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☆ Storm Shadows are a threat to Russian forces in Ukraine, but busted missile remains may offer lessons for Moscow's military
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

UK-provided Storm Shadows are a new threat to Russian forces operating in Ukraine. Russian forces recently claimed to have recovered a downed missile. The recovered Storm Shadow could hold clues for the Russian military, but there's a question of whether they can learn from them. A Storm Shadow missile is prepared for loading to a Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircraft in the Gulf in support of Operation TELIC, March 21, 2003. Throughout the fight in Ukraine, Russian forces have had to learn lessons, but it's often a grinding and costly process.

Persons: Storm, Ben Stansall, Ian Williams, Williams, TELIC, Cpl Mark Bailey, that's, Ben Wallace, it's, there's Organizations: Service, Shadow, Storm, Farnborough, Missile Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Russia, Royal Air Force Tornado, REUTERS, ASA, Su Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Zaporizhzhia, Moscow, France

☆ Putin didn't kill Prigozhin after his revolt, but that doesn't mean he isn't trying to destroy the Wagner boss
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an armed revolt against Russian military leadership and survived. Members of Wagner group looks from a military vehicle in Rostov-on-Don late on June 24, 2023. Head of the Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin left the Southern Military District headquarters on June 24, 2023 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. And it could make Prigozhin into a martyr," English said, arguing that Putin is likely to seek out other ways to destroy Prigozhin. For individuals higher up in the mercenary organization considered responsible for the rebellion, people like Prigozhin, Russian leadership has hinted at unspecified consequences.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin, —, Vladimir Putin's, Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin, It's, ROMAN ROMOKHOV, ISW, Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin, Stringer, Robert English, burnish, Prigozhin's Organizations: Russian, Service, Wagner Group, Getty, Institute for, Southern Military, Anadolu Agency, University of Southern, Wagner, Kremlin Locations: Russian, Belarus, Bakhmut, Rostov, AFP, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Don, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Prigozhin

☆ Putin says he hopes Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenaries 'didn't steal much' of the billions Russia spent on them
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Putin revealed on Tuesday Russia spent billions on Yevgeny Prigozhin and his mercenaries. He then said that he hopes "no one stole anything — or, let's say, didn't steal much." Putin's comment seems to suggest some theft is expected, highlighting the state of corruption in Russia. He didn't call out his long-time ally Prigozhin by name though. "I hope that in the course of this work, no one stole anything — or, let's say, didn't steal much," the Russian president said, according to a translation from The Times.

Persons: Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, —, Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Alexei Navalny, Gleb Irisov Organizations: Russia, Service, Moscow, Russian Ministry of Defense, Wagner, The New York Times, The Times, Kremlin, Putin, Times Locations: Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Concord, Russian

☆ The US Marine Corps' deadliest sniper might never have become one if it weren't for a wild night of drinking and a fake toothache, new book reveals
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The deadliest sniper in Marine Corps history is Charles "Chuck" Mawhinney. But even as a Marine, Mawhinney couldn't completely shake his reckless behavior, and a night of drinking cost him his chance to be an aviator. Charles Mawhinney Marine CorpsThe night before an 8 a.m. exam to qualify for aviation training, Mawhinney's friends invited him to get tattoos. Mawhinney qualified for entry into the Marine scout sniper course because he'd already earned distinction as an expert marksman. Mawhinney Courtesy photoIn the middle of this particular dilemma, Mawhinney learned that a Marine sniper with Lima 3/5 needed a spotter.

Persons: Charles, Chuck, Mawhinney, —, Chuck Mawhinney, Jim Lindsay's, he'd, Charles Mawhinney, Mawhinney's, Lindsay, It's Organizations: Marine Corps, Service, Marines, Charles Mawhinney Marine Corps, Marine, Remington, Combat Valor Locations: Vietnam, Lima

☆ Putin's clashing warlords are on the verge of full-blown violence that could weaken his grip on power
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The ongoing feud between Putin's warlords came to the brink of violence on Friday. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin went on a tirade against the Defense Ministry, prompting calls for his arrest. "The evil carried by the country's military leadership must be stopped," Prigozhin said, adding that his 25,0000 mercenaries were ready to stand against Russia's Defense Ministry. Insider's Ryan Pickrell previously reported that Putin plays Prigozhin and the Defense Ministry against each other, escalating tensions between those factions and attempting to deflect blame off himself. Prior to his tirades Friday, Prigozhin was bashing Russia's Defense Ministry for months, especially targeting Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of the Russian General Staff General Valery Gerasimov.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, —, Vladimir Putin, Putin's, Prigozhin, Putin, It's, Insider's Ryan Pickrell, Simon Miles, Tatiana Stanovaya, Sergey Shoigu, Russian General Staff General Valery Gerasimov Organizations: Defense Ministry, Service, Titan, Russia's Ministry of Defense, Wagner Group, Russia's Defense, Russia's Defense Ministry, KGB, Kremlin, Wagner, Meduza, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Russia's, Ministry, Russian, Russian General Staff Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Soviet, Russian

☆ These secret US Navy underwater microphones built to detect Soviet submarines may be what caught the sounds of the Titan submersible imploding
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Navy system detected what is believed to have been the implosion of the Titan submersible lost touring the Titanic. That system, a naval expert said, is likely the undersea hydrophones of the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System. That system, which was initially just the Sound Surveillance System, has been listening for enemy submarine activity for decades. This system, first constructed in the early 1950s, is called the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS). Clark said the reporting indicated that the SOSUS hydrophones are likely what detected the final moments of the Titan submersible.

Persons: —, Bryan Clark, they've, Clark Organizations: Navy, Titan, Undersea Surveillance, Service, US Navy, US Coast Guard, Expeditions, Street, Atlantic, Soviet, Hudson Institute, NPR, New York Times Locations: West, Russia, China, sonobuoys

☆ Russian attack helicopters showed up in force on the front lines and have been putting dents in Ukraine's armored assaults
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

These activities are a detriment to the Ukrainian counteroffensive, but Kyiv's forces appear to be adapting. In this situation, "Russian forces deployed aviation in a way they haven't recently, to front-line positions, and were able to use it more successfully than they have in the past," he said. Russian Air Force Mil Mi-8 and Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator" attack helicopter Leonid Faerberg/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images"We haven't seen Russian forces really use aviation super extensively on the front line," Bailey said, adding "they have been concerned about having aviation losses." "Ukrainian forces are having to adapt to how Russian forces are employing these in southern Ukraine," he said, noting that they are seeing signs of that as the Ukrainians set the stage for their main attack. Ukraine hasn't committed the bulk of its dedicated counteroffensive forces to a major assault operation, and, as ISW's George Barros said recently, "big fireworks are still to come."

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Riley Bailey, Bailey, Kamov, Leonid Faerberg, it's, VITALY TIMKIV, Wagner, Karolina Hird, It's, Ukraine hasn't, George Barros Organizations: Service, Senior Ukrainian, BBC Wednesday, Institute for, Russian Air Force, Getty, Operations, Ukraine, Bakhmut, CNN, Fox News Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russian, Russia's Krasnodar, AFP, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Oblast

☆ Armed with depleted-uranium ammo, Ukraine's tank gunners could punch through tough Russian armor and set tanks on fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Reports say the US is expected to send Ukraine depleted-uranium tank rounds along with M1 Abrams tanks. The rounds do what other tank rounds don't, like sharpening on impact and starting fires. Two, depleted-uranium tank rounds are pyrophoric, which means they burst into flame under intense heat and pressure. Explosive reactive tank armor "kind of increases the chance that the penetrator will not hit at the correct angle," Spoehr said. Tank rounds, of course, aren't the only way to defeat an enemy tank.

Persons: —, Thomas Spoehr, Gertrud Zach, there's, Spoehr, Abrams, that's, Austin Berner, Jack Watling, hasn't, Watling, Nick Reynolds, M1A2 Abrams, Joshua Taeckens Organizations: M1 Abrams, US Army, Service, 1st Armored Division, M1A2, 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command, Army, Center for National Defense, Heritage Foundation, M829, Abrams, Staff, M1A2 Abrams, Minnesota National Guard US Army, Royal United Services Institute, Army Armor, Fort, Spc Locations: Ukraine, Grafenwoehr, Germany, Russia, Russian, Fort Benning, Georgia

☆ Ukraine's forces are advancing but appear to be miles from Russia's main defensive line. A much tougher fight lies ahead.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukrainian forces are gaining ground in the counteroffensive, but they've yet to reach the main Russian defensive line. Ukrainian forces may still be 10-20 kilometers from that line in places. But Ukraine is still miles from Russia's main line of defense, and a tougher fight is probably still to come, experts say. But that is not the main line of defense. Those defenses are backed by a line of reserve forces, Watling added, noting that as Ukrainian forces push against Russian lines, "the fighting will likely get tougher."

Persons: —, it's, George Barros, Jack Watling, Watling, Serhii Mykhalchuk, ISW, Barros, it'll Organizations: Service, Institute for, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia

☆ A Russian draftee says he surrendered to a Ukrainian drone after 2 wounded comrades killed themselves, leaving him alone and under fire on the front lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Russian draftee surrendered to a Ukrainian drone last month and is being held at a detention center. A 26-year-old Ukrainian drone operator was ready to kill him but took mercy on him. Anitin's journey through no man's land between the Russian and Ukrainian lines was fraught with dangers, and at one point, Russian artillery fire appeared to intentionally target him. He was walking on top of his dead comrades lying around him," a Ukrainian officer told The Journal. When Anitin reached the Ukrainian lines, he made a mad dash the rest of the way.

Persons: —, Ruslan Anitin, Anitin, Bakhmut, Wagner, Ivanov, Boxer Organizations: Wall Street Journal, Service, Wall Street, Wagner Group, Command Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Ukraine, Russia, Luhansk, Kharkiv

☆ Russian pundits are blaming the rain for Ukrainian advances
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Lauren Steussy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian forces have gained ground along the border of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Russian milbloggers reportedly said it's only because rain and fog grounded Russian aircraft. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the rain but said his forces remained strong. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the weather but said his troops did just fine with it. By Monday, the rain cleared, allowing Russian forces to launch a counterattack in western Donetsk Oblast, said former Russian officer and nationalist Igor Girkin, according to the ISW.

Persons: Russian milbloggers, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, —, Zelenskyy, Insider's Ryan Pickrell, Igor Girkin, Vladimir Putin, milbloggers Organizations: Service, Russian, Institute for, Kyiv Independent, The New York Times, Associated Press Locations: Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, Zaporizhia, Kyiv, Donetsk Oblast, Russia, —, Ukraine

☆ Putin appeared to literally turn his back on his loyal defense minister on Russian state TV
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Paul Squire | Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

President Vladimir Putin literally turned his back on his defense minister during a publicity stunt. In the clip from Russian state TV, Putin appears to avoid facing Sergei Shoigu, his loyal minister of defense. During a visit to a Moscow military hospital to give Russian soldiers medals, Putin appeared to turn away from Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) and chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov attend a meeting with Russian President in Moscow on February 27, 2022. It is, however, unclear whether there is a rift between Putin and his defense minister or, if there is, whether or not recent events are the cause of any potential tension between them.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, —, Volodymyr Omelyan, Valery Gerasimov, ALEXEY NIKOLSKY, Putin's, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Service, TV, Russian, Russian Defence, SPUTNIK, Getty, Wagner Group Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Shoigu, Ukrainian, Russia

☆ Russian military leaders can't seem to get Wagner and its boss, Prigozhin, to fall in line, and it's a mess that goes beyond dysfunction
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Wagner Group is a wild card that has won victories in Ukraine but also created headaches for Russia's military command. The situation is increasingly messy, as Wagner and its founder and financier have repeatedly exacerbated the growing rift between the regular Russian military and the mercenary force. Its leader also appears to make battlefield decisions independently of the defense ministry. He said that Wagner's uneasy relationship with the Russian military has evolved from being awkward to being dysfunctional to what it is now, which is counterproductive. Prigozhin said recently that "Wagner will not sign any contracts with Shoigu," referring to the Russian defense minister.

Persons: Wagner, that's, —, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Mark Cancian, they're, Russia's Wagner, Stepanenko, ISW, Valery Gerasimov, Sergey Surovikin, milblogger, Cancian Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Wagner Group, Russian, International Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Concord Press Service, REUTERS, Institute for, Press, Russian Ministry of Defense, Shoigu Locations: Ukraine, Paraskoviivka, Russian, Russia, Ukrainian, Concord, Bakhmut

☆ Ukraine appears to be playing a deadly 'game' as the big counteroffensive gets underway, and its main attack is likely still to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukrainian counteroffensive operations are happening at various points along the front lines with mixed results. But the main attack likely hasn't started yet as each side tries to outfox the other, experts say. Both sides look to be playing a deadly "game" aimed at getting a read on the threat, as well as misleading and misdirecting the enemy, and the main attack is likely still to come, experts say. "We haven't committed our main forces," a source in Ukraine's General Staff told The Economist Sunday, adding that "the Russians haven't committed their main forces." "The offensive has clearly started," he observed, "but not I think the main attack."

Persons: —, GENYA SAVILOV, George Barros, Barros, haven't, ISW, Serhii, Ben Hodges, Hodges Organizations: Service, Bradley, Getty, Institute, Ukraine's General Staff, US Army, US Army Europe, Sunday Center for, Ukrainian, Staff Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Donetsk, AFP

☆ Facing its 'biggest security crisis' in years, NATO has kicked off its largest ever air drill with hundreds of aircraft to send a 'clear message'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

NATO's biggest ever air exercise is happening in Germany. Around 10,000 personnel and 250 aircraft, including about 100 from the US, are in Germany for the alliance's two-week Air Defender exercise. "Air Defender sends a clear message that NATO is ready to defend every inch of Allied territory," said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu in a statement Monday. "Air Defender is necessary because we live in a more dangerous world" and the NATO alliance is facing "the biggest security crisis in a generation." As for the NATO air exercise, the drill will focus on protecting NATO cities and critical infrastructure, which Russia has attacked repeatedly throughout the war in Ukraine, from aircraft, drones, and missile attacks.

Persons: isn't, Putin, —, Oana, Amy Gutmann, Nathan, Ingo Gerhartz Organizations: NATO's, Service, NATO, Air, Air Force, Thunderbolt, 127th Wing, Michigan National Guard, Jagel Air Base, Air National Guard, Nathan Wingate German Air Force, The New York Times Locations: Germany, Ukraine, Japan, Crimea, Russia, Russian, Ukrainian, Ukraine's

☆ Ukraine's offensive against Russia is missing a key element because no allies sent F-16 jets fast enough: expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Kieran Corcoran | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But an expert said it will likely suffer from a significant capability gap: close air support. Because this is where they'll feel their lack of aircraft to attack those, the close air support which F-16s would do very well." Close air support is pretty much what it sounds like — aircraft working closely with ground units, usually to clear out obstacles or damage key positions or weapons so that foot soldiers and armor can advance. The F-16 has distinguished itself in the past in close air support, including in the Kosovo War, the First Gulf War and in the US invasion of Afghanistan. As a Pentagon spokesman said in a recent briefing, F-16s to Ukraine is a "long-term" endeavor and "will not be relevant to the upcoming counter offensive."

Persons: —, Michael Clarke, Per Clarke, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ryan Pickrell Organizations: Service, of, King's College London, The Times, NATO, —, Biden Administration, Pentagon Locations: Ukraine, Russian, London, Russia, Kosovo, Afghanistan

☆ Reports of Russian casualties as they 'withdraw through their own minefields' driven back by Ukraine's counteroffensive, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Reports of Russian casualties as they 'withdraw through their own minefields,' per UK intel. Military progress on both sides of the conflict has been mixed in the last two days, the UK MoD said. "In some areas, Ukrainian forces have likely made good progress and penetrated the first line of Russian defenses. In others, Ukrainian progress has been slower," Britain's MoD said in a statement. "Russian performance has been mixed: some units are likely conducting credible maneuver defense operations while others have pulled back in some disorder, amid increased reports of Russian casualties as they withdraw through their own minefields," the ministry added.

Persons: —, Mykhalchuk, Sam Fellman, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Insider's Ryan Pickrell Organizations: intel, MoD, Service, UK's Ministry of Defence, Russian Airforce, CNN, US, Mine Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast, Russia, Russian, Azov

☆ Russian Optimism Over Defeat of Western-Made Tanks May Be Premature
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Sam Fellman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A terrifying video captures a Russian drone's attack on a German-made Leopard tank below. Some believe they are signs Ukraine's counter-offensive is a failure. Ukraine's counter-offensive has just begun. One terrifying video captures a Russian loitering drone's attack on a German-made Leopard 2 tank below. The Leopard is among the more advanced weapons Ukraine has received from its Western backers to aid in retaking its land from Russian invaders.

Persons: Ukraine's, —, couldn't, Russian ultranationalists, Insider's Ryan Pickrell Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Institute for, Zaporizhia — Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Zaporizhia, Russia

☆ Ukraine's forces are facing 'tough battles' and taking losses early in its offensive, but war experts say it has a lot left to hammer Russian lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

There are reports of heavy personnel and equipment losses in some sectors. Ukrainian forces gained ground in areas around Bakhmut, a city of limited strategic value that Russia only recently captured at tremendous cost. Through its counteroffensive operations, Ukraine is confronting these hardened Russian defenses with a force that while experienced is employing new weapons with, in some cases, new tactics. Ukrainian forces will suffer losses, including of both Western and Soviet equipment, during any offensive operations," ISW said. "Loss of equipment — including Western equipment — early on in the counteroffensive is not an indicator of the future progress of Ukraine's counteroffensive," it said.

Persons: —, ISW, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ANATOLII STEPANOV, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Serhii Naiev, Yevhen, it's, Mark Hertling Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Institute for, CNN, Getty, for Strategic, International Studies, DC, Wagner Group, Joint Forces of, Armed Forces of, Operational, Publishing, US Army Locations: Bakhmut, Russia, Donetsk Oblast, Zaporizhia Oblast, Donetsk, Ukraine, AFP, Europe, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kyiv Region, Soviet, Ukrainian

☆ Reports say China plans to set up a spy base in Cuba. The Pentagon says no, but it's closely watching what Beijing is up to.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

China is reportedly in talks with Cuba about setting up a spy base on the island roughly 100 miles from Florida. It's a move that would follow in the footsteps of the Soviet Union, which operated a spy base on the island for decades. The Soviet spy facility in Lourdes was operational until 2001, when it closed down. The Pentagon responded to the reports of China's plan for a spy facility in Cuba Thursday afternoon, with spokesman Brig. Update: 6/9/2023 — This article has been updated with new statements from the Pentagon, the White House National Security Council, Cuba, and China.

Persons: —, Laura Richardson, Mike Waltz, Brig, Pat Ryder, he'd, John Kirby, Kirby Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Privacy, Department of Defense, White, Politico, Central Command, Cape Canaveral, Wall Street Journal, CNN, The New York Times, Senior, US Southern Command, Florida Republican, House Intelligence, Armed Services, Chinese Communist Party, Soviet Union, National Security, Cuban, White House National Security Council Locations: China, Cuba, Florida, Soviet Union, Beijing, Havana, Cape, America, Soviet, Lourdes

☆ Ukraine is kicking off its big offensive armed with powerful Western tanks and weapons, but breaking Russian lines may be anything but easy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Ukrainians are armed with Western weapons, including tanks and armored vehicles, but they are facing tough Russian defenses. There appear to be Ukrainian offensive operations against Russian defenses in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts, among other locations along the front lines. As some experts have said, the stakes for the Ukrainian offensive are high. Unlike last summer's sweeping offensive around Kharkiv, Ukrainian forces are facing much more heavily defended positions. The think tank added, as Russia makes claims of thwarting Ukraine's offensive, that "the success or failure of this phase may not be apparent for some time."

Persons: —, Klaus, Dietmar Gabbert, Mark Milley, Laurent van der, ISW, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Ukrainian, Washington Post, Financial Times, Kyiv hasn't, ABC News, NBC, Institute for, Bundeswehr, Getty Images, US, Joint Chiefs of Staff, CNN, New York Times, 81st Airmobile Battalion, Le Monde, Russian Ministry of Defense, Wall Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk, Russia, Russian, Klietz, Germany, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Seversk, Novopokrovka

☆ China's working on a secret deal with Cuba to set up a spy base about 100 miles off the coast of Florida: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China is reportedly in talks with Cuba about setting up a spy base on the island roughly 100 miles from Florida. The Soviet Union operated a signals intelligence base in Cuba for decades. It's a move that would follow in the footsteps of the Soviet Union, which operated a spy base on the island for decades. US officials told The Wall Street Journal that China and Cuba have reached a multi-billion-dollar agreement in principle on the establishment of the base. China officially only has one overseas military base, an installation in Djibouti that it has expanded since it first opened in 2017.

Persons: —, Laura Richardson, Mike Waltz, China's Organizations: Soviet Union, Service, Privacy, Politico, US Central Command, Cape Canaveral, Wall Street Journal, Senior, US Southern Command, Florida Republican, House Intelligence, Armed Services, Chinese Communist Party, CIA, State Department, National Security Locations: China, Cuba, Florida, Soviet Union, Beijing, Havana, Cape, America, Soviet, Lourdes, Djibouti, Cuban, People's Republic, United States

☆ Wagner boss Prigozhin is escalating his feud with the Russian military to stay relevant after Bakhmut, but he risks taking it too far, war experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Wagner founder and financier Yevgeny Prigozhin continues to escalate his feud with the Russian defense ministry. But some prominent voices in Russia's pro-war ultranationalist community are troubled by his antics, ISW observed. But in that same information space, Prigozhin also voiced repeated, profane, and blunt criticisms of the regular Russian military and its leadership. This aspect of his online activities appears to have become more pronounced as Wagner forces come off the line and reposition to rear areas. "Prigozhin is exposing a similar hatred for select individuals within the Russian military command," she said.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ISW, —, Prigozhin, Russia's ultranationalist, Bakhmut, Stepanenko, Roman Venevitin, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Igor Girkin, Shoigu, Russian oligarch Organizations: Service, Wagner Group, Russia's, Kremlin, Institute for, Press, REUTERS, 72nd, Motorized Rifle Brigade, Wagner, Russian MoD, RIA, MoD, Washington DC Locations: Bakhmut, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Belgorod Oblast, Russia, Concord, Russian, Soledar

☆ CIA was warned of a high-level Ukrainian plot to sabotage Nord Stream pipeline months before it was attacked: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The CIA received intelligence on Ukrainian plans to attack Nord Stream months before the pipeline was sabotaged. Details about the planning was included in intelligence leaked online and obtained by The Washington Post. In the wake of the blasts that severely damaged the Nord Stream pipeline, President Joe Biden declared the incident a "deliberate act of sabotage" and said the US and its partners were working to "get to the bottom" of what exactly happened. Though Kyiv is a suspect in the attack on the Nord Stream pipeline, Russia, which has blamed the West, has also been identified as a potential suspect with the means and some motives to conduct such an attack. A senior European diplomat told The Post that when European and NATO policymakers meet, the attitude among them is generally: "Don't talk about Nord Stream."

Persons: —, Valerii, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden Organizations: CIA, The Washington Post, Service, Washington Post, Air National Guard, Post, Ukraine's, New York Times, NATO, Kyiv Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, Germany, Kyiv, Nord, Russian, Baltic, European

☆ D-Day by the numbers: Here's what it took 79 years ago to pull off the biggest amphibious invasion in history
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The scale of the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944 was unlike anything seen before. By that summer, the Allies had slowed the forward march of the powerful German war machine and were ready to drive its army back. The scale of the assault was unlike anything the world had seen before or will most likely ever see again. By that summer, the Allies had managed to slow the forward march of the powerful German war machine. By the numbers, here's what it took to pull this off.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Allies Locations: Normandy, France

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