Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Catfish]

Video made by a russian
-> english subtitles

[Jimbuna]

Russia's Wagner Group commander requests Norway asylum

By Matt Murphy
BBC News

A former commander with the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group has claimed asylum in Norway after deserting from the mercenary outfit.

Andrey Medvedev, 26, crossed the border into Norway last Friday, where he was detained by border guards.

He is currently being held in the Oslo area where he faces charges of illegal entry to Norway, his lawyer Brynjulf Risnes told the BBC.

Mr Risnes said his client left Wagner after witnessing war crimes in Ukraine.

The Norwegian Border Guard confirmed to the BBC that a Russian man had been detained after crossing the country's 198km (123miles) long border with Russia, but said it could not comment further for "reasons of security and privacy".

Tarjei Sirma-Tellefsen, police chief of staff in the Norwegian region of Finnmark, said a man had been detained by a border patrol and said he had applied for asylum.

But the Russian human rights group Gulagu.net, who helped Mr Medvedev leave Russia, confirmed his identity. His escape is believed to be the first known instance of one of the group's soldiers defecting to the West.

Gulagu.net's founder Vladimir Osechkin told the BBC that Mr Medvedev had joined the paramilitary group in July 2022 on a four-month contract, but had deserted after witnessing a host of human rights abuses and war crimes while serving in Ukraine.

He said that Mr Medvedev is a former soldier in the Russian army and that he later served time in prison between 2017 and 2018 before joining the Wagner Group.

He was placed in charge of a Wagner division in Ukraine, where the mercenary group supplied him with around 30-40 troops every week, Mr Osechkin said.

In a video posted by Gulagu.net to its social media channels, Mr Medvedev said he fled Ukraine in November after being informed that the group intended to extend his contract indefinitely.

After spending two months underground in Russia, he crossed the border into Norway last week.

Mr Risnes said his client had also witnessed a host of war crimes while fighting in Ukraine, including seeing "deserters being executed" by the Wagner Group's internal security service.

"In short he felt betrayed and wanted to leave as soon as possible," Mr Risnes said.

He added that he believed Mr Medvedev had taken some evidence of war crimes with him to Norway and that he intends to share his information with groups investigating war crimes in the coming weeks.

In response, the founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, appeared to laugh off the allegations.

In a press release from one of his companies, Prigozhin issued a sarcastic statement, linking Mr Medvedev to a non-existent Nordic mercenary unit and said he was a Norwegian citizen, in an apparent attempt to mock the man's testimony.

Prigozhin also accused him of "mistreatment of prisoners" and said that his former employee was "very dangerous". Mr Risnes told the BBC that the Wagner leader's claims were not true.

UK officials believe the Wagner Group makes up about 10% of Russia's forces in Ukraine, and played a significant part in helping Moscow's forces take the town of Soledar in eastern Donbas region last week.

Thousands of its troops have been recruited from Russian prisons. Mr Prigozhin - a former convict himself - has promised recruits their freedom in exchange for six months service in Ukraine.

Before the invasion of Ukraine, it had only a few thousand mercenaries. Most were believed to be experienced former soldiers, including some from Russia's elite regiments and special forces.

Since 2015, it is believed to have deployed troops to Syria, Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64296979

[Jimbuna]

Bakhmut defenders plea for Western tanks

By Andrew Harding
BBC News, Donbas region, eastern Ukraine

As the UK and other European nations prepare to send tanks to Ukraine to help it liberate more territory from Russia, our correspondent Andrew Harding has been to visit members of a front-line Ukrainian tank unit already engaging Russian forces near the fiercely contested towns of Bakhmut and Soledar.

The explosions come every few seconds, sometimes in rapid clusters of six or more short blasts, sometimes deep and long and rib-cage-rattling, thundering across the snow-speckled hills that stretch along the front lines close to Bakhmut and Soledar.

Then come the distant booms, the shorter punch of a mortar round blasting off on the roadside, and, occasionally, the bone-chilling, fizzing whoosh of an incoming artillery shell that sends us diving for cover on the frozen fields.

This is the daily, constant, percussive chorus of war in the Donbas, where Ukrainian and Russian artillery, rocket and tank crews are slugging it out, trading blows in a fierce, but largely inconclusive struggle to break a months-long deadlock.

"We have a target," said Roman, a Ukrainian tank unit commander, suddenly pulling off his gloves, clambering up onto the slippery, snow-covered turret of a dark green T-72 tank, and swinging open a heavy steel hatch.

Another crew member, Vlad, scrambled out of a nearby fox hole, where he had been warming his grimy hands over a fresh fire, to help out.

Seconds later, a skull-shaking explosion echoed across the valley and towards Bakhmut, as a US-supplied tank shell tore out of the gun barrel with a flash of orange, heading towards Russian positions on the opposite hillside.

"T-72s are old tanks - this one's the same age as me," said Bogdan, a 55-year-old Ukrainian volunteer, turning to pat the huge, squat, Soviet-era machine behind him. "I used to drive one of these nearly 40 years ago - I can't believe I'm doing it again. But it works. It does the job."

"But a Leopard would be better," said Volodymr, another member of their three-man crew, with a low chuckle.

Plans to send German-made Leopard tanks and UK Challengers to the front lines here in the Donbas have been greeted with visible excitement by Ukrainian forces, who have been taking heavy casualties in recent weeks, around Bakhmut, and, more particularly, during the ferocious struggle for the nearby town of Soledar.

"There were very heavy losses. It's very pitiful. It's hard," said Danylo, an officer in charge of repairing tanks for the 24th Mechanised Brigade. He said the current deadlock would not be broken unless foreign tanks arrived in significant numbers.

"Yes, we'll be stuck here. We need these [Western tanks] to stop Russia's aggression. With infantry, covered by tanks, we'll win for sure," he said.

"Leopards, Challengers, Abrams - any foreign tank is good for us! I think we need at least 300. And we need them now!" said Bogdan.

The Ukrainians all acknowledged that Russia had more modern tanks but were scathing about their tactics.

"The Russian tanks are a bit better than ours. They're fully modernised. But mostly the Russians are strong because they push forwards en masse, advancing over the bodies of their own soldiers. Our commanders care more about the lives of their crews, so we try to destroy [the enemy] while losing as few of our own men as possible," said Bogdan.

A more senior company commander in the 24th Brigade, with the code name Khan, took us to a rear position, past fresh trenches being dug in the fields by specialised machines, where several tanks were hidden under camouflage nets in a wooded area.

"These T-72s have proved effective in winter conditions. But they're old, and not really suited for modern warfare. These days it's all about drones and the latest technology." Khan said he believed it would take very little time for his crews to adapt to more modern European equipment.

"If you're a tank driver you're already someone of above-average intelligence. They'll be able to learn and adapt quickly," he said.

Suddenly, an incoming Russian artillery shell landed several hundred metres away. Seconds later, another landed closer, and then closer still, sending soldiers and journalists diving for cover.

The war in Ukraine has, in many ways, been a distinctly old-fashioned conflict, based on attrition, on devastating artillery strikes, and on dug-in positions reminiscent of the trenches of World War One. But the war has also revealed the limitation of tanks - most clearly in the first weeks of the conflict when nimble Ukrainian infantry destroyed many huge Russian armoured columns with shoulder-launched rockets.

"In the old days, it was all about tanks. Now it's about these new rocket systems," said Volodymr. But the coming months could yet see Western tanks - if deployed quickly, and in large numbers - play a decisive role.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64294653

[Jimbuna]

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Catfish

Video made by a russian
-> english subtitles

The hunt for his life is open.

[Jimbuna]

Increase of Russian army to 1.5 million people will continue until 2026, - Shoigu

Russian Defense Minister Serhiy Shoigu, during a visit to the location of the occupying forces on the territory of Ukraine, discussed how to increase the size of the Russian army.

This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Censor.NET informs.

Shoigu announced that two new territorial associations of the Russian Armed Forces will be created - the Moscow and Leningrad military districts. He also announced the creation of "self-sufficient groups of troops (forces) on the territory of the new subjects of the Russian Federation" (this is what Russia calls the occupied Ukrainian territories. - Ed.).

"To form an army corps in the Republic of Karelia, three motorized rifle divisions in the Ground Forces and two airborne assault divisions in the Airborne Forces; re-form seven motorized rifle brigades in the Western, Central, and Eastern military districts and the Northern Fleet into motorized rifle divisions; strengthen the combat component of the Navy, Aerospace Forces, and Strategic Missile Forces," Shoigu ordered.

He also added that all these changes will last until 2026. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3393867

EU has introduced toughest sanctions against Russian Federation in history, Russian economy will face decade of regression, - von der Leyen

Russian crimes will not go unpunished, the support of Ukraine by the countries of the European Union will not weaken.

This was announced by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Censor.NET reports with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"We have introduced the toughest sanctions in history, as a result of which the Russian economy will face a decade of regression, and its industry will lose modern and critically important technologies. There will be no impunity for these Russian crimes," she said.

Von der Leyen also stressed that there will be no relaxation in support for Ukraine: from assistance in restoring electricity, heat, and water supply to preparations for long-term reconstruction. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3393879

Ukraine received first €3 billion from new macrofinance program from EU, - Zelensky

Ukraine received the first 3 billion from the new macrofinance program for 18 billion.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced this on Twitter, Censor.NET informs.

"I am grateful to the EU and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for their strong support. Preserving Ukraine's financial stability is vital for our joint victory over the aggressor," the message reads. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3393890

[Jimbuna]

Vučić called on Russia to stop recruiting Serbs for war against Ukraine: This is against our rules

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said that Russia should stop trying to recruit Serbs to participate in hostilities on the side of the "Wagner" PMC in Ukraine.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the Euro Integration.

Vučić criticized Russian websites and groups in social networks for publishing ads in Serbian in which the Wagner group calls for volunteers to join its ranks.

"Why do you, from "Wagner", call someone from Serbia, when you know that it is against our rules?" Vucic said.

Serbian volunteers participated in hostilities on the side of Russian forces in Ukraine in 2014 and 2015. No one has a clear idea of the exact numbers, but dozens of Serbs have signed up to fight in Ukraine since 2014, Reuters notes.

Serbian law prohibits its citizens from participating in conflicts abroad, and several people have been convicted of doing so.

Vucic denied allegations that Wagner's group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Putin, has a presence in Serbia, where pro-Kremlin and ultranationalist organizations supported the invasion of Ukraine.

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia, Milos Vucevic, said that the country's civilian and military special services are studying and verifying information about the possible participation of Serbs on the side of Russia in the war against Ukraine.

Information about the participation of Serbs in the war in Ukraine on the side of Russia began to spread in social networks in mid-January. At that time, Russian VKontakte posted photos of alleged Serbian militants who had arrived in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The VKontakte report claimed that the Serbs came to Ukraine in violation of the law and allegedly joined the so-called "Pavel Sudoplatov battalion." At the same time, Telegram began to spread videos with alleged Serbian militants who claim that they came to Ukraine "to help our brothers." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3393899

Spain does not yet plan to supply tanks to Ukraine

Spain currently has no intention of sending heavy weapons to Ukraine.

This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Jose Manuel Albarez, in Davos, Censor.NET informs with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"Spain has no plans to supply tanks," he said during a discussion at the World Economic Forum, which was also attended by the presidents of Poland and Lithuania, Andrzej Duda and Gitanas Nauseda.

"Not at the moment," Albarez later confirmed the position of the Spanish authorities in a conversation with the correspondent of the Spanish edition "Mundo".

At the same time, he noted that at the next meeting of defense ministers of allied countries (regarding NATO), Spain will support measures for "the best for Ukraine".

Earlier it became known that London intends to deliver Challenger 2 tanks to Kyiv in the coming weeks. The willingness to hand over Leopard tanks to Ukraine was also announced in Warsaw, while Berlin has not yet decided on the supply of tanks to Kyiv. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3393906

[Jimbuna]

[Skybird]

German industry is apparently in a position to supply ten to 15 refurbished Leopard 2 main battle tanks as early as this year, which could then be made available to Ukraine. This was reported to the F.A.Z. on Tuesday. In the industry, the information was confirmed upon request.

Only recently, Armin Papperger, CEO of the Rheinmetall armaments group, had said in an interview that his company would be able to deliver additional battle tanks in 2024 at the earliest. Rheinmetall manufactures the Leopard 2 together with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

Industry sources now said delivery would be possible as early as October or November - but only if orders are placed immediately. "We need a decision today," they said. If "all the stops are pulled out" then, one Leopard 2 per week could be delivered from the third quarter onwards.

Whether the delivery actually happens depends on the German government. It is being urged by NATO allies who also use the Leopard 2 to jointly supply Ukraine with tanks of this type.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

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Meanwhile, the political opposition is demanding rapid delivery of the Leopard-1, whose available numbers are sometimes quoted as "88," sometimes as "about 200." However, the Leopard-1 is not as well protected as the Leo-2, and the 105mm gun is weaker. The tank is more agile and has better sensors than a T-72 - but the USSR at the time had developed the T-72 as an explicit Leopard-1 killer. The Western answer to the T-72 was then the Leopard-2. Nowadays, the Leopard-1 is usually no longer considered a heavy tank, but a "medium" tank. the muzc stoirnger gun is wioth the T-72 - the greater poreicison with the Leopard. Whether the Leopard's cannon can defeat a Russian-modernised T-72 - remains to be seen. From the flanks, certainly, but when MBT'S meet head-on - the T-72 has a 125mm gun. Modernised Russian T-72s can shoot Wolfram , Steel and Uran ammunition.


Tactical leadership of course also is essential and can make a huge difference.



I say: if they want the old Leo-1s, then let them have them. We will not use them anymore anyway in Germany.

[Catfish]

There are 150 Leo 1 tanks available for sure.
But if Olaf does not want, the point for any tank is moot, even if Poland would deliver. It cannot w/o consent from Germany.

[Dargo]

The Netherlands is considering participating in supplying Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. Prime Minister Rutte said that prior to a conversation with President Biden at the White House. A Defense Ministry spokesman would not say anything about it yet. The Netherlands is considering joining Germany's Patriot program.

[Dargo]

Experts in Cambodia are training some 15 Ukrainians in landmine detection. The training lasts a week and is supported by Japanese authorities. A Japanese detection system is being practiced. Several other countries, including the United States and Germany, have previously provided Ukraine with mine clearance assistance. Cambodians are experienced in detecting landmines, as millions of landmines are still scattered throughout the country after nearly 30 years of war. Since the end of the war in the late 1990s, some 20,000 people have been killed and 45,000 injured by the landmines. The number of deaths per year has dropped significantly in recent years, from several thousand to about 100.

Cambodia's aid is noteworthy because it normally backs Russia and China. Prime Minister Hun Sen, however, condemned Russia's invasion. "Cambodia is always against any country invading another country," he said in November.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Catfish

There are 150 Leo 1 tanks available for sure.
But if Olaf does not want, the point for any tank is moot, even if Poland would deliver. It cannot w/o consent from Germany.

Technically, it can.

It just would cause a stir. But they are turning to South Korea anyway for new armour and kit, not loving the Germans anymore. I think we will see a further turning away from German arms providers in the future.


Mind you, Poland seeks confrontation with Germany over 1.3 trillion in demands, and serving ressentiments against Germany is in the PIS' genes, too. 14 Leopard-2 tanks, in comparison, look like a managable storm in the waterglass.

[mapuc]

I know Ukraine is dreaming about getting some of our modern tanks we have-Leopard 2 Abrams 1A.

As one of you mentioned earlier-For each type of tanks they have to establish a logistic chain.

In the countries-friendly countries that is-which has border to Ukraine have hundreds of T72 and T80(I think it was).
Why not make a change-They get some of our newer tanks and they give Ukraine their T72 and T80. They are not at war and have time to build a logistic for these tanks.

For Ukraine you could say that:

1. They have crew who can manage these tanks
2. They already have a well oiled Logistic for these tanks.

Markus

[Jimbuna]