Kyiv has doubled down on preventing Russian forces from taking the eastern city as spring offensives loom – Wall Street Journal, archive.md

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have heavy losses in Bakhmut due to problems with the delivery of ammunition and the removal of the wounded
▪️”Ukrainian troops are suffering heavy losses in Bakhmut (Artemovsk), especially now, when paved roads for the transport of ammunition and evacuation of the wounded are no longer available, and alternative dirt roads are impassable due to mud for many wheeled vehicles,” writes Wall Street Journal.
▪️Despite calls to retreat from the West, Zelensky last week “redoubled his efforts to keep Bakhmut.” According to General Syrsky, the situation on this front remains difficult, and the Wagner assault units are attacking from several directions, trying to break the defense.

Elbridge Colby – Threadreaderapp

Things are changing on Ukraine. You can detect it in these *major* policy shifts that are framed as no big deal parentheticals.
“The U.S. has been clear with Kyiv that it cannot fund Ukraine indefinitely at this level.”
…
Now it’s clear Administration officials are using friendly press to normalize that message. 3/
“Though backing Ukraine has largely been a bipartisan effort, a small but growing number of GOPs have begun to voice skepticism about the use of American treasure to support Kyiv without an end in sight to a distant war.”
…
“For now, Biden continued to stick to his refrain that the United States will leave all decisions about war and peace to Zelenskky. But whispers have begun across Washington as to how tenable that will be as the war grinds on — and another presidential election looms.”

Ya don’t say, been raising this regularly as the narrative change accelerates, since Dec’22/Jan’23. Proxy abandonment, latest Jun/Jul.

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 13 2023 19:56 utc | 4

Reposting from previous Open Thread ….
@ 272 Thank you for bringing our attention to this.
A peer-reviewed paper initially approved and praised by a prestigious academic journal was suddenly rescinded without explanation. Its author, one of the world’s top scholars on Ukraine-related issues, had marshaled overwhelming evidence to conclude Maidan protesters were killed by pro-coup snipers.
https://thegrayzone.com/2023/03/12/academic-journal-maidan-massacre/
Posted by: Apollyon | Mar 13 2023 16:08 utc | 272
Among those fervently supporting Katchanovski’s appeal was renowned US academic Jeffrey Sachs. “You have written a very important, rigorous, and substantial article. It is thoroughly documented. It is on a topic of great significance,” Sachs wrote to the scholar. “Your paper should be published for reasons of its excellence…The journal will only benefit from publishing such a work of importance and excellence, which will further the scholarly understanding and debate regarding a very important moment of modern history.” [Grayzone]
I read one of Katchanovski’s working papers on this a few years ago – and posted it on an MSM blog – it was deleted within an hour. I highly recommend his work
He has certainly convinced me. Note that German Intelligence, and Angela Merkel, fully aware of this work – as are many other European intelligence services.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 13 2023 16:55 utc | 278

Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 13 2023 20:04 utc | 6

Outraged no. 4
Looks like the honeymoon is over, and if so, what will europe’s position be i wonder:
“Are tensions emerging between US and Ukraine?”
After Vladimir Putin sent his troops into neighbouring Ukraine, the US alongside other Western allies did not hesitate to stand with them.
Over the last year, the US has provided critical support to the country, with President Joe Biden vowing to show his nation’s “unwavering support” for the war-torn country.
But now there appears to be growing differences behind the scenes between Washington and Kyiv on war aims, POLTICO reports, citing sources in the White House administration.
The news outlet said based on conversations with 10 officials, lawmakers and experts, both nations were trying to maintain unity but “fractures” and “new points of tension” were appearing.
It also reported multiple administration officials had “begun worrying that Ukraine is expending so much manpower and ammunition in Bakhmut”, which remains the focal point of the war.
There have been moments of frustration about Washington’s delivery of weapons to Ukraine and though most in the administration have been understanding about Kyiv’s defence aims, there have been “grumblings” about the constant weapons requests, White House officials told the news outlet.
Speaking on the crisis, Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said: “The administration doesn’t have a clear policy objective and a clear goal. Is it to drag this thing out, which is precisely what Vladimir Putin wants?”
“Is it to just give them enough to survive and not to win? I don’t see a policy for victory right now, and if we don’t have that, then what are we doing?”
With the war in its second year, the US remains in lockstep with Ukraine but “whispers have begun” about how tenable this relationship will be as the war continues, the news outlet adds.
Sky news 13 march

Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Mar 13 2023 20:11 utc | 8

Relevant broader events re current wider Situ & context, re-posted from previous thread:
Translated:

Military Chronicle – Telegram
‘Reports’ from the field that in the area of ​​​​Golubovka and Minkovka, ~20km north-west of Artyomovsk(Bahkmut), there is a strong battle going on. You can hear how the artillery works.
Presumably, the “orchestra” has taken under ranged Fire(?), the core AFU reserves of the 4th and 17th tank brigades, the battalions of the 61st Jaeger brigade and the 116th territorial defense brigade, accumulated between two villages.
According to the Military Chronicle, Ukrainian units have been arriving in the area since the beginning of March to actively counter PMC artillery and were being reinforced by mobile artillery and mortar groups.

Comment:
IF true, then likely AFU units were taken under Fire whilst dispersed in incohesive non-combat deployment formations, in assumptive secure rear reserve Locs. Spetznaz &/or Recon teams directing drones & Fires ?
Translated:

INTERCEPTION (Z) – Telegram
Kiev resource about the delay in the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Artemovsk / Bakhmut:
Uncorroborated source in the OP said that the counteroffensive near Bakhmut is postponed to next week, Syrsky will hold the city to the last, despite the situation. The weather (& mud) does not allow the Armed Forces to use wheeled vehicles, and without it there is no possibility of flank attacks.

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 13 2023 20:13 utc | 10

Stating the obveous…
Zelensky has always been barking mad (look at his eyes) right from the beginning, that fact is becoming starkly clear to all sides including the public.
But the thing is… the west backed him financed and equipt him gave him the entire western media as his platform, gave him the power he has.
And here we are,
Where to go from here on ?

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 13 2023 20:21 utc | 12

Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Mar 13 2023 20:11 utc | 8
There was a rumor circulating earlier, according to which Biden had supposedly told Zelensky that he has till this year, or Autumn, to take Crimea, or at least cut the land bridge. Everyone knows what Nato wants to do, namely they want to cause some humiliating defeat even by land grab in those directions, and then call it a day with the Korea-scenario. But now they picked to do this deblocking Bakhmut thing instead. It seems that UAF/Zelensky went somewhat rogue of what Nato actually intended to do.
Military Summary had a theory on it, namely:
1. offensive around Bakhmut is easier, and potentially less costly to implement than towards Mariupol which is by now a properly 2 – 3 layered defense
2. While Ukraine is not ready for this operation (they have “nothing” according to military summary), their losses from this operation may convince Pentagon that they are no longer able to take offensive toward Mariupol, and Pentagon will let them to come to some conclusive Korea style scenario, or send more weapons like F-16 and Abrams tanks to make a better try next time
3. They are forced to do the Bakhmut deblocking attempt, because the situation has morphed into a catastrophic one due to amount of foreign mercenary and other perhaps not-worst-quality manpower left in Bakhmut
4. Zelensky political chips laid on the “myth of Bakhmut” are numerous

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 13 2023 20:27 utc | 14

the pessimist @ 2

I am hoping that the Lavra monks in Kiev don’t back down and get some public support. Either way that will be big symbolically.

Remember back in the ’90s and ’00s all the Free Tibet stuff, and the big rock bands and rock stars and famous actors meeting with the Dali Lama? Any event you went to there’d be a stand with some people organizing for Tibet and the monks and worthy mysticism and spirituality. Yo, Foo Fighters, there’s some monks in need of help in Lavra.
Apparently, some monks are more worthy than others at least to the fad driven, superficial, insincere, head full of shit, western youth and their stars.
For that matter where’s the Dali Lama? No solidarity among monks?

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 13 2023 20:59 utc | 16

Latest Brian Berletic…
Ukraine’s Possible Bakhmut Counteroffensive + What Poland’s Military Build-Up Means
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ817Ynwdng
From the description:

38,500 views Mar 13, 2023
Update on conflict in Ukraine for March 13, 2023;
– Bakhmut continues to be encircled by Russian forces;
– The Western media is reporting conflicting claims by Ukraine and Russia regarding steep losses inflicted on opposing sides;
– The West claims Ukraine is inflicting huge losses on Russian forces and that Bakhmut has little strategic value;
– The Western media, however, also admits Ukraine is outgunned between 3:1 to 4:1 in terms of artillery and despite claims that Russia has lost 20,000-30,000 troops around Bakhmut alone, the BBC’s own project verifying Russian losses says as of March 2023 Russia’s 1 year total losses stand at 16,000;
– A counteroffensive by Ukraine may lead to temporary gains, just as in Aleppo, Syria in 2016, however the fundamentals leading to Bakhmut’s encirclement have not been addressed, therefore any gains risk being reversed;
– A Ukrainian counteroffensive on any major scale will divert troops meant for Kiev’s spring offensive, diminishing the combat potential of other upcoming offensives;
– Poland’s military build-up is being hyped by the Western media, however Polish ambitions would see the creation of a military force roughly the size of Ukraine’s military at the beginning of 2022;
– Poland’s build-up will take years to complete;

The latter two points are important, especially given the Polish war game which showed a revamped Polish military with all new Western weapons systems being demolished by Russia in five days.
I also think people “concerned” about a Ukrainian offensive anywhere forget that Russia has added another 200-300.000 troops and hardware to the battlefield or the immediate vicinity and can obviously call on them to reinforce any gaps in coverage of the front lines since it appears few of them are actually currently engaged in the main battles. And there is always the Russian Aerospace forces which can be called on to reinforce the situation regardless of the threat of Ukrainian air defense.
The only thing determining whether Russia will retreat from any offensive is simply whether they consider the ground worth holding in comparison to anticipated Russian personnel losses. This is the lesson of Kharkiv and Kherson in the past.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 13 2023 21:16 utc | 18

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 13 2023 20:13 utc | 10
‘in assumptive secure rear reserve Locs’
There are no secure rear areas in this ‘lego brick’ conflict, which makes launching traditional large-scale attacks attacks so challenging as to be often pointless. Artillery can concentrate whilst dispersed and have their combat power unaffected manoeuvre units cannot, hence the character of the war and a massive advantage to Russia. Since it’s inception, modern artillery has been the premier killer.

Posted by: Milites | Mar 13 2023 21:19 utc | 20

Translated from Russian:

Operation Z: Military commissars of the Russian Spring (t.me/RVvoenkor) (Telegram) – Videoclip (Russian/Russian text)
Former Rada deputy Sirotyuk: Ukraine must defeat Russia, reach the Urals and start a war with China:
“Two world wars were fought on the territory of Ukraine and for Ukraine. It is clear that both imperial Russia and independent Ukraine cannot exist in balance.
Therefore, inevitably, in order for us to remain as a nation Ukraine, we must break up the Russian Empire and build there a natural space of national states, and we must become a great ambitious country, at least a regional leader who will control the territories up to the Urals, to the Caucasus, which together with Poland and the Baltic countries will form a Baltic-Black Sea axis of security.”

OUN-B Nazi’s, what’s there to say …
&
Frank & Fearless advice, Speaking Truth to Power in the West … explains why US/NATO/EU decisions/actions are apparently so moronic/stupid.
See: Topic @ Sonar21, Larry Johnson, Intelligence/Decision failures.
The head of the German armed forces will be fired due to the assessment of the actions of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine – TheEasternHerald, Mar14’23, (Republished in English (India) as opposed to original German)

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has decided to sack the head of the German armed forces, Eberhard Zorn, after his recent controversial comments on the actions of the Russian military in Ukraine, reports Bild.
In September last year, Eberhard Zorn doubted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would be able to effectively resist Russian troops. In particular, he said that Ukraine was carrying out counterattacks, but could not repel Russia on a broad front.
The 63-year-old military official also claimed that the Russian army could open a second front in Moldova, near Kaliningrad, in Finland or in Georgia.
According to media reports, Zorn, who has held the position since 2018, will retire early on Thursday. He will be replaced as Inspector General of the Bundeswehr by Major General Karsten Breuer.

The Commander of the German Navy was fired promptly pre SMO for the same reasons(IIRC).
@ Milites | Mar 13 2023 21:19 utc | 20
Quite. Perhaps inform the Ukies, post haste. On second thoughts, perhaps not …

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 13 2023 21:30 utc | 22

We all might be surprised by the sudden and massive failure of US banking system. It might turn out that “general” who is going to deliver the final blow to Zelensky is US FED chairman Jerome Powell.

Posted by: Milos | Mar 13 2023 21:38 utc | 24

I’m somewhat amused by the term Air Raid nowadays, particularly in relation to the manner Russia employs its aerospace forces. Unlike NATO, Russia’s missile attacks are very precise and are not aimed at non-military use civilian infrastructure. Thus, we see all kinds of video aired by people unafraid to stand on their roof or look out their window to film such attacks as they know they’re not being targeted. The situation is the exact opposite when NATO launches an attack–everyone heads for shelter and the attacks are seldom recorded. But what I find odd NATO military find terrifying as when the sirens sound, they all head for cover as fast as they can for missiles are incoming, not a flight of slow-moving bombers approaching. And even rather early warning can still be traumatic as proved by the Iranian missile assault in response to Soleimani’s murder where over 100 soldiers ensconced in shelters suffered brain trauma from the missile impacts. And what’s perhaps the worst for NATO soldiers is they have no defense against missile attacks while Russians have excellent defenses and thus have a completely different outlook–Russians can’t wait to shoot down the incoming.
NATO commanders learned early that no concentrated force in safe within Ukraine as mercenary training grounds, barracks and marshalling areas were attacked by missiles to staggering affect. So, all training now takes place outside Ukraine thus making NATO a party to the war it yet one further manner. Even deeply buried bunkers offer no protection from hypersonic penetration more effective than nuclear because it’s pinpoint. In many respects I see NATO as a huge coward that turned Ukraine into a killing ground to advance its own interests but refuses to enter the fight preferring to kill as many Ukies as possible.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 13 2023 21:57 utc | 26

@Karlof1
Well, your statements always include a heavy pro Russian bias. Everyone here knows that being the cuckold you are, you would gleefully jerk off while watching your wife service Putin.

Posted by: Jetpack1 | Mar 13 2023 22:06 utc | 28

Anyone notice Lukashenko shuttling btwn China and Iran spending close to a week in each? This isn’t about setting up drone factories or fertilizer deals. Something regarding the SMO is up, Belarus has some big role to play and is coordinating with Iran and China. Belarus joining the SCO is the backdoor for Chinese and Iranian military aid to Russia. I think after the fall of Artemivsk China and Russia will give an ultimatum to NATO and a functional peace plan, and a clear message to sign on the dotted line to avoid global east-west escalation.
The Saudi-Iran deal is in there too, this put in check the Israeli-USA planned attack on Iran. Israel may still strike but the coalition it thought it was building against Iran with the gulf states is finished. Last week Iran flew a fighter jet into Azerbaijan, an old jet and totally pointless except as a message, they are taking up slack for Russia. Georgia and Moldova may not turn out as the neocons plan either, Maidan caught a good part of the Ukraian population unaware of the price, this is no longer the case in Georgia and Moldova, the price is stark. Many pieces moving as the end of battle for Artemivsk approaches.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 13 2023 22:09 utc | 30

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 13 2023 21:32 utc | 23
“By mid-April, almost all the weapons promised by the West will reach Kyiv: with what the Armed Forces of Ukraine plan to go on a spring offensive. .
Assuming Ukraine assembly of weapons and fighters into a fighting force by end of April. . .and projecting likely scenario at that time – Bakhmut will be completely under Russian control. Ukraine will have attempted a counterattack late March to free the city, but with depleted brigades and inadequate armor (the latest tranch of NATO wonder weapons not having arrived), suffered massive losses of men and material from Russian thermobarics, glide bombs and even Russian AF ground support until beaten back. Avdeevka is encircled, cut off and about to be captured, with thousands of UAF troops inside. Russian AF now operating more freely due to attrition of Ukrainian AD. Ukrainian forces, many newly armed and trained in NATO countries, amass somewhere east of Zaporhyze, and drive south, much like the first attack on Kherson province. They are bogged down in layer after layer of Russian fortifications, massive artillery barrages and heavy gravity bombs dropped by Russian high altitude bombers. Ukrainian losses far exceed those of the So much for the drive to Crimea.

Posted by: Mike R | Mar 13 2023 22:16 utc | 32

Posted by: Mike R | Mar 13 2023 22:16 utc | 32
“Ukrainian losses far exceed those of the first Kherson offensive.” Brain cramp there.
Posted by: Jetpack1 | Mar 13 2023 22:06 utc | 28
This sort of personal attack should really be deleted, IMO.

Posted by: Mike R | Mar 13 2023 22:23 utc | 34

If there’s one fact to call attention to about this war, it’s that the bulk of people dying in it are dying from explosives launched or operated miles away from the battlefield. That’s a stark contrast from the portrayal of warfare as consisting of heroic individuals and teams coordinating victory via small arms fire. War is boring and it sucks.
Posted by: fnord | Mar 13 2023 19:54 utc | 3
Wasn’t this already the case 100 years ago (WWI)?

Posted by: Colin | Mar 13 2023 22:27 utc | 36

re: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 13 2023 22:23 utc | 35
I think the too-big-to-fail banks and the Central banks want to get rid of most of the regional commercial banks (and scoop up the good assets while the depositors get to eat sh*t). This is a consolidation tied to the initiation of Central Bank Digital Currencies; they need to create a climate of fear, while simultaneously removing competition, in order to justify this ultimate power grab.

Posted by: Perimetr | Mar 13 2023 22:29 utc | 38

I remember the 80’s Texas Real Estate collapse, that too started with just a few bad apple Banks, by the time it was over every Texas Bank went under except one. Stockholders were not bailed out.

Posted by: SwissArmyMan | Mar 13 2023 22:32 utc | 40

So, the Patriot system delivered to Lvov to protect the NATO/Kiev underground HQ failed. A Kinzhal missile hit the bunker last week killing approx 300 top officials, including NATO advisers.
Western media haven’t commented neither have western officials, but the US isn’t happy with Kiev.

Posted by: HERMIUS | Mar 13 2023 22:37 utc | 42

Getting a little tired of the wasted space and vitriol expended here, may I remind of the thread admonition?:
“Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators.“
The small minds that attack others are useless and not deserving of a stool at the “bar”!

Posted by: Wilhelm | Mar 13 2023 22:42 utc | 44

Posted by: Colin | Mar 13 2023 22:40 utc | 43
As I said explicitly, I don’t follow this stuff, so everything you say may be true. Personally, I don’t care at all until one of two things happens: 1) Wells Fargo fails and I lose my bank account there, or 2) my Social Security gets cut off.
Which doesn’t appear to be immediately in the cards.
So that’s all I have to say about that. I’m just reporting what I saw on Twitter this morning. Take it up with those guys.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 13 2023 22:58 utc | 46

Wilhelm @44–
Well said! There’re two places in the bar for it: inside a spittoon or as a urinal cake.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 13 2023 23:14 utc | 48

from Kyiv Independent
Ukraine war latest: Fierce fighting rages over central Bakhmut as Russia’s Wagner mercenaries storm into the ruined city

Russian forces attack power engineers in Kherson Oblast
Fierce fighting rages over central Bakhmut as Russia’s Wagner mercenaries try to break through Ukrainian defenses in the ruined city, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on March 13.
Syrskyi, who commands Ukraine’s Ground Forces and made two known visits to Bakhmut in recent weeks, acknowledged that the situation in the embattled city remained difficult as Russia continued to press forward.
The commander said that the Wagner members were storming into central Bakhmut from multiple fronts, but Ukraine still held on to the “fortress” while inflicting “significant losses” on the invading forces.
“All enemy attempts to capture the city are repelled by artillery, tanks, and other firepower,” Syrskyi said, as quoted by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s media center.
Syrskyi’s statement comes amid an eight-month-long battle over Bakhmut, a largely destroyed city nearly emptied of its 70,000 residents. Russia has intensified its offensive on Bakhmut in recent weeks as it captured neighboring settlements, inching its way into encircling the city. . . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Mar 13 2023 23:15 utc | 50

From the previous thread by Roman:
Questions for Mr. Putin from a Russian
1. Why has a special operation, which usually takes no more than a few days, a few weeks maximum, has turned into a full-scale armed conflict that has been going on for a year and, judging by the President’s actions (giving vacations to the members of the Special Military Operation every six months, for example), will last at least several years? If this is due to intelligence errors and miscalculations of the political leadership, then what conclusions should be drawn from these errors, including those involving personnel?
2. What is the purpose of the SMO? Demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, coupled with pushing NATO out of our borders, as mentioned at the beginning? Or the protection of Donbass from bombardments, or the protection of our border lands, which until February 2022 were never hit by shells and rockets from the Ukrainian side? The president and his ideologues named and the first, and second, and third reason, but never explained why they have change their minds so quickly. It is noteworthy that not only were none of these goals achieved in the last year, but exactly the opposite happened. An attempt to demilitarize Ukraine has led to a Ukraine is now much better armed than a year ago, and with the most modern Western weapons. An attempt to denazify ended with an increase in the approval of the nationalist Bandera among the citizens of Ukraine (from 22% in 2012 to 74% in the spring of 2022). The “defense of Donbass” was carried out with such elephantine grace that it is still being bombed and the number of casualties has increased dramatically (in 2021 there were about 100 victims of the UAF bombing, and in 2022 more than a thousand). An attempt to put up a barrier against NATO has resulted in Finland and Sweden joining NATO (which means NATO troops soon to be stationed near St. Petersburg), and Ukraine, though formally remaining a non-NATO member, is in fact in the closest coordination with the armies of the alliance. And again, no one at the top even tries to admit mistakes and understand who is to blame for the fact that the goal of the SMO achieved exactly its opposite.
3. What are the losses of Russia in this conflict? The Ministry of Defense reported on the losses many months ago, the authorities with cheerful cynicism repeat the words that “we have not started yet” and “we have a large resource.” Foreign media and internet sites are spreading such frightening figures that they cause deep despondency among the Russian population.
4. Why, during this protracted conflict, has Russia continued to sell oil and gas to the West, which propaganda and the top leaders themselves call the enemy? Why does Russia continue to pay millions of dollars to Ukraine for the transit of gas and oil through its territory? Obviously, these millions go to the Ukrainian budget and turn into bullets and shells that kill Russian servicemen and volunteers. Why, finally, is the command regrouping troops in such a way that it suspiciously resembles a retreat from previously occupied territories?
5. Why did the army find itself in such a state that people even have to buy weapons and equipment themselves? The media reported that about 1 million uniforms were stolen from warehouses and the perpetrators were not found or punished! People take loans to supply their mobilized relatives with the necessary things! The authorities, the prosecutor’s office, the police are silent about this.
6. Why do any attempts to criticize the outrages that are happening cause a sharp repressive reaction? People are fined, imprisoned for “fake news,” the media and Telegram channels are closed. We have no provision for censorship under the constitution; civil liberties, on the contrary, are indeed guaranteed by that document. No martial law has been introduced in the country, and formally we are generally at peace with Ukraine and continue to recognize its government and its borders under the relevant treaty. True, several former Ukrainian regions have been declared part of the Russian Federation, but it seems that we have not canceled international agreements that are incompatible with the current state of affairs.
When will President Putin explain all this, say what is happening, what the government expects from the people, and why it is behaving so incomprehensibly?
———
You know, I can answer each of your questions both by justifying Putin and his government and by proving they are all betrayers and thieves. That’s the funny thing about conceptuality. There will always be multiple interpretations of current events depending on who we are and where we are. The history is written by the winners. I guess all we have left is to adapt to this new reality without wasting our time on investigating it which is hard to do since our minds need a rational explanation which is always based on conceptual. But tell that to my mobilized cousin who’s in coma after being injured. At least the system does everything to save his life and he was transported all the way to Moscow. And even the mayor of the town came to visit him all the way from Vladivostok region. I think each individual has his/her path and what matters is how we overcome all those challenges rather than trying to find who caused those challenges to happen in the first place.
What is important now for the Russians is to remain in unity. Not to give in to suspecting each other despite what initial intentions of Putin were. He’s not the only one who decides in any way. The only problem I see is that people become like sheep. They are easily manipulated and totally disconnected to their inner self. That loss of connection lacks peace of mind and creates more chaos around us.

Posted by: Yuri | Mar 13 2023 23:24 utc | 52

Posted by: HERMIUS | Mar 13 2023 22:37 utc | 42
If true, and it’s a big if, I wonder if they’ll try the SADF’s tactic of disguising the number of troops killed in the 80’s bush wars. Every now and then a transport aircraft would crash, killing all on board, guess who the ‘passengers’ were?
Posted by: Mike R | Mar 13 2023 22:16 utc | 32
You forgot the tactic the Russians perfected in Afghanistan and Chechnya, drop mine dispensing munitions behind the attackers, on their supply routes and ammo dumps. Russia has only used a fraction of it’s weapons, so as to not give NATO too much of a heads up; but given the opportunity to eviscerate the Ukrainian strategic reserve and update their COFM database, vis-Avis Western armour, I think they might break with that policy.
Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 13 2023 21:30 utc | 21
For no better reason than as an exercise in update my cold-war based, knowledge on all things military, I researched the so called over-the-horizon technologies. What fascinated me was the subject of ballistic protection rendering firearms redundant and the idea of drones. I envisaged scenarios where another layer of warfare was created as systems deployed their surveillance and attack drones, but also HK models to take out opposing drones. Apart from developments in electro-optical ADS and trained raptors, there have been no real developments in anti-drone drones, with armies relying on soft-ware updates to existing SAM systems. Still, I agree this SMO, whilst harrowing to watch at times, is a fascinating display in the revolution in warfare.

Posted by: Milites | Mar 13 2023 23:30 utc | 54

Posted by: Yuri | Mar 13 2023 23:24 utc | 52
That’s a long way to say you’re Ukrainian.

Posted by: Passerby | Mar 13 2023 23:33 utc | 56

@Don Bacon | Mar 13 2023 23:15 utc | 50
It is suggested in the article that they (UAF) are hoping to weaken Wagner forces by continuing to engage them in Bakhmut and the Wagners have taken up the challenge. I get the sense that part of the motivation on both sides, aside from overall strategy, is simple patriotic determination. Every time there has been a war, certainly in the past several hundred years, the Russians have come out to fight (I include the majority of ‘normal’ Ukrainians when I say Russians). Most would rather not, but it is their duty as they see it. You can see this characterization in the Wagner film “Best in Hell”. Soldiers (as opposed to Right Sector and Azov crazies) on both sides have expressed respect for the other side. This actually gives me hope that when the war is over that some sort of reconciliation is still possible – perhaps not right away, but over time.
BTW, I object to calling the UAF forces “ukies” and the like as I think it shows lack of respect for their humanity. For a little taste try reading an article linked in the one Don linked to and quoted from:
https://kyivindependent.com/national/brigade-that-spent-2-months-in-bakhmut-it-was-becoming-harder-each-week

Posted by: the pessimist | Mar 13 2023 23:49 utc | 58

LightYearsFromHome | Mar 13 2023 23:25 utc | 53
Thanks for “Why was the USA’s Patriot system’s failure Kiev’s fault?”
Exactly. Exactly the thought I had on reading the post.
And agree with your humour, and the hope celebrity tours of Kiev may be curtailed.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Mar 13 2023 23:56 utc | 60

@ @Richard Steven Hack | Mar 13 2023 21:19 utc | 19
Posted by: the pessimist | Mar 13 2023 23:14 utc | 49
Do the Orthodox have any tradition of political immolation?
Remember how such murderous folly accelerated the downfall of America’s and the Vatican’s hatchet-man in Vietnam, Diem.
Zelenskiy and the Uniates are making the Pope proud.

Posted by: John Kennard | Mar 14 2023 0:07 utc | 62

A petition posted on Zelensky’s website in November 2022 suggested changing Russia’s official name to “Muscovy”. Well then, I propose calling the U$A the “United States of Amnesia”, like Gore Vidal once suggested. Or else “Bolivia” would be an option. Just imagine the headlines: “Bolivia took out Nord Stream 2”, und so weiter.

Posted by: Sektion2B | Mar 14 2023 0:28 utc | 64

As Alexander Mercouris, of the Duran, says on YouTube, the U.S., Britain, and the German military, have repeatedly told Zelensky to pull out of Bakhmut. Zelensky refuses.
So stop all the factless claims about “the Ukrainians are forced to do this by the neocons”.
Furthermore, the Democrats are in control of the White House, they aren’t “neocons”. They are leftists. Which the neocons also are, revealing themselves by supporting Hillary in 2016. The Left hates Russia ever since the “Trump is a Russian agent and Russia hacked the election!” hoax.
But especially because Russia is a conservative country that has banned homosexual propaganda in the schools. “Ultimately this war is about LGBTQ rights!” the Democrats say. Putin has also condemned the flood of “refugees” pouring in over the West, which the socialist parties rely on, since they otherwise wouldn’t have won a single national election since the 1990s. They hate Putin for pointing out that they are killing the West.
And Russia supports the pro-Palestinian Syria and Iran. Which the Zionists who control U.S. media and therefore U.S. politics can never forget. They want Russia destroyed for this.

Posted by: Hegar | Mar 14 2023 0:34 utc | 66

@Hegar | Mar 14 2023 0:34 utc | 67
The ‘neocons’ are not “leftists” and they are party agnostic – lots of Republicans and some Democrats. The “Left” in the US is dead or gone underground. Traditionally the “left” is anti-war and leaning toward socialism or communism as a form of social organization. Today’s Democratic Party is kind of mutant organism, the old guard of which routinely colludes with old guard Republicans to keep the wealth spread properly around amongst the political elite.

Posted by: the pessimist | Mar 14 2023 0:48 utc | 68

As usual, MoA veers towards the two-party system of the hegemon and the childish illusion of democracy.
Show me the way
To the next whiskey bar
Oh don’t ask why
Oh don’t ask why.

Posted by: Sektion2B | Mar 14 2023 0:56 utc | 70

Posted by: Milites | Mar 13 2023 23:30 utc | 54
Thank for your comment, I am not much of an expert and I wanted to see how you would see it.
Military organizations are normally quite conservative, and for good reason. The rate of change of late, both technical and social is going to add a lot of disorder and waste. And the way forward is not clear. To bring order to it will take some time.
I have to give the Russians a lot of credit for innovation, accomplishment. People should wise up.
The things you mention, mech war and drone war and remote war all possible, and hard to predict. Drones have been around a long time, so has robotics, for example. Piloted aircraft have been obsolete for a long time. ATGM seem to be very versatile.
But artillery is still the queen. I know it has been out of fashion for a while. I became acquainted with Ft. Sill for a while back in the 80s.
I suppose there are lots of computer models already.
We may never find out though, I think the Chinese and Russians have better things to do.

Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 14 2023 1:05 utc | 72

Please take finance discussion to the Week In Review Open Thread where I have just added a link to an Ellen Brown piece and quotes from it about derivatives….thanks

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 14 2023 1:32 utc | 74

Follow the mouse-click pretend money. Ze is pushed to the bank burner focus is now on “how to save the banks.”
The Banking Crisis will affect the USD. I repeat,the FED is in a horrendous spot. They blew up the bond market.
Prof. Michael Hudson goes there with the word that shall not be uttered – the elephant in the room.
Why the Banking System Is Breaking Up
LINK

The collapses of Silvergate and Silicon Valley Bank are like icebergs calving off from the Antarctic glacier. The financial analogy to the global warming causing this collapse of supporting shelving is the rising temperature of interest rates, which spiked last Thursday and Friday to close at 4.60 percent for the U.S. Treasury’s two-year bonds. Bank depositors meanwhile were still being paid only 0.2 percent on their deposits. That has led to a steady withdrawal of funds from banks – and a corresponding decline in commercial bank balances with the Federal Reserve.
Most media reports reflect a prayer that the bank runs will be localized, as if there is no context or environmental cause.
There is general embarrassment to explain how the breakup of banks that is now gaining momentum is the result of the way that the Obama Administration bailed out the banks in 2008 with fifteen years of Quantitative Easing to re-inflate prices for packaged bank mortgages – and with them, housing prices, along with stock and bond prices.[.]
There is an even larger elephant in the room: derivatives. Volatility increased last Thursday and Friday. The turmoil has reached vast magnitudes beyond what characterized the 2008 crash of AIG and other speculators. Today, JP Morgan Chase and other New York banks have tens of trillions of dollar valuations of derivatives – casino bets on which way interest rates, bond prices, stock prices and other measures will change.
For every winning guess, there is a loser. When trillions of dollars are bet on, some bank trader is bound to wind up with a loss that can easily wipe out the bank’s entire net equity.[.]
More

Those instruments of financial destruction: Derivatives.
And there are some biggies on the ropes.
Someone needs to monitor the fever levels at Wellsy Fargo. -its loan to deposit ratio is an eye watering 70%/ SVB was 42%.

Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 14 2023 1:47 utc | 76

Why was a terrorist attack by Ukraine inside Russia needed for Russia to attack the war fighting capabilty of the government Russia is at war with.
Why wasn’t the Ukrainian military infrastructure destroyed a long time ago?
BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF, THERE IS NO GOOD ANSWER.

Posted by: Anton Gorbatow | Mar 14 2023 2:02 utc | 78

To Likklemore at 78
Adding to your observations;
One can surmise there is some link between the bank failures and what is going down in the Ukraine. How much money has the U.S. finance cartels tied up in the Ukraine? To think it is all going up in smoke as we speak. After Bakhmut, the entire Ukriaine front will collapse in relatively short time. And then there is China. All China needs to do is dump some bonds onto the U.S. market of which it has plenty, and the whole system crashes. With the U.S. tapped out on debt, it does not take much. I’m sure Putin knew this going into the conflict. He is out to take down more than just the Ukraine, and it looks like he may succeed. Basically, with the U.S. economy being tapped out as it is, Biden in essence went to a gun fight without a fully loaded magazine. Then to top it off he is pissing off the big boy Xi.
All I can say is “dumb, dumb, dumb.

Posted by: Bobby jo | Mar 14 2023 2:16 utc | 80

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 13 2023 23:31 utc | 55
“I’ll add runaway inflation and fixed income isn’t a good mix either.”
Depends on the level of inflation. So far the food increases have crimped me only a little. I’ve still got $1,400 in food stamps which will cover me for the next four months at least not counting new issues. Helps that I’m on a diet for the next few months. 🙂

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 14 2023 2:28 utc | 82

Anton Gorbatow | Mar 14 2023 2:02 utc | 80
There is, just not one you want to hear. See Outraged @ 79 for the answer.

Posted by: David | Mar 14 2023 2:32 utc | 84

My guess is they will force the monks out. The government is a band of Nazis, after all.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 14 2023 2:31 utc | 85

My guess is also that, despite Patriarch Kirill’s pleas, there won’t be a word of protest from the likes of Bergoglio or the Archbishop of Canterbury.
@ Bobby jo | Mar 14 2023 2:16 utc | 82
One almost — almost! — has to pity Dementia Joe. Here he was, obsessed with peeling off Banderastan for NATO (and, not coincidentally, for the family business), but those naughty Republicans keep on deriding him as a ChiCom symp, so he has to go after China too. Heh.

Posted by: malenkov | Mar 14 2023 2:43 utc | 86

⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ #Chronicle of the Special Military Operation for 13 Mar 2023⚡️
🔹#Russia’s Border Areas:
▪️ In the #Bryansk region, Ukrainian terrorist formations struck the village of #Rakovka in Pogarsky district, power supply line and civilian infrastructure were damaged.
➖ In Sevsky district, in the villages of #Grudskaya and #Nekislitsa several residential buildings have been damaged, with no civilian casualties.
▪️ In the #Belgorod region, the enemy terrorists shelled the village of #Terebrino, Krasnoyaruzhsky district, damaging several houses.
➖ Over #Belgorod, Russian air defence systems intercepted four missiles. All targets were shot down, one woman was injured.
🔹#Starobelsk Direction (MAP):
▪️ In the #Kupyansk sector, Russian troops under air cover conduct an offensive towards #Yagodnoye.
➖ The enemy is preparing defensive positions at the Krasnoye Pervoye – #Dvurechnaya line.
▪️ In the #Liman sector near Balka Zhuravka, Russian units repulsed several attacks by Ukrainian paratroopers aimed at regaining positions lost the day before. The enemy, having suffered losses, was forced to withdrew.
🔹#Soledar (#Bakhmut) Direction:
▪️ Northwest of #Bakhmut, Wagner PMC units took several enemy strongholds near #Zaliznyanskoye.
➖ In Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, the AFU is fighting on the western outskirts of the village, trying to slow down the advance of the Russian assault squads.
▪️ In #Bakhmut, the “Wagnerians” are dislodging the enemy from underground communications on the territory of the Artyomovsk Metal Processing Plant (AZOM).
➖ In the southwest of the city, the PMC Wagner is expanding the zone of control in the area of Sobachevka and Budenovka, dislodging the enemy from several strongholds.
🔹#Donetsk Direction:
▪️ The AFU terrorists once again struck civilian infrastructure in #Donetsk and other towns in the republic.
➖ School No.58 was damaged in Kievsky district, there is destruction of housing in #Volnovakha and #Aleksandrovka, at least eight people were wounded, two were killed.
🔹#Zaporozhye Direction:
▪️ The enemy is completing the training of assault teams undergoing active training in Europe and western Ukraine.
➖ With the end of the spring thaw and the arrival of Western equipment, the Ukrainian command plans to launch a full scale offensive from several directions at once.
🔹#Kherson Direction on #SouthFront:
▪️ In #Kherson, a Russian reconnaissance team conducted a series of successful attacks on Ukrainian positions, eliminating AFU militants.
➖ A curfew was imposed in the city in an attempt to find saboteurs.
▪️ In Nova Kakhovka, an improvised explosive device was detonated in the area of the Tasty Ukraine canteen. Presumably, the target of the attack was the deputy of the Novaya Kakhovka military regional administration. The incident resulted in no casualties.

https://t.me/sitreports/5767

Posted by: Down South | Mar 14 2023 3:14 utc | 88

⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦💀 Military Expert Boris Rozhin on the Situation in the #Artyomovsk (#Bakhmut) Sector on the Evening of 13 March 2023⚡️
🔹 North:
➖ The Wagner PMC continues fighting in the direction of #Khromovo and #Bogdanovka. Both settlements are held by the AFU.
➖ There is also fighting near #Zaliznyanskoye and Orekhovo-Vasilyevka. There is no confirmation of the capture of these settlements at the moment, but there will be movement in the coming days.
➖ The enemy strengthens the direction to #Ray – #Aleksandrovka.
📌 Fire control of the road through #Khromovo is also maintained. The cost of its use is increasing. The same applies to the fields between #Khromovo and #Krasnoye.
🔹South:
➖ Fighting continues near #Krasnoye, which is held by the AFU. Our troops retain fire control over the road through #Krasnoye. The enemy’s attempts to push back the Wagner PMC from the road are not yet successful.
📌 One can expect attempts by the AFU to counterattack in the direction of #Kleshchiyevka, including with the use of reserves from Chasov Yar and #Konstantinovka.
🔹City:
➖ The assault on the industrial zone of the AZOM plant continues. The enemy confirms the advancement of the Wagner PMC assault squads.
➖ There is an advance towards the centre of the city from the Zabakhmutka area, where mopping-up activities are still ongoing.
➖ The fighting is gradually shifting to the western part of the city, where the enemy expects to continue its defence.
📌 There are currently no signs of the collapse of organised resistance, although the number of deserters and defectors continues to increase in some of the AFU Brigades.

https://t.me/sitreports/5764

Posted by: Down South | Mar 14 2023 3:17 utc | 90

The monks of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC MP) will not comply with the order to leave the monastery at the request of the museum-reserve, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.
Such a position was voiced by the vicar of the Holy Assumption Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Paul: 
“We do not intend to be evicted and will not be, because now there are laws that are on the side of the person.” It is not the 17th year that we are threatened with “we will be dealt with.” Today there is a world community. There is some culture.
He stressed that the monks of the UOC are citizens of Ukraine and do not violate any laws.
“We are not collaborators; we are citizens of our country; we are people who have lived here since 1988; many have no other place but here.”
The problem is that power in Kiev is now in the hands of NATO occupiers and Nazi bastards, so we are left to pray to Our Lord that there will be no casualties among His servants who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the True Faith.

https://t.me/Slavyangrad/37142

Posted by: Down South | Mar 14 2023 3:39 utc | 92

[.]
Biden in essence went to a gun fight without a fully loaded magazine. Then to top it off he is pissing off the big boy Xi.
All I can say is “dumb, dumb, dumb.
@ Bobby Jo Post 82
China has been unloading USTs. What is little known on main street; the bond market, larger than the stock market, has been imploding.
Biden promised to weaken and defeat Russia now finds himself in a banking crisis with no friends capable of helping out. This banking debacle requires trillions as the insured and uninsured depositors are covered.
Bears repeating there are only two options: Save the banks or Save the dollar.

Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 14 2023 3:56 utc | 94

” RF has deliberately from day 0 used majority consumable/expendable second rate arms, materiel & units by choice.
Posted by: Outraged | Mar 14 2023 1:59 utc | 79 ”
Do tell, which Russians are ” expandable ” , their mothers, daughters, and wives want to know ?

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Mar 14 2023 4:30 utc | 96

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Mar 14 2023 4:30 utc | 98
Do tell, which Russians are ” expandable ” , their mothers, daughters, and wives want to know ?
It doesn’t make any difference. They’re at war. There’s nothing “nice” about it. It’s about winning.
Your question would be better addressed to Zelensky.

Posted by: PalmaSailor | Mar 14 2023 5:18 utc | 98

Posted by: Down South | Mar 14 2023 3:39 utc | 94
———-
Just a global “Thank You” for the content you bring to here on a daily basis. I find Telegram cumbersome to navigate, and your regular updates (along with various battle maps) are helping me to understand the OOB and what is transpiring, where.
As a bonus, I think I could pass a Ukraine geography test lol. Well, at least in the Donbass region.

Posted by: Drake Schroeder | Mar 14 2023 5:29 utc | 100