OldSarge

This is what I have on them. Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Vladimir Region Major General Vasily Kukushkin Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Altai Territory, Major General Alexander Laas Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Yaroslavl Region, Major General Andrey Lipilin Chief of the Operational Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Major General Alexander Udovenko Deputy Head of the Department for Logistics and Medical Support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Major General Yuri Instrankin

For the most part agencies run autonomously once they receive their funding. with competent leadership at agency level there is little need for the upper politicos to become involved in day to day affairs unless something becomes 'Breaking News'.

Switzerland slams the brakes on Denmark’s shipment of military vehicles to Ukraine Switzerland has vetoed Denmark’s request to deliver Swiss-made military vehicles to Ukraine, referring to its neutrality policy of not supplying arms to conflict areas. According to OLFI, the Danish media focused on defence and security policy, the decision to send about 20 Piranha three-crew cars to Ukraine was made as far back as April. However, these armoured personnel carriers were produced in Switzerland, which has a policy that foreign countries seek permission before re-exporting Swiss-made arms. https://cphpost.dk/?p=134328 It looks like the Swiss are having an internal discussion of their long-standing policy of neutrality.

Perun must've seen this one coming.

Of course, the Peter Principle has to be considered as well, the principle that members of a hierarchy are promoted until they reach the level at which they are no longer competent. A lieutenant that is a competent platoon leader may very well suck as a company commander.

Especially when the Army begins to field the ERCA system in 2023. https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/global-force-symposium/2021/03/18/us-army-nears-choosing-first-battalion-for-extended-range-cannon/

Around 0:08 you can see two guys running away before the tank begins to move away.

An interesting, albeit brief, look into the work that Bellingcat is doing to collect information about the war.

I hadn't seen this posted. It looks like NATO is already training to some of the lessons learned from Putin's war in Ukraine. The clip above shows NATO SOF training in Latvia to medevac wounded in conditions where air superiority is contested. Medics/PJs never seem to get the praise they deserve.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/biden-moves-to-strike-us-arms-deal-with-turkey-report-says-as-erdogan-uses-ukraine-peacemaker-role-to-restore-reputation-in-dc/ar-AAX9DOP?ocid=uxbndlbing Erdogan is definitely using the Ukraine situation to his advantage. In a sign that the US has warmed to Turkey's efforts to support peace negotiations, Biden on a March 10 call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "expressed appreciation" for Erdogan's efforts to "support a diplomatic resolution to the conflict." In another move that will likely have pleased the US, Turkey supplied Ukraine with armed drones after Russia invaded, which have since been used on Russian troops. As a result of the Ukraine crisis, the US and Turkey have resumed their dormant "strategic dialogue," The Journal reported.

Z for Zelensky! How thoughtful of them!

Three small stars with a single stripe, looks like a Senior Lieutenant rank.

Today's assessment from ISW https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-6 Key Takeaways The Ukrainian counteroffensive along a broad arc north and east of Kharkiv city took further terrain and will likely push Russian forces out of tube artillery range of the city in the coming days. The ability—and willingness—of the Ukrainian military to concentrate the forces in Kharkiv necessary to conduct this operation indicates Ukrainian confidence in repelling ongoing Russian attacks with their existing forces in the region. Russian forces did not make any progress on the Izyum axis. Russian forces likely secured small gains on the outskirts of Severodonetsk in the last 24 hours but are unlikely to successfully surround the town. Russian forces continued assaults on the Azovstal plant, but ISW cannot confirm any specific advances. Likely widespread civilian resistance to the Russian occupation may additionally be disrupting previously announced Russian plans to conduct a Victory Day exhibition in Mariupol. There were no significant changes on the southern axis in the last 24 hours and Russian forces continued to reinforce their forward positions. ISW cannot confirm reports of a Ukrainian anti-ship missile strike on the Admiral Makarov at this time .

Thank you for posting about your experience! The people who need to hear your account may not be listening, and probably never will, but the rest of us are listening and watching and the facts will prevail.

Yep, it being a deep-fake wouldn't surprise me. Especially as none of the other media has picked up on it or confirmed it.

The Sun is showing what appears to be Admiral Makarov on fire. No officil confirmations yet, so the usual salt shaker rules apply. https://www.the-sun.com/news/5278291/putin-flagship-makarov-fire-neptune-missile-snake-island/

CNN is reporting that US intelligence provided confirming intelligence to the Ukrainian forces that the ship they were tracking was the Moskva. https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/05/politics/us-intelligence-russian-moskva-warship-ukraine-target/index.html

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3014131/senior-defense-official-holds-a-background-briefing-april-28-2022/ The Pentagon press brief from yesterday. Some interesting points They are estimating 92 operational BTG fighting in the East and South. Though the briefer wasn't prepared to discuss the actual condition of these units. 60% of the promised M777 are in Ukraine now. UA soldiers are receiving training on the Q-64 mobile radar and M-113 APC. While the RA has made improvements to their previous logistics & sustainment issues there are still apparent problems

The T-14s make for a great show! Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars, That make ambition virtue! O, farewell!

Aww, you beat me to it! I'll just add this for the CMCW NTC crowd.

Yep, the M113 is quite versatile and has earned its keep for that very reason. Nearly every nation that has them has kept them around for a good and simple reason: the thing just works, like a beaten up, old pickup truck. It is often said that necessity is the mother of invention. The Ukrainians have demonstrated time and again that they are very resourceful and I'm sure that they'll put the old gal to good use.

I wouldn't be so sure, we've had a number of close calls just due to unintended causes. A cyber attack would be perceived as neither innocent nor unintended. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200807-the-nuclear-mistakes-that-could-have-ended-civilisation

I'm more mindful of that fact than any other an am glad that the US has an administration that appears to be handing events both prudently and pragmatically within the limits of US laws No chest thumping or any other false signals. . That is what makes war so difficult, learning to fight the enemy without becoming them. You're quite right, or at least I hope so, that there are still those who see what is happening but are powerless to stop it. If there is anyway out of this mess we will need them.

The illusion which exalts us is dearer to us than ten thousand truths. — Aleksandr Pushkin, The Hero ll. 64-65, quoted in Gooseberries by Anton Chekhov I guess the Russians think that it is the rest of us who're beguiled by the 'illusion which exalts us'. It is sad to see this tragedy unfold and for all of the wrong reasons.

I had remembered reading about that years ago. When the topic of giving Ukraine jets came up I did a little looksy to see if what I remembered was true. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/field-of-schemes-emerson-at-war-564639352.html https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/103726 So, I wouldn't be surprised if the US is doing a little dancing along a fine legal line.