Ukraine Invasion: Part 43

[MagicFox]

With thanks as usual to everyone!

--

Agreed thread guidance:

1. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

1. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content

1. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful

Live: Ukraine Telegram

🇵🇱 Warsaw is hosting the largest military parade since the end of the Cold War. Today is Polish Army Day, the 103rd anniversary of Poland's victory over Bolshevik Russia in the Battle of Warsaw.
A column of two thousand soldiers and 200 pieces of military equipment marched through the Polish capital. There were 92 airplanes and helicopters in the sky.

The American rock band The Killers was booed in Batumi [Georgia] because of a Russian on stage.
The band's lead singer Brandon Flowers invited a fan to sit behind the drums. Flowers asked the fan where he was from, and after he answered, he said: "This guy is Russian, do you mind if he comes up here? I don't mind". This caused outrage among the audience. Flowers also said that he considers his fans to be brothers and sisters and that music has no borders. These words made people even angrier. Some fans demonstratively left the concert, and the Tbilisi radio station even took the band's songs off the air.

🥴A story shared by a Russian channel. Doubt level 10/10.
“Southeast of Robotyne, they find the corpses of our soldiers with polyurethane foam in the anus, apparently these are prisoners, Khokhols (ethnic slur for Ukrainians) are nonhumans.”
This is one of the wildest propaganda slanders against the Armed Forces of Ukraine in recent times.

Ukrainian politicians periodically declare a fight against the shadow economy. But it is impossible to overcome it. It can be reduced but not eliminated.
Ukraine's shadow economy is estimated at 32% of GDP (in 2021, the latest available data). In Germany, it is 10%, and in Poland, 22%.

Mr. Cat will report to the President next

Do you think the public utterances of a senior NATO official about conceding Ukrainian territory for NATO membership is particularly helpful?

I really can't see the motivation for public discussion as surely this will bolster Russian hopes of retaining its gains and conversely frustrate Ukraine as it will appear does not have absolute backing of NATO to restore sovereignty.

Even if such a scenario eventually happened won't that have a NATO country directly next to Russia where potential clashes are likely 🤔

It might have been best if the Sec Gens Chief of Staff had not commented nothing but I think what was actually said has been reported and perhaps spun in various ways....

For example The Guardian newspaper in the UK cites refers to this Norwegian source, (translated by Google):

"When asked by VG whether it is Nato's view that Ukraine must cede land in order to achieve peace with Russia and future membership in Nato, Jenssen pointed out that the discussion about possible status after the war is already underway, and that questions about ceding territory to Russia is raised by others.

"I'm not saying it has to be like this. But that could be a possible solution", replied Jenssen.

https://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/i/jl7V5e/aapner-for-at-ukraina-avgir-territorium-i-bytte-mot-nato-medlemskap

..and apologies about the typos...

Colonel General Gennady Zhydko, who commanded the entire Russian occupation army in Ukraine in May-July 2022, died in Moscow.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gennady_Zhidko

In late May 2022, it was reported that Zhidko had been put in charge of Russian forces during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, replacing Army General Aleksandr Dvornikov.[1] I

Having assumed the position in May, Zhidko was demoted a month later to head of the Eastern Military District, and Sergey Surovikin was publicly announced to have taken the position on October 8.[35]Zhidko died in Moscow on 16 August 2023, at the age of 57

First reaction is to wonder whether it was a window, a cup of tea or a nasty case of lead-poisoning.

And....

"A senior NATO official has apologised and clarified his comments a day after he said publicly that Ukraine could give up territory to Russia in exchange for NATO membership and an end to the war."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/16/nato-official-suggests-ukraine-could-give-up-territory-in-exchange-for-membership

Unhelpful comments from that NATO official, apology or not.

Ukrainian sappers have begun using a new demining tactic: they wait for enemy mines to warm up in the heat, — CNN
When it gets dark, and the air cools down, sappers launch drones with thermal imagers, on the screens of which mines heated by the sun become visible and seem to "glow" during the day.

Another example of Ukrainian ingenious low cost improvisations.

It seems there's another death announcement

Maria Drutska

Later, information emerged about the passing “from illness” of former head of russia's Federal Protective Service in the Caucasus, Lieutenant General Gennady Lopyrev. He had been serving time in a corrective colony in the Ryazan region for bribery. He had not admitted his guilt.

@blueshoes ingenious indeed! They never fail to impress.

Seems that Ukraine does not plan on negotiating a new contract for Gazprom to supply Central European countries with the gas that transits through Ukraine. The contract runs out at the end of 2024.

The Central European countries have been looking for alternative supplies since war broke out.

This article addresses some of the issues https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/will-the-ukrainian-gas-transit-contract-continue-beyond-2024/ although it ends with a firm shrug of the shoulders as to what will happen after 2024.

https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-warns-it-wont-negotiate-new-russian-gas-transit-deal/

We’re at war but you can send gas across our country while you bomb our grain supplies is something that should not be happening.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-16-2023

Key Takeaways:

• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the front on August 16 and advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast and on the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border.
• Ukrainian reports and video released by Ukrainian troops confirm that Ukrainian forces liberated Urozhaine, on the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border, on August 16.
• Russian sources are prematurely asserting that Ukrainian forces have committed their entire “main reserves” to counteroffensive operations in western Zaporizhia Oblast based on scattered observations of western-equipped Ukrainian units.
• Russian forces conducted a series of drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of August 15 to 16, primarily targeting grain and port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast.
• The first civilian vessel traveled through a Ukrainian-created temporary corridor for civilian vessels in the Black Sea on August 16 as part of Ukrainian efforts to circumvent Russian attempts to further curtail maritime traffic.
• Russian ultranationalists are increasingly criticizing Russian military command for failing to recruit and train effective middle-level military officers to lead Russian forces on the frontlines in Ukraine.
• Russian senators proposed an amendment to ban the distribution of photos and videos containing information about Russian military activities and locations on August 16, amplifying a recent trend of cracking down on public imagery of the war.
• The Russian MoD may be using the Army-2023 Forum in Moscow to coerce countries into refusing to cooperate with the Wagner Group and to advertise Russian MoD-controlled private military companies (PMCs).
• Russian sources claimed that the Russian military command placed nominal Russian deputy theater commander in Ukraine and notable Wagner-affiliated Army General Sergei Surovikin under house arrest as of early August.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove line, near Bakhmut, along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and did not make any confirmed advances.

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️FT: US asks Iran https://kyivindependent.com/ft-us-asks-iran-to-stop-drone-supply-to-russia/ to stop drone supply to Russia.
The U.S. has raised the issue of Iran's supply of attack drones to Russia during discussions with Tehran as part of an effort to "de-escalate tensions," the Financial Times reported on Aug. 16.

⚡️Chinese defense minister claims https://kyivindependent.com/chinese-defense-minister-claims-strategic-partnership-with-belarus/ 'strategic partnership' with Belarus.
Belarus and China have a "comprehensive strategic partnership," Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu said in Minsk on Aug. 16, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported.

⚡️Air Force: F-16s can't defend https://kyivindependent.com/f-16s-unable-to-defend-ukraine-in-coming-autumn-and-winter/ Ukraine this fall or winter.

The Russian-installed administration in Horlivka, Donetsk Oblast, claimed that more than 20,000 local residents were killed after being forcibly enlisted into the Russian army, the National Resistance Center reported on Aug. 16.
Representatives of the occupation regime shared this statistic in response to Moscow's call for a new wave of mobilization in Russian-controlled territories, explaining that they cannot contribute manpower due to heavy losses. https://kyivindependent.com/over-20-000-horlivka-residents-enlisted-in-russian-army-die/

Navy: Ukraine has disabled 5 Russian landing crafts https://kyivindependent.com/navy-ukraine/ since invasion began.

⚡️General Staff: Ukrainian troops advance https://kyivindependent.com/general-staff-ukrainian-troops-advance-south-of-donetsk-oblasts-urozhaine/ south of Donetsk Oblast’s Urozhaine.

⚡️ Finance Ministry: Third of state budget in 2023 used to pay soldiers.
https://kyivindependent.com/finance-ministry-third-of-state-budget-used-to-pay-soldiers/ one-third of the state budget for 2023 so far – almost Hr 520 billion ($14 billion) – has been used for military personnel expenditures, Ukraine's Finance Ministry said on Aug. 16., referencing data from the State Treasury Service.
For the first seven months of 2023, the total expenditures of the state amounted to Hr 1.64 trillion ($44.4 billion), with Hr 231.8 billion ($6.3 billion) spent in July.

⚡️American conservative group, Republicans for Ukraine, launches ad campaign https://kyivindependent.com/american-conservative-group-republicans-for-ukraine-launches-ad-campaign-to-increase-republican-support-for-ukraine/ to increase Republican support for Ukraine.

⚡️EU moves funds https://kyivindependent.com/financial-reshuffle-eu-allocates-russia-belarus-funds-to-ukraine-moldova-projects/ for Russia and Belarus to Ukraine and Moldova.
The European Commission, the European Union's executive branch, will reallocate €135 million in funding once meant for Russia and Belarus to projects in Ukraine and Moldova, the Commission announced on Aug. 16.

⚡️US sanctions https://kyivindependent.com/us-sanctions-companies-involved-in-arms-deals-between-russia-north-korea/**companies involved in arms deals between Russia, North Korea.

⚡️New Swiss sanctions against Russia come into effect kyivindependent.com/swiss-sanctions-against-russia-come-into-effect/

⚡️Ukraine and Romania agree https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-and-romania-agree-to-open-new-border-crossing/ to open new border crossing in Ukraine's western Zakarpattia Oblast.

⚡️Lithuanian Transport Ministry: 2 more out of 6 total border crossings with Belarus to close https://kyivindependent.com/lithuanian-transport-ministry-two-more-border-crossings-with-belarus-to-close-amid-talks-of-total-tlosure/ amid talks of total closure. Vaiciukeviciute cited the presence of the Kremlin-linked private mercenary Wagner Group in Belarus as one of the major reasons for the closures.

⚡️Finland builds up Europe's largest nuclear emergency https://kyivindependent.com/europes-largest-nuclear-emergency-stockpile-to-be-built-in-finland/stockpile.

A Russian-controlled court in occupied Donetsk Oblast sentenced three Ukrainian soldiers to more than 20 years in prison, media outlet Hromadske reported on Aug. 16, citing the Russian military prosecutor's office. https://kyivindependent.com/russian-controlled-court-sentences/

⚡️Czech Republic sanctions https://kyivindependent.com/czech-republic-sanctions-russian-weapons-oligarch-and-family-who-live-in-prague/ Russian weapons oligarch and family members who reside in Prague.

⚡️Media: Russian journalist Elena Kostyuchenko, a Russian journalist working for the Russian independent media Novaya Gazeta, allegedly victim of poisoning https://kyivindependent.com/meduza-russian-journalist-allegedly-victim-of-poisoning-in-germany/ in Germany.

'Just hold on’: Front-line medics’ race against time to save wounded soldiers https://kyivindependent.com/just-hold-on-front-line-medics-race-against-time-to-save-wounded-soldiers/

Ragnar Gudmundsson
■ Morestrikes but fewer engagements
■ Troop losses <500, equipment close to average
■ Double-digit vehicle, drone, APV & artillery losses
■ KIU: +28 officers
■ Oryx: 25:9 Russian: Ukrainian hardware losses /after corrections

UNITED24 Media Telegram

⚡️ Ukrainian intelligence has confirmed that Russia has started producing Shahed drones on its territory.

🇩🇪 Germany has transferred two more IRIS-T SLS launchers to Ukraine, the federal government's website says.
Ukraine also received almost five thousand more 155-mm caliber shells, GO12 radars, and cargo vehicles.

🇱🇹 🇪🇪 🇱🇻 The governments of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia have joined the G7 declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine. In total, 19 countries have already supported the document.

The statement of NATO's official representative Stian Jenssen about Ukraine's relinquishment of part of the territories in exchange for joining the alliance was called a "mistake", according to the correspondent of the RS in the NATO press service.
Jenssen clarified that he should not have said that and that he considers it a mistake.

In a remarkable feat, a fundraising campaign organized by the UNITED24 platform, the Come Back Alive Foundation, and Monobank has successfully closed within just three days, raising UAH 235 million (equivalent to US$6.3 million).
The campaign's goal was to acquire 10,000 kamikaze drones.

Components that have survived are being extracted from the AN-225 "Mriya" aircraft, which the Russians destroyed at the beginning of the war.
If a decision is reached to develop a new iteration of the aircraft, these salvaged components could prove valuable for its construction.
The AN-225's wing and tail sections have already been disassembled.
Throughout the hostilities, the foremost aircraft section suffered the most extensive damage. The fire engulfed the cockpit, including all associated equipment, the forward part of the fuselage, the engine, landing gear, and a wing segment.

⚖️ President Zelenskyy signed laws extending martial law and general mobilization in the country for 90 more days.

The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NAZK) of Ukraine has sent letters to international companies that are listed as sponsors of the war.

Live: Ukraine Telegram

In the Bakhmut sector, the Ukrainian military shot down another Russian Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter. Its cost is about $16 million.

The Russian Embassy in Sweden in a boorish commentary confirmed (https://twitter.com/RusEmbSwe/status/1691822344900088245) the strike on the Swedish company SKF plant on Tuesday night, saying it was a legitimate military target.
Moscow's mission recalled the Russian Defense Ministry's propaganda statement about the strike on "key military industry enterprises of the Kyiv regime."
"Don't you see the connection? Then let us explain: this plant in Lutsk is part of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, it produced bearings for Ukroboronprom. Naturally, the Swedish press did not mention this fact," the commentary states.
We have not been able to find any information in open sources about the cooperation between SKF and Ukroboronprom. According to the company's official statement, its plant in Lutsk produces tapered roller bearings, "primarily for the heavy civilian automotive industry."

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy says “diplomacy, discussions and talks” are “the only ways” to resolve Russia’s war on Ukraine.
In an interview published in French daily Le Figaro (https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/nicolas-sarkozy-nous-avons-besoin-des-russes-et-ils-ont-besoin-de-nous-20230816) on Wednesday, Sarkozy argued that Europe needs to “clarify its strategy” and seek a compromise with Russia rather than pursue its “strange idea” of funding a war without waging it.
Sarkozy also dismissed Ukraine’s EU membership bid and compared it to Turkey’s doomed attempt to join the union. “We are selling fallacious promises that will not be held,” he said. He also cast doubts on whether Ukraine should seek to reconquer Crimea.

Ah Sarkozy = Useful Idiot

Skynews is reporting that Washington has approved the transfer of F-16s from Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine though it not expected to happen this year

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-17-2023

Key Takeaways:

• “Vostok” Battalion commander Alexander Khodakovsky suggested that Russia freeze the war in Ukraine along the current frontlines, reintroducing a narrative that had been largely dormant since Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin’s armed rebellion.
• Khodakovsky commands forces defending in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area and his comments about freezing the war follow the Ukrainian liberation of Urozhaine on August 16, suggesting that recent Ukrainian advances may be significantly weakening confidence in the Russian defense along the wider front in southern Ukraine.
• Recent Ukrainian advances near small settlements in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area and in western Zaporizhia Oblast are likely tactically significant because of the structure of Russian defensive lines.
• Russian forces have dedicated significant effort, resources, and personnel to hold settlements such as Robotyne and Urozhaine, and recent Ukrainian advances in these areas are therefore likely reflective of a wider degradation of defending Russian forces.
• Russian efforts to ramp up the domestic production of Iranian Shahed-136/-131 drones indicate that Russia aims to develop the long-term capability to conduct large strike series in Ukraine.
• Russian reports about the state of the Chonhar Bridge in occupied Kherson Oblast indicate that Ukrainian strikes disrupted a major Russian ground line of communication (GLOC) to Crimea for 11 days.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, and in the western Donetsk-eastern Zaporizhia Oblast border area on August 17 and advanced in certain areas.
• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the front on August 17 and advanced near Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhia Oblast.

Extra:
ISW continues to assess that Russian forces lack significant operational reserves, and the intense Russian effort to hold these settlements instead of withdrawing their forces means that Ukrainian forces have likely had to thoroughly degrade Russian units before advancing. ....

Khodakovsky’s recent complaint that the Russian command failed to send reinforcements ... defending Urozhaine may indicate that the Russian command is already making difficult choices about what sectors to prioritize as Ukrainian forces advance.[15] Russian forces increasingly appear likely to have to withdraw to secondary prepared defensive positions without significant support in the case of a Ukrainian breakthrough, and the further degradation of Russian forces creates opportunities for any Ukrainian breakthrough to be potentially operationally significant.[16] Khodakovsky’s apparent waning confidence in the Russian defense in southern Ukraine may indicate that he believes that recent advances have made a Ukrainian breakthrough more likely. [My bolding. The ISW is conservative in its estimates so this is fairly positive speaking for them]

About time, but why does everything take so long. Given they've talked about only training 6 + 2 reserves to pilot (which is hardly going to make a huge difference) why wasn't the training started a year ago so they'd be ready to go when planes were offered.
Everything is done at a snails pace and our timidity emboldens Putin.
Now let's get the ATCAMS & Taurus missiles out there and act like we actually want Ukraine to win this war.

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️Washington approves sending F-16s https://kyivindependent.com/washington-approves-sending-f-16s-to-ukraine-from-denmark-and-netherlands/ to Ukraine from Denmark and Netherlands [as @Surplus2requirements said]

⚡️ Official: Ukraine will not completely fulfill all EU recommendations https://kyivindependent.com/official-ukraine-will-not-fully-implement-all-eu-recommendations-by-october/ by October.
Ukraine will not completely fulfill all the seven EU recommendations presented to Kyiv to launch accession talks by October, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine on Aug. 17.

⚡️Bloomberg: Russia considers targeting exporters https://kyivindependent.com/bloomberg-russia-considering-targeting-exporters-to-prevent-collapse-of-ruble/ to prevent collapse of ruble.
The Russian government is preparing measures that target large exporters to control capital and prevent a collapse of the value of the ruble, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 17.
Russia is creating guidelines to "coax them into surrendering more of their foreign revenues," according to Bloomberg, but if the ruble does not stabilize, formal capital restrictions may be introduced.

⚡️ Reuters: India considers importing wheat https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-india-considers-importing-wheat-from-russia-at-discount-prices/ from Russia at discount.
India is in talks with Moscow to import Russian wheat at discount prices in an attempt to push down food inflation ahead of the upcoming elections next year, Reuters reported on Aug. 17, citing four unnamed sources.

⚡️Germany delivers https://kyivindependent.com/germany-delivers-2-more-iris-t-air-defense-systems-to-ukraine/ 2 more IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine.

⚡️Czech minister: Ukraine may receive remaining Czech Soviet-made helicopter gunships https://kyivindependent.com/minister-ukraine-may-receive-czech-helicopter-gunships/

⚡️Mayor says drone intercepted https://kyivindependent.com/moscow/ over Moscow. Additionally, Telegram channels linked to the Russian state claimed that debris fell over the convention center, damaging the roof.

⚡️Russia claims https://kyivindependent.com/russia-claims-naval-drone-tried-to-attack-black-sea-fleet-ships/naval drone tried to attack Black Sea Fleet ships.

⚡️ Ukraine repels Russian counterattacks against https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-repels-russian-attacks-against-liberated-urozhaine/ liberated Urozhaine.

⚡️ CNN: Ukraine likely used cluster munitions https://kyivindependent.com/cnn-ukraine-possibly-used-cluster-munitions-when-retaking-urozhaine/ when retaking Urozhaine.

Ukrainian forces continue their counteroffensive in three areas in the southeast and east of the country as Russian troops try to reclaim lost positions in some areas along the 1,200-kilometer-long front line.

⚡️ Azov Brigade returns to fight at front. https://kyivindependent.com/azov-brigade-returns-to-front/

⚡️ Slovakia's top general visits Ukraine's southern forces command. https://kyivindependent.com/slovakias-top-general-visits-ukraines-southern-forces-command/

⚡️ Swedish parliament approves $300 million in military aid https://kyivindependent.com/swedish-parliament-approves/ for Ukraine. The tranche of assistance is composed of over $100 million in spare parts and emergency supplies, and almost $200 million worth of munitions, ammunition components, demining equipment, and transport vehicles.

⚡️Washington Post: https://kyivindependent.com/washington-post-russia-progressing-on-mass-production-of-attack-drones/ Russia is setting up a production line in Tatarstan that aims to build 6,000 attack drones by the summer of 2025, improving on "Iran's dated manufacturing techniques," to produce more deadly drones on a greater scale.

Russia plans to carry out the forced distribution of Russian passports to all teenagers aged 14-18 living in the Luhansk region, the National Resistance Center reported on Aug. 18. https://kyivindependent.com/national-resistance-center-russia-plans-to/

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics announced on Aug. 17 that he had called a National Security Council meeting to discuss the situation at the border with Russia and Belarus. The Council is to address issues such as the Wagner Group presence in Belarus and Minsk's hybrid warfare attempts, the president wrote on Twitter. https://kyivindependent.com/latvian-national-securit/

⚡️Zelensky signs law https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-signs-law-on-changing-constitutional-court-selection-procedure/ changing constitutional court selection procedure, which is necessary to launch EU membership talks.

⚡️ https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-signs-decree-dismissing-all-military-enlistment-office-chiefs/

Zelensky signed a decree on Aug. 17, dismissing all heads of military enlistment offices from their posts. The measure comes into force immediately after a nationwide inspection revealed multiple violations, including corruption, power abuse, and fraud.

⚡️Lukashenko admits https://kyivindependent.com/lukashenko-admits-russian-troops-invaded-ukraine-through-belarus/ Russian troops invaded Ukraine through Belarus.

⚡️SBU arrests man https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-arrests-man-suspected-of-sending-kyiv-target-locations-to-russia/ suspected of sending Kyiv target locations to Russia. The Russian military had a particular interest in the location of the city's electrical substations and bases where Ukrainian equipment was being repaired, the SBU said. [Its clear from various hints that Russia is planning a winter campaign against the energy network of Ukraine again]

⚡️Zelensky signs law (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-signs-law-on-changing-constitutional-court-selection-procedure/) changing constitutional court selection procedure.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 17 that he had signed a law changing how Constitutional Court judges are chosen, which is necessary to launch EU membership talks.

⚡️National Resistance Center: Russia deports another 450 Ukrainian children https://kyivindependent.com/national-resistance-center-russia-deports-another-450-ukrainian-children/
Russia has deported another 450 children from areas of Ukraine under Russian occupation, the National Resistance Center reported on Aug. 17.

⚡️Ukraine designates AliExpress owner as 'international sponsor of war https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-designates-aliexpress-owner-as-international-sponsor-of-war/

Ragnar Gudmundsson

WAR IN #UKRAINE - AUG 18
■ Fewerstrikes & engagements up
■ Troop losses <500 & equipment close to 7-day average
■ Double-digit artillery, vehicle, APV & special equipment losses
■ 2x Ka-52 helicopters
■ Oryx: 15:29/(30-day x1.8) [Ru:Ukr vehicle losses :(]

^The Russian government is preparing measures that target large exporters to control capital and prevent a collapse of the value of the ruble, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 17.
Russia is creating guidelines to "coax them into surrendering more of their foreign revenues," according to Bloomberg, but if the ruble does not stabilize, formal capital restrictions may be introduced.^

Could someone kindly explain to me what is going on here and the implications please?

Just posted on Twitter:

🔥 NOVOROSSIYSK 🇷🇺

The cargo area of the port of Novorossiysk 🇷🇺, is burning 🔥 & exploding.

She says:

“It’s becoming bigger and bigger. Something just exploded… it’s continuing to explode.”

The port is Russia’s main port on the Black Sea.

x.com/officejjsmart/status/1692465301827293211?s=46&t=eNB9C4pL0g2Opkl4oCmOsQ

A taste of their own medicine maybe?

@DesdamonasHandkerchief

Now let's get the ATCAMS & Taurus missiles out there and act like we actually want Ukraine to win this war. Hear hear!

Not excusing the slow pace of this deal but there's zero point in training pilots if they are not almost immediately going to fly the aircraft they have been trained on...

A thing called "skill fade" starts happening very quickly, even a month off leaves you feeling "behind the aircraft" for the first hours flying or so, a year off flying or even flying another aircraft type and you'd need a huge chunk of retraining.....

https://skybrary.aero/articles/skill-fade