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NATO allies are inching closer to sending troops into Ukraine to train Ukrainian forces, a move that would be another blurring of a previous red line and could draw the United States and Europe more directly into the war. As a result, Ukrainian officials have asked their American and NATO counterparts to help train 150,000 new recruits closer to the front line for faster deployment. So far the United States has said no, but Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday that a NATO deployment of trainers appeared inevitable. For now, he said, an effort inside Ukraine would put “a bunch of NATO trainers at risk” and would most likely mean deciding whether to use precious air defenses to protect the trainers instead of critical Ukrainian infrastructure near the battlefield.

Persons: Charles Q, Brown Jr, “ We’ll, ”, General Brown Organizations: NATO, Joint Chiefs of Staff Locations: Ukraine, United States, Europe, Russia, Brussels

☆ NATO member Estonia is 'seriously' discussing sending troops to fill non-combat roles in Ukraine, security advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewEstonia has been "seriously" discussing sending troops to Ukraine in roles positioned away from the front lines, per a national security official. Advertisement"Discussions are ongoing," Roll told Breaking Defense. Breaking Defense reported that Roll made these comments on Friday, just days after the country's defense chief, Gen. Martin Herem, told the outlet that Estonia had internally talked about sending troops to Ukraine. Related storiesEstonia is one of the geographically closest NATO members to Russia, with an eastern border shared with the Russian regions Pskov and Leningrad. AdvertisementThat's about 1.6% of its total GDP, more than any other nation that has supplied Ukraine with aid.

Persons: —, Madis, it's, Roll, Martin Herem, Herem, Emmanuel Macron, Ingrida Šimonytė Organizations: Service, Defense, Business, Atlantic Treaty Organization, Breaking Defense, NATO, Lithuanian, Financial Times, Kyiv, Kiel Institute Locations: Estonia, Ukraine, Russia, Pskov, Leningrad, Ukraine Tallinn, Baltic States, NATO, Kyiv, Europe, Finland

☆ Venezuela expands military buildup at Guyana border in ‘dangerous game,’ says report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Venezuela continues to build up military infrastructure and hardware close to the border with Guyana as President Nicolas Maduro and his supporters scale up their threats to annex an oil-rich piece of Guyanese land. Guyana had called the move a step towards annexation and an “existential” threat as the specter of armed conflict loomed over the region. Using satellite imagery and social media, CSIS found that the expansion of Anacoco Island’s military base has continued. Maduro could ‘fall victim to own rhetoric’The threats to Guyana have concerned its partners. “Thus, one of the most concerning possibilities is that Maduro will fall victim to his own rhetoric.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, “, ” Ryan Berg Organizations: CNN, Strategic, International Studies, Venezuelan, US Navy, Americas, CSIS Locations: Venezuela, Guyana, Washington, Venezuelan, Essequibo, Punta Barima, arm’s, Essequibo ”, Guyanese, Georgetown, Idaho

☆ Russia is exploiting Ukraine's lack of manpower to thin out the front line and seek a breakthrough, military expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewRussian forces are taking advantage of Ukraine's manpower shortage to thin out the front line and improve their chances of making breakthroughs, a war analyst said. According to the Times, in recent days Russian troops have poured across Ukraine's northeastern border and have taken at least nine villages and settlements. Ukraine's parliament also passed a bill earlier this month that would allow the country's military to recruit prisoners to fight . Whether these will be enough to replenish Ukrainian forces and prevent Russian breakthroughs remains unclear. AdvertisementFor now, Russian forces appear to be trying to encircle the city of Vovchansk in northern Kharkiv from the west and the east, according to an assessment published on Sunday by the ISW.

Persons: —, Franz, Stefan Gady, Michael Kofman, Kofman, Mark Herlting Organizations: Service, Center for New American Security, New York Times, Business, Times, Carnegie Endowment, International, Pentagon, Artillery, CNN, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Donbas, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Russia, Ukraine's, Vovchansk

☆ Russia claims to have captured five border villages in Kharkiv amid fresh offensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Radina Gigova | Josh Pennington | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, said it continued efforts to repel the stepped-up Russian attacks while hundreds of Ukrainian civilians have been evacuated from the northern Kharkiv region. Ukraine’s Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, disputed that the five villages in the Kharkiv Region had been captured in a statement on Saturday. The grey zone represents territory currently contested rather than under full Russian or Ukrainian control. At least three people died as a result of Russian strikes on Kharkiv region overnight, according to the head of the region’s military administration. Its forces attacked Kharkiv region after the full-scale invasion began in 2022 but were forced out in a Ukrainian counteroffensive later that year.

Persons: CNN —, Volodymyr Zelensky, Oleh, ” Syniehubov, “, Andrey Bocharov, ” Organizations: CNN, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, “, Sever Group of Forces, Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, The Defense Forces Locations: Kharkiv, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Keramik, Donetsk, Ukrainian, Kharkiv Region, Strilecha, Oliynykove, Volgograd

☆ The US Army's new plan to counter Russia and China has a glaring problem, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The 2024 Army Force Structure Transformation would be the Army's fifth major reorganization since 2003. The most striking aspect of the Army's plan is the large number of new units, for counter-drone protection as well as air and missile defense. In addition, there would be nine counter-small UAS batteries tasked with destroying small drones, and four more Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) battalions to stop manned aircraft, helicopters and drones. Monica K. Guthrie/US ArmyThe Army is also basing its plans on untried weapons, such as the Long-Range Hypersonic Missile and air defense lasers. China and Russia have much stronger air and missile forces than the regional opponents the army has faced for the last generation."

Persons: Monica K, Mark Cancian, Cancian, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, US Army, 2024, Army, Business, Congressional Research Service, Congress, Air Defense, Domain, Forces, CRS, Special Operations Forces, Security Force, Guthrie, Energy, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, Nuclear Forces, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Russia, China, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Forbes

☆ Russia keeps accidentally dropping bombs on its own people as it struggles to hit intended targets, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In early May, reports circulated that Russia had accidentally bombed its own territory in Belgorod. UK intelligence said such instances highlight Russia's struggles to employ munitions on intended targets. AdvertisementThere have been numerous reports over the last year of incidents of Russian aircraft accidentally dropping bombs and missiles on Russian civilian areas around border regions with Ukraine. Belgorod, a region of Russia close to the besieged northeastern Ukrainian territory of Kharkiv, has borne the brunt of the apparent errors. It noted that increasing reports of such incidents likely pointed to fatigued troops and poor training.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Russian, Telegram, Astra, Russian FAB, Russian Defense Ministry, Getty, British Ministry of Defence, MoD Locations: Russia, Belgorod, It's, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Russian, Anadolu

☆ Ukraine war: With a surprise cross-border attack, Russia ruthlessly exposes Ukraine’s weaknesses
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Analysis Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The town of Vovchansk in the northern Kharkiv region, liberated from Russian occupation more than 18 months ago, awoke Friday to intense shelling and aerial bombardment. As of Saturday, it appeared the Russians still held a handful of Ukrainian border villages, with intense aerial bombardment continuing in the Vovchansk area. Barros says that it is instead to compel Ukrainian forces to pivot from Donetsk to Kharkiv region. Gunners fire at Russian positions in the Kharkiv region on April 21. In Krasnohorivka, for example, Ukrainian units were able for months to use apartment buildings and a brick factory as defensive positions.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Vadym Skibitsky, George Barros, Sever, “, ” Barros, Anatolii Stepanov, Barros, exacerbates, Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy, Zelensky, Chasiv, Chasiv Yar, Skibitsky, Stanislav, ”, that’s Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, Russian, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Institute for, ” Gunners, Getty, Manpower, Reuters, Gunners, Kharkiv, United States, Zelensky Locations: Vovchansk, Kharkiv, Russia, Donetsk, Ukraine, North, Washington, “ Russia, Ukrainian, AFP, Sumy, Donetsk oblast, Belgorod, Russian, Chasiv Yar, Chasiv, ”, Kreminna, Kharkiv oblast

☆ Russia sees window of opportunity to expand attacks as Ukraine awaits further US aid, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jim Sciutto | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian authorities say Russia fired more than 50 missiles and 20 drones, targeting energy infrastructure around the country. But months of inaction has resulted in real costs for Ukrainian forces on the battlefield in both territory and casualties, these officials say. Russian forces are expected to attempt to make further progress and consolidate earlier gains, before this window of opportunity closes. Western and Ukrainian officials view the near-term threat of stepped-up attacks as tied to Russian plans for a larger offensive early this summer. US and Ukrainian officials remain concerned about a further partial mobilization by Russia to send more manpower to the frontlines, as Ukraine is struggling with its own manpower shortage.

Persons: ”, Oleksiy Goncharenko, Mike Johnson, ” Goncharenko, Chasiv Organizations: CNN, ” CNN Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Avdiivka, Pokrovsk, Chasiv Yar, Bakhmut

☆ Ukraine lawmakers just passed a bill that'll allow the country to mimic Russia's tactic of drafting convicts to fight in the war
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The bill, if enacted, imitates the Russian approach of using prisoners to fuel its war efforts. AdvertisementLawmakers in Ukraine passed a bill on Wednesday that would allow the country's military to recruit prisoners to fight on the battlefield. The bill, which has yet to be signed into law by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will allow Ukraine to mimic the Russian tactic of drafting convicts for their war effort. Related storiesBut while Russia hasn't imposed many restrictions on which prisoners they conscript, the Ukrainian bill is a lot more particular on who gets selected. The passing of the bill comes at a precarious time for Ukraine, which has to reckon with what US officials are calling a reinvigorated Russian army.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vsevolod Vukolov, Russia hasn't, Shulyak, Christopher Cavoli, didn't Organizations: Service, Lawmakers, Russian, Kommersant, Washington Post, Pravda, US, Armed, BI Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian

☆ Prisoners in Ukraine to be granted parole for military service
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Radina Gigova | Olga Voitovych | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Some Ukrainian prisoners will be able to apply for early parole and join the army under a new law aimed at boosting Kyiv’s manpower in its fight against the Russian invasion. The new law requires that convicts join the military of their own free will. Those who leave the military before their contract is up face additional prison terms of between five and 10 years. Shuliak said those released on parole to serve would have the status of “military personnel,” and therefore be subject to the same restrictions governing their behaviour. Contracts can be terminated in some circumstances, such as ill health or if the former prisoner commits a new crime.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Kostiantyn, ”, Olena Shuliak, Shuliak Organizations: CNN, Russian, Verkhovna Rada, Organization of State Power, Self, Government, Regional, Urban, National Guard Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia

CNN —Vladimir Putin has formally begun his fifth term as Russia’s president in a carefully choreographed inauguration ceremony, in a country he has shaped in his image after first taking office nearly a quarter of a century ago. Putin won Russia’s stage-managed election by an overwhelming majority in March, securing for himself another six-year term that could see him rule until at least his 77th birthday. Attendees wait in the Kremlin as Putin arrives for his inauguration ceremony. Putin waves during his inauguration ceremony. To ensure it has enough drones and missiles to bombard Ukraine, Russia has also entered into deeper partnerships with Iran and North Korea.

Persons: CNN — Vladimir Putin, Putin, – Putin, “, Matthew Miller, Putin’s, Maxim Shemetov, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Alexey Navalny, Navalny, ”, ” Putin Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, US State Department, Reuters, US Embassy, Presidential Locations: Russia, Ukraine, United States, Kremlin, Moscow, Russian, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Iran, North Korea

☆ Russia's military is so hard up for manpower that it now pays more than the oil and gas sector
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Russia's military is paying more in sign-on bonuses and salaries than the oil and gas sector. Russia's oil and gas revenues have been keeping its war chest filled. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRussia is facing a labor crisis as its war with Ukraine siphons manpower away from the country's economy. Russia's oil and gas sector has been paying wages that are at least two-thirds higher than the national average wage since 2017, per Bloomberg calculations based on official data.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Business Locations: Russia, Ukraine

☆ Ukraine's manpower problem is likely going to 'get worse before it gets better,' war expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Despite US aid, Ukraine struggles to maintain sufficient manpower on the front lines. Ukraine's dwindling soldier numbers are a problem that could get worse, a war analyst warned. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementUkraine is having trouble maintaining a sufficient force size in its fight against Russia, which could lead to more problems down the road, war analyst Michael Kofman said. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Michael Kofman Organizations: Service, Russia, Carnegie Endowment, International, Business Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Kharkiv

☆ Putin orders tactical nuclear weapons drills in response to Western ‘threats’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Anna Chernova | Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian forces to rehearse deploying tactical nuclear weapons, as part of military drills to respond to what he called “threats” by the West. Since invading Ukraine in 2022, Putin has repeatedly made veiled threats to use tactical nuclear weapons against the West, but Monday marked the first time Russia has publicly announced drills. “During the exercises, a set of measures will be carried out to practice the issues of preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” Russia’s defense ministry said. Non-strategic, or “tactical,” nuclear weapons can be used in battlefield situations, carrying less power than strategic nuclear weapons, which have the potential to level entire cities. Putin said Russia would not be the first to test nuclear weapons, but would do so in the event of a US test.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Emmanuel Macron, I’m, ” Macron, Ludovic Marin, David Cameron, ” Cameron, Macron, “, Joe Biden, ” Organizations: CNN, Russia, Economist, Getty, United, Ukraine, Kyiv, State Department, US, military’s, Staff, Southern Military District Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Western, Europe, AFP, United Kingdom, United States, Moscow, Hiroshima, Nagasaki

☆ Trump’s bombardment of dishonesty: Fact-checking 32 of his false claims to Time
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +43 min

We’re paying for close to 100% of NATO.”Facts First: Trump’s claim is false. They don’t pay their bills.”Facts First: Trump’s claim is false. (It rose to about $314 billion in 2020, Trump’s last full year in office.) Facts First: Trump’s claim is false. Facts First: Trump’s claim that “nobody died other than Ashli” is false.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “, William Barr, Bill Barr, Barr, Bill, I’m, ”, it’s, Biden, Joe Biden, Tamar Hermann, Hermann, Bill Clinton, “ Trump, ” Trump, …, National Guard Trump, I’ve, George Floyd, Tim Walz, Walz, Paul —, –, Erwan, George Washington, “ don’t, they’re, Stoltenberg, Trump’s, Lagadec, Marc Lipsitch, Barack Obama, European Union won’t, Cortellessa, “ Moody’s, Moody’s, Mark Zandi, Zandi, ’ ” Zandi, Joe Biden’s, rioter Ashli Babbitt, Brian Sicknick, Sicknick, Trump’s ‘, patriotically, ‘, patriotically ’, ” Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, “ Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi, Christopher Miller, Miller, Eric Cortellessa, Alvin Bragg’s, Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, Alvin Bragg, ” Cortellessa, Hillary Clinton, —, Roe, Wade, Kimberly Mutcherson, “ Donald Trump’s, Maya Manian, Mary Ziegler, Davis, Ziegler, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Roe should’ve, ’, Crime Biden, don’t, “ Biden, he’s, James Biden, Jeff Asher, Asher, It’s, ” “, ” Asher Organizations: Washington CNN, Time, Trump, NATO, Capitol, Trump’s, Trade Center, didn’t, World Trade Center, Department, ISIS, CNN, Democratic, White House, White, South Korea Trump, Pentagon’s Defense Manpower Data, Biden Administration, Congressional Research Service, Israel, Israeli Democracy Institute, National Guard, Minnesota Democratic Gov, Minnesota National Guard, Guard, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, Transatlantic, for Disease Control, World Bank, Washington Post, Harvard, Harvard’s, National, Trump -, of Health, Human Services, Strategic, Biden, U.S . International Trade Commission, European, Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, European Union, US, European Automobile Manufacturers ’ Association, Bloomberg Economics, US Capitol Police, Capitol Police, “, Republican, Democratic Rep, National Guardsmen, District of Columbia National Guard, Army, Capitol Police Board, Senate, Justice Department, Pulitzer Foundation, Pulitzer, New York Times, Electoral, Democrat, ” Rutgers Law, American University, university’s Health, University of California, ”, Customs, Border Protection, Crime, Manchurian, Republicans, FBI Locations: “, New York City, Saudi, Florida, al Qaeda, New York, Texas, Mexico, South Korea, Trump , South Korea, South, Korea, Israel, Washington, Trump , Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Trump, Minnesota, St, United States, Germany, Brussels, Belgium, Harvard University, China, EU, DC, Trump’s, ”, York, Manhattan, York’s, Russia, That’s

☆ A Ukrainian war reporter's story: Why I refused to make a 'deal with the devil'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He was a student at Mariupol State University in 2014 when war broke out in the Donbas, and Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula. "I refused to make a deal with the devil. Ponomarenko said he believes the war has "shown what ordinary people are capable of" and has helped reveal "their true selves," pointing to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as evidence. AdvertisementCapturing it would put Russian forces within striking distance of Ukrainian operational and supply centers in the area. "Bucha was the greatest moment for me because it shows that life prevails," Ponomarenko said.

Persons: —, Ponomarenko, Viktor Yanukovych, Libkos, Rushing Organizations: Service, Mariupol State University, Business, Kyiv, Kyiv Independent Locations: Volnovakha, Ukraine's, Donetsk, Russia, Kyiv, Dnipro, Avdiivka, Ukraine

Major corporations often don't want to seem like they're taking one side politically, so they either sponsor both conventions, or neither. Conventions could see new sponsorsThe Democratic and Republican conventions this summer are the first fully in-person conventions since the 2016 election. Democratic convention organizers in April said if corporations had any reluctance to back the RNC, it hasn't hampered Chicago's efforts to lure donors. Microsoft in 2012 contributed over $1.5 million in a mix of in-kind and cash contributions to the Republican convention. JPMorgan donated $200,000 to the 2012 Republican convention and didn't write a check for the 2016 event.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jon Cherry, Rashad Robinson, Robinson, —, Fiserv, Greg Goldner, Trump, Donald Trump's, aren't, they'll, Joe Biden, Trent Morse, Morse, they've, Alison Prange, Reince Priebus, Priebus, it's, Steve Kornacki's, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Michelle Yeoh, Natalie Edelstein, Michael Sacks, Sacks, J.B . Pritzker, Barack Obama, Alex Hornbrook, There's, Taylor Swift, she's, Mitt Romney, Obama, didn't, General Motors Organizations: Christian Media, The Gaylord, Center, Getty, Republican National Convention, Republican, NBC News, Trump, Fiserv Inc, Democratic, Fiserv, RNC, Resolute Consulting, GOP, Corporations, Fortune, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Democrats, White House, Milwaukee, NBC, Wall, Republican National Committee, Wall Street, Biden, TV, Kentucky Derby, Street Journal, Northwestern Mutual, Wisconsin Fortune, Democratic National Convention, WEC Energy Group, Manpower Group, Conventions, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, DNC, Convention, Chicago, Longtime Democratic, Illinois Gov, White, Correspondents, Commission, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Bank of America, FEC, Meta, Skype, CNBC, JPMorgan Chase, Walmart, JPMorgan, General Motors, General, Motors, Comcast, Press, Trade Locations: Nashville , Tennessee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, America, Chicago, NBCUniversal, Philadelphia

☆ The US spent so much time fighting insurgents that it forgot 'what it means to actually fight a war,' a US vet in Ukraine says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Read previewAn American veteran who fought in Ukraine said the US military spent so long focused on fighting insurgents that it forgot "what it means to actually fight a war." Libkos/Getty Images"We've gotten so used to the idea of just fighting guerilla wars and fucking fighting terrorists and everything else that we kind of forgot what it means to actually fight a war," he said. Some Ukrainian soldiers trained abroad said the training they received was not suited to the kind of fighting needed for this war. Ukraine is fighting in conditions very different from what the US and its NATO allies have fought through in recent decades. He said that fighting to clear Russian trenches made him feel like he was "fighting World War I."

Persons: —, Libkos, it's, I've, haven't Organizations: Service, Business, NATO, Russia, Army, REUTERS, State Emergency Service, US, US Army Locations: Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kharkiv, Bakhmut, Europe, Russia, China, Ukrainian, Ukraine's Kharkiv, readying, Avdiivka, Ukraine's Donetsk

☆ Tulip discusses role of technology in addressing manpower shortages
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTechnology the 'only solution' to lack of manpower in operations: Manufacturing technology companyNatan Linder, co-founder and CEO of Tulip, discusses the role of technology in addressing manpower shortages.

Persons: Natan Linder Organizations: Technology, Manufacturing

☆ Russian advances could give it a shot at Ukraine's eastern 'fortress belt,' war analysts warn
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewRussian troops appear to be making tactical advances just northwest of Avdiivka toward a so-called "fortress belt" of Ukrainian cities, war analysts report. Though it remains to be seen whether Russian command will turn its focus its troops on that area, they're setting the stage for offensive operations in that direction. With Russian forces continuing to solidify their positions northwest of Avdiivka, a war-torn town they captured in February, they now have choices on which objectives to pursue. "The Russian military command could decide that advances north along the H-20 highway would allow Russian forces to conduct subsequent complementary offensive operations from the east and south against the southern edge of the Ukrainian fortress belt in Donetsk Oblast," ISW wrote. The potential for advances in this sector comes ahead of an expected Russian offensive this summer, when Moscow's troops could have the opportunity to make significant gains in the Chasiv Yar area and beyond.

Persons: —, Chasiv Yar, ISW Organizations: Service, Business, Russian, The Institute, Washington DC Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Russia, Bakhmut, Washington, Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, Duzhkivka, Ukrainian

☆ Russia is making daily tactical gains in eastern Ukraine, as criticism grows of Ukrainian military reporting
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Andrew Carey | Olga Voitovych | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Ukraine’s DeepState monitoring group, which updates daily changes in frontline positions, shows Russian forces pushing forward in eight different locations along 20-25 kms of frontline in one 24-hour period. Military bloggers on both sides broadly agree that Russian forces have crossed a water course and taken control of the settlements of Semenivka and Berdychi. Heavy fighting continues there, but the situation is under the control of the (Ukrainian) Armed Forces,” he said. Russian forces are also making headway west of Donetsk city, entering the industrial town of Krasnohorivka from the south and the east. “Without (its) manpower advantage, Russia’s artillery and airpower advantage would not be sufficient for Russia to make gains on the battlefield.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Myroshnykov, Stringer, ” DeepState, Muscovites, –, Nazar Voloshyn, ”, DeepState, “, Voloshyn, Narciso Contreras, Anatolii Stepanov, Rob Lee, ” Lee Organizations: CNN, Anadolu, Getty, ) Defense Forces, Armed Forces, –, Foreign Policy Research Institute Locations: Ukraine, Kharkiv, United States, Avdiivka, Ocheretyne, Donetsk, Semenivka, Soloviove, Keramik, Ukrainian, Karlivka, DeepState, Russian, Kyslivka, Krasnohorivka, ”, AFP, Moscow, – greenlit, “ Russian, Russia

☆ Russian courts saw hundreds of AWOL cases in March alone, a record high since the war began: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In March, Russia dealt with its highest-ever number of AWOL cases since the war began, Mediazona reported. AdvertisementRussian courts assessed 684 absences without leave in March, the highest-ever monthly count since the war in Ukraine began, independent Russian media reported. Citing public records, independent outlet Mediazona reported on April 12 that a daily average of 34 AWOL sentences were carried out in military courts that month. Related storiesRussian courts have dealt with some 2,300 AWOL cases since the start of 2024, and about 7,400 total cases since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, according to Mediazona. This spring, Russia is set to call up some 150,000 men for routine, statutory military service, which typically lasts about one year.

Persons: Mediazona, —, Christopher Cavoli Organizations: Service, UK Defence Ministry, Russian Ministry of Defense, Business, US Army, NATO Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe

☆ New US military aid package to Ukraine expected to be worth around $1 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration is preparing a new aid package for Ukraine that is expected to be worth around $1 billion, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN, and is set to be approved by President Joe Biden after the Senate passes a new foreign aid funding bill as soon as Tuesday afternoon. In briefings to Congress in recent weeks, administration officials have indicated that the US will likely send Ukraine long-range ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile Systems, for the first time as part of the new aid package, three of the sources said. Ukrainian officials have been asking the US both in private and in public for the long-range missile to target deeper behind Russian lines. Broadly, Russia has maintained a “significant quantitative advantage” over Ukraine in terms of munitions, manpower and equipment, a NATO official said earlier this month. The military aid will be sourced from the US’ own stockpiles through a funding mechanism known as presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, and will be the first PDA package for Ukraine since March.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, Bill Burns, Chris Cavoli, Sen, Mark Warner, we’ve, ” Warner, Bradley, ” Celeste Wallander Organizations: CNN, Senate, Army Tactical Missile Systems, US, CIA, NATO, Senate Intelligence, CBS, Pentagon, White, Command Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Russia

☆ Palantir CEO says its unconventional boot camps are drawing crowds and driving sales: 'It's like a rock concert'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

It's been putting on boot camps to attract customers, per Bloomberg. CEO Alex Karp has likened them to "a rock concert;" they've included perks like racetrack drives. The data mining company, cofounded by PayPal Mafia member Peter Thiel, has been holding software boot camps to recruit new customers, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. The company put on over 500 boot camps last year and expects to average five camps a day globally this year, according to Bloomberg. It's like, yeah, yeah, if you know somebody, we can get you backstage."

Persons: Palantir, It's, Alex Karp, —, Peter Thiel, Morningstar, Malik Ahmed Khan, Rishi Jaluria Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, PayPal Mafia, AIP, RBC Capital Markets Locations: Pontiac , Michigan

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