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“Bipartisan report urges rethink of America’s Russia strategy”

“The bipartisan committee charged with supporting democracy and human rights in post-Soviet states is pushing for the United States to dump the post-Cold War status quo in its relations with Russia and label Moscow as a “persistent” threat to global security.

The report from the Helsinki Commission, which was obtained by The Hill ahead of publication, argues that Washington must reframe its thinking in how it approaches Russia, as it has with China over the past few years, and allocate resources accordingly.

A priority focus of the report’s strategy is to ensure Ukraine’s victory in its defensive war against Russia, calling for “massive” military and humanitarian assistance for Kyiv and allowing Ukraine’s armed forces to strike deep into Russia with U.S. provided weapons.

The report’s policy proposals go further than the Biden administration’s commitments to Ukraine and clash with positions held by former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and his allies in Congress.

Trump has long argued the U.S. is spending too much on European security. And he is campaigning on making a deal between Ukraine and Russia through direct negotiations with their leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

However, the Helsinki committee’s Republican chair, Rep. Joe Wilson (S.C.), dismissed the potential of Trump striking a deal with Putin.

“No question to me that Donald Trump is going to see the insincerity of war criminal Putin,” Wilson told The Hill in a brief conversation about the report.

“Putin is not anybody that you can reach an agreement with, that would be substantive, that would hold.””

https://thehill.com/policy/international/4904188-us-russia-relations-helsinki-report/

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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[ Russians Got Trapped and then Sent Even More Forces Into The Trap in Malaya Loknya ]

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Today [ Sept 28 ], there are a lot of updates from the Kursk direction.

Here, in the village of Kremyanoe, east of Korenevo, Ukrainian forces have methodically encircled the area, severing key supply routes and leaving the remaining Russian troops trapped and isolated. As the siege tightens and Russian resupply efforts become increasingly desperate, both sides are preparing for the next decisive move in this tactical standoff - one that could have far-reaching consequences for the entire Kursk offensive.

The village of Kremyanoe, located east of Korenevo, has been at the heart of a tactical standoff since August. The situation began when Russia’s 810th Naval Infantry Brigade moved into the area, attempting to consolidate control following Ukraine’s Kursk incursion.

While the majority of Russian units were eventually forced to retreat, a small contingent remained entrenched in Kremyanoe. Over time, these forces have become increasingly isolated, as Ukrainian troops systematically advanced, cutting through their flanks and tightening the encirclement.

Today, Ukrainian forces have officially completed the operational encirclement of Kremyanoe, cutting off all major supply routes to the village. Only a single, precarious ground line of communication remains from Sheptukovka, which is under partial Ukrainian fire control, thanks in part to a natural chokepoint in the terrain.

If we look at the topographic map, we can see that Kremyanoe is surrounded by elevated areas, severely restricting access to the village. In response, Ukrainian forces have been pressuring Sheptukovka for the past two weeks, advancing from three directions. A recent wave of drone and artillery strikes in mid-September targeted Sheptukovka as part of this larger encirclement strategy.

Although Russian forces have managed to carry out a few resupply missions, delivering ammunition and food through hastily assembled convoys, these efforts are growing increasingly desperate.

While some attempts to break the siege have succeeded, many have ended in failure. Ukrainian forces, employing ambushes strategically positioned along key roads, have successfully destroyed or forced the retreat of several convoys, further tightening the noose around the encircled Russian troops.

Recognizing the increasing peril facing their encircled troops, Russian commanders have shifted their focus to Olygovka, a nearby village that could serve as a crucial lifeline. However, attempts to capture Olygovka have encountered fierce Ukrainian resistance, as Ukrainian forces remain determined to prevent the Russians from breaking out of the Kremyanoe pocket. The intense fighting underscores the high stakes, with both sides fighting for control of this key position.

Despite having the upper hand, Ukrainian commanders have exercised caution in launching a full-scale assault on Kremyanoe. Such an operation would be costly, requiring significant resources and likely leading to high casualties.

Instead, the Ukrainian strategy has focused on containment. By gradually tightening the encirclement, Ukrainian forces are allowing time to work in their favor, weakening the Russian troops through attrition.

As the siege drags on, the encircled Russian forces grow increasingly vulnerable, with their ability to mount more than sporadic defensive actions deteriorating. This calculated approach not only conserves Ukrainian resources, but also creates opportunities for ambushes, enabling them to target Russian resupply missions and counterattacks with devastating precision.

As if the situation in Kremyanoe weren’t challenging enough for Russian forces, another Ukrainian encirclement is unfolding near Malaya Loknya, north of Sudzha, following a similar containment strategy. Russian troops initially fortified a local women’s prison, using the facility as a stronghold when Ukrainian forces advanced into the area.

For a time, the prison served as a formidable defensive position, but Ukrainian forces have systematically cut off escape routes, gradually surrounding the Russian defenders. The encirclement tightens with each passing day, mirroring the methodical approach seen in other areas of the front.

In a desperate attempt to rescue their trapped comrades, Russian commanders dispatched a relief team that briefly succeeded in opening a narrow evacuation route.

However, despite their efforts to secure positions in the surrounding fields, Ukrainian forces swiftly and relentlessly closed the gap. As a result, nearly the entire rescue team found themselves trapped alongside the soldiers they were sent to save, further deepening the crisis for Russian force in the area.

With supply lines cut off and Ukrainian drones dominating the skies, the situation for Russian
forces in Malaya Loknya became increasingly desperate. Ukrainian drone operations made
resupply efforts nearly impossible, as reconnaissance drones detected every attempt to reinforce or deliver supplies to the encircled troops.

This left the Russian soldiers with few options other than entrenching themselves and hoping for a breakthrough that seemed increasingly improbable. The relentless surveillance and precision strikes effectively crippled their logistical capabilities, further isolating them.

Russian attempts to break the encirclement were further hindered by shifting priorities on the battlefield. As Ukrainian forces launched a new offensive toward Glushkovo, Russian units were compelled to redeploy resources south of Korenevo, leaving their troops in Malaya Loknya even more isolated.

This diversion of manpower and equipment deepened the isolation of the encircled forces, severely weakening any prospects of a successful breakout. Ukrainian forces are choosing to let the situation unfold on their terms, avoiding direct confrontations that could lead to unnecessary casualties.

Instead, they are employing a patient containment strategy, focusing on ambushes and systematically eroding Russian supply lines. This approach steadily diminishes the enemy’s ability to sustain combat operations, while allowing Ukraine to preserve its own manpower and resources.

By methodically weakening Russian forces, the Ukrainians are setting the stage for a decisive victory without expending unnecessary effort. Most critically, Ukrainian forces have been capitalizing on their superior drone capabilities to assert dominance on the battlefield. Reconnaissance drones have allowed them to closely monitor Russian movements, while FPV drones have been instrumental in disrupting supply convoys, making resupply missions perilous, if not entirely impossible.

This air superiority has been a decisive factor in both encirclements, preventing Russian forces from launching any meaningful counteroffensive and ensuring Ukrainian troops maintain constant pressure on their isolated adversaries.

Overall, the ongoing encirclements in the Kursk region, showcase the operational discipline and strategic foresight of Ukrainian forces. Their approach of containment and attrition
is steadily paying off, as Russian troops grow more isolated and trapped with each passing day.

By opting for a gradual tightening of the noose rather than costly direct assaults, Ukrainian commanders have demonstrated a keen understanding of the advantages that time and sustained pressure can offer. With Ukrainian forces now closing in on Kremyanoe and Malaya Loknya, the outcome of these encirclements appears increasingly inevitable.