Here we go again-Ukraine once again pt2

[mapuc]

Are they hunger for more land ?



Markus

[Skybird]

Kyiv said they had no intention to hold Russian territory after their offensive.

As I said earlier, its possibly more a raid to cause confusion and destruction, and then retreat before a Russian counteroffensive's hammer falls. That's wise, I think. What will be until that Russian counteroffensive comes however... who knows how much damage this "excursion" can do until then.

[mapuc]

" a Russian counteroffensive's hammer falls."
With what? It seems like they are being hammered them self when they try to attack the Ukrainians.

Well here's more info on this incursion



Edit
Is it possible for Russia to use its air force against the invaders ? Seem to recall someone mention that Russia's huge/mighty air force could be used to bomb the invaders back where they came from
End edit

Markus

[Dargo]

Ukraine and US explore deeper cooperation in the critical minerals sector

The governments of Ukraine and the United States are considering deeper cooperation in the critical materials sector to encourage American businesses to invest in Ukraine’s mining and processing industries. This initiative was discussed during a meeting between Ukrainian Ministry of Economy officials and a US delegation on 12 August 2024.

First Deputy Minister of Economy Oleksiy Sobolev emphasized Ukraine’s potential in this sector, stating, “Ukraine is one of the richest countries in Europe in terms of mineral resources. The government is interested in cooperating with the US in the field of critical materials, which can help accelerate the green transition and improve the security situation in the region.”

As per Ecomonichna Pravda, Ukraine boasts deposits of 22 out of 34 minerals defined as critical by the EU. The country ranks among the top ten producers of titanium, zirconium, graphite, and manganese globally. Notably, Ukraine holds approximately 5% of the world’s reserves of raw materials essential for semiconductor and high-tech production in the US and EU.

Ukraine is the world’s second-largest producer of gallium after China, which recently banned the supply of this metal to the US and Germany. It also ranks fifth globally in germanium production after China, Russia, the US, and Japan.

According to the State Geological Survey, Ukraine is among the top five countries worldwide in terms of explored graphite reserves. Currently, six graphite deposits are known, but only one – part of the Zavallia deposit in the Kropyvnytskyi Oblast – is being exploited.

The meeting also touched upon the use of frozen Russian assets to benefit Ukraine. The Ukrainian government expressed gratitude to the US, G7 countries, and the EU for providing $50 billion in financial support from future revenues of frozen Russian assets. Sobolev highlighted the necessity of seizing all Russian state assets located abroad.

This potential partnership in the critical materials sector could significantly boost Ukraine’s economy while providing the US with a reliable source of essential minerals, strengthening the strategic relationship between the two nations. https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/08/...nerals-sector/

[Dargo]

Originally Posted by mapuc

" a Russian counteroffensive's hammer falls."
With what? It seems like they are being hammered them self when they try to attack the Ukrainians.

Well here's more info on this incursion

Edit
Is it possible for Russia to use its air force against the invaders ? Seem to recall someone mention that Russia's huge/mighty air force could be used to bomb the invaders back where they came from
End edit

Markus

I heard that Ukraine air defence is strong in this operation, even that there are patriot batteries deployed, maybe that is the reason we did not see much Russian air activity.

[mapuc]

If this video is to be believed then Russia is on a path to a huge defeat



Markus

[Skybird]

[QUOTE=mapuc;2921982]" a Russian counteroffensive's hammer falls."
With what? It seems like they are being hammered them self when they try to attack the Ukrainians.[quote]

Media report that in the past 2-3 days the pace of the Ukrainian advance has slowed down due to them meeting growing Russian resistance. Some Australian analyst said they now just "crawl" forward. The element of surprise is over. Russia adapts.

Is it possible for Russia to use its air force against the invaders ?

Media wrote that in the initial beginning of Ukraine's attack indeed Russian drones and air force were for the most the only resistance they encountered. However, I think its a safe bet that knowing they still do not have air supeirority again, Ukrainian units got stuffed up with air defences as best as possible for Ukraine.

Currently Russian reinforcements are hurrying there from all directions. They may not have yet bogged down the ukrainian advance completely, but I think that is just a question of time - and mathematics. After that, after a brief consolidation or not, the Russians will try to counterattack.

I doubt Ukraine can afford to see all those tropps getting lost just for those some hundred squarekilometers of Russian territory. They will pull out in time, and Russia will try to prevent them from escaping. I see this as an attempt to go back to mobile warfare, and so I think the Ukrainians have prepared well for swiftly moving in and out. If however they lose too many vehciles, then that might become difficult. Past two days saw a growing number of images of destroyed ukrainian equipment, too. Their losses of the first 2-3 days were said to be not more than "just" 10%, but from now on they will grow.

[mapuc]

Markus

[Skybird]

[Focus] The Ukrainian advance in the Russian region of Kursk has surprised many - including Vladimir Putin. Now the pressure on the Kremlin leader is growing. In an interview with FOCUS online, political scientist Thomas Jäger explains how Putin will react.

Ukraine's surprising advance into the Kursk region has caught the Kremlin unprepared. Ukrainian units are stepping up their pressure in the Kursk region in western Russia and expanding the territories they have gained. In view of these developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin is faced with the challenge of demonstrating strength in both domestic and foreign policy.

According to political expert Thomas Jäger, Putin will probably respond in two ways. Firstly, he has already announced that the reconquest of the territory currently occupied by Ukraine is his top priority. “The time factor will play a role here. If this is achieved quickly, his position will be more secure,” explains Jäger in an interview with FOCUS online.

A quick success would strengthen Putin's position, while a protracted reconquest could complicate his domestic political situation. The restoration of the state border is crucial for Putin in order to maintain his authority. On the other hand, Putin will probably intensify the bombing of civilian targets in Ukraine.


Jäger explains: “But this is, if you like, only a gradual extension, because targets in Ukraine are being bombed all the time, civilian targets.” This tactic serves to demonstrate strength and to punish those who have provoked Russia. For Putin, it is crucial to sell this action as an expression of his power and to restore Russia's territorial integrity, explains Jäger.

However, the foreign policy situation remains complicated for Putin. The surprise success of the Ukrainian troops has made it clear that Russia is vulnerable in this way. “It will be difficult for him to make up for this,” notes Jäger. However, Putin will continue to be courted by those who want something from him and his status as an international pariah will remain unchanged.

In terms of the domestic political impact of the Ukrainian offensive in Kursk, Jäger therefore sees no immediate danger to Putin's position. “I don't think it's likely that the Ukrainian offensive will lead to Putin's position being called into question among the population,” says Jäger.


Instead, responsibility is shifted to other actors. Jäger explains: “There is always someone who is held responsible. Someone who wasn't able to do their job.” These people could be punished, “and in the end it will mean that Putin has made up for everything that others here were unable to do professionally.”

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

AFU operation in Kursk region shows that Ukraine is tired of Western restrictions - The Times

Ukrainian troops have been advancing in the Kursk region, a strategically important part of Russia, for a week. Ukraine is seeking US permission to use US weapons during the fighting in Kursk.

It is noted that over time, Ukraine will want to use more Western weapons, such as US-made ATACMS missiles, to hit airfields deep inside Russia. If so requested, Washington could signal approval without explicitly agreeing.

"This will give Ukrainians some leverage in future peace talks. Or Zelenskyy can simply move on," said Roger Boyce, a journalist with the newspaper.

The newspaper believes that the Ukrainian president's ambition is to force Putin to redeploy Russian troops from eastern Ukraine to defend Kursk, and thus force the Russian dictator to face the politically uncomfortable choice of increasing the number of troops through general mobilisation.

What is happening in the Kursk region

As reported, on Tuesday, 6 August, the Russian Ministry of Defence said that fighting was continuing in the Kursk region. The invaders are bringing reserves there.

Subsequently, the Russian Ministry of Defence assured that there was no advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces deep into the territory of the Russian Federation in the Kursk region.

A video was posted online showing a group of Russian prisoners of war walking under escort on a road in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation

Dictator Vladimir Putin called the events "another large-scale provocation".

Forbes wrote that at least three brigades, each with up to 2,000 soldiers, are involved in the operation in the Kursk region. One of them, the 80th Air Assault Brigade, is one of the most powerful in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Later President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine controls 74 settlements in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.

The spokesperson for the OGT Tavria, Dmytro Lykhovii, said that as the Ukrainian Armed Forces entered the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, the occupiers withdrew a relatively small number of troops from the temporarily occupied districts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Ukrainian defenders have completed the search and elimination of the enemy in the town of Sudzha, Kursk region Source: https://censor.net/en/n3504688

[mapuc]

Good question: Is Russia planning the unthinkable ?


Markus

[Skybird]

Russian sabotage on military bases in Germany.


https://www-tagesspiegel-de.translat...en&_x_tr_hl=de

[Jimbuna]

[Dargo]

"The ship is scheduled for September." The roschnikovs are pulled to Kursk

Earlier this week, dozens of messages from relatives of Russian conscript soldiers began to appear on the Internet that the command plans to send them to the Kursk region, where the offensive of the Armed Forces continues. Radio Svoboda spoke with human rights defenders and mothers of conscripts to find out the geography and scale of the planned transfer of troops to the regions bordering Ukraine, as well as military experts to understand whether Ukraine managed to delay Russian forces from Donbass and reduce tensions on the "hest" areas of the front. The pace of the Ukrainian offensive in the Sudzhansky district of the Kursk region in recent days has slowed down, the Armed Forces are fixed in occupied positions, and the Russian military, apparently, is also preparing here for protracted battles: satellite images show that they began digging trenches and build fortifications about 45 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, in particular near the Kursk nuclear power plant and along the highway of the L.

As military experts have repeatedly noted since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, no defensive lines will not be sufficiently effective without saturating them with personnel, and with this on both sides in the war problems. One of the goals of the Ukrainian operation may be an attempt to delay Russian forces from the Kharkiv region and from the Pokrovsky direction in the Donbass. Evidence of their transfer from there, albeit rare, is indeed there. At the same time, Russia decided to use very young conscript soldiers in the Kursk region. They took the main blow of the APU at Suja on August 6-7 and were quickly taken into Ukrainian captivity. Now relatives of conscripts from other Russian regions have begun to report on the transfer of the transfer - both already held and planned - to the Kursk region. They actively write about it in social networks, contact the media and ask for the help of human rights defenders. Grigory Sverdlin, the founder of the project "Go with the Forest," which helps the Russians to avoid participation in the war, told Radio Liberty that according to the law, soldiers of military service can be sent to participate in hostilities under two conditions: he served for at least four months and was trained in a military-accounting specialty. Most of the conscripts, who themselves or through relatives turned to "Go Forest" for help in recent days, were called up in the spring of 2024. "They managed to serve two or three months, we are not talking about any four months. There was no training in the military-adopports. Therefore, it is impossible to formally send them all to the combat zone, but obviously now their commanders are much more concerned about what they will receive on the hat, if they do not quickly comply with the order," says Sverdlin.

Radio Liberty found several messages on the social network "Vkontakte," written by relatives of recent conscripts, most of whom joined the army immediately after school this spring - some of them have already served those 4 months, others will have this term in September. The mother of one of the soldiers (we do not publish her name because of the law on "undesirable organizations") told Radio Liberty that her son was called up for urgent service in the 200th separate motorized rifle brigade, based in the military town of Lower Lowstari in the Murmansk region. "They started talking about sending. I called the military commissariat, the military officer checked the information and said that this order from above, he could do nothing. On Monday, the children were transported to Alakurtti (the 80th separate motorized rifle brigade is based here, as well as a new military base is being built. RS). Sending is scheduled in September. Other parents said that their sons were pressured to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense. There was no pressure on my son. And other guys were threatened, they say, here do not sign - in Kursk will be forced," - says the interlocutor of Radio Liberty.

Sverdlin notes that some conscripts are really forced to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense, while others are transported or are going to be transported to the Kursk region without contracts. "I think it depends on the unit's particular commander. They, regardless of the events in the Kursk region, have orders for the number of contracts, which, according to the amendments to the law adopted in April 2023, can be concluded in the first month of military service. But now, at least, those who are approaching us, for the most part, it is the conscripts, they did not sign any contracts with the Ministry of Defense," says Sverdlin. The dispatch of military personnel from the Murmansk region to the Kursk on Monday was reported by the Russian telegram channel "Caution, news." Close conscripts told the channel that we are talking about the employees of the 80th OICBR in Alakurtti. They wrote an open letter, which is asked to be distributed through social networks. "We ask you to prevent our children from being sent to the Kursk region. It's not border guards, it's infantry. They shouldn't be at the border. Moreover, without serving 4 months and not receiving a military-adary specialty," - stated in the letter.

In one of the comments under another repost of this letter, it is said that the conscripts are planned to be sent to the Kursk region also from the 15th motorized rifle brigade stationed in the village of Roshchinsky near Samara. In "Lend the forest" received a total of several dozen appeals from the Kursk, Leningrad, Moscow, Belgorod and Kaliningrad regions. Grigory Sverdlin says that the project employees are in contact with those who contacted them, and in most cases, fears about sending to the Kursk region are confirmed. According to the project, 250 military servicemen from the Leningrad region are already in Kursk, they were transferred there after the beginning of the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region. Now are preparing lists for the transfer of another group from the same military unit.

According to Sverdlin, there is no talk of any additional military training before sending to the combat zone. At the same time, it is reported that the conscripts are sent not to the front, but to the "defense of Kursk." They are concerned about the fate of their sons and mothers of conscripts, who at the time of the Ukrainian offensive have already served in the Kursk region and took on the main blow of the AFU (almost, as evidenced by the Ukrainian military videos, they surrendered without serious resistance). A resident of Voronezh Oksana Deeva posted a petition on Change.org, in which she urged Vladimir Putin to "preserve the lives of children" - such as her son, who was drafted into the army in 2023 and served in the area of the village of Korenevo. Korenevo has already tried to capture the Ukrainian military several times, so far there is no evidence that they have succeeded. At the time of publication of this material, the petition was signed by more than 8,000 people. "We ask you to remove the guys of soldiers of conscripts from the territories of military operations. They have no military experience, no weapons. On our territory from today there is a full-scale offensive. Take care of the lives of unprepared soldiers to act. You promised your parents that they would not participate in the hostilities!!!! We believe in you. We ask you to see the situation seriously. We are the Patriots!! Our sons and their every life are still useful for the creation of a strong state," - said the petition, which at the time of publication of this material has already been signed by almost 8 thousand people. Oksana Deeva herself did not respond to the request of Radio Liberty for comment.

To date, journalists have established the names of at least 22 soldiers of conscript service, with whom after the beginning of the Ukrainian offensive, their relatives lost contact. As Verstka wrote, some conscripts evacuated from the Russian-Ukrainian border are forced to sign contracts to send back to the battle zone. Grigory Sverdlin says that a conscript turned to "Fly" and turned to the conscript, who managed to get out of the encirclement at Sudge together with his colleagues. The soldiers were in Kursk, and now they are going to leave them for the defense of the city. Telegram channel "Blockbute Russia 18+" conducted a survey among its subscribers about whether to send soldiers of military service to participate in battles with the Armed Forces. 88% of the 14 thousand voters answered categorical "no," 12 percent voted for the shipment.

Grigory Sverdlin told Radio Liberty that he does not yet see the readiness of relatives of conscripts sent to the Kursk region for active protest. "A lot of time has passed. I think that if this whole story drags on, we will see a wider protest from the relatives of these conscripts. As it was, for example, in March 2022, when it was a wide public resonance that led to the fact that 600 conscripts who found themselves in the occupied Ukrainian territory still returned to serve in the territory of Russia," Sverdlin said. He recalls that those soldiers who did not serve 4 months of service and did not receive training in the specialty, have a chance to defend their rights in legal ways: through filing complaints to the prosecutor's office and the Investigative Committee. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to Sverdlin, this has helped many mothers pull their children out of the combat zone. "But there are also illegal methods: refuse to execute the order and desert from your part," says the founder "Go for the forest." Sverdlin suggests that the use of conscripts to plug holes in the defense of the Kursk region does not exclude imminent mobilization. "It takes time for mobilization measures, more chances that this will happen in the autumn, when it should earn an electronic register of conscripts. And now the bill goes to the days, the conscripts are at hand and you can plug them holes. It is clear that special hopes on them are not placed, but still, as if for the number and for the reserve, they can be used. It seems to me that logic is such," - believes Grigory Sverdlin.

Military experts, with whom Radio Svoboda spoke, agree with the mothers of soldiers of conscript service in the fact that the sense of them on the front line is not much, but for Russia now it is important to postpone the transfer to the Kursk region of combat-ready units from Donbass, the Kharkiv region and other areas, where the Russian army comes to the positions of the Armed Forces. "As a rule, conscripts are considered incompetent and, at best, used for auxiliary tasks. Such units are usually inexperienced, not sufficiently equipped and do not have stability in combat situations, - notes in a conversation with Radio Liberty, a military analyst, a researcher at the Carnegie Foundation for the International Peace Foundation, notes in a conversation with Radio Liberty. The tasks of conscripts in the Kursk region may include the preparation of fortifications and support of regular units. At this stage, Russia was unable to stabilize the front in this area and it has no reserves behind the advanced units. The Russian army lacks the strength in the Kursk direction, and as the area of the occupied AFU increases, it will have to use more troops to contain the further expansion of the Ukrainian army.

Remand Ukrainian Army officer, military analyst and founder of the Frontelligence Insight project, writing on the social network X under the name Tarigami_UA, notes that neither Russia nor Ukraine were ready for such a successful advance of the APU in the Kursk direction.

"Given that the Russian army also has contractors undergoing active training in the centers in Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, they may soon be sent to Kursk as well. I think that initially they [the Russian command] did not realize the scale of the attack, which exceeded the expectations of both sides. Despite the fact that we are seeing some movements and the transfer of units, such as the 810th Marine Brigade, the main forces involved in the offensive on Pokrovsk, Toreck and even Jar Clocks still continue to fight there," the expert said. He adds that the interpretation of "reinforcement" messages may be problematic. "Now quite often, both sides are not transferring units in whole, but their units, such as a battalion or two. Therefore, when we read reports that Russia moved a certain unit from Ukraine, because its soldiers were seen and identified in the Kursk region, you need to be careful with the conclusions: it can be both an understated battalion of 250 people, and a brigade of 4,000 soldiers.

The Russian authorities continue to claim that the situation in the Kursk region is under their full control, acknowledging that the main purpose of the operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine could be to divert Russian forces from the offensive in the Donbass. "The main goal of diverting the Russian armed forces from Donbass and Slobozhanshchyna - the Zelensky regime has not achieved. Currently, Ukrainian militants who have broken into the territory of the Kursk region are receiving a decisive rebuff from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday. At the same time, the correspondent of the publication Severa, which three days ago visited Kursk, managed to talk to one of the Russian soldiers transferred to the city, who admitted that he was transferred there "from the Avdeev direction" (it is note that now Avdeevka is already in the rear, 30 kilometers from the advanced positions of the Russian army, advancing to Pokrovsk).

The mothers of Russian conscripts, meanwhile, are discussing the statements of the State Duma, Lieutenant General of the Reserve Andrei Gurulev. On August 11, on the talk show "Sunday evening with Vladimir Solovyov" Gurulev said that he sees no problem in the use of conscripts to participate in the battles in the Kursk region. "Everyone says, "What do you, how can you use conscripts?" This is our territory. They're our soldiers, they took the oath. According to all our laws, they are obliged to perform their military duty. What are we talking about now? Pity of the boys - of course. But we used to fight them. There were no contractors in Afghanistan," Gurulev said. "Let him go to fight, not pants sit," - commented Radio Liberty his words mother of one of the soldiers, who should be sent to Kursk. https://www.svoboda.org/a/otpravku-p.../33078621.html