Ukraine 6

[BobfromWB]

Excerpts:

Iranian Assessment:

Iran continues to coordinate with China and Russia on nuclear issues ahead of talks with the United States, highlighting growing alignment between major US adversaries.  ... China also remains the largest importer of Iranian oil. China's Iranian oil imports help Iran circumvent US sanctions. Iran reportedly seeks to include provisions in a potential nuclear deal to guarantee oil exports - especially to China - and prevent future US “maximum pressure” sanctions that could disrupt its energy revenues.

Syrian President Ahmed al Shara will very likely fail to secure weapon supplies from Russia as part of an emerging deal for military basing rights in Syria because Russia cannot spare military equipment for Syria. ... Russia will likely already face materiel shortages in 2026 and 2027 if Ukrainian forces continue to inflict damage on Russian forces on the battlefield at the current rate, and many of these assets will be difficult to replace.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-april-23-2025

[BobfromWB]

[BobfromWB]

Why Russia's Military Collapse is Closer Than You Think

Chuck Pfarrer, a seasoned military analyst and Kyiv Post Special Correspondent, offers a critical assessment of this pivotal moment in the conflict through his conversation with colleague Jason Smart, a political scientist specializing in Russia. Drawing from extensive experience advising U.S. national security agencies, Pfarrer sharply analyzes Russia's weakening strategic position and highlights key military developments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCMKH7MglSc

24 min video

[Hoodat]

https://twitter.com/UKikaski/status/1915034587975008362

[Hoodat]

from r/UkraineWarVideoReport

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1k6cat0/ukrainian_magyars_birds_414th_marine_strike_uas/

[Hoodat]

from r/UkraineWarVideoReport

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1k743v9/with_god_ahead_colombian_veteran_soldiers/

[Hoodat]

from r/UkraineWarVideoReport

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1k6nyg8/trump_claimed_he_had_reached_a_deal_with_putin_to/

[Hoodat]

Attack on Kyiv civilians:





Teens wait for twelve hours what was left of friend's home, hoping he would be found alive below the rubble.  Their friend did not survive.

[Hoodat]

Russian FPV drone pilot targeted civilian bus in Marhanets.  Nine civilians killed.  Thirty injured.

[Hoodat]

Su-30SM Aircraft Worth $50 Million Destroyed in Sabotage Attack at Russian Airfield

Lucile Brizard  |  Apr 24, 2025  |  19:20

A successful sabotage operation at the Russian Rostov-on-Don Central airfield resulted in the destruction of a Russian Su-30SM multi-role fighter aircraft, according to a video published by the Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), on April 24.

The aircraft, identified by tail number “35,” caught fire and burned down following the attack. The estimated value of the destroyed aircraft is approximately $50 million.

The HUR did not provide additional details on the method or agents behind the operation but emphasized the success of this targeted strike against Russian aviation assets.  .  .

https://united24media.com/latest-news/su-30sm-aircraft-worth-50-million-destroyed-in-sabotage-attack-at-russian-airfield-7855

[Hoodat]

from r/UkraineWarVideoReport

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1k6sx6s/44_days_ago_ukraine_agreed_to_a_ceasefire/

[Hoodat]

Trump Envoy to Demand Russia Accept Ukraine's Right to Military Force – Bloomberg

The Moscow Times  •  8h

The United States will demand that Russia recognize Ukraine’s right to maintain its own military and defense industry as part of a potential peace deal, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the ongoing negotiations.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to raise the issue during his next meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Bloomberg reported.

For Moscow, agreeing to the demand would mean giving up on its stated war aim of demilitarizing Ukraine.

The reported demand signals that Washington will seek some concessions from Russia as it seeks to end the war.

Critics say that Trump and his negotiators have so far catered to Russian interests, including proposals to recognize Crimea as Russian territory and rule out NATO membership for Ukraine, while asking Moscow for few concessions in return.

Expand article logo  Continue reading

The U.S. also wants Moscow to return control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which it seized in 2022  .  .  .

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/trump-envoy-to-demand-russia-accept-ukraine-s-right-to-military-force-bloomberg/ar-AA1DyiIh

[Hoodat]

[Hoodat]

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1915480944590409945

[Hoodat]

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1915068007862202757

[Hoodat]

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1914374285050757542

[Timber Rattler]

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1915068007862202757

Ah, Tim Pool, who's on Putin's payroll...

MAGA influencer Tim Pool now claims there’s ‘no actual proof’ showing he unwittingly took Russian money

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tim-pool-russia-trump-podcast-b2728868.html

[MeganC]

Ah, Tim Pool, who's on Putin's payroll...

MAGA influencer Tim Pool now claims there’s ‘no actual proof’ showing he unwittingly took Russian money

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tim-pool-russia-trump-podcast-b2728868.html

Tim Pool is witless and therefore innocent.

Also, Russia must be destroyed. 

[FtrPilot]

https://twitter.com/Maks_NAFO_FELLA/status/1915738674399953182

[FtrPilot]

https://twitter.com/GloOouD/status/1915678637287690727

Please click on the link.

[MeganC]

https://twitter.com/GloOouD/status/1915678637287690727

That was BEAUTIFUL!!! 

[BobfromWB]

Excerpts:

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 24, 2025

The official Kremlin spokesperson and the Russian Security Council secretary repeated a series of long-standing Russian demands that purposely preclude the establishment of a stable and enduring peace in Ukraine and set conditions for future Russian aggression from an advantaged position ...

Peskov and Shoigu continued to place conditions on Russia's agreement to Trump's proposed full ceasefire that would further Putin's goal of weakening the Ukrainian military, likely to prepare for future Russian aggression ...

Kremlin officials continue to baselessly threaten NATO states for adhering to US President Donald Trump's objective that Europe take on more of its own defense requirements ...

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov similarly claimed that Russia had no intention of invading its neighbors on the eve of Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia, and Peskov made a similar claim on the eve of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 ...

Peskov’s and Lavrov’s threatening statements against NATO members Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania parallel other Kremlin officials’ statements likely intended to set information conditions to support Russian efforts to seize territory in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia ...

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-24-2025

[BobfromWB]

Кремлевская табакерка

The soldiers who carried out the successful strike on Kiev will be awarded crosses with Putin's initials.

This proposal was made by Andrey Belousov. “Andrey Removich is very pleased with the successful strike that we carried out on Kiev on the night of Thursday, April 24. All the soldiers who carried out strikes on targets in Ukraine will be awarded. But for those who hit targets in Kiev, a special incentive is being prepared,” our source in the Ministry of Defense said.

According to him, Belousov proposed awarding these soldiers with pectoral crosses with Vladimir Putin's initials engraved on them. “The shooters there were mostly of our faith, Orthodox guys. For them, such a thing would be better than an order or a medal. The strikes also involved soldiers of, let's say, non-Christian faith. For them, crosses with Vladimir Vladimirovich's initials will be excellent souvenirs,” the channel's interlocutor added.

Another source in the Ministry of Defense confirmed these plans and noted that the President gave the go-ahead for such an award.

https://t.me/kremlin_secrets/5583

[BobfromWB]

[BobfromWB]

Kseniya Kirillova: The Harsh Realities of Russian-Occupied Ukraine

The Russian opposition politician Maksim Kats highlighted comments by the reliably pro-Kremlin Army General and State Duma deputy Andrey Gurulev, who had admitted that there is an extremely low standard of living in Russia's notoriously impoverished regions, including the Far East. The situation is even worse in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, Kats said.

Even in Mariupol, which is used by the Kremlin as a postcard for Russia's supposed rebuilding of Donbas, entire blocks still lie in ruins, and the few houses constructed by the occupiers are poor quality with “cracks covering the walls only a year after the buildings were finished,” Kats said. People who lost their homes have not been compensated but have been invited to buy apartments in the new buildings, while in other destroyed cities, no housing is being built at all.

The absolute failure of the Russian state to manage the simplest elements of governance is a warning to those in the West who believe the Kremlin offers “liberation” to its Russian-speaking peoples. Rather, it consigns everyone of whatever mother tongue, pro-occupation or Ukrainian loyalist, to mismanagement and misery. Moscow also has to find resources for the problems in Russia’s own regions. Siberia has been hit by devastating hurricanes and fires, for example, and tens of thousands of residents of the Altai, Kuzbass, Khakassia, Novosibirsk, and Irkutsk regions left without electricity.

https://cepa.org/article/the-harsh-realities-of-russian-occupied-ukraine/

[MeganC]

Кремлевская табакерка

The soldiers who carried out the successful strike on Kiev will be awarded crosses with Putin's initials.

This proposal was made by Andrey Belousov. “Andrey Removich is very pleased with the successful strike that we carried out on Kiev on the night of Thursday, April 24. All the soldiers who carried out strikes on targets in Ukraine will be awarded. But for those who hit targets in Kiev, a special incentive is being prepared,” our source in the Ministry of Defense said.

According to him, Belousov proposed awarding these soldiers with pectoral crosses with Vladimir Putin's initials engraved on them. “The shooters there were mostly of our faith, Orthodox guys. For them, such a thing would be better than an order or a medal. The strikes also involved soldiers of, let's say, non-Christian faith. For them, crosses with Vladimir Vladimirovich's initials will be excellent souvenirs,” the channel's interlocutor added.

Another source in the Ministry of Defense confirmed these plans and noted that the President gave the go-ahead for such an award.

https://t.me/kremlin_secrets/5583

VP = AH

[BobfromWB]

General of the SVR

For several days, representatives of the US President Donald Trump’s team have been trying to persuade the Russian leadership to send “Putin” to the funeral of the Pope. Moreover, at Trump’s request, a phone call was arranged to the “president” of Russia, during which the American president offered “Putin” his security guarantees for the duration of a possible visit to the funeral of Francis. After the conversation with Trump, the Italian leadership, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made it clear that it was ready to provide appropriate guarantees for “Putin’s” visit. But there were enough people in the Politburo who perceived the attempt to “lure a stand-in into the enemy’s lair” as a trap, and, accordingly, gently refused such an opportunity.

At the same time, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation categorically does not want to end the war and is doing everything to ensure that the negotiations are disrupted. Representatives of the General Staff, often without coordinating with the country’s top leadership, authorize missile strikes and drone attacks deep into Ukrainian territory, reporting after the fact on the unprecedented results of these attacks. The Politburo demanded that all strikes be coordinated before they are implemented, but the General Staff found an answer to this too, simply notifying one representative of the Politburo, who is perhaps the most ardent of the hawks in the Russian leadership, an hour before the attack. Yesterday, serious discussions were held within the Politburo on this matter, as a result of which the General Staff received clear instructions on who and by what procedure to coordinate strikes deep into Ukrainian territory.

https://t.me/generalsvr/3126

[BobfromWB]

“Russia decided that Odessa is our territory, it goes ahead and does what it needs to. If you don't agree, die.”

Russian propagandists are no longer trying to pretend that civilians in Ukraine are not being killed on purpose. They are openly proclaiming that anyone who disagrees with Russia must die

https://bsky.app/profile/antongerashchenko.bsky.social/post/3lnmkfhddds24

[MeganC]

“Russia decided that Odessa is our territory, it goes ahead and does what it needs to. If you don't agree, die.”

Russian propagandists are no longer trying to pretend that civilians in Ukraine are not being killed on purpose. They are openly proclaiming that anyone who disagrees with Russia must die

https://bsky.app/profile/antongerashchenko.bsky.social/post/3lnmkfhddds24

Russia must be destroyed, it must be occupied, and the Russian language and culture exterminated. These bastards have been a scourge on the earth for over a century and it needs to be put to an end. 

[BobfromWB]

Russia must be destroyed, it must be occupied, and the Russian language and culture exterminated. These bastards have been a scourge on the earth for over a century and it needs to be put to an end. 

Russian "culture" consists mainly of drinking vodka, stealing, & murder

 

[DefiantMassRINO]

Trump and Republicans are projecting weakness and lack of resolve.  WTF did they expect from Putin?

Putin will only negotiate if he's losing, if he'll negotiate at all.

If the world wants to really help Ukraine, they will engage in an anaconda strategy to isolate, constrain, and asphyxiate the regime of Putin and his Russian ultra-nationalist buddies.

Putin wants all of Ukraine ... a free Ukraine and free Ukrainians is a threat to his hegemony over Russia.  Putin needs absolute power over all eastern slavs - Russian, Ukranians, and Belorussians.

[BobfromWB]

Trump and Republicans are projecting weakness and lack of resolve.  WTF did they expect from Putin?

Putin will only negotiate if he's losing, if he'll negotiate at all.

If the world wants to really help Ukraine, they will engage in an anaconda strategy to isolate, constrain, and asphyxiate the regime of Putin and his Russian ultra-nationalist buddies.

Putin wants all of Ukraine ...

And a buffer zone extending from the North Sea to the English Channel & to the Mediterranean.

[BobfromWB]

Кремлевская табакерка/Kremlin snuffbox

Murder of General Staff General Near Moscow. FSB Names Three Versions

A source in the FSB revealed to us the first versions of the murder of the deputy head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, General Yaroslav Moskalik, in Balashikha.

"There are three versions. Enemy sabotage, settling of personal scores and the activities of internal enemies who want to disrupt the peace process on the Ukrainian crisis. There is no priority version yet, an investigation is underway," the channel's source said.

The third version surprised us (it is difficult to imagine that there are forces inside Russia that can kill their own high-ranking military man, and for such a purpose). But the FSB said that they are considering various options, especially since “there have been signals about this in recent weeks.”

An investigation is underway.


[ includes video of the moment the general began his trip to Hell ]
https://t.me/kremlin_secrets/5585

[BobfromWB]

The [ video ] moment of the assassination attempt on General of the General Staff of the Russian Ministry of Defense Yaroslav Moskalik in Balashikha is published by 112. The IED was filled with striking elements and installed in the interior of a foreign car. Also, according to a source from the scene of the tragedy, gas cylinder equipment was installed on the car. Propane intensified the explosion.


https://t.me/ejdailyru/319322

[BobfromWB]

Кремлевская табакерка/Kremlin snuffbox

The second general killed in six months. It's time to take drastic measures!

 It is quite difficult to comment without swearing on the death of the Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik. All of our interlocutors - both in the General Staff, and in the Ministry of Defense, and in the FSB, spoke out sharply about the incident. In some places - extremely undiplomatically. In particular, about the fact that this is the second murder of a Russian general on the territory of the Russian Federation in six months [ in December, the Chief of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops of the Russian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, died ].

"This is not a death at the front. This is liquidation, to call a spade a spade. And where - first in Moscow, now in Balashikha. Something needs to be done about this," a source in the General Staff told us. One of the interlocutors believes that security measures for generals need to be strengthened. If not all, then at least the key ones.

"Since the Ministry of Defense does not have the resources to additionally protect generals, other agencies need to be involved. The most obvious option is to involve Rosgvardia officers. Especially since Zolotov has proven himself to be effective," a source in the security agencies told us. He did not comment on the possibility of a conflict between the structures, noting that "otherwise, generals will continue to die on Moscow streets."

Speaking of versions, it is worth paying attention to one more point. In addition to the obvious, that the murder of General Moskalik was a sabotage by enemy special services, another hint has appeared about possible internal showdowns. In particular, channels affiliated with the Ministry of Defense write: "The general killed by the enemy was highly effective and was possibly planned for appointment to a higher [ now it is customary to write "higher" ] military position. That is, he was a capable leader and organizer, and brought concrete results."

According to our information, they planned to promote Moskalik to the position of Deputy Chief of the General Staff. But they didn't have time. And here it is already worth seriously thinking - and if these are "our own", then who? In any case, it would not hurt to strengthen security. Especially since the Russian Guard has the resources for this.

[BobfromWB]

Ukraine Situation Report: U.S. Peace Plan Stumbles After Tumultuous Day

Top U.S. diplomats pulled out of a peace conference today as Trump scolded Zelensky, and Vance made it clear that Ukraine will need to accept Russia’s seizure of its land.
https://www.twz.com/news-features/ukraine-situation-report-u-s-peace-plan-stumbles-after-tumultuous-day

And with that pronouncement by 47's Pit Bull, the wold knows that invasion pays, and that 47 is all in with his good buddy, Putin, and Russia.

[Hoodat]

Vance made it clear that Ukraine will need to accept Russia’s seizure of its land.

In other news, Minister Yōsuke Matsuoka made it clear that the United States will need to accept Japan's seizure of Wake Island and the Philippines.

[Hoodat]

For the record, Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine was launched within weeks of Zelenskiy conceding before the world that Ukraine would not be joining NATO.

It galls me to no end to hear President Trump parroting false Russian propaganda.

https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1915832810608234737

[Timber Rattler]

For the record, Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine was launched within weeks of Zelenskiy conceding before the world that Ukraine would not be joining NATO.

It galls me to no end to hear President Trump parroting false Russian propaganda.

Right.  Trump's an ignorant ass when it comes to Ukraine. 

And even more ironic is the fact that Zelensky was considered to be the pro-Russian candidate for President in 2019 against hostile incumbent Poroshenko who had been fighting Putin since 2014.  And then there was this bit of stupidity from early March...

Top Trump allies hold secret talks with Zelenskyy’s Ukrainian opponents

https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-allies-secret-talks-volodymyr-zelenskyy-opposition-ukraine-elections-yulia-tymoshenko-petro-poroshenko/

Nevermind the fact that no true Ukrainian politician will ever supplant Zelensky just to surrender to Putin at Trump's behest...that person's days in this life would be immediately numbered.

[mystery-ak]

Zelensky: Ukraine ‘Ready to Purchase’ More Patriot Missiles from U.S.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Ukraine is “ready to purchase” more American-made Patriot missile systems from the United States, noting that it was a “top priority” for Ukraine to secure “air defense systems for Ukraine.”

more
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/04/25/zelensky-ukraine-ready-to-purchase-more-patriot-missiles-from-u-s/

[BobfromWB]

For the record, Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine was launched within weeks of Zelenskiy conceding before the world that Ukraine would not be joining NATO.

It galls me to no end to hear President Trump parroting false Russian propaganda.

My stomach turns at the thought of the stupendous display of naivety, only equaled by a certain person in 1938.

Not what I voted for.

[BobfromWB]

[BobfromWB]

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 25, 2025

Ukrainian and European representatives reportedly presented the United States with a proposal to end the war in Ukraine during multilateral talks in London on April 23. The Telegraph reported on April 25 that the Ukrainian-European proposal contained five points about territory, security guarantees, negotiations, refusing Russian sovereignty over occupied Crimea, and the Ukrainian military and defense industrial base (DIB). Reuters published the full text of the terms that Ukrainian and European officials reportedly developed in response to the US seven-point peace plan on April 25. The proposal as presented by Reuters calls for a full, unconditional air, sea, and land ceasefire concurrently with immediate technical negotiations to implement the ceasefire, involving the United States and European countries; United States-led ceasefire monitoring with support from third countries; robust Ukrainian security guarantees absent Ukraine's NATO accession; and for Russia to unconditionally return illegally deported Ukrainian children and detained Ukrainian civilians as well as engage in an “all-for-all” prisoner of war (POW) exchange. The proposal reportedly rejects restrictions on the Ukrainian military, calls for an ad hoc group of European states and willing non-European countries to guarantee Ukraine's security, and rejects restrictions on the deployment of any friendly forces to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian-European proposal states that Russia and Ukraine will negotiate territorial issues only after the implementation of a full and unconditional ceasefire and that these negotiations will use the current frontline as a starting framework. The Ukrainian-European proposal would reportedly provide Ukraine with “unhindered access” to the Dnipro River and control of the Kinburn Spit and Kakhovka Dam. The proposal reportedly calls for Ukraine to regain control over the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) “with US involvement.” The Ukrainian-European proposal also reportedly states that Ukraine's partners will work toward a consensus on NATO membership, and that Ukraine will pursue joining the European Union (EU). The Ukrainian-European proposal reportedly calls for the United States and Ukraine to implement the US-Ukraine minerals deal and economic cooperation agreement. The proposal states that US sanctions on Russia may be subject to “gradual easing” if a sustainable peace is achieved and may resume if Russia violates a peace agreement. The proposal reportedly calls for Ukraine's full reconstruction and financial compensation, including using frozen Russian asset

That the Kremlin is not formally demanding that Ukraine cede most or all of its territory to Russia at this time is not a significant Russian concession, however... The Kremlin has not abandoned its maximalist objectives, moreover. Kremlin mouthpieces, including Russian Security Council Secretary Dmitry Medvedev, have laid the rhetorical groundwork for Russia to eventually lay claim to most or all of Ukraine.  Russian officials have also doubled down on their demands for regime change in Ukraine and rhetoric intended to undermine the legitimacy of the current Ukrainian government as recently as April 24. Both of these efforts in concert indicate that Putin retains his objective of controlling all of Ukraine, but is limited by Russia's inability to achieve this objective militarily.

Russian MFA Spokesperson Maria Zakharova amplified this report and claimed that European states are preventing Russia from achieving its long-held objectives of demilitarization and “denazification” of Ukraine due to this alleged support of Naziism. Russian officials regularly invoke “denazification” to call for regime change in Ukraine and the installation of a pro-Russian puppet government. Zakharova specifically accused the Baltic States and Poland of justifying and reviving Nazism.  Russian officials have notably leveraged accusations of neo-Nazi ideology to justify Russia's invasions of Ukraine, and Russian officials leveraging these narratives against European states - especially the Baltics and Poland - supports ISW’s assessment that Russia may be setting informational conditions to justify future aggression against these states as well. Russian officials are likely attempting to discredit European states more broadly in order to deter them from providing further assistance to Ukraine and revitalizing their defense industries in order to set conditions for future Russian aggression against a weakened Europe.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-25-2025

[BobfromWB]

[BobfromWB]

Indications and Warnings | All the data that says Russia is losing... with Ragnar Guðmundsson
Presenting the Dashboard Tracking Russia's losses in Ukraine
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/dfbcec47-7b01-400e-ab21-de8eb98c8f3a/page/p_wdrgjv1iyc

This tracking is being used by the Muscovy Military Staff in the Kremlin, absent a showing to V. V. Putin.

[BobfromWB]

Reporting From Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/videos

Excerpts from the video transcript:

Russians Panic! Most Feared Ukrainian Unit Unleashed!

Today [ Apr 24, 8 pm ], there is interesting news from the Toretsk direction ... the Ukrainian high command has completed the formation of yet another new Army Corps, led by the well-known Azov Brigade. Tailored to operate effectively in the dynamic frontline near Toretsk, this Corps poses a major obstacle to Russian plans, potentially dealing a decisive blow to their entire Donbas operation ... the newly created 1st Army Corps, Azov of Ukraine:

The 12th Special Purpose Assault Brigade, "Azov" has long been one of Ukraine’s most iconic and formidable fighting units. Originally formed in 2014 as a volunteer regiment during the earliest stages of the war in Donbas, Azov evolved from a militia-style formation into one of the most disciplined and combat-experienced brigades in Ukraine’s National Guard.

The 1st Presidential Operational Brigade "Burevii" is an elite unit that defended Kyiv in 2022 and later held critical lines in Bakhmut and the Kupiansk-Lyman axis.

The 14th Brigade "Chervona Kalyna" is known for its proficiency in urban warfare and effective coordination with drones and artillery, having rotated through Kreminna, Svatove, and Bakhmut.

The 15th Brigade "Kara-Dag", composed largely of volunteers from southern Ukraine and Crimea, played a decisive role in halting a Russian breakthrough at Selydove and has seen extensive action in the Zaporizhzhia sector.

The 20th Brigade "Lubart", newly elevated from a special-purpose battalion of the Azov brigade, has extensive experience in halting Russian advances and conducting ambushes in forested terrain near Kupiansk and Siversk.

What makes this transformation into a Corps even more consequential is the dynamic tactical situation in Toretsk itself. Russian forces are locked in brutal close-quarters fighting, expending thousands of troops in a desperate attempt to maintain a foothold. By prematurely committing reserves initially intended for a summer campaign toward Kostiantynivka, Russia is showing signs of operational overstretch. This creates an opportunity for the new Corps, with its expanded area of responsibility and operational flexibility, to exploit Russian fatigue. Moreover, Azov and their new companion brigades’ proven ability to quickly adapt and dominate urban and semi-urban terrain, gives Ukraine a qualitative edge.

Overall, the creation of the 1st Azov Army Corps reflects Ukraine’s push to streamline command around experienced, high-performing units. Each brigade keeps its identity, but gains from centralized leadership and shared resources. This isn’t just symbolic but a strategic move to stabilize the eastern front. With elite brigades under one proven command, Ukraine aims to halt and reverse Russian advances, starting with Toretsk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS8JzOd7OHY

[ 20,000 ] troops all in all. ]

[FtrPilot]

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1916006688290652486

[BobfromWB]

Reporting From Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/videos

Excerpts from the video transcript:

1 Year Worth of Ammunition Is Gone!

Today [ Apr 25, 8 pm ], there is important news from the Russian Federation. Here, the Ukrainians dealt another enormous blow to the enemy war machine by targeting one of the largest Russian arsenals. The massive facility storing hundreds of thousands of munitions of various types was engulfed in flames that continued to burn for days ...  a powerful explosion occurred at the 51st Arsenal of Russia’s Main Missile and Artillery Directorate near Kirzhach in Vladimir Oblast, approximately 70 kilometers northeast of Moscow ...  Local authorities claimed initially that no one was hurt, but were soon forced to announce the evacuation of nearby villages and the closure of the main road connecting Moscow to Kirzhach. The depot, spanning an area of approximately 3.5 sq km, was one of Russia's largest and most strategically significant munitions storage sites. It reportedly housed up to 264,000 tons of various ordnances, or around 6,000,000 artillery shells, that could be enough for more than one year of combat operations. The arsenal included high-explosive artillery shells, anti-tank guided missiles, ballistic rockets, and solid-fueled surface-to-surface missiles, some potentially designated for Iskander and Smerch systems

... the first blast was caused by a direct hit during the unloading of newly received munitions, which triggered a chain of catastrophic secondary detonations, sending shockwaves across the surrounding region ... the visual evidence strongly suggests the ignition of high-energy solid propellants, further indicating the presence of advanced missile systems. The scale and intensity of the blast rendered much of the arsenal unsalvageable. This was later confirmed by released satellite data from NASA Fires, used for monitoring fires, showing a huge inferno on the site viewable from space. the Russian government attributed the blast to a fire caused by safety violations in handling explosives, initial data from open-source military observers suggested that the explosion may have been the result of a Ukrainian long-range drone strike. Potentially it involved the domestically produced Palianytsia turbojet drone missile system, capable of striking targets deep inside Russian territory ... Palianytsia is designed for precision long-range attacks. With an operational range exceeding 700 kilometers, and an estimated warhead between 50 and 100 kilograms of TNT, it can cause massive destruction to key logistical and military targets far from the front line ...

Ukraine has conducted a series of precise strikes on major Russian Missile and Artillery Directorate arsenals, aiming to undermine Russia’s logistical and military capabilities. Among them was the 107th Ammunition Depot in Toropets, where approximately 50,000 tons of ammunition was destroyed. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated earlier this month that these strikes on Russian artillery arsenals have already cut the Russian artillery fire rate in half ... As Russia prepares for a summer offensive, the latest strike is no coincidence, meant to undermine Russian firepower capabilities ahead of their planned final offensive ... Overall, each successful Ukrainian strike of this magnitude eliminates millions of shells that could be used against Ukrainian troops and civilians, and to support Russian offensives. The latest precision strike comes at a key moment, destroying up to a year’s worth of Russian ammunition ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwFvX99w8Rg

[FtrPilot]

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1916108495729971684

[BobfromWB]

Special email to 47 that he might be enlightened