Another beautiful day in the Redoubt.
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Globalism / Great Reset -
Justin Trudeau is set to move forward with his government’s plan to reduce nitrogen emissions by limiting fertilizer use among Canadian farmers. The revelation came following a Friday meeting between Trudeau and Canadian provincial ministers, where the prime minister unexpectedly announced his decision to cap fertilizer emissions by unilaterally targeting the country’s agricultural sector.
The targets set by the federal government include a bid “to reduce absolute levels of [greenhouse gas] emissions arising from fertilizer application by 30% below 2020 levels by 2030,” which the Trudeau administration previously announced in December 2020.
“We’re really concerned with this arbitrary goal,” said Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture David Marit. “The Trudeau government has apparently moved on from their attack on the oil and gas industry and set their sights on Saskatchewan farmers.”
OBSERVATION - This is essentially the same course of action the governments of the Netherlands and Sri Lanka have followed. 30% reduction will result in about a 30% reduction in farm income. Provence affected may soon be revisiting their own continued affiliation with the nation.
If this trend continues, I’d expect that New Zealand and Australia may well be close behind. Both are identified based on the flat out totaltiarian wuhan response and passivity of the citizenry..
SEC proposed a rule titled “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors” (pdf). The nearly 500-page rule would require SEC registrants—mostly public companies, investment advisers, and broker-dealers—to report certain climate-related information including their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
OBSERVATION - Cutting to the quick, the proposed rule calls for corporations to track usage of its products by consumers. This appears to be one way Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scoring and tracking can be bootlegged in.
Just one day after officials promoted the passage of the Connecticut Clean Air Act, CTtransit, the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s bus service, has pulled its entire fleet of electric buses due to one bursting into flames. The electric vehicles have been replaced with traditional diesel-powered buses.
OBSERVATION - Battery fires are the single most dangerous aspect of EVs.
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Wuhan virus -
It is clear by their words that Fauci and Blix both lied through their teeth in regards to the jab as well. As the lockdown of the country.
Biden’s doctor, said Tuesday that the president “feels well enough to resume his physical exercise regime” on the fifth day of isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, and his symptoms have “almost completely resolved.”
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Economy -
The Fed is expected to raise its federal-funds rate by 0.75 percentage point, to a range between 2.25% and 2.5%
Commerce Department’s second-quarter 2022 GDP estimate is due tomorrow and the administration is wetting themselves trying to spin the results ahead of the release.
The index of consumer confidence fell to 95.7 in July from a revised 98.4 in the prior month, the Conference Board said Tuesday. The decline was larger than expected. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast a decline to 97 from the initial June reading of 98.7.
National railroad strike still hangs over the nation, but union hasn’t decided to drop the hammer - yet.
What in the world is a “pre-recession”? White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre floated out that term yesterday while denying that the US has entered a recession, apparently hoping to convince people that we’re not even close to one:
The U.S. has been ramping up exports to Europe in an effort to help, and one official is openly admitting that this could cause a dramatic increase in prices here in the United States…
“This was our biggest fear,” said the US official. The impact on Europe could boomerang back onto the US, spiking natural gas and electricity prices, the official said. It will also be a major test of European resilience and unity against Russia, as the Kremlin shows no signs of retreating from Ukraine.
According to Wolf Richter, the price of U.S. natural gas has “more than doubled” over the past year…
So here we go again. This morning, natural gas futures jumped to $8.29 per million Btu, adding to the jumps over the past week. The price has regained much of the lost spike, and is up about 30% from a month ago, and has more than doubled from a year ago.
OBSERVATION - Losses of a couple natural gas facilities here in the US, combined with more gas being shipped to europe does spell problems here. I’ve already stocked up on firewood and may revisit the addition of an additional cord in the next couple months.
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Biden / Harris watch -
‘I am Kamala Harris, my pronouns are she and her, I am a woman sitting at the table wearing a blue suit,’ the vice president said at the top of the meeting.
OBSERVATION - Well, somehow they realized they are ‘women’. Epic facepalm moment.
https://imgflip.com/i/2wdv4g
On Monday, the president’s comms team put together a clip of him ranting about “insurrection,” Biden goes a full 42 seconds without blinking (0:41-1:23 in the video).
OBSERVATION - Some have called this a deep fake. IDK, but his behavior in the video is unusual - even for him. How many times the average person blinks in a minute. The answer is somewhere between 15-20 times. Not one blink in that period and his vision unceasingly glued to the teleprompter.
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CW2/Domestic violence -
Attorney General Merrick Garland left open the possibility that former President Donald Trump could be prosecuted in connection with inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection in an exclusive interview Tuesday with NBC News.
“Look, we pursue justice without fear or favor,” Garland told NBC News’ Lester Holt, when asked whether indicting a former president would “arguably tear the country apart.”
OBSERVATION- they “pursue justice without fear or favor”, one would have to be totally blind to accept this. Any attempt to arrest and prosecute trump is the closest event that could trigger a CW
“Our Department of Justice is being weaponized as a political hit squad,” Former Democrat congresswoman (Hawaii) Tulsi Gabbard said Monday, commenting on how Democrats held in contempt of Congress have not been indicted, but former Trump White House official Steve Bannon has.
“The really dangerous thing that we’re seeing, as a consequence of what’s playing out here in this double standard that you’ve pointed out, is the clear message of fear: that, if you speak out against us, if you’re an opponent of the Powers-That-Be, then the Department of Justice can go after you and charge you and prosecute you.
“However, if you are on the other team, if you are in agreement with, or liked by, those in power, then we’re going to treat you kindly, or you’ll get off the hook, and you won’t be treated in the same way that your political opponents will be.”
“This is the telltale sign of an authoritarian regime and directly undermines our democracy. That is really what’s at the core of what’s wrong here,” Gabbard warned.
OBSERVATION - The two tier justice system that has exploded under biden is a prime example of how teh regime is at war with most americans. One thing that has been present in American culture in the past and that was fairness. When one side is treated differently than another - largely on the basis of politics or religion, the people get riled up. This will likely be on of the key grievances the next CW will be based on IMHO.
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China -
Taiwan Ministry of Defense reports that 3 PLA aircraft (Y-8 RECCE and JH-7*2) entered Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ on July 27, 2022
OBSERVATION - this is a daily occurrence pretty much, so hasn’t been posted a lot lately.
Biden and Chinese President Xi are expected to have a phoncon soon to discuss many issues, among which is Taiwan.
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North/South Korea -
NUKE WATCH on going.
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Russia -
WAR WATCH - The Battle for Donbas is on - now entering its sixth month of the war since starting on Feb 24th.
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia now essentially controls Luhansk Oblast, Russian forces are now focusing on pushing toward the towns of Siversk, Feroivka and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region
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.
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Russian Personnel Issues -
- The Kremlin continued measures to recruit additional volunteer battalions to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Observers note that efforts are focusing on areas that are not ethnic Russians, raising pushback that the kremlin is trying to avoid a general mobilization by recruiting these ‘hicks’ as soldiers and not ethnic Russians.
- Reports that Russia is emphasizing recruitment of medical specialists, to handle the casualities.
- Some recent estimates of Russian deaths in the fight have it as high as 40,000. Getting an accurate count on either side is difficult given the battle conditions and they OPSEC.
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Ukraine -
WEATHER FORECAST - Milder with thunderstorms and rain over parts of the 10 day forecast period
24 HOUR ROUND UP -
Both sides launching significant missile strikes against the other. Ukraine is close to effectively isolating a large number of Russian forces in the Kherson Oblast as more details come out on the offensive there.
Kyiv front ——
Nothing significant to report (NSR)
Northern (Chernihv region ) and North Eastern (Konotop - Sumy salient) Fronts - ——
NSR other than scattered Russian artillery attacks.
Eastern (Kharkiv) front -
Russian forces appeared to have focused its artillery and missile strikes mostly on Kharkiv with S-300 missiles
Futher south, Russian artillery hit along the western and southern margins o the Izyum salient.
Donetsk Oblast ——
Russian artillery fire hit all around the margins of the Slovyansk-Siversk-Bakhmut salient. Russian made minor gains south of Bakhmut as of July 26:
- RU forces entered Vuhlehirska plant and seized the main complex, UA troops retreated
- RU advanced in the area of Novoluhanske, UA troops likely retreated as well Wagner Group mercenaries reportedly lead the attacks in these areas.
Scattered Russian artillery southwestward from Donetsk to
Crimean Front -
Ukraine has definitely launched its offensive in the northern sector of the Kherson - Mykolaiv front. They may have broken out of its bridgehead at Davydiv Brid and liberated Lozove and Andriivka village of Beryslav district to the south. This northern pincer appears to be moving southward along the eastern bank of the Inhulets River.
The Antonovskiy Bridge across the Dnipro River in Kherson has been hit a third time by Ukrainian HIMARS rockets. Follow on examination of post strike commercial satellite imagery indicates that the bridge is no longer usable. Around 15 explosions heard by locals according to reports. Ukraine missiles also struck railway bridge nearby.
In response, reports coming out that Russian forces are attempting to establish a pontoon crossing over the Inhulets River in Darivka (approximately 24 km northeast of Kherson City) to resume transport of heavy equipment.
Ukrainian Air Force Command Spokesperson Yuriy Ignat reported that Russian bombers fired 13 air missiles at the coastal settlement of Zatoka south of the Dniester Estuary and other unspecified areas in Odesa Oblast from the Black Sea. Mykolaiv Oblast Administration Head Vitaly Kim reported that Russian forces fired 18 missiles (six Kh-59 cruise missiles and twelve S-300 modified air defense missiles) at Mykolaiv Oblast, and about half of the missiles hit a defunct railway bridge, industrial areas, residential buildings, and critical infrastructure.
Western / Central Ukraine ——
More scattered missile attacks across the region.
Russian Territory - ——
In a first for the war so far, today Ukrainian forces are confirmed to have used a US-supplied Switchblade 300 loitering munition on Russian territory, at the Troebortnoe crossing in Bryansk Oblast, barely 2km from the Ukrainian border
Partisan Resistance ——
Reports continue that the Kremlin plans to annex occupied Ukrainian territory into Russia via falsified referenda.
Ammunition / logistical sites hit ——-
The Ukrainian Southern Operational Command stated that Ukrainian forces destroyed a command post and an ammunition depot of the 11th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade (based in Ulan Ude, Buryatia) in northern Kherson Oblast on July 25.
OUTLOOK ——
Slight uptick in reported ground action. Ukraine’s hitting bridges over the Dnipir River, cutting off a substantial portion of Kherson Oblast from enforcement and supply, is taking hold as well as their offensive. Details are still sketchy as neither side wants the details to come out. However, it looks like a attack on Kherson from the west are freezing Russian forces and allowing greater action from the north.
Minor Russian gains in the east in part are linked to Ukrainian force realignments. It has been noted by some that Russia has spent over a month attempting to capture some of these small villages. That’s a lot of effort with little to show for it.
Expect more of the same over the short term.
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Moldova/Transnistria -
Russia claims a citizen of Moldova was killed and another is in the hospital, both “civilians”. Ukraine claims FSB officer (border control is formally all FSB) was killed. The area where it happened is an office of the “Alexandrovskiy” customs control point, though.
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Iraq -
Turkey’s consulate general in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul was attacked early on Wednesday but there were no reported casualties, the Turkish foreign ministry said.
Mortar rounds had fallen close to the building, one official said.
“We condemn this attack...in the strongest terms and expect those responsible to be brought to justice as soon as possible,” the ministry said.
OBSERVATION - Turkey has pasted a ‘hit me’ sign to their back following the attack on an Iraqi resort. This has them being hit with both Iranian and Iraqi supported militias, and will make Turkey’s anti Kurd operations in northern Iraq more costly.
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Lebanon -
Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah has upped his rhetoric, threatening to use force to stop Israel from extracting gas. “If the extraction of oil and gas from Karish begins in September before Lebanon obtains its right, we would be heading to ‘a problem’ and we’ll do anything to achieve our objective,” Nasrallah said in an interview on Al Mayadeen TV on Tuesday night.
OBSERVATION - The Karish field is south of the area being negotiated between Lebanon and Israel. General intelligence assessment is that Nasrallah is not foolish enough to start a regional war over this - however, the geopolitical status of the region is very volatile and any thing can happen very quickly.
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Turkey -
See Iraq above
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Libya -
Photos of Dbeibeh (GNU) forces that entered Tripoli International Airport amidst the ongoing tensions with Bashagha forces (GNS) hit the interwebs. This increases tensions in the country that open civil war may break out again.
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Misc of Note -
The NYC emergency management agency advised residents to prepare a ‘Go Bag’ that “has everything you need to to leave home in a hurry.”
“Every household member should have on, including kids,” the agency notes. “What will you pack? Nonperishable snacks. Bottle water. Copies of important documents.”
This follows a recent PSA about how to react to a nuclear attack.
OBSERVATION - These PSAs have raised the eyebrows of many and conspiracies claims are afoot. As a prepper, the info being put out is reasonable. What is creating the stir is timing and motive. Why has this hit the NYC radar so suddenly? Please note - similar PSAs on emergency preparedness are put out there in other cities/states, so lets not get too crazy - yet.
Please enough monkeying around. As monkeypox continues to spread, with nearly 3,500 cases now reported in the United States, the Biden administration is weighing whether to declare the outbreak a public health emergency.
OBSERVATION - The disease spread is tightly limited to the gay/bisexual community. Its all about money at this stage and not about the behavior that has contributed to the spread of the disease.
p
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Wuhan virus -
“It’s already known from the clinical side that COVID-19 infection can induce heart injury; however, what we don’t know is the mechanistic details of how this occurs. What we suspect is that the spike protein has unknown pathological roles,” said Zhiqiang Lin, Ph.D., lead author of the study and an assistant professor at the Masonic Medical Research Institute in Utica, New York. The spike protein is on the surface of the COVID -19 virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, the heart association explains in its release. Spike proteins let the virus enter healthy cells, which is the first step in infection. The virus can spread to the lungs, of course, and to other organs in the body.
OBSERVATION- The mRNA jab (Pfizer and Moderna) causes the body to produce these spike proteins - in exceeding abundance.
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Economy -
The U.S. economy shrank from April through June for a second straight quarter, contracting at a 0.9% annual pace and signaling that the nation may be in a recession. This is slightly better than what was forecast (-1%), but still not good news. This follows negative GDP growth of -1.6% in Q1 of 2022.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday he does not believe the U.S. economy is in a recession. This is now in contrast to the shrinking of the economy announced today.
MORE - Fed is pushing the “technical recession” narrative, implying this isn’t a “real recession.” And the Fed is still leaving open the possibility that they can engineer a soft landing. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager ($9T AUM), says this is unlikely. Like other firms, their analysts believe the Fed will begin cutting rates in 2023, which is indicative of a recession. BlackRock is also calling for more volatility.
President Biden says US economy ‘on the right path’ despite GDP dip.
OBSERVATION - I’m no expert, but I suspect that the Fed used as much special sauce on the GDP rate to mitigate reality. Most likely future revisions will lower the GDP even more. Powell himself said Wednesday - “Generally, the GDP numbers do have a tendency to be revised pretty significantly,” he said. “You tend to take first GDP reports with a grain of salt.”
Remember too - these same experts said inflation was only transitory and peaked last December
The Fed increased the prime yesterday by 75 basis points.
These rate increases have not only impacted the home mortgage market, but all loans. A record number of Americans are paying at least $1000-a-month to finance their new cars as interest rates soar and supply chain issues caused by the pandemic. At least 12.7 percent of new car buyers who took out loans last month are making monthly payments of at least $1,000, according to car-shopping site Edmunds.
And this doesn’t even begin to address credit cad interest rates.
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Biden / Harris watch -
75% of Democratic voters want someone other than Biden in 2024, a new CNN poll shows.
Biden to talk to Xi today on ‘coercive and aggressive behaviour’ in South China Sea and reaffirm US commitment to the one-China policy, spokesman says. No specifics are given in response to a question about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s reported plans to visit Taiwan
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CW2/Domestic violence -
Antifa in Portland getting roused by recent police shootings. Elsewhere, protests are relatively peaceful and associated with environmental and LGBT causes.
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CANCEL CULTURE FRONT
The World Health Organization (WHO), has called for all social media platforms to work with it to “prevent and counter” monkeypox “misinformation” and “disinformation.” During a COVID-19 press briefing, WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, claimed that “stigma and discrimination can be as dangerous as any virus, and can fuel the outbreak.”
OBSERVATION - Cant / won’t speak the truth about the spread, so must silence voices that will say the truth.
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Strategic Activity / Deployments -
Officials told The Associated Press that if Pelosi goes to Taiwan — still an uncertainty — the military would increase its movement of forces and assets in the Indo-Pacific region. They declined to provide details, but said that fighter jets, ships, surveillance assets, and other military systems would likely be used to provide overlapping rings of protection for her flight to Taiwan and any time on the ground there.
It appears that the USS Reagan may have cut short its port call in Singapore, having departed on Monday. Naval spokesman reporting that -
“USS Ronald Reagan and her strike group are underway, operating in the South China Sea following a successful port visit to Singapore,” Commander Hayley Sims said in a statement to Reuters.
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China -
House Foreign Affairs Committee Member Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) revealed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has invited a small group of U.S. lawmakers to accompany her to Taiwan, including himself and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY).
Meanwhile, US military is repositioning the USS Reagan carrier group as a contingency.
OBSERVATION - The expansion of the delegation will not make China happy at all. However, it is still unlikely that China will do anything militarily at this juncture - they just aren’t ready to physically challenge US forces, yet. If the trip goes on, they may try to intimidate Pelosi’s plane, but expect F-18s to intervene, probably flying an escort mission of their own.
China has been upgrading Longtian and Haiyan air bases, located opposite of Taiwan, since 2020. Intelligence suggests that the upgrades are nearing completion and could be ready to host the airpower necessary for an invasion within months.
OBSERVATION - These bases are critical to China’s plans to maintain air superiority during an invasion.
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North/South Korea -
NUKE WATCH on going.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned he’s ready to use his nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea, state media said Thursday, as he unleashed fiery rhetoric against rivals he says are pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war.
Kim’s speech to war veterans on the 69th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War were apparently meant to boost internal unity in the impoverished country suffering pandemic-related economic difficulties. North Korea will likely intensify its threats against the United States and South Korea as the allies prepare to expand summertime exercises the North views as an invasion rehearsal, some observers say.
“Our armed forces are completely prepared to respond to any crisis, and our country’s nuclear war deterrent is also ready to mobilize its absolute power dutifully, exactly and swiftly in accordance with its mission,” Kim said in Wednesday’s speech, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. (AP)
OBSERVATION - Breaking silence.
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Japan -
Japan has agreed to participate in next month’s Garuda Shield military exercise alongside the U.S., Australia and Indonesia. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the announcement Wednesday following a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. This is the first time Japan’s Self Defense Forces will conduct military exercises in Indonesia.
OBSERVATION - One more piece of evidence that Japan is ramping up the readiness of its forces and extending cooperation with other countries in the region.
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Russia -
WAR WATCH - The Battle for Donbas is on - now entering its sixth month of the war since starting on Feb 24th.
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia now essentially controls Luhansk Oblast, Russian forces are now focusing on pushing toward the towns of Siversk, Feroivka and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region
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.
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Russia’s defense ministry announced military exercises in the country’s Eastern Military District, scheduled for 30 August to 05 September. “Vostok” is a routine annual military exercise that features foreign military participation. Chinese military forces are anticipated to participate this year as they have in others.
US Senate on July 28 unanimously approved resolution calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Russia state sponsor of terrorism. The resolution calls out Russia for its actions in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Ukraine and its support for the Wagner Group.
Logistics -
- Russia has lost over one third of its national tank fleet in Ukraine, according to western officials
Russian Personnel Issues -
- Estimated 75,000 Russians wounded/killed - U.S. Intelligence. This would indicate that nearly half of the soldiers committed to the war have been killed or wounded.
- 80% of Russian land-forces bogged down, degraded capabilities
- The Kremlin continues to show preference for some ethnic groups over others during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which may spark ethnic unrest in Russia.
- Each region in Russia is being required to muster and train one volunteer battalion.
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Ukraine -
WEATHER FORECAST - Hot with scattered thunderstorms over parts of the 10 day forecast period
24 HOUR ROUND UP -
A Ukrainian counter-offensive in Kherson is gathering pace according to UK defense officials. Meanwhile in the east, Russia is smuggling to restore momentum to push into the rest of the Donbas. Analysts have had several weeks now to assess what effect the HIMARS have had on Russian operations and it appears that the capability to strike ammo/logistic/CPs has had a serious effect.
Kyiv front ——
Kyiv region under Russian missile attacks again. Missiles landed in northern Vyshhorod district
Northern (Chernihv region ) and North Eastern (Konotop - Sumy salient) Fronts - ——
Region came under Russian missile attacks again with the Chernihiv region being targeted.
Eastern (Kharkiv) front -
More Russian air and artillery strikes in the region. No significant ground combat.
RUMINT that Ukraine has launched a localized counterattack southeast of Izyum at the town of Pasika. Details are sketchy. As noted before, Ukrainan attacks eastward threaten supply lines of Russian operations further south.
Donetsk Oblast ——
Russian limited artillery fire hit all around the margins of the Slovyansk-Siversk-Bakhmut salient.
Russian forces continue to press towards Bakhmut and Soledar, with no reported gains.
Crimean Front -
More discussion on the offensive in Kherson Oblast by Ukraine, but details are scarce. Ukraine has cut off Russian forces west of the Dipnir River though the destruction of three key bridges. Russian forces have set up a ferry next to the destroyed E97 bridge in Kherson.
Russian artillery strikes appear to be concentrated in the northern portion of the LOC south of Kryvyi Rih and the Ukranian bridgehead at Davydiv Brid. These strikes may give clues as to where the current Ukranian assaults are occurring.
Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed a Russian stronghold in Andriivka, 15 km southwest of Davydiv Brid, and are continuing to press to the southwest towards Kherson.
Western / Central Ukraine ——
More scattered missile attacks across the region.
Russian Territory - ——
NSR
Partisan Resistance ——
A car containing 2 collaborators was blown up in Kherson on Admiral Senyavin Avenue.
Another collaborators car was blown up on 18th June on the same street just 2.5kms away.
Ukrainians in occupied territories are refusing to collaborate with Russian occupation officials en masse, forcing the Kremlin to import Russian citizens to fulfill basic tasks. Russian officials continue to struggle to procure enough labor to reopen businesses, clear rubble, or establish occupation bureaucracies in occupied Ukrainian territory.
Ammunition / logistical sites hit ——-
Fire reported as result of missile hits in Bryanka, Luhansk region.
Fire at the territory of machinery plant in Horlivka.
Fire and explosions reported in Donetsk.
Ukraine destroyed Russian ammunition warehouses in Chornobayivka and Bilohirka, Kherson region
OUTLOOK ——
Analysts are now suggesting that Russian forces appear able to sustain only two significant offensive operations in Ukraine at this time, one attempting to seize Siversk and the other advancing on Bakhmut. The scale and scope of these attacks are significantly smaller than the ones earlier - prior to the operational “pause”. Even with smaller objectives, Russian artillery appears to be smuggling to lay down the volume of fire they previously were able to.
HIMARS strikes have probably forced Russia to establish new ammo storage sites farther away from the front line. This makes mattes worse as the Russians likely do not have enough additional trucks to transport the shells to artillery units near the fighting.
This Russian problems in the east have opened the window of opportunity for the counter offensive towards Kherson in the west as well now as a possible smaller offensive into the Izyum western flank. Ukraine has done a good job isolating the Russian forces in the Kherson region and much of that offensive may rely a lot on western weapons and munitions - given the proximity to Poland as a supply source.
Russian continued use of older guided munitions as well as using S300 and ship to ship missiles against strategic targets indicate Russian has more supply woes. Inability to accurately and timely interdict western supply chains is looking to really hurt Russian soon.
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Europe / NATO General -
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Germany’s govt is warning about the potential for civil uprisings in the event that Germany cannot procure enough fuel for the winter season.
The Estonian government on July 28 limited the granting of temporary residence permits to Russian and Belarusian citizens and halted the issue of study visas to Russian citizens, Estonian news outlet ERR reported.
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Iran -
Iran is building a new nuclear research reactor at a nuclear facility in Isfahan, Iranian Atomic Energy Organization head Mohammad Eslami announced on Wednesday, according to Iranian media.
The research reactor, which will be able to test fuel for other reactors, will be built at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, one of the country’s largest nuclear facilities. Eslami stated that the project is “completely indigenous and Iranian.”
OBSERVATION - Though advertised as a ‘peaceful’ use, I’m sure Iran is going to use it for their weapons program as well.
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Iraq -
Hundreds of angry protesters loyal to the powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr broke into Baghdad’s heavily protected Green Zone on Wednesday, denouncing the nomination of a new prime minister.
Mohammed Shiya al-Sudani was formally nominated to lead the country on Monday by the Coordination Framework, the largest Shiite alliance in the Iraqi parliament. His nomination followed the mass resignation of al-Sadr’s parliamentary bloc, a group of over 70 lawmakers who withdrew from the governing body last month in an apparent show of force after months of political stalemate.
The Iraqi president calls for calm and the use of the language of reason after storming the parliament headquarters.
iraqi special forces deployed in the Green Zone in Baghdad after the parliament building was evacuated from demonstrators
Iraq has struggled to form a new government since parliamentary elections in October; Sadr’s own attempts to form a government have previously foundered amid opposition from rival blocs.
“If the Sadrist bloc remaining [in parliament] is an obstacle to government formation, then all lawmakers of the bloc are honorably ready to resign from parliament,” Sadr said in a televised speech in June.
Iran’s Al Quds elite forces commander, Qaani arrived in Baghdad to support PM nominee Sudani.
OBSERVATION - Sadr continues to pressure to keep Iranian control and influence over Iraq to a minimum. The protest sends a strong message that he can rally the people. Could break out into limited civil war between Sadr’s militia and Iranian backed ones.
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Central / South America General-
Financial analysts in Argentina forecast the possibility of 90% inflation, or worse, by the end of this year. Inflation is currently running at 64% and is expected to get much worse as the Argentine Peso continues to fall against the dollar.
OBSERVATION - A ‘technical ‘ recession claim by the Fed ignores global conditions what can act as boat anchors to the US economy .
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