Ukraine War Upd. EXTRA: Zuzana, Perfidy, Putin's Pap, & RUSI

"I laugh in the face of Putin, I laugh in the face of the Russian MoD and their ridiculous claims. I'm sorry to be so dismissive, but that really is justified."

RUSI report on Ukraine's counter-offensive

• The fighting so far has been tough with complex Russian defences including minefields, trenches, and artillery
• As Ukrainian forces penetrate deeper, they will face tougher resistance and be more vulnerable
• Ukraine is trying to achieve three things:

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3

• Success will be binary - the line is either broken or not. Speed will be crucial after a breakthrough.
• Russian morale is an uncertain variable. Poor training and discipline could see defences unravel if repositioning is forced.

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Perfidy and the requirement for military uniforms

• Footage was shown of what appear to be Russian soldiers operating mortars in civilian clothing
• Under the Geneva Conventions, this could constitute perfidy - inviting the confidence of the enemy by feigning civilian status
• Combatants must distinguish themselves from civilians, normally by wearing uniforms. Those hiding among civilians lose POW rights if captured.
• It's an open question if regular forces forfeit POW status by not wearing a uniform, but perfidy like feigning civilian status to attack can be a war crime
• There are some exceptions like for spies, but in general combatants must wear a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance

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Slovakian Zuzana howitzers supplied to Ukraine

• The Zuzana self-propelled howitzer is proving very useful for Ukraine as it can fire shells up to 50km
• Slovakia has supplied 16 Zuzanas paid for by Germany, Norway and Denmark, plus 8 purchased directly by Ukraine
• At least one has been destroyed so far based on photo evidence
• The extra range compared to Russian artillery is a major advantage, allowing them to strike from relative safety

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Problems with Russian railways due to sanctions

• Russian steelmakers are facing problems with railway deliveries due to an additional approval system
• This is likely a result of Western sanctions on ball bearings needed for railway stock, which Russia is struggling to replace
• Analyst Trent Telenko says to watch for more signs of Russian railways rationing access and increased derailments
• This could be a bigger problem than Ukrainian partisan or drone attacks on rail infrastructure

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Putin's dubious claims about Ukrainian losses

• Putin claimed Ukraine has lost 186 tanks and 418 armoured vehicles so far in the counter-offensive
• At this rate, Ukraine would have no tanks or APCs left within weeks before the offensive has really begun
• These numbers seem extremely inflated and no evidence has been provided
• Putin's claims are as ridiculous as the Russian MoD's assertions e.g. that Ukraine has lost over 400 fixed-wing aircraft when they only started with 124
• Jonathan completely dismisses and laughs at these patently absurd claims from Putin and the Russian government

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Wrap up

Jonathan thanks his supporters on Buy Me a Coffee and channel members for their generosity in allowing him to continue his work. He signs off asking viewers to like, subscribe and share the video.

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