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☆ NATO is pouring concrete to support new 'battlegroups' in 4 countries amid rising tensions with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

NATO now has some 40,000 troops under its direct command in Eastern Europe — 30,000 of them in those eight battlegroups. More than a tripwireUS soldiers at a base in Latvia to support NATO's battlegroup there on February 25. Hungary had refused to accept NATO troops, with its foreign minister saying before Russia attacked Ukraine that Hungary's military could defend the country. Following Russia's invasion, Hungary was persuaded to host a few hundred NATO troops in a battlegroup that it would lead. Accommodating and integrating an influx of NATO troops is not easy, even for countries that are eager to counter Russia.

Putin and top Russian officials have repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons to protect Russia. "Second, there is no reason for him to use any nuclear weapons ... For Putin, the threat of using nuclear weapons "is more valuable than if he actually uses them", said Kristoffersen. Asked whether he thought Russia was more willing to use nuclear weapons than before, Kristoffersen said Putin was following the Russian doctrine of using nuclear weapons when the country's "very existence" was at risk. Yet, Kristoffersen stressed Russia could rebuild its land forces in a hurry given it trains about 250,000 conscripts every year.

☆ Brazil's furriest police corporal becomes internet sensation
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Corporal Oliveira, a rescued dog who has became a police mascot, observes the street outside Rio de Janeiro's Military Police's 17th battalion, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 14, 2022. REUTERS/Ricardo MoraesRIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 18 (Reuters) - A rescue dog turned police mascot has become one of Brazil's most beloved furry internet sensations. Dubbed "Corporal Oliveira," the dog was taken in by Rio police officer Cristiano Oliveira, who found him in 2019 near his police station abandoned, injured and hungry. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"I took a coat, a police shirt and put it on him as a joke. "If I don't post a picture for three days people are already demanding ‘Where is Oliveira?’ ‘Where did Oliveira go?’" said the officer, laughing.

☆ How a tank the Soviets tried to keep secret became an icon of Ukraine's resistance against Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Sebastian Roblin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

An Afghan soldier fighting for the Soviets sits on a Soviet-made T-64 tank near the Salang Pass on August 17, 1989. However, these systems were mostly exported, and it's unclear whether either is currently operational on Ukrainian tanks. Defending Ukraine, 2014-2015A Ukrainian tank in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk in July 2014. A burned Ukrainian tank in Uglegorsk, on the frontline near Debaltseve, in February 2015. A pro-Russian separatist stands guard near a T-64 tank in Donetsk in July 2014.

☆ Belarus's Lukashenko warns Ukraine, deploys troops with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The remarks from Lukashenko, who has held power in Belarus since 1994, indicate a potential further escalation of the war in Ukraine, possibly with a combined Russian-Belarus joint force in the north of Ukraine. "Their owners are pushing them to start a war against Belarus to drag us there." Lukashenko said that a warning was delivered to Belarus through unofficial channels that Ukraine planned "Crimean Bridge 2", though he did not give details. On Sunday, the head of Belarus's border guards accused Ukraine of provocations at the border. Russian forces used Belarus as a staging post for their Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, sending troops and equipment into northern Ukraine from bases in Belarus.

☆ After a general's clash with Fox News' Tucker Carlson, soldiers worry the US Army 'has gone full MAGA'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Steve Beynon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"Intentionally or not, this whole thing showed women that we are not worth defending," one noncommissioned officer told Military.com. To some, scrutinizing Donahoe's defense of women online is being seen as the service bending the knee to right-wing media. … The Army has gone full MAGA," the general said, referencing former President Donald Trump's campaign slogan, Make America Great Again. Other Army leaders backed the sentiment, including Grinston, who said on Twitter, "Women lead our most lethal units with character. Department of DefenseDonahoe was an avid user of social media at a time when most military leaders were wary of some of the risks of being active in the military community online.

After Ukrainian forces stage ambushes and cut off the key access route to the capital, Russian soldiers tell their relatives that the military strategy is failing. … That’s what we’re fucking going to do, it seems. “Frankly speaking, nobody understands why we have to fight this war," Sergey tells his girlfriend. Replay‘I’ll quit at once.’Frustrated by continuous setbacks and fearing for their lives, Russian soldiers say they are fed up with the military. As quickly as they came, the Russian soldiers in northern Kyiv withdrew, regrouped and pivoted east, where Russian-backed separatists have been waging war for over eight years.

☆ Fact Check-Goat pictured with British marching band is the mascot of a Welsh military unit
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

According to a widely shared meme, the photo was captured on the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral (here ). “Did you all wonder why there was a goat leading the way at the Queen’s funeral procession?” the accompanying caption asks. The photo of the marching band, however, has nothing to do with worshipping Satan. The goat as a mascot is a tradition of the Royal Welsh regiment dating back hundreds of years, according to the Royal Welsh Museum and the National Army Museum (here) , (here ). The goat is a long-time mascot of the Royal Welsh regiment, not a sign of respect to Satan.

☆ Mysterious fires and explosions at sensitive Russian sites are hints of a hallmark mission for special-operations units
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some may be the work of Russians opposed to Putin; others show signs of military special operations. In a matter of a days this month, Ukrainian forces managed to liberate more territory than the Russian military captured and held over six months of war. For months now, sensitive sites and important facilities throughout Russia have been hit by mysterious fires and explosions, hinting at a sabotage campaign that is the hallmark of special-operations forces. Smoke and flames rise at a Russian military base in Crimea after explosions there on August 9. Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate.

☆ One of Putin's closest allies sharply criticized Russia's decision to free right-wing Ukrainian Azov troops his forces battled during Mariupol siege
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Putin's military ally said he was blindsided by the Ukrainian-Russian prisoner swap. In the early months of the war, Chechen soldiers conscripted to help Russian soldiers clashed with Ukrainian Azov fighters in Mariupol as Russians briefly occupied the city. Kadyrov said Thursday he was "extremely unhappy," with the swap, calling the Azov fighters "terrorists." Along with 55 Russian fighters, Viktor Medvedchuk, an MP and one of Putin's staunchest Ukrainian allies, was sent to Russia, Reuters reported. The bilateral prisoner swap is a massive coup for Ukrainians, who have made considerable gains against Russian invaders in recent weeks.

☆ Ukraine says it has completed a massive prisoner swap with Russia where key Putin ally Viktor Medvedchuk was sent to Russia and 215 Ukrainians returned home
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine and Russia have completed a monumental prisoner swap, Zelensky's office said. The swap means that 215 Ukrainians who were captured by Russia will go back to their country. As part of the deal, Viktor Medvedchuk, a key Putin ally in Ukraine, has been sent to Russia. Among the 215 Ukrainians released were 100 fighters from the controversial, hard right-wing Azov Battalion, which Russia has previously called "neo-nazis." The bilateral prisoner swap is a massive coup for Ukrainians, who have made considerable gains against Russian invaders in recent weeks.

☆ NATO brings reserve troops to Kosovo for training amid fears of unrest
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Sabine Siebold | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo Sept 21 (Reuters) - NATO has brought in reserve troops assigned to its KFOR peacekeeping mission to Kosovo for training, one of the mission commanders said, as a deadline approaches in a spat between the Serbian minority and the government that may spark fresh unrest. KFOR's regional commander east, Colonel Christopher Samulski, told reporters the reserves had been brought in "as part of normal contingency planning." The U.S. officer did not give any concrete figures of how many reserve troops have arrived in Kosovo but spoke of a "battalion-size" unit. Samulski emphasized that the reserve troops had been brought in for training. Beyond this, Samulski said KFOR could also draw on reserves outside Kosovo.

The move is unexpected, since Russian-backed separatists last month said there would be a trial of Azov personnel, who Moscow describes as Nazis. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterIn a statement, Yermak said the freed prisoners included Azov commander Lieutenant Colonel Denys Prokopenko and his deputy, Svyatoslav Palamar. Also at liberty is Serhiy Volynsky, the commander of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Earlier in the day, Saudi Arabia said Russia had released 10 foreign prisoners of war captured in Ukraine following mediation by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by David Ljunggren Editing by Alistair Bell and Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Star-studded 'Amsterdam' merges facts, fiction and team work
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Hanna Rantala | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Director David O. Russell with cast members Rami Malek, Andrea Riseborough, Margot Robbie and Christian Bale attend the European premiere of the film "Amsterdam", in London, Britain September 21, 2022. REUTERS/Tom NicholsonLONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Director David O. Russell got his starry cast involved in the creation of his new crime drama "Amsterdam". Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterSimilarly, Bale's co-star Margot Robbie was invited to help bring her character to life. "I was talking to David about Valerie for years before we actually got around to making the film. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Hanna Rantala; Editing by Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Here's what it took to move a broken-down US special ops aircraft stuck in an Arctic nature preserve just over 50 feet
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An improvised pathway under construction in the Stongodden nature preserve. Norwegian Armed ForcesSoldiers with wooden beams for an improvised road at the Stongodden nature preserve. Norwegian Armed ForcesThe CV-22 at the Stongodden nature preserve. Norwegian Armed ForcesThe CV-22 Osprey at the Stongodden nature preserve. "They always seem to happen in Norwegian nature preserves above the Arctic Circle at the onset of winter."

☆ Special-ops units from Down Under made their mark with US commandos in Vietnam. They may have to do it again against China.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-14 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

During the Vietnam War, US troops were supported by forces from several allied countries. The role of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) was especially notable. From 1966 to 1971, these two special-operations units deployed a small number of commandos to support conventional forces in Vietnam. Gradually, however, they shifted to a more aggressive stance and started going after high-value North Vietnamese and Viet Cong targets in ambushes and direct-action operations. Special operators from the two countries had fought with the British against Communist insurgents in Malaya and Borneo.

☆ Oleksandr Usyk: Boxing world champion shares images from family home in Ukrainian area previously held by Russians
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-14 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Usyk posted photos of himself in front of the house on his verified Instagram account’s story along with a location tag for Vorzel on Tuesday. Usyk posted the photos of his house in an Instagram story. From Oleksandr Usyk/InstagramOne of Usyk's photos in his Instagram story was with his wife Yekaterina. From Oleksandr Usyk/InstagramThe photos show Usyk, 35, standing near a Ukrainian flag outside the fence of the house. When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Usyk traveled to Ukraine and joined the territorial defense battalion.

“I call our ducks the soldiers of our vineyards,” says managing director Corius Visser. The duck troops are cajoled on a 14-day circuit through the vineyard, eating and fertilizing the ground as they go. The winery's Indian runner ducks patrol for pests in the vineyard. Rodger Bosch/AFP/Getty ImagesAs a pioneering winemaker with industry clout – vines have being grown on the estate since the late 17th century – Vergenoegd Löw is hoping to convince others to adopt its approach. “We can be in a position where we say that we have (not just) the best runner ducks in South Africa, but also the world,” Visser argues.

Persons: marshaling, ”, Corius Visser, “, Visser, ” Gavin Moyes, ” Visser, Rodger Bosch, Vergenoegd, They’d Organizations: CNN, Getty Locations: Town, Asia, AFP, South Africa

☆ How the Russian officer elite was decimated in Ukraine – 29 generals and commanders who were killed in action
▼ + stars: | 2022-05-01 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Vitaly GerasimovMaj. Gen. Vitaly Gerasimov became the second senior Russian commander reported to be killed after Ukrainian military intelligence claimed he was shot dead in Kharkiv. Ivan GrishinColonel Ivan Grishin, commander of Russia's 49th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, died in Ukraine, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Vyacheslav SavinovLieutenant Colonel Vyacheslav Savinov, who headed Russian artillery intelligence, was killed in Ukraine, a Russian artillery school confirmed. A damaged Russian military vehicle is seen after Russian Forces withdrawal as Russia-Ukraine war continues in Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine on September 14, 2022. The Ukrainian military said that Botashev was killed when a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft was shot down over the Lugansk region.

Persons: Михаил Ведерников

☆ The world's 5 best special-operations forces besides those of the US
▼ + stars: | 2020-09-01 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

SOF units offer a low-cost, high-reward option, and their small footprint makes them more politically acceptable for policymakers when the public is wary of large military commitments. The US military boasts some of the best SOF units in the world, such as the Army's Delta Force and the Navy's SEAL Teams. One of their most famous operations was in 1980, when an SAS unit stormed the besieged Iranian embassy in London and freed several hostages. Philippine ArmyA quiet but deadly Filipino SOF unit that has seen lots of combat in recent years. Israeli Defense ForcesA number of other SOF units have distinguished themselves but didn't make the list.

☆ This soldier may look like Chewbacca, but his suit helps make him one of the deadliest fighters on the battlefield
▼ + stars: | 2019-08-20 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The ghillie suit, a kind of artificial camouflage, is key to concealment. The US Army recently released photos of a sniper school instructor showing off the various pieces of a sniper's ghillie suit. Read more: Army snipers played hide-and-seek to test new camouflaged ghillie suits for next-level combat"Ghillie suits provide snipers that edge and flexibility to maintain a concealed position,"he added. US Army Staff Sgt. David Smith, an instructor at the service's sniper school, recently showed off a ghillie suit that he put together from scratch using jute twine and other materials.

Persons: Ricky Labistre, Read, David Smith Organizations: US Army, Service, Staff, 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, California National Guard, Army, US Army Staff Locations: Wall, Silicon

Switching careers is hard, but it can be particularly daunting for soldiers transitioning into civilian life. However, when it comes to transitioning into the civilian workforce, they need to ask for help, Sweet said. And it’s a matter of finding them.”There are a number of organizations that want to help and hire veterans of the military. Sweet credits his mentors, Ritholtz CEO Josh Brown and Ritholtz chairman and CIO Barry Ritholtz, for helping him succeed. Sweet landed at the firm several years after leaving the Army, with just one financial job under his belt.

☆ GALLEY GUILTY OF MURDER OF 22 CIVILIANS AT MYLAI; SENTENCE EXPECTED TODAY
▼ + stars: | 1971-03-30 | by ( Homer Bigart Special To The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

But prosecution witnesses said that Captain Medina never gave orders to kill civilians. Finally Captain Medina took the stand as a witness for the court. With a hard, steady stare at Lieutenant Calley, Captain Medina said he told his men: “No, you do not kill women and children. Captain Medina said it had taken him two and a half hours to realize that Mylai was unde fended. Captain Medina acknowl edged having tried to cover up the incident.

Persons: ”, Captain Medina, mander, indis, Calley, Mylai, unde, vil, “ inno, gether, Kennedy, Medina acknowl, “ Organizations: Vietcong, Army Locations: soldierly, United States of America

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