“… the enemy is too close to our borders …”
Posted by: Down South | Oct 15 2023 14:33 utc | 20
It is too close to pre-SMO populations, was too close to Kakhovka HPP and remains too close to ZNPP (the dam upstream of ZNPP is supposedly now mined with demolition charges, what effect its destruction would have downstream and on ZNPP itself I am unable to ascertain).

Posted by: anon2020 | Oct 16 2023 7:31 utc | 303

Anyone care to comment?
https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2023/0404/1374162-clinton-ukraine/

Posted by: jpc | Oct 16 2023 8:14 utc | 305

155 pentagon came out a few weeks ago to say the spy ballons weren’t spy balloons after all . Couldn’t transmit sensitive data that was alleged. They just didn’t say it was a weather balloon that collected atmospheric data only.

Posted by: Hankster | Oct 16 2023 8:32 utc | 307

‘Oh dear that slag heap is as hard and inaccessible as the highest mountain, deadlier than a volcano , our mobilised Red Army can’t seem to take it – if only the pesky Ukrops would stop reinforcing it we’d have some chance,‘
Munch , munch , munch. ‘Feed me Seymour’ (not Hersh ) screams the Mincing Machine monster.
Ps I know there is a separate Israel thread (;-) but how many Israeli natzios have been killed in their Ukrops battlefield?
Is it perhaps about a thousand now?
About the same as the announced casualties by the Hamas ‘surprise attack’ Hmm?
The off-ramp beckons , not just out of the Black Sea, but out of the Red Sea too , and probably from the Eastern Mediterranean .. if Erdo can stop being Humpty Dumpty. It will mean a total withdrawal to some hidey hole across the ocean, just as foretold in their opus, lord of the trolls. Not orderly, but like a snapped tendon!
All geopolitics are connected as they have been for …ever. The ukraine is just a marginal newer battle space ,a few centuries compared to the Levant, 20 + centuries.
Now the oldest of civilisations get to sway the trajectory of humanity again.
I’m sure it must be written in some ancient prophecies or calendars.
Yesterday in London many Muslims celebrated the prophets birthday on the streets. I thought it was Palestine related, like the day before. Hundred thousand at least. Yesterday was also a Hindu holy day – quite a melange eh? What of the judeochristians in our community – ah look we are so looking forward to something that 30 years ago was never celebrated here – Halloween! It started as some children collecting sweets and now has grown into bachavallian orgy of adults dressing up and partying spending hundreds! Dumb and dumber – almost all have no idea or interest in why such calendar dates exist and what they are actually celebrating.
The day of the dead. All hallows – not a Protestant date but hey who cares?
Trick or Treat?

Posted by: DunGroanin | Oct 16 2023 8:32 utc | 309

@96
In 1825–26 the Bank of England was able to avert a liquidity crisis when Nathan Mayer Rothschild succeeded in supplying it with gold.[30]

Posted by: canuck | Oct 16 2023 8:41 utc | 311

Posted by: canuck | Oct 15 2023 20:59 utc | 94
James II was the VII of Scotland.
John Churchill, Earl of Marlborough, became Duke of Marlborough in 1702, whether he invested in the Bank when it was founded I’m unsure.
Posted by: bevin | Oct 15 2023 23:58 utc | 130
Thanks for the correction-yes, Marlborough was indeed one of the investors in the 1694 loan to William III and Mary-Winston Churchill was descendent of the Duke, he wrote a 2 volume biography of the man which I highly recommend.

Posted by: canuck | Oct 16 2023 8:54 utc | 313

Posted by: unimperator | Oct 16 2023 6:38 utc | 154
Excellent summary, thanks for posting. That topographical map, with the overlay of the relative positions reminds me Dien Bien Phu. Elevated terrain also allows for covered ingress and egress routes for strike aviation, allowing for more effective attack profiles (pop ups, lofting etc) and spotters calling in indirect fire, using optics, GSR and drones.
Posted by: unimperator | Oct 16 2023 6:48 utc | 157
Algorithmic enhancements to ISR platforms, as well as the usual full-spectrum surveillance packages they carry, will make those difficult to conceal, especially if they are dispersed city wide. The Ukrainians must also be watching the increasingly deteriorating situation on the Southern front with concern, as they strip it to reinforce Avdivka.

Posted by: Milites | Oct 16 2023 9:49 utc | 315

@ DunGroanin | Oct 16 2023 8:32 utc | 161
You don’t want to try to dig into slag with a shovel.

Posted by: John Kennard | Oct 16 2023 9:56 utc | 317

There seems to be something of a dearth of Cyrillic orthography in Wikipedia’s Ukrainian articles.

Posted by: John Kennard | Oct 16 2023 10:07 utc | 319

A basic outline of a Plan to save Central Europe
In terms of the future of the European Union and Central Europe (Which seems to have more sane politicians than anywhere else in the EU – led by the great Viktor Orban).
How about a ‘Central European Federation‘
The ‘Central European Federation‘ would draw a historic alignment of countries together once more.
Central European Federation (CEF) – By Population
Czechia (10.5 million)
Hungary (10.2 million)
Austria (9.0 million)
Slovakia (5.8 million)
Slovenia (2.1 million)
TOTAL POPULATION: 37.6 million
(Behind Germany, France, Italy, Spain & Poland – 6th in EU)
Central European Federation (CEF) – By GDP (USD)
Austria ($471 Billion)
Czechia ($291 Billion)
Hungary ($179 Billion)
Slovakia ($115 Billion)
Slovenia ($62 Billion)
TOTAL GDP: $1.2 Trillion
(Behind Germany, France, Italy & Spain – 5th in EU) – just behind Spain.
What are Orban, Fico et al waiting for?
The European Union Elections in 2024 – a last hope to right the ship of state for Europe.
What would (or could) the CEF do?
They could withdraw immediately from NATO but stay within the EU with 5 solid votes able to block any reform (such as on immigration) that they don’t like.
These countries (those that are within the Euro) – could withdraw from the Euro and either use their own currencies or use a “Central European Forint? Schilling? (Whatever they want to call it).
Why couldn’t this happen?
Given the direction the EU is heading in a Central European Federation (CEF) that combines the historic territories of Austria-Hungary – a strengthened entity in Central Europe could halt crazy immigration policies, halt the antagonism towards Russia and set a new course – which will of course influence the overall course of the EU.
5 Votes in the EU would be a powerful block to defend the interests of Central European countries.
Perhaps not all of these coutnries would join the CEF immediately, but the invitation would be there.
Slovenia would provide the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea and Hungary & Slovakia would provide a gateway to Russia at the other end – assuming Russia can continue to the borders of Transcarpathia (which may join CEF with parts in Hungary & Slovakia).
The remnant Ukraine around Lviv could indeed join Poland as well – who would also be a natural ally of CEF in promoting peace and security in Central Europe – rather than following the insance warmongering policies of the US/UK which are destroying Europe.
As the European Elections loom in 2024 (and Austrian elections as well) – the CEF would be a key brake on the headlong rush towards the destruction of the EU.
What do people think?
I’d be very interested to know what people think of such a possibilty as the EU sets it’s course for it’s own destruction and disintegration.
Orban & Fico & (A new Austrian chancellor) could provide some sanity in Central Europe.
This might be a big story in 2024-2025.
What is Orban’s vision for Central Europe going forward?

Posted by: Julian | Oct 16 2023 11:02 utc | 321

zorge | 58

Russia has to reinvent herself again, as Russian elites still hope they would be accepted in the “european family of nations”.

What is the basis for this theme of hope for acceptance? Why is it so often repeated? They don’t want to be “european” or “western”. They want to be “universal”. Why Europeans and Westerners in general do not want to reinvent themselves, do not strive to overcome their provincialism is another and more curious question.

Posted by: Nomad | Oct 16 2023 11:08 utc | 323

I have thought recently about the useless garbage we find in the MoD press releases, on telegram or youtube channels regarding this Slo-MO. Without much ado, my best of :
—
“We are gradually advancing in direction of …” Ah yes. The Russian army has been “gradually advancing” for a year and a half. Funnily enough, when looking at a map the reader is usually unable to see any advancement.
“Our troops are destroying the Ukrainians in the vicinity of …”. I have long puzzled about this term. I don’t know why it was chosen. It conveys some kind of impression that the Russians are superhuman terminators just pulverising away hapless Ukrainian conscripts. in reality, same as above : after one and a half year of “destroying”, Ukies are still solidly entrenched in Maryinka, Kurakhovo, Avdeevka, Ugledar… With no sign of going away anytime soon.
“The town of [X] is now in an operational cauldron”. Good old operational cauldron. The term that every self-styled military expert has to get out once in a while to establish his street cred. In reality I can think of one operational cauldron since the beginning of the conflict : in Mariupol (albeit with an asterisk, as until late in the game the ukies were able to replenish it by sea).
Everywhere else the promised “operational cauldrons” failed to materialize. There was no single instance of a mass capture of Ukrainian troops, in Severodonetsk, Lisichansk, everywhere else : we got at the beginning bombastic promises, then the Russian army was unable to close the cauldron, the Ukies resist till the end, and then hightail out of dodge, leaving only smoldering ruins to the Russian troops. But wait ! We come to the next trope !
“Well you know, the Russians COULD setup an operational cauldron, but they prefer to leave one road open to turn it into a meat grinder !” What a brilliant plan. So let’s be clear : instead of closing a cauldron, capturing thousands of troops and a pristine town, and advancing the front line, the Russian command, for some reason, prefers to spend thousands of shell and have said town flattened, just so that they perform a mass killings of Ukrainians which, if memory serves, are supposed to be slavic brothers brainwashed by the Ze gang ? Wouldn’t it be better to capture them and then retrain or hire them as the Russians did during WWII with the free german army, or the Germans with the Vlasov army ?
“The Russians are not looking to conquer terrain, but to grind the enemy down” : non-committal tripe. And then the same people who obediently recite this suddenly wet themselves in excitement when Russians signal the intention to move forward in Kupyansk or Avdiivka. Then we hear breathless predictions that the Russians will “capture Avdiivka” or “encircle Kupyanks and go up to the Oskol river” (where they were a year ago, but I digress. What’s the point ? If you were coherent, you wouldn’t care less if the Russians are at the Oskol, in Kharkov, or in Lugansk, as long as they are grinding the Ukies down amirite ?
“The Ukrainians are using their last reserves !” Used liberally, since around March 2022. Usually declared authoritatively by a youtuber or an anonymous guy in the Internet, without bothering to give any sources of course. Then when the Russian forces are stuck, we read in Slavyangrad that the Ukrainians have moved their reserves in Avdeedvka, Kupyansk, Kherson… Proving apparently that they have a lot of them and are able to move them across all of Ukraine swiftly
“The Ukrainians are out of ammo !” Yeah sure. And then we see video after video of Russian armor getting blown up by pinpoint strikes in Avdeevka (which by the way means that the Ukrainians are moving trainloads of ammo up to the easternmost corners of Ukraine without having to fear russian aviation.
“The Russians are going slowly and methodically”. Of course. it’s always better to have a protracted, costly war, than to crush your enemies swiftly, especially is said enemy is supposed to be your next of kin and Slavic brother.

Posted by: Micron | Oct 16 2023 11:27 utc | 325

One should not forget that there are still a lot of ethnic russians in those areas where the ruaf is advancing slowly and methodically.
Think of it as a big hostage situation. Ukraine/nato does not care about those civilians, but the russians are not going to simply kill them all as collateral damage, as our western value genocidal bastards always say and do.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Oct 16 2023 11:38 utc | 327

I can see, faintly, all but Austria joining the CIS.
You’ll pry Austria out of the Empire’s–and Germany’s!–“cold dead hands.”

Posted by: John Kennard | Oct 16 2023 11:42 utc | 329

@ Julian | Oct 16 2023 11:02 utc | 167
My last comment was in response to the above.

Posted by: John Kennard | Oct 16 2023 11:45 utc | 331

@ Julian, §167:
Herbert Kickl, FPÖ, looks set to become the new Austrian chancellor and supporter of ÖXIT (Austria out of the EU). He´s also opposed Austrian accession to NATO because its 1955 State Treaty binds it to neutrality.
So Austria & Hungary are definite candidates for your CEF.
Czecho currently suffers under a NATO clone, Petr Pavel, but his pro-EU, pro-NATO policies are increasingly unpopular and Czecho will likely follow Slovakia as keen candidates of a CEF.
Slovenia and possibly Croatia, as the Catholic parts of Yugoslavia, might also happily join since neither wants to be drowned in Muslims, like Italy & Greece.
One thing none of them will support is a “federation” like the EU or the German Bundesrepublik. It must be decentralized, like Switzerland ( “confederation”) at least, with ultimate political authority remaining in the respective capitals, viz. Vienna, Budapest, Prag, etc.).
So “Central European Federation” is definitely the wrong name. “Alliance” or something similar may be better.

Posted by: John Marks | Oct 16 2023 11:49 utc | 333

Posted by: unimperator | Oct 16 2023 6:38 utc | 154
Thanks. Your precision and clarity are much appreciated.

Posted by: Robert E.Smith | Oct 16 2023 11:49 utc | 335

167.. interesting.. any views on current value-ststus etc of Visegrad 4…I had thought were severe differences especially Poland v Hungary.. hmmm is resolution needed and or recognition that they do have lots in common now?
And what about relations V4 -EU.. Council of Europe.. PACE etc? EU seems to have clear interests concerns what is called “Western Balkans” ie infiltate subjugate control….how would that work in relation to your proposal.. be nullified.. ????

Posted by: Jo | Oct 16 2023 11:55 utc | 337

@ John Marks | Oct 16 2023 11:49 utc | 173
Your word to Karl von Habsburg’s ear, I guess.

Posted by: malenkov | Oct 16 2023 11:56 utc | 339

Re: Re: Posted by: John Marks | Oct 16 2023 11:49 utc | 173

So “Central European Federation” is definitely the wrong name. “Alliance” or something similar may be better.

Yes – maybe Federation is not the right word – but “CEF” does surely sound better than “CEC” – although that is of course the English term – but then again – given English effectively operates as the “lingua franca” of Europe using English to describe a close-knit grouping of Central European countries might nevertheless be the way to go – which solves the issue of which language five countries with their own national language.
In this envisaged arrangement – the five (or more?) countries would absolutely retain their national sovereignty – the point would be to find some way to tie them together to strengthen them all.
I am aware Austria is not a member of NATO – and perhaps these countries could all withdraw from NATO at the same time and sign a common defence pact to tie them together.
These are small countries – if they acted together with a population of 40 million odd they would strengthen their hand immeasurably and wouldn’t be so easily pushed around and manipulated.
2024-25 are set to be important years.
Acting together in concert these countries would also have more freedom to pursue better relations with the BRICS Russia, China, India, Iran et al.

Posted by: Julian | Oct 16 2023 11:59 utc | 341

Avdeevka… lots underground. needs power for ventilation.. light etc Cut the power block fuel supply.. inhabitants no light nor oxygen after a while could cause a hysterical state unable to fight and later …a long sleep .Block all natural ventilation must be plans somewhere.
Too simplistic?

Posted by: Jo | Oct 16 2023 12:00 utc | 343

RE: “Sounds like you want to create a transhuman drone soldiers.”
Posted by: Jerr | Oct 16 2023 4:54 utc | 147
Not sure how you surmised that from my post.
That was quite a stretch.

Posted by: Trubind1 | Oct 16 2023 12:02 utc | 345

Anyone care to comment?
https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2023/0404/1374162-clinton-ukraine/
Posted by: jpc | Oct 16 2023 8:14 utc | 159

I have seen a lot of comments/claims that Ukraine would have been unable to use the nuclear weapons because the “codes” needed to do so were known only by Russia.

Posted by: Simon | Oct 16 2023 12:03 utc | 347

The Visegrad 4 can never work in such a way because Poland is too much larger than the other countries and also suffers from rabid Russophobia of its political class allied with extreme and excessive delusions of grandeur.
Poland would no doubt like to gobble up parts of Western Ukraine, Lithuania – and least likely but perhaps most problematic – probably the Western half of Belarus.

Posted by: Julian | Oct 16 2023 12:04 utc | 349

And most people in Ukraine hate Russians.
Posted by: unimperator | Oct 15 2023 21:38 utc | 105
I am curious why you claim that. Most people over the years voted for pro Russian presidents. Color revolution in 2004 eventually failed because Yanukovitch was voted in again. A majority of Ukrainians spoke Russian. Even now I read about a poll claiming that only 15% of kids in schools in Kiev speak Ukrainian between themselves.
Yes, the UAF have performed remarkably despite forced conscription, avoidance of conscription etc but is it because most Ukrainians hate Russia?

Posted by: RB | Oct 16 2023 12:22 utc | 351

Posted by: John Marks | Oct 16 2023 11:49 utc | 173
Not shure where you are from or from where you derive data for your statement.
Italy is not drowned by muslims.
Foreigners in Italy are about 8% of the population, 50% are from other European countries and the remaining are not all Muslims.

Posted by: Mario | Oct 16 2023 12:23 utc | 353

Russian MOD report on yesterday’s action via it’s telegram channel…
https://t.me/mod_russia_en/10320
MoD Russia, [10/16/23 3:30 AM]
Report by Press Centre Chief of Tsentr Group of Forces
(https://t.me/mod_russia/31515)▫️ In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled an attack launched by an assault detachment of the 12th Azov Special Operations Forces Brigade near the Serebryansky forestry and two attacks of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Chervonaya Dibrova.
▫️ Up to 13 servicemen, one armoured fighting vehicle, and one pick-up truck were neutralised; 17 AFU servicemen were wounded.
▫️ Russian artilllery, ground-attack aircraft, and helicopters inflicted fire damage on three assault groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Torsky Salient and the Serebryansky forestry.
▫️ Up to 25 artillery positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were uncovered and overwhelmed during counter-battery warfare.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry (https://t.me/mod_russia_en)
MoD Russia, [10/16/23 4:02 AM]
Russia’s Su-30SM fighter jet destroys AFU aircraft in South Donetsk direction
▫️ Highly manoeuvrable multifunctional fighter jets carry out combat missions on a daily basis, patrolling certain areas of the special military operation zone, as well as providing cover for helicopters, bombers, and ground-attack aircraft during strikes on military facilities and hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
▫️ During one of the sorties, a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet timely detected and downed an AFU aircraft.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry (https://t.me/mod_russia_en)
MoD Russia, [10/16/23 4:25 AM]
AFU’s Krab self-propelled artillery system wiped out by Krasnopol high-precision artillery ammunition
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry (https://t.me/mod_russia_en)
MoD Russia, [10/16/23 4:45 AM]
Report by Press Centre Chief of Vostok Group of Forces
(https://t.me/mod_russia/31517)▫️ In South Donetsk direction, the advance units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled an attack of infantry units of the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Staromayorskoye. Up to five Ukrainian servicemen were eliminated, two militants surrendered.
▫️ Six attempts to rotate AFU personnel have been foiled close to Novomikhailovka, Urozhaynoye, Makarovka, and Staromayorskoye.
▫️ Heavy flamethrowers engaged manpower of the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Staromayorskoye and Urozhaynoye.
▫️ In counter-battery warfare, four mortar crews were eliminated.
▫️ Air strikes and artillery fire defeated assembly areas of manpower and hardware of the 79th Air Assault, 72nd Mechanised Brigades, and 127th Territorial Defence Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces close to Novomikhailovka, Vodyanoye, Ugledar, and Priyutnoye.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry (https://t.me/mod_russia_en)
MoD Russia, [10/16/23 6:59 AM]
Report by Press Centre Chief of Yug Group of Forces
(https://t.me/mod_russia/31519)▫️ In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled an attack of the 2th Battalion of the 56th Mechanised Brigade (AFU) near Orekhovo-Vasileyvka.
▫️ The Russian forces also repelled an attack launched by the 112th Territorial Defence Brigade and two attacks of the 5th Assault Brigade close to Kleshcheyevka.
▫️ Units of the 1st Army Corps repelled an attack launched by an assault group of the AFU 127th Territorial Defence Brigade.
▫️ Russian artillery inflicted fire damage on a stronghold of the enemy close to Vyemka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
▫️ In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops eliminated one 152-mm D-20 gun near Dyleyevka, Akatsiya and Msta-B self-propelled artillery systems close to Karlovka and Galitsynovka, as well as D-30 and 2A65 howitzers near Zhelannoye and Tonenkoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry (https://t.me/mod_russia_en)
MoD Russia, [10/16/23 7:05 AM]
⚡️ Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation
(16 October 2023)
Part I (see Part II (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/10322))
▫️ The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
▫️ In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled 10 attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 68th Jaeger, 32nd, 44th and 115th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Novoyegorovka, (Kharkov region), and Makeyevka (Lugansk People’s Republic).
In addition, Russian forces delivered strikes on manpower and hardware of AFU 112th territorial defence, 14th mechanised, 95th air assault brigades near Petropavlovka, Kupyansk, and Petrovskoye (Kharkov region).
Up to 85 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, one D-20 gun, and two 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems have been eliminated in this direction during the day.
▫️ In Krasny Liman direction, two attacks launched by assault detachments of the 67th Mechanised Brigade and the 12th Special Forces Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People’s Republic) and Serebryansky forestry were repelled by coordinated efforts of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopter strikes, and artillery fire.
In addition, AFU manpower and hardware have been hit close to Torskoye, Serebryanka, and Grigorovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 65 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, one pickup truck, as well as two D-30 howitzers.
▫️ In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled 10 attacks of AFU assault detachments near Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka, and Mariynka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Ground-attack aircraft launched strikes at manpower and hardware of the AFU 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, 53rd, 93rd, and 110th mechanised brigades close to Belogorovka, Kurdyumovka, Belaya Gora, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The enemy’s casualties were up to 460 Ukrainian personnel killed and wounded, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, and 12 motor vehicles.
In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit two U.S.-made M777 artillery systems, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, two D-20 howitzers, and one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer.
In addition, an ammunition depot of the 54th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU was destroyed near Slavyansk (Donetsk People’s Republic).
▫️ In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th ad 72nd mechanised, and 128th Territorial Defence brigades near Novomikhailovka, Ugledar, and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).
During the day, the enemy’s losses in this direction have amounted to over 70 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one Giatsint-B howitzer, and one Msta-B howitzer.
Two ammunition depots have been annihilated close to Zelenyi Gai and Alekseyevka (Zaporozhye region).
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry (https://t.me/mod_russia_en)
MoD Russia, [10/16/23 7:08 AM]
⚡️ Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation
(16 October 2023)
Part II (see Part I (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/10321))
▫️ In Zaporozhye direction, one AFU attack close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region) was repelled by actions of the Russian Group of Forces, air strikes and artillery fire.
In addition, AFU manpower and hardware have been hit close to Malaya Tokmachka and Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region).
The enemy losses were up to 55 servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks.
In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, and one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer.
◽️ In Kherson direction, up to 65 Ukrainian troops, 12 motor vehicles, one D-30 howitzer, as well as an electronic warfare radar.
Two AFU ammunition depots were wiped out close to Nikolskoye and Kherson (Kherson region).
One AFU sabotage and reconnaissance group was disabled close on Korabelka Island.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 119 areas during the day.
One P-18 air target detection and tracking radar station was destroyed near Sergeyevka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Missile-artillery armament depots and aviation fuel storage facilities were hit close to Khmelnitsky and on the airfield of Starokonstantinov (Khmelnitsky region). One communication centre was destroyed on the Mirgorod airfield (Poltava region).
Russian air defence means have shot down two Su-25 airplanes and MiG-29 of Ukrainian Air Force near Arkhangelskoye (Kherson region), Dmitrovka and Zvonetskoye (Dnepropetrovsk region). In addition, two HIMARS MLRS projectiles have been intercepted.
Moreover, 31 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down near Berestovoye, Belogorovka, Vasilevka, Yelenovka (Donetsk People’s Republic), Kamenskoye, Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), and Aleshki and Krynki (Kherson region).
📊 In total, 491 airplanes and 250 helicopters, 7,919 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,673 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,163 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,788 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,356 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry (“>https://t.me/mod_russia_en)
The war continues….
Meanwhile…..
The Ukies have told their citizens to prepare their 10 year old boys for combat…
Pretty much the same as the last days of the third reich..
INDY

Posted by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Oct 16 2023 12:36 utc | 355

@Posted by: Julian | Oct 16 2023 11:02 utc
You should learn more about Intermarium (Wikipedia)

Intermarium (Polish: Międzymorze, Polish pronunciation: [mʲɛnd͡zɨˈmɔʐɛ]) was a post-World War I geopolitical plan conceived by Józef Piłsudski to unite former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth lands within a single polity. The plan went through several iterations, some of which anticipated the inclusion as well of other, neighboring states. The proposed multinational polity would have incorporated territories lying between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas, hence the name Intermarium (Latin for “Between-Seas”).
….
The proposed federation was meant to emulate the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, that, from the end of the 16th century to the end of the 18th, had united the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Intermarium complemented Piłsudski’s other geopolitical vision, Prometheism, whose goal was the dismemberment of the Russian Empire and that Empire’s divestment of its territorial acquisitions.

Today this Polish imperialistic zombie is reinvigorated as the Eastern Partnership, the Visegrád Group, and later the Three Seas Initiative.
More here: Intermarium (region) (Wikipedia)
NATO likes it. ‘Nuff said.

Posted by: scanalyse | Oct 16 2023 12:37 utc | 357

Slavyangrad telegram channel reports….
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/68770
Slavyangrad, [10/16/23 5:48 AM]
Kupyansk and Svatovo-Kremennaya Directions
Approximately 20 minutes ago, our tactical aviation conducted operations with FAB-500 bombs in the Kupyansk district. The operations of our army in these directions are ongoing, with a gradual advance.
In the Svatovo-Kremennaya direction, toward Borovaya, we are advancing in the vicinity of the Makeyevka and Novoselovskoye settlements. In the Kupyansk direction, we are making progress in the areas of settlements such as Sinkovka, Petropavlovka, Ivanovskoye, and Kotlyarovka.
Work, brothers!
#source (https://t.me/rezervsvo/33472)
@Slavyangrad
Slavyangrad, [10/16/23 5:51 AM]
It looks like a real counter-offensive is about to begin… on the EU borders
The AFU have called on all persons liable for military service to report to military enlistment centres to update their data.
All persons liable for military service in Ukraine should come to territorial recruitment centres to update their data. This was announced by the head of the press service of the AFU Ground forces Volodymyr Fityo on the air of the telethon.
“To be ready to perform their constitutional duty, you need to arrive at the tercentre of acquisition and update your credentials,” – said Fityo.
It is not only men between the ages of 18 and 60 who need to report to the military recruitment centres, but also female military personnel, such as doctors and pharmacists.
#source (https://t.me/drugoeeto/12750)
@Slavyangrad
Slavyangrad, [10/16/23 6:13 AM]
Avdeevka Direction:
On the northern flank, we have some positive news. Today, our troops successfully breached several enemy fortifications and advanced by a kilometer. However, there are some Telegram channels spreading misinformation, claiming that our offensive has failed. I urge you to disregard such false reports!
Our troops continue to make progress. There is a carefully planned operation to encircle the Avdeevka group of enemy forces. This is a complex task and will not be completed in just a few days. Our soldiers are steadily advancing and capturing enemy fortifications while also repelling enemy counterattacks.
The work is still in progress!
#source (https://t.me/rezervsvo/33474)
@Slavyangrad
In summary… The Ukies are scraping the bottom of their manpower barrel….
The Russians are pressing them on multiple fronts of which Avdiivka is most important to stop the shelling of Donetsk…
INDY

Posted by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Oct 16 2023 12:41 utc | 359

Events in Palestine appear to have completely knocked Ukraine off the front pages. Zelensky and his supporters must be super bummed. I do worry that they might be drumming up some kind of super provocation or incident to get back in the news.

Posted by: Gigo | Oct 16 2023 12:47 utc | 361

▪️At least 8 Ukrainian mercenaries were shot dead in Sudan
According to local media, they quarreled with the local military at the Wadi Seidna base in Khartoum after expressing support for Israel with their strikes on the Gaza Strip.
The conflict escalated into a shootout. In addition to Ukrainians, 10 Sudanese were killed.

https://twitter.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1713889733451870424

Posted by: unimperator | Oct 16 2023 12:59 utc | 363

@English Outsider | Oct 15 2023 15:02 utc | 25

“I no longer believe, as I did last year, that that February marked a decisive turning point in the fortunes of the West. The West was in decline long before. All the Ukrainian conflict has done is accelerate that decline, make it less easy to adjust to.
.
.
As I watched the proxy war fever sweep over Europe last year – the fever’s still there though now abating fast – that was the most troubling question. What sort of people are we, the peoples of the West, that could be led so willingly into so transparently evil a venture as this?”

Correct, all you need to know about the peoples of the West is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP2tUW0HDHA

Posted by: gT | Oct 16 2023 13:05 utc | 365

Zelensky just got the bad news that he is not invited to Israel to “stand with Bibi.” Per Russia Today.
It’s close to cancellation time for the big-Z show.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Oct 16 2023 13:15 utc | 367

What IS going on at Avdeevka?
The ‘Ukraine is always winning’ press (aka our MSM) is regaling us with great stories of Ukraine ambushing and destroying the first Russian attack. TTG on Col Lang’s old website is saying the same thing, TTG may not always be correct but I consider him an honest person.
Was Russia’s first armored attack met with great losses due to drone targeted artillery and minefields?

Posted by: Christian J Chuba | Oct 16 2023 13:24 utc | 369

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Oct 15 2023 22:25 utc | 114
thanks! i’ll look forward to it.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Oct 16 2023 13:41 utc | 371

DunGroanin@161…. expropriated from the Christian Callander, typically in the UK, it was celebrated on Nov 5th, Guy Fawkes Day.
Guy’d be like residential schools in Canada……forgotten parts of history.
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Oct 16 2023 13:50 utc | 373

Results of the SMO week: a serious chance for the Avdeevka Cauldron
Even against the backdrop of events in the Middle East, the Western media heard that something remarkable was happening in the Avdeevka area. The position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Avdeevka is described as “a strategic pocket surrounded on three sides by enemy positions.”
The Russian Armed Forces were able to advance from Sladkoe, in the area of Novomikhailovka and Novokalinov, battles are underway near Pervomaisky and Severny.
According to Western sources, who are not inclined to compliment the RF Armed Forces, we are leading by at least points. The pro-Ukrainian OSINT technical estimated Russian losses at 15 tanks, 33 infantry fighting vehicles and a number of artillery pieces in the first 48 hours of fighting. Ukrainian losses exceed 50 tanks and 100 armored vehicles.
That is, the Russian Armed Forces lost three times less in the offensive than the defending Armed Forces of Ukraine. The key line of defense remains the 200-meter dump of the Avdeevsky coke plant and the enterprise itself.
By all indications, the experience of Artyomovsk-Bakhmut was taken into account, and the Russian Armed Forces are trying to encircle Avdeevka, avoiding a frontal assault.
Regardless of how quickly Avdeevka is taken, the very fact of fighting for it has a serious impact on the Zaporozhye Front. The Armed Forces of Ukraine will have to transfer troops to strengthen the fortified area, which means that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will completely lose any chance of breaking through to Rabotino.
What happens next depends on whether the Ukrainian Armed Forces have reserves, whether they can transfer them – and, just as important, what are the prospects for further supplies from the West.
If, despite the need to take care of Israel and the increasingly tangible effects of domestic American politics, the supply of the Ukrainian Armed Forces does not change, then the most reasonable thing the Ukrainian Armed Forces could do is to go on the defensive. However, it takes time to prepare a defense, and the enemies, according to known data, are not particularly concerned about defense. Judging by the entire previous campaign, the Kiev regime prefers to build a defense based on populated areas – rather than a specially built line.
If the supply of ammunition and other resources to the Ukrainian Armed Forces stops altogether (which is unlikely) or becomes smaller (which is likely), then there will be no alternatives to defense based on settlements for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Then, depending on resources, the Kiev regime could either try to accumulate enough strength to try a new round by the summer of 2024.
Apparently, the Russian command does not plan to give Kiev a free reprieve. The Russian Armed Forces have increased pressure along the entire front line – and Kiev has to take into account at least four resource-intensive areas. This is Kupyansk, where the Russian Armed Forces are gradually moving forward, now Avdeevka, the famous Rabotino, and Kherson. Where the Ukros continue their sluggish attempts to infiltrate to our shore, we stop these attempts and seem to even be preparing for our own raid “to the other shore.”
One of these directions (or several) may turn out to be the vector of the future offensive of the Russian Armed Forces. The coming winter may bring the front line out of stagnation.

https://t.me/sitreports/16503

Posted by: Down South | Oct 16 2023 13:53 utc | 375

Gotta respect the pyjama. 🙂
Posted by: whirlX | Oct 15 2023 20:30 utc | 87
I respect your subject knowledge but can only view your glowing assessment of Gerasimov with almost acid scepticism.
Western geopolitical strategists spare no opportunity to have their media dogs attack anyone who is a threat to their goals. Not only have they never seriously complained about Shoigu, they went out of their way to blow a whole fogbank of smoke right up Gerasimov’s ass with that Gerasimov Doctrine media circus.
It should be self-evident that a list of prominent Russian figures whom western media has and has not attacked can only be read one way, regardless of whether the implications are agreeable or not.
I believe that, in the run up to SMO, western strategists went out of their way to promote Gerasimov because they viewed him as someone who would stay in lane, as they themselves defined it, that he was someone they could safely get the drop on when they needed to (see ongoing destruction of high and extremely high value assets) and who was unlikely to surprise them in such a way as to upset their core goals of damaging Russian interests, killing Russians and depopulating Ukraine (the dead being much easier to dispossess than the living).
I think that Gerasimov is a good choice for political decision makers who find themselves in a tougher conflict than they expected and who want to avoid potentially disastrous escalation, even if that means giving western strategists almost exactly the Russia-Ukraine conflict they have outlined in public strategy documents, at precisely the cost to Russian of men and materiel that appears to have been one of their stated goal all along.
I believe Gerasimov to be a good choice on the basis of this assessment, not yours.
As to Prigozhin and his fellow travellers, a list of prominent Russians whom western media has gone out of their way to attack should be interpreted objectively.

Posted by: anon2020 | Oct 16 2023 13:54 utc | 377

@ Julian, §177:
Czecho & Slovakia speak the same (at least mutually intelligible) language, as do Slovenia & Croatia – and the southern pair are very similar to the northern pair.
So you essentially have three languages: German, Hungarian and Czech/Croat, so the language issue would work like in Switzerland. As for the name, “Danube States” might be neutral enough and indicate geography.
English is on the way out with the demise of the UK & USA. No-one in the middle ages ever thought Latin would be replaced . . .
As you say, with a population of >40m and a total area of >380k sq. kms., the group would be a major player in Europe and certainly couldn´t be pushed around by the EU the way they currently are.

Posted by: John Marks | Oct 16 2023 14:17 utc | 379

Re: Posted by: scanalyse | Oct 16 2023 12:37 utc | 184
Yes, I am well aware of the “Intermarium” – that is why I specifically EXCLUDED Poland (& Lithuania for that matter) – and later outlined the reasons why – do you see my follow-up post?

The Visegrad 4 can never work in such a way because Poland is too much larger than the other countries and also suffers from rabid Russophobia of its political class allied with extreme and excessive delusions of grandeur.
Poland would no doubt like to gobble up parts of Western Ukraine, Lithuania – and least likely but perhaps most problematic – probably the Western half of Belarus.
Posted by: Julian | Oct 16 2023 12:04 utc | 181

As for NATO – I very much DOUBT NATO would like a bunch of countries to withdraw from the alliance – namely, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia & Slovenia.

NATO likes it. ‘Nuff said.
Re: Posted by: scanalyse | Oct 16 2023 12:37 utc | 184

This is also why I referenced Austria-Hungary.
The proposal I have put forward has nothing to do with Polish grand designs as part of the “Intermarium” – Poland is EXCLUDED

Posted by: Julian | Oct 16 2023 14:22 utc | 381

Posted by: Julian | Oct 15 2023 21:53 utc | 109
Of course Putin is going to publicly say that he’s willing to negotiate. It’s what any rational leader would say. But since it is currently illegal for Zelensky to negotiate with Putin (something Putin mentioned in the published remarks) it’s a moot point. And Putin knows that. He’s talking to the people of the RoW, not European and US leadership.
Though he would be willing to negotiate and sign a favorable agreement. Note that Lavrov has publicly said that Russia will not agree to a ceasefire for the sake of negotiations. The Kremlin is simply putting the US/EU in a diplomatic bind. That’s the point.

Posted by: Lex | Oct 16 2023 14:29 utc | 383

The SMO is in its 600th day of glory! Let there be 600 more!!!

Posted by: Noam A. Larkey | Oct 16 2023 14:56 utc | 385

by anon2020 | Oct 16 2023 13:54 utc | 193
I agree. I also wrote that he is a vessel. The West still doesn’t have a clue what and how RF is inclined on conducting war and what is SMO, so they need a rational. The skirmish in Ukraine is not the war.
There is no Gerasimov doctrine.
However he is a real to the bone soldier since 1977 and Shoigu is not and that alone makes him scary for “able” Western analysts and all the disinfo that follows.
If you do not know what your enemy is doing, than you do not know what you are doing.
Which can be observed for the last 2 years.

Posted by: whirlX | Oct 16 2023 15:03 utc | 387

Posted by: whirlX | Oct 16 2023 15:03 utc | 200
My apologies, it is I who should read more carefully, thanks for the clarification.

Posted by: anon2020 | Oct 16 2023 16:17 utc | 389

>> Posted by: Trubind1 | Oct 15 2023 13:49 utc | 12
“>> Why do I have a sinking feeling Russia would actually agree at some point? I guess because it seems when it comes to “business”, both Russia and China are very forgiving.
A good chunk of Russian leadership just wants to strip-mine the country for resources and is more than willing to cut any deal that allows them to vacation and educate their children in Europe, keep their offshore bank accounts, etc. It’s a shame, but the mismatch between interests of the people and its leadership is apparently just the natural state of the human condition, interrupted fleetingly every however-many generations by the rise of a good and competent leader, only for banking interests to re-entrench themselves not long after.
Posted by: ivanislav | Oct 15 2023 13:59 utc | 14”
For better or for worse, the West still has a great deal of soft power in Russia, China and elsewhere. Russian oligarchs want approval from western cultural institutions. Chinese strivers want their kids to boast degrees from western universities. An African magnate wants to own a trophy property in London, not, say, Paraguay.
People in Russia, in Ukraine, and throughout the world want to believe that the West is The Magical Land Where Institutions Basically Work. This, by the way, is why Ukraine fights – they are hoping for admission to that blessed land, and if hating their brothers and their own parents besides is the price of admission, then they will pay it.

Posted by: Feral Finster | Oct 16 2023 16:19 utc | 391

People in Russia, in Ukraine, and throughout the world want to believe that the West is The Magical Land Where Institutions Basically Work. This, by the way, is why Ukraine fights – they are hoping for admission to that blessed land, and if hating their brothers and their own parents besides is the price of admission, then they will pay it.
Posted by: Feral Finster | Oct 16 2023 16:19 utc | 202

You’re spot on. 71 % of people in Ukraine believe USA and vassals should finance Ukraine indefinitely and without preconditions, because they are defending western values. It’s hard to believe the level of brainwashing, but here we are.
Just another example what you can do to NPCs with simple firmware updates.

Most Ukrainians believe that Washington should finance Ukraine without any conditions
⏩71% of residents of Ukraine believe that Ukraine pays with the lives of its citizens, protecting Western values, and therefore the United States should not set conditions regarding the provision of financial assistance.
⏩16% of respondents agree to fulfill the conditions of the United States to receive financial assistance.
⏩12% of citizens are undecided on the answer.
@ukr_leaks_eng

Posted by: unimperator | Oct 16 2023 16:32 utc | 393

@ unimperator, §203:
“It’s hard to believe the level of brainwashing, but here we are.”
Yes, that´s thanks to BBC´s “Media Action” over the past decade – all paid for by Joe Public via the Foreign Office.
It shows just how effective Goebbels´ methods are. Exposure of the BBC, MSM and Western governments in their tyrannical use of propaganda is urgent – and, fortunately thanks to websites like MoA, happening.

Posted by: John Marks | Oct 16 2023 16:40 utc | 395

@Julian | Oct 16 2023 14:22 utc | 197
So you are promoting Austro-Hungarian Empire revival.
Won’t pass.
And comprador caste will never leave NATO.
NATO, EuroUnion, Euro and Schengen are just about everything they can brag now. For anything else they might want to do, they must ask Ursula. Not that they are too eager to think and work hard. Orban of Hungary is an exception, so none of those minions won’t go with him.
Besides, Hungary refuses to return the Crown of St. Stephen to Croatia, and some suspect that Hungary might want a piece of Croatian land to accompany that crown as well.
Too much history in Central Europe to just gloss over old antagonisms.

Posted by: scanalyse | Oct 16 2023 17:06 utc | 397

Looking at the MOD list, if Ukr. has 15K troops in Avdeevka, then they will be KIA in about a month, at the present rate. Maybe things slow down once city blocks are involved.

Posted by: Eighthman | Oct 16 2023 17:25 utc | 399