Free Republic

The Russian military on Monday claimed it was able to make advances against Ukrainian forces in the Kherson and Kursk regions. Ukraine disputed these claims and blasted Russia for once again launching missiles at civilian targets, while the Russians accused Ukraine of hitting populated areas with their own artillery shells. Russian officials told the state-run Tass news agency on Monday that Russian artillery “wiped out two Ukrainian artillery squads in the Kherson region,” killing seven Ukrainian troops. The Russians claim to have destroyed a Ukrainian self-propelled artillery gun and a 120mm mortar with its ammunition.

The Kremlin said on Friday that attacks against any part of the swathe of Ukraine that president Vladimir Putin was about to annex would be considered aggression against Russia itself, adding that Russia would fight to take the whole of the Donbas region.Russian resident Vladimir Putin is due to proclaim the annexation of more than 15 per cent of Ukraine on Friday, escalating his seven-month war and taking it into an unpredictable new phase.

Eyewitnesses reported as many as 15 distinct explosions in Novofedorivka, Crimea, followed by a larger blast The explosions rocked a Russian held military airbase home to a variety of fighter jets and freight aircraft Airbase is located 130 miles from nearest Ukrainian-held region and Ukraine has not accepted responsibility But a senior military source told the New York Times the explosions came as a result of a Ukrainian strike Russian defence ministry meanwhile is claiming the explosions came as a result of ammunition detonation Russian officials reported one person was killed and five people including one child were injured in...

The Times of London, on Sept. 2, published an article by Gregg Carlstrom about a recent decision by Israeli authorities to declare 988 acres in the Gush Etzion region of Judea and Samaria (close to where three Israeli teens were kidnapped and murdered in June) ‘state land’ (Israel makes biggest land grab in 30 years after teens murdered). Here’s a map of the area in question:Map created by Ha’aretz The Times of London article (behind a pay wall) included this opening passage: However, it is completely inaccurate to say that Israel “formally annexed” the land in question, as such formal annexation would...