Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Gregor Spitzen
[REGNUM] Yesterday's strike by the Russian armed forces, which in just one day knocked out the American Abrams main battle tank, the French Caesar self-propelled gun and the NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system, did not go unnoticed in the American media.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[LB] During the day, 86 combat clashes took place.
Ivanna Kapustyanska
The seven hundred and thirty-fourth day of the large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against our state continues.
The enemy continues to wage a war of aggression. Despite significant losses, he does not give up his plans for the full occupation of Ukraine, ignores the laws and customs of war, uses terror tactics, strikes and attacks both military and civilian objects. The enemy is actively using aviation and quadrocopters of the "FPV" type, is conducting assault operations with the support of armored vehicles, and is conducting an evening assembly of the General Staff.
The operational situation in the east and south of Ukraine remains difficult. During the day, 86 combat clashes took place.
In total, the enemy launched 4 rocket and 52 air strikes, carried out 94 attacks from rocket salvo systems on the positions of our troops and populated areas. As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. High-rise and private buildings, as well as other infrastructure objects, were destroyed and damaged.
On the Volyn and Poliske directions, the operational situation has not changed significantly. There were no signs of the formation of offensive groups. Certain units of the Armed Forces of Belarus perform tasks in the areas bordering Ukraine.
In the Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi directions, the enemy maintains a military presence in the border areas, conducts sabotage and intelligence activities, attacks populated areas from the territory of the Russian Federation, and increases the density of mine and explosive barriers along the state border of Ukraine. The enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of Chernatske, Chuykivka, Khrapivshchyna, Grabovske, Yunakivka of the Sumy region and Bologivka of the Kharkiv region. More than 30 settlements were hit by enemy artillery and mortar fire, including Hrinivka, Chernihiv region; Znob-Trubchevska, Seredyna-Buda, Stara Huta of the Sumy region; Kozacha Lopan, Ohirtseve, Gatishche, Pletenivka, Kharkiv region.
In the Kupian direction, the defense forces repelled 11 enemy attacks in the areas of Sinkivka and Tabaivka settlements, where the enemy unsuccessfully tried to knock our troops out of their positions. More than 10 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Sinkivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Pishchane of the Kharkiv region.
In the Lyman direction, our soldiers repulsed 9 enemy attacks in the Terna settlement of Donetsk region, where the enemy unsuccessfully tried to break through the defenses of our troops. The enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of Vyimka and Vesele settlements of the Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements were affected by artillery and mortar shelling, among them Bilogorivka of Luhansk region and Terny, Yampolivka, Torske, Serebryanka, Rozdolivka of Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmut direction, the defense forces repelled 6 enemy attacks in the areas of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka settlements of the Donetsk region, where the enemy tried to improve their tactical position. The enemy carried out airstrikes in the Bohdanivka and Druzhba settlements of the Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements, including Orihovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Ivanivske of the Donetsk region, came under artillery and mortar fire.
In the Avdiyiv direction, our defenders repelled 18 enemy attacks in the areas of Berdychi, Orlivka, Tonenke, Pervomaiske settlements of the Donetsk region. The enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of Novoselivka Persha, Pervomaiske settlements of the Donetsk region. About 20 settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Semenivka, Orlivka, Pervomaiske of the Donetsk region, were hit by enemy artillery and mortar attacks.
On the Novopavlivskyi direction, the defense forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka and west of Pobeda of the Donetsk region, where the enemy tried 15 times to break through the defense of our troops, and also repelled 4 more enemy attacks in the areas south of Vugledar, Staromayorsky and Urozhany of the Donetsk region.
The enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of Kurakhove, Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka, Vodyane, Staromayorske and Urozhaine settlements of the Donetsk region. About 20 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers, among them Krasnohorivka, Georgiivka, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, Vugledar, Prechistivka, Blagodatne, Staromayorske, Urozhayne of the Donetsk region.
In the Orihiv direction, defense forces repelled 6 enemy attacks in the areas of Malynivka and Robotine settlements of the Zaporizhzhia region. The enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of Levadne, Mala Tokmachka, Orihiv, and Robotyn settlements of the Zaporizhzhia region. About 15 settlements, including Poltavka, Charivne, Biloghirya, Robotyne, and Novodanilivka of the Zaporizhzhya region, were hit by artillery and mortar attacks.
In the area of responsibility of the "Odesa" anti-aircraft missile defense system, in the Kherson direction, the enemy does not give up its intention to knock out our units from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnieper. Yes, during the day, 1 attempt to storm the positions of our troops was made. The enemy carried out an airstrike in the area of the settlement of Molodizhne, Kherson region.
About 20 settlements, including Tyaginka, Tokarivka, Krynky, Ivanivka, Lviv, and Ponyativka of the Kherson region, were hit by artillery and mortar attacks.
During the day, the aviation of the defense forces struck 15 areas of concentration of enemy personnel. Also, units of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 2 Su-34 fighter-bombers and 4 reconnaissance UAVs.
Units of the missile forces damaged 3 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, 2 artillery units, anti-aircraft defense equipment and the enemy's radar station.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title
[Korrespondent] 22:36 Since the end of November 2023, the number of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian military has increased significantly, said Yuriy Belousov, a representative of the Office of the Prosecutor General. According to him, as of now, the prosecutor's office is investigating 19 cases of murder of 45 Ukrainian prisoners of war. These are only the numbers that are known to law enforcement.
“We see a growing trend in these cases starting from the end of November 2023. And already this year it’s just massive. These are mainly Zaporozhye and Donetsk regions. For us, this is evidence that there have been changes in policy, and this is clearly initiated by the top leadership of the Armed Forces RF. Because there can’t just be cases in such numbers,” Belousov noted. He also believes that the dissemination of videos of executions on social networks is aimed at psychological influence: “This is an attempt to intimidate Ukrainians so that they do not resist.”
22:27 The Russians fired from cannon artillery at a private enterprise in the Kurakhovskaya community of the Donetsk region - one person was killed, five were wounded, the prosecutor's office reported.
22:08 The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War will now deal with prisoners of war, civilians in Russian captivity, and those missing in action during the war or occupation. The headquarters will also have an information system with data on these categories of people. This will improve electronic interaction between the headquarters and the authorities, which should simplify the work on the return of Ukrainians, said Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets.
22:03 The 110th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which defended Avdiivka, reported that its fighters had left the Avdiivka direction to recover: “We are going out for rest. We are going out with our heads held high. After two years of confrontation, there is finally a rotation. We will be recruited strength to beat the enemy again."
21:46 For the first time, the West began to publicly discuss sending its troops to Ukraine, although a number of European countries have already denied such a possibility. Read more in the material New debate in the West.
21:14 Biden met with congressional leaders about financing Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the meeting "frank and honest" while emphasizing the need for a plan on the US border. Biden warned during the meeting about the cost of delaying Ukraine's help. “The consequences of daily inaction are dire,” the American president said.
20:57 Biden “made it clear that the United States will not send troops to fight in Ukraine,” said White House National Security Council Speaker Adrienne Watson.
19:10 French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejournet said that troops from Western countries, if theoretically sent to Ukraine, will not participate in hostilities. In his opinion, France “should consider new actions in support of Ukraine.”
18:23 After the summit in Prague, the prime ministers of the Visegrad Four countries publicly expressed different views on the war in Ukraine. In particular, the Czech Republic and Poland are in favor of providing military assistance to Ukraine, while Hungary and Slovakia are against this, but are ready to help Ukraine in another way - humanitarian or financial.
At the same time, both Orban and Fico agreed that the Russian invasion was a violation of international law and that Ukraine needed help. Orban also called for speedy peace talks - "the sooner the better." In turn, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala emphasized that he does not believe in pacifist solutions and that long-term peace can be achieved by yielding to the aggressor. Fico said that he recognizes and respects the independence of Ukraine, but, in his opinion, both Ukraine and Russia need security guarantees.
Orban also noted that for Hungary it is “national interest and the most important issue of national security” not to have a common border with Russia, because there are “bad memories” of such periods in history.
17:36 The Russians shelled the village of Veletenskoye, Kherson region - one person was killed, said the head of the OVA Alexander Prokudin.
17:02 In the Sumy region, as a result of repeated enemy shelling, six policemen were wounded, and not four, as previously reported, the National Police clarified. Two law enforcement officers died.
16:48 With the withdrawal from Avdeevka of the Donetsk region, the problems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the front did not end. The occupiers went on the offensive along the entire front line; it is on their side that the initiative is now on their side. Analysts say this means the Russians can now choose when and where to launch offensive operations while they hold the initiative. For more details, see the material Offensive along the entire front line.
16:30 The Intelligence Committee under the President of Ukraine warns that the Russian special operation "Maidan-3" will reach its culmination in March-May of this year, and in the coming weeks the Russian Federation will devote maximum efforts to disseminating its narratives and attempts to incite conflicts - both within Ukraine, as well as in other parts of the world where there is effective support for Ukraine. The Russians' goal is to reduce support for Ukraine and demoralize Ukrainians.
“The campaign methodology is traditional for the Russian special services: to question the legitimacy of government decisions taken in Ukraine after May 20, to spread panic and despondency, to artificially contrast civilians and military personnel, to quarrel us with our allies, to spread all sorts of conspiracy theories in society. This is happening against the backdrop of public statements of the Russian Federation on the creation of new types of superweapons," the Committee said in a statement.
According to the Committee, the total budget of the Maidan-3 operation amounted to $1.5 billion. Last November alone, Russia spent almost $250 million as part of a special operation to spread anti-Ukrainian sentiments on the Telegram platform alone. This is the most expensive operation of the Russian special services in history.
According to Moscow’s plan, in the first half of June the situation inside Ukraine will be shaken, after which defeat will be inflicted in the East. The Committee calls on Ukrainian society and international partners to “strengthen joint resistance and comprehensive security measures, especially in the information space, to effectively counter global threats and challenges of a new world hybrid war.”
16:19 Ukrainian troops have retreated from the villages of Stepnoe and Severnoe near Avdeevka, said Dmitry Likhovy, spokesman for the Tavria group of troops. According to him, the battles for the North continued until night yesterday, the Russians suffered significant losses.
16:16 The air force shot down the second Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber today in the Eastern direction, said commander Nikolai Oleshchuk.
16:12 In the Avdeevsky direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have stabilized the defense line in the areas of Tonenky, Orlovka and Berdychi, commander Tarnavsky said. He also assured that the attempts of offensive actions by the Russians in the Novomikhailovka and Rabotino areas were unsuccessful.
15:45 Zelensky said that he arrived in Saudi Arabia, where he will meet with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman al Saud. “Theme number one is the Peace Formula. Last year in Jeddah we held a productive meeting at the level of advisers on its implementation. Now we are close to holding the first Peace Summit and we count on continued active support from Saudi Arabia,” the president said. The return of prisoners and deportees, economic cooperation and Saudi Arabia's participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine will also be discussed.
15:34 On the morning of February 27 in Novaya Kakhovka, explosions occurred at the entrance to the office of the United Russia party and not far from the “polling station.” According to the Center for National Resistance under the Special Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the explosions were carried out by partisans, thus stopping the “election process” in the occupied city. At the same time, the Russians, in order to hide the fact of the presence of resistance forces and not to sow panic, announced an alleged UAV attack.
15:26 In the Sumy region, two policemen were killed and four were wounded as a result of Russian shelling, said the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Igor Klimenko. The investigative team went to document the consequences of enemy strikes on the farm building, and at this time the Russians struck again, targeting law enforcement officers with artillery.
14:45 Macron voiced the proposal to send NATO troops to Ukraine at yesterday’s meeting of Western leaders in Paris, but no one supported it, said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
14:23 Speaker of the General Staff Andrei Kovalev, in a commentary to Ukrainskaya Pravda, explained that the published losses of Russians in more than 400 thousand military personnel are killed and wounded. At the same time, he emphasized that 412 thousand as of February 27 is an approximate number.
14:18 Scholz spoke out against sending NATO troops to Ukraine: “There will be neither ground forces nor soldiers on Ukrainian soil who will be sent there by European states or NATO countries.” Poland and Sweden also opposed this idea, and the British government stated that London does not plan a large-scale deployment of troops on the territory of Ukraine.
13:57 The European Parliament approved the allocation of a macro-financial support package for Ukraine in the amount of 50 billion euros for four years.
13:22 Macron called the EU's promise to allocate a million ammunition to Ukraine "reckless": "It must be said that we did not have this million ammunition. This was undoubtedly a reckless commitment. The reality is that in the very short term you can only provide that amount of ammunition the ones you have in stock, or the ones you produce just in time."
13:01 At night, the Russians shelled the Shumen microdistrict and the central part of Kherson. Apartment buildings and an office building were hit, one person was injured, the OVA reported. Over the previous 24 hours, three people were injured as a result of Russian shelling in the region.
12:35 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the Alliance has no plans to send troops to Ukraine.
12:18 Danish Prime Minister Matte Frederiksen said Europe must avoid the mistakes of the 1930s and expand its defense industry to contain Russia: “I see a more aggressive Russia in all aspects, not just in Ukraine. And I think we have to ask themselves: Is Ukraine the final destination for Russia? Or is this just part of what they want to achieve by building a Greater Russia again?"
12:12 Peskov said that the Kremlin “paid attention” to Macron’s words that the topic of sending military personnel to Ukraine was discussed in Europe. According to him, if this happens, then “we will have to talk not about the likelihood, but about the inevitability of a direct clash between Russia and NATO.”
11:23 North Korea is accelerating the pace of arms supplies to Russia, Bloomberg writes. According to South Korea, the DPRK sent about 6,700 containers to the Russian Federation, which can hold about 3 million 152 mm shells. In return, Moscow provides Pyongyang with food, raw materials and parts used in the production of weapons.
11:06 The air force shot down another Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber in the Eastern direction, said commander Nikolai Oleshchuk.
10:38 Air Force Speaker Yuri Ignat said that this is not the first time Russian drones have flown through the territory of Moldova: “This has happened already, and more than once. I don’t even see any particular sensationalism in this news that they are flying through Moldova or Transnistria, a Russian enclave, and cruise missiles and suicide bombers. Well, this time the radar systems detected such a flight.”
10:03 Russia purchased critical components for the military-industrial complex from the European Union worth about $500 million in the first nine months of 2023 alone, Bloomberg writes. A quarter of the supplies were sent directly from Europe, the rest through intermediaries in third countries. We are talking about dozens of components, parts and electronics used in the missile industry and other high-tech military production.
The EU has noticed a sharp increase in the export of such technologies to countries that resell them to Russia. Including Turkey, UAE, Serbia, China, Central Asian countries and Armenia. Increased exports to these countries fully compensated for the reduction in direct sales to Moscow, Bloomberg notes.
09:35 At night, the remains of a downed UAV damaged a power line in the Lubensky district of the Poltava region - 208 household and four legal consumers were left without electricity, said the head of the OVA, Philip Pronin.
09:24 During the night attack, the Air Force reported that unidentified UAVs were heading from the border with Moldova in the direction of Khmelnitsky. Later, the Ministry of Defense of Moldova stated that Russian drones did not fly over the territory of the country. The Southern Defense Forces explained that the Russians provocatively directed the route of one of the drones along a trajectory crossing the Ukrainian-Moldavian section of the state border in the Odessa region. The drone flew several tens of kilometers over the territory of Moldova and again entered Ukrainian airspace, where it was destroyed by air defense forces.
09:13 The “authorities” of occupied Novaya Kakhovka stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces allegedly struck a “humanitarian headquarters and multifunctional center” with a drone, and there were no casualties.
08:57 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) states that Russian troops have regained the strategic initiative throughout the theater of operations. According to experts, the Russian Federation will be able to conduct offensive operations whenever and wherever it wants as long as it maintains the initiative. Meanwhile, DeepState analysts report that Russian troops are advancing to the west and northwest of Avdeevka, following Lastochkino they captured the villages of Stepnoye and Severnoye.
08:29 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of February 27:
personnel - about 411,550 (+850) people,
tanks - 6556 (+1),
armored combat vehicles - 12,494 (+16),
artillery systems - 1009 (+16),
MLRS - 1000 (+0),
air defense systems - 686 (+0),
aircraft - 340 (+0),
helicopters - 325 (+0),
UAV of operational-tactical level - 7729 (+22),
cruise missiles - 1912 (+2),
ships/boats - 25 (+0),
submarines - 1 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 13,065 (+28),
special equipment - 1588 (+8).
08:11 Air defense at night destroyed 11 of the 13 Shahed-type attack drones that Russia attacked from Primorsko-Akhtarsk and the Kursk region, the Air Force command reported. Two of the four Kh-59 guided missiles were also destroyed. In addition, the enemy used Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles and one Kh-31P anti-radar missile. Missiles and drones were destroyed within the Kharkov, Sumy, Dnepropetrovsk, Khmelnytsky and Kirovograd regions.
07:45 Over the past 24 hours, 96 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report. In particular, in the Maryinsky direction, the Defense Forces repelled 25 enemy attacks in the Novomikhailovka area of the Donetsk region, as well as eight attacks in the Krasnohorivka, Georgievka, Pobeda areas of the Donetsk region. Another 19 attacks were repulsed in the Avdeevsky direction - in the Berdychi, Orlovka, Severny, Pervomaisky, Nevelsky districts of the Donetsk region.
In the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian troops repelled two attacks in the areas of Ivanovka and Tabaevka and another 20 attacks in the Sinkovka area of the Kharkov region. In the Liman direction, six attacks were repelled in the Ternov area of the Donetsk region; on Bakhmutsky - nine attacks in the Ivanovsky and Kleshcheevka districts of the Donetsk region; in Zaporozhye - six attacks in the Rabotino area of the Zaporozhye region. In the Kherson direction, the Defense Forces hold their positions and repelled two assaults by Russian troops on the left bank of the Dnieper.
03:10 NATO countries disagree on the possible sending of their military to Ukraine, “there are absolutely no such decisions,” said Polish President Andrzej Duda. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also claims that there is no question of sending European NATO forces to Ukraine. In turn, Macron confirmed that consensus has not yet been reached, but, in his words, “nothing can be ruled out.”
Macron also announced the creation of a new coalition on long-range weapons for Ukraine. According to the French president, France is not negotiating with Ukraine about Mirage fighters, but is involved in pilot training.
02:26 Israel is working on transferring early warning systems for missile strikes and drone attacks to Ukraine, Israel's permanent representative to the UN Gilad Erdan said during a meeting of the UN General Assembly. He also recalled that in the first week after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the country sent over 100 tons of humanitarian equipment to Ukraine and that “hundreds of Ukrainians were treated in Israeli hospitals and rehabilitation centers.”
01:17 The Netherlands will allocate more than 100 million euros to the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine around the world, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said. At the same time, he expressed the hope that “other countries will follow the Netherlands.” Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala, in turn, said that about 15 countries have expressed interest in the initiative to search for artillery shells for Ukraine on world markets.
00:13 France will supply 250 thousand attack UAVs for the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the end of 2024, Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said. According to him, the drones will be equipped with area fragmentation explosive devices and artificial intelligence. “They are autonomous, they find targets themselves, identify them, and then carry out an aerial detonation,” the minister added.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] Zelensky warned about an information campaign against Ukraine.
The Intelligence Committee under the President of Ukraine said that the culmination of the Russian information special operation against Ukraine will be in the coming weeks.
To undermine the situation in Ukraine from the inside is Russia’s traditional task. According to Ukrainian authorities, it has intensified significantly in recent weeks. What is known about the information campaign called “Maidan-3”?
REMOVAL OF THE PRESIDENT
President Vladimir Zelensky has stated several times that the “Maidan-3” disinformation plan provides for its elimination “by any means.”
“The goal is to change the president. Maybe not by killing, but it is a substitute. They use any tool available,” Zelensky told The Sun in November 2023.
The Intelligence Committee under the President of Ukraine said that the culmination of the Russian information special operation against Ukraine will be in the coming weeks, and Russia expects that by the first half of June it will be able to shake the situation and inflict a military defeat on Ukraine in the east.
“The main directions and goals of the enemy are to disrupt Ukrainian mobilization, spread disinformation about Ukraine’s inability to win, create and spread fake news about “tiredness of Ukraine” among our partners and allies in the world. The global international goal of the Russians is to reduce support for our country from the pro-Ukrainian coalition in the world. The goal of the Russians inside Ukraine is to demoralize the Ukrainians, sow panic among the population, drive a wedge between military personnel and civilians, and quarrel with everyone, including representatives of the country’s political leadership and civil society,” the committee said in a statement.
THEY DON'T SPARE MONEY
The Intelligence Committee noted that in November last year, as part of the Maidan-3 special operation, Russia spent almost $250 million to spread anti-Ukrainian sentiments on the Telegram platform alone. But, according to intelligence reports, the total budget of the operation amounted to an astronomical $1.5 billion. This is the most expensive “action” of the Russian special services in history.
THE QUESTION OF THE LEGITIMACY OF POWER
“The campaign methodology is traditional for the Russian special services: to question the legitimacy of government decisions taken in Ukraine after May 20, to spread panic and despondency, to artificially contrast civilians and military personnel, to quarrel us with our allies, to spread all kinds of “conspiracy theories” in society,” - the committee's message says.
The point is that Vladimir Zelensky's first term as president will expire in May. It is impossible to hold new elections under a military regime, according to the Constitution.
Zelensky himself also warned about conversations about his alleged “illegitimacy,” which are backed by the Kremlin.
“I regard this as a treacherous position towards Ukraine. This is a specific program - there are documents that confirm this: this is a program of the Russian Federation. I know that some United States journalists also have these documents,” Zelensky said.
He added that these documents even indicate the means that are provided for certain institutions to raise the topic of legitimacy.
GUR representative Andrei Yusov said that the question of the legitimacy of the president during the war is absurd. According to him, the Constitution of Ukraine clearly states that elections are not held during martial law.
In this case, according to him, a question of an organizational nature arises, in particular about voting in the occupation or about millions of Ukrainians abroad.
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[EngMilRu] The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous positions, as well as inflicted losses on AFU manpower and hardware near Sinkovka and Ivanovka (Kharkov region).
In addition, two counterattacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 95th Air Assault Brigade were repelled near Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer.
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 3rd Assault Brigade, 28th, 72nd Mechanised brigades near Bogdanovka, Kurdyumovka, Antonovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Seven counterattacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 46th Air Mobile Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade were repelled near Krasnogorovka, Georgiyevka, Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 420 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 howitzer, one UK-made FH-70 howitzer, one 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one UK-made L119 howitzer.
In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Severnoye, took more advantageous lines and positions, as well as inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 24th, 110th Mechanised brigades, and 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade near Mayorsk, Berdichi, and Rozovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Nine AFU assault detachments counterattacks were repelled near Novgorodskoye, Pervomayskoye, and Petrovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 485 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, including one U.S.-made Abrams tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, including one Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, six armoured fighting vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, and two 122mm D-30 howitzers.
In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation delivered strikes at manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 127th and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Levadnoye (Zaporozhye region), Urozhaynoye, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and repelled three attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 102nd Territorial Defence Brigade near Marfopol (Zaporozhye region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 130 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one UK-made FH-70 towed howitzer, and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.
In Kherson direction, as a result of active actions, Russian units took more advantageous positions and repelled three counterattacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 118th Mechanised Brigade near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).
In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 23rd Ukrainian National Guard Brigade, and 121st Territorial Defence Brigade near Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region) and Ilyinka (Dnepropetrovsk region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles. One Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station was destroyed.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces wiped out one fuel depot for AFU military hardware, one P-18 air target detection and tracking radar station, one command post of the AFU 128th Territorial Defence Brigade, as well as engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 112 areas during the day.
Air defence units shot down one Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 aircraft near Mikhailovka (Nikolaev region).
Moreover, 69 unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted near Olshana (Kharkov region), Chernopopovka, Zhitlovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Yegorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Chubaryovka, Chistopolye, Sladkaya Balka (Zaporozhye region), Vasilieyvka, Korsunka (Kherson region), as well as one HIMARS MLRS projectile.
In total, 575 airplanes and 267 helicopters, 13,523 unmanned aerial vehicles, 474 air defence missile systems, 15,252 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,226 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,176 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 19,138 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 23:59 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 02/27/2024 to 00:00 02/28/2024.
A total of 24 facts of armed attacks by the UFU were recorded by the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC over the past 24 hours.
One civilian was reported injured
DAMAGED:
Two residential buildings
One artillery attack in the Donetsk direction
A total of 23 attacks in the Gorlovka direction
A total of 93 units of various ammunition were fired
23:30 Front birdreports: Odessa region. 27.02 23:20.
At least two explosions have been reported near the Odessa port. Air defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces operates in the region.
23:07 Front birdbroadcasts: 27.02 23:00. The departure of our strategic missile carriers has been reported.
About 6 Tu-95MS boards and 2 Tu-22M3 boards are sent to launch cruise missiles at enemy targets.
22:31 Summary and analytics SVO: At these moments, our artillery and MLRS continue a massive attack on Konstantinovka and Chasovoy Yar.
About 15 minutes ago, the VKS worked, the next batch of UFAB-500s was sent to the center of Chasov Yar, to the enemy concentration. Today, more than 40 UFABs (various modifications) fell on the enemy’s heads in this direction. The intensification of hostilities is evident. Assault groups continue the active assault on Ivanovsky and Bogdanovka.
22:12 Telegram channel “Fisherman":
Another section of the front, which had been in a static state for a long time, came to life.
The Russian Armed Forces, north of Marthopol, advanced about a kilometer in a night rush with several assault groups. According to preliminary information, the enemy was at least partially driven out of the Gulyai-Polye Dachas holiday village near the Gaichur River.
Units of the 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade Armed Forces of Ukraine, which lost several observation posts as a result of the Russian attack, tried to counterattack, but were unsuccessful. Further advance of the Russian Armed Forces in this area is quite possible given the dispersal of enemy attention to other sectors of the front.
21:17 Russian Army continues drive the enemy away from Avdievka, storming Berdychi, Tonenkoye and Orlovka.
Units of the "Center" group liberated Lastochkino, Severnoye and Stepovoye and entered the following settlements - Berdychi, Tonenkoye and Orlovka, continuing active assault operations.
Having completely cleared and consolidated in Severny, ours continued the offensive, moving from the south along forest belts in the direction of Tonenky. A massive assault on Tonenkoye is being prepared simultaneously from different directions in order to prevent the enemy from escaping from this locality.
19:37 Situation in the NWO Zone.
Kupyansk direction
The enemy reports that since yesterday evening there has been a massive artillery preparation of our army. All calibers apply. The Aerospace Forces are actively working, sending parties of UFABOV to enemy fortifications. Our troops are not currently conducting large-scale offensives. Preparations are underway and will begin soon.
Artyomovskoe direction
The enemy reports that the intensity of the work of the Aerospace Forces is comparable to the work in the Avdeevsky direction in the last week of the assault. At these moments, fortifications and high-rise buildings are being dismantled in Chasovoy Yar, Ivanosky (Krasny) and Bogdanovka. Our assault groups continue to advance in Ivanovsky and Bogdanovka, after the capture of which the battle for Chasov Yar will begin, for which the enemy side is actively preparing.
Avdeevskoe direction
The Russian army continued to develop its success; at the moment, the following came under the control of the Russian army: Lastochkino, Stepovoye, Severnoe. A cleanup and assault is underway: Berdychi, Tonenkoye, Semenovka, Orlovka. The enemy continues to retreat, suffering significant losses.
17:12 Assault troops of the 2nd Army broke through the enemy’s defenses and liberated the village. Stepovoye (Petrovskoye). Under the threat of complete destruction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces fled from their positions -video.
At the moment, the liberated territory is being cleared and forces are being built up for a further offensive.
16:15 Enemy in the middle of the day confirms loss of control over Severny and Petrovsky and battles in Tonenkoye and on the outskirts of Orlovka.
15:33 Summary of Ministry of Defense Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation (as of February 27, 2024)
In the Kupyansk direction, units of the “Western” group of troops took up more advantageous positions and inflicted fire damage on enemy personnel and equipment in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka and Ivanovka, Kharkov region.
In the Donetsk direction, units of the “Southern” group of troops improved the situation along the front line, defeated concentrations of manpower and equipment of the 3rd Assault, 28th, 72nd Mechanized brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Bogdanovka, Kurdyumovka and Antonovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
In the Avdeevsky direction, units of the "Center" group of troops liberated the village of Severnoye, occupied more advantageous lines and positions, and also defeated concentrations of manpower and equipment of the 24th, 110th Mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade in the areas of populated areas Mayorsk, Berdychi and Rozovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
In the South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok group of troops, in cooperation with aviation, inflicted fire on accumulations of manpower and equipment of the 127th and 128th Territorial Defense brigades in the areas of the settlements of Levadnoye, Zaporozhye region, Urozhaynoye and Staromayorskoye, Donetsk People's Republic, and repelled three attacks by assault groups of the 102nd Terrestrial Defense Brigade in the area of the village of Marfopol, Zaporozhye region.
In the Kherson direction, as a result of active actions, Russian units took more advantageous positions and repelled three counterattacks by assault groups of the 118th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of the village of Rabotino, Zaporozhye region.
14:27 Telegram channel “Fisherman":
Russian units are advancing in the Rabotinsky Sack area. According to some yet unconfirmed data, the enemy allegedly lost control of Rabotino - in the village itself and to the west the situation is hidden by the “fog of war.”
In the area of the Malaya Tokmachka-Verbovoye power line there are oncoming battles. Russian forces were able to advance in several plantings to the northwest of Verbovoy, knocking out the enemy from several forest stands.
However, south of the power line, the enemy presence remains in the plantings west of Verbovoy. Ukrainian formations have repeatedly tried to counterattack in this area, but to date have been unsuccessful.
14:01 Telegram channel “Russian Ministry of Defense":
Since the beginning of the year, about 327 square kilometers of the territory of new regions of the Russian Federation have been liberated from the Nazis in all directions. Over the past week, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been driven out of the settlements of Pobeda, Lastochkino, and Severnoye of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
13:37 Shoigu reported, that the Russian Armed Forces today liberated the village of Severnoye. The mopup is complete.
Shoigu also said that the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the 2 years of the Northern Military District amounted to over 444,000 people.
12:40 Telegram channel "Fisherman":
Strike of the Russian Armed Forces on objects on the territory of Ukraine on February 27 - what is known by 12:30
Last night, Russian troops carried out further attacks on enemy rear targets in various regions of the so-called. Ukraine. Explosions occurred in the occupied part of the DPR, as well as in the Kharkov, Sumy, Dnepropetrovsk, Kirovograd, Poltava, Khmelnitsky and even Rivne regions - in most regions the enemy’s air defense systems were activated.
At the same time, once again, flight infrastructure facilities and temporary deployment points for personnel were chosen as targets for the fire raid. To defeat them, both ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones “Geran-2” were used.
Poltava: two strikes were carried out on the territory of the air base where the 18th Separate Army Aviation Brigade named after Igor Sikorsky (18 OBrAA, military unit A3384) is stationed. As a result of the defeat, the Mi-24 attack helicopter was destroyed. Three more aircraft, including the Mi-8MSB, were also damaged.
Kirovograd: One of the missiles managed to reach the territory of the air base in Alexandria, which is used by the National Guard. As a result of the damage, a fire broke out at the facility, and repeated sounds of explosions were recorded, which may indicate signs of a secondary detonation. Rescue operations are currently ongoing.
Sumy: the Geran-2 attack UAV hit the territory of an agricultural enterprise near the village of Khoten, which was used by the enemy as a temporary storage point for equipment.
The territories of the DPR controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine: attacks were carried out on the positions of Ukrainian formations in Toretsk, Kurakhovo and Liman.
Air bases in Poltava and Alexandria were targets of destruction at the beginning of the Northern Military District and, most likely, were included in the list of “out of action.” In this regard, in the understanding of individuals, they could no longer be used - while the enemy was actively restoring and developing the flight infrastructure. It is possible to disable air bases only through regular massive attacks by artillery and FABs, which is currently impossible due to their large distance from the contact line.
The last few days have shown us a qualitatively different approach - Russian units are actively working on the flight infrastructure, delivering effective strikes in many regions of the so-called. Ukraine. Of course, such actions cannot lead to the complete destruction of objects, but their consequences at least limit the enemy’s ability to conduct air operations.
11:50 Reported that in the area of ??the village of Ugledar, Donetsk People's Republic, Russian troops broke through the enemy's defenses in several areas, having previously destroyed enemy strongholds.
Currently, our troops are working against the enemy using the barrel guns of T-80 and T-90 tanks.
11:25 The front line after the loss of the village of Severnoye according to the enemy -map.
10:20 Just now in the Sumy region, tactical aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out several strikes on enemy rear positions using air-to-ground missiles.
The enemy's air defense did not work. No air raid sounded.
09:43 Criminal Kyiv regime continues to fire at the civilian infrastructure of settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region, yesterday during the day the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired from cannon artillery:
-- n.p. Dnepryan three rounds;
-- n.p. Novaya Kakhovka three rounds;
-- in Chernyanka settlement three rounds;
-- n.p. Kayro four rounds;
-- n.p. Peschanivka four rounds.
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the village. Dnepryany, n.p. Peschanivka, n.p. Novaya Mayachka, n.p. Chernyanka, firing a total of 14 rounds from cannon artillery.
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being determined.
09:35 Telegram channel «WarGonzo":
Frontline report for the morning 02/27/2024
– In the Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Armed Forces, with the support of artillery, continued offensive operations from the west and south towards the village of Rabotino. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding their positions.
– On the Donetsk front, Russian troops were active in most of the LBS. After firing at the enemy with long-range weapons, they attacked in Novomikhailovka, on the eastern outskirts of the city of Krasnogorovka, in the area of Nevel'skoye and Pervomaiskoye. Here the LBS has not changed significantly. But similar actions of the Russian Armed Forces west of Avdievka led to a breakthrough in Tonenkoye. Here, as they say, “on the thin side.”
It's thin for the APU, but it hasn't broken yet. To the north, Russian troops, after massive artillery shelling, established control over the village of Lastochkino and entered Orlovka. Both settlements were important for the Ukrainian Armed Forces from a logistics point of view. Now, taking into account the proximity of Avdievka and Donetsk, all the advantage goes to the Russian Armed Forces. The attack of Russian troops on Berdychi was unsuccessful.
– In the Artemovsky (Bakhmutsky) direction, the Russian Armed Forces continued assault operations on the heights north-west of Kleshcheevka and in Ivanovsky. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding their positions.
– In the Luhansk direction, Russian troops, supported by long-range weapons, attacked at Ternov. They also tried to advance in Tabaevka and Sin'kovka. Under attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Belogorovka, Serebryanka and Torskoye.
08:49 Telegram channel «Fisherman»
Chronicle of a special military operation: events of February 24 – 26, 2024
Russian troops continue to launch combined strikes against enemy targets in the so-called rear regions. Ukraine. At the Kanatovo military airfield, storage facilities and cargo transport for installing ammunition on aircraft were hit.
The next day, the airfield's flight infrastructure came under attack again. As a result of a direct hit on aircraft storage hangars, at least two MiG-29s of the Ukrainian Air Force were destroyed.
Another target was the 62nd arsenal in the village of Bogdanovka north of Kanatovo. As a result of several arrivals, a fire and detonation of ammunition started at the facility.
In the Khmelnitsky region, at the Starokonstantinov airfield, drones attacked a local aircraft parking lot. As a result of the hits, at least one Su-24M received significant damage.
For several days, the Russian Armed Forces have been striking industrial enterprises in Dnepropetrovsk. One of the workshops of the Makarov plant, where attack drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were manufactured, was hit.
The enemy also tried to stage a drone raid on the rear regions of Russia. One of the drones was able to fly to the territory of a metallurgical plant in Lipetsk.
At the front, Russian troops continue their offensive in the Bakhmut direction near the village of Krasnoye. Assault troops are fighting in the central part of the village northeast of Shosseynaya Street.
08:10 Official summary of Representative offices of the DPR in the JCCC:
Four facts of armed attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces were recorded by the DPR representative office in the JCCC.
Information was received about the injury of 1 civilian.
No damage has been identified.
One artillery attack was recorded in the Donetsk direction.
Three attacks were recorded in the Gorlovka direction.
A total of 15 units of various ammunition were fired.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Mikhail Zakharov
Recently, reports appeared in the media that Russian special services managed to prevent a terrorist attack in Moscow, directed and financed by the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of Ukraine. According to The Intel Drop, Ukrainian terrorists planned the murder of American journalist Tucker Carlson. Reportedly, a Russian citizen recruited by GUR officers was supposed to blow up Carlson’s car. At the moment, the information has not been officially confirmed, but there is practically no doubt that Kyiv militants have been conducting a systematic campaign for a long time to organize the murders of persons in one way or another connected with Russia. Continued on Page 49
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The Russian Armed Forces have successfully tested the S-500 Prometheus air defense system for its ability to shoot down hypersonic targets. Izvestia reported thiswith reference to sources in the Ministry of Defense.
According to the publication, the complex has proven that it is capable of tracking and destroying such objects. Moreover, we are talking not only about conventional hypersonic missiles, but also about promising developments, the material says. It is noted that working with hypersonic objects has several difficulties. Firstly, they are difficult to detect. Secondly, they appear on radars when there is little time left to react, as specified in the text.
“That is, Prometheus can shoot down any missiles, from short-range systems to intercontinental ballistic ones. Including those with hypersonic guided units, as well as hypersonic missiles that move at relatively low altitudes at high speeds,” Dmitry Kornev, editor of the Militaryrussia portal, explained to the publication.
As reported by IA Regnum, according to Western media, the S-500 Prometheus anti-aircraft missile systems can be used against American F-16 fighters if they are delivered to Ukraine. The material says that the Russian Armed Forces can send them to strengthen air defense, and then the true capabilities of the air defense system will be confirmed in practice.
It is noted that this anti-aircraft missile system was developed specifically to combat fifth-generation fighters, and its missiles are capable of covering a distance of more than 600 kilometers. According to the authors of the material, it was the fear of the S-500 Prometheus that became the reason for the refusal or delay of a number of countries to provide F-16 fighters to Ukraine.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Rosfinmonitoring has included the Ukrainian group Aidar in the register of terrorists and extremists. This is stated on the department's website.
Together with the group, Rosfinmonitoring included in the list of organizations and individuals for whom there is information about their involvement in extremist activities and terrorism, ex-State Duma deputy Gennady Gudkov (an individual recognized in the Russian Federation as a foreign agent), as well as someone arrested on suspicion of attempting to explosion at a gas distribution station in the Leningrad region by Sergei Zazulya.
As Regnum reported, at the end of December last year, the FSB added the Aidar community to the list of terrorist organizations (previously recognized as an extremist organization whose activities are prohibited in the Russian Federation). The corresponding decision was then made by the Southern District Military Court.
It was noted that the Aidar terrorist community became the 49th organization included in the unified federal list.
In the summer of 2023, the Southern District Military Court considered a massive criminal case against 18 Aidar participants. According to prosecutors, members of the unit committed actions in the territories of the DPR aimed at violently seizing power and changing the constitutional order.
Expect the CIA to dispose of Zelensky, if the coup takes place.
[Regnum] In the spring, an attempt may be made to overthrow the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, whose legitimacy will be called into question, according to a statement by the intelligence committee published on the Telegram channel of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
“The Maidan-3 special operation will reach its culmination in March–May 2024,” the statement said.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, in the coming weeks there will be attempts to incite conflicts both within Ukraine and elsewhere in the world, and Zelensky’s legitimacy after May 20 may be called into question. The GUR claims that they plan to “stir up” the situation in Ukraine by the first half of June and then inflict a military defeat on Kyiv in the east of the country.
Ukrainian intelligence claims that Russian intelligence services are planning to spread panic, despondency, incite conflict between civilians and military, and also antagonize Kyiv with its allies. According to the State Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, for this purpose Moscow will organize protests through its agents of influence in Ukraine and around the world.
As Regnum reported, Zelensky’s office, meanwhile, prepared an appeal to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU) to clarify the issue of the legitimacy of his tenure as head of state after May 20. According to the publication Zerkalo Nedeli, the Constitutional Court may be asked two questions: is it possible to hold presidential elections during hostilities and whether Zelensky remains a legitimate head of state after May 20.
Former Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov previously clarified that Zelensky would lose legitimacy after May 21, when his term of office ends. The former head of government called this position key for everyone fighting the Kyiv regime.
According to former Verkhovna Rada deputy, Doctor of Law Valery Karpuntsov, the Ukrainian constitution does not contain a rule that allows for the cancellation of presidential elections, so Zelensky faces criminal penalties for usurpation of power if he does not resign after the expiration of his powers.
At the same time, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov in January announced Zelensky’s difficult situation. He noted that many in Ukraine are dissatisfied with such leadership, a turbulent situation is brewing, and at the same time, the Western allies have stopped funding Kyiv.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Roskomnadzor (RKN) excluded one of the Steam community pages from the Unified Register of Prohibited Information due to the removal of illegal content, the RKN press service reported on February 27 in its Telegram channel.
“In connection with the fulfillment of Roskomnadzor’s request to remove information prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation, the website was excluded from the register. Roskomnadzor did not restrict access to the specified page,” the message said.
As the department explained, one of the Steam community pages was included in the unified register of prohibited information based on a decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for disseminating information about methods of producing narcotic drugs. A request was also sent to the site owner to remove the illegal content.
Earlier, information appeared that Roskomnadzor included the community of the computer games and software distribution service Steam in the register of prohibited sites. The basis for inclusion in the register was the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation of February 22. steamcommunity.com is not on the list of sites to which access is restricted.
The community contains fan and official content for all games and programs on Steam. If blocked, Russian users may lose access to profile pages, friends lists, discussions, workshop and trading platform.
As Regnum reported, earlier Roskomnadzor recalled that from March 1, 2024, a ban on the popularization of VPN services will come into force in the Russian Federation. The department also noted that means of bypassing blocking of illegal content are already banned in the country.
The head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Alexander Khinshtein, called this measure the next step in the issue of personal data protection. He emphasized that there are no plans to completely ban such a tool as VPN, but warned that using this service risks transferring personal data to third parties.
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Russia will be the only country around the Baltic Sea not in the military alliance
The strategically important Baltic Sea is being dubbed NATO's lake after Sweden was cleared to join the military alliance - strengthening its power in the region in a nightmare development for Vladimir Putin.
The country's accession to the alliance adds the final puzzle piece around the shores of the sea, which is a crucial maritime gateway for Russia, making it easier for NATO to exert control and reinforce its vulnerable Baltic states.
Analysts have suggested it will mean that Western allies, including the UK and United States, will be well-placed to strangle Russia's room for manoeuvre in the important shipping route if a war with Moscow ever breaks out.
But Moscow will still be able to threaten undersea infrastructure and menace the region from its bases near St Petersburg and in heavily-armed exclave Kaliningrad, with experts warning that NATO must remain alert to the Russian threat.
'If you look at a map then geographically the Baltic Sea is becoming a NATO lake, yes,' said Minna Alander a research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. 'But there is still work to do for NATO.'
On Monday, Hungary became the final NATO member to approve the country's application from 2022 to join the alliance in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
It was hailed as a 'historic day' by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg immediately welcomed Hungary's ratification.
'Sweden's membership will make us all stronger and safer,' Stoltenberg wrote on X.
'The parliaments of all NATO member states have now voted in favour of Swedish accession to NATO. Sweden stands ready to shoulder its responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security,' Kristersson said.
Sweden's NATO membership was supported by 188 lawmakers in Hungarian parliament, with 6 against and no abstentions.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government has faced pressure from NATO allies to fall in line and seal Sweden's accession to the alliance.
After Finland joined last year, Sweden's membership - which cleared the final hurdle on Monday with Hungary's vote on ratification - means all the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea, except Russia, will be part of the military alliance.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a series of high-profile incidents involving pipelines and cables under the Baltic Sea have given NATO a wake-up call over its vulnerabilities.
In September 2022 a sabotage attack hit the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Europe. Over a year on, investigators have still not publicly named those responsible.
Then last October a gas pipeline and a cable from Finland and Sweden to Estonia were damaged. Finnish police say they believe a Chinese cargo ship was likely involved.
NATO has bolstered its naval deployments in response and is looking to step up its monitoring capabilities, but keeping an eye on what's happening beneath the water is a major task.
'It's very difficult to have overall control of a sea as you would control territories on land,' said Julian Pawlak, a researcher at Germany's Bundeswehr University in Hamburg.
'What the Nord Stream sabotages have shown, among others, is that it remains hard to be aware exactly what is happening below the surface and on the seabed.'
Sweden has long had a close partnership with NATO but its formal membership will allow it to be fully integrated into the alliance's defence plans.
Beyond its long Baltic coastline, Sweden brings with it the island of Gotland which would play a central role in helping NATO impose its will.
But just across the water Russia has its own vital outpost - the exclave of Kaliningrad.
Wedged between Poland and Lithuania, Moscow has in recent years turned the region into one of the most militarised in Europe, with nuclear-capable missiles stationed there.
Russia's Baltic fleet based in Kaliningrad is a shadow of what it was during the Cold War and the invasion of Ukraine has sapped some of its forces from the region.
But John Deni, a research professor at the US Army War College, said the Kremlin has kept up investments in undersea capabilities and still has the firepower to stage small-scale landings or threaten NATO supply routes.
'In terms of artillery, indirect fires and nuclear-capable weapons they out-gun and out-range NATO allies in the region,' Deni said.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] American journalist Tucker Carlson, who interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin, received warnings of possible pressure and persecution in the United States. He spoke about this on a podcast on the YouTube channel of blogger Lex Friedman.
Lawyers and advocates warned him about the measures that could be taken against Carlson for his trip to Russia.
“My lawyers before I left, and these are people who work for a large law firm, said that if you do this, you will be detained by the American government for violating sanctions,” the journalist explained.
These warnings, according to Carson, “infuriated” him, and he turned to the main lawyer, who explained what the point was.
“A lot will depend on the questions you ask Putin, if you seem too nice to him, you could be detained when you return,” the defense attorney told Tucker Carlson.
The journalist added that he did not feel in danger in Russia.
As IA Regnum reported, the Kremlin does not intend to reveal the “internal kitchen” of preparing Putin’s interview with Carlson. The Russian leader's press secretary Dmitry Peskov announced this at a briefing on February 26, commenting on Tucker Carlson's words that he was prevented from conducting an interview.
Carlson, in an interview with the Blaze media company, said that US intelligence agencies conducted surveillance on him before he interviewed the Russian President. The journalist clarified that they had been preparing for the interview for about two years. According to the ex-TV presenter, the Russian side set a condition for the conversation: in the event of an information leak, Moscow could refuse the event.
The interview was published on the night of February 9. After the release, Peskov emphasized that Tucker Carlson is a mirror of public opinion in the United States.
Report can be found here (PDF)
[Regnum] A 280-page report on the Russian armed forces, their structure and tactics was prepared by the US Army. The data collection was published under the title “Russian Tactics”.
The material is billed as a textbook for military training, vocational education, and leadership development.
The preface states that the publication examines the tactics, organization and actions of the Russian military, and also describes how Russia would fight according to its doctrine, using tactical concepts used in training and exercises, primarily for large-scale operations.
However, the report makes no mention of the conflict in Ukraine. The authors stated that they do not concern the actions of Russian troops in Ukraine, considering it premature to judge the extent to which they confirm or deny doctrinal strategy and tactics.
RUSSIAN ARMY IN THE SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION
On February 26, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, announced that the Russian Armed Forces had taken control of the settlement of Lastochkino in the Avdeevsky direction. He also noted that the Russian military occupied more advantageous lines and positions in the southern Donetsk direction, while the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 150 military personnel there in one day.
On the same day, the Russian Armed Forces repelled three attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk direction and occupied more advantageous lines and positions. Enemy losses in this direction per day amounted to more than 420 people, two armored personnel carriers, an M777 artillery system and a counter-battery counter station.
Earlier, Russian missile forces with a group high-precision strike hit the launcher, tractor, ammunition and transport-loading vehicle of the American Patriot anti-aircraft missile system of the Ukrainian army.
ARTILLERY SUPERIORITY
The Wall Street Journal reported the overwhelming superiority of Russian artillery in the volume of shells used. According to the agency, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are 10 times inferior in this indicator. It is also reported that the Ukrainian side has a shortage of all types of equipment.
Military expert Hendrik Remmel announced a critical shortage of artillery shells in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. At the same time, he noted that the Russian Armed Forces are so superior to the Ukrainian troops in the amount of ammunition that Kiev receiving even 300-500 thousand shells will not correct the situation with the shortage of weapons.
As noted by the American publication Bloomberg, for the Ukrainian army the situation during the conflict has reached a dead end due to a shortage of ammunition, a shortage of military personnel and a delay in assistance from Western countries. At the moment, the Armed Forces of Ukraine cannot count on financial assistance from the United States, and the Russian army is successfully finding weak spots in the Ukrainian defense.
On February 15, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the domestic military-industrial complex for its high performance indicators. The head of state clarified that the production of personal protective equipment for participants of the military military training increased tenfold, vehicles of various classes - sevenfold, armored vehicles - threefold, and the production of tanks increased fivefold. The Russian leader emphasized that this indicates an increase in military production by several times, and not by a certain percentage.
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.
