Ukraine Weekly Update
6th September 2024
It’s been another eventful week in which the regional German elections in Thuringia and Saxony have dominated politically. Here, the ‘far right’ and ‘far left’ made huge gains at the expense of ‘centrist’ parties. The voting suggests that the German people are fed up with globalism and want the Ukraine war to end through negotiation. Meanwhile, in France, Macron faces impeachment. Across the pond in the US, recent polls show Trump pulling ahead of Harris while the former is not sure whether to be insulted or pleased by Putin’s apparent backing of the latter.
On the battlefronts, the Ukrainians gained part of a village in Kursk but are on the verge of losing whole cities in the east. The capture of Pokrovsk, in particular, could cause the whole Donbass front to collapse but this will take some time. The destruction of the Military College in Poltava demonstrated how sickening war can be. According to some accounts many hundreds of Ukrainian and foreign soldiers/instructors were killed by two Iskander missiles (see below).
There has been no progress towards a ceasefire in the Middle East as the killing continues in Gaza and on the West Bank. Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis continue their opposition and Iran continues its reticence to strike. The Israeli people have taken to the streets demanding a ceasefire and the release of the hostages.
Following his visit to the US, Andriy Yermak initiated a parliamentary reshuffle as many Ministers were sacked but not necessarily replaced. Some say this is part of a political struggle which will give greater power to Yermak and Zelensky.
In Vladivostok, the Eastern Economic Forum met between the 3rd and 6th September (see below).
Finally, Vladimir Putin was not arrested during his visit to Mongolia.
We Don’t Discuss Our Territory With Anyone - Lavrov
Sergei Lavrov has responded to Zelensky’s delusional assumption that Ukraine can ‘swap’ Russian territory for Ukrainian territory (which is one of the stated aims of the Kursk ‘incursion’). With regard to the Ukraine ‘incursion’ Lavrov said:
It is very difficult to judge what their goal and intention were. But political scientists are discussing it now. And even Zelensky said he sometimes makes Freudian confessions that they will need this for subsequent exchanges. That is why, they say, they take prisoners and want to seize square kilometres. This is so simple-minded and naive. We do not discuss our territory with anyone. We do not negotiate about our territory.
It’s as if Zelensky has absolutely no understanding of the way military, economic and political power operate in the world. Bargaining about territory involves all of these things and in all these respects Ukraine’s bargaining position is weak. But it is no surprise that Zelensky or his Western script writers should come up with such BS.
As I have said, now and again, this detachment from reality that infects many Western leaders, may account for the fact that in attempting to undermine and destroy their enemy (Russia) they are accelerating their own demise. They haven’t grasped how the ‘cause and effect’ relationship operates when an Empire is collapsing.
The headmaster also had a swipe at ‘Jungle’ Josep Borrell who claimed that Zelensky’s peace plan ‘is the only one worthy of attention’. He described Borrell’s statement as ‘dilettantism or already madness’.
Kuleba Asks Poland To Celebrate Bandera
In spite of the fact that Ukrainian Nationalists killed 100,000 Poles between 1943-45, Ukraine diplomat Dmitry Kuleba urged the Poles to honour Bandera - according to Slavyangrad. The Poles were not pleased. Not long after this Kuleba was sacked - for failing to obtain funding, according to some.
He will be replaced by his deputy Andrey Sibiga:
Ukraine Ministers ‘Resign’
In a cabinet reshuffle which was predicted by some Ukrainians, many Ministers resigned their posts according to Speaker Stefanchuk who actually posted Foreign Minister’s Kuleba's letter of resignation on line as you can see here. But the letter doesn’t give reasons for the resignation. Zelensky’s Deputy Head of Office, Rostislav Shurma, was sacked on September 3rd with no reasons given for the dismissal. You can read more at Tass or RT. Even before this reshuffle several Ukrainian Ministries were operating without Ministers. It is not clear at this point whether power is being taken from the Ministries and placed in the hands of Yermak, as some Ukrainians believe. According to Sputnik, the sackings reflect a power struggle withing the regime at a time of extreme crisis. They also say that instructions for the changes came from the White House during Yermak’s recent visit. Another Ukrainian source claims that Zelensky made the changes due to his declining popularity and the need to provide scapegoats for the disasters unfolding.
Podolyak Again
Just when you thought this man had provided the ultimate in deluded garbage (see last week’s Update) he outdoes himself. According to Podolyak, if you are a Ukrainian who chooses to believe the Western press, which claims that the war is going badly, and refuse to believe Ukrainian propaganda then you should “buy yourself a fake certificate from the VLK and go abroad, integrate into another society.” In other words, be good little Ukrainians and believe the garbage your government is telling you - or go away. I don’t think many Ukrainians are buying the garbage any more.
No More ATACMS - US
Following a Pentagon meeting between Ukrainian Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov and Lloyd Austin, a US defence official has announced that the US is not able to provide Ukraine with ATACMS missiles due to very limited supply. This follows from Z’s request to hit targets deep into Russia. The official said that many of the targets specified by Z are outside the range of the missiles. If the Ukrainians get these missiles they will arm them with cluster munitions and target civilians, as they have been doing for some time in the Donbass and elsewhere. You can read more at RT. I suspect that this back and forth is all part of a psyops in which the missiles will eventually be supplied along with permission to use them deep into Russian territory. You may remember we were told that many pieces of equipment, such as the ATACMs, the Main Battle Tanks and the F-16s, would not be provided but were eventually delivered to Ukraine.
Winter is Coming - So We’re Leaving
A report from Bloomberg claims that 400,000 people could leave Ukraine this winter due to serious problems with electricity. Facing 12 hour electricity outages, water shortages and a doubling of tariffs many will leave or take refuge in dachas where gas is still available.
War Fatigue
A Ukrainian source has published the findings of a survey indicating that 90% of the Ukrainian people are tired of the war - which is no surprise.
According to the same survey:
38% are ready for peace if they give up territories along the current demarcation line, the remaining 41% are ready for peace if they give up the territories of Donbass, Crimea and Ukraine’s transition to the status of “Federation”, where each region/state will independently establish its own legal system, issues of history/religion/language/ideology, etc.
Maryana Bezugla Speaks Out (Again)
On her Telegram Channel she said:
I have received numerous requests from military personnel in despair that Syrsky is taking the 72nd brigade from Ugledar, which has been repelling all attacks there for two years and knows the area very well. The Russians already know this, and they are preparing. It will be a disaster, like with Toretsk and New York when 24 brigades were taken from there. It seems that he is deliberately destabilizing the front.
This woman’s ‘outbursts’ which must have been seen by Z and co as providing ‘unwelcome truths’ have been tolerated on a few occasions so I find this a little puzzling. Why isn’t someone asking her to keep quiet. Is this the Ukrainians trying to show the world that they are tolerant of criticism? I have no idea. Anyway, Bezugla survived a parliamentary vote to oust her for her outspokenness - according to RT.
Scapegoat Syrsky
A Ukrainian source is claiming that Syrsky, often the subject of Bazugla’s criticism, insisted on the Kursk Operation so may be scapegoated for it. For me, this is all diversionary: Western forces planned this misadventure, not Syrsky.
Ukrainian Terrorist Attacks (those that target civilians)
30th/31st August
Belgorod city and its suburbs suffered a massive and deadly Vampire MLRS strike overnight, according to the Two Majors. The Vampires were armed with cluster munitions for maximum civilian casualties. Five civilians were killed and another 46 wounded, including six children. You can see some footage on X. In the DPR, a drone attack on a car killed a woman and injured a man. Another woman was injured by unexploded cluster munitions. The Ukrainians also attacked houses and a shopping centre. You can see some footage here and here. Russia has launched a terrorism probe following this attack, according to RT.
31st August/1st September
Overnight, Ukraine launched a massive attack in which 158 ‘aircraft type’ drones were shot down. Slavyangrad provided this report:
46 UAVs were destroyed and intercepted over the territory of Kursk region at night, 34 - over the territory of Bryansk region, 28 - over the territory of Voronezh region, 14 - over the territory of Belgorod region, eight - over the territory of Ryazan region, two - over Moscow, seven over Moscow Region, five over Kaluga Region, four over Lipetsk Region, three over Tula Region, two UAVs each over Tambov and Smolensk Regions, one each over Orel, Tver and Ivanovo regions.
Three children died and another seven people were injured by a fire in the Moscow region. I am assuming that the fire was caused by Ukrainian ordnance. Overnight, 9 civilians (including 3 children) were injured by shelling in Belgorod. Two of the children are in a critical condition, according to Tass.
1st/2nd September
Many villages in Belgorod suffered heavy shelling and kamikaze drone attacks overnight causing damage to civilian infrastructure, cars and civilians. Three civilians were injured in Shebekino, one person was killed in Shagarovka and another injured at Maysky. Another civilian was injured when a drone attacked his car. In the DPR five civilians were injured in Kirovsky district and two more were injured by artillery in Gorlovka district. A kindergarten in Belgorod was demolished by missiles (see photo) just hours before the children arrived for school.
2nd/3rd September
Many villages in Belgorod region came under attack from shelling and drones overnight which caused damage to houses, cars and power lines. Two civilians were hospitalised after being injured by shelling. This church was also hit:
3rd/4th September
Overnight, drone attacks were repelled over Belgorod, Kursk and Tula. Bryansk region came under heavy shelling, according to this report. In the DPR, a total of 8 people were injured by cluster shelling overnight. Later, the Ukrainians attacked a market in the DPR, killing three and injuring another six. You can see some footage here.
4th/5th September
In Bryansk, three drones were destroyed overnight while in Belgorod, three people were killed by shelling and another four more wounded. Another civilians was injured by drone attack. In the DPR, as a result of a 155mm cluster attack on Sokol Market, three civilians were killed (including two children) and another ten wounded.
5th/6th September
In Belgorod region overnight shelling killed one man and injured another while in Gorlovka (DPR) shelling killed one and injured six others.
This week the Ukrainians have stepped up their targeting of shopping centres and markets - which is worrying.
The Sea War
3rd/4th September
Overnight, four unmanned boats were destroyed on the Black Sea.
4th/5th September
Two unmanned boats were destroyed overnight in the north eastern part of the Black Sea, according to South Front.
The Air War (Map)
F-16 Fallout
According to this report, Zelensky has sacked the Commander of the Air Force over the loss of the F-16. How embarrassing this has been for Ukraine. They have waited a long time for the delivery of this wunderwaffe and when it arrives they kick it in the teeth. But perhaps the Ukrainians are going with this narrative because it is preferable to one in which they have to admit that the Russians shot down the F-16.
The US has announced that it will not maintain the F-16s it has provided and is expecting Europe to do so, according to Alex Christoforou. You can read more at RT.
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks
30th/31st August
According to the Two Majors:
Up to 30 'Geranium' attack UAVs of the RFAF used at night on the rear areas of the enemy. Explosions were reported in the Kiev, Poltava and Chernigov regions.
Kherson and Sumy were also attacked according to Slavyangrad, which reported that Kiev also came under fire. It appears that a warehouse storing weapons and ammo was destroyed in Sumy by Iskander missiles.
1st/2nd September Overnight
According to the Two Majors:
The RFAF, since evening, have been conducting strikes with missile weapons and 'Geranium' UAVs against the enemy's rear areas. Explosions were heard in KrivoyRog, Dnepropetrovsk, Novomoskovsk, Sumy, Kharkov, Kiev and Poltava regions. At least a dozen cruise missiles and also about a dozen ballistic missiles were fired at Kiev alone.
2nd/3rd September
According to the Two Majors, explosions were heard overnight in Kiev, Nikolayev, Chuguyev, Chernigov, Kharkov and Mirgorod (Poltava region).
Also in Poltava, the military college was hit with missiles, killing and wounding many combatants. There have been many conflicting reports of casualties. A Ukrainian source claimed 100 dead and more than 100 wounded. One source from the scene (or so it is claimed) reported more than 190 dead. Nazi Journalist Igor Mosiychuck claimed 600 dead and wounded - according to the Military Chronicle and a Ukrainian blogger claimed that more than 760 had been killed, according to Simplicius. A later official Ukrainian report claimed 51 killed and 271 wounded.
Whatever figures you believe, this was one of Russia’s biggest single strikes against the Ukrainian forces since the start of the SMO. Understandably, there was chaos at the scene as the survivors struggled to deal with the massive amount of dead and wounded. Hospitals were overloaded and there were shortages of much needed blood. You can read a rather gruesome report from a medic at the scene here.
A number of reports, including this one are claiming that a number of Swedish ‘instructors’ were among the dead.
Another Ukrainian source is reporting that Russia is making a concerted effort to destroy the rail infrastructure and rolling stock (see photo) in order to degrade Ukrainian logistics. They also say that Ukraine’s administration is keeping quiet about the incident so as not undermine morale.
3rd/4th September
According to Slavyangrad:
Tonight we carried out a massive combined strike on targets in the rear regions of Ukraine, with special attention paid to the western regions: explosions were heard in Krivoy Rog, Lvov, Boryspil and Brovary in the Kiev region, Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Odessa, Chernihiv, Lvov, Volyn, Rovno, Zhitomir regions - MiG-31K hypersonic Kinzhal carriers were involved, as well as Tu-95MS strategists and long-range Tu-22M3s with Kh-101 and Kh-22 missiles.
Airfields, such as those at Stryi (Lvov) which are due to play host to F-16s were among the targets in the West of Ukraine along with railway infrastructure including the railway station in Lvov as you can see here. It appears that Kinzhal missiles have been used to attack the station which is the largest locomotive depot in Ukraine and forms a large part of the logistic hub that transfers Western weapons to the fronts. It seems that the Russians may be taking the gloves off.
4th/5th September Overnight
According to Slavyangrad:
Powerful explosions thundered in Belaya Tserkov, Borispol (Kiev region), Kirovograd and Poltava region and in Kiev.
It appears that Geraniums were involved. According to Geroman:
Geraniums arrived in Kyiv, Zhitomir, Poltava, Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Cherkasy, Sumy and Kharkov regions. OTRK flew to Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa regions.
According to Pravda, a missile strike on a command bunker in Zhitomir killed 25 Ukrainian commanders.
5th/6th September
Overnight, explosions were reported in Chernigov, Chuguyev, KrivoyRog, Pavlograd, Kramatorsk, Sumy, Lvov and Dnepropetrovsk regions - according to the Two Majors. According to this report from Slavyangrad, two Iskander missiles struck elements of four Ukrainian brigades in Sumy. An expensive US M270 MLRS was also destroyed near Sumy, according to this report. In Lvov, a container terminal and warehouse storing equipment and ammunition was set alight.
Russian drone/missile attacks have certainly increased considerably this week.
Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks
30th/31st August Overnight
Overnight, a fuel depot was attacked in Kamensky (Rostov) setting it on fire.
31st August/1st September
Ukrainian drones hit the Ramenskoye oil refinery (pictured) in Moscow region causing some fires as you can see here. Nine drones were shot down over the refinery but fires were either caused by falling drone fragments or by drones that managed to evade the air defences.
The Ground War
The Fronts
The situation on the Donbass fronts has become catastrophic for the Ukrainians who are ‘mentally preparing to defend the Dnieper,” according to Bild OSINT analyst Röpke. He also observed that:
The Ukrainian soldiers I speak to can barely comprehend the catastrophe that is unfolding. Territory is sometimes being lost so quickly it is as if a retreat had been ordered. They also consider the rotations that have already been carried out and planned to be dangerous for holding the front.
Daniel Davis at the Deep Dive provides one of the best sitreps I’ve seen for a while. It is worth a look for those who want a general summary of the situation with good use of maps.
Russian MoD Reports
Weekly Reports (excludes Kursk_
w/e 16th August 14,560 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 809 (record high)
w/e 23rd August 16,155 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 739
w/e 30th August 16, 910 Casualties killed and wounded (record high): equipment losses 737.
w/e 6th September 16,215 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 602.
This decline in equipment losses is strange. I wonder, is it due to the fact that Ukrainians are running of equipment? Time will tell.
Kursk
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 10,400 servicemen, 81 tanks, 41 infantry fighting vehicles, 74 armoured personnel carriers, 599 armoured fighting vehicles, 339 motor vehicles, 76 artillery guns, 24 MLRS launchers, including seven M142 HIMARS and five M270 MLRS systems, eight SAM launchers, two transport-loading vehicles
Daily losses in Kursk are around 300 killed and wounded plus 12 units of equipment.
Front Line Cats
Kursk
Zelensky is determined to persevere with the Kursk ‘incursion’ even if this mean the loss of Pokrovsk, according to a Ukrainian source. But Ukrainian intelligence official Roan Kostenko is confident that the fall of Pokrovsk will not lead to the collapse of the Donbass front. We will see.
There has been very little forward movement by the Ukrainians in this Direction though some reports claim that the village of Malaya Loknya has been partially captured. There have also been positional battles in Korenevsky and Sudzhansky districts. Another report suggests that the Ukrainians are operating east of Martynovka. The concentration of men and equipment in the Sumy region is being pummeled by missiles, drones and Russian aerospace forces (See above MoD report for losses).
Zelenksy has conceded that the Kursk offensive was not perfect but became necessary due to the West’s failure to provide sufficient materiel, especially shells. This forced the Ukrainians into making an ‘unconventional move’. There is nothing wrong with unconventional moves but they must have some prospect of success if we are to resort to them, surely. And the once great Z, wanting to be great again, claimed that the move was a success in drawing 60,000 Russian troops from the Donbass. If that’s true then the Russians are doing an amazing job in the Donbass with so few troops. According this Ukrainian source, The Pentagon is urging Zelensky to abandon Kursk so as to avoid another ‘Bakhmut meatgrinder’.
Kharkov
In the Kharkov Direction, the Russian ‘north’ group continues to eliminate Ukrainian artillery.
Kupyansk
The Russians are wedging into the AFU defence west of Berestovoye and Peschanoye. The front ledge is already up to 8 kilometres deep, which forms the basis for further action.
Seversk
Chasov Yar
Fighting continued around Chasov Yar and Grigorovka this week and the Russians took Kleshcheyevka.
According to the Two Majors:
South of Chasov Yar, the Russian Army broke through the AFU defence and, having taken Kleshcheyevka, reached the Seversky Donets-Donbass Canal with a front up to 2 km wide. Fighting in this direction has been going on since last year.
Kleshcheyevka - Detail
Toretsk
This week, there has been a small advance in the Toretsk Direction in the settlement of Druzhba. In Toretsk itself, fighting continues on the outskirts of the city. According to this report, the Ukrainians have recaptured a section of northern New York.
Pokrovsk
British newspaper The Telegraph is reporting that Ukrainian commanders believe Pokrovsk could fall by mid-September. Commenting on the Russian advance, one commander said:
I have never seen such speed. It's very fast. And our problem is the same: we don't have infantry, we don't have enough artillery or shells. We don't have enough drones. The enemy has deployed powerful electronic warfare units, so sometimes we have to launch 10, 12, 15 just to destroy one tank.
By the 2nd of September, the Russians were closing in on Selidovo which will threaten the Ukrainian defences:
From this settlement, a road opens to the southwest - bypassing the rear of the entire second line of defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to the west of Donetsk, which relies on Ukrainsk, Gornyak and Kurakhovo.
In view of this danger, the Ukrainians reinforced the city forcing the Russians to fight for it. But according to the Military Chronicle, the Russians have 100,000 men in this Direction against about 12,000 Ukrainians which suggests that they won’t hold the Russians up for very long. I have no idea if these figures are accurate or not.
By the end of the week, the Russians were fighting in Selidovo, Ukrainsk, as well as in the area of Novogrodovka and Grodovka.
Uhledar
Uhledar - Detail
The fortified town of Uhledar has been a thorn in the side of the Russians for as long as I have been covering the conflict. Now at last, it appears that the position will soon fall. On the 1st September, the Russians launched a major attack on Uhledar where some Ukrainians abandoned their positions under Russian pressure. You can see some footage here. It appears that the Russians intend to surround Uhledar and attack from the rear - according to this report. On the 5th September, the Two Majors provided this brief report:
In the Ugledar direction, the Russian army fighters managed to liberate the settlement of Prechistovka. The Ukrainian Armed Forces defending it fled from the advancing forces in a crowd. There is also an advance of our troops to the north, as well as to the east of Ugledar in the direction of the settlement of Vodyanoye.
Zaporozhye
No significant changes here.
Kherson
There have been no significant changes in Kherson this week.
The Economic War
Russian Economy Doing Well
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has announced good news regarding the Russian economy where growth is expected to be close to 4% this year - according to RT. Investment has reached 8% and disposable income among the population is also increasing. The IMF expects the Russian economy to grow faster than any advanced economies in 2024.
Sanctions on Russia are a Joke
One would expect that the import of Russian gas or oil to European countries would reduce in consequence of sanctions. But the import of Russian LNG has actually increased substantially since the sanctions regime accelerated in 2022. Furthermore, Russia now provides more gas to the EU than America does and only slightly less than Norway. So, even if in theory sanctions have a moral basis, in practice they do not. In this situation, it appears, pragmatism trumps principle. You can read more here.
Why Kiev Wants the Donbass - Medvedev
According to Dmitry Medvedev, the Ukrainians and their Western allies are interested in the Donbass because it contains natural resources, including critical minerals worth $7.2 Trillions. This may have been the inspiration behind Ukraine’s determination to stop the LPR and the DPR from breaking away. You can read more at RT.
Hungary Can’t Survive Without Russian Oil
According to RT:
Hungary cannot survive without Russian oil, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has warned, stressing that Ukraine’s decision to suspend transit of crude through its pipelines poses a serious challenge to Budapest.
Slovakia is in an even worse position because 40% of its oil supplies come from Russia - whereas only 33% of Hungary’s oil is supplied by Russia.
Europe’s Import of Indian Fuel Surges
Since 2018, Europe’s import of Indian fuel grew 2,500 times - according to RT. This is due in part to supply chain problems caused by Covid but it is also due to sanctions on Russia. Europe can’t buy Russian oil or fuel directly yet Russian oil is being refined by the Indians and sold to Europe. The Indians have defended their decision to purchase large quantities of Russian oil arguing that otherwise oil would be costing $300 a barrel.
Volkswagen To Close Plants
Volkswagen is considering the first ever closure of a plant in its 87 year history. Increasing energy costs due to the loss of Russian natural gas is cited as one of the reasons for the possible closure. You can read more at Sputnik.
World Politics
Putin Visits Mongolia Sept 3rd
Ahead of Putin’s visit to Mongolia on Sept 3rd the ICC had demanded that the Mongolians arrest him - according to RT. Prior to the visit, Putin said that he was not worried about being arrested. Putin’s visit coincided with the 85th anniversary of the battle of Khalkhin Gol when the Russians and the Mongolians defeated the Japanese army. The victory was planned and executed by Georgy Zhukov.
At a meeting with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Putin said: ‘‘Indeed, relations between Russia and Mongolia are developing in all directions.’’
The fact that no arrest was made is a blow to the credibility of the ICC and a victory for the emerging MPWO but Mongolia could now be sanctioned, according to Zero Hedge. The Ukrainians were first out of the block to threaten Mongolia though it is not clear what they will do.
UN Security Council Meeting
Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN (pictured) did not mince his words when addressing the UN Security Council recently in relation to Western arms being supplied to invade Russia:
In August, the head of the Ukrainian junta made a fatal mistake by moving his troops across the border into the peaceful Russian region. And the world, as I said, saw images of Ukrainian thugs with Nazi symbols looting and pillaging, taking hostages and shooting women, children and the elderly.
This image turned out to be so far from the image of an innocent victim of someone's aggression, which the U.S. and its satellites were so diligently molding from Ukraine, that they tried to get rid of Zelensky's Kursk adventure as quickly as possible. But the facts stubbornly say something else - you, gentlemen, got into this adventure up to your ears. Without your help and weapons, the Ukrainian leader would not have dared to do it.
US On Auto-Pilot?
According to former Australian Liberal Party President Michael Kroger:
President Joe Biden has gone missing. He's been spotted relaxing on the beach. Look, his term as president is almost up. Why is he taking a holiday now?] Well, he probably has nothing better to do. He hasn't run America for three and a half years. We know that. It's sad, but as we all know, he's in a state of mental decline and he's just taking a little holiday. But essentially, his staff has been running the country for three and a half years. And Kamala is clearly not doing anything right now. She's running for president. So America is kind of on autopilot for the next six months until this presidential election is over.
Macron Faces Impeachment
Emmanuel Macron has been bit of a lame duck President since the recent elections and has yet to appoint a Prime Minister which he is obliged to do under the constitution. Macron rejected the left wing alliance’s proposal that he appoint economist Lucie Castet. So, ‘France Unsubordinated’, a left wing party which is part of the alliance, has started proceedings to impeach him under article 68 of the constitution. Macron had been attempting to avoid appointing a PM from parties of ‘the left’ or ‘the right’ which most people voted for.
Poor Macron is still suffering from the backlash following his arrest of Pavel Durov. The Australians are particularly pissed with him because they value their use of Telegram (so do I). Out on the streets of France The People are baying for Emmanuel’s blood as you can see here. You can read more at RT.
Later in the week, Macron appointed former Brexit negotiator and centrist, Michel Barnier as PM. This appointment does not reflect the wishes of the people and Marie Le Pen and her National Rally will not serve a government headed by this man. I expect the ‘left’ will adopt a similar stance.
Regional Elections Germany
The pro-Russian AfD (Alternative for Germany) party has won a regional election for the first time. In Thuringia, it secured 33.5% of the vote with the centrist CDU (Christian Democratic Union) in second place on 24.5%. That is an amazing result which simply reflects the changing political mood enveloping much of the Western World. The Establishment has failed so the Establishment must go - and the left and right agree on that (as they do on many things). The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance polled 14.5%. Wagenknecht’s Alliance is a traditional left leaning party of the working class; rather than a middle class globalist, neo-liberal outfit such as the UK’s Labour Party.
Some have observed that votes in these elections and the recent EU elections have divided the country along the same borders that divided East and West Germany.
Rybar provided this brief assessment of the election results:
Germany is still divided in mentality and values between East and West, the fall of the Berlin Wall was only on television. And the fool Gorbachev simply squandered the colossal positions of the USSR in the West. In Germany, there are a huge number of people who do not share the positions of the "Greens", the EU's migration policy and Corporal Scholz. Only the globalists don't care about the herbivorous summer protests of the proletariat and farmers.
The AfD came second in Saxony with 31.5% of the vote. But Scholtz’s centrist CDU came a disappointing 5th in Thuringia and 4th in Saxony. You can read more at Tass. For Scholtz, the chickens have come home to roost and like his counterpart in France, he is now a lame duck leader. The Green Party did not obtain sufficient votes to send representatives to either regional parliaments.
Co Chair of the AfD Tino Chrupalla, criticised the 30 billion Euro donation to Ukraine and demanded that Germany stop supplying weapons to the country immediately. He also demanded that Germany take advantage of Russian coal, gas and nuclear to ensure its prosperity.
I think these results could point to a growing realisation among Germans that their country is not sovereign and that their rulers serve a different cause; a globalist cause that conflicts with their own interests. Alex Krainer, economics and political analyst, discusses these issues on Dialogue Works (first 12 minutes are informative). He points out that the German people are tired of the support for Ukraine, the sanctions against Russia, the net zero policies, uncontrolled immigration and LGBT ideology.
Kamala
In her first ‘pre-election’ speech, cackling Kamala didn’t cackle about Ukraine once which will disappoint Zelensky - though she did mention the Middle East. But she did have this to say about social media:
They are directly speaking to millions and millions of people without any level of oversight or regulation. That has to stop!
Now the libertarian in me is screaming out Why? does it have to stop. Why do people in any situation require oversight or regulation in order to speak with others. Isn’t this what happens when people write books for people to read without oversight and regulation? Kamala’s statement is couched in common sensical form but the content is most definitely authoritarian. This is the Globalist’s greatest trick: making ideas associated with fascism sound reasonable.
Armenia and Azerbaijan Close to Peace Deal
The two countries have been in conflict for some time but are close to completing a peace deal that would resolve certain territorial and border disputes, including the appointment of a ‘Joint Border Commission’ to sort it all out - according to Politico.
Protests in Israel
Huge protests have erupted in Israel demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages. On Sunday night, an estimated 300,000 people took to the streets. The main labour Union has called for a General strike - according to Al Jazeera where you can read more. This is important for the Ukraine conflict because a ceasefire and/or an end to the war in Israel/Palestine may make Western leaders more favourably disposed to providing more aid to Ukraine - maybe.
Sabotage in Germany?
German explosives manufacturer Diehl Defence, which is one of the largest suppliers of weapons to Ukraine, has suffered what appears to be an act of sabotage at its factory in Troisdorf (North Rhine Westphalia). An explosion rocked the plant and injured several employees. One of the company’s metallurgical plants was attacked earlier this year and Russian saboteurs are suspected to have been responsible.
Dmitry Peskov
Regarding the reasons given for the arrest of Pavel Durov Petrov said:
If Telegram is being banned because terrorist use it, then, in order to be consistent, the chief executives of Citroen or Renault should be arrested because terrorists also use cars.
But what about telephones? Aren’t they used by terrorists? Surely they must be banned to keep us safe.
The emerging Multi-Polar World Order.
Eastern Economic Forum - Russia 3rd-6th September
Vladivostok hosted the ninth Eastern Economic Forum where 6,000 guests and representatives from 76 countries discussed the most topical economic issues. Putin had this to say about the Forum:
Russia is open for dialogue with all interested partners in the Asia-Pacific space, is determined to actively cooperate in order to build a fairer and more democratic system of international relations, based on genuine equality, free from dictate, force and sanctions pressure.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, attended and met with Putin and Russian diplomats on the 4th September to discuss closer tries between the two countries. Malaysia is interested in joining BRICS and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Pescov has expressed Russia’s support for their application. You can read more at Sputnik.
At a plenary session, Putin advised that 65% or transactions between BRICS countries are now conducted in national currencies rather than the dollar. You can read more at Sputnik. Putin made it clear that Russia economic attention has shifted to the Far East, which has ‘become the most important factor in strengthening Russia’s position in the world’.
Turkiye to Join BRICS - Turks Tell Yankees to go Home
According to this report, Turkiye has submitted a formal application to join BRICS+ which will be submitted to the Kazan conference in October. On the same day that this was announced Turkish people took to the streets chanting ‘Yankees go home’ as you can see on X. Protesters also draped a ‘Yankee go home’ banner over a building - as you can see on X. The building was situated opposite a US warship! Many worms are turning.
Algeria to Join BRICS Development Bank
An Algerian spokesman said:
Algeria joining this important development institution, which is considered the financial arm of the BRICS, is a major step in the path of integration into the global financial system.
You can read more at RT.
BRICS ‘Blockchain’ Payment System is a Game Changer
The blockchain system is BRICS’s alternative payment system/currency which will be backed by the currencies of India, China, Russia and South Africa - as an alternative to the dollar which is not backed by anything. It is believed that this will speed up de-dollarisation, according to expert Christopher Douglas Emms speaking on the sidelines of the EEC in Vladivostok. You can read more at Sputnik.
That’s it for yet another eventful week. Many thanks for your views, subscriptions, likes, shares and comments. Sorry the philosophy stuff has been delayed - I have been too busy. Have a good week - Rob
Another good weekly report, well done.
Andrei Martyanov says the official toll of Poltava is now 500:
QUOTE:
Translation: MOSCOW, September 6 — RIA Novosti. About 500 specialists, including mercenaries from European countries, were killed and wounded after the attack on the training center in Poltava, a high-ranking military source said. "About 500 specialists were killed and wounded. Among the dead and wounded: servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard — communications specialists, operators of electronic warfare systems, electronic intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as foreign mercenaries from Poland, France, Germany and Sweden who trained Ukrainian military personnel," the statement said. He also stressed that such strikes on deployment points of Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, as well as on military facilities, will now become regular.
END QUOTE
He focused on that last part - "regular" means from now on more such strikes will be launched.
As an aside, I posted this over at Andrei's site - a response to Gilbert Doctorow:
Quote:
I was listening to Gilbert Doctorow on Judge Nap yesterday. First he declares as an iron-clad certainty that Russia won't move beyond the Dneiper. Then he suggests that since Russia wants to eliminate western Ukraine's "threat" to Russia that Putin might consider "flattening Lvov".
This is idiotic. Since when has Putin been interested in massacring civilians?
Doctorow forgets that Russia fought an insurgency for ten years against western Ukrainians - been there, done that - and then controlled western Ukraine for another 35+ years after the insurgency petered out in 1956.
And then Russia did Afghanistan and the Chechen wars and Syria. Did Russia learn something from all that? Of course they did.
This is the Internet and drone age - armed drones with thermal imaging, pervasive surveillance of cities and towns with infrared camera networks, pervasive surveillance of all telephone and data networks. It is now almost impossible to conduct an insurgency of any kind - urban or rural - unless you have spent the last twenty years digging tunnels and redoubts 100 feet underground like Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran - using North Korean technology.
Start a rural insurgency, the drones will kill you. Start an urban insurgency, the Chechens and Wagner will kill you. If you can even get one started because after Russia takes Ukraine, thousands of military police, Rosqvardia, and GRU, SVR and FSB agents and analysts will swarm Ukraine looking for troublemakers and deporting anyone who looks at them cross-eyed.
As "I am on record" since April, 2022, Russia will control all of Ukraine - that it needs to control, which is not much - and place a new Western Military District on the borders of Poland and Romania equipped with everything it needs to counter any NATO threat, specifically including those Aegis Ashore installations in those countries. Russia will use its new 2-million man army to build an "Iron Curtain 2.0" from the Black Sea to the Arctic, insuring that the West can never threaten Russia again as it has multiple times in the last two centuries.
And Russia will do it without massacring people like Doctorow believes, simply because they don't need to.
END QUOTE
Andrei's response to that:
QUOTE:
I don't know why Doctorow is even considered an expert in strategy of Russia. It is an established rule now--most opinions of people without background in Russian military are a waste of air.
END QUOTE
The steady stream of fires and explosions throughout otanland are a mystery none so far have unraveled and few have speculated on outside conspiracy circles. There's been msm mentionings of unidentified drones, lights, etc, over eu military bases but I've yet to read any stories msm or otherwise about sightings over industry. Yet, firefighters are busy. Incompetence? Underpaid workers taking monies to perform or not perform certain actions? Small untraceable consumer drones dropping crude textile-wrapped incendiaries that leave no trace? Artillery launched nearby? God? DEWs? An automotive oils supplier with contracts to general dynamics and who knows else burnt to the ground just yesterday in akron ohio. That one at least, wasn't DEW from a satellite unless BRITE-PL2 suddenly gained new functionality. There's a rather successful low-level attrition campaign taking place within otan. Whether these are external attacks or attacks from within by those us leaders with the goal of the destruction of their own nation is up for speculation.