Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine (2 year anniversary)

ORYX ^ | Since February 24, 2022 and daily | ORYX

[JonPreston]

🍈

"as to why American taxpayers should fear pitin I have done that many times"

Not only are you saddled with a double-digit IQ, but you can't answer a simple question, one that is central to the Ukraine argument.

[AdmSmith]

On the night of August 24, Ukrainian long-range drones, together with Special Operations Forces, carried out a strike on the port of Ust-Luga in Russia's Leningrad region.

According to preliminary reports, the attack targeted the gas processing complex of Novatek, Russia's largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Video footage captured a powerful explosion followed by a massive fire at the site.

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysis indicates that the strike hit the cryogenic gas condensate and fractionation unit, considered the “heart” of the facility's operations. This marks the second successful drone attack by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) on Ust-Luga this year. The first strike occurred in early January.

https://x.com/authworldnews/status/1959562919823184251

22 s video

As a result of the attack, the gas processing complex “Gazprom Ust-Luga” (”Gas Processing Complex/GPK” as part of the Baltic Gas Chemical Cluster) was hit.

Namely, the installation of cryogenic fractionation of gas condensate/gas was critically damaged. It is the “heart” of the gas processing complex: rectification and separation of components take place here, which are then either exported or as raw materials for the Baltic Gas Chemical Complex (ethylene, polymers, etc.).

It is one of the largest gas processing plants in Europe (it is estimated that the Ust-Luga complex will be able to process up to 45 billion m³ of natural gas annually, produce 13 million tons of LNG, 3.6 million tons of ethane and 1.8 million tons of propane-butane)

https://t.me/s/kiber_boroshno

[blitz128]

A picture of pitin and Christ in every Russian home, nothing like idol worship to show you are a Christian 😂

As I recall the Wehrmacht had belt buckles with “Gott mir uns” on them. That worked out well krill🤔

[gleeaikin]

The translator in the two images is not the same. There are subtle differences in the nose flare and brow creases. Perhaps the modern one is son of the previous one. In Russia, as elsewhere, nepotism lives.

[AdmSmith]

Error it was Day 1,277 yesterday

[PIF]

Not the same? Subtle differences? What are the odds that the Russian translator in both meetings would so closely resemble each other after 66 years?

Would those “differences” be due to the camera type, lens, lighting? Or just the additional years?

[AdmSmith]

Кремлевская табакерка

Putin was proposed to introduce a “tax on small children”. The situation with the birth rate in Russia is “terrible”

Our source in the Kremlin, who is responsible for demographic issues, drew attention to alarming statistics: sales of strollers, children's clothes and shoes have collapsed in Russia. This, he said, shows that “the situation with the birth rate is terrible, and tough measures need to be taken.” One of these measures should be a tax on childlessness, which we have repeatedly written about. “Recently, there have been discussions about whether to introduce a tax on childlessness, and when. To be honest, there are fears that if it is introduced this year, there will be unpredictable consequences. In the fall, serious mobilization is possible, important and critically necessary restrictions on the Internet, enemy shelling, it will be hot at the front, it is not clear what to expect in the economy. Against this background, the new tax may cause a complex reaction of the people, misunderstanding,” the channel's interlocutor said.

At the same time, according to him, an unequivocal decision has been made - there will be a tax on childlessness. So far, they want to introduce it in December, as planned. But it is possible to postpone the decision to next year - approximately to January-February. Decisions on this matter will be made later. But the childlessness tax may not be enough to solve the problems with the birth rate. In this regard, Vladimir Putin was offered to introduce another one - a tax on small children. “Such a tax will have to be paid by families who have only one child. And who do not plan to give birth to more. We will introduce a tax on childlessness, see how it works, and, I think, we will move on to payment for small children,” said another of our sources in the Presidential Administration.

A new tax is just being developed. We were promised to provide details about what it could be later. At the same time, the Kremlin calls the idea of introducing it “interesting and promising.”

https://t.me/kremlin_secrets/6090

Russia has abducted more than 35,000 children over the past 10 years, a Yale University study has confirmed.

However, since the fullscale invasion in 2022, 1.6million youngsters have been cut off from the outside world and are effectively being held hostage by Russia. Abducted children were sent to at least 56 facilities - 13 in Belarus and 43 in Russia or occupied Ukrainian territory.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2099143/stolen-children-putins-war-machine

[ETCM]

What are the odds that the Russian translator in both meetings would so closely resemble each other after 66 years?

Based on the 2 photos, the odds are 100%. The guy does bear a striking resemblance to his doppelganger of 66 years ago. Maybe a grandson. I have a great grandfather that I bear a striking resemblance to, though I look nothing like his son (my grandfather) or my father. We could nearly be twins.

[AdmSmith]

Delivery might take some time longer nowadays ..

https://bsky.app/profile/veertjephilips.bsky.social/post/3lwyzm2vi4c2w

OSINT Analysis: Six Russian Ships Active Near Nord Stream Sabotage Site According to Intelligence Source
OSINT data helps corroborate report of Russian ships possibly being in close proximity to the Nord Stream sabotage site.

Project 141S Rescue ship SS-750 carrying the AS-26 Project 1855 Priz Deep-Diving Rescue Vehicle

Project 503R Medium Intelligence ship, Syzran

Project 02980 Rescue Tug, SB-123

Project 02980 Rescue Tug, Aleksandr Frolov

Neustrashimy-class frigate, Yaroslav Mudry

Steregushchiy-class corvette

https://oalexanderdk.substack.com/p/osint-analysis-six-russian-ships

[ETCM]

We’ve seen reports for over a year that Ukraine would be getting the new “Extended Range Attack Munition” a cheap air launched cruise missile, likely based on either the JDAM or JSOW with the addition of a small turbine engine.

Now several outlets are reporting the Trump Pentagon has approved the sale of 3500 such weapons to Ukraine. These will have about 250 mile range and a 500 lb. warhead. The JDAM version would be much cheaper, the JSOW stealthier. Boeing developed the JDAM version independently years ago as a cheap, mass producible cruise missile, but the Pentagon balked. Just like they developed the GLSDB on their own, and it wasn’t until the Ukraine war that people saw the need for it. Now we see the need for ERAM. This will be a great addition to our inventory, a weapon that doesn’t cost millions of dollars to take out a low value target.

[PIF]

For the benefit of others:
JDAM = Joint Direct Attack Munition
JSOW = Joint Standoff Weapon
ERAM = Extended Range Active Missile

[BeauBo]

“several outlets are reporting the Trump Pentagon has approved the sale of 3500 such weapons (ERAM) to Ukraine.”

Maybe part of the “Stick” incentive program for Russia to make peace.

Enough to Strategically disrupt Russian oil and gas production - Every Western refinery and export terminal, every night...

[ETCM]

Enough to Strategically disrupt Russian oil and gas production - Every Western refinery and export terminal, every night...

Only if Trump becomes annoyed with Putin playing him for a fool. For now, it seems Trump is still restricting the use of US weapons in Russia. But after Trump's post on Truth a couple days back (criticizing Biden for preventing Ukraine strikes on Russia), maybe that policy has already changed. We'll see. I'm happy to see us making a cheap standoff weapon, as we might need it in the future.

[gleeaikin]

I see hopes for effectiveness of Flamingo Missiles. Did I see recently a report on Russian bombing of Ukraine Flamingo production facility with large human losses. Was this actually true or as bad as reported? What is the current status of readiness of Flamingos for immediate action?

Interesting to see gasoline price flux while I was out of town for 10 days while the Alaska summit was in process and follow through. When traveling through MD and VA portions of the DelMarVa Peninsula the first day the common low price was 3.05/9 or 3.09/9 and best price was 3.94/9. Arriving in town the local price was 3.15/9. A few days later I saw 3.01/9 and rushed to fill my tank. It was 3.09 there as I left town. Common low prices similar on return trip, with 3.14/9 a frequent high. Best low was 2.99/9. Great fun trying to outwit the market price and best day to buy.

Ukraine could have great fun drone buzzing the long lines of gasoline hungry Russians, dropping leaflets on them urging them to beg Putin to end this stupid NOT war, so they don’t freeze to death this winter, or are no longer able to drive to work and feed themselves. Also possibly bulletins reporting important news they do not get in Russia.

[gleeaikin]

Nothing more ironic than using Russia’s favorite warrior, General Winter to strike the deadliest blows against Russia.

I wonder if there are any good maps showing the geographic progression of freezing weather in Russian winters.

[AdmSmith]

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 24, 2025

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov used an English-language interview with a US outlet to reiterate the Kremlin's explicit rejection of US-proposed initiatives for peace in Ukraine. Lavrov stated in an interview with NBC that Russian officials have explained Russia's war goals during meetings with Trump and other US officials and have also explained them publicly, signaling that public Russian statements about the war convey the same points that Russian officials aim to convey in private meetings.[1] Lavrov reiterated that Russia views NATO expansion and the alleged “violation of Russian security interests” as one of the “root causes” of the war.[2] Lavrov claimed that Russia will achieve its war aims, which he listed as the removal of security threats to Russia “coming from the Ukrainian territory,” the protection of the rights of the “ethnic Russian and Russian-speaking people who believe they belong to the Russian culture and Russian history,” and Ukrainian neutrality. Lavrov claimed that Ukraine has the right to exist but only as long as it “lets go” of ethnic Russians and Russian speakers who “decided that they belong to Russian culture.”[3] Lavrov claimed that Russia has a “duty” to support and protect those who share the values of the Russian language and the “Russian World” (”Russkiy Mir”).[4] Lavrov’s statements in the NBC interview reiterate consistent Kremlin claims that the alleged “root causes” of the war are NATO's eastward expansion and Ukraine's discrimination against Russian speakers.[5] The Kremlin's “root causes” notably extend beyond Ukraine, and agreeing to Russia's demand that any future peace settlement “eliminate” the root causes would require substantial negotiations with NATO as well.[6] Lavrov is also promoting the narrative that Ukraine is part of the Kremlin's “Russkiy Mir” idea - an amorphous ideological and geographic conception that Russia claims includes all of the former territories of Kyivan Rus, the Kingdom of Muscovy, the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and the contemporary Russian Federation. Lavrov’s continued insistence that any end to the war must address Russia's “root causes,” including multiple times following the August 15 Alaska summit, continues to indicate that Russia's war aims have not changed.[7]

Lavrov continued efforts to mischaracterize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the impediment to an enduring peace in Ukraine, in order to distract from the Kremlin's own unwillingness to compromise or engage in negotiations on US President Donald Trump's proposed timeline. Lavrov claimed that Zelensky “will not resolve the [Kremlin's] issue[s]” with Ukraine and accused Zelensky of publicly stating that “he is not going to discuss any territories,” deliberately mischaracterizing Zelensky’s recent public statements to the opposite.[8] Zelensky has repeatedly indicated in recent days that he is willing to discuss territorial issues in a bilateral meeting with Putin.[9] Lavrov claimed that Zelensky is going against Trump's wishes regarding NATO membership and is refusing to repeal laws relating to Russia's defined “root causes” of the war. Lavrov asked why Zelensky is “ready to meet” and implied that any Zelensky-Putin meeting would be useless, suggesting that Putin is unwilling to meet with Zelensky unless Ukraine concedes to Russia's original war demands, which amount to Ukraine's military, political, and cultural capitulation.[10]

Lavrov also undermined Zelensky’s legitimacy as part of efforts to justify Russia's refusal to engage in the peace process and to sign a peace deal with Ukraine. Lavrov responded to a question about whether he and Putin recognize Zelensky as the “legitimate leader of Ukraine” by stating that “we recognize him as the de facto head” of Ukraine.[11] Lavrov claimed that the Kremlin is willing to meet with Zelensky “in this capacity” but “when it comes to signing legal documents...[Russia] would need a very clear understanding by everyone that the person who is signing is legitimate.” Lavrov falsely claimed that “Zelensky is not at the moment” the legitimate leader of Ukraine under the Ukrainian Constitution. Lavrov is continuing months-long Kremlin efforts to exploit Ukraine's legally mandated inability to hold elections during the war and to deliberately mischaracterize the Ukrainian Constitution and law. The Ukrainian Constitution bars the government from holding elections when martial law is in effect, and the Ukrainian government legally cannot abolish martial law while Russia continues to attack Ukraine.[12] Lavrov is likely attempting to inject these justifications for not engaging in the peace process into the American information space in an attempt to sway US policy and public opinion in Russia's favor.

Lavrov denied that Russia violated past international treaties prohibiting Russia from invading Ukraine and rejected Western-backed security guarantees for Ukraine in the future. Lavrov claimed that the 1994 Budapest Memorandum guaranteed Ukraine's security just “as any other non-nuclear state” and that the legal obligation of nuclear states that give guarantees to non-nuclear states is to not use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states.[13] Lavrov claimed that Ukraine - not Russia - violated the 1994 agreement by not respecting human rights after 2014. The Budapest Memorandum does state that Russia, the UK, and the United States are committed to not use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, such as Ukraine.[14] Lavrov’s claims ignore, however, that the memorandum also states that Russia, the UK, and United States are committed to “respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine.”

Lavrov claimed that Western states, which Lavrov alleged prepared a “coup” in Ukraine in 2014 (in reference to Ukraine's democratically organized Revolution of Dignity) and support a “Nazi” government in Kyiv (in reference to Ukraine's democratically elected government), should not be allowed to be responsible for Ukraine's post-war security – a rejection of the US- and European-backed security guarantees for Ukraine currently under discussion.[15] Lavrov claimed that he never stated that Russia must have a veto over security guarantees for Ukraine but that there should be a consensus on such guarantees and take into account Russia's interests. Lavrov repeatedly referenced the security guarantees for Ukraine laid out in the 2022 Istanbul draft treaty during the NBC interview. The 2022 draft treaty stated that Russia would be one of the states guaranteeing Ukraine's security but that the guarantor states all had to come to a consensus before assisting Ukraine in the event of an armed attack against it – essentially granting Russia veto power over the other guarantor states’ abilities to help Ukraine in the event of renewed Russian aggression.[16] Lavrov and other Kremlin officials have repeatedly referenced the 2022 Istanbul draft treaty - which amounted to full Ukrainian capitulation in accordance with Russia's original war demands - as the basis for any future peace settlement.[17] ISW continues to assess that granting Russia veto power over Western security guarantees would enable the Kremlin to weaken Ukraine's ability to resist another Russian invasion by preventing Ukraine from forming binding security agreements such as those now under discussion, increasing and modernizing its military, and receiving support from Ukraine's partners.[18] Lavrov is likely attempting to obfuscate Russia's 2014 and 2022 violations of the Budapest Memorandum in an interview for American audiences in order to push for a future security guarantee agreement listing Russia as a guarantor state.

Ukrainian forces struck Russian energy infrastructure in Leningrad and Samara oblasts on the night of August 23 to 24. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that elements of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and Special Operations Forces (SOF) conducted a drone strike against the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast.[19] Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne stated that the SBU and SOF struck the Novatek gas processing complex, which is the largest producer of liquified natural gas (LNG) in Russia that can process up to 6.9 million tons of raw material per year and is a key Russian logistics hub in the Baltic Sea for energy resource export.[20] Suspilne reported that the strikes damaged the cryogenic gas condensate and gas fractionation unit, which is the “heart” of the complex's technological processes.[21] Geolocated footage published on August 24 shows a fire at the Ust-Luga port.[22] Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko claimed on August 24 that drone debris caused a fire at the Novatek terminal.[23]

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces, including from Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) and Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), also struck the Syzran Oil Refinery in Samara Oblast on the night of August 23 to 24.[24] The Syzran Oil Refinery can refine up to 8.5 million tons of oil per year, which amounts to about 3.08 percent of the total volume of oil refining in Russia. The Ukrainian General Staff noted that the Syzran Oil Refinery specializes in producing gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, and other petroleum products for the Russian military. Geolocated footage published on August 24 shows an explosion and fire near the refinery.[25] Samara Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev claimed on August 24 that Ukrainian drones struck an unspecified “industrial enterprise” in Syzran City.[26] ISW recently observed reports from Russian business outlet Kommersant indicating that Ukrainian long-range strikes campaign targeting Russian oil refineries are among the factors impacting Russia's fuel reserves and threatening oil revenues.[27] The Kremlin relies on oil revenues to fund its war in Ukraine, and Ukrainian long-range strikes continue to threaten Russia's economic stability.

Ukraine's Western partners continue to provide military aid to Ukraine, including through the purchase of US weapons. Two US officials told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on August 24 that the United States approved the sale of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) air-launched missiles to Ukraine and reported that the systems will arrive in Ukraine in six weeks (about mid-October 2025).[28] The WSJ reported that the ERAMs are part of a mostly European-funded arms package for Ukraine that includes other air defense systems and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS). The Norwegian Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on August 24 that Norway allocated seven billion kroner (around $694 million) to purchase two Patriot air defense systems and other forms of air defense for Ukraine.[29] The Norwegian MoD noted that Germany is also contributing financially to purchase the air defense systems. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that more than C$1 billion (about $722 million) of the C$2 billion (around $1.44 billion) worth of military aid that Canada pledged to Ukraine in June 2025 will go toward the delivery of armored vehicles, drones, and ammunition that will arrive in Ukraine as early as September 2025.[30]

Ukraine and Russia conducted another prisoner exchange that included a limited number of Ukrainian journalists and government officials on August 24. The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs) and the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) reported that Ukraine and Russia each exchanged 146 POWs.[31] Russia also released three civilians, two journalists, and former Kherson City Mayor Volodymyr Mykolayenko, and Ukraine also released eight Kursk Oblast residents. The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs reported that this exchange is in accordance with agreements the parties reached in Istanbul on June 2. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) mediated the exchange.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-24-2025