They also confirmed today that their intel has verified UAF advances and Russian retreats in the Kherson region, so that's more good news from Fort Fumble.
Good!
If I were the Ukrainians I'd be offering goodies to the Russian Kherson soldiers to surrender. It leaves the question of justice unanswered but it would save a lot of lives now.
and Hi @blackwingedstilt :)
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The ISW spend some time and effort emphasising that the counteroffensive is ~not~ failing at this point, contrary to Russian claims. It's worth reading.
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-31
It is far too soon to assess the progress of the counteroffensive operation, which will likely be difficult to evaluate in the short term if it relies on feints and misdirection.
^ISW and other analysts studying this war have been appropriately cautious and circumspect in announcing the culmination or defeat of major Russian offensive operations.
ISW will apply the same caution and circumspection to assessing the progress of the Ukrainian counteroffensive and exhorts others to do the same.^
Key Takeaways
The Russian Ministry of Defense and Russian milbloggers began an information operation declaring the Ukrainian counteroffensive a failure almost as soon as it was launched.
It is far too soon to assess the progress of the counteroffensive operation, however, which will likely be difficult to evaluate in the short term if it relies on feints and misdirection.
Russian occupation authorities are imposing a curriculum on Ukrainian students aimed at eliminating the notion of Ukrainian national identity, explicitly in line with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speeches and writings falsely claiming that Ukraine is part of Russia, and that the Ukrainian identity was an invention of the Soviet period.
The G7 Non-Proliferation Directors Group condemned Russian attempts to disconnect the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from the Ukrainian power grid as “unacceptable” ahead of the arrival of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation to the plant.
Russian forces conducted a limited ground attack north of Kharkiv City.
Russian forces conducted ground attacks south of Bakhmut and along the western outskirts of Donetsk City.
Russian-appointed officials in Crimea began “reconstructing” air defense systems to counter smaller targets in response to recurring drone attacks on the peninsula. Russian officials are likely strengthening Crimean air defenses at the expense of other theaters.
Zabaykalsky Krai announced the formation of the “Daursky” volunteer engineer-sapper battalion.
Ukrainian partisans conducted an improvised explosive device (IED) attack against the headquarters of the “Together with Russia” political organization in Berdyansk, Zaporizhia Oblast, where occupation authorities were reportedly preparing for sham referenda.
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from Zelenskyy's Telegram channel:
"I will not reveal the details now. I will say only one thing: on behalf of our intelligence, I want to thank all our people who support us very strongly in the south of our country, and especially in Crimea. The intelligence officers are grateful for the information provided and will use it to the maximum.
Let the enemies not forget whose peninsula they are staying on. Temporarily staying."
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⚡️At the Council of the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, it was agreed that the countries bordering with the Russian Federation could establish a ban on Russians entering with Schengen visas — the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
❕We will not lift sanctions against Russia, even if there are protests — the head of the German Federal Foreign Office
🔗 The EU will not recognize passports issued by Russian authorities in the occupied territories of Ukraine
⚡️Poland supports Ukraine's accession to the EU "in a few years” — the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Zbigniew Rau
💪 The Pentagon announced that Raytheon Missiles & Defense would supply Ukraine with two NASAMS surface-to-air missile systems, training and logistical support for the Ukrainian military and security forces [as@MissConductUS said]
❌ The staff of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, temporarily seized by the Russians, are experiencing brutal repression, and those whom the occupation authorities considered "not trustworthy enough" disappeared before the visit of the IAEA mission to the plant.
The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reported this.
⚠️ The IAEA mission cannot get to the ZNPP. The Russians fire on the mission's prearranged route from Zaporizhzhia. The UN advanced group cannot continue to move, – says the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Starukh. [as of 08:23 this morning EU time]
Update:
☢️ IAEA mission left Zaporizhzhia to Enerhodar, despite the shelling of the city — Reuters
“There is increased military activity in the area. Having come this far, we are not stopping,” said Grossi, head of the IAEA.
📌On the eve of the visit of the IAEA mission, the Russians resorted to new provocations at the ZNPP
Today, September 1, 2022, at 4:57 a.m., as a result of another mortar attack by the Russian occupying forces on the site of the Zaporizhzhyia NPP, emergency protection went off and the operating 5th power unit was shut down.
In addition, the ZNPP-330 kV 330 kV backup power supply line for own needs was damaged. In the transition mode, the non-operating power unit No. 2 was de-energized with the start-up of diesel generators.
This is the second time in the last 10 days that the criminal actions of the invaders led to the shutdown of the power unit and the de-energization of the station.
Power unit No. 6 continues to operate in the energy system of Ukraine and at the same time feeds its own needs at ZNPP.
Ukrainian employees of the station are doing everything possible to repair the damage to its infrastructure.
⚡️Custom brand Stillalive released sneakers inspired by the Ghost of Kyiv and the military theme
All net profit from sales is promised to be donated to volunteer needs.
💡Tomorrow at the meeting, the finance ministers of the G7 countries will approve a plan to limit prices for Russian oil. It is reported by The Wall Street Journal
🪫Washington believes that the Russian army in Ukraine is experiencing an acute shortage of personnel and is looking for ways to increase the number of its troops, CNN reports
We believe that the Russian Defense Ministry is trying to fill this gap by recruiting military personnel under contract – in particular, encouraging wounded soldiers to return to the battlefield, hiring employees of private security companies, and paying bonuses to conscripts,” an unnamed US official said to the CNN.
There are credible reports that the Russian Ministry of Defense is likely to begin massive recruitment of convicted criminals in exchange for pardons and monetary compensation after Vladimir Putin signed a decree last week to increase the number of troops by 137,000.
⛰In the temporarily occupied Mariupol, the occupying authorities plan to destroy the unique archaeological monument Mound Did – it will be transferred for development to a Rostov entrepreneur, – said Petro Andriushchenko, adviser to the mayor of Mariupol.
⚡️On the last day of summer, the Armed Forces of Ukraine gathered a very good "harvest" in the south of Ukraine
In particular, 201 enemies, 6 enemy ammunition depots, command posts, 12 tanks, and a lot of heavy weapons were eliminated.
⚡️ Naftogaz succeeds in postponing most Eurobond payments until 2026.
According to the Ukrainian state energy company, 77% of investors agreed to delay €600 million of loans for two years after the original 2024 deadline, The remaining €90 million will be repaid by 2024.
⚡️Estonian FM: We will aim to stop most Russians from entering the country within weeks.
⚡️CNN: US conducted 'war games' with Kyiv before Kherson counteroffensive.
The U.S. suggested keeping the offensive limited in geography to avoid overextension along the extensive front line, CNN reported citing multiple U.S., Ukrainian, and Western officials. To achieve better results, Ukrainian forces engaged in analytical exercises that were intended to better understand what force levels Ukraine would need to muster to be successful in different scenarios.
Initially, Ukraine planned for a larger assault but decided to focus only on the southern front for the time being.
⚡️US obtains warrant to seize $45 million airplane belonging to Russian energy company.
⚡️AP: North Korea may send workers to Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine.
Russian and North Korean officials are indicating that there may be plans to send a labor force to the Russian-occupied east of Ukraine. However, it is unlikely they will be transferred amidst the ongoing hostilities. The employment of North Korean workers would mean Russia is breaking the UN Security Council sanctions over North Korea it backed in 2017. Sanctions were imposed over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
⚡️ General Staff: Russian forces attempt to restore supply lines in southern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s General Staff reported on Sept. 1 that Russian forces are concentrating efforts on establishing full control of Donetsk Oblast and maintaining temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv oblasts.
[Russian losses: 450 troops. One questions how many the Ukrainians are losing but the last week has been dreadful for Russia. Another helicopter down and lot of artillery units, APVs and tanks]