This might be a little tougher than Putin thought...
- Thread starter Nole Lou
- Start date
Yeah, I don’t put much stock in statements Putin is about to die or be killed, the front is collapsing, or anything is collapsing in Russia. If it happens I will be happy but it never is true.
The ammunition depot of the air base in #Morozovsk , #Russland , currently looks like this after the drone attack by #Ukraine . The joy gets stuck in your throat."
Shot because Russian enemy or because he played the accordion...
Although Russia constitutes its grinding assault, material and personnel shortages are preventing a large organized Summer assault as previous years have featured.
www.newsweek.com
Russia Cannot Launch A Summer Offensive This Year
Moscow has been pressing west from the captured city of Avdiivka for months, gaining territory at a high cost to personnel and equipment stocks.
www.newsweek.com
Putin is holding Russia together with spit, baling wire, and lots of fear.
'Sudzha District of Kursk Region of the Russian Federation on August 6, 2024. Russians drive past something burning and exploding."
Guessing another raid by the Free Russian group.
Pretty interesting if this is true.
"A Russian conscript somewhere near the town of Goncharovka, Kursk region, he said: 💬 “The situation is tense. They left us here waiting for the Ukrainian helicopters to break through.”
Guessing another raid by the Free Russian group.
Pretty interesting if this is true.
"A Russian conscript somewhere near the town of Goncharovka, Kursk region, he said: 💬 “The situation is tense. They left us here waiting for the Ukrainian helicopters to break through.”
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I now look forward to these raids into Russia. Maybe someday (if they get those extra brigades armed) they will be something more.
"If the Ukrainian Armed Forces manage, despite air strikes, to turn the border operation into something slightly larger, for example, take several villages and turn them into a bridgehead, then the Russian Armed Forces will have to throw all their forces into eliminating it, to the detriment of other tasks. In addition, it is quite possible that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have pulled up air defense systems to strike range, and the Russians may begin to suffer losses in aviation. This will complicate the situation even more because without air support, eliminating Ukrainian bridgeheads on #Russian territory will be extremely difficult. This will require several times more soldiers, equipment, and artillery. Several times more than the "North" Army division can provide in 1-2 days."
"If the Ukrainian Armed Forces manage, despite air strikes, to turn the border operation into something slightly larger, for example, take several villages and turn them into a bridgehead, then the Russian Armed Forces will have to throw all their forces into eliminating it, to the detriment of other tasks. In addition, it is quite possible that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have pulled up air defense systems to strike range, and the Russians may begin to suffer losses in aviation. This will complicate the situation even more because without air support, eliminating Ukrainian bridgeheads on #Russian territory will be extremely difficult. This will require several times more soldiers, equipment, and artillery. Several times more than the "North" Army division can provide in 1-2 days."
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Careful Ivan. The F-16s are waiting…
Yesterday close to the midnight there were too loud in our district. Russians lauched four ballistic missiles and explosions were in 15-20 km from my home near Brovary town (esatern suburb of Kyiv). Two missiles were shot down by AD, two other reportedly just failed - one exploded in the air, other fell down to forestry area beyond Brovary (on the video). Remains of missiles showed these were N.Korean KN-23. On 31st of July Russians launched KN-23 on Bila Tserkva city in Kyiv oblast, but that missie also failed and hit the field.
Reserches of remained part showed intersting thing - when in Russian Iskander the bearings of special steel are used for stabilizing systems, that in N.Korea analog KN-23 usual car bearings of Toyota company. Likely it poorly adapted to overloads and this can cause failures.
Reserches of remained part showed intersting thing - when in Russian Iskander the bearings of special steel are used for stabilizing systems, that in N.Korea analog KN-23 usual car bearings of Toyota company. Likely it poorly adapted to overloads and this can cause failures.
I appreciate the video, but what kind of a moron sees an explosion and two fighter bombers fly over him and doesn’t stand on the breaks and turn around?
"Vladimir Demchik, a former head of the Property Department of the Russian Defense Ministry, was arrested on corruption charges, the Russian Investigative Committee reported on Aug. 6.
Demchik is suspected of taking a four-million ruble ($46,900) bribe in 2017 from the CEO of a commercial organization that wanted to win government contracts.
Since April, several Russian high-ranking military officials have been arrested on charges ranging from bribery to abuse of power after the dismissal of Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov.
In mid-May, Russian President Vladimir Putin also dismissed his longtime ally Sergei Shoigu from the post of defense minister. Shoigu was replaced by former First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov."
Yesterday Russia claimed to have defeated an attempted commando raid around here.
"Crimea ! Tendrovskaya Spit!The INTEL Directorate of Special Forces landed at night on the Tendrovskaya Isthmus near occupied Crimea The soldiers destroyed the Russian armored vehicles and fortifications."
"Crimea ! Tendrovskaya Spit!The INTEL Directorate of Special Forces landed at night on the Tendrovskaya Isthmus near occupied Crimea The soldiers destroyed the Russian armored vehicles and fortifications."
Ukraine war briefing: ‘Russia does not control Kursk border’
Raid into Russia by 300 soldiers from Ukraine with tanks and armour; Shoigu ‘heavily over-exaggerates’ territorial gains. What we know on day 896- Russia’s defence ministry said about 300 soldiers from Ukraine backed by tanks and armoured vehicles launched a cross-border attack into the Kursk region on Tuesday, while fighting was reported as deep as six miles (10km) inside Russia, Dan Sabbagh writes. Fighting took place between the border villages of Nikolayevo-Daryino and Oleshnya, and as far inside Russia as the fringes of Sudzha. Two strikes on Russian trailers loaded with tanks were photographed from overhead, according to reports on social media which the Guardian could not verify.
- Ukraine’s political leaders and defence ministry did not immediately comment on the situation, but one junior official acknowledged the attack was taking place and indicated it had not been defeated. Andrii Kovalenko from Ukraine’s national security and defence council said: “Russian soldiers are lying about the controllability of the situation in the Kursk region. Russia does not control the border.” There have been previous raids into Russia by pro-Ukrainian groups of Russians such as the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion.
- Ukraine is putting more funding towards its domestic missile programme, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president, said on Tuesday. Ukraine needs to compensate for western allies not letting it use the missiles they supply for long-range strikes on bases inside Russian territory. Ukraine is trying to build up its domestic output of, for example, the Neptune, a Ukrainian anti-ship missile that can also attack land targets.
- At least one person was killed and 12 others including an eight-month-old baby were injured when a Russian Iskander ballistic missile struck a residential area of Kharkiv in north-east Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said. A medical clinic was among many buildings damaged, said the regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov.
- Maria Andreyeva, a leading Russian anti-mobilisation activist, has said she quit her campaigning after coming under pressure from the Kremlin. Putin’s regime has clamped down on a group of wives and mothers known as “Put Domoy” (Way Home) publicly calling on the Russian president to bring forcibly mobilised men back from the frontlines in Ukraine. Andreyeva said she had been fired from her work and labelled a “foreign agent”. “Unfortunately I have to go into the shadows,” Andreyeva told Agence France-Presse.
- In Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Russian forces have advanced near Toretsk: in Pivnichne to its east, and to its south in Niu York where they raised a flag on a building, said the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). In an unconfirmed development, Russia’s defence ministry said its units had “liberated the settlement of Timofeevka”, whose Ukrainian name is Timofiyivka, as the head of Russia’s general staff, Valery Gerasimov, reportedly visited troop positions in occupied parts of Donetsk.
- The ISW said Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s security council secretary and former defence minister, had “heavily overexaggerated” Russian advances in Ukraine since mid-June 2024, claiming 420 sq km. “ISW has observed evidence confirming that Russian forces have seized approximately 290 square kilometres since June 14.” said the US-based thinktank.
- Niger’s military regime has cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine over remarks from officials it said showed Ukraine’s support for groups involved in fighting in neighbouring Mali that killed dozens of soldiers and Russian Wagner fighters. Mali on Sunday severed relations with Ukraine after comments from the Ukrainian military spy agency suggested its involvement.
Ukraine war briefing: ‘Russia does not control Kursk border’
Raid into Russia by 300 soldiers from Ukraine with tanks and armour; Shoigu ‘heavily over-exaggerates’ territorial gains. What we know on day 896
Bonus: Battle of Kursk in WW2
All downhill for the Germans after this battle...
Battle of Kursk | Eastern Front, German Offensive, Soviet Counterattack | Britannica
Battle of Kursk, (July 5–August 23, 1943), unsuccessful German assault on the Soviet salient around the city of Kursk, in western Russia, during World War II. The salient was a bulge in the Soviet lines that stretched 150 miles (240 km) from north to south and protruded 100 miles (160 km) westward
www.britannica.com
https://www.forbes.com/
For months, Ukrainian officials have been begging their foreign allies for permission to use the best donated weaponry—in particular, powerful ballistic missiles—to hit Russian warplanes that have been parking out in the open at airfields inside Russia within quick flying time of Ukrainian cities.
For months, those allies have demurred, citing the risk of escalation as Russia’s wider war on Ukraine grinds into its 29th month.
Clearly growing impatient, Ukrainian forces have stepped up their attacks on the most vulnerable Russian airfields—strictly deploying Ukrainian-made munitions. On Saturday, Ukrainian drones targeted Morozovsk air base in southern Russia 200 miles from the front line in eastern Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian intelligence directorate, the drone raid destroyed a Russian air force Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bomber, damaged two additional Su-34s and burned down an ammunition warehouse.
The directorate published satellite imagery of the base depicting what it described as “extensive areas of scorched earth” resulting from the ammo cooking off in the aftermath of the attack.
This isn’t the first attack on Morozovsk, but it is one of the most destructive. It’s a bittersweet victory for the Ukrainians, however. Similar raids are getting harder to pull off as the Russians redeploy their warplanes to less vulnerable bases.
It’s obvious what the Ukrainian intelligence directorate is trying to achieve. By targeting Morozovsk and other airfields near the Russia-Ukraine border, the directorate hopes to destroy the key enablers of Russia’s glide-bombing campaign: the warplanes that carry the bombs as well as the bombs themselves.
Since dropping its first crude glide bombs on Ukraine last year, the Russian air force has really embraced the satellite-guided munitions. Thanks to their pop-out wings, the hastily-built “KAB” glide bombs possess just enough range—25 miles or more, depending on the model—to allow Su-34 fighter-bombers to hit Ukrainian troops and civilians from beyond the range of the best Ukrainian air defenses.
Every day, the Russians drop as many as 100 KABs, some weighing more than three tons. “Unfortunately, in urban environments, their large and frequent use is highly effective,” Ukrainian analysis group Frontelligence Insight reported.
“Even though they are often imprecise, the sheer payload is enough to demolish or severely damage buildings, even if the KAB doesn’t hit the target directly,” Frontelligence Insight continued. “When buildings collapse, underground basements trap people inside, making rescue operations impossible, especially when the Russians conduct double and triple-tap attacks.”
As urban demolition weapons, the KABs have been a deciding factor in practically every recent Russian victory all along the 700-mile front line. “In the past, like in the battle for Bakhmut [last year], it sometimes took days for Russian artillery to damage buildings enough to force defenders to retreat,” Frontelligence Insight explained. “Now, entire buildings can collapse in seconds, rendering them useless for defensive purposes.”
It’s a top priority of the government in Kyiv to blunt the glide-bombing campaign by destroying the bombers, the bombs—or both.
There was a rare opportunity to deliver a major blow against the KAB infrastructure earlier this summer, when the Russian air force’s 47th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment parked dozens of Su-34s—out of roughly 100 in service—in open at Voronezh Malshevo air base in southern Russia 100 miles from the border with Ukraine.
Voronezh Malshevo is a reasonably well-defended base, so the Ukrainians pleaded for permission to fire their best American-made Army Tactical Missile System rockets at the base. The ATACMs are almost impossible to intercept.
But the administration of U.S. Pres. Joe Biden said no. “Our policy has not changed,” Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security advisor, told reporters last month. As before, Ukraine would only be allowed to fire ATACMS at targets in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
The Russians observed the heated diplomacy regarding ATACMS—and made a rare proactive decision to pull the Su-34s from Voronezh Malshevo and other border airfields.
“Between the second half of June and mid-July, Russian forces relocated a lion’s [share] of valuable military assets away from the border area with Ukraine,” Frontelligence Insight noted. The departure of Su-34s from Voronezh Malshevo was among “the most notable movements.”
Today many of the Su-34s are at bases hundreds of miles from the border. They’re not invulnerable to Ukrainian drones—the farthest-flying models range more than 1,000 miles.
But they are safe from most Ukrainian drones, as well as from the ATACMS, the most powerful of which range just 190 miles. If the White House ever grants permission for ATACMS raids on Russian bases, it might be too late. The most valuable targets may be too far away.
Obviously, a handful of Su-34s—as well as some stocks of KAB bombs—remain at border airfields such as Morozovsk: Ukraine just hit three of the planes plus their ammo.
But to end the glide-bombing campaign, Ukraine needs to destroy scores of Su-34s—not one or several. And smarter Russian deployments are making that harder to achieve.
www.forbes.com
Ukraine Had A Chance To Blow Up Russia’s Best Warplanes On The Tarmac. The White House Said No—And Now It’s Too Late.
For months, Ukrainian officials have been begging their foreign allies for permission to use the best donated weaponry—in particular, powerful ballistic missiles—to hit Russian warplanes that have been parking out in the open at airfields inside Russia within quick flying time of Ukrainian cities.
For months, those allies have demurred, citing the risk of escalation as Russia’s wider war on Ukraine grinds into its 29th month.
Clearly growing impatient, Ukrainian forces have stepped up their attacks on the most vulnerable Russian airfields—strictly deploying Ukrainian-made munitions. On Saturday, Ukrainian drones targeted Morozovsk air base in southern Russia 200 miles from the front line in eastern Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian intelligence directorate, the drone raid destroyed a Russian air force Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bomber, damaged two additional Su-34s and burned down an ammunition warehouse.
The directorate published satellite imagery of the base depicting what it described as “extensive areas of scorched earth” resulting from the ammo cooking off in the aftermath of the attack.
This isn’t the first attack on Morozovsk, but it is one of the most destructive. It’s a bittersweet victory for the Ukrainians, however. Similar raids are getting harder to pull off as the Russians redeploy their warplanes to less vulnerable bases.
It’s obvious what the Ukrainian intelligence directorate is trying to achieve. By targeting Morozovsk and other airfields near the Russia-Ukraine border, the directorate hopes to destroy the key enablers of Russia’s glide-bombing campaign: the warplanes that carry the bombs as well as the bombs themselves.
Since dropping its first crude glide bombs on Ukraine last year, the Russian air force has really embraced the satellite-guided munitions. Thanks to their pop-out wings, the hastily-built “KAB” glide bombs possess just enough range—25 miles or more, depending on the model—to allow Su-34 fighter-bombers to hit Ukrainian troops and civilians from beyond the range of the best Ukrainian air defenses.
Every day, the Russians drop as many as 100 KABs, some weighing more than three tons. “Unfortunately, in urban environments, their large and frequent use is highly effective,” Ukrainian analysis group Frontelligence Insight reported.
“Even though they are often imprecise, the sheer payload is enough to demolish or severely damage buildings, even if the KAB doesn’t hit the target directly,” Frontelligence Insight continued. “When buildings collapse, underground basements trap people inside, making rescue operations impossible, especially when the Russians conduct double and triple-tap attacks.”
As urban demolition weapons, the KABs have been a deciding factor in practically every recent Russian victory all along the 700-mile front line. “In the past, like in the battle for Bakhmut [last year], it sometimes took days for Russian artillery to damage buildings enough to force defenders to retreat,” Frontelligence Insight explained. “Now, entire buildings can collapse in seconds, rendering them useless for defensive purposes.”
It’s a top priority of the government in Kyiv to blunt the glide-bombing campaign by destroying the bombers, the bombs—or both.
There was a rare opportunity to deliver a major blow against the KAB infrastructure earlier this summer, when the Russian air force’s 47th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment parked dozens of Su-34s—out of roughly 100 in service—in open at Voronezh Malshevo air base in southern Russia 100 miles from the border with Ukraine.
Voronezh Malshevo is a reasonably well-defended base, so the Ukrainians pleaded for permission to fire their best American-made Army Tactical Missile System rockets at the base. The ATACMs are almost impossible to intercept.
But the administration of U.S. Pres. Joe Biden said no. “Our policy has not changed,” Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security advisor, told reporters last month. As before, Ukraine would only be allowed to fire ATACMS at targets in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
The Russians observed the heated diplomacy regarding ATACMS—and made a rare proactive decision to pull the Su-34s from Voronezh Malshevo and other border airfields.
“Between the second half of June and mid-July, Russian forces relocated a lion’s [share] of valuable military assets away from the border area with Ukraine,” Frontelligence Insight noted. The departure of Su-34s from Voronezh Malshevo was among “the most notable movements.”
Today many of the Su-34s are at bases hundreds of miles from the border. They’re not invulnerable to Ukrainian drones—the farthest-flying models range more than 1,000 miles.
But they are safe from most Ukrainian drones, as well as from the ATACMS, the most powerful of which range just 190 miles. If the White House ever grants permission for ATACMS raids on Russian bases, it might be too late. The most valuable targets may be too far away.
Obviously, a handful of Su-34s—as well as some stocks of KAB bombs—remain at border airfields such as Morozovsk: Ukraine just hit three of the planes plus their ammo.
But to end the glide-bombing campaign, Ukraine needs to destroy scores of Su-34s—not one or several. And smarter Russian deployments are making that harder to achieve.
Ukraine Had A Chance To Blow Up Russia’s Best Warplanes On The Tarmac. The White House Said No—And Now It’s Too Late.
Ukraine is still hitting Russian airfields, but only with less destructive drones.
www.forbes.com
Ukraine war briefing: ‘Russia does not control Kursk border’
Raid into Russia by 300 soldiers from Ukraine with tanks and armour; Shoigu ‘heavily over-exaggerates’ territorial gains. What we know on day 896
- Russia’s defence ministry said about 300 soldiers from Ukraine backed by tanks and armoured vehicles launched a cross-border attack into the Kursk region on Tuesday, while fighting was reported as deep as six miles (10km) inside Russia, Dan Sabbagh writes. Fighting took place between the border villages of Nikolayevo-Daryino and Oleshnya, and as far inside Russia as the fringes of Sudzha. Two strikes on Russian trailers loaded with tanks were photographed from overhead, according to reports on social media which the Guardian could not verify.
- Ukraine’s political leaders and defence ministry did not immediately comment on the situation, but one junior official acknowledged the attack was taking place and indicated it had not been defeated. Andrii Kovalenko from Ukraine’s national security and defence council said: “Russian soldiers are lying about the controllability of the situation in the Kursk region. Russia does not control the border.” There have been previous raids into Russia by pro-Ukrainian groups of Russians such as the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion.
- Ukraine is putting more funding towards its domestic missile programme, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president, said on Tuesday. Ukraine needs to compensate for western allies not letting it use the missiles they supply for long-range strikes on bases inside Russian territory. Ukraine is trying to build up its domestic output of, for example, the Neptune, a Ukrainian anti-ship missile that can also attack land targets.
- At least one person was killed and 12 others including an eight-month-old baby were injured when a Russian Iskander ballistic missile struck a residential area of Kharkiv in north-east Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said. A medical clinic was among many buildings damaged, said the regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov.
- Maria Andreyeva, a leading Russian anti-mobilisation activist, has said she quit her campaigning after coming under pressure from the Kremlin. Putin’s regime has clamped down on a group of wives and mothers known as “Put Domoy” (Way Home) publicly calling on the Russian president to bring forcibly mobilised men back from the frontlines in Ukraine. Andreyeva said she had been fired from her work and labelled a “foreign agent”. “Unfortunately I have to go into the shadows,” Andreyeva told Agence France-Presse.
- In Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Russian forces have advanced near Toretsk: in Pivnichne to its east, and to its south in Niu York where they raised a flag on a building, said the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). In an unconfirmed development, Russia’s defence ministry said its units had “liberated the settlement of Timofeevka”, whose Ukrainian name is Timofiyivka, as the head of Russia’s general staff, Valery Gerasimov, reportedly visited troop positions in occupied parts of Donetsk.
- The ISW said Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s security council secretary and former defence minister, had “heavily overexaggerated” Russian advances in Ukraine since mid-June 2024, claiming 420 sq km. “ISW has observed evidence confirming that Russian forces have seized approximately 290 square kilometres since June 14.” said the US-based thinktank.
- Niger’s military regime has cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine over remarks from officials it said showed Ukraine’s support for groups involved in fighting in neighbouring Mali that killed dozens of soldiers and Russian Wagner fighters. Mali on Sunday severed relations with Ukraine after comments from the Ukrainian military spy agency suggested its involvement.
Ukraine war briefing: ‘Russia does not control Kursk border’
Raid into Russia by 300 soldiers from Ukraine with tanks and armour; Shoigu ‘heavily over-exaggerates’ territorial gains. What we know on day 896www.theguardian.com
Bonus: Battle of Kursk in WW2
All downhill for the Germans after this battle...
Battle of Kursk | Eastern Front, German Offensive, Soviet Counterattack | Britannica
Battle of Kursk, (July 5–August 23, 1943), unsuccessful German assault on the Soviet salient around the city of Kursk, in western Russia, during World War II. The salient was a bulge in the Soviet lines that stretched 150 miles (240 km) from north to south and protruded 100 miles (160 km) westward
Some of this is FWIW - later he claims the Russians in the city voted to join Ukraine 
Them's some Debby Downer faces if I ever saw one...
Is that a real Putin or a fake one?
Fascinating if true.
1 of 2 - FACT CHECK: The recent reports on the situation in the Kursk region, specifically around the Sudzha gas metering station, highlight a significant escalation in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Multiple sources confirm that Ukrainian forces have conducted a notable incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, with some reports suggesting that they have gained control of key areas, including the Sudzha gas metering station.1.Confirmation of Control: Ukrainian forces have reportedly captured the Sudzha gas metering station, a critical infrastructure for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine. This is a strategic point, as Sudzha is a major entry point for gas transit from Russia to Europe.
2.Strategic Impact: The control of Sudzha by Ukrainian forces disrupts the flow of Russian gas to Europe, which has significant implications for energy supplies and geopolitical dynamics. This move is seen as part of a broader strategy by Ukraine to destabilize Russia’s energy infrastructure and create leverage in ongoing negotiations and conflicts.
3.Military Situation: The operation involves substantial Ukrainian military presence, with estimates of up to 800 soldiers advancing into the region. This incursion has led to intense combat, with both sides reporting casualties and equipment losses. Russian military responses include airstrikes and artillery fire aimed at repelling the Ukrainian forces and preventing further advances.
4.Local and International Reactions: The situation has caused significant concern among local residents, leading to evacuations and heightened security measures. Russian officials and pro-war bloggers have criticized the preparedness of Russian defenses and the response of the military command. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have remained relatively silent, possibly to maintain operational security or leverage the element of surprise.
5.Broader Implications: This development is part of a larger context of increased Ukrainian military activity in Russian border regions. It demonstrates Ukraine’s ability to project power beyond its borders, potentially altering the dynamics of the conflict and drawing in more international attention and support.In conclusion, the capture of the Sudzha gas metering station by Ukrainian forces marks a significant tactical and strategic move in the ongoing conflict. It highlights the escalating nature of the hostilities and the complex interplay of military actions and energy security concerns in Eastern Europe.
1 of 2 - FACT CHECK: The recent reports on the situation in the Kursk region, specifically around the Sudzha gas metering station, highlight a significant escalation in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Multiple sources confirm that Ukrainian forces have conducted a notable incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, with some reports suggesting that they have gained control of key areas, including the Sudzha gas metering station.1.Confirmation of Control: Ukrainian forces have reportedly captured the Sudzha gas metering station, a critical infrastructure for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine. This is a strategic point, as Sudzha is a major entry point for gas transit from Russia to Europe.
2.Strategic Impact: The control of Sudzha by Ukrainian forces disrupts the flow of Russian gas to Europe, which has significant implications for energy supplies and geopolitical dynamics. This move is seen as part of a broader strategy by Ukraine to destabilize Russia’s energy infrastructure and create leverage in ongoing negotiations and conflicts.
3.Military Situation: The operation involves substantial Ukrainian military presence, with estimates of up to 800 soldiers advancing into the region. This incursion has led to intense combat, with both sides reporting casualties and equipment losses. Russian military responses include airstrikes and artillery fire aimed at repelling the Ukrainian forces and preventing further advances.
4.Local and International Reactions: The situation has caused significant concern among local residents, leading to evacuations and heightened security measures. Russian officials and pro-war bloggers have criticized the preparedness of Russian defenses and the response of the military command. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have remained relatively silent, possibly to maintain operational security or leverage the element of surprise.
5.Broader Implications: This development is part of a larger context of increased Ukrainian military activity in Russian border regions. It demonstrates Ukraine’s ability to project power beyond its borders, potentially altering the dynamics of the conflict and drawing in more international attention and support.In conclusion, the capture of the Sudzha gas metering station by Ukrainian forces marks a significant tactical and strategic move in the ongoing conflict. It highlights the escalating nature of the hostilities and the complex interplay of military actions and energy security concerns in Eastern Europe.
