by Aleksandr Tishchenko
Hollywood films "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" do not meet the objectives and goals of preserving and strengthening traditional Russian spiritual and moral values. This statement, which was made on August 31 by the Deputy Minister of Culture of Russia Andrey Malyshev , was made in response to the appeal of the Vice-Speaker of the State Duma Vladislav Davankov ("New People").
A month ago, the legislator sent a letter to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, in which he proposed: as an experiment, to conduct compulsory licensing of films from unfriendly countries, including so that Russian viewers could legally and in good quality see world hits in cinemas.
First of all, with the same biographical drama by Christopher Nolan "Oppenheimer" and with the fantasy comedy "Barbie" directed by Greta Gerwig .
The correspondence dispute between the deputy head of the Ministry of Culture and the deputy chairman of the State Duma became another episode in the discussion that flared up between legislators and film functionaries.
At first glance, the argument looks like this. On the one hand, some deputies and senators propose to bring the practice of "gray" film screenings into a legal field. On the other hand, the Ministry of Culture and the Cinema Fund strongly oppose screen “sanctions”, explaining this by the fact that the Western film product, in principle, has a bad effect on the moral state of society. However, the plot is somewhat more complicated.
But first, it is necessary to clarify what, in fact, the subject of the dispute.
Gray screens
As you know, with the beginning of the NWO, the Hollywood film industry lowered the iron curtain. Walt Disney Pictures, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures and other major studios left the Russian market. At the same time, the streaming service of Netflix (one of the leading producers of series) suspended its work.
But at the same time, the opportunity to watch certain new items in Russia remained - and not only on pirate sites, but also on large screens.
In the winter of this year, “gray film screenings” entered the practice.
More precisely, formally it is considered the so-called "pre-session service". The cinema announces short films or cartoons in the program, but specifies that a “pre-screening” will take place before this screening. Western movies were included in it, for example, Avatar 2.
Telegram channels report that according to this scheme, the Indiana Jones and the Wheel of Fate tape began to be shown this week (before which a certain short film was shown). There was also information that from September in the "pre-session service" they will show "Barbie", but not "Oppenheimer".
The audience willingly went to such "pre-screenings", although in order to buy tickets, they had to search for the necessary information about the sessions on the Internet, and then get to the specified cinemas, since not all major Russian cinema networks began to be included in such a scheme.
Ignore bans or boycott "spiritual content"?
In the second half of August, Alexei Sinitsyn, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy, proposed to whitewash this semi-legal practice.
It's about compulsory licensing.
As Izvestia explained, the senator proposed creating a temporary mechanism for the official import and distribution of Western films with the issuance of distribution certificates to them (ignoring the fact that, from the point of view of the same Warner or Disney, films are prohibited for distribution). And the proceeds from the rental should be sent to the copyright holders in the usual way, to a special account, "to exclude civil lawsuits from Western film companies and the Ministry of Culture."
Hollywood stars ignored the Venice Film Festival because of the strike
Model Bianca Balti, George and Amal Clooney Actor Pier Francesco Favino
The second option proposed by the senator is to import Western films that are being screened by our partners in the Union State, in Belarus.
The chief of Senator Sinitsyn, the head of the relevant committee, Andrey Kutepov , previously noted that the Western film business, by prohibiting the distribution of films in Russia alone (despite the fact that these films are shown all over the world), is abusing its rights. And from this, let's add, our film distributors suffer obvious losses, considering what kind of box office the same "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" do.
The executive director of the Cinema Fund, Fyodor Sosnov , in his response to the senators, as well as the deputy minister of culture Malyshev in his response to the deputy speaker of the Duma Davankov, stressed the threat to traditional spiritual and moral values that could be posed by the import of Western film products.
It's not just about morality
At first glance, this is a dispute between supporters of pure profit (primarily for domestic film distributors) and guardians of morality and traditional values.
The latter, however, are already being criticized. The Ministry of Culture is reminded of the financing of controversial films, for example, the film "Hack Bloggers" by Timur Bekmambetov's experimental studio . In 2017, the then Executive Director of the Cinema Fund Anton Malyshev (by the way, the brother of the current Deputy Head of the Ministry of Culture Andrei Malyshev) recognized the state-supported Bloggers as an “unsuccessful experiment”, and Vladimir Medinsky (the current presidential aide at that time headed the Ministry of Culture) called for a more stringent selection paintings for which public money is spent.
But, let's note, in the current arguments of the Ministry of Culture and the Cinema Fund, we are talking not so much about moral issues, but about quite practical matters.
If we legalize "gray" (in fact, pirated) rental schemes bypassing the bans, then our distributors will incur reputational risks. Forced rental is against our copyright laws.
Officials made such arguments back in the spring, when there were proposals to import Western film products from Belarus.
Then the Ministry of Culture also opposed such a scheme, mentioning the violation of the exclusive right, although experts admitted that the income of cinema networks could cover possible financial risks.
It is possible that the Fund and the ministry have in mind the possibility of receiving large fines from film rights holders in the future. Whether this future will come and under what conditions is a separate question.
There is a reason in the position of the Ministry of Culture: from a legal point of view, “gray” schemes are not good in themselves, and the idea that fines and sanctions will be imposed is reasonable,” film critic Alexei, lecturer at the St. Petersburg State Institute of Film and Television, told IA Regnum Gusev. At the same time, he believes that if in the arguments of officials the emphasis is on the dangers of "Western values", then this "causes mistrust."
But these arguments should not be completely discounted.
It's not just about the impact on modern Hollywood of the current "newsletter" (anti-Russian or really running counter to our moral norms) - it's also about historical experience, experts say.
During the Cold War, in popular culture, the “Reds” were often represented as “black power,” film critic Alexander Shpagin reminded IA Regnum , citing “Rambo III” as an example (by the way, a film that was released already during the years of our perestroika, in 1988). Another thing is that in the last thirty years there has been no talk of any wave of "anti-Russian cinema" in the West, the expert added.
But in the current situation, it no longer makes sense to look back at the opinion of the West, the interlocutor believes. “There was a lot of talk about the need to ban the showing of these stolen films, and everyone started to fuss. But if we have taken the position that we are sending everyone, then let's send further, ” said Shpagin.
Pirates of the Rolling Sea
Most likely, against the backdrop of disputes about whether or not to legalize "gray schemes", the already traditional film piracy will grow and strengthen, experts say.
“Sanctions are sanctions, and movies are another element in a long list. Or you will have to limit yourself to home viewing. The traditions of all kinds of piracy in our country are stronger and more inventive than anywhere else, and since the 90s, Gusev noted. —
Let me remind you that in the late 90s - early 2000s, there were legendary situations that we were almost proud of - films appeared on video cassettes on Russian shelves before they were released in the American box office .
Then films were stolen right at the studio screenings. But this is a grassroots initiative, and this is how both consumers and suppliers organize themselves.”
It is better for the state not to interfere in the process, since it can really become an accomplice in these schemes in the eyes of Western copyright holders, Gusev emphasizes.
“That is, piracy will begin to flourish, although I am not a big fan of it. And all the state needs to do is not interfere: neither say “God, how terrible and bad it is!”, nor say “let us help you!” the expert noted .
Raid to confiscate pirated copies of the Harry Potter movie
The film market is like water: all the same, everything that is needed will leak out, Shpagin agrees.
On the one hand, in 2022, during the time of Western film sanctions - coincidentally or not - "a real and cool domestic film product went," the critic notes. “In general, I have a feeling that last year in Russian cinema was much stronger than in American cinema,” the expert points out.
On the other hand, the American product will still prevail in the domestic market - the demand for it does not go away, Shpagin noted. Even in the new conditions, it will not be easy for people to give up their favorite goods that have fallen under sanctions - and films are no exception, Gusev agrees.
#1
Never heard of "throwing good money after the bad", or "it's not our money"? Or, is it after this started, people stopped asking us "how the f@ck did we lose in Afghanistan"?
The offensive of the Defense Forces in the direction of Melitopol continues.
Iryna Gamalii
During the day, 25 combat clashes took place at the front. Defense forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the Maryinka area. The occupiers also unsuccessfully advanced in the area of the village of Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region.
This was announced on Facebook by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the evening of the 554th day of the large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against our country.
During the day, the enemy launched 1 missile and 31 air strikes, carried out 52 attacks from rocket salvo systems on the positions of our troops and populated areas. As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. Residential buildings and other civil infrastructure were destroyed. The probability of launching missile and air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.
During the day, 25 combat clashes took place at the front.
On the Volyn and Poliske directions, the operational situation has not changed significantly.
In the Siversky and Slobozhansk directions, the enemy carried out mortar and artillery attacks on more than 20 settlements, in particular, Sosnivka of the Chernihiv region, Seredyna-Buda, Romashkove, Shalygine, Nova Sloboda of the Sumy region, and Vovchansk, Khrypuny, Karaichne, Mala Vovcha, Budarky of the Kharkiv region.
In the Kupyansk direction, the enemy carried out an airstrike in the Kotlyarivka district of the Kharkiv region. The settlements of Borova, Kupyansk, Kislivka of the Kharkiv region were hit by enemy artillery and mortar fire.
On the Lymanskyi direction, the enemy carried out airstrikes in the districts of Cherneshchyna, Kharkiv Region, Novoyehorivka, and Belogorivka, Luhansk Region. More than 10 settlements, including Nevske, Belogorivka of the Luhansk region, and Rozdolivka, Verkhnyokamianske, and Fedorivka of the Donetsk region, were affected by the enemy's artillery shelling.
In the direction of Bakhmut, the enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of Bila Hora and New York of the Donetsk region. More than 15 settlements, including Minkivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, and Northern Donetsk region, were affected by enemy artillery shelling.
In the Avdiyiv direction, the enemy launched artillery and mortar attacks on the settlements of Oleksandropil, Novokalynove, Avdiyivka, Severna, and Pervomaiske of the Donetsk region.
In the Maryinka direction, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the Maryinka area of the Donetsk region. The enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the Novomykhailivka area. He carried out an airstrike in the Krasnohorivka area. The settlements of Krasnohorvik, Pobyeda, Maryinka, Kurakhovo, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka of the Donetsk region were hit by artillery fire.
In the direction of Shakhtarsky, the enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of Vugledar and Staromayorsky, Donetsk region. Such settlements as Vodyane, Bogoyavlenka, Prechistivka, Blagodatne, Urozhayne of the Donetsk region were affected by the enemy's artillery shelling.
In the direction of Zaporizhzhia, the enemy carried out airstrikes in the districts of Novodanilivka, Robotyny, Orikhov of the Zaporizhzhia region. More than 15 settlements, including Novodarivka, Olhivske, Chervone, Gulyaipole, Lobkovo, and Plavni of Zaporizhzhya region, were affected by the enemy's artillery shelling.
On the Kherson direction, the enemy shelled the settlements of Stanislav, Veletenske, Antonivka of the Kherson region with artillery and mortars.
At the same time, the Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation in the Melitopol direction , are entrenched at the achieved boundaries, and carry out counter-battery countermeasures.
During the day, the aviation of the defense forces made 12 strikes on personnel concentration areas and 4 strikes on the enemy's anti-aircraft missile systems. During the day, units of rocket forces and artillery hit 1 artillery piece in a firing position and 2 radar stations of the enemy.
The UAF broke through a key Russian defensive line during a counteroffensive, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing an unnamed Ukrainian officer. Where are the fights
Paratroopers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are fighting on the fortified positions of the Russians on the outskirts of the village of Verbove in the Zaporozhye region. Also, the fighters entered the main line of defense south of the previously liberated neighboring Rabotino.
Describing the advance, the newspaper's interlocutor held up three fingers, marking the lines of attack through the fortified Russian positions on the western flank of Verbovoye.
“The significance of this offensive lies in the fact that Ukraine for the first time broke through the main Russian defensive line - an extensive system of minefields, trenches and anti-tank barriers covered by artillery,” the material says.
Now the Defense Forces are trying to enlarge the cracks in this line in order to create a hole large enough through which armored vehicles can break through, the newspaper notes.
We need to trust the APU
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are gradually moving forward in their counteroffensive and the allies must trust the way Ukrainian troops conduct military operations.
“They push the Russians back, they manage to get through some of these heavily defended areas, not least through the minefields,” he told CNN .
That's why it's even more important to support Ukraine, he said, "because we all know it's a tough fight."
Stoltenberg said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are making progress, they are winning back positions.
He stressed that NATO allies provide Ukraine with unprecedented military support, but key decisions remain with the Ukrainians.
“In the end, it is the Ukrainians, their commanders on the battlefield, who must make these difficult and tough decisions. We see that Ukrainians exceed expectations again and again. We must trust them. We advise, we help, we support, but in the end, it is the Ukrainians who should make these decisions,” the Secretary General said.
Shut up those who do not trust
Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba advised critics of the Ukrainian counteroffensive to shut up.
According to him, criticism of the allegedly slow advance of the Defense Forces is a spit in the face of Ukrainian soldiers. He noted that the fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine daily risk their lives, move forward and liberate territories.
“I suggest that all critics shut up, come to Ukraine and try to free at least one square centimeter on their own,” Kuleba said.
#1
"Zaporozhye Region's village of Rabotino wiped off the map - Rabotino, for all intents and purposes, does not exist. It only exists on a map. In reality, there is no such village anymore. There were such fierce battles there that there are only the frames of houses and ruined structures left of it."
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title
22:42 Ukrainian pilots will be trained on the F-16 in Denmark for 4-6 months, and in the UK - from one to two years, Yuriy Ignat, speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said. He explained that experienced pilots went to Denmark, and recent graduates of the flight school went to the UK.
21:55 Zelensky, in an evening video message, announced significant international events and negotiations for Ukraine next week.
21:14 Russia took S-300V4 air defense systems from the Kuril Islands, which had been there since 2020, Kyodo News reports, citing satellite images. According to experts, they will be transferred to the border with Ukraine. In addition, old tanks and artillery were probably taken from the Kuril Islands. Analysts believe that troops from the Far East are also being transferred to Ukraine.
19:38 Zaluzhny said that he had a telephone conversation with the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, informed him about the operational situation at the front, spoke about the needs for weapons and ammunition, and separately dwelled on the need to strengthen air defense.
19:33 The Foreign Ministers of the EU countries during today's meeting in Toledo, Spain, did not agree on the eighth tranche of military assistance for Ukraine in the amount of 500 million euros, Borrell said. At the same time, the participants of the informal meeting expressed political support for the initiative to create a special fund to help Ukraine for 20 billion euros for the next four years. Radio Liberty correspondent Rikard Jozwiak said that Hungary is blocking the allocation of the next tranche.
19:05 The World Bank will provide Ukraine with 232 million dollars of assistance for emergency repairs of housing damaged due to the war. More than 100,000 families can count on assistance. The program concerns housing that does not require major repairs.
18:56 Budanov said in an interview with 1+1 that the first nuclear warheads were delivered to Belarus a few days ago. Until that time, according to him, large-scale training with nuclear simulators was carried out. “I read the original documents on the results of the training. Pretty bad documents for Belarus. The Russian 12th Main Directorate, which is responsible for these funds, wrote that, according to the results of training with nuclear simulators for the Iskander system, which Belarus has in small quantities, there was the complete unpreparedness of Belarus to operate such weapons has been recognized," the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate said.
At the same time, according to him, the Belarusians showed the highest possible results in possession of Tochka-type equipment. U. Budanov also called the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus a "big geopolitical game", a means of "nuclear deterrence and raising rates."
18:20 The plane crash in the Donetsk region is the second tragedy in a week in Ukraine with experienced pilots. Real battles broke out in social networks: many do not believe in chance that nine aces of Ukrainian aviation suddenly died in four days. More details - in the material Sabotage or accident .
17:58 Kiev expects Turkey and other parties to use their authority to prevent Russia's attempts to again violate international obligations and establish grain exports in the Black Sea without resuming grain exports from Ukrainian ports, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
17:43 In the UK, a key military ally of Ukraine, the Minister of Defense has been replaced. Grant Shepps replaced Ben Wallace in this post. It was Wallace who, until recently, was one of the most active international engines of defense assistance to Ukraine. About what to expect from the new minister - in the material Change in the British Ministry of Defense .
17:39 Lavrov said following a meeting in Moscow with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan that Russia had brought to the attention of Ankara what "should be done in the West" to restore the grain deal. The parties also discussed Putin's initiative to supply 1 million tons of Russian grain at a reduced price for further processing. Lavrov claims that the UN Secretary General told him about his new initiatives to renew the grain agreement, "but they do not provide any guarantees for Moscow."
The Turkish Foreign Minister said that the grain deal was one of the main topics of his negotiations with Lavrov, and Ankara hopes for its resumption. Fidan also said that on September 1 he would meet in Moscow with Shoigu.
16:59 Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that the West should openly set itself the goal of Ukraine's victory in the war, and not talk about "support for as long as necessary."
16:31 Danilov showed footage of a successful test of a Ukrainian-made rocket:
15:25 Ukraine needs about 160 F-16 fighters to gain an advantage in the sky, Zelensky said in an interview with the Portuguese TV channel RTP: "Today we have an agreement on the future supply of 50-60 fighters. In general, we need about 160 fighters to have powerful air force that will not give Russia the opportunity to dominate the airspace."
According to the president, the planes should appear in Ukraine early next year. At the same time, he stressed that Western fighters are needed for the defense and protection of the civilian population, as well as for the protection of shipping in the Black Sea, and not for the offensive.
15:14 On the night of August 27, the SBU attacked the airfield in Kursk with Ukrainian-made cardboard drones , journalist Yuriy Butusov claims. Then 16 kamikaze drones worked on four Su-30 and one MiG-29 aircraft, which were based at this airfield. Also among the hit targets are the radars of the S-300 complex and two Pantsirs. The drones were able to fly through the layered system with early warning radars and were not seen.
14:26 The Russians hit the center of Kupyansk, one person was wounded, Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA, said.
14:13 Russia is holding three groupings of troops near the northern border of Ukraine - Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod - in order to tie down Ukrainian troops and prevent them from being transferred to areas of active hostilities, Anna Malyar said. Also in the North, the enemy continues shelling from the territory of the Russian Federation and conducts sabotage and reconnaissance activities, trying to penetrate the territory of Ukraine.
In the East, active hostilities are underway in the Limansky direction - there the Russian army is making special efforts to advance in the areas of Novogorovka and Belogorivka of the Luhansk region, but to no avail. In the Bakhmut direction, the Defense Forces continue to advance south of Bakhmut, heavy fighting is going on in Kleshcheevka, Kurdyumovka, Andriyevka. They have certain successes, are fixed on the achieved frontiers.
The offensive operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues in the southern directions, there are certain successes, in particular, in the Novodanilovka-Novoprokopovka direction.
13:48 In the Kramatorsk district of the Donetsk region on August 29, two Mi-8 military helicopters crashed, killing six servicemen. Criminal proceedings have been initiated on violation of flight rules or preparation for them, the Office of the Prosecutor General said.
13:24 Zelensky said following a daily conference call that Ukraine had successfully used long-range weapons of its own production: a target at 700 km was hit. The Ministry of Defense also reported on the receipt of a large batch of Medevak armored medical vehicles. According to the president, this is "what is really needed now."
12:47 The next, 15th meeting in the Ramstein format will take place on September 19, Radio Liberty reports with reference to the press service of the US Air Force in Europe. The meeting will take place offline at Ramstein Air Base.
12:38 Danilov, in an interview with Die Welt, denied Western media reports about the alleged 70,000 losses of Ukraine: "Our army is not large enough to talk about losses of 70,000 military. Those who give such numbers obviously do not have accurate information about situation in our country. I do not understand why respected journalists spread such unreliable information about our losses."
12:23 Peskov said that there are no specific results of the discussion on the grain deal, Moscow is ready to return to it "after fulfilling all the conditions relating to Russia."
12:01 In the UK, a new Minister of Defense has been appointed - instead of Ben Wallace, Grant Shepps has become it. Commenting on his appointment, Shepps stressed that he would continue to support Ukraine in its "fight against Putin's barbaric invasion."
11:13 Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin specified that BAE Systems has opened an office in Ukraine for the production of the L119 105mm NATO howitzer.
11:02 The governor of the Bryansk region, Alexander Bogomaz, said that three drones were allegedly shot down over Bryansk, there were no casualties or damage.
10:29 The British company BAE Systems is starting to work in Ukraine , which produces, in particular, artillery (L119 and M777 systems) and armored vehicles (CV90), Zelensky said after a meeting with CEO Charles Woodburn. "The best weapons that now help our soldiers defend Ukraine should be produced in Ukraine. The development of domestic weapons production is a top priority," the president stressed.
10:10 In Mariupol, partisans set fire to the base of the Russians, destroyed at least four cars, the mayor's adviser Petr Andryushchenko said.
09:27 Russians fired at Slavyansk of Donetsk region at night - shells got to the agricultural enterprises in the settlement of Mirny, the security guard of the enterprise was lost, the mayor Vadim Lyakh reported.
09:18 In the Donetsk region over the past day, as a result of Russian shelling, two people were killed (in Bogatyr and Chasovoy Yar), five more were injured. In the Zaporozhye region, one person was wounded as a result of shelling of Hulyaipol, according to the IVA.
09:12 The Russians fired on the village of Borovaya in the Izyum district of the Kharkiv region in the morning, one person was injured, the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov said. During the past day, the enemy shelled the settlements of Bogodukhovsky, Izyumsky, Chuguevsky and Kupyansky districts of the region.
08:57 Today, in part of the settlements of the occupied Donetsk region, the so-called "elections" began. In particular, "voting" will take place in Horlivka, Donetsk, Makiivka and other settlements on the collision line, Piotr Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, said. He did not rule out that in this regard "there will be provocations, with explosions and casualties." In Mariupol, pseudo-elections will be held on September 7-8.
08:36 Ukrainian troops in the South were successful in the direction of Novodanilovka - Novoprokopovka, and also continue the offensive south of Bakhmut, said the speaker of the General Staff Andriy Kovalev.
08:11 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of August 31:
personnel - about 263,020 (+610) people,
tanks - 4436 (+13),
armored combat vehicles - 8604 (+8),
artillery systems - 5507 (+31),
MLRS - 734 (+1),
air defense systems - 500 (+0),
aircraft - 315 (+0),
helicopters - 316 (+0),
UAV operational-tactical level - 4417 (+22),
cruise missiles - 1445 (+26),
ships/boats - 18 (+0),
automotive equipment and tankers - 7976 (+23),
special equipment - 830 (+5).
08:04 The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the destruction of a drone over the territory of the Voskresensky district of the Moscow region. Dozens of flights were delayed at Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo airports.
07:35 Over the past day, more than 40 clashes have occurred at the front, the General Staff said in the morning summary . In particular, the Russian army tried to advance in the areas of Novogorovka and Belogorovka in the Lugansk region, Kleshcheevka, Kurdyumovka, Maryinka and Staromayorsky in the Donetsk region, as well as in Verbovoye in the Zaporozhye region.
05:56 Stoltenberg positively assessed the counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: "The Ukrainians are gradually gaining ground, which means that they are pushing back the Russians and can break through some of these well-fortified territories ... We saw that the Ukrainians again exceeded expectations. And we must remember that it all started last year with a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine - then experts believed that Ukraine would only last a few days or weeks. But they liberated the north - Kiev, the east - Kharkiv region, the territory in the south - Kherson.
00:34 The BBC has calculated that drones have attacked Russia and Crimea more than 190 times this year. The Bryansk, Belgorod and Kursk regions, as well as the Crimea, were subjected to the most attacks. The targets for strikes were oil facilities, airfields and energy infrastructure.
00:12 Radio Liberty showed the first satellite images after the drone attack on the airfield in Pskov. They show that at least two Il-76 aircraft were damaged. After analyzing satellite images of the damage to the aircraft, aviation expert Anatoly Khrapchinsky confirmed it. According to him, the surface near the wings was damaged, the overhaul will take at least 2-3 months. Also near one of the planes you can see two red cars that look like firefighters.
This type of aircraft is constantly based at the Pskov airfield - they are used by the 76th Guards Air Assault Division of the Russian Army, which participated in the capture of Bucha.
#1
Ukraine daily tally has had a 'zero' for killed Russian aircraft for over a week despite the reports that their drones have taken out some transports and maybe a fighter or two.
Posted by: lord garth ||
09/01/2023 16:03 Comments ||
Top||
Text taken from Russian ministry of defense website (available only through a VPN)
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (31 August 2023)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery in the course of offensive actions improved the situation along the front line.
Over the past 24 hours, five counter-attacks by assault detachments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade, 32nd and 43rd Mechanised Brigades have been repelled near Sergeevka and Novoegorovka (Lugansk People's Republic).
The enemy has lost up to 50 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled howitzer, as well as two 152m D-20 howitzers.
An ammunition depot of the AFU 66th Mechanised Brigade was wiped out close to Petrovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces in close co-operation with aviation and artillery repelled six attacks by AFU assault detachments near Bogdanovka, Andreevka, Mayorsk, and Avdievka (Donetsk People's Republic).
In Donetsk direction, up to 365 Ukrainian troops, three U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured personnel carriers, 32 motor vehicles, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery howitzer, as well as 152mm D-20 and 122mm D-30 howitzers, have been neutralised.
An ammunition depot of the AFU 54th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed close to Veseloye (Donetsk People's Republic).
In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled five attacks by the AFU 82nd Air Assault Brigade close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).
Up to 85 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery howitzer, one Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicle, as well as three 122mm D-30 howitzers, have been destroyed.
Moreover, an ammunition depot of the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade was destroyed close to Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).
In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled two attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 67rd Mechanised Brigade close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).
During the day, the enemy's losses in this direction have amounted to 55 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, as well as 152mm Msta-B and 122mm D-30 howitzers.
In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces delivered strikes at AFU manpower and hardware clusters near Staromayorskoye and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
Up to 100 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, two Msta-B howitzers, as well as one U.S.-made M119 howitzer have been neutralised during the day.
Two ammunition depots of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade have been destroyed close to Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic).
In Kherson direction, up to 20 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, as well as two 122mm D-30 howitzers, have been neutralised.
An ammunition depot of the 121th Territorial Defence Brigade has been wiped out close to Mikhailovka (Kherson region).
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 128 areas during the day.
One Ukrainian S-200 surface-to-air missile system has been neutralised near Slavyansk (Donetsk People's Republic).
A command post and a military field training camp of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade were eliminated close to Ugledar and Selidovo (Donetsk People's Republic).
Air defence forces shot down two HIMARS MLRS shells, two JDAM guided bombs, and two HARM anti-radiation missiles during the day.
Furthermore, during the day, 32 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, including Tu-141 Strizh, were intercepted over the settlements of Kovalevka, Golikovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Soledar, Blagodatnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Mirnoye, Novoukrainka, Tokmak (Zaporozhye region), and Obryvka (Kherson region).
In total, 466 airplanes and 247 helicopters, 6,266 unmanned aerial vehicles, 434 air defence missile systems, 11,578 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,147 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 6,145 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,570 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
#1
Eventually Putin is going to leave Russia defenseless. We in the west are watching our longest term strategic enemy destroy itself on the petard of Ukraine:
23:57 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 08/31/2023 to 00:00 09/01/2023
Over the past day, the Representation reported 44 facts of firing by the AFU.
Over the past day, information was received about the wounding of 10 civilians in the Kirovsky district of Donetsk, Ol'ginka, Blagoveshchenka.
Six housing constructions were damaged in Kievsky, Kirovsky districts of Donetsk, Nikitovsky district of Gorlovka.
Damage to civil infrastructure facilities was not recorded.
Under enemy fire were areas of six settlements of the Republic: Gorlovka (Nikitovsky district), Yasinovatsky district, the capital city of Donetsk (Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky, Kievsky, Petrovsky districts), Makeevka (Chervonogvardeysky district), Aleksandrovka, Luganskoye, Ol'ginka.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy made 38 attacks from MLRS (incendiary), 155mm artillery, incl. with a cluster warhead.
On Gorlovsky One artillery attack from 122mm artillery.
On Yasinovatsky Four artillery attacks from 155mm artillery.
On Volnovakhsky One artillery attack from 155mm artillery.
Having fired 138 units of various ammunition.
In the previous day, 78 artillery attacks were recorded from the side of the VFU.
21:50 The work of TOS-1A on the accumulation of Vushniks and mercenaries in the Kherson region -video.
21:20 At the turn of Rabotino-Verbove continue active combat. Today, the main onslaught of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was directed to the line of heights in the Verbovoye area. In our today's analysis, we examined why it will be very difficult to move on without taking this milestone. Also, the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out attacks in the direction of Verbovoye himself, at the moment without much success.
Today, assault groups of the 46th and 82nd Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine operate in this direction. The information was confirmed that units of the 118th Brigade were sent to help them.
This indicates significant losses. More active attacks can be expected in the near future. The Armed Forces of Ukraine actively use cluster munitions, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are engaged in counterbattery combat. The intensity of the fighting in Rabotino has decreased significantly, the fighting is less intense.
We continue to monitor the development of the situation.
20:40 Topographic realities of battles near Verbovoye:
Since today the main offensive vector of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has shifted towards Verbovoye, we decided to analyze the topographical realities of this area.
The attached map shows that today the Armed Forces of Ukraine are advancing mainly in the lowland, while Verbove itself lies in the lowland. The ruling nearest heights are on the line to the south. Without control over them, the situation in this area for the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be similar to Rabotino, fighting in the lowlands against the backdrop of the constant work of artillery from the heights.
That is why they are now trying to attack in this direction. And if these attacks are not successful, then it will be very difficult to move forward.
20:20 Zaporozhye direction. Broken NATO equipment handed over to the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
19:45 Three Leopards and two Bradleys -boot your scouts:
The deputy commander of the reconnaissance platoon with the call sign "Wind" spoke about the combat work of his unit in the Zaporozhye direction.
“We are engaged in the calculation of enemy artillery outputs, the collection of information and observational actions. That is, we are conducting intelligence work, ”the soldier shares.
In the course of carrying out combat missions, reconnaissance officers closely cooperate with unmanned aircraft crews, which, according to the reconnaissance platoon commander, are of great help.
“Sometimes we reach the enemy at a distance of 200 to 500 meters to make sure and make sure. It all depends on the situation, on the terrain, on the weather conditions. Nature helps us a lot,” adds the scout.
Thanks to the competent actions of the platoon commander with the call sign "Wind" and his subordinates, a few days ago, two units of Leopard tanks and three units of Bradley infantry fighting vehicles were detected in the Zaporozhye direction. All of them were destroyed.
“I would like to wish the people of Russia patience! God loves Russia, he will not leave us! Victory will surely be ours!” - the soldier is sure.
19:05 Russian Army continues to advance on the Artyomovsky direction - the front on August 31
In the Artyomovsk direction, our troops are seizing the initiative - the forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have significantly weakened.
Russian fighters continue their counteroffensive in the Kleshcheevka area and were able to push the enemy back for several kilometers. Thus, the Russian soldiers returned some of the positions they had lost earlier.
In addition, our soldiers counterattacked in the region of Kurdyumovka, Ozaryanovka and Bogdanovka.
In the Zaporozhye direction, the enemy continues to “meat assaults” in the Rabotino area: after a massive artillery attack of our positions, the Armed Forces of Ukraine tried to attack bypassing them, but our guys continue to work on them with the support of aviation.
The enemy stepped up their operations in the Verbovoy area, but all in vain - our guys did not flinch.
In the Kupyansk direction, Russian fighters advanced in the area of Sin'kovka and Petropavlovka - there our fighters take up new positions and consolidate their success.
18:35 Armed Forces of the Russian Federation provided safe conduct of the next rotation of observers of the mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency at the Zaporozhye NPP.
To do this, within a radius of one kilometer from the designated crossing point for observers - the destroyed bridge near the settlement. Vasil'ievka, a ceasefire was declared, strictly observed by the Russian military.
During the transition, the Ukrainian side made an attempt to discredit the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, as a guarantor of the security of the rotation, by using means simulating ammunition explosions on the route of the inspectors.
Despite the provocation staged by the Ukrainians, the Russian servicemen were able to ensure the safe passage of the mission's observers and their delivery to the station.
The mission consists of five inspectors, their task is to monitor and assess the state of safety of the Zaporizhzhya NPP. IAEA experts have been present at ZNPP since September 1, 2022 after the first visit of the Agency Director General Rafael Grossi to the plant.
18:15 What are we fighting for? For our ancestral lands, for justice, for not artillery attack the civilian population, for ensuring that children do not die ... And of course, for Memory! For the memory of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers, the Vyruss have nothing sacred left for a long time. They have deprived themselves of the memory of their ancestors and are fighting even with the dead, sparing no rounds even on monuments and mass graves...Videofilmed in Zaporozhye region.
17:25 Lancet “The Brave” smashed disguised in a forest belt near Kremennaya 122mm BM-21 BM-21 "Grad":
Ukrainian militants were artillery attack our positions with rocket artillery and were spotted by a drone. Having worked, the militants camouflaged the installation in the forest belt. It was there that our loitering ammunition flew in.
17:00 Far East smash enemy in the South-Donetsk direction
The crews of the T-80BVM tanks of the Vostok group, advancing to the line of opening fire, work out aiming at previously identified targets.
Adjustment of the fire of combat vehicles is carried out with the help of unmanned aerial vehicles.
16:25 Kherson direction situation as of 16.00 August 31, 2023
A very curious situation is developing on the islands southwest of Kherson: Ukrainian formations have been artillery attack the island of Nestryga from mortars and artillery for several days.
And since this happens, it turns out that Russian troops are either trying to gain a foothold, or are already on the island. And in this situation, control over the islands of Belogrudy and Maly Belogrudy is also with the RF Armed Forces.
And to the east, the situation is less pleasant: a DRG consisting of seven people was again deployed to the Antonovsky Bridge, which indicates the presence of a bridgehead on the left bank. They were hit by artillery, but the results are unknown.
Also, assault detachments of the 126th Brigade of the territorial defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to gain a foothold on the left bank northeast of Podstepne. The TRO forces are setting up positions and preparing to attack.
The command of the Ukrainian group in the direction plans to storm the borders of the Russian Armed Forces, using the bridgehead on the left bank, as well as landing on the right side, where units of the 131st reconnaissance battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are already actively preparing.
To reinforce 131 Separate Reconnaissance Battalion in the vicinity of Tokarevka, assault groups of 121 troop units with a total strength of up to 120 people were deployed. Together with 131 Separate Reconnaissance Battalion, they are planned to be used to attack Korsunka.
16:00 Statement of officer of the press center of the group "West":
In the Kupyansk direction, units of the "Western" group of forces in the course of active operations with the support of aviation and artillery fire improved the position along the front line.
During the past 24 hours, five counterattacks of the assault detachments of the 68th Jaeger, 32nd and 43rd Mechanized Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled in the areas of the settlements of Sergeevka and Novogorovka of the Luhansk People's Republic.
Enemy losses amounted to 50 Ukrainian servicemen, two vehicles, a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery mount, and two 152mm D-20 howitzers.
Also, an ammunition depot of the 66th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed near the settlement of Petrivske in the Luhansk People's Republic.
15:30 Orekhovsky area situation as of 15.00 August 31, 2023:
In the afternoon of yesterday, two assault groups of the 15th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine conducted reconnaissance in force northwest of Verbove with the support of artillery and two Su-25 attack aircraft.
The attacks were repulsed, but after a couple of hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine began a massive artillery attack of the forward positions of Russian troops in Verbove and its environs. After the artillery preparation, the Armed Forces of Ukraine went on the offensive again.
With the forces of four assault detachments of the 82nd Airborne Brigade and 46th Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the enemy again attacked the strongholds of the RF Armed Forces, operating from the Chubenkovo Balka area. Artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which was recently supplied with a batch of cluster munitions, supported the attackers with fire.
At the moment, the attacks have been repulsed, and the Ukrainian paratroopers again suffered losses and retreated to their original positions. Due to the lack of forces in the assault groups from Malaya Tokmachka, formations of 118 Separate Mechanized Brigade, which were in reserve, were moved to the area west of Verbovoye.
Now the Ukrainian command intends to concentrate its efforts on enveloping Verbovoye from the west and reaching the flank of Russian troops to block supply routes in the village.
13:45 Statement of head of the press center of the Vostok group:
In the South-Donetsk direction, the advanced units of the group of forces "Vostok" repelled an attack by an enemy infantry group in the direction of Priyutnoye. Manpower destroyed, several militants surrendered.
Rocket and cannon artillery destroyed an ammunition depot, a temporary deployment point for militants, and also suppressed the activities of a sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Urozhayny area.
Trucks with ammunition were destroyed in the Prechistovka area, an electronic warfare station in the area northeast of Ravnopol, and a temporary deployment point for militants in Novomikhailovka.
During a counterbattery fight, a 152mm D-20 towed howitzer was destroyed in Velikaya Novoselka.
Calculations of heavy flamethrower systems "Solntsepek" hit enemy strongholds west of Staromayorsky.
Attack UAVs destroyed a towed M119 howitzer northeast of Novodonetsk.
Bomber, attack and army aviation hit the places of accumulation of manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Staromayorsky and Urozhayny.
The servicemen of the Vostok group of troops show courage and professionalism in the performance of combat missions.
The commander of the artillery gun of the tank brigade of the group, junior sergeant Andrey Spiridonov, as part of the unit, performed the tasks of engaging manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as adjusting fire in one of the sectors of the South-Donetsk direction.
So, during one of the battles, the personnel under the command of junior sergeant Spiridonov, despite the continuous fire impact of the enemy, managed to accurately hit several artillery pieces of the Ukrainian troops in a short time and destroy over 10 nationalists.
13:15 Ministry of Defense Russia:
At about 12:00 Moscow time, another attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by an aircraft-type UAV on objects in the Russian Federation was thwarted.
A Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle was destroyed over the territory of the Bryansk region by means of air defense on duty.
12:50 Short:
Kleshcheevka is under our control.
Rabotino is a gray area.
12:30 Statement of head of the press center of the group "Center":
In the areas of the Yampolovsky section and the Serebryansky forest in the Krasnolimansky direction, the actions of the units of the group of troops "Center", air strikes and artillery fire repulsed the attacks of the assault groups of the 21st and 63rd Mechanized Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov".
Enemy losses amounted to more than 60 Ukrainian servicemen, an infantry fighting vehicle, an armored fighting vehicle and two Pickup vehicles were destroyed, two Leleka-100 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down.
In addition, during the counterbattery fight, about 30 artillery positions of Ukrainian nationalists were opened and suppressed. The 152mm Msta-B howitzer with combat crew was also destroyed.
12:00 Situation on Zaporozhye direction at 10:00
n.p. Rabotino - the enemy landed and sat down in the forest sheds, they deal with him there, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are expanding pressure to the east towards Verbovoye, but they did not take Rabotino, the southern outskirts are under the control of the RF Armed Forces.
Over the past week, the enemy has ceased to actively attack - gasoline is running out.
The X-vods of the Airborne Forces opened and destroyed the M777 howitzer.
11:30 Statement of officer of the press center of the group "West":
In the Kupyansk direction, the advanced units of the West grouping of troops repelled six enemy counterattacks with forces up to a reinforced platoon each, supported by tanks and artillery from the 43 Separate Mechanized Brigade, 68 Separate Jaeger Brigade and 25 Airborne Brigade.
Assault and army aviation of the group "West" inflicted 15 strikes on the personnel and military equipment of the enemy.
In the course of counterbattery fire, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems destroyed three mortar crews in the area of the settlement. Novogorovka, Kulagovka, Tabaevka and Stelmakhovka.
Air defense systems destroyed two UAVs Sinitsa and Leleka-100 in the area of Sofiyivka and Zhiglovka.
The total losses of the enemy amounted to two platoons of personnel.
11:00 Russian Ministry of Defense: August 31 this year around 10.00 Moscow time.stoppedanother attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by an aircraft-type UAV on objects on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The unmanned aerial vehicle was destroyed by air defense forces on duty over the territory of the Bryansk region.
10:30 Statement of head of the press center of the Dnepr grouping:
Over the past 24 hours, units of the Dnepr group of troops hit the temporary deployment points of Ukrainian nationalists in the area of the settlement of Veletenskoye, and also identified and destroyed the positions of artillery pieces 122mm D-30 and 122mm MLRS BM-21 "Grad" in the area of bthe settlements of Kizomys and Goncharnoye. The irretrievable losses of the enemy in manpower amounted to more than 15 people.
In addition, in the area of the settlements of Sadovoye and Zelenovka, operators of the Lancet loitering ammunition of the group destroyed the command post for unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and an American-made M777 howitzer.
10:00 Chronicle of special military operation: events of August 30, 2023:
The Armed Forces of Ukraine again tried to inflict massive strikes with kamikaze drones on the rear regions of Russia.
In Bryansk, all enemy devices were intercepted: the building of the Kremniy EL plant and the building of the investigative committee were damaged by debris.
The military-civilian airfield in Pskov was subjected to the most massive raid.
Russian air defense systems neutralized most of the drones, but the remaining ones managed to damage four Il-76 military transport aircraft.
In turn, Russian troops delivered combined strikes against military targets in several regions of Ukraine.
In Kyiv, explosions thundered in the Fastovsky, Buchansky, Shevchenkovsky and Darnitsky districts.
Ukrainian formations launched massive attacks on the settlements of Donbass.
In Donetsk and its suburbs, multi-storey residential buildings and civil infrastructure were damaged. One person was killed and at least nine others were injured.
In the Vremievsky sector, due to the losses incurred, the Ukrainian formations were forced to reduce their offensive activity.
Taking advantage of the lack of initiative of the enemy, Russian troops expanded the zone of control to the west of Staromayorsky.
On the Orekhovsky sector, Ukrainian units were able to slightly advance northwest of Verbovoye.
Nevertheless, the statements of Western journalists about the breakthrough of the first line of defense of the Russian troops do not correspond to reality.
Russian crews of naval aviation opened and stopped another enemy attempt to land on the Crimean peninsula.
In addition, several enemy high-speed boats with landing forces were destroyed east of Zmeiny Island.
09:17 Tanks T-72B3 direct fire destroy the enemy in the Kupyansky direction -video
The platoon commander with the call sign “Pyramid” talks about the importance of mutual understanding in the combat work of tankers: “The crew must be well-coordinated. They should be not just friends, comrades. They should be a family and think like one machine – work together as one mechanism.”
09:12 Russian motorized riflemen repulsed the attack of superior enemy forces and destroyed several armored vehicles in the Orekhovskoye direction -video
For this, the fighters received well-deserved awards.
The commander of the unit that accepted the battle says this about the exploits of his subordinates: “You have to be a man in your soul, brave, courageous, go to the aid of others. That's probably what heroism is."
08:25 Summary on morning of August 31, 2023
During the night, there were reports of explosions in Ukrainian-controlled Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. A powerful explosion thundered in Odessa. Long-range artillery hit Kupyansk and the border regions of the Khar'kov region, where the enemy was concentrating forces.
In the Kherson direction, the enemy occupied a section of our bank of the river. Dnieper north-west of the settlement Podstepnoye, organizes the supply of the landing group, plans to transfer mortar crews. Fighting continues on the islands.
On the Zaporizhia Front, the main hostilities took place on the Rabotino line (the Russian Armed Forces control the southern part) - Verbove, to which the enemy forces approached. The intensity of the fighting changed throughout the day.
In the Vremevsky direction near Urozhaynoye, the enemy bombards our positions with cluster munitions, reports of our artillery fire of less intensity.
Near Ugledar, in the area of dachas near Nikolsky, our marines of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade recaptured several strongholds.
South of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut), the Russian Armed Forces report that, as a result of heavy fighting, they recaptured several heights near Kleshcheevka, but the enemy is undertaking daily attacks on the settlement.
By nightfall, a Soviet UAV "Strizh" loaded with explosives by the Armed Forces of Ukraine was shot down over the Crimea. Since 7:00 a.m., six UAVs have been shot down over the Bryansk region. New Tavolzhanka shelled in the Belgorod region.
In the western part of the Black Sea, the aviation of the Russian Armed Forces, with varying success, is fighting against the enemy’s high-speed small watercraft with personnel on board: the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of several surface targets last night and during the day. In the DPR, a civilian died from the fire of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 15 were injured, under fire Svetlodarsk, Gorlovka, Yasinovataya, Yasinovatsky district, Donetsk, Makeevka, Yelenovka, Blagodatnoye, Vladimirovka.
08:09 Frontline summary on the morning of 08/31/2023
In the Zaporozhye direction, Ukrainian troops, after massive shelling, attacked bypassing the village of Rabotino to Novoprokopovka and from the west to Verbove. There is progress on the second section. The RF Armed Forces hold the defense on the outskirts of the settlement. Russian troops attacked the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Orekhovo, Novodanilovka, Malaya Tokmachka and Belogorye. Ukrainian troops shelled Nesteryanka, Kopani and Novopokrovka.On the Donetsk front, the RF Armed Forces, after artillery preparation, attacked near Novomikhailovka. And with additional aviation support, they conducted assault operations in Marinka. No success. Under shelling, the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Yekaterinovka, Ostrom, the city of Krasnogorovka, Nevel'sky, Karlovka, Avdievka, Stepnoy (not to be confused with the settlements of the same name in the Zaporozhye and Ugledarsky directions), Novokalinovo, Keramika, Yuzhny and Druzhba. Ukrainian artillery worked in Donetsk, Yasinovataya and Gorlovka.
In the Bakhmut direction, Russian troops counterattacked near Ozaryanovka, Kurdyumovka and in the Bogdanovka area. Ukrainian positions in Stupochki, Orekhovo-Vasil'yevka, Min'kovka, Fedorovka, Razdolovka and Sporny are under shelling. Russian - in Ozaryanovka, Kurdyumovka, Andreevka, Kleshcheevka, Bakhmut and Zheleznyansky.
In the Lugansk direction, with the support of artillery and aviation, the RF Armed Forces launched an offensive against Belogorovka and Novoegorovka. Under the blows of Ukrainian troops in the settlements of Nadia, Pervomaiskoye, Berestovoe, Krakhmal'noye, Tabaevka, Kotlyarovka, Kislovka, Peschanoye and Kurilovka.
by Gevorg Mirzayan
The Ukrainian offensive continues on the spot. Every day the troops of the Kyiv regime try to attack Russian positions in the Zaporozhye region, and every day the main result of these attacks is a new batch of destroyed equipment and dead soldiers. Ukrainian equipment and Ukrainian soldiers. If suddenly, now, when new units are thrown into the assault on the last hope, Kiev manages to achieve some tactical successes, then even Ukrainian propaganda will not be able to turn them into achieving the strategic goals of the offensive (which, we recall, were access to the Crimea and the Sea of Azov).
And the failure of the offensive is fraught with a colossal number of problems. Both foreign policy (the need to explain to external sponsors about where the weapons collected from European bottomholes went) and domestic political (the loss of faith in victory by the Ukrainian population and, accordingly, a sharp decrease in enthusiasm to go to the mobilization front).
And all these problems arise against the backdrop of rumors that Russian units will go on the offensive in the very near future. They will liberate new cities and thereby not only exacerbate problems for the Kyiv regime, but also put it on the brink of survival. After all, Zelensky and his entourage can only survive if they win or continue the struggle, which means they need to somehow ensure this.
And, apparently, the Kiev regime has already found a way to survive - at the expense of the death of others. The recent statements by the head of the presidential office, Mikhail Podolyak (“today there is already an absolute consensus that we can destroy everything Russian, for example, in Crimea” ) and a massive drone attack on the Pskov airfield (which a number of media outlets are trying to present as an attack from the territory of the Baltic states) are aimed at something to create the impression that the Western countries are ready to get directly involved in the NWO. as parties to the conflict.
Yes, Ukraine has tried to achieve this involvement before. Yes, she had like-minded people in Europe (the same Baltic states, the British) who supported a more active involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. However, the lion's share of Western states - primarily the United States - were against it. They believed that it was too risky to use the western territory for strikes against Russia or to bring Western troops into territories that, according to the Russian Constitution, are Russian (that is, into the part of Zaporozhye, Kherson, Donbass occupied by Kiev), which automatically makes them direct participants in the war against Russia. A war that is very likely to acquire a nuclear flavor.
However, now the attitude of the West to Ukrainian requests may change, and the reason for this was the very failed Ukrainian offensive. The United States and the EU, we recall, were very hopeful of this offensive: they believed that it would help end the conflict on Western terms. Of course, no one expected the Kyiv troops to capture Moscow or even Sevastopol, but the West expected a serious defeat for the Russian troops in Zaporozhye. He was waiting for an exit to the Sea of Azov, he was waiting for a state of shock in the Kremlin, he was waiting for a sharp increase in sentiment from the series “it is urgent to make peace before it’s too late” and he hoped to get a compromise option for completing the NWO on Ukrainian-Western terms. With the exit from this conflict in the status of an undisputed winner.
It turned out the opposite. Kyiv burned a huge amount of reserves, lost a significant part of Western equipment. The victorious veil received after the successes in the Khar'kov and Kherson regions at the end of 2022 finally disappeared, and everyone again realized that Russia, which is many times superior to Ukraine in terms of economic, mobilization, industrial and military potential, is a clear favorite in the current “war on exhaustion."
And here the West faces a difficult choice. It is impossible to compromise with Moscow on Russian terms — this will be perceived not only as a defeat for the collective West (which will instill courage and even a sense of impunity in the hearts of Iranian, Chinese, North Korean leaders), but also as a failure of specific Western leaders. Some of whom, in particular President Joseph Biden, will go to the polls in 2024. And he does not want to answer the question of why the United States spent tens, hundreds of billions of American taxpayer dollars to help the Kyiv regime and ended up in the status of losers.
On the other hand, it is also impossible to continue the war of attrition without Russian defeats. Despite all the troubles (Prigozhin's rebellion, fluctuations in the ruble exchange rate), Russian society and a significant part of the Russian elites remain ready to go to victory. The behavior of the Kyiv regime (the same nuclear terrorism) only strengthens support for the SVO in the eyes of the Russians. On the other hand, in the West, the level of support for the war is falling - in the United States, the number of citizens opposing increased support for Ukraine has exceeded 50%. As a result, a war of attrition will also lead to a Russian victory, even if delayed.
In fact, the West has only one chance to emerge from the situation as a living winner - to continue to try to convince Russia to agree to a freeze on the conflict on Western terms. Yes, it didn’t work out through a shock defeat, so you need to look for other ways. Moreover, you need to search quickly - the conviction must take place before the start of the Russian offensive. That is already this autumn-winter.
And here the Ukrainians come with their cunning plan. They suggest trying to play Erdogan with Putin. That is, to demonstrate a willingness to raise the stakes — to let the Russian leadership know that the West is ready to cast aside all fears and get directly involved in the conflict. Simply because Putin left them no other choice. And then, they say, Russia will give in and agree to a compromise.
The logic of Kyiv, of course, is impeccable. If the Russian government folds, the Zelensky regime ensures its continued existence. If it does not save, then the West again finds itself in a fork - ultimatums must be fulfilled, otherwise those who put them up are worthless. This means that Biden and the company will be convinced that they still need to send troops, otherwise Western countries will no longer be respected.
The question is, how will Western countries act now? Will they follow the lead of the Ukrainian two-move or will they finally understand that the Ukrainian tail should not be twirled like a Western dog?
Text taken from the V Kontakte page of Russian military correspondent Aleksandr Sladkov.
American military expert Ryan McBeth made a video about seven things the Russian military does well during the NWO. But before proceeding to the analysis of the opinion of this expert, it is necessary to say a few words about who he is.
Macbeth is a former US Army soldier, where he served in the Enemy Simulation Battalion. This is a man who professionally engaged in exactly one thing throughout his entire service - he studied the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, our strengths and weaknesses, tactics of action and the state of our army.
So, according to Ryan Macbeth, in the course of the NWO we are good at:
- the production of weapons. We were able to overcome painful sanctions and set up the production and purchase of the necessary, taking into account the high unpredictable costs of all types of BC.
- recruitment. They were able to carry out partial mobilization, to attract many more volunteers than they thought in the West, including recruitment among prisoners. We are running new recruitment campaigns.
- artillery. We were able to maintain the saturation of the troops with artillery, despite the attacks on our rear, began to massively use UAVs, increased the accuracy of fire, and control fire well.
- electronic warfare. Bayraktars were crushed, we are jamming navigation for HIMARS and JDAM.
- Air defense. Here we are strong at all distances, traditionally since the Cold War, when NATO relied on aviation,
we have developed ground-based air defense.
- air superiority. Despite the heavy losses of the first days of the NWO, they were able to find opportunities and effectively use the Air Force. Macbeth especially praises the Kinzhal missile strikes with the MIG31k and the performance of the KA-52 helicopters.
- information war. Here we must understand that Macbeth is referring to our individual successes in propaganda in the West, and not the information war in Ukraine.
Macbeth believes that in general we do well what depends on the officer. And we do poorly where competent sergeants are needed. For those who do not understand: he explains that our sergeants are, by American standards, junior staff. But where the average sergeant should come into play, we actually don’t have this.
According to Macbeth, we are an officer-centric army. Macbeth cites himself as an example: he rose to the rank of E-7 (platoon sergeant), but spent some time as a first sergeant. In the American army, the lieutenant, platoon leader work as a head, and the platoon sergeant deals with other issues. Macbeth gives two comparisons: the lieutenant is mom, and the sergeant is dad. Or, if you compare with Burger King, the sergeant is the manager, and the lieutenant is the director.
Moreover, it is not only about the internal affairs of the platoon, the sergeants have their own system, a lot is decided in the working order between the platoons within the battalion without the participation of the officers. And these are not just reputable experienced soldiers, each time after the E-5 class, with an increase, additional training is required, not counting those already passed. These are assistant commanders, and professionals in their specialties - this is what on what, in the American opinion, the army rests. And we don't have it.
Where we can put a competent officer and solve technical issues, we show ourselves well. Actually, this is how he explains our successes in the technical branches of the armed forces: Air Force, Air Defense, Electronic Warfare, Artillery. The analogy is clear, a competent engineer can work well on a single installation and with workers of an average level. But on earth, where everything depends on each soldier, and where a platoon in the infantry must command, but he cannot directly control each one, we lack professionals, especially the average level!
[RT] The administration of US President Joe Biden "misunderstands" Russians if it expects economic sanctions and frontline losses to erode support for President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has claimed.
The focus of Western politics is on "how to provide more freedom to the people," Funny thing, these "freedoms" always benefit some small and exclusive group at the expence of the bulk of the population.
while for Russians the top priority is national unity, Orban told US journalist Tucker Carlson in an interview published on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
"This creates a kind of military approach [by Russia]... always on security, safety, buffer zone, geopolitical approaches," the Hungarian prime minister explained, arguing that this attitude was "legitimate" considering Russia’s history.
"They misunderstand the Russians," Orban said of the US leadership. "It is a difficult thing, especially when you have an ocean between you and Russia." If only it was just the Russians!
Posted by: Grom the Reflective ||
09/01/2023 00:00 ||
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Biden doesn't understand much of anybody, unless the pay him off. Then he understands.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
09/01/2023 15:51 Comments ||
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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.
