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Post by Blitz on Sept 25, 2023 8:58:50 GMT -5
ADMIRAL ‘WIPED OUT’ Commander of Putin’s Black Sea Fleet ‘KILLED in missile strike along with 33 leaders in biggest scalp of whole war’ Katie Davis, Will Stewart - Published: 7:52 ET, Sep 25 2023Updated: 9:11 ET, Sep 25 2023 www.the-sun.com/news/9171720/commander-black-sea-fleet-killed/THE commander of Vladimir Putin's feared Black Sea Fleet has been killed in a strike on Crimea, Ukraine claims. Admiral Viktor Sokolov is understood to be one of 34 officers who died after Storm Shadows blitzed the headquarters in Sevastopol.
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Post by Blitz on Oct 7, 2023 7:38:21 GMT -5
Russia Shoots Down Its Own Su-35 Jet for Second Time Within Days: Reports Story by Nick Mordowanec - 10/7/2023 www.newsweek.com/russia-shoots-down-own-jet-second-time-su-35-1832781#:~:text=Russian%20fighters%20in%20Ukraine%20reportedly,referenced%20by%20Ukrainian%20defense%20officials. A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, in the northwest of Syria on May 4, 2016. Reports allege that Russia has destroyed two of its Su-35 jets within the past eight days, described as friendly fire incidents. Russia has neither confirmed nor denied such reports. Russian fighters in Ukraine reportedly downed their own advanced frontline jet for the second time in eight days. The incident took place Friday in Mariupol, according to multiple reports referenced by Ukrainian defense officials. Information remains scarce but alluded to the pilot of the Russian Su-35 multirole fighter jet surviving the attack. "At this rate of work of our valiant air defense, we will soon be left without aviation," reads a Telegram post by Russian military blogger Fighterbomber. These new reports have not been confirmed by Russian authorities. Newsweek is unable to independently verify the footage or reports and reached out to the Russian and Ukrainian Defense Ministries via email for comment. The previous friendly fire incident, which Russia still has not publicly acknowledged, occurred on September 28 near the occupied Ukrainian city of Tokmak in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. Jordan Cohen, an arms trade expert and policy analyst at the Cato Institute, told Newsweek that if reports are accurate, Russian President Vladimir Putin "is likely pretty angry." "With that said, neither side has been able to establish air superiority since the very start of the war," Cohen said. "This is because both sides have done a good job of deploying armed air defense systems. Thus, without air superiority and operating planes 12 miles from the front, this is not exactly an unpredictable occurrence."
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Post by Blitz on Oct 11, 2023 6:50:04 GMT -5
Qatar Signs 27-Year Deal To Supply France With LNG By Tsvetana Paraskova - Oct 11, 2023, 6:41 AM CDT oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Qatar-Signs-27-Year-Deal-To-Supply-France-With-LNG.htmlQatarEnergy and TotalEnergies have signed two long-term LNG agreements under which Qatar will supply up to 3.5 million tons per year of LNG to France for 27 years beginning in 2026, Qatar’s state giant said on Wednesday. TotalEnergies is a minority partner in Qatar’s huge LNG expansion projects North Field East (NFE) and North Field South (NFS), from which the volumes to be delivered to France will be sourced. TotalEnergies’ partnership in the expansion projects is made up of a 6.25% share in the NFE project and a 9.375% interest in the NFS project. The LNG will be delivered on an ex-ship basis to the Fos Cavaou LNG receiving terminal in southern France. Qatar will thus increase its shipments to France, which has been receiving some Qatari LNG since 2009. “These two new agreements we have signed with our partner TotalEnergies, demonstrate our continued commitment to the European markets in general, and to the French market in particular, thus contributing to France’s energy security,” said Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy President and CEO. “Our efforts span from bolstering production capacity in Qatar to the development of the Golden Pass LNG export project in the United States, in addition to our commitments in various LNG receiving terminals in Europe, including the Montoir-de-Bretagne LNG Terminal in France,” Al-Kaabi added. The deal with TotalEnergies is the first 27-year deal for QatarEnergy to supply LNG to Europe, a deal that follows similar 27-year deals with Chinese firm Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). Earlier this month, Qatar broke ground for the world’s largest LNG project, the North Field expansion project, which will boost the tiny Gulf country’s export capacity by 48 million tons per annum (mmtpa) by 2027. In July this year, Al-Kaabi said that “40% of all the new LNG that will come to the market by 2029, when all our projects are up and running, is going to be from QatarEnergy.” By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
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Post by Blitz on Oct 27, 2023 7:32:14 GMT -5
The Russian fleet is withdrawing from Crimea. It may already be too late Oct 26, 2023 www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-russian-fleet-is-withdrawing-from-crimea-it-may-already-be-too-late/ar-AA1iTpJH?cvid=8fdc54bd250441688aee490b8a169d1b&ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&ei=4Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the reign of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea region has come to an end. Additional ships are being withdrawn by the invaders and directed to safer regions. The latest weapon deliveries for Kyiv, including long-range missiles, according to the President of Ukraine, may mean even greater problems for Russian ships. - The Russian fleet is no longer capable of operating in the western part of the Black Sea and is gradually withdrawing from Crimea - said Volodymyr Zelensky. The Russian Black Sea Fleet significantly reduced The initial attacks of the Ukrainians on Russian ships did not produce measurable effects. Over time, however, this began to change. The defending army came into possession of, among other things, Sea Baby drones with a large range and the ability to carry even 1850 pounds of explosives. It was these that were used to assault the Crimean Bridge and several Russian units, including the project 22160 ships, of which the Russians have only four. The Black Sea Fleet also suffered significant losses during the air attack on the shipyard in Sevastopol. The Russian submarine and a Project 775 (Ropucha) landing ship were seriously damaged, excluding them from further activities. Both were undergoing minor repairs. The Ukrainians took full advantage of this moment, and they used Storm Shadow maneuvering missiles provided by Great Britain for the attack. Thanks to them, targets as far as about 311 miles away can be attacked. The SCALP-EG missiles, which are being supplied to Ukraine by France, have the same range. On October 17 Eastern Time, Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the receipt of ATACMS tactical missiles from the United States. This is another long-range weapon (up to 186 miles, although variants with a range of up to 99 miles were included in this batch) in the Ukrainians' arsenal. The Russians plan to establish a new naval base Ukrainian intelligence reported that even before confirming the delivery of ATACMS to Ukraine, the mere news about efforts to acquire this weapon prompted the Russians to evacuate the base in Sevastopol. The ships stationed there will most likely end up in the new Russian naval base in Abkhazia - a separatist region of Georgia. In the area of the city of Ochamchira, work related to the deepening of the port and the reconstruction of part of the infrastructure has already been noticed. Definition - The Russian leader was recently forced to mention the creation of a new Black Sea Fleet base - more precisely, its remnants - on the occupied territory of Georgia (...), as far away as possible from Ukrainian missiles and drones. However, we will reach them everywhere - added Zelenski Approximate distance from Odessa to the newly built base by the Russians. © Google Maps Ukrainians have been working on a weapon for some time now, which would have a range of up to about 621 miles. Such an arsenal would allow an attack on a base in Abkhazia from territories under Kiev's control.
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Post by Blitz on Nov 7, 2023 18:09:49 GMT -5
Major setback: launch of a nuclear rocket turns into a failure Story by Olivia Brown - 11/7/2023 www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/major-setback-launch-of-a-nuclear-rocket-turns-into-a-failure/ar-AA1jw0kq?cvid=067fca86d7314555a3994e4a82475109&ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&ei=5Currently, Russia is experiencing significant setbacks in its efforts to modernize its strategic nuclear forces, as reported by the German news website merkur.de. On November 1, tests of the Yars intercontinental missile in Russia appear to have been unsuccessful, even though this missile is the main element of the ground component of the country’s strategic nuclear forces. This information comes from the Ukrainian defense intelligence service. The launch of the Yars missile from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Archangel region, aimed at the Kura range on the Kamchatka Peninsula, was conducted by the combat crew of the 33rd Missile Army of the Russian Strategic Missile Troops. According to the Ukrainian defense intelligence service, the Yars missile, similar to previous exercises on October 25, deviated from its intended course. Also, on October 25, a test launch of the Bulava ballistic missile from a Borei-class submarine was unsuccessful, which again calls into question the reliability of this missile, as reported by the defense-focused online magazine Defense Express. Target on Peninsula Hit However, Russia conducted another test of the Bulava missile on November 1, and according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, this test was successful. The ballistic missile was launched from an underwater position off the Russian north coast in the Barents Sea and hit a target on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, which was a thousand kilometers away. These claims have not yet been independently verified and/or confirmed. For this reason, they should be considered with caution. In war, it can be advantageous for the parties involved to deliberately spread false information in order to strengthen their own position or weaken the opponent’s.
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Post by Blitz on Nov 14, 2023 13:01:56 GMT -5
Can you imagine the out cry in the USA if this was happening. The Vietnam conflict resulted in US military losses of 58,220. The Iraq resulted in 4,576 casualties. The war in Afghanistan had 2,432 casualties. And now this... FIELDS OF BLOOD Putin has lost staggering 300,000 Russian soldiers in his failing war in Ukraine, says UK intelligence Chilling footage shows Russian troops lying dead on a battlefield after another defeat by Ukraine Ellie Doughty, Jerome Starkey - Published: 8:24 ET, Nov 14 2023 www.the-sun.com/news/9622743/putin-troops-russia-failing-war-ukraine/
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Post by Blitz on Nov 22, 2023 19:15:06 GMT -5
Putin says he is ready to end war as fighting with Ukraine is 'tragedy' Putin also blamed Ukraine's president Zelensky for the continued fighting, saying Russia has "never refused peace talks." By CHARLIE BRADLEY - 15:52, Wed, Nov 22, 2023 | UPDATED: 18:03, Wed, Nov 22, 2023 www.express.co.uk/news/world/1837895/putin-ready-to-end-war-ukraine-zelenskyRussian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is ready to end the war in Ukraine, branding it a "tragedy". The Kremlin chief, who sent his troops into Ukraine last February, blamed Volodymyr Zelensky for the continued violence. Both sides have lost thousands of soldiers on top of the many civilian deaths in Ukraine. Putin is reportedly poised to use his speech at an upcoming G20 meeting to urge world leaders to work out a strategy for ending the war. In a virtual meeting on Wednesday, the Russian president said: “Military actions are always a tragedy. And of course, we should think about how to stop this tragedy. READ MORE: Video of Hamas HQ captured by Israel shows massive tunnels and rocket production lab Ukraine was invaded back in February 2022 Ukraine was invaded back in February 2022 (Image: getty) "By the way, Russia has never refused peace talks with Ukraine." Ukrainian President Zelensky signed a decree in October 2022 declaring that peace talks between his country and Putin are "impossible". Putin has also discussed wider geopolitical issues, saying that economic activity around the world is moving toward Asia. He added that Russia had shipped grain to Africa free of charge, and emphasised the country’s willingness to contribute to global climate and development goals.
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Post by Blitz on Dec 4, 2023 10:16:37 GMT -5
With 2023 coming to a close, I'd say Poo-tin has not been enjoying his decision to try to takeover Ukraine via military force. And now this... Massive Strike: Ukraine “Eliminates” Over 7,000 Russian Soldiers and 534 Units Story by Jack Walls www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/massive-strike-ukraine-eliminates-over-7-000-russian-soldiers-and-534-units/ar-AA1kXAd1?cvid=0d6c195e62a04fe18ec4e4fdded23c5a&ocid=winp2fptaskbar&ei=10&sc=shorelineThe Kyiv Independent reports, citing Oleksandr Pavlyuk, the Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine, that Ukraine has inflicted significant losses on Russia in the past week. According to the report, Ukraine has defeated 7,210 Russian soldiers and destroyed a total of 534 units in the last week. Since November 27, Russia has also lost 62 tanks, 117 armored personnel carriers, 75 artillery systems, six multiple rocket launchers, five air defense systems, 144 vehicles, and 27 units of special equipment, according to Pavlyuk. Since its large-scale offensive, Russia has lost a total of 332,040 soldiers, as per Ukraine’s claims.
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Post by Blitz on Dec 17, 2023 13:01:30 GMT -5
I think Poo-tin knows it would suicide to fight NATO given the losses he's made Russia incur for nearly nothing gained. And now this... Putin threatens ‘problems’ for Finland as NATO ally, contrasts previous ‘cordial’ ties December 17, 2023, 09:35 AM english.nv.ua/nation/putin-warns-finland-nato-membership-will-end-cordial-relations-bring-about-problems-50377167.htmlRussian President Vladimir Putin threatened Finland with "problems" because of its accession to NATO. The countries supposedly had "the most cordial relations" before that, the dictator said in an interview with Russian propagandist Pavel Zarubin on Dec. 17. "They dragged Finland into NATO," Putin stated. “Did we have any disputes with Finland? All disputes, including those of a territorial nature, in the middle of the twentieth century, have been resolved. Our relations were the most cordial. There were no problems. Now there will be.” Read also: Finland rejects extradition of Russian neo-Nazi militant due to concerns over Ukraine’s prison conditions Due to Finland's accession to NATO, Russia will create the Leningrad Military District and concentrate military units there, he announced. The Russian dictator nonetheless stated that Moscow does not plan to fight the Alliance, and Putin dismissed the statement of U.S. President Joe Biden about a "possible attack on NATO" as "nonsense." "Russia has no reason, no interests — neither geopolitical, nor economic, nor political, nor military — to fight with NATO countries.” “We have no territorial claims, no desire to spoil relations with them. We are interested in developing relations.” Finland officially joined NATO on April 4, becoming the 31st member state of the North Atlantic Alliance. The country's accession to NATO doubled the length of Russia's border with the Alliance, to 1,340 kilometers.
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Post by Blitz on Dec 19, 2023 7:40:51 GMT -5
Germany To Permanently Deploy Troops for First Time Since World War II Dec 18, 2023 at 1:04 PM EST - By Nick Mordowanec - Staff Writer www.newsweek.com/germany-will-deploy-troops-first-time-since-world-war-ii-1853409A new agreement between Germany and Lithuania will lead to German troops' first permanent foreign deployment since World War II. The announcement was made Monday in Lithuania, where Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas met with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, to outline a multiyear "Roadmap Action Plan" involving approximately 4,800 permanently stationed German soldiers. Both officials called the move a historical moment not just for their nations but for NATO as well. German troops, including those with families, will be stationed in the Lithuanian cities of Kaunas and Vilnius beginning in 2024, with most troops deployed in 2025 and 2026 and full-operation capability expected by 2027. In turn, Lithuania has committed to providing all necessary civilian and military infrastructure. The agreement was originally announced in June, but no timeline was presented at that time. "The German commitment of permanently stationing a brigade in Lithuania is a historical step for both Germany and Lithuania," Anusauskas said Monday, according to a press release. "We are turning over to a page of even deeper strategic partnership." He went on: "The German Brigade will significantly increase our defensive potential and enhance NATO deterrence and collective defense. The Roadmap signed today lays out in detail the track we and Germany will take to implement it." Boris Pistorius Lithuania Troops German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on December 15 in Wunstorf, Germany. On December 18, the German and Lithuanian defense ministries announced a long-term plan that includes deployment of nearly 5,000 German troops to Lithuania. ALEXANDER KOERNER/GETTY IMAGES Pistorius said the move was a positive step in defense relations, considering the lengthy war between Ukraine and Russia, the latter of which borders Lithuania. Belarus, a close ally of Russia, also borders Lithuania. "Germany understands clearly the new state of affairs in security politics: we are taking the role of leadership and responsibility in the [NATO] Alliance as we deploy a combat brigade in Lithuania," Pistorius said in the release. "We will ensure reliable deterrence and we will be ready to [defend] NATO. We are sending a clear signal with this step to those who present a threat to peace and security in Europe." Newsweek reached out to both nations' defense ministries and NATO via email for comment. The plan was formulated by experts within the two defense ministries. Most of the German troops will be stationed in the territory of Rūdninkai military training ground, while the rest will be deployed in the town of Rukla, where some 1,000 allied troops already reside. Putin ally predicts "big war" with NATOREAD MOREPutin ally predicts "big war" with NATO Logistical hubs will cater to the new brigade, which will include three maneuver battalions in addition to combat support and supply units formed by new and existing units. The 203rd Panzer Battalion, based in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 122nd Armored Infantry Battalion, based in Bavaria, will be moved to Lithuania. Lithuania's enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group will be transformed into a multinational battalion to become "an integral part of the brigade," the release said. Lithuanian lawmaker Laurynas Kasciunas, head of the parliamentary National Security and Defense Committee, said the country will allocate 0.3 percent of its gross domestic product over the next several years to help fund the deployment and to build housing, training grounds and other infrastructure for the German troops. Taxes will likely have to be raised to accommodate this plan, he said. Pistorius compared the agreement to the stationing of allied forces in West Germany during the Cold War to defend Western Europe in the event of a Soviet attack, according to Reuters. In January, Germany was pressured by the United States and other Western allies to provide Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine for its defense efforts against Russian forces. "The eastern flank has now moved to the east, and it's the duty of Germany to protect it," Pistorius said Monday during a joint press conference, Reuters reported. He said the German soldiers and their families coming to Lithuania will have "attractive conditions," including German-language schools, kindergartens, housing and flight connections. "The speed of the project clearly shows that Germany understood the new security reality," he added. Anusauskas made it clear that Russia's aggression in Ukraine played a pivotal part in this new plan. "We should expect not only good scenarios but also the very worst scenarios," he said. "So we must be ready.... Russia remains the main threat to us and NATO."
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Post by Blitz on Dec 24, 2023 8:33:24 GMT -5
After over 300,000 Russians have been killed over Poo-tin's huberous and ego... Report: Putin privately signals interest in ceasefire in Ukraine Riley Beggin, USA TODAY - Sat, December 23, 2023 at 11:41 AM EST·2 min read www.yahoo.com/news/report-putin-privately-signals-interest-164118398.htmlBiden pledges full support of Ukraine in its war against Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin has been privately signaling that he is open to a cease-fire in Ukraine, the New York Times reported Saturday, despite publicly saying he won't back down from the conflict that has been ongoing since early last year. More than 10,000 civilians have been killed and more than 18,500 injured since the war began, according to the United Nations, in addition to tens of thousands of troops. Putin has been indicating since at least September that he is open to stopping the fighting at the current boundary lines, the Times reported, citing two former senior Russian officials close to the Kremlin and other American and international officials. That's far from Putin's apparent goal of overtaking Ukraine. Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 and quickly overtook large swaths of the country. But Ukrainian forces pushed back hard and successfully forced Russia to retreat from its northern regions. Since Oct. 2022, the battle lines have remained largely the same, with Russia holding parts of the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine. FILE - Soldiers of Ukraine's state border guard have a break for tea at a military position in the Sumy region of Ukraine, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. After blunting Ukraine's counteroffensive from the summer, Russia is building up its resources for a new stage of the war over the winter, which could involve trying to extend its gains in the east and deal significant blows to the country's vital infrastructure. Russia has ramped up its pressure on Ukrainian forces on several parts of the more than 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. (AP Photo/Hanna Arhirova, File) ORG XMIT: XEST907 Putin also "sent out feelers" for a cease-fire last fall, according to the Times, and communicated that he was satisfied with the territory they had taken. But sources cited by the Times also warned that it could be an attempt at "misdirection" or that Putin could change his mind if his troops regain momentum. It's also not clear Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would accept the deal, as Russia still holds parts of the country. The Russian military had been worn down by early 2023, as professional soldiers were replaced with draftees and prisoners who did not stand up well to Ukraine's forces. Only a small portion of Russians support the war effort, and Putin faced an embarrassing mutiny from mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. However, Ukraine has been unable to retake its lost territories. It's facing wavering support in the West and is competing for international attention with the war in Gaza. Zelenskyy has been lobbying United States leaders to finalize additional aid for his country, including visiting Washington last week to meet with Congressional leaders and President Joe Biden. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), right, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), left, walking to meet with senators on Dec. 12, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Biden has requested $60 billion for Ukraine, as well as $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for humanitarian assistance and $14 billion for the U.S. border. The package has stalled in Congress as the Republican caucus remains fractured over whether to continue to support Ukraine's fight against Russia. The Biden administration has warned that it will soon run out of funding for Ukraine's war effort without additional funds approved by Congress. Republicans refused to vote on the supplemental funding request without significant changes to asylum and border policies. Bipartisan negotiations in the Senate, including White House officials and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, have been ongoing for weeks. The Senate hopes to reach a deal and vote on it when Congress returns early next year. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Report: Putin privately signals interest in ceasefire in Ukraine
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