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☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

In 2021, the year before Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, defence spending totalled 3.57 trillion roubles, 14.4% of total spending. In 2022, the share of defence spending rose to 17.7%, data on Russia's electronic budget page showed earlier this year. That may mean that defence spending will also be significantly higher than first envisaged. Moscow doubled its target for defence spending in 2023 to 9.7 trillion roubles, Reuters reported exclusively in August, citing a government document. EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE FREEZEAs defence spending in 2024 triples from pre-invasion levels, the share of spending on "national security", which covers funding for law enforcement agencies, is also rising, set to reach 9.2% in 2024, the documents showed.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Metzel, Anton Siluanov, Siluanov, Donets, Dmitry Peskov, Darya, Alexander Marrow, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS, Defence, Reuters, CIS, Renaissance, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Kremlin, Ukraine, Russian

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

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

☆ 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

☆ Putin has been ignoring his generals and directing the war himself, analysts say — and has been surprisingly cautious
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Putin is largely ignoring the expertise of his military advisors, US analysts said in a report. The experts at the RAND Corporation said Putin has proved more cautious than many expected. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussian President Vladimir Putin is making key decisions about the Ukraine war largely on his own, without input from his generals, analysts said in a report published last week. "Putin [is] making key decisions largely on his own without substantial influence from the Russian General Staff," the analysts said in the report. AdvertisementAdvertisementDespite this, Western countries have provided billions of dollars of equipment to Ukraine, including steadily expanding its capabilities with aid including advanced Western tanks, artillery, and cruise missiles.

Persons: Putin, —, Vladimir Putin, Defence Sergei Shoigu, Dara Massicot Organizations: RAND Corporation, Service, Russian General Staff, RAND, Defence, New York Times, NATO, Associated Press, West, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Putin, Russia, Kremlin

☆ Russia's air force has lost 90 planes in Ukraine and is becoming less formidable by overworking its jets, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's air force has lost 90 planes in Ukraine since February 2022, British intelligence said. Despite this, Russia still has the ability to fly missions over occupied Ukraine, the update said. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia's air force has lost 90 planes since the start of the war in Ukraine and is becoming less formidable by overworking its jets, UK intelligence said. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 28 September 2023. Its air force has managed to maintain its overall front-line strength by restoring old, grounded airframes and acquiring from NATO countries 18 Su-25s and 27 MiG-29s.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, British Ministry of Defence, Latest Defence, Ukraine –, Defence Locations: Ukraine, Russia

☆ 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

☆ Russian Black Sea Fleet commander is still alive, video suggests, days after Ukraine claimed to kill him
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's Ministry of Defence published a video showing a Russian commander attending a meeting by video link. The image was striking because Ukraine earlier claimed to have killed Sokolov on Friday in a major strike on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters near Sevastopol, a port in occupied Crimea. Had he been killed, Sokolov would have been one of the most senior casualties in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Kremlin on Tuesday did not confirm or deny that Sokolov was dead, passing questions to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Reuters reported. According to the website of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Sokolov was appointed its highest ranking officer in September 2022.

Persons: Viktor Sokolov, —, Sokolov, Sergei Shoigu Organizations: Ministry of Defence, Service, Russian Ministry of Defense, Black, Reuters, Ukraine's, Wagner Group Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia's, Sevastopol, Crimea, Russia

☆ What is Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and why are China and the Philippines disputing it?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Martin Petty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Philippines coastguard said the mission, approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, showed its determination to maintain a presence at the shoal. Located in the middle of the South China Sea and near shipping lanes carrying an estimated $3.4 trillion of annual commerce, its position is strategic for Beijing. A landmark 2016 ruling on the South China Sea by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which went largely in favour of the Philippines, was not tasked with establishing sovereignty. China has not acknowledged the presence of militia in the South China Sea. The Pentagon stated mutual defence commitments would be invoked over an attack "anywhere in the South China Sea" and that coastguard vessels are among those protected.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Thomas, Marcos, Martin Petty, Sharon Singleton Organizations: SCARBOROUGH, coastguard, China's coastguard, Philippines coastguard, Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, REUTERS, WHO, China's, Mutual, Treaty, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: Philippines, South China, Beijing, Manila, China, Scarborough, Philippine, British, South, Spratly, China's, United States, Washington

☆ Russian Black Sea Commander Shown on Video Call After Ukraine Said It Killed Him
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Admiral Viktor Sokolov, the commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, was shown on Russian state television on Tuesday attending a defence leaders' meeting remotely, a day after Ukrainian special forces said they had killed him. In response to the Russian video, the Ukraine special forces said on Telegram: "Since the Russians were urgently forced to publish a response with Sokolov allegedly alive, our units are clarifying the information." Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, interviewed by CNN, neither confirmed nor denied Sokolov's death, but said his demise could only be a good thing for all concerned. In the video, Shoigu said more than 17,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in September and that more than 2,700 weapons, including seven American Bradley fighting vehicles, had been destroyed. Kyiv's counteroffensive has yet to seize much territory from Russian forces, which control about 17.5% of Ukraine's internationally recognised territory.

Persons: Viktor Sokolov, Sokolov, Sergei Shoigu, Dmitry Peskov, Rustem Umerov, Umerov, Shoigu, Bradley, Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones, Alex Richardson, Ron Popeski, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Fleet, Ukrainian Defence, CNN, Reuters, Ukrainian, Belfer, Harvard's Kennedy School Locations: MOSCOW, Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine, Ukrainian, United States, Russian, Russia

☆ Russia's navy is like a 'chicken running around without a head' after a major strike on its Black Sea HQ, says Ukraine official
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine claimed it killed Russia's Black Sea Fleet commander, Viktor Solokov, in a strike on Friday. Dmytro Pletenchuk said Russia's navy is now like a "chicken running around without a head," per CNN. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia's navy is like a "chicken running around without a head" after the alleged death of its top commander in the Black Sea, a Ukrainian official said. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine's special forces claimed on Monday that an airstrike on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Crimea on Friday killed Sokolov, along with 33 other officers. Russia has been struggling with increased Ukrainian attacks on its Black Sea Fleet and its naval base in Sevastopol.

Persons: Russia's, Viktor Solokov, Dmytro Pletenchuk, Sokolov, —, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, Pletenchuk, Sergei Shoigu, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Sokolov's, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, Service, Naval Forces of, Armed Forces of, Black, Fleet, Defence, Ministry of Defense, UK's Ministry of Defence Locations: Ukraine, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Sevastopol, Crimea, Russia, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ NATO air forces are turning to the alliance's new experts for help training to dodge Russian missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

NATO air forces have been training with Finland, NATO's newest member, to operate from highways. The British and Norwegian air forces are the latest to train with NATO's newest member, sending Typhoon and F-35A fighter jets to participate in Exercise Baana, the Finnish air force's annual exercise, this month. Norwegian Armed Forces/Martin MellquistIn announcements about the milestone, the British and Norwegian air forces cited similar reasons for pursuing it. Maj. Gen. Rolf Folland, chief of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, said that being able to operate from small airfields and motorways "increases our survivability in war." US Defense Department/SRA Glenda PellumLanding on highways is not new — NATO air forces practiced it during the Cold War — but it has gotten more attention from Western air forces seeking to counter threats from long-range weapons fielded by Russia and China.

Persons: —, AS1 Tomas Barnard It's, Jim, Typhoon's, it's, Martin Mellquist, Rolf Folland, Folland, Glenda Pellum, Ole Andreas Vekve, James Hecker Organizations: NATO, Service, British, Royal Air Force, British Typhoons, Squadron, Ministry of Defence, Baana, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Norwegian Armed Forces, Combat, Royal Norwegian Air Force, US Defense Department, US Air Force, US Air Forces, NATO's Allied Air Command Locations: Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Norwegian, British, West Germany, NATO, China, Eastern Europe, Lithuania, Sweden, Soviet Union, Finnish, Europe

☆ Russia's defensive line is 'bending but not breaking' after Ukraine breached it, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But a Finnish military analyst said that so far Russia's defenses had not been broken. The push from Ukraine is part of a gruelling attempt to defeat Russia's formidable "Surovikin line" of defences and disrupt its access to occupied Crimea. That was the case in late 2022 when Ukraine was able to recapture vast amounts of northeastern Ukraine after routing Russian forces around Kharkiv. AdvertisementAdvertisementThere is debate among military analysts about whether Russia would be able to mount a fightback if Ukraine does achieve a decisive breakthrough. However, he said that "incompetence is a big factor which can have significant effects, at least locally" referring to the missteps and miscalculations that have been a recurrent problem for Russia's military during the invasion.

Persons: Emil Kastehelmi, Kastehelmi, Gian Gentile Organizations: Service, Ukraine's, Black Bird Group, Rand Corporation Locations: Finnish, Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Zaporizhzhia, Robotyne, Crimea, Kharkiv

☆ Some London Police Officers Step Back From Armed Duty After Murder Charge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Megan Specia | More About Megan Specia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

British soldiers were briefly put on standby over the weekend to support the counterterrorism police in London after some armed officers refused to carry their weapons in the wake of a fellow police officer being charged with murder. The Metropolitan Police Service said on Monday that a number of police officers took the decision to “step back from armed duties while they consider their position” over the weekend. Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, and other senior police leaders held discussions with the officers over the weekend “to understand their genuinely held concerns,” the police said in a statement. Enough armed officers returned on Monday that assistance from Britain’s Ministry of Defence was no longer needed. “As of lunchtime on Monday, the number of officers who had returned to armed duties was sufficient for us to no longer require external assistance to meet our counterterrorism responsibilities,” the police said in the statement.

Persons: Chris Kaba, Mark Rowley Organizations: Metropolitan Police Service, Metropolitan Police, Britain’s Ministry of Defence Locations: London

"The public in West African countries has become increasingly wary of hosting a Western military presence," said Mucahid Durmaz, a senior analyst at London-based risk firm Verisk Maplecroft. "The French exit from Niger will push Western troops further away from the central Sahel." The U.S. has refused to call the Niger takeover a coup, meaning it can avoid severing ties for now. Unlike France, American forces do not actively engage with Niger forces against Islamist militants and could be open to working within a transition to civilian rule. Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the French military base in the capital calling for the troops' departure.

Persons: Mahamadou, Mucahid Durmaz, Verisk, Emmanuel Macron, Russia's, Washington's, Defence Lloyd Austin, Washington, Nathaniel Powell, Joe Biden, Macron, Aissami Tchiroma, It's, Oxford Analytica, Paris, Jalel Harchaoui, John Irish, Edward McAllister, Abdel, Kader Mazou, Andrew Gray, George Obulutsa, Andrew Heavens Organizations: French Army, REUTERS, London, Russia's Wagner, Defence, Oxford, Protesters, France, Military, Royal United Services Institute, Thomson Locations: France, Nigerien, Niamey, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger PARIS, DAKAR, West Africa, West, Russia, United States, Libya, The U.S, Nairobi, American, West African, Afghanistan, AFRICA, French, Africa, It's, CHAD, GUINEA France, Chad, Paris, Sahel, Europe, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Gabon, London, Brussels

☆ A Russian reserve army of 15,000 soldiers is pinned down near Bakhmut and will be destroyed, says Ukraine's spy chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has deployed a new military formation of about 15,000 soldiers to fight around Bakhmut. Ukraine's spy chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said the 25th Army was deployed earlier than planned. Budanov said Ukraine is pinning down Putin's forces near Bakhmut to prevent redeployment to the south. Kyrylo Budanov told The War Zone that Ukraine was pinning down Russian forces in Bakhmut to prevent them from being deployed to other axes where its counteroffensive is pushing forward. "Now it's redeployed to roughly the north of Bakhmut, and that's the place where it's going to be buried."

Persons: Ukraine's, Kyrylo Budanov, Budanov, hasn't, Oleksandr Tarnavsky, Bakhmut Organizations: Army, Service, 25th Army, Combined, UK's Ministry of Defence, Ukraine's, CNN Locations: Russia, Bakhmut, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Verbove, Zaporizhzhia

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