#7
Meanwhile: Retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who is also currently imprisoned in Russia for the past four years on espionage charges, is reportedly not part of the prisoner swap.
#15
Dunno Viktor Bout's current value but it must be considerable for Putin to have made this deal. Maybe Putin thinks the guy can score some HIMARs. Can't understand why Putin didn't hold out for more.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
12/08/2022 12:56 Comments ||
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#17
It cost her 10 months. Likely she will garner a book deal out of it. No one will read the book. She will continue to speak out on various important topics from the bully pulpit that is the WNBA. She may have some interesting stories about the low quality of toilet tissue in the former gulag archipelago. I might be curious enough to page through a People magazine article to find out what passes for hard labor in modern Russia but my Walmart moved to self-checkout so I no longer wait in line by the trashy mags.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
12/08/2022 16:02 Comments ||
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#18
#14 has to be in the running for Snark of the Day. LOL
Posted by: Matt ||
12/08/2022 16:06 Comments ||
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#19
#14 has to be in the running for Snark of the Day. LOL
#20
She checked all the right boxes. Being a white male USMC vet gets nothing but the punishment he deserves for being a white male USMC vet. I'm still trying to figure out which war we lost.We (the US as in all of us including scumbag Dems) definitely lost to... I dunno, something just no idea what.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
12/08/2022 16:58 Comments ||
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#22
I believe the end result of this "trade" is that Pootie-Poot, with the assistance of MBS, has successfully stuck it up The Sniffer in Chief's anal orifice and broken it off.
A strange report that intersects oddly with things we already know.
[IsraelTimes] Justice Department says it doesn’t know whereabouts of ’Kremlin asset’ Andrii Derkach, a Ukrainian politician who worked with Giuliani to dig up dirt on Biden
An alleged Russian agent who was involved in US election interference efforts in 2020 was charged Wednesday with fraud and money laundering over purchases of high-end condominiums in Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party,.
The US Justice Department said Andrii Derkach, who took part in an effort to smear President Joe The Big Guy Biden ...46th president of the U.S., father of Hunter, close friend of an imaginary negro named Corn Pop. He blames Trump for losing Afghanistan.... over his son Hunter Biden ...son of President Joe: cashiered from the Navy, a crackhead, wheeler dealer, leg humper, horn dog, and general all around ne'er do well. We're supposed to feel sorry for him... ’s Ukraine ties, hid his identity from banks as he spent $3.9 million to buy two Beverly Hills residences in 2013.
Helped by his wife Oksana Terekhova, Derkach set up multiple shell companies and nominee accounts to mask his interest in the transactions, the department said.
Derkach, a wealthy member of the Ukraine parliament who the US says is a trained Russian intelligence operative, used the units for his family, and a daughter lived in one, according to the indictment.
The Justice Department said it had moved to seize the two units in the wake of placing sanctions on Derkach in September 2020, which froze any assets he has under US jurisdiction.
"The conduct of this Kremlin asset, who was sanctioned for trying to poison our democracy, has shown he is ready, willing, and capable of exploiting banking system in order to advance his illicit goals," said US Federal District Attorney Breon Peace.
Derkach took a central part in the 2019-2020 effort by then-president Donald Trump ...The tack in the backside of the Democratic Party... ’s attorney Rudy Giuliani to portray his election rival Joe Biden as involved in corrupt dealing in Ukraine.
Derkach met Giuliani several times and provided the attorney with documents and taped phone calls from when Biden was vice president that purportedly proved corruption.
The claims have since been broadly debunked.
Derkach’s links to Ukraine and Russian intelligence are well-established.
His father was director of the Ukraine Security Service, and he attended the Russian security ministry’s intelligence academy before joining the Ukraine security service as well.
In 2020 the US Treasury said he "has been an active Russian agent for over a decade."
Derkach, 55, was charged with seven counts of sanctions violations, bank fraud and money laundering, and if tried and convicted, faces up to 30 years in prison.
The Justice Department said his whereabouts are unknown.
In June Derkach was accused by the Ukrainian government of supporting Russia’s invasion and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
#3
^ They were sending crypto. SBF has no idea why they didn't get it.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
12/08/2022 8:22 Comments ||
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#4
Derkach, 55, was charged with seven counts of sanctions violations, bank fraud and money laundering, and if tried and convicted, faces up to 30 years in prison. Justice Department said his whereabouts are unknown.
The timing of this action is just too too ironic.
Kyiv on Wednesday continued its crackdown on what it called “subversive activities” linked to a branch of the Orthodox church that answers to the Moscow patriarch, as Ukrainian security services raided another 13 monasteries, churches and community centers.
Putin at the meeting with Human Rights council of Russia: the threat of nuclear war is increasing, but Russia will not use the nuclear weapons first, however it will not use the nuclear weapons second, because it will not be possible after nuclear strike at Russia pic.twitter.com/IrgLe9EWiM
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Vesti] BAKHMUT IN THE DONETSK REGION IS CALLED THE "UKRAINIAN VERDUN"
Fierce fighting continues near the city of Bakhmut. This town, famous for the extraction of salt and the production of sparkling wine, became the scene of battles because of its position on the front line: control over it will allow developing an offensive against two cities - Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, which are located fifty kilometers to the northwest and today are the mainstay of for the Ukrainian army in the region.
At the same time, several important routes converge in Bakhmut at once, including Gorlovka (which is under the control of the RF Armed Forces).
What is happening in the city, which is called the "Ukrainian Verdun", and how the battles for its outskirts are going on - read in the material Vesti.ua.
OUT OF 16 SCHOOLS, ONLY ONE SURVIVED.
The fighting for Bakhmut began on August 1, when Russian troops launched massive attacks on settlements south and southeast of the city. In the summer, Russian troops were able to advance deep into the Ukrainian positions by about 10 km and entrenched about 13 km from the city. They obviously wanted to take him into a "vice," surrounding him from the north and south. However, by the end of August, the hostilities faded away - only to flare up with renewed vigor by mid-November.
Before the start of the active phase of the war, about 80,000 inhabitants lived in Bakhmut. Today, according to the head of the military administration of the region, Pavel Kirilenko, there are about 12,000 left. The departure was facilitated by the communal collapse, which was established with the start of the fighting: there is no electricity and gas in the city, but the residents are supplied with firewood, which is why the city is a bit like a medieval fortress - with bonfires burning in the yards.
"The destruction in the city is catastrophic. Our house in the private sector on Druzhba (the name of the microdistrict was given by the nearby square. - Auth.) is dilapidated. In the fall, a rocket flew to the neighbors, only walls remained of their house, part of the roof was blown off by a blast wave, - says Andrei, who left Bakhmut with his family at the end of September.
"We did not wait until the incident was repeated, and collected things promptly. But my friend and his family were less fortunate - they lived in a multi-storey building during one of the shelling of the city the shell flew right into the bedroom where his wife was. She died on the spot."
Journalists rarely manage to get to Bakhmut, today the city is de facto under a state of siege (it is possible to enter and leave it through dozens of checkpoints, humanitarian aid is still coming in, shops have not been working for a long time). From the videos that appear on the Internet, one can draw a conclusion about the level of destruction: dozens of private and apartment buildings were damaged, administrative buildings were broken, and the bridge across the Bakhmutovka River, connecting the western part of the city with the eastern one, located closer to the front line, was destroyed at the end of September. Of the 16 city schools, only one survived."
About 60% of the city's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed," Pavel Kirilenko, the military head of the region, estimates the scale. "Even if the houses were not destroyed, they were certainly damaged by shell explosions."
"SECOND VERDUN"
News from the vicinity of Bakhmut speaks of really fierce battles. On Saturday, it became known that the Russian Armed Forces lost a Su-34 fighter-bomber (a 4++ generation aircraft, that is, a completely modern aircraft, and this is at least the seventh Su-34 shot down during the war in Ukraine). The most brutal battles take place "on the ground".
"Bakhmut is a disco 24 by 7... The city is randomly shelled from rocket artillery, simply erasing house after house. At night, there is an active assault, despite the rain, dog cold and knee-deep swamp, " a Ukrainian military man writes on Twitter under a pseudonym " Salt from Bakhmut". - "Winter Campaign" flares up without brakes."
Another military man (pseudonym "Your friend Stus") writes about losses among Russian soldiers. "(November 18. - Auth.), I don’t remember from the moment I arrived in Bakhmut, - he writes on Twitter. - Along one planting (a line of trees along the highway), you can count up to 40 dead bodies mixed with mud. All in one day."
The media sometimes refer to Bakhmut as the "Ukrainian Verdun", referring to one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War - a textbook example of a "war of attrition". It is noteworthy that in this sector of the front, probably for the first time since the beginning of the war, parity in firepower was established - before, Ukrainian artillery always lost in terms of mass and volume of shells.
THE TRUE MEANING OF THE CITY
At the moment, both sides interpret the fighting in their favor. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Army reports on successfully repulsed attacks in the Bakhmut area. The same name is sometimes recalled by President Volodymyr Zelensky in his traditional addresses to the nation.
"I know how difficult it is in Bakhmut, in the Donbass. Guys, hold on, I'm with you. The people are with you," he spoke in support of the fighters.
But in order to gain control over Bakhmut, the Russian Federation needs control over two routes - to the neighboring settlements of Konstantinovka and Seversk. There are fights for these routes. “Bakhmut is not threatened by encirclement. As far as I know, the Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to stabilize the situation south of the city, there, in the suburbs, there are battles,” Ukrainian military expert, reserve colonel Oleg Zhdanov, tells Vesti.ua . and they do not have enough funds, and, having little success in the Bakhmut and Avdeevsky directions, they are trying to develop it.
It is worth understanding why this city is so important for the Russian Federation, as evidenced by the intensity of hostilities here.
According to the Ukrainian military expert, Colonel in the reserve Petr Chernik, there are several reasons: political motives (the "Donetsk Republic", which the Russian Federation has proclaimed as its region, needs to go beyond the administrative borders); the desire of the RF Armed Forces to rehabilitate itself after retreats in the Kharkiv region (in September) and Kherson (November); and applied aspect, military logistics.
"At the moment, the war remains 95% artillery war. And you can’t bring shells to the front line with 7-ton trucks ,” Chernik says.40 km from Bakhmut is the city of Debaltsevo - this is a working railway junction. HIMARS can achieve up to 84 kilometers with high-precision projectiles, and it turns out that this node is under serious threat for the RF Armed Forces - they need to corny move our artillery positions."
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] 23:11 Restoring 100% of the energy system as it was before the start of the Russian energy terror is now impossible, Zelensky said: “It takes time. , Vinnytsia region and Transcarpathia".
23:07 Zelensky said that the hottest spots today are in the Donetsk region, including in the Bakhmut area: "There is a very tough confrontation, every meter matters."
23:04 In Kurakhovo, Donetsk region, ten people were killed as a result of Russian shelling, there are also many wounded, Zelensky said in an evening video message.
22:19 Russia was expelled from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, said a member of the Ukrainian delegation, People's Deputy Alexander Marikovsky. Earlier, Russia announced that it was suspending the payment of contributions to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation "because of Kyiv's attacks."
21:17 Up to ten Tu-22M bombers have disappeared from the Russian military airbase Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region, where explosions recently took place, Mark Krutov, a journalist for the Russian edition of Radio Liberty, said: “The damaged Tu-22M has disappeared, leaving only a shadow on the runway. At least nine other Tu-22M bombers took off from the base, as well as some other aircraft."
21:05 Ukraine received another 20 Dingo armored vehicles from Germany, as well as two M1070 Oshkosh tank transporters, the German government said. In addition, Berlin announced the transfer of 18 155 mm RCH wheeled self-propelled howitzers, 80 pickup trucks, 90 anti-drone sensors and obstacles.
20:57 Four policemen were killed by mines in the Kherson region, said the head of the National Police Ihor Klymenko.
20:54 Ukraine managed to liberate 1888 settlements from occupation, but almost the same number remain in occupation, Zelensky said in an address to representatives of the Human Rights Protection Fund named after. Robert Kennedy.
20:48 In Kiev, approximately 70% of the needs of residential buildings for electricity are now provided, but still there are emergency shutdowns. Possible maximum consumption in the capital increased by 7% compared to the previous day, YASNO CEO Sergei Kovalenko said. At the same time, on the left bank of Kyiv, customers receive only up to 30% of their needs, since one of the communal generation facilities is still being repaired.
20:03 The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, officially presented the ninth package of sanctions against Russia - now it must be unanimously approved by representatives of the EU member states. Restrictions can be applied, in particular, against three more Russian banks, 200 individuals and legal entities. In addition, it is proposed to introduce additional export restrictions for dual-use goods and take measures to complicate the supply of drones to Russia from third countries, including Iran. The package also provides for the blocking of four more Russian TV channels and additional sanctions against the Russian energy and mining sector.
19:54 Podolyak commented on Putin's statements today about Peter I and the conquest of territories: "The masks have been dropped. Forget about" NATO provocations "," denazification "and other forgotten casus belli. Putin confirmed what was obvious to the whole world: Russia is waging a genocidal war of conquest type for the conquest of new territories, because Peter I bequeathed so. Does anyone else want a "settlement"?
19:19 NATO countries are considering using funds from a fund previously used to support the security forces of Afghanistan to help Ukraine, Politico writes, citing five sources in Western countries.
18:45 The new package of EU sanctions against Russia will include two daughters of Kadyrov and his cousin, writes Bild. A decision on further sanctions is to be made in Brussels on 7 December. In total, the sanctions will affect 136 people, including 20 State Duma deputies, 22 members of the Federation Council and three deputy prime ministers. The list will also include ten Russian judges and seven officials and governors involved in the deportation of children. In addition, 31 officers jointly responsible for rocket attacks on Ukrainian facilities and infrastructure.
18:13 A delegation of the Spanish Armed Forces headed by the Chief of the General Defense Staff of the Kingdom, Admiral General Teodor Lopez Calderon, paid an official visit to Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.
17:59 The speaker of the German federal government, Steffen Gebeshtreit, said that Ukraine has the right to defend itself not only on its own territory: "Ukraine has the right to self-defense, which follows from Article 51 of the UN Charter. Ukraine is not obliged to limit defense efforts to its own territory."
17:55 The head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, said that Macron insists on the need for the presence of all countries at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris: "President Macron said that sport should not be politicized, and stressed in relation to the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics that representatives of all countries, including those that are at war, must participate in them."
17:36 The Russians are preparing a counteroffensive in the Luhansk direction, but the Ukrainian Defense Forces are aware of this and are actively counteracting, said Serhiy Cherevaty, a representative of the Eastern Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: "In the Luhansk direction, of which Kupyansky is also an element, they are preparing a counteroffensive operation. But we know about it , we monitor their actions and actively counteract this - in the Svatovo region and other areas where they are trying to counterattack."
According to him, the situation in this sector of the front is difficult, but controlled, and it differs significantly from the situation in the Avdeevsky and Bakhmut directions, where the Russians have concentrated a huge amount of their forces and means, conduct dozens of assaults every day, using artillery, aircraft and helicopters.
17:31 Putin said that the war in Ukraine was started by the new Ukrainian authorities after the "coup d'état" in 2014. And the "nationalist elements" in Poland, he said, "sleep and see" in order to take the western territories, which Ukraine "received thanks to Stalin's decisions after the Second World War." The only "real guarantor" of Ukraine's territorial integrity within its current borders could be Russia, he said, adding that "this is up to the Ukrainian politicians of the future themselves."
17:25 Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy handed over to the Pope a wooden cross with a fragment of a Russian rocket taken from a 13-year-old girl, Nastya.
17:23 Putin said that the threat of nuclear war in the world is growing: "We are not crazy, we are aware of what nuclear weapons are ... We are not going to brandish them like a razor, running around the world, but, of course, we proceed from the fact that it is - it is a natural deterrent."
17:14 Putin said that the "special operation" could be a "long process", but "the appearance of new territories is a significant result for Russia." He stated that the Sea of Azov "became an inland sea", and recalled that even Peter I fought for access to the Sea of Azov. “And most importantly, the people who live there, they are now with us, and these are millions of people, this is the most important result,” Putin said.
16:27 Putin said that in the current conditions, talk about additional mobilization measures "simply does not make sense." In addition, according to him, today "there is no need for this for the state and the Ministry of Defense."
Putin claims that out of 300,000 mobilized, only 150,000 are allegedly in the “special operation” zone, of which 77,000 are in combat units, and the rest are on the second or third lines or are undergoing additional training. Another 150,000 are still at training grounds and training centers - this is the so-called combat reserve, the Russian president said.
Putin also acknowledged that there were problems in the "special operation" zone, they may still arise now, "it is necessary to analyze the situation and have feedback." And there is no mass withdrawal from combat positions, he said.
16:24 Germany and Poland have agreed to deploy Patriot air defense systems on Polish territory near the border with Ukraine, Reuters writes. The Polish side expressed disappointment with this decision of Germany, because this air defense system, if transferred to Ukraine, could protect both the western regions and Poland at the same time.
16:21 Putin said that Russia will continue "a consistent struggle for its national interests - first by peaceful means, but if this does not help - by all available means."
16:15 There are still Iranian Shahed-136 drones in the arsenal of the Russian Federation. The occupants are choosing tactics to put pressure on different directions: on the open sectors of the front, psychologically on the population, as well as on the rear regions, said Natalia Gumenyuk, speaker of the OK Pivden: "They continue to attempt man-made terror and try to create an energy crisis in Ukraine. That is why they send weapons such as missiles (but they are more expensive) and also use drones.The enemy is trying to study and deplete our air defense, which does not allow them to fully carry out their terror by calculations.
16:08 The Russians attacked Kurakhovo, Donetsk region. According to operational data, at least six civilians were killed and five were injured, said the head of the UVA, Pavel Kirilenko. Under fire in the city center were a market, a bus station, gas stations, residential buildings.
15:37 Zelensky held a regular meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander. The participants considered further steps "to reduce the combat capabilities of the enemy troops," the presidential press service said.
15:28 Putin's entourage is preparing a "reserve airfield" for itself in case of defeat in the war and regime change in Russia. To do this, senior officials and state managers acquire real estate and residence permits in Venezuela. And officials from the Presidential Administration and the government of a lower rank issue a residence permit in Paraguay, Ecuador and Argentina. We can explain this to the channel from two interlocutors close to the presidential administration, as well as a source in Rosneft. This information is also confirmed by political scientist Abbas Gallyamov.
15:19 The Russians fired at the central square of the village of Yampol, Donetsk region, at a time when people were receiving humanitarian aid there. At least three people were wounded as a result of the shelling, Pavel Kirilenko, head of the UVA, said. An administrative building and at least seven residential buildings were damaged.
15:04 The American magazine Time named President Zelensky's Person of the Year and the "spirit of Ukraine".
14:33 An adviser to the Ukrainian government on defense told the Financial Times on condition of anonymity that after the drone attacks on Russian air bases, Ukraine no longer has restrictions on the range of strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation: "We have no restrictions on the distance, and soon we will be able to reach all targets inside Russia - including in Siberia. In Ukraine, we know how difficult it is to defend against such air attacks. Soon there will be no safe zones in Russia either."
The source noted that the drones that attacked Russian airfields are not models of Ukroboronprom or modified Soviet ones, but are a joint initiative of the government and the private sector, which can produce new drones "often".
14:27 A priest of the UOC-MP in the Luhansk region was sentenced to 12 years in prison for informing the enemy about the positions of the Ukrainian military, the Office of the Prosecutor General said. The attacker was exposed and detained at the end of April. In the course of documenting the crime, law enforcement officers discovered the correspondence of the clergyman with representatives of the armed formations of the Russian Federation.
13:46 Russia announced that it was suspending the payment of contributions to the parliamentary assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation "because of Kiev's attacks." The organization unites countries along the Black Sea, as well as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Greece, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia.
13:15 Ukrainian diplomats continue to receive threats - a total of 31 cases have been recorded in 15 countries, Kuleba said. According to him, over the past two days, suspicious packages have arrived at the embassies in Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Denmark, as well as the consulate in Gdansk.
All envelopes have the same sender address: Tesla dealership in the German town of Sindelfingen. As a rule, the shipment was from post offices that were not equipped with video surveillance systems. The attackers also took steps not to leave traces of their DNA on the bundles. This, in particular, indicates the professional level of the implementation of this action, the minister stressed.
13:00 On the night of December 6, partisans destroyed four signaling, centralization and blocking devices on the Trans-Siberian Railway of the Russian Federation. Thus, one of the most important railway arteries in the Krasnoyarsk region was partially disabled, the All-People's Movement of the Legion of Freedom of Russia reported.
12:58 In the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, which borders Ukraine, concrete pyramidal anti-tank structures, known as "dragon's teeth", are being installed in the fields, Governor Roman Starovoit said and showed a photo .
12:55 Lavrov said that if there is a "serious proposal" on how to stop the conflict in Ukraine, Moscow is ready to speak, "but it must take into account the interests of Russia."
12:41 The United States made it clear to the German government that it supports the supply of German Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine if Berlin decides to do so, FAZ writes, citing sources.
12:37 Russia ordered a new batch of weapons from Iran, including hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, writes Zeit, citing UN sources. "I don't think they've shipped yet, but they're definitely on the order books," the source said.
12:18 In the Rostov region of the Russian Federation, a deserter with a machine gun was detained, who the day before, when trying to detain him, wounded the police. According to media reports, he turned out to be a PMC fighter Wagner, convicted of robbery and recruited in a colony.
12:15 The Russians are rapidly strengthening security measures in Mariupol and the Mariupol region and increasing the occupation corps. Mariupol has finally been turned into a rear military and logistics base for the occupiers, Piotr Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of the city, said. In particular, military patrols have been launched in the settlements where the newly arrived Russians will be quartered. New checkpoints are also being set up and mobile communications are being jammed.
For the first time, a cargo of "dragon's teeth" arrived in Mariupol - concrete fortifications, the production of which was launched in a military camp near Sevastopol. These fortifications are massively transported to the temporarily occupied territory by civilian trucks. Yesterday, the first such cargo arrived in Mariupol and was sent to strengthen the defense line along the Mariupol-Mangush-Nikolskoye triangle.
11:53 British intelligence believes that the Russian authorities are promoting defensive preparations on their territory in order to ignite the patriotic feelings of citizens. Thus, recently Russia has begun to expand defensive positions along the border with Ukraine and deep into the Belgorod region, and the governor announced the creation of local "self-defense units."
According to analysts, the lack of strategic judgment is one of the critical flaws in Russia's central government architecture, as evidenced by Russia's initial decision to invade Ukraine. Dispassionate official analysis is almost certainly often undermined by a penchant for groupthink and politically advantageous conclusions.
11:49 A significant deficit remains in the Ukrainian energy system, all regional energy companies have been brought limits on electricity consumption. In regions where limits are exceeded, emergency shutdowns are applied, Ukrenergo reported. The difficult situation persists in the east of the country - the enemy fired several energy infrastructure facilities at once on the evening of December 6, while the temperature in this region reached -17 degrees. Round-the-clock emergency repair work continues.
11:44 Stoltenberg said that "there are no conditions for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Ukraine now." According to the NATO Secretary General, Russia is trying to freeze the conflict in order to launch a larger offensive in the spring, and shows no signs of seeking a peaceful end to the war. "The more we want a peaceful solution, the more urgent is the need to provide military support to Ukraine," Stoltenberg summed up.
11:21 Until the evening of December 6, Russia had not attacked the territory of Ukraine with Iranian drones for several weeks. Details about today's night attack - in the material Return of the Shaheeds .
11:13 SBU conducts counterintelligence activities at 13 UOC-MP facilities in Cherkasy, Volyn and Kherson regions.
10:48 Russians over the past day fired at the territory of the Kherson region 51 times. Civilian infrastructure facilities and residential buildings were damaged, two people were killed, another was injured, said Yaroslav Yanushevich, head of the UVA.
10:29 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the enemy on the morning of December 7th.
personnel - about 92,740 (+540) people liquidated,
tanks - 2935 (+6),
armored combat vehicles - 5909 (+4),
artillery systems - 1923 (+8),
MLRS - 395 (+0),
air defense systems - 211 (+0),
aircraft - 281 (+0),
helicopters - 264 (+0),
UAV operational-tactical level - 1601 (+14),
cruise missiles - 592 (+0),
ships/boats - 16 (+0),
automotive equipment and tankers - 4526 (+21),
special equipment - 163 (+0).
10:23 Over the seven months of the existence of the UNITED24 platform, citizens of 110 countries have donated more than $237 million to Ukraine, head of the Ministry of Digital Development Mikhail Fedorov said. According to him, already this month the first drones will create a fleet of marine drones.
10:17 In the Donetsk region, on the highway between the occupied Shakhtyorsk and Torez, a truck with Russian servicemen crashed into a minibus, 16 people died, four were injured, Russian media write.
09:35 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that the Russian authorities, despite official denials, are preparing for a second wave of mobilization. The ISW believes that the Kremlin risks further undermining its credibility by announcing a new wave of mobilization, which unofficial sources speak of, but not Russian officials.
At the same time, analysts say the Kremlin appears to be lifting restrictions on war reporting, which it has used to reduce anxiety among the general public. Thus, the Belgorod and Kursk regions announced the formation of territorial defense detachments, and Moscow officials even pasted up announcements of a special military operation throughout the city, which previously could only be observed in remote cities.
Putin's decision to order a second wave of mobilization, general mobilization or even a formal declaration of war on Ukraine will not remove the internal limits on Russian military power available for a war in Ukraine in the short term, experts say.
09:26 The liberation of every meter of the Lugansk region is given very hard - the Russians brought a lot of reserves, both in the form of personnel and equipment, said the head of the OVA Serhiy Gaidai. At the same time, according to him, the newly mobilized Russians do not know how to use either weapons or equipment. Prisoners and newly mobilized are mainly attacked.
Gaidai also said that Russians were deporting children from the Lugansk region, in particular teenagers, to Chechnya for "patriotic education."
09:08 The occupying "authorities" of the Zaporozhye region announced an attempt on the life of the "deputy head" of Melitopol - they tried to blow it up at the exit from the entrance.
08:57 On the night of December 6-7, after a three-week pause, Russian troops again attacked Ukraine with Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones. In total, 14 loitering munitions were found, which were directed approximately from the southeast direction. All were shot down, Air Force Command said. In addition, the air defense shot down one UAV Orlan-10 and two more enemy drones of the operational-tactical level (the type is being specified).
08:36 Over the past day, units of the Defense Forces repulsed the attacks of the invaders in the areas of the settlements of Belogorovka, Lugansk region and Verkhnekamennoye, Disputed, Yakovlevka, Bakhmut, Belaya Gora, Kurdyumovka, Novobakhmutovka, Marinka and Novomikhailovka in the Donetsk region, the General Staff said in the morning report .
Enemy units are being trained at the training grounds of Belarus, but no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups have been found. Dissatisfaction with the activities of the military-political leadership of Belarus is growing among the military personnel of the border service and the armed forces because of the threat of the republic being drawn into the war with Ukraine.
The number of dead invaders among the mobilized Kursk region is growing, as reported by local media. Due to information about human losses, the war in Ukraine is less and less supported by the younger generation of Russians. In Kursk and the region, rumors are spreading about a possible invasion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in connection with which the fortification of defense positions in the areas bordering Ukraine is being carried out.
08:13 At night, the Russians tried to attack the Zhytomyr region with a Shahed-type drone, it was shot down by air defense forces in the north of the region, the OVA reported.
07:36 At night, the enemy attacked two communities of the Zaporozhye region with drones and S-300 missiles. It is preliminary known about three wounded, among them a 15-year-old girl, said the head of the OVA Alexander Starukh. The defense forces shot down six enemy UAVs.
07:19 At night, the Russians attacked the Dnipropetrovsk region with kamikaze drones, heavy artillery and Hurricanes. At the same time, the military from the air command on Skhid shot down all eight drones that the enemy sent to the region. According to preliminary information, they were Shahed-136, said the head of the OVA, Valentin Reznichenko.
06:31 The draft US defense budget for fiscal year 2023 is estimated at $847.3 billion. It was approved by relevant committees of both houses of Congress. The document includes a provision that Washington will seek the exclusion of the Russian Federation from a number of international organizations, including the G20.
In addition, the document contains an initiative to impose sanctions for participation in gold and foreign exchange transactions with the Russian Federation; involves the allocation of more than 6 billion dollars to contain Russia in Europe; establishes a permanent ban on the exchange of information with the Russian Federation on missile defense systems; requires reducing dependence on Russian fuel at all bases in the area of responsibility of the European command of the US Armed Forces; extends the ban on military cooperation with Russia for another five years; includes allocation of an additional $800 million to Ukraine in 2023.
05:45 The bipartisan US Congress has a strong stance in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, Blinken said: "The hallmark of our efforts today in support of Ukraine is a very strong bipartisan support." The Secretary of State assured that he saw no signs that this support could end.
At the same time, he noted that it remains important for the current administration to maintain communication with the American people on foreign policy issues, including through elected members of Congress.
04:54 U.S. is making no effort to prevent Ukraine from developing its long-range strike capability, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said: "Is the U.S. working to prevent Ukraine from developing its own long-range strike capability? The short answer is no, we are. we don't do it at all."
Kindly note that several entries in this article may have been removed because they included discussions of the grand strategic level.
[NewsFrontInfo] 23:31 In the evening, the RF Armed Forces attacked an object in the settlement Pechenegs of the Kharkov region. There is no information about the type of the affected object yet. Last fall, Russian troops were already working out at the places of deployment of the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this village, and a critical infrastructure facility was also hit.
21:52 The air defense system shot down missiles over the village of Kuleshovka, Belgorod Region, - Region Governor Gladkov
20:05 New success at Bakhmutskydirection.
On December 7, assault detachments of the Wagner PMC drove the enemy out of Yakovlevka. The village is under our control.
20:03 The enemy continues to attempt to break through the front: LPR tankers destroy foreign mercenaries and the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Lisichansk direction -video
18:14 Powerful "rainfall": the combat work of the crews of the MLRS "Grad" -video
16:27 The crew of the reconnaissance and attack helicopter Ka-52 "Alligator" of the army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces went to work to destroy the Ukronazis in the Soledar area -video
15:58 A sniper hit on a militant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from a strike drone of the DPR special forces -video
15:57 Ka-52 helicopter strikes the jihad mobile of Ukrainian terrorists -video
Russian attack helicopters are one of the biggest problems for the enemy. They hit his equipment and firing points at long distances day and night.
14:45 Report of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progressholding specialmilitary operation on the territory of Ukraine (07.12.2022) Part 1 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to conduct a special military operation.
According to confirmed information, as a result of a ground-based high-precision weapon strike at a missile and artillery weapons warehouse in one of the workshops of the ArcelorMittal metallurgical plant in the city of Krivoy Rog, more than 70 missiles of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, two MLRS launchers were destroyed. MLRS. Another four installations of this type were critically damaged.
In the Krasno-Limansky direction, Russian troops continue to conduct offensive operations, during which they took up more advantageous lines and positions. Over 130 Ukrainian servicemen, two infantry fighting vehicles and a car were destroyed by Russian artillery fire, assault and army aviation strikes in a day.
In the Kupyansk direction, preemptive artillery fire, air strikes and heavy flamethrower systems on accumulations of manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Olshana, Kislovka, Berestovoye of the Kharkov region and Novoselovskoye of the Lugansk People's Republic thwarted enemy attempts to attack the positions of Russian troops. Up to 70 Ukrainian servicemen, an MT-LB infantry fighting vehicle, two 2S-1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mounts and three vehicles were destroyed.
In the Donetsk direction, attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to counterattack in the areas of the settlements of Pershe Travnya, Kurdyumovka, Kleshcheevka and Mayorsk of the Donetsk People's Republic were thwarted. During the day, more than 40 Ukrainian servicemen, three armored combat vehicles and a pickup truck were destroyed in this direction.
In the South-Donetsk direction, the enemy unsuccessfully tried to restore the lost position in the areas of the settlements of Novomayorskoe, Vladimirovka and Novopol of the Donetsk People's Republic. Artillery fire and decisive actions of the Russian troops drove the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine back to their original positions. Enemy losses in this direction amounted to up to 100 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, two infantry fighting vehicles, an armored personnel carrier and four vehicles.
Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile forces and artillery defeated 79 artillery units in firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 183 districts.
In the area of the village of Borovskoye, Kharkiv region, the point of temporary deployment of a unit of foreign mercenaries was hit. In the areas of the settlements of Stupochki in the Donetsk People's Republic and Zeleny Gai in the Kharkiv region, two US-made AN / TPQ-50 counter-battery radar stations were destroyed. As a result of an attack on a military equipment recovery point near the settlement of Malotaranovka in the Donetsk People's Republic, a HIMARS multiple rocket launcher and 48 rockets for it were destroyed. A radar station of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system was destroyed near the village of Barvenkovo, Kharkiv region. In the area of the settlement of Orekhov, Zaporozhye region, a warehouse of rocket and artillery weapons of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed.
Fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the area of the village of Artemovka in the Donetsk People's Republic shot down a Su-24 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force in the air.
During the day, air defense systems destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles in the areas of the settlements of Poltava, Novovodyanoye, Novokrasnyanka of the Luhansk People's Republic and Ambarnoye of the Kharkiv region. ◽️In addition, four rockets of the HIMARS, Alder and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems were intercepted in the areas of the settlements of Olkhovatka, Kharkiv region, Pervomaisk, Frunze, Luhansk People's Republic and Volnovakha, Donetsk People's Republic.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the following have been destroyed: 341 aircraft, 180 helicopters, 2,638 unmanned aerial vehicles, 392 anti-aircraft missile systems, 7,020 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 913 combat vehicles of multiple launch rocket systems, 3,664 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 7498 units of special military vehicles.
14:44 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, together with the allied forces of the LDNR, are working on the Ukronazis non-stop, not letting them raise their heads -video
14:43 Combat work of UAV operators of the 2nd Army Corps of the People's Militia of the LPR as part of a special military operation -video
14:42 Another vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine passed demilitarization -video
09:31 Artillery units of the RF Armed Forces, together with the allied forces of the LDNR, destroyed the location of the Ukrofascists in the Bakhmutsky (Artemovsky) sector -video
09:30 RF Armed Forces continue to successfully carry out the tasks of denazification of Ukrofascists on all fronts -video
09:29 At the Bakhmut (Artemovsky) section of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, under the pressure of Russian units, they continue to leave their positions -video
09:27 The Russian Su-57 (aka the T-50 project) inflicts fire damage on the Ukrofascist evil spirits near Bakhmut -video
Fighting continues in the Artemovsky (Bakhmut) direction. The enemy suffers heavy losses.
Missile strikes were carried out on targets in Krivoy Rog, Nikolaev, Ochakov.
Mutual artillery shelling continues along the entire front line. In the Kherson region yesterday, our rocket artillery fired at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the right bank.
Yesterday morning, the enemy tried to attack the UAV on the western coast of Crimea (Belbek airport), all targets were shot down.
An oil tank at an airfield was attacked in the Kursk region.
In the Bryansk region, the Slava plant of the Federal Reserve was attacked.
Energodar and the ZNPP industrial zone were shelled.
In the DPR, 4 civilians were killed and 19 injured from shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the day.
In the LPR, Starobelsk was fired from HIMARS, three civilians were wounded.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFrontInfo] 23:19 Avdiivka direction. Our guys are heaping on the Vushniks, according to the telegram channel Turned on the Z war.
21:13 VFU fired at the Stirol chemical plant, a warehouse with sulfur is on fire, there is no threat, but a pungent smell may spread, the mayor of Gorlovka said.
19:48 VFU struck at Makiivka
Ukrainian militants attacked Makiivka, the 110 kV substation was de-energized. In the village Khanzhenkovo-Northern, 11 transformer substations were disconnected, 1 boiler house was de-energized and 1691 subscribers were left without electricity.
19:04 The Kuibyshev region is again under fire from Ukrainian punishers. According to the JCCC, at 18:50, 3 more shells of 155 mm caliber were fired at civilians.
17:23 Evening summary of the Headquarters of the Territorial Defense of the DPR on December 7, 2022
The authorities of the DPR continue to carry out priority measures aimed at restoring the social and humanitarian sphere.
In Mariupol, Volodarsky and Volnovakha, work continued on connecting subscribers to the telecommunications network. Restoration of communication facilities in Mangush continues. Engineering work was completed at the RTPC facility in Volnovakha.
In 17 liberated settlements, health care institutions provided advisory and medical assistance to the population on duty.
The sappers examined more than 9 hectares of territories, 16,600 square meters of premises and neutralized 132 explosive objects.
REC specialists carried out repair and restoration work on power grids and substations in the liberated settlements.
16:16 Over the past 15 minutes, Ukrainian punishers opened fire three times on the civilian population of the Kuibyshev and Kyiv regions of Donetsk.
From the settlement of Netaylovo, which is temporarily under the control of the occupying forces, a total of 7 shells of the countries of the militaristic NATO bloc with a caliber of 155 mm were fired at the Kuibyshev region and 4 shells with a caliber of 155 mm at the Kyiv region.
Data on the victims and destruction are being specified.
15:00 Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled Donetsk, Yelenovka and Horlivka.
14:37 During the joint operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, the Armed Forces of the DPR, LPR and the Russian Federation continue to liberate the settlements of the Donetsk People's Republic, which were previously under the control of the AFU.
According to the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC, the enemy opened fire on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic using Grad MLRS, 155, 152 and 122-mm cannon artillery, 120-mm mortars. The areas of 11 settlements of the Republic fell under the shelling of the VFU. 50 housing constructions and 27 civil infrastructure facilities were damaged. The total number of ammunition used by Ukrainian militants is 147 units.
As a result of the shelling of the VFU in the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic, 4 people were killed and another 14 civilians were injured.
14:09 Starobilsk direction - situation as of 14.00 December 7, 2022
There are no significant changes in the Starobelsky direction. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are making attempts to break through in certain sectors of the front with small forces, without using the main resources.
At the same time, the activity of radio communications decreased throughout the front, which may be due to the transition to radio silence in preparation for a large-scale offensive.
In the Kupyansko-Svatovsky section, assault groups of the 2nd battalion of the 14th Ombr, with the support of the 32nd combined troop troop battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, are planning an attack on the line Liman 1st - Sinkovka. Reconnaissance of the positions of the RF Armed Forces is carried out by UAV crews from Petropavlovka.
To the west of Kislovka and Yagodnoye, observation posts of the 103rd detachment of the TRO were equipped, in Petropavlovka and south-west of Pervomaisky - 14 ombr, and in Stelmakhivka - 92 ombr and units of the RER of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In the Limansky sector, shock detachments of the 25th Airborne Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue their attempts to storm the positions of Russian troops in Ploschanka and the section of the Makeevka-Ploschanka highway with the aim of further access to Krasnorechenskoye.
To carry out the offensive, 50 people from the 125th battalion of the 113th troop detachment were transferred to the Nevsky area, and rotation was carried out at the strongholds of the 3rd battalion of the 25th brigade. At the position of the 66th brigade in Kolodezi, Milan ATGMs and heavy machine guns were delivered.
Russian troops are attacking the Ukrainian borders in the direction of Krasnopopovka. As a result of the fighting, the Armed Forces of Ukraine left seven platoon strongholds southwest of Ploshchanka.
Units of the 25th brigade made another unsuccessful attempt to counterattack west of Krasnopopovka. However, the offensive was thwarted due to dense artillery fire from the RF Armed Forces.
13:27 At 13:00, the JCCC recorded shelling of the Yelenovka village. Novomikhailovka fired 5 shells with a caliber of 155 mm.
11:53 Kirovsky district is under fire again. According to the JCCC, at 11:42 am Krasnogorovka fired 3 shells with a caliber of 155 mm.
10:37 The shelling of the Kyiv and Kuibyshev regions continues. According to the JCCC, from N. 4 more shells with a caliber of 155 mm were fired at the settlement of Netaylovo.
09:15 Footage of the detection and destruction of the vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporozhye direction -video.
09:14 At the Bakhmut (Artemovsky) section of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, under the onslaught of Russian units, they continue to leave their positions.
09:12 Russian Su-57 (aka T-50 project) inflicts fire damage on the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Bakhmut -video.
08:45 Mobilized tankers of the "O" group are mastering equipment in the rear of the NVO zone -video
08:20 Continuesstrengtheningdefensive lines on the borders of our Motherland.
In the Kursk region, a national squad "Patriot" is being formed. Citizens who are not indifferent to the fate of their country from among the volunteers will be selected, all stages of combat training, after which they will help the military in protecting the territory of the region.
Commentary by Russia military journalist Boris Rozhin: [ColonelCassad] Already has. It was clear at the beginning of March that the process would be lengthy.
As I wrote back then, we are in for a conflict in the style of "Syria at maximum speed." And now it would be good to plan the potential course of the conflict for 2-3 years ahead. The United States is doing just that - they have a cut-off in the supply of equipment and ammunition through the intensification of production - 2024-2025.
It can be noted that in Syria, several years have passed from the introduction of Russian troops in October 2015 to decisive military victories. The decisive battles against ISIS were fought in the fall of 2017, and the decisive battles for Southern Idlib with the HTS took place in February-March 2020. In the case of Ukraine, both the number of the enemy is higher, and the size of the theater of operations is larger, and the assistance of the United States and NATO is significantly higher. But our resources, of course, are many times higher than those used in Syria.
All this requires systematic work at the front and in the rear in order to implement a long-term strategy to achieve our goals, primarily by military means, as was done in Syria. Society must realize this need, get rid of complacency and work systematically to achieve the required results that determine the future of the country for decades to come.
From Putin's statements on mobilization issues.
1. There is no need for a second wave of mobilization at the moment.
2. Of the 300,000 people mobilized, 150,000 are already in the NVO zone and are performing combat missions. (The figure does not take into account additional volunteers and PMCs)
3. There are cases of desertion and abandonment of positions (500th) in the NVO zone, but they are not widespread.
4. Regarding the problems in the NWO zone, which have been and will be, it is necessary to have feedback in order to solve these problems (a hint at the military correspondents)
Putin about the causes of the NWO.
1. The war in Donbass was not started by us, but in 2014, after the coup d'état in Ukraine, it was started by the Ukrainian authorities, not Russia.
2. All partners in telephone conversations are silent when they are told that they were supposed to be guarantors of the Minsk agreements.
3. We were left no other chance to resolve the issue of Donbass.
4. The only real guarantor of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine could be Russia.
5. The Sea of Azov and new regions became Russian. This is the choice of the people.
PS. In the title photo, the VSUshnik got out alive from the Artyomovskaya meat grinder.
PS2. The broadcast of hostilities in Ukraine, as usual, goes in the cart https://t.me/boris_rozhin (if you are interested, subscribe)
[OilPrice] Russian crude-oil exports have taken a serious hit since new sanctions and a price cap came into force earlier in the week, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that figures from two data providers on Russian crude both show a big fall, though their magnitudes differ.
According to one commodity-analytics firm Kpler, Russia’s seaborne exports fell by nearly 500,000 barrels per day on Tuesday, a 16% decline from the November average of 3.08 million bpd.
Meanwhile, TankerTrackers.com, which tracks sea vessels using signals and satellite images, has reported that Russia's crude exports fell by nearly 50%. With shipments from the Black Sea and Baltic ports accounting for most of the fall.
According to Samir Madani, cofounder of TankerTrackers.com, this is a notable drop rather than a blip, "Russian exports have been moving steadily up until now. The two biggest visible snags are in the Black and Baltic seas. Pacific and Arctic regions remain unaffected, at least for now".
Analysts at StanChart have predicted that Russia’s crude production is set to fall sharply in the coming year, noting that the key unknown is whether Russia can transport oil to its major consumers (including providing adequate insurance) without using EU or other G7 services.
According to StanChart, Russia has acquired a large enough ’shadow’ tanker fleet since its invasion of Ukraine that it can use to move most of the displaced volumes; however, the analysts note that the insurance aspect is likely to cause significant issues. This situation leads analysts to predict that Russian crude output is likely to fall by 1.44 million barrels per day in 2023 thanks to a progressive shortage of high-quality equipment and a lack of access to international service companies.
At the same time, we are seeing a traffic jam of more than a dozen oil tankers stuck in the Turkish Straits thanks to a dispute between maritime insurers and the local authorities due to the new sanctions and price cap.
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.
...son of President Joe: cashiered from the Navy, a crackhead, wheeler dealer, leg humper, horn dog, and general all around ne'er do well. We're supposed to feel sorry for him...
[ColonelCassad] Already has. It was clear at the beginning of March that the process would be lengthy.
[OilPrice] Russian crude-oil exports have taken a serious hit since new sanctions and a price cap came into force earlier in the week, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that figures from two data providers on Russian crude both show a big fall, though their magnitudes differ. 
