Previous day’s thread: https://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/4174211/posts
Calling someone a RuZZian on FR is considered an insult.
Calling someone a Comrade on FR is considered an insult.
Summarizing this war:
A tragedy for Ukraine.
A disaster for RuZZia.
A strategic win for the USA. The biggest winner of the war.
“More than three decades after Reagan left office, most Republicans still believe that America is a force for good.”
Ukraine: military situation update - Aug 10, 2023
••Denotes Transcribed Dialogue. Extras are just that - from other sites, or my comments marked (Edit: .... ) or { } or [ ].
==
——> Our First Look At Hole Blasted Into Russian Tanker By Ukrainian Drone Boat <——
The Russian tanker Sig was struck by a Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel at the mouth of the Kerch Strait last Friday.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/damage-to-russian-tanker-from-ukrainian-drone-boat-seen-in-video
==
——> We Now Know The Types Of Patriot Missiles Being Used In Ukraine <——
The US Army has confirmed sending five different types of missiles to Ukraine for its Patriot systems, including the highly capable PAC-3 MSE.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/we-now-know-the-types-of-patriot-missiles-being-used-in-ukraine
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU
[ Reporting From Ukraine: already recovering and feeling better. Maybe resume reporting by the end of the week ]
••Robotnye:
UA in the village. So heavily shelled that the houses and tree lines are totally gone.
To proceed with minimize troop losses, the houses and buildings that Russian use for fighting positions and for ammo storage, have to be demolished, completely.
==
Urozhaine:
UA cross the river and takes half of the village. Intense fighting. Largest Russia ammo dump in the area hit.
==
Kupyansk:
Major assault not begun, just small probing attacks.
==
Lukashenko-Putin Wagner deal collapses. Problem lies in paying the troops - Russia does not want to do pay them, and Lukashenko does not want to invest in a Russian private army.
==
Cossack Camp:
Confirmed that the UA captured Russian Major Tomov, responsible for regional defense.
The whole mission is top secret so little information is available.
==
Novo Kakhovka:
UA shelling the area. Another possible bridgehead being created.
••Some Russian woman in Moscow about the drone attacks on the city. This is comedy
https://t.me/pilotblog/5933?single
==
One more. I will not translate this ( too much text!!! ). But she is very exited about the drone explosion experience!!! {Air heads are everywhere! Run!}
https://t.me/pilotblog/5935
==
Robotnye
https://t.me/pilotblog/5932?single
https://t.me/pilotblog/5930?single
==
Yesterday’s attack on Zaporizhzhia. At first I didn’t understand, but it is the hotel where I stayed many times together with our crew of UIA. Cozy place.
The rockets went to the parking lot. One woman was killed. During the war the hotel is used by UN and Volunteer organizations. Russia is a terrorist state.
Video of second hit from when it passes overhead to the hit.
https://t.me/pilotblog/5927?single
==
UAV in Moscow. Beaver drone
https://t.me/pilotblog/5925?single
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Russian big Landing ship aftermath
https://t.me/pilotblog/5922?single
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“Russia conquers the Moon!”
They actually sent the moon module. The main idea for them is to find the washing machine that Americans left during the Apollo mission.
Unable to conquer anyplace on Earth, Russia goes for the easy conquest.
https://t.me/pilotblog/5919?single
==
The Best Tanks in The World - V Putin. Russian soldiers are so stupid that they continue to post their unique and secret armour in social media. Need lots of logs!
They should be punished for uncovering their army top secret technology.
https://t.me/pilotblog/5916?single
==
Someone is smoking again near Moscow. Russians claim an empty concrete building exploded in a large fireball. OOD. Very.
https://t.me/pilotblog/5910?single
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Russia again attacked civilians in Zaporizhzhia
https://t.me/pilotblog/5902?single
https://t.me/pilotblog/5908?single
https://t.me/pilotblog/5909?single
==
Russian paratroopers boasted of “the destruction of the Ukrainian T-72B tank in the rear of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” But there is a nuance. The letter “Z” is clearly visible on the tank
https://t.me/pilotblog/5899?single
https://t.me/pilotblog/5900?single
==
“Wagnerites” are leaving Belarus, the agreement with Putin failed, - ISW
According to the American Institute of the Study of War, the mercenaries are returning to Russia because Lukashenko refused to finance them, having discovered that the Russian Federation would not pay for their deployment in Belarus.
https://t.me/pilotblog/5898
==
In Russian Rostov, the wounded invaders were literally left to lie under the sun in the middle of the airfield, waiting for permission to fly to Moscow. The Moscow airports were closed because of the drone attacks.
Russians continue to die for the interests of those who absolutely do not care about them.
https://t.me/pilotblog/5897
Gerasimov called the Americans with a request for missiles
According to two of our sources in the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov called his American colleague Mark Milli. This time, the reason was information that the United States is providing Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles.
“Valery Vasilyevich asked Milli not to provide Ukraine with such missiles. He believes that the Ukrainian army, if they receive them, will seriously destroy such a paradise as Crimea and cause terrible damage to Donetsk and other cities of Donbass.
Therefore, he asked very much not to give Ukrainians such missiles,” said one of the interlocutors.
Milli, according to our sources, cynically replied that Russia was allegedly to blame for the shelling of Crimea, as it “organized a huge military base there.”
Gerasimov did not agree with this and referred to the fact that even now, during the NWO, there are enough vacationers in Crimea “who can be killed at any moment.”
Milli responded to this argument with the words that “Ukrainians will receive various weapons they need to win, and they will decide for themselves where to shoot on“ their territory” (recall, the Americans consider Crimea to be Ukraine, despite the real state of affairs, - ed.).
Gerasimov also recalled his peace proposal: to exchange the withdrawal of Russian troops from a number of cities, including Melitopol and Mariupol, for the fact that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would not touch Crimea.
Milli replied that he had forwarded this proposal to Kyiv, but received no answer.
“Ukrainians are confident in their abilities and intend to retake the territories they consider their own,” the US military said.
==
It’s getting louder every day in Moscow. Air defense systems removed from the front do not always help
In recent days, Moscow and the Moscow region have increasingly become targets of enemy strikes.
Despite the statements of the authorities, residents see that unknown drones cannot always be shot down or suppressed by electronic warfare systems.
Industrial enterprises are also affected. The attack on the plant in Sergiev Posad was a signal to many that even such important facilities cannot be fully protected.
Moscow City, Odintsovo - this is only a small part of those places where the war has already reached.
We warned that this would happen. We were not heard.
There have been no significant increase in air defense systems in the army over the past year, which means that in order to protect Moscow, the complexes are being removed from the front. This gives Ukrainian troops a chance to move forward in certain areas.
Where is the Ministry of Defense looking and why is it not looking for or purchasing dozens of new air defense systems?
The question is rhetorical. Everyone understands that the Ukrainians on the territory of Russia will have enough goals.
And the mass production of attack drones, which, fortunately, never began in Ukraine, can lead to the fact that literally the entire European part of the Russian Federation will burn.
They report to the President on the table that everything is fine with us and the electronic warfare systems successfully suppress drones.
At the same time, they don’t say how it happens that a drone flies 500-700 km and hits an elite residential complex in the capital.
According to our information, further problems may arise.
——> Ukraine is on the cusp of building a missile with a range of 1,000+ km, intelligence officials say. <——
For this, Ukrainians will need from 3 to 6 months. That is, conditionally in the spring, not drones, but rockets can fly to Moscow. Unless the war is over by then, of course.
What is Shoigu doing?
Removes objectionable generals and promises the president a quick Victory. Shoigu is a pest, this is already being said directly even in the Ministry of Defense itself.
==
Kremlin snuffbox
https://t.me/s/kremlin_secrets
Dollar at 120 already by October. But that’s not the worst
In August, the exchange rate of foreign currencies went up sharply again. The dollar has crossed the mark of 97 rubles, and the euro - almost 107.
However, this is not the end, economist Anatoly Chubais, who has worked for many years in the Russian government and the Presidential Administration, is convinced.
“We must pay tribute to the fact that Mishustin and Nabiullina held back the fall of the ruble for a very long time. Spending on the wartime economy rose, but the revenue side declined.
Moreover, it could fall even more, but the circumvention of sanctions helped to keep most of the production,” Chubais says in a commentary to our channel.
According to him, there is a significant factor that few people pay attention to. “We are talking about payments to the participants of the SVO. First of all, the so-called ‘coffin’.
According to my information, colossal sums have been paid out over a year and a half - over 10 trillion rubles since the beginning of the NWO.
And this is taking into account the fact that someone is listed as dead without a trace.
“Someone is simply injured or injured. And some are still fighting. And they also need to be paid,” says Chubais.
The economist stressed that the fall of the ruble at the end of the summer is expected by many, but the worst period is yet to come.
“By the beginning of October, we can expect a rate of 120 rubles per dollar.
Unless the authorities stop the printing press and give an impetus to the real sector of the economy,” Chubais says, noting the need to lift at least part of the sanctions against Russia.
At the same time, he admits that until the end of hostilities, this is out of the question and looks with restrained optimism at the attempts of the world community to achieve an end to the war.
However, if the war does not end, then by the new year, the ruble may collapse even more, which will lead to an increase in food prices by an average of another 20% by mid-December.
This is still going on? After the Uke counteroffensive Cannae (your figures) how are Russians able to soldier on?
https://twitter.com/irgarner/status/1689713200915271680
ISW, 10 August:
“The Kremlin is likely attempting to crypto-nationalize Russian internet giant Yandex (their biggest search engine, and like Google/Alphabet, also the provider of several popular services) to strengthen control over the Russian information space in preparation for the 2024 Russian presidential election…
… in order to comply with strict Russian data disclosure laws requiring Yandex to supply all user data – not just data of users in Russia – to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). (Also to perform censorship)…
…The possible transfer of Yandex to affiliates of Russian First Deputy Presidential Chief of Staff Sergey Kiriyenko suggests that Putin seeks to reward Kiriyenko for his personal loyalty, particularly following the June 24 Wagner Group rebellion.”
)In addition, there was also a disruptive cyberattack on several of the more popular VPNs in Russia, and an information campaign was launched to influence Russians to distrust VPNs.)
Oil prices have been climbing for about a month. Brent up to $87 today, WTI around $83.50
Saudi output cuts?
Speedy's Daily Propaganda Thread
Is Ukraine winning the War, in your opinion, Speedy? All these supposed blown up Russian tanks, does it matter?
You say the war is going to last 10 more years, I think it will be over by next year this time. Because Ukraine is running out of bodies to throw into the meat grinder, and the big Spring Offensive has been a failure. The Ukrainian Army didn't make it to the Sea of Azov, as they claimed they were going to. They didn't recapture large swaths of territory.
One thing: Russia is paying for their own guns, the USA is paying for Zelenskyy's. And a lot of people are getting sick of it.
Recent Free Republic articles on Ukraine:
Biden seeks $24 billion for Ukraine, testing bipartisan support in Congress
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress to approve about $40 billion in additional spending on Thursday, including $24 billion for Ukraine and other international needs, $4 billion related to border security and $12 billion for disaster relief.You know, Speedy, the thing you and the other hyper-Ukraine supporters all avoid is talking about the domestic effects of your pet war.A senior administration official said the needs were great, and the White House was hopeful an agreement could be reached with Congress on the request, which covers only the first quarter of the current 2024 fiscal year.
But the request could face opposition in Congress, where some far-right Republicans - especially those with close ties to former President Donald Trump - want to pare back the billions in assistance Washington has sent to Kyiv since Russian troops invaded in February 2022.
Trump, the front-runner in the race to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, has been sharply critical of U.S. support for Ukraine in the war. And 70 House members backed an unsuccessful proposal in July to cut funding for Ukraine.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said there was strong bipartisan support in the Democratic-led Senate for doing more to back Ukraine, help Americans affected by natural disasters and "fight the scourge of fentanyl."
"The latest request from the Biden administration shows America’s continued commitment to helping Americans here at home and our friends abroad; and should send a clear signal to Vladimir Putin, the Chinese government, and others of America’s resolve when it comes to defending democracy around the world," Schumer said in a statement backing Biden's request.
As I've pointed out previously the logic of your own position is leading you inexorably into supporting Biden in 2024. I hope you have the courage of your convictions to come out and admit that you are supporting him over Trump.
Because Biden is giving you the unlimited cash-flow to his corrupt buddies in Ukraine, and Trump is making it clear he will turn the money tap off.
Biden’s Ukraine funding request triggers House showdown: ‘Shoveling money out the door’
President Biden on Thursday is expected to ask Congress for billions of dollars of additional funding for Ukraine's defense, a move that will lead to drama in the fall given heavy GOP opposition to the unchecked war funding seen under Biden over the last 18 months.The trend line isn't with you, Speedy. The opposition to the war was samll at first, but it's growing and growing. The sad fact is the war is a major financial problem for the USA, it's making ordinary Americans poorer as it is a massive contributor to inflation. The core of the MAGA GOP gets this."It’s definitely a very big point of contention," a senior House GOP aide told Fox News Digital.
While there’s broad support for supplemental Ukraine aid in the Senate, it will be an uphill battle in the House, where Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., promised his narrow majority that he would not bring a supplemental Ukraine funding bill to the floor. Many conservatives, still bristling from McCarthy’s debt limit deal with President Biden, have been vocally opposed to giving Kyiv more money without more accountability.
"He can go with Democrats, but then the speaker puts himself in a tough spot if he chooses to do that," the aide said.
Last month, 70 House Republicans voted for an amendment in the annual defense bill that would cut off all funding to Ukraine, which has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for a year and a half.
(Aug 12, 2023, 01:25 UTC - I'm calling it a penny...)
Russian Ruble, coming in for a landing...
U.S. Oil Production Is Bouncing Back (toward new record highs)
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/US-Oil-Production-Is-Bouncing-Back.html
“According to the EIA’s recently issued Short-Term Energy Outlook, US crude production is expected to surpass 12.9 million b/d for the first time ever in late 2023, a 200,000 b/d upward revision compared to previous forecasts.
Buoyed by the high-price environment which should lead to increased oil drilling activity next year, the EIA sees end-2024 production rates at 13.4 million b/d.”
ISW, 11 August:
“Ukrainian counteroffensive operations appear to be forcing the Russian military to laterally redeploy Russian forces defending in western Zaporizhia Oblast, indicating that the Ukrainian effort there may be significantly degrading Russian defenses...
...The lack of Russian operational reserves means that the Russian command will have to conduct more lateral redeployments if they wish to reinforce certain sectors of the front in the future...
...Russia currently does not appear to possess significant available forces that it could draw on for reinforcements without endangering other sectors of the front...
...Ukrainian forces on the other hand maintain reserves that allow them to rotate units instead of relying on redeploying units conducting defensive and offensive operations to other sectors of the line without rest. Ukrainian forces likely therefore can maintain the necessary combat potential needed to continue degrading Russian forces defending southern Ukraine and the Bakhmut area while constraining Russian advances along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line.
Russian lateral redeployments will likely increase the likelihood that Russian forces would have to fall back to prepared defensive positions without significant support in the case of a Ukrainian breakthrough. The further degradation of defending Russian forces thus creates opportunities for any Ukrainian breakthrough to be potentially decisive.”
