Posted on 04/04/2023 8:06:05 AM PDT by SpeedyInTexas
Fav video of the day.
“A Russian MT-LB armoured personnel carrier was damaged by an improvised FPV loitering munition operated by the Ukrainian 23rd Separate Rifle Battalion North-East of Torske, #Donetsk Oblast.”
https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1643289460774166532
“US announces new 2.6 billion USD package of military aid for Ukraine”
“Ukraine will join NATO after defeating the Russian Federation, Jens Stoltenberg said.
“We will do everything so that Ukraine wins, and this will ensure its membership in NATO.””
https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1643311965303873555
Keystone cops are back in town.
“The 59th brigade repulsed an attack south of Avdiivka. The Russian tanks did not survive.”
https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1643267814742949889
BAKMUT HAS FALLEN er ah sorry somehow got on the Macgregor channel
@visegrad24 15h
Reuters reports that the German insurers Allianz and Munich Re have renewed insurance for the damaged Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline
Reuters writes that Germany has decided to wait and see whether relations with Russia can improve in the future for gas purchases to resume.
@visegrad24 1h
10 minutes after becoming a NATO member, Finland ratified Sweden’s NATO membership application.
"THE PURGE: Gen. Rustam Muradov led Russian troops into the fiasco at Vuhledar, losing 2 brigades of marines, 103 vehicles and 36 tanks. He’s now been fired from his post as commander in Ukraine- 7 months after his appointment. Muradov may soon join the Moscow urban sky diving club."
Official list of new U.S. security assistance for Ukraine https://defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3350958/biden-administration-announces-additional-security-assistance-for-ukraine/
@HenriVanhanen 12h
Spoke to @IrishTimes
“Finland is not going to set limits on Nato membership in terms of potential Nato presence on Finnish soil…We understand Nato means obligations and Finland will be pushing for burden-sharing for all countries in the region.”
“Finland officially becomes a member of NATO, doubling the military alliance’s border with Russia“
HenriVanhanen 14h
1. Wartime strength 280,000.
2. 200 Leopard 2’s, an incoming fleet of 64 F-35’s, modern navy vessels and the largest artillery in Europe.
3. Spends over 2% of GDP on defence.
4. Highest popular will to defend their country in Europe.
ISW: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, APRIL 3, 2023
Key Takeaways
Wagner Group fighters made further advances in central Bakhmut and seized the Bakhmut City Administration Building on the night of April 2.
Russian authorities are blaming Ukrainian government entities and Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny for the assassination of Russian milblogger Maksim Fomin (also known as Vladlen Tartarsky).
Official Russian responses to Fomin’s death failed to generate a single narrative in the information space and led to disjointed responses from prominent pro-war voices.
Russian security services reportedly continue to confiscate passports of senior officials and state company executives in an effort to limit flight from Russia.
Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks along the Svatove-Kreminna line.
Russian sources reported on April 3 that Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) units received TOS-1A thermobaric artillery systems for the first time.
Russian forces continued ground attacks in and around Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Donetsk City, and in western Donetsk Oblast.
Russian officials likely remain concerned about a potential Ukrainian threat to Crimea amid continued fortification and logistical efforts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree establishing a state fund to support military personnel who participate in the war in Ukraine and their families.
Likely Ukrainian partisans used an improvised explosive device (IED) to target a former Russian occupation official in Melitopol, Zaporizhia Oblast.
Remember back when Russia was able to launch waves of cruise missiles, that made news?
@Tendar 18h
Russia launched last night another terror strike against Ukraine, using 17 Shaheed drones. 14 have been neutralized before reaching their intended targets.
@NOELreports 6h
Ukraine will join NATO after defeating the Russian Federation, Jens Stoltenberg said.
“We will do everything so that Ukraine wins, and this will ensure its membership in NATO.”
@NOELreports 13h
Lithuania’s parliament decided to ban Russian nationals from purchasing real estate in the country, citing risks to national security. Parliament also halted the issuing of new visas to nationals of Russia and its ally Belarus.
Smart move, especially with all the "refugees" that ran from the draft. They're still Stalinist.
If we go back to the FR threads at that time we will see what the pro-Russian posters were posting about what they thought was happening versus what the Western sources were reporting during that battle.
This reporting indicates what the truth was at the time.
Joe Blogs had an interesting theory recently on YouTube.
It could be that Russia’s oil income is even worse than supposed, if they are getting IOUs instead of cash for some of the cargoes they are moving. Also, the use of shady smugglers could produce a greater theft ratio from an income.
A growing share of Russian oil shipments are going to Egypt, Pakistan and Cuba - three countries in extreme financial crisis. It is possible that Russia is sending them oil just to keep production flowing, and accepting non-cash payment or promises.
When Venezuela used shady middlemen to evade sanctions, the bulk of payments (85%) were diverted (pocketed) by corrupt officials and gangsters. Russian officials probably taught them how...
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