Aug 9: E-Stories
Day 532: Pokrovsk Bakhmut UASitRep RUSitRep UKSanctions Occupation Grain RUdom RUtanks Rotenberg Abrams Belarus ChinaProp cyberwar Yandex A&P Brooks Noel UKDef SinghamNYT Shchyhol Braw
Catching up…
EA Worldview’s Ukraine Up-date- hop over to Scott’s amazing hourly Ukraine up-date page. I’ll fill in with some bits and bobs.
August 7: Russian missiles strike Pokrovsk—another frontline city that Russia aims to erase—killing 8 and wounding 81. Among those dead and wounded, 39 civilians, 31 police officers, 7 rescuers and 4 members of the military. 12 high-rise buildings have been damaged—hotel buildings, prosecutor’s office, pension fund, pharmacy, two shops, two cafes and two civilian cars.
I was speaking with a friend of mine, war reporter, who told me that the pizza place Corleone and the hotel in Pokrovsk is a frequent spot for volunteers and foreign journalists. She had been there many times. It’s a message from Russia—the same message that was sent by targeting Rio Pizza in Kramatorsk. Corleone Pizza is located on the ground floor of the residential building, which is not a military target. Pokrovsk is located 50 km from the front lines.
What’s even more evil (possible, yes) is that it was hit with a “double tap”, like the hospital in Mariupol. The first strike hits, emergency crews and rescuers get to the site, and then 40 minutes later the Russians strike with another missile. A policeman and soldier were killed. It’s pure barbarism.
Stories we’re following…
In total yesterdary, Russian forces killed at least 11, injured 91. Russian forces attacked five oblasts, according to the authorities on Aug. 8.
Russian channels now reporting that fighting in on-going in the outskirts of Kozachi Laheri, the occupied left bank of the Dnipro, for about the past 2 day. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian appointed governor of the occupied Kherson region, said that the AFU “tried to land two boats” with troops near Kozachi Laheri but were destroyed (He often lies, see Chochar Bridge). Tuesday evening up-date: the Ukrainian positions have been confirmed.
Local channels report explosions in Dzhankoy and Oktyabr'skoye, occupied Crimea. Especially Oktyabr'skoye is interesting as it was subject to a strike 2 weeks ago that destroyed an ammo warehouse near the airfield. At least seven explosions were reported in Bilmak, northwest of Mariupol, and in Yakymivka, 20km southwest of Melitopol, occupied Zaporizhzia oblast. Mayor of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov reports.
Ukrainian HIMARS hit and destroyed a large artillery firing position of Russian forces south of Bakhmuts'ke as a result of the strike an assault group and an Msta-B system were destroyed.
"In the Melitopol direction, the AFU advanced hundreds of meters. Offensive actions continue in the area of Robotyne," deputy commander of the Tavria forces Serhii Kuzmin said. According to Kuzmin there is also an advance in the Berdyansk direction.
The information we are getting from Ukraine’s activity in the various sectors where they are attacking Russian forces may seem disjointed and piecemeal. In this video, Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling joins CNN’s Jim Acosta to bring it altogether, and provide an overall picture of Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
Behind the lines: Hanna Malyar reports that in the Russian occupied territories of Kherson, the Russians falsely spread disinformation that they were retreating so as the residents could speak freely. Their remarks were passed onto the Russian occupying forces. The Russians also disconnected the Russian mobile service in the area so they could detect cars equipped with special equipment, and who was passing information to the Ukrainian forces.
Russian opposition media suspects Moscow's top investigator of involvement in forced deportation of Ukrainian children. Russian independent internet outlet Verstka reported on Aug. 6 that the Russian Investigative Committee “took patronage” over Ukrainian children living in children‘s homes throughout Russia, the Institute for the Study of War said in their latest update.
Another batch of stolen Ukrainian grain exported from port of Mariupol. From the port of Mariupol, Russian invaders have exported another batch of stolen Ukrainian grain to Rostov-on-Don. Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, reported this on Telegram and published a maritime map of the Russian ship 'Mezhdurechensk', according to Ukrinform.
He noted that the Mariupol-Rostov-on-Don sea grain line is currently operating only for the export of grain from the Donetsk region under the control of the FSB influence group, mediated by Pushilin (the leader of the 'DPR' - ed.). "Perhaps this is why there are no other carriers. Maybe because of the lack of capacity. It will become clear later," added the mayor's advisor.
Russia School: A history textbook for grades 10-11 contains "significantly fewer numbers, dates, statistics," but is filled with "stories about people and events," said Vladimir Medinsky, aide to the president of the Russian Federation. According to him, such a textbook is "easier to read" than the previous version. 50 years of Russian history have been rewritten since the 1970s. “A section has been added from 2014 to the present, including a special operation,” Medinsky said ( quote from Vedomosti).
VPN protocols are being blocked en masse in Russia to limit the ability of users to circumvent Roskomnadzor bans Over the past 24 hours, Russian users complained about the inability to connect to the most common protocols OpenVPN and WireGuard. Similar problems with other VPN services have been experienced in Russia since May.
The FSB will gain 24/7 access to Yandex's ride-hailing service data starting from September 1. Customer data is centrally stored in Russia for the international markets including Israel, Norway, Finland, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Armenia.
Google Earth shows nearly half of tanks and armored vehicles have been taken out of storage at major open-air depot in Buryatia. The Moscow Times reports that around 3,840 pieces of armored equipment appeared on Google Earth photos taken five months before the invasion. By May 2023, this number had shrunk to 2,270. This means that 1,570 tanks and armored vehicles have been taken out of storage over the past 1.5 years. Most of them (32 percent of the original number) left the depot after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin declared mobilization in September 2022.
The Czech authorities opened a criminal case against the Arkady Rotenberg for circumventing international sanctions, the National Center for Combating Organized Crime said. According to law enforcers, in 2015 the defendant helped to transfer money to an “oligarch who has long been associated” with Russian President Vladimir Putin and who was under sanctions due to the annexation of Crimea. Subsequently, these funds were used in the Czech Republic. According to local media, we are talking about businessman Dmitry Kalantyrsky. [continue]
UK Government: Largest ever UK action targets Putin's access to foreign military supplies. Foreign Secretary announces 25 new sanctions targeting Putin’s access to foreign military equipment.
Individuals and businesses in Iran, Turkey, Belarus, Slovakia, Switzerland and the UAE, as well as Russia face sanctions.
Iranian drone maker Paravar Pars and seven of its executives, already subject to US sanctions announced in February face sanctions.
Two Turkey-based exporters of microelectronics were among those facing sanctions.
The government also imposed sanctions on a number of individuals, including Swiss national Anselm Oskar Schmucki, who it says is the chief of the Moscow office of a Switzerland-based crypto asset manager, DuLac Capital Ltd.
Steve Rosenberg: “Everything has changed. It will never be the same.” With Russia’s war in Ukraine in its 18th month, I chose a Moscow street and tried to speak to people about their mood, their outlook, their future.
Poland’s government on Monday accused Belarus and Russia of orchestrating another migration influx into the EU via the Polish border in order to destabilise the region. The polish deputy interior minister, Maciej Wasik, told AFP reporters:
We’re talking about an operation organised by the Russian and Belarusian secret services that is getting more and more intense.
Reuters reports that Poland’s defence ministry has agreed to send additional troops to its Belarus border, after a request yesterday from the head of the border guard force.
Poland will hold its general election on October 15, Polish President Andrzej Duda confirmed Tuesday. “The future of Poland is a matter for each of us! Use your rights,” Duda said on social media, announcing the election date. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s ruling nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS) currently leads the center-right Civic Coalition by 6 percentage points according to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls.
August 9 marks the 3-year anniversary of the election that dictator Lukashenka stole from the Belarusian people. I remember it clearly: thousands of people took to the streets to protest the outcome. The real winner of the election was Sviatlana Tsykanouvskaya, wife of her imprisoned husband. Since then, Lukashenka has increased the severe repression of the population, and has become an appendage of the Russian state.
President Zelenskyy talked about NATO and Ukraine’s future in the alliance:
"Russia should be grateful if Ukraine is in NATO. Since Ukraine will never come to their territory in the future," Zelenskyi said.
"Russia says it is fighting NATO on the territory of Ukraine to justify their actions to the Russian people. But in truth it is because they don't understand how their large army cannot defeat Ukraine on the battlefield," he added.
US: A first batch of US Abrams tanks approved for shipment to Ukraine. The full package is to arrive in Ukraine by early fall.
German concern Rheinmetall bought 50 Leopard 1 tanks from OIP Land Systems after the deal with Swiss defence firm RUAG on 96 Leopard 1 tanks failed. It is unknown whether any country contributed to the financing. The tanks are now to be re-equipped at the German locations of Rheinmetall. Ultimately, around 30 of the 50 tanks can be delivered to Ukraine.
Iceland, Hungary helped shelter Belarusian businessman from EU sanctions. “The Hungarian government, in addition to being particularly opposed to any EU coercive measures against Belarus, has its own representative in the offices of [Belarusian oligarch Alexander] Moshensky’s flagship company Santa Bremor.”
This Russian video features a a matreshka shattering the new trizub of Ukraine, which was recently put on the Motherland statute, revealing the emblem of the USSR underneath. The image isn’t subtle: Russia refuses to accept that Ukraine sheds itself of its Soviet past. It’s chilling actually.
WSJ: China Reassures Russia on Ukraine After Meeting With Others on How to End the War. China’s top diplomat assured Russia that Beijing hasn’t wavered in its stance on the Ukraine war, right after a Chinese envoy joined a multilateral forum—which excluded Moscow—to discuss ways to end the conflict.
At the Jeddah meeting, the Chinese delegation presented Beijing’s 12-point position paper—first published in February—that called for a cease-fire in Ukraine and peace talks to end the war, the Journal reported. European diplomats pushed back to warn that an unconditional cease-fire could simply create a frozen conflict and allow Russia to consolidate its control of Ukrainian territory.
Russia has damaged over 760 cultural heritage sites in Ukraine since Feb 24. Russian forces have damaged at least 763 cultural heritage sites in unoccupied regions of Ukraine since Feb. 24 2022, according to Ukraine's Culture Ministry. The highest number of damaged sites have been recorded in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, Kyiv and Odesa oblasts.
China hacked Japan’s defense networks in a major cybersecurity breach. Cyberspies from China’s military gained deep, persistent access to Japan’s most sensitive computer systems in 2020, The Washington Post reported yesterday. Japan has taken steps to strengthen its networks, but gaps remain that could impede information-sharing between the U.S. and one of its key strategic allies. China-based hackers have increasingly penetrated the critical infrastructure of the U.S. and other nations.
Italy has approved a one-off 40% tax on profits banks reap from higher interest rates and it plans to use proceeds to help mortgage holders, in a move that sent banking shares plunging. (This is nuts.)
Noel Reports: I hope this is true
If it sounds too good to be true, it often is. Still funny to report. This is one of those stories that you hope is true.
A Russian channel reports that near Robotyne, Russian troops wanted to carry out an operation 'behind enemy lines'.
Russian soldiers changed into Ukrainian uniform but were spotted by a Russian UAV who probably knew nothing about this. He mistook the Russian group for Ukrainian soldiers who were directly fired upon with artillery. Result, 32 deaths.
After this, the Ukrainian troops also unraveled the artillery position of the Russians, which then came under fire. Result, 19 deaths.
The commander who gave the order to carry out the operation has fled and they seem to be looking for him.
Up-date on Niger
The Niger military junta has deployed additional forces to the capital Niamey, in preparation for a possible foreign intervention, CNN reports. The junta has ignored the ultimatum set out by ECOWAS to cede power.
West African countries and global powers are hoping that there is still a window of opportunity for mediation with Niger's coup leaders before a Thursday summit that could agree on a military intervention to restore democracy.
A Global Web of Chinese Propaganda Leads to a U.S. Tech Mogul—NYT
The Times unraveled a financial network that stretches from Chicago to Shanghai and uses American nonprofits to push Chinese talking points worldwide.
In fact, a New York Times investigation found, it is part of a lavishly funded influence campaign that defends China and pushes its propaganda. At the center is a charismatic American millionaire, Neville Roy Singham, who is known as a socialist benefactor of far-left causes.
What is less known, and is hidden amid a tangle of nonprofit groups and shell companies, is that Mr. Singham works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide. These groups are funded through American nonprofits flush with at least $275 million in donations.
He and his allies are on the front line of what Communist Party officials call a “smokeless war.” Under the rule of Xi Jinping, China has expanded state media operations, teamed up with overseas outlets and cultivated foreign influencers. The goal is to disguise propaganda as independent content.
"They come to learn to organize workers and left-wing movements. Once on campus, though, some attendees are surprised to find Chinese topics seeping into the curriculum.”
“At a recent session, reading packets said that the United States was waging a “hybrid war” against China by distorting information about Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Xinjiang region where Uyghurs were held in camps."
Influence operations with Chinese characteristics: "The packets praised Chinese loans, calling them “an opportunity for African states to construct genuine, and sovereign, development projects.” No mention was made of China’s role in a recent debt crisis in Zambia.
“They’re being rounded up to be fed Chinese propaganda,” said Cebelihle Mbuyisa, a former employee who helped prepare materials for the workshop. “Whole social movements on the African continent are being hijacked by what looks like a foreign policy instrument of the Chinese Communist Party.”
“Those who objected were shouted down or not invited back, four past attendees said."
“Ms. Evans now stridently supports China. She casts it as a defender of the oppressed and a model for economic growth without slavery or war. “If the U.S. crushes China,” she said in 2021, it “would cut off hope for the human race and life on Earth.”
Code Pink drinking the red Kool-Aid. "She describes the Uyghurs as terrorists and defends their mass detention. “We have to do something,” she said in 2021. In a recent YouTube video chat, she was asked if she had anything negative to say about China.
“I can’t, for the life of me, think of anything,” Ms. Evans responded. She ultimately had one complaint: She had trouble using China’s phone-based payment apps.
Ukraine’s cyber war
Today, we possess the greatest competence in the world when it comes to repelling attacks," Shchyhol says. In 2022 alone, the CERT-UA team manually deterred 2,194 attacks. That's over six attacks per day. The number of cyberattacks deterred automatically is approximately 20 per day, Shchyhol says.