Ukraine Open Thread 2024-194

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August 16, 2024

News & views related to the war in Ukraine …

Posted by b on August 16, 2024 at 09:02 UTC | Permalink

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It seems there is less in the MSM about the Kiev incursion. I take it the Russians are busy with them.

Posted by: Kaiama | Aug 16 2024 9:27 utc | 1

@Kaiama I suppose the outlets have been told to switch gears to curtain call preparation. Some possibilities could be:
– Limited to no PR materials. Announced CTO regime means good luck to those tiktokers if caught. FSB did a smart move in the first few days – they went across the border and nabbed a few from 404 checkpoints. Once that got filled, CTO came into effect. All that indicated was, Russia had enough live bodies to exchange with the border guards and civillians that were taken during incursion. The rest could stay six feet under as far as they are concerned. Anyone with braincells would understand that venturing back into Kursk now means, thus the PR squads probably found better locations to film.
– Blame game imminent – Elensky will have to answer to his investors for ROI from the safari trip to Kursk. What exactly was accomplished at what cost, just bizness man. I expect 404 to throw hissy fits and tantrums about just abit more men and more equipments then they could have reached KNPP (yeah right, in your doomers’ dreams!) and the West to publicly accuse Elensky and co of wasting critical resources and letting Russia advance even faster.

Posted by: newbie | Aug 16 2024 9:56 utc | 2

‼️🇺🇦🏴‍☠️ “We are constantly being thrown to the slaughter”: a captured Ukrainian serviceman spoke about the invasion of the Kursk region
▪️A Ukrainian sergeant said that the main role in developing the plan for the invasion of the Kursk region was assigned to Western instructors.
▪️”I heard from our command that they planned with Western instructors, they were the main ones. I met them on the battlefield. They spoke a foreign language.”
▪️Sergeant Sergey Bochenko mentioned the large number of destroyed equipment and dead Ukrainian soldiers:
➖”When crossing the border, I saw a large amount of burned equipment, many corpses that were not removed. Many ambulances in the opposite direction. There will be a defeat. Inevitably. They will knock us out at best. What the Western instructors said from above, they indulged. We found out about it at the very last moment. Apparently, they didn’t want us to run away.”
▪️“I would like to address my brothers-in-arms and everyone who is fighting on the Ukrainian side. Guys, stop it! This is not our war. You see how it ends for us. There is no light at the end. We are constantly being thrown to the slaughter. It’s all pointless. Don’t get involved! I swear you off it.”
– RVvoenkor

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1824384934594630134

Posted by: unimperator | Aug 16 2024 9:58 utc | 3

Chasing Squirrels in Kursk: Ukraine’s Strategic ADHD
History as a grinding conflict of two brain typologies: primal Hunters with ADHD tendencies being slowly being replaced by autistic-leaning Farmers. Ukraine impulsively turns Hunter by invading Russia
https://www.beyondwasteland.net/p/chasing-squirrels-in-kursk-ukraines

Posted by: KevinB | Aug 16 2024 9:59 utc | 4

The birth rate in Ukraine is now three (!) times lower than the death rate. This means a complete collapse of the demographic situation – it is the worst in the world, even in Syria during the most intense conflicts this did not happen.
Thus, in 2024 in Ukraine there are three deaths per newborn. This is evidenced by data from the OpenDatabot service, citing data from the Ministry of Justice. 87,655 children were born in the first six months of 2024 – this is 1.5 times less than before the start of the Ukrainian-Russian military conflict, and 9% less than in the same period last year. That is, at the moment Ukraine is experiencing the strongest demographic crisis in its entire history.
And this is really so, because in addition to the low birth rate, people from a warring country, where the infrastructure is collapsing, and the economy is barely staying afloat, and losses at the front are only increasing, are fleeing abroad en masse. Demographers and economists are already talking about the mass import of labor migrants from third countries to overcome the demographic apocalypse.
Moreover, during the war, the average life expectancy in Ukraine decreased from 66.4 years for men and 76.2 years for women in 2020 to 57.3 and 70.9 in 2023. That is, a man in Ukraine has lost an average of more than 9 years of life (in terms of life expectancy for men, Ukraine already competes with the poorest countries in Africa), and a woman – more than 5 years, and men have almost no chance of living to retirement.
As we can see, there are all the prerequisites for the fact that the Ukrainian population will never recover.

https://t.me/rezident_ua/23929

Posted by: Down South | Aug 16 2024 10:11 utc | 5

❗️🇷🇺🇺🇦 Kursk Direction: Counter-Battery Warfare in the Border Region and Battles Along the Entire Front Line
What is known as of 12:00 on August 16, 2024
In the Kursk Region, Russian forces are repelling attacks by the enemy and delivering fire strikes against concentrations of AFU personnel and equipment. The enemy, in turn, is using artillery and aviation to shell the border zone, including the settlements of Tetkino, Glushkovo, and Korenevo.
In the Mohrytsia area of Sumy Region, two strikes from Iskander OTRK have destroyed what are presumably two HIMARS MLRS, as evidenced by footage of the detonation of ammunition and the abnormal launch of the rocket systems. This has become the third confirmed loss of this type of vehicle in the past two days: another was destroyed in the neighboring treeline yesterday.
🔻In Lgov District, local authorities are calling for the voluntary evacuation of the population, citing an unstable situation in the region. Civilians have the opportunity to leave for safer rear regions.
🔻In Korenevo District, an enemy reconnaissance group conducting reconnaissance in the area of Kremyanoye, where fighting had recently taken place, was destroyed in the morning. Allegations about the destruction of an alleged column of Russian military equipment in Korenevo were not confirmed on the ground.
🔻In Sudzha District, the configuration of the front line in the Makhnovka area has been clarified. Footage was published of the destruction by UAV operators of two AFU BTRs, presumably French VABs, at a short distance from each other. From this, it can be concluded that the settlement is in the “gray zone” and is most likely not controlled by the Russian Armed Forces at the moment.
🔻In Belovo District, there is no information about changes in the configuration of the front line or any battles during the night. Clashes continue along the line of Girya – Kamyshnoe – Krupets – Spalnoe. The enemy published a photo near the local post office in Borki, but the image was most likely taken not today.

https://t.me/rybar_in_english/17026

Posted by: Down South | Aug 16 2024 10:15 utc | 6

Posted by: KevinB | Aug 16 2024 9:59 utc | 4
Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed reading it! The comparison framework based on Hunters vs. Farmers is great. Learnt something new everyday!
Just something to add – the West belived themselves to be Homer conjuring up Odyssey with its own contained logic and laws. The arrogant exceptionalism that led to this Slavic tragedy today, had the side effects of those in charge getting high with their own supply. The everlasting truth is that narratives never become nor replace objective reality or in Gen Z terms, they cannot cope their way out this time.

Posted by: newbie | Aug 16 2024 10:16 utc | 7

Just checked and the “Battle of the Bulge” lasted 41 days. The current misadventure is on it’s 11th day and the tide’s already turning.
Wagering on the 41 day over/under is tough at this point. IMHO the AFU may still be on Russian territory by day 41 but by then it’ll closely resemble the last days of Krynky — nothing but a smal number of troopers desperately clinging to an increasingly narrow strip of land.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Aug 16 2024 10:25 utc | 8

I wonder what happened to fat Nuland and whether she has recovered.
Last time I heard, she’s been treated for Schizophrenia – medium to high intensity.

Posted by: AI | Aug 16 2024 11:18 utc | 9

It seems there is less in the MSM about the Kiev incursion.
Posted by: Kaiama | Aug 16 2024 9:27 utc | 1
It’s probably local to you. Set your youtube content to US or UK and enjoy and endless stream of daily videos from BBC and many others on the “great new offensive”, with millions of views per day! According to BBC they’re capturing new areas so fast, they’re basically suggesting Zeli will be in Moscow soon.
The 12 atacms fired at Crimea were intercepted, so you won’t see that reported at all but the Galaktika hypermarket strike from today will appear in the msm tomorrow as a fantastic “success” ( t.me/intelslava/65075 )

Posted by: rk | Aug 16 2024 11:22 utc | 10

/perches and waves in deliveries of party favors
>:)
If the NAFO bachelorette party is on extended stay with us here in the Ukraine topic, I thought the least we could do is provide blow ticklers and silly hats. It’s all in good fun, since after years it’s hard taking such prognostications serious, so get your doom and gloom hectoring on. Be sure to ante up for an upcharged fruity drink at the bar while you’re here.
^.^ Have fun with tickle torturing each other!
/straps on a tiny glittery cone hat and uses a blow tickler
*fweeeeeeeee!*

Posted by: titmouse | Aug 16 2024 12:00 utc | 11

A number of claims that Ukraine is trying to setup behind the Siem River in Kursk and defend that area.
Is that a reasonable thing to do?
Also any truth to the claims about the Russian railroads having troubles? Not kinetically influenced ones, just supply and repair issues.

Posted by: Ed4 | Aug 16 2024 12:06 utc | 12

*fweeeee*
/cheep
=)
Also I want to thank Down South and others for bringing Telegram updates and other currents into this topic so it has more weighted value. Keep on keeping on, and nevermind the doom & gloom conga line in the background. I value your grounding of the discussion.
/cheep

Posted by: titmouse | Aug 16 2024 12:07 utc | 13

Ukraine Weekly Update, 16th August 2024: May be useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-e15

Posted by: Dr. Rob Campbell | Aug 16 2024 12:07 utc | 14

The Nazi-pigs bombed a shopping center in Donetsk: https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/119592
@Ed4
“A number of claims that Ukraine is trying to setup behind the Siem River in Kursk and defend that area.
Is that a reasonable thing to do?”
No.

Posted by: Apollyon | Aug 16 2024 12:12 utc | 15

TJandTheBear | Aug 16 2024 10:25 utc | 8
Time frame I suspect depends on how much cannon fodder can be scraped up to throw into the salient.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 16 2024 12:19 utc | 16

Scott Ritter on the attempted invasion:
“A NATO-created, trained, equipped and directed force of not just Ukrainians, but Polish, French, Americans [and] British has invaded Russia,” said the American dissident.
Ritter noted that Moscow quickly responded to the attack, taking the opportunity to destroy Ukrainian supply lines running from the Sumy region.
Russia has also neutralized some of the regime’s most well-trained troops and high-tech NATO weaponry, such as a British Challenger tank, US M1 Abrams tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. The ongoing conflict against the Western client state has served as a showcase for Russian defense technology, which has fared well against Ukraine’s dwindling supplies of expensive NATO weaponry.
“They gave it to us. They handed it to us,” said Ritter of Kiev’s strategic reserves of troops and armaments. “The Russians are winning. The Ukrainians are dying. And there’s nothing Ukraine will have to replace these troops.”
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240816/scott-ritter-russia-obliterates-nato-fighters-weaponry-as-ukraine-mounts-desperate-attack-in-kursk-1119786940.html

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Aug 16 2024 12:20 utc | 17

@TJandTheBear | Aug 16 2024 10:25 utc | 8

IMHO the AFU may still be on Russian territory by day 41

Sure, many of them “decided to stay”.

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 12:23 utc | 18

And:
An estimated 15,000 personnel have been involved in the assault on Kursk, including not only Ukrainian forces, but also contractors and volunteers from a number of Western countries, with the presences of Polish and English speaking forces having been confirmed. The incursion was launched on August 6, and has seen many of Ukraine’s most capable units committed including top end military hardware such as the scarce Challenger 2, Leopard and T-80 tanks. Losses have reportedly been extreme, with footage showing the destruction of all major tank classes committed to the offensive, with intense air, drone and artillery strikes expected to continue to exact a significant toll. The Mi-28 has been deployed from early 2022 for anti-tank duties, although one of the helicopters was reportedly been damaged or destroyed on August 6 in the Kursk region by a Ukrainian drone attack.
https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/kursk-mi28-nighttime-strikes-ukrainian

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Aug 16 2024 12:23 utc | 19

There are going to have to be an incredible number of ‘training accidents’ all over Europe to cover up for this farcical excursion.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Aug 16 2024 12:25 utc | 20

As we can see, there are all the prerequisites for the fact that the Ukrainian population will never recover.
https://t.me/rezident_ua/23929
Posted by: Down South | Aug 16 2024 10:11 utc | 5
And those numbers are doctored, as I mentioned a couple of threads ago, the mortality they show is too little compared to pre-war pre-COVID years .
The old didn’t flee so I don’t believe in those numbers.

Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 12:28 utc | 21

Jams O’Donnell | Aug 16 2024 12:23 utc | 19
Going by past Nato offensives to the north the number is likely to be around twenty thousand.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 16 2024 12:29 utc | 22

Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 12:35 utc | 23

Anyone interested in the Gas pipeline grid in Yurp?
This is a Thing going back to the Ronnie Raygun days, the EU when it was interested in common standards and free borders to improve all Europe with plentiful Russian Energy.
All the way to Condee laying the law down to the Germans and when they proceeded anyway the ‘Samson’ option was enacted upon the EU project.
When the Seven Sisters bastard offspring and the Anglo-Dutch worked against that project – yup the Dutch are as perfidious as the Brits. They are One and have been since the East India Companies and National Banks they originated; which came out of the Holy Romans Pope ‘winning’ against the Venetians… dots there are plenty that lead to the Bankers and City founded by the ‘Protestant’ element – the Lombardians etc. sorry, that’s by way of background, back to the GAS.
Here’s one I posted yesterday, got lost in the thousand post threads am going to leave it here in the hope that the pantomime doesn’t fool everyone – why the Donald’s trousers are lowered to show his fealty to the Zionazis … why Musk in turn has opened his twatter for a right royal bashing…and why the nazios are choking to death on their centuries long wolfing down the wealth of the world and enslavement of its peoples. Why their ultimate imperial colony will soon be erased leaving a whiff of historical ‘victim hood’ to hide behind and resurrect again maybe some generations along…
So let’s look at who has been calling the day to day shots in the west wing – the ghost of Obama alone? Nah, its the Son of Blinken, the Damian of the Omen film – now they have moved towards talking of a nuclear war and iodine pills and masks!! Yup apparently masks will stop radioactivity!
Repeat starts here.
‘ In 1987, Antony Blinken’s college thesis was published as his first book about that episode in Cold War history: Ally Versus Ally: America, Europe, and the Siberian Pipeline Crisis.’ Then later on… ‘A terrorist explosion damaged the pipeline in Rozhniativ district in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast in May 2014.[26] According to the Russian government owned radio station Voice of Russia terrorist threats against the pipeline were made by Right Sector leader Dmytro Yarosh in March 2014.[27] Another section of the pipeline exploded in the Poltava region on June 17, 2014, one day after Russia limited the supply of gas to Ukrainian customers due to non-payment. Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the next day, that the explosion had been caused by a bomb. ‘
FAMILIAR NAMES now eh? 🤔
A bit more exposition… ‘Soviet plans to build the pipeline were strongly opposed by the US-administration of Ronald Reagan.’ ‘The efforts by the US to prevent the construction of the pipeline, and its export embargo of supplies needed to build it (1980–84), constituted one of the most severe transatlantic crises of the Cold War’
‘The pipeline is 4,500 kilometres (2,800 mi) long, of which 1,160 kilometres (720 mi) is in Ukraine.[2][6] Its diameter is 56 inches (1,420 mm).[2] The original annual capacity of the pipeline was 32 billion cubic metres (1.1 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas per year.[2] By 2009, the factual annual capacity was 27.9 billion cubic metres (990 billion cubic feet).[6] It has 42 compressor stations, of which nine are in Ukraine.[2]’
‘The pipeline runs from Siberia’s Urengoy gas field …  it forms the western transit corridor in Ukraine.[6] It passes through a hub at Sudzha, Kursk Oblast then crosses the Russian–Ukrainian border north of Sumy. ‘
Geddit bar flies ? The arseholes that be, have long long long wanted to own it all and they don’t like it if they don’t get what they want – because as the Original Gangstas, the ziofascists of Chicago – they would rather it all burnt down if they can’t have it no one else can.  They figure their great grandkids will eventually have it that way!
We are dealing with those dead eyed scumbags who like ‘fucking all over the free world’ whilst making a song and dance of it!  Blinken will swing high from this petard and as you can see, he was born and raised to it!
As a bonus clown world the British MI6 Great Gamers the leading ziofascists for centuries always like to have their part in any glory : ‘The 1987 James Bond film The Living Daylights uses an inspection gadget in the pipeline as a plot device to smuggle a KGB defector to the West.’
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urengoy%E2%80%93Pomary%E2%80%93Uzhhorod_pipeline

Posted by: DunGroanin | Aug 16 2024 12:36 utc | 24

The English propaganda state tv news channel- the BBC, reporting today that the Neo-Nazi/Nato incursion into Kursk – only happened to try and bring Putin around the negotiating table, to bring about a ceasefire.
I doubt that to be the case – the incursion has only increased hostilities.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Aug 16 2024 12:41 utc | 25

NATO says China is inciting the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II by supplying Russia with advanced technology to produce missiles and drones.

https://t.me/ForeignAgentIntel/11588
This is a new level of Quisling projection.

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 12:45 utc | 26

I dont agree with some of what you write at times, but you do have a way with words.
“- why the Donald’s trousers are lowered to show his fealty to the Zionazis … why Musk in turn has opened his twatter for a right royal bashing…”
Full frontal US nationalist/realist faction. Saw a bit of video where the Don in a bit of a speech was basically saying any who did not support the genocide in Palestine was not welcome in America.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 16 2024 12:47 utc | 27

@Republicofscotland | Aug 16 2024 12:41 utc | 25
The incursion has eliminated the last chance of any negotiations. By the way, there is nobody to negotiate with. Zelensky’s term as president expired last May and the term of the Ukrainian parliament expired this month, there is really no legal central authority anymore, just the regions. Ukraine has gone 404.

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 12:50 utc | 28

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 12:45 utc | 26
if it goes by nato, then even food and air has to be banned, because its also of “dual use” since soldiers need to eat and breath.
the level of hypocrisy from the west is disgusting.
but hey, if they didnt have those double standards, then there would be no standards at all.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Aug 16 2024 12:52 utc | 29

Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 12:45 utc | 26
The trash that comes out now in the western media gets a bit mind boggling.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 16 2024 12:53 utc | 30

For awhile the Empires propaganda organs (a great public/private institution that works like clockwork) ignored Ukraine’s invastion of Kursk. But now, as Iran is taking it’s sweet time in answering Israel’s aggressive tactics, this Kursk affair is giving “hope” to the hacks commenting on this matter so more money is thrown at the Ukraine project. This was the clear reason for the invasion–a publicity stunt first and secondarily, a way of showing everyone how weak vulnerable the Russian state is. But we have to remember, Ukraine is fighting with the combined military might of most of NATO–they send everything they can because the Washington policy makers have said they cannot afford to lose this fight. At minimum they have to have a negotiated settlement of some kind to declare victory and get out.
We’ll see if the Russian leadership bites on this one of if they will stop fighting with one hand behind the proverbial back. The next week or so will show if Russia indeed has the resources so many of their supporters like the Duran, Ritter et. al. believe.

Posted by: Chris Cosmos | Aug 16 2024 13:01 utc | 31

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Aug 16 2024 12:53 utc | 30
In someway this is a good sign.
THE more the reality on the ground get bed for the west the more the western media go berserk.
Incidentally this is true not only for Ukraine but also for ME.
I have the sensation that even if (not that is going to happen) Putin himself was broadcasted live pissing on Zekensky in Kiev they would say it’s fake Russian propaganda or, most probably, we win because Putin is only pissing on Zelensky but he didn’t get to piss on Scholtz/Macron.

Posted by: Mario | Aug 16 2024 13:09 utc | 32

If someone remembers, some days I mentioned the need to reinforce Rylsk and do preemptive run down of E101 and E38 up to Bereza and Hlukiv.
Seems I was right “FACTBOX: Russian troops take Krupets back”. Krupets is on the E38 almost 20 kms into Russia.
If the R200/sudzha was the first attempt, there are others underway, some starting 100kms away.
And if we take today’s 220 with the 340 for yesterday in the article, we’re still in the 280 daily AFU KIA on the kursk front. I’m still going for the 30.000+ number
https://tass.com/politics/1829597

Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 13:11 utc | 33

Posted by: Mario | Aug 16 2024 13:09 utc | 32
Should have been… on the ground get bad…
Damn typos.

Posted by: Mario | Aug 16 2024 13:12 utc | 34

History repeats. It is a Template.
Once again King Herod (aka Benjamin Netanyahu) terrorises Palestine murdering all Palestinian babies in fear that one might claim his throne.

“Bring me the head of John the Baptist”.
They “take the head” of Ismael Haniyeh.

Once again the ‘Rome’ of today presides over the slaughter while their murderous satrap runs rampant.

Once again, the Magi hail from Persia, bringing gifts not of Myrrh, Frankincense and Gold but of Kornet, Yakhont and Mersad.

We await the Palestinian Messiah.

We await the throwing down of the Third Temple: the abomination of ‘Israel’.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 16 2024 13:18 utc | 35

Nonetheless this has been a bad couple of weeks for Russia, because quite apart from men/territory losses, it paints pretty pictures in the West, who are funding/arming Ukraine.
“To attempt to be strong everywhere is to be strong nowhere”, someone said, but nonetheless the immediate response wasn’t great. Makes you wonder what might have happened if the drive to Crimea hadn’t been telegraphed so much in advance. On which, good to see yesterday’s Crimea attacks come to naught.
While there are very few Ukrainian planes at the front, there are very few Russian ones as well – that incursion inn an ideal world should have been a turkey shoot. Presumably Russia have good reasons for not throwing in SU24s.
Hopefully when this lot are driven out and Ukraine are back on the defensive, they’ll sort the organisational shortcomings that allowed this incursion to get so far.

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Aug 16 2024 13:26 utc | 36

Marat Khairullin
In the Toretsk sector, the main fortified area is practically encircled
A brief report from the front on August 16, 2024
In the Toretsk sector of the Donetsk direction, the Russian Armed Forces took control of the settlement of Artemovo (Zaliznoye/Zheleznoye), approaching Toretsk between the waste heap of the Artema mine and the territory of the Central substation, from which the enemy was also driven out.
The forest areas between the waste heaps of the Artema and Novaya mines, as well as southwest of the Severnaya mine, are being cleared.
The capture of the Central substation opens the road to the settlement of Nelepovka, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are now retreating from the settlement of Novgorodskoye (New York), where the fighters of our units managed to drive the enemy out of most of the settlement.
The main fortified area – the territory of the phenol plant – has been taken by our forces in a semi-envelopment. The enemy has a real chance of being completely surrounded there if he does not decide to retreat from there.
To the west of Novgorod, units of the Russian Armed Forces have reached the road to the settlement of Sukhaya Balka, in the area of which active destruction of Ukrainian Armed Forces facilities is underway.

https://t.me/geromanat/31968

Marat Khairullin
In the Pokrovsky sector, our troops are working in Novogrodovka
A brief report from the front on August 16, 2024
In the Pokrovsky sector, our armed forces have completely liberated the settlement of Ivanovka, which has now been officially announced by the Russian Defense Ministry.
Our units have taken control of the Novotoretskoye tract. In the settlement of Grodovka, our soldiers are confidently pushing the enemy back to the center.
Our armed forces have advanced along the railway in the direction of the settlement of Selidovo, taking control of the settlements of Orlovka, Zhuravka and Nikolaevka. And the forward detachments are already working in the area of the settlement of Novogrodovka.

https://t.me/geromanat/31970

Posted by: Down South | Aug 16 2024 13:27 utc | 37

❗️🇷🇺🇺🇦Massive combined attack by the AFU on Crimea
A week after the last massive attack on the border and rear regions, Crimea has again been subjected to a combined attack. ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles were among the weapons used in the raid.
According to available information, the missile launches were carried out from the temporarily occupied Myrnograd (Dimitrov) area, just 10 km from the forward Russian positions in the Pokrovske direction.
▪️12 targets were shot down on the approach to the Crimean Bridge, with debris from the ammunition and cluster munitions causing minor damage to the road surface of the bridge, without damaging the supporting structures. The bridge was closed around 5 am to clear the aftermath. Debris from the downed drones was also found in Kerch.
▪️At the same time, the enemy carried out a combined attack on Sevastopol. Naval aviation helicopters sank five unmanned boats in the Yarylchach Bay, and one drone was shot down by a Tor air defense system. Another four UAVs were shot down on the approach to Sevastopol, and three USVs were sunk, with no significant damage on the ground. Three more naval drones retreated to their base area, and a search is underway for their possible waiting area.
❗️For the first time in a long period, the main target of the Ukrainian forces’ attack was the Crimean Bridge.
It is worth noting that there are statements circulating on the Internet about the imminent transfer of JASSM long-range air-to-surface missiles to the AFU, which can be launched from the already supplied F-16s.
Given this, as well as the fact that for the first time in a very long period, target designation was carried out by the American MQ-9 Reaper drone from the Black Sea waters, further attempts by the AFU to damage the bridge should be expected.

https://t.me/rybar_in_english/17030

Posted by: Down South | Aug 16 2024 13:29 utc | 38

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/#post-colonelcassad-9323934
Photos of knocked-out Ukrainian vehicles in Kursk Oblast. Not for the squeamish as some show corpses or parts of corpses in or near the wrecked vehicles. One interesting feature is that the Ukrainians seem to be using a white triangle outline as an identifying mark, or possibly it is a stylised form of the Cyrillic letter D.

Posted by: Waldorf | Aug 16 2024 13:30 utc | 39

Posted by: Down South | Aug 16 2024 10:11 utc | 5
Moreover, during the war, the average life expectancy in Ukraine decreased from 66.4 years for men and 76.2 years for women in 2020 to 57.3 and 70.9 in 2023. That is, a man in Ukraine has lost an average of more than 9 years of life (in terms of life expectancy for men, Ukraine already competes with the poorest countries in Africa), and a woman – more than 5 years, and men have almost no chance of living to retirement.
As we can see, there are all the prerequisites for the fact that the Ukrainian population will never recover.

Ah! The joys of electing Jewish leaders!
(Here’s lookin’ at ya, ‘Merica!)

Posted by: Scorpion | Aug 16 2024 13:33 utc | 40

“We’ll see if the Russian leadership bites on this one of if they will stop fighting with one hand behind the proverbial back. The next week or so will show if Russia indeed has the resources so many of their supporters like the Duran, Ritter et. al. believe.”
Posted by: Chris Cosmos | Aug 16 2024 13:01 utc | 31
Let me give you my Toronto Sports Network commentary-the SMO as a hockey game.
Its early in the third period Russia is beating Ukraine 6-0; an Estonian referee calls two Russian players for 5 minute majors where there was no infraction and Ukraine scores two quick goals while the Russian players are in the penalty box..
TSN turnig point? Momentum change-nah just the official tipping the scale.
This enrages the Russian side and they go on to win the game 11-2 and at the end of the game the Russian players jump over the boards from the bench and pummel the faces of the worst offending Ukrainian players as well as the slapping around the Estonian ref.
The General manager of the Uke team was hunted down by spectators as he tried to escape from the arena- he was caught with the gate receipts in cash-he was summarily shot and pissed on.
End of Analogy

Posted by: canuck | Aug 16 2024 13:38 utc | 41

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Aug 16 2024 13:26 utc | 36
Russian do not bomb their civilians, it’s simply as that.
Jet are not very effective in targeting a few Ukrainians possibly hiding between civilians.
RUAF jets are, more wisdomly used to target the rear in Sumy.

Posted by: Mario | Aug 16 2024 13:42 utc | 42

summary for Kursk: https://t.me/s/ZandVchannel
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses have amounted to up to 2,860 Ukrainian troops, 41 tanks, 40 armoured personnel carriers, 23 infantry fighting vehicles, 213 armoured fighting vehicles, 102 motor vehicles, four SAM systems, six MLRS launchers, including three HIMARS MLRS, two transport-loading vehicles, 22 field artillery guns, and three electronic warfare stations.

Posted by: dtiger | Aug 16 2024 13:45 utc | 43

Norwegian (46).
Yes I believe that to be the case – I also believe, that in reality Zelensky isn’t calling the shots, with regards to any proposals – on when there can, or cannot, be any negotiations surrounding a ceasefire.
If I recall correctly – Zelensky was up for negotiations in the past, but Ex-English PM Boris Johnson – either talked him out of them, or told him straight out – he couldn’t enter into them.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Aug 16 2024 13:46 utc | 44

Posted by: DunGroanin | Aug 16 2024 12:36 utc | 24
The interests of the Dual Citizens (D.C.) is not to be confused with the interests of the United States.
Keystone Pipeline, from Alberta, Canada, to the U.S. Midwest was also stopped. This prevented heavy oil, needed for the production of diesel for trains and trucks, from reaching U.S. refineries specifically designed to produce more diesel than gasoline.
Hence higher energy costs in the U.S.A. But more profit for certain puppeteers in D.C. Russia is not alone in getting the D.C. treatment.

Posted by: kupkee | Aug 16 2024 13:52 utc | 45

@Republicofscotland | Aug 16 2024 13:46 utc | 44

If I recall correctly – Zelensky was up for negotiations in the past, but Ex-English PM Boris Johnson – either talked him out of them, or told him straight out – he couldn’t enter into them.

Yes, that was March/April 2022 in Turkey, the draft documents were ready when Boris Johnson parachuted in to say the deal was off.
Boris Johnson has at least 500 000 lives to answer for.

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 13:54 utc | 46

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Aug 16 2024 13:26 utc | 36
Nonetheless this has been a bad couple of weeks for Russia, because quite apart from men/territory losses, it paints pretty pictures in the West, who are funding/arming Ukraine.

True but consider: what is worse for Ukraine:
a) nothing having happened in Kurst at all, just steadily losing ground and momentum in Donbass…
b) creating a surprise advance into RF territory, which raises morale and support, but which is later nullified with nearly all involved killed or captured, the promise of victory reversed into humiliation laced with a sense of gathering doom with fewer options available to avoid their military command finally opting for formal surrender, at which point Z will be marched out of Kiev by his own army and given a one-way ticket to his penthouse suite in Tel Aviv next to Jeffrey E.
In a perverse way, all roads are win-win for both Russian and Ukrainian citizenry.
There might be a simple explanation for Kurst: the need on the part of those in the Kiev bunker to justify their belief that victory is possible. They have been selling this for so long that some of them actually believe it.
Personally, I doubt those in charge in Kiev believe they can win; this is a bankster-led con from top to bottom, so now they are just trying to squeeze out a few more billions before closing down the Kiev shop and moving to Moldavia, Georgia or wherever. Maybe Z gets to be the roving Face of Freedom on the world stage for another few rounds. The Jews who shape the narratives love having this short, bearded penal pianist as front man; a great joke.

Posted by: Scorpion | Aug 16 2024 13:59 utc | 47

Marat Khairullin
In the Toretsk sector, the main fortified area is practically encircled
A brief report from the front on August 16, 2024
In the Toretsk sector of the Donetsk direction, the Russian Armed Forces took control of the settlement of Artemovo (Zaliznoye/Zheleznoye), approaching Toretsk between the waste heap of the Artema mine and the territory of the Central substation, from which the enemy was also driven out.
The forest areas between the waste heaps of the Artema and Novaya mines, as well as southwest of the Severnaya mine, are being cleared.
The capture of the Central substation opens the road to the settlement of Nelepovka, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are now retreating from the settlement of Novgorodskoye (New York), where the fighters of our units managed to drive the enemy out of most of the settlement.
The main fortified area – the territory of the phenol plant – has been taken by our forces in a semi-envelopment. The enemy has a real chance of being completely surrounded there if he does not decide to retreat from there.
To the west of Novgorod, units of the Russian Armed Forces have reached the road to the settlement of Sukhaya Balka, in the area of which active destruction of Ukrainian Armed Forces facilities is underway.
https://t.me/geromanat/31968
Marat Khairullin
In the Pokrovsky sector, our troops are working in Novogrodovka
A brief report from the front on August 16, 2024
In the Pokrovsky sector, our armed forces have completely liberated the settlement of Ivanovka, which has now been officially announced by the Russian Defense Ministry.
Our units have taken control of the Novotoretskoye tract. In the settlement of Grodovka, our soldiers are confidently pushing the enemy back to the center.
Our armed forces have advanced along the railway in the direction of the settlement of Selidovo, taking control of the settlements of Orlovka, Zhuravka and Nikolaevka. And the forward detachments are already working in the area of the settlement of Novogrodovka.
https://t.me/geromanat/31970
Posted by: Down South | Aug 16 2024 13:27 utc | 37
So in two nutshells,
The encirclement of new york is almost completed and AFU has left (was allowed to leave?) the building.
Pokrovsky RF is heading there through the rail line, a wide enough advance not easily cut and it’s roughly 12km from Pokrovsky

Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 14:01 utc | 48

With, English Challenger II tanks, now in Russia – given to the Neo- Nazi Ukrainian regime by the English government – the Canadian government – has now jumped on that particular bandwagon, and has also given tanks to the Ukrainian forces.
One has to wonder, if, – Canadian troops also were include in the tanks gift to the Neo-Nazi’s.
“Ukraine has been given approval to use Canadian-donated tanks and armored vehicles on Russian soil, according to a statement by Canada’s Department of National Defense on Thursday. Kiev is currently waging a large-scale incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region.
Ottawa has donated to Kiev a total of eight German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks as well several dozen armored combat vehicles, hundreds of armored patrol vehicles, and several M-777 howitzers. Last month, the Canadian government also announced an additional $367 million military aid package for Kiev.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Aug 16 2024 14:05 utc | 49

“If the NAFO bachelorette party is on extended stay with us here in the Ukraine topic, I thought the least we could do is provide blow ticklers and silly hats.”
I LOVE you Titmouse!!! You usually make me smile but today I belly laughed 🙂

Posted by: cc | Aug 16 2024 14:07 utc | 50

Video (subtitles in English):

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 Syrskyi briefs Zelensky about the situation in the Kursk region.
“>https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/119534

🤣🤣🤣

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 14:10 utc | 51

kupkee | Aug 16 2024 13:52 utc | 45
AFAIK it’s only the XL shortcut that’s stopped, the rest of the pipeline is still in operation.

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Aug 16 2024 14:11 utc | 52

Given this, as well as the fact that for the first time in a very long period, target designation was carried out by the American MQ-9 Reaper drone from the Black Sea waters, further attempts by the AFU to damage the bridge should be expected.
https://t.me/rybar_in_english/17030
Posted by: Down South | Aug 16 2024 13:29 utc | 38
Weren’t they warned about drones there? US is feeling lucky?
—————-
Photos of knocked-out Ukrainian vehicles in Kursk Oblast. Not for the squeamish as some show corpses or parts of corpses in or near the wrecked vehicles. One interesting feature is that the Ukrainians seem to be using a white triangle outline as an identifying mark, or possibly it is a stylised form of the Cyrillic letter D.
Posted by: Waldorf | Aug 16 2024 13:30 utc | 39
Delta force? Asking for the protection of Saint Chuck Norris? 😀
———-
Boris Johnson has at least 500 000 lives to answer for.
Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 13:54 utc | 46
Make it at least 600.000 for AFU and almost 100.000 for RF (minimum scenario from talks to today)
Killed only, double it for killed or maimed.
My 2 cents

Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 14:11 utc | 53

According to available information, the missile launches were carried out from the temporarily occupied Myrnograd (Dimitrov) area, just 10 km from the forward Russian positions in the Pokrovske direction.

Hmm, “use or lose?”
I was reading somewhere that Russian gains in the Donbass in Pokrovske and other areas will have a multiplier effect. Apparently there are a lot of coal mines or storage areas that will fall into Russian hands, denying fuel for the thermal plants in Ukraine needed to keep the lights on.
And today it appears that a cargo ship carrying Ukrainian grain was attacked and is now on fire, per TG. Combine that with the missile attack on Odessa the other day that took out grain storage and equipment, and it looks like Russia is finally getting serious about going after what’s left of the Ukrainian economy.
Without GDP to support the war effort, the cokehead will need to lean even more heavily on direct Western aid which will certainly hit the West where it hurts – their bond markets.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Aug 16 2024 14:14 utc | 54

As, most of the Western media – and indeed social media, has focused on the Neo-Nazi incursion into the Russian region of Kursk – I don’t think it has been as well reported on – the Ukrainian incursion into the Russian region, of Belgorod – which took place around four days ago – in which if believed – the Ukrainian forces were all but destroyed.
Of course – the pro-Neo Nazi media in the West, would be a little bit more reticent, in revealing that the Belgorod incursion – had met with total disaster.
“Ukrainian forces attempted to attack Russia’s Belgorod Region simultaneously with their incursion into Kursk Region, but were met with stern resistance and suffered heavy losses, the Washington Post has reported.
There is “fierce fighting underway” on the border in Belgorod Region, the newspaper claimed on Thursday, citing wounded Ukrainian troops who have been evacuated to Sumy Region in their home country.
The alleged Ukrainian attack on Belgorod Region started “four days ago” and involved a “fleet of armored vehicles [moving] in broad daylight,” one soldier was quoted as saying, describing the operation as “crazy.”
The Ukrainians reportedly tried to enter Russian territory near the Kolotilovka–Pokrovka border crossing. However, unlike in Kursk Region, where Kiev’s troops have made some gains, Russian forces in neighboring Belgorod were well-prepared to repel the incursion”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Aug 16 2024 14:15 utc | 55

On a much more serious note

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 Nikolai Patrushev in an interview with “Izvestia”:
➡️The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attack on the Kursk region is driven by the anticipation of the imminent collapse of the Kiev regime;
➡️U.S. authorities are lying about their non-involvement in Kiev’s crimes in the Kursk region;
➡️The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attack on the Kursk region was planned with the involvement of NATO and Western intelligence agencies;
➡️The U.S. has created all the preconditions for Ukraine to lose its sovereignty and territories.

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/119535
These 4 bullet points are in my opinion all correct. That the Kiev regime now believes their collapse is imminent is very interesting. Given the other points, a collapse of the Kiev regime implies a coming breakdown of NATO as well.

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 14:21 utc | 56

RT:
“The White House is “open” to sending long-range [JASSM] cruise missiles to Ukraine, which could give previously transferred F-16 jets greater combat ability, Politico reported on Thursday, citing officials in the Biden administration.”
History teaches us that this means the transfer is already well underway. No doubt Russia knows this and is preparing accordingly.

Posted by: malenkov | Aug 16 2024 14:25 utc | 57

What Russia needs at the moment is a BIG ITEM hit or somekind without civilian casualties.
Something big enough to break the western news cycles.

Posted by: HERMIUS | Aug 16 2024 14:27 utc | 58

Posted by: Down South | Aug 16 2024 13:27 utc | 37
So in two nutshells,
The encirclement of new york is almost completed and AFU has left (was allowed to leave?) the building.
Pokrovsky RF is heading there through the rail line, a wide enough advance not easily cut and it’s roughly 12km from Pokrovsky
Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 14:01 utc | 48
So, despite the obvious carnage and MSM hype centred around the Ukrainian (ie NATO) stunt in Kursk the more important battles for Eastern Ukraine have not been greatly effected-if at all.
Just lifted this from the Guardian, and the fact it is there at all tells an interesting story.
“Civilians urged to speed up evacuation from Pokrovsk
Military authorities in Pokrovsk, a city in eastern Ukraine, have urged civilians to speed up their evacuation because the Russian army is quickly closing in, the Associated Press reported.
Authorities said that Russian troops are “advancing at a fast pace. With every passing day there is less and less time to collect personal belongings and leave for safer regions.”
Wonder how Napoleon and Vargas etc will react to this.

Posted by: Barrel Brown | Aug 16 2024 14:30 utc | 59

Unconfirmed

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 BREAKING! UNCONFIRMED, SO TAKE THIS INFO WITH A GRAIN OF SALT!
Information has appeared in Telegram chats that as a result of a missile strike by the Russian Armed Forces on a Ukrainian location in the area of Kumy, Poltava region, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Syrskyi, has been eliminated.
Waiting for more details… But for now we press X. Normally, we wouldn’t share unverified information like this, but a fairly reliable channel just posted it.

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/119610

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 14:33 utc | 60

Posted by: KevinB | Aug 16 2024 9:59 utc | 4
Perhaps the author is unaware that ADHD and autism are strongly comorbid.

Posted by: Honzo | Aug 16 2024 14:37 utc | 61

@Norwegian
Interesting news, if confirmed.
I will reserve any celebration for when a NATO general is killed. I have a special prayer for Lloyd Austin, and any UK ones. I hope to see all of them die.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Aug 16 2024 14:40 utc | 62

IMHO the AFU may still be on Russian territory by day 41 but by then it’ll closely resemble the last days of Krynky — nothing but a smal number of troopers desperately clinging to an increasingly narrow strip of land.
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Aug 16 2024 10:25 utc | 8
Krinky is not in Russia. I doubt the value of allowing the Ukrainians another opportunity to slowly bleed themselves is considered higher than the value of expelling the invaders. It’s not impossible that giving them an opportunity to waste a large number of their best troops and foreign fighters quickly was seen as a reasonable trade off, but there’s really nothing in the past to suggest the Russians would take this approach on their own territory.

Posted by: Honzo | Aug 16 2024 14:42 utc | 63

Uh oh! we’re out of gas Gomer!
Gilbert Doctorow says the Russian talk show people have finally begun talking about Kursk: not good for the invaders. residents are clustered temporarily in tents outside Moscow, many also moved into central Russia, not returning anytime soon. Big problem for the ukes though… they are out of gas and now on foot.
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/
“The Ukrainian tanks and armored personnel vehicles inside Kursk need refueling and failing that they are being abandoned by the Ukrainian troops whom they have sheltered, as we were told on ‘The Great Game’ yesterday.
This means that the NATO heavy equipment which brought the Ukrainians into Kursk is now stalled in place, becoming an easy target for Russian forces. The Ukrainian infantry is left to withdraw as best it can on foot, which is a formula for disaster.”
Abrams tank specs: (a tank gets a little more than half a mile per gallon! 250 meters per litre give or take)
Fuel Consumption A tank will need approximately 300 gallons every eight hours; this will vary depending on mission, terrain, and weather. A single tank takes 10 minutes to refuel. Refueling and rearming of a tank platoon–four tanks–is approximately 30 minutes under ideal conditions.
0.6 miles per gallon.
60 gallons per hour when traveling cross-country
30+ gallons per hour while operating at a tactical ideal
10 gallons basic idle
A mine plow will increase the fuel consummation rate of a tank by 25 percent
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m1-specs.htm

Posted by: migueljose | Aug 16 2024 14:45 utc | 64

Posted by: HERMIUS | Aug 16 2024 14:27 utc | 58
Why? Russia does not control the Western news cycle. Trying to play media wars is the cokehead’s specialty. Stick to hard military and economic targets.
See my comment about Russia finally taking out grain export facilities and possibly destroying a ship full of Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea (needs confirmation as TG can be full of fakes.)

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Aug 16 2024 14:59 utc | 65

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 14:33 utc | 60
Appreciate your comments and insights. I look for them

Posted by: Migueljose | Aug 16 2024 14:59 utc | 66

M. K. Bhadrakumar has an interesting column today (Aug 16) on the Ukraine war: Indian Punchline

Posted by: Clever Dog | Aug 16 2024 14:59 utc | 67

Reply to canuck in the previous thread (since it has now lapsed and it is very important that as many people see this as possible):

You called PeterAU a ‘Kangaroo Fucker” then you vehemently protest that you really didn’t mean what you accused.
So your vitriol means ‘nothing’ while Peters Au less aggressive taunt is a “term of abuse”-pure Peasant thinking and Woke sensibilities..
You have become a joke.
Oh, you calling me a ‘clueless canuk”-your crude, fatuous onomatopoeia does nothing but amuse me as it further indicts you as an Intellectual Peasant.

Posted by: canuck | Aug 16 2024 12:00 utc | 507
FOR GOD’S SAKE, all I mean is I don’t believe he LITERALLY fucks kangaroos (they’re pretty good at defending themselves, if nothing else). I picked the term because it was a funny thing to say in German and also because someone else had already called him that in English (well, the line was “Pretty sure no one ever accused this kangaroo humper of being an intellectual.” and kangaroo humper, is I guess a bit milder). I could have chosen to call him things much worse that he definitely is guilty of if that would have made you feel better.
I do take issue with “your vitriol means ‘nothing'”. What? I told him “verpiss dich”, that should be vitriolic enough. And it was meant as the equivalent of his constant “piss off [troll/faggot]”, which you, of course, have never expressed any issue with. And no it’s just something he says to me, who it could be argued deserves it, he says it to literally ever new forum poster who has even a mild disagreement with his own opinions/the MoA party line). Like I said, it’s something he would – and possibly will, if he knows how to write an e-mail – write to M.K. Bhadrakumar since he made a blog post criticizing Russia.
And so the vitriol was very much sincere. My issue was your – comical, really – indignation with the word “Känguruficker”, that you seriously considered a potentionally libelous accusation of bestiality. (Like I said: Severe autism, or simply an extremely high degree of taking your own persons seriously. I think both afflictions are heavily represented among here in your “bar”m where you constantly claim your very important institution for anti-imperialist geopolitical anaylsis is disrupted “by paid and organized NATO trolls”.)
The other point was also rather: If you seriously think I’m a hateful person for calling an Australian person a “kangaroo fucker” but that the same self-avowedly gay-hating person (remember back when he got drunk – or rather, a specific period during which he was drunk – and had his rants about the lesbian daugther, and the younger acquintance he thought was straight hitting on him and how angry he was over it, his whining that “all the young people [in Australia] are faggots now” – yeah, get over it, grandpa, and thank God your genes won’t be passed on – etc.) calling people who disagree with him “faggots” doesn’t say that with hate, then you’re massive hypocrite (which pretty much goes with the territory at the “bar” though).
It’s a tough contest, but I actually think there’s more mental illness here than in the fucking Unz.com comment section. (The key difference is the massive smugness of the same mental cases here, which you don’t see as much on Unz. At the same time, unlike over at Unz, the indignation and hurt egos of you nutcases and the weird, self-congratulating paranoia “the trolls are out in force tonight – it means we’re winning” also add massive comedic effect.)
Also, the part about “woke sensibilites” cracked me up. I’m sure that for example back in 80’s/90’s Australia there would be the shocked, pearl-clutching moral indignation that you displayed if one guy called another a “kangaroo fucker”. But yeah, lecture me about my “woke sensibilites”. Guess what, YOU’RE the joke.
And by the way, I called you a clueless Canuck because you are one. And I’m not sure which one of those two is worse (let’s not talk about the combination). I noticed that you didn’t claim to be French Canadian when I asked about it, and I’m glad we cleared that up. (As unlike Anglo-Canadians they are not subhuman trash – a kind of low-rent American – and I would have felt compelled to apologize.)

Posted by: Unnamed | Aug 16 2024 15:00 utc | 68

Posted by: Down South | Aug 16 2024 10:11 utc | 5
######
Demographics are destiny. It is possible to win a war and still lose everything.
Luckily for Ukraine, this war was lost with the counteroffensive last year and they don’t need to maintain the pretense that there is a future for Nazism.
A similar phenomenon is playing out in Israel.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Aug 16 2024 15:11 utc | 69

Posted by: Dr. Rob Campbell | Aug 16 2024 12:07 utc | 14
Thank you. Succinct overview with sufficient pertinent detail. Enjoyable, informative read.

Posted by: Scorpion | Aug 16 2024 15:11 utc | 70

My take on the current status at the front: The Russians Advance Out Of The Donetsk Urban, Industrialized & Fortified Hills
The Russians are now taking as much advantage as possible of the weakening of the Donetsk area defences which was used to feed the Kursk misadventure. Zelensky seems to be doubling down on Kursk, he is in his own trap as the political fallout from a retreat may very well finish him. By mid September, Niu-York/Toretsk gone, Pokrovsk gone, Ugledar gone, and perhaps even more than that. The Russians will be beyond the heavily fortified urban and industrialized areas set among hills and moving downhill into much less industrial and fortified areas against a depleted and demoralized Ukrainian army. And still with a month before the rains arrive.
Will Zelensky survive the next few months? Highly questionable. The Russians need to drive as hard as possible on the Donetsk front. And there will also be a massive Ukrainian graveyard, of men and material, between Kursk and Sumy. A huge strategic error for the Ukrainians.

Posted by: Roger | Aug 16 2024 15:12 utc | 71

@67
I often read Indian Puncchline, with a grain of salt.
It claims Kiev display excellence in combined arms when that went in without the air part of the air land battle, then he cherry picks Clausewitz.
Opening a command post in slightly controlled territory is for the ill informed.
Taking a bigger bag of salt for the punchline.

Posted by: paddy | Aug 16 2024 15:12 utc | 72

@Migueljose | Aug 16 2024 14:59 utc | 66
Thank you!

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 15:13 utc | 73

The UN Human Rights Commission wants access to Kursk, in order to “investigate” Russian charges of Ukie crimes against civilians.
I remember when the UN chemical weapons team suppressed its own inspectors when they disputed the Official Claim that Assad had “gassed his own people.”
I remember when the OSCE, who were supposed to be monitoring breaches of the Minsk Treaty in Donbass, were found to actually be handing over targets to the Kiev regime.
Right now the IAEA is sitting in the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, being shelled by Ukraine, but claiming that they have no idea where those missiles are coming from.
Should Russia let the UN “Human Rights” team into Kursk?
I’m thinking…..no.

Posted by: wagelaborer | Aug 16 2024 15:13 utc | 74

Posted by: Roger | Aug 16 2024 15:12 utc | 71
One of the Ukro insider channels mentioned that military analysts have noted the same thing you also noted. RUAF is finally breaking out of the fortified urban, forested and industrialized areas, and into the valley between the Don and Donbass basins. Much less defendable locations, which have the potential to wreck the entire AFU logistic in the Donbass, and also put Pokrovsk, even Pavlograd, Zaporozhye and Dniepr under threat.

Posted by: unimperator | Aug 16 2024 15:16 utc | 75

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 BREAKING! UNCONFIRMED, SO TAKE THIS INFO WITH A GRAIN OF SALT!
Information has appeared in Telegram chats that as a result of a missile strike by the Russian Armed Forces on a Ukrainian location in the area of Kumy, Poltava region, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Syrskyi, has been eliminated.
Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 14:33 utc | 60
So 200 for general 200? Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy 😀
Wonder how Napoleon and Vargas etc will react to this.
Posted by: Barrel Brown | Aug 16 2024 14:30 utc | 59
As usual, they’re our resident trolls and we were almost used to them, not like the new ones that made a kursk at MOA lately. But globally , and may canuk forgive me, “cunts will be cunts”
As I mentioned earlier, unlike the 2023 push, AFU is much deeper into the east bank, and the eastern flank is out of balance, could be a good moment to cut them off and mow them down as they rush to the river.

Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 15:16 utc | 76

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Aug 16 2024 15:17 utc | 77

Posted by: Unnamed | Aug 16 2024 15:00 utc | 68
And so the vitriol was very much sincere. My issue was your – comical, really – indignation with the word “Känguruficker”,…

Personally, I find all the name-calling flame-wars extremely unpleasant, boring, childish and, worst of all, they lower the tone and value of this blog. (Of course, without such occasional explosions the bar might get overly self-important and dull, so there’s that…)
That said, the term ‘Känguruficker’ deserves a special prize, especially since the Bar’s Honorary ‘Old Ozzie Fuck’ PeterAU can take it given how often he clearly enjoys dishing it out!

Posted by: Scorpion | Aug 16 2024 15:19 utc | 78

The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attack on the Kursk region is driven by the anticipation of the imminent collapse of the Kiev regime;
Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 14:21 utc | 56
Sounds reasonable.
Because tactics like surprise attacks are often done by cornered regimes.
The more cornered a company or country gets, the more that ruling class is willing to use tactics of a gambling nature.

Posted by: Nokaz | Aug 16 2024 15:24 utc | 79

I don’t want Syrski dead. He’s been a valuable component of many Russian victories since Zaluzhnyi was exiled.
Better the devil you know and all that …

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Aug 16 2024 15:26 utc | 80

Krinky is not in Russia.
Posted by: Honzo | Aug 16 2024 14:42 utc | 63
—
Oh really? Wasn’t the Kherson Oblast accepted into the Russian Federation by referendum?

Posted by: too scents | Aug 16 2024 15:26 utc | 81

This article paints a rather bleak picture of Russia gas exports: The Kremlin’s Dilemma. Forced to pick between a China demanding deep price cuts, or a reconciliation with Europe.
I think it would be more prudent for China – with an almost insatiable need for energy – not to antagonize Russia with excessive price cut demands. Especially, if there is a China-USA conflict in the card, which might interfere with sea based supplies of LNG, oil, food, etc. by blockading the Malacca straits.

Posted by: Rune Denmark | Aug 16 2024 15:30 utc | 82

I thought he’d gone away or chosen a new handle but this is getting tiring…
Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 12:35 utc | 23
##############
Just post as OGNewbie or OriginalNewbie.
It’s on you choosing such a common name with which to identify yourself.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Aug 16 2024 15:17 utc | 77
But I am the original Newbie; why should I change my handle? HE should change.

Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 15:32 utc | 83

China demanding deep price cuts
Posted by: Rune Denmark | Aug 16 2024 15:30 utc | 82
—
Ignore anybody that suggests that energy is a buyers market.

Posted by: too scents | Aug 16 2024 15:32 utc | 84

Posted by: paddy | Aug 16 2024 15:12 utc | 72

Indian Punchline is even less capable of serious military analysis than I am. That latest article reads like it came from the Atlantic Council. As you say, the talk of combined arms when no aviation is present, or the fact there is a single road for resupply, is frankly imbecilic. At the end he morphs into shadowbanned implying Russia will be forced to use tactical nuclear weapons.
That’s an interesting conclusion. The troops who are stuck in the Kursk partial encirclement are ill supplied and suffering heavy casulaties while doing…not much at all really. The idea that Russia will be forced to do anything other than what is doing now…slaughtering the UAF and the foreign adventurers with conventional weapons while handily containing the incursion and pressing forward on the main frontline, seems purest fantasy and sophistry, dare I say delusion.

the MoA party line..67. Unnamed

Unnamed, there is no ‘MoA party line’. If there is some small measure of consensus amongst the disparate souls commenting here, it is due to the logical conclusions reached. It is not due to excesses of feeling or emotion. If you believe Ukraine is winning the war or that this Kursk incursion was anything but a suicidal gambit made on the masters orders, elucidate why. Your drive by smears are terribly unimpressive. I’m sorry that the forum isn’t an echo chamber for infantilising NAFO propaganda like all the proper and right thinking social media channels and websites?

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Aug 16 2024 15:34 utc | 85

Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 15:37 utc | 86

NOT MINE!!!! Now it’s downright trolling!
I thought he’d gone away or chosen a new handle but this is getting tiring…
Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 12:35 utc | 23
##############
Just post as OGNewbie or OriginalNewbie.
It’s on you choosing such a common name with which to identify yourself.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Aug 16 2024 15:17 utc | 77
But I am the original Newbie; why should I change my handle? HE should change.
Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 15:32 utc | 83
NOT MINE!!!! Now it’s downright trolling!
LoveDonbass I respect your position and was about to answer but at the same time considering it and decided not to answer (I’d do it or not, but not litter the thread)
But that would only bring new whatever handle I chose
There is a more than trollish thing going on…

Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 15:41 utc | 87

I believe M. K. Bhadrakumar does frequent this blog. Calling my (and others) suggestion the Russians might have baited the UAF and NATO into this attack ‘utter hogwash’ isn’t a rebuttal, per se. There are several convincing signs the Russias had some inkling about what was coming. I eagerly await more of your thoughts, but hope you take the necessary time to allow consideration to ripen before doing so, as I generally find the articles insightful, particularly in international diplomacy.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Aug 16 2024 15:42 utc | 88

“Krinky is not in Russia.”
Posted by: Honzo | Aug 16 2024 14:42 utc | 63
—
“Oh really? Wasn’t the Kherson Oblast accepted into the Russian Federation by referendum?”
Posted by: too scents | Aug 16 2024 15:26 utc | 81
too scents is correct.

Posted by: canuck | Aug 16 2024 15:44 utc | 89

Ukraine may be trying to secure the northern flank of their Kursk incursion using the Seym river. Apparently between Tetkino and Korenevo there are three bridges. Ukraine has dropped the bridge at Glushkovo. If they drop the other two bridges then Russians on the northern flank of the Ukrainian salient essentially themselves become in a salient. It’s possible Russia may end up making a “difficult decision” regarding Tetkino (and the entire region south of the Seym, east of Snagost).

Posted by: Mike314159 | Aug 16 2024 15:44 utc | 90

OT
“I thought he’d gone away or chosen a new handle but this is getting tiring…”
Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 12:35 utc | 23
————
When I first commented some years ago I used a name which I discovered sometime later was already being used by someone, Susan. So I became suzan to avoid misunderstandings.
Maybe try talking with the new poster directly instead of appealing to b to solve the problem? Perhaps suggest a few alternative handles: nubie, nubee, knewbie, o.s.v.. I am sure one of you can imagine something better.
If that doesn’t’ precipitate results to your satisfaction, then let it go.
We see the other one consistently does not use capital “N” nor sign off with “ just my 2 cents” but I agree with you that it would better to have a sharper distinction. Wouldn’t the other poster also think so I you make a friendly direct appeal?

Posted by: suzan | Aug 16 2024 15:45 utc | 91

Something big enough to break the western news cycles.
Posted by: HERMIUS | Aug 16 2024 14:27 utc | 58

I think this is one of the (many) blind spots of the Western ‘strategos’. Russia doesn’t give a fuck about Western media, while the West is obsessed with how things look instead of how they are.
Turns out war has a reality bias. Propaganda is great, but it doesn’t win shit.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Aug 16 2024 15:50 utc | 92

@Posted by: Down South | Aug 16 2024 10:11 utc | 5
@Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 12:28 utc | 21
That demographic situation is much worse than you report given the under-reporting of Ukrainian military deaths, which are increasing as the front starts to collapse. At least 60,000 casualties a month, probably at least half deaths (180,000 every 6 months) given the nature of the war and the very limited frontline medicine available. And another chunk permanently disabled. The natural death rate (which I agree is under-reported) will be high because the population is so skewed toward the old and infirm that predominantly stayed in place instead of fleeing. And we haven’t even seen the next wave of attempts to escape the country as the Ukrainian front gives way, with women and children having a much better chance of being allowed abroad.
It will be a country of old and broken men, and many widows and fatherless children. If the West can’t have Ukraine, they will deliver a poisoned chalice back to Russia. Just like the Germans did as they destroyed everything as they retreated in WW2. But Russia will still have all the mineral and agricultural wealth of Ukraine, and if planned properly could easily launch a “homesteading” style immigration explosion akin to that in the US West in the 1800s. In a way, the West may have done Russia a favour in helping to greatly thin the ranks of the Banderistas and brainwashed population. And the West can keep the Ukrainian population they took in, a nice headache for them to deal with. The Polish should have understood the nature of that headache.
@Posted by: TJandTheBear | Aug 16 2024 10:25 utc | 8
And just like the Battle of the Bulge, one of the biggest issues seems to be lack of fuel as the Ukrainians did not manage to set up a proper logistics infrasructure and the Russians are destroying every fuel dump they can find.
@Posted by: Dr. Rob Campbell | Aug 16 2024 12:07 utc | 14
That’s a very thorough weekly update!
@Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Aug 16 2024 12:20 utc | 17
The more foreign mercenaries and sheep-dipped NATO personnel the better, the body bags travelling west should help reduce the number of idiots travelling east. And I love the smell of burning NATO equipment in the morning (and evening, and night-time).
@Posted by: dtiger | Aug 16 2024 13:45 utc | 43

summary for Kursk: https://t.me/s/ZandVchannel
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses have amounted to up to 2,860 Ukrainian troops, 41 tanks, 40 armoured personnel carriers, 23 infantry fighting vehicles, 213 armoured fighting vehicles, 102 motor vehicles, four SAM systems, six MLRS launchers, including three HIMARS MLRS, two transport-loading vehicles, 22 field artillery guns, and three electronic warfare stations.

If true, that is absolutely catastrophic given that the normal daily Ukie losses are perhaps 1-2 tanks and perhaps 10 APC/IFV/AFV. They are basically pissing away all their equipment reserves while they starve the Donetsk front.
@Posted by: Republicofscotland | Aug 16 2024 14:05 utc | 49
My Canadian tax dollars being pissed away south of Kursk!
@Posted by: Newbie | Aug 16 2024 14:11 utc | 53
Agreed, but Boris was just taking orders from Washington DC. The true devil’s spawn is Blinken.
@Posted by: migueljose | Aug 16 2024 14:45 utc | 64
All the Ukrainians will have achieved is massive losses of mean and material while deepening the Russian pubic’s resolve to take all of Ukraine and thoroughly de-Nazify it.

Posted by: Roger | Aug 16 2024 15:51 utc | 93

I wonder how are these Ukro soldiers in Russia, around Kursk, getting fuel and food? Do they steal food?

Posted by: vargas | Aug 16 2024 15:51 utc | 94

“If you seriously think I’m a hateful person for calling an Australian person a “kangaroo fucker””
Posted by: Unnamed Peasant | Aug 16 2024 15:00 utc | 68
No, I think you are a verbose idiot with a weird obsession with parentheses; an anxious Intellectual Peasant who is either taking too many illicit drugs or not enough prescribed meds; or both.

Posted by: canuck | Aug 16 2024 15:53 utc | 95

@Posted by: Rune Denmark | Aug 16 2024 15:30 utc | 82
The guy is pushing Western talking points, and classic concern trolling with no real factual backing. Russia will be just fine and the relationship between Russia and China will be just fine. The bigger worry for Russia is China’s headlong drive to move away from fossil fuels, especially oil. But that won’t really start biting until 2030 and beyond, and China will much prefer Russian oil as its from a safe friendly supplier. As is Russian gas, that is also heavily delivered overland and therefore not subject seaborne attack.

Posted by: Roger | Aug 16 2024 15:57 utc | 96

I wonder how are these Ukro soldiers in Russia, around Kursk, getting fuel and food? Do they steal food?
Posted by: vargas | Aug 16 2024 15:51 utc | 94
No vargas. They obviously walk into the nearest supermarket and buy the food.
They have billions of dollars after all!
…jesus christ.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Aug 16 2024 16:02 utc | 97

I doubt anyone here thinks that Ukraine has launched what will ultimately be a successful offensive – that success being defined as creating a situation on the ground that would cause enough political turmoil for the Russian Regime to be coerced into negotiations on an unfavourable basis. Intsead what we are seeing (despite vivid reporting in the western MSM to the contrary to help the perception of such a “success”) is that precious reserves (maybe the last) are being expended on a do or DIE mission – the emaphsis on the latter. Moreover Russia seems mightily pissed and it now seems unlikely that they want peace talks nor to trust the Collective West who appear to have crossed a red line on this one – a line previously agreed using back channels not to attack Russia proper.
You have to wonder who thought up this reckless military and political gamble, and who actually authorised it? Certainly not FJB and a lame duck (of all lame duck) White House[s]. I fear this escalation has been caused by the usual internal negotiations between western establishments who fear an imminent Ukrainian defeat and who have different views and goals. No one is in charge. And NATO just attacked the biggest nuclear power in the world.
I have commented elsewhere that Russia appears surprised by the invasion – someone above mentioned a Tik Tok tour and I like that and it is a correct analysis to a point, but this is more serious. Russia now must surely realise – if they did not before – that negotiations are not possible and they need to play for keeps. Seems to me that NATO – whose involvement in this fiasco (for the west) is total and that limited miltary and naiive political thinking is taking precedence over trying to secure the best peace possible. This will end badly now for NATO and Ukraine as the negotiated option appears closed. Why would Russia trust the current generation of Western leaders. Whoever they may be. And I don’t know. And who in any event would Russia actually negotiate with? Again, I have no idea and I speculate neither do the Russians. And maybe the West doesn’t either.
What could possibly go wrong??

Posted by: marcjf | Aug 16 2024 16:08 utc | 98

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 16 2024 14:21 utc | 56
Given the other points, a collapse of the Kiev regime implies a coming breakdown of NATO as well.

I so hope you are right. Stolti promised it to us! 🙂

Posted by: Konami | Aug 16 2024 16:09 utc | 99

/overhears “känguruficker”
O.o
*fweeeeeee* *cough* *cough* *cough*
^.~
Ok, that got me. I’ve been blow tickled. PeterAU1 is definitely thick skinned enough to take it. But Scorpion’s right, not to be encouraged but that deserves a special mention. Bottlecaps of piss peat water all around! ^.^ It burns like insect venom!
Newbie, use your name , don’t change it, capitalization and all. Changing it leads to confusion and possible ‘account loss’. We have a name doppleganger here for awhile now and poor james was a recent longtime target.
Just do as we did then as we called, “fake james at #post” and move on. Eventually it will get bored. Or, it is an innocent mistake from a genuine newcomer and is up to them to figure it out. 🙂 No need to let it get under your skin.
/cheep

Posted by: titmouse | Aug 16 2024 16:10 utc | 100

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