Headlines from World War 3 – 25 July, 2023
The Russian state Duma passed a draft law: “we Put the put for the general mobilization – A great war is upon us” – Objective Poland…
The aim of the Poland – Russia is preparing
The Russian state Duma passed a special package of amendments, which lay the foundations for a general muster as a “great war” is upon us.
This was said by the head of the Defence Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Andrei Καρταπόλοφ, during speaking to the other members.
O Andrei Καρταπόλοφ is the same man who a few days ago revealed that the aim of Wagner in Belarus is the Corridor Suwalki! Could it be that something knows?
If Moscow is preparing a general muster, then the goal is the “union of the Russian world”, Kaliningrad, Transnistria, Odessa, etc.
Duma: Package of amendments to the draft!
In more detail, in today’s plenary session, the members of the Lower House of the Federal Assembly of Russia adopted in the third, final reading the next package of amendments on the commitment of both the στρατευσίμων and reservists in the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The State Duma of the Russian Federation approved a bill to increase the upper age limit of recruitment from 27 to 30 years from 1 January 2024.
At the same time, the members rejected an amendment during a transitional period and a gradual increase in the maximum age limit from military service.
“From 1 January 2024 would be called upon for military service citizens aged 18 to 30 years old. Citizens who complete the 27 years until the end of 2023 remain on standby and not be subject to conscription 2024” reports the publication of the State Duma of the Russian Federation on the official channel Telegram of the lower house of the Russian parliament.
The draft law significantly expands the possibilities of military commissions in the selection of the methods of service of notification call, introducing the γνωστοποιητικό nature of the notification call.
Now calls can be sent to the place of work or study of a citizen, by registered letter at the place of registration.
In addition, the Russian citizen is deemed to have been notified of the need to attendance to the military registration office and military immediately after the publication of the corresponding record in special electronic register.
At the same time, increase the measures and for the soldiers who do not appear at the military office from the day following the performance (notification) of the call by one of the above ways or the entry in the electronic register, as well as the face-to-face delivery.
The military commissioners shall transmit data to the citizen who is subject to a commitment to the local bodies of the Ministry of Internal affairs and the FSB and implemented a ban on leaving the country, as well as other restrictions .
“We put the put for a general muster, for a great war”
One of the authors of these amendments, the head of the Defence Committee of the State Duma Andrei Καρταπόλοφ, during today’s meeting, he explained to the members of parliament because the parliament is considering amendments to the law on military service.
First of all, you will enter the classroom in the system of military registration, thanks to the use of modern electronic services, you will minimize physical interaction between citizens and officials of the military office of registration and military service.
O Καρταπόλοφ said from the floor of the Duma to his fellow members:
“This law was written for the great war, a general mobilisation. And now that the great war “smells” already…
<…> Gentlemen, you see, we have already discussed here many times that the amendments of laws for the preparation and mobilisation is very sensitive.
It is sensitive because this law was written for “the great war”, for a general muster. And now that the “great war,” it smells already. And all we continue to look who we can remove it from there, who we can protect you. Yes, there will be someone, there will always be. This I understand,” said the Καρτοπόλοφ.
The head of the Defence Committee of the State Duma criticized harshly the position of certain members who support the conservation of delays for certain categories of citizens.
In particular, objected to the exception from the law of compulsory registration for a draft, fathers of three or more children or those with children with disabilities.
-At the same time, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted amendments that prohibit the ranks to leave Russia from the day of dispatch of the call for work or studies, and by the time it was registered in a special register.
-In addition, the State Duma of the Russian Federation approved an amendment to fines of up to 30 thousand rubles. for non-appearance in the military office.
-Created a special electronic register of recruitment
Picture of chaos: chaotic retreat of Ukrainian & collapse of the Eastern front – The Russian Armies are moving from Luhansk to Kharkiv – March at a depth of 20 km!
Trying to get out of Ukrainian Units – Russians recaptured 50 sq.miles!
Full breakdown image shows the Eastern front of the Ukrainians:
The Russian armies officially announced the control of the settlements of Nadia (Nadzheda), Sergeevka, Novoegorovka and the entry of forces from the Lugansk region into the Kharkiv region.
At the same time, Russian forces also entered the settlement of Tverdokhlebovo.
In total Russian forces recaptured 50 square kilometers of land in the last 12-14 days! Finally, instead of a Ukrainian counterattack, we have… a Russian one!
The Ukrainians admit a “significant attack by Russian forces at a depth of 8 km from the Zerebets River within 24 hours. In total, Russian forces have advanced 20 km in the past few days.
The Ukrainians have a very serious problem on the eastern front. The Russian forces have created bridgeheads which they have widened and are creating axes of attack in all directions Kupiansk, Liman, Seversk.
Russian forces captured Novoegorovka and Nadezhda settlements in Lugansk and entered Izyumsky district in Kharkiv!
Russian troops continue offensive operations in the direction of Svatovo. This afternoon, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Russian Armed Forces captured the village of Sergeevka.
In itself, this fact suggests that the Russian troops successfully crossed the Zherebets River and south of the settlement of Raygorodok. The Zherebets River runs through a number of settlements along the borders of Lugansk and Kharkiv.
Developing the offensive in this sector of the front, units of the Russian Armed Forces advanced a distance of about 6 kilometers during the day. In addition to the settlement of Sergeevka, they took control of at least two more settlements. These are Novogorovka and Nadia (Nadzheda).
As a result of successful offensive actions, Russian troops created a bridgehead, the edge of which is currently located in Kharkiv region, about 2-3 km from the village of Pershotravnevo, Borovskoye commune, Izyumsky region (ss what WarNews247 reported yesterday)
The Ukrainian side confirms the loss of settlements at the junction of Lugansk region and Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian military correspondents write that the breakdown of the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine south of Raigorodka by Russian troops created a “chaos situation” in the positions of the Ukrainian armed forces.
As a result, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, controlling positions in the settlements of Nadezhda, Sergeevka and Novoegorovka, withdrew fearing encirclement.
However, several Ukrainian units were surrounded, apparently not having time to retreat at least 5 kilometers to the west.
The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is now trying to urgently close the holes in the defense west of Svyatovo. It is likely that this will be possible only in the region of Oskol, to the north of which is Kupyansk and a little to the west is Izium.
Russian Ministry of Defense: The army liberated the village of Sergeevka
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirms the recapture of Sergeyevka after successful counterattacks by the 15th Mechanized Rifle Brigade in the direction of Krasny Liman.
“The Russian army liberated the village of Sergeevka (Lugansk). The settlement that came under their control is located in the Krasnolimansky direction,” announced Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.
“During successful counterattack operations, units of the 15th Motorized Rifle Brigade under the skillful print history more command of Lt. Col. Builov liberated the Sergeevka settlement,” he added.
Russian forces are now moving from Lugansk to Kharkiv!
According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
-“ In total, in the Krasnolimansky direction, units of the Russian Armed Forces advanced up to four kilometers along the front line and up to two kilometers deep into the defensive positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
At the same time, the Ukrainian army continues to try to counterattack. Several such attempts were repelled by our Russian soldiers in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s Republics.
-Specifically, the Ukrainian Army stormed the Russian positions in the Serebryansky Forest Service. There, Russian paratroopers from the 234th regiment under the command of Colonel Vasiliev not only repulsed the blow of the Ukrainians, but also launched a counterattack, advancing 1.5 kilometers!
➨ Units of the Central Military District continue to break through Ukrainian Army defenses near the Zherebets River, moving from Lugansk to the Kharkiv region.
➨ In the Svyatovo direction, Russian artillery is operating continuously, to some extent similar to the intensity of Bakhmut, Ukrainian military analysts report.
➨ In the last 7 days Russia has recaptured 25 square kilometers and a 50-tkm in 12 days.
-Manpower and equipment of the 21st, 63rd, 67th Mechanized Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 5th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine were defeated in the areas of Terny,
Torskoe and Yampolovka settlements of Donetsk
In the Torskoye and Novolyubovka districts, the ammunition depots of the 44th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 100th brigade were destroyed.
Enemy losses amounted to 190 Ukrainian soldiers, six armored fighting vehicles, five trucks, two D-20s, one D-30, two Gvozdika self-propelled guns, and one US-made AN/TPQ-50 anti-aircraft radar.
880 dead lay on the Dnieper river!-Ukrainian soldier: “they send Us to the slaughterhouse of Cherson – The Administration of us throw in a “meat Mincer”
Scare the losses of Ukrainian and in Kherson!
The losses of the Ukrainian forces in Kherson are shocking. Since the beginning of the month and until July 23, the Ukrainian Army has lost 880 men in the region during amphibious operations.
There are many soldiers who met instant death in the Dnieper River.
This fact forced the Ukrainian soldiers of the 189th Battalion of the 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade to appeal to V. Zelensky and the Ukrainian military administration.
Video: FPV kamikaze drone hits Ukrainian speedboat carrying forces to bridgehead at Antonovsky Bridge
Ukrainian soldier: They are sending us to a slaughterhouse!
A Ukrainian soldier appealed to the military administration and V. Zelensky. In the video he says:
“Dear President and Commander-in-Chief, we, the soldiers of the 189th Battalion of the 123rd Ground Defense Brigade, are forced to disclose the actions of our Commander, Lt. Col. Sukhatsky and the Chief of Staff.
Due to their criminal acts, there is no more than 20% of the Order left.
Every day they send us to the Left Bank to a stupid “Meat Machine” on Antonov Island.
At the same time, they don’t give us the weapons we need, nor the ammunition.
When we ask them why they are treating us like this, Lieutenant Colonel Sukhatsky becomes hysterical and tells us that we must go to the Left Bank and die there.
Also the Commanders steal the money of the dead soldiers.
Mr. President, you are our last hope. Stop what is happening.
We are loyal soldiers of Ukraine and we are ready to fight.
But the senseless massacre on the left bank, which makes no sense, is taking the lives of our best soldiers.
And the real enemies sit in the HQ and share the money of the dead soldiers”
Heavy Ukrainian losses on the left bank of the Dnieper
Ukrainian troops are not giving up their efforts to cross the left bank of the Dnieper River and create a bridgehead there for a further counterattack. However, there are significant losses.
Deputy Commander of Kherson, Volodymyr Saldo on his Telegram channel provides information on the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during attempts to cross the left bank of the Dnieper.
The information was provided by the command of the “Dnepr” troop group of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
According to these data, from July 1 to July 23, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost up to 880 personnel and more than 30 different vessels.
In addition, 2 tanks, 6 self-propelled and 22 towed howitzers, 2 MLRS (multiple rocket launchers), more than 30 crews in all, 1 anti-tank system were destroyed.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are also suffering losses in communications and electronic warfare.
1 command and control vehicle, 2 command posts, 3 radar stations, 2 electronic warfare installations have been destroyed. As a result of Russian precision strikes, 7 ammunition depots were destroyed.
As Vladimir Saldo emphasizes, the hospitals in the part of the Kherson region occupied by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as in the neighboring regions of Odessa and Nikolaev, have been filled with wounded soldiers of the Ukrainian formations.
The greatest losses, according to the deputy head of the Kherson region, were suffered by Ukrainian troops precisely when they tried to move to the left bank of the Dnieper River, including the area of the Antonovsky Bridge and Kinburn Spit.
The Antonovsky Bridge area has recently turned into a “Meat Grinder” for Ukrainian formations, Saldo noted.
The Russian military command, saving the lives of its soldiers, made a conscious decision to arrange for the enemy a kind of small Bakhmut .
“The Ukrainian administration has no pity for its people and is constantly throwing more and more personnel into this “meat grinder”, who are killed by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation when they try to cross the river.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are preparing to cross the Dnieper at Snegirevka!
Despite this, the Ukrainian army continues its suicide attacks. This time it is massing large forces to cross the Dnieper near the village of Snegirevka, Kherson region, said the head of the Russian administration of the Snegirevsky district, Yuriy Barbasov.
“Snegirevka has already turned into an important point for the accumulation and coordination of Ukrainian troops. This is evidence of preparations for an imminent attack from this point,” Barbashev emphasized in an interview with RIA Novosti.
According to him, the information has already been transferred to the command of the Russian army.
Poland on alert: Thousands of troops moved to Suwalki Corridor and Belarus border – New Army Corps to protect Warsaw
Poland: “We will close the gates of Brest”
Poland prepares for a clash with Wagner’s forces and moves forces to both the Brest and Grodno areas and the Suwalki Corridor.
According to the Belarusians, so far two Brigades have been moved to the border with Belarus and a Division is on the way.
At the same time, Poland seems to be taking the threats from Russia and Belarus seriously and is creating a new Army Corps to protect it…. capital of the country, Warsaw!
Poland is deploying military units on the border with Belarus
More specifically, Poland continues to move large military formations to the border with Belarus. Another military phalanx was seen in the eastern regions of the country.
Eyewitnesses filmed a large amount of military equipment moving along the highway.
We remind that the large-scale transfer of military formations to the border with Belarus was announced by the Polish authorities due to the arrival of PMC Wagner units in Minsk.
According to Warsaw, the relocation to Belarus of one of the most combat-ready units of the Russian Federation poses a threat to the country’s national security.
Transports an Engineer Battalion to the Suwalki Corridor
At the same time, a new Engineer battalion of the country’s ground forces will be transferred to the Suwalki runway, which belongs to Poland and is located between Belarus and Russia.
According to the Polish military department, the new unit will participate in ensuring the security of the Suwalki Corridor, which, according to Warsaw, is of great interest to Moscow and Minsk.
The Battalion will have to protect the forests in the north-east of Poland
Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak is already encouraging young Poles to sign up for military service in the new unit. He even addressed the young inhabitants of Augustow and the surrounding area, expressing the hope that they would join the ranks of the order being created.
Additional troops are now deployed in eastern Poland, including the 12th Szczecin Mechanized Division and the 11th Lubusz Armored Cavalry Division.
But even these forces in the Warsaw area are not enough, so new units will be created.
This Engineer battalion will be included in the 15th Gizytsky Mechanized Brigade, which, in turn, is part of the 16th Mechanized Division.
“We will close the gates of Brest”: Poland forms a new Army Corps
At the same time, Warsaw began to form a new army corps, which received the name “2nd Polish”.
Its establishment base will be the ground operations center stationed in Krakow.
“The 2nd Polish Corps will be organized according to the American doctrine. it will include, among other things, a squadron of attack helicopters,” the country’s Ministry of Defense said.
This means that the new Army Corps will be reinforced with AH-64E Apache helicopters along with the multirole S-70i Black Hawk.
Lt. Gen. Adam Yokes, who previously served as deputy commander of the US Army’s 5th Corps, headquartered in Poland, has been named head of the corps.
According to the military department, his experience with US troops will be needed when organizing a new formation.
“The whole world knows very well that the US Armed Forces are the strongest, best organized and equipped with the best modern equipment. Our goal is for our army to have this type of equipment,” said the head of the military department, Mariusz Blaszczak.
According to him, the development of Poland’s military power is due to Russia.
“Our goal is to create a very strong Polish army so that Poland will not be attacked by the Russians and scare Moscow. We will ensure that the Abrams and Apaches close the gates of Brest,” Blaszczak noted, referring to the shortest route from the eastern border to Warsaw.
As he explained, the new unit will be the successor of the 2nd Polish Corps, whose soldiers, under the command of General Wladyslaw Anders, took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944:
This corps consisted of people transported from Soviet Russia to Siberia. He passed through the Middle East and then, side by side with the Allied forces, fought for the liberation of Italy.
For the authorities of the “independent and sovereign” state, the battles in distant Italy during the Second World War are more important than the liberation of their country from the Nazis, which took place with the active participation of the 1st Army of the Polish Army, formed on the territory of the USSR.
https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1682483272931065858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1682483272931065858%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwarnews247.gr%2Fepifylaki-stin-polonia-metaferontai-chiliades-stratiotes-ston-diadromo-suwalki-kai-sta-synora-me-lefkorosia-dimiourgoun-neo-soma-stratou-gia-tin-prostasia-tis-varsovias%2F
By the end of this year, Poland will receive 8 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the US Army stocks to organize the training process for pilots and technicians. Starting next year, deliveries of 96 attack helicopters will begin. This was stated by Polish Defense Minister… pic.twitter.com/swqQHZRqV4
— Spriter Team (@SpriterTeam) July 21, 2023
The “Vice-Admiral Kulakov,” an Udalay-class Destroyer of the Russian Navy has arrived in Cuba for an official visit for the first time in a long time, and there is dangerous news for the United States . . .
Shortly before the Russian navy warship arrived, talks were held between the leaders of Cuba and Russia and their defense ministries. The result is statements to strengthen not only economic cooperation, but also military-technical cooperation.
According to American military experts, this could mean the return of Russia to Cuba with all the resulting consequences: the deployment of Russian troops and long-range missiles.
This will be a decisive Russian response to the threats posed by the expansion of NATO’s presence in Northern Europe and Japan.
Earlier, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel strongly condemned the entry into NATO of new members bordering Russia. “In light of hostile actions by the (NATO) alliance, Cuba is ready to place Russian missiles on its territory, again.”
COVERT INTEL INDICATES CARGO SHIPS IN RUSSIA, “WITH A PRE-FILED TRANSIT ROUTE TO CUBA, “SEEM TO BE” IN PROCESS OF BEING LOADED WITH COMPONENTS FROM RUSSIAN MISSILE MANUFACTURING FACTORIES”
In Russia, they will now be drafting into the army until the age of 30. Why raise the draft age?
В России теперь будут призывать в армию до 30 лет. Для чего поднимают призывной возраст?
The State Duma adopted in the third, final reading a new version of the law on military service, according to which the age limit for conscription is raised from 27 to 30 years. This follows from the data published on the official portal of the lower house of parliament.
Under the new rules, only those who turn 27 years old in 2024 will be subject to conscription. Russians who have reached this age in 2023 are automatically credited to the reserve.
Those who are now 28 or 29 years old are already in the reserve
The lower bar of military age will remain, only the upper one will be raised
When the bill was submitted for consideration by the Duma, it contained a wording on raising the lower bar for the age of conscription for military service – from 18 to 21 years. In the same wording, the very idea of the amendments was voiced by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
However, after discussing the details of the document, the deputies decided to raise only the upper limit of the age of conscription.
Andrei Kartapolov, head of the Duma Defense Committee , explained the decision by saying that “a lot of guys want to go and serve from the age of 18.”
If the bill is approved by the Federation Council and the President, the amendments will come into force in 2024
After passing through all the legislative instances, nothing will change, both calls in 2023 – spring and autumn – will be held according to the old rules. That is, young people from 18 to 27 years old will go to the army.
This was confirmed by Deputy Kartapolov. “This [2023] year is needed for the military commissariats to clarify the composition of their conscription resource, clarify the lists, invite potential conscripts and verify their data. They can do it, and, in our opinion, they should do it,” the deputy explained.
The amendments will come into force on January 1, 2024, that is, the law will affect those who go to serve in the army as part of the next spring draft, which starts in Russia annually on April 1
Initially, it was planned to raise the draft age to 30 years in stages, but on July 25 it became known that the authors of the bill wanted to do it all at once. During a vote on July 25, the lower house of parliament rejected an amendment for a transitional period until 2026.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko said that the upper house of parliament is also ready to pass the law and there is no reason to worry about this document – the term of service in the Armed Forces is preserved and is one year. The fact that there is no need for two years of military service was also said by Kartapolov. “Today we have a modern young man who is able to master all military specialties in a maximum of six months,” the parliamentarian believes…..
US Reaper Drone “Severely Damaged” By Russian Jet Intercept Over Syria
The Pentagon has announced a new major incident involving Russia over the skies of Syria, after a string of hostile close encounters between Russian fighter jets and US drones which were ostensibly conducting ‘counter-ISIS’ missions.
The military says a US MQ-9 Reaper drone was damaged after being intercepted and harassed by an Su-35 fighter, during which time the Russian warplane released flares close to the American drone.
Only unveiled Tuesday, which included release of video of the incident, the encounter happened Sunday, presumably over or near eastern Syria, where Washington has for years maintained a troop presence, and has occupied Syria’s oil and gas fields.
US officials say a Russian and Iranian campaign is in full swing towards pressuring the US to retreat from the region and halt its military operations. Russian intercepts of US drones have now occurred several times over the last months, with the US each time condemning “unsafe” and “irresponsible”, threatening maneuvers.
Concerning the new incident, “The U.S. drone managed to limp back to its base in the region but its propeller was damaged, according to U.S. officials who issued photos and video of the encounter,” writes The Wall Street Journal. The military statement described the drone as “severely damaged”—which is a significant first in Syria.
“One of the Russian flares struck the U.S. MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller,” Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the top U.S. Air Force commander in the region, said. “Fortunately, the MQ-9 crew was able to maintain flight and safely recover the aircraft to its home base.”
WATCH:
⚡️The US Air Force Central Command reports that on July 23, in the skies over Syria, a Russian Su-35S fighter aircraft performed “unsafe maneuvers” near an MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance and strike UAV. pic.twitter.com/sgo7mfXXJu
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) July 25, 2023
But Moscow has issued a counternarrative, saying that it is actually reckless US aircraft nearly colliding with Russian jets, which have a right to be in Syrian skies at the invitation of the Assad government.
Early this month the Pentagon said there were three Russian intercept incidents of US drones during three consecutive days. It appears a Russian pressure campaign which has ratcheted particularly since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last year.
These ‘harassment’ episodes over Syria appear very similar to the March 14, 2023 event closer to Russia which resulted in an American MQ-9 Reaper drone crashing into the Black Sea. A Russian Su-27 fighter jet had intercepted and damaged the drone, at one point dumping fuel on it in mid-air flight. The drone then had to be crash landed in the waters below, and was lost.
In Syria, the US administration has justified any and all US military actions as based on “countering ISIS” – even though the Islamic State has long been driven underground and was defeated. Russia and Syria have charged that the US really just wants to steal Syria’s oil and gas resources, as part of the continued economic war against Damascus.
Al-Monitor report: Russia🇷🇺 and Iran🇮🇷 are coordinating their forces to pressure the United States to withdraw its occupation troops from Syria🇸🇾, where US troops are occupying the one-third of Syria which contains 80% of Syria’s oil and most of the nation’s wheat production. pic.twitter.com/hOmRs1ntV7
— Going Underground (@GUnderground_TV) July 16, 2023
The Pentagon has also lately been reemphasizing this counter-ISIS mission: “We urge Russian forces in Syria to cease this reckless behavior and adhere to the standards of behavior expected of a professional air force so we can resume our focus on the enduring defeat of ISIS,” it said.
But Damascus, Moscow, and Tehran have pointed out that ISIS grew out of and was fueled by the NATO-Gulf regime change efforts to oust Assad, which started in 2011 and 2012, destroying much of Syria and resulting in mass killings. Meanwhile, millions of Syrians of all political orientations are still starving and suffering under US-led sanctions, with severe electricity and fuel shortages to boot.
UN secretary-general António Guterres on Monday pleaded for Russia to immediately return to the Black Sea grain deal in order to stave off a food crisis amid rising prices.
“With the termination of the Black Sea Initiative, the most vulnerable will pay the highest price,” the UN chief said. “When food prices rise, everybody pays for it. This is especially devastating for vulnerable countries struggling to feed their people.”
But President Putin has been saying the opposite—that Ukraine exports have been intentionally favoring European partners while hard-hit populations in Africa and the Middle East suffer most. He has asserted repeatedly that Moscow did not sign on to the Turkey/UN-mediated grain export initiative in order to unfairly benefit already wealthy and food-secure Western nations.
Via Reuters: Storage tanks damaged by a Russian drone strike are seen in a sea port, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Odesa Region, July 24, 2023.
Guterres didn’t address these arguments of Putin, instead he pressed for the Russian Federation to “return to the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, in line with my latest proposal.”
“I urge the global community to stand united for effective solutions in this essential effort,” Guterres said. “I remain committed to facilitating the unimpeded access to global markets for food products and fertilizers from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and to deliver the food security that every person deserves.”
The UN chief’s plan being referenced is described as follows:
He proposed Russia extend it – with a daily limit of four ships traveling to Ukraine and four ships leaving – in return for connecting a subsidiary of Russia’s Agricultural Bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT global payments system, which the EU cut off in June 2022.
Putin has also alleged that Ukraine has been hiding military cargo under the guise of exporting foodstuffs.
Because of this suspicion, Moscow days ago warned that foreign vessels seeking to enter Ukraine ports risk being treated as military targets. Ukraine then sought permission from Romania to use its territorial waters as an alternate route. Russia’s military quickly responded on Monday.
“Russia for the first time on Monday attacked a port on the Danube River in Ukraine, close to the Romanian border, Ukrainian and Romanian officials said, destroying a grain hangar in an escalation of its efforts to cripple Kyiv’s agriculture and risking a more direct confrontation with the United States and its European allies,” The New York Times detailed of the fresh attack.
Russia is playing a dangerous game
Last night, they struck targets right next to the Romanian border for the first time.
This video was recorded by Romanians, showing the attacks on the port of Reni, right across the Danube river
Romania is a NATO state
Russia is playing a dangerous game
Last night, they struck targets right next to the Romanian border for the first time.
This video was recorded by Romanians, showing the attacks on the port of Reni, right across the Danube river
Romania is a NATO state pic.twitter.com/mJSvlUbxDh
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 24, 2023
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 24, 2023
“The assault on the port in the town of Reni, across the river from Romania, a NATO member, targeted Kyiv’s alternative export routes for grain to reach world markets, days after Russia terminated a deal that had enabled Ukraine to ship its grain across the Black Sea,” the report noted.
And crucially, “The attack is one of the closest Moscow has come to hitting the military alliance’s territory since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.”
Over 50 Cargo Ships are currently Anchored in the Danube River between Ukraine and Romania with most waiting for the Ports of Reni and Izmail in the Odesa Region of Ukraine to Reopen for Grain Shipment after they suffered a number of Strikes by Russia Shahed-136 “Kamikaze” Attack… pic.twitter.com/8d6zAjXpZP
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 24, 2023
Location of the Russian strikes, just on the Ukraine-Romania border…
Meanwhile, both sides are floating contrasting ‘alternatives’ and replacements to the original Black Sea Grain Initiative, but without the participation of the other. At this point, none of these ideas have been formalized. FT reported days ago:
Russia is pushing a plan to supply grain to Africa and cut Ukraine out of the global market after Moscow’s withdrawal this week from a UN-backed deal, according to three people familiar with the matter. President Vladimir Putin has proposed a replacement initiative whereby Qatar would pay Moscow to ship Russian grain to Turkey, which would then distribute the crop to “countries in need”, the people said.
As for Kiev, it is hoping to establish a land corridor for the export of Ukrainian food products to the EU, according to a fresh statement by Zelensky. But there are two obvious issues based on the greater logistical complexity (and in a warzone): 1) No comparable infrastructure exists to ship the same large-scale amounts by road, and 2) the price of the same shipments will massively increase.
At the same time Russia is likely to escalate its attacks based on its rationale of ‘suspected arms cargo’ being hidden in the shipments. In this way immense pressure is being further brought to bear on Ukraine and its external backers (namely, what’s looking like a full export blockade taking shape), also at a moment of the faltering counteroffensive. Is this the start of the end-game for Ukraine’s defense efforts? Will catastrophe on top of catastrophe for Ukraine finally lead to some kind of negotiations in the near future?
Kremlin reveals details of Russia-Africa summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin will open the second Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg by addressing the heads of state at a plenary session on Thursday, his aide Yury Ushakov has told reporters.
Only five African countries will not be represented at the summit, Ushakov said, noting that the high rate of participation “confirms [Africans’] desire to strengthen ties with our country, no matter the circumstances.”
Of the 49 African governments, 17 will be represented by heads of state. Five are sending their vice presidents, four will be represented by heads of government, and one by a head of parliament, Ushakov explained.
Another 17 countries will be represented by deputy prime ministers or foreign ministers, and five by ambassadors.
Putin will address the morning session of 17 heads of state, and is expected to announce several Russian initiatives to help Africa with “sovereign development,” including access to food, fertilizers, modern technologies and energy, the aide said.
“Our president will make a major statement and assess the current state of the system of international relations, including in the formation of a new world order, which is based on the principle of multipolarity and equality of all independent states,” Ushakov told reporters.
The working breakfast afterward will be attended by delegations who sent lower-level representatives. In addition to individual governments, Ushakov pointed out that the summit will be attended by “literally all the leaders” of key regional organizations on the continent, from the African Union to the African Export-Import Bank.
The gathering will have the same motto as the first summit, held in Sochi in 2019: ‘For Peace, Security and Development’, with the main idea being to promote Russian-African cooperation and strengthen the sovereignty of African states, according to Ushakov.
An economic and humanitarian forum taking place in parallel will connect Russian and African entrepreneurs, media, civil societies, scientists, and experts in various fields – from agriculture, mining, and finance to infrastructure, technology, and medicine.
Putin will arrive in St. Petersburg on Wednesday to hold bilateral talks with the prime minister of Ethiopia and the president of Egypt and meet with BRICS New Development Bank head Dilma Rousseff, the former president of Brazil
US sanctions Mali’s defense minister
PLO Lumumba Warns Africa: ‘The West NEVER Takes Its Eyes Off The Ball’, Ukraine Proxy War & More
On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to Prof. PLO Lumumba, the former Director of Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Commission, the former Director of the Kenya School of Law and renowned Pan-Africanist thinker. He discusses the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit this week and his views on the summit, the contempt shown against African leaders for their peace initiative to bring about an end to the Russia-NATO proxy war in Ukraine, Western neutralisation of historical great African leaders and titans of the Non-Aligned Movement such as Nehru, Nasser, Sukarno, Tito and Nkrumah, methods of Western neo-colonial domination of Africa through military bases, the IMF and governmental infiltration, why he believes the ICC should be disbanded, the neutrality of African nations in the Russia-NATO proxy war in Ukraine and much more.
