https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65615184
A beach resort bristling with fortifications. A major road lined with anti-tank ditches. Satellite analysis by BBC Verify has uncovered some of the extensive defences built by Russia as it prepares for a major Ukrainian counter-attack.…
https://www.rt.com/russia/576830-wagner-prigozhin-losses-artyomovsk/
24 May, 2023 11:43
Ukrainian casualties during the battle for Artyomovsk were several times higher than Russian ones, Evgeny Prigozhin has claimed
The head of Russia’s Wagner Group, Evgeny Prigozhin, has revealed that his private military company lost around 20,000 servicemen during the fight for the strategic Donbass city of Artyomovsk, also known as Bakhmut. He further claimed that Kiev had suffered some 50,000 fatalities during what has been described as the biggest battle of the 21st century so far.
In an interview published by Wagner’s press service on Tuesday, Prigozhin said he had boosted the company’s ranks with 50,000 inmates from Russian prisons during the long-running battle. They were offered a chance to fight instead of completing their sentences. He added that there was even split between prisoners and volunteers among the dead, accounting for about 10,000 losses each.
Around 20% of Wagner’s forces had also received injuries that would require at least three months to recover from, Prigozhin stated.
Read moreZelensky compares Artyomovsk to Hiroshima
However, he insisted that the Ukrainian military had suffered far greater losses in what he previously called “the Bakhmut meat-grinder.”
“We’ve destroyed 50,000 troops of the Ukrainian armed forces [in Artyomovsk],” the Wagner chief claimed, adding that another 50,000 to 70,000 had been seriously wounded.
Prigozhin announced on Saturday that the operation to take control of Artyomovsk, which had been spearheaded by Wagner, had ended and that the city had been “fully captured.” The battle for the major logistics hub had been fought for 224 days, he added.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed later the same day that the city had been taken, with President Vladimir Putin congratulating Wagner servicemen and regular Russian military troops on their success.
Ukraine, which previously claimed that Artyomovsk would be defended at any cost and would become a turning point in the conflict with Moscow, has thus far refused to admit the loss of the city.
READ MORE: Russian region explains why it uses Artyomovsk instead of Bakhmut
On Sunday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that the settlement “is only in our hearts” when asked by US counterpart Joe Biden at the G7 summit in Japan if Kiev still controlled Artyomovsk. A few hours later, Zelensky changed his stance and denied that the settlement was “occupied by Russia.”
https://www.dw.com/en/who-are-the-russian-volunteers-fighting-for-ukraine/a-65722771
The Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps are two groups comprising mainly Russians but who are fighting on Ukraine’s side….
https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-updates-kyiv-air-defense-repels-overnight-drone-attack/a-65728823
Ukrainian air defenses repelled another nighttime drone attack on Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Iran to reconsider sending deadly drones to Russia. DW has the latest…
https://www.newsweek.com/wagner-group-prigozhin-interview-kremlin-ukraine-war-backfired-1802332
Comment by tonytran2015: News from USA should be read with caution. They may be or be not true.
infographics
24.05.2023 08:55
The Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 204,760 Russian troops in Ukraine from February 24, 2022 to May 24, 2023, including 400 invaders in the past day alone.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in a Facebook post, according to Ukrinform.
As of May 24, the Ukrainian defenders destroyed 3,792 enemy tanks (+3), 7,424 armored combat vehicles (+5), 3,339 artillery systems (+21), 570 multiple launch rocket systems (+5), 327 air defense systems, 309 aircraft, 296 helicopters (+1), 2,871 unmanned aerial vehicles (+7), 1,015 cruise missiles, 18 warships/cutters, 6,146 motor vehicles (+7), 440 special equipment units (+7).Read also: Ukrainian soldiers down enemy Ka-52 helicopter, four Shahed UAVs in past day
As reported by Ukrinform, 26 combat clashes were recorded in the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka sectors in the past day.
Russia’s Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has given a rare and revealing interview with pro-Moscow blogger Konstantin Dolgov, fresh off the weekend declaration of victory over Bakhmut in Ukraine’s east. “PMC Wagner…
23.05.2023 21:00
The following days, weeks, and months will be decisive for the Russian war against Ukraine, and that is why the member states are accelerating the delivery of military aid to the Ukrainian armed forces: Ukraine received 220,000 shells of various calibers and 1,300 missiles from the existing EU stocks.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell stated this today in Brussels during a press conference following the meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers on defense, reports an Ukrinform correspondent.
Borrell recalled that the EU on March 20 decided to allocate EUR 2 billion for the supply of 1 million artillery rounds for Ukraine over the next 12 months, and asked member states to provide them from their own stocks. The latest numbers are much better than what those recorded just 10 days ago, the high representative noted, adding that as of today, Ukraine has received 220,000 artillery rounds of various calibers and 1,300 missiles.
This first track will be open until May 31, and compensation of EUR 1 billion is likely to be paid timely.Read also: Zelensky, Biden discuss cooperation on Ukraine defense capabilities
He recalled that the second track of the program for ammunition production involves the collective ordering at enterprises of the European defense industry and companies in Norway – another EUR 1 billion has been allocated to this end. As of today, 24 countries have expressed interest in this program. The leading role here is played by the European Defense Agency, and two more major projects are being carried out under the auspices of France and Germany, respectively.
The third track envisages the development of the capacity of the European defense industry for a longer term in the interests of European security and defense – the European Commission has already forwarded the relevant proposals to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
All this, according to Borrell, will allow the EU to fulfill its obligations and supply Ukraine with 1 million rounds within 12 months.
The next days, weeks and months will be decisive for the war in Ukraine, Borrell stressed, adding that 90 percent of today’s meeting time was devoted to discussing assistance for Ukraine. NATO Secretary General also attended the meeting to exchange an analysis of the military developments. All the ministers expressed their intention to continue providing assistance to Ukraine, the high EU representative emphasized.Read also: France studying transfer of long-range missiles to Ukraine – Le Monde
As reported earlier, an EU foreign affairs ministerial on the issues of defense took place today in Brussels on Tuesday. On the initiative of the Swedish Presidency of the EU, during the meeting, an informal working lunch was organized with the participation of the NATO Secretary General, which was entirely devoted to cooperation between the European Union and the Alliance, as well as coordination of efforts to provide Ukraine with military assistance to repel Russian aggression.
24.05.2023 10:31
The incidents of the Russian military going absent without leave (AWOL) have significantly increased in number, according to the judicial data from the aggressor state.
The relevant statement was made by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom on Twitter, referring to the latest Defence Intelligence update, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“Credible research by independent Russian journalists suggests that between January and May 2023, Russian military courts dealt with 1,053 cases of personnel going absent without leave (AWOL) – more than during the whole of 2022,” the report states.
According to the UK intelligence, Russia’s military has struggled to enforce discipline in its ranks throughout its operations in Ukraine, but its issues have highly likely worsened following the forced mobilisation of reservists since October 2022.
Court data suggests that most of those found guilty of going AWOL are now punished with suspended sentences, meaning they can be redeployed to the ‘special military operation’.
“Russia’s efforts to improve discipline have focused on making examples of defaulters, and promoting patriotic zeal, rather than addressing the root causes of soldiers’ disillusionment,” the UK intelligence noted.
A reminder that, between February 24, 2022 and May 24, 2023, Russia’s total combat losses in Ukraine reached about 204,760 troops.
24.05.2023 13:03
The Netherlands will allocate 260 million euros for the purchase of 155 mm artillery ammunition for Ukraine.
That’s according to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, Ukrinform reports.
It is noted that this is a joint purchase for Ukraine by the EU countries, which was agreed in March this year.
“Military support for Ukraine, expansion of production capacity, and new defense projects. This was, in particular, discussed in Brussels by EU defense ministers. Dutch Defense Minister Keesa Ollongren said that the Netherlands is allocating 260 million euros for the joint purchase of ammunition for Ukraine,” the statement said.
It is noted that a large number of Ukrainian military are being trained as part of the EU training mission.
As of the end of May, about 15.200 Ukrainian soldiers had already been trained, some of whom were trained by the Netherlands.Read also: Netherlands allocates EUR 40M to support EBRD’s work in Ukraine
During the meeting, the defense ministers also discussed a proposal by European Commissioner Thierry Breton to allocate 500 million euros from the EU budget to increase the capacity of the defense industry. This is essential for continuing military support to Ukraine and replenishing its own stockpiles.
As Ukrinform reported, on May 23, EU defense ministers met in Brussels to discuss how to increase military assistance to Ukraine and strengthen the European defense industry.
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