re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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Video of an armored column with at least 8 tanks and armored vehicles from the Russian VDV's 51st Airborne Regiment assaulting Snagost in Kursk oblast. It appears Russia was able to get the armored force across the Seym River, despite Ukrainian strikes on the bridges. @Deepstate_UA says the situation has worsened on Ukraine's left flank in Kursk oblast.

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Ukraine may break diplomatic relations with Iran, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heorhiy Tykhii, said that Ukraine calls on the international community to increase pressure on Iran to maintain international peace.

The Ukrainian side has already summoned Iran's temporary representative to warn of serious consequences.

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Interview with a mobilized Russian soldier

A friend of RWA, an American living in Moscow, recently offered to relay a few questions to a friend of his who was mobilized during the partial mobilization in autumn '22 and has been serving in the Russian army since. I have quite a few friends in the Russian Armed Forces, but they are all volunteers — I don't know any "mobiks" personally, so this was a nice opportunity to get a look at the "average mobilized" perspective and to ask him some fun, unusual questions.

1) There used to be a lot of reports that the mobilized further from the frontlines struggle with a lot of people illicitly consuming a lot of alcohol. Has the drinking situation improved?

Concerning drinking: the situation depends on the specific unit. The less organized it is, the worse drinking gets. For example, half of our old positions were on the second line of defense, and the other half were on the first line. So, in front of us, on the FIRST line there was another unit, and they had drunks. Accordingly, they had higher losses, than in our sector, where we were on the front, because our officers stopped and punished those who got drunk. But in general, alcohol consumption is less common the closer people get to the frontline.

2) What's been your most interesting encounter with an ethnic minority?

I've had a few interesting encounters: I met an Orthodox Christian Dagestani from Moscow. I heard a story about a representative from one of the small ethnic groups in China who volunteered in order to show that he cares about his new motherland. He became friends with an ethnic Russian guy, and they gave each other call signs: the Russian became "Asia" and the Asian became "Russian".

3) What are you doing with your money?

For now I'm putting my money into savings accounts or spending it on necessary expenses for my family. My family is small, we don't have any mortgages or debts, so big expenses are rare.

4) What are others doing with their money?

Others are also mostly spending their pay on their families. One of them bought a car with a payout from an injury, (3 million rubles) and now it's sitting in his garage. No idea why he bought it :D

5) How boring does it get?

It never gets entirely boring. It can get melancholic. Sometimes sadness rolls in, especially if someone nearby you is constantly complaining "how I want to go home..." sometimes you really want to yell at them "yeah don't remind the rest of us!"

6) Do you get harassed by FPV drones a lot?

The FPV drones are annoying, that's right. Perhaps it's the opponent's most annoying weapon due to their accuracy and range. In addition, since this is a new, experimental weapon, counter-measures are also experimental. In general, you don't always know what to expect from FPV drones, hence why they are annoying.

7) Have you met any foreign volunteers?

I haven't met any foreigners personally.

8) Have you seen any cool tech/vehicles?

Concerning cool vehicles, I've seen (and ridden on) an assault buggy with an electronic warfare package bolted to the roof. Other than that, the coolest new stuff is being tested, as far as I understand, in the Donetsk sector. Or maybe I just haven't noticed it here.

9) Do you think you'll ever get demobilized before the war is over?

There is a weak hope, two years after the mobilization (in September-October of 2024) but it's quite faint.

10) What's morale like and how did it change through time?

Morale has been going up since 2022. If at the time there was boyish bravado, then now, having seen the realities of war, the guys have become more serious and morale stronger, although they are not so inclined to express these feelings. We no longer hear patriotic songs from phone speakers, or the ubiquitous chevrons like "???? ?????" ("dill-cutter". ????? is ? slang term for Ukrainian nationalists) but their actions and reactions to events show how they got the hang of what they're doing, and what they need to do without any excessive fuss or panic. For them, it has become a job instead of an adventure. And I would say that every one of us is worth five of us from before, or even more.

11) What about the eternal Ministry of Defense contracts?

"Eternal" contacts? Do you mean contracts that automatically renew? I don't think about it, let them serve, ????) I am a mobik, I serve eternally, that's just how it is.

12) Do you like Warhammer?

I'd like to read about Warhammer's lore, especially various planets or departments of the empire, but I've never played it, although my friend who lives in Turkey offered me to play with him over Discord. But I'm shy :3

Our American friend showed his mobik mate one of his favorite quotes, by General "Stonewall" Jackson, which made such an impression on him that he decided to carry it into battle.

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