[DM] The First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, said in a speech on Wednesday: 'Beneath the waves, our nuclear deterrent protects the nation.
Undersea cables carry almost all data, transactions, and communications on which modern life depends.
'In all these areas, the Atlantic is critical.'
The cables are particularly vulnerable at the GIUK gap in the two stretches of open ocean between Greenland, Iceland and Britain.
A military source said: 'The UK simply does not have the reach at the moment to protect these lines, so Washington has stepped in by sending submarines.'
#1
There sure have been a lot of stories in the news lately about how Putin is planning all sorts of mischief or Russia *could* do something naughty. It is like someone is trying to set the stage for a bit of false-flaggery.
MOSCOW, Sept 20 (Reuters) - The largest Ukrainian drone attack reported so far on Moscow region killed two people and damaged part of an oil refinery in the capital, authorities said on Sunday, as Russia enters the final day of parliamentary elections.
Ukraine and Russia have continued attacks on each other's energy infrastructure despite an announcement by US President Donald Trump on Monday that they had agreed to stop.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram channel that Russia had downed more than 1,600 drones since Saturday, including 450 headed for Moscow.
"The unprecedented attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections," he said. "The adversary failed to achieve this."
Several drones reached the premises of the oil refinery and one hit an apartment building, he said.
In the village of Sofyino, south of Moscow, a body covered in a stained blanket lay in front of a damaged apartment block, the upper windows of which were blown out.
"Glass went flying, people started screaming and shouting. I turned around, and the entrance doors had already been blown out, debris everywhere," said resident Vitaliy, who gave only his first name.
A facility at the Moscow refinery was damaged in the attack, Mayor Sobyanin said, without giving further details, news agency Interfax reported.
Reuters witnesses in Moscow heard blasts and saw plumes of smoke billowing from the site of the refinery.
Ukrainian strikes have knocked out a significant part of Russia's oil refining capacity, triggering oil product shortages, fuel price increases and long queues at filling stations in many regions across the country's 11 time zones.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] 23.51 The security service of Ukraine suddenly during the day successfully fought against a Ukrainian jet drone against a Russian jet drone.
22.57 As a result of the Russian attack on the Fastivsky district of the Kiev region on the 19th spring, a mother and two small children died - a girl and a boy. The living quarters and the car were also damaged. Timur Tkachenko, the head of the Kiev OVA, announced this.
22.22 Russian military evenings on Saturday, the 19th of April, attacked food warehouses near Krivoy Rozi with a drone. As a result of the blow, the vineyard burned, information about the victims is being clarified. The head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Administration, Oleksandr Ganzha, reported this.
Head For the defense of Krivoy Rog, Oleksandr Vilkul clarified that the attack was carried out by a rocket launcher on the trade infrastructure near the Saksagansky district. Emergency robots were dispatched to the scene. Volkul also noted that Russian UAVs were crashing at low altitudes.
21.55 Denmark is transferring to Ukraine the 31st package of military aid to the Wartist, amounting to approximately $275 million. As reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the package is the result of agreements reached during a telephone conversation between the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yevgeniy Khmary and his Danish colleague Jeppe Bruus earlier this year.
21.29 The number of wounded legacies of the Russian attack on the shopping center in Dnipro on Saturday, April 19, has grown to several. All victims will receive the necessary medical care. The head of the Dnipropetrovsk OVA, Oleksandr Ganzha, told us about this.
20.17 The Security Service of Ukraine suddenly priced out a new drone against a jet UAV of the Russian military. How many times did Geranium-5 become poor? As President Volodymyr Zelensky reported, the combat deployment of the new Ukrainian drone was already more successful than before.
19.56 The Russian army attacked the territory of the enterprise in the Odessa region with a jet UAV on the 19th spring. Three tankers were damaged, vinyl was burned, and there were no casualties. The head of Odesskaya OVA Oleg Kiper told about this.
12/19 Russian military forces attacked a car near the Shostka district of the Sumy region with an FPV drone. Four people died as a result of the impact. Among the dead is a friend: a 58-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman. A 45-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman also died. The head of the Sumy OVA Oleg Grigorov told about this.
18.46 Russian military evenings on Saturday, 19th spring, hit the New Continent shopping center near the Dnieper. After being exposed to civil infrastructure, the fire burned. Behind the front we know that two people were wounded. The head of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Mikola Lukashuk, announced this.
18.30 The head of the NATO Military Committee, Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, stated that the Alliance is ready for possible provocations and military scenarios on a similar flank. Whenever Russia is attacked, we have more expenses and less income. As Kavo Dragone informed, the Alliance has approximately 4 thousand sides of planes along a similar flank. They smell a wide range of scenarios - from a local crisis and handover on the territory of the member states to a situation that could transfer the stagnation of Article 5 of the Atlantic Treaty.
17.06 President Volodymyr Zelensky informed about the preparation of decisions to modernize management approaches and the response system in the Command of the ZSU Medical Forces. Ukraine is also preparing new long-range operations in response to Russian attacks. Following the president’s words, additional evidence was generated by the Minister of Defense Yevgeniy Khmara and the Chief Commander of the ZSU Mikhailo Drapatiy. We also discussed updating the regulatory framework and approaches to recruiting foreign volunteers to serve in the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
16.23 Ukraine called on the authorities of other countries to close the “Russian House” network of Russian cultural centers. Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sibiga stated that these structures are being used by Russia for disinformation, destabilization and spying. Ukraine has officially returned to the border with a demand to recognize the effectiveness of the measure as a threat to national security and to limit its work.
15.33 US President Donald Trump signed the law HR 5334 on June 18, which expands sanctions mechanisms to Russia. Among the cases provided by law for demarcation are registration before the Primus transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children. White house confirming the signing of the document. The law, in effect, expands statutory sanctions, tariffs and defenses against Russia, as well as continues statutory sanctions against Iran.
15.09 President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the creation and successful deployment of a new drone-survivor to combat jet bombers. The investigation was carried out by the military counterintelligence service of the SBU. About this Zelensky reported after the testimony of the hourly convict of the SBU head Oleksandr Poklad. The President also publicized the video of the work of the new hack.
07.36 The number of victims of the Russian strike by the KAB on a residential building in Sumy has grown to three. Another 15 people were injured, the National Police of Ukraine in France reported .
05.26 The European Commission has not yet withdrawn Ukraine from signing contracts for the purchase of supersurvival missiles for Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems. Through Brussels it is not possible to make additional payments on a loan for a total amount of 90 billion euros. Recently, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said in an interview with Radio Liberty that he was looking for Patriot missiles for Ukraine.
01.04 US President Donald Trump on Friday, April 18, signed a law authored by the late Senator Lindsay Graham on new sanctions against Russia. The law introduces new sanctions against the Russian elite, banks, energy and defense structures, as well as the Russian dark tanker fleet.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[NewsFront] 20:28 Operators of UAV interceptors of the Zapad group cleansed the sky in the Krasnolimansky direction. 19:47 Artillerymen of the Southern group of forces fire from the 152mm Msta-B howitzer smashed to pieces shelter with Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel (Semenovka, Kramatorsk district).
19:02 Geran-4 Seeker UAV crews hit at three enemy logistics centers in the settlements of Dachnoye and Usatovo in the Odessa region and Kommunar in the Khar'kov region.
18:32 During the day, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued application strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles on Ukrainian ports and sea vessels used in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
As a result of strikes in the port of Chornomorsk in the Odessa region, a tanker-type vessel delivering fuel and lubricants for the Ukrainian Armed Forces was damaged.
16:22 "Geraniums" attacked two radar stations 35D6 and P-18 in the Khar'kov region, and in the Nikolaev region - the enemy's launch command post at the Voznesensk airfield.
13:32 Strike drone crews of the Novorossiysk paratroopers caught rotation and supply of provisions to the enemy in the Zaporizhzhia region.
12:14 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to conduct the Special Military Operation.
Units of the North military group in the northeastern part of the Khar'kov region are tightening the encirclement and expanding the external control zone.
The destruction of enemy formations in the encirclement continues in the areas of the populated areas of Grachovka, Krasny Yar and Khripuny in the Khar'kov region.
As a result of decisive actions, the settlements of Loshakovo and Komissarovo in the Khar'kov region were taken under control, and battles are underway to liberate the settlement of Buzovo in the Khar'kov region.
Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian armed forces have suffered losses of up to 30 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, and two cars.
During the expansion of the external control zone, Ukrainian Armed Forces formations are being destroyed in the areas of the settlements of Petrovpavlivka, Novooleksandrivka and Prikolotne in the Khar'kov region.
In addition, in the Khar'kov region, fire damage was inflicted on the manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Korbyny Ivany, Chernoglazovka, Bratenitsa, Podsrednee, and Velykyi Burluk in the Khar'kov region.
In the Sumy region, manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were damaged in the areas of the settlements of Khotyn, Rudnevka and Pushkarevka in the Sumy region.
In total, in the area of responsibility of the North group of forces over the past 24 hours, the enemy lost up to 245 servicemen, three combat armored vehicles, and 12 cars.
Units of the "West" force grouping improved their position along the forward edge. They defeated formations of three mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a territorial defense brigade near the settlements of Bazalievka, Berezovka, and Chervony Oskol in the Khar'kov region and Rubtsy in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost over 210 servicemen, four armored combat vehicles, including two US-made M113 armored personnel carriers, 12 cars, a field artillery gun, and an electronic warfare station.
Units of the Southern Group of Forces occupied more advantageous positions and lines. They defeated the personnel and equipment of the mechanized, airmobile, and mountain assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the settlements of Vysokoivanovka, Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Nikolaevka, and Shabelkovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost up to 145 servicemen, 19 vehicles, two artillery pieces and an electronic warfare station.
Units of the Center group of forces improved their tactical position and liberated the settlements of Maryevka and Gulevo in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a special forces brigade, and two National Guard brigades were damaged in the areas of the settlements of Belozerskoye, Druzhkovka, Artema, Varvarovka, Starorayskoye, and Novoyavlenka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted to over 410 servicemen, five armored combat vehicles, three self-propelled artillery units, and 11 vehicles.
Units of the "East" group of forces advanced deep into the enemy's defenses and liberated the village of Zelenaya Dibrova in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The manpower and equipment of two airborne assault brigades and two assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were damaged in the areas of the populated areas of Manvelovka, Malinovka, Kolomiytsy in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Petropavlivske and Obshcheye in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 280 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, 10 vehicles, and a field artillery gun.
Units of the Dnipro Forces Group improved their position along the forward edge. They defeated formations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' mechanized and mountain assault brigades near the villages of Orekhov, Preobrazhenka, and Dimitrovo in the Zaporizhia region.
11:47 Drone drivers worked out on a dry cargo ship and a tanker involved in the delivery of military cargo for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to the port of Odessa.
09:15 During the past night, air defense forces on duty intercepted and destroyed 344 unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type over the territories of the Leningrad, Novgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Oryol, Kaluga, Tula, Ryazan, Lipetsk, Vladimir, Rostov regions, Krasnodar Krai, Moscow region, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Republic of Dagestan and over the waters of the Black Sea.
08:57 Tonight, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inflicted strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles on logistics centers and ports of Ukraine, ships deployed in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as transport infrastructure facilities.
The following were injured as a result of the strike:
in the Kyiv region:
The customs and logistics center "Kopylov Logistics Park" in the village of Kopylov (41 km west of Kyiv), used for the storage and distribution of military cargo arriving in Ukraine from European countries.
in Odessa region:
A pontoon crossing of the Dniester River used for the transit of military cargo delivered to Ukraine from Romania and the port of Izmail;
in the port of Chornomorsk, a dry cargo vessel delivered military cargo.
In addition, two dry cargo ships were hit during the sea crossing, delivering cargo to the port of Odessa intended for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
08:50 Servicemen of the 11th Army Corps of the North group used the New drone "Mangas" for destroying shelters and personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
07:33 Changes on map over the past 24 hours:
Zolotoy Kolodez (+12.2 km2) was liberated
Verolyubovka was liberated (+19 km2)
07:06 Skat-350M reconnaissance UAV crews pointed artillerymen on enemy positions in the Krasnolimansk direction. Drone operators adjusted the 152mm Giatsint's fire until the target was completely destroyed.
[TASS] Air defenses intercepted and destroyed 344 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over Russian regions overnight, the Defense Ministry reported in a statement on Saturday.
"On-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 344 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over the past night over the Leningrad, Novgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Oryol, Kaluga, Tula, Ryazan, Lipetsk, Vladimir, Rostov, Krasnodar, Moscow Regions, the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, the Republic of Dagestan and over the Black Sea," the statement reads.
A busy day for all involved, at the end of which skills all around were greatly improved.
Text presumably taken from a Russian Ministry of Defense announcement
[ColonelCassad] We are accelerating the offensive in all directions.
Since the beginning of this year, over 5,300 square kilometers of territory and more than 220 settlements have been liberated. In September alone, over 670 square kilometers and 27 settlements came under Russian control. The "North" group of forces is successfully continuing to establish a security zone in the border areas of the Sumy and Khar'kov regions.
The destruction of Ukrainian Armed Forces formations encircled in the northeastern part of the Kharkiv region continues. Since September 5, enemy-controlled territory has been reduced by 152 square kilometers. Nine settlements (Berezniki, Ozernoye, Dolgenkoye, Zarubinka, Chernyakov, Shiroke, Shevchenkove, Olkhovatka, and Malaya Vovchya) have been recaptured. Enemy losses amounted to approximately 700 service members.
The offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region is actively progressing. Formations and military units of the "Vostok" and "Dnipro" groups are advancing along a broad front toward Zaporizhzhia. Since early September, they have liberated Chervona Krynytsia, Novopavlovka, Novoandriivka, and Rozovka. Fighting continues in the central districts of Orekhov. The most intense fighting is taking place on the approaches to the Kramatorsk-Slovyansk agglomeration.
Formations and military units of the Southern Group of Forces and the "Center" Group of Forces are overcoming fortified enemy defenses on the immediate approaches to Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, and Druzhkovka. Street fighting is ongoing in the central district of Dobropillia. Amid the rapid advance of Russian troops in all directions, Kyiv authorities are once again attempting to convince their Western handlers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' ability to resist our army in the area of responsibility of the "West" Group of Forces.
To demonstrate this, the Ukrainian Armed Forces command has committed the most trained units and nationalist formations from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to the battle. At the same time, with the help of Western media and military experts, the Kyiv regime is waging an aggressive information campaign, attempting to portray the Ukrainian Armed Forces' actions as major battlefield successes and a seizure of the initiative from Russian forces.
In reality, small enemy assault groups, suffering significant losses in personnel and attempting to penetrate our combat formations near the line of contact, are unsuccessful. Units of the "West" force group are interdicting enemy forays, inflicting fire damage on them, and preventing them from taking further action. Moreover, units of the group are successfully conducting combat operations to liberate the settlements of Chervony Oskol, Krymki, and Studenok.
In Krasny Liman and Svyatogorsk, the clearing of residential areas of lone Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen continues.
Text taken from the Telegram channel of Rybar
[ColonelCassad] Immediately after the American delegation arrived in Moscow, the media began to fill with headlines like "The White House is pressuring the Kyiv regime" or "The US is forcing concessions from Russia," and so on.
This all sounds good, of course, but in reality, what did we see? During the American visit, first to Russia and then to the so-called Ukraine, several cargo flights departed from the US, including chartered commercial B-737 aircraft that flew to Poland. And they weren't carrying humanitarian aid, as they took off from military airbases. This once again reminded us of Trump's amusing remark, who once said that the US hadn't provided aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces since his arrival in office.
Essentially, that's true, but they're just doing it indirectly now. How has the supply system changed?
Under Biden, there were no problems for the so-called Ukraine: the Americans gave almost whatever they wanted.
In 2022, priority was given to those that could be quickly removed from storage and sent to the front: Javelin, Stinger, M777, HIMARS, ammunition, and vehicles.
In 2023, heavier systems were delivered: Bradley, Abrams, Patriot, engineering equipment, and cluster munitions.
By 2024, a significant share of assistance consisted of ammunition, air defense missiles, and funds to sustain previously transferred systems. The last major US package was announced on December 30: $1.25 billion under the aforementioned PDA and $1.22 billion under the USAI (Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative).
Unlike the PDA, USAI did not involve the transfer of weapons from existing stockpiles, but rather their purchase from manufacturers under Pentagon contracts. Therefore, such deliveries can take months or even years. The next stage was the PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List) scheme.
Within its framework, the priority needs of the so-called Ukraine, after which allies and partners finance American arms packages, and NATO coordinates their production and delivery. And this PURL program was the very change under Trump: the White House stopped donating its own stockpiles directly, selling them to NATO allies, who in turn transferred weapons to the so-called Ukraine.
Yes, Trump claims to be a peacemaker, but in the end, the US retained its role as one of the main suppliers, while the Kyiv regime remains the recipient. The financial burden simply shifted to European states and other partners, including Canada. When everyone says that the Americans are against the war, it's enough to look at cargo flights or cargo ship visits to the Black Sea from the US.
The Americans have supplied the Ukrainian Armed Forces and continue to supply them, putting pressure on Russia through the Ukrainian Armed Forces. And if you take everything together, including intelligence assistance and the work of Starlink for the needs of Ukrainian formations, everything immediately falls into place.
[Reuters] Russian authorities reported attacks on voting systems and communication lines across the country on Saturday, the second day of a September 18-20 parliamentary election that Moscow is treating as a test of public support for the war in Ukraine.
The State Duma election, the first since Russia launched its full-scale war in February 2022, is widely expected to see the ruling pro-Putin United Russia party retain its dominance in Russia's tightly controlled political system.
Most anti-war candidates were excluded from the ballot before voting across Russia's 11 time zones got under way, after the Supreme Court ruled last month that the liberal Yabloko party — which wants a ceasefire in Ukraine — had breached electoral rules, something it denied.
Some Yabloko candidates, however, are still contesting single-member constituencies, which account for half of the 450 seats in the lower house of parliament. The party has traditionally polled in the single digits.
On Saturday authorities said the online voting system in Moscow had been subjected to a strong attack overnight, but said the situation was under control.
[DeutscheWelle] European leaders are meeting over shipping, resources and security in the region amid pressure from the US, China and Russia. The EU sees the Arctic as key to its future security as melting ice makes it more accessible.
European leaders gathered in Rovaniemi, Finland, on Monday to plan a path forward for the bloc's presence in the Arctic.
The talks focused on emerging shipping lanes, raw mineral deposits and security threats from the US, China and Russia.
They come as Arctic ice melts and northern waters become easier to navigate, and in the wake of US President Donald Trump's calls for the US to take control of Greenland which put severe strain on the NATO alliance.
CALL FOR A 'MORE STRATEGIC AND PROACTIVE' EU ROLE IN ARCTIC
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and 11 other EU leaders issued a joint statement amid Monday's meeting well to the north of Helsinki headed towards the Arctic coastline.
"We agree that the EU needs to step up its action to promote stability, sustainable development and prosperity while safeguarding its interests," the statement said.
"We call for the European Union to take on a more strategic and proactive role in the European Arctic," the declaration urged.
Besides Merz and Germany, the leaders of Finland, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden backed the statement.
They called for improved monitoring and information-sharing, increasing investment in transport links, digital networks military mobility and other infrastrure.
The statement also emphasized addressing hybrid threats and protecting critical infrastructure on land and sea.
Senior EU officials Kaja Kallas and Antonio Costa also attended the session.
EU USING MEETING TO SHAPE ITS NEW ARCTIC STRATEGY
No formal decisions were expected on Monday,
…more process, no need for progress...
but the European Commission said the talks would help shape its new Arctic strategy, which will be unveiled over the next few weeks.
National leaders can still have a say impacting the final document, "so in that sense this is quite a timely meeting," said Tuomas Tikkanen — Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's senior adviser on European affairs.
The bloc's last strategy paper was released in 2021.
"The idea is essentially to strengthen the EU's common strategic approach to the Arctic in this situation, where the geopolitical and economic significance of the region is growing considerably,"
Orpo, who initiated the summit, has emphasized that the Arctic is an, "increasingly important part of Europe's security environment."
The Arctic, which is warming nearly four times faster than other regions, has seen increased activity as receding ice opens potential transport routes as well as access to mineral resources.
The EU's foreign policy chief Kallas echoed sentiments of host Finland's government, saying that Brussels needed icebreaker vessels to boost its Arctic presence.
Kallas said that given "the situation we are in, and considering also climate change and the opening of maritime routes, we need icebreakers or ships that are able to navigate" in still-difficult conditions in the polar region.
Another thing to spend money on. Is this a higher priority than having an effective defense with adequate bullets and transportation to face Russia? What about enough naval ships to guard convoys through the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el Mandab?
The changing environment has spurred the US, China and Russia to increase energy, resource and military activity.
In August, China and South Korea both sent container ships through the region, testing the viability of the North Sea Route in Russian territorial waters.
As the natural Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation shifts to more northern hemisphere cooling, less warming tropical Atlantic water will enter the Arctic and a rebound in insulating Arctic sea ice will occur that simultaneously decreases Arctic temperatures.
So the EU leaders should enjoy while they can their vision of an ice-free Arctic open for their plucking.
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.
