| KHANPACH MAVSAROV | Khanpach Mavsarov | Chechnya | Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia | 20050314 | Link |
| India-Pakistan |
| ANP leader among two killed in Bajaur firing |
| 2025-07-11 |
| [GEO.TV] Two people, including Awami National Party founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism.... (ANP) leader Maulana Khan Zaib, were killed on Thursday in a shooting near the Khar Tehsil headquarters in Bajaur. The ANP leader was rubbed out while campaigning for the July 13 peace movement, according to the Bajaur District Police Officer (DPO) Waqas Rafiq. Furthermore, the senior police official added that the firing also injured three of Maulana's associates who were shifted to the hospital. Maulana Zaib was the head of ANP's Ulema Council and a former National Assembly candidate. Following the killing, ANP workers and citizens staged a protest, which ended moments later. In a post on X, ANP President Senator Aimal Wali Khan expressed grief over the attack. In the post, he uploaded a picture with the slain politician, writing: "Devastated". Related: Bajaur: 2025-06-10 Pakistan locked 20 Indian jets but chose to down only six: Bilawal Bajaur: 2025-05-04 At least five terrorists killed, two apprehended in KP IBOs Bajaur: 2025-02-21 Suspect confesses to brutal rape, murder of 4-year-old girl in Bajaur Related: Aimal Wali Khan 01/13/2024 Two 'suicide bombers' planning to target Fazlur Rehman, Aimal Wali arrested Aimal Wali Khan 04/20/2023 Aimal Wali demands action against those who ‘resettled’ militants in Pakistan |
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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Salam says ''no turning back'' in plans to monopolize arms, Hezbollah will ‘’go far’’ on issue - no donor reconstruction until complete |
| 2025-05-17 |
 [NAHARNET] Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said that Lebanon ''has managed to pave the way for a promising new start, despite all the difficulties that the project of rebuilding confidence and the course of reform are facing.''''There will be no turning back in the project of consolidating the monopoly of arms in the hands of the Lebanese state alone, which should be in charge of the war and peace decisions and of defending its land and sons -- all its sons -- with the means allowed by international laws and norms,'' Salam added, in an interview with the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat newspaper. ''The entire Lebanese state is seeking full Israeli withdrawal from its land and to prevent all forms of violations. The government is also working on rallying efforts to launch the reconstruction process,'' Salam went on to say. Hezbollah will ''go far'' in the issue of arms handover  [NAHARNET] Hezbollah will ''go far'' in the issue of the handover of its weapons to the Lebanese state and it will ''embarrass'' everyone, a source close to Hezbollah said.''Consensus between Hezbollah and the Lebanese president has become bigger than the issue of arms handover and dialogue between Presidenty Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah is ongoing, without specifying any deadlines or dates,'' the source added, in remarks to Al-Arabiya's Al-Hadath channel. ''The handover of weapons is possible, in return for gains for Hezbollah such as Israel's withdrawal and reconstruction,'' the source said, adding that ''Hezbollah's acceptance to hand over its weapons does not mean giving them up for nothing in return.'' ''Hezbollah is convinced that the slogans it voiced in the past and which needed weapons are no longer existent and it is fully cooperating with Aoun and offering him solutions related to its heavy and strategic weapons,'' the source revealed. ''President Aoun knows Hezbollah's concerns as to the withdrawal of its arms and is working on resolving the difficulties, while Hezbollah knows well the magnitude of international pressure on the president for its disarmament,'' the source went on to say. Report: No reconstruction funds before reforms and Hezbollah disarmament [NAHARNET] Lebanese officials have sensed reluctance from major powers, particularly Arab countries, to provide reconstruction funds, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Friday. ''Arab and donor countries have informed Leb  ...The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years and produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. Only one of those statements is an exaggeration....that they will not to engage in the reconstruction project until the vision for Lebanon and the region becomes clear. According to their definition, reconstruction is linked to the state's ability to undertake necessary reforms, fully disarm Hezbollah and prevent it from rebuilding its military and financial capabilities,'' the daily said. ''These countries do not want to engage in such a project while the situation has not yet reached a peaceful path,'' the newspaper added. All the Arab and European promises are ''awaiting serious action by the Lebanese state and signals from Washington,'' the daily said. Related: Nawaf Salam 05/13/2025 Salam vows to confront electoral bribery and security violators Nawaf Salam 05/11/2025 Beirut Airport security overhaul thwarting Hezbollah smuggling, satisfying Israeli, US officials — report Nawaf Salam 05/07/2025 Palestinian president confirms Beirut visit after disarmament call — Naharnet |
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| Science & Technology |
| New AK-12 for the Russian Armed Forces |
| 2025-05-17 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:  [ColonelCassad] The Kalashnikov Concern presented to journalists for the first time the AK-12K and AK-12SK, developed taking into account the experience of the SVOKalashnikov Concern presented the AK-12 shortened (AK-12K) and AK-12 compact (AK-12SK) assault rifles to federal media journalists for the first time. Sergey Urzhumtsev, Chief Designer of Kalashnikov Concern JSC, presented the products as part of the training workshop "School of a Gunsmith Journalist" at the Kalashnikov Shooting Center in the Central Military-Patriotic Park of Culture and Recreation of the Russian Armed Forces "Patriot" The latest 5.45mm AK-12K and AK-12SK assault rifles were developed for the 5.45x39mm cartridge and are intended to destroy enemy manpower. They have improved technical, ergonomic and operational characteristics that meet the requirements of modern combat. When firing from them, in particular, 5.45mm cartridges with a regular 7N6 bullet, 5.45mm cartridges with a 7N10 high-penetration bullet, as well as 5.45mm cartridges with 7T3 and 7T3M tracer bullets are used. The capacity of the AK-12K and AK-12SK magazines is 30 rounds. The machine guns are equipped with a low-noise shooting device (PMS) weighing no more than 0.8 kg. In addition to the new machine guns, they showed all sorts of different shooting - machine guns, sniper rifles, machine guns + body kit + personal protective equipment + equipment. Related: Kalashnikov 05/15/2025 Deliveries of the RPL-20 machine gun to the troops may begin in 2025 Kalashnikov 04/26/2025 Drug mafia in France declared open war on authorities and police Kalashnikov 04/24/2025 Kurdish forces arrest 20 ISIS affiliates, foil mass escape attempt from al-Hol camp: Asayish |
| Link |
| -Lurid Crime Tales- | |
| Pint-sized punk busted in Times Square cop beatdown is suspected ringleader of Central Park migrant robbery crew | |
| 2025-05-07 | |
[NYPOST]  A 12-year-old migrant boy busted in a The pint-sized perp is also believed to be the ''ringleader'' of a migrant robbery crew behind a string of muggings in Central Park in which several people had their cellphones, wallets and jewelry stolen last summer, law-enforcement sources said. The baby-faced terror, then 11, made headlines when he was arrested that August — but faced no serious consequences thanks to the state's lax juvenile justice system, the sources said. ''Is this what a sanctuary city is supposed to be?'' one frustrated cop asked. ''One of these kids was 11 years old when he was the ringleader of that Central Park robbery pattern. What is it going to take for some of this policy to change when you have an 11, now 12-year-old, running around — or anybody — committing these crimes?'' the source fumed. ''When is common sense going to prevail?'' the cop added. ''Don't we have a moral obligation?'' Police believe the boy to be linked to the  ...a country in Central America that sits on an enormous pool of oil. Formerly the most prospereous country in the region, it became infested with Commies sniffing almost unlimited wealth. It turned out the wealth wasn't unlimited, the economy collapsed under the clownish Hugo Chavez, the murder rate exceeded places like Honduras and El Salvador. A significant proportion of the populace refugeed to Colombia and points south... n gang Tren de Aragua via a youth crew offshoot known as Diablos de la 42, or Devils of 42nd Street, the sources said.
[FoxNews] The NYPD officers were responding to a robbery at the time of the attack A group of young illegal aliens with alleged ties to a violent foreign gang attack two NYPD officers Friday night in Times Square. Eleven teen members of the ultra-violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua were allegedly involved in an attack against two NYPD officers on Friday night in Times Square, police sources told Fox News. Five of the suspects, all illegal aliens from Venezuela, have been arrested in connection with the alleged attack, which involved the migrant crew throwing glass bottles, basketballs and rocks at NYPD officers who were responding to a robbery. The youngest suspect in the attack is 12 years old, and the police sources said that two of the children were picked up by their migrant parents, and one is being charged as an adult with riot and assault, according to police. "It's horrific enough to be a victim of a crime," said Mayor Eric Adams in a Tuesday media briefing. "But when someone openly assaults a police officer, you are attacking our symbol of safety, and it cannot be tolerated." Adams said he's heard from people in the city who have said the suspects are too young for serious punishment, but he said that's not the case. "People who prey on innocent people must be held accountable. They must be brought to justice," he said. Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, said authorities will find the remaining suspects. "@DHSgov and our law enforcement partners will hunt down these cowards and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," she wrote on X. "Secretary Noem will not stand idly by as our brave law enforcement is attacked." NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch then read a prepared statement describing the incident. "Last week we saw a troubling incident in the heart of Times Square, where NYPD officers came under attack. On Friday at approximately 7:30 p.m., cops assigned to foot posts in the area of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue, and just a block away from a highly-anticipated boxing match, noticed about 10 to 12 individuals beginning to surround three others," she said. "The officers engaged the group and attempted to break up what appeared to be a wolfpack-style robbery. Instead, they were ambushed [and] pelted with scooters, basketballs and other makeshift weapons," she continued. "This was a targeted attack. Planned, deliberate and carried out with intent, and it will not be tolerated. Luckily, our officers are OK, and the investigation that followed was fast, effective and focused." According to Tisch, police identified a subset of Tren de Aragua gang members as the suspected perpetrators just hours after the attack. "Our detectives got right to work, and within hours identified members of a violent group known as Los Diablos de 42, a subset of Tren de Aragua," she said. "Several of them are listed in our gang database, and that's one of the reasons we caught many of them so quickly." Border Czar Tom Homan said the NYPD should work more with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to apprehend dangerous illegal immigrants. "This is just another example of sanctuary cities not cooperating with ICE and look what happened," he said on "The Ingraham Angle." "If you're brazen enough to attack an armed law enforcement officer, you're much more dangerous to an unarmed civilian." "We're coming for them," Homan said to the suspects involved in last week's attack who haven't yet been arrested. Tisch also admonished the city council for "legislating against cops" and scolded them for trying to do away with that gang database. She said a fifth person involved in the incident was arrested Tuesday morning. "So far, we've apprehended five individuals connected to this incident," she said. "Three were arrested the next day, all repeat offenders, and all previously tied to citywide robbery patterns. A fourth turned himself in on Sunday, and just this morning we arrested a fifth, a 16-year-old recidivist. They face serious charges, including attempted felony assault, inciting a riot and reckless endangerment. " She said more arrests are coming and once again repudiated city officials for what she views as weak-on-crime policies. "This is not low-level crime. It's organized violence carried out by gang members that we've have already taken off the streets for preying on New Yorkers," she said. "And now they're back, ambushing cops in the middle of Times Square. It's not a fluke. It's a system failure. It's what happens when repeat offenders are allowed to cycle through arrest after arrest without meaningful accountability. It's what happens when there are no real consequences." Police sources confirmed that the young suspects are known to police, and have been linked to dozens of robberies in New York since 2022. However, each time they have been arrested, they have been released back onto the streets. Authorities were able to track down the suspect using the city's gang database, which the city council is trying to abolish. "That’s why it absolutely defies common sense that our city council is looking to abolish this," Tisch said. "We need our City Council to stop legislating against our cops and to start legislating public safety." Related: Central Park: 2024-12-06 Gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare boss Brian Thompson a 'practised, seasoned, trained professional', says FBI expert Central Park: 2024-12-04 UnitedHealthcare CEO shot, killed outside Manhattan hotel, law enforcement official says Central Park: 2024-08-23 BREAKING: RFK Court Filing says He's Endorsing Trump | |
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| Home Front: WoT |
| RUMINT: MANPADS in CONUS-Twitter post makes "informed" assertion-anyone got corroboration? |
| 2025-05-05 |
[X]
…2 solid sources — one south of the border and then one from an element within our own government that confirmed independently of each other that Iranian made MANPADS, so surface to air missiles had come across the border. We had the location and everything else. Well, we got this to Secret Service. We did the whole gamut and got everything pushed to them, and that's why Trump was pushing a lot of this stuff out when he was because we had told the Secret Service and they had the reporting and everything else. We have not, to my knowledge, have not recovered those MANPADS. But what I do know we have done is we have apprehended the couriers on a second run of theirs and local law enforcement got together with federal law enforcement and rolled up the safe house. And we have since identified what that issue was on the border.” “So we now have Iranian missiles. Who knows how many inside The United States” |
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| Europe |
| Myśl Polska: Poland owes the country's liberation from the Nazis to Soviet soldiers |
| 2025-05-05 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Regnum] Warsaw's policy of destroying the memory of Soviet-Polish cooperation may have negative consequences, writes the Myśl Polska newspaper.“Poland owes its liberation from German occupation to the Soviet Union, which became the greatest tragedy of the Polish people in history,” the publication writes. It also owed the massacre of its officers' corps to the Soviet Union, back when it was allied with Germany. As the author of the publication recalled, during the years of the Polish People's Republic (PNR), cities were restored, industry, agriculture and culture developed. Hundreds of thousands of Soviet soldiers died for the liberation of Poland, the publication recalls. At the same time, the newspaper notes, monuments are being torn down in Poland under the slogan of decommunization, despite the lack of public support for such measures. The publication warns that Warsaw's ingratitude and worsening relations with Moscow could deprive Poland of Russia's support in the event of a strengthening of Ukrainian or German nationalism. “Can we count on Russia’s help given such a far-reaching deterioration in relations, despite the signing of the Treaty of Friendship?” the newspaper’s columnist asked rhetorically. The Soviet Union played a key role in liberating Poland from Nazi occupation during World War II. In 1944–45, the Red Army carried out a series of major offensives, including the Vistula–Oder Offensive, liberating Polish territory from German forces. Historians estimate that more than 600,000 Soviet soldiers died fighting for Poland, highlighting the enormous price paid for its liberation. |
| Link |
| Economy |
| Trump says furniture makers coming back to North Carolina as Canadian company moves to state |
| 2025-04-08 |
 [THEPOSTMILLENNIAL] Trump has applauded furniture makers moving production to the US amid tariffs, with one company closing its Canadian production facility and shifting all production to the United States, while a North Carolina furniture maker is closing its doors due to ongoing production issues with its main supplier in Mexico, among other issues."Those tariffs, next year will make us $1 trillion. In addition to the $1 trillion, thousands of companies are gonna relocate back into the United States. In North Carolina, already furniture people are starting to move back in," Trump said. Progressive Furniture, a subsidiary of Sauder Woodworking and importer of "budget friendly" furniture from Asia and Mexico, will be closing at the end of the year and laying off around 30 employees, per Furniture Today. President of the company, Dan Kendrick, told the outlet, "This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the impact it will have on our employees, customers and partners. We are committed to supporting our employees through this transition and will aid where possible to help them find new opportunities." The closure of the company was blamed on multiple issues, but mainly on the closure of the company's primary supplier in Mexico. Kendrick said, "Obviously, business conditions have been challenging for the past few years, but the closure of our primary supplier in Mexico has made a major impact. This factory supplied 60% of our products." According to Home News Now, the company's main supplier, Baja Wood, was based in Rosarito, Mexico. In January, around 60 of Baja Wood's 320 employees protested outside of the factory over reduced hours. The factory was shut down as government officials investigated the claims, which required a lengthy interview process. At the end of the investigation, the plant owner decided not to reopen. Baja Wood and Progressive furniture were closely intertwined, with the US company receiving over 50 percent of its wood furniture from the Mexico plant, and Progressive being the plant's primary customer in the US. |
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| Government Corruption | ||||||
| Court throws out car-buying transparency rule: What consumers should know | ||||||
| 2025-02-10 | ||||||
| [FoxBusiness] A federal appellate court vacated a rule last week that advocates argue would have made the car-buying process more transparent and saved consumers billions. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down the Combating Auto Retail Scams Trade Regulation – or CARS – rule before it could go into effect, arguing that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) failed to follow its own internal process. The rule was aimed at fighting two common types of illegal tactics consumers face when buying a car, such as bait-and-switch tactics and hidden junk fees. But it also included provisions specifically protecting military members and their families from deceptive dealers falsely claiming military affiliation, along with addressing other issues unique to service members.
The FTC, which was granted authority to regulate unfair or deceptive practices by motor vehicle dealers under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010,
The price consumers see is "almost never" the price that they pay at the end of the day, said Witte, adding that it's "remarkably common" for a dealership to tell consumers that they can't tell them a price over the phone, and they should come in person to discuss what kind of deal they can offer. Witte said it's done intentionally to squeeze more out of consumers and that the tactics also rip customers away from "honest car dealers." "Not every car dealer wants to gouge people," she said. "There are lots of car dealers that want to honestly advertise the price of their car, but they lose out if someone's advertising the same car for a cheaper price. But they can track someone on their lot for four hours and then jack up the price because they're there." New Jersey car dealership owner Tom Maoli told FOX Business that he was an advocate for the CARS rule because it would have increased consumer confidence in buying cars from franchise car dealerships. Historically, they have "bad view of how they are treated at car dealerships across the country," said Maoli, whose company Celebrity Motor Car Company runs six dealerships. Conversely, NADA and TADA argued that the new rule would have "added massive amounts of time, complexity, paperwork and cost to the car-buying and car-shopping experience for virtually every customer." The industry groups also said it "would have been a nightmare for consumers and dealers alike." NADA said consumers would have spent an additional 60 to 80 minutes at the dealership for every transaction, and would have been subject to having to complete at least five new, untested forms during both the shopping and the purchasing process. This "would have driven up costs for vehicle purchases and, beyond that, would have cost consumers $1.3 billion a year collectively in lost time," the trade group said in a statement to FOX Business.
Instead, the FTC started at the second phase, called Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), where they outline their plan to change a rule and then open it up for public comment before finalizing it. Witte argued that the FTC should have been allowed to skip this step since it was given the authority to fast track rulemaking for motor vehicle dealers. "It also is frankly ridiculous to think that the FTC didn't do their homework on this to understand the impact of the rule," Witte said. "This was a decade in the making.
The FTC has to start this process over again if it wants to finalize the rule. It remains to be seen if that will occur, Witte said. Related: Fifth Circuit: 2025-01-22 Texas buoys up! New barriers are installed along the Rio Grande as Trump ally Governor Abbott hails 'America is back' Fifth Circuit: 2025-01-22 Fifth Circuit Rules DACA Unconstitutional Setting Up Another Supreme Court Challenge Fifth Circuit: 2025-01-10 Texas Lawmakers Double Down On Bills To Secure Border With Mexico Related: Federal Trade Commission: 2025-02-04 DNC Chair Candidate Reveals Massive Donations from George Soros, Reid Hoffman on Eve of Vote Federal Trade Commission: 2025-01-21 What executive orders did Trump sign on day one? Federal Trade Commission: 2024-12-11 Trump announces more picks, nominates Kimberly Guilfoyle to serve as ambassador to Greece | ||||||
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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Zombie named Anna. The 'French' brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces disappeared before reaching the front |
| 2024-12-18 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Denis Davydov [REGNUM] Just a month ago, the Ukrainian "Unified Telethon" was filled with the voices of journalists ringing with pride as they talked about the training of a fully equipped and well-coordinated brigade for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in France. The 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Anna Kievskaya was created back in May 2024, but it did not actually exist until September. In the fall, 2,300 infantrymen and artillerymen went to train with the French, while tank crews were studying in Poland.  Personally, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Ukrainians in October, shook their hands, and was proud. The Elysee Palace announced that the 155th, pompously named after the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise , who was married to the French King Henry I , would be fully equipped and “ready for war” “in a few months.” Everything that was issued to it on the spot — artillery, armored vehicles, and so on — was to go to Ukraine in one package. But the brigade showed up to fight, and now they call it "zombie" or "paper". On December 7, People's Deputy Maryana Bezuglaya said that upon arrival, the personnel were divided between other brigades and sent to the front without combat coordination. Because initially no one needed it in this form and it was created for show from people gathered from all over the country - to knock weapons out of the French. “And now this brigade is being taken apart like donor organs for other brigades,” one of the “Frenchmen” told Bezugloy. According to an old Ukrainian tradition, "victory" smoothly turned into "betrayal". It would seem, why shoot yourself in the foot so obviously, when you can take and use a valuable gift for its intended purpose? But the situation simply does not allow otherwise. CHAMPAGNE WITHOUT BUBBLES The first experience of training and equipping a tactical unit within the framework of the EU military training mission for Ukraine was considered a super success. Task Force Champagne, which received the Ukrainian guests, began training with zeal: comfortable trenches filled with large rubble were built in the field, cartridges for reliable AK-47 assault rifles were distributed to everyone, self-propelled guns and heavy mortars were rolled in. Everything had to be as serious as possible: after all, the majority of those who came to France had never held a weapon in their hands and had not received military training at home. A French officer commenting on the process for the Kyiv press noted that the training included "infantry and armored combat, engineering warfare with the involvement of sappers." The Ukrainians were taught to defend themselves from air attacks using Mistral MANPADS, fire anti-tank missiles, and operate long-range artillery. With the only caveat that the host country only has experience of what the speaker in a neat black beret called “external operations” – in Yugoslavia, Africa, Afghanistan. “We have this experience, combat experience, but only in the context of expeditionary warfare, that is, war abroad. We have no experience of equal combat between two armies with modern weapons. We are learning this together with the Ukrainians,” an anonymous foreign military officer with the rank of colonel frankly admitted on camera. In other words, they couldn't give anything really useful to the Ukrainian mobilized troops in two months, and it would be stupid to count on real "combat coordination." In this war, no one stands at checkpoints or goes in marching columns to punish disobedient natives in slippers. However, those who were required to do so radiated a carefully measured optimism. “French partners have provided our soldiers not only with high-quality combined arms and specialized training, but also with modern equipment and weapons: armored personnel carriers, self-propelled artillery units, trucks, situational awareness systems and other necessary equipment,” said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov . The brigade reported that the French side actively helped it in providing a “high level of combat training” and modernizing weapons, which significantly strengthens the Ukrainian Armed Forces. “Thanks to international partners such as France, the Ukrainian army is becoming stronger and more prepared for the challenges of modern times,” the brigade noted, boasting of beautiful certificates confirming that everything is just tip-top. One newspaper from Rivne (the unit is considered to be from Rivne) even threatened the “orcs” that they would soon feel the formidable power of the 155th on their own skin. But then she came back to turn the tide of hostilities and... turned the tide herself. PAPER TIGERS Problems with the combat readiness of the Anna Kievskaya began already at the end of November, even before she returned home. According to the documents, the unit is fully armed with armored vehicles and artillery by the French government, it is armed with Leopard tanks, an entire division of the latest 155-mm self-propelled howitzers Caesar, long-range 120-mm rifled mortars MO-120-RT61, a full set of light armored vehicles. But there was not a single drone. Therefore, an urgent collection for drones and electronic warfare systems was immediately announced for one of the "important operational reserves of the country". For some reason, there were no funds in the state budget either, although for ten months of 2024, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Digital Development contracted 1.6 million UAVs of various types for a total of more than UAH 114 billion, and another UAH 32.33 billion has already been spent on the next year (a total of UAH 48 billion has been allocated for these purposes). Therefore, the problem was quickly shifted to the citizens. And three days ago they were thanked for helping with chemical heating pads and bandages - for some reason they forgot to put them in as well. It is warm in France and no one was injured. Secondly, it turned out that the personnel had only been partially trained by the French - the brigade had been brought up to 4.5 thousand people, meaning that only half were in Champagne. The rest were ordinary mobilized people caught on the street, lacking any motivation and not even having traveled abroad for free. They ran away at the first opportunity. "They literally crammed several thousand people from the street into the brigade - these busified people, dressed them in uniform, said that this was a brigade, put a competent commander there, but did not give him time to form a team. As a result, a large number went to the Special Operations Department. Many hundreds, more than a thousand, immediately went home upon arrival. And the responsibility was placed on the brigade commander and he was removed from his post. Absolutely stupid and without any logic," Ukraine's chief military journalist Yuriy Butusov ranted on his channel on December 14. Who, just recently (when he announced that very same collection of money), called these people “motivated and devoted to Ukraine.” After one colonel was fired and another was put in his place, chaos began in the brigade - this is if you believe the eternally agitated Bezuglya. "Provision is minimal: officers are calling for the purchase of necessary equipment (cars, electronic warfare, drones, etc.) at their own expense or through volunteers. ... Soldiers are not allowed to go on annual leave, regardless of the length of service," said Maryana. On social media, she reports horrifying details: specialists in the Milan and Mistral missile systems have been scattered among different units, other parts of the brigade are also scattered, and the leadership says that if someone doesn’t like something, they can go to the Special Operations Department. In fact, the same thing is happening to the 155th as to other new “zombie brigades.” They are endlessly created for reporting: people are driven there, but the management structures are not coordinated. Then the unit is simply torn to pieces, seconded to others, sending the majority to stormtroopers, with the exception of staff officers. Due to widespread corruption, low discipline, and lack of motivation, the shortage of people in the combat units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is chronic. Therefore, with the formal number of servicemen of all the Ukrainian Defense Forces at 1.1 million, only 15% of the total number are at the front - this figure was voiced by People's Deputy Anna Skorokhod . "All rear units - the TCC security companies, the TCCs themselves, the security of bridges and infrastructure facilities, financial and supply units at all levels - from the commander's headquarters to the brigade headquarters, the staff of military educational institutions - are fully staffed, there is not a single vacancy. To get a job in the rear unit, you need to either be a relative or friend of the commander, or pay money - from two to three thousand dollars, or give half of your salary every month," an unnamed major of the Armed Forces of Ukraine tells the publication "Strana". “Dead souls”, who on paper are at the front, in reality, having paid the commander, sit in the rear. At the same time, Zelensky, the Ukrainian Armed Forces Command, and other representatives of the military-political leadership constantly say that the Russian army has a multiple advantage in manpower. Based on this, there are calls to intensify mobilization, including by lowering the lower age limit. Or even conscripting women. So the fate of the pretentious French brigade is not at all surprising. The funding was provided by the European Union - the French successfully spent the money and are not responsible for anything further. The VSEU soldiers did not receive any real benefit from their training, except perhaps experience in servicing some weapons systems, but these specialists are rare and do not affect the general background. As a combat unit, the new brigade is nothing - that is why they decided to use it as a donor for the fighting units, dragging people and equipment to where they are needed immediately. But everyone is happy - except, of course, those who were unlucky enough to end up under the hammer for the sake of a pretty picture on TV. |
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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: December 13, 2024 |
| 2024-12-14 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title. [Korrespondent] 17.59 Three Ukrainian servicemen have died as a result of poisoning by chemicals used by the Russians during the war. This was stated by the head of the Department of Environmental Safety and Civil Defense of the Radiation, Chemical, Biological Defense Department of the Command of the Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Artem Vlasyuk.  17.02 Since the beginning of the current day, Russian aggressors have carried out 131 attacks. The enemy is most active in the Pokrovsky and Vremivsky directions, where it carried out almost half of all assaults. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a report as of 16.00. 17.01 Video of the moment a Russian ballistic missile "landed" on a clinic in Zaporozhye on Tuesday, December 10, has appeared online. 16:01 Russia does not need a truce with Ukraine, but peace, which will come after all of Moscow's conditions are met. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made this cynical statement at a briefing on Friday. 15.55 The Ukrainian Air Force Command demonstrated the combat work of air defense units during Russia's massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine. In the west, one of the cruise missiles was destroyed by an Igla MANPADS. "The downed missile did not cause damage to critical infrastructure facilities. The crash site and the remains of the missile were found by a search group," the military noted. 15.22 Ukrainian military personnel in the area of the village of Uspenovka in Donetsk Oblast are taking the necessary measures to prevent the encirclement and capture of populated areas by the enemy. This was reported by the press service of the operational-strategic group (OSUV) Khortitsa. At the same time, the Deep State monitoring project reports that the situation in the Uspenovka area is worsening. 15:05 During the morning attack, the Russian army attacked six critical energy infrastructure facilities in the Lviv region. Rescuers have already extinguished the fires that broke out as a result of the missile strike. There were no casualties. 14.35 Russia is "impressed" by the statements of the elected US President Donald Trump regarding Ukraine's use of long-range American missiles to strike Russian territory, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing on Friday. 13.40 In Burshtyn, the village of Demyanov and a number of settlements in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, heat and hot water supplies have been temporarily suspended following the Russian attack. This was reported by the Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant. 13.31 The government has allocated an additional UAH 1.1 billion for the purchase of drones. The money will go directly to the Ukrainian Armed Forces brigades, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at a government meeting. :10 Most of the units of Ukrainian nuclear power plants reduced their capacity during the Russian missile attack on Friday. This was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 12:40 Another large-scale shelling by Russia was allegedly a response to the use of ATACMS missiles against a military airfield in the city of Taganrog. This was reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense. 12:14 On Friday night and in the morning, Russian aggressors launched 94 missiles and a record number of attack drones - 193 - at Ukraine. Air defense units destroyed most of the enemy targets, the Ukrainian Air Force reported . 12:12 Russians attacked populated areas in three districts of Chernihiv region with drones. A farm in Nizhyn district was damaged by a UAV attack - 11 cows died. 11:27 A large-scale fire broke out in Novosibirsk (Russia) on the night of December 13. One of the important strategic facilities of the Russian Federation burned down. This was reported by the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) Andrey Kovalenko. According to him, this warehouse was a military facility. Kovalenko noted that the warehouse belonged to a Russian company that provided services to a number of key industries, including energy infrastructure and the production of explosion-proof equipment. 11:16 On Friday morning, Prykarpattia was subjected to the most massive attack since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. This was reported by the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk OVA Svitlana Onyshchuk. 11:12 Russian troops shelled the village of Myrne in the Berestinsky district of the Kharkiv region. This was reported by the head of the Kharkiv OVA Oleg Sinegubov. As a result of the shelling, civilian infrastructure was damaged. At first, the head of the OVA noted that two workers of the enterprise were injured. Later he added that the number of victims had grown to four. 10:55 Ukrainian marines shoot down Russian "shaheeds" from American Island boats, which Ukraine received before the large-scale Russian invasion. The video was published by the Ukrainian Navy. "The boats are armed with a 25 mm Bushmaster automatic artillery mount and two 12.7 mm machine guns. The boat's crew consists of nine fighters." 10:50 Russian aggressors have dealt one of the largest blows to Ukraine's energy sector This is what the "peace" plan of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin looks like. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky. 10:26 Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Mykhailo Drapatiy, announced a large-scale transformation of the Ground Forces at the headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief . According to him, the changes concern recruiting and military training. The issue also concerns the latest technologies and combat management, digitalization of processes in the army, transformation of management, logistics and social support for the military, 10:23 In the Ternopil region, the number of queues for power supply restrictions has increased due to the Russian attack. Now half of the region's residents are without power, the Ternopil OVA reported. 9:38 Over the past 24 hours, 210 combat clashes have been recorded at the front . This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The defense forces have struck seven areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment of the Russian invaders. 8:57 Energy Minister German Galushchenko said that the purpose of the massive missile strike of the Russian army on December 13 on Ukraine is energy. According to him, energy workers are taking all necessary measures to minimize the negative consequences for the energy system. 8:45 The US State Department has revealed the content of new $500 million in aid to Ukraine . The new aid package includes:
7:46 The Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed 1,390 Russian occupiers in one day. The total combat losses of the Russian Federation from 24.02.22 to 13.12.24 were approximately 760,120 people. This was reported by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 7:24 On the morning of December 13, explosions were heard in Kharkov and its environs . The Ukrainian Air Force reported the use of ballistic weapons. Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov noted that the strikes hit the suburbs. Later it became known that explosions were also recorded in the area of the city of Chuguev. |
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| Frontline situation update: December 6 (updated) |
| 2024-12-07 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [NewsFront] 23:57 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 06.12.2024 to 00:00 07.12.2024  Four cases of armed attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces were recorded by the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC over the past 24 hours. There were no reports of civilian casualties. DAMAGED: No damage to residential buildings or civil infrastructure facilities was recorded. Four artillery attacks in the Gorlovka direction. A total of 13 units of different ammunition were fired. 21:03 Captured officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces told, as his unit found itself completely surrounded. A serviceman of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who surrendered in the Kursk region was a platoon commander, Junior Lieutenant Yevgeny Goch. The prisoner of war said that he left Energodar in September 2022, six months after the city was liberated by Russian troops from nationalist units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. And a couple of months later, he was forcibly mobilized in Ukraine. After completing general military training, he was sent to Poland for two and a half months to train junior officers. During the fighting in the Olgovskiy forest in the Korenevsky district of the Kursk region, he and his subordinates were partially and then completely surrounded. He tried to escape during a mortar attack on the position where he was with ordinary soldiers, was wounded in the arm and stomach, and surrendered to Russian servicemen. 19:54 The Russian Armed Forces began advancing in Toretsk (Dzerzhinsk) and the surrounding area in several directions at once –map. 19:36 Snipers of the "South" group support the work of assault aircraft in the Kurakhovsky direction -video. 19:15 Russian Aerospace Forces launched new strikes on targets in temporarily occupied Zaporozhye. 18:54 UAV operators of the North group of forces destroyed an armored combat vehicle with Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel in the Khar'kov region. 17:56 The Russian Armed Forces block the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk Region. "Whisper of the Front" reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are practically blocked in the settlement of Plekhovo. The Russian Army has reached the border area as far as the Psel River. 17:45 War correspondent Timofey Ermakov reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces units, consisting of one battalion of the 46th Brigade, are withdrawing their units from the territory of the Kurakhovskaya TPP. As soon as Russian fighters cross the reservoir dam, fighting will begin for this place. 17:24 Explosions in Krivoy Rog. Before this, there were reports of rockets in the direction of the city. 17:16 Most of the fireproof plant has been cleared in Chasov Yar. Russian attack aircraft have entered the northern part of the city and have established a foothold there. 17:00 Calculation of the 152mm Msta-B gun of the Dnepr group of forces destroyed control point for Ukrainian Armed Forces drones in the Kakhovka direction. 16:59 The Russian Armed Forces have completed the clearing of Novopustynka near Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) and have advanced into Novotroitsk. Yesterday, the first Russian assault groups entered Shevchenko. 16:10 Calculation of the FPV drone of the North group of forces destroyed a self-propelled artillery unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces hidden in a forest belt in the border area of the Kursk region. 15:57 The crews of the FPV strike drones of the Vostok group continue to “burn” enemy equipment and destroy Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel –video. 15:22 Russian troops advanced in the southern part of the village of Shevchenko in the Pokrovsky direction, taking control of three streets, and also expanded the control zone in the area of the village. 15:05 The situation in the Kurakhovsky direction was reported by “Whisper of the Front”: After the fall of the Ukrainian Armed Forces strongholds in the settlement of Stari Terny, the Ukrainian units are being “squeezed out” to the settlement of Shevchenko, and along with this, the “cutting off” of Kurakhovo. 14:50 Russian troops advanced 500 m south from the village of Starye Terny to the Kurakhovo-Zaporozhye highway and the western exit from the city of Kurakhovo. 14:27 Attempts by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to counterattack Russian troops in the settlements of Novy Komar and Razdolnoye north of Velikaya Novosyolka in the DPR were unsuccessful, Rogov reported. 13:48 The situation in the Velikaya Novosyolka area remains tense. Russian attack aircraft have entered the eastern and southeastern outskirts and have consolidated their positions. Systematic processing of enemy strongholds in the center is underway by aviation, UAVs, and artillery. Fierce battles are taking place for Novy Komar. The enemy is throwing reserves here, not counting the losses. Countermeasures are being taken by the RF Armed Forces. Aviation is also striking Novoocheretovaty. Assault operations continue in Constantinople. West of Velikaya Novosyolka, Russian units improved their tactical position along the forward edge. 13:11 Russian military drones destroyed Ukrainian Armed Forces UAV control point near Novoocherevatoye. 12:59 Situation in the Krasnolimansk direction: Fighting has resumed in Starye Terny, the enemy is counterattacking, the Russian Armed Forces are repelling the attacks; In Torskoye, enemy attempts to attack have also been recorded; Russian fighters are destroying the Ukrainian Armed Forces with artillery and drones; In Krasny Liman, the Russian Aerospace Forces struck an enemy ammunition depot, destroying significant supplies for mortars, Stinger MANPADS and grenade launchers, reports Dnevnik Desantnika. 12:30 The Russian army has liberated the settlements of Pustynka and Sukhie Yaly in Donbass, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. 12:20 Russian Armed Forces advanced into the city of Volchansk in the Khar'kov region. 12:07 Due to the onslaught of the Russian army, Ukrainian troops are hastily pulling reserves to the Kurakhovsky direction in the western part of the DPR, Rogov reported. 11:56 Russian Armed Forces advance in Toretsk (Dzerzhinsk). According to "Come and See", Russian troops were able to advance in the center of Toretsk. “Russian attack aircraft were able to advance into the center of Toretsk,” said a Russian Armed Forces soldier. According to him, the Russian army is also developing an offensive to the south of the city. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are pulling in reserves. Fierce fighting is underway. 11:42 Calculation of the Fagot ATGM of the Airborne Forces artillery unit destroyed a repeater for the control point of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' UAV on Pervomaysky Island in the Dnieper Estuary. 11:21 Russian troops continue to encircle the Ukrainian Armed Forces-occupied Kurakhovo in the DPR from the western and southern parts; today the city is already surrounded from several sides, Vladimir Rogov reported. 10:55 Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed temporary deployment point for a unit of the National Guard of Ukraine. The footage shows an air strike with three FAB-250 aerial bombs on a temporary deployment point of a Ukrainian National Guard unit in the village of Pravdovka in the DPR. 10:51 In the morning, the northern shore of the Kurakhovsky reservoir was completely cleared of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 10:45 In the southern part of the settlement Terny in 24 hours destroyed eight enemy strongholds. There are cases of the Ukrainian Armed Forces marking occupied private houses with signs indicating that civilians live in them. 09:57 Three FAB-250 aerial bombs of the Russian Armed Forces hit at the temporary deployment point of the Ukrainian National Guard unit in the settlement of Pravdovka in the DPR 09:00 Calculations of the 122mm BM-21 MLRS "Grad" of the group of forces "North" struck areas where manpower and equipment are concentrated, strongholds and observation posts, as well as on the routes of movement of armored vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the border area of the Kursk region. 08:39 The Russian Armed Forces have driven out Ukrainian Armed Forces units from a number of positions in Chasovy Yar. The Russian Armed Forces now control about 40% of the city, military expert Marochko reported. 08:12 The Russian Armed Forces are completing the assault on the fireproof plant in the center of Chasov Yar, where small arms battles are taking place. This was reported by the chief of the operational headquarters of the Melodiya intelligence center of the Espanyola volunteer brigade. 08:07 122mm D-30 howitzer crews of the Zapad group of forces destroy manpower, armored vehicles, artillery and mortar crews, as well as fortified positions of Ukrainian militants every day –video. 08:04 The Russian Armed Forces have come close to the village of Shevchenko. According to the security forces, the village is a key logistics hub for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Krasnoarmeysk direction. 08:02 Enemy reports: “The Russian Armed Forces have taken control of Novopustynka, Starye Terny, Ilyinka, Novodmitrovka, and have also advanced into Kurakhovo, Romanovka, and near Uspenovka.” 08:00 Su-34 crew struck a concentration of personnel, armored vehicles and automobile equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the border area of the Kursk region. |
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