Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Jimbuna]

Ukraine war latest: Russia 'driving its own soldiers to their deaths' in Donbas

Russia is 'driving its own soldiers to their deaths' in the Donbas due to the 'craziness' of the Russian command.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian troops are holding out against repeated attacks near two key towns in the eastern Donbas region.

The most severe fighting is taking place near Avdiivka, outside Donetsk, and Bakhmut, further to the northeast, he said in an evening video address on Wednesday.

"This is where the craziness of the Russian command is most evident. Day after day, for months, they are driving people to their deaths there, concentrating the highest level of artillery strikes," he said.

Mr Zelensky also said there would be good news from the front, but gave no details.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...2ef93f9cf35d9e

[Jimbuna]

'All roads lead to Crimea': US Army officer details Ukraine plan to strike Russia war blow

Russia has been dealt a devastating blow after a retired US Army officer perfectly pinpointed how Ukraine can liberate the annexed region of Crimea by mid-2023. Last month, Vladimir Putin saw the Kerch Bridge between Crimea and Russia rocked by a shuge explosion following a surprise attack that saw parts of the structure collapse. The peninsula is home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet and numerous military airports and bases, with it also being critical for operational and logistical support of Russia's southern front in Ukraine.

Putin blamed Kyiv and called it a "terrorist attack" and just hours later, Russia fired a number of missiles that smashed into numerous cities in Ukraine - including Kyiv.

But retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, who served as Commanding General in the US Army Europe, believes a huge counter offensive launched by Ukraine against Russia early last month could play a huge part in recapturing Crimea.

He explained how if this continues at pace, Ukrainian troops could push the Russians back to the February 23 line (the day before the invasion started) by the end of the year and could liberate Crimea by next summer.

The retired Lieutenant General told Express.co.uk: "If you imagine a map of Ukraine - think of this counter offensive that started in early September - it has two wings.

Russian President Vladimir Putin risks being challenged by his allies if he attempts to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, an expert has claimed. As Russian forces lose ground on the battlefield, concern is growing that Putin will use unconventional means of warfare to avoid a humiliating defeat.

"The first is the one that is opposite Kherson in the south and coming from the west. The other is the one that surprised the Russians that is moving down south eventually, to me, towards Mariupol.

"That red arrow pointing south and the other arrow pointing west to east - both are going to end up outside Crimea.

"All roads lead to Crimea so that means when they get down there, below the line of areas such as Kherson and Melitopal, they will have high margin range when they start hitting Russian bases and facilities in Crimea."

He added: "When they do that, Crimea becomes untenable which is why the attack on the Kerch Bridge was so important, whoever did it.

"If that gets severed again or Russia can't adequately repair it, you are talking about a large number of Russians who would find themselves in a sack in Crimea.

"The first part, where they push the Russians back to the February 23 line, happens by the end of this year and then the Crimea bit by next summer."

Russian forces have come under intense pressure from long-range artillery and rocket fire from advancing Ukrainian troops who began moving in two months ago to reclaim Kherson.

Losing that city would deal another devastating blow to Putin, who last month proclaimed Kherson province and three other partially occupied regions part of Russia.

The potential capture of Kherson could leave thousands of Russian troops trapped on the Dnipro's western bank, subsequently cutting off a straightforward crossing to the east.

Military experts have also said it could bring Russian bases in the annexed Crimea peninsula within range of heavy artillery.

Just days ago, it appeared Ukraine had scored a major victory as hopes Russian forces were starting to relinquish Kherson, when Moscow-appointed occupation authorities began evacuating tens of thousands of residents by ferries to the Dnipro's east bank.

Last month, retired Lieutenant General Hodges told the CEPA Forum in Washington: "Once Ukrainians are able to get HIMARS or other rocket launching systems within range and they start putting a rocket on Russian bases in Crimea, then it is just a matter of time.

"Crimea is the prize. Victory will be when that last Russian soldier walks along that long bridge and the Russian troops are gone from Crimea."

Retired US Lieutenant General Mark Hertling agreed that Ukraine would look to recapture Crimea and while he admitted the battle would be extremely tough, it would have backing from the US.

He said: "If Ukraine decides to go and retake Crimea - and I think they eventually will - the US government has said we will support the actions of Ukraine anywhere they want to go."

But Lieutenant General Hertling acknowledged it would be a "tough fight" for Ukrainian forces to retake the annexed peninsula - largely because of the challenges posed by the terrain.

He explained: "They are limited to just a couple of roads that go over a marshland. It is going to be very difficult from a conventional perspective for the Ukrainian army to get into Crimea."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...5444230fcc677a

[Jimbuna]

Britain and the US would be obliterated by 'massive nuclear strikes' rehearsed yesterday under Putin's watchful eye, Russian military expert reveals

Huge Russian nuclear drills watched over by Vladimir Putin were a rehearsal for wiping Britain and America off the map, a state media stooge declared last night.

Colonel Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of Russia’s National Defence magazine, said yesterday's missile, submarine and bomber drills were to demonstrate his country's ability to carry out an overwhelming retaliatory strike if it were ever to come under attack using nukes.

Mr Korotchenko made it clear who the drills were aimed at, telling state TV: 'Who could launch a first nuclear strike on Russia? The US and the UK. I don't know if [French President] Macron is someone who would join this adventure... It is very important that we have shown who our main enemies are and what awaits them.'

If the strike were carried out for real, Mr Korotchenko boasted, Britain would be submerged beneath the Atlantic Ocean and instead of the United States there would be a new naval strait named after Joseph Stalin.

'There is no compromise,' he added. 'The signal has been sent [to the US and UK]. This [should make them] sober up and clear their minds. This is not nuclear blackmail. This is what we would really do [if] we get hit.'

Vladimir Putin watched over yesterday's drills – a yearly preparedness exercise dubbed 'Grom' or 'Thunder' – from Russia's nuclear command centre. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said they were designed to rehearse a 'massive strike'.

The drills involved the test-firing of a Yars land-based intercontinental ballistic missile from the northern Plesetsk spaceport and the launch of a Sineva ICBM by a Russian nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea, just ten miles away from the shores of Nato member Norway.

As part of the exercise, Tu-95 strategic bombers also launched cruise missiles at practice targets.

Footage shows a large nuclear submarine in the water during the test.

The large team were filmed making preparations for the simulation nuclear strikes and following launch protocol as they took part in the annual exercise.

Clips also showed them flicking switches, running up stairs, speaking to each other on radios and monitoring the missiles before they were fired.

As the test began, the Russian Sineva was seen soaring through the air from the water and disappearing into the clouds.

Meanwhile the Yars later shot into the air after switches were flicked and a sound indicated that it was about to go off.

After it was launched, a huge ball of flames engulfed the sky and left a cloud of smoke in its wake as a loud bang was also heard.

The drills were monitored remotely by Putin, who also spoke to some of his military chiefs afterwards.

The manoeuvres followed Putin's warning about his readiness to use 'all means available' to fend off attacks on Russia's territory in a reference to the country's nuclear arsenals.

The Kremlin said that all tasks set for the exercise were fulfilled and all the missiles that were test-fired reached their designated targets.

Such drills involving land, sea and air components have taken place on an annual basis to train the country's nuclear forces and demonstrate their readiness.

The Biden administration said on Tuesday that Russia gave notice it intended to stage routine tests of its nuclear capabilities.

The Pentagon and US State Department said Russia had complied with the terms of the last US-Russia arms control agreement in notifying Washington of the upcoming tests.

It comes amid Moscow's warnings of a purported Ukrainian plot to detonate a radioactive device commonly known as a 'dirty bomb' in a false flag attack to blame Russia.

Ukraine and its allies strongly reject the allegation, and yesterday Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said: 'This is absurd. Allies reject this blatantly false accusation, and Russia must not use false pretexts to escalate the war further.'

Mr Stoltenberg underlined that the 30-nation military organisation 'will not be intimidated or deterred from supporting Ukraine's right to self-defence for as long as it takes.'

Putin told a meeting of intelligence officials from the CIS group of ex-Soviet countries that the West was 'pumping' Ukraine with heavy weapons, adding: 'There are also plans to use a so-called "dirty bomb" for provocations.'

Shoigu today called his counterparts from India and China to convey Moscow's concern about the purported Ukrainian plan.

He voiced Moscow's concern about 'possible Ukrainian provocations involving a "dirty bomb'' in the calls with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, and China's Wei Fenghe, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.

The conversations followed Shoigu's calls with British, French, Turkish and US counterparts on Sunday in which he made the same claim. Britain, France, and the United States rejected it as 'transparently false.'

Poland's government said it is preparing for the Kremlin's potential use of nuclear or chemical weapons after its warnings on Ukraine.

Sejm member Marcin Ociepa told Polish state broadcaster TVP1 the government believes Putin 'may reach for nuclear or chemical weapons' because his country's forces are struggling in Ukraine and that Poland 'must be prepared for all scenarios.'

Polish president Andrzej Duda, prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, national security ministers and leaders of Poland's armed forces met on Tuesday to discuss aid for Ukraine and the course of the war, including Russia's nuclear threats.

The head of Poland's National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, said after the meeting that the leaders discussed the risks and consequences associated with the use of any type of nuclear weapons in light of the changing characteristics of the war as well as the approaching winter.

Despite the Western dismissal of the Russian claims, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that 'we have the information that there is an ongoing preparation in Ukraine for such a terror attack'.

'We will continue to energetically inform the global community about what we know to persuade it to take action to prevent such irresponsible action by the regime in Kyiv,' Peskov told reporters.

Moscow also took its accusation to the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, voicing its concerns during a closed-door meeting.

Russia has not made public the evidence that it asserts it has, but says it has prepared its troops to work under conditions of nuclear contamination.

Its deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, told reporters after the Council meeting that it had passed intelligence information to Western counterparts with the 'necessary level of clearance'.

Britain's Deputy UN Ambassador, James Kariuki, called the allegations 'pure Russian misinformation of the kind we've seen many times before'.

Russia targeted more than 40 villages around Ukraine over the past day, Ukrainian officials said yesterday, killing at least two people and sustaining the terror that forces people into air raid shelters each night.

Russian forces launched five rockets, 30 air strikes and more than 100 multiple-launch rocket system attacks on Ukrainian targets, the Ukrainian armed forces general staff said.

A Ukrainian official reported that a Russian strike hit a gas station in the city of Dnipro, killing two people, including a pregnant woman.

The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Valentyn Reznichenko, said four of the wounded were hospitalised.

Mykolaiv, a southern port city near the war's frontline, is among the places where residents have lined up to receive rations of bread and canned food as increases in food prices and losses of income add to the war-time burdens of low-income households in Ukraine.

Several buildings and neighborhoods were struck in Mykolaiv on Tuesday, though it was still unclear if there were any casualties, according to local authorities.

Missiles continued early yesterday morning.

The sole food distribution point in Mykolaiv allows each person to receive free bread once every three days. Many must walk long distances to collect the essential food items for their family.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ing-UK-US.html

[Jimbuna]

Finland Will Allow NATO to Place Nuclear Weapons on Border With Russia

In a move that could risk infuriating Russia, nuclear weapons could possibly be positioned in Finland if the country's application to join NATO is approved, according to a report from a Finnish newspaper.

Both Finland and Sweden submitted applications to join NATO in May, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to the Helsinki-based newspaper Iltalehti, the bill regarding potential NATO membership the Finnish government will put before parliament doesn't include any opt-outs for nuclear weapons.

Speaking to the paper, defense sources said Finland's foreign and defense ministers, Pekka Haavisto and Antti Kaikkonen, gave a "commitment" to NATO in July that they wouldn't seek "restrictions or national reservations" if Helsinki's application is accepted.

Foreign policy insiders told Iltalehti this means NATO nuclear weapons could transit through, or be based on, Finnish territory. Additionally, there are no restrictions on establishing NATO bases in the country.

The U.S. already has around 100 nuclear weapons in Europe, positioned in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey according to the Federation of American Scientists.

Britain and France, both NATO members, also maintain their own independent nuclear arsenals.

Earlier this month, the Polish government said it had held discussions with the U.S. government about hosting U.S. nuclear weapons, though this hasn't been confirmed by Washington.

Polish President Andrzej Duda claimed there is a "potential opportunity" for his country to engage in "nuclear sharing."

According to its website, NATO is a "nuclear alliance," which uses its nuclear arsenal to "preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression."

The importance of a nuclear deterrent was confirmed in NATO's 2022 Strategic Concept, adopted by the alliance at its Madrid summit in June.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed membership applications from Finland and Sweden in May, describing the move as a "historic moment" for the alliance.

"I warmly welcome the requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO," he said. "You are our closest partners. All allies agree on the importance of NATO enlargement. We all agree that we must stand together, and we all agree that this is a historic moment which we must seize. This is a good day at a critical moment for our security."

Finland and Sweden's NATO applications have already been approved by the parliaments of 28 of the alliance's 30 member states, with Hungary and Turkey the only two remaining to vote on the matter.

The main stumbling block is Turkey, with Ankara saying it will only approve the new members if they clamp down on Kurdish separatists, which it regards as terrorists.

Speaking on October 1, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said: "We will maintain our principled and determined stance on this issue until the promises made to our country are kept."

NATO is currently conducting a nuclear exercise, called "Steadfast Noon," which began on October 17 and will continue until October 30.

The drills involve around 60 aircraft, including U.S. B-52 bombers which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Separately, Finnish seismologists recorded a series of five underwater explosions on Thursday and Friday, the origins of which are unclear.

Speaking to Newsweek earlier this month, Natalia Galibarenko, Ukraine's ambassador to NATO, predicted the alliance will end up gifting combat aircraft to Kyiv.

Newsweek has reached out to the Finnish and Russian foreign ministries for comment.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...e7d91ae03a1015

[Jimbuna]

Ukraine war: Russian tactics on eastern front 'crazy', says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian commanders of "craziness" in their efforts to capture the eastern town of Bakhmut.

The town - which sits in the Donetsk region and had a pre-war population of 70,000 - has been the centre of Russian attacks for months.

Despite a looming Ukrainian advance on the key city of Kherson, Mr Zelensky said the attacks continued in force.

Taking the town would be a symbolic victory for Russia.

"This is where the craziness of the Russian command is most evident," Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address from Kyiv. "Day after day, for months, they are driving people to their deaths there, concentrating the highest level of artillery strikes."

Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Mr Zelensky, said that on one day, Russian forces launched eight separate attacks on Bakhmut before lunchtime and had been pushed back on each occasion.

The city sits on a main road leading to the Ukrainian-held cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. While Russia is struggling elsewhere in Ukraine, its forces have made progress around Bakhmut in recent weeks.

Analysts say the city has little military value in itself, though if it were to fall, it would bring other cities back within range of Russian artillery and help change the narrative of a conflict in which Moscow's forces have been gradually retreating.

Regular Russian troops in the region are reportedly being supported by Wagner paramilitary mercenaries. The group's founder, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, is said to want to capture the town as a political prize.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-63408506

[Jimbuna]

[Catfish]

Russia silent majority/ies, the riddle why Russians are so indifferent. A Latvian fellow posted this, and I (likewise) think it is a gem:

[Jimbuna]

Belarus currently does not have strike group that would be properly equipped for offensive, - Defence Intelligence

Belarus conducts personnel training in order to divert Ukraine’s attention and forces from the east and south.

This was stated by the representative of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense Andrii Cherniak, Censor.NET informs.

According to him, since April, Lukashenko regularly tries to avoid an open invasion of Ukraine, even though he became a participant in this war a long time ago when he gave his territory to Russia.

"Of course, there is a potential danger for Ukraine from the side of Belarus. Attack UAVs are launched from the territory of the Republic of Belarus, which Russia purchased from Iran, and MiG-31K aircraft, which can carry "Kinjal" missiles, have been moved there," Cherniak said.

Meanwhile, Russia is sending recently mobilized citizens to Belarus. The latter also do not have proper weapons or equipment.

"They are brought in by rail. At the same time, tanks and armored personnel carriers repaired in Belarus are sent, on the contrary, to Russia," explained the representative of military intelligence of Ukraine. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3376510

[Jimbuna]

Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki: "Ukraine needs money and weapons, not "plans""

Ukraine now needs financial and military support to survive the war unleashed by Russia. However, some EU leaders prefer to make "plans" for the future.

This was stated by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Censor.NET reports with reference to his interview with Fakt and Bild.

Moravetsky noted that he came to the interview from the conference on the restoration of Ukraine, which was held in Berlin. He emphasized that the issue of restoration is important, however, in his opinion, support for Ukraine is currently more urgent.

"We will focus on a very important topic: how we will rebuild Ukraine. But we have to solve an even more important question: how to get Ukraine enough weapons to end this war? It is good to talk about future support, "Marshall plans", etc.," the politician said.

The Polish Prime Minister noted that Russia destroys power plants and heating networks in Ukraine so that the civilian population freezes in winter. Therefore, he called on the EU leader to help now.

"Help is needed now. Ukraine needs money and weapons, not 'plans,'" Moravetskyi said.

At the same time, the Prime Minister of Poland added that the most reliable partners of Ukraine in the EU remain the countries of the eastern flank: from Finland to the Baltic States, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania. According to him, these countries "will feel threatened directly by Putin."

Also, Moravetsky again criticized Germany for insufficient aid to Ukraine. He believes that Germany, as the richest country in Europe and one of the largest arms exporters in the world, could do much more to protect European values.

"I got the impression that some EU leaders would prefer things to be the old way again. According to the idea that the war can be ended with the defeat of Ukraine," the Polish Prime Minister emphasized. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3376523

[Commander Wallace]

^ If the drone attacks in the north of the Ukraine are originating from Belarus, then it's a safe bet that Iranians are also there controlling these drones. Since the drone attacks are directed against Ukraine's civilian population and infrastructure, This makes them both enemy combatants and participants in this war of aggression against the Ukraine.

I think they should be treated as such. I don't think Iran's oil fields could withstand drone or cruise missile attacks either.


He who lives by the sword.....

[Jimbuna]

^ Precisely!

[Jimbuna]

Main involvement of those mobilized from Russian Federation in combat zone is expected approximately in 1.5-2 weeks, - General Staff

Part of the mobilized will be directed to the additional staffing of units, primarily those that suffered significant losses in Ukraine.

This was reported by the Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Brigadier General Oleksii Hromov, Censor.NET informs with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"Despite the Kremlin's statement about the end of mobilization, in practice mobilization measures continue. Only public measures regarding conscription have been suspended, while the process of serving summonses to the places of residence or work of conscripts continues. The main involvement of those mobilized in the combat zone is expected approximately in 1.5-2 weeks, probably to contain our actions in certain areas of the front, as well as to evenly strengthen other areas of the front," he explained.

According to Gromov, part of the mobilized will be directed to the additional staffing of units, primarily those that suffered significant losses in Ukraine. For the rest of the mobilized, it is planned to form new units, in particular, tanks, motorized rifles, artillery regiments, etc.

He noted that at the same time, the mobilization of students of various forms of education led to an increase in social tension in the so-called "LPR".

"Because of this, Pasichnyk issued an order on October 11 to release a separate category of citizens from military service. However, due to the position of the military, it is planned to demobilize students only within two to three months, replacing them with newly mobilized ones," Gromov explained.

He added that the so-called "DPR" is preparing to call up more than 300 prisoners for military service. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3376542

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

^ If the drone attacks in the north of the Ukraine are originating from Belarus, then it's a safe bet that Iranians are also there controlling these drones. Since the drone attacks are directed against Ukraine's civilian population and infrastructure, This makes them both enemy combatants and participants in this war of aggression against the Ukraine.

I think they should be treated as such. I don't think Iran's oil fields could withstand drone or cruise missile attacks either.


He who lives by the sword.....

Could we perhaps expect an attack on some facility in Iran-Here I'm thinking USA fire some Tomahawks towards some of those factory who manufactor these drones

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Reserve of body armor for Armed Forces has been formed, up to 200,000 in warehouses, - Ministry of Defense

During the week, more than 6,000 body armor, more than 8,000 helmets, more than 30,000 pairs of shoes and more than 100,000 winter jackets were received for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, the Ministry of Defense has formed a reserve.

This was reported by Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar, Censor.NET reports with reference to Ukrinform.

"During the week from October 20 to 26, the Ministry of Defense handed over more than 6,000 body armor, more than 8,000 helmets and more than 30,000 pairs of shoes, of which 28,000 are winter shoes, to provide units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Regarding winter jackets, which are currently under special control - almost 58,000 were taken into account in a week," she said.

According to Maliar, the delivery process is at different stages. In particular, more than 100,000 winter jackets are delivered to warehouses in various regions of Ukraine.

In addition, more than 60,000 winter pants, more than 77,000 thermal suit jackets (fleece) and more than 81,000 sets of demi-season and winter underwear were handed over.

Maliar reported that the reserve formed today is about 200,000 body armor and about 100,000 helmets. The Ministry of Defense pays special attention to the supply of winter uniforms, but the efficiency of work is affected by enemy shelling and lack of electricity supply. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3376590

[Buddahaid]

Originally Posted by mapuc

Could we perhaps expect an attack on some facility in Iran-Here I'm thinking USA fire some Tomahawks towards some of those factory who manufactor these drones

Markus

In a word, no but other weapons might be sent to the Ukraine.