaders

<sup>A Russian BMP-3 688M-SB3KDZ shot down in the camera of a Ukrainian drone in the Pokrov direction.

September 2024. Ukraine. A frame from the video of the 68th Brigade</sup>

The 68th Oleksa Dovbush Jaeger Brigade inflicted losses on a Russian assault armored group in the Pokrovsk sector.

The 68th Jaeger Brigade reported that the Russians tried to conduct a mechanized assault.

Artillery systems, a unit of attack UAVs, and soldiers were deployed to fight off the attack.

“In less than a day, thanks to the coordinated actions of FPV drone pilots and artillerymen, we managed to destroy five Russian IFVs,” the military shared.

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Єгерська бригада знищила 5 БМП окупантів [Вересень 2024]

Several types of Russian infantry fighting vehicles came under attack: BMP-2, BMP-2 675-SB3KDZ, and BMP-3 688M-SB3KDZ.

The 675-SB3KDZ and 688M-SB3KDZ on BMPs are protection kits consisting of polymer panels that are supposed to protect the vehicle from enemy fire. The Ukrainian military previously captured entire IFVs with such protection kits.

^{Russian infantry fighting vehicles in the cameras of Ukrainian FPV drones in the Pokrovsk sector. September 2024, Ukraine. Footage from the video of the 68th Jaeger Brigade}

Now, the Russian invaders have shifted their efforts to other areas in the Pokrovsk sector.

In other words, the Russians continue to put pressure on Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad not directly, but to the south – on Ukrainsk, Tsukuryne, and Hirnyk.

In this way, the Russian invaders are trying to find weaknesses in the Ukrainian defense and expand the occupied zone in the Pokrovsk sector.

^{Pokrovske sector on the DeepState map as of September 14, 2024}

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, last week, for the first time in several months, the Russian army made most of its assaults outside the Pokrovsk sector. The leader was the Kurakhove sector.

It is around Kurakhove, a town with a pre-war population of almost 20,000 and home to one of the largest thermal power plants in Donbas, that massive mechanized assaults by Russian troops are still taking place.

^{Kurakhove sector on the DeepState map as of September 14, 2024}

In other areas, the aggressor uses the tactics of small infantry groups moving on foot or on motorcycles.

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Founder of Georgia’s ruling party promises to ‘apologise’ for 2008 war with Russia

^{Bidzina Ivanishvili at a Georgian Dream rally in Tbilisi, Georgia, 31 October 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE}

Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party will “apologise” for the country’s 2008 war with Russia should it secure a majority at upcoming parliamentary elections in October, the party’s billionaire founder said on Saturday in comments reported by public broadcaster 1TV.

Speaking at a campaign rally in the city of Gori, former prime minister and honorary lifetime Georgian Dream chair Bidzina Ivanishvili said the United National Movement, which was the country’s ruling party between 2004 and 2012, was responsible for the August 2008 war that led to Russia taking control of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Stressing that the war had not been “the desire of either the Georgian or the Ossetian people”, Ivanishvili pledged that Georgian Dream would ensure those it deemed responsible for the war were prosecuted in a “Georgian Nuremberg process” should it be re-elected for a record fourth term in office in October.

“After the October 26 elections, when the instigators of the war are held accountable and those responsible for the destruction of the Georgian-Ossetian brotherhood face the harshest legal consequences, we will find the strength to apologise for the suffering endured by our Ossetian brothers and sisters in 2008, caused by the traitorous National Movement”, Ivanishvili said.

SPOILER

In a statement later on Saturday, the United National Movement called on Ivanishvili to apologise for the “national disgrace” caused by his comments, saying that he was “serving only Russia's interests, undermining the policy of non-recognition of the occupied territories and harming Georgia's national interest”.

Editor-in-chief of Russian propaganda broadcaster RT Margarita Simonyan, meanwhile, praised Ivanishvili, saying that she “warmly welcomed” his “surprisingly rational” remarks.

Earlier in September, Ivanishvili accused Georgia’s opposition of both “provoking” the 2008 war and trying to drag Georgia into the ongoing war in Ukraine by opening a “second front” against Russia on Georgian territory.

Tbilisi broke off diplomatic ties with Moscow in 2008 after Russia invaded the country in what it called a “peace enforcement” operation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. To this day, Georgia and most of the international community consider both regions to be under Russian military occupation.

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Op zondag 15 september 2024 15:33 schreef RotatoR het volgende:

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Zekers net als dat de oproep tot een vredesbestand laf is.