re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

Zelensky's just not listening. Is there actual evidence of corruption? I seriously doubt it but why is he refusing to re-instate Federov?

Khmara is a last-minute cover boy substitution thrown in to placate the protestors, both in and outside of the country. Federov's efforts are effectively stopped for a month or more, an event Moscow is certainly celebrating. Zelensky has shown his arse with this affair and his political reputation will likely not recover. Who TF is advising him?

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Zelenskyy's former top aide Yermak met with Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi after defence minister’s dismissal – UP sources

Ukrainska Pravda — 16 July, 20:52

Andrii Yermak, former head of the Office of the President, visited Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi's command post in a frontline oblast two hours ago.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources among military and law enforcement personnel

Details: The meeting came amid the dismissal of defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the public conflict between him and the commander-in-chief.

Ukrainska Pravda has contacted Andrii Yermak for comment and sent an official request to Oleksandr Syrskyi.

UkrainskaPravda

I agree, this was a big unforced error.

Putin's got to be happy with this situation.

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And the big Russian offense has been a failure.

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Russian recruits arriving on the front lines in Ukraine survive an estimated 20 to 30 minutes before they are killed or wounded, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe said Wednesday.

The assessment comes as Ukraine's battlefield technology has stalled Russia's advance along the front and drawn foreign partners ready to spend billions of dollars in deals with its defense industry.

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Defense News

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Russian recruits arriving on the front lines in Ukraine survive an estimated 20 to 30 minutes before they are killed or wounded,

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That stat is a logic test and many of you failed

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U.S. Switchblade loitering munitions cost between $50,000 and $170,000, which is up to 400 times more expensive than the $400 to $1,000 Ukrainian FPV drones assembled from commercial parts. While the Switchblade is a highly advanced, purpose-built weapon, the Ukrainian strategy leverages high-volume, "attritable" FPV drones to achieve superior cost asymmetry on the battlefield. Read the full analysis at Forbes.

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So a different, less advanced weapons platform is cheaper? Who would have thought?

Russia also produces an artillery shell for something like 1/5th (or less) than the US does (or likely past tense, produced). Producing something cheaper than the US does isn't uncommon.

The benefit of that is we pump money into companies that then use that money, innovate, and that have helped to make us the strongest military in human history. We are starting to see a resurgence of that.

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And?

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Stay tuned for next season when Russia continues to suck at war; while their economy dies on the vine.

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Things seem to be going great.

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Compared to your side's usual splatter beneath windows and poisonings, it actually is going real regular.

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quote: Andrii Yermak, former head of the Office of the President, visited Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi's command post in a frontline oblast two hours ago.

This is going to end up costing Syrsky his job.

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To have a meeting with one of the most divisive people in Ukraine, a power broker who recently resigned under suspicion of corruption, is less than smart. But without further information, I have to believe that Syrsky didn't invite him.

Is Yermak operating in his own capacity? No, that's not his style. He's a facilitator that uses the power of his friend's offices to 'get things done'. His relationship with Zelensky has to be still strong, if at arm's length, so his (un)invited visit to Syrskyi's command post is likely to discuss Zelensky's terms with Syrskyi over how to resolve this disaster.

This is what you get when a manager ignores an ultimatum. If Syrski gave Zelensky an ultimatum, Zelensky HAD to fire him right then. If he doesn't, Syrski is now in control, not Zelensky. It's not the ones you fire that get you into trouble, it's the ones you don't fire. And with me, if you either put your hand on a secretary's arse or give me an ultimatum, you're fired. Right then and there. Not because I'm some hard arse with a self esteem problem, but because those two actions remove all options from the table.
Nothing can be done to correct these stupidities and separation is the only way to maintain the operation of the office.

It takes a special talent to clean up a mess like this and Yermak could be that talent. We'll see, but it may be a long weekend in Kyiv.