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Putin struck the British Council and EU building in Kyiv last night. 15 dead, 30 injured, both numbers expected to rise as rescue crews are just now going through the rubble. It was two large missiles, arriving 20 seconds apart. Obviously, these buildings were targeted.
On some of the blogs Trump is being blamed. "Give Putin two more weeks..." is a common comment.
In better news...
Ukrainian units are advancing, sweeping the Russians out of the ground they held north of Pokrovsk. Independent units: 25th Aerial Assault Regiment, 68th Jaeger Battalion, 155th Mechanized Regiment, the 32nd Marine Battalion, joined by the Azov's 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Assault Brigade, have liberated 5 villages, 2 towns, and about 30 square miles. Ukrainian civilians, those still alive, emerged from basements to welcome and celebrate the arrival of Ukrainian troops.
Meanwhile, other units of the 1st Army Corps (Azov Corps) joined by the 93rd Infantry Brigade have surrounded isolated Russian troops, left behind by the rapid "regrouping" of the Russian units. The Kremlin, and their propagandists, refuse to call it retreating, but rather refer to it as "regrouping." If it walks like a retreat, quacks like a retreat... The Ukrainians on the ground there have called on the trapped Russians to surrender. Meanwhile, using drones and mortars, the number of trapped Russians is being reduced by the hour.
This success, combined with the success in Sumy, represents a huge morale boost for Ukraine. Combine this with the daily/nightly attacks on Putin's infrastructure, including the demolition of a major oil pipeline servicing Moscow, all points to Ukraine starting to win the war.
No further movement or changes here. The Russians who advanced have hunkered down and because of that the Ukrans have not assigned urgency to counterattack here.Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
Boo ya! The Russian Buyan guided missile corvette was greatly disabled by a Ukrainian drone attack. In their usual, well-planned, well-executed style the Ukrans have removed a key Putin terrorist weapon. They spent weeks devising this plan. Ukrainian operatives in Russia, nicknamed The Phantoms, tracked the movements of the Buyan corvette. Plotting its patterns of operation. They learned the Buyan would anchor in Tamarack Bay, Black Sea, and launch its Kaliber missiles at targets in Ukraine. These were always aimed at civilian targets, murdering women, children, the elderly. Because of the distance to Tamarack Bay, and because Trump has forbidden the use of long-range missiles with US parts, the Ukrans had no choice but to use their own long-range drones. These drones have to carry a lot of fuel to travel the great distances and thus can't carry heavy warheads. So, to be effective, this attack had to be planned to strike the Buyan just as it prepared to launch the Kaliber missiles, using their own warheads as the explosive force to hopefully sink the ship. Bingo! (mostly)
The timing, coordination and genius of that attack is typical Ukrainian in their ever-clever use of limited resources. First, two decoy drones flew over the Buyan, this drew the attention of the ship's automatic defensive weapons. Then seconds later two more electronic-warfare drones came in and jammed the ship's radar and electronic-tracking. The ship was still going through its launch sequence, the hatches opened, the Kaliber missiles moved up on the launch platforms, and then 12 kamikaze drones, skimming the surface of the sea zoomed in. Unfortunately, only one of the twelve drones struck a Kaliber missile, the others impacted on the deck, slammed into the hull, or were damaged and veered off by anti-drone machinegun fire. But the one detonation was enough to cause severe damage to the ship and halted the launch of the others. Finally, as part of the plan, two large kamikaze drones came in targeting the bridge and operations center on the ship. Direct hits! the ship's captain and the entire bridge crew were either killed or severely wounded. At last report the Buyan was being towed back into a Russian shipyard port for repairs. Most likely it will be out of action for a long time as Russia cannot procure the parts it will need to affect repairs.
Disappointing that the Buyan was not blown to smithereens and the whole thug crew killed. That would have been justice for the evil murderers. But at least it won't be hurling missiles into schools, churches, apartment buildings for a long time, or ever again.
Bad news for Ukraine too.
The intelligence ship, the Simferopol, was struck by a Russian marine drone in the Dnipro River. This ship is unarmed depending on other assets to defend it. It has a vast array of radar, satellite tracking and intelligence gathering equipment and is used to track enemy activity. Only confirmed reports are one crew member killed, several wounded, and the ship left wallowing. The Kremlin claims the ship was completely destroyed and sunk, but the Russians should never be believed. Kyiv has always been guarded about releasing info on its losses, and so far, there's no official word from Ukraine. Independent sources confirm the ship was struck and damaged. Being in a river, close to shore, with other Ukranian boats nearby, it is possible the ship has not sunk and can be salvaged and made operational again. That remains to be seen.
As for the attack itself, well, the Russians lifted a page from the Ukrainian playbook. It was a single attack sea drone packed with explosives and a Russian recon drone guided the sea drone onto the target and videoed the attack. The ship was hit and there was a large explosion, that much is obvious. But as one pundit points out you can see the explosion is mostly confined to "outside" of the Ukrainian ship. In other words, the marine drone did explode, but perhaps the explosion did not impact the ship as much as it might have. But, as another points out, this ship was converted civilian ship and so probably lacked armor plating on its hull that a military ship would have.
Pro-Putin sources are reporting a sudden surge against Kupyansk as of this morning. See post above #2118. Of course, the Putin propagandists are claiming a huge success placing the town of Kupyansk in imminent danger of being seized. The Russians probably have launched some kind of attack meant to penetrate the city's defenses, and that would be confined to the northern sector of the line, but it is doubtful they have achieved a whole lot of measured success. Stay tuned.
Ukraine has not only thwarted this Russian advance but have reversed it, chasing the defeated Orcs back several miles. Good!Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
The White House (not sure exactly who) put out a statement calling on Europe to stop the BS, STOP buying Putin's O&G. I 100% agree! Trump has also called on the EU to support the tariffs on India and China to halt their support of Putin. YES! This has to happen.
**but as quickly as possible make amends with India.
More good news from the battle front, in the Tolstoi region Ukrainian forces liberated about 25 square miles, covering three villages and the towns of Zenlenyi Hai and Tolstoi. It took the Russians over two months of heavy fighting and losses numbering around 3,000 KIA and another 3,000 wounded/captured to seize the ground. They then over-extended their forces by attacking and temporarily occupying the town of Andriivka. It took the Ukrans all of 36 hours to take it all back. Losses on the Ukraine side were light, estimated to be 15 KIA and 55 wounded. The Russians suffered losses or another 300 KIA and a like number wounded/captured/missing. The remnants of the vanquished Russian units crossed a river and destroyed the pontoon bridges behind them. The Ukrans purposely did not attack those bridges because they had planned to use them in their continued advance. The unit doing most of the heavy lifting is the Ukrainian 5th Mechanized Brigade supported by two battalions of the 10th Marines.
Russia has had a couple of small successes, but overall, this has been one heckuva great week for Ukraine on the ground. All along the front, mostly the eastern front, Ukraine has liberated 180 square miles, 17 villages, 6 towns. Russian losses this week estimated to be 7,500 KIA and another 5,000 wounded/captured. As usual Kyiv is tight-lipped on releasing official numbers of their losses, but several sources that monitor such things estimate Ukrainian losses this week at 250 KIA and 1,000 wounded. Ukraine has suffered the loss of equipment, such as 15 tanks, 25 APC/IFVs, and 30 artillery pieces. In most cases the Ukrainian soldiers escape alive, barely wounded, from destroyed western-made armored vehicles. That is why Ukrainian personnel losses are always lower than Russian losses.
Ukraine continued its relentless, successful attacks on Putin's infrastructure. The Kerch Bridge was struck again, setting off a large fire from an exploding fuel truck. The bridge itself continues to be downgraded but it is one heck of a strong structure. Soon Ukraine will hit the bridge with its Neptune or Flamingo cruise missiles, carrying heavy warheads, and Putin's pride and joy will ultimately be brought down.
Elsewhere 10 more Russian oil refineries were hit. Saw where Russia has (had) 117 oil refineries scattered across its vast country. Some larger than others but all contributing to Russia's primary industry of O&G production and exporting. Gasoline and civilian diesel is growing scarcer, long lines at all filling stations, even in Moscow and St. Petersburg. One Ukran drone struck a very large station (their version of Buccee's) setting off explosions and rampaging flames. Video released by an angry Russian woman, you can hear her voice (and read the English translation) as she cusses Putin and his government, shows people running back up the road, abandoning their vehicles as flames shot into the air. No reports of injuries/fatalities (yet) but I can't see how some people were not consumed by the huge fireball. Cars instantly exploded erupting in flames. There had to be people sitting in those cars waiting their turn to get to the pumps.
War is Hell and now the general Russian population, heretofore shielded from it, is experiencing what war truly is.
Russia has moved their 155th Motorized Rifle Brigade from Kherson to Bakhmut. They have been holding the line on defense in Kherson, but Ukraine, after abandoning their Krinky incursion over a year ago, have not been threatening any offensive action there. Ukraine did seize several islands, previously held by the Orcs, in the Dnipro River delta several months ago. But have made no indications of further attacks. So, why move this brigade hundreds of miles from Kherson up to Bakhmut? Pundits, at first, assumed the 155th would be part of a fall offensive, as Putin has moved more units to the Bakhmut region. But now, it is more likely the 155th, known for their defensive prowess, have been relocated there to protect against Ukrainian advances. Over a month ago Ukrainian special forces penetrated Russian defenses and got within two miles of the city of Bakhmut. And Russian offenses in that region have met with utter failure. Putin had deployed over 30,000 troops to that sector this spring for a planned summer offensive to finally push beyond the 5 miles the Orcs have managed to take and hold since the fall of Bakhmut way back in 2023.
So, his forces utterly defeated and pummeled and Ukraine building up its forces in that sector has compelled Putin to avoid a total collapse by losing Bakhmut! That would be a PR disaster, as well as a military setback Russia could not recover from. My, how the worm has turned!
Latest from Chasiv Yar.
Russia captured Bakhmut in May, 2023. Over two years ago now. Their next obvious target was the town of Chasiv Yar, a mere 6 miles west. This smaller town sat at an important crossroads of two highways and west of a small stream. The Ukrainians had used Chasiv Yar as a supply base and place for mobile hospitals during the 10-month battle for Bakhmut. When the Russians launched their huge charge of over 20,000 troops the less than 2,000 Ukrainians still holding the city had no choice but to withdraw. Both sides expected the Russians, really morons in the Wagner Group, to continue quickly on to Chasiv Yar. Ukrainian rear-guard unit, one battalion of about 500 soldiers, took up positions in the village of Ivaninske, about halfway between the two cities. They were ordered to hold on for 24 hours allowing the safe evacuation of Chasiv Yar. Only...that battlion kept winning, and winning, and winning.
Now, September 1, 2025, the Ukrans have retaken most of the countryside on three sides of Chasiv Yar. The Russians are dug in, like a tick, in central and eastern Chasiv Yar. Those troops are threatened with encirclement if the situation doesn't change for them. It appears Putin is about to abandon those troops, estimated to be about 2,000 soldiers, as he has ordered the construction of defenses around Bakhmut and is likely to halt resupplying those forward units. That has been his MO. He doesn't give a rat's azz about anyone but himself.
More good news, this from south of Pokrovsk. Ukraine is kicking butt north of Pokrovsk, gobbling up ground previously held by the Orcs. So now, Ukraine has undertaken counterattacks south of Pokrovsk, today entering the town of Udachne. Russian soldiers are still clinging to the southern and eastern portion of the town, but now Ukrainian troops are in there contesting for possession of the town. It sits on a railroad and a major highway. Should see more Ukrainian attacks south of Pokrovsk, pushing the Orcs further away.
Pentagon/State Department announced sale of $1.3 billion of US weapons to NATO for transfer to Ukraine. This brings the pledged total to $8.5 billion, most of it to be signed, sealed, and delivered within 6-8 months. The US is selling $825 million worth of ERAM missiles to Denmark, who will then transfer those missiles to Ukraine. The ERAMs are air-to-ground missiles, fitted to F-16s. They have a range of 360 miles, are very accurate and effective. They are offensive weapons designed to attack ground units and fixed targets. This will allow Ukraine to better take the fight to Russia.
Three of Putin's most advanced strategic bombers utterly failed when attempting to launch cruise missiles against women & children in Ukraine. One experienced engine trouble and had to make an emergency landing, one couldn't get the cruise missile to launch due to an electronic malfunction, had to return to base still carrying the missile, and the third...wow! struck by lightning just as it was about to launch. The bomber, a TU-160 strategic bomber, nuke capable, was a total loss, no report on the crew. There is a video claiming to show the actual moment lightning struck but one pundit warns it looks like it was AI produced. So, there is probably no actual video of the incident. There is, however, real video footage of the crashed bomber, confirmed by the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's own domestic cruise missile program, dubbed "The Flamingo" is experiencing growing pains. Kyiv admitted it sent three Flamingo missiles in actual combat attacks and only one was 100% successful. That one struck a Russian HQ/base in Crimea delivering a one-ton warhead and utterly destroying the target. Good stuff! But...one of the Flamingos malfunctioned in flight, it looked like it was making a 180 and returning to Ukraine, so the operators initiated the self-destruct while it was over the Black Sea. The third Flamingo missed its intended target, a radar and missile base, by over 100 meters, impacting in an open field and causing only minor damage to the target. The Russians claim they hit that one with anti-missile fire and caused it to crash short of the target. The Ukrans are investigating this claim. It does make a difference to determine what happened.
Ukraine has been remarkably transparent with its domestic defense industry, willingly sharing results, technology, designs, etc. with NATO and other allies. They need to learn to not be so openly honest. Weapons' development needs to be closely guarded secrets for reasons of national security. It's okay to be transparent/honest at some point to explain incidents. But not when you are actively involved in a war and your enemy loves to steal your technological developments.
Putin escalates the war. Last night he sent over 800 drones and missiles in attacks, some of them even striking military infrastructure, like one railroad bridge. But Putin also attacked, for the first time, Ukraine's main government buildings in Kyiv. The ministry and parliament main buildings, and an apartment building for foreign dignitaries, were hit. Minor damage to roof and upper floors. Fires are under control this morning. So, now Ukraine can hit the Kremlin in Moscow.
Exact number sent was 842, only 64 were not shot down and managed to strike targets. 93% were shot down. No real damage to Ukrainian military infrastructure, as it has been determined the RR bridge will be repaired and fully usable by Tuesday.
Return of the Bayraktars. What is that? Drones! old, NATO/Turkey drones donated to Ukraine after the 2014 invasion of Crimea. Then Ukraine brought them out of storage and tried using them when Putin invaded in 2022. They are rather large, 8-foot wingspan, clunky and slow, with a small engine pusher-prop motor. Easily shot down today. So, Ukraine stopped using them...back into storage...replacing them with Ukrainian designed/manufactured drones.
Well, a swarm of these older drones, enhanced with Ukrainian engineering and know-how, but still mostly too slow on the modern battlefield, attacked Russian positions in Crimea, this weekend. And, very successfully too! How is this possible if they are antiquated? After months of intense attacks with Ukranian modern drones Russian air defenses on Crimea are so degraded that even these old Bayraktars found success. There is simply none to not enough Russian air defenses left to defend Crimea. What Putin does have left is all guarding the Kerch Bridge.
Putin is losing this war.