[Daily Mail, Where America Gets Its News] US Navy vet-turned tropical fish seller-turned pro-Moscow propagandist faces DOJ probe over posting leaked Pentagon documents
'Russian' propagandist is a tropical fish seller from New Jersey
Sarah Bils, 37, now faces a DOJ investigation for sharing leaked Pentagon files
She previously served in the US Navy as an aviation technician
A prominent pro-Kremlin propagandist has been unmasked as a 37-year-old Navy veteran and tropical fish seller from New Jersey.
Divorcee Sarah Bils is known to her 100,000 devoted fans online as 'Donbas Devushka', or Donbas Girl.
She posed as a Russian Jew from the occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk and a geopolitics expert.
On her Telegram account, a popular messaging service in Russia and Ukraine, she claims to participating in 'Russian-style information warfare.'
It recently shared some of the documents allegedly leaked by US National Guard member Jack Teixeira, who was charged with two offenses on Friday.
Sarah Bils claimed to be a Russian Jew living in Luhansk and documenting alleged 'war crimes' committed by the Ukrainian army.
Teixeira, 21, will next appear in court on Wednesday as Department of Justice investigators continue their probe into how he got access to such top secret information.
She is now being investigated by the Department of Justice as part of the probe into how leaked Pentagon documents appeared online.
Bils, who had security clearance, denied that she was involved in helping Teixeira.
'I obviously know the gravity of top-secret classified materials,' she was quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying.
The 37-year-old also posted videos and podcasts online that faithfully parroted pro-Moscow talking points and tried to raise money for the Russian army.
They have been praised by pro-Kremlin military bloggers in Russia, such as the highly influential Rybar Telegram channel.
Bils claimed that in 2014, the time of the first Russian invasion, she had been travelling between the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and eastern Ukraine.
She alleged that the Ukrainian army was killing people in Luhansk, a city in the Russian-occupied Donbas region of the country.
Bils left the military last year but after being demoted. No reasons were given in the official records for her demotion.
One of the leaked documents outlined how Ukraine's stockpile of missiles was running out and required urgent supplies from Kyiv's Western allies.
She has also posted under the pseudonyms Mila Medvedev, Luganskforlife, CheburekiVibes, MeatballSubZero, YuGopnik, and GhostofLugansk.
But Bils is in fact a former aviation electronics technician with the US Navy and she served at Whitby Island in Washington State.
Her real identity was revealed by volunteers from the North Atlantic Fella Organization, which raises funds for Ukraine and fights disinformation online.
The Ukrainian group was able to unmask Bils thanks to yet another unusual side hustle that she had.
Aside from serving in the Navy, she also ran a business selling tropical fish and imported food from Poland.
Bils had appeared in a popular podcast about fish tanks in June 2020 that proved to be her undoing.
It allowed NAFO to match up her voice and home interiors to her postings as Donbas Devushka.
She left the military in November last year with an honorable discharge but only after being demoted.
DailyMail.com has approached the US Navy for comment.
Her Twitter account has now been locked, but her YouTube channel where she interviews pro-Kremlin commentators remains online.
#5
I think another angle is, just because it's stamped TS from the Pentagone does not mean it isn't fishwrap.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
04/19/2023 9:44 Comments ||
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#6
Here's THE question, is Badanov a professor at Columbia university? If he is, he needs to be deported.
That guy is an influence agent of the Russian FSB, at least he's a Russian and has that excuse, this woman is a typical, right wing nutcase that thinks Russia is preferable to the USA, except they want to live in the USA for some weird logic.
#8
I knew from the get go there was something fishy about this story.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
04/19/2023 12:28 Comments ||
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#9
is Badanov a professor at Columbia university
Whoa! badanov, you’re moving up in the world! Tanks, professional journalist, machinist, war gamer, and collector of languages just to satisfy your ‘satiable curiosity — so many options of subjects to profess, O Best Beloved.
Being mistaken for a professor is easily enough done, though. Back when I was the littlest lab technician (as measured in a number of different ways, especially in California) in the very big multinational corporation, the linguistic habits I’d picked up as a child of the Ivory Tower led to my being asked regularly what I’d done my PhD in, and me with only an MRS. ;-)
#13
My favorite college sportsball matchup: Unknown State vs Never Hearda U.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
04/19/2023 14:12 Comments ||
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#14
Slot of hand wringing about the leaker, but not what's been leaked: we're being lied to about how our billions are wasted on a losing cause and how there are US boots on the ground
Posted by: Regular joe ||
04/19/2023 15:45 Comments ||
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“I can say the following: one of those “shot”, it turned out, “shot” continues to fight on. The rest we are looking into now. Regarding what Kosichkin [Osechkin] filmed, I watched the pieces of the video that I managed to do.
I can say the following: if at least one of these accusations against me is confirmed, I am ready to bear responsibility, in accordance with any laws and regulations.
But if it is not confirmed, then I will send a list of 30-40 people who spit saliva, like Kosichkin * (there is a whole list of them, including scumbags who fled from Russia), whom the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine undertakes to transfer to me for, so to speak, "fair judgment" on these people.
Because they will not be "civilians" for us, and even more so not children whom we have never touched and never will touch. This is the grossest lie. And they will be enemies and we will deal with them in a special way. Under these conditions, I am happy to immediately start working with the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine"
[VK] Former prisoner Alexei Savichev, who fought in the ranks of the PMC "Wagner" in the framework of Project K, admitted that he took part in the recording of the "sensational investigation" of GulagNet for money.
Earlier, his partner in the "investigation" Azamat Uldarov got in touch with journalists and said that Osechkin blackmailed him into denigrating the Wagner PMC under dictation.
More from Russkaya Vesna
According to him, human rights activist Osechkin, who conducted the interview, allegedly has a video of Uldarov being raped in prison, so he “said it under dictation.”
He also stated that he was intoxicated during the interview.
Prigozhin, in turn, accused the resource Gulagu Net, which published the investigation, of "working with Western intelligence services" and "falsifications."
He also considers corrupt officers of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service to be involved in these interviews.
"They have an archive of prisoners who had certain, according to camp concepts, sins in the zone - that is, they were either secretly raped, or something else. At the same time, they work with a group of corrupt officers of the Federal Penitentiary Service, and this is another investigation. Further, these prisoners are used for various tasks. What we have just seen was the task of falsifying PMC Wagner," he said.
Today, an agent of the Western special services who fled from Russia published the stories of some drunken outcasts posing as employees of the Wagner PMC about the execution of prisoners, Ukrainian children and their own fighters.
Unconvincingly playing actors announced lists of supposedly "executed."
In PMC "Wagner" in response, they have already shown one of the "shot": Dmitry Sergeevich Petrov (call sign Lob) continues to fight further.
“We are now sorting out the rest,” said Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“I am contacting Alexei Vladimirovich Savichev (call sign Kucheriai), whom we have been looking for for a day, but so far we cannot find. With the fact that he needs to contact the Wagner PMC call center, and I guarantee that no one will prosecute him, neither legally nor in any other way. He needs to contact the Wagner PMC call center and report why he gave this falsification, who is behind it, how he was blackmailed, and whether any other tasks were set.
Those "skeletons in the closet", which, for sure, are, and therefore he went to cooperate with Gulagu. net, of course, we will not shake. Therefore, Kucheryay, contact the Wagner PMC call center, come and tell me everything. I give you a guarantee: you will leave alive and unharmed.”
#2
contact the Wagner PMC call center, come and tell me everything. I give you a guarantee: you will leave alive and unharmed.
We even have gift for you - sledgehammer.
Yeah, turn yourself over to Putin's protected pet Rottweiler.
Watch the videos and decide for yourself if there is any coersion or coaching. Stress and regret - sure. One (or maybe both) was paid a little over $100 for the interview. At least one of them is now on the run from Russian police and Prigozhin's goons.
Since the the Russian Penetentiary was brought up, there is a months old video of a Russian mobster calling out Prigozhin for being a "rooster" (i.e. jailhouse punk). Pretty vulgar callout of Prigozhin and description of him giving the mobster a bl0wjob.
Direct Translation via Google Translate.
[TopWar] The Berlin offensive operation became one of the last operations of the Great Patriotic War and one of the most famous. During it, the Red Army took the capital of the Third Reich - Berlin, defeated the last, most powerful enemy forces and forced him to capitulate.
The operation lasted 23 days, from April 16 to May 8, 1945, during which the Soviet troops advanced 100-220 km to the west. Within its framework, private offensive operations were carried out: Stettin-Rostock, Zelow-Berlin, Cottbus-Potsdam, Stremberg-Torgau and Brandenburg-Ratenow. Three fronts took part in the operation: the 1st Belorussian (G.K. Zhukov), the 2nd Belorussian (K.K. Rokossovsky) and the 1st Ukrainian (I.S. Konev).
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[LB] Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, and Donetsk regions were also under enemy fire.
by Iryna Lysohor
This morning, the enemy launched an artillery attack on the Bilopol community of the Sumy region . Information about victims, destruction of infrastructure facilities is being clarified. Yesterday, during the day, the Russians shelled the border communities of Velikopysarivska, Bilopolska, Shalyginska, Seredino-Budska, and Glukhivska, according to a summary from OVA.
Over the past day, the Russians hit the communities of the Zaporizhia region , which are in the line of fire, four times. The occupiers used missile salvo systems, struck twice from aviation and 55 times from artillery. The enemy once again targeted Malynivka, Plavna, Kamianske, Novodanilivka and 15 other settlements. People were not injured. So far, 12 infrastructure objects have been reported damaged.
In Dnipropetrovsk yesterday, the Russians aimed heavy artillery at the Nikopol district. Nikopol got the most - a person was injured there. The aggressor damaged infrastructure and residential buildings. A 42-year-old man was injured by enemy fire. He was hospitalized with shrapnel wounds. In the city, a sports school, a dormitory, and a parking lot were damaged. A fire broke out at a private enterprise - rescuers have already extinguished the fire. Two high-rise buildings, nine private houses, two non-residential buildings, farm buildings, cars, cellular communication towers and a power line were broken. The enemy also shelled the Chervonogrigorivsk community.
In Luhansk, three civilians were killed, one was wounded by shrapnel as a result of the Russian bombing of the village of Novoyehorivka in the Svativ district. A woman born in 1977 was hospitalized. Stelmakhivka and Bilogorivka were also subjected to artillery shelling during the past day. The situation in the region remains difficult.
In Mykolaivska tonight, in the Snigurivska community, the enemy attacked an object of industrial infrastructure with strike drones. Previously, there were no victims or victims. More detailed information is being clarified.
In Kharkivskain the Slobozhansk direction, the Russians shelled the settlements of Okip, Bayrak, Vovchansk, Okhrimivka and Nesterne. In the Kupyansk direction, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near Synkivka. Topoli, Krasne Pershe, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna and Zapadne were subjected to enemy shelling. Over the past day, the enemy has massively shelled Vovchansk, Chuguyiv district, at least eight private residential buildings, farm buildings, and fires have been destroyed. Also, the enemy fired at the village with an anti-aircraft missile system. Petropavlivka Street, Chuguyiv District, two residential buildings and an outbuilding were damaged. As a result of the shelling of the village Bochkovye, Chuguyiv district, the house was damaged and there was a fire. Residential buildings were damaged in Kozacha Lopan village of Kharkiv district as a result of shelling. As a result of shelling from MSW in the village of The high-voltage line was damaged in the Green Forest of the Izyum district,
The enemy fired 21 rounds in Donetsk during the day. The enemy carried out airstrikes (the type of missiles was not established), an airstrike by the "NKRS", S300, used the "Grad" anti-aircraft missile system, artillery, and the "Gerany" drone. Fired: Velyka Novosilka, Avdiivka, Toretsk, Bakhmut, village. Karlivka, Sloviansk. Five high-rise buildings, garages, workshop of PrJSC "AKHZ", school, technical school, office premises, shopping center were damaged.
In the past day, the enemy carried out 57 shellings in Khersonska , firing 342 shells from heavy artillery, UAVs and aviation. The enemy shelled Kherson six times. They targeted the residential quarters of the settlements of the region, the territory and buildings of the children's health camp of the Bilozer settlement community, and the power line in the Chornobayiv village community. Due to Russian aggression, one person was injured. 80 people were evacuated from the de-occupied territory of the region. In the Beryslav district, in a field between the villages of Trifonivka and Borozenske, a tractor driver came across Russian explosives while performing work. A man was injured due to a mine explosion. Currently, doctors are providing him with the necessary medical care.
It will be recalled that the Air Force of the Defense Forces struck 12 airstrikes on the areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment over the past day. An enemy reconnaissance UAV of the "Merlin" type was also shot down. Units of missile forces and artillery struck two areas of concentration of enemy manpower, weapons and military equipment, as well as the enemy's radio-electronic warfare station.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] 23:16 Ukrainian air defense today destroyed seven enemy kamikaze drones of the Shahed-136 type: six in the Zaporozhye region and one in the vicinity of the Dnieper, OK Skhid reported.
23:14 There will be no holiday season in Odessa this summer due to mine danger, Natalya Gumenyuk, speaker of OK Pivden, said.
22:43 The French president wants to bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table in the summer with the help of China. Media interlocutors said that he had already instructed his foreign policy adviser to work with the head of China's foreign affairs commission to create a structure that could be used as a basis for future negotiations. For more details, see Macron's Plan .
22:39 Zelensky said that during his visit to the Poltava region, after a trip to Avdiivka, he held a meeting on the situation in the region.
22:26 Five Shahed kamikaze drones were shot down in the Zaporozhye region, the President's Office reported.
22:24 Part of the M2 Bradley armored vehicles, the provision of which the United States announced in January, has already arrived in Ukraine and is participating in hostilities, Pentagon spokesman Charlie Dietz said.
22:15 Some of the leaked secret Pentagon documents are not true, Stoltenberg said in an interview with CNN: "We have all seen that some of these leaks are not true and are the object of manipulation. I do not think that they will affect what the allies NATO is being done in connection with Ukraine."
22:03 According to secret Pentagon documents, the United States was listening to UN Secretary General António Guterres. As it turned out, Guterres was dissatisfied with the organization of the visit to Ukraine on March 8, as he was attracted without warning to the ceremony of presenting awards to Ukrainian women soldiers, writes The Washington Post. The Secretary General did not like that he was involved in congratulating the military of one of the warring parties. The document also recounts a conversation in which Guterres allegedly told his representative that he went to Ukraine to help, "but the Ukrainians are doing everything to eliminate us [the UN]."
After that, the UN officially expressed its concern to the United States in connection with reports of listening to Guterres. The organization reported to the United States that monitoring the communications of the Secretary General does not comply with the UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities.
21:51 Another child was evacuated from Avdiivka - two children now remain in the city, said Pavel Kirilenko, head of the Donetsk OVA.
21:48 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman reported that Russia has not yet transferred nuclear weapons to Belarus, CNN reports. The secretary general noted that the threat to transfer Minsk nuclear weapons "is part of a pattern that we have been seeing for many years - especially after the invasion of Ukraine - of dangerous and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric."
21:37 Former people's deputy Oleg Barna died at the front, said Alexei Dmitrashkovsky, spokesman for the Tauride Defense Forces.
20:59 Great Britain handed over 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, the press service of the British armed forces reported. UK instructors trained Ukrainian troops to operate these tanks and use them on the battlefield, the report said.
20:53 Zelensky said that he had a telephone conversation with Speaker of the House of Representatives of the US Congress Kevin McCarthy: "Thanked for the bipartisan support of Ukraine from Congress. He assured that Ukraine is ready to report on every dollar of American assistance. We discussed the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia, reduce price cap on Russian oil and gas. Invited Kevin McCarthy to visit Ukraine."
20:44 Germany handed over to Ukraine the Patriot air defense system with missiles to it , according to the website of the federal government. Berlin also donated 16 Zetros trucks and two border patrol vehicles.
20:40 Iraq hopes to become an intermediary in negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, and Egypt has decided to produce artillery shells for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Read more in the material New "allies" of Ukraine .
19:49 "The head" of the occupied part of the Kherson region Vladimir Saldo ordered to seize civilian boats in the region to transfer them to the military. At the same time, he stressed that the owners of the requisitioned boats, for which they were the means of production, would supposedly be able to receive compensation "after a certain time."
19:34 In the occupied territory of the Zaporozhye region, in the villages between Tokmak and Vasylivka, Russians drive with loudspeakers and call on local residents to evacuate, Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov said.
18:58 The US Department of Energy sent a letter to Rosatom in March, warning that the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant has "nuclear technical data, the export of which is controlled by the United States government," and their use undermines US national security interests, CNN reports. Handling US technology by any Russian citizen or organization would be illegal, the US agency said.
18:11 BBC journalists found out that Putin, during a trip to Russian-controlled territories, was in Genichesk and, in particular, on the territory of the former recreation center Brigantin on the Arabat Spit, a few kilometers south of Genichesk. The BBC has verified the geolocation of the Putin footage by matching the photographs and identifying the buildings and the water tower on them.
OSINT analysts also previously reported that Putin came to the village of Schatlivtsevo on the Arabat Spit, which is located at least 130 km from the nearest positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
17:45 Japan has become the first country to make a contribution of $23 million to cover military risks when investing in Ukraine, Shmyhal said. According to the prime minister, this will make it much easier for Ukraine to return private foreign investments.
Shmyhal also said that the World Bank will become one of the key partners in the restoration of Ukraine. An agreement was reached with him on the activation of joint thematic programs for the restoration of Ukraine now:
in the energy sector is the $500 million Re-Power project,
in the field of transport infrastructure - RELINC for $585 million,
in the healthcare sector - Heal Ukraine for $368 million.
In addition, as part of the Special Program for Response to Challenges and Reconstruction of Ukraine, an additional $6 billion will be attracted from the IBRD. These funds will be used to restore critical, social and transport infrastructure.
17:22 Poland proposes a number of steps to strengthen sanctions against Russia, writes Reuters. In particular, this is the termination of the import of Russian oil through the northern part of the Druzhba pipeline to Germany, the import of Russian diamonds and natural gas, including LNG, as well as the restriction of cooperation in nuclear energy.
17:11 The Russians today hit the village of Rechki in the Rechkovo community of the Sumy region from cannon artillery and MLRS - one person was killed, one was wounded, the OVA reported.
16:39 In Ukraine, more than 7,000 military men are currently considered missing, Oleg Kotenko, Commissioner for Missing Persons under Special Circumstances, said. According to him, according to statistics, usually about 60-65% of the missing are in captivity, and "the rest, unfortunately, are dead."
16:20 Russian agents under the guise of diplomats are spying on Europeans - they use antennas placed on embassy buildings, the Dossier Center writes. The publication notes that placing antennas on embassies is a normal practice, so diplomats can keep in touch through closed channels with their ministries. But in the embassies of Russia there are much more such antennas than it is necessary for the work of a diplomatic institution. In particular, 182 antennas were counted on the buildings of 39 Russian representative offices in Europe. Moreover, there can be much more antennas, because they can be located on the territory of diplomatic missions.
With the help of antennas, you can establish satellite communications, as well as a microwave relay line, which allows you to intercept signals - from radio communications to ordinary telephone conversations.
Since February 2022, over 400 Russian diplomats have been expelled from European countries.
Goodness — it’s like the bad old Soviet days.
Most of them turned out to be intelligence agents, some were technical specialists who specialized in radio intelligence.
15:48 The decision to raise electricity tariffs for the population has not yet been made, but it is necessary to restore energy after shelling and prepare generation for the next autumn-winter season, said relevant minister German Galushchenko.
15:39 Russians today hit Orekhov, Zaporozhye region three times: they hit the private sector with incendiary shells prohibited by international law. People were not injured, said the head of the OVA, Yuri Malashko.
15:10 During his visit to Kuwait, Kuleba met with the head of the Kuwait Arab Economic Development Fund, Walid Al-Bahar, and talked about projects to restore Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said. The minister invited Kuwait to take part in the restoration of Ukraine, the parties paid special attention to social and humanitarian projects, such as the construction of schools and hospitals.
Walid Al-Bahar said that his foundation is ready to participate in the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which will be held in London at the end of June. He added that interaction with Ukraine will become one of the priorities of the fund.
15:02 During a working trip to the Donetsk region, Zelensky visited the advanced positions of Ukrainian defenders in Avdiivka , the presidential press service reported. He listened to the report of the commander of the Donetsk operational-tactical group, talked to the servicemen, and presented awards. The military presented the head of state with a military coin, a chevron and a board with the symbols of the 110th separate mechanized brigade.
14:49 Peskov said that Russia is ready to consider only those ideas for ending the war in Ukraine that take into account its interests: "Any ideas that take into account Russia's interests, Russia's concerns, of course, deserve attention. And, of course, to they should and should be heeded, and Russia is ready to do this. For us, the main thing is to ensure our own interests."
14:41 The State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted amendments on life imprisonment for high treason (now the punishment is up to 20 years in prison).
14:19 The Russians fired at Ukrainsk, Donetsk region, at least eight people were injured, said the head of the OVA, Pavel Kirilenko. Three high-rise buildings and pavilions of the central market were damaged.
13:57 The State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted amendments on the deprivation of acquired Russian citizenship for "calls to extremism" and for "discrediting" the Russian Armed Forces.
13:34 Canada has already transferred eight Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.
13:16 Attorney General Andrey Kostin met with representatives of the US Department of Justice, discussed possible models for the future Special Tribunal on Russian Crimes in Ukraine. "In order to overcome the individual immunity of the so-called troika (heads of state, heads of government, foreign ministers), the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression must be truly international. We are working together with our partners to make this a reality," Kostin said.
13:08 The number of those injured as a result of the shelling of Kherson has increased to nine, the IVA reported. One person died.
12:36 As a result of today's shelling of the center of Kherson, one person was killed, seven were injured, said the head of the OVA Alexander Prokudin.
12:23 Ukraine is "observing with interest" the Brazilian President's efforts to find a solution to end the war, Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said. At the same time, according to him, the approach, according to which the victim and the aggressor are placed on the same scales, and the countries that help Ukraine defend itself against aggression, are not consistent with the real state of affairs, are accused of encouraging war.
"Ukraine does not need to be convinced of anything. A war of conquest is being waged on Ukrainian soil and is causing untold suffering and destruction. More than anyone else in the world, we are striving to end Russian aggression on the basis of the peace formula proposed by President Zelensky. We reiterate the invitation to Luis Inacio Lula yes Silva to visit Ukraine to understand the true causes and essence of Russian aggression and its implications for global security," Nikolenko said.
12:14 There will be no traditional march "Immortal Regiment" on May 9 in Russia this year, the organizers of the movement said.
12:10 Poland began construction of a barrier on the border with the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country, it will be "unprecedented until now in its modernity" with night vision cameras and motion sensors.
11:49 Lukashenka is meeting in Minsk with the leader of the "DPR" Denis Pushilin, and declared his readiness to help restore the Donbass, the press service of the Belarusian president reported.
11:42 Macron is preparing to propose to China a plan that should bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table, Bloomberg writes, citing sources. The plan allegedly provides for the start of negotiations in the summer, it stipulates long-term security guarantees for Kyiv.
11:36 In March, after negotiations with US officials, Egypt suspended a plan to secretly supply 40,000 missiles to Russia and instead decided to produce artillery ammunition for Ukraine, writes The Washington Post, citing classified documents. For this, Egypt expected to receive advanced American military products.
11:20 SBU detained the daughter of the ex-Gauleiter of Chernobaevka, Yury Turulev, who previously headed the "education department" in the occupied village and was engaged in the implementation of "educational standards" of the Russian Federation. After the de-occupation of the region, she moved to the Vinnitsa region, where she hid under the guise of a displaced person. The woman faces 10 to 12 years in prison.
10:49 Yermak said that he had a telephone conversation with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan: they discussed the situation at the front and the nature of the actions of the Russian Federation, and agreed on further coordination on the issue of providing assistance to Ukraine.
10:46 Russians fired artillery at the Central Market area in Kherson, six people were injured, the President's Office reported.
10:43 The Russians are preparing for another "goodwill gesture" by building defensive lines and mining the entire coast on the left bank of the Kherson region, said OK Pivden' speaker Natalia Gumenyuk. According to her, the occupiers have even stocked up on civilian clothes and packed property that had been looted in the south. "This clearly indicates that they are preparing," Gumenyuk added.
10:29 Russians attacked Slovyansk, Donetsk region, at night for two hours with S-300 missiles and Shahed kamikaze drones, city mayor Vadim Lyakh said. There were two hits - on Uchitelskaya Street and on Pushkin Boulevard. Five high-rise buildings, seven private houses, a security company, a medical facility, an entertainment center, a business center, and cars were damaged. People were not hurt.
10:06 British intelligence suggests that Russia has reduced the number of troops and is reducing offensive operations in the Donetsk region in order to redirect resources to the Bakhmut direction. According to intelligence, in Bakhmut, the forces of the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Wagner group continue to slowly move forward. The front line in the city center mostly runs along the main railway line. Ukraine keeps a sweep of Russia from the south along Korsunsky Street, the old main road west of the city.
For both sides, the reduction of their units around Bakhmut has become a critical issue, as Ukraine wants to free up offensive forces, while Russia seeks to restore the operational reserve, analysts say.
09:58 British and US Defense Ministers Ben Wallace and Lloyd Austin met at the Pentagon to discuss, in particular, assistance to Ukraine, the British Defense Ministry reported.
09:34 In most areas where the Russians are trying to attack, their actions are unsuccessful. The battles for Bakhmut continue, the situation is currently under control, said Alexander Syrsky, commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "The Bakhmut direction remains the epicenter of hostilities. The enemy is concentrating his greatest efforts there and does not leave the goal of taking control of the city at any cost. At present, the enemy is increasing the activity of heavy artillery and the number of air strikes, turning the city into a ruin. At the same time, our fighters are inflicting significant losses to the enemy and significantly slow down his offensive actions," Syrsky said.
09:23 By the beginning of 2023, 17,000 prisoners were missing from colonies in 35 regions of Russia, Mediazona reports, citing statistics from the Federal Penitentiary Service. Since January, the Federal Penitentiary Service itself has ceased to update information that would allow assessing the scale of recruitment of prisoners for the war in Ukraine, but the data was found on some sites of regional departments.
Most of the prisoners "disappeared" in the Samara region: at the beginning of 2022, 10.2 thousand people were kept in colonies in this region, and at the beginning of 2023 - only 7.5 thousand. Journalists note that such a decline cannot be explained by a historical trend, because over the previous 2021, the number of prisoners in the region, on the contrary, increased by more than 300 people.
More than a thousand people also "disappeared" in the Chelyabinsk (1574) and Kirov (1153) regions, as well as in Tatarstan (1040).
09:04 US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had a conversation with Alexei Reznikov, discussed priorities on the eve of the meeting of the contact group, which will be held this week at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, the Pentagon press service reported.
08:57 In the Lugansk region, the Russians attacked the village of Novoegorovka, Svatovsky district, from planes. One shell hit a private house, killing three people, and another wounded, said Artem Lysogor, head of the OVA.
08:51 At night, Russians attacked an industrial infrastructure facility in the Snigirevsky community of the Nikolaev region with shock drones. Previously, no casualties or injuries were reported, the OVA said.
08:33 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of April 18.
personnel - about 183,130 (+470) people liquidated,
tanks - 3661 (+1),
armored combat vehicles - 7098 (+11),
artillery systems - 2810 (+6),
MLRS - 538 (+0),
air defense systems - 285 (+0),
aircraft - 308 (+0),
helicopters - 293 (+0),
UAV operational-tactical level - 2353 (+6),
cruise missiles - 911 (+0),
ships/boats - 18 (+0),
automotive equipment and tankers - 5676 (+4),
special equipment - 330 (+2).
08:17 The Russian army continues to focus its main efforts on conducting offensive operations in the Kupyansky, Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdeevsky and Maryinsky directions. Actively uses operational-tactical and army aviation. During the day, more than 70 enemy attacks were repelled in these sectors of the front. Bakhmut and Marinka remain at the epicenter of hostilities, the General Staff said in a morning report .
07:58 The Kremlin said that Putin allegedly visited the headquarters of the Dnepr occupation forces grouping in the Kherson direction, heard reports from the commander of the Airborne Forces Mikhail Teplinsky, the commander of the Dnepr grouping of troops Oleg Makarevich and other military leaders about the situation in the Kherson and Zaporozhye directions.
In addition, the President of the Russian Federation allegedly visited the headquarters of the Vostok National Guard in the "LPR", where "he received reports from Colonel General (Alexander) Lapin and other senior officers on the situation in this direction."
06:34 G7 countries, following a three-day meeting in Japan, confirmed their intention to continue tough anti-Russian sanctions and support for Ukraine, the foreign ministers said in a statement. The G7 also promises to continue freezing Russian assets until the end of the war in Ukraine and to work to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions. In addition, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries said they consider the grain deal critically important and urge Russia not to limit its duration.
05:49 The United States sends its prosecutor to the International Center for the Investigation of Crimes of Russian Aggression against Ukraine, which is based in The Hague. US Attorney General Merrick Garland recalled that the international investigation team included seven countries. In addition, the US plans to send a permanent legal adviser to Kyiv, who will work with Ukrainian partners on a number of complex issues in the field of justice.
05:20 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that during the meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, Putin failed to expand the scope of cooperation between the two countries. The official minutes of both sides do not contain any mention of Russia's war in Ukraine. In addition, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin confirmed Beijing's intention to promote peace talks in Ukraine.
ISW also noted that during the visit of the Chinese Minister of Defense, Putin continued to try to present Russia as an equal defense partner of China and the Pacific naval state.
02:51 The White House accused the President of Brazil, Lulu da Silva, of repeating Russian and Chinese propaganda, ignoring the facts. This is how John Kirby commented on the call of the Brazilian president to stop helping Ukraine and give Crimea to Russia.
“Obviously we want the war to end. It could happen right now, today, if Putin stops attacking Ukraine and withdraws his troops… Brazil’s latest comments that Ukraine should consider officially handing over Crimea as a peace concession, are simply misguided, especially for a country like Brazil that voted to support the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity at the UN," Kirby said.
01:49 Secret Pentagon documents leaked online could have been faked and are simply incomplete images that do not reflect the latest US intelligence, said John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council. At the same time, he added that Biden is serious about protecting US secrets, but the details of the investigation have not yet been disclosed.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Petr Akopov
[RIA] "We need to make NATO global, and after the victory of Ukraine, we should seek to divide the Russia-China axis" - such a "new American grand strategy to counter Russia and China" offers former US national security adviser John Bolton in his article in The Wall Street Journal . He calls these the main tasks for the next US president, while he does not want to see either Biden or his former boss Trump.
What John Bolton has on his tongue is what Uncle Sam has on his mind - is this a fair conclusion? Or, to put it more simply, can Bolton's public proposals be seen as the hidden desires of the American establishment or the "deep state", the Washington "swamp"?
You can, of course, answer in the negative, especially since Bolton has long had a reputation as a "super hawk": in the 2000s he was one of those who promoted the idea of a US attack on Iran (which would lead to consequences an order of magnitude worse than even an invasion of Iraq), and for a year and a half of work in the White House (in 2018-2019) earned Trump the title of warmonger. *Ahem* Ima call bullshit right there. Trump did more to disentangle us from foreign wars than anyone else.
Bolton is really as aggressive as possible, but he is also one of the best American specialists in international affairs. And the fact that he is now advocating a radical agenda is explained not only by his character, but also by what he sees: the United States is losing its global position. Bolton is one of those who believe that the United States can maintain its hegemony, it just needs to act much more firmly, assertively and consistently to do this. What does he offer?
In his previous article in The Wall Street Journal (mid-March), he criticized Biden for being inconsistent and cautious, saying that he wants Russia to lose, but does not want Ukraine to "really win." Fear of an escalation of the conflict, a clash between Russia and NATO, and even a nuclear war, Bolton resolutely brushes aside, considering all this a Russian bluff and part of our deterrence strategy (which, in his opinion, eventually works).
Bolton is in favor of allowing Ukraine to use American weapons to strike Russian territory and, in general, "focus on deterring Putin in various scenarios, up to the threat of his overthrow." That is, to work towards the liquidation of Russia - and he talks about this in his next article.
In which it is no longer about the Ukrainian conflict, but about a new "grand" American strategy, because "the United States and allies cannot afford to drift aimlessly as the tectonic plates shift in history." A new era has begun in which America is being challenged and must watch first for threats from a rising Russia-China axis, as well as "rogue states like Iran and North Korea."
Bolton lists three critical elements of the new strategy.
For starters, Washington and its allies should immediately increase defense budgets to Reagan-era levels (about six percent of GDP) and maintain such spending for the foreseeable future, without stopping at the fact that it will require cuts in other spending items.
There is even nothing to comment on here: a threefold increase in spending is impossible in any of the European NATO countries without changing the very model of their development. Simply put, European societies will not agree to this - and no amount of fanning of the "Russian threat" will help here. Polish leaders can scare the French and Germans with Putin's tanks in Berlin and Paris , but no one believes them.
Bolton's second proposal concerns American collective defense alliances - they need to be "improved and expanded": "We must make NATO a global organization by inviting Japan , Australia , Israel and other countries committed to the goals of NATO defense spending. <…> An Asian NATO is not inevitable, but there is huge room for innovative alliances with like-minded states, including increased cooperation between South Korea , Japan and the United States."
Worldwide NATO to contain Russia and China ? Yes, this is it - only its participants were not asked. Europeans are categorically against the spread of the principle of Atlantic solidarity to the Pacific Ocean - only Great Britain is playing this , well, Bolton's idea in itself is fully consistent with the principles of Anglo-Saxon geopolitics. Britain, USA, Canada , Australia - seniority in this family may change, but the goal, that is, global domination, remains unchanged.
It will not work to mobilize Europe on the Asian fronts, and the Asians themselves are not ready to line up in the anti-Chinese line. Moreover, Bolton believes: "The United States, together with partners in Europe and Asia , should build Taiwan into a collective security system and increase the amount of military assistance," that is, be ready for a direct conflict with Beijing . After all, "inclusion of Taiwan in the system of collective security" will automatically immediately lead to a complete rupture of relations with China - even Japan and South Korea will not subscribe to this.
And the idea of including Israel in a new global NATO is really "grand" in terms of possible consequences for the United States. The point is not even that European countries will never agree to this: there is hardly a better way to accelerate the already catastrophic decline in the influence of the Anglo-Saxons in the Greater Middle East and in the Islamic world as a whole, how to start the procedure for joining the Jewish state to the Atlantic alliance.
But the unrealistic nature of the first two elements of the strategy pales in comparison to the third, final one: “After Ukraine wins the military conflict with Russia, we should strive to split the Russia-China axis. Moscow’s defeat could overthrow the Putin regime . "Russia, especially east of the Urals , cannot be considered unthinkable. Beijing certainly has its eyes on this vast territory. The uncontrolled collapse of Russia could give China direct access to the Arctic , including even the Bering Strait bordering Alaska."
Here Bolton only partly echoes Henry Kissinger , who also fears the collapse of a nuclear-armed Russia. But if the former Secretary of State proposes to avoid this after the end of the war, to find a worthy place for Russia in the new world order (that is, to give some kind of security guarantees), then Bolton does not just believe in the victory of Ukraine (that is, the West) - for him, the collapse of Russia is only dangerous due to the fact that it can strengthen China. To prevent this, it will be necessary to somehow drag the defeated, weakened post-Putin Russia away from China, probably by intimidating it with a Chinese invasion and promising to restore contacts and trade with Europe and with the West in general.
The plan is grandiose - in its madness. Because he considers Russia only as the subject of someone else's will and external strategies, denying her the presence of her own strategy and subjectivity.
Russia began its pivot to the East (of which relations with China are an important part) even before Crimea—yes, it was slower than it wanted to be, but it was a conscious strategic choice. Russia staked on breaking the Atlantic model of globalization (that is, the era of American hegemony) more than a decade and a half ago. In the same years, Russia took up the reintegration of the post-Soviet space through the construction of the Eurasian Union (which was created with an eye on the further inclusion of Ukraine).
That is, Russia's strategy is consistent and unchanged - despite the gravity of the open conflict with the West, led by the Anglo-Saxons. Russia cannot lose to the West in Ukraine, Russia cannot disintegrate, Russia cannot become part of China, Russia is not going to abandon its favorable course towards a strategic alliance with China, Russia does not and will not trust the West. And most importantly, Russia is absolutely sure that the absolute majority of mankind is counting on its work to accelerate the decline of the Anglo-Saxon world order.
#1
Bolton aside, the author admits without saying so directly that Russia is an oriental despotism only peripherally involved with Western Civilization.
As for the Russia/China axis; it was tried previously and lasted but six years before China tried a failed policy of 'Thousand flowers.' After decades the alliance has now reformed. However, it seems that Russia makes for a poor ally and we shall see how long it lasts.
#2
You can, of course, answer in the negative, especially since Bolton has long had a reputation as a "super hawk": in the 2000s he was one of those who promoted the idea of a US attack on Iran (which would lead to consequences an order of magnitude worse than even an invasion of Iraq), and for a year and a half of work in the White House (in 2018-2019) earned Trump the title of warmonger.
Trump used Bolton to scare people but eventually had to jettison the mad man. My fear now is that Biden and his handlers are just as crazy as Bolton. Warmonger is a good word for them.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
04/19/2023 12:56 Comments ||
Top||
Kindly note that several entries in this article may have been removed because they included discussions of the grand strategic level.
[NewsFrontInfo] 20:34 In the battles in the south, the famous ex-people's deputy Oleg Barna was destroyed, who carried Yatsenyuk from the rostrum of the Rada by the crotch. Former deputy, now militant eliminated Russian army on the Kherson front. 19:59 Combat work of the crews of attack helicopters of the army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the zone of the NMD —video
19:57 The moment a shell exploded next to a passing car of Ukrainian soldiers -video
Denazification is inevitable
19:55 And again, deliveries under the Lend-Lease program from Western countries did not save the forelocks from a mine explosion -video
19:21 The Russian army destroyed a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the ruins near Belogorovka -video
Precise strikes by artillerymen of the 2nd Army Corps covered a group of Ukrainian Nazis
18:29 Published on the web video where, allegedly, a senior lieutenant beats a conscript in Ivano-Frankivsk
Earlier, a similar situation occurred in the Zhytomyr region.
The video contains profanity.
18:21 In the forests of Kremennaya, foreign mercenaries and chubanoids came under artillery fire from the RF Armed Forces —video
18:10 Crews of helicopters of attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the zone of the NMD —video
17:28 From Berislav to Express to Bandera
The Russian Aerospace Forces, cannon and rocket artillery inflict massive strikes on the positions of the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Berislav, Kherson region.
Places of concentration of personnel and equipment of the enemy, warehouses with ammunition are the main goals.
The accumulation of a grouping of Ukrainian troops is fixed on the right bank of the Kherson region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine demonstrate their readiness to force the Dnieper - the acting head of the Kherson region Saldo.
16:33 Russian snipers beat the Nazis - the destruction of the machine gunner -video
Zaporozhye front. In the course of monitoring the front line of the enemy’s defense, snipers of the Southern Military District of the RF Armed Forces revealed a group of militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine of three people.
A machine gunner of a Nazi unit was eliminated by sniper fire.
16:23 The Russian army destroyed a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine hiding in the hangar and a opornik in the forest near Kherson -video
The disguised Nazis were spotted from a drone. After that, howitzers opened fire on the hangar.
The second part of the video shows the moment of mortar fire on the platoon stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the forest belt.
15:51 Another damaged Ukrainian pickup truck in one of the directions -video
15:47 The Ukrainian BTR-80 destroyed in the zone of the NMD -video
14:55 Highlights of new briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defense:
Assault detachments occupied three quarters in the northern, central and southern parts of Artemovsk;
Aviation made six sorties to support the assault detachments in Artemovsk;
The Airborne Forces and the "South" grouping provided support to the assault detachments, suppressed enemy attempts to counterattack from the flanks in Artemovsk;
The Russian Armed Forces destroyed two fuel depots for Ukrainian military equipment in the Mykolaiv region;
Enemy losses per day in the Donetsk direction amounted to over 290 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries;
The troops of the Russian Federation destroyed more than 80 military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two armored vehicles of the enemy in the Krasnolimansky direction;
The Russian Armed Forces stopped the actions of two Ukrainian DRGs in the Kupyansk direction;
The Armed Forces of Ukraine lost about 30 military personnel in the Yuzhno-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions per day;
The RF Armed Forces destroyed over 25 military personnel and the M777 artillery system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kherson direction;
The Russian Armed Forces destroyed two ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporozhye region.
14:36 UMPC with FAB-1500. Bye, do not apply.
In the course of the near future, I think they will appear, but so far they have not been.
But. Seek Bandera, you exhaled early.
The combat work of the UMPC with ODAB-500PM began.
These are the very long-awaited, spectacular, volume-detonating (they are also thermobaric) bombs that do not leave the wounded and from which you cannot hide in a trench or dugout. "Vacuum" in the language of experts.
Well, it is logical to assume that after the FAB-1500, clamps and blue electrical tape, ODAB-1500 will also be attached to the UMPC.
So it won't be boring.
13:32 The Chubats have been abandoned in their positions… No one is evacuating, the shelters have been torn apart by artillery, the wounded soldiers are lying right in the trenches… Another cannon fodder —video
“No one is taking ours ... The stretcher is blocked ... Hold the defense, what is there to hold on to, there’s no way to get up here * mate, on your knees ... They lie in packs ... No one can stand it, * mate
13:31 Rumble near Kremennaya: Artillerymen of the Airborne Forces hit the support of the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine -video
The UAV operator, making a flight around the Kremensky forest, discovered the enemy’s platoon stronghold and transmitted the coordinates of its location to the artillery of the Ivanovo airborne formation. The men quickly aimed the 122mm D-30 at the target and brought down deadly gifts on the enemy positions.
12:08 Tankers of the Russian Armed Forces are terrifying the positions of the Ukrainians, who, out of fright, are firing indiscriminately from machine guns… At the tanks… —video
“For us, mat tank, sho for shooting lads”
12:06 Kamikaze drone "Lancet" destroys the FH70 howitzer in the Zaporozhye direction -video
12:04 Consequences of arrival of a very powerful bomb (probably FAB-1500 with UMPC) on a military target in Orekhov, Zaporozhye region.
Now they are being massively upgraded with planning and correction modules.
It’s even scary for the Nazis to imagine what the consequences will be after the use of FAB-2000, 3000, 5000 and 9000 by our Army ...
11:54 On the left bank of the Kherson region are held regular checks of documents and other security measures are implemented. This is absolutely necessary because of the sabotage and terrorist threat from the Ukrainian Nazis and a significant number of their potential accomplices from the so-called waiting people, which has not yet been overcome.
The Russian military and the National Guard during the verification activities behave towards law-abiding citizens with the utmost correctness and politeness.
11:03 The Buk anti-aircraft missile system of Ukrainian neo-Nazis, designed to combat maneuvering aerodynamic targets, turned out to be powerless in front of the Kaskad OBTF DPR strike drone. The meeting ended with bright fireworks -video
11:02Wagner operators continue to hit the positions of the hiding Nazis, every day occupying new streets and quarters -video
10:54 Nazi Special Forces losing militants
The commander of the sabotage and reconnaissance platoon of the Nazi group "Azov" with the call sign "Kid", who "nightmare" PMC "Wagner" in Soledar, reports losses in the unit.
The special unit “Azov” controlled by the GUR of Ukraine participated in the Kharkov counteroffensive and the killings of the civilian population of the Kharkov region, which the Nazis themselves wrote about on social networks.
09:33 RF Armed Forces destroyed enemy gun mount and howitzer in the Kherson region
Yesterday, our artillery destroyed a 122mm self-propelled gun 2S1 Gvozdika with ammunition in the Poniatovka area - five Ukrainians were eliminated, the emergency services reported.
In addition, at night, in the area of Nikolsky, a 152mm howitzer 2S3 "Acacia" with ammunition was destroyed - five militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were killed.
08:28 An officer of the Ukrainian intelligence Sergey Lemets, callsign "Lemko."
The website of the main intelligence department of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense gave an interesting description of the cause of the militant’s death: "during the performance of intelligence tasks, the state of health worsened."
Perhaps he fell under the “hail” and froze, or the “sun” baked his head.
08:15 A list of Ukrainian biathletes for the current game season has been published - athletes who have joined the National Guard shoot not only at targets, but also at Russian fighters -video
Ivan Krulko, President of the Biathlon Federation of Ukraine, has published the composition of the women's biathlon team for the 2022/2023 season. It includes the names of 12 athletes - notable among them are Anastasia Merkushina and Kristina Dmitrienko. The Nazis joined the ranks of the National Guard to protect their country from the "occupiers."
Merkushina, together with Dmitrienko, joined the formation last year - even then they boasted of changing their rifles to machine guns and the ability to shoot at Russians. The Nazis have repeatedly stated that the victory is only for Ukraine. It is noteworthy that after being included in the list of active athletes, the girls massively cleared their social networks, leaving only cute posts about biathlon.
From the whole picture, the following situation emerges - the IOC allows Ukraine to the Olympics with a flag, and with an anthem, and with the Nazis, who instead of targets see the heads of Russian soldiers. At the same time, the IOC also introduces recommendations for athletes from Russia - they will be checked for their attitude to the NWO, and if they find the support and symbols of the country, they will not be allowed to compete. The Square itself is trying to intimidate boycotts of the Olympics and other tournaments where Russian athletes take part. However, the Kiev regime is shyly silent about the true "professions" of its own athletes.
Kindly note that several entries in this article may have been removed because they included discussions of the grand strategic level.
[NewsFrontInfo] 23:58 Over the past day Representationreportedabout 22 facts of firing by the VFU.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy made 14 attacks from the AGM-88 HARM, strike UAV, 155mm artillery.
On Gorlovsky six artillery attacks from artillery 155mm and 122mm.
On Volnovakhskoye two artillery attacks from 155mm artillery. Having fired 87 units of various ammunition.
Under enemy fire were areas of five settlements of the Republic: Gorlovka (Nikitovsky district), the capital city of Donetsk (Kiev, Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky, Petrovsky districts), Makeevka (Chervonogvardeysky district), Blagodatnoye, Vladimirovka.
Over the past day, information was received about the death of three civilians in the Kirovsky and Petrovsky districts of Donetsk
Wounds of varying severity were received by two civilians in the Kirovsky and Kuibyshevsky districts of Donetsk.
A total of 12 residential buildings were damaged in Petrovsky, Kievsky and Kuibyshevsky districts of Donetsk, as well as one civil infrastructure facility.
22:00 Video- I advise everyone to look, made with love.
21:43 Video- Someone has rain today, and Ukrainians has hail.
21:28 Video- A series of explosions and shooting in the temporarily Nazi-occupied city of Zaporozhye tonight is the air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine hunting for "Geran", blooming in the locations of Zelensky's militants and their equipment
21:10 Video- Our fighters found a strange find at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - condoms
Boxes with the contents were delivered to the “independence of the independent” as humanitarian aid. For what purposes the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine needed protective equipment in positions remains a mystery -- TK Zvezda, Ministry of Defense.
20:45 Video- Acting Governor of the Kherson region Vladimir Saldo said that the military seized civilian boats and boats, and the owners are paid compensation according to the law.
20:33 Video “There is enough work.”
"An artilleryman with the call sign “Ural” said that in the NVO zone one often has to deal with equipment of European and American production. “This is basically a howitzer they have towed M777 made in the USA,” said the fighter. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are armed with installations from Germany and France, he says. “There is enough work,” summed up the Russian serviceman.
20:14 Video- “Terrible thugs and convicts”, the “worst people” of Wagner and the opinion of local residents in Artemovsk about them, who were helped to evacuate, and the boy was presented with a tablet.
20:02 Flew into the 13th floor of a residential building near the railway station in Donetsk AGM-88. No casualties
19:45 At the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine appreciated Russian kamikaze drones "Lancet".
Deputy head of the Ukrainian ministry Anton Gerashchenko said that Lancet UAVs pose the greatest threat to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to him, the drone's range of up to 40km and a maximum payload of up to threekg make it useful for destroying artillery.
At the same time, the cost of the Lancet is several times lower than, for example, the American M777 howitzer, which costs about $4 million.
19:24 Video— Rockets soared into the sky over Donetsk. Air defense reflects new attacks on the city.
19:07 What do you think, is it possible to trust such people, asks the channel of our Italian comrades -video.
18:55 Video- The 55th Artillery Brigade of militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a disgrace to the land of Zaporozhye!
The captured gun commander of the 2nd battery of the 55th Zaporizhia Separate Artillery Brigade (OABr) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Igor Masyanko called on the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine not to carry out criminal orders.
"I want to appeal to those servicemen of Ukraine who are still fighting and carry weapons with them. Watch who you're fighting. Based on our bitter experience at Azovstal. We understood from the "Azov," which could not bear their own on the battlefield. If you are not an "Azovian," then no one will come for you and save you. And to the Armed Forces…think before you carry out criminal or senseless orders."
I appeal to my countrymen-Cossacks, forcibly driven to the grave in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
18:48 Consequences of arrival on st. Gora.
18:35 Video– Arrival near the railway station in Donetsk.
18:23 After Putin's visit to the Kherson region, Ukrainian microbloggers managed orbit the moon before Elon Musk.
18:05 Video— Stormtroopers of the “Brave” are advancing on the front near Kremennaya. Soldiers of the assault detachment of the Central Military District are attacking on the sector of the front near Svatovo-Kremennaya with the support of artillery.
17:47 Video- The destruction of the Osa air defense system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by Russian paratroopers, presumably in the Kherson region.
17:33 Video- Knocked down - fight on your knees! You can’t get up - step on lying down!
At all times, service in the Airborne Forces was considered a special pride for the fighters. Millions of guys all over the country dream of walking along Red Square in a blue beret and putting on a vest on August 2, celebrating the day of the Airborne Forces.
17:20 Fake: Ukrainian Telegram channels show frightening videos of how the brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are preparing for the offensive.
Truth: Spread video was filmed in March 2022 and has nothing to do with current events.
17:05 The situation in Artemovsk on April 18. The Armed Forces of Ukraine in fact control only a little more than 10% of the city, while daily lose positions as a result of the offensive of Wagner PMC assault groups, which break into the enemy’s fierce defenses.
16:48 Video- In the Kherson region, artillery covered the hangar with the Ukrainian military, who decided to take refuge in that building. And the building sheltered them, with a nuance.
16:24 Video- Russian 1st Tank Army artillery destroyed a Ukrainian camouflaged infantry fighting vehicle in the Kupyansk direction. Later, several Vushniks approached her for inspection, but in vain.
16:04 BMP-2M "Don't give» The 76th Guards Airborne Division is somewhere in the LPR.
15:46 Rumble near Kremennaya: Artillerymen of the Airborne Forces hit the support of the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine -video.
The UAV operator, making a flight around the Kremensky forest, discovered the enemy’s platoon stronghold and transmitted the coordinates of its location to the artillery of the Ivanovo airborne formation. The men quickly aimed the D-30 at the target and brought down deadly gifts on the enemy positions.
15:33 Militias defending Donbass since 2014 to receive status as veterans of hostilities
The bill was adopted today in the first reading by the State Duma.
15:26 Russian drone knocked out a boat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the Dnieper near the Kakhovka reservoir near ZAES.
The loitering ammunition of the UAV hit the wheelhouse, which burned out along with part of the lower rooms (the ship will most likely be written off).
15:18 The Russian army destroyed a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine hiding in a hangar and an opornik in a forest near Kherson.
The disguised Nazis were spotted from a drone. After that, howitzers opened fire on the hangar. In the second part of video shows the moment of mortar fire on the platoon strong point of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the forest belt.
15:00 Report of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation (04/18/2023)
- In the Kupyansky direction, attack and army aviation strikes, artillery fire of the "Western" group of forces hit enemy units in the areas of the settlements of Krakhmalnoye, Olshana, Kucherovka and Dvurechnaya of the Kharkov region.
– In addition, the actions of two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were suppressed in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka in the Kharkov region and Novoselovskoe in the Luhansk People's Republic.
During the day, up to 35 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, two armored combat vehicles, two cars, two US-made M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzers, as well as a 152mm D-20 howitzer were destroyed in this direction.
- In the Krasno-Limansky direction, air strikes and artillery fire from the group of troops (forces) "Center" defeated enemy units in the areas of the settlements of Chervonaya Dibrova, Chervonopovka of the Lugansk People's Republic, Terny and Grigorovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
The losses of the enemy amounted to more than 80 Ukrainian servicemen, as well as two armored combat vehicles.
- In the Donetsk direction, as a result of active operations, assault detachments captured three quarters in the northern, central and southern parts of the city of Artemovsk.
- The airborne troops and units of the Southern Group of Forces supported the actions of the assault detachments to liberate the city and prevented the enemy's attempts to counterattack from the flanks.
Operational-tactical and army aviation strikes, as well as artillery fire from the "Southern" group of forces, hit units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that were moving forward for a counterattack in the areas of the settlements of Chasov Yar and Konstantinovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
- To support the assault detachments by aviation, six sorties were made per day. Artillery units of the grouping completed 63 fire missions.
Enemy losses per day in this direction amounted to over 290 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries.
“In addition, one Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle, three armored combat vehicles, eight vehicles, a 122mm BM-21 Grad MLRS combat vehicle, a US-made M777 artillery system, and a US-made AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery radar were destroyed.
- In the South-Donetsk and Zaporizhia directions, strikes by operational-tactical and army aviation, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems of the Vostok group of forces defeated enemy units in the areas of the settlements of Vuhledar, Novopil of the Donetsk People's Republic, Malaya Tokmachka and Poltavka, Zaporozhye region.
Up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, three infantry fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, and a 152mm D-20 howitzer were destroyed.
- In addition, two ammunition depots were destroyed in the areas of the settlements of Gulyaipole and Chervona Krinitsa of the Zaporozhye region.
In the Kherson direction, more than 25 Ukrainian servicemen, three vehicles, a US-made M777 artillery system, as well as two 122mm D-30 howitzers were destroyed during a day of fire damage.
- Operational-tactical aviation, missile forces and artillery of groups of troops (forces) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation defeated 98 artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at firing positions, manpower and equipment in 126 districts in a day.
- In the areas of the settlements of Terny and Avdiivka of the Donetsk People's Republic, the command posts of the 25th Airborne and 110th Mechanized brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit.
- In the areas of the settlements of Kobzartsy and Snigirevka of the Nikolaev region, two fuel depots for Ukrainian military equipment were destroyed.
During the day, air defense systems destroyed six Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the areas of the settlements of Dobrolyubovka, Kharkiv region, Kremennaya, Kolomyychikha, Chervonopopovka, Luhansk People's Republic.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the following have been destroyed: 407 aircraft, 228 helicopters, 3,770 unmanned aerial vehicles, 415 anti-aircraft missile systems, 8,711 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,087 combat vehicles of multiple launch rocket systems, 4,614 field artillery pieces and mortars, as well as 9,582 units of special military vehicles.
14:52 Ugledarsky section situation as of 15.00 April 18, 2023
"Yesterday, Ukrainian formations tried to storm Russian positions south of Vuhledar. One sabotage group of the 72nd Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted reconnaissance in battle near the forest belt north of Nikolsky.
- Another assault detachment in light armored vehicles, up to a platoon from the 3rd battalion of the 68th Separate Rifle Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, attacked the positions of Russian military personnel near Pavlovka.
Before these calculations of M777 howitzers, artillery preparation was carried out, and reconnaissance UAVs and copters were actively operating in the air, delivered in large numbers to the Donetsk direction as part of separate UAV companies.
- Both enemy attacks were repulsed by the joint efforts of infantry units and army aviation. Forces of 68 Separate Rifle Brigade and 72 Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine retreated to their original positions.
Now the situation is stable. In the area of Novoukrainka, the 68th Brigade is under staffed. And in Bogatyr, in the northwest of Ugledar, a large number of people and equipment are concentrated at the training ground.
- At the moment, it is not clear what kind of unit arrived in Bogatyr. Most recently, the training of the 23rd Brigade in Novomoskovsk was completed, and the brigade itself, according to the plan, should be involved either in the Zaporozhye or in the Donetsk directions.
14:37 More photo of a downed drone near school No. 57 in the Kievsky district of Donetsk.
14:22 Consequences of shelling Ukrainsk in the Donetsk region.
13:54 Video- Another column of equipment of the Ukrainian army destroyed in the zone of the NMD, consisting of: a kunga based on a GAZ 66 truck, a KSHM R-142N based on a GAZ 66 and an 8T311M washing and neutralization vehicle on a ZIL 131N chassis.
13:36 Video- More consequences of the artillery attack of the central market in Kherson, as a result of which one person was killed and nine people were injured.
13:19 Video "Yesterday, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attempted a counteroffensive near Ugledar, as a result of which they lost several combat vehicles, as well as a certain amount of infantry.
Alligators Ka-52 gunships again showed their high efficiency by providing air support to ground forces
12:55 The number of people injured during the artillery attack of Vasilyevka by militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has increased to five people
The artillery attack began at 18:10. Shops and power lines were damaged by the first shelling. As a result of a direct hit, a private house was destroyed. The building of a construction hypermarket was damaged. The Okolitsa store and Schastlivaya Street were also damaged. The Nazis damaged power lines in the microdistrict and left part of the city without electricity and water supply.
Three victims were hospitalized in the surgical department with shrapnel wounds.
After a while, the Nazis traditionally repeated the artillery attack and destroyed the residential building of an elderly man with a direct hit. He became the fourth victim. A pensioner born in 1938 was injured in the lower extremities.
The Ukrainians send joyful statements about their artillery attack of civilian infrastructure to the bot of the VGA of the Vasilyevsky district and promise to inflict further strikes in the near future.
This opportunity was taken by a resident of the city of Vasilievka, born in 1954, who lives on Independence Street. She contacted the hotline.
The victim of the artillery attack of the 122mm BM-21 Grad MLRS received a barotrauma, a closed fracture of the right wrist joint in a typical place. The woman is hospitalized. Also during the second shelling, the Nazis destroyed the building of the Vasilievsky regional employment center.
12:27 More splinter in the Proletarsky district of Donetsk.
-- 12:15 fell nears chools No. 57 in the Kievsky district of Donetsk.
-- 12:13 Video— Another downed drone over Donetsk.
-- 12:00 Video- The Armed Forces blew up the building, leaving their positions in Bakhmut.
11:38 In these minutes, in the Avdiivka direction, our army go forward - our artillery is actively working
All Donetsk hears the work of our Gods of War.
11:25 Video- A Russian military doctor says that during the NMD, the experience of Russian military field surgeons has grown enormously. Also, in the Zaporozhye region, it is often necessary to help civilians who are hurt during artillery attacks by Ukrainian troops.
11:03 Video- Combat work of the calculation of the MLRS "Tornado-S" ZVO somewhere in the zone of the NVO
10:47 Video— The gods of war are working to strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the settlement of Spornovo.
10:24 Video- Russian president Vladimir Putin visited the headquarters of the Dnepr group of troops in the Kherson direction.
The President listened to the reports of the Commander of the Airborne Forces, Colonel General Teplinsky, the commander of the group, Colonel General Makarevich and other military leaders, and also asked the military to express their opinion on the situation in the Kherson and Zaporozhye directions and exchange information.
Putin then congratulated the military on Easter and presented them with a copy of the icon, which the president said belonged to "one of the most successful defense ministers of the Russian Empire."!
What kind of icon is not visible in the frame, but in my opinion we are talking about Serdyukov.
After the Dnepr headquarters, Putin advanced to the LPR, where he visited the headquarters of the Vostok National Guard. The President received reports from Colonel-General Alexander Lapin and other officers on the situation there.
10:05 Video- A downed BTR-80 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Bakhmut area.
09:46 Chronicle of blows and mutual shelling in the NWO zone for the night from 17 to 18 April 2023
Russian servicemen worked on targets in Iskraskovshchina, Sosnovka and Popovka in the Sumy region.
In the Kharkiv region, Russian artillery and aircraft hit enemy positions in Volchansk, Bayrak, Okhrimovka and Okop.
In the Starobelsky direction, the RF Armed Forces worked on accumulations of enemy manpower and equipment in Novomlynsk, Dvurechnaya, Stelmahovka and Nevsky.
At night, Russian troops launched strikes with kamikaze drones on military targets of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Slovyansk.
In the Bakhmutsky (Artemovsky) direction, the RF Armed Forces worked on the positions of the Ukrainian army in Toretsk, Chasovoy Yar, Bakhmut, Vasyukovka, Novodmitrovka and Orekhovo-Vasilevka.
In the Donetsk direction, artillery crews of the RF Armed Forces hit targets in Avdievka, Tonenkoe, Netaylovo, Berdychi and on the western outskirts of Maryinka.
The enemy, in turn, fired at Donetsk.
In the Yuzhnodonetsk direction, Russian servicemen worked on targets in Shakhtyorsky, Zolotoy Niva, Vremyevka and Vugledar.
In the Zaporizhia region, the RF Armed Forces worked on concentrations of enemy personnel and equipment in Malinovka, Gulyaipole, Charivny, Orekhov and Malaya Tokmachka.
On the southern sector of the front, Russian troops attacked Kherson, Zolotoy Balka, Berislav, and also hit an enemy industrial facility in Snigirevka, Mykolaiv region.
Ukrainian formations fired at residential buildings in Kakhovka, Tavriysk and Vasilyevka.
09:45 Representation of the DPR in the JCCC informs about seven facts of firing by the VFU per day
The enemy fired from MLRS, 155mm and 122mm artillery, firing 35 units of various ammunition across the territory of the DPR.
Under the fire of the VFU were: Gorlovka, Donetsk, Aleksandrovka, Staromikhaylovka.
Over the past day, information was received about the wounding of two civilians.
09:40 Kherson direction
1. The criminal Kiev regime continues to shell the civilian infrastructure of the settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region, yesterday during the day the Armed Forces of Ukraine were fired from cannon artillery:
-- according to the settlement. Solontsy fired six rounds;
-- according to n.p. Dnepra fired four rounds;
-- five rounds were fired at Staraya Zburyevka;
-- seven rounds were fired at the settlement of Golaya Pristan;
-- according to n.p. Aleshki fired six rounds;
-- according to n.p. Krynki fired eight rounds;
-- according to n.p. Kardashinka fired four rounds;
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure to be confirmed.
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the settlement. New Kakhovka, settlement Kakhovka, settlement Tavriysk, settlement Vasilievka, firing a total of 44 rounds from cannon artillery.
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being specified.
2. At night, artillery fire in the area of ??the settlement Nikolskoye destroyed 152mm howitzer 2S3 "Acacia" with ammunition loss of five dead soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
3. Yesterday, 122mm was destroyed by artillery fire in the area of the settlement of Ponyatovka. SAU 2S1 "Gvozdika" with ammunition, the loss of five dead soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
09:36 The Ukrainian army continues to use the tactics of controlled explosions of key buildings in the process of retreat
This time, the City People's House (House of Culture) on the northwestern outskirts of Bakhmut took off. Demolition work is facilitated by the fact that in the process of defending the city, the Armed Forces of Ukraine stockpiled ammunition in many buildings and basements, which now acts as an additional explosive.
08:34 Our snipers are working on the front line near Kremennaya -video
In conditions of limited visibility in the forest, soldiers from the 3rd Separate Guards Warsaw-Berlin Red Banner Order of the Suvorov Special Forces Brigade target the enemy in the gaps.
The hours of waiting end with a single accurate shot. The enemy has lost one more unit of his manpower.
08:31 A monstrous explosion in Bakhmut: blowing up the building of the Palace of Culture by militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to impede the advancement of PMC "Wagner" -video
08:05 Frontline summary on the morning of April 18, 2023
On the Donetsk front, Russian troops, after massive artillery and air strikes, again tried to break through the defenses of the Ukrainian garrison in Maryinka. The APU again did not agree with this.
The ground attack at Nevelskoye also faced the reluctance of Ukrainian units to leave their positions. The situation is similar at Pervomaisky and Keramik, where the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation advanced after the active work of their artillery. She also hit the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Novomikhailovka, Pobeda, Georgievka, Maksimilyanovka, the city of Krasnogorovka, Netaylov, Avdeevka and Shcherbinovka. The Ukrainian army shelled Donetsk.
To the south-west of Bakhmut, after artillery strikes, PMC "Wagner" tried to break through to Ivanovsky. Did not work out. In the city itself, Wagner operators , supported by artillery and aviation, continued assault operations in the southern, western and northern parts.
Only on the first of the listed sites there is a slight progress. The ground attack on Khromovoe was inconclusive. Russian troops, with the support of artillery, tried to advance on Disputed and returned to their original positions. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation fired on Pleshcheyevka, Novodmitrovka, Chasov Yar, Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, Minkovka and Vasyukovka.
In the Lugansk direction, the Russian army, after artillery strikes, again attacked near Belogorovka, in the direction of Torskoy, Ternov and Nevsky. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation hit Stelmakhivka, Kondrashovka, Zapadny, Dvurechnaya, Novomlynsk and Topoly.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[REGNUM] A collapsed economy, territorial disintegration, millions of refugees - following the results of 30 years of independence, Ukraine turned out to be a failed state. The point of no return was passed not in 2022 and not in 2014, but much earlier. But Ukraine had a chance to choose an alternative version of history - the one that Vladimir Putin offered Kyiv 23 years ago.
Exactly 23 years ago, on April 18, 2000, Vladimir Putin made his first state visit to Kiev as Russia's new leader. He met with the second Ukrainian president, Leonid Kuchma , discussed with him the most pressing issues of bilateral relations at that time: Ukraine's debts for Russian gas and the fate of the Black Sea Fleet. Putin proposed various formats for restoring and strengthening ties, primarily economic ones. Even then, there was talk of what would be called the Eurasian Economic Community in 2001, and now the Eurasian Union, which Ukraine has never joined.
"The option of integration into the EAEU was an objective chance for Ukraine to accelerate the recovery of industry after the economic crisis of the 1990s," Nikita Mendkovich, head of the Eurasian Analytical Club, told REGNUM . "The countries of the former USSR were designed for cooperation, complementing each other, and the Ukrainian economy would easily find its place, unlike the option with the EU."
If this alternative scenario became a reality, there would be a sharp revival of the machine-building industry that Ukraine inherited from the USSR. Including aviation and missile production, which were tied to subcontractors in Russia and Belarus, Mendkovich notes. Metallurgy had good prospects. "Successful integration could lead to serious economic growth and raise the standard of living up to the indicators of Russian industrial regions," the expert pointed out.
But history, as you know, does not tolerate the subjunctive mood. The real Ukraine, whose elite has several times chosen to break with Russia and become “anti-Russia”, by 2023 has turned into a failed state — a failed state.
CONSEQUENCE OF SYSTEM ERRORS
A total of 40% of the lost volumes of metallurgy and harvest. Reducing GDP by a third. Seven million fled the country. Crimea, Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, who chose life outside the Ukrainian state. 60% of the expenditure items of the budget, formed exclusively by external borrowing.
Experts (both Russian and Western) agree that even if the Kiev leadership manages to maintain control over part of the current territory following the results of the NWO, the recovery process will at least reach the level of 2022 (i.e., to the level of one of the poorest countries Europe) can take a very long time. Entire generations will have to pay for the mistakes of the Ukrainian authorities over the past 9 years.
Or is it the last 20 years? After all, Ukraine had a chance not to embark on this path - the path of the state-anti-Russia, which led the country to the current nowhere. Russia offered her an alternative road - to good neighborliness, coexistence, economic and cultural integration.
Of course, in the proposal of Moscow, with which President Putin arrived in April 2000, there was not only an economic, but also a geopolitical moment.
Even then, at the beginning of the 2000s, it was clear that NATO was not ready to cooperate with Russia as an equal player, not ready to build a system of collective and indivisible security in Europe jointly with Moscow. Instead, the alliance will expand to the east, first at the expense of the former social bloc, then at the expense of the countries of the post-Soviet space - and above all Ukraine.
Even then it was obvious that his goal would be to contain Russia - to prevent its revival and restoration of influence in Europe. That for the sake of this deterrence, the leadership of the alliance will sacrifice its satellites - including Ukraine.
Apparently, Vladimir Putin warned the Ukrainian leaders about all this, but they no longer listened to him. Because they didn't want to, and they couldn't.
THE WEST USED UKRAINE AS A CONSUMABLE
"Putin, having headed Russia, quite sincerely wanted to maintain good-neighborly and mutually beneficial relations with his neighbors in the ex-USSR. But in ten years the situation has changed dramatically. By 2000, Ukraine was taken under total control by the Anglo-Saxons (through business, politicians, the media, the cultural and scientific elite)," Sergei Veselovsky, a political observer for the Krym TV channel, told REGNUM .
At the same time, the Americans tied and tied the Ukrainian political elite not only and not even so much with their own hands - all binding programs (through cultural influence, various educational programs and other “soft power” tools) were carried out mainly by European hands. Primarily Eastern European.
"They were very influential, both directly and indirectly. Especially Poland and the Czech Republic, which have an extensive network of NGOs. In addition, they showed Ukraine the “right” path. In addition, they played on linguistic kinship and created the appearance of special closeness, presenting themselves as an alternative Slavic pole to Russia. And it worked then, and now it works even more," Vadim Trukhachev, an associate professor at the Russian State Humanitarian University, told REGNUM.
Eastern European partners did not forget about their interests. "Warsaw never forgot about Zbigniew Brzezinski's formula that Russia without Ukraine ceases to be an empire. So here, being a conductor of American interests, Poland is the very rare case when a country is a beneficiary of allied relations with the United States," Dmitry Ofitserov-Belsky, senior researcher at IMEMO RAS, explained to REGNUM.
"If Poland could be considered a conductor of American influence, then the Czech Republic is more likely the influence of the EU as a whole. And, of course, both did not forget about their interests. Moreover, Poland is more about historical and geopolitical, and the Czech Republic is more about geo-economic: the development of the Ukrainian market, the closure of local competitors and the displacement of Russian ones," said Trukhachev.
As a result, through the joint efforts of Western leaders and the Ukrainian oligarchic elite (who imagined themselves to be the masters of the country), Ukraine was not allowed to embark on the path proposed by Putin. And in 2004 they formalized this ban through the first Maidan.
"Attempts to “buy” Kuchma with mutually beneficial prospects have crashed against the wall of total sabotage of the Ukrainian politicians. Leonid Danilovich was bound and tied. And when in 2004 he convulsively twitched for the last time, he got the “third round” and the American Viktor Yushchenko," says Veselovsky.
EUROMAIDAN WON
The "orange" Maidan of 2004-2005 not only closed Ukraine's path to a normal existence, but led to the beginning of the process of destruction of Ukrainian statehood as such.
"The point of no return was the “third round” of the presidential elections of 2004, when, under external coercion and on the basis of the Bandera “underground,” the construction of a new unconstitutional and illegal state system began, an ideology that encourages corruption and Nazism," Alexei Mukhin, director general of the Center for Political Information, explained to REGNUM news agency.
President Yushchenko, who came to power, began at an accelerated pace to build from Ukraine not “non-Russia”, which it was under Kuchma, but “anti-Russia”.
If someone believed that after the departure of Yushchenko and the arrival of the conditionally “pro-Russian” Viktor Yanukovych in 2010, there was a remission, then this was not so.
"It was a mistake on our part to believe that Yanukovych-2010 is Yanukovych-2004. The Anglo-Saxons reformatted Viktor Fedorovich in five years, surrounded him with the Levochkins (Sergey Lyovochkin at the time of the Maidan served as the head of the administration of President Yanukovych and, according to rumors, was responsible for the provocative dispersal of students) and led to the 2014 coup as weak-willed and “warm," noted Veselovsky.
It was Yanukovych's entourage that pushed him towards an anti-Russian course - in particular, it pulled Ukraine into association with the European Union. The signing of the Association Agreement was positioned as a step for Ukraine to join the EU, but in fact led to a further weakening of the local economy and a rupture of existing ties with the Russian and Eurasian markets.
"In reality, as we know, Ukrainian exports seriously degraded when trying to enter the European market, which took place on the most unfavorable conditions. The draft association agreement with the EU for Ukraine provided for much worse conditions than for most other candidates at that time. The country was deprived of even the minimum rights to a policy of protectionism and support its own producers, including for adaptation to EU standards," says Mendkovich.
And when Yanukovych, who was under pressure from Ukrainian industrialists and who had an alternative proposal from Moscow in his hands, refused to sign the document, a second Maidan took place in Ukraine - or, as it is also called, Euromaidan. Unlike the first one, it is much more Bandera, anti-Russian. He put an end not only to Russian attempts to improve relations with a neighboring country, but also to the statehood of this country.
The influence of external destructive players has increased dramatically.
"To put it simply, in order for Polish influence in Ukraine to be possible, the state institutions of Ukraine must be weakened to the limit, which happened," says Dmitry Ofitserov-Belsky.
In fact, Petro Poroshenko and his successor Vladimir Zelensky doomed Ukrainians to the fate of cannon fodder for the implementation of the West's plans to contain Russia. The West was not ready to give up these plans - in fact, that is why it rejected the proposals of Vladimir Putin (who was desperate to negotiate directly with Kiev) on guarantees of Russia's security. This means that Moscow no longer had any choice but to protect its interests with the help of a special military operation.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[REGNUM] US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the White House will present a new strategy for the Black Sea by June. It will be based on the fact that out of the six countries that have access to it, three are members of NATO, and "Ukraine is obviously an important friend of the United States." This approach involves the creation of new strongholds along the perimeter of the Black Sea ports.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba paid a surprise visit to Baghdad, where he held talks with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein and was received by Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Al-Sudani . This was the first visit by a Ukrainian official to Baghdad since February 2022 and the first visit by a Ukrainian Foreign Minister to Iraq in 11 years.
"MYSTERY VISIT"
The day before, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, announcing this visit, qualified it as "a continuation of the strategy of opening new horizons in the Middle East and creating new opportunities for the Ukrainian state, business and citizens." But these are just words, because no one knows whether Ukraine will be able to maintain international subjectivity, economic and other viability.
In fact, the Ukrainian economy, which collapsed by almost 30% last year, is supported solely by Western injections. In such circumstances, the discussion in Iraq of "new opportunities for the Ukrainian state in the field of business" seems appropriate only under certain certain conditions, about which little is known so far.
If you arrange events in chronological order, then the alignment looks like this.
On April 7, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that he had invited Kuleba to Ankara to discuss a settlement in Ukraine. Apparently, Kyiv refused.
After that, on April 10, the head of the Iraqi government, during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, offered to mediate between Ukraine and Russia.
As the Arab portal Shafaq News reported, Kiev did not immediately reject this proposal and sent Kuleba to Baghdad, although it was initially obvious that Iraq's desire to "become part of the decision to end the war in Ukraine" had no real political prospects.
And so it happened, when Kuleba, at a joint press conference in Baghdad, thanked Baghdad for "supporting Ukraine on the international stage" but emphasized that any ceasefire "should require the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and the withdrawal of Russian troops." At the same time, Kiev expressed its readiness to " work through all aspects of our bilateral relations and outline common projects," to become part of the efforts to rethink Ukrainian-Iraqi relations."
But in order to make such statements, Kuleba did not need to fly to Baghdad. The Associated Press, commenting on this "mysterious visit," links it to Kiev's new aspirations "to rethink Ukrainian-Iraqi relations" and to Kuleba's recent statement at the Black Sea security conference in Bucharest that "the Black Sea should become a NATO sea."
"BLACK SEA STRATEGY"
This is how the AP makes it clear that the US is returning to the doctrine of action outlined several years ago by the famous American political scientist George Friedman in an article entitled "Ukraine, Iraq and the Black Sea Strategy."
Its main meaning is that it is necessary to build military planning taking into account two existing theaters of military operations with a wide potential value. One of them is Ukraine, the other is at the junction of Syria and Iraq, and the "center of gravity of operations" should be the Black Sea.
According to Friedman, "there is no connection between these two theaters now, but it should appear, but in such a way that the United States avoids direct military involvement." To do this, Iraq must be turned into Syria, " a country with a battle between factions."
As for Turkey, according to the proposed scenario, it "becomes one of the indispensable allies, since its interests should be in contact with American ones."
Aligning US and Turkish strategies "should be a precondition for a Black Sea strategy, but both countries need to make either major political shifts or Turkey must be tamed with changes in the regional balance of power."
The fact that these are not theoretical judgments is evidenced by Anthony Blinken's statement at the hearings in the US Senate Appropriations Committee. According to him, the White House will present a strategy for the Black Sea by June. It will be built on the fact that of the six countries that have access to the Black Sea, three states are members of NATO, and "Ukraine is obviously an important friend of the United States."
This approach involves the creation of strongholds along the perimeter of the Black Sea ports, as well as, possibly, the presence of aviation formations and the basing of ships of the US Navy and other countries of the North Atlantic Alliance, the deployment of infrastructure for reconnaissance operations.
According to Blinken, "the US strategy for the Black Sea region will focus not only on security aspects, but also on intensifying political interaction, on intensifying economic cooperation, including strengthening energy security" with these countries.
NEW ARC OF TENSION
At this stage, the main emphasis will be placed on Romania, which also occupies an important place in NATO's plans for the Intermarium - a "cordon sanitaire" located along the western borders of Russia: Romania - Poland - the Baltic states. In addition, Bucharest will be stimulated to regional leadership and set two main tasks: to oppose Russia in the Black Sea and to prevent the possible emergence of a Moscow-Belgrade geopolitical axis.
Georgia also plays a special role in the proposed combination.
As for Turkey as a member of NATO, according to the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet, it "will be pushed towards abandoning the Montreux Convention or its renewal so that the United States can establish strategic superiority over Russia and, by holding a very important zone of Eurasia, gain an advantage in the global struggle for power."
Recall that this convention, adopted in 1936, does not allow the United States to be uncontrolled in the Black Sea and imposes restrictions on the number and tonnage of ships for countries that do not have access to the Black Sea. In this regard, Romanian experts propose, as an interim solution, "to introduce American ships into the "small Black Sea Fleet" operating under the flag of Romania."
An American military base may appear on the Black Sea coast in Romania.
Turkey, until a final decision is made, will be put out of the picture and subjected to pressure from NATO partners. In a word, by adopting a new Black Sea strategy, Washington sends a signal to Ankara that it is dissatisfied with its ambiguous position in the Ukrainian crisis and Erdogan's too long "two chairs."
The United States is creating a new "arc of tension" with the potential connection of Ukraine: the Black Sea - the Middle East (Syria and Iraq) - the Caucasus (a single combat theater). When looking at the map, it can be noted that the Black Sea is a geographical link between these areas. It acts as the southern border of Ukraine with the European part of Russia and the Caucasus. Northern Syria and Iraq are less than 650 kilometers from the Black Sea.
According to Friedman, the alliance could stretch between the Baltic and Black Seas, to the Caspian, including Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, localizing Russia. At the same time, "possible events in Syria, Iraq, Turkey or the Caucasus are secondary compared to the problems of Russia's future relations with Ukraine and the European Peninsula."
This is the geopolitical context of Kuleba's mission to Iraq, which for Kyiv is more of an educational, reconnaissance nature. The United States, as one American expert writes, " intends to bring Ukraine, Syria, Iraq and the Caucasus together in a united front ." The message is clear, as are the motives for the emergence of a new American strategy.
However, the plans and dreams of the United States may stumble over the pragmatic considerations of Moscow, Ankara, Damascus, Tehran and other centers of power in the region.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has already stated that the Black Sea will never be a NATO sea. According to him, this is a sea for all coastal countries, which should be a sea of cooperation, interaction and security. So the battle for the Black Sea is gaining momentum.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[REGNUM] In the United States, three Russians were charged with conducting an “influence campaign” in the interests of Russia
The US authorities have accused three Russians and four Americans of conducting an "influence campaign" in the interests of Russia. This was announced on April 18 by the US Department of Justice.
A jury in the state of Florida found evidence provided by the authorities sufficient to charge them that "they acted in the interests of the Russian government and in cooperation with the FSB to conduct a long-term malicious campaign to influence the United States" .
In addition, in the Federal District of Columbia, the materials of the case have been declassified, in which Russian woman Natalia Burlinova was charged with "acting as an illegal agent of Russia in the United States" by colluding with an FSB officer .
As REGNUM reported , on March 30, The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich was detained in Russia on suspicion of espionage and taken into custody for two months. The special services have data on the collection by the reporter of information constituting a state secret in Russia. The journalist himself categorically denies the investigators' accusation of espionage in the interests of the United States .
On March 31, John Kirby , strategic communications coordinator at the White House National Security Council, recommended that all US citizens, including journalists, urgently leave Russia.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[REGNUM] Washington Post: The United States refused to admit the extent of its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine
The American authorities continue to deny that the United States is waging a proxy war with Russia, despite information from secret documents leaked to the Network about the extent of Washington's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, The Washington Post reports.
The publication said that, according to the emerging information, the United States "is involved in virtually every aspect of the war." At the same time, journalists pointed to one exception: the United States has not yet directly involved its soldiers to participate in hostilities against the Russian Federation.
The article notes that US intelligence is using advanced surveillance and espionage to monitor the actions of Russian forces. In addition, the Washington Post recalled that the United States provided Ukraine with military and economic assistance totaling $40 billion.
As REGNUM reported, on April 5, White House strategic communications coordinator John Kirby acknowledged that Washington is allowing Kiev to strike at regions reunited with Russia. At the same time, he added that the United States allegedly does not provide conditions and does not incite Ukraine to attacks outside Ukrainian territory.
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] The work of the Ka-52 attack helicopter near Ugledar. 3 shots - 3 tanks.
The events took place the other day, during an attempt by the enemy to counteroffensive near Ugledar, with the aim of pushing our troops away from the city.
The enemy failed, losing 8-10 armored vehicles and a decent number of personnel.
#1
The Russians have also destroyed the Ukrainian air force several times over, 3x every HIMARS and some Leopards they aren't yet in theater. It's very impressive!
Commentary by former police general, now senior sergeant Kandikov.
[ColonelCassad] Every drop sharpened me like a stone
Thank you very much, Family! Very touched by the attention and kind words! One word cannot explain my intentions to “leave my loved ones, my comfort zone… Go to the front line.” To be honest, at the age of 54, such a decision was not even easy for me! I had to literally “break” myself. In the East they say: Donkey, standing in the shade, will no longer work in the sun. For nine years now I have been on a general's pension. 9 years of a calm and carefree, partly well-to-do life! I, like everyone else, lived in the thick of news and events around them.
My old fighting friends went to war one by one. In the old days they were my subordinates. I led them under the bullets of the enemy, and we all returned time after time to our families. At one moment, the extreme drop overflowed my vessel of patience. Each drop sharpened me like a stone. It was very embarrassing to realize when my guys suffered hardships, and their commander roamed in comfort and coziness. Besides all this, I, born and raised on stories about the Great War, and also on evening conversations with my father about his service on the frontier.
I remember how often I asked him to tell about the same thing again and again, how he detained violators of the USSR State Border in clashes with sabotage and reconnaissance groups. 28 detained violators and, as a result, were awarded the medal "For Distinction in the Protection of the State Border". It was easy for me to receive my state award someday - a sky-high dream. The Afghan wars played an indelible mark on my patriotic upbringing.
By their example, I became a man, a warrior, ready for self-sacrifice for the sake of my Motherland, beloved land, parents, family, friends! Under these conditions, an inner awareness of my destiny was born, and my future life path was also determined! Now - Russia, President Putin, The Russian Orthodox Church and all caring people are in the midst of historical Ecumenical events, when on one side of the scale the future of the World is kindness, generosity, love, Faith in God, and on the other - abomination, greed, spiritual emptiness and, as a result, death.
At some point, I realized that if I stay away from these turbulent processes, then I will not forgive myself for this and will regret and repent for the rest of my life. Today I am just a small cog in a large mechanism of events, but I hope that something also depends on me and at the same time there is some benefit in our common VICTORY! Thanks to everyone who is not indifferent and actively helps us to comprehend IT!
My friends and family are very supportive and helpful. spiritual emptiness and, as a consequence, death.
I serve in military intelligence. For the duration of my military service, I renounced my general's pension, as well as my special rank. The former rank was a lieutenant general of the police, and now they returned to me my military rank with which I left the Soviet Army 35 years ago - a senior sergeant of the guard. As the command promises, in the near future they should be reassigned to the officer rank - lieutenant. In my position, I am the deputy commander of a fire support company.
My colleagues are perplexed. They do not understand my intentions, my motive. They are all younger than me. I don’t know how to explain to them, they were born and raised by a different era, in order to understand me, they had to be born in the environment that gave birth to me, raised me and it is described above. Today I have new fighting friends - these are my subordinates. For them, as in the old days, I also became a father commander.
I don't know what will happen tomorrow! It's not so easy here! And it seems to be for a long time! People are dying from one side and the other, wounded guys go to hospitals every day. Whether they will return here or not is an open question. One thing is clear, the way back, i.e. we just don't have a way back! We will live, endure, believe in God, move forward and with His help we will definitely win!
As such! I hug everyone!
Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on us sinners! Amen!
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] 1. The State Duma adopted amendments to toughen the punishment for high treason. Now, on the fact of treason, you can get a life sentence as the maximum term. The question of the death penalty remained up in
the air as usual in the context of the debate about the appropriateness of extending the moratorium on the death penalty.
2. Of course, Kara-Murza was lucky, a little short of the amendments and received only 25 years. Under the new amendments, he could also receive a life sentence, given the facts of treason. However, I am sure that soon we will see the application of this amendment against other defendants.
3. These are obviously far from the only amendments that should be expected in the legislation for various anti-state crimes related to complicity with countries hostile to Russia. The time of mercy, if it comes, will come only after the war. Now is not the time for tenderness. Which, however, does not save the authorities from the ongoing accusations of rotten liberalism. But if you look at the processes of the last two years, they began to become much less liberal - the war changes society and the state in one way or another, despite the huge inertia of the previous decades of marching to the West and fighting the accursed past.
[IsraelTimes] FM to become first Israeli minister in nearly 30 years to visit the closed central Asian dictatorship, an oil-rich state on Iranian border
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen will fly from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan on Wednesday night, becoming the first Israeli minister to visit the central Asian state in nearly three decades.
Then-foreign minister Shimon Peres visited the oil-rich dictatorship in 1994, three years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which had ruled the area.
Continued on Page 49
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.
