Ukraine Invasion: Part 45

[MagicFox]

Thanks to all: contributors, lurkers and those in-between

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Finns are actually quite "pure", not that that's a good thing, just means we're more inbred!

The indigenous inhabitants of Australia were cut off from other nationalities/races for a long time. Might they count?

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-24-2023

Key Takeaways:

• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations in eastern and southern Ukraine on October 24 and advanced south of Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
• Russia appears to be increasingly supplementing the use of Shahed-131/136 drones with cheaper and lighter domestically produced drone variants during strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
• Russian authorities are intensifying mobilization efforts targeting Central Asian migrant communities in Russia.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted diminishing Russian control over the Black Sea and Ukraine’s temporary grain corridors during a speech at the Crimean Platform summit on October 24.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Avdiivka on October 24 and made confirmed advances northeast of Avdiivka.
• Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces maintain some positions in Krynky (30km east of Kherson City and 2km from the Dnipro River) and continued limited attacks on the east (left) bank of the Dnipro River.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD)-affiliated "Redut" private military company (PMC) is reportedly trying to recruit women into combat roles.
• Russian occupation authorities continue to establish programs to forcibly deport Ukrainian children to Russia.

A joint aid package for Ukraine and Israel is facing significant challenges in the US Senate, with a high likelihood that Republicans may not approve it, according to Politico.

Oh no. @MissConductUS any insight on this?

I can't find that article on Politico. Do you have a link?

The only thing I could find that was related was this:

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-republicans-seek-concessions-bidens-106-billion-request/story?id=104259837

The Republicans in the Senate, who are not in the majority, are seeking some concessions on border control policies, but there's no talk of them trying to kill the bill. This is perfectly normal legislative sausage making.

@MissConductUS Im afraid UNITED24 Media and Live: Ukraine only give a few links, so no. I can ask someone from Politico who astonishingly decided to follow me on Bluesky.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime good point! I wonder if Native Americans were fairly unadulterated too?

Ducks, I wouldn't bother. There really was nothing on Politico about it with that slant on it. I think an editor at the Ukrainian news service simply misunderstood what they were reading.

The legislation was carefully crafted to have broad appeal, or at least to make open opposition very costly politically.

I have found a couple of times that I struggle to track down the source of some of these.

yes, me too tho with the amount of time doing the roundup takes here, on Twitter and Bluesky, I often don't follow things up. Plus honestly, a week away made me realise how heavily the horror of it all weighs. It's a thousand times worse for Ukrainians of course.

Okay @MissConductUS

This kind of thing does remind one that while Ukraine on the whole tends to try to portray a situation honestly, when it portrays anything at all (there are large amounts of conflict data it does not report on) .... it doesn't always get everything right. Some of it is partially a language issue I think; not even direct word-for-word translations but cultural differences surfacing, such as attributing motivations for an action that would make sense to a Ukrainian but might not be a W European approach.

Looking at the various hints, it does look like Russia is making more gains than one would like. There are so many hundreds of thousands of Ru soldiers; there was an (unconfirmed) report that Ru had taken over the Northern wasteheaps of Avdiiivka, which gives them an advantage, and more children have been evacuated from areas that had not previously been considered dangerous enough to remove them.

The House has elected a speaker, for good or bad. At least they can start legislating again.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4274652-republicans-make-mike-johnson-house-speaker/

He doesn't seem to have any publicly stated views on Ukraine I could find.

I read that headline too quick and without my glasses on. For a moment there I thought they'd elected Boris Johnson.

I think we might be better off with BoJo, but not much chance of him getting elected. However, he was born in New York.

Can't fault him on Ukraine but much of the UK electorate would be willing to sweeten the deal to get him over to you 😂

If Matt Gaetz approves of Mike Johnson, I conclude that Johnson is probably a thoroughly bad thing.

I think Gaetz was threatened with expulsion from the caucus if he kept mucking things up.

Nothing astonishing about deciding to follow you on BlueSky, Ducks. People recognise a quality information source when they see it!

For what it’s worth John Sweeney (on Twitter) suggests that Johnson is bad news for Ukraine having voted against Ukraine in 6 of 7 votes and thinks providing aid to Ukraine is a ‘terrible mistake’

The capture of the waste heaps doesn't provide a tactical advantage. They're made up of loose rocks and dirt overburden that was removed during coal mining. They're not that high and won't support heavy equipment like artillery pieces.

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1716763826685727155

... and at the back of that pamphlet, there's the fold out map. It shows Ukraine as the nationalists saw it back in 1919. Crimea and Kuban included.

@MMBaranova these remind of the- I called them- little green books that were found in a cardboard box at the back of my form room.
It was a history classroom in an old secondary modern. The books had been printed in the 1950s and earlier and I think that by the 80s I was the only person delving through that box.

It was utterly fascinating and a real insight into the world as it was. Fifty pages of a subject broken down into interesting facts from around the world. Pamphlets is probably the more accurate description but to me they will always be the little green books. Thank you.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Russia says it practiced large-scale nuclear strike, using ground, sea, and air components of the country's nuclear forces, the Kremlin's press service claimed on Oct. 25. .
https://kyivindependent.com/russia-says-it-practiced-large-scale-nuclear-strike/

Ukraine war latest: Russian drone strike likely targeted Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, Zelensky says https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-russia-strikes-khmelnytskyi-oblast-again-damages-buildings-near-nuclear-power-plant-injures-20/

⚡️IAEA warns of 'dangers to nuclear safety https://kyivindependent.com/iaea-chief-warns-of-dangers-to-nuclear-safety-following-russian-strikes-near-khmelnytskyi-nuclear-plant/* following Russian strikes near Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Plant. *

⚡️Russia claims https://kyivindependent.com/russia-claims-air-defense-shot-down-2-atacms-missiles/ air defense shot down 2 ATACMS missiles.

⚡️Hungarian foreign minister: No change to Hungary's position on Sweden's NATO accession https://kyivindependent.com/hungarian-foreign-minister-no-change-to-hungarys-position-on-swedens-nato-accession/

⚡️Media: Europe continues to import over $14 billion of Russian raw materials. https://kyivindependent.com/media-critical-raw-materials/ While certain raw materials like oil and coal fall under sanctions, there are 34 minerals that the EU considers to be "crucial to Europe’s economy" and have so far avoided restrictions, the report said.

⚡️ Media: Ukrainian pilots start F-16 training https://kyivindependent.com/media-ukrainian-pilots-start-training-on-f-16-in-us/ in US. A small number of Ukrainian aviators have reportedly started learning "F-16 fundamentals" with the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing earlier this week, the magazine said.

⚡️The Insider: Russian Kinzhal manufacturer imports components https://kyivindependent.com/the-insider-russian-kinzhal-manufacturer-imports-components-from-eu/ from EU.

Ukraine is already producing thousands of drones per month, but this will soon increase to tens of thousands per month, said Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin on Oct. 25. https://kyivindependent.com/minister-ukraine-to-produce-tens-of-thousands-of-drones-per-month-by-years-end/

⚡️ Germany pledges https://kyivindependent.com/germany-pledges-over-200-million-for-ukraines-energy-industry/ over $200 million for Ukraine's energy industry.

⚡️ Politico: White House sells Ukraine aid https://kyivindependent.com/politico-white-house-wants-to-sell-economic-benefits-of-ukraine-aid/ as economic boon at home.
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has been quietly urging Democratic and Republican lawmakers to highlight the domestic economic benefits of supporting Ukraine, Politico reported on Oct. 25.

Four agents from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) were allegedly inside a car that exploded in occupied Berdiansk on Oct. 23, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on Oct. 26. https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-fsb-agents-in-explosion-in-occupied-berdiansk/

⚡️ Czechia to prosecute pro-Russian activist https://kyivindependent.com/czechia-to-prosecute-pro-russian-activist-who-called-for-countrys-de-ukrainization/ who called for country's 'de-Ukrainization.'

⚡️ Anti-Ukraine Robert Fico formally appointed https://kyivindependent.com/robert-fico-formally-appointed-slovakias-new-prime-minister/ Slovakia's new prime minister.

⚡️NABU uncover https://kyivindependent.com/nabu-uncover-2018-ammunition-depot-corruption-scheme/ 2018 ammunition depot corruption scheme.
A former lawmaker is a key suspect in a case dating back to 2018 concerning the embezzlement of over Hr 307 million ($8.4 million) in Defense Ministry funds, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) reported on Oct. 25.

⚡️ Priest of Moscow-linked church sentenced to 15 years https://kyivindependent.com/priest-of-moscow-linked-church-sentenced-to-15-years-for-spying-for-russia/ for spying for Russia.
Russia has extensively militarized children to instill loyalty among the younger generation towards Vladimir Putin and his expansionist ideology. From alternative history at school to training in combat skills, Moscow has employed its military-patriotic education both on Russian and Ukrainian children in occupied territories.

⚡️Media: Kyrgyzstan set to adopt https://kyivindependent.com/media-kyrgyzstan-set-to-adopt-copy-of-russian-foreign-agent-law/ copy of Russian 'foreign agent' law.
Kyrgyzstan's parliament is set to adopt legislation that mimics Russia's authoritarian foreign agent law, the BBC's Russian Service reported on Oct. 25.

How Russia is turning kids into soldiers

⚡️ Russia says it practiced large-scale nuclear strike, using ground, sea, and air components of the country's nuclear forces, the Kremlin's press service claimed on Oct. 25. .

Wow.....Good for you Vlad..... slow clap

yet more posturing isn't it? It's possible it actually happened, possibly, possibly, but it rings loud and clear of "we gotta remind 'em We Have Nukes!"

Im sure it scares Elon though.

It's maybe just me but I'm finding the lack of anything on Ukraine in the headlines deeply disturbing.