Wonder if this is to help disguise how many guys are never going home

Agreed. If you wanted to overthrow Putin while trying to keep Russia from utterly disintegrating, this would be a wise early move to make.

I mean. It could have been any number of his local opposition, his inner circle deciding to behead the snake to save themselves, Russia itself if he didn't do what he was told, Ukraine, or any allied nation that was just tired of him.

My money is on someone local or Putin after the last coup attempt made by a supposed lap dog with too much control.

Bit by bit the Russian civil war is kicking off nicely.

Just wait until all these Russians head back home ARMED. https://t.co/IloQQJ5yZc

— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) September 15, 2023

What's the first tweet. Not loading for me

ABATTBQ11 said:

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What's the first tweet. Not loading for me

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Some private military force invaded and took control of a private oil refinery complex in Russia.

It's this…

Several dozen private security forces in camouflage seized the territory of the Dulisma oil company in the Irkutsk region. In the video from the scene, they shoot in the air and knock company employees to the ground

The capture of "Dulsima" occurred at the beginning of the week. Then armed private security forces landed on the territory of "Dulsima" with a helicopter. The video was filmed on the territory of a residential camp for company employees, located next to an oil refining installation. It is unknown in whose interests the enterprise was seized.

The Dulisma oil company is part of the assets of the former owner of Yugra Bank, Alexey Khotin. In 2019, the banker was placed under house arrest in connection with a criminal case of embezzlement of over 283 billion rubles. bankrupt bank "Ugra". Now the income from all assets of Khotin is turned to the benefit of the state. At the same time, Dulisma is in the process of bankruptcy, but a buyer for its debt has not yet been found.

The telegram channel VChK-OGPU names the temporary manager of the company, Alexander Zolotukhin, as the organizer of the seizure - the private security company helped him execute the court decision to transfer the assets of Dulsima to him. Zolotukhin and his partners allegedly plan to illegally sell the oil accumulated in the company's tanks.

Last December in the Urals, a similar forceful seizure of Khotin's oil assets occurred with his company Kayum Oil. At the end of August, the PravdaURFO publication wrote that the private security company, nicknamed "Khotin's Fighters," was preparing to return Kayum Oil to the banker's ownership - but instead, two weeks later, Khotin lost physical control over another company.

What they said. I tried to re post ot but it still doesn't load.

I dunno why

AgLA06 said:

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ABATTBQ11 said:

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What's the first tweet. Not loading for me

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Some private military force invaded and took control of a private oil refinery complex in Russia.

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This is some Red Storm Rising s*&t. (I kid, kinda)

The US aims to increase the production of 155-mm shells.

"We're going to be at 100,000 per month in 2025. We were at 14,000 per month 6 or 8 months ago, we are now at 28,000 a month today," Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon's chief weapons buyer said.https://t.co/okI4zq4YX1

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) September 15, 2023

Today's SITREP.

Moment of 🇷🇺 attack with TOS-1A thermobaric missiles on 🇺🇦 forces in Rabotyno South Front
Vacuum + toxic gases 💀 pic.twitter.com/iyfiketPsz

— C4H10FO2P ☠️ (@markito0171) September 15, 2023

⚡Military intelligence: Chechen warlord Kadyrov in critical condition.

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has confirmed that Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov is in critical condition due to serious illness.https://t.co/lj2eZDcZJY

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) September 15, 2023

#Zaporizhzhia counter-offensive equipment loss numbers as of 15 September 2023.

In summary: 405 UA losses vs. 423 RU losses

Spreadsheet showing the losses in detail: https://t.co/UfSC9YYpyC pic.twitter.com/v53tT0dB2Q

— Naalsio (@naalsio26) September 15, 2023

Insert Seinfeld "That's a shame" gif

74OA said:

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Today's SITREP.

Moment of 🇷🇺 attack with TOS-1A thermobaric missiles on 🇺🇦 forces in Rabotyno South Front
Vacuum + toxic gases 💀 pic.twitter.com/iyfiketPsz

— C4H10FO2P ☠️ (@markito0171) September 15, 2023

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Jeebus, was ready to puke with this guy. Poor damn infantry.

Sobering but worth the read.

Der Spiegel: "Russia Doesn't Have a Good Strategy for Winning the War"

Quote:

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DER SPIEGEL: What is the Russian strategy at this stage of the war?

Kofman: The Russian strategy is to extend the war. To make it costly. Going into next year, they'll try to focus on destroying Ukraine's viability as a state. They hope that they can slowly deplete Western political will. Russia doesn't have a good strategy for winning the war. Their forces truly lack offensive potential at this point. The likelihood of taking more Ukrainian territory is very low, even to reach the most minimal war aims of capturing the Donbas. But the Russian leadership has not given up on its goal to destroy Ukraine. And it is going to spend a lot of resources to do that.

DER SPIEGEL: Do they have the means to sustain this war for a long period?

Kofman: It's clear that for the coming year or two, they'll be able to sustain this war. And they're trying to get materiel and ammunition from other countries like Iran and North Korea. The materiel situation on the Russian side isn't great, but it is sufficient for them to be able to sustain fighting in the near term

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Waffledynamics said:

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#Zaporizhzhia counter-offensive equipment loss numbers as of 15 September 2023.

In summary: 405 UA losses vs. 423 RU losses

Spreadsheet showing the losses in detail: https://t.co/UfSC9YYpyC pic.twitter.com/v53tT0dB2Q

— Naalsio (@naalsio26) September 15, 2023

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This is almost parity yet orcs are going backwards, which might indicate personnel losses might be 3:1 orcs to Ukes or worse; and this is from an entrenched position of advantage. If so we would need to look at the why. Straight INF on INF, drone strike advantages, western armor better protection or combination.

Very telling since the Ukrainian forces have to advance through fixed/layered defenses.

DCPD158 said:

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Very telling since the Ukrainian forces have to advance through fixed/layered defenses.

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Exactly. At least 2-1 or 3-1 would be the normally expected rate for an advancing army attacking prepared defenses in depth. Less than 1-1 sounds wildly successful to me.

Interesting. Has to be a great help maintaining the hodge-podge of equipment Ukraine is operating.

Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante:

The U.S. provided Ukraine with “industrial-sized 3D printers” that Kyiv can use to 3D print spare parts for military equipment.

The printers were the size of a "truck" and were a "game changer" in how quickly the Ukrainians could repair… pic.twitter.com/4ANU8Rqs7g

— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 16, 2023

Why the increasing attacks on Crimea are key to Ukraine's southern counterattack.

BACKDOOR

More attacks on Russia's Black Sea fleet?

Today's SITREP.

Probably a stupid question, but how does having a 2nd towboat behind a ship in tow do anything good? Both pictures of the ships in tow had a towboat trailing the ship & towboat.

I'm no sailor but in tight confines like a port, you would need the ability to pull a stricken vessel and to stop it.

You're right. Guess I'm used to seeing tugboats pushing the big boys rather than towboats pulling with cables. Doing the same thing but the pushing tugboats make more sense to me.

If you have no rudder control, whether that rudder is straight or askew, it gives you more steering control.

GAC06 said:

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I'm no sailor but in tight confines like a port, you would need the ability to pull a stricken vessel and to stop it.

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No idea, but these are pretty good primers on tugs. The entire channel is truly excellent for everything maritime.

#Russia has withdrawn its military from the border with #Norway, said the chief of the Norwegian General Staff

Only about 20% of the number of soldiers stationed there before Russia's full-scale invasion of #Ukraine are currently deployed near the border with Norway, said the… pic.twitter.com/HbxnjvjkFM

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 16, 2023

BREAKING:

A major Russian missile attack against Ukraine seems to be imminent.

9 Russian Tu-95MS Bear strategic bombers are flying from Murmansk toward their launch positions over the Caspian Sea.

Their missiles are likely to reach Ukraine around 4-5 am CET

Via @UKikaski pic.twitter.com/AIyf3BHOaK

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 16, 2023

Three large Russian landing ships redeployed from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov - speaker of the Ukrainian Navy Dmytro Pletenchuk.

The military officer also noted that the large landing ship hit in Sevastopol could not be restored - both because of the specifics of the damage… pic.twitter.com/n7JHqyFAMC

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 16, 2023

Good review of Black Sea drone vs ship warfare
- drone design is becoming more sophisticated
-production is ramping up
-damaged Russian ships cannot be repaired in Sevastopol because of dry dock destruction

Reported 9 hours ago on LiveUAMap:

Quote:

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Heavy shelling by Russian artillery at Opytne and Avdiyivka

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https://liveuamap.com/en/2023/17-september-heavy-shelling-by-russian-artillery-at-opytne

If they're shelling Opytne hard, that would suggest Russian control is rather tenuous.

Rossticus said:

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BREAKING:

A major Russian missile attack against Ukraine seems to be imminent.

9 Russian Tu-95MS Bear strategic bombers are flying from Murmansk toward their launch positions over the Caspian Sea.

Their missiles are likely to reach Ukraine around 4-5 am CET

Via @UKikaski pic.twitter.com/AIyf3BHOaK

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 16, 2023

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Did the anticipated missile strike ever happen? Missed the headlines if it did

Rossticus said:

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Three large Russian landing ships redeployed from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov - speaker of the Ukrainian Navy Dmytro Pletenchuk.

The military officer also noted that the large landing ship hit in Sevastopol could not be restored - both because of the specifics of the damage… pic.twitter.com/n7JHqyFAMC

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 16, 2023

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The idea that the Russians would threaten the Ukrainian controlled coast line with an amphibious landing hasn't been a credible threat for over a year. They were stupi for leaving those ships out in the Black Sea to begin with. They are likely to be much more useful ferrying supplies across the Sea of Azov to areas where Ukrainian artillery and missile strikes have hampered Russian logistics