Free Republic

Photos that appeared online over the weekend, depicting Russian army armored vehicles on trains rolling out of the army training base Mulino, 200 miles east of Moscow, are a potentially ominous sign. The Russian army’s newest grouping, the 3rd Army Corps, is on the move–toward eastern Ukraine. The 3rd Army Corps is the first big new formation to take shape as a result of the Kremlin’s urgent initiative, beginning this summer, to recruit new soldiers and stand up new units in order to replace the tens of thousands of troops it has lost in the six months since it widened...

Ads urge Russians to sign up for military service as authorities turn to prisoners and mercenaries to grow ranks. The Kremlin has embarked on a nationwide drive to recruit new military personnel as Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to regain the offensive in Ukraine and replenish some of the estimated thousands of soldiers lost in Russia’s war effort. Six months after Russia invaded Ukraine, Moscow’s military has lost much of what momentum it had but has chosen not to take the politically risky decision to declare a national mobilization.

Detailed commentary with maps from a bird's eye view along with Denys Davydov expertise in all kinds of vehicles and weapons.

A kamikaze drone strike hit Russia's Navy headquarters in Crimea and sparked a huge explosion today, in another suspected Ukrainian raid. Smoke was seen billowing through the air this morning following the attack, which came despite frantic attempts from Putin's forces to shoot down the UAV, as seen in a video where repetitive gunfire is heard. The naval HQ suffered a direct hit, said reports while terrified Russian tourists fled the popular summer peninsula. Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev confirmed the attack, writing on Telegram: 'Unfortunately, [the drone] was not shot down, although they worked on the bay with small...

Ukraine's forces struck a bridge of strategic importance to Russia shortly after President Vladimir Putin's military managed to restore it. Serhiy Khlan wrote Ukraine's armed forces created "fireworks" at the bridge in the city of Kakhovkaridge in the city of Kakhovka. "It looks like there won't be a grand opening," wrote Khlan, who is a deputy chairman of the Kherson Regional Council. In a subsequent post, Khlan said that Ukraine's Operational Command South had also confirmed that Ukrainian forces "destroyed the plans of the occupiers to repair and use" the bridge. The defense ministries of Russia and Ukraine were contacted...