Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly approved the evacuation of civilians from parts of Russian-occupied Kherson in southern Ukraine.

Kyiv's forces have been steadily advancing on the strategic port city.

Mr Putin said people living in dangerous areas should leave as "the civilian population should not suffer".

At least 70,000 people are reported to have been moved already from Kherson - the only major city gained by Moscow since its troops invaded in February.

Civilians at risk from shelling and attacks should be "removed", Mr Putin said, during the Unity Day holiday in Moscow's Red Square.

Kyiv accuses Russia of forcibly deporting Ukrainian civilians - which is considered a war crime - although Moscow denies this.

Russia's intensive missile and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure across Ukraine have caused heavy casualties and damage, and forced Kyiv to impose frequent electricity blackouts.

Mr Putin's comments followed reports on Thursday that Russian soldiers, too, had been leaving Kherson - in what would mark a major withdrawal.

A Kremlin-installed official in the region, Kirill Stremousov, told Russian media that Moscow was "likely" to pull its troops from the area.

Ukrainian officials remained cautious, warning that the reported move could be a trap to lure their soldiers into dangerous areas.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63523043

[Jimbuna]

Ukraine to get ‘most advanced tanks on the battlefield’ for counter-offensive against Russia

Ukraine will receive 90 refurbished and upgraded Czech T-72 tanks - labelled by the Pentagon as “the most advanced on the battlefield” - as part of $400 million (£348.15 million) in military aid.

The tanks - half of which are being paid for by the US and half by the Netherlands - will have better engines, thermal sights, improved fire control systems and explosive armour.

The new main battle tanks are expected to be ready for combat within the coming weeks and months.

Ukraine has long been pressuring its Western allies to send fresh tanks, which are vital to its counter-offensives to retake territory seized by Russia.

"These are tanks that the Ukrainians know how to use on the battlefield," said Sabrina Singh, a White House spokesman. She said that introducing Western-designed tanks would be "costly", "time sensitive" and a "huge undertaking" for Ukraine.

Russia is also relying on vast numbers of Soviet era T-72 tanks, but has been forced to refit some of its much older T-62 tanks after suffering heavy losses.

Its brand new T-90M tanks - known as "Breakthrough-3" - have been underwhelming in battle, analysts have said.

Some of the "invincible" tanks, which are equipped countermeasures to defend against laser-guided missiles, have been destroyed by Ukrainian forces.

Each loss of a T-90M heaps further embarrassment on the Kremlin, not least because each unit is reported to cost about £4 million.

Ukraine claims to have destroyed or captured some 2,750 Russian tanks since the invasion began.

In a further sign that the West is preparing for the war to carry on well into 2023, the Pentagon confirmed plans to establish a security assistance headquarters in Germany that will oversee all weapons transfers and military training.

As part of the new aid package, the US will also supply 1,100 Phoenix Ghost “Kamikaze” drones, which explode on impact.

The US has committed more than $18.2 billion in weapons and other equipment to Ukraine since the war began on Feb 24.

The announcement came as Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden's national security adviser, made a surprise visit to Kyiv to "to underscore the United States' steadfast support".
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...e7bba54d28dcf1

[Commander Wallace]

^ I'm wondering if the T-72's will be retrofitted with any improvements with regards to armor and weaponry ? The article you referenced makes no mention of any improvements. Although, If there are improvements being made, I would hardly expect to see them in print.

[mapuc]

Danish Ekstra Bladet writes:

Intelligence: Russians threaten to shoot their own
British intelligence points to 'low morale and lack of will' among Russian forces

The Russians are now threatening to turn their guns on their own countrymen.

This is according to an update on Twitter from the British intelligence service.

'Due to low morale and unwillingness to fight, Russian forces are likely to deploy "barrier troops" or "blocking units",' the Brits write.

'These units threaten to shoot their own retreating soldiers to force offensives, and have been used in previous conflicts by Russian forces,' it reads.

The intelligence service further writes that Russian generals have recently likely wanted their commanders to use weapons against deserters.

Deserters punished
In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a change to the penal code that makes desertion after being drafted into the military in wartime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The law states that if a soldier fails to report for duty, deserts with his weapon or deserts as part of a group during mobilisation or emergency law, in wartime or during an armed conflict, he will be punished with a minimum of three years in prison and a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Moreover, in times of mobilisation, emergency law or war, the circumstances are aggravated when the punishment is to be meted out, the law reads.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

^ I'm wondering if the T-72's will be retrofitted with any improvements with regards to armor and weaponry ? The article you referenced makes no mention of any improvements. Although, If there are improvements being made, I would hardly expect to see them in print.

Below is what I'v4 read so far...

will have better engines, thermal sights, improved fire control systems and explosive armour.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Below is what I'v4 read so far...

Quote: will have better engines, thermal sights, improved fire control systems and explosive armour.

If that information was in the article, I must have missed it. Thanks for the update, Jim.

Hopefully, the new tanks won't fall into the hands of the Soviets / Russians.

[Jimbuna]

Iran admitted for first time that it provided Russia with drones, but "limited number even before war in Ukraine", - Associated Press

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollakhian admitted for the first time that his country provided Russia with kamikaze drones.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the Associated Press.

"We provided a limited number of drones to Russia a few months before the war in Ukraine," the message reads.

At the same time, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that Tehran allegedly did not know about the use of drones against Ukraine.

"If (Kyiv. - Ed.) has documents confirming that Russia used Iranian drones in Ukraine, they should provide them to us. If they prove to us that Russia used Iranian drones in the war against Ukraine, we will not remain indifferent," - he added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3378508

[Jimbuna]

Embassy of Ukraine in Germany turned off evening lighting as sign of solidarity: We will turn it on after victory. PHOTOS

The Embassy of Ukraine in Germany decided to turn off the evening lighting of the building as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine, which was partially left without lighting due to Russian shelling.

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany, Oleksiy Makeev, announced this on Facebook, Censor.NET informs.

"As a sign of solidarity with all of Ukraine, which today is often left without electricity due to Russian bombings; with our warriors of light - energy workers; with Germany, which has also gone into austerity mode - we turn off the evening lighting of the Ukrainian Embassy in Germany," wrote Makeev.

He added that the lighting will be returned after the victory of Ukraine.

"The light is with us. And the yellow-blue flag," the diplomat added. Source: https://censor.net/en/p3378517

[Jimbuna]

Occupiers can prepare trap for AFU in Kherson region, - OC "South"

Russian troops are trying to create the illusion that they are allegedly "withdrawing" from the Kherson region. In fact, the occupiers can thus prepare a trap for Ukrainian forces.

This was reported by the head of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine, Natalia Humeniuk, on the air of the telethon, Censor.NET informs with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

To the journalist's question, whether the Russians can prepare traps for the Armed Forces during the Ukrainian counteroffensive and which ones, she replied that "such a situation is not excluded."

"Because the Russians are trying to convince that they are "leaving". Even though we see objective data - they are staying. There are defense units that dug in there quite powerfully, a certain amount of equipment was left behind, and firing positions were set up. And, in particular, the positions that are set up on the left bank, they will be used for fire support on the right," Humeniuk explained.

She emphasized that the occupiers are trying to create an effect as if they are "not there" to lure our Defense Forces into certain settlements.

"The settlement is always complicated street battles. We know and foresee the development of events that the Russians are trying to impose on us and we are drawing up our strategic plan," Humeniuk concluded. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3378524

[Jimbuna]

Risk of Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine is low, - Stoltenberg

The risks of Russia using nuclear weapons remain low. However, the consequences for her will be catastrophic.

This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in an interview for NTV, Censor.NET informs with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

"The risk of Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine is low, but the consequences will be huge, so we take it very seriously," Stoltenberg said.

According to the NATO Secretary General, Russia is behaving irresponsibly and imprudently. He noted that the use of nuclear weapons would change the nature of the conflict, and there would be no winners in a nuclear war.

"We are giving this message clearly. There is no change in Russia's nuclear position," Stoltenberg noted. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3378525

[Jimbuna]

It is difficult for Russian Federation to provide army with new weapons, - Biden

Russia cannot arm its army in large quantities and produce new weapons due to a shortage of the necessary materials.

This was stated by US President Joe Biden, Censor.NET reports with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

"One of the reasons why Russia has difficulty - and I won't go into detail about this because it would take too much time - is difficulty in supplying its army. They had difficulties in the production of their (weapons. - Ed.)," Biden said.

The US president also emphasized the importance of microchip manufacturing for national security and defense and noted his administration's success in establishing microchip manufacturing in the US.

"We had problems with the delivery of Javelin missiles to Ukraine because there were no chips. We sent them (Ukrainians. - Ed.) Javelins to help them defend themselves against Putin's crude and unprovoked war," Biden added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3378531

For first time in several years, train from the DPRK arrived in Russian Federation. Perhaps with weapons, - Analysts. PHOTOS

Satellites recorded the first train in several years that arrived on the territory of Russia from North Korea. Earlier, the United States said that the DPRK secretly transfers ammunition to the Russians.

The train was detected thanks to satellite images. Employees of the analytical center 38 North, which investigates events in North Korea, drew attention to it, Censor.NET reports.

"At 10:24 a.m. local time (01:24 UTC) on Friday morning, a stack of three closed cars was seen on one of the tracks next to the cargo handling area. The eastern car is light blue, the second one appears darker blue, and the rear car is reddish-brown in color," the analysts said in the publication.

They note that it is impossible to determine the purpose of the train from the photo.

The day before, the United States announced that Pyongyang secretly transfers ammunition to Russia.

According to experts, this train may not be the only one that has crossed the border in recent months. In particular, there was another flight earlier this week. According to the media, 30 horses were transported by rail from Russia to North Korea - a "gift" from Vladimir Putin to the leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong Un. However, the satellites did not record this cargo.

The 800-meter Korean-Russian Friendship Bridge is the only land connection between the countries. North Korea ended this connection in February 2020 when it closed its borders due to the pandemic. In September of this year, Pyongyang and Moscow agreed on the restoration of railway connections. Source: https://censor.net/en/p3378535

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

^ I'm wondering if the T-72's will be retrofitted with any improvements with regards to armor and weaponry ? The article you referenced makes no mention of any improvements. Although, If there are improvements being made, I would hardly expect to see them in print.

I dont know where it was, but some weeks ago I read about these modernized T-72. They are substantially equipped and boosted with NATO technology: better optics, thermals, fire control systems, reactive armour, and some more. They better are not beign tought of as "just" T-72, they are much better, not en par with modern Western tank designs, but much better than Russian T-72s or T-90s (which in principle are nothing more than modernised T-72: modernised by Russian standards).


It hopefully will increase pressur eon Germany. Bubble-Olaf uses the argument, that Leopards could fall into Russian hands and give away NATO technology,as a chepa escuse (one of severals) to deny deliover yof MBTs to Ukraine. But these ,modenrised T-72 alsop carry quite some critical NATO techhnology i them, and could flal into Russian hands. Bubble-Ola al.so sdays he ponly acts in coordinmation with deicisons by Wahsington, but Wahsington approves the tnak dela here (an deny anyway that ther eis any agreement on to act only in close coordinatiio nwn hen it comes to tnak deloveries). The german industry has many Lrepard-2A4s parked in its backyards , and has refurbished many of them alrready, and since months begs the chancellor'soffice for permission to instantly deliver them. The chancellor completely refuses to do so, and evades in wrong claims, lies, and most obvious manouvers. If he doe snto simply rightout ignore any such questions, which is his preferred method.


On this Russian force and these old tanks the Russians must use, the Leopard-2A4, if competently commanded and tactically led, could feast royally. Thats exactly the kind of enemy they were made for to hunt and kill.



There is also a huge number of Leopard-1A5s parked in the industry's backyard. Smaller cannons, less armour - but faster and more agile than anything the Russians field in the Ukraine. They could be used as mobile artillery in close distance support against infantry, for example. I would not set them up against T-72 in the open. The T-72 was made to defeat Leopard-1s.

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

Russia may try to block "grain corridor" once again - Stoltenberg

The risks of repeated suspension of food exports from Ukraine through the "grain corridor" remain.

This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Censor.NET reports with reference to RBC-Ukraine.

"As long as the war continues, such risks remain. To fight hunger, it is necessary to deliver grain from Ukraine to the world markets. The grain agreement is extremely important in this regard. But the war should also be stopped," the Secretary-General emphasized.

It will be recalled that on October 29, Russia announced its withdrawal from the "grain agreement" allegedly due to "Ukraine's attack on Black Sea Fleet ships with the help of UAVs."

Already on November 2, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, stated that his country has resumed its participation in the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain, but reserves the right to withdraw from these agreements. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3378541