Russia

[dawg80]

"On a knife's edge" is how one YouTube Channel summarizes the situation in Pokrovsk-Myrnoghad (P-M) area. Russia is still pouring in troops, losing them, and pouring in more. The Russians are "winning" by sacrificing lives for ground. Some Ukrainian commanders are calling for an orderly withdrawal from P-M while there is still time.

[dawg80]

Russians trying to flank the 425th Regiment holding the gap. Some brutal combat occurring. As one Ukrainian commander said, "This shit is real, boys." Latest reports are Ukraine is still holding that line. We shall how it plays out.

[dawg80]

Hooray for Norway!

Norway has pledged to use their national emergency fund as collateral against future claims by Russia who would sue any country releasing their frozen assets to Ukraine. This fund has right at $2 trillion in US dollars in it. Belgium has the most Russian assets in its banks and is afraid Russia will take them to international court in the future demanding their money back. So now, Norway is saying go ahead and release Russia's assets and if that happens Norway will reimburse Belgium and any other nation.

Russia has $500 million in American banks.

[dawg80]

Putin is sending 50,000 more troops to Pokrovsk, or the P-M theater of battle. Ukraine, has, at least for the time being, secured Myrnoghad, and stabilized the situation in Pokrovsk. The Orcs have made no new advances in the past 24 hours. General Srynsk has joined General Budanoz at Ukraine's Operational HQ near the P-M region. These are, using a football team, Ukraine's defensive and offensive coordinators.

The 425th Assault Regiment has beaten back 19 separate attacks thus keeping open the gap between the cities of Pokrovsk and Myrnoghad. The Orcs have pulled back to lick their wounds, and, no doubt, get ready to try again. One Putin-leaning YouTuber is warning Ukraine and Ukrainian supporters, not to get too confident. He says Russia's big push is building and P-M will fall before the end of this week. This dovetails with the reports of the 50,000 new troops being sent to the P-M region. But, no 50,000 troops can move without Ukraine knowing about it. With recon drones covering all of Donbas and into Russia, and with US spy satellite data being shared with Ukraine, such a large movement is easily detected and tracked.

Russian sources have admitted to 30,000 KIA in the P-M theater since July, 2024. If Russia is admitting to 30K killed, that means the true number is at least twice that, if not 3X that. Several independent sources have already reported 100K Russians killed/severely wounded since July '24 in the P-M region. Those "severely wounded" Orcs rarely survive more than a month, given the inferior medical care.

Iraq, Zambia, and now South Africa have joined 40+ other nations filing grievances against the Putin regime for war crimes and breach of contracts on behalf of their citizens foolish enough to travel to Russia thinking they were being hired to work in various plants. An Iraqi, who was able to surrender to Ukrainian troops, was interviewed. He said he is a highly-skilled electrical engineer, with a college degree, went to Russia to work in an electronics plant, but was kidnapped from his apartment and sent to fight in Ukraine as a grunt. This is typical of many thousands of fools from various countries.

[dawg80]

More hits on Putin's O&G and power infrastructure overnight. Russia's oil exports are down 30% year-over-year. That which is still getting out is at the new, lower prices. So, revenues are down more than 30%.

[dawg80]

A heavy, and I mean HEAVY fog has settled over the P-M area allowing the Orcs to advance without having to worry so much about drones. Visibility is down to less than 50 feet. Russian officer, using his bodycam, is seen encouraging his men to advance into Pokrovsk while the fog provides cover.

At the same time Ukraine is evacuating wounded soldiers from P-M.

The P-M area is going to fall soon. Simply too many Orcs flowing into the fight from three directions.

[dawg80]

More of Putin's infrastructure bombed into the stone age! Most notably the huge oil refinery at Saratov, near Volgograd (formerly known as Stalingrad).

[dawg80]

Good news from Pokrovsk. The 425th Assault Regiment launched a counterattack on the southern (Pokrovsk side) of the gap and drove the Orcs back passed the center portion of the city. This has, for the time being, relieved the pressure on holding the gap open. Good job.

[dawg80]

Ukrainians holding out in P-M area. Russians have opened a new active front near Hyaipole (spelling???) about 20 miles south of Pokrovsk. Two of the brigades, originally at Pokrovsk, have moved southward and are now threatening this town.

Ukraine continues the steady destruction of Russia's O&G and power infrastructure. There are daily/nightly attacks. Ukraine has shut down the oil terminal at Tarupsa, and struck a refinery in Orsk Oblast, which is 1,100 miles from Ukraine.

Back at Pokrovsk, the 7th Rapid Response Corps wiped out an entire Russian column, which included 2 tanks and 8 armored vehicles. Further north, in the wooded hills, the 1st Azov Corps, is slugging it out with two divisions of Russians. That fighting is a slugfest, both sides giving as well as it is taking. Latest reports are they have reached stalemate, but this after the 1st Azov units liberated about 30 square miles of ground. The weather is deteriorating as winter sets in. Roads are muddy messes, virtually impassable for any rubber-tired vehicles.

The situation at P-M has stabilized but remains a serious concern for the Ukrainians. The 68th and 155th brigades have still not been withdrawn from the pocket, which can close behind them after a few bad days. Many pundits are screaming to get them out while there is time. But so far Ukrainian high command is saying the situation is under control and those brigades can be/will be withdrawn when warranted. I hope so.