Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[LB] In the direction of Kupyan, our soldiers are firmly holding the defense.
by Yuriy Korogodskyi
The enemy is concentrating its main efforts on the Kupyansk, Lymansk, Bakhmutsk, Avdiivsk and Marinsk directions, heavy battles are ongoing. During the day, 29 combat clashes took place.
This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On the Volyn and Poliske directions, the operational situation has not changed significantly.
The enemy maintains a military presence in the Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi directions . He carried out an airstrike in the Bilopyl district of the Sumy region. He carried out mortar and artillery shelling of more than 25 settlements, including Chuykivka, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Iskryskivshchyna, Pavlivka of the Sumy region and Ivashki, Kozacha Lopan, Hoptivka, Vovchansk of the Kharkiv region.
In the direction of Kupyan, our soldiers are firmly holding the defense. Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kupyansk and Kislivka of the Kharkiv region were subjected to enemy artillery and mortar attacks.
On the Lymanskyi direction, during the day, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the area west of Dibrova, Luhansk region. The settlements of Nevske, Bilogorivka in the Luhansk region and Verkhnyokamianske, Spirne, Berestov, and Rozdolivka in the Donetsk region were hit by artillery fire.
In the Bakhmut direction , under heavy fire from aviation and artillery, our defenders successfully repelled enemy attacks in the Bohdanivka and Vesely districts of the Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements, including Kramatorsk, Kostyantynivka, Bogdanivka, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Pleshchiivka and Stupochki of the Donetsk region, were affected by enemy artillery shelling.
In the Avdiivka direction , under the fire of enemy aircraft, our defenders repelled all attacks of the occupiers in the area of the city of Avdiivka. At the same time, the enemy fired artillery at more than 10 settlements, including Avdiyivka, Vodyane, Pervomaiske, Netaylove, and Karlivka of the Donetsk region.
In the Marinka direction, the Defense Forces successfully continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the area of the city of Marinka and near Krasnohorivka, Donetsk region. The enemy shelled more than 10 settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Gostre, Pobieda and Georgiivka in Donetsk region.
In the Shakhtarsky direction, the enemy carried out airstrikes in Makarivka, Blagodatny, Novodarivka and Komar districts and shelled the settlements of Blagodatne, Vugledar, Zolota Niva, Velyka Novosilka, Blagodatne and Zelene Pole of the Donetsk region.
In the Zaporizhia and Kherson directions, the enemy is concentrating its main efforts on preventing the further advance of our troops. He carried out an airstrike in the area of Orikhov, Zaporizhzhia region. Conducted artillery shelling of more than 20 settlements, including Vilne Pole, Vremivka of the Donetsk region; Gulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Verkhnya Tersa, Preobrazhenka of the Zaporizhzhia region; Dudchany, Vesele, Lviv, Sadov of the Kherson region and the city of Kherson. Ochakiv of the Mykolaiv region also came under fire.
At the same time, the Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdyansk directions, are entrenched at the reached boundaries, inflict artillery fire on identified enemy targets, and carry out counter-battery countermeasures.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] 23:18 Zelensky said in an evening video message that he had sent official letters to Erdogan and Guterres with a proposal to extend the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative or its analogue in a trilateral format: "Ukraine, the UN and Turkey can jointly ensure the operation of the food corridor and the inspection of ships. This is necessary for everyone in the world, and everyone who supports will become a life saver in a vast area from Morocco to China, from Indonesia to Lebanon."
22:36 Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar explained what is happening in the Kupyansk direction. According to her, as soon as the Armed Forces of Ukraine intercept the operational initiative and begin to move forward, the enemy immediately activates in additional directions in order to divert and drag Ukrainian forces there.
“Actually, the same thing is happening now. The Russians panicked from our advance in the Bakhmut direction. Because it is, although gradual, but daily, and we occupied almost all the dominant heights around the city. Therefore, the situation is predictable. The enemy moved to the distracting Kupyansky direction, as I have done more than once, but to no avail," Malyar said.
21:50 Washington insists that the grain deal be extended as soon as possible, said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. At the same time, according to him, the West and Kyiv will consider options for exporting food from Ukraine to world markets in connection with the withdrawal of the Russian Federation from the grain deal. At the same time, Blinken did not comment on the undermining of the Crimean bridge. He noted that the United States is monitoring the situation, but Kyiv itself decides how to conduct military operations.
21:19 The West condemned Russia's decision to withdraw from the grain agreement and asks to return to the project, while Ukraine proposes to extend the corridor without the Russian Federation. For more details, see the material Withdrawal of the Russian Federation from the grain agreement: what are the consequences .
20:34 Kuleba is holding urgent consultations on the grain agreement at the UN headquarters in New York, the Foreign Ministry said.
20:07 Putin promised "Russia's response to the terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge." According to him, the Russian Defense Ministry is preparing "corresponding proposals." He also called "senseless from a military point of view and cruel act of terrorism" on the Crimean bridge.
20:05 The movement of cars on the Crimean bridge can be partially resumed by the end of today, while two-way traffic on one side of the bridge is planned to be launched on September 15, on the other side - in November, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin said at a meeting on the situation with Crimean bridge with the participation of Putin.
Khusnullin said that there was no damage to the pillars of the Crimean bridge, but one part of the span towards Kerch was completely destroyed, it would have to be dismantled. Also, according to him, one track of the railway part of the Crimean bridge has minor damage.
19:39 Sweden will allocate more than $584 million to Ukraine for the resumption and implementation of reforms. The new bilateral cooperation strategy is the most ambitious in the history of Sweden and is calculated until 2027, the government of the country said.
19:36 A very powerful group of the Russian Federation is now concentrated in the Limano-Kupyansk direction - more than 100 thousand personnel, over 900 tanks and 370 MLRS, said Sergey Cherevaty, speaker of the Eastern Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He also said that the losses of the enemy in the Bakhmut area are approaching those that were during the peak of the fighting with the Wagnerites.
19:27 Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Syrsky said that he visited combat brigades in the Eastern direction, met with unit commanders and servicemen in each of the brigades. According to him, the operational situation remains difficult - in order to stop the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Bakhmut area, the enemy is actively deploying additional forces there, the basis of which are units of the airborne troops.
At the same time, the Russians went on the offensive in the Kupyansk direction, "setting themselves the goal of defeating our troops in the Kupyansk area and continuing the offensive deep into our battle formations," Syrsky added.
19:20 During today's shelling of Belopolye, Sumy region, a fire department was injured, six firefighters were injured, said the head of the State Emergency Service Serhiy Kruk. In total, two people were killed and ten wounded as a result of the shelling, the IVA said.
19:08 UN Secretary General António Guterres sent a letter to Putin with a new proposal to keep the grain corridor open. The letter says, in particular, that Russia's decision to terminate the initiative "will deal a blow to people in need around the world," but the UN will continue to promote the export of products and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia. Guterres also said that in his message to Putin he announced an agreement on connecting the "daughter" of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT.
18:43 The next meeting in the Ramstein format will be held on Tuesday, July 18, Reznikov said.
18:26 The United States will allocate more than $500 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, USAID reported. Assistance will be provided through UN structures and non-governmental organizations, including local humanitarian organizations. The total amount of humanitarian aid from the United States since February 2022 has exceeded $2.6 billion.
18:12 Washington's main position on the war in Ukraine is the unwillingness to start the Third World War, said Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan: "The main position of the United States comes down to one clear point: we are going to support Ukraine without American soldiers fighting Russian. And this will remain constant throughout the course of the conflict."
17:45 The Defense Council of the Kharkiv region decided on the mandatory evacuation of children from nine settlements of the Volchansky community of the Chuguevsky district, said the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov. In total, there are 194 children on the territory of the Volchansk urban community, of which 144 are in the city of Volchansk. They must be evacuated to safer settlements in the region, along with at least one of their parents or guardian.
17:19 Due to Russia's sabotage of the grain corridor, the world did not receive an additional 25 million tons of agricultural products, said Dmitry Barinov, deputy head of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Administration. According to him, over the 11 months of the grain initiative, Ukraine has supplied 32.5 million tons of agricultural products to 45 countries of the world, including more than 4 million tons of food to African countries.
16:58 There are different versions of the attack on the Crimean bridge: from marine drones and a hydro scooter with explosives to an Iranian "Shahed" hit. For more details, see the material Crimean Bridge: who and how could damage it.
16:26 Zelensky said in an interview with African journalists that the grain corridor should work without Russia: "We must do everything so that we can use this Black Sea corridor. We are not afraid. We were approached by companies that own ships. They said that if Ukraine will let go, and Turkey will let through, then everyone is ready to continue grain supplies."
According to the president, Ukraine will officially appeal to the UN and Turkey to confirm their readiness to continue the grain initiative. He also recalled that Ukraine did not have any agreements with the Russian Federation: “We had two agreements: Ukraine, Turkey, the UN; the second agreement is Russia, Turkey, the UN. Therefore, when Russia says that it is stopping, it disrupts its agreements with UN Secretary General Guterres and with President Erdogan. Not with us. We had no agreements with them."
15:51 The Russians fired at Belopolye of the Sumy region - two people were killed, at least ten more were injured, Mayor Yuri Zarko said.
15:17 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Russia's termination of the grain agreement. The EU is working to ensure food security for vulnerable people around the world, she said. The "corridors of solidarity" of the European Union will continue to export agricultural products from Ukraine and to world markets, she stressed.
14:43 The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the Black Sea Initiative will stop functioning from July 18, the joint coordination center in Istanbul will be disbanded. Russia also withdraws guarantees for the safety of navigation, turns off the maritime humanitarian corridor in the northwestern Black Sea and restores the regime of a "temporarily dangerous area" in the northwestern Black Sea. At the same time, Moscow will be ready to restore the work of the grain corridor "upon receiving concrete results, not promises and assurances."
14:36 The production of drones in Ukraine has grown by more than 100 times in some categories compared to last year. “More drones are needed. And there will be,” Mikhail Fedorov, head of the Ministry of Digital Development, assured.
14:14 The UK has announced new sanctions in response to Russia's forced deportation of Ukrainian children, the President's Office said. In particular, the commissioner for children's rights in the Moscow region Ksenia Mishonova, the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov, as well as a number of Russian propagandists, including Anton Krasovsky, who called for the drowning and burning of Ukrainian children live, fell under the sanctions.
13:49 According to the preliminary data of the Belarus Gayun monitoring group, about 350-600 Wagner mercenaries and about 100 pieces of equipment (mainly cars, as well as trucks, buses, etc.) have already arrived in Belarus.
13:43 Erdogan confirmed the completion of the grain agreement. He intends to discuss the reopening of the grain corridor during Putin's expected visit to Turkey.
13:40 In the "DPR" the curfew is lifted to ensure round-the-clock travel through the "alternative" land corridor to the Crimea, Pushilin said. At the same time, in the part of the occupied Zaporozhye region, restrictions will continue to apply, it is forbidden to move at night.
13:18 Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power arrived in Kiev for the second time since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
12:46 The SBU detained an FSB agent who reported to the Russians on the consequences of the strike on Kramatorsk, which killed 13 people. This task he received immediately after the air attack on the city. Most of all, the FSB was interested in information about the number of dead and injured after the missile attack, as well as about which of them were related to the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The FSB informant also tracked the locations and movements of Ukrainian defenders in Kramatorsk.
12:19 Peskov said that the grain deal is terminated , but Russia "will immediately return to it as soon as the agreements concerning it are fulfilled." Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow today officially notified Turkey and Ukraine, the UN secretariat "of its objection to the extension of the grain deal."
12:15 Details about the events around the Crimean bridge - in the material Explosions on the Crimean bridge. Online .
12:10 The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that Beijing hopes to extend the grain deal: "We are ready to strengthen cooperation with all parties in this area, promote the formation of greater international consensus, make a positive contribution to global food security."
11:44 All the details on the organization of the undermining of the Crimean bridge, the Security Service of Ukraine "will definitely reveal after our victory," SBU speaker Artem Dekhtyarenko told Liga. "So far, we are watching with interest how one of the symbols of the Putin regime has once again failed to withstand the military load," he added.
11:17 Another large convoy of PMC Wagner has arrived in Belarus, reports the monitoring group Belaruska Gayun. The column includes at least 20 vehicles of various modifications, which move with the flags of the Russian Federation and with the symbols of PMC Wagner. This is at least the third convoy with mercenaries that arrived in Belarus since July 11. They go to a field camp in the village of Zell. The New York Times also reports, citing recent satellite imagery, a surge in activity at the camp.
10:44 British intelligence states that Russia is experiencing an increasing shortage of counter-battery weapons, which leads to problems on the battlefield. Analysts note that in order to identify Ukrainian artillery and defeat it with their own artillery, the Russians need counter-battery radar stations, especially the modern Zoo-1M. Most likely, only a small number of systems deployed at the beginning continue to function at present, intelligence reports.
10:27 The National Anti-Terrorism Committee of the Russian Federation stated that the attack on the Crimean Bridge was carried out at 3:05 am by two supposedly Ukrainian unmanned surface vehicles. The attack killed two people and injured one child. A criminal case was initiated under the article "terrorist act". Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the decision to attack the Crimean bridge "is made by Ukrainian officials and the military, with the participation of American and British intelligence services."
09:59 Training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters has not yet begun, the first group of pilots is expected to leave, Yuriy Ignat, spokesman for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said.
09:40 At night, the Russians launched a missile attack on Kramatorsk - two people were injured, residential buildings and the territory of the enterprise were damaged. In addition, two more people were wounded in the region over the past day in Zolotaya Niva and Pleshcheevka. In the Kherson region over the past day, due to Russian shelling, one person was killed, nine were injured, of which two were children, according to the IVA.
09:28 "The head of the parliament" of Crimea, Vladimir Konstantinov, said that the Crimean bridge was allegedly attacked by Ukraine. He also claims that the railway track of the bridge was not damaged, "Crimea is connected to mainland Russia by a land corridor in the north, the peninsula is not isolated."
09:19 In the morning, the enemy fired on the city of Volchansk, Chuguevsky district, Kharkiv region - according to preliminary information, one person was injured, Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA, said. He also said that last night around 19:00 and 22:00 the enemy fired at Kharkiv with S-300 missiles twice. One of the rockets exploded in the air over the territory of the Russian Federation, four hits were recorded in the city on the territory of an enterprise in the Osnovyansky district. One person died, four were injured.
09:14 The representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate Andrey Yusov said that intelligence does not comment on the causes of the events on the Crimean bridge: "One can only quote the words of the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Kirill Budanov that the Crimean bridge is a superfluous structure there." Natalya Gumenyuk, speaker of OK Pivden, believes that the events on the Crimean bridge may be a provocation by the Russians on the eve of the end of the grain agreement, which was supposed to be extended on July 18.
In turn, a number of media outlets, in particular Ukrayinska Pravda, write, citing their own sources, that it was allegedly a special operation by the SBU and the Navy using surface drones.
08:58 Over the past week, as a result of offensive actions in the East and South, almost 18 square meters were liberated. km, and the total liberated area during the offensive is 210.5 square meters. km, said Anna Malyar.
She also said that since the end of last week, the enemy has been actively advancing in the Kupyansky direction of the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian troops are on the defensive, they are putting up strong resistance, but the situation is difficult, there are heavy battles. On the southern flank around Bakhmut, the Ukrainian Armed Forces advanced every day during the past week. Over the past week, as a result of improving the operational situation and leveling the front line in the Bakhmut direction, 7 sq. km, and in total during the offensive - 31 square meters. km.
In the South, the Defense Forces carried out offensive operations and were successful in the areas of Makarovka, Staromayorskoye; Novodarovka, Shelter; Malaya Tokmachka, Novopokrovka; Pyatikhatki, Grozovoe. For a week in certain areas there is an advance deep into the enemy from the Ukrainian defense line, 10.9 square meters have been liberated. km. In general, the advance from the beginning of the offensive in the South is 9.25 km, the liberated area is 179.5 square meters. km.
08:47 Public shows photos and videos of the Crimean bridge at the site of the collapse. Meanwhile, the "authorities" of the peninsula called on tourists and local residents to use the land route, which runs through the occupied territories of Ukraine.
08:20 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of July 17:
personnel - about 238,300 (+620) people liquidated,
tanks - 4115 (+8),
armored combat vehicles - 8034 (+8),
artillery systems - 4504 (+23),
MLRS - 685 (+4),
air defense systems - 428 (+3),
aircraft - 315 (+0),
helicopters - 310 (+0),
UAV operational-tactical level - 3828 (+8),
cruise missiles - 1273 (+0),
ships/boats - 18 (+0),
automotive equipment and tankers - 7059 (+15),
special equipment - 677 (+11).
07:28 The Russian army is concentrating its main efforts on the Kupyansky, Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdeevsky and Maryinsky directions - 28 military clashes have occurred over the past day, the General Staff said in the morning summary . In particular, the enemy unsuccessfully tried to regain the lost positions northwest of Kurdyumovka in the Bakhmut direction and in the northern part of Staromayorsky Donetsk region in the Shakhtyor direction. The defense forces continue the offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdyansk directions, consolidate on the achieved lines, and conduct counter-battery combat.
05:13 An explosion occurred on the Crimean bridge, as a result of which two people died, another was injured, local publics write. The "head" of the occupying authorities in Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, does not confirm the information about the explosion, but said that an "extraordinary event" occurred on the bridge near the 145th support from the Krasnodar Territory. Telegram channels write that a significant part of the bridge collapsed after the explosion .
00:22 Biden allowed European countries to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets , US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said: "The President has given the green light, and we will allow, support, assist and actually provide the necessary tools to Ukrainians have started training on F-16s as soon as the Europeans are ready." He added that European countries need several weeks to prepare training opportunities, and the US will not delay the process.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Vladimir Kornilov
[RIA] Serious cracks have appeared between the Ukrainian regime of Volodymyr Zelensky and the West, and it is already difficult to hide. The "fateful" NATO summit in Vilnius ended in complete failure for Kyiv and brought serious demoralization to society. And since the regime rests solely on Western bayonets and financial assistance from there, Zelensky’s internal critics immediately became more active, waiting for a long time.
Of course, Zelensky himself and his team are to blame. They've set their audience up for so long, raised the bar for so long, that now they have to retroactively play it back. "History is being written in Vilnius. The NATO summit will determine the fate of both Ukraine and Biden," Kiev propagandists pompously proclaimed a few days before the event.
Kyiv rushed around like a hand-written sack with the format of bilateral declarations invented by him "on support for Ukraine's membership in NATO." After each signing of this meaningless document with some other country, Zelensky went public and presented it almost as a decisive step in the North Atlantic alliance. Ukrainian officials and the media were quite seriously counting the states that signed these papers.
As the summit approached, it became clear that a miracle formula that could be sold to the public as a "overcome" had not been invented.
Therefore, they began to present as a kind of breakthrough the refusal of NATO from the MAP (Plan of Action for the Acquisition of Membership) for Ukraine. That is, for several years the Kiev authorities scolded the alliance for refusing to grant the MAP to Kyiv, and now they are telling the public: "See, what an achievement! They refused to grant us the MAP!"
But the most important visible outcome of the summit was the exposure of mutual irritation in the West's relations with Kiev.
Zelensky’s tweet about the “absurdity” of the situation, when they decided to discuss the fate of Ukraine without Ukraine, caused a storm of indignation among the sponsors of the Kyiv regime. Behind the scenes of the summit loomed a revision of relations with Kiev. The organizer of the event, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, now retroactively acknowledges this fact and the high "drama" of the situation into which Zelensky's stupid words drove the participants.
The peak of this visible skirmish for the public was an exchange of views between the two "offended" - British Defense Minister Ben Wallace and the Kiev president himself. Wallace said that Ukraine could be more grateful for the tons of weapons from Britain, and he does not act as an Amazon delivery service.
To which Zelensky replied with no less caustic sarcasm.
And here the most curious begins. Instantly, Petro Poroshenko, already forgotten by everyone, jumped out on British television , who, as a contrast, scattered in deepest gratitude to the British government for the assistance provided. Commenting on Wallace's words with an attack on the President of Ukraine, Zelensky's predecessor said : "This is the word of a friend, a very professional and very responsible person." It sounded like gratitude for the fact that the Briton publicly dipped the leader of the Kyiv regime in the slop.
The height of this public humiliation was a speech on Sky News by Ukrainian Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko , who openly condemned Zelensky for "unhealthy sarcasm" about Wallace. When the current ambassador publicly criticizes his direct superior, this is already a riot on the ship. Recall that Prystaiko is an experienced diplomat who until recently served as Zelensky’s foreign minister. So he knows the rules of the game very well.
But critics were not limited to the British media. Feeling the smell of blood, these jackals, hitherto sitting in ambush, immediately attacked their leader: "Akela missed." Poroshenko is now actively spreading his angry speeches about the complete failure of the Ukrainian leadership in Vilnius. Suddenly emerged from oblivion Yulia Tymoshenko , who attacked Zelensky and his team for trying to legalize cannabis. Scavengers are ready to finish off the leader of the pack, who has stumbled, from the point of view of Western masters.
In Rudyard Kipling, the situation with the overthrow of the wolf Akela is explained as follows: "When the leader of the pack misses, he is called the Dead Wolf, because he does not have long to live." Judging by how sharply the hitherto silent critics of Zelensky have become more active, they already consider him a dead wolf. And they are just waiting for a signal from the Western Sherkhans so that they can finish off the decommissioned leader.
Kindly note that several entries in this article may have been removed because they included discussions of the grand strategic level.
[NewsFrontInfo] 21:16 Russian military continue to successfully destroy Western equipment in the Zaporozhye direction. In these frames, soldiers of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division dispose of American MRAPs. 21:15 Tank crew of the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade destroys APU pickup
20:07 Drone divisions "Sparta" throws a grenade into a private house where the position of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was equipped
19:59 In the Kupyansk direction, the crews of 152mm self-propelled guns 2S19 “Msta-S” of the Western group continue to destroy Ukrainian fighters.
18:51 Kamikaze drone "Lancet" strikes Enemy infantry fighting vehicles in the Artyomovsky direction
18:51 The Russian Defense Ministry showed frames of destruction of armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by guided missiles from Ka-52 helicopters in the zone of the NMD
18:02 Calculation of the 152mm self-propelled artillery installation "Msta-S" destroyed an American M101 howitzer
18:00 Methodical destruction of Western armored vehicles continues
16:58 Russian artillery hurt Armored vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of Ugledar
They worked with guided artillery ammunition "Krasnopol".
16:01 Rout Ukrainian troops in the Artyomovsky direction
15:59 122mm BM-21 "Grad" MLRS crews send fire gifts to the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
15:58 Army aviation of Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation in the zone of the special operation
14:34 New briefing by the RF Ministry of Defense:
🔹The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation repulsed two attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a day in the Krasnolimansky direction.
🔹In the Krasnolimansky direction, the actions of two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were stopped.
🔹The RF Armed Forces destroyed a fuel depot for military equipment of the Liman operational-tactical group near Kramatorsk in the DPR.
🔹The Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Krasnolimansky direction lost up to 60 servicemen and the M777 artillery system.
🔹The Armed Forces of Ukraine lost up to 240 fighters and a US-made Paladin self-propelled gun in a day in the Yuzhnodonetsk and Zaporozhye directions.
🔹Russian troops destroyed an ammunition depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of Malaya Tokmachka, Zaporozhye region.
🔹Russian air defense systems intercepted three Storm Shadow cruise missiles and three HIMARS multiple rocket launchers in a day.
🔹The Russian military repulsed 13 attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donetsk direction, including in the areas of Belogorovka and Maryinka in the DPR.
🔹The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed the ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Novoegorovka in the LPR, Kramatorsk and Vodiane in the DPR.
🔹Losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine per day in the Donetsk direction amounted to 320 fighters.
13:10 Soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine forced to ask the people for money for the treatment of his mother, since the state is not able to help him
13:10 Artillery of the 132nd Brigade destroys enemy fortifications near Gorlovka
12:39 Russian aviation destroyed building in the Zaporozhye region, where the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were located
12:39 Russian aviation destroyed base of the infantry of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kherson region
11:44 On July 1, Ukrainian nationalist Yuri Kravchuk was liquidated.
After graduating from school, he served in the Ukrainian army.
In 2014, he voluntarily joined the national formations. According to his acquaintances, he fought at the Donetsk airport and in Debaltseve. He received a medal for participation in the so-called ATO.
Immediately after the start of the SVO, Kravchuk went to the military registration and enlistment office, where he was enrolled in the 14th artillery brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Passed the KMB at the Yavorovsky training ground.
11:43 APU has serious problems near Kupyansk and Liman
Kiev political scientist Andrei Zolotarev accused Ukrainian propaganda of hushing up the problems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kupyansky and Limansky directions.
“We somehow completely ignored the fact that large forces were marching there for several days, and the situation was very difficult. It somehow remained behind the scenes, but I think now is such a moment when you cannot hide the sewing in the bag. The situation is not turning in the best way for Ukraine,” Zolotarev said.
10:26 Destroyed airborne combat vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in one of the directions
10:25 Air raid alert announced in six regions of Ukraine
10:24 An air alert has been declared in Kiev
09:45 Over the past day: as a result of fire damage by formations of the Dnepr group of troops in the island zone, the following were destroyed:
- 152mm howitzer MSTA-B with ammunition in the area of the settlement. Kizomys, losses: five VFU militants were killed, two were injured of varying severity;
- an attempt to penetrate the DRG in the area of Veliky Island was prevented, one boat three militants of the VFU were destroyed.
As a result of fire damage by formations of the Dnepr group of troops in the Kherson direction, the following were destroyed:
- two 120mm mortars, crews and ammunition for them, in the areas of the settlement. Pridneprovskoye and Dneprovskoye, losses: Eight VFU militants were destroyed, two were injured of varying severity in the area;
- one installation of the MLRS "Verba", in the area of the settlement. Ponyatovka, losses: four VFU militants destroyed
- two attempts of the AFU to force the Dnieper River in the areas of the settlement were stopped. Sadovoe and Antonovka, as a result of fire damage, three boats and 14 VFU militants were destroyed;
As a result of fire damage by formations of the Dnepr grouping of troops in the Kakhovka direction, the following were destroyed:
- the position of the armed formations of Ukraine in the areas of the settlement. Dudchany, losses: seven VFU militants destroyed; four - received injuries of varying severity, the command and staff vehicle was also destroyed.
09:29 Supreme Council of the Russian Federation eliminated 43-year-old ex-head of the department of preventive activities of the police of the Chernihiv region Oleksiy Diagovets.
09:20 Ukrainian TG channels report explosions in Kramatorsk and Konstantinovka (DPR, occupied by Ukrainian Armed Forces)
08:55 Artillery of the 132nd Brigade (former 3rd NM DPR) destroys enemy fortifications near Gorlovka–video.
08:22 Russian military groups “Vostok” destroyed all Ukrainian infantry groups that tried to attack in the Zaporozhye direction, said Oleg Chekhov, head of the group's press center.
The Vostok military also destroyed a pickup truck with nationalists and two mortar crews in the Yuzhno-Donetsk direction, and the group’s artillerymen also destroyed the command and observation post of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, violated the control system and thwarted the attack.
08:05 Ukrainian Bohdan Kryazh from the so-called “Brotherhood of Dmitry Korchinsky” battalion liked to pose with a fascist flag and was de-Nazified by a direct hit by a Russian anti-tank guided missile in the Zaporozhye direction.
08:00 Crews of Ka-52 VVO attack helicopters continue to destroy strongholds and armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
During the sortie, army aviation pilots launched missiles at the fortified points of the Armed Forces units discovered. As a result of combat use, the enemy control center and armored vehicles were destroyed.
07:59 An air alert has been announced in a number of regions of Ukraine, Ukrainian media report.
07:50 At night, the Russian army is massively working on enemy military facilities in several regions of Ukraine. Explosions sounded in Zaporozhye, Kramatorsk and Dnepropetrovsk region.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFrontInfo] 23:58 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 07/17/2023 to 00:00 07/18/2023
Over the past day Representation reported about 36 facts of firing by the VFU.
Information was received about the wounding of three civilians in the Petrovsky district of Donetsk and the previously released Cherished Zhelaniya.
Damaged two residential buildings in the Petrovsky district of Donetsk, as well as one civil infrastructure.
Under enemy fire were areas of nine settlements of the Republic: Gorlovka (Nikitovsky district), Golmovsky, Zaitsevo, Panteleymonovka, Yasinovataya, Yasinovatsky district, the capital city of Donetsk (Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky, Kievsky, Petrovsky districts), Makeevka (Chervonogvardeysky district), Chervonoye Zhelanie .
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy made 18 attacks from the MLRS, 155mm artillery, NAR.
On Gorlovsky 12 artillery attacks from artillery 152mm and 122mm.
On Yasinovatsky five artillery attacks from 155mm artillery.
On Volnovakhsky one artillery attack from 152mm artillery. By releasing 205 units of various ammunition.
A previous 48 artillery attacks were recorded from the side of the VFU per day.
23:12 The RF Armed Forces took control of the settlement of Novoselovka in the Luhansk People's Republic, oursourcesfrom places. This village already passed under the control of Russian units in November of this year, but then they were knocked out. Also, our subscribers from the scene specify that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are urgently transferring reserves to the recently taken Novoselovka in order to counterattack.
This information is confirmed by Ukrainian officials, casually mentioning the difficult situation for the enemy army in this region.
21:03 A civilian was injured during the artillery attack of the settlement Cherished Desire, reported representation Donetsk People's Republic in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine (JCCC).
“On the operational lines of the DPR JCCC for July 17, as of 20:00 (coincides with Moscow time), additional information was received about victims among civilians in the cities of the Republic: Cherished Zhelanie settlement (Velikonovoselkovsky district): on Shevchenko Street, 1, a man was wounded 1974 year of birth, ”the message of the representative office in the telegram channel says.
19:40 Statement of head of the press center of the Vostok group:
In the South-Donetsk direction, the advanced units of the Vostok grouping of troops, in the course of systematic fire impact on the enemy, destroyed a pickup truck with nationalists east of Makarovka, two mortar crews in the Novomayorsky and Novodonetsky areas.
By means of aerial reconnaissance, concentrations of nationalists in the Novodarovka area were opened and artillery fire destroyed.
Assault and army aviation inflicted fire damage on accumulations of manpower and equipment in the areas of Staromayorsky and Urozhayny.
Also, in the area of Staromayorsky, the crews of the TOS "Solntsepek" hit the places of accumulation of manpower of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In the Zaporizhia direction, the enemy made attempts to attack our positions with small groups of infantry in the areas south of Maly Shcherbakov and Stepovoe. All groups have been destroyed.
Artillery fire inflicted fire damage on accumulations of AFU manpower in the Priyutnoye area, destroyed a towed howitzer in the Charivnoye area, as well as a pickup truck with nationalists in the Novodanilovka area.
Assault and army aviation inflicted fire damage on accumulations of manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Pyatikhatka and Rabotino.
The crews of the Tor and Strela-10 air defense systems shot down two Ukrainian UAVs Fury and Leleka.
The military personnel of the Vostok group of troops show courage and heroism in the performance of combat missions.
The gun commander of the self-propelled artillery battalion of the group's motorized rifle brigade, warrant officer Alimagomed Khanmirzaev, with subordinate personnel, performed tasks of hitting the enemy by fire, attempting to break through the defensive orders of Russian troops in one of the sectors of the South-Donetsk direction.
During the fighting, competent and timely adjustment of the fire, carried out by ensign Khanmirzaev, allowed the artillerymen to hit the enemy's KNP and destroy more than a dozen nationalists.
As a result, the command and control system of the Ukrainian troops in this sector of the front was disrupted, and the enemy attack was thwarted.
18:27 In the Kupyansk direction, our troops advanced two km deep into the enemy's positions.
During the day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine unsuccessfully tried to advance in the Donetsk and Krasno-Limansky directions. 15 attacks repulsed.
17:35 Soledar direction situation as of July 17, 2023:
Russian artillerymen, together with the Airborne Forces units, repulsed the attack, dispersing the Ukrainian formations along the landings and, in the end, squeezing the Armed Forces of Ukraine to their original positions.
However, the most intense fighting goes south. Combined assault groups of the 3rd and 5th battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to cling to the heights adjacent to Kleshcheevka.
Attacks by Ukrainian formations continue almost non-stop in small groups. And if earlier the enemy managed to advance at least a little towards the village, now Russian troops are repulsing attacks even on the outskirts.
16:25 Acting Governor of the Zaporozhye region Yevhen Balitsky spoke about the situation in the Zaporozhye direction:
“The situation remains stably tense, the enemy has concentrated his efforts on restoring combat capability.
In the Vremevsky direction, the enemy made an attempt to break through the front line of our defense, the enemy did not achieve success.
An enemy group was discovered that was trying to approach our positions, the enemy was opened. In the course of the competent actions of the fighters of the 58th Army and the Sudoplatov battalion, an enemy group was identified that tried to conduct reconnaissance activities, the group was liquidated. By competent actions of our guys, the main path of approach and withdrawal of the enemy was cut off.
16:00 Military Chronicle reports a powerful blow to the reserves of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Orekhov, Zaporozhye region.
According to preliminary data, FAB-250 bombs with planning and correction modules, as well as rocket artillery are used. Presumably, warehouses with weapons and equipment of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault and 44th Artillery brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit.
15:30 Highlights from the new briefing of the RF Ministry of Defense:
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation repulsed two attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a day in the Krasnolimansky direction;
In the Krasnolimansky direction, the actions of two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were suppressed;
The Russian Armed Forces destroyed a fuel depot for military equipment of the Liman operational-tactical group near Kramatorsk in the DPR;
The Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Krasnolimansk direction lost up to 60 servicemen and the M777 artillery system;
The Armed Forces of Ukraine lost up to 240 fighters and a US-made Paladin self-propelled gun in a day in the Yuzhno-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions;
Russian troops destroyed an ammunition depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of Malaya Tokmachka, Zaporozhye region;
Russian air defense systems intercepted three Storm Shadow cruise missiles and three HIMARS multiple rocket launchers in a day;
The Russian military repulsed 13 attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donetsk direction, including in the areas of Belogorovka and Maryinka in the DPR;
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed the ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Novoegorovka in the LPR, Kramatorsk and Vodiane in the DPR;
Losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine per day in the Donetsk direction amounted to 320 fighters;
The RF Armed Forces destroyed up to 40 servicemen and 152mm self-propelled guns "Acacia" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kherson direction;
The RF Armed Forces destroyed up to 35 Ukrainian soldiers in the Kupyansk sector.
14:31 Svatovsko-Kremensky section situation as of 14.00 July 17, 2023:
In the Karamzinovka area on the Svatovsky sector, Storm assault units, with the support of the 21st Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, attacked the positions of Ukrainian formations on the opposite bank of the Zherebets River.
During fierce battles, the fighters of the RF Armed Forces knocked out the enemy from two strongholds at an altitude northwest of Novovodyanoe. The Armed Forces of Ukraine deployed two groups of 25 Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to carry out a counterattack, as well as an M777 battery to Makeevka.
To the south, in the vicinity of the Zhuravka Beam, positional battles are taking place. In units of the 518th battalion of the 1st arr of special forces of the 9th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they reported an attack by the RF Armed Forces on the strongholds of the 1st Brigade. In Terny, reserves are put on alert.
On the Torsk ledge, after several days of assault, Russian servicemen went on the defensive. Ukrainian formations in small groups continue rolling in the forest belt, probing the borders of the RF Armed Forces.
The enemy is actively using reconnaissance equipment to aim artillery. At the same time, an electronic warfare station was deployed to the area of Serebryansky forest to suppress control signals from Russian UAVs.
14:27 Combat Job military personnel of the 9th brigade in the Avdeevsky direction.
In the Avdiivka direction, units of the 9th Brigade of the 1st Donetsk Army Corps continue to carry out combat duty, covering the offensive of our assault units with fire, systematically destroying enemy strongholds
14:15 There is information that the Russian military managed to capture foreign mercenaries in the Kherson direction. Presumably, we are talking about the Germans. A video of the interrogation is reportedly coming soon, in which, according to Russian fighters, "the Germans cried."
13:34 Reports on the combat situation in the Kherson direction Diary of a Paratrooper:
“At 07:20 today (July 17), two Mi-8s of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the direction of Zolotaya Balka-Nizhniy Rogachik struck 8 NARs at the positions of the units of the Dnepr group of troops (the result of the “flying flights” was lousy - a flight of one km).
The anti-aircraft missile department of the Igla MANPADS of our units shot down a helicopter of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the launch of just one missile. There was a direct hit on a helicopter and its fall in the area south of one km of the settlement of Zolotaya Balka.”
12:24 According to the operational lines of the DPR JCCC for July 17, as of 12:00, information was received about victims among civilians in the cities of the Republic:
Donetsk (Petrovsky district): - on the street. Wagner, 23 injured woman born in 1958 and a man born in 1954
Information was received about damage as a result of artillery attack of the VFU cities of the Republic:
Donetsk (Petrovsky district): - shop "Zhovtnevy" on the street. Wagner, the car and the roadway were also damaged.
12:05 Subdivisions of the Southern Group of Forces successfully defended attack of enemy assault groups in the Soledaro-Artemovsky direction.
11:45 Orekhovsky area situation as of July 17, 2023:
At the Orekhovsky section, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are strengthening the front lines. Reinforcements from the 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine arrived at the strongholds north and northeast of Rabotino.
Also, two additional assault groups have been deployed to Lobkove, where detachments of the 3rd battalion of the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the 10th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reinforced by units of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, are now occupying positions. And a group of SSOs of Ukraine arrived in Shcherbaki.
In addition, the strengthening of the forward positions was noted in the vicinity of Belogorye southeast of Orekhov. The assault detachments of the 78th Separate Assault Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were stationed there.
10:27 In Donetsk, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired at the Kuibyshevsky district of the city, civilians were injured, including a child -video.
09:45 The criminal Kiev regime continues to shell the civilian infrastructure of the settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region, yesterday during the day the Armed Forces of Ukraine were fired from barrel artillery:
-- n.p. Aleshki fired 33 rounds;
-- n.p. Krynki fired nine rounds;
-- Six rounds were fired at the village of Korsunka;
-- Seven rounds were fired at Peschanovka settlement;
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure to be confirmed
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the settlement. Nova Kakhovka, n.p. Kakhovka, n.p. Alyoshki, n.p. Dnepryans, firing a total of 30 rounds from cannon artillery
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being specified.
09:30 The situation in the Krasnolimansky direction from Archangel Spetsnaz:
The enemy seeks to prevent the advance of the Russian troops and counterattacks, trying to force the units of the RF Armed Forces from the "Torsk" ledge.
The enemy made an attempt to break through the defenses of our troops at the Berestovoye-Novoselovskoye line, but was unsuccessful, suffered losses in manpower and organized the evacuation of the wounded, two groups were destroyed.
09:04 Over the past day, 48 artillery attacks from the AFU were recorded - DPR Representative Office in the JCCC
Ukrainian militants fired from MLRS, artillery of 152mm and 155mm caliber, firing 288 different types of ammunition across the territory of the Republic. Gorlovka (Central City, Nikitovsky districts), Golmovsky, Zaitsevo, Yasinovatsky district, Donetsk (Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky, Kievsky, Petrovsky districts), Makeevka (Chervonogvardeysky district) and Lugansk were under enemy fire.
As a result of the shelling, a woman was killed in the Chervonogvardeisky district of Makeevka. Four civilians, including a teenager born in 2006, were injured of varying severity in the Kuibyshevsky and Kievsky districts of Donetsk, the Nikitovsky district of Gorlovka.
Damaged 10 residential buildings in the Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky and Kievsky districts of Donetsk, as well as two civil infrastructure facilities.
08:14 Summary for the morning of July 17, 2023:
On the Zaporizhia Front, the enemy is concentrating forces in the Kamenka direction, hoping to still break through our defenses, despite the losses in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In the Orekhovsky direction, after the loss of a sensitive amount of armored vehicles, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are throwing infantry into battle in small groups through forest plantations.
On the Vremevsky direction of the Yuzhnodonetsk direction, the battles went for an important settlement. Staromayorskoye, held by our troops.
On the northern flank of the Artyomovsky (Bakhmutsky) direction, the Russian Armed Forces have been conducting counterattack operations for several days near the settlement. Berkhovka.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Gregor Spitzen
[REGNUM] German customs officers began to return to car owners the vehicles seized during the entry into the country with Russian numbers.
The situation was resolved predictably, since the legitimacy and judicial perspective of such actions a month ago seemed very doubtful to both professional lawyers and the German customs officers themselves. In particular, in the customs administration of Rostock-Warnemünde (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), employees agreed to communicate with IA Regnum on confidentiality terms.
They reported that such excesses were most likely caused not only by an overly broad interpretation of the provisions of the eighth package of EU sanctions, but also by the excessive zeal of the Hamburg customs officer Vereshchagin's Hamburg colleagues.
The "stick" system and the desire to report beautifully to the leadership for the reporting period are by no means peculiar only to Russian officials. In addition, such a resonant news item inevitably attracts the attention of the press, which is also very favorably perceived by high-ranking leaders who love to show off in front of television cameras and on the front pages of federal newspapers.
However, in general, the Mecklenburg customs officers were a little shocked by the actions of their colleagues in Hamburg and Travemünde (Schleswig-Holstein). Cases of confiscation have so far been noted only in these two regions. At the same time, it is emphasized that so far the sanctions have only applied to those cars that arrived in Germany by ferry.
The fact that the situation with the confiscation of cars under the sanctions is likely to end successfully for the owners, IA Regnum predicted back in June. The philological incident with the interpretation by individual officials of the word Einfuhr in the German version, rather than Import in the English original of the EU regulation, was a very shaky ground for the confiscation of personal property of citizens. In addition, some of them had a long-term residence permit in Germany or even German citizenship.
German authorities explained the confiscation of cars with Russian numbers
So, Ivan Koval, who has a German residence permit, lost his "iron horse" in Hamburg on June 1. On that day, customs officers passing by noticed the Russian license plates on the car and after checking the documents, some hesitation and long meetings with the management, they nevertheless decided to arrest the vehicle.
It is noteworthy that a week before this, the car was cleared without a hitch in full accordance with the letter and spirit of German law in the same department - as a law-abiding citizen, the car owner planned to put German numbers on the car officially imported into Germany.
Ivan, being firmly convinced that he was right, turned to a qualified lawyer, who quickly drew up a legally impeccable complaint about the arrest of the car. A little later, the German prosecutor's office joined the case, which did not find corpus delicti in the actions of the Russian. Customs officers were ordered to return the car to the owner, although with the proviso that the formal consideration of the case has not yet been completed.
“In principle, such a violation of the rights of a law-abiding resident of Germany by government departments does not fit into any legal norms and may well serve as a basis for going to court in order to obtain compensation for actually incurred expenses due to the inability to use a car, as well as moral damage from -for the current stressful situation, ” comments a lawyer from the city of Wismar, Andreas K.
The German lawyer believes that such legal excesses will continue until the law enforcement practice of almost quarterly changing anti-Russian sanctions “settles down” and enters the “legal channel”. Although, in general, restrictions against independent states that are not approved by the United Nations can be called legal only with a big stretch.
“I would rate the prospect of suing the German authorities for at least €4,000 in each case of illegal confiscation of a car as quite high. To anyone who encounters a similar problem, I would recommend keeping all receipts, tickets and electronic receipts confirming the actual travel costs incurred due to the inability to use the car , ”adds Andreas K.
Be that as it may, the legal precedent for the return of an illegally confiscated car with Russian numbers in Germany has already been created. If Ivan Koval, with the help of his lawyer, also manages to achieve compensation, this should definitely cool the ardor of especially zealous customs officers who have undertaken to interpret the EU provision on sanctions against the Russian Federation too broadly.
“Personally, I got the impression that for high-ranking officials who were forced to answer for the actions of customs officers at a government press conference, the discrepancies in the English and German versions of the eighth sanctions package were a surprise.
The speech in the document, of course, was about classic imports, and not about the usual importation into the EU of vehicles for personal use without the purpose of resale.
Although the customs officers were right from the point of view of the letter of the law, the spirit of the legislation in this case was clearly violated. But to admit the error of the system, and even in favor of the Russians, German officials simply could not afford such a loss of face.
Therefore, an insignificant question, more related to the field of philology than to jurisprudence, was suddenly blown up to the size of an international scandal with a speech by the Russian ambassador and a series of publications in the Russian media. The German side is definitely not shown in the best light here ,” concludes Andreas K.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Sergey Adamov
[REGNUM] Attempts by the Ukrainian army to break through the front line in the Zaporozhye region, which have been ongoing for the past month and a half, have not led to significant results.
The failures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are beginning to be acknowledged by officials in the EU and the US, as well as by the Western media. Trying to explain the failure of the Ukrainian army offensive, journalists cite various reasons for the failures, both fictional and real.
According to the New York Times, one of the reasons for the high losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in manpower was the tactics of laying minefields by Russian troops. Journalists witnessed the evacuation of dozens of soldiers who were blown up by anti-personnel mines and were seriously injured.
The publication quotes the words of a military medic of the Ukrainian army, who admits that he did not expect to stumble upon such dense mining.
“I could not imagine anything like this. I thought that the mines would lie in rows. But entire fields are filled with them, all around , ”said a fighter named Sergey.
Another medic told reporters that most of the soldiers entering the hospital are wounded in minefields, and not as a result of artillery work.
The pace of the Ukrainian offensive is also hampered by the need to clear mines from already occupied positions. Ukrainian troops are losing a lot of sappers. One of them said that many booby traps are equipped with "anti-removal devices" that cause the mine to detonate when you try to reach it with your hands. One of the Ukrainian sappers lost his hands while extracting a mine from the ground.
As military expert Maxim Tumbartsev noted in a commentary to IA Regnum , such reports indicate the lack of professionalism of Ukrainian sappers.
“Apparently, we are talking about unguided mines OZM-72, installed with fuses MUV-3 (MVE-72). They are not allowed to be destroyed. They are destroyed either by trawling "cats" manually, or with the help of armored vehicles that drive over mines. Throwing the "cat" and pulling it up is done from a shelter - a specially dug trench. The fact that Ukrainian sappers are trying to clear them with their bare hands speaks of their low qualification and level of training , ”the expert notes.
Ukrainian sappers also complain that the defending Russian troops do not allow minefields to be cleared calmly and inflict artillery strikes on them.
Journalists admit that minefields have also become a problem for Western-made armored vehicles.
“The basis for setting minefields are anti-tank TMN-62 and their modifications. These are the mines that are discussed in the publication of the American media. As well as anti-personnel PMN-2. The weight of the warhead of the TMN-62 mine is about seven kilograms - enough to disable armored vehicles or at least immobilize them , ”says Maxim Tumbartsev.
It was the massive minefields that caused the failure of most of the armored vehicles produced by NATO countries. According to official data, in the course of unsuccessful attempts to break through the front line, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost 311 tanks, and about 30% of the losses occurred in armored vehicles supplied from the United States and European countries.
The situation is no better with light armored vehicles. According to media reports , Ukrainian troops have already lost a third of the Bradley infantry fighting vehicles supplied by the United States. Moreover, which is typical, most of the cars were blown up by mines.
According to experts, the largest tank "battle" occurred when the Armed Forces of Ukraine were trying to advance in the area of the village of Rabotino, south of the city of Orekhov in the Zaporozhye region. Dozens of armored vehicles remained in the minefields, including the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and Leopard 2 tanks, which were abandoned by the crews after the explosion. Wheeled tanks made by France AMX-10RC showed themselves even worse, which turned out to be unsuitable for breaking through defense in depth.
Due to the fact that French armored vehicles have too light armor, they are more likely to be blown up by mines or become the prey of anti-tank missile systems. The high level of losses has led to the fact that the fighters of the 37th Naval Ifantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine refuse to go into battle.
It must be added that there is another reason for such refusals to fight. Ukrainian military personnel are well aware that foreign equipment is purposefully knocked out by Russian military personnel in the first place. There is a real hunt for it, since all "imported" tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other vehicles are unambiguously perceived as visual and material evidence of the West's intervention in the conflict.
A separate test for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the New York Times notes, was the use of “remote mining” tactics by Russian troops. Often, fighters and armored vehicles are blown up in areas that were previously cleared of mines and again "sown" with mines.
“There is evidence of the use of PTM-4 anti-tank mines, which are used for remote mining. Mining, in particular, occurs with the help of engineering remote mining systems (ISDM) "Agriculture".
In fact, this is a multiple launch rocket system that fires 25 projectiles that sow mines in an area at a distance of up to 10 kilometers. Due to the fact that the launcher is mounted on a wheeled chassis, "Agriculture" can quickly arrive at the front, where a breakthrough is possible. Moreover, the enemy, who previously mapped the minefields, does not know that the situation has already changed, and runs into a new minefield , ”the expert noted.
According to Maxim Tumbartsev, among the reasons for the high losses of armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are serious miscalculations of the command and intelligence, which did not expect such dense mining.
It is noteworthy that in the course of an unsuccessful offensive attempt near the city of Orekhov, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost five Leopard 2R HMBV mine-clearing engineering vehicles out of six delivered by Finland. Soviet-made engineering vehicles are also being destroyed, which the Ukrainian army is trying to use to clear the barriers.
“Most likely, engineering equipment is destroyed by artillery fire or with the help of manual means - grenade launchers or anti-tank systems. Such targets are a priority, since the advancing enemy forces are deprived of the opportunity to move forward.
And when you try to move off the track, which was previously done by engineering equipment, the tanks are blown up by mines. This is the simplest explanation. It can be assumed that mining tactics are used, aimed specifically at the destruction of engineering equipment, but this is only an assumption , ”adds the specialist.
One of the “novelties” demonstrated during the special military operation was the PTKM-1R anti-tank mines. A mine of this model is able to “wait” in ambush for a suitable target, and then independently “jump” onto an enemy tank. The mine is equipped with seismic and acoustic sensors that allow it to be programmed in such a way as not to attack wheeled vehicles and wait for a heavy target.
“Mina can wait a long time for a suitable target. With the help of sensors, it reacts to the noise and vibrations that the tank produces. Next, the upper part of the mine is triggered. She separates and flies to the source, over which the warhead is separated. Then it hits the roof of the hull and burns it with a cumulative jet.
Here the calculation is the same as that of the American "Javelin" - the equipment from above is armored worse than in front and on the sides. I don’t know if these mines are used to repel the “counterattack”, but earlier there was evidence that they were used during the battles in the Kherson and Kiev regions,” said Maxim Tumbartsev.
According to the New York Times, even the equipment that the Ukrainian troops manage to take out of the battlefield is out of action for a long time. Due to the lack of qualified servants and workshops for the repair of armored vehicles on the territory of Ukraine, damaged tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are transported to Poland for repairs.
Although the Ukrainian troops do not give up their attempts to advance on the Zaporozhye front, one cannot but admit that the first stage of the offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces failed.
And in many respects this became possible precisely thanks to the Russian mining tactics, which made it possible to create a very effective counterbalance to the supply of armored vehicles from the West. But it was precisely on her that Kyiv made a decisive bet, planning its “counterattack”.
[REGNUM] Russia has formally notified Turkey, Ukraine and the UN of its objection to extending the so-called grain deal, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said July 17.
“Russia today officially notified the Turkish and Ukrainian sides, as well as the UN secretariat, of its objection to the extension of the deal. In the near future, a statement by the Foreign Ministry will be published with detailed explanations of the Russian position, ” Zakharova told RIA Novosti.
Earlier on July 17, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the so-called grain deal had ceased to operate. None of the promises made to Russia when concluding this agreement was ever fulfilled, Peskov recalled.
The agreement, part of which was the grain deal, was concluded by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN in July 2022 for a period of six months and later extended. At the same time, the Kremlin and the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the promises given to Russia were not being fulfilled, and therefore the deal could be terminated.
On July 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin allowed the suspension of Russia's participation in the deal from July 17 due to non-compliance by its participants with Moscow's conditions. Russia will return to the deal when the promises are fulfilled, the head of state added.
The grain deal will not be extended, since Western countries, believing that Ukraine can defeat Russia on the battlefield, have decided not to fulfill the promises made to Moscow as part of the deal, the director of the Institute for Social and Economic Research of the Financial University under the government said earlier in an interview with a Regnum correspondent, economist Aleksey Zubets.
The grain deal should not have ended, it should be extended as soon as possible, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on July 17.
“I hope that all countries are following this process very closely,” he added.
According to him, Russia did not have a single argument not to agree to the extension of this agreement.
As IA Regnum reported , after the conclusion in July 2022, the grain deal was extended several times. The Kremlin and the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the promises given by the Russian Federation under the agreements are not being fulfilled (in terms of exporting agricultural products, importing components, connecting banks to the SWIFT system), and therefore the deal may be suspended.
The poorest countries, contrary to the terms of the deal, received only 3% of exported products, the Ukrainian authorities used the corridor provided to them exclusively for making money, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted earlier.
On July 17, Russia formally notified the UN, Turkey and Ukraine of the termination of the deal. In this regard, the guarantees for the safety of navigation along this corridor have also been withdrawn.
According to military-political publicist Mikhail Onufrienko , withdrawing from the grain deal, the main essence of which was to provide a transport corridor for the export of grain from Ukraine to world markets, will give Russia obvious advantages.
Coordinating Center (JCC) in Istanbul completed on July 17 the inspection of the last vessel of the grain deal. This was reported to RIA Novosti by the press secretary of the deal coordinator from the UN Ismini Palla .
Inspection of the last vessel under the grain deal completed in Istanbul
As Palla explained, SKC has completed the inspection of the TQ SAMSUN commercial vessel and it has been given permission to move on.
It is noted that the inspection lasted from 17:35 to 20:20 local time (coincides with Moscow time). This was the 1972 inspection carried out as part of the grain deal.
The vessel was the last to leave the port of Odessa on July 16, the 1004th since August 2022. TQ SAMSUN is transporting over 15 tons of rapeseed and 23 tons of corn to the Netherlands.
As IA Regnum reported , the grain deal was concluded in July 2022 and has been extended several times.
Russia has stopped the grain deal until all its conditions are met - the part of the deal relating to the Russian Federation has not been completed so far, so its effect is terminated. This was announced on July 17 by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov . Without the participation of Russia, the Black Sea Grain Initiative ceases to function from July 18.
The UN leadership has failed in its mission to guarantee the fulfillment of part of the grain deal for the export of Russian agricultural products, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on July 17.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called the results of the grain deal disappointing, noting that almost immediately it was transferred to a purely commercial basis, and not humanitarian, as expected. According to the agency, during the operation of the initiative, a total of 32.8 million tons of cargo was exported, of which more than 70% were sent to countries with high and upper middle income levels, including the EU. The poorest countries accounted for less than 3%.
The Foreign Ministry also noted that the ports controlled by Kiev and the corridor opened by Russia for the export of Ukrainian grain were used by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks.
For Russia, the termination of the grain deal will result in positive consequences, including because the costs of exporting Ukrainian agricultural products will increase, and Russian products will strengthen their positions, said Vladimir Gutenev, head of the State Duma Committee on Industry and Trade.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky assured that he had a conversation with UN Secretary General António Guterres , during which they agreed to work on resuming food supplies through the Black Sea.
“We agreed with Mr. Guterres to work together with the responsible states to resume food security and food supplies by routes in the Black Sea,” Zelensky said on his Telegram channel.
As IA Regnum reported , Ukraine is ready to continue grain supplies via the Black Sea corridor even after Russia's announcement about the suspension of the grain deal, Zelensky said on July 17.
On July 12, Guterres sent a letter to the Russian leader with proposals to extend the grain deal. In a letter to Putin, he announced an agreement on connecting a subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT payment system. He also said that until now, settlements for the export of agricultural products from the Russian Federation were carried out through a specially created scheme with the participation of the American bank JP Morgan.
A grain deal for a period of 120 days was agreed upon in 2022 and extended several times. It consists of two agreements regulating the export of Ukrainian grain and the access of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to world markets.
For Russia, the termination of the grain deal will result in positive consequences, including because the costs of exporting Ukrainian agricultural products will increase, and Russian products will strengthen their positions, said Vladimir Gutenev , head of the State Duma Committee on Industry and Trade.
Text taken from an article in mid.ru
[ColonelCassad] Almost a year ago, on July 22, 2022, two interconnected agreements were signed in Istanbul - the “Black Sea Initiative” on the export of Ukrainian food and Russian ammonia and the Russia-UN Memorandum on the normalization of Russian exports of agricultural products and fertilizers. This "package", as you know, was concluded at the suggestion and with the participation of the UN Secretary General A. Guterres with the stated humanitarian goals of ensuring global food security, reducing the threat of hunger and helping needy countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
A year later, the results of work on the implementation of these agreements look disappointing.
The Black Sea Initiative was launched just a week after the signing. As soon as possible, a maritime humanitarian corridor was identified, a Joint Coordination Center (JCC) was formed in Istanbul for registration and inspection of participating vessels, and on August 1, 2022, the first dry cargo ship Razoni left Odessa. This clearly confirmed the conscientious and responsible approach of the Russian representatives to the fulfillment of their duties as a party to the agreement.
However, contrary to the declared humanitarian goals, the export of Ukrainian food was almost immediately transferred to a purely commercial basis and until the last moment was aimed at serving the narrowly selfish interests of Kyiv and its Western curators. Facts and figures, as they say, speak for themselves. During the operation of the Black Sea Initiative, a total of 32.8 million tons of cargo was exported, of which more than 70% (26.3 million tons) were sent to countries with high and upper middle income levels, including the EU. The poorest countries, in particular Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia, accounted for less than 3%, totaling 922,092 tons.
Such geography and commercialization of the initially humanitarian initiative will become clear if we consider that the owners of a significant part of Ukrainian arable land (more than 17 million hectares) are Western corporations Cargill, DuPont and Monsanto. It was they who bought Ukrainian lands after Kiev lifted a 20-year moratorium on their sale at the request of the IMF and became the main beneficiaries of Ukrainian grain exports. On the other hand, Europeans, who buy Ukrainian food at dumping prices, then process it at their own factories for further resale as finished goods with high added value. Westerners, in fact, earn twice - both on the sale and on the processing of grain. In addition, the US and the EU speculate on prices, creating an artificial shortage of goods,
It should also be noted that during the year of the implementation of the “Black Sea Initiative”, the Kiev regime did not disdain, under the cover of the sea humanitarian corridor and shipping, to carry out provocations and attacks against Russian civilian and military facilities. In fact, the ports controlled by Kyiv and the safe corridor opened by Russia for the export of Ukrainian grain were used to carry out terrorist attacks in violation of the spirit and letter of the Black Sea Initiative.
As far as the Russia-UN Memorandum is concerned, it has not actually come into effect. Under hypocritical talk about the needs of the countries of the global South and that the sanctions allegedly do not apply to food and fertilizers, Washington, Brussels and London continued to "stamp" their restrictions. The EU alone has issued five new sanctions packages since July 2022. The Americans and the British do not lag behind with their extraterritorial restrictions. As a result, Russian bank payments, insurance and transport logistics, spare parts supplies and foreign assets were completely blocked.
An illustrative example is the gratuitous deliveries of Russian mineral fertilizers to the poorest countries under the auspices of the UN. Since the announcement of this initiative in September 2022, out of 262,000 tons of products blocked in Latvia, Estonia, Belgium and the Netherlands, only two shipments have been sent – 20,000 tons to Malawi and 34,000 tons to Kenya. And this is despite the fact that we are talking about a purely humanitarian action, to which no sanctions should apply in principle. At the same time, the Russian company that owns the products also paid all the costs of its delivery and transportation. Separately, the UN and Latvians were paid additionally, after which the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia did not hesitate from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly to declare its readiness to “donate” our fertilizers to those in need, and the UN at first did not find a place to mention Russia in their press releases,
We are forced to state that none of the five systemic tasks envisaged by the Russia-UN Memorandum has been fulfilled. Rosselkhozbank was not reconnected to the SWIFT system. The feverish, last-minute proposal of the UN Secretary General about some options with access to SWIFT for a “subsidiary” or affiliated structure with our bank is practically unrealizable and unviable - according to our data, this is also recognized in the European Union. In fact, once again they tried to sell us an empty promise for the extension of the “Black Sea Initiative.”
The import of spare parts and equipment for the production of agricultural products and fertilizers into Russia is prohibited as “dual-use” goods. The entire territory of our country has been declared a zone of war risks with exorbitantly high insurance rates up to prohibitive levels, and foreign ports are closed to our ships and cargoes. Foreign accounts of domestic agricultural companies are “frozen”, despite the fact that Western sanctions allegedly do not apply to food and fertilizers. Partially unlocked funds "migrated" into the pockets of the same Westerners to pay off loans and pay for gratuitous deliveries of our fertilizers.
Finally, the story of the resuscitation of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline, which is provided for by both Istanbul agreements, demonstrates better than any words the approach of the Kyiv regime and the UN members to their obligations. At first, under its restart, they tried to bargain for additional benefits to expand the “Black Sea Initiative” (inclusion of new ports, diversification of the range of goods and increase in inspections) and its extension under the special proposal of A. Guterres on April 24. And then, having failed to achieve these goals, the Kiev regime blew up the ammonia pipeline on June 5 on the principle of “no pipe, no problem” under the eloquent silence of the UN Secretariat.
Under these conditions of outright sabotage in the implementation of the Istanbul agreements, the continuation of the "Black Sea initiative" that did not justify its humanitarian purpose loses its meaning.
In accordance with paragraph H of the agreement, the Russian side objects to its further extension, of which the Turkish and Ukrainian sides were officially informed today, and the UN Secretariat was also notified. This means the withdrawal of guarantees for the safety of navigation, the curtailment of the maritime humanitarian corridor, the restoration of the regime of a temporarily dangerous area in the northwestern Black Sea and the disbandment of the SKC in Istanbul. Without Russia's participation, the "Black Sea Initiative" ceases to function from July 18.
We believe that the time has come to show the declared solidarity to the European allies of Kyiv, who can export Ukrainian food through land corridors. True, at the same time, cheap and low-quality grain, which arrives without any control, risks completely flooding European markets, causing (and already causing) protests from local farmers. If this really worries Brussels, then the EU may well buy it up and, instead of talking about the fight against hunger, start sending it to countries in need.
If Western capitals really value the "Black Sea Initiative", then let them seriously think about fulfilling their obligations and actually withdrawing Russian fertilizers and food from the sanctions. Only upon receipt of concrete results, and not promises and assurances, will Russia be ready to consider restoring the "deal".
[ColonelCassad] That's fine. To put it bluntly, the end of the "grain deal" slightly brightened up the negative from the terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge.
Let me remind you that the other day there was hysteria in the cart about Erdogan's assumptions that the "grain deal" on July 17-18 would be extended. But it all turned out a little different. Ultimately, the statements of the Russian military-political leadership that the deal would be stopped did not go wrong this time.
However, Erdogan has nothing to be offended about, the last extension of the "grain deal" for two months helped him win the elections. Everything he could, he already got from her. Although, of course, if the deal had been dragged on in its previous form, Ankara would not have refused it. Erdogan raised the most from this deal.
Now the Russian Federation and Türkiye will conduct new negotiations on the food issue. Erdogan confirmed that the Turkish Foreign Ministry will discuss these issues with the Russian Foreign Ministry. Erdogan also said that he was going to discuss with Putin the possibility of "resuming the grain deal", implying some new agreements. The talks between Putin and Erdogan, according to the statements of the Turks, may take place in August, as well as Putin's visit to Turkey. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed the specific time of such negotiations.
PS. Regarding my forecast (https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/8381964.html) dated May 26th.
1. Erdogan will win the Turkish elections by a small margin. ✅
2. The grain deal in its current form will not be extended. ✅
3. There will be a new deal with Turkey after the elections.
4. Ammonia will not be allowed through Odessa. ✅
5. There will be no US default on June 1 - the debt ceiling will be raised. ✅
Give a new contract until the end of August and it will be 5 out of 5.
PS. The decision on the grain deal is final, no more negotiations are planned (c) Russian Foreign Ministry
Russia will consider returning to it if Russian conditions are met.
The Russian Foreign Ministry today officially informed the UN Secretariat, Ukraine and Turkey about the "objection" to the extension of the "grain deal".
The Russian Foreign Ministry will publish the Kremlin's official position on stopping the "grain deal" during the day.
Prices for grain futures on world exchanges have already increased by 3-4%.
Congratulations to all of you on your graduation. Hopefully without a subsequent renewal.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. By Malek Dudakov
[REGNUM] Another confrontation broke out between Congress and the White House. Two months ago, this almost brought America to default. Now at stake is the Pentagon's budget for next year, the adoption of which has become a real epic with an unpredictable outcome.
The annual approval of the defense budget is rarely without drama.
The preparatory phase usually takes several months. Different legislators make their own amendments to the budget, but it is far from always possible to approve them.
Someone, for example, wants to lobby for the purchase of weapons from those companies whose production facilities are located in their district or state. Others seek to reform the military based on personal experience or expert opinion.
The Pentagon's budget is the largest in the world.
In terms of military spending, the United States bypasses the next ten countries combined. However, even this money is often not enough for all the "Wishlist" of Washington. Therefore, it is often necessary to make a difficult choice - whether to build, for example, new submarines or invest in the creation of next-generation fighters and bombers.
This year, the situation has become more complicated due to the budget deal concluded by the Republicans and Democrats to stabilize the growth of the US national debt. This agreement imposes serious restrictions on the growth of government spending - they should increase by no more than 1% over the next 10 years.
Many legislators in Congress wanted to completely freeze the size of the military budget at the current level, or even cut it.
However, in the end, the House of Representatives passed its draft budget for the Pentagon, which will be about 2% more than the previous one, and will amount to $880 billion.
Such a draft budget caused a very negative reaction from many "hawks" in Washington.
They are unhappy that US military spending next year will be de facto cut when adjusted for inflation. In addition, this budget cuts spending on replenishing stocks of weapons, primarily ammunition spent on the Ukrainian front.
Since the beginning of the Ukrainian conflict, the United States has supplied Kyiv with 2 million shells of all calibers and tens of thousands of missiles.
According to analysts in Washington, the Pentagon will need at least 5-7 years to replenish them. And for some categories of weapons, such as stingers, which have long been discontinued, the United States will have to spend more than 10 years replenishing depleted stocks.
It was precisely the problems with the lack of conventional ammunition that the Joe Biden administration pointed out when it announced the decision to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine.
Many in Congress opposed. Moreover, criticism was heard from both the right wing of the Republicans and supporters of Donald Trump, and the left side of the Democrats. In total, more than 120 lawmakers voted to ban the export of cluster munitions.
However, the "hawks" still managed to hack this amendment.
Several other high-profile amendments on the suspension of military trenches to Ukraine or the US withdrawal from NATO did not pass either. They were proposed by some of the Republicans who are in favor of curtailing US involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. They are guided by their electorate, which is already very tired of this militaristic agenda.
Now, of course, such initiatives will lead nowhere. But this is a clear indicator of what Trump supporters want.
If he wins the presidential election in 2024, then it is quite possible to expect a sharp decrease in the dynamics of arms supplies to Kiev, and a real crisis in relations with NATO countries, which the Republicans consider America's "freeloaders".
But the Republicans in the House of Representatives passed amendments regarding the cultural wars that are tearing America apart.
In particular, they want to ban the Pentagon from recruiting transgender people into the US armed forces with the promise of a free sex change operation.
American army of the future: trans, migrants and artificial intelligence
At the moment, there are about 15,000 transgender people among American soldiers. They are not hired out of a good life. The Pentagon has big problems with a shortage of recruits, which is why it has to focus on accepting LGBT representatives or migrants.
In addition, the military budget forbids organizing so-called drag shows on American military bases.
These are dances of men dressed in women's clothes and made up. The U.S. Navy even recently had its own “digital ambassador,” who gained notoriety on TikTok for dancing in women’s clothing. In service, she is a sailor named Joshua Kelly, and after dressing up, she transforms into a "dancer" with the pseudonym Harpy Daniels .
The transgender revolution in the United States has also covered the armed forces, which cannot but cause outrage among conservative America. And now they will try to somehow limit these processes, at least at the level of the military budget.
In addition, it will include an amendment prohibiting the Pentagon at its own expense to transport female soldiers from Republican states to Democratic states if they want to have an abortion. In most Republican states, abortion is now restricted or outlawed.
The White House flatly refuses to approve the military budget, where there are such amendments.
The Democrats have put a lot of effort into arranging the “liberalization” of the US military and reformatting this traditionally conservative institution for themselves. And they are not going to refuse to impose a transgender agenda at the Pentagon level.
In addition, Republicans control only the lower house of Congress, while Democrats have a majority in the Senate. And they will certainly present their draft budget, where there will be no restrictions on transgender people. But Republicans may refuse to vote for such a military budget.
The result is a stalemate that is so typical of Washington in the current split.
Moreover, American politicians do not have much time to build up.
By the fall, the current Ukrainian budgets will run out, and it will be necessary to urgently agree on new military tranches for Kyiv, or they will abruptly stop. The Ukrainian counter-offensive is failing, with European countries complaining that they cannot start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. The Pentagon is not shipping training simulators to Europe, waiting for the next budget to be approved.
There are many problems within America's military-industrial complex itself.
Military corporations are very slowly increasing the production of weapons, and this is not enough even to cover the needs of Ukraine, not to mention new possible conflicts over Taiwan or Iran that threaten to erupt in the coming years.
There are big delays in the construction of new submarines and destroyers of the next generation Zamvolt.
There is a lag in strategic weapons from Russia and China - the latest tests of hypersonic missiles by Lockheed Martin Corporation ended in a painful failure.
Due to the shortage of rare earth metals, the export restrictions of which are introduced by China, the production of F-35 fighter jets, which is already far behind the plan, may stop.
This accumulating lump of problems the Pentagon needs to solve. Otherwise, the entire American war machine could be in jeopardy at one moment.
For now, however, Washington is more concerned about transgender battles.
And this is very symbolic - the cultural and political divide in the United States is already so strong that even the adoption of the military budget is faced with enormous difficulties. But even more important is the degradation of the entire public political discourse in America, when real problems are replaced by fictional ones.
This is a clear indication of the empire of the era of decline, into which the United States is clearly turning every day.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
