Ukraine – Threat Of North Korean Soldiers Is Based on U.S. Info Campaign

October 19, 2024

Earlier this week I pointed to a Ukrainian (South Korean, U.S.') propaganda campaign which claims that thousands of North Korean soldiers will soon fight with on the Russian side against Ukraine:

To have North Koreans fighting in Russia against the Ukrainian incursion in Kursk would make little sense. That incursion is for one already mostly defeated.

Besides that the language and cultural problems would make the integration of such forces into Russian military operations nearly impossible. I am sure that the Russian military would be strongly against it.

Zelenski's claims were amplified through various proxies and media appearances:
…
I regard the whole claim of North Korean troops in Russia as a fake news story and I am sure that most experts will follow me in that judgment.

However, today U.S. media manage to play up the nonsense:

Why North Korea is sending soldiers to the Russian front lines – Washington Post, Oct 15 2024

…
I do not believe that any politician or military in the west will believe that nonsense which is again solely sourced to Ukrainian military intelligence claims. But there is clear campaign by the Ukrainian government to make the issue stick.

At the time of writing the above I did not know that the idea for this campaign came from RAND, the Pentagon's think tank which often proposes strategic ideas. In a commentary about Russian/North Korean and Chinese cooperation published on October 11, three days before the start of Zelenski's campaign, a RAND analyst wrote:

What Should the United States Do?

Given the differences in the objectives of Russia, China, and North Korea, the United States should be mounting major information operations against these three countries to highlight their differences and fuel distrust among them. Doing so would increase the likelihood of decoupling at least some of their partnerships. Some examples of potential information operations seem obvious.
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Information operations are also possible against Russia and North Korea.
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[T]he United States should recognize that North Korean military advisors are supporting Russian use of North Korean military supplies in occupied areas of Ukraine.
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The South Korean Defense Minister has said that North Korea will likely send more of its troops to support Russia, probably on the battlefield. Given Russian attitudes, those troops may well serve as cannon fodder. The North Korean elites need to hear what Kim may do to their sons.
…
This new cooperation between Russia and North Korea is hardly a signal of a budding long-term alliance and U.S. information campaigns could help speed its demise.

Just three days later the Military Intelligence of the Ukrainian army, headed by General Budanov, started to 'leak' claims to the Ukrainian press about North Korean troops in Russia. It is obvious where this came from:

According to a 2024 report by The New York Times, Budanov was one of the members of the elite Unit 2245 of the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate trained by CIA.

Since launching the first rumors of 1,500, then 3,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia Budanov has steadily increased the claim:

11,000 North Korean troops will be 'ready to fight' in Ukraine by Nov. 1, Budanov says – Kyiv Independent, Oct 18 2024

The South Korean news agency Yonhap, well known for peddling fake news about North Korea, repeats similar South Korean 'intelligence' claims:

N. Korea decides to send around 10,000 soldiers to support Russia in Ukraine war: Seoul – Yonhap, Oct 18, 2024

U.s. media are also all over the theme. After the Washington Post had peddled the rumors from Ukraine the New York Times also jumped in:

North Korea, Longing for Battle Experience, Eyes Ukraine – New York Times, Oct 16

The NYT report caused some bewilderment:

Left I on the News 🇨🇺🏳️‍⚧️ @leftiblog – 14:07 UTC · Oct 16, 2024

An entire NYT article https://nytimes.com/2024/10/16/world/asia/north-korea-ukraine-russia.html [is] based on the premise that North Korean troops are fighting in Ukraine. Not until the 15th paragraph does the reader learn there’s no evidence for this whatsoever.
Images

NATO agreed with Left I:

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the allies “have no evidence that North Korean soldiers are involved in the fight. But we do know that North Korea is supporting Russia in many ways, weapons supplies, technological supplies, innovation, to support them in the war effort. And that is highly worrying.”

The current election season assured that the propaganda theme would soon expand into the political realm:

Congress demands Biden's response to North Korean troops participation in war against Ukraine – UA Pravda, Oct 19 2024

Mike Turner, Chair of the House Intelligence Committee in the United States, has demanded an "immediate" briefing from the White House amid reports that North Korean troops may be involved in hostilities against Ukraine on the side of Russia.
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"North Korean troops, either attacking Ukraine from Russian territory or entering into Ukrainian territory, must be a red line for the United States and NATO. Your administration must make that absolutely clear and unequivocal," Turner wrote to Biden.

As the claim of North Korean troops preparing for war in Ukraine still lacked evidence the Ukrainian Intelligence had to fabricate some:

Lord Bebo @MyLordBebo – 11:21 UTC · Oct 18, 2024

🇺🇦🇷🇺🇰🇵 BREAKING STUPIDITY: Ukraine shows a North Korean POW! The problem is he speaks Ukrainian, LMAO.

They explain it, that Koreans live close to the border with russia so they learn Russian, ok … sure but he speaks UKRAINIAN … LMAO

They took some student from Kiev or something and forced him to do this video!

He recites the Ukrainian poem "Love Ukraine" by Volodymyr Sosiura in Ukrainian and has very good pronunciation. No way he just learned it in 10 minutes, not humanly possible.
Embedded video

There are also two videos which allegedly show North Korean soldiers being outfitted with Russian gear as well as training with them.

North Korean troops seen being kitted out in Russia ahead of likely despatch to Ukraine – CNN, Oct 19, 2024

In a video shared with CNN by Ukrainian government organization, the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security, a long line of soldiers can be seen queuing up to receive their uniforms. The soldiers are thought to be speaking in Korean although the low quality audio prevented their discussions from being fully understood.

However, knowledgeable sources claim that the videos were taken during one of the yearly LAROS maneuvers during which troops from Laos and Russia perform military drills. The caps worn by the soldiers in the -Ukraine provided- CNN video look like the caps of Laotian soldiers.

Shortly after RAND proposed a U.S. information operation campaign around the theme of North Korean soldiers in Russia the Ukrainian military intelligence service under CIA trainee Budanov started to spread rumors of North Korean soldiers soon to fight on the Russian side. The numbers claimed by Budanov have since steadily increased. South Korean intelligence, also associated with the CIA, and U.S. media have joined the campaign. The chair of the House Intelligence Committee is milking the campaign to make political points.

Evidence that was supposed to support the claims has been exposed as being fake. The whole story is thus based on nothing but 'intelligence' rumors which are following a RAND proposed script. Don't fall for it.

Posted by b on October 19, 2024 at 15:57 UTC | Permalink

Comments

I doubt the use of NK will have a large effect on the war, whether one is hoping for RFA progress or praying for UFA defensive strength.
Most of the discussion seems like analysis by sound bite. Varying from the “devil making deals with devils” shame of it (PR aspect) to false comments about Russian desperation (“can’t even fight without help”). But in reality, the number of troops is too small to matter. Like Aussies in Viet Nam. Or Turks in the Korean War. Destined to become a fun historical footnote.
And I doubt the shame, shame PR effort works either. We are not going to let Z provoke us into some escalations.

Posted by: Anonymous | Oct 19 2024 16:07 utc | 1

Even if the story were true, which I doubt how could the West complain when soldiers from many NATO countries have been in there since the SMO started. One rule for the West another for everyone else – as usual.

Posted by: Dr. Rob Campbell | Oct 19 2024 16:09 utc | 2

Excellent b !
You called it.

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Oct 19 2024 16:10 utc | 3

Well, another point. This “desperate move” by Russia (or is it out and out hostility?) covers-up pretty nicely the last desperate move by Russia, the long-range missile “nuclear threat”, which is now just yesterday’s news. Apparently the US backed down on that, this time they can have a much firmer red line, “Any NK troops in Ukraine means sanctions from . . Tarturus!” And when no NK troops appear they can, as a certain analyst loved to say, declare victory and leave.

Posted by: Nothingburgers | Oct 19 2024 16:32 utc | 4

The RAND report linked by b is a pile of utter dross, including such gems as:

But China views the Russia-North Korea relationship as an affront to the Chinese goal of regional if not global dominance. So once the North Korean artillery and missile stocks are depleted, North Korea will have less to offer Russia, and Russia may decide that it is better to emphasize its relationship with China than its relationship with North Korea.

and:

U.S. alliances are defensive, however, Russia and North Korea face no defensive requirement.

or how about this:

Thus, the threat that Russia and North Korea face is internal, not external. Russia’s Putin had no need to invade Ukraine, but he chose to do so anyway. He worries that if the invasion fails, he will not politically survive the displeasure of his people and his elites. North Korea’s Kim Jong-un apparently fears that unless he appears strong and provides more goods for his people, his regime will not survive.

Laughable; if this is the best that Western think-tankery can come up with it just reinforces Andrei Martyanov’s regularly-made points on the paucity of well-educated, truly knowledgeable analysts in the West.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Oct 19 2024 16:35 utc | 5

Ukraine Weekly Update, 18th October 2024: May be useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-ffc

Posted by: Dr. Rob Campbell | Oct 19 2024 16:42 utc | 6

https://www.reddit.com/r/MarxistRA/comments/1g72b4g/kpa_troops_of_the_dprk_arriving_in_russia/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Cannot vouch for any veracity… Anyone know the source of this claim?

Posted by: Dave | Oct 19 2024 16:56 utc | 7

Do “major information programs” actually work when they are discussed in advance in open sourced publications? They don’t – unless it is understood that the target for these programs are actually elite opinion and average news consumers in the west. Anyone relying on Kiev Independent, the British press, or the New York Times, where these informations ops are laundered, knows next to nothing about what is actually going on.

Posted by: jayc | Oct 19 2024 16:59 utc | 8

Thanks b.
First they ran out of armaments/ordnance/literally derelict junk from the arsenals.
Then they ran out of capable human sandbags to train outside The BanderaLands, let alone shanghai/impress.
Then they cut the purse strings early ’24 and ran out of money supply.
Now they’ve run out of even slightly effective or credible propaganda.
Expensive RAND garbage in, garbage processed, garbage out. Make book.
The end is nigh for The BanderaLands, post the Potemkin/Anocracy faux election through to end Jan ’25.
Cannot come soon enough.

Posted by: Ooutraged | Oct 19 2024 17:01 utc | 9

It’s interesting that RAND has their eyes on upsetting “NK elites” as if they privately recognize that NK isn’t possibly run by one man alone. It’s similar to how the US portrays Putin as omnipotent dictator who knows about and controls every detail of what happens in Russia, yet is actually weak and surrounded by reluctant “elites” that have been subjected to rule under threat by their madman rogue dictator. We’re told constantly in the western press that if we just took out Maduro, Putin, Ali Khamenei, or Yahya Sinwar for that matter that the whole regime / movement under them would crumble and suddenly an oppressed populous would rise up in democracy and instal a government that would do whatever the US wants. It’s a fairytale kind of narrative yet many in the US see the world this way. I had a friend tell me how China is run by a dictator, yet many of the elites there want to be free and democratic yet all 1.5 billion people are under rule of this one man. Even the idea of this type of rule doesn’t seem possible logistically in 2024, yet this singular bad man story persists in the propagandized US world view. Just one man to topple and the natural resources are ours, or the resistance is crushed just like that.

Posted by: James C | Oct 19 2024 17:04 utc | 10

For years, the US neocon Jews have done everything they can to harm Russia through Ukraine, and Putin has always been fascinated by the idea of redirecting his opponent’s impulses in such a way that it causes maximum harm to himself. Why shouldn’t the Koreans come? This is how they gain combat experience against the West and we will see how it works out. Perhaps the commitment will then be expanded further, perhaps the Koreans will get their own military base in Ukraine and perhaps the experiences they gain will only serve to prepare for Chinese entry. Putin will definitely leave the West a large western Ukraine that will act as a black hole and will suck significant financial and military resources from the West for many years and drive the EU and NATO countries into strife and resentment.
By deposing Yanukovych, the US neocons prevented China from leasing significant amounts of Ukraine’s land. If it happens that there will soon be a North Korean/Chinese military in eastern Ukraine, then the development initiated by the West will be entirely in Putin’s spirit.

Posted by: Oliver Krug | Oct 19 2024 17:05 utc | 11

Ah, sorry. So this propaganda organ “Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security” is the source of the video, I guess…

Posted by: Dave | Oct 19 2024 17:06 utc | 12

Posted by: Outraged | Oct 19 2024 17:13 utc | 13

Excellent analysis, b. I’d only add that the psywar campaign also carries a powerful component of racism. The fake news about DPRK troops in Ukraine is meant to trigger fears of an “Asian horde” descending upon “white” Europe. Ukrainians already push those buttons when they describe the Russians as Asiatic “Orcs”.
The propaganda machine is a huge element of this war, and many thanks for calling it out. RAND Corp. has been an important think-tank for the Pentagon for decades. As for South Korean intelligence, there is no inane atrocity or fictional propaganda that is too absurd for them. I’d guess, though, that the US CIA was the original author of the No. Korea-in-Russia/Ukraine story.

Posted by: Jeffrey Kaye | Oct 19 2024 17:16 utc | 14

Early on in the SMO, I published an article at my VK that had a header photo of a Russian soldier from Buryatia who looks very Chinese. The one ethnicity Russia lacks large numbers of is African, although there are a few within the Russian Armed Forces. So, Russia being composed of well over 100 ethnicities will have a blend of them in the Army. Hell, there are even Ex-pat Americans in Russia’s military. And just how is this Info War Promo supposed to affect the conflict? Is it supposed to turn the Global Majority that supports Russia against it, and if so how?
As usual, RAND et al assume the world views its enemies as it does when they don’t. Do the RANDnuts think their lies will sway the US public to support the war against Russia when the public clearly doesn’t. Maybe RAND should’ve lied about North Koreans fighting along with Hezbollah against the Empire’s Zionist Genocidal allies.

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 19 2024 17:31 utc | 15

The information war in this most recent iteration of pointing at Pyongyang, is indicative of the level of nervousness and out and out fear within the chambers of the ruling elite. In part, this misinformation is for home consumption by those who remain as terminally deluded.

Posted by: aristodemos | Oct 19 2024 17:35 utc | 16

NothingBurghers@1632
You are mistaken evidentially. The desperation is not present within the higher levels of the R.U. DESPERATION is the exclusive province of the ruling elite. They are severiously losing on both of the two fronts of Ukraine and I$rael. The entire axis of Resistance is closely prepared for all possible contingencies, as the Evil One$ shout and scream in their hidden-holes and private security forces.

Posted by: aristodemos | Oct 19 2024 17:40 utc | 17

Nork Troops in 404 is not as ludicrous as one might think: Look at it as a live-fire exercise to build skills against Western weapons and tactics and to build skills in interoperability with Russian forces. Much like sending weapons to get real-world data on their effectiveness against a real target/opponent makes perfect sense. If the Pentagon et al are trying to shame th3 Norks out of joining the party, it’s because they don’t want the Norks to up their game.

Posted by: Cato the Uncensored | Oct 19 2024 17:52 utc | 18

karlof1@1731
RAND, like most other run from a corrupted top institutions, suffers from a gross shortage of adults in the room. This phenomenon harkens back to an edumacasional complex which was designed by John D. Rottenfeller clear back ca 1920 to deliberately dumb-down the American people. Many of even our fellow posters on MoA would have a difficult time passing a State of Kansas 8th grade graduation “final exam”.
Unfortunately for the ruling elite, even the Ivy Leaguers have devolved, in large measure due to “legacies” such as Bu$h the Le$$er…that along with deeply inbred and constantly feuding constantly co-opted by various idiotologies, college and university professors.
The University of Minnesota, where I did some “hard time” but chose not to graduate in 1968, was a Mass-Class diploma mill where Psych 101 was held in the Northrup Auditorium which was a good place to nod out amongst that mob of some 2,000 fellow internees (technically students) listening to the droning of the head of the department.
In the meantime, here in Mn., anyway, high schools not so awfully long ago shitcanned shop and home-ec courses, while a trades-oriented high school in Minneapolis was permanently parked.
Conclusion is simple: There are very few, if any, adults left in the rooms of most major institutions…as hedge-funds such as Blackrock, Vanguard and State Street continue to gobble up productive industries and generally shut them down as costs are far less for workers in less “developed” nations.

Posted by: aristodemos | Oct 19 2024 17:56 utc | 19

Are the North Koreans fighting in North Korean uniforms, commanded by NK officers flying the NK flag or are they fighting in Russian uniforms under Russian command? One is an act of war and the other is a commercial relationship.
There is vast evidence that Ukraine are employing western mercenaries and sheep dipped NATO officers … why the outrage when Russia does the same?

Posted by: HB_Norica | Oct 19 2024 17:56 utc | 20

Is this reaction what RAND wanted? “North Korea threatens to declare war” reports RT:

North Korea claimed on Saturday to have found fragments of a crashed South Korean military drone, and threatened to retaliate, intensifying a standoff on the peninsula.
According to Pyongyang’s state-run news agency KCNA, the UAV was likely used to drop leaflets over the capital. Similar drones were spotted scattering leaflets full of “political propaganda and slander” earlier this month, the outlet said.
“If a violation of the DPRK’s territorial ground, air and waters by ROK’s military means is discovered and confirmed again, it will be regarded as a grave military provocation against the sovereignty of the DPRK and a declaration of war and an immediate retaliatory attack will be launched,” KCNA warned, as quoted by Reuters….
South Korea has refused to confirm whether its drones have crossed the border. Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Colonel Lee Sung-jun told reporters this week that the matter was “something that should be clarified by North Korea.”
Pyongyang has engaged in hostile rhetoric in recent months, accusing its southern neighbor of “provocations.” This week, North Korea blew up sections of roads leading to South Korea, and vowed to “completely separate” the two countries and transform the border area into “an eternal fortress.”
In January, Kim Jong-un proposed abandoning the longstanding commitment to reunification, and labeled South Korea a “principal enemy.” [My Emphasis]

Is this bluff-calling by Kim, in essence saying “if you want us in a war, we’re willing to oblige?” Was this event reported alongside the RAND lies?

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 19 2024 17:56 utc | 21

NK troops to help Russia?
ABSOLUTE BOLLOX! Dont you believe it folks!

Posted by: HERMIUS | Oct 19 2024 17:59 utc | 22

Posted by: Drifter | Oct 19 2024 18:13 utc | 23

The fact that RAND believes it can cause some disharmony between Russia, NK and China with some fake news means that this is a ruse.
No, RAND are trying to pivot for escalation on the Korean peninsula. Makes sense when you think about it. 3 wars in the 3 places it desperately wants to hold on to. S Korea as we know are locked and loaded, ready to go.

Posted by: Ogre | Oct 19 2024 18:16 utc | 24

@ karlof1 | Oct 19 2024 17:56 utc | 21
Recall our discussion re the RF/PRC/DPRK/Iranian led Resistance creating & sustaining thier own ‘strategy of tension’ spreading Empire wafer thin. Waiting for the prelude to a Yemeni like shipping/trade blockade elsewhere. Taiwan, Japan, or deny transit to SCS. Interesting times indeed …
SK & Israel were stripped of 500K-1M 155mm propositioned strategic war stocks re contingency US deployments, along with AD/AA interceptors, materiel/ordnance through the SMO to go boom in Ukraine … Arsenals are bare & no armaments industrial base, nor expansion capacity worth spit.
Pivot to US tripwire, to defend SK, with what exactly ? Then Taiwan, threatened Japan ? Pivot that much you’ll turn into a spinning top. lol

Posted by: Outraged | Oct 19 2024 18:17 utc | 25

D’Oh! Correction: ahem, the 155mm shells/materiel/ordnance were not propositioned, were prepositioned.

Posted by: Outraged | Oct 19 2024 18:21 utc | 26

No surprise that Dima of the Military Summary Channel has been pushing this DPRK story as an established fact. He cosplays as a neutral commentator, but has Ukrainian sympathies. This has long been obvious as a double standard in mapping. UKR advances, even fake photoshopped ones, are immediately mapped. Russian advances are often not mapped until supported by several sources.
Posted by: Drifter | Oct 19 2024 18:13 utc | 23
————————————————————–
Thank you, Drifter. I caught the little bastard pushing pro-Ukraine video’s many times while talking about Russian advancements, and on two occasions that I know of he pushed this Korean bullshit: In fact, he did it today.
Dima is a fucking weasel, and I am sure that he is getting paid to drop lies in favor of the AFU.

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 18:28 utc | 27

Kiss the Rails I’m coming Home
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5qNtOryEVc0&pp=ygUda2lzcyB0aGUgcmFpbHMgaSdtIGdvaW5nIGhvbWU%3D
Russian Soldiers song from the late Soviet Periof

Posted by: Exile | Oct 19 2024 18:35 utc | 28

“In part, this misinformation is for home consumption by those who remain as terminally deluded.”
Posted by: aristodemos | Oct 19 2024 17:35 utc | 16
——————————————————————–
I agree with you aristodemos. I think the US/NATO are preparing the West for a post-election, boots on the ground invasion of Ukraine, based on the lies that Russia has brought foreign allies into the conflict.

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 18:38 utc | 29

Interesting.Which “immigrants” are they talking about ?
– Majority of Russians believe country has too many immigrants – poll –
https://www.rt.com/russia/605688-russia-too-many-migrants-poll/

Posted by: Moonie | Oct 19 2024 18:46 utc | 30

Dima says that North Korean troops are on their way to Kursk.
And why not? It’s entirely possible.
The mere announcement that they are coming will cause brown stripes
in the underpants of many Ukrainians and foreign mercenaries.

Posted by: guest from franconia | Oct 19 2024 18:47 utc | 31

” Russian Soldiers song from the late Soviet Periof
Posted by: Exile | Oct 19 2024 18:35 utc | 28 ”
Wouldn’t they be Soviet troops and not Russian ?

Posted by: Moonie | Oct 19 2024 18:48 utc | 32

Propaganda goes full speed: 12’000 North Korean will come to the front to attack Ukraine starting ww3, basically relaying what the penis piano player is shouting with his voice corrupted by drugs. Why? Because Russia suffered heavy losses. Wouahahaha! 1500 North Koreans already arrived in one Russian training camp in the far, far east according to some Stupid Korean “intelligence”. It looks like they are against Korean studying the Russian language. If they believe their lies.
What about the some 2000-2500 ukronazis soldiers trained in France? Not a single word of course.
B: I do not believe that any politician or military in the west will believe that nonsense…
Of course they will believe, they always believe what is written in their newspapers. Like they believed Colin Powell with his small capsule full of shit.
Fixed for Rutte:
“But we do know that the western countries are supporting the ukronazis in many ways, weapons supplies, technological supplies, innovation, to support them in the war effort. And that is highly worrying.”

Posted by: Naive | Oct 19 2024 18:48 utc | 33

From any historical view, this story is a non starter. The examples are just ll over the place: Spanish troops in the siege of Leningrad, Prussians in Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, it just doesn’t stop. But is it true. NO. Exactly as our colleagues have said this is just “muddying the waters” before the Brics summit.

Posted by: Stierlitz | Oct 19 2024 18:53 utc | 34

But in reality, the number of troops is too small to matter. Like Aussies in Viet Nam. Or Turks in the Korean War. Destined to become a fun historical footnote.
Posted by: Anonymous | Oct 19 2024 16:07 utc | 1
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The only “fun historical footnote” is that it is all a lie to get NATO (including U.S. forces) into a conflict that the Kiev Nazis are about to lose completely. If NATO forces enter into conflict directly, perhaps the NK forces should, by all means, become a fun historical foot in NATO’s face.

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 18:54 utc | 35

Hold On Brother (Russian Paratrooper Anthem)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JcCmF7o6-Fc
With training films – watch until last 30 seconds for a little surprise

Posted by: Exile | Oct 19 2024 18:54 utc | 36

Dima is a fucking weasel, and I am sure that he is getting paid to drop lies in favor of the AFU.
Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 18:28 utc | 27
##########
I shared this same sentiment last year but even veteran patrons at the bar sometimes resort to “Dima said this” “Dima said that”.
All modern wars are infowar and elevating anyone above skepticism is a sucker’s mistake, IMO.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Oct 19 2024 18:54 utc | 37

sad reality is, the “highly educated” people in the west will swallow that “korean soldiers” humbug like the good little prostitutes that theyve become.
one polish colleague mentioned that propaganda, and i simply asked him what he thinks russians look like. his indoctrinated brain went on hiatus because he could not fathom the fact that the russian federation has many more cultures and ethnicities than we in the “diversified west” have. and that those in the asian part of russia would be, you guessed it, asian.
for idiots like him (and highly likely the majority of the “highly educated” idiots here in the eu), the russians all look like the typical gopnik, wearing addidas and doing squats.
thats the status of western civilization.
zum fremdschämen.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Oct 19 2024 18:58 utc | 38

thanks b…
these propaganda information campaigns sure get a lot of funding in the usa/uk axis…. it is too bad all the money that goes into this to subvert reality, doesn’t ultimately work on the ground.. well one could say there is a lot of stupidity with people, so that is fertile ground for sure… but really… is this all the west has in 2024? disinfo bullshit?? it gets tiring… so they want to make the newest bullshit disinfo outlet in kiev… i suppose i ought not be surprised… working with nazis is quite the recipe… at some point and the time might be now – it will come back to bite them in the ass… rand – what a cesspool of ideological bullshit..

Posted by: james | Oct 19 2024 18:59 utc | 39

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 19 2024 17:31 utc | 15
Thank you, karlof1. I was coming to thank you for your essay including Putin’s conference with media that you posted along with one on Lavrov’s that I have yet to look at. Here is a link of my own this morning to the latest Duran walkabout – one of Christophorou’s best, I think. He begins with the North Korean hyped threat, goes on to Putin’s remarks to the press representatives, ends with Biden in Germany. And in between he quietly walks past a tiny Orthodox church, and then a larger Catholic one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oohvq21xDgg
I think you would also enjoy this, james.

Posted by: juliania | Oct 19 2024 19:00 utc | 40

Wouldn’t they be Soviet troops and not Russian ?
Posted by: Moonie | Oct 19 2024 18:48 utc | 32
—————————————————————–
The film looked like Soviet troops from Afghanistan. The song could very well have been around since WW2. Most of the troops in Afghanistan were Russian if I am not mistaken.

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:00 utc | 41

Outraged | Oct 19 2024 18:17 utc | 25–
Thanks for your reply. Yes, and I’ve been watching China’s blockade practice and increasing rhetoric against the new Taiwanese independence nut. I’d really like to be at Kazan listening to all the sideline talks and the other restricted sessions. Meanwhile it’s reported that Russia now controls all the islands in the Dnieper delta in the Kherson area. Water flow is very low thanks to the blown dams.

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 19 2024 19:02 utc | 42

Well the really important news of 200,000 Chinese PLA in Kursk beating back the Ukies after the Russians ran away didn’t make it into MSM!

Posted by: Surferket | Oct 19 2024 19:06 utc | 43

Moonie,
True, – maybe best to describe the soldiers in the film as “Red Army “

Posted by: Exile | Oct 19 2024 19:12 utc | 44

@ juliania | Oct 19 2024 19:00 utc | 40
thanks juliania..

Posted by: james | Oct 19 2024 19:12 utc | 45

Dima is a fucking weasel, and I am sure that he is getting paid to drop lies in favor of the AFU.
Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 18:28 utc | 27
The only fact that vargaslighting refers always to him is enough to understand what you are saying.

Posted by: Naive | Oct 19 2024 19:13 utc | 46

I shared this same sentiment last year but even veteran patrons at the bar sometimes resort to “Dima said this” “Dima said that”.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Oct 19 2024 18:54 utc | 37
—————————————————————-
I remember your comment well Donbass, at the time I was very ambivalent, but your comment did get me thinking. What really got my attention was how the Trolls started pushing and referencing Dima, and the Military Summery Channel. Now that Dima has joined the US/NATO/Ukraine propaganda team the jig is up. Where to go now?

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:15 utc | 47

The author of the RAND article, Bruce W. Bennett, received his Ph.D. in policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School (a graduate school in the same sense that my golden retriever is an astrophysicist) and his B.S. in economics from the California Institute of Technology.
“Policy analysis” is not a real field of study, and a major in economics is the foundation from which low-IQ individuals catapult themselves into sinecures, in this case with the RAND Corporation. Bennett, therefore, possesses no qualifications whatsoever to comment on anything in world affairs. The only other “job” for which Bennett qualifies is with McKinsey & Company, another bowl of turds generating nothing but the fetid stench of worthless American opinion.

Posted by: Matthew | Oct 19 2024 19:16 utc | 48

“…Evidence that was supposed to support the claims has been exposed as being fake. The whole story is thus based on nothing but ‘intelligence’ rumors which are following a RAND proposed script. Don’t fall for it.
Thank you, b, for spelling out the coordinated fakery.

Posted by: juliania | Oct 19 2024 19:17 utc | 49

@Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:15 utc | 47
Weeb Union, shorter more to the point videos and much less geopolitics etc. speculations. Just the battlefield stuff.

Posted by: Roger | Oct 19 2024 19:21 utc | 50

Wouahahaha! 1500 North Koreans already arrived in one Russian training camp in the far, far east according to some Stupid Korean “intelligence”.
Posted by: Naive | Oct 19 2024 18:48 utc | 33
————————————————————–
The key word that you left out is “South.”
…. according to some Stupid “South” Korean “intelligence”.

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:27 utc | 51

I’m glad somebody went through the stinky gory details to bring us the truth. 🙂

Posted by: rert | Oct 19 2024 19:31 utc | 52

Posted by: Roger | Oct 19 2024 19:21 utc | 50
—————————————————————- |
Thanks Roger, I have watched Weeb Union on several occasions. He used to come on You Tube quite a bit but I haven’t seen him in a while.

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:31 utc | 53

@ Exile | Oct 19 2024 18:35 utc | 28
@ Exile | Oct 19 2024 18:54 utc | 36
In appreciation, my favorite among a series of shorts, re Russkies, ‘About People & War’
Cook
Loose translation:

The curious story of feats even the most ordinary person is capable of. In the field kitchen, the chef quietly and peacefully prepares lunch for the entire detachment, when a lonely German tank is shown on the horizon. Anyone else would have fled … but not a Russian cook, ready with an axe in his hands to defend a hot lunch, even from the devil, and at least from a fascist tank.

Story is based on the feat of a real cook, Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Pavlovich Sereda, who was able to single-handedly capture a German tank & crew, intact.
See: Ivan Pavlovich Sereda: the USSR’s Heroic Cook in World War Two

Posted by: Outraged | Oct 19 2024 19:35 utc | 54

How is it possible that Russians cannot free Sudja by themselves?
Why is this city so important?
How Ukraine manages logistics in Kursk so good?

Posted by: vargas | Oct 19 2024 19:36 utc | 55

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:36 utc | 56

How is it possible that Russians cannot free Sudja by themselves?
Why is this city so important?
How Ukraine manages logistics in Kursk so good?
Posted by: vargas | Oct 19 2024 19:36 utc | 55
—————————————————————-
Questions of the ages: How and why. When you have the answers, please don’t let us know?

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:40 utc | 57

…. according to some Stupid “South” Korean “intelligence”.
Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:27 utc | 51
Sorry, I was assuming in this circumstance that Stupid is a synonym of South. Hence the “S” of Stupid.

Posted by: Naive | Oct 19 2024 19:45 utc | 58

On July 27, 1953 at Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone on the border of North and South Korea an armistice was signed by U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William K. Harrison Jr. of the United Nations Command Delegation and North Korean General Nam Il, who also represented China putting an end to the roughly three years of fighting of the 1950-1953 Korean War.
The armistice was a ceasefire, not a permanent peace treaty. That means the countries are technically still at war, in a decades-long “conflict without hostilities.”
This has suited the US fine, especially requiring bases in South Korea and Japan, not far from China, for over seventy years now. And in all US-occupied nations only in South Korea the national military is commanded by the US military.
Twelve years after the armistice was signed, American authorities agreed to the terms of South Korea aiding the US in Vietnam. On August 19, 1965, the South Korean assembly authorized the deployment of combat troops to Vietnam. The deployment began that autumn and included the Capital (Tiger) Division and the 2nd Marine Brigade, the Blue Dragons. By the end of the year, more than 18,000 South Korean troops were in country aiding the US against Vietnam.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Oct 19 2024 19:47 utc | 59

Another, intriguing:
Special Ops stumble across the imminent execution of two girls & destruction of a village

Posted by: Outraged | Oct 19 2024 19:50 utc | 60

guest from franconia | 18:47 utc | 31
Unfortunately, Dima talks rubbish from time to time. You can pretty much rely on him when it comes to the frontline situation, but his insight into the motivation of the people who say something about the war is very limited and so he falls for bullshit sometimes.

Posted by: Zack15 | Oct 19 2024 19:51 utc | 61

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:40 utc | 57
Also stupidity comes from impatience.
“Patience et longueur de temps font plus que force ni que rage.”
“By time and toil we sever
What strength and rage could never.”
The lion and the rat, La Fontaine.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7241/7241-h/7241-h.htm
Of course the trolls here are so much rabid.

Posted by: Naive | Oct 19 2024 19:58 utc | 62

Lies, that’s all “they” have. From the very start (end of WW2) and expecting that to end soon is ridiculous.
Simplicuis’ latest take on the nuke threat by Ukraine also ties in with the DPRK link to the desperation by the CIA faction (Blackrock?) in keeping this war going.
The biggest takeaway is something momentous happening in 3 months’ time alluded to by Slovak’s Fico.
Trump, Winter and complete collapse of armed resistance?

Posted by: Suresh | Oct 19 2024 20:03 utc | 63

Well the really important news of 200,000 Chinese PLA in Kursk beating back the Ukies after the Russians ran away didn’t make it into MSM!
Posted by: Surferket | Oct 19 2024 19:06 utc | 43
Gee, you would have thought that they would have jumped on that one. So, I guess even the MSM have their limits.
Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:36 utc | 56
It is because Chinese have a shorter stature and so are not so easy to see.
They heard the story though, but after trying to count all Chinese looking troops, when it added up to exactly 200,000 they reasoned that that was too neat a number and that they must have counted wrong. However when they went back to count them all over again, everyone had moved and they became confused. Therefore, as they wanted to be accurate for reputational purposes, they just decided not to print the story at all.

Posted by: Ornot | Oct 19 2024 20:05 utc | 64

Dum Pfotzer @ 15:07: “Musk’s Starship just finished another flight (with the booster supposedly being caught by the “chop-sticks”). Nothing short of magic.”
Amazing. You actually believe that shit?
You never heard of the rotation of the earth?
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
The atmosphere does not provide a solid connection to the rotating sphere, i.e., the Earth, so the rocket actually moves west many kilometers as it rises vertically (vertically in a rotating frame). Or, if you like, the Earth moves east away from the rocket.
Thus the booster in the deception moves many kilometers westward in its 6 minute outward flight.
But the deception just has the booster fall directly down to the “chop-sticks”. There is absolutely no adjustment made to regain the launching pad that is now a long way to the east. Nothing.
And that’s only one of the problems.
You have to be amazingly stupid to believe that you can sell this deception.
Just too many physically impossible aspects to the deception.

Posted by: MORE LIES | Oct 19 2024 20:11 utc | 65

I’d think there are military delegations and selected units from a whole host of countries hostile to the West, given it’s an invaluable opportunity to study a potential foe’s MO. The story being hawked around the MSM takes advantage of the fact, but is also useful in shaping the defeat narrative, that is being currently crafted.
The, ‘look at me spying’ footage is however laughable, either that or the NK troops have the situational awareness of the Germans in ‘Where Eagles Dare’.

Posted by: Milites | Oct 19 2024 20:14 utc | 66

IT Oct 19 2024 20:11 utc | 65
is back, right on time as predicted. AU timezone. SeanAU/Debbie/DeepShit/Complicated …
Any posts under my nic are an Imposter.
Peace
OUT

Posted by: Outraged | Oct 19 2024 20:19 utc | 67

” From any historical view, this story is a non starter. The examples are just ll over the place: Spanish troops in the siege of Leningrad, Prussians in Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, it just doesn’t stop. But is it true. NO. Exactly as our colleagues have said this is just “muddying the waters” before the Brics summit.
Posted by: Stierlitz | Oct 19 2024 18:53 utc | 34 ”
Exactly, just like when Indian and Russian troops, as part of the Eight-Nation Alliance, helped Britain put down the boxer rebellion in China.

Posted by: Moonie | Oct 19 2024 20:22 utc | 68

The arm patches of the “North Korean” soldiers in the linked photo are blindingly obviously Lao Army parches, with the Lao flag embedded in the design.
No need to analyse hat styles or other uniform features.
Besides, Koreans, like Northern Chinese and Japanese are fair skinned, Lao are much darker as in the photo.

Posted by: ltexpat | Oct 19 2024 20:23 utc | 69

I saw the ISW (institute of strategic warfare) quoted as a source, for this on a msm article a few days ago as the bs was being pushed to gain momentum

Posted by: Hankster | Oct 19 2024 20:23 utc | 70

” The film looked like Soviet troops from Afghanistan. The song could very well have been around since WW2. Most of the troops in Afghanistan were Russian if I am not mistaken.
Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:00 utc | 41 ”
Define Russian please.

Posted by: Moonie | Oct 19 2024 20:24 utc | 71

Posted by: Dr. Rob Campbell | Oct 19 2024 16:42 utc | 6
good read as always, I really like this bar 🙂

Posted by: Macpott | Oct 19 2024 20:28 utc | 72

@Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:31 utc | 53
Weeb Union does daily updates on YouTube, here is his latest 4km Russian Kursk Breakthrough | Massive Ukrainian Disaster Continues To Unfold

Posted by: Roger | Oct 19 2024 20:29 utc | 73

No surprise that Dima of the Military Summary Channel has been pushing this DPRK story as an established fact. He cosplays as a neutral commentator, but has Ukrainian sympathies. This has long been obvious as a double standard in mapping. UKR advances, even fake photoshopped ones, are immediately mapped. Russian advances are often not mapped until supported by several sources.
Posted by: Drifter | Oct 19 2024 18:13 utc | 23
Dima (and his group) work for the “Ukrainian” side.
His objective is to feed the Russian command bad tactics and to encourage them to make bad decisions, etc.
Bad decisions like introducing North Korean fighters.

Posted by: MORE LIES | Oct 19 2024 20:39 utc | 74

Zelenski:

Who gave up their nuclear weapons? All of them? No. Only Ukraine… Who is fighting today? Ukraine

South Africa is the only country that had nuclear weapons, and renounced them.
Ukraine did not possess nuclear weapons, in the same sense that Germany does not possess nuclear weapons, even though there are U.S. nuclear weapons on German soil.

Posted by: Passerby | Oct 19 2024 21:10 utc | 75

Корё-сара́м Goryeo-saram are the Koreans who have immigrated to Russia since the end of the 19th century.
In the USSR, Soviet Koreans ranked first in the number of Heroes of Socialist Labour per 1000 inhabitants (people who received the title ‘Hero of Socialist Labour of the USSR’) – this title was awarded to 206 Koryo-Saram. https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%91-%D1%81%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC
It should therefore be no problem for Russia to set up Korean battalions with these Russian-Koreans and North Koreans. However, this does not appear to be necessary at present.
Otto Kern
DE 37412 Herzberg-die Esperantostadt
Germany

Posted by: Otto Kern | Oct 19 2024 21:11 utc | 76

That RAND “analyst” Bruce W Bennett who put forward the idea of Russian-DPRK cooperation in his article must be dining out every night on the strength of what he wrote. Whatever personal debts he owed to his bank, if his job or dept was facing the axe at RAND: all his problems have now been solved with money and funding coming in and his career now secured.
The only issue remaining is that if he wants promotion, he probably needs to come up with a bigger fiction about what the North Koreans are supposedly planning next. A member of Kim Hong Un’s family taking personal charge of Russian military strategy in Kursk perhaps?

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Oct 19 2024 21:12 utc | 77

Unfortunately, Dima talks rubbish from time to time. You can pretty much rely on him when it comes to the frontline situation, but his insight into the motivation of the people who say something about the war is very limited and so he falls for bullshit sometimes.
Posted by: Zack15 | Oct 19 2024 19:51 utc | 61
Clearly, North Korean troops are marooned in the “contested area” for now, waiting for reliable geo-locations. Google search put next to each other one Western source citing that NK coming to war “cannot be excluded” with Newsweek page about NK troops in Ukraine already deserting. Another hit tells that some number of NK troops is training near Vladivostok, so close to the Korean border — and fairly far from Ukraine.
If training means joint exercises, that would be most routine between friendly countries, and as deployment goes, it would fit Putin’s custom of trolling to station them on the Finnish border once the mooted 10-15 American bases started hosting non-Finnish soldiers. Laotians would probably not fare well at such latitudes… and I wonder about Americans.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Oct 19 2024 21:21 utc | 78

Forget Dima
At least Wyatt presents facts and shows where there is doubt
Get to him via Defence Politics Asia
https://rumble.com/v5jazmd-ukraine-special-force-sent-to-save-river-crossing-nevelske-bulge-unbulged…html?e9s=src_v1_ucp

Posted by: watcher | Oct 19 2024 21:27 utc | 79

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 18:28 utc | 27
Dima’s videos served their purpose. At this stage, he’s fallen to the tendency to exaggerate and over-hype. That dude ought to stop the political stuff and just concentrate on mapping and explaining what is happening in real terms.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Oct 19 2024 21:32 utc | 80

@ Refinnejenna | Oct 19 2024 21:12 utc | 77
hey! i’d give you the promotion any day over that twat, not that you want it!!

Posted by: james | Oct 19 2024 21:50 utc | 81

@ 74 “Bad decisions like introducing North Korean fighters.”
A few thousand NK troops would be stupid.
BUT a few hundred thousand NK troops under their own command would be fine.

Posted by: defender | Oct 19 2024 21:54 utc | 82

Posted by: watcher | Oct 19 2024 21:27 utc | 79
########
Hero worship and fandom undermine the integrity of analysis.
You can be an observer or a fan. Not both.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Oct 19 2024 22:01 utc | 83

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Oct 19 2024 22:01 utc | 83
I am hardly being a hero worshiper, unlike the Dima worshipers.
I just like the fact that he uses rational judgement to say when he thinks that something will or will not work, never over promises and allows us the viewer to make rational assessments.
Now I admit I have never bothered to watch the others – came first to DFA and liked that he seemed fair and objective. It is useful that he is from Singapore and has no real skin in the game so he can be objective.
Now someone here pointed out he was dubious on Gaza. I have not ever looked at his Gaza stuff (I can only cope with one conflict at a time and Gaza upsets me too much). I have had a very quick look and he seems to have gone rather quiet on it in general.

Posted by: watcher | Oct 19 2024 22:11 utc | 84

A humanitarian/rationalist voice from Germany, Dr. Gabrielle Krone-Schmalz speaks about the war in the Ukraines and dishonest Western media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pZKTbgftHQ

Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Oct 19 2024 22:11 utc | 85

Posted by: Roger | Oct 19 2024 19:21 utc | 50
Seconded, Weeb Union is the best resource for short-term updates.

Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Oct 19 2024 22:25 utc | 86

Marat Khairullin Substack is pretty good.. anyone else tried that?? not video – transcript instead..

Posted by: james | Oct 19 2024 22:27 utc | 87

Where to go now?
Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 19:15 utc | 47
#######
Read widely and trust no one. Anything true will be corroborated widely, and frankly, the map masturbation stuff annoys me.
If one lives anywhere else in the world, what difference does some small village’s daily loss or liberation make?

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Oct 19 2024 22:36 utc | 88

It’s very simple. This fake narrative is being pushed by all empire media incl Duma, with only one reason: to fill in the ranks of the Ukr army with South Koreans. This way they can still avoid a NATO – Russia

Posted by: OneStone | Oct 19 2024 22:48 utc | 89

@MORE LIES | Oct 19 2024 20:11 utc
Boy, was _that_ a disappointment. If you’re going to get troll-farmed, you hope, at least, to get … some semblance of competency.
But no, I get third string juniors. It’s a real let-down. Embarrassing even.
I hope the Bar will overlook it.

Posted by: Tom Pfotzer | Oct 19 2024 22:53 utc | 90

I’m not crazy about Dima. He does have quite an “operation” in terms of having production and research help. But he’s really not that insightful (even after years of exposure). I have gotten to the point that I just don’t watch it.
Dima invariably covers the relevant part of the map, with click opened videos that are just trees, not forest. So you can’t actually see the advances in relation to roads, towns, previous advances. And then the videos are too small to see and too grainy anyhow!
He also has an annoying habit of saying things like “RFA has definitely taken town X. Well…or at least probably taken most of it.” (I mean that is a self contradiction!) And he almost never goes back and mentions where his predictions came right or wrong, later. (Which would be interesting, forest for trees.)
P.s. I’m back to watching DPA (mostly just the frontline changes, not the Sitrep). The accent used to bug me, but either his English has gotten better or my Chinglish has improved. Now, I quite like his style, including the animals and jokes.
And I watch Willy. And Skruffy.
Sometimes I watch Theti and he is actually quite good. But the tone is very monotone and the vids are long. And I could care less about the individual unit names (99% of the time it is irrelevent detail, not insightful). Also, his map is rather cluttered. So lately giving them a pass. He does have good insights at times. But I just can’t invest the time to listen so long, so boring.

Posted by: Anonymous | Oct 19 2024 22:55 utc | 91

Didnt know so many Norks spoke Russian and were familiar with Russian military protocols.

Posted by: necromancer | Oct 19 2024 23:10 utc | 92

That these these think tanks lie should be no surprise.
Their purpose is to act as a knowledgeable and serious source while inventing threats and excuses to act upon ‘in defense’.
So it sounds almost inconceivable they would use far-out claims you normally only expect from a Twitter/Rumble conspiracy nut account.
Yet here we are.
This RAND ‘expert’ Bennett sure is a piece of work.
In his previous monthly contribution he came up with these bright suggestions:

Kim Jong-un is paranoid about the Reaper drone aircraft because they have been used for leadership targeting in the Middle East. They could threaten Kim Jong-un that every time he does a missile test launch, the United States will fly a Reaper aircraft up to the southern part of the ROK (wrong side LOL) and simulate a leadership strike.
If he does a nuclear weapon test, they could threaten to flood Pyongyang with USB drives containing K-pop and other things that Kim hates.

While his contributions are a great source of amusement it looks like the US is actually taking them seriously and acting upon them.
Which is even more comedic and astonishing.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the inventor of the batshit crazy ‘Chinese spy balloon’ farce last year.

Posted by: Ed Bernays | Oct 19 2024 23:20 utc | 93

DS Map intel dropped:
https://deepstatemap.live/en#11/51.1786973/34.8774719
Overall, a great day for the RFA. Took 30.5 kmsq (versus a 16/day pace average in SEP).
Strategically, looks like renewed effort to shape the vicinity of Kurakhove (the Maksy advances). Possibly also more progress/attention near Hirnyk, although hard to tell if this is just cope concession or a real new effort.
S to N:
1. 2 kmsq to SE if Maksy and SW of Heorhiivka. RFA is definitely doing what I suspected. Widening the salient towards Khurakove and taking control of a supply road (for them, for the attack…it is already denied to UFA as it comes from RFA areas.) More needs to be done, but this was decent progress.
2. 0.5 kmsq within Maksymilianivka. Further ground to the NW. Note, all of town is within gray/red, but DS has not conceded the town itself (as a third is still gray).
3. 15kmsq in what used to be called the Nevelske pocket (but pretty far from it now). Red now penetrates Zhelanne Druhe and gray has entered Zoriane. Those are the towns at immediate risk. If they are taken then it helps surround Hirnyk/Kurakhivka (but not until those towns get taken). DS does have the gray zone moving, and we did get reports about Zoriane being started to be contested. But I suspect a lot of the 15 kmsq is old news, DS giving up the too big gray zone cope.
4. 4kmsq N of Hirnyk, including red entering the N part of the city.
5. 1.5 kmsq S of Tsukuryne, widening the salient that goes down between Novoselydivka/Izmailivka. The gray zone now covering eastern third of Novo and it looks like that town will be taken first. That Izma will be treated as a part of greater Hirnyk (very close together and large amounts of troops in H probably make it harder to take Izma. On the other hand, perhpas Novosely can be picked off not too difficultly.
6. 0.5 kmsq NW of Novooleksandrivka, towards Vozdvyzhenka (quite N part of the Oche bloom salient). Probably opportunistic and not strategically important.
7. 1.5 kmsq SW of Ivanivkse. On the road/salient towards the mine, as discussed before. Interestingly, it looks like they really want the road more and want to stay a distance from the high grounds of Chasiv Yar, itself. Perhaps even going after far out towns like Stupochky and doing a wide encirclement of CY, while keeping a respectful distance from the mortars on the hills.
8. 1 kmsq in a narrow salient from Pishchane. Gray is not touching the river. This is just reestablishing a position they had a couple days ago and lost briefly to a counterattack.
9. 4.5 kmsq NW of Synkivka. This is the Kupiansk sector and normally pretty quiet. I don’t know it that well.
10. No changes (even gray zone) shown in Kursk. I suspect DS is being held back by the censors, here. No worries– assuming continued RFA progress, it will get conceded soon.

Posted by: Anonymous | Oct 19 2024 23:26 utc | 94

Posted by: MORE LIES | Oct 19 2024 20:11 utc | 65
Inaccurate because the rocket has same rotational speed as the earth surface and no reason to lose it (save a small percentage due to atmosheric friction).

Posted by: Greg Galloway | Oct 19 2024 23:31 utc | 95

Rob Lee@RALee85
Hromadske reports that the number of new Ukrainian soldiers being mobilized has decreased by 40%. After the mobilization law went into effect in May, almost 35,000 new soldiers were simultaneously undergoing training at training centers but the figure is now approximately 20,000.
https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1847651186180251907
https://twitter.com/HromadskeUA/status/1847640695193907264

Posted by: Aristonicus | Oct 19 2024 23:33 utc | 96

Clearly, North Korean troops are marooned in the “contested area” for now, waiting for reliable geo-locations. Google search put next to each other one Western source citing that NK coming to war “cannot be excluded” with Newsweek page about NK troops in Ukraine already deserting. Another hit tells that some number of NK troops is training near Vladivostok, so close to the Korean border — and fairly far from Ukraine.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Oct 19 2024 21:21 utc | 78
———————————————————————–
Your sources are a bit weak: Newsweek, come on. Nevertheless, just for clarity, you are saying that you believe the western sources that NK troops are in the Russian Kursk region. I doubt that very much, and I have read the Newsweek reports myself. So, I will stand by my comment to aristodemos above:
“I agree with you aristodemos. I think the US/NATO are preparing the West for a post-election, boots on the ground invasion of Ukraine, based on the lies that Russia has brought foreign allies into the conflict.”
Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 18:38 utc | 29
——————————————————–
However, Piotr Berman, I am one of those who thought that the Kiev Kursk putsch would only last a few days or a couple of weeks top. Let see what happens?

Posted by: Ed | Oct 19 2024 23:53 utc | 97

This is the Pelosi “wrap up smear technique”.
Start off with a public lie and then concentrate on the news coverage of the lie.
Like little girls in the kindergarten breaking up friendships out of spite.
E.g. “You think Maisie is your best friend but Ruth told me that Maisie said to her that you smell funny .”
The Rand corporation indulging in kindergarten antics in public, making things up to cause trouble.
It would be cheaper if the US Government dissolved the so called think tanks and crowd sourced the outrageous lies .

Posted by: CitizenSmith | Oct 19 2024 23:54 utc | 98

Posted by: james | Oct 19 2024 22:27 utc | 87
########
Marat is great. He’s served on the front lines, and he explains Russian internal politics in an easy to understand fashion.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Oct 19 2024 23:57 utc | 99

The North Korean lie is only made to push the propaganda “we the democracies versus them the dictatorships”.
As if the yankeeland or the frog land or the würst land are democracies…

Posted by: Naive | Oct 20 2024 0:08 utc | 100

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