Ukraine War Upd. EXTRA: Barrier Troops, Freedom of Speech, Heresy, & Prigozhin
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This summary has been produced automatically by an AI Large Language Model (LLM) without any human intervention. Whilst every effort has been made to prompt the LLM to produce accurate output, there may be inconsistencies, inaccuracies or hallucinations!
Table of Contents 📖
| Topic ID | Topic Title | Timestamp |
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"We Christians do not dare to stand aside when a brother kills a brother, a Christian kills a Christian. Let's not repeat the crimes of those who welcomed the actions of Hitler on the 1st of September 1939."
Hello Team!
- Jonathan reflects on the incredible progress of the Ukrainian military in integrating NATO equipment and doctrine in a short time to drive back the Russian forces, despite not having air superiority.
- He notes Russia has not done anything particularly impressive militarily throughout the war.
Barrier Troops Executing Fleeing Russian Soldiers
- A video has emerged purportedly showing Russian barrier troops executing their own fleeing soldiers who were retreating without weapons.
- Jonathan notes this is horrific if genuine, but to treat it with some caution in case it is Ukrainian psyops.
Luckiest Russian Soldier
- In another video, a Russian soldier falls off the back of an APC while riding on top and gets left behind.
- It turns out to be very lucky for him, as the APC subsequently hits a mine and is destroyed. The soldier avoided almost certain death or injury.
Russian Counterattack and Captured NATO Vehicles
- The elite Russian 40th Naval Infantry Brigade, having taken heavy losses in Vuhledar, has captured some British-supplied Husky and Mastiff armoured vehicles near Velyka Novosilka.
- This is concerning to see NATO-provided equipment now in Russian hands. The vehicles' tyres are blown out and they have taken some hits, likely from mines.
Wooden Decoy Tanks
- According to journalist Illia Ponomarenko, the Ukrainian military reveals that a Leopard tank recently claimed to be destroyed by Russia's Lancet drone was actually a wooden decoy.
- The Ukrainians seem pleased to have attracted the attention and ordnance of a Lancet operator to take out a fake tank.
Gaming Tech Used in Military Hardware
- Inspired by the video of a Ukrainian drone operator using a VR headset and gaming-style controllers, Jonathan discusses an article about the Israeli Carmel tank prototype incorporating Xbox controllers and AI trained on video games.
- This is to make the control systems more intuitive and easier to learn for young recruits familiar with gaming.
- The US Navy has also used Xbox controllers in submarines and for controlling a laser weapon.
- AI for the Carmel tank was trained by playing StarCraft 2 and Doom to learn navigation, target acquisition and autonomous functions. After 2 weeks, the AI was 20-30% better than human players.
UK Unable to Manufacture Tank Gun Barrels
- BAE Systems reveals the UK can no longer manufacture barrels for the main guns of tanks like Challenger 2.
- This is due to the small scale of tank production in the UK, making it uneconomical compared to outsourcing barrel production to other countries.
- Jonathan laments this as a further sign of the decline of UK's defence manufacturing capabilities.
Prigozhin vs Shoigu and Russian MoD
- Tensions continue to escalate between Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
- Prigozhin has threatened that if Shoigu tries to take over Wagner, "Shoigu will die." This is in response to the MoD's moves to subordinate all volunteer units under formal military command.
- Prigozhin praises General Surovikin as "the only sensible general." Jonathan speculates this could be:
1) Because Surovikin has tensions with the top brass and may be fired along with Wagner 2) To open space for negotiations between Surovikin and Prigozhin 3) Prigozhin cynically using Surovikin for his own ends
- Jonathan notes this in-fighting is good for Ukraine as it will hamper Russian defensive efforts.
Russian Sadism - Mine Attached to Hedgehog
- An image shows what appears to be a landmine attached to the back of a hedgehog, concealed by leaves.
- If this is indeed what it shows, it is an act of pure sadism by the Russians. Jonathan expresses his disgust and sympathy for the animal.
Pacifism Ruled a Heresy by Russian Orthodox Church
- An ecclesiastical court of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), directed by Patriarch Kirill, has ruled that pacifism is a heresy and not compatible with church doctrine.
- The ruling was made against an anti-war priest, Ioann Burdin, who was fined for a sermon advocating peace and speaking against the invasion of Ukraine.
- Burdin argued "We Christians do not dare to stand aside when a brother kills a brother, a Christian kills a Christian."
- He was charged with discrediting the Russian army, tried and convicted within 3 days, and fined 35,000 rubles ($423).
- Burdin tried to transfer to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church but was refused permission. He has now resigned from the ROC and been banned from preaching.
- Patriarch Kirill, believed to be a former KGB agent, is a strong supporter of the war. The ROC has been heavily engaged in legitimizing the invasion.
- An ROC publication called for punishment of priests who undermine the "Russian warrior who is liberating the world from Nazism."
Lack of Freedom of Speech in Russia
- Jonathan argues this case demonstrates the complete lack of freedom of speech and liberty in Russia, in contrast to Ukraine.
- He notes the hypocrisy of Russians who criticize Ukraine for clamping down on social media for security reasons, while in Russia you can't even call the war a "war."
- An RT broadcast is shown where head of RT Margarita Simonyan claims the West has no freedom of speech, comparing it to North Korea, and stating Russia has more free speech.
- Jonathan rebuts this as ridiculous - he would be arrested for his videos in Russia but not in the UK. You can put out pro-Russian views in the West without being arrested.
- Simonyan is challenged by another panelist who argues it's time for her to "sound the alarm" over egregious cases like:
1) A local deputy prosecuted for "discrediting the army" by criticizing the abandonment of Kherson residents 2) A theatre director held in handcuffs for a play that was retroactively disapproved 3) A police officer sentenced to 7 years based on wiretapped private conversations criticizing the Ukraine situation
- The panelist asks where the boundary is before Russia becomes a totalitarian state. Jonathan wonders if this is a sign of a turning tide in what's permissible.
Wrap Up
Jonathan thanks viewers for watching and encourages them to like, subscribe and share the video. He signs off wishing everyone well and promising to return with another update tomorrow.
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