Speech of the Head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy
In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief since February 24 this year. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are conducting a special military operation.
Its main goal is to provide assistance to the people of the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics, who have been subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for 8 years.
It was impossible to achieve this goal by political means. Kiev has publicly refused to implement the Minsk agreements. The Ukrainian leadership twice in 2014 and 2015 tried to solve the so-called Donbass problem by military means, was defeated, but did not change its plans on resolving conflict by force in the East of the country. According to reliable data, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were completing the preparation of a military operation to take control of the territory of the people’s republics.
In these conditions, it was possible to help the Donetsk and Lugansk republics only by providing them with military assistance. Which Russia has done.
There were two possible courses of action.
The first is to limit the territory to only the DPR and the LPR within the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which is enshrined in the constitutions of the republics. But then we would be faced with constant feeding by the Ukrainian authorities of the grouping involved in the so-called joint force operation.
Therefore, the second option was chosen, which provides for actions throughout the territory of Ukraine with the implementation of measures for its demilitarization and denazification.
The course of the operation confirmed the validity of this decision.
It is conducted by the General Staff in strict accordance with the approved plan.
The tasks are carried out taking into account minimizing losses among personnel and minimizing damage to civilians.
With the beginning of a special military operation, air supremacy was won during the first two days.
Offensive actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are carried out in various directions.
As a result, Russian troops blocked Kiev, Kharkov, Chernigov, Sumy and Nikolaev. Kherson and most of the Zaporozhye region are under full control.
The public and individual experts are wondering what we are doing in the area of blocked Ukrainian cities.
These actions are carried out with the aim of causing such damage to military infrastructure, equipment, personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the results of which allow not only to shackle their forces and do not give them the opportunity to strengthen their grouping in the Donbass, but also will not allow them to do so until the Russian army completely liberates the territories of the DPR and LPR.
Initially, we did not plan to storm them in order to prevent destruction and minimize losses among personnel and civilians.
And although we do not rule out such a possibility, however, as individual groups complete their tasks, and they are being solved successfully, our forces and means will concentrate on the main thing – the complete liberation of Donbass.
Significant territories of the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics have also been liberated. The people’s militia has taken control of 276 settlements that were previously under the control of the Ukrainian army and the national battalions.
Demilitarization of Ukraine is achieved both by high-precision strikes on military infrastructure facilities, locations of formations and military units, airfields, control points, arsenals and warehouses of weapons and military equipment, and by the actions of troops to defeat opposing enemy grouppings.
Currently, the Ukrainian air forces and the air defence system have been almost completely destroyed. The naval forces of the country ceased to exist.
16 main military airfields were defeated, from which combat sorties of the AFU aviation were carried out. 39 storage bases and arsenals were destroyed, which contained up to 70% of all stocks of military equipment, materiel and fuel, as well as more than 1 million 54 thousand tons of ammunition.
All 24 formations of the Land Forces that existed before the start of the operation suffered significant losses. Ukraine has no organized reserves left.
Losses are replenished at the expense of mobilized persons and personnel of the territorial defence forces who do not have the necessary training, which increases the risk of large losses.
At the time of the start of the special military operation, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with the National Guard, numbered 260 thousand 200 servicemen. During the month of hostilities, their losses amounted to about 30 thousand people, including more than 14 thousand – irretrievable and about 16 thousand – sanitary.
Of the 2,416 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles that were in combat on February 24, 1,587 units were destroyed; 636 units out of 1,509 field artillery guns and mortars; 163 out of 535 MLRS; 112 out of 152 aircraft, 75 out of 149 helicopters; 36 Bayraktar TB2 UAVs – 35;
180 out of 148 S-300 and Buk M1 air defence systems; 300 out of 117 radars for various purposes.
The AFU continue to use high-powered weapons indiscriminately against towns in Donbass. An example of this is the strikes by the Tochka-U missile system on the civilian population of Donetsk and Makeyevka.
In this regard, they are the primary targets.
As of today, 7 Tochka-U launchers have been destroyed, and 85% of missiles are in arsenals and in the air. This significantly limited Ukraine’s capabilities for their combat use.
Since the beginning of hostilities, the Western countries have supplied the Kiev regime with 109 field artillery guns, 3,800 anti-tank weapons, including Javelin, Milan, Konkurs, NLAW ATGM, M-72, Panzerfaust-3, 897 Stinger and Igla MANPADS.
We consider it a vast mistake for Western countries to supply weapons to Kiev. This delays the conflict, increases the number of victims and will not be able to influence the outcome of the operation.
The real purpose of such supplies is not to support Ukraine, but to drag it into a long-term military conflict “to the last Ukrainian.”
We are closely monitoring the statements of the military and political leadership of individual countries about their intention to supply aircraft and air defence systems to Ukraine. In case of implementation– we will not leave it without attention.
We also hear assurances from NATO leaders about non-interference in the conflict. At the same time, some member states of the North Atlantic Alliance propose to close the airspace over Ukraine. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will immediately respond accordingly to such attempts.
In order to prevent the restoration of weapons and military equipment of the AFU that have received combat damage, the Russian Armed Forces are disabling repair enterprises, arsenals, storage bases, logistics warehouses with high-precision weapons.
At the moment, 30 key enterprises of the military-industrial complex have been hit by cruise missiles X-101, Kalibr, Iskander, and the Kinzhal aviation complex, which carried out repairs of 68% of weapons and equipment disabled during combat operations.
Russian modern weaponry has proven to be highly accurate, reliable and capable of operational use.
I would like to emphasize that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation do not strike at civilian infrastructure facilities, including the destruction of bridges across rivers.
127 bridges were destroyed in the area of military operations. All of them were blown up by Ukrainian nationalists in order to deter the advance of our troops.
Another example of recklessness is the mining of approaches to the ports of Odessa, Ochakov, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny, where over 400 anchor mines of obsolete types are installed.
At least 10 mines have broken anchor and are drifting in the western part of the Black Sea, which poses a real threat to warships and civilian vessels.
The rampant crime, looting and marauding and civilian deaths have been caused by the Ukrainian regime’s massive uncontrolled distribution of tens of thousands of small arms to the civilian population, including to criminals released from prisons. The situation will only get worse in the future.
The course of hostilities, the testimonies of civilians who left the blockaded settlements and captured Ukrainian servicemen show that today the AFU’s ability to resist is based on fear of reprisals by neo-Nazis. Their representatives are embedded in all military units.
The mainstay of the Kiev regime are nationalist formations such as Azov, Aidar, Right Sector and others recognized in Russia as terrorist organizations. In Mariupol alone, they include more than 7 thousand militants who are fighting under the guise of civilians, using them as a “human shield”.
The militants of the Azov battalion drive women and children out of the basements, threatening them with weapons, and send them towards the advancing units of the DPR in order to hinder the advance of the people’s militia. This has become a common practice for them.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, on the contrary, seek to avoid unnecessary losses. Before the start of the offensive, the AFU units are invited to leave the combat area and move along with equipment and weapons to the point of permanent deployment. Not to resist when the offensive begins and those who lay down their arms are guaranteed safety.
Civilians caught in a war zone are always advised to stay in their homes.
Humanitarian corridors are being organized in all cities to get the population out of the area of hostilities, and their security is also maintained.
Humanitarian corridors are being created in all towns to allow people to leave the area where the fighting is taking place, and their security is being maintained.
In addition, at the initiative of the Ukrainian leadership, the country has become a home to 6,595 foreign mercenaries and terrorists from 62 states.
They are not subject to the rules of war and will be ruthlessly destroyed.
Today, the number of foreign mercenaries is declining. This was facilitated by high-precision strikes on their bases and training camps. On March 13, more than 200 militants were killed and more than 400 wounded in Starichi and at the Yavorovskii training ground alone.
I note that not a single foreign mercenary has arrived in Ukraine in the last seven days. On the contrary, there has been an outflow. Within a week, 285 fighters escaped into Poland, Hungary and Romania, I hope without Stingers and Javelins.
Previous experience has shown that man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) and ATGMs are spreading out fairly quickly, along with the mercenaries who return home.
In general, the main objectives of the first phase of the operation have been achieved. The combat capabilities of Ukraine’s Armed Forces have been significantly reduced, which allows us, once again, to concentrate our main efforts on achieving the main goal – the liberation of Donbass.
In eight years, in the area of the so-called “joint forces operation”, a defence belt has been prepared that is deeply echeloned and well-fortified in engineering terms, consisting of a system of monolithic, long-term concrete structures.
In this regard, in order to minimise casualties among the troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics, the conduct of offensive operations is preceded by a heavy fire attack on the enemy’s strongholds and their reserves.
At the beginning of the special military operation, the LPR and DPR people’s militias were confronted by a group of 59,300 people comprising the most combat-ready units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard and nationalist formations.
As a result, Ukraine’s security forces in the OOS zone lost about 16,000 people, or 26% of their total strength as of 24 February this year.
More than 7,000 of them were irrecoverable losses.
Replacing losses is prevented by isolating the Ukrainian grouping of troops in Donbass, taking control of railway stations and key road routes with firepower.
The supply of missiles and ammunition, fuel and food to Ukrainian forces has been almost completely halted.
The field depots of missile and artillery weapons and ammunition, as well as fuel located directly in the area of the Joint Forces Operation are being hit. To date, 32 facilities have been destroyed, or 61% of the total.
All weapons and military equipment, including foreign-made, seized by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the special military operation are handed over to the People’s Republics. Already 113 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 138 Javelin and 67 NLAW grenade launchers and other trophy weapons have been handed over.
Units of the People’s Militia of the Lugansk People’s Republic have liberated 93% of the republic’s territory.
Fighting is currently taking place on the outskirts of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk.
The People’s Militia of the Donetsk People’s Rupublic controls 54% of the territory. The liberation of Mariupol continues.
Units of the Russian Armed Forces together with the People’s Militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic are conducting an offensive to liberate settlements to the west of Donetsk.
Unfortunately, there are casualties among our comrades-in-arms during the special military operation. As of today, 1,351 servicemen have been killed and 3,825 wounded.
All family support solutions will be taken over by the state, raising children up to higher education, full repayment of loans, housing solutions.
We receive a large number of appeals from Russian citizens wishing to take part in the special military operation to liberate Ukraine from Nazism.
In addition, more than 23,000 foreigners from 37 countries have expressed their willingness to fight on the side of the people’s republics. We offered the leadership of the LPR and DPR to accept this assistance, but they said they would defend their land themselves.
They have enough power and resources.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue to conduct a planned special military operation until the tasks set by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief have been completed.
Speech of Head of the National Centre for Defence Control of the Russian Federation Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev
The special military operation in Ukraine with its corresponding objectives and tasks was preceded by an eight-year period of a highly grave humanitarian disaster in Donbass that made more than 6.5 million persons to be victims of violations of human rights and caused deaths of more than 14.5 thousand persons. The almost daily shelling carried out by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and nationalist battalions caused 4,115 infrastructure buildings destroyed and 55,310 damaged, including residential buildings, educational establishments, hospitals and many other social facilities.
Over these eight years, 19.5 per cent of the infrastructure of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’ s republics has been completely destroyed and up to 37 per cent damaged by the use of heavy weaponry from Ukraine.
From April 2014 to February 2022, 1,451,304 refugees had been displaced just to the Russian Federation.
Due to a rapid aggravation of the situation and increase of the shelling intensity on the territory of Donbass, only from 18 to 23 of February the number of refugees had rapidly increased; during these six days, the border of Russia has been crossed by 106,946 persons.
The rest of the population – 3,600,940 people, including civilians, mostly elderly, children, women and some vulnerable groups – continued to be shelled every day, in basements without any basic conditions for life – no water, heat, electricity, food or medicines.
This period comparable with two Great Patriotic Wars 1941-1945 in terms of timeline caused numerous victims every day.
Meanwhile, the countries of the so-called “civilised” West, led by the United States of America, have deliberately kept silent about all this, showing complete indifference to the fate of millions of residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’ republics.
The special military operation commenced in the conditions of this highly grave humanitarian crisis.
Since 4 March, the Russian Federation has been providing humanitarian corridors on a daily basis, exclusively for humanitarian purposes, in the directions of Kiev, Chernigov, Sumy, Kharkov and Mariupol, of which one humanitarian corridor to Russia and one more through Kiev-controlled territories towards Ukraine’s western borders.
The Ukrainian side has never confirmed a single humanitarian corridor towards the Russian Federation for the entire period.
At the same time, we coordinate all additional humanitarian corridors proposed by Kiev on a daily basis.
The Russian Armed Forces strictly observe ceasefire on all routes, despite the fact that this slows down the pace of conducting a special military operation. But this is done solely in the interests of saving civilians.
And on the Ukrainian side, systematic shelling of humanitarian convoys and attempts to shift responsibility for their own inhumane acts to units of Russian troops continue. So, this week alone, 17 attacks on civilians traveling along humanitarian corridors were recorded, including the cynical shelling of a convoy of refugees from Mariupol.
In the face of tough opposition from the official authorities of Ukraine, since the beginning of the special military operation, 419,736 people, including 88,373 children, have been evacuated to Russia from dangerous areas of Ukraine, Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics. 49,362 units of personal motor transport crossed the state border of the Russian Federation.
Without any participation of the Ukrainian side, nine thousand foreign citizens who applied for help were assisted in the evacuation.
Russia continues to work on the preparation, delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid to the civilian population of the liberated territories.
A total of 5,043 tons of basic necessities, food packages, including baby food, vital medicines and hygiene products were delivered. 617 humanitarian actions were carried out in Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, Kiev, Chernigov, Sumy, Kharkov, Zaporozhye, Kherson and Nikolaev regions.
All Ukrainian prisoners in the Russian Federation are treated as required by the norms of international humanitarian law. They are kept in decent conditions, provided with three meals a day, timely and qualified medical care is provided to them. They are not subjected to violence or psychological pressure. Everyone is given the opportunity to contact relatives.
Interaction with the International Committee of the Red Cross on these issues is organized.
At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities, against the general background of the lawlessness that reigns everywhere in Ukraine, grossly violate elementary humane norms, not to mention the requirements of the Geneva conventions,
regarding the treatment of prisoners of war.
Despite this, or most likely contrary to what the Kiev authorities are doing, the Russian side will continue to treat Ukrainian prisoners of war humanely and respectfully.
Being aware of the nature of all the existing difficulties, as well as the essence, the origins and the character of the provocations carried out by the Kiev regime, considering the passiveness of the international organizations, the Russian Federation will continue opening and maintaining humanitarian corridors every day and informing the Ukrainian party and all the international community.
The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation General of the Army Sergei Shoigu reports regularly to the leadership of the country as the implementation of the special military operation, as the efforts adopted by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to provide humanitarian aid and security at the liberated territories.
Extremely detailled sitrep, omg what a difference with the BS propaganda we hear from the West.
The worst part of the west propaganda is there is no commonsense, no fact checking, just repetitively parroting of Ukrainian lies and also saucing with west snickering amplification.
Before Russian special operations in Ukraine, the west practiced this smearing campaign in denigrating China, fake accusation with no proof, with no evidence. Sanctioned this, tariffed that, behaving like a gang of bullies. Their rules, or no rules.
The narcissistic west fourth estate have been defunct for quite some time, the Trump presidency was an alarming indication. This time it proves itself morally bankrupt.
Everyday, 10K Russian soldiers are killed. And there are actually fools who believe this.
I had the most…. depressing… exchange with someone the other day.
They were parroting the Ukrainian claims as-if they were gospel, and I replied that he was mistaken: the encirclement of Kiev is a feint intended to deceive the Ukrainians, and the “Main effort” was in the Donbas area.
Outrageous! Why do you think you know better! All the experts say….[blah][blah][blah].
I pointed out that all the experts – all of them – are listening only to what the Ukrainians are claiming, and the very definition of a “feint” requires that the Russians deceive the Ukrainians as to their true objectives.
Rubbish in = Rubbish out.
Outrageous! Here, look at this sitrep from the Institute for the Study of War! They know better!
And so I looked, because I like to do my due-diligence.
And this is what I saw:
“Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) reports that”…
“Local Ukrainian officials claimed”…
“The mayor of Kyiv claimed”…
“The mayor of Irpin claimed”…
“The head of the Kyiv Oblast military administration stated”…
“The Ukrainian General Staff reported”…
“A local Ukrainian government social media report”…
“The Ukrainian General Staff reports”…
“Ukrainian military intelligence reported”…
“The GUR claims that”…
Basically, the Kagan-heavy propaganda rag that is “The Institute for the Study of War” is nothing more than a Ukrainain cutout. A clearing-house for Ukrainian nonsense.
So I went back to him and said: Well, yeah, just what I said. If the Ukrainians have fallen for the feint then everyone who relies only Ukrainian sources is also going to be suckered in.
At that point he shouted that I was clearly a Putin Troll, and demanded to know how much Vlad was paying me.
So, yeah, par for the course…. The dumbing down of western opinion to the point where ALL public sentiment is merely manufactured nonsense is so very depressing.
Do consider that once Casey goes off the cliff, the 2nd great depression is on, and I hear he’s runnin on all cylinders, but has very little power left in the brand new engines.
WW2 followed the great depression. WW3 will follow the 2nd great depression.
Russian Generals trolling the Woke West…….’285 foreign fighters escaped to Poland, Hungry and Romania, I hope without Stingers and Javelins’…
Cheers M
Yeah, I chuckled at that line too. Very droll.
I’ll note that they also say the Donetsk forces are now being equipped with abandoned Stingers and Javelins.
They missed a great opportunity to declare that the Donetsk forces now have more of both than the Ukrainians do.
Thanks heaps, Joe, saves us having to buy any!
….All 24 formations of the Land Forces that existed before the start of the operation suffered significant losses. Ukraine has no organized reserves left…..
Do we understand this to mean 24 combat brigades in Eastern Ukraine or is This 24 in entire country ?
My reckoning of Ukie order of battle based on limited information;,
By my reckoning in Eastern Ukraine only (roughly) 6 combat brigades are fully combat capable. The other (roughly) 16 brigades are either completely written off or only able to fight company level actions. There might be a battalion or 2 still capable, but that’s the exception.
Does this sound about right ?
24 brigades were/are in the east.
“Does this sound about right ?”
According to Jens Stoltenberg, no, that’s damn near libelous.
You can expect to hear from his lawyers very, very soon.
Thanks for this, the Vineyard.
These briefings certainly clarify the situation — there shouldn’t be any uncertainties or questions about Russian actions any more: the general plan is pretty clear; everyone reading this blog should ‘get it.’
One remarkable thing: RF is willing to let regime forces, including the nazis, escape for the sake of saving civilians, via the humanitarian corridors into regime-controlled areas. But RF combat intelligence is superb — a video circulated by RF MOD showed an attack helicopter destroying a company HQ — and most likely these war criminals will be dealt with later, at another time, perhaps with others as they re-form and regroup.
Nice video of action with the Russian naval infantry doing mopping-up operations in Mariupol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCXCQrn_gPg
The iconic Soviet film “Come and See” (which features Ukrainian Waffen SS troops) I think provides valuable insights into the Russian attitude toward the special operation in Ukraine. Unfortunately, I think most audiences in the West do not see or understand these lessons.
https://readingjunkie.com/2022/03/25/what-come-and-see-can-teach-us-about-ukraine/
I’ll bump this up. I saw this maybe 40 years ago in NYC before VHS, DVD, streaming. A formative film for me. Best seen in a theater like the films of Tarkovsky or Parajanov, all those Russian films constructed like poetry rather than linear western films like prose. For the full impacted you really need the dark, quiet, total isolation of the theater and the huge enveloping screen for images to flow into your dilated pupils. Come and See starts pastoral, lulls you then hits you with the full brunt of the horrors of WW2 experienced by Russians. Long time since I’ve seen it but Tarkovsky’s (IIRC) The Mirror had a similar impact. What I’m trying to note here is if you watch it watch it on a big screen TV, in the dark, no interruptions, distractions, no popcorn, no kids running round, no cellphone, no multi-tasking, trips to fridge, pausing and coming back the next day, and all the rest of dishvealved life in 2022. Pretend you’re in a NYC theater in the 1980s 3/4 empty on a weekday afternoon and let the experience wash over you. I walked out of the theater after Come and See and was in a fog for the next two days as emotions tried to find structure and form. A lot has been lost in the modern world, patience and focus being one of them.
You are correct, there is something about watching a good movie in a darkened theatre that aids memory and recall that gets lost in the lounge room.
We are all following intently the progress of Russia’s special miltary operation in Ukraine and the ending of the unipolar world. Africa notes that the same countries which are now engaged in war against the Russia are also the same countries which colonised Africa and have exploited that continent up to today. France destroyed the whole of West and Central Africa and yet it was the Africans that came to the rescue of France during the Patriotic War of 1939-45. After assisting in the defeat of Hitler, the African armies of Senegal were taken to a camp in senegal and slaughtered for demanding payment for their services. UK’s attrocities in South Africa against the Zulu, Germany against Namibia, Portugal agaist Angola and Mozambique, Britain fighting against the Mau Mau, Italy destroying Ethiopia, Beliguim in Congo muders of more than ten million people, its no surprise that they can now unite agaist Russia for its resources. Most African are standing with Russia. Today I met a group of herdsmen, from a cattle market near Kampala, Uganda and they asked me if Mariupol has fallen and why is Russia taking so long. Who wants a thief as a neighbour, a bully as a god father or a flame thrower as an insurance underwriter. We are surprised to find that the empire has set up alternative fake accounts for Sputnik News International with the most grotesque news stories against Russia. And they still think they are in the right. You still a country’s money and still say you are in the right?
Continue to spread the word brother.
Africa’s biggest issue is their Leadership who’ve sold their peoples for personal wealth. Let’s hope for a successful conclusion to the SMO and this in turn offers green shoots elsewhere.
“Africa’s biggest issue is their Leadership who’ve sold their peoples for personal wealth.”
the same applies to Europe and the UK.
“Africa’s biggest issue is their Leadership who’ve sold their peoples for personal wealth”
Jens Stoltenberg: Hold my beer.
Good on you Rutamira!
I also saw that Sputnik news website (albeit by accidentally mistyping)
Very dubious and evil. The amount of effort and treachery these people go at with aims of spreading layers of lies against the good that Russia and China are doing by decoupling.
Partly, the same way Russia is fighting its existential threat, i believe the evil Western nations are also fighting for there very existence and control, realizing their inevitable demise, like spoiled children who throw temper tantrums when matters don’t go accordingly to there plans.
A big bear ruined the party…
People need to be made aware… and realize, be the voice of reason.
I’d make one important modification to the statement. Wherever it says Kiev/Kiev Regime, that should be replaced with either US Government or Outlaw US Empire–for it is that entity that’s controlled Ukraine since the 2014 coup.
“Of the 2,416 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles that were in combat on February 24, 1,587 units were destroyed; 636 units out of 1,509 field artillery guns and mortars; 163 out of 535 MLRS; 112 out of 152 aircraft, 75 out of 149 helicopters; 36 Bayraktar TB2 UAVs – 35;”
(Fair enough, but then it continues:)
“180 out of 148 S-300 and Buk M1 air defence systems; 300 out of 117 radars for various purposes.”
That’s what papal consecration gets ya!!
It´s Machine translated so some own effort may be warranted.
Thanks for providing this article, Andrei.
Naturally, there is increasing concern about Russian soldiers’ deaths, and rightly so. However, I think that these losses have to be considered from within a wider context – for example, when compared to “Russian losses” due to covid.
The SMO has been operating for approximately 29 days. Deaths during this operation are reported to be 1,351. The latter divided by the former gives a daily average death rate of 47 “Russians”.
Here’s a link to Russia’s covid statistics.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/russia/
Between July 18, 2021 and March 23, 2022 – a period of 249 days, 237,357 Russians died due to covid. By simple division we find that there were an average of 953 Russian deaths from covid per day! (It should be noted here that Russia, unlike other nations, does not attribute the cause of death to covid when there are other “underlying” conditions. In other words, if a person has lived with a heart condition for 20 years, catches covid and dies in a few days, the death is not counted as death due to covid. And, obviously, this number also does not include deaths from covid that were “missed”/not counted. Therefore, that daily average of 953 is likely a very conservative death rate.)
Again, an average of 953 Russian deaths due to covid every single day for the last 249 days versus an average of 47 Russian deaths per day for the last 29 days due to military action to prevent deaths in the Donbass and to defend Mother Russia’s very existence. Through it all, Russia has managed to maintain its “system” pretty much unchanged and most likely will continue to do so, even “fighting” WOTEC’s ongoing 24/7 all-out economic war.
I would add here that if the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to restrict logistical reinforcement, including ammunition, fuel and food, for US’s Ukrainian-mercenary forces in, for example, Kiev, time is very much on the former’s side. I believe that as time marches on and hunger and logical questions (“For just exactly what am I about to die?”) both increase in human bodies and minds, the enemy’s “will to resist” will quickly erode and there will be mass surrenders by the US’s Ukrainian-mercenary soldiers. Therefore, I believe that the rate of death of Russian soldiers will drop dramatically over time.
NATO will attack Russia unless…
There is now no doubt that NATO, as the transmission belt of the United States, will attack Russia. The reason is not Ukraine, which Biden and his accomplices couldn’t care less about, but Russia’s decision to sell its natural resources no longer in dollars, but in rubles. This is exactly what Gaddafi wanted to do, we know the result: After being singled out for years, accusing (perhaps rightly so…) of sponsoring terrorist groups, the United States went to deeds and Gaddafi’s regime was overthrown, Gaddafi lynched by the mob… and Libyan oil is now paid for in dollars, as before. That Libya then fell into total chaos is of no importance to them, what was vital is that the dollar continues to be the reference currency in world trade.
And this is still vital for the United States! That is why following Vladimir Putin’s announcement that from now on Russia’s natural resources will have to be paid for in rubles, there is no longer any doubt that it is only a matter of time before NATO does not find a pretext to attack Russia.
The pretext is already there: Biden himself warned that NATO would “intervene” if Russia used “weapons of mass destruction”. In sight not the nuclear weapons (although…) but the chemical weapons of which, precisely, the Russian forces discovered stocks in Ukrainian laboratories… assembled and financed by the Americans. Biden is therefore only turning things around by accusing Russia when he was the one who made it. To use them? No one knows, but we can ask ourselves questions…
But first we have to heat up the situation a little on a global level. Ukraine for the Americans is far away, it is only a small dot on the map and they do not care. So Biden had a brilliant idea: Warn that “the Russians” will unleash global cyberattacks. When they no longer have electricity or gas in their cities because “Russian hackers” have hacked into the systems, Americans will understand that “Putin’s Russia” must be brought down.
It will then be time to organize a chemical or biological weapon attack, it is easy to do in Ukraine where CIA and MI6 are at home. They will choose a city to spread their viruses there, leave some clues “proving” that Russia did it, and then things will be clear: Yes, we must end “Putin’s Russia”.
NATO will then intervene “reluctantly but with determination to save the world”. According to American methods, it will probably start with massive bombardments not on Russian troops in Ukraine but on Russian infrastructure, Russian forces will then destroy almost the entire American fleet with a few well-placed hypersonic missiles, they will destroy a few military units on American territory with the same missiles, and then… We’ll see!
And when Biden realizes that “Putin’s Russia” is neither “Yeltsin’s Russia” which let Serbia or Libya or Iraq be bombed, it will be too late. Simply because, as Vladimir Putin recalled two days ago, nuclear weapons will be used if the very existence of Russia is threatened. Some elsewhere in Russia today are privately in favor of low-intensity nuclear strikes to stop NATO arms deliveries to Ukraine. They think this will cause a shock (certainly…) and should deter NATO from continuing to arm Ukraine.
But one can also imagine that it is the United States which, seeing the almost invincible Russian weapons, decides on nuclear strikes, initially restricted to certain military objectives. In its history the United States has had few qualms, whether in Dresden with carpet napalm bombs, in Japan with nuclear weapons, in Viet Nam with napalm and chemical weapons, etc. etc.
The only chance to avoid this would be for NATO to disappear, and for that the countries of Europe must rise up and overthrow their current governments. Some in Russia are beginning to consider certain “manipulations” for this purpose, one of which would be to push the large immigrant populations to rise up and overthrow governments in France, Italy, Britain and Germany. These 4 main countries once in chaos, NATO would disappear by itself and the United States without NATO are not able to organize a war against Russia.
https://rusreinfo.ru/fr/2022/03/lotan-attaquera-la-russie-sauf-si/?fbclid=IwAR0w7MgYCO83804yrrsjK8rrM-KyYAqSVGMA0Xd_Pg0wo7SSbv2WAQffL3U
I propose to maneuver Poland into taking a chunk of Western Ukraine to administer. In short order they will be in a low grade civil war, and be kept so busy they’ll no longer be such a headache.
Too bad, because I have Polish married into the family now, and I like the people, but their government has been behaving almost as bad as the US government lately.
A few sharp blows to the Baltic States economically, and those will crumble, further eroding NATO.
France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands huge muslim populations could definitely be stirred up, to clash with the yellow vest type protests as their economies nose-dive because of the suicidal sanctions.
Wouldn’t be hard at all.
“According to American methods, it will probably start with massive bombardments … on Russian infrastructure, Russian forces will then destroy almost the entire American fleet with a few well-placed hypersonic missiles, they will destroy a few military units on American territory with the same missiles, and then…”
Some thoughts on that… No. Russia will destroy the United States.
Remember, Russia doesn’t bluff.
What use have we for a world without Russia? If the fight is inevitable, strike first. Retaliate against the decision makers…..
If the US/NATO strikes the Russian motherland, the Russians will unleash hell – and likely not-nuclear unless nuclear was used in that “massive bombardment.”
Gaddafi and Saddam suffered a serious disadvantage when they switched their oil from the USD – they could could not strike back and history shows us, the US only strikes nations that cannot strike back (esp at the US homeland.) Russia can and will.
But with Russia and China doing the same dollar thing, the matter becomes existential for the US Empire – but not for the USA country. They can fade away or strike and be destroyed, however, it is unlikely they are more suicidal than any other nation.
PS. NATO’s Article 5 is not the major must-be threat that the media makes it out to be: read it: It requires that NATO allies support any member that is attacked – but does not specify what that support will be – it can be hot air. So the US may get EU/NATO to fight Russia and the US will offer verbal and logistical support (we have nukes so we can’t fight and you can’t fire ‘yours’ without our sayso.) Perhaps the EU’ll wise up in time but they are US occupied territory. And while EU govts overthrown has a nice ring to it, those 100,000+ US troops don’t only threaten Russia, they also keep the EU in line.
I don’t think NATO will enter in the war for 3 reasons:
– Nuclear war would erase NATO, US and Russia. Leaving the world to the dominion of China. Is it US ready for this “humilliation”? They and Russia mutual destruction guarantee the power of an enemy they also hare (although no so much)
– Even discounting nuclear war I have serious doubt that all power of NATO together would be able to win all power of Russia in Ukraine. Day one of such invasion, Gas and oil is cut. US army have to work in a non favor position, bringing their big ships to the black See, Russia can easily attack them with Iskander and others… it would be terrific war.
– The world would not stay quiet. Day 1 of that War China take Taiwan. North Korea attack South Korea. Semiconductors chain broken. Maybe Irán would send soldiers to help Russia, or they will attack Israel.
I don’t think NATO will enter in the war for 3 reasons:
Me neither. They are gangsters, shallow and expedient, not in it for a philosophy, nation, culture, history, identity, they are just in it for the filthy lucre, the theft and pillaging. Just a bunch of pirates on the high seas. Saving your ass comes first and foremost, you can’t loot and pillage if you’re dead.
“This is exactly what Gaddafi wanted to do, ”
And Saddam.
Saddam had opened an oil exchange where trade was in euros, not dollars.
Per Immanuel Wallerstein, this is what sealed the fate of Iraq and triggered the invasion.
I believe that shutting down that market was pretty much the first order of business after the USA invasion.
So it is really weird to me that Biden has made this happen, the probably fatal weakening of the petrodollar—exactly what, some say, was a principal reason for fighting the Iraq War: maintaining control of the oil trade and the petrodollar.
Seems like a failure to game out the adversary’s possible moves and hence the consequences of DC’s and Europe’s overkill reactions.
Provocative video from Regis Tremblay who lives in Crimea.
He suggests that America is *already* at war with Russia (and China). But this war is mostly a war in which USA and the collective West deploy covert operations, hide behind the skirts of vassals as cannon fodder, or wage Hybrid War based on economic sanctions, etc.
It should be obvious except to the brainwashed patriot that the Americans and their Western allies war are willing to risk nuclear Armageddon all in order to maintain their centuries-old system of Western world domination.
As such, the collective West is truly demonic.
And the United Satanists of America is their leader.
USA Already At War With Russia and China – Armageddon at Hand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GwJHj6EPu0&t=1451s
The Pentagon seems to be attempting to publicly correct some of the State Department’s lies. See “Leaked stories from the Pentagon have exposed how mainstream media reports Russia’s conduct in the Ukraine war, in a bid to counter propaganda intended to get NATO into the conflict” at https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/23/pentagon-drops-truth-bombs-to-stave-off-war-with-russia/
This would not be the first time elements within the imperial bureaucracy were at odds with one another. One would hope there might be some spark of honor left in the men tasked with protecting the nation, not dragging it into suicidal, unnecessary conflicts by the madmen of the Deep State.
Many from Mariopol in interviews are stating that they had no information about humanitarian corridors etc. Seems that RF should have set up a radio station that all can receive via car radio or internet with news like that. Though of course web sites can be blocked and many cannot hang out in their cars listening to enemy broadcasts. But still….something…
These reports are the best. Have to hold back a little because no way of verifying but they sure sound much more credible – not to mention sane – than the other side. ( Actually, I wouldn’t know since I don’t listen getting nearly all my news about this from Saker, Southfront and MoA.)
No need to respond here. Troll action. Jiminy Cricket, they’re running around like greased pigs this morning!
It wasn’t advertised on Ukrainian television, if that’s what you ask. But anyone who have follow the RF in Syria should know the concept by now.
Everyone – stop replying to this commenter – those following this spec. op. are all aware that the Ukrainians were not informing the population about the humanitarian corridors which have been opened everyday for weeks by the Russian military. Any further replies will go to trash. Mod.
Great news, thank God.
Guess there will not be anymore anti-Putin /Vlad cartoon “news” pieces for a little while (because the smoke is starting toclear from the mirrors).
Reverse “color revolution”
More like reverse “New World Order”
Nothing worse than reality suddenly interfering with your dreams of full spectrum dominance.
Technically they still got that (NWO)
1) this is an ideological war at it’s core (has been for a long time- they still got a “world order”- it is called critical thinking they have managed to remove everyone’s brain (but not conscious) over a long period of time- just ask an Afghan?!)
2) what you can see with your very eyes and what one can figure out are two very different things.
3) case in point someone got away with cloning my tag name (Bostonian- by putting it in all capitals and somehow got away with it – hint to mod (they are attempting to mess up my comments- that is like me -choosing mod- the tag name mod. (When I an’t the mod -and overturning the website policies- come on?!)
4) someone please get rid of that imposter (it an’t me)
5) how more obvious a smear technique can one be?
6) this will eventually all circle back to one’s beliefs (but appearance and reality are opposite in this day and age – Ukraine is the obvious topic- Gonzola Lira gentleman got it right in the title)
Some top trolling of the Empire of Lies by Fat Boy Slim with his latest ICBM launch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCrdOJwkPEU
That is major good propaganda. I think Russia should go and take lessons ;-)
So theoretically ukrops still has a few hundred tanks ..armed personnel carriers…howitzers ..helicopters etc as listed above …available to be used or just static and still will be targeted and wiped out in stage 2….or hopefully seized to rearm Donbass militia?
Note Biden and co and western media are still hawking that Russia has the possibility of using chemical weapons so they will respond in kind….soooooo….still a chance of false flag and other provocations?
In Syria after some years Russian reconciliation of experts are still having to work with opposition forces and Astana and new constitution formed and implemented Is the situation of militants in Idlib comparable to ukrops remaining in or ending up in western Ukraine….that is there is still a possibility of Nato additional supplies getting through to that region to “surviving “troops and any set up groups for infiltration and sabotage in a simar way Turkey behaves re Idlib? So is it comparable that “Russian reconciliation ” -if that is a method of de-nazifying to be used-would be on a similar timescale to that of Syria?
Would any constitutional changes to that of The Ukraine’s be a similar process and timescale? I cannot imagine Russia is just going to do its military operations then walk away and say to Ukraine your mess now better get the EU suckers to bankrupt themselves more giving you more assistance for what it might be worth….or can I? Or the two situations Syria and Ukraine are just absolutely non comparable?
Chinas ability to rebuild infrastructure and reap benefits should be a point of discussion. The west only uses it as graft for selected buddies. Huge benefits economic and political from reconstruction. Costs wont burden russia. Seems a valid option no ones yet at the point of discussing as the battles still take place
They are not playing games. People over in the west better listen up.
Iran, Russia Mulling Recognition of MIR Banking System.
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010105000407/Iran-Rssia-Mlling-Recgniin-f-MIR-Banking-Sysem
Today is Friday March 25, 2022 – day 30 of the liberation of Ukraine.
Question: “When should a military army concede defeat and surrender?
Should it be when more than XX percent of equipment and manpower has been destroyed and or killed in combat?”
where XX equals:
1. 70 percent
2. 80 percent
3, 90 percent
4. fight until 100 percent of equipment has been neutralized and every soldier is dead.
You would think some AFU commanders would turn against Kiev and overthrow the government in order to preserve what is left of the Ukrainian military.
AFU commanders have been rotated out, all Ukrainian command structures were replaced with neo Nazi ideologies. Russia has been releasing conscripts, gang plankers and any Ukrainian who wants to lay down arms and go home. All those guys going home…..they are the real Ukrainians and they will inherit what’s left when Russia de Nazifies the place.
Cheers M
The thing that struck me was what they do for soldiers who are killed. Pay off all the family’s debts and pay for the childrens education, provide housing. Contrast that with what the US does for soldiers who are killed. A small insurance payout, then you’re on your own, so sorry, too bad.
U.S. KIA’s benefits of SGLI at $400,000 and VA Chapter 35 money for college for surviving spouses and children is certainly a good running start…
What about the physically and psychologically injured? They don’t get the help they need. So Mr West you may want to reconsider your fanboy attitude towards the US military looking after it’s own (war crims).
Not sure where you got that from my comment, please reread !
Was replying to ERing46Z who replied to you.
You were 100% on target.
Cheers
I see that I erroneously addressed to you, my bad.
Feast your eyes on Vovan & Lexus doing the UK home secretary it is wonderful to behold ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ3LEFYJtdI
According to YouTube, this video is unavailable because the associated account was terminated…
we should all do our due diligence and spread the words of ‘truth is power’, the same way western mainstream media shoves lies down our heads, in every opportunity yo have in this life time, never ‘fear’ speaking the truth about this conflict.
I imagine if the Saker readership reached the millions of minds, it would also instill the fear of truth to the evil in this world.
In time, All will be well.
Very well detailed and clear briefings, thank you very much for sharing.
From: Victor, vicktop55 🇷🇺 Z
https://t.me/vicktop55/2399
They write to me: “I think Russia’s operation will be limited to Donbass. I understood this from the Ministry of Defense statement.”
You misunderstood it. Or the Department of Defense got it wrong. The fact is that even if the Ministry of Defense, or even if Putin himself, wants to limit himself to the Donbass, they will not be able to do it. Here I will not explain why, do not ask. But the war will be all over Ukraine and for all of Ukraine. And my forecast has not changed yet – this war will end within a year. And up to 1 million people will die. This is the most optimistic forecast. All other options are worse.
Of course the war have to be all over Ukraine – it’s completely vermin-infested. If the Nazis hide behind the civilians in their usual fashion, the blood will still be on their hands.
For Russia and the entire World who stands with her!
We all advocate end to tyranny and dictators from Ukraine, Canada, US, UK, EU.
– The song by John Farnham is the most appropriate and sane.
Lyrics – (part)
We have the chance to turn the pages over
We can write what we want to write
We gotta make ends meet, before we get much older
We’re all someone’s daughter
We’re all someone’s son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?
You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
We’re not going to sit in silence,
We’re not gonna live with fear!
—–
Peace
Those “Milan” anti-tank weapons from Germany contain radioactive Thorium!
Many thanks to all involved in publicising these reports. As I am deep in a cesspit of Western MSM… well, I hesitate to call it ‘coverage’, I find it refreshing and reassuring to read such sober, emotion-free and fact-based reports and statements.
To everyone here, please be assured that not all of us in the West are rabid Russophobes and we are doing what we can to undermine the prevailing narrative among our families and friends, painful though it can be at times.
Long trend of warfare history is not suggesting not even near million deaths in Ukraine. In fact after all this media nonsense we are now in situation were civilian deaths in Ukraine are more than 1,000 but less than 2,000. Russian + allied battle related deaths less than 1,500 and Ukie battle related deaths somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000. We are now marching to stage 2 were deserting and going to civilian life is becoming fastest growing Ukie loss division while battle deaths share is slowly shrinking. Also self inflicted wounds is likely growing now among Ukrainian army.
I don’t next 30 days are much more bloody than last 30 days. It could be the opposite. So though fire power has grown fast during last 110 years the battle deaths (after 1945) relatively and with real numbers too have gone down.
Don’t underestimate soldiers will to give up and save their own life when reality start to touch them. Just few % of Ukie soldiers have reasons to be scared to become POW while 95-98% see it as best option when there is that right moment.
Surely someone has posted this already(?)
as the internet is on fire about the latest
gaffe(?) from Prezzz Biden.
Biden tells the 82nd Airborne they’re going to Ukraine:
“You’re going to see when you’re there, you’re going to see women, young people standing in the middle, in the front of a damn tank saying ‘I’m not leaving.'”
video:
https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1507386975753494533
I’m not sure that this really means that much as Biden is just a puppet and has now decision making authority.
The good news is that so far the U.S. military has shown that it is not suicidal.
News up this am, Canadian soldiers have been barred from joint The Ukrainian Legion.
Cheers M
“180 out of 148 S-300 and Buk M1 air defence systems; 300 out of 117 radars for various purposes.”
This makes no sense. How do you destroy 180 when you only have 148? It should be the other way around. Clearly someone messed up this transcript or the original statement.
was addressed earlier as probably machine translation problem.
Another assessment by ex-CIA concerning what is happening in Ukraine:
https://www.sott.net/article/465798-CIA-veteran-The-Ukrainian-army-has-been-defeated-Whats-left-is-mop-up
This today on RT News:
“US President Joe Biden told American soldiers on Friday that “you’re going to see” Ukrainian civilians fighting Russian soldiers “when you’re there.” Despite signaling a potential US deployment to Ukraine, the White House says there’s been no change to Biden’s position of not sending troops into the country.
“You’re going to see when you’re there … some of you have been there. You’re going to see women, young people standing in the middle, in the front of a damn tank saying ‘I’m not leaving, I’m holding my ground’,” Biden told members of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Poland.”
It’s not encouraging. There was another story discussing how the military draft would work if it starts again.
Compare what Bloomberg/Others have announced via Zerohedge as of 3/25/22 3:00 PM US west coast time:
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/here-are-all-latest-news-and-developments-ukraine-war-march-25
Given the Azov scum are poitioned at the top level of high rise apartments where the are firing at civilian s, the Russians are liquidating these oxygen thieves with ATGMs.
Least amount of risk to Russian military lives and civilians.
“There were two possible courses of action.
The first is to limit the territory to only the DPR and the LPR within the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which is enshrined in the constitutions of the republics. But then we would be faced with constant feeding by the Ukrainian authorities of the grouping involved in the so-called joint force operation.
Therefore, the second option was chosen, which provides for actions throughout the territory of Ukraine with the implementation of measures for its demilitarization and denazification.”
The war of words has been like a special operation too, with the explanations landing in different groupings, and this one (quote) is a new one. So, it turns out that it wasn’t really “demilitarization” and “denazification” as they sounded when first announced. It was always liberation of the Donbass (DPR and LPR), with demilitarization/denazification only as a military tactic for a more narrow purpose, which of course means that it did not need to be a complete denazification/demilitarization as we naturally understood, since now we are informed that these terms were always in the context of the liberation of the Donbass. Okay, accepted (I’m in no position to judge any farther than this). The problem with such special communications, though, is that someone may continue to think that the purpose was actually a complete denazification/demilitarization, like it sounded, but that this objective was abandoned later for some reason, and you can’t blame them because that’s possible.
Here is an example of what I called special communications, two different answers about the goal of the “special military operation”:
“The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are conducting a special military operation.
Its main goal is to provide assistance to the people of the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics, who have been subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for 8 years.”
Here’s Lovrov answering the question, “Why did it become necessary to conduct a special military operation?”:
/foreign-minister-sergey-lavrovs-interview-with-rbc-tv-channel-moscow-march-16-2022/
“Although I have already discussed this aspect, I would like to highlight it once again. This has absolutely nothing to do with Ukraine. This concerns the international order, rather than Ukraine alone.”
So, after they are done in Donbass, it will become denazification and demilitarization as we originally understood, and after that’s done, it will become what Lovrov says…