#1
Or Putin might do nothing, just like every previous escalation.
Posted by: Throlush Dark Lord of the Nebraskans2736 ||
11/21/2024 9:57 Comments ||
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#2
I'd suggest that lobbing a non-nuclear Rubezh ICBM was a direct response to the ATACMS/Storm Shadow escalation by Ukraine/NATO.
There's a range of asymmetric options available to the Russians/BRICS depending on what their consensual timeline / endpoint entails. This article mentioned the use of "pirate" drones. They could just as easily crash the US market over Thanksgiving weekend (when the rest of the world stock markets are open), set off a flux compression generator in the Square Mile, place an embargo on sales of rare earths, processed uranium fuel rods, or simply ammonium nitrate fertilizer.
I used to red team a lot. The Russians/BRICs are playing very conservatively given their range of options available.
[NDTV World] The missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of Russia, over 1,000 km away from the damage site in Ukraine.
Russia's Firing Of ICBM On Ukraine Is Weapon's 1st Combat Use In History
ICBMs have a range of over 5,500 kilometres.New Delhi:
Russia reportedly launched an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Ukraine, marking the first combat use of the weapon since its inception almost six decades ago. Moreover, Moscow used the Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) technology to target "critical infrastructure" in Ukraine's Dnipro, the first-ever use of the technology too.
ICBMs have a range of over 5,500 kilometres and are built to carry nuclear, chemical and biological warheads. It can also carry a conventional warhead, which Russia reportedly used on the RS-26 Rubezh, ballistic missile. The missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of Russia, over 1,000 km away from the damage site in Ukraine.
Videos have surfaced on social media and Telegram handles, where at least warheads re-entering and targeting infrastructure in Ukraine. Russia has "denied to comment" on the launch of ICBMs though Kyiv has confirmed its use.
The launch comes just a day after Putin signed off on changes to the nuclear doctrine. The changes in the doctrine say that an attack from a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear state will be viewed by Russia as a joint attack on it. Recently, the US has allowed Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles to strike deep into Russia.
ICBM And The MIRV Tech
Rubezh is a solid-fueled ICBM equipped with MIRV technology. It was developed in 2011 and was successfully tested for the first time in 2012, hitting a target 5,800 km away from the launch site.
Solid-fuel missiles do not need to be fuelled immediately after launch and are often easier to operate. It's a mixture of fuel and an oxidizer that are bound together by a hard rubbery material and packed in a metal casing.
When solid-propellant in RS-26 burns, the oxygen from the fuel element generates enormous energy, creating thrust and helping in lif-off.
A ballistic missile follows a parabolic trajectory with a boost, mid-course and terminal stage. The highest point where the missile reaches is called apogee and for ICBMs, it is over 4,000 km. During atmospheric re-entry or terminal stage, kinetic energy coupled with the missile's speed reaches over Mach 10, making interception of the missile difficult.
Posted by: European Conservative ||
11/21/2024 9:40 Comments ||
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#3
When you launch an ICBM the defender has to wait until after arrival to learn if it has a nuclear payload or not. Do that a few times and it creates an expectation that the next one won't be nuclear either. Deliberately controlled escalation.
Note - if NATO/Ukraine elect to respond in kind there is no guarantee that the Russians won't launch (nukes) on warning of inbound nuclear capable missiles towards Moscow. That has been their explicit promise for the past many years.
Takeaway - don't play chicken with nuclear weapons.
Solid-fuel missiles do not need to be fuelled immediately after launch
Quite unlike their liquid-fuel cousins which also do not need to be fueled immediately after launch.
So what are we looking at here? Is it journalism being committed by journalists, bless their hearts, or is it AI-generated verbiage to pad the article's word count? Something I am noticing lately is repeated content on web pages, whether duplicate paragraphs of text in an article or multiple copies of the same image. It is a good thing the media have layers and layers of fact-checkers and editors.
Yeah, he could just knuckle under for NATO's imperialist ambitions. Then he can sit and wait for NATO's next move. Where will that be? Belarus? Kazakhstan? Kursk? Vladivostok?
Biden could end it any day too. His policy in Ukraine is an abject failure. All that he has accomplished is the loss of countless lives and vast swaths of Ukrainian territory. Now he has only two months left in office and he's doing everything he can to escalate this war to a point where Trump will have fewer options for negotiating a settlement. Biden is an evil man who doesn't give a rat's ass about all the people he has killed.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
11/21/2024 11:56 Comments ||
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#8
A bit of gallows humor:
Hot Take: Russia thought that ICBM had nukes on board but someone had already sold them. pic.twitter.com/6qs9kLEOSg
#9
Comments at #7 are unfortunately spot on. I sincerely hope Trump is working with backchannel intermediaries to neuter the Deep State and put an end this madness.
#10
And besides all that, why would Putin end it when he's winning? He'll continue to win unless Trump can negotiate a settlement. Or unless Biden decides to go nuclear. Then we all lose.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
11/21/2024 12:35 Comments ||
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#11
Wow - I missed this. First military use of an ICBM. Seems like a measured response. Was the message received and heard? Probably not.
#16
Per Putin's speech today the weapon used was "Hazel" (Oreshnik), a medium range ballistic missile with hypersonic MIRV'd warheads.
If you'll excuse the pun, a very calibrated response
By using a single medium range missile the whole DEFCON sequence wasn't tripped. Demonstrating the new capability of hypersonic MIRV'd warheads was sending a second signal. His comments asking "citizens of friendly states to leave dangerous zones" was a nice touch. And of course this speech won't be covered by Western MSM outlets.
#17
Link to extracts of the speech here: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/putin-announces-use-of-oreshnik?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1779344&post_id=151984892&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1ezki6&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
#19
By using a single medium range missile the whole DEFCON sequence wasn't tripped. Demonstrating the new capability of hypersonic MIRV'd warheads was sending a second signal. His comments asking "citizens of friendly states to leave dangerous zones" was a nice touch. And of course this speech won't be covered by Western MSM outlets.
#4
Yawn. Getting rid of old stuff? And yes, you can hit a US base in Poland. But do you think that's a good idea?
Posted by: European Conservative ||
11/21/2024 9:38 Comments ||
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#5
Nobody knows what an IRBM is.
According to ChatGPT, "An IRBM is an Iranian Revolutionary Bowel Movement."
OK, OK, I didn't really ask ChatGPT. I just throw some words together that sounded good. Which, now that you mention it, is basically what ChatGPT does.
#8
Re #5:
OK, OK, I didn't really ask ChatGPT. I just throw some words together that sounded good. Which, now that you mention it, is basically what ChatGPT does.
IMO, what ChatGPT does is execute the rules written down by those who can write some rules that figure out how to "just throw some words together that sounded good", which is no easy feat.
As a co-worker says, AI is more artificial than intelligent.
The pirate was irate. "Those hoarders
Are crazy! Their captain gave orders
To fire from his Kessel
Upon mein own vessel
And not just our brotherly boarders!
Well, Kam--, er, comrades, this insufferably provocative escalation shall not stand! Prepare to launch... Inter-Russian Ballistic Missiles!"
[cue freezenik montage]
"And maybe bugger the Nazi aggressor Poles again, just for kicks."
#11
what ChatGPT does is execute the rules written down by those who can write some rules that figure out how to "just throw some words together that sounded good"
Actually, not. And that is the magic of it all. Written as a traditional program, ChatGPT would be a monstrous, unmanageable collection of if-then-else statements. But ChatGPT is the new New Thing - Machine Learning.
At its core is a neural network, a model inspired by the interconnections of human brains. Like a brain, a neural network can learn. But you need data to train it, lots and lots of data. Like every bit of text you could hoover up on the interwebs.
ChatGPT is a type of generative AI known as a Large Language Model (LLM). Large means lots of parameters, millions and billions. Language means it knows about the structure of language. Structure, not meaning. In a nutshell, it is insanely good at predicting the next word in a sentence. Unfortunately, LLMs are prone to hallucinate. Since they have no sense of meaning, they will happily make up 'facts' to answer your query. They may be wrong, but at least they will sound plausible.
tl;dr: Programs are written, neural networks are trained. ChatGPT is fun but don't ask it about anything important.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 21.37 The US Embassy in Ukraine will resume work on Thursday, November 20.
20:58 Messages spread online about the threat of a serious attack by Russians only help Russia.
20.25 President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine does not currently have enough forces to return the 1991 borders by military means. However, Kiev is ready to return Crimea diplomatically.
19:27 Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported that the Reserve+ application now offers the possibility of applying for a deferment from mobilization for parents with many children.
18.12 Since the beginning of the current day, 88 combat clashes have occurred along the entire front line. The Russian invaders carried out the largest number of attacks in the Vremivsk direction, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports .
17:38 Ukrainian military launched long-range cruise missiles Storm Shadow at Russian territory for the first time. This was reported by Bloomberg. A video was published showing explosions near the historic building of the Baryatinsky princes' estate, which is under the jurisdiction of the Russian Presidential Property Management Department.
17.20 The North Korean troops that arrived to help the Russians are commanded by Brigadier General Kim Yong Bok. He is one of the ten highest-ranking military officers in the DPRK. He commanded a special forces unit of 200,000 people, which is considered the largest in the world.
17.08 The US announced another package of military aid to Ukraine totaling $275 million. This includes ammunition for missile systems, artillery and anti-tank weapons.
16:35 Germany has transferred another batch of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. It includes two types of self-propelled artillery units (SAU). This was reported by the German government.
16.00 The aggressor country Russia has raised strategic aviation aircraft into the atmosphere – Tu-95MS bombers. They took off from the northern airfield of Olenya and are heading south, monitoring channels claim.
14:55 Russia is conducting a massive information and psychological attack against Ukraine. This was stated by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.
A message is being spread online, allegedly on behalf of the GUR, about the threat of a "particularly massive" missile and bomb attack on Ukrainian cities on November 20. Intelligence has noted that this message is fake.
13.30 The US has given Ukraine permission to use British Storm Shadow missiles to strike deep into Russia. However, the UK itself has not yet confirmed the lifting of restrictions, The Times reports .
12.17 Russian dictator Vladimir Putin appears ready to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine with US President-elect Donald Trump, Reuters reported , citing five sources familiar with the Kremlin boss's views.
11:33 Russia has deported 19,546 children from Ukraine in a thousand days of full-scale war. It managed to return 1,012 little Ukrainians home. This was reported by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets.
11:22 On Wednesday night, Russian aggressors launched 122 attack drones and unmanned aerial vehicles of an unknown type, as well as six missiles, at Ukraine. Most of the targets were shot down or lost their location, the Ukrainian Air Force reported .
11.17 The Spanish Embassy in Kiev has decided to temporarily close today after receiving information about a possible "major" air attack on Kiev.
10.46 The latest US military aid package for Ukraine is estimated at at least $275 million, Associated Press reported, citing US officials. The Ukrainian military will receive HIMARS systems, air defense systems, Javelins, and various ammunition and equipment.
10.05 The US Embassy in Kiev reported a threat of an air attack on Ukraine on November 20. In this regard, the embassy will be closed, and employees were advised to remain in shelters.
The head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, Andriy Kovalenko, stated that the warning from the US Embassy is entirely justified, given the accumulation of Russian missile stockpiles.
"The Russians have been stockpiling missiles for a series of attacks on Ukraine for months. This concerns the Kh-101 missiles, which they continue to produce, as well as calibers and ballistics," he noted.
9.45 As a result of falling debris from downed enemy targets in one of the settlements of the Kiev region, a kindergarten, a school, three administrative buildings, two stores, and agricultural equipment were damaged.
9.20 If the US decides to cut military aid to Ukraine, our country will lose. Our own production is not enough to resist. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with Fox News.
8.55. In the city of Gubkin, Belgorod Region of the Russian Federation, a command post of the Russian troop group North was successfully hit. This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
8.37 . UAVs attacked an arsenal in the Novgorod region of the Russian Federation, where artillery shells, rockets for the Grad, Smerch and Uragan MLRS, Iskanders, North Korean KN23, S-300 and S-400 missiles, and ammunition for the Tor complex are stored. This was reported by the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council, Andrei Kovalenko. We are talking about the 13th arsenal of the GRAU in the Novgorod region, near Kotovo. In addition, according to Kovalenko, "an EFKO plant was attacked in the Belgorod region, which publicly produces food products, but in fact also produces cargo drones that the Russian army uses for military purposes."
7.58. The Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed 1,690 Russian occupiers in one day. The enemy's total combat losses from 24.02.22 to 20.11.24, approximately, amounted to about 725,740 people. This was reported by the General Staff.
7.36 . In Russia, air defense forces allegedly shot down 44 drones overnight. This was reported by the Russian Defense Ministry. It is noted that 20 UAVs were shot down over the Novgorod Region of the Russian Federation, 5 over the Kursk Region, 4 over the Oryol Region, 3 each over the Belgorod, Tula, and Tver Regions, 2 each over the Bryansk, Moscow, and Smolensk Regions of the Russian Federation. According to Russian Telegram channels, the 13th arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate in the village of Kotovo in the Novgorod Region of the Russian Federation was attacked at night.
7.23. Sounds of explosions are heard in Kiev in the morning. Air defense forces shoot down enemy kamikaze drones. This is reported by KMV. Before this, the Ukrainian Air Force warned that an enemy UAV was flying towards the capital from the south. Later, the military clarified that the enemy drone was in the southwestern part of Kiev.
Direct TRanslation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] Ukrainian Armed Forces Contain Russian Attacks in Eastern and Southern Ukraine,
In the Vrem'evsky direction, 20 enemy attacks near five settlements have been stopped. Four combat clashes are still ongoing.
Since the beginning of the current day, there have been 88 combat clashes along the entire front line. The Russian invaders carried out the largest number of attacks in the Vremevsky direction, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Wednesday, November 20.
Thus, in the Kharkov direction, our troops repelled two attacks by the Russians in the area of Volchansk and Staritsa.
In the Kupyansk direction, five enemy assaults were stopped near Zagryzovo, Kucherovka, Kruglyakovka and Zeleny Gai.
In the Liman direction, the enemy attacked six times in the areas of Cherneshchyna, Zarechny and Terny. One combat clash continues to this day.
In the Toretsk direction, the enemy attacked in vain four times in the area of the city of Toretsk.
In the Pokrovsk direction, the Russians attacked the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces 15 times near the settlements of Mirolyubovka, Promin, Krutoy Yar, Krasny Yar, Liskovka, Yuryevka, Zheltoye, Petrovka, Dachenskoye, Grigorovka and Pushkino.
In the Kurakhovsky direction, our troops repelled 12 assaults in the areas of the settlements of Berestki, Zarya, Solntsevka, Maksimilianovka, Katerinovka, Elizavetovka and Antonovka. Three more clashes are ongoing.
In the Vremevsky direction, 20 enemy attacks have been stopped near Trudovoye, Konstantinopolskoye, Razdolnoye, Velikaya Novosyolka and Novodarovka. Four more assaults are still ongoing.
In the Dnieper direction, our soldiers repelled attacks by Russian invaders three times.
Let us recall that Russia's losses have exceeded 725 thousand people since the beginning of the war. In just one day on November 19, about 1700 invaders were "minus"
Linked article is available only through a VPN
[EngMilRu] The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Kharkov direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 95th Air Assault Brigade and 22nd Mechanised Brigade near Liptsy, Borshchevaya, Chernoglazovka, and Volchansk (Kharkov region).
One counter-attack launched by the AFU 92nd Assault Brigade was repelled. The AFU losses amounted to more than 105 troops, two tanks, two armoured personnel carriers, one infantry fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, and one 152mm D-20 gun.
Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 28th, 44th, 60th, 63rd, 66th, 67th Mechanised brigades, 68th Jaeger Brigade, 25th Airborne Brigade of the AFU, 35th Naval Infantry Brigade, 119th Territorial Defence Brigade, and 4th National Guard Brigade near Lozovaya, Petropavlovka, Zeleny Gay, Izyumskoye, Novoyegorovka, Zagryzovo, Kupyansk (Kharkov region), Torskoye, Ivanovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Nadiya (Lugansk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.
Five counterattacks launched by formations of the AFU 3rd Assault Brigade and 14th Mechanised Brigade were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 420 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M-113 armoured personnel carrier, one U.S.-made 155mm M-198 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 105mm M-119 gun. Four ammunition depots and one UAV depot were destroyed.
Units of the Yug Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences and inflicted losses on formations of the 24th, 30th, 46th, 54th Mechanised brigades, 56th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 46th Airmobile Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade of the AFU, and 37th Naval Infantry Brigade near Zaliznyanskoye, Nikolayevka, Annovka, Chasov Yar, Ulakly, Minkovka, Sukhiye Yaly, Kurakhovo, and Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic).
Two counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the 116th Territorial Defence Brigade were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 500 troops, one Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, four pickup trucks, one U.S.-made 155mm M-777 howitzer, one U.S.-made 105mm M-119 gun, and two 122mm D-30 howitzers. One U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar and five ammunition depots were destroyed.
As a result of active offensive actions, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Ilyinka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the 100th Mechanised Brigade, 1st Tank Brigade of the AFU, 109th Territorial Defence Brigade, and 12th National Guard Brigade near Druzhba, Shcherbinovka, Dzerzhinsk, Zarya, and Sukhaya Balka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Twelve counter-attacks launched by formations of the 23rd, 42nd, 117th Mechanised brigades, 68th, 71st, 152nd Jaeger brigades, 425th Assault Battalion of the AFU, 35th Naval Infantry Brigade, and Lyut Assault Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine were repelled.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 390 troops, one Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155mm M-777 howitzer, three 122mm D-30 howitzers, one 152mm D-20 gun, and one 152mm Msta-B howitzer.
Units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on formations of the 33rd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, 113th, 120th, 128th, 129th Territorial Defence brigades, and 21st National Guard Brigade near Razliv, Velikaya Novoselka, and Oktyabr (Donetsk People's Republic).
Two counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the 123rd Territorial Defence Brigade were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 115 troops, one tank, one U.S.-made M-113 armoured personnel carrier, two motor vehicles, one 155mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery system, and two U.S.-made 155mm M198 howitzers. One Anklav-N electronic warfare station was destroyed.
Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 65th, 110th Mechanised brigades of the AFU, 103rd, 126th Territorial Defence brigades, and 15th National Guard Brigade near Novopavlovka, Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region), Dneprovskoye, Nikolskoye, and Kazatskoye (Kherson region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 80 troops, three motor vehicles, one 152mm D-20 gun, one Anklav-N electronic warfare station, and one Plastun electronic reconnaissance system. One materiel depot was destroyed.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces delivered strikes at infrastructure of military airfields, power industry facilities ensuring operation of Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, UAV depots, as well as engaged manpower clusters and military hardware in 139 areas.
Air defence units shot down four French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectile, and 141 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 648 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 36,400 unmanned aerial vehicles, 586 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,397 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,490 MLRS combat vehicles, 18,248 field artillery guns and mortars, and 28,541 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.
Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the 41st, 44th, 47th, 115th Mechanised brigades, 5th Tank Brigade, 82nd Air Assault Brigade, 36th Naval Infantry Brigade, 112th and 129th Territorial Defence brigades of the AFU near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Daryino, Lebedevka, Malaya Loknya, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, and Sverdlikovo.
AFU units, which were blocked near Olgovskaya Roshcha, have been completely defeated.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on the enemy's manpower and hardware near Agronom, Aleksandriya, Guyevo, Zazulevka, Zeleny Shlyakh, Kazachaya Loknya, Kolmakov, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Martynovka, Makhnovka, Melovoy, Mirny, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevka, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, Plyokhovo, Sverdlikovo, Staraya Sorochina, Sudzha, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye as well as close to Basovka, Belovody, Zhuravka, Miropolye, Pavlovka, and Yunakovka in Sumy region.
Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 400 troops, six infantry fighting vehicles, including one German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicle, four armoured personnel carriers, including one U.S.-made M-113 armoured personnel carrier, one Bogdana self-propelled artillery system, one UK-made AS-90 self-propelled artillery system, one electronic warfare station, and 20 motor vehicles. Eleven AFU servicemen surrendered.
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 34,390 troops, 215 tanks, 147 infantry fighting vehicles, 120 armoured personnel carriers, 1,190 armoured fighting vehicles, 988 motor vehicles, 296 artillery guns, 40 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 13 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 68 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 27 units of engineering and other materiel, including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, six armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.
The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 21:00 Crews of the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and gun systemscontrolairspace over the positions of Russian troops in the border areas of the Kursk region. 19:55 Artillery crews of 152mm self-propelled howitzers "Giatsint-S" of the "East" group of forces destroyed guns of the artillery battery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the South Donetsk direction.
18:50 Servicemen of the North group of forces using the Lancet loitering munition struck a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the border area of the Kursk region.
18:22 Situation in the South Donetsk direction.
After their success in Trudovoye, assault units of the Vostok group of forces are expanding their zone of control to the west of the village, “cutting off” large enemy strongholds from the main forces.
There is an advance of assault groups along the Konstantinopolskoye-Sukhie Yaly line. There is also an advance from Shakhtyorskoye in the direction of Razdolnoye and Velikaya Novosyolka. In this area, over the past 24 hours, FPV drone operators of the 40th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade destroyed two Ukrainian Armed Forces tanks.
In the Vrem'evsky direction there is also an advance to the north from the settlements of Makarovka, Ravnopol and Novodarovka.
17:58 FPV drones calculations of the "West" group of forces destroyed hidden dugouts and Ukrainian Armed Forces manpower in the special operation zone.
Reconnaissance personnel use UAVs to record and transmit to control points the coordinates of military facilities, command posts, strongholds, positions, dugouts, weapons and combat equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They also actively use FPV drones to destroy dugouts, manpower, various military equipment and enemy drones.
17:25 The Ukrainian Armed Forces leave the village of Ilyinka in the so-called Yelizavetovsky pocket on the Sukhie Yaly River. Enemy units retreat to neighboring Romanovka with losses.
16:51 The FPV drone crew of the North group of forces destroyed a machine gun point of the Ukrainian Armed Forces camouflaged in a forest belt –video.
16:50 Explosions occurred in the city of Kherson, controlled by Kyiv. This was reported by the Ukrainian publication "Public. News".
16:02 Mortar crews fire rapidly destroyed observation post of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Units of Russian paratroopers of the Dnepr group of forces continue to inflict fire damage on units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the right bank of the Dnieper in the Zaporizhia region in the Energodar area.
15:57 Footage from the liberated Novoalekseevka in the DPR — Russian fighters unfurled the Russian tricolor in the settlement. The servicemen found NATO weapons and fascist flags. The liberation of Novoalekseevka was reported by the Ministry of Defense on November 18.
14:49 UAV operators of the Vostok group made a precise hit destroyeda well-fortified long-term firing point in a stronghold of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
14:30 In the Makeyevka areatorn off an attempt by the 3rd Separate Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to storm the positions of our forces. The enemy's plans were promptly revealed, after which at least seven militants, a mortar crew and two UAV launchers were destroyed in response.
12:25 A group of Ukrainian soldiers were ambushed by Russian intelligence officers in the Kursk region –framesfight.
12:57 Rocket hit Russian Armed Forces carried out an attack on a company tactical group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Sumkom district of the Kursk region. Up to 50 militants, 12 combat armored vehicles and six vehicles were destroyed.
12:11 Since early morning, fighting has been going on near the settlement of Uspenovka. The Russian Armed Forces are having success in several directions at once thanks to the support of armored vehicles and army aviation.
12:05 Calculation of 152mm towed howitzers "Msta-B" destroyed enemy UAV control point in the Kakhovka direction.
During reconnaissance, the UAV operator identified a control point for Ukrainian UAVs located in an abandoned house. The Msta-B howitzer crew destroyed the target with a direct hit.
11:54 The situation for the enemy in the Kurakhovo direction is moving to the stage of logical conclusion. In Kurakhovo itself, battles are already taking place outside the city, actually in the central part.
To the north, in Sontsovka, fighting continues. The enemy is trying to hold it to prevent the Russian Armed Forces from reaching the Kurakhovskoye Reservoir dam in the Starye Terny area.
But to the south, having started fighting for Berestki and having advanced in the center, Russian units have created a threat of breaking through to Starye Terny from the east along the reservoir itself. The enemy was forced to strengthen its positions here by transferring reserves.
The Russian Armed Forces, however, unexpectedly for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, forced a crossing of the reservoir in the direction of the elevator. Following the night battles for it, by morning the elevator was under the control of Russian forces. Relying on the high-rise buildings, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to stop the advance of the Russian Armed Forces units in the city and are counterattacking. The LBS in Kurakhovo is in motion.
South of Kurakhovo, Russian troops are advancing toward Razdolnoye, reaching the rear of the main defensive line of the Ukrainian Armed Forces northeast of Velikaya Novosyolka. This creates a threat of encirclement of the entire Kurakhovo group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the rear and provides an opportunity for further advancement toward the Mokrye Yaly River north of Velikaya Novosyolka.
The enemy's holding of settlements along the Sukhie Yaly River is gradually losing its meaning and creating a threat of encirclement. From the Ugledar side, the Russian Armed Forces are fighting on the approaches to Yelizavetovka and Vesyoliy Gai. From the Trudovoy side, they have reached the river, threatening the communications of the "pocket".
10:58 Footage of destruction of the field camp of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
10:36 Lancet drones destroyed 2A65 Msta-B and M-777 howitzers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Sumy Oblast –video.
09:55 Russian forces used a UAV to strike the Impuls plant in the city of Shostka in Sumy Oblast, which produces ammunition for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Vladimir Rogov reported
09:24 Russian troops were able to break through to the central part of Kurakhovo along the southern shore of the reservoir and occupy the territory of the Roevsky elevator.
09:10 Artillery crews of the North group of forces continue to carry out precise strikes on military installations, positions, fortifications, military equipment and manpower of Ukrainian terrorist groups in the area of the special operation.
08:46 About a dozen Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers fled from their positions near Kopanka in the Kharkiv region after attacks by Russian forces, military expert Andrey Marochko reported.
08:09 Fighters of the "North" destroyed American M113 armored personnel carrier during the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region, said a senior officer of the unit's command with the call sign "Winter".
08:05 Enemy reports: “Russian Armed Forces have taken control of Novaya Ilyinka and have also advanced near Dalniy, Antonovka, Pustynka and Toretsk.”
08:00 Attack aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces,liberatingsettlements in the Kurakhovsky direction are surrounded by groups of Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen using the "wolf hunt" tactics. This was reported by the Russian Defense Ministry.
Direct Translation via Google Translation. Edited.
Commentary by Russian militaryjournalist Boris Rozhin
[ColonelCassad] On the missile attack using Storm Shadow missiles in the Kursk region.
The village of Maryino on the Rylsk-Lgov highway was shelled.
Judging by the published videos, several were missed.
The launches were from aircraft carriers in the Chernihiv region.
We are waiting for a response
Plus.
New arms deliveries to Ukraine.
USA
Himars MLRS missiles
AT-4, TOW and Jevelin anti-tank systems
155 mm artillery shells
Various drones
Chemical protection suits
Ammunition
Total for $275 million
GERMANY
4 155 mm PzH 2000 self-propelled guns
1 TRML-4D radar;
47 armored vehicles from FFG;
8 M1070 Oshkosh tank tractors;
8 Caracal airborne assault vehicles;
20 border guard vehicles;
5 engineering vehicles
314 UAVs of various types
Many different ammunition for small arms and artillery
Spare parts for various equipment
On the issue of "freezes and truces". In the coming months, a lot of people will die a violent death.
Commentary by Russian military journalist is in italics.
[ColonelCassad] In Latvia, the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) has blocked access to five more websites that spread Russian propaganda, the official publication Latvijas Vēstnesis reports, LETA writes.
Access has been blocked to the websites voennoedelo.com, government.ru, e1.ru, km.ru and vesti-kaliningrad.ru, which publish materials that support and justify Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of its territories by Russia.
It is noted that the information posted on these websites "may create a false impression of the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine, as well as contribute to the justification of war crimes committed by Russia in Latvian society."
NEPLP has decided to block access to the domain names and IP addresses of these websites, as well as their mirrors. Users of these resources will be redirected to the website nelegalssaturs.lv.
Previously, NEPLP made similar decisions to block websites that spread Russian propaganda.
Excellent motivation. Purely Orwellian. You must have a "correct idea", which you will be additionally informed about.And they are not even embarrassed to say that information does not create, but "can create". In fact, this is a thought crime.
[Reuters] Ukraine fired a volley of British Storm Shadow cruise missiles into Russia on Wednesday, the latest new Western weapon it has been permitted to use on Russian targets a day after it fired U.S. ATACMS missiles.
The strikes were widely reported by Russian war correspondents on Telegram and confirmed by an official on condition of anonymity. A spokesperson for Ukraine's General Staff said he had no information.
Moscow has said the use of Western weapons to strike Russian territory far from the border would be a major escalation in the conflict. Kyiv says it needs the capability to defend itself by hitting Russian rear bases used to support Moscow's invasion, which entered its 1,000th day this week.
Accounts of Russian war correspondents on Telegram posted video they said included the sound of the missiles striking Kursk region, which borders northeastern Ukraine.
At least 14 huge explosions could be heard, most of them preceded by the sharp whistle of what sounded like an incoming missile. The video, shot in a residential area, showed black smoke rising in the distance.
The pro-Russian Two Majors channel on Telegram said Ukraine fired up to 12 Storm Shadows into the Kursk region and carried pictures of missile pieces with the name Storm Shadow clearly visible.
A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to comment.
Britain had previously allowed Ukraine to use Storm Shadows, which have a range in excess of 250 km (155 miles), within Ukrainian territory.
The Kyiv government has been pressing Western partners for permission to use such weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia, and it obtained the all-clear from U.S. President Joe Biden to use the ATACMS this week, two months before Biden leaves office.
As Ukraine's use of the missiles raised tensions, the United States shut its embassy in Kyiv on Wednesday as a precaution due to what it called the threat of a significant air attack. It later said the embassy would reopen on Thursday.
The Pentagon on Wednesday also announced $275 million in military aid to Ukraine that included more ammunition for the HIMARS rocket system, and the Biden administration moved to forgive $4.7 billion in U.S. loans to Ukraine as outgoing officials sought to do what they could to bolster Kyiv before they leave office.
ANTICIPATING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Biden's successor, President-elect Donald Trump, has said he will end the war, without saying how, and criticised billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine under Biden. The warring sides believe Trump is likely to push for peace talks - not known to have been held since the war's earliest months - and are trying to attain strong positions before negotiations.
Kyiv says Moscow, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, has previously taken advantage of limits on Ukraine's use of weapons, particularly to strike Ukrainian cities from the air with heavy guided bombs.
Western countries say the arrival of more than 10,000 North Korean troops to fight for Russia in recent weeks was an escalation that merited a response.
The first use of the U.S. ATACMS on Tuesday, fired at a Russian arsenal in the Bryansk region on Ukraine's northern border, prompted firm words from Moscow, which announced a change to its nuclear doctrine to lower the threshold for the use of atomic weapons. Washington has said it sees no need to adjust its own nuclear posture and accused Moscow of resorting to irresponsible rhetoric.
Military analysts have said the longer-range missiles are unlikely to give Ukraine a decisive edge in the war but could strengthen its position, especially in the battle for a sliver of land inside Russia's Kursk region it seized in August.
An air raid siren in Kyiv in the early afternoon on Wednesday jangled nerves. But Ukraine's military spy agency said a widely reported threat of massive drone and missile attacks across the country was fake, and it accused Russia of trying to sow panic by circulating online messages about it.
"The enemy, unable to subdue Ukrainians by force, resorts to measures of intimidation and psychological pressure on society. We ask you to be vigilant and steadfast," it said.
With the U.S. embassy's temporary closure, the Italian, Spanish and Greek embassies said they too had closed their doors in Kyiv. Canada said it suspended in-person services at its mission. The French embassy remained open but urged its citizens to be cautious. The Kremlin said it had no comment.
Russian foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin said in an interview published on Wednesday that Moscow would retaliate against NATO countries that facilitate long-range Ukrainian missile strikes against Russian territory.
The war is at a volatile juncture, with nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory in Russian hands, North Korean troops deployed in Russia's Kursk region and doubts over the future of Western aid under Trump, whose nominees for administration posts include sceptics of support for Kyiv.
On Sunday, Russia staged a missile and drone strike on Ukraine's national power grid that killed seven people and renewed fears over the durability of the hobbled energy network.
#1
Small production of storm shadow missiles and each handmade fired into a location lightly defended. Merely a demonstration. I am told 10 in inventory total. Atacms total 50. Biden going out with a bang. I have seen little or no results reported. Just smoke in the distance. Western media show. Meanwhile American missiles found with air pockets in fuel recalled due to this defect. Western production issues ongoing.
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.
