Being a Russian satellite is really a sad affair and liability.
https://x.com/Tendar/status/1874435997657862583
Posted on 02/24/2024 5:59:01 AM PST by SpeedyInTexas
This list only includes destroyed vehicles and equipment of which photo or videographic evidence is available. Therefore, the amount of equipment destroyed is significantly higher than recorded here. Loitering munitions, drones used as unmanned bait, civilian vehicles and derelict equipment are not included in this list. All possible effort has gone into avoiding duplicate entries and discerning the status of equipment between captured or abandoned. Many of the entries listed as 'abandoned' will likely end up captured or destroyed. Similarly, some of the captured equipment might be destroyed if it can't be recovered. When a vehicle is captured and then lost in service with its new owners, it is only added as a loss of the original operator to avoid double listings. When the origin of a piece of equipment can't be established, it's not included in the list. The Soviet flag is used when the equipment in question was produced prior to 1991. This list is constantly updated as additional footage becomes available.
(Excerpt) Read more at oryxspioenkop.com ...
Get you a Geely while there is still a smidgen of value left in those old rubles, that are now being swept away by the tides of history (also known as Vlad, the Doom of Russia).
The ruble has dropped about 14% in the last few days, and the Russian Central Bank is feverishly shoveling real money (foreign exchange) into the market to prop it up on its deathbed.
I count 31 interventions so far today.
https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=USD&to=RUB&view=1W
The Ruble Deathwatch Team puts on another pot of coffee, for another long day at the office.
I will look at the videos..... Meanwhile Bad Vlad’s amen corner keeps posting n protesting that they have seen no videos of N Korean dead in the Ukraine fighting. Norks vs Ukrainians seems to be in Kursk. Where Vlad got so embarrassed, that he begged Kim Jung Un for fresh troops .......
At what price? Just might be Rooski nuke miniaturization technology. To better mount them on Nork intercontinental missiles. Or Rooski missile technology.
Once again you have confirmation that it is impossible to hold a civil discussion with a troll.
Being a Russian satellite is really a sad affair and liability.
https://x.com/Tendar/status/1874435997657862583
Will be very interesting to see what happens there. Russia is in no position to do anything though, if I recall correctly, there is a massive ammo dump there.
Nice false flag to keep Ukraine from getting their hands on it
"We haven't lost so many of our best guys at once since '22," Fighterbomber adds.
https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1874396139459338538
This will reverberate through the ruzzian helicopter community.
The helicopters are shooting bullets at the drones and the drones are firing missiles at the helicopters.
The helicopters will start firing at much longer distances, creating much larger bullet dispersion...causing much low P-sub-K.
The EU could offer to restore natural gas to Transnistria once all ruzzian troops leave and Transnistria rejoins Moldova.
Blue circles are the last remaining routes, all within striking distance for Ukrainian Armed Forces' homegrown missile arsenal.
https://x.com/JayinKyiv/status/1874382900273328574
My guess is that control valves and pipeline infrastructure are above ground at the blue circles.
If Transnistria is returned to Moldova, this restoration to EU territory will be almost identical to Ukraine’s current loss to Russia—4,000+ square kilometers, or around 1,600 square miles of territory. A very just and fitting comparison.
Curious how is Transnistria being supplied with food….
Image text translation:
The loss of 2 Mi-8s could not have happened. They could have been easily avoided by simply changing the tactics of dealing with the BECs. And it is even easier to send a more modern modification of the AMTSh-V on a combat mission, where there is an onboard defense system that is capable of diverting air defense missiles to the sides.
Reporting From Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/videos
Reporting From Ukraine Uncensored Combat Footage (from this and past Reports) is found on Telegram:
https://t.me/RFUEnglish or @RFUEnglish
[ You need to have the Telegram app to view the larger videos. ]
The complete transcript.
—
[ Russian Hopes Crushed. Kursk Commanders Destroyed ]
Today [ Dec 31, 8 pm ], there is interesting news from the Kursk direction.
Here, after the unsuccessful introduction of North Korean troops in the battles for Kursk Oblast, the Russian command was forced to try to save the situation by mass redeployment of more experienced troops from Donbas.
However, Ukrainian forces followed this development closely and acted on time by unleashing deadly HIMARS strikes to destroy Russian force concentrations.
The Russian military intensified its efforts in the region to finally drive Ukrainian forces back onto their territory after months of unsuccessful attempts, 1,000s of dead soldiers, and 100s of destroyed armored vehicles. Stakes for this operation get higher with each month Ukraine keeps its presence on Russian soil as Moscow strives to deliver a successful counteroffensive operation to not only restore territorial control, but also to bolster its narrative of strength.
This operation is vital for the Kremlin for 2 primary reasons.
First, Russian society’s growing doubts about the effectiveness of the military campaign pose a significant internal challenge. President Vladimir Putin and senior military leaders had repeatedly claimed that the Ukrainian presence in Kursk was temporary and would soon be eradicated. Months later, Ukrainians remained entrenched, undermining public confidence in Russia’s military capabilities.
Second, Russia aims to reclaim Kursk Oblast in its entirety before the 20th of January, when Donald Trump is expected to take office as U.S. President. Moscow fears that Ukraine’s continued presence on Russian soil would weaken its bargaining position in potential peace negotiations that Trump has signaled he will prioritize.
To achieve their objectives in Kursk, Russia deployed North Korean personnel who received almost no training from already depleted Russian units. Lacking proper preparation and experience in modern warfare, these forces achieved minimal gains, securing only isolated tree lines and failing to breach Ukrainian main defense lines.
This failure forced the Kremlin to divert better-trained troops from other critical fronts, particularly Donbas, to bolster the Kursk offensive. Key reinforcements included elements of the 34th Motorized Rifle Brigade, previously active near Donetsk, along with other relatively well-prepared units.
Armored vehicles, absent for weeks after significant losses, were reintroduced to support infantry assaults, alongside increased supplies of ammunition and resources, to maintain high-intensity operations. This forced redeployment undermines Russia’s broader strategy, slowing advances in critical areas like Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.
For Ukraine, this diversion of Russian forces marks another successful outcome of their incursion, further straining Moscow’s overstretched campaign.
While Russia’s reinforcements temporarily increased pressure on Kursk, they also provided Ukrainian intelligence with critical opportunities to exploit. Ukrainian reconnaissance units, utilizing a combination of satellite imagery, intercepted communications, and drone surveillance, tracked the surge in troop and supply movements.
Such large-scale redeployments generate detectable patterns - convoys on roads, increased activity at staging areas, and communication spikes - all of which help pinpoint key Russian positions. This intelligence enabled Ukraine to execute prevention strikes, effectively neutralizing the reinforcements before they could achieve operational goals.
The target of the first Ukrainian HIMARS strike became the command post of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade in Lgov, Kursk Oblast. It was brought in to compensate for the destructed 155th Brigade that was obliterated earlier in the region.
The 810th Brigade was also supposed to train and integrate North Korean forces, but the Ukrainian strike killed the brigade’s deputy commander and at least a dozen other staff officers, severely disrupting Russian operational coherence.
Another HIMARS strikes targeted Russian troop concentrations in Rylsk, including a residential area and public buildings housing soldiers, delivering another blow to Russian morale and logistics. Several geolocated videos published by Russian survivors after the attack show not only the devastating level of destruction caused by these precision missiles, but also their panic.
By targeting command staff and regular soldiers Ukraine aims to deal as much damage as possible to the Russian forces before they even reach the frontline.
Overall, despite amplifying their operation with North Koreans, the Russian counteroffensive in Kursk has stalled. Ukrainian defenses remain intact, and Russian operational objectives appear increasingly unattainable.
The redeployment of forces from Donbas, coupled with the failure to secure significant gains, highlights the
Strategic failure of the Russian military command. The failed counter of offensive in Kursk demonstrates Ukraine’s ability to achieve its strategic goals, to force the Russians to redeploy troops from Donbas, to disperse the enemy’s focus and efforts, and to undermine their theater-wide offensive.
Biden Spends Last Of Funds Set Aside To Purchase New Weapons For Ukraine
Ukraine Situation Report: With weeks left in office, the Biden administration is working to provide as much military aid to Kyiv as it can.
https://www.twz.com/news-features/biden-spends-last-of-funds-set-aside-to-purchase-new-weapons-for-ukraine
—
Ukraine Claims Its Drone Boat Shot Down A Russian Mi-8 Helicopter With A Surface-To-Air Missile
A video purportedly shows the historic first kill scored by an uncrewed surface vessel against an aircraft.
https://www.twz.com/sea/ukraine-claims-its-drone-boat-shot-down-a-russian-mi-8-helicopter-with-a-surface-to-air-missile
—
Signs Russian Fighter Jets Still At Syrian Base, Top Rebel Leader Pushes Back On Total Exit For Moscow
The head of the rebel group that ousted Assad has highlighted benefits of continued ties with Russia, including in the military realm.
https://www.twz.com/air/russian-fighter-jets-still-at-syrian-base-top-rebel-leader-pushes-back-on-total-exit-for-moscow
—
39 A-10 Warthogs Went To The Boneyard This Year, More Than Double Over Prior Year
The USAF is ramping up efforts to retire the A-10 Warthog by 2030, while the type continues to play a key role in Middle East combat operations.
https://www.twz.com/air/39-a-10-warthogs-went-to-the-boneyard-this-year-more-than-double-over-prior-year
“The EU could offer to restore natural gas to Transnistria once all ruzzian troops leave and Transnistria rejoins Moldova.”
The Moldovan Government offered assistance, but the Russian puppets in the Transnistrian “government” refused it, trying to blame the crisis on the pro-EU President and her party, before elections this Summer.
Nonetheless, this is a very powerful incentive for such a deal. Let’s see how long they hold out, as Russia continues to weaken, people in the occupied area get fed up with it.
Blow up the Russian TV transmitters, and feed them EU programming.
“the last remaining (pipeline) routes, all within striking distance for Ukrainian Armed Forces’ homegrown missile arsenal.”
Yamal, through Belarus and Poland, no longer transits Russian gas (since back when they refused to pay in rubles).
I believe that oil pipelines run along a lot of the same right of way as the gas pipelines, but their flows are separate deals. There might still be oil flowing from Russia along the Yamal or Druzhba routes, I don’t know.
Just in the last week or two, there was an attack on an oil facility in Russia, associated with the Druzhba Pipeline network.
“the first Ukrainian HIMARS strike became the command post of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade in Lgov, Kursk Oblast. It was brought in to compensate for the destructed 155th Brigade that was obliterated earlier in the region.”
Three years in, and I am still amazed at the casualties they are taking.
Thank God that we are not under their rule.
“Russian advances have slowed in December 2024”
Maybe their big offensive push to consolidate as much as possible before Inauguration Day is culminating.
Throngs of green recruits and North Koreans converted into mountains of cadavers. It outta be a crime.
I read your entire link #3 at this comment regarding Russian Fighters Still at the Base in Syria. The rebel leader continues to state they plan to run a stable and sensible government. He also seems in control of what may happen to Russian property in the future. I also read a number of comments by people trying to guess what the future might bring. It is possible that the rebel leader is using the Russian presence as a bargaining tool as he meets with world leaders regarding the future. It is also possible he is holding these jets as a bargaining tool to get Russia to disclose location or return some of the much money Assad stole from the Syrian people. At any rate there seem to be a number of sensible reason for his slow walking the Russian departure. Below is a direct quote from the article regarding Ukraine’s involvement in Syria’s future and future plans:
“As the fledging government in Damascus works to move Syria beyond its pariah status under Assad, it is also facing pressure to realign itself, particularly away from Russia. Ukraine has notably been positioning itself as an alternative partner for the new Syrian government. Ukrainian operatives had reportedly worked with Syrian rebel groups, particularly when it came to providing assistance in expanding their kamikaze drone capabilities, in the lead-up to the fall of Assad.
“We believe that from a strategic point of view, the removal of Russia’s presence in Syria will contribute to the stability of not only the Syrian state but the entire Middle East and Africa,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a statement around an official visit to Damascus just today where he met with Al Sharaa and others. “The Russian and Assad regimes supported each other because they were based on violence and torture.””
“And Gazprom did so well it lost 7 billion last year.” (posted in 2024, in reference to 2023)
“And since Gazprom is doing better than the previous year, maybe they will only lose 6 billion (dollars) this year.”
I was corrected on another thread by Owen (wanted to recognize that to you Owen), about Gazprom’s finances. They are not posting a loss for 2024.
A lot of confusion is driven by accounting methods, and which businesses are counted (Gazprom is a conglomerate, with major gas, oil (Gazpromneft) and finance (Gazprombank) subsidiaries). The natural gas export business has been ravaged, but was offset by other unit’s profits, and a one time growth occurrence of bringing an already completed pipeline up to full capacity (Power of Siberia).
For 2023, Gazprom did post a loss of about $7 billion (down from a $13 billion profit in 2022, and about $22 billion in 2021, before the invasion) - but a lot of that loss was from one time charges for settling breached contracts, and writing off lost assets, that were Nationalized in Europe (or destroyed, like NordStream).
Gazprom’s underlying cash flow remained relatively stable at 2.3 trillion rubles (~$20 billion) in 2023, albeit achieved with significant internal cost cutting (including halting all its natural gas development projects in the Arctic, where 80% of is natural gas is produced), and with profits from other business units of Gazprom offsetting large losses in gas exports (NordStream 1&2, and Yamal Pipeline shutdowns). The lion’s share of Gazprom’s natural gas production is for the Russian domestic market, where it has near monopolistic control (but much slimmer profit margins). They were still benefitting somewhat from elevated natural gas prices, but not as much as 2022.
So under the same accounting reporting method, Gazprom is posting a profit for 2024 (albeit much smaller than before the invasion). Also, those profits are pre-tax, and taxes on Russia’s oil and gas industries have been raised significantly for 2024. Net however, Gazprom is no longer Russia’s most profitable company, and indeed has dropped all the way out of Forbes Russia’s 2024 top 100 list (from number one).
The Moscow Times reported on 4 September 2024, “Although Gazprom reported a profit of 1.042 trillion rubles ($11.7 billion) in the first half of 2024, its core gas business remained in the red, with losses totaling 480 billion rubles ($5.4 billion), or 2.5 billion rubles ($288 million) per day, according to Russian Accounting Standards.”
The loss of the Druzhba pipeline revenues in 2025 (~$5-7 billion), and the anticipated banning of Russian LNG shipments to Europe (expected in 2025, after totaling about 20 bcm in 2024), as well as additional potential war damage/disruptions, will likely put some further downward pressure on Gazprom gas revenues in 2025.
In 2024, Gazprom had a one time surge in significant export growth through the Power of Siberia Pipeline to China, as that relatively new pipeline was rapidly brought up to its full capacity (38 bcma, up from 23 bcm through that pipe in 2023 - a one year increase equivalent to the total flow capacity to Europe through TurkStream). There is no more room for any further such offsetting increases, through that pipe, or the remaining existing Russian pipeline infrastructure or LNG export facilities (except for Arctic 2 LNG, if sanctions were to be lifted from it).
It would take several years to build out more capacity, even if they could, without external assistance and financing. Not even the Chinese will finance their Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline (the next one planned). It was planned to start operation in 2030, but the project has been halted due to lack of Chinese funding.
“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated”
My friends, I’m alive and well. Family is even going on a ski trip to Montana after Christmas. I’ll be out on the slopes, knees permitting. So all is well.
Some of you have expressed your concerns and I appreciate that (blitz128!).
But I’ve decided to move on from FR. I don’t fit in here anymore. Administration allows RuZZians to pollute this site. Plus I’ve come to realize I’m a Reagan Republican and not a Trump Republican. There isn’t much tolerance of MAGA dissent here.
I’ll log off again after this post. I do not check mail and only visit this site occasionally. I’m following the war but just read my own sites at my leisure.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
PS, the RuZZians are dying by the thousands every month. Celebrate. Sing and Dance!
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