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CNN —US and western officials see signs that Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia is beginning and have noted a “substantial increase in fighting” in the east of the country over the last 48 hours as Ukrainian troops probe for weaknesses in Russian defensive lines, a senior NATO official said on Tuesday. The destruction of a sprawling dam in Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Kherson region, which triggered a wave of evacuations on Tuesday as floods of water spilled from the Nova Kakhovka hydro-electric plant, could complicate some of Ukraine’s plans, officials told CNN. The dam’s destruction could now make it more difficult for Ukrainian troops to cross the Dnipro River and attack Russian positions there, said two western officials. Ukrainian forces are also conducting operations south of Donetsk city in eastern Ukraine, which appears to be a new effort, the western official said. The counteroffensive is expected to be carried out on multiple fronts, a senior US military official said.

Persons: “, ’, Hanna Maliar, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Mark Milley Organizations: CNN, NATO, Nova, Wall, Joint Chiefs, Staff Locations: Russia, Kherson, Dnipro, Ukrainian, ”, European, Washington, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Ukraine, Europe

☆ Mark Milley: Exclusive: Top US general says Ukraine is 'well prepared' for counteroffensive in war that has 'greater meaning' for the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Watch CNN’s full interview with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” today at 4 p.m. Milley, who is retiring this year, is in Normandy to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the 1944 D-Day invasion — a massive World War II operation that he called the “greatest amphibious invasion in human history” — as the war continues to rage in Ukraine. For months now, the US and its allies have been helping arm Ukraine for the counteroffensive, which was expected to start in the spring. Most recently, the US said it would support a joint effort by other nations to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. The war has also begun creeping into Russia, as suspected Ukrainian drone strikes hit inside Moscow and a shelling attack was carried out in Belgorod.

Persons: Staff Mark Milley, Jake Tapper ”, Oren Liebermann, Milley Organizations: Joint Chiefs, Staff, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Europe, United States, Normandy, France, Donetsk, Ukrainian, Moscow, Belgorod

☆ Exclusive: Trump attorneys haven’t found classified document former president referred to on tape following subpoena
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kaitlan Collins Paula Reid Katelyn Polantz | Kaitlan Collins | Paula Reid | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

On the recording, Trump acknowledges he held onto a classified Pentagon document about a potential attack on Iran. Over the course of the Justice Department’s investigation, prosecutors have expressed skepticism that all classified documents had been returned. The federal government recovered dozens of documents with classified markings from Trump at various points throughout 2022. The audio of Trump acknowledging he had a classified document undercuts Trump’s repeated claims that he declassified everything he took from the White House when he left office. Trump attorney Jim Trusty declined to say on CNN this week whether the document was ever returned to the National Archives.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Mark Milley, Trump’s, wouldn’t, Milley, Jack Smith, Smith, “, ” Trump, Mark Meadows, Margo Martin, That’s, Martin’s, Jim Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Joint Chiefs of Staff, White, Lago, Trump, National Archives, Archives, Justice Department, Fox News, Bedminster, Milley Locations: Bedminster , New Jersey, Iran, Lago, Florida, declassify

☆ Why the Trump tape is so important for the documents investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

The main takeaway for me: prosecutors must determine if classified information meets a sort of Goldilocks test. It is about criminalizing (the information) being kept outside of a protected area, even by somebody who is allowed to have classified information. … All of the discussion has been about how Trump and others may have handled documents after knowing there’s a criminal investigation that exists. We know there’s an obstruction of justice investigation around that. A key thing in an obstruction of justice investigation is knowing that there’s a proceeding that you could potentially be obstructing, like a criminal investigation.

Persons: Donald Trump’s Mar, Trump, Katelyn, we’ve, – that’s, It’s, there’s, he’s, they’ve, We’re, Donald Trump, Margo Martin, … Trump, Bob Woodward, Woodward, WOLF, I’m, Mark Milley, …, Mueller, There’s, Justice Department won’t Organizations: CNN, White, Fox News, Justice Department, Trump, FBI, Joint Chiefs, Staff Locations: Lago, Iran, CNN’s Washington, New Jersey, Bedminster, Mar, Florida, POLANTZ, Washington , DC, what’s, Russia, Durham, litigate

“Everyone recognizes that Ukraine needs a modernized air force and everyone knows that. It’s going to take a considerable length of time, effort, money, to build that air force,” Milley said. Russia’s has hundreds of fourth and fifth generation fighters and bombers, dwarfing the smaller, older Ukrainian fleet or military aircraft. The flow of aerial defense systems has been effective at forcing Russia’s air force to largely remain out of Ukrainian air space and prevent Russia from establishing aerial supremacy over Ukraine. With an aerial defense system established across critical parts of Ukraine, the effort has now shifted to bolstering Ukraine’s air force with modern Western fighter jets.

Persons: Mark Milley, ”, “, Milley, ” Milley, Russia’s Organizations: Kyiv, “, Russian, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russian, France, Germany, Russia

☆ Trump on tape: Here’s what it means and what’s next
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Most people recall the “Access Hollywood” tape of Trump using vulgar language to argue that “stars” can grab women. It also adds his Bedminster club to the potential locations where Trump had classified documents after leaving office. In response to the report, a Trump campaign spokesman said “leaks” are meant to “inflame tensions” around Trump. (The document Trump references was not produced by Milley, CNN was told.) Besides the ongoing investigations into the aftermath of the 2020 election, here’s what else is looming over Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden’s, Jack Smith, who’s, ”, Elie Honig, Jake Tapper, ” Trump, undercuts, Smith, CNN’s Katelyn Polantz, Paula Reid, Kaitlan Collins, Mark Milley, Susan Glasser, Milley, CNN’s Haley Britzky, ” Beth Sanner, “, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Department of Justice, ” CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Milley, Chiefs, National Intelligence Locations: New York, Georgia, Peach State, Bedminster, Trump, Iran, Milley, New Hampshire

☆ A Nevada Air Force base planned a drag show to celebrate Pride Month. Pentagon leaders said no.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Pentagon canceled a drag show scheduled for the first day of Pride Month at a Nevada Air Force base. Defense Department officials told the Air Force base their Thursday show couldn't take place, NBC News first reported, citing two defense officials and a US official. Representatives for Nellis Air Force Base and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. "Drag queen story hours is not something that the department funds," Austin told the committee at the time, NBC News reported. "Consistent with Secretary Austin's congressional testimony, the Air Force will not host drag events at its installations or facilities.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Mark Milley, Austin, —, Milley, Lawanda Jackson, CoCo Montrese, Carnie, Carnie Asada, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz Organizations: Pentagon, Nevada Air Force, NBC, Service, Privacy, Nellis Air Force Base, Pride, . Defense Department, Air Force, NBC News, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Austin, Nellis, Representatives, Facebook, Florida Rep, Armed Services Committee, Nellis Air Force, Twitter Locations: Nevada, Vegas, Austin

The recording indicates Trump understood he retained classified material after leaving the White House, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation. Meadows didn’t attend the meeting, sources said. The revelation that the former president and commander-in-chief has been captured on tape discussing a classified document could raise his legal exposure as he continues his third bid for the White House. On the recording and in response to the story, Trump brings up the document, which he says came from Milley. However, there’s no indication Trump followed the legally mandated declassification process, and his attorneys have avoided saying so far in court whether Trump declassified records he kept.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Jack Smith, Mark Milley, Trump’s, Mark Meadows, Margo Martin, Meadows, Trump “, ”, Dave Butler, Martin, Olivier Douliery, Susan Glasser, Milley, Glasser, ” Milley, Honig, They’ve Organizations: CNN, Federal, White, Justice Department, Trump, Prosecutors, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Milley, Capitol, Getty, Yorker, National Archives, Records Administration, The Justice, Lago, Office, Fox News Locations: Iran, Bedminster , New Jersey, Washington ,, AFP, New, Milley, Lago, Florida, Bedminster, Trump

☆ Future wars are going to be catastrophic and robotic, and militaries have to 'come to grips' with that, former general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Mick Ryan, the author and a strategist, says militaries need to "come to grips" with what is coming. The scene comes from a new novel, "White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan," written by a former military officer. "That is especially the case when the ratio of humans to autonomous systems in militaries is going to flip," Ryan told Insider. "We are not at the point yet where robotic systems are able to match humans in decision making," Ryan said. And these autonomous systems will have many similar flaws. "

☆ Opinion: What Trump gets right on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Opinion Daniel R. Depetris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

For many political pundits and politicians, his observations on the war in Ukraine were no exception. Asa Hutchinson, who is challenging Trump for the 2024 nomination, declared that “Trump reminded everyone tonight of his support of Russia and his willingness to sell out Ukraine. The major difference between the Biden administration and Trump on the Ukraine question seems to be not whether talks should happen, but when. Another point Trump gets right is the vast disparity between the US and its European allies on the issue of assistance to Ukraine, even if his grossly exaggerates the amount of US aid. Join us on Twitter and FacebookTo be clear, some of what Trump said at the town hall about Ukraine was incorrect.

CNN —Iran smuggled weapons and military equipment into Syria using humanitarian aid shipments as a cover following a devastating earthquake there in February, two sources familiar with US intelligence and an Israeli defense official told CNN. Intelligence officials believe the weapons were destined for Iranian proxy groups in Syria, who have repeatedly attacked US military personnel stationed there as part of the anti-ISIS coalition. “The humanitarian assistance of Iran to Syria was used as an umbrella of moving weapons capabilities into the region,” the Israeli defense official said. Reuters earlier reported that regional and western officials believed Iran was smuggling the weapons under the guise of earthquake relief. Foreign aid poured into Syria and Turkey after February’s earthquake, which killed more than 50,000 people.

☆ Ukraine downs Russian hypersonic missile with U.S. Patriot
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

It was also the first time Ukraine is known to have used the Patriot defense systems. Oleshchuk said the Kh-47 missile was launched by a MiG-31K aircraft from Russian territory and was shot down with a Patriot missile. The Ukrainian military has previously admitted to lacking assets to intercept the Kinzhals. At such a cost, it was widely thought that Ukraine would only use the Patriots against Russian aircraft or hypersonic missiles. Russian forces have not commented on the claim but have rejected previous accusations from Ukraine that they had used phosphorus.

☆ Ukraine's risky gamble in Bakhmut may be paying off as infighting in Russia's ranks threatens its hopes of capturing the city, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Jake Epstein | Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The battle has hurt Russian forces, and Wagner Group mercenaries are threatening to pull out. Wagner's withdrawal, however, suggests that Ukraine's risky decision to stay may be paying off, Russia experts told Insider. Ukrainian army snipers change their position facing Russian troops near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Russian forces, including Wagner mercenaries, steadily surrounded Ukrainian positions, leaving only one road out of the city. Ukrainian army Grad multiple rocket launcher fires rockets at Russian positions in the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

☆ Biden to Tap Air Force General as Next Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Gordon Lubold | Andrew Restuccia | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Brown Jr. is currently the chief of staff of the Air Force. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Associated PressWASHINGTON—President Biden is expected to nominate Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr . as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, succeeding Army Gen. Mark Milley and becoming the second Black general in the post, according to U.S. officials. Gen. Brown is currently the chief of staff of the Air Force. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is the first Black defense secretary.

☆ Kremlin document shows how Russia is instructing state news outlets to handle potential losses in Ukraine counteroffensive: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Kremlin has prepared media talking points about Ukraine's expected counteroffensive, per Meduza. Sources told independent Russian outlet Meduza the document is aimed at priming the public for potential losses, or to capitalize on any Russian success. Reporters have been told "not to downplay expectations for the NATO-supported counteroffensive," and not to say that "Kyiv is unprepared for a 'counteroffensive," Meduza reported. Dr Precious Chatterje-Doody, an Open University lecturer in politics and an expert on Russian media, told Insider that the reported guidance fits "perfectly" with Russia's existing coverage of the war. Most Russian media is subject to strict controls over how the Ukraine war is discussed.

☆ Top US general predicts troops will have to always be on the move and be 'nearly invisible' to survive on future battlefields
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Gen. Mark Milley painted a terrifying picture of what future battlefields will look like in a new podcast interview. Soldiers will have to be almost invisible to survive on battlefields that are far more lethal, he warned. Breakthroughs in this space include the development of long-range precision munitions, the emergence of hypersonic weapons, an increased ability to sense and track environments, and integration of unmanned robotic systems. "What are some of the attributes of a future force? But speed, size, and being nearly invisible will be fundamental to survival on a future battlefield."

☆ US intelligence believes 'slaughter-fest' fighting in Ukraine has cost Russia 100,000 dead and wounded in only a matter of months, White House reveals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russia has suffered 100,000 casualties since December, a top White House official said, citing US intelligence. John Kirby revealed that 20,000 Russian troops have been killed fighting in Ukraine in that time. Ukrainian troops have fought the Russians along a largely static front line across eastern and parts of southern Ukraine for months. In January 2023, the top general went on to say that Russia had suffered "significantly well over" 100,000 casualties. Recently leaked US intelligence documents reviewed by Insider suggested that Russia had endured up to 223,000 casualties, including 43,000 soldiers killed in fighting.

CNN —President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden capped South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official state visit with a glamorous state dinner at the White House Wednesday night to celebrate the two nations’ 70-year alliance. May we do it together for another 170 years.”But Biden wasn’t the only leader who took the mic. Following a round of musical performances, his South Korean counterpart joined him on stage to give his own – a karaoke rendition of Don McClean’s “American Pie” – which received a standing ovation from the crowd. The elaborate dinner is the result of weeks of careful diplomatic preparations, with each detail meticulously planned by a team of White House chefs, social staff, and protocol experts. U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose with South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee in front of the Grand Staircase of the White House before an official State Dinner, in Washington, U.S. April 26, 2023.

☆ Russian ground forces 'bigger today' than at start of the war in Ukraine, general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“The Navy has lost one ship.”Classified military documents allegedly leaked by a junior enlisted National Guard airman for months gave a snapshot of where Russia’s ground forces were committed in the war. One document, dated February and March, said that 527 of 544 of available Russian battalions have been committed to the war against Ukraine; 474 of them are already in the country, the intelligence said. One document also estimated that between 35,000 and 43,000 Russian forces have been killed in action during the conflict. “For about the last 20, 21 days, the Russians have not made any progress whatsoever in and around Bakhmut. Asked about Russia’s submarine patrols in the Atlantic, Cavoli said that “much of the Russian military has not been affected negatively” by its invasion of Ukraine.

☆ Russia is still losing 500 soldiers a day in Ukraine even after reducing its casualties by 30%, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

But Russia is still likely suffering around 500 casualties a day, the UK Ministry of Defence said. It comes as Russia is "preparing for anticipated Ukrainian offensive operations," it added. In March, the country was losing an estimated 776 soldiers a day, which dropped to 568 in April, it said. Russia does not release its own casualty figures, but the UK MOD pointed to figures released by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Russia's slowing losses are explained by it moving to a more defensive position ahead of Ukraine's expected counteroffensive efforts, the UK MOD said.

☆ Special forces swiftly evacuate US embassy staff from Sudan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Smoke rises during clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum, Sudan on April 19, 2023. U.S. special operations forces carried out a precarious evacuation of the American embassy in warring Sudan on Sunday, sweeping in and out of the capital, Khartoum, with helicopters on the ground for less than an hour. However, John Bass, a U.S. undersecretary of state, denied claims by one faction, Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, that it assisted in the U.S. evacuation. Biden had ordered American troops to evacuate embassy personnel after receiving a recommendation from his national security team, with no end in sight to the fighting. The U.S. evacuation planning for American employees of the embassy got underway in earnest on Monday after the embassy convoy was attacked in Khartoum.

☆ U.S. to Begin Training Ukrainian Forces on Abrams Tanks in May
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Nancy A. Youssef | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Illustration: Adam AdadaThe U.S. will send 31 Abrams tanks to Germany next month and begin training Ukrainian forces on how to operate them, defense officials said Friday. Speaking to reporters at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where Ukrainian allies met Friday to discuss how to coordinate their support, Army Gen. Mark Milley , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that tanks designed for training would begin arriving in the next few weeks.

☆ Allies move to bolster Ukrainian tank forces ahead of counteroffensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine has pressed its allies for long-range weapons, jets and ammunition ahead of a counteroffensive to push back Russian troops that is expected in the coming weeks or months. Abrams battle tanks will arrive in Germany in the coming weeks for Ukrainian troops to begin training, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters. NATO member states and their allies have provided Ukraine with weapons and armour, but Ukraine's leadership has repeatedly asked for more powerful weapons and quicker supplies. "The Russians are cautious to come into Ukraine because of the effective use of the Ukrainian air defense system. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban poured cold water on Ukraine's NATO prospects, simply tweeting "What?!"

☆ NATO's chief is talking openly about alliance membership for Ukraine as Putin's war continues to shoot Russia in the foot
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine has long sought NATO membership, something Vladimir Putin deeply opposes. Ukraine has long sought NATO membership. As early as April 2008, NATO said it "welcomed" aspirations from Ukraine and Georgia — the latter was attacked by Russia later that year — to join the military alliance. Finland officially became the 31st member of the military alliance earlier this month, a huge setback for Putin. in a Friday tweet that included a link to a media report about Stoltenberg telling Zelenskyy Ukraine belongs in NATO.

☆ A fifth of Russian prisoners recruited to fight in Ukraine are HIV positive, with convicts promised anti-viral drugs if they agreed to fight: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A fifth of recruits in Russian prisoner units are HIV positive, says Ukraine, per The New York TImes. Prisoners were recruited to join the Wagner Group in Ukraine with promises of anti-viral medication. Captured soldiers said they agreed because Russian prisons deprived them of effective HIV treatment. "I understood I would have a quick death or a slow death," he said, referring to the high death toll among Wagner Group soldiers. Last year he was bedridden with pneumonia, and later became sick while at a training camp for the Wagner Group, according to the newspaper.

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