Russia Ukraine Update Thread - part 2

Revenue, or even pre- sanction level or increased revenue doesn't mean anything if they can't build / replace the weapons...




Russia Increases Defense Spending by 20% as it Struggles to Replace Weapons

Western sanctions are hurting Russia's ability to fight the Ukraine war, despite Moscow increasing its defense spending by a fifth, Britain's Ministry of Defense (MOD) said.

U.K defense officials referred to the prediction by Russia's Military-Industrial Commission (VPK) that Moscow would boost defense spending this year by up to 700 billion rubles ($12 billion) compared with 2021 when it spent around $65 billion.

The commission's first deputy chairman, Andrey Elchaninov, told Interfax last week that Russia's military-industrial complex had stepped up production of weapons but that sanctions imposed by the West meant Moscow had to go elsewhere for certain components.

This was in line with an assessment by U.K defense officials that Russia is allowing the country's defense industrial base "to be slowly mobilized to meet demands placed on it by the war in Ukraine."

"However, the industry could struggle to meet many of these requirements, partially due to the effects of sanctions and lack of expertise," the defense ministry said.

They added that the production of high-quality optics and advanced electronics will "likely remain troubled and could undermine its efforts to replace equipment lost in Ukraine." Newsweek has reached out to the Russian defense ministry for comment.

This comes as Ukraine has reiterated its appeal to the international community to replenish dwindling weapons supplies. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Monday that "to end the war we need heavy weapons parity."

So, as someone pointed out a week or so ago is Russia denying ignorance or denying information? The excuse Russia gave is priceless...

Russia bans UK journalists, defense officials from entering

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has banned dozens of British media and defense figures from entering the country, the Russian foreign ministry announced Tuesday.

In an online statement on its website, the ministry described the ban on 29 journalists and commentators as a response to what it alleged was the British media’s skewed portrayal of Moscow and its actions in Ukraine.

“The British journalists included in the list are involved in the deliberate dissemination of false and one-sided information about Russia and events in Ukraine and the Donbas,” it said, referencing Ukraine’s industrial east, parts of which have been controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014.

The ministry claimed “with their biased assessments, they also contribute to fueling Russophobia in British society.”

Senior editors and correspondents for prominent print and broadcast outlets, such as the BBC and the Times and Guardian newspapers, were featured on the list.

Also included were 20 figures linked to the UK’s defense establishment and industry, such as the head of the British navy, a junior defense minister and senior executives at the defense and aerospace firms Thales UK and BAE Systems.

rriigghhhtttt

Now we have round 2 from Russia banning journalists..

Russia bans UK journalists and inside 'dead city' - round-up

Russia has barred a number of top UK-based journalists and defence figures, in response to UK sanctions on Russian individuals.

The list of names includes several BBC journalists, including Clive Myrie who has reported extensively from Ukraine. None of them are currently based in Russia. The BBC's Director General, Tim Davie, is also on the list.

The Guardian's Shaun Walker, who spent many years reporting from Russia, and Sky News' Stuart Ramsay are also on the list.

In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry accused the journalists on the list of disseminating "false and one-sided information".

LOL

Up to 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are being killed or wounded each day in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, with 200 to 500 killed on average and many more wounded, a top Ukrainian official said on Wednesday.

"Our negotiating position is actually quite weak, so we don't want to sit at the table if we are in this position. We need to reverse it in some way," Arakhamia said, stressing the need for a counter-operation to regain lost territory.

www.axios.com...

nvm

Reminder....

This is the topic:

Russia Ukraine Update Thread

Let's please stick to UPDATING that topic.

QUIT THE BICKERING!
And name-calling will not be tolerated.

Go after the ball not the player.

Please Do NOT feed the trolls!
Is it TROLLING, or just a difference of opinion????




You are responsible for your own posts.
Ignoring this responsibility could include temporary POSTING BANS.




and, as always:

Do NOT reply to this post!!

* - The first 60 Ukrainian soldiers trained with the HIMARS system have completed their training and are all set and ready to go. It places Snake island within range of the new artillery system from the coast.

* - Explosion reported near Kharkiv

* - Explosions audible in Sumy

* - French President @EmmanuelMacron has arrived at the border between Poland and Ukraine

* - "The United States and Europe have warned China against providing Russia military assistance or systematic assistance with sanctions evasion. We are monitoring China's activity closely," says the @StateDept spokesperson

* -Germany's @heutejournal is reporting that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is on his way to Kyiv

* - President Zelensky:Gratefully accepted the invitation of partners to take part in key international events: from German Federal Chancellor @Bundeskanzler - in the G7GER Summit, from NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg - in the NATOsummit in Madrid

* - 2 Russian helicopters launched 5 missiles at Hlukhiv outskirts. One person killed, 6 wounded

* - President Zelensky: In constant contact with @BorisJohnson. Coordinated positions on the eve of important international events. Discussed the situation on the battlefield, Ukraine's defense needs and threats to food security

* - Grim analysis from Milley on if Ukraine's casualties are sustainable: "This is an existential threat. They're fighting for the very life of their country. So, your ability to endure suffering, to endure casualties is directly proportional to the object to be attained"

* - General Milley confirms public estimates of 100-200 daily Ukrainian military casualties "are in the ballpark of our actual assessments," declines to offer more specifics for security reasons. Stresses "casualty estimates in war are always extremely difficult"

* - At Bakhmut direction Russian army suffered loses during attacks at Vasylivka-Yakovlivka and Vasylivka-Berestove directions, - General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine says in the evening report

* - Battles continue in Sieverodonetsk. Russian army attempted to assault Toshkivka, - General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine says in the evening report

* - Russian army attempted to conduct assault actions at Dovhenke - Kranopillia direction, and near Dolyna village, - General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine says in the evening report

* - President Biden called President Zelensky this morning to discuss the United States' ongoing support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression. They spoke from 10:54 till 11:35 AM EDT

* - Secretary Antony Blinken: Spoke today with Foreign Minister @DmytroKuleba to discuss continued support for Ukraine from the United States and our Allies and partners. Together, we will help the people of Ukraine defend and rebuild their country

* - The US is providing another $1 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, including additional artillery and coastal defense weapons, ammunition for the artillery and advanced rocket systems that the Ukrainians need to support their defensive operations in the Donbas

* - Explosions near Novomoskovsk

* - Missile strikes in Pokrovsk of Donetsk region

* - Russian army shelled Zelenodolsk

* - 5 people wounded as result of Russian shelling in Mykolaiv

* - Explosions near Belgorod, according to reports due to planned work of sappers

As a reminder

Just so people know and understand. Information from war zones can become confusing as there will no doubt be info released from the players (on both sides) involved that might not necessarily be true.

As such take everything as a possibility and NOT as absolute truth.

The very first casualty in a war is the truth and all warfare is based on deception

Resources - Where most of the updates come from.
* - Flightradar24 - tracks flights worldwide
* - Live Ukraine control map 1 - updates on the ground
* - Ukraine Control Map 2
* - Ship radar
* - Military vessel tracker
* - Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
* - Stopfake - Countering Russian propaganda about Ukraine
* - MilitaryLand - Maps

Youtube resources -
* - Speak the Truth
* - War in Ukraine
* - Artur Rehi - Estonain soldier
* - Daily Report

Social media resources -
* - Twitter - Jomini of the West - Battlefield Maps

a reply to: Xcathdra

Is the 1 billion separate from the 40 billion they approved earlier, or is it part of that?

originally posted by: Cutepants
a reply to: Xcathdra

Is the 1 billion separate from the 40 billion they approved earlier, or is it part of that?

Thats the impression I got. $40 billion has already been allocated for Ukraine. I'm thinking it had something to do with the recent meetings by NATO where they agreed Ukraine needs more military aid now rather than later. The US has already amended the number of artillery ammunition (Including HIMARS / etc) and increased them.

ETA - Yup - additional weapons and ammo -Source for info below

President Joe Biden announced another $1 billion in weapons for Ukraine on Wednesday, including anti-ship systems, artillery rockets and rounds for howitzers.

The Pentagon said that the latest tranche of weapons for Ukraine is valued at $350 million and includes 18 155 mm howitzers, 36,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition,18 tactical vehicles to tow 155 mm howitzers, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HMARS, as well as four tactical vehicles to recover equipment and spare parts.

The Pentagon will also provide two Harpoon coastal defense systems, thousands of secure radios, night vision and thermal devices as well as funding for training and maintenance support. That aid is collectively valued at $650 million.

SPAM

a reply to: Xcathdra

That bit about Scholz visiting is a concession by Germany; before, they were pouting that Ukraine didn't want the German president Steinmeier to visit because of his close connections to Putin's regime.

The Ukrainians should tell Macron they understand France can't do much because they have 10 per cent of their active army sidelined on internal security duties ... in FRANCE. (for anyone curious, look up "Operation Sentinelle").

Cheers

15 June update

Key Takeaways

* Russian forces launched ground assaults in Severodonetsk and settlements in its vicinity but have not taken full control over the city as of June 15.

* Russian forces launched largely unsuccessful offensive operations around the T1302 Bakhmut-Lysychansk highway in an effort to cut Ukrainian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) to Lysychansk.

* Russian forces continued efforts to advance along the E40 highway to Slovyansk and southeast of Izyum.

* Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to fight in northeastern settlements around Kharkiv City.

* Russian forces continued to fortify fallback positions in Zaporizhia and Kherson Oblasts, while undertaking defensive measures to strengthen Russian presence in the Black Sea.

* The Kremlin and proxy republics continue to pursue ad hoc annexation policies in occupied territories.

More at URL above.

Cheers

a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

One Ukrainian mayor suggested France should be ceded to Russia and not Ukrainian land, which I find humorous. Leaders of a country should not make comments about ceding land to stop a war in a foreign country when that country is invaded by another.

As for Germany the comments are already being made about Merkel and her destruction of the military. She is claiming that her, and a few other leaders, leadership is why Russia didnt invade Ukraine until now (again i find that humorous)

a reply to: Xcathdra

Merkel publicly stated she has nothing to apologize for.

To the East German and former Soviet communist parties, I suppose.

Cheers

a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

lol...

sent you a pm

A somewhat interesting photo accompanying this tweet...Russians fighting for Ukraine who have taken POWs who are Ukranian and fighting for Russia...

Surreal realities of the Russo-Ukrainian War: Russian citizens fighting for Ukraine in the Free Russia Legion capture Ukrainian citizens from Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine who are fighting for Russia (via @den_kazansky)

twitter.com...