Translated from Russian FYI, MOD Summary Dec24:
ПЕРЕХВАТ (Z) (Transformation (Z)) (Open TG link)

Summary by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine (24.12.2022)
The armed forces of the Russian Federation continue to conduct a special military operation.
◽️ In the Kupyansk direction, artillery strikes hit the manpower and military equipment of units of the 14th AFU Mechanized Brigade near the settlement of Petropavlovka and the 92nd AFU Mechanized Brigade near the settlement of Krakhmalne, Kharkiv region. Up to 50 Ukrainian servicemen, four armored combat vehicles and two pickup trucks were destroyed.
◽️ In the Krasno-Limansk direction, Russian air strikes and artillery fire on the positions of units of the 111th Territorial Defense Brigade near the settlement of Torskoye and the 25th AFU Airborne Brigade near the settlement of Terny in the Donetsk People’s Republic destroyed over 40 Ukrainian servicemen, three armored combat vehicles and four vehicles.
◽️ In the Donetsk direction, Russian troops destroyed a combined tactical group of foreign mercenaries and defeated units of the 10th AFU Mountain Assault Brigade near the Razdolovka settlement of the Donetsk People’s Republic during the offensive. The enemy’s irretrievable losses in this direction during the day amounted to 60 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, four armored personnel carriers and three pickup trucks.
◽️ In the South Donets direction, army air and artillery strikes on the concentration of units of the 92nd AFU Mechanized Brigade near the settlement of Vodyane in the Donetsk People’s Republic destroyed over 40 Ukrainian servicemen, four armored combat vehicles and six vehicles.
💥 Rocket and artillery forces of the Russian group of troops hit: the command post of the 65th mechanized brigade of the AFU in the area of the locality of Lezhino and a warehouse of rocket and artillery weapons near the locality of Novoselovka, Zaporozhye region, as well as 53 artillery units, live personnel and military equipment in 92 areas.
✈️ Fighter aircraft of the Russian Air Force shot down a Su-27 aircraft of the Ukrainian air force near the village of Kamyshevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. In addition, Ukrainian Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters were shot down near the settlements of Selidovo and Gruzskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
💥 Russian anti-aircraft defense forces shot down an Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian air forces near Kirovo settlement of Donetsk People’s Republic. Also during the day, fifteen Ukrainian drones were intercepted in the areas of Egorivka, Yelenovka, Kirillovka, Volodino, Artemovsk and Olhinka settlements of Donetsk People’s Republic, Kolomiychikha of Luhansk People’s Republic, Novaya Zburyevka of Kherson region and Polohy of Zaporizhia region.
📊 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation destroyed ((+?) over preceding 24hrs):
– 352(+) aircraft,
– 192(+3) helicopters,
– 2,719(+15) unmanned aerial vehicles,
– 399 anti-aircraft missile systems,
– 7222(+15) tanks and other armored combat vehicles,
– 936 combat vehicles of multiple rocket launchers,
– 3,704(+2) field artillery guns and mortars,
– 7,737(+15) pieces of special military automotive equipment.

Posted by: Outraged | Dec 24 2022 13:20 utc | 3

thanks for info and comments Can you reference the blinken commnent about ” leaving Afganistan to support Ukraine war” very important reveal. thanks

Posted by: brian j shore | Dec 24 2022 13:52 utc | 5

Posted by: Lex | Dec 24 2022 13:11 utc | 2
statement about how the US had to leave Afghanistan to be able to support Ukraine.
The overstretch is real.
First is like usa explaining in 1945 how they cleverly manipulated ussr to fight and defeat Germany so they could save forces to fight the Korean war 5 years later.
CYA, nothing more.
Second part is more believable.

Posted by: Battenmountain | Dec 24 2022 14:18 utc | 7

statement about how the US had to leave Afghanistan to be able to support Ukraine.
I didn’t hear Putin stating that RF is leaving Syria to support Donbass.
Didn’t Obama called RF a ‘regional power’?

Posted by: whirlX | Dec 24 2022 14:41 utc | 9

Posted by: bobzibub | Dec 24 2022 14:07 utc | 6
Agreed. I’m not suggesting that leaving Afghanistan was part of the plan, only that Blinken was accidentally speaking the truth that US military power is not limitless.

Posted by: Lex | Dec 24 2022 14:53 utc | 11

@ Lex #2

A careful reading of Russian analysts suggests that Russia is now starting to feel a pinch too…

Russia is not starting to feel any kind of a pinch. They are still trying to use up their 40-year-old stocks. They haven’t even started with the more recent stuff yet.

Posted by: Intelligent Dasein | Dec 24 2022 15:14 utc | 13

“Biden went all in on Ukraine and unless he gets real lucky, he’s likely to lose it all”
That’s my guessing too : Murica is about to do the geopolitical “hat trick”, 3 defeats in 3 confrontations (Iraq Afghanistan Ukraine).
What’s funny (crazy actually) is that the Neocons thought sth like :
“OK we lost against a bunch of guys in sandals with no air support or artillerie but this time in Ukraine we gonna win big against an army which has redoutable air support and artillerie!! Murica fuck yeah!!!”.
2023 : the year when Uncle sam has no clothes…

Posted by: Nanker | Dec 24 2022 15:42 utc | 15

Posted by: exile | Dec 24 2022 13:39 utc | 4
Posted by: Lex | Dec 24 2022 13:11 utc | 2
the zelensky visit to DC reminded me of the scene in The Pelopenisian War where the Athenian Assembly brays for total war and ends up funding a fleet to attack Syracuse.
and
Biden went all in on Ukraine and unless he gets real lucky, he’s likely to lose it all.
Yep, and lost it all, whole empire gone.
Re: US losing in Afghanistan?
It was predicted by many and it happened within less than three or so years. All the time was spent wasting and making money , blocking Chinese/Russian gaslines and getting promotions for fat and stupid officers.
The US controlled nothing but a few cities within years of invading. For the last ten or so , they only controlled the capital Kabul and Bagram Airport. That is not called winning. Their chief Afghan chimpanzee ,who became an authority figure in US-occupied Afghanistan , was on record -in better times-for gloatingly laughing that the Russian -supported Afghan gov lasted only three YEARS once the Russians left. The US -supported gov lasted much less than three WEEKS…

Posted by: Brother Ma | Dec 24 2022 15:48 utc | 17

Libertarian Institute reports on Morroco selling 90 T-72B Main Battle Tanks to US and Netherlands to send to 404 for $95 million:
Morocco to Sell US Over 100 Tanks for Ukraine After Secret Negotiations
Report claims first 5 tanks go out next week, with upgrades done by Czechs.
“Morocco buys 91% of its arms from American suppliers, and Washington is a key backer of Rabat’s claim over Western Sahara….Morocco’s claim to the disputed region has caused friction with its neighbor, Algeria. Rabat believes Algiers has strengthened ties with Moscow in recent months, and reportedly agreed to sell tanks bound for Ukraine as a way to spite Russia.”

Posted by: Peter | Dec 24 2022 15:52 utc | 19

Not much different is happening in Eastern Ukraine — it might seem. After all, the ground will not be suitable for armor until early January, which is also about the time that the 100,000 combat troops undergoing training behind the front lines in Ukraine finish working up and equipping. Still, the UAF is losing hundreds of men a day, the RF very few. And logistical support is continuously degraded. Early next year, you will see a “tipping point”. When the end comes, it may come faster than you expect. Make no mistake, this is the Endgame for Ukraine. Although just the beginning of a new game for Europe and the US. Many thanks to MoA and the “barflies” who continue to inspire as here:
https://julianmacfarlane.substack.com/p/ukraine-endgame

Posted by: julianmacfarlane | Dec 24 2022 15:56 utc | 21

Posted by: Lex | Dec 24 2022 13:11 utc | 2
Assuming they can be manufactured in sufficient quantities, it looks like UA will be supplied with M1156 PGK (Precision Guidance Kit) to retrofit standard artillery shells with sat / inertial guidance, comparable to M982 Excalibur, so UA *should* be able to get far more effect from what shells it does receive.
https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukraine-to-receive-new-precision-guided-155-mm-artillery-rounds-from-usa/
Even this is a stopgap, to get the most out of existing artillery inventory, production and designs. Rocket artillery easily out-ranges gun artillery, is more stealthy when firing and has far greater warhead / tactical flexibility.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/11/29/ukraine-first-operator-precision-bomb/
For gun artillery, smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em but don’t bet that farm on ‘em.

Posted by: anon2020 | Dec 24 2022 16:18 utc | 23

Posted by: julianmacfarlane | Dec 24 2022 15:56 utc | 21 Russian losses: “if only because the Russians have no way of hiding the truth about their losses – which, fortunately for them, were only about 6000 KIA as of September and perhaps 7000 now – wounded at about 10:1”
Seems low considering this https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-63917502 (As of December 9th, slightly over 10,000 confirmed death reports, showing Russians soldiers killed in Ukraine.) Doesn’t count LPR or DPR soldiers.
“10:1 ratio” In the article: “reducing the survival rate (probably) to just 2: 1 or 3:1, meaning that while only one out of ten Russian soldiers die as a result, 3 to 5 UAF soldiers will die after the fact.”
I don’t think you are using that ratio in the way it is commonly used.

Posted by: Bill Smith | Dec 24 2022 16:20 utc | 25

@ Passerby | Dec 24 2022 16:19 utc | 24
The US does not know what hornet nest it has kicked. The US will make deals, call in debts, ask favors – and at the end of the road the United States will be only a shadow of itself.
Yes, those international problems PLUS a vast array of domestic problems where real national power fails.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 24 2022 16:28 utc | 27

Merry Christmas!!!
from GREECE!!!
may all of you be well!!!

Posted by: Athanasios | Dec 24 2022 16:37 utc | 29

@ OdessaConnected | Dec 24 2022 16:30 utc | 28
one country maintaining international law and another one isn’t…

Posted by: james | Dec 24 2022 16:45 utc | 31

@ Passerby | Dec 24 2022 15:47 utc | 16
Supplied 5 at a time after the mothballed derelicts are refurbished/re-manufactured in batches …
Back when AFU still had MBTs in any quantity, & trained crews for ’em, they lost minimum 2-3 per day … so ~100 old T-72Bs is about ~30-45 days worth best case, discounting further unsupported AFU suicidal PR localized offensives.
@ Troll | Dec 24 2022 15:39 utc | 14
Just ’cause you repeatedly repost with minor variations does not make your claims true.
Why don’t you claim only 1,000/day, or 100/day ?
AFU required consumption, therefore daily supply, is minimum ~6,000-7,000+/day. Is getting tiresome. Perhaps you should stop, hm ? Of course as evermore AFU tube & rocket arty is destroyed & not replaced that figure will drop further.

Inside the monumental, stop-start effort to arm Ukraine WaPo Dec232022
The U.S. supply of weapons has never been enough for Kyiv.
…
But the initial war supply operation clearly wasn’t built for the long haul. As the grueling conflict continues with no end in sight, it has exposed flaws in U.S. strategic planning for its own future battles, and revealed significant gaps in the American and NATO defense industrial base. Stocks of many key weapons and munitions are near exhaustion, and wait times for new production of missiles stretches for months and, in some cases, years.
…
Shells for Ukraine’s old Soviet systems are no longer produced in mass quantities, and acquiring them abroad is unpredictable. Arms brokers representing Ukraine and Russia compete to outbid each other for the little remaining stock.
A reporter traveling near the front lines outside of Kherson this fall found one Ukrainian soldier nervously awaiting delivery of more ammunition for a Soviet-era artillery piece that was older than he was. The 40 or so shells rolling around in the back of a truck were all he had left, said the 25-year-old platoon commander in Ukraine’s 59th Motorized Brigade who asked to be identified by his call sign, Vognyk. Some soldiers in his unit had driven north to pick up some more they were told had been left behind by retreating Russian soldiers near Kharkiv.
“There is always a shortage,” Vognyk said. “We just have to wait for a good target before we use anything.” He was still awaiting his turn for training on the M777.
…
With the volume of aid have come questions about how long such effort and expense can be sustained in a time of global economic pain. Biden has committed more than $20 billion worth of weapons into Ukraine, $14 billion of it in drawdowns from Pentagon weapons stocks, and $6 billion in new weapons production contracts.
…
A nonnuclear war with China, or even directly with Russia, is likely to require a steady, long-term stream of the kind of equipment that is now in short supply.
“A conventional war … is an industrial war,” said Seth Jones, a former adviser to U.S. Special Forces who now heads the International Security Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). There are “serious challenges” to current supplies in the U.S. arsenal, he said. “We are really low … and we’re not even fighting.”
An upcoming CSIS report on American readiness, Jones said, concludes that “the U.S. defense industrial base is in pretty poor shape right now. If you identify China as the ‘pacing’ threat, and an ‘acute’ threat from Russia, we don’t make it past four or five days in a war game before we run out of precision missiles.”
…
Stinger production lines had long since been closed down. The first two of eight promised NASAMS have recently arrived in Ukraine, but the other six have yet to be manufactured and delivery could take up to two years.
…
A shortage of artillery ammunition of all sorts remains a weakness. Although production increases are planned, the U.S. defense industry can presently build about 14,000 155 mm howitzer rounds per month, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said in an interview. According to U.S. defense officials, Ukrainian forces have fired that amount in two days during periods of heavy fighting.
…
Germany has promised to supply Ukraine with four IRIS-T systems … But only one has been sent so far; the others are still on production lines.
…

@ Troll | Dec 24 2022 15:59 utc | 22
Unknown quantity, yet:

Delivery will take place over the next two years.

Customer better be patient.
@ Troll | Dec 24 2022 16:20 utc | 25
MI6-BBC as a ref re RF casualties ? LOL.
JulianMacfarlane, given his history, experience & demonstrable knowledge understands far better than you re WIA:KIA ratios.
You are at least consistent.
@ Don Bacon | Dec 24 2022 16:23 utc | 26

It’s a missile/drone world and everything else is obsolete, including aircraft carriers, manned aircraft, artillery …

Laughable.

Posted by: Outraged | Dec 24 2022 17:10 utc | 33

Translated from Russian FYI:
ПЕРЕХВАТ (Z) (Transformation (Z)) (Open TG link)(Referenced Map – https://rybar.ru/piwigo/i.php?/upload/2022/12/24/20221224093914-817698d2-xx.jpg )

About the nighttime UAV attack on Crimea
On the night of December 23-24, the Ukrainian command resumed attempts to strike Russian targets on the territory of the Crimean peninsula after a brief pause due to unfavorable weather conditions.
🔻 Chronology of events:
▪️Seven Chinese Mugin-5 commercial drones took off from the international airport in Odessa around 7:30 to 8 p.m. and headed toward Crimea at predetermined coordinates.
A couple of hours later they approached the peninsula from the side of Bakalskaya spit in Razdolnenskiy district. Five of them were shot down by S-300 surface-to-air missile systems and Pantsir-S1 SAMs over the waters of the Karkinit Gulf.
▪️The other two headed along the route established earlier, which allowed to some extent avoiding the impact of REB means: one flew towards Dzhankoy, the other towards Simferopol.
▪️ As a result, both were shot down by Russian servicemen around 01:00 – 02:00 on 24 December. One attempted to hit an oil depot near Nizhnegorskoye, while the other intended to hit the Tavricheskaya TPP near the administrative center of the republic.
🔻What was the result?
Air defense units in Crimea took into account the previous experience of AFU strikes to prepare for subsequent ones: none of the drones reached their target.
Moreover, the AFU conducted the attack without the characteristic feature of all previous attempts – there were no NATO reconnaissance aircraft or UAVs in the air. Probably, the AFU understood that the presence of a conditional Global Hawk or RC-135 was too remarkable and tried to use the effect of surprise.
At the same time, it is quite possible that the Bayraktar from Odessa could be used to track Russian air defense activities. All the more, the cameras installed on it allow reconnaissance at a great distance, as it was in the summer on the Snake.
🔻The increased role of unmanned aerial vehicles has expanded considerably with the beginning of the USO. Now, in addition to military developments, commercial UAVs are actively used, “artisanally” equipping them with the necessary weapons.
Such reconnaissance strike vehicles have a great potential in operation due to their extremely low price, ease of maintenance and high-quality camera. The AFU is using them by the dozens almost every day without much concern for losses.
The cost of one Mugin-5 UAV, which is freely available, does not exceed ten thousand dollars, which is much less than the cost of production of anti-aircraft missiles for modern air defense systems.
Therefore, the Ukrainian command will continue to attempt strikes against Crimea using these simple but dangerous systems. There will be changes in tactics, numbers, and the nature of the use of drones. And one should be fully prepared for this.

Posted by: Outraged | Dec 24 2022 17:59 utc | 35

Translated from Russian FYI:
ПЕРЕХВАТ (Z) (Transformation (Z)) (Open TG link)

Ukrainian Armed Forces retreat to the outskirts of Marinka with heavy losses: details
Since December 20, units of the 79th Airborne Assault Brigade of the AFU, occupying positions in the western part of the city, have suffered major losses in Marinka.
During the counter-battery fight, the howitzer artillery division of the AFU with D-30 guns of 122 mm caliber was seriously damaged.
According to the Military Chronicle, serious losses were recorded in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th airborne assault battalions of the 79th AFU Brigade, reconnaissance and tank companies of the AFU.
The number of killed and seriously wounded in these units since December 15 is estimated at between 350 and 460 people. Due to the serious losses, the brigade urgently had to be reinforced with mobilized from the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, and a security company and engineering units reclassified as assault troops had to be sent to the line of battle.
According to the Military Chronicle, the key reason for the large losses of the AFU in Marinka was the activity of artillery and armored vehicles of the Russian Armed Forces. T-72B3 tanks move quickly to the western outskirts of the city with the support of drones, which allows the crews to reconnoiter dangerous positions and fire on firing points in buildings with minimal risk.
According to radio intercepts by the AFU, units of the 79th DShB recorded a shortage of communication and surveillance equipment, ammunition for machine guns and machine guns and wound dressing supplies, as well as quadcopters, which were used for reconnaissance of AFU positions. Also, AFU units complain of an acute shortage of anti-tank weapons – there is a shortage of grenade launchers and ammunition for them.
Because of the rapidly deteriorating tactical situation, since the evening of December 23, the AFU has been accumulating its remaining forces on the western outskirts of Marinka in the area of Shakhtyorskaya and Poligraphicheskaya streets, where the field headquarters is gradually being moved from the central fortified area.
In the event of a failure at the last line of defense, Ukrainian army units plan to retreat to reserve positions to the fortified area near the Marinka Dam, where BM-21 Grad batteries were previously stationed. However, in this case control over the city will be permanently lost.

&
Translated from Russian FYI:
Операция Z: Военкоры Русской Весны (Operation Z: Russian Spring Warcasters) (Open TG link)
(Three(3) referenced zoom-able tactical Situ maps)

The Russian Army advances near Liman, Artemivsk, Avdeevka and attacks near Kupyansk – the main thing from the report of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces:
▪️Russian forces continue to concentrate offensive efforts in Artemivsk, Liman, and Avdeevka and seek to improve the tactical situation in the Kupyansk direction.
▪️On the Liman direction, the Russian Armed Forces launched strikes against the AFU near Makiivka, Chervonopopovka and Dubrava LNR, as well as Ternovniki DNR.
▪️In the Artemivsk (Bakhmutsk) direction, the AFU AFU used tanks, mortars and the full range of artillery in the areas of Spornoye, Berestovoye, Veseloye, Yakovlevka, Soledar, Praskovyevka, Bakhmut, Chasov Yar, Opytne, Stupochki, Kleshcheevka, Belaya Gora, Dileevka, Kleban-Byk, Ozarianovka, Severne and New York of the DPR.
▪️On the Avdiivka direction, the AFU came under fire in the areas of Kamianka, Avdiivka, Vodyanoye, Nevelskoye, Marinka and Novomikhailovka DNR.
▪️In the Kupyansk direction, artillery strikes hit the positions of Ukrainian soldiers in Novovolinsk, Kupyansk,
Kislovka, Tabayevka and Krakhmalnoye in the Kharkiv region and Stelmakhovka and Myasozharivka in the LNR.

Posted by: Outraged | Dec 24 2022 18:21 utc | 37

Posted by: Nanker | Dec 24 2022 15:42 utc | 15

Murica is about to do the geopolitical “hat trick”, 3 defeats in 3 confrontations (Iraq Afghanistan Ukraine).

Depends on your definition of “defeat.” The USA is ruled by a criminal gangs who steal money from the US Treasury and War(!) is the prime racket for it. The “gangs” that rule and the oligarchy that nurtures and funds them win better if there is a defeat rather than a victory. Policy makers who favor war (anywhere) always win in their careers and those who oppose war even if they were totally correct in their anlyses always lose because the mainstream media Narrative is run by the aforementioned gangs. You can, at this time, no longer question them–if you do you are on the outside. And this basic balance has been true at least inside government since WWII. My own father, a US diplomat, in meetings in the State Department cautiously dissented (only in private) from US Vietnam policy (he worked underneath William Bundy) and took a major hit to his career and was, essentially exiled to a dangerous post in Somalia.
This general principle applies to all positions of responsibility–you either go along to get along or they f*ck you up. This is increasingly true today when lines of authority have become more rigid since the 60s.
Because of the rhetoric coming out of Washington about “freedom” people think there is a strong ideological component to US policy–it’s really about power/status/money. No one in government cares about “freedom”(other than to eliminate it) or “rules-based order (they prefer chaos–more opportunities result).” Again the US political scene as well as other sectors (more and more each year) are rackets except some local organizations and governments. On the positive side, there is a good deal of conflict between various gangs–we’ll see the results in a couple of years.

Posted by: Chris Cosmos | Dec 24 2022 18:30 utc | 39

” So, the maximalist position, in short: Ukraine is already defeated with 200k dead, and the Russian so-called “attrition warfare” campaign has been a resounding success. ”
” Furthermore, at 200k dead, we have to divide the number to find the average deaths by day rate. That comes out to 666 dead Ukrainians a day. For comparison, the average rate of death by day in WWI for America on the Western front was 100. And for WWII it was 200. And only after the wounded who died later and MIA were factored in later is. ”
– https://roloslavskiy.substack.com/p/more-than-a-million-ukrainian-soldiers –

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Dec 24 2022 18:58 utc | 41

“So, the maximalist position, in short: Ukraine is already defeated with 200k dead, and the Russian so-called “attrition warfare” campaign has been a resounding success. ”
Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Dec 24 2022 18:58 utc | 41

Yes, it is obvious Ukraine is defeated. Also obvious that Russia is now fighting NATO. Hence Putin’s recent wording change from SMO to war (that he does not want).
NATO attrition is going to take a whole lot longer.

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Dec 24 2022 19:15 utc | 43

The WaPo piece also talks about how the US thinks they need to train Ukrainian troops better so they don’t use so much artillery. That is, the US answer is to get Ukraine to adopt more light infantry tactics against heavy artillery and armor. Pure genius. It did work in Kharkov but that context is unlikely to be seen again. If there is or would soon be plenty of artillery and ammunition for Ukraine (which still needs to capture 84k km/2 plus crimea to reach its goals), then nobody would be saying “moar light infantry tactics”. Except it’s all US doctrine knows at the moment. A change started a few years ago but the titanic doesn’t turn on a dime.
The same situation is illustrated by armor. Yes, another 90 tanks are coming. Ukraine started with 2,400 pieces. Biden just said Ukraine was given 2,000 more. Some are left but Zaluzhny is demanding 300 to “win”. The numbers already put to the conflict are approaching total US stocks of M1s. Which the same WaPo article says can’t go to Ukraine because they’re a maintenance nightmare. And as Outraged has detailed, they won’t work in Ukraine because they’re too big. 300 tanks is more than either Germany or the UK own.
The US is not prepared for industrial, conventional warfare. Nor is the US going to pivot to an efficient war economy. We simply aren’t built that way anymore. Finance capitalism doesn’t make stuff.

Posted by: Lex | Dec 24 2022 19:30 utc | 45

Russian military chiefs release names of USA bio-weapons in Ukraine enablers.
“The Russian Defense Ministry has the document with the names of all the key American officials supervising Ukraine’s military biological program, Chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Force Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov said on Saturday.
“Among them are former DTRA [Defense Threat Reduction Agency] Director Kenneth Myers, Executive Vice President of the CIA-controlled In-Q-Tel venture fund Tara O’Toole, ex-Head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thomas Frieden, ex-Director of the National Institutes of Health Francis Collins, ex-Executive Director of the Battelle Memorial Institute Jeffrey Wadsworth, the Pfizer chief scientific officer and president of the company’s global research, development and medicine division and many other officials,” Kirillov said.
These data are contained in the DTRA expanded report on the activity in Ukraine, the Russian defense official said.
“All of them are beneficiaries of the Pentagon’s biological projects and are linked with the US Democratic Party whose leaders are the ideologists of military biological researches and the creators of secret schemes of laundering funds in the interests of a narrow circle of the American elite’s representatives,” Kirillov stressed.”
https://tass.com/defense/1555465

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Dec 24 2022 19:36 utc | 47

Outraged @37–
Thanks for those reports. The tank operations at Marinka prompted me to look at its current weather, which hovers at a few degrees above and below 0c with no major freeze in the longer forecast.
On the topic of artillery ammo, such supplies are useless without the guns, and I don’t read anything about increasing production of decent artillery by NATO. And of course, to handle both guns and ammo you need trained crews. Indeed, to operate any sort of weapon, proper training is required. You can’t dump 5 people at the foot of a 155 and expect them to figure it out, although they will after awhile–but will they hit what they’re aiming at? Another example: You’re on the rifle range shooting at targets, but you don’t know how to adjust the sights on your weapon; how accurate us your fire likely to be? (I know you know that, but that’s for those unaware.)
And of course, Russia has a completely different type of motivation than NATO that drives its industry–Russia knows what is required to prosecute an existential war being waged against it and acts accordingly. And that’s the fundamental reason why NATO will lose when its proxy is defeated. IF NATO was the defensive alliance it’s touted itself as, it would have a completely different arrangement, but it doesn’t because it’s not a defensive alliance. And nowadays, it can’t mount much of an offensive either.

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 24 2022 19:49 utc | 49

Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Press Availability 12/22/2022

When it comes to Russia’s war against Ukraine, if we were still in Afghanistan, it would have, I think, made much more complicated the support that we’ve been able to give and that others have been able to give Ukraine to resist and push back against the Russian aggression.

Posted by: Bill Quick | Dec 24 2022 19:52 utc | 51

Many very needy people in the Third World have and will continue to die because EU aid has been cut to them and funneled to Ukraine instead.
“Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the aid earmarked for other countries was gradually cut and pumped into the war and the resulting crisis. The European Union has also agreed to add €2.1 billion to a fund severely depleted by the military aid for Ukraine in the war against Russia.
The so called European Peace Facility was set up last year to help the EU fund military assistance to its international partners. The fund’s original budget of €5.7 billion was meant to last until 2027, but has almost completely run dry 10 months into the war in Ukraine.
The EU and its member states have so far committed about €8 billion of military support to Ukraine against Russia. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross 80% of the people in need of humanitarian aid live in 20 nations.
The huge amount of money splurged on Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees has come at the expense of millions of others in dire need of health care, education and food across the globe.
As the war drags on in the Ukraine, the gloomy economic outlook continues to trigger protests across Europe.
According to a new report over 300 million people, half of them children, are in need of desperate aid in some of the poorest and most conflict ridden regions on the planet. They have all been deprioritized following the war in Ukraine.
For instance, while half the population of Somalia was facing famine last year, the African country was only able to receive 68% of its requested funding after a one year wait. Ukraine, on the other hand, received the same amount in a matter of six weeks.”
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/12/19/694739/EU-aid-for-Ukraine-at-the-expense-of-millions-of-others-in-dire-need-of-aid

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Dec 24 2022 19:59 utc | 53

Posted by: abrogard | Dec 24 2022 20:01 utc | 55
Assuming you have sufficient raw materials.

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Dec 24 2022 20:08 utc | 55

” ‘Stop using salami tactics,’ China tells US
Washington is “stabbing China in the back,” Beijing’s top diplomat says
It’s December 2022. And we have heard this before; that Washington must take seriously legitimate concerns
Posted by: Likklemore | Dec 24 2022 19:58 utc | 53 ”
Just like Russia China complains impotently as if its shocked by the US’s actions. Read some history China, maybe then you wont be so ” surprised “.

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Dec 24 2022 20:21 utc | 57

Funny RT main page listings: “Only Putin can end Ukrainian conflict – Italian ex-PM”–that would be Mario Draghi. Yet we also have, “Peace in Ukraine depends on Washington – Orban”.
As Putin said several times over the last week, Russia remains open to negotiations. However, Maria Zakharova put the proper perspective on that in her answer to a presumably German media question. So, it’s obvious Orban is correct–Washington being the instigator of the current war is the only entity that can initiate negotiations to end it, and it’s clear it’s not in any hurry to do so since it imagines it has the upper hand when it has nothing.
Then there are some Russian writers who don’t seem to know what they’re writing about. This is from today’s RT by Fyodor Lukyanov, “the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, and research director of the Valdai International Discussion Club:”
“Ukraine is forming a powerful and capable armed force, actively assisted by the West, primarily the US, so its formal status – whether it’s a member of NATO or not – no longer matters. It is America’s de facto, if not de jure, military ally, in addition to having unique practical experience in a direct large-scale confrontation with Russia. One might add: it is motivated to pursue it.”
Too many Black Russians it seems produced an hallucinatory affect that generated that initial phrase, which IMO discredits the entire essay. That man’s been slipping greatly of late.

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 24 2022 20:36 utc | 59

@ karlof1 | Dec 24 2022 19:49 utc | 50
You are most welcome. All very true.
AFU has lost it’s NCO/Officer Corps & Cadre, it’s formerly trained combined arms formations, now its sending service support & engineers into the line as ad hoc assault companies. Forced conscripted Volksturm with abbreviated training are no substitute.
When the AFU remnants inevitably face Division & Army sized formations conducting combined arms maneuver warfare, beyond the entrenchments … they’ll be crushed.
The 1.5M under arms goal means up to 60 new full Divisions or 15 Army groups(4 Divs each) above & beyond extant RF formations (~900,000) at Feb2422. Clearly, RF intends to resolve the US/EU/NATO issue once & for all, IMV.
Suggest reading the linked WaPo article @ Outraged | Dec 24 2022 17:10 utc | 33.
There is far more pointed detailed content then the highlighted excerpts. It is a quite concise summation of why US/NATO are incapable of realistically contesting RF (alone) in high-intensity conventional war, let alone supported by Iran &/or China. From WaPo 🙂
RF increased all arms/materiel/R&D production by 50% mid July, then by 88% last week compared to Feb2422. Expect will boost again 2023 by end 1st 1/4. The demonstrable results of what we discussed previously re high level direct State control by external experts commissions of a now separately managed war industry/economy, without significantly negatively affecting the wider RF economy/society.
Empire realistically has negligible ability to contest or even catch up, re industrial capacity/capability, nor troop numbers nor arms/materiel, nor motivation/commitment/morale, IMO.

Posted by: Outraged | Dec 24 2022 20:51 utc | 61

Deplorable Commissar (57).
I didn’t check the Gulf States but looked at China since you mentioned it first, I take it you didn’t even bother to check either before commenting.
From the British state propaganda news agency.
“Not very long ago, China was a foreign aid recipient. Now, it rivals the United States as one of the world’s largest donors, through traditional development aid or through financial loans.
For the first time, a large group of researchers outside China have compiled a major database detailing virtually all of China’s financial money flow to recipient countries. Citing more than 5,000 projects found across 140 countries, it reveals that China and the US rival each other in terms of how much they offer to other countries.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-41564841

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Dec 24 2022 21:02 utc | 63

@ karlof1 | Dec 24 2022 19:49 utc | 50

On the topic of artillery ammo, such supplies are useless without the guns, and I don’t read anything about increasing production of decent artillery by NATO.

Yes, I don’t know exactly for USA but here (EU) we are out for a while. And not only artillery (German Howitzer 2000 quickly out of order to fire, French César (12…)).
In Germany perhaps a few hundred Howitzer2000 are in order to fire. In France a few dozen César and Nexter can only produce one or two piece/month (even working 3 shifts) ….
I wrote

Let’s face it, the European Union’s arms industry is a relic of the past.
Let’s take the example of tanks.
The French Leclerc tank, a project from the 1980s, was produced from 1990 to 2007 in 876 units. Production has never reached 100 units per year. For the past 15 years, France has not built any more tanks, and it is difficult to maintain 220 tanks that should remain in service until 2040.
The German Leopard 2 tank (Bernhard will correct me if I am wrong) is even older. Produced from 1979 to 1992 at 2950 units, a maximum of 300 per year.
What is left of the production capacity and how many years would it take to be able to produce say 500 tanks per year?
Is it feasible without the capacity to produce even steel? Not to mention titanium….
Combat aviation or even the military adaptation of civilian aircraft is more a matter for the air and space museum. The Franco-German SCAF project has been abandoned and Dassault will not survive.
What remains? Some Mauser, Glock and Beretta….
And , yes, a few Exocet for friendly fire.
Posted by: La Bastille | Dec 21 2022 21:19 utc | 44

At the presser, the last question to Ze and Brandon was: why not give them all the weaponery they need.
Ze agreed…
Brandon ( une fois n’est pas coutume) says The Thruth
“We’ve given Ukraine what they needed when they needed to defend themselves,” the US leader insisted, listing hundreds of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and ammunition that Washington and NATO have handed over to Kiev.
Doing more would have “the prospect of breaking up NATO, breaking up Europe, and the rest of the world,” Biden said, noting that he’s spent “hundreds” of hours persuading US partners around the globe to help Ukraine, but “they are not looking for a Third World War” by fighting Russia directly. “But I’ve said too much.”

Posted by: La Bastille | Dec 24 2022 21:09 utc | 65

Et un Joyeux Noël à tous et toutes (sorry…no neutral pronoun in French )

Posted by: La Bastille | Dec 24 2022 21:11 utc | 67

Posted by: OdessaConnected | Dec 24 2022 16:30 utc | 28
concern for civilians? there’s still some civilians in those places?

Posted by: abrogard | Dec 24 2022 21:26 utc | 69

@neofeudalfuture
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Sahara_conflict

Posted by: Vikichka | Dec 24 2022 21:29 utc | 71

@ Don Bacon | Dec 24 2022 16:23 utc | 26
It’s a missile/drone world and everything else is obsolete, including aircraft carriers, manned aircraft, artillery …
Laughable.
Posted by: Outraged | Dec 24 2022 17:10 utc | 33
calls to mind colonel blimp to me… seems to fit the moniker, too…

Posted by: abrogard | Dec 24 2022 21:40 utc | 73

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Dec 24 2022 19:59 utc | 54
Yes. Parallels exactly the covid years doesn’t it?
What happened there? To the forecast by Oxfam deaths by malnutrition and disease of potentially millions?
Not of news interest is it/was it?
We are part of something more horrific than I could ever have contemplated. Spent my life asleep. We all did. Do.

Posted by: abrogard | Dec 24 2022 21:45 utc | 75

” Do you have any useful information or views of your own that you would like to share? I’m sure everyone would like to hear what YOU think rather than just your endless nitpicking of their posts.
Posted by: OdessaConnected | Dec 24 2022 21:48 utc | 77 ”
Its Ok to be wrong, You dont need to feel bad about yourself.

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Dec 24 2022 21:53 utc | 77

“So, the maximalist position, in short: Ukraine is already defeated with 200k dead, and the Russian so-called “attrition warfare” campaign has been a resounding success. ” Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Dec 24 2022 18:58 utc | 41

Hardly.
Ukraine has 40 mil inhabitants. It can easily withstand 2 mil losses.
Furthermore, Poland is willing and even eager to step in fight a.s.a.p.(80 millions)

Posted by: Kerensky | Dec 24 2022 22:02 utc | 79

Not true, re-read your history books. It was a relatively small percentage of colonists who supported the rebellion. Additionally, a good portion of colonists supported the British. The remainder didnt care enough to get involved either way.
Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Dec 24 2022 20:26 utc | 59

Not only that, when the Empire Loyalists left the northern colonies and migrated to Upper Canada (Southern Ontario) at the end of the Revolutionary War, they took the natives from the Finger Lakes region with them, rather than leave them to be punished.
The natives were given a large land grant along the Grand River, a small portion of which still remains. Their Chief Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) was treated well, including meeting the King and he had a number of farms. He also had slaves, some of whom were white (gasp).
Yet no one wants to cancel him or tear down his statue… odd, very odd.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Brant

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Dec 24 2022 22:07 utc | 81

Posted by: abrogard | Dec 24 2022 22:13 utc | 83
Hahaha. Excellent satire!

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Dec 24 2022 22:16 utc | 83

Doing more would have “the prospect of breaking up NATO, breaking up Europe, and the rest of the world,” Biden said, noting that he’s spent “hundreds” of hours persuading US partners around the globe to help Ukraine, but “they are not looking for a Third World War” by fighting Russia directly. “But I’ve said too much.”
Posted by: La Bastille | Dec 24 2022 21:09 utc | 66
This is not a joke or sarcastic or otherwise insincere question. I really wonder, want to know: Is Biden not the clown he’s made out to be and looks like? Could he really have spent hundreds of hours persuading people? He could be coherent that long? He has the mental capacity?

Posted by: abrogard | Dec 24 2022 22:18 utc | 85

@Posted by: Kerensky | Dec 24 2022 22:02 utc | 80

Hardly. Ukraine has 40 mil inhabitants. It can easily withstand 2 mil losses. Furthermore, Poland is willing and even eager to step in fight a.s.a.p.(80 millions)

Ukraine has nowhere near that number, due to the ongoing migration of Ukrainians looking for work between 2014 and 2022 (Ukraine did not carry out a proper census in the past years to hide the huge loss of people), the populations of the areas now under Russian control, and the further migration of people in the past year. It maybe has 20 million absolute tops, and that will be heavily skewed to the older age groups, and the infirm. The birth rate also crashed in Ukraine in the past two decades, so natural deaths outnumber births.
We can see the proof of manpower issues in Ukraine from the extension of the ages of call up and the ages, and unfitness, of Ukrainians at the front. Also, the desperate nature of state officials chasing down those called up. Also, the increasing number of foreigners at the battle front on the Ukrainian side.
Poland has a population of 38 million (I have no clue where you got 80 million), with a median age of 42 and population skewed very heavily to the older ages. Birth rate is 1.4, way below replacement rate and many Poles going abroad to seek work. For example, there are less than 200,000 20 year old men. The flower of Poland’s youth could be bled white quite quickly. Not all of them will be available also given reserved occupations, university students etc.

Posted by: Roger | Dec 24 2022 22:28 utc | 87

” Stop asking stupid questions and start searching online yourself, this the last time I do your homework for you.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Dec 24 2022 22:17 utc | 85 ”
Although, I dont recall ever asking you to be my personal research assistant I appreciate your diligent, self-tasked, efforts. I also appreciate you quoting the BBC and the UN, two organizations that have been proven to be trust worthy and completely impartial.

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Dec 24 2022 22:34 utc | 89

Hey barflys
Don’t feed the trolls
Thanks

Posted by: psychohistorian | Dec 24 2022 22:40 utc | 91

Posted by: Outraged | Dec 24 2022 17:10 utc | 33
It’s not my claim. What is the source of your claim?

Posted by: Bill Smith | Dec 24 2022 22:50 utc | 93

Posted by: abrogard | Dec 24 2022 20:01 utc | 55
Regarding maximum output of a factory – theoretical 21 shifts per week (3 times 7 days ) but ….it’s well neigh impossible to have more than 15 shifts. Note, the graveyard shift will have 2/3s the productivity of first shift.

Posted by: Exile | Dec 24 2022 22:54 utc | 95

At some point, Ukie generals will realize they’ve just committed the last of their reserves. What the front lines will be then is unknown, but they’ll be collapsed from what they are now. Zelensky and his Nazi overseers behave akin to their Hitlerian idols, begging the question: When will reality make them implode?
IMO, the best New Year’s Wish for Ukrainians is for the rapid demise of their political overlords and replacement by a team willing to negotiate and stop listening to NATO.

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 24 2022 22:59 utc | 97

@92 a troll is in the eye of the beholder. Besides I’m just happy if you read, your comments aren’t necessary although I’m happy to respond as well.
Long story short I think of myself as more of a goad.

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Dec 24 2022 23:06 utc | 99