Posted on 02/24/2024 5:59:01 AM PST by SpeedyInTexas
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
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The complete transcript.
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[ Desperate Try: Russians Reach Ukrainian Road and Die! ]
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Today [ July 23 ], there are a lot of updates from the Kurakhove direction.
Here, Russian forces regrouped following the lack of success with their intensified attacks against Kostiantynivka and launched a renewed offensive, shifting their focus to a different direction in the region to disrupt Ukrainian logistics and finally achieve a significant breakthrough.
Aware of the tactical objectives the Russians aimed to accomplish, the Ukrainians methodically countered their campaigns at each stage of the plan.
The main Russian objective in this area is to reach the local road T-05-24 to disrupt Ukrainian logistics between Kostiantynivka and Vuhledar.
Even though there is another supply route to Vuhledar, T-05-24 was the preferred road that the Ukrainian forces used up to this point to deliver munitions, medicine, food and rotate troops to the defenders of this stronghold that has already withstood many mechanized Russian attacks and cost them heavy losses.
This is why breaking the supply route to Vuhledar can be the decisive step for the Russians to finally capture this Ukrainian fortress or at least isolate it and force the defenders to leave it.
Ukrainians used the short tactical pause on this part of the frontline to further sustain their local air superiority by continuing to hunt Russian air defense assets within the effective range of their available weapon systems.
Geolocated footage published by Ukrainian military bloggers shows how a Russian S-300V air defense system is engaged by a Ukrainian HIMARS launching rockets with cluster munition.
In one of the most detailed [ infrared ] videos of such strikes until this moment we can see how various elements of the system are targeted separately but repeatedly by these highly effective Western munitions. Consequently, the images show how the rocket launchers, radar, and command center are all destroyed.
Simultaneously, both sides launched ground attacks against each other again around Kostiantynivka. Ukrainian drone operators from the 79th Air Assault Brigade published several geolocated videos showing how they target enemy tanks, armored personnel carriers, and infantry with FPV drones and grenades dropped by drones.
They tried to further weaken deliveries for Russians on the frontline by also conducting strikes in the rear against Ural supply trucks as seen in this video.
One of the most interesting clips is courtesy of the Ukrainian special forces battalion OPFOR which released how they are conducting an operation to clear a tree line just south of the village.
Shortly after the first shot is fired, a Ukrainian tank is struck by a Russian kamikaze drone and set ablaze. In a remarkable display of composure, a Ukrainian tank crewman jumps onto the burning vehicle and begins extinguishing the fire.
Moments later, the tank is seen retreating to safety, thanks to the soldier’s brave and decisive actions, which not only saved the crew’s lives, but also preserved valuable equipment.
The intense conditions created by the Ukrainians around Kostiantynivka forced the Russians to attempt another surprise maneuver further south near the village of Vodyane. Various military analysts from both sides were alarmed by the significant advances made by Russian forces toward the crucial T-05-24 ground line of communication.
Geolocated footage published in the last few days shows a Russian armored vehicle rapidly advancing along a tree line up to a point near the road, several kilometers from the previously assessed frontline.
The rate and ease of advance of the vehicle suggest that Russian forces likely held additional positions in field areas east of Vuhledar and were able to provide cover for the vehicle as it advanced. Satellite imagery shows additional destroyed Russian vehicles along the same tree line, further confirming that Russian forces have advanced in this area.
Russian military bloggers have long emphasized that the foremost tactical objective in the Vuhledar area is for their forces to interdict this road and disrupt Ukrainian supplies to Vuhledar.
One of them claimed that he is expecting to see intensified offensive efforts from Russian forces in the coming days in order to support this tactical objective. This claim was partially confirmed by an official statement from the Ukrainian General staff that reported that the number of conducted Russian ground attacks near both Kostyantinovka and Vodyane remains high, even if all of them are successfully rebuffed for the time being.
This is visually confirmed by several geolocated videos from the area showing Ukrainian defenders destroying enemy mechanized assaults with drones and artillery.
Overall, the Russians once again adjusted their approach in the Kurahove direction in an attempt to finally seize the local supply route to Vuhledar. This small city in the Donetsk region has become a symbol over the last two and a half years, representing not only Ukrainian resistance, but also the heavy losses suffered by the Russians during their repeated assaults.
By nearly establishing control over the crucial roads, with battles still raging, there is widespread anticipation that the Russians will attempt another push in this direction, even if it comes at a deadly price.
The strategic importance of Vuhledar and its supply routes cannot be overstated, and both sides are prepared to incur significant casualties to achieve their objectives in this fiercely contested area.
JAT
As an “Investor” you do not consider yorself a patriot. Good to know. I consider myself a patriot 24x7x365.
“This month so far, over a quarter of all Lost Russian tanks are the very old T-62 Type!”
This tracks with what Covert Cabal (OSINT analyst on YouTube, who has been tracking the drawdown of Soviet equipment in storage from commercial satellite imagery) has been estimating.
He forecasted that as the more numerous diesel-powered T-72s are expended, the less numerous turbine-powered T-80s would likely have to be supplied to replace them. That appears to have happened.
As the number of T-80s remaining available in inventory drops below the required replacement rate, they in turn would have to be replaced by the older T-62s and T-55s. That transition appears to be occurring, as most of the T-80s (over 3/4ths) are gone from the storage sites.
The only tank being produced new in Russia is the diesel-powered T-90, but that production only covers about 1/10th of the attrition rate.
At some point, as the supply of salvageable older Soviet tanks is expended, facilities dedicated to refurbishing old Soviet tanks from storage will likely be converted to (more time and resource consuming) new tank production - which will likely signal the effective end of the old Soviet storage.
The T-72s and the T-80s formed the bulk of Russia’s operational tank fleet at the start of this invasion. Their loss would mark the end of an era, of Russia as a dominant tank power.
“I consider myself a patriot 24x7x365.”
Good for you.
I’m planning my next vacation to Italy.
So what does vacationing in Italy have to do with anything?
Russia is wearing out its rainy day fund.
‘There is no spare money’ admits Putin.
Daily Express (UK) reports:
“As quoted by TASS news agency, a Russian state news outlet, Putin said on Tuesday: “Yes, we have the budget revenues growing (through a bigger tax take, not a growing pie), and the deficit is minimal, non-oil and gas revenues have a good performance, oil and gas ones have the incremental growth but there is no spare money”...
...With Western sanctions leaving Russia economically isolated, Putin has relied on foreign cash reserves to fund his war in Ukraine.
Russia’s National Wealth Fund boasted $143billion of reserves in July 2022 (itself down from over $300 Billion before the February 2022 invasion), but this was down to $56 billion as of the end of 2023.
“Moscow is currently burning through around $4billion a month”, expert Owen Matthews wrote for the Spectator back in March.”
(That would be about enough to continue cashing it out through the end of this year (2024) if it went on a straight line - but that is unlikely. They are unlikely to zero it out completely before moving to other funding methods (confiscatory taxes, even more ruble printing, and selling off State assets), and not all of the remaining National Wealth Fund investments are liquid.
So the National Wealth Fund as a financial buffer for War expenses has just about run its course, and it is time for Russia to start cutting deeper to the bone.)
Russia acerbating an already shrinking labor pool.
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Kremlin snuff box, 07/24/24
https://t.me/kremlin_secrets/4413
The State Duma confirmed two of our insights at once
State Duma deputy Sergei Karginov proposed to Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev to introduce a system of rewards in the amount of 100 thousand rubles for reporting the places of residence of illegal migrants.
Karginov emphasizes that in this way ordinary citizens will be able not only to earn money, but also to stop the flow of illegal migrants to Russia. Thus protecting yourself from possible crimes. In fact, Deputy Karginov is talking about paid denunciations, which we wrote about just the other day.
The second confirmed insider - the authorities of our country have taken a clear course towards ridding the Russian Federation of migrants. Of course, it will not be possible to catch everyone and send them home, but the trend is obvious.
Our source in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, by the way, fears that if Kolokoltsev approves of Karginov’s idea, this could provoke a real witch hunt.
“In Moscow alone we have millions of migrants. Imagine if we received real complaints about each of them. A real madhouse will begin,” our interlocutor said.
Kremlin snuff box, 07/24/24
https://t.me/s/kremlin_secrets
SVO reached Moscow. Can mobilization no longer be avoided?
The mayor of the capital, Sergei Sobyanin, has determined additional payments for those who enter into a contract with the Ministry of Defense for military service. Now the one-time payment to a contract employee is 1.9 million rubles [ $22,000 ]. All previously established support measures for SVO participants are also preserved ( in particular, a monthly payment of 50 thousand rubles [ $580 ] ).
It is worth noting that a month ago we wrote about competition for contract workers between regions. However, at that time Moscow did not take an active part in this struggle for the people. What has changed?
The first and very obvious fact is that it is not Muscovites, but residents of the regions, who mostly take part in the SVO. There are many explanations for this. Including the issue of lack of financial motivation for residents of the capital. The risks are too high. But for residents of the regions, this is a good chance to improve their financial situation.
Secondly, the regions received plans according to which recruitment into the army is carried out. And this is where regional bonuses showed their effectiveness. This can be seen in the example of St. Petersburg, where people from neighboring regions come to conclude contracts. But in general, more people are needed.
That’s why the “planned contracts” reached Moscow. Not wanting to destabilize the situation, Sobyanin made a balanced decision - to pay substantial funds so that instead of Muscovites, people from regions who had only signed a contract in Moscow would go to serve in the Northern Military District zone.
According to our information, and this is the third important point, this activation of Sobyanin is in contact with the Kremlin. There is an agreement that the air defense around Moscow will not be removed. If you noticed, the enemy has not sent his drones to the capital for a long time, but instead attacks oil refining facilities.
And this causes much bigger problems than the conventional five-minute panic after the arrival of a drone in Moscow or the Moscow region. But now there is a political consensus - Sobyanin gives money and, accordingly, people, and the military closes the sky over Moscow so that other Muscovites can live a peaceful life.
The fourth point is related to mobilization. It won’t be there for sure until at least the second half of September. For now, staff will be filled using expensive contracts.
However, both due to serious losses at the front (we do not disclose the numbers, but they are large), and in terms of future negotiations, the Kremlin may take an unpopular step and carry out a wave of mobilization, recruiting 250-350,000 people. People around the President believe that such a step will strengthen positions, in the light of possible future negotiations on resolving the Ukrainian crisis.
Kremlin snuff box, 07/24/24
https://t.me/s/kremlin_secrets
In Moscow, the car of an important military man was blown up. Two significant moments
This morning, in the courtyard of the Molzhaninovo residential complex in Moscow, the car of Andrei Torgashov, deputy head of the 89th Satellite Communications Center of the Russian Armed Forces, was blown up. The story has already become overgrown with various rumors. We deliberately paused, clarified the information and are ready to tell you what happened.
Firstly, Torgashov’s Toyota Land Cruiser was actually blown up with a bomb. It was placed under the bottom of the car on the driver’s side. A surveillance camera was also installed next to the car. When the driver got into the car, the bomb was activated. He managed to escape only because the car did not catch fire.
Both Torgashov and his wife are in the hospital. The soldier’s lower limbs were damaged and his limbs were partially amputated.
Secondly, the information that it was not Torgashov, but another man, who was supposedly in the car is not true. Now both the Ministry of Defense and the FSB are in big trouble, because enemy saboteurs are undermining our military specialists right in Moscow.
However, there is information that Torgashov was planning to get a promotion. One of the sources suggested that in this way his competitors for the bread position could have been taken out of the game. However, we would not seriously consider this version, there is too much conspiracy theory. The main version of the investigation is sabotage by enemy intelligence services.
Since the victim is a non-public, but very serious specialist, many vague versions are now appearing in the media - that it was not he who was allegedly injured, but his namesake. And the wife allegedly was not injured. However, according to our data, it was Torgashov who was sitting in the car during the explosion.
“With Western sanctions leaving Russia economically isolated, Putin has relied on foreign cash reserves to fund his war in Ukraine.”
Depletion of the National Wealth Fund financial reserves, also makes Russia more vulnerable to sudden financial shocks, that require hard foreign currency, such as paying for necessary imports, or supporting the value of its currency.
Russia is now extremely dependent on the Chinese Yuan, as its financial conduit to the outside world - dramatically more so than before the 2022 invasion, when the Yuan was only a few percent of Russia’s foreign currency transactions.
But China is not dependent on Russia for anything. It’s commodity imports from Russia can be sourced elsewhere, and Russia only accounts for about 5% of China’s foreign trade.
Russia will be vulnerable to a financial kill shot, if China can be pressured to cut them off with sanctions/tariffs.
The old, ram it with a stick, trick.
“Video of Zala UAVs being rammed by Ukrainian SSO FPVs with a stick.”
https://x.com/RALee85/status/1816170163902779447
Hungary and Slovakia are feeling the heat.
“Slovakian President Pellegrini criticized Ukraine for halting oil transit, stating Kyiv is taking a significant risk. The president indicated that Slovakia might consider unspecified reciprocal measures if the situation persists.”
https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1816171910863978564
Greece gets F35s and Turkey doesn’t. Hope that S-400 was worth it.
“#Greece: Greece signed a Letter of Agreement (LoA) for 20 F-35 Lightning IIs for $3.47 billion.
In addition to the fighter jets, the agreement includes 2 spare engines, four simulators and pilot and technician training.
The Air Force is scheduled to receive its first F-35 in 2028, and will stay in the U.S. for the next two years for training. Then F-35s will be permanently stationed at Andravida Air Base with the 117th Combat Wing from 2030.”
https://x.com/praisethesteph/status/1816172624050827264
Ministry of Defense
@Defensagob
Spain will send material so that 🇺🇦count on a Hawk anti-aircraft battery in September. This was stated by the minister in a conversation with her Ukrainian counterpart, @rustem_umerov, who has thanked the important support of 🇪🇸.
lol I am fully awake😎
He makes me smile
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