re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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It's fricking maddening.

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Are you ok?

Are you certain its the "corruption" you dont like?

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Key Takeaways

Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin is seemingly regaining some favor with Russian President Vladimir Putin likely as a result of the Russian conventional military’s inability to accomplish the tasks Putin had set for it during the winter offensive in Donbas. The extent of Putin’s trust and favor for Prigozhin is unclear at this time, but it is likely that Putin halted the Russian MoD’s efforts to avenge Wagner by denying Wagner reinforcements and ammunition.

An interview with two former Wagner Group fighters on their treatment of Ukrainian children and other civilians and prisoners of war (POWs) further highlights how Wagner has institutionalized systematic brutality as part of its fundamental modus operandi.

The Gulagu.net interview with the two former Wagner fighters provides valuable insight into Wagner’s force structure and operational prioritization.

The Moscow City Court sentenced Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison on the charge of high treason for Kara-Murza's criticism of the Kremlin and the war in Ukraine.

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 16 and pledged to strengthen military exchanges and cooperation between Russia and China.

Putin continued efforts to portray Russia as an equal defense partner with China and a Pacific naval power amidst Li’s visit.

Former Russian officer and ardent nationalist Igor Girkin’s newly formed “Club of Angry Patriots” published its manifesto focused on protecting pro-war factions in the Kremlin from possible “sabotage” and “betrayal.”

Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk and south of Kreminna.

Russian forces have made further gains in Bakhmut and continued ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.

Russian forces continued defensive preparations in southern Ukraine.

The Kremlin’s transition to electronic summonses distribution is continuing to complicate Russian conscription procedures.

Russian occupation authorities continue to discuss the provision of Russian passports in occupied areas of Ukraine.

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Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 16 and pledged to strengthen military exchanges and cooperation between Russia and China. Li stated that he had arrived in Moscow to implement Chinese President Xi Jinping’s agreement with Putin from late March and claimed that Russian-Chinese relations “have already entered a new era.”[20] Li noted that China is prepared to work with Russia to “strengthen strategic communication between the two militaries, strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation, and make new contributions to safeguarding regional and global security for peace.”[21] Official Russian and Chinese readouts did not include any mentions of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wang Wenbin reiterated China’s intent to promote peace talks in Ukraine and continuation of cooperation which Xi and Putin agreed upon previously.[22] ISW previously assessed that Putin was unable to secure a no-limits bilateral partnership with China during Xi’s visit to Moscow, and it is likely that the meeting between Li and Putin did not further expand the scope of Russian-Chinese cooperation.

Putin continued efforts to portray Russia as an equal defense partner with China and a Pacific naval power amidst Li’s visit. Putin stated that the Russian military is prioritizing the war in Ukraine but continues to develop the Russian Pacific Fleet during his meeting with the Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu on April 17.[23] Shoigu stated that recent Russian combat readiness drills involved 25,000 military personnel, 167 warships and support vessels, and 89 planes and helicopters. Shoigu stated that Russian forces are currently conducting maneuver exercises and are moving to the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk. Shoigu claimed that the final drills will begin on April 18, a day before Li’s departure from Russia. ISW assessed on April 14 that the Russian Pacific Fleet‘s combat readiness checks are likely meant to signal to China that Russia supports Chinese security objectives in the Pacific, especially ahead of the G7 meeting in Japan between May 19 and May 21

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Back to something more meaty in regards to the war with another good thread from Tatarigami about the formation of a "new" PMC as potential cover for Wagner, the reasons of which are not yet clear.

Twitter - @Tatarigami_UA

British Defence Intelligence
INTELLIGENCE UPDATE
UPDATE ON UKRAINE 18 April 2023

Heavy fighting has continued along the Donbas front line. However, there is a realistic possibility that Russia has reduced troop numbers and is decreasing offensive action around Donetsk city, most likely to divert resources towards the Bakhmut sector.

In Bakhmut, Russian MoD and Wagner Group forces continue to make creeping advances. The front line in the town centre largely follows the main railway line. Ukraine is generally holding Russia's envelopment from the south along the line of Korsunskovo Street, the old main road west out of town.

For both sides, the exact sequencing of any major drawdown of their units around Bakhmut has become a critical question, with Ukraine wanting to free-up an offensive force while Russia likely aspires to regenerate an operational reserve.

Egypt refused to supply ammunition to Russia and started producing for Ukraine – Washington Post
European Pravda — Tuesday, 18 April 2023, 11:36

Last month, after talks with senior US officials, Egypt suspended a plan to secretly supply rockets to Russia and instead decided to produce artillery ammunition for Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda; The Washington Post (WP), referring to five US intelligence documents leaked earlier this month

Details: Last week, another document was reported exposing a secret scheme proposed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in February to provide Russia with up to 40,000 122 mm Sakr-45 rockets that can be used for Russian multiple-launch rocket systems. Sisi allegedly instructed his subordinates to keep the project secret "to avoid problems with the West".

However, new documents that WP obtained from the array of materials show that Sisi abandoned plans to supply Moscow in early March. Despite long-standing diplomatic and military relations with Russia, Egypt has been America's main ally in the Middle East for decades. It receives more than US$1 billion annually in military aid from the United States.

According to the documents, Egypt postponed the Moscow Agreement and approved the sale of 152 mm and 155 mm artillery shells to the United States for transfer to Ukraine.

Washington was trying to secure new supporters – and much-needed ammunition – for Kyiv's fight against Russian troops. The document says that Egypt intended to use its weapons production capabilities for Ukraine as a "lever" to obtain advanced American military products.

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Last month, after talks with senior US officials, Egypt suspended a plan to secretly supply rockets to Russia and instead decided to produce artillery ammunition for Ukraine.

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I'm glad to see this. The Egyptian military is pro US.

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Just like the US: Support continuous war to make money from both sides.

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Move to a country that doesnt project power. Have you ever been to Canada?

Putin, Zelensky Make Rival Visits to Front-Line Troops in Ukraine (WSJ)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, both visited front-line troops in Ukraine within a day of each other this week as the leaders try to shore up morale ahead of an expected offensive by Kyiv to wrest territory from Moscow’s grip.

Mr. Putin made a rare visit to his troops by traveling Monday to Ukraine’s Kherson and Luhansk regions, both of which are partly occupied by Russian forces, and was briefed by senior officers about the situation on the front line, the Kremlin said Tuesday.

Then on Tuesday, Mr. Zelensky visited troops in the eastern town of Avdiivka, which has been on the front line with Russian forces since an earlier phase of the conflict that began in 2014.

The visits underscore the high stakes ahead of an anticipated Ukrainian offensive that experts say may determine the outcome of the war now in its second year. The visits also showcased the two leaders’ contrasting images and styles of leadership.

Footage carried by Russian state news agencies showed Mr. Putin, dressed in suit and tie, emerging from a helicopter and traveling in a convoy of vehicles. It was Mr. Putin’s second known trip to territory seized since the start of Russia’s invasion last year. Last month, he visited the occupied Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which Russia seized following a lengthy, violent siege.

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“I don’t want to distract you from your direct duties related to command and control, so we are working here in a businesslike way, briefly, but concretely,” Mr. Putin said in one of his meetings, according to TASS state newswire. “It is important for me to hear your opinion on how the situation is developing, to listen to you, to exchange information.”

Mr. Zelensky, meanwhile, has made relatively frequent visits to front-line troops throughout the war, cultivating an image of an engaged wartime leader far closer to the troops on the ground. He turned up to Avdiivka wearing a sweatshirt and cargo pants while handing out awards to servicemen.

“Our army has already broken the enemy’s plans to break through the defenses and deepen (its incursion) in the east,” said Mr. Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, who accompanied him there. “The next task is to reverse the situation and throw them out of Ukraine.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr. Putin received operational information about Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. He wasn’t accompanied by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the chief of Russia’s General Staff, because the three of them in one location would create “temptation for the enemy,” Mr. Peskov said. Mr. Shoigu and Mr. Gerasimov joined some of the meetings online.

Mr. Putin’s visit comes as Ukraine and its Western allies gear up for an offensive that aims to push Russian forces out of some of the land they have occupied.

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I am shocked I tell you, that the Russians now have the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. Actually, I am shocked that the Putin lovers haven't claimed that All Powerful, God Emperor Putin doesn't have it.