Patrushev is one of the true believers who'd be vying for Putin's spot if he were ever incapacitated or un-alived. He's the devil on Puntin's shoulder, to an extent.

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov convinced Vladimir Putin of the need to invade Ukraine. — The Times ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡ pic.twitter.com/5wfFZ1m341

— MAKS 22🇺🇦 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) November 3, 2022

The interlocutor of the publication said that Patrushev and bortnikov made a fundamental decision to invade before the end of last summer. After that, they had to prepare forces for the strike and convince Putin to start the operation.

— MAKS 22🇺🇦 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) November 3, 2022

3NOV22: Kerch Strait Bridge

Almost one month after it was struck, repair work is still underway. Russia has admitted that during that time only 16 “light” trains have crossed on the rail portion, and the road portion has been lightly used.

Full repairs will be complete by July. https://t.co/dPmTQYvkl0 pic.twitter.com/pkD2aRJZEZ

— CJ (@CasualArtyFan) November 3, 2022

bonfarr said:

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Player To Be Named Later said:

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Rossticus said:

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"Locals from Kherson say the Russians have changed into civilian clothes and are hiding all over the city. At this time military correspondents write that most of the personnel have been withdrawn from the right bank of the Dnipro. Posts are the same..."

— MAKS 22🇺🇦 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) November 3, 2022

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This is another case of why the right of civilians to own firearms is such a big deal.

There's be a lot more dead Orcs if the people were armed. Hell, none of this may have even happened if Putin knew he'd be diving head first into an armed populace

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The Uke Army was passing out weapons to civilians like candy in the first few weeks of war. I would imagine just about anyone that wanted a firearm could easily get one. I think the issue is most military aged males are already fighting or involved in the war effort in some capacity so any armed civilian would most likely be an old man or a woman.

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True. But compare that to somewhere like Texas where civilians have had their firearms forever with a great number of old men and women that are likely better armed and familiar with their weapons than the majority of Orc conscripts.

Coming in to a place like this would be an absolute nightmare for invading forces in the long run.

With their obsession with the so called great patriotic war...I think the russkies are trying to create a stalingrad of sorts in Kherson

Today's SITREP.

Except they are invaders, not defenders.

bonfarr said:

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Player To Be Named Later said:

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Rossticus said:

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"Locals from Kherson say the Russians have changed into civilian clothes and are hiding all over the city. At this time military correspondents write that most of the personnel have been withdrawn from the right bank of the Dnipro. Posts are the same..."

— MAKS 22🇺🇦 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) November 3, 2022

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This is another case of why the right of civilians to own firearms is such a big deal.

There's be a lot more dead Orcs if the people were armed. Hell, none of this may have even happened if Putin knew he'd be diving head first into an armed populace

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The Uke Army was passing out weapons to civilians like candy in the first few weeks of war. I would imagine just about anyone that wanted a firearm could easily get one. I think the issue is most military aged males are already fighting or involved in the war effort in some capacity so any armed civilian would most likely be an old man or a woman.

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Although old people are not that much a threat. As one, I will need only a revolver and opportunity to do my duty for my country.

Rob, the entire Kherson pocket is in a bad way. They can either try to save what they can starting with the remnants of better units, or try to hold on and risk losing almost everything if (when IMO) the entire pocket collapses.

— Patrick Fox (@RealCynicalFox) November 3, 2022

I don't understand any way that pocket doesn't eventually collapse. How are they adequately supplying those men? Though, also, how are they getting the pillboxes across? I'm surprised Ukraine has let the pontoon bridges or other crossings stay.

Russian shelling of Ukrainian positions, Marinka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
47.937318, 37.499883

GM: https://t.co/PwDRrIybHF
SP: https://t.co/x8KAKRXoha

Geolocated by @fdov21@GeoConfirmed

Source: https://t.co/kJkXJn1Y7l pic.twitter.com/g9SvstZzPC

— fdov (@fdov21) November 3, 2022

Waffledynamics said:

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I don't understand any way that pocket doesn't eventually collapse. How are they adequately supplying those men? Though, also, how are they getting the pillboxes across? I'm surprised Ukraine has let the pontoon bridges or other crossings stay.

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The kamikaze drones/loitering munitions from the Iranians may be driving the Himars away.

Rossticus said:

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Damn. A hero, without a doubt.

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Dude went to Aledo and OU.

#Ukraine: A Ukrainian FH70 155mm howitzer was destroyed by a Russian Lancet loitering munition. Precise location and date is currently unknown. pic.twitter.com/4mWQfX86YP

— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) November 3, 2022

Good example to use of the possible effectiveness of these things. I work in this realm.

Drones used to this level has been such a crucial learning point for the West. We knew it was the next frontier but this is hard data in actual numbers in real use cases now. UAS and C(ounter )UAS capabilities and potential have us scrambling even so at the moment.

Been keeping an eye on AeroVironmet, the company making our Switchblades and their version of the Lancet. The 600. It was supposed to have been deployed possibly in Oct. but coming up dry on confirmation of that. Until then I guess Mavics with hand grenades and mortars are doing the trick.

lb3 said:

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The kamikaze drones/loitering munitions from the Iranians may be driving the Himars away.

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I thought the Iranian Kamikaze (Shahed-136??) drones use pre-set coordinates. Are they effective at loitering munitions enough to be a threat to HIMARS?

RogerEnright said:

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lb3 said:

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The kamikaze drones/loitering munitions from the Iranians may be driving the Himars away.

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I thought the Iranian Kamikaze (Shahed-136) drones use pre-set coordinates. Are they effective at loitering munitions enough to be a threat to HIMARS?

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The Lancet in that video is a completely different design than the Shahed drone type. The Shahed is a what you say. Predetermined fire and forget. The Lancet (I believe) has human command control capabilities all the way to the target. Like the switchblade does. It is what really sets it apart. The "wave off" feature at the last moment before impact. Used several times in Afghanistan to save civilian lives.

ETA: To actually answer your question, no. The Shahed would not be effective against HIMARS. The Lancet on the other hand was designed specifically for targets like that and is a great danger to them.

RogerEnright said:

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lb3 said:

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The kamikaze drones/loitering munitions from the Iranians may be driving the Himars away.

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I thought the Iranian Kamikaze (Shahed-136??) drones use pre-set coordinates. Are they effective at loitering munitions enough to be a threat to HIMARS?

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They have a loitering feature but after looking it up, I don't think they would be reliable against mobile artillery. They might be accurate enough but another source would need to provide the coordinates and I'm not sure the Russians have the real-time intelligence to provide updated targeting information.

agsalaska said:

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Rossticus said:

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Damn. A hero, without a doubt.

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Dude went to Aledo and OU.

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Copy of the Ukrainian press release.

https://spravdi.gov.ua/en/american-who-became-a-hero-of-the-russian-ukrainian-war-paul-kim-by-the-call-sign-kilo/

Russia threatening Israel now.

Israel is softening its opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine, as Iran’s deepening support for Russia’s invasion evolves into a threat to Israeli security. https://t.co/ExIZVCChwU

— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) November 4, 2022

This response may include new weapons support to Israel's foes, such as Iran.

— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) November 4, 2022

Rybar with interesting news. Russia leaking info to the mil bloggers like crazy.

🇺🇸🇺🇦 A few days ago, a group of specialists from the U.S. Navy Information Warfare Training Command unofficially arrived in Kyiv. The center is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is headed by Commander John Copeland. pic.twitter.com/ltd7YPnxoz

— Rybar in English (@rybar_en) November 3, 2022

However, there is another, even more likely possibility in the current conditions: the Americans could have arrived to train the AFU in the use, maintenance and tactics of deployment of marine drones.

— Rybar in English (@rybar_en) November 3, 2022

UUVRON-1 operates out of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center from the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), one of five U.S. naval system commands that also includes the Naval Information Operations Command.

— Rybar in English (@rybar_en) November 3, 2022

The team's arrival looks quite logical given the AFU's active use of new drone type, which no NATO country has ever shown publicly.

And directly testing the USVs in a real combat environment is a great opportunity for the USA to assess the vehicles' weaknesses and strengths.

— Rybar in English (@rybar_en) November 3, 2022

Rybar has been the best English Russian milblogger but yeah that's a direct GRU briefing result.

here is what im seeing, the ru forces are pulling back trying to make a 10-30km deep military frontier. this will depopulate the area and have only ru forces there. ukr will have a free hand to use artillery and drive up russian losses. pic.twitter.com/RhKk4lVuZY

— david D. (@secretsqrl123) November 4, 2022

Wow, what a country.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 04 November 2022

Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/CWHuZrKery

🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/bYLF2ONZOR

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 4, 2022

UPDATE: Putin says that 318,000 people have been mobilised - Interfax

— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) November 4, 2022

Eff Russia and eff a whole lot of these Russians too.

You won't believe it, but the Russians are having a rally.
No, not against the crimes of his army and the murders of Ukrainians.
This time around the British Embassy in Moscow they are chanting "No to British terrorism" and accusing British specialists of attacks on the BS Fleet pic.twitter.com/z3tba8zm8h

— MAKS 22🇺🇦 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) November 4, 2022

Putin signs law on mobilization of people who have committed serious crimes - RIA https://t.co/fa7NjdejXB

— Apex (@Apex_WW) November 4, 2022

Looks like we finally specified that there would be a deliberate response to BioChem attacks.

G7 ministers: any use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences

— Apex (@Apex_WW) November 4, 2022

Well their normal troops are committing serious crimes so what's the difference.

Wagner's transition from an organisation that "has nothing to do with us" to one that's hailed by the Kremlin media machine on a daily basis (and now has its own shiny office building in St Petersburg) has surely been one of the stranger subplots of the invasion of Ukraine https://t.co/aPZrXANAob

— Francis Scarr (@francis_scarr) November 4, 2022