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☆ Russia has likely launched its fiercest attack since the start of the year in Ukraine, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian forces launched their "most significant" assault since at least January 2023, UK intel said. The village is a "major obstacle," with Russia suffering heavy losses there, the UK MOD said. The update described the offensive as likely "the most significant offensive operation undertaken by Russia since at least January 2023." Last week, Russia launched a major attack on the village of Adviivka, which Ukraine retook earlier this year, but reports since then have pointed to significant Russian losses . AdvertisementAdvertisement"Entrenched Ukrainian forces have so far likely held back the Russian advance, with the latter sustaining heavy equipment and personnel losses," the MOD said on Tuesday.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Vitaliy Barabash, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: intel, MOD, Service, UK's Ministry of Defence, Washington DC, for, Agence France Locations: Russia, Avdiivka, Adviivka, Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast, Zaporizhia, Bakhmut

☆ Russia is using missiles designed for high-value targets like warships and airfields to hit Ukraine's grain exports, UK says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has been targeting Ukraine's grain production since its invasion, hurting global food supplies. It's using AS-4 Kitchen and AS23a Kodiak missiles to hit targets like grain silos, the UK MOD said. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia is using missiles that are designed to be used on "high-value targets" to hit Ukraine's food supply and hurt global food prices, the UK Ministry of Defence said. The MOD said Russia is now using both kinds of missiles to "de-stabilise world food prices and disrupt Ukraine's grain industry." AdvertisementAdvertisementGlobal food prices have risen as a result, and experts warn of famines in some countries if Ukraine's food exports fall far enough.

Persons: —, Insider's Ryan Pickrell Organizations: AS, MOD, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, for Strategic, International Studies, ISIS, Operational Command, Ukrainian Armed Forces, REUTERS, UN Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Ukraine's Odesa, REUTERS Ukraine

☆ Russian drone pilots tried to figure out who was on their side by dropping grenades and seeing which way soldiers ran, Ukrainian commander says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian drones dropped grenades near soldiers, a Ukrainian commander told The Washington Post. He said the goal was to figure out which side each soldier was on, based on where they ran. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussian drone pilots have dropped grenades over soldiers to try to work out which side they were on, a Ukrainian commander said. He told The Post that Russian drone pilots deployed the tactic, which was described by captured soldiers, to see if the soldiers ran toward Russian or Ukrainian lines, which would reveal which side they were on, he said. Intercepted Russian radio conversations also appeared to show Russian forces would shoot any of their own soldiers who retreated, Rollo said.

Persons: —, Rollo Organizations: Washington Post, Service, Assault Brigade, Post, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine's, Russia, Andriivka, Ukraine, Russian, Donetsk

☆ Denmark, Netherlands, US spearhead creation of future Ukraine air force
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Netherlands' Air Force F-16 fighter jets fly during a media day illustrating how NATO Air Policing safeguards the Allies' airspace in the northern and northeastern region of the Alliance, July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCOPENHAGEN, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States will spearhead a new international coalition to help Ukraine establish a future air force based on F-16 fighter jets, the Danish ministry of defence said on Wednesday. Denmark and the Netherlands were the first two countries to commit to donating F-16 jets to Ukraine, whose current air force has a fleet of ageing Soviet-era fighter jets, in its war with Russia. "This is a natural move following the leading role Denmark already has in relation to the military support for Ukraine and especially in relation to the donation of F-16 fighter jets," Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said. Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Johannes Gotfredsen-Birkebaek, editing by Andrew Heavens, William MacleanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: de, Troels Lund Poulsen, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Johannes Gotfredsen, Andrew Heavens, William Maclean Organizations: Air Force, Air, Alliance, REUTERS, Rights, Defence, TV2, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Netherlands, Rights COPENHAGEN, Denmark, United States, Ukraine, Danish, Russia

☆ Russia won't announce an 'unpopular' troop mobilization until after Putin's reelection bid next year, UK intel predicts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Kremlin will likely wait until after the next election to announce any mobilizations, the UK MOD said. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia doesn't want to announce an "unpopular" big mobilization of troops until after its next presidential election, according to UK intelligence. "It is therefore highly unlikely that any further mobilisation wave will be implemented before the March 2024 presidential election," it said. Putin has not yet announced that he will seek a new term in office, but the UK MOD said he "will almost certainly run again." The UK MOD said that, despite this, the election process remains "a core tool of political legitimisation" for the Kremlin.

Persons: Putin hasn't, —, Russia's, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Russia aren't Organizations: MOD, Service, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Russia, Ukraine

☆ As Israel goes to war, Russia must now decide where its loyalty lies in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Kremlin in Moscow on January 30, 2020. Maxim Shemetov | Afp | Getty ImagesThe outbreak of bloodshed, violence and outright war between Israel and Hamas has put Russia in an awkward position, with Moscow traditionally treading a fine diplomatic line between Israel and its allies in the Middle East. Russia has enjoyed warm and constructive relations with Israel in recent years. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi hold a meeting in Tehran on July 19, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting at the Kremlin on April 21, 2016.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Maxim Shemetov, Tatiana Stanovaya, Ebrahim Raisi, Sergei Savostyanov, Stanovaya, Saudi Arabia —, Vladimir Putin's, Bashar Assad's, Bashar Assad, Sergei Shoigu, Alexei Nikolsky, Netanyahu, Putin, Mohammed Shia, Al Sudani, Mikhail Svetlov, tellingly, Russia's, Ian Bremmer, Antony Blinken, Petroleum Javad, Erdogan Organizations: Israeli, Kremlin, Afp, Getty, Hamas, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, AFP, Saudi, Russian Defense, Sputnik, AP Putin, Iraqi, . Security Council, Israel, Eurasia Group, ., Ukraine, Ministry of Defence, Institute for, Petroleum, Turkish Locations: Moscow, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Russian, Tehran, Syria, Eastern, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Umayyad, Damascus, U.S, Palestinian, China

☆ UK inquiry starts hearings into Afghan extra-judicial killings' claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An armed police officer patrols near the Ministry of Defence in London, Britain May 11, 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - An inquiry investigating allegations that British special forces carried out dozens of extra-judicial killings in Afghanistan a decade ago will begin hearing evidence in public on Monday. The independent inquiry was ordered by Britain's defence ministry last December after a BBC TV documentary reported that soldiers from the elite Special Air Service (SAS) had killed 54 people in suspicious circumstances. "The bereaved families look to the inquiry to fearlessly uncover the truth of the deaths of their loved ones and to ensure that those responsible are held to account." While the hearings will begin in public, some of the evidence relating to special forces will be restricted on national security grounds.

Persons: Neil Hall, Tessa Gregory, Leigh, Charles Haddon, Cave, Mansour Aziz, Leigh Day, Michael Holden, William Maclean Organizations: Ministry of Defence, REUTERS, BBC, Special Air Service, SAS, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Afghanistan, Haddon

☆ Russia has 'clearly lost its control' over the Black Sea with its navy moving to safer ports, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia's move of its Black Sea Fleet to safer waters signals its waning power there, experts told Insider. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia's withdrawal of ships from a key Crimean base to safer ports shows it has "clearly lost its control" over the Black Sea in naval and geopolitical terms, a top naval expert told Insider. Pointing to those attacks, James Heappey, a UK defense minister, said during a defense event in Warsaw last Tuesday that the move signaled the "functional defeat" of the Black Sea Fleet. As of Sunday, multiple ships carrying grain, sunflower oil, and metals had sailed out of Ukraine's ports in the northwestern Black Sea, The Guardian reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementHardline pro-Kremlin Telegram account Rybar wrote on Friday that it's "difficult to accept" that "the Black Sea Fleet cannot fully ensure its security now."

Persons: —, Basil Germond, Germond, James Heappey, Heappey, Armed Forces @JSHeappey Organizations: Fleet, Service, Lancaster University, Montreux Convention, UK's Ministry of Defence, Black, Armed Forces, Warsaw Security, — Ministry of Defence Locations: Sevastopol, Russia, Ukraine, Turkish, Novorossiysk, Crimea, Warsaw, Ukrainian

☆ 'Difficult to accept': Prominent Russian hardliner admits its navy couldn't defend itself from Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia recently relocated much of its Black Sea Fleet after it got battered by Ukrainian attacks. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementA Russian hardline pro-war account conceded that the Black Sea Fleet couldn't defend itself from Ukraine and had to pull back. "Even though it's difficult to accept, the Black Sea Fleet cannot fully ensure its security now," Rybar wrote. In an intelligence briefing on Monday, the UK's Ministry of Defence said the threats of further Ukrainian attacks likely caused Russia to relocate its operations.

Persons: —, Rybar, Makarov, Admiral Essen Organizations: Service, Fleet, NATO, Telegram, UK's Ministry of Defence, Russia's Ministry of Defense Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Sevastopol, Crimea, Novorossiysk, Feodosia

☆ Satellite images show Russia moved parts of its navy out of Crimea after getting hammered by Ukrainian attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Satellite imagery appears to confirm Russia has moved parts of its navy from Crimea. The move is intended to shield the Black Sea Fleet from Ukrainian drone attacks, per a US think tank. Courtesy of Planet Labs PBCAccording to MT Anderson, two Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, along with a Krikav-class frigate, three Kilo-class submarines, and a number of smaller ships, were transferred. A Project 22160 patrol ship stationed in the Ukrainian port of Feodosia in eastern Crimea, seen in satellite imagery shared by Planet Labs PBC on October 4, 2023. In recent weeks, Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russia's Black Sea Fleet, including attacking its command center in Sevastopol on September 22.

Persons: —, Anderson, Grigorovich, Vasily Bykov, MT, Thord, Iversen, Iverson Organizations: Service, Planet Labs PBC, Labs, MT Anderson, UK's Ministry of Defence, Norwegian Navy Locations: Russia, Crimea, Sevastopol, Novorossiysk, Russian, Feodosia, Ukrainian, Russia's, Feodosiya, Ukraine

☆ Russia really did shoot down one of its own prized Su-35 fighter jets by mistake, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia shot down one of its own Su-35 fighter jets, UK intelligence said Wednesday. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia shot down one of its own Su-35 fighter jets in a recent friendly-fire incident, UK intelligence suggested. The incident took place on Setpember 28 near Tokmak, a city in occupied Ukraine near the front lines in the Zaproizhzhia region, the UK update said. AdvertisementAdvertisementTokmak, is some 12 miles from the front, and a Russian base there would be bristling with heavy air-defense, the UK update said. Russia's air force has lost around 90 planes since the start of the war in Ukraine, UK intelligence said last week.

Persons: —, Andrii Tsaplienko Organizations: Service, British Ministry of Defence, Russian Defense Ministry Locations: Russia, Tokmak, Ukraine, Zaproizhzhia, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ Russian soldiers who drink and break rules get sent to punishment battalions where they are likely to die fighting, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

These "Storm Z" units have been sent to where the heaviest fighting is. AdvertisementAdvertisementReuters interviewed 13 people as part of the investigation, five of whom were Storm Z fighters. Reuters found that soldiers are sent to Storm Z for being drunk on duty, for using drugs, or for refusing to carry out orders. Relatives of a missing Storm soldier fighting in Ukraine told Reuters that Russia's Defense Ministry never responded when they asked where he was. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the summer, some Storm fighters said in a video that they refused to carry out combat missions due to their treatment.

Persons: —, Storm, Storm Z, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Serhii, we've Organizations: Reuters, Service, Storm, Wagner Group, Russian Ministry of Defence, The, Pravda, Russia's Defense, Russia's Ministry of Defense Locations: Russian, Bakhmut, Ukraine, Ukrainian

☆ Putin will not 'make concessions' as Russia appears to be preparing for 'multiple further years' of war in Ukraine, international affairs expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

This suggests that Moscow is preparing for the war in Ukraine to carry on for years. Observers believe that Russia is hoping Western support for Ukraine will wane. She said that the Russian president was "waiting it out" in the hope that Western support of Ukraine would waver. He has also been unclear about how much he would support Ukraine. "If Trump is reelected, Putin has reason to believe that he could strike a much better deal on Ukraine."

Persons: —, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Nina Khrushcheva, Putin, He's, he's, Donald Trump, Trump, Michael McFaul, Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin Organizations: intel, Observers, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, Russia's Finance Ministry, Ministry of Defence, Russian Defence, Armed Forces, International Affairs, The New School, BBC, Republican Locations: Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, New York City

☆ ATACMS missiles could push back Russia's lethal helicopter force, but Ukraine will need perfect timing to pull it off
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The US looks set to send Ukraine the Army Tactical Missile System, which Kyiv has long sought. ATACMS has longer range than Ukraine's other missiles, allowing it to hit valuable Russian targets. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . It took heavy losses when Ukraine introduced HIMARS and began hitting more distant targets, but it adapted to that and has shown signs of adapting to the cruise missiles Ukraine has started using. "That depends on the ability to find and fix targets at that range," Kofman said.

Persons: ATACMS, —, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Doug Bush, Biden, MIKE NELSON, Michael Kofman, Kofman, VITALY TIMKIV, There's, Colby Badhwar, Badhwar, Maxym, HIMARS Organizations: Army Tactical Missile, Service, MGM, Tactical Missile, Washington, Washington DC, US, Bloomberg, Getty, GPS, Carnegie Endowment, International, Kyiv, British Ministry of Defence, Berdyansk, Maxar Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Tirana, Albania, AFP, Crimea, Russian, Russia's Krasnodar, Russia, Ukrainian

☆ One of Ukraine's biggest allies has run out of vital equipment to give it, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The UK has run out of tanks and missiles to donate to Ukraine, The Telegraph reported. The UK has been one of Ukraine biggest allies in the war, providing it with many weapons. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe UK, one of Ukraine's biggest allies in the war, has run out of crucial equipment to donate, a senior officer told The Telegraph. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe UK provided £2.3 billion in military support to Ukraine last year, according to government records.

Persons: —, We've, Ben Wallace Organizations: The Telegraph, Service, British Ministry of Defence, Challenger, Storm, Telegraph, Kremlin, Guardian Locations: Ukraine, Telegraph, Britain, Germany, Europe

☆ Ukraine hit Russia’s navy base in Crimea so hard that it is likely pulling some missions back to safer waters, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia is likely moving naval operations away from Crimea amid Ukrainian attacks, UK intel said. Russian naval aviation is attempting to assert Russian dominance over the Black Sea, the MOD added. AdvertisementAdvertisementA UK intelligence assessment said that some of Russia's naval operations in the Black Sea have been relocated following recent Ukraine attacks on its Crimean base. The UK's Ministry of Defence said on Monday that the threats had likely pushed some of Russia's Black Sea fleet activities to move to the port of Novorossiysk, on Russia's western coast. Russia abandoned Snake Island, in the northwestern Black Sea, early in its full-scale invasion, but has continued with attacks on it.

Persons: — Organizations: intel, Black, Fleet, MOD, Service, UK's Ministry of Defence, — Ministry of Defence Locations: Russia, Crimea, Sevastopol, Ukraine, Novorossiysk

☆ A Russian soldier gathered intel for Ukraine and then convinced 11 others to defect alongside him, Ukraine says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian soldier started working for Ukraine's military intelligence in July, a Ukrainian official said. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementA Russian soldier started working for Ukraine's military intelligence service earlier this year and then convinced 11 other soldiers to defect with him, Ukraine said. According to the report, Alfyorov initially got in touch with Ukraine through its "I want to live" hotline, which Ukraine set up in September 2022 to allow Russian soldiers to give themselves up. It is not clear from the report what intelligence Alfyorov provided, but Yusov highlighted the fact that he had convinced 11 other Russian soldiers to defect with him.

Persons: —, Andriy Yusov, Daniil Alfyorov, Alfyorov, Yusov Organizations: Service, Main Directorate of Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, Ukraine, Kyiv Independent Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, Russia's, Kyiv

☆ British troops could be sent to Ukraine as the country ramps up on-the-ground training efforts, UK defense minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

UK's Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps said he plans to send British troops into Ukraine. He told the Telegraph he aims to get military training "closer and actually into" the country. Ukraine relies on international allies for training and equipment as Russia's invasion drags on. AdvertisementAdvertisementUK troops may deploy into Ukraine for the first time to train soldiers as on-the-ground training efforts ramp up between the war torn country and its international allies. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn addition to offering training on the ground in Ukraine, Shapps said British defense companies like BAE Systems are moving manufacturing into the country.

Persons: Defence Grant Shapps, —, Grant Shapps, Shapps, I'm, We've, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: State, Defence, Service, State for Defence, The Telegraph, BAE Systems, British, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, US, NATO, ABC News, NBC News, Pentagon Locations: Ukraine, UK's, Russia, Crimea –, Britain, Kyiv

☆ Putin's pick to lead the Wagner Group is likely considered a 'traitor' by his own men, UK says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The new head of Wagner is likely seen as a "traitor" by his men, per a UK intelligence assessment. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussian President Vladimir Putin has picked someone to lead the powerful Wagner paramilitary group who is likely viewed as a "traitor" by his own men, according to a British military intelligence assessment published Saturday. A Kremlin spokesperson later described Troshev, a veteran of Wagner operations in Syria, as an employee of Russia's defense ministry. As a result, "Many Wagner veterans likely consider him a traitor," stated the Sept. 30 assessment. And that future, it continued — in contrast with the Prigozhin days — will likely entail "greater oversight from the Kremlin."

Persons: Wagner, Andrei Troshev, Vladimir Putin, —, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, iva, ann Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Ministry of Defense, Ukraine –, Defence Locations: Ukraine, Syria, osh

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with senior former commander of the Wagner mercenary group Andrei Troshev and Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov in Moscow, Russia, September 28, 2023. Putin was shown on state television meeting at the Kremlin with Andrei Troshev, a former Wagner commander known by his nom de guerre "Sedoi" - or "grey hair". Russia's Kommersant newspaper has reported that just days after the Wagner mutiny Putin had suggested that Troshev take over from Prigozhin. The Putin meeting in the Kremlin appears to indicate that what remains of Wagner will now be overseen by Troshev and Yevkurov. After Bakhmut's fall, Wagner units withdrew from Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Andrei Troshev, Yunus, Bek Yevkurov, Mikhail Metzel, Putin, Troshev, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin's, WAGNER'S, Yevkurov, of, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Ukraine British, Kremlin, Deputy, Russia's Kommersant, Reuters, British, Russian Ministry of Defence, Islamic State, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, MOSCOW, Russian, Prigozhin, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, redeploy, Afghanistan, Chechnya, St Petersburg, of Russia, Palmyra, Syria

☆ Russia pardoned a murderer who put his girlfriend through a meat grinder because he agreed to fight in Ukraine, his mom says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian murderer was pardoned after fighting against Ukraine with the Wagner group, his mom said. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Russian convicted murderer who was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he killed his girlfriend and put her body through a meat grinder has been pardoned after fighting against Ukraine, his mother said. The mother of Dmitry Zelensky told the Russian media news outlet 59.RU that her son was pardoned after serving less than half of his sentence. AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to 59.RU, Zelensky told investigators during an interrogation that he dismembered her body, processed it in a meat grinder, collected the bones in three bags, and threw them into the river. However, a July report by the independent Russian outlet Verstka alleged that Russian authorities were covering up crimes being committed by pardoned men.

Persons: Wagner, —, Dmitry Zelensky, Tatiana Melekhina, Zelensky, Galina Zelenskaya, Zelenskaya, Zelensky's, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Ukraine, Service, RU, Wagner Group, Russian Ministry of Defence, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Russian, Chechen, Ukraine, Russia, Antratsit, Luhansk

☆ Explainer: Wagner group - Is it back? Who controls it?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Is Wagner back, who controls it and are its fighters returning to the Ukraine war? After the fall of Bakhmut, Wagner fighters were withdrawn from the front. While Prigozhin criticised Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Yelizarov said Shoigu was "out of control" and seeking to destroy Wagner. Russian, Ukrainian and Western sources have indicated that Wagner fighters are returning to the front. Russian war blog Rybar, which has over 1.2 million subscribers, said that Wagner fighters would return to Bakhmut.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Andrei Troshev, Yunus, Bek Yevkurov, Mikhail Metzel, WAGNER, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, Bakhmut, Prigozhin, Putin, Anton Yelizarov, Yelizarov, Utkin, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Wagner's Troshev, Troshev, Rybar, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, deniability, United States, . Police, Reuters, Russian, Russian Ministry of Defence, PMC, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, dabble, Syria, Libya, Mali, Bakhmut, Rostov, Russian, St Petersburg, Central African Republic, redeploy

☆ NATO says it has authorized additional forces for Kosovo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A Swiss pilot member of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) walks at NATOÕs headquarters in Pristina, Kosovo, June 20, 2023. REUTERS/Fatos Bytyci/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Sept 29 (Reuters) - NATO has authorized additional forces for Kosovo, the military alliance said on Friday, following the worst violence in northern Kosovo in years. NATO said in a statement that it had "authorized additional forces to address the current situation" but did not immediately specify how many or from which countries. Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after a guerrilla uprising and 1999 NATO intervention, accuses Serbia of arming and supporting the Serb fighters. Serbia, which has not recognised its former province's independence, blames Kosovo for precipitating violence by mistreating ethnic Serb residents.

Persons: Fatos, Wales's, Andrew Gray, Charlotte Van Campenhout, James Davey, Alex Richardson, Grant McCool Organizations: NATO, Kosovo Force, KFOR, REUTERS, Rights, Britain's Ministry of Defence, 1st Battalion, Wales's Royal Regiment, NATO’s Kosovo Force, Thomson Locations: Swiss, Pristina, Kosovo, Rights BRUSSELS, Serbia, London

☆ Britain to provide NATO with troops for Kosovo support
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Britain's Ministry of Defence has transferred command of an army battalion to NATO so it can provide support in Kosovo if required, it said on Friday. A battle between police and armed Serbs holed up in a monastery turned a quiet village in northern Kosovo into a war zone earlier this week. “Due to the current situation in Kosovo, we have transferred command of the 1st Battalion of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment – a reserve force for NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) – to NATO so it can provide support if required," the MoD said in a statement. Reporting by James DaveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wales's, James Davey Organizations: Britain's Ministry of Defence, NATO, 1st Battalion, Wales's Royal Regiment, NATO’s Kosovo Force, KFOR, –, MoD, Thomson Locations: Kosovo, NATO

☆ Video shows Russian soldier ranting about tank shells arriving with no explosives in them: 'With these rounds, we aren't going to win this war'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Footage appears to show a Russian soldier ranting about tank shells arriving with no explosives. In the video, the soldier complains that: "With these rounds, we aren't going to win this war." AdvertisementAdvertisementNew footage circulating online appears to show a Russian soldier ranting about "brand new" tank shells that arrived with no explosives in them, Newsweek was first to report. The video shows the unidentified tank commander dismantling a shell and growing increasingly frustrated at the newly delivered rounds, according to the independent news site Dagens. AdvertisementAdvertisementThroughout the video, the commander can be heard repeatedly cursing in Russian and ranting about his country's chances in the war.

Persons: —, It's, Insider's Alia Shoaib, Abrams, Insider's Sinéad Baker Organizations: Service, Newsweek, of Defence, Russian Federation, US Locations: Russian, Russia, Ukraine

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