This week saw the anniversary of the Nord Stream pipeline attack and I still have no idea who was responsible - though if I were a betting man, I’d place my money on Sleepy Joe Biden and the neo-cons (Cui Bono). On the battlefields, there has been lots of carnage but little movement from either side, though the Ukrainians appear to be preparing for an attack across the Dnieper in the Kherson region. So there may be some movement soon. In terms of newsworthiness, the standing ovation given to a Nazi in the presence of Zelensky at Canada’s parliament has dominated (see above photo). This incident, discussed below, has caused international outrage in which Western countries, such as Poland and Israel (along with Russia), have expressed their indignation and have made demands of the Canadian political establishment. Some believe it was a parliamentary faux pas while others believe it was planned. The Biden/Trump fiasco in the US continues and Trump may have been guilty of business fraud: none of us can know. But Biden’s impeachment hearings are considering alleged crimes of a different order since he stands accused of abusing his office for personal gain. A new narrative of hope (Ukraine will win one day) is being developed and consolidated (see below) but some deluded souls are still clinging to the Ukraine is Winning narrative.
The ‘Ukraine Will Win One Day’ Narrative
The very popular Ukraine is Winning narrative served the West’s purposes for a long time. But eventually it suffered from an overdose of reality so had to be replaced. You will note that whereas this old narrative related to claims about what is (even though these claims were false) the new narrative is based on what could be. It is, in effect, a good old fashioned narrative of hope. It has advantages over its predecessor in that it is difficult to prove that the hopeful claims of our protagonists are false - just as it is difficult to prove that the earth will not burn up in 15 years (or whatever the latest prediction is). But just as the global warming narrative suffered from unfulfilled predictions (e.g. the end of snow) so too will this narrative. The former was able to survive many false predictions because people were not doing their own research. And this narrative may survive for the same reason. Part of the hope narrative’s construction has involved extending the time frame (it will be a long war), redefining what is meant by success and promising victories in the future that can be achieved only with Western Assistance. In other words, it is geared towards the continuation of Western aid.
Ukraine to Attack All Winter - Z
It is possible that Z has been instructed to promote this new narrative but his situation and that of his country obliges him to do so anyway. Z is being advised by some ‘Western experts’ to go on the defensive in order to avoid losing more territory while others are telling him to negotiate a ceasefire. He is also being advised to abandon his attempts to retake Bakhmut which is likely to exhaust men and materiel for little gain. But commentators on the Ukrainian Telegram Channel legitimniy believe that Z will not heed Western advice. Indeed, Z has said that he will take back three Russian held cities over the winter when the Ukrainians will fight continuously through mud, rain, snow, ice and hail. This is all part of the narrative of hope.
Volodin
‘Ukraine will cease to exist as a state unless the Kiev regime capitulates on Russia’s terms’ - Vyacheslav Volodin Speaker of the Russian State Duma. Now that’s what I call a bold statement.
Russian Conscription
Russia is embarking on a new round of conscription from October 1st for an enlistment period of 12 months - according the Russian MoD. Those now serving who have completed their conscription period will be sent home. The conscripted recruits will not serve in Ukraine - as I understand it. You can see the MoD statement here. This is part of a bi-annual conscription that happens every year: it is not a further mobilisation, according to Tass.
Ukrainian POW Gets Family Visit
I had to share this clip which I found very moving. Many others have not been so fortunate. War is indeed hell.
Diesel
Last week I may have mentioned that Russia is restricting the export of diesel due to refinery capacity problems. But one of Alexander Mercouris’s sources is speculating that Russia is in fact stockpiling diesel in preparation for an offensive that’s coming soon . Interesting!
Abrams Cometh (but not to the front line)
Some reports are claiming that some Abrams tanks are already in Ukraine. But they will not be employed on the front line, according to Ukraine’s head of military intelligence, because they will not ‘live very long on the battlefield’. Instead, the tanks will be used ‘in a tailored way’ in ‘well crafted operations’. Some cynics believe that the US does not want to see its beloved Abrams sharing the fate of the German Leopards and British Challengers. According to one source, Biden will be providing 31 Abrams altogether. If you’d like some more detail about the deficiencies of this tank Slavyangrad provides a brief analysis here.
ATACMS
RT is reporting that the US will also supply a small number of cluster ATACMs, according to NBS news. No official announcement has been made, however. The missiles have a 190 mile range and are best suited to attack civilian targets rather than Russian supply depots, rail networks and so on. Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, Alexey Danilov has apparently said that Ukraine will not use the ATACMS to attack Russian territory, according to Pravda. Why do I find it hard to believe him.
Nicht Schiessen!
Gilbert Doctorow, in an article devoted to the extent of NATO involvement in the war, has reported that a Leopard tank was destroyed recently with a German crew. One member of the three man crew survived and shouted ‘nicht schiessen’ when apprehended. Doctorrow, along with Alex Christoforou, are speculating that the crew were German regular army (i.e. Bundeswehr) soldiers rather than mercenaries.
Ukraine’s Losses in Materiel
b of the MoA has produced a good report of Ukraine’s recent losses in armoured vehicles and artillery which explains, in part, the change of tactics being adopted by its army. (See MoA September 25th, Ukraine Sitrep). Another source, highlights Ukraine’s reliance on costly HIMARS and M270 MLRS systems for targets (such as Russian antenna) that could have been attacked by cheaper artillery systems if they had enough of them. HIMARS are even being used to kill civilians which is not economical from a military point of view. It can be seen from this chart that armour losses have decreased considerably since June. But the reduction in the use of armour has been (must be) accompanied by very limited offensive action.
Other sources report that 90 out of the 185 Bradleys supplied have been destroyed while another 50 have incurred serious damage. 40 out of the 72 Polish Krab Self Propelled Guns have been destroyed while another 11 have been severely damaged. The same source suggests that Z’s boast of fighting through the winter will not be possible because the Ukrainians are clearly short of artillery. According to the Russian MoD, Ukraine has also lost (killed and wounded) 17,000 men in September alone.
Ukraine Terror Attacks (i.e. attacks that deliberately target civilians)
Tokmak
On the evening of 24th September, the Ukrainians attacked residential areas of Tokmak with cluster shells, killing one civilian and injuring 11 (including 3 children) - according to Slavyangrad.
Krasnodon (LPR)
The Ukrainians launched a missile attack on this village in Luhansk on the 25th September. Schools and kindergartens were attacked and had to be evacuated. Two people lost their lives while three more were injured.
Belgorod
The shelling of Belgorod’s border region continues day after day and on the night of the 26th/27th Sept, 130 different types of munition (artillery, mortars and drones) were launched at the region. It would take too much space for me to list all the attacks here but even though much damage to residential buildings was caused, only one casualty (a shrapnel wound) has been reported. If you would like some detail Tass provides it here. On September 27th, the village of Bol'shetroitskoe was hit by artillery, private houses were damaged and a local resident was seriously wounded. On the morning of September 28th, a Ukrainian sabotage group tried to break through the border to Starosel. A small detachment of up to six people from the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) began a battle with border guards. As a result of a short firefight, Russian units repelled the attack, and the reconnaissance groups retreated.
Verbove
On September 24th, the Ukrainians attacked residential buildings in Verbove with HIMARS missiles. This is totally misguided from a military point of view as well as a moral point of view since the Ukrainians are short of HIMARS - according to the Duran.
Kursk
Kursk is being shelled on a daily basis now. On the 25th Sept, the villages of Snagost, Popovo-Lezhachi and Tetkino were all attacked. I have not seen reports of casualties or damage. An aircraft-type drone was shot down on the 25th Sept and caused no damage. Another enemy reconnaissance group carried out a sortie at night to the village of Guevo; attacking from Miropol in the Sumy region. Their goal was to track the movement routes of Russian military personnel - according to Rybar. On the 27th, five different villages were attacked by Ukrainian artillery causing damage to houses and injuring one civilian.
Bryansk
On September 26th, two recon groups of 20 people each were deployed to the Klimovo direction. Now the groups have taken up positions in the Elino area on the border itself.
Donetsk
Donetsk and Horlivka came under massive attacks on the 27th September. Residential buildings were damaged, one person was killed and three others wounded. I should remind everyone that the shelling of Donetsk happens every day.
The Air War
Russian Drone/Missile Attacks
24th September
Today, Russian drones attacked Odessa causing damage to port facilities. Dolgintsevo airport in Dnipro was also attacked, first with drones, to distract the air defences, and then with missiles which caused some damage to the airfield and a missile storage warehouse, according to Slavyangrad. The Russians destroyed an hotel in Odessa port which was being used as the HQ of the Ukrainian navy. The strike killed a number of Ukraine military personnel, advisers, planners, secret service personnel and some mercenaries, according to Levan Gudadze.
25th September
The Dolgintsevo airfield in Dnipro was attacked by drones and cruise missiles causing damage to the runway and to a warehouse storing missiles. Temporary deployment/training sites of foreign mercenaries and sabotage groups were also attacked, according to the Russian MoD.
25th/26th September Overnight
Strategic bombers - i.e. TU95 MSs (6) and TU22M3s (2) were reported to be airborne overnight while kamikaze drones attacked Smela in the Cherkasy region. A series of missile strikes were carried out on targets in Krivoy Rog probably targeting the Dolgintsevo military airfield again. The Danube ports of Ishmael and Reni, on the border with Romania, were also attacked with Geraniums. And the airport at Kulbakino in Nikolaev incurred severe damage after being attacked. This was one of the largest Russian attacks on the Odessa region for a while and it almost completely destroyed the port of Odessa itself - as this short report from SouthFront shows. Rybar is reporting that the Ukraine may have only four SU24Ms left to launch Stormshadow type missiles. The Russians destroyed 3,000 tons of ammunition at Kiselevka (Kherson) on this day.
27th/28th September Overnight
Kulbakino airfield in Nikolaev came under attack once more along with the warehouses of Ukrainian forces in Kherson. Cherkasy, Kirovograd, Odessa and Vinnytsia regions also came under attack, according to Slavyangrad. Sirens sounded in Vinnitsa, Dnepropetrovsk, Kirovograd, Nikolaev, Odessa, Poltava, Sumy, Kharkov and Cherkassy regions.
28th/29th September Overnight
Sumy, Kharkov and Nikolaev were targeted overnight with Iskander missiles and Geranium drones - according to Slavyangrad. Kulbakino airfield in Nikolaev was porobably attacked.
Ukraine Missile/Drone Attacks (most drone attacks target civilians so are terrorist).
Crimea
On September 23rd, the Ukrainians launched an attack on the Headquarters of the Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol with around five Stormshadow type missiles (possibly SCALPS) launched from SU24s, and some drones. A Pravda report said that 6 missiles and a couple of drones were destroyed but no damage was caused to civilian infrastructure. Since a fire broke out at the Headquarters building, it must have been hit by something - even though it was apparently empty. Some missile debris fell to earth near the prestigious Lunacharsky Theater. Anatoly Lunacharky was a Bolshevik Revolutionary who was born in Poltava, Ukraine btw.
One person has been killed but Ukrainian claims of large casualties at a meeting of Russian officers, including an Admiral, appear to be exaggerated or false. Any such meeting would have taken advantage of underground facilities at the HQ. Some believe that this attack could not have been made without close cooperation/involvement of the US and the UK - according to Sputnik.
On the 25th, 8 ‘aircraft like’ drones were shot down over the north western coast.
Kursk
On September 24th the Ukrainians launched a drone attack on the Khalino airfield. One of the drones landed near the airfield and blew up while being inspected, causing a number of deaths. It is not clear whether this happened by design (i.e. by Ukrainians detonating the drone remotely) or by accident. Two more drones were shot down on the 25th September, according to Tass and another two destroyed at 5.30 am on the 26th. Three more drones were shot down over Kursk on the 28th September and another ten were destroyed overnight on the 28th/29th September. Damage was caused to an electric substation in Belovsky district. No casualties have been reported.
Bryansk
On September 25th two drones were destroyed over the Bryansk region. No damage was caused and there were no casualties. On the 28th, three or four ‘aircraft type’ drones were destroyed over Bryansk City and the village of Yamnoye. No damage was caused and there were no casualties.
Kaluga
One drone was shot down over Kaluga on the 29th September.
The Ground War
Kupyansk/Svatovo
By the 24th September, the Ukrainians had stabilised this area with reinforcements so the Russians are making only slow progress towards Kupyansk. Some say that the Russians have deployed only 8,000 troops to this area. By the end of the week, the Russians had destroyed all the bridges over the Oskil which will make it difficult for the Ukrainians to supply their troops on the east (left) bank - according to Dima.
Artemovsk (Bakhmut)
On September the 24th, Boris Rozhin reports:
Fierce battles continue for the Kleshcheevka-Andreevka-Kurdyumovka line: the enemy continues attacks in the direction of the railway in order to ensure control over Andreevka and Kleshcheevka… Andreevka is still in the gray zone.
The Ukrainians, at this point, controlled much of the southern parts of the Kleshcheevka along with parts of the centre. Both sides were reinforcing their positions on this day.
The important village of Orekhovo-Vasilyevka was allegedly captured on the 25th Sept cutting the Ukrainian forces in two. US military advisers are very critical of Z’s decision to fight here rather than further south in Zaporizhzhe direction and the Russian MoD is claiming that the Ukrainians are suffering more casualties here than anywhere else.
Vremevsky
According to Boris Rozhin, the Ukrainians were in the process of rotating in this area from the 24th September but he anticipated that they will soon resume offensive actions.
Zaporizhzhe - Rabotino/Verbove
On the 24th September, radio intercepts indicated a build up of forces in the Orekhov direction that includes elements of the much depleted 82nd Brigade. According to Boris Rozhin:
The enemy is increasing pressure in the area of Verbovoy and Novoprokopovka , trying to break the defense line of the Russian Armed Forces to the south and southeast of Rabotino .
The Military Chronicle is reporting that Ukrainian units have been transferred to Zaporizhzhe Direction from Kupyansk because Ukrainian intelligence is not expecting a Russian offensive there. The Chronicle reported that 40 units of equipment were destroyed when the Ukrainian attacked towards Verbove on the 28th September. Rybar provides some footage of the carnage here.
Kherson
The Military Chronicle is reporting a possible build up of forces in Kherson which may form the nucleus of a force that could attempt to attack Crimea. The Omaha tactical group has managed to gain a foothold on Kozatsky island (in the middle of the Dnieper) but it has taken heavy losses. The Chronicle reports that:
the transfer of units of the command of the [Ukrainian] Marine Corps of the Navy to the Kherson region continues... To date, 6870 people have been transferred to the direction, 46 tanks, 223 armored fighting vehicles and eight artillery pieces…the appearance of 38 brigades and seven artillery battalions is expected. All of these the formations were removed from the Vremyevsky section, which is why there….was a lull.
Rybar has also reported that troops are being taken from at other sectors to the areas around Kherson and Nikolaev, along with 190 pieces of military equipment. On the 29th, the Military Chronicle was reporting on the transfer of engineering units and equipment (including bridge laying equipment) towards Kherson which suggests the possibility of an attack across the Dneiper at this point.
The Economic War
Hungary
Victor Orban has said that it would be a mistake to abandon Russian oil and gas and vowed to oppose any sanctions relating to Russian nuclear energy.
US-Ukraine Funding
At the time of writing, it is still not clear how much of Biden’s aid package of $24 billions will end up in Z’s hands but it is likely to be reduced or cut completely following opposition from Republicans. But whatever happens, the salaries of 57,000 Ukrainian officials will continue to be paid for by the US taxpayer - according to Zero Hedge. I wonder how many US taxpayers realise this.
De-Dollarization
Recent research shows that trade between Russia and China in their respective currencies is undermining the dollar’s dominance more quickly than was previously thought. If you want more detail, Sputnik provides it here.
Russian Agricultural Products
Russia has reduced its sales of agricultural products to unfriendly countries by $2.6 Billions (due in part to sanctions) over the past year but this is offset by increased exports of $2.7 billions to friendly countries. Overall, exports of agricultural products are expected to outperform last year’s total of $41.6 billions, according to RT.
World Politics
The UN General Assembly - New York
The meeting of the General Assembly continued this week and one of the main issues being debated is the expansion of the Security Council so that it is more representative of the world (including Asia, Africa and Latin America) and less dominated by the West. Countries such as Russia and China are supporting the move to expand. One of the stumbling blocks in achieving this aim is the fact that all five permanent members of the Security Council (i.e. UK, US, France, China, Russia) must agree to any proposed changes, including expansion. Decisions made at the General Assembly are not binding on the Security Council.
Sergei Lavrov, speaking at the Assembly, said that Russia will consider negotiations on Ukraine but would not agree to a ceasefire because it does not trust the West. This is quite understandable given Western deceit with regard to the Minsk Agreements and the Istanbul ‘Agreement’ of April 2022. He also warned that the longer Ukraine resists negotiations, the more difficult they will become. It would be beneficial, he said, if Ukraine lifted its ban on negotiating with Moscow.
Lavrov pulled no punches in criticising the West and his very important comments are worth quoting at length:
The Americans and the Europeans, who are used to looking down their noses at the rest of the world, are eager to make promises and undertake commitments, including written and legally binding ones, but are reluctant to fulfill them..the West is truly an ‘empire of lies’. A new world order is being born right before our very eyes. The future is taking shape in the process of a standoff between the global majority, which demands fairer distribution of global riches and advocates diversity within our civilization, and…the few who employ neo-colonial methods of subjugation in an attempt to save their fleeting dominance.
I think this is a good summary of the ethos associated with the Emerging Multi-Polar World Order (MPWO) and highlights Russia’s leadership in moving towards this new state of global affairs.
Referring to the West’s obsession with inflicting a ‘strategic defeat’ on Russia, Lavrov said:
This obsession has ultimately blurred the vision of the reckless politicians, who feel a sense of impunity, all the while, [they] lose the sense of self-preservation.
These latter comments will resonate with anyone who has been following the Ukraine conflict closely.
It is clear from the Assembly that Russia has good support from everyone in the world apart from the West - according to Fyodor Lukyanov reporting for RT.
Zelensky, Zelenska, Trudeau and Freeland - NAZI Appreciation Society
The above photo was taken at a Canadian parliamentary session attended by 98 year old Yaroslav Hunka who fought for the NAZIS during World War Two as part of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, (AKA the SS 1st Galician Division). This Division, according to RT, was responsible for atrocities against Polish, Jewish and Russian populations.
According to Tass, the Russian Embassy in Ottawa sent a note to the Canadian Foreign Ministry demanding clarification, pointing out that:
The SS is recognized as a criminal organization by the decisions of the Nuremberg Tribunal, which are an integral part of international law. By honoring a member of this criminal community, the Canadian cabinet and members of parliament violated not only moral, but also legal norms.
The Jewish organization "Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center" reacted to the incident, demanding an apology and calling for an explanation "as to how this man was [not] recognized by the Speaker of the House of Representatives’. Anyway, Speaker of the Canadian Parliament, Anthony Rota, apologised for introducing Hunka as a war hero explaining that he was ignorant of certain facts about the man. The Speaker resigned shortly afterwards.
Poland immediately asked for an apology and later its Education Minister, Przemysław Czarnek, announced that he has "taken steps" to initiate the extradition of Hunka to Poland for possible war crimes - according to Zero Hedge. This reaction contrasts with Poland’s attitude to the the Bandera worship that’s been going on in Ukraine for years. A spokesman for the UN declared:
We, of course, stand against any honoring of people, who actively took part in Nazi activities during the Second World War.
This incident begs one big question for me: why was a former NAZI present in the Ukrainian parliament when Zelensky was present? Coincidence or what? Canadian War journalist, Eva Bartlett, interviewed by RT has no doubts that this was arranged.
Note that Trudeau’s response is a little more reserved than those of Z, Mrs. Z and Freeland (top right hand corner in blue). Freeland’s response is to be expected given the fact that her Granddad was a Nazi Collaborator. Trudeau later apologised to Zelensky, his entourage and to the Canadian people. Alberta University had to close down an endowment fund that was created following a donation from Hunka’s family in 2019 and named in honour of the Nazi.
Z received around $700 million from the Canadian taxpayer which means that his total earnings from the trans Atlantic trip exceeded $1 billions.
Theatre
The theatrical aspect of this conflict doesn’t get any better than that applause - which echoed around the world. If the Canadian authorities planned this, then they were really, really naive; they have lost much more than they could possibly have hoped to gain from this theatre - and I’m not really sure what they hoped to gain. The optics associated with this incident are so poor that it arouses suspicion that it was contrived by opponents of the West. But I should say that this could have been an innocent, well meaning ‘cock up’ by the Canadian parliament. You will have to decide for yourselves. But I think we have to recognise and accept the fact that the people who are in charge of our destiny - our rulers, if you like, are dim incompetents: amoral, self absorbed pretenders - just like Z.
Ukraine Loses Support from Hungary
It seems that some eastern Europeans are just a tad fed up with Ukraine, the ‘noisy neighbour’ who is allowed to get away with some atrocious behaviour that would not be tolerated in any other country. At the opening of parliament, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Budapest will not support Ukraine on any issue in international affairs until Kyiv restores the “former rights for ethnic Hungarians on its territory”. The Hungarians are subject to the same sort of discrimination as Russian speaking Ukrainians and are being forced to use the Ukrainian language. Slovakia and Poland have also been critical of Ukraine recently.
UN Human Rights Council
The 54th meeting of this body is taking place between Sept 11th and October 13th in Geneva. The Russian delegation, who are not members, has been pushing the council to take action on human rights abuses in Ukraine. Most will know about the human rights abuses in Ukraine but this short article in Tass provides some detail for those who want it.
West Calls For Ukraine Elections and Reform
The Washington Post is reporting that several Democrat Senators are calling for Ukraine to hold elections, according to RT. These include, Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren. Republican Senator, Lindsey Graham joined them claiming that a ballot would not only be ‘an act of defiance against the Russian invasion, but an embrace of democracy and freedom.” Ukrainian officials are saying that such a move would be ‘virtually impossible and ill advised’. The US is also calling for Ukraine to undertake certain reforms to challenge corruption and has made the receipt of future aid conditional on such reforms being implemented, according to RT.
Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh)
Talks are taking place between Azerbaijan officials and representatives of the ‘republic’ of Nagorno Karabakh. Amnesty has been offered to the soldiers of Artsakh who are still holding out and reassurances have been provided to ethnic Armenians that they will be treated equally with other ethnicities as part of Azerbaijan. In spite of this, it is estimated that at least 120,000 Armenians wish to leave. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has faced protests demanding that he resign.
On September 28th Slavyangrad reported that the republic of Nagorno Karabakh is to be dissolved. According to RT:
The authorities of Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh have announced the dissolution of the self-proclaimed republic after a Russian-mediated truce ended a flare-up of hostilities between Stepanakert and Baku.
The dissolution will happen on January 1st 2024.
Africa
Niger
France is withdrawing its troops along with its ambassador and his team from Niger while the Niger government has decided to close its air space to French aircraft.
Burkino Faso
On September 26th there was a coup attempt in Burkino Faso which was opposed by the people and failed.
Fib of the Week
Sen. Lindsey Graham: ‘They're on track to break the Russian army, and the only way they could possibly lose is if we pull the plug on them’. What can I say. The ‘Ukraine is winning’ narrative still has some legs in it for the totally deluded.
Thanks for your views, subscriptions, likes, and kind comments. I have included the option to buy me a coffee should anyone wish to make a small contribution. But the substack will survive with or without contributions. I rarely make contributions because I can’t afford it and I appreciate that many people are in the same boat.
That’s it for this week.
Best Rob
Again, nice recap. Saves me from having to read all the "tactical minutia" (as Martyanov calls it) during the week.
Abrams tanks: "But they will not be employed on the front line, according to Ukraine’s head of military intelligence, because they will not ‘live very long on the battlefield’. Instead, the tanks will be used ‘in a tailored way’ in ‘well crafted operations’."
One has to ask with puzzlement HOW one "does not deploy to the front" but conducts "well crafted operations"? You're either on the front confronting the enemy or you're not. Are they going to conduct PR parades in Kiev as public theater that "Kiev is protected by the US"? Are they going to trundle to Transnistria and try to take that over? Are they going to use them to attack Belarus? Belgorod? The whole concept of "non-front-line operations" is absurd. Why bother sending the (token) 31 Abrams if they're not going to be used? Obviously they've been sent for pure PR reasons by the US.
Ukraine force buildup: "38 brigades and seven artillery battalions is expected" That will probably 38 half-strength or under-strength brigades of 2,000 troops each or about 76,000 troops. Ukraine has used forces this size before to absolutely no avail. What will happen is half to 80 percent of them will die with zero effect on the Russians. Seven artillery battalions is not going to be enough. This is simply not how one does an offensive. This not going to be an "offensive", these are just more attacks. The Ukrainian general interviewed admitted they haven't been able to launch any attacks with larger than squad size - 10-15 troops.
Then there's this from Martyanov's friend, war correspondent Marat Khairullin :
Quote:
This week the movement of our troops unexpectedly began at the mouth of the Dnieper. Ours crossed the Dnieper and created a bridgehead on Bakaisky Island. Now the cleanup of Bolshoi Island is underway, and according to some reports, our advanced DRGs were seen on the approaches to the village of Kizomys (see Map 1).
I have already written that panic is spreading in Kherson and Nikolaev about the activation of our sabotage groups. This week the dill added to their horror by announcing the arrival of a large Wagner detachment. The whole humor of the situation can be understood that in the Kherson region there are already enough nightmares for the Krauts.
Near Kherson there is, for example, the 11th Assault Brigade of the Airborne Forces - the same “Buryats” that for some reason the Ukrainians are afraid to the point of hiccups. Somewhere nearby there is the 10th separate GRU special forces brigade - those guys are very bad, constantly offending their non-brothers. Now the mythologized Wagner has arrived, and this is not counting the “Halloweens” operating somewhere near Ochakov (who they are - maybe one of the readers will tell you).
Dills are always nervous about themundefined radio broadcast. In general, the concentration of our troops in the lower reaches of the Dnieper is a big headache for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. I emphasize that these are fresh, experienced troops. And for our network, it will probably be a big revelation that the Dnieper has already been crossed, and there is a slow advance of our advanced detachments to the Ukrop bank (those same boa constrictor rings).
End Quote
In other words, the Russians have already established a beachhead across the Dnieper! This is big news.
"But I should say that this could have been an innocent, well meaning ‘cock up’ by the Canadian parliament." Not a chance. As many such as Scott Ritter have pointed out, you don't get into a meeting of Parliament with two heads of state present without being vetted by the state police and intelligence agencies. They knew exactly who this guy was and what he did in WWII. Ania K in her recent interview with Ritter suggested that since this occurred shortly before Yom Kippur that this was a deliberate insult to Jews everywhere. Typical Canadian Nazi behavior.
Ukraine elections: Ritter points out that 1) Zelensky's wife is being a Debbie Downer on Zelensky's re-election - or even running - probability, and 2) that it seems this is how the US wants to get rid of him - by having him lose an election he doesn't want to hold.
I look forward to your next report. Keep up the good work.
the people who are in charge of our destiny - our rulers, if you like, are dim incompetents: amoral, self absorbed pretenders - just like Z.
Now that is exactly right. So how stupid does that make us for electing them and leaving them there?