Ukraine 3

[240B]

Russian army will be 'annihilated' if it uses nuclear weapons: Borrell

[Hoodat]

Russians criticize Kremlin for deaths of new recruits in Ukraine

Ivan Nechepurenko, Cassandra Vinograd and Helene Cooper - NYT  |  October 14, 2022

With criticism from pro-war bloggers over the reported deaths of new recruits fighting in Ukraine intensifying, President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Friday defended his recent draft, saying he had no regrets about the war in Ukraine.

His remarks came as prominent military bloggers have accused the Kremlin’s defense officials of throwing unprepared recruits into battle. The draft has also run into resistance across Russia as villagers, activists, and even some elected officials have asked why the conscription drive has appeared to hit minority groups and rural areas harder than the big cities. In late September, anger with the call-up spilled over into street protests.

Some 222,000 Russians already have been drafted and 16,000 of them have been deployed “in units that get involved in fulfilling combat tasks,” Putin told a news conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, adding that he expects the mobilization to be completed within two weeks.

When Putin announced a “partial mobilization” in September, he said that servicemen called up for active duty would “undergo mandatory additional military training.” The Russian government said that such training could take up to one month.

Russian media has reported at least seven deaths among people who were recently drafted. Asked Friday why some mobilized servicemen had died so soon after mobilization began, Putin said that in some cases training could take just 10 days.  .  .

.  .  .  Roman Saponkov, a Russian military blogger, responded to the reports of recent deaths by saying Thursday that the mobilization should have been declared six months earlier, because now the country’s military command is under pressure to deploy troops to the front lines as soon as possible to help repel Ukraine’s recent battlefield advances.

“That’s why we will see many deaths among the mobilized,” he said in his blog. “Today they are superheroes who were thrown to rescue the situation at the last moment.”

Hawkish commentators criticized the initial rollout of the draft, with one popular pro-war blogger on Telegram, Rybar, saying they received “huge numbers of stories” of people with health problems or without combat experience getting draft notices.

As reports of the deaths in Ukraine filtered in this week, one Russian military blogger, who goes by the name Grey Zone and claims to be linked to the Russian mercenary community, said that the mobilization continues to be chaotic and that no lessons had been learned from the initial wave of criticism.  .  .

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/14/world/russians-criticize-kremlin-deaths-new-recruits-ukraine/

[Right_in_Virginia]

War-Torn Ukraine Needs at Least $3 Billion a Month in 2023, IMF Says
Ukraine will need at least $3 billion a month next year to finance its wartime economy, which means allies will have to step up with more support, the head of the International Monetary Fund said.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-12/ukraine-needs-at-least-3-billion-a-month-next-year-imf-says?utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_content=business

Tucker reacts        (Video)


https://rumble.com/embed/v1lcp4y/?pub=4
 

[Hoodat]

Putin says no more massive strikes - for now

7 hours ago

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said there is no need for more massive strikes on Ukraine, days after the heaviest bombardment of the country since the war began.

He said most designated targets of the strikes had been hit, adding that it was not his aim to destroy Ukraine.

Moscow's goal of mobilising 300,000 men would be met within two weeks, he said.

It comes as Russian forces are mostly in retreat and Ukraine advances, almost eight months since the invasion.

Speaking to journalists after a summit with regional leaders in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, the Russian leader said that the recent strikes had destroyed 22 out of the 29 targets in Ukraine set by the military and that "they are getting" the remaining seven.

"There's no need for massive strikes. We now have other tasks," he said.

From Monday onwards, Russia unleashed a wave of strikes on cities across Ukraine, in what Mr Putin said was retaliation for a blast which damaged a key bridge between Russia and annexed Crimea.

Dozens of people were killed and injured in the strikes, which also damaged infrastructure. Central areas of Kyiv were targeted for the first time since the invasion.

But Mr Putin said it was not Russia's intention to destroy Ukraine, but he did not regret the invasion.  .  .

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63255617


Looks like Russia is running out of missiles.  Either that, or Putin is realizing that Ukraine is doing an effective job of shooting them out of the sky.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Tucker reacts        (Video)


https://rumble.com/embed/v1lcp4y/?pub=4

[Hoodat]

[Hoodat]

[Hoodat]

[Hoodat]

Russian authorities are continuing to engage in “Russification” social programming schemes that target Ukrainian children.

A local news outlet from Russia’s Novosibirsk Oblast reported on October 13 that 24 orphans from Luhansk Oblast arrived in Novosibirsk for placement with Russian foster families.  Ukrainian Mayor of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov similarly reported that Russian occupation authorities in Melitopol and other occupied regions are deporting Ukrainian children to Russian-occupied Crimea, Krasnodar Krai, and Tula and Volgograd Oblasts under the guise of “children’s trips” and “further education” programs.  As ISW has previously reported, such forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia and Russian-occupied territory may constitute violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.  Occupation authorities in Russian-occupied Mariupol are also reportedly pressuring Ukrainian teenagers to join the “Youth Guard,” a children’s paramilitary organization that encourages anti-Ukrainian sentiments. Mariupol Mayoral Advisor Petro Andryushchenko reported on October 14 that uniformed members of the Youth Guard visited a Ukrainian school and gave children one week to consider joining the group.  The coerced engagement of Ukrainian children in youth militarization programs fits into wider Russification schemes intended to erase Ukrainian identity in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/O_Ostapchuk/status/1580636236212936704

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-14

[Kamaji]

Putin says no more massive strikes - for now

7 hours ago

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said there is no need for more massive strikes on Ukraine, days after the heaviest bombardment of the country since the war began.

He said most designated targets of the strikes had been hit, adding that it was not his aim to destroy Ukraine.

Moscow's goal of mobilising 300,000 men would be met within two weeks, he said.

It comes as Russian forces are mostly in retreat and Ukraine advances, almost eight months since the invasion.

Speaking to journalists after a summit with regional leaders in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, the Russian leader said that the recent strikes had destroyed 22 out of the 29 targets in Ukraine set by the military and that "they are getting" the remaining seven.

"There's no need for massive strikes. We now have other tasks," he said.

From Monday onwards, Russia unleashed a wave of strikes on cities across Ukraine, in what Mr Putin said was retaliation for a blast which damaged a key bridge between Russia and annexed Crimea.

Dozens of people were killed and injured in the strikes, which also damaged infrastructure. Central areas of Kyiv were targeted for the first time since the invasion.

But Mr Putin said it was not Russia's intention to destroy Ukraine, but he did not regret the invasion.  .  .

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63255617


Looks like Russia is running out of missiles.  Either that, or Putin is realizing that Ukraine is doing an effective job of shooting them out of the sky.

In other words, they’re out of munitions.  Putin shot his wad, and got his jollies.  And now he’s flaccid. 

[240B]

How Russia 'recruits' volunteers - Van pulls up and starts grabbing people.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=befHsEqMvFY

[Bigun]

https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1580956077096861697

[Hoodat]

Refused to cooperate with the enemy: conductor Yuriy Kerpatenko was shot in Kherson

14 Oct 2022


In occupied Kherson, the Russian military killed conductor Yuriy Kerpatenko. the invaders shot the conductor of the Kherson Music and Drama Theater named after Mykola Kulish in his own house.

The shooting of conductor Yuri Kerpatenko was reported on Facebook by journalist Elena Vanina. Kafirs shot a man because he refused to cooperate with them.

According to the journalist, Yuri Kerpatenko stopped going to connection in September. The man was killed when he was only 46 years old.

He refused to work with them, they said that we would come to you again. They came to his house and shot him right there. It is difficult to find out big details, because everyone in Kherson is afraid, but the information is 100%, – said Elena Vanina.

Yuri Kerpatenko was also an orchestrator and accordionist. He acted as the chief conductor of the “Gileya” chamber orchestra.

Since 2000, he has worked in the Kherson Regional Philharmonic. In 2004, he became the chief conductor of the Mykola Kulish Kherson Music and Drama Theater.  .  .

https://newsreadonline.com/refused-to-cooperate-with-the-enemy-conductor-yuriy-kerpatenko-was-shot-in-kherson/

[Hoodat]

Russian army 'mutiny' as troops 'kill commander and surrender' as morale plummets

The Russians had virtually no ammunition and some even had to share one assault rifle between two.

JOHN VARGA  |  Oct 15, 2022  |  08:51



Russian troops killed their commander after he tried to stop them from surrendering to Ukraine's army, it has been reported. The soldiers were part of the recently mobilised reserve and had just arrived at the front. Vladimir Putin's army has suffered a series of humiliating defeats on the battlefield in recent weeks.

Ukraine's army has made spectacular advances in the northeast, east and south of the country as they continue their counteroffensive on a number of fronts.

The military setbacks have forced the Kremlin to shake up their military command yet again and introduce a nationwide "partial" mobilisation.

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced in September a draft of 300,000 reservists to help boost frontline troops fighting in Ukraine.

The announcement led to a mass exodus of Russian men from the country, as they sought to escape the call-up.

Those unable to flee were forced to report for duty at military enlistment offices.

Ukraine's military launched a hotline called "I want to live", encouraging conscripted Russians to get in touch and promising them safety and humane treatment if they surrendered.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1683089/russia-news-troops-mutiny-kill-commander-putin-ukraine-war-latest

[Hoodat]

Russian soldiers forced to buy own body armour online in embarrassment for Putin

ALESSANDRA SCOTTO DI SANTOLO  |  Oct 15, 2022  |  10:49

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the mobilisation three weeks ago, part of a response to Russian battlefield defeats.  .  .

.  .  .  Defending the order, Putin said the front line was too long to defend solely with contract soldiers.

But according to the UK Ministry of Defence, soldiers were even forced to buy their own armour before being deployed because of the government's scarce financial availability.

In its latest update, the MoD said: "Contingents of mobilised Russian reservists have been deployed to Ukraine over the last two weeks. Their average level of personal equipment is almost certainly lower than the already poor provision of previously deployed troops.

"Many reservists are likely required to purchase their own body armour, especially the modern 6B45 vest, which is meant to be on general issue to combat units as part of the Ratnik personal equipment programme.

"This vest has been selling on Russian online shopping sites for 40,000 roubles (approx. USD $640), up from around 12,000 roubles (appox. USD $190) in April.

"In 2020, the Russian authorities announced that 300,000 sets of Ratnik body armour had been supplied to the Russian military, which was ample to equip the force currently deployed in Ukraine.

"Endemic corruption and poor logistics remain one of the underlying causes of Russia’s poor performance in Ukraine."  .  .

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1683124/russia-news-soldiers-mobilisation-vladimir-putin-ukraine-war

[240B]

[Elderberry]

'The hell with it': Elon Musk will fund Ukraine's Starlink after all

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/15/elon-musk-will-fund-ukraines-starlink-00061982
The move followed a social-media backlash against his proposed halt to funding the service.

Elon Musk says SpaceX will continue to financially support its Starlink terminals in Ukraine after all.

The SpaceX founder and high-profile tech entrepreneur sent a letter to the Pentagon in September asking the agency to take over funding for the satellite communication system, which the company donated to Ukraine earlier this year after Russia’s invasion.

“The hell with it … even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we’ll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free,” Musk tweeted Saturday following a social-media backlash against his proposed halt to funding the service.

[Elderberry]

Ukraine says strike destroyed 'significant' Russian weapons and equipment

CNN 10/15/2022

A top US officials tells CNN the Russian military is running low on troops and equipment needed to continue Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine.  CNN senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen reports.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzSEF9aCSUw

[Elderberry]

A desperate Putin is reportedly pushing for a temporary cease-fire; Ukraine says no way

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/10/15/2128956/-A-desperate-Putin-is-reportedly-pushing-for-a-temporary-cease-fire-Ukraine-says-no-way

Vladimir Putin was in a state of denial when he held a news conference on Friday in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana following a summit  meeting of the Confederation of Independent States (CIS), comprising some former Soviet republics.

Here’s how Putin assessed the war in Ukraine, according to a report by the independent Russian news outlet Meduza:

    “I want to be clear. What’s happening now is unpleasant, to put it mildly. But all the same things would have happened later, under worse conditions for us. So our actions are correct and timely.”

“Unpleasant?’ That is indeed putting mildly what has been an unmitigated disaster for Putin and Russia. At the same time, we shouldn’t forget that the Ukrainian people have paid a heavy price as they’ve successfully fought off the Russian invaders.

But now the Russian leader has become increasingly desperate as he has painted himself into an ever shrinking corner. Ukraine’s counteroffensive has continued to liberate more territory in provinces annexed by Russia just weeks ago; the “partial mobilization” has been a total failure, resulting in far more Russian men fleeing the country than showing up at enlistment centers, and Western countries have pledged to build up Ukraine’s air defenses after last Monday’s massive missile attack following the embarrassing attack on the Crimean bridge.

So what is happening behind the scenes in the Kremlin. According to Meduza, which has good sources in the Kremlin, Putin is now trying to buy time to regroup by pushing for a temporary ceasefire, which likely would include withdrawing troops from part of the occupied Kherson region. Ukraine has already signaled that the ceasefire proposal is a non-starter.

But the fact that Russia would consider such a proposal is a sign of growing desperation over how the war is going. It also may reflect its battlefield strategy, giving up most offensive initiatives in favor of adopting a more defensive posture. Not that this will stop Ukrainian forces from advancing.   

[Elderberry]

Russia military range shooting leaves 11 dead, 15 wounded, defense ministry says

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-military-range-shooting-dead-wounded-belgorod-region/

Two volunteer soldiers fired at other troops at a Russian military firing range near Ukraine, killing 11 and wounding 15 others, before being killed, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry said in a statement that the shooting took place in the Belgorod region in southwestern Russia that borders Ukraine. It said that the two men from an unnamed ex-Soviet nation fired on soldiers during target practice and were killed by return fire.

The ministry called the incident a terrorist attack.

The shooting comes amid a hasty mobilization ordered by President Vladimir Putin to beef up Russian forces in Ukraine — a move that triggered protests and caused hundreds of thousands to flee Russia.

Putin said on Friday that over 220,000 reservists already had been called up as part of an effort to recruit 300,000.

Even though the Russian leader declared that only people who had recently served in the military will be subject to the call-up, activists and rights groups reported military conscription offices rounding up people without any army experience — some of whom were also unfit for service for medical reasons.

[Hoodat]

A desperate Putin is reportedly pushing for a temporary cease-fire

When the last Russian soldier leaves Ukraine, then we can talk cease fire.

[240B]

The problems with 'rushed' untrained troops are many. Some/many people simply cannot kill. When faced with a situation where they have to pull the trigger on men rushing toward them, some will freeze and go catatonic shaking. Others will throw their weapons and run. Others will go fetal and start bawling. And a few will just start shooting anyone in sight including their fellow men.

Untrained soldiers tend to 'fire blind' like shooting through a door. If something is rustling in a bush or something startles them, even though they do not know who or what it is, they will fire on it. This leads to a lot of friendly fire incidents.

Incidents of mutiny and defections will be ubiquitous. Especially since 'The Russian Federation' is a conglomerate of many very disparate cultures and States which have little or nothing in common, some will have no problem shooting a White guy commander from Moscow who they do not know who is pushing them into the grinder.

Putin may find that his overwhelming 'cannon fodder' war of attrition tactic, is costing him more on the battlefield than he is gaining. Tactics that may have worked in the 1940s (with allied assistance) no longer apply today. Not to mention that Russia had a lot more 'disposable people' then, than they do today.

[sneakypete]

Russian army 'mutiny' as troops 'kill commander and surrender' as morale plummets

The Russians had virtually no ammunition and some even had to share one assault rifle between two.

JOHN VARGA  |  Oct 15, 2022  |  08:51



Russian troops killed their commander after he tried to stop them from surrendering to Ukraine's army, it has been reported. The soldiers were part of the recently mobilised reserve and had just arrived at the front. Vladimir Putin's army has suffered a series of humiliating defeats on the battlefield in recent weeks.

Ukraine's army has made spectacular advances in the northeast, east and south of the country as they continue their counteroffensive on a number of fronts.

The military setbacks have forced the Kremlin to shake up their military command yet again and introduce a nationwide "partial" mobilisation.

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced in September a draft of 300,000 reservists to help boost frontline troops fighting in Ukraine.

The announcement led to a mass exodus of Russian men from the country, as they sought to escape the call-up.

Those unable to flee were forced to report for duty at military enlistment offices.

Ukraine's military launched a hotline called "I want to live", encouraging conscripted Russians to get in touch and promising them safety and humane treatment if they surrendered.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1683089/russia-news-troops-mutiny-kill-commander-putin-ukraine-war-latest

@Hoodat

he military setbacks have forced the Kremlin to shake up their military command yet again and introduce a nationwide "partial" mobilisation.

I am guessing THAT is going over like a lead baloon.

After all,this ain't the 1940's and news from outside Russia is available to everyone. The Politboro can't get away with the lies like they could in the 40's.

[Elderberry]

Ukraine is Not Afraid of Russia - Putin Fails Again

 Jake Broe

The Russian military continues to lose ground in Kherson.  Damage to the Crimean Bridge turns out to be more extensive than initially reported.  Russia is also getting very creative and desperate to find Russian men to mobilize.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsrnCUGkjFM

[Hoodat]

Over the past week, there has been a significant increase in artillery, UAV, and cruise missiles destroyed.