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To: null and void; aragorn; Axenolith; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; bgill; bitt; ...

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Globalism / Great Reset -

UN scientists have unveiled a plan that they believe can limit the root causes of dangerous climate change.
A key UN body says in a report that there must be “rapid, deep and immediate” cuts in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Global emissions of CO2 would need to peak within three years to stave off the worst impacts.
Even then, the world would also need technology to suck CO2 from the skies by mid-century

OBSERVATION - Expect more global warming ‘justifications’ for a GGR desired emergency declarations and shutdowns based upon the wuhan shutdowns.
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Wuhan virus -

Branch covidians still trying to drum up fear over the latest variant, but it isn’t gaining traction.

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Economy -

In his annual letter to shareholders, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warns that the global economic picture may continue to worsen. Three points follow. First, he says the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war risks a sharp global economic downturn. Dimon notes that further sanctions against Russia are possible, adding that the situation “could easily worsen.” Dimon continues that the “confluence [of war, sanctions, and economic instability] may dramatically increase the risks ahead” and characterizes worsening conditions as “a potentially explosive situation.”(FO)

March 2022 Logistics Manager’s Index Reports the LMI at 76.2, the highest in the history of the index, up (+1.0) from February’s reading of 75.2. The first three months of 2022 have been marked by high levels of inventory, and insufficient capacity to deal with it. This trend started at the end of 2021 when inventories increased by 2.4% in December 2021 – an all-time month-to-month record.

OBSERVATION - Basically there isn’t enough truckers to get stuff to the market and that products are staking up in warehouses. This is also driving prices higher through a combined of Inventory, Warehousing, and Transportation Costs.

OVERALL OBSERVATION - This summer may be a hinge point for the country if inflation and shortages continue as they have. This will make the political climate even more intense in the lead up to the midterms.

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Invasion of Illegals -

Biden is looking to further slash deportations by having federal prosecutors drop cases against illegal aliens unless they are considered a “public safety threat,” a newly leaked internal memo reveals. The memo, reviewed by BuzzFeed News, directs prosecutors for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to drop deportation cases against illegal aliens who are not considered a threat to national security or public safety or who have not recently crossed the United States-Mexico border.

Drugs cartels will control the U.S. border once the Biden administration lifts Title 42 at the end of May, warns Border Patrol union chief Brandon Judd. “They’re going to create gaps in our coverage and going to cross more of their drugs, their fentanyl — and more of our U.S. citizens are going to die simply because this administration doesn’t want to give the proper policies to protect U.S. citizens.”

Missouri, Arizona and Louisiana are suing the biden administration decision to stop Title 42 policies, saying the move would lead to a ‘crisis’ at the US-Mexico border.
OBSERVATION - I expect more states to join in the coming days.

OVERALL - The tsunami of illegals the cessation of Title 42 will create will be more than the MSM can cover up and may well trip a substantial crime wave as cartels take greater control of the border. Arizona and Texas have already made plans to increase NG presence on the border and this time they may be armed and dangerous, not in a supporting role. DC will oppose such a response, setting up another confrontation between border states and biden.
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Biden / Harris watch -

Harris’ deputy chief of staff Michael Fuchs has resigned. His departure adds to the increasing number of senior staffers jumping off her ship.
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CANCEL CULTURE FRONT -

Billionaire Elon Musk bought 9.2% of Twitter stocks, becoming the largest single shareholder. Reportedly he did so was the anti-free speech of the platform. Leftist heads immediately exploded.
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POLITICAL FRONT -

Biden admitted that he’d like to see former President Donald Trump prosecuted for the Jan. 6 riots and that he’s disappointed Attorney General Merrick Garland has not taken tougher action . Push back from the GOP and the merging with the dumpster fire of Hunter biden investigation is creating even more attention on corruption in the biden administration.

0bama to give a speech on the 12th anniversary of the (un)affordable care act in an effort to divert public attention from biden’s woes to show that democrats have done positive things for the country. 0bama’s first visit to the WH since biden was elected.

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CW2/Domestic violence -

The National Fraternal Order of Police is reporting that as of this month, 101 officers have been shot in the line of duty. This marks a 46% year-to-date (YTD) increase from 2021 and a 63% YTD increase from 2020. The report notes a significant increase in ambush-style attacks.

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Strategic Activity / Deployments -

The Army this week admitted it was having problems recruiting and announced an unprecedented reduction in its numbers that would shrink the active duty Army to its smallest size since World War II.

10 additional U.S. Marine F-18 fighter jets have arrived in Poland.

The Biden administration’s $813 billion budget for fiscal year 2023 projects 2.2% inflation for Defense-related costs, despite the likelihood of the country running high inflation indefinitely.

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North/South Korea -

Kim Yo-jong said it was a ‘very big mistake’ to threaten Pyongyang and declared the North’s nuclear forces were ready to respond.
OBSERVATION - The war of words between North and South have been escalating over the past week, reflecting in part a harder line by the South.
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Russia -

WAR WATCH - The Battle for Kyiv has ended - Ukraine still stands now entering the second month of the war.

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia has hard pivoted to a readjustment of combat forces to sieze the Dombas region of eastern Ukraine. In some locations, this has resulted in a complete withdrawal, as with the Kyiv region. Other areas have switched to an economy of force/defensive posture to free up additional forces to fight in SE Ukraine. Personnel and equipment are being brought in to build back as many BTGs as possible for this next phase of combat.

Withdrawing Russian forces have left abundant evidence of mass murder of civilians, rape of women and children and widewpread looting.

ALSO - there is a lot of propaganda out there. I’m doing my best to filter that out or put into context. When In doubt I’ve been trying to identify questionable information.

********

US to ask for a UN General Assembly vote to remove Russia from the the UN Human Rights Council. Two thirds of 193 members of the UNGA would have to vote in favor of expelling Russia.

Logistics -
- Videos and photos of Russian armor pulled out of storage and arriving in theatre show evidence of poor storage conditions, which may also reflect on combat readiness.

Economic Impacts -
- According to the Central Bank of Russia, since the war began its foreign reserves dropped from USD643.2 billion on 18 Feb to USD604.4 billion on 25 Mar. The bank is spending on average USD7.76 billion a week to prop up the economy and meet international financial commitments
- The German Bundestag has just Announced that Gazprom Germania, a Subsidiary of the Russian Energy Giant Gazprom, has been Taken Under the Control of the German Government and effectively Nationalized to reportedly Secure Critical Energy Infrastructure across the Country.
- Europe’s development bank has suspended funds to Russia and Belarus due to the war.
- The Russian Embassy in Ireland is running out of fuel for heating and hot water and is complaining that numerous Irish oil companies have refused to deliver supplies.
- Russia’s latest sovereign bond coupon payments have been stopped, putting it closer to a historic default. The country has a 30-day grace period to make the payment.
- The EU proposes an import ban on Russian coal which will cut off 4 billion euros of annual trade.

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Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Temperatures forecast thru April 11th with a lot of rain in the forecast . Conditions maintained for muddy off road conditions over much of Ukraine .

24 HOUR ROUND UP -

Incredible, fluid situation !!!!!!

Zelenskyy scheduled to address the UN security council.

Widespread Russian cruse missile attacks, many of which have reportedly been intercepted by Ukrainan ADA. Increasing numbers of Russian forces building up in the southeastern corner of the country. It is suspected that many of these units were the better quality forces withdrawn from northern Ukraine. That withdrawal left the poorer quality forces in defensive positions as cover, then their disorganized withdrawal / near rout after those chosen units has pulled out.

The combat readiness/ capability of these redeployed units is still questionable, with unknown personnel and equipment losses.

The following map depicts the current situation on the ground. It isn’t perfect, but give a pretty good overview of what’s been happening minus propaganda (as much as possible)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FPWaZFQaQAc2z6D?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

Kyiv front -
Situation continues to be VERY fluid.
Satellite images refute Russia’s claim that the killing of civilians in Bucha, a suburb of Ukraine’s capital, occurred after its soldiers had left town, a New York Times analysis found.
The UN Human Rights Office says that civilians in Bucha were “directly targeted and directly killed”

Northern Front (Chernihv region ) -
Russian forces have withdrawn and Ukrainan forces conducting clean up operations.

North Eastern Front (Konotop - Sumy salient) -
Russian forces have withdrawn and Ukrainan forces conducting clean up operations.

Eastern (Khariv) front -
Heavy artillery and bombing of the Khariv area again overnight. Russian forces fired considerable artillery attacks all along the LOC, probably in preparation for the impending ground assault into the Dombas.

In Rubizhne an artillery projectile damaged a tank with nitric acid. Hazmat situation declared, and civilians warned to take cover and use personal protection equipment

Sources are noting that considerable numbers of Russian forces have entered the province in the past couple days. This is likely driving increased Russian attacks to try to regain the offense south of Khariv.

South Eastern (Dombas Separatist Region) Front -
News about Mariupol is lacking. Ukrainan forces still hold the center of the town.

Reports overnight of a 250 man element of Ukrainan marines surrendering in Mariupol. Not confirmed yet.

Red Cross says its team traveling to Mariupol was stopped, now being held - Reuters News. No information of when / if they have been released.

Russian army shelled a chemical plant in Donetsk region, no leak of dangerous chemicals

Extensive artillery fire all along the LOC into the Donetsk region supporting limited assaults on Novotoshkivske, Nyzhne, Popasna, Kalynove, Stepne, Rubizhne, Troitske, Novobakhmutivka, and Novoselivka Druha, but were unsuccessful. Likely precursors to the impending Russian Dombas offensive.

Crimea Front -

Small Russian attacks against Ukraine forces pressing in on Kherson.

No amphibious operations against Odessa region appear to be possible in the near and long term.

Western Ukraine -
Missile strikes as several locations in Central and Western Ukraine.

OUTLOOK -

Russia will kick off the Dombas invasion phase soon. However, does Russia have the capability to pull this off? Larger means more complexity in logistics as well as communication and coordination. So far Russia has been unable to do anything of this before. What is the morale status of the Russian forces? They have been put through a meat grinder, especially those from the north. Fresh troops may not be too willing to enter combat having been exposed to the results of the Ukrainan resistance. And on top of it is the quality of those soldiers is questionable.

Expect the Russian attack to begin in earnest within a week with probing attacks and abundant artillery and bombing until then. I expect the new offensive to be ushered in by the most intense artillery and bombing of the war to date to neutralize Ukrainan defenses and assist Russian forces to break out. To delay any further will permit an even stronger Ukrainan redeployment of assets and defensive preparations. Refit works both ways as western military supplies continue to come into Ukraine at a high tempo.
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Europe / NATO General -

Sweden has decided to expel three Russian diplomats who did not work in accordance with the Vienna Convention, says Foreign Minister Ann Linde
Italy expelled 30 Russian diplomats
Denmark expelled 15 Russian diplomats
Berlin expels 40 Russian diplomats.
The Lithuanian Government has officially announced that they are downgrading their diplomatic status with the Russian Federation, expelling the Russian Ambassador from the country and recalling their own Ambassador from Moscow, Lithuania is the first EU Country to do this.
France expels 35 Russian diplomats
OBSERVATION - Overall about 178 Russian Diplomats have been expelled within the last 20 hours.

EU ‘ready to send’ investigators to probe Ukraine war crimes: von der Leyen

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Israel -

Things quieter but still tense as Ramadan continues.
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Iran -

Iran will only return to Vienna to finalize an agreement to revive its landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Monday
OBSERVATION - biden administration has lost all credibility in these negations. Iran is getting everything it wants and in doing so will destabilize the region even further.
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227 posted on 04/05/2022 7:19:39 AM PDT by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
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To: Godzilla
"A key UN body says in a report that there must be “rapid, deep and immediate” cuts in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions."



228 posted on 04/05/2022 8:36:39 AM PDT by null and void (Bokassa always used to say, ‘You can’t feed people with politics.’)
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To: null and void; aragorn; Axenolith; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; bgill; bitt; ...

________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

Four organizations focused on global health and the economy say it will take $15 billion in grants this year, and another $10 billion annually after that to establish and maintain an adequate toolkit to respond to COVID-19 and address future pandemic threats.
The estimate is laid out in “A Global Strategy to Manage the Long-term Risks of COVID-19,” a working paper published on Tuesday by the International Monetary Fund, in partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Global Fund, and Wellcome Trust.
In the paper, the four global groups assert that ending the pandemic everywhere remains an urgent economic, health, and moral priority for the world.
OBSERVATION - Wuhan is still trying to be used by some of the GGR to leverage increased goat control of the population.
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Wuhan virus -

The Food and Drug Administration bypassed its own experts in approving a fourth dose of vaccine for Americans 50 years and older last week, despite many of its vaccine experts being skeptical about the need for another booster shot and unsure about its safety.
The evidence suggests that the risk of side effects would cause almost anyone — immunocompromised or not — to hesitate. In fact, the data gathered to date is insufficient for anyone who might need a fourth booster to make an informed decision.
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Economy -

The combination of increasing mortgage rates and rising home prices are delating the housing market. This has resulted in a drop in mortgage business that is causing layoffs at companies like Movement Mortgage and Better.com. Mortgage companies had been on massive hiring sprees in the first year of the Covid pandemic, as interest rates set more than a dozen record lows and both refinance and purchase demand surged.
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Invasion of Illegals -

Mayorkas is directing that economic migrants get every opportunity to stay once the Title 42 barrier is removed. Mayorkjas’ intentions are described in his February strategy, which was leaked to Breitbart Texas on April 4. The February strategy is titled “DHS Southwest Border Mass Irregular Migration Contingency Plan,” and it says on page 16:

“A. Secretary’s Intent.
1 ) Purpose:
The purpose of this plan is to describe a proactive approach that humanely prevents and responds to surges in irregular migration across the U.S. [southern border]. This will be done while ensuring that migrants can apply for any form of relief or protection [emphasis added] for which they may be eligible, including asylum, withholding of removal, and protection from removal under the regulations implementing United States obligations under the Convention Against Torture.”

To maximize benefits for migrants, Mayorkas minimizes the detention and deportation of migrants — even though federal law generally denies the entry of foreign workers and economic migrants into Americans’ homeland.

OBSERVATION - Its clear that the border policy is deliberately setting up to essentially eliminate the border and any checks on those who cross it.

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Biden / Harris watch -

Biden was cast aside like a piece of rubbish as people swarmed 0bama at yesterday’s 12 year commendation of 0bamacare.
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China -

The U.S. government has approved a sale of up to $95 million worth of training and equipment to support Taiwan’s Patriot Air Defense System, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. “The proposed sale will help to sustain the recipient’s (Taiwan’s) missile density and ensure readiness for air operations,” the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.
The Defense Department added that Taiwan will use the proposed training and equipment as a “deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen homeland defense.”
OBSERVATION - China will not be happy about this.

China has continued flying aircraft into the Taiwan’s warning zone, though not on the top of the headlines due to Ukraine, and at lower numbers.

Recession watch - The latest data from China shows a slowing manufacturing sector as the NBS purchasing manager index slips back into contraction, or negative growth.

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Japan -

Japan is seeking a capability to strike enemy bases to let potential adversaries know they’d “pay a price” for attacking Japan, according to the country’s defense minister. The Japanese government, in closed-door hearings the past few months, has heard from security experts about possibly acquiring the means to conduct counterstrikes, Kyodo News reported Monday.

There’s a consensus among Japanese defense experts that their country needs a strike capability, according to Tetsuo Kotani, a senior research fellow at The Japan Institute of International Affairs.

Some of the Japanese rationale for seeking the new capability is concern about America’s reliability as an ally. “Japan has finally woken up to the fact that they are pretty much defenseless (against Chinese missiles),” retired U.S. Marine Col. Grant Newsham, a senior researcher with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday.

OBSERVATION - Japan’s military is tied down by the post WW2 constitution and rules which historically been cited to limit the capabilities of the country to strictly defensive measures. Increasing threats by both China and N Korea is forcing a relook at these laws and they are finding ways around them.
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Russia -

WAR WATCH - The Battle for Kyiv has ended - Ukraine still stands now entering the second month of the war.

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia has hard pivoted to a readjustment of combat forces to sieze the Dombas region of eastern Ukraine. In some locations, this has resulted in a complete withdrawal, as with the Kyiv region. Other areas have switched to an economy of force/defensive posture to free up additional forces to fight in SE Ukraine. Personnel and equipment are being brought in to build back as many BTGs as possible for this next phase of combat.

Withdrawing Russian forces have left abundant evidence of mass murder of civilians, rape of women and children and widewpread looting.

ALSO - there is a lot of propaganda out there. I’m doing my best to filter that out or put into context. When In doubt I’ve been trying to identify questionable information.

********

UNGA will vote Thursday on the removal of Russia from participation in the Human Rights Council.

Logistics -
- There are about 450 documented Russian tank losses (destroyed/captured) alone would be equal to 45 BTGs (other units also had tanks, APCs such as the militia units from Donestk/Luhansk or airborne forces—but we can basically say the undocumented losses would more than cover what they would have lost). They started out with about 120 BTGs, that represented the most combat ready units in the Russian Army, about a 1/3 loss of combat power in tanks alone. Russian replacement stockpiles are in poor shape - just like their personnel conditions.
- Overall, conservative count indicates Russia has had, visually confirmed, to have lost at least 2500 vehicles and pieces of equipment since it began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Russian Personnel Issues -
- Russia does not plan to rotate troops who committed atrocities in Bucha out of Ukraine according to Ukrainian intelligence. Russia’s 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade of 35th CAA was withdrawn to Belarus & will be moved to Russia for 2 days rest before likely returning to combat in Kharkiv.

Economic Impacts -
- The American company, “Intel”, the manufacturer of electronic chips, is suspending its activities in Russia.
- More economic sanctions coming up in response to civilian massacres.

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Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Temperatures forecast thru April 11th with a lot of rain in the forecast . Conditions maintained for muddy off road conditions over much of Ukraine .

24 HOUR ROUND UP -

In his address to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that Russia had committed war crimes and said the U.N. must hold Russia leaders accountable to show other potential war criminals “how they will be punished if the biggest one is punished.”

Thousands of people are fleeing Ukraine’s Donbas as Russia shifts the focus of its attacks to the east of the country. Ukrainian authorities are calling on people to evacuate the eastern Luhansk region, with five humanitarian corridors out of the area planned today

Incredible, fluid situation !!!!!!

It appears that Russia has kicked off its assault to capture the Dombas region. The following map I found does a pretty good job putting this phase of the battle into context.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FPqT4a3XEAI1eVW?format=jpg&name=large

Widespread Russian cruse missile attacks, many of which have reportedly been intercepted by Ukrainan ADA. Increasing numbers of Russian forces continue to redeploy to the southeastern corner of the country. Targets appear to be petroleum and other industrial facilities.

Russian activity in the Transnistria region of Moldova is gaining greater scrutiny. Some unconfirmed reports that Russia airfields there are preparing for a lot of traffic. Transnistria could be used as a jump off point for Russian forces assaulting the Odesa region to support an amphibious operation. This is important given that forces from Crimea were soundly stopped by Ukraine resistance to attack Odesa from the east.

Kyiv front -
The evidence of heinous acts committed in the towns around the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv gets more horrific by the day.
On Tuesday, Associated Press journalists saw six burned and blackened corpses piled together just off a residential street near a playground, the latest gruesome scene to emerge from Bucha as world leaders push for Russia to be held accountable.
One charred body had arms raised in supplication, the face contorted in a scream. The skull of another had a bullet hole in the left temple. A child’s small, blackened foot could be seen in the tangle of bodies.
More than 400 people are missing from the town of Hostomel, a local official says. The town bore the brunt of Russian advances on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, along with Bucha and Irpin

Northern Front (Chernihv region ) -
Russian forces have withdrawn and Ukrainan forces conducting clean up operations.

North Eastern Front (Konotop - Sumy salient) -
Russian forces have withdrawn and Ukrainan forces conducting clean up operations.

Eastern (Khariv) front -
Heavy artillery and bombing of the Khariv area again overnight. Russian forces continue to shell cities in eastern and southern Ukraine, and strike targets elsewhere with missiles. Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, saw intense shelling overnight.

Reports of Russian forces with close air support, trying to storm Barvenkove and Slovians.
According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia targeted Ukrainian army positions and civilian infrastructure in Borivske, Novoluhanske, Solodke, Marinka and Zolota Nyva — in the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

South Eastern (Dombas Separatist Region) Front -
News about Mariupol is lacking. Ukrainan forces still hold the center of the town.
Russian troops allowed 1,496 civilians to evacuate the besieged city of Mariupol by private vehicle but blocked the entry of a convoy of evacuation buses accompanied by Red Cross workers, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

Extensive artillery fire continues all along the LOC into the Donetsk region supporting limited assaults on Novotoshkivske, Nyzhne, Popasna, Kalynove, Stepne, Rubizhne, Troitske, Novobakhmutivka, and Novoselivka Druha, but were unsuccessful. Explosions were also reported in Dnipro and Odesa according to reports. A petroleum facility in Dnepropetrovsk was reportedly near the city of Dnipro.

Again, see map link above for better understanding of the actions and where they are happening.

Crimea Front -

Ukrianian Armed Forces report they are pressing the offensive towards Kherson city and Oleksanarvka. Heavy battles reportedly are being fought for the city. Ukrainian forces also are pressing south from the direction of Kryvi Rih towards Kherson.

RUMINT - Some reports that Russian forces beginning to withdraw across the to the east bank of the Dnieper River and set up new defensive positions there to better protect the left flank of the Crimean front. This could force Ukraine to launch a major river crossing operation that would make it very vulnerable to heavy losses.

No amphibious operations against Odessa region appear to be possible in the near or long term.

Western Ukraine -
Russia has hit targets in the Vinnytsia region of central Ukraine, and Radekhiv in the west. Explosions heard in Lviv region in west Ukraine, according to local officials.

Explosions also being reported in northwestern cities of Lutsk and Rivne, believed due to a large missile attack by Russian Forces.

OUTLOOK -
Russian assault to seize the Dombas region will continue ramp up. Already, intense artillery and bombing followed up by ground assault are being conducted, perhaps the best combined arms effort by Russia to date. Could be the result of a better unified Russian command.
Extensive Russian strikes on petroleum facilities have some worried that Ukraine forces could soon see fuel shortage.

However, the race is on - how quickly can Russia refit and reorganize unit pulled out of the fight in the north and get them in the fight for Dombas before Ukraine can shift forces south and get additional equipment for NATO via Poland. The next few days will be critical in eastern Ukraine.

Russia will continue to be hammered by the documentation of horrendous war crimes against Ukrainan civilians as more of the North is cleared out of Russian forces and relief moves in. I don’t know if Russia will receive any meaningful rebuke/sanctions by the UN, but momentum is in the favor of Ukraine.

Defenders of Mariupol continue to hold to parts of the city, thwarting Russian efforts to conquer it. However, it appears that Russia is more than happy to turn the city into rubble. Civilian deaths will be sky high - more of a war crime. they cold hold out for days or weeks - just don’t have better data.

___________________________________

Europe / NATO General -

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg says alliance determined to supply more weapons to Ukraine, adding they will do more for partners such as Georgia and Bosnia “vulnerable for Russian threats and interference”

The Czech Republic has been sending old Soviet-era tanks into Ukraine, providing badly needed heavy weapons to outgunned Ukrainian troops that are battling a much better-equipped Russian invasion force.
The efforts, described by three Czech and Slovak officials, mark the first time a foreign country has provided tanks to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began Feb. 24. In a potentially even more important development, both the Czech Republic and neighboring Slovakia, which shares a border with Ukraine, are considering opening their military industrial installations to repair and refit damaged Ukrainian military equipment.

Portugal to expel 10 Russian diplomats.
Norway to expel three Russian diplomats
EU has now ordered 19 Russian diplomats to leave Belgium.
The Greek authorities declared 12 members of the Diplomatic and Consular Missions of the Russian Federation, which are accredited in Greece, as personae non gratae
____________________________________

Israel -

Israeli foreign minister Lapid accuses Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine: “The images and testimony from Ukraine are horrific. Russian forces committed war crimes against a defenseless civilian population. I strongly condemn these war crimes”

OBSERVATION - Israel has been walking a fine line because they have been working with the Russians to avoid inadvertently hitting any troops when thy strike Hezebollah targets. Part of this is keeping Russian ADA assets out of play. This effort has become strained by the war and may be on the verge of the loss of cooperation.

MK Idit Silman announces her resignation from the coalition, leaving them without a majority. With this, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government loses its majority in Knesset, leaving it neck-and-neck with the opposition at 60-60. If an additional person were to leave the coalition, the government could be brought down in a law brought by the Opposition that would disperse the Knesset. Silman said that she “could not take it anymore,” and that she could not continue undermining the Jewish identity of the State of Israel, a reference to a disagreement she had with Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz over allowing chametz into hospitals over Passover.

OBSERVATION - Besides a concern over Passover practices, this could put Israel back into a cycle of parliamentary elections that could put the country in a dangerous position when facing increasing aggression by Iran and Hezbollah.
____________________________________

Central / South America General-

Peru’s president declared a state of emergency in the capital Lima as violent protests over inflation led to clashes with police, blocked highways and food shortages.
OBSERVATION - Food shortages and skyrocketing inflation are key ingredients for social instability and as this crisis worsens globally these kinds of protests will grow and expand.
______________________________________

Black Swans -
Unseasonably cold weather hit parts of Europe over the past weekend, following warmer-than-normal temperatures in previous weeks that caused rapid greening of flora. Damage to agriculture is widespread but it seems it’s not as bad as it was last year when a similar cold episode happened. The worst affected countries were France, Germany, Spain and Austria.

OBSERVATION - More stress on the global food supply chain.


229 posted on 04/06/2022 7:00:58 AM PDT by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
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