🇺🇦 (video) Footage of one of the seven covert Azovstal resupply missions. (Copy from an earlier post) During the siege of Mariupol, there were seven resupply missions flown by Ukrainian helicopter crews into the heart of the fighting at Azovstal. Flying two at a time, Ukrainian Mi-8 Hip helicopter crews braved dense Russian air defense and enemy aircraft to deliver desperately needed supplies and fresh troops to the defenders of the besieged Azovstal steel plant. Of the 16 total helicopters involved, two were destroyed. The Mi-8s provided troops at Azovstal with arms, ammunition, medicine, food, and 72 additional fighters from the Azov Regiment.
🇺🇦 Watching war play out to trap music something I don’t think I’ll ever get used to
🇺🇦 Russia’s concentration of forces in Severodonetsk has paid off, allowing gains. Russia has taken half of Severodonetsk.
🇺🇦 Zelensky has gotten criticism for not matching Russia’s offensive capabilities to defend Severodonetsk. However, this strategy seems to be paying off. More on that in a minute…
🇺🇦 Kyiv could have committed more reserves and resources to the defense of Severodonetsk, but they didn’t. Ukrainian forces are instead withdrawing from Severodonetsk rather than fighting to the end—a factor that has allowed the Russians to move into the city relatively rapidly after beginning their full-scale assault. This is standard UA operating procedure for the past three months. And that’s because…
🇺🇦 Russia’s gains in Severodonetsk came at a cost. Focusing in Severodonetsk has created vulnerabilities for Russia in Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast, where Ukrainian counter-offensives continue.
🇺🇦 Over the past 3 months, Ukraine has carefully protected its limited resources and focused instead on regaining critical terrain rather than on defending ground whose control will not determine the outcome of the war or the conditions for the renewal of war. So it is painful that they are not defending Severodonetsk, but this strategy has worked exceedingly well in the past, and it’s working well now. For example…
🇺🇦 Ukrainian prioritization of counter-offensive and defensive operations pushed the Russians almost out of artillery range of Kharkiv City and have stopped the Russian advances from Izyum—both of which are more important accomplishments than the defense of Severodonetsk.
🇺🇦 Zelensky: “Ukraine will not rush to de-occupy temporarily occupied territories if it requires tens of thousands of victims, but will wait for the necessary weapons”
🇺🇦 Chatter indicates that UA forces haver destroyed a large unit of Wagner Group fighters
🇺🇦 Chatter indicates that contractors are paid them 30,000 rubles, or $490 (Intercepted call of Colonel Vitaly Kovtun in April)
🇺🇦 A general showed up on the front line to motivate his soldiers to fight. He pulled his gun out and threatened the solders. A soldier in the unit whipped out a grenade and threatened the general, saying, “Come on, shoot me! We’ll blow up together!” Then the special forces also started pointing their guns at the Russian soldiers, so the Russian soldiers pointed guns back at them. The general then fled. I mentioned this situation yesterday, but there’s some extra color.
🇺🇦 Russian citizens continue to conduct attacks on Russian military recruitment centers
🇺🇦 It’s getting late in the day so I opted to push this update out to you instead of proof reading it. Fingers crossed!
📢 Countries apply to be in NATO. NATO doesn’t seek to expand. Saying NATO is encroaching on Russia is Kremlin messaging. Russia has three primary propaganda efforts directed at the West, and that’s the first.
📢 Yes, Ukraine has a nazi problem, but it’s a very small percentage of the country, and not representative of the whole. Using a small group to smear the entire group is called “guilt by association.” Russia has three primary propaganda efforts directed at the West, and that’s the second.
📢 If you ever hear anyone say “What about America…” in an effort to redirect attention away from Ukraine and onto the west, that is called “Competitive victimhood” and the associated meme is *always* created by Russian-backed media. Russia has three primary propaganda efforts directed at the West, and that’s the third.
⚠️ Note: I got lazy with my citations and I apologize. My top sources are: Current and former military planners, singularly-focused pundits, and all manner of vetted open-source intelligence. Top cited open source pundits and sources include: CP Scott, Institute for the Study of War, Kyiv Independent, Aaron Parnas, John Aravosis, Malcontent News, and mainstream news with high levels of journalistic integrity and track records. Sadly I can’t source private individuals, of course.
⚠️ Speaking of sources, thanks to all of you who have forwarded me tips. You’re the private individuals I wish I could source publicly
⚠️ These posts are not affiliated with my employer, nor done during my employer’s time. Every item I report is from my own research, my own opinion, and written during my own time.
⚠️ Note: War happens fast and even high fidelity news needs a ton of corrections after the dust settles. Also, I’ve been spoiled by social media’s format where I can update the final product every time I find a typo. That poses a problem because…
⚠️ I started a Substack newsletter to accommodate the individual emails requests. Feel free to subscribe!