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Face-to-face with Russians in Ukrainian-occupied Kursk Oblast

The Kyiv Independent traveled into Russia's Kursk Oblast with Ukrainian soldiers during the ongoing Ukrainian cross-border offensive in the area. We have spoken to civilians in the Russian city of Sudzha who are still waiting for the evacuation about how they are treated by Ukrainian soldiers and why they think the incursion is underreported in Russia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoBmEyb0q_c

and

Gen. Ben Hodges on Ukraine's Kursk incursion in Russia
Retired U.S. Lieutenant General Ben Hodges analyzes the early success of Ukraine's Kursk incursion and why Russia did not see it coming. But he shares concerns that the West might still fail Ukraine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vILmdDOeTQ

OTD in 1939 the Molotov Ribbentrop pact was signed. It remains one of the very few treaties we have honored.

https://x.com/DarthPutinKGB/status/1826879175514341440

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, officially the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and also known as the Hitler–Stalin Pact and the Nazi–Soviet Pact, was a non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, with a secret protocol establishing Soviet and German spheres of influence across Northern Europe. The pact was signed in Moscow on 23 August 1939 by German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov.

The treaty was the culmination of negotiations around Nazi–Soviet economic relations (1934–1941) § 1938–1939 deal discussions, after tripartite discussions with the Soviet Union, England and France had broken down, and committed neither government would aid or ally itself with an enemy of the other, for the next 10 years. Under the Secret Protocol, Poland was to be shared, while Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Bessarabia went to the Soviet Union. The protocol also recognized the interest of Lithuania in the Vilnius region. In the west, rumoured existence of the Secret Protocol was proven only when it was made public during the Nuremberg trials.

A week after signing the pact, on 1 September, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. On 17 September, one day after a Soviet–Japanese ceasefire came into effect after the Battles of Khalkhin Gol, and one day after the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union approved the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, mStalin, using alleged concern for ethnic Ukrainians and Belarusians as a pretext, ordered the Soviet invasion of Poland. After the invasions, the new border between the two countries was confirmed by the supplementary protocol of the German–Soviet Frontier Treaty.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov%E2%80%93Ribbentrop_Pact

I looked at the Ben Hodges video at comment 5,685 which was very interesting in the military comments and information. Then I clicked a video about Putin’s insecure situation in Russia, see link below. This featured an interview with Diane Francis who is with the Atlantic Council and a journalist with expertise on Russia.

She had many interesting observations and comments. Among items I had not known much about she pointed out that in addition to major private armies like Prigozhin’s Wagners and Kadarov’s Chechins, various oligarchs have their own private forces, often competing, but with the possibility of cooperating. When asked if Xi might lean on Putin, she suggeted we observe Modi from India who plans to meet in Ukraine with Zelenski today, or soon. The fact that Mongolia has stopped a pipeline from Russia to China is interesting and significant.

More and more bodies returning to Central Russia and Siberia are likely to result in interesting responses which is probably making Putin reluctant to have a big mobilization call. Putin has fewer ways to keep his mistakes secret from his citizens. Many thousands of people evacuating from 80 towns in Kursk and another 80 in Belgorod should have an impact. Imagine all those calls to relatives and friends asking, do you have a spare bedroom, pleeeze? The fact Russia had bragged about major border defenses including “dragon’s teeth” which fell so quickly probably means the money to build them was stolen.

She points out the Ruble is falling badly, with more and more people outside Russia reluctant to use it. So how is Putin feeling now about his BRIC initiatives? Other details given on subjects those of us who have been paying a lot of attention probably realize or can imagine. Enjoy the link!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaaN0ZdI_do