[CNN] The US believes the training and equipment it is providing Ukraine will "change the dynamics on the battlefield" in the war against Russia and allow Kyiv’s forces to "breach Russian defenses," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins for "CNN This Morning" on Thursday.
"We’re training and equipping several brigades of mechanized infantry — that’s a pretty substantial capability," Austin said. "In addition to that, additional artillery, and so they’ll have the ability to breach Russian defenses and maneuver, and I think that will create a different dynamic."
The US and its allies have provided billions of dollars’ worth of ammunition, weapons systems, and training to the Ukrainians since the war began one year ago — $29.8 billion of that coming from the US alone since the beginning of Russia’s invasion. Recently that has included significant items like the Patriot missile system and M1 Abrams tanks, though both require substantial training and maintenance capabilities.
Those additional capabilities will make all the difference, Austin said.
"I think the things that we’re doing, the capability that we’re providing — again, capability, not just a platform — the capabilities that we’re providing I think will enable the Ukrainians begin to change the dynamics on the battlefield," he said. "And so rather than having a stalemate, what you’ll probably see is Ukrainians shaping this fight so they can create opportunities for themselves and exploit those opportunities going forward."
Austin said in Brussels last week that countries involved in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group have been "working hard" to ensure Ukraine has the capability it needs to create "the effects on the battlefield they want to create," particularly in a renewed offensive he expects Ukraine to launch this spring.
Meanwhile, US officials have said China could be preparing to provide lethal military aid to Russia. Austin said he had not yet seen China do so, but that China "hasn’t taken that off the table for sure."
"I’ve engaged my counterpart early on and told him that this would be a very bad mistake if China were to do this. It would complicate things," he said.
Ultimately, the war will most likely "end with some sort of negotiation," Austin told CNN. In recent months, the prospect of negotiations taking place have seemed unlikely as Russia has continued to bombard Ukrainian infrastructure and population centers.
"[W]hat the Ukrainians are interested in is getting the Russians out of their sovereign territory," he said. "And I think that’s probably going to be their going-in point, but I’ll let the Ukrainians speak for themselves."
[Spiegel] The U.S. and Germany have warned China not to deliver weapons to Russia. According to information obtained by DER SPIEGEL, however, Beijing and Moscow are said to be negotiating the purchase of 100 strike drones, which could be delivered as soon as April.
At the Munich Security Conference last weekend, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken dispensed with the usual diplomatic niceties when he reported on his meeting with top Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, delivering a rebuke instead.
"We are very concerned that China is considering providing lethal support to Russia in its aggression against Ukraine," Blinken told U.S. broadcaster NBC. "And I made clear that that would have serious consequences in our relationship as well."
China reacted quickly, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson accusing Blinken of spreading disinformation. But information obtained by DER SPIEGEL indicates that the planned cooperation between Beijing and Moscow goes even further than Blinken makes it sound.
According to that information, the Russian military is engaged in negotiations with Chinese drone manufacturer Xi'an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology over the mass production of kamikaze drones for Russia. The revelations create a new urgency in the debate over possible Chinese military support for Russia.
Bingo has reportedly agreed to manufacture and test 100 ZT-180 prototype drones before delivering them to the Russian Defense Ministry by April 2023. Military experts believe the ZT-180 is capable of carrying a 35- to 50 kilogram warhead.
Sources believe that the design of the unmanned aerial vehicle could be similar to that of Iran's Shaheed 136 kamikaze drone. The Russian army has deployed hundreds of them in its attacks on Ukraine, where they used the Iranian drones to target residential buildings, power plants and district heating facilities, often resulting in civilian casualties.
In a further step, Bingo reportedly plans to deliver components and know-how to Russia so that the country can produce around 100 drones a month on its own.
China apparently already had plans last year to provide the Russian military with much more substantial support than previously known. According to information obtained by DER SPIEGEL, companies under the control of China's People's Liberation Army had planned to deliver replacement parts for Russia's SU-27 fighter jets and other models. To boil the frog. Start with with a luke warm bath and apply heat gradually.
[The Drive] Anti-tank loitering munitions, long-range strike capabilities, and high-endurance vertical takeoff drones are all in the latest aid package.
The U.S. military has announced a new aid package for Ukraine that is packed with drones and loitering munitions, among other things. This includes AeroVironment Switchblade 600s and Jump 20s, CyberLux K8s, and Area-I ALTIUS-600s. This appears to be the first time the latter three types have been included in a tranche of American military assistance for the Ukrainian armed forces. The ALTIUS-600s, especially, could give Ukrainian forces all-new long-range precision strike capabilities, among other potential benefits.
The Pentagon formally announced the new aid for Ukraine's military, which is valued at approximately $2 billion in total, earlier today. The U.S. government is providing this particular package as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Unlike U.S. military assistance that comes in the form of so-called 'drawdowns,' which involve transferring materiel straight from its own stocks, USAI provides funds to make direct purchases to support Ukraine.
A full list of the new aid package's contents as provided by the U.S. Department of Defense is as follows:
Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
Additional 155mm artillery rounds
Munitions for laser-guided rocket systems
CyberLux K8 UAS
Switchblade 600 UAS
Altius-600 UAS
Jump 20 UAS
Counter-UAS and electronic warfare detection equipment
Mine clearing equipment
Secure communications support equipment
Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment
The drones and loitering munitions are clearly the standout items here.
The Pentagon has previously announced plans to acquire Switchblade 600s for Ukraine under USAI. Jump 20s, ALTIUS-600s, and CyberLux K8s have not been included in any prior U.S. military aid packages for the Ukrainian armed forces, at least according to what the Pentagon has disclosed to date. Description of drones follow. Drones launching drones and smart munitions.
[USNI] When Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, the Black Sea was suddenly in the spotlight.
The Black Sea, which borders Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, was a key naval area for both Russia, which has a fleet dedicated to the area, and to Ukraine, in addition to a path for grain exports from Ukraine.
Within days of the invasion, Turkey closed the Bosphorus Strait to warships, effectively closing off the Black Sea to any country that did not border it. The last U.S. warship left in December 2021. Russia was left with the ships it had flowed into the region to join its existing Black Sea Fleet.
There was some speculation that Russia could prepare an amphibious assault on Ukraine with the goal of taking over the port city of Odesa. But the amphibious assault did not materialize. Nor did any other large naval maneuvers. For the most part, the Black Sea has played a commercial role in the conflict, affecting grain exports from Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine are in a stalemate when it comes to the Black Sea, similar to that of the land fight, said Mark Cancian, a senior advisor for the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ International Security Program.
Early on, Russia launched naval attacks, taking Snake Island from the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians responded, eventually recovering the island and sinking the guided-missile cruiser RTS Moskva (121). But since then, there has been little maritime activity.
Russia was able to launch a small amphibious assault on Mariupol, a smaller port city, which saw heavy fighting early in the war. However, a larger assault on Odesa was not likely. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has smaller amphibious ships, limiting how the troops and equipment they are able to carry, Cancian said. While [WHO???] speculated an amphibious assault on Odesa was imminent, Russia didn’t indicate it planned to launch one, Cancian said.
“You could say that they were deterred from doing raids, but the big amphibious operations were just never within the military capability, and there’s no indication that they thought about it either,” he said. “It’s not the Russian style.”
Brad Martin, director of Institute for Supply Chain Security with the RAND Corporation, said he had expected more activity around the Black Sea.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] 23:59 The war against Russia has found its reflection in mass culture, especially in music. The aggressor has absolutely no topical, modern music tracks about the war, while we have the opposite. Korrespondent.net collected the main Ukrainian songs of the war. More details in the material Music of War .
23:56 The EU has finally agreed on the tenth package of sanctions against Russia, Radio Liberty's Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak said. According to the Swedish representation in the European Union, the new package of sanctions will include tougher restrictions on the export of dual-use goods and technologies, as well as targeted restrictive measures against individuals and legal entities.
23:09 Canada imposes sanctions against deputy prime ministers of the Russian Federation, ministers, officials of the presidential administration of Russia, as well as the Medvedev family, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Sanctions were also imposed against both chambers of the Russian parliament, the General Staff of the Russian Federation, the FSB, the company operating the occupied Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, and the United Russia party.
22:58 Iran transferred artillery and tank shells to Russia for the war against Ukraine, said John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council: "We feared that relations between Russia and Iran would develop in both directions. And these fears, of course, Iran in November 2022 supplied artillery and tank shells to Russia for use against Ukraine."
According to Kirby, Russian-Iranian cooperation in the defense sphere is of concern to the US administration: "This will not only complicate the situation in Ukraine, but may also complicate the security situation in the Middle East for our partners and friends."
Kirby believes that Iran is seeking billions of dollars worth of military hardware from Russia. In particular, we are talking about the supply of missiles, electronics and air defense equipment. In addition, the Russian Federation can provide Iran with fighter jets.
22:39 Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has changed many areas of Ukrainian life, including completely reshaping the media space. Ukrainians quickly found new idols for themselves, who became famous during the war. Korrespondent.net has compiled its own rating of new media leaders. More details - in the material HYIP of the year .
22:06 Canada will give Ukraine four more Leopard 2s in addition to the four previously promised, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
21:47 Germany, France and Britain are discussing an agreement with Ukraine, which will give greater access to technology, but will encourage negotiations with the Russian Federation, writes The Wall Street Journal. According to the publication, Rishi Sunak last week laid out a plan for an agreement that would give Ukraine much greater access to advanced military equipment, weapons and ammunition for defense after the end of the war. The proposed pact would not contain any commitment to deploy NATO forces in Ukraine, but would provide Kyiv with the military means to deter a future Russian attack.
All three governments see the deal as an incentive to start talks with Russia, but politicians have cautiously said that any decision on when and under what conditions to begin peace talks is entirely up to Ukraine.
21:08 The G7 countries have increased their financial support commitments to Ukraine for 2023 from $32 billion to $38.66 billion , the finance ministers said in a statement.
20:29 Zelensky said that the training of Ukrainian fighter pilots, in addition to Britain and Poland, is coordinated with "three European states."
20:04 Zelnsky commented on the possibility of the return of Crimea: "It all depends on us. There are military steps, we are preparing for them. We are mentally prepared. We are preparing technically - with weapons, reinforcements, formation of offensive brigades ... we are sending people for training. Steps".
19:45 Zelensky said he intends to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping: "As far as I know, China respects territorial integrity. Therefore, it must do everything for Russia to leave our territory."
Meanwhile, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, Dai Bing, said Beijing was urging Russia and Ukraine to resume talks without preconditions.
19:39 Erdogan, after talking with Zelensky, spoke on the phone with Putin, Anadolu reports. The Turkish President stated that a just peace must be established without further loss of life and destruction in the war. He added that Ankara sincerely wants the agreements reached in Istanbul to be revived and is ready to make any contribution to this.
19:32 Zelensky announced that he had taken part in a meeting of G7 leaders, where he presented Ukraine's five priorities to partners: weapons, sanctions, finances, justice and unity.
19:28 Zelensky said that Russia began to actively promote the story of alleged "provocations of Ukraine in Transnistria" after Moldova received intelligence from the Ukrainian side about Russia's plans to stage a coup d'etat there. According to the president, Moscow deliberately provokes an aggravation in this region and may attack Moldova, since Putin needs to show victories that are not on the battlefield in Ukraine.
19:05 Zelensky was asked if he accepted Erdogan's offer to sit down at the negotiating table with Putin. The President replied that he had asked his Turkish colleague about this even before the war, but then he could not organize this meeting. “Now he says that he can organize this meeting. But we can’t already. There is no one to talk to anymore,” Zelensky said.
18:37 Zelensky said at a press conference in Kiev that Ukraine "will still come to the diplomatic fixation of the end of the war," but until that moment all the points of the peace formula must be fulfilled.
The president also answered a question about the Chinese “peace plan”: “I don’t think this is a peace plan. It seems to me that China just expressed its thoughts. It’s good that China started talking about the war in Ukraine. Another question is what is behind words. According to Zelensky, there are thoughts in Beijing's proposals that he does not share, but there are also those that suit Ukraine, such as support for territorial integrity. And therefore, it is worth working with China on these points. At the same time, he stressed that if the "peace plan" does not contain a clause on the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine, then such a plan does not suit Ukraine.
18:16 The US has no confirmation of a possible armed invasion of Ukraine in Transnistria, said US Ambassador to Moldova Kent Logsdon.
17:55 German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Berlin will increase the total number of deliveries of Leopard 2 A6 tanks to Ukraine from 14 to 18. This means that Germany, together with Portugal and Sweden, can provide Ukraine with a battalion of 31 tanks, writes Tagesspiegel.
17:34 During the year of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, Russian billionaires lost 20% of their fortune, Bloomberg calculated. So, as of February 23, 2022, 23 Russian billionaires, who were among the 500 richest people in the world, had a total net worth of $339 billion. A year later, they lost $67 billion.
The largest losses were suffered by the main owner of Severstal Alexei Mordashov (minus 6.7 billion), the chairman of the board of the Novolipetsk Iron and Steel Works Vladimir Lisin (minus 5.8 billion), the founder of PhosAgro, one of the largest producers of phosphate fertilizers in Europe, Andrey Guryev (minus 2.1 billion).
17:01 More than 30 world stars have recorded an appeal to Ukrainians on the anniversary of the Russian invasion.
16:53 The Russian Foreign Ministry warned Ukraine and NATO countries against "adventurous steps" in relation to Pridnestrovie and stated that any actions "posing a threat to peacekeepers will be considered, in accordance with international law, as an attack on the Russian Federation."
16:49 Zelensky said that the United States provided Ukraine not only with a $2 billion military aid package, but also with a $9.9 billion financial aid package.
16:37 Erdogan, in a telephone conversation with Zelensky, announced his readiness to contribute to peace, but "on the basis of a ceasefire," the administration of the Turkish president said. "The President of Turkey declared his country's readiness to strengthen its contribution to bringing peace and resolving the situation on the basis of a ceasefire and dialogue," the statement said.
16:34 Actions of solidarity with Ukraine and against the war are taking place all over the world, including in the capitals of the CIS republics, which Putin used to consider his allies, as well as in some Russian cities. So, residents of St. Petersburg bring flowers to the monument to Taras Shevchenko, in Perm - to the park of the Ural volunteers, in Khanty-Mansiysk they laid flowers at the memorial with the words "For what?" and "X * th war." The police detain activists, and in the center of Moscow they even inspect the bags of passers-by.
16:23 Canada announced the allocation of additional security assistance to Ukraine for $32 million. Of this amount, $7.5 million will be used for demining, more than $12 million for funds to combat and eliminate biological, radiation and nuclear threats, and more than $13 million for investigations of human rights violations and crimes.
16:18 The US announced new sanctions against Russia. In particular, the list includes 22 individuals (including nine Russian ministers) and 83 legal entities from the Russian Federation, as well as more than 30 companies from third countries. In addition, from March 10, the United States is introducing a 200% duty on imports of aluminum and aluminum products from Russia.
15:57 Biden said that Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia: “Today I will repeat what I said a year ago when Russia invaded Ukraine. A dictator seeking to restore an empire will never erase the people’s love for freedom. Cruelty will never break the will of the free. And Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia. Never."
15:51 Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki announced the transfer of another 60 modified tanks to Ukraine, including PT-91 Twardy - these are modernized versions of the Soviet T-72M.
15:32 Podolyak rejected China's "peace plan": "Any "peace plan" that provides only for a "ceasefire" and, as a result, a new dividing line and the continuation of the occupation of the territory of Ukraine is not about peace, but about freezing the war, losing Ukraine, the next stages of the Russian genocide. The position of Ukraine is known: the withdrawal of Russian troops to the borders of 1991."
15:07 The Swedish government has decided to join the tank coalition and plans to transfer ten modernized Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, writes Spiegel.
14:54 Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said during a visit to Kiev that his country is ready to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters. He also specified that four Leopard 2 tanks arrived in Ukraine.
14:50 Rada denounced all agreements with Russia regarding the Sea of Azov. In particular, these are the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, as well as the Agreement on the establishment of the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Group.
14:34 From the Javelins and a can of tomatoes to the cat Gloria and the dog Patron: about what helps Ukrainians maintain morale - in the material Symbols of War .
14:23 A meeting of the Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine - "financial Ramstein" - at the level of presidents and prime ministers will be held in early April in Washington during the spring meeting of the IMF and the World Bank, Shmyhal said in an interview with Ukrainian Forbes. The meeting will discuss long-term cooperation in five aspects: financing the budget deficit, the rapid recovery program (Rapid Recovery plan), the big recovery ("Marshall Plan for Ukraine"), the confiscation of frozen Russian assets, war risk insurance. The first meeting of "financial Ramstein" took place at the end of January online at the executive level.
13:56 The international group on combating money laundering - FATF suspended Russia's membership indefinitely , Yermak said. Earlier, Podolyak explained that this, in particular, would significantly increase the cost of doing business with the Russian Federation, and therefore make it unprofitable for foreign counterparties. In addition, Russia will have fewer opportunities to circumvent sanctions, and the volume of trade between the Russian Federation and the world will be further reduced.
13:45 The first of 14 Leopard 2 tanks arrived in Ukraine from Poland , the head of the Polish Ministry of Defense, Mariusz Blaszczak, said at a meeting of the National Security Council. President Andrzej Duda said that it was in this regard that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki arrived in Kyiv.
13:02 Stoltenberg said that NATO does not have confidence in China as a possible mediator between Ukraine and Russia. Beijing, after a year of full-scale war, has not condemned the Russian invasion, he added. Instead of condemning the war, China signed a friendship agreement with Russia just days before the invasion.
12:53 The United States will impose sanctions against more than 200 individuals and legal entities from the Russian Federation and third countries, the White House said. They also reported that the G7 countries intend to keep Russian assets frozen until the end of the war in Ukraine.
12:49 The Chinese Foreign Ministry denied Der Spiegel's information that Beijing could supply attack drones to Moscow. The department assures that the Chinese side takes a responsible approach to the export of weapons and does not sell them to warring countries.
12:44 British Defense Minister Ben Wallace ruled out sending British Typhoon fighters to Ukraine in the near future. According to him, these aircraft are too complex to fly and maintain, and to support them, it will be necessary to send about 200 British troops to Ukraine, which London will not do "at this stage." At the same time, Wallace added that Britain is ready to reimburse the Allies for Soviet aircraft with their own if they want to send old aircraft to Ukraine.
12:25 Stoltenberg said that he invited Zelensky to the NATO summit in Vilnius in July and hopes for the personal participation of the Ukrainian president.
12:23 The United States is preparing motorized brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which will be able to break through the defenses of the Russian Federation and change the situation on the battlefield, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said: "We are training and equipping several motorized infantry brigades - this is quite a significant potential. In addition to this, additional artillery, and therefore they have there will be an opportunity to break through Russian defenses and maneuver, and I think that will create a different dynamic."
12:17 The Pentagon announced a new $2 billion military aid package to Ukraine. It included:
ammunition for HIMARS;
155 mm artillery shells;
ammunition for laser-guided missile systems;
UAV CyberLux K8;
UAV Switchblade 600;
UAV Altius-600;
UAV Jump 20;
UAV detection equipment and electronic warfare equipment;
demining equipment;
secure communications auxiliaries;
funding for training, maintenance and support.
12:10 Denmark may consider providing fighter jets to Ukraine in the future, but together with its allies and in the long term, Defense Minister Troel Lund Poulsen said.
11:56 There is no shortage of power in the power system and it is not predicted yet. All types of power plants are operating, electricity imports continue to decline due to the stabilization of electricity supply in the country, Ukrenergo reported.
As a result of Russian shelling, there are blackouts in the frontline regions of the Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kherson regions and the border regions of the Sumy and Chernihiv regions. In Kherson, as a result of shelling and an accident at a thermal power plant, there is no heat supply. Network restrictions still apply in Odessa.
11:41 Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki arrived in Kiev on the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, said the representative of the Polish government Piotr Muller.
11:35 The Foreign Ministry said that the only reason for Russia's unprovoked aggression was "neo-imperial ambitions and expansionism of the Russian leadership as part of attempts to revive the" Russian empire "by seizing the lands of neighboring countries."
The department emphasized that the invariable prerequisites for the onset of peace "should be the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine, the restoration of its internationally recognized borders, the payment of reparations for all damage caused by Russia's armed aggression, and bringing to international criminal responsibility those who gave away criminal orders, and those who followed them.Ukraine will continue to move towards victory over Russian aggression, as well as continue to move towards full membership in the EU and NATO, the Foreign Ministry said.
11:17 Orban, on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, said that Russia cannot win thanks to Western support, but "a nuclear power cannot be driven into a corner." He also called for peace talks.
10:48 Western fighters do not play a key role for Ukraine in the confrontation with Russia at this stage, Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. According to him, during the visit of the US President to Kyiv, they discussed with Zelensky the supply of F-16 fighters, but they are not "key weapons" needed by Ukraine.
"F-16s are not a matter of short-term fighting. F-16s are a matter of long-term defense of Ukraine, and this is a conversation that President Biden and President Zelensky had," Sullivan said.
In addition, the White House is "weighing the risks of escalation against Ukraine's security needs throughout the war," Sullivan added. According to him, Biden agreed to provide Abrams tanks only for Germany to agree to supply their tanks.
10:31 Among the thousands of recorded Russian war crimes Korrespondent.net singled out the most bloody and large-scale ones that occurred during the year of a full-scale war. Details - in the material Black days (18+) .
10:23 British intelligence believes that Russia has begun a new stage in the war with Ukraine. In particular, the first stage, according to analysts, began in 2014 - Moscow's strategic goal was to "control its neighbor." During 2014-2021, the Kremlin pursued this goal through subversive activities. In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion, trying to take over the entire country and overthrow its government - this was the second stage. Now the Russian leadership has launched a long-term operation, counting on the fact that Russia's advantages in population and resources will eventually drain Ukraine.
Intelligence notes that in recent weeks the Russian Federation has been preparing for a war of attrition. The Kremlin's efforts are aimed primarily at weakening the Ukrainian armed forces, and not at seizing new significant territories.
10:06 US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that Beijing's "peace plan" should have ended after the first paragraph calling for "respect for the sovereignty of all countries." He stressed that the war could end tomorrow if Russia withdraws its troops.
09:51 Russia is allegedly negotiating with the Chinese company Xi'an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology to buy 100 ZT-180 attack drones, which can be delivered as early as April, writes Spiegel. According to military experts, these drones are capable of carrying a warhead weighing between 35 and 50 kg.
09:17 Politico writes that the EU has not agreed on new sanctions against Russia because of Poland, which requires their strengthening. At the same time, Warsaw admits that the package is being delayed, but wants the sanctions to "make sense."
09:15 Britain has expanded sanctions against Russia, they affected 92 individuals and legal entities. In particular, sanctions have been imposed against Russians associated with Rosatom and Gazprom.
09:04 In the Donetsk region over the past day, as a result of Russian shelling, two people were killed - in Yampol and Ivanovskoye. Seven other people in the area were injured. In the Kherson region, one person died, three were injured. In the Kupyansky district of the Kharkiv region, nine people were injured as a result of shelling, according to the regional military administrations.
08:52 The tenth package of EU sanctions did not affect the nuclear industry of the Russian Federation, although there were attempts to impose restrictions on it, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told the Russian media. He also said that the EU, as part of the new package, planned to impose sanctions on Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, but Hungary opposed this. In addition, Budapest is seeking the lifting of sanctions against nine Russians from "business circles."
08:50 New Zealand has also imposed new sanctions against Russia: the list includes 87 people, including politicians of "strategic importance to Russia and close to Putin."
08:48 On the anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion, Korrespondent.net recalls the most significant events that took place this year. More details - in the material The main milestones of the war .
08:37 The Australian government announced the provision of a new package of military assistance to Ukraine, and also introduced new sanctions against Russia. Specifically, the package will include additional Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) that provide battlefield reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance for the Armed Forces as they continue to fight.
Sanctions were imposed on 90 people and 40 organizations. Among them are a number of Russian ministers, as well as key players in the Russian defense industry.
Also in the UK today, the first rotation of some 200 Ukrainian recruits will complete military training supported by Australian Defense Force personnel as part of Operation Kudu, Australia's contribution to the UK-led multinational training programme.
08:33 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of February 24.
personnel - about 146,820 (+970) people liquidated,
tanks - 3363 (+13),
armored combat vehicles - 6600 (+7),
artillery systems - 2363 (+11),
MLRS - 474 (+3),
air defense systems - 247 (+3),
aircraft - 299 (+0),
helicopters - 287 (+0),
UAV operational-tactical level - 2033 (+4),
cruise missiles - 873 (+0),
ships/boats - 18 (+0),
automotive equipment and tankers - 5224 (+9),
special equipment - 229 (+1).
08:17 The Russian army is focusing its main efforts on conducting offensive operations in the Kupyansky, Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdeevsky and Miner directions. Over the past day, Ukrainian defenders repulsed about 100 enemy attacks in these directions, the General Staff said in a morning report .
According to the General Staff, Russia continues covert mobilization. In particular, in the regions of the Caucasus there is an active forced mobilization - all men of military age are subject to it, regardless of their state of health and desire to fight. A large number of those mobilized are citizens who have served or are serving sentences in penitentiary institutions. Prisoners are released on the condition of voluntary participation in hostilities in Ukraine.
In the occupied Lugansk region, mobile operators have disabled access to the Internet in order to prevent the transfer of data on the actions of Russian troops and to combat the population patriotic towards Ukraine.
08:06 Zelensky published a video dedicated to the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "On February 24, millions of us made a choice: not a white flag, but a blue-yellow flag. Not an escape, but a meeting. Meeting the enemy. Resistance and struggle. It was a year of pain, regret, faith and unity. And this is the year of our invincibility with you We know that this will be the year of our victory!” the President emphasized.
05:18 China has published its version of the "peace plan" to resolve the war in Ukraine. Beijing, in particular, called for a cessation of hostilities, the lifting of unilateral sanctions and the early resumption of dialogue between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as countering the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.
03:27 On Friday, February 24, the United States will announce a new $2 billion military aid package to Ukraine, CNN reports. First of all, the funds will be used to finance the production of ammunition in the United States. In addition, the new assistance package will include equipment that will be produced in the United States.
01:08 The Ministry of Defense of Moldova rejects Russian statements about a provocation being prepared by Ukraine in Transnistria. The statement of the Russian Defense Ministry about possible provocations by Ukraine in the Transnistrian region is "an element of a psychological operation," the Moldovan department said.
00:16 In Kherson, as a result of another Russian strike, the main pipeline was damaged, which provided heating for about 600 houses - more than 40 thousand people. Repair work will continue without interruption until heat supply is resumed, Zelensky said.
00:09 Zelensky said in an evening video message that he had held a meeting of the Headquarters in an expanded format, heard detailed reports: "The East is very difficult. Painful. But we are doing everything to survive. The south is quite dangerous in some directions, but our soldiers have something and how to respond to the occupier. Odessa and the Black Sea area - we control the situation. North - all our soldiers in this direction see every intention of the enemy. Where necessary, we are strengthening. There was a report by the head of the GUR Budanov about the current intentions of the occupier. There are decisions about our counteraction."
Separately "and in great detail" at Headquarters, the issues of production and supply of ammunition and weapons were considered. “Of course, I cannot publicly disclose details on this matter. But this is meaningful work. And I am glad to hear at Headquarters that even in such conditions we have the appropriate potential,” the president added.
Here is an article with a good subtitle: "How Washington Exaggerates China's Weakness." Written by professional sinologist Christopher Johnson of the highly respected Asian community in New York. He expresses his irritation with the current administration: okay, even its ideologists constantly say that the Beijing regime is on the verge of any trouble, and we (America) are the strongest.
So after all, US diplomacy also constantly gets into the most stupid situations, expecting that "weak" China is ready to bend to the limit. And as a result, the Americans receive either a disruption of the most important events, or such a rebuff to them that it is inconvenient in front of people.
Johnson gives several examples, here is at least a funny story with a balloon in the sky of the United States. Smart-looking people from the Pentagon say that there is a squabble between the military and civilian authorities of China, that is, the internal weakness of this power. And she is so weak that she urgently needs to agree with Washington on detente. If so, then Beijing should have rushed to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to resolve the situation. Instead, Blinken was simply not allowed into China.
Johnson explains: Yes, there was no attempt by the PRC military to sabotage detente with the United States. Beijing is well aware that a hybrid American war has been waged against it for the sixth year already, and against this background, some spy balloons are a complete trifle, and Blinken’s visit is generally unknown for what. And, from the point of view of China, the Americans in this story simply disgraced the whole world, showing a complete misunderstanding of the essence of events.
Here it must be said that our author is a hawk of hawks. China for him is a terrible communist dictatorship, Xi Jinping is a tough ruler who is used to playing for big stakes. But at the same time, Johnson is a professional Sinologist, and his pathos is directed against amateurs who have no idea what China is at all.
And this is familiar to us. In Russia, a great number of "experts" have recently divorced, who cannot correctly decline the name of the Chinese leader, while at the same time explaining something to the respectable public. But when responsible people in Washington make decisions with such a level of competence (“China is weak”), this is somehow unpleasant for an American sinologist.
Look, there's something familiar here. China is weak and about to crack, Russia has been losing the war for exactly a year now, suffers from shell hunger, and so on. Well, democracy around the world goes on the offensive.
Here it is very easy for us to make the mistake of thinking that this is just propaganda. It is needed to rally its ranks, to fool the world around, and to demoralize some characters inside Russia or China - after all, such propaganda also reaches them, and many are ready to believe. And, they say, somewhere in the bowels of the Washington administration sit quiet specialists who are well aware that in fact the enemy is not at all weak. And responsible decisions are still made by this administration based on the advice of these real experts.
This is a typical mistake of a smart person: to think that your opponent is also smart. Or assume this just in case, that is, prepare for the worst. And it’s very hard to believe that there really are idiots sitting there who, in all seriousness, believe that – in this case – China is weak, its leadership is full of factions gnawing at each other, its economy is about to collapse.
But - moving on to Russian-American realities - smart people would not start a sanctions war against us in the sincere belief that we are so weak that we are about to collapse from this war. Smart people would have guessed that this war would arouse the hatred of most of the world and drive its organizers to a standstill.
It remains to be understood which enemy is still better to deal with: competent and realistic, or the way it is.
Kindly note that several entries in this article may have been removed because they included discussions of the grand strategic level.
[NewsFrontInfo] 21:06 Near Artemovsk February 19 eliminated militant SSO GUR MOU, ATO veteran Oleg Andreytsev. 20:26 Secret revealed cruel battles in Sumy: for a day the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed their soldiers and equipment.
18:58Ukrainians in KhersonTodayat about 1500 hrs, they carried out a provocation with explosions in the area near the St. Kasperovsky Church in the Korabel microdistrict.
Yesterday Alexander reported that four dark green pickup trucks had been sent to Kherson from Nikolaev. One of these pickups was seen driving away from the explosion site on the island (the explosion is pictured).
18:35 Meanwhile across Ukraine continues temple capture wave.
These billboards are hung up, supposedly to gather believers who "express their protest against the UOC."
In fact, everything is prepared in advance, the necessary participants and power support will be brought in advance
17:44 "Mobilization in Ukraine is proceeding normally" (c) Danilov -video
16:46 Ukrainian special services conducted search in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Chernivtsi in Bukovina.
SBU officers "discovered warehouses with pro-Kremlin literature and manuals from Russian curators."
Judging by the photo, children's bibles, primers and prayers are a crime under Ukrainian law.
The Ukrainian special services opened a criminal case under the article "treason."
15:24 Combat work of the Russian intelligence officers of the Southern Group on directing and adjusting artillery fire on a group of Ukrofascists in the area of the settlement. Maryinka -video
14:07 The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reports -video
More than 60 Ukrainian servicemen were killed in the Kupyansky direction, up to 140 in the Krasno-Limansky direction, up to 240 soldiers per day in the Donetsk direction, more than 80 Ukrainian soldiers were destroyed in the Yuzhno-Donetsk direction, more than 40 in the Kherson direction;
-- in the Avdievka area, an enemy command post and ammunition depot were destroyed;
-- four enemy ammunition depots were destroyed in the DPR and Zaporozhye region;
-- two US-made M777 systems and a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery mount were destroyed.
14:05 In Avdievka (DPR)destroyed command post and warehouse with ammunition of nationalists - Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
13:59 In the Peremoga area (Kharkiv region)defeated command post of the 127th Brigade of the territorial defense of Ukrainian militants, according to the RF Ministry of Defense
13:49 Exclusive footage of the destruction of Ukrainian manpower and equipment. Chernihiv region, February 2023 —video
12:43 Yesterday, at the IWT parking lot of one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the settlement. Zelenovka (Kherson region), an artillery strike was inflicted, as a result of which: eight units. automotive equipment destroyed; nine servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were disposed of, four were seriously injured.
12:12 Combat work of the army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the area of the special operation —video
12:11 Another destroyed evacuation vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine -video
11:07 Artillery of the 132nd Brigade destroys the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine -video
Artillerymen of the 132nd Brigade of the 1st Donetsk Army Corps (formerly the 3rd Brigade of the NM of the DPR) are destroying the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ukrainian militants stationed on them, supporting the advance of the assault groups forward.
10:09 Russian units, with the support of aviation and artillery, continue to successfully advance on all fronts, destroying all Ukrofascists who refuse to raise their hands -video
09:08 Ukrainian military argue about the situation in Transnistria, calling the Moldovans **any gypsies and crazy devils.
No Nazism, it's just the Armed Forces of Ukraine and European-Ukrainian telegram channels
08:09 Crews of Su-25SM3 attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed equipment and fortifications of nationalists in the NVO zone -video
Pilots attack in pairs, approaching the enemy at low altitudes. In the course of carrying out the tasks, the military personnel performed a maneuver and released heat traps for the nationalists.
08:05 On Zelensky's website collect signatures on conferring the title of "hero" of Ukraine to the Belarusian Nazi Eduard Lobov, who was liquidated in January near Vuhledar.
For 10 days, 2,500 Ukrainians felt that the Nazi, who had fled from Belarusian justice, deserved to be their national hero.
Kindly note that several entries in this article may have been removed because they included discussions of the grand strategic level.
[NewsFrontInfo] 23:58 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 02/24/2023 to 00:00 02/25/2023
Over the past day Representationreportedabout 11 facts of firing by the VFU.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy made seven attacks from the MLRS, 155mm artillery.
-- On Gorlovsky two artillery attacks from 155mm artillery.
-- On Yasinovatsky two artillery attacks from MLRS, artillery 155mm. Having fired 69 units of various ammunition.
Under enemy fire were areas of five settlements of the Republic: Gorlovka (Kalininsky district), the capital city of Donetsk (Kuibyshevsky, Kievsky, Kirovsky, Petrovsky districts), Yasinovataya, Makeevka (Chervonogvardeysky district), Aleksandrovka.
Over the past day, information was received about the death of a civilian - a woman, in Yasinovataya. A civilian was wounded - a woman, in the Kalininsky district of Gorlovka. Six housing constructions were damaged in the Petrovsky district of Donetsk, Oleksandrivka and Yasynuvata, as well as one civil infrastructure facility. Previously, 22 artillery attacks were recorded from the side of the VFU per day.
21:31 Petrovsky district of Donetsk again under shelling from the VFU.
21:00 Reported intensive skirmishes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the west of Gorlovka with the use of short-range machine guns.
20:37 Severa Artemivska, Dubovo-Vasilyevo,fullycame under the control of PMC "Wagner". Yagodnoye is undergoing additional cleaning, more than 90 percent of the n.p. at 16-00 it was under PMC "Wagner".
20:22 In the area of Belogorovka, Russian troops took a fortified area, which was preparing the Armed Forces of Ukraine for long-term defense -video
20:18 Current setting on the Bakhmutovsky direction.
Today, the head of Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced the capture of the village of Berkhovka. The village has been completely cleared and now the Wagner operators are developing success. They are already fighting on the approaches to the north near Dubovo-Vasilyevka.
At the same time, fierce battles are going on from the other side of Berkhovka in the village of Yagodnoye, the capture of which opens up the possibility of further movement to Khromovo and Bogdanovka. These settlements are the keys to the remaining communications of the AFU grouping in Bakhmut.
Thus, the ticks around the city are compressed more and more. Wagner seeks not only to take under operational control all the roads leading to the city, but also to physically cut off the supply routes of the Bakhmutovsky garrison.
20:12 Petrovsky district of Donetsk undermassiveshelling.
20:01 Donetsk is under powerful shelling of Ukrainians. MLRS are operating in the Kirovsky and Petrovsky districts, as well as in Yasinovataya. Launched at least 23 missiles.
19:36 Reported about arrival near Gladkivka, Kyiv district of Donetsk.
18:53 Vasilievka, Yasinovatsky district has undergone artillery attack by militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
18:02 Yasinovataya and Yasinovatsky district and Petrovsky district of Donetsk -shelling by Ukrainians continue
17:47 Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the forests in the Kremensk direction inflicted a fire defeat on the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine -video
17:44 Russian reconnaissance and assault detachments of the Southern group successfully eliminated stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of N. p. Kremennaya
17:37 From the settlement of Krasnogorovka, the Ukrainians were issued 20 rockets from MLRS in Donetsk (Kirov and Petrovsky districts). JCCC.
17:14 The RF Armed Forces successfully eliminated the enemy with the help of strike UAVs -video
16:56 Situation on condition at 16.00 February 24, 2023, Starobelsk direction.
There are no visible changes in the front line in the Starobelsky direction. Mutual artillery artillery attack is taking place along the line of contact, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are reinforcing their positions on the right bank of the Oskol River in case of an offensive by Russian troops.
In the Kupyansky sector, one tank company of the 10th battalion of the 3rd detachment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the amount of five tanks was transferred from Staroverovka to the Dvurechnaya area. After refueling, the crews took up prepared positions.
The Ukrainian command is considering the possibility of a counteroffensive on Dvurechnoye to return the lost territories. However, the scenario is unlikely due to large losses in manpower and the transfer of some units to other sectors of the front.
So, in the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade, a gap has already formed, which is quickly filled by the mobilized. As a result of yesterday's strike by the Russian Armed Forces on the brigade's personnel deployment point, 32 people were killed.
Separate units of the 67th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as a mobile EW group, were transferred to the Kolesnikovka-Zagryzovo line at the Svatovsky sector. The newly created formation was supposed to operate in the operational reserve of the AFU grouping in the Kharkiv region, however, due to a change in the situation, it is actively used on the front line.
In the Liman sector, Ukrainian paratroopers at the Torskoe-Kirovsk line are experiencing a shortage of ammunition. At the moment, artillery crews can only fire at confirmed targets.
Reinforcements of the Armed Forces of Ukraine arrived at the positions of the 1st battalion of the 25th Airborne Brigade and the 13th battalion of the 95th Airborne Brigade in Terny, Yampolovka and Torsk, as well as radio stations and drone control panels were handed over.
16:21 Fixed shelling from the side of the VFU in the direction: — n.p. Krasnogorovka - Donetsk (Petrovsky district): 10 rockets were fired from the MLRS.
16:00 Petrovsky district of Donetsk under artillery attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine -video
15:58 It is reported about shelling of Kirovsky district of Donetsk by the Ukronazis.
15:48 APU continues to shell Petrovsky district of Donetsk It is reported that earlier air defense worked over the southwestern regions, the cassettes, presumably, were opened in the Tekstilshchik-Rutchenkovo square.
15:40 Reported arrival in the Kalininsky district of Donetsk.
15:26 Soledar direction, setting as of 15:00 February 24, 2023.
In the north of Bakhmut, the assault on the village of Yagodnoye continues. After the liberation of Berkhovka, the position of the Armed Forces of Ukraine seriously deteriorated. Assault detachments of the PMC "Wagner" pushed back the forces of the 25th rifle battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the outskirts of Yagodnoye - a settlement practically under the control of Russian units.
To the west of Berkhovka, fighting is taking place at dachas near Dubovo-Vasilevka. The Ukrainian command is trying to hold the village: fire support for the defenders is provided by cannon and rocket artillery from Bogdanovka. However, the dominating hills north of Dubovo-Vasilevka are already controlled by the Wagnerites, so it is becoming more and more difficult for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to keep this area.
To the north, clashes continue at the Zaliznyanskoye-Vasyukovka line, as well as in the direction of Orekhovo-Vasylivka. The forces of the 123rd battalion of the 113th arr. TRO tried to hit the flank of the advancing group of Russian troops from Minkovka and recapture a section of the route to Slavyansk, but the forces of the Wagner PMC repelled the attack.
Positional battles are going on in Bakhmut. The "Wagnerites" deepened on the eastern outskirts of the city in the Zabakhmutovka area, gaining a foothold in the quarter adjacent to Shchedraya Street. In the southwest, the assault detachments entered the suburban areas.
In the south-west of Bakhmut, the assault detachments of the "Wagnerites" resumed their offensive on Krasnoe and in the direction of the road to Konstantinovka. Now the fighting is going on on the outskirts of the settlement, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are using ground attack aircraft to contain units of the Wagner PMC.
14:57 Attack near Belogorovka: our troops took the enemy's fortified area, successfully liquidating the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the help of a thermal imager -video
14:34 The RF Armed Forces successfully hit enemy fortifications with the help of "Lancets" on the Svatovsky line -video
14:28 In the South Donetsk direction, operational-tactical aviation and artillery of the Vostok group of forces inflicted a complex fire defeat on the Armed Forces of Ukraine -video
14:25 Soldiers of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division hit an armored vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the way out of Maryinka -video
14:22 Tonight in the area of N. p. Belozerka (Kherson region) an artillery strike was carried out on the position of one of the brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as a result of which, the artillery crew was destroyed 122mm howitzer D-30, four - servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were disposed of; three - received injuries of varying severity.
14:15 APU again inflicted attacks on Gorlovka (Kalinisky district). Three rounds with a caliber of 155mm were fired from the settlement of Shcherbinovka. DNR SCCC.
13:50 Fixed shelling from the side of the VFU in the direction: — n.p. Dzerzhinsk - n.p. Gorlovka (Kalinin district): four rounds of 155mm caliber were fired. DNR SCCC.
13:19 Fixed shelling from the side of the VFU in the direction: — n.p. Karlovka - Donetsk (Kirov and Kuibyshevsky districts): four rounds of 155mm caliber were fired. DNR SCCC.
12:58 Summary of Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation (24.02.2023)
In the Kupyansk direction, army aviation strikes and artillery fire from the "Western" group of troops defeated the enemy's manpower and equipment in the areas of the settlements of Dvurechnaya, Krakhmalnoe and Tabaevka of the Kharkov region.
During the day, more than 60 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, four vehicles, a 122mm Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer and one 152mm D-20 howitzer were destroyed in this direction.
In the Krasno-Limansky direction, as a result of the active actions of the units of the group of troops "Center" with the support of assault and army aviation, artillery fire in the areas of the settlements of Novosadove of the Donetsk People's Republic, Ploshchanka, Makeevka, Chervonopopovka and Chervonaya Dibrova of the Luhansk People's Republic, up to 140 Ukrainian military personnel, three armored combat vehicles, three vehicles, a 122mm Grad MLRS combat vehicle, as well as 152mm Msta-B, 152mm D-20 and 122mm D-30 howitzers.
In the Donetsk direction, units of the "Southern" group of forces inflicted a comprehensive fire defeat on accumulations of enemy manpower and equipment along the entire line of contact.
Enemy losses per day in this direction amounted to 240 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks, seven armored combat vehicles, six vehicles, 152mm D-20 and 122mm howitzers, an 85mm D-44 anti-tank gun, and one US-made M777 artillery system.
In addition, in the area of the settlement of Avdievka in the Donetsk People's Republic, a command post and a warehouse with ammunition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed.
In the South-Donetsk direction, operational-tactical aviation and artillery of the Vostok group of troops inflicted a complex fire defeat on the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Vodiane, Vugledar and Prechistovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
During the day, more than 80 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, three pickup trucks, four 220mm Uragan MLRS combat vehicles, one 152mm D-20 howitzer, a US-made M777 artillery system, and a Krab self-propelled artillery mount were destroyed in this direction. Polish-made, as well as a US-made AN/TPQ-36 counterbattery radar.
In addition, four ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed in the areas of the settlements of Razdolnoye, Bogatyr of the Donetsk People's Republic and Malinovka in the Zaporozhye region.
In the Kherson direction, as a result of fire damage, more than 40 Ukrainian servicemen, a 122mm Grad MLRS combat vehicle, an 152mm Msta-B howitzer, three 122mm D-30 howitzers, and also in the area of ????the settlement of Vyshetarasovka, Dnepropetrovsk region, an ammunition depot of the 104th Artillery Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The missile forces and artillery of the groupings of troops (forces) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inflicted defeat on the 102nd artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at firing positions, as well as manpower and equipment in 142 districts, in a day.
The command post of the 127th Territorial Defense Brigade was hit near the village of Peremoga, Kharkiv region.
During the day, air defense systems shot down four HIMARS and 220mm Uragan rockets, and also destroyed six Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the areas of the settlements of Merefa, Liman Vtoroi of the Kharkiv region, Aleksandrovka of the Donetsk People's Republic, Holaya Pristan and Novaya Zburyevka of the Kherson region.
12:36 Artillerymen disrupted the counterattack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Svatov direction. A group of militants, under cover of a tank, stormed our positions in the Stelmahovka area, but was almost immediately covered by artillery. The Ukrainian infantry retreated. The tank was immobilized and then methodically fired on by our artillery -video
12:28 PMC "Wagner" units completely took under the control of the settlement of Berkhovka to the north of Bakhmut. In general, the offensive operations of our subunits continue along the entire line of combat contact.
11:58 Ghost Battalion successfully eliminated the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine -video
11:19 Essential in Yagodnoe promotion of our fighters, but a small section of the village remained behind the enemy.
10:45 Messages arrive about promotion of Russian Armed Forces in the area of Novoselovka II (DPR) - troops are covering Avdievka from the flanks.
10:18 Yesterday during the day VFU released 79 rounds from cannon artillery on the civilian infrastructure of the left bank of the Kherson region. Localities affected:
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure. The enemy fired a total of 42 cannon artillery rounds at the cities of Novaya Kakhovka and Kakhovka, the villages of Heroiskoye and Staraya Zburyevka, the village of Velikaya Lepetikha and Gornostaevka.
10:14 Artillerymen of the 132nd Brigade of the 1st Donetsk Army Corps (formerly the 3rd brigade of the NM DPR) are destroying the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ukrainian militants stationed on them, supporting the advancement of the assault groups forward -video
09:18 Chronicle of blows and mutual shelling in the NWO zone for the night from February 23 to February 24, 2023
Russian troops hit the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Senkovka and Leonovka, Chernihiv region, as well as in Volfino, Belopolye and Zapselye, Sumy region.
In the Kharkiv region, the RF Armed Forces attacked enemy targets in Veterinary, Volchanskie Khutory and Ustinovka.
In the Starobelsky direction, the Russian troops worked on the clusters of personnel and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kupyansk, Stelmakhivka and Razdolovka.
In the Bakhmut (Artyomovsky) direction, Russian missile troops and artillery hit the places of concentration of Ukrainian units in Bakhmut, Chasov Yar and Dyleevka. A missile attack hit the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the industrial zone of Kramatorsk.
In the Donetsk direction, the RF Armed Forces attacked enemy positions in Krasnogorovka, Marinka and Avdeevka.
In turn, Ukrainian formations from barrel artillery fired at civilian targets in Mayorsk, Yasinovataya and Vodyany.
In the Yuzhnodonets direction, Russian troops worked on targets in Prechistovo, Vugledar and Novopolya.
In the Zaporozhye region, the RF Armed Forces attacked enemy positions in Kamenskoye, Orekhovo and Poltavka.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian artillery worked on firing points of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Nikopol and Marganets.
On the southern sector of the front, the RF Armed Forces hit enemy concentrations in Kherson, Berislav and Ochakov.
09:10 Battles near Kremennaya: landing forces destroy enemy positions in the forests with fire —video
Tank crews and landing self-propelled guns NONA work. Enemy losses - nine people killed and wounded.
09:05 Front at Kremennaya: the landing force is not only attacking, but also preparing deadly obstacles for the Armed Forces of Ukraine -video
The fighters of the engineering and sapper groups of the Airborne Forces spoke about the daily work on the installation of engineering barriers at the front in the LPR.
08:15 Frontline summary on the morning of 02/24/2023
In the Ugledar sector, Russian troops, with fire support, attacked in the Prechistovka area, as well as in the direction of the city itself from the side of Nikolsky dachas. Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation fired at Zeleny Pole, Novopol, Novosyolka, Vremovka and Bolshaya Novosyolka. The Armed Forces of Ukraine again struck at Mariupol.
On the Donetsk front, Russian troops were conducting offensive operations in the Pobeda area. Also, with the support of artillery, they attacked in Maryinka, near Nevelskoye, in the Vodiane area, from Spartak to Avdeevka and from Novobakhmutovka to Keramik. There is no need to talk about success. Under shelling, the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Novomikhailovka, Paraskovievka, Georgievka, Krasnogorovka, Pervomaisky and Vesely. The Ukrainian military attacked Donetsk.
To the south of Bakhmut, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired at Ozaryanovka. PMC "Wagner" attacked in several directions at once. On the eastern outskirts of Bakhmut itself there is a slight advance. To the north of the city there is an assault on Yagodny.
Wagner operators in Berkhovka. Between these two settlements, they cut the road. They are also rushing to Dubovo-Vasilyevka. In all these areas, PMC "Wagner" operated with the support of artillery. Wagner operators also tried to advance to Orekhovo-Vasilyevka.
Thus, now the main pressure on the Ukrainian garrison in Bakhmut comes from the north. To the west of Soledar, Wagner PMC attacks in the Zheleznyansky area. And to the north - in the direction of Fedorovka. From the side of Donetsk Belogorovka, the Wagner operators, with the support of artillery, carried out offensive operations on Vesyoloye. There is no progress in these three areas.
In the Luhansk direction, another attack by Russian troops on the local Belogorovka. To the north - an attempt to move to Terny and Makeevka.
08:10 Per day on the territory of the DPR died six people, 13 more wounded – Headquarters of TerO DPR
Over the past 24 hours, from 00:00 on February 23 to 00:00 on February 24, 6 people were killed and another 13 civilians were injured as a result of artillery attack of the Ukrainian military on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic.
#1
A lot of double counting going on. Even the graphs DM used say $73B. Further only a fraction of the pledged $73B has been delivered. Last I read about $27B in military aid has been delivered, the rest in the pipeline or factory floor.
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin
[ColonelCassad] A year ago, the NWO began as the next stage of the war in Ukraine between the Russian Federation and the United States.
For the Russian Federation, the beginning of the NWO marked the final acquisition of full sovereignty, including economic. The 30-year experiment with going to the "golden billion" has finally come to an end. Normal relations with the West are over for the long term. This would become a serious problem within the framework of the old world order, but within the framework of the transition to a multipolar world, this gap is no longer so critical.
In the context of a long-term proxy war with the US and NATO on the territory of Ukraine, which can go on for years, the Russian Federation needs to strengthen the economic base and the military-industrial complex, as well as build up military efforts in Ukraine, avoiding a number of unnecessary mistakes in 2022.
The 2022 campaign showed that the pre-war plans of the parties could not withstand the collision with reality and were already transformed on the go based on the current situation on the battlefield and around it.
With regard to the question of the need to start the SVO, there has always been exactly one complaint - why is it so late? In fact, Putin admitted this in the fall that perhaps it should have been earlier. As for the rest, Russia cannot in any way allow the existence of a Nazi regime at its side, which possesses nuclear weapons and seeks to seize the Donbass and Crimea, as well as pursuing a policy of ethnocide against Russians and Russian-speakers.
Therefore, SVO is fully justified and necessary. With the onset of the second year of the NWO, I would like to wish everyone fruitful and productive work to achieve the goals of the 2023 campaign and increase the overall efficiency of operations, rear work and social transformation.
Direct Translation via Goolge Translate. Edited.
[KP] Voenkor Kots spent Defender of the Fatherland Day with real heroes on the front line
by Alexander Kots
GOING ALONG FOR THE RIDE? LET'S DROP GRAD ROCKETS THERE!
- Happy holiday, comrade officers! - I crawl on February 23 into the underground control room of one of the Russian formations.
A dozen men in uniform stare at several large screens. From the side, one might think that this is an organized viewing of a festive concert or congratulations from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. But on the monitors - no shiny tinsel, no bravura fanfare, no pop stars. Defender of the Fatherland Day in the NVO zone is not a reason to break away from combat work. The screens display a picture from drones, which, overcoming the electronic suppression of the enemy, transmit the picture from the other side in real time.
- What is it going along the clearing? Point, - the officer commands.
A man with a joystick, like from a game console, zooms in on an armored car. This is an enemy armored personnel carrier. He drives into the forest, thinking that he is becoming invisible to our drones. But from the control point it is clearly visible how two people leave the “box”, they are met by a third and keeping a distance they are walking together somewhere in the snow. The drone guides them for 10 minutes until they “lead” our operator to a hidden stronghold dug in a thicket and carefully camouflaged. Looks like one of the bosses came to inspect.
- Let's "Grad" there. Grad being a 122mm rocket artillery system, BM-21
- Consumption?
- Two to five.
This means that five rockets are fired at the enemy position first. After the adjustment - five more. Ten more followed them, plunging the opornik into black smoke, after which no movement was noted in the forest.
The armored personnel carrier managed to leave somewhere, but the operators find a new target - an artillery gun similar to the American M777 howitzer. This time, the communications from the control center go to the operators of the Lancet loitering ammunition, which are based a few kilometers away. Minutes later, the control room already has footage of the defeat, filmed by a kamikaze drone.
GETTING BACK WHAT YOU LEFT LAST YEAR
Actually, ideally, this is how the notorious RUK should look like - a reconnaissance-strike circuit. When both command and control, and artillery, and drones, and assault squads of different units work as a single organism.
But just a few months ago, the line of resistance here, near Kremennaya, was bursting at the seams. The enemy really threatened to break through the defense and reach the rear of the Luhansk People's Republic. And in the fall, after the Kharkov region, we could lose part of the LPR.
However, units of the Airborne Forces were hastily transferred here, to which I came to visit on a festive morning. It was they who were able to stop the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And the mobilized who arrived in the landing units did not just stabilize the line of defense. Today, they are advancing along with the regular military, occupying more advantageous frontiers and wringing out the positions lost last year.
The paratroopers today operate on almost the entire Svatovsky line, moving both towards Liman and Belogorovka. At the same time, they can boast of new weapons that are transferred to the troops straight from the factories. The same "Lancets" - domestic kamikaze drones - have been very active in this direction in recent weeks. They reach where artillery cannot fire.
“Or brand new BMD-4s (airborne combat vehicles - Ed.) came to us, Berezhok, again, very worthy vehicles,” a familiar officer of the 76th Guards Airborne Division tells me.
Together we went to one of the sectors of the front, where his subordinates operate. Also from among the mobilized.
PREPARING A HOT MEETING WITH ABRAMS TANKS
- Your ideas about the fighting strongly diverged from reality? - I ask Sergey from the Kemerovo region, the commander of the BMP-2M (infantry fighting vehicle. - Ed.) "Berezhka" with the inscription on the board "Kuzbass is power!"
- Well, no one was expecting a “kindergarten” here, everyone understood that this was not childish pranks. The adversary is strong, no one spares anyone. Well, no one canceled cunning and military ingenuity. We have the necessary weapons, we crush the enemy.
"Berezhok" is the second birth of the good old BMP-2. Only in addition to the usual 30-mm cannon, it now has four Kornet anti-tank systems, a heavy machine gun and an automatic grenade launcher. Moreover, all four "Cornets" can be fired at one point by the machine. And at the training ground, the mobilized worked out shooting with a "doublet". It will certainly come in handy when NATO-style tanks appear on the line of contact.
The same "Abrams" with one missile can not be taken. And when two, but in one place - the chances are much greater. And the armor of the BMP-2M is more serious.
"Recently, they came under mortar fire, grabbed a charge under the “goose” - the car is intact, the entire crew is healthy," says Sergey. - And of course here the internal equipment is of a completely different class. And thermal imagers, and night vision devices, and the fire control system are all very accurate and reliable. We work at night without problems.
Sergey served six years ago in the Far East, in the 83rd Air Assault Brigade. After the "demobilization" he was an individual entrepreneur - metal acceptance, construction. According to him, when the summons was handed over, he had no doubts.
- If you do not go against the adversary, then he will soon stand at our gate. I would not want my family to suffer from this.
- This is probably the first such holiday in your life. Has your attitude towards him changed?
- More pride in the native army. I want to congratulate my relatives and colleagues, comrades in arms. Good luck and most importantly, be patient. We will definitely win.
NOW THE OPPONENT JUMPS ON THE CORNERS, CATCHING THE BLOWS
As in Artemovsk (Bakhmut), near Kremennaya, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are suffering huge losses. At the same time, they cling to every bush and are constantly looking for opportunities to counterattack.
The enemy is trying to crush the positions of our paratroopers and motorized riflemen in small maneuverable groups. If it gets really hot, armored groups come to the aid of our infantry. Several cars roll out for direct fire and literally pierce the forest in front of them. As a rule, after the "command performance" of our BMD and BMP, the enemy's offensive fuse fades away.
- Sometimes it's easy to push through the enemy, sometimes it's very difficult, but be that as it may, we move forward. We have one goal. Where it is hard - to endure, where it is easier - to rest. We work with artillery or armored groups. Reconnaissance transmits coordinates to us, coordinates our actions from the air, we leave, suppress enemy fire, and infantry enters under our cover, another mobilized tells me.
Oleg from Omsk, he also served in the Airborne Forces, in the 137th Regiment in Ryazan, as a driver. On the "citizen" he worked as a master for the shipment of finished products.
- After the army, of course, I celebrated February 23, not really thinking about the essence. And now I understand that I am literally defending my Motherland.
- By cars! - the command sounds.
And Oleg with his crew in a convoy of three combat vehicles is advanced to the next task in the area of the Torsky ledge, where Russian paratroopers are pushing the enemy towards Seversk and Belogorovka. From the east, the enemy group is crushed by motorized rifles and units of the 2nd Army Corps of the LPR, from the south - by groups of Wagner PMCs, which in parallel form an encirclement ring around Artemovsk.
"The initiative is now on our side," one of the commanders told me.
- If earlier I felt like a goalkeeper in training, who jumped from one corner to another, plugging holes, now in this position - the enemy. The main thing is to move so that he does not have the opportunity to concentrate strike groups in any direction. Now let the APU jump all over the "goalkeeper".
Snark aside, the original article uses the Cyrillic letters BCY (ve es u) which does stand for Armed Forces of Ukraine. No idea where Google translate was going with that.
'Boiler' refers to an encirclement operation. Synonyms are kettle, cauldron. Think of a pot without a lid. The surroundees can either exit thru the open area or stay and get cooked. See Bakhmut for an example in progress.
Today, and every day, Moldova stands firmly in solidarity with the brave people of Ukraine, who are fighting heroically for freedom and democracy in the face of Russia’s brutal aggression.
We honor their sacrifice and courage, while they are fighting for our freedom too. pic.twitter.com/sicTaRgco9
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.
