Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The issue of removing the status of a terrorist organization from the Taliban (a terrorist organization whose activities are prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation) is being studied, the final decision will be made by the top leadership of Russia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on April 1.
It sure looks hypocritical when Russia is sidling up to the Taliban, who they have registered as a terror organization, given they're really only doing so to annoy America.
“This issue is being studied by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian Ministry of Justice and other Russian relevant departments,” the department told Gazeta.Ru.
The Foreign Ministry emphasized that the final decision will be made by the country's top political leadership.
Earlier, on April 1, the special representative of the Russian President for Afghanistan, director of the second department of Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zamir Kabulov, said that the delegation of the Afghan Taliban movement was invited to participate in the Russia-Islamic World forum, which will be held in Kazan in May.
As Regnum reported, in December 2023, the Kazakh authorities decided to remove the Taliban from the list of terrorists.
Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova expressed hope that the decision of the Kazakh authorities to exclude the Taliban movement from the national list of terrorist organizations will have a positive impact on the dialogue with Afghanistan and strengthen security in the region. The diplomat noted that the exclusion of the Taliban from the terrorist list will contribute to its removal from international isolation.
Since March 2022, Moscow has established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and accredited diplomats from the government formed by the Taliban.
In January 2024, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that representatives of the Taliban movement as a whole control power in Afghanistan, and Russia does not stop contacts with them.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[LB] Defense forces destroyed a third of Russian tanks.
Ivanna Kapustyanska
On March 30, the defense forces in the Avdiivsk direction repelled probably one of the largest tank attacks of the Russian army on Ukrainian positions since February 24, 2022. During the fighting, the enemy lost a third of its tanks, writes Forbes.
"It ended up being one of the biggest tank losses in Russia's entire 25-month war against Ukraine. When the smoke cleared, the Russians left behind a third of their tanks," Forbes writes. Chip Diller: "All is FINE!"
According to the publication, a few weeks before Saturday's assault, the Russians mainly used infantry to advance west of the city. The reason was that they lacked vehicles after heavy losses during the capture of Avdiivka in mid-February.
However, the situation changed, and in the Avdiiv direction, the enemy again used armored vehicles, including tanks.
Thirty-six tanks and 12 BMP combat vehicles of the Russian Army's 6th Guards Tank Regiment, part of the 90th Tank Division, attacked along the road stretching from Russian-occupied Tonenko to the liberated village of Umanske, two miles to the west.
The Ukrainian 25th Brigade spotted the column and struck it hard. A total of 12 tanks and eight infantry fighting vehicles were knocked out.
The day after the assault, the Defense Strategy Center described the fighting around Tonenke as "positional," meaning that neither side had advanced.
Forbes suggests that, despite a severe shortage of ammunition, the Ukrainian brigades are still capable of confronting the Russian army using mines, artillery, anti-tank missiles and attack drones.
According to the information of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, the enemy has been trying to break through the defense of our troops in the bands of three brigades for several days in a row, daily throwing assault units into battle on equipment and on foot.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:13 In Krivoy Rog, one person was injured as a result of an enemy attack, said the head of the Dnepropetrovsk OVA, Sergei Lysak.
21:45 The Greek government is preparing to send a large batch of artillery ammunition to Ukraine from its army warehouses via the Czech Republic in the amount of 150 million euros. But this requires the approval of the relevant parliamentary committee, reports local publication iEidiseis.
21:28 The production of long-range drones in Ukraine in 2024 has increased tenfold compared to last year, said the head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Mikhail Fedorov, in an interview with Die Welt. According to him, most of the drones that attacked Russian refineries have a range of 700 to 1,000 km, “but now there are models that can fly more than 1,000 km.”
20:32 During the day, air defense forces destroyed the Russian reconnaissance drone Outpost over the Black Sea, as well as the X-59 guided aircraft missile in the Krivoy Rog region of the Dnepropetrovsk region, the Air Force reported.
19:44 Zelensky said in an evening video message that he held a special meeting today on working with NATO regarding compatibility and prospects for this year. “This year raises several fundamental issues for relations between Ukraine and NATO. In particular, this applies to the summit in Washington and many other aspects of interaction. Only with Ukraine in the Alliance can we count on real security in Europe,” the president emphasized.
18:27 According to The New York Times, Ukrainian authorities gave Russian pilot Maxim Kuzminov $500,000 for hijacking a helicopter, and also provided him with a Ukrainian passport under a false name. Kuzminov was killed on February 13, 2024 in Spain. Spanish intelligence services have no doubt that one of the Russian intelligence services is behind the murder. NYT told the details of the high-profile murder. Read more in the material Dissolute Life.
18:18 Governor of the Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov said that nine people were injured as a result of the shelling of Belgorod. According to him, 17 air targets were allegedly shot down over Belgorod and the Belgorod region.
17:43 Defense Express analysts estimate that Russia could have already accumulated from 245 to 285 Caliber cruise missiles. Experts refer to the words of the representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Vadim Skibitsky, that as of November 2023, the Russians had a stock of 165 Calibers. The production rate ranges from 20 to 35 units per month. If we take into account that the Russian Federation almost did not use these weapons for about four months, then the stockpile could increase by 80-120 missiles.
17:27 On March 29, a petition appeared on the website of the Office of the President calling for restrictions on the gambling business. It was created by a soldier of the 59th brigade, Pavel Petrichenko. The author emphasizes that military personnel who have been at the front for three years under stressful conditions are especially psychologically vulnerable. Therefore, for many of them, gambling becomes the only way to cope with stress and, as a result, quickly causes dopamine addiction and weakens self-control. Read more about the problem and ways to solve it in the article Will online casinos be regulated in Ukraine ?
16:59 Border guards planted the flag of Ukraine almost over the positions of the Russian troops - between Kurdyumovka and Ozoryanovka near Bakhmut, the State Border Service reported. They managed to raise the Ukrainian flag using a drone.
16:26 Attacks on the village of Tonenkoe near Avdeevka have actually been going on for two years, but on March 30, the Russians launched one of the largest tank assaults during a full-scale invasion. The RF column consisted of 48 units of heavy equipment - 36 tanks and 12 infantry fighting vehicles. About how events developed further, see the material Large-scale assault on Russia near Avdeevka.
15:48 In the occupied Starobelsk of the Lugansk region, “deputy head of the Center for servicing educational organizations of the LPR” Valery Chaika was killed in an explosion, local “authorities” reported. Public accounts write that a collaborator’s car was blown up.
15:37 Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that European soldiers will not fight in Ukraine, but there is a possibility of sending them to speed up the training of the Ukrainian military. According to him, now “every NATO country” already has military personnel in Ukraine - “for example, military attaches or people who come to Ukraine from time to time.”
15:13 Zelensky said that he held a “maximum specific” meeting about drones with the military and officials. "Important decisions: on simplifying the procurement procedure, importing components, increasing the production of projectiles for drones and training operators. The project to build an integrated system for managing electronic warfare equipment to protect our soldiers and equipment from Russian UAVs. The system is already being tested in certain areas. We have planned to scale the project throughout front," the president said.
14:58 The Russians attacked residential buildings in Volchansk, Kharkov region, one person was wounded, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA.
14:45 Russian planes dropped two more FABs on the Belgorod region, reports the opposition Russian publication Astra. So, on March 31, a FAB-500 was found in the area of the Nina farmstead, and in the area of the village of Kryukovo they found a crater, in which, preliminary, there was also a FAB-500.
In addition, fragments of the Russian X-101 missile were discovered in Krasnoarmeysk, Saratov region. Local media wrote that it was allegedly a “downed Ukrainian drone.” However, the publication found out that during the launch, the warhead of the strategic missile detonated in the air, and the debris fell on the territory of Krasnoarmeysk. Local authorities did not comment on the situation.
13:47 In the southern direction, Russian troops are actively using reconnaissance drones, trying to compensate for the lack of A-50 long-range radar reconnaissance aircraft, said Natalya Gumenyuk, speaker of the Southern Defense Forces.
13:18 From January 1 to March 31, 2024, Russia used more than 180 weapons of destruction in the direction of Kiev, including five 3M22 Zircon missiles, KGVA reported. In addition, the enemy launched 11 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles, six Iskander-M missiles, three Kh-69 units, one Caliber, 113 Kh-101 missiles and 48 Shahed attack UAVs towards the capital.
13:10 Russia received from Iran a batch of components for kamikaze drones, said Natalya Gumenyuk, spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces: “In recent days, we have observed cargo flights from Tehran to Moscow, which indicates that they are ready to produce more drones. The enemies continue to raise funds defeats on their territory, they are actively working." According to her, in this regard, the number of attacks in Ukraine may increase in the near future.
12:54 The Russian army may launch a large-scale offensive in the west of the Donetsk region in late spring or early summer, predicts the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW). At the same time, analysts believe that Russian troops will be able to launch a coordinated large-scale offensive operation only in one operational direction due to the limitations of their own resources.
ISW experts note that the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled a Russian battalion mechanized attack near Avdievka on March 30 - the first battalion mechanized attack since Russian troops began their campaign to capture Avdievka in late October 2023.
12:22 The Russians attacked civilian infrastructure in the Lyubotin community of the Kharkov region. Preliminarily, there are no wounded, but there is a threat of a second strike, said the head of the OVA, Oleg Sinegubov.
11:40 Almost all critical infrastructure in Kharkov has been destroyed, city mayor Igor Terekhov said in an interview with Liga. According to him, the Russians began to attack the city with new ammunition, which covers a distance of up to 90 km. There have already been two such strikes over the past week. Strikes from S-300 systems also continue; these shells fly in 40 seconds. In addition, the enemy began to use attack drones more often.
At the same time, Terekhov emphasized that so far there is no reason for evacuation: “So far, neither we nor the military see any reason to evacuate from Kharkov. The city has gone through more difficult times. There was a time when out of almost two million population only 300 thousand remained.” According to him, 1.3 million people now live in the regional center.
11:33 Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson said that he will put a bill to help Ukraine to a vote immediately after the holiday break, which ends on April 9. According to him, the document will contain “important innovations,” in particular, it is possible that assistance will be provided to Kyiv in the form of a loan or income from frozen Russian assets.
11:24 On March 31, a Russian drone damaged equipment at one of Ukrenergo’s substations, emergency restoration work continues, the company reported. This morning, consumption restrictions were applied for all consumers in the Kharkov region and for industrial consumers in the Krivoy Rog region.
10:39 France expects Beijing to send very clear signals to Moscow regarding the war in Ukraine, said the country's Foreign Minister Stephane Sejournet: “We expect China to send very clear signals to Russia. China obviously plays a key role in ensuring the independence of Ukraine and respect for international law, including its sovereignty."
10:26 The head of the Intelligence Committee of the US House of Representatives, Republican Mike Turner, said that the issue of providing assistance to Ukraine will be a priority after congressmen return from the holiday break.
09:42 In the Zaporozhye region, one person was wounded as a result of Russian shelling of the Pologovsky district, said the head of the OBA Ivan Fedorov.
09:10 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of April 1:
personnel - about 442,880 (+710) people,
tanks - 6986 (+20),
armored combat vehicles - 13,321 (+17),
artillery systems - 11,082 (+32),
MLRS - 1023 (+0),
air defense systems - 744 (+1),
aircraft - 347 (+0),
helicopters - 325 (+0),
UAV of operational-tactical level - 8757 (+26),
cruise missiles - 2057 (+9),
ships/boats - 26 (+0),
submarines - 1 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 14,752 (+35),
special equipment - 1826 (+3).
08:39 Late in the evening of March 31, the Russians struck Kharkov KAB, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA. Two buses, a truck and a car were damaged. The building of the educational institution was partially destroyed, the dormitory building and a residential building were damaged. No people were hurt.
In addition, the State Emergency Service reported that at night the enemy struck a fire and rescue unit in one of the border settlements of the Kharkov region. As a result of the shelling, a third of the fire station building was destroyed. Six rescuers were on duty and were not injured.
07:54 At night, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with three Shahed-type UAVs, two of which were destroyed, the General Staff reported.
07:45 Over the past 24 hours, 53 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report. In particular, the enemy tried 22 times to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops in the Novopavlovsk direction - in the areas of Georgievka, Novomikhailovka and east of Vodyanoye, Donetsk region. Another 13 attacks were repulsed in the Avdeevsky direction - in the areas of the settlements of Berdychi, Semenovka, Umanskoye, Pervomaiskoye and Nevelskoye in the Donetsk region.
The enemy did not conduct offensive actions in the Kupyansk direction. In the Liman direction, the Defense Forces repelled three enemy attacks in the Ternov area of the Donetsk region; in Bakhmutsky - eight attacks in the Belogorivka districts of the Lugansk region, as well as Verkhnekamensky, Ivanovsky, Kleshcheevka, Andreevka of the Donetsk region; on Orekhovsky - two attacks in the districts of Staromayorsky, Donetsk region and Rabotino, Zaporozhye region; on Kherson - two attacks.
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[EngMilRu] The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces in cooperation with Operational-Tactical Aviation engaged manpower and hardware of AFU 60th Mechanised and 4th Tank brigades close to Yampolovka and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system.
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and defeated units of AFU 31st Mechanised and 92nd Assault brigades near Konstantinovka and Novodmitrovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses were up to 510 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, and 27 motor vehicles.
In the course of the counterbattery warfare, two multiple launch rocket systems, six self-propelled artillery systems, including three Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery systems, one 152mm Msta-B howitzer, two 122mm D-30 howitzers, and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station were eliminated. Eleven AFU ammunition depots were also destroyed.
In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units captured more favourable lines, and inflicted losses on units of AFU 47th Mechanised, 59th Mechanised infantry, 68th Jaeger, and 25th Airborne brigades close to Pervomayskoye, Berdichi, Tonenkoye, and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
Two counterattacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade were repelled near Leninskoye and Shumy (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 295 Ukrainian troops, one U.S.-made Abrams tank, five armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one 122mm BM-21 Grad MLRS combat vehicle, one 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, two 122mm D-30 howitzers, and one U.S.-made M119 gun were eliminated.
In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation, and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 72nd Mechanised, 102nd and 108th Territorial Defence brigades close to Komsomolskoye, Malinovka (Zaporozhye region), and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses were more than 120 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks.
In addition, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, two U.S.-made M777 howitzers, one Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile launcher, as well as one ammunition depot were destroyed.
In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 35th Naval Infantry, 128th Territorial Defence brigades near Novotyaginka (Kherson region) and Dobraya Nadiya (Dnepropetrovsk region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian troops, five motor vehicles, two 152mm D-20 howitzers, as well as one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged one radar guidance post, one battle command vehicle, and two S-300 anti-aircraft missile launchers.
In addition, one temporary deployment area of foreign mercenaries was hit near Kharkov region, as well as AFU manpower and hardware in 138 areas.
Russian air defence systems have shot down one Su-27 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force close to Rayskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
228 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, four HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and one U.S.-made JDAM aerial guided bomb have been intercepted during the day.
In total, 581 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 18,179 unmanned aerial vehicles, 495 air defence missile systems, 15,670 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,261 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,611 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well 20,476 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 23:58 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 04/01/2024 to 00:00 04/02/2024.
16 facts of armed attacks by the UFU were recorded by the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC over the past 24 hours.
There were no reports of civilian casualties
DAMAGED:
Four residential buildings
Ten artillery attacks in the Donetsk direction
Six artillery attacks in the Gorlovka direction
A total of 44 units of various ammunition were fired
21:35 Enemy admits the actual loss of Vodyanoy.
This settlement beyond Avdeevka is located almost close to Pervomaisky, more than half of which is also under our control.
Ukrainian military analysts publish geolocations, showing on maps that Russian troops have actually reached the outskirts of the village.
Advancement in an area up to 200 m wide to a depth of up to 650 m.
20:18 All last week, Ukrainian formationscontinuedstrike Russian regions. As before, most of the enemy attacks fell on the populated areas of the Donetsk People's Republic, Belgorod and Kherson regions.
Compared to last week, the enemy has reduced the intensity of artillery attack of the Donetsk agglomeration by more than 20%, while the Ukrainian Armed Forces are still using cluster munitions. Meanwhile, the number of rounds fired into the Belgorod region decreased by 12%. In the Kherson region this figure was 18%.
The difficult situation still remains in the populated areas of the DPR, where three people were killed and 11 were injured. In the Belgorod region, the death of two residents was recorded, and 15 civilians were injured. Eight people were injured on the Kherson left bank, but there were no casualties.
Other front-line regions, such as the Kursk and Zaporozhye regions, also came under attack. In the Bryansk region, Kurkovichi, Zernovo and Belaya Berezka were shelled: four people were wounded. All of them together fired at least 70 rounds of ammunition.
In the rear regions, the target of the Kyiv regime was objects in the Rostov region, where air defense systems destroyed two modified S-200 anti-aircraft missiles. And at the end of the week, the Ukrainian Armed Forces tried to attack the infrastructure of Yaroslavl: one drone was landed by electronic warfare equipment on approach to the Slavneft YANOS refinery.
19:57 The situation along Chasov Yar is reported by the Special Forces company of the 331st regiment:
“The situation is complicated, their FPV works godlessly, it’s impossible to move, they started using night ones, they came close, at night they knocked out the Ukrainians from 2 strong points, to the first houses 600-800 meters away, I definitely didn’t look at the alpine, but they are at altitude, I worked there A vpurist was working in one of the houses, they folded the house at night, we are actively attacking it with artillery, the work is being carried out with drops and FPV, for now I won’t talk about a further attack, but we will try, brother, glory to the Airborne Forces.”
19:31 The Typical Odessa channel reports about the explosion in the Odessa region.
19:15 The Diary of a Paratrooper reports about the successes of the Russian Armed Forces between Ivanovsky and Bogdanovka in the direction of Chasov Yar.
According to the channel, Russian artillery and aviation strikes play a big role in the offensive.
17:55 The Russian military struck the Lozovatka airport in Krivoy Rog, from where Ukrainian Air Force planes and helicopters took off throughout the day, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the pro-Russian underground.
17:40 Encounter battles near Chasovy Yar and access to operational space near Avdiivka: situation at the front on April 1.
Kharkov direction. The activity of operational-tactical aviation of the Russian Armed Forces has increased. Arrivals are recorded in the area of the Lozovaya station (302nd Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces), in Tsirkuni (164th Radio-technical Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces), as well as in the area of the settlements of Prelestnoye and Frunze, where, presumably, those withdrawn to combat missiles and aircraft are hit S-300 air defense system. According to preliminary data, some of the launchers (and other air defense equipment) of the Ukrainian Armed Forces may be hidden on the territory of the Kharkov Aviation Plant.
Zaporozhye direction. The Russian Armed Forces continue to cut off the Rabotinsky ledge and close pincers around a dozen units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Fighting, as before, takes place for every forest belt, but their intensity is gradually increasing. Ukrainian troops periodically transfer reinforcements near Rabotino, but most of them are ground down in the process of being transported from the main roads to positions. An almost similar situation developed near Pyatikhatki, several kilometers to the west.
Avdeevskoe direction. Due to the threat of losing the main positions, reserves of the 407th Special Operations Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were transferred to Berdychi. The 31st Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also began working in Berdychi, partially replacing the forces of the 47th Mechanized Infantry Brigade that were knocked out here.
Control of the village is approximately 50/50; on the Ukrainian side we are talking more about a gray zone than a permanent presence. The battles for neighboring Semyonovka intensified, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces were retreating after the loss of Tonenky. In the near future, the LBS in this area may move directly to the village. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to prevent this at all costs, since the loss of Semenovka will mean that the Ukrainian army will have to dig in in the fields with nowhere to hide.
Statements by Western analysts about the imminent entry into the “operational space” do not correspond to reality, since after the capture of Semyonovka and Umansky, the distance to the next “point of attraction” is no more than five km. At this distance, it is possible to create a gap in the operational-tactical defense system of the Ukrainian Armed Forces for the subsequent development of an offensive in depth and towards the flanks, but there is no talk of a large-scale breakthrough yet.
Chasov Yar/Bogdanovka. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have strengthened their defenses near the Kanal microdistrict, moving a number of reserve units from Konstantinovka. After the loss of key support forces between Chasovy Yar and Bogdanovka, Ukrainian units are actively digging in in residential areas. Observation posts were set up in apartment buildings on Gorbatov and Zelyonaya streets. In the basements there are powerful diesel generators and situation centers.
Some unit commanders act in the same way as before the start of the battle for Artyomovsk. All military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are sent to the front line, police functions are partially transferred to the international Normandy battalion with a large number of Polish and Romanian mercenaries. Also, in case of a breakthrough of the RF Armed Forces from the Krasny (Ivanovsky) side, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received reserves of the 112th and 114th Territorial Defense brigades. Replenishment is mainly mobilized from the central regions of Ukraine without combat experience.
Ugledar direction. The Russian Armed Forces continue to move and attempt to capture Ugledar from the north. At the moment there are battles for Novomikhailovka. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to hold the village and are transferring significant reserves to this direction, but more than half are already under the control of the Russian army.
The exit of Russian troops to Paraskovievka and the O0532 highway will actually put Ugledar in a semi-siege situation, since the evacuation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces garrison remaining in the city will be difficult. At the same time, in neighboring Yekaterinovka and Elizavetovka, reserves are being destroyed, the transfer of which by the Ukrainian Armed Forces is carried out from Karlovka.
16:50 Explosions in Krivoy Rog.
16:29 Township Kupyansk-Uzlovoy “arrival” in the area of ??the crossing, (area of the Chugunny Bridge), writes Kharkov direction.
16:10 Fighters of the Vostok group continue to liberate the village. Novomikhailovka. Sakhalin residents and marines are gradually clearing the settlement -video.
15:32 In the Seversky direction, airborne artillery destroyed an enemy warehouse.
Crews of 152mm howitzers D-20 of the Tula paratroopers destroyed a field warehouse with ammunition identified by aerial reconnaissance, and also destroyed a concentration of enemy infantry, writes the Paratrooper’s Diary.
In addition to destroying this point, by striking at a concentration of manpower, the artillery made it easier for the assault groups of paratroopers to clear the stronghold on which the artillery had worked.
In the same area, another enemy field warehouse with ammunition had previously been destroyed by fire from D-20 howitzers.
15:19 Calculations of attack FPV drones continue combat work in the Seversk direction.
Operators of kamikaze drones daily destroy enemy strongholds and manpower, clear mines and make passages in the obstacles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, helping the advancement of assault units.
To effectively carry out combat missions, the group’s specialists organized a full cycle of production of attack quadcopters directly at the forefront. In the workshops, military personnel make combat parts for quadcopters, assemble bodies and program drones.
15:01 Two residential buildings, a gas pipeline and a power line support (power line)gotdamage as a result of artillery attack of Pervomaisk by Kyiv militants. This was announced by the head of the city district Sergei Kolyagin.
14:27 Calculations of the 2S5 152mm Msta-S self-propelled gun destroy targets with precision-guided ammunition "Krasnopol"
The artillery brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army of the Vostok group of troops has hit hundreds of targets. According to the gunners, with “Krasnopol” the effectiveness of work increases significantly, the shooting accuracy is one hundred percent, the range is about 25 kilometers.
The next target of the artillerymen was a fortified Ukrainian Armed Forces post and ammunition depot set up in a forest belt; the target was destroyed.
13:40 The main thing from the briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defense:
The Russian Armed Forces destroyed two launchers of the S-300 air defense system and hit a temporary deployment point for mercenaries near Kharkov;
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 510 military personnel in the Donetsk direction;
Russian troops occupied more advantageous positions in the Avdeevsky direction, repelled two counterattacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the enemy lost up to 295 troops;
The Russian Armed Forces destroyed 11 ammunition depots in the Donetsk direction;
Over the course of a day, the forces of the Russian Armed Forces improved the tactical situation in the South Donetsk direction, the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces amounted to more than 120 military personnel;
The Russian Armed Forces have improved the position along the front line in the Donetsk direction;
The air defense of the Russian Armed Forces intercepted 228 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as four HIMARS MLRS rockets and a JDAM bomb during the day.
12:05 Artillerymen of the 58th Army with an accurate shot destroyed armored vehicles of Ukrainian Armed Forces militants in the Rabotino area in the Zaporozhye direction using the Krasnopol adjustable artillery ammunition
12:35 The Russian Armed Forces hit a temporary deployment point of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkov region.
“Director for Ukraine” reports that the FAB-500 flew in direct fire to the fire station in the village. Cossack Lopan, which was used as a PVD of the 113th Troops Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
11:24 T-80 tanks and attack drones of the 1st Army Corps ensured the advance of assault groups of the “Southern” group of troops in the Donetsk direction -video.
11:11 650 meters to Chasov Yar: the landing force continues to break through the enemy’s defenses – Military Correspondents of the Russian Spring
Advancing from Artyomovsk, the 98th Ivanovo Airborne Division successfully advances, crushing the forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, occupying enemy strongholds one after another and approaching the important city of Chasov Yar.
Ukrainian military analysts report defeats of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and publish maps of the progress of the Russian Armed Forces:
“At Chasov Yar, Russian troops occupied a forest belt running from the eastern edge of the Deciduous Forest to the Stupki-Golubovskie 2 reserve. Advancement in an area up to two km wide to a depth of 620 m. The Russians continue to bring up reserves for assault operations with a wider coverage. From the city of Chasov Yar to the positions of the Russian Armed Forces is about 650 meters,” write enemy resources.
Fierce fighting also continues in Bogdanovka and in the Ivanovsky area, and Russian troops continue their assaults.
11:07 The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked a residential building in Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region, no casualties - authorities
10:35 A captured Ukrainian military man spoke about the disorderly withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Avdievka -video.
10:25 Situation on the Rabotino-Verbovoye section at 10.00:
At night in Rabotino, the struggle for positions and fortifications continued, but without a significant change in the line of combat contact. The enemy from time to time made attempts to dislodge the Russian Armed Forces from their positions, but to no avail.
North-west of Verbovoy, our troops managed to move forward a little, despite stubborn enemy resistance. The enemy suffered losses and retreated. And yet the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine does not give up hope of seizing the initiative.
10:17 Ukrainian Telegram channels reported about explosions in Khar'kov.
09:27 Russian army defeated four counterattacks by Ukrainian Armed Forces assault groups in the Kupyansk direction.
In the area of Tern and Sin'kovka, units of the West group of troops repelled four counterattacks of enemy assault groups. The Russian Armed Forces hit temporary deployment points, platoon strongholds, artillery positions, concentrations of manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Enemy losses amounted to up to 25 military personnel, the 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled gun, the Grad MLRS combat vehicle, the 152mm Msta-B and 152mm D-20 howitzers, the Ukrainian Nota electronic warfare station, four vehicles and an ammunition depot.
08:19 Today, early in the morning, the territory of the city of Pervomaisk (LPR) came under fire from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to preliminary data, there are no casualties or injuries. This was reported to the City Administration.
08:12 Enemy channels confirm installation of two flags by the Russian Army in the western part of the village of Vodyanoye DPR. Ours are moving west.
08:00 Summary on the morning of April 1, 2024:
In the Kherson direction, our assault groups are clashing with the enemy in Krynki. The Ukrainian Armed Forces do not intend to give up maintaining the presence of small groups of infantry on our shore, despite the losses and regular destruction of boats, the enemy is trying to bring personnel and supplies to our shore. Strikes against civilians continue, and artillery duels are taking place.
On the Zaporozhye Front, the Russian Armed Forces are advancing towards Rabotino from the west, holding the southern part of the village. North-west of Verbovoy, fighting intensified yesterday, artillery and drones were used on both sides, and the enemy is actively using Baba Yaga agricultural drones to mine the area. The Ukrainian Armed Forces also deployed German armored vehicles in the direction. FAB and UMPC strikes are carried out on enemy concentration areas near Orekhovo.
South of Mar'inka, the Russian Armed Forces are engaged in heavy fighting in Novomikhailovka. In the Kurakhovsky direction, the Russian Armed Forces are moving west.
South-west of Avdievka they report the liberation of a village by our troops. Vodyanoye, which creates additional conditions for the development of the offensive in Pervomaisky. To the north there are battles for Semyonovka and Berdychi.
In the direction to Chasov Yar (west of Artyomovsk), the Russian Armed Forces are advancing towards the city along the railway, our advanced units are located less than 1 km from the western outskirts of Chasov Yar. There are battles in Bogdanovka, Ivanovsky (Krasny), and near Kleshcheevka.
South of Kremennaya the battle for Belogorovka continues. To the west, the Russian Armed Forces are advancing towards Terny.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Denis Davydov
[REGNUM] Vladimir Zelensky is celebrating two important anniversaries one after another. March 31 marked the fifth anniversary of his shocking victory in the presidential elections in Ukraine. And on May 21, presidential powers turn into a pumpkin and right now they are preparing a “defense line”, with the help of which Bankova hopes to continue to maintain Zelensky’s sole power.
The irony of fate is that he is not the first head of state who was looked upon with great hope at the beginning, but in the end began to be viewed with contempt and hatred. And Zelensky himself, which is also traditional for Ukrainian politics, desperately clings to power, shouting about his need. Although in 2020 he proved to foreign journalists: “I don’t cling to ratings or power. If I cannot end the war, then another person needs to come who is capable of ending this tragic story between our countries.”
The “anti-system” party and promises to build “a country of other opportunities, where everyone is equal before the law, where there are fair and transparent rules of the game” allowed them to win the elections on March 31, 2019 with an indicator of 73.22%. The war party then shrank to 25%, even without the voters of Donbass and Crimea, Ukrainian society clearly expressed its desire for peace, and Zelensky firmly promised it to everyone. The people, fed up with the aggressive shamanism named after Petro Poroshenko, were ready to vote for anyone - just to breathe out and start living normally.
However, certain force majeure circumstances pulled the cheerful colloquial artist into their millstones, along with his motley “mono-majority” recruited literally on the street. The result was smooth red-black coarse Bandera flour. Instead of “smiling Ukrainians” we see a totalitarian society with a tormented Fuhrer at the very top. Now Zelensky stands “for war to a victorious end,” regardless of any losses, and executes anyone who dares to contradict him.
On the occasion of an important anniversary, it is worth remembering what these circumstances were and how the KVE officer from Krivoy Rog turned from a harmless “clown” into a bloody dictator with a crumpled face.
"THE PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT"
“Dear people, throughout my life I have tried to do everything to make Ukrainians smile. I felt this in my heart, it was not only my job - it was my mission. For the next five years, I will do everything, Ukrainians, so that you don’t cry,” - with this phrase the political path of Vladimir Zelensky as president began.
None of the Ukrainian political scientists (including the author of these lines) believed in his victory, with the exception of a little-known expert who, even after the release of the TV series “Servant of the People,” declared: this is a successful bookmark for future elections. Then no one heard him. However, already a few months before the 2019 elections, some serious people from Europe began to seek contacts with the actor’s headquarters. We wanted to agree in advance on serious contracts and cooperation parameters.
It looked very strange, but in the end it turned out that serious people knew something. It’s just that a false scheme was initially built, thanks to which many believed that Zelensky’s electorate was only young people. In fact, sociology showed that throughout the campaign the candidate moved into older niches and, accordingly, his core was formed closer to the elections at the expense of the older generation: 35 plus, 45 plus, etc.
The TV series plot really worked; Ukrainian voters voted for the sincere “teacher Goloborodko”, who was going to deal with the old elite, bloated from constant theft. The campaign was carried out competently, unlike other candidates, Volodya was almost invisible, he existed as a conventional figure and was unobtrusive. Each voter endowed it with its own content, superimposing the image from the series on a living person and convincing himself that “there is justice, it is worth fighting for.”
“Back then it was a classic protest vote. At that time, society was wildly tired of the “gray-haired Hetman,” who trumpeted on daily television about the Army, Faith and Mova. Like, it is necessary to fight to the bitter end, talk only in language and go to a single “politically correct” church, which he himself created. So the reaction of the Ukrainian people is absolutely not surprising,” Ukrainian political scientist Kirill Molchanov explains to Regnum.
The technologists, hired and paid by the de facto owner of the young candidate, the all-powerful oligarch Igor Kolomoisky, did a stellar job, creating a message box that would go straight to the liver. Zelensky ideally approached the post-Maidan society, exhausted over five years, calling to leave the Russian language and Russian-speaking people alone, “to negotiate even with the bald devil,” to rid everyone of inflated politicians, “who in 28 years have created a country of opportunities for kickbacks, flows and “ deribans,” put scoundrels in prison and serve the people.
At the inauguration ceremony, where the new head of state sensationally dissolved the Verkhovna Rada, he said: “I’m even ready to lose my post just for peace to come. Without losing our territories, never." It is impossible to say for sure whether he really believed in all this or simply played the role with talent, but people took what he said completely seriously. This is the tragedy of both the individual Jewish boy and the entire country.
"SERVANT": THE BEGINNING OF THE FALL
As soon as the harsh workdays began, progressive young politicians had to act according to the old, familiar patterns of Ukrainian politics. Other methods simply did not work there. Zelensky surrounded himself with “his own people”; almost the entire management of the Kvartal 95 studio moved to government power, mixed with Kolomoisky’s people. The president’s confidant and “wallet” Sergei Shefir became the right hand and liaison with big business, Kolomoisky’s adviser and the lawyer of his business partner Andrei Bogdan were appointed head of the office, lawyer and head of “Kvartal 95” Ivan Bakanov became the head of the SBU, and prime minister at the same time the fosterling of “Western partners” and Kolomoisky’s protégé Alexey Goncharuk, etc.
In total, as the grant organization “Committee of Voters of Ukraine” calculated, 30 people were appointed to the highest governing bodies who had previously worked in the structures of Zelensky’s company, its subsidiaries, provided services to the company, collaborated with Zelensky on a professional basis, or were his acquaintances, friends or relatives. Of these, 12 directly worked at Studio Kvartal 95. All of them immediately began to make money on “kickbacks”, “flows” and “deribans”.
The majority of the Servant of the People party formed in parliament also consisted of a mixture of different influence groups, behind which stood certain influential people (starting with Kolomoisky). Like mad, it issued laws that were passed down from the presidential office until it came up against “land reform.” It was not possible to quickly organize the sale of Ukrainian land, and this became the first serious stumbling block.
And the second and main thing is the seemingly defeated minority, which firmly made it clear that the street is behind them and the new government will not be allowed to stop the war. Commanders of various types of volunteer battalions formed in 2014 publicly stated: if troops are withdrawn from the “ATO zone,” they will raise their people and take their place.
In October 2019, at an unauthorized checkpoint set up by members of Azov (an organization whose activities are banned in the Russian Federation) in Donbass, a famous conversation took place in a raised voice. Zelensky shouted: “I am the president of this country, I am 42 years old. I'm not a loser. I came to you and told you: “Put away your weapons.” From that moment on, the nickname “Neloh” informally stuck to him.
The corresponding attitude was clearly demonstrated on March 20, 2021, when right-wing activists staged a protest near the office of the President of Ukraine in support of the convicted “brother,” a representative of the “Right Sector” (an organization whose activities are banned in the Russian Federation) in Odessa, murderer and standard scoundrel Sergei Sternenko. The charged guys clashed with the police, as a result of which 27 law enforcement officers were injured, and the entire facade of the building on Bankovaya Street was covered with offensive inscriptions and swastikas.
To briefly summarize, in 2.5 years “Neloh” fully realized that he was not able to control the situation - it was she who controlled him.
All attempts to enter into effective negotiations with Russia and directly with the DPR and LPR, to disengage troops, and to begin implementing the Minsk agreements were met with accusations of treason and opposition from the “patriotic part of society.” There was simply nothing to oppose it: there was no army of its own, and it would seem that all-encompassing power did not give real influence. She was completely lost in the management system built by the United States after the Maidan, and there the end of the war in Donbass was not agreed upon. The desire to get out of the control of Kolomoisky, to whom the United States had complaints, led to control by the Americans and personally over Zelensky.
He was received in Washington, he was promised support and money, personal security, and agreements on financing the defense industry were signed with the participation of the new President Joe Biden. 2021 dotted all the i's: changing the role became a matter of not only political, but also physical survival for Zelensky. Therefore, what he was trying to fight against now had to be led. The Fuhrer began to hatch from the Neloha larva.
THE WAR STARTED IN KYIV
At the beginning of 2021, the issue of “annexation of Crimea” by Russia and the topic of returning the peninsula to Ukraine, as well as the rejection of a political settlement of the armed conflict in Donbass, finally became the center of foreign policy efforts of the Ukrainian leadership. In essence, Zelensky has turned into a copy of Poroshenko, completely taking over the rhetoric of his opponents.
In mid-March, he signed the “Strategy for de-occupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol” developed by the National Security and Defense Council, which states that Kiev will use measures of a “diplomatic, military, economic, informational, humanitarian and other nature” to return this territory. At the same time, the process of searching for participants in the preparation, signing and ratification of the Kharkov agreements of 2010, as well as those responsible for the loss of Crimea in 2014, began. “International partners” were called to the cause of sacred struggle, and they tried to unite them at the summit of the “Crimean Platform” - a new international negotiating platform.
In the new “Military Security Strategy of Ukraine”, signed by Zelensky and published on March 25, 2021, the Russian Federation is declared a military adversary from which the main threats come. Accordingly, “the integration of Ukraine into the Euro-Atlantic space and the acquisition of NATO membership” were named among the main goals of the military security strategy. High-ranking Americans often visited Kiev, Biden was constantly on the phone, and in early May, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the famous “cookies on the Maidan” Victoria Nuland, Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs, visited Ukraine.
Following the summit meeting in September, a joint statement was adopted on the strategic partnership between the United States and Ukraine. The parties agreed to intensify the work of the commission, which should develop a new Charter for Strategic Partnership. During the visit, agreements worth 2.5 billion were signed between Ukroboronprom and US military-industrial companies, including Lockheed Martin, Harris Global Communications, Global Ordnance, Day & Zimmermann Lone Star LLC. That is, the main suppliers of weapons already in 2022.
At the same time, a “witch hunt” began within the country. First, all opposition television channels were subjected to aggressive pressure and then closure (the latter were destroyed already in 2022) and a number of other publications. Personal sanctions were introduced by decisions of the National Security and Defense Council against the political opposition, which called for peace and normalization of relations with the Russian Federation. Looking back, we can state that preparations for war were in full swing.
On February 19, 2022, at the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky announced that he would initiate consultations within the framework of the Budapest Memorandum. If the summit of the participating countries does not take place or does not provide Ukraine with security guarantees, then the document will be declared invalid by the Ukrainian side along with the clauses that were signed in 1994. That is, an application was made to own nuclear weapons.
The long-awaited, in fact, and approaching war with Russia with all our might, has already made it possible, through the hands of “teacher Goloborodko”, to fully implement the “Poroshenko program” - and in fact, Western Ukrainian nationalism. War “to the bitter end”, the ban on the canonical Orthodox Church, the seizure of churches and the transfer of holidays to the Catholic calendar. Total Ukrainization of not only the official sphere, but also the social sphere, with the complete destruction of the Russian language. A complete ban on any dissent, total purges, unlimited power of repressive bodies and “activists” looking for “enemies of the people.”
Moreover, he implemented it with such zeal and enthusiasm that the “gray-haired hetman” is desperately jealous: it turns out that it was possible.
END OF THE PERFORMANCE
Over the past two years, the former cheerful boy, joker and mischief-maker has turned into a pure inquisitor, a twitched neurasthenic, lashing out at his subordinates and destroying anyone who allowed him to say a word against him. First of all, members of his team - as happened with people’s deputy Alexander Dubinsky, who is unlikely to leave the walls of the pre-trial detention center.
Zelensky can no longer get out of this role; the destruction of his psyche has gone too far. So he views the expiration of his term of office as an unfortunate misunderstanding that makes no sense to discuss. He categorically denies elections, and colossal efforts were spent to knock out his main competitor, ex-commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny (whom the Ukrainians also in absentia endowed with fantastic virtues), from the game.
At the same time, one of the main motivators for the former president is fear. After everything he has done, he will not have peace in any country in the world, and without power, just anyone will crush him. While he is on duty, he is alive and can do something. Therefore, the office on Bankovaya is undergoing vigorous activity to strengthen its position. Just the other day, first assistant Shefir, four out of 11 advisers, as well as two commissioners were fired. The reasons are not given, but it is significant that all seven full-time and 18 non-staff advisers to the head of the office Andrei Ermak, 14 advisers to his deputies and 8 office advisers remain in place.
“This part of the process is the evacuation of Zelensky’s personal friends before a period of vague legitimacy. Now it’s better for them to stay away from Ukraine. These personnel rotations had to be completed before March 31, while Ze’s legitimacy was absolute. At the same time, no one left Ermak’s apparatus, except for Elena Kovalskaya, who went for a promotion, becoming, in fact, the head of Bankova’s apparatus, instead of Alexey Dneprov, who had been sitting in this place since the time of Turchinov. Only personnel personally tied to Ermak remain in the office. Preparations are underway for the period of “Yermakovism,” sayspolitical strategist Mikhail Pavliv to Regnum news agency.
Ermak, reliable as a rock, is going to be prime minister in order to personally hold all executive power in his hands. After Zaluzhny’s resignation, there were large-scale changes in the security bloc, and the new commander in chief, Alexander Syrsky, is personally loyal to Zelensky. Just like the head of the SBU, Vasily Malyuk, who poured out loyal statements in a recent interview.
The circle that the Zelensky-Ermak tandem still trusts has narrowed to a number of people who can be counted on the fingers of one hand. But this is a classic mistake that once cost Viktor Yanukovych power. He also thought that if his people were stationed everywhere, “everything was seized, everything was paid for.” But in fact, just as the “Western partners” were tired of the too cunning and greedy Poroshenko, who managed to please both Washington and Moscow, they were also tired of Zelensky, who had lost his sense of proportion.
In principle, anyone can do his job: the “New Ukraine” project is formatted and effectively managed by the right-wing radical elite and its junta. So the “people”, who successfully changed the role of the Krivoy Rog captain at the beginning of his term, will just as easily finish the production with a new role. Vladimir Aleksandrovich is unlikely to receive his beloved applause at the end of his career. And he will meet his inevitable end in a remote corner, snarling like a rat.
Almost 70% of Ukrainians think that President Volodymyr Zelensky should remain in office for the duration of martial law, and elections should be postponed until it is lifted, according to a survey released on Feb. 20 by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).
#3
Almost 70% of Ukrainians think that President Volodymyr Zelensky should remain in office for the duration of martial law, and elections should be postponed until it is lifted, according to a survey released on Feb. 20 by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).
Right. Zelensky canceled the elections because he has the support of the people. Right. Sure. That's why.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
04/02/2024 11:46 Comments ||
Top||
#4
Everything you NEED to know about Ukrainians is that they've elected a guy who played a president in TV series.
THAT appears to be what the FSB assessment was for the "3 day Special Operation".
#5
We elected an actor as POTUS back in the 80's. Turned out fairly well
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/02/2024 12:33 Comments ||
Top||
#6
^Beldar, your statement lends support to mine.
Ukrainians are dumb for electing Elenski. And they're superdumb for being willing to fight to the last Ukrop on behalf of their EU masters (and Americans are dumb for supporting EU's traditional Drang nach Osten)
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Viktor Lavrenenko
[REGNUM] The US Congress has approved a government funding bill, which, among other things, provides for the allocation of $228 million to “strengthen the security of the Baltic countries.” The Americans are practical: they gave this amount as an “incentive” to three small states, which already spend huge amounts of money from their state budgets on the purchase of weapons.
A significant part of this money goes to the American military-industrial complex and, in fact, we are talking about a considerable “tribute” that Washington collects from its vassals. So the issuance of these millions should be seen as a transfer of funds from one American pocket to another.
FROM POCKET TO POCKET
The US and NATO have created several mechanisms for military subsidies. In particular, through the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI), created in 2020, the US Department of Defense supports the development of “independent defense capabilities” of the Baltic republics.
Last year, as part of this “initiative,” $225 million was allocated to the Baltic countries; in 2022, the amount of support was $169 million. When using BSI funding, the main emphasis is on developing air defense, naval defense and ground forces capabilities. How these 225 million will be distributed between Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will become clear only in the fall.
There are other American programs for military subsidies to allies.
Thus, the United States this year allocated $47.3 million to Estonia as part of the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program. Naturally, in Tallinn they express loyal delight about this. “This continues to be a clear signal of the US commitment as NATO’s largest ally to our security and stability in the region,” said Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.
Here, however, you should know that the funds that Washington transfers to the states dependent on it are completely insignificant in comparison with the amounts that they themselves allocate for defense. Thus, Estonia, gripped by an economic crisis, compiled its military budget for 2024 in the amount of 1.3 billion euros (3.2% of national GDP).
During a recent visit to the United States, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced the republic’s readiness to maintain defense spending at more than 3% of GDP. “If U.S. security assistance is added to our own defense budget, we will be able to build independent defense capabilities faster than planned,” he added.
Tallinn actively purchases weapons from foreign manufacturers and very actively pays, in particular, American gunsmiths. Thus, in December 2022, Estonia signed an agreement with the American Defense and Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) for the purchase of HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems. The total value of the contract was more than $200 million, making it the largest military procurement in Estonia's history.
“As part of the agreement, in addition to multiple launch rocket systems, Estonia will also purchase ammunition and communications equipment. The agreement also includes resolving issues related to training and logistics. The package also includes various missiles with a range of from 70 to 300 kilometers,” Ramil Lipp, a representative of the Estonian Defense Investment Center, told reporters.
The Estonian military emphasizes that the country urgently needs this type of weapons. “The HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems are a new and important step in the development of Estonia’s defense capabilities,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kaarel Mäesalu, head of the Department of the General Staff of the Defense Forces.
Both he and Lipp particularly emphasized that Estonia is acquiring HIMARS mainly through US aid - in 2022 it amounted to $140.5 million. Also, the Ambassador of Estonia to the United States, Kristjan Prikk, noted that his country had previously used American financial assistance to replenish stocks of large-caliber ammunition.
THE AMERICAN MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX NEEDS TO BE FED
Riga is also reliably “hooked” on the “needle” of the American military-industrial complex. Not long ago, the US State Department made it clear that it does not object to the sale of six HIMARS missile and artillery systems to Latvia. In December, Riga signed a corresponding agreement on the purchase of both the HIMARS themselves and ammunition for them for a total amount of about $180 million.
“This sends a clear message to any potential adversary: the United States and Latvia take seriously our shared commitment to defending every square inch of NATO territory,” enthused US Ambassador Christopher Robinson.
And at the end of October, Riga announced that they would also purchase ATACMS high-precision and long-range missiles. “This is another important step in strengthening the strategic partnership between Latvia and the United States and developing NATO’s defense capabilities,” emphasized Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds.
It is expected that HIMARS systems could be received by Latvia in 2026–2027, and maybe even later. American arms manufacturers are overloaded with work and the turn to fulfill orders from the small Baltic countries will not come soon.
This situation clearly contradicts the rhetoric of local politicians, who argue that defense needs to be built right now - because, they say, Russia is capable of attacking at any time, and already this year.
In this regard, Latvian military analyst Martins Verdins warned a year ago that in arms purchases not everything comes down to money. There is a long line of customers, and it will take Latvia 5–10 years to get what they want.
That is, in essence, we are not talking about “urgent security”, but about “feeding” enterprises of the American military-industrial complex.
The news of December 8 last year should be viewed in the same context. On this day, Andris Spruds and Christopher Robinson announced that Riga had signed an agreement with the American company Raytheon and the Norwegian Kongsberg on the acquisition of Naval Strike Missile anti-ship missile systems.
This system is capable of hitting targets at sea and on land at a distance of up to 185 km. and is in service with several NATO countries - the USA, Poland, Germany, Norway and others.
The total purchase amount will be $105 million. At the same time, 70% of the amount for the purchase of anti-ship missile systems is covered by the United States. That is, Washington is using Latvia as a pretext to throw a chunk at its military enterprises and force the customer to pay them. And deliveries will begin only in 2027.
MAKING MONEY ON FEAR
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense commented on the news about the allocation of $228 million to the Baltic countries in the sense that they would use their share to strengthen the “critical capabilities of the armed forces” - to strengthen air defense, intensify monitoring of the marine environment, purchase ammunition, and build up artillery potential.
“The United States is a strategic partner of Lithuania and one of the main allies ensuring the security of the Baltic region. The Americans are taking an extremely active part in the implementation of security measures in the Baltic countries, strengthening the security and stability of the region,” said the new Lithuanian Minister of Defense Laurynas Kaciunas.
According to the local Ministry of Finance, last year the United States allocated about $200 million to Lithuania through various military financing mechanisms. However, this is a very small amount if you compare it with what the Republic of Lithuania gives to the armed forces, taking it out of its own budget and squeezing it out of citizens in the form of taxes.
The state allocates 2.45% of the country's GDP for military spending. In total, about 23 billion euros will be allocated for military needs over the next ten years. The Republic of Lithuania is actively buying weapons.
At the end of 2022, Lithuania entered into an agreement with the Americans to purchase eight HIMARS units with ammunition for $495 million. The first products are expected to arrive this year. Vilnius will also purchase 36 AIM-120C-8 medium-range missiles (AMRAAM) from the United States for 94 million euros. These missiles can be used in NASAMS medium-range air defense systems, which Lithuania has already purchased from the Norwegian manufacturer.
Recently, fifty American armored all-terrain vehicles JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) were delivered to the republic - this is the third delivery of this kind. The armored vehicles arrived in Lithuania as part of the implementation of a contract for the purchase of 200 all-terrain vehicles dated 2019.
This year, deliveries of American SUVs produced by Oshkosh Defense to the republic will begin - as part of a contract for 300 vehicles signed in 2022.
Lithuania is also purchasing Switchblade drones, Javelin anti-tank missile systems, two Black Hawk helicopters, and communications equipment from the United States.
Sometimes Americans still blurt out that they are not so much trying to protect the Baltic countries as they are making money by creating fear of “unpredictable Russia.”
Thus, recently the US Permanent Representative to NATO Julian Smith said that Washington does not at all believe that a Russian attack on the Baltic countries is inevitable. However, she quickly added: “We have your back, we think about your safety and we are taking more measures every month in NATO to respond to your very real security concerns.” Just bring us the money...
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] American intelligence helps Kyiv in preparing terrorist attacks on Russian territory. In particular, as the Foreign Intelligence Service announced on April 1, Washington provides the Ukrainian side with information from satellites.
Of course they would say so, no matter the truth of it.
“Data received by the service indicate that when organizing attacks, Ukrainians actively use satellite information provided to them by American intelligence,” the department’s press service said.
The SVR stated this in the context of US actions to distort the picture of the terrorist attack that happened on March 22 in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow. The service noted that the administration of current US President Joe Biden has intensified relevant work so as not to incur suspicions of involvement in terrorism after attempts to “whitewash” the Kiev regime.
“It is becoming obvious that the United States risks being suspected of involvement in international terrorism,” the SVR said.
However, the United States is unable to achieve unity in the assessment of the terrorist attack among NATO and European Union members, since attempts to shield the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, began almost at lightning speed after the terrorist attack, which many in the West seemed reckless and suspicious, the SVR emphasized.
As Regnum reported, terrorists attacked Crocus City Hall on the evening of March 22. They opened fire on visitors and set fire to the concert hall. According to official data, the attack killed 144 people and injured 551 others. The head of the FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, reported that those detained in the case of the terrorist attack in Crocus spoke about the Ukrainian trail, and emphasized that the Islamists could not prepare everything on their own, they were helped. On March 28, the Russian Investigative Committee announced that it had received evidence of a connection between the Crocus terrorists and Ukrainian nationalists.
The White House made its first statements just hours after the attack on the concert hall. Then the United States said that it saw no signs of Ukraine or Ukrainians being involved in the incident, while the US administration claimed that it did not have information about the preparation of this attack.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, responded at the time that if Washington makes statements in the midst of a tragedy about the non-involvement of anyone and has no information about what happened, then it does not have the right to “protect any forces.” Later, she also explained that the West realized the need to change its position towards the terrorist attack in Crocus, so many representatives of Western diplomatic missions came to the Foreign Ministry to leave entries in the book of condolences.
In addition, on March 8, the US Embassy in Moscow issued a warning to Americans about the threat of terrorist attacks in the next 48 hours. The message noted that the diplomatic mission is monitoring reports that extremists have plans to attack large gatherings of people in Moscow, including concerts. After the terrorist attack, the United States announced “the only version” - the involvement of members of ISIS (a terrorist organization whose activities are prohibited in the Russian Federation).
Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that such a reaction at a time when the investigation was still ongoing, at least looked strange and spoke of a desire to shift attention from something. White House spokesman John Kirby responded to the version about the involvement of Ukraine and the West in the terrorist attack with rudeness, without stating anything specific.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] An explosion occurred in Starobelsk in the Lugansk People's Republic. The head of the Starobelsky district, Vladimir Chernev, announced this on April 1.
An explosion occurred in the car. According to local authorities, the explosion killed the deputy head of the Center for Services to Educational Organizations, Valery Chaika.
“On April 1 at 13:30 (coinciding with Moscow time) a car was blown up near the Starobelsky Faculty (branch) of Lugansk Pedagogical University,” the head of the administration wrote on the Telegram channel.
Representatives of the Investigative Committee for the LPR, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the police and the National Guard are working at the scene and clarifying the circumstances of the incident.
As Regnum reported, on March 4 it became known that an explosive device was found under the car of the ex-adviser to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the LPR, deputy rector of Lugansk State University named after Vladimir Dahl, military expert Vitaly Kiselyov. According to preliminary data, he was not injured; specialists arrived to examine the car.
On December 6 last year, terrorists blew up a car in the center of Lugansk. This happened near the Avangard stadium. As a result, former deputy of the People's Council of the Lugansk People's Republic, member of the Donbass people's militia, Oleg Popov, died.
Earlier, on September 20, 2022, there was already an attempt on Popov’s life. At that time, the customers were SBU employees.
In Lugansk on November 8, as a result of an explosion in a car, Mikhail Filiponenko, deputy of the LPR People’s Council, former head of the LPR People’s Militia department, was killed. The republic's law enforcement agencies reported that approximately 1 kg of explosives were placed in the deputy's car. The bomb was under the driver's seat. It was blown up when the colonel left the house on Parachute Street.
[JohnHelmer] The electric war, which in its first phase commenced in September 2022, has now entered its second and final phase – final, that is, for the Ukraine.
This is strategic; war has never been fought like this in Europe. The US and NATO general staffs and politicians have been taken by complete surprise. “The Ukrainians are building Maginot and Siegfried lines according to the instructions of their foreign advisers,” according to a Moscow analyst, “as if the Russian offensive will be men, artillery and tanks running across the landscape towards Kiev. But they won’t have to. The offensive against Ukrainian electricity cannot be stopped at these lines.”
Without effective defence for its power generating plants, distribution hubs, and grid lines, the Kiev regime’s power is being stopped across the country; the major Novorussian cities in the east – Odessa, Kharkov, Dniepropetrovsk – are being blacked out and their populations forced to evacuate; the warmaking resupplies of the NATO allies are being cut off at borders which are now exposed to reversal of electricity surges threatening the plants and grids of southern Poland, Romania and Moldova. Even European and American money for President Vladimir Zelensky’s regime needs electricity to move.
Isn’t preferentially destroying civilian structures a war crime?
#2
"Isn’t preferentially destroying civilian structures a war crime?"
War Crimes, funny that. No one I've asked can list russian military targets in Belgorod. The attacks there are simply to terrorize russian civilians. Not the war crimes your looking for, huh.
#5
At the risk of getting called for piling on, Ukraine moves military stuff by train, trains that use electricity for traction power. Power plants are harder to repair than train tracks.
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.
