Ukraine War Update NEWS
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"We are fighting for the freedom, not only of Russia, but the whole world. We openly say that the dictatorship of one hegemon, we see it. Everyone sees it now is decrepit. It has gone into disarray, as they say, and is simply dangerous for the environment."
Hello Team!
Jonathan is doing this video a bit earlier than usual due to a meeting at his son's school. Further videos will be released later than normal today.
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Ukrainian General Staff Russian Loss Figures
- 1140 Russian personnel lost, which is a huge number, though not the biggest recently
- 15 tanks, 27 armoured personnel vehicles lost - considerable losses
- 32 artillery systems lost, which is huge
- 3 multiple launch rocket systems, 3 anti-aircraft warfare systems lost - 3 times the daily average
- 2 cruise missiles, 39 drones lost
- 46 vehicles and fuel tanks lost - massive for one day
- 8 pieces of special equipment lost
Anecdotal Evidence of High Russian Casualties
An Ossetian battalion in the Krinky area, whose soldiers come from an annexed area of Georgia, reported that out of a company of 86 people, only 7 returned. They are operating at less than 10% strength, which is catastrophic and makes the unit combat ineffective.
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Russian Major General Killed
Russian Major General Vladimir Zharovsky, a deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps, was reportedly killed, presumably by a mine. This is bad news for the Russians to lose a high level officer.
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Russian Electronic Warfare Systems Destroyed
- A Russian electronic warfare system, the Borisoglebsk-2, was destroyed by a HIMARS strike. This is the 5th time one has been lost in that area.
- 3 other EW systems were damaged by FPV drones
- An Osa air defence system was also hit by an FPV drone, which could account for one of the 3 air defence systems reported lost by the Ukrainian General Staff
First Ukrainian Leopard 1A5 Tank Lost
The first confirmed loss of a Ukrainian Leopard 1A5 tank occurred. Video shows it being hit by the Russians and later abandoned by its crew after driving through a field and firing at a Russian position somewhere on the front line. More footage of Leopard 1s in action is starting to emerge.
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High-Value Ukrainian Radar Destroyed
A Russian Lancet drone hit and destroyed a Ukrainian 36D6M radar station in Velyka Kostromka, Dnipropetrovsk oblast. This is an important loss for Ukraine as the 36D6M is one of the most capable radars they operate and very few have been produced. It was located close to where a Ukrainian ST-68U surveillance radar was recently destroyed, likely by glide bombs. Lancet drones are becoming a real issue for the Ukrainians.
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Fires at Russian Facilities
There is a Russian warehouse on fire in Yaroslavl. While it's unknown if this is directly related to the war, an anomalous number of large fires have been occurring at Russian commercial and industrial properties since the invasion began. Several analyses show the number and size of fires are significantly higher compared to before the war started.
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Overnight Drone and Missile Attacks
- 21 Shahed drones entered Ukrainian airspace overnight, with all 21 shot down. If a high percentage were downed by low-tech "firing lead into the air" type air defences, it puts less strain on Ukraine's more sophisticated air defence missiles.
- 2 out of 3 Kh-59 guided missiles targeting the Starokostiantyniv airbase were intercepted.
- The drones were shot down over at least 7 different oblasts, meaning only around 3 Shaheds were sent per location on average. This seems more like Russia probing Ukrainian air defences rather than trying to overwhelm any single location.
- Kherson continues to be constantly shelled and hammered by the Russians, making it a horrible place to be. Pushing the Russians back across the river is crucial for the Ukrainians.
Explosions in Kherson and Sevastopol
- An explosion occurred on the railway line between the Dnipro River and Crimea/Armyansk in the Kherson oblast, as the Ukrainians routinely strike Russian logistics behind the lines.
- An explosion also happened in Sevastopol, Crimea last night, but it's unknown if it was caused by a missile, aerial drone or sea drone.
- The recent storm washed away the protective booms and barriers around the port of Sevastopol and the Kerch Bridge. It's unclear if the Ukrainians have opportunistically acted upon this yet. The ferries and barges placed around the bridge may have also been affected.
Domestic Issues in Russia
- Alcohol and cigarette prices in Russia will rise significantly from May 1, 2024 due to Putin signing a decree raising taxes. This suggests Russia needs more income to support the war and will disproportionately affect the poorer segments of society.
- Putin urged Russian families to have 8 children, saying large families should become the norm and a way of life. He is trying to connect the tradition of large families with morality and spirituality. This is likely in response to Russia's shrinking population due to war deaths and people fleeing mobilisation. Many Russian women may privately disagree with this push for more children.
Putin's Rhetoric on the War
In a recent speech, Putin framed the war as Russia fighting for the freedom of the whole world against the "decrepit dictatorship of one hegemon", referring to the US. He openly stated this is a challenge to the US-led world order, not just a war between Russia and Ukraine that the West should stay out of. Putin's rhetoric makes it clear that Russia's aims go beyond Ukraine, which is why supporting Ukraine as much as possible is crucial for the West.
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Poisoning of Grigory Buinov's Wife
Andrey Lugovoy, the Russian agent who poisoned Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006, appeared on Russian state TV smirking while discussing the recent poisoning of anti-war artist Grigory Buinov's wife Marianna. Lugovoy suffered from the effects of the poison himself when assassinating Litvinenko. His shameless appearance on national TV to comment on another poisoning highlights the brazen nature of the Russian state's actions.
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Wrap Up
Jonathan thanks viewers for watching and reminds them to like, subscribe and share. His next videos will be released a bit later than usual today. He recommends watching his recent live stream with fellow YouTuber Greg Terry if viewers haven't already, as it was a great discussion and hopefully the first of many collaborations between them.
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