Now we feel that the Russian aggression is approaching the point where it can break – address by the President of Ukraine

15 March 2023 – 22:45

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Today was a fruitful international day for our country, for our defense.

Another meeting in the Ramstein format was held, the tenth one already. Ammunition for our warriors, artillery, tanks, protection of Ukrainian skies – all this was discussed. There are solutions. I am grateful to the United States, which coordinates Ramstein, and all of our partners for their unflagging willingness to help.

This is especially important now, when we feel that the Russian aggression is approaching the point where it can break.

There is no terrorist that can build up its potential in confronting the free world. Russia is no exception.

We must constantly increase the pressure for terror. Pressure in our defense, in sanctions against Russia, in destroying the ways the Russian state and its companies circumvent sanctions, in political and legal pressure.

The more pressure we put on them, the faster we will move towards restoring our territorial integrity and international legal order. We are doing everything for our partners to feel this. This necessity to continue pressure. Step by step. Without ceasing.

I would like to thank Denmark separately today. Both for the new defense package for Ukraine and for the decision to establish a special fund to help our country in the amount of DKK 7 billion, which is USD 1 billion. It is extremely significant. It is extremely necessary.

I am grateful to the Danish government and parliament, to the entire Danish society. Such decisions ensure that we can speed up the return of peace to Ukraine and stability to the whole of Europe.

There is also an important decision in London today – in the case of the Kremlin bribe to Yanukovych back in 2013. When Russian money and dirty schemes with the then-politicians in Ukraine were actually used as part of the aggression against our country. An aggression that began back then – politically, economically, and later with the use of the special services and military force.

It is in this context that the $3 billion bonds case should be considered. Fully considered. And this is fair.

I addressed the participants of the powerful British conference of the Society of Editors. This is a gathering of leading media professionals in the United Kingdom, authoritative journalists, authoritative editors. People who have actually dedicated their lives to freedom – freedom of speech.

I urged them to spread the truth even more actively about Russian aggression, about our people whose lives are being destroyed by Russia, about our defense, which is returning freedom and security to Ukrainians and all Europeans.

Journalists – the free media of Ukraine and the world – have done a lot during this war to make Russian terror lose. To make Russian propaganda lose. And I want to emphasize: they did it simply by spreading information about what is happening here and now in Ukraine, in Europe, in the world. They were just spreading the truth.

This must be continued. The Kremlin will never defeat the truth. Neither will it defeat Ukraine.

I met with representatives of the American magazine The Atlantic, one of the most prominent global media brands. I met with the owner of the magazine, Mrs. Jobs, the editor-in-chief, Mr. Goldberg, and Anne Applebaum, an authoritative journalist.

We had a very meaningful conversation. In particular, about how we use modern technologies to reinforce our warriors and our institutions. About our army of drones, which will only get bigger and more powerful. About our IT specialists who help protect Ukraine. About the threats posed by Russia in the cyber and information space.

The world must know that the terrorist state seeks to bring destruction not only to our people, but also to all peoples who want to be free.

Of course, I am constantly in touch with our military, with the commanders. Everything we do, everything the state does, is subordinated to one task: to give each of our warriors more capabilities to fight, to give each of our cities more security.

As always, today I would like to commend our warriors who are delivering results in critical areas of the frontline. Of course, Bakhmut. Of course, Donetsk region in general. But also the south. And Kharkiv region. We do not forget about any of the directions of state defense.

The 54th and 92nd separate mechanized brigades – guys, thank you for your resilience and strength in Bakhmut.

The 3rd operational brigade of the National Guard and our border guards, who are fighting for Bakhmut together with all units of the defense and security forces… Thank you, warriors!

Thank you for your courage and for replenishing our exchange fund.

The 15th separate regiment and the 1st presidential operational brigade of the National Guard – I thank you for your results in the battles for the cities of Donetsk region!

The border guards of Kharkiv region – thank you for your strong counteraction to the enemy!

The 406th separate artillery brigade and the 131st separate reconnaissance battalion – thank you, warriors, for the defense of Kherson region! Thank you for your powerful responses to enemy strikes at Ukrainian cities.

The occupier must be destroyed. Thank you to everyone who makes this possible! Glory to each and every one who is now in combat! Glory to everyone who helps!

Glory to Ukraine!

Here’s former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessments of the situation in Bakhmut:

BAKHMUT CITY/ 1915 UTC 15 MAR/ Positional fighting continues in Bakhmut urban area. UKR air defense downs a Russian Su-24 strike fighter near Opytne. #Bakhmut pic.twitter.com/WEL0oIzzlC

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 15, 2023

BAKHMUT AXIS /1445 UTC 15 MAR/ Heavy positional fighting continues around Bakhmut. UKR conducted 9 aviation strike sorties, including 3 Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) missions. Air defense units downed a Russian Su-24 fighter. Urban fighting along the T-05-13 HWY axis. pic.twitter.com/kJkNaklkih

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 15, 2023

Bakhmut:

The most mysterious place in Ukraine is the Bakhmut triangle, where russian planes have been disappearing for a year now…

🎥@93_OMBr @RomanShrike pic.twitter.com/dsI5dFcHgk

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 15, 2023

Here’s the details machine translated from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s Telegram channel:

🗣👊Commander of the Land Forces Colonel-General Alexander Sirsky on the situation on the Eastern Front:

💬 Today, a warrior of 93 OMBr «Cold Yar» with a call sign «Alan» destroyed an enemy Su-25 plane in Bakhmut. 

The enemy continues to try unsuccessfully to surround the city and move forward. There, fighters of the 93rd Brigade, along with other defenders, restrain the insane pressure of the enemy. Due to their work, enemy tanks, BMP, RSZV and warehouses with BC – take off into the air.

The occupiers are also pushing in the Kupiansky and Lyman directions. Warriors 92 OMBr. Ivan Sirka was given with dignity on the teeth of the enemy, destroying the systems of radar, RSZV and control points of the aggressor.  Such decisive actions of our army significantly deplete and demoralize the enemy and accelerate our victory.  Glory to Ukraine!

There’s a bit of confusion about the type of Russian fighter. Ukrainska Pravda originally reported it as a SU-24 based on the 93rd Brigade’s Telegram post, which was later updated to identify the downed fighter as an SU-25. Colonel-General Sirsky’s identification of it as a SU-25 in the Ukrainian MOD’s post above is the correct one. Here’s the 93rd Brigade’s updated Telegram post:

93 OMBr landed forever an enemy cacapolitan, probably a Su-24. Bakhmut direction

UPD. Su-25

There’s video at the link. Or below courtesy of Dmitri from WarTranslated:

Officers of the 93rd Brigade filmed the takedown of a Wagner Su aircraft in Bakhmut using Igla MANPADS today.

The press service of the brigade was lucky enough to see with their own eyes how the bomber was shot down and to film the launch of a rocket at https://t.co/KEAHD8DRE2… https://t.co/no4afho7wL pic.twitter.com/pZJytl4rXE

— Dmitri (@wartranslated) March 15, 2023

We really need to be able to embed Telegram posts like we do tweets and YouTube videos…

More Bakhmut news:

Prigozhin directly accuses the Russian MoD of purposefully cutting ammo supplies in order to prevent Wagner from taking Bakhut under any circumstances, because "Soledar was enough". He revealed it in a heated interview published today. pic.twitter.com/c0wI95F2xM

— Dmitri (@wartranslated) March 15, 2023

Or, more accurately, whinging.

Kostyantynivka:

Kostyantynivka, Ukraine. March, 2023

📸 by @AFP's Sergei Sheshtak pic.twitter.com/oLtEvU6KMo

— Jonathan Brown (@jonathaneebrown) March 15, 2023

Kupiansk:

After I took this random photo in Kupiansk, police arrested there a Russian soldier, who was in hiding for six months. Perhaps he heard people speaking English, decided that Kupiansk is now part of NATO and it’s better to surrender. pic.twitter.com/ctlS7Pjpxh

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 15, 2023

Sometimes you should just SHUT THE FUCK UP!

Russian Security Council Patrushev said Moscow would try to recover the wreckage of the drone. “I don’t know if we can recover it or not, but we will certainly have to do that”.

Well, they couldn’t raise Kursk submarine from 354 ft without external help, it took a year and $65 m pic.twitter.com/cOOkYAeg6J

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 15, 2023

2/2https://t.co/tEpNssv6lWhttps://t.co/WMngBQOp6w

— Olga Honcharenko (@olga_pp98) March 14, 2023

That should be USEUCOM in case you were wondering.

By the way for those who might be interested in it, communications on 8585 USB are still ongoing, not too frequently but it is. https://t.co/CFL0uvI47k

— Olga Honcharenko (@olga_pp98) March 14, 2023

This is all circumstantial, but it would seem that the Black Sea Fleet was prepared to do recovery operations of the MQ-9 Reaper that was accidentally clipped by one of the two Russian SU-27s yesterday. As I’ve previously written, Ms. Honcharenko is Ukrainian and lives in Odesa. She monitors Russian military aviation and naval transmissions. Anytime Russian military air assets start squawking, she starts tweeting it out. She has no tweets about the SU-27s, which may indicate their transponders were turned off.

Wagner is advertising for new mercenaries.

ЗМІ звернули увагу на те, що ПВК "Вагнер", власником якого є Євген Пригожин, почали рекламувати на популярному порносайті Pornhub (18+). pic.twitter.com/pXfiXq2jrI

— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) March 15, 2023

Ukrainska Pravda‘s tweet machine translates as:

The media drew attention to the fact that the Wagner PMC, owned by Yevhen Prygozhyn, began advertising on the popular porn site Pornhub (18+).

And here’s their English language reporting:

Several media outlets have reported that the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company financed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, launched an advertising campaign on Pornhub, a popular pornography website.

Source: Kholod (Cold) and Kasparov, Russian media outlets; A Guy With Porn Dependency Telegram channel

Details: A video shared by Pornhub users in Kemerovo and Volgograd oblasts shows a woman saying “We are the most f***ing amazing private army in the world. We are hiring fighters from all parts of Russia. Don’t wh*ck off, apply for a job with the Wagner Group.”

A phone number then appears on screen; the number has been linked to Wagner Group recruiters.

The video can be accessed by Pornhub users in Russia who do not use VPN or adblocks.

Several media outlets have reported that the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company financed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, launched an advertising campaign on Pornhub, a popular pornography website.

That’s enough for tonight.

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Open thread!

The strength of our defense and security forces is in the strength of our people – address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

14 March 2023 – 23:37

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Today is quite an emotional day. I had the honor of presenting state awards to our warriors and the families of our warriors on the occasion of the Day of the Ukrainian Volunteer. To the mother of the Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Matsievskyi. To the father and wife of the Hero of Ukraine Taras Bobanych.

To the men and women who defend our country, standing up for it at the call of a pure Ukrainian heart.

Today’s decrees honor 363 Ukrainian volunteers, 47 of them posthumously.

Hundreds of thousands of our people have become Ukrainian volunteers since February 24 and since 2014, defending Ukraine from Russian aggression. Millions are helping! They are searching for everything necessary for defense, healing and rehabilitating the wounded, rescuing after Russian strikes, and working for Ukraine and Ukrainians. The strength of our defense and security forces is in the strength of our people.

And the strength of Ukrainians and the state as a whole is based on the fact that Ukrainians become warriors at a crucial time – they do not lose their grip, they fight, they do not seek what doesn’t belong to them, they do everything to regain their own.

We will win this war. We are doing everything for this. We support each other. We reinforce the state. We unite the world for the sake of our victory, which actually consists of the actions of all those who are fighting for Ukraine, who are fighting for our country and for their brothers-in-arms, who are doing everything in order not to let the enemy take either our land or Ukrainian glory.

I would like to express special gratitude for this chevron, Da Vinci chevron of Hero of Ukraine Dmytro Kotsiubailo, which was handed over to me today by Ms. Alina Mykhailova. And for another chevron from the guys, which was handed over at the ceremony. It is an honor for me. Thank you.

I held a meeting of the Staff. There were reports from the Commander-in-Chief, intelligence, and commanders of directions.

The main focus is on the Khortytsia operational and strategic group of troops and Bakhmut. There is a clear position of the entire Staff: to reinforce this direction, to inflict maximum possible damage upon the occupier.

General Tarnavsky then reported on the Tavria, which is part of the Donetsk and southern directions. General Moskaliov reported on the situation for the Odesa operational and strategic group of troops. General Nayev reported on the North.

Of course, we are constantly considering the supply of ammunition and weapons at the Staff’s meetings.

We are constantly working with our partners to increase pressure on Russia.

Today, Mrs. Prime Minister of Iceland paid a visit to Kyiv. A country that helps Ukraine politically and humanitarianly, that adds its voice to the global coalition of defenders of Ukraine and freedom.

We discussed cooperation in the Euro-Atlantic and European directions, in international structures. One of the key issues is the punishment of the terrorist state and all Russian murderers. We are preparing for the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe to be held in the capital of Iceland, which may be of great importance for bringing Russia to justice for its aggression.

Today, I also spoke with Mr. Murdoch, CEO of Fox Corporation and Co-Chairman of News Corp, one of the leading media organizations in the United States.

A year ago, on this very day, a group of journalists working for Fox came under fire from the Russian military in the Kyiv region, in Horenka. Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra Kuvshynova were killed, and Benjamin Hall was seriously wounded. In total, dozens of media workers have been killed and injured in a little over a year. We value every life, and we remember each and every one of them.

Honoring them, honoring all those whose lives or health were taken by this war, we are making every effort to bring the end of Russian aggression closer. To bring the punishment of the terrorist state closer. We are making every effort to bring the Ukrainian victory closer.

Glory to all those who are now fighting for our country!

Glory to all who stood up for Ukraine!

Blessed memory and eternal honor to all those whose lives were taken by Russian shelling and strikes!

Glory to Ukraine!

Jr. Lt. @Mykhailova_A , call sign Ulf, presented a chevrone of her fallen fiance, Jr. Lt, Hero of Ukraine, Dmytro “Da Vinci” Kotsyubailo to @ZelenskyyUA
Alina was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi 3rd Class. pic.twitter.com/x8aiG3Q8LZ

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 14, 2023

Here’s today’s operational update from Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense. Machine translation from their Telegram channel:

!️Operational information as of 18.00 14.03.2023 regarding the Russian invasion

▪️The Russian aggressor focuses on the offensive in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyevsky, Mariinsky and Shakhtar directions. The enemy does not leave attempts to reach the administrative border of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

▪️During the day the enemy inflicted 30 air strikes and 8 missile strikes, one of which is in the city of Kramatorsk. Three-story residential building damaged, are dead and wounded among the local population. Another missile strike by the occupiers inflicted on the city of the Gulf of Odesa region – the wreckage of the rocket damaged one of the buildings of the children’s educational institution “Golden Fish”. There are no casualties or losses among the local population.

Also, the occupiers fired more than 33 at jet-fire jet systems.

▪️In the Kupiansky and Lyman directions, during the ongoing day, enemy unsuccessfully tried to break through the defense of our troops. INanother artillery shelling was carried out by a number of settlements along the line of battle, namely: Dvorichna, Hryanovyka, Masyutivka, Krokhmale Kharkiv region; Novoselivsky, Makiyivka, Nevsky, Dibrovka, Belogorivka and Zolotarka of the Luhansk region. The occupiers took unsuccessful offensive actions in the direction of the White Rate.

▪️In the Bakhmut direction the enemy does not leave attempts to capture the city of Bakhmut, where constant positional fighting continues. IN the same time our defenders reflected enemy attacks in the settlements of Yagidne, Khromove and Orykhovo-Vasilivka. Enemy shelling was carried out, in particular, by Nikiforivka, Vasyukivka, Minkovka, Dubovo-Vasilivka, Bakhmut, Ivanovske, Konstantinivka, Kurdyumivka, Ozaryanovka and Dilyivka of the Donetsk region.

▪️In the Avdiivsky, Mariinsky and Shakhtar directions the enemy carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the direction of the settlements of Kamyanka, Nevelsk, Novokalinov and Marjinka. Enemy shelling was carried out, in particular, by Berdychi, Kamyanka, Avdiyivka, Vodyane, Netailove, Krasnyrovka, Nevel, Marinka, Georgivka and Vugledar of the Donetsk region.

▪️During the last day in the village Apricot of the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region the enemy, with the active support of the local occupation so-called “power”, carried out filtering measures against the local population. The reason for the search of private homes, the inspection of mobile vehicles, personal laptops and computers was the entry of the Defense Forces of Ukraine into the base of one of the units of the army rf. As a result completely 4 units of armored vehicles ( BMP/SAU) and at least 15 occupiers were destroyed. The number of wounded is checked and clarified.

▪️An additional 1,000 enemy troops have been stationed on the territory of the coastal turbases and boarding houses of the Yalta city of the Donetsk region over the past few days. In this regard, the nearest streets and the entire beach area are completely blocked, additional checkpoints are set up and the number of infantry patrols has been doubled. Equipment of engineering barriers and trenches and molds on the territory of the recreation bases in the immediate vicinity to the places of base of the occupiers was noticed. The number of training shootings on various weapons in the direction of the sea has also increased.

️The Defense Forces aircraft caused a day 9 strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the occupiers, and 🇺🇦units of rocket troops and artillery affected 2 areas of concentration of enemy personnel.

Support 🇺🇦Armed Forces! Let’s win together!
Glory to Ukraine!🇺🇦

🇺🇦General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Ukraine is a maritime state.
We will defend our Black&Azov Seas as we do our land and skies.
I'm very grateful to the 🇳🇱 people, @MinPres Mark Rutte and my colleague @DefensieMin Kajsa Ollongren for the decision to provide 2 Alkmaar-class minehunters for the @UA_NAVY!
🇺🇦🤝🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/NSSpUqaUTD

— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) March 14, 2023

Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessment of the situations in Svatove and Bakhmut:

SVATOVE AXIS /2040 UTC 14 MAR/ RU has registered incremental advances across the P-66 HWY between Svatove & Chervonopopivka. The (FEBA) essentially conforms to the Zherebets River valley. A RU probe at Nevske was repulsed. UKR forces are in contact in the urban area of Kreminna. pic.twitter.com/dS5kT3bTsz

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 14, 2023

BAKHMUT CITY /2120 UTC 14 MAR/ RU forces have advanced across the T-05-13 HWY in the northern and southern urban areas of Bakhmut. UKR forces mounted a counterattack at Dubovo-Vasylivka; a RU thrust at Ivanivske was also broken up. pic.twitter.com/kSYBOKt6CA

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 14, 2023

Bakhmut:

"Philosopher" and "Sky" are participants of a famous battle of the 3rd Assault Brigade near Bakhmut. On January 19, lads went to their position and were forced to immediately engage in a firefight with the "Wagner" PMC. In this interview, they give us more https://t.co/IjPintrL6W… https://t.co/JFNgRTdd3s pic.twitter.com/d6Dxp0R4iS

— Dmitri (@wartranslated) March 14, 2023

Vuhledar:

Video from the other side: Intense footage shows a group of Russian soldiers from the 155th Brigade pinned down by tank and artillery fire in one of the buildings in the Vuhledar dachas (allegedly).

It appears that the Ukrainian attack came very close with soldiers reporting a… https://t.co/SWMGm2Cpve pic.twitter.com/l2nevUxJiR

— Dmitri (@wartranslated) March 14, 2023

Kharkiv and several other locations:

We had four nationwide air raid alerts today, and 12 in Kharkiv alone. Missile attack in Kramatorsk, 4 missiles targeting air defense in Odesa, recon drone in Dnipro. Russia attacks in waves, attempts to locate and exhaust Ukrainian air defense.
📷 Bus stop/shelter in Kharkiv pic.twitter.com/6ORzmoiPkp

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 14, 2023

Odesa:

Russian missile attack on Odesa region. Two Su-24 bombers launched four Kh-31 cruise missiles towards the coast. All four shot down over the Black Sea, debris and explosive wave damaged kindergarten. Each missile costs $550,000. pic.twitter.com/WJCcZoubuZ

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 14, 2023

ABC News reports that Russian fighters collided with a US drone and forced it down near Ukraine:

A Russian fighter jet collided with the rear propeller of an unmanned U.S. military drone over the international waters of the Black Sea on Tuesday morning, forcing the U.S. to bring the drone down off the coast of Ukraine, U.S. officials said.

The incident, which involved two Russian jets, was denounced as “unsafe and unprofessional” by the U.S. State Department. A spokesman called it a “brazen violation of international law” that led to the summoning of Russia’s ambassador for a diplomatic meeting in Washington.

Afterward, the ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, insisted that the Russian jets had not hit or fired on the drone.

The Russians claimed Tuesday that the drone was acting as an “intruder” and flying toward Russia’s borders.

U.S. European Command, or EUCOM, labeled the incident as “dangerous” and said in a statement that it could “lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation.”

A U.S. official was equally blunt — telling ABC News that the Russian pilot who hit the drone, seemingly unintentionally, was acting “reckless and juvenile.”

“At approximately 7:03 AM [local time], one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters,” EUCOM said in its statement.

EUCOM said the incident “demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional.”

“Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” EUCOM added.

The incident is apparently the latest in what EUCOM described as “a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with U.S. and Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea.”

“Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9,” U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa, said in a statement. “In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.”

“U.S. and Allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace and we call on the Russians to conduct themselves professionally and safely,” Hecker added.

The unarmed MQ-9 drone had taken off from Romania and was flying at an altitude of 25,000 feet in international airspace southwest of Crimea with its transponder on when it was intercepted by the two Russian fighter jets, which were Su-27s, a U.S. Air Force official told ABC News.

Over a span of at least 30 minutes, the two jets executed 19 close passes by the drone, spraying some of their jet fuel on the craft during the last three or four of those passes, the official said.

The collision occurred on the last pass as one of the Su-27s approached the drone at a high rate of speed from behind, according to the official: As the jet pulled up, it collided with the MQ-9’s rear propeller.

One of the MQ-9’s propeller blades was bent in the collision and though there was a momentary loss of contact, controllers were able to glide the drone into the Black Sea “a fair distance” from where the collision had occurred.

“There’s no concern for sensitive information being obtained from the drone but the U.S. is looking at all options at this time as it considers next steps,” the U.S. official said.

The official described the collision as resulting from “the pure incompetence” of the Russian pilot whose actions were “flat-out dumb.”

More at the link!

That’s enough for tonight.

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Open thread!

We will do everything possible and impossible to strengthen our warriors – address by the President of Ukraine

13 March 2023 – 21:42

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

A brief report of the day.

I held important coordination meetings. The Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, our international experts, and the Office’s domestic political bloc. We agreed on a course of action for the coming weeks.

In particular, the government has approved and proposes to the Verkhovna Rada to adopt amendments to the state budget, with more than half a trillion hryvnias allocated for defense additionally. All funds will be used to provide financial support to the military, to support our defense sector, and to buy defense equipment, including drones. We will do everything possible and impossible to strengthen our warriors.

Today we also discussed humanitarian demining, something that is vital, literally.

As of now, more than 170,000 square kilometers of our territory remain dangerous because of enemy mines and unexploded ordnance. A significant part of this territory is the land of our farmers, the land that has been cultivated. So today we discussed how to intensify this work: to speed up humanitarian demining and increase cooperation with partners.

We discussed how to support our farmers. The second sowing season has already started during the full-scale war. Last year, the heroic efforts of our farmers and all workers in the agricultural sector made it possible to preserve Ukrainian agricultural production and Ukraine’s global role as a guarantor of food security. And I thank everyone who contributed to this. The government is working on appropriate steps to support the industry.

We also discussed the situation in the energy sector, which has been normalized. In fact, we are meeting the energy needs of Ukrainians throughout the entire free territory of the state, in accordance with the generation capabilities. We continue to prepare for the next heating season, both in terms of accumulating resources and protecting our energy facilities.

The coming weeks are planned to be quite active in terms of international communication. Both in order to strengthen our defense and to strengthen Ukraine’s position in the fight for justice, that is, in the fight to punish Russian murderers. We are preparing news.

We are also working to add new sanctions against Russia. Recently, Canada took a significant step by expanding sanctions on imports of Russian aluminum and steel. I thank Canada for this decision – for this signal to the international community.

We must not only limit the capability of the terrorist state to circumvent existing sanctions, but also impose new ones to prevent Russia from adapting to global pressure. The less Russia’s ability to adapt to sanctions, the sooner we can restore the territorial integrity of our country and return peace to Ukraine.

And, of course, our defense forces. Our soldiers and global pressure on Russia are the only effective guarantee of protecting the freedom of Ukraine, Europe, and the free world.

As always, today I was in touch with our commanders and intelligence.

It is very tough in the east, very painful. We need to destroy the enemy’s military might, and we will. Bilohorivka and Maryinka, Avdiivka and Bakhmut, Vuhledar and Kamyanka – and all other places where our future is being decided. Where our future, the future of all Ukrainians, is being fought for.

I am grateful to each and every one who is now in combat! Thank you to everyone who defends their positions and fights for Ukraine and brothers-in-arms! Thank you to everyone who never lets down those who are next to them on the frontline!

Today, I would like to commend the warriors of the 92nd separate mechanized brigade for their successful actions in the area of Bakhmut. Thank you, guys!

Glory to all Ukrainian warriors! 

Glory to our unbreakable and beautiful people!

Glory to Ukraine!

Here is a machine translation of this afternoon’s operational update from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense as posted on their Telegram channel:

Ministry of Defence Ukraine✔

‼️Operational information as of 18.00 on 13.03.2023 regarding the Russian invasion

▪️The Russian aggressor continues to focus his main efforts on conducting offensive actions in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiiv, Marin and Shakhtar directions and does not stop trying to enter the administrative border of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

▪️During the day, the enemy launched 29 air strikes and 6 missile strikes. In particular, at the vocational-agrarian lyceum of Znob-Novgorodskoe settlement, Sumy region. 1 civilian was killed, 5 more civilians were injured. Russian occupiers also hit a school in Avdiivka in Donetsk region with two rockets, killing a local resident. In addition, the enemy launched more than 10 attacks from rocket salvo systems.

▪️On the Kupyansk and Lymansk directions, the enemy is making attempts to break through the defense of our troops. He led unsuccessful offensives in the direction of Hryanikyvka, Masyutivka, Nevsky, Serebryansk Forestry, Bilogorivka, and Verkhnokamyanka. He carried out artillery shelling of the areas of Hryanivikka, Kup’yansk and Krokhmalne settlements in the Kharkiv region and Makiivka, Dibrova and Bilogorivka in the Luhansk region.

▪️In the direction of Bakhmut, the enemy does not stop trying to capture the city of Bakhmut. Enemy attacks were repulsed in the areas of Orihovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanovske settlements, battles continue in Bakhmut. In particular, Bondarne, Vasyukivka, Dubovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Bila Gora, Kostyantynivka and Zalizne of the Donetsk region came under enemy fire.

▪️On the Avdiivskyi, Maryinskyi, and Shakhtarskyi directions, the enemy carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the direction of Kamianka, Avdiivka, Severnyi, Pervomayskyi, and Maryinka. Areas of more than 10 settlements near the contact line were hit by enemy shelling. Among them are Kamianka, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Georgiivka and Vugledar of the Donetsk region.

✅The enemy continues to suffer losses. Thus, 150 mercenaries of the so-called “Wagner” PMC were brought to the territory of the Bilovodsk district hospital in the temporarily occupied territory of the Luhansk region for treatment.

▪️In the city of Energodar, temporarily captured by Russia, at the Zaporizhzhya NPP, the shortage of skilled workers who can ensure the vital activity of the nuclear power plant is growing catastrophically. After the Russian occupiers employed people without the appropriate education and experience at the NPP,
the contract term of the Russian representatives of “Rosatom” expired. At the same time, they were refused to sign a new or extend an existing contract. They also refused to return to Russia, since there is no one in particular to work at the NPP. All this can lead to unpredictable consequences.

✈️During the day, the Aviation of the Defense Forces of Ukraine carried out 10 strikes on areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the occupiers.

support🇺🇦Armed forces! Together we will win!
Glory to Ukraine!🇺🇦

🇺🇦General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

🚀 Ministry of Defence Ukraine👆

t.me/ministry_of_defense_ua/6694

Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessment of the situations in Kreminna and Bakhmut (newest of the two Bakhmut ones first):

KREMINNA AXIS /1530 UTC 13 MAR/ RU resumed offensive operations across the P-66 HWY with an unsuccessful probe at Nevske. UKR forces are again in contact in the urban area of Kreminna. RU conducted fire missions against Makiivka and Nevske. RU forces repelled NE of Bilohorvika. pic.twitter.com/74Jyvg0DAP

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 13, 2023

BAKHMUT/ 2245 UTC 13 MAR/ N of Soledar, UKR forces repelled attacks at Vasiukivka. On the M-03 HWY axis, RU assaults were broken up at Minkivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka and Hyrhorivka & Berkhivka. The 0600 Gen’l Staff brief provided no follow up regarding UKR contact at Krasna Hora. pic.twitter.com/yBjpJVsKSM

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 13, 2023

BAKHMUT AXIS /1145 UTC 13 MAR/ RU /Wagner troops have renewed offensive actions. N of Soledar, UKR forces repelled attacks at Vasiukivka. On the M-03 HWY axis, RU assaults were broken up at Minkivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hyrhorivka and Berkhivka. pic.twitter.com/O9vzBBqA2c

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 13, 2023

Bakhmut:

The Kyiv Independent has more details on Bakhmut:

Fierce fighting rages over central Bakhmut as Russia’s Wagner mercenaries try to break through Ukrainian defenses in the ruined city, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on March 13.

Syrskyi, who commands Ukraine’s Ground Forces and made two known visits to Bakhmut in recent weeks, acknowledged that the situation in the embattled city remained difficult as Russia continued to press forward.

The commander said that the Wagner members were storming into central Bakhmut from multiple fronts, but Ukraine still held on to the “fortress” while inflicting “significant losses” on the invading forces.

“All enemy attempts to capture the city are repelled by artillery, tanks, and other firepower,” Syrskyi said, as quoted by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s media center.

Syrskyi’s statement comes amid an eight-month-long battle over Bakhmut, a largely destroyed city nearly emptied of its 70,000 residents. Russia has intensified its offensive on Bakhmut in recent weeks as it captured neighboring settlements, inching its way into encircling the city.

Late on March 12, Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a Telegram post that his mercenaries began storming into the underground compound of the Artemivskyi non-ferrous metal processing plant, also known as AZOM, in northern Bakhmut.

Neither Ukraine nor Russia officially commented on the situation at the plant on March 13.

Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Eastern Military Command, said on March 11 that Ukraine seeks to degrade Wagner forces during its defense of Bakhmut.

He added that Ukraine has already “thinned out” the second formation of Wagner’s recruited prisoners over the winter, and Ukraine has “a real chance” of degrading Wagner if it keeps up the pace.

As fierce battles raged in the east and south of Ukraine, civilian casualties continued to be reported.

The President’s Office said on March 13 that Russian troops launched two missiles at a school in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, killing a woman.

To the northeast, the Russians launched a missile strike on the village of Znob-Novhorodske in Sumy Oblast, killing at least one and wounding four, according to the President’s Office.

On the southern front, the Russians fired upon energy workers in a liberated area of Kherson Oblast, wounding one person, the regional military administration said.

More at the link.

Here’s Colonel-General Syrskyi’s full remarks machine translated from Ukraine’s Military Media Center’s Telegram channel:

Commander of the Land Forces Colonel-General Alexander Sirsky:

The situation around Bakhmut remains difficult.

Wagner’s assault units come from several directions, trying to break through the defenses of our troops and move to the central ones
districts of the city.

During fierce battles, our defenders inflict significant losses on the enemy. Fire artillery, tanks, other fire extinguishers repel all attempts by the enemy to capture the city.

The defense of the fortress continues!

t.me/militarymediacenter/1364

And here is more machine translation of Colonel-General Syrskyi’s thoughts on the situation in Bakhmut from his own Telegram channel:

Bakhmut Front.

Defense is an organization of action that builds on the strategy, discipline, and trust of personnel.

Its success depends on the intelligence and cunning of each commander.

We must be able to anticipate the actions of an enemy who has a quantitative advantage.

Bakhmut’s defense has been going on for 7 months. The Defense Forces have taken a number of tactical actions that have not yet allowed the enemy to take the city into an operational environment. But the situation remains very difficult.

Russian forces act by the usual methods, do not count people. But the number of soldiers is not a decisive advantage or a factor in victory.

We understand the tactical importance of Bakhmut for the enemy and know his plans for action in other parts of the front.

Defense forces now continue to defend the city. The situation is dynamic. Here, every move and decision can radically change it. Every day has the highest value.

I am proud of the staff. I appreciate the speed of thinking of the brigade commanders next to whom I am.

Honor!

t.me/osirskiy/9

Kharkiv:

Do not make this cat angry. More of @LBWSCAT on the streets of Kharkiv. pic.twitter.com/H0OZnrnHdm

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 13, 2023

The Ukrainian officer who tweets as Tatarigami and has been posting regular(ish) updates from Vuhledar has something important for us to keep in mind:

🇺🇦OPINION:

Although my views may differ from those of some government officials, I'd like to express some cautionary thoughts regarding the upcoming offensive.

While I remain hopeful and committed to achieving victory, I believe it's important to temper our expectations and… https://t.co/drYlIzUEFV

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) March 13, 2023

Here’s the text of the whole tweet:

OPINION: Although my views may differ from those of some government officials, I’d like to express some cautionary thoughts regarding the upcoming offensive. While I remain hopeful and committed to achieving victory, I believe it’s important to temper our expectations and avoid the assumption that the war will end quickly as a result of one counter-offensive. A realistic approach that takes into account the challenges that we might face. Even though Ukraine has received substantial support from the West, it’s still only enough to sustain few large offensives. Even if Ukraine successfully clears the entire southern region, it won’t necessarily resolve the ongoing issues with Donbas or Crimea. The fall of one area doesn’t guarantee the fall of the other. It’s important to recognize that the Russian forces are actively preparing for the upcoming counter-offensive, and we shouldn’t underestimate their capabilities. Rather than making optimistic statements about how the war will end soon, it’s more realistic to be prepared for a potentially prolonged conflict. We should also communicate this to our allies, so they can adjust their expectations and support accordingly. While I remain hopeful and committed to achieving victory, I believe it’s important to temper our expectations and avoid the assumption that the war will end quickly as a result of this counter-offensive. Everyone in Ukraine is grateful for the support we receive from the West, including from both governments and society, but I believe that we need much more to finish this war. This goes beyond just the provision of ammunition and military equipment, as important as those are. In addition to expanding training programs, we must prioritize efforts to improve our command and control structure. This includes sending our reserve officers to the best military schools to enhance their skills. We need to focus not just on improving the command abilities of NCOs and junior officers, but also those at the brigade level and above. I plan to release a breakdown of the analysis made by Lieutenant Colonel Glen Grant in his article on the necessary changes for our army to remain modern and successful. Finally, I would rather hear that the war has ended sooner than expected, even if it means admitting that my previous predictions were incorrect, than to hear that my advice could have made a difference if only it had been heeded earlier.

Russia bombarded Ukraine again today:

Current threats:
Tu-95 bombers over Caspian Sea, signs of possible missile launch;
Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers have taken off from Engels-2 air base, Saratov Oblast, Russia;
Four MiG-31K fighter/bombers, possibly with Kinzhal supersonic missiles, in air over Bryansk Oblast, Russia.

— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) March 13, 2023

"As of now, there is a significant concentration of Russian aviation in the temporarily occupied territories and near our border. In total, there are 22 Su-27/35 aircraft and 6 reconnaissance UAVs!" – Ukrainian Telegram channels.

— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) March 13, 2023

Air alert in Kyiv city declared over – duration 35 minutes. Alerts in other areas of country still in place, warning of possible missile threat to Zaporizhzhya. pic.twitter.com/BZ4GvT3tkt

— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) March 13, 2023

Missile launches said to have been imitated, false targets. Explosions in Sumy may have been air defenses shooting down drones headed for Kyiv – no confirmation yet.

— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) March 13, 2023

General Zaluzhnyi has the butcher’s bill:

This night the enemy carried out a massive missile attack on the critical infrastructure of Ukraine. The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed 34 cruise missiles out of 48 X-101/X-555 cruise missiles, Kalibr, as well as 4 Shahed-136/131 unmanned aerial vehicles. pic.twitter.com/UsFKYXvo7z

— Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (@CinC_AFU) March 9, 2023

Two beautiful children, a secure basement, and the ability to quickly forget – what else is needed to survive months of shelling in a frontline city? This time it's Mykolaiv in "Language Matters", the 7th episode of the "Kids of Bomb Shelters" series by @ulybinyulian
1/3 pic.twitter.com/k2MbmuyLM9

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 13, 2023

It’s not only the soil speckled with millions of craters, not only the cities turned into brick and concrete dust that the war leaves behind. It is also broken destinies, scars on human souls in the 7th episode of the "Kids of Bomb Shelters" series by @ulybinyulian
2/3 pic.twitter.com/QgbgfJvN13

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 13, 2023

Another page in the multi-series chronicles of war-mutilated souls in the 7th episode of the "Kids of Bomb Shelters" series by @ulybinyulian
3/3 pic.twitter.com/9Ao0kE0qcj

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 13, 2023

That’s enough for tonight.

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@patron__dsns

Відео про сон вам дуже сподобалось, тому ловіть ще такий варіант😂

♬ original sound – Marigold 💌

The caption machine translates as:

You really liked the video about sleep, so catch another version like this 😂

Open thread!

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 battalion

3/ 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 requirements 

4/ 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 actions

7/ 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 itself 

11/ 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 extortion 

13/ 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:

SYRSKY✔
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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A new video from Patron’s official TikTok!

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♬ Щоб не було – nadyadorofeeva

Open thread!

Russia has become a synonym for terror and will become an example of defeat and fair punishment – address of President of Ukraine

11 March 2023 – 19:39

Dear Ukrainians!

Today, I would like to support all those cities and communities of ours facing brutal terrorist attacks by the evil state every day, every night.

Our Kherson region and the city of Kherson, on which the occupier is seeking revenge for its loss. Our Zaporizhzhia. Our cities of Donetsk region and Luhansk region, which Russia wants simply to burn. Our Kharkiv region and the city of Kharkiv. Only since the beginning of this year – in less than two and a half months – over forty enemy missiles have already struck Kharkiv. Nikopol, Marhanets – our Dnipropetrovsk region. Our Sumy region. Our Chernihiv region.

Missiles and artillery, drones and mortars – the evil state uses a variety of weapons. But with one goal. To destroy life and leave nothing human.

Ruins, debris, shell holes in the ground are a self-portrait of Russia, which it paints where normal life reigns without Russia.

Today, Russian shelling took the lives of people in Kherson who simply went to a store to buy groceries. Three Ukrainians died. My condolences to the relatives!

In Zaporizhzhia, a Russian missile hit the city’s life support facility. In the border areas, the occupier fired at villages to intimidate people, to drive people away.

But Russia will not be there. It has become a synonym for terror and will be an example of defeat and fair punishment for this terror. The punishment that the Kremlin cannot stop.

Today, I thank our fighters of the Pivnich task force for destroying a terrorists’ missile and a Shahed. Fighters of our air defense in Chernihiv region, fighters of the 2nd separate regiment of the National Guard in Sumy region – thank you, guys!

Thanks to all our fighters in the south, who are destroying the warehouses, logistics and positions of the occupiers! Every blown up enemy position is a saved Ukrainian life.

Khortytsia task force… Today, I would like to especially mention the 92nd separate mechanized brigade named after Ivan Sirk, the 80th brigade – our paratroopers, the 5th separate assault brigade… All of them, together with our other soldiers, are defending Bakhmut. Thanks for the strength!

We’ve got a lot to thank the 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Hetman Mazepa and the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade operating in Donbas. Well done, guys!

Thanks to everyone who helps our units! Thank you to everyone who supports our civilians in the frontline and border areas! Thank you to everyone who is convincing the world that it is necessary to show more determination right now! Now, when we are preparing our active actions against the occupier, so that every shot at Ukrainians will be a responsibility of the terrorist state.

And one more. Our new sanctioning step against individuals and legal entities associated with the evil state. The relevant decree has been published. These are more than 280 companies and 120 people who, through gambling business schemes, worked against Ukraine, withdrew funds from our state and financed various Russian schemes.

It took some time to prepare the decision. It has been thoroughly worked out and closes schemes worth tens of billions. And it is not the last such decision.

Ukraine will defend itself everywhere. And by all civilized means.

Glory to everyone who is now fighting for our country! Glory to everyone who helps! In memory of all those whose lives were taken by Russian terror!

Glory to Ukraine!

Here’s the tally of Russia’s genocidal war against Ukraine and Ukrainians:

Russia shelled Ukraine over 40,500 times since Feb. 2022, according to Ukraine's Interior Minister Klymenko

Over 152K residential buildings were destroyed. 66,300 criminal proceedings have been registered regarding the war crimes committed by Russian military, Klymenko said.

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) March 11, 2023

Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessment of the situations in Kreminna and Bakhmut:

KREMINNA /1840 UTC 11 MAR/ RU resumed offensive operations across the P-66 HWY with a probe at Nevske; it was repelled by UKR forces. UKR troops are again in contact in the urban area of Kreminna, RU forces were repelled S of Bilohorvika. pic.twitter.com/IxJsGXwCam

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 11, 2023

BAKHMUT AXIS /1550 UTC 11 MAR/ Wagner PMC claimed to have captured the village of Dubovo-Vasylivka; UKR reports that its units are still in contact at that place. Combat ongoing in Bakhmut. UKR engaged the enemy at Paraskoviivka, indicating a penetration of RU lines. pic.twitter.com/466vTmD5lG

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 11, 2023

Kherson:

Kherson. Saturday afternoon. Parking lot near the supermarket. Three people killed, two wounded. Everyone who gives orders and fires on civilians will be prosecuted for these war crimes. Justice will be served. pic.twitter.com/HYpIDGwfsA

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 11, 2023

Only zoom in if KIAs don’t bother you:

The killing fields.
Zoom in to see. pic.twitter.com/4QJ9JaJRw7

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) March 11, 2023

Iron People of Ukrzaliznytsia. War heroes who have evacuated millions of people from the worst-hit areas and keep Ukrainian Railways running despite ongoing Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/Sha4uj6DiU

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 11, 2023

The Kyiv Independent provides a detailed profile of Dmytro Kotsiubailo, the Ukrainian Soldier whose funeral I posted about last night:

It was another one of those losses.

A young, bright Ukrainian who had a long life to live. Somebody who many perceived as “immortal” because the country’s future was hard to imagine without their dedication and patriotism. Somebody for whom thousands, both friends and strangers, would gather in central Kyiv to say final goodbyes.

This time, it was 27-year-old Dmytro Kotsiubailo, known by his call sign “Da Vinci.” He was one of the youngest commanders in Ukrainian history, a legendary soldier, and a Hero of Ukraine, killed by Russia near Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, on March 7.

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s horde is taking our most beautiful sons and daughters,” said the priest during the memorial service at the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery on March 10, with hundreds of people clustered inside around Kotsiubailo’s body and his family.

“Dmytro showed, through his example, how to love and defend your country,” the priest went on.

Kotsiubailo was the commander of the First Mechanized Battalion “Da Vinci Wolves.”

“He died with a weapon in his hands… going into the battle first” his battalion wrote on their official Telegram channel. “He lived and died like a hero,” the post said.

“Back then, he was a year younger than me, yet he had the authority, and always went into the battle himself,” a 28-year-old soldier Pavlo, who goes by nom de guerre “Belarussian” because of his origins, told the Kyiv Independent.

He asked to conceal his full name citing fear for the security of his family, who are still back in dictator-ruled Belarus. After immigrating to Ukraine in 2017, Pavlo spent two months fighting with the Da Vinci Wolves in Donbas before joining the Azov regiment.

Pavlo said that Kotsiubailo “never sent his soldiers into battle alone while sitting it out,” only sending to the front line those who were prepared.

“What surprised me was that every single one of Da Vinci’s positions were fully equipped for a full-scale battle – there were all weapons imaginable,” Pavlo said, comparing the conditions to some of the official units in the Ukrainian army that were undersupplied at the time.

“Every person who came to Da Vinci was given everything they needed to work comfortably – from bulletproof vests and helmets to personal hygiene products… Da Vinci always said that you have to prepare for the worst.”

In December of 2021, President Volodymyr Zelensky presented Kotsiubailo with the nation’s highest award – the Golden Star order, as well as the Hero of Ukraine title. Kotsiubailo became the youngest commander to receive the title, as well as the first volunteer fighter in the history of Ukraine to be awarded while still alive.

“There was never anything more important for him than his personnel… they were his family. The execution of combat tasks wasn’t as prioritized as the saving of human life, the lives of his men,” Podolyak said.

Five months into the all-out war, Ukraine’s Forbes put Kotsiubailo on their 30 Under 30: Faces of the future list, along with many other famous young soldiers and paramedics, including Mykhailova.

There’s a little more at the link!

As I wrote last night, the Russians have worked very hard to infiltrate Germany’s intelligence and security services. Spiegel has the details on the Russian mole inside the BND:

It was May 13, 2021, Ascension Day, in the Bavarian town of Weilheim, and a local club was having a party. The pandemic had put a bit of damper on the festivities, but 10 guests showed up nonetheless. It was a cozy gathering.

The party had been organized by Reno S., a soldier in the German military, the Bundeswehr, and a functionary in the right-wing radical party Alternative for Germany (AfD). Among the invitees was a businessman named Arthur E., and one of his friends from town, a friendly, heavyset man named Carsten L., who coached youth soccer. Arthur E. would later tell investigators that Carsten L. had a fair amount to drink that night and began gloating about working for the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), Germany’s foreign intelligence agency. Arthur E. and the BND agent apparently took to each other instantly.

Cut to a scene around half a year earlier: The Ritz-Carlton in Moscow, a glamorous building with a red façade located near the Kremlin in the heart of the Russian capital. A room here costs around 500 euros per night.

On October 24, 2020, Arthur E., the businessman who would later attend the party in Weilheim, spent the night here, getting to know the Russian businessman Visa M. A wealthy man, Visa M. spoke to Arthur E. about his business interests. The Russian is thought to have excellent connections to senior Russian politicians, and it seems likely that this was the moment when Arthur E. saw an opportunity to earn a pile of money.

Two meetings, two random encounters – but they mark the beginning of the biggest spying scandal in recent years, perhaps even in recent decades. The upshot of the affair are suspicions that BND agent Carsten L. may well have committed high treason by pilfering important BND documents related to the war in Ukraine and delivering them to Arthur E. Nothing has yet been proven, no charges have been filed and the presumption of innocence remains in effect. But hardly any doubts still remain that Carsten L. was used as a spy.

Arthur E. is thought to have delivered the information to the FSB, the Russian domestic intelligence agency. Visa M., the man Arthur E. met in the Ritz-Carlton, is thought to have connected Arthur E. with the FSB.

The case has rocked the BND, besmirching its reputation as a partner to other Western intelligence agencies – at a time when Russia is waging war against Ukraine. Indeed, in a situation where the secure exchange of extremely delicate information was, and continues to be, crucial, BND information ended up in Moscow. A worst-case scenario and extremely embarrassing for the Germans.

The repercussions have already made themselves felt at the BND. Even as heads of other agencies officially insist that they continue working with the Germans just as cooperatively as ever, agents lower down the chain of command say they have noticed a significant reticence from Germany’s NATO allies. For a time, at least, the governments of the United States, Britain and other countries curtailed intelligence- sharing with Berlin.

Germany’s partners were also aggravated by how easy it apparently was for Carsten L. to smuggle information out of the BND and have it brought to Russia. There are a number of indications that the BND’s control mechanisms failed. And clear warning signs, such as clues pointing to the right-wing extremist leanings of those involved, were ignored.

Carsten L. was apparently able to establish a network of mostly involuntary helpers without his superiors realizing that anything untoward was going on. And all that in an agency that underwent radical restructuring, including the introduction of new levels of control, following the scandal surrounding the U.S. agency NSA several years ago.

The BND was only able to track down the mole in its ranks thanks to a tip-off from a partner agency, which set off an extensive investigation. Since then, Arthur E., the intermediary to the wealthy Russian businessman, has provided extensive testimony. His statement, to the degree it can be corroborated, is largely consistent with other investigation findings. It’s doubtful, however, that Arthur E. has a complete overview of the case. Carsten L. has apparently remained silent on the allegations thus far. His lawyer chose not to respond to questions and Arthur E.’s lawyer didn’t reply to a DER SPIEGEL request for comment.

Still, it is clear that this particular thriller has plenty of tragi-comedic elements, even if only the Russians are able to laugh at them. And the three main characters seem to be anything but well-seasoned agents.

Visa M., the millionaire businessman, is married to one of the richest women in Russia and, according to information gathered by Western intelligence agencies, he has been friends for several years with a high-ranking FSB functionary.

Arthur E., the German businessman, is a former German soldier who recently earned his money in the diamond trade.

And Carsten L., the Bundeswehr officer, has been working for the BND since 2007, even though his biography when he joined the agency was anything but unproblematic.

At the BND, Carsten L. apparently didn’t go out of his way to conceal his right-wing leanings. One coworker says that he once said words to the effect that refugees should be summarily executed. Other colleagues, though, remember him as being perhaps a bit gruff, but a friendly man who enjoyed drinking beer. Still others say he was a loudmouth and could be manipulative.

His political leanings were also no secret to more senior BND levels, and they were a focus of his most recent security check. Agents who work in sensitive areas of the BND must regularly undergo an evaluation. As part of the process, coworkers from the relevant division are interviewed, as are people from the agent’s private circle of friends and acquaintances. In those interviews, Carsten L. was described as being “very conservative” or “nationalist.” But the BND seemed unconcerned. Political views, after all, aren’t a crime.

Later, once Carsten L. was under suspicion of being a spy and his employer was secretly monitoring him, internal investigators noted that he apparently didn’t just voice right-wing extremist sentiments, but also subversive views.

In September 2022, the month in which Carsten L. likely delivered the first documents to Russia, he began a new job inside the agency. He was transferred to Berlin to become part of the division responsible for evaluating other agents – the precise division that he had been so successful in deceiving.

Living in the Alpine foothills with his wife and two children, Carsten L. looked to the outside world like an upstanding family man. Until his arrest in December, they lived on the outskirts of Weilheim in a duplex with solar panels on the roof and carefully pruned bushes in the yard. Now, though, several of the shutters are closed and somebody has scratched the name off the mailbox. If you approach the doorbell, an alarm goes off.

Neighbors were surprised when several black sedans rolled up to the house one morning before Christmas. Only later did they realize they belonged to investigators. Carsten L. was, says one neighbor, affable enough and wasn’t at all secretive about working for the BND. Another neighbor says that Carsten L. enjoyed going shooting and that he occasionally had guests over for parties. “Totally normal, really.”

For years, he was actively involved in the local soccer club, called TSV 1847, where he coached youth teams and was, for a time, head of the club’s entire youth division. Some parents didn’t like his military tone and pulled their children out of the club, but others say that they appreciated the passion he showed.

When Carsten L. and Arthur E. met at that Ascension Day party in 2021, the two men perhaps got along so well because of their similar backgrounds. Businessman Arthur E. spent several years as a radio operator for the German military, just like Carsten L. and AfD man Reno S.

Born in the Soviet Union in 1991, Arthur E. emigrated to Germany with his parents when he was still a child. He became a German citizen when he was eight and joined the Bundeswehr before his 18th birthday. He initially signed for 12 years, but left the armed services in 2015.

Following his time in the military, E. apparently founded an import-export company trading for a time in erectile dysfunction medicines. Later, according to investigators, he moved on to precious metals and gemstones. He is said to be married to a Russian dentist.

It’s not difficult to find traces of Arthur E. on the internet. There are pictures showing him as the head of a company based in Sierra Leone and others taken during a visit of his to a Russian conglomerate. He also once attended a fashion show in Moscow.

An examination of his roughly 1,300 Google reviews and flight bookings clearly demonstrates that Arthur E. traveled a lot, apparently making trips to Moscow, Israel, Dubai, Miami, New York and Sierra Leone.

The encounter with Russian businessman Visa M. at the Ritz-Carlton in Moscow seemed promising for both of them. A Chechen by birth, Visa M. could very well have seen Arthur E. as someone who could help him get a foothold in the German market, and perhaps also as a possible business partner in Africa.

Arthur E., for his part, felt the business opportunities with the 59-year-old Visa M. were immense.

According to company registries in Russia, Visa M. has found success with investments in the food industry and through lucrative stakes in several companies. He is thought to have close ties to the Kremlin and allies within the FSB. And for many years, he had a residency permit for Germany because he used to be married to a German woman.

But the businessman is also able to freely travel to the European Union without the residency permit. Because even though Visa M. can apparently hardly speak English, he is thought to have a passport from a former British colony in the Caribbean in addition to his Russian citizenship. All you have to do is invest enough money on the island and you become a citizen, allowing you to travel visa-free to Europe. It is a popular trick among Russians to circumvent annoying limits on their freedom of movement.

Visa M.’s current wife, Olga Belyavtseva, also has plenty of money. In 2018, Belyavtseva came in fifth place in a Forbes ranking of the wealthiest women in Russia, with estimated assets of half a billion U.S. dollars. In Russia, that usually translates to excellent political connections.

According to media reports, Belyavtseva owns a home in the gated mansion community of Meyendorff Gardens, near Moscow – one of the most expensive places to live in the entire country. Photos show swanky estates surrounded by park-like gardens. The community is also home to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official guesthouse – and his defense minister apparently also owns property here.

Belyavtseva’s rise in Russia sounds like an oligarch fairytale. Shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, she was working as a packer in a state-owned canned-goods factory, according to reports in the Russian media. During the vast wave of privatizations in Russia in the 1990s, she became a partial owner of the factory.

The sale of the successor company for billions to Pepsi in 2008 netted over $100 million for Belyavtseva, and today, she is co-owner of the largest baby food manufacturer in Russia. In addition, she and Visa M. own a synthetic materials company that supplies such well-known companies as IKEA. Olga Belyavtseva did not respond to a DER SPIEGEL query, and her husband Visa M. could not be reached for comment.

Back in Germany, Arthur E. and Carsten L. met in August 2022 to deepen their new acquaintanceship, choosing the Pöltner Hof, a slightly upscale hotel and restaurant in Weilheim, for their rendezvous. It’s a place that serves traditional fare like bratwurst with red cabbage and mashed potatoes, but guests can also order “Black Label” caviar or Cuban cigars. The AfD functionary Reno S. is thought to have joined them, though he is not a defendant in the case. He did not respond to DER SPIEGEL queries.

That evening, Arthur E. apparently spoke about his numerous business trips. And he admitted that he was under investigation by Munich prosecutors for the possession of a falsified diplomatic passport and because he had stuck a diplomatic sticker to his car. He said he had received the documents from Ukraine due to his involvement with a charity and hoped they would make his many trips that much easier. But, he added, he hadn’t realized they were falsified.

Carsten L., the BND agent, was apparently fascinated by Arthur E.’s stories. He allegedly told Arthur E. that he would make a good BND informant, providing information on terrorist groups in Africa, for example. Arthur E. said he thought the idea was “cool.”

But he also wanted something from Carsten L. on that evening. His Moscow friend, Visa M., had asked him for help with obtaining permanent residency for Germany. In exchange, he offered Carsten L. a share of his business deals in Africa. Carsten L. was evasive in his response, but he didn’t reject the idea outright. Perhaps it would be nice for retirement, Carsten L. responded according to Arthur E.’s testimony.

A short time later, Arthur E. asked out of the blue for a current list of sanctions against Russia. According to his testimony, his new friend at the BND, Carsten L., sent him the information a short time later.

Much, much, much more at the link!

LTC Shoot the tanks optics with paint balls to defeat them has thoughts:

Russia will run out of soldiers, I don't care what people say about the amount they can force into service. They tried to mobilize 300K, required capturing people off the street and more than 400K Russian men fled the country. https://t.co/Q8PDcQZeZ5

— John Spencer (@SpencerGuard) March 11, 2023

I will remind everyone that the North Koreans did NOT lose the Korean War and the North Vietnamese/Viet Minh/Viet Cong did NOT lose the Indochina Wars NOR the Vietnam War.

As I’ve repeatedly stated, I don’t think Russia is going to win their re-invasion of Ukraine, but having the ability to throw more bodies into combat than your opponent has the ability to at least protract the war making it seem like a frozen conflict. It also has the potential to drag it out for so long that it does, indeed, become frozen. This is one of those metrics that may not mean what it seems to mean at face value. Or one that fits within Einstein’s axiom that there are things that count that cannot be counted and things that can be counted that do not count.

EuroMaidan Press reports that Denmark is stepping up the number of Leopards they’re planning to send to Ukraine:

The Danish Defense Ministry reports that Denmark’s Acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen hopes Ukraine will receive the first Leopard 1A5 tanks in the spring. Denmark plans to donate at least 100 Leopard 1s to Ukraine in collaboration with Germany and the Netherlands.

On 10 March, Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and the German Defense Ministry’s State Secretary Thomas Hitschler visited the German military vehicle manufacturing company Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) to be updated on the work to prepare Leopard 1 tanks for Ukraine.

“I am very excited to have visited FFG. I was there to see that the work to prepare Leopard 1 tanks for Ukraine is progressing so that we can get them going as soon as possible. I am proud that Denmark, in cooperation with other countries, supports Ukraine’s struggle for freedom with a large and important donation, and we still hope to be able to deliver the first tanks to Ukraine during the spring,” he said.

Denmark launched the project to refurbish a large number of Leopard 1A5 tanks together with the Netherlands and Germany in early February.

According to Denmark’s Defense Ministry, the project’s “first sub-goal is to be able to deliver tanks for two battalions – corresponding to approximately 80 tanks – as quickly as possible. The first tanks are expected to be ready during the spring and will be used to train Ukrainian forces.”

The project includes training the Ukrainian soldiers on the Leopard 1 tanks, and supplies of spare parts and ammunition.

As I mentioned last night, the issue here is not the amounts pledged, not the training for the Ukrainian tankers, but the time frame to see the tanks actually delivered. And, of course, if the pledged numbers actually show up. At this point every EU and/or NATO member with Leopards should be sending every last one to Ukraine and, at the same time, placing orders for either the newest most upgraded variants for themselves and/or the next generation main battle tanks they were considering eventually ordering. There is no reason for any of these tanks to remain in the states they’re in now. Those EU and NATO members are not going to need them. Russia can barely manage to continue to attack Ukraine with even incremental tactical success, Putin doesn’t actually have the material left to threaten any EU or NATO member state in Europe. So rather than hold material back under the claim that it might be needed for defense in the EU and NATO Member states in Europe, the question should be repeatedly asked: “in defense from whom?” Sure, Orban probably won’t send his, but even he isn’t megalomaniacal enough to consider invading his EU and NATO neighbors. And Erdogan is stretched far too thin. The PRC isn’t even ready to move on Taiwan, so traipsing across either Central Asia or southern Russia isn’t happening either. Send everything! It’ll both help Ukraine defeat Russia and weaponized Keynesianism is good for the economy!

Well this is interesting:

Pakistan has offered to give 44 T-80UD tanks to Ukraine in exchange for western financial support.

🇵🇰🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/Hf8iwgL3z7

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 11, 2023

That’s enough for tonight.

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@patron__dsns

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Open thread!

Ukrainians are strong when they take care of each other, and free when they defend themselves – address of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

10 March 2023 – 20:24

The meeting of the Staff of Supreme Commander-in-Chief has just ended.

The commander-in-chief, commanders of the task forces reported on the situation on the front line, generally in the defense of the state. East and south, border. Bakhmut and our opportunities to strengthen there. Our responses to terrorist attacks. Protection of Kherson and communities of Dnipropetrovsk region. Chernihiv region, Sumy region. Our ammunition and supply needs.

Today, I spoke about the provision of Ukrainian soldiers and, in general, the support of our state in defense against Russian aggression during international negotiations.

The Prime Minister of Finland, a country that quite actively supports us, visited Kyiv. I thanked him for the aid packages already provided, we discussed new opportunities to strengthen our defense, increase pressure on Russia – a new defense package for Ukraine, already the 14th.

We also talked about cooperation in the European Union structures, and supporting our initiatives to punish Russian murderers.

Today, I also met with the Minister of Defense of Norway. In general, we have achieved an extremely strong relationship with Norway in many areas. This also concerns weapons: thanks to Norway, we strengthened our air defense, artillery, and other types of troops. Norway also launched a long-term budget support program for Ukraine – $7 billion for five years – which can and should become an example for our other partners.

We discussed additional steps that we can take together with Norway to make this spring a success both for Ukrainian defense and for the prospects of pan-European security.

By the way, we are starting to communicate with Norway about the possibilities of a training mission for our pilots.

I talked today with representatives of the American political community – senators, experts – at the site of the American Enterprise Institute. It is one of the strong American think tanks – institutions involved in policy-making.

I briefed on the current situation, our possibilities to break Russian aggression and return security to Ukraine. I thanked America for its unwavering and principled support, and the leadership that can bring our victory much closer.

Today, I would like to pay particular attention to our soldiers who are defending Ukraine in Donetsk region. Every day they give good reasons for gratitude, give good results for Ukraine. Marines of the 35th and 36th separate marine brigades, the 55th separate artillery brigade, paratroopers of the 79th brigade… Thank you, soldiers! And separately, I would like to thank today the soldiers of the Defense Intelligence Shaman unit – for Bakhmut, for their strong participation in the defense of the city.

Thank you to the soldiers of the 44th separate artillery brigade, who are fighting near Zaporizhzhia. Skillfully destroy enemy positions and equipment. Thank you guys for this!

Today, I signed another decree on honoring our soldiers with state awards. In particular, soldiers of the 24th separate assault battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Today, I had the honor of handing “Da Vinci” Dmytro Kotsiubailo his Cross of Military Merit to his mother. Farewell to Dmytro took place today. And I thank everyone who came to the farewell ceremony for “Da Vinci.” To everyone who would like to come, but is currently at the front, in the army, in the hospital. It is very important.

It is important that Ukraine honors its heroes and demonstrates to the world what kind of people give their lives for the freedom of our people and the whole of Europe. I’m grateful to everyone. Remember Dmytro today, please remember all those who were taken from us by this war – since February 24, since 2014. Eternal memory to the heroes!

And one more. All day I receive reports about the restoration of our energy facilities and networks after the Russian terrorist attack.

Kharkiv – many subscribers are still disconnected, the city has communication problems. It was possible to provide electricity to critical infrastructure, all services are working to restore the energy supply to consumers. Truly heroic efforts of our energy workers and repair crews.

Kharkiv region – as of evening, electricity supply has been restored to most consumers.

It is still not easy in Zhytomyr: although the system has generally been balanced, there may still be outages. Energy workers are working.

Zaporizhzhia – everything is being done to protect people and the city’s energy system.

Kyiv – heating networks are being restored.

I thank everyone who is involved in these works, thank everyone who helps!

Ukrainians are strong when they take care of each other. Ukrainians are free when they defend themselves.

Glory to our beautiful people!

In memory of our soldiers who gave their lives for our country!

Glory to Ukraine!

A warrior’s funeral.
When the General-in-Chief, the defense minister, the Chief of the General Staff, the military intelligence head, and the full of the Maidan bow down on their knees.
Zelensky and @MarinSanna were there, too.
Rest in peace, DaVinci. pic.twitter.com/sNIWregEDq

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) March 10, 2023

More of the cost:

Ukrainian father and son. They fought together and died together in the battle of Bakhmut. https://t.co/zNklsu8wo9

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 9, 2023

Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessment of the situation in Bakhmut:

BAKHMUT /1550 UTC 10 MAR/ After a sustained and costly series of attacks, Wagner PMC forces report attaining a lodgment in the village of Dubovo-Vasylivka. RU attacks on Orikhovo-Vasylivka were repelled. UKR units are reported to have advanced south-west of Bakhmut. pic.twitter.com/qVz6xI7fsf

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 10, 2023

Well this is going to be interesting:

Prigozhin said that after the capture of Bakhmut, he intends to "reboot" the Wagner PMC in order to turn it into an army with an ideology.

Which ideology? Some kind of colony of benevolence for crooks or something? pic.twitter.com/B3ybf5sRE4

— NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) March 10, 2023

Four days ago the Institute for the Study of War posted that Ukraine was undertaking a tactical retreat from Bakhmut despite Ukraine’s National Command Authority and the theater commander making it clear no such thing was taking place. The theater commander, Colonel General Syrsky, has repeatedly visiting his forces contesting for Bakhmut over the past week to ten days. Yesterday the ISW posted that Wagner has taken a tactical pause in its attempt to take Bakhmut despite Wagner initiating dozens of attacks. Today the ISW posted that even if Russian forces could take Bakhmut, Russia would be unable to generate operational effects from doing so.

This concludes the lesson of why I never use anything from the Institute for the Study of War.

Dara Massicot, a senior policy researcher at RAND, has done an interesting assessment of Russian missile use. First tweet in the thread below followed by the rest from the Thread Reader App:

I’ve been comparing Russian missile strikes against Ukraine over the last few months with what is known about their doctrine and launch capacity. I’d like to share a little about recent trends below. /1 pic.twitter.com/KCdS43uCA1

— Dara Massicot (@MassDara) March 10, 2023

Before I do: there are Ukrainian civilians who suffering and dying from these strikes. I’ve said before, Ukraine needs sustained air defense systems and interceptor missiles and other support, as there is an effort underway to exhaust Ukrainian SAMs over time.

I haven’t made my way through all strikes since 2022, so far just 2023 today. I’ve compiled launch points where known, missile type, and interception rates. Sources for now are UAF and western media. I will catalogue Russian info next. /2 

(Speaking of interception rates, @konrad_muzyka has great information on this, if you are not already subscribing to the UCM , I recommend it!) /3 

The attack this week (81 missiles) was not the largest in 2023 – the largest was one month ago with 105 total. This attack was different in terms of type of systems used, launch locations, variation of launchers and missile trajectories, making it complex to defend against. /4 

It featured 6 Kinzhal hypersonic ALBMs – the largest salvo so far of them in the war and the largest recorded for combat use of this missile. Russia doesn’t have large numbers of this system, rumored in the dozens. More on that: /5 washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/…

Ukrainian officials say they cannot intercept Kinzhal, Kh-22 ASCMs and S-300 (SA-20) air defense missiles repurposed for land attack roles. too fast, trajectory is difficult. They claim Russia has fired 210 Kh-22 since 2022, none of them intercepted. /6 

The Kh-22 (AS-4) Soviet-era ASCM was designed to be an aircraft carrier killer. It is not very precise, but it is supersonic. /7

Air Force: Ukraine needs Patriot to down Kh-22 missiles Russia used to hit high-rise in DniproUkraine’s Air Force Command reported that Russia used five Tu-22М3 long-range supersonic missile carrier bombers to fire five Kh-22 missiles against Ukraine on Jan. 14. They were launched from Russia’…https://kyivindependent.com/news-feed/air-force-ukraine-does-not-have-means-to-down-kh-22-missiles

From the info that I have, there is no set pattern to the makeup of the strike packages this year. Many are ASCMs or SAMs purposed for land-attack roles. A few reasons for this in no particular order: experimentation to see what works, stockpile issues, launcher readiness. /8

Note, no SS-26/SSC-7 in quite some time, probably as inventory is low. They are using different combinations of balloons, Shaheds, timing waves of missiles, shifting launch locations, and so on, to reduce interception rates. /8 

Not depicted in the chart – each strike originates from slightly different locations. They haven’t launched much from Belarus in the last month, according to Ukrainian officials. It’s a mix from Belgorod, Caspian+ Black Sea, Rostov, Kursk, and occupied Zaporizhzhia. /9 

While the Russians likely know the limitations and strengths of Ukraine’s soviet/Russian origin SAMs, they are likely trying to probe weaknesses in NASAMS or IRIS-T performance. /10 

Back in November, NASAMs had a 100% success rate according to SECDEF Austin. /11

NASAMS air defense system have 100% success rate in Ukraine- Pentagon chiefU.S.-provided NASAMS air defense systems have had a 100% success rate in Ukraine intercepting Russian missiles, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday, as NATO said an errant Ukrainian …https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nasams-air-defense-system-have-100-success-rate-ukraine-pentagon-chief-2022-11-16/

As for overall targets – most of these strikes are continuing to target the power grid, an oil refinery, defense industrial targets – what is called “critical infrastructure” in Russian mil strategy. However, missiles are striking residential buildings. /12 

Ukraine is repairing their grid. The strikes are lethal, yet they backfire too, as Ukrainians are more resolved against Russia with each wave. Nor do I see how they directly support the Donbas effort/13 

That being said, I do worry that this wears down Ukrainian SAM inventory; I don’t know how many interceptors they expend for each Russian missile launched. /14 

Is Russia following their CONOPs for PGMs? Yes and no. On one hand there is an adherence to striking critical infrastructure, but on the other hand they not found lasting effects from this approach and haven’t switched to a fundamentally different strategy. /15 

If interested, we have a new report on the subject. We discuss aspects of Russian PGM targeting and launch capacity by platform. It was written in 2021 (prewar), but only recently approved for public release. /16

As we noted then (but were unable to discuss here until approved) there was a large gap between their theory and the force, to achieve effects with PGMs, EW, and counterspace capabilities. Led by Clint Reach w/contributions from me and a great team.

Russia’s Evolution Toward a Unified Strategic OperationIn this report, RAND researchers examine the reasons behind Russia’s evolution toward a unified strategic operation, as well as the capabilities that would be necessary to execute key conventional off…https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1233-8.html

Final thought – Russia is facing PGM inventory issues and is experimenting with what it has left. These attacks strain Ukrainian air defenses and this is a problem over time. The attacks come every few weeks. thanks for reading/end. 

This whole a group of private Ukrainian operators drove over 5,000 lbs of explosives from Poland to Germany and then packed it plus all the diving gear into a 45 to 50 foot sailboat and then dove on the deepest part of the NordStream pipelines, which would’ve required a decompression chamber, and none of these highest of high speed and lowest of low drag operators thought to wipe the yacht down for explosive residue reporting is now completely out of hand.

“The report in Der Spiegel traces the Andromeda’s route around the Baltic from its home marina in Rostock on 6 September to the German island of Rügen and then finally to the Danish island of Christiansø, close to the site of the blasts on 26 September.” https://t.co/fX9z8YLwpd

— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) March 10, 2023

“Diving experts say such extended deep dives would have required a decompression chamber for the divers, which would not fit on a yacht. There are also question on whether there would be room for the required explosives” https://t.co/fX9z8YLwpd

— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) March 10, 2023

New Spiegel article gives a bit of new information:

– Apparently one forged Bulgarian passport
– Group size and whether there was a woman in the group is unclear
– Andromeda may have been back in Wiek a second time to stock up and refuelhttps://t.co/hePwzCHIUV

— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) March 10, 2023

So apparently it was a complete coincidence that the authorities found out that someone had smuggled a large amount of explosives into Germany if they story is true.https://t.co/Dau5ks1yyX

— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) March 10, 2023

One point I haven’t seen brought up by any media regarding the Andromeda Nord Stream story.

A non-state sponsored actor was apparently able to smuggle an enormous amount of explosives into Germany and the authorities apparently didn’t know until months after.

— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) March 10, 2023

If this story is true, it seems to have massive implications. What happens if the hostile actors weren’t interested in “just” sabotaging the Nord Stream pipeline?

— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) March 10, 2023

Alexander has a full write up with lots of AIS imagery at his substack showing why this reporting doesn’t add up. You can find that at this link.

He’s also got an update thread:

It just so happens to not only happen directly above the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage locations, but also at the exact same time as the currently suspected Andromeda is supposedly placing explosives in the same location.

— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) March 10, 2023

It then proceeded to the Petersburg Oil Terminal in Saint Petersburg on the 18th where it stayed until the 20th September. pic.twitter.com/1xOALSHY2Z

— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) March 10, 2023

Each but of this reporting just creates more questions and gaps in the information being fed to the reporters. Additionally, given what we’ve seen over the past six months about how Russia has compromised a number of German intelligence and security personnel, as well as Germany’s investigations into and arrests of neo-fascist German extremists in the military and law enforcement suggests we should take anything German intel says with a very large grain of salt.

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron:

Here @MarinSanna shows how she wanted to hold me. But we haven’t met during her visit to Ukraine 🫤 (yet). Photo @igorlachenkov TG channel. pic.twitter.com/hFayDrjKrh

— Patron (@PatronDsns) March 10, 2023

And a new video from Patron’s official TikTok:

@patron__dsns

Контент на мільйон?😂 #песпатрон

♬ original sound – 🌿Holly🌿

The caption machine translates as:

Content for a million? 😂 #песпатрон

Open thread!

No matter how treacherous Russia’s actions are, our state and people will not be in chains – address by President of Ukraine

9 March 2023 – 22:54

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Today I held several meetings on the consequences of a massive attack on our infrastructure.

Another attempt by the terrorist state to wage war against civilization has led to temporary power, heat and water outages in some of our regions and cities.

Russian missiles have claimed the lives of six Ukrainians today. My condolences to the families…

Restoration work at power facilities has been ongoing all day. Kharkiv and the Zhytomyr region have the most difficult situation. Odesa, the Dnipropetrovsk region, Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia are also facing difficulties.

Repair crews, power engineers, local authorities and the central government – everyone will work for as long as necessary to restore power supply to the cities and districts where there are problems. I thank everyone who is working for this.

We have already shown what Ukraine is capable of. And no matter how treacherous Russia’s actions are, our state and people will not be in chains. Neither missiles nor Russian atrocities will help them.

I want to thank all the warriors of our Air Forces today. And especially the 138th Dnipro, 160th Odesa and 208th Kherson anti-aircraft missile brigades, which distinguished themselves in the defense against this Russian attack. Thank you, warriors!

I am also grateful to everyone in the world who realizes how important it is to give full protection to the Ukrainian sky, and to everyone who is ready to help us guarantee normal life for people.

Today I spoke with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, in particular, about energy support for Ukraine. I informed her about the consequences of the attack by the terrorist state. I am grateful to Mrs. Ursula for the relevant assistance provided.

Of course, we also discussed the issue of putting pressure on Russia for terror. Sanctions pressure. Ways to expand sanctions.

By the way, as a result of this strike, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was disconnected from the power grid again. This is a critical situation. And Russia is deliberately creating such critical situations at our nuclear facilities. This simply means, by definition, that Russia cannot be a bona fide participant in any relations in the nuclear sphere.

This means that the sooner the Russian nuclear industry is subjected to sanctions, the safer the world will be. A terrorist state cannot be allowed to use any nuclear facilities anywhere in the world for terror.

Mrs. President of the European Commission also positively assessed the progress of our country in the anticorruption area. In particular, the approval of the Anticorruption Strategy and the appointment of a new NABU Director. This is important in the context of our further progress in European integration before the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union.

Today I also had a rather long meeting with representatives of our cultural community. Theater, cinematography, music, literature, state cultural institutions, public initiatives. The Shevchenko Committee and Ukrainian journalists were represented.

We discussed ways to strengthen the capacity of Ukrainian culture to communicate with the world to ensure support for Ukraine. Diplomacy, journalism, and culture are the three areas that do the most to make the world understand our struggle and help us.

Of course, we also talked about our own national needs.

It is very important that the experience of a full-scale war, our soldiers, what they are going through at the front, the experience of Ukrainian trenches, the experience of our people who are actually defending European freedom, that all this experience be described by Ukrainians.

So that our culture, its figures, its institutions, could fill the need for a Ukrainian cultural product, for an understanding of the Ukrainian situation.

Ukraine has achieved the greatest national unity in its history. Ukraine has united the world. Ukrainians inspire hundreds of other nations with the way they defend their country and freedom. And it would be right that all this is reflected by Ukrainian culture, our institutions, and our people. Ukrainian cinematography, Ukrainian theater, Ukrainian literature, Ukrainian music, Ukrainian museums, Ukrainian visual art. So that all of this preserves the true experience of those who are going through the war, who are on the frontline, who are really experiencing what “Keep fighting – you are sure to win!” means.

Many ideas were voiced today. There are things that the state can and should do. There is something that depends on the cultural community itself.

I thank the participants of the meeting once again. And I thank all the Ukrainian cultural figures for this year and for all the years of Ukrainian independence, when we have grown stronger.

Glory to all those who are now fighting for Ukraine! Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Kupyansk, Lyman and the entire Donbas! Our Zaporizhzhia, Nikopol, Kherson region! Glory to all those who are defending our Sumy, our Chernihiv region, our Kharkiv region, all our cities and communities, and our border!

Glory to every Ukrainian soldier whose courage means the life of Ukraine!

Eternal and blessed memory to all those whom this war and Russia have taken from us!

There is no other choice but to win.

Glory to Ukraine!

Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessment of the situation in Bakhmut:

BAKHMUT AXIS /1140 UTC 9 MAR/ RU renewed futile attacks on the villages of Orikhovo-Vasylivka & Dubovo-Vasylivka. RU troops consolidated forces on the east bank of the river. UKR has engaged RU soldiers who crossed the Bakhmutka by a damaged footbridge S of the H-32 HWY. pic.twitter.com/EqxRy6Hqop

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 9, 2023

Bakhmut:

Father and son, Oleh and Mykyta Khomyuk, died in a battle near Bakhmut.
From the first days of the full-scale russian invasion both went to defend their land as servicemen of @TDF_UA
They died together
True heroes don’t die, they forever remain in our hearts
Glory to the Heroes! pic.twitter.com/9X6WIvVOtj

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 9, 2023

The Russians opened up on the Ukrainians today with a cruise missile and drone barrage:

Massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine tonight. Air raid in Kyiv for 7 hours. Energy objects shelled in:
Kyiv – Kinzhal missile hit energy facility
Kharkiv – city and region hit by 15 strikes
Mykolaiv
Zaporizhzhia
Odesa
Dnipro
Zhytomyr regions#RussiaisATerroistState

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 9, 2023

Left alone.
A dog that miraculously survived today’s attacks lies in the ruins of the house in which his owners died.
5 civilians were killed as a result of russia’s missile strike in Zolochiv district of Lviv region.
In moscow, this murder is being called "retribution" pic.twitter.com/2Kj5dxtmkG

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 9, 2023

Ukrainian authorities confirm, Russian missile attacks hit critical energy infrastructure in Kyiv’s southern Holosiivskyi District.#RussiaIsATerroistState pic.twitter.com/kR1yhfK5bS

— Julian Röpcke🇺🇦 (@JulianRoepcke) March 9, 2023

Situation in Zhytomyr (270,000 inhabitants) is dire. No water, no warmth, no electricity after multiple hits by Russian invasion forces:
Ukraine urgently needs more AD and the Western allowance to destroy Russian bombers inside Russia.

— Julian Röpcke🇺🇦 (@JulianRoepcke) March 9, 2023

Four killed in Lviv region as a result of Russian missile attack. In Zolochiv, the rocket fell on residential buildings. There may be other people under the rubble. pic.twitter.com/e8J0bRMmCs

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 9, 2023

Russia launched all types of cruise missiles at Kyiv overnight. Thanks to the work of Ukrainian air defense, , strikes by cruise missiles and drones were prevented. Kinzhal ballistic missile, which Ukraine cannot intercept, hit energy facility. pic.twitter.com/BkMluWWmt9

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 9, 2023

Kharkiv this morning after massive Russian missile attack with at least 15 S-300. pic.twitter.com/QmlJTp89Kl

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 9, 2023

The situation with electricity in Kharkiv remains critical tonight. A city of a million people plunged into darkness after massive Russian missile strike from Belgorod with more than a dozen S300 missiles. pic.twitter.com/GH9ZnTGT97

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 9, 2023

UPDATE: RU fired 81 missiles of various types at UKR last night, as well as 8 Shahed 136s. Only 38 of these missiles were shot down. The lower interception rate likely reflects a change in launch tactics by RU. Ukraine desperately needs upgraded air defense weapons.

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) March 9, 2023

Last night, russia attacked Ukraine with 81 missiles and 8 Shahed drones.
34 cruise missiles and 4 drones were shot down by Ukraine's air defense. 8 rus missiles missed their targets.
There are killed and injured among civilians.@CinC_AFU

Ukraine needs more air defense systems. pic.twitter.com/VnFTyiZ0N9

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 9, 2023

Yes, yes Ukraine does!

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports that Slovakia is considering providing Ukraine with their old MiGs, which they’re transitioning away from:

Slovakia must make a decision on sending MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said on March 9, referring to a fleet of 11 that were retired last summer, not all of them in operational condition. Nad said he had spoken to Poland’s defense minister at a European Union meeting a day earlier and was told that Warsaw would agree to a joint process to hand over MiG-29 jets to Ukraine. Western countries that have provided Ukraine with arms have so far declined to send fighter jets. Poland has said it would be willing to send war planes in a coalition of countries.

For you art history fans, here’s a thread on Taras Schevenko. First tweet below, followed by the rest from the Thread Reader App:

Today is the birthday of Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861), a great 🇺🇦 artist and poet, a symbol of the struggle for independence and against russian imperialism. You probably heard about him at least once. Big thread about his life and art. 🧵

'Kateryna' (1842) pic.twitter.com/fMkWWMBSc2

— Ukrainian Art History (@ukr_arthistory) March 9, 2023

He was born in the village of Moryntsy, Cherkasy region, in a family of serf peasants (kripaky). He had a very poor and hard life. From a very young age, he served to a deacon and studied. Unable to endure bullying and feeling a great desire for painting, he ran away.

In 1828, Shevchenko was hired as a serving boy to a lord’s court in Vilshana and obtained permission to study with a local artist. When Taras was 14, Vasily Engelhardt died, and the village of Kyrylivka and all its people became the property of his son, Pavlo Engelhardt 

Shevchenko was turned into a court servant of his new master. From 1828 to 1831, Shevchenko stayed with his master in Vilnius. From those times, Shevchenko’s painting “Bust of a Woman” survived. In 1831, Engelgardt moved to Saint Petersburg.

To benefit from the artworks (since it was prestigious to have one’s own “chamber artist”), Engelgardt sent Shevchenko to painter Vasiliy Shiriayev for a four-year study. He met 🇺🇦artist Ivan Soshenko, who introduced him to other Ukrainians. Then they tried to ‘buy’ him a freedom

Painter and professor Karl Briullov donated a portrait of russian poet Vasily Zhukovsky as a lottery prize. Its proceeds were used to buy Shevchenko’s freedom on 5 May 1838. He was accepted as a student into the Academy of Arts in the workshop of Karl Briullov in the same year.

While residing in Saint Petersburg, Shevchenko made three trips to Ukraine in 1843, 1845, and 1846. The difficult conditions 🇺🇦 had made a profound impact on him, in 1844 decided to capture historical ruins and cultural monuments in an album of etchings – Picturesque Ukraine.

In Ukraine, he met with historian Mykola Kostomarov and other members of the Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius, a society dedicated to the political liberalization of the Empire. He was arrested together with the members of the society on 5 April 1847.

In the official report, Shevchenko was accused of composing poetry in 🇺🇦language of outrageous content. In the report, Orlov listed the crimes as advocating and inspiring Ukrainian nationalists, alleging enslavement and misfortune of Ukraine, glorified Cossack liberties.

After being convicted, he was exiled to Orenburg at Orsk, near the Ural Mountains. Tsar Nicholas I personally confirmed his sentence, added to it, “Under the strictest surveillance, without the right to write or paint. But he did it secretly.

In 1857 Shevchenko finally returned from exile after receiving amnesty from a new emperor. In May 1859, Shevchenko got permission to return to Ukraine. In July, he was again arrested on a charge of blasphemy but then released and ordered to return to St. Petersburg.

Shevchenko died on 10 March 1861. Fulfilling his wish, expressed in his poem “Testament”, to be buried in Ukraine, his friends arranged the transfer of his remains to his homeland. Shevchenko was re-buried on Monk’s Hill (today Taras Hill) near the Dnipro River in Kaniv.

Tomorrow I will tell you more about his impact on Ukrainian culture, his poetry, and Shevchenko as a symbol in art.

“Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko Arrives From His Exile to Flowering Ukraine” (1968) by Maria Primachenko

This’ll get your attention:

Russian TV hacked to broadcast nationwide nuclear alert. pic.twitter.com/7RntfIvJLs

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 9, 2023

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

A new video from Patron’s official TikTok!

@patron__dsns

Відео для усіх, хто любить круасани!🥐😋 #песпатрон

♬ croissant – Ldn

The caption machine translates as:

A video for everyone who loves croissants 🥐😋 #песпатрон

Open thread!