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☆ Russian commander could have been fired after outrage from military bloggers who said he was incompetent, ISW said
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian commander was removed after outraged military bloggers amplified his failed leadership. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Russian commander was ousted following a wave of outrage at his poor leadership from military bloggers, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports. Russian military bloggers amplified the "significant losses due to inadequate artillery support and poor leadership in the Kherson direction," triggering the removal of the disgraced commander claimed the bloggers, per the ISW. A Russian brigade officially has at least 2,000 soldiers, and the commander holds the rank of colonel. The ISW wrote that the removal of the commander suggests that Russian ultranationalist outrage may still have influence over Russian military command despite an overall decline following the rebellion by Wagner mercenaries in June.

Persons: —, Wagner, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Russian 205th Motorized Rifle Brigade, Service, Institute for, Russian Armed Forces, 205th Brigade, General Staff of, Armed Forces of, Russian Locations: Russian, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Chechnya, Dagestan, Russia, Donetsk, Luhansk

☆ Russia to begin drafting soldiers from occupied regions of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's fall draft begins October 1 and seeks to call up 130,000 new soldiers to fight in the war. The Kyiv Independent reported eligible men from occupied regions of Ukraine will be drafted. Russian state media claims no conscription has previously occurred in occupied Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia's Defense Ministry announced Friday that its upcoming conscription campaign will for the first time include eligible men from four occupied regions in Ukraine. Russian men aged 18-27 are required to enlist for a year of mandatory military service.

Persons: —, Putin, shams, France24, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Kyiv Independent, Service, Defense, CNN, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, Government of, Russian Federation Locations: Ukraine, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Russian, Russia

☆ Putin marks anniversary of annexation of Ukrainian regions as drones attack overnight
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday insisted that the residents of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed a year ago "made their choice — to be with their Fatherland." A concert was held in Red Square on Friday to mark the anniversary, but Putin did not participate. Serhii Borzov said that air defenses shot down 20 drones over his central Ukrainian region, but that a "powerful fire" broke out in the town of Kalynivka when a drone struck an unspecified infrastructure facility. Russia's Defense Ministry said Saturday that it had shot down nine Ukrainian rockets fired at its southern Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine. Drone strikes and shelling in the Russian border regions are a regular occurrence.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Malashko, Serhii Borzov, Vyacheslav Gladkov Organizations: Senezh, Russia's, Commission, Russia's Defense, Ukraine, EU Foreign Affairs, Security, Gov, Romania's Ministry of National Defense, Romanian Army, NATO, Belgorod Gov, Local Locations: Russia, Solnechnogorsk, Moscow region, Moscow, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Red Square, Ukraine, EU, Odesa, Russian, Ukraine's, Matviivka, Mykolaiv, Vinnytsia, Ukrainian, Kalynivka, Romania, Galati, Tulcea, Belgorod, Russia's Bryansk, Pogar

CNN —Four occupied regions of Ukraine will be included for the first time in a new round of Russian military conscriptions this fall, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced Friday. Autumn conscription will begin from October 1 in all parts of the Russian Federation, according to the ministry, including in the illegally annexed regions of Ukraine. “The autumn conscription will take place from October 1 in all constituent entities of the Russian Federation. “The term of conscription military service, as before, will be 12 months,” Tsimlyansky said. There was no conscription for military service last year and in the spring of 2023 in these regions, according to TASS.

Persons: Putin, Zaporizhzhia –, “ shams, Vladimir Tsimlyansky, ” Tsimlyansky, ”, Tsimlyansky, “, Conscriptions Organizations: CNN, Russia’s Defense, Russian Federation, Staff, Russian Armed Forces, “ Military, Armed Forces, TASS, General Staff, Russia’s Armed Forces Locations: Ukraine, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Western, Russia, Crimea, Russia’s, Moscow

☆ Russia is scaling back its use of the feared Ka-52 attack helicopter after Ukraine got good at taking them out: ISW
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine is getting better at taking down Russia's Ka-52 helicopters, the ISW said. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine has gotten better at destroying the Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters that had plagued its counteroffensive, a US think tank said. AdvertisementAdvertisementDespite recent Ukrainian advances, so far Russia has prevented Ukraine from making a decisive breakthrough. The ISW said that Ukraine's improved ability against the Ka-52 had not seriously undermined Russian defenses. "Russian forces appear to have increased their use of strike drones against advancing Ukrainian forces, and Russian artillery units continue to play a significant role in repelling Ukrainian assaults," said the ISW.

Persons: Russia's, —, Gian Gentile, Nico Lange Organizations: Ukraine's, Service, RAND Corporation, Munich Security Conference, Defense Express Locations: Ukraine, Russia, US, Russian, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Kherson, Luhansk, Melitopol, Ukrainian

☆ 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

☆ Who’s Gaining Ground in Ukraine? This Year, No One.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Josh Holder | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +10 min

Frontline on Jan. 1, 2023 Kyiv UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK HELD BY RUSSIA DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK HELD BY RUSSIA DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK HELD BY RUSSIA DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA Kyiv UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK Bakhmut DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK Bakhmut DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK Bakhmut DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA Kyiv UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK Robotyne DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK Robotyne DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK Robotyne DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA Kyiv UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro River LUHANSK DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA The front line in Ukraine changed little last winter. Amount of territory Russia gained 20,000 square miles 10,000 Russia’s winter offensive captured about 100 square miles per month. Amount of territory Ukraine gained Amount of territory Russia gained 10,000 0 10,000 20,000 sq. miles Amount of territory Ukraine gained Amount of territory Russia gained 10,000 sq. Since Jan. 1, Ukraine gained: 143 square miles Russia gained: 331 square miles Net gain: 188 square miles Since Jan. 1, Ukraine gained: 143 square miles Russia gained: 331 square miles Net gain: 188 square milesWhen all the territorial changes are added together, Russia controls an additional 100 square miles of Ukraine, compared to Jan. 1, 2023.

Persons: Jan, Marina Miron, “ It’s, ”, Ukraine’s, Miron, Abrams Organizations: RUSSIA DONETSK, DONETSK, Territory Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine’s, New York Times, Institute for, American, Kyiv, Queens, King’s College London, Challenger Locations: Ukraine, UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro, LUHANSK, KHERSON CRIMEA UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro, KHERSON CRIMEA, DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA UKRAINE KHARKIV Dnipro, DONETSK Zaporizhzhia KHERSON CRIMEA, LUHANSK DONETSK, Russia, Territory, Kherson, Kharkiv, Ukrainian, NYC, Kyiv, New York City, Ukraine’s, Switzerland, Crimea, Robotyne, Verbove, Britain

☆ Russia's using its elite paratroopers in an unusual way to hold the line, leaving the force 'airborne in name only,' war analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia is relying on its elite paratroopers, the VDV, to defend against Ukraine's counteroffensive. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia has turned to its elite paratroopers, the VDV Airborne Forces, to help defend against Ukraine's battlefield advances. As so-called "elite" Russian forces have taken losses, they have at times been backfilled with poorly-trained replacements, degrading the overall capability of the unit. Since those figures were released, VDV units have been transferred to support Moscow's defensive efforts in the face of Ukraine's pressing counteroffensive. The VDV is one of several elite units to suffer severe casualties during the war as Moscow has relied heavily on them.

Persons: —, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Gen, Mikhail Teplinsky Organizations: Ukraine's, Service, VDV Airborne Forces, Russian, Institute for, Victory, Russian MoD, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Paratroopers, Rifle Brigade, 155th Naval Infantry Brigade Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, Russian, Alabino, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Kherson, Luhansk, Kyiv

☆ Wild video shows Ukrainian drone flying through dense forest into a Russian hideout before exploding, military says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Ukrainian drone blew up a Russian bunker in eastern Ukraine, officials said. It was taken in a dense forest west of Kreminna, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk, the Adam group said in a Telegram post. Footage shows a Ukrainian drone flying around a forest west of Kreminna, in Luhansk Oblast, eastern Ukraine. Footage shows a Ukrainian drone approaching a Russian shelter in a forest west of Kreminna, in Luhansk Oblast, eastern Ukraine. Footage shows a Ukrainian drone going inside a Russian shelter in a forest west of Kreminna, in Luhansk Oblast, eastern Ukraine.

Persons: Adam, Yevhen, Mezhevikin Organizations: Service, Adam Tactical, 67th Mechanized Brigade, Ukraine's 67th Mechanized Brigade, Street Journal, Russia's Ministry of Defense Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Luhansk, Kreminna, Ukraine's, Luhansk Oblast, Adam_tactic_group, Bakhmut, Moscow, Russia, China, Russia's

☆ Russian-installed head of Donetsk imposes five-hour curfew
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A view shows a newly built apartment block next to those damaged in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Mariupol, Russian-controlled Ukraine, August 16, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Acquire Licensing RightsSept 24 (Reuters) - The Russian-installed head of the Russian-annexed Ukrainian region of Donetsk has imposed a curfew, according to a decree published on Sunday. Denis Pushilin banned the presence of civilians on streets and public places from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m. on Mondays-Fridays, according to the decree. The decree forbade assemblies, rallies and demonstrations as well as other mass events in Russia-controlled parts of Donetsk region unless they were permitted by Operational Headquarters for Military Threat Response in Donetsk People's Republic. Among other steps entailed by Pushilin's order was the establishment of checkpoints and security posts at borders with Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Denis Pushilin, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: REUTERS, Operational Headquarters, Military, Pushilin, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Mariupol, Russian, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Donetsk People's Republic, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia

☆ Black Sea Fleet: Ukraine has Russian targets in Crimea in its sights. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The seizure earlier this month of oil platforms in the Black Sea by Ukrainian commandos has given them another jumping-off point and affected the Russian Black Sea fleet’s freedom of navigation. The Russian Black Sea Fleet has been involved in hundreds of cruise missile attacks against Ukraine and threatens merchant shipping using Ukrainian ports. This image taken from UGC video, uploaded to Telegram with a watermark, shows smoke rising from the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. The Black Sea Fleet is still a powerful element of Russia’s offensive capability, but becoming less so by the week. “The Black Sea Fleet is more than its naval assets, and the Ukrainian attacks on the Black Sea Fleet will likely achieve effects beyond the degradation of Russian naval capabilities,” concludes the ISW.

Persons: “, Joseph Richter, Andrii Yusov, It’s, it’s, ” Organizations: CNN, Crimea –, Ukraine’s Security, The, 744th Communications Center, Command, Black, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Ukrainian, Initiative, Ukrainian Neptune, UGC, Fleet, 810th Naval Infantry Brigade, Fleet’s, Army Corps Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Ukraine, Crimea, Saky, Sevastopol, Verkhniosadove, “, Russia, Ukrainian Crimea, ”, Crimean, Moscow, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, –, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Kherson Oblast

Were he to follow through on his promise, it would represent a sea-change for Slovakia, until now a staunch ally of its eastern neighbour Ukraine in its war against Russia. Bratislava has supplied weapons and offered strong political support to Kyiv within the European Union and NATO. Western diplomats and officials in Kyiv also say a small country like Slovakia can only go so far in upending EU and NATO policy. Disinformation, meanwhile, has spread, undermining public support for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of 2022, said Katarina Klingova of think-tank Globsec. The hoax was debunked, but the reaction pointed to the influence that false information surrounding the Ukraine war has among Slovakia's 5.5 million population.

Persons: Robert Fico, Radovan Stoklasa, Robert Fico's, Fico, Eleonora Tanacova, Viktor Orban, Orban, Katarina Klingova, Klingova, Andrew Gray, Thomas Balmforth, Mike Collett, White, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, NATO, EU, European Union, Russia, Moscow, Hungarian, Progressive, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Banovce nad Bebravou, Slovakia, Russian, Ukraine Brussels, Ukraine, Slovakian, Russia, Bratislava, Kyiv, Crimea, EU, Brussels, Moscow, Donbas, Luhansk, Western, Europe, Hungary, Progressive Slovakia

☆ Ukraine Has Gained Ground. But It Has Much Farther to Go
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Thomas Gibbons-Neff | Lauren Leatherby | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Ukraine Has Gained Ground. Progress since counteroffensive began Held by Russia But It Has Much Farther To Go. Ukraine Has Gained Ground. Ukraine Has Gained Ground. August 30, 2022 Robotyne Robotyne Robotyne Robotyne Robotyne August 2, 2023 Craters Robotyne Russian fortifications Trees gone along roads Russian fortifications Craters Robotyne Trees gone along roads Russian fortifications Craters Robotyne Trees gone along roads August 30, 2023 Robotyne Robotyne Robotyne This is what Robotyne looked like a year ago: occupied by Russia, untouched by battle and home to around a hundred people.

Persons: Orikhiv, Verbove, Russia Orikhiv, Russia Verbove, Ukraine Orikhiv, UKRAINE SEA OF AZOV RUSSIA Kharkiv KHARKIV LUHANSK UKRAINE Bakhmut, Robotyne, Brady, Copernicus, —, Valerii Organizations: Russia Ukrainian, Russia, Russia Verbove Robotyne, Ukraine Orikhiv Verbove, Troops, Donetsk Velyka Novosilka DONETSK, Donetsk Velyka Novosilka DONETSK RUSSIA Robotyne, UKRAINE SEA OF AZOV, Donetsk DONETSK Robotyne, Kyiv, Kyiv UKRAINE SEA OF AZOV Kharkiv, RUSSIA KHARKIV, DONETSK RUSSIA Robotyne, SEA, American, Russian, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Planet Labs, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Reuters, Robotyne Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Go, Kyiv, Robotyne, Tokmak, Melitopol, Azov, Crimean, KHARKIV LUHANSK UKRAINE, Luhansk, Donetsk, Donetsk Velyka Novosilka DONETSK RUSSIA, UKRAINE, UKRAINE SEA OF AZOV RUSSIA Kharkiv KHARKIV LUHANSK UKRAINE, Donetsk DONETSK, Kyiv UKRAINE, RUSSIA KHARKIV LUHANSK UKRAINE, DONETSK, Russian, Crimea, Moscow, Europe, Ukrainian, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Verbove

Three producers listed in the customs data confirmed to Reuters they had shipped coal from the two regions to Turkey during that period. Reuters was unable to find any information in customs data about deliveries of coal produced in the DNR to Turkey or other countries in 2022. Customs data shows Nedra-06 made two shipments of coal to Turkey totalling 1,600 tonnes in May and June. The buyers were Belize-based Brig Management LTD and Green Rabbit LTD of Hong Kong, the customs data showed. Coal bought at Russian ports by Brig Management LTD and Green Rabbit LTD was taken to Turkey, the data showed.

Persons: Vitaliy Khotsenko, Adzhmal, Vostokugol, Anton Nadeyev, Nadeyev, I'm, Denis Karashchuk, Karashchuk, Filipp Lebedev, Gleb Stolyarov, Humeyra Pamuk, Tom Balmforth, Julia Payne, Jose Sanchez, Mike Collett, White, Daniel Flynn Organizations: NATO, Reuters, European, British Virgin Islands, Donetsk People's Republic, Russia's Ministry of Energy, Federal Customs Service, Luhansk People's Republics, European Union, United, Ukraine, U.S . State Department, UN, Assembly, Florance, Management, Hong, Brig Management, Rabbit, Belize Companies, Corporate Affairs, Green Rabbit, Coal, Toksabay, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Turkey Ankara, Russia, Turkey, Donetsk, Luhansk, United States, European Union, Moscow . Washington, Moscow, Ankara, Ukrainian, Hong Kong, UAE, Belize, British Virgin, East, Africa, Russian, Rostov, Novorossiisk, Turkey . U.S, Antratsyt, Yasynuvata, Tbilisi, Washington, Kyiv, Brussels

Three producers listed in the customs data confirmed to Reuters they had shipped coal from the two regions to Turkey during that period. Turkey, a major coal consumer and importer, is bucking the global trend by increasing coal's share in electricity generation. Customs data shows Nedra-06 made two shipments of coal to Turkey totalling 1,600 tonnes in May and June. The buyers were Belize-based Brig Management LTD and Green Rabbit LTD of Hong Kong, the customs data showed. Coal bought at Russian ports by Brig Management LTD and Green Rabbit LTD was taken to Turkey, the data showed.

☆ Russia enticed soldiers to join a unit by saying it wouldn't fight in Ukraine for months, then sent it straight to the front, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia recruited a unit of soldiers and told them they would only be deployed until December. But the unit was "rushed into action early," UK intelligence said in an update on Wednesday. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Ministry of Defense also said that Russian military officials could use the 25CAA "to regenerate an uncommitted reserve force in the theatre to provide commanders with more operational flexibility." The update comes as Ukraine makes advances in its grueling counteroffensive, which was launched in early June. AdvertisementAdvertisementMeanwhile, tens of thousands of Russian military equipment and weapons have been destroyed and captured.

Organizations: Service, Combined Arms Army, British Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Defence, of Defense, — Ministry of Defence Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine

☆ North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrives in Russia before an expected meeting with Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

A file photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin meets North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un on April 25, 2019 in Vladivostok, Russia. Citing unidentified Russian regional officials, Japanese broadcaster TBS reported that Kim's train crossed the border and arrived in the border town of Khasan. North Korea has possibly tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could potentially give a huge boost to the Russian army, analysts say. Based on North Korean state media photos, Kim's delegation possibly includes Pak Thae Song, chairman of North Korea's space science and technology committee, and Navy Admiral Kim Myong Sik, who are linked with North Korean efforts to acquire spy satellites and nuclear-capable submarines. After decades of a complicated, hot-and-cold relationship, Russia and North Korea have been drawing closer since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, Mikhail Svetlov, Kim Jong Un, Kim, Jeon Ha Gyu, Choe Sun Hui, Ri, Pak Jong Chon, KCNA, Dmitry Peskov, Putin, Peskov, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Defense Ministry and National Intelligence Service didn't, Adrienne Watson, Matthew Miller, Song, Kim Myong Sik, Jo Chun Ryong, China — Organizations: North Korean, Getty, Korea's Defense Ministry, Korean People's, Korean Central News Agency, TBS, TASS, Associated Press, Chosun Ilbo, South, South Korea's Presidential, Defense Ministry and National Intelligence Service, White, National Security, North, Democratic People's, Department, Washington, Ukraine — Donetsk, Luhansk —, . Security Locations: Vladivostok, Russia, Ukraine, North, Pyongyang, Korean, Japanese, Khasan, Russian, North Korea, South Korea's, Korea, United States, Ukrainian, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Washington, South Korea, Japan, Moscow, Beijing, Syria, China

☆ Russians opened fire on a Ukrainian flag tied to balloons, revealing their position for a counterattack, Ukraine says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Ukrainian flag attached to helium balloons flew into occupied territory, Kyiv's military said. Russian soldiers tried to shoot it down but revealed their firing positions, an official said. "For several hours, the Ukrainian flag was flying over occupied Donetsk. I had a lot of messages from people living in the occupied territory, who told me they are waiting for the liberation of Donetsk." Donetsk City has been occupied by Russia since 2014 when fighting in eastern Ukraine began.

Persons: Vitalii Barabash, Barabash Organizations: Service, Ukrainian, Kyiv Independent, Euromaidan Press, Telegram, Donetsk, Guardian Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Avdiyivka, Avdiivka, Russian, Donetsk City, Donetsk, Russia, Moscow, Luhansk, Kherson, Kyiv

☆ There are different accounts of Elon Musk's role in the thwarting of Ukraine's surprise attack against Russia by cutting off SpaceX satellite access. Both show one billionaire's outsized influence on
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

One explosive claim is that Musk thwarted a surprise Ukrainian attack on Crimea. Allowing the use of Starlink for the attack, he concluded, could be a disaster for the world. He now says that the policy had been implemented earlier, but the Ukrainians did not know it, and that night he simply reaffirmed the policy," Isaacson said. There have been previous reports of Musk rejecting Ukraine's request to enable satellite access in Crimea. Musk responded to Isaacson's clarification on Saturday, claiming, "At no point did I or anyone at SpaceX promise coverage over Crimea.

Persons: Walter Isaacson's, Musk, Isaacson, Elon, Elon Musk, Russia's, Twitter Isaacson, Ian Bremmer, Bremmer, Colin Kahl, Kahl Organizations: Elon, Service, The Washington Post, Media, Russian, SpaceX, Tulane University, Financial Times, Yorker, Pentagon Locations: Crimea, Wall, Silicon, The Washington, Russian, Ukrainian, Crimean, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Ukraine

☆ Russian regional vote delivers strong result for Putin amid claims of rigging
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But in the regions voting, electoral competition was limited, as strong candidates, including some from Russia's main opposition Communist Party, were blocked from running by authorities. Across the country, United Russia won every provincial governor's race it contested. Among the regional chiefs re-elected was powerful Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a close Putin ally. Similar systems have been rolled out in many other Russian regions. According to Russian officials, United Russia received large majorities in the regions, taking at least 70% of the vote in each.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Europe's, Putin, Stanislav Andreychuk, Andreychuk, Sergei Sobyanin, Sobyanin, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Moscow's, Felix Light, Lidia Kelly, Leslie Adler Organizations: of Europe, Putin's United, Communist Party, United Russia, Kyiv, United, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine's, Putin's United Russia, Russian, Moscow, Kremlin, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, United Russia, Bakhmut, Tbilisi, Melbourne

☆ Russian Regional Vote Delivers Strong Result for Putin Amid Claims of Rigging
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Europe's, Putin, Stanislav Andreychuk, Andreychuk, Sergei Sobyanin, Sobyanin, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Moscow's, Felix Light, Lidia Kelly, Leslie Adler Organizations: Reuters, of Europe, Putin's United, Communist Party, United Russia, Kyiv, United Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine's, Putin's United Russia, Russian, Moscow, Kremlin, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, United Russia, Bakhmut, Tbilisi, Melbourne

☆ Ukraine's drones rain leaflets on occupied territory telling its citizens to boycott Putin's 'election farce'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Resistance efforts have included blowing up a polling station and mass distributing leaflets via drones calling on people to ignore the elections. Russia is holding elections this weekend in occupied Ukrainian territories, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea, The Guardian reports. Interventions to sabotage the elections have included Ukraine's Security Service blowing up a polling station in Zaporizhzhia with drones. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Elections here ended prematurely," a Security Service of Ukraine source told the Kyiv Post. AdvertisementAdvertisementAt least 3,000 Ukrainians in the Zaporizhzhia region are said to be implicated in helping Russians with the pseudo-elections, The Kyiv Post cites from authorities.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Andriy Yusov Organizations: of Europe, Service, Kyiv, Guardian, Kyiv Independent, Ukraine's Security Service, Security Service, Armed Forces, National Resistance Center of, of, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN Charter, National Resistance Center, Main Intelligence Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Crimea, Russian, Kyiv, National Resistance Center of Ukraine, Tokmak, of Europe

Political Cartoons View All 1148 Images“The Russian authorities are trying hard to pretend that everything is going according to plan, everything is fine. In the occupied regions, early voting kicked off last week as election officials went door to door or set up makeshift polling stations in public places to attract passersby. As a result, Moscow has maintained control of about 70% of the Kherson region. “It looks like the Russian authorities know the result (of the election) already,” Fyodorov said. In the end, said Gallyamov, the Russian analyst, Russian authorities will not get “anything good in terms of boosting their legitimacy” in the occupied regions.

Persons: Russia “, Abbas Gallyamov, ”, Gallyamov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, we’ve, ” Sergei, we’re, Konstantin, ” Kostantin, Weeks, Yevgeny Balitsky, “, Ivan Fyodorov, Fyodorov, ” Fyodorov, —, Pavlo Lysianskyi Organizations: Russian, Kyiv, of Europe, Kremlin, United, Communist Party, Liberal Democratic, Associated Press, AP, Eastern Human Rights Locations: TALLINN, Estonia, Ukraine, Moscow, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, “, Russia, United Russia, Russian, Zaporizhzhia, Siberia, Melitopol, Ukrainian

“They just come and say ‘vote.’ So people vote,” Baska told CNN. “Here, when you buy a SIM card for your phone, you immediately get an SMS from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and United Russia Party,” Baska said. The text messages carry pro-Kremlin messaging, informing voters that “about 90% of voters are ready to vote for Yedianaya Rossiya (United Russia),” or that “United Russia is helping Zaporizhzhia region,” she added. Guerrilla activity by Ukrainian partisans has taken place but is more difficult to achieve now, Baska told CNN. ‘Nothing to do with democracy’Few residents in Melitopol are interested in the bogus elections taking place, Baska told CNN.

Persons: ”, Alexander Ermochenko, ” Baska, Yedianaya Rossiya, ’, Vladimir Putin’s, “, Jens Stoltenberg, Baska, Melitopol, …, Republic Denis Pushilin, Yuriy Sobolevskyi, ” Sobolevskyi Organizations: CNN, Communist, National Resistance Center, Ministry of Internal Affairs, United Russia Party, Kremlin, “, NRC, Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of, NATO, Yale Humanitarian Research, United Russia, Russian, Russian Guard Locations: Melitopol, Ukrainian, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, United Russia, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Luhansk, Kyiv, of Europe, ”, Mariupol, Crimea, Republic

☆ Ukraine war live updates: U.S. slams Russia’s ‘sham elections’ in occupied areas; Kyiv hits out at Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

The West has sharply criticized elections taking place in occupied areas of Ukraine over the weekend, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken describing them as "nothing more than a propaganda exercise." Russian-installed authorities are holding elections in the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The Kremlin is thought to be seeking to tighten its grip on the partly controlled territories it illegally annexed a year ago. The Russian embassy in the U.S. has reportedly defended the regional elections in occupied areas of Ukraine and accused Washington of meddling in its internal affairs. A Ukrainian official, meanwhile, slammed Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for ordering his Starlink satellite communications network to be turned off near Crimea last year to thwart a Ukrainian attack on Russian warships.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Tesla, Elon Musk Organizations: U.S, SpaceX Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, U.S, Washington, Crimea

Search resuls for: "Luhansk"

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