Ukraine Drafting Reinforcements To Replace Its Losses
War News Updates
Recent recruits pose for a group portrait at an Azov Brigade training facility outside Kyiv on March 24. © Alice Martins for The Washington Post
Washington Post: As spring offensive nears, Ukraine is drafting reinforcements
KYIV, Ukraine — The men in uniform could show up almost anywhere, anytime.
They knock on civilians’ front doors and randomly stop them on street corners, handing out draft papers that can turn lives upside down.
Ukraine needs more soldiers — and fast. Kyiv is preparing for an imminent assault on Russian occupying forces, and while Ukraine does not disclose its casualty counts, commanders in the field have described large losses. In a trove of leaked classified files, the U.S. government recently estimated that between 124,000 and 131,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed or wounded since the start of the invasion — more than five times what Kyiv has publicly disclosed.
“We need to understand if the war lasts another year, we’re all going to be in the army,” said Sasha, 35, a casting director and amateur kickboxer who is taking a private military training course in the capital in case he is drafted. He spoke on the condition that only his first name be used, because of concerns over publicizing his mobilization status.
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WNU Editor: I have been told that for many of these recruits it is a few weeks of training, and then it is off to the front lines. I hope this information is wrong. Because if it is true, when I look at the picture above, all I see is cannon-fodder.
Inside Ukraine’s Final Bloody Stand For Bakhmut
DNYUZ/New York Times: The Final Blocks: Inside Ukraine’s Bloody Stand for Bakhmut
After 10 months of one of the longest and bloodiest battles in Russia’s war in Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers are now defending a shrinking half-circle of ruins in a western neighborhood of Bakhmut, only about 20 blocks wide and continually pounded with artillery.
Pushed into this ever-smaller corner of the 16-square-mile city, the Ukrainian army is determined to hunker down and hold out, even as allies have quietly questioned the rationale for fighting block by block, sustaining significant casualties, in a city that is a devastating panorama of damaged buildings and rubble.
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WNU Editor: The Military Summary Channel has a must see report on the current battle for Bakhmut (see below):
More News On The Battle For Bakhmut
Kyiv denies Wagner Bakhmut claim, Russia says forces advancing -- Reuters
Russia says it strikes Ukrainian forces trying to reinforce Bakhmut -- Jerusalem Post
Ukraine’s forces say they have so far thwarted Moscow’s efforts to sever supply lines around Bakhmut. -- New York Times
Russia’s airborne troops sent to Bakhmut to reinforce regular army, not Wagner -- New Voice Of Ukraine
Wagner Troops and Russian Airborne Division Tighten Grip on Bakhmut—ISW -- Newsweek
Russia Conducts A Successful Test Launch Of An 'Advanced' ICBM
* Russia launched an 'advanced' ICBM during tests in Kazakhstan overnight
Russia overnight unleashed a 'new intercontinental ballistic missile' test launch, 'successfully' striking a target at a firing range in Kazakhstan.
Full details of the mysterious 'advanced' rocket were not initially released but experts believe it to be a powerful Topol-ME system.
The launch came only weeks after Russia suspended its participation in its last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the US, New START, under which the US and Russia had agreed to limit their nuclear stockpiles.
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Russia Conducts A Successful Test Launch Of An 'Advanced' ICBM
Russia tests intercontinental ballistic missile (VIDEO) -- RT
Strategic Missile Forces test advanced combat supplying in ICBM launch -- TASS
Moscow notifies Washington of ICBM launch — senior Russian diplomat -- TASS
Russia conducts test launch of 'advanced' intercontinental ballistic missile -- ABC News Australia
Russia Conducts Test Launch of 'Advanced' ICBM -- Moscow Times/AFP
Watch the moment Russia test-launches ‘new intercontinental ballistic missile’ -- The Independent
Russia tests ICBM that can 'destroy a city, evade all air defence systems' -- First Post
Russia claims to have notified the U.S. of recent intercontinental ballistic missile launch -- News 360
Picture Of The Day
Ukrainian service members from the 28th mechanized brigade remain in their trenches after incoming fire at the front line, in the region of Bakhmut, Ukraine, April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
WNU Editor: The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... Fighting in trenches: Life at Ukraine's front line (Reuters).
Leaked Pentagon Documents Outlines Four ‘Wild Card’ Scenarios In The Russia-Ukraine War
Red Square
New York Times: A leaked document outlines four ‘wild card’ scenarios in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
A secret intelligence document obtained by The New York Times that was among those leaked on the internet this year provides insight into planning for contingencies one year into the war in Ukraine.
The analysis by the Defense Intelligence Agency outlines four “wild card” scenarios and how they could affect the course of the conflict in Ukraine. The hypothetical scenarios include the deaths of Presidents Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, the removal of leadership within the Russian Armed Forces and a Ukrainian strike on the Kremlin.
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WNU Editor: Here is my take on these four "wild card" scenarios.
The death of Putin will only mean the ascension of a hardcore leader. That person will probably be Patrushev Nikolai.
If Zelensky should die. It is hard to say who will replace him. There will be many contenders to that job, but all of them will continue Zelensky's war policies and strategies.
I do not see the complete removal of the Russian military leadership happening anytime soon. Certainly not in the middle of a war.
The scenario that I do see happening is a Ukrainian military strike on the Kremlin. But this will only escalate the war, and it will also change Russian rules of engagement to now directly target the Ukrainian leadership.
My biggest fear/scenario is that Ukraine uses a dirty bomb that will make Red Square and the area surrounding the Kremlin a no-go to place for generations. In this nightmare scenario Russia will respond with nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and will launch conventional military strikes against NATO military sites that are providing intelligence/logistical/and hardware support for Ukraine's war efforts.
Leaked Pentagon Documents Say Kremlin Insiders Are Plotting Against Putin
VICE: Leaked Pentagon Docs Share Wild Rumor: Kremlin Plans to ‘Throw’ Putin’s War While He’s Getting Chemo
The leaked documents suggested that a top Kremlin general would sabotage the war while Putin is distracted with cancer treatments. The leaked Pentagon documents contain a rumor that Russia’s top general is conspiring to “throw” the war in Ukraine while Putin is getting chemotherapy.
Last week, classified documents from a Pentagon intelligence report made their way onto Telegram and Twitter after leaking on Discord. The leaks appear to have been printed out and photographed before being removed from a secure location. Along with information about troop movements and casualties in Ukraine, the documents also contain daily intelligence briefings, a collection of short bits of information from various sources around the world.
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WNU Editor: If this is what US intelligence thinks is the state of affairs in the Kremlin right now (i.e. Russian leaders plotting to undermine and/or overthrow Putin), they are truly clueless on Russia.
The overwhelming majority of Russians right now see their country in an existential war against the West. The Russian leadership also believe this conflict as an existential threat against Russia and its government. The last thing that is on their mind right now is to overthrow Putin. Their focus and priority is to win the Ukraine war.
Massive Volcano Eruption in Russia's Kamchatka Spews Vast Ash Clouds 19 Kilometers Into The Sky
Shiveluch volcano erupted in Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula
* The Shiveluch volcano erupted just after midnight in the Kamchatka Peninsula
* Lava flowed from the volcano, melting snow, and raising warnings of mud flows
One of Russia's most active volcanoes has erupted, shooting a vast cloud of ash far up into the sky and smothering villages in drifts of grey volcanic dust. The doomsday scene on Tuesday turned day to night as ash rose 12 miles (19 kilometres) above the Shiveluch volcano in Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.
The eruption took place just after midnight reaching a crescendo about six hours later, as a plume of ash sat above an area of 41,700 square miles (108,000 square kilometres) - an area larger than Scotland and Wales combined.
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WNU Editor: This is a major event that is going to impact everyone. In the Northern hemisphere temperatures are going to drop significantly in the coming months, and may last 2 to 3 years. Expect a shorter growing season and lower crop yields. This of course will mean higher food and energy prices.
Massive Volcano Eruption in Russia's Kamchatka Spews Vast Ash Clouds 19 Kilometers Into The Sky
Volcano eruption in Russia's Kamchatka spews vast ash clouds -- AP
Volcano erupts in Russia's far east, spewing ash 20 kilometers into the air -- CNN
Russia volcano eruption smothers villages and triggers aviation alert -- The Guardian
Russian volcano spews masses of ash across Kamchatka -- DW
Volcanic eruption in Russia's Kamchatka threatens aviation -- DW
Shiveluch volcano eruption in Russia spews out massive ash cloud, sparks aviation warning -- ABC News Australia
Russia - Ukraine War: Military Summary And Analysis For 4.10.2023 (Video)
WNU Editor: A lot of updates on the Russia - Ukraine war from the Military Summary channel (see above). Alexander Mercouris gives his updates on the war below.
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