Every time Putin moves ( which is probably not very often ) I imagine it looks like a calamity / emergency / crisis

Putin probably has an armored column and six decoy vehicles and dozens of polizei with him every time he re-locates

A multiple launch rocket system concealed inside a civilian truck appears to be the latest example of North Korean weaponry arriving in Russia.

MLRS

Ukraine says it hit Russian oil refinery in big drone attack

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KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine said on Friday it had struck a Russian oil refinery and a microchip factory in a huge drone attack that caused fires at the refinery's production facilities and an oil pumping station.

Russia said hours earlier that its forces had repelled an overnight drone attack, but four industry sources confirmed to Reuters that one of Russia's oldest refineries had been struck in the city of Ryazan southeast of Moscow overnight.

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A fresh look at the Russian surprise air assault in the opening days of the war, the failure of which unhinged Putin's three-day operation.

"Hostomel Airport remains a powerful reminder of how close Ukraine came to disaster and how courage and strategy can change the course of history."

HOSTOMEL

This 22 minute video all about it is really good too.



This one is great as well:

It was a feint

Ukraine adapting truck-mounted counter-drone system for naval air defense.

"The Ukrainian Navy's official Telegram channel reported that a Sukhoi Su-57 multirole fighter launched a Kh-59 cruise missile at the port, which was intercepted by a surface-to-air missile fired from a patrol boat. The Ukrainian Navy used a ship-mounted VAMPIRE SAM to intercept and destroy the Kh-59 cruise missile launched at a commercial seaport on the Black Sea."

INTERCEPTION
VAMPIRE

I am looking forward to when this is all over.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelenskiy-again-replaces-commander-ukraines-key-eastern-front-2025-01-27/

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Ukraine replaces commander of eastern front after Russia captures another town
By Olena Harmash January 27, 20255:37 AM CSTUpdated 8 hours ago

Summary

• Zelenskiy says replacing commander will strengthen front
• Ukraine confirms withdrawal from eastern town
• Logistic hub of Pokrovsk remains focus of heavy fighting

KYIV, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy replaced the commander of the eastern front, the most heated battlefield of the Ukraine war, after Russian forces captured another strategic town there.

Brigadier-General Andriy Hnatov was replaced as the battlefield commander in the east by Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, overall commander of ground forces, who will keep his previous duties. Hnatov was given a role overseeing training and communications.

In his nightly video address late on Sunday, Zelenskiy said the aim was to strengthen the command of troops in the Donetsk region. Donetsk, a battlefield since 2014 and one of four provinces Russia claims to have annexed since its 2022 full-scale invasion, has been the main focus of fighting for more than a year.

The Ukrainian military confirmed on Monday that it had withdrawn from the Donetsk region town of Velyka Novosilka, a day after Russia said it had captured it. Viktor Trehubov, a military spokesperson for Ukraine's eastern front, confirmed that Russian troops had entered the town but said fighting continued on the outskirts.

Russian forces have been slowly but steadily advancing in eastern Ukraine for more than a year in relentless ground combat that has caused massive military losses on both sides. Kyiv, for its part, has managed to capture and hold a pocket of territory inside Russia over the past six months.
The new eastern commander, Drapatyi, 42, is well respected in the army, where he is credited with stopping a Russian offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region last year......

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Here's an update on the possible Israeli transfer of recently captured Russian weapons and munitions to Ukraine. It's a nice gesture, but trivial in comparison to the boost Ukraine would get if Israel also donated the eight old Patriot SAM batteries it just put into long term storage.

"The potential transfer of these arms to Ukraine would mark a notable shift in Israel's role in the ongoing conflict, as it has previously refrained from directly supplying lethal aid. Instead, Israel has primarily limited its support to humanitarian assistance and non-lethal military aid."

ARMS

"Israel has started supplying Ukraine with Soviet and Russian-made weapons captured in Lebanon." - The Telegraph.

About 60% of the weapons captured by Israel during the fight against Hezbollah were made in the USSR and Russia.

Additionally, as previously reported by an OSINT… pic.twitter.com/IqSi5lPrzO

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) January 27, 2025

DPRK military temporarily retreats from Russia's Kursk region due to heavy losses – Sky News. There was no official confirmation.

North Korean troops appear to have temporarily pulled back from the frontline in Russia after suffering heavy losses.

Interviews with several… https://t.co/aSGwMsUYej pic.twitter.com/SOzjVg4kYN

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) January 27, 2025

DPRK military temporarily retreats from Russia's Kursk region due to heavy losses Sky News. There was no official confirmation.

North Korean troops appear to have temporarily pulled back from the frontline in Russia after suffering heavy losses.

Interviews with several Ukrainian troops reveal details about how the North Koreans have been fighting since they arrived on the battlefield in Russia's Kursk region last month:

There is an obvious initial lack of awareness of the threats from drones and artillery, with North Korean soldiers attacking on foot, "like in World War II," in groups of 20, 40 or even 60, making them easy targets.

"Brainwashing," which means they continue to advance despite being under Ukrainian fire and having comrades-in-arms killed and wounded around them.

A desire to remove evidence of their presence from the war zone as North Koreans in white helmets were seen trying to rescue the wounded and dead.

A refusal to be taken alive, with claims that North Koreans have been seen blowing themselves up with grenades rather than risk capture. Puls even claimed a North Korean has been heard shouting "For General Kim Jong Un" before killing himself.

Poor coordination between North Korean and Russian troops due to the language barrier. One soldier claimed that radio intercepts showed that the North Koreans accidentally targeted Russian positions. He also said that they would storm the Ukrainian positions, suffering casualties, but Russian troops would not be able to capitalize on the gains.

They have better equipment than many Russians, including rifles and uniforms, but no heavy armor, since the North Koreans move only on foot and use golf buggies to carry ammunition.

One of Pulse's men, who took part in the operation and was known by the code name "Coach," said he was surprised that the North Koreans had only ammunition and chocolate as supplies to sustain their forces in battle. "Not a single soldier had a water bottle," he said. "They're counting on breaking through, taking up positions, and then eating and surviving off our supplies."

"I think they'll be back soon," a Ukrainian special forces commander said, speaking at a secret base in northeastern Ukraine

Ukraine Volunteer writes after a long break. I thought he pulled out to go home. Chris the team lead was shot in the shoulder shattering his collar bone. Their hootch was blown up by air to ground bomb and the kitchen was destroyed. They were on the line defending massive assaults instead of on LRS patrols. He does not give a positive outlook to the area he is in which, I suspect is in the east Donbass.

I wonder if this is the area where the Commander was just relieved of duty by Zelensky.

Full article below and posting a second communication next on a pretty interesting raid they conducted.

https://ukrainevolunteer297689472.wordpress.com/2025/01/27/the-worst-are-the-ones-who-lose-body-control-and-walk-like-a-drunk-out-of-a-james-joyce-novel/#respond

Ukraine Volunteer Recon team conducts spontaneous raid on group of russians.

Interesting read.

"How do we know they are russians?"

https://ukrainevolunteer297689472.wordpress.com/2025/01/28/how-do-we-know-they-are-russians/

Russia increasingly sending troops into battle in unarmored civilian cars.

"For many months, observers have debated if and when the Russian armed forces would reach a critical tipping point with the exhaustion of vehicle-generation efforts and begin a long, painful process of de-mechanization.

The normalization of Lada assaults is a clear sign they've passed that tipping point. Every day the war Russia's wider war on Ukraine grinds on, the Russians will have fewer armored vehicles and will rely more on compact cars to carry troops into battle."

RIDE

Meanwhile, Putin continues to murder Ukrainian families in their homes.

GONE

don't forget the motorbike assaults.

JFABNRGR said:

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don't forget the motorbike assaults.

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my favorite is the Chinese golf carts

Does it really matter anymore with fbv droves? The cost to benefit ratio has had to have shrunk with what russia could produce vs what alleged benefits would exist.

Who?mikejones! said:

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Does it really matter anymore with fbv droves? The cost to benefit ratio has had to have shrunk with what russia could produce vs what alleged benefits would exist.

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That's like asking why wear a ballistic vest if it can't stop every bullet or fragment. Armor protection still has considerable value against artillery, ATGW, gunfire, drones and other battlefield hazards. Having it greatly increases the likelihood of survival and that matters to those who value the lives of their soldiers.

PROTECTION
MORE

I understand that. The point is that russia has lost thousands and thousands of vehicles to drones and other anti armor weapons.

So, the cost of producing military vehicles, both in time and money, and then sending them to mostly get blown up, changes the equation.

Its clear the same level of protection is not provided by a volga, but the cost is so much less and old cars are readily available. We already know Russia doesn't out much value on the soldier. So, it actually makes a little sense to just send them to the front in regular cars. They blow up just the same.

Who?mikejones! said:

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I understand that. The point is that russia has lost thousands and thousands of vehicles to drones and other anti armor weapons.

So, the cost of producing military vehicles, both in time and money, and then sending them to mostly get blown up, changes the equation.

Its clear the same level of protection is not provided by a volga, but the cost is so much less and old cars are readily available. We already know Russia doesn't out much value on the soldier. So, it actually makes a little sense to just send them to the front in regular cars. They blow up just the same.

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All war is a waste of money from a strictly business perspective. Russia's inability to more effectively bring its vast manpower advantage to bear because so many of its soldiers die before they can move to contact may yet prevent it from conquering Ukraine. If that occurs, its inability to provide sufficient armor to alter the rate of attrition will have been a fatally false economy.

74OA said:

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Who?mikejones! said:

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I understand that. The point is that russia has lost thousands and thousands of vehicles to drones and other anti armor weapons.

So, the cost of producing military vehicles, both in time and money, and then sending them to mostly get blown up, changes the equation.

Its clear the same level of protection is not provided by a volga, but the cost is so much less and old cars are readily available. We already know Russia doesn't out much value on the soldier. So, it actually makes a little sense to just send them to the front in regular cars. They blow up just the same.

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All war is a waste of money from a strictly business perspective. Russia's inability to more effectively bring its vast manpower advantage to bear because so many of its soldiers die before they can move to contact may yet prevent it from conquering Ukraine. If that occurs, its inability to provide sufficient armor to alter the rate of attrition will have been a fatally false economy.

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The Russians failed to take all of Ukraine. True. They were stuck in WW2/Afghanistan 1979 tactics.

But they have captured the overwhelming majority of the Russian ethnic areas of the East/Donbas. And while the rate is slow.... they have generally been making slow progress to advance their held territory daily.

It cost them dearly in terms of human lives and equipment - but they are generally close to achieving their goal. It will give them leverage in the peace negotiations that are imminent. I would expect most of the Eastern Third of Ukraine to be ceded to Russia in short order.

PJYoung said:

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TheEternalOptimist said:

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74OA said:

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Who?mikejones! said:

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I understand that. The point is that russia has lost thousands and thousands of vehicles to drones and other anti armor weapons.

So, the cost of producing military vehicles, both in time and money, and then sending them to mostly get blown up, changes the equation.

Its clear the same level of protection is not provided by a volga, but the cost is so much less and old cars are readily available. We already know Russia doesn't out much value on the soldier. So, it actually makes a little sense to just send them to the front in regular cars. They blow up just the same.

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All war is a waste of money from a strictly business perspective. Russia's inability to more effectively bring its vast manpower advantage to bear because so many of its soldiers die before they can move to contact may yet prevent it from conquering Ukraine. If that occurs, its inability to provide sufficient armor to alter the rate of attrition will have been a fatally false economy.

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It cost them dearly in terms of human lives and equipment - but they are generally close to achieving their goal.

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Their goal was to take Kyiv in 3 days.

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......and turn Ukraine into a vassal state subservient to Moscow and force it away from the EU and NATO. Putin failed miserably in achieving his strategic objective regardless of how much of eastern Ukraine he steals.

3/ These demands include forcing Ukraine to become a permanently neutral state that will never join NATO, imposing severe limitations on the size of the Ukrainian military, and removing the Ukrainian government.

Latest on Ukraine: https://t.co/ONYEFID1hS pic.twitter.com/Vwq67JvFTf

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) December 30, 2024

74OA said:

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Here's an update on the possible Israeli transfer of recently captured Russian weapons and munitions to Ukraine. It's a nice gesture, but trivial in comparison to the boost Ukraine would get if Israel also donated the eight old Patriot SAM batteries it just put into long term storage.

"The potential transfer of these arms to Ukraine would mark a notable shift in Israel's role in the ongoing conflict, as it has previously refrained from directly supplying lethal aid. Instead, Israel has primarily limited its support to humanitarian assistance and non-lethal military aid."

ARMS

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UPDATE

Hannity has Zelensky on right now

More detail on Israel supplying Ukraine with Patriot SAM.

"As well as the interceptors, which can immediately be used by Ukraine's existing Patriot systems, the sources state that other components from the system, including radars, will be provided to Kyiv from Israeli stocks. These items, however, will first be refurbished in the United States. For Ukraine in particular, the PAC-2's terminal-phase anti-ballistic missile capability is of particular relevance, although the system is highly versatile and able to defeat a broad spectrum of targets. Not only can the PAC-2 GEM series defeat fast-moving ballistic missiles, for example, but an improved seeker makes it better able to engage smaller targets or ones otherwise with smaller radar cross-sections. This makes it a formidable asset to deploy against fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones."

HUGE

russian oil refinery struck by Ukes in Kstovo, unless it cigarette smokers.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1icfaia/fire_at_nizhny_novgorodnefteorgsintez_refinery_in/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Also flying claymore.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1icfaia/fire_at_nizhny_novgorodnefteorgsintez_refinery_in/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Europe continues to step up.

"Sweden will provide Ukraine with 13.5 billion kronor (US$1.23 billion) in funding and equipment in its biggest military aid package yet, the government said on Thursday."

AID

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Violent explosions were reported in Pokrovsk

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https://liveuamap.com/en/2025/30-january-20-violent-explosions-were-reported-in-pokrovsk

Hopefully Russia isn't hitting the ammo. Pokrovsk is going to be hard to hold.