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☆ Donald Trump once told Mark Milley no one wanted to see a disabled vet who had been severely wounded in Afghanistan, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump once belittled a disabled veteran at a military ceremony, The Atlantic reported. The veteran had been asked by Gen. Mark Milley to sing "God Bless America" at an event in 2019. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen Avila finished his performance, Milley claimed that Trump said to him: "Why do you bring people like that here? But Milley, who is due to retire this month, has invited Avila to sing at his retirement ceremony, The Atlantic reported. At the welcome ceremony Trump said he had "absolute confidence" that Milley "will fulfill his duty with the same brilliance and fortitude he has shown throughout his long and very distinguished career."

Persons: Donald Trump, Mark Milley, Milley, Trump's, Luis Avila, Avila, Mike Pence, Milley's, Trump Organizations: Service, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Armed Forces, Joint Base Myer, Henderson, Trump, USA, Fake Locations: Wall, Silicon, Afghanistan, Arlington , Virginia, China, United States

☆ Blinken highlights the human toll of Ukraine war as Biden admin seeks to maintain support for Kyiv in Washington
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Children, parents, husbands, and wives were forced to spend hours next to the corpses of their loved ones,” he continued. Last month, the Biden administration asked Congress to approve an additional $24 billion in emergency spending for Ukraine and other international needs. Zelensky, in his remarks, criticized the UN body – in which Russia has veto power – for failing to do enough to stop the war. “Ukrainian soldiers now are doing at the expense of their blood what the UN Security Council should do by its voting. They’re stopping aggression and upholding the principles of the UN Charter,” he said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, “, ” Blinken, Sergei Lavrov, …, Blinken, ”, Biden, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Bill Burns, Joint Chiefs Mark Milley, Defense Lloyd Austin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Kevin McCarthy, Zelenskyy Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Nations Security, Russian, National Intelligence, CIA, Joint Chiefs, Defense, UN, CNN, Republican, ABC News, UN Security Council, United Nations Locations: New York, Kyiv, ”, “, Ukraine, Washington, Russia, Moscow, Iran, North Korea

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged allied defense leaders Tuesday to “dig deep" and provide more air defense systems for Ukraine, to help the country block increasing barrages of Russian missiles. “Air defense is saving lives,” Austin said as he opened the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein air base in Germany. “So I urge this group to continue to dig deep on ground-based air defense for Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly pushed for the longer-distance weapons. The Ramstein meeting also marks Milley's final session as U.S. joint chiefs chairman.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bill Blair, Austin, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, “, —, Mark Milley, Milley, Rob Bauer Organizations: RAMSTEIN AIR, —, Ukraine Defense Contact, Ramstein, enrage, The Army Tactical Missile, Abrams, U.S . Defense, Washington , D.C, Republican, Nations, ” Military, Joint Chiefs of Staff, NATO Locations: Germany, Ukraine, U.S, enrage Moscow, Europe, Washington ,, Netherlands, Ramstein

☆ Ukraine's capture of two villages shows 'severe degradation' of Russia's defending troops, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian soldiers retook two villages south of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, a think tank reported. The attacks inflicted "severe" damage to Russian troops, The Institute for the Study of War said. The respected Institute for the Study of War said Ukrainian troops breached a strategic defensive line that Russian forces tried to hold onto in the area south of Bakhmut, citing Ukrainian military officials. The Ukrainian recapture of the villages — Klishchiivka and Andriivka — likely left Russian forces battle-worn and less able to fight. Ukraine's advance into new villages is the latest example of its steady but costly progress in the monthslong counteroffensive.

Persons: Andriivka —, Budanov, Mark Milley, aren't, Milley, Michael Kofman Organizations: Institute, Service, Russian, Reuters, US Army, Joint Chiefs of Staff, BBC News, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Kyiv Independent Locations: Bakhmut, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon

☆ Ukraine war: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warns there will be no quick ending
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned that the war in Ukraine could be long, as Kyiv’s counteroffensive against Russia continues to make only marginal gains. Therefore, we must prepare ourselves for a long war in Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said in an interview with German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost published Sunday. If President Putin and Russia laid down their weapons, we would have peace,” the NATO chief said. On the possibility of Putin using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Stoltenberg said: “Putin’s nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and ruthless, but NATO is prepared for every threat and challenge. “The point of NATO is to prevent war – not least nuclear war.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, ” Stoltenberg, “, Zelensky, Putin, Stoltenberg, Sofiia Gatilova, Stepanov, ”, Mark Milley, Budanov Organizations: CNN, NATO, Berliner, Reuters, Getty, Russia, United, United States ’, Joint Chiefs, Staff, BBC Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Bakhmut, Reuters Ukrainian, Chernihiv, AFP, Moscow, Andriivka, United States

But as the ramifications of Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s freeze have grown, more of them are speaking out. Political Cartoons View All 1163 ImagesBut now even the Pentagon’s soon-to-be highest military leader is speaking out. It's not the first time general officer promotions have been frozen by a single senator. Six months into Tuberville's hold, 315 military officers are now affected, and the impact cuts deeper in some services. In the small and still growing U.S. Space Force, at least eight general officers’ nominations are on hold — but that’s one third of all of its 25 senior officers.

Persons: Alabama Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville’s, they’ve, “ We’re, Mark Kelly, Kelly, he’s, Christopher Grady, Mark Milley, C.Q . Brown, can’t, Brown, ” Grady, Grady, there’s, Donald Trump’s, Biden, ”, Mark Harkins, ” Tuberville, Lloyd Austin, Tuberville, Larry Korb, It's, Democratic Sen, Tammy Duckworth, Trump, Alexander Vindman, Duckworth, Vindman, Chance Saltzman, we’re, Charles Flynn, Flynn, Kori Schake, “ It’s, ” Schake, Lisa Franchetti, Franchetti, —, hadn’t, ” Kelly, ” ___ Lita C, Baldor Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Alabama Republican, ” Air Force, Air Combat Command, Uniformed, Chiefs, Air Force, Joint Chiefs, Air and Space Forces Association, Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University, Biden, Pentagon, Defense Department, Center for American Progress, Democratic, . Space Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Army, American Enterprise Institute, Senate Armed Services Committee, Embassy Locations: Alabama, Maryland, ”, Dobbs, Washington

From there, Milley will attend the monthly meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany on Tuesday. That group, led by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, is the main international forum for drumming up military support for Ukraine. But American lawmakers are increasingly divided over providing additional assistance for Ukraine as the war is well into its second year. President Joe Biden has proposed a package of $13.1 billion more in military aid and $8.5 billion for humanitarian support. Milley said the group will include defense chiefs from Britain, Norway, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

Persons: Mark Milley, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, ” Milley, Kim, Milley, Lloyd Austin, Rob Bauer, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: American, NATO, U.S . Army, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ukraine Defense Contact Group, U.S . Defense, NATO Military Committee, U.S, Congress, Conservative Republicans, White House, Capitol, General, Global Locations: OSLO, Norway, North Korea, Ukraine, Russia, North, Russian, Moscow, Holmenkollen, Oslo, Germany, Netherlands, United States, Washington, U.S, China, Beijing, Taiwan, Britain, Italy, France, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Japan

☆ Milley disputes Trump's claim he recommended an attack on Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“I can assure you that not one time have I ever recommended to attack Iran,” Milley said. In his book, “The Chief’s Chief,” Meadows references the meeting and the Iran document, claiming Milley urged Trump to attack Iran more than once during Trump’s presidency, but that Trump would not do so. “It contained the general’s own plan to attack Iran, deploying massive numbers of troops, something he urged President Trump to do more than once during his presidency. President Trump denied those requests every time.”Milley told Zakaria he did not know what Meadows had written but reiterated he had never recommended an attack on Iran. “I can tell you with certainty that this chairman never recommended a wholesale attack on Iran,” Milley said.

Persons: Mark Milley, “ Fareed Zakaria, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Trump, Donald Trump, Mark Meadows, ” Milley, Milley, Jack Smith’s, Meadows, ” Trump, Zakaria, I’ve, that’s, ”, ” Meadows Organizations: CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, White, Army, Milley, Trump, Yorker Locations: Iran, “, Bedminster , New Jersey, ” Meadows

Kyiv CNN —The United States’ top general has warned Ukraine has just six weeks left before changing weather hampers its counteroffensive, even as Kyiv is signaling it could fight on into the winter. Meanwhile, an online update from the southern ‘Tavria’ command said: “we continue to make small advances in the area of Robotyne. One of Zelensky’s senior security officials, speaking at the same event the following day, indicated Ukraine’s forces might be set to keep attacking well into the coming winter. Kyrylo Budanov, head of military intelligence, acknowledged the counteroffensive was moving more slowly than he would like. Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the south then ran for a further six weeks, only ending around November 10 with the liberation of Kherson.

Persons: Mark Milley, Milley, “, aren’t, haven’t, It’s, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Budanov, David Petraeus, Kyiv’s Organizations: CNN, United, United States ’, Joint Chiefs, Staff, BBC, Biden, Russian Locations: United States, Ukraine, Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Tokmak, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lyman, Kherson, Russia

☆ Ukraine's counteroffensive could have only 30 days left, says US military's top general
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine counteroffensive could have only 30 days before autumn weather starts, says US military's top general. The counteroffensive has been "long, slow, hard, and high-casualty-producing," said General Mark Milley. They haven't finished the fighting part of what they're trying to accomplish," said the US military's top general. "There's still a reasonable amount of time, probably about 30 to 45 days' worth of fighting weather left, so the Ukrainians aren't done," Gen. Milley told BBC News. Though the weather will stall the counteroffensive, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, told Reuters that "the fighting will continue one way or another."

Persons: Mark Milley, Jan Kallberg, Milley, haven't, aren't, Efrem, Sir Tony Radakin, Adm Radakin, General Kyrylo Budanov Organizations: Service, Joint Chiefs of Staff, BBC News, CNN, AP, Russia, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia region, Russia, British

☆ Senate Republicans try to blame Chuck Schumer for Tommy Tuberville’s military blockade
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Frank Thorp V | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., is seen in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. WASHINGTON — As Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., keeps hundreds of military promotions in limbo for a sixth straight month, his Republican colleagues are trying to deflect criticism by pointing the finger at a familiar GOP foe: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. "Sen. Tuberville has created a problem that pervades our entire military, and trying to glue one hole closed does not fix that problem." "Sen. Tuberville has created a problem that pervades our entire military, and trying to glue one hole closed does not fix that problem." As he digs in on his tactic, the number of promotions that have not been approved by the Senate only grows.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, WASHINGTON —, Chuck Schumer, Roger Wicker of, John Cornyn, Cornyn, Schumer, CQ Brown, Tuberville, Brown, Mark Milley, McConnell, Thune, It's, Mitch McConnell, John Thune, Elizabeth Warren, Jack Reed, Kate Santaliz Organizations: U.S, Capitol, WASHINGTON, Joint Chiefs, Republican, Armed Services Committee, Air Force, Republicans, Republican Party, Defense Department, Senate, Services Locations: Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Texas, Sen, Ky

CNN —The nominee to be the US military’s most senior general warned US airmen in a letter this week that the Chinese military wants “to exploit your knowledge and skill to fill gaps in their military capability.”Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Concerns over western pilots training China’s military has grown in recent years, as Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand – all members of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance, which includes the US – have taken steps to prevent former military pilots from offering their expertise to Beijing. Last October, the UK Ministry of Defense said it believed up to 30 former British military pilots were providing training in China and that many others have been approached, including pilots who were still serving. He has denied the allegations, saying he was only training Chinese civilian pilots seeking to improve their skills. And recently, two Navy sailors were arrested and indicted for allegedly sending classified information to Chinese intelligence officers.

Persons: Charles Q, Brown, Mark Milley, ” Brown, “, ”, Richard Marles Organizations: CNN, ” Air Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff, NATO, Liberation Army, Air Chiefs, The Washington, New Zealand, UK Ministry of Defense, UK Armed Forces, People’s Liberation Army, Australian, “ Defense, Foreign Intelligence Services, Navy Locations: Australia, United Kingdom, New, Beijing, China, People’s Republic of China

☆ Ukraine rips Elon Musk for disrupting sneak attack on Russian fleet with Starlink cutoff
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — A Ukrainian official slammed Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for ordering engineers to shut off Starlink's satellite network over Crimea last year in order to thwart a Ukrainian attack on Russian warships. The book, titled "Elon Musk," will be released Tuesday. In Ukraine, Starlink has worked as the connective tissue for crucial battlefield communications. Musk, according to Isaacson, was also engaged in a texting conversation with Fedorov. The official pleaded with Musk to restore Starlink's connectivity so that Ukrainian submarine drones could carry out the attack on Russia's warship fleet.

Persons: Elon Musk, Porte, WASHINGTON, Musk, Walter Isaacson, Starlink, Isaacson, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mykhailo Podolyak, Mykhailo Fedorov, Joe Biden's, Jake Sullivan, Mark Milley, Fedorov Organizations: SpaceX, Tesla, Twitter, Viva Technology, Porte de, WASHINGTON —, Ukrainian, Netflix, Russian, CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff U.S, Army Locations: Paris, France, Crimea, Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian

☆ New Musk biography offers fresh details about the billionaire's Ukraine dilemma
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But the episode reveals the unique position Musk found himself in as the war in Ukraine unfolded. Even as cellular phone and internet networks had been destroyed, the Starlink terminals allowed Ukraine to fight and stay connected. But once Ukraine began to use Starlink terminals for offensive attacks against Russia, Musk started to second-guess that decision. “How am I in this war?” Musk asks Isaacson. SpaceX had spent tens of millions of its own money sending the satellite equipment to Ukraine, according to Musk.

Persons: CNN — Elon Musk, Walter Isaacson’s, Elon Musk, ” Isaacson, Isaacson, Simon & Schuster, Musk, Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, “ Starlink, ” Musk, Joe Biden’s, Jake Sullivan, Mark Milley, Mykhailo Fedorov, “, —, ” Fedorov, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Ukraine “, –, tweeting, ” Gwynne Shotwell, Shotwell, Elon Organizations: CNN, Russian, SpaceX, Netflix, Reuters, Pentagon, US Locations: Crimean, Ukrainian, Russian, Russia, Crimea, Ukraine, Washington, Moscow

☆ Sen. Tuberville slammed poetry by US sailors that is a time-honored tradition
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sen. Tuberville called out "wokeness" in the Navy, saying people are reading "poems on aircraft carriers." But the art form has been a long been a part of military service, especially for sailors. Tuberville faces widespread criticism for blocking hundreds of promotions over the Pentagon's abortion policy. Tuberville's comments on poetry and "wokeness" in the Navy come seemingly out of nowhere — especially considering the art form has a long history for sailors. Sailors assigned to the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Albuquerque SSN 706 stand watch as the boat departs Diego Garcia.

Persons: Sen, Tuberville, Tommy Tuberville, We've, Carlos Del Toro, Del Toro, Christine Wormuth, Frank Kendall, Mark Milley, Roe, Wade, John C, Steve Smith, Roosevelt, Champlain, Sailors, Diego Garcia, Jeremy Gross, Smith, it's, Marines I've, Nolan Peterson Organizations: Navy, Service, Alabama Republican, US Navy, Fox, Air Force, Washington Post, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Carrier Air Wing, Nimitz, Stennis, U.S . Navy, Getty, The Washington Post, USS, Marines, US Air Force, Council's Eurasia Locations: Wall, Silicon, Alabama, Yorktown, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Iraq, Afghanistan

Washington CNN —The three US military service secretaries went on the offensive against Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville over his ongoing hold on senior military nominations in an interview with CNN on Tuesday, saying he is aiding communist and autocratic regimes, and being used by adversaries like China against the US. “That is what the American people truly need to understand.”“It is just unprecedented to be attacking apolitical general officers and flag officers in this way. But placing a blanket hold on all general and flag officer nominees, who as apolitical officials have traditionally been exempt from the hold process, is unfair to these military leaders and their families. It is time to lift this dangerous hold and confirm our senior military leaders.”“Chuck Schumer could confirm all of the service chiefs in one day—but he refuses. Wormuth said Tuesday that she’s worried the hold will impact morale among lower-ranking officers.

Persons: Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Frank Kendall, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Carlos Del Toro, Christine Wormuth, ” Kendall, “, ”, ” Del Toro, Del Toro, Wormuth, ” Wormuth, Chuck Schumer, ” Steven Stafford, Tuberville, ” Tuberville, Mitch McConnell, C.Q . Brown, Joe Biden, Mark Milley, she’s Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, CNN, ” Air Force, an Air Force, “ Senators, Biden, Pentagon, Department, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Missile Defense Agency Locations: China, United States, Washington ,, Cuba, Washington, Alabama

☆ Former generals weigh in on how much say the US should have in Ukraine's counteroffensive as Kyiv's frustration with critics boils over
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Ukraine has blamed a lack of equipment and tough defenses while some in the West have put the blame on Kyiv's forces. "Everyone is now an expert on how we should fight," Ukraine's defense ministry said on social media Thursday. He wrote that the general is "extremely talented," but "he has never before" coordinated the kind of operations Ukraine is executing now. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US has reiterated that it will continue to support Ukraine's war effort, even as the counteroffensive is expected to potentially last for at least a couple more months and the conflict possibly for years. In a recent conversation with Insider about Ukrainian operations, Hodges said that the Ukrainians "have recognized that they have to adapt, which is what they're doing."

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, it's, —, Jose Colon, Jack Keane, Keane, Metz, Michael O'Hanlon, George S, O'Hanlon, Hertling, Valery Zaluzhny, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Mick Ryan, Michael Kofman, Franz, Stefan Gady, Ben Hodges, David Petraeus, Mark Milley, Milley, Petraeus, Frederick Kagan, Hodges, Kyiv's, Ryan Organizations: Service, —, PKP, Ukrainian Army, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US Army, Institute for, Street, Patton's Third Army, NATO, intel, Army, Foreign Affairs, US Central Command, CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, The Washington Post, American Enterprise Institute, Russia, Nazis Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Kyiv, Europe, Chasiv Yar, Russia, Donetsk Oblast, America, Ukrainian, France, Metz, Vietnam, Korea, US Army Europe, Australian, American, Singapore, Japan, United States, Philippines

☆ Ukrainian snipers hunting top enemy commanders are exploiting one of the Russian military's biggest vulnerabilities
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukrainian snipers told The Wall Street Journal they are hunting down high-profile Russian targets. Over the course of the war, Russia has lost a number of senior Russian commanders and generals who directed operations from the front line. John Moore/Getty ImagesAlthough they have a common enemy, not all Ukrainian sniper teams are engaged in the same mission. Russian snipers, likewise, carry out similar missions and are considered quite formidable. Other activities like reconnaissance fall within the traditional sniper mission set and can also take priority.

Persons: Carl Court, Mark Milley, Andrei Sukhovetsky, Russia's, John Moore Organizations: Wall Street, Service, Devils, Wall Street Journal, Pentagon, Department of Defense, Ukraine, US, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Russia's 7th Airborne, 28th Brigade, Ukrainian, CNN Locations: Wall, Silicon, Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Kyiv

☆ To 'crush the Russian army and strangle the troops in frontline fortifications,' Ukraine needs to advance 10 more miles, says war expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | Jan Kallberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine only needs to advance 10 miles to "crush the Russian army," says a war expert. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhere intelligence analysts see distances on maps of southern Ukraine, military planners see something very different. They apply military math and calculate that Ukraine does not need to advance 50 miles to "crush the Russian army and strangle the troops in frontline fortifications"— 10 miles will suffice to make headway, wrote Kallberg. From here, the Ukrainian counteroffensive needs to advance 7-10 miles to disrupt Russia's east-west transport routes, inhibiting the Russian army's ability to mobilize and fight. Russian military bloggers are gloomyUkrainian troops train with heavy weapons near the frontline in Zaporizhzhia on April 20, 2023.

Persons: Jan Kallberg, Russia's, Skala, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, Mark Milley Organizations: Reuters, Service, Center for, Washington Post, Separate, Ukrainian Armed Forces, REUTERS, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington DC, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Wall, Silicon, Kallberg, Crimea, Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian, Orikhiv, Azov

☆ Ukraine's army has broken through the first line of Russian defense in 'bloody, long, and slow' counteroffensive, US Gen. Milley says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine's counteroffensive has breached Russian first defensive line, Gen. Mark Milley said. Milley said that the advance is "bloody, long and slow" but that this is not unusual in war. "This defensive line, which the Russians spent many months preparing, it's got minefields, it's got dragon's teeth, it's got tank ditches. One Russian blogger writing about the upturn in Ukraine's fighting fortunes said: "The bastards are rapidly advancing, covered by artillery strikes." The ISW said, "Russia's lack of operational reserves will force the Russian command to conduct additional redeployments as Ukrainian counteroffensive operations continue to degrade defending Russian forces in several sectors of the front."

Persons: Mark Milley, Milley, they've, Al, Mamlaka, it's, Gian Marco Benedetto Organizations: Service, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Anadolu Agency, Getty, UK Department of Defense, for, Washington DC, CNN Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Zaporizhzhya, Zaporizhzhia

☆ Pope Francis discusses Ukraine war and peace with US military chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Pope Francis meets with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A. Milley at the Vatican, August 21, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsAug 21 (Reuters) - Pope Francis and General Mark Milley, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed the war in Ukraine and hopes for peace there during a private audience at the Vatican on Monday. The general, who is visiting several European countries, said the pope was deeply concerned about the loss of life in Ukraine, particularly of civilians, since Russia invaded in February 2022. Milley has sharply criticized Moscow as mounting "a campaign of terror" against civilians in Ukraine, including by targeting civilian infrastructure as part of its war strategy. A strong advocate for Ukraine's defence against Russian forces, Milley, 65, has championed sending billions of dollars in arms to Kyiv.

Persons: Pope Francis, Mark A, Mark Milley, Milley, Dave Butler, Francis, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Phil Stewart, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: U.S, Joint Chiefs, Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, U.S . Joint Chiefs of Staff, Catholic, Russian, Army, cautioning, Ukrainian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Washington, Crimea, Beijing

☆ Battlefield casualties in the Ukraine war have surged to almost 500,000 killed and wounded, US officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Combined casualties on the battlefield in Ukraine near 500,000, US officials said. Russia is believed to have lost as many as 120,000 soldiers, compared with 70,000 Ukrainian deaths. Meanwhile, Ukrainian deaths are estimated to be 70,000, and up to 120,000 soldiers are believed to be wounded. Accurate figures are difficult to ascertain as Kyiv does not disclose official figures, and Russian deaths are believed to be severely undercounted, the officials noted. For many weeks, hundreds of troops were killed or injured every day in the battle, US officials told The Times.

Persons: Mark Milley, Nicholas, Bernadett Szabo Organizations: Service, New York Times, The Times, Times, St, REUTERS Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Bernadett Szabo Ukraine, Russian

☆ Overblown perceptions of 'wokeness' in the military are making it harder to recruit new people, top Pentagon leader says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

He went on to address drag shows on military bases and critical race theory, two issues that Republicans in recent years have sought to highlight as "woke" issues plaguing the military. "I don't agree with drag queen shows being on military bases. The military recently banned drag shows on military bases after Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida raised the issue during a House hearing in March. "Same thing with critical race theory," he added. "Agree or disagree with critical race theory, it is not a theory that the Department of Defense or the military is embracing and shoving down people's throats."

Persons: Mark Milley —, Staff —, couldn't, Milley, Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy Organizations: Service, Washington Post, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Republican, Department of Defense, Republicans, Democrats, Republican Rep Locations: Wall, Silicon, Florida, Texas

☆ Nation's top general says it's an 'overstatement' to say 'the entire military is woke' over a few drag shows on bases
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Critics have pointed to drag shows and the use of critical race theory, both of which Milley said are overstated. Milley, the nation's highest-ranking military officer, said he supported Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's decision to ban drag shows at military bases after some Republican lawmakers sparked an outcry. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, who criticized the drag shows, called the Pentagon's new policy a "HUGE VICTORY." Critics have also taken aim at critical race theory, an academic theory that looks at America's history of racism and discrimination through a modern lens. Already, three military services are without a Senate-confirmed leader, the first time that's happened in the nation's history.

Persons: Mark Milley, Milley, Lloyd Austin's, Austin, Matt Gaetz, Critics, Donald Trump, Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville, C.Q, Brown Jr Organizations: Washington Post, Service, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington Post's, Nellis Air Force Base, Ramstein Air Base, Florida Republican, Republicans, Department of Defense, Republican, Air Force Locations: Wall, Silicon, Nevada, Germany, Florida

☆ Western allies receive increasingly ‘sobering’ updates on Ukraine’s counteroffensive: ‘This is the most difficult time of the war’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Jim Sciutto | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Weeks into Ukraine’s highly anticipated counteroffensive, Western officials describe increasingly “sobering” assessments about Ukrainian forces’ ability to retake significant territory, four senior US and western officials briefed on the latest intelligence told CNN. But for them to really make progress that would change the balance of this conflict, I think, it’s extremely, highly unlikely,” a senior western diplomat told CNN. Ukrainian forces have incurred staggering losses there, leading Ukrainian commanders to hold back some units to regroup and reduce casualties. “Russians have a number of defensive lines and they [Ukrainian forces] haven’t really gone through the first line,” said a senior Western diplomat. “The problem, of course, here is the prospect of the blame game that the Ukrainians would then blame it on us,” said a senior western diplomat.

Persons: CNN —, Ukraine’s, “ They’re, ”, We’re, Mike Quigley, haven’t, “, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Mark Milley, Zaluzhnyi, Milley, ” Zaluzhnyi, Putin, ” Quigley, Volodymyr Zelensky, ’, ” Zelensky Organizations: CNN, Illinois Democrat, US, Ukrainian, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Aspen Security Forum Locations: Illinois, Europe, Ukrainian, Western, Ukraine, West

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