*** Official Russia vs. Ukraine Discussion - Invasion has begun *** (5 Viewers)

[Chadstroma]

Analyst Says Clips of Shenzhen, China, Found in Russian Shahed Decoy - Business Insider https://share.google/d3226iXtK0YySW9NU

 

[Chadstroma]

Ukraine Made Own Western Training Longer, Shows Focus on Quality - Business Insider https://share.google/TrcNNzXdAORMvS9hL

 

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Russian energy facilities targeted in drone attacks | Reuters https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russian-energy-facilities-targeted-drone-attacks-2025-09-01/

 

[Chadstroma]

Russia’s Top Tank Factory Runs on 260+ Western Machines, Intel Says https://share.google/TJ7O8Y91bgFJSp9vj

 

[Chadstroma]

Ukraine Uses New Flamingo Missile for First Time: Report - Newsweek https://share.google/EEueNp8CcC3q30FQj

 

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Germany becomes top European defense exporter with €12.8 billion in 2024 mostly directed to Ukraine https://share.google/AKTugZph17YZexNlk

 

[Chadstroma]

Putin blames West for Ukraine war at China-led SCO summit | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera https://share.google/z1Ni48dz5hgEtVb6b

 

[fatness]

Trump administration approves sale of 3,350 extended range missiles to Ukraine

There's a catch with those missiles, though.

John Hardie
@JohnH105
The Pentagon reportedly is blocking Ukrainian ATACMS & Storm Shadow missile strikes inside Russia, undercutting Trump’s own leverage vis-a-vis Moscow. The provision of ERAM is great but would be more impactful if Ukraine’s hands weren’t tied…

 

[fatness]

Von Der Leyen Flight Affected by Alleged Russian GPS Jamming

A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was disrupted by jamming that authorities suspect was the result of Russian interference in Bulgaria.
Authorities in Bulgaria have determined that the GPS jamming incident, which affected the plane’s navigation system, was likely initiated by Russia, according to a commission spokesperson. The plane landed safely after the interference affected the airport in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, the spokesperson said.

More on that:

The commission received “information from Bulgarian authorities that they suspect this blatant interference was carried out by Russia,” said European Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Arianna Podestà. The Kremlin has denied the allegation, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov telling The Financial Times, which first reported on the story, “your information is incorrect.” The plane landed safely, the European Commission spokesperson said. A source familiar with the situation told CNN the pilots landed the plane using paper maps.

The world will never outgrow the need for paper maps.

 

[Don't Toews Me]

About 2,000 N.K. troops deployed to Russia estimated to have been killed: NIS

The spy agency estimated around 2,000 North Korean troops dispatched to Russia for combat in Ukraine were killed, lawmakers said Tuesday.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) shared the assessment during a closed-door briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee, Reps. Park Sun-won and Lee Seong-kweun told reporters.

The NIS said Pyongyang is planning to additionally send some 6,000 soldiers to Russia in its third batch of troop deployment to aid Moscow's war with Ukraine, while around 1,000 combat engineers have already arrived in Russia.

The existing troops are stationed in the "rear front as reserve forces," the agency said, pointing to the possibility of a leadership change among the dispatched troops.

"North Korea revealed it sustained around 350 deaths in the first and second rounds of deployment, while the NIS reported at least 600 deaths in a briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee in April," Lee said, noting that the NIS has increased its estimate of the death toll to 2,000 after a "comprehensive review" with other countries.

Since October last year, North Korea has sent around 13,000 troops and conventional weapons to support Russia's war efforts.

Russia to boost gas supplies to China, signs up new pipeline but price unclear

Russia agreed to supply additional volumes of natural gas to China and signed a memorandum on building the vast Power of Siberia 2 pipeline but has yet to agree on pricing for one of the world's most expensive gas projects, Gazprom said on Tuesday.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 1, 2025

The Russian military command reportedly redeployed relatively "elite" naval infantry and airborne (VDV) forces to Donetsk Oblast from northern Sumy Oblast and the Kherson direction. A Ukrainian drone unit operating in the Pokrovsk direction reported that the Russian military command redeployed several units from Kursk Oblast, including elements of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet), to reinforce Russian offensive operations toward Dobropillya. A Russian milblogger reportedly affiliated with the Russian Northern Group of Forces claimed on August 18 that the Russian command redeployed elements of the 177th Naval Infantry Regiment and the 155th and 40th naval infantry brigades from northern Sumy Oblast to another unspecified direction. An OSINT analyst on X (formerly Twitter) reported on August 30 that the Russian command redeployed elements of the 40th and 155th naval infantry brigades (both of the Pacific Fleet) and likely elements of the 177th Naval Infantry Regiment (Caspian Flotilla) to Donetsk Oblast. The OSINT analyst also stated that there are reports that elements of the 11th Separate VDV Brigade and 76th VDV Division were "spotted nearby" in Donetsk Oblast after the Russian military command "urgently" deployed these elements to ”the hottest direction.” The OSINT source noted that the exact axis of attack of the redeployed VDV elements is still unclear. The Russian command also reportedly redeployed elements of the 70th Motorized Rifle Regiment (42nd Motorized Rifle Division, 58th Combined Arms Army [CAA], Southern Military District [SMD]) from Kherson Oblast to Bakhmut, possibly to reinforce Russian offensive efforts in Kostyantynivka or Siversk. ISW previously observed reports that elements of the 40th and 155th naval infantry brigades, 11th Separate VDV Brigade, and 76th VDV Division were operating in northern Sumy Oblast as of late August 2025. ISW previously observed reports that elements of the 177th Naval Infantry Regiment were operating in northern Sumy Oblast as of August 11. ISW previously observed reports in November 2024 that the 11th VDV Brigade formed a special battalion staffed by North Korean troops for combat operations in Kursk Oblast, and ISW assessed at the time that North Korean troops training in Russia were likely training with elements of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade and 11th VDV Brigades.

The reported redeployments suggest that the Russian Fall 2025 offensive will focus on efforts to seize the remainder of Donetsk Oblast, particularly in the Dobropillya, Pokrovsk, and Kostyantynivka areas. The Russian command’s redeployment of forces from northern Sumy Oblast to Donetsk Oblast suggests that Russia is deprioritizing its offensive operations in Sumy Oblast. Russian forces have intensified efforts to envelop Pokrovsk, advance toward Dobropillya, and bypass Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast fortress belt from the west. These efforts have resulted in significant manpower losses, likely requiring the Russian military command to redeploy forces to the area. Russia’s Fall 2024 offensive also focused on offensive operations in the Pokrovsk direction - demonstrating Russia's slow progress in achieving its objectives on the battlefield at tremendous human and material costs.

 

[Don't Toews Me]

Ukrainian drone strikes strangle Putin’s fuel supplies

Kyiv has been carrying out such strikes for more than a year but the effects are now being felt more than ever, as the cumulative impact of sanctions and an absence of Western technical support makes the damage harder to repair.
According to Philip Ingram, a retired British army intelligence officer, the tactic is “a crucial part of the war” championed by Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov.
“He’s got hold of the old Allied Special Operations Executive manual from WWII and he’s adapted that to this conflict — attacking the Russians at an operational level, targeting their ability to continue the tactical battle by supplying the military materials and manpower,” Ingram said.
“[Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy has said Ukraine cannot win in a straight tactical fight on the front lines in the East, but whoever dominates the operational level tends to win the overall conflict.”
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian SBU official told POLITICO that the drone strikes are a form of "sanctions" that are designed to "reduce the inflow of foreign currency that Russia needs to wage war."

But Russian officials have been forced to extend the ban on gasoline sales abroad through to September as a result, depriving the Kremlin of much-needed foreign currency. Homayoun Falakshahi, head of crude oil analysis at intelligence firm Kpler, said that was a clear consequence of some of Russia’s largest plants being knocked out.
The destruction at Rosneft’s Ryazan and Lukoil’s Volgograd refineries has “pushed an estimated 700–750,000 barrels a day of capacity offline, or about 10 percent of total [production],” Falakshahi said.
According to figures shared with POLITICO, Kpler estimates that Russia’s overall crude refining throughput is now down to roughly 5.1 million barrels a day, well below the 5.6 million typical for this time of year. Adding to the headaches for industry chiefs, many plants are due to undergo maintenance this month, potentially meaning extended downtime as they struggle to meet domestic demand.
Illia Neskhodovskyi, lead analyst at Ukraine’s National Interests Protection Network, said gasoline shortages were already widespread throughout Russia: “There is not enough gasoline in Karelia, there is not enough gasoline in the Khabarovsk Territory, there is not enough gasoline in the Far East, there is not enough gasoline in Primorsky Krai. If we look at the price tags, the price is somewhere around 20-25 percent more than the official statistics give, so these are real losses for Russians and for carriers.”

Tina Dolbaia, an associate fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the refinery attacks could “escalate from a temporary hiccup into a budgetary dilemma” for Moscow if they continue through the fall.
“So far, the Russians seem to be mitigating the impact of these attacks by purchasing petroleum from Belarus to offset domestic shortages and pressuring refineries to intensify their maintenance work,” she said.
“However, if the attacks remain frequent and more destructive as Ukraine continues to develop its long-range capabilities, Russia’s capacity to repair damaged refineries will be further strained … This, in turn, could put downward pressure on global oil prices and impact Moscow’s budget revenues from the energy sector-related taxes.”
According to Ingram, the British former intelligence officer, the Russian economy is “not on the brink of collapse” — yet.
“We’re probably talking about another 12-18 months until Putin gets really worried,” he said. “But if the Ukrainians increase their activity, that could certainly come down very, very quickly.”

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 2, 2025

Russia continues to feel the economic impacts of secondary sanctions against Russian oil-and-gas importers and of recent Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil refineries. Bloomberg reported on September 2 that sources who received offers from Russian crude oil exporters stated that Russian exporters are offering Urals crude to Indian importers at a discount of $3 to $4 per barrel, compared to Brent, on a delivered basis for cargo shipments in late September to October 2025. Bloomberg reported that sources stated that Russian exporters were offering Indian importers a discount of around $2.50 a barrel during the week of August 24 to 30 and a discount of $1 in July 2025. Russia is likely offering Indian importers discounted crude oil to ensure that India continues to purchase crude from Russia despite Western secondary sanctions against India, including a 50 percent US tariff against Indian exports to the United States. Russia is currently selling crude oil below market price, which will decrease the incoming flow of foreign funds into the Russian economy and deplete Russia's primary source of wealth unless Russia significantly increases its export of crude oil.

Russia and occupied Ukraine are also facing acute gasoline shortages due to Ukrainian strikes. The Kherson Oblast occupation administration claimed on September 2 that some gas stations in occupied Kherson Oblast are experiencing shortages of AI-92 and AI-95 (premium) gasoline and that gasoline prices are increasing due to shortages. Ukrainian Luhansk Oblast Head Oleksiy Kharchenko reported that occupied Luhansk Oblast is also experiencing shortages of AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline and that the Luhansk Oblast occupation administration claimed that the shortage is due to a reduction in gasoline supply and a simultaneous increase in demand. Kurilsky Municipal Okrug Head Konstantin Istomin reported on August 25 that Russian authorities suspended the sale of A-92 gasoline to residents in the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin Oblast. The Kremlin extended on August 14 a temporary ban on processed gasoline exports for all exporters through September 2025 and for non-producers through October 2025, a move that seeks to blunt a domestic price surge for gasoline due to Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil refineries.

 

[Dezbelief]

Ukraine eyes joint drone production deal with the Philippines - Naval News

Ukraine is looking to deepen defense cooperation with the Philippines through a planned agreement that could pave the way for joint drone production.

www.navalnews.com

Ukrainian style drones could present a serious challenge to the People’s Republic of China, who have been increasingly assertive in the West Philippine Sea. Overall the Philippines, despite several recent warship acquisitions, will be outnumbered and outgunned by the PRC. But as the war in the Black Sea has shown, small inexpensive uncrewed platforms can reshape the naval arena and create viable ways to blunt a conventional navy’s power. It is the classic application of asymmetric warfare”.

H I SUTTON

 

[Don't Toews Me]

Zelenskiy’s Allies Fear Putin Is Readying New Assault in Ukraine

European leaders are increasingly concerned that Russia will mount a new offensive on Ukraine as they sit down with president Volodymyr Zelenskiy to discuss security guarantees for his country.
At their security council meeting in Toulon last week, German and French officials discussed the Russian troops massing outside Pokrovsk, a Ukrainian-held stronghold in the eastern Donetsk region, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named.
Zelenskiy said on Friday that Russia had relocated 100,000 soldiers to the frontline outside the city, which the Kremlin’s forces have tried to encircle and seize without success for more than a year.
Capturing Pokrovsk would open the way to a Russian assault on the much larger cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk as Moscow seeks control over the entire Donetsk region.

Russians pulling reinforcements to Pokrovsk sector, Dobropillia salient

Bielskyi also noted that Russians are redeploying troops from Sumy and Kherson directions into Donetsk region.

“They are bringing in marines, motorized rifle battalions, infantry, and remnants of units they had held in reserve for the entire summer campaign. Most of this reinforcement is going to the Pokrovsk sector and the Dobropillia salient, which they desperately want to keep under control in order to advance westward to take Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, and eastward to try to encircle Kostiantynivka. They are already attempting to move east to cut Ukrainian logistics routes,” Bielskyi added.

Europe split over troop pledges ahead of talks on postwar Ukraine force

According to two people briefed on the discussions, the coalition is roughly divided into three groups: one willing to deploy troops, including the UK; one that has decided against, such as Italy; and a majority still undecided, such as Germany.
An Elysée official said countries willing and able to provide security guarantees had completed technical work. “Today we have enough contributions to be able to tell the Americans that we are ready to assume our responsibilities, provided that they assume theirs,” the official said.

Encouraged by Trump, Europeans plan to send troops to secure postwar Ukraine

With offers from the Trump administration of airpower and intelligence, European leaders say they finally have the muscular backstop they need to send military forces into postwar Ukraine. Now, they just need someone to stop the war.
For months, France and Britain led a “coalition of the willing” to draft scenarios for securing Ukraine in any truce with Russia, including the presence of European troops. Kyiv’s chief backers lobbied hard for a U.S. role and, after a cavalry of European leaders visited the White House, they now seem to have it, according to European and American officials briefed on the plans.

U.S. officials have told European counterparts that Washington could provide additional air defenses, including help enforcing a no-fly zone, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, said four officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.

Even as they work to firm up plans for security guarantees — including with a leaders’ meeting in Paris on Thursday — the Europeans can’t quite agree on precisely what they’re willing to do in Ukraine. They are calculating that in the long run, a ceasefire is inevitable and that in the short term, a commitment to security guarantees would give Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the confidence of Western support if and when he enters into talks with Russia over potentially painful territorial concessions.
The European approach calls for securing the skies above Ukraine and the Black Sea along its coast, and deploying “a reassurance force” on the ground. According to officials with direct knowledge of the plans, that would include a “demonstration” element — troops based far from the front to serve as a disincentive against future attacks — and a “regeneration” element to train and rebuild the Ukrainian military and help turn it into what European Union leaders are calling a “steel porcupine.”

“The U.S. backstop hinges on Europeans taking charge,” a European official said. “So it’s now the moment for them to show what they can put on the table.”
An Élysée Palace official said there would be a U.S. presence at Thursday’s meeting. The Europeans will convey that they have the resources and planning to be “not only willing and able, but also ready,” the French official said. And they will seek confirmation that their coalition “indeed has the support of the Americans.”

Sweden allows sale of Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, but only after war ends

Sweden does not rule out selling modern Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. However, this would only be possible after the war with Russia ends, states Sweden’s Defense Minister, Pål Jonson, according to Breaking Defense.

"We have a dialogue also with Ukraine, and since they certainly expressed an interest for the Gripen system … predominantly Gripen Echo, the new version that Sweden, Brazil are operating as well — a future sale is possible. That case … would be more of a long-term endeavor or building a common air force capability as well," said Hultqvist.

He emphasized that the delivery of aircraft directly depends on the end of the war in Ukraine.

At the same time, according to the Swedish minister, this condition does not apply to older Gripen C/D aircraft.

Sweden’s Defense Minister added that the transfer of Gripen C/D jets could be discussed and that he had spoken with his Ukrainian counterpart during his visit to Kyiv the previous week.

Zelensky: Korean scenario for ending war in Ukraine possible, but fails to meet security needs

“South Korea is an example of the triumph of values. Its development is incomparable to that of North Korea, which has suffered a true economic and civilizational decay. South Korea has made a leap forward in terms of civilization, technology, and economy because it cultivates humanism. That’s what matters most for a country—you must focus on people,” Zelensky emphasized.

In his view, while a Korean-style end to the war is conceivable for Ukraine, the threat posed by North Korea is not comparable to that of Russia, and South Korea has significantly stronger security guarantees.
“Anything is possible, but we must acknowledge that South Korea has a major ally—the United States. And believe me, they have numerous air defense systems that ensure their safety. Frankly, Ukraine is striving to obtain reliable security guarantees, such as the Patriot systems South Korea possesses. However, this comparison has its limits: North Korea’s population is just over 20 million, while Russia’s exceeds 140 million. The threats from Russia are five, six, even ten times greater. An exact replication of the South Korean model is unlikely to meet Ukraine’s security needs,” Zelensky said, adding that he greatly admires South Korea’s economic model.

But in a sign of the lack of clarity heading into the meeting, officials in Germany — one of Europe’s largest military powers — reacted negatively to comments this week by Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. She told the FT that capitals were working on “pretty precise plans” for potential military deployments to Ukraine with a “clear road map”.

 

[fatness]

Trump to speak with Zelensky Thursday as momentum to end Russia’s war in Ukraine stalls

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he’ll soon speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as momentum toward ending Russia’s war in Ukraine has largely stalled and left the White House frustrated. “I’m having a conversation with him very shortly, and I’ll know pretty much what we’re going to be doing. … I’ll be speaking to him over the next few days, and we’re going to see,” Trump told reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. The White House later clarified that the phone call between Trump and Zelensky was scheduled for Thursday and added that there is no call with Russian President Vladimir Putin currently set.

Asked about his message for Putin, whom he’s given repeated “two-week” deadlines, Trump said he had none – but offered a subtle warning. “I have no message to President Putin. He knows where I stand, and he’ll make a decision one way or the other. Whatever his decision is, we’ll either be happy about it, or unhappy. And if we’re unhappy about it, you’ll see things happen,” he said.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

US to cut some security funds for European countries bordering Russia

>>The US is to phase out security assistance programmes for European armies along Russia’s border…

Pentagon officials last week informed European diplomats that the US would no longer fund programmes that train and equip militaries in eastern European countries that would be on the frontline of any conflict with Russia, people familiar with the matter said. Spending for the Pentagon programme, which falls under an authority known as section 333, must be agreed by the US Congress, but the Trump administration has not requested more money. …

Winding down the section 333 funding would affect a programme with a worldwide budget of more than $1bn, according to estimates from Senate aides, potentially cutting hundreds of millions of dollars the US sends to the Russian border countries. The Pentagon has not informed lawmakers of the exact amount that will be phased out. The programme allocated $1.6bn in Europe between 2018-2022, roughly 29 per cent of the global 333 spending, according to the US Government Accountability Office. Key recipients include Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Officials from dozens of European embassies in Washington, including from countries that do not receive the assistance, attended a meeting where Pentagon officials told them about the cuts. …


European governments were startled by the communication and are trying to get further details from Washington, according to two diplomats briefed on the discussions. European officials are also trying to understand whether domestic funding can fill the gaps, or whether the cuts will have an impact on critical elements of European security. “If they are being brutal then it will have big implications,” said one of the diplomats, adding that Nato would definitely be affected as some of the funding was routed through the alliance. “It’s causing a lot of concern and uncertainty,” said the second diplomat, comparing it with Trump’s earlier decision to slash US international aid. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate’s foreign relations committee, described the cuts as a “misguided move that sends exactly the wrong signal as we try to force Putin to the negotiating table and deter Russian aggression”. … <

 

[Chadstroma]

Ukraine now has an entire unit dedicated to fighting Russia with ground assault robots​

• A newly announced Ukrainian unit in the 3rd Assault Brigade aims to fight Russia with ground drones.
• Called NC13, it showed off several UGVs mounted with machine guns and a grenade launcher.
• It's a further sign of how combat UGVs are becoming mainstream in Ukraine's war.

A Ukrainian army corps has officially founded a company that focuses on fighting with combat uncrewed ground vehicles, further codifying Ukraine's growing use of such drones in the war.

The 3rd Army Corps announced on its social media channels on Wednesday that it had launched NC13, which it called a "separate unit for eliminating the enemy with ground robots."

The new unit is part of the corps' 3rd Assault Brigade, which has recently been fighting in the Kharkiv region.

A video in the announcement showed demonstrations of several uncrewed ground vehicles, or UGVs, mounted with small arms. One appears to be a tracked system with a heavy machine gun that resembles the 12.7 mm NSV Utyos.

Another two are four-wheeled systems. The first appears to be fitted with a 7.62 mm PKT or similar machine gun that can elevate its barrel, while the second looks like it features an AGS-30 grenade launcher.

A small four-wheel drone was also filmed dropping off anti-tank mines.

The 3rd Assault Brigade has already reported deploying UGVs in missions for several months, including for assaults, mine-laying, and evacuating the wounded.

In July, the brigade became known as the first Ukrainian force to compel Russian infantry to surrender to a UGV. As part of its wider drone school program, Killhouse, the brigade also runs courses for piloting UGVs.

NC13's creation now means the brigade is committing further to combat UGVs.

"Robots evacuate, deliver ammunition, and now we're bringing them onto the battlefield," the corps' statement said.

It's rare to see a Ukrainian company focusing primarily on UGV assaults. Another Ukrainian formation, the 20th Separate K-2 Unmanned Systems Regiment, formed its own UGV battalion in August, but its announcement said that the unit would also run evacuation missions.

Other Ukrainian units often have UGVs dispersed in their operations, using them to transport munitions or clear mines. Ground drones are particularly useful for assaults because they can carry heavier explosive payloads than many of the uncrewed aerial systems flooding Ukraine's battlefield.

Kyiv has been fast-tracking UGV adoption in its military over the last year, with its defense ministry touting them as "iron soldiers" that allow Ukraine to hold and attack positions without endangering its strained supply of human troops.

In its statement on Wednesday, the 3rd Army Corps used NC13's debut to call for recruits.

"This is the new reality of war, where we set the rules," it wrote. "Robots fight, and you are the one in command."

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

The Trump administration has been deporting Russian anti-war dissidents back to Russia, so they have turned to Canada for help.

 

[fatness]

Ukrainian drones strike Russia's largest Rosneft refinery in Ryazan, hit oil processing unit, military says

Ukrainian drones struck multiple Russian oil facilities overnight on Sept. 5, including Russia's largest Rosneft refinery in Ryazan and an oil depot in occupied Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine's top drone warfare commander Robert "Madyar" Brovdi reported.

"Gasoline (in Russia) is becoming scarce, while gas and oil are quickly running out," he wrote.

 

[fatness]

Ukraine detains fugitive lawmaker suspected of collaboration with Russia

Ukrainian authorities detained a fugitive lawmaker from a banned pro-Russian party, who is wanted for treason, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Prosecutor General's Office announced on Sept. 6. Though the suspect's name was not officially disclosed, the Kyiv Independent's law enforcement source identified him as Fedir Khrystenko, a 41-year-old lawmaker and a former member of the now-banned pro-Russian party, Opposition Platform — For Life.

Khrystenko is seen as a key figure in the SBU's case targeting alleged "Russian influence" in Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), part of an ongoing row between the two agencies. According to the SBU, the suspect was recruited by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) long before the outbreak of the full-scale war in 2022 and actively cooperated with Russian intelligence. Prosecutors say the suspect set up an "influence mechanism" over the leadership of an unnamed law enforcement agency between 2020 and 2021, enabling Russia to obtain sensitive information.

 

[fatness]

Nearly 700,000 Russian military personnel deployed in Ukraine, intelligence says

There are close to 700,000 Russian service members deployed in Ukraine, including National Guard soldiers, special forces, and support units, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) spokesperson Andrii Yusov said on Sept. 5. "The majority is deployed in Donetsk Oblast, which shows... (Russia's) priorities," Yusov said in an interview with Ukrainian news channel Novyny.Live.

Ukraine's army fields almost 900,000 service members across the country, but President Volodymyr Zelensky said in January that Russia continues to hold a numerical advantage in some front-line sectors due to the concentration of forces.

 

[fatness]

Putin Threatens to Target Any Western Troops Sent to Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that any Western forces deployed to Ukraine would be “legitimate” targets for Russia’s army, as Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky said “thousands” could be sent as part of a peacekeeping force. Two dozen countries, led by France and Britain, pledged Thursday to join a “reassurance” force on land, at sea and in the air to patrol any agreement to end the war, unleashed by Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

 

[Chadstroma]

U.S. Innovation Hurries New Cruise Missile To Ukraine | Aviation Week Network https://share.google/yjgxHKCYOWWbEe8jJ

 

[Chadstroma]

Ukraine develops new DF-M drone jamming system – Defence Blog https://share.google/u1YV3MZgqh9GgUTAm

 

[Chadstroma]

Ukraine Defense Industry Wants to Export, Says Will Help Fight - Business Insider https://share.google/wD49Z02fCGAQsnV7F

 

[Chadstroma]

Russia Will Build Fortifications on the Border With Finland - Militarnyi https://share.google/sw6UM4QBRxvzEqOpx

 

[Chadstroma]

How Ukraine's Civilians Keep Their Best Drone Units in the Fight - Business Insider https://share.google/mlzT8z6her5kh9CoK

 

[Chadstroma]

Russia ramps up production of new weapons – Defence Blog https://share.google/HLyii8ZsKLQndlwGu

 

[Chadstroma]

Ukraine Interceptor Drones Hit 150 Russian UAVs in 1 Night: Zelenskyy - Business Insider https://share.google/kMc75nP9qmHEgjt0K

 

[The Z Machine]

I went on a hike with a small group today which included a Russian woman. It was interesting the way were were both dancing around certain subjects. She travels back and forth from Russia to Switzerland every 3-4 months or so. Her mother and MIL both live in Moscow and her family owns an apartment in Moscow.

She did express the sentiment that she wanted the war to end. I didn't press on how the war could end... I didn't want to seem rude.

We talked a little about ethnic and religious minorities are treated in Russia. She said that there was a lot of migrants that had some to Moscow in the last 10 years to work blue collar jobs like construction, taxi drivers, etc. and that while the work was no doubt hard, she thought they were respected. She mentioned that Islam is an officially recognized religion in Russia, whereas Mormonism and JW is not. She had met a Utah born Mormon woman in her French class, which is how it came up.

 

[Chadstroma]

I went on a hike with a small group today which included a Russian woman. It was interesting the way were were both dancing around certain subjects. She travels back and forth from Russia to Switzerland every 3-4 months or so. Her mother and MIL both live in Moscow and her family owns an apartment in Moscow.

She did express the sentiment that she wanted the war to end. I didn't press on how the war could end... I didn't want to seem rude.

We talked a little about ethnic and religious minorities are treated in Russia. She said that there was a lot of migrants that had some to Moscow in the last 10 years to work blue collar jobs like construction, taxi drivers, etc. and that while the work was no doubt hard, she thought they were respected. She mentioned that Islam is an officially recognized religion in Russia, whereas Mormonism and JW is not. She had met a Utah born Mormon woman in her French class, which is how it came up.

She was probably thinking "is this guy trying to get me thrown out of a window?" the whole time.

 

[The Z Machine]

I went on a hike with a small group today which included a Russian woman. It was interesting the way were were both dancing around certain subjects. She travels back and forth from Russia to Switzerland every 3-4 months or so. Her mother and MIL both live in Moscow and her family owns an apartment in Moscow.

She did express the sentiment that she wanted the war to end. I didn't press on how the war could end... I didn't want to seem rude.

We talked a little about ethnic and religious minorities are treated in Russia. She said that there was a lot of migrants that had some to Moscow in the last 10 years to work blue collar jobs like construction, taxi drivers, etc. and that while the work was no doubt hard, she thought they were respected. She mentioned that Islam is an officially recognized religion in Russia, whereas Mormonism and JW is not. She had met a Utah born Mormon woman in her French class, which is how it came up.

She was probably thinking "is this guy trying to get me thrown out of a window?" the whole time.

Nah, she's not an oligarch. Just the wife of a dude that works in the tobacco industry. https://www.jti.com/en/our-company/where-we-operate/switzerland

 

[Orange&Blue]

Not Ukraine, but figured you all would appreciate this.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[fatness]

The time is now 7am in Warsaw, or 6am BST. If you're just joining us, here's what's been happening overnight:

• Poland says it shot down drone-like objects which violated its airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine
• This marks the first time a member of the Nato military alliance has directly engaged Russian assets in its airspace since the Ukraine war started in 2022
• Poland's president will soon be chairing a National Security briefing with key officials
• The Polish PM says the operation is "ongoing" and he is in contact with the Nato chief; he will also be conducting an extraordinary cabinet meeting in an hour
• The Polish military says the incident is an "unprecedented violation of Polish airspace", an "act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens"
• Citizens in three regions along the border with Ukraine, including Mazowieckie where the capital Warsaw is located, have been urged to stay home and shelter
• Operations at four airports have also paused, with the country's major air hub Chopin airport in Warsaw saying that airspace over the country has been shut

 

[fatness]

Russian drones didn’t just stray into Poland - they went deep to test the West

This happened during the latest Russian attack across Ukraine, where the air raid began before midnight, with warnings of at least 100 drones in the air - and of Russia preparing missiles for launch. Then, as Ukrainians took to shelters underground, the online channels that they watched began reporting several of those drones crossing into Poland. They began writing in Polish, warning people there to take cover. “Chelm – to the shelters!” , “Zamosc – into the shelters!”

This feels like an escalation by Moscow - testing the West’s response. Because it appears its drones didn’t just stray into Poland. They went deep enough for even Warsaw airport to be closed.

 

[The Z Machine]

Ugh

 

[rockaction]

I wrote something snarky but this isn't really the time. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is claiming that Russia is violating Poland's sovereign air space with a massive surge of drones. It would seem this is urgent. I don't like where tonight is headed very much, but it's still uncertain. This seems pretty urgent and important.

https://www.axios.com/2025/09/10/poland-jets-russian-drones-airspace-nato-ally

Updated 3 hours ago -Politics & Policy

Poland's military says it shot down Russian drones in its airspace​

Chopin Airport in Warsaw, Poland, in January, was among the airports shut down after Russian drones violated Polish airspace, the country's military said. Photo: Aleksander Kalka/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Poland's armed forces shot down Russian drones that "repeatedly" violated the NATO member's airspace as Putin's forces attacked Ukraine on Wednesday morning, per Polish military posts to X.

The big picture: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X that the operation in response to the threats that shut down several of the country's airports was "ongoing," per an auto-translation.

• He said he's informed the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte "about the current situation and the actions we have taken regarding the objects that violated our airspace" and they're "in constant contact."
• The Polish military on X said the airspace violation was "an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens."
• Russian officials did not immediately comment on the matter.

What they're saying: Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CNN that he's been briefed on the reports.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on X accused Russia of attacking Poland "less than a week after President Trump hosted" Polish President Karol Nawrocki at the White House.

• "This is an act of war, and we are grateful to NATO allies for their swift response to war criminal Putin's continued unprovoked aggression against free and productive nations," he said.
• "I urge President Trump to respond with mandatory sanctions that will bankrupt the Russian war machine and arm Ukraine with weapons capable of striking Russia," Wilson added.

• "Putin is no longer content just losing in Ukraine while bombing mothers and babies, he is now directly testing our resolve in NATO territory."

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on CNN he hadn't been briefed on the matter, but it "would be incredibly serious if there were Russian aerial assets flying over a NATO country."

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

 

[Don't Toews Me]

NATO Planes Shoot Down Russian Drones Deep Inside Poland

The incident, which Polish authorities said involved 19 incursions into its airspace, led authorities to close major Polish airports for the first time since the war began.

“We are dealing likely with a provocation on a large scale,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member, following an emergency meeting of ministers Wednesday.

Dutch and Polish warplanes were involved in the operation to down the drones, which military officials in NATO assume formed part of a Russian objective to test the response of the alliance’s member countries to an incursion.

Evidence Shows Russia Prepared Drone Strikes on Poland Months in Advance

Russia’s drone strike on Poland did not come out of nowhere. Evidence suggests the Kremlin had been preparing for such cross-border operations for months, according to an investigation by the Ukrainian defense outlet Defense Express on September 10.

As early as July, reports surfaced in Poland that SIM cards from Polish mobile operators were being found inside Russian drones shot down over Ukraine.
The detail pointed to Moscow’s testing of drone connectivity with Polish mobile networks—an alarming indicator of long-term planning for flights across Polish territory, Defense Express stated.

Polish journalist Marek Budzisz published information on July 2 based on a leaked report containing detailed data about where the drones had been downed.

That report also revealed that one Russian drone carried a Lithuanian SIM card, further suggesting that Moscow was probing connectivity in both Poland and Lithuania.

“The discovery of SIM cards from Polish and Lithuanian providers in Russian long-range strike drones must be shared with partners in Poland and Lithuania,” the report stated. A week later, the information was already in the hands of Polish media.

Poland downs Russian drones, first time NATO member has fired in Ukraine war

A NATO spokesperson said NATO chief Mark Rutte was in touch with Polish leadership and the alliance was consulting closely with Poland. A source said NATO was not treating the incident as an attack but as an intentional incursion.

https://x.com/shashj/status/1965698796643602553

Poland formally asks for Article Four consultations. “Tusk later announced that the consultations with the allies had already taken on the form of a formal request to launch art. 4 NATO. - This is our joint recommendation - the head of gov’t pointed out.”

https://x.com/GuyReuters/status/1965693717739929971

Good to know > POLISH PM TUSK: NO REASON TO CLAIM POLAND IS IN STATE OF WAR

https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/1965667793057292559

Polish authorities have found another downed Russian attack drone in the village of Cześniki, roughly 40 km from the Ukrainian border.

https://x.com/Tatarigami_UA/status/1965661943076888891

Based on the data available so far, the incident tonight is best described as “probing.” It's a step in a gradual escalation against Europe - progressing from jamming and sabotage operations to single drone flights, and now small swarms over the EU and NATO member Poland.

2/ I prefer not to speculate whether this was a signal tied to a specific event or just probing on its own, since there is no data on this. Yet, without a doubt, Russia will study the reactions, taken measures, and the public response - all of which will determine its next steps

https://x.com/Tatarigami_UA/status/1965668064865013884

For skeptics and conspiracy theorists seeking to cloud the issue: this is not what an "accidental" or 'EW-jammed' UAV path looks like.

https://x.com/cxemu/status/1965638003080196495

Near Minsk, a secret military base is being built, which may house the "Oreshnik" missile system – satellite images

In Belarus, a new military facility is being constructed that could have strategic significance for the Russian Federation in the war against Ukraine. Construction work south of Minsk near the village of Pavlivka began almost a year ago, in June 2024. The area of the construction site currently exceeds 2 km².

Poland to convene crisis committee

Karol Nawrocki, the Polish president, said he will convene the National Security Council, Poland’s equivalent of the UK’s Cobra crisis committee, within 48 hours to review the unprecedented Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace.

He said the meeting of the National Security Bureau on Wednesday included discussions of Article 4 of the Nato treaty. The prime minister, Donald Tusk, confirmed that Poland has formally requested consultations under Article 4, which allows allies to discuss threats to a member’s territorial integrity or security.

Nawrocki said he learnt of the incursions around 3am and immediately co-ordinated with the head of the National Security Bureau, the defence minister, and senior military commanders. Full reports on the drones’ movements and impact are expected within two days.

“This is the first time Nato aircraft have engaged potential threats in allied airspace,” said a spokesman for Nato’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.

A third of Russians know someone who has died in war

One in three Russians knows someone who has died in the war in Ukraine, according to a poll by the Levada Centre, widely regarded as the country’s most independent pollster.

However, one in two people in the city of Moscow said the war had not affected them or their relatives in any way. Putin has deliberately sought to shield Moscow, Russia’s richest city, from the effects of the war.

The poll also found that 66 per cent of Russians are now in favour of peace talks, an all-time high. At the same time, three out of four people said they supported the actions of the Russian army in Ukraine. Some analysts say that polls on support for the invasion are unreliable because it is a crime to openly criticise the war and people are afraid of revealing their true opinions to strangers.

https://x.com/BBCSteveR/status/1965698124342767957

Economic problems again feature heavily in today’s Russian papers: “More & more regions of Russia are facing a shortage of petrol” “Devaluation of the rouble is inevitable” “Russians have less and less money left over.”

 

[Don't Toews Me]

Vladimir Putin’s dangerous drone probe is a moment of truth for NATO

“It’s hard to believe as many as 19 drones could have gotten out of control,” says Marek Swierczynski, a security expert at Polityka Insight, a think-tank in Warsaw. “We can consider this a deliberate incursion.” A senior Western military official with detailed knowledge of the incidents says that the incursions appeared to be intentional. Russia may be probing Polish air defences for holes, a mission for which drones are routinely employed in Ukraine.
The drones found in Poland are thought to be Gerberas, cheap models that have been largely used as decoys to overwhelm Ukrainian defences, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think-tank in London. Ukrainian intelligence has claimed that the Gerbera was originally developed by a Chinese company.

Analysts identify images of drones used in Polish incursion

Three analysts contacted by BBC Verify have identified images of a largely intact drone in a field close to the eastern Polish village of Czosnówka as a Gerbera - a cheap multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) widely used by Russia as a decoy to distract air defence systems during large-scale attacks on Ukraine.

Polish officials said this morning that 19 Russian drones entered the country’s airspace overnight.

Justin Crump, CEO of the risk and intelligence company Sibylline, says the Gerbera is “a cheap way to increase the capability of other drones”.

He says that Moscow typically uses it in conjunction with Shahed/Geran-2 drones when launching attacks on Ukrainian troops and cities.

Meanwhile, Justin Bronk - an analyst with the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) think-tank - tells BBC Verify that the drones remained largely intact as they likely ran out of fuel having flown a significant distance rather than being shot down by Polish air defences or Nato jets.

Both analysts say that the scale of the incursion suggests it was almost certainly a deliberate act on Russia’s part.

Crump suggests that Moscow hoped to conduct “reconnaissance for weak points in Nato/Polish air defences” or to “generate intelligence” on how European powers would react to the breach of Polish airspace.

“The likely lack of warheads on these variants - which would otherwise appear exactly like more threatening and deadly attack drones - also allows Russia to play down the action and confuse our response,” Crump adds.

Nato engages Russia for first time

A Nato source told The Telegraph the mood inside the alliance was “keep calm and carry on” after a successful air defence mission.
As the alliance’s national ambassadors met this morning, there was little cause for concern as “things had worked as they should”.
“We responded quickly and with resolve,” the source added.

Germany backs Poland’s Article 4 move after drone incident

Germany has said it supports Poland in invoking Article 4 of NATO's treaty after Russian drones violated Polish airspace.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told the Bundestag the drones were "clearly armed" and stressed the seriousness of the incident.

Meanwhile, German government spokesman Sebastian Hille said Moscow was "testing" Ukraine’s allies.

The violation "once again shows the threat that we face and how much Germany and other NATO countries are being tested by Russia," he told reporters.

NATO members hold consultations over drones in Poland – Lithuanian defence minister

Two incidents involving Gerbera drones entering Lithuanian airspace were recorded over the summer. One of them was carrying two kilograms of explosives. In both cases, it is believed that the drones were sent to Ukraine but were deflected by Kyiv’s forces.

How Ukraine can make the pendulum swing against Putin with 'surprise move' before winter

But he says Ukraine has been taking down a lot of Russian air defence assets in Crimea, and explains that you'd only normally do that if you want to "get through gaps you've created".

"In the last two weeks, I've been watching a lot of attacks on Russian air defences, the Ukrainians aren't saying too much about this and I'm just watching it to see if something else may happen," Clarke says.

He explains that it's possible Ukraine "might try some sort of surprise move before the winter".

"If Ukrainians can make Crimea feel really insecure, then they could score a strategic victory which will make Putin think about the costs of the war and what he might lose if this pendulum begins to swing against him."

Rumours of secret talks between Moscow and Kyiv even as Russia hits government building

But, as this goes on, there are "rumours", Clarke says, that the Russians have reached out to Ukraine.

Their proposition, according to those rumours, is: if you lay off our oil refineries, we'll lay off infrastructure attacks.

Clarke can't confirm that, but he says he can confirm some people do believe this has taken place through Turkey.

"It was through Turkish intermediaries, because they didn't want it to go through the United States," he says, referring to what others believe.

Putin’s Message to Ukraine, Europe and Trump: I Won’t Back Down

Both in public and in private, Mr. Putin is telegraphing confidence that Russia’s battlefield advantage against Ukraine is only increasing. His aim, according to analysts and to people close to the Kremlin, is to convince Ukraine that resistance against Russia’s war machine is futile.
Asked about the state of the war in Beijing, Mr. Putin said that Ukraine’s reserves of soldiers were dwindling, and he claimed that Ukraine’s combat-ready units “are currently staffed at no more than 47-48 percent.”
“This means the situation is now at its most critical point,” Mr. Putin said.
The comments echoed Mr. Putin’s private view that the Ukrainian military is running so short in personnel that the country’s defenses may collapse. That perspective was described this summer by two people close to the Kremlin who insisted on anonymity to speak candidly about sensitive diplomacy.
Mr. Putin’s bottom line for Ukraine, according to those people, is that Kyiv should take whatever peace terms are being offered now because any future deal will be worse. Ukraine’s supporters counter that Mr. Putin is trying to bully Kyiv into capitulating while ignoring his military’s enormous losses and limited recent battlefield gains, as well as Russia’s economic headwinds.

https://x.com/moklasen/status/1965527749126389791

russia is redeploying so many units right now that volunteers report a shortage of tooling and dugout building materials

 

[fatness]

EU delivers 80% of promised shells to Ukraine, chief diplomat says

The European Union has fulfilled 80% of its plan to supply Ukraine with 2 million artillery shells, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told the European Parliament on Sept. 9. "We aim for 100% by October," Kallas said. "This is all so that Ukraine can defend itself, can defend its civilians, and push back the aggression."
The joint initiative, first proposed by Kallas, is part of wider EU efforts to sustain Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion. When Kallas last reported on April 3, the EU had secured only around half of the needed amount from member states. The ammunition plan is tied to a broader 40-billion-euro ($45.6 billion) defense fund for Ukraine, though the larger proposal has yet to win full consensus among EU leaders.

 

[fatness]

Putin told White House he plans to seize Donbas by end of 2025, Zelensky says

Russian President Vladimir Putin told the White House and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff that he intends to occupy Ukraine's eastern Donbas region by the end of 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with ABC News published on Sept. 9. "That is, he (Putin) says that in three to four months, and this is what he told the Americans, the White House, and President Trump's representative Witkoff, he said that he would take Donbas in two to three months, maximum four months," Zelensky said. Donbas is the eastern region comprising Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Russia invaded Donbas in 2014 before launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Ukrainian leader warned that Moscow's plans could cost "years and a million people," or even "two or three million corpses" if Russia accelerates its offensive.

 

[Chadstroma]

Trump lobbies EU for 100% tariffs on China and India to pressure Putin

The US President wants to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin to halt the war in Ukraine.

www.bbc.com

 

[Chadstroma]

Russian drone incursion into Poland will test Nato resolve

Whether the drone incursion was deliberate or accidental, Moscow will be watching Nato's response to it closely.

www.bbc.com

 

[Chadstroma]

Russia in recession, rouble crashes – Kremlin insists situation "stable"​

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has claimed that Russia’s macroeconomic situation remains "reliable and predictable" despite the rouble's collapse and the onset of recession.

Details: Peskov’s comment came amid a sharp fall of the rouble: the euro rose above 100 roubles for the first time since February, the dollar climbed to 85.91 roubles, and the yuan to 12.05.

The Russian currency has lost 10-12% of its value since mid-July.

Official data shows that Russia’s economy contracted by 0.6% quarter-on-quarter for two consecutive quarters, meeting the definition of a "technical recession". The Ministry of Economic Development recorded almost zero annual growth – just 0.4% in July.

Peskov explained the fall of the rouble as a result of "market processes" and said that exchange rates always spark disputes between exporters and importers.

Background: Russia’s economy faces deeper problems than officially acknowledged, and in the coming year there is a real risk of a systemic banking crisis.

 

[Chadstroma]

Russian Banks Fear Debt Crisis Is Coming as War Strains Economy​

Russian Banks Fear Debt Crisis Is Coming as War Strains Economy

Russia’s economy faces a worsening outlook that is graver than publicly acknowledged, with a credible risk of a systemic banking crisis in the next 12 months, according to Russian banking officials.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[Chadstroma]

Russians to Vote in Regional Elections the Kremlin Can’t Fully Script​

Nearly 50,000 government positions will be up for grabs across 80 Russian regions this week in the country’s fifth wartime elections.

Some 55 million Russian citizens will be able to cast their ballots in direct elections, including 19 gubernatorial, 11 parliamentary and 25 city council races. And in annexed Crimea, the Russian-installed government will administer a vote for the head of the major port city of Sevastopol.

Most voters in Russia will cast their ballots on Sunday. Some regions have opted for an extended three and two-day in-person and online voting, mechanisms that election watchdogs have repeatedly condemned for their enabling of widespread electoral fraud.

Although the Kremlin has worked to root out any remaining political opposition since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, some competitiveness and drama can still be found at the regional level of Russia’s political landscape.

This means that some of this week’s races might see genuine competition instead of the scripted displays of loyalty to the ruling United Russia party that typically define Russian elections.

“Despite general trends in domestic politics, Russia remains a large and diverse country where elections can take very different forms,” electoral experts Ksenia Smolyakova and Vadim Ternovoy said in an analysis published by the Electoral Atlas project on Monday.

“In some places there has been no political competition for a couple of decades, while elsewhere a hidden or even open struggle among elites continues, with independent candidates running against incumbent regional leaders,” they said.

‘The most competitive in Russia’​

The northwestern Arkhangelsk region and the Siberian Irkutsk region’s gubernatorial races will go forward with no predictable outcome — a rarity in today’s Russia.

In the Irkutsk region, an industrial hub in southeastern Siberia, United Russia’s incumbent Igor Kobzev is preparing for a showdown with his Communist Party predecessor Sergei Levchenko.

Levchenko unexpectedly won the governor's seat in a runoff vote in 2015, upending federal authorities’ plans and triggering a protracted standoff with Moscow.

He was forced to resign in 2019 after his son was arrested on bribery charges widely seen as a politically motivated attempt to force his father out of office.

The communist governor’s resignation was met with a large rally in his support in the region’s capital, Irkutsk.

The tenure of his successor Kobzev was marred by countless conflicts with local elites, including fellow United Russia members.

“Igor Kobzev is heading for a record — in the Irkutsk region, only Governor Boris Govorin had previously run for a second term and won. All the other governors failed to complete even one term, which also speaks volumes about the region’s [political landscape],” Electoral Atlas analysts wrote, calling the region’s gubernatorial race “the most competitive in Russia.”

An Arctic face-off​

In the Arkhangelsk region, United Russia’s incumbent Alexander Tsybulsky will be fighting for re-election against the Communist Party-backed real estate magnate Roman Lyabikhov.

Arkhangelsk is the northernmost region of Russia with a population of less than 1 million living on a vast territory of over 413,000 square kilometers — slightly less than the size of Sweden.

A gateway to the Arctic Ocean, Arkhangelsk is pivotal for the Kremlin’s geopolitical ambitions in the Arctic while also being one of the country’s most politically volatile regions.

In April 2020, Arkhangelsk Governor Igor Orlov was forced to resign under pressure from major protests against a planned landfill at the Shiyes railway station, which became one of the rare successful anti-government protest movements in recent years.

Tsybulsky — who previously headed the neighboring Nenets autonomous district, a separate region that exists under Arkhangelsk’s administrative jurisdiction — was appointed by Putin as Orlov’s successor.

Putin’s appointee soon secured his position by winning the popular vote, though only after the main hopeful of the race, Shiyes activist Oleg Mandrykin, was barred from running by the region’s Electoral Commission.

With connections in the federal government and ample monetary resources, Roman Lyabikhov might prove a more formidable opponent to Tsybulsky.

The Deputy Chairman of the State Duma’s Construction and Housing Committee, Lyabikhov’s key flaw is that he is still “perceived as an outsider by residents and elites” despite being born in the region, according to Electoral Atlas analysts.

“It is also not yet clear how seriously he intends to fight in this election — it may well be just a warm-up before…the 2026 State Duma elections,” the analysts wrote.

Lyabikhov is currently under criminal investigation in Germany for violating European sanctions.

-continued-

 

[Chadstroma]

part 2 of​

Russians to Vote in Regional Elections the Kremlin Can’t Fully Script​

Veterans and criminals​

Russia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has said that around 1,400 Russian soldiers who fought in Ukraine have been registered as candidates in this month’s regional and local elections, part of the Kremlin’s campaign for turning the veterans into the country’s “new elite.”

“War participants are undoubtedly becoming more visible as a political brand,,” wrote political analyst Andras Toth-Czifra.

“This, however, does not mean that there are particularly many of them nor that they are going to be elected into positions of real power…The vast majority (1,052) of the 1,397 candidates across parties, brandishing a ‘special military operation veteran’ marker, will run for essentially powerless municipal offices,” Toth-Czifra explained.

Public information on candidates analyzed by Novaya Gazeta Europe suggests that dozens of veterans participating in this year’s races could be implicated in Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, data published by independent election watchdog Elections in Detail suggests that at least 2,531 candidates running in this year’s elections also have a criminal record in Russia — twice as many as the number of registered war veterans.

Most such candidates were convicted on charges of theft, fraud, hooliganism, drunk driving and those related to inflicting bodily harm.

Among the former convicts seeking office is Tatar politician Ruslan Yusupov, a member of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR).

Yusupov, who was previously convicted on charges of theft, arbitrary action and robbery on three separate occasions, is running for the post of the rais (head) of the republic of Tatarstan.

His bid for office, however, is all but doomed to fail, with incumbent Rustam Minnikhanov predicted to secure an overwhelming victory in his region, which is known for its endemic electoral violations.

The shadow of protests​

This year’s local elections are the first since a controversial Kremlin-passed law accelerating the dismantling of the two-tier system of local governance sparked rare anti-government protests in the republic of Altai and an opposition campaign in the Krasnoyarsk region.

Among the regions where officials of the lowest government tier will be elected is the republic of Sakha (Yakutia), a region nearly the size of India with a population of less than 1 million people.


Sakha is one of the few Russian regions that decided to keep the two-tier system of local governance against the Kremlin’s directives, citing the vital importance of local deputies in a sparsely populated region with a majority rural population.

The republic’s own vibrant political life and ties of solidarity to Altaians could spark a renewed interest in local elections this year.

“During the coming elections, don’t listen to your bosses or officials… listen to your heart,” popular Yakutian actor and film producer Alexei Mikhailov said in a viral video posted on social media ahead of the vote.

“We all need to learn to be free people…only then the world will learn about us and our life will become better,” added Mikhailov.

 

[Chadstroma]

It’s time for Trump to see that Putin is mocking him - Polish MFA​

US President Donald Trump should already see that Russian President Vladimir Putin is mocking him and has no intention of ending the war against Ukraine, states Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski in an interview with PBS.

Sikorski was asked whether he believes Trump will sooner or later decide to impose sanctions on Russia.

"I think it is high time that President Trump to see that Putin is mocking him. Instead of a cease-fire that was supposed to happen before the Alaska summit and serious peace talks, Putin is sending more and more drones — first at Ukraine, and now at NATO," the minister emphasized.

The Polish foreign minister hopes that by the end of this process, "we have a series of coordinated moves to make President Putin realize that this exotic project of rebuilding the Russian empire will not work."

Sikorski noted that Poland respects efforts to stop the Russia-Ukraine war through diplomatic means and, of course, would like peace for Ukraine as soon as possible.

"But we believe that Putin only answers to the most forceful actions and that he has been taking advantage of President Trump's goodwill," the Polish minister stressed.

Drone attack on Poland

During the attack on Ukraine on the night of September 10, around 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, most coming from Belarus. At the same time, air defense forces managed to shoot down four drones.

According to the latest information, Poland has found wreckage from 16 Russian drones that entered its territory during the attack. One of the drones fell on a military base. Wreckage from the downed drones was found in 11 Polish towns and villages.

In response to the Russian attack, NATO invoked Article 4, allowing member states to discuss the situation with allies in the North Atlantic Council.

Media reports indicate that Russia may have been attempting to attack a NATO base in Poland, as some of the drones were heading in its direction.

In response to NATO statements, the Russian Ministry of Defense falsely claimed that the range of the drones that attacked Poland "does not exceed 700 kilometers" and that targets in Poland were "not planned."

However, according to analysts, the Russians equipped the Gerbera drones with additional fuel tanks, increasing their flight range and enabling them to reach Poland.

 

[Chadstroma]

EU-US policy divide on Russian oil sales to India to hit October trade

The growing policy divide between the United States and the European Union on Russian oil exports to India is likely to play out in a small reduction in crude flows in October, analysts and trade sources with knowledge of loading plans said.

www.reuters.com

 

[higgins]

@Chadstroma I hope everything you predicted comes thru….sooner than later!

 

[Dezbelief]

Drones target Moscow, Russian oil facilities in reported large-scale Ukrainian strike

Leningrad Oblast Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said the drone strike caused a fire on a vessel in the Primorsk Port, Russia's largest oil-loading port in the Baltic Sea.

kyivindependent.com

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Drones have targeted multiple regions in Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, in a large-scale overnight attack, Russian officials and media outlets reported on Sept. 12.

The attack reportedly caused fires on a vessel in the Primorsk Port and at a Lukoil facility in Smolensk. Residents of Leningrad Oblast said the attack was one of the most massive strikes on the region since the start of the full-scale war.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these reports at the time of publication.

Residents of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast continue to report explosions, according to the Russian opposition news channel Astra.

Smolensk residents reported explosions in the city. In footage posted to social media, eyewitnesses claimed that the drones targeted a nearby Lukoil facility. Video shows smoke and flames rising from a large fire at an undisclosed site.