re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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I've been seeing an increasing number of nonsubstantive articles like this one

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Ukrainian officials are continuing to warn about Russia’s intention of conducting a decisive offensive operation in Donbas in February and/or March, supporting ISW’s most likely course of action assessment (MLCOA). Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Representative Andriy Yusov stated on February 1 that Ukraine is on the eve of an active phase of combat that will take place over the next two months.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin may be setting conditions for further Russian cross-border raids into northeastern areas of Ukraine, likely in an effort to further domestic information operations and pin Ukrainian forces against northern border areas. Putin held a meeting on February 1 to discuss the restoration of residential infrastructure in Crimea, Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk oblasts following “shelling by Neo-Nazi formations.”[5] Putin noted that his administration is prioritizing the ending of Ukrainian shelling of border regions, but that this task is “the business of the military department.”

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The Kremlin is likely seizing an opportunity to discredit Igor Girkin, a prominent critical voice within the Russian nationalist space and former Russian officer, following his altercation with Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin. Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov accused Girkin of cowardice following his decision to retreat from Slovyansk, Donetsk Oblast, in July 2014.[10] This is a common criticism Girkin’s enemies direct at him. Solovyov’s remarks echo Prigozhin’s ongoing efforts to attack Girkin across the Russian information space, which ISW assessed was an attempt to undermine Girkin’s patronage networks and influence among Russian ultranationalists

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Key Takeaways

Ukrainian officials are continuing to warn about Russia’s intention of conducting a decisive offensive operation in Donbas in February and/or March, supporting ISW’s most likely course of action assessment (MLCOA).

Russian President Vladimir Putin may be setting conditions for further Russian cross-border raids into northeastern areas of Ukraine, likely in an effort to further domestic information operations and pin Ukrainian forces against northern border areas.

Russian forces continued ground attacks northeast and southwest of Bakhmut.

Russian forces continued limited ground attacks to regain lost positions on the Svatove-Kreminna line on February 1.

Russian forces are continuing to carry out unsuccessful disruption missions on islands in the Dnipro River delta in Kherson Oblast in an effort to prevent Ukrainian forces from gaining ground on the islands.

Russian officials plan to propose a moratorium on the public procurement law to simplify spending procedures amid an increasingly costly war effort.

The Wagner Group’s prison recruitment efforts may have slowed in previous months.

Crimean partisans may have conducted an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in occupied Crimea on January 30.

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Russia has already lost 3x more troops in Ukraine than the US lost in the entire Vietnam War.

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Meanwhile, Russia unveiled a new Stalin statue in the city of Volgograd.

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Russia has already lost 3x more troops in Ukraine than the US lost in the entire Vietnam War.

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I know that some people will look at these arrests and firings and say, "See! Ukraine has lots of corruption," but I think the correct way to see it is "Ukraine is cleaning up corruption."

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Ukrainian intelligence estimates that Russia now has more than 320,000 soldiers in the country, roughly twice the size of Russia's initial invasion force — NYT

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Ukrainian Military Intelligence is reporting that they are beginning to see preparations for a Large-Scale Russian Attack from the Black Sea.

Although it is not made clear whether this is speaking of a Missile Attack or possibly an Amphibious/Ground Operation.

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Russia transferred SOBR-units to the Donetsk region to supress riots among Russian troops, especially in Vuhledar direction. Yesterday -like I reported in yesterday's SitRep- Russia attacked Vuhledar but failed, 10 Russian soldiers were captured and a large group died.

The 155th naval brigade who is actively involved in the attack on Vuhledar, again lost a huge amount of soldiers already. Back in november, they were also defeated near Pavlivka, losing up to 50% of their combat capabilities and personnel. They got restaffed three times already.

We know that the 155th appeared for the second time in Donetsk and was actually defeated. The people who were newly recruited into the brigade turned out to be not quite competent, unprepared, so they decided to surrender."

????Spokesman Colonel Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskyi confirmed.

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#Putin ordered the seizure of #Donetsk and #Luhansk regions by March, #Ukrainian intelligence said.

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Russia's Lavrov: We will ensure that the events organised by the west for the anniversary of the special operation in Ukraine won't be the only thing to attract world attention

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Turkey suspends the maintenance of Russian, Belarusian and Iranian aircraft manufactured by Boeing and Airbus.

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The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated today that the entire “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine will depend on what the West does from here and that the more Long-Range Munitions that Ukraine receives the further Russia will have to push them from their Borders.

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The USA called on Israel to provide Ukraine with not only humanitarian, but also military aid.

This was stated by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during negotiations with the Israeli authorities.

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Russia warns “Israel” against supplying weapons to Ukraine — AFP

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#Lavrov hinted that #Moldova could become the next victim of #Russian aggression

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The first confirmed destruction of an esoteric Russian air defense system- the 9A331MDT Tor-M2DT, intended for use in Arctic environments.

The SAM system was destroyed by the 406th Artillery Brigade along with a DT-30 carrier using M982 Excalibur guided projectiles.

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Ukrainian top-gun pilot “Juice” is all too aware of the MiG-29 fighter jet’s limitations when he tries to intercept Russian missiles. The 40-year-old radar on his Soviet aircraft was not designed to detect cruise missiles or drones, he said. So he has not been able to destroy any of them.

“It’s very sad to fly back and land after such a hunting operation, understanding that a prey flew to its target, destroyed buildings and even killed people — and you could not help them,” the 29-year-old pilot, who wanted to be identified only by his call sign, told the Financial Times in an interview.

Juice pleaded for western allies to provide his country with modern fighter jets, explaining that Ukraine’s ageing fleet was outgunned by Russia’s SU-35s and MiG-31s, which have air-to-air missiles with longer ranges and superior radar.

“The situation for our aviation is getting worse and worse with each day,” Juice said.

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Juice said the F-16 had better modern sensors, avionics and weaponry than any of the planes in Ukraine’s fleet, and could be used with missiles that have a longer range than enemy fire, helping to counter Russia’s superior jets. Ukraine could not afford to wait because it was losing its best pilots in combat.

“If we wait six months more, we will get to the moment when we will have only reservist grandpas, not young pilots with good knowledge, good training.”

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