(Image by NEIVANMADE)
As I do occasionally, so I’m not doing it one at a time in the comments. Thank you to everyone for the kind words and you are all most welcome for the updates. I wish I didn’t have to do them. I look forward to them no longer being necessary, but until then, we’ll all sit vigil for and bear witness too the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainians.
I conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine upon Oleksandr Matsiyevsky. A Ukrainian warrior. A man who will be known and remembered forever. For his bravery, for his confidence in Ukraine and for his "Glory to Ukraine!". Glory to the Hero! Glory to the Heroes! Glory to Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/uKUKIhCfMp
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 12, 2023
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump: (emphasis mine)
Now is the time when Ukraine can overcome all historical difficulties if we preserve our unity – address by the President of Ukraine
12 March 2023 – 20:11
Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!
Today I spoke with the new President of the Czech Republic, Pavel. A good conversation, a conversation of partners. We discussed defense against the terrorist state, our joint defense of Europe. I thanked him for the support already provided by the Czech Republic. There are things we can still do together. I invited Mr. President to visit Ukraine.
Overall, this week was, as always, active for Ukraine. Visits by the Prime Minister of Finland, the Minister of Defense of Norway, UN Secretary-General Guterres, leaders of the ruling German Social Democratic Party, and a conversation with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. All of this yields results.
In particular, we have significantly strengthened air defense – I thank Norway for this; we have new agreements on the diplomatic front; there is movement on the European integration track – as a result of the implementation of anti-corruption steps set out in the recommendations of the European Commission, including the appointment of a new Director of NABU.
I would like to express gratitude to our power engineers for this week, to all the repair crews, local and central authorities who were involved in the elimination of consequences of the Russian terrorist attack on Thursday.
As of today, we have managed to restore the technical capabilities of electricity supply. Kharkiv has electricity. Zhytomyr region has electricity. All cities and communities that had problems with energy supply have been powered again. I thank each and every person who worked for this!
By the way, our program for exchanging old lamps for new LED lamps is also being actively implemented. In total, Ukrainians have already received 12 million LED lamps. Speaking of energy saving, this volume allows us to save up to 600 megawatts of energy. This is roughly equivalent to more than half of the generation of the most powerful nuclear power plant unit. Please take advantage of this lamp exchange program.
I would like to thank our rescuers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, and in the border areas of Sumy and Chernihiv regions. To all those who are consistently eliminating the consequences of Russian shelling.
Today, I would like to commend the 41st state fire and rescue unit of Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region. Major Herman Starcheus, Captain Serhiy Kulinchenko, junior sergeants Roman Dychko and Kyrylo Sayenko. Thank you guys for your excellent work and courage!
Of course, I am grateful to all our warriors from Khortytsia and Tavria who are fighting in the hottest spots in the most difficult conditions.
In less than one week – since March 6 – in the Bakhmut sector alone, they managed to eliminate more than 1,100 enemy soldiers, which are Russia’s irreversible losses, losses there, near Bakhmut. In addition, at least 1,500 more sanitary losses of the enemy – these are wounds incompatible with continuing fighting. Plus, dozens of units of enemy equipment were destroyed. Plus, more than ten Russian ammunition depots were burned.
I am grateful to every warrior of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, our intelligence – the Shaman fighters, the National Guard, our border guards – everyone who is really fighting for Ukrainian land, for Bakhmut!
I am grateful to the fighters of Tavria who are effectively fighting in the areas of Avdiivka and Maryinka. To the artillerymen of the 55th separate Zaporizhzhia Sich brigade, the warriors of the 35th separate marine brigade, the 74th separate reconnaissance battalion, and our Seventy-Niners – the paratroopers!
And also the Zaporizhzhia direction of Tavria – the 128th separate mountain assault brigade. Thank you all, guys!
I am grateful to each and every one who again helped our soldiers this week, treated them after their injuries, searched for things to support them with, organized volunteer fundraising and sent to the front what they asked for! Together, in unity, we will achieve victory.
This week there is also a movement to strengthen our spiritual independence. Society sees this. And I see the approval of Ukrainians for these steps, which are quite legitimate. And we will continue this movement. We will not allow the terrorist state to have any opportunity to manipulate the spirituality of our people, to destroy Ukrainian shrines – our Lavras – or to steal any valuables from them.
And one more thing. Today is the 160th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Ukrainian scientist Volodymyr Vernadsky. A man who lived in a very difficult time, but who, despite everything, believed in Ukraine, chose Ukraine, and helped Ukraine.
We are now living in a time when Ukraine can overcome all historical difficulties. We can do that! If we preserve our unity, take care of each other and our country. I thank everyone who cares about Ukraine and Ukrainians! I thank everyone who cares about our unity and the unity of the world for the sake of Ukraine! I thank each and every one who is now fighting for the independence of our country!
May the memory of all those who gave their lives for Ukraine be eternal! All those whom we remember when we say “Glory to Ukraine!”
Today I conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine upon Oleksandr Matsiyevsky, a soldier. A man whom all Ukrainians will know. A man who will be remembered forever. For his bravery, for his confidence in Ukraine and for his “Glory to Ukraine!”
Glory to the Hero!
Glory to the Heroes!
Glory to Ukraine!
Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessment of the situation in Bakhmut:
BAKHMUT AXIS /1515 UTC 12 MAR/ UKR forces are reported to be engaged at Berkhivka and Krasna Hora, indicating that RU units have been driven back in the vicinity of the T-05-14 and M-04 junction. Urban combat continues in the city of Bakhmut. pic.twitter.com/MfgSRPG9H8
— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 12, 2023
Bakhmut: video updates from Kyianyn and Magyar:
Update on Bakhmut, 12 March – Kyianyn. pic.twitter.com/wntLzAKhrl
— Dmitri (@wartranslated) March 12, 2023
Magyar on the line, 12 March. pic.twitter.com/xHIGDBWGoo
— Dmitri (@wartranslated) March 12, 2023
Vuhledar:
Private First Class Hamster.
The secret of Ukrainе’s effective defense in the Vuhledar area is the involvement of the best specialist in earthworks.🎥@DPSU_ua pic.twitter.com/2Dpy2t4eNn
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 12, 2023
And thanks to Dmitri, here’s an English subtitled report on Ukrainian Soldiers training in England:
A report about the training of Ukrainian soldiers by British instructors in the north of England. pic.twitter.com/ba7XWriqng
— Dmitri (@wartranslated) March 12, 2023
The Ukrainian officer who tweets as Tatarigami has posted another interesting analysis of Russian assault units. First tweet in the thread below, the rest from the Thread Reader App:
🧵Thread
1/
In my previous analysis, I explored the armament and role of assault units. However, their actual effectiveness and structure often differs from what is written in manuals. To provide a more realistic perspective, I'll share a final insight about assault units pic.twitter.com/8s0e6WITw3— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) March 12, 2023
2/ To begin, it is crucial to differentiate between temporary and permanent assault units. Assault units that are integrated into a battalion, regiment, or brigade structure, are called “Storm” units. Their size can range from a company to a reinforced battalion3/ There are also temporary assault units/groups assembled within a regiment or battalion for a specific assault operation, they do not have number, name, defined structure, regular commanders, or armament, but are instead tailored to each mission’s specific requirements4/ Temporary assault formations are created for specific missions and do not receive additional training or time to build unit coordination. Once the mission is completed, the formation is disbanded and soldiers return to their regular platoons and companies until the next task.5/ For instance, if the enemy detects that Ukrainian defenders have only 10 soldiers in a trench with no significant anti-tank weaponry, they may form an assault group with a 5:1 advantage and support it with a few tanks to increase their chances of success.6/ Based on personal anecdotes gathered across the frontline, the quality of temporary assault units is questionable. These units have displayed a propensity to retreat after initial losses and often lack proper communication, leading to difficulties in coordinating their actions7/ Furthermore, they have been vulnerable to deception, with many being misled into launching premature assaults under false pretenses, such as the purported destruction of Ukrainian positions by artillery fire.8/ Permanent assault units called “Storm” are integrated into the structure and have formal commanders. The quality of their training can vary widely depending on the unit forming the “storm” unit, ranging from no training to rigorous and serious training.9/ Storm assault unit is typically comprised of an assault company, along with one or two tanks and several APCs, that are utilized to transport infantry to the front lines. These units may also be deployed on foot, or transported on top of tanks, depending on the situation.10/ It seems that the russian command, possibly influenced by Wagner, has made a decision to establish “Storm” units for break-through assault missions. As a result, the success of these units will depend heavily on the resources and competence of the brigade itself11/ Some Storm units received extensive training and experienced instructors to build teamwork, while others were hastily assembled from unwanted soldiers to fulfill orders, leading to varied levels of quality.12/ It’s worth noting that certain Storm units were transformed into “penal units”, where officers place problematic or disobedient soldiers. There have been at least 2 documented cases where officers used the threat of transferring soldiers to these units as a means of extortion13/ While not without flaws, some Storm units have proven to be formidable in assault missions. Their adaptability and flexibility allows them to successfully locate and engage weak points in static and non-maneuverable defenses.14/ My assessment suggests that the Kremlin is conducting a large-scale, ongoing experiment to adapt to the challenges. Field commanders are attempting to implement directives from their superiors, with varying degrees of success ranging from full execution to mere imitation.15/ The enemy’s shift in military strategy from a focus on divisions and armies to smaller battalions and companies may suggest limited capabilities. The creation of assault groups indicates a willingness to continue grinding offensive operations albeit on a smaller scale.In the future, I will share additional real-life examples of Storm assaults, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Be sure to follow for updates, as Twitter’s algorithms may not prioritize war-related content, and you wouldn’t want to miss out.
Colonel-General Syrsky, the Ukrainian theater commander, posted the following on his Telegram channel:
War is psychology. If the enemy is nervous, you need to put him in a stable state of anxiety so that he makes mistakes.This is done not only thanks to unexpected decisions and strikes, but also military tricks, which in recent weeks have been well demonstrated by the soldiers of 10 separate mountain assault and 54 separate mechanized brigades. Their non-standard, asymmetric and daring actions constantly unpleasantly surprise the enemy.
The nervousness of the enemy due to insecurity must be turned into panic, so that it creates chaos, the result of which are “gestures of goodwill”.
Why do we still fight? This is first part of our answer. The second part you'll see in the coming weeks. #SpringIsComing pic.twitter.com/N61HVadUFu
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 12, 2023
"Due to the powerful support of partners, many lives of Ukrainians have been saved, and objects of the state's critical infrastructure have been protected.
🇳🇴🇺🇸 Thank you for your help!"Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of 🇺🇦
Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk pic.twitter.com/Ru0RtcRJ40— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) March 11, 2023
That’s enough for tonight.
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Open thread!
lashonharangue
Friday?
dmsilev
@lashonharangue: Some weekends are longer than others.
Sister Golden Bear
@dmsilev: Many of us are still in denial about the time change.
Elizabelle
Daylight savings time. The toll is clear. (“Friday.”)
different-church-lady
By my calculations, you’ve neglected to set your clock forward for the last 48 years.
Bill Arnold
Re the “#SpringIsComing” tag, that is brutal. :-)
The one from Colonel-General Syrsky,about Russians experiencing unpleasant surprises is also edgy. (I am a big fan of surprise.)
Another Scott
RFERL.org:
I can’t help but remember the early video clips of seemingly everyone in Ukraine learning how to make Molotov cocktails. Ukraine has had a long time to prepare for urban combat, and experience with it in other areas. I, obviously, have no special knowledge, and fog of war and all that, but it seems that continued trouble by the “musicians” is very good news.
Slava Ukraini!!
Cheers,
Scott.
Alison Rose
HAMSTER. Sorry. Had to get that out first.
I will always be so impressed and moved by the unceasing optimism and confidence and forward-looking nature of Zelenskyy and all Ukrainians. They have really become a beacon to the world of what people and nations should be like. We would all do well to emulate them.
I love the #SpringIsComing video, and I hope the implications are what I think they are, and that they come true very soon.
Thank you as always, Adam.
NutmegAgain
I know Germany often switches time on a different day than the US–Gin & Tonic: does Ukraine do Daylight savings? I googled, but the response was that there was no difference between summer & winter time, but that on March 26 they will advance the clocks one hour. Google-based confusion!
[And a very minor humble brag, although none of us really know who we are on the internet, so likely meaningless! I did not expect to see a name close to me in Pres. Zelinsky’s address. The Prof. Volodymyr Vernadsky he he mentions is the father of historian George Vernadsky, who my family was very close to. The Vernadskys were like an extra set of grandparents.]
Anonymous at Work
Reading deeper into Russia’s infiltration of unwilling but deeply stupid journalists. Can’t fathom the willing ones, though. The Russian requests aren’t kosher by a long shot. How could they?
Also, without both types of dupes, how empty would Fox News be?
Jay
Anyway
Bleh. -Navalny- received the Best Documentary Oscar …
Frank Wilhoit
“…overcome all historical difficulties…” These are strong and evocative words, especially coming from a Slav, to whom the Dark Ages were yesterday and everything since then was this morning.
Adam L Silverman
I’ll fix the title in a minute.
Chetan Murthy
@Anyway: I read here-and-there that one of the reasons Zelenskiyy was not invited to speak, was that it would take attention away from the Navalny doc. Sigh. Russia always gets the spotlight, and its many victims get ignored, b/c they’re “part of Russia”.
Alison Rose
@Chetan Murthy: UGH. If that’s true, that bugs me a LOT.
Jay
Jay
Anoniminous
Somebody in the Russian Army (finally) read their “Rohr Auf Strosstruppen” copyright 1915. Even down to the silly – in 2023 – attachment of flame throwers. The hardware is all nice but what they don’t have, and will probably never have in this war, is experienced NCOs capable of putting the doctrine into practice. Furthermore, Mission-type tactics (Auftragstaktiks) give unit commanders not only have the opportunity but the duty to ignore orders in furtherance of fulfilling the intent of the mission. This is strictly verboten in the Russian Army where Orders Are Orders and must be exactly followed.
YY_Sima Qian
Looks like China intends to be a more activist player in the Middle East, beyond the recent Saudi-Iran deal where Beijing mainly provided the platform. (Although it is still significant that Saudi Arabia was willing to give Beijing this platform, & give it prominence.)
Emphasis mine.
YY_Sima Qian
This is getting a bit more interesting:
I still think most of this is performative, part of the Chinese effort to sooth the EU & ensure that there isn’t lockstep alignment between the US & the EU against China, or a similar consensus w/in NATO. There is no pathway to a negotiated settlement at this time. However, even a virtual meeting between Xi & Zelenskyy would be symbolically significantly, & a tilt away from the rhetorically pro-Russian neutrality that has characterized the “Beijing straddle” to date. It can’t be something that Putin is pleased w/. I am now rather skeptical if there is any serious consideration in Beijing for selling weapons & munitions to Russia, or if there was any such serious considerations to begin w/.
It is not a surprise that the the sudden surge of Chinese diplomatic activity comes at this time. While Xi secured his 3rd term & put in place his preferred Party leadership team during the 20th Party Congress in Oct. 2022, China just completed the “Two Sessions” (the National People’s Congress & the National People’s Political Consultative Congress) where the new upper echelons of the State bureaucracy has been filled out, & the top level Party leaders (members of the Central Committee, the Politburo & the Standing Committee) are also assigned corresponding positions in the State bureaucracy. There has been a large turnover in both the upper echelons of both the Party & the State. W/ both new teams in place, Xi & the CCP leadership can now start to shift both domestic & foreign policy in directions that they intend. The months between a Party Congress & the following “Two Sessions” can be a time of policy stasis & paralysis, but Xi & the new CCP leadership has been active laying the groundwork.
The policymaking (foreign & domestic) are carried out by the Party organs, while the policy execution is the province of the State organs. For example, Chinese Ministers of Foreign Affairs is actually a relatively low level position in both the State & Party apparatus, a mere executioner of policies decided by higher ups, & not at all an equal counterpart to the US SOS. The top foreign policy person is the State Councilor for foreign policy who is also typically a member of the full Politburo. (& it is striking the that the top foreign policy point person has never held a seat in the Standing Committee, that tells you where the CCP regime’s priorities lie, & who is the ultimate foreign policy decision maker).
Wang Yi, the former State Councilor for foreign affairs & head of the MFA, is now in the Politburo. Qin Gang, the former Ambassador to the US & current head of the MFA, has now been elevated to State Councilor. It is no coincidence that photos of the trilateral meeting among China, Iran & Saudi Arabia show Wang Yi at the center of the Chinese table & Qin Gang to his side. Qin Gang’s position has also been elevated compared to previous heads of MFA, becoming State Councilor & member of the Central Committee in his 1st term in office (normally does not happen until the 2nd term, if there is one). Of course, organization changes announced during the “Two Sessions” has concentrated virtually all of the policymaking power in the Party organs, w/ the State organs losing what policymaking input they used to have. Qin Gang’s influence in Chinese foreign policy will come from his position in the Central Committee, rather than position as head of the MFA. However, he will have likely greater freedom in policy execution, by virtue of his position as State Councilor.