[Phys] When it comes to saber-rattling, few countries employ it as much as Russia does. During their ongoing invasion and occupation of Ukraine, the country's leadership has repeatedly threatened to use atomic weapons. But the threats don't stop there.
A private company called Slingshot Aerospace says Russia has maneuvered one of their Luch satellites uncomfortably close to Western spacecraft in GEO (geostationary orbit.)
And it's not the first time.
The satellite in question is named Luch (Olymp) 2 and its Norad ID is 55841. Russia launched it in March of 2023, and it's a successor to Luch (Olymp) Norad ID 40258. The naming conventions are a little confusing, but Luch 1 was a well-known interloper. Russia launched it in 2014 and maneuvered it close to other nations' satellites on different occasions. American company Intelsat was not happy when the Luch came within 10 km of their space vehicles. They reached out for an explanation, but Russia remained tight-lipped about the maneuver.
Now Luch (Olymp) 2 is following in its predecessor's footsteps. Slingshot Aerospace is a start-up that uses algorithms and AI to track satellites. In early September their detection algorithms revealed that the satellite had initiated a new maneuver. The Russian satellite performed numerous approaches to other satellites, and by October 5th it had slowed considerably and appeared to be 'parking' within 60 km of another satellite.
Slingshot's Global Sensor Network verified the detection, and also projected close approaches to another satellite at ~16 km.
List of a number of Russia’s similar actions at the link.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:32 The Welsh Parliament recognized the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian embassy in Britain reported.
21:48 According to various sources, several hundred Russian citizens are fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and their number is growing every day. More details in the material Plus one battalion .
21:07 In the United States, on the fourth attempt, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, known for supporting Trump and criticizing aid to Ukraine, was elected.
21:04 Germany will allocate an additional 195 million euros to support Ukraine’s energy sector, said the country’s Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze. About half of the amount will go to protecting energy infrastructure ahead of winter and restoring the damaged power grid.
20:49 Zaluzhny said that he carried out work at one of the control points of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: “We discussed key issues related to strengthening air defense, the use of aviation weapons and covering critical infrastructure facilities in the autumn-winter period with the Chief of the General Staff and the Commander of the Air Force.” .
20:43 The Russians hit a residential building in Berislav, Kherson region, killing a 13-year-old child, said the head of the OVA, Alexander Prokudin.
20:08 The US Air Force reported that Ukrainian pilots have begun training on F-16 fighter jets at an air base in Arizona.
20:05 Zelensky said in an evening video message that at night Russia tried to attack the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant with drones. The UAVs were shot down, but many houses were damaged, and “two dozen local residents were injured.”
“This strike in the direction of the nuclear power plant is another reminder to all our partners of how important it is to strengthen Ukrainian air defense and how dangerous it is when Russia can bypass global sanctions. Many components in the attack drones used by Russian terrorists and in missiles originate from other countries , from various companies, including Western companies. Sanctions against Russia are literally protection against terrorism," the president emphasized.
He said that tomorrow he will take part in a meeting of the European Council at the level of leaders of EU states and will talk, among other things, about expanding and strengthening sanctions against the Russian Federation.
19:56 Night explosions near the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant did not directly affect its operation, but this “once again emphasizes the extremely unstable situation with nuclear safety in Ukraine,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. Agency experts said that two explosions occurred in the morning, and subsequently they were informed that two drones had been shot down approximately 5 and 20 km from the station.
19:53 The Kharkov OVA is preparing a decision on the forced evacuation of families with children from ten settlements of the Kupyanskaya, Kondrashevskaya and Kurilovskaya communities of the Kupyansky district, said the head of the OVA, Oleg Sinegubov. According to him, there are 275 children there. Children may be evacuated with at least one parent or other guardian. The regional administration also recommends that civilians, especially families with children, evacuate from the Borovskaya community of the Izyum district, including Borovaya. Now 8,900 people live there, including 844 children.
19:39 Strategic nuclear forces exercises took place in Russia under the personal leadership of Putin. Shoigu reported to the head of the Kremlin that the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation practiced a massive nuclear strike in response to an enemy nuclear strike during exercises.
19:22 In Donetsk, on Revyakina Street, on the night of October 23, a Russian ammunition warehouse was destroyed, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense reported. The weapons base belonged to the 110th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st Army Corps of the Russian Federation, which is now involved in assault operations in the Avdeevka area. It was destroyed by a high-precision weapon.
19:14 The Ministry of Defense has approved several new models of UAVs for operation at once, said Minister for Strategic Industries Alexander Kamyshin. According to him, this happened for the first time thanks to a new scheme for simplified admission of innovations to the battlefield within a few days. “What had previously been slow for months has started working according to a fast and transparent algorithm,” the minister emphasized and assured that “there will be more drones.”
19:03 The Russian corporation Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau, which produces Iskander and Kinzhal missiles, receives the necessary components from Poland, Germany, Lithuania and the USA from contractors, The Insider writes. Despite the sanctions, missile production in the Russian Federation has exceeded pre-war levels. Russia receives many sanctioned goods through third countries: for example, imports of semiconductors, microcircuits and other technologies from Kazakhstan, the UAE, Turkey, and China have increased.
18:20 The United States may today announce a new aid package for Ukraine worth $150 million, Voice of America reports, citing three American officials. The package is expected to include additional GMLRS missiles for HIMARS, ammunition for NASAMS, TOW anti-tank missiles, AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and 155mm shells.
17:46 Medvedev claims that more than 1,600 people enter into contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense every day, and since the beginning of the year, 385 thousand people have been recruited into the army, of which 300 thousand are under contract and 85 thousand are “volunteers”. Also, according to the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, next year Russia allegedly plans to form a new army corps, seven divisions, 19 brigades, 49 regiments and one flotilla.
17:10 President of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova approved a new government headed by Robert Fico, who opposes aid to Ukraine. In key positions for Ukraine in the new government were officials who were unfavorable to supporting Kyiv. In particular, Yuri Blanar became the head of the Foreign Ministry, who called the war against Ukraine “a conflict between Russia and the United States,” argued that Kyiv was “fighting against its own people,” and opposed the transfer of weapons to Ukraine.
16:07 The Russian Army is regrouping in the Avdiivka direction, said Alexander Shtupun, spokesman for the Tauride Defense Forces: “The enemy is regrouping because he suffered almost 3,000 losses in the Donetsk region in the last week alone. Even for Russia this is quite noticeable, and the enemy needs to regroup, to try to move on."
15:32 Ukraine and Russia are negotiating on a number of issues during the war, The Washington Post writes, citing sources. In particular, the parties continue to communicate regarding the exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of dead soldiers, the passage of ships from Black Sea ports and the return home of Ukrainian children.
In some cases, mediators are used, including Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the Vatican and the International Committee of the Red Cross. However, most of the negotiations are carried out directly, by individual representatives, including during "tough and unpleasant personal meetings" on the Ukrainian-Russian border and in Istanbul, as well as telephone calls.
"This is very, very emotionally difficult. They are enemies, but if we talk about the negotiation process, then this conflict of interests must be overcome. We understand that no matter what happens, no matter what relations we have now, we, Ukrainians, are interested in returning our defenders, and if we reject all communication channels, we will not be able to do this,” Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Dmitry Usov, who heads the coordination center for the exchange of prisoners of war, told the newspaper.
14:49 By the end of the year, Ukraine will begin producing “tens of thousands” of drones per month, said Minister for Strategic Industries Alexander Kamyshin. According to him, now “we produce them in the thousands.” The minister noted that this area is growing in Ukraine “even faster than ammunition and military weapons.”
Kamyshin also announced a significant increase in the production of shells: “As for the capabilities of the domestic defense industry, we are growing significantly. And if we talk, for example, about shells, now we are producing many times more of them than in the entire last year. But this is in any case far enough from what we need."
14:18 Members of the European Parliament will put pressure on EU countries to transfer military equipment seized from Libya to Ukraine, Politico writes with reference to the Dutch television program RTL Nieuws. We are talking about 146 armored vehicles confiscated last year during two operations by the EU naval mission IRINI.
13:31 The drones with which the Russians tried to attack Kiev and the region on October 21 and 22 are the new kamikaze attack drone Italmas. Its production code name is Product 54. For more information about what is known about the new UAV, see the article Why Russia is attacking Ukraine .
12:50 Zelensky said that at the daily conference call he received reports on the receipt of equipment, ammunition, new contracts and new geography of supplies. I also heard information about the front: “Kupyansk, Avdeevka - heavy, sticky battles, but our soldiers are holding their positions.”
In addition, the meeting participants discussed preparations for Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. “ This year we will not only defend ourselves, but also respond. The enemy knows this well. First, they removed the fleet from Crimea, and now they are moving their aircraft further away from our borders,” the president emphasized.
12:17 The EU is ready to cover only half of the 2024 budget deficit for Ukraine, said Deputy Minister of Economy Alexey Sobolev. He explained that we are talking about 18 billion euros, which Ukraine planned as a deficit in the draft budget for 2024. However, the European Union is ready to allocate only 9 billion euros to cover it.
11:49 At night, the enemy struck an area near the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant, the Ministry of Energy reported. As a result of the explosion, windows in the administrative and amenity and laboratory buildings were damaged. Due to damage to power lines, 1,860 consumers were de-energized in the cities of Slavuta and Netishin, Khmelnitsky region. Restoration work will begin as soon as power engineers are allowed to the damage site.
11:13 As a result of a morning airstrike on Berislav, Kherson region, one person was killed - a Russian guided bomb hit a residential building, said the head of the Air Force, Alexander Prokudin.
10:48 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will likely arrive in Ukraine in early November - this may indicate that the assessment of Kiev's progress in reforms for EU accession will be positive, writes Radio Liberty's European correspondent Rikard Jozwiak.
10:42 The Siberia battalion is being formed in Ukraine, consisting entirely of Russian citizens who are ready to fight against the Putin regime, writes Bloomberg. Unlike the Russian Freedom Legion and other volunteer formations, the Sibir battalion is part of the regular Ukrainian army. It has already included dozens of Russians, among whom there are many representatives of ethnic minorities - Buryats, Yakuts and others. They had to go to Ukraine through third countries to get into the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The publication writes that all members of the 60-man battalion are volunteers, and there are no former captured Russian soldiers among them. Before signing a contract, citizens of the Russian Federation undergo a thorough check, which can last up to a year.
10:27 Australia announced a new package of military assistance to Ukraine worth $12.7 million. It included, among other things, mine clearance equipment, portable X-ray machines, a 3D metal printer and an anti-drone system.
09:10 At night, the Russians attacked the Kherson region with 13 guided bombs, a Shahed drone and a missile, said the head of the OBA, Alexander Prokudin. A rescue operation is ongoing at the site of one of the hits; there are probably people under the rubble. Over the past 24 hours, four people were wounded as a result of Russian shelling in the region.
09:04 In the city of Slavuta, Khmelnitsky region, as a result of falling UAV debris, 11 apartment buildings and nine private houses, two educational institutions, an administrative building, a store and cars were damaged, the State Emergency Service reported. Also in the cities of Slavuta and Netishin, the premises of the fire and rescue units and the building of the police department were damaged by the blast wave.
08:48 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russian troops recently used for the first time the Italmas drone, which is cheaper than the Shahed, and used it to attack the Kiev region. Italmas is probably produced by the same Russian company that makes Lancet.
08:26 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of October 25:
personnel - about 296,310 (+800) people,
tanks - 5112 (+7),
armored combat vehicles - 9697 (+28),
artillery systems - 7125 (+44),
MLRS - 833 (+5),
air defense systems - 554 (+2),
aircraft - 320 (+0),
helicopters - 324 (+0),
UAV of operational-tactical level - 5372 (+9),
cruise missiles - 1538 (+1),
ships/boats - 20 (+0),
submarines - 1 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 9474 (+27),
special equipment - 1007 (+1).
08:03 Air defense at night shot down all 11 Shahed-type attack UAVs, which Russia attacked from the south-eastern direction (Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Russian Federation), the Air Force command reported. In particular, air defense worked in Cherkasy, Kherson, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytsky and Nikolaev regions.
07:39 In the Avdeevka direction, the enemy is not abandoning attempts to encircle Avdeevka. Over the past 24 hours, the Defense Forces have repulsed more than ten enemy attacks in this direction in the Stepnoy, Avdeevka, Severny, Nevelskoye areas of the Donetsk region, the General Staff reported in its morning report .
In total, about 80 military clashes took place at the front over the past 24 hours. In the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian forces repelled enemy attacks near Sinkovka and Ivanovka, Kharkov region; on Limansky - not far from Nadezhda and Makeevka, Lugansk region; on Bakhmutsky - in the Bogdanovka, Kleshcheevka, Andreevka districts of the Donetsk region; on Maryinsky - in the Marinka and Pobeda districts of the Donetsk region; on Shakhtarsky and Zaporozhye - in the areas of Novomikhailovka, Prechistovka, Staromayorsky, south of Zolotaya Niva in the Donetsk region and southeast of Malaya Tokmachka in the Zaporizhzhya region.
At the same time, the Defense Forces continue their offensive in the Melitopol direction, and had partial success west of Verbovoy, Zaporozhye region. Assault operations are also continuing south of Bakhmut.
07:28 The Russians have been attacking the Khmelnitsky region for the fourth day in a row, said the first deputy head of the OVA, Sergei Tyurin. This night in the Shepetovsky district, debris from downed enemy targets fell on the territory of a critical infrastructure facility. The blast wave damaged non-residential premises, residential buildings and vehicles, injuring 16 people.
The Slavuta community suffered significant damage as a result of the Russian attack, said mayor Vasily Sidor.
05:25 A number of Republicans in the US Congress insist on dividing the aid packages for Israel and Ukraine into separate bills, which reduces Kiev’s chances of receiving money, Politico writes. The Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on Biden's request in a week, according to the newspaper.
05:09 The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that Shoigu allegedly checked the forward command post of the Vostok group of troops in the southern Donetsk direction during a working trip to the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] In the Shepetovsky district, 1,760 objects were damaged as a result of an attack by enemy drones. Most of them are apartment buildings and private houses.
During a night attack by Russian troops in the Shepetovsky district of the Khmelnytsky region, 1,760 infrastructure facilities were damaged. These figures were announced by the first deputy head of the Khmelnytsky Regional Police Department, Sergei Tyurin.
“I want to share with you the first results of the count of damaged objects as a result of the enemy attack that occurred this night in the Shepetovsky district,” he said.
According to him, the total number of damaged objects is 1760. Of these:
apartment buildings - 282,
private – 1404.
There are 74 social infrastructure facilities. Of these:
educational 41,
healthcare sector - 6,
cultural institutions – 14,
two churches.
“As we see, there is a lot of restoration work ahead,” Tyurin concluded, expressing confidence that everything will be rebuilt.
Let us remind you that last night Russian troops attacked the cities of Slavuta and Netishin in the Khmelnitsky region with kamikaze drones Shahed-136, there was damage and casualties. Thus, in Slavuta, as a result of falling UAV debris, 20 civilians were injured and all educational institutions were damaged.
Also damaged were 11 apartment buildings and nine private houses, an administrative building, a store and cars. In addition, the enemy damaged buildings in the city of Netishin, where the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant is located. There, the fire and rescue department and the police department building were damaged by the blast wave. Local residents report that several high-rise buildings were damaged. In addition, the Russians damaged networks near the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant , as a result of which 1,860 consumers in the cities of Slavuta and Netishin were cut off.
Without electricity - Berislav, Tomarino and Dorozhnoe
Alexander Prokudin noted that the Russians shelled the Berislavsky district of the Kherson region.
On Wednesday evening, October 25, Russian occupiers shelled the Berislavsky district in the Kherson region, causing power supply to disappear in three settlements. This was reported by the head of the Kherson regional military administration, Alexander Prokudin, on his Telegram channel.
According to him, Berislav, Tomarino and Shlyakhovo were left without electricity.
“Unfortunately, the power supply cannot be restored until the morning. In the morning, power engineers will begin work to eliminate the faults as soon as possible,” the official noted.
As we already wrote, the day before the Russians struck Belozerka and Kazatsky in the Kherson region, six civilians were injured.
The Russians dropped an aerial bomb on Berislav, there was a dead person.
Article linked to is available only via VPN
[EngMilRu] 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, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled 15 attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 14th, 32nd, 43rd, 54th, and 67th mechanised brigades, as well as 101st Territorial Defence Brigade near Timkovka, Sinkovka (Kharkov region), and Nadiya (Lugansk People's Republic).
Up to 145 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles have been neutralised.
In the course of counterbattery warfare, the Russian troops wiped out one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and two 122mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.
In addition, ammunition depots of the AFU 1st Special Operations Brigade were destroyed close to Volchansk and Ogurtsovo (Kharkov region).
In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopters and artillery repelled three attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 15th National Guard Regiment and 67th Mechanised Brigade close to Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).
Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade near Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
Up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles were eliminated.
In Donetsk direction, units the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled five attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade and 77th Airmobile Brigade close to Kurdyumovka, Andreyevka, Kirovo, and Maloilyinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The Russian units delivered strikes at AFU manpower and hardware close to Krasnoye, Andreyevka, Kleshcheyevka, and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy lost more than 500 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks.
In the course of counterbattery warfare, the Russian troops wiped out one U.S.-made M119 howitzer and one 122mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.
In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery inflicted losses on manpower clusters of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 58th Motorised Brigade, and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Ugledar, Urozhaynoye, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy lost up to 160 Ukrainian troops, one tank, and three pickup trucks.
In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Troops supported by aviation and artillery repelled five attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 82th Mechanised Brigade and 65th Airborne Brigade near Verbovoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).
Up to 85 Ukrainian troops, four tanks, five armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles were neutralised.
Also, two U.S.-made M777 artillery systems, one 152mm D-20 howitzer, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer were destroyed during counter-battery warfare.
In Kherson direction, strikes were delivered at located AFU manpower clusters near Aleshinskiy island and the small railway bridge over the Dnieper River.
The AFU losses amounted to more than 110 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and one 122mm D-30 howitzer.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 105 areas during the day.
In addition, one command and observation post of the 15th Ukrainian National Guard Regiment was wiped out near Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Russian air defence units intercepted two MiG-29 aircraft, one Su-25 ground-attack aircraft, and one L-39 combat training aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force close to Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic), Kazachyi Lageri (Kherson region), and Sinelnikovo (Dnepropetrovsk region).
Over the past 24 hours, two U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, one S-200 anti-aircraft missile converted to hit ground targets, as well as two HARM anti-radiation missiles and two U.S.-made HIMARS projectiles were intercepted.
In addition, 51 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted close to Zolotaryovka, Nyrkovo, Topolevka (Lugansk People's Republic), Novosyolkovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Ingenernoye, Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), Peschanovka (Kherson region), Tavolzhanka, and Olshana (Kharkov region).
In total, 515 airplanes and 253 helicopters, 8,271 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,930 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,169 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,875 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,662 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 10/25/2023 to 00:00 10/26/2023
Over the past 24 hours, the Representative Office reported 8 incidents of firing from the AFU.
Information was received about the injury of a civilian, a man, in Travnevoye.
Residential buildings in the Nikitovsky district of Gorlovka were damaged. No damage to civilian infrastructure was recorded.
Areas of five settlements of the Republic were under enemy fire: Zaitsevo, Golmovsky, Yasinovatsky district, the capital city of Donetsk (Kyiv, Kuibyshevsky districts), Makeevka (Chervonogvardeysky district).
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy carried out three attacks from 155mm artillery.
At Gorlivske there were four artillery attacks from 155 and 152mm artillery.
On Yasinovatsky there was one artillery attack from 155mm artillery.
A total of 25 units of various ammunition were fired.
In the previous day, 24 attacks were recorded from the Ukrainian forces.
21:07 Joint combat Job of UAV units of the Novorossiysk Guards Mountain Airborne Unit and special forces units equipped with anti-tank systems in the Zaporozhye direction of the special operation in the Verbovoy area.
19:45 Russian artillery strikes blows at Ukrainian Armed Forces facilities in the Ugledar direction around the clock.
A serviceman of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet with the call sign Ural noted that his platoon carries out at least 30 combat missions per week.
18:27 News from the fronts from the SVO Reports and Analytics channel:
Kupyansk direction: after yesterday evening’s powerful artillery barrage, our army moved on to storm Sin'kovka, Petropavlovka and Ivanovka. We have made significant progress today; in some areas the progress has been more than a kilometer. The enemy indirectly confirmed our success.
Svatovo-Kremensky direction: in this direction, our army advanced extremely successfully in the Makeevka area in the direction of Borovaya. The advance was more than two kilometers. At these minutes, the enemy’s defenses were broken through in two places. Our fighters continue to build on their success.
18:20 The Russian Armed Forces began to actively apply loitering ammunition "Lancet" with a new guidance system.
In fact, the target recognition and acquisition system in the new Lancet (aka Product-53) works like the homing head of an air-to-surface missile, which allows for absolute accuracy in hitting a target, including objects in motion.
It is noteworthy that after the destruction of the Czech RM-70 Vampire MLRS, the drone also targeted the Czech 152mm wheeled self-propelled gun vz.77 Dana.
After the introduction of the new Lancets, the calculation tasks are reduced to designating a combat duty zone in the program and launching the drone from a catapult. The search and target acquisition functions are performed automatically, and the crew can change position immediately after launch.
17:25 Ukrainian Armed Forces landing in Kherson, Leopard in the Zaporozhye direction and the “Bakhmut mistake” of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Kupyansk: how it has changed situation at the front by October 25:
Kherson region: the situation with the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attempts to gain a foothold on the left bank with the help of the DRG remains difficult. The landing units have made no tangible progress: small boats and platoons of ten to 25 people do not allow them to move deeper into the territory to create something resembling a bridgehead, but enemy activity remains.
Ukrainian troops do not pay attention to losses: if a group of 30 people died in one area, another one may be killed there the next day. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are most active on the Cossack Camps - Krynki section, but there is no progress on the ten-kilometer section, and there are large losses.
Zaporozhye: after several weeks of calm, the Ukrainian Armed Forces resumed the use of heavy equipment - Leopard 2A6 tanks, Stryker armored personnel carriers and M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. Several units are on the verge of being re-deployed to restore combat capability in the Rabotino-Verbovoye sector: the 46th Airbornec Brigade, the 116th and 117th Mechanized Infantry Brigades, as well as part of the units of the 71st Jaeger Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In other units, on the contrary, a hidden rotation is carried out (mainly at night): the forces of the 82nd Airborne Brigade are actively changing, but the brigade suffers large losses precisely when trying to carry out rotation.
Kupyansk - Svatovo - Kremennaya: battles continue for the suburbs in the area of Sin'kovka, Kislovka and Kotlyarivka. The main part of the combat work is still carried out by artillery and tanks, but aviation has been most actively involved in the last 72 hours. In the rear of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Kupyansk and further, to Izyum and Balakleya, FAB-1500 with a planning and correction module are actively used.
In this area, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are making the same mistake as during the defense of Artyomovsk and the offensive in Zaporozhye: in order to contain the activity of the Russian Armed Forces, instead of retreating and waiting for the main breakthrough area to appear, the Ukrainian Armed Forces moved to an area of 250 square meters/km there are about 20 brigade formations from different ends of the front.
This simplified the performance of combat missions for Russian aviation, since strikes against enemy troops with maximum compaction were well practiced in Zaporozhye. In the direction of Svatova and Kremennaya - no changes, the only oddity is a large number of prisoners of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, surrendering several times a day.
Velikaya Novoselka - Urozhaynoye: in the Urozhaynoye - Staromayorskoye section, units of the 72nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade and the 128th TrO Brigade were ambushed several times and suffered heavy losses during counterattacks by the Russian Armed Forces. At the moment, the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not have the strength to make major breakthroughs to the village of Zavetnye Zhelaniye. Troops are being regrouped and forces are being accumulated for repeated attacks.
Artyomovsk - Soledar: The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to try to break through on the northern and southern flanks. Activity remains in the area of Berkhovka and Orekhovo-Vasilevka in the north-west, as well as in the area of Kleshcheevka and Andreevka in the south.
It is noteworthy that on the northern and southern fronts of Artyomovsk the Ukrainian artillery is gradually dying down: they are trying to save rounds, and mostly cluster munitions are used for harassing fire. Heavy fighting is taking place in the area of the route to Slavyansk and Seversk.
16:30 A UAV of the Western Group of Forces, using an FPV drone, disabled the electronic warfare tower of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the village. Dusty Kharkov region –video.
14:25 Vremevsky section situation as of 14.00 October 25, 2023
In the Vrem'yevsky sector, Russian troops are gradually pushing through the defenses of Ukrainian formations, weakened after the withdrawal of the Marine Corps to the Kherson direction.
The main backbone of the Armed Forces of Ukraine consists of military defense units from the 118th, 127th and 128th Brigades. At the same time, in the 127th TRO, 40% of the personnel from among the soldiers and sergeants were sent to the front without basic combat training.
The offensive comes from the side of Priyutnoye along the forest belts to the north near the Grushevaya gully. Soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces managed to partially push the enemy to the ravine, but the fighting still continues.
Due to a shortage of people, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are relying on small-sized drones and mortars, which they use to hit Russian positions. Also along the LBS, mobile electronic warfare teams “Nota” are actively operating to combat UAVs and communications.
The command of the Russian Armed Forces in the sector took into account the weakening of the enemy’s lines in the Vrem'evsky sector and took advantage of this by launching a systematic attack, gradually knocking out the Ukrainian Armed Forces and at the same time preserving the lives of personnel.
14:17 Donbass Partisan comments on the attack on the ammunition storage site in the Khmelnitsky region
Tonight, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a complex strike on military facilities in the Khmelnitsky region, one of the targets hit was the 47th ammunition storage arsenal (military unit A1358).
According to official data, both small arms and heavier ammunition (grenades, mines, rocket rounds, explosives, etc.) were stored at the facility.
The arsenal is equipped with six secure underground ammunition storage facilities, which are currently used for the temporary storage of Western-supplied weapons (a kind of logistics center). In order to ensure the autonomy of the facility, its own power plant was built in 2022, which indicates its importance.
The arsenal is also equipped with systems for early detection and combating unmanned aerial vehicles (apparently this was the reason for the active operation of air defense in the region, which led to the fall of air defense missiles in residential areas).
According to incoming data, at least one Geran-2 attack drone hit a warehouse in the eastern part of the territory. After the strike, a fire broke out on the spot, which was accompanied by a secondary detonation. The fire itself was extinguished only by this afternoon. There is no exact information about what was stored in the affected hangar.
14:00 From the Artyomovsky direction (western outskirts of Bakhmut and the village of Krasnoe) NGP exploration reports:
“In the morning, the enemy decided to rotate their defensive positions, because those who have been sitting there for the 5th day must go for sanitation.
Well, as it usually happens, they like to move along the route with adrenaline and fire, mixed with dope or tablets made in the USA - this probably adds more. And since the enemies were shining brightly along the route, how could we miss the opportunity to stain their trousers? Result: the shift was a failure, sanitation was disrupted.”
13:35 The Ukrainian army struck the village of Belorechensky in the LPR, there were no casualties, civilian infrastructure was damaged, the head of the Lutuginsky district, Yevgeny Bondar, said in his Telegram channel.
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a missile attack on the peaceful village of Belorechensky. I am monitoring the restoration of facilities after the attack by the Ukronazis,” Bondar wrote.
He clarified that the gas pipeline was damaged as a result of the impact. More than 700 subscribers were left without gas supply.
“The school, kindergarten, cultural center, apartment and private residential sector were damaged. Fortunately, there were no casualties,” said the head of the district.
13:25 The Diary of a Paratrooper reports from the Kherson direction:
“Aerial reconnaissance identified an enemy group of six people near the railway bridge.
The artillery of the Russian Armed Forces carried out targeted fire.
Also, according to operational control, there is confirmation of five 200s.”
13:15 The Russian Armed Forces launch artillery strikes on the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Khar'kov region.
According to Come and See, Russian artillery is conducting massive artillery attack of Ukrainian positions in the Kupyansky district of the Kharkov region.
“Arta is launching massive attacks on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” said the channel’s source.
Earlier, the Russian Armed Forces were able to advance in the Kupyansk direction.
12:35 Kherson direction situation as of 12.00 October 25, 2023:
Yesterday, late in the evening, after the transfer of assault groups 35, 36 and 38 Naval Infantry Brigades to various parts of Aleshkinsky Island, the enemy gained a foothold at an intersection near Dach and began moving in the direction of Peschanivka with Poima and Podstepnoye - Kudasovo.
Two assault groups of the 35th Naval Infantry Brigade, which were moving towards Podstepnoye, came under a massive artillery attack. As a result, three people were killed and seven were injured. They were evacuated first to Dachi, and then to the right bank.
The second group from the 36th Naval Infantry Brigade was consolidated in the area of the small railway bridge and tried to advance to the Poima, and a detachment of the 35th Naval Infantry Brigade attacked the positions of the Russian Armed Forces in Peschanovka. During the ensuing battle, they first managed to enter the northern outskirts, but after that they were knocked out with losses.
In Krynki, the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces continued to clear the village. Ukrainian formations were seriously entrenched in the populated area, but over the past 24 hours, Russian fighters in heavy battles almost managed to squeeze the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of Krynki.
However, clashes continue. The enemy is transferring reinforcements, and artillery (M777 and self-propelled guns) and mortars are being massively deployed in areas where the Russian Armed Forces are concentrated, including in landing areas.
Russian fighters are also conducting an intensified counterbattery fight. If in the Peschanivka - Krynki section the work of the UAV is complicated by the active counteraction of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' electronic warfare, then to the north everything is somewhat better.
As a result of a drone strike, the Russian Armed Forces were able to hit the repair base of the 7th Separate Support Regiment in Novaya Kamenka, where several pieces of equipment were being repaired. And in Sablukovka a warehouse with ammunition was destroyed.
12:31 Situation in the Sumy direction from the Front Bird:
“Several explosions have been reported on the eastern outskirts of the region. There is an opinion that it was the sushniks who fired at themselves from homemade surface-to-air-to-surface missiles of the S-200 system.”
Well, or, according to the classics, our videoconferencing systems give the heat.
12:27 To Zaporozhyeshot "Babu Yaga." Another “Baba Yaga”, shot down by soldiers of the 9th company of the 291st Motorized Rifle Regiment in the Zaporozhye direction.
They were shot down with small arms. The blade was damaged, after which the drone grounded. The damage to the “bird” is minimal, so now the guys are looking for an opportunity to reflash the flying monster and put it into service.
12:05 Avdeevskoe direction:
All night and morning, our army continued to deliver intense attacks on enemy positions, fortifications, concentrations and firing points. Our birds work periodically, sending FABs to reinforced concrete fortifications.
In the morning, assault operations of our army began west of the railway. Our army today continues to develop success on the northern flank.
In the south, after an unsuccessful enemy counterattack, our army resumed its movement north of Vodyanoye and in Pervomaisky.
11:44 Another terrorist attack in the Zaporozhye region - a serviceman was blown up in a car.
On the evening of October 23, an unknown person planted a homemade explosive device under the vehicle of a serviceman of the Russian Armed Forces.
When the man got into the car parked near the house on Michurina Street, it went off, causing a fire in the car. The victim died from his injuries at the scene.
The investigator for the Zaporozhye region opened a criminal case for committing a terrorist attack. Now they are carrying out investigative actions to identify all those involved in the murder of the military man.
10:40 The Front Bird reports about the work of the Aerospace Forces in the Avdeevsky direction:
“After the night cannonade, the enemy tried to respond with a powerful artillery salvo.
In response, UFAB-500 of our VKS flew.
In addition, at the moment we are smoking out the enemy with mortars.”
09:34 Formations of the Dnepr group of troops shoot downor almost all Ukrainian Armed Forces drones are landing on the Kinburn Spit in the Kherson region. This was reported by the commander of the Dnepr sabotage and assault brigade, Andrei Zhidkov.
09:28 The criminal Kiev 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. Great Lepetikha 12 rounds;
-- n.p. Malaya Lepetikha five rounds;
-- n.p. Knyaze-Grigorovka 15 rounds;
-- n.p. Sergeevka five rounds;
-- n.p. Alyosha 10 rounds;
-- n.p. Krynki 10 rounds;
-- n.p. Kostogryzovo eight rounds;
-- n.p. Kazachi Lagery nine rounds;
-- n.p. Peschanivka seven rounds;
-- n.p. Solonetz five rounds;
As a result of the artillery attack of the settlement. Solontsy, one civilian died.
As a result of the artillery attack of the settlement. Kostogryzovo and Kazachi Lagery, three civilians were injured of varying degrees of severity.
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the village. Novaya Kakhovka, n.p. Kakhovka, n.p. Dnepryany, n.p. Sagi, n.p. Kardashinka, n.p. Vasil'evka, firing a total of 30 rounds from cannon artillery. Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being determined.
08:17 The Ministry of Defense published personnel joint combat work of drone units of the Novorossiysk Guards Mountain Unit of the Airborne Forces and special forces units equipped with anti-tank systems in the Zaporozhye direction in the special operation zone, in the Verbovoy area.
08:12 Frontline summary on the morning of October 25, 2023:
In the Kherson-Crimean direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with the support of artillery, are trying to break through to the left bank near Peschanivka and Podstepnoye. Encounter battles continue in Krynki. Russian long-range weapons operated on Ukrainian positions in Kherson, Zelenovka, Sadovoy, Tyaginka, Kozatsky, Berislav and Zmeevka. Ukrainian - according to the Russian Armed Forces in Aleshki, Korsunka, Dnepryany and Novaya Kakhovka.
In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian troops counterattacked on the flank from Novopokrovka. The Ukrainian Armed Forces did not conduct active offensive operations. Their positions in the settlements of Kamenskoye, Rabotino, Malaya Tokmachka, Belogorye and Gulyaipolskoye are under attack. Russian - in Nesteryanka, Kopany, Sladkaya Balka, Il'chenkovo, Novoprokopovka, Verbovoy, Novopokrovka and Novofedorovka.
In the Ugledarsky sector - counterattacks of the Russian Armed Forces from Novodonetsky and Novomayorsky. No success. Russian artillery worked against the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Staromayorsky, Blagodatny, Urozhayny, Zolotaya Niva and Ugledar. Ukrainian - according to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Priyutny, Zavetny Zhelanie, Staromlynovka, Novodonetsky and Novomayorsky.
On the Donetsk front there is total activity of the Russian Armed Forces. Ground attack at Novomikhailovka. After artillery bombardment, they launched an offensive at Pobeda. We continued the assault in Mar'inka. With the support of long-range weapons, they attacked at Nevelskoye, Severny (a settlement west of Avdievka), on the southern and northwestern approaches to Avdievka and at Stepnoye (not to be confused with the settlements of the same name in the Zaporozhye and Ugledar directions). In the last of these areas they had serious tactical success.
The waste heap is occupied - the dominant height. They also went to the railway line. Under fire from the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Pervomaisky, Alexandropol (a settlement north of Donetsk), New York and Toretsk. RF Armed Forces - in Donetsk, Opytny, the village of Krasnogorovka and Gorlovka.
08:10 Senior gunner with call sign “Syzgan”toldabout combat work in the Northern Military District zone
“We have a good, well-coordinated team,” he says, “everyone understands each other perfectly. From the moment we receive the order to destroy the target until the moment we leave the firing position after the shot, approximately ten minutes pass. During this time, we reach the firing position, fire and leave the position. It happens that we go to a firing position several times a day, and often change our route in order to confuse the enemy.”
08:04 During the past 24 hours in the DPR, three civilians were injured from artillery attack by the Ukrainian forces, one of them died.
A young man died in his private home in the Kalininsky district of Donetsk from a HARM missile strike. Two more were injured in neighboring areas of Donetsk.
In just one day, the enemy fired 86 ammunition into the DPR, incl. rockets, 155mm and 152mm rounds.
08:00 Summary on the morning of October 25, 2023
At night, the Russian Armed Forces attacked targets in the Khmelnitsky, Nikolaev, Cherkassy, Rovno, and Kyiv regions.In the Kherson direction, near the railway bridge, work was underway to destroy small groups of enemy landing forces. In the area of the coast, against the village. The enemy also transferred personnel to Krynki under the cover of artillery fire. The plan of the Ukrainian Armed Forces includes the task of occupying the Poima-Kazachi Lagery-Krynki road; its implementation will complicate the transfer of our forces along the Dnieper on this section of the front.
On the Zaporozhye Front, the Russian Army repelled tank attacks in the Rabotino-Novoprokopovka area, and another Leopard was destroyed. At Verbovoy, the artillery fire did not subside; the enemy again brought infantry into the battle on the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. The theses that the enemy is “running out of steam” here and the pressure is weakening are not confirmed by front-line soldiers on the ground.
In the Avdeevsky direction, the Russian Armed Forces are consolidated on occupied lines. In the northwest, in the area of the settlement. Berdychi APU column is covered with fire from a 203mm Malka cannon. The enemy suffered losses and abandoned a number of positions near the railway.
In the Kupyansk direction, the Russian Armed Forces occupied several enemy strongholds. The enemy is actively mining all approaches and bringing in reinforcements.
In the evening, Russian military channels reported an attempted missile strike on Sevastopol. Residents of the hero city also wrote about the explosion, pointing out that the air raid signal was not heard. The governor of Sevastopol reacted sharply to this information and said that events were taking place using rocket launchers, also talking about a detonated UAV of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, planted by electronic warfare.
In the Bryansk region in the morning, four aircraft-type UAVs were destroyed over the Bryansk region. In the Belgorod region, Kozinka of the Grayvoronsky urban district and Novaya Tavolzhanka came under fire from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In the Kursk region, in Tyotkino, Glushkovsky district, an explosive device was dropped from a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone. A civilian was slightly wounded. In Donetsk, two civilians were injured from artillery attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Dmitry Astrakhan
[REGNUM] Sometimes it may seem to a Russian who does not understand many of the nuances of Ukrainian life that they are acting illogically. Often from the outside this gives such an impression that harsher expressions are used. Unfortunately, they are not idiots or psychopaths against us; they do not commit absurd acts. Therefore, it is worth understanding what and why they are actually doing in Ukraine and what is the point.
It would seem that during a major war, a state, especially not a self-sufficient one like Ukraine, needs to have as many allies as possible. And even more so on the inside, to attract everyone who is possible to your side is an obvious move.
History is replete with examples, from black Confederate soldiers to the Soviet change in attitudes toward religion during the Great Patriotic War. But Ukraine is pursuing strict Ukrainization, and it has only become more stringent since 2014, and then again after 2022. I emphasize that Ukrainization does not begin, as some liberals are trying to convince us, but gets tougher during the war. Although, it would seem logical to do the opposite, to win over the Russian-speaking population, and then, who knows, also some part of the Russians.
Why is that?
It is important to understand that Ukrainization is not just a transition to the Ukrainian language, but a strict ban and forced displacement of other languages, primarily Russian. At the same time, the Ukrainian language itself is not the language of Shevchenko or the Soviet textbook, they have also been cancelled. This is an ever-changing new language that is literally created by Ukrainianizers on the fly.
Therefore, a person does not simply change the language, as he might change, for example, Russian into English (or vice versa) when changing country. The Ukrainianized person becomes completely dependent on a very narrow and “exclusive” information product, which only “patriots” of Ukraine are capable of creating and fully control. After all, if someone decides to create a product in the Ukrainian language that does not meet the Nazii criteria, the language will simply change and that’s it, the need for such a product will disappear. Against the background of Ukrainization, any bans on social networks or websites, films or books are nothing.
To understand this, let’s conduct a thought experiment. Let's imagine all the books that the average person, say forty years old, has read in his life in the form of a library. It will be approximately the same for those living in Russia and Ukraine; there will be a big difference only for young people. We will remove everything Russian from the shelves; it will not be translated into Ukrainian as imperial. I emphasize - that's it! World classics, the Soviet period, pro-Russian, anti-Russian - in general, everything that was written by Russians or in Russian. It wasn’t just Pushkin who disappeared. All the classics, global or local, have disappeared. Not just the Soviet Simonov disappeared, but also the anti-Soviet Solzhenitsyn.
Now let's move on to the shelves of foreign literature, which has been steadily translated and published in Russian for 250 years. Or in Ukrainian during the Soviet period, because the new Ukrainian language, free from Russianisms and imperial oppression, is already different. But there is no one to translate all this again, and it is impossible to do the work of centuries in a couple of years.
Let’s assume that every tenth book in our mental library will be translated into Ukrainian. And who will choose this tenth? That's right, the ideologist will do it.
Let's move on to the shelves with modern literature. From here, everything Russian disappears again, and the amount of translated literature decreases by 10 times. And it’s good if in 10, because in a large Russian-speaking space it makes sense to translate some niche things, fans of which could be found among a large sample of people, to try, to experiment... Ukraine simply does not have as many translators, nor as many readers.
Almost all of the humanities and most of the technical literature is disappearing from the shelves in the scientific literature section.
About a fifth of everything watched disappears from the video library.
Let us remind you that the decision about which part will disappear and which will remain is made by the Ukrainizer; it is in his power to translate or remove this or that from history. Moreover, he also chooses what to replace the missing parts of our library with. And believe me, he uses this right to the fullest.
As a result, the Ukrainian king Achilles appears and the role of Ukraine in the Trojan War, Ukrainian empires in the place of Rus', Kharkov is founded by the Cossack Kharko, the Russians cease to be Slavs, turning either into Mokshans or Tatars. And instead of fiction, “Polish Investigations into Ukrainian Sex” by Oksana Zabuzhko appears.
Imagine for a second that even in the era of the Internet and search engines, you cannot find other sources of information, because they are not in your language, in your search results. Do you think critical thinking will save someone? But how can this thinking work without information? Do you understand what they are negotiating with representatives of Google (Yandex has long been blocked) in Ukraine?
Everything that a Russian (and even an American!) laughs at, from the Ukrainian Christ to Hitler the Liberator, is not a joke. This is the absolute reality of an information vacuum.
Another couple of years, and it will be completely impossible to establish (in Ukrainian) who killed whom at Babyn Yar: Soviet executioners of Ukrainian liberators? Or are they the same, but Jews? Or are the Germans the Soviet executioners? Or Jews - Ukrainians? Today's Ukrainian conscript will often not be able to say this definitely, hesitating between versions, because there are several official ones at once. I remember one Ukrainian Marine sergeant who quite seriously said that he was an anti-fascist and was defending Ukraine from Russian fascism (since the 14th, not the 22nd). And then, without transition, about the fact that Russians are subhumans.
Think about the degree of lack of freedom, which is in principle impossible in Russian, English, German, Chinese, Spanish under the most terrible regime, simply because books exist. Imagine how a little gray man, who from Lvov University became an official in the television broadcasting committee, suddenly gained power over the consciousness of millions, incomparable to anyone else? Imagine that history is literally being rewritten according to Orwell's 1984 and almost no one remembers that it was different 10 years ago?
The development of technology is Russia’s way of tearing Ukrainians away from their national dreams and enslaving them. Prostitution is one of the best forms of post-industrial economy, which the Russians hid from Ukrainian women through deception in order to enslave them. All this is already reality, and much more will soon become reality.
This is real Ukrainization. You can laugh as much as you like at the fact that they invented extra cases and declensions, the plural of the word “taxi”, or they simply made up words not even on the go, but on the run. The problem is not in the Ukrainian language. And the fact is that people are artificially cut off from the whole world - native Russian is banned and is being eradicated. Ukrainian education is not capable of teaching English; the vast majority do not have enough money for this. Ukrainization is the creation of an absolutely ideal, closed totalitarian system, which is controlled not even by the most successful and evil members of the party, but by gray mediocrities who have learned nothing in life except how to Ukrainize.
[RIA Novosti] The Strategic Deterrence Forces conducted exercises under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin reported.
It is clarified that first the president heard reports from the head of the Ministry of Defense Sergei Shoigu and the Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
“Let’s get to work. Please, give the floor to Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu,” Putin said.
The Minister of Defense reported that during the training, the tasks of delivering a massive nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear attack were being worked out.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the plenary session of the XX annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club -
The head of the General Staff reported on the procedure for holding the event. He noted that the strategic mobile missile system of the Strategic Missile Forces "Yars", the strategic missile submarine of the Northern Fleet "Tula", as well as two strategic long-range missile carriers Tu-95MS were involved in the exercises.
According to the Kremlin, practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles took place during the training:
an intercontinental ballistic missile of the Yars complex was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome at the Kura test site in Kamchatka;
the Sineva ballistic missile was launched from the Barents Sea from the strategic nuclear-powered missile submarine cruiser Tula;
In addition, during the exercises they checked the level of training of military command and control bodies, leadership skills, as well as operational personnel in organizing the command and control of subordinate troops. The Kremlin emphasized that all planned tasks were completed in full.
The previous training of strategic forces under the leadership of the president took place on October 26, 2022. Practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles also took place then.
In addition, similar exercises took place in February last year. As the Ministry of Defense emphasized, the event was planned to test the readiness of military command and control bodies, combat launch crews, crews of warships and strategic missile carriers to carry out assigned tasks, as well as the reliability of the weapons of strategic nuclear and non-nuclear forces. The maneuvers involved forces and assets of the Aerospace Forces, troops of the Southern Military District, Strategic Missile Forces , Northern and Black Sea Fleets.
[Regnum] Tu-95MS long-range aviation aircraft launched cruise missiles. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported this on October 25.
It is noted that Tu-95MS were involved in training strategic deterrence forces. They launched air-launched cruise missiles.
As IA Regnum previously reported , the Ministry of Defense published footage of the launch of the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk cosmodrome at the Kura training ground in Kamchatka, as well as the launch of the Sineva missile from the Barents Sea.
Under the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on October 25, training was conducted with the forces and means of the ground, sea and air components of the nuclear deterrent forces. During the training, practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles took place.
The head of state heard reports from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov on the training of strategic deterrence forces.
The Russian Ministry of Defense published a video of missile launches during the training of the strategic nuclear deterrent forces, which took place on October 25 under the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin .
The footage shows the launch of the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk cosmodrome at the Kura test site in Kamchatka.
As reported by IA Regnum , on October 25, under the leadership of Putin, training was conducted with the forces and means of the ground, sea and air components of the nuclear deterrent forces. During the training, practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles took place.
The head of state heard reports from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov on the training of strategic deterrence forces.
As noted in the Kremlin, during the events the level of preparedness of military command and control bodies and the work skills of management and operational personnel were checked.
MiG-31 fighters with hypersonic Kinzhal missiles are ready to patrol over the Black Sea. TASS reported this on October 25, citing a source close to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
TASS: MiG-31 with Kinzhal missiles are ready to patrol over the Black Sea
“MiG-31 aircraft with Kinzhals, in pursuance of the political decision of the country’s leadership, are ready to patrol the airspace over the Black Sea, they are only waiting for an order,” the agency quotes the source as saying.
It is clarified that MiG-31 flights will be accompanied by Su-27 fighters.
As Regnum reported, on October 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the aerospace forces to begin constant patrolling of the airspace over the Black Sea with Mig-31 aircraft equipped with the Kinzhal hypersonic missile systems. He clarified that these missile systems have a speed of Mach nine and are capable of hitting targets at a distance of more than a thousand kilometers.
The head of state emphasized that this is not a threat, but information about the decision made, and noted that the United States is increasingly drawn into the Ukrainian conflict, and is also aggravating the situation in the Middle East by sending two aviation groups to the Mediterranean Sea.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Another 49 regiments will be formed in Russia in 2024, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said on October 25 in a video published on his Telegram channel.
“Another army corps, 7 divisions, 19 brigades, 49 regiments and one flotilla are planned to be formed next year,” he said.
The Deputy Chairman of the Security Council added that such measures are planned to be taken for the security of the country. According to him, the situation in the world remains tense.
Medvedev also said that, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, from January 1 to October 25, 2023 , almost 385 thousand people entered military service in the interests of the Joint Group of Forces . Of these, 305 thousand people are contract military personnel, and about 80 thousand people are volunteers.
The Deputy Chairman of the Security Council clarified that the pace of selection for contract service has increased significantly. Every day, more than 1.6 thousand people enter into a contract with the armed forces.
As Regnum reported , Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu previously informed that nine reserve regiments had been formed for the units operating in the special operation zone. He noted that absolutely all the officer-instructors leading the training of these regiments have combat experience behind them, including military personnel who were wounded and decided to return to service.
On October 5, at the Valdai Discussion Club, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that about 335 thousand people signed contracts with the Russian Armed Forces in a year. In addition, the Russian Federation has increased the production of equipment and weapons for the North Military District several times in some areas.
In 2024, it is planned to form another army corps and flotilla in the Russian Armed Forces. Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev announced this on October 25 .
According to him, to effectively protect the independence and security of the state, a set of measures will be taken to expand and strengthen the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and increase their number.
“Next year it is planned to form another army corps, seven divisions, 19 brigades, 49 regiments and one flotilla,” Medvedev said at a meeting on the recruitment of the armed forces.
As reported by Regnum news agency , Medvedev said that, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, from January 1 to October 25, 2023 , almost 385 thousand people entered military service in the interests of the United Group of Forces . Of these, 305 thousand people are contract military personnel, and about 80 thousand people are volunteers. The Deputy Chairman of the Security Council clarified that the pace of selection for contract service has increased significantly. Every day, more than 1.6 thousand people enter into a contract with the armed forces.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on October 5 that nine reserve regiments had been formed for units operating in the special operation zone . He noted that absolutely all the officer-instructors leading the training of these regiments have combat experience behind them, including military personnel who were wounded and decided to return to service.
On June 22, Shoigu reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Russian military would complete the formation of a reserve army and army corps by the end of June. The minister clarified that the five regiments have already been formed by more than 60%, both in equipment and personnel. At that time, 3,786 units of equipment were supplied to form the formations.
On July 3, the head of the Ministry of Defense said at a conference call that, as part of an increase in the number of Russian troops, the formation of command and control bodies of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts, a combined arms army and an army corps is underway. Shoigu clarified that in parallel there is a planned supply of weapons, military and special equipment, as well as the training of military personnel and the coordination of units.
[GilbertDoctorow] A couple of days ago, Russian evening news showed a brief video of Vladimir Putin arriving at the southern military command center in Rostov on Don for a meeting with Valery Gerasimov, Head of the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces. We were shown their handshakes at the start and their handshakes at the conclusion of the meeting as Putin was on his way to his aircraft, but nothing was said about the reason for the visit.
This evening we found out about the likely topic of the talks two days ago. Breaking news on Russian television gave some sketchy details of the tests just carried out on the war readiness of the country’s nuclear triad for response to some incoming nuclear missile from an unnamed enemy. Gerasimov reported to Putin on the satisfactory results of the launch from the nuclear submarine Tula in the Barents Sea of a Sineva ballistic missile with 5,500 km range; the launch of a Yars ballistic missile with 12,000 km range from an underground shaft in Kamchatka; and the launch of a 5,500 km range cruise missile from a TU-95 “Bear” turboprop bomber-missile carrier (location unspecified). Considering the location of the missile launches and the radius of possible strikes, it does not take much imagination to conclude that the enemy being attacked was the U.S. of A. The actual tests consisted of one missile each; the capability being tested was for a massive retaliatory strike.
We may assume that the tests were Russia’s response to the announcement within the past week of American ‘pre-tests’ of nuclear weapons, which Moscow took to indicate that Washington intends to proceed with weapons testing in one way or another now that the treaty banning such tests has become dead letter. Or we may assume that the Russian missile firings were a warning to the United States against escalation in the Middle East by attacking Iran.
On the subject of Iran, Russian state television yesterday told us about the visit to Teheran of Foreign Minister Lavrov, who arrived from meetings in Pyongyang with North Korean leader Kim and had talks with the Iranians
...golly — the old Axis of Evil whose mention garnered President George W. Bush so much mockery, back in the day....
and representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan over resolution of their conflict. Lavrov told a reporter inter alia that talks with Teheran over conclusion of a Strategic Partnership agreement are 90% complete.
#1
Curious - does anyone know the last time the US did this? I’m thinking possibly under Reagan (which would be 40-ish years ago). There is something to be said for ensuring your strategic weapons work as originally designed
#2
In reality, the AF and Navy do this every year or so. The AF takes 'end of life' Minutemans from ND or Montana to Vandenberg, and the Navy shoots from offshore. There's generally a NoTAS (Notice to Airmen / Sailors) issued.
The ocean floor around Kwaj has got to just about be covered with empties by now.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
10/26/2023 12:20 Comments ||
Top||
#3
#1 Curious - does anyone know the last time the US did this? I’m thinking possibly under Reagan (which would be 40-ish years ago). There is something to be said for ensuring your strategic weapons work as originally designed
Posted by: Slenter Panda4300 2023-10-26 06:51
SP4300,
Through the 80s, we used to do something called GLOBAL SHIELD - SAC would basically exercise every single bomber and missile unit. There was usually one ICBM live fire (warheads off, of course)and I know there were SRAM and ALCM live fires as well. This was only one or two aircraft, EVERYBODY else would hit simulated targets on the radar bomb ranges out west.
Text taken from the V Kontakte page of Strelkov Igor Ivanovich
Note: It is unclear who "Mikhail" is, other than an acquaintance of Strelkov (Igor Girkin)
A pretextual translation: Girkin expects no good to come of the war in Ukraine, and the government in Russia is working to make their plans so. Fragments of Strelkov’s letter to me:
“Greetings, Mikhail.
I'm glad to receive a letter from you. I think that if you had sent it by mail, it would either not have reached me at all or would have taken a very long time. Glad you came back alive and not crippled. I hope our mutual friends are doing the same (Ernest, Prince and others). You haven’t written anything about them, but I’m worried about all of them.
I believe (with a high probability) that on October 17 I will go back to the pre-trial detention center, and not under house arrest. Just based on logic, it didn’t make any sense to keep me in a cage and then, shortly before the trial, give me the opportunity to communicate with the press, etc. Naturally, no one who still has a brain in their head can seriously believe that I would “hide from the investigation.”
My arrest is aimed at “silencing as much as possible” and in this regard it works well, so I don’t see any reason for the initiators of the case to change the situation. On this basis, I believe that the matter will not be limited to a fine or other “symbolic” punishment - that’s not why everything was started (I need to be “off” from the agenda for a year or two so that I don’t “get in the way” of the bastards from different “towers” at sharing of power).
I will be very surprised if they give me a “real term” (1-2 years). The situation is “going crazy” and our ghouls from APeshechka “have no time for curtsies”; power and even (for many) their precious skin are at stake.
The way “Cook” was removed is a clear demonstration that all constraint has been discarded (and the majority never had any brains). "Cook" being an obvious reference to the late Evgeniy Prigozhin
For the rest: I believe that the situation in the country will “stabilize” for some time - the authorities are up to the so-called. “elections” will “freeze” all processes. And what will happen next - God knows, but obviously nothing good, since the “millstone” of time to prepare for victory for the sake of “internal stability” (while keeping the entire team of a mediocre thief unchanged) - a priori cannot lead to anything good .
And this is in the absence of “black swans” (such as the “Prigozhinsky rebellion” or defeats at the front, which are not at all guaranteed against repetition).
A protracted war is fatal for our economy and statehood, but the Kremlin nevertheless relied on it (in the hope of a change for the better due to “external factors” like “Trump 2.0”), since any “sudden movements”:
a) do not work for these “head-assers”; A clear reference to the people in the Russian government, who have their heads stuck up their asses
b) they are objectively shaking the “situation” to dangerous levels (as the same “Cook” rebellion showed)
So they will “pull the cat by the tail” in the hope of “maybe.”
I am saddened by my father’s illness. Give him your regards and wishes for good health for many years to come. Hang in there!
I wish you and your family all the best,
your friend
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Dmitry Bavyrin
[RIA] Former head of the European Council Donald Tusk has been nominated as a candidate for Prime Minister of Poland from the opposition. This already happened to him in 2007, when his “Civic Platform” won the parliamentary elections, launching into the blogosphere the call “Hide Grandma’s Passport!”
Then, as now, Tusk’s main opponent was the ruling party “Law and Justice” - nationalist, Russophobic and clerical, they are also called “obscurantists”. She relies on an older electorate than Tusk's supporters.
But this time the liberals did not cause discord in Polish families, offering voters what is usually called a “positive program”: solving specific problems through specific reforms. As a result, the conservative government received 2.5 million, or a third, more votes than in 2007. That is, the Poles did not hide the passports of their elderly. Instead, young people themselves came to the polls, which they usually do reluctantly, and against the backdrop of a historically record turnout for Poland, Tusk will again become prime minister. Three opposition blocs managed to gain a controlling stake of votes, so that power will pass to the left-liberal coalition with him at its head.
Most likely, this is the last defeat for the leader of Polish conservatives, 74-year-old Jaroslaw Kaczynski. We will hear nothing more significant about our old enemy.
It would seem that this is good news when youth defeats mossy Russophobic old age. In the entire European Union it was impossible to find a party more violent and xenophobic in its attitude towards Russia than Law and Justice, if you do not pay attention to the zigging dwarfs of the Baltic states.
But, alas, based on Russia’s foreign policy interests, the youth won at the wrong time: it would be better if clinical Russophobes continued to rule Poland. There are at least three reasons for this.
Firstly, Kaczynski’s conservatives, in addition to Russia, also hated the European Commission, which was mutual. In Brussels, the Polish government was presented as a gathering of provincial retrogrades, an “enfant terrible” and a source of inescapable problems. Now the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will have fewer headaches: with the arrival of Tusk, Warsaw will turn into a political branch of Brussels, and one of the main lines of division within the EU will be healed.
Our enemies closed their ranks more tightly, knocking out the unhealthy Polish grandfather from them. Tusk is also a Russophobe, but not a clinical one, but a political one, which in the proposed circumstances is even worse. For Russia, one adversary simply replaced another, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has lost an important ally.
Secondly, a change of power in Poland will reduce the severity of the conflict growing between Warsaw and Kiev. The interests of Polish farmers will not change because of this, that is, the issue of the embargo on the supply of Ukrainian grain will not leave the agenda. However, between Tusk and Vladimir Zelensky there is no accumulated “personal”, as there is between Zelensky and the still Prime Minister of Poland, Kaczynski’s “minion” Mateusz Morawiecki.
In addition, Tusk takes the trauma of the common Polish-Ukrainian past more easily than Kaczynski and co. Of course, he doesn’t like Stepan Bandera, but to shout “Glory to Ukraine!” (and with this slogan, one must think, Poles were slaughtered in Volyn) is normal for him, which he demonstrated in Kyiv in 2019.
Three years later, Tusk said that those who do not support Ukraine “are not democrats, not Christians and not Europeans.” So in this sense, Polish anti-Russian obscurantism will not go away, it will just be a little easier for Zelensky, like Ursula von der Leyen, to live on.
Thirdly, the victory of the pro-European coalition deprived us of the chance to look at the curious cadaver one of those stitched together by Dr. Frankenstein.
The fact is that Kaczynski’s people managed to do so much and make so many enemies that they are simply afraid to give up power. This opened the way for the creation of an unthinkable coalition of Law and Justice and the Confederation party if the two of them bypassed Tusk’s left-liberal “troika.”
“Confederates” are also nationalists and Eurosceptics, but slightly different from Kaczynski’s. This is one of the “youngest” parties in Poland in terms of electorate and at the same time the least Russophobic: they tend to view Moscow as a possible ally in the fight against common enemies - Ukraine, the European Union, globalism and liberalism. In general, a misalliance between Russophobes and “Russophiles” could have turned out to be interesting, but the Poles preferred the boring Tusk.
This seems to go against the pan-European trend towards strengthening Eurosceptics, because even in Germany - the main beneficiary of the creation of the European Union - the most popular party now is the "Alternative for Germany" (though only if we consider the components of the CDU/CSU bloc as two different parties).
But in fact, Poland, provincial by European standards, seems to anticipate the political trends of the EU. Eurosceptics (the same “Law and Justice”) were in power there when the European Commission’s opposition was no longer in fashion anywhere. And now the wheel of history is grinding in such a way that voters are pointing the door to the forces under which their country entered into the adventure of “isolating Russia” and supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In a vast and ever-expanding area from Spain to Slovakia, people vote for the opposition because the policies of the current government (regardless of its party affiliation) have led to well-known costs - inflation, recession and energy crisis.
So the Poles are following the pan-European course towards a change of leadership, under which heating becomes more expensive, prices rise and the prospect of a third world war is revealed. The nationalist Kaczynski, purely because of his position in time and space, had to answer for the same thing that Ursula von der Leyin’s favorites are responsible for in other countries: anti-national policies.
However, neither these elections nor the next ones, whether they will be held in Poland or even in Germany, are ways to change this policy. Theoretically, voting in only one country in the world can influence it - the United States.
This is the price for lack of sovereignty. As the plumber said in a Soviet joke, “here the whole system needs to be changed.”
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Viktor Lavrinenko
[REGNUM] In Finland, they continue to promote the case of retired intelligence officer Georgy Alafuzoff . This officer faithfully served his state for many years, and it repaid him by persistently trying to make him, if not a full-fledged “agent of Moscow,” then at least an incompetent and clumsy person responsible for the possible leak of top-secret documents.
There is an assumption that what is happening is delayed revenge for a position that is non-standard by Finnish standards. Alafuzoff at one time persistently argued that Finland should not destroy good neighborliness with Russia.
Revenge deferred
Retired Rear Admiral Georgy Borisovich Alafuzoff (Alafuzov), as you can easily guess from his last name, comes from Russian emigrants. The direct ancestor of Georgy Borisovich is Baron Ivan Alafuzov, who lived in St. Petersburg. Georgiy Alafuzoff is now seventy years old and was born in Helsinki.
This man was once called one of the most capable officers in Finland, which is confirmed by his successful climb up the career ladder.
Having received the rank of naval lieutenant in 1974, he eventually became part of the state’s military leadership. From 2007 to 2013, Alafuzoff served as Chief of Intelligence of the Finnish Defense Forces. At home, he enjoyed the reputation of a “specialist in Russia” - and not only due to his excellent command of the Russian language.
In 1997, Alafuzoff graduated with honors from the Russian Academy of the General Staff. The crowning achievement of his career was his move to work outside of Finland - from 2013 to 2016, he headed the intelligence department of the EU Military Headquarters.
Currently, Alafuzoff has been retired for seven years.
And suddenly in 2019 there was a loud accusation against him: of involvement in the leak of secret data that was at the disposal of the Helsingin Sanomat publication!
Two years earlier, the Finnish Central Criminal Police began an investigation into an article published in this publication , highlighting some juicy details of Suomi intelligence activities, including in the Russian direction. Then this story made a lot of noise - the police staged an unauthorized search in the house of journalist Laura Halminen, and she managed to smash the hard drive of her computer with a hammer.
After some time, a version was thrown in that it was Alafuzoff who allegedly gave the journalists a flash drive with secret information about the activities of the Finnish Military Intelligence Center.
It has been suggested that Alafuzoff may have been upset by his statement in April 2014 that Russia does not intend to wage wars of conquest and does not want to increase international tension. He also spoke about the absence of Russian troops in Ukraine at that moment.
Alafuzoff also argued that ex-CIA employee Edward Snowden , who revealed the truth about the unseemly affairs of this institution, although he betrayed his employer, is a “true idealist” who sincerely wanted to fight injustice.
This turned out to be enough.
Rear Admiral in the dock
In general, Georgy Alafuzoff has repeatedly expressed statements that Finland has no reason to fear Russia. The high-ranking intelligence officer ardently advocated international detente - and he himself was personally ready to work on it.
So, on October 30, 2018, he participated in the Ogarkov Readings conference held in Moscow. There, Alafuzoff said that the West perceives the events in Ukraine as a “Russian hybrid operation” and fears its spread to the Baltic states. “And of course, Finland and Sweden, which are not NATO members, will be one of the targets of those hybrid actions that Russia may take, ” Alafuzoff said about the fears that existed in Helsinki. But he also said that he also understands Russian concerns related to the actions of the West.
Alafuzoff also warned about hybrid threats that have emerged recently.
“In the context of the existing regulatory and legal uncertainty associated with hybrid military conflicts, one can expect that pretexts introduced by British diplomacy like “ Highly Likely ” and the absence of other plausible explanations will be used to justify specific military-political decisions. This increases the threat of a large-scale conflict due to misreading of the parties’ intentions, legal and terminological uncertainty,” Alafuzoff said in 2018.
Now, five years later, these words sound prophetic.
It is possible that such seditious statements, coupled with his Russian origin and surname, brought suspicion on the rear admiral from the Finnish “patriots”, who are always ready to see the next “machinations of Moscow’s agents.”
However, on December 22, 2022, it became known that the prosecutor’s office decided to dismiss the case against Georgy Alafuzoff. It was announced that a “good understanding of how the information came into the hands of third parties ” had been obtained - and Alafuzoff was not involved.
However, they didn’t just leave him alone.
Spy mania in Finland. Anyone can be a spy
In February 2023, a new case was opened against him - now Alafuzoff is accused of “ illegal storage and processing of classified information .” They want to put pressure on Alafuzoff by any means so that his example becomes a lesson to other people who sympathize with Russia.
In October of this year, it was reported that Alafuzoff's trial had ended at the Helsinki Court of Justice. During the trial, the prosecution strengthened its demand: the prosecutor asks that the retired rear admiral be sentenced to real imprisonment - for at least two years. If the court decides on a shorter prison term, then, in the opinion of the prosecutor, this term should also be realistic.
During the court hearings, it was repeatedly said that Alafuzoff was “accused of committing serious crimes in office.” It is alleged that he kept a “significant amount” of confidential documents at his home, some of which were classified as highly classified. The prosecution points out that the relevant files were discovered during a search of Alafuzoff's house on his computers, external drives, memory cards and in paper form.
The alleged “crimes” were committed between 2005 and 2016, when Georgi Alafuzoff first served as Deputy Chief of the Finnish General Staff, then Chief of Intelligence of the Defense Forces and finally Chief of Intelligence of the EU Military Staff.
He himself denies these accusations. The court is due to render its verdict by the end of this year.
The triumph of spymania
Currently, spy mania is becoming increasingly rampant in Finland .
The Finnish press now constantly writes about how, they say, some dubious entities are hanging around transformer substations, about “suspicious people, cars with foreign license plates and drones” being spotted here and there, about constant cyber attacks and data thefts.
“Great, just great. Everything is according to the classics of the 20th century. Spies are all around. This despite the fact that there are really no specifics. I need to stop walking around my city in Budenovka …” writes left-wing blogger Alexander Kommari, who lives in Finland, with bitter sarcasm.
Just a few days ago, the Finnish press and politicians were intensively promoting the “Russian trace” in the case of damage to the Balticconnector underwater gas pipeline. Then, however, it turned out that, apparently, this emergency was not the result of malicious intent, but of unintentional damage to the pipeline by the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship.
The cries about a “deliberate Russian attack on Finland” temporarily subsided. But there is no doubt that they will soon resume - as soon as a new more or less suitable reason is found.
Seeing this, retired Rear Admiral Georgy Alafuzoff must gnash his teeth in despondency - his worst nightmares are coming true.
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.
